House OKs renewing CBCP broadcast franchise for 25 years

House Bill 8155 gives the President a 'special right' to 'temporarily take over and operate' the CBCP’s media facilities during times of war, rebellion, public peril, calamity, emergency, disaster, or disturbance of peace and order

The House of Representatives approved a bill that would extend the franchise granted to the Catholics Bishop Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) for its broadcasting operations for another 25 years.

A total of 216 lawmakers voted yes during the 3rd and final reading of House Bill 8155 on Monday, September 10. No legislator voted no or abstained from voting.

HB 8155 would allow the CBCP to continue operating and maintaining its radio and television broadcasting facilities in the Philippines for another 25 years. The last legislative franchise granted to CBCP under Republic Act 7530 lapsed in August 2017.

Section 5 of HB 8155 carries over from its old franchise law the provision that would give a “special right” to the President to “temporarily take over and operate” the CBCP’s radio stations or facilities during times of war, rebellion, public peril, calamity, emergency, disaster, or disturbance of peace and order.

The House, mostly composed by allies of President Rodrigo Duterte, backed the extension of the CBCP’s franchise weeks after Duterte’s tirades against the Catholic Church.

In July, the CBCP under its president, Davao Archbishop Romulo Valles, released one of its strongest and most comprehensive critiques of the Duterte regime.

The CBCP slammed the crackdown on loiterers, the drug war killings, and other abuses under Duterte. The bishops also called for prayer and fasting from July 17 to 19.

https://www.rappler.com/business/211650-house-approves-cbcp-broadcast-franchise-renewal-25-years

The real deal with 34 Filipinos arrested for disrespecting Philippine Anthem

The arrest of 34 moviegoers in Batangas for allegedly disrespecting the Philippine National Anthem has renewed interest and sparked debate on the Republic Act 8491 or the Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines.

The Philippine National Anthem should only be played and sang during the first and last screening of films, as stated in RA 8491.

However, the arrests in Batangas occurred at 2 p.m. during the second screening of “The How’s of Us” in a mall in Lemery, Batangas.

The Batangas police alleged that the moviegoers “did not stand in attention and disrespected the Philippine National Anthem while it was being played prior to the showing of movie film entitled The Hows of Us.”

Chief Inspector Alfie Salang of Batangas said in a radio interview that the arrests were part of “Oplan Bandila” conducted to teach Filipinos in the region to respect the national flag and the anthem while inside movie theaters.

“Bilang Pilipino, we should salute, we should respect our flag and our national anthem ‘pag ito po ay pinapatugtog,” Salang said.

He added that there were law enforcers in civilian clothing with surveillance cameras inside the movie house while those in uniform were stationed outside.

The “Oplan Bandila” operations will be conducted in all movie theaters in Region IV-A which is composed of the provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon.

The basis for the arrest is Section 38 of the heraldic code, wherein every person in a “public gathering” is required to sing the Philippine National Anthem “Lupang Hinirang” every time it is played.

The public to stand at attention and face the Philippine flag when the anthem is played. In case no flag is displayed, the public should face the band or the conductor.

Members of the uniformed services, security guards and trainees in uniform should execute a salute to the anthem as prescribed by their regulations. The public is also required to put their right palms over their left chests until the last note of the anthem.

The NHI is mandated to disseminate a copy of the “official music score sheet that reflects the manner in which the national anthem should be played or sung” to ensure standards are followed.

The national anthem, however, would not be allowed to be played and sung preceding “events of recreation, amusement, or entertainment purposes.”


But the anthem may be played during the following: international competitions where the Philippines is the host or has a representative; local competitions; during the “signing off” and “signing on” of radio broadcasting and television stations; before the initial and last screening of films and before the opening of theater performances; and other occasions as may be allowed by the Institute.

The Oath of Patriotism (Panatang Makabayan) must be recited after the singing of the national anthem in basic education institutions. The Pledge of Allegiance (Panunumpa ng Katapatan sa Watawat ng Pilipinas) may be recited as well, though the law did not specify who is required to do so.

