Tuesday, July 28, 2020

Inquirer Lifestyle Series Fitness Fashion with Samsung: Guests

"Inquirer Lifestyle staged the rousing, filled-to-the-bleachers (despite the heavy rains and flooding) curtain-raiser to its Lifestyle Series of events with “Fitness.Fashion,” a catwalk team-up between some of the country’s top designers and best-selling activewear brands, at the Rigodon Ballroom of the Peninsula Manila in Makati City."

"Co-presented with Samsung, it drew guests who cut across the fields of fashion, business and commerce, arts, media and entertainment."

x x x

Her Excellency, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, the guest of honor and speaker in the occasion, gave her greetings and message to the crowd. In attendance, also were watching the show are some members of the cabinet; several senators led by Senate President Manny Villar; several congressmen led by House Speaker Prospero Nograles; and friends of El Shaddai leader Bro. Mike Velarde from the business, entertainment, media, legal, and religious sector.

Guest of Honor and Speaker

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo

Guests

Vice President Noli de Castro
Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno 
Senate President Manuel B. Villar, Jr. 
House Speaker Prospero C. Nograles
Manila Mayor Alfredo S. Lim 
Quezon City Mayor Feliciano R. Belmonte, Jr.
Caloocan City Mayor Recom R. Echiverri 
Las Piñas City Mayor Vergel A. Aguilar
Makati City Mayor Jejomar C. Binay 
Malabon City Mayor Canuto Senen A. Oreta 
Mandaluyong City Mayor Benjamin C. Abalos, Jr. 
Marikina City Mayor Maria Lourdes Carlos-Fernando 
Muntinlupa City Mayor Aldrin L. San Pedro 
Navotas City Mayor Tobias Reynald M. Tiangco 
Parañaque City Mayor Florencio M. Bernabe, Jr. 
Pasay City Mayor Wenceslao B. Trinidad 
Pasig City Mayor Robert C. Eusebio 
San Juan City Mayor Joseph Victor G. Ejercito
Taguig City Mayor Sigfrido R. Tinga
Valenzuela City Mayor Sherwin T. Gatchalian 
Pateros Mayor Jaime C. Medina
Former President Corazon C. Aquino
Former President Fidel V. Ramos
Former President Joseph E. Estrada
Agrarian Reform Secretary Nasser Pangandaman
Agriculture Secretary Bernie Fondevilla 
Budget and Management Secretary Florencio B. Abad 
Commission on Higher Education Chairman Carlito S. Puno, DPA 
Education Secretary Dr. Mona A. Valisno 
Energy Secretary Angelo T. Reyes
Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Jose L. Atienza, Jr. 
Finance Secretary Cesar V. Purisima 
Foreign Affairs Secretary and Committee on Privatization Chairman Alberto G. Romulo 
Health Secretary Dr. Esperanza G. Cabral 
Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse M. Robredo 
Justice Secretary Raul M. Gonzalez 
Labor and Employment Secretary Marianito D. Roque 
National Defense Secretary Gilbert C. Teodoro, Jr. 
Public Works and Highways Secretary Hermogenes E. Ebdane, Jr. 
Science and Technology Secretary Estrella F. Alabastro 
Social Welfare and Development Secretary Celia Capadocia Yangco 
Tourism Secretary Alberto A. Lim 
Trade and Industry Secretary Jesli A. Lapus 
Transportation and Communications Secretary Anneli R. Lontoc

Philippine House Votes To Impeach Duterte / Embattled president will stand trial in Senate on corruption charges

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte moved a step closer to being ousted from office yesterday when the House of Representatives approved an impeachment trial to address the corruption charges against him.


In a rowdy session punctuated by chants urging the president to resign and the singing of a popular nationalist song, House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano immediately endorsed the sending of impeachment charges to the Senate shortly after leading the 302-member legislature in a prayer.

Although no vote was needed because more than the required one-third of the House legislators had signed the impeachment document, Cayetano acted swiftly before pro-Duterte legislators could remove him as speaker -- something that happened later in the day.

"We did something that has never happened in this country before," Cayetano said during a break in the tumultuous session.

