It is only seven days to Christmas in Holland
By LOUI GALICIA
ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau
Filipinos in the Netherlands are set to enjoy Christmas earlier than the period they usually spend it in the Philippines.
It’s now only seven days to Christmas, at least according to the children counting in the Netherlands, reported ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau.
Christmas for kids in the Netherlands is celebrated early. It is held every December 5, on the feast of St. Nicholas who the Dutch call Sinterklaas and is the patron of their children and sailors.
In a tradition based on local folklore, Sinterklaas arrives from Spain on the third weekend of November with more than 200 of his helpers called "Zwarte Pieten" or Black Petes or for simplicity are called by expats as "piets."
Thus on November 17, the arrival of Sinterklaas with 250 piets at the Scheveningen harbor marked the countdown to the children’s Christmas on December 5 and ultimately Christmas for everyone on December 25.
Thousands of children in Sinterklaas and "Zwarte Pieten" costumes braved the cold and windy weather to welcome with much fanfare, these two most popular Christmas figures.
Much loved by the children are these piets whose faces are black from soot because Dutch folklore says that they descend the chimneys on the night of December 5 to bring gifts from Sinterklaas.
Every year, thousands of kilos of sweets in the form of pepernootjes, or small spiced cookie buttons that taste like gingerbread, are baked and placed in dirty-white burlap bags which the piets throw to crowds who would line the streets.
Children and even their parents are simply fascinated by these mischievous, playful and acrobatic piets who have all the time in the world to entertain them.
Apart from being able to personally interact and mingle with the piets, families and children are also treated to live entertainment as they wait for the long procession which is the highlight of this special event.
Piets would ride the elegant and colorful floats, vintage and mini cars and ponies or simply walk doing their acrobatic stunts, accompanying Sinterklaas who would be riding on his white horse called "Amerigo".
Sinterklaas for his part is always a sight to see for the big crowd and is such a regal looker.
Wearing a red cape, Sinterklaas has a white flowing beard and wears a bishop’s miter and carries a long golden staff.
Brass bands would play nonstop music all throughout the long procession that starts from the harbor and ends well in the center of The Hague.
After the long ceremony of welcoming Mr. Christmas himself and his helpers, families flock the malls which are now fully decked with Yuletide ornaments and decorations.
Toys stores and toy aisles are jam-packed with these kids who are endlessly touching, feeling or shaking toy boxes to examine and gauge what they will wish for Sinterklaas to give them this year.
For some Filipinos, this is a very expensive tradition to follow, in addition to the customary gift-giving on Christmas Eve.
Rommel Loveranes says that Filipinos in the Netherlands give their children Christmas gifts two times here in Holland.
"Kaya nga magastos eh (That makes it a bit expensive)," Loveranes said.
But no matter how expensive it is to embrace a particular culture and to follow its tradition, no loving Filipino parent would be able to resist this unique tradition that gives twice the happiness that Christmas always brings to children, because Christmas really comes two times to the Netherlands.
SOURCE: WWW.ABS-CBNNEWS.COM
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=100699
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Dutch prosecutor not dropping charges vs Joma
Dutch prosecutor not dropping charges vs Joma
Dutch Public Prosecutor’s Office spokesman Wim de Bruin in a telephone interview told ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau that they are not dropping the charges against Jose Ma. Sison yet and that the Communist Party of the Philippines founder remains a suspect, ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau correspondent Loui Galicia reported.
"No, you have to separate the criminal investigation by the police from the investigation by the examining judge in The Hague. So the judge decided to finish the investigation but the police investigation will be continued and that means that Mr. Sison is still a suspect," de Bruin explained.
De Bruin said that for the moment, investigation of the Dutch police would continue but that he cannot say anything further how the prosecutor will go with the case because that’s still in the future and will depend on the result of the investigation.
Sison, who is also the chief political consultant of the National Democratic Front (NDF), was arrested and detained in the Scheveningen detention center in The Hague on August 28 for alleged involvement in the murders of erstwhile allies Romulo Kintanar and Arturo Tabara in the Philippines. He was later released pending the pre-trial investigation.
"We need two months. The Public Prosecutor has to decide whether to prosecute Mr. Sison or not," de Bruin said.
De Bruin said that the prosecutor would still pursue the charges against Sison and affirmed that for the moment, they are going to continue the investigation in so far as they know they have sufficient evidence.
De Bruin said that Sison’s defense lawyer cannot file a motion to drop the charges.
"No because it is foreseen in the law, the period of two months, so after the period of two months the Prosecutor, the prosecution has to decide about the prosecution," de Bruin said.
De Bruin said he’s not in a position to say why the investigating judge closed the pre-trial investigation.
He however said that the Prosecutor is not thinking of filing a case with a new investigative judge.
Case not closed
Sison’s lawyer Michiel Pestman confirmed that the case is not closed yet.
"The case is not closed. It’s the prosecutor, the only person who can decide to close the case apart from the court. She can decide to drop the case which I expect she will do because everyone says that all the judges involved basically say that there’s no hope in hell that she’ll ever get a conviction," said Sison’s lawyer.
Pestman also said the Dutch prosecutor has two months to decide whether to pursue the case against Sison or drop the case altogether.
Pestman said that even if the pre-trial investigation was closed by the investigating judge, in Holland, the prosecutor can do its own investigation and does not rely solely on the investigating judge.
"They can do their own investigation, the police can do it," Pestman said.
"The thing is the prosecution needs the investigating judge. Only an investigating judge can officially hear witnesses abroad. The police can go and hear witnesses but if they want me to go, and if they want the official commission interrogatoire, they need an investigating judge for official hearing which is necessary which allows me to ask questions abroad. The prosecutor needs an investigating judge," Pestman added.
Pestman explained that in theory, the Prosecutor can go to court and ask the court to order the investigative judge to reopen the investigation but that it’s only in theory.
"In practice there’s not much she can do and I think she will decide to drop the case altogether," Pestman said.
Pestman said that the investigating judge was very annoyed that the prosecutor did not answer any of the letters and request.
Pestman said he will wait for the prosecution to take a decision whether to drop the case or not.
"Basically I can wait because the prosecution takes decision. If it takes too long. If I don’t hear anything from the prosecution within the next week or two weeks, I can file a request to rest the case…I suppose it won’t be necessary," Pestman said.
Pestman is very confident that the case will be dropped.
"They must do. I think there’s any reason or no reasonable person could do otherwise," Pestman said.
Sison feels more free
Sison agrees with Pestman that the Dutch prosecutor has no other choice but to drop the case.
"She can throw wild punches now because she has that much leeway..If the odds were against her before, the odds are even greater now. Ibig sabihin (That means) very much favorable, this adds to my good position on the case," Sison said.
Sison said that he has regained his confidence that he can again travel abroad if need be to work on the peace negotiations between the National Democratic Front of the Philippines and the Government of the Republic of the Philippines.
"I had doubts whether I could go to Oslo for any kind of movement or any kind of talks relative to GRP/NDFP peace negotiations. Now I have confidence to apply for a "laisser passer" from the foreign ministry... In other words I feel more free than before and I can do something more for the peace negotiations among other things," Sison said.
Dutch judge terminates pre-trial probe vs Sison
The Dutch trial judge of the Court at The Hague has decided to close the criminal pre-investigation case against Sison.
Galicia reported on Wednesday that the closure of the criminal pre-investigation does not mean however that the charges against Sison have been dropped.
In the copy of the English translation of the decision, which was originally in the Dutch language, provided to ABS-CBN by Sison himself, Judge C.M. Derijks finds that "the prosecutor has in no way provided information whether continuation of the criminal pre-investigation would be able to lead to another judgment on this point."
"This means that the investigating judge cannot but conclude that further investigation will not lead to another conclusion, so that there is no ground for the continuation of the criminal pre-investigation."
Galicia said that the copy of the decision indicated it was signed on November 21, 2007 but Pestman said it may be a typographical error because they received the decision Tuesday.
Derijks said that "up to the highest instance [Court of Appeals] it has been decided that from the current criminal dossier, no serious evidence against the suspect can be drawn."
It cited that first paragraph of Article 237 of the Law on Criminal Procedure which stated that the investigating judge must close the criminal pre-investigation which was opened on Aug. 28 if there is no ground for continuing it.
The judge also cited in its decision the September 13 decision of the Raadkamer against detaining Sison because of lack of serious, grave presumptions and incriminating evidence as well as a Dutch Court of Appeals’ decision of October 3.
