April 2009 – Page 2 – ellen tordesillas

Yano being pushed out?

Published by Ellen on April 23, 2009

Related stories in Malaya:

Yano, Luna nominated for ambassadorial posts

Yesterday, text messages went around that the turnover rites of outgoing AFP Chief Alexander Yano to incoming AFP Victor Ibrado will be on May 1, 44 days earlier than his scheduled retirement of June 13.

We also got information that Yano’s vice chief of staff, Lt. Gen. Cardozo Luna, who will retiring in September this year, will also be retiring on May 1.

It is not unusual for the turnover rites for the AFP chief to be held a few days before the end of term of outgoing chief but one-and-a-half months early? That’s tantamount to shortening a military officer’s term of service. In Gloria Arroyo’s senseless revolving door policy, that’s good for one full term of an AFP chief.

A night of music for street children

Published by Ellen on April 23, 2009

A free concert for the benefit of street children will be held on April 26, 7:00 PM at the University of the Philippines Diliman Film Center. This musical celebration is organized by the non-stock, non-profit, christian organization Onesimo Foundation.

Swiss Filipino artist Ernie Opiasa will be joined by Armina Riethmüller, the Windsong Band, and the children of Onesimo Foundation in the concert “Reaching Out.”

Onesimo operates ten shelters (therapeutic communities) and drop-in centers in Metro Manila slum areas: at Quezon City’s Payatas, Frisco, Philcoa (2), Mendez, and F.Carlos; Malabon’s Letre and Manila’s Tondo and Quiapo (2). Onesimo has been registered since 1996 as a non-profit organization. It benefits from tax exemption and is licensed as a social institute by the Department of Social Welfare (DSWD).

Daniel Smith acquitted

Published by Ellen on April 23, 2009

‘Romantic episode,’ not rape, says CA

by Tetch Torres, Dona Pazzibugan
Philippine Daily Inquirer

The Court of Appeals has acquitted an American marine of raping a Filipina, saying the soldier and his accuser shared a “spontaneous, unplanned romantic episode.”

In a 71-page decision, the appellate court said Lance Corporal Daniel Smith and the victim, identified in court only as Nicole, were both intoxicated after a night out and were “carried away by their passions.”

The court also said Nicole flirted with Smith and led him on with “reckless abandon” and that there was “no evidence” that she was forced into sex.

Gusto ni Arroyo proteksyun

Published by Ellen on April 22, 2009

Mukhang nararamdaman ng mga adviser ni Arroyo na mahirap nilang ipilit ang Charter Change para manatili si Arroyo sa kapangyarihan, sabi ng isang kakilala namin sa Malacañang.

Kaya ngayon daw, ang kanilang strategy ay hindi para mapalawig pa ang kanyang kapit sa Malacañang kungdi kung paano siya maprutektahan kapag hindi na siya presidente.

Ang gusto lang daw niya ngayon ay magkaroon ng immunity from suits o hindi siya sasampahan ng kaso kapag hindi na siya presidente.

Prepare for ‘Gloria Forever’

Published by Ellen on April 21, 2009

If the real purpose in the charter change resolutions pending in the Malacañang -controlled House of Representatives is not to prolong the hold on power of Gloria Arroyo, why are her minions desperately pushing for charter change less than a year away from the 2010 elections when they know very well that two out of three Filipinos do not want charter change now?

No amount of public assurance by House Speaker Prospero Nograles and Camarines Sur Luis Villafuerte, authors of separate resolutions calling for amendments to the Constitution, will make the people believe that all these frantic moves have nothing to do with making sure that Arroyo continues to be in power, in whatever form or position, so that they also can continue enjoying the protection and privileges of being aligned with with her.

Last Monday, Nograles pushed for the approval of his House Bill 737 which seeks to amend the economic provisions which limits foreign ownership of corporations involved in exploration, development, and utilization of natural resources to 40 per cent.

Ang panganib sa mga Pilipino seamen

Published by Ellen on April 20, 2009

Related article in Malaya: Ridiculous, seafarers’ group says of Aden Gulf ban

Tuwing may balitang may naha-hijack na namang barko ang mga pirata sa Somalia, ako ay kinakabahan dahil may mga kamag-anak ako sa probinsya na nasa barko.

Mahirap, kasi hindi naman palagi nilalabas ang pangalan. Sa awa naman ng Diyos, safe naman ang mga kamag-anak at kakilala ko ngunit ipinagdadasal ko rin ang mga humigit-kumulang 300 na Filipino seaman na nasa kamay ng mga pirata sa Somalia ngayon.

Mahirap sundan kung ilan na ang mga Filipino hostages ng mga pirata dahil pakawalan ang 20 ngayon, kukuha na naman sila ng panibagong barko sunod na araw. Sa dami ba naman ng Filipino na seaman, hindi maa-aring walang Pilipino na kasama.

Park-phone-for-a-fee under a Balete tree

Published by Ellen on April 19, 2009

(I have written on this subject before in my column in Abante. So this is not new to many of the regular bloggers here. This article appeared in Malaya today.)

ON the fringes of Roxas boulevard, where many shady deals are made, there’s a thriving business that operates primarily on trust.

In front of the US Embassy, under the shade of an old Balete tree, Linda Dragon will hold electronic devices for anyone going inside the embassy building for P150. No written guarantee except trust.

Ted Failon’s multiple tragedy

Published by Ellen on April 19, 2009

I pray that nobody, especially lesser mortals like me, will go through the multiple tragedy that happened to Ted Failon, one of the country’s top broadcasters.

It was tragic enough that a suicide has happened to the Failon family. It was double tragedy that a number of them became suspects and worse, they became victims of police arrogance and cruelty.

Many who witnessed the policemen’s rough treatment of Max Arteche and Pamela Arteche-Trincheta, siblings of Trina, Ted’s wife, who passed away Thursday, as well as that of their driver and household help lament that if that can happen in a case involving a broadcast celebrity under the glaring lights of live TV, how much more to ordinary citizens.

My blog’s new look

Published by Ellen on April 19, 2009

How do you like this blog’s new look? The design is called “Emerald Stretch”. It has three columns, instead of two of the old layout.…

Shocked

Published by Ellen on April 18, 2009

Pinapahalagaan ko ang serbisyo ng mga pulis sa ating bayan. At alam kong maraming maayos na mga pulis kahit na alam ko din na marami ang hindi matino, na hindi naman pambihira sa lahat na organisasyon.

Alam ko rin na ang kasalukuyang liderato ng Philippine National Police sa ilalim ni PNP Chief Jesus Verzosa, ay sumisikap na maiba ang hindi magandang paningin ng publiko sa mga pulis. Nagustuhan ko ang programa ni dating PNP Chief Avelino Razon na “Mamang Pulis” na naglalapit ng pulis sa mamamayan.

Ngunit ang pinaggagawa g Quezon City Police kay Ted Failon ng ABS-CBN, lalo na sa kanyang mga kamag-anak ng kanyang yumaong asawa si Trina at at kanilang mga kasambahay, ay talagang shocking. Mabuti lang nandoon ang crew ng ABS-CBN at nakita ng bung Pilipinas ang ilegal at brutal na pag-arestado sa kanila.

Month: April 2009