Dont know how much this is true, but who knows?
well anyways, heres what GMAnews.tv says:
AMITA O. LEGASPI, GMANews.TV
01/25/2010 | 06:16 PM
Senator Manuel Villar Jr. exerted his influence on the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) so that his properties would benefit from the alleged realignment of the controversial C-5 Road Extension in Parañaque and Las Piñas cities.
This is according to the report of the Senate committee of the whole seeking Villar’s censure for allegedly earning billions in the government’s C-5 road extension project.
The report, which was read by Senator Juan Ponce Enrile on Monday, said that Villar violated Section 14, Article VI of the Constitution for intervening in the project of the DPWH for his own pecuniary benefit.
“Senator Villar also became directly or indirectly interested financially in such contracts between his corporations and the DPWH, hence violating Section 14, Article VI of the Constitution," a portion of the report read.
The constitutional provision states that a senator or congressman should not be “directly or indirectly, be interested financially in any contract with, or in any franchise or special privilege granted by the Government, or any subdivision, agency, or instrumentality thereof, including any government-owned or controlled corporation, or its subsidiary, during his term of office."
“He shall not intervene in any matter before any office of the Government for his pecuniary benefit or where he may be called upon to act on account of his office," it added.
The committee report was finally tackled by the Senate on Monday afternoon after days of delay.
Pimentel’s contention
Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. questioned Enrile on why the report was the first item on Monday's agenda.
"I would like to specifically object to the taking up of this committee report as the first item on the agenda. We have a rule that those first filed will be discussed first. This committee report cannot supervene the resolutions and bills filed ahead of it," Pimentel said.
Enrile, head of the committee of the whole that probed Villar, said that under existing rules, a committee report is always in the order of business. "A committee report submitted takes precedence over other things."
Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri sided with Enrile, saying they agreed Wednesday last week that the committee report would be the first item on the agenda after the chamber ran out of time to discuss it.
Enrile said the committee of the whole conducted 12 adjudicatory hearings and the complainant, Senator Ma Ana Consuelo Madrigal, presented 900 pieces of documentary evidence and testimonies of witnesses. He said that despite the opportunities accorded to Villar to participate in the hearings, the latter refused to do so.
The committee’s findings
The Senate chief said the committee found Villar, a presidential candidate, guilty of violating Section 12 of the 1987 Constitution and Section 3 (i) in relation to Section 9 of Repbulic Act 6713 or The Code of Conduct of Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees and engaging himself in improper and unethical conduct "that adversely reflects upon the Senate."
Aside from censuring Villar, the committee wanted the senator to return to the government the P6.22 billion his company allegedly “gained" through illegal means from the construction of the C-5 road extension.
Enrile said there is substantial, credible evidence that Villar is a major stockholder of Adelfa Properties Inc, which owns Golden Haven Memorial Park and Azalea Real Estate Corporation (now Britanny Corporation), and was the proponent of Las Piñas-Parañaque Link Road project and the government's C-5 road extension project.
He said the road projects were made to pass through the properties of the corporations of Villar following a curved, instead of a straight, alignment.
Enrile said the alignment of the C-5 road extension segment of the Manila-Cavite Toll Expressway Project had to be changed just to accommodate the alignments of the Las Piñas-Parañaque and C-5 extension projects.
Villar's corporations allegedly received road right-of-way compensation and still have unpaid claims. It said the properties of Villar that were acquired were given zonal valuation for different areas, thus increasing the compensation due them.
Enrile said Villar failed to avoid a conflict-of-interest situation by not divesting himself of his shareholdings or interest in the mentioned corporations. It added that Villar used his power to satisfy the interest of his corporations.
The Senate is still tackling the issue as of posting time. - with reports from Sophia Dedace/ KBK, GMANews.TV
Dec 01 – Jan 31, 2010
Sinulog Street Fair, Osmeña Blvd.
