P-Noy receives South African envoy in Malacañang
President Benigno S. Aquino III received the credentials of South African Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Agnes Nyamande-Pitso at Malacañang on Monday.
Present during the ceremony were South African embassy officials led by Hugo Lambrechts, Charge d’ Affaires; Hayden Mulaudzi, First Secretary for Administrative and Consular Affairs; and Zoleka Mankahla, Attache for Administrative and Consular Affairs.
In presenting her credentials, Pitso told the President that she looks forward to working with him in developing further relations between South Afgrica and the Philippines.
The President, who was joined by Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo in welcoming the South African envoy, thanked Pitso, who incidentally was celebrating her birthday today.
PNoy on Ramadan
President Benigno S. Aquino III today extended his warm greetings to Filipino-Muslims who will be observing the month-long Holy Feast of Ramadan that officially starts tomorrow (August 11) and ends on Sept. 9.
“Ramadan is a time of both sacrifice and purification: as you fast, pray, and act with kindness towards the poor and less fortunate, may the whole world also pause to reflect on the value of forgoing worldly pleasures to cleanse the body, mind, and soul,” the President said in his message.
The President also said that the Muslim Holy Feast is also a time of great hope and that the Filipino people share this Ramadan spirit.
“As we collectively acknowledge our failure in the stewardship of our people and resources, we must undergo difficult sacrifices. As we heal the wounds of our nation, in justice, each and everyone needs to accept his or her shortcomings and resolve to take the straight path. The straight path demands thinking less of ourselves and more of what we can do for the greater good,” the President said.
The Chief Executive added that this sacrifice ,along with change, gives hope to the people.
The month-long Islamic religious observance is commemorated by an estimated one billion Muslims worldwide, marked by fasting, prayer, and reflections.
In the Philippines, Muslims strictly observe fasting starting around 4am and ends at around 6pm.
The end of Ramadan signals the start of Eid ul-Fitr when Muslim families go to mosques for prayers to remember the Prophet Muhammad’s revelation in the desert. A feast follows.
Palace allays fear over extended education program
Malacanang today allayed the parents’ apprehension over a Department of Education (DepEd) proposal to add two more years to the basic education program saying the government will shoulder the expenses involved.
In a regular press briefing today Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said that the primary concern of parents with the 12-year basic education cycle is the added financial burden arising from the extended curriculum.
“Essentially, this is basic education and this is for free,” Lacierda said.
He said that the idea behind the proposal is for high school graduates to have better opportunities for employment even if they decide not to pursue college education.
Part of DepEd’s proposal is the inclusion of vocational courses to afford high school students with “practical livelihood skills”.
According to Lacierda, any cost in the implementation of the program will be shouldered by the government.
DepEd secretary Armin Luistro announced on Monday the proposal to lengthen basic education by two more years, saying the Philippines is the only country with a ten-year basic education cycle.
Lacierda said that the proposal is part of President Benigno Aquino’s program to elevate the country’s educational standards.
The draft curriculum would be revealed by Lusitro on Teachers Day, October 5.
Peace talks with Moro rebels to resume after Ramadan – Palace
Peace negotiations with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) will resume after Islam’s holy month of Ramadan.
In a news briefing, Presidential Spokesman Atty. Edwin Lacierda said President Benigno S. Aquino III is determined to pursue his programs for Mindanao, the most important of which is to end the decade-long hostilities in Southern Philippines.
Lacierda said the appointment of UP College of Law dean Marvic Leonen as chief negotiator in the peace talks with the secessionist rebels is a clear testament of the Aquino administration’s commitment to pursue the consultative peace process.
He said Leonen, together with Presidential Adviser for the Peace Process Secretary Teresita “Ging” Deles, will review past agreements and records of talks and documents entered by the previous administration with the MILF peace panel.
Covered by the review is the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain (MOA-AD) with the MILF.
Lacierda also echoed the President’s statement that the present government is committed to a consultative peace process by appointing credible personalities that truly understand the country’s history, diverse cultures and aspirations to head the government peace panel.
