The good person. Lubert Perona of Ayala Center Security Team turning over to me my cellphone he found on the sidewalk in Ayala Center.
Something happened last week that once again affirmed my belief in the goodness of men.
It was Tuesday, May 23, when my VERA Files colleague Chin Samson and I had a meeting with a visiting German journalist, who was doing a story on the first year of the Marcos Jr. presidency, at the Mentore UCC Café, Ayala Center in Makati.
Throughout the interview, my phone was on silent mode.
We went our separate ways after. I went to the Landmark Department Store, which was just across Mentore Café, then walked to Ayala One Terminal to take the shuttle van to Las Pinas. It was about 5 p.m.
While waiting for the van to leave, I thought of checking my email. I couldn’t find my cellphone!
A VERA Files colleague (Let’s call her “A.”), who is based in Mindanao, received a call last week from a number not listed in her contact list, asking if she knew a certain person, who happened to be another colleague (“B”) in VERA Files.
She replied “Yes” and inquired why she was asking. The caller said she was actually contacting “B” because he took a loan from their company and had listed her (“A”) as a reference person.
“A” told the caller that she is not based in Manila. The caller asked “A” to pass the message to “B” to settle his loan. “A” sensed something fishy so she immediately blocked the number and the SMS that came later.
“A” then asked “B” if he had made her as a reference for a loan and the latter said he did not.
On that same day, another colleague (“C”) received a call from a certain “Joana” of PesoBuffet, a lending company known for its high interest rates, asking if he knew a person named Raymond (“C” couldn’t recall the surname.). She said they couldn’t contact him and the name of “C” was one of those listed by Raymond to call if he is not available.
Peter Joemel Advicula at IBP, May 6, 2019. From ABS-CBN NewsThe problem when one concocts a story and put details to impress is that, when he repeats it, there’s the chance that he will mix up or forget some of the details he related. That is what is happening to Peter Joemel Advincula alias Bikoy.
There are four affidavits of Advincula that have been made public including the December 2016 document that he allegedly gave to Senate President Tito Sotto implicating detained Sen. Leila de Lima in the drug syndicate.
The three affidavits – May 6, 2016 executed at the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, the May 29, 2019 done at the Philippine National Police – Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, and the July 17 which he submitted to the Department of Justice – are related to what he alleged as the plot to oust Duterte by the opposition. These affidavits are the basis for the sedition case filed by the PNP-CIDG against 38 persons led by Vice President Leni Robredo, former Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, Sen. Risa Hontiveros, , seven members of the Religious Community, seven of the eight (Mar Roxas is not included) senatorial candidates of the opposition in the last May elections.
Advincula, who will be the PNP’s star witness, is included among those charged. So is dismissed police officer Senior Superintendent Eduardo Acierto, who was allegedly involved in the 2018 drug smuggling through magnetic filters in 2018.
Coming back from an extended vacation, I started the year 2019 with a series of meetings, trying to catch up with the rapid developments as the country prepares for the May elections.
My friend and I agreed to meet at Café Museum, beside the Ayala Museum at the corner of Makati Avenue and De la Rosa streets.
When I got there, the place was closed. Construction work was being done. I asked the Ayala Museum security guard if Café Museum is undergoing renovation. He replied, “No. it is closed. No more.”
I’ll miss Café Museum. Aside from the food- modern Asian ( I love their palabok), I like the ambience– quiet and cozy with just enough space in between tables for some privacy.
Boy on sidewalk Ho chi Minh city reading a comic book.
Across Ben Thanh market in Ho Chi Minh city, at a street corner, a little boy about seven or eight years old was lying on a spread out carton box material reading a comic book. With him was an old woman slicing mushrooms. At the feet of the boy was a dog dressed in red.
It was about seven o’clock in the evening. The light from a corner street lamp gave them illumination.
This was on the second day of 2019 and the city, still called “Saigon “by many, teemed with foreign tourists.
I asked permission to take their picture. The old woman responded with a kind smile and a nod. I approached and greeted the boy and he smiled so sweetly.
Note: this is a revised version of the earlier post.
Omar and Isabelle Duterte in front of the Milan Cathedral. Dec. 21 Twitter post. From Milan Informer.
Some members of a traveling group that includes President Duterte’s two grandchildren on a holiday in Europe lost their passports in Milan and have been issued travel documents by the consulate, the Philippine consulate in Milan said today.
The consulate did not say who and how many among the members of Omar and Isabelle’s group lost their passports and were issued travel documents.
Contrary to initial reports that those who lost their passports were the President’s grand children, Omar Vincent Duterte, 24, and his sister, Isabelle, 18 – children of former Davao City vice Mayor Paolo Duterte, the Philippine consulate in Milan said: “President’s grandchildren did not lose their passports in Milan. Other members of the group they were traveling with were issued travel documents by the Consulate yesterday.
