August 19 is Quezon Day in honor of Manuel L. Quezon the first Senate President and second President of the Republic. As a long-time resident of Quezon City, I usually looked forward to this holiday as a time for rest, recreation and reflection. Studying and working in schools within the city added to the bliss of having a free day or what I usually term “a-do-nothing-day.” However, this year it falls on a Sunday. And for the next succeeding years unless the law of moving our holidays is repealed or amended, it will no longer be celebrated on the day itself but on the Monday nearest it. The magic is gone, hopefully not for long.
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In Session: Eyes are on the first bill filed in Congress and the Senate. The first bill filed in the House of Representatives is HB-00001 entitled Cheaper Medicines Act of 2007. This bill seeks to impose price regulation on medicines and amend certain provisions of RA-8290 otherwise known as the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines. Congressman Ferjenel G. Biron (Lakas-CMD, 4th District, Iloilo) is a physician by profession. Meanwhile, Senator Jinggoy Estrada filed SB-1, An Act Exempting the Purchase of Medicine by Senior Citizens from the Coverage of VAT. Hopefully this will become a law that will alleviate our situation. This is a good sign that our legislators have recognized how costly it is to get sick!…..Speaking of getting sick, I would like to thank Doctors Abadilla, Antonio, and Bolong of St. Luke’s Medical Center for attending to my youngest son Jacob, even at the height of typhoon Egay. Thanks also to the nurses and staff. It’s been quite some time since I’ve been to this hospital and I’m really impressed by the courtesy and professionalism shown to all patients. They really go the extra mile to make one’s stay as comfortable as possible, maybe to cushion the expenses. As the popular saying of a commercial says “bawal magkasakit.” For which the common answer is “dahil napakamahal magkasakit.” Let’s all pray that HB-00001 and SB-1 will see the light of day!…..I’m a great fan of Congresswoman Darlene Antonino-Custodio who has just filed HB-00266, the Gifted Children Act of 2007. It seeks the establishment of the Center for the Gifted Children that shall be responsible for the following: 1. identification and placement of gifted children, 2. scholarship grants and other forms of assistance, 3. training of parents on parenting gifted children, and 4. establishment of linkages and networking with institutions involved with gifted children. In my travel to different parts of our country, I’ve come across children with great potentials for nation-building. Their innate talent and well-being, if only nurtured properly would greatly benefit mankind. I hope this bill will finally become law so that something great can be done for the many children who are truly gifted but lack the necessary connections to make it in life. My salute to the parents of gifted children in the Philippines and all over the world……I guess I didn’t really lose my holiday since I got to talk to you through this blog. Just say yes to peace!
