Boston Celtics sign Rasheed Wallace

BOSTON — Rasheed Wallace is joining Boston's Big Three as the Celtics hope the four-time All-Star will help them recapture the NBA championship.

Wallace, known for his shooting, rebounding and technical fouls, signed on Wednesday, the first day free agents were allowed to do so.

One of the most coveted players available, Wallace joins Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen as the veteran corps of a team that lost to Orlando in seven games in the Eastern Conference semifinals one year after winning its 17th NBA title.

Terms of the reported two-year deal were not released. Wallace earned $13.68 million last season, his last of a five-year contract with the Detroit Pistons.

The 2.11-meter (6-foot-11) Wallace can play the low post and has exceptional shooting range. He averaged 12 points for the Pistons last year, the 14th straight season in which he's scored at least 10 per game.

Celtics general manager Danny Ainge said the team was "ecstatic" to add a player with Wallace's talent and championship experience. He won a title with Detroit in 2004.

Wallace, a starter for his entire career, expects to back up Garnett at power forward and Kendrick Perkins at center. Garnett is expected to be at full strength when the season starts after he had postseason knee surgery.

Wallace has averaged 15 points and 6.9 rebounds with 1.4 blocks while playing almost 34 minutes per game in his 14 seasons. Now he must adjust to a backup role after starting 943 of his 1,009 regular-season games.

He also must try to keep his temper in check.

His 41 technical fouls in 2000-01 while with Portland still stands as the NBA's single-season record. During the 2008 playoffs, the league fined him $25,000 for his expletive-laced criticism of officials Mike Callahan and Kenny Mauer.

When the season starts, Wallace will be 35, Allen 34, Garnett 33 and Pierce 32. But Ainge said last week that the Big Three could play with Boston beyond their current contracts.

Allen has one year left on his deal, Pierce has two and Garnett has three. - AP

Is Charter Change the Answer of Crisis?

Charter Change, also known as "Cha-Cha" in the Philippines, refers to the political and other related processes involved in amending or revising the current 1987 Constitution of the Philippines. Under the current constitution there are three modes of which it could be amended: people's initiative (PI), constituent assembly and constitutional convention. All three would lead to a referendum wherein the proposed amendment/s or revision/s has to be approved by the majority of Filipinos in order to be adopted.

Under President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, there were more solid attempts to change the 1987 constitution. Charter change was included in Arroyo’s election campaign platform during the 2004 elections and was considered as a high prority.[2] After winning the 2004 elections, President Arroyo by virtue of Executive Order No. 453,[3] created the Consultative Commission[4] headed by Dr. Jose V. Abueva. The task of the Consultative Commission was to propose the "necessary" revisions on the 1987 constitution after various consultation with different sectors of society. After about a year of consultations, the Consultative Commission came up with proposals[5] that included: a shift to a unicameral parliamentary form of government; economic liberalization; further decentralization of national government and more empowerment of local governments via transition to a parliamentary-federal government system.[6] While Charter change and "opening up" of the Philippine economy are generally supported by small to mid size businesses in the country (such as Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP)),[7] it is opposed by the powerful Makati Business Club (MBC).[8]

Nowadays, Philippines' current situation is very critical in a sense that it faces not only economic crises but also in a so calles AH1n1 virus. Due to that virus, the mediaand the people of the country concentrates their attention to that health issues rather than that of "Cha -cha."

one of my professor in colleget told us not to be scared of that virus instead focus on the government possible steps towards "Cha-cha". The government is trying to divert the attention of the masses by means of the H1n1 scares from "Cha-cha". Hmmm.. there's something fishy isn't it? hehehe...

AS members of the clergy committed to our prophetic task and stewardship role among our people, we regard the Constitution of the Philippines as the embodiment of our nation’s aspirations. Its integrity must be respected and all the efforts to amend any of its provisions must take into account the people’s participation through duly-constituted bodies, which should be given enough time to work on the desired amendments at the right time.
We denounce any scheme to have any part of the Constitution changed before the national elections in 2010. We condemn the railroading of the passage of HR 1109 by the House of Representatives. We question the self-serving interests of the anti-people dynasties that are manipulating a Charter revision to perpetuate themselves in power.

Well, is it "cha-cha" makes advantageous to many or for just what we call a polital interest??