The minute this movement was started, I committed to march to Luneta on the 26th. I am apalled, not only with legislators who misused their PDAF, but also with our President who has done absolutely nothing to curb the abuses of the Pork Barrel system. President Benigno Simeon Aquino III is equally as liable. All the reports coming out center on the period of 2007 to 2009 -- during the time of GMA when then Senator Noynoy Aquino and his LP allies were no longer in the good graces of GMA. There seems to be a deliberate attempt to hide the figures of legislators who, prior to 2007, were still allied with GMA (like then Sen. Noynoy Aquino and other LP stalwarts). There is also a suspicion that the Commission on Audit did not release the figures for 2011 to 2013 -- the period when President Aquino was already in power. It is a good thing that media is already showing that the Pork Barrel Funds of Pres. Aquino is 3 times more than GMA's.

Knowing fully well that the Pork Barrel system is subject to abuse, why does the President refuse to stop the Pork Barrel system? Why do some sectors keep on zeroing on legislators who are in the opposition when, in fact, the the administration is equally liable? Leonor Briones, the Philippines' National Treasurer during the time of Cory Aquino, already said that the President himself has control of almost 1-Trillion Pesos in Pork Barrel Funds. Still, some sectors allied with the President still zero in on opposition legislators. It has been shown that the Department of Budget and Management under Sec. Butch Abad has realeased one of the biggest amounts of congressional PDAF funds to his wife, Congresswoman Dina Abad -- mother of the head of Malacañang's Presidential Management Staff, Julia Abad! Still some sectors allied with the President zero in on the pork barrel funds of opposition legislators who have received much less.

The President campaigned on a platform based mainly on stopping corruption in government. He was sold to the people as a crusader against corruption. Some people hold the President blameless for the Pork Scandal. I respect the opinion of these people even if such is contrary to mine. But I ask them a simple question: Why is he so beholden to the Pork Barrel system which, all of us agree is one of the root causes of corruption?!!! More than half of his Presidential term is over and yet the President has not been able to stop corruption. Miriam Santiago was correct when she stated that the Pork Barrel system must be abolished and not even 1 day later, the President comes out with a statement saying that he is not in favor of abolishing it. If he were truly intent on fighting corruption, he would have stopped it at its very root cause. I, together with a lot of people, already consider the President and his allies as part of the problem. I do not advocate his overthrow but I will be marching on August 26 against the abusers of the Pork Barrel system which INCLUDES PRESIDENT BENIGNO S. AQUINO III. Peace to all the marchers!

Photo source and quotes: MILLION PEOPLE MARCH TO LUNETA AUGUST 26: SA ARAW NG MGA BAYANI. PROTESTA ng BAYAN!!! https://www.facebook.com/events/406846762761075/

Mila D. Aguilar. P1 Trillion+. Pork, both Congress' and the President's. What a wonderful sum for PLANNED year-on-year economic development! The genuine abolition of pork barrel should lead to it.

My proposal on its proper use takes on three main lines:

1. Place the amount in the regular national budget, but earmarked as Strategic Economic Development Funds.

2. Institute CHECK & BALANCE on the funds, letting the executive branch propose the strategic plan year-on-year, but giving the legislative AS A WHOLE, in open sessions, the power to review, propose changes, and approve the plan as it currently does with the national budget.

This means no individual legislator can appropriate any amount for himself (or ostensibly, for his constituents) anymore, but can still suggest, subject to open debate, a better ECONOMIC plan for his area.

3. Strategic economic development should mean that the funds will be used for the following purposes alone:

3.1. The building and maintenance of INFRASTRUCTURE necessary to ensure the equalization of economic opportunities all over the land, to wit:

3.1.1. Roads and bridges up to feeder roads
3.1.2. Strategically placed flood control systems
3.1.3. Strategically planned sources of electricity designed to bring down its cost (combined hydro, solar, wind, depending on area)
3.1.4. An Internet superhighway with its own feeder roads for the farthest reach
3.1.4. A strategic plan to ensure clean water systems everywhere

3.2. The systematic upgrading of our educational SUPERSTRUCTURE to ensure a progressively developing population who all contribute to economic development:

3.2.1. Establishment of K-12 Entrepreneurial Community Schools in urban and rural poor areas, where all subjects are geared towards the launch of practical entrepreneurial projects together with parents and the community affected.

3.2.2. Upgrading of state colleges and universities so that they respond in a planned and systematic way to national needs, without overproducing graduates in any profession, and with the view of producing professionals who can contribute concretely to national economic development, such as engineers especially in the computer sciences.

3.2.3. Institution of large-scale R&D programs that will lead to the development of our basic industries and the manufacturing sector.

3.2.4. Upgrading, financing, computerization, modernization of the judicial system so that the Filipino will start to feel that there is justice in his/her country after all.

