ellen tordesillas – Page 106 – Making life worth living.

Ways and Means committee:pitfall for two Batangueño legislators

Published by Ellen on October 16, 2012

In a period of one year, the Ways and Means committees of both legislative chambers claimed two Batangueños.

Last Monday, Sen. Ralph Recto resigned as chair of the Senate Ways and Means committee after he found himself a target of criticisms for his committee report and his own version of the Sin Tax bill which groups pushing for higher taxes say is Philip Morris-friendly.

December last year, Batangas Rep. (2nd district) Hermilando Mandanas, a member of the Liberal party just like Recto, was removed as chairman of the ways and means committee. He was replaced by another LP member, Davao City Rep. Isidro Ungab.

The Ways and Means committees are most coveted and are given to senior legislators. The committees have jurisdiction on all matters relating to revenue which include taxes and fees, tariffs, loans and other
sources and forms of revenue.

I know of a legislator who had held that position for many years he became so rich that last election, money flowed like water in his province. He won, of course, together with his son who also ran for another elective post.

Recto’s equilibrium and erectile dysfunction

Published by Ellen on October 15, 2012

Update: Recto quits as ways and means chair: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/business/10/15/12/recto-quits-ways-and-means-chair

Studies have shown that the ill-effects of smoking coupled with poor diet and lack of exercise are not limited to cardiovascular, respiratory disease, diabetes and cancer, which are afflicting Filipinos at their most productive age, 40’s and early 50’s.

In one of the lectures,Dr. Anthony Leachon, cardiologist and consultant on non-communicable diseases of the Department of Health, said recent studies have shown that smoking causes erectile dysfunction.

Privilege Speech delivered by Sen Recto Oct 15,2012

“You may not die of erectile dysfunction but some men die for it,” quipped Leachon, who is leading the campaign for the passage of the Sin Tax, not the Recto-fied version but the one that the authored by Sen. Miriam Santiago. He also supports the version passed by the House of Representatives authored by then Cavite Representative (now Secretary of Transportation and Communication) Joseph Abaya.

Marilou Diaz-Abaya as consummate music lover

Published by Ellen on October 11, 2012

by Pablo A. Tariman, VERA Files

Marilou Diaz-Abaya. Photo by Wyg Tysman — Photo by Wyg Tysman

In her short but fruitful life, filmmaker Marilou Diaz Abaya (1955-2012) lived and breathed music which was also an integral part of all her film output.

Abaya’s passion for classical music remained one of the hallmarks of her personality. She breathed her last at the St. Luke’s hospital bed Monday night while listening to Cesar Montano sing Don McLean’s “Vincent.”

Two years before her death, Abaya admitted she was already fascinated by Mozart’s Requiem which some people always associate with funerals.

Interviewed for an All Soul’s Day story, she confided: “Mozart’s Requiem, as do all his sacred music, always pulls me away from earth and transports me to a heavenly experience. In that part called the Introitus, I associate the few notes played on a bassoon (accompanied by the string section and followed by the rest of the winds) as Mozart himself mourning his own death even before he actually expires. There is a subsequent build up with the brasses; and then the chorale storms heaven with an urgent plea, joining in the glorious Communion of Saints who begs for Mozart and for all his fellow mortals: Requiem aeternam dona ets, Domine, et lux perpetua luceat ets. (Grant them eternal rest, O Lord, and may perpetual light shine on them.) The Requiem does not at all sound like a funeral march. Rather, it is, at least for me, a fervent prayer for eternal life.”

SC TRO: a very much welcome respite

Published by Ellen on October 9, 2012

Anti Cybercrime rally — The power of an informed and vigilant people. Photo by VERA Files’ Mario Ignacio.

Smiles, laughter and relief suddenly replaced the atmosphere of anger and outrage among rallyists when the information from inside the Supreme Court was shared that the justices unanimously voted to issue a 120-day temporary restraining order (TRO) on Republic Act 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.

“We did it!”, enthused one rallyist.

Yes, another demonstration of the power of a vigilant public. A total of 15 petitions were filed with the Supreme Court questioning the legality of some provisions of the Cybercrime Prevention Act, particularly the part on online libel.

The 120-day TRO gives us respite and should allow us to celebrate Christmas with lesser stress. That should give us time to recharge when the battle resumes. The SC will hold oral arguments on the controversial law on January 15, 2013.

PNoy, Padaca don’t get it

Published by Ellen on October 7, 2012

Padaca posts bail — Padaca, accompanied by Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, a Liberal Party stalwart, posts P70,000 bail given by President Aquino.

What is it in being in position of power that dulls the mind and blurs the comprehension of people we thought were sensible?

Former Isabela Governor and newly appointed commissioner of the Commission on Election posted the following reply to those who are criticizing her for accepting bail money from President Aquino. She cited this particular tweet: “ “Grace Padaca’s acceptance of bail money and refusing to subject herself to investigation speaks volumes of her character.”

Padaca’s reply:

“If i have done things the usual way, i would not have fought the dynasty in Isabela and win.

