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Friday, October 30, 2009

A love offering to Senator Noynoy Aquino from entertainment and advertising professionals



Agency: MAD888
Director: Onat Diaz
LP: Red Romero
ECD: Nonon del Carmen
CD: Connie Lazaro
DOP: Shayne Sarte
PD: Ben Padero
AD: Juno Gallardo, Tonipet Gaba
Category: News & Politics

Celebrities (in order of appearance):
Regine Velasquez, James Yap, Kerby Raymundo, Willie Miller, KG Canaleta, Cyrus Baguio, Sharon Cuneta, Boy Abunda, Anne Curtis, Bianca Gonzales, Mariel Rodriguez, Erik Santos, Bea Alonzo, Dingdong Dantes, Ai-Ai delas Alas, Ogie Alcasid, Marian Rivera, Kris Aquino, Enrico Villanueva, LA Tenorio, Larry Fonacier and Paulo Bugia

A message from Col Ariel Querubin III

Sunday, October 25, 2009


May the Peace of Christ be with you!

I have no doubt in my mind that the Lord has all the while been preparing me for public service. I was left for dead in 1989, and He allowed me to spring back to life. I have been imprisoned as a soldier, but I fully regained the honor and right to wear a soldier’s uniform after having been awarded the Medal of Valor in 2001. As my military career was very much back on track, I was again challenged to choose between right and wrong, between honor and injustice, between good and evil.

Even as we all work for a vibrant and prosperous Philippines, my dream is for every Filipino to enjoy the essence of freedom from poverty, fear, and injustice, to feel the tangible benefits of good governance, and to live comfortably in a society that fosters the unity of the family, protects human rights, and upholds the dignity of all.

I have not had an easy life. My life story has been replete with vivid encounters with injustice poverty, corruption, and war. These painful experiences have shaped this dream. I never succumbed to the lure of material wealth. The physical, mental, and emotional hardships have been painful, but I never sold my soul.

I am fully aware that some people would insist that men in uniform should stay away from politics; that we would serve best our nation if we were fighting wars in Mindanao; that we have no business in meddling with the affairs of the state as we have been formed and trained in the rudiments of war, and not in the civil service, much less in politics. I agree but that assumes that the people who have been entrusted with the public trust have been sincere, honest, and have been true to their pledges.

As a young soldier, armed with idealism and the fire of youth, I have offered my life to defend this country from ALL its enemies. I have suffered long and hard for the principles that I hold dearly. Many of my loved ones have suffered with me – maybe not physically, but certainly have shared in the misery and hardships that I have endured. The fire of idealism still burns in me, but I have been wiser not to engage fire with fire.

With a lot of circumspection, I have decided to run for the senate in 2010. I have no political pedigree. I have no political machinery. I have no financial resources. But I do have honor. I do have principles. I do have courage.

I believe I am ready to take on this new role, with your prayers and support this dream is not too far- fetched. It takes the collective effort of every member of this society to make things improve for a country in disarray... a country that has been plundered... a country whose hope is running dry...

All I can do, on my end, is to make the best effort possible to make society better, stand by my principles, and fight for what is right. There is hope for this country and our people, all we have to do is believe.

This I will do, if not for myself and our generation, then at least for our young children and their children. My warmest personal regards and God bless us all.

Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!


Sincerely yours,


ARIEL O QUERUBIN
querubinariel@yahoo.com
+639175414289

Kindly send this to all your relatives and friends if you believe in my cause. Thanks

A Politics of the Personal

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Let me share with you a nice article on Noynoy Aquino by Dr. Melba Maggay, President of the Institute for Studies in Asian Church and Culture, a 31-year old research and training organization engaged in development, missiology and cross-cultural studies aimed at social transformation.

She discusses the resurgence of hope among Filipinos resulting from the announcement of Noynoy's candidacy in next year's election.

...what we are witnessing is not the politics of personalism but the power of the personal. People are not drawn to Noynoy because of personal charisma, as with the case of Joseph Estrada. Like Cory... he is not... considered experienced nor competent enough. He is not even visually appealing.

 

But Noynoy has something that is of utmost importance: a legacy that people can trust. As a vendor puts it, Kahit paano, 'yang mga Aquino, 'di yan magnanakaw...

 

Social trust, like social capital, is one of those intangibles that oil the machinery of governance... A major task of leadership is the capacity to inspire faith in the integrity and efficacy of its institutions. Societies fail when the trust level is so low that people can not even take the word of their leaders seriously, much less begin to cooperate and build things together...

 

There is nothing wrong with our culture nor with the expectations of our people. What is wrong is that our leaders continually betray them and their hopes.

 

Here's Dr. Maggay's full article...

