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28
Jul
NBA bigwig not named Kobe is here
Filipino sports fans, did we just miss something?
Like most Pinoys, I enjoy watching basketball, especially the NBA. Last week, Kobe Bryant of the champion LA Lakers visited the Philippines for the third time and he said he now felt like the country is his second home. It’s because of all the adulation he gets when here, befitting a superstar of the world’s greatest basketball team.
But there’s another NBA biggie who is here now who has not gotten the attention he deserves. Being the first honest-to-goodness Filipino-American to become head coach of an NBA team, Erik Spoelstra of the Miami Heat should be getting the star treatment.
Spoelstra’s mom is a Pinay who immigrated to the states some four decades ago when he was just three years old. Now 38, he moved up the ranks of the Heat, starting out as a video librarian or something like that. His dad was active with several NBA teams in various managerial positions. It was former Heat coach and current president Pat Riley who served as his mentor, promoting him all the way to head coach last year.
Despite a relatively weak line up, with only Dwyane Wade as a superstar, the Heat managed to perform well, with a win-loss ratio of better than 50 percent. This means they won more games than they lost, virtually assuring Spoelstra’s return as head coach this next season.
Anyway, the Fil-Am is reportedly in Zamboanga this week where he has held a sports camp for youngsters. I learned about this by accident.
Now I ask, why weren’t our sports editors and reporters on the ball? His arrival should have merited at least Page 1 treatment, along with long features in the sports pages. And he should be handling sports clinics in Metro Manila, sponsored by any of the big players like Nike or Milo or whatever.
Erik Spoelstra, incidentally, holds the record of being the youngest head coach ever in the NBA. I also recall that he played pro ball in Europe for a while, as a point guard.
Since starting this blog, I’ve featured several world-class Filipinos whom we should all be proud of. Add Erik Spoelstra to that list.
27
Jul
She blew it
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo had one golden chance to tell her countrymen that she was definitely stepping down next year, but she didn’t. What should have been her valedictory State of the Nation Address only fanned the fire of rumors that Mrs. Arroyo has every intention of perpetuating herself as president (or prime minister).
Her silence spoke volumes. She refused to categorically state that she would bow out of public life after her successor is elected in the May 2010 elections. And neither did she say she would not take the foolish step of running for congressman in place of her son. Such a move would have been too obvious, too transparent. Now we are led to believe that she really plans to deliver more Sonas in the years to come.
So what can we expect in the weeks to come?
How about a House of Representatives bulldozing its way as a constituent assembly without the Senate voting separately, as intended by the Constitution? The goal will be charter change allowing her to stay on as president, most likely by removing term limits.
And if this move becomes so unpopular that an uprising backed by the military, the Church, the academe, numerous elected officials and civil society becomes an eventuality?
Then expect bombings all over the country, which will be blamed on either the communists or terrorists. This will be the excuse to declare a state of emergency and suspend next year’s elections.
I know I sometimes sound like a broken record with my repeated warnings that charter change is about to be rammed down our throats by this regime. But I also know that I do not stand alone. The fear is valid and it is growing.
With her speech lasting more than an hour, she could have easily taken a few seconds to tell everyone that she was definitely leaving public office for good after June 30, 2010. Even her critics would have given her a standing ovation had she done so.
There’s really only one good thing I can say about Mrs. Arroyo’s latest Sona. She wore a really nice Inno Sotto gown, didn’t she?
26
Jul
Her last Sona
I don’t expect anything extraordinary to come out of today’s State of the Nation Address of Mrs. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. After having heard her past Sonas, I expect more of the same.
There are enough good speechwriters in her staff. Her speech would have been completed weeks ago, even if it had to be farmed out to any outsider who specializes in crafting speeches full of motherhood statements in colorful rhetoric.
She will claim some successes and ignore her failures of the last 12 months. Whatever she says will be irrelevant. The important thing is that this will be her last Sona.
Mrs. Arroyo is expected to tackle charter change, perhaps even push strongly for it, which would be a huge mistake. Nothing she says will change the fact that the Filipino people are overwhelmingly against cha-cha.
What I am worried about is if she says anything about the country facing a serious crisis, either from the communists or terrorists. This will be her ploy to declare a national emergency, thereby extending her stay in Malacanang.
The fact that her national security adviser has done the rounds discussing the possibility of setting up a caretaker or an emergency government indicates this to be a strong possibility. Good thing we have a chief justice of the Supreme Court who rejected the idea outright.
