By Loui Galicia, ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau 11/19/2009 5:22 PM
Sen. Maria Ana Consuelo “Jamby” Madrigal and the National Democratic Front on Wednesday urged the Philippine government to restart peace talks with communist rebels in the country before the May 2010 elections.
Madrigal and members of the NDF negotiating panel headed by chairman Luis Jalandoni signed a statement urging the government to undertake steps to resume peace talks with the communist movement.
The NDF is the political arm of the Communist Party of the Philippines, which has been waging a Maoist rebellion in the Southeast Asian nation for the past 40 years.
Both sides underlined the urgency of starting peace negotiations on social and economic reforms to address the roots of the 40-year-old armed conflict and find practical solutions to the problems of widespread poverty and hunger.
"The GRP-NDFP peace talks must also address the worsening human rights situation in the country, characterized by gross and systematic human rights violations by the regime's military, police and paramilitary forces," the statement read.
The statement was signed by Madrigal, Jalandoni and NDFP chief political consultant Jose Maria Sison. Also present during the signing were NDF panelists Fidel Agcaoili, Julieta de Lima and Coni Ledesma.
Madrigal, chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Peace, Unification and Reconciliation, met with the NDF panel in Utrecht, The Netherlands on November 16-17. In an interview, she said she found the NDF panel ready and willing to resume peace talks.
"The NDF is willing to talk. I doubt if the GRP side has the goodwill, the desire to start peace negotiations. As a Filipino, I will push my government to restart the talks because every day that it is delayed more people die. I hope that there will be peace and not wait for the elections," she said.
She said the resumption of peace negotiations could be President Arroyo's legacy before she steps down in 2010. "Even if there is no signing, it should start before the end of her term," she said.
Sison said it is up to the Philippine government to make the move towards a resumption of the peace negotiation.
“Laging handa ang NDF na makipagusap muli ng formal sa GRP or Manila government. Ang may pananagutan sa mahabang panahon na walang pag-uusap eh GRP. Sila ang gumawa ng pagsuspinde…sila ang mailap. Di lang mailap, sila yung gumagawa ng pambabara, “ Sison said.
Both sides also opposed the appointment of National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales as secretary of national defense, whom they said may sabotage the talks. They noted that Gonzales is one of the chief implementors of Oplan Bantay Laya, a government operation bent on killing and persecuting members of legal organizations such as Bayan Muna and Anakpawis.
Madrigal said Gonzales is a militarist who believes in arms. On the other hand, Sison said human rights violations could only worsen under Gonzales and may even lead to the failure of elections.
“Gagawa ng milagro laban sa sovereign will ng masang Pilipino. May mga nagsasabi na baka ito signo ng pagpapanatilii ni GMA sa kapangyarihan sa pamamagitan ng failure of elections at pagpanimula o paggamit sa AFP sa ilalim nitong Norberto Gonzales,” Sison said.
as of 11/19/2009 5:22 PM
SOURCE: WWW.ABS-CBNNEWS.COM
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/11/19/09/ndf-wants-peace-talks-2010-polls
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Jamby on Loren: She changes like the climate
By Loui Galicia, ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau 11/18/2009 12:39 PM
Sen. Maria Ana Consuelo "Jamby" Madrigal likens fellow senator Loren Legarda to climate change, the latter's favorite advocacy of late.
In an exclusive interview, an irritated Madrigal said Legarda's decision to become Sen. Manuel Villar’s running mate after pushing for a Senate ethics investigation against the latter smacks of political opportunism.
Madrigal, who initiated the ethics probe against Villar over the alleged double insertion in the C-5 road project, said Legarda has a history of shifting allegiances.
"Well, she has a history. She used to be with Lakas, which is how she became senator. Then, when she thought that [actor] Fernando Poe Jr. would win [in the 2004 elections], she abandoned Lakas and joined FPJ. But then she and FPJ lost. She became an oppositionist because being pro-Gloria wasn't very popular. She was given an opportunity but now she's siding with Villar," she said.
“So mahal mo ba sarili mo o mahal mo ba ang taong bayan? Siya ang chairman ng oversight committee ng climate change. I know now why she loves climate change. She will always change to the climate that is favorable to her,” Madrigal said.
Madrigal said Legarda lacks conviction, which is why she finds it easy to shift alliances.
"Ako’y naaawa sa bayan. Sabi niya she will pray for me. I am also praying for her because I pity her na bawat ihip ng hangin tatalon na lang siya o sasampa siya,” she said.
On Tuesday Legarda said she had accepted Villar's invitation to become a guest vice-presidential candidate of the Nacionalista Party for the 2010 elections.
Legarda said she and Villar had numerous discussions about the campaign and found that they had similar advocacies and platforms. She also denied that she was taking back her fiercest criticisms of Villar at the height of the Senate ethics investigation.
"Lilinawin ko, wala akong tinatalikurang salita. Ang aking pagtulak ng anumang.. imbestigasyon ay ukol na rin sa proseso sa Senado at sa ating bansa. Demokrasya yan eh. Pag merong magsulong ng isang resolusyon ay tatayo ay susuporta sa proseso . Nobody is above the law, kung ako, si Senator Villar o sino man," she told reporters.
In a separate ABS-CBN interview, Legarda took issue with Madrigal's statement that joining Villar was a form of "political prostitution."
"Ang pag-aalyansa ng mga partido politikal at ayon sa plataporma ay hindi pagbibili ng boto o pagbibili ng katauhan ng tao. Walang pera sa pinag-uusapan. Ito'y alyansa ng plataporma ayon sa aming mga adbokasya," she said in an "Umagang Kay Ganda" interview.
She added that she would pray for Madrigal.
No surprise
Madrigal, who was in The Netherlands when the Villar-Legarda tandem was formally announced, said she wasn’t the least bit surprised by the team-up.
She said she and her fellow senators have long suspected that Legarda would go to Villar despite leveling harsh words against the senator at the start of the ethics investigation.
"[Legarda] hasn't been very visible lately maybe because she's busy negotiating or campaigning. But we in the majority know na talagang galit na galit siya kay Villar. Marami pa siyang unsavory names na sinasabi sa kanya,” Madrigal said.
She said Legarda even chided her and Sen. Panfilo Lacson that they might switch sides and not push through with the ethics investigation.
The senator said she does not see Legarda's decision as a personal affront but a betrayal of her fellow senators.
"She betrayed the institution of the Senate at nataksil din niya mga taong bayan na umaasa sa kanya na isang taong me prinsipyo,” Madrigal said.
Madrigal also leveled harsh words against her fellow senators who are allegedly seeking the dismissal of the ethics case against Villar.
She said the resolution sought to pre-judge the case against Villar especially since the Senate Committee of the Whole had yet to issue a final report on the case.
"Sasabihin ko na… nakakasuka. (It makes me vomit.) Parang sasabihan mo isang judge na maraming ayaw nito. Parang suhol ito. This is like bribery. Bago pa lumabas ang ebidensiya hahatulan mo na,” Madrigal said.
Villar, meanwhile, denied paying any money to the senators who signed the resolution clearing his name.
"Jamby thinks that everything I've accomplished is because of money. Maybe it's because that is her life. I worked hard for my money. I don't know where Senator Jamby got the idea but none of the senators who signed got a single peso from me. It's called pakikisama," he said.
No stopping presidential bid
Madrigal, meanwhile, said that unlike Legarda, her ambition to run for president in 2010 is fueled by a genuine love for country and the Filipino people.
She added that she wanted to give Filipinos another choice even if she doesn't win the election.
"If I love myself and only my career and ambition then I will not run because I'm a sure winner in the Senate. Yung pagmamahal sa bayan at sa taong bayan. Na mabigyan naman sila ng alternatibong plataporma, isusugal ko ang lahat para sa taong bayan,” she said.
as of 11/18/2009 12:41 PM
SOURCE: WWW.ABS-CBNNEWS.COM
http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=3527450582355285238
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/11/18/09/jamby-loren-she-changes-climate
Sen. Maria Ana Consuelo "Jamby" Madrigal likens fellow senator Loren Legarda to climate change, the latter's favorite advocacy of late.
In an exclusive interview, an irritated Madrigal said Legarda's decision to become Sen. Manuel Villar’s running mate after pushing for a Senate ethics investigation against the latter smacks of political opportunism.
Madrigal, who initiated the ethics probe against Villar over the alleged double insertion in the C-5 road project, said Legarda has a history of shifting allegiances.
"Well, she has a history. She used to be with Lakas, which is how she became senator. Then, when she thought that [actor] Fernando Poe Jr. would win [in the 2004 elections], she abandoned Lakas and joined FPJ. But then she and FPJ lost. She became an oppositionist because being pro-Gloria wasn't very popular. She was given an opportunity but now she's siding with Villar," she said.
“So mahal mo ba sarili mo o mahal mo ba ang taong bayan? Siya ang chairman ng oversight committee ng climate change. I know now why she loves climate change. She will always change to the climate that is favorable to her,” Madrigal said.
Madrigal said Legarda lacks conviction, which is why she finds it easy to shift alliances.
"Ako’y naaawa sa bayan. Sabi niya she will pray for me. I am also praying for her because I pity her na bawat ihip ng hangin tatalon na lang siya o sasampa siya,” she said.
On Tuesday Legarda said she had accepted Villar's invitation to become a guest vice-presidential candidate of the Nacionalista Party for the 2010 elections.
Legarda said she and Villar had numerous discussions about the campaign and found that they had similar advocacies and platforms. She also denied that she was taking back her fiercest criticisms of Villar at the height of the Senate ethics investigation.
"Lilinawin ko, wala akong tinatalikurang salita. Ang aking pagtulak ng anumang.. imbestigasyon ay ukol na rin sa proseso sa Senado at sa ating bansa. Demokrasya yan eh. Pag merong magsulong ng isang resolusyon ay tatayo ay susuporta sa proseso . Nobody is above the law, kung ako, si Senator Villar o sino man," she told reporters.
In a separate ABS-CBN interview, Legarda took issue with Madrigal's statement that joining Villar was a form of "political prostitution."
"Ang pag-aalyansa ng mga partido politikal at ayon sa plataporma ay hindi pagbibili ng boto o pagbibili ng katauhan ng tao. Walang pera sa pinag-uusapan. Ito'y alyansa ng plataporma ayon sa aming mga adbokasya," she said in an "Umagang Kay Ganda" interview.
She added that she would pray for Madrigal.
No surprise
Madrigal, who was in The Netherlands when the Villar-Legarda tandem was formally announced, said she wasn’t the least bit surprised by the team-up.
She said she and her fellow senators have long suspected that Legarda would go to Villar despite leveling harsh words against the senator at the start of the ethics investigation.
"[Legarda] hasn't been very visible lately maybe because she's busy negotiating or campaigning. But we in the majority know na talagang galit na galit siya kay Villar. Marami pa siyang unsavory names na sinasabi sa kanya,” Madrigal said.
She said Legarda even chided her and Sen. Panfilo Lacson that they might switch sides and not push through with the ethics investigation.
The senator said she does not see Legarda's decision as a personal affront but a betrayal of her fellow senators.
"She betrayed the institution of the Senate at nataksil din niya mga taong bayan na umaasa sa kanya na isang taong me prinsipyo,” Madrigal said.
Madrigal also leveled harsh words against her fellow senators who are allegedly seeking the dismissal of the ethics case against Villar.
She said the resolution sought to pre-judge the case against Villar especially since the Senate Committee of the Whole had yet to issue a final report on the case.
"Sasabihin ko na… nakakasuka. (It makes me vomit.) Parang sasabihan mo isang judge na maraming ayaw nito. Parang suhol ito. This is like bribery. Bago pa lumabas ang ebidensiya hahatulan mo na,” Madrigal said.
Villar, meanwhile, denied paying any money to the senators who signed the resolution clearing his name.
"Jamby thinks that everything I've accomplished is because of money. Maybe it's because that is her life. I worked hard for my money. I don't know where Senator Jamby got the idea but none of the senators who signed got a single peso from me. It's called pakikisama," he said.
No stopping presidential bid
Madrigal, meanwhile, said that unlike Legarda, her ambition to run for president in 2010 is fueled by a genuine love for country and the Filipino people.
She added that she wanted to give Filipinos another choice even if she doesn't win the election.
"If I love myself and only my career and ambition then I will not run because I'm a sure winner in the Senate. Yung pagmamahal sa bayan at sa taong bayan. Na mabigyan naman sila ng alternatibong plataporma, isusugal ko ang lahat para sa taong bayan,” she said.
as of 11/18/2009 12:41 PM
SOURCE: WWW.ABS-CBNNEWS.COM
http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=3527450582355285238
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/11/18/09/jamby-loren-she-changes-climate
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Rift almost affected Aegis concert in The Netherlands
by Loui Galicia, ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau 11/15/2009 7:44 PM
All's well that did not start well at the Holland concert of Aegis
The European tour of Pinoy band Aegis in Austria, Switzerland, Denmark and Belgium was a complete success but was almost a disaster in the Netherlands.
RP Ambassador Cardozo Luna and a couple of his staff were among the 200
Filipinos and Dutch who waited for two hours for the Aegis concert in The Hague to start.
The jam-packed concert was almost cancelled at the last minute which would have caused a major embarrassment.
The reason was a rift between the producer in Belgium and organizers in Holland.
Ligaya Gravidez, the Pinay producer in Belgium, was responsible for bringing Aegis to Holland.
She reportedly sought the assistance of Pinay Mia Van Eendenburg to organize the concert in Holland.
But on the night of the concert, the two Pinays did not meet eye to eye reportedly on money issues.
They kept pointing fingers at each other.
"Medyo may problema sa producer. Sabihin na natin sa producer, ‘yong pagma-manage at sa kakulangan ng sabihin na nating financial," Van Eendenburg said.
Van Eendenburg said that she scrambled at the last hour for the concert to push through just so she can protect her name.
“Ang nangyari naghanap ako ng paraan para ma-push through ito dahil alam ng mga tao ako ang producer which is hindi. Na ang Netherlands team which is sampu kami, nakasalalay ang aming pangalan," Van Eendenburg said.
"Para lang matuloy ito kailangan kong mapunuan ang kakulangan so kailangan kong maghanap ng pera, mag-withdraw ng sarili kong pera o manghiram sa aking mga kaibigan," Van Eendenburg added.
Gravidez on the other hand explained that the trouble stemmed from Van Eendenburg not handing her the full list of sold tickets.
"Ang hinihingi ko sa kanya ay ibigay niya ang listahan ng sold-out tickets and reserve tickets. Sa tingin niya ba ngayon ba ay naglabas ako ng pera. Hindi ako naglabas ng pera. Wala akong nilabas," Gravidez said.
"Kasi kulang ang communication niya ng listahan niya ng tickets. Hanggang ngayon hindi ko alam kung ilan ang pumasok. Ilang tao ang pumasok, hindi ko alam. Ilang tao ang nagbayad hindi ko alam. Magkano ang binayad niya. Alam niya kulang na kulang para ipambayad sa artist," Gravidez added.
Van Eendenburg explained that she withdrew money from her personal account in order to complete the payment for Aegis, who were instructed by their handlers not to go on stage unless their talent fee has been fully paid.
Gravidez was convinced she has been shortchanged based on her own headcount of the almost Standing Room Only crowd.
According to the Aegis, they had nothing to do with the delay and added that that the poor sound system which they tried to fix in vain that night also contributed to the delay.
"Actually hindi kami iyong problema. Kung may problema man hindi namin alam.iyon. Basta kami naghihintay kami ng signal sa producer," Aegis keyboard player Stella Galindo said.
After the two-hour wait, Gravidez and Van Eendenburg settled their issues and Aegis finally went on stage much to the relief and delight of the very patient crowd.
As soon as the Sunot sisters Juliet and Mercy sang their popular songs, all the anger and discontent of the concert goers disappeared.
For the Pinoys, it was worth all that wait.
Their trademark "birits," non-stop gyrations and down-to-earth jokes proved that the Aegis are total performers who can always bring the house down.
by Loui Galicia, ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau
as of 11/15/2009 7:44 PM
SOURCE: WWW.ABS-CBNNEWS.COM
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/pinoy-migration/11/15/09/rift-almost-affected-aegis-concert-netherlands
All's well that did not start well at the Holland concert of Aegis
The European tour of Pinoy band Aegis in Austria, Switzerland, Denmark and Belgium was a complete success but was almost a disaster in the Netherlands.
RP Ambassador Cardozo Luna and a couple of his staff were among the 200
Filipinos and Dutch who waited for two hours for the Aegis concert in The Hague to start.
The jam-packed concert was almost cancelled at the last minute which would have caused a major embarrassment.
The reason was a rift between the producer in Belgium and organizers in Holland.
Ligaya Gravidez, the Pinay producer in Belgium, was responsible for bringing Aegis to Holland.
She reportedly sought the assistance of Pinay Mia Van Eendenburg to organize the concert in Holland.
But on the night of the concert, the two Pinays did not meet eye to eye reportedly on money issues.
They kept pointing fingers at each other.
"Medyo may problema sa producer. Sabihin na natin sa producer, ‘yong pagma-manage at sa kakulangan ng sabihin na nating financial," Van Eendenburg said.
Van Eendenburg said that she scrambled at the last hour for the concert to push through just so she can protect her name.
