Imelda turns 80 in style

I had two interesting coverages yesterday. One was the National Day reception at the US Embassy and the other was Imelda Marcos 80th birthday bash at Hotel Sofitel.

My cellphone battery gave way and here’s the few photos I got.

Imelda with Dewi Sukarno

Baby Arenas, Pia Watson

Mrs. Marcos,in a bright pink terno and bedecked with jewelry, had a special guest, Dewi Sukarno, the controversial former First Lady of Indonesia.

Another special guest was the Chinese ambassador, who underscored in his remarks that it was during the term of Ferdinand Marcos when relations between the Philippines and the People’s Republic of China started.

The whole Marcos family, Imee, Irene and Bongbong were there with their good-looking children.

There were a number of personalities I saw: Rep. Roque Ablan, former Senator Francisco Tatad, former Comelec Chair Pardo and others.

Another personality I saw was Baby Arenas, former Blue Lady, rumored special friend of a former president, and who is now director of the Manila Economic and Cultural office in Taiwan.

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Agence France Presse story in the Inquirer:

Imelda at 80: I feel vindicated
Agence France-Presse

MANILA, Philippines — Former First Lady Imelda Marcos turned 80 Thursday, claiming to be nearly broke but feeling vindicated more than two decades after her dictator husband was ousted in a popular revolt.

“I have reached the lucky number eight, for eight decades,” the flamboyant Marcos told AFP as she distributed rice to hundreds of poor residents at a dumpsite converted into a sprawling housing area in a Manila suburb.

“My birthday wish is that I be given more health and a longer life so I can devote myself to helping the Filipino poor,” she said.

Wearing a pink terno, jade earrings and sporting a large diamond ring, the woman known worldwide for her excessive lifestyle and 3,000 pairs of shoes still has something of a regal presence.

Her burly bodyguards jostled with a pack of press photographers as she waded through the crowd of supporters wanting merely to touch her.

At peace with truth

“I have always been at peace with the truth,” she declared. “I feel vindicated because no court has convicted me.”

She said she is nearly broke after 23 years of “relentless persecution, vilification and ridicule” by the government, but remains happy that she has the support of her family and the poor.

Late husband and dictator Ferdinand Marcos was ousted by a “people power” revolt in 1986 which sent him into exile in Hawaii. He died in 1989 and Imelda and his children were later allowed to return home.

In 1992, Imelda Marcos launched a failed bid for the presidency, but her children have since regained political control in their northern bailiwick.

While her husband is accused of plundering the national coffers of an estimated $10 billion, no member of the family has been convicted or jailed.

Scores of criminal and civil cases however remain pending in courts.

So far, only $683 million stashed in Swiss banks has been recovered by the government.

The fight to gain control of the Marcos wealth has in recent months focused on $310 million in Imelda’s confiscated jewellery. Confusion arose last month after the government said the jewels would be returned to Imelda, only to backtrack after a public outcry.

Historical treasures

“That decision was vindication already to me. These are beautiful historical treasures that they should return,” she said defiantly Thursday.

She said she bears no grudges toward arch foe Corazon Aquino, widow of assassinated opposition leader Benigno Aquino, who was swept to the presidency in 1986 after Marcos was toppled.

Mrs. Corazon Aquino, 76, has been hospitalized since last week with colon cancer and is said to be in a serious condition.

“I asked all these people to offer prayers to her. I have peace in my heart and am comfortable with the truth. I am praying for her safe recovery,” Marcos said.

Arroyo had breast sillicone implant?

I can’t believe this.

But this news item came out in the conservative newspaper Manila Bulletin.

GMA medical checkup OK

by Jonathan M. Hicap, Charissa M. Luci
July 2, 2009, 6:03pm

President Arroyo underwent removal and replacement of breast silicone implants at a hospital in Muntinlupa City, a source told the Manila Bulletin.

Meanwhile, a Palace official announced that President Arroyo has ended her two-day self imposed quarantine “with a clean bill of health,” and is expected to resume public engagements “in a few days.”

The informant, who requested anonymity since the source was not authorized to speak about the matter, said the President was scheduled to undergo augmentation mammoplasty at the Asian Hospital and Medical Center in Alabang, Muntinlupa.

In addition, a cyst or lump in the groin area was also scheduled to be removed by surgery, said the hospital source.

A biopsy was also done on her breast, the source said. This does not mean that the President was ill. This was part of regular medical procedures, the source added.

The President cancelled the Cabinet meeting on Tuesday in preparation for her quarantine. She checked in at the hospital on Wednesday.

Security measures have been tightened at the hospital during the President’s confinement. All persons, whether visitors or employees, are subjected to intense inspection, a source said.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita and Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said Mrs. Arroyo has left Asian Hospital and Medical Center after undergoing self-quarantine following her 13-day visits from influenza-infected countries, including the former British colony of Hong Kong, Brazil, Colombia, United States and Japan.

In an interview shortly after the awarding ceremony of the Ten Outstanding Students of the Philippines at the Rizal Hall of Malacanang Palace, Ermita said the President will be out of the hospital “within the day.”

Remonde said President Arroyo yesterday checked out of the hospital at around 2 p.m. in the pink of health.

“She underwent certain check ups while on quarantine and all the results were okay. She has returned to Malacañang,” he said in a text message.

He also denied rumors that the President had some silicone removed from her body.

Ermita said President’s nearly three-day stay at the Asian Hospital in Alabang, Muntinlupa has given the President a “breathing space” from her hectic schedules.

But, he was quick to add that Mrs. Arroyo remains in touch with him and fellow cabinet members, citing that she “calls anytime she wishes to.”

“The President is taking advantage of her time na nag-self quarantine siya so mabuti na lang nakakapahinga si Presidente dahil masyadong hectic naman ang kanyang byahe and many, many other out of town trips before those trips abroad so mabuting nakakapahinga si Pangulo,” Ermita said.

The President just returned from her long trip on Monday with baskets of foreign investments and employment opportunities for Filipino workers.

Wait, there’s more!: Buy her a gift this Valentines! or send her flowers!

Worse than 2004?

Grace Poe, Gus Lagman, Ichu Maceda,and Harry Roque

Marichu Maceda shared with members of media a “shocking” conversation with her eight-year old grandson, Max, to underscore how Gloria Arroyo’s cheating of the 2004 elections has destroyed our concept of elections as a tool for good governance and an expression of democracy.

Manay Ichu said Max asked her how to contact “Garci”, former Comelec Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano because he wants him to transfer one million votes to his Lola Gina de Venecia, who will be running as representative for the fourth district of Pangasinan.

Aghast, Manay Ichu said she had to lecture Max on the evils of cheating and the punishment that comes with violating the law and displeasing God. Max, she said, was baffled and asked, “Why is Gloria Arroyo not punished?’

Manay Ichu said she is still looking for a satisfactory answer to Max. That’s why she was at the presscon yesterday organized by the Concerned Citizens Movement on the issues in the 2010 elections automation that has surfaced with the feud between Smartmatic and Total Information Management.

Manay Ichu detailed to the media how Arroyo tampered with the election process starting with the voters list up to elections results. But, she said, “What happened in 2004 is nothing compared to what is going to happen in 2010.”

Lawyer Harry Roque said the quarrel of Smartmatic-TIM, winners of the P7.2 billion election automation contract, has exposed the anomaly that there is no joint venture deal between them as they tried to impress the Comelec.

Roque said he doubts if the two firms would be able to solve their “irreconcilable differences.” He said Comelec should not force the two parties to push through with the joint venture,”Huwag pilitin. Kung ngayon pa lang nag-aaway, lalo pa kapag implementation na.”

There are different versions of the cause of break-up of Smartmatic and TIM before their union was even formalized. One version says TIM is asking for bigger control in the operation because in case something happens later, they would be included of those that would be held criminally liable. There are talks that TIM asked Smartmatic for additional P500 million share in the payment.

Another version is that a businessman known to be in the inner circle of the Arroyos is muzzling his way into the joint venture as a “carried partner”.

