Ambassador Kristie A. Kenney bade goodbye to the Philippines after United States President Barack Obama named veteran diplomat Harry K. Thomas Jr., as Washington's new envoy in the country.
"Now, for personal and professional reasons, I need to plan my return to the United States. So it is with great pleasure that I learned that President Obama has named my successor.Ambassador-designate Harry Thomas is a personal friend of mine, an exceptional diplomat, and a wonderful person," Kenney said in a statement.
On November 19 (Washington time), Obama appointed Thomas, a career diplomat and served most recently as Director General of the Foreign Service and Director of Human Resources, as new ambassador to the Philippines.
“These individuals will represent our nation well and work to fulfill the important goal of strengthening our relationships abroad. I look forward to working with them in the coming months and years,” the US president said referring to his nominees, including Thomas.
The White House announcement has been forwarded by the United States embassy in Manila to media outfits.
"His nomination still has to be confirmed by the United States Senate, so I will have the opportunity to continue to collaborate with Filipinos to improve lives and strengthen relations between our two countries over the coming months," Kenney said. (By CHARISSA M. LUCI - Manila Bulletin)
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Ambassador Kristie A. Kenney is a career United States diplomat who has served since 2006 as the first female U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines. She began her career in 1981 and has served in Jamaica, Switzerland, Argentina, and Ecuador. Ambassador Kenney also served as the State Department Executive Secretary in Washington, D.C. and on the National Security Council at the White House. Immediately prior to her appointment to the Philippines, she served as the U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Ecuador. Fluent in Spanish, she traveled throughout the country to meet Ecuadorians from all walks of life and oversaw a wide variety of American assistance projects. Ambassador Kenney has won several prominent awards for leadership.
A daughter of a retired public school teacher and a U.S. World War II veteran, Kristie Kenney hails from Washington, D.C. She obtained a master’s degree from TulaneUniversity and a bachelor’s degree in political science from ClemsonUniversity. She is married to William R. Brownfield, who is currently the U.S. Ambassador to Colombia. They enjoy travel, hiking, tennis, basketball and spending time with their nieces and nephews. The two share their homes with three cats they rescued from an animal shelter – Emily, Junior, and Niles.
President Arroyo Friday conferred the Order of Sikatuna, with a rank of Datu, on Filipino boxing legend Manny Pacquiao in recognition of his unequivocable contribution in putting the Philippines in the international radar screen, particularly in the field of boxing.
In welcoming the People's Champ who just arrived Friday from his victorious welterweight bout, Mrs. Arroyo accorded him the national order of diplomatic merit.
The simple awarding ceremony was held in LunetaPark in Manila where hundreds of people from different walks of life flocked to be one with Pacquaio's victory.
The recent recipient of such award was United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton who visited the country last week. Mrs. Arroyo also conferred the award to late Manila Archbishop Cardinal Sin, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon; several foreign diplomats, including former United States Ambassador Francis J. Ricciardone.
The President, who had earlier named Pacquiao as the country's envoy for peace and national unity, was supposed to provide hero's welcome for Pacquiao, but decided to honor him in a ceremony in Luneta, instead.
Malacanang said the seventh victory of Pacquiao in the boxing world should prod the Guinness Book of World Records to automatically include the Filipino boxing icon, in their roster.
Pacquiao, the newly crowned World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight champion, and his entourage led by wife Jinkee arrived in Manila early Friday morning after another jubilant win over Miguel Cotto of Puerto Rico in Las Vegas.
Fans cheered the boxing icon's arrival and shared in celebrating Pacquiao's feat as the first-ever seven division champion in boxing after a 14-year boxing career that started as a 108-pound fighter and climbed to 145-pound.
Aside from Jinkee, Pacquiao was in the company of his parents Dionisia and Rosalio, his good friend Deputy National Security Adviser Chavit Singson and other members of his training team when he planed in at 5:30 a.m. Friday at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 2.
Saranggani or party-list?
Meanwhile, Pacquiao will definitely try his luck in politics in 2010. However, he is still undecided on whether to seek a seat in the Congress as representative of Saranggani province or as a nominee of a party-list group.
Pacquiao, accompanied by his wife Jinkee, arrived at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) office in Quezon City at 9:30 a.m. Friday.
He was welcomed by Secretary Jose Atienza Jr. during a brief visit to the DENR before proceeding to a hero’s motorcade in Metro Manila.
When asked if he will pursue his candidacy in 2010, Pacquiao said he will definitely push through.
“Yes, definitely (I will run),” he said.
However, he was reluctant to say that he will still run for congressman of SarangganiProvince.
(With reports from Ronniel de Guzman and Ellalyn de Vera)
Hello! Today is World Hello Day. Now on its 37th year, World Hello Day seeks to demonstrate the importance of personal communication in forging friendships and preserving peace.
The Day started out as a response to the conflict between Egypt and Israel in the Fall of 1973. Since then, World Hello Day has been observed by people in 180 countries. People around the world are urged to use the Day as an opportunity to express their concern for world peace, to hopefully motivate world leaders to use communication and dialogue for better understanding and in resolving conflicts.
A significant number of letters have been sent to the World Hello Day web site as an expression of support. Nobel Prize winners are among those who have realized the value of World Hello Day as a potent instrument for bridging gaps, broadening understanding, and preserving peace. It is an occasion that makes possible for everyone in the world to contribute to the process of peace.
Carrying the theme "Greet Ten People for Peace," this year’s celebration hopes to draw public attention to the simple five-letter word "Hello" and its power to establish friendship among complete strangers. A simple hello, accompanied by a genuine smile possesses a certain power that can inspire hope in someone in despair or in a precarious situation, and spell a happy day for both the greeter and the object of the greeting.