The judge also cited the Court of Appeals decision which doubted whether the Defense can fully exercise its rights of cross-examination.
The judge requested the Prosecutor on October 19 to present the continued existence of grounds for the criminal pre-investigation but the prosecutor apparently requested and received two extensions and verbally promised to present the court a more substantive response by November 16 at the latest.
However, on November 16, the judge did not find the Public Prosecutor’s response substantive and concrete in order to continue the pre-trial investigation and was annoyed and found the Prosecutor’s response as "a new attempt for postponement."
In the decision, Derijks noted that "the circumstance that the investigating judge has already approved witnesses for the prosecution does not negate that. These witnesses have already made their presentations in the existing criminal dossier and their declarations have thus been taken into consideration in the judgment of the Court of Appeals."
SOURCE: WWW.ABS-CBNNEWS.COM
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=99949
Dutch Public Prosecutor’s Office spokesman Wim de Bruin in a telephone interview told ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau that they are not dropping the charges against Jose Ma. Sison yet and that the Communist Party of the Philippines founder remains a suspect, ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau correspondent Loui Galicia reported.
"No, you have to separate the criminal investigation by the police from the investigation by the examining judge in The Hague. So the judge decided to finish the investigation but the police investigation will be continued and that means that Mr. Sison is still a suspect," de Bruin explained.
De Bruin said that for the moment, investigation of the Dutch police would continue but that he cannot say anything further how the prosecutor will go with the case because that’s still in the future and will depend on the result of the investigation.
Sison, who is also the chief political consultant of the National Democratic Front (NDF), was arrested and detained in the Scheveningen detention center in The Hague on August 28 for alleged involvement in the murders of erstwhile allies Romulo Kintanar and Arturo Tabara in the Philippines. He was later released pending the pre-trial investigation.
"We need two months. The Public Prosecutor has to decide whether to prosecute Mr. Sison or not," de Bruin said.
De Bruin said that the prosecutor would still pursue the charges against Sison and affirmed that for the moment, they are going to continue the investigation in so far as they know they have sufficient evidence.
De Bruin said that Sison’s defense lawyer cannot file a motion to drop the charges.
"No because it is foreseen in the law, the period of two months, so after the period of two months the Prosecutor, the prosecution has to decide about the prosecution," de Bruin said.
De Bruin said he’s not in a position to say why the investigating judge closed the pre-trial investigation.
He however said that the Prosecutor is not thinking of filing a case with a new investigative judge.
Case not closed
Sison’s lawyer Michiel Pestman confirmed that the case is not closed yet.
"The case is not closed. It’s the prosecutor, the only person who can decide to close the case apart from the court. She can decide to drop the case which I expect she will do because everyone says that all the judges involved basically say that there’s no hope in hell that she’ll ever get a conviction," said Sison’s lawyer.
Pestman also said the Dutch prosecutor has two months to decide whether to pursue the case against Sison or drop the case altogether.
Pestman said that even if the pre-trial investigation was closed by the investigating judge, in Holland, the prosecutor can do its own investigation and does not rely solely on the investigating judge.
"They can do their own investigation, the police can do it," Pestman said.
"The thing is the prosecution needs the investigating judge. Only an investigating judge can officially hear witnesses abroad. The police can go and hear witnesses but if they want me to go, and if they want the official commission interrogatoire, they need an investigating judge for official hearing which is necessary which allows me to ask questions abroad. The prosecutor needs an investigating judge," Pestman added.
Pestman explained that in theory, the Prosecutor can go to court and ask the court to order the investigative judge to reopen the investigation but that it’s only in theory.
"In practice there’s not much she can do and I think she will decide to drop the case altogether," Pestman said.
Pestman said that the investigating judge was very annoyed that the prosecutor did not answer any of the letters and request.
Pestman said he will wait for the prosecution to take a decision whether to drop the case or not.
"Basically I can wait because the prosecution takes decision. If it takes too long. If I don’t hear anything from the prosecution within the next week or two weeks, I can file a request to rest the case…I suppose it won’t be necessary," Pestman said.
Pestman is very confident that the case will be dropped.
"They must do. I think there’s any reason or no reasonable person could do otherwise," Pestman said.
Sison feels more free
Sison agrees with Pestman that the Dutch prosecutor has no other choice but to drop the case.
"She can throw wild punches now because she has that much leeway..If the odds were against her before, the odds are even greater now. Ibig sabihin (That means) very much favorable, this adds to my good position on the case," Sison said.
Sison said that he has regained his confidence that he can again travel abroad if need be to work on the peace negotiations between the National Democratic Front of the Philippines and the Government of the Republic of the Philippines.
"I had doubts whether I could go to Oslo for any kind of movement or any kind of talks relative to GRP/NDFP peace negotiations. Now I have confidence to apply for a "laisser passer" from the foreign ministry... In other words I feel more free than before and I can do something more for the peace negotiations among other things," Sison said.
Dutch judge terminates pre-trial probe vs Sison
The Dutch trial judge of the Court at The Hague has decided to close the criminal pre-investigation case against Sison.
Galicia reported on Wednesday that the closure of the criminal pre-investigation does not mean however that the charges against Sison have been dropped.
In the copy of the English translation of the decision, which was originally in the Dutch language, provided to ABS-CBN by Sison himself, Judge C.M. Derijks finds that "the prosecutor has in no way provided information whether continuation of the criminal pre-investigation would be able to lead to another judgment on this point."
"This means that the investigating judge cannot but conclude that further investigation will not lead to another conclusion, so that there is no ground for the continuation of the criminal pre-investigation."
Galicia said that the copy of the decision indicated it was signed on November 21, 2007 but Pestman said it may be a typographical error because they received the decision Tuesday.
Derijks said that "up to the highest instance [Court of Appeals] it has been decided that from the current criminal dossier, no serious evidence against the suspect can be drawn."
It cited that first paragraph of Article 237 of the Law on Criminal Procedure which stated that the investigating judge must close the criminal pre-investigation which was opened on Aug. 28 if there is no ground for continuing it.
The judge also cited in its decision the September 13 decision of the Raadkamer against detaining Sison because of lack of serious, grave presumptions and incriminating evidence as well as a Dutch Court of Appeals’ decision of October 3.
The judge also cited the Court of Appeals decision which doubted whether the Defense can fully exercise its rights of cross-examination.
The judge requested the Prosecutor on October 19 to present the continued existence of grounds for the criminal pre-investigation but the prosecutor apparently requested and received two extensions and verbally promised to present the court a more substantive response by November 16 at the latest.
However, on November 16, the judge did not find the Public Prosecutor’s response substantive and concrete in order to continue the pre-trial investigation and was annoyed and found the Prosecutor’s response as "a new attempt for postponement."
In the decision, Derijks noted that "the circumstance that the investigating judge has already approved witnesses for the prosecution does not negate that. These witnesses have already made their presentations in the existing criminal dossier and their declarations have thus been taken into consideration in the judgment of the Court of Appeals."
SOURCE: WWW.ABS-CBNNEWS.COM
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=99949
Dutch Pinoys hit Erap’s refusal to yield assets
Dutch Pinoys hit Erap’s refusal to yield assets
By LOUI GALICIA
ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau
Filipinos in the Netherlands are fed up with the seemingly never-ending issues related to former president Joseph Estrada’s back-to-back conviction and executive clemency for the crime of plunder.
Less than a month after Estrada received executive clemency from President Arroyo on October 25, the deposed president is now embroiled in a new controversy surrounding his plunder conviction after refusing to surrender his assets to the government.
Discussions among Filipinos in the Netherlands seemed to focus on politics, particularly on "Erap," more than the usual small talk and the usual social gatherings over wine or beer.
Apparently, a lot of them who were against Estrada’s pardon had slowly started to forget their initial shock and disgust. What they want now is for the Philippines to move on and achieve national reconciliation.
But now, Estrada is fighting to stop the Sandiganbayan from confiscating around P700 million of his properties and cash. The special division of the anti-graft court Sandiganbayan will hear his arguments and those of the special prosecutor on December 5.
Filipinos said they think it’s déjà vu again: court proceedings that are chasing Estrada for nothing.
They want the people’s money back and they want to see the national reconciliation that was promised when Estrada was pardoned for the good of the country.
“I’m not for Erap. I’m not for Gloria, but for the sake of the Filipinos they have to think about it. Stop corruption in the Philippines and we must go on, life must go on, the Philippines must go on,” Raul Manalo said.
