2. Motivation:
1. What do you know about the impeachment of
Chief Justice Renato Corona? Was it discussed in
school? What did people say at the time?
2. Why is it important for government officials to
declare their SALN or Statement of
Assets,Liabilities, and Networth? What does it have
to do with good governance?
3. Do you think that the process of impeachment is
important for a nation or is it just a distraction from
what is more important? Explain your answer.
3. BACKGROUND KNOWLEDGE
In December 2011, Chief Justice Renato Corona was
impeached by the Philippine Senate, with 16 senators
voting to impeach him and three senators voting for
acquittal.He was impeached because he did not declare
183 million pesos in his SALN. a public document
required for all government officials . The declaration of
assets and liabilities in the SALN ensures that public
officials do not accept bribes or are not prone to
corruption; Chief Justice Corona's non-declaration of
assets close to 200 million pesos hinted suspicion
regarding the source of these funds and that these may
be considered ill-gotten wealth.
4. In prior case, a court interpreter, Delsa Flores was fired after
she had failed to declare a market stall in her SALN. The
senators who impeached Corona stated that the law should
apply to all. One can interpret the event as a victory over
corruption, but in the Philippines, this is not as simple as it
looks. Others interpret the event as a political move by the
Aquino administration to take away the obstruction blocking
them from prosecuting former President Gloria Arroyo. Be
that as it may,it was a political exercise that showed that the
checks and balances in the Philippine government are alive
and well, and that no one is above the law.
The following poem explores the concept of justice and how it
is applied in Philippine society. Although it is about the
Supreme Court, in particular,, it also reflects other problems
of the philippine government
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16. Guide Questions:
1. Why are symbols important in poem? Explain what
some of the symbols mean, and how they add to the
meaning of the poem.
2. Why are symbols important in the life of a nation?
3. Why does the poem describe the Philippines as
"my uncertain country"?
4. What does the simile, "right and wrong can be
shuffled like cards"mean? What does this
meannwhen it comes to any of the following:politics
and politicians, the police, and the justice system?
17. 5.What is the poem trying to say about the difference
between justice in the Philippines and justice anywhere
else?
6. Of all the objects that Justice owns, which one do you
think is the most important? Why?
7. Why does Justitia look like she is fading in the
painting, "Is this Philippine Justice"?
8. Why is money mentioned in the poem?
9.Why was it important for the Chief Justice to be
impeached? What is the message for Filipino
government officials?
10. Why does the Chief Justice have to "face the music
of derision"? Is he derided,not only for his crime, but
because he was caught?
18. E N R I C H M E N T
Create a PowePoint
Presentation with your report
and insights on the
poem.Present this in class. If
you want to, you may upload
this on the Internet as well.