But the celebration of World Hello Day need not be limited to the five-letter word. Neither should we limit our greetings and kind gestures to ten people. The Day serves as a fitting moment to rekindle old ties, especially with relatives and friends around the globe with whom we have lost touch for some time. It is also a time for establishing peace and reconciliation among peoples with whom we may have had differences and for forging new friendships with people we encounter at work and in school.
And so today, as we go about our daily routines, let us make time to greet each other, exchange pleasantries, and ignite or rekindle a genuine interest and care for one another. The more people we infect with our light spirit and warm greetings and gestures of "hello," the better and more peaceful our world would be for all of us.
(TEMPO)
Click the video below to learn to say "Hello" in several languages
Happy World Hello Day to everyone from us here at Victorina!
I was reading Mo Twister's blog and was amused by his poll "Which Local Celebrity Running For Office Scares You Most?" - this is a topic we've talked about on our radio program several times and it brings us back to the perpetual debate of celebrities as politicians.
On Twister's lineup, it's a mishmash of personalities; sexy stars, comedians, superhero actors, gossip reporters and more!
Notwithstanding their efficacy as possible public servants, some just can't help but wonder if our 2010 ballots will read like a casting call for some "Mother Lily movie" or even a "tabloid star listing." How will their high-profile pasts reflect their chances at getting elected? Is it a boon or a bane? Well that's showbiz?!
Whatever the case might be, we all hope that Filipinos take the upcoming elections seriously and cast their votes wisely.
While these showbiz personalities may have been "bold" in the past (from setting their sights on political office to acting in titillating roles), COMELEC reminds them to be prudent in the upcoming elections and not to abuse their celebrity status and connections.
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Commission on Elections Commissioner Gregorio Y. Larrazabal has advised showbiz personalities or members of the mass media who are considering vying for elective positions in the elections next year to exercise “utmost prudence” in the course of their work especially during the hiatus between the period of the filing of certificates of candidacy and the official start of the campaign period.
In response to a letter sent by celebrities Ara Mina, Alfred Vargas and Maybelyn dela Cruz; Larrazabal reminded them on the need “to exercise utmost prudence in the practice of your profession after you have filed your certificate of candidacy and see to it that you do not, in any way, directly or indirectly engage in partisan political activity.”
Larrazabal advises prospective candidate celebs:Exercise prudence at work
Larrazabal explained that while resignation or leave of absence of actors or actresses from their profession is compulsory “only upon the start of the campaign period,” they still have to comply with provisions on the Omnibus Election Code prohibiting campaigning or engaging in partisan political activity outside of the campaign period.
He particularly pointed out to Section 79 (b) of the Omnibus Election Code wherein “election campaign” or “partisan political activity” is also defined as “directly or indirectly soliciting votes, pledges or support for or against a candidate.”
The poll Commissioner also called their attention to the Supreme Court ruling on Penera vs. COMELEC disqualifying Penera for premature campaigning.
COMELEC Spokesman James Jimenez said the period for filing of certificates of candidacy starts November 20, 2009 until December 1, 2009. The official campaign period for position of President, Vice-President, Senators and PartyLists will run from February 9, 2010 until May 8, 2010. Meanwhile, the campaign period for local positions starts March 26, 2010 and will end May 8, 2010, Jimenez said.
The upcoming 2010 computerized elections -- if it pushes through at all considering the various issues and legal suits now being thrown at the Comelec -- will serve as a “reboot” for the Philippines in the way that it elects its leaders.
The poll body, through its spokesman James Jimenez, said it is only natural for people to fear something that they haven’t done before, which, in this case, is voting via automated means.
While the actual act of voting could still be classified as manual since voters would still have to “shade” the circle that corresponds to the name of a candidate on a paper ballot, the counting will be done fully electronically, according to the Comelec.
Jimenez said the results would, in fact, be transmitted wirelessly from the precinct to Comelec’s server, back-up servers, majority and minority political parties, a citizen watchdog, and to its own website.
The Comelec official said it would be virtually impossible for a hacker to infiltrate the system and compromise the poll results as he or she would have to attack all the servers and the websites all at once. Furthermore, Jimenez said the PCOS (precinct count optical scan) machines are stand-alone devices that would only be connected to the Internet at a very short and specific time.
This is the only window in which hackers can launch an unlikely attack, Jimenez said.
As for the source code of the PCOS technology which various groups have demanded to be made public, Jimenez said the poll agency has contracted a third-party validation entity which will soon release its assessment.He said the Comelec cannot unilaterally release the source code of the technology because it was developed by a private company as its own intellectual property.
Jimenez said the Comelec would also set up technical support teams in voting centers come election time. There are about 1,000 voters in every precinct, he said. The poll agency, said Jimenez, is tapping as many channels as possible, particularly the Internet, in educating the electorate on the advantages of an automated elections.
The Comelec exec said two sites -- www.ibanangayon.ph and www.bagongbotante.ph -- have been put up by Smartmatic, the poll contractor, to help initiate a voter education campaign.
“The online campaign will enhance the offline efforts that we would also be conducting,” said Jimenez, who also maintains various blogs that relate to the forthcoming automated polls.
Thank you to Internet Superstar Ramon Bautista for referring this one...
No one disputes that Earth’s climate is changing or that atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases have increased as a result of human activities. The concentrations of carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide are higher now than at any time during the last 420,000 years.
Overwhelming scientific evidence supports the conclusion that observed changes in the global climate are, in large part, due to human activities and primarily related to fossil-fuel consumption patterns. Without urgent action to curb greenhouse-gas emissions, the Earth will become warmer by 2050 than at anytime in the last 10,000 years.
