ellen tordesillas – Page 193 – Making life worth living.

To quit or not to quit

Published by Ellen on May 26, 2010

I only knew now that there’s a law prohibiting smoking in government in government premises. Thanks, Ding.

This should really be a non-issue – the matter of President-apparent Noynoy Aquino rising to the challenge of giving up smoking.

But it has become one with Mr. Aquino himself expressing annoyance:

“Noong tumakbo ako, alam ng taumbayan [na] naninigarilyo ako. At the appropriate time na hihinto ako, titigil ako. So long as nako-control ako sa mga batas at wala akong naiistorbo baka parte ito ng kalayaan kong natitira (When I ran for the presidency everyone knew I was a smoker. Perhaps I will kick the habit at the appropriate time. But for now, I hope people give me this leeway, as part of my remaining rights).

Here’s what Aquino is up against:

Securing election returns

Published by Ellen on May 25, 2010

Yesterday, under heavy security, ballot boxes containing election returns and certificates of canvass of May 10, 2010 elections were brought to the Batasan Pambansa, where the canvassing for the presidential and vice-presidential contest would be held.

The heavy security, the TV reporter annotated, was because of the reported switching of election returns that happened after 2004 elections.

In July 2008, I did for Vera Files a special report on the 2004 ER switching, which was the last stage of the grand conspiracy set up by Gloria Arroyo to defraud the Filipino people of their choice of president.

The ER switching, carried out starting at around midnight of Jan. 23, 2005, was done by the Special Action Force, the elite unit of the Philippine National Police.

Pakinggan ang reklamo, tuloy ang canvassing

Published by Ellen on May 24, 2010

Huwag tayong masyadong maiinip sa pag-iimbestiga ng mga reklamo tungkol sa mga palpak sa nakaraang eleksyon. Mabuti na hindi lang basta-basta isinasantabi ang mga lumalabas na reklamo tungkol sa mga palpak sa nakaraang automated elections.

Hindi katulad nang nangyari noong 2004 na ibinasura lang ni Sen. Francis Pangilinan at Rep. Raul Gonzales sa basurahang “Noted” ang mga reklamo kasama ang mga ebidensya ng dayaan.

Ngayon, kahit papaano pinapakinggan at hinihingan ng paliwanag ang Comelec at Smartmatic.

Ngayong araw magsisimula ang official canvassing ng mga boto para sa mga kandidato para presidente at bise-presidente. Sinabi ni Senate President Juan Ponce-Enrile at iba pang mambabatas na malamang sa Hunyo 15, o bago pa lumampas sa petsa na yun, made-deklara na ang nanalo at magiging susunod na presidente.

Sana naman hindi madaling araw nila gawin yun katulad ng ginawa ni Gloria Arroyo noong 2004 na parang inisahan ang taumbayan.

Kris interviews Noynoy’s girlfriend, Shalani

Published by Ellen on May 24, 2010

From ABS-CBN online:

Valenzuela 2nd District Councilor Shalani Soledad has opened up about her more than a year relationship with winning presidential candidate Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III.

Soledad, 30, was interviewed exclusively by Noynoy’s youngest sister, Kris. During the interview, she shared details about their first meeting as well as her thoughts on her 50-year-old boyfriend’s remarks that marriage is not his priority right now.

The interview was aired on “The Buzz” Sunday.

Below is Kris’s full interview with Soledad.

Kris (K): Umpisahan natin from the very, very beginning. April 27, 1980, ‘yon ang birthday mo. Ano ang type of family ‘yong nakagisnan mo?

Shalani (S): Close ako sa mga relatives ko. Uncle ko, tita ko, cousins ko and lalo na sa brother ko.

K: How many years older sa’yo ang brother mo?
S: Three years. I’m the youngest. Dalawa lang kami.

We should not forget

Published by Ellen on May 24, 2010

Last Sunday, the media community remembered that six months ago, 57 people were brutally killed by members of then ruling Ampatuan family. At least 30…

Rectifying travesty of justice

Published by Ellen on May 23, 2010

The battle cry of Senator Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino, Jr. during the election campaign was “Kung walang korap, walang mahirap.”

He promised to wage a campaign against corruption, which he said deprives the people of thousands and million of pesos a year which should have gone to education, health, and other social services

Gloria Arroyo is the epitome of corruption and deceit. Fertilizer scam, NBN ZTE, Road Users tax, the list is too long for this space.

