Palace: Neri’s on his own

MANILA, Philippines – Romulo Neri has to deal on his own with the graft charges he is facing in connection with the scuttled $329-million National Broadband Network deal with China’s ZTE Corp., a Palace official said. Full story.

Senate should invite First Gentleman in NBN-ZTE probe, says JDV

Senate should invite First Gentleman in NBN-ZTE probe, says JDV: "

Former House speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. said the Senate Blue Ribbon committee investigating the botched $329-million NBN-ZTE deal should summon First Gentleman Miguel Arroyo so it could “write finis to the probe.”

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Dacer kin won't file raps vs Erap

Dacer kin won't file raps vs Erap: "

The daughters of slain publicist Salvador “Bubby” Dacer are not inclined to seek the indictment of former President Joseph Estrada despite the testimony of former police senior superintendent Cezar Mancao II linking the former leader to the killings, according to the family lawyer.

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Mass at NAIA for Aquino death anniversary

By Marlon Ramos
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 13:30:00 08/21/2009

Filed Under: Heroism, Politics

MANILA, Philippines – Some 40 members of the Ninoy Aquino Movement and August Twenty-One Movement gathered Friday at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Pasay City to mark the 26th death anniversary of former opposition leader Senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr.

Clad in yellow shirts and waving ATOM flags, the group attended a Mass for Ninoy in Bay 11 of the NAIA Terminal 1, the same spot where the martyred freedom fighter fell after he was shot by alleged gunman Rolando Galman exactly 26 years ago.

Aquino's younger siblings, former Senators Agapito "Butch" Aquino and Tessie Aquino-Oreta, later led the wreath-laying ceremony.

Arroyo 44th most powerful woman in Forbes list

ABS-CBN

MANILA - President Arroyo has been named the 44th most powerful woman in the world, according to Forbes magazine.

The President's Forbes' ranking is lower than last year's, which saw her land on the 41st spot. Her worst ranking was in 2007 when she placed 51st in the annual list of the 100 Most Powerful Women in the World.

Mrs. Arroyo was previously named the 4th most powerful woman in the world in 2005, the same year that she faced the first in a series of failed impeachment attempts over allegations that she rigged the 2004 elections.

Forbes said the rankings combine the person's visibility in the media and the size of the organization or country that she leads,

In her description of the Philippine president, Forbes writer Tatiana Serafin said Mrs. Arroyo's visit with US President Barack Obama in the White House last month -- the first for a Southeast Asian leader -- was a "boon to an otherwise lame-duck presidency."

She noted that while Mrs. Arroyo's tumultuous six-year term ends next year, the President's allies could push through with a plan to change the Philippine Constitution and adopt a parliamentary form of government. This would allow Mrs. Arroyo to get around the six-year presidential term limit and become prime minister.

"Critics contend this may further sink the stalling economy that earlier in the year hit a 10-year-low GDP growth of 0.4%. Arroyo also has her hands full dealing with rise in domestic terrorism," the Forbes article noted.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel held on to the No. 1 spot on Forbes' annual ranking of the world's most powerful women for the fourth year in a row. The list also included newcomers such as US First Lady Michelle Obama (40) and Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor (54).

Forbes noted that the women on its most powerful list are "moving across companies and industries, making big leaps with each change, and repositioning themselves for opportunities that allow them to gain a breadth of experience."

Arroyo party gave away P6M in tips during six-day US stay

ARCS, GMANews.TV

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and her entourage gave away about P6 million in gratuities during the chief executive’s working visit to the United States from July 29 to August 5.

Based on an official breakdown of expenses provided to GMA News by Susanna Vargas, Malacañang’s deputy executive secretary for administration and finance, Mrs. Arroyo’s party spent $66,000 in Washington D.C. and $59,000 in New York for various service tips.

GMA News said the Arroyo party gave money to bellboys, porters, drivers, convoy escorts, and housekeeping personnel in the US for the services they rendered to the President and her party.

Mrs. Arroyo came under fire after media reported on her supposed lavish meals with husband Jose Miguel Arroyo and government officials in at least four restaurants in Washington D.C. and New York City.

The Washington Post reported that President Arroyo and her entourage dined on lobster, steak, and fine wines for $15,000 at Bobby Van’s Steakhouse on 15th Street in Washington D.C. The dinner took place on July 30 hours after Mrs. Arroyo met with US President Barack Obama.

Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez, an Arroyo ally, later claimed that he paid for the Bobby Van’s dinner, including the $1,500-tip for the celebration of the 41st wedding anniversary of the President and her husband.

The second dinner was at Le Cirque last August 2, according to US tabloid New York Post. Arroyo’s group reportedly spent $20,000 for the meal that included "very expensive wine" at the upscale French restaurant in Manhattan, New York City.

Malacañang later admitted that Mrs. Arroyo’s group dined at Le Cirque, but denied that the Office of the President spent for the meal.

Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said it was Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez who picked up the tab for the Le Cirque dinner. But Romualdez evaded media queries about the issue.

