Philippines hailed as ‘country to explore’ in 2011
The Philippines was recently cited as the “country to explore” in 2011 by Ireland’s leading newspaper, The Irish Times.
The daily broadsheet based in Dublin, Ireland said the Philippines’ pristine beaches and first-class diving sites were the main reasons the country was chosen over other well-known tourist attractions in the region.
In an article published in T.I.T’s January 8, 2011 weekend supplement entitled “What’s Hot for 2011,” writer Alanna Gallagher was all praises for two “stand-out yet accessible” tourist attractions to visit in the Philippines: the islands of Cebu; and Boracay island in Malay, Aklan.
“It (Cebu and Boracay) offers first-class diving and beaches like Thailand had 20 or 30 years ago before it was over-developed,” Gallagher’s article read.
With these distinctions, aside from many other more tourist attractions to see and experience, Gallaghar says, “the new country to explore in Asia is the Philippines.”
The Irish Times, which was established in 1859, is Ireland’s quality daily newspaper with news reports coming from throughout Ireland and from a comprehensive network of foreign correspondents, as well as sports and business coverage, features and arts sections, lifestyle, jobs and property.
Each issue contains well-informed background analysis and assessment of the events of the day, and diversity of debate in the daily opinion columns.
Alanna Gallagher is a freelance journalist who contributes to publications such as the Irish Times and Sunday Times. She has also recently started her own weekly e-zine (electronic-magazine), The Weekly Edit, which gives Alanna’s top picks in fashion, beauty, interiors, and things to do that week.
Below is Ms. Gallagher’s article which can also be found at: http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/travel/2011/0108/1224286988991.html
“You’ve attended full moon parties in Thailand and roasted your bones in Denang on China Beach in Vietnam but the new country to explore in Asia is the Philippines.
“It offers first-class diving and beaches like Thailand had 20 or 30 years ago before it was over-developed. Fly to Abu Dhabi and on to Manila.
“There are two stand-out yet accessible names to drop: the islands of Cebu; and Boracay. Cebu is where Portuguese navigator Ferdinand Magellan first planted the Cross of Christianity in the name of Spain in 1521.
“A nine-night package including seven nights BB at the five-star Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort and Spa (on Mactan Island just off the coast of Cebu) and two nights, room only four-star Park Lane Hotel, Hong Kong costs €1,679pps. This price includes return flights with Cathay Pacific via London and Hong Kong to Cebu and is valid from May 5th to June 16th through Trailfinders.” (PCOO)
Malacanang says no “sacred cows” in solving carjacking and other crimes
Malacañang assured that there will be no “sacred cows” in its efforts to solve the spate of carjacking and other crimes in the country the past weeks.
In a media briefing at the Palace on Tuesday, Presidential Deputy Spokesperson Abigail Valte expressed the commitment of the Aquino administration in serving justice to those who will be proven guilty of involvement in the recent crimes even as she assured that the suspected culprits in the government will be put behind bars.
“Sa lahat naman po ng efforts natin, one there has to be transparency, second, kailangan po managot yung may kasalanan and third, nasa tuwid na daan po tayo… it will not be tolerated,” Valte said.
It will be recalled that Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo, during a press briefing at the Palace on Monday, said that the brutal kidnap-slay of Manila-based car dealers is not yet closed as authorities will be conducting thorough investigations to identify the accomplices of the suspects in the government.
Robredo said they will be looking into the suspected collusion between the carnapping group and some government agencies that help perpetuate their illegal activity.
Robredo even questioned how Raymond Dominguez, a suspected car thief who was charged with carnapping and kidnapping with homicide in the Venson Evangelista slay case, managed to post bail several times in the past although one of the cases was a non-bailable offense.
According to Robredo, there should be a thorough investigation to determine if Dominguez and his group have cohorts in some government agencies.
He added that carnapping will not flourish if the suspects have no cohorts in the government to facilitate the registration process of the stolen vehicles. (PCOO)
Aquino to grace Int’l Thomasian Universities meet
President Benigno S. Aquino III will keynote tomorrow (Wednesday, Jan. 26) the three-day 9th International Conference of Universities of St. Thomas Aquinas (ICUSTA) which will be held at the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Chapel.
The ICUSTA meeting which will focus on the theme: “The Role of Universities in Permeating Public Life with Christian Principles,” coincides with UST’s Quadricentennial celebration.
