5th Country to Ratify the ASEAN Charter

My first prediction came true, Cambodia will be the next country to ratify the Asean Charter and so it was. Today Yesterday, February 26 25, 2008, the Cambodian National Assembly unanimously approved the ASEAN Charter.

Pen Pagna, Chairman of the legislation and justice committee of the parliament said that the ASEAN Charter can help Cambodia to "rule by law and walk to democracy and development". They are also very much interested in the economic and social integration with their ASEAN neighbors, as laid down and written in the ASEAN Charter.

This is great news, Cambodia showing interest and believes in the ASEAN Charter as a tool for democracy and the rule of law. This can be used as a leverage for Myanmar (Burma). The ASEAN Charter is now approved by half of its 10-member states. First was Singapore last January 7, 2008; then Brunei last February 15, 2008; third is Malaysia on February 18, 2008; Laos fourth, on February 20, 2008; and now Cambodia, February 26 25, 2008.

The next five that will ratify it are (in the following order of my prediction): VietNam, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, Myanmar.

Thailand already said that they will ratify it by June; Philippines gave word that they will start its ratification anytime soon. Indonesia on the other hand will seem to have some problems ratifying the it, but I am still optimistic that they will approve the ASEAN Charter before Thailand.

VietNam, being one of the countries that most benefited from ASEAN is set to ratify it next, and if you are not aware, VietNam is the most active ASEAN member to date having hosted many functions in different ASEAN sectors, as well as boasting how ASEAN could implement the ASEAN Economic Integration by 2010, 5 years ahead of schedule.

Philippines and Myanmar, I see the Philippines ratifying it before Myanmar, as the former already gave a statement on their change-of-heart. This is good, as once 9-member states ratify the Asean Charter, Myanmar will feel the pressure to ratify it before the 14th Asean Summit this December at Bangkok, Thailand, where it all began.

In fact, there will be a celebration already scheduled for the ratification of the ASEAN Charter by all 10-member countries, this will be held at the Saranrom Palace, where the ASEAN Declaration was signed on 8th of August 1967, 41 years ago by that time. Truly historic and a day to remember.

And I expect that this year's ASEAN Day, as per the ASEAN Charter, all 10-member countries must recognize, it will be a great day of celebration and the best time to spread ASEAN to the people themselves (enough of the Elite level media hyping). After all, August 8, 2008 is 888, for those who believes in numerology. What will happen on that day? I don't know, but I sure hope it will be positively memorable, and all countries declare it an official non-working holiday.

Congratulations to Cambodia! Thank you for your support of the ASEAN Charter, my Asean brothers and sisters!!

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Sources:
Cambodian NA approves ASEAN Charter
Cambodian National Assembly approves ASEAN Charter

PS
"Asia's Perfect 10" founder, Denith, told us last week that Cambodia ratified the ASEAN Charter already, but news didn't came out until today. I can only imagine how it is like to see and hear TV and Radio stations filled with "ASEAN" and the "ASEAN Charter". I have yet to see and hear reports about it here in the Philippines. Until then, I can only imagine....

Knowing More About A Hero

A part of the Filipino education curriculum is the study of the life and works of the national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal. He is the famous author of the novels Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, two of the greatest filipino literatures that sprang up the Philippine Revolution against the Spanish regime.
So, to further know about who this hero, I journeyed south from Manila to the town of Calamba in the province of Laguna to raid up the house of Jose Rizal's family.
After a two and a half trip from the capital, we arrived at the small historic town of Calamba to shoot our video documentary.
The house is said to be first stone and hardwood house in Calamba in its spanish architectural style. In 1848, Rizal's parents Francisco Mercado and Teodora Alonso moved here and in 1861, the hero was born.
Rizal's family was driven out of pressure by the spaniards and sold the house to Don Isidro for 24,000 pesos. It was totally destroyed during the World War II until it was restored by Philippine National Artist Juan Nakpil to become a shrine. It was inaugurated in 1950.
Today, the shrine serves as a museum housing different memorabilias of the hero's childhood including a statue of himself as a child and his pet dog. Visitors can visit the house everyday without any entrance fee. Taking pictures is also prohibited inside the shrine but because your naughty correspondent wanted so, he took it so!
Authorized by the curator for educational purposes, we were able to shoot scenes for our documentary inside and gave me the chance to take out my cam and take a few shots!

Rizal's statue as a child.























Outside the shrine are more relics of its noble history.


This hut is where Rizal and his siblings played.


The museum beside the shrine.





















Around the shrine is a bustling town with its rich history and culture.


The Calamba Church where Jose Rizal was baptized.




















The Well of Retraction.



















Souvenir vendors rest beside the shrine.


A tricycle driver waits by the road, ready to transport passengers to their destinations.

Laos and Brunei Ratifies the Asean Charter

Four out of ten countries of ASEAN ratified the 1st Asean Charter, the latest Laos and Brunei with the latter having ratified and submitted the "instrument of ratification" last February 15 before Malaysia.

Six more countries are still to ratify the Asean Charter namely - Cambodia, Indonesia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand and Viet Nam. All six countries have until early December to ratify the Asean Charter before the next ASEAN Summit starts.

I am predicting that the next countries to ratify it are Cambodia, Viet Nam, and Indonesia. The first two are where Asean was positively felt the most (being the newest members of the group and as reported in the ASEAN Awareness Survey) and Indonesia as being one of the founder of the grouping and being one of the most active about the Asean Charter (other than Singapore).

Congratulations to Brunei and Laos and thank you very much! This hopefully puts more pressure to the Philippines and Myanmar.

Here's the list based on reports:
1) Singapore - Submitted on: Monday, 2008-January 7
2) Brunei - Submitted on: Friday, 2008-February 15
3) Malaysia - Ratified on: Monday, 2008-February 18; Submitted on: Wednesday, 2008-February 20
4) Laos - Submitted on: Wednesday, 2008-February 20

The Asean Charter will be effective on the 30th day after the 10th instrument of ratification is submitted to the ASEAN Secretary-General Dr. Surin Pitsuwan.

Source: Press Release: Brunei Darussalam, Malaysia, and Lao PDR Ratify the ASEAN Charter (20 February 2008)