Month: October 2015

China on UN Arbitral Court decision in favor of PH: null and void

Published by Ellen on October 30, 2015

Peace Palace which houses the Permanent Court of Arbitration

China is not honoring the decision of the United Nations Arbitral Court that it has jurisdiction on the case filed by the Philippines against them, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement today.

China instead urged the Philippines to resolve the dispute through negotiations and consultations.

“The award rendered on 29 October 2015 by the Arbitral Tribunal established at the request of the Republic of the Philippines (hereinafter referred to as the “Arbitral Tribunal”) on jurisdiction and admissibility of the South China Sea arbitration is null and void, and has no binding effect on China,” the statement said.

On January 22, 2013, the Philippines asked the arbitral tribunal to rule on three basic issues: The validity of China’s nine-dash lines; Low tide elevations where China has built permanent structures should be declared as forming part of the Philippine Continental shelf; and That the waters outside the 12 nautical miles surrounding the Panatag Island (Scarbourough shoal) should be declared as part of the Philippines Exclusive Economic Zone.

China refused to participate in the proceedings saying the U.N. Court has no jurisdiction on the conflict.

UN court decides in favor of PH, takes jurisdiction in case vs China

Published by Ellen on October 30, 2015

The Philippines scored victory in its case against China in United Nations Arbitral Court, which ruled that it has jurisdiction to hear some territorial claims…

Why Pres. Aquino held back comments on U.S. warship foray into Subi Reef

Published by Ellen on October 29, 2015

Pres. Aquino at FOCAP. Photo by Rey Baniquet ,Malacañang.

In President Aquino’s talk with the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines last Tuesday, about a third of the questions were about the challenge of the United States to China’s claim of sovereignty on the surrounding waters of its artificially-created islands in Spratlys in the South China Sea, which the Philippines also claims.

At the time of the FOCAP Forum, the U.S. guided-missile destroyer USS Lassen was sailing through within 12 nautical mile from Subi Reef’s man-made shores, according to reports by the U.S Navy.

The news reports which was known later, after the forum with the President, also sailed through Mischief Reef, occupied by the Chinese in 1994.

It is significant to note that Mischief Reef and Subi Reef are the nearest to Philippine shores of the eight features in the Spratlys occupied by the Chinese. Subi Reef is 26 kilometers away from Philippine–occupied island Pag-asa.

Blessed are the Elderly

Published by Ellen on October 27, 2015

Old folks affected by typhoon Yolanda. From helpage.org

October has been designated as the month for the Elderly.

In a world where we celebrate youth and vigor and everything is digital, to be old is considered a burden and to be ignorant about Facebook and Twitter is considered a defect.

If you feel irritated by your parents ignorance or slowness in the use of techie gadgets, there’s a touching video in You Tube, about a Greek father and son and a sparrow (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWJq1SvgWQ0 ).

Filipinos want a government that has an ear and a heart for them: EON survey

Published by Ellen on October 26, 2015

Pres. Aquino with LP candidates Mar Roxas and Leni Robredo being prayed over at the Tarlac First Baptist Church. (Photo by Joseph Vidal, Malacanang)

Candidates for the 2016 May elections, especially those running for president and vice-president, should read the findings of the EON’s 2015 Philippine Trust Survey which tells that Filipinos want from their leaders to listen to and feel for them.

The PTI, which EON started in 2011, is not an easy survey to do because unlike other surveys that ask who they would vote for in the next election, trust is an abstract thing. One has to give it to EON for coming up with a formula to measure the public’s insights and opinions.

In the PTI survey, respondents were asked to share their opinions on six key Philippine institutions – the Government, the Business Sector, the Media, Non-Governmental Organizations, the Church, and the Academe.

The nationwide survey interviewed 1,620 Filipinos from July to August 2015. They are referred to in the survey as “General Public.” EON said an additional 420 screened respondents were also added to come up with 600 respondents referred to in the survey as “Informed Public.”

The Informed Public respondents “are Filipinos who are at least college graduates and who access media for news at least thrice a week,” EON said.

In the survey results, the Informed Public is less approving of the institutions than the General Public.

