Archbishop remembers Aquino for strong and decisive leadership in ‘Sendong’ aftermath, for “honesty, humility and hard work”
CAGAYAN DE ORO (MindaNews / 03 July) — The late President Benigno Simeon Aquino III is being remembered here as a strong and decisive leader after tropical storm “Sendong” devastated this city and neighboring Iligan City in late 2011. Cagayan de Oro Archbishop Emeritus Antonio Ledesma recalled how Aquino came to Cagayan de Oro soon […].....»»
Eumir Marcial K.O’s Thai foe in Manila duel
CEBU CITY, Philippines — Olympic bronze medalist Eumir Marcial made easy work against Thai Thoedsak Sinam in his homecoming bout in Manila on Saturday night, March 23, at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium. Marcial, who is bound for the Paris Olympics in July, knocked out Sinam in the fourth round in their eight-rounder non-title bout. With.....»»
Walang (Mag)saysay
During one of the many well-publicized Senate hearings in the aftermath of the infamous Mamasapano Massacre in 2015 that led to the murder of 44 Special Action Force troopers, one Miriam Coronel-Ferrer was grilled by an irate Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano. Coronel-Ferrer was then chairman of the Aquino Government’s peace panel that had signed an accord with the Muslim rebels on the establishment of a Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, an agreement widely regarded as having signed away a lot of our Republic’s prerogatives in favor of armed Islamic insurgents. Senator Cayetano demanded to know from Coronel-Ferrer why the government dragged its feet in providing artillery support and reinforcements to the trapped policmen, to which she notoriously replied, “The policy of the government is to first negotiate with the armed groups fighting with state forces.” To this, Cayetano replied, “No government in the world negotiates with terrorists.” Coronel-Ferrer’s response left most in the Senate gallery dumbfounded when she said, “I know of no such policy.” Yet here she is, one of this year’s Magsaysay Awardees. Ironic it is that an award founded in honor of one of the best-loved Presidents this country has ever had, would be given to an underling of someone who would become one of the most hated in Philippine history (after a string of scandals such as the Luneta hostage fiasco, “Yolanda” and Dengvaxia, among many others). Even more ironic is that she is being given the award for her supposed “transformative power of non-violent strategies,” when all that she succeeded in transforming was forty-four elite police personnel into corpses due to the appalling display of violence of a rebel movement she greatly enabled. She also almost transformed our Republic into a dismembered state; thank heavens the backlash from the massacre caused the agreement she brokered to be shelved in favor of one much less onerous to the Philippines. But what is to expected of an award-giving body co-opted by Yellowtards, as a quick look at the roster of its chairman and trustees will readily reveal. Composed of men and women with strong ties either to Mrs. Cory Aquino and/or her anointed successor, Fidel Ramos, these people either served in the Cabinet or important agencies of one or the other President; or had enjoyed — or are still enjoying — high positions in big corporations supportive of the Aquino Yellow narrative. So it should be of no wonder that these denizens of the same echo chamber would exhibit the proclivity, remarkably endemic to the Aquino clique, of giving awards and accolades to each other. As if that would somehow compensate for the fact that the narrative that has kept them in power for more than 30 years had been totally demolished. Just note the decorations given to Leni after she lost, from fellowships to doctor’s degrees honoris causa to trophies for this and that dubious achievement. Such a pity that the Magsaysay Awards should so decline in prestige. It used to be an important recognition for Asian leaders, counting among its Filipino awardees the likes of Francisca Aquino, Rosa Rosal, F. Sionil Jose, Lino Brocka, Dr. Fe del Mundo, Nick Joaquin, James Reuter, Bienvenido Lumbera and Miriam Defensor-Santiago. Yet, like many others touched by the Yellow reverse-Midas touch, what used to be gold is turning to crap, with Yellow stalwarts Jesse Robredo, Sheila Coronel, Conchita-Carpio Morales, Haydee Yorac and Hilario Davide among the list. Cringy, especially since among those who have previously received the honor were the Dalai Lama, Thai Premier Anand Panyarachun, Mochtar Lubis, Akira Kurosawa, Ravi Shankar and Mother Teresa. To use an overworn cliché, President Magsaysay would be turning in his grave to know that his eponymous award has become another way for those in the same political group to pat themselves on the back. Its value has depreciated and, if the trend is not arrested, it will soon be irrelevant, a case of walang saysay. The post Walang (Mag)saysay appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
NOLCOM offers free flight to stranded locals and tourists in typhoon-affected Batanes
Camp Aquino, Tarlac City – The Northern Luzon Command (NOLCOM) thru the Tactical Operation Group 2 (TOG 2) of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) conducted an air evacuation to stranded tourists and locals in Basco, Batanes on Thursday, August 10, 2023, following the aftermath of Typhoons Egay and Falcon. The island province bore the brunt […].....»»
