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Unusual marketing for the Bellagio

by xarki, on Mon, Feb 6 2012 | No Comments

courtesy of newsinfo.inquirer.netChief Justice Renato Corona’s impeachment trial is one of the greatest turning points in Philippine history. This is the first trial to ever put a Supreme Court chief justice in question. Also it is regarded as the primary trial done by senator judges in our country- the reason why the whole nation is all eyes and ears to the developments of this legal proceeding.

 

One of the controversial issues being thrown at Corona is the ownership of a penthouse unit on one of the prestigious condos in Taguig – the Bellagio I. The Corona spouses were questioned about their capacity to purchase such a million peso space which has consequently forced them to produce documents that will negate the prosecution’s claims.

 

Their SALN (Statement of Assets and Liabilities Networth) has shown that they may have not declared the ownership and purchase of this property so this can be used against them for another possible case of tax evasion.

 

For several days, the impeachment trial has focused on the issue of Corona’s questionable ownership of this expensive property that has called upon the testimonies of the corporate people in the realty business who has sold the unit to the family particularly Megaworld. Numerous discounts whatsoever have been presented as proof by its Business Marketing CEO as to the acquisition of the said condo unit though many are still in doubt on the present answers.

 

As the impeachment case seems to be a promising long term TV show, CJ Corona’s penthouse unit in Bellagio I can be seen with more than hundreds of people taking pictures of the 38-floor condo space.

 

The developers and marketing firm of the Bellagio should now be more than thankful to CJ Corona for paving the way of advertising their now famed residential tower. Definitely the price of the Bellagio units will go up considerably.

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Sudden death

by xarki, on Sat, Jan 28 2012 | No Comments

courtesy of batangastoday.comNegros Occidental Representative Jose Miguel Arroyo (better known as “Iggy” Arroyo) was pronounced dead last Thursday (January 26, 2012) after suffering a cardiac arrest on Wednesday (London time). He was in London undergoing treatment for liver cirrhosis.

 

The congressman went on a cardiac arrest and was immediately called on to be transported to the hospital where he was revived yet incidentally went into coma. He was then put into life support but then the lawmaker’s heart stopped beating Thursday morning.

 

The sudden death of Iggy Arroyo has stunned most of us. We would remember that Iggy has been well known for claiming responsibility for his brother’s (Mike Arroyo) and sister-in-law’s (Congresswoman Gloria Macapagal Arroyo) recent involvements with the Jose Pidal case.

 

The Department of Justice has stated that all the cases connected to the congressman will be considered dismissed since the latter’s presence is no longer possible to continue the case.

 

Iggy Arroyo was first elected as representative of the 5th District of Negros Occidental in 2004 and has served his third and last term in office. The representative’s condition is not known among his colleagues in Batasan.

 

The news of Iggy Arroyo’s death was confirmed by Occidental Mindoro Representative Amelita Villarosa (a close friend of the Arroyo’s) as relayed to Marilyn Barua-Yap (Secretary General of the House of Representatives) after several conflicting news has circulated over the Internet about the lawmaker’s passing.

 

Many of his colleagues define Iggy as a good person. I am now close to believing the saying “ang masamang damo ay matagal mamatay.” Maybe Iggy is not guilty of the legal cases he’s into and so kind to cover for his brother’s faults.

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US diplomat unveils his ugliest form

by xarki, on Thu, Jan 19 2012 | No Comments

courtesy of ebay.comI haven’t seen this clip yet I am propped up to go and find one so I would somehow get a clear idea of what most people are saying against an American-Korean diplomat who had recently made a lot of buzz due to an unusual display and abuse of power.

 

What would this guy feel if it’s the other way around? Being humiliated in front of the public for a minor misunderstanding over parking space trouble?

 

I gravely despise people who make use of their government standing or any similar public service office to threaten ordinary unknowing people just to take advantage of their situation in favor of their own personal objectives. Even hurting them in a verbal way is not even above them.

 

US Embassy secretary Dean I. Chang’s actions is not what everyone expected towards the young Princess Cordova after their unlikely encounter at a famous restaurant’s parking lot in Jupiter St. in Makati.

 

Cordova, aged 22, was harangued with profanity from Chang as she was about to enter the dining post of Kaya and was nearly ran over by Chang’s vehicle. Though she was consoled by her uncle, Dindo Danao and was purportedly advised by the latter to apologize to Chang, Cordova yet again received a mouthful of tongue lashing phrases from Chang. The wrangle has enraged both sides and has even taunted Chang to challenge Danao to a fight.

