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Author: Ellen

Class suit versus Mike Arroyo

Published by Ellen on December 28, 2006

Some 60 journalists and concerned citizens , including yours truly, yesterday filed a civil class suit (click here) against Mike Arroyo before the Makati Regional Trial Court.

In the suit, we contend that Mike Arroyo, spouse of President Gloria Arroyo, is both a public figure and a public officer.

Update Jan. 09, 2007: Mike Arroyo asks court to dismiss class suit.

We said that the libel suits he has filed against 45 journalists is a “clear abuse of right and an obvious effort to obstruct, defeat, and/or violate the Plaintiffs’ constitutional rights “ and obviously intended “to stifle and/or chill the exercise of freedom of the press, thereby causing them grave injury and tremendous amount of money”.

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Garcillano: I can win without cheating

Published by Ellen on December 28, 2006

Rep. Neric Acosta(LP) should be worried.

Here’s a report from ABS-CBN:

Former poll commissioner Virgilio Garcillano confirmed Thursday his candidacy as 1st district representative of Bukidnon in the 2007 May elections, saying that he would win “without cheating.”

“I am [running as] congressman [in the] first district of Bukidnon… I have decided to run,” he said in an exclusive interview with ABS-CBN Regional Network Group.

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Maling leksyon ang natutunan

Published by Ellen on December 27, 2006

Maraming pangyayari ang dumarating sa ating buhay ng sa ganun ay nagkakaroon tayo ng leksyon. Lahat naman tayo ay makasalanan ngunit ang mga masamang pangyayari , madalas ay panggising o “wake up call” para tayo matuto ay ayusin natin ang ating buhay.

Para kasing binibigyan tayo ng Panginoon ng pagkakataon pa na tumino bago tayo kunin.

Alam na natin ang sakuna na nangyari kay House Speaker Jose de Venecia nang masunog ang kanyang bahay bago ang Pasko. Kamuntik rin madisgrasya ang eroplano niyang sinasakyan noong isang biyahe niya sa Iloilo.

Kahapon napabalita ang nawalan ng preno ang maliit na eroplano ng Philippine Air Force na sakay an tatlong matataas na opisyal ng Philippine Army na nina Army Chief Lt. Gen. Romeo Tolentino; Col. Cesar Yano ng Operation at pinuno ng court martial trial laban sa 28 na opisyal na sangkot sa February 2006 coup; Col. Ramon Cabal ng Logistics; Capt. Louie Dimaala, at Chief M/Sgt Fidel Alegre.

Continue readingMaling leksyon ang natutunan

Asia quakes damage cables

Published by Ellen on December 27, 2006

If you had difficulty accessing this blog today, or for that matter connecting to the internet, here’s the reason:

RP Internet, phone calls affected

Telecommunications in the Philippines, along with its neighbors, were severely disrupted on Wednesday after earthquakes off Taiwan damaged undersea cables, slowing Internet services and hindering financial transactions, particularly in the currency market.

International telephone traffic was restricted from some countries and Internet access slowed to a crawl.

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The other survey

Published by Ellen on December 26, 2006

Proberz Research and Consultancy, a survey outfit used extensively by former President Fidel V. Ramos, has come out with its survey on senatorial aspirants who have the best chance of winning in the 2004 elections.

Proberz has not yet attained the stature of Social Weather Stations or Pulse Asia but I remember it to be the only survey outfit that had Fernando Poe Jr. leading Arroyo by 4 percent in its exit poll in the May 2004 election,. SWS had Arroyo leading by 8.5 percent.

Election results in Metro Manila proved SWS wrong. Much, much later, after the “Hello Garci” tapes came out, Proberz was proven correct.

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Garci cleared:another stab on the people’s back

Published by Ellen on December 25, 2006

While the nation was busy observing Christmas, the Department of Justice released its Nov. 14, 2006 decision clearing former Comelec Virgilio Garcillano of charges of perjury and falsification of passport.

Cavite Rep. Gilbert Remulla, who spearheaded the investigation of Garcillano at the House of Representatives, said the the media release of the decision was timed for “minimal impact on the public.It must be the administration’s Christmas gift for Garci,”

Sen. Panfilo Lacson, who filed the case along with a number of opposition congressmes, is not at all suprised. “Malacañang and the DOJ have no choice but to drop the case. If the case were filed in court, Garci will go all over town pointing his fingers at them. They can’t afford Garci telling on them.”

Shades of the Ombudsman’s clearing of Comelec Chairman Benjamin Abalos in the anomalous Mega-Pacific deal.

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My favorite Christmas story

Published by Ellen on December 24, 2006

My favorite Christmas story is “The Other Wise Man” by Henry Van Dyke, an American clergyman and educator.

Written in 1896, “The Other Wise Man” is also known as the Fourth Wise Man, the one who failed to join The Three Wise Men- Melchor, Gaspar and Balthazar – to witness the birth of Jesus Christ.

In Van Dyke’s story, the Fourth Wise Man was Artaban who lived in the city of Ecbatana, in the mountains of Persia (now Iran).

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Makabuluhang Pasko para sa lahat!

Published by Ellen on December 23, 2006

Gusto kong ibahagi sa inyo itong kuwento ng aking kaibigan na si Ching Suva, dating press undersecretary at ngayon ay vice president for public affairs ng Manila Hotel at Manila Bulletin.

Noong isang biyahe ni Pangulong Ramos sa Amerika, nawala ang isang maleta ni Ching na puno ng mga damit at pinamili niyang pasalubong sa mga kamag-anak at kaibigan.

Pumunta si Ching sa simbahan para humingi ng tulong sa Panginoon na makita ang kanyang maleta. Nang nandoon siya sa simbahan, nakatabi niya ang isang ale na halos mangiyak-ngiyak na sa kanyang pagdadasal. Sabi ni Ching, siguro ang laki ng problema ng aleng ito.

Continue readingMakabuluhang Pasko para sa lahat!