Malaya’s report said a “carried partner” is one who wants to get a piece of the action without contributing a single centavo.
Before the Smartmatic-TIM imbroglio, sources said Mike Arroyo, someone surnamed Aboitiz, and an official of Smartmatic were seen having coffee at the Renaissance Hotel in Makati.

After that meeting, TIM President Jose Mari M. Antunez reportedly got a call from a well-connected businessman for him “to cooperate” so as not to offend “powerful people.”

In yesterday’s presscon Harry Roque expressed concerned about the participation of 2Go, an Aboitiz-owned cargo forwarder, who has been given the contract to transport the 80,000 counting machines all over the country and keep on standby the 1,200 spare machines.

Roque recalled how Arroyo’s men took out the genuine 2004 election returns stored under guard in the Batasan Pambansa and changed them with manufactured ones to match the certificate of canvass they tampered in anticipation of the election protest of FPJ.

Roque said, whoever has custody of those machines determines the result of the 2010 elections. Given the branzenness of Arroyo’s operators, the 2010 elections could be worse than the fraudulent 2004 elections.

Grace Poe appealed to the public to be vigilant saying that it is not just elections that we are fighting for but the future of democracy in our country.

Sabotahe ng kasakiman

Hindi pa malinaw ang lahat ngunit mukhang sinasabotahe ng kasakiman ng mga nasa kapangyarihan ang computerization of 2010 na eleksyon.

Nabahala ang marami noong Lunes ng sinabi ni Comelec Chair Jose Melo na umatras ang Total Information Management, ang Filipino na partner ng Smartmatic Corp, ang nanalo na kumpanya na taga Barbados sa $7.2 bilyon na kontrata para magiging computerized ang bilangan sa eleksyon simula sa 2010.

Iba-iba ang lumalabas na dahilan. Isa dyan ang pagpipilit ng TIM na sila ang may kontrol ng operasyon dahil sila ang mas may malaking share ayun sa ating Constitution na 60 per cent ang sa Pilipino at 40 ang sa mga banyaga.

Gusto raw kasi ng Smartmatic sila ang may kontrol dahil sa kanila ang technology. Sabi ng TIM, labag yan sa Constitution. Ang lalabas nun para lang silang dummy katulad ng maraming malakihan na joint ventures.

Sabi kasi ng TIM, gusto nila sila ang may kontrol dahil kung ano ang mangyari na bulilyaso, sila ang mapapahamak. Pilipino sila kaya kulungan ang bagsak nila.

Itong isyu ng TIM ay lumabas daw ng malaman nila na merong isang negosyante na malapit sa malacañang na pumasok sa eksena bilang “carried” partner.

Ang “carried” partner ay isang kumpanya o negosyante na gustong maki-ambon sa kita kahit na wala namang binigay na capital. Siyempre ang may lakas na loob lang na gagawa niyan ay ang malapit sa may kapangyarihan.

Itong negosyante daw ay taga-Cebu kung saan lumamang kuno si Arroyo kay Fernando Poe, Jr. noong 2004 ng sobra isang milyong boto. Maraming isyu na lumabas kalaunan sa mga boto sa maraming presinto sa Cebu na hindi kapani-paniwala. Sobrang taas ng voters’ turn out na para bang walang namatay o nag-abroad sa mga botante sa listahan.

Sinabi ng presidente ng TIM na si Jose Mari Antunez na nakita raw ng isang kasama niya sa kumpanya itong negosyante na taga Cebu at ang isang opisyal ng Smartmatic na nag-uusap sa isang hotel.

Pagtapos daw ng ilang araw tinawagan siya ng negosyanteng ito na kailgnan siyang makikipag-cooperate. Kung hindi magagalit sa kanya ang mga “may kapangyarihan.”

Siyempre maraming hakang-haka kung sino itong negosyante na taga Cebu na malapit sa kapangyarihan. Ewan, hindi ko rin alam.

Bago ko makalimutan, may isa pa palang kasama ang Smartmatic at TIM: ang 2GO, isang freight forwarding na kumpanya na pag-aari ng mga Aboitiz ng Cebu na kilalang malapit kay Arroyo.

Nang humarap ang mga taga- Comelec sa Senado, sinabi na ang 2Go daw ang magdadala ng mga computer sa lahat na 80,000 na presinto sa buong bansa.

Ayos na.

EDITORIAL : Tormentors beware!

ANY way you look at it, and despite the seeming “caution” of the Espino provincial administration not to make it look like a political issue against the previous Agbayani administration, the investigation into the fiasco that is the buried expired medicines and medical supplies in the Capitol compound is one nasty wound inflicted on Victor Agbayani’s record.

There is reason to believe he may not have really done the direct authorization, as in micro-managing even the disposal of the said unusable medicines. But even if his underlings or lower lieutenants did it, the fact is he cannot escape blame. Legal prosecution? We doubt that.

Anyone who frequented Urduja House  or the Capitol or had basic knowledge of the workings of   Victor’s  administration in those days would know  there are a cabal of  executives then who could practically preside over the province’s seat of power most times, that is, while the governor was away. But whether, even thru remote communication, the actual burying of the items was made known to the governor or not at all, remains a matter of conjecture.

What is quite obvious to us in this whole dramatic scenario about, to make light of the subject, spilt milk, is that it stems from the usual fallout from internal squabbles, petty power struggles or plain office intrigues that inhabit nooks and crannies of centers of power in a given corporate atmosphere.

The “squealer” in this case may not have intended to hit at the Chief but at some of his lieutenants who may have become so snug with their authority they consistently ignored basic objections or observations of the “lesser” power players.”

What better way to get back at the past  “tormentor (s)” than  to rat on them when they’re out of power and unable to fix things up in a new dispensation?

If there’s a lesson to be learned from this case however by any executive leadership or political administration, it is that no skeleton remains hidden in any closet  — or even under the earth.

Column/ AFTER ALL : PNP ‘on top of the situation?’

By BEHN FER. HORTALEZA, JR.

WE have received not a few complaints on the arrogance and discourtesy of GSIS personnel the past several months on even the simplest query or request for assistance of members who go to their offices. It looks like the attitude of their top officials — take a bow, Winston Garcia — has rubbed off so very well on their subordinates in the field.

Considering that this government insurance system has been having this problem (supposedly technical) with its processing system the past months such that claims for retirement and loans have suffered big delays, the least this government unit’s staff can do is make up for it by being a bit more courteous and patient with the members who pay their salaries.

Courtesy appears to have long gone out the window with this government corporation’s employees who feel no one, certainly not any ordinary member, can disturb them at all from their siesta time or their self-imposed and highly arbitrary time deadlines for submission of papers or release of monetary claim checks.

It is clear customer service is not – or has never been – on their work priorities and we-will-serve-you-when –we-wish –to- syndrome is very much alive and well in their sluggish ranks.

* * * *
Public relations men and paid hacks of LTO Chief Art Lomibao (particularly in at least two radio stations) are having a field day drumming up his name and image in the fourth district where he is widely rumored to be running for congressman. The funny (or ironic?) part of it is some of his chosen rah-rah boys and girls also seem to have their own “loyalty crisis” as regards their “promotion” of the good general because their umbilical cords are associatively tied to Manay Gina de Venecia, the major candidate in the district congressional race.

Sure, some of them would try to claim they’re just doing their job as media practitioners in spreading the news (that is, polishing the image) for both aspirants but people know better about them— that they simply want to have and enjoy the best of both worlds.

The Comelec and civic groups have this information assistance for voters by sponsoring “Know Your Candidates” fora. I guess they should also start thinking of having a “Know Your Media Relations Men ” fora so candidates won’t be shortchanged by some highly skilled acrobats in the PR trade.

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There’s been one death in the country from the Influenza A(H1N1) affliction but Health Secretary Pingcoy Duque is quick to say the woman had many medical complications to begin with and A(H1N1) may have just exacerbated her condition. The DOH estimates that about 25% of Filipinos could be infected before the swine flu virus tapers off.

