P-Noy meets with UN Country Team
President Benigno S. Aquino III met with the United Nations Country Team in the
The Chief Executive welcomed Dr. Jacqueline Badcock, Resident Coordinator and Resident Representative of the UN Development Programme, and members of the team, namely; Lawrence Jeff Johnson of the International Labor Organization, Suneeta Mukherjee of the UN Population Fund, Vanessa Tobin of the United Nations Children’s Fund, Soe Nyunt-U of the World Health Organization, Teresita Bagaso of the Joint UN Programme for HIV/AIDS, Yolanda Arban of the International Fund for Agricultural Development, Brenda Pimentel of the International Maritime Organization and Rico Salcedo of the UN High Commission for Refugees.
Welcoming the UN group at Malacanang’s Premiere Guest House, the President said he looked forward to the meeting, which provides a venue to “improve Philippine commitments to the United Nations.”
For her part, Badcock congratulated the President for his victory during the elections and for the delivery of his first State of the Nation Address last Monday.
Also present during the meeting were Presidential Management Staff Head Julia Abad, Secretary Enrique Ona of the Department of Health, Secretary Armin Luistro of the Department of Education and Undersecretary Alicia Bala of the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
No spin, no fabrication in news stories – says P-Noy communications men
The incoming communications men of President Benigno S. Aquino III today said they see no need for contriving a new public image for him as he will be projected simply as who he is and on the basis of his announced visions for the Filipino people.
Recently resigned television news anchor Ricky Carandang who is likely to assume the messaging functions of the new Palace communications group said that even with the complex nature of the presidential communications and the growing sophistication of the media, they will not employ deliberate means to unduly enhance the President and his administration.
“No spin, no manufacture and no fabrication,” said Carandang on the kind of information the media will expect from Malacañang and the executive arm of government.
Newspaper columnist Herminio ‘Sonny’ Coloma, who will handle dissemination functions, including the supervision of all government-run media entities, shared Carandang’s views, adding that the President Is one person whose image needs no more embellishments.
Coloma said the President will be projected with authenticity and with genuineness, taking into account the spontaneity of the people’s awareness and reactions to him.
Coloma cited as an example President Aquino’s recent visit to Romblon province where crowds came out to greet him even if the visit was unannounced. He said that upon hearing that the President was in town, people from all over went to see him, picking up along the way an assortment of items colored yellow.
Coloma said there is no need to spin stories or flood the media with “praise” releases about the President and Malacañang. “Sa totoo lang (to tell you the truth)”, said Coloma, this is what the President prefers.
