by magnolia_eic | Dec 25, 2010 | Headlines
President Benigno S. Aquino III played Santa Claus to three lucky overseas Filipino workers
by awarding each of them P450,000 worth of cash and gift certificates upon their arrival at the
Ninoy Aquino International Airport last Monday afternoon.
Forty-one year old Gilbert Acebedo, Evangeline Escano, 33 and Myrna Pagkaliwagan, 39
were picked over other passengers onboard Qatar Airways flight QR-646 to win top prizes
under the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration’s program “Pamaskong Handog para sa
OFWs.”
The annual program, which honors the country’s new heroes has as its highlight
the “Presidential Pasalubong 2010” which allows the President to welcome groups of OFWs
arriving from Asia, Middle East, Europe or America to spend time with their respective
families this Christmas season.
This year’s theme, “Pamilyang OFW, Masayang Sama-Sama Ngayong Pasko,” hopes
to inculcate in the OFW communities the positive values of family orientation and social
consciousness in recognizing the contributions of OFWs to national development and
extending a helping hand to those who have less in life.
Acebedo, who hails from Tatalon in Quezon City has been working as a salesman for three
years while Escano, a native of Tayug, Pangasinan has been employed as a nurse for six
years. Pagkalinawan, who lives in Bucal, Batangas City has been working as a teacher for six
years. The three winners all work in Doha, Qatar. (PCOO)
by magnolia_eic | Jun 17, 2010 | Election 2010, Headlines, National News
THE remaining 22 winning party-list organizations will still have to wait for at least another two weeks before they can finally be proclaimed, a Commission on Elections (Comelec) official said Tuesday.
Comelec Commissioner Rene Sarmiento said they cannot proclaim the remaining party-list groups because they are still waiting for the results of the special polls in some areas where elections were earlier postponed.
He specifically cited areas in Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Tawi-Tawi, Abra, and Sulu, where special elections still need to be held. He said that about 12,000 to 20,000 votes are expected to be cast in these areas.
He noted, however, that by the time President-elect Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III delivers his State of the Nation Address, the party-list representatives would have all been completed.
Aquino will deliver his first SONA in late July.
The Comelec had earlier proclaimed 28 winning party-list organizations, six of whom were awarded two seats each. (PIA-Bohol)
by magnolia_eic | Jun 11, 2010 | Headlines, National News
US President Barack Obama and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton congratulated Philippine President-elect Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III Thursday, a day after the latter’s proclamation at the House of Representatives.
In a press statement issued by the White House Office of the Press Secretary, Obama made a phone call to Aquino Thursday morning to congratulate him personally.
The US President hailed the May 10 Philippine elections as “a model of transparency and positive testament to the strength and vitality of democracy in the Philippines.” He also noted the “deep historic and people-to-people ties between the US and the Philippines and the two countries’ strong cooperation on security and economic issues in the Asia Pacific region and globally.”
The White House said the two leaders agreed to take the cooperation between the two countries to a new level and to meeting at a “mutually convenient” time.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton also congratulated Aquino, saying the “successful election exemplified the vitality of the country’s democratic institutions and should be a point of pride for Filipinos everywhere.”
Some 4 million Filipino-Americans are living in the United States while more than 100,000 Americans currently reside in the Philippines. (PIA-Bohol)
by magnolia_eic | May 6, 2010 | Election 2010, Headlines, National News
A case of Kamag-anak Incorporated is now tagged behind the positive surveys showing Presidential candidate Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino leading the race.
Kamag-anak incorporated was a taunt referring to former president Corazon Aquino’s advisers and relatives occupying key government positions.
According to Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) senatorial candidate Francisco Kit Tatad in reports, relatives and close associates of Liberal Party (LP) presidential candidate “Noynoy” Aquino are directing behind the scenes the surveys being conducted by the Social Weather Stations (SWS) and Pulse Asia.
Philippine Star bared that Tatad cited research paper and documents from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), showing members of the Aquino clan and former associates of the late President Corazon Aquino as directors and stockholders of SWS and Pulse Asia.
Among those named in the SEC documents and research papers were Rafael Cojuangco Lopa and Antonio “Tonyboy” Cojuangco.
Lopa was director and president of Pulse Asia until last year when he resigned to camouflage the firm’s support for Aquino’s bid for the presidency. Cojuangco on the other hand bankrolled the setting up of Pulse Asia in 1990.
Tatad also said it is unusual that former Public Works secretary Jose de Jesus (under the Aquino administration) is an incorporator and director in both Pulse Asia and the SWS.
“This suggests that there was a plan from the beginning by the Aquinos to control public opinion polling in the country,” Tatad said.
by magnolia_eic | May 6, 2010 | Election 2010, Features, Opinion
Many reacted to what was considered a “hasty” statement by Liberal Party Standard bearer Benigno”Noynoy” Aquino on calling for a people power if he loses in the May 2010 Elections.
This has caused disagreement between Cardinal Rosales and some church militants. The former considers the idea “crazy, crazy, crazy” whilst the latter thinks it is just right once the situation calls for it.
President Estrada has also expressed his dismay on such statement saying that the LP bet should not assume victory and that he should practice humility like that of his mother, former President Cory Aquino.
Supporters answer by saying Noynoy was misunderstood. Nevertheless Noynoy should watch what he says more as the election draws nearer and nearer.