Everyone hopes the virus downing Pinoys these days will continue to be of the mild strain and more and more of those infected do recover because that would mean, as one medical analyst pointed out, they’d have immunity from that particular strain of flu in the future. By that is meant, possibly, these recovered patients would have antibodies present in their system already to ward off the virus, if and when it does return in the future.

Let’s hope our luck insofar as mortality rate in the swine flu virus is concerned continues — with help from Someone Up There.

* * * *
How can the cops in Pangasinan led by cool and smiley Supt Perci Barba say the series of gunslayings in the province, throw in a rape or stabbing incident in a week, are “isolated cases” and proceed like it’s the usual market day in the province.

Just this week, a lady bank manager of San Carlos City – Mrs. Alice Baun – got a bullet in the head right in that city’s busy poblacion area from a gunman who, as always, escaped on a motorcycle.

Late last week, Calasiao’s bids and awards committee chair, Doming Ballesteros, — a classmate of ours in the grade-school days – while calmly walking along the road with some office subordinates, was slain by, again, the familiar gunmen riding in tandem on a motorcycle. Many other similar gangland fashion killings have occurred early this month and the past months. People are dying like chickens in the streets.

And the police is “on top of the situation?” Anyone here reassured by that dismissive statement of the PNP? It sounds more like whistling in the dark gesture to me.

Smartmatic-TIM: Control of P7B triggered rift

From Malaya:

‘Mr. X’ wanted piece of the action

Final control by Smartmatic Corp., the foreign partner in the election computerization project of the Commission on Elections, of how the contracted P7.2 billion cost of the project will be spent is the reason Total Information Management, the Filipino partner, decided to dump the partnership.

TIM rejected the proposal of Smartmatic, saying this was contrary to the nature of a joint venture and “would expose it to possible violations of Philippine laws.”

TIM’s fear of exposure to “possible violation of Philippine laws,” sources familiar with the deal said, was prompted by the entry of a person with the highest political connections into the deal as a “carried” partner.”

A “carried partner,” the sources said, means one who wants to get a piece of the action without contributing a single centavo.

The fear of TIM president Jose Mari Antunez that he and his company might get entangled with the law was triggered when an associate saw the “powerful person” huddled with a Smartmatic principal and a member of a prominent business family from Cebu at the coffee shop of a Makati hotel last week, a source said.

Days later, Antunez got a call from the Cebu businessman warning that TIM should cooperate or else “offend very powerful people,” the source said.

Rep. Teodoro “Teddy Boy” Locsin Jr. (PDP-Laban), however, had a different take on the “irreconcilable differences” that sank the Smartmatic-TIM partnership.

He said Antunez demanded P500 million when he met with Smartmatic lawyers at a Makati hotel a few days ago.

“This caused Smartmatic to pull out,” he said. “The demand was ridiculous and the lawyers thought it was tantamount to extortion.”

Locsin, chair of the House committee on suffrage and electoral reforms, said Smartmatic had repeatedly bent over backwards to accommodate TIM as the 60 percent partner.

Locsin said TIM and Smartmatic could not agree on the exercise of “unilateral power” on when and how money would be spent, but did not elaborate.

An exchange of letters between Antunez and Armando Yanes, the highest Filipino official as chief financial officer of the Barbados-registered Smartmatic, provides a background for the rift.

In a letter dated June 25, Antunez said: “We are likewise ready, willing and able to form the JVC (joint venture corporation) with you under the express terms of our Joint Venture Agreement of April 23, 2009 and the discussion we had at our meeting last night. In this connection, we cannot agree that the Chairman be given authority to sign checks singly in case of issues or disagreements. This is contrary to the nature of a joint venture and would expose us to possible liabilities for violations of existing Philippine laws. We hope we have made our position clear on this matter.”

On the following day, Yanes wrote Antunez back, threatening to sue TIM for its alleged failure to comply with contractual obligations under the April 23 JVA.

In the letter, Yanes did not mention Antunez’ allegation that Smartmatic wanted “unilateral power” to spend. There was also no reference to alleged demand from Antunez for money.

‘Not giving up’

Despite the breakup of the TIM-Smartmatic joint venture, the Commission on Elections is not about to give up on automating the 2010 elections.

Commissioner Rene Sarmiento said the Comelec decided to adopt a pro-active stance to salvage the automated election by inviting representatives of Smartmatic and TIM to a dialogue yesterday for the two parties to thresh out their differences.

“They (Smartmatic and TIM) are given until July 3… So why not between today and July 3, make the most of it?” he said.

TIM legal counsel Boy de Borja confirmed their decision to pull out stemmed from differences with Smartmatic over decision-making.

He said the move was not a total surprise.

De Borja said they will not allow themselves to be “dominated” by their foreign partner.

Locsin said the Comelec should not be blamed for the fiasco since it fought for automation.

Locsin lambasted senators questioning the automation deal, particularly Francis Escudero who he said tried to block the deal by launching an investigation. He said this makes it appear that the senator “wants cheating to continue in 2010.”

“He’s a hypocrite,” Locsin said. “Please don’t add insult to injury by making it appear that you are unhappy that we’re going back to manual counting.”

Also a culprit

Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera said Smartmatic will also be sued even if it was TIM that backed out of the contract.

“It’s got to be the entire consortium, because I’m sure the award (of the project) was given to the entire consortium, not just to the Filipino company. The backing out of the Filipino partner cannot be made as an excuse by the consortium,” she told reporters.

Devanadera declined comment on the suggestion of Comelec chairman Jose Melo that the poll body undertake the automation project with Smartmatic, similar to the Department of Foreign Affairs’ agreement with a foreign-owned company in the manufacture of machine-readable passports.

Sen. Richard Gordon will convene the Blue Ribbon Committee to investigate the withdrawal of TIM either Friday or Monday.

Gordon said the committee can hold a joint hearing with Escudero’s committee on constitutional amendments, which initiated an investigation into the awarding of the poll project to Smartmatic-TIM. – Gerard Naval, Wendell Vigilia, Jocelyn Montemayor, Evangeline de Vera and JP Lopez

Related Inquirer stories:

P500 M demand did it

TM- Smartmatic has too much power

.

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Convergence of anti-Con Ass voices

1) Manileño contingent 2) Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila against Con-Ass 3) Among those leading the march: Mayor Fred Lim, PLM President Adel Tamano, Rodolfo “Jun” Lozada, Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casiño, Kabataan Party Rep. Mon Palatino.

1) Protest march became a torch parade when darkness started to set in 2) This young boy asked me to take his picture 3) Precy Lopez-Psinakis, Gina de Venecia, Harry Roque and other members of the Concerned Citizens Movement

Cha-Cha protesters start countdown

by JP Lopez
Malaya

STUDENTS and young professionals led by the Movement of the Youth for Empowerment, Reform, Advocacy and Progress (myERAP), a group aligned with President Joseph Estrada, yesterday served a symbolic “notice of eviction” to President Arroyo near Malacañang.

“From 2001 to 2010, Arroyo would be the second longest serving president next only to the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos. Arroyo however leaves Marcos in the dust in terms of corruption and violation of human rights,” said Ginno Jaralve, spokesman for myERAP.

“Today, we start the year-long wait for Arroyo to finish her term with a fervent prayer that Arroyo and her cronies turn away from their wickedness and greed for power and step down next year,” said Goodbye Gloria campaign spokesman Lloyd Zaragoza.

Anti-riot policemen and members of the Presidential Security Group (PSG) were able to turn away the group at the J.P. Rizal gate in San Miguel street.

MyErap also launched an online countdown to June 30, 2010 at goodbyegloria.com.

It said the online countdown also details the scandals, exposes, and significant dates detailing instances of the Arroyo administration’s legacy of plain bad governance.

More than 5,000 students and young professionals joined militant groups Anakpawis, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN), Gabriela and Bayan Muna yesterday in marching to Liwasang Bonifacio for the “Martsa Laban sa Cha-Cha”.

