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
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