Joni Villanueva: No Ordinary Life

Moments after she miraculously survived a face-to-face encounter with death, Joni Villanueva knew she would not lead an ordinary life. She was only six then.

Eighteen years later with not a single scar from the hand grenade lobbed against her family, specifically her pastor-father Bishop Eddie C. Villanueva of the Jesus is Lord (jil) Church, Joni seizes every opportunity presented to her to make life a little bit better.

She is the vice president for programming and production of TV Channel 11 Zoe Broadcasting Network. Recognizing the power of media, she is careful with her actions and decisions.

One of the most important decisions she has made so far was for Zoe TV to go on air at 2 am on January 17, 2001. A mammoth crowd was then starting to build up at the EDSA Shrine following the collapse of the impeachment proceedings against former President Joseph Estrada at the Senate. Joni led her TV production team in giving blow-by-blow accounts of what was happening. Only Zoe TV was there to cover the birth of what is known today as Edsa Dos.

It was a rigorous coverage made possible by a committed team forged under very difficult circumstances and an equally strenuous production process. However, their effort didn’t go unnoticed. The People Power Commission composed of multi-sectoral groups gave Zoe TV 11 a special citation for its full coverage and active participation in the impeachment trial that culminated in the triumph of Edsa Dos.

It was the first award for Zoe. "We are very proud of the award," says Joni. "Nakaka-proud na kahit na, admittedly, hindi ka malaking istasyon pero nakapagbigay ka ng mensahe na nagkaroon ng malaking impact sa mga tao…iyon ang pinakamaganda."

This is characteristic of Joni’s passion for pursuing worthy causes that she thinks are more important than a broadcast station’s drive for profit. "Profit," she says, "always comes secondary to the station’s commitment to truth, justice, righteousness and integrity. That is why we are not afraid of the so-called ‘dog-eat-dog’ competition in the broadcast industry today. Let other stations fight for profit; our purpose is to fight for good values in our programs." She resists the temptation to have the station’s programs conform to what advertisers want so that they would be lured to invest in the station she fondly labels as one that offers "intelligent alternative programs".

Joni graduated cum laude with a Bachelor’s degree in Broadcast Communication from the University of the Philippines. Her parents, both pastors, were understandably proud of their eldest daughter. Bishop Eddie recalled how surprised they were when they were called to come up the stage during Joni’s class graduation rites. "She purposely kept it a secret from us because she wanted to surprise us," he relates.

Joni’s admiration for her parents is obvious. "My Dad and Mom have always been my faithful supporters. They are God’s greatest blessings to me," she shares adding that it was their godly rearing and instruction that has made her choose the life she enjoys now. "They never dictated anything (on me). Instead they led me to God and taught me always to turn to Him and the good book for wisdom and direction." Her life’s guiding principle is Proverbs 3:5-6: "In everything you do, put God first and He will direct you and crown your efforts with success."

Given the opportunity, she would like to go back to school to pursue higher education and dreams of a chance to interview US President George W. Bush, change the way local mediamen treat news (which to her is usually gross and gory) and eventually be in the same league as premier broadcast journalists Che-Che Lazaro and Jessica Soho.

In the meantime, what spare time she has is devoted to music. To date she has two Christian albums, both pari-certified gold records. Echoing a definite commitment to godly principles, Joni believes that at the end of the day, "nothing is better than sound sleep and a clear conscience".

https://www.philstar.com/other-sections/starweek-magazine/2002/01/27/148559/joni-villanueva-no-ordinary-life

Mayors to ask House to recall cityhood bill for 27 municipalities

City mayors nationwide will ask the House of Representatives to recall a bill seeking to convert 27 municipalities into cities.

Mandaluyong Mayor Benhur Abalos, League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP) president, will lead a contingent of city mayors to ask lawmakers to hear their side before sending the bill to plenary.

“We were never informed or notified about the bill,” he said.

Abalos said the LCP is not against the conversion of the 27 municipalities into cities.

“But the problem is where would we get the money to support them?” he asked.

Abalos said if the bill is passed into law a city’s IRA allotment would decrease by at least P90 million.

“If that should happen, what I see is the extinction of the cities in the country,” he said.

Other cities would lose between P300 million to P400 million, he added.

Abalos said the LCP will push through with the plan of 120 cities nationwide to display Philippine flags at half mast during the traditional flag-raising ceremonies and for city employees to wear black arm bands to protest the bill.

The bill seeks to decrease the share of cities in the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) from the national government, he added.

Abalos said the LCP will ask the help of Congress in implementing a long-term solution to the cityhood problem.