Jimmy Muñoz, meanwhile, asked fellow Filipinos back home to be strong and positive.
“Sa atin naman eh gumaganda ang takbo kaya kailangan natin positive. May negative din pero remain positive. Andiyan ang ikauunlad ng ating bayan. Kung palagi tayong magsisiraan walang mangyayari sa atin. Kailangan maging positive tayo, strong determination,” Munoz suggested.
(The country condition is improving so we should think positive. There is also negative side but try to remain positive. Our country's growth lies there. If we continue to snipe at each other, we'll end up going nowhere so we need to stay positive.)
One Filipino, meanwhile, suggested that Estrada should concentrated instead on using his appeal to the masses for the good of the majority.
“Sinabi niya na hindi siya kakandidato pero ang lakas niya sa tao eh magagamit n'ya. 'Yung tinatawag nating charisma. Di ba? (He said that he'll no longer run for public office but he can use his charisma for other purposes),” said Jun Ortega.
Others, however, said they were have not moved on and will greatly favor Estrada going back to jail if he fails to return the money of the poor.
“Bakit 'di natin parusahan ang nagkasala para malaman natin na may justice sa atin. Eh moro-moro lang 'yon eh, palabas lang 'yon eh. Samantalang maliwanag sa Ombudsman na nagkaroon siya ng pagkakasala. Dapat siyang parusahan para 'di siya tularan,” Teddy Malaca said.
(Why not punish those who committed a crime so that the world will know that there is justice in the Philippines? It's like a stage play, a set-up. It's plain to see that there he committed a crime. He should be punished so that others will not emulate him.)
On the other hand, there were those who said they still believe in Mrs. Arroyo’s governance and trust that her executive clemency to Estrada is all in good faith.
“Sa akin, lahat ng tao sa Pilipinas may prinsipyo para sa bayan. Kung minsan ang nakaupo sa kanyang posisyon maganda ang kanyang layunin (All the people in the Philippines have principles for what is good for the country. There are those in power who have good intentions),” Remi Balmaceda said.
SOURCE: WWW.ABS-CBNNEWS.COM
www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=99900
By LOUI GALICIA
ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau
Filipinos in the Netherlands are fed up with the seemingly never-ending issues related to former president Joseph Estrada’s back-to-back conviction and executive clemency for the crime of plunder.
Less than a month after Estrada received executive clemency from President Arroyo on October 25, the deposed president is now embroiled in a new controversy surrounding his plunder conviction after refusing to surrender his assets to the government.
Discussions among Filipinos in the Netherlands seemed to focus on politics, particularly on "Erap," more than the usual small talk and the usual social gatherings over wine or beer.
Apparently, a lot of them who were against Estrada’s pardon had slowly started to forget their initial shock and disgust. What they want now is for the Philippines to move on and achieve national reconciliation.
But now, Estrada is fighting to stop the Sandiganbayan from confiscating around P700 million of his properties and cash. The special division of the anti-graft court Sandiganbayan will hear his arguments and those of the special prosecutor on December 5.
Filipinos said they think it’s déjà vu again: court proceedings that are chasing Estrada for nothing.
They want the people’s money back and they want to see the national reconciliation that was promised when Estrada was pardoned for the good of the country.
“I’m not for Erap. I’m not for Gloria, but for the sake of the Filipinos they have to think about it. Stop corruption in the Philippines and we must go on, life must go on, the Philippines must go on,” Raul Manalo said.
Jimmy Muñoz, meanwhile, asked fellow Filipinos back home to be strong and positive.
“Sa atin naman eh gumaganda ang takbo kaya kailangan natin positive. May negative din pero remain positive. Andiyan ang ikauunlad ng ating bayan. Kung palagi tayong magsisiraan walang mangyayari sa atin. Kailangan maging positive tayo, strong determination,” Munoz suggested.
(The country condition is improving so we should think positive. There is also negative side but try to remain positive. Our country's growth lies there. If we continue to snipe at each other, we'll end up going nowhere so we need to stay positive.)
One Filipino, meanwhile, suggested that Estrada should concentrated instead on using his appeal to the masses for the good of the majority.
“Sinabi niya na hindi siya kakandidato pero ang lakas niya sa tao eh magagamit n'ya. 'Yung tinatawag nating charisma. Di ba? (He said that he'll no longer run for public office but he can use his charisma for other purposes),” said Jun Ortega.
Others, however, said they were have not moved on and will greatly favor Estrada going back to jail if he fails to return the money of the poor.
“Bakit 'di natin parusahan ang nagkasala para malaman natin na may justice sa atin. Eh moro-moro lang 'yon eh, palabas lang 'yon eh. Samantalang maliwanag sa Ombudsman na nagkaroon siya ng pagkakasala. Dapat siyang parusahan para 'di siya tularan,” Teddy Malaca said.
(Why not punish those who committed a crime so that the world will know that there is justice in the Philippines? It's like a stage play, a set-up. It's plain to see that there he committed a crime. He should be punished so that others will not emulate him.)
On the other hand, there were those who said they still believe in Mrs. Arroyo’s governance and trust that her executive clemency to Estrada is all in good faith.
“Sa akin, lahat ng tao sa Pilipinas may prinsipyo para sa bayan. Kung minsan ang nakaupo sa kanyang posisyon maganda ang kanyang layunin (All the people in the Philippines have principles for what is good for the country. There are those in power who have good intentions),” Remi Balmaceda said.
SOURCE: WWW.ABS-CBNNEWS.COM
www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=99900
Dutch court junks pre-trial probe vs Joma
UPDATE) Dutch court junks pre-trial probe vs Joma
The Dutch trial judge of the Court at The Hague has decided to close the criminal pre-investigation case against Communist Party of the Philippines founder Jose Ma. Sison.
ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau correspondent Louis Galicia reported on Wednesday that the closure of the criminal pre-investigation does not mean however that the charges against Sison have been dropped.
In the copy of the English translation of the decision, which was originally in the Dutch language, provided to ABS-CBN by Sison himself, Judge C.M. Derijks finds that "the prosecutor has in no way provided information whether continuation of the criminal pre-investigation would be able to lead to another judgment on this point."
"This means that the investigating judge cannot but conclude that further investigation will not lead to another conclusion, so that there is no ground for the continuation of the criminal pre-investigation."
Sison, who is also the chief political consultant of the National Democratic Front (NDF), was arrested and detained in the Scheveningen detention center in The Hague on August 28 for alleged involvement in the murders of erstwhile allies Romulo Kintanar and Arturo Tabara in the Philippines.
Galicia said that the copy of the decision indicated it was signed on November 21, 2007 but Sison’s lawyer Michiel Pestman said it may be a typographical error because they received the decision Tuesday.
Derijks said that "up to the highest instance [Court of Appeals] it has been decided that from the current criminal dossier, no serious evidence against the suspect can be drawn."
It cited that first paragraph of Article 237 of the Law on Criminal Procedure which stated that the investigating judge must close the criminal pre-investigation which was opened on Aug. 28 if there is no ground for continuing it.
The judge also cited in its decision the September 13 decision of the Raadkamer against detaining Sison because of lack of serious, grave presumptions and incriminating evidence as well as a Dutch Court of Appeals’ decision of October 3.
The judge also cited the Court of Appeals decision which doubted whether the Defense can fully exercise its rights of cross-examination.
The judge requested the Prosecutor on October 19 to present the continued existence of grounds for the criminal pre-investigation but the prosecutor apparently requested and received two extensions and verbally promised to present the court a more substantive response by November 16 at the latest.
However, on November 16, the judge did not find the Public Prosecutor’s response substantive and concrete in order to continue the pre-trial investigation and was annoyed and found the Prosecutor’s response as "a new attempt for postponement."
In the decision, Derijks noted that "the circumstance that the investigating judge has already approved witnesses for the prosecution does not negate that. These witnesses have already made their presentations in the existing criminal dossier and their declarations have thus been taken into consideration in the judgment of the Court of Appeals."
Public Prosecutor’s Office spokesman Wim de Bruin was not ready to give an interview yet when ABS-CBN contacted him about the decision.
Case not closed
Pestman confirmed however that the case is not closed yet.
"The case is not closed. It’s the prosecutor, the only person who can decide to close the case apart from the court. She can decide to drop the case which I expect she will do because everyone says that all the judges involved basically say that there’s no hope in hell that she’ll ever get a conviction," said Sison’s lawyer.
