‘I should have let my lawyer do the talking’

by Wendell Vigilia
Malaya

REP. Mikey Arroyo (Lakas-Kampi, Pampanga) yesterday said no one is to blame but himself for his failure to credibly explain the issues surrounding his multimillion wealth, particularly his P63.7-million beach front property in the San Francisco Bay Area in California.

President Arroyo’s eldest son said he looked bad in front of the public because he could not cope with Solita “Winnie” Monsod’s style of questioning when she interviewed him on GMA-7’s “Unang Hirit” Tuesday last week.

In an interview with the Inquirer, Arroyo said his wife was the richer one but he quickly added in jest, “I’m not a gold digger.’’

“If my answers to those questions seem a little confused, ako lang po ang dapat sisihin. It’s my mistake alone. Sana po I passed on this issue to my accountant, to my lawyer, because they are the ones who actually prepare these documents,” he told dzRH.

Mikey, who stuttered during the GMA-7 interview, said Monsod’s interrogatory style may have caused the people to believe that he is guilty of allegations he has ill-gotten wealth.

Arroyo said he could have easily avoided appearing in the early morning show for the interview but he decided to show up to prove he was not hiding anything.

Mikey has said part of his multi-million wealth came from campaign donations, wedding gifts and real property investments, like the San Francisco Bay property which he said was declared in his statement of assets and liabilities and net worth (SALN) as part of his 40 percent shares in the Beach Way Park LLC.

The donations and gifts, he said, were partly the reason his declared net worth ballooned from P5.7 million in 2001 to P74.4 million in 2004 and then to P99.2 million last year.

Ruy Rondain, the Arroyos’ lawyer, said Mikey’s wife, Angela Montenegro, is also “independently wealthy.”

Rondain said the campaign contributions and wedding gifts that Mikey had received were all part of the requirements he submitted to the Comelec and in his SALN.

“Congressman Mikey will stand by doon sa lahat ng nakadeklara sa SALN and sa Comelec, yung compliance niya,” he said.

VERA Files, which reported on Mikey’s wealth, has said the congressman failed to declare to campaign contributions to the Comelec.

Mikey is the 23rd in the list of richest congressmen with P99 million declared assets while his brother, Rep. Diosdado “Dato” Arroyo (Lakas-Kampi, Camarines Sur), was 28th with P89 million.

Their uncle Rep. Ignacio “Iggy” Arroyo (Lakas-Kampi, Negros Occidental) still had the highest net among them, at P140 million, making him the 13th richest House member.

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Mikey Arroyo says rich wife fattened my net worth

By Gil C. Cabacungan Jr.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

The embattled elder son of President Macapagal-Arroyo produced new documents on Tuesday showing that his personal fortune zoomed in 2002 after he married a scion of an old-rich family.

Pampanga Representative Juan Miguel “Mikey” Arroyo produced a supplemental Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) that his lawyers supposedly filed in his behalf in August 2003, more than a year after his wedding to Angela Montenegro, to dispel allegations he had enriched himself in office.

Arroyo said he made a mistake when he attributed the spike in his wealth to the wedding presents and campaign contributions he received when he ran for Congress in 2004, after it was shown that his campaign fund declarations with the Commission on Elections did not list any significant donations.

“I feel there has been a lot of misunderstanding about the statements I made during my appearance on GMA 7’s Unang Hirit… due to my inability to cope with the rapid-fire questioning of (economist Winnie) Monsod. I respect her, and though her questioning made me look bad or stupid, I guess very few people can actually really stand up to questioning on live TV before millions of people,’’ Arroyo said in an interview over dzRH radio.

His continuing to grant media interviews showed he was sincere about addressing the concerns about his SALN declarations, Arroyo said.

In an interview with the Inquirer, Arroyo said his wife was the richer one but he quickly added in jest, “I’m not a gold digger.’’

He said he submitted a supplemental SALN on August 27, 2003, after his 2002 SALN was deemed inadequate because it did not include the assets of his wife, whom he married in June 2002.

The supplemental SALN showed that his assets grew to P68.73 million in 2002 from P5.7 million in 2001 (his first SALN as vice governor of Pampanga) due mainly to his wife’s holdings. She was listed as a director-shareholder of five companies owned by her family.

Her father, Herman Montenegro, owns Pacific Activated Carbon Corp.

Arroyo said his assets showed a gradual appreciation, growing to P74.4 million in 2004 and P99.2 million in 2008.

His lawyer, Ruy Rondain, said the increase in Arroyo’s wealth was made to appear “scandalous” by Vera Files, the group of investigative reporters which exposed Arroyo’s alleged SALN misdeclarations.

He said Vera Files “cherry-picked” documents to put Arroyo in bad light.

