Month: March 2010

Goodbye, Emy

Published by Ellen on March 15, 2010

Notice from Ging Deles:

Dear All,

It is with deep sorrow and pain that I am informing everyone that our very dear Emy Boncodin passed away this afternoon at 1:00 PM at the National Kidney Institute, QC. She had a cardiac arrest after she went into a semi-coma while being prepped for dialysis.

She is survived by her mother and her sister Adel. I learned from Adel that she had been growing weak in the last months. Emy never let on to us her worsening condition, however, as she continued with her meetings and work on her projects.

She was an outstanding public servant, always did her work quietly, always straightforward and truthful about the state of governance. She went as quietly as she had served with dedication, diligence, and amazing competence.

We are awaiting word regarding arrangements for her remains and will let you know.

In deep sorrow and prayers for our friend and colleague,
Ging

Boncodin and Deles are two the Hyatt 10, a group of cabinet members of Gloria Arroyo who resigned from their posts in June 2005 following the expose of the “Hello Garci” tapes where Arroyo was heard directing the manipulation of of the 2004 election results in her favor.

Smartmatic ‘bond’ slashed

Published by Ellen on March 15, 2010

From Malaya:

$4.3M of $25.3M left to answer for poll automation failure

The Commission on Elections has allowed Smartmatic, the holder of the P11.3 billion election automation contract, to reduce its bank credit line from $25.3 million to $21 million, leaving only $4.3 million to answer for any failure of the contractor to successfully carry out the project.

Comelec’s accommodation was among recent developments that have raised fears that automated elections would end up a failure.

First, Smartmatic has lost its original partner, the local company Total Information Management Corp., in the consortium. Second, it has lost the Aboitiz-owned logistics company 2Go as distributor of the precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines to 70,000 precincts nationwide.

The decision to “remove, cancel or extinguish the credit line” given by the Hong Kong Shanghai Banking Corp. Manila was reached by Comelec in a meeting on January 20.

Not just to watch passively but active as citizens journalists

Published by Ellen on March 14, 2010

Comelec, a no show in Pampanga citizens journalism training.

Citizens as journalists in 2010 elections

Bishop Pablo Virgilio “Ambo” David underscored the importance of being armed with correct information as the nation goes to the polls on May 10 to select their next set of national and local leaders in a seminar-workshop on citizen journalism held at the Holy Angel University in Angeles City.

Bishop Ambo said, “Truth will set us free but first, truth will make us miserable.” .

One of those “miserable” truths is that patronage politics still dominates in elections. Inquirer correspondent Tonette Orejas’ presentation of the personalities that dominate Pampanga said it best: the unelected president Gloria Arroyo, Sen. Lito Lapid, Lilia Pineda, who was recently declared by the Comelec as winner of the 2007 gubernatorial race nullifying the “miracle” victory of Fr. Ed Panlilio.

Panlilio has brought the issue to the Supreme Court.

Roach: with little left to prove, Pacquiao should retire soon

Published by Ellen on March 14, 2010

by Chris Mannix
Inside Boxing

Pacquiao retains welterweight crown against Clottey

GRAPEVINE, Texas — From the day he collected his first boxing paycheck, Manny Pacquiao has been surrounded by yes men. Dozens of would-be handlers, many with nebulous jobs and no real responsibilities to speak of, have surrounded Pacquiao. And for the last five years, as Pacquiao has risen to the top of the sport, they have been well-paid to live a life of leisure.

Freddie Roach is not one of them. It’s true, Pacquiao’s astute trainer has had to be accommodating toward his No. 1 fighter. He’s had to rush to the Philippines just to track down his star pupil and has had to be tolerant of the human barnacles that attach themselves to Pacquiao and sponge his time, energy and, of course, money.

But Roach is keenly aware that one of his responsibilities as Pacquiao’s boxing guide is to say no. No to the late-night karaoke sessions that sap Pacquiao’s energy during training camp. No to the idea that the bulk of camp should be held in the Philippines, where Pacquiao is part Springsteen, part Obama and more popular than both. No to a fight with junior middleweight champion Yuri Foreman, because a 5-foot-11, 154-pound opponent is just a little too large for comfort.

But Roach’s most important rejection is the one he has yet to give. No, Roach will soon say to Pacquiao. No, you should fight no more.

This French pianist has wide musical palate

Published by Ellen on March 13, 2010

By Pablo A. Tariman

Many things are musically intriguing about French pianist Dana Ciocarlie who will make her Philippine debut in Cebu City’s Fernan Hall on March 16(Tuesday) and at the Philamlife Theater on March 19 (Friday).

