PGMA receives international honors for pro-poor and welfare programs
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo was conferred today the Shining World Leadership Award, an international award institutionalized by the famed spiritual, charity and humanitarian leader Ching Hai, in recognition of her tireless dedication to public service specifically her efforts in mitigating hunger and poverty in the Philippines.
The President received the honor from Lin Shan-Kuo, chairman of the Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association, during a testimonial cultural show “Puso sa Puso” at the St. Paul University auditorium in Quezon City by beneficiaries of her pro-poor projects and programs for the underprivileged sectors.
The Chief Executive watched the show which also depicted her efforts and achievements in infrastructure, food for education and environmental protection programs as well as the promotion on the welfare of the urban poor, indigenous peoples (IPs), senior citizens, out-of-school-youths, overseas workers, and persons with disabilities (PWDs).
Also mentioned in the testimonial event were the President’s role in the enactment of landmark bills in support of Indigenous People’s rights that led to the acknowledgement of Muslim holidays and distribution of Certificates of Ancestral Domain Titles (CADTs) and the Senior Citizens Act of 2010 which gave expanded benefits for the elderly.
After the show, the President was requested up the stage to receive the leadership award from Lin Shan-Kuo who represented Supreme Master Ching Hai.
Accounts said the Vietnam-born social leader Ching Hai founded the Shining World Leadership Award in March 2006. She also established other prestigious awards, such as Shining World Compassion Award, Shining World Hero and Heroine Awards, Shining World Honesty Award, Shining World Protection Award, Shining World Intelligence Award, and Shining World Invention Award.
The honors are bestowed on individuals, nations, and organizations – such as the 2nd President of the
The Award underscored President Arroyo’s “tireless dedication to public service and loving commitment to the well-being of the Filipino people.”
On the other hand, the cultural tribute at the St. Paul University further recognized the President’s unprecedented programs in the relocation and provision of housing for urban poor dwellers including her 15 visits to attend to the welfare of occupants in the Smokey Mountain; her personal appeal to other heads of state that led to the repatriation and commutation of even the death sentences of thousands of OFWs; and her concern for disaster victims including the opening of Malacanang as temporary shelter for the victims of Typhoon Ondoy.
Among those present during the event were Education Secretary Mona Valisno and Presidential Assistant on Culture Cecille Guidote-Alvarez. (OPS)
112th Independence Day to be more meaningful - Palace
Observance of the 112th Philippine Independence Day on Saturday (June 12) will be more meaningful and symbolic of the gains made by the people in key fronts like the economy, environment, education, and national security.
The center stage for the national celebration will still be Luneta at the sprawling
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo will lead the nationwide flag-raising rites at 7a.m. in front of the Rizal Monument, then come back at 4 p.m. at the Luneta to deliver her Independence Day message and view from the Quirino Grandstand, along with the thousands of Independence Day revelers, the traditional civic-military parade.
The whole-day affair, which has the theme, “KALAYAAN: Tagumpay ng Bayan,” will showcase the country’s major accomplishments over the past nine years under the leadership of President Arroyo.
“Without losing sight of our rich history and cultural heritage, we are celebrating individual and collective achievement,” said Dr. Ambeth R. Ocampo, National Historical Commission (NHC) chair.
Ocampo, who also chairs the National Organizing Committee for the Independence Day celebration, said the first 10 floats put together for the parade will dramatize these achievements, also referred to as legacy of the Arroyo administration under the President’s Ten-Point Agenda, while the last will be a virtual montage of modern-day Filipino heroes.
Dubbed as “Beat the Odds,” the ten-point program covers the following themes: education for all, automated elections, transportation and infrastructure, terminating hostilities in all fronts, healing the wounds of EDSA, electricity and water for all, opportunities for livelihood, decongestion of Metro Manila, and developing Subic and Clark.
The National Historical Institute (NHI) which was designated as lead agency to handle preparations for the Independence Day rites, said the floats would have particular themes, “so named after the people’s triumphs over pressing concerns such as poverty alleviation, education, environment protection and preservation, peace and order, and infrastructure development.”
