Month: January 2011

Behind the blogs

Published by Ellen on January 23, 2011

Today’s Sunday Inquirer is on Pinoy blogosphere. This blog together with my favorite blog, The Professional Heckler, were featured in Fe Zamora’s article,“Behind the Blogs.”

Heckling is a serious business best practiced only by professionals. Like Marcelo “Loi” Reyes Landicho, the man behind the irreverent Professional Heckler, who has been poking fun at politicians, celebrities and everyone else who gets in his line of fire.

Example is this blog posted one day in May 2010.

And the No.1 birthday message left on Sen. Mar Roxas’ answering machine…

“Hi Marrrrrrrrrr! This is Krissy! Gosh! It’s your birthday pala today! I almost forgot. Mabuti na lang, Tito Jojo Binay reminded me about it over dinner last night! Gosh, this is so embarrassing! Forgetful na talaga ang lola mo, pasensya na! Anyway, happy, happy birthday and I sincerely wish na ma-enjoy mo ang ‘yong pagiging ordinary citizen. Pakisabi kay Tita Koring, I miss her. Well, slight. Gosh! She won’t be Second Lady nga pala noh? How saaaaad! Bye, bye for now! I need to go. Oh my! Baby James, ano ba! ’Wag mong dilaan ’yang Villar bracelet. That’s dirty! Gosh this kid”

Patuloy na kababalaghan ng Maguindanao masaker

Published by Ellen on January 22, 2011

Hindi na ako magtataka kung sa kahuli-hulihan, papalabasin ng mga abogado nina Ampatuan na ang 58 na namatay noong Nob. 23, 2009 sa Maguindanao ay nag-suicide.

At siyempre, kung nag mass suicide nga ang mga ito, walang kasalanan si Datu Unsay Mayor Andal Ampatuan, Jr. at ang kanyang ama na si Andal Sr., ang kanyang kapatid na si Zaldy, dating gubernador ng Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao. Hindi malayo na maabswelto na sila.

Matunog ngayon ang usap-usapan na tumataginting na P200 milyon ang pinakawalan na naman daw ng mga Ampatuan at mukhang makamtan na rin ni Zaldy ang kaniyang kalayaan na binigay ni dating Justice Secretary Alberto Agra at naudlot lamang dahil sa lakas ng galit ng publiko. Ngunit habang tumatagal, dumadami ang isyu na pinagka-abalahan ng mga tao, baka makuha na niya kasama na rin ng kanyang ama. Si Andal Jr siguro matagal-tagal pa ngunit doon na rin ang direksyun nun.

Auditor in Garcia case bares order to drop probe

Published by Ellen on January 21, 2011

From ABS-CBN:

(The Commission on Audit auditor who testified in the plunder case against former military comptroller Major General Carlos Garcia has broken her silence regarding her testimony in the Sandiganbayan, on the heels of the assertion by the special prosecutors of the Office of the Ombudsman that there was not enough evidence to convict Garcia of plunder. Heidi Mendoza, one of the main witnesses in the case, resigned from the Commission on Audit in 2006 after she was instructed to drop her investigation into the alleged anomalies involving AFP funds. Mendoza sat down with ABS-CBN’s Ces Oreña Drilon for an exclusive interview. — Eds.)

Heidi Mendoza thought she could just go on with her life and forget her court testimony before the Sandiganbayan. After all, she had landed a well-paying job in a regional financial institution. But like so many times in her life, Mendoza could not just sit back and be silent.

As she did in 2006, Mendoza recently resigned from her job so she could speak her mind. A 20-year veteran of the Commission on Audit (COA), Mendoza said her job to look into the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) fund mess began when Ombudsman Simeon Marcelo made a personal request to then COA Chairman Guillermo Carague for her to lead the team that will assist his office in the investigation of General Garcia.

Political strategist learns a few lessons

Published by Ellen on January 20, 2011

Last month, Malou Tiquia, president of Publicus, which is into political management and strategizing, went to her veterinary clinic in Quezon City to pick up her beagle.

She parked her car, a Ford Fiesta, in front of her vet’s clinic located between Ferino’s Bibingka and Tapa King and Pizza Hut. “The place is well lighted and guarded,” Malou underscored.

It didn’t take her five minutes to pick up her beagle and when she came back, she found her car burglarized.

“Tinangay lahat my whole bag with wallet, cards and everything, two laptops because we just came from a briefing of a client. My make-up kit,” Malou related.

Toy museum transforms a place of grief to a house of joy

Published by Ellen on January 18, 2011

Balay ni Datu Lubay 1 — Click on photo to view it enlarged

Where once there were only cries of anguish and despair, the voices heard from “Balay ni Datu Lubay” these days are expressions of fun and admiration.