Oxfam-Philippines’ campaign called “Tik Tok Tik Tok: Time is running out,” was a special gathering of TV personalities Marc Nelson, Rovilson Fernandez, Ping Medina together with music artists Noel Cabangon, Lourd de Veyra, Marc Abaya, Ebe Dancel, Kate Torralba, director Dante Nico Garcia, and many others.
The artists listened intently to Oxfam spokespersons Lan Mercado and Kalayaan Pulido-Constantino as they explained the program’s objectives—to spread information about climate change and call on our leaders to come up with a just solution in the coming United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark this December.
“The celebrities who are residing in the Philippines, I ask that they also pay attention, not just to this global issue, but to try to understand what exactly is going on in the Philippines and how are we affected by climate change,” said Ms. Mercado.
Ms. Pulido-Constantino explained the need to inform the public about the effects of climate change. She said, “Climate change is fundamentally a developmental issue. We have to address the issue on climate change because it affects each and every one of us, including the developing countries.
“Hope is not lost. We can do something if we act now. We want to say that we need to act now, we need to address the problem of climate change by reducing the carbon emission, stop global warming. Second, we need to help developing countries and marginalized countries to adapt to the impacts of climate change.”
She also elaborated on how we can help in finding a solution to this serious problem of climate change.
Ms. Pulido-Constantino said that there are two possible ways. “First, by pushing for a ‘fair and safe [climate] deal’ in Copenhagen at the international arena. This is important because hindi lang dapat UN, hindi lang dapat Pilipinas ang mag-usap sa climate change. Kailangang mag-usap ang lahat ng bansa at ang pinagkaisahan nila, dapat binding. Ibig sabihin, dapat sundin ng bawat bansa. “Second, it should be done at the national arena. We should do it by having clear national policies and program addressing mitigation. Ibig sabihin, pag-cut ng ating emissions nationally. Also, addressing adaptations, ibig sabihin nito ay ang pagtulong sa komunidad na harapin ang epekto ng climate change na nangyayari na ngayon.”
Celebrities’ own action on climate change
While waiting for the world leaders to come up with a “fair and safe deal” to solve the worsening effect of climate change, some of the artist advocates are already doing their personal contribution in reducing their carbon footprint.
TV host Marc Nelson, for example, has said “No to plastic bags,” like many other consumers. He told PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal), “As much as possible, I try to bring my own bag. If it’s something small, I try to carry it myself, reducing waste as much as possible.”
He finds ways to reduce his own carbon emission: “[Trying] not to drive my car too much. I have a scooter so [I use that] especially if it’s a short trip. Also, I’m a big fan of organic food and I cut down considerably my meat consumption, which is extremely hard because I love meat. But I’ve made a conscious effort to cut down on that because that really… I mean, the production of beef also produces methane, which contributes to climate change.”
Musician-actor Marc Abaya enumerates the little things he does to reduce his carbon emission. He said, “I try my best to quit smoking cigarettes. I’m really trying. I try my best not to use my air-conditioner as much as I would like. I try my best not to use my car as much as I would like.”
These may just be simple ways, but he pointed out, “These are the little things [that I do] and they do count. But I think more than that, mas mahalaga ’yong I am trying to help these guys spread the message of climate change and how it’s messing up the world and how so many people don’t know what it is about.”
"The first marathon runner, Phidippides, collapsed and died at the finish of his race.... Jack LaLanne, the only well-known guru to advocate body building, will outlive us all."
“A month ago, many of us heard about the sad demise of Ranjan Das from Bandra, Mumbai. Ranjan, just 42 years of age, was the CEO of SAP-Indian Subcontinent, the youngest CEO of an MNC in India . He was very active in sports, was a fitness freak and a marathon runner…It was certainly a wake-up call for corporate India . However, it was even more disastrous for runners amongst us. Since Ranjan was an avid marathoner ( in Feb 09, he ran Chennai Marathon at the same time some of us were running Pondicherry Marathon 180 km away ), the question came as to why an exceptionally active, athletic person succumb to heart attack at 42 years of age.”
Arthur De Vany wrote in his blog the top ten reasons why we should not run marathons.
10. Marathon running damages the liver and gall bladder and alters biochemical markers adversely. HDL is lowered, LDL is increased, Red blood cell counts and white blood cell counts fall. The liver is damaged and gall bladder function is decreased. Testosterone decreases… Ultra-marathon running is associated with a wide range of significant changes in hematological parameters, several of which are injury related. To provide appropriate health care and intervention, the man who receives athletes on high frequent training program high intensity training programs must monitor their liver and gallbladder function.”
9. Marathon running causes acute and severe muscle damage. Repetitive injury causes infiltration of collagen (connective tissue) into muscle fibers…Muscle from veteran runners showed intercellular collagen deposition suggestive of a fibrotic response to repetitive injury. Control tissue from nonrunners showed none of these findings.”
8. Marathon running induces kidney disfunction (renal abnormalities)… “All postrace urinalyses were grossly abnormal…We conclude that renal function abnormalities occur in marathon runners and that the severity of the abnormality is temperature-dependent.”
7. Marathon running causes acute microthrombosis in the vascular system…These changes may reflect damage to the tissues or vascular endothelium, causing microthrombi with subsequent activation of neutrophils.”
6. Marathon running elevates markers of cancer. S100beta is one of these markers. Tumor necrosis factor, TNF-alpha, is another…Elevation has been found to correlate with shorter survival, and changes in these parameters in the serum during therapy were recently reported to predict therapeutic outcome in advanced disease.”
From Santos et al Life Sci. 2004 September: 75 (16): 1917:24, “After the test (a 30km run), athletes from the control group presented an increase in plasma CK (4.4-fold), LDH (43%), PGE2 6.6-fold) and TNF-alpha (2.34-fold) concentrations, indicating a high level of cell injury and inflammation.”