“This is not to say we are completely setting aside history, to be highlighted by a poetry-dance-drama presentation encompassing the pre-Spanish colonization era, up to the time we attained full independence in 1898,” Ocampo added.
An original song composition by Ato Del Rosario, to be rendered by Bituin Escalante, is one of the Program highlights. (OPS)
Palace welcomes Noynoy statements on AFP Chief's issue
Malacanang today welcomed word from President apparent Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III that he respects the current stay in office of General Delfin Bangit as chief of staff of that armed forces of the
“We are happy to take Senator Aquino’s most recent statement at face value that he would respect the Chief of Staff’s stay in office because its is an appointment made by the President” according to deputy presidential spokesperson Gary Olivar in a pres conference today.
Earlier on Sunday, Executive Secretary Leandro Mendoza announced that President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has approved a recommendation by the Department of National Defense (DND) to allow senior officers by-passed by the Commission on Appointments to hold their present respective posts “to preclude a hiatus in the service and gap in their appointments, and to avoid prejudice to public service or endanger public safety.”
Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzales made the recommendation following last Friday’s adjournment sine die of the 14th Congress without confirming the promotions of the senior officers of the AFP.
Olivar said that the recent statement of the senator during a TV interview indicates much positive and constructive position. He added that Aquino assured that he will not do anything to upset the chain of command or the morale of the officer core.
At the same time, Olivar squelched speculations that the Palace is “destabilizing” the relationship of the incoming government and the AFP, saying that “the issue of the 300 officers being bypassed is not something that should be laid at the door of Senator Aquino. This is obviously the responsibility of the commission on appointments” Olivar said.
Affected by the by-pass were Gen. Delfin N. Bangit and 301 others who hold the ranks of General, Lt. General, Major General/Rear Admiral, Brigadier General/Commodore and Colonel/Captain (Philippine Navy) as of June 5, 2010.
Sec. Mendoza, himself a former chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) the other half of the national uniformed service, stressed that the military should be insulated from partisan politics, hence appointments to sensitive military positions should be left to the discretion and sound judgment of the command hierarchy.
Promotions in the military are determined by the various boards that screen applicants for their seniority, merit and performance. Officers with the rank of full Colonel up, however, are still subject to CA confirmation.
Among the 302 by-passed by the CA, were one (1) General, three (3) Lt. Generals, ten (10) Major Generals, one (1) Rear Admiral, thirty five (35) Brigadier Generals, five (5) Commodores, with the rest being Colonels and Captains.
At the Malacanang press conference, AFP spokesman Lt. Col. Arnulfo Burgos, disclosed that Bangit had a dialogue with the 301 bypassed officers last Friday to clarify issues with them.
According to
The AFP spokesman said that the most important thing is that the officer’s morale is high and that they will remain professional and solid behind the chief of staff. (OPS)
PGMA welcome six new envoys to RP
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo welcomed today six new ambassadors from foreign countries who presented their credentials to Malacañang.
First to be welcomed by the President at Malacañang’s Rizal Hall was Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Wadee Batti Hanna Al- Batti of the
He was followed by Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Samir Arrour of the Kingdom of Morocco, Republic of Guatemala Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Byron Rene Escobedo Menendez, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Daniel Kwasi Abodakpi of the Republic of Ghana, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Elma Campbell of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Szilveszeter Bus of the Republic of Hungary.
All the new envoys were accorded foyer honors by members of the Presidential Security Group (PSG) who also performed the traditional snappy salute to welcome them..
The new envoys were then ushered to the second floor for the signing of the Malacañang Guest Book that contains the names and signatures of all foreign and local dignitaries who come to visit the President’s official home.
After the guest book signing, the ambassadors and their respective parties, were led to the Rizal Hall where they personally handed their respective credentials to the President. (OPS)
PGMA off to
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo leaves today for a two-day trip to
She will also be in
It will be the first time that a Filipino head of state will be in
During the visit, President Arroyo will meet with Chinese President Hu Jintao to break new grounds in Philippines-China relations and increase friendly exchanges.
With the theme “
The President’s
