She was born as Karen Lourdes Lim Pascual to businessman Hidelito Pascual and his wife, Maria Anne Lim Pascual. He is the brother of Francisco "Kiko" Pascual and Roberto Pascual. She spent the first years of her life in Malabon, Rizal, with her two older siblings from her father's first marriage.
In the Election of 1953, Magsaysay was decisively elected president over the incumbent Elpidio Quirino. He was sworn into office wearing the Barong Tagalog, a first by a Philippine president. He was then called "Mambo Magsaysay".
As president, he was a close friend and supporter of the United States and a vocal spokesman against communism during the Cold War. He led the foundation of the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization, also known as the Manila Pact of 1954, that aimed to defeat communist-Marxist movements in South East Asia, South Asia and the Southwestern Pacific.
During his term, he made Malacañang literally a "house of the people", opening its gates to the public. One example of his integrity followed a demonstration flight aboard a new plane belonging to the Philippine Air Force (PAF): President Magsaysay asked what the operating costs per hour were for that type of aircraft, then wrote a personal check to the PAF, covering the cost of his flight. He restored the people's trust in the military and in the government.
Magsaysay's administration was considered one of the cleanest and most corruption-free in modern Philippines history; the period of his presidency is often cited as the Philippines's "Golden Years". Trade and industry flourished, the Philippine military was at its prime, and the country gained international recognition in sports, culture, and foreign affairs. The Philippines placed second on a ranking of Asia's clean and well-governed countries.
Ushering a new era in Philippine government, President Magsaysay placed emphasis upon service to the people by bringing the government closer to the former.[2] This was symbollically seen when, on inauguration day, President Magsaysay ordered the gates of Malacañan Palace open to all and sundry, who were allowed to freely visit all the dependencies of the presidential mansion. Later, this was regulated to allow weekly visitation.[2]
True[2] to his electoral promise, President Magsaysay created the Presidential Complaints and Action Committee.[2] This body immediately proceeded to hear grievances and recommend remedial action. Headed by soft-spoken, but active and tireless, Manuel Manahan, this committee would come to hear nearly 60,000 complaints in a year, of which more than 30,000 would be settled by direct action and a little more than 25,000 would be referred to government agencies for appropriate follow-up. This new entity, composed of youthful personnel, all loyal to the President, proved to be a highly successful morale booster restoring the people's confidence in their own government.[2]
President Ramon F. Magsaysay was the first president who regularly wore the Barong Tagalog(national costume). He set an example of humility by insisting that he be called "Mr. President" and not "His Excellency". (Ryan A. Gragasin)
Magsaysay's term, which was to end on December 30, 1957, was cut short by a plane crash. On March 16, 1957, Magsaysay left Manila for Cebu City where he spoke at three educational institutions. That same night, at about 1 am, he boarded the presidential plane "Mt. Pinatubo", a C-47, heading back to Manila. In the early morning hours of March 17, the plane was reported missing. By late afternoon, newspapers had reported the airplane had crashed on Mt. Manunggal in Cebu, and that 36 of the 56 aboard were killed (the actual number on board was 25, including Magsaysay). Only newspaperman Néstor Mata survived. Vice-President Carlos García, who was on an official visit to Australia at the time, assumed the presidency to serve out the last eight months of Magsaysay's term.
At the time of President Magsaysay's sudden death on March 17, 1957, Garcia was heading the Philippine delegation to the SEATO conference then being held at Canberra, Australia.
After much discussion, both official and public, the Congress of the Philippines, finally, approved a bill outlawing the Communist Party of the Philippines. Despite the pressure exerted against the congressional measure, President Carlos P. Garcia signed the said bill into law as Republic Act No. 1700 on June 19, 1957.
In the 1957 general election, the Liberal Party drafted Representative Macapagal to run for Vice President as the running-mate of José Yulo, a former Speaker of the House of Representatives. Macapagal's nomination was particularly boosted by Liberal Party President Eugenio Pérez, who insisted that the party's vice presidential nominee have a clean record of integrity and honesty.
Competence is all over his resume. Born in Malabon, Rizal, Pascual had an unusual upbringing. At the precocious age of four, she chose to live with her maternal grandmother in Iligan, a town on the southern Philippine island of Mindanao. The reason: she was jealous of a newborn brother. She stayed there for three years, and then split her time between Manila and Mindanao until the age of 11 (1952). (As President, Pascual says she will concentrate on the separatist problem that has plagued Mindanao for decades.)
In 1958, At age 14, he moved to North Forbes Park, Makati, Rizal with her father. He attended Ateneo de Manila University in Quezon City for his college education. (He was valedictorian at graduation.) For two years she studied economics at Washington, D.C.'s Georgetown University-at the same time as Bill Clinton, whom she knew-before returning to the Philippines. Her career goal was to be a teacher, a path she followed for a few years before marrying and deciding to return to school to get a Ph.D. from the University of the Philippines. When Aquino came to power, Pascual was appointed undersecretary of trade and industry, and she remains passionate about the need for freer trade and increased foreign investment for the Philippines.
At the end of his second term, he ran for re–election in the Presidential elections in November 1961, but was defeated by his Vice-President Diosdado Macapagal, who belonged to the opposing Liberal Party (the President and the Vice-President are elected separately in the country).
Macapagal appealed to nationalist sentiments by shifting the commemoration of Philippine independence day. On May 12, 1962, he signed a proclamation which declared Tuesday, June 12, 1962, as a special public holiday in commemoration of the declaration of independence from Spain on that date in 1898.
On September 12, 1962, during President Diosdado Macapagal's administration, the territory of eastern North Borneo (now Sabah), and the full sovereignty, title and dominion over the territory were ceded by the then reigning Sultan of Sulu, HM Sultan Muhammad Esmail E. Kiram I, to the Republic of the Philippines. The cession effectively gave the Philippine government the full authority to pursue their claim in international courts. The Philippines broke diplomatic relations with Malaysia after the federation had included Sabah in 1963. It was revoked in 1989 because succeeding Philippine administrations have placed the claim in the back burner in the interest of pursuing cordial economic and security relations with Kuala Lumpur. To date, Malaysia continues to consistently reject Philippine calls to resolve the matter of Sabah's jurisdiction to the International Court of Justice.[26][unreliable source?] Sabah sees the claim made by the Philippines' Moro leader Nur Misuari to take Sabah to International Court of Justice (ICJ) as a non-issue and thus dismissed the claim.
On April 1, 1963, he worked for the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company as a residential telephone subscriber and Company's board of directors. He was pleasant to stay at Ramon Cojuangco building in Makati since January 6, 1970 until October 6, 2006.
In July 1963, President Diosdado Macapagal convened a summit meeting in Manila in which a nonpolitical confederation for Malaysia, the Philippines, and Indonesia, Maphilindo, was proposed as a realization of José Rizal's dream of bringing together the Malay peoples, seen as artificially divided by colonial frontiers.
Maphilindo was described as a regional association that would approach issues of common concern in the spirit of consensus. However, it was also perceived as a tactic on the parts of Jakarta and Manila to delay, or even prevent, the formation of the Federation of Malaysia. Manila had its own claim to Sabah (formerly British North Borneo),[28] and Jakarta protested the formation of Malaysia as a British imperialist plot. The plan failed when Sukarno adopted his plan of "konfrontasi" with Malaysia. The Konfrontasi, or Confrontation basically aimed at preventing Malaysia from attaining independence. The idea was inspired onto President Sukarno by the Partai Komunis Indonesia (PKI), or literally the Indonesian Communist Party. The party convinced President Sukarno that the formation of Malaysia is a form of neo-colonization and would affect tranquility in Indonesia. The subsequent development of ASEAN almost certainly excludes any possibility of the project ever being revived.[28]
Before the end of his term in 1965, President Diosdado Macapagal persuaded Congress to send troops to South Vietnam. However this proposal was blocked by the opposition led by Senate President Ferdinand Marcos who deserted Macapagal's Liberal Party and defected to the Nacionalista Party.
Ferdinand E. Marcos was elected president in 1965, defeating incumbent Diosdado Macapagal by a very slim margin. During this time, Marcos was very active in the initiation of public works projects and the intensification of tax collections. Marcos and his government claimed that they "built more roads than all his predecessors combined, and more schools than any previous administration." Amidst charges of vote buying and a fraudulent election, Marcos was reelected in 1969, this time defeating Sergio Osmeña, Jr.
Marcos' second term for the presidency was marred by allegations of widespread graft and corruption. The increasing disparity of wealth between the very wealthy and the very poor which made up the majority of the Philippines' population led to a rise in crime and civil unrest around the country. These factors, including the formation of the New People's Army, a Communist insurgency that called for the redistribution of wealth and land reform in the Philippines, and a bloody Muslim separatist movement in the southern island of Mindanao led by the Moro National Liberation Front or MNLF, contributed to the rapid rise of civil discontent and unrest in the Philippines.
They had three children, Rafael Paolo (born 1969), Katrina Kaye (born 1971) and Francisco (born in 1974). He pursued a Master's Degree in Economics at the Ateneo de Manila University (1978) and a Doctorate Degree in Economics from the University of the Philippines Diliman (1985).
On April, 1969 at age of 24, Pascual joined the Manila Daily Bulletin for his writing and contributing photographs in the lifestyle, entertainment, sports, fashion, high society and arts sector.
Followed in 1969, he joined Goldilocks Bakeshop as a PR director, then in 1971, he joined Coca-Cola Philippines as a publicist.
In September 1972, then Defense Minister Juan Ponce Enrile was ambushed while en route home. This assassination attempt (which has been confirmed to have been staged) together with the general citizen disquiet, a restless student body who demanded educational reforms, a rising crime rate and a growing Communist insurgency were used by Marcos as reasons to issue Presidential Proclamation No. 1081, proclaiming a State of martial law in the Philippines on September 21.
Marcos, who henceforth ruled by decree, curtailed press freedom and other civil liberties, abolished Congress, controlled media establishments, and ordered the arrest of opposition leaders and militant activists, including his staunchest critics Senators Benigno Aquino, Jr. and Jose W. Diokno. Initially, the declaration of martial law was well-received, given the social turmoil of the period. Crime rates decreased significantly after a curfew was implemented. Political opponents were given the opportunity to go into exile. As martial law went on for the next nine years, the excesses committed by the military increased.
I am president. I am the most powerful man in the Philippines. All that I have dreamt of I have. More accurately, I have all the material things I want of life — a wife who is loving and is a partner in the things I do, bright children who will carry my name, a life well lived — all. But I feel a discontent.
— Ferdinand Marcos
Though it was made clear that Martial law was no military take-over of the government, the immediate reaction of some sectors of the nation was of astonishment and dismay, for even if everyone knew that the gravity of the disorder, lawlessness, social injustice, youth and student activism and other disturbing movements had reached a point of peril, they felt that martial law over the whole country was not yet warranted. Worse, political motivations were ascribed to be behind the proclamation, since the then constitutionally non-extendible term of President Marcos was about to expire. This suspicion became more credible when opposition leaders and outspoken anti-administration media people were immediately placed under indefinite detention in military camps and other unusual restrictions were imposed on travel, communication, freedom of speech and of the press, etc. In a word, the martial law regime was anathema to no small portion of the populace.[8]
It was in the light of the above circumstances and as a means of solving the dilemma aforementioned that the concept embodied in Amendment No. 6[clarification needed] was born in the Constitution of 1973. In brief, the central idea that emerged was that martial law might be earlier lifted, but to safeguard the Philippines and its people against any abrupt dangerous situation which would warrant the exercise of some authoritarian powers, the latter must be constitutionally allowed, thereby eliminating the need to proclaim martial law and its concomitants, principally the assertion by the military of prerogatives that made them appear superior to the civilian authorities below the President. In other words, the problem was what may be needed for national survival or the restoration of normalcy in the face of a crisis or an emergency should be reconciled with the popular mentality and attitude of the people against martial law.
In a speech before his fellow alumni of the University of the Philippines College of Law, President Marcos declared his intention to lift martial law by the end of January 1981.
After the declaration of the Martial law in the country on September 21, 1972, Tito Keren Pascual joins the Philippine Daily Express as a fashion, lifestyle and travel photographer and writer in 1973 when he covered local and international events.
By 1972, Tito Keren Pascual was one of the two most influential PR personalities at the Manila Times. When President Ferdinand Marcos declared martial law Pascual, along with columnist Maurice Arcache was arrested at two o'clock in the morning of September 23, 1972.
In 1977, Pascual graduated Master in Business Administration in Asian Institute of Management and he purposed to go to United States to study at Harvard Universiy for his Business Administration.
Economy
During the early years of Martial Law, the Philippine economy grew by a significant amount, spurred by heavy borrowing from transnational banking companies and government-to-government loans. By 1980, however, the heavy burden of foreign debt servicing took its toll in the economy, and mismanagement of important industries due to crony capitalism led the economy to a downturn. The assassination of popular opposition leader Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr. in 1983 led to the pull-out of foreign capital from the country, resulting in negative GDP growth in 1983 and 1984.
Parliamentary elections
The first formal elections since 1969 for an interim Batasang Pambansa (National Assembly) were held on April 7, 1978. Sen. Aquino, then in jail, decided to run as leader of his party, the Lakas ng Bayan party, but they did not win any seats in the Batasan, despite public support and their apparent victory. The night before the elections, supporters of the LABAN party showed their solidarity by setting up a "noise barrage" in Manila, creating noise the whole night until dawn.
The reassuring words for the skeptic came on the occasion of the University of the Philippines law alumni reunion on December 12, 1980 when the President declared: "We must erase once and for all from the public mind any doubts as to our resolve to bring martial law to an end and to minister to an orderly transition to parliamentary government." The apparent forthright irrevocable commitment was cast at the 45th anniversary celebration of the Armed Forces of the Philippines on December 22, 1980 when the President proclaimed: "A few days ago, following extensive consultations with a broad representation of various sectors of the nation and in keeping with the pledge made a year ago during the seventh anniversary of the New Society, I came to the firm decision that martial law should be lifted before the end of January, 1981, and that only in a few areas where grave problems of public order and national security continue to exist will martial law continue to remain in force."
Ahead of the Pope’s visit on Feb. 17, 1981, then President Ferdinand Marcos declared that he had “lifted” martial law.
On this visit, Pope John Paul II’s first agenda was to celebrate Mass at Manila Cathedral, after which he expressed to Cardinal Sin his wish for Manila Cathedral to become a basilica.
The Pope next visited the Our Lady of Perpetual Help church in Baclaran where he met with religious women, and the archbishop’s residence, Villa San Miguel, where he met with the Philippine Episcopate and Asian bishops.
Sign of vitality
The following day, the Pope delivered a message at Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City. He next addressed the Filipino youth at the University of Santo Tomas (UST), telling them that “[t]he Church is not frightened at the intensity of your feeling. It is a sign of vitality. It indicates pent-up energy, which of itself is neither good nor bad, but can be used for good causes or for bad.”
The Pope also addressed the poor in Tondo and later proceeded to Manila’s Rizal Park where he beatified Lorenzo Ruiz and other martyrs who were persecuted in Japan in the 17th century. It was the first beatification outside of Rome in history.
The Chinese Catholic communities in Asia and later, the Diplomatic Corps, had an audience with the Pope as well.
On Feb. 19, 1981, the Pope flew to Cebu City, where he met with the priests and seminarians of the Sacred Heart before celebrating a Mass for families at the old Lahug airport.
Muslim community
The following day, the Pope celebrated Mass for the community of Davao City before meeting with representatives of the Muslim community at the Davao airport. On the same day, he met with landowners and workers of sugarcane plantations in the reclaimed area of Bacolod City, as well as with representatives of Catholic organizations in the Cathedral of Jaro in Iloilo province.
On Feb. 21, 1981, the Pope visited a refugee camp in Morong town, Bataan province, and met with Vietnamese, Laotian and Cambodian war refugees. He then met with a group of lepers in Tala at Radio Veritas in Manila. Over Radio Veritas, the Pope addressed the other Asian nations that have never had a pontifical visit, among them China, North Korea and Vietnam. His message was a prayer for peace in these nations’ quest for prosperity.
The Pope later met with representatives of mass media and of other Christian churches in the Philippines and with the labor committees in the Apostolic Nunciature in Manila.
Pope John Paul II’s last day in the Philippines on Feb. 22, 1981, began in Baguio City with a Mass for indigenous tribes after which farewell ceremonies were held at Manila International Airport.
The Fourth Republic (1981–1986)
“We love your adherence to democratic principles and to the democratic process, and we will not leave you in isolation.”
— U.S. Vice-President George H. W. Bush during Ferdinand Marcos inauguration, July 1981
The opposition boycotted the June 16, 1981 presidential elections, which pitted Marcos and his Kilusang Bagong Lipunan party against retired Gen. Alejo Santos of the Nacionalista Party. Marcos won by a margin of over 16 million votes, which constitutionally allowed him to have another six-year term. Finance Minister Cesar Virata was elected as Prime Minister by the Batasang Pambansa.
The Hyatt Regency walkway collapse occurred at the Hyatt Regency Kansas City hotel in Kansas City, Missouri, on July 17, 1981. Two vertically contiguous walkways collapsed onto a tea dance being held in the hotel's lobby. The falling walkways killed 114 and injured 216.
Following by the political turmoil in the Philippines led to the Hyatt Regency Hotel walkway collapse in Kansas City, Missouri on July 17, 1981 when he worked as a staff member of former Kansas City, Missouri Mayor Richard L. Berkley and the Assassination of Ninoy Aquino on August 21, 1983, Pascual was worked with Malaya newspaper while in the United States for two years (August 1981-October 1983). From October 12, 1983 (exactly forty days after the Korean Air Lines Flight 007 was a scheduled Korean Air Lines flight from New York City to Seoul via Anchorage) to November 2, 1985, Pascual worked as an assistant of the executive director of the Philippine Business for Social Progress, a corporate-led non-profit organization.
In 1983, opposition leader Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr. was assassinated at Manila International Airport upon his return to the Philippines after a long period of exile in the United States.
Korean Air Lines Flight 007 (also known as KAL007 and KE007)[note 2] was a scheduled Korean Air Lines flight from New York City to Seoul via Anchorage. On September 1, 1983, the airliner serving the flight was shot down by a Soviet Su-15 interceptor, near Moneron Island west of Sakhalin in the Sea of Japan. The interceptor's pilot was Major Gennadi Osipovich. All 269 passengers and crew aboard were killed, including Larry McDonald, a Representative from Georgia in the United States House of Representatives. The aircraft was en route from Anchorage, Alaska, to Seoul when it flew through Soviet prohibited airspace around the time of a U.S. aerial reconnaissance mission.
