Click here for Larry Leviste’s account of the Imeldific celebration.
I had two interesting coverages yesterday. One was the National Day reception at the US Embassy and the other was Imelda Marcos 80th birthday bash at Hotel Sofitel.
My cellphone battery gave way and here’s the few photos I got.
Mrs. Marcos,in a bright pink terno and bedecked with jewelry, had a special guest, Dewi Sukarno, the controversial former First Lady of Indonesia.
Update from the Inquirer:
Palace makes a clean breast of GMA implant
Jarius Bondoc confirms GMA mammoplasty. See article in comments.
I can’t believe this.
But this news item came out in the conservative newspaper Manila Bulletin.
GMA medical checkup OK
by Jonathan M. Hicap, Charissa M. Luci
July 2, 2009, 6:03pm
President Arroyo underwent removal and replacement of breast silicone implants at a hospital in Muntinlupa City, a source told the Manila Bulletin.
Meanwhile, a Palace official announced that President Arroyo has ended her two-day self imposed quarantine “with a clean bill of health,” and is expected to resume public engagements “in a few days.”
The informant, who requested anonymity since the source was not authorized to speak about the matter, said the President was scheduled to undergo augmentation mammoplasty at the Asian Hospital and Medical Center in Alabang, Muntinlupa.
Marichu Maceda shared with members of media a “shocking” conversation with her eight-year old grandson, Max, to underscore how Gloria Arroyo’s cheating of the 2004 elections has destroyed our concept of elections as a tool for good governance and an expression of democracy.
Manay Ichu said Max asked her how to contact “Garci”, former Comelec Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano because he wants him to transfer one million votes to his Lola Gina de Venecia, who will be running as representative for the fourth district of Pangasinan.
Aghast, Manay Ichu said she had to lecture Max on the evils of cheating and the punishment that comes with violating the law and displeasing God. Max, she said, was baffled and asked, “Why is Gloria Arroyo not punished?’
Hindi pa malinaw ang lahat ngunit mukhang sinasabotahe ng kasakiman ng mga nasa kapangyarihan ang computerization of 2010 na eleksyon.
Nabahala ang marami noong Lunes ng sinabi ni Comelec Chair Jose Melo na umatras ang Total Information Management, ang Filipino na partner ng Smartmatic Corp, ang nanalo na kumpanya na taga Barbados sa $7.2 bilyon na kontrata para magiging computerized ang bilangan sa eleksyon simula sa 2010.
Iba-iba ang lumalabas na dahilan. Isa dyan ang pagpipilit ng TIM na sila ang may kontrol ng operasyon dahil sila ang mas may malaking share ayun sa ating Constitution na 60 per cent ang sa Pilipino at 40 ang sa mga banyaga.
From Malaya:
‘Mr. X’ wanted piece of the action
Final control by Smartmatic Corp., the foreign partner in the election computerization project of the Commission on Elections, of how the contracted P7.2 billion cost of the project will be spent is the reason Total Information Management, the Filipino partner, decided to dump the partnership.
TIM rejected the proposal of Smartmatic, saying this was contrary to the nature of a joint venture and “would expose it to possible violations of Philippine laws.”
TIM’s fear of exposure to “possible violation of Philippine laws,” sources familiar with the deal said, was prompted by the entry of a person with the highest political connections into the deal as a “carried” partner.”