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Bakit kaya hindi nababahala si Brillantes sa mga palpak ng NPO?

Published by Ellen on November 10, 2012

Nagrampa giving instructionsB — An NPO official gives intsructions to NPO employees how to shade sample ballots for testing prior to scheduled testing in violation of BAC rules and procedures that only the BAC chairman should initiate such action together with other members of the committee.

Nakakapagtaka, nakakaduda at nakakabahala ang hindi pagkabahala ng Commission on Elections sa mga palpak na nagyayari sa bidding ng pag-imprinta ng balota na gagamitin sa 2013 na eleksyun.

Inamin ni Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. na palpak ang mga balota na ginawa ng Holy Family Printing Corp, ang pinanalo ng National Printing Office sa pag-imprenta ng 55 milyon na balota para sa 2013 na eleksyun.

Dapat kasi sa testing , isang libo na sample ballots ang gamitin. Noong unang test, Septyembre 12, 2012, walo lang ang dala ng Holy Family. Di ba dapat noon pa lang disqualified na sila dahil ibig sabihin nun, nag-bid sila na hindi pala sila handa gumawa ng trabaho na gusto nila kunin.

Hindi ito basta-basta lang trabaho. Balota ito para sa national na eleksyun. Demokrasya ng bansa ang nakasalalay dito.

Ngunit okay lang sa NPO. Sinubukan nila ang walong sample ballot na dala ng Holy Family. Anim sa walo ay hindi nagkasya sa makita na nabili na ng Comelec- ang Precinct Count Optical Scan machines galing sa Smartmatic.

Paano ngayun yun?

Sobra talaga ang bait ng NPO sa Holy Family . Binigyan ng isang buwan para ayusin ang kanilang trabaho.

Nagkaroon ng pangalawang test noong Oktubre 11, 2012. “Isang libong balota ang ginamit at perfect ayun sa report sa amin,” sabi ni Brillantes.

Veteran diplomat Lauro Baja on the ‘New China’

Published by Ellen on November 8, 2012

The changing of the guards in China is ongoing at the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China which started yesterday.

Chinese President Hu Jintao will turn over leadership to Vice President Xi Jinping.

One of the Philippines’ seasoned diplomats, Lauro Baja, formerly the country’s permanent representative to the United Nations talked to some members of media and shared his thoughts on how the Philippines should deal with the “new China.”

Baja, who also served as Foreign Affairs undersecretary for policy, thinks despite the change in leadership, China “will not be able to veer away too much from what is existing now. “

But, he said, “there is now a new dynamic in China, the news is now more vocal, the social media is more vocal and there is a greater degree of nationalism among people in the streets. As a matter of fact they now think and they may be rightly so that they are now the center of the world. “

Concrete evidence, not snide remarks, needed to convict Gloria

Published by Ellen on November 6, 2012

Sharing a sick joke — Penchant for unnecessary snide remarks

The day that President Aquino talks about his accomplishments without snide remarks at Gloria Arroyo, is the day I can say that he has matured as a leader of this country.

As of now, his penchant for snide remarks about people he doesn’t like gives the impression of being juvenile.

Reports from Vientiane, Laos , where Aquino is attending the Asia –Europe summit, said during his meeting with the Filipino community, he said people in the previous administration seem to be using a different kind of calculator when it comes to public works projects and rice imports.

“As other people say, maybe they used a different kind of calculator and the addition button is automatic and frequently pushed,” he said elaborating that the Arroyo administration imported 2.5 million metric tons of rice for a 1.3 million shortage , the end result of which is excess rice now rotting in warehouses.

Huwag lagyan ng malisya ang litrato ni Teddy Casiño at Imelda Marcos

Published by Ellen on November 6, 2012

Teddy Casiño and Imelda Marcos 2009 — No collaboration.Teddy Casiño and Imelda Marcos in the 2009 birthday party of Armida Siguion-Reyna and her son, Carlitos.

Tatlong kaibigan ang nagsabi sa akin na kumakalat daw ang litrato ni Rep. Teddy Casiño sa internet na kasama si Imelda Marcos at binibigyan ng masamang kahulugan.

Para bang nakipagsabwatan si Teddy sa mga Marcos na siyang nagpahirap sa mga sinasabi nating “maka-kaliwa” o nga nationalist na katulad ni teddy at ang mga nauna sa kanya na katulad nina dating Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo.

Ang litrato nay an ay galing sa isang post sa aking blog:
http://www.ellentordesillas.com/2009/11/05/armida-and-son-carlitos-birthday-party/

Malisyoso naman ang ganung anggulo.

Ang artikulo ay tungkol sa birthday party nina Armida Siguion-Reyna, kilala sa kanyang programa sa television na “Aawitan Kita” at ang kanyang anak, director ng pelikula na si Carlitos, noong 2009.

Dazzling company, good music at Armida, Carlitos’ birthday bash

Published by Ellen on November 6, 2012

The family and friends of entertainment icon Armida Siquion-Reyna and her son, movie director Carlos Siguion-Reyna, gathered last Sunday to celebrate the famous mother-and-son’s “taking kindly the counsel of the years.”

