The Cory Aquino Swatch

WHEN I saw the Cory Aquino Swatch, I thought it looked familiar.

(Photo from the web)

Aha! Ding-ding-ding!



The Philippines Centennial Watch (1997) with a black strap (Photo from www.squiggly.com) The one of Cory Aquino's though just has fatter rays of the sun, but it's essentially the same design.

Hmm...I wonder if Swatch/Gift Gate will sell me just a strap of the Cory Aquino Swatch as it never came out w/ a replacement strap for the RP Centennial edition. hehe. Yup, I still have the old watch courtesy of Ayala Corp. and since a few years ago, I had been wanting to resurrect it because suddenly patriotic stuff were back in fashion after Collezione C2 launched its RP map shirts.

I'll probably be dropping by a Swatch store soon to make usyoso.

With a bit of luck, some geomancy, and lots of prayers

THERE was a time in Marites Allen’s life when she didn’t feel on top of the world like she does now.

“I got married early, and had three small children back in Cebu, then my marriage fell apart. I also lost my mother in a tragic accident. I didn’t understand why all these things happened.” At that time, she was working for AusAid, the Australian government’s overseas assistance program, and some of Marites’s bosses were into feng shui, or the science of geomancy. It was explained to her that she was married to the wrong guy and that her house had “bad feng shui”. Eventually, she moved to Manila to start her life anew. (Click Something Like Life for the rest.)

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The ultimate sacrifice

(Sen. Mar Roxas announces his support for Sen. Noynoy Aquino's presidency in 2010 at a press conference in Club Filipino this evening. Photo copyright Stella Arnaldo)

I JUST came home after attending the press conference of Sen. MAR Roxas at the Club Filipino this evening.

Like many who have supported his bid for the presidency in 2010, I feel a tad depressed. I sincerely believed his record as a government official - having been the secretary at the Dept. of Trade and Industry - and the number of legislative bills he has been able to shepherd into laws, speak volumes of his mettle as a leader.

But this evening, he announced that he was bowing down and putting "country above self," and supporting his friend since birth, Sen. Noynoy Aquino, for the latter's bid for the presidency in 2010. Not the one to be insensitive to public sentiment, MAR put aside his own interest to respond to what the citizens want. There was a public clamor for Noynoy, and so MAR stepped aside. And he is a better man for it. This is the ultimate sacrifice for any politician, and harks back to the same sacrifice Doy Laurel made in 1986 when he agreed to run as VP under Cory Aquino.

(Sen. Mar Roxas with Sen. Noynoy Aquino behind him, as the leave the Club Filipino. After Mar finished his speech, Aquino appeared from nowhere and went up to him to shake his hand. This showed everyone that they will be a force to reckon with in 2010. Photo copyright Stella Arnaldo)

MAR has vowed to support Noynoy and stand beside him through this tough race where they are pitted against the "festering evil around us." So it is almost a certainty that it will be a Noynoy-Mar tandem for 2010. While I admit to having certain doubts as to Noynoy's preparedness for the job as president, I have been saying all along that the Opposition must be united in 2010 to fight the common enemy, the Palaka/administration of the presidentita. With Tita Cory's death reawakening the Filipinos' hope for change and getting themselves more involved in the political arena, Noynoy can very well harness this to help him win the presidency next year. And if this is the only way to beat the b**ch, then I am now 100% behind this tandem.

Hopefully, all the other opposition candidates will make the same sacrifice that MAR has made and support this formidable team. They have to come together and chase the evil one out of Malacañang.

And so it begins.

Country Above Self by Sen. Mar Roxas

On grieving

I remember at my own father’s wake a couple of years ago, when someone very close to me saw Pop lying in his coffin. She suddenly freaked out and shrilly complained that his makeup was awful. She then proceeded to have his makeup redone by the mortician. I didn’t notice any difference in how he looked, though. Okay, you had to be there, but I thought that was so laughable it would’ve probably qualified as an episode on Six Feet Under. (Click Something Like Life for the rest.)

The propaganda

(Rep. Romualdez w/ GMA in New York. Photo from the congressman's web site.)

DOESN'T anyone find it strange that Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, who supposedly foot the $20,000 Le Cirque tab of the presidentita and her band of loyal sipsips, is nowhere to be found? He's just keeping quiet about the whole affair, which I think is even more incriminating for the presidentita dontcha think?