Section 20 of the law also states: “The observance of the flag ceremony in official or civic gatherings shall be simple and dignified and shall include the playing or singing of the anthem in its original Filipino lyrics and march tempo.”

If convicted, violators of the law can either be fined from P5,000 to P20,000 or imprisoned for one year, but only under the “discretion of the court.”

All citizens to stand at attention and sing with fervor, as a sign of respect, when the National Anthem is played at public gatherings.

Even moviegoers who do not stand up when the National Anthem is being played in cinemas will be sanctioned, as it empowers the security personnel and ushers in movie houses to arrest a violator and summon law enforcement officers to assist in conducting citizens' arrest.

Cagayan de Oro city Rep. Maximo Rodriguez, Jr. authored a bill seeking to criminalize those who “do not accord the respect due the Philippine flag and the national anthem.”

As of writing, the bill is now pending in the House of Representatives as House Bill No. 5224.

A part of section 38 also seemed to be misunderstood or left out when Batangas police put them into custody.

In general, a mall, along with the amenities inside it, is a private establishment. People have to pay, no matter how small, when you dine, watch a movie, and at times use the restroom of this establishment.

Malls or shopping centers are also not included in the definition of a public space in The Public Assembly Act of 1985.

Mixed reactions

Local authorities of Batangas were praised while those who were arrested were criticized for the alleged disrespect of the Philippine flag.

However, others questioned if what the officers did was “illegal.”

http://www.interaksyon.com/the-real-deal-with-34-filipinos-arrested-for-disrespecting-philippine-anthem/

Xiamen Airlines fines now up at P72 million

Xiamen Airlines would have to pay almost P72 million in fines for the penalty caused by an incident involving its aircraft last August 16, Manila International Airport Authority general manager Ed Monreal said.

The initial penalty that the Philippine government demanded from the Chinese airline was at least 33 million following the paralyzation of operations at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

During the Senate hearing into the NAIA fiasco, Monreal said Xiamen Airlines officials will be coming to the country on Wednesday to settle the initial penalty.

"Actually, the (Xiamen Airlines) finance officer went here last Friday and there was an exchange of information... the chairman himself will go again here," Monreal said in mix of English and Filipino.

Possible violations of Philippine civil aviation regulations
Meanwhile, the flight safety investigation committee (FSIC) of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines is looking into possible violations of Philippine civil aviation regulations.

CAAP Director General Jim Sydiongco said this committee would also impose corresponding penalties for such violations.

"This committee is tasked to implement our local laws on civil aviation. Aviation safety is of the utmost priority and the Philippines is duty-bound under our international obligations to abide," Sydiongco told the Senate panel.

The CAAP's Aircraft Accident Investigation and Inquiry Board (AAIIB), on the other hand, is checking if the Philippines was complying to international obligations and treaties.

Both teams of the CAAP are working to determine what caused the accident.

"Both committees are at work continuing and gathering the information through interviews with eyewitnesses, examination of records, validation of data from all available sources to arrive at the truth on the accident involving the Xiamen Airlines aircraft," Sydiongco said.

Black box under CAAP custody
The Xiamen Airlines plane's cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder have arrived from Singapore but it is still under CAAP custody.

Sydiongco, however, refused to disclose details on the aircraft's black box while investigations are ongoing.

"CAAP will publish the final report of the AAIIB and FSIC upon the conclusion of the investigations," he said.

The CAAP will also issue an amount of penalty for the Chinese airline, which will be different from the Manila International Airport Authority's assessment.

"The Civil Aviation Authority's fine is different, which is against the operator and against the pilots," Sydiongco said.

Xiamen Airlines earlier committed to shouldering the expenses for the removal of its aircraft, which skidded off NAIA's runway, paralyzing the operations of the country's main gateway.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2018/09/10/1850289/xiamen-airlines-fines-now-p72-million

‘Eat Bulaga!’

