Why did Mayor Lim order the arrest of the hostage takers brother at the height of the Manila hostage crisis?

Why did Mayor Lim order the arrest of the hostage taker's brother at the height of the Manila hostage crisis?

President Noynoy Aquino: " Ang tamang daan ay tungo sa kapayapaan. Payapa sa Tondo. Kaya siguro dun gusto ni Mayor Lim na ilagay muna yung brother. Para tahimik na lahat."

Vice President Jejomar Binay: " Pasensya na ho. No comment na lang kasi dating kagalit ko din yang si Mayor.Condulence na lang sa namatayan."

Senate President Juan Ponce-Enrile: " Baka Mayor Lim wants the brother to be happy. Tondo is a happy place. Basta happy ka!"

Senator Chiz Escudero: " Maybe Mayor Lim wants the brother to drink Circulan"

Speaker Sonny Belmonte: " Bakit hindi na lang sa Payatas?"

Executive secretary Jojo Ochoa: " Probably, I think, hik, kulang lang sa inom si Mayor."

Vice Mayor Isko Moreno: " Nagawa ni Mayor Lim yun dahil taga Tondo siya. Taga Tondo rin ako. Walang kakilala sa Tondo yung brother ng hostage taker. Hindi makapanghohostage yun dun."

Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma: " I doubt it kung hindi nakuha ni Mayor Lim ang cue. Hindi naman inaccessible yung hostage taker ah."

Communications Secretary Ricky Carandang: " I confirmed na inutos nga ni Mayor Lim yun kasi nagmamadali siyang pumunta sa Emerald Restaurant for a nice round of drinks with Pnoy."

DILG secretary Jesse Robredo: " Wala akong alam dyan. Local governments lang ako."

DILG undersecretary Rico Puno : " Wala rin akong alam dyan. Pulis lang ako."

DSWD secretary Dingky Soliman: " Wala akong alam dyan. Baka siguro gustong pakainin yung brother. Marami kaming beneficiaries ng lumang NFA rice there. "

Kris Aquino: " Hindi naman magagawa ni Mayor Lim yun. He knows naman na its dirty there."

James Yap: " Hindi naman si Mayor Lim ang nagkasal sa min ni Kris."

General Magtibay: " Wala po akong masabi. Utos po ni Mayor. Yessir!"

General Santiago: " Di naman po masamang itapon, este, ipunta yung brother sa Tondo. Besides, daming maganda dun."

Manay Lolit: " Yokong magcomment. Hindi naman nakasulat sa envelope yan."

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8:19 AM | 0 comments

a bugged conversation with Pnoy

Shortly after the Harapan panel interview which was broadcasted live to the detriment of Philippine president Benigno Noynoy Aquino, this conversation was caught by one of our "insiders". Just listen in...

Staffer: " You were great, Mr. President.."
Pnoy: " Thank you, thank you. Sino ka nga pala?"
Staffer: " Sir, I am (tweet). "
Pnoy: " Ah....Samar or Balai? Dami nyo kasi, di ko na ma-remember.."
Staffer: " Balai po...pero, don't mention it out loud po, Mr. President. Baka ma pickup ng media..."
Pnoy: " Ah, oo nga pala, right, right. Wala pa lang paksyon, right. Sorry."
Staffer: " It's alright, Mr. President. Thank you rin po at napagbigyan kami sa request namin na humarap kayo sa media. Di kasi namin ma-convince sila eh."
Pnoy: " Eh, pano ninyong macoconvince, wala naman sa inyo yung dissemination of information. Di ba, Samar ang bahala dun? "
Staffer: " Yun nga po eh. At least, sa broadcast, me laban kami. Sila naman, sa print lang yata."
Pnoy: "Really? Ah, okey, okey."

(another staffer approaches Pnoy)

Staffer 2: " Sir, punta na tayo sa next appointment." (staffer eyes the other from head to toe.)
Pnoy: " Right, right, teka, alisin ko muna itong amerikana ko."
Staffer 2: " Getting hot under the collar ba ho?"
Pnoy: " Come again?"
Staffer 2: "Nothing Mr. President. I really don't agree with this po, Mr. President. Nagmukha kayong..."
Pnoy: : " Okey lang, okey lang. I enjoyed it though. Kahit na madaming questions, okey lang. Did I answered the questions well? Okey naman ba?"
Staffer 2: " As usual Mr. President. I just hope maniwala ang taumbayan..."
Pnoy: " Come again? Staffer ka ba talaga dito? Anong grupo ka ba?"
Staffer 2: " Sir, I was the recommendation of Senator Chiz po."
Pnoy: " Ah, I see....Samar ba?
Staffer 2: " Nope po. Binay group."
Pnoy: " Ah, kaya pala."
Staffer 2: " Come again po, Mr. President?"
Pnoy: "Nothing, nothing. O sige na. let's go to our appointment.."

