People's initiative to
hog front pages

One has to give it to Speaker Jose De Venecia. His ploy of "people's initiative" for Cha-cha is sure to stir up a major controversy - even a legal suit - within the next few days and weeks. The legal imbroglio over the issue is sure to drown out all other major issues against President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

It can even drown out the push by the opposition for presidential resignation. After all, with the survey results being presented showing the growing unpopularity of the President, what can stand against the massive endorsement she had received from the people's initiative down to the barangay level?

It may not convince the Senate yet to favor Constitutional Change by Constituent Assembly, but it certainly can make a lot of them re-think their positions vis-à-vis to determined effort by the House to convince the upper chamber to vote for Con-As.

Of course, one must recognize that the two principal authors of the people's initiative are both De Venecia and DILG Secretary Ricardo Puno. The latter, though, asked his hands off the exercise, pointing out that there is nothing in the law that precludes local barangay officials from addressing the issue of Cha-cha.

Yesterday, the Philippine STAR quoted De Venecia as saying that seven senators and Rep. Constantino Jaraula will go for the Con-As.

De Venecia is reportedly poised to invite members of the Senate to a joint session with the House to discuss the constitutional amendments.

That contradicts the collective position by the upper chamber that they are against amending the Constitution through a constituent assembly.

Otherwise, if the Senate refused to abide with that decision, the House will go lone with the move. That remains a highly debatable question, the House contending that the Constitution merely providing that Congress votes by a ¾ majority to amend the Constitution.

Anyway, the political row is bound to subordinate all other issues. That could provide relief for the embattled administration.

And to be honest about it, that people's initiative was sort of sprung as a surprise on the opposition. That put them in complete disarray. There were outcries against it, but these were mostly press statements. The anti-GMA forces and those against constitutional change through people's initiative were caught flatfooted. There was hardly any mobilization of the masses against the proposal which were, in some places, pushed through by village or barangay chairmen.

The Church, too, was caught with its flag down. There was hardly a murmur heard from even such outspoken critic as Bishop Vicente Navarra. Other than some militant organizations, such as Bayan, no Church leader of any import came forward for or against the proposition. Thus, barangay residents of areas where the issue was presented, came out without any guidance on the issues involved or the implications if they vote for or against people's initiative.

Anyway, I think, what we now can do it watch for the fireworks to occupy the national interest as both Houses now harden their positions on it. But when served by a fait accomplice the only recourse will be to bring it to court. But the question - how long will it take the high tribunal to rule on its legality? There are too many weight legal questions still waiting for the Supreme Court to tackle. And, based on our judicial system, it may take a long time for the court to decide the issue.

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That was a masterful presentation on the sugar industry which Administrator James Ledesma gave during Saturday's sugar forum at the L'Fisher Hotel. Ledesma trace the bullish scenario for Philippine sugar as he masterfully presented the influence of the world sugar market on domestic millgate prices that rose to as high as P1,300 per Lkg. last week. That, to a certain extent, was influenced by the parity prices between import and export sugar, he added.

Later, Luis Tongoy, chair of the Confederation of Sugar Producers Associations Negros Panay Chapter, came out with another reason to boost Ledesma's call for sugar farmers to produce more sugar for next crop year. Not only is there a two-million ton deficit predicted by the International Sugar Organization, Tongoy cited the latest report from Beijing through AsiaPulse which said that China produced 3.62 million tons of drinks covering the first months of this year, or an increase of 24.3 percent over the same period last year.

"Statistics show that the country's output of a alcohol-free drinks reached 5.46 million tons in Jan., or 26.5 percent over last year during the same period, but it also included 3.62 million tons of drinks containing sugar. This is up by 24.37 percent. China is 1995 also produced 13.86 million tons of tinned and bottled water.

More important is the increase of drinks of 24.3 percent over the same period last year, Tongoy said.

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The Lydia Gaston School of Dance will present the classical ballet, La Bayadere (The Temple Dancer) on Saturday, April 1, starting 7 p.m. at the USLS Coliseum.

La Bayadere is an ancient poem which tells of a tragic love between the Bayadere Nikiya (Alexis B. Lizares) and Solor (Andrew Peralta). The latter is a noble warrior obligated by Rajah Dugmanta to wed his daughter, Princess Gamzatti (Tina R. Abello).

The Rajah and his daughter plot the murder of Nikiya upon learning of Solor's love for her. Nikiya's death drives Solor to the brink of insanity.

In his sorrow, Solor seeks Nikiya inviting him to join her in the Kingdom of the Shades. In their final dance together, they find a measure of happiness among the spirits of other maidens who have died to unquoted love.

Other featured artists include Mayen Lizares as the high priestess and Leopher Bonotano as Magdayevo, the Fakir leader. Other feature soloists are Kyra Escanan, Pauline Manaloto, Krishia Maillaines and Adrienne Montelibano.*

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