‘Ravishing, irresistible’: ‘Here Lies Love’ opens to solid reviews
Here Lies Love, the groundbreaking musical about former First Lady Imelda Marcos, officially opened on Broadway on Thursday night, 20 July, with an all-Filipino cast led by Tony-winning actor Lea Salonga and a guest list headed by Filipino-American entertainers H.E.R. and Jo Koy, who are among the show’s producers. Giselle Tongi, a known actress in the Philippines before migrating to the United States, is also a co-producer who functions as community/cultural liaison. She was joined at the event by other celebrities of Filipino descent, including actress Tia Carrere, fashion designer Josie Natori and drag performer Manila Luzon. There were also Hollywood figures, such as actors Drew Barrymore and Daniel Dae Kim, comedian-TV host Stephen Colbert, filmmaker Spike Lee, singer-songwriter Shoshana Bean and hairstylist Frederic Fekkai. [gallery size="full" ids="161929,161926,161931"] Philippine-based actors Yassi Pressman and Mark Bautista, plus Liza Soberano, who’s trying her luck in the United States, were in attendance, too, along with fashion photographer BJ Pascual and model-host Joey Mead.The show has received mostly raves so far. Charles Isherwood of The Wall Street Journal praised “the irresistible score” that is “like nothing else on Broadway,” a sentiment shared by Peter Marks of the Washington Post who said the show’s “jolting tunes, melodic and insistent, send scintillating vibrations through your nervous system.” Wrote Greg Evans of Deadline: “The real pull of Here Lies Love is the staging, with a malleable performance space, an audience herded to and fro, and cast members finding perches throughout the venue.” [caption id="attachment_161930" align="aligncenter" width="720"] LEA Salonga and Manila Luzon.[/caption] Chris Jones of the Chicago Tribune, meanwhile, pointed to “a couple of formidable assets. One is the Byrne-and-Slim soundscape, which is to my mind more beautiful, more exciting and more surprising than any score on Broadway last season… The second strength is director Alex Timbers’ conceptual staging.” “The groundbreaking, floor-shaking Here Lies Love makes space for itself like no Broadway show ever has,” said Adam Feldman in Time Out New York, with the “immersive production” allowing audience members to “get swept up in the shifting tides and undertows of history.” [caption id="attachment_161933" align="aligncenter" width="449"] FILMMAKER Spike Lee (middle). | PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF IG/HERE LIES LOVE[/caption] And Johnny Oleksinki of The New York Post concluded: “Even if Here Lies Love doesn’t reach the emotional highs of Evita… it’s a ravishing sensory experience unlike any other.” Here Lies Love is based on the concept album created by Scottish-American musician/songwriter/record producer David Byrne and English musician/DJ/record producer Fatboy Slim that evolved into a rock musical. It tells the story of Imelda’s rise to power and subsequent fall in the aftermath of the People Power revolution in 1986. The show premiered off-Broadway in 2013 at The Public Theater in New York City. A year later, it moved to the Royal National Theater in London, England, and then was restaged at Seattle Repertory Theater in the U.S. in 2017. Mark Bautista played the role of the late President Ferdinand Marcos in both the London and Seattle productions. In the current Broadway run, Arielle Jacobs plays Imelda and Jose Llana reprises the Ferdinand Marcos role he originated at The Public Theater. Conrad Ricamora takes on the part of Ninoy Aquino, while Lea Salonga portrays Ninoy’s mother Aurora Aquino in a limited run until 13 August. The post ‘Ravishing, irresistible’: ‘Here Lies Love’ opens to solid reviews appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
NAIA traffic hits 22 million in 6 months
The Ninoy Aquino International Airport served more than 22 million passengers in the first half of the year on the sustained recovery of air travel in the pandemic aftermath......»»
