Archive for June, 2007
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iPHONE iNSANITY
Although the iPhone is not going to flood the Philippines anytime soon, it may make sense for us to check out the reaction to the product by consumers and experts in the U.S. (An aside: Were it not for the fact that any product Apple releases almost always gets this massive press and buzz, one [...]
The government has been using proceeds from the sale of government assets to pad its fiscal position, thus giving the illusion that all is well with the economy. The problem is the Arroyo administration will soon run out of assets to sell or privatize.
MANILA — DENR Secretary Angelo Reyes should go beyond merely suspending the Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) by cancelling it for good and investigating Jung Ang Interventure Corporation’s development of a report spa in the crator of Taal Volcano in Batangas, a leader of environmental activist group Kalikasan People’s Network for the Environment (Kalikasan PNE) said [...]
MANILA — The announcement of Malacañang that it will review its counter insurgency program to make it more sensitive to human rights is a meaningless statement as far as human rights victims are concerned. Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita’s announcement is a token response to the European Union “needs assessment mission” which recently concluded its work [...]
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today called on the leaders of Africa meeting for their annual summit to free all journalists imprisoned on the continent as part of its ‘African Journalists out of Jail Campaign.’
“My daughter Delara is accused of a crime that she did not commit… Help me and help us until justice is properly served. There are no signs of humanity and justice in here.”
father of Delara Darabi who is awaiting execution in Iran, 11 January 2007
Malacanang announced today a Cabinet revamp. According to a statement from Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has sent Hermogenes Ebdane back to the Department of Public Works and Highways, where he had been before appointed as defense secretary. Former Tarlac congressman Gilbert Teodoro will replace Ebdane as defense secretary. National Security Adviser will act as officer-in-charge of the defense department until Teodoro assumes the post on Aug. 3.
Some quarters are concerned about the beating the Philippines gets in the international media. This mindset is offensive on many counts. Let me cite two. One, it trivializes the suffering of the victims and their families. Their lives have been turned upside down by the brutality — and all we care about is how people in other countries perceive us? Second, it shapes official response to the killings. Indeed, it gives the Arroyo administration a way to evade responsibility.
Although the iPhone is not going to flood the Philippines anytime soon, it may make sense for us to check out the reaction to the product by consumers and experts in the U.S. (An aside: Were it not for the fact that any product Apple releases almost always gets this massive press and buzz, one would be tempted to think that, based on everything that has been said about the iPhone, the world has gone nuts.)
The assumption that one possesses the birthright to be in power has constantly placed incompetent people, with the exception of a few, in public office. Forget track record and competitiveness. All you need is pedigree.
Winding up a 10-day “needs assessment mission” to look into the extra-judicial killings in the country, the European group headed by European Union Ambassador Alistair Macdonald offered today “technical assistance” to the government in the investigation of extrajudicial killings, the prosecution of the suspects and witness protection.
The Arroyo administration is strengthening the country’s collegiate education program to promote the Philippines not only as a world-class tourist destination but also as a topnotch center of higher education.
LIBMANAN, Camarines Sur – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo assured today the farmer-beneficiaries of the Libmanan-Cabusao Irrigation Pump System Project that her administration will help them restore Libmanan as the “rice granary of Bicol region.”
