Images from Sentosa

sentosa

I remember how excited I was to see Sentosa – Singapore’s island resort – on this trip, as I haven’t been there before. It was “masterplanned” like all of Singapore. Don’t know if it was because September was no peak season, but I found it too quiet in fact. Far from being the crowded nightmare that was the Hong Kong Disneyland. And certainly far from the “character” of our beach resorts with its barbecues on the beach and ladies selling pearl necklaces by the road.

sentosa

The most “touristy” thing I did was visit the Underwater World but sadly, our Manila Ocean Park was better (and bigger!), if only because nothing rivals the view of the Manila Bay. Underwater World’s advantage was the moving travellator and the fact that along with the Sing$18 fee came a free ticket to watch a dolphin show in the Dolphin Lagoon. :D They also offered an interesting Dive with the Sharks package.

sentosa

Another huge merlion statue like the one near the Esplanade.

sentosa

I like this colorful block of letters design on Siloso Beach. I was actually wondering why they called one of their beaches Palawan :P

sentosa

We stayed in the Amara Sanctuary Resort which I can very well remember for having large glass windows all over, the windows looking out into lush gardens.

sentosa

I am pretty sure Sentosa won’t be the same the next time I swing by, with construction in full swing for Resorts World Sentosa set to open next year. Resorts World Sentosa, Singapore’s first integrated resort, will feature Universal Studios Singapore.

sentosa

Buglasan Festival 2009 Schedule!

Oriental Negros is now on high gear as it prepares for the upcoming Buglasan Festival 2009. Buglasan is the province’s fiesta celebration where each town and city gets to promote its products, handicrafts, fresh produce, its tourist spots all in one place and these all happens in Dumaguete City. The weeklong fiesta celebration will be highlights be the province’s beauty pageant, festival streetdances, food fests, trade fairs and the two-day fireworks competition!

October 16
8AM – Buglasan Family Farm Congress, PAO
4PM – Ecumenical Service, SN Auditorium
5PM – Opening of LGU Booths, SNV
8PM – Buglasan Jingle Presentation, SN Auditorium

October 17
9AM – Lutong Garbo sa Sidlakang Negros, PAO
10AM – Buglasan Chess, NOCC
4PM – Singing Competition, SN Auditorium

October 18
9AM – Marching Band Showdown, LLMSCC
2PM Marching Band Parade, Dumaguete Main Roads
8PM – Minus One Singing Contest, SN Auditorium

October 19
8PM – ABS CBN Night, SN Auditorium

October 20
8PM – Globe Night, SN Auditorium

October 21
8PM – Buglasan Rap and Pop Dance Competition, SN Auditorium

October 22
8PM – Folk Dance Competition, SN Auditorium
9PM – Live Band Competition

October 23
9AM – Festival of Festivals Showdown, LLMSCC
2PM – Festival of Festivals Streetdance, Dumaguete Main Roads
8PM – Festival King and Queen Pageant, SN Auditorium

October 24
8AM – Buglasan Kayaking and Canoeing Competition
8 AM – Airsoft Competition, Dgte High School
9AM – Buglasan Cheerdance Competition, LLMSCC
6PM – Dancesport Competition, SN Auditorium
9PM – Fireworks Competition Day 1, Rizal Boulevard

October 25
8AM – Airsoft, Dgte High School
12PM – Luncheon Outstanding Oriental Negrense, SNV Conference Hall
5PM – Thanksgiving Mass, SN Auditorium
6PM – Outstanding Oriental Negrense Awards, SN Auditorium
7PM – LGU Booth Awards, SN Auditorium
9PM – Fireworks Competition Day 2, Rizal Boulevard

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Buglasan Festival 2009 Schedule!

How is democracy defended?

How does one defend democracy?

By aiding in the tampering of results of election so that your candidate will be declared winner even if she was not elected by the people? Or by joining the people who demand accountability from government officials who subverted the will of the people?

This is the question that face the panel trying the 28 officers accused of mutiny for something that did not happen in February 2006 after former AFP Chief Hermogenes Esperon claimed “defense of democracy” in his decision to incarcerate the officers even as he continues serve an unelected president.

danny and gino eating time banez and sereño

mon and kids querubin plus 4 richie and debbie

I caught up with what happened during the court martial hearing last Wednesday through the VERA files video report.

I missed the hearing that I have been following for the three years because I was in Cebu for a sharing session with Cebu journalists on the 2010 elections.