Marcos biggest gainer after COC filing, Poe widens lead

Published by Ellen on October 22, 2015

Updated Oct. 24,2015

Bongbong Marcos at the Vice mayors league conference

Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. is the biggest gainer among those who filed their certificates of candidacy last week, placing second in the vice-presidential race that has always been dominated by Chiz Escudero, running mate of presidential candidate Grace Poe, results of the survey conducted by the Magdalo group four days after the Commission on Elections closed the filing of certificates of candidacies for the 2016 elections last Oct. 16.

The survey, conducted on Oct 20 through 23, also showed Poe increasing her lead over her rivals in the presidential race with Jojo Binay of United Nationalist Alliance still running second.

The results:
Candidates for President:
Grace Poe, 43%; Jejomar Binay, 26%; Mar Roxas, 17%; Miriam D. Santiago, 11%

Candidates for Vice President: Chiz Escudero,37%; Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr, 24%; Alan Cayetano and Antonio Trillanes IV , both with 11%; Leni Robredo, 9%; Gringo Honasan, 7%.

U.S., China agree to avoid unintended war

Published by Ellen on October 21, 2015

Obama-Xi in Apec 2014. It was the day after the APEC Leaders summit that Obama and Xi agreed on the landmark agreement. Photo from http www.asianews.it

Behind the provocative rhetoric by American and Chinese officials over the plan of the United States to test freedom of navigation in the South China Sea after China has reclaimed some 2,900 acres of land in the disputed waters, there are efforts by both countries to avoid war.

Especially hostilities breaking out over unintentional incidents as tension increase in the area claimed by China, Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan.

The desire to avoid unintended hostilities is carried out in an agreement on between the United States and China militaries.

The accord was agreed by American President Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping on November 12 last year after the summit of Asia Pacific Economic Leaders Cooperation meeting in Beijing.

A good list to choose from for next batch of senators

Published by Ellen on October 18, 2015

Filipinos just love elections.

A total of 130 have filed certificates of candidacy for president in the May 2016 elections and 19 for vice president.
There are 172 who are vying for the 12 slots in the Senate.

The five reelectionist senators – Franklin Drilon, Ralph Recto, Teofisto Guingona III, Sergio Osmeña III, Vicente Sotto III- have an edge being familiar names and having an established nationwide machinery. Unless something terribly awful happens that would involve them in controversy before the elections, they are expected to be in the Magic 12.

There are four former senators who want to return to the Senate and they also enjoy an advantage in terms of name recall. They are Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, Richard Gordon, Francis Pangilinan, and Juan Miguel Zubiri.

U.S. provokes China, PH applauds

Published by Ellen on October 15, 2015

The USS Kidd sailing off to Spratlys. Photo from The Diplomat.

The Navy Times, the official publication of the United States Navy, reported last week that “The Navy is preparing to send a surface ship inside the 12-nautical-mile territorial limit China claims for its man-made island chain.”

It said that the operation “could take place within days but awaits final approval from the Obama administration.”
It didn’t say which of the eight islands that China occupies in the disputed waters of the South China Sea the U.S. Navy is testing the 12-nautical mile limit to underscore freedom of navigation in the disputed waters.

Update:A Chinese military official warned that that the People’s Liberation Army would deliver a “head-on blow” to any foreign forces “violating” China’s sovereignty. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/940258b2-7340-11e5-a129-3fcc4f641d98.html#axzz3ogWqjSe6

It is important to know where the U.S. ship would be going because of the eight features that China occupies and have expanded into islands, four are rocks and are entitled to 12 nautical mile territorial sea. They are Fiery Cross, Johnson Reef, Cuarteron Reef and Scarborough Shoal just off Zambales.

Thank you, Sen. Joker Arroyo

Published by Ellen on October 13, 2015

I owe Joker Arroyo big time.

As a legislator, Joker Arroyo had millions of pesos at his disposal under the Priority Development Assistance Fund. Some of his colleagues disposed of their PDAF into their pockets with gusto.

Arroyo earned the reputation as “Scrooge” because of his low office expenditure. He maintained a very small staff.

I had been a recipient, however, of the generosity of the Congress’ “Scrooge.”