Truth is always right
On 2 April 2012, I wrote an open memorandum to His Excellency, the President of the Republic of the Philippines, Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III, which read: “Your Excellency, I am respectfully writing you openly on the basis of national interest, that Heidi Mendoza should no longer be reappointed as Commissioner of the Commission on Audit. “Truth is not always popular, but it is always right. “Heidi Mendoza has almost always been popular, that is why she has almost always been wrong. “Mrs. Mendoza has been bypassed three times…I respectfully request that she no longer be re-appointed. “Official records revealed her questionable integrity, incompetence, and unfitness to hold the position. “Her public testimony that the five million US dollars UN peacekeeping fund was withdrawn by a general was denied by the UN officials in New York. “Her claim that the P50 million of the P200 million transferred to UCPB from Landbank Greenhills was missing was proven untrue by the Sandiganbayan. “Her testimony in the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona was stricken off the record. She was discharged as a witness. The court found her lying. “It would take volumes for me to write to you all of her falsehood. “Mr. President, please be kind to Heidi Mendoza. Spare her from the agony of being looked at with contempt by CoA auditors. They feel disrespected. Be kind to the hardworking rank and file, the saving grace of the audit institution.” But President Aquino reappointed Mendoza. Her whims and caprices together with those of her tandem, Grace Pulido Tan, bloomed with impunity of abuse, with Florencio Abad, who completed the “stars” in the “holocaust” in Philippine fiscal administration. THE AUDITOR derived its endless true and fascinating stories from the aftermath of this international tragedy. Mabuhay ang Daily Tribune! The post Truth is always right appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Aftermath of Heidi’s falsehood (2)
Upon a careful study of the case, vis-à-vis the evidence of the prosecution, it was an honest and sincere assessment that the plea bargaining agreement approved by Wendell Sulit was in the best interest of the State under the circumstances. Sulit was the dismissed prosecutor in the plunder trial on the plea bargaining deal with Armed Forces of the Philippines comptroller Gen. Carlos Garcia. The prosecution had no evidence to prove the material allegation in the information that the general had received kickbacks and commissions from suppliers and contractors of the AFP. Thus, faced with the prospect of accused Garcia being acquitted and walking free with his ill-gotten wealth, the prosecution was forced to take the best available alternative remedy of a plea bargain to save the government from the dismissal of the plunder case. The agreement would result in two criminal convictions — for bribery and violation of the Anti-Money Laundering Law. All existing and identified properties would be recovered and transferred to the government. This would work for the benefit of the government because about 85 percent to 90 percent of the properties under litigation for recovery were in the names of the other co-accused, the wife and children of Garcia over whom the Sandiganbayan had yet to acquire jurisdiction. It was a condition for the approval of the plea bargaining agreement that all identified properties must first be turned over and/or transferred to the Republic of the Philippines. Thus, there was a 100-percent assurance that the interest of the State would be protected. Sulit never gave any undue advantage to the accused Garcia nor was the agreement made for the convenience of Garcia. The truth of the matter was that all the publicity and media blitz was intended to hide the real story that former Ombudsman Marcelo had failed to conduct a good and complete investigation, had failed to gather the required evidence, and had filed a case merely based on personal belief, conclusions, and assumptions without any concrete evidence “to support the same during the trial of the case.” To reiterate, the recommendation of Sulit was still subject to the approval of then-Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez. However, notwithstanding the approval of former Ombudsman Gutierrez, the PBA was not yet self-executory as it was still subject to the approval of the Sandiganbayan. Thus, when the PBA was approved by the Sandiganbayan, was it legally proper and fair to impute liability to the persons who merely recommended an act that was approved by a competent court? Keen observers opined that the drama and antics of Heidi Mendoza influenced President Simeon Benigno Aquino III. Mendoza’s insinuation that Sulit gave undue advantage to Garcia and that the PBA was made for his convenience was a total falsehood. The truth was that all the publicity and media blitz starring the Crying Lady, Heidi Mendoza, were intended to hide the real story as stated earlier. The Court of Appeals