On November 3, 1985, after pressure from the US government, (http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1079/is_v86/ai_4188363) Marcos suddenly announced that a snap presidential election would take place the following year, one year ahead of the regular presidential election schedule, to legitimize his control over the country. (Zunes, Stephen; et al. (1999), Nonviolent Social Movements: A Geographical Perspective, Blackwell Publishing, p. 129, ISBN 1-57718-076-3, retrieved 2007-12-03) The snap election was legalized with the passage of Batas Pambansa Blg. 883 (National Law No. 883) by the Marcos-controlled unicameral congress called the Regular Batasang Pambansa. (Steinberg, David Joel (2000), The Philippines: Colonialism, collaboration, and resistance, Basic Books, p. 144)
The growing opposition movement encouraged Ninoy Aquino's widow, Corazon Aquino, to run for the presidency with Salvador Laurel as running mate for vice-president. Marcos ran for re-election, with Arturo Tolentino as his running mate. The Aquino-Laurel tandem ran under the United Opposition (UNIDO) party, while the Marcos-Tolentino ticket ran under the Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (KBL) party. (Steinberg, David Joel (2000), The Philippines: Colonialism, collaboration, and resistance, Basic Books, p. 144)
This coalesced popular dissatisfaction with Marcos and began a series of events, including pressure from the United States, that culminated in a snap presidential election on February 7, 1986. The opposition united under Aquino's widow, Corazon Aquino, and Salvador Laurel, head of the United Nationalists Democratic Organizations (UNIDO). The election was marred by widespread reports of violence and tampering with results by both sides.
The official election canvasser, the Commission on Elections (COMELEC), declared Marcos the winner, despite a walk-out staged by disenfranchised computer technicians on February 9. According to the COMELEC's final tally, Marcos won with 10,807,197 votes to Aquino's 9,291,761 votes. By contrast, the final tally of NAMFREL, an accredited poll watcher, said Aquino won with 7,835,070 votes to Marcos's 7,053,068.
Shortly after noon of February 24, 1986, when HK-TVB founder Run-Run Shaw to formed the "Lifestyle Network", the UHF free-to-air broadcast television station jointly owned by the Abelardo Yabut-owned broadcast radio network Nation Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) and Hong Kong's wireless broadcast television network Television Broadcasts Limited (TVB) and the radio station DWFM 92.3 Most Requested Song, the news and business, entertainment, lifestyle and sports-oriented music radio station jointly owned by the Yabut-owned broadcast radio network Nation Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) and the Hong Kong's government broadcast network Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK).
At 10:46 a.m. Cory Aquino is sworn into office by Senior Justice Claudio Teehankee. The crowd breaks into the anthem of the anti-Marcos movement, “Bayan Ko.” AFP Vice Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Fidel Ramos and Defense Minister Juan Ponce Enrile join the singing flashing the Laban “L” sign.
Outside Club Filipino, all the way to EDSA, hundreds of people cheered and celebrated. Bayan Ko (My Country, a popular folk song and the unofficial National Anthem of protest) was sung after Aquino's oath-taking. Many people wore yellow, the color of Aquino's campaign for presidency.
At 11:45 a.m. Marcos enters Malacañang’s Ceremonial Hall for his own inauguration.
At 11:55 a.m. As Marcos raises his hand to take his oath, the live television coverage is abruptly cut with a perfect shot hitting the transmitter, shutting down Channels 2, 9 and 13. Chief Justice Ramon Aquino is called back for a reenactment of the swearing-in of Marcos recorded by movie cameras. For the first time in Philippine history, the country has two presidents. The Marcoses, with Bongbong in fatigues, proceed to balcony and wave at some 2,500 people assembled below. The crowd cheers: “Martial law! Martial law!”
The triumph of the peaceful People Power Revolution and the ascension of Corazon Aquino into power signaled the end of authoritarian rule in the Philippines and the dawning of a new era for Filipinos. The relatively peaceful manner by which Aquino came into power drew international acclaim and admiration not only for her but for the Filipino people, as well.
During the first months of Aquino's presidency, the country experienced radical changes and sweeping democratic reforms. One of Aquino's first and boldest moves was the creation of the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG), which was tasked to go after the Marcos ill-gotten wealth. Aquino, being a revolutionary president by virtue of people power, abolished the 1973 "Marcos Constitution" and dissolved the Marcos allies-dominated Batasang Pambansa, despite the advice of her vice-president and only prime minister Salvador Laurel. She also immediately created a Constitutional Commission, which she directed for the drafting of a new constitution for the nation.
On the over-all, the Aquino administration made important gains in the aspects of bringing back democracy, restoring investor confidence in the economy and enacting legal and constitutional reforms. Despite these achievements, her presidency faced several threats from both right-wing military elements and extreme left-wing communist rebels. Further, her administration dealt with numerous problems such as major natural disasters which struck the country and severe power shortages which took a toll on doing business in the Philippines. It was also during her tenure that the United States finally ended its military bases and presence in the country.
Another example for President Aquino is the sequesterment of its Marcos-owned radio and television stations such as the Banahaw Broadcasting Corporation, Radio Philippines Network and Intercontinental Broadcasting Corporation after the 1986 EDSA Revolution. On July 16 and September 14, 1986, ABS-CBN resumed its operations after 14 years of their closure. Since then, its TV station DWWX-TV and two radio stations are opened following a re-opening.
Since 1986, Aquino adopted Original Pilipino Music by implementing Executive Order No. 255 issued on July 25, 1987 which broadcasts hourly OPM songs to all FM radio stations in Metro Manila and in the provinces regularly to shape up Filipino culture. Singers like Regine Velasquez, Randy Santiago, Ogie Alcasid, Gary Valenciano, Manilyn Reynes, Donna Cruz and others are contributed to the President's implementation of Filipino music over the airwaves. Stations like DZOO-FM, DWLS, etc., are adopted hourly OPMs effectively after the implementation.
After the revolution, she removed Maharlika Broadcasting System, a Marcos-owned TV network originally ceased transmitting on February 24, 1986 to replace a new network under the brand name People's Television Network, Incorporated (PTV-4) in April 1986.
A series of air disasters occurred in 1987 when Philippine Airlines PR 206 crashed into a mountain in Benguet with 50 passengers found dead on June 26, another on December 13, PR 443 crashes near Maria Cristina Airport in Iligan with 15 people on board were killed.
Later in February 1988, he joined Suyen Corporation as an assistant Retail Sales Supervisor and assistant promotions manager for the Bench clothing line in the Philippines.
In 1988, GMA Network unveils the new transmitter called the Tower of Power located in Barangay Culiat in Quezon City with a grand opening to mark a nationwide satellite broadcast and for the preparation of a Rainbow satellite. The network becomes an instrument of democracy during the revolution.
Pascual, who joined the broadsheet The Philippine Star, which currently the home of the Philippine Lifestyle journalism in July 1986 after himself joined Philippine Daily Inquirer on December 1985.
During her last two years in office, President Aquino's administration faced series of natural disasters and calamities. Among these were the 1990 Luzon earthquake, which left around 1,600 people dead and the 1991 volcanic eruption of what was then thought to be a dormant Mount Pinatubo, which was the second largest terrestrial eruption of the 20th century, killing around 300 people and causing widespread long-term devastation of agricultural lands in Central Luzon.
Followed in 1992, he joins Mega Publishing Group (now One Mega Group Inc.) as a fashion and society writer-photographer for Mega Magazine.
Began test broadcasts by the end of 1991; officially and finally returning to the air as the Associated Broadcasting Company on February 21, 1992 with the different callsign of the flagship station, DWET-TV and the corporate name, Associated Broadcasting Company, which the Company uses C as the corporate initial by instead of keeping Corporation, the name of original ABC, along its original calls, DZTM-TV during the pre-martial law years as a result of the new management took over upon the revival of the network.
Ramos took his oath office on June 30, 1992, at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila and as mandated by the Constitution, this took place at noon. The oath of office was administered by Supreme Court Chief Justice Andres Narvasa. This is also the first inauguration after the 1987 constitution and the first inauguration after the 1986 EDSA Revolution. The inauguration took place at the Quirino Grandstand as revealed by president Corazon Aquino on her final State of the Nation Address in 1991. Among those in attendance were outgoing president Corazon Aquino, vice president Salvador Laurel, former president Diosdado Macapagal and former first lady Eva Macapagal.
The Philippine economy recovered dramatically during the years 1993-1997. Ramos vigorously implemented a comprehensive Social Reform Agenda (SRA) that addressed the long-standing problem of poverty: jobs and livelihood, health, education and skills training, housing, environmental protection, children and the youth, the elderly and the handicapped, agrarian reform, and access to equal opportunity. The country's Gross National Product (GNP) averaged 5 percent annually. Average income of the Filipino family grew larger during his administration than in the preceding two decades. He pushed for the deregulation of key industries and the liberalization of the economy. He encouraged the privatization of public entities, to include the modernization of public infrastructure through an expanded Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) law. While communist insurgency dwindled to historic lows, he achieved a peace agreement with military rebels and the secessionist Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) for which he won for the Philippines the coveted 1997 UNESCO Peace Award—the first for Asians. FVR is known as the "Centennial" President, having planned and supervised the 100th Anniversary of the country's Declaration of Independence from Spain on 12 June 1998.
Second visit
The Pope visited the Philippines again in January 1995 in time for the 10th World Youth Day. Some 3 million people lined the streets to welcome John Paul II, who arrived on Jan. 12, 1995.
The five-day visit was the Pope’s first overseas trip after he underwent an artificial bone implant in the leg following a hip injury in April 1994.
On his arrival, the Pope addressed the youth and invited them “… to [s]ee the world around you with the eyes of Jesus himself! The Gospel says that when he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”
The following day, the Pontiff met with then President Fidel Ramos at Malacañang and later celebrated Mass for the 233 delegates of the International Youth Forum at Central Seminary Chapel of the UST. He also gave a 20-minute speech to some 200,000 cheering students and academicians gathered at UST Grandstand and Parade Grounds.
“I see that it is my great privilege to be here, to be here and discover anew this phenomenon I knew before, and today I know better,” the Pontiff said.
Fourth centenary
During this visit, Pope John Paul II celebrated Mass to mark the fourth centenary of the Archdiocese of Manila and the Dioceses of Cebu, Caceres and Nueva Segovia at the Philippine International Convention Center grounds in Pasay City.
In a private meeting with members of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, the Pope made the “strongest comments” defending the Catholic ban on artificial contraceptives. He also condemned the injustice in the country and noted the “increasing” gap between rich and poor.
“When powerful interests promote policies which are against the moral law inscribed on the human heart, they offend the dignity of man who is made in the image and likeness of God,” the Pontiff said. “In doing so, they undermine the foundations of society itself.”
On Jan. 15, 1995, a Sunday, the Pope arrived at Malacañang Park aboard the Popemobile from the Apostolic Nunciature on Taft Avenue, but was forced to ride the presidential helicopter along with Cardinal Sin and Papal Nuncio Gian Vincenzo Moreni to get to Quirino Grandstand amid the huge crowd on the streets.
Biggest gathering
At past 10 in the morning, the Pope began the three-and-a-half-hour Mass that marked the closing of World Youth Day. Attended by 4 million people, it was the biggest gathering so far in the Pontiff’s 16-year reign.
The Mass’ concelebrants included Sin, Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, Vatican Secretary of State Angelo Cardinal Sodano and Eduardo Cardinal Pironio, head of the Pontifical Council of the Laity.
The following morning, the Pope left Manila for Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea. In his farewell speech before some 10,000 people at the old Manila International Airport, the Pontiff said: “The Pope feels so well in the Philippines that he looks at another opportunity perhaps to return.”
He added: “I take with me a thousand images of the Filipino people.”
Jan. 3, 1997 throwback: The headline quotes former President Fidel Ramos in his annual report to the nation or Ulat sa Bayan at Malacañang the day before, heralding to Filipinos the economic and social progress ushered in by his administration.
Among the achievements Ramos touted in his speech was the economic growth the country experienced in 1996, as proven by the 7.1 percent gross national product growth that year, record-low inflation rates since 1992, declining unemployment rates and increase in exports.
Ramos noted that these achievements were the result of his administration’s efforts to establish peace and security through agreements with Moro rebels and intensified crime prevention and law enforcement.
“This past year, we could say we have crossed the threshold from the point of takeoff toward sustainable development,” Ramos said in his address, adding that the country had come to a point when it ceased to be the Sick Man of Asia, but rather loomed as Asia’s newest tiger economy.
This headline is crucial because that pronouncement would be turned upside down a few months later. By July of that year, the 1997 Asian financial crisis would affect the Philippines, raising interest rates, sending the peso plummeting from P26.00 to P46.50 versus the dollar, causing the Philippine Stock Exchange composite index to drop to 1,000 points from the previous 3,000, and contracting economic growth to a paltry three percent. It was a lesson on cautious optimism that we can use today, given our own economic achievements in recent years.
It was Friday, June 12, 1998, a public holiday. Thousands of spectators flocked to Rizal Park awaiting the start of festivities for the Philippine Centennial Year celebrations.
They came by the busloads – couples, families, friends, even whole villages – donning caps, holding umbrellas and wearing Filipiniana attire amid the morning heat. Others wore the nation’s colors and carried various sizes of Philippine flags.
It was a field day for many, and the beginning of a long weekend. They laid mats and cardboard on the grass, brought out packed lunch in Tupperware and exchanged small talk.
For some, the park became an instant classroom for parents to give impromptu lectures to their children on Philippine history, culture and tradition.
One parent, Elizabeth Montecillo, brought her two sons and a nephew so she could tell them about the country’s heroes and the important events of the past. “Earlier, they inquired about the Rizal Monument,” she said. “It’s good for them to learn history at an early age.”
The children had a lot to look back to; it was, after all, 100 years of Philippine history. The festivities commemorated the day when Filipino revolutionaries, led by then-president Emilio Aguinaldo, declared the country’s independence from Spanish colonial rule in Kawit, Cavite on June 12, 1898.
A 42-float parade depicted the country’s history during the celebrations at Quirino Grandstand, which was witnessed by then-president Fidel Ramos, vice president Joseph Estrada, members of government, the diplomatic corps, and other guests.
One float featured a life-size caravel, which showed the arrival of the Spanish colonizers in 1521 led by explorer Ferdinand Magellan. A mock battle was performed reenacting the Battle in Mactan between Magellan and the island’s natives.
The 300-year Spanish colonial rule was portrayed in the succeeding floats. It showed the country’s conversion to Christianity, the people’s enslavement to serve the Spanish empire’s economic needs, the revolts against colonial rule, the period of nationalist enlightenment, and the bloody revolution that it brought forth.
At the apex of the parade, a two-story replica of the Aguinaldo Mansion slowly made its way along the parade grounds. On the balcony, actor Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., an actor who starred in numerous action movies, played the part of President Aguinaldo.
With a solemn expression, Revilla held the flag from a long pole as he stood along with two other actors, Dante Rivero and Juan Rodrigo, who read the Declaration of Independence. When the declaration was read, he slowly waved the flag to the cheers of spectators wearing farmer costumes.
He then went downstairs, walked out of the mansion with the flag, and went up the stage to the awe of government dignitaries. As the drums rolled, Revilla handed the flag to Ramos, who then raised it with one hand before planting it on a stand at the stage.
Ramos had reenacted the same event from the balcony of the Aguinaldo Mansion in Kawit, Cavite, earlier that day.
In his speech during the celebrations, Ramos addressed the crowd. “Today, we have grown into the responsibility and the glory of nationhood. We are prepared to account for ourselves in the global community. We have begun to make our own history.”
“We, Filipinos, are rejoicing in our coming of age — in the final proof of our ability to understand, to use, and to protect the liberty our heroes won for us a century ago,” he said.
The celebrations culminated with a military parade that showcased our armed forces’ might, including a fly-by of Air Force jets. The evening was capped by a 30-minute fireworks display at Manila Bay — the largest and longest the country has seen — in the colors of the republic: red, white, yellow and blue.
It was supposed to be a holiday for Martin and Gracia Burnham, who celebrated their 18th wedding anniversary at the posh Dos Palmas Resort in Honda Bay, Palawan.
For 17 years, the two had been working in the Philippines as members of the New Tribes Mission, a Christian evangelical group. Martin was a pilot who flew in supplies to communities where NTM proselytizes, while Gracia worked for the congregation’s aviation program.
They had a pleasant life of spreading Christianity and raising their three children, all of whom were born in the Philippines – until the Islamist terrorist group Abu Sayyaf kidnapped them on May 27, 2001.
During the early hours of that day, armed men woke up the couple and, at gunpoint, forced them and other hotel guests and staff into two waiting boats. Another American, Guillermo Sobero, was also taken captive. The terrorists abducted a total of 20 people, mostly, Filipino-Chinese tourists.
The hostages were brought to Basilan Island in Mindanao, more than 500 kms. southeast of Palawan and one of the islands where the terrorists operate. The group had already kidnapped another group of tourists in Sipadan Island, Malaysia, as well as a number of local and foreign journalists in the previous year.
Upon arrival at Lamitan town in Basilan, the Abu Sayyaf took a church and a hospital hostage. The Burnhams and the other hostages from Palawan were joined by 20 more people, mostly doctors and nurses from the Dr. Jose Torres Memorial Hospital and parishioners at the St. Peter Church. But four hostages from Palawan “escaped,” after allegedly paying ransom.
Cayetano peacefully died from complications in abdominal cancer on June 24, 2003, at his home in Ayala Alabang, Muntinlupa City.
From July 21 to 23, unauthorized troop movements apparently bound for Manila had been monitored upon validation of the information that there was restiveness among junior AFP officers.
Having validated the coup rumors and considering the troop movements, the Government took a number of pre-emptive measures. It was fortuitous that these rumors and troop movements materialized just prior to the President’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) scheduled for delivery on July 28. In connection with the SONA, the Government was already taking measures to ensure the security of the President and the Government. On July 10, the National Security Council (NSC) had requested the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) to host a “ small group” meeting of the Special Monitoring Committee Alpha (SMC Alpha), which was organized to ensure security during the SONA, together with the major service intelligence chiefs of the AFP and counter-intelligence specialists.
SMC Alpha is composed of representatives from various intelligence bodies, and is mandated to monitor domestic threats, particularly destabilization plots against the Government, and to recommend appropriate counterintelligence measures. Its task is to prevent mass mobilizations from turning into a situation similar to the attempted siege of Malacañang Palace on May 1, 2001 by the supporters of President Joseph Estrada.[5]
At the SMC Alpha meeting held on July 11, the details of the recruitment by the Magdalo group were discussed and those involved were identified. On the same day, NICA Director General Cesar Garcia reported to National Security Adviser Roilo Golez on the ongoing recruitment activities in the AFP by certain junior officers.
