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DILG is make or break for Roxas’ presidential dream

Published by Ellen on September 2, 2012

Mar Roxas2 — As LP head, he is entitled to be DILG head to further his presidential ambition

Now that he has taken the helm at the Department of Interior and Local Government, it’s a make or break for Mar Roxas in his bid for the presidency in 2016.

The position will allow him to be high profile, conduct headline- grabbing operations that will change his image from a lackluster, elitist politician to a swashbuckling crime buster. If he succeeds, he would be gliding easily to Malacanang four years from now.

It would be the realization of his long-planned campaign for the presidency, which was shelved in 2010 when he slid to the vice-presidential race (in favor of Aquino) which he lost for a variety of reasons including complacency.

If the DILG position catapults Roxas to the presidency, President Aquino could then consider to have duly repaid the former the huge favor extended to him. In the Philippine culture of debt and gratitude, we say,“Quits na”

Roxas’ appointment at the DILG has nothing to do with good governance. It’s all about Roxas’ presidential plans and the Liberal Party extending its hold on power beyond 2016.

No more Christmas cards from Precious

Published by Ellen on September 1, 2012

Antique Gov. Evelio Javier and wife, Precious with barriofolk. — Antique Gov. Evelio Javier and wife, Precious, participate in a town festivities.

Watching Tuesday evening the enthralling rendition of the “Impossible Dream” by Filipino sopranos Rachelle Gerodias, Joanna Ampil; Vietnamese tenor Duc Tuan with Honna Tesuji, a Japanese, conducting a specially assembled Symphony Orchestra composed of Filipino musicians during the Vietnam National Day celebration at the Sofitel Hotel, what came to my mind was one of Philippine democracy’s martyr, Evelio Javier, whose widow, Precious Lotilla-Javier was laid to rest in Antique Wednesday.

“The Impossible Dream” was Evelio’s favorite song.

The song is from the musical “Man from La Mancha”, which was adapted from Spanish writer Miguel de Cervantes’ masterpiece “Don Quixote.”

Precious’ moving tribute to Evelio at the end of the latter’s funeral mass in February 1986 (Evelio’s assassination sparked the first People Power that ended the 20-year Marcos dictatorship), had references to the dreamer Don Quixote character.

Enthralling night of music and food at Vietnam National Day

Published by Ellen on September 1, 2012

Bui Cong Duy with Raul Sunico on the piano

Give it to the dynamic Vietnam Ambassador Nguyen Vu Tu to come up with creative ways to enhance Philippine –Vietnam relations. Last year, it was a fashion show featuring Vietnam and Philippine national dresses.

Last Tuesday’s celebration of Vietnam’s 67th National Day had a concert featuring Filipino and Vietnamese songs as well as classics and Broadway hits.

Violinist Bui Cong Duy opened the concert with spellbinding Libersfreud (Love’s Joy) by Friedrich “Fritz” Kreisler. After a Vietnamese piece, Nho Que (Missing my Home Village), he did Hatinggabi by Antonio Molina.

Mar Roxas is new DILG chief

Published by Ellen on August 31, 2012

ABS-CBNnews.com

President Aquino on Friday appointed Transportation Secretary Mar Roxas as the new chief of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

Roxas, 55, an economist and president of the Liberal Party (LP), will take over the position vacated by the late DILG chief Jesse Robredo who died in a plane crash last August 18.

Speaking to reporters, Aquino said Roxas was on top of a short list of candidates as Robredo’s replacement even before they had confirmed that he had died in the crash.

“When Secretary Robredo was missing, we had to entertain the possibility [of a replacement]. I told Mar that he was first on my shortlist in case we had to replace Jesse,” the President said.

“Hindi naman pwedeng patagalin ang pagtakbo ng gobyerno. Kailangan siguraduhin natin yung functions na hindi nagawa ng naitalaga ay ipasa na kaagad sa isang tao na magpapatuloy sa magandang naumpisahan ni Jesse,” he added.

Canadian Embassy welcomes proposals for funding small-grants projects

Published by Ellen on August 30, 2012

The Embassy of Canada announced that its small-grants facility is now accepting proposals for funding small development projects in the country.

The Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI) will provide direct funding assistance to community groups, non-government organizations, people’s organizations and in exceptional cases, international NGOs, and government institutions for small projects addressing governance, democracy, capacity-building, economic, and other social development issues.

The CFLI or Canada Fund invites applications for short-term (maximum of 6 months, October, 2012 to March 31, 2013 implementation period) development projects that will have a positive impact on the proposed project’s target sector and participants.

Battle for DILG secretary post intensifies

Published by Ellen on August 26, 2012

The battle over the position of Secretary of Interior and Local government, left vacant by the death of Secretary Jesse Robredo in a plane crash last week, intensifies between the Balay (Liberal Party-Mar Roxas) and Samar (Vice President Jejomar Binay and Executive Secretary Jojo Ochoa) factions.