“It is not our intention to object to the cityhood of these 27 municipalities because we also want them to enjoy the fruits of being a city,” he said.

“What we want is for them to pass the requirements under the local government code without exceptions.”

Under the Local Government Code, a municipality can only be converted into a city when it generates P100 million in taxes yearly, and with either a 250,000 population or a land area of 100 square kilometers.

However, the bill authored by Zamboanga-Sibugay Rep. Ann Hofer aims to amend the Local Government Code to peg the minimum generated average annual income requirement for cityhood at P100 million for at least two consecutive years.

Hofer said the law unduly restricted the economic, political and socio-cultural developments of the 27 municipalities which served as capital towns of provinces that have no cities.

“Given their role as the commercial, political, and socio-cultural centers in their respective provinces, it becomes necessary to further capacitate these municipalities by elevating their status to component cities,” she said.

Hofer said a change of status would give the municipalities more autonomy and taxation powers and an increased share in the IRA.

“More importantly, cityhood will boost investor confidence and invigorate the business climate (of the 27 municipalities),” she said.

At a press conference Tuesday at the Wack Wack Golf and Country Club in Mandaluyong, Metro Manila mayors declared their opposition to the bill on grounds that the delivery of basic services and salary increase of their employees would suffer.

Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said the criteria of selection for cityhood should not be changed.

“What would prevent other municipalities from converting into a city if some of them are using the backdoor in their bid for cityhood?” he asked.

Quezon City’s IRA is used to care for the urban poor from the provinces who are being sheltered by the city government, Belmonte said.

Abalos said the LCP asked the Supreme Court last year to stop the conversion into cities of 16 municipalities, excluding San Juan City and Navotas.

“We have no quarrel with the cities of Navotas and San Juan because they passed the requirements of the Local Government Code,” he said.

Navotas is expecting an 82 percent increase in IRA this year, while San Juan City is looking at 116 percent.

Navotas Mayor Toby Tiangco said it would be unfair to his constituents who are expecting to taste this year the benefits of the IRA after years of hard work complying with the necessary requirements for cityhood.

Abalos gave as example Puerto Princesa City, which could only get an additional P1.7 million IRA this year instead of its expected share of P146.1 million or 15 percent increase because of the conversion last year of the 16 municipalities into cities.

Abalos said Puerto Princesa City, which is 85 percent dependent on IRA from the national government, would soon find itself seeking other sources of revenues to fund its increasing operational costs.

“Even the slightest reduction in its existing IRA will severely cripple its operations,” he said.

The LCP has called on the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to make public its computation for the IRA release for 2008, which reflected a staggering decrease in the share of each city. – With Roberto Dejon

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2008/01/25/40646/mayors-ask-house-recall-cityhood-bill-27-municipalities

Shariff Kabunsuan folk ask Comelec to solve election protest in May 2007 polls

Some 150 residents of Shariff Kabunsuan trooped to the main office of the Commission on Election (Comelec) in Intramuros, Manila yesterday morning to demand the immediate proclamation of the winning governor and board members in the May 2007 election.

According to Kahar Bra, spokesperson of the United Voters of Shariff Kabunsuan, eight months have passed since the May polls but the Comelec has not decided on who actually won as the province’s first elected governor.

Bra said the Comelec has only proclaimed Vice Gov. Ibrahim Ibay, who now serves as acting governor, and two of the 10 provincial board members.

The delay in the proclamation was caused by the electoral protests filed by Datu Bimbo Sinsuat, who served as acting governor when the province was created last year, and former Sultan Kudarat mayor Datu Tucao Mastura against each other.  Both are claiming to have won the gubernatorial race in last year’s polls.

Sinsuat’s case covers the towns of Parang and Sultan Kudarat while Mastura’s petition covers the municipalities of Datu Odin Sinsuat and Datu Blah Sinsuat.

The Comelec had declared a failure of the May 14, 2007 polls in the province because of election-related violence and threats or harassments against its poll officers and teachers then.  A special election was called.

In an earlier interview, youth leader Banjo Mampon said that the delay in the proclamation of a governor and board members has been affecting the affairs and programs in the province.

Mampon hinted that there are projects that could not be implemented to the detriment of residents. Some employees of the provincial hall get divided between the camps of Sinsuat and Mastura, causing an unhealthy working atmosphere there.  – Sheila Crisostomo

https://www.philstar.com/nation/2008/01/18/39232/shariff-kabunsuan-folk-ask-comelec-solve-election-protest-may-2007-polls