ellen tordesillas – Page 249 – Making life worth living.

The tragedy of a distrusted leadership

Published by Ellen on July 5, 2009

The first text message I got yesterday morning was from a friend who forwarded a report from his friend in Cotabato City about a bomb that exploded in front of the Immaculate Concepcion Cathedral in that city.

News reports later said that four were killed while some 50 people were injured. Three of the fatalities were identified namely Ruby Ramirez, 43, of Philippine Trade, Barangay Bulalo in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao, and owner of the lechon house where the bomb was planted; Prince Salem Cang Diaz, grand son of Patricio Diaz, former editor-in-chief of The Mindanao Cross, a local paper based in Cotabato City; Paulo Kahar.

Presidential Adviser for Mindanao Jess Dureza said “This is not an isolated case” referring to a series of bombings the past weeks. He called yesterday’s grim incident “murderous act of insanity” and “cowardly act of treachery and violence.”

Quevedo: “the explosion concluded my homily”

Published by Ellen on July 5, 2009

by Carolyn O. Arguillas MindaNews DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/05 July) – Archbishop Orlando Quevedo was finishing his homily on priests and prophecy at around 8:40 a.m.…

Namimilipit si Remonde sa pekeng boobs ni GMA

Published by Ellen on July 4, 2009

Update: I thought we heard the last of Arroyo’s silicon breast implant with Malacañang’s admission but here’s the NBI entering the picture:
NBI probes ‘boob job’ leak

Si dating Pangulong Cory Aquino ay nasa maselang lagay dahil sa kanyang sakit na colon kanser at pinagdadasal natin bigyan siya at ang kanyang pamilya ng lakas sa pagsubok na dumadaan sa kanilang buhay.

Ito naman si Gloria Arroyo ang pinag-uusapan ng mga tao ay ang kanyang problema sa kanyang pekeng boobs.

Siyempre, katulad ng dati, kung ano-anong kuwento ang ginawa ng Malacañang. Nang nabuking na, saka nalang umamin.

233rd National Day of the U.S. of America

Published by Ellen on July 3, 2009

1) Rep. Darlene Antonino-Custodio, the Golez brothers -Flag-Officer-in Command Ferdinand Golez and Rep. Roilo Golez, Palawan Mayor Edward Hagedorn;2) The “Blue Ladies” because they were both wearing blue: Amb. Kenney and Anna Sobrepeña; 3)Former Agrarian Reform Secretary Phillip Juico, lawyer Marilen Ramiro, Margie Juico and Fernando Perlas of the DENR

1) Alex Tizon, Pulitzer prize winner journalist who is now a fellow at the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism, Ramon Casiple of the Institute for Political and Electoral Reforms, and PCIJ’s Malou Mangahas 2) Ombudsman Deputy Dennis Villa-Ignacio and former Ombudsman Simeon Marcelo 3) Foreign Service Officer Grace Escalante with her US veteran father.

1) Showbiz personalities JR and Nikki Gil with friends 2) DENR’s Nanding Perlas and forensic pathologist Racquel Fortun 3) Karl Wozniak, CEO of KeyWest Freight Inc, who said he is a regular reader of this blog.

US Ambassador Kristie Kenny extolled the values of freedom, liberty and justice for all as the binding ties in Philippine-American relations.

She expressed her gratefulness and aspiration to Filipinos from Tuguegarao to Tawi-tawi who opened their doors and hearts to Americans.

Curiouser and curiouser

Published by Ellen on July 3, 2009

by Lito Banayo

Ronnie Puno went to the US of A to attend to the wedding of his daughter, set in California’s beautiful Napa Valley. He has been in and out of the US of A, as this is where his family resides. Everyone and his mother in the DILG knows this, and they find it normal when their boss is out of the country. And he designates one or the other of his numerous undersecretaries, usually senior Usec Ed Soliman, as his officer-in-charge.

All of a sudden, three days after Ronnie had already landed in San Francisco International, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita issued an appointment for a DILG officer-in-charge. And it was not one of the usual undersecretaries, which is the usual practice anywhere in the bureaucracy. Ermita designate current DPWH Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane.

