From his third level position, VERA Files photographer Mario Ignacio captured the atmosphere at yesterday’s proclamation of Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III and Jejomar Binay as winners for president and vice-president respectively of the May 10, 2010 election.
For more of Mario’s photos, click here (VERA Files)
Malaya’s account:
Aquino: ‘Reconciliation but not at sacrifice of justice’
by Wendell Vigilia and Peter Tabingo
President-elect Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino is open to extending the hand of reconciliation to all his political opponents – including President Arroyo – but this does not mean that he will bend backwards to bail them out of their crimes, if any, against the Filipino people.
“My mother proposed reconciliation with justice. I have had a lot of promises in the campaign especially the idea of change. It cannot be business as usual,” he told a press conference.
Aquino said he would create a special commission to investigate the excesses of the Arroyo government with the end in view of prosecuting those who have committed graft and corruption.
Aquino said he would strive to do his best to finally put a closure to the issues against the Arroyo administration.
“If we are going to just replace people like in a game of musical chairs, I think I would have disappointed everybody who made this victory possible. Therefore there has to be closure on so many issues,” he said.
Aquino said he will do his best to bring about justice because he ran on a platform of change and good governance.
“We will really strive for it. We have been striving for it even before we decided to run. As president, we will be in a position to effect the necessary changes. With the backing of the people I don’t think anything is impossible,” he said.
Aquino said he would meet with Arroyo in the next few days for a dialogue on various issues, especially transition of power.
He also said newly elected Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos also congratulated him in a text message on Tuesday.
Aquino said he told Imee he is ready to work with the Marcoses for the common good.
“So long as we are working for the betterment of the people, I don’t see where we should be engaging in conflict that does not produce tangible positive results for the people. In that connection Governor-elect Imee Marcos texted me yesterday and I did tell her they can count on me to do right by her and especially by her constituents so long as it redounds to the benefit of the people,’ he said.
Aquino also welcomed former President Joseph Estrada for recognizing his victory and for offering to help in his personal capacity. He said he is open to tapping talents who belong to his political opponents if they will be able to help effect the change he envisions.
“At the end of the day I think I am after the benefits and uplift of the conditions of the majority of the people,” he said.
“Pinasasalamatan ko si Presidente Estrada na handa siyang makipagtulungan at pinapasalamatan ko siya. Doon sa iba pang nag-concede at nag-alok ng tulong, malamang ita-tap natin ang kanilang experience at kakayahan tungo sa pagmamadali ng solusyon na kailangan ng sambayanan,” Aquino added.
‘BRUISING’
The President-elect said reconciliation with his rivals in the presidential race should be done because of the “bruising” and “below-the-belt” nature of the campaign.
Aquino slammed “some people who will not want us to succeed.”
He said some members of the Arroyo administration, particularly Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzales, have vowed to be his critics.
“I would have wanted to say ‘honorable’ secretary (but he) has already promised to become a critic,” he said in jest.
Aquino also assailed some militant groups for attacking him when he has yet to assume the presidency.
“There are those quarters who are saying they are itching to mount a rally against me when I have not assumed the position. When I have not done any action they can criticize they already want to criticize,” he said.
Aquino said he welcomes “criticisms especially if it is constructive criticism because I am humble enough to admit I do not possess perfect knowledge all the time.”
“But at the end of the day we really are focused on doing the best we can for the majority of the people. And if the people are half-open and half-reasonable they will help us breed success, success will breed upon success. Those who refuse to join us will be shown for what they are, self-centered and selfish, and they will be left by the wayside,” he said.
On where he plans to reside, Aquino said, “definitely” not at the Malacañang Palace.
“Tingnan ko ang possibilities tapos after that may recommendations, desisyunan ko,” he said.
Asked on whether he has decided on where he will take his oath and before who, he said: “We are leaning towards Quezon City at the present time. We want to examine the costing and expenses and the Memorial Circle does not have all the facilities necessary for it. Kung kanino, I think it will be with Associate Justice Conchita Carpio-Morales.”
TOP PRIORITIES
Even as he stressed that there is no miracle cure-all to the ailments plaguing the economy, Aquino said addressing unemployment and the runaway budget deficit he is inheriting from the Arroyo administration are his top priorities.
Among the first positions in his Cabinet to be filled is that of Secretary of Finance whose department will be saddled with the problem of plugging gaping holes in revenue collection.
