• 6 AUGUST - *1907 - Gen. Macario Sakay, one of the Filipino military leaders who had continued fighting the imperialist United States invaders eight years into the Ph...
    11 years ago

......................................................................................

The Daily Tribune

(Without Fear or Favor)

Specials:

Bulatlat.com

World Wildlife Fund for Nature-Philippines

The Philippines Matrix Project

Reconfigured contracts EDITORIAL 11/01/2011

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Reconfigured contracts

EDITORIAL
Click to enlarge
11/01/2011
Something much more than Noynoy’s straight path must be driving the so-called reconfiguration of nearly all business contracts entered into by the previous administration.

The stock alibi for the review of the several past contracts was to purge irregularities among them and the supposed savings from cancelling those found to be onerous to the government.

The usual process being taken, however, is for reconfigurations of the contracts, which part to be reconfigured is left for the “reconfigurers” to determine..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20111101com1.html

A government of slogans FRONTLINE Ninez Cacho-Olivares 11/01/2011

A government of slogans

FRONTLINE
Ninez Cacho-Olivares
11/01/2011
Noynoy’s government, from day one, is a certified government of slogans that unfortunately are meaningless.

Take his “Kung walang kurap, walang mahirap.” Just what does that mean, in the face of worsening poverty in the country?

If one were to take that slogan literally and seriously, what can then be stated with accuracy, given the rising poverty in the country is that there is even more corruption today, under the government of Noynoy than there was in the past administration. After all, it cannot be denied that maraming mahirap ngayon, under the Noynoy presidency, therefore it follows that maraming kurap under Noynoy today.

It is moreover, a stupid slogan, since it is boomeranging on Noynoy and his government, as they are hardly seen as saints — especially his KKKs (kaibigan, kaklase, kabarilan) whom Noynoy quickly absolves whenever they are mired in controversy..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20111101com2.html

Macau’s ‘sweet language’ on verge of disappearing FEATURE 11/01/2011

Macau’s ‘sweet language’ on verge of disappearing

FEATURE

11/01/2011
MACAU — Dona Aida de Jesus is 96 years old and still runs the family restaurant in Macau. She is also something even more remarkable: one of the last custodians of a dying language.

“My friends all died, nobody speaks Patua with me any more,” says De Jesus, as she helps serve Brazilian black beans, Portuguese stewed fish and Chinese choi sum to customers in her restaurant, Riquexo.

De Jesus’ mother tongue is Patua, once also known as “Christian speech” or the “sweet language of Macau” — a creole that blends Portuguese with Cantonese and Malay, plus traces of Hindi, Japanese and the languages of other stops on the travels of the Portuguese over the past few centuries.

It was once the language of Macau’s Eurasians, called the Macanese: people who served as interpreters and cadres for the Portuguese colonisers in the Chinese territory, and who still hold onto a distinct social identity..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20111101com3.html

Honoring the dead NO HOLDS BARRED Armida Siguion-Reyna 11/01/2011

Honoring the dead

NO HOLDS BARRED
Armida Siguion-Reyna
11/01/2011
The Catholic tradition of honoring the dead first came in the 7th century, when Pope Boniface IV created All Saints’ Day to honor all dead saints on May 13. It was Pope Gregory III who moved the date to Nov. 1, so today Filipinos troop to the graves of their dearly departed in various cemeteries all over the country, graves they will have had cleaned and spruced up a week or so ago.

As you read this, you shall probably have already read about how President Beniqno Aquino III and his sisters visited their parents’ graves a day earlier to “beat the traffic.” An increasing number do the same, not only to avoid the rush, but to shy away from the increasingly shocking rowdy behavior that has come to characterize the nation’s observation of the practice inherited from Spain.

Look around you when you go out to visit your dead later today, and you will most likely see tents set over gravesites for private drinking parties, tombs used for eating and playing mahjong or pusoy, or as entablados for the younger members of the family to dance on while the latest dance music blare out loud from portable music players. Playing “Pinoy Henyo” is perhaps the kindest that they’ll do, with the more affluent doing word games or “Angry Birds” on their iPads..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20111101com4.html

Is global warming a hoax? AN OUTSIDERS VIEW Ken Fuller 11/01/2011

Is global warming a hoax?

AN OUTSIDERS VIEW
Ken Fuller
11/01/2011
On most issues, I agree with fellow-columnist Herman Tiu Laurel, but I think he’s mistaken on climate change.

In his column in OpinYon (“Who’s to save the People?”) on Sept. 26, Herman writes that the theory of manmade global warming’s computer model failed to match reality. A “decade of debates” has, he says, demonstrated that “man was never the greatest generator of carbon,” and it has been found that the activity of the sun has driven climate fluctuations such as the Medieval Warm Period (950-1100 A.D.) and the Little Ice Age (1300-1850 A.D.).

But solar activity is only one of several theories put forward regarding these two fluctuations. Let’s take the Little Ice Age as an example. In fact, the solar activity theory is far from being a “finding,” as the link between reduced sunspot activity and lower temperatures on Earth is still not fully comprehended..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20111101com5.html

All-out justice VIEWPOINTS Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz 11/01/2011

All-out justice

VIEWPOINTS
Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz
11/01/2011
The cheer is certainly novel and interesting. The holler is not only admirable but also intriguing. It is some kind of a battle cry for the good, the upright and powerful — categorically telling the bad to stay out of the way or they become wasted by the wayside.