(Btw, pls. be warned that the "tab" that supposedly has been posted by several bloggers and shared on Facebook is not real. The original post can be found in Manolo Quezon's blog and he clearly says there that it's a "theoretical" tab, an explanation how it could have reached $20,000. So quit posting it guys and stop spreading the disinformation.)

So, people are wondering how Romualdez could afford such a dinner. Well from what I hear, he was a banker and of course, a million pesos is just a drop in the bucket for bankers esp. if they're working for foreign institutions. And well, just read your history books and find out how the family became so wealthy. (Just for your added knowledge, Rep. Romualdez is the son of former Ambassador Benjamin 'Kokoy' Romualdez, a brother of former First Lady Imelda R. Marcos. The congressman is also the younger brother of Benjamin Philip Romualdez, chairman of Benguet Corp. who is married to the Inquirer's Sandy Prieto.)

I wonder what Rep, Romualdez's constituents now feel about him after reading that he spent $20,000 for a lavish dinner for his beloved president? You see, apart from progressive Tacloban, most of the municipalities in the congressman's first district are either 3rd class, 4th class or 5th class municipalities - meaning people there are dirt poor and don't have access to basic services. Imagine how P1 million could've helped his constituents! Tsk, tsk.

(FINAL UPDATE: The Presidentita and her loyal sipsips at dinner. Many have been asking if this is the photo of THE dinner - or dinners, as we are now hearing - at Le Cirque. I just confirmed that it is not bec. NEDA DG Ralph "Ate Vi" Recto, who is at the right of GMA, wasn't part of this last NY trip. As per a source, this is the dining room at the Townhouse, the official residence of our Philippines Permanent Rep. to the UN, Hilario Davide. This was taken sometime in Sept. 2008, when the presidentita made a speech at the UN. Rep. Romualdez is on the far left. I told my source that this room kinda reminds me of the private dining area of the Presidential Suite in Waldorf Astoria. Hmmm...)

In case Malacañang still doesn't get it (and yes, Le Cerge, we know you're just doing your job but you're really just making an A** of yourself doing so), the howls of protest from the citizenry are not about the dinner per se and who paid for it, but how the presidentita (and her loyal sipsips) can sleep soundly at night, having just eaten a costly dinner (about P950,000), when the rest of her kababayan here can't even eat one square meal a day? And pls. don't tell us Le Cerge that nobody among your crew knew how expensive dinner at Le Cirque would be - well maybe YOU don't - but that's exactly why nagkandarapa kayo sumama sa dinner na yan is bec. you know can't afford kayo!

No one is begrudging Mrs. Arroyo her good food and wine on her wedding anniversary at that, and by most accounts, Le Cirque is one of the best fine dining restaurants in New York, but yes, it is all about appearances. The leader of a third world country where most of its citizens earn less than $2 a day seen dining at an expensive restaurant just sends the wrong signals doesn't it? There she was trying to get some bit of good news for her and successful trip, hoping she gets a mention in the foreign media, but she just botches it by dining, unthinking, at Le Cirque. Even NY Post's Richard Johnson knew something was amiss in that picture. Then again, hey, at least she did get a mention in the US media. Oh aren't we all so proud of her!

(The presidentita and her minions sightseeing in LA in 2008. Is that Jaza I see on the right? My, my, we've put on the pounds haven't we? Rep. Romualdez's web site is such a treasure trove for photos documenting the presidentita's moves. We thank him from the bottom of our heart for all these photos.)

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Now I don't mean to waste your time or bore you w/ text messages. But I just wanted to let you read the kind of propaganda coming from Malacañang, especially in the light of the recent $20,000-dinner at Le Cirque. These are just examples of the kind of poor, inefficient thinking that goes on in the seat of power. And I feel insulted, because man, if this is the kind of sh** we taxpayers are paying for (to defend the presidentita's honor), then I want my money back!

From: 0935-1913-785 (Aug. 10, 5:36 pm): masyado nman sinesensionalays issue bawat galaw GMA. Ganito trabaho oposisyon. dpat linisin bakuran nyo alisin puwing mata b4 magma2linis s sambaynang pilipino

From 0916-9194-270 (Aug. 10, 4: 37 pm): BAKIT SI BINAY PAG PUMUPUNTA SA ABROAD SA JAPAN AT PINAPAKAIN SIYA KOBE BEEF NG MGA JAPON NA NAPAKAMAHAL D SIYA NAG REREKLAMO MAGPAKATOTOO KA NAMAN

From 0905-8381-099 (Aug. 10, 4:37 pm): C MAR ROXAS AT DRILLON DPAT MAHIYA SA LIBING NI PRES. CORY WLANG GINAWA KUNDI PAG HUMIHINTO CORTEGE BUMABABA AT NAKIKIPAGKAMAY S MGA TAO PRA KUMAMPANYA NAKA2HIYA (Me: teka na-late ata tong text na to a. Last week pa ang libing.)

