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Different strokes for Noy’s KKK EDITORIAL 07/16/2011

Saturday, July 16, 2011

Different strokes for Noy’s KKK

EDITORIAL
Click to enlarge
07/16/2011
For having requested, and received, utility vehicles for their dioceses from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, seven bishops were pilloried by the PCSO, the Palace and Noynoy himself, tearing not just their reputations, but the reputation and yes, dignity of the local institutional Catholic Church.
For having deliberately leaked false information, enabling the current yellow PCSO chief to damage the bishops and evidently through the hiring of an expensive “crisis” Public Relations practioner and his firm, Noynoy, through his Palace mouthpieces, dismissed calls for Margie Juico, chairman of the PCSO, who falls under the category of Kaibigan and Kaalyado of the now infamous KKK, to apologize and to resign for the character assassination on the bishops and the church they committed..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110716com1.html

From bad to worse FRONTLINE Ninez Cacho-Olivares 07/16/2011

From bad to worse

FRONTLINE
Ninez Cacho-Olivares
07/16/2011
Never has the nation had such a divisive and quarrelsome president as it has today in Noynoy Aquino, which bodes ill for both the polity and the country.

While it is true that the nation has experienced divisiveness owing to, of all things, political inclinations, it was hardly in the same degree of divisiveness as it is being experienced today, with all credit for this naturally going to Noynoy, who can never hope to ever unite the people behind him under his presidency.

His mother, Cory, who was propelled to power and position through the Edsa Revolt route, was a divisive president, only less so, when compared to her son. Their similarities rest on the fact that both are expending all their focus and efforts to destroy their predecessors, with Cory ending up not being able to achieve much, by way of governance and even in ushering prosperity and improvement in the lives of the Filipino people. and more importantly, bringing unity and peace to the nation.

Under the Ramos regime, it can be said that in the matter of divisiveness, there was little, or at least not felt as much as his focus was hardly on bringing Cory Aquino’s political foes to jail, unlike his predecessor Cory. Yet he was not unlike Marcos in his desire to extend his time in the presidency, through his “Pirma” people’s initiative to amend the Charter and of course to destroy the electoral chances of his successor..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110716com2.html

‘Fed up’ youth movement shakes up Senegalese politics focus 07/16/2011

‘Fed up’ youth movement shakes up Senegalese politics

focus

07/16/2011
DAKAR — Launched by a group of rappers in January, a movement called “Fed up” has shaken Senegal’s political scene and become the symbol of protests against President Abdoulaye Wade’s regime.

Youths have rallied, denouncing the 85-year-old Wade’s efforts to run for a third term as president as well as crippling power cuts, corruption and other social ills.

“We want a democratic revolution in Senegal, to change things by voting,” said Fadel Barro, a journalist and coordinator of the movement which was started by a group of friends, the oldest of whom is 33 years.
“On January 16 there was a power cut which lasted 20 hours (in Dakar). We said that something has to be done. A group of rappers from the group ‘Keur Gui’ — which has a history of challenging authority — took the lead,” he added..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110716com3.html

Chaos threatens Philippines’ cultural treasures focus 07/15/2011

Chaos threatens Philippines’ cultural treasures

focus

07/15/2011
MANILA — Thieves and art dealers are the usual suspects, but mildew and flashbulbs are just as dangerous for some of the Philippines’ beleaguered cultural treasures.
From a 30,000-year-old skull fragment of one of its first human inhabitants to imposing churches built during Spanish colonial rule, the Southeast Asian archipelago has a stunning display of artifacts showcasing its diverse history.

But they are under threat on every front.

Even at the National Museum where half a million archaeological items are supposed to be protected, a lack of funds means they could be as vulnerable as treasures outside its walls, said its chief conservator Orlando Abinion.

Even at the National Museum where half a million archaeological items are supposed to be protected, a lack of funds means they could be as vulnerable as treasures outside its walls, said its chief conservator Orlando Abinion..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110715com3.html

Just wondering NO HOLDS BARRED Armida Siguion-Reyna 07/15/2011

Just wondering

NO HOLDS BARRED
Armida Siguion-Reyna
07/15/2011
By the time you read this, I shall be winging to a family vacation I’m truthfully apprehensive to take. It’s going to be my first long one without my husband Sig, and just the thought of being without the dear man beside me on the plane and messing up his side of our hotel room is enough to make me cry.