The march aims to send a message that the public will oppose moves to tinker with the Constitution to enable President Arroyo to remain in power beyond 2010.

The students were from the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Adamson’s University, University of the Philippines-Manila and Diliman, De La Salle University, College of St. Benilde, St. Scholastica’s College, Jose Rizal University and Arellano University.

Three columns assembled at the Mabuhay Rotonda, Taft Avenue and Intramuros converged at the Liwasang Bonifacio at around 6 p.m.

Organizers have said that “Martsa Kontra Cha-cha,” kicks off a month-long protest leading up to the State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Arroyo on July 27.

The protesters carried placards that read, “Oust the corrupt Arroyo regime,” “No to Gloria forever rule,” and “Junk Cha-cha now.”

Marchers also brought whistles and noisemakers, for use in the noise barrage.

The program at the Liwasang Bonifacio consisted of nationalist songs.

Violinist Coke Bolipata played Nicanor Abelardo’s Mutya ng Pasig, while activists from Bayan, Karapatan, the Concerned Artists of the Philippines, and the UP Alay Sining sang Joey Ayala’s “Wala nang Tao sa Sta. Filomena.”

Among the personalities were Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim, NBN-ZTE whistle-blower Rodolfo “Jun” Lozada, Sister Mary John Mananzan of the Association of Major Religious Sectors of the Philippines, movie director Carlitos Siguion-Reyna and wife Bibeth Orteza, Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casiño, Anakpawis Rep. Rafael Mariano, and Kabataan Rep. Raymond Palatino.

Lim led Manila City Hall employes in a march towards Liwasang Bonifacio.

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Column/ THE PEN SPEAKS: New Calasiao town hall up by Decembero

The pen speaks 

New Calasiao town

hall up by December

CALASIAO, noted for its tender sweet-tasting puto, will have a new three-storey town hall by December, an exuberant Mayor Roy Macanlalay told the weekly Enkwentro sa Lenox forum Wednesday. 

Macanlalay, who may eventually run for vice-mayor next year in tandem with his son Mark, an incumbent councilor, belied reports that the municipality’s loan of P60 million with Land Bank was suffering from hitches that would delay the construction of the new hall. Fire gutted the old building last year. The pen speaks 

New Calasiao town

hall up by December

CALASIAO, noted for its tender sweet-tasting puto, will have a new three-storey town hall by December, an exuberant Mayor Roy Macanlalay told the weekly Enkwentro sa Lenox forum Wednesday. 

Macanlalay, who may eventually run for vice-mayor next year in tandem with his son Mark, an incumbent councilor, belied reports that the municipality’s loan of P60 million with Land Bank was suffering from hitches that would delay the construction of the new hall. Fire gutted the old building last year. 

He also brushed aside rumors about treasure hunting at the construction site. “Kung maghahanap pa ng gold yong contractor di na nya matatapos yong building sa December.” He said that the contractor has six to seven months to finish the project and that will be in December. On the high fence surrounding the construction site, it was just normal for the owner or the contractor to secure the property and prevent any theft or pilferage, he said. 

Mayor Roy needed to stay longer than his co-guests at the forum (he was paired with Pat Orduna and company and newsmen had their focus on the buried/excavated medicines at the Capitol compound), to answer questions surrounding the town hall reconstruction and many other controversial issues like the killing of engineer Domingo Ballesteros right at the temporary town hall premises. The mayor could have been the star of the show (as did Sta. Barbara Mayor Rey Velasco in the special edition of the weekly forum a day earlier) if he was not paired with the provincial officials. He had to bear waiting for newsmen’s prying questions. It could not come until all questions involving the medicine scandal would have been exhausted. 

We thought the mayor would be scheduled in later editions. That was the impression we got from Pangasinan press prexy Allan Sison because Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. would have to get prime time, so to speak. It already happened exactly a week before when almost all questions raised were for second district Rep. Victor E. Agbayani. Philhealth Regional Manager Douglas Cardona and District Engineer Rodolfo Dion had to play ‘supporting roles’ only. Well, the governor just sent his men. 

Anyway, Macanlalay had all the time after the provincial officials left.  He said his town is welcome for investors, businessmen and mall developers since neighbor Dagupan would no longer accept “outsiders.” He has not abandoned the planned conversion of the Central School lot into a commercial center. 

On his political plans, he said he might run as vice-mayor with his son Mark as the front-runner “for the continuity of his programs for the town.” We in jest told him to be careful reminding him of what happened to San Carlos City Mayor Julian “Jolly” Resuello, who, while campaigning for vice-mayor with son Ayoy as the candidate for mayor, fell into assassins’ hands. Well, politicos from his town, he pointed out, have kept their campaign at a high level and have not resorted to any violent means. 

On the alleged landgrabbing charge hurled against him in connection with the property he got along the Bonuan beach, he said the area involved is not covered by Proclamation 98 and is therefore alienable and disposable. The case is pending at the regional prosecutor’s office since the city prosecutor’s office inhibited itself. A sirin? 

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A plantation of mahogany trees right at the diversion channel for the Agno River in the Alcala area is affecting the early completion of the Agno River flood control project under Phase II. Having joined the pro-performance team of PMS chief Secretary Hermogenes Esperon that made project monitoring and inspection last Thursday, we saw for our self how the young trees literally blocked the pathway of the diversion channel. 

We were told the owner (a barangay captain?) was demanding P7,000 per tree, way above the P1,500 to P2,000 price set by government. With the number of trees we saw there aside from grown mango trees nearby, we think government needs to cough up several millions of pesos (P80 million?) if the whims of the alleged owner prevail. 

Esperon, pro-performance team head and Cabinet monitoring officer for eastern Pangasinan, looked dismayed and irked as he discussed right on top of the diversion bridge the situation with public works officials, Agno river project director Fidel Ginez, Korean engineers, and Alcala Mayor Manuel Collado. He wanted the project to continue pending any case before the courts or agency. In the meantime, a dialogue was set today (Tuesday) between the involved parties.  

By the manner the former Armed Forces chief of staff is moving busily in the eastern corridor, he could be slowly eating away whatever advantages his perceived congressional opponents in the coming political exercise had established. So far, two other names are bruited as having a moist eye on the seat to be vacated by Congressman Conrado Estrella – Vice-Governor Marlyn Agabas and San Manuel Mayor Salvador Perez.

He also brushed aside rumors about treasure hunting at the construction site. “Kung maghahanap pa ng gold yong contractor di na nya matatapos yong building sa December.” He said that the contractor has six to seven months to finish the project and that will be in December. On the high fence surrounding the construction site, it was just normal for the owner or the contractor to secure the property and prevent any theft or pilferage, he said. 

Mayor Roy needed to stay longer than his co-guests at the forum (he was paired with Pat Orduna and company and newsmen had their focus on the buried/excavated medicines at the Capitol compound), to answer questions surrounding the town hall reconstruction and many other controversial issues like the killing of engineer Domingo Ballesteros right at the temporary town hall premises. The mayor could have been the star of the show (as did Sta. Barbara Mayor Rey Velasco in the special edition of the weekly forum a day earlier) if he was not paired with the provincial officials. He had to bear waiting for newsmen’s prying questions. It could not come until all questions involving the medicine scandal would have been exhausted. 

We thought the mayor would be scheduled in later editions. That was the impression we got from Pangasinan press prexy Allan Sison because Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. would have to get prime time, so to speak. It already happened exactly a week before when almost all questions raised were for second district Rep. Victor E. Agbayani. Philhealth Regional Manager Douglas Cardona and District Engineer Rodolfo Dion had to play ‘supporting roles’ only. Well, the governor just sent his men. 

Anyway, Macanlalay had all the time after the provincial officials left.  He said his town is welcome for investors, businessmen and mall developers since neighbor Dagupan would no longer accept “outsiders.” He has not abandoned the planned conversion of the Central School lot into a commercial center. 