5. Marathon running damages your brain. The damage resembles acute brain trauma. …Secondary, massive elevations in S100beta are indicators of prior brain damage and bear clinical significance as predictors of poor outcome or diagnostic means to differentiate extensive damage from minor, transient impairment.”
4. Marathons damage your heart… Ironman and half-Ironman competition resulted in reversible abnormalities in resting left ventricular diastolic and systolic function. Results suggest that myocardial damage may be, in part, responsible for cardiac dysfunction, although the mechanisms responsible for this cardiac damage remain to be fully elucidated.”
3. Endurance athletes have more spine degeneration…Even after multiple adjustment for confounders lumbar spine BMD is significantly higher in throwers, pole vaulters, and long- and triple jumpers than in marathon athletes.”
2. At least four particiants of the Boston Marathon have died of brain cancer in the past 10 years.
1. The first marathon runner, Phidippides, collapsed and died at the finish of his race.... Jack LaLanne, the only well-known guru to advocate body building, will outlive us all.
"Earlier, the Agrarian Reform chief urged Sen. Benigno “Noy-noy” Aquino 3rd to convince his family to withdraw the petition for writ of preliminary injunction it filed before the high court after the Liberal Party’s presidential candidate for the 2010 elections revealed his family’s plan to leave the vast sugar estate in Central Luzon because of continuing labor woes."
A Presidency by Osmosis
By Tony Lopez
You won’t believe this but the reason why 44 percent of survey respondents of Pulse Asia will vote for Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino 3rd is because they think he is “clean” (malinis).
In the Pulse Asia Oct.22 to 30 survey, the respondents claimed they would vote for a presidential candidate because of: “hindi kurakot/malinis” (not corrupt/clean), 21.2 percent; “may nagawa, may magagawa” (has done something/could do something), 14 percent; “para sa mahirap, galing sa mahirap” (for the poor/came from poverty), 12.23 percent; “tumutulong” (helpful), 12 percent; “reputasyon ng pamilya” (family reputation), 4.2 percent; mabait (kind), 3.87 percent; “may alam/sanay sa pamamalakad/may karanasan” (knowledgeable, an experienced manager, experienced), 3.6 percent; and “maka-Diyos” (God-fearing), 3.2 percent. The total is 74.1 percent.
There are two conclusions you can make from these figures. One is that the biggest answer is don’t know 25.9 percent (100 minus 74.1 percent). The other is that being clean (21.2 percent, that’s Noynoy) has a higher premium than performance (14 percent, that’s either Manny Villar, Erap Estrada or Gibo Teodoro), experience (3.6 percent, that’s Villar, Estrada or Teodoro), or being pro-poor (Estrada) and having been poor (Villar).
Voters in effect are saying you may be stupid or inexperienced but as long as you are perceived to be clean, then we will vote for you. However, being stupid or inexperienced or both can mean you are incompetent.
In other words, in 2010, voters will prefer incompetence to performance, intelligence and experience. To me, that is an insult to the Filipino voter. Which makes the Noynoy Aquino presidential candidacy frustrating it not outrageous for many concerned Filipinos.
Noynoy has little to show in his nine years as congressman and barely three years as senator to deserve to be elected president. His only claim for presidential gravitas is having had Ninoy Aquino, a martyr, as father, and Cory Aquino, a beloved president, as mother. In effect, he is offering a presidency by osmosis.
Osmosis, as you know, is the movement of water from an area of high water potential to an area of low water potential to produce energy, without input of energy. It is producing something without much effort or talent just because of your family background.
Now, ordinarily, clean means honest. Honest as in never been tainted by scandal or corruption. “Clean” could also mean clean, as in tabula rasa—nothing there. Or no record of performance.
Noynoy may or may not be aware of it but there is a text and joke brigade propaganda against him implying that he has nothing in between. This insidious image is bolstered by the fact that Sen. Mar Roxas keeps taking up the cudgels for him on many issues. Mar is not only a good running mate, he is also a good and articulate spokesman. He will make a good presidential spokesman or a presidential spokesman for economic affairs, ala Gary Olivar for GMA.
For a retort, Noynoy may pickup Manny Pacquiao’s oft-repeated insistence, “hindi ako bobo” (“I am not stupid”). Noynoy is not stupid. I have known him since August 1983 after Ninoy Aquino’s assassination. He has always come across as an intelligent, decent, courteous gentleman. This is not to say he is not capable of meanness or double-dealing.
Noynoy has after all the genes of a Cojuangco and an Aquino—two of the most enduring political families in the Philippines. Some factions of the two clans are capable of rent-seeking and using political connections to gain a juicy contract or a lucrative concession.
The 6,300-hectare Hacienda Luisita was bought by the Co-juangcos (Cory Aquino wing), with a loan from the Central Bank on the condition that the family would cut it up and give parcels of it to sugar tenants. If the Cojuangcos then were not politically powerful or influential, do you think they would have gotten the loan?
If Cory Aquino were not president, do you think the family would be able to insert a vague provision in the Constitution putting “tenants” and “workers” in the same category as tenants as far as agrarian reform is concerned? And because of this provision, the Agrarian Reform Law was crafted in such a way that agrarian reform can be undertaken two ways—one for tenants and another for workers.
The Hacienda Luisita tenants became “workers” overnight. Because of the change in their status, the tenants were no longer entitled to land but to shares of stock since a company does not usually give away land but can give away shares of stock.
And since the “workers” had no money to buy the shares with, they had to pay for them by installment, and while the tenants were paying for the shares by installment, the voting rights for the shares were assigned to the Cojuangco family. In effect, the Cojuangco family, Cory wing, never lost control of the hacienda.