A top prizewinner of the Robert Schumann International Piano Competition, Ciocarlie is identified with the last piano sonata of Franz Schubert and Robert Schumann and yet had shown some intelligence and sensitivity as soloist in an unpopular but highly challenging Age of Anxiety by Leonard Bernstein.

The American Music Guide describes her thus: “”Dana Ciocarlie is a whirlwind. She has you burn technique, her instinctive musical imagination makes every piece an exciting experience.”

A French publication extols her in such enchanting terms: “”Dana has Ciocarlie of fire, biting everything in a game very clear and precise. Close to the instrument, she touches immediately by a game inspired, warm and masterly.”

In Manila, she figures in an all-Chopin recital as one of the highlights of the Chopin Manille 2010 Bicentennaire. She observed Chopin’s birthday in France by playing on a historical Pleyel piano identified with the Polish composer. In Manila, she plays on a brand new Bosendorfer identified with the singing tone of Placido Domingo. In Manila, she figures in an all-Chopin recital as one of the highlights of the Chopin Manille 2010 Bicentennaire. She observed Chopin’s birthday in France by playing on a historical Pleyel piano identified with the Polish composer. In Manila, she plays on a brand new Bosendorfer identified with the singing tone of Placido Domingo.

Marami pa ring duda

Published by Ellen on March 13, 2010

Gusto ko narin sana maniwala na siguradong magiging maayos ang eleksyon sa Mayo. Ngunit hindi ko maa-aring lokohin ang sarili ko kasi marami pa rin talagang mga isyu na hindi nasasagot at meron pa mga bago ngayon na sumusulpot.

Sinabi niya sa Cebu noong Biyernes na gusto raw niya mangyari na ang isang “free and fair” na eleksyun sa mayo ang kanyang magiging pamana sa taumbayan.

“Free and fair”. Malaya at balansyado para sa lahat. Mabuti lang hindi siya gumamit ng salitang “honest.” Baka tamaan siya ng kidlat.

Ang pinakamalaking kasalanan ni Arroyo sa mamamayang Pilipino ay ang pagsira ng mga institusyon pangdemokratiko katulad ng Commission on Election. Marami pa siyang sinira katulad ng Kongreso, military, Department of Foreign Affairs, burukrasya, korte. Lahat na yata, sinira na niya.

Know James Layug

Published by Ellen on March 12, 2010

Former Lt(sg) James Layug is running for representative of the second district of Taguig. Get to know him.

The power of being informed

Published by Ellen on March 12, 2010

Last Monday, VERA Files unveiled its Vote 2010 page within its website www.verafiles.org.

(Click on the Vote 2010 logo on the upper right side of this page and it will bring you to the page.)

Vote 2010 is a partnership among VERA Files, civil society organizations, the community media, individuals and institutions monitoring the May 10, 2010 elections.

Readers will find stories related to the forthcoming May elections that is being held at the time of deep distrust of the administration that is overseeing the nationwide, untested automated polls.

Readers will also find basic information on the May elections and background materials on the candidates including their schedule and campaign movements.

This partnership is about citizen empowerment.

Ampatuans will miss Pacquiao-Clottey match

Published by Ellen on March 11, 2010

by VERA Files When Filipino boxing hero Manny Pacquiao faces Joshua Clottey of Ghana in the ring on Sunday (Saturday in the U.S.) in Texas…

Essay writing contest on malaria

Published by Ellen on March 11, 2010

Beginning 15 March 2010, Malaria No More, a non-governmental organization committed to ending malaria deaths in Africa, and Novartis, the Swiss pharmaceutical company, are sponsoring the “World Briefing: Telling the Malaria Story” contest for graduate students.

Malaria is a highly preventable and treatable disease – yet each year, malaria infects nearly 300 million people and kills nearly one million, mostly children under the age of five in sub-Saharan Africa.1 But with broad awareness and the right tools, like nets and medication, malaria deaths and suffering can be greatly reduced.

The goal of this contest is to encourage our future leaders to think about malaria and inform their peers about its serious impact. Participants will also be inspired to learn how organizations like Novartis and Malaria No More are working to reduce malaria-related suffering and have made impressive strides in saving lives.

To spread the word, we’re asking graduate students in the United States, Argentina, Ecuador, Italy, Netherlands, Philippines and Venezuela to develop a 500 word-or-less blog post and 140 character-or-less Twitter entry (“Tweet”) focused on the current malaria burden and ways in which the next generation can make progress in the fight. We’ve attached full entry details, contest guidelines and background.