“They knew there was a supplement SALN in 2003; why did they not include it in their research? Is it because it would have ruined their foregone conclusion that my client had built up his wealth scandalously and not gradually?’’

Rondain said it was clear in Arroyo’s SALN that he was a shareholder, not the majority owner, of Beach Way Park LLC which owns the Foster City, California, beach-front home worth $1.3 million.

Arroyo refused to disclose who his partners in Beach Way Park LLC were, citing a confidentiality agreement, but he said he would not mind if the US Securities and Exchange Commission revealed the shareholder list to the media.

Rondain said Arroyo would welcome a case in the Ombudsman.

“But they must have something new aside from what they have based on the articles because that will not be enough; or else they will just be wasting precious government resources,’’ the lawyer said.

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NUKS NUMUN moment: my digital perm at a Korean salon

NUKS NUMUN! is a popular phrase I hear from fellow bloggers these days. I figure that in this age of icanhazcheezburger, it’s a variation of the old and jaded Tagalog term of exclamation “naks naman!” (Wow!) As in “NUKS NUMUN! Buhay pa ba ang gumupit ng buhok mo, sis?” :D

Barely a month after getting the famous Ricky Reyes haircut, I was itching for change again. It was because my natural curls were showing themselves in their full unflattering glory, which made for an uneven field. It didn’t help that the hubby told me he wanted to see me get a perm before he flew home. So off I went to a Korean salon I’ve been eyeing for a long time, but haven’t tried, and conveniently located at the ground floor of the Pan Pacific hotel in Manila. Have to admit that I tried it just for kicks, as it wasn’t as busy as Tony and Jackey a few blocks away. And I really wanted to try a Korean digital perm.

It’s something that I won’t regret doing, as it made the whole process seem effortless. None of the icky smell that we traditionally know of the cold perm. I forgot the step-by-step process now but it did involve the usual procedure of shampooing/rinsing my hair, cutting (if necessary), drying, twirling my hair under curlers or hot rods and placing it under a rectangular heating machine.

KOrean digital perm

Korean digital perm

The rods got a bit too hot at some point and I thought my scalp would burn, but the attendant remedied this by putting some sheets to make the procedure tolerable. Suffer for beauty, I say. So after less than two hours, the rods were removed and I was ready to embrace Miss Curly Me.

Too bad I don’t have pics of me in my new do, but you can see it somewhere in this blog where am seated beside chef Reggie Aspiras, hehe.

Something has to be said also about the salon owner and lone stylist Moa Hong. He’s young and looked every inch hip and stylish and knew what he was doing. The salon equipment were also very high-tech. At the time I was primped, there were also a bunch of students from Miriam College who availed of the hair rebonding treatment. What I noticed: their rebonding only took two hours or so, probably because of the state-of-the-art equipment. So, quality of work and service aside, I am going to this beauty nook again for my next treatment, or new hairstyle. Probably two or three months from now :D

As for new digital-permed hair, I liked it because it’s low maintenance. I can basically just get up and go. The salon recommended this nice-smelling wax to be applied after shower, which I bought. And the hubby got me as well this Curl Enhancer from Aveda, and it’s all good!

Digital perm cost: P2,500
Hair Rebonding cost: P2,000
(any length)

Genic Hair Salon
Ground Floor
Pan Pacific Hotel Manila

Tel. No. 496-5853

Squeezers new single “Helmet”


Listening to Squeezers is the aural equivalent of thinking happy thoughts. While it does not make you fly like that boy from, their, at the very least, brings a smile to your face. The Taguig City-based quartet’s current lineup consists of Byron Ricamara on vocals and guitar, Judith Abad on bass, Jeremy John Ricamara on drums and Clifford Jongko on guitar. The band’s music can be best described as “fun rock.” The positivity is present even in its most poignant moments—the band’s carrier single “Nagbabalik” being a case in point—and is most felt in the album and show-opener “Field Trip,” a song about, well, grade school field trips. The theme is carried though Highway Eskinita, the band’s debut album, from the beginning until the epic 10-minute title track. Listening to the album just might be the most fun-filled hour in your life.
Squeezers is currently working on promoting the album including mall shows, bar gigs, and had made appearances in various media including radio and television. When not doing promotions the band is writing and developing material for a follow-up release. Some of the new songs are being performed during their shows, so make sure to catch them when you can

The band’s current album, Highway Eskinita, includes ten songs and features the singles “Nagbabalik” and “Paminsan-Minsan Lang Naman,” released under Gusi Records and distributed by D’Concorde Recording Corp, available nationwide at all Odyssey and SM Record Bars nationwide

SC okays poll automation

From ABS-CBN Online:

It’s full steam ahead to automate next year’s elections.

