President Aquino cites Lifestyle Editor Thelma
San Juan for her staunch dedication to principles of journalism
President
Benigno S. Aquino III underscored the need for more writers like Philippine
Daily Inquirer (PDI) Lifestyle Editor Thelma San Juan who gives her readers
factual reporting of the private lives of prominent personalities at a time
when politicians are treated as commodities rather than initiators of change.
In his
speech during the launching of San Juan's lifestyle book entitled "I'm
Afraid of Heights (Or Why I Can't Social Climb)" held at the Rockwell
Tent, Plaza Garden, Plaza Drive of the Rockwell Center, in Makati City on Monday,
the Chief Executive lauded the lifestyle editor for her staunch dedication to
the principles of journalism.
"At
a time when politicians are treated as commodities rather than initiators of
change, Thelma brings us back to the substance of the people she covers,"
the President said.
San
Juan's book was launched with President Aquino as guest of honor and speaker.
The book
is a compilation of the intimate profiles of 98 celebrities published in the
last 20 years. It showcases her interviews with prominent national and foreign
figures, including President Aquino, John F. Kennedy, Jr., French-Spanish
fashion designer Paloma Picasso, fashion designer and film director Tom Ford,
business icons Eugenio "Geny" Lopez and Jaime Zobel, presidential
sister and actress-television host Kris Aquino, among others.
"In
fact, in the early pages of this book, you will find a quote from me—talking
about my younger sister Kris, who was just about to enter showbiz," the
President said.
"That article was written in 1987, and it
really brought me back. It also made me realize just how much this country has
changed over the course of Thelma’s extensive career. This includes perhaps the
biggest change of all—when, more than two years ago, our people’s clamor for
change was manifested in the Presidential elections," he stressed.
"They voted for an idea that would inject
reform and optimism back into our country: Kung walang corrupt, walang
mahirap," he said.
San Juan
wrote an article about then presidential aspirant Aquino's moment during the
last night of his campaign in 2010. "Even then, Thelma was there to
chronicle the moment. And upon the overwhelming enthusiasm of our people to
change the country, she turned to me and said, “Magiging presidente ka," the
President recalled.
"I
thoroughly enjoyed the piece she wrote about that moment, and I am grateful
that it’s the first profile on this book," he said.
The
President, however, noted that there are also quite a number of other profiles
in San Juan's book that serve as living snapshots of the people who have shaped
our country’s story.
"Truly, there is a way of entertaining
your readers without sacrificing depth or accuracy, and throughout her career,
Thelma has kept that balance," he said.
"Through Thelma, the reader has a chance
to understand how someone tries to make a difference. In other words, Thelma
does justice to her subjects. By doing so, Thelma and her breed allow the
Filipino people to know who these people truly are. They fulfill our human need
to genuinely connect with one another," the President said.
During
the event, the President received the first copy of San Juan's book.
Also in
attendance were Senator Loren Legarda; Secretary to the Cabinet Jose Rene
Almendras; Presidential Management Staff chief Secretary Julia Abad;
Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio
"Sonny" Coloma, Jr.; Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda;
Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Secretary Ramon
Carandang; Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Chile to the
Philippines Roberto Mayorga Lorca; Philippine Ambassador to Japan Manuel M. Lopez,
former First Lady Amelita “Ming” Ramos, Aurora Representative Juan Edgardo
Angara; National Artist Ben Cabrera; PDI chair Marixi Rufino-Prieto; PDI
president Sandy Prieto-Romualdez; PDI editor-in-chief, Letty Jimenez Magsanoc,
and Socorro Ramos; among others. PND (js)
President Aquino cites contributions of medical
technologists in making clinical laboratory sciences more efficient and
productive
President
Benigno S. Aquino III cited the contributions of the country’s medical
technologists in making clinical laboratory sciences more efficient and
productive.
"The
field of science and technology remains crucial to human progress, as
innovations bring our societies towards healthy and efficient ways to carry out
our tasks," the Chief Executive said in his message to the Philippine
Association of Medical Technologists (PAMET) on the occasion of its 48th Annual
Convention on Tuesday.
The PAMET
is holding its 14th ASEAN Conference of Clinical Laboratory Sciences in
conjunction with the 48th Annual Convention.
The
event, which has for its theme "Strengthening ASEAN Cooperation for a
Greener Laboratory Environment” opened on Tuesday at the Manila Hotel, One
Rizal Park, Manila. The conference will end on November 30, 2012.