And you don't want to know what Malacañang has been saying about Sen. Noynoy Aquino during the wake of his mother. Out of respect for Tita Cory, I'm not gonna publish it, but imagine how idiotic Malacañang's propaganda machine is, its handlers won't spare anyone, even the son of the deceased president. Tsk, tsk.

Oh and maybe, someone should shut up Pampanga Rep. Mikey Arroyo, who is probably doing even worse explaining the dinner away. Loose lips sink ships.

From someone who's not a Cory fan

Let me confess right now that I was not a fan of Tita Cory. I didn’t even join the People Power Revolution in 1986, out of respect to my father who was in government then. (I did sneak out the next day to Malacañang after the Marcoses had abandoned it.) Previous to that, I didn’t vote in the snap elections that had thrust whom everyone dubbed as “just a plain housewife” into the political limelight. (Click Something Like Life for the rest.)

Coolness!

Click this.

This is not: Click! and Click! (scroll down).

The palusot here.

Tita Cory as a 'lola'

I'M SORRY, I'm crying again. I just read this an article featuring Tita Cory's grandkids sharing their wonderful memories of their Lola (grandmother). I hope Philippine Star doesn't remove this from its web site. To read stories like this about Tita Cory is such a privilege.

"I don’t know what life will bring the next few days, weeks, or years. But what I do know is that I will forever miss my lola.

I will miss everything about her. The happiness of her eight grandchildren meant everything to her and she never put herself ahead of anyone." (Click Grandchildren pay tribute to Cory.)

I just want to hug these kids. But I think they'll be okay. I know their Lola Cory will be guiding them every step of the way.

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FOR those who were also enamored with Conrado de Quiros' eulogy for Tita Cory last Aug. 4 at the Manila Cathedral, read it here. Wrote Conrad:

"I’ve seen activists who began by serving the people, or exhorting the world to, end up serving only themselves. And I’ve seen students who thought only of saving their families end up saving the world, or trying to. I’ve seen the best and the brightest turn only into the worst and greediest. And I’ve seen someone who was walang alam, or who was made out to be so, teach the world a thing or two about honor and courage and grace."

Saying goodbye to Tita Cory

(The casket of Philippines' former President Corazon C. Aquino as it passes under the Buendia/South Superhighway flyover. Screen capture from Facebook/GMA TV News' livestreaming video.)

(Tita Cory's niche at the Manila Memorial Park. At this time, 4:06 pm, the funeral cortege is still making its way through Sucat.)


(My friend Edwin's video of Tita Cory's funeral procession as it passed by Bangkal, Makati.)

(The cortege at 6: 29 pm, along Sucat Rd. near the cemetery entrance. Broadcasters note that this was the "mainit na pagpugay ng mga tiga-Parañaque" to Tita Cory.)

(The crowd along Sucat Rd., Parañaque, 7:13 pm.)

(Kris and family at the Manila Memorial Park 8:08 pm)

(Kris blessing her Mom's remains w/ holy water. 8:15 pm.)

(Flag draped on Tita Cory's casket is prepared for folding.)

(Tita Cory's coffin is placed inside the niche beside her husband's, Sen. Ninoy Aquino. At this point, the people burst into applause with many in the crowd chanting "Cory! Cory! Cory!" What a great lady she was.)

Rest in peace Tita Cory. You have fought the good fight. It's now our turn.

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Special thanks and congratulations to GMA News TV for the live streaming of Tita Cory's funeral via Facebook. What a great public service esp. to all our kababayan abroad. Iba talaga ang Kapuso. Mabuhay kayo!

GMA visits Tita Cory's wake

AS to be expected, it was a bit awkward in the beginning. Sen. Noynoy Aquino was seated about a feet away from the visiting presidentita and you could see that they were waiting for each other to say something. But eventually, I suppose they both found some safe unpolitical items to discuss, and gradually, they warmed up to each other. We'll find out later in the day for sure, what they spoke about.