To top it all, the proverb was composed and recited by no less than the Chief Executive in the land who is also the Commander-in-Chief of the whole Armed Forces of the Philippines. At first glance, it sounds that no justice shall be tolerated, much less allowed to prevail. It forwards the ready understanding that justice shall be the omnipresent rule that the days of the unjust are over.

It is however but right and proper not only to contextualize the sudden invocation of the surprising mantra “all-out justice,” but also to know more what it means, what is it covered and applies to.

Needless to say, there is great bravery, admirable resolve and nationalist spirit behind the presidential song that immediately caught both the attention and surprise of a good number of people..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20111101com7.html

The bully of Camariners Sur

The bully of Camariners Sur

I.N.S.I.D.E . C.O.N.G.R.E.S.S
Charlie Manalo
11/01/2011
Just where in the world can you find a place where residents and even their officials are prohibited from entering places located right in their own vicinity supposedly designated for their recreation?

The beautiful place of Caramoan in Camrines Sur has been gifted with white sand beaches and a group of virgin islands which would not only suit the needs of the Caramoans for their relaxation but could also be utilized as a world-class tourist destination.

In fact, one of its beaches located in Gota had been used time and again by a giant television network for its local version of the Survivor series. And this is aside from foreign film outfits using the rest of Caramoan’s islands for location shoots for its internationally-released movies..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20111101com6.html

No foreign influence in negotiating peace with MILF—Palace By Danessa O. Rivera 11/01/2011

No foreign influence in negotiating peace with MILF—Palace

By Danessa O. Rivera 11/01/2011

The Aquino administration yesterday assured that it will not allow any foreign influence in the peace negotiations with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) amid fears of some lawmakers that Malaysia might intervene in the talks.

Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile earlier said the peace talks with the MILF should be held in the Philippines and not in Malaysia to avoid foreign intervention.

At the same time, former Senate president Aquilino Pimentel questioned Malaysia’s leadership in the international monitoring team (IMT) while it also functions as facilitator in the talks..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20111101hed3.html

RP’s baby Danica one of world’s seven billionth 11/01/2011

RP’s baby Danica one of world’s seven billionth

11/01/2011
The world’s population touched another milestone yesterday as Asia, including the Philippines and India, welcomed “symbolic” seventh-billionth babies.

The United Nations (UN) says that by its best estimates the seven billionth baby will be born on Oct. 31.
The Philippines was the first country to declare a seven billionth baby, in the form ofa little girl called Danica May Camacho.

Weighing 2.5 kilos, Danica was delivered just before midnight Sunday under an explosion of media camera flashes at the government-run Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital in Manila..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20111101hed6.html

Maguindanao massacre site workers unearth old press ID, spent bullet shells 11/01/2011

Maguindanao massacre site workers unearth old press ID, spent bullet shells

11/01/2011
AMPATUAN, Maguindanao — A dilapidated press identification (ID) card and three muddy spent shells of M-16 and M-14 rifles were the latest of those unearthed on the site of the infamous Maguindanao massacre site in Barangay Salman here.

A visit by this reporter and other Cotabato media colleagues to the site yesterday revealed the speedy construction of the estimated P3-million multi-purpose building and concreting of the 3.6 kilometer road leading to the massacre site being transformed into a shrine to serve as a reminder of the gory incident..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20111101nat8.html

CBCP warned of suspended US-based Filipino priest 11/01/2011

CBCP warned of suspended US-based Filipino priest

11/01/2011
The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has been warned on the status of a US-based Filipino priest who was suspended due to alleged possession of pornographic materials and trial charges of theft.

According to the CBCP website, Most Rev. Robert McManus of Worcester diocese in Massachusetts, USA told CBCP president and Tandag Bishop Nereo Odchimar in a letter that the priest has fled his diocese and might be in the Philippines..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20111101nat2.html

Ban children from riding motorcycles — solon By Charlie V. Manalo 11/01/2011

Ban children from riding motorcycles — solon

By Charlie V. Manalo 11/01/2011

A lawmaker has filed a measure seeking to prohibit motorists from carrying a child three years and below on motorcycles along national highways.

Manila Rep. Ma. Theresa Bonoan-David authored House Bill 5345, which aims to provide safety measures for all riders and passengers to avoid injury or fatality, especially for children on motorcycles.

However, the bill will not cover the provinces where there are no considerable vehicular traffic and where motorcycles are the only means of transportation..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20111101met4.html

Fast-track passage of bill seeking 50% discount on funeral services for indigents, House urged 11/01/2011

Fast-track passage of bill seeking 50% discount on funeral services for indigents, House urged

11/01/2011
As the country is commemorating their loved ones who have passed away, Bayan Muna Reps. Teddy Casio and Neri Colmenares called on the House committee on poverty alleviation to fast-track the approval of House Bill 4002 granting 50 percent discount for funeral services for poor families nationwide.

In their bill entitled An act granting 50 percent discounts from funeral services to indigent families nationwide, appropriating funds should be earmarked for this purpose, said the solons, adding that in the Philippines, dying has become costly as living itself..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20111101met3.html

Blog Archive