Foreign Affairs – Page 40 – ellen tordesillas

Sana huwag na bumalik si Arroyo

Published by Ellen on July 25, 2009

Rally sa tapat ng US Embassy noong Biyernes:

Isang bagay lang ang gusto marinig ng mga tao kay Gloria Arroyo sa Lunes: “Bababa ako sa Malacañang tanghali ng Hunyo 30, 2010 at hindi na babalik.”

Hindi interesado ang publiko sa kung anong listahan ng kanyang mga nagawa. Hindi utang na loob ng taumbayan sa kanya ang mga ginawang kalsada o mga tulay. Pera natin yun. Kumita pa nga ng malaki ang kanyang asawa at mga alagad sa mga proyekto na yun.

Kapag nag-iisa-isa si Arroyo ng mga construction na nagawa ng kanyang administrasyon, ang nasa-isip ng taumbayan ay ang male-maletang pera na hinahatid ng mga contractors doon sa opisina ng kanyang asawa sa Perea st. sa Makati.

A night of Japanese Harmony

Published by Ellen on July 19, 2009

When the poignant sound of “Amazing Grace” in violin and flute wafted through the darkened Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino theater at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, I knew we were going to have an unforgettable evening.

When the lights were on, Risa Kataoka performed John Newton’s inspiring song in koto, a traditional Japanese stringed musical instrument.

Kataoka was a member of the J-Classics quartet who were flown in by the Japanese government as part of the celebration of Philippine-Japan friendship this month. The three others were violinist Ayako Ishikawa, flutist Takako Hagiwara and pianist Susumu Aoyagi.

Si Obama para sa Amerika; para kanino si Arroyo?

Published by Ellen on July 18, 2009

Ang daming haka-haka kung bakit inimbita si Gloria Arroyo sa White House sa Hulyo 30.

Sa akin, kung ano man yun, dapat palagi natin isipin na ang ating kapakanan ay ating responsibilidad. Hindi natin dapat i-asa kay Pangulong Barack Obama ng Amerika.

Kahit na mas desente naman tao si Obama kaysa kay George W. Bush, ang obligasyon pa rin niya ay sa mga Amerikano. Kung magkasalungat ang interest ng Pilipino at Amerikano, obligasyon ni Obama na ipaglaban ang interest ng Amerikano.

Prosecution witness favors defendants

Published by Ellen on July 17, 2009

Former Flag-officer-in-command Mateo Mayuga was the only witness presented by the prosecution yesterday in the mutiny case against 28 officers implicated in the alleged plan to withdraw support from Gloria Arroyo in February 2006.

Mayuga’s testimony however favored the defendants.

Mayuga, who is more known for the “Mayuga report”- an investigation of the participation of the military in the cheating in the 2004 elections, the results of which have been kept secret by the Arroyo administration, testified about the meeting on Feb. 23, 2006 called by the AFP Chief Generoso Senga.

Victor Corpus talks Dim Mak

Published by Ellen on July 16, 2009

Retired Brig. Gen. Victor Corpus has come out with new book “America’s Dim Mak Points”, Unrestricted Warfare in the 21 st century.

The book is only 160 pages but it delivers a wallop.

Corpus uses a lot of Chinese philosophy in discussing geo-politics. He defines Dim Mak as a form of martial art which literally means “meridian press.”

RP Nikkei-jins to be reunited with kin in Japan

Published by Ellen on July 9, 2009

July is Philippine-Japan Friendship month. The Japanese Embassy has lined up several activities – concerts, film festival, many other cultural activities. This is a fitting…

233rd National Day of the U.S. of America

Published by Ellen on July 3, 2009

1) Rep. Darlene Antonino-Custodio, the Golez brothers -Flag-Officer-in Command Ferdinand Golez and Rep. Roilo Golez, Palawan Mayor Edward Hagedorn;2) The “Blue Ladies” because they were both wearing blue: Amb. Kenney and Anna Sobrepeña; 3)Former Agrarian Reform Secretary Phillip Juico, lawyer Marilen Ramiro, Margie Juico and Fernando Perlas of the DENR

1) Alex Tizon, Pulitzer prize winner journalist who is now a fellow at the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism, Ramon Casiple of the Institute for Political and Electoral Reforms, and PCIJ’s Malou Mangahas 2) Ombudsman Deputy Dennis Villa-Ignacio and former Ombudsman Simeon Marcelo 3) Foreign Service Officer Grace Escalante with her US veteran father.

1) Showbiz personalities JR and Nikki Gil with friends 2) DENR’s Nanding Perlas and forensic pathologist Racquel Fortun 3) Karl Wozniak, CEO of KeyWest Freight Inc, who said he is a regular reader of this blog.

US Ambassador Kristie Kenny extolled the values of freedom, liberty and justice for all as the binding ties in Philippine-American relations.

She expressed her gratefulness and aspiration to Filipinos from Tuguegarao to Tawi-tawi who opened their doors and hearts to Americans.

Ma-Honduras kaya tayo?

Published by Ellen on June 29, 2009

Kung nabasa ni Gloria Arroyo ang nangyari sa Honduras kahapon, dapat manginig siya sa takot. Dapat rin simulan na niya ang pag-empake at kung malasin siya baka hindi na siya umabot sa Hunyo 2010.

Sa balita kahapon na ang presidente ng Honduras na si Manuel Zelaya ay pinatalsik sa isang military coup. Dinala daw ng eroplano ng military sa bayan ng Costa Rica si Zelaya.

Matatapos na raw ang termino ni Zelaya at ayon sa kanilang Constitution, hindi na siya pwedeng tumakbo. Pinipilit niyang palitan ang Constitution at marami ang pumapalag kasama na ang military.

Army ousts Honduras president in vote dispute

Published by Ellen on June 28, 2009

This should send shivers down Gloria Arroyo’s spine.

by Mica Rosenberg Mica Rosenberg

Tegucigalpa (Reuters) – The Honduran army ousted President Manuel Zelaya and threw him out of the country on Sunday in Central America’s first military coup since the Cold War, after he upset the army by trying to win re-election.

U.S. President Barack Obama expressed deep concern after troops came for Zelaya, an ally of leftist Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, at dawn and took him away from his residence.

A military plane flew Zelaya to Costa Rica and CNN’s Spanish-language channel said he had asked for asylum there.

Watching Iran sizzle

Published by Ellen on June 25, 2009

I’m observing the protests in Iran in awe and with envy.

The protests that have shaken Iran’s theocratic government stemmed from accusations that the June 12 election was a result of “massive and systematic fraud” perpetrated by the winning re-electionist President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

A government council tasked to investigate the complaints admitted that in some 50 constituencies there were more votes cast than there were registered voters.

The government has clamped down on street and internet protests. The two-week unrest has injured hundreds of people tear -gassed and pummeled by policemen.

Category: Foreign Affairs