Balay ni Datu Lubay (House of Datu Lubay) in San Jose, Antique houses Alex de los Santos’ collection of more than 1,000 dolls and figurines, some of them made by potters in the province.

The toy museum is run by the Datu Lubay Center, chaired by de los Santos who also serves as artistic director. Organized in 2008, the Center aims to promote culture and arts education among Antiqueños as a tool for empowerment and social change.

Wanted: a well-paying job for Romulo

Published by Ellen on January 16, 2011

Reports that former ambassador to the United Sates Albert del Rosario has agreed to be foreign secretary had raised the hopes of Foreign Service officers for reforms in the department that has been running without direction under Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo.

But their hopes were dashed as quickly as they were raised because it has been confirmed that Romulo succeeded in convincing President Aquino again to let him stay until April this year.

Our sources at the DFA and Malacañang said the suspended departure of Romulo has created awkward situations as demonstrated by a scene at the recent vin d’ honneur in Malacañang. Members of the diplomatic community were all greeting del Rosario because it’s known in the community that he was assuming the position anytime that week.
Cabinet members have been told to coordinate with del Rosario on matters concerning foreign relations.

That was the same instruction given to Presidential Adviser for Peace Process Ging Deles.Those who are lobbying to be appointed or re-appointed ambassadors have also been told “to go see Albert.”

PHL team wins championship in Asia-Pacific Pony baseball tournament

Published by Ellen on January 16, 2011

Philippine Ambassador to Vietnam Jerril Santos wrote me this. He asked me to post this as Facebook is inaccessible where he is right now.

Little razcals — The champions (Photo from Philstar)

Another sporting achievement in vietnam!

The Philippine tot baseball team today became champions in the Mustang division of the Asia-Pacific pony baseball tournament here in Vinh Yen stadium (about 50 km outside of Hanoi). The mustang division is for youngsters 9 to 10 years old. They defeated Singapore during the championship game this morning, 14 homeruns to to 5. Indonesia placed third and Vietnam placed fourth.

Nine-year old John Natanuan was awarded most valuable player for the Mustang division. It was a come-from-behind victory as the PHL team was down 5 runs to 1 in the early innings but bounced back and scored 8 runs in succession in the latter stages of the 6-inning game.

Bastos na kinatawan ng edukasyon

Published by Ellen on January 16, 2011

Paano ba naging kinatawan ng mga educators itong si sectoral Rep. Eulogio Magsaysay? Bastos pala ito.

Mabuti naman at sinabi ng Philippine Airlines Employees Association (PALEA) na itutuloy nila ang pagsampa ng kaso sa Ombudsman at sa Ethics Committee ng House of Representativces laban kay Magsaysay kahit na humingi na ito ng paumanhin.

Ang nangyari kasi nong Dec. 17, sumakay sa Philippine Airlines papuntang Amerika si Magsaysay kasama ang kanyang asawa at dalawang anak. Nasa Mabuhay Lounge sila sa Centennial airport at kinausap niya ang ground stewardess na si Sarah Ocampo, kung pwede magkatabi sila ng kanyang anak.

Sinabi ni Ocampo na hindi pwede dahil puno sila. Hindi bakante ang katabi niyang upuan.

Ang Porsche ni PNoy

Published by Ellen on January 15, 2011

Aquino's porsche — Inspecting his latest toy

Hindi ako nadismaya na bumili si Pangulong Aquino sa kanyang pagbili ng P4.5 milyon na Porsche.

Unang-una, hindi naman niya ninakaw ang perang binili. Benenta daw niya ang kanyang BMW, isang mamahaling kotse rin, at binili nitong Porsche. Hindi lang segunda mano intong Porsche. Tersiera mano pa raw.

May pera naman ang pamilya ni Aquino. Nakalimutan nyo ba na siya ay Cojuangco at may-ari ng Hacienda Luisita?

Wala naman sa batas na nagbabawal sa isang pangulo bumili ng mamahaling kotse na siyang hilig ni Aquino kahit noon pa maliban sa baril. Ang isa pang hilig ay pumunta sa bar. Saka na natin pag-usapan yan.

US judge OKs payment of $7.5M to Marcos victims

Published by Ellen on January 15, 2011

From GMA-7 online

Marcos years — Marcos at the height of his power with Imelda beside him

HONOLULU — A federal judge on Thursday approved the distribution of $7.5 million to settle a lawsuit filed by thousands of victims of torture, execution and abduction under the regime of the late Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos.

The distribution provides victims their first opportunity to collect something since they sued in 1986.

Each of the 7,526 eligible members of the class-action lawsuit will receive $1,000 under the plan approved by US District Judge Manuel Real. Distribution is expected to begin in mid-February and take about a month.

Robert Swift, the lead attorney in the case, said the payments were an important milestone for victims who have been fighting for years. Most of the victims or their surviving family members live in the Philippines.