Ellen – Page 257 – ellen tordesillas

Taxing the future

Published by Ellen on May 24, 2009

In my appearance in Boy Abunda’s “Private Conversations” many years ago, I was asked what’s my idea of being rich, and I replied, “just to have enough money in my wallet to be able to buy a good book I want when I see one.”

I said that because in my struggling days, I would have to save to be able to buy a book I want and by the time I have enough money for it, the book is gone. It was so frustrating.

With credit cards, half of my problem is solved. But there is still the problem of cost. Prices of bookpaper-bound books usually cost about P500. Much higher, up to P1,000 plus, if its hardbound.

Sammy Ong

Published by Ellen on May 23, 2009

Ayan, pwede na ipatupad ng mga galamay ni Gloria Arroyo ang kanilang arrest warrant kay dating NBI Director Samuel Ong sa kasong sedition dahil sa kanyang pagsiwalat ng pandaraya ni Gloria Arroyo sa 2004 na eleksyon.

Matagal na nilang pinaghahanap si Ong. Pumunta lang sila sa punerarya kung saan siya nakahimlay..

Siguro masaya na rin ang Court of Appeals na kamakailan lang ay binuhay ang kasong kriminal na serious illegal detention kahit na ibinasura na ni Judge Benjamin Pozon ng Makati Regional Court.

Tour of Hope vs cervical cancer

Published by Ellen on May 22, 2009

If you have a chance to attend some of the lectures on cervical cancer in the 2009 Tour of Hope, don’t miss it. It might save your life and your loved ones.

The 2009 Tour of Hope kicks off on May 24 at 6:00 in the morning at the Muntinlupa City Hall.

Here’s the schedule of the lectures:

A simple request from climate-change concerned filmmaker

Published by Ellen on May 22, 2009

I got a letter from Katrina Encanto, who identified herself as an art director of JWT Manila. I suppose JWT is J Walter Thompson.

She said she needs support in terms of votes for short film she made which she entered in the Youtube Cannes Lions 48 Hour Ad Contest.

Katrina said, “To cast votes for this film, you would need to go to http://www.youtube.com/canneslions and search for “thecheshirecatgrin”, within the next 10 days or so.”

Wanted: sanctuary for Gadian

Published by Ellen on May 21, 2009

The Supreme Court yesterday granted the petition of the sister of Navy Lt. Nancy Gadian for a writ of amparo. What now?

Upon receipt of the order, Harry Roque, counsel for Nedia Diamante, sister of Lt. Gadian who filed the petition last Tuesday before the Supreme Court, informed the High Court that he has advised Gadian to seek temporary sanctuary at the Supreme Court in the absence of an accredited sanctuary.” (Download urgent-motion-for-sanctuary)

“She should find her way to the Supreme Court, introduce herself and seek sanctuary there,” Roque said.

In a statement, the Philippine Navy said with the Supreme Court order, “we hope Lt. Gadian will finally face the Investigation Committee formed by the Secretary of the Department of National Defense to substantiate her serious allegation of corruption of Balikatan ‘07 fund that has dragged the AFP into a controversy.”

SC grants Gadian writ of amparo

Published by Ellen on May 21, 2009

Breaking News:

Philippine Navy welcomes SC grant of privilege of writ to Gadian; hopes she will face investigation.

The Supreme Court granted today the writ of amparo for Lt. Nancy Gadian, the navy officer who has been declared AWOL by the Philippine Navy. (Download writ-of-amparo)

The Supreme Court also directed the Court of Appeals to hear the petition on March 28, 2009 at 10 a.m. and decide it within 10 days.

The petition was filed last Tuesday by Nedina Gadian Diamante, sister of Lt. Gadian with the assistance of CenterLaw Philippines. (Download petition)

CenterLaw’s Harry Roque said, “This is unpredented that a military officer is granted relief by the Supreme Court.”

The ‘puzzle’ that is Philippine education: Still in crisis after all these years

Published by Ellen on May 21, 2009

by Jennifer Santiago VERA Files High dropout rates. Low pupil performance. Poor teacher quality. Inappropriate language of learning. Irrelevant textbooks. Excessive centralization. Inadequate financial resources.…

Order of battle

Published by Ellen on May 20, 2009

Nagsampa noong Martes ng petition para sa Writ of Amparo para kay Navy Lt. Nancy Gadian ang kanyang kapatid na si Nedina Diamante. Tinutulungan siya ng Law Center Philippines nina Atty. Harry Roque.

Sabi ni Atty. Roque, kinaka-ilangan ito dahil sinabi ni Nedina nag text sa kanya si Nancy noong Sabado at sinabing may nagsabi raw sa kanya na may ”shoot-to-kill” order para sa kanya. Pinabula-anan ito ng spokesman ng AFP na si Lt. Col. Romeo Brawner Jr.

Sinabi ni Navy spokesman Lt. Col. Edgard Arevalo na binibigyan nila ng assurance si Gadian na ligtas siya at gagalangin ang kanyang karapatang pantao.

Lessons from the past

Published by Ellen on May 19, 2009

ANC viewers watching the interview of Metropolitan Trial Court Judge Jorge Emmanuel Lorredo by Willard Cheng aired live on the lunchtime news “Dateline” Wednesday last week were puzzled why it was abruptly cut.

It was the part when Lorredo was warning about the return of martial law. Lorredo, by the way, is the judge that stirred public attention with his unusual May 4 order for the arraignment of Rodolfo “Jun” Lozada on the perjury case filed by Mike Defensor, former presidential chief of staff.

I asked a friend close to Lorredo and she shared with me Lorredo’s ruminations about the topic that is being mentioned when talking about the direction of the Arroyo administration but is not quite taken seriously because people can’t seem to imagine the depth of her obsession to stay in power.

Journalist in AFP’s order of battle

Published by Ellen on May 19, 2009

Carlos Conde’s statement on AFP’s “order of battle”

I am Carlos H. Conde, a journalist based in Manila.

I found out yesterday that my name is included in the Armed Forces of the Philippines’s “order of battle,” specifically in a document titled “JCICC ‘AGILA’ 3rd QTR 2007 OB VALIDATION RESULT” purportedly prepared by the intelligence staff of the armed forces’ 10th Infantry Division in Southern Mindanao.

In this “order of battle,” more than a hundred individuals – mostly leaders and members of progressive and leftist groups like Bayan, Bayan Muna, among others – are listed and classified as “organized,” “dominated,” or “targeted.” As far as I can tell, I am the only journalist on the list, which classifies me as “targeted,” whatever that means.

It would seem that the army considers me an enemy of the state, as the document, which shows the alleged links of these individuals with the communist movement, seems to be implying.

Author: Ellen