For emergencies, Consulate may be reached through +39-3880933822.”
Omar and Isabelle are part of a big group that include their mother, Lovelie Sangkola Sumera, and some members of the Presidential Security Group vacationing in Europe.
The PSG’s mandate is to provide protective security to the President and their immediate families, former Presidents and their immediate families, Malacañang Palace, Visiting heads of states or diplomats and Cabinet Members and their families traveling with them.
The group of Omar and Isabelle arrived in Paris, France Dec. 18, then went to Geneva, Switzerland before going to Milan, Italy on Dec. 21. They hired two vans for the five hour trip from Paris to Geneva and four hour drive from Geneva to Milan.
A cemetery scene in Valenzuela City. Photo from PNA.
Cemetequette is a term coined by environment- advocate EcoWaste Coalition for “Pinoy Cemetery Etiquette.”
Nov. 1 and 2 are Undas days for the predominantly-Catholic Filipinos. Undas is derived from the Spanish word “honrar” which means “to honor.”
Nov. 1 is All Saints’ Day when we honor the saints that we all go to for refuge and comfort in times of need. Nov. 2 is All Souls’ Day when we remember our loved ones who have departed.
As we troop to the cemeteries to observe this beautiful tradition, let’s make sure that we do our share in making life worth living.
A face mask-wearing Pres. Duterte was seen at the Uniqlo store in Causeway Bay in Hongkong today , Oct. 6, at about 7:30 p.m with companion Honeylet Avanceña and daughter Kitty accompanied by about 20 Filipino and Hongkong security escorts.
We texted and called up Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque for confirmation of the President’s trip to Hongkong but he didn’t reply. Malacañang reporters said he told them earlier at about 5 p.m that “the President is in Davao.”
The source said four of the security escorts walked closely with Bong Go, special assistant to the President. One of the Filipino bodyguards “carrying a bundle of cash” paid for the purchases of the presidential party.
The source also said she did not recognize Duterte right away because of the face mask he was wearing but her curiosity was aroused by the presence of many security escorts in the Men’s clothing section where she was looking for an item. She realized immediately after that the masked person a few feet away from her was Duterte.
She said the presidential group went next to the Ladies section on the second floor
This Hongkong trip comes three days after the President admitted he had undergone endoscopy and colonoscopy three weeks ago. Last Wednesday he said he was back at Cardinal Santos Hospital in San Juan for tissue sample test.
He said, “If it’s cancer, it’s cancer. And if it’s third stage, no more treatment. I will not prolong my agony in this office or anywhere.”
Here are the photos:
Pres. Duterte wearing face mask while shopping in Uniqlo in Causeway Bay, Hongkong.
There are two items in my mail , also posted in Facebook, which I feel should be shared: One is the clarification by the family of the late Sen. Ambrosio Padilla that Arnold Padilla, the guy who was seen in a video abusing a law enforcer is not the grandson of the respected senator and the other is about the attempt to liquidate Catholic priest Fr. Amado Picardal.
Human rights lawyer Alex Padilla, son of the late Sen. Ambrosio Padilla.“For the record, Arnold Padilla is not a direct grandson of Ambrosio Padilla, although he is a part of the wider Padilla clan. Ambrosio Padilla – lawyer, law professor, author, Olympian, senator, and family man – was known most of all for being that rare man of high moral character in private life and in public office. He had a passion for justice, a deep love of truth, and an abiding belief in personal responsibility. While family, upbringing, and education were important to him, he knew and taught that the content of one’s character was determined by the sum of one’s choices and actions…
“The actions of Arnold Padilla are his responsibility and are not sanctioned, protected, or encouraged by the family of Ambrosio Padilla. We condemn the connections being made to our father, Ambrosio Padilla, and our brothers, Frank and Alexander Padilla, which have no relevance here. The implications have no basis whatsoever, and are outrightly malicious. For those who have spread false news out of ignorance, truth and fairness require a correction and a stop to the spread of this misinformation. To those who, despite knowing the truth, insist on advancing such a malicious connection, know that the family of Ambrosio Padilla will not stand idly by while our family’s good name is sullied by association or implication.Thank you and God bless,” the Padilla family said in a statement.
Do you experience days when you don’t want to watch TV, read newspapers, or go online because you are afraid that you would be assaulted by bad news which you feel you have had enough and don’t want any more of it or at least you want a respite from it?
I had that feeling the past days and I found comfort in “The Book of Joy” a conversation between two revered personalities, The Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso and the Archbishop Emeritus of Southern Africa Desmond Tutu assisted by writer Douglas Abrams.
The book exudes a light hearted feeling. Yet the conversation is profound.