Political Bloodbath Continues: Widow of Slain Activist Shot Dead New Wave of Protests Against Charter Change Set in April Comelec’s Automation to Worsen Election Fraud — Watchdog 2008: Another Bad Year for the Philippine Press ‘Unemployment Figures Wrong; Number of Jobless Higher’ ‘Nicole Is Not the Enemy’ ‘Nicole’: ‘My Conscience Bothers Me’ Why Globe Broadband Sucks Big Time Is the Call Center Industry a Bright Spot for New Graduates? 6 Great Ways to Vent Your Frustrations Eating Dirt Is Actually Good For Children Australia Offers 150 Scholarship Slots for Philippines, Asia-Pacific Why Globe Broadband Sucks Big Time
Loreta Saludaga: Hi Maam and Sir.Im Loreta Saludaga.19 years of age.I am taking a BSIT course but it is sad to say... Globe Sucks: Grabe na talaga tong globe broadband ang panget ng service. Ang bilis ma disconnect ang tagal maka... ‘Martsa Kontra Cha-cha’ Set What Are 1109, 9006, and 9369 in Arroyo’s Agenda? Environmentalists Slam Arroyo’s Sellout of Lands to Foreigners Recruiting Militants in Southern Thailand New Round of Oil Price Hikes Hit Greenpeace Water Patrol Dismantles Blockade It’s Battle of Good Vs Evil, Church Leaders Say of Cha-cha Fight Satur: Nograles to Blame for Dispersal of Peasant Camp-Out Philippines: A Journalist on Army Target List, Another Shot, Possibly by Soldier In the Philippines, Targeting Journalists
"Sampayan ng Bayan". During its Third Congress on March 27-28, 2009, members of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan-US Chapter staged protest actions against RP-US Visiting Forces Agreement through a "Sampayan ng Bayan" where a clothesline with painted shirts spelling out "JUNK VFA" was wrapped around General MacArthur's statue in Los Angeles, California. (Photo courtesy of Bayan-US)
CANDLES FOR BILLANES Members of Kalikasan People’s Network for the Environment (Kalikasan-PNE) and other multisectoral groups held a candle lighting activity on March 13, 2009 at the Bantayog ng mga Bayani to denounce the increasing number of extrajudicial killings in the country; the most recent was environmentalist and anti-mining activist Eliezer Billanes. (Photo by Kalikasan-PNE)
Goodbye, Rebelyn Thousands joined the funeral march for Rebelyn Pitao, the daughter of a top Communist leader, in Davao City on Saturday. The protesters demanded justice for the schoolteacher, who was brutally murdered allegedly by military agents. (Photo by Barry Ohaylan)
PROTEST OVER REBELYN. Hong Kong human rights groups condemn the abduction, torture, rape and killing of Rebelyn Pitao in a picket protest held on March 11, 2009 at the Philippine Consulate General. (Photo courtesy of BAYAN-Hong Kong)
BERDUGO. Posters accusing the 10th Infantry Division of the Armed Forces of the Philippines as "berdugo" (butcher) are posted in major streets in Davao City. The New People's Army (NPA) accused the 10th ID to be behind the killing of 20-year old Rebelyn Pitao, daughter of NPA rebel leader Leoncio Pitao. (Photo by Ruby Thursday More/AKP Images)
Around 10,000 members of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) gathered at the football field of Agro-Industrial Foundation College of the Philippines in Davao City on Saturday, March 7, 2009 for their 3rd Grand Summit Gathering with MNLF founding chair Prof. Nur Misuari. Some of the MNLF members traveled from as far away as Zamboanga provinces just for the half day gathering. (Photo by Keith Bacongco/AKP Images)
Teachers Demand Better Wages. Dozens of public-school teachers take to the street of Manila to demand better wages. They also criticized a proposed law that would give soldiers better salaries than those in the civilian bureaucracy. (Photo by arkibongbayan.org)
Beach Boy. A taho (soybean custard) vendor plies his trade in a seemingly desolate landscape, which is actually a beach in Opol, Misamis Oriental. (Photo by Ayi Muallam/PinoyPress)
Lumad Protest. Some 200 indigenous peoples coming from different parts of Mindanao staged a protest at the gate of the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Eastern Mindanao Command in Panacan, Davao City, on Monday, March 2, 2009, to denounce the human-rights abuses allegedly perpetrated by the military in the indigenous communities. They also called for the repeal of the Mining Act. (Photo by Keith Bacongco/AKP Images)
Ban Balikatan. Activists from the group BAN Balikatan in Bicol held protest rallies on Feb. 25 to denounce the holding of the US-Philippine Balikatan exercises in the region. They criticized President Arroyo for being a "puppet" of Washington. (Photo courtesy of arkibongbayan.org)
NO to BNPP. Members of the Network Opposed "NO" to Bataan Nuclear Power Plant Revival ask members of the House of Representatives not to support House Bill 4631 which calls for the revival of the mothballed nuclear plant. Environmental and Civil society groups question the safety of nuclear power plants and instead call for the full implementation of the recently passed Renewable Energy Bill. (Photo by Gigie Cruz/AKP Images)
