Archive for February, 2010

Tens of thousands joined Liberal Party standard bearer Benigno “Noynoy” S. Aquino and running mate Senator Mar Roxas to commemorate the 24th anniversary of the 1986 People Power Revolution, to form a sea of yellow shirts and confetti

SENATOR MAR ROXAS addressed this huge crowd and began:

Maraming salamat. Sa sobrang init na dinaramdam ninyo, ayan, umapoy na bigla ang ating confetti. Palakapan ninyo ngayon ang sarili ninyo! Mga kababayan, nandito tayo ngayon—di malayo sa kung saan milyung-milyun ng ating mga kababayan ay nagtipon para manindigan laban sa pang-aapi; para harapang hamunin ang diktaturya: “gawin na ninyo ang gagawin ninyo, pero hindi kami aatras sa inyo!”

“Give us back our freedom! Give us back our dignity as free men, and leave us to make the best we can of our country!”

More on Mar Roxas’s Speech at Edsa People Power Rally at the Araneta Coliseum

Former President Joseph Estrada was at a loss for words in describing how warmly he was received by the people of Ilocos Sur, the bailiwick of his former friend turned accuser, former Ilocos Sur Gov. and now Deputy National Security Adviser Luis Chavit Singson.

“I am very happy about the warm welcome given me here”, Estrada told reporters before partaking of a sumptuous lunch hosted by Candon City Mayor Allen Singson, son of Ilocos Sur Rep. Eric Singson and a distant relative of Chavit.

He noted that when he won in 1998 Ilocos Sur was one of the provinces which got a big chunk of government projects that amounted to over P5 billion under his administration.

“There were a lot of projects that my administration earmarked for Ilocos Sur, as payment of my debt of gratitude to the people of Ilocos sur. They have given me their big trust in 1998,” he said.

More on Erap gets warm welcome in Chavit turf

Gilbert Teodoro’s supporters recently launched “One Million Trees for Gibo” project in Quezon City.

Supporters of Lakas-Kampi-CMD presidential candidate Gilberto Teodoro Jr. launched the project in Quezon City to highlight his commitment to protect the environment.

Led by actress Dawn Zulueta, Teodoro’s supporters held simultaneous tree-planting events in three areas around the Payatas dumpsite. Hundreds of trees were planted to push Teodoro’s environmental advocacy at the Quezon City Circle, Purok Dos, Majaas Road, and at the Cecilia Muñoz Palma School.

More on Teodoro fans launch million-tree project

Laguna Gov. Teresita “Ningning” Lazaro declared Laguna, is solidly behind the Lakas-Kampi-CMD standard-bearer Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro Jr.    She said: “Twenty five mayors and five city mayors have expressed their full support for Secretary Teodoro’s presidential bid. More and more provincial officials are offering their support to Gibo each day.”

She lauded Teodoro for his forthrightness in calling climate-change the biggest threat to humanity in this century, and for his decisiveness in asking all sectors to work together so that the effects of this phenomenon can be mitigated.

Earlier, Teodoro had moved for the evacuation of communities that would be hit hard by flooding caused by climate change, and the creation of living areas for the displaced families whose members would be made secure from the effects of this drastic shift in weather patterns. He is also batting for the increase in the disaster and emergency funding of local government units to make LGUs more capable of responding to the calamities brought about by climate change.

More info in The Gibo.ph Newsroom

Nacionalista Party standard-bearer Manny Villar said  that the P5 billion yearly budget for Armed Forces modernization is pitifully inadequate as he vowed to bankroll a weapons upgrade from dividends of an anti-corruption drive.

In typical business fashion, Villar describes how he will fund the program:

• The Philippines loses P250 billion to corruption a year, but he believes “if we can get 10 percent from an anticorruption drive the amount will be enough to fund the modernization program of the military.”
• “If we can curb this purported corruption in the military by at least 50 percent, we can generate savings that could be channeled to the purchase of the basic needs of the soldiers in the field like combat boots, combat rations and ammunition”
• “I am thinking of allocating 10 percent of the annual VAT revenue for a replacement program of military ships, aircraft and other hardware.” This translates to a minimum P15 billion “annual fund to replace flying and floating coffins with modern assets.”
• “we can explore barter arrangements in which Philippine-made products can be exchanged for military hardware”
• streamlining AFP expenditures will result in savings can be re-channeled for its modernization.
• “I have been told that there are ways in which we can cut multi-billion-peso annual POL (petroleum oil and lubricant) budget and send whatever is saved to the men on the field”

If elected, Villar said he would tuck in the annual budget he will send to Congress a “meaty” AFP modernization fund “that will be promptly released and properly spent.”

More on Villar vows big budget for AFP modernization

In ANC’s Youth 2010 presidential forum held at De La Salle University, Presidential candidate Richard Gordon claims he’s got big perks for students and teachers if he wins in the 2010 election.

Gordon promised that if elected president, he will provide free Kindle e-book readers for public school students and P40,000 in monthly salaries for teachers.

Current teacher’s salaries, Gordon explained, are around P12,000 to P15,000 a month, compared to P122,000 a month for teachers in Singapore.

Gordon said “Gusto ko, P40,000 ang suweldo ng teacher kaagad in the next 6 years.” because raising teacher’s salaries, will attract skilled graduates to teach in schools.

Read more on Gordon’s promise: P40,000 salary for teachers

Dick Gordon and Bayani Fernando promise changes you can expect, a Philippines where…

• Discipline is a way of life, peace and order the norm, and the rule of law prevails.
• Teachers’ skills are upgraded, improving the quality of education, thereby producing a globally competitive workforce.
• Foreign Investors pour in billions in manufacturing, tourism, IT, and agriculture because they have confidence in a government that is fair and consistent. And because the Filipino workforce can compete with the best of the rest of the world.
• Quality jobs are available so that Filipinos devote themselves to their country and families instead of foraging for their future and fortune in foreign shores.
• Tourism is a priority industry, creating jobs and livelihood for people from all walks of life. Every tourist is welcomed with our signature Filipino hospitality and we are the tourism destination of choice.
• Still, Filipinos can choose to work overseas in high paying jobs because they have the Filipino work ethic and credentials to do so. All overseas Filipinos are ambassadors of the new Philippines.
• Development brings true, lasting peace and progress to Mindanao.
• The environment is protected to combat the effects of climate change and in order to prevent natural disasters.
• Improved infrastructure brings development to the hinterlands, decongests the metropolis, and brings education, health care, trade opportunities, and employment closer to the people.
• Every citizen is a proud Filipino, understanding his/her role and participating in nation building, cheering each other on as we welcome every new challenge and as we show the whole world that we are a nation with dignity, integrity and honor.

More on Changes You Can Expect and Changes already Proven

To practice voting in the special ballots for automation, you may download sample ballots for non-ARMM and ARMM areas at the Comelec website.

The Philippine Online Chronicles explains what the ballots look like, how to fill them up, important Do’s and Don’ts and casting your ballot in Know Your Ballot. It also discusses the security features of the ballot.