turned down the findings of the Office of President Noynoy Aquino, that Sulit’s approval of the plea bargaining agreement with Garcia was unlawful. At the end of Noynoy’s term as president, the Court of Appeals ruled: “The fact that the deal was approved by the Sandiganbayan made it aboveboard and within the process mandated by law.” “The act of the Office of the President in determining the probative value of the evidence presented in the cases of plunder and money laundering in the administrative proceedings was not only misplaced and uncalled for but also constituted an encroachment on the judicial power. The authority rests solely upon the appropriate court — in the Sandiganbayan.” (To be continued) The post Aftermath of Heidi’s falsehood (2) appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Aftermath of Heidi’s falsehood
On 2 April 2011, Commissioner-nominee of the Commission on Audit, Heidi Mendoza, was bypassed for the third time by the Commission on Appointments based on my opposition. With all due respect, I informed the President that official records revealed Mendoza’s questionable integrity, incompetence, and unfitness to hold the position. Against my request, President Noynoy Aquino reappointed Heidi Mendoza. Her whims and caprices and those of her tandem, Grace Pulido Tan, bloomed into their impunity of abuse. This episode today was selected from among the countless distressing stories derived from the aftermath of Heidi Mendoza’s falsehood. The illegal dismissal of Special Prosecutor Wendell Sulit by President Aquino was one of the worst miscarriages of justice in the country. Here are the arguments and lamentations against the injustice. Sulit should not have been held liable in relation to the plea bargaining agreement or PBA with former AFP comptroller, retired Maj. Gen. Carlos Garcia. Here is how injustice happens: The Office of the President did not have jurisdiction over Sulit; Sulit was not a presidential appointee at the time she signed the PBA. Legally, she was only a Deputy Special Prosecutor and was merely designated by former Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez as the OIC of the Office of the Special Prosecutor or OSP. She affixed her signature to the PBA because it was the prescribed office protocol vis-à-vis the hierarchy of officials in the office and it just so happened that she was the one designated as the OIC; The PBA was signed on 26 February 2010, while Sulit was appointed Special Prosecutor only on 10 March 2010; Sulit was never a part of the prosecution team that handled the plunder case of Garcia. The original panel of prosecutors that handled the plunder case was headed by then Ombudsman Simeon Marcelo, together with then Special Prosecutor Dennis Villa-Ignacio, Deputy Special Prosecutor Robert Kallos, Deputy Special Prosecutor Humphrey Monteroso, Director Cornelio Somido, and Director Elvira Chua; The Information was filed with the Sandiganbayan (Second Division) on 6 April 2005; Former Ombudsman Marcelo and former SP Villa-Ignacio actively participated in the pre-trial incidents (judicial determination of probable cause, motion to quash, hearing on the issuance of warrants of arrest) but after the arraignment (25 April 2006) of General Garcia they did not appear in the case anymore for unknown reasons; Wendell Sulit may not be faulted for allegedly failing and/or refusing to strengthen the plunder case against General Garcia because, in the first place, she was never part of the fact-finding investigation and evidence gathering; she was never part of the preliminary investigation; she had no participation in the preparation of the resolution indicting Garcia for plunder and was never part of the prosecution panel that handled the case with the Sandiganbayan; and Sulit was with the Office of the Special Prosecutor and once a case is filed with the Sandiganbayan, the special prosecutors are bound by the evidence attached to the case records assigned to them for prosecution with the Sandiganbayan. The special prosecutors may not insert or add additional pieces of evidence which were never part of the fact-finding preliminary investigation. However, notwithstanding this recognized limitation, and while already in the prosecution’s presentation of evidence stage, the prosecutors handling the case went out of their way to look for the suppliers or contractors who could testify before the Sandiganbayan that they gave commissions and kickbacks to General Garcia. Unfortunately, there were no such suppliers or contractors. (To be continued) The post Aftermath of Heidi’s falsehood appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Mass for PNoy
Archbishop Emeritus Antonio Ledesma passes by a tarpaulin bearing the photograph of former President Benigno Simeon Aquino III and the words “Salamat PNoy” (Thank you PNoy) at the entrance of the St. Augustine Metropolitan Cathedral in Cagayan de Oro City on Saturday, 03 July 2021. Ledesma officiated the 9th day memorial mass for Aquino who […].....»»
