My New Year’s wish: May peace and justice prevail in our land. If the Lord adds happiness, that’s a bonus.
Making life worth living.
Month: December 2007
by Ramon J. Farolan
Inquirer
First of all, belated holiday greetings go to Sen. Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes IV. I realize he has been the subject of a number of negative news items in the past few days, including an expensive full-page ad from a group calling itself “Kongreso ng . . . something.”
This young man, who has been incarcerated for more than four years with no end in sight, has stood up to powerful forces in the country, speaking out loud about the abuses of a corrupt administration. And apparently, his views—not necessarily his methods—reflect the sentiments of our people.
Update: Allaga orders probe of alleged US medling in Sulu hospital
Rasul asks US to ship out its soldiers from Sulu See complete press statement in comments below.
by Julie Alipala
Inquirer
Mindanao Bureau
Zamboanga City, Philippines — US soldiers in Sulu have apologized for ordering health officials to shut down the government-run hospital in Panamao town during night time, Sulu Governor Abdusakur Tan said Monday.
Earlier, Dr. Silak Lakkian, chief of the Panamao district hospital, said US forces led by a Master Sergeant Ronburg have threatened to shoot anybody seen at the hospital premises after 6 p.m.
by F Sionil Jose
Last November, when we were finalizing plans for the 50th anniversary conference of the Philippine Center of International PEN, I thought of convening the founding members particularly those who were at the PEN National Writers Conference in Baguio in 1958. I did not have to consult the list; when I told Virgie Moreno, the first treasurer of PEN, she said I may have to count Adrian Cristobal out because at that very moment, he was at the Makati Medical Center and very ill.
I have known Adrian since the ‘50s when I was with the old Manila Times. He used to drop by at Florentino Torres and we would have coffee or pancit bijon at those greasy Chinese restaurants in Santa Cruz.
Pablo Tariman’s Great Performances Series concluded in a dazzling performance by Russian pianist Ilya Rashkoskiy early this month at the Philamlife Theatre.
It was a return engagement for Ilya, whose spectacular 2006 performance sent Filipino music lovers asking for more. As expected, Ilya did not disappoint fans the second time around.
His December 8 concert was dedicated to dance. He started with Frederick Chopin’s “Waltzes”, followed by Alexander Scriabin’s “Valse”. He closed the first half with an energetic performance of Maurice Ravel’s La Valse that left the audience breathless.With all the musical pyrotechnics, it was like New Year in early December.
Ang Dec. 30 ay araw na ginugunita ng bayang Pilipino ang kagitingan ng ating pambansang bayani na si Jose Rizal.
Ito ang araw na binaril si Rizal sa Luneta dahil sa kanyang mga sinulat na gumigising sa mamamayang Pilipino sa pang-aapi na ginagawa ng mga kastila. Ipinaglaban ni Rizal hanggang sa kamatayan ang katotohanan
Ngunit noong Dec. 30, 2003 sa Baguio City, sinabi ni Arroyo sa harap ng monumento ni Rizal na hindi siya tatakbo sa 2004 na eleksyon dahil nakita nyang yun ang sanhi ng pagkawatak-watak ng bayan.
This is how the military treats its enlisted personnel:
Today, Philippine Army Chief Lt. Gen. Alexander Yano, through his chief of staff Brig. Gen. Ralph A. Villanueva, discharged the remaining five enlisted Army Rangers detained for almost two years without charges in Camp Capinpin, Tanay.
The order said the five are discharged “without honor” effective Dec. 25, 2007.
Statement issued by Atty. Ernesto Francisco on his filing of Motion for Reconsideration in the Manila Pen Rebellion Case against Sen. Antonio Trillanes and 16 other officers and enlisted men ( Capt. Gary C. Alejano, Ltsg. James Layug, Ltsg. Manuel G. Cabochan, Ltsg. Eugene P. Gonzalez, 2Lt. Jonnel P. Sanggalang, Ltsg. Andy G. Torrato, Ltjr. Arturo S. Pascua, Jr., Ens. Armand Pontejos, Capt. Segundino P. Orfiano, Jr., 1Lt. Billy S. Pascua, CPL. Clecarte D. Dahan, PFC. Juanito S. Jilbury, PFC. Emmanuel C. Tirador, PFC. German M. Linde, Julius J. Mesa and Cesari Yasser Gonzalez).
Atty. Francisco is handling the Nov. 29 Manila Pen rebellion case for Trillanes et al.
Today, 28 December 2007, Sen. Antonio F. Trillanes, IV and sixteen (16) other military and former military men who are accused of rebellion before the sala of Judge Elmo M. Alameda of RTC-Makati City, Branch 150, through counsel, will file a Motion for Reconsideration of the Order dated 13 December 2007 finding probable cause for the issuance of a commitment order against them.
In their Motion for Reconsideration, Sen. Trillanes and his co-accused will seek the dismissal of the rebellion charge against them on the following grounds:
Update: Upon the order of Makati Judge Elmo Alameda,Brig. Gen. Danny Lim was recommitted under the PNP Custodial Center, PNP effective today, Dec. 28, 2007.
by Victor Reyes
Malaya
Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim yesterday faced a military investigator in Camp Aguinaldo but did not participate in the provost marshal’s investigation on the standoff at the Manila Peninsula hotel in Makati City last month, which the military said was an attempt to grab power.
Lim’s lawyer, Vicente Verdadero, said they told Col. Arthur Abadilla, AFP provost marshal general, that they could not take part in the probe because the case is the subject matter of a rebellion charge being heard by Makati RTC Judge Elmo Alameda.
“You cannot investigate the same subject matter which is already pending before the court. That would unduly prejudice General Lim,” he said.
Update:Lim refused to participate in AFP provost marshal investigation. Click here for Inquirer story.
Update: Atty. Vicente Verdadero, lawyer of Brig. Gen. Danny Lim, said he was informed at about 6:30 a.m.today that his client will face investigation by the AFP Provost Marshal at 8 a.m. today.
Lumalabas ang kalituhan ni AFP Chief Hermogenes Esperon kung paano tratuhin ang mararangal na opisyal na katulad ni Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim.