Archive for October, 2007
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Tondo’s Tribes
Disgraced president Joseph Estrada has been pardoned by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. To many Filipinos, Arroyo’s move was not a surprise. But to journalist Carlos Conde, it reminded him, for some reason, of May 2001, when Estrada supporters stormed Mendiola, hoping to lay siege on Malacanang. He filed his report on that siege, “Entering the war zone: ‘I saw nothing but rage’”, for the now defunct CyberDyaryo, an online newsmagazine.
The Arroyo administration was not satisfied with the apology today by the Philippine Daily Inquirer over the erroneous story that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was present when those “cash gifts” were given out. In a statement today, Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye castigated the paper for “sowing disinformation.” The apology notwithstanding, he said, the damage had been done.
Where are the investigative reports that in 2001 led to Joseph Estrada’s impeachment, and eventually to his ouster? Where are the reports that in 2005 and early 2006 shook the Arroyo regime by exposing the “Hello Garci” tapes, their source, and the individuals involved in the perversion of the 2004 elections? The answer is mostly nowhere. The investigative reports that could have shed light on the NBN scandal, for example, are still to be written.
The most pernicious and the most grievous of political sexism is that which disallows women the right to effect historical signification, which has led, through 7,000 years, to the loss of women’s history and social amnesia regarding women’s ability to effect social change.
(Utrecht, 18 October) Citing a dozen policy measures made by the Manila government to sabotage and stall peace negotiations since the end of 2001, NDFP chief negotiator Luis G. Jalandoni yesterday reiterated their call to the Arroyo government to first comply with existing peace agreements in order to pave the way for the resumption of [...]
How Green Is My iPhone? Apple’s Steve Jobs failed to deliver on his promise, Greenpeace says.
In a report released today, Greenpeace Philippines disclosed that tests made by the group on the iPhone determined that the popular device contains hazardous chemicals and materials. “Apple could have demonstrated that it is a true industry leader with a [...]
How Green Is My iPhone? Apple’s Steve Jobs failed to deliver on his promise, Greenpeace says.
In a report released today, Greenpeace Philippines disclosed that tests made by the group on the iPhone determined that the popular device contains hazardous chemicals and materials. “Apple could have demonstrated that it is a true industry leader with a green iPhone. Unfortunately, Apple missed that call and the public is left with an Apple that is no greener than what was promised by Steve Jobs in May,” said Beau Baconguis, Greenpeace Southeast Asia toxics campaigner.
Philip Alston, the UN’s special rapporteur on extrajudicial killings, submitted his report on the Philippines to the UN General Assembly today. In his report, Alston points to one key factor in the series of extrajudicial killings of activists: “Many in the Government have concluded that numerous civil society organizations are ‘fronts’ for the Communist Party of the Philippines and its armed group, the New People’s Army. One response has been counter-insurgency operations that result in the extrajudicial execution of leftist activists. In some areas, the leaders of leftist organizations are systematically hunted down by interrogating and torturing those who may know their whereabouts, and they are often killed following a campaign of individual vilification designed to instill fear into the community.” Download or read the report (PDF) here.
After the “slur” on Philippine medical schools in “Desperate Housewives,” Manila’s networks have dug up a September episode in the Daily Show With Jon Stewart in which the “correspondent” Samantha Bee “reports” on whether America is ready for a woman president. In Bee’s hilarious report, a picture is shown of former president Corazon Aquino; across it is the word “slut.” Some Filipinos are offended. Should you be? Watch the “report.”
Among 192 countries the Philippines ranks 153rd in terms of government spending on health as a share of a country’s total health spending. Filipinos have increasingly relied on out of pocket expenses on health, as against government allocation.
Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Nene” Q. Pimentel,
Jr. (PDP-Laban) has urged that the current
investigation on the so-called Garci tapes cannot be
legally prohibited or stopped even as he pointed out
that the statutory prohibition against the disclosure
or wiretapped materials is not absolute.
Anakpawis Rep.Crispin Beltran today said that the scrapping of the
Macapagal-Arroyo government’s national broadband network (NBN) deal
with China’s ZTE Corp. was a victory of the Filipino people against
graft and corruption. He said that Pres. Arroyo was essentially forced
to terminate the contract because of the strong outrage generated by
the controversy over the illegal and underhanded brokering [...]
3 October 2007—Philippine Ambassador to Kuala Lumpur Victoriano M. Lecaros reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs that an Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) in Malaysia expressed gratitude to the Embassy for taking care of her during her pregnancy until she gave birth to a healthy baby boy at the Kuala Lumpur General Hospital last [...]
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
josé miguel: Our nation has also been continuouly raped by the continuous invasion of the Americans. How Nicole... Atty.Charmaine Fajardo: Please email me if you are selling these Thailand AROD coconut dwarf variety or any other... Jurisprudence: I do hope God will grant her a miracle! http://hubpages.com/ hub/Cory-Aquino-The- Real-Score cesar santos umali: Everything has been said about Cory Aquino. Quezon set the precedent when he declared “I... ‘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)