The move set the stage for an unprecedented trial before the country's 24-member Senate, where Duterte will face charges that include press freedom.

Duterte has denied the accusations, made against him last June. He has promised to defend himself in the trial.

The debacle is being closely watched by many in the Bay Area, which is home to more than a quarter million Filipinos and foreigners.

Past Philippine presidents have faced impeachment charges, but no one has ever stood trial while in office. Until July 24, the Senate had no impeachment rules because it has never had to hold a trial. But Senate President Vicente Sotto III ordered a rapid drafting of rules patterned after those used by the U.S. Senate during President Trump's impeachment trial.

"All of us are learning to live with democracy the same way the Americans are learning about their electoral process now more than ever," said Congressman Butz Aquino, referring to the controversy surrounding the U.S. presidential election.

QUICK ACTION

Duterte's foes in the legislature had to use parliamentary maneuvers to send the impeachment to the Senate.

Cayetano, had just finished leading the session in prayer when he suddenly endorsed the impeachment charges without so much as taking a roll call.

A pro-Duterte legislator tried to question the move but was ignored by Cayetano, who then banged his gavel to send the session into temporary recess.

Hundreds of predominantly anti-Duterte spectators erupted in cheers and sang "My Country," the popular Tagalog tune that became the anthem of the mid-1980s movement that forced the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos into exile.

IMPEACHMENT RIBBONS

Many of the spectators and Duterte opponents in the House wore peach-colored ribbons, a symbol of the impeachment campaign.

Congressman Rodolfo Tuazon, an Duterte supporter, angrily blasted Cayetano's tactic and the partisan crowd.

"He was so carried away that he was willing to violate rules of the House just to give himself media exposure," he said, referring to Cayetano's widely known plan to run for the presidency in 2022. "He has turned this session into a rally. This is not a rally!"

"They would have questioned any way we did it," Cayetano countered. "What makes them mad is that I did it the fast way. I caught them by surprise."

Even some pro-impeachment spectators were surprised. "We did not expect it to go as fast as this," said Father Robert Reyes, a popular activist Catholic priest. "I think conscientious legislators helped the process."

"A very major hurdle has passed," added Ging Deles, a community activist who unlike Duterte, advocates making peace with the country's rebel movements.

POWER OF THE PEOPLE

When the crisis touched off, many Filipinos expected the impeachment campaign to fail because Duterte appeared to have firm control of the Congress, Deles noted. But street demonstrations and persistent lobbying by civic groups have helped sway many legislators.

"For us, impeachment goes hand in hand with street action," Deles said.

The one-two punch she referred to was demonstrated today when a broad coalition of moderate and left-wing labor groups held a nationwide strike and street protests. In an unusual move that shows the growing discontent among the middle class, the major Philippine business organizations endorsed the strike.

While the impeachment trial is expected to begin in the next few days, it is not clear whether the anti-Duterte forces can muster two-thirds of the 24-member Senate to remove him from office.

"I'm not optimistic, but I think there's a chance," Duterte said. "You never know how the senators will decide on this matter."

SWIFT REPRISALS

Hours before the House forwarded the impeachment charges, Sotto, was voted out as Senate president and replaced by Ralph Recto.

After making his dramatic move, Cayetano was later ousted as House Speaker and replaced by Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Jay Velasco.

Duterte still has wide popularity. A poll late last week showed that many Filipinos do not want him to be removed.

Yesterday that plans to reveal more damaging information that could seal Duterte's downfall.

Singson had accused Duterte of receiving millions in payoffs from an illegal but widely tolerated gambling operation called jueteng. He admitted his own role in the operation, but said Duterte was the "lord of all gambling lords."

"I'm willing to go to jail so long as the man who committed the bigger crimes will come with me," Singson told reporters at the Manila Yacht Club. "He will surely be an ex-president soon. Just wait."

Activist Deles was also optimistic, dismissing any notion that Duterte would survive.

"We will oust him, otherwise as a nation we die," she said. "He'll go as Marcos went."