“Ang nangyari naghanap ako ng paraan para ma-push through ito dahil alam ng mga tao ako ang producer which is hindi. Na ang Netherlands team which is sampu kami, nakasalalay ang aming pangalan," Van Eendenburg said.
"Para lang matuloy ito kailangan kong mapunuan ang kakulangan so kailangan kong maghanap ng pera, mag-withdraw ng sarili kong pera o manghiram sa aking mga kaibigan," Van Eendenburg added.
Gravidez on the other hand explained that the trouble stemmed from Van Eendenburg not handing her the full list of sold tickets.
"Ang hinihingi ko sa kanya ay ibigay niya ang listahan ng sold-out tickets and reserve tickets. Sa tingin niya ba ngayon ba ay naglabas ako ng pera. Hindi ako naglabas ng pera. Wala akong nilabas," Gravidez said.
"Kasi kulang ang communication niya ng listahan niya ng tickets. Hanggang ngayon hindi ko alam kung ilan ang pumasok. Ilang tao ang pumasok, hindi ko alam. Ilang tao ang nagbayad hindi ko alam. Magkano ang binayad niya. Alam niya kulang na kulang para ipambayad sa artist," Gravidez added.
Van Eendenburg explained that she withdrew money from her personal account in order to complete the payment for Aegis, who were instructed by their handlers not to go on stage unless their talent fee has been fully paid.
Gravidez was convinced she has been shortchanged based on her own headcount of the almost Standing Room Only crowd.
According to the Aegis, they had nothing to do with the delay and added that that the poor sound system which they tried to fix in vain that night also contributed to the delay.
"Actually hindi kami iyong problema. Kung may problema man hindi namin alam.iyon. Basta kami naghihintay kami ng signal sa producer," Aegis keyboard player Stella Galindo said.
After the two-hour wait, Gravidez and Van Eendenburg settled their issues and Aegis finally went on stage much to the relief and delight of the very patient crowd.
As soon as the Sunot sisters Juliet and Mercy sang their popular songs, all the anger and discontent of the concert goers disappeared.
For the Pinoys, it was worth all that wait.
Their trademark "birits," non-stop gyrations and down-to-earth jokes proved that the Aegis are total performers who can always bring the house down.
by Loui Galicia, ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau
as of 11/15/2009 7:44 PM
SOURCE: WWW.ABS-CBNNEWS.COM
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/pinoy-migration/11/15/09/rift-almost-affected-aegis-concert-netherlands
Monday, November 2, 2009
Holland TFC subscribers spare ‘coins’ for Sagip Kapamilya
By Loui Galicia, ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau
10/24/2009 11:23 AM
Subscribers of The Filipino Channel (TFC) in The Netherlands held a fundraising activity for ABS-CBN Foundation’s Sagip Kapamilya.
A small silver box became a symbol of the Dutch Pinoys’ unity with the victims of typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng that hit the Philippines recently.
TFC subscribers that receive regular updates on the relief efforts of Sagip Kapamilya thought that a fundraising activity would be a big help to typhoon-affected Filipinos back home.
The fundraising activity called “Patak Patak Para sa Sagip Kapamilya” was held during the Aegis concert in The Hague.
Even the Philippine envoy to the Netherlands who attended the concert with some of his staff was impressed by the Filipinos’ gesture.
“Gusto kong pasalamatan in the name of all the Filipinos here in the Netherlands ang mga organizers at promoters nitong activity na ito lalung-lalo na ang Aegis band na sa pamamagitan ng kanilang talento ay magfa-fund raising sila upang makalikom ng pondo at matulungan ang ating mga kababayan na nasalanta ng bagyo,” said Ambassador Cardozo Luna.
At the Aegis concert, a silver box was passed around to all Pinoys and Dutch who came from the different parts of Holland.
“Nakakalumo talaga. Nakita ko yung nangyari. I have part of my family as well na nasalanta. Nakakaawa yung mga taong nagmamakaawa na bigyan sila ng konting panahon na mag-stay sa evacuation center dahil wala naman silang mapupuntahan,” Mary Perez, a student said.
One euro, which is equivalent to around P70, can already buy one or two kilos of rice in the Philippines.
“What is three euros, five euros, 10 euros? Parang barya na sa atin yun di ba? Pag lalabas tayo 10 euros parang barya lang. Five euros eh pambili ng sigarilyo. Yung five euros na yon pwede nating ibigay sa Pilipinas. Pambili ng bigas, pambili ng delata,” TFC subscriber Maribeth Saturno said.
From the coins, the “Patak Patak Para Sa Sagip Kapamilya” raised 1,200 euros (P80,000).
as of 10/24/2009 11:23 AM
SOURCE: WWW.ABS-CBNNEWS.COM
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/pinoy-migration/10/24/09/holland-tfc-subscribers-spare-%E2%80%98coins%E2%80%99-sagip-kapamilya
10/24/2009 11:23 AM
Subscribers of The Filipino Channel (TFC) in The Netherlands held a fundraising activity for ABS-CBN Foundation’s Sagip Kapamilya.
A small silver box became a symbol of the Dutch Pinoys’ unity with the victims of typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng that hit the Philippines recently.
TFC subscribers that receive regular updates on the relief efforts of Sagip Kapamilya thought that a fundraising activity would be a big help to typhoon-affected Filipinos back home.
The fundraising activity called “Patak Patak Para sa Sagip Kapamilya” was held during the Aegis concert in The Hague.
Even the Philippine envoy to the Netherlands who attended the concert with some of his staff was impressed by the Filipinos’ gesture.
“Gusto kong pasalamatan in the name of all the Filipinos here in the Netherlands ang mga organizers at promoters nitong activity na ito lalung-lalo na ang Aegis band na sa pamamagitan ng kanilang talento ay magfa-fund raising sila upang makalikom ng pondo at matulungan ang ating mga kababayan na nasalanta ng bagyo,” said Ambassador Cardozo Luna.
At the Aegis concert, a silver box was passed around to all Pinoys and Dutch who came from the different parts of Holland.
“Nakakalumo talaga. Nakita ko yung nangyari. I have part of my family as well na nasalanta. Nakakaawa yung mga taong nagmamakaawa na bigyan sila ng konting panahon na mag-stay sa evacuation center dahil wala naman silang mapupuntahan,” Mary Perez, a student said.
One euro, which is equivalent to around P70, can already buy one or two kilos of rice in the Philippines.
“What is three euros, five euros, 10 euros? Parang barya na sa atin yun di ba? Pag lalabas tayo 10 euros parang barya lang. Five euros eh pambili ng sigarilyo. Yung five euros na yon pwede nating ibigay sa Pilipinas. Pambili ng bigas, pambili ng delata,” TFC subscriber Maribeth Saturno said.
From the coins, the “Patak Patak Para Sa Sagip Kapamilya” raised 1,200 euros (P80,000).
as of 10/24/2009 11:23 AM
SOURCE: WWW.ABS-CBNNEWS.COM
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/pinoy-migration/10/24/09/holland-tfc-subscribers-spare-%E2%80%98coins%E2%80%99-sagip-kapamilya
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
RP post warns Dutch Pinoys against scammers
By Loui Galicia, ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau 10/13/2009 6:17 PM
Ambassador Cardoza Luna said there have been reported cases of scammers in the Philippines and other countries who are using the tragedy to collect money that go directly to their own pockets.
To Luna's knowledge, there is no such case yet reported in The Netherlands but he is already warning the Pinoys now not to immediately fall for those who are soliciting donations for the victims of the two typhoons.
There are several organizations and groups soliciting relief efforts for typhoon victims in the Philippines.
In fact, Luna said he has already been flooded with emails and phone calls from organizations and individuals asking for advice as to where they can send their money.
“Sa pamamagitan ng isang guidance na galing sa Department of Foreign Affairs, pinakalat natin yung mga channel ng pagpapadala ng donation whether in cash or in kind pero atin pong ine-encourage yung in cash dahil madaling makakarating agad ang tulong na binibigay nila,” Luna said.
“Pagtiwalaan natin ang ating pananampalataya sa isa’t-isa at sana ay yung pagiging Filipino natin ay buhayin natin, yung spirit ng pagtutulungan, bayanihan spirit,” Luna said.
People may also send their help through Sagip Kapamilya of the ABS-CBN Foundation.
as of 10/13/2009 6:17 PM
SOURCE: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/
Amid the overflowing of support from Filipinos around the world for the victims of typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng, the Philippine Embassy in The Netherlands warned them to be on the lookout for scammers.
Ambassador Cardoza Luna said there have been reported cases of scammers in the Philippines and other countries who are using the tragedy to collect money that go directly to their own pockets.
“Ang tawag sa mga ganun bwitre. Yung nagkakaron ng pagsasamantala doon sa mga sakuna na nangyayari sa ating kababayan gagamitin pa nilang pagkakataon iyun upang gumawa ng pakinabang na pansarili,” Luna said.
To Luna's knowledge, there is no such case yet reported in The Netherlands but he is already warning the Pinoys now not to immediately fall for those who are soliciting donations for the victims of the two typhoons.
There are several organizations and groups soliciting relief efforts for typhoon victims in the Philippines.
In fact, Luna said he has already been flooded with emails and phone calls from organizations and individuals asking for advice as to where they can send their money.
“Sa pamamagitan ng isang guidance na galing sa Department of Foreign Affairs, pinakalat natin yung mga channel ng pagpapadala ng donation whether in cash or in kind pero atin pong ine-encourage yung in cash dahil madaling makakarating agad ang tulong na binibigay nila,” Luna said.
Luna directs the Pinoys and other donors to the Embassy’s website at http://www.philembassy.nl/ for the list of government agencies and legitimate organizations which are accepting donations.
He discourages would-be scammers and called for unity among Pinoys in these desperate times.
“Pagtiwalaan natin ang ating pananampalataya sa isa’t-isa at sana ay yung pagiging Filipino natin ay buhayin natin, yung spirit ng pagtutulungan, bayanihan spirit,” Luna said.
People may also send their help through Sagip Kapamilya of the ABS-CBN Foundation.
as of 10/13/2009 6:17 PM
SOURCE: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Joma happy with EU court decision
Jose Maria Sison has scored a victory with the decision of the European Union Court of First Instance in Luxembourg that could result in his name being taken off the EU terrorist list.
The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founding chair said he is very happy to have finally received the justice that he has longed for in seven years.
The court ruled that the EU had based its move on legal procedures in the Netherlands -- where Sison has lived since 1987 -- assessing his eligibility for refugee status, instead of basing it on a "terror" probe.
"The national decisions relied upon by the (EU) in order to freeze the applicant's funds did not relate either to the instigation of investigations or prosecution or to a conviction for terrorist activity, contrary to the requirements of (EU) law," the Luxembourg-based Court of First Instance said.
“Siyempre nagagalak ako at tinatanggal na ang pangalan ko sa terrorist blacklist sa EU. Mismong EU court nagsasabi na walang batayan iyong terrorist blacklisting sa akin. May consequence iyan. Pwede ko nang habulin iyong tinerminate na social benefits sa akin, iyong kaunting fund namin ni Julie ma-unfreeze. What's more substantial eh iyong more than seven years akong di binigyan ng subsistence allowance, insurance pati old age pension eh isasauli iyon,” Sison said.
The September 30 annulment of the EU Court of First Instance of all the EU Council decisions blocking Sison’s assets could now result in his name being taken off the list.
It’s because the EU Council has used the terrorist list as the main basis for freezing Sison’s assets since October 28, 2002.
According to Sison’s lawyer Jan Fermon, there is only one listing and it is a list for freezing assets.
“The court decided to annul all the decisions including him [Sison] in the list and that means that the decision of the court is that he [Sison} should not be in the list. It’s very simple,” Fermon told Balitang Europe in an exclusive interview.
“The list is in fact an asset freezing list. The purpose of the list is to freeze assets and the only effect of the list, the only legal effect…there is of course the aspect of labeling somebody, criminalizing and vilifying a person. The legal effect of the list is freezing assets so the decision [EU Court] is that all decisions including Sison in the list are cancelled, annulled. The result of that is that there is no more asset freezing. So there is no more discussion possible. The fact that his assets are not frozen anymore is only the result of the fact that he's taken off the list. There is no discussion, the court decided, that Sison can be included in the terror listing,” Fermon explained.
”The court says that he [Sison] cannot be in this list. His name cannot be in the previous lists that have been adapted. His name can't be there,” Fermon reiterated.
The EU Court’s decision favored Joma because it said that all of the Council’s acts to block Sison’s funds were not supported by any investigation or conviction related to his alleged terrorist activity.
Sison is one of the 59 individuals listed on the EU terrorist list and the CPP is also one of 47 groups listed.
However, even with the decision, Sison’s name will still remain on the blacklist for two months and ten days while the EU council decides if it will appeal the court’s decision.
And if the latter decides to do so, Sison’s name will still remain on the list for the duration of the appeals process.
Asked if the EU Council will appeal court decision, the Council responded, “For the time being, the only reaction by the Council of the EU is that the Council is currently examining today's EU Court of First Instance Decision."
For Fermon, there are still pending cases to be solved such as their claim for compensation.
“We agreed that the Court would now decide on the merit of the case and the question of compensation will be pleaded at a later stage. Question of compensation is still pending. It will be possible that the Council launches a frivolous appeal but I think that will be quickly dismissed. Or they may come up with something.. invent,” Fermont said.
Sison said that even if he suffered for seven long years, he know that in the end he will conquer those that want to oppress him.
“Yang Arroyo regime, siya [ang] pursigidong mag-supply ng false charges in connection with this terror listing so masasabi ko sa kanila palpak ang pagiipit nila although pinahirapan ako for 7 years. Eh ano yan sabi ko kahit me prospect akong mang-collect ng accumulated benefits, madami na kong inutang kaya konti na lang pang blow-out ko sa mga kaibigan,” Sison joked.
With a report from Agence France Presse
as of 10/01/2009 6:29 PM
SOURCE: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/
Friday, September 25, 2009
New RP envoy to The Netherlands passes initial scrutiny of NDF
By Loui Galicia, ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau 09/25/2009 2:12 AM
Contrary to the expectations of many, the National Democratic Front (NDF) has reacted positively to the appointment of the new
Philippine ambassador to The Netherlands, even if the new appointee is a former military general.
Filipino migrants’ organization Migrante Netherlands had earlier condemned retired Lt. Gen. Cardozo Luna’s appointment for his alleged “military mindset.”
But the NDF didn’t doubt him for a second…also because of the military.
Apparently, the NDF has connections too in high-ranking places in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
Contrary to the expectations of many, the National Democratic Front (NDF) has reacted positively to the appointment of the new
Philippine ambassador to The Netherlands, even if the new appointee is a former military general.Filipino migrants’ organization Migrante Netherlands had earlier condemned retired Lt. Gen. Cardozo Luna’s appointment for his alleged “military mindset.”
But the NDF didn’t doubt him for a second…also because of the military.
Apparently, the NDF has connections too in high-ranking places in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
“Hindi ako nai-intimidate. Nakakatanggap naman ako ng comments sa mga kaibigan kong military officers. Hindi ko na babanggitin ang pangalan. May mga rango. General din. Brigadier General. Sinasabing si Luna as a person eh mabait, intelihente, gentleman at kung gayon hindi ako natatakot na me extraodinary na gawin,” Communist Party of the Philippines founding chair Jose Maria Sison said in an exclusive interview with Balitang Europe.
Sison, also chief political consultant of the NDF’s negotiating panel in peace talks with the Philippine government, said he is also not alarmed at President Arroyo’s appointment of a former AFP vice chief of staff as the Philippine’s envoy.
“I don’t know kung si Gloria [Arroyo] sa kanyang remaining months nilagay si Luna diyan para pagawin ng special mission. I don't think so. I have no basis na anticipating na si Luna may gagawing masama. Alerting lang porke sa kanyang background,” Sison said.
“At the same time, alam ko naman na batay sa hindi ko alam, hindi ako sigurado, batay sa words ng nirerespeto kong military officers, hindi siya barumbado, sibilisado [siya] at may pride siya sa kanyang ginagawa. Hindi siya basta gagawa ng masama alinsunod sa utos mula sa isang presidente na paalis na sa kapangyarihan,” Sison added.
The NDF however indicated however that it is puzzled at the process of Luna’s appointment.
“Ang katakaka eh iyong method ng pag-appoint sa kanya [Luna]. Na si Gilbert Teodoro, Secretary of Defense. At saka mukhang hindi napaalam through protocol ways sa Dutch government. Pero sa tingin ko naman, makikita natin sa performance niya,” NDF Negotiating Panel chair Luis Jalandoni said.
But Jalandoni has high expectations of Luna.
“’Andyan iyong Filipino community. Makikita rin ng taong bayan dito sa Netherlands, iyong mga overseas workers dito kung paano ang performance niya. Kaya doon na lang namin ibabatay at sa tingin [ko], wala naman kaming prejudice against him. We hear quite good things about him from his fellow military and so will await the way he performs his tasks and we hope that it will be in accordance with his function as ambassador,” Jalandoni said.
The NDF hopes that the new ambassador will maintain the group’s good relations with the Philippine Embassy.
“We had good relations with Ambassador [Ramon] Arguelles. Friendly and civil relations. We hope the same type of relations could be achieved between his office as ambassador and the international office of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines,” Jalandoni said.
However, according to the NDF, it will be on guard as to Luna’s keeping his promise of supporting the peace talks between the Philippine government and the NDF.
