ellen tordesillas – Page 193 – Making life worth living.

Wilson Flores interviews Romy Neri

Published by Ellen on June 6, 2010

By Wilson Lee Flores
The Philippine Star

SSS president Romulo Neri recently made news headlines again along with former Comelec Chairman Benjamin Abalos, with both pinned twice by the Ombudsman for a graft case, while President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and First Gentleman Mike Arroyo were cleared by the same Ombudsman of alleged wrongdoing in the controversial and allegedly overpriced US$329.48 million National Broadband Network (NBN) project with ZTE.

As former National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) chief, Neri was in 2007 invited by the Senate to testify on the alleged NBN anomalies where he revealed that ZTE broker Abalos had offered him a P200 million bribe at Wack Wack Golf & Country Club for him to approve the NBN project. Neri narrated that he informed GMA about this bribery attempt and that she instructed him not to accept the bribe. However, when the Senate probed further on whether GMA herself had followed up the project, directed him to prioritize or approve it, Neri refused to answer the Senate, invoking “executive privilege.” The Supreme Court in 2008 affirmed Neri’s right as a cabinet official to invoke “executive privilege.” Neri has since declined to discuss at length this controversy with the media, but this writer recently convinced him to grant The Philippine STAR an exclusive no-holds-barred interview. Here are excerpts:

Gustong i- appoint ni Noynoy si Dingdong at Ogie

Published by Ellen on June 5, 2010

Update: Kris Aquino urges Abunda to accept position of Tourism secretary; admits it was her idea

Ano ba naman ito.

Ayun sa report ng GMA News TV, gusto raw ni Noynoy Aquino, ang nanalo sa pagka-pangulo ng Pilipinas sa nakaraaang eleksyun , iniisip raw niya bigyan ng pwesto sa gobyerno ang mga Kapuso stars na si Dingdong Dantes at Ogie Alcasid.

Lumabas ito ng tinanong siya kung sino pa sa mga taga showbiz ang iniisip niyang i-appoint sa pamahalaan maliban kay TV host na si Boy Abunda ng ABS-CBN, ang sagot ni Aquino, “Si Dingdong, si Ogie…siguro dun sa mga advocacy nila gaya sa youth.”

Hindi pa raw niya nakaka-usap ang dalawa na tumulong sa kanya noong kampanya. Ngunit ang pag-suporta sa kanya raw ay hindi lamang ang basehan ng kanyang desisyon na kukunin sila para manglingkod sa gobyerno.

“Matagal din naman natin silang nakasama sa kampanya, nalaman natin ang mga advocacy nila, ano yung mga tinutulungan nilang sector, sayang naman kung hindi magtutuloy-tuloy,” paliwanag ni Aquino.

Dagdag pa niya: “Kung papayag sila (Dingdong at Ogie) bakit hindi. Si Dingdong alam ko may youth foundationsi Ogie ganun din yata plus yung OPM (organisasyon ng mang-aawit).”

Rogue June 2010

Published by Ellen on June 4, 2010

Rogue magazine asked me to write about the May 10 elections. I have not bought a copy of June 2010 issue yet but it looks…

Betrayal in the House

Published by Ellen on June 4, 2010

No quorum kills freedom of info bill

by Leila Salaverria
Philippine Daily Inquirer

The House of Representatives accomplished nothing on its last session day Friday, but claims of deceit, threats of arrest and declarations of outrage flew fast and furious.

Declared seven short of a quorum, the House adjourned without ratifying the freedom of information (FOI) bill—a landmark piece of legislation that would have lifted the shroud of secrecy over government transactions and data.

Ratification was to have been the last step before the nine-year-old bill is submitted to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for her signature.

Bangit bypassed by CA; manicurist declines appointment

Published by Ellen on June 4, 2010

Enrile: Bangit bypassed by CA, must vacate office

by Christine O. Avendaño
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Bad news for AFP chief of staff Gen. Delfin Bangit.

Because Congress adjourned on Friday without him getting the nod of the Commission on Appointments, Bangit is deemed bypassed and thus he has to vacate his position and be replaced by his vice chief of staff, Lt. Gen.Rodrigo Maclang, according to Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile.

Enrile said President Macapagal-Arroyo can no longer re-appoint Bangit because of the ban on appointments that is effective until her term ends on June 30.

Midnight

Published by Ellen on June 4, 2010

by Lito Banayo
Malaya

A friend sent me a partial listing of supposed “midnight” appointees of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. Some had to be filled up simply because the offices were vacated, and therefore an appointment in “acting” capacity was required by law. The better option was to name an officer-in-charge (OIC) from any of the undersecretaries or those of lower management rank.