January 3-31, 2010
Sinulog Photo Exhibits featuring 2008 Sinulog Photo
Winners , 2nd level of the Northwing SM City Cebu
January 3-31, 2010
Sto. Niño Exhibits, SM City Cebu Art Center
January 9-19, 2010
Dancing Pilgrims: Sinanduloy of Tangub City
Exhibit of Tangub City dancers from past to present
SM City Cebu
January 07, 2010 (Thursday)
Opening Salvo: Walk with Jesus
4:00 AM
Assembly Time (Area) Fuente Osmeña
4:30 AM
Start of Walk-Fuente Osmeña Blvd. – Basilica del Sto. Niño
5:30 AM
Installation of Hermano & Hermana Mayores 2010
January 08, 2010 (Friday)
Sinulog 2010 Kick Off
Sinulog Photo Exhibits through the years @SM City Cebu, Ayala Center Cebu, MCIAA
2:00PM
Solemn Mass (Basilica del Sto. Niño)
3:00 PM
Launching Parade (Basilica del Sto. Niño to Cebu City Sports Center)
7:00 PM
Opening and Launching Program, Fuente Osmeña featuring Mandaue City Children’s Choir, Dancesports Team Cebu and Dance Troupes from Cebu’s schools and universities
7:30 PM
Ms. Cebu 2010 Presentation, Fuente Osmeña
January 9, 2010 (Saturday)
Sinulog sa Kabataan – Lalawigan
1:00 PM
Parade of Participants, Capitol Site to Cebu City Sports Center
2:00 PM
Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Lalawigan, Cebu City Sports Center
4:30 PM
Awarding of Winners
7:30 PM
Cultural Show (Fuente Osmeña) DepEd, Cebu Province
9:30 PM
Concert @ the Fuente O , Street Party Bands
January 10, 2010 (Sunday)
Sinulog sa Kabataan- Dakbayan
1:00 PM
Parade of Participants, Plaza Independencia to Cebu City Sports Center
2:00 PM
Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Dakbayan, Cebu City Sports Center
4:30 PM
Awarding of Winners
7:00 PM
Cultural Show (Fuente Osmeña)
Southwestern University,
Asian College of Technology,
Salazar College of Science and Institute of Technology
9:00 PM
Concert @ the Fuente O, Street Party Bands
January 11, 2010 (Monday)
7:30 PM
Cultural Show (Fuente Osmeña)
Univ. of Southern Philippines Foundation
University of Cebu
9:00 PM
Concert @ the Fuente O , Street Party Bands
January 12, 3009 (Tuesday)
7:30 PM
Cultural show (Fuente Osmeña)
University of San Carlos
9:00 PM
Concert @ the Fuente O , Street Party Bands
January 13, 2010 (Wednesday)
9:00 AM
Airport Welcome (Balikbayan Flights)
7:30 PM
Cultural Shows (Fuente Osmeña)
Abellana National School,
Cebu Doctor’s University,
Cebu State College of Science and Technology,
USJ-R COE Talents Guild
8:00 PM
Ms. Cebu 2010 Coronation Night, Waterfront Lahug Hotel
9:00 PM
Concert @ the Fuente O , Street Party Bands
January 14, 2010 (Thursday)
9:00 AM
Airport Welcome (Balikbayan Flights)
10 AM – 9:00 PM
Photo Shoot Sinulog Festival Queen , SM City Entertainment Plaza
7:30 PM
Cultural Shows (Fuente Osmeña)
University San Jose Recoletos,
Cebu Institute of Technology,
Velez College
9:00 PM
Concert @ the Fuente O , Street Party Bands
January 15, 2010 (Friday)
Visual Merchandising Contest
(Dept. Stores and Malls)
4:00 AM
Walk with Mary (Area) Fuente Osmeña-Sto. Niño
7:00 AM
Misa de Translacion (Motorcade)
7:30 PM
Cultural Shows (Fuente Osmeña)
DepEd, Cebu City
7:30 P.M
Cebu Popular Music Festival, Cebu Coliseum
7:30 P.M
Sinulog Festival Queen 2010, Cebu City Sports Center
8:00 PM
Balik Cebu, Welcome Party @ Ayala Center Cebu
9:00 PM
Concert @ the Fuente O , Street Party Bands
January 16, 2010 (Saturday)