ICUSTA is an international association of Catholic institutions of higher learning that adhere to the ideals and teachings of St. Thomas Aquinas
The delegates will identify and adopt common programs, projects and activities for ICUSTA universities , and forge mutual support strategic for joint courses of action.
According to its official website, ICUSTA was founded in 1993 in Santiago,Chile by Dr. Gerardo Rocha Vera, the president of the UST Corporation in Chile. The group decided to expand and hold a biennial meeting, beginning in 1995 with the University of St. Thomas, in Houston, Texas.
The organization has expanded to its current membership of 25 institutions.
UST of Manila first hosted the conference in 1997.
After that, the meetings were held in Fredericton, Canada in 1999; Angelicum, Rome in 2001; Mar del Plata in Argentina in 2003; Abat Oliba University in Barcelona, Spain in 2005; Australian Catholic University in Melbourne, Australia in 2007; and a Mary Immaculate College in Limerick, Ireland, in 2009. (PCOO)
President Aquino to grace DSWD’s 60th anniversary
President Benigno S. Aquino III will lead government and local officials and employees in commemorating the 60th Anniversary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development at its main office in Quezon City on Wednesday, Jan. 26.
Among the activities the President will preside over during the celebration are the launching of the new DSWD jingle and awarding of the Program on Awards and Incentives for Service Excellence (PRAISE) for outstanding DSWD employees.
The President will be presented the DSWD coffee table book entitled “DSWD: 60 Years of Heart and Soul.”
The 220-page coffee table book captures the highlights of the Department in its 60 years of existence, including the steadfast service to disadvantaged sectors from the 1950s to the present.
The text and creative inputs were written by Ariel C. Sebellino, while historical perspective and editorial inputs were provided by Undersecretary Celia Capadocia-Yangco, who is also the Chairperson of the DSWD 60th Anniversary Committee.
This year’s theme, “DSWD @ 60: Committed Social Service with Integrity” will highlight weeklong activities which started last Monday and will run up to Friday.
Joining the President are DSWD Secretary Corazon Soliman and Undersecretary Yangco. (PCOO)
Cory men extol late President’s virtues on 78th birthday
Cabinet members of the late former President Corazon Aquino took turns in extolling her virtues as a leader and as a private person, marking the celebration of her 78th birth anniversary at the Premier Guest House led by President Benigno S. Aquino III.
The sharing session was hosted by Presidential Communications Secretary Sonny Coloma himself a former Undersecretary for the Presidential Management Staff.
Former Press Undersecretary Deedee Sytangco who later served as Mrs. Aquino’s official spokesperson till her death in August 2009, felt nostalgic in returning to the Palace. “When she left government, she was really very happy. She was my friend and mentor. I accompanied her in two travels abroad when she was no longer president,” she stressed.
Cory’s Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Fulgencio Factoran Jr. described the sharing as a joyful reminiscence of the late president. “In this Guest House, we never went hungry because Tita Cory always served us some chocolates and sandwiches,” he said.
The late President’s Economic Planning Secretary Cayetano Paderanga, who is now NEDA Secretary, said “Mrs. Aquino was an economic policy maker as she was good in effecting political change. “She listened and respected our advice and she valued our efforts,” he said.
Cory’s personal security and now general manager of the Manila International Airport Authority Gen. Angel Honrado said “she treated us well. I got a dressing down from her when I did not report immediately the ambush of President Noy near St. Jude School. She told me how dare you do that to me. Remember, I am not just president but also the mother of my child.”
Former Presidential Management Staff Secretary Efren Cruz spoke of Cory’s ability to always “empathize with the people,” as the great trait of a leader. He wrote of “Cory charisma” in his column in a business daily on Tuesday
Former Public Works and Highways Secretary Jose “Ping” de Jesus, the current Transportation and Communication Secretary recalled his first job with Cory as Undersecretary of Education. “After briefing her for half an hour on the agenda, she asked me, Ping where are you from. I answered, Ma’am I am from Pampanga to which the late president replied “no wonder you talk like Ninoy,” recalled de Jesus.
Former Presidential Security Group commander Gen. Voltair Gazmin, now Defense Secretary, said Cory exemplified the Constitution’s definition of “public office is a public trust. She always tried to get our reassurance that she is doing the right thing. She was a very caring leader to our nation. She always crossed the Pasig River and checked the condition of PSG personnel.”
