Escudero: ‘No angels, saints in politics’ (Q&A)

Inquirer articles on Escudero:

Escudero’s radical position caused split with NPC- Danding son


No way: Legarda slams door on Escudero

Chiz Escudero with Che-Che Lazaro

Chiz Escudero with Che-Che Lazaro

Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero wants to be the country’s youngest president. He seemed ready to join the 2010 presidential derby, but party politics got in the way and the much-anticipated declaration turned out to be an announcement of a split with his party, the Nationalist People’s Coalition.

Escudero has asked his supporters for more time to mull over his political options.

The glib, 40-year-old senator surprised everyone with his move, which he and his supporters described as his first test of character.

In a one-on-one interview with Probe Profiles host Cheche Lazaro, Escudero reveals more about himself as talks about his personal and professional background, his approach to politics and governance, and his vision of how and where he wants to lead the country.

The following is the transcript of the Escudero interview made available by Probe Profiles to VERA Files. Click here.

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Baguio Panagbenga Festival 2010 (Flower Festival 2010) Schedule!

The organizers of the Baguio City Panagbenga Flower Festival 2010 has just sent me the schedule of the 2010 Baguio Flower Festival!

panagebenga 2010

Panagbenga has always been one of the most-visited festivals in the country. With its proximity to Metro Manila and its cool climate, it’s not unusual to see the Manila residents all troop to the City of Pines to enjoy its cool breeze and its colorful street dance and grandiose floral float parade.

This year, Panagebenga Festival 2010 will be celebrating her 15th year as a festival. This year’s festival theme is “Celebrating 15 years of Festival Excellence”.

And with what happened to Baguio City and the whole province of Benguet in general after the typhoon Ondoy and Pepeng, I am pretty sure that the people of Baguio will use the festival to show to the world how resilient they are. That they can stand up, move forward and continue to live a happy and colorful life after the storms.

Check the Festival Schedule below:

November 16 – Launch of Panagbenga 2010
February 1 – Opening Parade
February 13 – Chinese New Year
February 12-14 – Legarda Rocks
February 14 – Fluvial Parade
February 14 – Camelot on the Lake
February 20 – Let A Thousand Flowers Bloom
February 20-22 – PMA Homecoming
February 27 – Grand Street Parade
February 28 – Grand Float Parade
March 1-7 – Session Road in Bloom
February 26-28 – Abanao Nights
Feb 1 – Mar 7 – Market Encounter
March 6 – Pony Boys Day

You may also follow Official Festival updates via twitter.com/Panagbenga or at their Facebook at: facebook.com/I Love Panagbenga

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Baguio Panagbenga Festival 2010 (Flower Festival 2010) Schedule!

Hot! Noynoy Aquino’s Hindi ka Nag-iisa video

Hot off the press: the Noynoy Aquino video first shown on ABS-CBN tonight. Have you watched it yet? :D

Honestly, I got goosebumps when I saw this. My American husband says the one thing with Noynoy is that he’s catching the imagination of the apathetic Filipino people and that’s a good thing.

Most notable is the fact that Noynoy is spending the least among the presidentiables. The star-studded Hindi Ka Nag-iisa video itself is described as a “love offering from entertainment and advertising industry professionals.”

Regine Velasquez is shown singing the Noynoy anthem, which makes you think why Sharon Cuneta and Ogie Alcasid aren’t lending their voice when they’re also in it. Also seen in the video: Kris Aquino (of course), Dingdong Dantes, Marian Rivera, Anne Curtis, Mariel Rodriguez, Ai-ai de las Alas, Boy Abunda and some others.

Expect the yellow Philippine Islands shirt Noynoy is wearing to be in vogue as election fever heats up. It seems I want to buy one now.

Honestly, the only thing that daunts me about a Noynoy Aquino presidency is the prospect of Ai-Ai and Boy Abunda holding Cabinet or consultative advisory positions. I dread Noynoy asking Boy Abunda’s magic mirror when he wants to be enlightened on important national decisions. Okay, am joking. Now back to business…. show business :D

For more updates:


By TwitterButtons.com

Palparan, yes; Magdalo, no

Former Air Force 1st Lt Ashley Acedillo, Magdalo spokesman

Former Air Force 1st Lt Ashley Acedillo, Magdalo spokesman

The Comelec gave accreditation as partylist to dubious groups represented by people close to Malacañang yet they denied the application of Samahang Magdalo based on their paranoia and misconception of the group.

In denying the group’s accreditation, Commissioner Nicodemo Ferrer said that “the principal founders of the Magdalo Para Sa Pagbabago Party remain unrepentant and that they still harbor the propensity to engage in another illegal adventure similar to the failed 2003 Oakwood Mutiny, should they again fail to achieve their goal — this time with the use of the political party that they are now applying for accreditation and which may very well be used by them to recruit and indoctrinate disciplined followers which may become their blind followers.”

The Magdalo group today assailed the denial of the application as party list as “unfair, defective, myopic and shortsighted”

“ Mawalang-galang na po sa mga makakaliwang-grupo, but why is it that left-leaning groups, even those identified with the NPA, have been accredited by the Comelec and have in fact been allowed to participate in the National, Local and Party-List elections while the Magdalo, which is composed of former officers and enlisted personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and now even civilians, are denied the same opportunity? Does the Comelec have a bias against former members of the AFP?,” former Air Force Lt. Ashley Acedillo said reading the group’s statement.