The road show tour of Aawitan Kita sa Amerika last May was work, and hard work at that, so there wasn’t much time to miss anybody. The next three weeks are purely for rest and recreation, how to fill in all the hours of the day without my partner of close to 60 years is a problem a woman my age can no longer solve with all the available shopping in the world.

Same time last year, we were in Milan, from where we motored to the northern part of Italy. Sig was smiling all throughout, there’s hardly a picture from that trip with him not baring his teeth, todo ngisi talaga, posing all over the place with family and friends, whether on the bus, an air-borne cable car, or gondola. Did he know he was on his last vacation with us?.... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110715com4.html

Just compensation C.R.O.S.S.R.O.A.D.S Jonathan De la Cruz 07/15/2011

Just compensation

C.R.O.S.S.R.O.A.D.S
Jonathan De la Cruz
07/15/2011
P-Noy and his economic managers should thank San Miguel Corp. president and COO Ramon Ang for fast-tracking, as it were, the rehabilitation and upgrading of the Caticlan-Boracay International Airport in time for the second session of the 15th Congress. At least, with this $300 million long overdue undertaking they will have one Public-Private Partnership (PPP) project to bandy around as they prepare for the second round of roadshows meant to cajole investors to invest in the “big-ticket” projects, mainly infrastructure, works designed to catapult the country to the top tier members of Asean such as Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and, of course, Singapore whose basic infra networks and services, i.e., roads, bridges, airports, ports, telecoms and even power, are considered world-class and, yes, affordable.

It was not meant to be this way. After the “golden years of infrastructure works” as the Marcos years have come to be known, succeeding administrations wanted to sustain the momentum using the old ODA route. Alas, the Asian financial crisis set in and development funding for such big-ticket items almost dried up. So, the stage was set for the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) Law which was the original framework for various funding schemes such as this administration’s PPP. The problem is the record as far as these BOT/PPP variations has been very spotty..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110715com5.html

A News Corp. without newspapers? FEATURE 07/15/2011

A News Corp. without newspapers?

FEATURE

07/15/2011
WASHINGTON — Rupert Murdoch built his vast fortune selling newspapers, expanding a single daily in his native Australia into a media and entertainment empire that spans the globe.

But the phone-hacking scandal in Britain that led to the shock closure of the News of the World is raising the once-unthinkable possibility of a News Corp. without newspapers — or at least no British dailies.

Within hours of the announcement that News Corp. was abandoning its bid for full control of British satellite TV broadcaster BSkyB, Nomura analyst Michael Nathanson was arguing for a strategic reorientation by the company..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110715com7.html

Luisita farmers launch direct action against hacienda owners By Charlie V. Manalo 07/16/2011

Luisita farmers launch direct action against hacienda owners

By Charlie V. Manalo 07/16/2011

Farm workers led by the Alyansa ng mga Manggagawang Bukid sa Asyenda Luisita (Ambala) and the United Luisita Workers’ Union (ULWU) have made good their vow to assert their rights to the land and started cultivating the 500-hectare lands barricaded and claimed by the Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC) and its partner, the Luisita Industrial Park Corp., located in Barangay Balete inside Hacienda Luisita, the vast estate owned by President Aquino’s family.

“This direct action by Hacienda Luisita farmers is the strongest form of asserting their just and legitimate right to Hacienda Luisita lands,” Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) secretary general Danilo Ramos yesterday said.

Quoting reports from Ambala, Ramos said “more than 200 Hacienda Luisita farm workers, including village officials, joined the ‘Bungkalan’ (cultivation) campaign.”

“Farm workers have already slashed the tall grass on the RCBC area and registered their strongest opposition to the Supreme Court (SC) order,” he stressed, adding that placards were installed in the area bearing the slogans: “Junk the referendum! This land is ours!”.... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110716hed3.html

‘Opposition’ leads in absences; Jinggoy, Sotto set perfect attendance Angie M. Rosales 07/16/2011

'Opposition’ leads in absences; Jinggoy, Sotto set perfect attendance

Angie M. Rosales 07/16/2011

They’re supposed to act as fiscalizers in the upper chamber, yet they appear to be nowhere in action, most of the time.