The peace talks, which was supposed to take place in Oslo, Norway in August, was once again stalled because the NDF cancelled it, complaining that the Arroyo regime refuses to release its jailed negotiators, consultants and staff.
By Loui Galicia, ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau
as of 09/25/2009 2:12 AM
SOURCE: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/09/24/09/new-rp-envoy-netherlands-passes-initial-scrutiny-ndf
Sison, also chief political consultant of the NDF’s negotiating panel in peace talks with the Philippine government, said he is also not alarmed at President Arroyo’s appointment of a former AFP vice chief of staff as the Philippine’s envoy.
“I don’t know kung si Gloria [Arroyo] sa kanyang remaining months nilagay si Luna diyan para pagawin ng special mission. I don't think so. I have no basis na anticipating na si Luna may gagawing masama. Alerting lang porke sa kanyang background,” Sison said.
“At the same time, alam ko naman na batay sa hindi ko alam, hindi ako sigurado, batay sa words ng nirerespeto kong military officers, hindi siya barumbado, sibilisado [siya] at may pride siya sa kanyang ginagawa. Hindi siya basta gagawa ng masama alinsunod sa utos mula sa isang presidente na paalis na sa kapangyarihan,” Sison added.
The NDF however indicated however that it is puzzled at the process of Luna’s appointment.
“Ang katakaka eh iyong method ng pag-appoint sa kanya [Luna]. Na si Gilbert Teodoro, Secretary of Defense. At saka mukhang hindi napaalam through protocol ways sa Dutch government. Pero sa tingin ko naman, makikita natin sa performance niya,” NDF Negotiating Panel chair Luis Jalandoni said.
But Jalandoni has high expectations of Luna.
“’Andyan iyong Filipino community. Makikita rin ng taong bayan dito sa Netherlands, iyong mga overseas workers dito kung paano ang performance niya. Kaya doon na lang namin ibabatay at sa tingin [ko], wala naman kaming prejudice against him. We hear quite good things about him from his fellow military and so will await the way he performs his tasks and we hope that it will be in accordance with his function as ambassador,” Jalandoni said.
The NDF hopes that the new ambassador will maintain the group’s good relations with the Philippine Embassy.
“We had good relations with Ambassador [Ramon] Arguelles. Friendly and civil relations. We hope the same type of relations could be achieved between his office as ambassador and the international office of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines,” Jalandoni said.
However, according to the NDF, it will be on guard as to Luna’s keeping his promise of supporting the peace talks between the Philippine government and the NDF.
The peace talks, which was supposed to take place in Oslo, Norway in August, was once again stalled because the NDF cancelled it, complaining that the Arroyo regime refuses to release its jailed negotiators, consultants and staff.
By Loui Galicia, ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau
as of 09/25/2009 2:12 AM
SOURCE: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/09/24/09/new-rp-envoy-netherlands-passes-initial-scrutiny-ndf
Thursday, September 3, 2009
EULOGY FOR CORA GALICIA-PESIGAN
Eulogy for Cora Galicia Pesigan who died on the 7th of August 2009.
by Loui Galicia
This eulogy was shared during the mass for her burial at the St. Mary's Church in Vancouver, BC on 19th August 2009
SAYING GOODBYE IS NOT EASY. YET IT IS IMPORTANT TO DO SO. BECAUSE MY ATE CORA IS A SISTER THAT WE ALL LOVE.
NOT A BAD BONE IN HER BODY, SHE WAS ALWAYS THERE FOR US. SHE WAS NOT ONLY OUR BIG ATE. SHE WAS OUR SECOND MOTHER.
I REMEMBER WHEN SHE WENT TO COLLEGE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF STO. THOMAS AND TOOK UP BACHELOR OF ARTS MAJOR IN NUTRITION, SHE USED US AS HER GUINEA PIGS. THAT WAS THE BEST PART OF OUR GROWING UP WITH HER….BECAUSE WE GOT TO SAVOR ALL THE DELICIOUS FOOD THAT SHE HAD TRIED AS PART OF HER EXPERIMENTS. SHE FED US SWEETS. AND LIKE HER PASTRIES, ATE CORA WAS ALWAYS VERY SWEET. WE LOVED HER THEN. WE STILL LOVE HER NOW AND WE WILL NOT FORGET THOSE GOOD MEMORIES.
WHEN SHE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER IN 2004, IT CAME AS A SHOCK. HOW CAN SHE GET IT? SHE’S THE MOST HEALTH CONSCIOUS IN THE FAMILY. SHE DOESN’T DRINK ALCOHOL NOR SMOKE. SHE WAS CAREFUL ABOUT WHAT SHE ATE.
AFTER HER SURGERY, I ASKED HER TO COME TO HOLLAND. THAT WAS IN THE SUMMER. SHE WAS A PERFECT PICTURE OF JOY AND HEALTH. SHE WAS VERY STRONG. THERE WAS NO SIGN THAT THE DISEASE HAD RAVAGED HER BODY. YOU CAN SEE HER STRONGEST WILL TO LIVE. WHEN WE ARE AT RESTAURANTS AND THE KIDS WOULD NOT FINISH THEIR FOOD, SHE WILL DO IT FOR THEM. YOU CAN FEEL HER FULL DESIRE TO NOURISH HER BODY…TO FIGHT THE CANCER.
THE DOCTORS GAVE HER THREE YEARS…YET SHE BEAT ALL ODDS. SHE WAS A FIGHTER. NEVER IN THOSE YEARS DID I HEAR HER COMPLAIN ABOUT PAIN….ABOUT THE CANCER. NEVER. NEVER IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS WAS SHE BEDRIDDEN. SHE WAS A WARRIOR. SHE WAS JUST SO HAPPY TO WAKE UP EVERY MORNING…FOR FIVE YEARS. SHE ALWAYS LIVED FOR THE NEXT DAY.
ATE CHOR. I MISS YOU. I TRIED MY BEST TO SEE YOU BEFORE YOU’VE GONE. IF ONLY I CAN STOP THE TIME. EVERY HOUR SINCE I HAVE FINALLY PACKED MY BAGS, I WAS PRAYING FOR YOU TO HANG IN THERE BECAUSE I AM ALMOST THERE. BUT I GUESS THIS IS MEANT TO BE… BECAUSE GOD KNOWS I WILL NOT BEAR TO SEE YOU SUFFER..TO SEE YOU IN PAIN…BECAUSE AS MY ATE, YOU HAVE THE GENTLEST SOUL. YOU LOVED US SO MUCH. YOU GAVE SO MUCH OF YOURSELF FOR US. I AM NOW HAPPY TO SEE HER GO. AT LAST SHE IS IN PEACE. . BUT IF ONLY I HAD ONE CHANCE TO SAY GOODBYE...ONE LAST HUG…ONE LAST KISS…
ATE CHOR, I WILL MISS YOUR LIVELY VOICE. I SENT HER SURPRISE PACKAGES TO CHEER HER UP. SOMETIMES IT WILL JUST BE COFFEE PADS, COOKIES AND TEA. OTHER TIMES IT WILL BE FLOWERS OR SHIRTS BUT BOY SHE LOVED DESIGNER BAGS. ONE TIME I RAN OUT OF IDEAS SO I DECIDED TO ORDER FROM THE FRENCH BAKERY IN GRANVILLE ISLAND SOME CROISSANTS AND TIRAMISU. SHE LOVED TIRAMISU. SHE CALLED ME IMMEDIATELY AFTER DELIVERY. SHE WAS IN A FRENZY. SHE SAID THE TIRAMISU WAS SO HUGE IT WAS THE SIZE OF HER DOORMAT. I ORDERED THAT ALL THE WAY FROM HOLLAND. I GUESS GOD FOUND A WAY TO HELP ME KEEP HER HAPPY AND IN HIGH SPIRITS IN A LITTLE WAY. I WILL NEVER FORGET THAT VOICE BURSTING WITH ENERGY AND LIFE. SHE HAS LIVED TO SET AN EXAMPLE THAT WE SHOULD LOVE OUR LIFE. ATE CORA HAS SHOWN US THAT LIFE IS GOOD BUT TOO SHORT TO WASTE.
ATE CHOR WAS A GOOD MOTHER. HER DAUGHTER ANGELEE WAS THE CENTER OF HER LIFE. SHE WAS A FAITHFUL AND LOVING WIFE. BUT ALTHOUGH SHE DID NOT GET NOR FEEL THE SAME AMOUNT OF LOVE....SHE DIED LOVING DANNY. ATE CORA SHOWED US THAT WE SHOULD LOVE AND GIVE LOVE AND NOT EXPECT TO GET LOVE IN RETURN.
I GUESS IT WILL BE VERY DIFFICULT FOR US TO MOVE ON WITH HER PASSING. BUT WE KNOW THAT SHE IS IN GOOD HANDS. SHE IS WITH GOD.
I WROTE THIS EULOGY EXACTLY DURING ATE CHOR’S DYING MOMENTS.
BUT ON MY ARRIVAL HERE IN VANCOUVER, I REALIZED I HAD TO REWRITE IT.
TO INCLUDE A BIG THANK YOU TO HER CLOSEST FRIENDS WHO HAVE BEEN WITH HER ALL THROUGH HER DYING MOMENTS. TO DONNA AND RAY...WHO TOOK CARE OF EVERYTHING. WHO TOOK ALL THE RESPONSIBILITIES FROM THE HANDS OF A SUPPOSEDLY GRIEVING HUSBAND. DAY IN AND DAY OUT AFTER ATE CORA DIED, DONNA AND RAY DID NOTHING BUT WORK FOR THIS BURIAL...TO MAKE SURE THAT ATE CORA’S LAST WISHES ARE FULLY MET.
TO JOYCE AND ARNOLD, CINDY AND JERRY, LOY AND DWIGHT, JUDITH AND JOEY, MERCY AND ERWIN, LILIA AND FREDDIE WHO HAVE UNTIRINGLY SPENT THEIR HOURS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE, ATE CORA’S FAMILIES ARE CARED FOR.
THE SUPPORT AND PATIENCE THEY HAVE GIVEN US WERE BORNE OUT OF THEIR LOVE FOR MY SISTER....BECAUSE CORA WAS A GOOD AND LOVING FRIEND TO THEM....AND THEY WANTED TO GIVE HER THE BEST EVEN IN HER DEATH.
CAN I PLEASE REQUEST EVERYBODY TO STAND UP AND GIVE A BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE TO THE BEST SISTER, MOTHER, WIFE AND FRIEND IN THE WHOLE WORLD..THE ONE WHO I ALWAYS CALL A LIVING SAINT SISTER WHO HAS FINALLY JOINED HER CREATOR. ATE CORA.
by Loui Galicia
This eulogy was shared during the mass for her burial at the St. Mary's Church in Vancouver, BC on 19th August 2009
SAYING GOODBYE IS NOT EASY. YET IT IS IMPORTANT TO DO SO. BECAUSE MY ATE CORA IS A SISTER THAT WE ALL LOVE.
NOT A BAD BONE IN HER BODY, SHE WAS ALWAYS THERE FOR US. SHE WAS NOT ONLY OUR BIG ATE. SHE WAS OUR SECOND MOTHER.
I REMEMBER WHEN SHE WENT TO COLLEGE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF STO. THOMAS AND TOOK UP BACHELOR OF ARTS MAJOR IN NUTRITION, SHE USED US AS HER GUINEA PIGS. THAT WAS THE BEST PART OF OUR GROWING UP WITH HER….BECAUSE WE GOT TO SAVOR ALL THE DELICIOUS FOOD THAT SHE HAD TRIED AS PART OF HER EXPERIMENTS. SHE FED US SWEETS. AND LIKE HER PASTRIES, ATE CORA WAS ALWAYS VERY SWEET. WE LOVED HER THEN. WE STILL LOVE HER NOW AND WE WILL NOT FORGET THOSE GOOD MEMORIES.
WHEN SHE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER IN 2004, IT CAME AS A SHOCK. HOW CAN SHE GET IT? SHE’S THE MOST HEALTH CONSCIOUS IN THE FAMILY. SHE DOESN’T DRINK ALCOHOL NOR SMOKE. SHE WAS CAREFUL ABOUT WHAT SHE ATE.
AFTER HER SURGERY, I ASKED HER TO COME TO HOLLAND. THAT WAS IN THE SUMMER. SHE WAS A PERFECT PICTURE OF JOY AND HEALTH. SHE WAS VERY STRONG. THERE WAS NO SIGN THAT THE DISEASE HAD RAVAGED HER BODY. YOU CAN SEE HER STRONGEST WILL TO LIVE. WHEN WE ARE AT RESTAURANTS AND THE KIDS WOULD NOT FINISH THEIR FOOD, SHE WILL DO IT FOR THEM. YOU CAN FEEL HER FULL DESIRE TO NOURISH HER BODY…TO FIGHT THE CANCER.
THE DOCTORS GAVE HER THREE YEARS…YET SHE BEAT ALL ODDS. SHE WAS A FIGHTER. NEVER IN THOSE YEARS DID I HEAR HER COMPLAIN ABOUT PAIN….ABOUT THE CANCER. NEVER. NEVER IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS WAS SHE BEDRIDDEN. SHE WAS A WARRIOR. SHE WAS JUST SO HAPPY TO WAKE UP EVERY MORNING…FOR FIVE YEARS. SHE ALWAYS LIVED FOR THE NEXT DAY.
ATE CHOR. I MISS YOU. I TRIED MY BEST TO SEE YOU BEFORE YOU’VE GONE. IF ONLY I CAN STOP THE TIME. EVERY HOUR SINCE I HAVE FINALLY PACKED MY BAGS, I WAS PRAYING FOR YOU TO HANG IN THERE BECAUSE I AM ALMOST THERE. BUT I GUESS THIS IS MEANT TO BE… BECAUSE GOD KNOWS I WILL NOT BEAR TO SEE YOU SUFFER..TO SEE YOU IN PAIN…BECAUSE AS MY ATE, YOU HAVE THE GENTLEST SOUL. YOU LOVED US SO MUCH. YOU GAVE SO MUCH OF YOURSELF FOR US. I AM NOW HAPPY TO SEE HER GO. AT LAST SHE IS IN PEACE. . BUT IF ONLY I HAD ONE CHANCE TO SAY GOODBYE...ONE LAST HUG…ONE LAST KISS…
ATE CHOR, I WILL MISS YOUR LIVELY VOICE. I SENT HER SURPRISE PACKAGES TO CHEER HER UP. SOMETIMES IT WILL JUST BE COFFEE PADS, COOKIES AND TEA. OTHER TIMES IT WILL BE FLOWERS OR SHIRTS BUT BOY SHE LOVED DESIGNER BAGS. ONE TIME I RAN OUT OF IDEAS SO I DECIDED TO ORDER FROM THE FRENCH BAKERY IN GRANVILLE ISLAND SOME CROISSANTS AND TIRAMISU. SHE LOVED TIRAMISU. SHE CALLED ME IMMEDIATELY AFTER DELIVERY. SHE WAS IN A FRENZY. SHE SAID THE TIRAMISU WAS SO HUGE IT WAS THE SIZE OF HER DOORMAT. I ORDERED THAT ALL THE WAY FROM HOLLAND. I GUESS GOD FOUND A WAY TO HELP ME KEEP HER HAPPY AND IN HIGH SPIRITS IN A LITTLE WAY. I WILL NEVER FORGET THAT VOICE BURSTING WITH ENERGY AND LIFE. SHE HAS LIVED TO SET AN EXAMPLE THAT WE SHOULD LOVE OUR LIFE. ATE CORA HAS SHOWN US THAT LIFE IS GOOD BUT TOO SHORT TO WASTE.
ATE CHOR WAS A GOOD MOTHER. HER DAUGHTER ANGELEE WAS THE CENTER OF HER LIFE. SHE WAS A FAITHFUL AND LOVING WIFE. BUT ALTHOUGH SHE DID NOT GET NOR FEEL THE SAME AMOUNT OF LOVE....SHE DIED LOVING DANNY. ATE CORA SHOWED US THAT WE SHOULD LOVE AND GIVE LOVE AND NOT EXPECT TO GET LOVE IN RETURN.
I GUESS IT WILL BE VERY DIFFICULT FOR US TO MOVE ON WITH HER PASSING. BUT WE KNOW THAT SHE IS IN GOOD HANDS. SHE IS WITH GOD.
I WROTE THIS EULOGY EXACTLY DURING ATE CHOR’S DYING MOMENTS.
BUT ON MY ARRIVAL HERE IN VANCOUVER, I REALIZED I HAD TO REWRITE IT.
TO INCLUDE A BIG THANK YOU TO HER CLOSEST FRIENDS WHO HAVE BEEN WITH HER ALL THROUGH HER DYING MOMENTS. TO DONNA AND RAY...WHO TOOK CARE OF EVERYTHING. WHO TOOK ALL THE RESPONSIBILITIES FROM THE HANDS OF A SUPPOSEDLY GRIEVING HUSBAND. DAY IN AND DAY OUT AFTER ATE CORA DIED, DONNA AND RAY DID NOTHING BUT WORK FOR THIS BURIAL...TO MAKE SURE THAT ATE CORA’S LAST WISHES ARE FULLY MET.
TO JOYCE AND ARNOLD, CINDY AND JERRY, LOY AND DWIGHT, JUDITH AND JOEY, MERCY AND ERWIN, LILIA AND FREDDIE WHO HAVE UNTIRINGLY SPENT THEIR HOURS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE, ATE CORA’S FAMILIES ARE CARED FOR.
