Author: Ellen

‘Cutting off the nose to spite the face’

Published by Ellen on September 14, 2016

President Rodrigo Duterte shows images of the Bud Dajo massacre during his speech at the 2016 Metrobank Foundation's Outstanding Filipinos awarding ceremony in Malacañang.Photo by Rey Baniquet /PPD — President Rodrigo Duterte shows images of the Bud Dajo massacre during his speech at the 2016 Metrobank Foundation’s Outstanding Filipinos awarding ceremony in Malacañang.Photo by Rey Baniquet /PPD

There’s an expression in English,”Cutting off the nose to spite the face” which refers to a person’s self-destructive action as he hits back at someone he thinks had done him wrong but his needless action actually hurts him more than the object of his anger.

That appears to be what President Duterte is doing against U.S. President Obama after his disastrous performance at the 2016 Asean summit in Vientiane Laos last week.

That sad thing about it is that, it is not himself that he is hurting but the country. And it was he who unnecessarily caused this series of snubs with his tirade against Obama in answer to a hypothetical question in a pre-departure for Asean summit press conference.

Duterte hints his best performance in int’l stage is yet to come

Published by Ellen on September 11, 2016

President Duterte gives a thumbs up for his performance in 2016 Asean.

President Duterte at first played coy when asked about his assessment of his debut in the international stage in the 2016 summit of the 10-country Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the 18-country East Asia Summit in Laos last week, upon his arrival from Jakarta where he proceeded after the Asean meetings saying it would be “self-serving.” But with little prodding he opened up, “I’m sure that if you’re a Filipino, you’d be proud of me.”

He said the only ones who would not be proud of what he did in Laos and Indonesia (where he proceeded for a state visit from Vientiane) are the “low-life sa press, iyong mga kolumnista, nothing is really too good to be true.”

“Pero hindi kayo napahiya (I did not embarrass you), I assure you, and everybody was clapping except for dalawa (two). But ah, bilib sila sa akin (they admired me),” he enthused. He declined to name who were the two.

Duterte was narrating the plenary session of the East Asia Summit last Thursday, Sep. 8. Participants in the East Asia Summit which follows the ASEAN summit are the 10 members of Asean namely Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam joined by dialogue partners Australia, China, Japan, India, New Zealand, Russia, South Korea, and United States.

Duterte’s debut in the international stage a disaster

Published by Ellen on September 7, 2016

Duterte arrives in Asean summit venue in Vientiane, Laos. Malacanang photo. — Duterte arrives at the Asean summit venue in Vientiane, Laos. Malacanang photo.

Whatever one’s political leaning is, every Filipino wants to be proud of the President when he appears in the world stage.

He represents the Filipino people. His success is our success. His embarrassment is our embarrassment.

The 2016 Asean summit in Vientiane, Laos was President Duterte’s first official foreign trip. Standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the other world leaders, it was an opportunity for him to show the world his remarkable transition from city mayor to president of one of the Asia’s vibrant democracy.

As Philippine president, he had a prominent role in Laos Asean meeting because next year it will be the Philippines’ turn to host the summit of the 10-country regional grouping to be followed by meeting of leaders of ASEAN’s 10 dialogue partners which include China, Japan, South Korea , and the United States.

But he wasted that opportunity by his offensive remarks made on the eve of the summit directed to the leader of the world’s superpower whom he had not yet met in person and had not said anything bad about him.

The regrettable thing about it is that, those disgusting remarks were not warranted.

VERA Files, Reporters Without Borders Germany partner to monitor media ownership in PH

Published by Ellen on September 5, 2016

Lisa-Maria Kretschmer, head of Research & Project Coordinator of Reporters Without Borders Germany Media Ownership Monitor, explains the project they are undertaking with VERA Files in the Philippines. Beside her is LUZ Rimban, VERA Files trustee.

By YVETTE MORALES

VERA Files has partnered with Reporters ohne Grenzen, German section of Reporters sans frontières (Reporters without Borders, RSF) to embark on a three-month study of media ownership in the Philippines.

The Media Ownership Monitor (MOM) Philippines is part of RSF’s global project to study the extent of the concentration of media ownership, a prerequisite for securing freedom of the press and defending the diversity of opinions.

Vergel Santos, Chairman of the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility, who was one of the participants in the roundtable discussion held last week to kick-off the project, called the MOM a “terrific,” much-needed initiative that will open people’s eyes to the power behind the media organizations.

The President’s instructions under a State of Lawless Violence

Published by Ellen on September 4, 2016

President Duterte inspecting the Davao City night market -scene of the bombing Sept. 2 bombing.