BEFORE anything else, let me just park this:

Satire – the use of humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize people’s stupidity or vices, particularly in the context of contemporary politics and other topical issues and it is also a genre of literature, and sometimes graphic and performing arts, in which vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, ideally with the intent of shaming individuals.

And its showtime folks!

In what could only be described as an unprecedented and radical, not to mention risky move in the annals of Philippine noontime television shows, the producers of that longest running mind-numbing show Eat Bulaga announced a complete overhauling of the show’s regular format.

No folks, the producers of Eat Bulaga did not just realize that their show has been creating “dumb and dumber” natives (they know that already), they just decided to go with the latest trend now affecting the “devotees to the cult of the yellow ribbon.”

And the “flavour of the month” and the newest “hero” of the “devotees to the cult of the yellow ribbon” is of course that sailor pretending to be a soldier; yep, the one with the puti itlog, Antonio Trillanes IV.

Maybe “hero” is too much because according to the “playbook” of the “devotees to the cult of the yellow ribbon” to be a “hero” one must die first and a violent public death is de rigour.

Unless they have a sacada from Hacienda Luisita shot Trillanes preferably in the tarmac of the Manila International Airport and dragged his bloody corpse all over Metro Manila in a huge public spectacle, then “Sonnyboy” is not a  full-fledged “yellow ribbon hero.”

If that happens then “Sonnyboy” is instantly a “hero”, of course not in the same level of that revered Malaysian Marcial Bonifacio who was also shot in the tarmac of the Manila International Airport.

Alive at best, “Sonnyboy” is just a clown or court jester meant to entertain the bored masses.

So what was that unprecedented perhaps “earth-shaking “upheaval in Eat Bulaga?

If by next week a warrant of arrest for “Sonnyboy” was issued and Police Chief Inspector Jovie Espendido leads the arresting team then maybe the “devotees to the cult of the yellow ribbon” might get their wish and have the “hero” in the mould of Marcial Bonifacio they have praying to high heavens for.

The supposedly unprecedented move of the producers of Eat Bulaga will become moot and academic if that happens.

On a plus side for the “devotees” their prayers are not for naught; all those pray overs and running in circles of Fr. Robert Reyes plus those pastoral letters of Archbishops Tagle and Villegas worked…God listened to them and lo and behold a second coming!

But if “Sonnyboy” is still alive and hold up in the Senate by next week then the producers of Eat Bulaga goes ahead with their move.

It will finally come to pass that “Tito, Vic and Joey” transforms into “Tito, Vic and Joey plus Sonny.”

Antonio Trillanes IV aka “Sonny” becomes the fourth member of “Tito, Vic and Joey” radically changing the trio of comedians into a quartet of comedians: “Tito, Vic and Joey plus Sonny.”

With that Eat Bulaga will move and broadcast live from the Senate building and no longer from that half a billion spanking new studio in Cainta, Rizal. Of course there is no truth to the rumor that Eat Bulaga will transfer from GMA to ABS-CBN.

And why will Eat Bulaga transfer to ABS-CBN when everyone knows their franchise renewal in Congress will be approved because of politics but because not a single congressman was even considered to be the fourth comedian in the “Tito, Vic and Joey” triumvirate.

Just plain and simple showbiz rivalry and nothing to do with politics.

And in another unprecedented move the producers of Eat Bulaga announced they will no longer continue nor support much less have as guest that very popular love team duo of Maine Mendoza and Alden Richards aka “Aldub”.

Again there was nothing kinky or bizarre in this move; it was just a corporate decision whatever that means.

With the advent of “Tito, Vic and Joey plus Sonny” it is expected that a new love team is in the offing.

Thus we have “Sonny and Gary”, a poor imitation and plagiarized version of that popular television sitcom in the ‘90s, “Will and Grace”.