The Magdalo statement asked, “O dapat po bang maging retirado ka munang heneral ng AFP na kahit nabansagan kang berdugo pero dahil ka-alyado ng administrasyon ay papaboran ka?”

Acedillo said, “ If the desire of Magdalo is to merely ‘recruit and indoctrinate disciplined followers who may become their blind followers’, we would not go to the trouble of filing a petition for accreditation with the Comelec. We could very well have achieved this purpose by forming even an informal group or a secret or clandestine organization at patagong mag-recruit ng mga miyembro, at kung ano pa,” said Acedillo, who is the Magdalo spokesman.

He added, “The fact that the Magdalo have decided to form a group and apply for accreditation as a political party signifies the group’s desire and firm resolve to continue its advocacy for reforms through legitimate and lawful means, particularly by participating in the electoral process.

“In fact, it is in the best interest of the country for Comelec to encourage the Magdalo group to join the mainstream of Filipino society and allow it to participate in the democratic process, especially in elections, by approving its application for accreditation as a political party sa halip na i-isolate kami at itulak sa isang tabi sa pagbasura ng aming petisyon.”

Acedillo said they will file a motion for reconsideration.

Click below for the Comelec resolution:

RESOLUTION-MAGDALO PARTY LIST

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Flash update: Cebu Pacific, PAL flight cancellations due to Typhoon Santi

As of now, I just hope this typhoon isn’t as bad as what the weathermen are predicting. Typhoon Santi, change course, if you may. Or break it to us gently.

Classes were suspended this morning in Metro Manila. No wonder, my son waited for his school bus but it didn’t come.

The passage of commercial boats around Southern Luzon have also been suspended, spoiling the vacation plans of people who wanted to go home to provinces like Quezon, Batangas and Bicol for the long All Saints’ Day holiday, a time when Filipinos honor their dead.

And so far, the following Cebu Pacific flights for tomorrow (October 31, 2009) have been cancelled:

5J 851/852 (Zamboanga), 559/561/554 (Cebu), 781/782 (Ozamiz), 325/326 (Legazpi) 5J 379/ 380/ 381/ 382 (Cagayan de Oro), 961 (Davao), 651/652 (Tacloban), 993/994 (GenSan), 473/474 (Bacolod), 451/452 (Iloilo), 5J 521/522 (Naga), 331/332 (Kalibo), 821/822 (Virac), 108/109 (Hong Kong) and 801/802 (Singapore).

On hold at airport of origin as of Friday, Oct. 30: 5J 679 Shanghai, 804 Singapore, 502 Kuala Lumpur, 7600 Jakarta, 7522 Ho Chi Minh, 932 Bangkok and 311 Taipei

Flights 5J 582 (Cebu) and 972 (Davao) have already been cancelled.

The following Philippine Airlines (PAL) flights have also been cancelled for Oct. 31: PR819, PR820 (Manila-Davao v.v., PR453 (to General Santos); PR195, PR196 (Manila-Puerto Princesa v.v.) PR809 (to Davao); PR847 & 848 (Manila-Cebu v.v.) ; PR843 & 844 (Manila-cebu v.v.) PR853; PR189 & 190 (Manila-Roxas v.v.) ; PR391 & 392 (Tacloban-Manila v.v.); PR175 & 176 (Tagbilaran-Manila v.v.); PR191 & 192 (Tacloban-Manila v.v.) ; PR327 & 328 Kalibo-Manila v.v.); PR139 & 140 (Iloilo-Manila v.v.); PR131, 132, 133 & 134 (Bacolod-Manila v.v.); PR141 & 142 (Iloilo-Manila v.v.) PR823 (to Cebu); PR173 & 174 (Tagbilaran-Manila v.v.); PR183 (to Cagayan de Oro); PR181 & 182 (Manila-CDO v.v.) ; PR321 & 322 (Kalibo-Manila v.v.); PR281 & 282 (CDO-Manila v.v); PR123 & 124 (Zamboanga-Manila v.v.) ; PR226 (to Laoag); PR842 (Cebu-Manila); PR277 & 278 (Manila-Legaspi v.v.); PR167 & 168 (Manila-Dipolog v.v.) ; PR292 Dumaguete-Manila.

Cancelled PAL international flights for October 31 are: PR300 & 301 (Hong Kong,Manila) ; PR466 (Manila-Seoul); PR511 (Manila-Singapore) ; PR503 (Manila-Singapore); PR896 (Manila-Taipei); PR334 & 335 (Manila,Xiamen) ; PR591 & 592 (Manila, Saigon).

As of 5 p.m. of Oct. 30, the center of Typhoon Santi (international code name MIRINAE) {0921} was spotted at 230 kms East of Infanta, Quezon with maximum sustained winds of 150 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 185 kph.

For more updates:


By TwitterButtons.com

Affected passengers can rebook flights without charges, for travel up to 7 days. Go to CEB ticketing offices or call 7020-888 or 032 2308888