We condemn the bombing at the Davao night market bombing last Friday which killed 14 people and injured more than 70.

We pray for strength for the families of those who died and were injured. We pray for justice for the victims and that includes all of the Filipino people.

Authorities are still investigating who are the perpetrators. Nothing definite yet except that the explosion was caused by an Improvised Explosive Device (IED).

There are as many speculations as there are spokesmen. Early reports said the terrorist group, the Abu Sayyaf, had claimed responsibility only to be denied later.

Harry Roque will not be short of horror stories about Globe and Smart

Published by Ellen on September 4, 2016

Rep. Harry Roque delivering privilege speech.

This is a most welcome congressional inquiry.

Kabayan Party-list Representative Harry L. Roque, in a resolution filed last week said, “The House of Representatives requests the major telecommunication providers, Smart Telecommunications and Globe Telecommunications, to explain why the Filipino people are not receiving the quality of service that they deserve and, to show cause why they should have the privilege to keep their franchises despite the same.”

Roque said Section 20 of Republic Act 7925 provides all telecommunication users the right to reliable services and conforming to minimum standards set by the National Telecommunications Commission, regular and accurate billing, and thorough and prompt investigations and actions upon complaints.

Lozada’s conviction stresses urgency of whistleblowers law

Published by Ellen on August 28, 2016

Jun Lozada in a Palm Sunday mass. File photo

At this time of his life, it’s his faith in God that keeps Rodolfo “Jun” Lozada Jr. going.

The government has failed him. The country’s justice system turned against him. Many “friends” have abandoned him after they have used him for their agenda.

After his conviction to six to ten years in prison by the Sandiganbayan last week in the case involving the lease of idle lands when he was president of the Philippine Foreign Corporation, a teary-eyed Lozada said the decision was difficult to take but he is holding on to faith in God: “I once said before, eight years ago, one of the lessons I learned is that the opposite of fear is courage. In reality, the opposite of fear is faith. So I’m holding on to faith in God.”

Sister Mary John Mananzan, one of those who have consistently helped Lozada and his family all throughout Jun’s eight- year ordeal deal, said the case would not have materialized if he did not testify in the aborted corruption-tainted $329.5 million national broadband project with the Chinese firm, ZTE Corp.

“I’m sure of it. All the cases against him came out after he became witness. If it was really his crime, why wasn’t he charged when he was with PFC?” she asked.

Now, it’s media’s fault

Published by Ellen on August 23, 2016

Foreign Secretary Perfecto Yasay with President Duterte

In trying to control the damage wrought by President Duterte’s verbal rampage against the United Nations in the early hours Sunday, Foreign Secretary Perfecto Yasay on Monday put the blame on media.

“It was done in the wee hours of the morning and he was very tired, “ Yasay said adding that the President “ already ended up the press conference … but the press were still leading him with a lot of questions, so it is in this context that he made this statements.”

Whose choice was it to hold the press conference at 1 a.m., Sunday? Why should the reporters be blamed for asking the questions at those unholy hours which the President earlier said was his normal working hours. Didn’t he say that he sleeps mornings and starts his day at 1 p.m.?

Well- meaning warning to the President from an ally

Published by Ellen on August 17, 2016

(Quote on immunity from suits starts at 17:40 mins)

In many of his speeches , President Rodrigo Duterte flaunts his immunity from suits as an armor amid mounting concerns about the extra-judicial killings in his campaign against illegal drugs.

In a speech before troops at Camp Gen. Macario B. Peralta, JR, Jamindan, Capiz last Aug. 5, he said, “Ang Presidente, hindi mo ma-demanda. ..mag-order ako ng patay, you cannot arrest me, may immunity ako.”

It’s not only those dealing with illegal drugs that he wants killed but all those he believes pose obstructions to his desire to improve the lives of the Filipino people.

Cinemalaya 2016: showcase of Filipino talent, substance and relevance

Published by Ellen on August 14, 2016

Mostly young crowd at CCP for Cinemalaya 2016

I hope the movies shown in the recent Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival would be shown in commercial theaters more widely later.

I was able to watch only two: “Kusina” starring Judy Ann Santos under the direction of David Corpuz and Cenon Palomares and “Pamilya Ordinaryo” by Eduardo Roy, Jr.

(“Pamilya Ordinaryo” won the best fim, best director, and best actress awards)

I missed “Toto” by John Paul Su; “Tuos” by Roderick Cabrido starring Nora Aunor; “Hapis at Himagsik ni Hermano Puli” by Gil M. Portes; “Dagsin” by Renato Ignacio Magadia, Jr. and many more.