Sen. Panfilo Lacson2 — Lacson at DILG: not good for Mar Roxas 2016 plans

We saw posted in Facebook last week a news item about Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson confirming his interest in the position of DILG secretary, the effect of which was in very bad taste.

A closer look at the news item, however, showed that the date was June 2012 after President Aquino announced that two senators are being eyed for a cabinet position after their elected term expires in June 2013.

When asked if they were Lacson and Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, Aquino replied, ““Those two in particular.”

Ang hamon kay Sereno: panatiliing independent ang Supreme Court

Published by Ellen on August 25, 2012

Maria Lourdes Sereno — The first female Chief Justice in the Philippines

Sa edad na 52, kung manatiling malusog ang bagong hirang na Chief Justice na si Ma. Lourdes Sereno, siya manatili sa makapangyarihan na posisyun nay an hanggang 2030.

Labing-walong taon siya sa posisyun na yan.

Siyempre marami ang nag-aalala sa hindi magandang epekto ng sobrang tagal sa kapangyarihan ng isang opisyal. Na kahit anong galing ng isang tao, kapag masyadong matagal sa pusisyun, kung hindi naging abusado, ganun-na ganun na lang sa mahabang panahon.

Ngunit matalino si Sereno. Valedictorian at cum laude siya ng siya at nag-graduate sa University of the Philippines College of Law noong 1984. Pang-14 siya sa bar exams.

“My leadership is to be exercised to uphold the truth. It is to be exercised in favor of those who are weak, in order that justice in its true sense may be rendered.” -Sereno

http://verafiles.org/front/sereno-vision-courage-and-accountability/

Philippine envoy to China suffers stroke

Published by Ellen on August 24, 2012

Sonia Brady1 — A competent hand in Beijing

By Ellen Tordesillas, VERA Files

Philippine Ambassador to China Sonia Brady suffered a stroke in Beijing this week.

“Amb. Brady suffered a stroke and is hospitalized where her condition is being monitored closely,” Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario confirmed Brady’s condition in a text message to VERA Files.

Update DFA statement Aug. 25, 2012:

Foreign Secretary del Rosario was in Beijing Saturday to visit Amb. Sonia Cataumber Brady who is recovering well after a stroke.

While in Beijing, Sec. del Rosario also met with his Chinese counterpart Yang Yiechi. Discussions between Sec. del Rosario and Minister Yang were productive and issues of mutual concern were discussed in a positive atmosphere.

An official statement released by DFA Spokesman Raul Hernandez late Friday evening said:

“Amb. Sonia Brady was brought to the hospital last Wednesday after she passed out in her residence in Beijing. She is undergoing tests and waiting for the results. Her condition is stable but she is under observation. ”

“She is better now than when she was brought to the hospital last Wednesday,” Hernandez added in a later text advisory.

Sereno is new chief justice

Published by Ellen on August 24, 2012

Ma. Lourdes Sereno — She will be chief justice for 18 years.

Statement of Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda:

In the midst of this period of deep mourning for the loss of Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo, the President is cognizant of his constitutional duty to appoint the next Chief Justice of the Philippines. He has therefore decided to appoint Associate Justice Maria Lourdes Punzalan Aranal-Sereno as the 24th Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.

Sen. Francis Pangilinan welcomed the appointment of Sereno as CJ. “We hope her relative youth and her passion and dynamism will invigorate the moribund and antiquated system of justice in the country. Nothing less than sweeping and comprehensive reforms will do to ensure that the crisis facing the judiciary will be overcome, and we will need the energy, creativity and stamina of a new generation of jurists to do just that.

“The President is confident that Chief Justice Sereno will lead the judiciary in undertaking much-needed reforms. We believe the Judicial Branch of government has a historic opportunity to restore our people’s confidence in the judicial system.”

Rebuilding damaged ties with China

Published by Ellen on August 23, 2012

Jose Almonte — ‘We have to deal with ourselves first.’

Chito Sta. Romana, considered a China expert having lived in China for more than 30 years and worked as Beijing Bureau chief of ABC News, said Philippines-China relations are now at their lowest ebb since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1975.

Sta. Romana, together with Brig. Gen. (ret.) Jose Almonte, former National Security Adviser, were the speakers in last Wednesday’s general membership meeting of the Makati Business Club at Hotel Intercon in Makati.

The unfortunate deterioration of relations with a global superpower and an Asian neighbor started last April 8 when the Philippine Navy’s pride, BRP Gregorio del Pilar, a hand-me down from the United States, arrested Chinese fishermen in Panatag shoal, also known as Scarborough shoal, 124 nautical miles off Zambales.

A mishandling of the situation characterized by rhetorics from the Philippines’ high officials led to a standoff that lasted almost two months. The territorial dispute spilled over to economic relations with China rejecting banana exports from the Philippines and Chinese tourists cancelling their scheduled trips to the Philippines.

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