A bachelor father of the nation
On the feast of St. John the Baptist on June 24, Lingayen Archbishop Socrates Villegas aptly noted our late president Benigno Simeon “Noynoy” Cojuangco Aquino III “crossed over the next life,” and quietly left us......»»
At Noynoy Aquino’s funeral mass, Villegas pleads for return of decency in gov’t
The funeral mass for former President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III took a political turn with Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas calling for a return of decency in government......»»
Full text: Archbishop Villegas homily for former president Aquino s funeral mass
"The sincerest form of tribute to dear President Noy is to relive his life lessons of decency and ethical leadership.".....»»
Mommy Dionisia, Mike Yamson 10 years nang magdyowa: Thank you, Lord!
SAMPUNG taon nang magkarelasyon ngayon ang nanay ni Manny Pacquiao na si Mommy Dionisia Pacquiao at ang boyfriend niyang si Mike Yamson. Yes, yes, yes mga ka-Marites! Ten years nang magdyowa ang dalawa at in fairness, going strong pa rin ang relasyon at mas lalo pa raw nagiging solid sa paglipas ng panahon. Twenty-seven years.....»»
Cebu topnotcher shares secret to success: Strong support system of family, friends
CEBU CITY, Philippines — A good support system of family and friends is Elijah Cabase’s secret to his placing 5th in the March 2024 Medical Technologists Licensure Examinations (MTLE). This 23-year-old University of Cebu-Banilad alumnus said that he was not even expecting to pass because he described himself as a confessed procrastinator — or one.....»»
Power fluctuations hit NAIA
Passengers sweltered as power fluctuations hit the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2 at around 10 a.m. yesterday......»»
India backs Philippines in dispute with China
New Delhi has drawn a strong response from Beijing after reiterating its support for Manila in a territorial dispute India has "firmly reiterated" its support for the Philippines and its "national sovereignty," as Manila remains locked in a territorial dispute with Beijing in the South China Sea. Ten.....»»
India backs Philippines in sea dispute with China
New Delhi has drawn a strong response from Beijing after reiterating its support for Manila in a territorial dispute India has "firmly reiterated" its support for the Philippines and its "national sovereignty," as Manila remains locked in a territorial dispute with Beijing in the South China Sea. Ten.....»»
Pacatiw tries to buck cage rust in ONE Championship return
More than a year since his last ONE Championship bout, Jeremy Pacatiw acknowledged that he has a lot to work on before his comeback fight......»»
Gilas women off to great start in FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup
The Gilas Pilipinas women had a strong start in the 2024 FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup after coming up unscathed in the first day of the competition Wednesday at the Singapore Sports Hub......»»
Paolo Contis masaya sa paglipat ng ‘It’s Showtime’ sa GMA
HAPPY ang Kapuso actor at dating host ng noontime program na “Tahanang Pinakamasaya” na si Paolo Contis sa pagkakaroon ng bagong tahanan ng “It’s Showtime”. Sa kanyang exclusive interview sa GMA News nitong Lunes, March 25, natanong ang aktor kung bukas ba siya sa posibilidad na maka-work ang mga Kapamilya hosts ng naturang noontime program......»»