The third meal was at the posh Bouley Restaurant on Broadway Avenue in New York also on August 2. This was confirmed by Batangas Rep. Hermilando Mandanas who said it was part of the celebration of the First Couple’s wedding anniversary.

The fourth was at Wolfgang’s Steakhouse on Park Avenue in Manhattan, according to Mindoro Rep. Amelita Villarosa.

Malacañang has defended the President over critics’ claim that the expensive meals showed Mrs. Arroyo's insensitivity toward the plight of many Filipinos suffering from the effects of the global financial crisis.

According to Remonde, when President Arroyo is abroad for official visits, her expenses are exempted from the government’s austerity measures. He says Mrs. Arroyo’s "aggressive" foreign engagements have brought huge investments to the country.

Wala lang: Ang maharlika (The Goldenberg Mansion)

By JAIME C. LAYA

August 17, 2009, 12:55pm

Just as today’s elite build second homes in Tagaytay and Punta Fuego and as their grandparents built in Baguio in the 1920s, the super-rich of the Spanish Regime constructed theirs along the Pasig River.

The Governor General himself had a house in still bucolic San Miguel (Posesión de Malacañang). He moved there permanently in the 1870s and the wealthy followed suit. Among them was the builder of a house on Gral. Solano Street, most likely principal of Eugster Labhart y Cia., a Swiss or French trading company.

The Eugster home survived rough use as government and business office, school, night club. It escaped World War II unharmed and still stands—immaculately white with capiz windows and arcaded veranda beyond a paved courtyard and a splashing fountain. It’s not easy to impress Jullie Yap Daza, but she describes the interior thus, “Glittering chandeliers overhead, gleaming black and white marble tiles on the floor …above a sweeping staircase, a crystal chandelier hung, as big as my house.”

Then First Lady Imelda Marcos bought it in 1966 for PhP180,000.00 from the heirs of Michael Goldenberg, manufacturer of Helene Curtis beauty products who lived there from 1950 till he died in 1963. After sensitive restoration by Archt. Leandro V. Locsin, it was baptized “Ang Maharlika” (though still better known as “Goldenberg Mansion”) and became Marcos Foundation office and guest house.

Under the Marcoses, the mansion welcomed Spain’s Juan Carlos and Sofia, the U.N.’s Kurt Waldheim, Indira Gandhi, Canada’s Pierre Trudeau, and jet setters like pianist Van Cliburn, Christina Ford and Doris Duke. These days, it’s occasionally used by the President and by the Secretary of Foreign Affairs to receive important visitors.

Ang Maharlika was a treasure house containing part of the fabled Marcos art collection and Filipiniana library. Some items have been sold or transferred elsewhere, but the sala remains elegant with its wood filigree arches and chandeliers (reputedly from Versailles). Tapestries of Diana the Huntress and a della Robbia mirror once owned by Catherine de Medici look upon gilded furniture and Persian rugs. Nearby are Grandma Moses paintings, French ancient regime and Empire furniture.

In a reception room are Chinese furniture inlaid with 4,000 jade plaques and a 16th century European devotional altar with ivory figures depicting the life of St. Catherine of Alexandria. Chinese and Southeast Asian ceramics from 2000 BC to the 19th century fill the cabinets of a large room.

The Pasig River is today lined not with historic homes but with informal settlers and warehouses. Ang Maharlika and the Teus house next door (also rescued by Mrs. Marcos) are in good shape. However, on the same street is an empty Art Deco mansion with a “For Sale” sign. Upriver in Nagtahan, a state university seems not to know what to do with an enormous old house.

In Sta. Ana is Xavier House, originally an 1800s private home now owned by the Jesuits who are looking for a buyer. May enlightened hands touch Manila’s few remaining heritage structures.

44 killed in Basilan war

23 soldiers, 21 Abus die in face-to-face combat

By Julie Alipala, Inquirer Mindanao, Jocelyn Uy
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 02:19:00 08/14/2009

ZAMBOANGA CITY — The first bursts of gunfire thundered through the hills at 3:47 a.m. on Wednesday. By nightfall, the close-quarter, face-to-face combat was still raging, after Marine reinforcements fell into an ambush. Click on link for full story.

Revillame goes on leave

By ARIS R. ILAGAN

August 10, 2009, 5:45pm

Controversial television host Willie Revillame has filed a three-week leave of absence from game show “Wowowee” believed to be triggered by mounting protests on his emotional outburst over the insertion of a live coverage of former President Corazon Aquino’s funeral procession in the high-rating ABS-CBN noontime show.

According to well-placed sources from ABS-CBN, Revillame’s leave of absence took effect during the live airing of “Wowowee” last Saturday, August 8, in ABS-CBN.

During Monday’s noontime showing of “Wowowee”, the 48-yearold Revillame was also a no-show amid the expression of support from some of his followers present in the studio who showed placards that said: “Willie, kasama mo kami (Willie, we are with you).

ABS-CBN has yet to issue a formal announcement over Revillame’s status on the high-rating “Wowowee” game show amid mounting calls for him to be suspended or removed for allegedly showing disrespect to the former president who was laid to rest last August 5 at the Manila Memorial
Park.

