ellen tordesillas – Page 96 – Making life worth living.

Spot the big difference

Published by Ellen on April 11, 2013

Chinese fishermen whose boat ran aground in Tubbataha.Interphoto. Thanks to Interaksyon

President Aquino is being consistent when he said that the government will not be filing a diplomatic protest against China for the intrusion of a fishing vessel that got stuck in Tubbataha Reef in Sulu Sea, 150 kilometers southeast of Puerto Princesa City in Palawan.

After all, he didn’t also protest to the United States when the minesweeper USS Guardian got stuck and caused extensive damage to the reef which is Marine Protected Area three months ago (Jan. 17). It took the US navy three months remove the 1,300-ton, 68-meter-long Avenger Class minesweeper piece by piece. It was completed last March 30.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said April 7 that a diplomatic protest against the U.S was “unnecessary” because the superpower has been cooperating with the maritime investigation and has committed to the compensation and rehabilitation of the reef.

AMRSP’s critical reflection on Aquino presidency

Published by Ellen on April 3, 2013

The Association of Major Religious Superiors in the Philippines has been in the forefront in all the political upheavals the country has experienced since the time of the Marcos dictatorship.

Many of its members braved the tanks sent by Marcos to Edsa during the 1986 People Power. They were very much visible in the 2001 ouster of Joseph Estrada and the installation of Gloria Arroyo.

But they did not hesitate to rally against Arroyo when reports of election cheating and massive corruption surfaced.

They supported the rise of Benigno Aquino III to the presidency.

One of Us – James Yap

Published by Ellen on April 2, 2013

By JB Baylon, VERA Files

Last Easter Sunday I watched PBA games live, sitting for the first time in the venue called The Arena at the Mall of Asia. I was transfixed – it was as if I had been transported to a city in the United States, or China even, as the venue was truly a vast improvement from what we have anywhere else in the country.

But I was even more transfixed by the public – the basketball fanatics who had trooped to the Mall of Asia on an Easter Sunday.

But these were no “ordinary” Pinoys. They were the fans who have followed teams and cheered for players and booed their opponents for generations. And tonight their greatest cry – a loud and prolonged cheer actually — was reserved for one team. In fact, it was reserved mostly for one player, the one wearing jersey Number 18 while playing for the San Mig Coffee Mixers: James Carlos Yap.

Civil society takes Malaysia to UN for maltreatment of Filipinos in Sabah

Published by Ellen on April 1, 2013

By Ellen Tordesillas, VERA Files

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak. Photo from kualalumpurpost.net

Concerned citizens are hauling the Malaysian government to the United Nations for human rights abuses against Filipinos in Sabah, even as they criticized the Philippine government for lack of outrage and action.

Concerned groups and individuals are filing Monday urgent appeals with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navanethem Pillay and UN High Commissioner for Refugees António Guterres, both based in Geneva, Switzerland.

In their letters, the civil society groups asked the two UN agencies to “urgently intervene so that Malaysia will respect the human rights of the Filipinos in Sabah, recognized under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.”

Agonizing moments at the DFA over Sabah

Published by Ellen on March 31, 2013

Malaysia arrests Filipinos Photo By BAZUKI MUHAMMAD REUTERS Wed, Mar 6, 2013 From Yahoo.

When some 30 concerned citizens met before the Holy Week to discuss the appeal to the United Nations for help for Filipinos in Sabah who are being maltreated by Malaysian authorities, they decided they would do it as private citizens and not waste their time getting the support of the Philippine government.

Of course, the petition would have carried more weight if it were the government seeking international intervention for its people, which should be the case because the government exists for its people.

In fact, it is in the Constitution’s Declaration of Principles and State Policies that (Art. II, Sec. 4) The prime duty of the Government is to serve and protect the people.”

Joeseg: beyond online friendship

Published by Ellen on March 27, 2013

Joeseg and his idol,Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV.

I have been blogging since October 2005 and one of gifts I’ve gained is friendship of people from different parts of the globe.

One of them was Jose Seguerra who logs in my blog as “Joeseg.”

Joeseg was one of the pioneer visitors in my blog way back 2005. His sober views even in the most heated exchanges bring rationality in the discussions.

Our online friendship (together with that of five others) expanded to include members of our family.

Reconstructing blog again

Published by Ellen on March 27, 2013

This blog is being reconstructed as it was accidentally deleted Tuesday morning. In the old posts, the pictures and video were lost. I’ll try to…

12 steps to a fantastic beach body

Published by Ellen on March 24, 2013

By Ellen Tordesillas, VERA Files
Video by Mario Ignacio

You have your plane tickets. You have made the hotel reservations.

You are all set for fun in the beach. But, is your body ready for it?

Three physical fitness personal trainers – Angie M. Miranda and Jensen G. Centeno of Fitness First, Mall of Asia, and Christian S. Cerezo, formerly of Fitness First Southmall and now a freelance PT, say it’s never too late to start getting in shape.

Nakakatawa na nakakasuka

Published by Ellen on March 24, 2013

Another televised meltdown of Kris Aquino

Tearfully announcing resignation kuno.[/caption]Napaaga yata ang semana santa ng mamamayang Pilipino sa mga balita na pumutok nitong nakaraang linggo na kawalang katuturan sa ating buhay ngunit laman ng media.

Ang daming problema. Sobra 60 na Pilipino ang patay sa Sabah at walang paki-alam ang Malacanang. Ngunit ang pinag-usapan sa TV, radio at sa mga diyaryo ay ang gusot ni Kris Aquino at James Yap at Chiz Escudero at Heart Evangelista.

Kung sabagay, napag-aralan na yan na kapag mahirap ang buhay, malakas ang telenobela. Siguro naghahanap ang mga tao ng dibersyun para pampagaan ng kalooban.

Evelio Javier’s sons oppose pardon for convicted lawyer

Published by Ellen on March 21, 2013

Evelio B. Javier, former governor of Antique, died while performing a task for the restoration of democracy on Feb. 11, 1986.

He was assassinated while keeping watch over the canvassing of votes in the snap presidential election between the well-entrenched dictator Ferdinand Marcos and Corazon Aquino, widow of the assassinated senator Benigno Aquino, Jr and mother of the current president, Benigno Aquino III.

Justice was not fully served with the acquittal of the suspected brains of the murder but it was a consolation for the Javier family that some of the accomplices in the crime were convicted.

One of those convicted was lawyer Avelino T. Javellana, who has applied for executive clemency.

ellen tordesillas Posts