THE SUPPORT AND PATIENCE THEY HAVE GIVEN US WERE BORNE OUT OF THEIR LOVE FOR MY SISTER....BECAUSE CORA WAS A GOOD AND LOVING FRIEND TO THEM....AND THEY WANTED TO GIVE HER THE BEST EVEN IN HER DEATH.
CAN I PLEASE REQUEST EVERYBODY TO STAND UP AND GIVE A BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE TO THE BEST SISTER, MOTHER, WIFE AND FRIEND IN THE WHOLE WORLD..THE ONE WHO I ALWAYS CALL A LIVING SAINT SISTER WHO HAS FINALLY JOINED HER CREATOR. ATE CORA.
Stop scuffles during ballgames say Pinoys in Belgium
Stop scuffles during ballgames say Pinoys in Belgium
By Loui Galicia, ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau 09/03/2009 7:25 PM
BELGIUM – Filipino basketball fanatics in Brussels urged compatriots not to bring personal disputes to court following Sunday’s scuffle during a tournament held in Brussels.
Don Rivera was hurt during the scuffle. His face was swollen when he reported the incident to the Belgian police. Rivera was punched several times by a fellow Filipino while watching the basketball match.
“Sinuntok yata iyan. Daplis ata ito kanina. Hawak ko yung cellphone ko. Tinatawagan ko si Amor. Tapos bigla na lang may sumuntok sa likod ko,” said Rivera.
Rivera admitted that he had a fight with the unidentified Filipino last year but he never expected that the latter would retaliate.
“Pagkatapos bigla na lang sumulpot din yung mataba, sinuntok din ako tapos nakailag ako. Ang tumama sa akin siguro dalawa,” he explained.
Balitang Europe was not able to get a statement from the attacker who fled the scene after the brawl.
Spectators to the tournament were shocked because everything happened so fast. They were watching a very intense game between Filipino teams from Brussels and Antwerp when the fight ensued.
“Bigla na lang may sumapok sa kanya [Rivera]. Di ko rin namalayan. Wala na kong magawa dahil iglap yung nangyari. Ewan ko kung may alitan pero alam ko sa basketball nun araw pa yan,” said Leonilo Gapasin, president of the Pangasinense Association, who was watching the game.
One of the players also got furious when someone hurled a table that almost hit his daughter.
The incident prompted Filipinos to urge compatriots to immediately stop hostilities in the courts and instead set a good example to the youth who are also basketball enthusiasts.
They said basketball is a wholesome event that becomes an activity for the whole family. Thus, there should be no room for quarrels in ballgames.
“Dapat yung mga personal na problema nila wag nang pag-usapan dito. Di na dadalhin dito sa loob kasi gaya kanina nagkagulo sila dun sa loob itong inaanak ko muntik nang tamaan ng lamesa,” housewife Jenny Cruz said.
Also, they fear that Pinoys will be banned from sports venue if the feuds continue.
as of 09/03/2009 7:25 PM
SOURCE: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/pinoy-migration/09/03/09/stop-scuffles-during-ballgames-say-pinoys-belgium
By Loui Galicia, ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau 09/03/2009 7:25 PM
BELGIUM – Filipino basketball fanatics in Brussels urged compatriots not to bring personal disputes to court following Sunday’s scuffle during a tournament held in Brussels.
Don Rivera was hurt during the scuffle. His face was swollen when he reported the incident to the Belgian police. Rivera was punched several times by a fellow Filipino while watching the basketball match.
“Sinuntok yata iyan. Daplis ata ito kanina. Hawak ko yung cellphone ko. Tinatawagan ko si Amor. Tapos bigla na lang may sumuntok sa likod ko,” said Rivera.
Rivera admitted that he had a fight with the unidentified Filipino last year but he never expected that the latter would retaliate.
“Pagkatapos bigla na lang sumulpot din yung mataba, sinuntok din ako tapos nakailag ako. Ang tumama sa akin siguro dalawa,” he explained.
Balitang Europe was not able to get a statement from the attacker who fled the scene after the brawl.
Spectators to the tournament were shocked because everything happened so fast. They were watching a very intense game between Filipino teams from Brussels and Antwerp when the fight ensued.
“Bigla na lang may sumapok sa kanya [Rivera]. Di ko rin namalayan. Wala na kong magawa dahil iglap yung nangyari. Ewan ko kung may alitan pero alam ko sa basketball nun araw pa yan,” said Leonilo Gapasin, president of the Pangasinense Association, who was watching the game.
One of the players also got furious when someone hurled a table that almost hit his daughter.
The incident prompted Filipinos to urge compatriots to immediately stop hostilities in the courts and instead set a good example to the youth who are also basketball enthusiasts.
They said basketball is a wholesome event that becomes an activity for the whole family. Thus, there should be no room for quarrels in ballgames.
“Dapat yung mga personal na problema nila wag nang pag-usapan dito. Di na dadalhin dito sa loob kasi gaya kanina nagkagulo sila dun sa loob itong inaanak ko muntik nang tamaan ng lamesa,” housewife Jenny Cruz said.
Also, they fear that Pinoys will be banned from sports venue if the feuds continue.
as of 09/03/2009 7:25 PM
SOURCE: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/pinoy-migration/09/03/09/stop-scuffles-during-ballgames-say-pinoys-belgium
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Pinoy choir spreads message of peace, love in Holland
By Loui Galicia, ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau 08/04/2009 3:46 PM
Peace and love is the message in every song of Kammerchor Manila wherever they go.
The multi-awarded choir, which is composed of Filipinos who are mainly friends from way back their college days, have just recently won the gold, silver and special prize at a choir competition in Linz, Austria.
They were most recently in The Hague, Netherlands for Ambassador Romeo Arguelles's last cultural event for the community.
"Gustong kong iwan sa ating kababayan at mga Dutch ang masayang pagkakatipon tipon dito sa pamamagitan nitong choral group at nakita nilang magaling ang mga Pilipino at magaling sa musika," Arguelles said.
Arguelles was very proud at the very warm reception given to the Kammerchor by the more than 150 guests who attended the event.
In fact, at the end of their performance, the crowd gave Kammerchor a 10-minute standing ovation complete with the most energetic and thunderous applause.
The choir was so happy and obliged to the three encores from the audience.
One can feel from every note the passion of the Pinoys who were all united by one goal and that is to share their talents in music in order to spread the word of God.
The choir started singing at the EDSA Shrine and is now singing and performing in the different churches in the Philippines and abroad for more than 14 years now.
"We work as evangelists. Maibahagi namin ang aming musika lalo na sa mga Pilipino sa abroad na alam natin nami-miss nila ang Pilipinas na kahit sabihin natin na magulo sa Pilipinas pero nami-miss pa rin nila so through our music parang nababalik natin sila sa ating bayan," Kammerchor Musical Director Ronnie Abarquez told Balitang Europe.
As a conductor of the choir, Abarquez holds the emotion and success of every show that can be observed with the beautiful performance of the singers and the deep and serious facial expressions and movements of Abarquez as well.
Each song paints a vivid emotional picture of bliss and serenity that is soothing to the listening audience.
"As an artist kailangan mailabas ko ang emotion through my conducting para maipasa ko sa singers kung ano gusto kong mangyari sa kanta na nailalabas nila through sa kanilang kanta," Abarquez said.
But just like any other musical group, the Kammerchor needs funds in order to support their activities.
Apart from fundraising, the choir is also accepting donations and sponsorships in order to help them propagate the spread of God's words in a language that is understood by many--through music.
as of 08/04/2009 3:47 PM
SOURCE: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/pinoy-migration/08/04/09/pinoy-choir-spreads-message-peace-love-holland
Peace and love is the message in every song of Kammerchor Manila wherever they go.
The multi-awarded choir, which is composed of Filipinos who are mainly friends from way back their college days, have just recently won the gold, silver and special prize at a choir competition in Linz, Austria.
They were most recently in The Hague, Netherlands for Ambassador Romeo Arguelles's last cultural event for the community.
"Gustong kong iwan sa ating kababayan at mga Dutch ang masayang pagkakatipon tipon dito sa pamamagitan nitong choral group at nakita nilang magaling ang mga Pilipino at magaling sa musika," Arguelles said.
Arguelles was very proud at the very warm reception given to the Kammerchor by the more than 150 guests who attended the event.
In fact, at the end of their performance, the crowd gave Kammerchor a 10-minute standing ovation complete with the most energetic and thunderous applause.
The choir was so happy and obliged to the three encores from the audience.
One can feel from every note the passion of the Pinoys who were all united by one goal and that is to share their talents in music in order to spread the word of God.
The choir started singing at the EDSA Shrine and is now singing and performing in the different churches in the Philippines and abroad for more than 14 years now.
"We work as evangelists. Maibahagi namin ang aming musika lalo na sa mga Pilipino sa abroad na alam natin nami-miss nila ang Pilipinas na kahit sabihin natin na magulo sa Pilipinas pero nami-miss pa rin nila so through our music parang nababalik natin sila sa ating bayan," Kammerchor Musical Director Ronnie Abarquez told Balitang Europe.
As a conductor of the choir, Abarquez holds the emotion and success of every show that can be observed with the beautiful performance of the singers and the deep and serious facial expressions and movements of Abarquez as well.
Each song paints a vivid emotional picture of bliss and serenity that is soothing to the listening audience.
"As an artist kailangan mailabas ko ang emotion through my conducting para maipasa ko sa singers kung ano gusto kong mangyari sa kanta na nailalabas nila through sa kanilang kanta," Abarquez said.
But just like any other musical group, the Kammerchor needs funds in order to support their activities.
Apart from fundraising, the choir is also accepting donations and sponsorships in order to help them propagate the spread of God's words in a language that is understood by many--through music.
as of 08/04/2009 3:47 PM
SOURCE: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/pinoy-migration/08/04/09/pinoy-choir-spreads-message-peace-love-holland
Young Pinoy finishes 4-day walkathon
By Loui Galicia, ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau 08/06/2009 4:12 PM
A 12-year-old Pinoy succeeded in his quest to raise funds for the orphaned children of victims of political killings and disappearances by capping off the four-day Walk of the World in Nijmegen, Netherlands.
The trail to his victory though, was not painless and sweet as Kyle Baleva almost gave up on the second day of the biggest walkathon in the world.
“Fatigue po. Sa pangalawa, ‘di ko po alam kung bakit kaso mas mahirap. Dun naman po sa pangatlo, grabe pong malakas ulan. Umuulan po sa pangatlong araw,” Baleva said in an interview with Balitang Europe.
“Nagkaroon ng streams ng tubig dun po sa mga fields. Grabe lang pong lakas ng ulan. Nabasa lang po kami ng grabe.”
“Masakit po yung aking dito,” Baleva added, as he showed his feet.
Each night for four days, after walking for eight hours, Baleva needed to forcefully pull the socks that were almost glued to his skin only to find his smooth young feet very sore and swollen.
But Baleva's solid determination allowed him to finish 30 kilometers each day of the bloody walkathon.
“Naisip ko po kung gaano mas marami akong nalakad, ganoon mas maraming makuha ang mga ulila. Para mas marami pa po silang makuha, kailangan pa po akong tumuloy,” he said.
Outpouring of support
Although Baleva suffers from Multiple Complex Developmental Disorder, which is a form of autism, it did not become a hindrance to nurturing a strong will to raise funds himself for the Children's Rehabilitation Center.
“Madali lang ang paglalakad. Ang hindi madali ang pagsisigurado na hindi mahihirapan si Kyle sa paglalakad, lalo na tuwing bago dumating sa finish line. Yun yung panahon na nahihirapan siya. Akala niya malapit na, yun pala ilang oras pa pala," said Kyle's father, Boyen Baleva.
There was an outpouring of support from Pinoys and Dutch which overwhelmed Baleva.
He surpassed his target of 1,000 euros, raising 1,500 euros (P100,000) from as little as 20 euro cents per kilometer that he walked.
“Grabe akong saya na ‘yong mga ulila, nakuha nila yung ganong karami, at saka nasayahan din ako sa nakita kong suporta. Grabeng maraming tao,” he shared.
Many admired Baleva for his seemingly impossible feat, especially the young Pinoys.
“I think Kyle's a hero. Just knowing that he's only a 12-year-old boy and that he walked 120 kilometers is just impressive. He inspires me and other teenagers my age to also do something for the poor people of the Philippines,” Adrian Paras from Belgium said.
Baleva's story continues to serve as an inspiration to many.
In fact, in the Philippines, several groups of youth, peasants, workers and child rights advocates organized solidarity walks for Baleva.The “Walk With Kyle” marches coincided with Baleva's four-day trek.
as of 08/06/2009 4:12 PM
SOURCE: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/pinoy-migration/08/06/09/young-pinoy-finishes-4-day-walkathon
A 12-year-old Pinoy succeeded in his quest to raise funds for the orphaned children of victims of political killings and disappearances by capping off the four-day Walk of the World in Nijmegen, Netherlands.
The trail to his victory though, was not painless and sweet as Kyle Baleva almost gave up on the second day of the biggest walkathon in the world.
“Fatigue po. Sa pangalawa, ‘di ko po alam kung bakit kaso mas mahirap. Dun naman po sa pangatlo, grabe pong malakas ulan. Umuulan po sa pangatlong araw,” Baleva said in an interview with Balitang Europe.
“Nagkaroon ng streams ng tubig dun po sa mga fields. Grabe lang pong lakas ng ulan. Nabasa lang po kami ng grabe.”
“Masakit po yung aking dito,” Baleva added, as he showed his feet.
Each night for four days, after walking for eight hours, Baleva needed to forcefully pull the socks that were almost glued to his skin only to find his smooth young feet very sore and swollen.
But Baleva's solid determination allowed him to finish 30 kilometers each day of the bloody walkathon.
“Naisip ko po kung gaano mas marami akong nalakad, ganoon mas maraming makuha ang mga ulila. Para mas marami pa po silang makuha, kailangan pa po akong tumuloy,” he said.
Outpouring of support
Although Baleva suffers from Multiple Complex Developmental Disorder, which is a form of autism, it did not become a hindrance to nurturing a strong will to raise funds himself for the Children's Rehabilitation Center.
“Madali lang ang paglalakad. Ang hindi madali ang pagsisigurado na hindi mahihirapan si Kyle sa paglalakad, lalo na tuwing bago dumating sa finish line. Yun yung panahon na nahihirapan siya. Akala niya malapit na, yun pala ilang oras pa pala," said Kyle's father, Boyen Baleva.
There was an outpouring of support from Pinoys and Dutch which overwhelmed Baleva.
He surpassed his target of 1,000 euros, raising 1,500 euros (P100,000) from as little as 20 euro cents per kilometer that he walked.
“Grabe akong saya na ‘yong mga ulila, nakuha nila yung ganong karami, at saka nasayahan din ako sa nakita kong suporta. Grabeng maraming tao,” he shared.
Many admired Baleva for his seemingly impossible feat, especially the young Pinoys.
“I think Kyle's a hero. Just knowing that he's only a 12-year-old boy and that he walked 120 kilometers is just impressive. He inspires me and other teenagers my age to also do something for the poor people of the Philippines,” Adrian Paras from Belgium said.
Baleva's story continues to serve as an inspiration to many.
In fact, in the Philippines, several groups of youth, peasants, workers and child rights advocates organized solidarity walks for Baleva.The “Walk With Kyle” marches coincided with Baleva's four-day trek.
as of 08/06/2009 4:12 PM
SOURCE: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/pinoy-migration/08/06/09/young-pinoy-finishes-4-day-walkathon
Monday, August 3, 2009
Joma, Cory had 'exceptional' relationship
By Loui Galicia, ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau 08/03/2009 10:03 AM
Jose Maria “Joma” Sison, founder of the Communist Party of the Philippines, and his wife Juliet joined the rest of the world in mourning the death of former President Corazon “Cory” Aquino on Saturday.
Sison said he and Cory maintained a special relationship that dates way before her presidency. He said he and Cory's husband, Beningno “Ninoy” Aquino, Jr., worked together for a common goal to fight the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos.
And in the political struggles of Joma and Ninoy, their wives Juliet and Cory became tightly knitted by their love for their husbands, joining and working vigorously in the campaign against Marcos.
“First time nung makilala ko si Cory nung 1967. Dumalaw ako kay Ninoy Aquino. Siya [Cory] ang nagsilbi nung kape kaya natatawa ako noong sinasabi na siya ang nagsisilbi dun sa ibang bisita,” Sison in an interview with Balitang Europe.
“Yan ang pang-charming ni Ninoy eh. Talagang very friendly si Cory, yung kanyang ugali,” he added.
Sison has Cory to thank for his release from almost nine years of imprisonment under Marcos.
“Nung ma-release ako, dun sa penthouse ng Cojuangco building ako na-release at dun kami nagtagpo sa presidente, kay Cory. Kung maalala ko, released ako on recognizance to Doña Aurora Aquino,” noted Sison.
He said that his relationship with Cory was exceptional that it did not end even after an official act to cancel his passport.
“Pati na dun sa cancellation ng passport ko siyempre in public pupunahin ko ‘yon na ginawa ni Cory. Pero di nawawala yung pagkakaibigan namin kasi nagpaabot eh,” related Sison.