 

Noynoy, Mar swear in Cesar Montano as LP-Bohol chief

Monday, October 19, 2009

By Kit Bagaipo
Inquirer Visayas

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, Philippines -- Actor Cesar Montano was sworn in as chairman of the revived Liberal Party-Bohol, on Saturday, in the presence of Senators Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III and Manuel "Mar" Roxas II.

Presidential aspirant Aquino and his vice presidential bet, Roxas, were welcomed by supporters here Saturday afternoon, during the mass oath-taking of new members of the LP-Bohol at the JJ's Seafood Village, this city.

Montano has declared his bid for Bohol governor in the 2010 elections.

Read more...

The Hakot Evacuees in The Mansion

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

The Hakot Evacuees in The Mansion, Baguio City

The evacuees, almost all Maranao traders and their families, arrived in PMA buses before President Gloria Arroyo at the mansion. After her visit, they also left in the same PMA buses. The gates are closed. The stories are written. Ayos!


From the Facebook page of Frank Simatu

Photos by Mau Victa

Jim Paredes for Senator

Saturday, October 3, 2009

We all know Jim Paredes to be an idealistic person. You'd see him joining political rallies, street protests, and worthy causes. In the 80's, after Ninoy Aquino's death, he's among the first of the few courageous artists to join the Cory movement to restore democracy in the country.

In his blog, he wrote:


The death of Ninoy had a profound effect on me... From small tentative steps APO have taken after Ninoy’s death, we became emboldened artists who took up the cause of ending the dictatorship and promoting democracy in the way we knew best--through songs and humor.

You'd also see him form or join movements with worthy missions. He lead other like-minded artists in forming Artists Revolution with the belief that Filipino artists can do a lot to change the despairing socio-political conditions of the country. He said, Pinoy artists have always displayed courage and made significant contributions to advancing the noble ideals of freedom, justice, and pursuit of truth. Time and again, the Pinoy artists have staked their lives and used their talents to recover our national pride in the seemingly endless periods of darkness and adversity.

Jim even joined EDSA 2, which I didn't support because of my belief that it would weaken the democratic institutions that was put up by Cory Aquino's administration and strengthened by her successors. And when it became apparent that EDSA 2 was a failure, he is again active in advancing the spirit of expressing outrage against evil and corruption as well as inspiring the spirit of vigilance for truth and justice, reform and good governance.

Cory's death has reawakened Jim's idealism. He now vows tohelp get this country back on the road to fulfilling its manifest destiny of greatness.

In his article on Ways to Commemorate Ninoy’s Death Anniversary, he wrote:

I thank God that I have not been called to die for our country since EDSA 1, although there have been moments I think I probably would, should the need arise... It would be the greatest tragedy to let this second shot at national redemption go to waste by not doing what needs to be done. Let us all be part of an awakened citizenry that will transform this nation in the peaceful but determined way that Ninoy and Cory showed us.
It is this writer's ardent hope that Mr. Jim Paredes takes the next step towards his destiny of becoming one of our country's inspiring leaders by running for an elective position in the government. Reading from his tweets and articles he has written, I think he is not keen on taking this step. But maybe he'll be convinced if there are enough people who'd urge him.

Let us put Jim in the Senatorial slate of Noynoy Aquino in the May 2010 elections. We need leaders who are morally upright, intelligent, creative, and fearless to help us in our pursuit of a better society.

Jim Paredes for Senator! What's your take on this?

(Disclaimer: Mr. Jim Paredes doesn't know me personally so he has no knowledge about this effort. I just hope that I could help convince him to run for an elective position as I've been following his political activities since the early 80's)


Aftermath of Typhoon Ondoy

Friday, October 2, 2009

The Day My Country Stood Still (Aftermath of Typhoon Ondoy) from Glenn Omanio on Vimeo.


Two days after typhoon Ondoy (Ketsana) tore through the Philippine capital Manila and nearby provinces, the death toll now stands at 140. Almost 500,000 more people need immediate help in evacuation centers -- food, clothing, potable water, medicine, and the gargantuan task to rebuild their lives again. Feel free to share this video to drum up more aid here and abroad, and keep the spirit of "bayanihan" alive.

Credits: Photos by AP, AFP and Reuters | Music by Filipino band Asin, "Masdan Mo (Ang Kapaligiran)" or "Look (Around You)" from its first album released in 1978.

Ondoy's Trail of Fury

by Glenn Omanio

On Sept. 26, the Philippine capital Manila and its neighboring provinces suffered one of nature's worst beating. Typhoon Ondoy, international code name Ketsana, poured more than a month's worth of rain in six hours, submerging most parts of the bustling metropolis, drowning at least a hundred people as of press time. My prayers to the victims, and may we emerge victorious and live by the lessons of this tragedy.

(Photos by Reuters. Music by Ennio Morricone, "Love Theme" from "Cinema Paradiso").