"This conference is a vital opportunity
for your constituents to share insights into your specialization and increase
your profession’s capacity in behalf of public welfare in the Philippines and
in Southeast Asia," the President said.
"As
you sustain your solidarity as a scientific community, you bolster your
contributions to our shared aspirations of environmental efficiency. May this
event empower you in the pursuit of innovations with your peers, and make the
clinical laboratory sciences more efficient and productive," he said. PND
(js)
Malacanang welcomes reports ranking the
Philippines 87th among 141 countries in Forbes 'Best Countries for Business
List'
The
Aquino government welcomed reports that the Philippines placed 87th among 141
countries in the Forbes’ Best Countries for Business List, ahead of China and
India, a Palace official said on Tuesday.
Deputy
Presidential Spokesperson Abigail said during the regular press briefing in
Malacanang on Tuesday that the Forbes listing is a positive indicator of renewed
business confidence in the Philippines.
Last
year, the Philippines also placed 87th among 134 economies. But this year, the
Forbes expanded its listing to 141 from 134 economies.
Forbes
said its ranking was "based on property rights, innovation, taxes,
technology, corruption, freedom (personal, trade and monetary), red tape,
investor protection and stock market performance."
"It’s good that we’ve managed to maintain
the ranking considering that there are now more countries that are being
considered for the Forbes list," Valte said.
The
Philippines came ahead of China, which was 96th. Neighboring Singapore,
however, was the highest-ranking Asian economy in fourth, while Malaysia
(31st), Thailand (67th) and Indonesia (76th) also placed higher.
The
Philippines saw a huge jump in terms of stock market performance, rocketing to
4th from 15th last year. It saw slight improvements in monetary freedom (61st
from 62nd), innovation (62nd from 69th) and investor protection (105th from
108th).
In terms
of property rights and technology the country’s ranking was unchanged at 84th
and 77th, respectively.
"We
are satisfied for the time being. But, moving forward, we hope to see the
improvements in the ranking. We also note that the ranking went up in terms of
monetary freedom and in innovation, and this is very important. Likewise, we
went up in terms of the ranking for investor protection," Valte said.
"And, as you know, that is one of the
things that concerns the President when it comes to doing business in the
Philippines. We’ve always said that the President has always been pushing that
we level the playing field when it comes to, not just foreign investors but to
domestic investors as well," she added.
"We’ve also gone down in some and we’re
trying to look at everything that contributes to the ranking," she said.
Declines,
meanwhile, were recorded in terms of trade freedom (86th from 79th), corruption
(112th from 110th), red tape (128th from 123rd) and tax burden (110th from
89th). PND (js)
No sacred cows in prosecuting perpetrators of
extrajudicial killings, Palace says
There
will be no sacred cows in going after those involved in extrajudicial killings
and those responsible will be prosecuted, Malacanang said on Tuesday.
During a
press conference in Malacanang on Tuesday, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson
Abigail Valte assured the families of the victims that a newly created “super
body” organized to solve those murders, will also go after military and police
personnel involved in the killings.
“Whoever
is responsible. Makikita naman natin ang composition ng inter-agency committee
na ito na it’s composed really of the highest levels in government. We are
doing this in cooperation with not just members of the Executive but also of
independent constitutional bodies like the C0mmission of Human Rights (CHR), as
observers, as well as the Office of the Ombudsman,” Valte said when asked about
the body’s scope of work.
“Makikita
na lang din nila ang focus and ang commitment natin na matulungan sila sa
paghahanap nila ng hustisya para doon sa kanilang nawawalang mahal sa buhay.”
President
Benigno S. Aquino III has created a super body that will investigate the old
and new cases of extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, and other
grave human rights violations, prioritizing those committed under the Arroyo
administration.
The
President signed on November 22 Administrative Order No. 35 creating the body.
The Chief Executive issued the AO on the eve of the third anniversary of the
2009 Maguindanao massacre where 58 people were allegedly killed by the members
of the Ampatuan clan and their followers.
Under the
new order, the President created a nine-member Inter-agency committee on
extra-legal killings, enforced disappearances, torture and other grave
violations of the right to life, liberty and security of persons. PND (as)
President Aquino leads 'Araw ng Pagbasa' to promote importance of
reading
In line
with his 10-point education agenda that aims to instill in all students the
love for reading, President Benigno S. Aquino III led the commemoration of the
"Araw ng Pagbasa" (A Day of Reading, A Day of Hope) in cermonies held
at the Teodora Alonso Elementary School in Quezon City on Tuesday.
