We spend most time of our days on social media, login in from network to network, checking all the emails, updates and notification, planning ahead, and performing the sundry tasks and share important information to be of help to all.
The media plays a major role in keeping the citizenry abreast of current events and raising awareness of various issues.
“Social media has become a very powerful tool and it has also become a very irresponsible tool. When you’re behind that screen, you can say and do anything, and hide,” Senator Gringo Honasan said.
He ask for media/bloggers’ help to propagate idealism, sense of duty, and love of country to those who are willing to listen.
Recently, with other bloggers, and I for the first time, met the most senior and experienced vice presidential candidate this coming election - Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan II.
Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan II, a family man, a 4-time senator, ex-military man, former coup plotter, soldier for 17 years prior to his 7 years stint as a rebel, and 18 years as senator. . . United Nationalist Alliance's vice presidential bet in 2016. He’s actually planning to retire on 2019. “But I think God wants to punish me some more and put me into this interesting situation,” he said.
“Ill put my 42 years of public service on the line and tell the people what makes me different, the strength, courage of my convictions and the audacity to make things happen. I will help solve crimes or die trying."
'I have always been a good soldier'.
As a solider, he saw action in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao and earned a number of medals, awards, decorations and commendations for gallantry in action including three Distinguished Conduct Stars, Gold Cross medals and Wounded Personnel Medals sustained in combat.
Honasan became famous for his role in the 1986 EDSA Revolution.
As a senator, his main advocacies include environmental, military, police, and agrarian reform issues.
Honasan is the sponsor of the POGI bill, also known as the Freedom of Information or People’s Ownership of Government Information Act of 2012.
Some of the bills he authored and co-authored include the Clean Air Act of 1999, Clean Water Act, National Security Policy, Disaster Risk Reduction Management Act of 2009, and Solid Waste Management Act of 2000.
On Election 2016
Senator Gringo Honasan is looking forward for a clean and honest election “I hope walang dayaan dahil.” We will create more problems than solutions. It will divide our country some more. I keep on looking for the other candidates so we can talk seriously while things are uncertain.
“This country with all its problems is still so blessed. The interesting part, all we need to do is to wake up every morning and continue breathing.”
“Is another EDSA possible? The answer to election fraud is not a protest. The answer to a malicious prosecution is not a motion for reconsideration. The malicious prosecution is not a motion for reconsideration. Honasan stressed that the answer, which we found 30 years ago, is in our hearts. As he place his hands in his chest pointing to his heart.
Hope springs eternal. I think we’ll weather this. We’ll survive this. Eleksyon lang ito, di ba? To what cost? More institution being damaged? Pati ba naman ang eleksyon ay mada-damage beyond repair? Yung judiciary, yung mga kandidato, yung siraan, personalan, di ba? Yun ba ang price ng clean and honest elections? Where is now our sense of nationhood? I cannot imagine myself allowing any of my children to go and look for another country. Aapihin lang sila roon. Dito na lang tayong lahat. But let’s fix naman our own backyard,” as Sen. Honasan opined on the coming election.
What constitute our national interest?
When you talk about a policy where we have a vacuum, we don’t have a clear economic policy, foreign policy, security policy, and everything emanates from there.
The problem really is we don’t have clear definition of what constitutes our national interests.
"We have failed to realize that our most precious, strategic, and renewable are our children, our next generation of leaders and citizens. The job of our generation is to help make the next generation of leaders and citizens smarter, healthier, stronger, happier, and safer – much needed formula for national development, long term development. "
"He (VP Jojo Binay) keeps on telling all audiences that I’m going to be his anti-crime czar. I will have to clear this up with him because I want to know exactly what it means,” Honasan said.
“If you’re talking about anti-crime, I’d rather deal with it in a generic sense. Like peace and order, it’s not something that you relegate to policemen and soldiers only. Security, safety, protection, it has to be in compassing,” he said.
Sen. Honasan wants to achieve is to bring back our OFWs by generating more job opportunities that will not require for them to leave our country anymore. "There are 14 million scattered in 200 countries all over the world,” he added.
On security and fixing the nation
“Nobody is safe anymore. That’s my take. But to me, crime is not the problem. The idea of crime is the problem. Sino ba ang gustong maging kriminal? Given a choice, bigyan ka ng trabaho, assuming hindi ka tamad, sino ang gustong maging rebelde, maging terrorist?” Honasan asked. Unfortunately, because of poverty, crime has become a lucrative idea. Crime solved in 6 months? Sen. Honasan admits that he has serious doubts with anybody who can promise that.
“Unless you are given super emergency powers and your national security adviser is Iron Man, Superman, or other superheroes. But that’s a good campaign and then that’s just a promise,” Sen. Honasan added.
"This is not going to be a quick fix. We are not going to do this overnight," he said after one blogger asked on fixing the nation.
There will be more on knowing candidates for the Election 2016.
Social media's basic role is to enlighten and educate the public and act as a neutral, objective platform for all points of view.