According to Sison, it was Cory who fought for almost two years the urgings of the military to cancel his passport.
It was also Cory, according to him, who warned him that it was safer for him to remain outside the Philippines.
“Mabuti daw na nandito ako dahil ang mga militar ang nagtutulak na kanselahin ang passport ko so ganun, hindi nawawala yung aming mabuting relasyon kahit na gumawa siya ng official act na kanselahin ang aking passport,” he said.
Sison said that for his part, the revolutionary movement helped in putting Cory in power and getting rid of Marcos.
A witty and gracious Cory
Juliet has nothing but good memories of Cory. She explained that as wives of husbands driven by a common goal, she and Cory were always together in political events.
“Maraming pag-oorganiza na ginawa namin nun upang kalabanin si Marcos so andun siya sa mga organisasyon na binubuo para labanan si Marcos. Yung Aquino Justice For All, yun namang kilusan na ‘yon di naman para lang kay Aquino kundi para sa lahat ng nabiktima o nabibiktima ng martial law,” she added.
“Kaya nagkakasama kami nun sa mga pagsisikap na ‘yon. Ang mga meeting na ‘yon kasama namin sila Guingona, yang si Cory, si Doña Aurora, sila Salonga at yung mga personalidad na lumalaban kay Marcos na padami nang padami,” she noted.
Juliet said her first impression of Cory was that she was a woman of very few words. But when Aquino became president, Juliet was surprised to see a very witty Cory.
“Si Cory masigasig yan dun sa paglaban kay Marcos. Pumupunta siya sa meetings at demonstrations pero hindi siya masalita,” she continued.
“Medyo tahimik siya at medyo reserved kaya nagulat ako na nung presidente na siya, aba biba din pala siya at natutong mas maging ano yan, relaxed sa public although graciosa siya na tao.”
Communication lines open
Meanwhile, the National Democratic Front Negotiating Panel (NDFP) in Utrecht also expressed its solidarity with the family, relatives and friends of Cory in their time of mourning and grief.
NDFP Chair Luis Jalandoni said that Cory's greatest contribution was her ratifying the Protocol II of the Geneva Conventions which is very significant for the human rights standards and policies.
“Napakalahaga dahil ito ay respected throughout the world as (an) important document and convention regarding the upholding of human rights at nandyan din sa constitution ng 1987 for which Cory Aquino to a great extent yung pag-uphold ng human rights pati na yung mahalagang bagay… yung pagrestrict ng martial law," Jalandoni told Balitang Europe.
He also said that Cory as president was very different from others in that she kept all communication lines open.
“Cory would make use of different means kahit personal na pagpaabot kay Joma na ‘wag ka munang bumalik dito. Meaning she was concerned for his safety or she would use other channels and say she would like to have peace talks,” said Jalandoni.
“She was creative in a very personal way also to maintain communication.”
For NDFP Consultant Fidel Agcaoili, Cory was responsible for initiating the peace talks between the Philippine government and the NDFP in 1986.
“Siya ang nag-facilitate. Of course nagkaron ng ceasefire agreement. It led to a ceasefire agreement and then it led to maraming NDF na lumitaw at lumabas,” said Agcaoili.
Jalandoni added that Cory's outstanding feat was the release of hundreds of political prisoners, which included Sison.
“All those hundreds of political prisoners is a good example of fulfilling her commitment and her magnanimity with regards to political prisoners and those in need and for the families of these political prisoners,” he said.
“Something we don't see in the present administration,” commented Jalandoni.
as of 08/03/2009 1:48 PM
SOURCE: WWW.ABS-CBNNEWS.COM
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/pinoy-migration/08/03/09/joma-cory-had-exceptional-relationship
Jose Maria “Joma” Sison, founder of the Communist Party of the Philippines, and his wife Juliet joined the rest of the world in mourning the death of former President Corazon “Cory” Aquino on Saturday.
Sison said he and Cory maintained a special relationship that dates way before her presidency. He said he and Cory's husband, Beningno “Ninoy” Aquino, Jr., worked together for a common goal to fight the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos.
And in the political struggles of Joma and Ninoy, their wives Juliet and Cory became tightly knitted by their love for their husbands, joining and working vigorously in the campaign against Marcos.
“First time nung makilala ko si Cory nung 1967. Dumalaw ako kay Ninoy Aquino. Siya [Cory] ang nagsilbi nung kape kaya natatawa ako noong sinasabi na siya ang nagsisilbi dun sa ibang bisita,” Sison in an interview with Balitang Europe.
“Yan ang pang-charming ni Ninoy eh. Talagang very friendly si Cory, yung kanyang ugali,” he added.
Sison has Cory to thank for his release from almost nine years of imprisonment under Marcos.
“Nung ma-release ako, dun sa penthouse ng Cojuangco building ako na-release at dun kami nagtagpo sa presidente, kay Cory. Kung maalala ko, released ako on recognizance to Doña Aurora Aquino,” noted Sison.
He said that his relationship with Cory was exceptional that it did not end even after an official act to cancel his passport.
“Pati na dun sa cancellation ng passport ko siyempre in public pupunahin ko ‘yon na ginawa ni Cory. Pero di nawawala yung pagkakaibigan namin kasi nagpaabot eh,” related Sison.
According to Sison, it was Cory who fought for almost two years the urgings of the military to cancel his passport.
It was also Cory, according to him, who warned him that it was safer for him to remain outside the Philippines.
“Mabuti daw na nandito ako dahil ang mga militar ang nagtutulak na kanselahin ang passport ko so ganun, hindi nawawala yung aming mabuting relasyon kahit na gumawa siya ng official act na kanselahin ang aking passport,” he said.
Sison said that for his part, the revolutionary movement helped in putting Cory in power and getting rid of Marcos.
A witty and gracious Cory
Juliet has nothing but good memories of Cory. She explained that as wives of husbands driven by a common goal, she and Cory were always together in political events.
“Maraming pag-oorganiza na ginawa namin nun upang kalabanin si Marcos so andun siya sa mga organisasyon na binubuo para labanan si Marcos. Yung Aquino Justice For All, yun namang kilusan na ‘yon di naman para lang kay Aquino kundi para sa lahat ng nabiktima o nabibiktima ng martial law,” she added.
“Kaya nagkakasama kami nun sa mga pagsisikap na ‘yon. Ang mga meeting na ‘yon kasama namin sila Guingona, yang si Cory, si Doña Aurora, sila Salonga at yung mga personalidad na lumalaban kay Marcos na padami nang padami,” she noted.
Juliet said her first impression of Cory was that she was a woman of very few words. But when Aquino became president, Juliet was surprised to see a very witty Cory.
“Si Cory masigasig yan dun sa paglaban kay Marcos. Pumupunta siya sa meetings at demonstrations pero hindi siya masalita,” she continued.
“Medyo tahimik siya at medyo reserved kaya nagulat ako na nung presidente na siya, aba biba din pala siya at natutong mas maging ano yan, relaxed sa public although graciosa siya na tao.”
Communication lines open
Meanwhile, the National Democratic Front Negotiating Panel (NDFP) in Utrecht also expressed its solidarity with the family, relatives and friends of Cory in their time of mourning and grief.
NDFP Chair Luis Jalandoni said that Cory's greatest contribution was her ratifying the Protocol II of the Geneva Conventions which is very significant for the human rights standards and policies.
“Napakalahaga dahil ito ay respected throughout the world as (an) important document and convention regarding the upholding of human rights at nandyan din sa constitution ng 1987 for which Cory Aquino to a great extent yung pag-uphold ng human rights pati na yung mahalagang bagay… yung pagrestrict ng martial law," Jalandoni told Balitang Europe.
He also said that Cory as president was very different from others in that she kept all communication lines open.
“Cory would make use of different means kahit personal na pagpaabot kay Joma na ‘wag ka munang bumalik dito. Meaning she was concerned for his safety or she would use other channels and say she would like to have peace talks,” said Jalandoni.
“She was creative in a very personal way also to maintain communication.”
For NDFP Consultant Fidel Agcaoili, Cory was responsible for initiating the peace talks between the Philippine government and the NDFP in 1986.
“Siya ang nag-facilitate. Of course nagkaron ng ceasefire agreement. It led to a ceasefire agreement and then it led to maraming NDF na lumitaw at lumabas,” said Agcaoili.
Jalandoni added that Cory's outstanding feat was the release of hundreds of political prisoners, which included Sison.
“All those hundreds of political prisoners is a good example of fulfilling her commitment and her magnanimity with regards to political prisoners and those in need and for the families of these political prisoners,” he said.
“Something we don't see in the present administration,” commented Jalandoni.
as of 08/03/2009 1:48 PM
SOURCE: WWW.ABS-CBNNEWS.COM
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/pinoy-migration/08/03/09/joma-cory-had-exceptional-relationship
Young Pinoy inspires youth, child rights advocates
By Maria Aleta Nieva-Nishimori, abs-cbnNEWS.com 07/18/2009 4:18 PM
Taking the cue from the initiative of a young Filipino boy in the Netherlands, a child rights group in Manila has organized a children’s solidarity walk for justice and peace.
Executive Director Ma. Esmeralda dela Paz of the Children’s Rehabilitation Center (CRC) said the “Walk for Justice, Walk for Peace” will coincide with the biggest walkathon in the Netherlands in which Kyle Baleva is one of its 45,000 participants.
“Kasabay iyan ng mangyayari sa the Netherlands na walkathon kung saan si Kyle ay lalakad ng apat na araw,” said Dela Paz.
The “International Four-Day Marches in Nijmegen” in the Netherlands is set for July 21 to 24, 2009. Participants to the Netherlands’ walkathon will walk 30, 40 or 50 kilometers daily, for four days.
Loui Galicia, ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau correspondent reported that upon completion, they will receive a “Vierdaagsekruis,” or a royally-approved medal.
Galicia, who first reported Baleva’s preparation for the walkathon, added that every kilometer that the boy walks is equivalent to 20 Euro cents, which he intends to donate to orphaned children victims of political killings and disappearances.
“Hindi lang siya lakad. Mag-aadvocate siya ng support para doon sa mga batang anak ng mgabiktima ng extra-judicial killings, mga desaparecidos at iba pang mga victims ng human rights violations dito sa Pilipinas,” Dela Paz said.
Baleva aims to collect 1,000 euros for the benefit of “A Hand for an Orphan Program” of the CRC.
“Nag isip kami ng isang activity dito sa Maynila na parallel sa kanya para ipakita din ang solidarity at na-package namin siya as solidarity walk,” said Dela Paz.
Manila’s Walk for Justice, Walk for Peace will also coincide with the Lakbayan of peasants, workers and other sectors from Southern Tagalog, who will join a protest-mobilization on July 27, the day President Arroyo delivers her 9th State of the Nation Address to the Filipino people.
“Kasabay siya ng Lakbayan na mangyayari sa Southern Tagalog na aalis din July 21 o 22 from Calamba, and expected silang makarating sa Makati by 24,” she said.
Children under the SALINLAHI Alliance for Children’s Concerns and other child rights advocates will walk in solidarity with Baleva.
“May mga bata from Southern Tagalog na magpapakita ng kanilang support at actually sila din victims din. Mga galing sa urban poor na victims ng demolition na na-relocate sa Calamba at yung iba mga anak din ng mga biktima,” she said.
Young advocateBaleva’s parents and Filipinos living and working in the Netherlands fully support the boy who, at a very young age, has taken on a sense of responsibility to highlight the plight of orphaned children of victims of extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances and political repression.
“Kahanga-hanga talaga kasi sa ganyang age naisip niya at saka yung effort. Pinoy siya at hindi niya iniiwan ang roots niya, at alam niya ang nangyayari sa Pilipinas, at mula doon, nag e-effort siya,” added Dela Paz.
In the Philippines, the CRC said that an average of three children are orphaned every week due to killings that are political in nature.
In the last five years, CRC added that more than 800 incidents of human rights violations have been recorded in the country, affecting some 215,200 children.
“Mula 2001 hanggang 2008, 66 children ang namatay dahil sa state violence,” she said.
CRC, according to its website, is focused on children in the rural and urban areas who suffer from physical health problems, emotional disorders and social maladjustments due to traumatic events such as arrest, torture, forced displacement, strafing, bombing, massacre, disappearance and other forms of human rights violations.
It offers immediate psycho-social aid to children and families who are affected by natural disasters and accepts referrals for children-victims of other social disasters such as abuse and exploitation on a case-to-case basis.
as of 07/18/2009 4:58 PM
SOURCE: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/pinoy-migration/07/18/09/young-pinoy-inspires-youth-child-rights-advocates
Taking the cue from the initiative of a young Filipino boy in the Netherlands, a child rights group in Manila has organized a children’s solidarity walk for justice and peace.
Executive Director Ma. Esmeralda dela Paz of the Children’s Rehabilitation Center (CRC) said the “Walk for Justice, Walk for Peace” will coincide with the biggest walkathon in the Netherlands in which Kyle Baleva is one of its 45,000 participants.
“Kasabay iyan ng mangyayari sa the Netherlands na walkathon kung saan si Kyle ay lalakad ng apat na araw,” said Dela Paz.
The “International Four-Day Marches in Nijmegen” in the Netherlands is set for July 21 to 24, 2009. Participants to the Netherlands’ walkathon will walk 30, 40 or 50 kilometers daily, for four days.
Loui Galicia, ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau correspondent reported that upon completion, they will receive a “Vierdaagsekruis,” or a royally-approved medal.
Galicia, who first reported Baleva’s preparation for the walkathon, added that every kilometer that the boy walks is equivalent to 20 Euro cents, which he intends to donate to orphaned children victims of political killings and disappearances.
“Hindi lang siya lakad. Mag-aadvocate siya ng support para doon sa mga batang anak ng mgabiktima ng extra-judicial killings, mga desaparecidos at iba pang mga victims ng human rights violations dito sa Pilipinas,” Dela Paz said.
Baleva aims to collect 1,000 euros for the benefit of “A Hand for an Orphan Program” of the CRC.
“Nag isip kami ng isang activity dito sa Maynila na parallel sa kanya para ipakita din ang solidarity at na-package namin siya as solidarity walk,” said Dela Paz.
Manila’s Walk for Justice, Walk for Peace will also coincide with the Lakbayan of peasants, workers and other sectors from Southern Tagalog, who will join a protest-mobilization on July 27, the day President Arroyo delivers her 9th State of the Nation Address to the Filipino people.
“Kasabay siya ng Lakbayan na mangyayari sa Southern Tagalog na aalis din July 21 o 22 from Calamba, and expected silang makarating sa Makati by 24,” she said.
Children under the SALINLAHI Alliance for Children’s Concerns and other child rights advocates will walk in solidarity with Baleva.
“May mga bata from Southern Tagalog na magpapakita ng kanilang support at actually sila din victims din. Mga galing sa urban poor na victims ng demolition na na-relocate sa Calamba at yung iba mga anak din ng mga biktima,” she said.
Young advocateBaleva’s parents and Filipinos living and working in the Netherlands fully support the boy who, at a very young age, has taken on a sense of responsibility to highlight the plight of orphaned children of victims of extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances and political repression.
“Kahanga-hanga talaga kasi sa ganyang age naisip niya at saka yung effort. Pinoy siya at hindi niya iniiwan ang roots niya, at alam niya ang nangyayari sa Pilipinas, at mula doon, nag e-effort siya,” added Dela Paz.
In the Philippines, the CRC said that an average of three children are orphaned every week due to killings that are political in nature.
In the last five years, CRC added that more than 800 incidents of human rights violations have been recorded in the country, affecting some 215,200 children.
“Mula 2001 hanggang 2008, 66 children ang namatay dahil sa state violence,” she said.
CRC, according to its website, is focused on children in the rural and urban areas who suffer from physical health problems, emotional disorders and social maladjustments due to traumatic events such as arrest, torture, forced displacement, strafing, bombing, massacre, disappearance and other forms of human rights violations.
It offers immediate psycho-social aid to children and families who are affected by natural disasters and accepts referrals for children-victims of other social disasters such as abuse and exploitation on a case-to-case basis.
as of 07/18/2009 4:58 PM
SOURCE: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/pinoy-migration/07/18/09/young-pinoy-inspires-youth-child-rights-advocates
Dutch Pinoy youth synthesize talents for a cause
By Loui Galicia, ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau 07/09/2009 11:39 AM
When one speaks of disc jockeys, Holland is the first to come to mind because of its famous top DJs like Tiesto and Armin van Buuren.
Hence it is not surprising to find Filipino disc jockeys or DJ wannabees here like Pinoy “DJ Esperanza” who has become a familiar name and face at parties and is now very popular in the Asian community.
DJ Esperanza led a group of Pinoy DJs at a big summer party for the youth organized by a group of young Filipinos who found a way to put their creative hobbies to good use.
Three 24-year-old Dutch Filipinos initially had the craziest idea to assemble Pinoy DJs to mix music for a cause.
Nobody thought it was feasible given that the young Pinoys have their own careers during the day and literally will not be able to find time to organize such a big gig.
But they pulled it off.
“We had the ambition to do something for the young people, also to motivate them and to discover their talents so we assembled the creative Filipino people here like the DJs, web designers, film crew,” organizer and businessman Howie Ross Valino said.
The youth who assembled at the Haarlem Park for the party couldn’t help but stare in awe at the young Pinoy DJs.