 

Local police and the media were contacted due to this dramatic incident. The police couldn’t arrest Chang due to his diplomatic immunity yet Danao determinedly escalated the situation to the media by blocking Chang’s car in the driveway and preventing him from evading.

 

This kind of action from a foreign dignitary towards our young Filipinas should not be tolerated by our government. Everyone has equal rights to everything in this world most especially women and children. I really can’t provide my highest regard to our administration when things like this goes unheeded.

 

Why is that we Filipinos always need to bow down to these white-skinned tyrants when we have equal capabilities with them and can even surpass what other outlandish nationalities can accomplish? Our skin color and multicultural divergence should not hinder us from doing things we know we can do better from other people all over the globe. We must show them that each person is as valuable as anybody else.

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Weighing UPCAT and USTET

by xarki, on Fri, Jan 13 2012 | 1 Comment

courtesy of taopo.orgPassing the entrance exams in our country’s reputable colleges and universities has been an exciting and nerve wracking experience for the majority of high school seniors. Moving up from high school to college to earn a degree is the most anticipated event for graduating students. Moreover, passing the exam on your preferred educational institution is more satisfying than finally graduating in high school.

 

I’ve been to four different entrance exams and have successfully passed two out of four. One of them I didn’t bother to take after finding out that I passed the test in UST (Univeristy of Santo Tomas) where I did earn my degree in Architecture.

 

As always, the UPCAT (University of the Philippines College Admission Test) will always be the first entrance exam every aspiring student will try to surpass. The quality of education plus the low tuition fees compared to other schools in the Metro will always be a target for most college wannabees. But due to the quota system, your chances of getting inside the university will be lower depending on how you fare.

 

All the entrance exams I have taken have their own differences and weights. I can say that there is no test as easy as 123. Still it is up to us if we will pass or fail the given tests. Time constraints, tricky questions and method of exam delivery will put every examinees on the edge of their seats.

 

I wonder why people have always tried to compare the entrance tests of various schools as basis of the quality of education. As a college graduate, I can say that there are a number of factors to consider before we can determine the quality of education and getting to a good school like UP or UST is no longer a big deal nowadays.

 

Both schools are best on their own ways. But again, it is up to the student how he will perform no matter which school he has decided to spend his time in college.

 

The feud that started on a mere FB (Facebook) status update is not worthy of our time. Our quality of education will suffer more when we spend our energy on these useless and endless debates.

 

I commend both sides for humbly passing through this issue and nobly admitting their mistake for starting the word war. I hope it won’t create a fissure between UP and UST.

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CDO: A tearful class resumption for the New Year

by xarki, on Fri, Jan 6 2012 | 1 Comment

courtesy of newsinfo.inquirer.netMy son went back to school on the 4th of January for his first day of class for the New Year 2012. He was not that excited about the back-to-school thing, yet I can tell he has anticipated the big day when he gets to meet up again with his teacher and classmates at school as he frequently asked me if it’s time for school already.

 

It is in my own experience that I can say that it is normal for students especially kids to feel that way. Having a great time during Christmas break would definitely give you a “holiday hang-over.”

 

But if most of our students in Metro Manila feel sluggish and weary to go back to school, how would you feel if you are one of the pupils at Cagayan de Oro who just came back to school after that appalling misfortune that submerged the whole province into deep razing waters? And on your return, you would still be having visions of that horrific catastrophe since you are only seeing very few familiar faces in your class who were left to live after that gruesome night.

 

This was the scenario at the City Central School in CDO where an estimated number of 80 students have not returned to attend their classes and was reported as casualties of the flashfloods brought about by typhoon Sendong.

 

On the City School Central less than a thousand of its pupils showed up for Tuesday’s resume of classes out of the 5,000 enrollees for this school year. Reasons may vary from each student. Whether they have settled somewhere far from school or they became lifeless victims of the flood.

 

So I told my friends who are reluctant to get back to their studies to be grateful about their situation when others have no longer the chance to experience life and to study and attend school.

 

I pity more the children who were survivors of that tragedy that they still have to remember their terrifying experience on that frightful night.

 

May the souls of our departed young students rest in peace.

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