A President's Rise and Fall: Elpidio Quirino's Achievements and the Golden Arinola Controversy

    

    Elpidio Quirino was born on November 16, 1890, in Vigan, Ilocos Sur. He was a big figure in Philippine politics and the 6th President of the Philippines. He passed the bar in 1915 after his graduation in law at the University of the Philippines before he entered politics. Early in his career, he did legislative work as congressman and later senator. Quirino joined the resistance movement against the Japanese military forces during World War II and lost his family to the war.

    As president, Quirino focused on reconstructing the country post-war. He rebuilt the infrastructure and the economy of the country and got immense aid from the United States by initiating some major social reforms like land distribution and improvement in education. Quirino furthered international relations, particularly with the U.S., knowing that the Philippines depended upon a strong foreign relation as one of the stabilizers for the country.

    However, the "Golden Arinola Scandal" marred Quirino's administration, a very controversial issue when it was known that one of the expensive gifts he received was a golden chamber pot, or arinola. These gifts were reportedly from businessmen who wanted government favors. This situation opened doors to graft allegations, especially at a time when the Philippines was still recovering from the pains of war and economic losses. Even with claims of innocence, Quirino proclaimed that he did not know what the gift was; the scandal tarnished his reputation and public perception became ever so skeptical of his administration.

    Despite these difficulties, the Quirino administration has been remembered as one who made great efforts to rebuild and lay down the foundation of the country in its effort to develop in the long run. He was a very instrumental part of rebuilding this country to stabilize it after the war. Still, the Golden Arinola scandal remains an important part of his legacy which typifies the problem of perceived extravagance and corruption in the government.

REFERENCES:

          ABS-CBN News. (2024, October 31). Inaugural address of President Elpidio Quirino, December 30, 1949 | ABS-CBN News. ABS-CBN. https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/06/27/22/inaugural-address-of-president-elpidio-quirino

             

              Today in Philippine History, November 8, 1949, sitting Chief Executive Elpidio Quirino was elected formally as  president. (2011, November 8). The Kahimyang Project. https://kahimyang.com/kauswagan/articles/734/today-in-philippine-history-november-8-1949-sitting-chief-executive-elpidio-quirino-was-elected-formally-as-president

            Who was Elpidio Quirino? Everything You Need to Know. (n.d.). https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/elpidio-quirino-10505.php

             

            Camus, M. (2024, April 24). Elpidio Quirino (1890–1956): the 6th President of the Philippines. SINAUNANGPANAHON. https://sinaunangpanahon.com/elpidio-quirino-the-6th-president-of-the-philippines/

Honoring Indigenous Peoples and Strengthening Their Rights

         

                                                [2]                                                                   [1]

           Every 10th month, National Indigenous People Month 2024, is the time to support the rights, culture, and traditions of the Indigenous communities here in the Philippines. This year is also the 27th year anniversary of the IPRA: A law that upholds the rights of the IPs over their ancestral lands, self-determination, and culture heritage. The theme "Mga Katutubo at Katutubong Dunong: Pahalagahan, Pangalagaan at Parangalan" speaks of respect and support to the people and their societies.

          This will assist in sustaining and conserving Indigenous rights by educating people about their culture. Some of the functions, like cultural performance, art display, and dialogue, will be a move forward to the understanding and appreciation of the traditions and wisdom from the Indigenous communities. For example, their way of handling the environment is very educative concerning sustainability. The shared experience of people will be appreciative and respectful of Indigenous culture that could reduce discrimination or even criticism.

          And finally, this is a celebration to honor the indigenous people and their identity. They share this with others in music, dances, and stories. It ensures their culture remains alive while the youth in their community remain proud of their origins. The theme reminds each of us to take care and be worthy of their knowledge for their sake as well as future generations.

          This is to give respect and support to Indigenous communities since this raises awareness, protects their rights, and celebrates the culture. This reminds everybody of their wisdom and traditions as the identity of the Philippines, being protected for years to come.

REFERENCES:

             [1] QueenaPadron. (2021, December 24). GEE2- Philippine Indigenous Communities - QueenaPadron - Medium. Medium. https://queenapadron02929.medium.com/gee2-philippine-indigenous-communities-1bdfa2fadd9

             [2] Empowering the indigenous people through social enterprise | British Council. (n.d.). https://www.britishcouncil.ph/programmes/society/magazine/empowering-indigenous-people

                          

                          The Indigenous Peoples Rights Act of 1997 (Republic Act No. 8371). (n.d.). https://www.wipo.int/tk/en/databases/tklaws/articles/article_0017.html

                        Busybee. (n.d.). National Commission on Indigenous Peoples. www.foi.gov.ph. https://www.foi.gov.ph/agencies/ncip/

Break the Prevalence, End the Violence: Protecting Children, Creating a Safe Philippines.

Crhm. (2018, January 2). Gallup: Filipinos, happiest in 2017. Crossroads Hostel Manila. https://www.crossroadshostelmanila.com/2018/01/02/gallup-filipinos-happiest-in-2017/

    The Celebration of National Children's Month in 2024 reminds one of how crucial it is to protect children and keep them safe. This year's theme, "Break the Prevalence, End the Violence: Protecting Children, Creating a Safe Philippines," calls everyone together to stop violence and abuse against children. Here, it puts forth stronger actions towards a right protection of children and making the country safer and able to provide healthy surroundings for growth, learning, and thriving for children.

    There exist forms of violence against children; such examples include physical harm, emotional abuse, or even neglect. All these take place in places that are usually regarded as the safest, for instance, within schools and communities where the child resides. By raising awareness about these issues, the celebration encourages individuals, families, and organizations to take responsibility for creating environments where children feel secure and respected. All people contribute to creating a society that raises children's rights.

    In fact, this theme inspires hope for a better future of the Filipino children. By breaking the cycle of violence, we give them the opportunity to dream and reach their full potential. A safe environment allows children to focus on their education, develop healthy relationships, and contribute positively to society. Protecting these children today promises a brighter and stronger Philippines tomorrow. Let this be the month that calls out the best of us all, to stand up together for the well-being of every child.

Climate Change and Resiliency of Filipinos.

    

Climate crisis. (n.d.). https://serp-p.pids.gov.ph/feature/public/index-view?feauredtype_id=1&slug=climate-crisis

    Climate change, one of the biggest problem filipino’s are suffering right now. It causes strong typhoons—recently, there are 4 typhoons that passed the philippines—and rising of sea levels. These changes affects the life of filipino’s, especially those leaving near the ocean or sea, and areas that are prone to flooding. Climate change occurs when abusing and taking earth for granted, such as cutting too much trees, using too much plastic, and relying on dirty fuels like coal and oil.

    One reason the environment is changing is deforestation, where trees are cut or removed to make new cities, roads, and etc. Trees help us balance the climate and protect us from floods and landslides such as the sierra madre mountain range that is full of trees. Another problem is pollution—air, water, and land—this occurs when people are using too much plastics or the company is releasing too much waste from factories, which harms the marine life and makes life harder to those people who are selling fishes for money.

    Even with these challenges, Filipinos are strong and work together to recover from disasters. People help each other rebuild homes and find solutions. But being resilient is not enough. We need better solutions, like protecting forests, using clean energy, and learning how to care for the environment. By working together, we can make the Philippines a safer and better place for everyone, even with the effects of climate change.