It was my second time to be with Cebu journalists have their annual Press Freedom Week. The first time was I think in 2005. I’m impressed with the “friendly competition” among Cebu journalists that make for a healthy and progressive journalism community.

The session I participated was organized by the Cebu Federation of Beat Journalists headed by Elias Baquero, who used to be the Cebu correspondent of Malaya during our “mosquito press” years under the Marcos regime.

My Cebu trip was made possible by the Canadian Embassy, which facilitates the participation of Marshall McLuhan fellows in media activities in the country. I was actually a pinch hitter for Gloria Glenda, manager of ANC, who had a more urgent assignment from ABS-CBN management last Wednesday.

The witness in the court martial hearing last Wednesday was former Esperon, currently the head of the Presidential Management Staff. I understand he was the last witness of the prosecution that is expected to wrap up its presentation in the next hearing.

Esperon’s court appearance has been awaited by the accused who include Maj. Gen. Renato Miranda Brig.Gen.(his bunkmate in the Philippine Military Academy), Brig. Gen. Danny Lim, and Col. Ariel Querubin.

Esperon was Army chief in February 2006 when the Arroyo administration was shaken by “Hello Garci” tapes where Arroyo was heard talking with then Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano how to make sure that she leads by one million votes.

The name of Esperon was mentioned by Garcillano as one of the generals that were helpful to them as against Brig. Gen. Francisco Gudani who was not cooperative with his operators. The revelations of the role of the military in subverting the will of the people in an elections had caused restiveness among members of the armed forces especially the junior officers.

Then AFP Chief Generoso Senga ordered the investigation of the aborted plan by some members of the armed forces to join a protest rally on Feb. 24, 2006.

In October 2006, by that time Esperon was already the AFP chief, the investigating panel headed Col. Al Perreras recommended the dismissal of the charge of mutiny (67th Article of War) against all the respondents “for lack of factual and legal bases”.

The panel recommended that the officers be charged with conduct unbecoming of an officer and gentleman (96th Article of War).

In November 2006, Esperon disapproved the pre-trial investigation report and ordered trial for the 28 officers for the charge of mutiny and conduct unbecoming of an officer and gentleman. When the accused were not arraigned after two years, the charge of “conduct unbecoming of an officer and gentlemen” was dismissed.

Last Wednesday was the first time that the accused officer faced their accuser. Vera Files’ Tessa Jamandre described the atmosphere in court as filled with “silent tension.”

Asked what he felt seeing the officers who had been in jail for three years as he had ordered, Esperon replied, “I believe this is all part of my defense of democracy so it is not something hard to do, appearing here as a witness and I will come out with whatever is asked of me in this court and what I should be telling as a witness.”

Esperon is reported to be going into politics in 2010 either as congressman in one of the districts in Pangasinan or senator. His name has also been mentioned as one of those being considered to replace Gilbert Teodoro as defense chief.

Danny Lim, who has announced his plan to run for senator in next year’s election, reacted to Esperon’s claim that his action was in “defense of democracy” because he said the February 2006 incident was agitated by the rigging the results of the 2004 elections with the participation of military generals that included Esperon.

Lim said, “Ang masama nito, kung sino iyong mga kriminal noong 2004 elections, sila ang hindi nakulong. Kami ang mga nagbabayad sa mga kasalanan nila. Ang original sin dito is the 2004 electoral cheating. We are the ones paying the price for the crimes that they did.”

Lim said he would love to sit at the witness stand and tell the court what Esperon did not say during his testimony. “Sasabihin ko lahat iyong nangyari,” he said, adding that Esperon with held a lot of information.

Pictures taken during lunch break at the hearing Wednesday:

1. BGen Danny Lim and Capt. Gino Guinolbay
2. Lunch
3. Col. Armando Bañez and Lt. Sandro Sereño
4. Capt. Mon Almodovar with daughter Julia and son Renzo.
4. Maj. Francisco Fernandez,Capt.Allan Aurino,capt. James Sababan, Col. Ariel Querubin, Col. Armando Bañez.
5. Lt. Richie Caballes with wife, Debbie.

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Philippine Blog Awards 2009!

Great news! We now have the finalists of the upcoming Philippine Blog Awards 2009. 2009 is indeed an exciting year for PBA 2009 because for the first time, the Philippine Blog Awards will be held in three different locations: Luzon (PETA Theatre - October 9), Visayas (Ayala City Sports - October 18) and Mindanao (Pearlmont Hotel - October 24). If you can’t be there, you may watch it online at Flippish.