Pestman said the Dutch prosecutor has two months to decide whether pursue the case against Sison or drop the case altogether.
Pestman said that even if the pre-trial investigation was closed by the investigating judge, in Holland, the prosecutor can do its own investigation and does not rely solely on the investigating judge.
"They can do their own investigation, the police can do it," Pestman said.
"The thing is the prosecution needs the investigating judge. Only an investigating judge can officially hear witnesses abroad. The police can go and hear witnesses but if they want me to go, and if they want the official commission interrogatoire, they need an investigating judge for official hearing which is necessary which allows me to ask questions abroad. The prosecutor needs an investigating judge," Pestman added.
Pestman explained that in theory, the Prosecutor can go to court and ask the court to order the investigative judge to reopen the investigation but that it’s only in theory.
"In practice there’s not much she can do and I think she will decide to drop the case altogether," Pestman said.
Pestman said that the investigating judge was very annoyed that the prosecutor did not answer any of the letters and request.
Pestman said he will wait for the prosecution to take a decision whether to drop the case.
"Basically I can wait because the prosecution takes decision. If it takes too long. If I don’t hear anything from the prosecution within the next week or two weeks, I can file a request to rest the case…I suppose it won’t be necessary," Pestman said.
Pestman is very confident that the case will be dropped.
"They must do. I think there’s any reason or no reasonable person could do otherwise," Pestman said.
Sison feels more free
Sison agrees with Pestman that the Dutch prosecutor has no other choice but to drop the case.
"She can throw wild punches now because she has that much leeway..If the odds were against her before, the odds are even greater now. Ibig sabihin (That means) very much favorable, this adds to my good position on the case," Sison said.
Sison said that he has regained his confidence that he can again travel abroad if need be to work on the peace negotiations between the National Democratic Front of the Philippines and the Government of the Republic of the Philippines.
"I had doubts whether I could go to Oslo for any kind of movement or any kind of talks relative to GRP/NDFP peace negotiations. Now I have confidence to apply for a "laisser passer" from the foreign ministry... In other words I feel more free than before and I can do something more for the peace negotiations among other things," Sison said.
Bagong Alyansang Makabayan posted in its Web site, www.bayan.ph, a loose translation of the Dutch court’s decision.
WWW.ABS-CBNNEWS.COM
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/topofthehour.aspx?StoryId=99940
The Dutch trial judge of the Court at The Hague has decided to close the criminal pre-investigation case against Communist Party of the Philippines founder Jose Ma. Sison.
ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau correspondent Louis Galicia reported on Wednesday that the closure of the criminal pre-investigation does not mean however that the charges against Sison have been dropped.
In the copy of the English translation of the decision, which was originally in the Dutch language, provided to ABS-CBN by Sison himself, Judge C.M. Derijks finds that "the prosecutor has in no way provided information whether continuation of the criminal pre-investigation would be able to lead to another judgment on this point."
"This means that the investigating judge cannot but conclude that further investigation will not lead to another conclusion, so that there is no ground for the continuation of the criminal pre-investigation."
Sison, who is also the chief political consultant of the National Democratic Front (NDF), was arrested and detained in the Scheveningen detention center in The Hague on August 28 for alleged involvement in the murders of erstwhile allies Romulo Kintanar and Arturo Tabara in the Philippines.
Galicia said that the copy of the decision indicated it was signed on November 21, 2007 but Sison’s lawyer Michiel Pestman said it may be a typographical error because they received the decision Tuesday.
Derijks said that "up to the highest instance [Court of Appeals] it has been decided that from the current criminal dossier, no serious evidence against the suspect can be drawn."
It cited that first paragraph of Article 237 of the Law on Criminal Procedure which stated that the investigating judge must close the criminal pre-investigation which was opened on Aug. 28 if there is no ground for continuing it.
The judge also cited in its decision the September 13 decision of the Raadkamer against detaining Sison because of lack of serious, grave presumptions and incriminating evidence as well as a Dutch Court of Appeals’ decision of October 3.
The judge also cited the Court of Appeals decision which doubted whether the Defense can fully exercise its rights of cross-examination.
The judge requested the Prosecutor on October 19 to present the continued existence of grounds for the criminal pre-investigation but the prosecutor apparently requested and received two extensions and verbally promised to present the court a more substantive response by November 16 at the latest.
However, on November 16, the judge did not find the Public Prosecutor’s response substantive and concrete in order to continue the pre-trial investigation and was annoyed and found the Prosecutor’s response as "a new attempt for postponement."
In the decision, Derijks noted that "the circumstance that the investigating judge has already approved witnesses for the prosecution does not negate that. These witnesses have already made their presentations in the existing criminal dossier and their declarations have thus been taken into consideration in the judgment of the Court of Appeals."
Public Prosecutor’s Office spokesman Wim de Bruin was not ready to give an interview yet when ABS-CBN contacted him about the decision.
Case not closed
Pestman confirmed however that the case is not closed yet.
"The case is not closed. It’s the prosecutor, the only person who can decide to close the case apart from the court. She can decide to drop the case which I expect she will do because everyone says that all the judges involved basically say that there’s no hope in hell that she’ll ever get a conviction," said Sison’s lawyer.
Pestman said the Dutch prosecutor has two months to decide whether pursue the case against Sison or drop the case altogether.
Pestman said that even if the pre-trial investigation was closed by the investigating judge, in Holland, the prosecutor can do its own investigation and does not rely solely on the investigating judge.
"They can do their own investigation, the police can do it," Pestman said.
"The thing is the prosecution needs the investigating judge. Only an investigating judge can officially hear witnesses abroad. The police can go and hear witnesses but if they want me to go, and if they want the official commission interrogatoire, they need an investigating judge for official hearing which is necessary which allows me to ask questions abroad. The prosecutor needs an investigating judge," Pestman added.
Pestman explained that in theory, the Prosecutor can go to court and ask the court to order the investigative judge to reopen the investigation but that it’s only in theory.
"In practice there’s not much she can do and I think she will decide to drop the case altogether," Pestman said.
Pestman said that the investigating judge was very annoyed that the prosecutor did not answer any of the letters and request.
Pestman said he will wait for the prosecution to take a decision whether to drop the case.
"Basically I can wait because the prosecution takes decision. If it takes too long. If I don’t hear anything from the prosecution within the next week or two weeks, I can file a request to rest the case…I suppose it won’t be necessary," Pestman said.
Pestman is very confident that the case will be dropped.
"They must do. I think there’s any reason or no reasonable person could do otherwise," Pestman said.
Sison feels more free
Sison agrees with Pestman that the Dutch prosecutor has no other choice but to drop the case.
"She can throw wild punches now because she has that much leeway..If the odds were against her before, the odds are even greater now. Ibig sabihin (That means) very much favorable, this adds to my good position on the case," Sison said.
Sison said that he has regained his confidence that he can again travel abroad if need be to work on the peace negotiations between the National Democratic Front of the Philippines and the Government of the Republic of the Philippines.
"I had doubts whether I could go to Oslo for any kind of movement or any kind of talks relative to GRP/NDFP peace negotiations. Now I have confidence to apply for a "laisser passer" from the foreign ministry... In other words I feel more free than before and I can do something more for the peace negotiations among other things," Sison said.
Bagong Alyansang Makabayan posted in its Web site, www.bayan.ph, a loose translation of the Dutch court’s decision.
WWW.ABS-CBNNEWS.COM
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/topofthehour.aspx?StoryId=99940
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
'Scent of Home' concert doomed from the start
'Scent of Home' concert doomed from the start
By LOUI GALICIA
ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau
The "Scent of Home" where Philippine music legend Pilita Corrales lost her temper concert seemed jinxed from the beginning: it was already postponed three times due to visa problems for the performers, reported ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau.
The concert which starred Pilita Corrales, Richard Merk, Lolita Carbon and the last-minute addition of Rachel Ann Wolfe was originally billed as “An Evening With Pilita.
Tickets were sold out when it was first scheduled for June 16 but because of the postponement and two other later postponements, almost all of the tickets were returned.
The concert was supposed to be held in Belgium, the Netherlands and Paris but was cancelled in Paris because the organizers couldn’t find a venue at the last minute.
"Scent of Home" in the Netherlands was held in the 1,000-seater Philharmonie Theater in Haarlem, but the hall was barely one- third full on November 4.
However, Pinoy luminaries such as Ambassador Romeo Arguelles and dance diva Becky Garcia attended to show their support and didn’t seem to feel the emptiness of the concert hall due to the warm response the performers received from the audience.