However, he declined to name who he is considering for the position, saying he prefers to unveil his whole official family in one sitting.
The President-elect noted that the outgoing government is predicting a P400 billion budget deficit which he acknowledged as the first “crisis” facing his administration.
Despite this, Aquino underscored the importance of injecting economic assistance to the poorest families through the continuation of cash dole-outs but first removing the ‘political dimension’ from system.
In addition, he said that his economic team will work for a 100 percent PhilHealth coverage, expanding from the current 38 percent.
NEW TAXES
But in an apparent turnaround from his original stand not to impose new taxes, Aquino said enacting tax measures will simply be a last resort.
“(New) taxes will be a last step if we have done everything and the deficit is still unmanageable. But again I firmly believe the analogy of the pail full of holes, and new taxes are more water added to it does not add to the water. You have to plug the leaks first before you even think of imposing new hardships,” he said.
However, he clarified that he is against any tax that will hurt the poor.
“Philosophically, I am against regressive taxes like a tax on text for instance, which affects those who belong to the lower classes rather than those with the wherewithal to pay more taxes,” he added.
On the question of attracting more investments, he said the focus will be on improving infrastructure, lowering the cost of electricity, removing red tape and ensuring political stability.
“There is a lot of interest indicated by the various ambassadors we have met in investing in the Philippines, they want to see the details how we will address these problems often cited. For a salesman’s job, taking away the last vestiges of concern for somebody who already wants to buy your product is an ideal situation. So we believe that a clear plan that addresses all these concerns, that gives a timetable of what they can expect and when, will open the floodgates to their investments in the country,” he said. – With Peter Tabingo
Time to heal and reconcile, wish ni Arroyo! Pero para sa amin, heal the filipino people first who suffered under Arroyo.
Huwag lang bibitaw si Noynoy sa sinabing tatapusin ang lahat ng usapin sa mga katiwalian under Arroyo. Huwag tantanan ang mga Arroyo.
So far so good ang mga naririnig kay Noynoy.
to noynoy aquino: hail to the chief!
to gloria arroyo: to hell with the thief!
salamat naman at natapos na ang pamamayagpag ng pekeng pangulo na si GMA, natapos narin ang mga kayabangan ng mga alipores niya na ang akala ay wala na silang katapusan, they had never learned the history, kung si hitler, si saddam at iba pa ay nagwakas, sila pa kaya, ngayon parang mga ma among tupa sila, gaya ni ermita at anak niya, si raul(o) gon(ggong)les at anak niya, iyong mag amang defensor lalu na si mike na so young but corrupt,na pawang nilampaso nung election, sina dilg puno at sana lahat sila na tumangkilik sa corrruption at media and activist killings under GMA`s regime ay maparusahan..
huwag po tayong mag paka siguro at ating bantayan si GMA at mga alipores niya, siguradong me mga plano iyan para maggulo…let us all vigilant and watch this evil people like GMA..!!!
Ocayvalle, agree.
Vigilance still needed. Can’t leave the next President to do it all by himself. He’ll find it very difficult without Citizen Power.
And one alipores to be put on the watchlist of Citizen Power is Norberto. He seems to be running out of bananas.
Aware yata si Aquino na may binabalak si Norberto Gonzales. May interview sya na tukoy nya si Gonzales na mag criticize sa kanya.
If the midnight appointment is not enough, may bagong pakulo na naman si Leandro Mendoza para sa mga political appointees na ambassadors:
http://globalnation.inquirer.net/news/breakingnews/view/20100610-274873/Palace-order-creates-confusion-in-embassies
Pagtutulungan ang susi upang sumulong ang bayan. Kalimutan ang mga alitan, ang iringan, ang siraan subalit huwag hayaang makaalpas at makatakas ang mga kriminal na kawatan sa salang dapat nilang harapin at pagbayaran.
Noynoy, ang pangulo, mabuhay ka!
gloria, ang panggulo, magsisi at magdasal ka na. Mgbabayad ka!
I agree with Aquino’s “musical chairs” analogy.
We just cannot continue like this… just changing people after every election and not going after and jailing those who abused and broke the law.
For the first time in a long, long time I feel there is hope. A new dawn rising brightly on the horizon. This is a real opportunity for change. We can not, we must not squander it.
We have to help to see this through. For the next generations to come.