An open letter to Noynoy from F Sionil Jose

Published by Ellen on May 23, 2010

From the Philippine Star

Dear Noynoy,

You are now swamped with suggestions and advice, but just the same, I hope you’ll have time to read what this octogenarian has to say.

You were not my choice in the last election but since our people have spoken, we must now support you and pray that you prevail. But first, I must remind you of the stern reality that your drumbeaters ignore: you have no noble legacy from your forbears. It is now your arduous job to create one yourself in the six years that you will be the single most powerful Filipino. Six years is too short a time — the experience in our part of the world is that it takes at least one generation — 25 years — for a sick nation to recover and prosper. But you can begin that happy process of healing.

Bear in mind that the past weighs heavily on all of us because of the many contradictions in it that we have not resolved, whose resolutions would strengthen us as a nation. This past is now your burden, too. Let us start with the fact that your grandfather collaborated with the Japanese. Your father was deeply aware of this, its stigma, its possibilities. He did not leave any legacy because he did not become president. He was a brilliant and courageous politician. He was an enterprising journalist; he had friends in journalism who can attest to his effulgent vision, who did not profit from his friendship, among them Nestor Mata, Gregorio Brillantes — you may consult them. I cannot say I did not profit — he bought many books from my shop and when he was in Marcos’s prison, your mother brought books from my shop to him.

Ang preparasyon ni Manny Pacquiao sa pagka “Honorable”

Published by Ellen on May 22, 2010

Aba, napapabilib ako ni boxing champ Manny Pacquiao.

Bilang preparasyon sa kanyang pagiging congressman ng Saranggani, mag-aaral daw siya kung paano gagawa ng batas sa National College of Public Administration and Governance ng University of the Philippines.

Akala ko katulad ng ginawa ni Batangas Governor Vilma Santos na nag attend ng short course sa public administration nang una siyang nanalong mayor ng Lipa. Ang kay Pacman ay isang linggo lang daw.

Pero okay na rin yun. Madali naman siyang kumuha ng mga staff at adviser na tutulong sa kanya sa kanyang trabaho bialng mambabatas. Huwag lang sana ang kanyang mga kaibigan na sina Chavit Singson at Lito Atienza.

Not forgetting the Maguindanao massacre

Published by Ellen on May 22, 2010

Tomorrow,Sunday,will be the sixth month of the Maguindanao massacre that claimed the lives of at least 57 people, 30 of them journalists.

Justice still eludes the victims and their families. The perpetrators of the heinous crime, members of the powerful Ampatuan family, are in jail but attempts to evade accountability persist.

To maintain the momentum of the quest for justice for the victims, a media outfit hosts the commemoration every 23rd of the month. This Sunday, Malaya Business Insight, leads in the prayers and renewal of our demand for accountability. It will be held in front of the office of Malaya on Railroad corner 20th streets in Port Area, Manila at 6 p.m.

Aquino on Trillanes,Lacson, Kris,GMA, Corona, Merceditas Gutierrez etc.

Published by Ellen on May 21, 2010

Rough transcript of President-apparent Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino, III presscon during a party for the media that covered the Liberal party during last election’s campaign Thursday May 20, held at a supporter’s place on Samar Avenue, Q.C.

Since the tape recorders were near Aquino , not the reporters, the questions were not clearly audible.

Nevertheless, the answers are more important.What I find significant is his answer to question number 44. He spoke about the injustice of Trillanes’ seven year imprisonment. He said he believes it was not a coup.

The coup detat case against the Magdalo officers , which is being tried by Judge Oscar Pimentel of the Makati Trial Court Branch 148 is up for promulgation.

Aquino said, “Can I just go back and give another example. Isang sa korte rin na gusto ko ipa-review talaga ang kaso ni Danny Lim at Sen. Trillanes. Ulitin ko,fundamental ang issue ko dito sa Revised Penal Code. Nakalimutan ko provision. I think, coup d’etat how committed, swift violent attack on military camps, utilities, telecoms, etc. Walang hotel. Ang issue po Oakwood. So di dapat lumampas sa fiscal na mali ang kaso. Pero lumabas sa piskal umabot sa korte nakakulong 7 taon ang dalawa sa kasong yan.

“At ang decision executive lang yan kailangan manifestation at petition before the RTC in Makati before it can effect, rectify this travesty of justice . They might have other cases but as far as I am concerned coup d’etat basis of interpretation mukhang mali ang application of batas.”

The full transcript:

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