Archive for May, 2008
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Arroyo Stops Tuition Hike in State Colleges
Statement of the President, 26 May 2008
The non-stop increase in oil prices and the unprecedented food price shock now roiling the world are adversely affecting household incomes and forcing families to cut back on spending, if not do away altogether with certain necessities.
At an average of P450 per unit, parents are spending about P10,000 for [...]
Butil ng Buhay
Airing on May 26, 2008, GMA 7
Monday night after Saksi
At a time of national rice crisis, the town of Lucban shows off its rice abundance as it stages its grand annual festival, the Pahiyas. Nothing will stop their tradition of turning palay into exquisite outdoor decor. But will a storm punish Lucbanins for [...]
In a night of songs and poems, activists and leaders of the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) will be joined by mainstream artists and groups tonight, May 26, in paying tribute to labor leader and former Bayan chair Crispin “Ka Bel” Beltran at the Philippine Independent Church in Manila.
The anti-poverty groups Global Call to Action Against Poverty (GCAP) and Womanhealth Philippines have raised alarm over the reported increase in fetal deaths due to short gestation and low birth weight as shown in the latest study of the National Statistics Office released this month.
A military man as peace adviser? A hawk for the dovish tasks of peace negotiations? It shouldn’t surprise anyone. The Arroyo regime of ironies and mockery has done as badly and even worse. It’s a national security regime disguised as a democracy, a reign of assassins cloaked in legal cloth. It’s a regime of mockery in which an Hermogenes Esperon for peace adviser makes as much sense as a Raul Gonzalez for justice secretary.
Independent think-tank IBON Foundation criticizes the Department of Energy and Malacañang for passing the zero oil tariff cut, saying that reduced tariffs in the last three months has resulted in even higher prices of oil products.
Since the oil tariff was reduced from 3% to 2% in February and 2% to 1% in May, gasoline [...]
By Nene Pimentel
As a young man growing up in Cagayan de Oro in the 50s and the 60s, I hardly knew Crispin Beltran. I did read of him now and then in a Manila daily that we got in Cagayan de Oro which at the time was at least three hours by propeller planes and [...]
The Committee to Protect Journalists, based in New York, has written to Supreme Court chief justice Reynato Puno expressing its “grave concern” about the recent ruling of a Cebu Court of Appeals to indefinitely suspend the murder trial of journalist Marlene Garcia-Esperat.
Pagbilao, Quezon, 24 May 2008–Greenpeace activists aboard Rainbow
Warrior, anchored alongside Pagbilao coal plant, painted the words ‘Quit
Coal’ on the hull of a 223 meter vessel ‘Sam John Spirit’ standing by to
unload yet another shipment of thousands of tons of coal at Pagbilao
power plant in the Philippines. The Rainbow Warrior is in the
Philippines on its [...]
HONOLULU (May 23) — The natural disasters that swept through Burma and western China in recent weeks throw into sharp relief the humanitarian, physical and even political challenges facing the region today, a panel of East-West Center experts said here this week.
In striking ways, the aftermath of the cyclone in Burma and the earthquake in [...]
By Fr. Shay Cullen
It’s good to know that there are idealistic and well-meaning military officers ready to oppose corruption and speak the truth. Some wrongly took up arms to oppose the government corruption last year and were conditionally pardoned recently by the President. Other military officers of conscience in the Armed Forces of the Philippines [...]
They usually approach you in shopping malls and ask you if you already have a credit card. If you tell them that you don’t have one, they would then shove a paper in your hand, asking you to fill it up so you can enjoy the benefit of having a credit card. The banks have been increasingly using such a marketing tactic to encourage people to sign up for credit cards, which perhaps partly explains the explosion of credit-card use in the Philippines. But the next time one of these agents approach you, know this: a scam may have developed out of this aggressive marketing strategy by the banks.
The New York Times called it a “rambunctious, noisy film.” One critic thought it was “a shabby piece of video verite from the Philippines” and wondered why it “inexplicably” competed in Cannes. The critic of cinematical.com headlined her review “Live from Cannes: Gratuitous Yuckiness…”and goes on to narrate why, for the first time, she walked out of a screening at a festival. And, according to the critic, it was not just because of the sight of a boil being popped using a Coke bottle — no pun intended — but also because of the gratuitous and exploitative sex scenes in the movie. Yet another critic called it the worst film in competition in Cannes in recent memory.
KMU chairman Elmer Labog, in a statement, said the government of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was responsible for the deteriorating health of AnakPawis Rep. Crispin Beltran, which may have been a factor in the accident that led to his death. “It cannot be denied that the arrest and detention of Ka Bel at Camp Crame and Philippine Heart Center last 2006 due to fabricated cases of rebellion was a cause for his physical deterioration,” Labog said. (Click here to read the statements and tributes to Ka Bel.)
The League of Filipino Students (LFS) and its chapters nationwide pays
its highest tribute to Rep. Crispin Beltran, a great revolutionary
leader, a man who constantly and tirelessly devoted his life for the
interests of the working masses, especially the poor.
We salute Ka Bel for his lifelong dedication to upholding the national
democratic aspirations of the oppressed people. We [...]
Reds seek activation of NPA hit squads in cities After Ampatuan Massacre, 2009 a Record Year for Journalist Killings Worldwide CHR to military: Respect and protect human rights during martial law in Maguindanao Maguindanao, its political elite and a culture subservient to corruption U.S. Must Improve Responsiveness to Mass Atrocities; Absent UN Action, Make Clear Willingness to Act on Its Own, Says New CFR Report Martial law dilutes the Philippines’s human rights and democratic gains Martial law in Maguindanao sets ‘most dangerous precedent’ Lawyers will wear black armbands, ribbons in courts Law group shall file plunder cases against President Arroyo et al. UN Experts: Maguindanao massacre must be the start of a major reform process
Arroyo’s oil-price control a publicity stunt, cries Ibon 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’ 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 mamert dolera: The horrible maguindanao massacre displays the “crueltiest 221; act of political warlordism... Don Untalan: I am also interested to buy (AROD) and the tall hybreed variety. Pls advice where to buy from Manila,... scott: Sports and politics do not mix. But the economy of the Philippines relies on Pacqiao. How much money would a... Bernadine Ebo: nov.11,2009 4:45 my husband and i wants to adopt