Category: Malaya

When and where was Philippine flag first unfurled?

Published by Ellen on June 12, 2012

A friend who listened to President Aquino’s speech at the 114th Philippine Independence Day celebration at Barasoain Church in Malolos, Bulacan yesterday called me up confused about a historical event he cited.

The President started his speech recalling last year’s Independence Day celebration in Kawit, Cavite:

“Noon pong nakaraang taon, nagtipon tayo sa Kawit, Cavite, sa balkonahe ni Heneral Emilio Aguinaldo kung saan unang iwinagayway ang ating bandila. Doon, unang kumumpas ang martsang Lupang Hinirang, sabay sa pintig ng puso ng mga rebolusyunaryong Pilipinong, sa wakas, ay kalag na sa tanikala ng mga dayuhan. Doon, unang pinasinayaan ang karapatang makapamuhay nang malaya at nagsasarili ang bansang Pilipinas.”

Valte feeling presidential

Published by Ellen on June 10, 2012

Bradley after the win — The Pinoy sense of humor in overdrive in social media

After the Pacquiao-Bradley fight that stunned the boxing world, especially Filipinos, Abigail Valte, deputy spokesperson of President Aquino, struck again.

She issued her own statement: “Together, let us pray for Manny’s immediate recovery and return to form. During your next fights, and during the challenges that will undoubtedly come your way in the future, you can certainly count on us to stand by you. Manny is still our one and only People’s Champ; and we are proud of him.”

As a number of journalists remarked, “Feeling.”

What do we care about Valte’s views on anything. We would be interested on the President’s reaction. She is not even the spokesman (who would have the right to issue his own statement).

As deputy presidential spokesman, Valte is supposed to release or read the President’s statement. The public is not interested on her thoughts or feeling about matters of national concern.

Aquino arrived yesterday from the United States and United Kingdom, so I suppose he still has to shake off his jet lag. That would explain his lack of reaction to an event that is of interest to Filipinos not only here but all over the world.

As what happened on the conviction of Supreme Court Justice Renato Corona when Valte beat him by a day in issuing a statement on such an important happening, we expect a statement from him later.

Admin ticket is LP,NP,NPC,LDP coalition; plus Koko Pimentel?

Published by Ellen on June 7, 2012

The latest survey by Pulse Asia on the senatorial preferences for the May 2013 elections shows that five in the top 12 will likely be in the Aquino administration ticket which would be composed of Liberal Party, Nationalist People’s Coalition, Nacionalista Party, and Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino.

They are re-electionists NPC’s Francis “Chiz” Escudero and Loren Legarda, who are in the top two in the survey; NP’s Alan Peter Cayetano (3); independent Antonio Trillanes IV (9), and Rep. Edgardo “Sonny” M. Angara (12).

NP’s Rep. Cynthia Villar is in number 14, which is not a bad position. With a good media strategy and grass roots organization, there’s a good chance for her to make it in the Senate. Her husband, Manny Villar, is on his last term.

Transportation Secretary Mar Roxas is number five in the survey, which is good position if all he wants is to return to the Senate.

Encounter with unsung heroes

Published by Ellen on June 5, 2012

xray machines naia3 — Security check at NAIA3

In the famous poem, Desiderata, there’s the part that says, “Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism.”

I find this reminder from the author Max Ehrmann appropriate for my experience at NAIA 3 last May 15, when my friend, Marilyn Robles, and I went to Boracay.

We took Cebu Pacific . As the usual airport procedures, we had our bags go through the X-ray machine, loaded them in the trolley and proceeded to the check-in counter. We each had three bags: one for check-in, and two to be hand- carried.

Gloria Arroyo may be out on bail, thanks to DOJ-Comelec

Published by Ellen on June 3, 2012

pleads not guilty. Feb. 23, 2012 — Pleads not guilty. Feb. 23, 2012. Thanks to GMA7 online for photo

Not surprising at all that Gloria Arroyo might be out on bail in her electoral sabotage case.

That case was meant to be dismissed.

No amount of lamentations by Justice Secretary Leila de Lima and Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes will cover the glaring incompetence in the handling of that case.

This turn of events should make President Aquino re-assess the quality of his legal teams at the Department of Justice and the Commission on Elections.

Gloria Arroyo must be made accountable for the many crimes she has committed against the Filipino people but a strong case must be built against her.