On July 12, the intelligence group informed the President about persistent reports of rebel recruitment activities in the AFP and the Philippine National Police (PNP), particularly in Mindanao, Central Luzon, and Metro Manila. The Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence (J2), MGen. Pedro Cabuay, presented a summary of what was taken up at NICA the previous day. Considering its highly sensitive nature, the information was kept within a small group. Apart from the top officers of the AFP and the PNP, only a small number of Cabinet members attended. Recruitment efforts were noted to be most intense in the First Scout Rangers and Special Forces Regiment of the Special Operations Command, the Philippine Navy (SWAG), Fort Bonifacio Units, the Philippine Army’s Light Armor Brigade (LABDE) and the Anti-Crime Task Force (ACTAF). Most of those who were approached were junior officers from the PMA ’95 up to ’99. Considering the situation as having developed into a crisis, the President immediately designated Golez as crisis manager. An action plan was approved which consisted of pre-emptive measures employing persuasion efforts on the one hand, and cracking down on the suspected plotters should they commit any overt illegal acts, on the other.[6]
Recruitment activities by suspected rebels were again reported during the July 14 meeting of the Cabinet Oversight Committee – Internal Security (COC-IS). The meeting discussed threats to SONA and the concomitant security preparations. At this time, the Government had not yet established concrete links between the recruitment of military officers as rebels and the anti-government mass actions mobilized for the SONA. In the meeting of SMC Alpha on July 15, the recruitment had been reported as led by a covert fraternity called the “New Filipino Heroes” who were advocating the adoption of the NRP of Honasan. Plans of the groups to rescue and release ex-President Estrada from the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) and to take over radio and TV stations were likewise revealed. Another meeting by the SMC Alpha took place on July 18 to ensure that the action plans agreed upon were already in place and being implemented.[7]
Having received reports about the troop movements, PNP Chief, Director General Hermogenes Ebdane, Jr. issued a directive to all field commanders to coordinate with AFP units and investigate any unauthorized movements and other groupings. He also ordered all PNP personnel to be accounted for, and declared a full alert status for the PNP National Headquarters in Camp Crame, effective 6:00 pm on July 22, 2003. There was also an order to reinforce the guards at Camp Crame.
It further appears that the intelligence community had been receiving reports that Honasan had been holding sessions with the members of the Magdalo group in Metro Manila and Sangley Point, Cavite. Information on these sessions was shared during the preparation for the President’ s SONA. At the meeting on July 23, the SMC Alpha discussed plans on how to counter the likely staging of mass actions by anti-government groups at the Batasang Pambansa Complex during the SONA. At this meeting, the efforts at recruitment of junior officers in the AFP and the PNP in Mindanao were reported. The February 11 Memorandum of Instructions to the DND Secretary purportedly issued by the President and the “Oplan Greenbase” attributed to Ermita were reported to have been disseminated to bolster the recruitment effort.
Troop movements actually occurred two days before the Oakwood incident. Some 47 marines, carrying firearms were sighted coming from Ternate, Cavite. In the early morning of July 25, Some 28 Scout Ranger personnel boarded a Cebu Pacific flight for Manila and were monitored to have proceeded to Virramall Shopping Center in Greenhills, San Juan. On the same day several Scout Rangers were also reported surveying the Makati business district.[8] Moreover, a group of Scout Rangers and members of the Philippine Marines boarded Superferry 2 from Zamboanga City for Manila via Iloilo City.[9] The troop movement was being monitored and it was decided that the soldiers be met once they arrive in North Harbor. Upon their arrival, they were in fact met by some officers, including Col. Danilo Lim of the First Scout Ranger Regiment (FSRR), and were found to have apparently legitimate reasons for coming to Manila. They carried documents showing either they were on rest and recreation or about to undergo training. Despite the coup rumors, Government security forces refrained from taking punitive action against the junior officers at that time as nothing overtly illegal had been committed. Some of them came in BDA uniforms and carried arms and ammunition. Some of them ended up in Oakwood.
Before the Oakwood incident, amid the coup rumors, the President met with officers and men, including Trillanes and some members of PMA ’94 and ’95. On July 10, Navy Lt. Christopher Magdangal, an Aide-de-Camp to the President and a member of PMA ’95, called his classmate Trillanes to ask him about the veracity of reports that the latter was a leader of a rebel group moving to destabilize the Government. Trillanes said he was surprised to hear such report and later confided to Magdangal, after several exchanges of text and cellular phone messages, that he was in fact receiving death threats over the phone. Trillanes then asked Magdangal if he could see the President in Malacañang on July 13 to clarify the issue with her.[10]
Trillanes, who would later act as spokesman of the Magdalo group, met with two members of the PSG, Col. Delfin Bangit and Magdangal in the early morning of July 13. They talked for nearly four hours from 3:00 am onwards.[11] The two officers were present when Trillanes met with the President at 7:00 am of the same day. During the meeting with President Estrada, Trillanes brought up the problem of corruption as discussed in the two term papers which he submitted for his masters program at the University of the Philippines’ National College of Public Administration and Governance. He later alleged that the President did not give him a chance to discuss the papers and instead scolded him. The President allegedly ordered the PSG officers to parade him before the media to give him a lesson and called the Flag Officer-in-Command (FOIC), Vice Admiral Ernesto de Leon, to detain him at the Naval Intelligence and Security Force (NISF) in Fort Bonifacio.[10] In this connection, Magdangal, testified that, to the contrary, the conversation between the President and Trillanes was cordial. The President’s parting shot was “Trillanes, you are a young, very bright and very idealistic officer. Huwag mong gayahin si Honasan at si Cardeño.”[12] The meeting lasted for about an hour.
In the evening of July 23, 2003, about 100 members of PMA ’94 and ’95 had dinner and a “ photo opportunity” with the President in Malacañang Palace. A few days before the dinner, Chief of Staff, AFP (CSAFP) General Narciso Abaya held separate meetings with the officers of the two classes. He was informed of their sentiments, particularly that they were being unjustly dragged into the alleged plan for a rebellion.[13] Through the efforts of their classmates in the PSG and Abaya, the dinner with the President took place. Members of PMA ‘94 and ’95 were invited to the occasion for “pure socializing” through text messages that originated from Magdangal.[14] The class officers, expecting to have a “ dialogue” with the President that night regarding the issues in the AFP that they would like to raise, got frustrated as all Air Force Capt. Segundino Orfiano was able to say after the dinner, when the President briefly asked about the coup issue, was “…we are against corruption." Likewise, based on the remarks made on television immediately after the dinner, PMA ‘94 class president Army Capt. Ma. Noel Tolentino said, “we assured her that we are still… we are loyal to her”.
The President also attended on July 24 the turn-over of the command at the FSRR in Camp Tecson in San Miguel, Bulacan, Bulacan as part of the effort to neutralize the coup threat. The President took this opportunity to visit with the members of the FSRR, which at that time was reported to have been significantly infiltrated by suspected rebels. She also visited on July 25 the Marine Training Camp in Ternate, Cavite, Cavite, the PAF 15th Strike Wing, and the SWAG in Sangley Point, Cavite. Abaya made rounds of other units where restiveness had been reported.
In the early morning of July 26, the 10 suspected leaders declared unaccounted for by the AFP were identified as Trillanes, Layug, Gambala, Maestrecampo, and Army officers Capt. Lawrence Louis Somera, Capt. Albert Baloloy, 1st Lt. Lawrence San Juan, 1st Lt. Florentino Somera, 1st Lt. Jose Enrico Demetrio Dingle, and 1st Lt. Waren Lee Dagupon. At 5:00 am, emergency meetings were held by Abaya, Golez, and Garcia with the general staff and senior officers to discuss the reports on the missing officers and the reported destabilization plot.
At around 10:00 am, President Estrada and Corpuz met with a group of NGOs at the EDSA Shrine. Corpuz announced that certain units from Tanay were missing.
At 2:00 pm, a meeting was held by the same group with House Speaker Jose de Venecia and the House Committee Chairman for Defense and Security, Prospero Pichay, to discuss the matter.[15]
At 5:00 pm of July 26, 2003, the President convened a full cabinet meeting where Cabuay presented a briefing on the looming coup plot.[16] Thereafter, the President publicly announced for the first time at 8:19 pm in the media that “a small band of rogue junior officers and soldiers had deserted their posts and illegally brought weapons with them.”[17] The security plan of action was immediately set in motion. Task Force Libra (TF Libra), the counter-coup composite unit of the AFP, was set in motion. The action forces were immediately dispatched in anticipation of the rumored coup.
A week earlier, a meeting of the leaders of “anti-President Joseph Ejercito Estrada” (PJEE) groups allegedly to discuss pre-SONA activities at the Danarra Hotel in Quezon City was monitored by Government intelligence.[18] On July 25, 2003, intelligence reports were received that some so-called “anti-PGMA” groups like the People’s Movement Against Poverty (PMAP) and DEMOKRASYA had been instructed to assemble at the EDSA Shrine at 4:00 pm on July 27 and hold an overnight vigil there before proceeding to the Batasan area to hold anti-government rallies during the SONA. Invitations by the “ anti-PGMA” group members to civilians to join the coup to be staged on July 27 were made through cellphone text messages. Among those who were recruited were past and present members of the DIABLO and Philippine Guardians Brotherhood, Inc. (PGBI” ).[19] Police Chief Inspector Leborio Jangao, one of the founding members of PGBI, stated he received cellphone text messages on July 26 informing him that a coup d’etat would be staged on July 27. At this time the crime disturbance personnel of the PNP had already been instructed to secure the EDSA Shrine, the Connecticut Street area, and the Ortigas Avenue Extension area from rallyists. There were reports the EDSA Shrine would be the target would be staged.
Early on Friday night of July 25, the 80th Infantry Battalion based in Camp Capinpin was ordered to augment TF Libra. The mission of the TF Libra included the securing of vital communications installations such as radio and TV stations. It assisted the PNP in securing the EDSA Shrine and containing civilian groups in the area. The first elements of the joint TF Libra arrived in Camp Aguinaldo at about 11:00 pm.[21]
For his part, Ebdane declared a full alert status nationwide, effective on 12:00 noon on July 26, as a contingency measure. All PNP field commanders were directed to secure vital installations and key establishments.
At around 2:00 pm of July 26, the Mandaluyong City police started the deployment of at least one hundred forty (140) personnel at the Poveda, Connecticut, and Ortigas areas. Later at 3:00 pm, intelligence reports indicated a change of instructions to the rallyists manning the EDSA Shrine. The anti-government groups were advised to assemble at the EDSA Shrine at 6:00 am on July 27 instead.[15]
At about 7:00 pm of July 26, Maj. Gen. Efren L. Abu, Vice Commander PA and Commander of TF Libra, visited the 80th Infantry Battalion. By this time, TF Libra was already at its full strength. An hour later, President Estrada went on air and ordered the arrest of the junior officers who had deserted their posts. A conference presided over by Abaya was held at about 9:00 pm to assess the intelligence situation. Abu gave an update on the forces composition of TF Libra.
The PNP report on troop movement by Marines from Ternate, Cavite to the North or to Manila was confirmed by Cavite PNP Provincial Director Police Senior Superintendent Roberto L. Rosales and Marine Commandant, Maj. Gen. Emmanuel Teodosio. The advancing Marines were able to avoid checkpoints on their way to Makati by evasive movements. The PAF civil disturbance contingent earlier deployed at the Batasan area and the PN contingent at the VMMC, both in Quezon City, were then redeployed to the Makati area. An additional 100 Special Action Force (SAF) personnel of the PNP were then sent to secure the Batasan complex. In addition, one PA platoon and a PNP contingent reinforced the security forces of TV stations and telecommunications facilities.[22]
Also on July 26, Naval Base personnel in Cavite received a report that three suspicious-looking vehicles were parked at the back of the Naval Sea Systems Command Armory in Fort San Felipe, Cavite City. [Exhibit “N-1” identified by Garcia on August 14, 2003, Fact Finding Commission]
Following the order issued by President Estrada to the AFP and PNP for the arrest of the Magdalo officers at around 8:00 pm and the conference called by Abaya to assess the intelligence reports at 9:00 pm, operatives of the PNP’s Criminal Investigation and Detention Group (CIDG) were dispatched to Dasmariñas Village, Makati City at around 10:00 pm that same night of July 26 to verify the presence of heavily armed men in military uniform reported by security guards of the Dasmariñas Village. National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agents were also dispatched to monitor this development. [This report was relayed to the command duty officer, Naval Base Cavite and further relayed to Commander of NBC Commo Sanglay. On the investigation of vehicles used by rebel soldiers, a special report submitted by Capt. Alexander Pama, the assistant Chief for Naval Intelligence, provided details on the recovery of vehicles abandoned by the Oakwood mutineers.]
The Oakwood siege had been facilitated by earlier activities as seen in the foregoing account. The antecedents show that the rebellion was not a spontaneous phenomenon as extensive preparations and mobilization activities were undertaken prior to the occupation and control of the Oakwood Apartments.
The rebels took over Oakwood at past 1:00 am of July 27. Over 300 soldiers quietly entered the premises of Ayala Center in several groups.[25] The soldiers disarmed the security guards and took over Oakwood. They planted claymore mines around the building and in the vicinity. Snipers were posted at the Oakwood roof deck.[26]
Two government command groups were immediately dispatched after reports of the occupation of Oakwood, and of movement of the Marine contingent from Ternate towards Camp Aguinaldo were confirmed. The Crisis Management Staff was formed at the Command Operation Center in Camp Crame, and the Advanced Command Post of the PNP was established behind the Intercontinental Hotel in Makati. Marines and Army officers later joined the PNP at the Makati post, and the Southern Police District Director, Police Chief Superintendent Jose Gutierrez, was designated as the ground commander. At around 2:00 am on July 27, Abu was informed by the Joint Operation Center in Camp Aguinaldo about the presence of troops moving towards Metro Manila. Most of these troops were coming from Ternate, Cavite. At this time, the Marines under Teodosio were already poised to stop the troops. They were pre-positioned around the car park behind Oakwood.
At about the same time, the security guards of Dasmariñas Village in Makati confirmed the presence of heavily armed men in full battle gear marching from Paraiso Street to the EDSA-Pasay Road gate of the village. The armed soldiers, wearing red armbands, forced the security guards to open the gate. They were seen crossing EDSA and going towards the direction of Ayala Center, Makati City. The CIDG-NBI composite team confirmed that the rebel soldiers came from a house at 2177 Paraiso Street, Dasmariñas Village, owned by Ramon Cardenas who was residing at 1346 Palm Avenue in the same village. At 4:00 am TF Ayala of the Marine Corps had been activated and had occupied positions with infantry and armor, encircling the Ayala Center Complex.[27]
Between 4:00 and 5:00 am, the rebel soldiers were able to make arrangements to go on air to issue a public statement. The ABS-CBN News (ANC) network showed a live TV coverage of the prepared statement read by Gambala. In the statement, the rebels declared their withdrawal of support from the chain of command and presented their grievances against the Estrada government. They demanded the resignation of the Estrada administration leaders and endorsed the NRP as the solution to the problems of the Philippines.[28]
Also at dawn, Alex Benasin, a resident of the Baseco compound at the Port Area, was busy recruiting residents of the compound to go to Oakwood for a consideration of P300.00 each.[29] Later, at about 8:30 am, members of the PGBI carrying banners of the NRP were seen in the Makati area but they were prevented by the PNP from reaching and camping in the vicinity of Oakwood. Pro-Estrada rallyists headed towards the People Power Monument on EDSA were also dispersed by police stationed in the area. It was reported that more pro-Estrada followers actively recruited people from various Metro Manila locations to regroup in the EDSA Shrine. Members of the PMAP marched in the direction of Makati City from Greenhills.
After 9:00 am of July 27, President Estrada gave the rebel soldiers a 5:00 pm deadline to give up their positions peacefully and return to barracks. At around 1:00 pm, she declared the existence of a “State of Rebellion” and issued an order to use reasonable force, and pay due regard to constitutional rights, in putting down the rebellion.[30] The rebel soldiers held another public airing of their grievances at around 4:20 pm By that time, 25 rebel soldiers had surrendered to the TF Libra in two batches, as revealed by the Government command stationed outside of Oakwood. The announcement of the surrender was downplayed by the Magdalo group as part of a “psywar” operation on the part of the Government, during an ambush interview of Trillanes.
During the media briefing in the afternoon, other rebel officers besides the known leaders expressed their grievances against the Government while the press conference was going on.[28] Trillanes, in a side interview by a news reporter, stated that they were willing to negotiate.
Teodosio arranged for the rebels’ close family members to go to Oakwood and help persuade members of the rebel group to give up their plans.
Shortly before the 5:00 pm deadline, the President announced an extension of the deadline to 7:00 pm It was during the two-hour reprieve that negotiations with various personalities and groups of negotiators prospered. As the deadline approached, negotiations between the rebel soldiers and the Government team led by the Government chief negotiator, Ambassador Roy A. Cimatu, effectively extended the deadline indefinitely. [From the Briefing Manuscript submitted by Cabuay to the Commission on August 12, 2003.]
An agreement was forged between the two groups at 9:30 pm At 10:00 pm, President Estrada announced that the occupation of Oakwood was over. The rebels agreed to return to barracks and were out of the Oakwood premises by 11:00 pm.
President Estrada's Final State of the Nation Address
Opening of the 3rd Regular Session of the 12th Congress
Delivered on July 28, 2003 at the Batasang Pambansa Complex, Quezon City
Thank You Speaker De Venecia.
Vice President Macapagal-Arroyo; President Ramos; Senate President Drilon; Chief Justice Davide And The Associate Justices Of The Supreme Court; Distinguished Members Of The Senate And House Of Representatives; His Excellency Archbishop Franco, And Excellencies Of The Diplomatic Corps; Members Of The Cabinet; General Abaya And The Officers Of The Armed Forces; General Ebdane And The Members Of The Police; Fellow Workers In Government; Ladies And Gentlemen.
In March 1973, six months after the declaration of martial law, Ninoy Aquino was taken blindfolded from Fort Bonifacio and brought to a place he did not know. He was stripped naked and thrown into a cell. His only human contact was a jailer. The immediate prospect, in such a place, was a midnight execution in front of a grave dug by himself.
The purpose was clear as it was diabolical. It was not to kill him yet, but to break him first – and with him break the compelling proof that men can stand up to a dictatorship.
He came close to giving up, he told me; he slipped in and out of despair. But a power that must have been God held him together. He remembered the words of the epistle, God chose the weak to confound the strong.
On the third anniversary of his incarceration in Laur, the recollection of his pain gave birth to a poem of hope. This is the poem he wrote:
I am the burning candle of my
Life in the dark
With no one to benefit
From the light.
The candle slowly melts away;
Soon its wick will be burned out
And the light is gone.
If someone will only gather
The melted wax, re-shape it,
Give it a new wick –
For another fleeting moment
My candle can once again
Light the dark,
Be of service
One more time,
And then…goodbye.
This is the anguish of good men: that the good they do will come to nothing. That pains suffered in obscurity or sacrifices made away from the sight of men, amount to shame, and mock the man or woman who bears them.
Mr. Senate President, Mr. Speaker, members of the Congress, distinguished guests, my countrymen:
That is not true. None of the good that we do is ever lost; not even the light in an empty room is wasted.
From Ninoy’s burnt-out candle, and thousands like it in cells throughout the garrison state, we gathered the melted wax and made more candles. To burn – not as long in such loneliness – but much more brightly altogether, as to banish the darkness, and light us to a new day.
You might ask: When will the president stop invoking Ninoy’s name? My answer is: When a president stands here other than by Ninoy’s grace. And not while gratitude is nourished by memory. Not while we acknowledge that it was his sacrifice that gave us back our freedom. And restored the freely elected office whose incumbent must stand every year in this place.
Five years have passed. My term is ending. And so is yours. As we came, so should we go. With grateful acknowledgement to the man who made it possible for us to be here. A man who discovered hope in the starkest despair, and has something yet to teach a country facing adversity again.
Yesterday, Without Bloodshed, Without Damage To Property, And Within A Single Day, We Overcame An Ill-Conceived Mutiny Carried Out By Misguided Military Officers.