Victorina has a new ally (Twister's blog average was just about 1,500 views per hour)... Magic 89.9’s top jock, Mo Twister, has joined the bandwagon of free thinkers who yearn to express their thoughts and feelings through cyberspace. Since the inception of www.motwister.com a few weeks back, it has reached astronomical numbers. Mo's twitter alone commands more ore less 23,000 followers.This makes www.motwister.com a force to recon with in the blogsphere. The blogs author says: “Thanks for visiting. I’m Mohan Gumatay, also referred to as Mo Twister, yeah I know its a stupid name but its part of radio initiation that your “radio name” is a) given to you by another person and b) you have to HATE it. I host a weekday morning radio talk show on Magic 89.9 DWTM-FM in Manila, Philippines. I also host two television shows: an entertainment gossip program and a political talk show (Philippine politics + Philippine showbiz + gossip = all the same goddam thing). I’m ridiculously obsessed with photography, aviation, astronomy, politics, sports statistics, and travel. For some reason I cry when I see snow fall. There’s a soft bench inside the Metropolitan Art Museum in New York City, in front of an Edouard Manet painting called ‘The Matador’, that is my absolute favorite place on this planet.”
Eight thousand American dollars is the equivalent of about P380,000. According to reliable sources, that was how much a single ticket to watch the Manny Pacquiao-Miguel Cotto fight at ringside cost.
Scores of Filipino politicians eagerly shelled out that amount—which the vast majority of working-class Filipinos cannot even hope to earn in a year—just to see and be seen at the fight on Saturday in Las Vegas (Sunday in Manila).
Need we mention their expenses for travel, lodging and meals?
The high-profile politicos who were there at the MGM Grand Arena included Vice President Noli de Castro and Deputy National Security Adviser Luis Singson. However, many others—mostly congressmen, including Speaker Prospero Nograles—were also on hand to cheer Pacquiao as he demolished and grabbed the WBO welterweight title from Miguel Cotto.
Not that PacMan needed the politicians to be there. More than enough Filipino immigrants and Filipino-Americans were present to give the National Fist moral support. They easily drowned out the Puerto Ricans who turned up for their champion.
Most, if not all, of these globetrotting politicians insisted that they used their own money to go to Las Vegas. No taxpayer pesos were spent for their trip, they claimed. That may be true, but they missed the point entirely—or simply chose to ignore it.
Weeks before the fight, numerous appeals were made by various quarters—including several of their House colleagues—for the politicians to cancel their “pleasure trips.”
The country was still reeling—and continues to do so—from a flurry of natural disasters. The money for air fare, accommodation and fight ticket would have been better used to give the calamity victims some relief.
Nograles and company could not be stopped, however. They were dead-set on going to Las Vegas. So determined were they that they even rushed the passage of the proposed 2010 budget of over P1.5 trillion, giving other lawmakers reason to worry that the bill did not go through the required legislative scrutiny.
Of course, bolstering Pacquiao’s chances for winning was not the only reason the congressmen went to Las Vegas. They must have thought they could secure photo-ops beside Pacquiao and other chances for media exposure that could boost their reelection hopes in 2010. No such luck.
Ironically, it was the congressmen who chose to forgo their travel plans that benefited from positive publicity where it mattered most—back in their home turf.
Rep. Monico Puentebella of Bacolod, for instance, used the money that he could have spent to fly to Las Vegas for the benefit of his constituents, most whom also wanted the chance to watch the fight live—and not just on free TV with its exasperatingly protracted and commercial-interrupted delayed telecast.
Puentebella, according to published reports, sponsored a pay per view (PPV) viewing of the fight, to which he invited village officials, youth leaders and political supporters, including victims of a fire in Bacolod that killed 17 people and gutted 50 houses two weeks ago.
Puentebella, current chairman of the Philippine Olympic Committee, also did a running report of the fight for a local radio station, giving a blow-by-blow account of what was going on at the MGM Grand Arena—to the delight of his fellow Negrenses.
In the capital region, several mayors also sponsored PPV viewings of the fight in public gymnasiums, village assembly halls and similar locations.
Mayor Alfredo Lim of Manila, for instance, arranged for six such viewings. He even joined his fellow Manileños to watch the fight in one of the public viewings he sponsored—and got covered by the networks in the process.
In contrast, Nograles and company will probably continue to receive brickbats on their homecoming—well after the euphoria over Pacquiao’s latest triumph has faded.
What Race?
Another politician who tried to exploit the nation’s elation over the PacMan’s victory was Sen. Manuel Villar Jr.
In press reports, the presidential wannabe was quoted thanking Pacquiao for “giving this nation, which has been battered by back-to-back calamities, a reason to celebrate and stand proud of the Filipino race.”
In this multicultural, multilingual, multiethnic, multireligious country, is there such a thing as a “Filipino race”?
“Race” is one of those myths that rightwing ideologues have popularized to win followers and gain power.
Benito Mussolini and his fascists seduced Italians with the idea that they could revive the glory of imperial Rome. Nazis enticed Germans with the fiction of the Aryan ubermench or superman. Japanese militarists marched to power on the basis of a similar theory of racial superiority.
Perhaps the only inhabitants of this archipelago who can genuinely lay claim to genetic purity are the Aetas, but even these tribesmen have begun intermingling with other communities.
In a nation where ethnic intermingling is clearly evident, any mention of a “Filipino race” smacks of either ignorance or deception—or both.
Come to think of it, Villar was acting true to form. After all he is the same guy who saw nothing wrong in using an obscenity—“conyo,” more properly spelled as coño—in his political ads in his bid to pit the rich against the poor, whom he claims to represent.
Villar, a graduate of the University of the Philippines, was probably absent, asleep or otherwise inattentive in his classes when the subject of race was discussed.
If only he had been more alert, he would have learned that there is only one race of homo sapiens on this planet. It is called the human race.