Noong 2004 nang himalang manalo si gloria, hindi ganyan kasaya ang mga tao. Ang pilit na nagagalak lamang ay ang kanyang mga bayarang galamay at mga asong turuan. Ipinroklama lamang siya at sabay pinanumpa habang ang taong bayan ay nasa kahimbingan ng tulog. Pagmulat ng mga mata nating minumuta, ang puta na ang pangulo daw ng Pilipinas.
Tangnang Davide ‘yan!
Anna,
‘Yung isang kapitbahay mong tuko, ayaw talagang amining tapos na ang maliligayang kabaliwan nila.
http://www.abante.com.ph/issue/june1010/news07.htm
So manunumpa na finally, ang Pangulo; and he is said to be “leaning” towards Justice Carpio-Morales.
The choice of the justice may ruffle feathers, even among non-Gloria leaning justices, because the Court usually has traditionalist thinkers. It may also put the Lady Justice on the spot, and produce an awkward situation for her.
Since the President was thinking of symbolic humility in the taking of his oath, I would recommend taking his oath before entry-level judges in the judicial rankings, an MTC or RTC judge. He can ask a Barangay Captain to lead him in the oath-taking, which the President will pronounce in the presence of the judge. If he wants additional symbolism, he can ask an Aeta head to lead him. This is not without precedent, because Governor Richardson of New Mexico took his oath before a Pueblo (tribal) leader, as discussed here:
http://www.nmag.gov/opinions/Opinion.aspx?OpID=821
It would also be a symbolic reconnection to his mother’s term if he took his oath before an appointee of his mother. I have not found an MTC judge appointed by Cory, but there is an RTC judge (Executive Judge Meinrado Paredes of Cebu City) who was appointed by Cory.
The choice of Cebu would also be symbolic, because it is the isles of Cebu province that the Spaniards first discovered. It is through the colonization by Spain that the disparate datu fiefdoms were united, to form the Filipinas, named after Felipe II. So there is a historic and unifying theme in the choice of a Cebu judge.
…but Cebu is Gloria territory…
Pareng Joga, Cebu may be Arroyo’s turf in 2004, largely because of the Garcia’s but Cebu had always been an Aquino country. Cebu was for Cory and this time went for Noynoy. Noynoy won in all towns of Cebu province except Alegria.
SNV I doubt Noynoy will hold his inauguration in Cebu because that was where Arroyo held hers in 2004.
Mas bagay siguro kung si Binay ang mag take ng oath sa Aeta head.
Magno,
I object in the strongest terms!
He is not my neighbor. He cannot be my neighbor. He is not from my village. People in my village are wonderful, kind, gentle, nice, honest, they have no jueteng, they don’t eat dogs, they eat healthy food and so on and so forth. They are the real Batangueno macoys. Mendoza is from Balisong.
So, again (with more feeling) I object in the strongest terms!
I object in the strongest terms! – Anna.
Hahahahah!
I seem can see Anna jumping in denial of this gecko.
Oo na!
If you cannot accept him, I concede, Your Highness!
Hahahaha!
puede ba siyang manumpa kay putot? tayo na lang kayang mga tao ang manumpa kay putot…isumpa siya! lechonin ang leche…magkakaroon ba ng palaro sa Luneta?…Bonfire (hindi fireworks..magastos pa!) bitayin atsunugin ang effigy ni putot at ang mga kasamahan niya…tirahan…with a dart tirahin ang mukha ni putot (particularly ang nunal niya)…ilagay ang picture ni putot around the grounds…durugin, spit on it..ingatan lang ang pagapak sa dibdib niya..paka mag leak…singsingko ang singil at ibili ng pan de sal para sa mga bata…at isa pa! magkaroon ng lollipop contest…with Nerissa as the judge…let us have fun…
Ms. Ellen, I read your Malaya column entitled “No DILG for Binay”. I agree with your points and I also believe that Mayor Robredo is the better choice to head DILG.
I watched Bandila tonight and according to Binay, he was offered the DOTC post and he is still thinking about it.
Malawak ang sakop ng Department of Tranportation and Communication (DOTC). Land, sea, air, air waves-TV,radio, telephone at internet (cyberspace). Hawak pa ang Coast Guard. Abogado si VP-elect Jojo Binay kaya puede siyang bilang DOTC chief. Malakas ang kurakot sa DOTC. Total over-haul ang kailangan.
I was referring to the choice of a Cebu judge, not Cebu as the location. Read my post again.
I mentioned Aetas because there are Aeta tribes in Capas, Tarlac, in the Tarlac side of Mount Pinatubo.