The event was a big hit among the youth because apart from dancing, they watched the DJs in action and listened to the unique mixing of beats and music in seamless transitions between tracks.
“The DJ guys contacted me if I wanted to entertain people and I said yes. Eventually my dream is to be an international DJ and I also produce my own music. I grew up with a musical family and I also wanted to do something with music,” organizer Roderick Estimada said.
Estimada, works in a bank during the day but is so into disc jockeying in his play time. The event is the start of a series of fund raising activities for the charities in the Philippines.
“Ito pong nagbebenta kami ng flag ngayon worth one euro. Lahat ng mabebenta namin mapupunta sa Terres des Hommes.
At yung Terres des Hommes paglululanan ng mga batang ginagawang prostitutes sa Pilipinas,” supporter Oney Torres said.
Apart from this, the group also aims to foster relationship-building with artistic young Pinoys and share common interests to harness their creative talents.
as of 07/09/2009 4:46 PM
SOURCE: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/07/09/09/dutch-pinoy-youth-synthesize-talents-cause
When one speaks of disc jockeys, Holland is the first to come to mind because of its famous top DJs like Tiesto and Armin van Buuren.
Hence it is not surprising to find Filipino disc jockeys or DJ wannabees here like Pinoy “DJ Esperanza” who has become a familiar name and face at parties and is now very popular in the Asian community.
DJ Esperanza led a group of Pinoy DJs at a big summer party for the youth organized by a group of young Filipinos who found a way to put their creative hobbies to good use.
Three 24-year-old Dutch Filipinos initially had the craziest idea to assemble Pinoy DJs to mix music for a cause.
Nobody thought it was feasible given that the young Pinoys have their own careers during the day and literally will not be able to find time to organize such a big gig.
But they pulled it off.
“We had the ambition to do something for the young people, also to motivate them and to discover their talents so we assembled the creative Filipino people here like the DJs, web designers, film crew,” organizer and businessman Howie Ross Valino said.
The youth who assembled at the Haarlem Park for the party couldn’t help but stare in awe at the young Pinoy DJs.
The event was a big hit among the youth because apart from dancing, they watched the DJs in action and listened to the unique mixing of beats and music in seamless transitions between tracks.
“The DJ guys contacted me if I wanted to entertain people and I said yes. Eventually my dream is to be an international DJ and I also produce my own music. I grew up with a musical family and I also wanted to do something with music,” organizer Roderick Estimada said.
Estimada, works in a bank during the day but is so into disc jockeying in his play time. The event is the start of a series of fund raising activities for the charities in the Philippines.
“Ito pong nagbebenta kami ng flag ngayon worth one euro. Lahat ng mabebenta namin mapupunta sa Terres des Hommes.
At yung Terres des Hommes paglululanan ng mga batang ginagawang prostitutes sa Pilipinas,” supporter Oney Torres said.
Apart from this, the group also aims to foster relationship-building with artistic young Pinoys and share common interests to harness their creative talents.
as of 07/09/2009 4:46 PM
SOURCE: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/07/09/09/dutch-pinoy-youth-synthesize-talents-cause
Friday, July 3, 2009
Young Pinoy to join biggest walkathon in Holland
By Loui Galicia, ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau 07/03/2009 10:40 AM
A twelve-year-old Filipino is set to join 45,000 participants in the biggest walkathon in the world held yearly in Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
Kyle Baleva is now engrossed in psyching up and preparing himself physically for the Walk of the World or the Four-Day Marches that will be held from July 21 to July 24.
Participants from age 12 and above will walk 30, 40 or 50 kilometers daily for four days.
On completion, they will receive a “Vierdaagsekruis,” or a royally approved medal.
Kyle is now training his legs, knees and feet to endure the thirty-kilometer or about eight hours of walk per day.
The only obstacles to his successful completion will be the rain, scorching sun and foot blisters.
But nevertheless, Kyle said that he hopes to be able to conquer all the hardship because every step will be definitely worth something.
In fact, the equivalent of every kilometer that Kyle walks is twenty euro cents (14 pesos) for the orphaned children of the victims of political killings or disappearances.
Kyle aims to collect 1,000 euros (70,000 pesos) for the benefit of “A Hand for an Orphan Program” of the Children’s Rehabilitation Center.
“Maganda lang pong challenge. At saka mas marami pong kaya pong makuhang pera para po sa mga orphans kapag mas malayo,” Kyle told Balitang Europe.
Kyle has the full support of his parents, especially his father who accompanies him to his house-to-house calls for sponsorship.
“Proud ako. Proud kami ng asawa kong si Angie na naisip niya yon na pwede siyang maglakad or mag-perform or mag-exert ng maraming effort para sa ibang tao. Kasi para sa isang 12-year-old na bata hindi yon pangkaraniwan,” Boyen said.
Even many Pinoys have been impressed and inspired by Kyle’s goal and humble cause.
“Nakakatuwa naman. Kasi at a very young age, meron na siyang sense of responsibility at saka gusto na niyang tumulong sa mga nangangailangan especially pang Pilipinas. Maganda ang upbringing ng bata,” Pinay supporter Maridee Borja said.
Because there are still two weeks left before the big event, Kyle is tirelessly soliciting help now from his kababayans.
Other interested kababayans can still send support to: Kyle’s Walk of the World, Nederlands Filippijnse Solidariteitsbeweging (NFS), Account no: 8118425, indicating “Sponsor Kyle.”
as of 07/03/2009 12:09 PM
SOURCE: WWW.ABS-CBNNEWS.COM
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/pinoy-migration/07/03/09/young-pinoy-join-biggest-walkathon-holland
A twelve-year-old Filipino is set to join 45,000 participants in the biggest walkathon in the world held yearly in Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
Kyle Baleva is now engrossed in psyching up and preparing himself physically for the Walk of the World or the Four-Day Marches that will be held from July 21 to July 24.
Participants from age 12 and above will walk 30, 40 or 50 kilometers daily for four days.
On completion, they will receive a “Vierdaagsekruis,” or a royally approved medal.
Kyle is now training his legs, knees and feet to endure the thirty-kilometer or about eight hours of walk per day.
The only obstacles to his successful completion will be the rain, scorching sun and foot blisters.
But nevertheless, Kyle said that he hopes to be able to conquer all the hardship because every step will be definitely worth something.
In fact, the equivalent of every kilometer that Kyle walks is twenty euro cents (14 pesos) for the orphaned children of the victims of political killings or disappearances.
Kyle aims to collect 1,000 euros (70,000 pesos) for the benefit of “A Hand for an Orphan Program” of the Children’s Rehabilitation Center.
“Maganda lang pong challenge. At saka mas marami pong kaya pong makuhang pera para po sa mga orphans kapag mas malayo,” Kyle told Balitang Europe.
Kyle has the full support of his parents, especially his father who accompanies him to his house-to-house calls for sponsorship.
“Proud ako. Proud kami ng asawa kong si Angie na naisip niya yon na pwede siyang maglakad or mag-perform or mag-exert ng maraming effort para sa ibang tao. Kasi para sa isang 12-year-old na bata hindi yon pangkaraniwan,” Boyen said.
Even many Pinoys have been impressed and inspired by Kyle’s goal and humble cause.
“Nakakatuwa naman. Kasi at a very young age, meron na siyang sense of responsibility at saka gusto na niyang tumulong sa mga nangangailangan especially pang Pilipinas. Maganda ang upbringing ng bata,” Pinay supporter Maridee Borja said.
Because there are still two weeks left before the big event, Kyle is tirelessly soliciting help now from his kababayans.
Other interested kababayans can still send support to: Kyle’s Walk of the World, Nederlands Filippijnse Solidariteitsbeweging (NFS), Account no: 8118425, indicating “Sponsor Kyle.”
as of 07/03/2009 12:09 PM
SOURCE: WWW.ABS-CBNNEWS.COM
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/pinoy-migration/07/03/09/young-pinoy-join-biggest-walkathon-holland
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Dutch Pinoys behind Kalayaan FIesta Foundation's success
By Loui Galicia, ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau 06/26/2009 2:20 PM
The solid determination of many Filipinos paved the way to ensure that there will be a yearly Philippine Independence Day celebration in The Netherlands.
The recent celebration almost did not take place because of a split among the members of the coalition that organizes the event every year since 1988.
But because of the dedication and conviction of many Pinoys, the Kalayaan Fiesta Foundation was established in place of the coalition that collapsed in April.
“Ang Kalayaan po ay nabuo dahil sa maraming gustong pagbabago ang mga Pilipino dito. Ngayong taon gusto nilang mapabuti ang pera at ang programa natin gusto nilang mapaganda,” said Kalayaan Fiesta Foundation Supervisory Board Chairman Jun Ortega.
“Marami kaming naririnig sa mga tao, sa mga kababayan natin na mga negative na kesyo daw ang mga pera hindi transparent. Kesyo daw po ganun, ganyan, hindi na ako mag-eelaborate dahil hindi po naman dapat,” Ortega added when asked about the rift among members that almost cancelled the event.
The communities of Baranggay sa Holland and United Filipino-Dutch Association are behind the foundation which aims to strengthen the bond and promote unity among the Filipinos in Holland.
The misunderstanding in the coalition served as a big lesson for the members to act and guarantee that the foundation will not falter.
The members said that the foundation was built for a long-term existence.
“Ito ay kailangang itaguyod ng iba dahil we are supported by protocols. Let’s say yung chairman or kung sinong nangangasiwa mag-abuso. Yung protocol ang kalaban nila at yung mga tao na ang kalaban nila,” Executive Board Chairman Jimmy Munoz said.
“Actually sa coalition, wala kaming formal o signed agreement na kami’y coalition. Yun lang lumago ng lumago ng ganun. Wala namang problema dun. Pwede naman kaming mag-negotiate ulit. Why not,” Munoz added.
Munoz cautioned that those who would want to join will have to comply with the foundation’s protocols, house rules and regulations.
With this important issue settled, no other than Ambassador Romeo Arguelles was the first to welcome the good news.
It is certain now that Arguelles will not leave Holland next month with a heavy heart.
“I think kung iyan mawawala tuluyan, medyo parang nawalan ka na ng isang something which is very valuable to you and important. Bagamat ako ay aalis na, ako’y natutuwa na ito’y tutuloy,” Arguelles said.
For the Dutch Pinoys, the Independence Day celebration is the only chance for all Filipinos from different parts of the Netherlands to connect and remind them of their home country.
“Hindi naman para sa amin ito kundi para sa Filipino community na malayo sa ating bayang Pilipinas kasi one time a year lang tayo nagsasama-sama,” Lani van Elleswijk, secretary of Baranggay sa Holland said.
Now that the euphoria from the success of the 111th anniversary of Philippine Independence Day is over, the foundation is now busy lining up projects to collect funds for the benefit of the less-fortunate kababayans in the Philippines.
as of 06/26/2009 2:24 PM
SOURCE: WWW.ABS-CBNNEWS.COM
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/pinoy-migration/06/26/09/dutch-pinoys-behind-kalayaan-fiesta-foundations-success
The solid determination of many Filipinos paved the way to ensure that there will be a yearly Philippine Independence Day celebration in The Netherlands.
The recent celebration almost did not take place because of a split among the members of the coalition that organizes the event every year since 1988.
But because of the dedication and conviction of many Pinoys, the Kalayaan Fiesta Foundation was established in place of the coalition that collapsed in April.
“Ang Kalayaan po ay nabuo dahil sa maraming gustong pagbabago ang mga Pilipino dito. Ngayong taon gusto nilang mapabuti ang pera at ang programa natin gusto nilang mapaganda,” said Kalayaan Fiesta Foundation Supervisory Board Chairman Jun Ortega.
“Marami kaming naririnig sa mga tao, sa mga kababayan natin na mga negative na kesyo daw ang mga pera hindi transparent. Kesyo daw po ganun, ganyan, hindi na ako mag-eelaborate dahil hindi po naman dapat,” Ortega added when asked about the rift among members that almost cancelled the event.
The communities of Baranggay sa Holland and United Filipino-Dutch Association are behind the foundation which aims to strengthen the bond and promote unity among the Filipinos in Holland.
The misunderstanding in the coalition served as a big lesson for the members to act and guarantee that the foundation will not falter.
The members said that the foundation was built for a long-term existence.
“Ito ay kailangang itaguyod ng iba dahil we are supported by protocols. Let’s say yung chairman or kung sinong nangangasiwa mag-abuso. Yung protocol ang kalaban nila at yung mga tao na ang kalaban nila,” Executive Board Chairman Jimmy Munoz said.
“Actually sa coalition, wala kaming formal o signed agreement na kami’y coalition. Yun lang lumago ng lumago ng ganun. Wala namang problema dun. Pwede naman kaming mag-negotiate ulit. Why not,” Munoz added.
Munoz cautioned that those who would want to join will have to comply with the foundation’s protocols, house rules and regulations.
With this important issue settled, no other than Ambassador Romeo Arguelles was the first to welcome the good news.
It is certain now that Arguelles will not leave Holland next month with a heavy heart.
“I think kung iyan mawawala tuluyan, medyo parang nawalan ka na ng isang something which is very valuable to you and important. Bagamat ako ay aalis na, ako’y natutuwa na ito’y tutuloy,” Arguelles said.
For the Dutch Pinoys, the Independence Day celebration is the only chance for all Filipinos from different parts of the Netherlands to connect and remind them of their home country.
“Hindi naman para sa amin ito kundi para sa Filipino community na malayo sa ating bayang Pilipinas kasi one time a year lang tayo nagsasama-sama,” Lani van Elleswijk, secretary of Baranggay sa Holland said.
Now that the euphoria from the success of the 111th anniversary of Philippine Independence Day is over, the foundation is now busy lining up projects to collect funds for the benefit of the less-fortunate kababayans in the Philippines.
as of 06/26/2009 2:24 PM
SOURCE: WWW.ABS-CBNNEWS.COM
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/pinoy-migration/06/26/09/dutch-pinoys-behind-kalayaan-fiesta-foundations-success
Friday, June 19, 2009
Dutch Pinoys regret not voting in EU elections
Dutch Pinoys regret not voting in EU elections
By LOUI GALICIA, ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau 06/18/2009 11:46 PM
The results of the recent European Union (EU) parliamentary elections in the Netherlands came as a shock to everyone including Filipinos living here.
The populist right Dutch Freedom Party or PVV of Geert Wilders scored a major victory, winning four of the twenty five Dutch seats in the EU Parliament.Many Dutch Pinoys said they regret having ignored the elections and not exercising their right to vote since PVV is widely known to be anti-immigrant.
They said it is also the anti-Europe and anti-Islam party of Wilders, the Dutch politician who was embroiled in a world-wide controversy when he made the film Fitna.
In fact, all the Dutch Pinoys who were randomly asked by Balitang Europe if they voted, either said that they shrugged off or deliberately ignored the biggest transnational election in history.
The Dutch Pinoys now said that they lament having missed the opportunity to express their choice of representatives to the EU Parliament, which has a considerable influence on the lives of EU citizens.
They now fear that the PVV will become a major force against migrants.
“Yon nga po. Isa po ako sa Filipinos dito na naging Dutch. Pinagsisihan ko na isinawalang bahala ko. Eh ang nanalo anti-immigrant. Eh di sana, di sila nanalo kung nakiboto ako dun, kung pinractice ko ang karapatan ko bilang Dutch immigrant ngayon dito sa Holland, “ Delvin Ocampos said.
For a Dutch who is married to a Filipina, he feels that his countrymen have spoken and the result of the election is a signal that the Dutch are against the growing number of immigrants in the country.
“A lot of people voted for them [PVV] because they don't agree with the government who’s cheating for four years now. In Vollendam, they voted for PVV. They gave them 40% and that means they're against some foreigners in our country,” Rene van Engelshooven said.
Van Engelshooven said that the immigration policy of the Netherlands has become rigid based on his experience in arranging the papers of his wife to join him here from the Philippines.
“Immigration policy is getting hard for the people. I like to vote for every right for everybody. Just equal rights for everybody,” Engelshooven said.
An opportunity wasted is how non-Dutch Pinoys look at the whole scenario because some of them are so willing to vote yet they do not have the right to.
“I really wanted to vote because I'm a little worried about the politics in Amsterdam and especially those immigrants like some Filipinos who do not have papers in Amsterdam. How I wish I can vote,” Efren Quintana said.
“For those Filipinos who lost the chance to do it, you have to do it. Vote not only for yourself but for other Filipinos all over the world,” Quintana added as a message to the Dutch Pinoys.
The Pinoys now worry that there is a clear protest vote from the Dutch for a new Holland that has no more space for migrants.
as of 06/18/2009 11:47 PM
SOURCE: WWW.ABS-CBNNEWS.COM
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/pinoy-migration/06/18/09/dutch-pinoys-regret-not-voting-eu-elections
By LOUI GALICIA, ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau 06/18/2009 11:46 PM
The results of the recent European Union (EU) parliamentary elections in the Netherlands came as a shock to everyone including Filipinos living here.
The populist right Dutch Freedom Party or PVV of Geert Wilders scored a major victory, winning four of the twenty five Dutch seats in the EU Parliament.Many Dutch Pinoys said they regret having ignored the elections and not exercising their right to vote since PVV is widely known to be anti-immigrant.
They said it is also the anti-Europe and anti-Islam party of Wilders, the Dutch politician who was embroiled in a world-wide controversy when he made the film Fitna.
