Radical changes by MMDA

Filipino artists paint a mural on a wall in EDSA, a main highway, with air-purifying paint in Metro Manila February 1, 2012. A local paint manufacturing company is doing large massive artworks using paints that can clean noxious air pollutants along EDSA, a 24 kilometer stretch highway in Metro Manila, which is reported to have the fourth most polluted air among major cities in the world.

To develop Metro Manila, it may be necessary for the city to move out.

Metro Manila Development Authority chairman Francis Tolentino said Friday that to make a better Metro Manila, there must be radical changes, which might include relocating the seaport to Batangas.

The old seaport space could then house a new Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

Speaking before the Philippine Tour Operators Association, Tolentino said Singapore, Hong Kong, and Japan have airports by the sea. "It's only here where the airport is inside a subdivision," he said.

In a related development, Transportation and Communications Secretary Manuel Roxas II said over DZMM on Friday that air operations may also have to be moved to Clark in Angeles because the runways in NAIA are congested.

Clearing the seaport will also remove container vans and large trucks in the port and San Marcelino areas, Tolentino said.

However, to execute such a plan and to extend planned Roxas Boulevard all the way to Navotas, require a large-scale relocation of residents, he said.

Metro Manila will also have to expand to parts of Rizal, Bulacan, and Laguna, he said.

A six-lane Skybridge from Quezon City to Makati is also being eyed. Tolentino said the Skybridge is expected to reduce 40 percent of traffic from Epifanio Delos Santos Avenue.

A planned extension of train lines to Cavite and Antipolo is also expected to decongest Metro Manila, which has around 14 million residents.

He said these proposals are part of Metro Manila Greenprint 2030, a long-term development plan that seeks to raise the standard of living in the metropolis.

Greenprint is currently being formulated and a final development plan is expected by June next year.

"The model here is to relocate little by little our government center," he said.

He said the same was done in Malaysia, where government offices were moved to Putrajaya from Kuala Lumpur in 1999. 

Brazil also founded Brasilia in the 1960s to replace Rio De Janeiro as the capital.

"We can retain the current spaces for heritage, residential, and mixed-use purposes," he said, but Manila has to move away from the center.

The Scarborough Shoal Incursion

A diplomatic cable released by whistle-blowing website WikiLeaks said China could not specify a historical document to support its claims to disputed islands in the West Philippine Sea.

In diplomatic cable 08BEIJING3499 sent to Washington by the US embassy in Beijing on Sept. 9, 2008, a Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) official and a local scholar could not identify specific historical records to justify China’s “Nine Dashes” claim that covers the whole Spratlys and areas within other countries’ exclusive economic zones.

MFA Department of Treaty and Law Oceans and Law of the Sea Division Deputy Director Yin Wenqiang told a US embassy political officer on Aug. 30, 2008 that “China has indisputable sovereignty over the islands in the South China Sea and the adjacent waters.”

China has dispatched a powerful military vessel in the South China Sea after rejecting a Philippine proposal to submit the Panatag Shoal dispute, now on its 10th day, to international arbitration, Chinese media reported Thursday.

The English-language China Daily based in Beijing said China’s most advanced fishing patrol vessel, the Yuzheng 310, had been sent to protect Chinese fishermen in the region, which Manila calls the West Philippine Sea.

The newspaper, regarded as a guide to official Chinese policy, said that Beijing’s latest moves underscored its “determination to protect its maritime interests in response to Manila’s refusal to withdraw ships from Chinese waters.”

Yuzheng 310, described as the fastest fishery administration vessel, left Guangzhou on the Pearl River just outside Hong Kong Wednesday morning for an undisclosed place in the South China Sea, it said.

“Yin admitted he is not aware of the historical basis for the ‘Nine Dashes’ and only mentioned unspecified ‘Chinese historical documents’ that indicate the basis for China’s claims on territory west of the Philippines,” the US embassy official said.

According to Wikileaks, Yang said China’s claims “date back to ancient times, prior to the development of the modern nation-state.”

Are prostitutes criminals?

R.A. 10158, an act decriminalizing vagrancy or Article 202 of the Revised Penal Code, was published today Apr. 4, in Manila Bulletin and The Philippine Star. The law takes effect on April 19, 2012 or 15 days after publication.

Liza Gonzales, a survivor of prostitution, said in a statement furnished by Coalition Against Trafficking in Women – Asia Pacific (CATW-AP), “They just passed a law which is highly discriminatory against women. We were singled out, targeted as criminals, while the pimps are decriminalized."

