Jr. – ellen tordesillas

Gifts from two people I admire who have recently departed

Published by Ellen on August 5, 2018

A twide-a-month gathering of friends of eminent writer Carmen Guerrero Nakpil at Havana Restaurant.

I have received three gifts from two persons I truly admire which have become even more meaningful now.
One is a black cashmere blouse and another is a pair of black leather gloves which came from Mrs. Carmen Guerrero Nakpil.

The third item is a silver rosary blessed by the Pope from Ambassador Jun Lozada.

We were in Portland, Seattle on Nov. 4, 1993 to cover the first summit of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation at the Tillicum Village in Blake Island, Washington State the next day. I was part of the Malacañang Press Corps and the president then was Fidel V. Ramos.

Out of DFA, Yasay has difficulty renewing passport

Published by Ellen on March 12, 2017

Life is like a wheel. One moment you are up and the next moment you can be down.

That is happening to Perfecto Yasay Jr, foreign secretary since the start of the Duterte administration last July 2016 until last Wednesday, March 8.

Former Foreign Secretary Perfecto Yasay, Jr and President Duterte when details of his citizenship were not yet exposed.

When Yasay was foreign secretary, his office was swamped with requests from relatives, friends and friends of relatives and friends to facilitate their application and renewal of passports.

And Yasay’s office always was willing to help, even if it was just a band-aid solution to the serious problem in its passport processing.

Will it finally be Cayetano to DFA despite Arroyo’s objection?

Published by Ellen on March 5, 2017

Pres. Duterte and Sen Alan Peter Cayetano in the Presidential plane returning from a state visit to Malaysia on Nov. 11, 2016. With them is Special Assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence Go. Malacañang photo by Robinson Niñal Jr.

It looks like Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano will finally be the foreign secretary come May when the one-year election ban for those who ran in the last elections would expire.

Although the President reiterated last December his offer to his running mate made last May after the elections, no one was sure given the unpredictability of the hazy political alignments in the Senate where the brashness of Cayetano might be needed.

There’s also the possibility of Vice President Leni Robredo getting disqualified together with the rest who ran under the Liberal Party if the Supreme Court decides that the Commission on Election erred in extending the deadline for the filing of the Statement of (Elections) Contributions and Expenditures.

‘Cutting off the nose to spite the face’

Published by Ellen on September 14, 2016

President Rodrigo Duterte shows images of the Bud Dajo massacre during his speech at the 2016 Metrobank Foundation's Outstanding Filipinos awarding ceremony in Malacañang.Photo by Rey Baniquet /PPD — President Rodrigo Duterte shows images of the Bud Dajo massacre during his speech at the 2016 Metrobank Foundation’s Outstanding Filipinos awarding ceremony in Malacañang.Photo by Rey Baniquet /PPD

There’s an expression in English,”Cutting off the nose to spite the face” which refers to a person’s self-destructive action as he hits back at someone he thinks had done him wrong but his needless action actually hurts him more than the object of his anger.

That appears to be what President Duterte is doing against U.S. President Obama after his disastrous performance at the 2016 Asean summit in Vientiane Laos last week.

That sad thing about it is that, it is not himself that he is hurting but the country. And it was he who unnecessarily caused this series of snubs with his tirade against Obama in answer to a hypothetical question in a pre-departure for Asean summit press conference.

Duterte gives Yasay a graceful exit

Published by Ellen on July 21, 2016

Now I see how astute President Duterte is.

He can appear to be assuring you of his trust and confidence while actually cutting your neck.

That was what his July 19 video statement released by Malacañang on the status of Foreign Secretary Perfecto Yasay, Jr. showed.

In the video, a very formal Duterte in barong tagalog with the emblem of the President of the Republic of the Philippine behind and in front of him, said:

Best incentive for whistleblowers

Published by Ellen on February 16, 2014

I’m fascinated by the bill filed by Iloilo 5th District Rep. Niel Tupas to include among incentives to potential whistleblowers, plastic surgery for the face and body.

TV shows should interview Vicky Belo how she plans to transform those who are currently under WPP. Benhur Luy of the PDAF/Janet Napoles scam, for example. Who does he want to look like? It would not be advisable to look like a celebrity in the local scene. It would create complications which they should avoid. The less controversial they would be under their new persona, the better. He can choose to look like Tom Cruise or Channing Tatum.

How would Belo transform Norie Unas, former chief of staff of former Maguindanao Governor Andal Ampatuan Sr, who is a state witness in the electoral sabotage case against Gloria Arroyo?

Mas pinapahalagahan ng Malacañang ang SM mall kaysa kapaligiran

Published by Ellen on April 14, 2012

Deadma lang ang Malacañang sa mainit na protesta laban sa plano ng SM, ang higanteng sa negosyo ng shopping malls, na putulin ang 182 na pine trees sa Baguio para patayuan ng parking lot ng kanilang department store.

Ramon Paje Jr — SM-friendly DENR Chief Paje

Kinampihan pa ni Environment Secretary Ramon Paje ang ginagawa ng SM. Sabi niya,“If we do not allow trees to be cut, will there be a development such as Fort Bonifacio?(Kung hindi natin papayagan na putulin ang mga kahoy, paano tayo magkaroon ng pagsulong katulad ng Fort Bonifacio?”)

Jalosjos clan eyes control of Zambo Sibugay

Published by Ellen on December 3, 2009

by Joseph Arnel Deliverio Sibugay Express and VERA Files The Court of Appeals, in a dramatic last-minute decision, has ordered Romeo “Jon-Jon” Jalosjos Jr. reinstated…

Tag: Jr.