The
President, who arrived with Education Secretary Armin Luistro, Quezon City
Representative Jorge Banal, Jr. and Teodora Alonso Elementary School Principal
Alicia Masubay, joined students in a story telling session to kick off the
event.
Students
from the fifth grade listened intently as the President read a short story
entitled "Halu-halo Espesyal"
The
story, written by Yvette Fereol, is about Jackie, a young girl who gets sick
and is nursed back to health by the delicious food from her Lola Itang’s
kitchen.
It
features Filipino delicacies that we all love: rice cakes or bibingka;
chocolate porridge or champorado; ensaymada; turon (or banana fritters); as
well as halo-halo, a delightful mixture of various sweets, crushed ice, and ice
cream.
The
President told the students the story is largely about the love and care our
mothers and grandmothers give us and how it serves to nourish us back to
health.
The Araw
ng Pagbasa is the official culminating activity of the National Reading Month
of November which the Department of Education declared in 2011.
Now on
its second year, the Araw ng Pagbasa underscores the importance of reading and
enjoins other schools to initiate activities that would support this undertaking.
Araw ng
Pagbasa started in 2008 as a district-initiative of Banal when he was a City
Councilor.
In 2009,
the QC council passed Resolution No. 332 making the event a city-wide
celebration.
In 2011,
the DepEd made Araw ng Pagbasa the culminating activity of the National Reading
Month. PND (rck)
President Aquino underscores importance of
lessons learned in school and the value of saying ‘Thank You’
President
Benigno S. Aquino III underscored the importance of applying to one’s life the
invaluable lessons learned in school as well as the simple task of saying
“Thank You” as a sign of appreciation.
The
President told elementary students of The Learning Tree Child Growth Center in
Quezon City on Tuesday that by sticking by the rules and the age-old adage of
“what is right is right and that what is wrong is wrong,” will keep them in the
straight path.
“Syempre
dito habang nag-aaral kayo dito tinuturo sa paaralan niyo at sa bahay ninyo, sa
simbahan, (kung) ano ang tama at mali. Pagdating na kayo na ang gagawa ng
desisyon sana huwag ninyong makalimutan ‘yung mga leksyon na ‘yung tama, tama;
‘yung mali, mali. Hindi pwedeng medyo tama, medyo mali—walang ganoon. Tama o
mali at ‘wag nating bitawan ‘yung tama,” the President told the students who
held a forum-type meeting with the Chief Executive.
He added
that his administration’s goal to rid the government of the “culture of
impunity” as incorporated in his “Daang Matuwid” campaign has “gone a long way”
through the implementation of reforms.
“Dati
parang pwede kang magnakaw, parang walang maninita sa'yo, walang manghuhuli
sa'yo, hindi ka makukulong. Kung gagawa ka ng mali tapos parati kang
nakakalusot parang nagiging halimbawa sa iba na gayahin ka dahil wala namang
magbabayad, 'di ba?” the President said.
“Isa sa
pinaka-importanteng dapat nating gawin . . . kailangan natin meron tayong
sistema sa ating hudikatura. Ang ating judicial system has to work,” he added.
The
President also pointed out the importance of further nurturing our natural
ability to say “Thank You” to show appreciation.
He said
that by uttering a simple message of thanks would greatly help in letting
everyone know that the job and sacrifice they are doing is highly appreciated.
“So it
really helps to feel that the work, the sacrifices that you’re doing is
appreciated by somebody. So the next time we have an opportunity to say ‘thank
you’, perhaps we should nurture that trait that we used to have. And sometimes
medyo nagiging impersonal na ang society natin. Let’s bring back the humanity
in it and saying ‘thank you’ goes a long way in doing that,” the President
said.
The
Learning Tree Child Growth Center was established in l984 by its founder and
directress, Prof. Anna Francisca T. Castaneda-Lacanilao, better known to
children as “Teacher Francie.” A graduate of the University of the Philippines
with degrees in B.S. Family Life and Child Development and a Master of Arts in
Education, she has devoted her career as a child educator for the past 42
years.
The
President’s meeting with the students of TLTCGC started when the students
inquired of the President in writing about current national issues of their
concern. These letters were personally delivered by the children during a field
trip to Malacañang recently. PND (rck)