6:00 AM
Fluvial Procession of the Miraculous Image of Sto. Niño
9:00 AM
Re-enactment of the Baptism of Queen Juana and Rajah Humabon Basilica del Sto. Niño
2:00 PM
Solemn Procession of the Miraculous Image of Sto. Niño
6:30 PM
Cultural Shows
7:00 PM
Street party @ Fuente Osmeña and Plaza Independencia
8:00 PM
1st Sinulog Fireworks Competition, fronting SM North Wing
8:00 PM
Kasadya Nite Mardi Gras @ Ayala Center Cebu
8:00 PM
Handumanan Concert, USP-F Theater for the Performing Arts
January 17, 2010 (Sunday)
SINULOG GRAND PARADE
4:00 AM
Mañanita Mass @Basilica del Sto. Niño
6:00 AM
Pontifical mass with His Eminence Ricardo J. Cardinal Vidal
9:00 AM
Sinulog Grand Parade Carousel Kick Off
7:00 PM
Grand Fireworks, Cebu City Sports Center
7:30 PM
Street Party Bands, Fuente Osmeña
January 18, 2010 (Monday)
1:00 PM
Awarding Ceremonies, Cebu City Sports Center
January 22, 2010 (Friday)
“HUBO”
4:00 AM
“HUBO Mass” Ritual @ Basilica del Sto. Niño
January 29, 2010 (Friday)
6:00 – 8:00 PM
Showing of Sinulog Short Film Festival, SM Cinema 4
January 30, 2010 (Saturday)
1:00 P.M
Awarding Ceremonies Photo Contest and Video Documentary Contest
Sinulog Short Film Festival
February 1 – Feb. 10, 2010
Photo Exhibits “Winning Photos Sinulog ‘10 @ SM City Cebu
This is happening again on November 24 - 28...
Five days of performances, exhibits, and other activities.
Happening at The Outpost
For Updates: Cebu Guitar Festival.
1st Red Cross Youth-Cebu Humanity Race
Run For A Cause
When: Dec. 06, 2009 (sunday) @ 6:00 AM
Starting Line: PNRC Building Osmena Blvd.(Beside the Public Library)
Categories:
10k (Men's/Women's Open)
5k (Men's/Women's Open)
10k (Men's/Women's Executive)
5k (RCY/Volunteers/PNRC Staff)
Registration Fee:
Php300 - Race packet with Red Cross Membership*
Php200 - (students) Race packet w/ Red Cross Membership*
Php150 - (RCY/Volunteers/Staffs) Race packet
*Red Cross Membership includes a 1 year accident insurance
REGISTRATION IS ON-GOING...!!!!
DEADLINE OF REGISTRATION IS - - - DECEMBER 2, 2009
Register Now @ PNRC-Cebu Building, Osmena Blvd., Cebu City (beside CC public library / fronting Coco Mall)
Registrations sites will be put up in strategic areas like Cebu City Sports Complex soon.
For more infos and inquiries, you may call:
PNRC-Cebu 253-9793
Look for Alvin Adolfo (Race Organizer)
*All proceeds will go to the organization. The Philippine National Red Cross is the premiere humanitarian organization. Serving humanity and alleviating human suffering.
The proceeds will be used to fund our humanitarian services most especially in disaster relief operations. The organization depends solely on donations but PNRC can't just rely on donations. PNRC must have an initiative to get funds in order to serve the most and great number of humanity.
THIS IS FOR A CAUSE.
I doubt if Manny fits for the position, a VP? come'on. I doubt have any problem with Manny running for a position in the Government, but being next to the President is a big NO for me. If he'll run for a mayor in his hometown, that would work.
from PhilStar news:
In a radio interview, Dante Jimenez, chairman of the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC), said the Filipino ring icon is most fit to hold the second highest public office in the country.