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THE CHARGES AGAINST DUTERTE

-- Bribery: The Philippine president is accused of breaking a campaign promise to outlaw short-term employment contracts, warning the move risked alienating his diehard supporters.

-- Graft and corruption: Duterte is accused of receiving $2.6 million from tobacco taxes and under-declaring his personal net worth.

-- Betrayal of public trust: Duterte is accused of intervening in the investigation of a friend by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

-- Violation of the constitution: Duterte is accused of participating in a family-controlled real-estate business despite a prohibition on outside business interests while in office.

Duterte fails to detail recovery plan

By Norman P. Aquino, Special Reports Editor
Jenina P. Ibañez, Charmaine A. Tadalan, Beatrice M. Laforga
and Gillian M. Cortez, Reporters

PRESIDENT Rodrigo R. Duterte on Monday asked lawmakers to pass stimulus measures to revive an economy on the brink of a recession caused by a coronavirus lockdown that is one of the world’s strictest and longest.

Analysts, business leaders and opposition lawmakers said he failed to say how exactly he plans to go about it.

The tough-talking Philippine leader devoted the first hour of his almost two-hour state of the nation address — his penultimate, before he steps down in two years — lauding state response to the pandemic and urging Congress to support his economic recovery plan.

“We must facilitate the country’s economic recovery,” Mr. Duterte said in a speech at the House of Representatives, where about 50 VIP politicians gathered to hear him speak. The rest of his audience was made up of Cabinet secretaries, senators and congressmen, and local government officials who listened in from various Zoom Cloud meetings.

He asked lawmakers to fast-track the second version of the bill giving him special powers in dealing with the pandemic, including realigning government funds.

The first law that has since expired let him realign about P275 billion to state programs against the coronavirus. The second measure seeks to let him allocate another P140 billion for various programs for the health emergency.

Mr. Duterte vowed not to rush the reopening of the economy, saying the good “would be outweighed by the bad it will generate.” “Haste makes waste, The recent surge of infections when you open little windows of resumption of business is proof of that.”

Mr. Duterte also asked Congress to hasten the approval of the bill seeking to immediately lower the corporate income tax to 25% from 30% while giving the government the flexibility to grant both fiscal and nonfiscal incentives.

He also sought the approval of the measure allowing banks to transfer bad loans and assets to asset management companies.

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The President promised to continue his administration’s “Build, Build, Build” infrastructure program, noting that these “are an effective tool to help spur high growth, attract investments, create jobs and achieve financial inclusion for all Filipinos.”

After an hour, he segued from his prepared speech and spent almost half an hour threatening to “kill” drug traffickers and asking lawmakers to revive the death penalty for heinous crimes including illegal drugs.

Mr. Duterte, who is down to his last two years in office and barred by law from seeking reelection, is under pressure to revive the economy to keep his political capital and ensure the victory of his chosen candidate in the 2022 presidential elections. At least three presidents before him had either been sued or jailed for corruption.

Mr. Duterte said he pleaded with Chinese President Xi Jinping five days ago to prioritize the Philippines for supply once it finds a vaccine for the coronavirus.

“If they have the vaccine, can they allow us to be one of the first or if it’s needed, if we have to buy it, that we be granted credit so that we can normalize as fast as possible?” he said, reiterating that face-to-face classes won’t happen until a vaccine is found.

The coronavirus has sickened more than 82,000 and killed almost 2,000 people in the Philippines, more than double from end-June and the second-highest number of infections in Southeast Asia even if Mr. Duterte had enforced one of the world’s earliest quarantines.

“Many of the points he emphasized were old talking points — drugs, criminality and corruption,” said Herman Joseph Kraft, an associate professor and chairman of the University of the Philippines’ Political Science department.

“There were a number of potentially inconsistent declarations. He threatened to close down telcos while at the same time emphasizing the need to switch to online modalities in government service and education,” he added.

Mr. Kraft also said the President had failed to detail a national strategy to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. “There was no clear statement about this, just aspirations about increasing testing.”

The government is hard-pressed to come up with a road map for economic recovery as the Philippines faces its worst slump in three decades after the lockdown shut businesses and sapped consumption.

