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Dazed

Published by Ellen on March 13, 2012

Demetrio Vicente — Thanks to Manila Times for photo

If the purpose of the defense in the Corona impeachment trial in presenting its second witness, Demetrio Coronado Vicente, was to render the prosecution, the senator-judges and the public dazed, they succeeded.

I, myself, got dizzy trying to understand the somewhat disorganized business transaction between him and Maria Cristina Corona, wife of Chief Justice Renato Corona. I gave up when Presiding Judge Juan Ponce-Enrile asked him about tax declarations and Vicente replied, “I don’t know.”

To be fair, Vicente seemed sincere. Even guileless. And trusting.

It would be unfair to accuse him of knowingly acting as the Corona’s dummy. Maybe,taken advantaged of.

Vicente, second cousin of Corona, was testifying on his purchase of seven-parcels of land from Corona’s wife, Maria Cristina and her sister Miriam.

Dapat amyendahan ang batas sa menor-de-edad na sangkot sa krimen

Published by Ellen on March 13, 2012

Nakakapanghilakbot, nakakagalit, at nakakasuka ang nangyari sa pitong taong gulang na batang babae na hinalay at pinatay nang dalawang menor-de-edad.

Ang isa sa dalawang nanggahasa ay 17-taong gulang at ang isa naman, ayun sa report, ay Grade 5. Kung pitong taon ang batang lalake nang siya ay Grade 1, mga 11-taong gulang ang batang sinasabing Grade 5.

Dahil menor-de-edad ang mga gumawa ng krimen, hindi sila makukulong dahil meron tayong batas na hindi maaring makulong ang mas mababa sa 18 taon gulang.

Ayun sa report noong Pebrero 20 huling nakita ang biktima na si Clariza Pizara mga ika-lima ng hapon sa harap ng isang sari-sari store sa Barangay San Dionisio, Paranaque City.

Corona’s latest offer: I’ll resign but I keep everything I have

Published by Ellen on March 11, 2012

Benigno Aquino III, Renato Corona, Juan Ponce Enrile — Unfriendly meeting

I find the revelations of Chief Justice Renato Corona of the meetings that he had with President Aquino and other administration stalwarts very interesting. I just wish that he tells the complete story and not just be selective in his sharing with the public.

I also expect the same from Malacañang.

Corona disclosed the proposal of administration ally Sen. Teofisto Guingona for a term sharing with Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, which Guingona denies.

He should also disclose his counter-offers especially the latest ,made through a retired associate justice , that he was willing to resign on condition that he would keep everything that he owns now.
What Corona has only disclosed were his meetings with President Aquino and the Guingonas, father and son.

The Aquino-Corona meeting has been confirmed by Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda. It took place in July 2010, a few weeks after the latter was sworn into office by Associate Justice Conchita Carpio-Morales, in the house of the President’s sister, Pinky Abellada.

Dinidiin ni Corona ang sarili

Published by Ellen on March 10, 2012

May kasabihan tayo na ang isda ay nahuhuli sa sariling bunganga.

Ganyan ang nangyari kay Chief Justice Renato Corona.

Itong nakaraang linggo, nag-media blitz siya. Pa-interview siya kaliwa’t kanan,mula umaga hanggang hapon. Palipat-lipat ng TV at radio stations.

Siguro ay preparasyon ito sa pagpresenta ng kanyang kampo ng mga ebidensya sa impeachment court mula Lunes. O baka naman dahil sa matindi ang dating ng pahayag ng mga kamag-anak na sina Ana Basa at ang 90-taong gulang na madre na si Sister Flory Basa tungkol sa gulo nila sa kanilang mga minanang ari-arian, naisip niya na kailangan din siya magsalita sa media.

Even legends get the jitters

Published by Ellen on March 9, 2012

Another musical event to look forward to.

By Elizabeth Lolarga,VERA Files

It may come as a surprise to some that seasoned pianist Cecile Licad, ballerina Lisa Macuja and singer Lea Salonga, who continue to light up stages here and abroad, confess to pre-concert jitters.

A blunt Licad says, “I’m always agitated and nervous before every show since I was seven. But as I get older, I’m less afraid of screwing up things. Everything in life is not perfect so why not make an art of screwing up? I’d ask the presentor if I can have a siling labuyo (hot chili pepper), I eat it. The taste keeps me awake.”

Salonga shares that she paces a lot before a show starts, apart from warming up her throat, to free herself of nervousness. She adds, “I can’t sit still. I go through the blocking and lyrics in my head. I stay hydrated and don’t talk too much. Praying keeps my calm.”