Staffer 1 intervenes...

Staffer 1: " Excuse me, Mr. President..."
Pnoy: " Yes po..."
Staffer 1: " Let me remind you Mr. President that your next appointment is with sir RC po and sir MQ po later.."
Pnoy: " I thought its a drinking spree with Paquito sa Samar..."
Staffer 2: " Yes, that's in the schedule.."
Pnoy: " I thought so too."
Staffer 1: " Sorry po but it was changed this morning Mr. President. You need to go with us sa Balai to eat merienda."
Pnoy: "Ganun ba? "
Staffer 1: "Yes, Mr. President."
Pnoy: " Who changed the schedule?"
Staffer goes near the President's ear.
Pnoy: "Ganun ba? Okey, okey.Sige...Col. Dizon!"
Col. Dizon: "Yes Mr. President"
Pnoy: " Prepare my toys. I am going to Balai."
Staffer 1 smiles. Staffer 2 frowns.

Staffer 2: But Mr. President...
Pnoy: " Don't say anything. I am just following schedule. Tell Paquito to just drink and wait for me.Wag kamong maglasing nang wala pa ako, okey?"
Staffer 2: (lamely) Ok po Mr. President."

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8:00 AM | 0 comments

Jobs for Pinoys in Hotel and Restaurant Industry

More than 15 million jobs await Filipinos who want to work in top-rate hotels and restaurants in the United States, Europe and other countries in Asia, with about 158,000 hospitality and leisure jobs needed in the United States alone.

Labor requirements rose after hotel occupancy levels grew by 3.4% this year, a positive sign that the industry has now recovered from the global recession.

In a report released by the Asian School of Hospitality Arts (ASHA), the premier hotel school in the Philippines, the hospitality industry is expected to grow 11% this year, a strong indication that the industry has now recovered from the global recession.

With this growth, more five-star hotels and restaurants would need additional hotel, food and beverage managers, baristas and hospitality staff. These are supervisorial and skilled positions which Filipinos are qualified to fill in.

ASHA Directress Angie Blanco says Filipinos are most-sought after when it comes to these positions. Top five-star hotels hire more from the Philippines because Filipinos are highly qualified, trust-worthy and hard-working. Filipinos are more qualified because most are HRM (Hotel and Restaurant Management) graduates.

“ We have thousands of Filipinos in the hospitality and leisure industries which can benefit from the recovery of the industry after a slump in 2009. Entry levels in these positions are high. We are in the best position to exploit the hospitality job markets because of our high competency especially as hotel and restaurant managers, baristas and hotel staff, “ says Blanco. 

Hospitality-related jobs command competitive pay rates. For hotel managers, the average daily wage is US$ 50 per hour or about 2,300 php (P46=1US$) per hour. In the United States, baristas earn US$ 10 per hour or about US$100 a day. This translates to almost 100,000 pesos per month. Filipino chefs, meanwhile, are being paid more than 150,000 pesos a month.

Blanco reports that hotel occupancy in the United States alone grew by about 1.7% this year after occupancy rates rose in the first quarter of 2010. The growth increased revenues by 57.1%. This is a positive development, says Blanco, since more hotels will require additional hotel and hospitality staff to attend to the needs of guests.

Based on the ASHA report, hotel occupancy rates in the Asia-Pacific rose from 15.3% to 63.1%, the average daily rate increased by 8.6% to US$125.52, and revenue per available room jumped 25.2% to US$79.24. This, says Blanco, is based on the STR Global report.

Shanghai China experienced the largest occupancy increase, rising from 55% to 71.7%, followed by Beijing (65.3%), Hongkong (78.3%) and Osaka Japan (77.3%). Malaysia posted a positive 40.4% to US$ 71.65.

In the Philippines, improvements in the tourism industry generated close to 3 million additional jobs, according to the data released by the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB). As of May 2010, a total of 48,048 jobs were generated in Central Philippines, Metro Manila and Tagaytay alone. The hospitality outlook in the Philippines remains bright, says Blanco, as private investors continue to have a bullish attitude in the country.