Incidentally, if you’re not familiar with the television sitcom “Will and Grace” then moi is not surprised, rather expected it after all; “you’re nothing but a second rate copycat.”

Simply put, you’re just a trendy, naïve social climber.

“Sonny and Gary” is, and you guessed it right, Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes IV and Gary Alejano, the newest love team in town.

So folks, don’t be onion-skinned. Moi is just tickling your funny bone and have a good laugh; it does wonders for your health. (brotherlouie16@gmail.com/PN)

https://www.panaynews.net/eat-bulaga/

Danny Fajardo, Panay News founder, writes 30

Panay News founder Danny Fajardo, one of the pillars of journalism in Western Visayas, has died. He was 72.

Fajardo, who served as this paper’s editor-in-chief for years, passed away last night at the Asian Hospital and Medical Center in Alabang, Muntinlupa City.

He founded Panay News in 1981 to further expand the frontiers of press freedom in the region and hosted the popular Iloilo radio and cable television public affairs program Reklamo Publiko.

Fajardo headed the Iloilo Press Club – the oldest press club in the country – for several terms and served, too, as executive vice president of the Publishers’ Association of the Philippines.

Just this Sunday, Sept. 9, the Municipality of Mina, Iloilo honored Fajardo as one of its outstanding sons in the field of Business and Entrepreneurship.

Fajardo also served as Chief Executive Officer of the National Book Development Board; Commissioner of the Commission on Filipino Language; and Director, Media Division, Commission on Culture and the Arts.

He was also a Philippine media delegate to the United Nations’ 50th Anniversary.

Fajardo was an alumnus of Silliman University, Dumaguete City where he earned his bachelor’s degree in Political Science.

He also took a special course on Para Legal Studies at the Manila Times School of Journalism./PN

***

Details on the interment will be announced later.

CHARTER DAY BABIES CHOSEN

BAGUIO CITY – A baby boy born to a young couple and a baby girl fathered by a 47-year old miner were proclaimed as this year’s Baguio Charter Day Babies.

The lucky infants were delivered separately minutes apart at past 2 a.m. last Sept. 1 at the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center.

Baby boy Leam Mendizabal came out at 2:18 a.m. weighing 3 kg. He is the first child of Alvin Bustarde, 21, a third year college student and Ma. Christina Mendizabal, 17, Grade 11 of Marcoville barangay.

Baby girl Gladys Tusoy was delivered at 2:41 a.m. weighing 3.03 kg. She is the fourth child of 47-year old Jeremias Boligon, a miner employed at the Philex Mines and 27-year old Jene Rose Bangbanga of Pacdal, Tuba, Benguet.

In a report prepared by Social Welfare Officer Dolores Busacay, the couple shared that they met at a shop where Jene Rose was working as saleslady of second hand clothes.

“Jane Rose humorously said that Jeremias did not find clothes that would fit him, but he saw her instead,” Busacay related.

The chosen babies were presented with gifts and prizes last Sept. 2 by former councilor Narciso Padilla and wife Consuelo Sol, personnel of the City Social Welfare and Development Office (OCSWADO) under OCSWAD Officer Betty Fangasan and officers of the Baguio Elderly Association including Federation of Baguio Senior Citizens Association President Editha Ibarra.

Prizes consisted of cash pasalubong, a cavan of rice from the city government, baby clothes, food and goodies and mabuhay welcome medallion and othersfrom the Office of the Senior Citizens Affairs, the Federation of Baguio Senior Citizens Association, Blessed Association of Retired Persons Foundation Inc. (BARP), the Philippine Government Retirees Association (PGRA), United States Army Forces in the Philippines–Northern Luzon and the Philippine Veterans Foundation Baguio District.

Padilla said the search in the tradition of the annual Quest for the Lucky Christmas and New Year Babies was started in 1987 to symbolize the dawning of a new year for the City.** Aileen P. Refuerzo

https://www.zigzagweekly.net/lifestyle/charter-day-babies-chosen/