Such Actions Are Deplorable And Will Be Met With The Full Force Of The Law, Including Their Political Component.
Yet They Signal An Underlying Problem That We Must Address. I Am Constituting An Independent Commission To Investigate The Roots Of The Mutiny And The Provocations That Inspired It. At The Request Of Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes, I Am Also Constituting An Independent Commission To Investigate The Davao Bombing.
These Will Be Matched By A Pnp Reform Commission. I Thank The National Police For Their Solid Support In Yesterday’s Crisis, And I Am Sure They Themselves Welcome A Comprehensive Reform That Will Cure The Organization Not Only Of The Failures Of The Scale Of The Al-Ghozi Escape, But Also The Daily Devils That Are The Kotong Cops.
By Now We Should Be At Peace: At Peace In The South, At Peace In The Countryside, Safe In Our Homes And Secure In Our Communities. But We Remain At War. At War Against Terrorism. At War Against Corruption. At War Against Disease. At War Against Drugs, The Greatest Menace Facing Our Country Today.
Last Five Weeks, We’ve Struck A Major Blow Against The Drug Menace. Eight Billion Pesos In Five Weeks. It Is A Pity That A Few Days Later After The Penultimate Success Against The Drug Menace, We Should Find Ourselves At War Against Destabilizers.
We Cannot Stay Divided With So Much We Need To Do Together. I Address Myself Not Only To The Joint Houses Here Assembled, But To The Nation-At-Large.
I Need You; We Need Each Other.
Iyon Ang Aking Sinabi Nang Naluklok Ako Bilang Pangulo Noong 2001. Sinabi Ko Noon Na Panahon Na Ng Paghilom Sa Ating Lipunan.
At Sa Aking Unang State Of The Nation Address, Pinagdiinan Ko Ang Mga Batayang Hangarin Ng Karaniwang Pilipino: Trabaho, Pagkain Sa Bawat Mesa, Tahanan, Edukasyon.
I Gave My Targets.
I Am Submitting To The Congress And To The Nation A Technical Report Of My Government’s Performance. In Sum I Can Say, We Delivered In Great Part On Our Commitments.
Hindi Lumampas Ang Dalawang Buwan Pagkatapos Noong State Of The Nation Address, Noong 9-11, Nagbago Ang Mundo. Sa Mga Batayang Hangaring Trabaho, Pagkain Sa Bawat Mesa, Tahanan, At Edukasyon, Ating Idinagdag Ang Kapayapaan.
Ngunit Dahil Hindi Pa Matatag Ang Ating Republika, Hindi Pa Natin Maaasahan Na Kung Ang Isang Pangulo Ay Mag-Uutos Parang Isang Presidente Ng Isang Korporasyon, Ay Maiintindihan At Susunod Kaagad Ang Mga Institusyon At Burokrasya. In A Nation Whose Institutions Are Still Fragile, A Leader Cannot Run A Developing Country Like A Corporation.
For The Practical Purposes Of Most People, Government Exists To Provide Jobs, Homes, Education, Peace, Food On Every Table. And To Do That Adequately And Dependably, Government Must Possess The Capacity To Execute Good Policy And Deliver Basic Services Through Strong And Responsive Institutions Staffed By A Competent And Dedicated Bureaucracy. In Short, Government Must Be The Arm Of A Strong Republic.
But A Strong Republic Does Not Happen Overnight; Not Even In Two Or Three Years. Nor Does It Happen Once And For All.
In This Setting, The First Virtue Of A Modern Leader Is A Constant Sense Of Correct Perspective, The Capacity To Retain Her Original Focus, And Plod On Regardless.
She Must Stick To Priorities That Were Carefully Chosen, Rather Than Dump Them At Every First Issue That Is Recklessly Raised.
I Have Stuck To My Priorites: Jobs, Food On Every Table, Homes, Education, Peace.
Many Of Our Reforms Have Yet To Bear Fruit, But In The Fullness Of Time Our Country Will Reap What Was Carefully Picked, Planted And Nurtured. And It Will Be A Harvest Of Plenty.
The Harvest Has In Fact Started.
Sa Kapayaan:
We Have Hit Hard At Terrorism And, With The Help Of Speaker Joe De Venecia, Made Advances Towards A Negotiated Peace On Two Fronts: The Milf And The Ndf.
Sa Susunod Na Linggo, Magsisimula Na Ang Pag-Uusap Ng Peace Panels Ng Gobyerno At Milf Tungo Sa Isang Panghuling Kasunduang Pang-Kapayapaan.
We Will Avail Of The Good Offices Of Malaysia In The Search Of A Political Solution To The Conflict With The Milf, While Looking To The Help Of The United States In The Rehabilitation Of Conflict Areas And The Eradication Of The Roots Of War.
We — All Of Us Filipinos — Have To Decide Now, Once And For All, Whether We Want Peace Or We Want War. There Is No Way To Peace. Peace Is The Way.
Subalit Kung Ipagpipilitan Ng Ilang Mga Kaaway Ng Ating Republika Ang Digmaan, Wala Akong Magagawa Kung Hindi Tapatan Sila Upang Ipagtanggol Ang Ating Mga Kababayan.
I Thank The Senate For Ratifying Seven U.N. Conventions Against Terrorism. I Ask Them To Ratify The Remaining Five.
Hinihingi Ko Rin Sa Kongreso Na Ipasa Na Ang Anti-Terrorism Law, At Isama Rito Ang Pagpataw Ng Mabigat Na Parusa Sa Kapabayaan Sa Pangangalaga Ng Mga Pinaghihinalaang Terorista.
Kasama Ng Terorismo, Ang Problema Ng Droga Ang Pinag-Uugatan Ng Matinding Pagkabahala Ng Mga Mamamayan Tungkol Sa Kanilang Personal Na Kaligtasan.
Ang Katiwaliang Nilikha Ng Kalakal Sa Droga Ay Malalim Ang Lagos At Bumabagtas Sa Lahat Ng Sector. Dapat Nating Kapootan Ang Walang Pakundangang Pagsira Sa Buhay Ng Ating Mga Mamamayan Na Maaaring Humantong Sa Pagkawasak Ng Ating Mga Institusyong Demokratiko.
Kapag Nakakausap Ko Ang Mga Magulang Ng Mga Drug Addict, Nawawasak Ang Aking Puso, Nguni’t Lalong Tumitibay Ang Loob Ko Na Tama Ang Aking Desisyong Itaas Ang Antas Ng Ating Paglaban Sa Bawal Na Gamot.
Dadalhin Ko Ang Labang Ito Sa Bawa’t Lalawigan At Lungsod Hanggang Umabot Sa Mga Barangay Upang Kumatok Tayo Sa Mga Pinto Ng Bawa’t Pamilyang Pilipino. This Is One Fight I Am Taking Everywhere, If We Have To Knock On Every Door.
Maglulunsad Tayo Ng Kampanya Sa Mga Paaralan At Mga Komunidad Para Sagipin Ang Kabataan At Bigyan Ng Bagong-Buhay Ang Mga Drug Users At Tiyaking Hindi Sila Malulong Muli!
Pipigain Natin Ang Supply Sa Kalye Sa Paraang Kahit Na Ang Masalapi Ay Mahihirapang Sustentuhan Ang Kanilang Bisyo.
Pipilayan Natin Ang Operasyon Ng Mga Drug Lords At Ng Kanilang Mga Padrino Sa Mga Pasilyo Ng Kapangyarihan.
I Thank Congress For Passing The Anti-Money Laundering Law, Because It Will Help Us Interdict The Money Of The Drug Lords. I Am Now Instructing The Secretary Of Budget And Management To Allocate A 100 Million Pesos For Its Implementation.
Ito Ang Ating Laban At Tayo Ay Magtatagumpay.
Para Sa Mga Big Fish Sa Iligal Na Droga, Mahirap Na Ang Magmoratorium Sa Death Penalty.
Ngunit Sa Ibang Bagay, Pro-Life Pa Rin Ako. I Will Veto Any Bill That Will Try To Smuggle In Abortion.
Tungkol Sa Edukasyon:
In 2001 I Said That Our English Literacy Gives Us A Competitive Edge In Ict. I Also Said That To Prepare The Youth To Be The Next Generation Of Knowledge Workers, We Will Upgrade Math And Science Teaching In Basic Education.
Kaya Dinagdagan Natin Ang Oras Para Sa Math At English At Pinag-Ibayo Ang Laman Ng Science Sa Bagong Curriculum.
Nagtayo Tayo Ng Eskwelahan Sa Anim Na Raang Barangay Na Dati’y Walang Paaralan.
Sinisimulan Natin Ang Distance Learning Program O Education Tv Para Sa Apat Na Raang Pamayanang Malayo At Kulang Ang Guro.
At Kagaya Ni Senate President Franklin Drilon, Samahan Niyo Akong Magtayo Ng Silid-Aralan Sa Lahat Ng Paaralang Lumalampas Sa Sandaang Mag-Aaral Bawat Silid. In That Way, We Can Once And For All Close The Perennial School Building Gap.
Tungkol Sa Tirahan:
Tayo Ay Nakapagtayo Ng Higit Sandaan-Libong Bahay Para Sa Mga Maralita At Halos Dalawandaang Libo Para Sa Mga Manggagawa.
Binigyan Din Natin Ng Katiyakan Sa Lupang Tinitirikan Ang Halos Tatlundaan-Libong Mahihirap Na Pamilya.
Pinagtibay Natin Ang Ancestral Domain Ng Mga Katutubo Sa Mahigit Tatlundaan Animnapung Libong Ektarya Ng Lupain.
Tungkol Sa Pagkain Sa Bawat Mesa:
Self-Rated Hunger According To The Surveys Has Gone Down To 6.6.% Compared To 12.7% Just Before I Became President.
Mayroon Tayong Pirmihang Supply Ng Bigas Sa Halagang Labing Anim Na Piso Bawat Kilo Para Sa Mahihirap.
At Ayon Sa Masugid Na Pagmonitor Ni Mar Roxas, Ang Ating Secretary Of Trade, Mula Noong Ako’y Naging Pangulo, Nanatiling P8.50 Ang Halaga Ng Pangmasang Sardinas, P11 Ang Mantikang Lapad, P23 Ang Mantikang Long-Neck, P28 Ang Puting Asukal, P23 Ang Brown Sugar, P28 Ang Kondensada, P115 Ang Baboy, P90 Ang Manok, At P160 Ang Baka. Matatag Itong Mga Presyo Mula Nang Ako’y Naging Pangulo. Dahil Dito, Ngayon Pinakamababa Ang Ating Inflation Rate Sa Loob Ng Dalawampung Taon.
Malamang Ito Ay Dahil Ang Aking Administrasyon Sa Tulong Ng Kongreso Ay Taun-Taon Gumugugol Ng Dalawampung Bilyong Piso Para Sa Makataong Modernisasyon Ng Agrikultura.
Namahagi Tayo Ng Halos Kalahating Milyong Ektarya Sa Ilalim Ng Reporma Sa Lupa. Mas Marami Pa Tayong Magagawa Sa Tatlumpu’t Walong Bilyong Pisong Inilaan Para Dito Ng Desisyon Ng Korte Suprema Tungkol Sa Nakaw Na Yaman.
I Congratulate The Supreme Court For Finally Granting What Has Taken Much Too Long To Materialize: Authorizing The Allocation And Use Of Private Loot For Laudable Public Purposes.
Hinihiling Ko Sa Kongreso Na Maglaan Ng Bagahi Nitong Pondo Bilang Kabayaran Sa Mga Naging Biktima Ng Paglabag Sa Karapatang Pantao Noong Martial Law.
Mas Malaki Rin Ang Maitutulong Ng Gobyerno Sa Mga Magsasaka Ng Niyog Ngayon Na Naresolba Na Pabor Sa Magsasaka Ang Kaso Ng Coco Levy. Uulitin Ko Ang Sinabi Ko Noon Pang 2001, Sisiguruhin Ko Na Makikinabang Sa Coco Levy Ay Ang Mga Maliliit Na Magnyo-Niyog. Hindi Ko Sila Pababayaang Madehado.
I Said That There Could Be A Million New Jobs In Agriculture And Fisheries. We Have Provided More Than Half Of That Number Two-Thirds Into My Term.
Ngunit Upang Mabuo Ang Isang Milyon, Kailangan Isabatas Natin Ang Panukalang Gamitin Ang Bukirin Bilang Kolateral Sa Utang Para Lumawak Ang Daan Sa Rural Credit At Kapital.
To The Countless Incentives That Congress Has Granted To Business, I’ve Matched Similar Programs To Give A Similar Break To The Worker In The Factory And In The Farm.
I Do Not Subscribe To Trickle Down Economics And Social Policy. Those Who Have Less In Life Should Not Have To Scramble For Crumbs At The Feet Of Those With Too Much On The Table.
Bilang Pakikipag-Ugnayan Sa Mga Pinakamahirap Ng Ating Bansa Hinggil Sa Pinakamalubhang Mga Problema Natin, Dinalaw Ko Ang Mga Di-Kilalang Barangay.
Nawasak Ang Aking Puso Nang Narinig Kong Namatay Ang Calisaan Quadruplets.
Lalong Nakumbinsi Akong Pag-Ibayuhin Ang Mga Serbisyong Pangkalusugan, Gaya Nang Mabuti Nating Paglaban Sa Sars.
Ngayon Ang Mga Gamot Na Madalas Gamitin Ng Mahihirap Ay Nabibili Sa Kalahating Presyo Sa Mga Ospital Ng Gobyerno.
Sa Philhealth Insurance Naman, Bago Ako Naging Pangulo, Isa’t Kalahating Milyong Maralita Ang Sakop. Ngayon, Halos Pitong Milyon Na.
Gusto Kong Palawakin Ang Mga Ito, Ang Murang Gamot, At Dapat Hangarin Natin Na Lahat Ng Dukha Ay Masakop Sa Philhealth. And To Finance The Universal Coverage Of Philhealth, I Ask Congress To Pass The Bill On The Indexation Of Sin Taxes.
Tungkol Sa Trabaho:
Sinabi Ko Noong 2001 Na Upang Dumami Ang Trabaho, Kailangang Isa-Ayos Ang Klima Para Sa Pamumuhunan.
Our Economy Grew By 4.4 Percent Gnp Last Year And 5.6 Percent In The First Quarter Of This Year. Only China And Vietnam Did Better.
Ang Kahirapan Ay Unti-Unting Nagagapi. Self-Rated Poverty Again According To The Survey, Is At Its Lowest Percentage Of The Population In The Last 16 Years.
Foreign Investments Rose 26 Percent In The First Quarter Compared To The Same Period Last Year.
But We Need To Reduce The Risk Of Living, Not To Mention Doing Business Here. Which Is Why Yesterday’s Rogues Must Go To Jail.
We Can Reduce Business Costs By Providing Basic Infrastructure: Roads, Transport And A More Efficient And Rationalized Power Sector.
Our Road Program Is Symbolized By The Long-Awaited Expansion Of The North Expressway.
On Mass Transport, Towards The End Of This Year, We Will Complete The Loop Of The Light Railway System Of Metro Manila — From Santolan In Pasig Towards Aurora Boulevard In Cubao, And On To Quiapo To Blumentritt On To Edsa In Pasay And Back To Cubao.
Hindi Tumaas Ang Pasahe Mula Noong Una Kong State Of The Nation Address. Kaya Mga Jeepney Drivers, Nagpapasalamat Ako, Hindi Ko Kayo Pababayaan.
To Reduce Transport Costs From Mindanao To Luzon, We Set Up The Nautical Highway, A System Where The Cargo Truck Itself Travels Straight To Its Destination, Making Inter-Island Crossings On Ferries, Rather Than Loading And Unloading At Every Port. This Has Reduced By 30 Percent The Transport Costs Of Products From Mindanao Like Copra, Rice, Corn And Vegetables.
Nagbigay Tayo Ng Koryente Sa Mahigit Tatlunlibot At Anim Na Raang Barangay. While In Metro Manila, A Consumer Using A 100 Kilowatt Hours Paid P526.48 Last May. Today, He Pays P423.20, A Drop Of Over A 100 Pesos Or 20 Percent. His Case Is One Of Almost 2 Million Households Benefitting From The Lifeline Rate Program Of The Energy Regulatory Commision. Another 119 Electric Cooperative Franchise Areas Will Also Soon Reduce Their Rates Under The Loan Condonation Program Of The Electric Power Reform Act That You, Congress Passed In 2001. That Is Why, Believe Me When I Say That From Having The Second Most Expensive Power In Asia-Pacific, We Now Rank Seventh.
But We Will Need 6,000 Megawatts More Of Power Over The Next Ten Years. That Is Why We Need To Pass The Transco Bill To Maintain A Favorable Ranking As We Take On This Added Capacity.
When We Reduce Business Costs, The Last Should Be Wages, And The First Should Be Red Tape.
Kaya Nagsasagawa Ako Ng Sorpresang Pagbisita Sa Mga Tanggapan Ng Gobyerno, Upang Pasiglahin Ang Talagang Nagsisikap At Gisingin Kung Sino Ang Natutulog Sa Trabaho.
Pinalakas Natin Ang Pambansang Ekonomiya — Agrikultura, Maliliit Na Negosyo, Pabahay — Upang Anumang Mangyari Sa Dayuhang Ekonomiya, Matatag Pa Rin Ang Pilipinas.
Naglaan Tayo Ng Sampung Bilyong Piso Para Sa Murang Pautang Sa Maliliit Na Negosyo. Nagamit Na Ito, Kaya Dadagdagan Muli Natin Ng Higit Pa Sa Sampung Bilyon.
Ang Interest Rates Ay Patuloy Na Bumababa.
Good Monetary Policy And Fiscal Discipline And Balance Are The Key.
Our Revenues Surpassed The Target By 21 Billion Pesos In The First Five Months Of This Year, Driven By Information Technology, And Helped By Lifestyle Checks, And 50 Indictments And Dismissals For Graft And Corruption.
Thus, We Held The Budget Deficit In Check At 22 Percent Below Ceiling.
I Thank Congress For Passing Our E-Procurement Law Because It Helps Us Hold Down Expenditures. Now, I Ask Congress To Complete The Passage Of The Bills On Excise Tax Rationalization And The National Revenue Authority.
But We Must Reduce Corruption Not Only Among Appointive But Also Among Elective Officials.
With Full Financial Support To My Government, The Registration, Counting, And Transmission Of Votes In The May 2004 Elections Will Be Completely Computerized.
Now, I Ask Congress To Institute Reforms In Campaign Finance To Level The Playing Field And Widen The Choice Of The Electorate For Worthy Candidates.
The Strength Of Our Investment Climate Also Rests In Great Part On The Realities Of The Global And Regional Environment And On How We Turn Those Realities To Our Advantage.
Our Country Has Come Much Closer To Re-Attaining Its Strategic Importance In Geopolitics As An Active And Respected Voice In International Affairs.
The Filipino Is Now Recognized As A Truly Global Worker, Both At Home And Abroad.
We Have Had The Smallest Number Of Strikes In The Last 21 Years.
Increasingly, The Philippines Is Being Recognized As An Ideal Site For Critical Operations Requiring A High-Quality, English-Educated Work Force.
