“The Impossible Dream” was Evelio’s favorite song.
The song is from the musical “Man from La Mancha”, which was adapted from Spanish writer Miguel de Cervantes’ masterpiece “Don Quixote.”
Precious’ moving tribute to Evelio at the end of the latter’s funeral mass in February 1986 (Evelio’s assassination sparked the first People Power that ended the 20-year Marcos dictatorship), had references to the dreamer Don Quixote character.
We saw posted in Facebook last week a news item about Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson confirming his interest in the position of DILG secretary, the effect of which was in very bad taste.
A closer look at the news item, however, showed that the date was June 2012 after President Aquino announced that two senators are being eyed for a cabinet position after their elected term expires in June 2013.
When asked if they were Lacson and Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, Aquino replied, ““Those two in particular.”
Sta. Romana, together with Brig. Gen. (ret.) Jose Almonte, former National Security Adviser, were the speakers in last Wednesday’s general membership meeting of the Makati Business Club at Hotel Intercon in Makati.
The unfortunate deterioration of relations with a global superpower and an Asian neighbor started last April 8 when the Philippine Navy’s pride, BRP Gregorio del Pilar, a hand-me down from the United States, arrested Chinese fishermen in Panatag shoal, also known as Scarborough shoal, 124 nautical miles off Zambales.
A mishandling of the situation characterized by rhetorics from the Philippines’ high officials led to a standoff that lasted almost two months. The territorial dispute spilled over to economic relations with China rejecting banana exports from the Philippines and Chinese tourists cancelling their scheduled trips to the Philippines.
There is no overstating that only when the citizenry is informed can they be empowered to be partners in nation building.
A vigilant citizenry is the most effective check against an abusive government.
That’s why the right of the people to information is enshrined in the Constitution. The Bill of Rights provides that “Access to official records, and to documents, and papers pertaining to official acts, transactions or decision, as well as to government research data used as basis for policy development, shall be afforded the citizen, subject to such limitations as may be provided by law.”
Two years into the Benigno Aquino III presidency, the optimism for the passage of the Freedom of Information bill has waned and has become a cause of concern for media practitioners.
There was supposed to be meeting by the House committee on public information chaired by Eastern Samar Rep. Ben Evardone last Aug. 7 but it was cancelled. Instead it was decided to get the sense of the House majority coalition man on the bill.
It’s not only in Metro Manila that people are trapped.
While flood and landslide due to the monsoon rains the past days have confined people to certain places and access to them difficult in Metro Manila and some parts of Luzon, it’s a more worrisome situation in Muslim Mindanao.
Reports from Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur said people are caught in the middle in the latest clash between government troops and the breakaway Moro rebel group headed by Ameril Umbra Kato.
Here’s yesterday’s report by Mindanews’ Froilan Gallardo:
But his anger is directed to the wrong person.
A day after Arroyo was released from detention, Aquino spoke about his displeasure with Pasay City Regional trial Court Judge Jesus Mupas.
He said Mupas was asking the “impossible” for requiring a corroborative testimony to the testimony of the government star witness,former Maguindanao provincial administrator, Norie Unas.
Update: Just got this text from NFA Administrator Lito Banayo (July 23, 2012, 11:39 pm.) Our friend Nixon has gone back to the Divine Creator.
Let’s pray for Nixon Kua, former head of the Philippine Tourism Authority, is now in a criticaI condition at the Calamba Medical center after he was shot at close range Saturday night in front of his brother’s home inside the exclusive Ayala Greenfields in Calamba, Laguna.
According National Food Authority Administrator Lito Banayo, Nixon’s close friend and predecessor at PTA, doctors are giving Nixon, who is at the Intensive Care Unit a 50-50 chance of surviving.
News reports, quoting Laguna police chief Senior Superintendent Gilbert Cruz, said that amid a downpour, four unidentified armed men shot and seriously wounded Kua and seized from his daughter, Sue Anne, a bag containing P90,000 in cash intended for wages of people working in their house. Robbers also got Sue Anne’s IPhone.
The picture was the inauguration of a three-storey, 27-classroom building of the Zamboanga City High School. The guest of honor was Education Secretary Bro. Armin Luistro. The host was Zamboanga City Mayor Celso Lobregat.
Julie said officials of the Department of Education-Western Mindanao were present. So were the city councilors and barangay officials.
The picture showed the Master of Ceremonies, who was later identified as Joseph Wee, standing behind the podium. Behind him was a student holding a desk electric fan. He was made a stand of the electric fan!
Last Monday, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales filed before the Sandiganbayan plunder charges against Gloria Arroyo who is now detained at the V. Luna Medical Center and nine others for allegedly pocketing P365, 997,915 from confidential and intelligence funds of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office in several transfers from January 2008 to June 2010.
Charged along with Arroyo were former PCSO Board of Directors chairman Sergio O. Valencia; former PCSO general manager Rosario C. Uriarte; former PCSO directors Manuel L. Morato, Jose R. Taruc V, Raymundo T. Roquero and Ma. Fatima A. S. Valdes; former PCSO budget officer Benigno B. Aguas; former Commission on Audit chairman Reynaldo A. Villar; and former COA-Intelligence Fund Unit head Nilda B. Plaras.
Another good news: Government demolishes illegally constructed resort rumored to be co-owned by Manny Pacquiao.
Lawyers Harry Roque and Joel Butuyan, counsels of BFI, said “the ruling will protect the best beach on earth and the country’s tourism crown jewel.”
Known as the Boracay Marina Project, the reclamation was supposed to reclaim 40 hectares costing P1.3 billion in the areas adjacent to the jetty ports, Barangays Caticlan and Manoc-manoc in the Municipality of Malay.