Mr. Davide, sir: Is Germany in hell today?

The debates for changing the Constitution have begun in earnest. But even before things could heat up, some people are already running out of logical reasons why we should be shifting from our present 30-year-old 1987 Constitution, which we amended from the 83-year-old 1935 Constitution. Both are a unitary form of government. One such hollow argument was presented no less than by former Supreme Court chief justice Hilario Davide Jr. exactly a week ago in the Senate's first public hearing on charter change.

Davide said "a shift to a Federal form of government would be a leap to hell." Of course he was saying that there was no need to revise the 1987 Constitution because he says "it is the best in the world". Of course in the world of Davide, the 1987 Constitution is the best because he was one of the 49 members of the Constitutional Commission (con-com) appointed by Santa Cory Aquino. What a poor argument!

There is no doubt in my mind that yellow blood flows in the veins of Davide. He is the kind who genuflects to the altar of Imperial Manila, which a great majority of Cebuanos abhor with contempt! His statement will someday remind our people that there were illustrious Cebuanos who did not like Federalism because they kowtowed to politicians that ruled Imperial Manila. It reminded me that after the fall of Nazi Germany in World War II, Germany adopted a Federal/ Parliamentary system of governance and in David's mind that was a leap to hell! Hmmm…is Germany in hell today, huh?

Incidentally when the con-com was being formed, my mentor and friend, the late Philippine STAR publisher Maximo V. Soliven was asked to join the con-com. He then asked me if he should join this group. My answer to him was, "You are a journalist, but with 49 other wisecracks deliberating a new Constitution, you might end in the minority and when the new Constitution which may not be to your liking is ratified, you have no choice but to defend it against your will because of are part of the con-com." This is why, folks, there were only 49 members of the 1987 concom because Sir Max accepted my arguments and did not join this body.

After the 1987 Constitution was strangely ratified -I say strangely because the Filipinos were asked to vote "Yes for Cory, or No to a Constitution"- it was no different from the ratification of the 1974 Marcos Constitution (which came from a Constitutional Convention) which was during Martial Law and the soldiers who brought us to Camp Sergio Osmeña asked those in attendance to raise their hands if they had not yet eaten lunch yet. Of course we raised our hands…and the next day the newspapers showed to the world that the 1974 Constitution was overwhelming ratified by the Filipino people.

After the 1987 constitution was ratified Sir Max began his tirades against the 1987 Constitution, calling it "kilometric" among many other issues he raised against this so-called "Cory Constitution." How sad for Davide to lend his legal expertise to confuse or even muddle the issue of Federalism. In a debate about this issue with former governor Pablo Garcia, Davide lost miserably because there was no logical defense in keeping the 1987 Constitution, which to their minds was carved out of stone and should not be changed because it bears the name of Cory Aquino! What a shame!

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Our guests during the 888 News Forum yesterday were Mr. Allan Carvajal, President of the Cebu Travel and Tours Association (CTTA) together with Alice Queblatin, Cookie Chan, Marget Fernan Villarica, and Rianne Romano of Philippine Airlines. They announced that from January 26 to 28 (Friday to Sunday) CTTA and the Cebu Alliance of Tour Operation Specialists will hold the Cebu Travel Catalogue International 2018 at the Ayala Center Cebu.

For those people who are bitten by the so-called travel bug, it is time to troop to the Ayala Center to get your travel deals either for travel abroad or within the Philippines as these inbound or outbound tour packages featuring a special discount do not happen every day. With the Holy Week and summer approaching very fast, call this event perfectly-timed!