With the vivid supports and assistance of the USA to the Philippines, it is given that the nations separated by miles and different time met in the same cause, goal and is bound by brotherhood and friendship. But more than this personal attachment between the two, Barack Obama, the president of the USA said that Philippines is the “key voice” in Asia.
“(Obama ) described the Philippines as a key voice in the region that is well-positioned to lead efforts to address such challenges as climate change, global pandemics, and non-proliferation,” says the Philippines Embassy found in Washington last Saturday.
Obama further said that the country has a significant role in “ensuring that the region’s evolving architecture advances peace, security, and economic opportunity,” as addressed by the embassy.
This was confirmed by Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Cusia Jr. when he presented the credentials to the White House last Friday.
The president of the US further said that US and Philippines “work closely together on an important range of issues, including humanitarian projects, supporting war veterans, or combating transnational threats.”
The president stressed that the bonds between the US and Philippines is one of the lands most enduring international relationship and the alliance between this country has endured the test of times.
“Our long-standing partnership promotes peace, development, and prosperity around the world,” Obama said.
Posts Tagged ‘Noynoy Aquino’
Still on Marcos
by Alethea, on Sat, Jul 9 2011 | No Comments
Aside from the confession that while getting older and having more shoes, Imelda Marcos expressed her thoughts and her little more personal life.
She said that at the age of 82 (she has just celebrated her birthday), she doesn’t have any regrets about her past and her long existence relies on her attitudes and philosophies.
“The body ages but the spirit does not and if the spirit is fed and energized with the right, beautiful and good values, the spirit will never get old,” said the beauty icon and representative at the same time.
The she added…
“When you are in a problem and you are kind of lost in this world, just look at heaven and the heavens is wider than the earth. Mas maraming solution kesa sa problema.”
She also expressed her feelings about the decision of the palace of not allowing a hero’s burial for former president Ferdinand Marcos.
“Can you imagine, a man like Ferdinand, a man with 32 (during World War II) medals, and yet he (referring to Aquino) does not honor the awards given by our allies?” the former first lady said.
“Takot na takot ako. I am afraid of him (talking to Aquino again) especially on things like that…when people do not make good decisions,” she added.
Imelda said it was a great injustice to the dead if the Aquino administration would continue to deprive the former president and her husband the honorable burial that they are asking for. The lady insisted that former president Marcos deserves such honor.
As remembered, the Marcos family pleads to bury their patriarch in the Libingan ng mga Bayani which is known as the final resting place of presidents, secretaries, and militaries who gave and brought honor to the country and those that make great contribution in the general welfare.
Ferdinand Marcos, by history, declared the martial law in the country last September 21, 1971 during his reign. He died in Hawaii on September 28, 1989 due to kidney failure and his body was returned in the Philippines about ten years after his exile.
His body is preserved in Ilocos Norte, Batac specifically, for so many years in the hope of the family that he will be granted with permission to bury with hero’s burial.
President Noynoy Aquino, the son of Ninoy who was the prime critic of the Marcos was firm in saying in an interview that hero’s burial for Marcos will not happened during “his watch”.
In an attempt to let the issue sick, Vice President Binay suggested and proposed that the former president will be buried in the Marcos’ hometown with full military honors.
However, the Iron Butterfly reacted on this matter.
“When you show honor, there should be no limit,” Imelda said. “I was a little disappointed because he went on a long trail of expensive survey and 70 percent approved an honorable burial.”
In all of these, Imelda relies in the divine providence and is giving everything to God.
“There’s always an answer, a divine plan. What the Lord awaits for him is not (just) an honorable burial but a sacred burial.”
GMA will attend PNoy’s SONA
by Alethea, on Fri, Jul 1 2011 | No Comments
The former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo will head home this coming July 25 for she decides to attend the current president’s second State of the Nation Address commonly called as SONA. GMA, now the representative of Pampanga is in Spain at present and according to her spokesperson Elena Bautista – Horn, the congresswoman will be on the House of Representatives to listen in PNoy’s speech.
Horn said to the press that Arroyo was not able to attend the first SONA of the president last year for she accompanied her husband in Hong Kong for medical purpose.
As recalled, the first SONA of PNoy discussed and revealed the “abuses” of the former president’s administration and that includes the over spending of budget and allowances in some of the public offices and government-owned corporations.
