ellen tordesillas – Page 61 – Making life worth living.

Why the Philippines did not build lighthouses in Spratlys

Published by Ellen on May 28, 2015

Long before China built lighthouses in reefs they are occupying in the disputed Spratlys, the Philippine government under President Fidel Ramos had planned to build lighthouses in Reed Bank and two other reefs but inter-government wrangling over money stalled the project until it was overtaken by events.

Last Tuesday, China announced its plan to construct lighthouses in two reefs in Spratlys which it calls Nansha Islands.

Groundbreaking ceremony for the construcion of Lighthouses in Huayang Reef and Chigua Reef. Xinhua photo.

A news item in Xinhua, a Chinese news agency, China to Build Large Lighthouses in South China Sea said, “China’s Ministry of Transport (MOT) on Tuesday hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of two lighthouses on Huayang Reef and Chigua Reef of China’s Nansha Islands.

The Red Cross 72-hour lifeline kit

Published by Ellen on May 25, 2015

Government agencies and private companies are reactivating their emergency drills with the release by Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology of its latest findings about the West Valley Fault.
Phivolcs Director Renato U. Solidum, Jr. warned that based on the movement pattern (every 400 or so years) of the West Valley Fault, the next tremor could happen in not- so- distant future. What happened in Nepal recently gives us an idea of the devastation if an earthquake with more than 7 intensity would occur along the fault that transects Quezon City,Marikina, Pasig,Makati,Taguig,and Muntinlupa.

The best way to lessen the destruction, damages, loss of lives and injuries is to be prepared. The most basic in preparation is to be informed.

Yolanda lessons useful for earthquake preparation

Published by Ellen on May 22, 2015

The pain of a tragedy is assuaged by the lessons learned from it.

That is the case with the disaster that was how the Aquino government handled the damage wrought by super typhoon Yolanda (international name: Haiyan) in November 2013.

It was a reference point in several presentations in last Wednesday’s “Earthquake Resilience Conference” organized by the Carlos P. Romulo Foundation, Zuellig Family Foundation, and the Manila Observatory at the Manila Polo Club.

LP won’t need Grace if Binay withdraws

Published by Ellen on May 19, 2015

Interior Secretary Mar Roxas greets Sen. Grace Poe and Senate Pres. Frank Drilon in one of the hearings of the Mamasapano massacre. From Filipino.cri.cn

We trust Sen. Grace Poe would be astute in dealing with the reported courtship by the Liberal Party for the 2016 elections with no less than President Aquino and Interior Secretary Mar Roxas leading the wooing.

Although the talks were about the 2016 elections, Grace said there was no discussion on whether the Liberal Party is getting her as its standard bearer or running mate of Roxas, who, reports said, has told his party mates that he wants to push through in 2016 his 2010 aborted presidential plans.

This is supported by LP stalwarts Budget Secretary Butch Abad and Transportation Secretary Emilio Joseph “Jun” Abaya saying Roxas will carry the party’s banner in 2016.

Senate President Franklin Drilon even went further. Calling Roxas LP’s “presumptive candidate,” he called on Roxas to declare his intention for the presidency now.

ASEAN and Suu Kyi’s deafening silence on Rohingya plight

Published by Ellen on May 17, 2015

NY Times:Rohingya migrants swam to collect food supplies dropped by a Thai Army helicopter in the Andaman Sea. Credit Christophe Archambault/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

Adrift in the Andaman Sea are hundreds of thousands of people in the verge of death due to hunger, thirst and victims of human cruelty.

They are the Rohingyas, a Muslim ethnic group mainly living in Myanmar. It is estimated that they number some 800,000 and comprise 80 to 90 percent of the state of Rakhine.

Boatloads of them have fled Myanmar where they are being persecuted. Myanmar does not consider them its citizens. History accounts say they migrated from Bengal during the 1700s during the British rule. Although some scholars say they are indigenous to the state of Rakhine.

May natira pa ba?

Published by Ellen on May 14, 2015

Or are the people, once again, left holding an empty bag?

That is the question of many people reading reports of massive withdrawals from Vice President Jejomar Binay’s alleged 242 bank accounts under his name as well as under the name of his wife former Makati Mayor Elenita Binay and son Junjun, Makati mayor. A number of the accounts are also in the name of his alleged dummies.

The amounts mentioned are mindboggling. In the Inquirer story on the report of the Anti-Money Laundering Council which was the basis for the freeze order by the Court of Appeals of suspected Binay accounts, the total amount mentioned is P11 billion since 2008.

Citizenship issue to be raised vs Grace Poe if she runs for president

Published by Ellen on May 12, 2015

Some of those who have ambitions to become president in 2016 are reportedly thinking of ways how to stop Grace Poe, whose political trajectory is consistently ascending since she was elected senator two years ago.

This has become urgent with President Aquino’s recent meeting with her on the possibility of running for higher office in 2016.

One of the issues Poe’s prospective political opponents have prepared to raise is her citizenship.
It is a known fact that the 2013 senatorial race topnotcher was a foundling. She was found in Jaro Cathedral in Iloilo City. A kind woman took care of her and later gave her to the then King and Queen of Philippine Movies Fernando Poe, Jr and Susan Roces.

There are, of course, juicier version of her parentage. One is that she is allegedly the daughter of Susan Roces’ sister, Rosemarie Sonora, with the late President Ferdinand Marcos.

An abundance of Filipino talent in Asia’s Got Talent

Published by Ellen on May 10, 2015

El Gamma Penumbra Grand Finals performance

I hope and pray that since the Philippines is blessed with so many artistic talent, we will also have enough votes to make one of them be declared the winner of this year’s “Asia’s Got Talent”, which will have its grand finals on Thursday.

To be held at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore, it will be aired on AXN at 8:05 p.m.

Four of the nine finalists are from the Philippines: El Gamma Penumbra, shadow players; Junior New System, dancers; Gerphil Flores, singer; and Gwyneth Dorado, singer.

We have an abundance of talent!

Dingdong Dantes talks sense

Published by Ellen on May 8, 2015

I think I’m going to like Dingdong Dantes.

The actor was mentioned by Caloocan Rep. Edgar Erice, a Liberal party member, as one of those they are eyeing for the senatorial lineup in next year’s national elections.

Dantes, in an article in Pep.ph, said he was honored by his inclusion in the LP list but, “ nakapagdesisyon naman po ako na wala talaga sa plano ko na tumakbo in any elected post.”

He said he wants to focus on his career while being a husband to actress Marian Rivera and a father to their coming baby.

“Kaya wala po sa plano ko ‘yan and there are lot of things to do. I’m categorically saying that I’m not running in any electoral post this 2016,” he stressed.

Dismissed baggage handlers at NAIA appeal for their side to be heard

Published by Ellen on May 6, 2015

Waiting and hoping that your baggage is intact.NAIA baggage carousel.

A few weeks ago, six baggage handlers in NAIA1 were apprehended by airport intelligence agents after valuables suspected to have been stolen from passengers’ baggage were found in their lockers.

Reports said items found in the baggage handlers’ lockers included a gold ring and earring, a G-Shock wristwatch, a Seiko wristwatch, and three branded men’s sunglasses and padlocks.

Officials of the Manila International Airport Authority, the office that oversees international airports in the country, said they have outsourced baggage handling at the airports so the handlers were employees of one of the accredited companies.

MIAA General manager Angel Honrado said the six were suspended. At the same time, he advised passengers not to put valuables especially cash and jewelry in their checked-in baggage.

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