Voting 11-3-1, the Supreme Court junked the petition filed by University of the Philippines law professor Harry Roque to declare as invalid the P7.2 billion automation contract between the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and winning consortium Smartmatic and Total Information Management (TIM).

The ruling, penned by Justice Presbitero Velasco, is expected to be promulgated this week. Justices Antonio Carpio, Conchita Carpio-Morales, and Arturo Brion dissented. Justice Leonardo Quisumbing, who is on leave, took no part.

The ruling paves the way for Comelec to go full throttle in the preparations and implementation of poll automation.

Earlier, fears were raised that the SC case, if further prolonged, could push back the poll body’s timetable, which could have dire consequences on the country’s first-ever nationwide computerized elections.

Roque had sought the junking of the automation contract, arguing that the automation law provides that the system should be first pilot-tested in selected areas.

Representing the Concerned Citizens Movement, Roque said the Comelec did not the follow this provision in the law.

Republic Act (RA) 9369, or the amended Automation Law, required that pilot-testing be held in highly-urbanized areas and two provinces each in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao in the national and local elections that would be held shortly after the measure’s adoption.

The law was passed January 23, 2007.

The Comelec and the Office of the Solicitor-General argued that the law was referring to the May 2007 mid-term senatorial race. But since automation was not implemented at that time, this provision of the law has been deemed waived.

The Roque petition is just one of a series of dramatic incidents that have plagued poll automation.

The winning consortium almost broke up after bagging the contract due to “irreconcilable differences.”

Legal threats issued by Comelec prompted TIM, the Filipino partner in the consortium, to go back to the negotiating table.

The foreign partner itself, Smartmatic, is bugged by negative publicities and controversies.

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It’s Toblerone’s National Thank You Day!

Despite all the crises and issues the nation has faced, the Filipino has risen above it all – revealing an indomitable spirit fueled by a cheerful, optimistic nature that is truly praiseworthy. And Toblerone, a popular international Swiss chocolate brand believes that this inherently Pinoy character is an amazing reason to celebrate.

Thank you day

In the previous National Thank You Day spearheaded by Toblerone, Filipinos proved to the world that the country is united in gratefulness – debunking the Reader’s Digest survey which claimed that the Philippines is one of the least courteous nations in the world.

In line with Toblerone’s National Thank You Day Celebration, a photo contest will be held among chocoholics. The theme of this year’s photo competition is Spread the Sweetness of Gratitute.

The Contest runs from SEPTEMBER 7, 2009 to OCTOBER 16, 2009, 5:00 PM Manila time (GMT+8)

Contest Mechanics:

a. The entry must be the entrant’s original work.

b. One or more people of any age may be featured in the photo, however, entrant must have the permission to use the visuals of everyone featured in the photo in any and all media without compensation. If any person featured in the photo is a minor, then the consent must be obtained from the minor’s parent or guardian.

c. It is the responsibility of the entrant to secure permission for the use of any licensed item used in the production of the entry.

d. Entrant must submit all required releases as requested by Kraft Foods (Philippines), Inc. (“Sponsor”), including a waiver from all persons appearing in the photo.

e. Limit of one entry per person. Incomplete, illegible, or corrupted entries will be disqualified. The Sponsor is not responsible for lost, late, damaged, incomplete or misdirected entries. All entries become the property of the Sponsor and none will be returned.

f. By submitting an entry, the entrant agrees to have his/her entry posted on www.thankyoudayphilippines.com and used for advertising purposes (TV, print, out-of-home, radio, PR, etc.)

g. Content: Each entry must be suitable for display and publication, in all forms of media, including but not limited to the Internet, the World Wide Web, print, radio, and network, cable or satellite television broadcast. Entries must be dignified, modest, and in good taste. The entries must not be obscene or indecent, and must not contain among others: pornography or profanity; offensive or defamatory statements including but not limited to words or symbols that might be considered offensive to individuals of any race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation or socioeconomic group; threats to any person, place, business, or group. The entries must not also invade the privacy or other rights of any person, firm or entity, including, without limitation, any third party trademarks or copyrights, nor portray Sponsor or Sponsor’s brands or products in any way that might tend to subject any of them to public contempt, scandal, disrepute or ridicule. Sponsor reserves the right to determine the suitability of the entries at its discretion, and to disqualify any entries it determines to be inappropriate for any reasons.

h. The Sponsor reserves the right to remove or not show any photo that doesn’t comply with the entry requirements. The Sponsor owns the rights to any photo submitted through the website and has the authority to use the material in any format during and after the contest period.

i. Participants must post their entries in their own website (blog, Multiply, Friendster, Facebook, etc.) and link these photo entries to the gallery found in www.thankyoudayphilippines.com.

j. The link should also be submitted here as a comment.

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It’s Toblerone’s National Thank You Day!