Cito Beltran opened the show with the second launch in the Netherlands of Pinoy Global Access Magazine.
The brainchild of Merk’s wife Roni, the magazine is dubbed as the “magazine for overseas Filipinos.”
Beltran, the Merks and Wolfe first launched the magazine at the luncheon earlier that day at Arguelles’ residence in Wassenaar.
Wolfe sang three songs including her own composition “Kahit Di Ako” which she claims she composed while in the laundry room in her house in New Jersey and is included in her brand-new album “Cool.”
For the small number of Pinoys who watched the concert, the evening became memorable during the performance of Lolita Carbon who sang four songs from way back her days as vocalist of “Asin.”
People just sang, swayed their hands and even danced as Carbon belted out the songs that the Pinoys, regardless of age, knew by heart.
In fact, a lot of younger Pinoys came here to watch Carbon.
“Sayang kokonti ang tao pero syempre nagpunta kami ng grupo dahil kay Lolita. Sayang, dapat sana yung buong Asin. Kay Lolita kami pumunta syempre. Kaming mga kabataan paborito siya. Magaling siyang maggitara at hanggang ngayon tintugtog pa din namin ang kanyang mga kinanta,” Lito Mendoza said.
(Too bad not many people came to watch the show. Our group watched it because of Lolita. The whole band Asin should have been there. Lolita is a favorite of young people like us. She plays the guitar really well and until now we play her songs.
“Sayang nga ho. Kokonti ang mga tao pero da best ang nagcoconcert lalo na yung Asin,” Jerome Kuypers, another Carbon fan said.
Queen of songs
For her part, despite her reported tantrum after the concert, Corrales proved that she’s still the keeper of the crown as Asia’s queen of songs, impressing the audience, especially the Dutch spectators.
Even at her present age of 68, Corrales continued to wow the audience that night with her back-bending moves, gracious style, one-of-a-kind voice, elegance and simply her beauty.
When she went down the stage to sing for the audience, the Pinays just threw themselves in front of her, dancing with her and taking photos at every single opportunity and just kept on uttering, “Pilita, you are so beautiful.”
Indeed Corrales mesmerized her audience, living up to her reputation as the living legend singing five songs that left the audience asking for more.
As the last performer of the evening, Merk also showed the audience the true royalty that he is, being the Philippines’ Prince of Jazz.
Unfortunately, Merk only sang two songs as his minus one suffered a technical setback but his two performances were very entertaining as he injected some sense of humor to his moves, most of the time swaying and back bending a la Pilita.
The evening’s savior though is Holland’s Pinay diva Nhelly dela Rosa who rose to fame in Europe when she won the 1992 Soundmix Show which is a talent search in Europe.
Dela Rosa went onstage as if to give the concert a fitting postscript, without any talent fee but nonetheless delivering her best performance, as she always does, leaving the audience spellbound with her trademark “We Are The World” rendition which she sang in different voices.
The concert ended without a finale from the stars, an ominous twist considering what later happened between Corrales and the concert's producer.
"Scent of Home" was marred by an alleged shouting match between Corrales and the concert's Filipina producer, Carmen Jebb. Corrales supposedly lost her temper and accused the latter of not paying her talent fee.
Jebb has denied the accusation in an interview with the ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau. See related article here (http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=99161).
Even if the "Scent of Home" failed at the box office because the organizer was left saddled with a 4,500 euro bill (288,000 pesos) for the concert hall, there’s no reason for the Pinoys in Europe to stop wishing for more shows featuring Filipino artists; if only for the simple reason of finding an occasional cure to their homesickness and constant longing to get a whiff of home.
SOURCE: WWW.ABS-CBNNEWS.COM
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryID=99172
Pilita throws tantrum in Europe
Pilita throws tantrum in Europe
By LOUI GALICIA
ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau
Pilita Corrales threw a tantrum in front of Filipinos in the Netherlands after a fund-raising concert which featured her and performers Richard Merk, Lolita Carbon and Rachel Ann Wolfe, witnesses told ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau.
The Pinoys who were at the scene said Corrales hollered and screamed at the Filipino organizer of the concert, Carmen Jebb, in a fit of rage over her talent fee, which she claims to be unpaid.
"Nagulat na lang ako dahil si Pilita, pino-point niya yung finger niya ke Carmen Jebb. Eh di ba very unprofessional naman 'yon. Hindi lang 'yon. Nung inabot ni Carmen Jebb 'yong papel, hinagis niya pabalik ke Carmen Jebb. Eh kahit naman sino pag ginawa sa ‘yo ‘yon magagalit syempre kaya sumigaw na si Carmen Jebb," eyewitness Connie Miranda said.
(I was surprised because Pilita was already pointing her finger at Carmen Jebb. Isn't that unprofessional. Not only that. When Carmen Jebb handed her the document, she threw it back at Jebb. That's when Jebb got angry and also began shouting.)
"Sumisigaw siya. Ang lakas ng boses niya. Me sinasabi pa siya, liar daw si Carmen Jebb. Marami siyang sinasabi. Hindi lang 'yon. Dahil bago pa mangyari 'yon, nung show, kasi nandun din ako, marami siyang sinasabi sa mga tao na hindi daw magandang organizer si Carmen Jebb dahil liar, manloloko, 'di daw siya binabayaran," Miranda added.
(Corrales was shouting in such a loud voice. She called Jebb a liar among other things. Not only that. Even before the show started she was already bad-mouthing Jebb to a lot of people, calling her a liar, a swindler, and a bad organizer who refused to pay her.)
One of the emcees also noted that Corrales was already edgy backstage during the concert.
"We were waiting for our cue to come on stage, suddenly Pilita Corrales sat beside us and started complaining. I didn't know what she was trying to say. I sat down and listened to her. 'This woman did not pay me. Not a single cent. That's really how she said it. Not a single cent. You know I usually charge 6,000 dollars but since I know it is for charity, I only charged 4,000 but still I did not get paid for it,'" host Ricky Tuazon recounted.
"And then later on she went on to say that she had six tapings, that she would miss six tapings because of this, that she shouldn't have come. And then she talked about the postponement of the concert and she said it was canceled three times. And because of the visas, it was Carmen's fault that these visas were not approved.
"That's what she said. I didn't know how or why or for which technicalities. ‘Yon ang sinabi niya sa akin. 'Di daw na-approve dahil sa kagagawan ni Carmen. Or something like that. I don't know. But she just went on and on that she wasn't paid for this," Tuazon added.
Tuazon, who didn't witness the screaming spree between Corrales and Jebb, already had a strong feeling that something like that would ensue.
"She also warned me that she's going to accost her [Jebb] like she was going to face her with this problem so I sort of felt that something's gonna happen," Tuazon declared.
The "Scent of Home" concert, which was already postponed three times since June 16, was organized in a chaotic rush.
As soon as the performers were granted visas during the last week of October, Jebb decided to push through with the concert in the Netherlands even with only one week to spend on its promotion because she was determined to finish her project for the benefit of a foundation for the deaf and blind children in Bicol.
Jebb called ABS-CBN for an exclusive interview to explain her side.
According to Jebb, she already anticipated that Corrales would make a scene because just the night before, the singer allegedly screamed after the concert in Belgium when she demanded US$4,000 from the organizer there.
But Jebb claims that she had already transferred the talent fee in full to Corrales's bank account as early as May 21.
Jebb provided ABS-CBN a copy of the bank statement showing that the amount of $4,000 or 3,225.81 euros had been transferred to the account of "Pilar Corrales" as downpayment for the June 16 concert in Haarlem.
Jebb said that it all started after the concert when Corrales's husband Carlos Lopez approached her about the sales of the singer's CDs.
Afterward, Corrales called Jebb to talk about the talent fee. Jebb at that time had the bank statement and other papers ready on hand.
"When I showed Pilita the papers… 'Pilita this is the bank account na pinadala namin sa iyo nung May 21…4,000 dollars' …Pilita grabbed the paper and threw it right on my face. I was shocked and she was screaming. 'Liar,' sabi niya sa akin. 'Liar!' And a lot of people was still there. 'You didn't pay me Carmen, you are a liar,'" Jebb said.
Jebb was shocked because she respects Corrales and her husband and they were friends in the Philippines.
"I was turned off. Na-turn off ako. Di ko napigilan 'yong sarili ko. Sinabi ko sa kanya, 'Liar ka rin because you are denying the money. Why would you not accept that you received the 4,000 dollars?'" Jebb said.