No one is buying the palace line that the Cabinet rank adviser did so on his own.
If she keeps saying that she is misunderstood, especially by media, she has no one to blame but herself. A president is supposed to know everything that her immediate family is doing in her behalf.
If Mrs. Arroyo tells us all in no uncertain terms that she will step down when her term ends next year, and that she will take no steps to extend her term no matter what, then perhaps we can give her the benefit of the doubt.
Most of all, she should tell us that this is her last Sona. No ifs, no buts. She should simply admit her many mistakes, then say goodbye to Congress and to the people without any histrionics or dramatic flourishes. Being the most unpopular president that the country has ever had, Mrs. Arroyo can at least bow out gracefully, with her head held high.
Goodbye, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
21
Jul
Rest in peace, Tita Boots
To anyone who has ever experienced the loss of a parent, I now know what the pain is like.
My mom, God bless her, is still alive and well, although she is permanently living in the US. After she and my dad separated, I considered my aunt Salvacion ‘Boots’ de Venecia as my surrogate mother.
Tita Boots recently passed away and I know she is definitely in heaven now.
She was the best possible surrogate mom any boy or teen could have. I went through those difficult years intact and I owe much of it to her. More than anything, I wanted to please her, to make her proud of me.
Because my mom wasn’t around, Tita Boots signed all my report cards from school. Nor did it end when I went to the States to study. I still found a need for her during another difficult period in my life.
My first marriage was ending and I needed some guidance. I needed the warmth that a mother gives her child, and I sought Tita Boots out again.
She and her hubby, Tito Oscar, also took me into her home during the period of my own separation and subsequent divorce. (I also had my failed marriage annulled.) Tito Oscar and Tita Boots treated me like their own son.
I can never repay the debt I owe them. Now, with the passing of Tita Boots, I hope to find the words to express my sincerest and most heartfelt thanks for being there for me when I needed someone.
I like to think that I am now a well-grounded and well-adjusted adult, thanks in large part to her. I also like to think that some of the principles I live by were taught to me by her. Most of all, I learned from her the lesson of being kind to everyone, especially those who have less in life.
If anyone were to ask if it’s possible to love two women as one’s mother, I will say yes. Definitely. I am living proof of this.
I ask the readers of my blog to say a little prayer for the eternal repose of the soul of Salvacion ‘Boots’ de Venecia.
She was a good and decent human being. Her time on this earth mattered. I will miss her.
17
Jul
Fantastic, foxy FilAm
Fantastic, foxy FilAm
I just learned that Filipino-American Aileen Jan Yap was crowned Miss United States International 2009 a few days ago. She will represent the US in the 49th Miss International pageant to be held in Macau this November.
A couple of decades ago, I lived for an extended period in New York . There I got to meet a lot of FilAms, members of the opposite sex included. A lot of them were movie star beautiful.
There’s something about the mixture of East and West, specifically Filipino and American blood, that results in breathtaking beauties. The guys aren’t bad looking too, but I’m not interested in that, people.
Since I was a young bachelor back then, I may as well have been in Bachelor Heaven.
The great thing about these FilAm lovelies is not just their looks. A lot of them still have our Filipino culture ingrained in them. This means respect for elders and a serious attitude over their studies, with the latter trait shared by most Asians in America.
Today, some FilAms are making their mark in US showbiz with Vanessa Hudgens leading the pack. The star of the High School Musical movies is a talented young actress and, with a little luck, go far.
The Pussycat Dolls’ lead singer Nicole Scherzinger is also half Pinay. In fact, when she was here a few weeks ago, I heard her interviewed over the radio. Her Tagalog was flawless, meaning she is a true Filipino still. (No wonder my teenage son likes to listen to the Pussycat Dolls so much!)
Last year, a friend of mine showed me a copy of Playboy Philippines. The girl on the cover is a FilAm, he told me. He said he got to say ‘hi’ to her and she was pretty nice. Very respectful, very sweet, very Filipina. She was actually a centerfold in the US edition of the men’s magazine.
Win or lose, I’m sure 20-year-old Aileen Jan Yap will do the US and the Philippines proud. Here’s a picture of her after she won as Miss Texas , paving the way for her winning the Miss US International 2009 pageant, which I found in Google.