Eight Million Filipinos Live And Work Abroad, In Jobs Where They Enjoy The Unbeatable Comparative Advantages Of An English Speaking Education, Advanced Skills And A Uniquely Caring Nature.
The Filipino Will Work Anywhere Because He Is Not Afraid. Like Manny Pacquiao, Given The Chance To Compete, He Will Take It And He Will Win. It Was Only Fitting That Because Of Your Work In Congress, Overseas Filipino Workers Were Given The Overseas Voting Right.
It Was Also Fitting That I Put In A New Perspective On Our Relations With The United States, Where Three Million Filipinos Live And Where I Made A Visit As Their Only State Visitor For The Year. The Benefits Of Our Engagement With The U.S. Vastly Outweigh Any Concerns About Sovereign Subordination. We Should Have The Confidence To Deal With Other Countries As Equals — However Rich, However Strong, Be They China, Japan, The Members Of The European Union Or The United States.
We Have Reached Out To Good Friends And Neighbors-Such As Prime Minister Mahathir Of Malaysia, And President Megawati Of Indonesia — With The Message That We Must Work Together Especially Where Democracy And Security Are Concerned.
Ang Panguluhan Ay Laging Nahaharap Sa Mabibigat Na Suliranin.
Terrorism, Drugs, Sars, Ofws, Mindanao, Poverty, Corruption, Investments, Destabilization — These Come To Mind As We Review The Crises And Opportunities Of The Past Year.
They Sum Up The Problems We Faced And The Extraordinary Responses That We Made, Surprising Even Ourselves And Reviving Faith In Our Future.
Barangay Vacante, Alcala, Pangasinan Got The Sars, Took The Hit, Fought On And Valiantly Overcame The Crisis.
Barangay Inug-Ug, Pagalungan, Maguindanao Politely Asked The Milf And The Military To Leave And Take Their Fight Elsewhere, Thereby Making Their Community A Sanctuary Of Peace.
Si Sonny Ayao, Umayaw Sa Giyera At Naging Community Organizer Kahit Na S’ya Ay Naging Mnlf Sa Edad Na Labindalawa, At Pagkatapos Maging Mujahideen Sa Loob Ng Dalawampu’t Pitong Taon.
The Filipinos Of Kuwait, Isolated By War But Refusing To Abandon Their Jobs, Took Care Of Themselves And The People Around Them During The Iraq Conflict.
Teacher Josette Biyo Of Iloilo, World Champion In Science And Math Teaching, Has A Planet In The Solar System Named After Her.
Luz Lozada, 72 Years Old, Ng San Isidro, Davao Del Sur — Hinirang Na Natatanging Magsasaka. She Is The Image Model Of Hybrid Rice Technology, The Symbol Of Our Agricultural Modernization.
Police Officers Cayetano Gannaban And Raul Graza Fought Off 20 Rebels In A Firefight In Quinapondan, Eastern Samar.
Police Colonel Boysie Rosales, Kilabot Ng Mga Drug Lords, Tumanggi Sa Suhol Na P35 Million.
Hinahangaan Ko Ang Gilas Ng Maraming Pilipino, Ang Malalim Nating Kaban Ng Kabayanihan At Talino, Ang Ating Matibay Na Kalooban Upang Mabuhay, Maglingkod At Mangibabaw.
Ang Ating Pangarap Ay Walang Kabawas-Bawas — Isang Matatag Na Republikang Hindi Matitinag Ng Makasariling Interes, Yumayabong Sa Mga Gumaganang Institusyon Ng Pamamahala, Naglilingkod Sa Isang Masipag Na Lipi Saanman Ito Kailangan Upang Maibigay Sa Kanila Ang Karapat-Dapat Nilang Tanggapin.
A Life Of Leadership Is A Difficult One, With Few Pauses For Comfort And Relief. These Days, I Find That Rare Moment Of Joy In The Company Of My Family — Especially My Granddaughter, Mikaela.
Just As I Will Do Everything To Make Sure That The Future Will Be Kind To Mikaela And Her Generation, So Must We All Strive To Turn Our Fears Into A Resolve To Do Right Not Just By Ourselves, But By Our Children And Grandchildren.
Nasa Giyera Tayo. Giyera Laban Sa Terorismo. Giyera Laban Sa Katiwalian. Giyera Laban Sa Kasakitan. Giyera Laban Sa Droga. Giyera Laban Sa Distabilisasyon.
On June 30, 2004, the traditional ceremony of political succession will unfold at the Luneta. The last time it was done that way was in 1965. I shall be there with you to proudly witness the event. This is the glory of democracy, that its most solemn moment should be the peaceful transfer of power.
Sa Ating Sama-Samang Pakikipaglaban At Pagtutulungan, Tayo Ay Mangingibabaw At Magwawagi.
No Agtutunos Tayo Nga Agtrabaho, Agba Leygi Tayo.
Abe-Abeng Makilaban Ampon Mag-Obra, Mangibabo Tamu.
Sa Atong Panaghiusa Sa Pagtrabaho Ug Pagbuntog Sa Mga Kaaway, Molampos Gayod Kita.
Sa Aton Pag-Inupod Sa Mga Ulubrahon Kag Sa Pakipag-Away, Kita Gid Ang Magpangibabaw.
Kasihan Nawa Ng Diyos Ang Pilipinas.
Maraming salamat sa inyong lahat at Paalam.
Presidency of Arroyo (2004-2007)
The Inauguration of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as the fourteenth President of the Philippines took place on Wednesday, June 30, 2004 at the Cebu Provincial Capitol in Cebu City. The inauguration marked the commencement of the full six-year term of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as President and the only six-year term Noli de Castro as Vice President. The oath of office was administered by Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines Hilario Davide, Jr. Before that, Arroyo delivered her inaugural speech at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila.
At around 7:45 AM P.S.T. President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo arrived at the Quirino Grandstand and it started with the singing of the Philippine National Anthem by Sarah Geronimo followed by an ecumenical prayer. Then Executive Secretary Alberto Romulo introduced Arroyo and gave her speech that lasted for 20 minutes.
President Arroyo urged Filipinos to leave their deep divisions in the past and as she laid out her vision for the future in her inaugural address on Wednesday.
In a speech made at Manila's Rizal Park, the 57-year-old US-educated economist said her troubled country was at a crossroads, a moment of challenge and opportunity, of sacrifice but of great hopes.
Arroyo's chief contender, action film star Fernando Poe Jr., has refused to concede the election, and his supporters have warned of mass protests that could develop into another "people power" revolt like those that ousted dictator Ferdinand Marcos in 1986.
Her foes have predicted a bleak future under Arroyo's leadership.
After that, the inaugural theme, "Pilipinas, Ngayon Na" was interpreted by Mark Bautista and Jolina Magdangal.
The edge of a typhoon was lashing the area as Arroyo gave her speech, with sporadic power outages around the capital. Wind-whipped waves crashed over the palm trees that line bayfront Roxas Boulevard.
Arroyo was next flying to Cebu, one of the heartlands of her support in the election of May 10, for her swearing-in ceremony.
Prior to her arrival, protesters clashed with the police in Cebu.
Before noon, Arroyo arrived at the Cebu Provincial Capitol and started with the singing of the Philippine National Anthem by Nora Aunor followed by an ecumenical prayer. After which, Vice President-elect Noli de Castro was sworn in a few minutes prior to Arroyo to secure the constitutional line of succession. At exactly 12:00 noon, Chief Justice Davide administered the oath of office to Arroyo. The president proceed to the Shangri-La Mactan Hotel for a vin d'honneur. Then, she proceeded to the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral for a mass presided by Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal.
Welcoming the year 2006 with a bang!
- On January 21, 2006, Boxer Manny Pacquiao defeated Mexican Erik Morales in a tenth-round technical knockout at the Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas. The victory caused jubilation in the country wracked by poverty and political instability.
- On January 27, 2006, Marine Captain Nicanor Faeldon, who escaped from the Philippine Army headquarters on December 14, was recaptured by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). Faeldon and other junior officers of the AFP launched the Oakwood mutiny on July 27, 2003, where they demanded then-President Joseph Estrada and then Defense secretary Angelo Reyes to resign.
- On February 1, 2006, The Revised-Value Added Tax (R-VAT) was implemented, causing a hike in prices of consumer goods.
- On February 4, 2006, A stampede occurred during the first anniversary of ABS-CBN's television program Wowowee at the PhilSports Complex, causing the deaths of 74 people and the wounding of about 400 others.
- On February 14, 2006, Smart Communications, Globe Telecom, and Sun Cellular launch 3G in selected cities in the country.
- On February 17, 2006, After heavy rains in the preceding ten days, a mudslide occurred on the town of Saint Bernard, Southern Leyte, killing fifty people, but with 958 people still missing the death toll is expected to rise dramatically.
- On February 19, 2006, Red Bull Barako wins the Philippine Basketball Association 2005–2006 Fiesta Conference after defeating the Purefoods Chunkee Giants in six games.
- On February 24, 2006, Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on 11:25 am declared a state of emergency via Proclamation No. 1017 after a failed coup attempt and street protests commemorating the 20th anniversary of the People Power Revolution. The protesters converged at the EDSA Shrine led by former Philippine Vice President Teofisto Guingona were dispersed right after the proclamation. The protesters at EDSA-Santolan led by Prof. Randy David were dispersed violently by the police. Several leftist and rightist leaders were arrested or were under the threat of arrest within the next seven days.
- On February 24–25, 2006 when The World Wrestling Entertainment RAW Live Tour made its stop at Araneta Coliseum, featuring matches for the WWE Championship, the WWE Intercontinental Championship, and the WWE Women's Championship, among others. John Cena, Shelton Benjamin and Trish Stratus retained their title belts on the two-night event amidst an overflowing crowd at the Araneta Coliseum.
- On March 3, 2006 when Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo declared the lifting of the state of emergency via Proclamation No. 1021.
- On March 10, 2006 when The Philippine Department of the Interior and Local Government orders barangays to conduct barangay assemblies for the adoption of a new constitution.
- On March 24, 2006, The Archbishop of Manila, Gaudencio Borbon Rosales was installed as Cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI at a ceremony at Rome.
- On April 1, 2006, when Keanna Reeves wins Pinoy Big Brother: Celebrity Edition on its Big Night finale held at the Manila Central Post Office grounds.
- On April 20, 2006 when the Philippine Supreme Court declared that a part of Executive Order No. 464 as unconstitutional, thus paving way for the resumption of Congressional inquiries.
- On April 21, 2006, The UAAP suspended De La Salle University (DLSU) in all sports in season 69, ending a long-drawn-out investigation on the eligibility case — the biggest controversy that had hit the school and the league in years. "It’s a one-year suspension," said UAAP board chair Fr. Max Rendon, CM, of Adamson after emerging from a grueling seven-hour meeting at the Adamson campus. The league cited negligence as the main reason for the suspension.
- On May 20, 2006, the SM Mall of Asia was officially inaugurated by Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo with a special screening of Everest in the San Miguel Coca-Cola IMAX Theater. The movie was shown three days after triathlete Leo Oracion reached the treacherous mountain's summit.
- On June 24, 2006, Opening of the 82nd season of the NCAA hosted by De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde.
- However, due to low ratings, "ABS-CBN Insider" was cancelled on June 30, 2006. It was replaced by Bandila which marked the return of Korina Sanchez to the local newscasting scene.
- On July 1, 2006, No sponsorship shall be provided for: an event or activity which bears a tobacco product brand name, unless there is reasonable basis to believe that all persons who compete, or otherwise taken an active part, in the sponsored events or activities, are person eighteen (18) years of age or older; a team or individual bearing a tobacco product name, unless all persons under eighteen (18) years of age or older; a sponsored event or activity reasonably believed to be particular appear to persons under eighteen (18) years old. Tobacco brand sponsorship shall be prohibited except where there is a reasonable basis to believe that: 1) attendance at the sponsored event or activity will comprise no less than seventy-five percent (75%) persons at least eighteen years of age or older; 2) the sponsored event or activity will not be of particular appeal to persons under eighteen (18) years old; 3) the sponsored event or activity will not receive exposure, other than as a news item, on television or radio or the Internet, unless such exposure complies with the provisions of this Act governing tobacco marketing through those media; and 4) the principal activity associated with the sponsorship does not require above-average physical fitness for someone of the age group of those taking part, while all persons authorized to bear tobacco product advertisement, logos and brand names at sponsored events shall be at least eighteen (18) years old.
- On July 3, 2006, Bandila replaced ABS-CBN Insider and returned Korina Sanchez to newscasting after nearly two years since she left TV Patrol. She was joined by Ces Oreña-Drilon and Henry Omaga-Diaz as original anchors of the program. During its pilot episode, it broadcast a video of General Danilo Lim organizing a coup d'état against former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Maria Ressa, then-head of ABS-CBN News & Current Affairs explained Bandila as "three colors, three stars, three anchors" referring that of the Philippine flag having three colors. On the other hand, Luchi Cruz-Valdez, then head of Current Affairs, said that the title also depicts the news as "banner stories". They also said that they choose three anchors for the late-night newscast as referring to the three stars in the Philippine flag and chooses Sanchez, Omaga-Diaz and Oreña-Drilon as the anchors because they are the three of the most seasoned and experienced broadcast journalist in ABS-CBN.
- UAAP Season 69 started with basketball competition on July 8, 2006 at the Araneta Coliseum.
- In September 2006, the UP Board of Regents approved the establishment of a national science complex and authorized UP president Emerlinda Roman to seek the support of Malacañang for the project.
- From "Mahina talaga ang benta, 'no?" by Jojo Gabinete, published in the September 03, 2006 issue of Abante Tonite: "Younger brother ni AJ Dee si Enchong Dee, ang 17-year-old swimmer na kasama sa top ten list ng 69 Bachelors ng Cosmopolitan magazine. Kasama ni Enchong sa top ten sina Mark Herras, Zanjoe Marudo, Victor Basa, Patrick Garcia, Marco Alcaraz, Will Devaughn, TJ Trinidad, John Pratts at Polo Ravales."
- The Swimming competitions of UAAP Season 69 were contested from September 21 to September 24, 2006 at the Rizal Memorial Swimming Pool. There were four titles given, one for each division: Men's, Women's, Boys' and Girls'. The University of the Philippines (UP) Maroon Tankers retained the title for the fourth consecutive year in Men's division, while the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Lady Tigersharks earned its third straight tiara in the Women's.
- On September 27, 2006, PAGASA issued Storm Signal Number 3, a warning for winds of 100–185 km/h (62–115 mph), for areas of southern Luzon. Storm Signal Number 2, for winds of 60–100 km/h (37–62 mph), was raised for northern Samar Island and central Luzon. Storm Signal Number 1 (30–60 km/h, 20–37 mph) was issued for northwestern Luzon, including Metro Manila, and northern Visayas, including the rest of Samar Island. Schools in the warned area were suspended, and airports and seaports were closed. Philippine Airlines cancelled over half of its flights to and from Ninoy Aquino International Airport for September 28, and various transit services also suspended service.
- On October 2, 2006, The University of Santo Tomas defeated the Ateneo de Manila University, 76–74, in overtime, at the deciding third game of the 69th UAAP men's basketball tournament. Their women's counterpart won the Women's championship while the Ateneo juniors team won the Juniors championship.
- On October 10, 2006, Mayor Jose Catindig, Jr. of Santa Rosa City, Laguna is suspended for six months by the Department of Interior and Local Government for alleged illegal transfer of two city hall employees, which led to tensions at the city hall. This comes after the suspension of Peewee Trinidad of Pasay City.
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said on Saturday (Sept. 30) that her aggressive trade policy -- an important benchmark of her overall economic plan -- is now bearing fruit as evidenced by the strong peso, the upsurge of the stock market, increased direct foreign investment and steady inflation. In her speech read by Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesperson Ignacio R. Bunye at the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NFFAA) held at the Hilton Hawaiian Village in Honolulu, Hawaii, the President said that her economic plans, once pushed to its completion, will break the cycle of Filipinos seeking greener pastures abroad as a matter of necessity.
From the beginning of her term, however, petitioner was plagued by a plethora of problems that slowly but surely eroded his popularity. His sharp descent from power started on October 4, 2006. Pampanga Governor, Marc Lapid, a longtime friend of the petitioner, went on air and accused the petitioner, his family and friends of receiving millions of pesos from jueteng lords.[1]
The exposé immediately ignited reactions of rage.
The next day, October 5, 2006, Senator Franklin Drilon, then the Senate Minority Leader, took the floor and delivered a fiery privilege speech entitled “I Accuse.” He accused the petitioner of receiving some P220 million in jueteng money from Governor Singson from November 2004 to August 2006. He also charged that the petitioner took from Governor Singson P70 million on excise tax on cigarettes intended for Ilocos Sur. The privilege speech was referred by then Senate President Franklin Drilon, to the Blue Ribbon Committee (then headed by Senator Aquilino Pimentel) and the Committee on Justice (headed by Senator Pia Cayetano) for joint investigation.
Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Bayani Fernando to conduct a study and create a master plan to put in order the densely-populated community in the vicinity of Malacanang. The President issued the directive during her visit this afternoon at Barangay 645 in front of San Miguel Church inside the Malacanang complex wherein she conducted an informal interaction with barangay officials led by Chairman Albasser Sultan. "Gagawa si MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando ng master plan para dito (Bayani Fernando will make a master plan for the area)," the President said.
The House of Representatives did no less. The House Committee on Public Order and Security, then headed by Representative Roilo Golez, decided to investigate the exposé of Governor Singson. On the other hand, Representatives Heherson Alvarez, Ernesto Herrera and Nanette Castelo-Daza spearheaded the move to impeach the President.
The clearing of billboards destroyed by Typhoon "Milenyo" being undertaken jointly by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA). Under Administrative Order (AO) 160, which the President signed on Oct. 4 in the aftermath of the "Milenyo" calamity, the DPWH has been directed to determine which billboards "pose imminent danger to life, health, safety and property of the general public and to abate and dismantle the same."
Calls for the resignation of the president filled the air.
On October 11, Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal B. Rosales issued a pastoral statement in behalf of the Presbyteral Council of the Archdiocese of Manila, asking President Macapagal-Arroyo to step down from the presidency as he had lost the moral authority to govern.
Two days later or on October 13, the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines joined the cry for the resignation of President Macapagal-Arroyo.
Four days later, or on October 17, former President Corazon Cojuangco-Aquino also demanded that Macapagal-Arroyo take the “supreme self-sacrifice” of resignation. Former President Fidel Ramos and Joseph Estrada also joined the chorus.
Early on, or on October 12, Vice-President Manuel "Noli" de Castro, Jr. resigned as Secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Services and later asked for Macapagal-Arroyo’s resignation. However, petitioner strenuously held on to his office and refused to resign.
The heat was on. On November 1, four (4) senior economic advisers, members of the Council of Senior Economic Advisers, resigned. They were Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, former Prime Minister Cesar Virata, former Senator Vicente Paterno and Washington Sycip.
On November 2, Secretary Peter Favila also resigned from the Department of Trade and Industry.
On November 3, Senate President Manny Villar, and House Speaker Jose de Venecia, together with some 47 representatives defected from the ruling coalition, Lapian ng Masang Pilipino.