We condemn her perversion of the law to suit her interest when she was in power.To use the same deplorable tactic, even if it is on her, would make the current administration no better than hers and negate the people’s desire for genuine reforms in governance.

While everybody was busy with Corona impeachment, legislators push anti-media bills

Published by Ellen on May 31, 2012

Social Media — Emasculating Online Media

While the public, most especially media, was busy following the Corona impeachment trial, legislators were pushing measures that would undermine journalists’ work of making government officials accountable, which senator-judges declared as the major accomplishment of the just-concluded political exercise.

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines alerted the media community on three legislations: Sen. Edgardo Angara’s Senate Bill 2965, An Act Protecting Individual Personal Information in Information and Communications Systems in the Government and the private sector; House Bill No. 5808, or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012; and House Bill 5831 which proposes the amendment of Article 359 of R.A 3815, the Revised Penal Code.

Angara’s SB 2965 also seeks to create a national data protection commission.

Coronas’ cash: US$2.4M plus P80M

Published by Ellen on May 25, 2012

Chief justice says he won’t resign

By Ira Pedrasa, ABS-CBNnews.com

Corona returns to Senate — Corona returns to the Senate

Chief Justice Renato Corona on Friday admitted having US$2.4 million, including interest earnings since the early 1970s, plus P80 million in co-mingled funds.

“I never, at any time, had 10, 11 or 12 million [US] dollars,” Corona said, denying a claim by Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales that he had “transactional balances” of $10 million-$12 million in his dollar accounts.

Answering questions from senator-judges, Corona said his dollar accounts now total $2.4 million. He said he began investing and trading in dollars since the late 1960s when he was still working with the private sector.

Corona faces conviction

Published by Ellen on May 24, 2012

Corona attempting to leave Senate2 — Blocked from leaving the Senate

The walkout by Supreme Court Justice Renato Corona sealed his fate: he will be convicted.

During his three-hour narration, wherein he didn’t mince words against those he perceived were maligning him including President Aquino, whom he scornfully referred to as “hacienderong Pangulo”, he kept on complaining about his detractors undermining the rule law and bastardizing due process.

“Binababoy nila ang proseso ng Saligang Batas para yurakan ang aking mga karapatan,” he said.

As chief justice, Corona should be the embodiment of the rule of law. His office enforces judicial code of conduct and the Code of Professional Responsibility for lawyers. He knows that a witness, which he was on May 22, does not leave the witness stand without being discharged by the Presiding judge.

Corona disassembles

Published by Ellen on May 22, 2012

Update: Impeachment court won’t wait for Corona, who is now at the ICU of Medical City. Enrile gives defense up to Friday to present their evidence. Oral arguments will be on Monday. After that, voting.

Corona may 22 at impeachment trial — Thanks to Inquirer.net for photo

Just when it seemed that Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona had scored with his almost three -hour long testimony, complete with tearful moments, at his impeachment trial he walked out of the trial!
He just declared: “And now, the Chief Justice of the Republic of the Philippines wishes to be excused.” Then he left the session hall.

A surprised and annoyed Presiding Judge Juan Ponce-Enrile ordered all the Senate building’s exit closed.

What a day!

My friend Marilyn Robles remarked: “Naluma ang theatrics ni Manang Miriam. May paiyak-iyak pa.Ayan nagalit si Manong Johnny.”

Dean Nilo Divina of the University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Civil Law, who is one of ANC’s panelists, said it beats any Korean telenovela.

Fishing ban not-so-well thought out

Published by Ellen on May 21, 2012

Filipino fishermen unload fish from a boat in Masinloc — Thanks to MSNBC for photo

It’s good that former Marine Capt. Nick Faeldon didn’t push through with his planned voyage Panatag shoal, also known as Scarborough shoal, where an almost one- and- half-month long standoff between the Philippines and China is a subject of informal diplomatic talks.

Faeldon, who was imprisoned for seven years for his participation in the 2003 Oakwood mutiny against Gloria Arroyo, had planned to set sail for Panatag shoal, last Friday together with fishermen from his home province, Batanes and fishermen from Masinloc, who are most affected by the conflict.

A call from the President Aquino Thursday aborted the plan, which would have really further riled the Chinese who are claiming the shoal, more than a thousand nautical miles away from their mainland. (Panatag shoal is 124 nautical miles from Zambales.)