beliefs

what do you believe in? many things really, take one local developer, cruizer who really is into linux a lot and has done stuff with his "el cheapo laptop" as he calls it and that is made by similar users across the world puts to shame future operating systems from a certain seatle-based company.

while we are in the topic of beliefs, sometimes we ask a question about how one browser is better than another. there was this discussion over at the local msforums--- Firefox is better than Internet Explorer and if the former has met its match in the latter's latest release. with market share that includes professionals like doctors and such who use it everyday, there is something to be said about Firefox. it is a pretty good question really but then we enter into a silly discussion on why tab browsing is good or not, it becomes whimsical. another interesting piece is this about the future where virtual offices exist.

moving forward, try this take on Fiesta Charter Change----

"No matter how much or how many instances of political change we have seen in the last 50 years, the condition of the average Filipino has not changed fundamentally. We therefore conclude that politics have failed us and that our society has failed to prosper because of politics."

This is a truism that most Filipinos are quite comfy with.

while this remains true--- perhaps it is time we change our point of view. rightly, Get Real goes on saying: "Instead of shaping our prospects for prosperity around politics, maybe we should shape our politics around our own (maybe still-to-be-formulated) objectives to prosper. " And across the blogsphere--- from mlq3's blog and so many others are stories of people changing their lives. while we know it isn't a perfect world--- people grow hungry everyday in our streets, we know people everywhere are working on finding jobs, striving to put their lives into order and that such change maybe slow, but moving forward, not "moving on" like this tale of two cities. so truly, the glass isn't half-empty, it is half-full and we stand upon the shoulders of however imperfect our history is.

of course it is hard to understand this sometimes. when the soundbyte of the day is all about endless speculations in the senate or the futility and comicness of our politics, because they only believe "what's in it for you". "you" meaning "them" and we become jaded. May be it is because for a lot of people from all walks of life--- the left, the center, the right, it is far easier to throw stones at a house rather than to build one.

it is a welcome spring of fresh air that whether or not it is a run of good luck, or a question of who really won with regard to the issues of our day, or perhaps an egerly awaited expose, the past week has given us something new to hope for--- that there are those who remain morally courageous and that our democracy is alive.

the concurring and dissenting opinions with regard to the controvertial PP1017 are statements of statesmen. For all dissenting opinions on PP1017 like Associate Justice Tinga who wrote: "Yes, PP 1017 and General Order No. 5 warrant circumspect scrutiny from those interested and tasked with preserving our civil liberties. They may even stand, in the appropriate contexts, as viable partisan political issues. But the plain fact remains that, under legal contemplation, these issuances are valid on their face, and should result in no constitutional or statutory breaches if applied according to their letter." Chief Justice Panganiban's Concurring Opinion eloquently put these words:

"Some of those who drafted PP 1017 may be testing the outer limits of presidential prerogatives and the perseverance of this Court in safeguarding the people’s constitutionally enshrined liberty. They are playing with fire, and unless prudently restrained, they may one day wittingly or unwittingly burn down the country. History will never forget, much less forgive, this Court if it allows such misadventure and refuses to strike down abuse at its inception. Worse, our people will surely condemn the misuse of legal hocus pocus to justify this trifling with

constitutional sanctities.

And even for those who deeply care for the President, it is timely and wise for this Court to set down the parameters of power and to make known, politely but firmly, its dogged determination to perform its constitutional duty at all times and against all odds. Perhaps this country would never have had to experience the wrenching pain of dictatorship; and a past President would not have fallen into the precipice of authoritarianism, if the Supreme Court then had the moral courage to remind him steadfastly of his mortality and the inevitable historical damnation of despots and tyrants. Let not this Court fall into that same rut."

And for all our disagreements for or against the issues of our time--- it is principle we all agree in that every Filipino uphold: the very interest of this nation. So it is welcome that irregardless of their concurrence or dissent, we have a Supreme Court who has moral courage to stand for their beliefs and look at the interest of this nation. A line from the U2 song, "Miracle Drug" comes to mind, "Freedom has a scent like the top of a new born baby's head". isn't that a belief worth taking to the bank?