Malaya – Page 51 – ellen tordesillas

Tour of Hope 2009

Published by Ellen on March 22, 2009

There’s a way to enjoy the summer sun and still do something for the less fortunate: get involved with Tour of Hope 2009.

On its second year, Tour of Hope is actually an information campaign about cervical cancer through cycling. The five-day cycling event will start in Alabang, Muntinlupa City on May 24 and end in Camarines Sur on May 28.

Taking the Southern Luzon route, the tour will cover 500 kilometers of the country’s scenic countryside including Tagaytay,Lipa,Lucena, Daet. In every stop, there will forums on cervical cancer to be participated in by personnel of the Philippine General Hospital Cancer Institute and Bravehearts, a non-government organization Bravehearts dedicated to raise awareness on
cervical cancer prevention.

Signature gathering for Cha-Cha still on

Published by Ellen on March 19, 2009

When a friend told me that the release of convicted child rapist Romeo Jalosjos, former Zamboanga del Norte representative, was connected to the Charter change being pushed by Malacañang, I was skeptical about it because Gloria Arroyo’s political adviser has said that Cha-Cha is dead in the water and they are now focused on the 2010 elections.

Until I talked with former JDV (former House Speaker Jose de Venecia) yesterday to verify rumors that he had met with Mike Arroyo, husband of Gloria Arroyo, and that he would be restored to the speakership in exchange for his help to push for charter change.

JDV vehemently denied that he met with Mike Arroyo and that he had made any compromise deal with him.

US plays game with Arroyo

Published by Ellen on March 15, 2009

Update: Rape victim Nicole in US “for good”, terminates services of lawyer.

It is no idle coincidence that the arrest of family members of disgraced Maj. Gen. Carlos Garcia , former comptroller of the Armed Forces of the Philippines happened at the time when calls for the abrogation of Visiting Forces Agreement is mounting.

They are part of a high-stakes power play that sadly reduces the Filipino people as pawns. For the United States, at stake is their being able to maintain their diminishing dominance in Asia Pacific amid China’s growing global influence. For Gloria Arroyo, it’s political survival.

Fourteen months away from the end of her corruption-riddled presidency, Gloria Arroyo has been begging for a photo-opportunity with the new U.S president thinking that the picture would negate the creeping impression that the Americans have written her off especially after the World Bank released the report that her husband Mike Arroyo is involved in corruption in public works projects.

Tempest in high seas

Published by Ellen on March 12, 2009

Three days before the Philippine Archipelagic Baselines Law ( Republic Act No. 9522 ) was signed last Wednesday, the United States protested “harrasment” by Chinese vessels of their mapping ship in international waters off China which once again underscores the volatility of the South China Sea.

Immediately after Malacañang announced the signing of the baseline law, China protested the inclusion of islands in the Spratlys and Scarborough shoal in Philippine territory as “regime of islands” even as Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, who was the first one to file a baseline bill, accuses the Arroyo administation of “selling out” to the Chinese.

Trillanes insists that Scarborough shoal, off Zambales, should be within the country’s archipelagic baseline. By excluding the area, which was the scene of Philippine Navy skirmishes with Chinese forces in 1999, from the baseline, the country lost some 15,000 square nautical miles of Philippine territory.

Why ethics?

Published by Ellen on March 10, 2009

The Legacy beneficiaries -From left, Martinez, Zialcita, Nograles

After last Monday’s Senate hearing on the Legacy group of companies debacle which saw millions of pesos of hard-earned savings by thousands of not-so-rich investors vanish into a few people’s pockets, House Speaker Prospero Nograles was asked by reporters if Parañaque Representative Eduardo Zialcita (1st district) would have to face the Ethics Committee.

Nograles replied, “Why ethics? Who is the complainant, who is complaining against him?”

For Nograles to ask “Why ethics” reveals the depth of moral degradation among government officials.

Francis M inspires

Published by Ellen on March 8, 2009

When a friend, Marlyn Divinagracia, 32-year old wife of detained Scout Ranger Capt. Ervin Divinagracia, was diagnosed to have leukemina Nov. 7 last year, we told her not to lose hope and cited rapper Francis Magalona.

“Look at Francis Magalona. He has leukemia and he has survived it,” we told her. It was announced in August 2008 that Francis had leukemia.

Marlyn’s battle with leukemia was swift. One week after, we bade goodbye to her.

Francis also bade goodbye last Friday. But in his seven-month battle with leukemia, he showed how to turn the prospect of death into a celebration of life. In his blog (http://francismagalona.multiply.com), the Jan. 9, 2009 entry was about the visit of artist-magician Jeffrey Tam while he was in a recording session with “Ely B” at Tracks studio in Pasig.

Mercy, Abalos in a moro-moro

Published by Ellen on March 3, 2009

Malacañang is coming out with a masterpiece to divert attention from the unholy alliance between Gloria and Mike Arroyo and Merceditas Gutierrez, the Ombudsman.

A highly reliable source said anytime soon the Ombudsman will be filing a graft case with the Sandigan against Benjamin Abalos, the former chairman of the Commission on Election who was exposed to be brokering a $329.5 million national broadband network project for a Chinese firm, ZTE Corp.

Abalos is the subject of two complaints (filed separately by lawyers Ernesto Francisco and Harry Roque) before the Ombudsman in connection with ZTE deal for violation of Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and Code of Conduct for Government officials. It will be recalled that Abalos offered then NEDA chief Romulo Neri P200 million to endorse the ZTE contract which was allegedly overpriced by P9 billion. The peso equivalent of the Abalos-packaged ZTE deal was P14.8 billion.

Tuloy ang kaso vs Mike Arroyo

Published by Ellen on March 2, 2009

Siguro naman sisipot na si Mike Arroyo sa hearing ng aming class suit sa Makati Regional Trial Court sa Marso 11,susunod na Miyerkoles, 2 p.m.

Kung ayaw naman niya, sabihin na lang niya sa korte ibigay na niya ang hiningi naming danyos na P12.5 milyon na ilalagay namin sa isang trust fund para tulong sa mga journalists na walang pambayad ng abogado kapag sila ay sinampahan ng kaso ng libel katulad ng ginawa sa amin ni Arroyo.

Noong Biyernes, binasura ni Court of Appeals Justice Fernanda Lampas-Peralta ang petisyon ni Arroyo na ibasura ang aming class suit dahil kulang raw ang binayad namin na filing fee.

A magical tour in Macau

Published by Ellen on March 1, 2009

Jullie Yap of the Manila Bulletin, Mandy Navasero of the Philippine Daily Inquirer and myself had a magical experience last weekend courtesy of someone we don’t know and we haven’t met.

Through a friend who want to remain anonymous, we were extended an invitation for a three-day visit to Macau. Accommodation: The Venetian.

Off we went last Thursday. I’ve never been to the The Venetian Las Vegas but those who have been there say the one in Macau is much, much bigger.

No to Right of Reply bill

Published by Ellen on February 26, 2009

I’m glad that Senators Mar Roxas and Chiz Escudero have withdrawn their signatures on the dangerous Right-of-Reply bill that the Senate passed last July and which is due for second reading at the House of Representatives.

I’m not surprised about Rep. Monico Puentevella pushing for a bill that would be disastrous to democracy in this country. What can the people expect from an Arroyo lackey?

But Sen. Aquilino Pimentel Jr? He who fought the Marcos dictatorship? Disappointment is an understatement.

Category: Malaya