Category: Vera Files

China hardliners to teach Spratly intruders ‘a lesson’

Published by Ellen on July 11, 2011

(I did this story for VERA Files. It was sent to all media outlets.)

9-dash line — China's map of its claim in the South China Sea. Take note that it includes waters near the Philippines.

Hardliners in the Chinese Military Academy are raring to teach China’s neighbors “a lesson” for intruding into the South China Sea, which they consider part of their national territory, a Chinese Southeast Asian expert said.

Shen Hong-Fang, professor and senior research fellow at the Center of Southeast Asian studies at Xiamen University, spoke of “a new upsurge” of Chinese nationalism set off by claims made by some Asian countries, including the Philippines, over territory China considers its own.

“Some suggested that it is the right time to adopt necessary measures to teach some countries a lesson,” Shen said, startling participants at the two-day Conference on the South China Sea held in Manila last week.

She added there are those who think it justifiable “for China to launch a war against the invaders.”

The Philippines, Vietnam and Malaysia have staked claims over some of the 160 islands that constitute the Spratlys in the South China Sea. These countries, along with Indonesia which is a non-claimant, have filed protests before the United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) over the “nine-dash line map” China submitted to prove its claim.

Gov’t struck deal with Gutierrez over resignation

Published by Ellen on July 3, 2011

(I did this story for VERA Files. It has been released to all media outlets.)

merceditas gutierrez resigns — Resignation came with a price

The government paid a price for getting Merceditas Gutierrez to resign as Ombudsman, a deal one official justified by saying that subjecting her to a drawn-out impeachment trial would have been an emotional and divisive political exercise.

A highly reliable source said President Benigno Aquino III agreed to the two conditions Gutierrez set in exchange for her resignation. One, she would get her full retirement benefits. Two, government would not file charges against her.

The deal, however, does not preclude private individuals from filing cases against the former Ombudsman, who had also served as acting justice secretary during the Arroyo administration, the source said.

PH military eyes SEATO-like deal to lease patrol boats from US

Published by Ellen on June 30, 2011

This story is also posted in www.verafiles.org

USS Chung HoonB — USS Chung Hoon approaching Puerto Princesa Bay to participate in PH-US military exercises

By Tessa Jamandre
VERA Files

Amid renewed tensions in the disputed South China Sea, the Philippine military is batting to revive the concept of an anti-communist collective defense of Southeast Asia to enable the country to enter into a leasing arrangement of patrol boats with the United States.

An operational lease would allow the Philippine Navy to use newer U.S. ships, Navy Vice Commander Rear Admiral Orwen Cortez told a press conference following the opening ceremony of the PH-US Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) in Puerto Princesa on Tuesday.

“We have experience with this during the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO) way back in the ‘50s when U.S. ships came to the Philippines, so that was the background and we’re trying to revive that concept,” he said.

Justice for Chit Estella is crusade for road safety

Published by Ellen on June 9, 2011

On June 21, a Tuesday, the family and friends of journalist Chit Estella-Simbulan will mark the 40th day of her death in a car accident on Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon city last month’s Friday, the 13th.

At 6:30 a.m, there will be a “Run for Road Safety” to be led by running priest Fr. Robert Reyes starting at the College of Mass Communication, where Chit was a member of the faculty. The run will take the route of University Avenue, then Commonwealth towards the site of the accident, in front of the Ayala Techno Hub, which Fr. Reyes will bless. The participants will be escorted by MMDA motorcycle units and traffic will be rerouted briefly for the activity.

(We will never be this complete anymore.Photo is the last of VERA Files trustees together. From left: Booma Cruz, Chit Estella, Ellen Tordesillas, Yvonne Chua, Luz Rimban, Jenny Santillan-Santiago.

(This was taken during the award ceremonies of the 2010 Ninoy and Cory Aquino Fellowship Award for Journalism to Yvonne last Aug. 10,2010 at the Manila Peninsula.)

Everybody concerned of safety in our roads are invited to join.

At 3 p.m. there will be a mass at San Agustin church in Intramuros, Manila. After the mass, at 4 p.m., Chit’s ashes will be interred at the San Agustin columbarium crypt.

