The accident compelled the peripatetic JDV to forgo attendance in the meeting of the standing committee of the International Conference of Asian Political Parties in Ankara, Turkey last Nov. 21 and 22.
JDV co-founded ICAPP, a forum of political parties of various ideologies among countries in Asia-Oceania to promote exchanges and cooperation; enhance understanding, and create an environment for sustained peace and shared prosperity in the region.
Megan Young’s winning the Miss World title is welcome break from all the depressing news that we have been getting the past months.
We so wanted something pleasant after months of pork barrel stories exposing the insatiable greed of Napoles and our public officials. The Zamboanga stories, despite the government’s declaration of ‘Mission Accomplished” are heartbreaking and emotionally draining.
Megan Young provided a lovely respite. And we thank her for that.
We deserve a break.
That’s what those who watched ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra’s concert of the music from Disney movies like The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, Mary Poppins, Tarzan, Little Mermaid, Mulan, Alladin and others at the Cultural Center of the Philippines last Saturday felt .
For two hours, we forgot about pork barrel and Zamboanga and traveled to as far away as South Africa and China under the baton of the ebullient Gerard Salonga with actress and TV personality Nikki Gil as our journey guide.
We just wished the screen was bigger for the excerpts from Disney’s animated films.
Labing-anim na taon si KC nang nangyari ang trahedya na nasunog ang kanilang bahay sa Dasmariñas Village, tirahan ng mga mayayaman, noong Dec. 16, 2004. Huli na nag malaman nina Gina na nandoon pala si KC sa loob ng bahay at hindi na nakalabas.
Matagal bago naka-recover ang pamilyang De Venecia sa trahedya lalo pa si Gina. Sa aming pagtipon-tipon noong isang linggo sa kanilang bagong bahay, sinabi ni Gina na nakatulong ng malaki ang mga kasamahan niya sa “INA” (Inang naulila sa anak), ang grupo ng kanyang itinatag sa kanyang pag-uusap sa ibang ina na nawalan rin ng anak.
Sa halip na mamumukmuk at magpakalunod sa hinagpis, ginawa ni Gina ay nakipag-hawakan ng kamay sa kapwang nagdurusang ina at magtulungan. Madali nahilom ang kanilang mga sugat at marami sa kanila ngayon ay mas malakas dahil sa trahedya.