Malaya – Page 19 – ellen tordesillas

Confronted with unpleasant reality, Aquino goes into denial mode

Published by Ellen on April 26, 2013

Modern-day Pieta. Not an unusual sight in Metro Manila's sidewalks and underpasses. — Modern-day Pieta. Not an unusual sight in Metro Manila’s sidewalks and underpasses.

Updated:Malacanang says PNoy not disparaging NSCB

President Aquino is discrediting the report of his own government agency- National Statistical Coordination Board which says the much-vaunted impressive economic growth has not trickled down to the teeming poor in the country.

The NSDB official release said: “Poverty incidence among population was estimated at 27.9 percent during the first semester of 2012. Comparing this with the 2006 and 2009 first semester figures estimated at 28.8 percent and 28.6 percent, respectively, poverty remained unchanged as the computed differences are not statistically significant.”

In simpler terms, life for the Filipino poor has not improved in the past six years.

Getting to know Trillanes at Bulong-Pulungan

Published by Ellen on April 23, 2013

Trillanes in Bulong-Pulungan with Manila Bulletin's Deedee Siytangco — Trillanes in Bulong-Pulungan with Manila Bulletin’s Dee-dee Siytangco

Bulong-Pulungan sa Sofitel yesterday was a getting-to-know Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV with journalists asking questions not often asked of the young senator who shot into the limelight in July 2003 when he and some 300 junior officers and soldiers made a stand against Gloria Arroyo in Oakwood Hotel in Makati.

Manila Bulletin’s Deedee Siytangco asked about the senator’s family life- wife Arlene and children, Seth and Thea.
Not many in the audience know that Arlene belonged to the first batch of female graduates of the Philippine Military Academy in 1997. She has resigned from military service and is now teaching at the National University.

Charo Yu, a supporter of Trillanes who helped arrange the senator’s guesting at the weekly media lunch forum, had to retrieve a photo of the senator and his wife from her cellphone to show Bulong regulars. “She’s pretty,” Deedee commented of Arlene.

In his desire for personal comfort,Brillantes insults foreign service

Published by Ellen on April 21, 2013

Wants a taxpayers' paid relaxation abroad. — Wants a taxpayers’ paid relaxation abroad.

Nakakahiya.

Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes told reporters last week that he will ask President Aquino to name him ambassador to a country in Eastern Europe once he leaves the election body.

“I will wait to see the President so that I can ask him … My plan was to ask him, ‘Could you give me an ambassadorship instead so that I can rest. It’s so tiring in the Comelec,’” he was quoted by media to have said.
Brillantes named countries that he was eyeing: “Romania, Slovakia, or Hungary … where no Filipinos go.”

Two things are very wrong with what Brillantes wants:

China gives a glimpse of armed power

Published by Ellen on April 18, 2013

China's aircraft carrier — China’s aircraft carrier

China’s Defense White Paper released last Tuesday is an interesting read in the light of the current tension in the Korean Peninsula and the Philippine’s territorial dispute with the new world economic and military power.

The White Paper titled, “The Diversified Employment of China’s Armed Forces” was released as US State Secretary John Kerry completes his Asia visit (South Korea and Japan) re-affirming the “rebalancing” policy initiated by the Obama administration in its first term.

Under the rebalancing or “pivot” policy, the US shifts its military power and presence from the Middle East war zone to the Asia Pacific region.

The Pichay lesson in political ads

Published by Ellen on April 16, 2013

Pichay's ad in 2007 elections — Pichay’s ad in 2007 elections

Some are concerned that with the lifting by the Supreme Court of the airtime limits on political advertisements, we would be bombarded with all those propaganda in the next 30 days.

Less-moneyed candidates are worried that they would be drowned by those with money to burn. Independent senatorial candidate Teddy Casiño said the SC’s ruling favors wealthy candidates or those backed by the ruling elite.

“Ginawang parang unli text, unli call.The problem is its steep cost,” he said. TV ad rates, depending on the time slot, would not go below P250,000 for a 30 second ad. A candidate would need some P30 million for the remaining four weeks of the campaign.

” It is disgusting that the SC has decided against the Comelec’s effort to rein in expensive campaigns which poor or cash-strapped candidates like me cannot afford,” Casiño lamented.

AMRSP’s critical reflection on Aquino presidency

Published by Ellen on April 3, 2013

The Association of Major Religious Superiors in the Philippines has been in the forefront in all the political upheavals the country has experienced since the time of the Marcos dictatorship.

Many of its members braved the tanks sent by Marcos to Edsa during the 1986 People Power. They were very much visible in the 2001 ouster of Joseph Estrada and the installation of Gloria Arroyo.

But they did not hesitate to rally against Arroyo when reports of election cheating and massive corruption surfaced.

They supported the rise of Benigno Aquino III to the presidency.

Agonizing moments at the DFA over Sabah

Published by Ellen on March 31, 2013

Malaysia arrests Filipinos Photo By BAZUKI MUHAMMAD REUTERS Wed, Mar 6, 2013 From Yahoo.

When some 30 concerned citizens met before the Holy Week to discuss the appeal to the United Nations for help for Filipinos in Sabah who are being maltreated by Malaysian authorities, they decided they would do it as private citizens and not waste their time getting the support of the Philippine government.

Of course, the petition would have carried more weight if it were the government seeking international intervention for its people, which should be the case because the government exists for its people.

In fact, it is in the Constitution’s Declaration of Principles and State Policies that (Art. II, Sec. 4) The prime duty of the Government is to serve and protect the people.”

Joeseg: beyond online friendship

Published by Ellen on March 27, 2013

Joeseg and his idol,Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV.

I have been blogging since October 2005 and one of gifts I’ve gained is friendship of people from different parts of the globe.

One of them was Jose Seguerra who logs in my blog as “Joeseg.”

Joeseg was one of the pioneer visitors in my blog way back 2005. His sober views even in the most heated exchanges bring rationality in the discussions.

Our online friendship (together with that of five others) expanded to include members of our family.

Kristel’s death is a wake-up call

Published by Ellen on March 17, 2013

Vigil for Kristel. Thanks to Philippine Star for photo.

Even as there are some people who want to fan the outrage over the death of 16-year old Kristel Tejada, a freshman student at The University of the Philippines, Manila, the UP leadership promises to “take the necessary steps to address the policy and administrative issues that are related to this unfortunate tragedy. “

Tejada was found dead in her residence in Sampaloc after taking cyanide nitrate.

The mother said her daughter was depressed because she could not continue her studies at UP where she was taking up Behavioral Science for their failure to pay the needed tuition fee.

UN appeal internationalizes what M’lcang calls a domestic issue

Published by Ellen on March 7, 2013

Jamalul Kiram III with his family in Taguig. Reuters Erik de Castro. From Yahoo

Following the appeal of Jamalul Kiram III, one of the heirs of the Sultan of Sulu whose followers in Lahad Datu are engaged in bloody clashes with Malaysian forces, the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon called on all parties to end the violence that has resulted in the death of more than 30 Filipinos and Malaysians.

The statement said, “The Secretary-General is closely following the situation in Sabah, Malaysia. He urges an end to the violence and encourages dialogue among all the parties for a peaceful resolution of the situation.

“The Secretary-General expresses concern about the impact this situation may have on the civilian population, including migrants in the region. He urges all parties to facilitate delivery of humanitarian assistance and act in full respect of international human rights norms and standards.”

A tearful Kiram III immediately ordered a unilateral ceasefire to his forces in Lahad Datu, Sabah led by his younger brother, Raja Muda Agbimuddin Kiram.

Category: Malaya