China fired at Filipino fishermen in Jackson atoll

Published by Ellen on June 2, 2011

Update: Portion of the June 4, 2011 Statement of the Department of Foreign Affairs On the Presence of Chinese Vessels In the West Philippine Sea…

Chit Estella: ‘She lived the life she wanted’

Published by Ellen on May 17, 2011

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/video/nation/metro-manila/05/15/11/journalists-pay-tribute-simbulan
By Yvonne T. Chua
VERA Files

Chit Estella and I were well on our way to obtaining tenure as professors of journalism at the University of the Philippines in Diliman when classes open this June. We had survived the university’s dreaded “up or out” policy after graduating this month with a master’s degree in public management from the UP Open University.

At long last, we could put aside the gnawing fear we had shared for years – of whether longtime, aging professional journalists like us could and should still make a life out of the academe.

Both of us could also focus more on Vera Files, the small media nonprofit group we co-founded with four journalist-friends three years ago to keep us abreast not only of the journalism profession but, more important, of one another.

Dapat magkaroon ng kabuluhan ang pagkamatay ni Chit

Published by Ellen on May 15, 2011

http://globalnation.inquirer.net/columns/columns/view/20110515-336645/Chit-Estella-Journalism-with-Integrity

http://raissarobles.com/2011/05/13/i-salute-journalist-professor-chit-estella-for-her-bravery-and-grace-under-fire/

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20110515-336581/Chit-Estella-Life-changing-teacher-editor-journalist-pal

Chit from Raissa's blog — Thanks to Raissa Robles for this photo

Hindi naman talaga ako mapamahiin (superstitious) dahil naniniwala ako na walang tatalo sa kapangyarihan ng Panginoon at lahat na nangyayari dito sa mundo ay kagustuhan ng Panginoon.

Hindi tayo tatagal dito sa mundo na mas matagal sa nakatakda sa atin ng Panginoon. Hindi rin pwedeng mas maaga. Kung ano ang nakatakda, yan ang mangyayari. Yan ang aking paniniwala.

Siguro nagkataon lang ngunit ang petsa ng pagkamatay ng aking kaibigan na si Chit Estella, trustee rin ng VERA Files, ay Biyernes a-trese (Friday the 13th).Siguro nagkataon lang dahil marami namang Friday, the 13th na walang masamang nangyayari.

Ito ang usapan naming ni Ruben Alabastro ng Philippine Daily Inquirer na hindi rin sinadya, na nasa page 13 lumabas ang balita tungkol kay Chit.

Mahilig si Chit sa horoscope. Sabi ng kanyang asawang si Roland Simbulan, tuwing umaga pumunta sila sa website ng horoscope. Nang umaga ng May0 13, kilig si Chit sa kanyang horoscope na nagsabing: “Something will happen that will not only be evolutionary but revolutionary that will change your life.”

VERA Files trustee Chit Estella writes 30

Published by Ellen on May 13, 2011

VERA Files announces with deep sorrow the demise of VERA Files co-founder and trustee Lourdes Estella- Simbulan. She was 54. A full-time faculty member of…

Cagayan de Oro City farmers regret planting jathropa

Published by Ellen on April 17, 2011

By Liezl P. Bugtay and Venus P. Betita AFRIM and VERA Files A promise of prosperity turned into a bitter cautionary tale for a community…

Mikey’s firm sells Foster home for $1.125M

Published by Ellen on April 10, 2011

By VERA Files
Click on photo to view it enlarged

A company partly owned by Ang Galing Pinoy party-list Rep. Juan Miguel “Mikey” Arroyo recently sold the controversial house in upscale Foster City, California that used to belong to him and his wife Angela for $1.125 million (about P48.49 million).

The five-bedroom beachfront house at 1655 Beach Park Blvd. was sold by the Beachway Limited Liability Company (LLC) – a company Arroyo has admitted being part owner of – and this transaction was reported to the San Mateo County Assessor-Recorder’s Office on March 16.

The property was transferred just last month to Mary Grace Apolinario and Jerome Ngo who appear in the county’s database as “grantees” or buyers. The buyers are owners of the popular restaurant chain “Gerry’s Grill” who, sources said, are good friends of Mikey

The property was transferred to Mary Grace Apolinario and Jerome Ngo who appear in the county’s database as “grantees” or buyers. The buyers are owners of the popular restaurant chain “Gerry’s Grill” who, sources said, are good friends of Mikey.