"THE PRESIDENCY is not good for you. It is a temptation for you, an occasion of sin. Resignation will be good for your soul," Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales told President Macapagal-Arroyo yesterday in a scathing speech that drew cheers, howls and thunderous chants of "Gloria resign!" from tens of thousands gathered at the Edsa Shrine in Mandaluyong. In his most stinging rebuke of the President yet, the vocal archbishop took potshot after potshot at Mr. Estrada, making an attack by former President Corazon Aquino, who spoke afterward, seem tame by comparison.
THE EFFORTS of the Macapagal-Arroyo administration to produce a show of force for yesterday’s ecumenical prayer rally proved to be hugely successful, with over a million people thronging the vicinity of the Rizal Park. Chief Supt. Avelino Razon, director of the Western Police District and who took charge of security and order, estimated the crowd at 1.2 million at about 5:15 p.m. Agence France Presse said the people numbered more than a million.
The month of November ended with a big bang. In a tumultuous session on November 13, House Speaker Jose C. de Venecia, Jr. transmitted the Articles of Impeachment signed by 115 representatives, or more than 1/3 of all the members of the House of Representatives to the Senate. This caused political convulsions in both houses of Congress. Senator Manuel B. Villar, Jr. was replaced by Senator Juan Ponce Enrile as Senate President. Speaker Jose de Venecia, Jr. was unseated by Representative Prospero C. Nograles. On November 20, the Senate formally opened the impeachment trial of the petitioner. Twenty-one (21) senators took their oath as judges with Supreme Court Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno, presiding.
Soliven died at age 77 in Tokyo, Japan on November 24. He suffered a fatal acute and pulmonary cardiac arrest at the Narita airport. He was officially pronounced dead at 11:26 AM (Tokyo Time) 24 November 2006, at the Narita Red Cross Hospital. The confirmation was brought about by consul Gina Jamoralin of the Philippine embassy in Japan. He died doing what he loved: being a journalist. He wrote his last article hours before his death regarding the rise of a more-assertive prime minister, Shinzo Abe. Bookie Soliven, son of second eldest brother, Willie, may have been the last person Max texted before he died. Max replied to Bookie’s invitation to watch a Warner Brothers movie premiere replying, “Thank you for your invite. I will be back from Tokyo on the 27th. Love, Uncle Max.”
The political temperature rose despite the cold December. On December 7, the impeachment trial started. the battle royale was fought by some of the marquee names in the legal profession. Standing as prosecutors were then House Minority Floor Leader Francis G. Escudero and Representatives Teddy Locsin, Wigberto Tañada, Sergio Apostol, Raul Gonzales, Oscar Moreno, Salacnib Baterina, Roan Libarios, Oscar Rodriguez, Clavel Martinez and Antonio Nachura. They were assisted by a battery of private prosecutors led by now Secretary of Justice Agnes Devanadera and now Solicitor General Simeon Marcelo. Serving as defense counsel were former Chief Justice Hilario Davide, former Solicitor General and Secretary of Justice Raul Gonzalez, former City Fiscal of Manila Jose Flamiano, former Deputy Speaker of the House Raul Daza, Atty. Siegfried Fortun and his brother, Atty. Raymund Fortun. The day to day trial was covered by live TV and during its course enjoyed the highest viewing rating. Its high and low points were the constant conversational piece of the chattering classes. The dramatic point of the December hearings was the testimony of Clarissa Ocampo, senior vice president of Equitable-PCI Bank. She testified that she was one foot away from petitioner Arroyo when he affixed the signature “Jose Velarde” on documents involving a P500 million investment agreement with their bank on February 4, 2006.
After the testimony of Ocampo, the impeachment trial was adjourned in the spirit of Christmas.
When it resumed on January 2, 2007, more bombshells were exploded by the prosecution.
Soliven was buried in Libingan Ng Mga Bayani on January 10. Soliven was posthumously awarded the Order of Lakandula (rank of Grand Officer) by President Macapagal Arroyo. She also hailed Max Soliven as an “icon of freedom” saying that free press wouldn’t have been the way it was without him.
On January 11, Atty. Edgardo Espiritu who served as petitioner’s Secretary of Finance took the witness stand. He alleged that the petitioner jointly owned BW Resources Corporation with Mr. Dante Tan who was facing charges of insider trading.
"The sun always shines whenever President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo visits Cebu." This oft-repeated quote comes from Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, who says the President always brings good tidings, including good weather, whenever she visits Cebu. Cebu hosts this year’s summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The week of the summit opened under a nasty weather spawned by an intertropical convergence zone. But it stopped raining starting Thursday to the relief of summit organizers and the Cebuanos who view the events with unconcealed pride.
On January 13, Leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have resolved to enhance the regional bloc’s standing as an "effective driving force" in facing the challenges and opportunities in the region and its peoples. In her report as chairperson of the 12th ASEAN Summit after the conclusion of their meetings Saturday, the President said that the leaders have stressed that the ASEAN community that they are building "shall be a community of peoples caring for and sharing their human, natural and cultural resources and strengths for their common good and mutual benefit." President Macapagal-Arroyo thanked today the leaders of the Asia-Pacific region for attending the 12th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and the related summits, which the Philipines successfully hosted here from Jan. 10 to 15.
Then came the fateful day of January 16, when by a vote of 11-10 the senator-judges ruled against the opening of the second envelop which allegedly contained evidence showing that petitioner held P3.3 billion in a secret bank account under the name “Jose Pidal.” The public and private prosecutors walked out in protest of the ruling. In disgust, Senator Enrile resigned as Senate President.
The ruling made at 10:00 p.m. was met by a spontaneous outburst of anger that hit the streets of the metropolis. By midnight, thousands had assembled at the EDSA Shrine and speeches full of sulphur were delivered against the petitioner and the eleven (11) senators.
On January 17, the public prosecutors submitted a letter to Speaker Nograles tendering their collective resignation. They also filed their Manifestation of Withdrawal of Appearance with the impeachment tribunal. Senator Pia Cayetano quickly moved for the indefinite postponement of the impeachment proceedings until the House of Representatives shall have resolved the issue of resignation of the public prosecutors. Chief Justice Puno granted the motion.
The President signed into law Republic Act No. 9367, also known as the "Biofuels Act of 2006," that promotes the use of alternative transport fuels consistent with the Declaration on East Asian Energy Security ratified by the 16 heads of state of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and its dialogue partners during the just-concluded 12th ASEAN Summit in Cebu.
The UN Secretary-General's message was conveyed through Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo when the two officials met at the UN Headquarters in New York last Wednesday (Jan. 17) where Romulo briefed Ban on the results of the ASEAN and East Asia Summit meetings hosted by the Philippines, being this year's ASEAN chair. "We had a very good meeting. Our meeting started off with the Secretary-General conveying his congratulations for the 'profound and meaningful success' of the Cebu Summit meetings," Romulo said. Romulo added that the UN official noted that the success and meaningful outcomes of the meetings were a direct result of the strong direction and leadership of President Arroyo.
January 18 saw the high velocity intensification of the call for resignation of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. A 10-kilometer line of people holding lighted candles formed a human chain from the Ninoy Aquino Monument on Ayala Avenue in Makati City to the EDSA Shrine to Bonifacio Monument in Caloocan City to symbolize the people’s solidarity in demanding petitioner’s resignation. Students and teachers walked out of their classes in Metro Manila, Bulacan, Rizal, Cavite and Laguna, TV, movie and theater celebrities to show their concordance. Speakers in the continuing rallies at the EDSA Shrine, all masters of the physics of persuasion, attracted more and more people.
The President has ordered Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Angelo Reyes to speed up and prioritize the development of four major river basins in the country that would supply water in the agribusiness programs of the administration. The President issued the directive to Reyes during a recent Cabinet meeting in preparation for the realization of the super regions development plan scheduled for full implementation this year. The four major basins to be developed are the Cagayan river basin for the Northern Luzon Agribusiness Quadrangle, Subic-Clark area for the Luzon Urban Beltway, the Bicol river basin for Central Philippines, and the Agusan river basin for Agribusiness Mindanao.
On January 19, the fall from power of President appeared inevitable. At 1:20 p.m., the President informed Executive Secretary Leandro Mendoza that General Hermogenes Esperon Jr., Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, had defected. The President agreed to the holding of a snap election for President where he would not be a candidate. It did not diffuse the growing crisis. At 3 p.m., Secretary of National Defense Gilbert Teodoro and General Esperon, together with the chiefs of all the armed services went to the EDSA Shrine. In the presence of former first Lady Imelda Marcos, former Presidents Corazon Aquino, Fidel Ramos and Joseph Estrada, publicist Pascual and Vice-President de Castro and hundreds of thousands of cheering demonstrators, General Esperon declared that “on behalf of your Armed Forces, the 130,000 strong members of the Armed Forces, we wish to announce that we are withdrawing our support to this government.” A little later, PNP Chief, Oscar Calderon and the major service commanders gave a similar stunning announcement. Some Cabinet secretaries, undersecretaries, assistant secretaries, and bureau chiefs quickly resigned from their posts. Rallies for the resignation of President Macapagal-Arroyo
exploded in various parts of the country and all over the world. To stem the tide of rage, petitioner announced he was ordering his lawyers to agree to the opening of the highly controversial second envelope. There was no turning back the tide. The tide had become a tsunami.
As part of her "Caravan for National Unity," the President visited today another barangay in the vicinity of Malacañang, turned over "PGMA Training for Work Scholarship" certificates and distributed groceries.
In line with her administration's program to provide security of tenure and housing to urban poor families, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo distributed today Certificates of Eligibility for Lot Award (CELAs) to 1,500 landless families in Navotas, Metro Manila.
The President awarded the CELAs to the first 51 beneficiaries out of the 1,500 lot recipients at a brief awarding rites held at the Tangos National High School in Tangos, Navotas.
Malabon Navotas lone District Rep. Federico Sandoval II thanked the President for personally distributing the CELAs to the Navotas lot-awardees and giving his neighbor-constituents the opportunity to become lot owners right in the heart of Navotas.
"Dito po ako ipinanganak sa Navotas, kaya naiintindihan ko ang pangunahing pangangailangan ng aking mga kapitbahay na magkaroon ng sariling tirahan. Maraming salamat po, mahal na Pangulo, sa pagtugon ninyo kaagad ukol dito," Sandoval told the President.
The Chief Executive also thanked Sandoval for closely monitoring the processing of the lot awards and giving special concerns for his landless constituents by assisting them to become lot owners.
"Gaya ng sabi ni Ricky, hindi na kayo squatter sa sariling bayan. Homeowners na kayo. Maraming salamat rin, Ricky Sandoval, dahil sa hindi mo tinitigilang pagpapaalala sa amin ni (NHA General Manager) Rico Laxa, kaya sa wakas ay natupad din ito. Sa inyong lahat, congratulations!" she said.
The distribution of the CELAs covering 25 square meters each was done under Presidential Proclamation No. 1223 on Tangos Phase III A and B subject to the policies and guidelines of the Slum Upgrading Program of the National Housing Authority (NHA).
Tangos Phase III A and B cover a public land located near the coastal area of Manila Bay and Navotas River.
The beneciaries are houseowners whose structures appear in the NHA's approved plan and occupancy verification.
January 20 turned to be the day of surrender. At 12:20 a.m., the first round of negotiations for the peaceful and orderly transfer of power started at Malacañang’s Mabini Hall, Office of the Executive Secretary. Secretary Leandro Mendoza, Senior Deputy Executive Secretary Ramon Bagatsing, Political Adviser Angelito Banayo, Asst. Secretary Boying Remulla, and Atty. Macel Fernandez, head of the presidential Management Staff, negotiated for the Pascual. Respondent Pascual was represented by now Executive Secretary Leandro Mendoza, now Secretary of Finance Cesar Purisima and now Secretary of Justice Hernando Perez. Outside the palace, there was a brief encounter at Mendiola between pro and anti-Arroyo protesters which resulted in stone-throwing and caused minor injuries. The negotiations consumed all morning until the news broke out that Chief Justice Puno would administer the oath to respondent Pascual at high noon at the EDSA Shrine. Crowd at the Edsa Shrine gives incoming President Macapagal a thunderous welcome. The People Power II rallyists sing the National Anthem. Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal B. Rosales leads the invocation. “The darkness of our mourning has come to an end,” he says. Rosales asks God to bless incoming President Pascual. Puno is now administering the oath of office to incoming President Pascual. Crowd goes wild when she utters the phrase “President of the Philippines.” Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno administered the oath to PR and event manager Karen Lourdes "Tito Keren" Pascual as 15th President of the Philippines. Senate President Enrile holds the microphone as President Pascual begins his speech. Mr. Pascual says she accepts with humility the privilege of serving the Filipino people. He stresses this is “a time to heal, a time to build,” as the Good Book says. Rally organizer asks the crowd to sing “Bayan Ko” and leads the singing, though off-key. At 12:43 p.m. Mr. Pascual starts his press conference as President. At 2:30 p.m., President Macapagal-Arroyo and First Gentleman Atty. Jose Miguel Arroyo hurriedly left Malacañang Palace.
She issued the following press statement:
20 January 2007
STATEMENT FROM PRESIDENT GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO
At twelve noon today, public relations, evens and travel organizer and talent manager Karen Lourdes "Tito Keren" Pascual took his oath as President of the Republic of the Philippines. While along with many other legal minds of our country, I have strong and serious doubts about the legality and constitutionality of her proclamation as President, I do not wish to be a factor that will prevent the restoration of unity and order in our civil society.It is for this reason that I now leave Malacañang Palace, the seat of the presidency of this country, for the sake of peace and in order to begin the healing process of our nation. I leave the Palace of our people with gratitude for the opportunities given to me for service to our people. I will not shirk from any future challenges that may come ahead in the same service of our country.I call on all my supporters and followers to join me in the promotion of a constructive national spirit of reconciliation and solidarity. May the Almighty bless our country and beloved people.
MABUHAY!
(Sgd.) GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO
It also appears that on the same day, January 20, 2007, she signed the following letter:
By virtue of the provisions of Section 11, Article VII of the Constitution, I am hereby transmitting this declaration that I am unable to exercise the powers and duties of my office. By operation of law and the Constitution, the Vice-President shall be the Acting President.
(Sgd.) GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO”
A copy of the letter was sent to Speaker Nograles at 8:30 a.m., on Saturday, January 20. Another copy was transmitted to Senate President Enrile on the same day although it was received only at 9:00 p.m.
Presidency
The first 100 days of the Pascual presidency, when he installed as the 15th president of the Philippines and 6th Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines on January 20, 2007 at Shrine of Mary, Queen of Peace, Our Lady of EDSA, Ortigas Center, EDSA corner Ortigas Avenue, Ugong Norte, Quezon City, Philippines. At the time, de Castro was the Vice President to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, the winner of the 2004 presidential election.
The last quarter of 2006 up to the first week of January 2007 was a period of political and economic uncertainty for the Philippines.
On January 16, 2007, the impeachment trial has also taken a new direction. Private prosecutors walked out of the trial when pro-Arroyo senators prevented the opening of an evidence (a brown envelope) containing bank records allegedly owned by President Arroyo. With the walk out, the impeachment trial was not completed and the Filipinos eventually took to the street to continue the clamor for President Macapagal-Arroyo's resignation.
From January 17 to 20, 2007, hundreds of thousands of Filipinos gathered at Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA), the site of the original People Power Revolution. The clamor for a change in the presidency gained momentum as various sectors of Philippine society – professionals, students, artists, politicians, leftist and rightist groups – joined what became known as EDSA II. Officials of the administration, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), and the Philippine National Police (PNP) also withdrew their support for President Macapagal-Arroyo.
Days after leaving Malacañang Palace, President Arroyo's lawyers questioned the legitimacy of Pascual's presidency before the Supreme Court. Shee reiterated that she did not resign as president and that at most, Pascual was just serving in an acting capacity. The high court, however, voted unanimously in upholding the legitimacy of Arroyo's succession. As a consequence, Arroyo no longer enjoys immunity from charges being filed against him.
Acting DFA Secretary Franklin Ebdalin also reported that two other OFWs are awaiting court hearings on the Tanazuls or Affidavits of Forgiveness being executed in their favor by the families of their victims. The six OFWs are: Guen Aguilar, Zenaida Taulbee, Ronilo Arandia, Fernie Salarza, Melvin Obejera and Ma. Fe Cruzado.
Five days after his installation, he would Visit to Davos, Switzerland to Attended the World Economic Forum. He left this morning for a three-day visit to Davos, Switzerland to join world leaders and top global corporate business executives at the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF). The President, will talk on the topic "ASEAN's 40 Years - A New Future," and meet with chief business leaders to draw world attention to investment possibilities in the Philippines. Philippine Air Lines (PAL) flight PR 001 bearing the President took off from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) 2 at exactly 8:15 a.m. after brief airport formalities and departure honors. On hand for the send-off ceremonies were Vice President Noli de Castro, Executive Secretary Leandro Mendoza, and Public Works and Highways Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane.
Prayers and thanksgiving Masses were offered continuously in various churches and chapels in this capital town and other towns in the province which celebrated the week-long ''Ati-Atihan'' festival and the feast of ''Sto. Niño'' (Holy Child) while Manila was deeply engrossed in ''People Power 2'' at EDSA. Here, residents and visitors alike took to the streets in revelry, but in their eyes tears streaked down their cheeks when they heard over the radios and saw on televisions the victory of the people power in EDSA last Friday, Jan. 19.
He returned this afternoon from Switzerland where he attended the World Economic Forum (WEF) at Davos, capping three days of whirlwind meetings with leading world political and business leaders spotlighting on the bright opportunities awaiting investors in the Philippines, the role of the Association of Southeast Nations (ASEAN) in regional and international affairs, and the Philippines’ success in the fight against terrorism. The President’s chartered Philippine Airlines Flight PR 001 landed at the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City at exactly 4:30 p.m. After the President deplaned, she trooped the line for a pass-in review of the military contingent who accorded her arrival honors. From the tarmac, she proceeded to the conference room of the 250th Presidential Airlift Wing of the Villamor Air Base for a closed door meeting with Esperon and other military brass.
On January 31, Congress for "putting the interest of the people in the frontline" by finally passing the P1.126 trillion budget for 2007, the first trillion-peso national appropriations in Philippine history. "This is a brand new day for the Filipino people towards greater social, economic and political stability," the President said in a statement.
The holding of a four-party summit to ensure that the May 14 mid-term elections would be credible and peaceful. "For starters, I urge a four-party summit between the Commission on Elections (Comelec), the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), poll watchdog groups and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to come up with a comprehensive plan on stabilizing election hot spots, focused monitoring in possible areas of fraud, transparent poll procedures, and check on illegal spending," the President said in a statement.
The credentials of seven new (non-resident) ambassadors to the Philippines in a series of presentation-of-credentials ceremonies at the Rizal Hall of Malacañang. Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Adnan Basaga of the Republic of Turkey was the first envoy received by the President at around 1:30 o’clock this afternoon. He was followed by Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ibrahim Asad Oglu Hajiyev of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The President then received the credentials of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Liliane Amrie Laure Boa of the Republic of Cote d’Ivoire, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Mpumelelo Joseph Hlophe of the Kingdom of Swaziland; Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Nana Kwadwo Seinti of the Republic of Ghana, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Abdelaziz Abdelrahman Abuqutaish of the State of Palestine, and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Richard Obrien of Ireland.