On his political plans, he said he might run as vice-mayor with his son Mark as the front-runner “for the continuity of his programs for the town.” We in jest told him to be careful reminding him of what happened to San Carlos City Mayor Julian “Jolly” Resuello, who, while campaigning for vice-mayor with son Ayoy as the candidate for mayor, fell into assassins’ hands. Well, politicos from his town, he pointed out, have kept their campaign at a high level and have not resorted to any violent means. 

On the alleged landgrabbing charge hurled against him in connection with the property he got along the Bonuan beach, he said the area involved is not covered by Proclamation 98 and is therefore alienable and disposable. The case is pending at the regional prosecutor’s office since the city prosecutor’s office inhibited itself. A sirin? 

                                                 ####### 
 

A plantation of mahogany trees right at the diversion channel for the Agno River in the Alcala area is affecting the early completion of the Agno River flood control project under Phase II. Having joined the pro-performance team of PMS chief Secretary Hermogenes Esperon that made project monitoring and inspection last Thursday, we saw for our self how the young trees literally blocked the pathway of the diversion channel. 

We were told the owner (a barangay captain?) was demanding P7,000 per tree, way above the P1,500 to P2,000 price set by government. With the number of trees we saw there aside from grown mango trees nearby, we think government needs to cough up several millions of pesos (P80 million?) if the whims of the alleged owner prevail. 

Esperon, pro-performance team head and Cabinet monitoring officer for eastern Pangasinan, looked dismayed and irked as he discussed right on top of the diversion bridge the situation with public works officials, Agno river project director Fidel Ginez, Korean engineers, and Alcala Mayor Manuel Collado. He wanted the project to continue pending any case before the courts or agency. In the meantime, a dialogue was set today (Tuesday) between the involved parties.  

By the manner the former Armed Forces chief of staff is moving busily in the eastern corridor, he could be slowly eating away whatever advantages his perceived congressional opponents in the coming political exercise had established. So far, two other names are bruited as having a moist eye on the seat to be vacated by Congressman Conrado Estrella – Vice-Governor Marlyn Agabas and San Manuel Mayor Salvador Perez.

Column/ TWINKLE STAR : Boarding houses or pigpens

 By PLINKEE DELOS REYES

DESPITE  A(H1N1) – no, that’s not an algebraic equation but a deadly strain of the flu  – students are back in school. Classes opened on June 15 in colleges and universities all over Pangasinan and the country. The learners travel kilometers away from home to study in some cities here in Pangasinan.

Dagupan City is one of the popular cities in Pangasinan that has plenty of students coming from the different parts of Pangasinan, La Union, Baguio and Nueva Ecija. The cities in Pangasinan are known for their reasonable and comparably cheaper tuition fees and quality education.  Under an economic crisis, most students have ceased being choosy and adopt more practical attitudes on where to study. Ala na yang pa-Baguio-Baguio, pa-Mani-Manila.

As they stay in the cities and towns of their respective schools, of course, they rent  rooms to be able to save money and time than go traveling or commuting every day back to their hometowns. Apartments, dormitories and, the most popular for students, boarding houses, get filled up quickly in the cities. These become second homes away from home for the students.

Now, we ask, what if these houses for rents or rooms for rents become living traps instead of safe havens? This is the common problem of many boarders. In Manila, there are inspectors that check these rooms for rent for safety measures. They check for fire escapes, fire distinguishers, etc, in case of emergencies. These agents are protecting the students’ rights and safety. How about here?

* * * *

I never tried boarding, but I’ve seen “some’ boarding houses that really gave me a bad impression. The first time I stepped in the compound (outside the gate) of one, it looked nice and clean. But the moment I entered the compound and saw the whole boarding house, it made me feel uncomfortable. It’s not that I am “maarte’ but, everything’s just not right. There’s the damaged and dilapidated door of the “comfort” rooms, for one,  which are anything but assuring comfort to a female boarder who uses it.

But the one that really stunned me was when we were just seated inside the room, I sat like an Indian in the wide sofa and the moment that I stepped down on the floor again to put on my shoes I was surprised there was water inside the room. Flood! The boarder-friends’ reason was “high tide” that’s why water came in. I asked a boarder why he can stay in such a place and he shrugged and answered “mura eh.’, ignoring the horrible feeling I had experiencing the inconvenience. 

Obviously, for these students, they don’t mind those kinds of things just to study and fly high with laurels. I absolutely admire them for not making such inconvenience a hindrance to their studies but a challenge to continue life.  Poverty, how many pains and hurts are suffered in thy name!

* * * *

I can only ask boarding house owners to please give their boarders some good breaks (cleaner, secure comfort rooms, for one?) and not take advantage of their situations by treating them like pigs in a dirty pen. 

Column/ SALT OF THE EARTH: Mapandan

By RESTITUTO C. BASA

THE town of Mapandan started as a barrio of the municipality of Mangaldan. It is located at the extreme southeast section of its mother town.

The leaders, who spearheaded the move to create their village into a town independent from Mangaldan, were the landed gentry such as the Sorianos and the Aquinos. Their adviser was a priest, Fr. Jose Torres.

The original townsite was hilly where the pandan tree grew in abundance. They named the town Mapandan, after the pandan. Mapandan means abundance of pandan.

Because the townsite was hilly, it was not very productive. It was not suited for agricultural  pursuit.

Under the guidance of the parish priest, Fr. Jose Torres, the residents moved the townsite to at a flat terrain (the present townsite). They named the abandoned townsite Torres, in honor of their spiritual leader.

Other Pangasinan towns named their abandoned townsite Namagbagan, as in Anda, and Balaydaan as in Alaminos.

Mapandan was created as a town on May 11, 1902. The governing authority at that time, which had the power to create a town, was the Philippine Commission. The country was already under American rule, although there were still pockets of resistance in some parts of the country. Mapandan has a land area of 2,545 hectares, one of the smallest in the province. (The smallest town, in terms of land area, is Sto. Tomas which has 1,572.42 hectares).

It celebrates its town fiesta on May 1 when the coastal towns of Pangasinan are celebrating Pistay Dayat.

The main occupation of its residents is agriculture.

It is one of the Pangasinan towns that continue to produce cane sugar. To extract sugar from the cane, the farmers rely on the traditional carabao-drawn mill.

This process of milling cane sugar is resorted to for the purpose of producing the traditional delicacy patupat.

The town is drained by the Angalacan river.

During the Japanese occupation, two natives of Mapandan were active in the underground movement that resisted Japanese rule. They were the cousins Arturo and Nicanor Carino.

To evade Japanese arrest, the Carinos had their base at Barangay Banzal of Sta Barbara, which is at the border of Mapandan. The Carinos married into the Salon family of Bansal.

There is a government hospital in Mapandan and a private school offering secondary education (The Mapandan Academy, a branch of the University of Pangasinan).

Mapandan is bounded in the north by San Jacinto; in the east by Manaoag in the southeast by Urdaneta, in the southwest by Sta. Barbara and in the west by Mangaldan.

As of this writing, the leadership of the town is supplied by the Calimlim clan. The Calimlims are newcomers to Mapandan; they came from Dagupan.

In Dagupan, the Calimlims are of the ruling clans.

The native son of Mapandan who attained national prominence is General Jose Calimlim.

Ombudsman joins buried medicines probe

Ombudsman joins buried medicines probe

THE Ombudsman has waded into the investigation on the discovered cache of medicines buried in at least two places at the provincial Capitol compound in Lingayen town. 

Assistant Ombudsman Mark Jalandoni, in a letter to Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr., said that the graft probe body took cognizance of the case and was sending two field investigation officers to help in the probe which already also involves the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG). 

Earlier, Espino directed Executive Assistant Paterno Orduna to make initial investigation on the buried medicines said to be worth P1.7 million to P2 million based on current prices. The medicines were dug up at the engineering motorpool compound and at a vacant lot at the back of Sison Auditorium. 