Armida and Carlitos share a birthday, Nov. 4. “Saves on birthday parties,” a writer-guest quipped. She turned 82, he 55.

Leadership-related events in US and China

Published by Ellen on November 4, 2012

Obama and Romney in their second presidential debate last Oct 18.

This week, the two most powerful countries on earth are holding top leadership-related events.

Tuesday, Nov. 6 is Election Day in the United States of America.

The US continues to be a major influence to Filipinos, with many of us having relatives there. Media outfits and individuals are monitoring the race, a number of them taking sides.

Reports said the presidential race is tight between Barack Obama, a Democrat who is seeking a second term and Republican candidate Mitt Romney.

China, on Thursday, Nov. 8 will hold its 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in Beijing. Held every five years, the Chinese Embassy in Manila said there’s “a remarkable increase” of overseas journalists applying for accreditation for the event, compared to the number that covered the 17th Congress.

Kasakiman ang political dynasties

Published by Ellen on November 3, 2012

Namfrel cartoon — Thanks to Namfrel for the image.

Ang Pilipinas ay demokrasya.

Maraming dugo ang pinuhunan ng mga nauna sa atin para natin makamtan ang ating kalayaan at magkaroon ng demokrasya kung saan lahat tayo ay pantay-pantay ang karapatan, mayaman o mahirap, matalino man o bobo, maputi o maitim, bata o matanda, mataas man o punggok, mataba man o payat.

Ang ganung prinsipyo ay nakasaad sa ating Saligang Batas.

Sa demokrasya, dapat lahat na mamayan ay may pantay-pantay na oportunidad mamuno ng bayan: Sabi sa Article II Section 26 ng ating Constitution: “The State shall guarantee equal access to opportunities for public service, and prohibit political dynasties as may be defined by law.”

Binanggit ng mga gumawa ng Constitution ang “political dynasties” dahil alam nila na hindi tama na ang iilang pamilya lamang ang may control ng kapangyarihan sa bansa.

Friendships and keeping fit continue after Fitness First Southmall

Published by Ellen on November 1, 2012

Fitness First Southmall was part of my three to four times a week routine the past 14 months. I became fit and healthy . From a size that bordered to extra-large, I’m down to medium. Thank you very much, Christian S. Cerezo, my very competent and kind personal trainer.

As a bonus, I gained friends.

That’s why, borrowing a quote from Shakespeare, “Parting is such sweet sorrow.”

Trillanes anti-epal bill and cemetery etiquette

Published by Ellen on November 1, 2012

If you see any politician campaigning at the cemetery as we remember our loved ones who have passed away, erase his name from the list of the candidates that you will not vote in the May 2013 elections.
Even if they are not physically present many politicians take advantage of the crowd to have their followers distribute materials about them. The ultimate Epal.

Epal is slang which for the tagalog word ma-papel ( credit grabber or scene stealer).

Trillanes at hearing — Trillanes to public officials: don’t promote yourself using taxpayers’ money.

In connection with anti-Epal campaign spearheaded by Vince Lazatin of Transparency and Accountability Network, Mae “Juana Change” Paner and Carlos Celdran, Senator Antonio “Sonny” F. Trillanes IV has added his name to those who want to do away with this offensive practice of self-promotion using taxpayers money.

Last Tuesday, Trillanes, , who chairs the Senate Committee on Civil Service and Government Reorganization, filed a bill that seeks to eradicate the unethical practice among public officials of claiming credit for various public works projects funded by taxpayers’ money.

Senate Bill No. 3310 is the consolidated version of the bills filed by Senators Miriam Defensor-Santiago
“This measure was put forward in relation to the prevalent unethical practice among our public officials who affix their names and/or pictures to announcement of projects which were funded or facilitated through their office, despite the fact that these projects were funded using the taxpayers’ money,” Trillanes said.

Scary decisions by the National Printing Office re 2013 elections ballots

Published by Ellen on October 28, 2012

NPO employees shading sample ballots2 — NPO employees shading sample ballots ahead of the 1 p.m schedule in violation of rules that it should be done in the presence of BAC members.

NPO employees shading sample ballots prior to scheduled testing 1 pm of Oct 11, 2012. A violation of the rules because it should be only done in the presence of BAC members.[/caption]Strange things are going on at the National Printing Office which has been given the job to bid out P780 million contract to supply and print 55 million ballots for the May 2013 elections.

This will be the Philippines’ second national automated elections.

The 2010 election was not perfect but for a first-time experience, it was a huge success. In less than 24 hours, the nation knew the results of the presidential and vice-presidential race with almost 70 percent of the votes counted. A Social Weather Stations survey showed overwhelming satisfaction (three out of four Filipinos) over the results of the first automated nationwide elections in the country.

It is disturbing that instead of learning from good practices of the 2010 election and leveling up the preparations for the 2013 elections, some of those involved in the 2013 elections preparations are sliding back which could erase whatever gains that the country has gained in holding credible elections.

In the 2010 elections, the Commission on Elections used precinct count optical scan machines supplied by Smartmatic. The same 82,000 PCOS machines will be used in the 2013 elections. The Supreme Court has upheld the validity of the P1.8 billion contract Comelec has entered with Smartmatic.

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