Ochoa said:
The exact opposite of Ermita.
I am beginning to like this guy. The non-bloated ego augurs well for the President’s team.
hurray for p.noy!
#11 …but Cebu is Gloria territory…
# 12SNV I doubt Noynoy will hold his inauguration in Cebu because that was where Arroyo held hers in 2004.
I was referring to the choice of a Cebu judge, not Cebu as the location. Read my post again.
So there is a historic and unifying theme in the choice of a Cebu judge.
———————
I agree, I was a bit surprised Noynoy even got votes in Cebu, I spent 30 years of my life there, we’re usually pro-administration and see imperial Manila’s noise as ridiculous. Connecting with the Cebuanos is not only a good idea but a strategic one in the long run…
When I was there before elections most of my friends said they were supporting Gibo and thought I was stupid to vote for Noynoy, they were saying Gibo was the intellectuals’ choice. When Gibo didn’t win I went back to them and ridiculed their seemingly dogmatic obedience to Quiboloy 🙂 and his god (who made a mistake)…
P.Noy? this will raise more intellectual wannabes eyebrows some more for sure. The guy is breaking all preconceived notions of being presidentiable, bringing the President’s persona to the level of the common tao…Erap’s was ama ng masa, so he’s big brother? Well, he did say I am my brother’s keeper…
I don’t know, the last populist president, Erap, was booted out of office by scheming cabal. I hope PNoy doesn’t suffer the same fate…
I wonder why we didn’t see that coming, personally I didn’t see it that way, only as a hindsight…it was like kicking sand in the people’s face as we saw a popularly mandated president led to prison and we allowed it to happen…come to think of it, I should have asked the reason why, and who are these people who will take over?
Re Post #18, my apologies SNV for the mix up. I simply supposed that if an RTC Cebu judge will administer the oath, it must be within the territorial jurisdiction of RTC Cebu. The Binay jab was, of course, in jest.
Pareng Joga, you may be mingling with the students of Cebu City or the younger generations who were for Gibo simply because of the “kilig” factor. Ordinary Cebu folks from tindera to drivers who hated Arroyo to older folks who were alive during the Marcos-Aquino snap election went for Noynoy, the son of Cory. In Cebu City, the soldiers and their families went against Arroyo’s official and unofficial candidate. If you know the housing in Apas, you will know why.
Pareng Joga, the hell with the intellectuals. They should cut the new president some slacks.
I will differ in the ousting of Erap by scheming cabal. (at para din palabasin si Pader). I agree with Henry’s contention that Erap gave up easily.
On the question of attracting more investments, he said the focus will be on improving infrastructure, lowering the cost of electricity, removing red tape and ensuring political stability.
He’s got it spot on.
A huge income generating industry to develop would be tourism but you cannot develop the tourism industry, eg., attract bona-fide holiday makers not just gamblers or gangsters in search of sexual good time if you don’t develop infrastructure. Philippines which had not exactly been doing well in the sector half disappeared from the international tourism destination radar because of the not so brilliant law and order situation, ie, threats of kidnappings, killings etc. This area needs to be seriously addressed
Philippines has a lot to offer in terms of tourism far more than Singapore or Vietnam Developing this industry to accepted international standards will create employment and boost income for the locals
Less red tape and the bribes that go with that bureaucratic red tape will entice genuine investors to take a second look at RP and of course lowering electricity costs will be a motivator too
lowering electricity rate, removing red tape, improving peace and order and sending some corrupt top gov’t official( gma, villar, etc..) and judges to jail will send a strong statement that P-Noy is sincere to serve the people.
Hail! Hail!
justice must be served and prevail first and foremost,
guilty ones in gov’t and judiciary must be send to prison .
isaganigatmaitan:
to noynoy aquino: hail to the chief!
to gloria arroyo: to hell with the thief!
PBSA being a bachelor is a huge advantage security-wise, unlike other gov’t official in sensitive positions who have to send their families abroad for fear of reprisal from their enemies. PBSA does not have any baggage to carry and he could move forward courageously and swiftly for truth, right and justice.
The point of reconciliation is to heal the wounds of the wounded, not the hands of those who wounded them. The point of reconciliation is to restore the honor and position of those who were deprived and abused, not the dishonor and disposition of those who deprived and abused them. The point of reconciliation is to reconcile with the people, not with their oppressors.
by: Conrado de Quiros