“Willie has gone on leave. He will be out for at least three weeks,” a well-placed source from ABS-CBN network said.

Pretty TV co-host Mariel Rodriguez and comedian “Pokwang” took over the hosting work for “Wowowee.”

Revillame, who was suspended at least twice from his previous hosting jobs from different game shows, caught the ire of the public anew when he ordered the producers to remove the insertion of the live-coverage of Mrs. Aquino’s funeral cortege which, he said, was inappropriate for a game show like “Wowowee”.

Aside from the incident involving the Aquino funeral procession, Revillame was also a subject of complaint before the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) for making alleged unethical comments in “Wowowee” that reportedly caused embarrassment and emotional depression to children of a couple who are presently experiencing marital problems.

A woman complainant, who requested not to be identified, had sought the help the MTRCB to conduct an investigation over Revillame’s alleged unethical behavior when he teased a “Wowowee” dancer to her estranged husband, identified as Raymond Ronquillo, sometime last March.

The incident happened while their three children – aged three, 11 and 12 – while watching the popular game show.

A similar incident occurred last July 28 that prompted the woman complainant to ask MTRCB authorities to impose punitive measures against Revillame for unethical behavior while on the prime TV game show.

Also named respondents in her complaint were ABS-CBN Corporation and Wowowee dancer Aiko Climaco who is her estranged husband’s alleged present love interest.

According to the complainant, her children have refused to go to school after they were subjected to humiliation by their classmates and friends that resulted from Revillame’s uncalled for statements in “Wowowee.”

Revillame’s outburst over the simultaneous airing of the funeral procession of Mrs. Aquino prompted some concerned citizens to push for an on-line signature drive to pressure ABS-CBN management to either suspend or to ban Revillame from appearing on TV shows.

‘Kiko’ death toll: 21; search on for 4 miners

Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 03:54:00 08/10/2009

Filed Under: Weather, Infrastructure, Disasters & Accidents

MANILA, Philippines—Leaving 21 dead in Luzon, the heavy rains set off by Typhoon “Kiko” (international codename: Morakot) last week damaged P35.88 million in roads, bridges and crops in the provinces of Benguet, Tarlac and Pampanga, the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) reported Sunday.

Landslides and flash floods destroyed roads and bridges as sea walls and dikes were breached when the typhoon poured nonstop rain over a large swath of Luzon on Thursday.

A portion of the Pinatubo dike broke, causing connecting rivers to swell and plunging 10 villages in Zambales province in floodwaters.

Three foreigners on their way to Mt. Pinatubo drowned when raging currents engulfed their vehicle.

Of the fatalities, 13 were in the Cordillera Administrative Region, seven in Central Luzon and one in Metro Manila.

At least three landslides occurred in Benguet, causing an elementary school to collapse, damaging three ball mills and several houses, and burying pocket miners. Click to continue.

9 dead in floods, slides due to ‘Kiko’

2 French, 1 Belgian drown in Tarlac river

By Inquirer Northern Luzon, Inquirer Central Luzon
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 02:29:00 08/08/2009

MANILA, Philippines — At least nine people, including three foreigners trekking on Mt. Pinatubo, died in flash floods and landslides triggered by Typhoon “Kiko” (international codename: Morakot) in Central and northern Luzon on Thursday and Friday, according to reports gathered by the Inquirer.

Strong rains caused the O’Donnell River in Capas, Tarlac, to breach its banks on Thursday afternoon, sweeping three foreigners and their Filipino guide in the current.

Senior Supt. Rudy Lacadin, Tarlac police director, said three Koreans and six French nationals survived the flash flood that occurred as they descended Pinatubo on Thursday afternoon.

The Tarlac police and the Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council (PDCC) identified the fatalities as Cholet Martine and Callet Thierry, both of France; Staylenan Walter of Belgium; and their Filipino guide, Ordonio Fernando.

The foreigners were part of a group of eight French nationals and one Belgian who registered at the Pinatubo Development Center in Capas at around 7:30 a.m. on Thursday for a trek on Pinatubo, according to Tarlac Gov. Victor Yap.

“We have no excuses for what happened. We will do further work to ensure the visitors’ safety,” Governor Yap said. Click on Link to read on.

People troop to La Salle gym to pay last respect to Cory

By FRANCIS T. WAKEFIELD
August 2, 2009, 8:03pm

People from all walks of life flocked to the La Salle gymnasium in Greenhills, San Juan City to pay their last respects to former President Corazon Cojuanco Aquino who died early Saturday morning due to cardio-respiratory arrest.

Trishia P. Octaviano, secretariat and one of those in charge to handle the crowd, said that as early as 8 a.m. Sunday, an estimated 2,000 people have already lined up inside and outside the La Salle Greenhills campus to catch a glimpse of the former president who died at about 3:18 a.m. at the Makati Medical Center.

Aquino’s remains were brought to the school’s gymnasium Saturday afternoon in order for the people to get the chance to see the beloved president for the last time.