ellen tordesillas – Page 122 – Making life worth living.

Even legends get the jitters

Published by Ellen on March 9, 2012

Another musical event to look forward to.

By Elizabeth Lolarga,VERA Files

It may come as a surprise to some that seasoned pianist Cecile Licad, ballerina Lisa Macuja and singer Lea Salonga, who continue to light up stages here and abroad, confess to pre-concert jitters.

A blunt Licad says, “I’m always agitated and nervous before every show since I was seven. But as I get older, I’m less afraid of screwing up things. Everything in life is not perfect so why not make an art of screwing up? I’d ask the presentor if I can have a siling labuyo (hot chili pepper), I eat it. The taste keeps me awake.”

Salonga shares that she paces a lot before a show starts, apart from warming up her throat, to free herself of nervousness. She adds, “I can’t sit still. I go through the blocking and lyrics in my head. I stay hydrated and don’t talk too much. Praying keeps my calm.”

Romela Bengzon, ambassador for international trade?

Published by Ellen on March 8, 2012

The March 7, 2012 issue of Sydney Morning Herald carried a news item, “Defence firm faces bribe probe “by Nick McKenzie and Richard Baker.

The firm involved is Tenix Defence, Australia’s biggest military contractor, which is under investigation by federal police investigation for allegedly bribing officials and politicians across Asia including the Philippines to win massive contracts.

The article said “A director of Tenix’s Philippines subsidiary, lawyer Romela Bengzon, this week confirmed a police investigation into company contracts. She declined to comment further, citing her ongoing role with Tenix.”

The article further said, “Ms Bengzon is well known to the Australian embassy in Manila and is corporate secretary of the Australian New Zealand Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines. In 2005, she was made a commissioner to advise on changes to the Philippine constitution. She is now the Philippines ambassador for international trade.”

The last sentence was a shock to me because Bengzon was an ardent supporter of Gloria Arroyo. How did she get the position of “ambassador for international trade” under the Aquino administration?

Corona rattles the closet

Published by Ellen on March 8, 2012

Corona on the offensive — On the offensive

Talks of meeting Aquino on TruthCom

By Evangeline de Vera,Malaya

Chief Justice Renato Corona yesterday accused a senator-judge in the impeachment trial of lobbying for a term-sharing agreement between him and Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio.

On Day 2 of his media blitz, Corona said Sen. Teofisto Guingona III called him up sometime in March 2011 to propose that he retire early so that Carpio could take over, being the next most senior magistrate in the high court.

Corona also talked of a lunch meeting with President Aquino sometime in July 2010, or shortly after the President was sworn into office by retired Justice Conchita Carpio Morales.

The Tenor

Published by Ellen on March 6, 2012

I wrote this article for Rogue Magazine February last year. Click here:http://issuu.com/rogue.ph/docs/roguefeb2011

Last week Espiritu was back as Alfredo in Verdi’s opera, “La Traviata.” I missed it but friends who were privileged to watch it said, as usual, he was superb.

He is currently conducting Master Classes at the Cultural Center of the Philippines.For inquiries, please contact the CCP Artist Training Division at 832-1125 loc. 1604-1605.

He will be back to perform in “Barber of Seville” at the CCP very soon.

That is something to watch out for.

Filipino-American tenor Arthur Espiritu’s enthralling performances are proof of the power of simplicity.

It’s beautiful singing that is pure talent and superior technique. It’s no wonder that he made it to the La Scala de Milan, the first Philippine- born tenor to have graced what is considered the hallowed altar of operas.

Senate accepts Corona bank records as evidence

Published by Ellen on March 6, 2012

By Ryan Chua, ABS-CBN News

The Senate on Tuesday ruled that it will accept the bank records of Chief Justice Renato Corona with the Philippine Savings Bank submitted by the prosecution as evidence in the magistrate’s impeachment trial.

Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile also announced at a press conference following a caucus of senators that the impeachment court had denied the motion of Corona’s defense to suppress the bank accounts as evidence on the grounds that these were illegally acquired.

“As far as the evidence on bank records presented by the prosecution … (these) are accepted,” Enrile said. “So (we) have accepted the formal offer of evidence submitted by the prosecution panel.”

Hindi dahil Azkal, pwedeng mambastos

Published by Ellen on March 3, 2012

Mabuti naman at hindi pinalampas ni Cristy Ramos ang pambabastos ng dalawang miyembro ng Azkals sa kanya.