"And with her finger, [pointing it] straight [at] my face, parang inaano niya sa mukha ko habang nagsasalita siya, 'You liar.' Dinuduro akong ganyan. Halos masundot na mukha ko," Jebb said.
"'No, you didn't pay me Carmen. No, you didn't pay.' Talagang sumisigaw siya and then she said to me, 'I am going to put you on the newspaper.' I said 'You try it Pilita and I am going to have an interview with TFC.' And then she was walking out of the door and she was screaming and screaming, 'Liar, liar ka, manloloko ka. Maraming galit na Pilipino sa 'yo," Jebb said.
Jebb said that the Pinays who lined up to get Corrales's autograph were all shocked to witness the incident.
"Sabi nila, Ate Carmen nadismaya kami. Ganyan pala si Pilita. Ganyan pala siya mangmata ng tao. I never expected it in my entire life. I organized this concert for her and for the rest of the performing artists, for Lolita Carbon, for Richard Merk. Sila talaga ang star nung gabi. Hindi lang si Pilita. Pero did I get something [of] worth out of it? No, I got a shit on my face. Ang sakit talaga. Ang sakit," Jebb said.
Singer Carbon, interviewed via telephone as she was boarding the plane on her flight back to the Philippines, said that the incident could have been dealt with in a civilized manner but that Corrales acted that way because of her stature.
"Alam mo naman prima donna 'yan eh. Ibig sabihin being the legend as Pilita Corrales, talagang she has her own, she has the right to demand because icon eh. You know naman how an icon [acts]. Minsan ako din ganon din pero I do not do the talking. I have a manager," Carbon said.
Jebb fears that the worse is yet to come from Corrales who she heard plans to get even with her by involving her beauty queen daughter Anne Marie in the issue.
Anne Marie or Anna Jebb (screen name) represented the Philippines in China in July at the Ms. Tourism Queen International pageant and, as per Jebb, is being groomed to be an ABS-CBN contract star.
"Binantaan ni Pilita ang anak ko na ibabagsak daw niya ang anak ko, sisiraan daw niya sa ABS-CBN. Which is pinagmamalaki niya siya daw ang nagpakilala sa ABS-CBN. Wrong, Pilita, wrong. Me manager ang anak ko. Si Becky Aguila ang nagdala ke Anna Jebb sa ABS-CBN. Hindi ikaw, kaya please problema nating dalawa ito. Huwag mong idamay ang anak ko," Jebb said in a message to Corrales.
While waiting for Corrales to speak to the media, Jebb has only one message.
"Pilita, I am not your muchacha. Hindi mo dapat ako pinahiya sa harap ng tao. I told you we can talk in a corner. Nakiusap ako sa asawa mo pero binasura mo ako. I don't, I can't accept it Pilita and I can't forget this in my entire life… I am not an artist. I am not showbiz pero hindi ako busabos, Pilita," Jebb said.
SOURCE: WWW.ABS-CBNNEWS.COM
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=99161
Thursday, November 8, 2007
Drop-outs among OFW children on the rise
Drop-outs among OFW children on the rise
By LOUI GALICIA
ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau
A growing number of children left behind in the Philippines by overseas Filipino workers are losing interest in education and many are dropping out of school.
This was revealed by Tina Monzon-Palma, program director of ABS-CBN Foundation’s Bantay Bata 163, during her recent visit to the Netherlands to meet with a group of Pinoy professionals and nurses and Ambassador Romeo Arguelles. She said Bantay Bata has been receiving a lot of cases of children being heavily affected by the physical separation from parents working abroad.
"So nagkakaroon na kami ng iba’t ibang klaseng programa sa iba’t ibang probinsya para matugunan namin itong mga pangyayaring ito na sa palagay namin sa mga panahon na ito ay lumalaki at sana ay hindi na lumalala para hindi na lalong magkawatak- watak ang pamilyang Pilipino," Palma said in an exclusive interview at the ambassador's home in Wassenaar.
Palma said that a study conducted on how remittances are spent show that priorities among parents working abroad are healthcare, education and personal needs.
Some children, however, don’t feel the need to go to school anymore because of the money pouring in every month from abroad.
" 'Yung isang researcher na nagpunta sa isang lugar, nakita na mataas ang rate ng drop-out dun sa mga merong mga magulang na nasa abroad. Marangya, marami silang pera so parang di sila natuturuan. They don’t [feel the] need to go to school. The money is just forever being there," Palma said.
Palma said that Bantay Bata is trying to develop a special program to train these children on how to properly communicate with their parents.
"We put them into a training session of the children and the lolas and the auntie. How do you communicate with your mother or father in using the telephone or using the SMS. How do you strengthen that even in the absence, in the physical absence hoping it will fill the vacuum," Palma explained.
Palma said there seems to be a template of dialogue between a parent abroad and a child in the Philippines which is, "I need money," and that must be changed.
She said that Bantay Bata tries to tell the children that money isn’t everything in life.
They try to train the children to properly express their feelings about the absence of their parents and they also try to teach them how to save money, she said.
Palma reminded the Pinoy professionals that it’s not all about the money but the love.
The problem, she said, stems from lack of physical love and children whose parents are working abroad often feel the neglect and emotional emptiness.
Palma said that there are different languages of love and that parents who are working abroad are encouraged to use them in order to provide a security blanket for their children.
"Ang nakikita namin ay isang bukas at totoong pakikipag-usap sa mga anak. Ipaalam sa kanila na minamahal nila ang kanilang mga anak...Ito ay isang uri ng pagmamahal," Palma said.
Children, on the other hand, are also encouraged to tell their parents over the telephone or text message that they love them.
"Maski sila ay magkahiwalay ay maari pa silang magpakita ng pagmamahal at respeto sa isa’t isa sa tuloy na pakikipag-usap. Hindi lamang yung pag-uusap nila sa telepeno o pagtetext o pagsulat ay ukol sa pangangailangan nila na salapi para sila ay makabili ng panggimik nila, pagtustos ng kanilang pag-aaral kundi para na rin malaman nila ang halaga ng pera at ang halaga ng hirap na pinagdadaanan ng magulang para sila ay mamuhay ng matiwasay," Palma said.
Palma said that parents working abroad who have the habit of making up for their physical absence from home by bombarding their children with material things are using the wrong expression of love.
The OFWs should instead begin to teach their children how to save those hard-earned money at a very young age.
And most important of all, children and parents, just like any normal household should continue communicating with each other.
A Pinay who brought her Dutch husband and brother-in-law to the meeting said that it is very typical of a Filipino to help his fellow countryman.
"It’s really very Filipino! It’s really very Filipino and I am very happy for that. Maybe in my own little way, I can help also, in little things for Bantay Bata," Vicky de Bree-Ocampo said.
"They really make sure that these children are put in a nice place to help them and also to educate their parent and this is a very good example that ABS-CBN is doing now," de Bree-Ocampo added.
Arguelles, meanwhile, only had kind words for Bantay Bata.
"Bantay Bata is one of the more very successful programs, NGO program in the Philippines. And we’re very proud to have assisted in our small way the Bantay Bata project here in the Netherlands," Arguelles said.
"I think what is very useful here is for Tina to have informed the Filipinos here about the situation of the Filipinos back home in terms of those families that have their parents or relatives abroad and how Bantay Bata is able to assist these families in trying to unify and trying to solve some of the problems that are attendant to the absence of parents from their children," Arguelles said.
Arguelles was thankful that he opened his home to that very informative meeting which touched the hearts of the Pinoys because it gave them a glimpse of what is a reality, that money cannot buy, in the world of the OFWs.
SOURCE: WWW.ABS-CBNNEWS.COM
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=98505
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
Int'l Jurors Blast Dutch Govt on Seizure of PPT Materials
Int'l jurors blast Dutch govt on seizure of PPT materials
Antonio Tujan, Jr. of IBON Foundation
By LOUI GALICIA
ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau
International jurors blasted the Dutch government for confiscating documents of the Permanent People’s Tribunal’s (PPT) Second Session On The Philippines’, reported ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau.
"Shame on the Dutch government," stressed former Norwegian Ambassador and lawyer Oystein Tveter in a press release sent by PPT’s International Coordinating Secretariat to ABS-CBN.
Tveter was referring to the August 28 arrest of Communist Party of the Philippines founding chairman Jose Maria Sison by Dutch police, and the simultaneous raids on the office of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines and six homes of Filipino political refugees living in the Netherlands.