The economy shrank by 0.2% in the three months through March, the first slump after more than two decades of growth, while the unemployment rate hit an all-time high of 17.7% in April. Economic managers expect economic output to shrink by as much as 3.4% this year amid a worsening fiscal outlook.

MORE DETAILS
In his speech, the President also vowed to help micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises and proposed to institutionalize a government program to send people back to the provinces by refocusing economic and social welfare services to the countryside.

Business groups said they wanted to hear the details of stimulus measures, especially for small businesses.

“We wanted him to mention the proposed Accelerated Recovery and Investments Stimulus for the Economy Act,” Philexport President Sergio R. Ortiz-Luis, Jr. said by telephone after the President’s address, referring to a P1.3-trillion stimulus package that allots a budget for mass testing, wage subsidies and help for small companies.

“That’s a big thing for us and it’s important for the recovery and investment,” he said.

Business groups in their wish lists last week asked for economic stimulus measures and legislation that will open the country to foreign direct investment.

Mr. Ortiz-Luis also said he waited for Mr. Duterte to mention the national ID system and a plan to revamp an inter-agency task force on the coronavirus to include more inputs from economic managers and the business sector.

Chris Nelson, executive director at the British Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, said he was looking forward to the budgets that would be allotted to  specific sectors under the P140-billion fund of the so-called Bayanihan to Recover as One bill.

In one of his ad-libs, Mr. Duterte threatened to shut down telecommunication companies if they fail to improve their service by December.

“If you are not ready to improve, I might just as well close all of you,” he said, threatening to seize the companies in favor of the government.

He also renewed his attacks on ABS-CBN Corp., branding the Lopez family, who owns the media giant, as oligarchs, weeks after congressmen rejected the broadcast network’s plea for a new franchise.

A high-ranking official at dominant carrier PLDT, Inc. declined to comment on the President’s threat.

“We heed the call of the President to improve telco services,” rival Globe Telecom, Inc. said in an e-mailed statement. “Service performance and increased consumer demand for data are the key reasons why we have been investing billions of dollars to upgrade and improve our network,” it added.

Toward the close of his speech, Mr. Duterte reiterated his policy of diplomacy in dealing with the sea dispute with China.

“Unless we are prepared to go to war, I would suggest we treat this with diplomatic endeavors,” he said. “They are in possession of the property. So what can we do? We have to go to war and I cannot afford it.”.

Mr. Duterte’s speech had some good points, but these were drowned out when he attacked opposition Senator Franklin Drilon for defending the Lopezes and talking about his war on drugs, Maria Ela L. Atienza, a political science professor at UP, said in an e-mailed reply to questions.

“It would have been better if he stuck with the prepared speech and laid out a clearer road map to improve the country’s response to the pandemic,” she added.

Mr. Duterte’s address left a “big hole” in his administration’s overall response to the pandemic, Albay Rep. Edcel C. Lagman said by telephone.

“People were expecting the President to announce a road map of his administration in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said, adding that the budget under the Bayanihan 2 bill was not enough to address the crisis.

Opposition Senator Francis N. Pangilinan questioned the President’s push to revive the death penalty. “COVID, hunger and joblessness of millions are serious problems, yet the death penalty is what’s being pushed,” he said in a social media post.

Mr. Duterte locked down the main island of Luzon in mid-March, suspending work, classes and public transportation to contain the pandemic. People should stay home except to buy food and other basic goods, he said.

He extended the lockdown for the island twice and thrice for the capital region. The lockdown in Metro Manila has since been eased, with more businesses allowed to reopen with a skeletal workforce. Mass gatherings remained banned.

Hastings Holdings, Inc., a unit of PLDT Beneficial Trust Fund subsidiary MediaQuest Holdings, Inc., has a majority stake in BusinessWorld through the Philippine Star Group, which it controls.

Sotto to pro-charter change solons: Just amend Local Government Code

Senate President Vicente Sotto on Monday declined to entertain several lawmakers' push to amend the 1987 Constitution, saying Congress can enact laws to help Filipinos survive the COVID-19 crisis without tinkering with the charter.

