OUR DAYS This day...Amando Doronila predicted "Arroyo to pay heavy price for ouster of De Venecia"...and a possible break up of the administration coalition. Doronia's piece from his widely-read column Analysis (The Philippine Daily Inquirer) reads in part : Monday’s possible vote, unless averted, presents the explosive ingredients to spark the disintegration of the majority that has protected President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo from three impeachment attempts since the 2004 presidential election. The coalition is seething with tensions generated by the alleged involvement of Ms Arroyo’s husband, Jose Miguel Arroyo, in the now-canceled $329-million National Broadband Network project with China’s ZTE Corp., and the bribery allegations made by Jose “Joey” de Venecia III, the Speaker’s son, who had also vied for the project. Clash of dynasties The competing interests of the First Gentleman and the Speaker’s son in the project have led to clashes between the two leading and most powerful political dynasties in the country. The clashes are believed to be at the heart of the moves to unseat the Speaker. Price to pay The removal of De Venecia puts the future of Lakas in doubt as the cornerstone of the majority coalition. The administration is bound to pay a heavy price from the fallout. The fallout is likely to be more damaging to Lakas and the administration than to De Venecia. The administration would not lose so much as a valuable ally in its bid to muster congressional support to overcome political crises. Rather, it would earn an enemy that could inflict heavy political damage stemming from De Venecia’s son’s continuing exposes on the ZTE scandal. They know too much With the information they hold about the ZTE controversy, the De Venecias, as a political enemy, can hold the administration hostage in a balance of terror. The removal of De Venecia could trigger an extensive realignment of the majority coalition in the House. It could mark the breakup of Lakas as the centerpiece of the coalition... (From : www.inquirer.net, 04 February 2008. Copyright INQUIRER.net. All rights reserved.) _________________________________________________________________________________
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JOURNEY The political scientist lives by his ability to see events unfolding ahead of all others. Such ability comes from years of practice and discipline. The theologian lives by his ability to interpret contemporary events including events unfolding for and with all others. Such ability comes from years of faith practice and discipline. We each have a profession or a vocation to live by. As we offer ours in the service of the people, we honor God for the talent He gave us, and our profession or vocation becomes a personal ministry. As we share our ministry with all others and partake of their ministries as well then the epiphany of mission unfolds in our midst. There is indeed a mission behind every profession or vocation. Setting out in mission together means recognizing a common goal that can be achieved by sharing our God given talents which makes way for the merging of professions and vocations into a common missionary enterprise. Let the epiphany of mission unfold in the midst of our political landscape and transform all political factions into a true rainbow coalition for Christian service. The political scientist and theologian in the person of the stranger on the road to Emmaus made this clear and simple for the traveling disciples, according to the authors of The Way of Pilgrimage -
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IN YOUR PASSWORD
OUR
TRIBUTE With the disciples we pray, "Stay with us..." while we are yet on the journey, O Lord, Talk to us that "our hearts (may) burn within us..." and let us join your great cloud of witnesses saying, "The Lord has risen indeed!" and is ever with us through the valley...to take away our grief and wipe all tears from our eyes. |