In fact, all the Dutch Pinoys who were randomly asked by Balitang Europe if they voted, either said that they shrugged off or deliberately ignored the biggest transnational election in history.
The Dutch Pinoys now said that they lament having missed the opportunity to express their choice of representatives to the EU Parliament, which has a considerable influence on the lives of EU citizens.
They now fear that the PVV will become a major force against migrants.
“Yon nga po. Isa po ako sa Filipinos dito na naging Dutch. Pinagsisihan ko na isinawalang bahala ko. Eh ang nanalo anti-immigrant. Eh di sana, di sila nanalo kung nakiboto ako dun, kung pinractice ko ang karapatan ko bilang Dutch immigrant ngayon dito sa Holland, “ Delvin Ocampos said.
For a Dutch who is married to a Filipina, he feels that his countrymen have spoken and the result of the election is a signal that the Dutch are against the growing number of immigrants in the country.
“A lot of people voted for them [PVV] because they don't agree with the government who’s cheating for four years now. In Vollendam, they voted for PVV. They gave them 40% and that means they're against some foreigners in our country,” Rene van Engelshooven said.
Van Engelshooven said that the immigration policy of the Netherlands has become rigid based on his experience in arranging the papers of his wife to join him here from the Philippines.
“Immigration policy is getting hard for the people. I like to vote for every right for everybody. Just equal rights for everybody,” Engelshooven said.
An opportunity wasted is how non-Dutch Pinoys look at the whole scenario because some of them are so willing to vote yet they do not have the right to.
“I really wanted to vote because I'm a little worried about the politics in Amsterdam and especially those immigrants like some Filipinos who do not have papers in Amsterdam. How I wish I can vote,” Efren Quintana said.
“For those Filipinos who lost the chance to do it, you have to do it. Vote not only for yourself but for other Filipinos all over the world,” Quintana added as a message to the Dutch Pinoys.
The Pinoys now worry that there is a clear protest vote from the Dutch for a new Holland that has no more space for migrants.
as of 06/18/2009 11:47 PM
SOURCE: WWW.ABS-CBNNEWS.COM
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/pinoy-migration/06/18/09/dutch-pinoys-regret-not-voting-eu-elections
Friday, June 12, 2009
Dutch Pinoys celebrate Independence Day on sad note
By Loui Galicia, ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau
06/12/2009 11:35 AM
Thousands of Filipinos participated in the celebration of the Philippine Independence Day in Haarlem, The Netherlands last June 6.
The celebration was a tremendous success as it was attended by more than 5,000 Filipinos from different parts of Holland and even some from Belgium.
Saturday’s event almost did not take place as members of a group which had organized the yearly Philippine Independence Day celebration since 1988 had a falling out. But this paved the way for a new group called Kalayaan Fiesta Foundation The Netherlands (KFFN) to be formed.
The KFFN was born to continue the event that was initially announced as cancelled last April.
The KFFN was still able to deliver despite having only a month to prepare for the biggest picnic gathering of Filipinos in The Netherlands.
The Spaarnwoude Park venue was immediately transformed into a huge bazaar with huge tents that served as hangouts for families and friends as well as stalls set up to sell Pinoy food, goods, bags, clothes and jewelries among others.
Every Pinoy who went around the huge park finished the tour carrying several shopping bags. All Filipino and foreign guests of all ages were also kept busy and entertained by the seven-hour non-stop musical program, thanks to the organizers who toiled hard at producing a high-class and well-rehearsed show.
But as enjoyable and perfect as it may sound, all the success and joy at the event have been overshadowed by the deep sadness of Filipinos as it is the last Independence Day celebration of Ambassador Romeo Arguelles in The Netherlands. Arguelles is leaving next month.
Even the mayor of Haarlemmerliede and Spaarnwoude stayed the whole day at the celebration to salute the great envoy loved by the Pinoys in Holland.
“This morning I especially came early with my official things to welcome the ambassador because I knew that it was his last time and he was always very much involved in coming here and involved in the personal problems if there are any of his people. I don’t know him, let’s say his political ambassadorship but I know what he means to the people,” H.B. Bruijn told Balitang Europe.
Many still cannot accept the reality that Arguelles, who is dubbed as the “father” of the Pinoys in The Netherlands, is already leaving.
President Arroyo’s announcement in April about the appointment of Gen. Cardozo Luna as the new envoy to The Netherlands came as a surprise to the Dutch Pinoys.
“Talagang nakakalungkot ang pag-alis ni ambassador. Unang-una parang ama na namin yan. During the 90s, yung first term niya dito as an ambassador, kami na ang magkakasama. Bumalik siya ulit at talagang nakakalungkot at pagalis niya medyo biglaan. Ayon ang mas nakakalungkot dahil biglaang napabalita na aalis siya,” businessman Ronald Gavino, who is very close to Arguelles, said.
For seven years, Arguelles has contributed a lot to uniting the Pinoy communities in The Netherlands as well as promoting Filipino culture to the Dutch community.
“He's been a friend to all of us. He’s been very visible in all our activities. a great supporter of the Philippine community here in the Netherlands, he brought culture closer to the Filipinos here,” Ricky Tuazon of the Dutch-Philippine Association said.
For his part, Arguelles just hopes that he has served his “children” well in all his seven years in Holland.
“Palagay ko naman na nakatulong din ako at nakasilbi sa mga kababayan natin. Sa aming trabaho ang importanteng sinasabi ko sa staff ko ay ang public service is what it says, public service. Na ang ating intindihin ay kung paano natin pagsisilbihan ang publiko rather na ang publiko ang magsisilbi sa atin,” Arguelles said.
Arguelles is so endeared to the Dutch Pinoys that as a salute they awarded him a plaque of appreciation for his long years of untiring work for the community.
Arguelles has always been present in all events of the Pinoy communities and it is not uncommon to see him in three different events in one day even if they are held in different towns that are hours away from each other.
Indeed Arguelles is the Dutch Pinoys’ champion.
As highlight of the Independence Day cum farewell event, the Pinoys surprised Arguelles with the song “You are a champion, Mr. Ambassador…cause you are a champion of Pinoys.”
“No other song can accurately capture the sentiments and feelings of the Pinoys,” KFFN Supervisory Board Chairman Jun Ortega said. Ortega rewrote the lyrics of the original “We are the Champion” song
SOURCE: WWW.ABS-CBNNEWS.COM
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/pinoy-migration/06/12/09/dutch-pinoys-celebrate-independence-day-sad-note
06/12/2009 11:35 AM
Thousands of Filipinos participated in the celebration of the Philippine Independence Day in Haarlem, The Netherlands last June 6.
The celebration was a tremendous success as it was attended by more than 5,000 Filipinos from different parts of Holland and even some from Belgium.
Saturday’s event almost did not take place as members of a group which had organized the yearly Philippine Independence Day celebration since 1988 had a falling out. But this paved the way for a new group called Kalayaan Fiesta Foundation The Netherlands (KFFN) to be formed.
The KFFN was born to continue the event that was initially announced as cancelled last April.
The KFFN was still able to deliver despite having only a month to prepare for the biggest picnic gathering of Filipinos in The Netherlands.
The Spaarnwoude Park venue was immediately transformed into a huge bazaar with huge tents that served as hangouts for families and friends as well as stalls set up to sell Pinoy food, goods, bags, clothes and jewelries among others.
Every Pinoy who went around the huge park finished the tour carrying several shopping bags. All Filipino and foreign guests of all ages were also kept busy and entertained by the seven-hour non-stop musical program, thanks to the organizers who toiled hard at producing a high-class and well-rehearsed show.
But as enjoyable and perfect as it may sound, all the success and joy at the event have been overshadowed by the deep sadness of Filipinos as it is the last Independence Day celebration of Ambassador Romeo Arguelles in The Netherlands. Arguelles is leaving next month.
Even the mayor of Haarlemmerliede and Spaarnwoude stayed the whole day at the celebration to salute the great envoy loved by the Pinoys in Holland.
“This morning I especially came early with my official things to welcome the ambassador because I knew that it was his last time and he was always very much involved in coming here and involved in the personal problems if there are any of his people. I don’t know him, let’s say his political ambassadorship but I know what he means to the people,” H.B. Bruijn told Balitang Europe.
Many still cannot accept the reality that Arguelles, who is dubbed as the “father” of the Pinoys in The Netherlands, is already leaving.
President Arroyo’s announcement in April about the appointment of Gen. Cardozo Luna as the new envoy to The Netherlands came as a surprise to the Dutch Pinoys.
“Talagang nakakalungkot ang pag-alis ni ambassador. Unang-una parang ama na namin yan. During the 90s, yung first term niya dito as an ambassador, kami na ang magkakasama. Bumalik siya ulit at talagang nakakalungkot at pagalis niya medyo biglaan. Ayon ang mas nakakalungkot dahil biglaang napabalita na aalis siya,” businessman Ronald Gavino, who is very close to Arguelles, said.
For seven years, Arguelles has contributed a lot to uniting the Pinoy communities in The Netherlands as well as promoting Filipino culture to the Dutch community.
“He's been a friend to all of us. He’s been very visible in all our activities. a great supporter of the Philippine community here in the Netherlands, he brought culture closer to the Filipinos here,” Ricky Tuazon of the Dutch-Philippine Association said.
For his part, Arguelles just hopes that he has served his “children” well in all his seven years in Holland.
“Palagay ko naman na nakatulong din ako at nakasilbi sa mga kababayan natin. Sa aming trabaho ang importanteng sinasabi ko sa staff ko ay ang public service is what it says, public service. Na ang ating intindihin ay kung paano natin pagsisilbihan ang publiko rather na ang publiko ang magsisilbi sa atin,” Arguelles said.
Arguelles is so endeared to the Dutch Pinoys that as a salute they awarded him a plaque of appreciation for his long years of untiring work for the community.
Arguelles has always been present in all events of the Pinoy communities and it is not uncommon to see him in three different events in one day even if they are held in different towns that are hours away from each other.
Indeed Arguelles is the Dutch Pinoys’ champion.
As highlight of the Independence Day cum farewell event, the Pinoys surprised Arguelles with the song “You are a champion, Mr. Ambassador…cause you are a champion of Pinoys.”
“No other song can accurately capture the sentiments and feelings of the Pinoys,” KFFN Supervisory Board Chairman Jun Ortega said. Ortega rewrote the lyrics of the original “We are the Champion” song
SOURCE: WWW.ABS-CBNNEWS.COM
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/pinoy-migration/06/12/09/dutch-pinoys-celebrate-independence-day-sad-note
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Joma to sue Dutch prosecutors on ‘wrongful investigation’
Joma to sue Dutch prosecutors on ‘wrongful investigation’
By LOUI GALICIA, ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau 04/06/2009 8:09 PM
The ball is now in Jose Maria “Joma” Sison’s court after the Dutch Prosecutor’s Office dropped its investigations on his alleged involvement in the murders of his erstwhile allies in the Philippines.
The Communist Party of the Philippines founding chairman who is on self-exile in The Netherlands says he plans to seek damages from Dutch prosecutors.
In the one and a half year period of the probe, Sison repeatedly declared his innocence in the murders of his erstwhile allies Romulo Kintanar and Arturo Tabara.
After the Dutch Prosecutor on March 31 dropped all charges against Sison because of insufficient evidence, Joma said he plans to claim damages for the criminal investigation that he said tarnished his honor and dignity.
Sison said that he will demand compensation mainly for the expenses he incurred in his legal defense during those seventeen months.
He said that it would not have been costly for anyone had the Dutch prosecution stopped, what Sison called, its nonsense investigation earlier.
“The most important thing is the moral and material damage that I suffered. For instance ‘yong mga abogado ko can claim for compensation for their services,” Sison told ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau.
Sison also explained that most of the expenses for his legal defense came from the pocket of his wife Juliet.
“Gumastos si Julie diyan. Siya ang nag-ante ng panggastos ng abogado. Kailangan ibalik yan,” Sison said.
Even the National Democratic Front (NDF) said it plans to claim damages for the unnecessary stress and terror caused by the Dutch police’s raid of its office and the houses of its members during the arrest of Sison on Aug. 28, 2007.
The NDF also demands the immediate return of documents and materials that were confiscated during the raid but which are still in the hands of the Dutch Prosecutor.
“Marami pa ring natira. Hindi pa sinosoli… Dapat lahat ng bagay na kinuha sa opisina, sa mga bahay namin at iba pa ay dapat isoli ngayon ng Dutch authorities,” NDF chair Luis Jalandoni exclaimed.
Sison’s lawyer Michiel Pestman said he does not have an estimate yet on the total amount of damages because he said that there were a lot of people involved.
Sison said that his Dutch lawyers worked in tandem with Filipino lawyers.
“Ka-consult din ng Dutch lawyers sila Atty. Romeo Capulong na nasa Public Interest Law Center na gumawa ng research at nagtipon ng documentary evidence at naghanda ng possible witness in my favor,” Sison said.
Pestman emphasized though, that it is more a matter of principle.
“Compensation is not the most important thing. I just want to stress it’s not the money,” Pestman said.
Pestman added that everything has just been a big waste of time and money for both sides because the Dutch prosecution wanted to save face before the Arroyo government.
“They somehow have to sell this to the Filipino government and which might be more difficult than closing the investigation,” Pestman said.
as of 04/06/2009 8:10 PM
SOURCE: WWW.ABS-CBNNEWS.COM
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/04/06/09/joma-sue-dutch-prosecutors-%E2%80%98wrongful-investigation%E2%80%99
By LOUI GALICIA, ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau 04/06/2009 8:09 PM
The ball is now in Jose Maria “Joma” Sison’s court after the Dutch Prosecutor’s Office dropped its investigations on his alleged involvement in the murders of his erstwhile allies in the Philippines.
The Communist Party of the Philippines founding chairman who is on self-exile in The Netherlands says he plans to seek damages from Dutch prosecutors.
In the one and a half year period of the probe, Sison repeatedly declared his innocence in the murders of his erstwhile allies Romulo Kintanar and Arturo Tabara.
After the Dutch Prosecutor on March 31 dropped all charges against Sison because of insufficient evidence, Joma said he plans to claim damages for the criminal investigation that he said tarnished his honor and dignity.
Sison said that he will demand compensation mainly for the expenses he incurred in his legal defense during those seventeen months.
He said that it would not have been costly for anyone had the Dutch prosecution stopped, what Sison called, its nonsense investigation earlier.
“The most important thing is the moral and material damage that I suffered. For instance ‘yong mga abogado ko can claim for compensation for their services,” Sison told ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau.
Sison also explained that most of the expenses for his legal defense came from the pocket of his wife Juliet.
“Gumastos si Julie diyan. Siya ang nag-ante ng panggastos ng abogado. Kailangan ibalik yan,” Sison said.
Even the National Democratic Front (NDF) said it plans to claim damages for the unnecessary stress and terror caused by the Dutch police’s raid of its office and the houses of its members during the arrest of Sison on Aug. 28, 2007.
The NDF also demands the immediate return of documents and materials that were confiscated during the raid but which are still in the hands of the Dutch Prosecutor.
“Marami pa ring natira. Hindi pa sinosoli… Dapat lahat ng bagay na kinuha sa opisina, sa mga bahay namin at iba pa ay dapat isoli ngayon ng Dutch authorities,” NDF chair Luis Jalandoni exclaimed.
Sison’s lawyer Michiel Pestman said he does not have an estimate yet on the total amount of damages because he said that there were a lot of people involved.
Sison said that his Dutch lawyers worked in tandem with Filipino lawyers.
“Ka-consult din ng Dutch lawyers sila Atty. Romeo Capulong na nasa Public Interest Law Center na gumawa ng research at nagtipon ng documentary evidence at naghanda ng possible witness in my favor,” Sison said.
Pestman emphasized though, that it is more a matter of principle.
“Compensation is not the most important thing. I just want to stress it’s not the money,” Pestman said.
Pestman added that everything has just been a big waste of time and money for both sides because the Dutch prosecution wanted to save face before the Arroyo government.
“They somehow have to sell this to the Filipino government and which might be more difficult than closing the investigation,” Pestman said.
as of 04/06/2009 8:10 PM
SOURCE: WWW.ABS-CBNNEWS.COM
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/04/06/09/joma-sue-dutch-prosecutors-%E2%80%98wrongful-investigation%E2%80%99
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Joma Sison twits NSA Gonzales
By LOUI GALICIA, ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau 04/02/2009 12:49 AM
Jose Maria “Joma” Sison said the Philippines' national security adviser should not embarrass himself a second time.
The Communist Party of the Philippines founding chair said Secretary Norberto Gonzales should be ashamed of himself for claiming that he had everything to do with Sison’s arrest in August 2007.
Dutch authorities earlier cleared Sison of charges that he ordered the killings of his erstwhile comrades Arturo Tabara and Romulo Kintanar.
Sison also brushed off Gonzales' statements on the Philippine government’s plan to seek his return to the country.
“Dapat diyan si Gonzales na yan…Norberto…Dapat walang mukha na ‘yan. Di ba nagyayabang ‘yan noong ako ay hulihin. Di ba nagyayabang na siya ang responsible sa pagkahuli ko. Siya nga ‘yong taga-organize ng mga false evidence and false witnesses. So dapat mapahiya siya,” Sison said in a telephone interview.
Sison was reacting to Gonzales’s statement on Wednesday that the Philippine government will seek the return of Sison to the Philippines after a Dutch prosecutor dropped the cases against him for the deaths of Tabara and Kintanar.
