ellen tordesillas – Page 291 – Making life worth living.

Cayetano answers Lacson

Published by Ellen on September 18, 2008

Privilege speech of Sen. Alan Cayetano last Sept. 16, 2008

Let me just repeat that I stand on a question of personal and collective privilege, because of the speech of the gentleman from Cavite, I was specifically mentioned, and the whole Senate, the integrity of the Senate was impugned yesterday by Senator Lacson.

To quote Matthew 7:1, “Judge not so that you be not judged for with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged and with the measure you used, will be measured to you. Why do you see the spec that is in your brother’s eye but do not notice the love that is in your own eye.” It is difficult sometimes Mr. President to take to heart this verse because it is precisely sometimes our job or our task to judge. Judge which bills need priority; what is better for the country; what appropriations should be prioritized, and in some of our committees we are even asked to judge whether there were wrongdoings on the part of some people.

Salot

Published by Ellen on September 17, 2008

Noong Biyernes, namatay si Leopoldo Odulio, 60 na taong gulang, nang mabunggo sila ng army truck na may sakay na mga aso para sa security ni Gloria Arroyo sa Nueva Ecija.

Nakasakay si Odulio sa motorsiklo na menamaniho ni Ronel Tecson, na nasa ospital hanggang ngayon. Si Odulio at Tecson ay ahente ng mga appliances at motorsiklo at kung ano-ano pa para lang mabuhay.

Tatlong araw bago nangyari yun, nabundol naman ng sasakyan ng presidential security group sa Bayombong Nueva Viscaya ang isang tricyle at nabundol ang 19 taong gulang na si Lynnete Laoste. Bali raw ang kanyang balakang. Dinala raw ng helicopter si Laoeste sa AFP Medical Center sa Quezon City

Spot something not ordinary in this picture?

Published by Ellen on September 17, 2008

This poster was seen in Naga City during the recent Peñafrancia festival. Is there something new that you noticed?

Another flip-flop: Arroyo will push through with US trip

Published by Ellen on September 17, 2008

From GMNANews online:

Two weeks after announcing the cancellation of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s trip to the United States later this month, Malacañang on Wednesday confirmed that the US trip will push through after all.

In an interview, Press Secretary Jesus Dureza said Arroyo will leave for the US to address the United Nations Millenium Development Goals review on September 23. In the review, the Philippines is expected to report its compliance to the eight international development objectives.

Dureza said President Arroyo will also hold bilateral meetings in New York and meet with the Organization of Islamic Conference to express her gratitude for its support for the peace process in Mindanao.

Arroyo knew MOA details — Esperon

Published by Ellen on September 16, 2008

Nikko Dizon
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Presidential peace adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. said Monday President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was aware of the details of the controversial memorandum of agreement (MOA) on ancestral domain that he initialed in Kuala Lumpur early last month.

Esperon, speaking to reporters during the 15th anniversary celebration of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP), explained that the peace negotiations with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) involved consultations with the Cabinet and guidance from the “top leadership.”

Malacañang backed out of the peace agreement after its constitutionality was questioned before the Supreme Court.

Hindi nakapagtataka

Published by Ellen on September 15, 2008

Talaga namang nakakadismaya ang pagbasura ng Court of Appeals ng petisyon ni Rodolfo Noel “Jun” Lozada, ang star witness sa NBN/ZTE deal, na mabigyan ng lunas ang kanayng seguridad na nanganib at patuloy na naganganib nang siya at tangkain na kidnapin ng mga galamay ng pmahalaan noog Feb. 5.

Hindi naman daw kinidnap si Lozada, sabi ni Justice Celia Librea-Leagogo na sinang-ayunan ni Justices Regalado Maambong at Sixto Marella, Jr.

Ngunit hindi nasorpresa si Lozada. Kami rin hindi nasopresa. Ang eskandalo na nangyari sa Court of Appeals tungkol sa GSIS at Meralco kung saan naglabasan ng baho ang ilan sa mga justices sa kasong bilyon-bilyon ang nakasalalay, ay katiting lang yun sa katiwalian na nagyayari sa ating hustisya.

Kaban ng bayan, bantayan

Published by Ellen on September 15, 2008

by Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson

Distinguished colleagues, members of the Senate of the 14th Congress of this once proud and great Republic, ladies and gentlemen:

I stand on a matter of personal and collective privilege.

In a press conference called by the Senate President inside his office last Tuesday, he virtually declared war against some of his colleagues, this representation included.

Mr. Senate President, if you are telling us to bring it on, just like a confident poker player with winning cards would say – and I now say to you – All in.

There is an Indian proverb that goes like this:

Tell me a fact and I will learn.
Tell me the truth and I will believe.
Tell me a story and it will live forever in my heart

Ladies and gentlemen of this august chamber, These are the facts:

Moves For Term Extension Will Not Die:Filipino Citizens Should Prepare For Action

Published by Ellen on September 14, 2008

The organisation of FSGO (Former Senior Government Officials) is circulating this petition for signature:

We, the organizations and individuals who have signed this statement, are citizens of this Republic alarmed by current political developments. We note that in spite of various protestations by political leaders from the administration and the opposition, the talk of a brazen attempt to extend the term of Mrs. Arroyo simply will not die.

Charter change to be initiated in Congress through a constituent assembly has seemingly been stopped in its tracks by the vocal opposition of many members of the Senate, whose two-thirds approval would logically seem necessary to convene a constituent assembly.

Yet the House of Representatives, through the Speaker, and the Chairman of the Committee on Constitutional Amendments, has announced that it will be holding “public consultations” to elicit public opinion on charter change, whether for federalism, shift to a parliamentary system or such other excuse/justificatio n as may later dawn on the proponents.

Book finds

Published by Ellen on September 14, 2008

It’s a sumptuous book buffet at the SMX Convention Center at the Mall of Asia in Pasay City where the 29th Manila International Book Fair is being held.

Writer Nelson Navarro and I were happy to get “good buys.” With 20 to 30 percent discounts, it made for a satisfying afternoon.

Nelson was able to find a rare copy of Eusebius Julius Halsema’s biography published by New Day Publishing. Yes, he is the Halsema of the highway going to Baguio City. An engineer, Halsema was the pre-war mayor of Baguio City.

I got several items from Anvil that covered the whole political spectrum from “Right” to “Left”. One is a slim (155 pages) book that tackles a heavy topic: “Before Gringo: History of the Philippine Military (1830 to 1972)” by Honolulu-based Donald Berlin, who worked for many years at the Defense Intelligence Agency in Washington D.C.

Leksyon sa nangyari sa Thailand

Published by Ellen on September 13, 2008

Noong una nainggit ako mga taga-Thailand na napa-talsik nila ang kanilang bagong prime minister na si Samak Sundaravej na ang kasalanan lamang ay tumanggap siya ng bayad sa kanyang televised cooking show habang siya’y prime minister.

Sinabi ng Constitutional Court ng Thailand na lumabag si Samak ng batas na nagbabawal sa mga opisyal ng pamahalaan na tumanggap ng pera sa pribadong kumpanya. Wow! Ganoon sila ka istrikto.
Kung dito sa Pilipinas yan baka wala ni isang opisyal ang matira sa gobyerno.

Si Justice Jose Sabio Jr. umamin na tumanggap ng P300,000 kay Francis de Borja bilang pasalamat sa isang kasong nadesisyunan niya pabor sa pamilya ni de Borja, hindi tinangal.

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