Oprah Ends Talk Show: Twitter Erupts with 8,000 Tweets Per Hour
As you may have heard, Oprah is scheduled to announce that she will end her talk show, “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” in September 2011 to focus on her upcoming cable channel. The news came out earlier in the afternoon and it’s now spreading through Twitter at an astonishing rate.
Not only does Oprah now dominate Twitter’s (Twitter) trending topics across multiple terms, which is quite remarkable given the volume of New Moon noise, but Trendrr has alerted us to the fact that Oprah mentions, in just the first hour alone after the news broke, skyrocketed to more than 8,000 tweets.
Low-cost housing for Pasig
A low-cost housing project in Kangkungan, Kaayusan Road, Manggahan, PasigCity, was recently launched under the supervision of Mayor Bobby C. Eusebio. The groundbreaking ceremony for the medium-rise building took place last Saturday was witnessed by Commissioner Tony Alvarado of the Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor (PCUP), and other city officials. The initial phase of the housing project will have two buildings, each with 140 units, and will benefit informal settlers near the construction site. “More than providing decent housing, the city government aims to provide a fresh start for our indigent residents,” Eusebio said. “Our goal here is not merely to uproot our indigent residents from their community to a new resettlement facility but to provide them with a fresh start in life in a community where they can realize their dreams for themselves and their families.” Eusebio added that Pasig's experience with typhoon “Ondoy” has highlighted the urgency to relocate informal settlers, particularly those residing along rivers and creeks to safeguard their lives as well as free water tributaries from physical obstructions as part of the city government’s flood mitigation and prevention program. The said housing project has a low amortization scheme and is strategically located near vital facilities such as schools, public markets, and hospitals. The city government expects that the project will be warmly received by the public.
Call Center for the Blind
Blind agents work in new call center (By Llanesca T. Panti)
What could be the first call center in developing countries to be staffed by blind persons has opened in the Philippines.
Housed at the Adaptive Technology for Rehabilitation, Integration and Empowerment of the Visually Impaired (ATRIEV) offices along E. Rodriguez Avenue in Quezon City, the call center formally opened its doors on October 20, the Department of Foreign Affairs reported on Tuesday.
It “is believed to be the first and the only one of its kind operating in a developing economy in the world,” the department reported.
The call center, a project under the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Digital Opportunity Center (ADOC) Initiative, is expected to be fully operational by November 2009.
It is supported by the ADOC Secretariat, Institute for Information Industry, Chunghwa Telecom, Acer Computer Corp. and Tamkang University—all based in Chinese Taipei—as well as the Philippine APEC National Secretariat, Department of Education, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, National Council for the Welfare of Disabled Persons, Philippine National School for the Blind and city government of Quezon City.
The call center is equipped with special and customized outbound call-center software and refreshable Braille display input output devices that will enable its agents to assist clients by reading prescribed responses in Braille.
Trained agents
Those who underwent the special training course for the visually impaired in Taipei were Adonis Untalan of the Philippine National School for the Blind, Josephus Reynes of the Special Needs School Instructor of the Cebu City School System, Rev. Antonio Llanes Jr. (ATRIEV president), Lourdes Borgonia (ATRIEV instructor and blind webmaster), Deterson Omas (ATRIEV instructor, software programmer and blind athlete), Charito Co of Grace Christian Academy and Mabel Gaerlan of Philippine Resources for the Blind Foundation in Cebu.
Blind agents of the call center are assisted by a screen reader, which translates displayed text to speech, while partially blind agents make use of screen magnification software.
The technology would enable visually impaired agents to become as efficient and effective as sighted call center agents.
The opening of the center was led by Chairman Peter Leslie Wallace of the ATRIEV Foundation and Donald C.T. Lee, the representative of the Philippine Taipei Economic and Cultural Office.
A message from Dr. Stan Shih, the chairman of the ADOC Secretariat and founder of the Acer Group, was read during the opening ceremonies.
The landmark opening was witnessed by government and private partners of ATRIEV.
Wallace acknowledged the significant efforts being made to provide visually impaired persons the opportunity for sustained employment.
Lee noted the continuing work needed to enhance access to digital technology for many marginalized people in APEC.
New center
Together with the opening of the call center, the 10th APECDigitalOpportunityCenter was also inaugurated at the ATRIEV Offices.
ADOC No. 10 shall design and provide training courses for Visually impaired persons in the use of computers.
The call center was a beneficiary of computer equipment donated by the ADOC Secretariat.
The unique call center and ADOC facility were launched ahead in Taipei on October 6, during the ADOC 2.0 Week.
Internet use & Filipino children
By DR. FLORANGEL ROSARIO BRAID
A recent study on Internet Access and Use by Filipino Schoolchildren showed that almost three-fourths or 74 percent have access to the Internet.
Those living in Metro Manila and the Visayas have greater access than those in the Cordilleras and Mindanao.
The survey conducted by the Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication from February to April, 2009, was commissioned by UNICEF and involved grade school pupils 10-12 years old and high school students 13-17 years old as respondents.
The children in both categories use the Internet for e-mail, connecting with friends, participating in e-groups and social networks. Yahoo is the most frequently used email account. The most visited website is Friendster, while Google and Yahoo are the most used for web search. Almost half or 46 percent spend more than P300 monthly for Internet use.
Use of social networking sites (SNS) is the number one online activity as 9 of 10 students who connect to the Net are members of Friendster. Another favorite activity is online gaming with almost 8 of 10 school -children engaged in online games. There is an equal number of male and female Internet users in all the regions except for Mindanao where more girls were found to access the Internet than boys. Compared with their counterparts in the US and other, more developed societies, Filipino children are “late” users, as a majority first used the Internet at age 8-11 years old.