Orduna, executive officer of the provincial disaster coordinating council, begged off to name the names of possible persons involved in the anomaly particularly the witnesses earlier interviewed to shed light on the issue during the Engkwentro sa Lenox forum Wednesday where he detailed thru a powerpoint presentation the events leading to the discovery of the buried items and the progress of the investigation. 

He said that he received an anonymous letter on March 10 last year. Another anonymous letter was received last June 1 in which a sketch was provided as to the location of the items at the engineering compound. The area was excavated and indeed the items were dumped there. 

Among those interviewed was a “ranking official” of the provincial health office who denied having any hand in the dumping of the medicines and other medical supplies at the motorpool area but admitted participation in the disposal of expired items at the Sison Auditorium, Orduna said. But the other witnesses, he said, pointed to the official as a leading figure in both instances. 

Initial investigation showed that the Commission on Audit had indeed inspected on February 14, 2005 expired medicines as requested by then provincial health officer Edwin Murillo. Orduna noted however that the requested items for disposal from the COA was very small compared to the bulk of medicines dumped in the two areas.  

The witnesses, he said, claimed that a six-by-six truck and an owner jeep were used in hauling the items. The truck made three trips, he said quoting them. 

He said the probe would determine who gave the order to dispose of the medicines. 

In the Engwentro forum a week earlier, former Gov. Victor E. Agbayani, now second district congressman, dismissed as bloated the estimated worth and quantity of the medicines and the other medical supplies. He said that medicines expiring is usual in hospitals, adding that the medicines might had been donated and not purchased by the provincial government because since 2000, he pointed out, his administration already implemented the pooled procurement system where medicines were bought in bulk and delivered direct to the 14 government hospitals. 

He asked for a fair and objective investigation to establish facts so as not to “make mountains out of a molehill.” 

But Orduna maintained that he was pursuing the probe without any politics in mind and that he was only after the truth. He gave no deadline for the investigation noting the needed effort in tracing back records. 

He at the same time welcomed suggestions for an independent fact-finding body to do the job. (DOS/PIA) 
 
 
 

Fugitive American lawyer arrested in Pangasinan

Fugitive American

lawyer arrested

STA. BARBARA – - A fugitive American lawyer who fled to the Philippines two years ago after he ran afoul the law in his homeland was arrested by the police in Sta. Barbara town on Tuesday morning.

Arrested initially for violation of Philippine Immigration laws in Barangay Cablong, in a house where he and his fiancée was believed living in, was Joseph Aldan Arriola, who was indicated for unbailable offenses in the United States of America.

Senior Superintendent Percival Barba, Pangasinan Police Director, after being informed of Arriola’s presence in Pangasinan, formed tracker teams composed of police personnel under Supt. Harris Fama and Supt. Eric Noble, chief of police of Sta. Barbara.

The duo coordinated and planned the arrest of Arriola after meeting with Federal Bureau of Investigation operatives from the US Department of Justice (USDOJ) at 6 p.m. on Monday. .

At 10 p.m. on the same day, surveillance operations were conducted by a team led by SPO4 Jaime Jimenez upon receipt of a tip from the Barangay Intelligence Network that Arriola’s fiancée Jovie Cerveza was in Barangay Botao, five kilometers away from Cablong.

At 10 a.m. on Tuesday, a police team led by Noble went to the house and pretended to look for Cerveza to

verify information pertinent to Cerveza’s application for a U.S. visa.

A man who turned out later to be Arriola was caught peeping through the window and appeared curious about the visa application validation.

A man who cannot speak the Pangasinan dialect and only spoke in English, came out and even welcomed Noble inside the house. After more than five minutes of exchanging pleasantries with Arriola, Noble gave the signal for Bureau of Immigration personnel to arrest Arriola.

Although surprised by the turn of events, Arriola did not resist and peacefully went with the arresting team. After the regular booking procedures at the local police station, Arriola was immediately taken by BI personnel.

It was found out that on April 27, 2009, Arriola submitted documentation pertinent to his intention to marry Cerveza.

It was learned that the U.S government revoked passport number 120155410 and other passports issued under Arriola being the subject of a warrant of arrest for violation of Title 18, United States Code Sections 371, 1343, 1956(h), 1957, 2 and 981 (a) (1) (C) (Conspiracy wire fraud (1 count), wire fraud (2 counts), money laundering conspiracy (3 counts), money laundering (counts 4 & 5), aiding and abetting, forfeiture.

The warrant for his arrest was issued by Judge Alex Manzon, chief judge of the United States District Court in the Northern Marianas Islands, a U.S. territory.

The warrant of arrest commanded the United States Marshal and any authorized U.S. officer to bring to the court the accused person. (PNA)

Sitio Russia squatters’ resistance subdued

By Leonardo V. Micua

A CITY official here explained that only relocation, not demolition, was done on Monday and on Tuesday in sitio Russia, Bonuan Binloc here.

Yet before this was done, according to City Legal Officer George Mejia, policemen and squatters pushed each other, hurting at least five or six persons in the process.

Sitio Russia is the pinpointed site for the about-to-be built U.S. 2 million Seafood Processing Plant, to be financed by a grant from the Korean government, whose construction is due to start July 1.

Mejia said that what was done was only to help at least 12 families who volunteered to be relocated to the Gawad Kalinga-Bangusville II for fear of being harmed by neighbors still resisting relocation. .

Violence ensued when a team from the city government, composed of personnel from the City Engineering Office and the Waste Management Division (WMD) that went to help their families relocate their belongings, was confronted by residents of sitio Russia who refuse to be relocated.

This prompted the police, who were accompanying the team, to engage the squatters whose blockade was removed and the resistance of the squatters was finally subdued, enabling the team from the city government to finally enter the sitio.

Thus, the city government succeeded in relocating the 14 families on Monday.

Village chief Ronaldo Torio earlier said many squatters are willing to be relocated but are afraid to come out in the open for fear of harassment those who are still resisting.

“As far as we are concerned, there is no more problem there (with the other squatters) since our men are already at the site,” Mejia said.

At the same time, Mejia said that there is no way the squatters will win in the civil case filed by the Sitio Russia neighborhood Association against the city government.

The case seeks to declare the nullity of contract signed by the city government and the Korean government but there was no contract that was really signed, Mejia said.

Still under preliminary hearing, the case is now meaningless as the squatters and their lawyer cannot produce the contract which they alleged, Mejia added.

“If they insist that there is a contract, it is up for them to prove this in court. They are asking us to produce the contract but it is incumbent for them as plaintiff to produce the same,” Mejia said.

“Definitely, the case is going nowhere,” Mejia said, because the plaintiffs were seeking injunction from the court to stop the execution of the contract, when there is really no such thing, he added.

That is why the relocation for initial 12 families from Sitio Russia was consummated because there was no injunction issued by the court whatsoever.

He said in a meeting called by City Engineer Virginia Rosario, attended by representatives of the Korean International Cooperation agency and the contractor, it was learned that the project with be finished after 10 months.

Representatives of KOICA, however, believed that if work finally begins on July 1, the project would be completed in just four months.

This is because all the materials needed in the contraction of the project, including, the equipment, are pre-fabricated and will come all the way from Korea.

He said that before the construction will finally begin, a perimeter fence around the site will be built. (PNA)

July start for seafood processing plant certain

AN official of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has confirmed that the construction of the Dagupan City Seafood Processing Plant is really due to start on July 1.

Westly Rosario, chief of the BFAR�s National Integrated Fisheries Technology Development Center (NIFTDC), said if the start of the construction of the project would be postponed to a latter date, the project might not be finished in December.

The time frame was agreed upon during a meeting here and in Manila by Dagupan City officials, representatives of the Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and himself.

The project would be constructed by a Korean contractor who won the bidding of the project in Seoul with the aid of a local contractor.

�If we delay the start of the construction, there is fear the target date of completion of the project might not be met,� Rosario said.

The groundbreaking rite for the proposed project was attended by Korean Ambassador Choi Joong Keung, along with Rep. Jose de Venecia Jr. of the Fourth District of Pangasinan last month.