Gonzales, in an interview with ABS-CBN News, said the Philippine government will write the Dutch government as soon as possible to seek his return. Gonzales noted the Dutch prosecutor dropped the case against Sison not because there was no evidence, but because there were no witnesses who came out to testify.
“Use diplomacy”
Gonzales said they will use diplomacy to seek Sison's return since the Philippines currently does not have an extradition treaty with The Netherlands.
“More diplomacy you know. Kasi titingnan natin ‘yong mga batas natin, batas nila. Kasi alam mo si Joma Sison hindi binigyan ng asylum,” said Gonzales.
The Dutch government has thrice rejected Sison's plea for political asylum. Sison, however, invoked his right as a political refugee under international humanitarian laws to stay in Utrecht.
He also managed to stay in the European country despite murder charges filed against him in the past in Manila because European states are against the death penalty.
“Bawal sa Dutch law na payagan na makuha ang isang tao na maaaring i-prosecute at saka may death penalty o masentensiyahan ng kamatayan. Eh sa ngayon wala na tayong ganyan,” said Arroyo’s chief security adviser, citing that the Arroyo administration has already lifted the death penalty.
Gonzales also assuaged Sison's concern for his safety should he return to the Philippines. He said the Philippine government is willing to give him protection.
“Di naman tayo masamang gobyerno. Gagarantyahan natin ‘yong rights ni Joma. Poproteksyunan natin siya. Sinasabi niyang may nagpa-plano na mag-assasinate sa kanya doon sa abroad, eh di umuwi na siya dito. Dito poproteksyunan natin siya ng husto at sisiguraduhin natin na di siya abutin ng mga nagagalit sa kaniya,” said Gonzales.
Gonzales said the thrust of government is to make sure that all those liable for a crime are brought to the bar of justice, dismissing concerns Sison might have for his safety once in Philippine jurisdiction.
“Recognized but not legally admitted”
Sison countered that he is a recognized political refugee but one who is not legally admitted.
“In my case, there is hairsplitting. I am a recognized political refugee. Even the Dutch
government states that. In 1995, the highest court in the Netherlands reiterated its position that I am a political refugee under Article 1 A,” Sison said.
The Council of State, as the highest Dutch administrative court, issued in 1995 the judgment reaffirming its previous ruling that Sison is a political refugee under Article 1 A of the Refugee Convention and that he is under the protection of Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights.
It ruled that Article 1 F of the Refugee Convention did not apply to him because there was no sufficient evidence against him for crimes that would exclude him from consideration as a refugee.
Article 1 F of the Refugee Convention states that the provisions shall not apply to any person with respect to whom there are serious reasons for considering that he has committed among other things: a crime against peace, war crime or crime against humanity.
“Hindi ako 1 F. Yung 1 F, hindi ka pwedeng makilala [as a refugee] because of war crimes, crimes against humanity, etc. so kakaiba ako sa Article 1 F. Article 1 A ako, kaya malakas ako,” Sison said.
“Cannot be forced to leave”
Sison explained, however, that he cannot be asked to leave the Netherlands and that not even the Dutch government can force him to.
“I’m protected by Article 3 of the European Convention of Human Rights. I can’t be sent to a country where I’m at risk of being tortured or subjected to degrading and humiliating treatment,” Sison said.
Since the Philippines doesn’t have an extradition treaty with the Netherlands, Sison is confident that not even diplomacy can bring him back to the Philippines.
“That diplomacy can’t overrule the European Convention on Human Rights. Lalo na ngayon discredited na ‘yong Bush regime tungkol sa repressive actions. Iyang terrorist listing eventually will be thoroughly discredited. Even Obama now pretends to be turning his back on the policies of Bush,” Sison said.
In a 2007 interview with Sison, he admitted that his legal status in the Netherlands is in a state of limbo since the inclusion of his name on the European Union’s list of terrorists.
In the interview, Sison showed his “W-Document" card, which is an identification used for asylum seekers in the Netherlands but which already expired in 2005.
Sison said that even if that document card has already expired, he still goes about his daily routine provided he report to the police regularly.
“Primero for the first year or so, weekly ako nagre-report. Then for many years, more than 10 years I was reporting monthly. Then because of this terrorist scare, naku binalik na naman ako sa weekly. Ito lang in the last two weeks, binalik, di binalik kundi ni-reduce ‘yong frequency to once in two weeks,” Sison said.
Sison is very confident that he will never be asked to leave the Netherlands especially since his name has now been cleared of any wrongdoing.
“Ngayon pang false charge of murder, nabasura na. Ngayon pa magsasabi they can seek my return, lalong mahirap yan. Lalong tumibay ang aking legal position dito sa Netherlands,” Sison said.
With a report from RG CRUZ, ABS-CBN News
as of 04/02/2009 1:57 PM
Jose Maria “Joma” Sison said the Philippines' national security adviser should not embarrass himself a second time.
The Communist Party of the Philippines founding chair said Secretary Norberto Gonzales should be ashamed of himself for claiming that he had everything to do with Sison’s arrest in August 2007.
Dutch authorities earlier cleared Sison of charges that he ordered the killings of his erstwhile comrades Arturo Tabara and Romulo Kintanar.
Sison also brushed off Gonzales' statements on the Philippine government’s plan to seek his return to the country.
“Dapat diyan si Gonzales na yan…Norberto…Dapat walang mukha na ‘yan. Di ba nagyayabang ‘yan noong ako ay hulihin. Di ba nagyayabang na siya ang responsible sa pagkahuli ko. Siya nga ‘yong taga-organize ng mga false evidence and false witnesses. So dapat mapahiya siya,” Sison said in a telephone interview.
Sison was reacting to Gonzales’s statement on Wednesday that the Philippine government will seek the return of Sison to the Philippines after a Dutch prosecutor dropped the cases against him for the deaths of Tabara and Kintanar.
Gonzales, in an interview with ABS-CBN News, said the Philippine government will write the Dutch government as soon as possible to seek his return. Gonzales noted the Dutch prosecutor dropped the case against Sison not because there was no evidence, but because there were no witnesses who came out to testify.
“Use diplomacy”
Gonzales said they will use diplomacy to seek Sison's return since the Philippines currently does not have an extradition treaty with The Netherlands.
“More diplomacy you know. Kasi titingnan natin ‘yong mga batas natin, batas nila. Kasi alam mo si Joma Sison hindi binigyan ng asylum,” said Gonzales.
The Dutch government has thrice rejected Sison's plea for political asylum. Sison, however, invoked his right as a political refugee under international humanitarian laws to stay in Utrecht.
He also managed to stay in the European country despite murder charges filed against him in the past in Manila because European states are against the death penalty.
“Bawal sa Dutch law na payagan na makuha ang isang tao na maaaring i-prosecute at saka may death penalty o masentensiyahan ng kamatayan. Eh sa ngayon wala na tayong ganyan,” said Arroyo’s chief security adviser, citing that the Arroyo administration has already lifted the death penalty.
Gonzales also assuaged Sison's concern for his safety should he return to the Philippines. He said the Philippine government is willing to give him protection.
“Di naman tayo masamang gobyerno. Gagarantyahan natin ‘yong rights ni Joma. Poproteksyunan natin siya. Sinasabi niyang may nagpa-plano na mag-assasinate sa kanya doon sa abroad, eh di umuwi na siya dito. Dito poproteksyunan natin siya ng husto at sisiguraduhin natin na di siya abutin ng mga nagagalit sa kaniya,” said Gonzales.
Gonzales said the thrust of government is to make sure that all those liable for a crime are brought to the bar of justice, dismissing concerns Sison might have for his safety once in Philippine jurisdiction.
“Recognized but not legally admitted”
Sison countered that he is a recognized political refugee but one who is not legally admitted.
“In my case, there is hairsplitting. I am a recognized political refugee. Even the Dutch
government states that. In 1995, the highest court in the Netherlands reiterated its position that I am a political refugee under Article 1 A,” Sison said.
The Council of State, as the highest Dutch administrative court, issued in 1995 the judgment reaffirming its previous ruling that Sison is a political refugee under Article 1 A of the Refugee Convention and that he is under the protection of Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights.
It ruled that Article 1 F of the Refugee Convention did not apply to him because there was no sufficient evidence against him for crimes that would exclude him from consideration as a refugee.
Article 1 F of the Refugee Convention states that the provisions shall not apply to any person with respect to whom there are serious reasons for considering that he has committed among other things: a crime against peace, war crime or crime against humanity.
“Hindi ako 1 F. Yung 1 F, hindi ka pwedeng makilala [as a refugee] because of war crimes, crimes against humanity, etc. so kakaiba ako sa Article 1 F. Article 1 A ako, kaya malakas ako,” Sison said.
“Cannot be forced to leave”
Sison explained, however, that he cannot be asked to leave the Netherlands and that not even the Dutch government can force him to.
“I’m protected by Article 3 of the European Convention of Human Rights. I can’t be sent to a country where I’m at risk of being tortured or subjected to degrading and humiliating treatment,” Sison said.
Since the Philippines doesn’t have an extradition treaty with the Netherlands, Sison is confident that not even diplomacy can bring him back to the Philippines.
“That diplomacy can’t overrule the European Convention on Human Rights. Lalo na ngayon discredited na ‘yong Bush regime tungkol sa repressive actions. Iyang terrorist listing eventually will be thoroughly discredited. Even Obama now pretends to be turning his back on the policies of Bush,” Sison said.
In a 2007 interview with Sison, he admitted that his legal status in the Netherlands is in a state of limbo since the inclusion of his name on the European Union’s list of terrorists.
In the interview, Sison showed his “W-Document" card, which is an identification used for asylum seekers in the Netherlands but which already expired in 2005.
Sison said that even if that document card has already expired, he still goes about his daily routine provided he report to the police regularly.
“Primero for the first year or so, weekly ako nagre-report. Then for many years, more than 10 years I was reporting monthly. Then because of this terrorist scare, naku binalik na naman ako sa weekly. Ito lang in the last two weeks, binalik, di binalik kundi ni-reduce ‘yong frequency to once in two weeks,” Sison said.
Sison is very confident that he will never be asked to leave the Netherlands especially since his name has now been cleared of any wrongdoing.
“Ngayon pang false charge of murder, nabasura na. Ngayon pa magsasabi they can seek my return, lalong mahirap yan. Lalong tumibay ang aking legal position dito sa Netherlands,” Sison said.
With a report from RG CRUZ, ABS-CBN News
as of 04/02/2009 1:57 PM
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
'Joma' to focus on peace talks after murder raps dropped
By LOUI GALICIA, ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau 04/01/2009 10:40 AM
A very happy and triumphant Jose Maria Sison and wife Juliet faced ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau after the founding chairman of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) was vindicated by the Dutch Public Prosecutor's Office of all charges brought against him.
ABS-CBN was the only media invited to attend Sison’s meeting with his lawyers in Amsterdam to talk about their next steps.
Sison showed ABS-CBN the notice he received from the Dutch Prosecutor's Office about its decision to drop all charges against him in connection with the murders of his erstwhile allies Romulo Kintanar and Arturo Tabara.
"Ako’y nagagalak. Masaya ako na itong long-expected decision nangyari na. I've long expected the decision to be dismissed because in the first place I'm innocent of the charge," Sison said.
In an earlier report, the Dutch Public Prosecutor spokesman Wim de Bruin confirmed to ABS-CBN that they did not gather sufficient evidence on the charge that Sison ordered from the Netherlands the murders of his former allies.
The prosecutors' investigation lasted more than one a half years.
In a press statement, the Dutch Prosecutor also said, "During the inquiry in the Philippines and the Netherlands, the investigators walked into a wall of fear among witnesses and there was no willingness to make statements."
However, Sison contested the statement.
"No less than the Court of Appeals here said that it's doubtful whether I can take witnesses in my favor and cross examine the witnesses from the other side, and this is completely the opposite of the claim by the Prosecutor's service in a press release that there is a wall of fear and there is insinuation that the fear came from my side," Sison said.
"No, it can't be. It was the Philippine government that fed false information and false witnesses against me, and the Court of Appeals said that I would have difficulties in countering this wall of fear set up by the Philippine government," he added.
For Sison's lawyer, all's well that ends well, but this is just one victory among Joma's many battles.
"We're just very happy that the Prosecutor finally decided and has seen the light and decided to drop this hopeless case, and that's the most important decision," Michiel Pestman said.
Pestman said that for the moment, there is still a decision pending in Dutch Court regarding their complaint on the two assassination attempts at Sison's life in 2001.
"The most important thing now is that everyone--that includes the Prosecutor in the Netherlands but also the Philippine authorities--will focus on the attempt to kill Prof. Sison in 2001, and we expect the Filipino authorities to cooperate with the Dutch authorities into getting the truth, to establish the truth. And we expect them to cooperate as enthusiastically as they had cooperated in the investigation against Prof. Sison. I expect the truth to be established, and I expect that people who did that will be caught and brought to justice," Pestman said.
"Norberto Gonzales has played an important role in the investigation of Sison and I sincerely hope that he will put the same effort into pursuing the case against the perpetrators of the attempt to kill Prof. Sison," Pestman added.
Gonzales is currently the National Security Adviser of President Arroyo.
Meanwhile, apart from the possibility of claiming for damages, Sison sees some positive effects on the dropping of the charges against him.
"I hope the Dutch government would try to set things right by having me taken out of the terrorist black list. Another expectation of mine, I'm not distracted anymore by the false charge. I can pay more attention to the peace negotiations between the Philippine government and NDF [National Democratic Front] so my success in this case is also a positive thing for the cause of trying to advance the peace negotiations," Sison said.
Sison said he's glad that despite the pressures of the Philippine and US governments on the Dutch government and despite the accommodation or complicity of the political authorities, there is still enough sense of fairness in the Dutch judicial system.
as of 04/01/2009 12:13 PM
SOURCE: WWW.ABS-CBNNEWS.COM
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/04/01/09/joma-happy-be-freed-guilt
A very happy and triumphant Jose Maria Sison and wife Juliet faced ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau after the founding chairman of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) was vindicated by the Dutch Public Prosecutor's Office of all charges brought against him.
ABS-CBN was the only media invited to attend Sison’s meeting with his lawyers in Amsterdam to talk about their next steps.
Sison showed ABS-CBN the notice he received from the Dutch Prosecutor's Office about its decision to drop all charges against him in connection with the murders of his erstwhile allies Romulo Kintanar and Arturo Tabara.
"Ako’y nagagalak. Masaya ako na itong long-expected decision nangyari na. I've long expected the decision to be dismissed because in the first place I'm innocent of the charge," Sison said.
In an earlier report, the Dutch Public Prosecutor spokesman Wim de Bruin confirmed to ABS-CBN that they did not gather sufficient evidence on the charge that Sison ordered from the Netherlands the murders of his former allies.
The prosecutors' investigation lasted more than one a half years.
In a press statement, the Dutch Prosecutor also said, "During the inquiry in the Philippines and the Netherlands, the investigators walked into a wall of fear among witnesses and there was no willingness to make statements."
However, Sison contested the statement.
"No less than the Court of Appeals here said that it's doubtful whether I can take witnesses in my favor and cross examine the witnesses from the other side, and this is completely the opposite of the claim by the Prosecutor's service in a press release that there is a wall of fear and there is insinuation that the fear came from my side," Sison said.
"No, it can't be. It was the Philippine government that fed false information and false witnesses against me, and the Court of Appeals said that I would have difficulties in countering this wall of fear set up by the Philippine government," he added.
For Sison's lawyer, all's well that ends well, but this is just one victory among Joma's many battles.
"We're just very happy that the Prosecutor finally decided and has seen the light and decided to drop this hopeless case, and that's the most important decision," Michiel Pestman said.
Pestman said that for the moment, there is still a decision pending in Dutch Court regarding their complaint on the two assassination attempts at Sison's life in 2001.
"The most important thing now is that everyone--that includes the Prosecutor in the Netherlands but also the Philippine authorities--will focus on the attempt to kill Prof. Sison in 2001, and we expect the Filipino authorities to cooperate with the Dutch authorities into getting the truth, to establish the truth. And we expect them to cooperate as enthusiastically as they had cooperated in the investigation against Prof. Sison. I expect the truth to be established, and I expect that people who did that will be caught and brought to justice," Pestman said.
"Norberto Gonzales has played an important role in the investigation of Sison and I sincerely hope that he will put the same effort into pursuing the case against the perpetrators of the attempt to kill Prof. Sison," Pestman added.
Gonzales is currently the National Security Adviser of President Arroyo.
Meanwhile, apart from the possibility of claiming for damages, Sison sees some positive effects on the dropping of the charges against him.
"I hope the Dutch government would try to set things right by having me taken out of the terrorist black list. Another expectation of mine, I'm not distracted anymore by the false charge. I can pay more attention to the peace negotiations between the Philippine government and NDF [National Democratic Front] so my success in this case is also a positive thing for the cause of trying to advance the peace negotiations," Sison said.
Sison said he's glad that despite the pressures of the Philippine and US governments on the Dutch government and despite the accommodation or complicity of the political authorities, there is still enough sense of fairness in the Dutch judicial system.
as of 04/01/2009 12:13 PM
SOURCE: WWW.ABS-CBNNEWS.COM
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/04/01/09/joma-happy-be-freed-guilt
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