(Me maxima culpa: Quite spectacularly, I paid tribute to President Magsaysay the day before his actual birth anniversary.  His 99th birth anniversary is today.

Today is the birth anniversary of President Ramon Magsaysay.  Under normal circumstances, a proclamation would have been issued by now, kicking off a Ramon Magsaysay Centennial Year, since next year marks the centennial of his birth (and the fiftieth anniversary of his death).  But no such executive issuance has been made.The Philippines Free Press blog has several articles on Magsysay, from his being named Man of the Year for 1951, the story of the Nacionalista Party convention that proclaimed him the party’s candidate, his colossal popularity, and his first day in office, to the manner in which Magsaysay distinguished between personal and official expenses, and attacks from his critics as well as his final hours: all make for an engrossing story.Watch Dirty Dancing with Gloria, a CENPEG production.

comelec AKO, who also works for the Comelec, says the various opposing petitions contain strong arguments.Biggest loser under the parliamentary system?  Overseas Filipinos.Central Luzon proclaimed liberated from Communism.Palace official gives up on reconciliation, belatedly recognizes that democracy requires an opposition, and admits that the cause of impeachment strikes a chord in the public.President gets cranky at the beach….  Rejects students having to retake exams en masse.President’s husband returns after meeting with German bankers.Cagas debates Oscar Cruz on canon law: a no-brainer.Secretary of the Interior suspends two mayors.Brit businessmen ticked off at President.The benefits of belonging to the Chinese Communist Party.In Thailand, Thaksin reminded he needs credibility to be sympathetic.In Taiwan, a besieged President waffles over media appearances.Google Earth fanatics.In the punditocracy, Tony Abaya, who is for the parliamentary system, however rejects the present proposal.

Thank you to readers who caught the deliberate resemblance to the style of the late Joe Guevera.Amando Doronila argues something I’ve pointed out often enough here and in private: the President’s check-mated opposition to her by keeping events bottled up in Metro Manila….  I recall an activist for indigenous people’s rights saying something at a symposium some months ago: “you people in Metro Manila are lucky you can still complain; in the provinces we can’t do that; if we tried to protest in our areas the governors and mayors would never let it happen.”For example, protests have taken place in other metropolitan areas: in Cebu, in Davao, in Baguio, the same places where remarkable protests took place, too, both in 1986 and 2001, except they were overshadowed by events in Manila.  In those places, urban development means there’s also more democratic space.And Doronila also overlooks something that the President, in league with the military, has been able to do: precisely prevent non-Manilans from joining protests in the metropolis.

SoShale feels let down by all leaders with the impeachment.  So did s.i.l.i.d.  while just plain paranoid worries about the military.Yosi Tayo Para Astig is skeptical about the parliamentary system.

The inevitable started at 2am and as of this writing, is still going on.In the punditocracy, my column for today is Pinautusang Manok.Juan Mercado on the Redemptorists.

See Inq7.net’s report on the preparations for this afternoon’s and this evening’s goings-on in the House of Representatives.4:19 Leaving nothing to chance, the administration’s been careful to pack the galleries with its supporters in preparation for the “marathon session” on the Committee on Justice rump report on the last impeachment complaint.

Arroyo Administration Ready to Try Everything to Get Charter Change Manuel L. Quezon III   A pincer movement is taking place. The leadership of the Philippine House of Representatives says it is a handful of votes shy from attempting something novel in the history of bicameral legislatures. Because of a vaguely-worded provision in the current [...]

The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance has some glorious charts and maps we used.I pointed out this blog entry by Blurry Brain, which in turn pointed to an article in The Financial Times: Sue Cameron’s Leadership deals that demean democracy (registration required).It’s worth considering that Italy is considering adopting features of the presidential system.  So is India, which has been under the parliamantary system for over half a century.

Bishop refuses to be part of Presidential commission.  No word on Justice Melo.Prospero Nograles: What are we in power for?Pending investigation?  Send ‘em overseas!Read the latest Palace contribution to checks and balances: Memorandum Circular No.