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Author: Ellen

Good news, sad news

Published by Ellen on June 28, 2009

Even as we applauded this year’s awardees of the Jaime V. Ongpin Excellence in Journalism , we were dismayed to hear that this may be the last awards for investigative and explanatory reports.

But we are glad to know that the Canadian government will continue with its Marshall McLuhan fellowship that is usually given to the top prize winner.

Founded in memory of Canadian media guru, Marshall Mc Luhan (“The medium is the message” and “The global village”) the fellowship sends the journalist on a two-week speaking tour of Canada and arranges speaking engagements in the Philippines.

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Sana

Published by Ellen on June 27, 2009

Sa Martes, magkakaroon ng martsang protesta kontra Con-Ass sa Manila.

Sa halip na matagalang rally sa isang lugar, martsa naman ang gagawin ng mga lumalaban sa balak ni Arroyo na pagpalawig ng kanyang panatili sa kapangyarihan sa pamamagitan ng illegal na Constituent Assembly.

Ang martsa ay manggagaling sa dalawang parte ng Metro Manila alas-kuatro ng hapon. Mayroong magsisimula sa Quezon City welcome Rotonda and meron din na manggagaling sa Vito Cruz, Manila. Magkikita-kita sa Liwasang Bonifacio mga alas-sais ng hapon. Magkakaroon ng maigsing konsyerto ng mga makabayang awitin.

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Watching Iran sizzle

Published by Ellen on June 25, 2009

I’m observing the protests in Iran in awe and with envy.

The protests that have shaken Iran’s theocratic government stemmed from accusations that the June 12 election was a result of “massive and systematic fraud” perpetrated by the winning re-electionist President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

A government council tasked to investigate the complaints admitted that in some 50 constituencies there were more votes cast than there were registered voters.

The government has clamped down on street and internet protests. The two-week unrest has injured hundreds of people tear -gassed and pummeled by policemen.

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VERA Files win top prize in 2009 JVO Awards

Published by Ellen on June 25, 2009

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Caption: PCIJ’s Roel Landingin and VERA Files Diosa Labiste, winners of the 2009 JVO excellence in investigative reporting ward.

VERA Files trustees Yvonne Chua and Luz Rimban, and contributor Diosa Labiste won top prize (Award of Distinction) at the 2009 Jaime V. Ongpin Awards for Excellence in Journalism (JVOAEJ) for their investigative report “Quedancor swine program another fertilizer scam.”

Roel Landingin of the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism won the other Award of Distinction for his series “Aid inflow sparks scandals for GMA.”

Labiste, a community journalist based in Iloilo City, was also named Marshall McLuhan Awardee at ceremonies held at the Asian Institute of Management in Makati City. Labiste is the first community journalist to be named McLuhan Fellow since the awards were given out in 1995.

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Kahit pumalya ang eleksyon, hindi pa rin pwede si GMA

Published by Ellen on June 24, 2009

Kahit anong emrgency na sitwasyon ang mangyari, bumaha man o kung ano man, hindi pwedeng hindi bababa si Gloria Arroyo sa Malacañang paglampas ng 12 ng hapon ng Hunyo 30, 2010, sabi ng eksperto sa Constitution na si Edwin Lacierda.

“Come hell or high water, Gloria arroyo cannot be caretaker president when her term ends noon of June 30, 2010,” sabi ni Lacierda sa programang “Strictly Politics” ni Pia Hontiveros sa ANC kung saan pinag-usapan ang kinatatakutan na failure of elections sa May 10, 2010.

Dati kasi pinapalutang ni National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales ang ideya na “caretaker” president daw si Arroyo hanggang magkaroon ng bagong president? Hindi na nakuntento sa siyam na taon sa Malacañang, ang pinakamahaba na pag-upo ng isang presidente na hindi naman binoto ng taumbayan (maliban kay Ferdinand Marcos).

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Speculations on GMA visit to Colombia

Published by Ellen on June 23, 2009

Makati Mayor Jojo Binay, who is president of the United Opposition, is asking Gloria Arroyo to explain why she detoured to Cartagena, Colombia in between her visit to Japan and Brazil last weekend.

Binay has every right to ask because he said “Arroyo is traveling on taxpayers’ expense.”

Since the Department of Foreign Affairs said they arranged only the Japan and Brazil trips and were not told about the trip to Colombia until Friday (Arroyo went to Colombia Saturday and left for Brazil Monday) and Malacañang does not want to say anything about it, the secret visit has become fair game to speculations.

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Neda: Iran’s symbol of protest

Published by Ellen on June 23, 2009

As we continue our apathy in the face of the destruction of our democracy by Gloria Arroyo, Iran sizzles to regain their democracy.

Amateur video turns woman into icon of Iran’s unrest
MSBC

She lies in the Tehran street with her headscarf half-off, blood pooling around her jeans and white sneakers.

“Don’t be afraid, Neda dear, don’t be afraid,” a white-haired man says desperately in Persian. Another man presses on her chest, trying to keep her alive.

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Walang paki-alam si Arroyo

Published by Ellen on June 22, 2009

Kung walang masama na binabalak si Gloria Arroyo, madali naman niyang sabihin na pagdating ng Hunyo 30,2010 bababa na siya sa Malacañang dahil yun naman talaga ang nakasaad sa Constitution.

Sa totoo lang, sa bawat minuto na nasa Malacañang si Arroyo ay paglapastangan sa batas at Constitution dahil hindi naman talaga siya binoto, kailan man, ng sambayanang Pilipino. Inagaw niya ang pagka-presidente noong Enero 2001 at nandaya siya noong May 20004. ‘Yan ang sinasabi ni Susan Roces na, “You stole the presidency not once but twice.”

Kaya lang sa sobrang kabaitan ng Pilipino, parang nagiging doormat na tayo. Tinatapakan na hindi pa rin uma-alma. Ayaw kasi nating ng gulo. Kahit harap-harapan na tayo niloloko, okay lang basta walang gulo. Hindi natin naiisip ang mas malaking gulong idinudulot ng isang ilegal na administrasyon.

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