Atty. Bernard Tomlow of the Netherlands and Former Norweigian ambassador Oystein Tveter
The raids resulted in the confiscation by Dutch police of voluminous documents.
Materials belonging to the PPT as well as a desktop computer and laptop were taken by the police from the house of political refugee Boyen Baleva and his wife Dr. Angie Gonzales who is PPT's secretariat coordinator.
"The PPT jurors never thought that they would also hold the Dutch government responsible for the harassment (of Filipino militants) and the abuse of fundamental rights (of the Filipino people)," Tveter said in the release.
Tveter was one of six jurors during the PPT’s session in March this year in the Hague which declared the Arroyo administration, along with that of U.S. President George W. Bush "and their accomplices" guilty of gross violations of human rights, economic and social rights and transgression of the national sovereignty of the Filipino people.
PPT officials and observers fear that information gathered from these materials will be used against witnesses who testified against the Manila and U.S. governments.
PPT Secretary General Gianni Tognoni of Italy signs “Repression and Resistance” book
Dutch Justice Minister Ernst Hirsch Ballin has already admitted that such information can be shared to any foreign government if it will serve the interests of his government, the release said.
Tveter and two other PPT jurors Professor Ties Prakken of the Netherlands and PPT Secretary General Gianni Tognoni of Italy were in Amsterdam on Nov. 3, for the launching of the book "Repression and Resistance", which documents the entire proceedings of the PPT’s Second Session on the Philippines and the verdict on the violations of civil, political and economic rights in the Philippines.
At the book launch, Prakken, who is a law expert, also denounced Sison’s continued persecution in the Netherlands and said that the decision of the Dutch Court of Appeals to free Sison clearly sends a message to the Dutch prosecutors to drop the case.
The release said that Prakken finds it very unfortunate that Sison is being criminalized in the Netherlands on the basis of evidence which are not even acceptable to the Philippine Supreme Court.
At the book launch, Tognoni paid tribute to well-known Japanese novelist and social activist Oda Makoto, one of PPT’s founders and jurors, who passed away on July 30.
Atty. Bernard Tomlow of the Netherlands, Tvetter, Tognoni and Prakken at the launch of “Repression and Resistance” book
He read passages from Oda's books and echoed his call "to amplify the situation in the Philippines", the release said.
During the delivery of the PPT verdict, Oda deeply apologized to the Filipinos for not knowing what has been happening in the Philippines since he sat on the jury that tried the Marcos government in 1980.
In the press release, Tognoni said, "the verdict of the Tribunal represent the resistance of the powerless".
Filipino migrants as well as representatives of Philippine solidarity associations also attended the book launching.
According to Gonzales, the book will also be promoted in several other cities in Europe and in the U.S., Canada and the Asia-Pacific, to drum up further support for the campaign to stop rights violations by the Arroyo and Bush governments.
SOURCE: WWW.ABS-CBNNEWS.COM
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=98282
Antonio Tujan, Jr. of IBON Foundation
By LOUI GALICIA
ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau
International jurors blasted the Dutch government for confiscating documents of the Permanent People’s Tribunal’s (PPT) Second Session On The Philippines’, reported ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau.
"Shame on the Dutch government," stressed former Norwegian Ambassador and lawyer Oystein Tveter in a press release sent by PPT’s International Coordinating Secretariat to ABS-CBN.
Tveter was referring to the August 28 arrest of Communist Party of the Philippines founding chairman Jose Maria Sison by Dutch police, and the simultaneous raids on the office of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines and six homes of Filipino political refugees living in the Netherlands.
Atty. Bernard Tomlow of the Netherlands and Former Norweigian ambassador Oystein Tveter
The raids resulted in the confiscation by Dutch police of voluminous documents.
Materials belonging to the PPT as well as a desktop computer and laptop were taken by the police from the house of political refugee Boyen Baleva and his wife Dr. Angie Gonzales who is PPT's secretariat coordinator.
"The PPT jurors never thought that they would also hold the Dutch government responsible for the harassment (of Filipino militants) and the abuse of fundamental rights (of the Filipino people)," Tveter said in the release.
Tveter was one of six jurors during the PPT’s session in March this year in the Hague which declared the Arroyo administration, along with that of U.S. President George W. Bush "and their accomplices" guilty of gross violations of human rights, economic and social rights and transgression of the national sovereignty of the Filipino people.
PPT officials and observers fear that information gathered from these materials will be used against witnesses who testified against the Manila and U.S. governments.
PPT Secretary General Gianni Tognoni of Italy signs “Repression and Resistance” book
Dutch Justice Minister Ernst Hirsch Ballin has already admitted that such information can be shared to any foreign government if it will serve the interests of his government, the release said.
Tveter and two other PPT jurors Professor Ties Prakken of the Netherlands and PPT Secretary General Gianni Tognoni of Italy were in Amsterdam on Nov. 3, for the launching of the book "Repression and Resistance", which documents the entire proceedings of the PPT’s Second Session on the Philippines and the verdict on the violations of civil, political and economic rights in the Philippines.
At the book launch, Prakken, who is a law expert, also denounced Sison’s continued persecution in the Netherlands and said that the decision of the Dutch Court of Appeals to free Sison clearly sends a message to the Dutch prosecutors to drop the case.
The release said that Prakken finds it very unfortunate that Sison is being criminalized in the Netherlands on the basis of evidence which are not even acceptable to the Philippine Supreme Court.
At the book launch, Tognoni paid tribute to well-known Japanese novelist and social activist Oda Makoto, one of PPT’s founders and jurors, who passed away on July 30.
Atty. Bernard Tomlow of the Netherlands, Tvetter, Tognoni and Prakken at the launch of “Repression and Resistance” book
He read passages from Oda's books and echoed his call "to amplify the situation in the Philippines", the release said.
During the delivery of the PPT verdict, Oda deeply apologized to the Filipinos for not knowing what has been happening in the Philippines since he sat on the jury that tried the Marcos government in 1980.
In the press release, Tognoni said, "the verdict of the Tribunal represent the resistance of the powerless".
Filipino migrants as well as representatives of Philippine solidarity associations also attended the book launching.
According to Gonzales, the book will also be promoted in several other cities in Europe and in the U.S., Canada and the Asia-Pacific, to drum up further support for the campaign to stop rights violations by the Arroyo and Bush governments.
SOURCE: WWW.ABS-CBNNEWS.COM
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=98282
Saturday, November 3, 2007
Martin’s film ‘Independencia’ wins 2nd Rotterdam Grant
Martin’s film ‘Independencia’ wins 2nd Rotterdam Grant
By LOUI GALICIA
ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau
Filipino filmmaker Raya Martin wins a second grant from the International Film Festival Rotterdam or IFFR’s Hubert Bals Fund Fall 2007. The young director, who is only in his early twenties, is the only Filipino on this season’s list of 28 winners.
Martin’s film "Independencia" won in the Script Development Category of the HBF.
According to a statement sent by the IFFR to ABS-CBN, Martin will receive financing to develop the film which is set against a backdrop of the American occupation of the Philippines in the early 20th century.
On October 30, the HBF announced grants totaling 435,000 euros (P28 million ) to 28 film projects in 18 countries for fall 2007.
Martin was already an IFFR grant recipient early this year when he was awarded a 15,000-euro (960,000 pesos) Prince Claus Fund in January for Independencia which was one of the 46 Cinemart Projects 2007 and which was selected by the jury as the Best Cinemart Project 2007.
IFFR spokesman Bert-Jan Zoet said that the HBF has now decided to further support Martin in the fund’s Script Development Category.
“Martin gets this support to be able to develop his project from its initial idea and outline to a script. He has therefore not started shooting the film.
“The Hubert Bals Fund has the experience that financial support in this first development stage can be crucial as often there are no co-producers or other financiers yet. The Fund's support can now act as seal of approval that may help to attach more financiers to the project.” Zoet added.
"Independencia" may be seen as follow-up to Martin's previous feature film “Short Film About Indio Nacional”, screened at last year’s IFFR, dealing with the end of the Spanish colonial period.
Zoet said that to be selected for the HBF, filmmakers from southern or developing countries can enter their projects twice a year and that hundreds of applications are received in each of these selection rounds.
“The fact that Raya Martin's film project "Independencia" has been awarded during CineMart 2007 and has now been selected for support by Hubert Bals Fund, makes it clear that his work does have a clear international appeal. Both CineMart and Hubert Bals Fund take this aspect in serious account when selecting film projects,” Zoet said.