Tingting Cojuangco lobbying for some policemen in Maguindanao massacre?

Published by Ellen on October 7, 2012

Margarita “Tingting” Cojuangco, who is running for senator under the United Nationalist Alliance ticket, is lobbying for the dropping of a number of policemen from the list of the accused in the 2009 Maguindanao massacre where 58 persons were killed, a source closely working in the case, said.

Thirty-two of those killed were media workers.

Next month, Nov. 29, the media community and those who value the role of a free press in democracy, will mark the third anniversary of the tragedy that earned for the Philippines the notorious tag of being one of the three most dangerous places in the world for journalists. We share the ignominious label with war-torn countries Iraq and Somalia.

Three years have passed and the victims have not yet been rendered justice.

And here’s Cojuangco, aunt of the President Aquino, lobbying for those involved in the massacre.

Bangsamoro is born

Published by Ellen on October 7, 2012

Speech of President Aquino on the Framework Agreement with the MILF

Agreement on creation of Bangsamoro — Aquino announces agreement on creation of Bangsamoro political entity

Dalawang henerasyon na po ang lumilipas mula noong magsimula ang hidwaan sa Mindanao. Isang siklo ng karahasang umangkin sa buhay ng mahigit isandaang libong Pilipino—hindi lamang ng mga kawal at mandirigma, kundi pati mga inosenteng sibilyang dumanak ang dugo dahil sa alitang puwede namang naiwasan.

Marami na pong solusyong sinubok upang matapos ang hidwaang ito; nakailang peace agreement na po tayo, ngunit hindi pa rin tayo umuusad tungo sa katuparan ng ating mga pangarap para sa rehiyon. Nabigyan ng poder ang ilan, ngunit imbes na iangat ang kaledad ng buhay sa rehiyon, nagbunga ito ng istrukturang lalo silang iginapos sa kahirapan. Nagkaroon ng mga command votes na ginamit upang pagtibayin ang pyudal na kalakaran; naglipana ang mga ghost roads, ghost bridges, ghost schools, ghost teachers, at ghost students, habang tumaba naman ang bulsa ng iilan. Nag-usbungan ang mga warlord na humawak sa timbangan ng buhay at kamatayan para sa maraming mamamayan. Umiral ang isang kultura kung saan walang nananagutan, at walang katarungan; nawalan ng pagtitiwala ang mamamayan sa sistema, at nagnais na kumalas sa ating bansa.

The ARMM is a failed experiment. Many of the people continue to feel alienated by the system, and those who feel that there is no way out will continue to articulate their grievances through the barrel of a gun. We cannot change this without structural reform.

Huwag gawing sangkalan ang Panginoon

Published by Ellen on October 6, 2012

Pacquiaos file COC — In preparation for post -boxing life, Pacquiao builds political dynasty.

Sabi ni Manny Pacquiao, hindi naman daw talaga gusto ng kanyang asawang si Jinkee na pumasok sa pulitika.

“God’s will (Kagustuhan ng Panginoon),” daw ang kandidatura ngayon ni Jinkee bilang vice-governor ng Saranggani.

Tumigil na nga sa kagagamit ng pangalan ng Diyos. Bakit naka-usap ba siya ng Panginoon? Wala lang talaga silang kabusugan sa pera at kapangyarihan.

Congressman ngayon si Pacquiao at nakapaghain na rin siya ng certificate of candidacy para sa kanyang re-election. Ang kanyang kapatid na si Rogelio ay tatakbo para congressman sa first district ng South South Cotabato.

Bakit kaya hindi tumakbo si Nanay Dionisia na senador?

Cyberspace vandalism is condemnable

Published by Ellen on October 6, 2012

This site has been hacked again. Same thing with VERA Files site. Whatever is the motive of the hacker, it’s cyberspace vandalism. It’s condemnable. I’m…

The sad, dramatic, if redeeming, life of Juan Ponce Enrile

Published by Ellen on October 6, 2012

By Pablo A. Tariman, VERA Files

The 753-page of “Juan Ponce Enrile: A Memoir” has many things going for it.
For one, the simple yet striking cover layout doesn’t call attention to itself and for another, it is well-edited (by Nelson Navarro) which makes for smooth, easy reading. It is, by turn, a no-nonsense book about someone’s life as he lived it and how he survived it.

Divided into two parts ( “With God and Guts” and “Making A difference”), the memoir has a unique voice you can’t mistake for a politician’s. The narrative flows with ease as the subject recalls the poverty-stricken barrio of his birth and ending his joining the government in the first part.
The first part is easily the most engrossing and the most poignant. The author – now well-known and famous — recalls the abject poverty of his past with startling details.

Born February 14, 1924, Juan Ponce Enrile (JPE) admits he was a love child baptized in the Aglipayan Church as Juanito Furagganan. His father, Alfonso Ponce Enrile, was born from parents from Baliwag, Bulacan. He notes that his grandfather, Damaso Ponce, was first cousin to Mariano Ponce of La Soledaridad, the propaganda arm of the Philippine Revolution of 1896.

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