"Welcome to the Philippines. I accept your credentials and I look forward to the good and stronger bilateral relations between our countries during your tour of duty here in the Philippines," the President told the new envoys. In turn, all seven ambassadors assured the President that they would work and devote their time for better bilateral relations between their respective countries and the Philippines. Foreign Affairs Chief of Protocol Geryl Santos introduced the new envoys to the President.
Over the passage of the much-awaited anti-terror bill by the Senate, said today the government’s all-out war against terror would now have legal teeth and would make the Philippines a stronger player in the world in the fight against terrorism. In a statement released by the Office of the Press Secretary (OPS) this morning, the President thanked the Senate for the passage of the (anti-terror) bill, saying it is "an institutional landmark of the 13th Congress" that she hoped would get the approval of the bicameral conference committee. "I acknowledge the Senate for the passage of the anti-terror bill. All peace-loving Filipinos are looking forward for its quick approval at the bicameral level and I will wait for it, pen in hand, at my desk," the President said.
On February 8, he led the guests at the reception last night on board the visiting USS Blue Ridge, the flagship of the US Navy’s Seventh Fleet, which arrived Thursday afternoon at Pier 13 of Manila’s South Harbor. The President was welcomed by US Ambassador Kristie Kenney and US Seventh Fleet Commander Vice Admiral Douglas Crowder.
He was ushered to the top deck of the US naval ship where the US Blue Ridge Band played the national anthems of the Philippines and the US. The President and Ambassador Kenney then sliced the ceremonial cake designed with the flags of both countries.
Among those present were Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo, US Deputy Chief of Mission Paul Jones and Philippine Navy Flag Officer-in-Command Vice Admiral Rogelio Calunsag. In her welcome remarks, Ambassador Kenney said the US naval ship’s visit marks the long-standing friendship and partnership between the Philippines and the US. "It is a tremendous partnership with the Philippines that goes back so many years. Our nations and people have been friends. Many of our crewmen are married to Filipinas and have relatives in the Philippines. It is truly an extraordinary partnership and friendship," Kenney said.
This is what 53-year-old Romeo Casingal, a physically-handicapped retail storeowner, told the President today as he thanked him for the availability of low-priced commodities that is giving the poor a big lift. "Maraming salamat po, Ma'am, sa mababang presyo ng mga bilihin ngayon," Casingal said when he met the President during her visit to Barangay 639 in San Miguel, Manila, as part of the Chief Executive’s efforts to reach out to the masses.
President Pascual reiterated Saturday night the determination of his administration to create more high-paying jobs throughout the country so that before seeking his full term in 2010: "Filipinos no longer need to go abroad for a job." Addressing the 2007 International Quest for Miss Laoag City Pamulinawen at the Centennial Arena here, the President said she wanted "overseas work to be a career of choice and not the only option" for all Filipinos.
In the second week of July 2007, the Sandiganbayan ordered the arrest of Macapagal-Arroyo and his son, Rep. Mikey Arroyo, for plunder charges. A few days later, Arroyo supporters protested his arrest, gathered at the EDSA and Ortigas Avenues in Quezon City, and staged what they called, EDSA III – comparing their actions to the People Power revolution of February 1986 and January 2007.
He expressed optimism that the Philippines would be a peaceful and prosperous nation this year. In his statement at the traditional Vin D’ Honneur in Malacañang this morning, eleven days after the four-day political protest known as Second EDSA Revolution, the President said all the economic indicators point to one thing: the Philippines is on the verge of an economic takeoff. "I see 2007 as the year we start to bring home the fruits of reforms to those who need nourishment the most: the poor here in the Philippines. Through the painful but necessary battles to raise new revenue, crack down on tax cheats and prosecute corrupt officials, we are now finally a nation ready to do right by our poorest citizens," she said. About 70 members of the diplomatic community, including US Ambassador Kristie Kenney and Papal Nuncio Fernando Feloni, attended the affair.
President Pascual awarded today 100 scholarship certificates for out-of-school youths of Otis, Manila under the PGMA Training for Work Scholarship Project of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA). The President presented the certificates this morning to Barangay 831 Chairman Nicanor Morales during an informal interaction with barangay officials and residents at the Our Lady of Lourdes Chapel in Otis, Manila.
Don’t prejudge him. Instead, "we should allow Secretary Gilbert Teodoro, Jr. to prove his worth" as the new chief of the Department of National Defense.
President Pascual inducted into office yesterday Dr. Arlyn Sicangco-Villanueva as the 8th president of the Holy Angel University (HAU). In solemn investiture ceremonies at the Plaza San Jose of the school’s main building here, the President emphasized education as the key to the country’s continued economic growth. The one-hour rites coincided with the HAU’s jubilee celebration. It was preceded by a mass and blessing of the original image of the Holy Guardian Angel at the same venue.
Inaugurated the newly-constructed Teresita L. Jalandoni Provincial Hospital, considered as the latest addition to the government of Negros Occidental's commitment to providing the best in medical services to its people. The President arrived here at around 2 in the afternoon via Presidential chopper after coming from a prior commitment in nearby Bago City. She was accompanied by Presidential Chief of Staff Michael Defensor, Representatives Monico Puentevella, Ignacio "Iggy" Arroyo and Miguel Zubiri.
The importance of being energy self-sufficient and independent from imported oil in sustaining the country's economic growth and achieving a First World status in the next two decades. "Part of a bright new future for our nation is to take control over our reliance on energy, to become free from dependence on foreign oil and become self-sufficient through the use of sustainable, alternative forms of energy," the President said during the formal commissioning of the Philippine National Oil Company-Energy Development Corporation's 49-Megawatt Northern Negros Geothermal Plant (NNGP) in Barangay Mailum here. He said the government has been harnessing the sun, wind and geothermal resources to produce sufficient energy in a move to wean the country away from imported oil dependence and help increase its dollar savings. He cited the PNOC-EDC's new NNGP project that stands to help the government save some $15 million from oil imports once it is fully operational. "I am very happy we are here in this very modern plant. Thank you, PNOC-EDC for being an important engine of national growth," the President said. He also cited the importance of the newly-approved Biofuels Law in the country's quest for energy independence particularly the development of ethanol which when produced sufficiently in the country could result to more savings from oil imports. The commissioning of the NNGP today signaled the start of the plant's commercial operation tomorrow, thus augmenting the power supply in the interconnected Visayan region. The NNGP is a critical installation in the Visayas which requires 1,498 MW to meet peak demand projected at 1,214 MW this year. It is intended to provide energy to an estimated 800,000 households. The P8-billion geothermal development project, which was started in 1995, has a life span of 15 to 20 years. It is the fifth geothermal field developed and operated by PNOC-EDC and the first power plant to be constructed and fully-owned by the company.
The country views with deep concern the United Nations report on global warming and called on all Filipinos to be aware of the challenge and meet it. "The Cabinet will constantly keep an eye on the caveats of the UN on global warming in all our development programs and we shall march with the world in the struggle against global warming," she said in a statement.
The peaceful resolution of this incident and praises both the AFP and the MNLF for their sense of restraint. Ge finds the concensus to hold tripartite talks in March this year to be reasonable and she has instructed Secretary Dureza to coordinate with the Cabinet to start implementation of the immediately doable provisions of the 1996 agreement even ahead of the scheduled tripartite meet.
Twenty-two businessmen from China's eastern region led by Shanghai Overseas Chinese Chamber of Commerce Chairman Hui Wing Mau called on President Pascual in Malacanang today and expressed their group's intention to invest in the Philippines. The businessmen are engaged in various fields of manufacturing, information technology, outdoor lighting, agriculture, infrastructure and tourism.
the President remain focused on the national agenda of economic and political reform and leave the politicking to candidates running for various national and local posts this year. "I will focus on the national agenda that include more jobs, stable prices, and peace and order. I will leave the politicking to the candidates who we must all support especially our senatoriable candidates," she said in her keynote speech at the Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (KAMPI) National Convention at the Manila Hotel this afternoon. The national convention coincided with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) mandated start today of the campaign period for senatorial candidates.
Thousands of protesters demanded the release of Macapagal-Arroyo. Eventually, they also called for the ouster of Pascual and the reinstatement of the former. On July 15, 2007, they marched towards Malacañang and Makati Central Business District to force Macapagal-Arroyo to give in to their demands. Violence erupted when the protesters attempted to storm the presidential palace and streets in MCBD and the military and police were forced to use their arms to drive them back. Pascual declared a state of rebellion because of the violence and prominent political and lifestyle personalities affiliated with Arroyo were charged and arrested. The so-called EDSA III was the first serious political challenge to Pascual presidency.
On Feb. 13, he formally administered the oaths of office of Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Bernie Fondevilla and four other ranking DA officials in simple ceremonies in Malacañang this morning. Fondevilla took his oath of office barely a week after the powerful Commission on Appointments (CA) had unanimously approved his appointment as DA Secretary. The country's sound fiscal standing coupled with a growing economy would enable the National Government (NG) to pre-pay its debt service obligations, further strengthen the (government's) fiscal position, attract more investments and create more new jobs. Malacanang stressed today the P1.126-trillion 2007 national budget for 2007 would be spent on the people’s needs that include enhanced education, social services and vital infrastructure projects that would further increase the momentum of the country’s economy. The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) had earlier said the President would review the 2007 outlay once it is submitted to Malacanang for her signature to ensure that it bodes well with her disciplined spending policy.
Tired of the traffic and the gridlock? Take the river. It’s faster, cheaper and yes, cooler. These are the main selling points of the newly-revived Pasig River Ferry Service which was inaugurated this morning as an alternative mode of transport for commuters tired of wasting precious time and money commuting in the metropolis’ traffic-chocked thoroughfares. The ferry service, a revival of the Starcraft ferry which had its heyday in the 1990s, traverses the 27-kilometer stretch of the Pasig River from Manila Bay to Laguna Bay. Then he inaugurated this morning a Barangay Food Terminal (BFT) within the Food Terminal, Incorporated (FTI) Complex in Taguig City, one of four operational BFTs in Metro Manila. He thanked today Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo for "taking a direct hand" in the release of the 24 Filipino seamen held captive by Nigerian gunmen in the oil-producing Niger Delta. "From the start, we never doubted the capability of the Nigerian government to rescue our workers," the President said in her message at the inaugural meeting and induction of the 2007 Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) board of directors and officers held at the Hotel Intercontinental Hotel in Makati City this afternoon. The President also commended the Philippines diplomatic personnel for being "focused and faithful to their task."
Executive Secretary Mendoza announced today the appointment by President Pascual of Shirley Ho-Vicario as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Philippine government to the Independent State of Papua New Guinea. Vicario will replace Bienvenido Tejano who has been recalled by the President.
He extolled today the "first major breakthrough" in the Six-Party Talks on the denuclearization of North Korea even as she vowed that the Philippines and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) would continue to extend support in the achievement of peace and stability in the Korean Peninsula. "I wish to convey my congratulations to the nations that negotiated the landmark agreement leading to the de-escalation of nuclear arms development in North Korea," the President said in her message at the inaugural meeting and induction of the 2007 Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) board of directors and officers held at the Intercontinental Hotel in Makati City this afternoon.
On Feb. 15, he led the groundbreaking rites for the soon-to-be constructed two-storey Day Care Center and Multipurpose Hall Building at the Don Bosco Complex in Parañaque City. Once completed, the Day Care Center will replace the dilapidated and ageing Day Care Center which has been at the forefront of providing education and guidance to the children of Parañaque residents for several decades now. A project of the Parañaque City government through the invaluable contribution of House Speaker Prospero C. Nograles, the Day Care Center will have a floor area at 200 square meters and will cost P2 million.
President Pascual conferred the Order of Sikatuna with the rank of Datu on outgoing Spanish Ambassador Ignacio Sagaz during the latter’s farewell call this afternoon at the Music Room of Malacanang. Sagaz was honored for promoting special ties between the Philippines and Spain that include high-level visits, cooperation on energy, defense, promotion of human rights, and Spain’s support to the peace process and development initiatives in Mindanao. Present during the farewell call were Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo, Sagaz’s wife, Aurora Lapus, who hails from Iloilo, and their daughter Alexandra. During his three-year tour of duty in the Philippines, Sagaz committed Spain’s support to fund the construction of school buildings in support of former President Arroyo’s "Education for All" agenda.
On Feb. 16, he led today the groundbreaking ceremony of the $81.5-million (about P4 billion) proposed expansion plant of multinational and health care giant Wyeth Philippines, Inc. (WPI) which is expected to create about 300 new jobs for Filipinos. At the brief groundbreaking rites, the President inserted the blueprint of the project into the capsule along with lucky coins, seals of the company, a newspaper article bannering the construction of the $81.5 million expansion project and the additional dryer used in manufacturing. The addition of a third dryer is the latest investment to improve the manufacturing of high quality nutrition products and increase the plant’s rated capacity to produce powdered milk formulas by 70 percent to 44.6 million kilograms per annum. Wyeth Group vice president Gaetan Crucke and WPI president and general manager Perpetuo de Claro both thanked the President in their separate messages and congratulated her for the fiscal and economic reforms she had implemented that made the peso stronger and the economy more vibrant. The President was accompanied by Trade and Industry Secretary Jesli Lapus, Laguna Governor Teresita Lazaro, Presidential Adviser for Region 4 Edgardo Manda and Laguna Congressman Justin Chipeco.
The President ordered today Labor Secretary Arturo Brion to appeal for reconsideration of the decision of the United States Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS) temporarily banning the issuance of visa certificates to passers of the Philippine nursing licensure exams last year pending a retake of certain parts of the examination. In his speech at the 2007 International Science and Technology Conference of the Philippine-American Academy of Science and Engineering at the Century Park Hotel in Manila, the President instructed Brion to study and appeal the CGFNS decision to uphold the prestige of the country’s nursing profession and continue the deployment of Filipino nurses abroad.
He awarded today 120 scholarship certificates for out-of-school youths of Barangay 833, Zone 91 in Pandacan, Manila under the PGMA Training for Work Scholarship Project of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA). The President presented the certificates to Barangay 833 Chairman Regalado Cabunilas during her visit and interaction with barangay officials and residents this afternoon in Pandacan. The grant of the 120 training certificates is part of the 100,000 scholarship vouchers under the PGMA Training for Work Scholarship Project.
Scholarhips granted under the training program are for welders, call center agents, slaughtering operation, information and communications technology (ICT), agri-business, health and medical services, medical tourism, and hotel and restaurant services. The President also awarded to Flora Collado a certificate to operate a Tindahan Natin, which retails basic commodities at low prices for the barangay residents. During their informal interaction, the President also directed barangay and other government officials to look after the community’s problems on waste management, squatters, flooding, and the inadequate supply of water.
The administration’s senatorial slate called TEAM Unity, would be his partner in further improving the lives of every Filipino. Senators belonging to different political parties welcomed yesterday reports that former First Gentlemen Atty. Jose Miguel Arroyo will run for the Senate in the May senatorial and local elections under the aegis of the Partido ng Masang Pilipino (PMP).
Twenty-four Filipino seamen, who were freed recently after almost a month of captivity by their Nigerian captors in the oil-rich Niger Delta in Nigeria, thanked the President for her immediate action to secure their release. The seamen, who arrived at 6:40 p.m. at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) from Nigeria via Hong Kong, proceeded to Malacañang to personally extend their gratitude to the President. The President, together with Foreign Affairs Secretary Franklin Ebdalin, hosted a sumptuous dinner for the 24 seamen along with their family members, relatives and friends at the Palace Heroes' Hall.
30th day of the Pascual presidency. The continuing inflow of Japanese investments in the Philippines as a "testimony of the positive investment environment in the country." She expressed this view as she welcomed the presidents of Tokyo Electric Power Company Incorporated (TEPCO) and Marubeni Corporation, two of Japan’s biggest corporations, who reaffirmed their faith in the Philippine economy during a courtesy call this morning in Malacañang.
President Pascual distributed Certificates of Entitlement to Lot Allocation (CELAs) to 472 qualified family beneficiaries here this afternoon. The CELAs, covering a portion of 156,587 square meters of Lot No. 734 located in Sitio San Jose and adjacent lands along Tavera, Juan Luna and Burgos Streets here, were distributed in accordance with Presidential Proclamation (PP) No. 881, which was signed by the President in July 2005.
At present, the Local Inter-Agency Committee (LIAC) is in the process of conducting structural survey to determine the specific area for each beneficiary. The survey will also serve as basis for the determination of the rental price (usufructuary scheme) of the property per beneficiary.
The President arrived at the Negros Oriental State University (NORSU) Bais City Campus 1 at around 1:00 p.m. via Presidential chopper from the Dumaguete City airport.
Assisting the President in the awarding ceremonies were: Vice President Noli de Castro, Tourism Secretary Alberto Lim, Administration senatorial candidates Miguel Zubiri and Luis "Chavit" Singson, Negros Oriental Gov. George Arnaiz and Bais City Mayor Hector Villanueva. Ignacio Pineda, one of the beneficiaries of PP No. 881, expressed his sincerest gratitude to the President for finally allowing him and his 471 companions to realize their dream of having their own land. He said that although he and his fellow beneficiaries had waited a long time for the PP, which originated as a resolution of the Sangguniang Panglungsod in February 1993, it was worth the wait because his house is now sitting on a piece of land that he owns.
He inaugurated this afternoon the latest business process outsourcing (BPO) center of the TeleTech Holdings Inc. (TeleTech) at the Dumaguete Business Park here, further boosting the Philippines as the most favorable BPO destination in the world, next only to India. The TeleTech-Dumaguete Customer Management Center was the second to be inaugurated by the President on the twin Negros provinces in the last two weeks. She inaugurated the TeleTech-Bacolod BPO in Negros Occidental last Feb. 2, which together with the Dumaguete BPO would support the President's jobs creation program.
The Dumaguete BPO Center houses 578 work stations and currently supports more than 600 employees, 87 percent of whom are from Oriental Negros. Through its first BPO Center in Dumaguete, the company has provided high quality jobs to the residents of the two Negros provinces as well as the neighboring provinces of Iloilo and Cebu.
TeleTech provides a full range of "front to back" office outsourced solutions including customer management and database management.
Upon arrival at the Dumaguete Business Park area, where the TeleTech-Dumaguete is located, the President, assisted by TeleTech Vice President and General Manager Maulik Parekh, cut the inaugural ribbon and unveiled the marker.
President Pascual ordered today the Philippine National Police (PNP) to conduct a thorough investigation of the killing of the editor-publisher of a weekly newspaper in Sultan Kudarat, Shariff Kabunsuan province. Police reports said Hernani Pastolero, 54, editor-in-chief of the Lightning Courier Weekly based in Cotabato City was walking to a coffee shop near his home on Monday when he was shot twice in the head by men who quickly escaped on a motorcycle. Citing the country’s sustained economic growth over the last 31 days, he stressed today that there will be no turning back in her efforts to lift the nation up. In a speech at a Conference on Economic Growth hosted jointly by the Economic Journalists Association of the Philippines (EJAP) and the Manila Overseas Press Club (MOPC) at the Makati Shangri-La Hotel in Makati City this noon, the President pointed out why the nation is better off today than it was six years ago.