Jesli Lapus was moved from DECS to DTI on March 8, 2010, because Peter Favila who used to be Trade secretary wanted a cushy retirement job as member of the Monetary Board. GMA had to press my good friend Raul Boncan to retire earlier, “for reasons of health”, so as to give way to the desires of Peter.

To replace Jesli at DECS, she resurrected Mona Valisno from retirement and gave her cherished dream of being a line cabinet secretary, at last.

The 15th French Film Festival in Manila

Published by Ellen on June 4, 2010

There is something nicely different with the way French filmmakers narrate their stories.There is subtlety absent in Hollywood movies Filipinos are used to, which makes them absorbing and fascinating.

That’s why the yearly French film festival in Manila is an event film lovers look forward to. That’s why it has lasted this long and still going strong.

In last Tuesday’s preview of the film “La graine et le mulet” (The secret of the grain), Martin Macalintal, head of the audio-visual section of the French Embassy, said in selecting movies to be shown in the festival they always make sure that they are the latest releases. Although there are a number of historical or period films in past festivals, the bulk of the films showcase French contemporary society.

“La Graine et le mulet” is about a 60-year old divorce who was retrenched from his job at the shipyard. In relating how the main character copes with the crisis in his past mid-life (putting up a restaurant that offers couscous , a grain dish, on a junk ship), the film also shows family relationships in today’s France.

Another admirable thing about French films is that their stars are not always the usual young ,handsome and pretty actors and actresses. They stress more on character. And yes, seductive scenes, are part and parcel of French movies.

Screening schedule of La Graine et let mulet: June 4, 6 p.m.;June 6, 3 p.m.;June 9, 3 p.m.;June 11, 9 p.m. and June 13, 9 p.m.

Another film I will make sure not to miss is ” L’immortel” (22 Bullets) starring Jean Reno and directed by Richard Berry. The synopsis says “Charly Mattei has turned over a new leaf and left his criminal past behind. For three years now he has been leading a peaceful existence dedicated to his wife and their two children. However, one winter morning, he is left for dead in a parking lot in the old port of Marseille, his body riddled with 22 bullets. To everyone’s general astonishment, he doesn’t die. Based on real life, the story has been reinvented within the Marseille gangster underworld.”

Screening Schedule: June 10, 12 noon;June 12, 6 p.m.;June 13, 3 p.m.

Pumapayag ang Comelec sa bastusan sa partylist system

Published by Ellen on June 2, 2010

Nabastos talaga ng husto ang partylist system.

Ang layunin ng batas ay matino: mabigyan ng representasyon ang mga naapi at mga walang boses. Kasi nga sa gastos ng ating klaseng pulitika, ang mga mahihirap ay wala talagang pag-asang magkaroon ng representasyon sa Kongreso.

The ‘marginalized’

Ayon sa ating saligang batas, “The party-list representatives shall constitute twenty percentum of the total number of representatives….from labor, peasant, urban poor, indigenous cultural communities, women, youth” at iba pang sector ayun sa batas maliban lamang sa religious sector.

Ngunit tingnan mo naman itong Buhay, isa sa mga nanalo. Isa sa kanilang nominee ay si Mike Velarde ng El Shaddai. At halata namang partido ito ng El Shaddai na alam naman natin ay religious kuno.

There are still those left behind

Published by Ellen on June 1, 2010

It’s good that Brig. Gen. Danny Lim is able to celebrate his 55th birthday today out of detention.

It would have been better if his men, still incarcerated in Camp Capinpin, would have been able to join him in his celebration of his freedom.

I’m told that in the courtesy call of former Scout Ranger chief Brig. Gen. Danny Lim to Armed Forces Chief Delfin Bangit immediately upon his release from Camp Crame custodial center early Monday evening, they discussed the situation of the 15 other officers still in detention.

Among the remaining 15 officers are eight Scout Rangers, who are still detained in Camp Capinpin in Tanay, Rizal and one member of the Army’s Special Forces, Capt. Dante Langkit.

The eight Scout Rangers are Maj. Jason Laureano Aquino, Maj. Jose Leomar Doctolero, Capt. James Sababan, Capt. Montano Almodovar, Capt. Joey Fontiveros, Capt. Isagani Criste, Capt. William Upano, and 1Lt. Homer Estolas.

Hindi kailangan ng taumbayan ang bastos na opisyal katulad ni Ferrer

Published by Ellen on May 31, 2010

Kawawa naman itong sina Melchor Magdamo at Arwin Serrano.

Naglakas ng loob isiwalat ang bulok sa Commission on Election. Sa halip na purihin at binigyan ng medalya, minura at dinuro pa sila ni Commissioner Nicodemo Ferrer.

Nangyari itong insidente isang linggo sa miting tungkol sa anomaly ng P700 milyon na kontrata tungkol sa plastic folders na pantakip para daw magiging sekreto ang pagboboto.

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