Lawmakers who want to change the Constitution allegedly to ease several business restrictions during the health and economic crises can just amend the Local Government Code and other laws, Sotto told reporters in an online press conference.

"Kulang ba ang Local Government Code? Ang mga pagkukulang ba kailangan Constitution ang galawin?" Sotto said.

"If you ask me, I don't see the connection. I'm sorry," he said.

Sotto has been consistent in saying that charter change is "not a priority of the Senate."

"Unfortunately, for those who are proposing it (charter change), it is not [a priority in the Senate]," he said.

"We will act on it if it reaches us, but at the moment I don't see any member of the Senate pushing for such," he said.

The Senate will instead focus on measures that will improve the Philippines' digital connectivity, public transportation and distance-learning system during the COVID-19 crisis, he said.

Duterte to congress: Pass bills creating new departments

President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday sought the passage of bills creating the Department of Overseas Filipinos and the Department of Disaster Resilience.

“I strongly urge congress to pass a law establishing the Department of Overseas Filipinos solely addressing the concerns of Filipinos abroad and their families,” Duterte said in his State of the Nation Address (SONA).

“I emphasize the creation of the Department of Disaster Resilience,” he added.

The President also called for the establishment of evacuation centers in each city, town and province.

https://www.manilatimes.net/2020/07/27/news/latest-stories/duterte-to-congress-pass-bills-creating-new-departments/746746/

FAST FACTS: TV networks’ franchise expiry dates

Other networks were allowed to operate beyond their franchise's expiry

The Philippines’ largest broadcaster ABS-CBN failed to secure a fresh franchise from Congress, an apparent culmination of President Rodrigo Duterte's years-long tirades against the network.

ABS-CBN’s franchise to operate was approved in 1995 and was valid for 25 years. 

On May 5, a day after its franchise expired, ABS-CBN was forced off-air after the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) issued a cease and desist order against the network. 

More than two months later, on July 10, the House committee on legislative franchises rejected the network’s application for a new one because of alleged “numerous violations” – a decision widely condemned as politically-motivated.

However, there were networks and telecommunications companies that were previously allowed to operate despite an expired franchise.

Rappler compiled other details of other TV networks’ franchises, including their expiry dates.

TV5

The previous franchise of ABC Development Corporation, mother company of TV5 network, expired in December 2019.

Its 25-year franchise renewal lapsed into law months earlier on April 22, 2019. This will expire in 2044.

GMA

GMA’s previous franchise expired on May 12, 2017. President Duterte signed into law the franchise renewal on April 21, 2017. It will expire in 2042.

PTV-4

The People’s Television Network is the Philippines' flagship state broadcaster and is under the supervision and control of the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO).

In 2013, former president Benigno Aquino III signed a law “revitalizing” PTV-4 and amending the network’s original charter passed in 1992.

The network’s franchise is co-terminus with its corporate status, which is also up for renewal in March 2022.

Duterte called on Congress to pass a law that will transform PTV-4 into a public service broadcaster but to no avail.

IBC-13

The franchise of government-owned IBC is set to expire in 2025.

PCOO  is pushing for another 25-year extension to make the station attractive to buyers, as it is currently in “dire straits.”

Subic Broadcasting Corporation (SBC)

The network operates a TV station and several radio stations in the province of Zambales. 

In March 2018, President Duterte signed a law renewing SBC’s franchise for another 25 years. It will expire in 2043.

It is owned by former Olongapo City Mayor James Gordon Jr, younger brother of Senator Richard Gordon.

CBCP

The franchise of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) expired in 2017 but its new franchise was approved in 2019 only. It was, however, allowed to operate in between those years. Some lawmakers earlier cited this example in pushing for ABS-CBN’s continued operations despite an expired franchise. 

CBCP's new franchise will expire in 2044. 

Net 25

Net 25 is the flagship TV station of Iglesia Ni Cristo’s Eagle Broadcasting Corporation. Its franchise was approved on May 3, 2016 and is valid until 2041.

