2013: A year of devastation for the Filipinos

2013 symbolizes calamities and devastation among the Filipinos!

The year 2013 was indeed a very memorable and unforgettable year for the Filipinos. The country has been struck with countless natural calamities, politicians got involved in billions of pork barrel funds, battle among politicians, the Catholic church's condemnation of the Reproductive Health Law bill, massive killings of journalists and members of the media, massive support and donations coming from compassionate people from other countries for the Yolanda victims in Eastern Visayas region, etc.

Natural Calamities

The Philippines is indeed prone for natural calamities especially typhoons and storms nothing on average of eight or nine tropical storms to hit the country each year. The year 2013, there were only six storms recorded, the latest was Typhoon Haiyan (known as Yolanda in the Philippines) which created a total havoc in Eastern Visayas and nearby regions leaving more than 6,000 people killed last November 8. That was the most deadliest storm ever after tropical cyclone Thelma (known as Uring in the Philippines) which hit the country in 1991 killing around 5,100 people.

October 15, the whole Bohol province, was rocked by a powerful 7.2 magnitude earthquake leaving behind more than 200 people killed. Reports further added 12 among the casualty in Cebu and 1 in Siquijor.

PDAF (Priority Development Assistance Fund) Scam

July 12 marks the date when the scam was first exposed in national news magazine. The whistle-blower is Benhur K. Luy, a second cousin and former personal assistant of the PDAF scam's mastermind businesswoman, Janet Lim-Napoles. The Philippine government was reportedly been defrauded of an estimated ₱10 billion in the course of the scam that was diverted to Napoles, participating members of Congress and other government officials.

On August 28, Napoles surrendered to President Benigno Aquino III. She was endorsed by the president to DILG secretary Mar Roxas and PNP director Gen. Alan Purisima for booking and processing.

Justice Secretary, Leila De Lima together with the NBI (National Bureau of Investigation) filed the cases of plunder and malversation of public funds against businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles, senators Ramon Revilla Jr., Juan Ponce Enrile, Jinggoy Estrada and five former representatives on September 16.

The Supreme Court declared PDAF as unconstitutional on November 19.

Source:  newsinfo.inquirer.net

RH (Reproductive Health) Bill

The Catholic Church strongly opposed the passing for the RH Bill and denounced the politicians who are pro-RH. Despite of the great number of Catholics in the Philippines, President Aquino signs RH bill into law on December 21, 2012. Statistics dated August 11, 2013 shows that there are around 76.18 million Catholics among 96.8 million estimated population in the Philippines and that's roughly 79% in comparison.

Why is the Catholic Church against the RH Bill? The Catholic Church is not in favor of the RH Bill because artificial contraceptives could possibly lead to promiscuity and the failure of implantation of a newly conceived baby if fertilization would happen to take place despite their use. These acts would be against Natural Moral Law. Many so-called reproductive health bills contain provisions for abortion. The Catholic Church believes that abortion is a serious offense against the sanctity of all human life, that the infant in the womb deserves the same rights and protections that we all enjoy, and therefore opposes legislative or administrative measures that promote this procedure. (via wiki.answers.com)

Hope that the year 2014 will be a productive and peaceful year for us all. I pray that we all be spared from natural calamities. God bless the Philippines!