Rosario said with December as the deadline for the project, the Koreans expressed their willingness to work even 24 hours a day just to finish the project on schedule.

This explained why a team from the city government, accompanied by policemen, went to Sitio Russia in Bonuan Binloc on Monday as the date for the start of the construction of the project now nears.

Rosario said there were 12 of the 65 squatter families in the sitio who have so far volunteered to be relocated to the Gawad Kalinga-Bangusville II as of Monday.

Fifty-three other families are set to be relocated from the area.

The city government, in order to entice squatters in Russia to move out, built Gawad Kalinga-Bangusville II in Sitio Korea, Bonuan Binloc comprised of 65 row houses.

Those who will voluntarily move to the relocation site would be given a house and lot for free. The village was provided with amenities, like electricity and running potable water.

The city government had given all the demands of the squatters of sitio Russia and yet some of them still refuse to move out, raising speculations they were being brainwashed by big squatters of public land not far from their village. (PNA)

2 million bangus fry for West Pangasinan

SOME two million bangus fry are being made available by the National Integrated Fisheries Techology Development Center (NIFTDC) for bangus raisers in western Pangasinan adversely affected by typhoon “Emong” in May this year.

NIFTDC chief Westly Rosario said this is on top of the 12 million fry promised earlier by Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap when he visited Bolinao just after typhoon “Emong”, to be sourced out from different bangus hatcheries throughout the country.

Rosario said Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) National Director Malcolm Sarmiento approved the release of two million fry to begiven immediately to the affected fish pond, pen and cage owners in western Pangasinan.

The two million fry were produced by the NIFTDC national bangus hatcheries in Bonuan Binloc, Dagupan City.

During typhoon “Emong” millions of pesos worth of bangus swam out to the sea when the howler destroyed fish pens and cages, many of them located along the Caquipotan Channel between Bolinao and Anda towns.

The typhoon also exacted heavy toll on bangus in Bani, Agno. Bolinao and Sual.
Unless these are replenished, there will soon be acute shortage of bangus in the public market in Metro Manila in the next few months.

The towns of Bolinao and Anda are supplying the needs for bangus of Metro Manila daily.

Rosario said the bangus fry will be made available to fish pond, pen and cage operators in western Pangasinan for free.

Bangus is still available in Pangasinan because Binmaley, Dagupan as well as Lingayen and San Fabian were spared by typhoon “Emong”.

Army ousts Honduras president in vote dispute

This should send shivers down Gloria Arroyo’s spine.

by Mica Rosenberg Mica Rosenberg

Tegucigalpa (Reuters) – The Honduran army ousted President Manuel Zelaya and threw him out of the country on Sunday in Central America’s first military coup since the Cold War, after he upset the army by trying to win re-election.

U.S. President Barack Obama expressed deep concern after troops came for Zelaya, an ally of leftist Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, at dawn and took him away from his residence.

A military plane flew Zelaya to Costa Rica and CNN’s Spanish-language channel said he had asked for asylum there.

Police fired tear gas at pro-government protesters in the capital, Honduran radio said, and two fighter jets screamed through the sky over the capital.

The impoverished Central American country had been politically stable since the end of military rule in the early 1980s, but Zelaya’s push to change the constitution to allow him another term has split the country’s institutions.

Zelaya fired military chief Gen. Romeo Vasquez last week for refusing to help him run an unofficial referendum on Sunday on extending the four-year term limit on Honduran presidents.

Zelaya told Venezuela-based Telesur television station that he was “kidnapped” by soldiers and called on Hondurans to peacefully resist the coup.

Pro-Zelaya demonstrators gathered at the presidential palace, which was surrounded by soldiers.

“Here, the people are angry,” said protester Boris Vanyas.

The EU condemned the coup and Obama called for calm.

Honduras was a staunch U.S. ally in the 1980s when Washington helped Central American governments fight left-wing guerrillas.

“Any existing tensions and disputes must be resolved peacefully through dialogue free from any outside interference,” Obama said.

It was the first successful military ouster of a president in Central America since the Cold War era.

Honduras’s Supreme Court last week came out against Zelaya and ordered him to reinstate fired military chief Vasquez.

The global economic crisis has curbed growth in Honduras, which lives off coffee and textile exports and remittances from Honduran workers abroad. Recent opinion polls indicate public support for Zelaya has fallen as low as 30 percent.

Honduras, home to around 7 million people, is a major drug trafficking transit point.

It is also a big coffee producer but there was no immediate sign the unrest would affect production.

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Writing songs with my friend Michael

This, so far, is the best tribute I’ve read about Michael Jackson. It appeared in The Huffington Post.

by Gotham Chopra

When I was in my second year of college living on campus (at Columbia in NYC) with 4 suite mates, every time the phone rang, there was a race to answer it. Everyone wanted to be the guy to hear the “hello” on the other side just in case it was my friend Michael Jackson calling.

Most of those days, Michael was holed up on top of the Four Seasons, roughly 60 blocks away from where I lived on the Upper West Side of Manhattan just near Harlem. I’d happily drift downtown, gain clearance from security downstairs who knew I was allowed free access to Michael’s suite, take the elevator all the way up and start ordering room service and watch movies on Mike’s tab.

Eventually, Michael and I would get down to work. He was working on a new album and asked me to help him write lyrics for songs. It was an informal relationship - I’d wander downtown with a backpack full of dictionaries, and thesauri, and rhyming books. Michael would hum songs and talk about what he wanted to say with the song and we’d try and marry our skillsets and come up with something. We came up with great stuff. Michael swore me to secrecy those days. I happily complied.

After we were done with those sessions - they’d usually go until about 2 AM or so - Michael would wander into the bathroom and come out with a sack he’d pulled out from under the toilet. In it, he kept several thousands of dollars. He’d ask me how much I wanted. I just sort of shrugged and he’d hand me a couple of thousand dollars. Soon, I’d be packing my dictionaries and thesauri and rhyming books in my backpack, calling my friends and telling them to meet me downtown. Within an hour, we’d be at Flashdancers “making it rain.”

Michael was always envious when I told him about my adventures with my friends. More than a few times, he’d get dressed up - dawning some sort of quasi-disguise - preparing to go with me, only to back down at the last minute or be held back by his security who would shake their heads and plainly say no to his misguided ambitions. Instead, he’d pour himself a tall glass of orange juice and settle in for the night to watch an old movie on TV, telling me to spend a few extra bucks for him. I happily complied.

My friendship with Michael was very special to me, and I like to think it was the same for him. Over the last few years, it always felt awkward to explain the origins of our friendship - that I met him initially when I was fifteen-years-old and that we instantly hit it off. I’d spend days at his Neverland Ranch, my sister, cousins, or other friends joining us in fantastical stretches filled with candy, arcade rides, late night movies and the absolute best chocolate chip cookies of all times. Likewise he’d visit our house in Massachusetts (he was very close to my father as well) where he’d sleep in the guest room. My mom got a great kick out of the fact that every morning Michael stayed, he’d try to make the bed (very badly) and offer to cook breakfast (very badly). Then when I was about 17, Michael invited me on the road with him - he was heading out to Europe on the biggest rock concert at the time (Dangerous tour) and wanted company. I begged and pleaded with my parents to let me go and they eventually said yes. Not a bad way to spend your summer vacation between junior and senior year of High School.

Over the years, as Michael faced his scandals, I often reflected on my own experiences with him as a teenager. People would ask me if I had endured anything strange or awkward with him. I’d answer truthfully that in all of my years with him, in every single moment, Michael was nothing but dignified and appropriate, never once doing anything that would be deemed scandalous with me. It was really that simple.

Check that. Back to those college days. One night he did call me in a panic. He had just gotten married to Lisa Marie Presley and needed advice - sex advice. He was incredibly nervous and said that he wanted to make sure that Lisa was impressed with his “moves.” He asked me if I had any advice. I answered with one word: “foreplay.”

“Really?” He answered. “Girls really like that?”