Originally, pimps were identified as belonging to the class of vagrants under the Revised Penal Code. Therefore, with vagrants dropped from the Code under the new law, pimps have also been excluded from being criminally liable.

Jean Enriquez, executive director of CATW-AP said she was shocked by the developments. “It’s the height of betrayal this Lent,” she told. CATW-AP also organized the march held Tuesday.

CATW-AP said that along with allied organizations, they have spent the last nine years lobbying to pass a comprehensive anti-prostitution law which will repeal the Vagrancy Act, not amend it. Their intent is to decriminalize the victims, but punish the buyers and the business.

Enriquez said that prostitutes never “dreamt to be a prostitute as a girl nor were they lazy.” They were “pushed by economic and gender-based violence” and “pulled by the market of buyers and sex profiteers.”

During the dramatization of the Stations of Cross at the rally, “a victim of prostitution and incest spoke,” said Enriquez. She represented the second station, which protestors renamed “Magdalena was sexually abused by her own uncle and grandfather.”

However, they were unaware then that the bill had already been signed into law by on March 27, or seven days earlier, by President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino.

Katrina Halili confirms pregnancy; Kris Lawrence is the father!

Katrina Halili is allegedly leaving the GMA-7 soap “My Beloved” because of a believed pregnancy that is spreading through the gossip columns of the media. She is playing the antagonist in Marian Rivera and Dingdong Dantes’ love story but maybe not for much longer.

Not only a contraversal pregnancy but also badly timed affecting her current TV show’s filming. Katrina Halili is 3 months pregnant by R+B Singer Kris Lawrence.

"Tinanong ko ang sarili ko kung ready na ba ako na iba naman ang pagtuunan ko ng pansin, at okay naman po. Blessing po ito sa akin kaya masaya po ako," Katrina said

The speculation started from rumours of an actress in the Philippines TV circuit that is part of a primetime soap currently airing is pregnant with her longtime boyfriends child. They had been dating a long time before the video scandal came out yet they broke up because of it.

Is the rumours true or just a media circuit spin to get some free publicity? your guess is as good as mine.

Dialysis centers in 2 Pampanga towns from Vice Gov. Yeng Guiao

The three-termer vice governor also said that construction will start next month.

“We are looking at having the center in Magalang operational by May this year. After that, we will move on to Mabalacat for another dialysis center, he said.

Vice Governor Joseller “Yeng” Guiao said over the weekend that he and some private partners will build dialysis centers for the poorest of the poor in Magalang and Mabalacat towns.

“We will start with a building worth P1 million to P2 million at the Andres Luciano [formerly Balitucan District Hospital] Medical Center in Magalang. Then, we will replicate this in Mabalacat so patients from nearby towns like Arayat and Mexico could also avail of services in the dialysis centers,” he said.

Guiao stressed that the centers will have 10-bed capacities and would be fully equipped.

“Each building or center will have a capacity of at least 10 beds each. They would be completely and fully equipped. These are in support of Governor Lilia Pineda’s priority health agenda and in line with the administration’s public-private partnership thrusts,” he added.

Guiao recently donated 16 motorized hospital beds to the Andres Luciano Medical Center.

DMIA mas papatok ba kung ibabalik sa dati nitong pangalan na Clark International Airport?

RA 10086 - An Act Strengthening People's Nationalism through Philippine History by changing the nomenclature of the National Historical Institute of the Philippines, strengthening its powers and functions and for other purposes. Under this Act a revised guidelines were issued: I. Who may name of rename - all public... places (national properties) may be named or renamed by the Phil President through a proclamation or by through legislation III. Character of names - 1. Proposed names must have historical and cultural significance and must contribute to the positive development of national pride through the good example exhibited by the name being used IV. NAMING/RENAMING AFTER PERSONS 1. Street. plaza or any public place may be named or renamed to honor a person or family who contributed to the welfare of the Filipino People. 3. Public places such as the those already named after (Philippine) presidents, national heroes cannot be replaced with the names of people of lessed importance.

Both CIA and DMIA were not named in accordance with this guidelines. DMIA name was approved by the CDC board resolution of 2001, CIA name has no resolution. There is presumption of regularity in using the name DMIA on account of this resolution and two (2) Executive Orders (EOs 193 and 716) empowering Clark International Airport Corporation to manage and operate the Clark Civil Aviation Complex comprising 2,200 hectares and the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport.

Who is Clark and Who is Diosdado Macapagal?