Romela Bengzon, ambassador for international trade?

Published by Ellen on March 8, 2012

The March 7, 2012 issue of Sydney Morning Herald carried a news item, “Defence firm faces bribe probe “by Nick McKenzie and Richard Baker.

The firm involved is Tenix Defence, Australia’s biggest military contractor, which is under investigation by federal police investigation for allegedly bribing officials and politicians across Asia including the Philippines to win massive contracts.

The article said “A director of Tenix’s Philippines subsidiary, lawyer Romela Bengzon, this week confirmed a police investigation into company contracts. She declined to comment further, citing her ongoing role with Tenix.”

The article further said, “Ms Bengzon is well known to the Australian embassy in Manila and is corporate secretary of the Australian New Zealand Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines. In 2005, she was made a commissioner to advise on changes to the Philippine constitution. She is now the Philippines ambassador for international trade.”

The last sentence was a shock to me because Bengzon was an ardent supporter of Gloria Arroyo. How did she get the position of “ambassador for international trade” under the Aquino administration?

Corona rattles the closet

Published by Ellen on March 8, 2012

Corona on the offensive — On the offensive

Talks of meeting Aquino on TruthCom

By Evangeline de Vera,Malaya

Chief Justice Renato Corona yesterday accused a senator-judge in the impeachment trial of lobbying for a term-sharing agreement between him and Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio.

On Day 2 of his media blitz, Corona said Sen. Teofisto Guingona III called him up sometime in March 2011 to propose that he retire early so that Carpio could take over, being the next most senior magistrate in the high court.

Corona also talked of a lunch meeting with President Aquino sometime in July 2010, or shortly after the President was sworn into office by retired Justice Conchita Carpio Morales.

The Tenor

Published by Ellen on March 6, 2012

I wrote this article for Rogue Magazine February last year. Click here:http://issuu.com/rogue.ph/docs/roguefeb2011

Last week Espiritu was back as Alfredo in Verdi’s opera, “La Traviata.” I missed it but friends who were privileged to watch it said, as usual, he was superb.

He is currently conducting Master Classes at the Cultural Center of the Philippines.For inquiries, please contact the CCP Artist Training Division at 832-1125 loc. 1604-1605.

He will be back to perform in “Barber of Seville” at the CCP very soon.

That is something to watch out for.

Filipino-American tenor Arthur Espiritu’s enthralling performances are proof of the power of simplicity.

It’s beautiful singing that is pure talent and superior technique. It’s no wonder that he made it to the La Scala de Milan, the first Philippine- born tenor to have graced what is considered the hallowed altar of operas.

Senate accepts Corona bank records as evidence

Published by Ellen on March 6, 2012

By Ryan Chua, ABS-CBN News

The Senate on Tuesday ruled that it will accept the bank records of Chief Justice Renato Corona with the Philippine Savings Bank submitted by the prosecution as evidence in the magistrate’s impeachment trial.

Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile also announced at a press conference following a caucus of senators that the impeachment court had denied the motion of Corona’s defense to suppress the bank accounts as evidence on the grounds that these were illegally acquired.

“As far as the evidence on bank records presented by the prosecution … (these) are accepted,” Enrile said. “So (we) have accepted the formal offer of evidence submitted by the prosecution panel.”

Hindi dahil Azkal, pwedeng mambastos

Published by Ellen on March 3, 2012

Mabuti naman at hindi pinalampas ni Cristy Ramos ang pambabastos ng dalawang miyembro ng Azkals sa kanya.

Kahit na ba magaling sila mag-football at malaki ang nagawa ng Azkals para buhayin ang laro sa bansa, hindi yun lisensya para magiging bastos sila sa kababaihan.

Si Cristy ay anak ni dating Pangulong Fidel Ramos at dati ring pangulo ng Philippine Olympic Committee. Opisyal siya ngayon ng Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) na siyang namamahala ng football sa buong mundo.

Sa kanyang reklamo na isinampa sa Asian Football Confederation, ikinuwento ni Ramos na siya ang napiling Match Commissioner sa laro ng Philippines (Azkals) at Malaysia noong Pebrero 29 sa Rizal Memorial Footbal Stadium.

Bilang Match Commissioner, trabaho ni Ramos ang i-inspeksyunin ang lahat na gamit at suot ng mga players. Sa kanilang miting, isang araw bago ang laro, sinabi ni Ramos na dahil siya ay babae sa isang laro na puro lalaki ang players, sasamahan siya ng isa pang opisyal na lalaki.

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