‘Major Events’ Articles
Written by magnolia on 03 February 2010
Manila, Philippines — Less than a hundred days before the May 10 general elections, Senators Aquino and Villar are now statistically tied, according to the January 2010 Pulse Asia survey.
The nationwide survey of 1,800 Filipinos of voting age, with a margin of error of plus or minus two percent, also showed vice-presidentiable Mar Roxas II pulling away from his nearest rival and fellow senator, Loren Legarda.
The survey conducted last January 22 to 26 showed that Aquino was the choice of 37 percent of the respondents while Villar got the 35 percent.
Apart from Aquino and Villar, the voters’ preference for the other presidential bets were: Estrada, 12 percent; former defense secretary Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro, 5 percent; evangelist Eduardo “Eddie” Villanueva, 2 percent; Senator Richard “Dick”Gordon, 1 percent; Senator Ana Consuelo “Jamby” Madrigal, 0.5 percent; Councilor John Carlos “JC” De Los Reyes, 0.3 percent; little known Vetaliano “Dodong” Acosta, 0.2 percent; and environmentalist Nicanor “Nick” Perlas, 0.05 percent.
Based on a predetermined set of reasons for their choice, the respondents said their bet was “not corrupt or has a clean record” (24 percent) and “cares for the poor” (also 24 percent).
Competence – as expressed in the survey as “can do something, is doing something, will do something” (16 percent), “used to governing” (6 percent), and “knowledgeable/intelligent” (4 percent) – did not rank high among the reasons for respondents’ choices.
On the race for the second highest post in the land, Roxas took 47 percent of the respondents’ votes, giving him a good lead over Legarda, with 28 percent. Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay was third with 13 percent.
The other vice-presidential bets’ voters’ preference were: former Metro Manila Development Authority chairman Bayani “BF” Fernando, 2 percent; actor Eduardo “Edu” Manzano, also 2 percent; former Securities and Exchange Commission chairman Perfecto “Kidlat” Yasay, 1 percent; broadcaster Jose “Jay” Sonza, 0.2 percent; and Ang Kapatiran’s Dominador “Jun” Chipeco, 0.07 percent.
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Written by magnolia on 02 February 2010
THE Commission on Elections has set on Feb. 11, 2010 the organization of Special Boards of Canvassers (SBC) in each of the more than 100 countries where there are overseas Filipino workers qualified to vote under the Overseas Absentee Voting Act of 2003.
Under the law, overseas absentee voters are qualified to vote for President, Vice-President, Senators and groups accredited to participate in the party-list elections. They are, however, not qualified to vote for governor, congressman, mayor and other local elective officials.
The Comelec said that except in Singapore and Hong Kong, overseas absentee voting will be conducted manually by the Special Board of Election Inspectors (SBEIs) while the SBC, subject to reasonable exceptions, is mandated to complete the canvass of election returns submitted by SBEIs within 36 hours.
The SBC is required, after canvassing, to prepare eight copies of the Certificates of Canvass for President, Vice-President, Senators, and Party-List Representatives, according to Commissioner Armando Velasco, chairman of the Comelec Committee on Overseas Absentee Voting. (PIA)
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Written by magnolia on 01 February 2010
Agence France Press
First posted: 12:40:00;02/01/2010
LOS ANGELES, California, United States—Taylor Swift’s “Fearless” won the Album of the Year Award at the 52nd Grammy Awards here Sunday.
The young country singer’s album beat out competition from Beyonce, the Black Eyed Peas, Lady Gaga, and the Dave Matthews Band.
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Written by magnolia on 26 January 2010
AS to the raging C-5 road controversy staining presidential timber Manny Villar, a friend and political ally of the beleaguered senator hints, time will play against those who wish to implicate Villar.
Sen. Joker Arroyo shared that time will be with them in the remaining session days left to dispose of the report on C-5 road extension mess.
The senator doubts the Senate would come to an argument and said the Senate committee of the whole members showed they could not decide upon themselves.
Arroyo points out disagreements on matters concerning procedure and cited the manner in which the senators would tackle the report prepared for the Senate committee of the whole.
The report is 84 pages, has over 500 pages of exhibits and covers 19 sessions.
He said the senate needs to agree which one to take up first, the committee report or the resolution. He added the mere issue of a quorum has already caused so much trouble. (PIA)
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Written by magnolia on 26 January 2010
The country’s Commission on Elections have shrugged the insinuations of a failed automated elections even as the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) aired concerns over the preparations for the first nationwide computerized elections.
The CBCP through Bishop Nereo Odchimar spelled serious questions about the reliability and integrity of the equipment and the personnel involved have not been satisfactorily answered.