ZOE Broadcasting Network

ZOE Broadcasting Network, Inc or ZOE TV, is the broadcasting arm of Jesus Is Lord Church led and founded by Eddie Villanueva. Its franchise was approved on July 17, 2016 and will end in 2041.

UNTV

UNTV is owned by Alfredo “Atom” Henares and is the flagship network of Progressive Broadcasting Corporation (PBC). 

Its franchise, approved on May 18, 2016, is valid until 2041.

Sonshine Media Network International

SMNI is owned by Apollo Quiboloy, the self-proclaimed “Appointed Son of God” and founder of the Restorationist church called “Kingdom of Jesus Christ” (KJC). SMNI, legally known as Swara Sug Media Corporation, is the broadcasting arm of his church.

Duterte and Quiboloy are longtime friends, with Duterte admitting he received properties and cars from Quiboloy. KJC’s sprawling headquarters is located in Davao City.

Duterte signed SMNI’s franchise extension on August 22, 2019, allowing the network to operate until 2044. – with reports from Denise Galias/Rappler.com

Stop Long Enough To Ask God For Guidance

The men of Israel sampled their provisions but did not inquire of the LORD.  Joshua 9:14

 

"Heaven is full of answers to prayers for which no one ever bothered to ask," said the venerable Billy Graham.  How often do we go plodding on, sometimes blundering, getting ourselves into situations which turn into nightmares because we never bother to stop long enough and say, "God, what do you want me to do? Is this your will, or does it simply look pretty good to me?"  Answers to prayers that were never prayed could have saved you all kinds of headaches.

Long ago Joshua and his staff could have saved themselves all kinds of heartaches had they only stopped long enough to ask God for guidance.  Here's how they got themselves into trouble.  After God gave them two great victories--one at Jericho and Ai--they met together and renewed their commitment to serve God.  The law was read and the people nodded their heads in agreement.

But shortly after that the Gibeonites, having heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai, decided they had better sue for peace.  Here's what happened:  "They resorted to a ruse: They went as a delegation whose donkeys were loaded with worn-out sacks and old wineskins, cracked and mended.  The men put worn and patched sandals on their feet and wore old clothes.  All of the bread of their food supply was dry and moldy….  'We have come from a distant country, make a treaty with us,'" they said.

Even Joshua was fooled as they told him how the bread that was now dry and moldy had been soft and fresh when they started their trip.  Yes, of course, they lied.  But they were convincing.  And Joshua signed a treaty with them, agreeing to conditions whereby they would be servants to the Israelites but never would they be killed.

The key to their failure is summed up in a few words which Joshua himself later wrote, "The men of Israel sampled their provisions but did not inquire of the LORD" (Joshua 9:14).  They sniffed the moldy bread, and ran their fingers through the worn and ragged garments, and bought into their lies which they told with consummate skill.

Do you know friend that the problem that confronted them is still with us today? Nobody is so smart, so savvy, so discerning that he can't be deceived by the enemies in life, to say nothing of the devil, who is a master of deception.  That's why bringing God into your negotiations, asking Him for direction and guidance, is so important.

Answers to prayer you never prayed could keep you from entering into a marriage which turns into a nightmare, or from living with that guy whom you want to believe loves you so much and fully intends to marry you after he makes enough money, or from signing on the dotted line, committing yourself to something you will later regret.

James, the half-brother of Jesus, gave us a powerful promise when he wrote, "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him" (James 1:5).  It's OK to acknowledge that you don't know what to do, and ask God for wisdom and direction.

Someone wisely said that he who knows not and knows that he knows not is a wise man, but he who knows not and knows not that he knows not is a fool.  He was right.

Are you in need of an answer to a prayer that you have not yet prayed?  God won't thump you over the head to get your attention, but He will respond to your simple cry of, "Lord, I need your help.  What should I do? What is your will in this whole matter?"

If you are married, make it a practice to join hands and hearts with your husband or wife and pray together before you make any major decisions.  If you are single, start each day asking God to guide and direct you.

He will!  Those answers to prayer we never pray are there, as Billy Graham suggested, ready to save us from our own mistakes and presumption.

Resource reading: Joshua 9:1-21