15
Jul
Joey de Venecia in Capiz
Joey de Venecia in Capiz
Si Joey de Venecia III, ZTE-NBN whistleblower, ay mainit na tinanggap at magiliw na ipinakilala ni ginang Amelia Yap, butihing ina ni Ivisan Mayor Felipe Neri Yap ng lalawigan ng Capiz, sa kanilang mga kababayan. Bukod sa Ivisan, si Joey ay umikot din sa Sigma at Dao sa Capiz.
14
Jul
Jun Lozada is only a star witness-INQUIRER.net, Philippine News for Filipinos
Jun Lozada is only a star witness-INQUIRER.net,
Philippine News for Filipinos
Posted date: July 15, 2009
For the past few months, I have noticed that the Inquirer has been referring to Rodolfo “Jun” Lozada as the whistle-blower of the ZTE-NBN deal.
Correct me if I am wrong, but isn’t Jose de Venecia III the true whistle-blower of the billion-peso scandal? Doesn’t “whistle-blower” mean the first person to reveal a scandal? If so, then De Venecia rightly deserves the title.
It is not just a matter of semantics. Lozada was not the first to expose the scandal, he only supported all of De Venecia’s claims. Also, it was De Venecia who supplied the documents on the scam.
I believe that the correct description of Lozada is “star witness” as he supported the allegations made by De Venecia regarding the huge kickbacks that were to be received by First Gentleman Mike Arroyo and Comelec Commissioner Benjamin Abalos.
Former NEDA Secretary General Romulo Neri can be considered a hostile witness, as he supported both the testimony of De Venecia and Lozada.
De Venecia and Lozada are both brave men who risked much to inform the public of the widespread corruption within the
Arroyo administration. One is the “whistle-blower,” the other is a “star witness.”
Since the Inquirer is the country’s leading newspaper, other papers and even broadcast media organizations follow its lead.
Both gentlemen deserve to be described correctly.
—JIANNE LEE,
4/F Piso Bldg.,
Pasay Road, Makati City
13
Jul
Joey III: No politics in Obama-Arroyo meeting
Joey III: No politics in Obama-Arroyo meeting
The invitation from US President Barack Obama to meet with Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in Washington next month is an honor bestowed not on the person but on the Philippines, businessman Joey de Venecia III said yesterday.
In fact, the meeting is a necessity for both countries. It will not be a social call.
“This makes the Philippines the first Southeast Asian country whose leader meets the US president. As such, it can be considered as recognition by the White House of the important role our country plays in this part of the world,” according to de Venecia.
Since the US considers the Philippines as a front in its global war on terrorism, the Obama-Arroyo meeting is important to sustain the effort, he said.
While Obama has abandoned some of the policies of his predecessor George Bush on how to face the global threat — such as closing their detention facility in Guantanamo Bay in Cuba and depriving suspected terrorists of all rights under the US constitution – continued training of Filipino forces by their American counterparts is expected to continue.
“There should be no let-up in the effort, even if the Philippines has a lameduck president with less than a year left in her extended term,” the ZTE-NBN whistleblower added, “That war on terrorism transcends politics.”
The US has linked the Philippine-based terrorist group Abu Sayyaf to Al Qaida, led by Osama bin Laden, whom the US considers its most wanted. Bin Laden’s network is held by the US responsible for the Sept. 11 attacks in New York City and the Pentagon where more than 3,000 civilians were killed.
“I suppose it’s perfect timing that the visit of Mrs. Arroyo to Washington next month was announced right after the release of Eugenio Vagni, the Red Cross worker who had been held by the Abu Sayyaf for more than six months,” said de Venecia.
On the negative side, the recent spate of bombings in the south also served to remind the world that the Philippines still faced a serious problem with the Abu Sayyaf and other terrorist organizations.
“This is something that Mrs. Arroyo and Mr. Obama will discuss very seriously,” according to de Venecia.
Among the kinks that can be ironed out are the rights and responsibilities of visiting US forces in the country, given that there is a pending rape case against an American soldier filed by a Filipino woman, even as an earlier rape conviction of another serviceman had been reversed by a local court.
Hopefully, he added, Mrs. Arroyo will set the stage for smoother relations between the US and the Philippines when her elected successor replaces her next year.
“Mrs. Arroyo is going to the US next month to meet with President Obama as part of a working visit, not a state visit. I hope her political allies will not use it as an excuse to go on a junket at the Filipino taxpayers’ expense,” de Venecia said.
“All of us must expect that the meeting will be a productive one.”
12
Jul
Estrada joins brouhaha over Arroyo ‘boob job’
Estrada joins brouhaha over Arroyo ‘boob job’
By Tina Santos
Philippine Daily Inquirer
11 July 2009
MANILA, Philippines — No need for the National Bureau of Investigation to step in.