Jimenez said that with his high charisma and good values, Pacquiao is best suited to be vice president.
"He will be a very good vice president. Why would he still engage in corruption if he already has lots of money?" the VACC chief added.
With his enormous popularity among the Filipinos, Jimenez said Pacquiao does not need to spend too much money to fund his candidacy as the people themselves will volunteer to organize sorties for him.
if ever he'll go for this seat and wins, well -- only God knows.
Pambansang Kamao
Peoples Champ
world's number 1 pound for pound fighter
one of the 100 most influencial people by time magazine - indeed. no wonder why politicians flocks at Manny
ambassador of peace and understanding as President Gloria said -- what does this mean?
appointed as special assistant of the justice secretary on intelligence matters -- whats wrong with the "Department of Justice"?
by Tito Vic Romero,
10/12/2009
A good friend of mine, Ador, wrote:
“Just wondering. . . . If God is really watching over us, why unleash these back-to-backcalamities to our beloved Philippines, the only christianized and the most corrupt country in Asia, claiming hundreds of lives and destroying billion dollars of properties we can ill afford. . . Just wondering . . .”
Salamat, Ador, for wondering aloud about God's watching over us.
First, Pepeng and the landslides in the Cordilleras.
PEPENG AND THE CORDILLERAS
If you love the Philippines you will probably find this interesting.
If you don’t care, you may find this boring.
The Cordilleras can handle rain. Lots of rain. Four great rivers drain these 7000-8000 foot highlands. They all begin within a few kilometers of each other on Mount Data (Do a Google search on Mount Data National Park). 1) The Suyoc on the west side flows into the Abra, which drains into the South China Sea. 2) The Chico on the northeast flows into the mighty Cagayan. 3) The Asin on the east flows into the Magat, which flows into the mighty Cagayan. 4) The Agno on the south drains into the Pangasinan plain and Lingayen Gulf. The mighty Cagayan is largest river in the Philippines. It goes north through Tuguegarao and into the Babuyan Channel. The Spaniards called it the Rio Grande de Cagayan because of its size. The Chico is the post popular whitewater rafting and kayaking destination in Luzon. (Do a Google search on Chico River
Rafting.) You need a descending river to create whitewater rapids. The Abra is well-known to the people of the Ilocos. Look for videos of it on YouTube. The river is so wide. Pangasinenses know too well about the Agno. It’s also such a wide river. People who have read F. Sionil Jose’s Poón (the Ilocano word for tree) know what a mighty force the Agno can be.
This drainage system works when it’s in equilibrium. It’s God’s creation. It’s beautiful and efficient. It breaks down when we humans cut down the trees on the mountainsides, eliminating the tree roots that keep the soil from eroding and creating landslides. The greed of the loggers created the conditions that caused the landslides that killed people. In other forums on the internet, I have suggested a 100-year moratorium on logging on Philippine mountains. In addition, we need to plant trees to restore the mountain forests to their conditions in 1960.
ONDOY AND RIZAL
People built homes where none should have been built.
UP hydraulics engineer Guillermo Tabios says “certain areas such as Provident Villages were flood plains or low-lying areas where water from the river would overflow.
“You’re not supposed to build anything within six times the width of the river. Instead of fighting the river, you should just let the river run its course,” he said, noting that the floodwater increased its speed as it hit Marikina City.
Tabios cited the presence of obstructions along the Manggahan Floodway, which he said was originally designed to be 260 meters in width and a high water level of 14 meters.” (Julie M. Aurelio, “9 hours would have made the difference ,” Philippine Daily Inquirer,
10/08/2009)
ONDOY AND LAGUNA
The Laguna de Bay drains into Manila Bay by way of the Pasig River.
Laguna is the Spanish word for lagoon, a fresh body of water that connects to salty sea water. When unpolluted, a lagoon is typically rich in marine life.