Kahit na ba magaling sila mag-football at malaki ang nagawa ng Azkals para buhayin ang laro sa bansa, hindi yun lisensya para magiging bastos sila sa kababaihan.

Si Cristy ay anak ni dating Pangulong Fidel Ramos at dati ring pangulo ng Philippine Olympic Committee. Opisyal siya ngayon ng Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) na siyang namamahala ng football sa buong mundo.

Sa kanyang reklamo na isinampa sa Asian Football Confederation, ikinuwento ni Ramos na siya ang napiling Match Commissioner sa laro ng Philippines (Azkals) at Malaysia noong Pebrero 29 sa Rizal Memorial Footbal Stadium.

Bilang Match Commissioner, trabaho ni Ramos ang i-inspeksyunin ang lahat na gamit at suot ng mga players. Sa kanilang miting, isang araw bago ang laro, sinabi ni Ramos na dahil siya ay babae sa isang laro na puro lalaki ang players, sasamahan siya ng isa pang opisyal na lalaki.

Waah vs Pweeh

Published by Ellen on March 2, 2012

Update: Senate decided not to detain Aguirre

miriam vs aguirre — Waah vs Pweeh (Thanks to Inquirer for photo)

The Corona impeachment trial has lived up to the expectation of many as another telenovela that would distract the people from the depressing reality of deteriorating peace and order, rising unemployment , unabated corruption and many more.

The Miriam Santiago-Vitaliano Aguirre fight was a fitting scene to end the prosecution’s presentation. Defense will start its presentation of witnesses on March 12.

Presiding Judge Juan Ponce-Enrile said they will discuss Tuesday next week the punishment that they would impose on Aguirre, one of the prosecution’s private lawyers, after he was cited for contempt for covering his ears while Santiago was berating the prosecution.

‘Wah’ happened! Miriam Santiago goes ballistic

Published by Ellen on March 1, 2012

Proposed punishment fro Aquirre:

Sotto, the majority leader, later told the Philippine Daily Inquirer that the senators would take up the penalty to be imposed on Aguirre in a caucus on Tuesday.

“I don’t know if this is serious or not but it is being suggested by Senators Francis Escudero and Panfilo Lacson that we place attorney Aguirre in a room in front of a television set playing the videotape of one of Miriam’s privilege speeches.”

By Cathy Yamsuan, Michael Lim Ubac, TJ Burgonio
Philippine Daily Inquirer

An irate Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago covers her ears during a tumultuous moment in the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona on Wednesday after private prosecutor Vitaliano Aguirre III was caught on camera covering his ears as Santiago was berating the prosecution panel. Aguirre, who said his ears “were hurting,” was later cited in contempt for disrespect of a senator-judge.

Private prosecutor Vitaliano Aguirre had had enough of Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago and had the guts to stand up to her.

Aquino continues to play blind to Naguiat’s culpability

Published by Ellen on February 28, 2012

Aquino swears in NaguiatB — Aquino swears in trusted friend and classmate

President Aquino misses the point in the Wynn Resorts controversy when he reduced it into just losing one prospective investor.

Aquino said he won’t lose sleep if Wynn, whose intra-corporate fight with his partner, Kazuo Okada, exposed the bribes showered by the latter to officials of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation including the current chair, Cristino Naguiat, Jr., does not invest in the Philippines because there’s a long list of foreign investors interested to come.

Aquino preferred to play blind to the issue of unabated corruption raised in the investigation report made by former Federal Bureau of Investigation Louis Freeh commissioned by Wynn Resorts such as, despite his anti-corruption agenda, “Official corruption in the Philippine gaming industry is ‘deeply ingrained.’

Questions on Aquino’s clearance of Naguiat

Published by Ellen on February 26, 2012

President Aquino immediately cleared his classmate and friend Cristino Naguiat Jr of allegations by Wynn Resorts that he was the recipient of of the generosity of his former friend and partner Kazuo Okada.

Click here for Wynn’ suit vs Okada

Of course, Aquino later asked Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. to investigate allegations of breathtaking gifts showered by Okada, whose Universal Entertainment Corp is building a casino at the reclaimed Manila Bay area, to Naguiat whom Aquino has appointed chairman ang chief operating officer of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation.

PAGCOR regulates and operates casinos in the country.

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