PNoy decreed what pork barrel should not be spent on. Let the people decree WHAT it should become -- a strategic part of the national budget with its checks and balances -- and HOW it should be spent: for planned economic development alone.

NOTHING should be left unprogrammed, NOTHING left to the discretion of any one individual or branch of government. Even calamity funds can be planned.

Exciting times for deep-going change! Once we make it -- through prayer, passion and action -- we shall have established one piece of God's Kingdom here on earth.

Proverbs 12:19a, 20b -
"Truthful lips endure forever,
...those who plan peace have joy."
Alfredo Liongoren. The Philippine Constitution emphasizes the importance of accountability in the government. Article XI simply and bluntly begins: “Public office is a public trust,” before it adds that officials and employees should serve the people with “responsibility, integrity, loyalty and efficiency.”




Photo source and quotes: MILLION PEOPLE MARCH TO LUNETA AUGUST 26: SA ARAW NG MGA BAYANI. PROTESTA ng BAYAN!!! https://www.facebook.com/events/406846762761075/

Manny Sarmiento. "By being in Luneta and other places in the Philippines on August 26, we are sending a message, but a message only as strong as the number of people participating."

Ella Jorraine Serrano. Putting into action is the best Everyone knows what Philippine Government system is but still they continue the corruption as a traditional system. Knowing is different to putting into action if you are already tempted with the money,power and everything..you will already fall into temptation. This million march will be meaningless if not each one of us doesn't know how to practice righteous acts but still continue the selfish acts. Righteous Acts is the best! Knowing what is good and avoid evil deeds.

Eliseo Rio Jr. I do not know with the others, but I will go to Luneta on August 26 without any expectations but just to be present and vent my disgust. I will maybe talk to the stranger to my left, to my right, the one in front and behind me and ask them if they feel the same disgust that I feel. If we share the same feelings, our small group will try to touch base with the small groups around us, talking on how we can make our disgust into something constructive for the sake of our country. I will listen to speeches if there are any, be entertained by show biz personalities if any, but always observing, exchanging ideas, to those I can physically reach. I don’t need an organization to do this for me. I don’t need a permit to do this. My physical safety I will entrust to the authorities in the area.

When I get home, I will put in the social media my experiences, what ideas I have gathered, how wide-spread the feeling to change for the better is, how deep the disgust on corruption is. I will be sure that this will reach a greater number of people that I came in contact in Luneta. . I am sure that a number of patriotic IT nerds will find ways to merge my comments with the hundreds of thousand comments of others for all to see. Suddenly, the so called silent majority becomes a virtual reality. Suddenly, dedicated, self-sacrificing leaders/facilitators will emerge in this virtual world. Suddenly, this virtual majority can, at a call, enter the real world to strike at those who will do them harm, who will jeopardize the future of their children, who prioritize their personal needs to the needs of the country. And I will wake up the next morning knowing that this is not just a dream, that we have finally become the REAL BOSS.

BUT I will not just stay at home because of a preconceived notion that nothing will come out of this. THIS IS precisely the apathy a whole generation, my generation, felt and therefore did nothing, resulting in a waste-basket Philippines. This is precisely why I said that this disease has now infected this generation of my children, for even when they are being made fools of by people they elected, some would rather not do anything about it, but just ask questions and complain. NO I will not stay at home. This time I will act!!!

By being in Luneta and other places in the Philippines on August 26, we are sending a message, but a message only as strong as the number of people participating.

This is it, the much awaited march to Luneta event. Millions of concerned Filipino citizens gathers in all over the country to show their protest against Pork barrel and corruption. People had spoken, stop stealing the taxpayers money.

Hector Teodosio. The hundreds of millions in pork barrel could have been spent to support the program of the BFAR , to construct thousands of artificial reefs and creation of marine sanctuaries all over the Visayan Sea. Abolish the pork barrel and let's throw out of job these lawmakers who are actually empty heads .
Ralph La Oriel. Most of the time, things are not really what it seem. Therefore, we must beware that there are lots of things, talks and happenings around us that are very deceiving. These should remind us of the warning given to us by our beloved Lord Jesus Christ that many false prophets and great pretenders will come to deceive us.

Let us take for example the corrupt politicians and individuals who are very good in the art of lying and will do everything to deceive their victims.

Unfortunately, there are not much penalties and negative consequences of lying and deceiving other people. Many of their crimes remain unsolved and unpunished. It looks like lying is doing more good than harm to the corrupt politicians and individuals. Lying seems to be a tool of the trade to get the support of the masang Filipinos, to get elected and to scam money from Juan de la Cruz. It is so sad, it looks like lying is a profitable business in the Philippines not only to politicians but to anybody who can corrupt the minds of the Filipinos.

Well. that's not surprising at all. Successful snake oil salesmen are very good in the art of lying. Some people can even sale a bridge or even Jesus to unsuspecting person. Kaya tayong mga Filipinos ay dapat na mag-ingat at huwag paloloko sa mga manloloko.