Internet cafes provide the venue for access among 8 of 10 users. This is in contrast with students in the US who do much of their Internet activities at home. Of the 26 percent or one-fourth of schoolchildren which are non-users, most are in the grade school (52 percent). Among the reasons for non-use are “no Internet connection at home or school (58 percent), or “inability to use the computer (51 percent). Non-affordability and parental disapproval (both 26 percent) were also cited as reasons.
Membership in social network sites is highest in Metro Manila (88 percent) for both elementary and high school students. There are more males than females who regularly visit their networks.
Friendster is the most popular because, besides being the first social network, it is also user-friendly.
There are also more grade school pupils than high school students who play online games, and more public school than their counterparts in private schools who engage in online games. Most schoolchildren (3 of 5) go online to chat with friends and relatives. Chatting online is highest in Metro Manila and lowest in Mindanao. Private school students chat more than their counterparts in public schools. Fortunately, most do not chat with strangers. A little over two-thirds (68 percent) of the respondents use Wikipedia for schoolwork. Blogging is not as popular as the other applications, with high school students engaging in this activity more often than those in grade school.
Another study, the 2008 Digital Future Project at the University of Southern California, complements the AIJC findings with these observations: While parents have positive views about the uses of Internet, they express fears about “online predators,” discomfort over their children participating in online communities, and are not quite certain whether the Internet actually improves their children’s school performance. It showed that an average of 15.3 hours a week is devoted to online activities. 80 percent of Internet users age 17 and older consider Internet to be the most important source of information, higher than television, radio, and newspapers. And it also came out with these positive trends – that those who use the Internet spend less time watching TV but devote more time reading newspapers, magazines, and books, or playing outdoors, and working on arts and crafts. The AIJC study suggests policy and action programs to promote Internet access while protecting the safety and security of young users. Laws on anti-child pornography, children’s online privacy protection, and upgrading of the media literacy of parents and teachers are also recommended. My e-mail is florangel.braid@gmail.com
(Manila Bulletin)
Santa Clauses demand swine flu shots
A group representing Father Christmases in the US is calling for Santa Clauses to be given priority for swine flu shots.
The Amalgamated Order of Real Bearded Santas even held a seminar on the virus at a recent conference in Philadelphia.
AORBS is now lobbying for its members to be put on the much sought after swine flu vaccination priority list, reports Metro.
President Nicholas Trolli said the campaign was "not so much to protect the Santa, but to help protect the public".
"I have heard across the country numerous Santas who have actually had the swine flu, but I have not heard reports back of any of our Santas being able to get the swine flu shot as of yet," he said.
The group also urged its members to use hand sanitiser and take vitamins to boost their immune systems - and urged parents will keep sick kids away.
"If you contact AORBS, we will do our best to get a Santa to come to your home so you won't be exposing other children," Mr Trolli said.
The rival Santa America group is also calling for Father Christmases to be made a priority group for the swine flu vaccine - much like health care workers.
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Which Presidentiable will you vote for in the 2010 Philippine Elections?
TRUE COLORS!
By James Konstantin Galvez
The Nacionalista Party (NP) led by Sen. Manuel “Manny” Villar Jr. and the Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (KBL) led by Rep. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. of Ilocos Norte officially joined forces on Friday at the historic Laurel House in Mandaluyong City (Metro Manila) to give further boost to their bailiwicks.
“These hard times demand painful decisions, a choice between friends and allies, among those who have borne the fight of the opposition throughout the years. But today, we have come at last to our decision after much consultation and debate within our political family,” Marcos, youngest son of late strongman President Ferdinand Marcos, said in his prepared speech.
“We choose for our president, the Honorable Manny Villar of the Nacionaista Party,” he added. In his speech, Bongbong likened the coalition between NP and KBL as a marriage of a couple, saying that the people will remember the historical event as to why they have united.
“When couples are asked about their wedding, all they will remember is where and when it has taken place. But sometimes, they forget why. In this partnership, between the KBL and the NP, we will never forget why,” he said.
Bongbong, who is eyeing a senatorial seat in the 2010 elections, added that he shares NP’s core advocacy against poverty, noting that the poor must be empowered in all aspects as foremost priority. “Sen. Villar is a humble man whose humility allows him an open mind, bringing simple solutions to complicated problems,” the Ilocos Norte congressman said.
According to him, their alliance with NP was anchored on their trust and confidence in the integrity and leadership of Villar as harnessed from his own perseverance against poverty.
After the signing of the coalition agreement, he gave Villar an orange-colored katukong or salakot, saying that just like any traditional wedding in the Ilocos Region, it will symbolize the union of the two groups. The KBL secretary general, former Rep. Imee Marcos of Ilocos Norte, said that the 2010 polls should no longer involve those who passed away but should focus on the candidates themselves, according to their qualifications and fitness for public office.
She added that she will not be seeking any elective post in next year’s elections. Villar said that he expects issues against the young Marcos to surface including those against his father and late former president. He added that he would rather look at the credentials and qualifications of Bongbong as a public servant.
The young Marcos has been in public service for 17 years. He was elected vice governor of Ilocos Norte when he was just 23 years old and was elected governor for three consecutive times since 1992. Villar said that Bongbong was not new with the Nacionalista Party, noting that his father used to be an NP member before he founded the KBL in 1978.
The coalition with the Marcoses would give Villar the much needed vote of the “Solid North,” which Lakas-Kampi Christian Muslim Democrats’ standard-bearer Gilbert Teodoro said was already his.
“He has the Solid North? I have them all here with me,” Marcos said, referring to the number of local government officials from the province that witnessed the union of NP and KBL.
Group pushes human development issues in 2010 election campaign
By MARVYN N. BENANING
Advocates gear to push mainstream human development agenda as an electoral issue in the coming 2010 elections amid the chaos in the political arena, as politicians are tangled in the mess of party alignment and re-alignment.