I had a feeling the presidentita would go straight to the wake upon landing in Manila. It was actually the best time to go. There were not too many people outside who could possibly jeer her. But even if there were crowds, I doubt if they would've disrespected the presidentita. It's just not in our nature to be impolite.

But at least, the ordeal is over and done with, both for the Aquino and Arroyo families. Everyone appeared civil and polite. And so now...exhale...

Meantime, here's the raw footage from ABS-CBN:



(UPDATE 2:29 pm) SORRY guys, the link to ABS-CBN seems to be loopy. I'll try to get a better video for you later. Or try clicking here. Thanks!

Tears for Tita Cory

I DON'T think I cried so much in one day, even for my brothers or father who have passed away. The necrological service for former President Corazon C. Aquino ("Tita Cory") was just so moving. There were so many heartfelt messages from her friends, family members and former colleagues in government, which showed just how much she was loved. How wonderful to listen to so many who have this much affection for her.

The most moving for me was I suppose, the eulogy of her PSG aide, Mel Mamaril. It was so simple, unrehearsed, and straight from the heart. He told people how much a part of the family Tita Cory made him feel. It was truly honest and touching. I hope someone is able to get a copy of his eulogy and post it on the web. (UPDATE 08/05/09 2:56 am: Click this link for Insp. Mamaril's eulogy via ABS-CBN's web site.)

In the meantime, here's the eulogy of Rep. Teddyboy Locsin, former speechwriter and an adviser of Tita Cory during her term of office. He has been one of her closest allies to the very end.

Eulogy for President Cory Aquino

Look how far we've come

BACK in 1986, housewife Corazon C. Aquino, and widow of the late senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino, called for a boycott of crony companies and media like Bulletin Today to show the public's displeasure w/ the Marcos administration. Several advertisers, heeding, Tita Cory's call, even pulled out their ads from Bulletin.

This was the front page of Manila Bulletin on Aug. 2, 2009, the day after the former Philippine president died.



...and today's front page.



I think we're gonna be okay.

One last time

One of the last interviews of former President Corazon C. Aquino, from GMA News TV's Newsmakers Archives, Sept. 2008.


For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV

The power of prayers

Like many of her media colleagues, friends and relatives, I, too, subscribed to an e-mail group that had been set up so Chet could give us almost daily updates on Margie’s condition. At times, many of us felt weepy and helpless reading Chet’s updates, especially when it seemed that Margie’s condition had taken a turn for the worst. And then, she would get better, and we would all breath a sigh of relief, thankful that the good Lord had heard our prayers. (For the rest, click Something Like Life, July 31, 2009.)

(UPDATE 1:05 pm, Aug. 1, 2009) Thank you Lord for lending us Tita Cory. She has served You well.

Read this obit by veteran journalist Seth Mydans in NYT.

Feels nyo?

I WASN'T able to catch the entire State of the Nation Address of the presidentita today as I was much too busy attending to family errands. (Anyhoo, I'll read the transcript in a bit.)

Besides I had read an earlier draft of her speech and knew she would not make any categorical statements about stepping down as president when her term ends, unlike Tita Cory in her last SONA in 1991. To everyone - except her sipsip congressmen and supporters - announcing that she would not seek the highest post in the land via Charter Change or other dubious means would have made today's speech her best SONA ever. As usual, we the Filipino people, are not so lucky.


For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV

But it's interesting to note the comments/status messages of many of my friends on Facebook about it. I'm publishing some of them here, but withhold their identities for obvious reasons.

From Dako Tin-og: puro thank you congress to, a. state of the nation address ba ito or opening ceremony ng gma-congress mutual fan club?

Grace: a year is a VERY long time if she's president

Tangkad: [I] was so impressed with SONA. IDOL KO SI GMA!!!!!

Hanky: "Don't say bad words in public." OK, only in private. Tangnamu.

Fried rice: SONAmabitz!

And the best one so far:

Esprit de Corps: Ano ang kaibhan ng FAIRY TALE at ng SONA? Ang fairy tale ay kwentong 'di totoo na may duwende. Ang SONA ay may duwende na nagkukuwento ng 'di totoo. :)

(to be updated)

My own reaction: BITAYIN! ang gumawa ng SONA gown ni GMA. (Ano sya, feeling Nanay Dionisia?) :p

(UPDATE 7:12 pm) OH how sad! I was just told that it was Inno Sotto who designed the presidentita's 'french fries' gown. Ay caramba!

GMA SONA 07/27/2009