Last week, Arroyo fired up a cold revenge challenging Aquino for not gaining the economic rating and progress her administration has reached and investing so much on making his rating into the so called “historically” higher. The criticisms she thrown to the current leadership made the palace to react.
July 25 is the date of the SONA and it will be held in the Batasan Complex before the joint session in the congress.
Who are this “headaches” for PNoy?
by Alethea, on Sun, Jun 26 2011 | No Comments
When President Noynoy Aquino was invited to be the honorable guest in the 13th anniversary of the Department of Public Works and Highways, his delivered speech in the public made a controversy and it opened another door of intrigue.
Aquino said, “Meron akong ilang myembro ng gabinete, mga dalawa hanggang tatlo na kada makita ko kaagad iniisip ko ano kayang bad news ang dala dala nito.” The President further said that his encounters with these members are analogically compared to “acts of penitence”.
“Yung iba po pinipilit ko na lang po na harapin dahil talagang grabe itong taong ito talagang penitensiya ko na ata sa mundong ito.‚Äù
While the President did not mention the names of these three people as a member of his cabinet, he balanced the mood when he also expressed named that he is so pleased and enjoys to be with.
“Si (DPWH Secretary Rogelio) Singson, (Science Secretary) Mario Montejo at marami pang iba, pati na si (Budget Secretary Florencio) Abad na pag nakikita ko kadalasan solusyon ang tangan tanga.‚Äù
And when these “good news bearers” are seeking an appointment with him, he said he always finds some time to face them and to discuss the issues they wanted to deal with.
When the palace is reached to seek answers about those three cabinet members who causes burden to the president, the Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said that the president’s intention is only to highlight the “good characteristics” of the cabinet that he mentioned and praised.
‚ÄúI‚Äôd hazard a guess: he was trying to highlight the good characteristics ng tatlong secretary na binanggit niya… Kino-compare in contrast para umangat ang tatlo na binigyan niya ng papuri,‚Äù Valte said on dzRB, a government radio.
After the speech of the president, the news spread and it reaches every government offices and the secretaries ask, “was it me”?
PNoy’s new Porsche much criticised
by Alethea, on Thu, Jan 13 2011 | 3 Comments
Despite buying it as a third hand, President Aquino was still met with much disapproval when he decided to purchase a luxury 2007 Porsche car. It was noted that the bachelor president was very proud of his recent property acquisition but he humbly stated that he is not “flaunting” it. The said disapproval of the critics was due to the fact that the government should face austerity measure amidst the turbulent and unstable economy of the nation. Buying the said car worth 4.5 million pesos seemed to be untimely and inappropriate in such time of adversity. The Porsche is a bit too flashy and extravagant thereby eliciting much distaste among the critics.
Palace spokesperson Edwin Lacierda justified the purchase of the sports car. He explained that the car was bought with the president’s own personal money after ditching his old BMW car. He further stressed that the amount is a depreciated value of the actual selling price thus prompting the president to buy it. In addition, PNoy had immediately sold his old car and used the money to buy his newest much loved Porsche. Lacierda also has high hopes that the car will not be used to sow intrigues or judge the President. He even appealed for respect for the privacy of the President.
When asked about the car, the President proudly stated that it was a good buy because the sports car has a mileage of only 10,000 kilometers. He jokingly added that he might not be able to add more to the mileage because he is often confined with his duty in the Malacanang. The car seemed to have sparked further curiosity as to whether the President would be using it on his dates as a means of impressing the ladies. Some critics spawned an idea that the car could somehow alleviate the luckless love life of the president. A flashy car could indeed work wonders in wooing a lady.
The president quickly dismissed the idea of his car being a show-off toy. He stated that he just wants to use it in order to relax at times. “Kung maaliwalas naman po at nakaka-relax tayo paminsan-minsan, siguro naman po kapaki-pakinabang [Porsche] ‘pag gumagawa tayo ng desisyon (I want to relax sometimes, it could help me with my decisions),” he said.
The president is known for his car affinity among other things. He is also a proficient sharp shooter as he does target shooting as a hobby. He also enjoys playing billiards during his free time. Recently, he has been known to start biking as his newest form of exercise since one of his New Year resolutions is to keep fit. But the smoking, the steaks and the sodas are definitely there to stay.
