Skip to main content

Posts

Binay top in Mabalacat

A survey by the IPolls Research Group shows Vice President Jejomar Binay is leading the presidential race based on the trust and approval ratings gathered by students here during a 10-day survey from December 12 to 21. The survey did not focus on the winnability of the candidates but on their acceptability by voters, based on the lone question "Sino sa mga sumusunod na kandidato ang inyong pinagkakatiwalaan?" (Whom of the following candidates do you trust?) In the random survey conducted on 3,360 respondents in the city's 27 barangays, Binay garnered 738 or 22 percent followed by Liberal Party bet Mar Roxas with 682 or 20 percent. Senator Grace Poe came in third with 573 or 17 percent; Rody Duterte with 544 or 16 percent; Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago with 505 or 15 percent; while 318 were undecided. Among the candidates for vice president, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. topped the survey with 842 or 25 percent followed by Senator Francis Escudero with 763 or 23 percen...

MARkang EPAL!

I was just at the right place, at the right time. I was heading to Midsayap recently on board the van of my friend.  Since he knew that I’m looking for human interest pictures, he just navigates his van at a speed of about 40-50kph so that it would be quick for us to halt should we’d spot some interesting subjects. That’s always our drill whenever we travel together. He knows what I need, he knows how to spot human interest pictures,too. He’s an experienced driver, he has been ferrying journalists , especially TV crews, around Mindanao during major events — war, disaster,etc. As we were approaching, the junction of Paco (Kidapawan City) and Pres. Roxas, he slowed down to allow some motorcycles to cross the highway. Besides, there were barricades on the side of the road. First, the construction of a gas station at the corner caught my attention. And then the giant billboard. In my mind, what is this giant billboard doing here. When I turned my head to see what’s on that bill...

Jerry Pelayo of Candaba Bird Sanctuary

We hitched our way back to the sanctuary and after arranging everything with our guide; she gave each of us a pair of binoculars. I declined mine since it was kinda hard hoisting two cameras along with it. According to our friendly guide, the Pelayo Resthouse, the one found at the Candaba Swamp and not the one in town, is available for overnighters for a minimal fee. There are no rooms and beds here though and visitors who wished to stay overnight should bring their own sleeping materials. They then have a choice of either sleeping on the available benches or on the cold hard floor. There’s also no place to buy food here, this is in the middle of a farmland, so you’d have to bring your own. For those afraid of the dark, be sure to bring a lamp as it can get quite dark come sundown, there is no electricity at the compound. We’re willing to endure all of those just to experience a sunset / sunrise combo at the Bird Sanctuary and this was really where we should have stayed for the n...

EDSA noon at ngayon

Rally dito, Rally doon, People Power dito, People Power doon. Hindi pa ba napapagod ang Pinoy at ang mga namumuno sa gobyerno? Pinalitan nga ang mga pinuno ngunit hindi parin nagbabago ang buhay sa Pilipinas. Datirati ang sinisigaw ni Juan dela Cruz ay: "Erap Resign!", "Gloria Resign!", tapos ngayon, “Pnoy Resign!”. Kung titignan nga naman ang kasaysayan, nung bumaba ang dating pangulong Estrada, hindi naman sinabi ng mga Pilipino na si GMA na ang ihalal bilang ika-14 na pangulo ng bansa. Saan napunta ang democracy? Aba'y pagkababa plang nung isa, nanumpa naman kagad ung isa. San napunta ang kapangyarihan ng mga mamamayan para maghalal ng mamumuno? Sa parte naman ng ating mga pinuno, bakit pa natin sila iboboto kung sa pagtagal din ay pabababain din naman? Dapat maging mas responsable tayong mga mamamayan. Maghalal ng pinuno na matino at pag nahalal naman ay ating suportahan. Ang nangyayari sa kasalukuyan kasi ay pagkaboto ng isang pinuno ay hahatakin naman ...

Bayanihan para sa Tacloban

Prayers and aid for those affected by Haiyan. Dear Father, clear a path for teams to provide immediate relief for affected families. Now that the storm has passed over the country, put Your hand on the people of the Philippines and everyone involved in the relief effort, so that aid may reach those in need speedily. Caritas Manila Damayan BPI 3063-5357-01; BDO 5600-45905; Metrobank 175-3-17506954-3; Unionbank 00-030-001227-5; for US$ donations: BPI 3064-0033-55 (Swift Code: BOPIPHMM) or PNB 10-856-660002-5 (Swift Code: PNBMPHMM); email donorcare@caritasmanila.org.ph or call (632) 564-6678 Just to share a thought: the initial reaction of giving leads to an outpouring of aid in the first weeks after an incident.  However, as a staff of another charitable institution I interviewed before said, the aid tends to trickle down in the ensuing weeks or months when aid is still very much needed.  I just noticed some posts in the social media networks regarding worries that Decem...

Ombudsman asks Edpam for counter-affidavit on graft case

Deputy Ombudsman for Luzon Adoracion Agbada, in an order dated December 5, 2012, asked Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan to submit a counter-affidavit for the graft and corruption charges filed against him by local mediaman Robledo Sanchez. Pamintuan and company are being charged with two administrative cases, conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service and grave misconduct, and two criminal cases, violation of section 3(e) and 3(g) of Republic Act 3019, otherwise known as Anti Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, and Violation of Article 217 (Malversation of public funds or property; Presumption of malversation) of the Revised Penal Code. The letter, addressed to the respondents -- Pamintuan, City Accountant Wilfredo Tiotuico, City Budget Officer Fe Corpuz, City Treasurer Juliet Quinsaat, and all Department Heads -- ordered Pamintuan and company to submit three copies of their respective counter-affidavits and any relevant evidence refuting the case filed against them. Pamintuan ...

Lazatin condemns attempt on Richard Agnew’s life

Congressman Carmelo “Tarzan” Lazatin has condemned the shooting of businessman Richard Agnew stating that the city police “should get to the bottom of it.” “Nakakatakot na ang mga nangyayari. Una kinikikilan ang mga negosyante. Hina-harass at sinasara ang mga negosyo nila. Ngayon naman ay tinatangka na nilang patayin,” Lazatin said. Gunmen reportedly missed their intended target Agnew, who was inside his car near his residence the other day. Agnew is a known supporter of Lazatin who revealed that the former’s business in Barangay Balibago was repeatedly closed by authorities for unclear violations. “This shooting incident will surely cripple the business and tourism in Angeles City, the lawmaker said. Lazatin also added that police must also take a look onto a possible political angle on the incident. by: Reynaldo G. Navales