July in full swing

Freedom, or the lack of it, was July's entrée for the Filipinos: Freedom from physical and environmental ailments, from fear, from deception; Freedom to etch a name amidst the country's blemished image.

The onset of July saw late president Corazon Aquino with her health a serious decline. Aquino, diagnosed with colon cancer in 2008, was active in the country's politics albeit her deteriorating condition. In late June, she was brought to the hospital due to loss of appetite. Throughout July, prayers for her recovery were held, even by their political foes, the Marcoses.

Local effort of Tabontabon, Leyte to reduce causes of global warming was unveiled early in July. The bamboo taxis were commissioned to replace the motorcycle, the town's main but dangerous mode of transportation. Town mayor Rustico Balderian wanted transportation that is “low-cost, fuel-efficient, safe, and environmentally friendly.” The ECO 1 taxi is covered in woven mat and can seat up to 20 people while the ECO 2 is equipped with a sound system and can accommodate eight people.

International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) worker Eugenio Vagni was finally released by the Abu Sayyaf on July 12 after six months of captivity. He was turned over to negotiator and Sulu vice governor Lady Ann Sahidul'a. The Italian worker said that his abductors treated him well although he also suffered from diarrhea and weakness due to constant transfer of location. The 62-year-old added that he harbored no ill-feelings toward his captors, even asking the government to forgive them. The government also reported that no ransom was paid for the release of the last ICRC kidnap victim, declaring that the PhP 50,000 given to the Abu Sayyaf after Vagni's release was not an amount substantial enough to be considered a violation of its 'no-ransom' policy.

Also in July, the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park made it to the elite final 28 list of the New7Wonders of Nature. Out of 440 participants, only 28 were chosen to compete until the announcement of the Official New7Wonders of Nature in 2011. Also included in the roster are the Amazon Rainforest, the Dead Sea, the Grand Canyon, the Great Barrier Reef, and the Matterhorn.

It rained protests on President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's 9^th and final State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 27. Manila archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales encouraged Arroyo to “tell the truth” in her SONA, although highlighting her administration's accomplishments was not entirely to be omitted, however, she must inform the nation of what it may face in the year ahead. University of the Philippines (UP) professor Randy David, on the other hand, expressed his doubts and maintained that it was necessary for Arroyo to let the people know the real deal. Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) drew at least 15,000 people (including other activist groups) to Commonwealth, Quezon City, as part of a week-long demonstration against Arroyo's possible extension in office and pushing of Charter change. The demonstrators burned a 12-foot papier-mâché effigy of Arroyothat depicted her as an ugly decaying corpse on a throne on a bulldozer. Iggy Rodriguez, one of the Ugat Lahi makers of the effigy, said that the bulldozer represented Charter change. Meanwhile, Gabriela party list Rep. Liza Maza donned a protest gown when she attended the 3^rd regular session of Congress. The gown was made of katsa (cloth used for flour sacks), accentuated with wooden beads and hand-painted by artist Boy Dominguez with an image of Arroyo sewing a piece of embroidery that repredents the constitutional assembly, its threads strangling the people below.

The cheaper medicines law was signed in July and took effect on August 15, halving the prices of five drugs: anti-hypertensive amlodipine, anti-cholesterol atorvastatin, antibiotic azithromycin, and cancer drugs cytarabine and doxorubicin. Also included were 16 more drugs. Drugstores and hospitals were expected to start conforming with the price slash until September 15 or face penalty.

The National Artist Award was beseiged by controversies and questions of integrity when President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo altered some of the selections, leading to a controversial proclamation of awardees. The inclusion of Carlo J. Caparas and Cecile Guidote-Alvarez roused the ire of artists and past recipients of the award. National Artist for Literature Virgilio Almario, also a member of the deliberation committee, condemned Arroyo's “meddling with the system of selecting National Artists” and “people taking advantage of this presidential privilege by submitting their names directly to the President.” Caparas' winning was also questioned since critics claimed that he did not illustrate his comics himself and his films “lack any intellectual substance” to be lauded for the National Artist for Films award.

Ending terrorism and the lasting bond between the United States of America and the Philippines were the highlights of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's meeting with US President Barack Obama on July 31. The meeting lasted for 30 minutes, capping the government's counter-terrorism dealings and the role of the US in the “economic, diplomatic, and national security of the country.”

Photos:

“Cory Corazon Aquino” by Louie D., c/o Flickr. Some Rights Reserved
“Arriving at the Delta” by B. E. C. F., c/o Flickr. Some Rights Reserved
“Huwag Babuyin ang National Artist Award!” by rico quimbo, c/o Flickr. Some Rights Reserved