In line with this, multi-sectoral forums that seek to raise policy concerns from various sectors kicked off on Friday, tackling health, at the University of the Philippines Bahay Kalinaw.
Ramon San Pascual, Philippine Legislators’ Committee on Population and Development Foundation, Inc. (PLCPD) executive director, explained that this activity aims to gather policy. agenda that will be presented by the group as challenge to the 2010 national election candidates.
So far, he added, the multi-sectoral forums will cover five areas such as health, education, children, environment and trade issues.
San Pascual underscored that these areas should be given prime importance by the next administration if the Philippine government is serious in meeting the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
MDGs is a set of targets of governments in eliminating poverty including access to universal primary education, reducing maternal and infant mortality, environment sustainability, gender empowerment, and fair trade among others.
He said, “Early on, these candidates must already make pronouncements on their programs and policies on how to meet the Philippine commitment on the MDGs once they get elected. The electorate should be more vigilant in such a way that we should now base our votes not on the personality but on their concrete plan of action.”
San Pascual added, “This initiative will be conducted not only during the election period but will go beyond, long after the election is over. Our group will see to it that the candidates do not forget their promises once they get elected. As a matter of agreement, the group will intensify their electoral campaign so the candidates will include these issues in their political platform.”
Meanwhile, during the forum Dr. Ramon Paterno of the National Institute of University of the Philippines presented the overall health status of the Philippines which is way lower than Thailand, Malaysia, Japan, and Korea.
He reported that the 70 years average life expectancy at birth in the Philippines is more than 15 years shorter than those of developed countries. He cited uneven distribution of human resources in the health sector as one problem in the system.
He estimates that 70 percent of health workers are employed in a private health sector which serves only 30 percent of the population that can afford to pay for their health care.
“There is really a need to have huge reform for universal health care and the time to start doing what should have been started long ago is now,” Paterno said.
Pacquiao receives Comelec warning
BY BERNICE CAMILLE V. BAUZON (Manila Times)
If Manny “PacMan” Pacquiao really wanted to pursue a career in politics, he may have to cut short the seemingly endless celebration of his recent demolition of Miguel Cotto, the Commission on Elections (Come-lec) said Tuesday. According to Comelec Commissioner Rene Sarmiento, ring superstar Pacquiao may be charged with premature campaigning if he continued with his television and other public appearances before he came home to a hero’s welcome this week.
“The moment he files his certificate of candidacy, those appearances will already constitute promotion of himself that, under our elections rules, is forbidden,” Sarmiento told reporters.
The filing of certificates of candidacy starts on November 20, the same day that Pacquiao is expected to return to the country.
Pacquiao on Saturday (Sunday in Manila) stripped Puerto Rican Cotto of his welterweight belt, giving him his seventh title in as many weight divisions.
“Let’s say, he files his certificate of candidacy on November 20, he becomes a candidate, so acts that tend to promote his candidacy by way of speeches, guestings, could be construed as premature campaigning,” Sarmiento said.
Long before the Cotto fight, Pacquiao had declared that he was running for congressman in Sa-rangani province in Southern Min-danao in the 2010 elections.
In the past, he was bombarded with invitations for TV and other live appearances whenever he arrived home from victories.
In May this year, Comelec accredited Pacquiao’s political party—People’s Champ Movement.
Under the law, a person is considered an official candidate after he files his certificate of candidacy with the poll body.
The campaign period starts on March 26, 2010 and ends on May 8, 2010, or two days before election day.
According to the law Campaigning outside the specified period is a violation of the Omnibus Election Code.
The Omnibus Election Code states, “Campaigning refers to an act designed to promote the election or defeat of a particular candidate or candidates to a public office including making speeches, announcements or commentaries, or holding interviews for or against the election of any candidate for public office.”
Sarmiento said that anyone could file a case against Pacquiao if the boxing icon commits any form of premature campaigning.
He added that the poll body, however, may be more “liberal” when it came to the hero’s welcome and parades for and congratulatory messages to Pacquiao.
Sarmiento cited the supposedly forgiving Filipino “culture” for that leniency.
Webby Awards name top 10 Internet moments of the decade
The birth of Wikipedia, the death of Napster, the iPhone, Facebook, and Twitter were named by the Webby Awards on Wednesday as among the top 10 Internet moments of the decade.
Other events singled out by the New York-based International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences which bestows the annual Webby Awards were Iran's election protests, Craigslist's expansion and the launch of Google AdWords.
"The Internet is the story of the decade because it was the catalyst for change in not just every aspect of our everyday lives, but in everything from commerce and communication to politics and pop culture," said David-Michel Davies, the executive director of the Webby Awards.
"The recurring theme among all of the milestones on our list is the Internet's capacity to circumvent old systems and put more power into the hands of ordinary people," he said.
The Webby Awards list of the 10 most most influential Internet moments of the decade:
- Craigslist online classified site expands outside San Francisco (2000)
- the launch of Google AdWords (2000)
- the launch of online encyclopedia Wikipedia (2001)
- the shutdown of file-sharing site Napster (2001)
- Google's initial public offering (2004)
- the online video revolution led by YouTube (2006)
- Facebook opens to non-college students and Twitter launches (2006)
- Apple's iPhone debuts (2007)
- the use of the Internet in the US presidential campaign (2008)
- the use of Twitter during the Iranian election protests (2009)
The 14th annual Webby Awards are to be announced in April 2010. They reward excellence on the Internet in a number of categories including news and other websites, interactive advertising and online film and video. (AFP)
Our end is an egalitarian society where gaps due to class, age, sex, religion, and race hardly exist.
Our foremost advocacy is to put key sectors of society under scrutiny to identify and denounce all forms of debauchery and pretensions.
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