Over the last few years, Michael’s and my relationship evolved and matured greatly too. We both became fathers and that was the centerpiece of our most recent conversations the last few months. Returning the favor from my days as his “lyrical advisor,” he’s the one who monikered my half-Indian, half-Chinese son “The Chindian” which little Krishu Chen Xing Hua Chopra will now forever go by. We’d talk about how great it would be for our kids to grow up together, become as good friends as us, and set the world on fire. Michael admired the fact that I was able to find a wife, keep a wife, and gain her trust. I’d joke it was all about the foreplay! When his daughter Paris befell an accident a few years ago, he called my wife Candice (a physician) pleading for us to come to his house to check her out.

We did - Paris had fallen from a tree and cut herself deeply beneath the eye. Michael was devastated and confessed to me that he felt like the world’s worst father. I calmed him as Candice helped Paris get up from the bed where she lay so we could take her to the Emergency room to get some simple stitches. When I advised Michael of the plan, he pulled me into the bathroom, pulled a sack filled with thousands of dollars from beneath the toilet and asked me how much I needed for the Emergency room.

I shook my head: “this one’s on me.”

RIP in peace my friend.

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Good news, sad news

Even as we applauded this year’s awardees of the Jaime V. Ongpin Excellence in Journalism , we were dismayed to hear that this may be the last awards for investigative and explanatory reports.

But we are glad to know that the Canadian government will continue with its Marshall McLuhan fellowship that is usually given to the top prize winner.

Founded in memory of Canadian media guru, Marshall Mc Luhan (“The medium is the message” and “The global village”) the fellowship sends the journalist on a two-week speaking tour of Canada and arranges speaking engagements in the Philippines.

We have our own criticisms of the screening by CMFR of finalists the past years (this may sound ungrateful being one of the awardees in1998) but there is no dispute that it is the most prestigious award in the Philippine journalism.

Melinda Q. de Jesus, executive director of the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility, the administrative and technical secretariat of the JVOAEJ, said during the awarding ceremonies last Thursday that they will re-evaluate the JVOAEJ program that has seen a number of innovations since its start in 1990.

De Jesus mentioned problems in funding which organizations supported foreign institutions face nowadays due to the global financial crisis. We imagine that competition for grants from the usual sources of in the United States and Europe must have become very stiff.

But what De Jesus underscored was the lack of growth in field of investigative reporting. She said there is a wide gap in the quality of investigative reports between the few excellent pieces and the rest of articles that have seen print in recent years,

Vergel Santos, CMFR trustee, said the few investigative pieces worthy of awards are done by the same people that have been winning the competition every year. He said the awards may have inspired many journalists but since their work don’t make the grade with JVOAEJ, they stop aspiring for it.

To close the gap, Santos said, “This would require skills training.”

Established in 1990 in order of the businessman who believed in the power of the press to advance good governance and promote democracy, the JVOAEJ aims to encourage the practice of in-depth reporting and the values of integrity and journalism ethics. Initially the awards were limited to investigative reports that exposes truths that the public should know. Later,the awards included explanatory reports “to encourage journalists to explain a phenomenon, a program or process, clarifying issues and developments reflected in the news.”

“These two kinds of reporting help create an informed without which there can be no real democracy,” CMFR said.

Since 2008, the JVOAEJ has applied a thematic focus in selection, narrowing the evaluation to articles on the most urgent and most important issues of the year: governance and corruption, human rights, and the environment. This year, the judges added a new themes: financial and economic crisis.

The winners were VERA Files’ “Quedancor swine program another fertilizer scam” by Diosa Labiste, Luz Rimban and Yvonne Chua and “Aid inflow sparks scandals for GMA, debt woes for RP” by Roel Landingin of the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism.

Each received a plaque of distinction and a cash prize of P70,000. The Mc Luhan fellowship was awarded to Labiste, the first community journalist (Iloilo) , to win it.

Three articles won a plaque of merit and a cash prize of P25,000: A policy of betrayal by Miriam Grace Go of abs-cbnNEWS.com/Newsbreak; Squatters and the City by Cherry Ann T. Lim and Rene H. Martel of Sun.Star Cebu; and “Less than 10 people in plot, 5 core, 5 others ‘in the know’ by Fe Zamora of the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

The finalists , who won for the authors a plaque and a cash prize of P10,000 were “Political Killings not official but an unintended policy” by Nikko Dizon, Jocelyn R. Uy and Leila B. Salaverria of the Philippine Daily Inquirer;US subprime crisis:why we should worry by Des Ferriols by The Philippine Star; and “The many faces of bribery by Aries Rufo of abs-cbnNEWS.com/Newsbreak.

The JVOAEJ also gave out two plaques of special mention to the Philippine Daily Inquirer for “The NBN-ZTE controversy report” and Newsbreak for “The big dig.”

Despite De Jesus’ notice, we still fervently hope the Jaime V. Ongpin’s tradition of excellence in journalism will continue next year and the following years.

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Sana

Sa Martes, magkakaroon ng martsang protesta kontra Con-Ass sa Manila.

Sa halip na matagalang rally sa isang lugar, martsa naman ang gagawin ng mga lumalaban sa balak ni Arroyo na pagpalawig ng kanyang panatili sa kapangyarihan sa pamamagitan ng illegal na Constituent Assembly.

Ang martsa ay manggagaling sa dalawang parte ng Metro Manila alas-kuatro ng hapon. Mayroong magsisimula sa Quezon City welcome Rotonda and meron din na manggagaling sa Vito Cruz, Manila. Magkikita-kita sa Liwasang Bonifacio mga alas-sais ng hapon. Magkakaroon ng maigsing konsyerto ng mga makabayang awitin.

Marami ang nalulungkot na hindi na lumalabas ang mga tao para mag-rally. Hanggang Facebook na lang kung saan sobra 100,000 na ang pumirma sa laban sa Con-Ass.

Sa Facebook kasi, madali lang. Click mo lang ang “Join cause”, naipakita mo na ang iyong damdamin.
Ibig sabihin noon sa puso at sa isip, alam mong hindi tama ang ginagawa ni Arroyo. Maganda naman yun dahil hindi mo naman i-click ang “Join cause” kung hindi ka naiinis sa pambabastos ni Arroyo.

Ang mga nakaka-pag Facebook ay masasabi nating medyo nakaka-angat sa buhay dahil kailangan mo computer at internet bago ka makakapag-Facebook. ‘Yan ang medyo nakakalungkot dahil ibig sabihin noon, ang mga pumirma sa “No to Con-ass” ay hindi pinu-problema ang pamasahe papuntang rally.

Kaya bakit sa rally ay swerte na kung may 20,000? Karamihan pa doon ay mga mahihirap na nakikisakay lang sa mga libreng sasakyan na nire-renta ng mga rally organizers para naman hindi na nila gagastusin ang kanilang pambili ng pagkain sa pamasahe.

Iinis tayo kay Arroyo ngunit parang hindi pa rin natin makunekta ang hirap ng buhay natin ngayon sa ginagawa ni Arroyo na pang-aabuso ng kapangyarihan ng presidente at pambabastos sa Constitution.

Katulad na lamang nitong panay na panay na paglalamyerda ni Arroyo kasama ang pamilya at mga Palaka niya sa kongreso sa iba’t-ibang parte ng mundo.

Hindi yata nakukunekta marami sa atin na halos isang bilyon piso na nagastos ni Arroyo sa kanyang mga biyahe sa ibang bansa ay nakakapag patayo sana ng mga paaralan at nakapag-empleyado sana ng mga teachers na dapat hindi na pumunta sa Hongkong, Singapore and Middle east para maging katulong.

Sana nakapagpatayo ng mas maraming government hospitals at nabigyan sana ng mas malaking pera ang Philippine General Hospital para hindi na kailangan pumunta sa ibang bansa ang ating mga nurses at doktor.

Hanggang “sana” na lang tayo habang si Arroyo ang nasa kapangyarihan.