Clark is Major Harold Clark, and american pilot who perished in a seaplane crash in panama in 1917. During the early years of Phil-American of the last century, the american cavalry forces made a camp or fort north of Angeles, and by virtue of an EO of american president Theodore Roosevelt issued on Sept of 19003 named it as fort stotsenburg. later it became an airfield with the advent of the airplanes and named it as Clark Air Field and in 1949 as Clark Air Base. This name Clark is an imposition to us by our former colonial masters. Tanong ko po - and pag gamit ba ng pangalang clark ay naaayong sa itinatakda ng NHCP guidelines under article I section 1. and under article IV section 3 and 4? Ang paggamit ba ng pangalang Clark ay nakakadagdag sa ating pambansang dignidad? Ano ba ang magandang halimbawa na dapat tularan ng kabataang pilipino sa nagawa taong Clark sa ating bansa? Ano ba ang nagawa ni Clark para mag contribute sa "welfare of the filipino people? Ang gusto ng CIAC board ay ipangalan nalang kay Disodado Macapagal ang terminal at ang airport ay kay Clark - please read again sec 3, article IV of the guidelines - kapag naipangalan mo na sa isang presidente ng ating bansa and isang public place hindi na po ito pwedeng ipangalan sa isang tao na mas mababa and posisyon sa presidente. Presidente po si Disodado Macapagal tapos ang balak ng CIAC ay ipangalan nalang sa kanya ang terminal, at ang buong airport facilities at aviation comples ay ipangalan kay Clark, ang terminal ay isang bahagi lamang ng airport. Hindi po ba demotion ito under the guidelines?

Sino naman po si Diosdao Macapagal - siya po ay first kapampangan president of the philippines, he is the fahter of land reform law that "emancipipated" the farmers from the bondage of the soil they tilled. Galing pos siya sa mahirap na pamilya, Naigapang po niya and kanyang sarili sa pagaaral sa pagtulong ng mga kamaganak at mga mababait na pilantropo para makatapos ng kolehiyo, abugasya, naging congressman at naging presidente. Hindi nabahiran ng anumang anomalya ang kanyang administrayon. Noong pong presidente siya mula 1960-1964, Philippines is second in Asia after Japan in terms of economic develpment. Isa siyang magaling na manunulat at poetang kapampangan, artista sa entablado at marami pang iba. Huwaran po siy at dapat tularan ng mga kabataan dahil sa kanyang marangal na pagkatao. Isang mahirap o dukhang pilipino na nagsikap na magaral at naging presidente ng ating bansa. Kaya ang bansa po sa kanya ay "the poor boy from lubao, pampanga.

Tanong ko po ulit, sino and dapat tularan s Maj. Harold Clark ba na isang amerikano o si Diosdado Macapagal, isang maralitang pilipino na naging presidente ng pilipinas? Sino po ba sa kanila and nagdadagdag ng pambansang dignidad as ating bansa, sino ang nakatulong sa kanila para sa kagalingan ng mga pilipino? Basahin po natin ang guidelines and tanungin po natin ang ating sarili, pipiliin po ba natin ang ating kapwa pilipino o ang pangalang idinikta sa atin ng mga dating colonial masters natin.

Maraming salamat po.
- by: Alex Cauguiran

Bakit ang Pera, may Mukha? Bakit ang Mukha, walang Pera?

Filipinos are notorious for their short memories and this explains why the government erects and maintains monuments, markers, landmarks and shrines all over the archipelago to remind Filipinos of a glorious past. This also explains why we have a government agency responsible for history—the National Historical Commission of the Philippines—which was recently given the responsibility of overseeing memorials, commemorations and holidays.

Marami na ang naisulat tungkol sa pera. May kanta tulad ng naririnig niyo ngayon na gawa ng The Youth at ginawan ng rendition ng Parokya ni Edgar. Mayroong "Money, Money, Money" ng Abba at "Money for Nothing" ni Dire Straits. Sabi nila, "Money is the root of all evil". Sabi ng iba ay "Umiikot ang mundo sa pera". Kung ang sabi ni Kuya Kim ay "Ang buhay ay weather-weather lang", sa iba naman ay "Pera-pera lang 'yan!".

Just in time for the Yuletide, inilabas na ng Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas ang mga bagong itsura ng pera ng mga Pinoy. Sa internet ko lang ulit ito nakita, courtsey of Yahoo! News. Sa aking opinyon, maganda ang naging disenyo ng mga bagong bayarin. Akma ang ginawa nilang gawing parang "business card" ng Pilipinas ang mga pera natin. Sa harapan ay naroon ang kasaysayan habang sa likuran naman ay naroon ang mga tourist spots na ipinagmamalaki natin sa buong mundo. Kung isa akong isang dayuhang mamamasyal sa Pinas, makakatulong ang pera sa aking itinerary.