In a pastoral statement issued, the CBCP asks for an alternative system that should be put in place.
By shrugging over what it termed as apocalyptic predictions, Commission on Elections Chair Jose Melo called for sobriety adding that the predictions are not helping.
We should all calm down and soon, we will see that our objectives will be attained,” Melo said. (PIA)
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Written by magnolia on 18 January 2010
Every year a pageant is held to crown the best festival queen among the competing groups for the Sinulog grand parade. Unlike beauty pageants, the sinulog festival queen is not only a test of talent and beauty, but also skills in carrying the holy image of the Santo Nino. They should know how to properly hold it, just like an infant, but at the same time, still has the grace and poise in dancing to the Sinulog beat. Since they are the lead dancer, they also have to posses some leadership skills in maintaining order in their contingent during the parade.
This year’s winners are:
Festival Queen – Kim Villacampa (San Carlos City)
1st runner up – Rata Mae Joy Verano (Abellana National Highschool)
2nd runner up – Shiela Paulino (Placer, Masbate)
3rd runner up – Lota Correos (Lanao del Norte)
4th runner up – Lourdes Mae Santillan (Tribu Banilad Night Highschool)
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Written by magnolia on 09 January 2010
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Red Cross has conrifmed that at least 2 people died during the Black Nazarene Procession.
Fatalities were identified as Rodrigo Ocampo,42, who died of cardiac arrest at the Ospital ng Maynila and Bernardo Basilio,40, died of multiple injuries at the Jose Reyes Hospital.
PNRC also reported that as of 2pm, 221 devotees were provided first aid treatment for various health condtions ranging from dizziness to foot injuries. High blood pressure and lack of oxygen were also experienced by a number of devotees. A certain Adelina Bautista, 80, incurred head injuries and was rushed to the Ospital ng Maynila. More than a million devotees dressed in maroon and yellow joined the procession and attended the mass officiated by Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Rosales.
More than a thousand PNRC Volunteers and Policemen were deployed during the event.
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Written by anyajulia on 28 December 2009
This coming December 30, the nation celebrates the 113th anniversary of the Martyrdom of Dr. Jose Rizal with the theme “Kabayanihan ni Rizal: Daluyan ng Kagitingan at Pagkakaisa.”
On the 30th day of December yearly, the whole nation observes the death anniversary of the great national hero, Dr. Jose P. Rizal. This is to commemorate the nationalism and martyrdom of Rizal. For this reason, December 30 is declared a national non-working holiday. Another reason for the said celebration is perhaps to bring the Filipinos together as they immortalize Rizal and his significance in contemporary times.
The National Organizing Committee headed by the National Historical Institute, has prepared Rizal Day events and activities in designated regions and cities of the country.
One of the features of the commemorative rites is the launching of the 150th Birth Anniversary of Jose Rizal.
The 4th Rizal National Festival of Excellence will be re-launched in time for the 150th Birth Anniversary of Jose Rizal on June 19, 2011. (PIA)
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Written by anyajulia on 23 December 2009
The Department of Education (DepEd) and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has entered into an agreement with the to hasten the titling of sites continuously occupied by public schools nationwide.
DepEd Secretary Jesli Lapus and DPWH Secretary Victor Domingo recently signed an agreement to facilitate the prompt issuance of clearances required for the titling process.
The titling of public schools will protect public schools from encroachment, segregation, illegal occupation, and adverse claims of ownership by other individuals or parties. (DepEd)
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Written by anyajulia on 23 December 2009
The Department of Agriculture imposed a temporary ban on bird and poultry imports from Germany and France due to reported occurrence of avian influenza (AI) or bird flue in said areas. This is in step with the government’s sustained efforts to keep the country free of the bird flu virus.
The Philippines along with Brunei and Singapore are the only AI-free countries in Southeast Asia.
Under the Avian Influenza Protection Program (AIPP), the DA is also implementing an Applied Veterinary Epidemiology Training (AVET) Program to strengthen the capacity of the field veterinary services, especially at the local level, in designing and managing disease surveillance, conducting outbreak investigation and effective outbreak containment measures.
Besides these measures, 20 critical areas are under surveillance especially during the bird migration season of October to February. (PIA)
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Written by anyajulia on 22 December 2009
The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) continues to monitor El Nino and expects it to persist at least into early 2010.
The El Nino condition is likely to reach its peak during the December- February season. This assessment was suggested by latest information taken from global climate prediction centers.
Meanwhile, weather systems likely to influence the climate for December are the Northeast monsoon, the tail-end of the cold, Inter Tropical Convergence Zone, ridge of high-pressure areas, easterly wave and one or two tropical cyclones. (PAGASA/PIA)
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