The following is from the “.4M lake squatters must go,” Philippine Daily Inquirer, 10/09/2009:
At least 400,000 squatters block key drainage channels of Laguna Lake on the edge of Metro Manila. The squatters are among a million people living on the shoreline of the country’s biggest lake.
“About 300,000 of the squatters are living in and around an illegal open garbage dump on wetlands that block two connecting rivers that are meant to channel excess water from the lake into Manila Bay to the west.
“The channel is constricted,” Laguna Lake Development Authority chief Edgardo Manda said, adding that clearing the squatters and garbage from the wetlands was key to allowing water to flow more freely.”
PEPENG AND PANGASINAN
The flooding of 38 Pangasinan towns (“never happened before,” says 56-year-old Villasis Mayor Abrenica) was caused by the release of water from the San Roque Dam.
Fatima Rosalin, 32, of Rosales, Pangasinan, and other residents in the area said there was no warning that the San Roque Dam in San Manuel, Pangasinan, had opened all of its six spillway gates that same day, spewing excess water at 2,500 cubic meters per second, inundating Rosales.
Teofilo Salazar, barangay captain of Puelay, said he and other members of the barangay council began sandbagging at least two spots in the eastern part of the dike when rains caused the river to swell.
“Before the San Roque Dam was allowed to operate full blast, they should have first attended to the dikes. These are already weak,”
Salazar said. (Gabriel Cardinoza, “We did not receive any warning’”, Philippine Daily Inquirer, 10/12/2009)
This from the column of Rina Jimenez-David in the Philippine Daily Inquirer, 10/13/2009:
“And what of those in charge of San Roque Dam in Pangasinan? So the earth dikes were already showing cracks months before Pepeng paid a visit? Why weren’t funds and human resources made available to repair them in time? And why didn’t any official make sure that those living in the path of the rampaging waters were warned and told to evacuate before the dam waters were released? The floods weren’t accidental at all, but the result of a deliberate decision, however well-meaning.
What happened to preparing for the worst?”
SO, WHERE IS IT OK TO BUILD A HOME?
No lower than the nearest bridge or church altar, says urban planner Felino Palafox. (Philippine Daily Inquirer, 10/09/2009)
Palafox says homeowners, especially in places ravaged by the flood triggered by Tropical Storm “Ondoy” two weeks ago like Cainta, Pasig and Marikina, should research the “flood line” of their area. “This flood line should be based on the 100-year flood level, or the highest point reached by floods during this period,” he says. Normally, to get this information, builders would contract a “hydrological” study of the area. “But that is too expensive,” says Palafox, who also laments that some developers only get the 25-year flood level. The best bet, he says, is to look at the latest foreign-funded bridge in the neighborhood. “I would not advise bridges built using pork barrel because the specifications might be suspect.”
Palafox recommends a visit to the parish church and take a measurement of the altar. “In the old days, churches made it a point to construct the altar well above any flood line so they can avoid the altar being flooded.”
CONCLUSION
All are to blame, says an editorial of the Philippine Daily Inquirer of 10/12/2009.
“Now that things have settled down somewhat and relief operations are in full swing, it is time for finger-pointing and assigning blame.
Some blame Nature for being capricious and ferocious. Most blame government for its unpreparedness, for its lack of a ready system for coping with disasters. Very few people blame themselves for the deluge and for the horrific death and destruction.
“Yes, indeed the enemy, insofar as environmental degradation and climate change are concerned, is us. We are, all of us, to blame.”
Thank you, Ador, for this opportunity for all of us to reflect on what happened. It was not God’s doing. It was humans that did it. God is still with us, watching what we’re doing to ourselves and our fellow humans.
Let’s not cut down trees any more. Let’s plant trees instead. Let’s not build homes in waterways or flood plains. Let’s dredge canals and esteros and keep the riverways clear. Let’s be extra cautious when building dams. Let’s fix and strengthen dikes. Let us respect the land and rivers and seas and our fellow humans.