Gusto ko lamang bigyang puna ang mga bagong pera natin.

BENTE. Sigurado akong isa ito sa pinakamaraming magiging laman ng mga sobreng ipamimigay sa mga bata bilang aginaldo ngayong Kapaskuhan. "Galing kay ninong at Ninang". Ang hirap gastusin kasi bago, mabango, at malutong. Pero huwag ka, mga ilang araw lang na ganun at mauubos rin naman. Hindi ko alam kung sa computer ko lang pero parang nag-iba ang kulay nito. Kaugnay kay Manuel Quezon ang lahat ng nasa harapan. Nandoon pa rin ang Palasyo ng Malakanyang. Makikita pa rin kaya 'yung anino ng taong nasa bintana na nakaimprenta sa lumang bente? Hindi ko alam kung bakit mula isang libo ay bumaba papuntang bente ang Banaue Rice Terraces.

TAPWE. Mukhang kulay pula pa rin naman. Kung sakaling magtatanong ka kung bakit 'yung landing ni McArthur sa Leyte ang kaugnay Late President Serge, ito ay dahil sa siya ang Vice President nang pumanaw si Quezon at noong patapos na ang WWII. Taal Volcano ang nasa likuran. Puwede na rin dahil isang natural wonder ito pero mas "wonderful" ang Banaue, 'di ba?

UBE. May halaga pa ba ang sandaan? President Roxas ang nag-author ng pagkakaroon ng isang central bank kaya kung maalala niyo, pektyur ng BSP ang nasa likod ng dating sandaang piso. Okay ang choice na Mayon Volcano at butanding. Kaso wala na ang security feature ng perang ito tulad ng nasa dating sandaan na may "bangkosentralngpilipinasbangkosentralngpilipinas..." sa mismong pektyur ng gusali.

ARROYO BILL. Dios ama. Dios anak. Diosdado Macapagal. Ito ang pinakapangit sa lahat ng designs. Parang walang theme. Connect the dots. Dahil siya ang nagpalit ng Independence Day from July 4 to June 12, nasa perang ito ang Aguinaldo Shrine at Barasoain Church na nasa dating lima at sampung pisong papel, respectively. Kita pa rin ba si muning sa bandang itaas ng simbahan? Chocolate Hills at tarsier, wala na ang tatalo pa kapag Bohol ang napag-usapan. Mas may value ito kaysa ipakita ang EDSA Dos. Okay na sana pero taena, ano 'yung nasa bandang kaliwa sa ibaba? May kutong-lupa? Ah hindi pala, nuno sa punso! Ang liit-liit na nga, pinaliit pa. Paksyet, bakit hindi nalang kasi binura?!

NINOY BILL.Mukhang suwerte na itong perang ito dahil hindi na nakasimangot si Ninoy at hindi na rin nakakulumbaba. Wala na ang treseng "500". Wala na ang treseng tao. Wla na 'yung ahas na nakapulupot. Wala na rin ang treseng bituin. Medyo nakakatuwang makita na after ilang years ay nagsama na rin sila ni Tita Cory. 'Yun nga lang, sa harap ng pera! May security feature ang parrot na nasa pera - nag-iiba ng kulay ang batok nito kapag inikot ng ninety degrees. Nagiging green mula red color.

TITO VIC AND JOEY. Hanggang ngayon ay 'di ko pa rin alam ang pagkokonek sa tatlong ito. Si Josefa Lllanes Escoda, alam kong siya ang founder ng Girls Scouts of the Philippines. Si Vicente Lim naman, ang alam ko lang sa kanya ay isa siyang kalye na binababaan ko noong pumapasok pa ako sa uste. Si Jose Abad Santos, kalye pa rin ang pagkakakilala ko sa kanya. Astig ang pagkakalagay ng Tubbataha Coral Reefs sa likuran! Pangarap kong makapunta dito kasama ang aking pamilya balang araw. Tulad ng limangdaan, may security feature din ang bill na ito. Nagiging gree from red ang kulay ng clam kapag inikot ng ninety degrees.

Okay ang ginawa ng BSP na ipakita ang mas batang itsura ng mga taong nasa harapan ng mga bagong pera. All in all, maganda talaga ang dating nila sa pagkakakita ko sa monitor ng laptop ko. Ewan ko lang sa actual. Hindi tulad ng pera sa ibang bansa na iisang tao lang ang nakalagay sa lahat ng pera at sa kulay lang nagkakatalo, ang sa atin ay may pagkakakilanlan. Kumpara sa ibang perang nahawakan ko na sa mga bansang napuntahan, may ibubuga ang gawang pinoy!