Blanco says that domestic tourism alone hiked 2009 air traffic by about 25%. OAG, a reputable body monitoring the global air industry, shows that seat capacity increased by 9% or an additional 1.2 million to a total of 15.3 million seats in Asia-Pacific alone. Worldwide, seat capacity increased by 6% and added 20.5 million seats to a total 335.5 million.

Amongst the hotel chains, luxury properties and upscale hotels remain at a very positive growth. Performance of luxury hotels are strongest, while mid-scale properties with food and beverage should lag all property types with only 3.3% growth.

Lodging demands in the first quarter of 2010 increased by 5.3% over the first quarter of 2009. Blanco says if this trend continues, expect the hospitality and leisure-related job market to further improve in the next few years. In fact, Blanco adds, 2011 will see a 7.8% growth in the industry.

“The employment of hotel management staff is expected to grow just as fast as the average managerial position for all sectors through 2014. More opportunities are predicted to be available because many experienced managers will be leaving the industry to pursue other interests or through retirement. The better and higher education that is obtained, the more plentiful the opportunities will be” adds Blanco.

ASHA is a strong partner of The Coffee Beanery (TCB) along West Avenue, Quezon City. ASHA is a strong advocate of spreading Asian Values, World Class-Education.

It is also affiliated with Seven Suites Hotel Observatory, Classic Cuisine (C2), The Orange Place (TOP) and C3 Events Place.

ASHA opens its Certificate of Barista at TCP West Avenue, Quezon City. Classes start August 10, 2010.  For inquiries, please call +6325066474, 5067007 or 09175907425. Check their website at http://www.asha.edu.ph.

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1:22 AM | 0 comments

Aquino administration---doing the same things ala Arroyo?

Columnist and avowed Pinoy supporter Conrado de Quiros wrote in his column today entitled " Mandate", this observation:

"That is the kind of corruption the public sees more than anything else. That is the kind of corruption the public wants something done about more than anything else. The voters made Noynoy Aquino president and Binay vice president because of it: Because Noynoy was the opposite of GMA and because Binay was anti-GMA, and both could be trusted to stop any rule that would extend that kind of corruption. And the public has acclaimed Noynoy by 88 percent and Binay by 77 percent because of it: Because P-noy is the opposite of GMA and because Binay is anti-GMA, and both can be trusted to prosecute GMA and all those who helped her mount that kind of corruption."

For the Inquirer columnist, the mandate is clear: be different from the Arroyo regime and prosecute GMA for her crimes.

Yet, it seems that this mandate is slowly being "corrupted" with the entry of interest groups inside Malacanang. Consider these:

1. People hate the Arroyo administration for appointing close family associates in sensitive posts in the bureaucracy.

Noynoy Aquino appointed at least three families in sensitive posts, one being the Abads. Butch Abad, who served as the campaign manager of the Liberal Party and one of the leading figures in the Hyatt 10 walkout, is now Budget secretary. His daughter, Julia, serves as the president's chief in the Management staff while her brother, Luis, is now the Chief of Staff of Finance secretary Cesar Purisima.

Margie Juico, wife of Philip Juico, an Aquino loyalist, serves as PCSO head while several other close Aquino family associates occupy very sensitive positions in the new administration. One family friend, Odette Ong, formerly Cory Aquino's associate, is also inside Malacanang, doing a very strange "audit".

The Romulos are also occupying sensitive posts. Bert Romulo serves as Foreign affairs while his daughter, Bernadette Romulo-Puyat is now undersecretary of the Department of Agriculture.

2. No brokering nor lobbying. A former Cory Aquino official, Odette Ong is said to be "brokering" for big-time smuggler Lucio Lao Co. Co reportedly offered 200 million pesos before the Aquino administration to "go easy on him".

3. No one with a case of dishonesty occupying sensitive posts in government. Angelito Alvarez, who is now banned for cheating his way in a golf game, is now Customs chief. Rogelio Singson's appointment has a conflict of interest attached to it yet he occupies a post which regulates the business of his former company. Likewise, Kim Henares, a veteran in the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), is also tapped as head of the government's revenue collecting agency. Henares is quite close to Guillermo Parayno who has a company with businesses with government.

These appointments are very controversial.

4. No interference in the workings of the legislative and the judiciary. President Noynoy Aquino recently told a group of journalists what he believes is the case of Senator Antonio Trillianes IV. Aquino says, Trillianes' case was a case of injustice. The new president said Trillianes should not have been indicted since there was no crime of coup d'etat.