Cory’s former appointment secretary Margie Juico, now chairman of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, said “I spent more time with her than with my husband and family. I was blessed to have worked with her. She has protected me when I was in an uncompromising position, like when I was being accused of providing her a cordon sanitaire. She did not give any special treatment to friends or relatives.”
Senator Franklin Drilon, Cory’s last Executive Secretary, said he is proud that in the Senate he is the “only remaining bata ni Cory. I am proud to be so. (PCOO)
Aquino orders probe on EDSA bus bombing
President Benigno S. Aquino III on Tuesday mobilized the full might of government to track down the perpetrators of the bombing of a passenger bus that killed four and injured 18 in Makati City Tuesday afternoon.
In a hastily called press briefing in Malacañang, the President said that he has directed the Philippine National Police, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the intelligence service, the Metro Manila Development Authority, local government units and the entire government bureaucracy to concentrate efforts at immediately resolving the heinous crime.
“Kasalukuyan po inatasan na natin at kumikilos na ang lahat ng ahensiya ng gobyerno para unang-una, bigyan ng pagaaruga ang mga nasaktan at imbestigahan ang pagsabog na to,” the President said.
“Nandun na po ang ating kapulisan, nakikipag-tulungan po ang local government unit natin sa Makati, pati na rin po ang MMDA, yung ating intelligence services na sa kasalukuyan ay tumututok na para malutas tong krimen na to,” he added.
A Newman Goldliner unit with plate number TXJ 710 was passing the north-bound loading bay of EDSA corner Buendia when an explosion ripped through it creating a hole on the bus' floor and body and also damaging its side windows at around 2 p.m.
The President said he had directed the PNP, AFP and the intelligence services to review the “threat assessment with the end in view of hardening all of the areas that are considered under threat.”
He added that he had ordered stricter guidelines in conducting inventories of the AFP and PNP equipments especially explosives to ensure that there is no illegal use and to keep track of their ordinances.
He ensured the people that the government will not rest until the perpetrators are brought to justice.
“Uulitin ko lang po at ito nga po’y gusto kong iparating sa lahat ng ating mga kababayan: talaga pong hindi titigil ang inyong pamahalaan hanggang mahanap itong mga taong gumawa nitong karumaldumal na krimen na to na talaga naman pong hindi nakatutok sa iisang tao o grupo kundi talagang pananakot sa buong sambayanan,” the President said.
“Hindi ho nating pababayaan na magpatuloy po ang ganitong sitwasyon na may agam-agam ang ating mga kababayan,” he added. (PCOO)
‘She planted the seeds that we are harvesting now” Aquino says of his mother, President Cory
President Benigno S. Aquino III on Tuesday led the nation in paying tribute to his mother, the late President Corazon Aquino on her 78th birth anniversary saying “she planted the seeds that we are harvesting now.”
‘We had a leader, who had all the opportunities but did not abuse her power. There was someone who told her that if she steps down she will be sorely missed. She even made it difficult for herself how to run the government. During her watch there were 28 newspapers that wallowed in real freedom and I suggested, “Mom, maybe we should impose developmental journalism, but she answered no,” the President narrated to his audience that included former Cabinet members of his mother.
The President said the freest press even pinned all the blame on her for the coups, the Mt. Pinatubo eruption, several earthquakes and natural calamities and so many other misfortunes. He debunked claims that he desired the presidency saying “he even consulted his sisters, who all disagreed with the idea during the wake of Ka Erdie Manalo, founder of the Iglesia ni Cristo.
“When faced with lots of problems, I revisit how my mother coped with such difficult situations. She worked on all the country’s problems then with the barest minimum of foundation on how to face such problems,” he said.
She is my model in charting unknown territory, when handling difficult problems, he added.
The President said Mrs. Aquino transformed the country with hardworking people like those in her Cabinet. “Thank you for all the hardships you had to undergo under her leadership,” he told his audience.
The President said he does not get stressed because of the numerous good news and positive developments taking place in the country like the discovery of a large natural gas reserve in Mindoro and Palawan, now being studied by seismologists; the semiconductor sector recording $2 billion exports which will be enhanced with investments coming from Japan; the $2-billion expansion program pledged by Coca Cola and the diversification of GE into medical tourism.
“I miss my parents. There are days when I miss one more than the other,” he said.
“We have witnessed the full transformation from dictatorship to democracy. I have learned from those lessons,” he continued.
The President said that with all the reforms he is putting in place now, the next generation will be a changed generation and people will have different expectations. (PCOO)
