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Month: March 2013

Agonizing moments at the DFA over Sabah

Malaysia arrests Filipinos Photo By BAZUKI MUHAMMAD REUTERS Wed, Mar 6, 2013 From Yahoo.
Malaysia arrests Filipinos Photo By BAZUKI MUHAMMAD REUTERS Wed, Mar 6, 2013 From Yahoo.
When some 30 concerned citizens met before the Holy Week to discuss the appeal to the United Nations for help for Filipinos in Sabah who are being maltreated by Malaysian authorities, they decided they would do it as private citizens and not waste their time getting the support of the Philippine government.

Of course, the petition would have carried more weight if it were the government seeking international intervention for its people, which should be the case because the government exists for its people.

In fact, it is in the Constitution’s Declaration of Principles and State Policies that (Art. II, Sec. 4) The prime duty of the Government is to serve and protect the people.”

Joeseg: beyond online friendship

Joeseg and his idol,Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV.
Joeseg and his idol,Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV.

I have been blogging since October 2005 and one of gifts I’ve gained is friendship of people from different parts of the globe.

One of them was Jose Seguerra who logs in my blog as “Joeseg.”

Joeseg was one of the pioneer visitors in my blog way back 2005. His sober views even in the most heated exchanges bring rationality in the discussions.

Our online friendship (together with that of five others) expanded to include members of our family.

12 steps to a fantastic beach body

By Ellen Tordesillas, VERA Files
Video by Mario Ignacio

You have your plane tickets. You have made the hotel reservations.

You are all set for fun in the beach. But, is your body ready for it?

Three physical fitness personal trainers – Angie M. Miranda and Jensen G. Centeno of Fitness First, Mall of Asia, and Christian S. Cerezo, formerly of Fitness First Southmall and now a freelance PT, say it’s never too late to start getting in shape.

Nakakatawa na nakakasuka

Another televised meltdown of Kris Aquino
Another televised meltdown of Kris Aquino
Tearfully announcing resignation kuno.[/caption]Napaaga yata ang semana santa ng mamamayang Pilipino sa mga balita na pumutok nitong nakaraang linggo na kawalang katuturan sa ating buhay ngunit laman ng media.

Ang daming problema. Sobra 60 na Pilipino ang patay sa Sabah at walang paki-alam ang Malacanang. Ngunit ang pinag-usapan sa TV, radio at sa mga diyaryo ay ang gusot ni Kris Aquino at James Yap at Chiz Escudero at Heart Evangelista.

Kung sabagay, napag-aralan na yan na kapag mahirap ang buhay, malakas ang telenobela. Siguro naghahanap ang mga tao ng dibersyun para pampagaan ng kalooban.

Evelio Javier’s sons oppose pardon for convicted lawyer

Evelio Javier: Democracy martyr
Evelio Javier: Democracy martyr
Evelio B. Javier, former governor of Antique, died while performing a task for the restoration of democracy on Feb. 11, 1986.

He was assassinated while keeping watch over the canvassing of votes in the snap presidential election between the well-entrenched dictator Ferdinand Marcos and Corazon Aquino, widow of the assassinated senator Benigno Aquino, Jr and mother of the current president, Benigno Aquino III.

Justice was not fully served with the acquittal of the suspected brains of the murder but it was a consolation for the Javier family that some of the accomplices in the crime were convicted.

One of those convicted was lawyer Avelino T. Javellana, who has applied for executive clemency.

Curtain call for Philam Life Theater?

By Pablo A. Tariman,VERA Files

Pianist Sofya Sulyak takes a bow with PPO Conductor Olivier Ochanine
Pianist Sofya Sulyak takes a bow with PPO Conductor Olivier Ochanine

When award-winning Ukrainian pianist Sofya Gulyak and the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra ended their “Elegantly Brahms” concert at the Philam Life Auditorium in Manila Wednesday, many in the audience knew it wasn’t just the musicians who were bowing out.

So was the iconic and much-cherished Philam Life Auditorium, which will be demolished after serving for 52 years as the venue of the most memorable performances the country has seen.

“Elegantly Brahms” is the last major musical event to be held at the Auditorium. Its parent company, Philam Life, the country’s premier life insurance company, is moving to Bonifacio Global City in Taguig and Mall of Asia starting April.

Philam Life has sold the site to mall developer SM Development Corp. (SMDC).

Kristel’s death is a wake-up call

Vigil for Kristel. Thanks to Philippine Star for photo.
Vigil for Kristel. Thanks to Philippine Star for photo.
Even as there are some people who want to fan the outrage over the death of 16-year old Kristel Tejada, a freshman student at The University of the Philippines, Manila, the UP leadership promises to “take the necessary steps to address the policy and administrative issues that are related to this unfortunate tragedy. “

Tejada was found dead in her residence in Sampaloc after taking cyanide nitrate.

The mother said her daughter was depressed because she could not continue her studies at UP where she was taking up Behavioral Science for their failure to pay the needed tuition fee.

Aquino upset by DFA statement on Malaysia’s human rights violations

AFP NewsMohd Rasfan. From Yahoo. - Residents of Tanjung Labian flee their village, in the area where Filipino gunmen are locked in a stand-off with Malaysian security forces, in Sabah state, on March 10, 2013.

Fleeing residents of Tanjung Labian flee their village in the area where Filipino gunmen are locked in a stand off with Malaysian security forces in Sabah state on March 10-2013. AFP-News Mohd Rasfan. From Yahoo.
In the press conference of Justice Secretary Leila de Lima in Malacañang yesterday on the arrest of 35 armed men from Sabah, she was asked why the government is quick on acting against the people associated with the Lahad Datu standoff and is not acting on reports on maltreatment by Malaysians of Filipinos in Sabah.

De Lima justified the glaring difference in their reactions to the fact the armed men believed to be members of the Royal Security Force of the Sultan of Sulu were intercepted by the Philippine Navy in the high seas of Tawi-Tawi with firearms and deadly weapons which is a violation of the Comelec gun ban.
She skipped the second part of the question and the reporter did not follow it up.

Reliable information we got from Malacañang explains why De Lima, formerly chairperson of the Human Rights Commission, kept quiet on the issue of gross human rights violations by Malaysia against Filipinos in Sabah.

Malaysia treats the Philippines like dirt and Malacañang takes it timidly

Photo By BAZUKI MUHAMMAD REUTERS Wed, Mar 6, 2013. From Yahoo

Malaysia treats the Philippines like dirt and Malacañang takes it with hardly a whimper.

News reports relate the harrowing experience of Filipinos under the hands of Malaysian security forces who are conducting a sweep of the Sabah to capture the forces of Raja Muda Agbimuddin Kiram, younger brother of Jamalul Kiram III and one of the heirs of the Sultan of Sulu, who was given Sabah by the Sultan of Brunei in 1878 as a reward for helping suppress a revolt.

Sabah became part of Malaysia as a result of questionable decisions by a British company and the United Kingdom.

A report by Inquirer’s Julie Alipala and Karlos Manlupig quoted 32-year old Amira Taradji, one of those who fled Sabah last week, as saying, “We’re treated like animals.”