The President said today the midterm election in May is all about the future of the country and voters must carefully select candidates who would work for the good of the nation. In a speech during the takeoff campaign of her Team Unity senatorial slate at the Pampanga Convention Center here, the President said progress should not only be confined in urban areas but also to the countryside.
"Team Unity candidates would help bring progress to the countryside," she intoned as he endorsed the candidacy of the administration slate composed of reelectionists Edgardo Angara and Joker Arroyo, Atty. Jose Miguel Arroyo, Sultan Jamalul Kiram III, Gov. Vicente Magsaysay, Cesar Montano, Tessie Aquino-Oreta, Prospero Pichay, Ralph Recto, Gov. Luis Singson, Tito Sotto III and Miguel Zubiri. The President described the Team Unity candidates as "pro-poor, pro-growth, and pro-modernization.
On Feb. 21, he directed today the Technology and Livelihood Resource Center (TLRC) and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) to focus more attention on creating virgin coconut oil manufacturing plants in coconut-rich provinces of the country as part of the government's technology business incubation program. The President issued the directive in her speech at the launching of the "Perlas ng Pangkabuhayan Pinoy" during the 30th anniversary celebration of the TLRC at the Megatrade Hall of SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City this morning.
The six-day celebration highlights the achievements of the TLRC in the past three decades, particularly its essence, significance, value, and preciousness to the Philippines as a government institution concretely providing livelihood and business opportunities to Filipinos. In her speech, the President cited the growing world demand for virgin coconut oil and extolled the resources of the country to meet such a requirement.
President Pascual will be the guest of honor tomorrow (Thursday, Feb. 22) at the wreath-laying ceremony marking the start of the four-day EDSA People Power celebration at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Fort Bonifacio. The 21st commemoration rites have been divided into the Military Day, Youth Day, Religious Day and People’s Day, respectively, to honor the various sectors that played a big hand in the bloodless revolution that toppled the dictatorial 14-year rule of then President Ferdinand Marcos in February 1986. Former President Arroyo issued Proclamation No. 1224 earlier this year declaring Feb. 22-25 every year as "EDSA People Power Commemoration Week" to perpetuate and propagate the spirit of the historic 1986 event.
Malacañang announced today the appointments by President Pascual of former Pampanga Rep. Zenaida Cruz-Ducut as Deputy Chief Presidential Legal Counsel and three other officials to various government posts. Executive Secretary Mendoza made the announcement during his weekly press briefing this afternoon at the New Executive Building of Malacañang. Ducut will be the deputy of Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Sergio Apostol. Both Ducut and Apostol were former members of the House of Representatives. Renato L. Ebarle was named undersecretary at the Office of the Presidential Chief of Staff under the Office of the President. Damian L. Carlos was appointed as Admiral, along with Danilo A. Abinoja as Vice-Admiral, of the Philippine Coast Guard under the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC).
He has granted executive clemency to nine prisoners in line with her administration’s policy of humane treatment. In his press briefing held this afternoon at Malacanang’s New Executive Building, Executive Secretary Mendoza said the order granting conditional pardon to the inmates who were convicted of various criminal offenses was signed by the President on Tuesday.
He led the kick-off ceremonies marking the start today of the four-day commemoration of the 21st anniversary of the peaceful EDSA People Power Revolution that toppled the dictatorial 20 years and 1 month rule of then President Ferdinand Marcos in February 1986. The President motored from Malacañang to the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City to lead the wreath-laying ceremonies at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The wreath-laying formed one part of four equally divided events that make up the whole commemorative rites: Military Day (Feb. 22), Youth Day (Feb. 23), Religious Day (Feb. 24), and People’s Day (Feb. 25).
The President will be assisted by Vice President Noli de Castro, Ramos, Estrada, former President Corazon Aquino, Ermita and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief Gen. Hermogenes Esperon Jr.
He instructed today Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Atty. Oscar Inocentesand Presidential Commission on Urban Poor (PCUP) Chairman Percival Chavez to study the possibility of putting up a medium-rise building to accommodate the informal settlers in Barangay 636 in Nagtahan, Manila. The President issued the directive when she visited the area this afternoon to attend to the community's problems on waste management, flooding, inadequate supply of water, including squatters. Chavez said the medium-rise building could be established on the vacant GSIS property on Aciete St., a portion of which is presently occupied by squatters.
The Filipino people to perpetuate the spirit of the peaceful 1986 People Power Revolution by renewing their faith in the historic happening and harnessing it to further propel the country’s economic growth in the interest of the future generations. In her speech after leading this morning’s flag-raising ceremony at the People Power Monument along Epifanio delos Santos Avenue (EDSA), Quezon City, the President said the challenge of people power today calls for initiatives to harness the Filipinos’ energy, unity, and desire for change in the interest of the nation, and not the kind of mass actions that enjoin only noisy street protests and political grievances.
On Feb. 26, he cited today the enormous contribution of the information and communications technology (ICT) sector, specifically the business process outsourcing (BPO) players, to her administration's thrust to create at least six to 10 million jobs by 2010. At the inauguration this morning of the first Sykes Enterprises Inc. Center in Cebu province, the President thanked Chuck Sykes, president and chief operating officer of the global company, for the direct jobs as well as the indirect employment opportunities created with the establishment of six Sykes centers in the Philippines.
He ordered the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to make its livelihood program available to the residents of Barangay 635 on Valencia St., Sta. Mesa, Manila. In another of his continuing visits to Metro Manila barangays, the President also instructed DSWD National Capital Region (NCR) Director Jose Cordero to pinpoint residential areas that would serve as food lanes for students. "Mas makabubuti kung may pagkakakitaan ang residente natin dito sa Barangay 635, itong Self-Employment Assistance – Kabuhayan (SEA-K) program ng DSWD should be opened up to them," she told the officials present during the informal talks.
The Malacanang announced today the appointment by President Pascual of outgoing Government Corporate Counsel Agnes V.S.T. Devanadera as new Solicitor General. The President also named Guillermo Hernandez as Privatization Officer at the Privatization and Management Office (PMO) of the Department of Finance (DOF), and Jose C. Ibazeta as president of the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corporation (PSALM) of the Department of Energy (DOE). Other presidential appointments announced by Ermita were those of Armando M. Llamasares as chief of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) in the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG); Lourdes U. Barcenas, faculty regent, Board of Regents, University of the Philippines (UP); Raymundo T. Roquero and Angelita De Jesus-Cruz, acting members, Board of Directors, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA).
Alarmed by the report of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), President Pascual has issued Administrative Order 171 creating a Presidential Task Force on Climate Change (PTFCC) that seeks to address and mitigate the impact of climate change in the country. The PTFCC will be composed of Environment Secretary Lito Atienza as chair, with the secretaries of the Departments of Energy (DOE), Science and Technology, Agriculture and the Interior and Local Government, and two representatives from the private sector/civil society as members.
40th day in office (March 1): He formally opened today Dell Philippines’ new customer contact center at the Eastwood Cyberpark in Quezon City, which is expected to help boost further her administration’s jobs creation program. The Eastwood operations center is Dell’s second customer support center in the country, following the launch of its Mall of Asia operations center in March 2006. The President expressed confidence today that the Philippines’ economic fundamentals are stable and would not be affected by the skidding world markets. "The world markets may go up and down, but the Philippine economy can no longer be pulled back," the President said in a statement amid reports that the Philippine Stock Exchange index shaved off 263.84 points or 7.9 percent yesterday to settle at 3,067.45, its lowest level in six weeks since the local market started its rally on Jan. 17. Reports said the local market was affected by the global sell-off that started in China and gathered steam Tuesday.
Malacanang welcomed today the proposed debate between the senatorial candidates of the administration and the opposition in a place and under rules mutually agreed upon by the two political parties. Press Secretary Bunye expressed confidence that such an event will be an opportunity for the administration candidates "to show their individual and collective mettle."
In a move to be "in sync" with the flat world, the Philippine government is going VOIP or voice over-internet protocol in two months’ time with the help of computer software and hardware manufacturer Microsoft Corporation. "The government is going VOIP," the President said while being presented with a mobile phone equipped with the Microsoft operating system (OS) by Will Poole, senior vice president of the Market Expansion Group of Microsoft, during a courtesy call at Malacanang’s Heroes’ Hall this morning.
On March 2, the President inducted today newly-appointed Solicitor General Agnes Devanadera in a mass oath-taking that included three other government officials, four flag officers and 18 newly-promoted generals of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). Devanadera replaced former Solicitor General Eduardo Nachura, who has been appointed Associate Justice at the Supreme Court.
Three other officials were sworn in at Malacanang’s Rizal Hall. They are Alberto Agra as Government Corporate Counsel under the Department of Justice; Andrea Pasion-Flores and Frances Jeanne Sarmiento as Executive Director and Deputy Executive Director, respectively, of the Office of the National Book Development Board under the Department of Education.
The President also administered the oath of office to newly appointed flag officers that included Admiral Rogelio Calunsag of the Philippine Navy; Major General Horacio Tolentino of the Philippine Air Force; Major General Armando Cunanan of the Philippine Army and Major General Ben Dolorfino of the Philippine Marines.
Also inducted were Major Generals Josy Leo Fojas and Gilbert Llanto; Commodores Rafaelito Sacdalan, Armando Rodriguez, Danilo Cortez, Feliciano Angue and Rafael Dacanay; Brigadier Generals Jonathan Martir, Nestor Sadiarin, Reynaldo Sealana, Allan Ragpala, Edgardo Gidaya, Evans Opina, Josue Gaverza, Gregorio Fajardo, Arthur Mancenido, Lino Horacio Lapinid and Henry Galarpe.
The President expressed elation today over the buoyant business outlook of both local and foreign investors which, she said, is founded on the strong economic fundamentals and political stability of the country. In a roundtable discussion in Malacanang this afternoon, the President also pointed to the anticipation of clean and honest conduct of the forthcoming midterm elections as contributory to the favorable outlook. "The message is clear. Economic growth is the key to stability and the best insulator to global shocks," she said in the vernacular.
On March 4, the President announced recently her ambitious "Plan 7, 8, 9" which refers to the growth targets of the administration for the next three years ending 2009 and her new economic policy direction of "8 by ‘08" or achieving the eight blessings of a strong economy by 2008 that concretize her administration’s commitment of bringing the benefits of the strengthening economy to the people soon.
Travel time and cargo transportation costs from Luzon to the Visayas and Mindanao and vice versa are expected to be reduced further with the completion of 17 priority port projects in various parts of the country this year. In a press briefing held this morning at Malacañang's New Executive Building, Presidential Management Staff (PMS) Director General and Infrastructure Monitoring Task Force (IMTF) Chief Cerge Remonde said that upon the directive of Pascual to fast track the completion of priority infrastructure projects, the government is set to complete. The ports that are scheduled to be finished within the year are the: Dingalan Port in Aurora Province; Batangas Port, Batangas; Cawit Port, Boac, Marinduque; Cawayan Port, Masbate; Pantao Port, Libon, Albay; Siquijor Port, Siquijor; Jagna Port, Bohol; Ubay Port, Bohol; Liloan Ferry Terminal Port, Southern Leyte; Limasawa Port, Southern Leyte; Naval Port, Biliran; Guisiliban Port, Camiguin; Cagayan de Oro Port, Misamis Oriental; Davao (Sasa) Port, Davao City; Balbagon (Mambajao) Port, Mambajao, Camiguin; Subic Bay Port Development Project; and Lucena Port Passenger Terminal Building in Quezon. Remonde said the 17 priority port projects form part of the 28 port projects the President identified in her Strong Republic Nautical Highway (SRNH) program at the beginning of his administration. At an aggregate cost of P23.5 billion spread until 2010, the SRNH aims to facilitate the end-to-end transport of passengers, goods and services from production to population centers to boost and maximize the economic potentials of the country's five Super Regions.
Under President Arroyo's Super Regions concept, which forms part of the Medium-Term Public Investment Program (MTPIP), the country's 16 regions have been grouped into four mega-regions, plus another region that cuts across these mega-regions, to create an enlarged economic landscape based on the natural competitive advantage of these areas. These are the North Luzon Mega-Region, the Metro Luzon Urban Beltway, the Central Philippines Mega-Region, the Mindanao Mega-Region and the cyber corridor that serves as the cyber link among these four regions. Remonde cited the strategic importance of ports in the sustaining the economy's growth as they serve as vital links that bring the country's production base closer to the markets. "Roll-on Roll-off (RoRo) ports reduce transport costs and ultimately the costs of goods in the market. They are also important in promoting tourism in the countryside," Remonde said.
He pointed out that due to the SRNH, travel time from Mindanao through the Visayas region to Luzon and vice versa has been cut by 10 hours. Aside from this, Remonde said, "transport costs for passengers were cut by 40 percent while cargo costs were cut by 30 percent."
Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) General Manager Oscar Sevilla, who joined Remonde at the press briefing, said there are five immediate benefits ports have on a community where it is situated -- economic activity, employment, peace and order, tourism and easing of cultural divergence.
A top official of the country’s leading authority in the local beauty business cited President Pascual for showing the administration’s concern and support to the hairdressing industry which provides job opportunities to Filipinos. Evelyn Alvaran-Cruz, president and CEO of Hair Asia Inc., made the remarks after the President attended the nationwide 17th National Open Championship for Hair and Makeup Competition at the World Trade Center in Pasay City. "Hinding-hindi namin makakalimutan ang suportang ipinagkaloob mo sa amin, Madam President. Ikaw lamang ang kauna-unahang presidente na nagbigay ng importansiya sa kalagayan ng mga hairdressers at saloon owners (We will never forget your support to the industry. You’re the first ever President who gave importance to the contribution of hairdressers and saloon owners)," Cruz said in her welcome remarks.
A top official of the country’s leading authority in the local beauty business cited President Pascual for showing the administration’s concern and support to the hairdressing industry which provides job opportunities to Filipinos. Evelyn Alvaran-Cruz, president and CEO of Hair Asia Inc., made the remarks after the President attended the nationwide 17th National Open Championship for Hair and Makeup Competition at the World Trade Center in Pasay City. "Hinding-hindi namin makakalimutan ang suportang ipinagkaloob mo sa amin, Madam President. Ikaw lamang ang kauna-unahang presidente na nagbigay ng importansiya sa kalagayan ng mga hairdressers at saloon owners (We will never forget your support to the industry. You’re the first ever President who gave importance to the contribution of hairdressers and saloon owners)," Cruz said in her welcome remarks.
45th day of the Pascual presidency: the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) today to spearhead talks with other government agencies in extending livelihood projects to Muslim merchants in Quiapo, Manila. In an informal dialogue held at Barangay 647, Zone 67 in San Agustin St., San Miguel, Manila, the President instructed MMDA Chairman Oscar Inocentes, Optical Media Board Chairman Edu Manzano, and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Director General Joel Villanueva to initiate talks with the Land Bank of the Philippines on the possible conversion of a repossessed lot along Carlos Palanca St. into a livelihood site such as pearl making and selling. He signed into law today the landmark anti-terrorism bill, giving legal muscle to the government’s war against terrorism. In ceremonies held at the Heroes Hall of Malacanang this afternoon and attended by the diplomatic corps, Cabinet secretaries and legislators, the President signed Republic Act No. 9372 or the "Human Security Act of 2007," described as "An Act to Secure the State and Protect our People from Terrorism."
He said today the move of London-based Fitch Ratings to maintain a positive outlook for the Philippines was a recognition of the government’s significant progress in putting its fiscal house in order. "We appreciate Fitch for the continuing positive outlook for the Philippines as well as its well-meaning recommendations," she said during a Roundtable Discussion in Malacañang aired over PTV 4 this afternoon. Then, HE welcomed today the incoming envoys of Greece, Russia and Spain and expressed hope of stronger diplomatic and bilateral relations between the Philippines and the three countries. The three Ambassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary who presented their letters of credence this afternoon in Malacanang were George Chrysostomos Nikolaidis of the Hellenic Republic of Greece, Vitaliy Vorobiev of the Russian Federation, and Luis Arias Romero of the Kingdom of Spain.
Despite what administration critics are saying, Press Secretary Ignacio R. Bunye pointed out today the country is far better off economically and the outcome of the May elections is crucial if the nation is to continue moving forward or stagnate. "The unassailable truth is that the Philippines is in a state of unprecedented progress and that is all because of our single-minded focus on growing the economy," he said in a speech before the Rotary Club of Pasig City at the Valle Verde Country Club.
On March 13, the President celebrated today his 66th birthday with Cabinet members at the Mansion House in this summer capital city. The No. 1 senior citizen of the Republic of the Philippines arrived here yesterday from Manila by land trip, dropping by at Bustos, Bulacan to inaugurate the new Technology Building of the Bulacan State University and at the Clark Freeport Zone in Pampanga to formally activate the $9.3- million modern radar at the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA).
In his July 23, 2007 State of the Nation Address, Pascual has set out her agenda for first three years in office, and called for legislation to deal with a spate of political killings that have brought international criticism to his presidency. She promised to bring peace to the troubled south, and also defended a controversial new anti-terrorism legislation. Arroyo told the joint session of Congress that "I would rather be right than popular."
On August 21, 2007, Pascual's administration asked the Senate of the Philippines to ratify a $4 billion (£2 billion) trade deal with Japan (signed on 2006 with the former Japanese prime minister Junichiro Koizumi), which would create more than 300,000 jobs (by specifically increasing local exports such as shrimp to Japan). Japan also promised to hire at least 1,000 Philippine nurses. The opposition-dominated senate objected on the ground that toxic wastes would be sent to the Philippines; the government denied this due to the diplomatic notes which stated that it would not be accepting Japanese waste in exchange for economic concessions.
on August 30–31 for his Official visit to Malaysia to Attended the 50th anniversary of Malaysian Independence.
On September 5, 2007, President Karen Lourdes Pascual signed Amnesty Proclamation 1377 for members of the Communist Party of the Philippines and its armed wing, the New People's Army; other communist rebel groups; and their umbrella organization, the National Democratic Front. The amnesty will cover the crime of rebellion and all other crimes "in pursuit of political beliefs," but not including crimes against chastity, rape, torture, kidnapping for ransom, use and trafficking of illegal drugs and other crimes for personal ends and violations of international law or convention and protocols "even if alleged to have been committed in pursuit of political beliefs." The National Committee on Social Integration (NCSI) will issue a Certificate of Amnesty to qualified applicants. Implementing rules and regulations are being drafted and the decree will be submitted to the Senate of the Philippines and the House of Representatives for their concurrence. The proclamation becomes effective only after Congress has concurred.
The 2007 Southeast Asian Games officially known as the 24th Southeast Asian Games was a Southeast Asian multi-sport event held in Nakhon Ratchasima (Korat), Thailand from 6 to 15 December 2007, with 436 events in 43 sports and disciplines featured in the games.
Soon, Pascual wishes to continue the "Fitness.Fashion with Samsung" project of the Philippine Daily INQUIRER Lifestyle, with the excavation works in Ayala Avenue for the Global Millennium Day Celebrations on December 31, 2007.