“He is the smartest of the young filmmaking talent currently working in the Philippines, open to influences ranging from silent cinema, avant garde to pop culture and yet not less political than his film-making colleagues,” Zoet commented.
Independencia is produced by Arleen Cuevas for Cinematografica Independiente en Filipinas in Manila.
The 37th IFFR will take place on January 23 to February 3, 2008.
The Hubert Bals Fund is designed to bring remarkable or urgent feature films and feature-length creative documentaries by innovative and talented filmmakers from developing countries closer to completion.
It provides grants that often turn out to play a crucial role in enabling these filmmakers to realize their projects.
Since the Fund started in 1988, close to 600 projects from independent filmmakers in Asia, the Middle East, Eastern Europe, Africa and Latin America have received support. Approximately 80% of these projects have been realised or are currently in production. Every year, the IFFR screens completed films supported by the Fund.
It is supported by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dutch non-governmental development organizations Hivos and NCDO, the DOEN Foundation and Dutch public broadcasting network NPS.
The HBF supports training initiatives for filmmakers in Ethiopa, Philippines, Costa Rica and Uganda. In Armenia and the Philippines, the fund participates in co-production meetings and awards are granted to the most promising film projects.
The winners for the IFFR’s Hubert Bals Fund Fall 2007 are:
Post production
I want to see – Khalil Joreige & Joanna Hadjithomas ; Lebanon
El cielo, la tierra, y la lluvia (The Sky, the Earth and the Rain – Jose Luis Torres Leiva ; Chile
A festa da menina morta (The Dead Girl’s Party) – Matheus Nachtergaele ; Brazil
Fujian Blue –Weng Shou Ming ; China
Liverpool – Lisandro Alonso ; Argentina
Sweet Sixties – Sergei Loznitsa ; Ukraine
Wonderful Town – Aditya Assarat ; Thailand
Zimbabwe – Darrel James Roodt ; South Africa
Script development
Le coq (The Rooster) – Mitra Farahani ; Iran
Mute Affairs – Bui Thac Chuyen ; Vietnam
Feast of Villains – Pan Jian Lin ; China
Friccion (Friction) – Michel Lipkes ; Mexico
Gabbla (Inland) – Tariq Teguia ; Algeria
Black and White Photos – Haolun Shu ; China
Independencia (Independence) – Raya Martin; Phillippines
Untitled Bahman Ghobadi Project – Bahman Ghobadi ; Iran
Ocaso (Decline) – Théo Jose Court ; Chile
Stroke – Daniela Schneider ; Mexico
Susa – Giorgi Chalauri ; Georgia
Tatuagem (Tattoo) – Hilton Lacerda ; Brazil
The Umesh Chronicles – Pooja Kaul ; India
Zephyr – Belma Bas ; Turkey
Digital production
Los Herederos (The Inheritors) – Eugenio Polgovsky ; Mexico
A Journal of Crude Oil – Wang Bing ; China
Oxhide II – Liu Jiayin ; China
Un suspiro (A Sigh) – Paz Encina ; Paraguay
Distribution
La Libertad, Los Muertos & Fantasma – Lisandro Alonso – release by Mantarraya Producciones in Mexico City ; Mexico
SOURCE: WWW.ABS-CBNNEWS.COM
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryID=97947
By LOUI GALICIA
ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau
Filipino filmmaker Raya Martin wins a second grant from the International Film Festival Rotterdam or IFFR’s Hubert Bals Fund Fall 2007. The young director, who is only in his early twenties, is the only Filipino on this season’s list of 28 winners.
Martin’s film "Independencia" won in the Script Development Category of the HBF.
According to a statement sent by the IFFR to ABS-CBN, Martin will receive financing to develop the film which is set against a backdrop of the American occupation of the Philippines in the early 20th century.
On October 30, the HBF announced grants totaling 435,000 euros (P28 million ) to 28 film projects in 18 countries for fall 2007.
Martin was already an IFFR grant recipient early this year when he was awarded a 15,000-euro (960,000 pesos) Prince Claus Fund in January for Independencia which was one of the 46 Cinemart Projects 2007 and which was selected by the jury as the Best Cinemart Project 2007.
IFFR spokesman Bert-Jan Zoet said that the HBF has now decided to further support Martin in the fund’s Script Development Category.
“Martin gets this support to be able to develop his project from its initial idea and outline to a script. He has therefore not started shooting the film.
“The Hubert Bals Fund has the experience that financial support in this first development stage can be crucial as often there are no co-producers or other financiers yet. The Fund's support can now act as seal of approval that may help to attach more financiers to the project.” Zoet added.
"Independencia" may be seen as follow-up to Martin's previous feature film “Short Film About Indio Nacional”, screened at last year’s IFFR, dealing with the end of the Spanish colonial period.
Zoet said that to be selected for the HBF, filmmakers from southern or developing countries can enter their projects twice a year and that hundreds of applications are received in each of these selection rounds.
“The fact that Raya Martin's film project "Independencia" has been awarded during CineMart 2007 and has now been selected for support by Hubert Bals Fund, makes it clear that his work does have a clear international appeal. Both CineMart and Hubert Bals Fund take this aspect in serious account when selecting film projects,” Zoet said.
“He is the smartest of the young filmmaking talent currently working in the Philippines, open to influences ranging from silent cinema, avant garde to pop culture and yet not less political than his film-making colleagues,” Zoet commented.
Independencia is produced by Arleen Cuevas for Cinematografica Independiente en Filipinas in Manila.
The 37th IFFR will take place on January 23 to February 3, 2008.
The Hubert Bals Fund is designed to bring remarkable or urgent feature films and feature-length creative documentaries by innovative and talented filmmakers from developing countries closer to completion.
It provides grants that often turn out to play a crucial role in enabling these filmmakers to realize their projects.
Since the Fund started in 1988, close to 600 projects from independent filmmakers in Asia, the Middle East, Eastern Europe, Africa and Latin America have received support. Approximately 80% of these projects have been realised or are currently in production. Every year, the IFFR screens completed films supported by the Fund.
It is supported by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dutch non-governmental development organizations Hivos and NCDO, the DOEN Foundation and Dutch public broadcasting network NPS.
The HBF supports training initiatives for filmmakers in Ethiopa, Philippines, Costa Rica and Uganda. In Armenia and the Philippines, the fund participates in co-production meetings and awards are granted to the most promising film projects.
The winners for the IFFR’s Hubert Bals Fund Fall 2007 are:
Post production
I want to see – Khalil Joreige & Joanna Hadjithomas ; Lebanon
El cielo, la tierra, y la lluvia (The Sky, the Earth and the Rain – Jose Luis Torres Leiva ; Chile
A festa da menina morta (The Dead Girl’s Party) – Matheus Nachtergaele ; Brazil
Fujian Blue –Weng Shou Ming ; China
Liverpool – Lisandro Alonso ; Argentina
Sweet Sixties – Sergei Loznitsa ; Ukraine
Wonderful Town – Aditya Assarat ; Thailand
Zimbabwe – Darrel James Roodt ; South Africa
Script development
Le coq (The Rooster) – Mitra Farahani ; Iran
Mute Affairs – Bui Thac Chuyen ; Vietnam
Feast of Villains – Pan Jian Lin ; China
Friccion (Friction) – Michel Lipkes ; Mexico
Gabbla (Inland) – Tariq Teguia ; Algeria
Black and White Photos – Haolun Shu ; China
Independencia (Independence) – Raya Martin; Phillippines
Untitled Bahman Ghobadi Project – Bahman Ghobadi ; Iran
Ocaso (Decline) – Théo Jose Court ; Chile
Stroke – Daniela Schneider ; Mexico
Susa – Giorgi Chalauri ; Georgia
Tatuagem (Tattoo) – Hilton Lacerda ; Brazil
The Umesh Chronicles – Pooja Kaul ; India
Zephyr – Belma Bas ; Turkey
Digital production
Los Herederos (The Inheritors) – Eugenio Polgovsky ; Mexico
A Journal of Crude Oil – Wang Bing ; China
Oxhide II – Liu Jiayin ; China
Un suspiro (A Sigh) – Paz Encina ; Paraguay
Distribution
La Libertad, Los Muertos & Fantasma – Lisandro Alonso – release by Mantarraya Producciones in Mexico City ; Mexico
SOURCE: WWW.ABS-CBNNEWS.COM
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryID=97947
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