Those considered to be in the ranks of the “opposition” in the Senate have posted the most number of either absences or official leaves of absence in the last First Regular Session of the 15th Congress.

Except for Senators Panfilo Lacson and Antonio Trillanes IV, who both had to deal with some “legal issues,” and the reason they incurred 79 and 49 absences, respectively, and Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago who filed an indefinite sick leave due to hypothyroidism, one could only wonder on the excuses of their colleagues.

Senators Manuel Villar Jr., Alan Peter Cayetano, Loren Legarda, Edgardo Angara, Manuel “Lito” Lapid, Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and Pia Cayetano had the most number of instances where they failed to attend their regular plenary session due to “official missions.”.... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110716hed6.html

Festivals showdown in Lanao Norte Tourism Day 07/16/2011

Festivals showdown in Lanao Norte Tourism Day

07/16/2011
A showdown of municipal festivals highlighted in the recent observance of Tourism Day in Lanao del Norte as part of its activities lined-up for the province 52nd anniversary that runs from June 18 to July 4.

Mostly depicting rituals of planting and harvesting farm produce and aquamarine products and ending peace among warring groups, the showdown re-invented long-cherished cultures which the people of the province have been treasuring.

These festivals included the following Sagingan (Banana) of Tubod, Humayan (Rice) of Kapatagan, Niyugan (Coconut) of Magsaysay, Nangkaan (Jackfruit) of Maigo, Sarimanok > (Chicken) of Kolambugan and Hugyaw sa Kadagatan (Aquamarine) of Kauswagan..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20110716nat5.html

RP says job losses of OFWs in Japan, Arab world minimal 07/16/2011

RP says job losses of OFWs in Japan, Arab world minimal

07/16/2011
Philippine job losses from unrest in the Arab world and the Japan quake have had little overall impact on the amount of money the huge Filipino overseas workforce sends home, the Central Bank said yesterday.

Cash transfers rose 6.2 percent from a year earlier to $7.9 billion in the five months to May, slightly down from its 6.6 percent growth in the same period last year, it said in a statement.

May transfers rose 6.9 percent year-on-year to $1.7 billion.

“Data... showed that Filipino workers continued to be deployed abroad, offsetting the job losses resulting from social unrest in the Middle East and North African region and the disasters that occurred in Japan,” it said..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20110716nat7.html

BSP campaigns for underground river M E T R O F I L E 07/16/2011

BSP campaigns for underground river

M E T R O F I L E

07/16/2011
In an effort to boost the country’s chance of landing in the list of the “seven wonders of nature,” the Boy Scouts of the Philippines (BPS) has committed two million votes for the Puerto Princesa Underground River in the ongoing online voting to determine the top seven wonders. BSP Secretary General J. Rizal C. Pangilinan issued a national memorandum addressed to the officials of the movement’s 117 local councils and 10 regions to conduct their own awareness campaign about the ongoing vote..... MORE
SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20110716met8.html

Noy firm on bringing Spratlys issue to UN By Virgilio J. Bugaoisan 07/16/2011

Noy firm on bringing Spratlys issue to UN

By Virgilio J. Bugaoisan 07/16/2011

While his chief foreign affairs adviser is working hard to finalize his upcoming state visit to China, President Aquino seems oblivious that he would peeve the Chinese government anew as he declared the Philippines would bring the Spratlys issue to the United Nations International Tribunal for the Laws of the Sea (ITLOS).

In an interview Friday, Aquino said the Philippines will insist on its position to bring the Spratlys issue before the UN and would assert the same when he visits China anytime this year.

“I think that is the only recourse open to us. We want to establish first and precisely who is right in terms of the definition under the United Nations Convention on the Laws of the Seas,” the President said during an interview in Calamba City after the turn-over ceremony of a mass housing project for the police and the military on Friday.

“We don’t actually go to China to ask the.... MORE
SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20110716met1.html

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