That’s not just it. Ermita even announced that Puno went to the US of A on medical leave. Either Ronnie is sick or he is undergoing a medical check-up, Malacañang explained. Still, curiously, why Ebdane?

Imelda turns 80 in style

Published by Ellen on July 3, 2009

Click here for Larry Leviste’s account of the Imeldific celebration.

I had two interesting coverages yesterday. One was the National Day reception at the US Embassy and the other was Imelda Marcos 80th birthday bash at Hotel Sofitel.

My cellphone battery gave way and here’s the few photos I got.

Mrs. Marcos,in a bright pink terno and bedecked with jewelry, had a special guest, Dewi Sukarno, the controversial former First Lady of Indonesia.

Arroyo had breast silicone implant?

Published by Ellen on July 2, 2009

Update from the Inquirer:

Palace makes a clean breast of GMA implant

Jarius Bondoc confirms GMA mammoplasty. See article in comments.

I can’t believe this.

But this news item came out in the conservative newspaper Manila Bulletin.

GMA medical checkup OK

by Jonathan M. Hicap, Charissa M. Luci
July 2, 2009, 6:03pm

President Arroyo underwent removal and replacement of breast silicone implants at a hospital in Muntinlupa City, a source told the Manila Bulletin.

Meanwhile, a Palace official announced that President Arroyo has ended her two-day self imposed quarantine “with a clean bill of health,” and is expected to resume public engagements “in a few days.”

The informant, who requested anonymity since the source was not authorized to speak about the matter, said the President was scheduled to undergo augmentation mammoplasty at the Asian Hospital and Medical Center in Alabang, Muntinlupa.

Worse than 2004?

Published by Ellen on July 2, 2009

Grace Poe, Gus Lagman, Ichu Maceda,and Harry Roque

Marichu Maceda shared with members of media a “shocking” conversation with her eight-year old grandson, Max, to underscore how Gloria Arroyo’s cheating of the 2004 elections has destroyed our concept of elections as a tool for good governance and an expression of democracy.

Manay Ichu said Max asked her how to contact “Garci”, former Comelec Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano because he wants him to transfer one million votes to his Lola Gina de Venecia, who will be running as representative for the fourth district of Pangasinan.

Aghast, Manay Ichu said she had to lecture Max on the evils of cheating and the punishment that comes with violating the law and displeasing God. Max, she said, was baffled and asked, “Why is Gloria Arroyo not punished?’

Sabotahe ng kasakiman

Published by Ellen on July 1, 2009

Hindi pa malinaw ang lahat ngunit mukhang sinasabotahe ng kasakiman ng mga nasa kapangyarihan ang computerization of 2010 na eleksyon.

Nabahala ang marami noong Lunes ng sinabi ni Comelec Chair Jose Melo na umatras ang Total Information Management, ang Filipino na partner ng Smartmatic Corp, ang nanalo na kumpanya na taga Barbados sa $7.2 bilyon na kontrata para magiging computerized ang bilangan sa eleksyon simula sa 2010.

Iba-iba ang lumalabas na dahilan. Isa dyan ang pagpipilit ng TIM na sila ang may kontrol ng operasyon dahil sila ang mas may malaking share ayun sa ating Constitution na 60 per cent ang sa Pilipino at 40 ang sa mga banyaga.

Smartmatic-TIM: Control of P7B triggered rift

Published by Ellen on June 30, 2009

From Malaya:

‘Mr. X’ wanted piece of the action

Final control by Smartmatic Corp., the foreign partner in the election computerization project of the Commission on Elections, of how the contracted P7.2 billion cost of the project will be spent is the reason Total Information Management, the Filipino partner, decided to dump the partnership.

TIM rejected the proposal of Smartmatic, saying this was contrary to the nature of a joint venture and “would expose it to possible violations of Philippine laws.”

TIM’s fear of exposure to “possible violation of Philippine laws,” sources familiar with the deal said, was prompted by the entry of a person with the highest political connections into the deal as a “carried” partner.”

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