This was the reaction of former President Joseph Estrada to a report that the bureau would investigate who had leaked the
story of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s breast implants to the media.
“I cannot understand why the NBI is using its resources looking for the doctors who talked about the medical attention
given to you know who, when there are so many cases of killings, incidences of ambush assassinations, bombings and
other heinous crimes that need to be investigated,” Estrada told members of the Manila Medical Society who invited him as
guest speaker for its 107th foundation anniversary on Thursday.
“Ang masasabi ko lang, NBI, huwag naman ninyong dibdibin ang kasong ito,” he added. (All I can say to the NBI is not to
take this seriously)
Quarantine for life
“I hope no doctor in this assembly is under investigation by the NBI for being talkative and revealing the truth about a very
important patient,” added Estrada, whose remarks elicited laughter from the crowd composed of doctors and other medical
practitioners. “If you are among those identified as the one who talked about implants, I hope you do not get quarantined
for life.”
Sought for comment, NBI spokesperson Allan Contado said the bureau was merely acting on the request of Asian Hospital
to determine the possible administrative liability of any of its employees for the leakage.
During his term as president, he said the state of his health was never made a secret because national security was at
stake.
While claiming that the issue was a personal matter, Estrada stressed that the president’s health was a public concern.
“Why are they so secretive about it? The people have the right to know,” he told reporters later.” When you’re a public
official, you lose your privacy. You’re public property.”
Palace spokesmen initially denied the report but later admitted that the President had breast implants done in the ’80s.
Cosmetic surgeon Raul Guanzon confirmed Wednesday that Ms Arroyo underwent an excision biopsy at the Asian
Hospital and Medical Center in Muntinlupa City last week. He, however, declined to comment when asked about the
reported breast implants.
Joey’s defense
One of her most vocal critics, Jose “Joey” de Venecia III, said the report was a “non-issue.”
“Whether she had implants or not is her business and should not even be a topic of discussion,” the ZTE-NBN whistle-
blower said in a statement
De Venecia said the president’s general state of health was the issue, not the breast implants. “The public has a right to
know about her health,” he stressed. “She is, after all, the country’s chief executive.”
The businessman said Ms Arroyo’s friends and relatives should “ignore the snide and unkind remarks” regarding the
implants, adding that continuing to make an issue or gaining political points over the implants would do no good for the
administration, the opposition and the people.
“I never had any personal animosity towards Mrs. Arroyo,” said De Venecia. “If she is not well, I hope she gets better.”
7
Jul
Joey III defends GMA’s need for privacy
Joey III defends GMA’s need for privacy
He may be one of her most vocal critics, but Joey de Venecia III says the public should respect Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s private life.
“All this talk about GMA’s supposed breast implants is a non-issue as far as I’m concerned. Whether she had implants or not is her business and should not even be a topic of discussion,” de Venecia said in a statement yesterday.
The ZTE-NBN whistleblower said Mrs. Arroyo “does not deserve this disrespect.”
She may be president, but she is also a wife, mother, grandmother and sister to her close kin, he added.
Malacanang recently admitted that Mrs. Arroyo had breast implants two decades ago, but said this had nothing to do with her hospitalization this week for a biopsy. Growths in her breast and groin turned out to be benign, according to the palace.
Mrs. Arroyo was also kept under quarantine as a safeguard against swine flu following a series of foreign trips she took in the last few weeks.
De Venecia said her general state of health was the issue, not the breast implants.
“The public has a right to know about her health,” the businessman said, “She is, after all, the country’s chief executive.”
He said any president of any country must be able to perform the duties of the office. “If and when a president’s health affects his or her performance, then something should be done about it. The president can go on leave, resign, or be impeached if he or she refuses to step down,” according to de Venecia.
He said Mrs. Arroyo’s friends and relatives should “ignore the snide and unkind remarks” regarding the implants and move on. He also asked those who continued to make an issue or gain political points over the implants to stop as it did no good for the administration, the opposition and the people.
“I never had any personal animosity towards Mrs. Arroyo. If she is not well, I hope that she gets better. She is still relatively young and should have a long life ahead of her,” said de Venecia, who added that the dividing line between one’s personal life and public life had been crossed with the publication and airing of senseless comments about Mrs. Arroyo’s implants.
“Those who make an issue of the implants are showing themselves to be nothing but a bunch of boobs,” said de Venecia.
