Malaya – Page 42 – ellen tordesillas

Not just to watch passively but active as citizens journalists

Published by Ellen on March 14, 2010

Comelec, a no show in Pampanga citizens journalism training.

Citizens as journalists in 2010 elections

Bishop Pablo Virgilio “Ambo” David underscored the importance of being armed with correct information as the nation goes to the polls on May 10 to select their next set of national and local leaders in a seminar-workshop on citizen journalism held at the Holy Angel University in Angeles City.

Bishop Ambo said, “Truth will set us free but first, truth will make us miserable.” .

One of those “miserable” truths is that patronage politics still dominates in elections. Inquirer correspondent Tonette Orejas’ presentation of the personalities that dominate Pampanga said it best: the unelected president Gloria Arroyo, Sen. Lito Lapid, Lilia Pineda, who was recently declared by the Comelec as winner of the 2007 gubernatorial race nullifying the “miracle” victory of Fr. Ed Panlilio.

Panlilio has brought the issue to the Supreme Court.

The power of being informed

Published by Ellen on March 12, 2010

Last Monday, VERA Files unveiled its Vote 2010 page within its website www.verafiles.org.

(Click on the Vote 2010 logo on the upper right side of this page and it will bring you to the page.)

Vote 2010 is a partnership among VERA Files, civil society organizations, the community media, individuals and institutions monitoring the May 10, 2010 elections.

Readers will find stories related to the forthcoming May elections that is being held at the time of deep distrust of the administration that is overseeing the nationwide, untested automated polls.

Readers will also find basic information on the May elections and background materials on the candidates including their schedule and campaign movements.

This partnership is about citizen empowerment.

Horoscope for vice presidential candidates

Published by Ellen on March 9, 2010

Last Monday, we ran Professional Heckler’s hilarious horoscope for presidential candidates. Here’s his equally hilarious horoscope for vice presidential candidates.

He said the hot, summer weather is affecting even the stars.” Ngunit bunsod ng patuloy na pag-init ng panahon, mainit din ang ulo ng mga bituin. Prangka sila ngayon.”

Enjoy and visit his site:www.professionalheckler.wordpress.com.

Jejomar “Jojo” Binay, Puwersa ng Masang Pilipino. Born: November 11, 1941, Scorpio.

Ayun sa mga bituin

Published by Ellen on March 7, 2010

As always, “The Professional Heckler” is hilarious.

I consider this young guy the genius wit of this generation.

This horoscope for presidentiables has been going around the world through internet.In the passing frenzy, the author’s by line got deleted. He related that a relative sent this to him with a note, “Basahin mo ‘to ‘insan, nakakatawa!”

He replied, “’Insan, are u insane? Mas patawa ka! Sa aking blog nanggaling ‘yan! Tanga!”

Anyway, rather than be angered and frustrated by the lies and propaganda being spread around by candidates, enjoy with “The Professional Heckler” what he saw in the stars for the presidential candidates.

Bastardizing the partylist

Published by Ellen on March 2, 2010

Parañaque Rep. Roilo Golez sees conflict of interest in the membership of Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes in 1-Utak (United Transport Koalisyun), a partylist group.

Golez said in the hearing of the House Energy Committee last Monday, Reyes admitted that he was offered a slot in the 1-Utak party list and in a TV interview, he said he is considering it.

His nomination indicates that he has been a member of the past three months because the law states that a nominee should be “A bona fide member of the party he seeks to represent for at least ninety (90) days preceding election day.”

The benefits of preparedness

Published by Ellen on February 28, 2010

The Philippines is in the Pacific Ring of Fire and the two massive earthquakes that occurred in less than two months in other parts of the world should give us ample warning.

Internet search gives this description of the Pacific Ring of Fire: It is an area where large numbers of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur in the basin of the Pacific Ocean. It’s an arc stretching from New Zealand, along the eastern edge of Asia, including the Philippines, north across the Aleutian Islands of Alaska, and south along the coast of North and South America. Over 75% of the world’s active and dormant volcanoes are within the arc.

The volatile activities are a direct result of movements of the earth’s plates, which are like giant rafts which often slide next to, collide with, and are forced underneath other plates. There is a tremendous amount of energy created by the movements of these plates. Thus we have volcanic eruptions and earthquakes.

Muzzling the victims to protect Arroyo

Published by Ellen on February 25, 2010

Last Feb. 3, the relatives of 13 journalists killed in the Nov. 23 2009 massacre in Ampatuan town in Maguindanao filed a suit with the Asean Inter-Governmental Commission on Human Rights to hold accountable the Arroyo government for the carnage that murdered at least 57 people, 30 of them journalists.

The rationale for the charge, which was done with the assistance of CenterLaw Philippines, is simple and easily understandable: All of those responsible for the carnage are agents of the Philippine State.

Harry Roque of CenterLaw yesterday disclosed that Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera (who is supposed not to be holding that position since she filed her certificate of candidacy last Nov. 30) is pressuring the kin of 13 journalists who filed the suit with the AICHR not to pursue it.

Captain? Lieutenant? Mister?

Published by Ellen on February 18, 2010

It must have been slip of the tongue when Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita told Malacañang reporters “We have been checking on the court” when asked for reaction to the order of Makati RTC Judge Elmo Alameda to grant bail to Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim and 16 officers and soldiers in connection with the Nov. 2007 incident at the Manila Peninsula.

Alameda said the evidence presented by the prosecution did not prove the charge of rebellion, which should have been non-bailable.

Alameda’s order supports common sense that what Trillanes, Lim and company did on Nov. 2007 did not constitute public uprising and taking up arms against the government which is the primary element of rebellion.

Mangudadatu to shake hands with Ampatuan Sr?

Published by Ellen on February 9, 2010

Update: Ampatuan Sr. and 126 others charged with murder.

Someone very much involved in the 2010 elections said Buluan vice Mayor Ismael “Toto” Mangudadatu is agreeable to shaking hands with the patriarch of the Ampatuan clan for the sake of peace in Maguindanao.

Mangudadatu’s wife, Jenalyn, his sister, and some relatives were among the more than 57 killed in the Nov. 23 massacre allegedly perpetrated by the Mangudadatus in a fierce rivalry for the control of the province, the second poorest in the country. Thirty of those killed were journalists, who accompanied Mangudadatus’ wife who was to file her husband’s certificate of candidacy for mayor.

Andal Ampatuan, Jr, mayor of Datu Unsay in Maguindanao , has been identified by witnesses as the one who led the massacre. He has been charged with several counts of murder and is detained at the National Bureau of Investigation.

Ampatuan Sr. is in a military hospital in Davao City; his sons Datu Zaldy, Datu Anwar and Datu Sajid are detained in General Santos City with his son-in-law Datu Akmad Ampatuan Sr., husband of eldest daughter Rebecca.

Media covenant for elections

Published by Ellen on February 4, 2010

Media remains the main battleground for the hearts and minds of voters.

As we approach the start of the official campaign period (Feb.9), members the Philippine Press Institute came up with a media covenant for elections.

The covenant was drafted when PPI, with the support of The Coca Cola Export Corporation, conducted a seminar-workshop on preparing journalists for the 2010 election in Cagayan de Oro in October 2009. This week, in Cebu, the covenant was approved by 31 journalists who represented PPI newspaper members.

Category: Malaya