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Month: June 2009

Speculations on GMA visit to Colombia

Published by Ellen on June 23, 2009

Makati Mayor Jojo Binay, who is president of the United Opposition, is asking Gloria Arroyo to explain why she detoured to Cartagena, Colombia in between her visit to Japan and Brazil last weekend.

Binay has every right to ask because he said “Arroyo is traveling on taxpayers’ expense.”

Since the Department of Foreign Affairs said they arranged only the Japan and Brazil trips and were not told about the trip to Colombia until Friday (Arroyo went to Colombia Saturday and left for Brazil Monday) and Malacañang does not want to say anything about it, the secret visit has become fair game to speculations.

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Neda: Iran’s symbol of protest

Published by Ellen on June 23, 2009

As we continue our apathy in the face of the destruction of our democracy by Gloria Arroyo, Iran sizzles to regain their democracy.

Amateur video turns woman into icon of Iran’s unrest
MSBC

She lies in the Tehran street with her headscarf half-off, blood pooling around her jeans and white sneakers.

“Don’t be afraid, Neda dear, don’t be afraid,” a white-haired man says desperately in Persian. Another man presses on her chest, trying to keep her alive.

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Walang paki-alam si Arroyo

Published by Ellen on June 22, 2009

Kung walang masama na binabalak si Gloria Arroyo, madali naman niyang sabihin na pagdating ng Hunyo 30,2010 bababa na siya sa Malacañang dahil yun naman talaga ang nakasaad sa Constitution.

Sa totoo lang, sa bawat minuto na nasa Malacañang si Arroyo ay paglapastangan sa batas at Constitution dahil hindi naman talaga siya binoto, kailan man, ng sambayanang Pilipino. Inagaw niya ang pagka-presidente noong Enero 2001 at nandaya siya noong May 20004. ‘Yan ang sinasabi ni Susan Roces na, “You stole the presidency not once but twice.”

Kaya lang sa sobrang kabaitan ng Pilipino, parang nagiging doormat na tayo. Tinatapakan na hindi pa rin uma-alma. Ayaw kasi nating ng gulo. Kahit harap-harapan na tayo niloloko, okay lang basta walang gulo. Hindi natin naiisip ang mas malaking gulong idinudulot ng isang ilegal na administrasyon.

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Italian enchantment

Published by Ellen on June 21, 2009

I try not to miss the national day celebration of Italy because the embassy here always comes up with something creative that showcases the magnificent Italian culture.

Under the energetic Ambassador Rubens Anna Fedele, receptions are not confined to hotels. Last year, it was held at the Metropolitan Museum which at that time had a superb exhibits of old maps. Guests had the pleasure of viewing the maps while having cocktails.

They had a recipe book of Italian dishes and a directory of Italian restaurants in Metro Manila.. Then there was the concert of music by Italian composers.

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Villar, Honasan, Trillanes, Lim at a wedding

Published by Ellen on June 20, 2009

villarsonnykim-gringo

by Tarra Quismundo
Philippine Daily Inquirer

A presidential aspirant, two military rebels elected senators and a jailed Army general hoping to follow suit: Could this foreshadow what is to come in 2010?

Known presidential hopeful Senator Manuel Villar, Senators Gregorio Honasan and Antonio Trillanes IV, and jailed Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim were seen in a rare gathering on Saturday, when they attended the wedding of Trillanes’ brother Jay.

And when someone joked they were together to hatch a plot as they posed together for pictures, Trillanes, the youngest of the group, answered with a smile: “May pinaplano para sa mabuti [We’re planning for something good].”

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Biyaheng Colombia ni Gloria Arroyo

Published by Ellen on June 20, 2009

Sa mga press release ng Malacañang tungkol sa biyahe ni Gloria Arroyo sa Japan (Hunyo 17 hanggang 20) at Brazil (Hunyo 22 hanggang 25), walang sinasabi tungkol sa Colombia.

Napag-alaman ng VERA Files noong Biyernes na pag-alis ni Arroyo sa Tokyo ng Sabado, siya ay pupunta sa Cartagena, Colombia. Buong araw ngayon ay sa Colombia siya at pupunta siya sa Brazil bukas.

Napag-alaman din namin na ang host niya sa Colombia ay ang negosyanteng si Jaime Augusto Zobel at ang kanyang asawang si Lizzie. Pangalawang beses na raw ito na bumisita si Arroyo sa Colombia at sina Zobel at tumira siya sa bahay ng mga Zobel doon. Ang una ay noong November 2008 galing siya sa Peru kung saan dumalo siya sa Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit.

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Garcia walks on perjury rap, but plunder charge remains

Published by Ellen on June 18, 2009

by Peter Tabingo
Malaya

Maj. Gen. (ret.) Gen. Carlos Garcia scored his third win against government prosecutors yesterday after the Sandiganbayan First Division acquitted him on a perjury case alleging that he failed to disclose the total value of his properties in his 1997 statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN).

In a 25-page decision penned by Associate Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo, the graft court held that government lawyers failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt that Garcia stated a deliberate falsehood when he failed to declare ownership of three vehicles in his SALN.

Continue readingGarcia walks on perjury rap, but plunder charge remains