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Part XX of “The Filipino Melting Pot” Series
Many Overseas-Filipino workers (OFWs) and Filipino Melting Pot (FMP) leaders hailed a report that the Philippine Congress will allegedly start, on Monday, October 6, 2025, a legislative process to enact a law creating a local version of England’s historic Magna Carta. However, Philippine Daily Mirror (PDM) editorial staff members advise readers to exercise caution when considering the information received by this columnist regarding the “Filipino Magna Carta Bill” (FMCB). The said information needs further verification.
In case readers have forgotten what the Magna Carta is, here are the facts. It is a historic English charter from 1215. It established the principle that everyone, including the king, is subject to the law; it guarantees civil and religious liberties for free men (and women, later); and lays the foundation for individual rights. King John signed it under pressure from his barons. it was initially a mere symbol of resistance to royal overreach and abuses. It became an international symbol, nay, term synonymous with liberty. It inspired the creation of documents such as the United States of America’s Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, as adopted by member countries of the United Nations in 1948, as well as its predecessor, the League of Nations, established during World War I.
The Magna Carta had a significant influence on the creation of the U.S. Constitution, which was drafted during the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. It was signed on September 17, 1787. It was then sent to the states for ratification, and the process was completed when New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify it on June 21, 1788, thereby establishing it as the official framework for the U.S. government.
As relayed by several Filipino Fourth-Estate members, the final draft of the “Filipino Magna Carta Bill” (FMCB) allegedly combines three other proposed bills. The three separate legislative pieces were said to have been filed also in both the Philippine House of Representatives and the Philippine Senate. The FMCB authors decided to invite the other proponents and consolidate their proposals into one major piece of legislation.
The alleged three proposed competing bills that would be incorporated in the FMCB are reform initiatives. They are reportedly identified by their acronyms (in alphabetical order), namely: the DIGONG bill, the JUDASA initiative, and the SARA legislative idea.
” …Filipinos have an inborn sixth and seventh senses: Sense of Humor and Common Sense”. There are more than 16 million Overseas Filipinos and OFWs with the two additional senses. However, some members of the Filipino Melting Pot argue that some Filipino public officials possess an 8th sense, and that is “Nonsense”. Wow!”
Allegedly, DIGONG is the acronym of a bill that calls for the organization of a “Department to Investigate Graft, Outlandish Nepotism and Gangsterism”. Apparently, it has been reported that DIGONG will not be under the jurisdiction of the Philippine Department of Justice. However, it will be an ad hoc entity that will investigate the nationwide controversies surrounding flood-control and other infrastructure or public works “ghost projects”. Yes, as stated to be funded by the Philippine Congress, signed into law by the Philippine President, and disbursed by his Executive Department.
JUDASA is the alleged proposed acronym for “Justice for Under-the-table Deals for Acquiring Stolen Assets.”
SARA stands for the reported acronym “Seizure of Assets Resulting from Anomalies.”
This columnist asked fellow OFWS, immigrants, and Americans of Filipino descent if they have heard of the proposed FMCB. Some Sorsoganon-American pundits and humorists allege that what they heard from their kin is a different connotation of “Magna Carta”. They report that “Magna Carta” is meant to be the shorter term for “MAGNAnakaw nang C(u)ARTA ng Bayan”. It translates to “Thieves of Public Money” in English.
Some Filipino-American PDM readers in the Big Apple retorted that they have been using the “Mammonized” term for the longest time — as mentioned in Parts 18 and 19 of this series. But their “Mamon” has only two M’s, and to them “Mamoniced” (with a C and not a Z) means eating a “Mamon (Filipino sponge cake) with iced coffee or chocolate. Nevertheless, this columnist has always been right every time he writes that “Filipinos have an inborn sixth and seventh senses: Sense of Humor and Common Sense”. There are more than 16 million Overseas Filipinos and OFWs with the two additional senses. However, some members of the Filipino Melting Pot argue that some Filipino public officials possess an 8th sense, and that is “Nonsense”. Wow!
