DAGUPAN CITY — They belong to the opposite sides of the political fence. Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz is a vocal critic of the Arroyo administration, while Speaker Jose de Venecia is a staunch ally of President Arroyo.
But they don’t let their differing political beliefs destroy their personal relationship. In fact, even if Cruz led rallies here against the administration, the most recent one against Charter change, whose main architect was, incidentally, De Venecia, the two have exchanged pleasantries without pretense.
For a time, however, these two leaders had not been communicating with each other, especially at the height of the Cha-cha debate. Until they met and talked lengthily the other day, thanks to De Venecia’s wife, Gina, who had arranged the meeting that lasted for more than one hour.
Read full story in The Philippine Star
This song was sang during the anti-chacha march and rally yesterday in Dagupan City.
ANG CHA-CHA AY SUMABIT
(Ang Pasko ay Sumapit)
I
Ang Cha-Cha ay sumabit,
Dahil Bayan ay nagalit
JDV Namilipit, Dahil Gusto
Ay Ipilit……
CON-ASS daw ang kailangan,
Lunas sa hirap ng bayan,
Ngunit siya ay nabisto
Hangad pala’y sariling pakinabang!!!
Refrain
Sa Congreso ay naghugas kamay,
Dahil ang CON-ASS nila’y sumablay
Sektor ng Bayan, Maging ang
Simbahan…Sa laban nagtagumpay!!!
II
Buong Bayan ay umawit
Pasalamat hanggang langit,
Dahil di naipilit
Hangad ng lider na ganid
Tunay na kalayaan,
Kapakanan ng ating bayan,
Ang laging ingatan,
Pang-aabuso’y, Laging babantayan…
DAGUPAN CITY– At least 1,500 priests, nuns, seminarians, students and Catholic lay leaders on Friday marched on major streets here and gathered at the city plaza to protest Charter change “by any means” under the administration of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
Priests held large streamers that read, “Cha-cha [Charter change], Con-ass [constituent assembly], Concon [constitutional convention]: No! Not Now! Not under GMA [Arroyo]!”
Students who joined the rally sang “Ang Cha-cha ay Sumabit [Charter change has failed]” to the tune of the traditional Christmas carol, “Ang Pasko ay Sumapit [Christmas has come].”
They also chanted “Kay [In] JDV [Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr.] at Gloria [Arroyo], wala kaming tiwala [we have no trust]!”
Read full story in the Philippine Daily Inquirer
DAGUPAN CITY — Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz described as “desperate” President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s endorsement of Charter change through a constituent assembly in her administration’s bid to bring about the shift to a unicameral-parliamentary system.
“It’s really a desperate move and she’s pushing it to be able to cover up a lot of problems, specifically with reference to her impeachment cases and her legitimacy [as president],” Cruz, a former president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, said on Friday.
The bishop said he remained skeptical of the government’s campaign for Charter change because people who had come out strongly for it were perceived to have vested interests.
“And we know that the constituent assembly is the initiative of President Macapagal-Arroyo, Speaker (Jose) De Venecia, and former President (Fidel) Ramos,” Cruz said.
Read full story in the Philippine Daily Inquirer