Aquino is actually correct. Yet, it is wrong to order the Department of Justice (DoJ) to review the case and possibly have Trillianes cleared of all wrongdoing. This, according to Senator Angara, is a clear case of Executive intervention.

 





Conrado is correct. The Filipinos are very optimistic that a new administration, a new style of governance will eventually replace the old one.

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6:15 PM | 0 comments

Noynoy Aquino's Men:

New DPWH secretary Rogelio "Babes" Singson had a sudden attack of "delicadeza" when he purportedly gave up as "chair" of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage Systems or MWSS citing "conflict of interest".

Singson only had this "epiphany" shortly after an interview over DZMM and when he already assumed the post.

Singson, before assuming the DPWH post, is the top executive of Maynilad, a public utilities corporation.

Singson only gave up the chairmanship after media reminded him of a conflict of interest. I don't believe that he did not know that there's a problem prior to assuming the post.

Fact is, his very appointment smacks of the absence of delicadeza.

He's the representative of Big Business in government and we all know that Big Business right now is eye-ing other government businesses and services which the State plans to privatize.

Had we not pointed this out to him, Singson would not have relented and would have taken over the MWSS with impunity. Such is the lack of delicadeza of a few of the President's men.

What is there at the MWSS that is so juicy and so salivating that Singson wants nothing more than its chairmanship?

Water rates. MWSS is now acting as the regulatory body that protects the public's interest in water services of two concessionaires--Maynilad and Manila Water. MWSS is the one who approves water rates. Probably, Singson is so desirous to control it because his backers are salivating on increasing water rates.

Woe is the Filipino consumer! We already have a cartel over oil prices. We have a mammoth and inefficient electricity cartel, likewise in rice cartel. Now, even water is slowly being cartelized and commodified.

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5:20 PM | 0 comments

China UFO sightings---sophisticated US crafts or Green Men interested in cheap China goods?

An Unidentified Flying Object (UFO) was seen hovering above China's Xiaoshan airport. The object hovered about for a few minutes. Then, another one, more of a powerful space shuttle was seen as it shot itself towards the sky. This happened at Zhejiang's provincial capital Hangzhou for about 2 minutes at around 8:30pm.
This is just one of the recent UFO sightings in China. In 1942, an alleged UFO was spotted and photographed over the town of Hebei in China. In 2006, another one was seen hovering over Nanjing. Last July 7, 2010, another UFO was spotted above Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport near Hangzhou. After the sighting, the airport was shot down.

UFO sightings have increased since the beginning of the 21st century. Is this part of those apocalytic signs which were predicted millennia ago? Are "aliens" trying to communicate?

There's a possibility that this object is "man-made", not extraterrestrial. Possibly, China has already acquired the technology to develop its own sophisticated hovering aircraft. We all know that the US already developed such a technology.

Anyway, here's the video and judge for yourself what or who engineered this controversial event.

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6:04 PM | 0 comments

Playboy selling out its legacy? For Christ's sake, not with Penthouse

What's this????

Hugh Hefner, the eighti-ish iconoclast trying to sell Playboy to Penthouse? Decades ago, when Hugh is just starting he has this attitude of Playboy being the only one in the world. Penthouse was a far second to this first magazine to get "things going" for real men. The first edition came out in 1955, with the timeless beauty of Marilyn Monroe gracing its covers. Since then, Playboy has become any man's obsession.

Now, the obsession has become old. Nude photos are everywhere and Playboy lost in the curio arena. Penthouse shifted gears and went on with the flow, compromising itself here and there just to survive the highly competitive market. It went online and somewhat dominated the market there.

Not with Playboy. It continues to be fixated with its old business model, which is crumbling against the weight of New Media and New Culture. Playboy failed to communicate with the new age, for one simple reason---it lost its edgy-ness.

Its models look like glamorized Barbie dolls with big, oversized tits. They're still beautiful alright, but none of the classical beauty of a Marilyn Monroe who shot to fame when she posed nude in the first Playboy edition which cost Hugh just $60.

In an era where everyone goes nude, Playboy has to re-discover its edgy-ness and again, shock the world, which it did fifty or so years ago. It has to re-imagine itself, and probably use the advantages of new media to create sensation.

Penthouse made the transition and avoided (or suspended) a fall-out. Playboy, however, is still trying to figure out what to do, and time is not on its side. Hugh is about eighty years old, a few years left in the life of the world's most popular lothario.

Can Hugh save his empire without selling it to Penthouse for US$ 210 million? I believe Playboy still has it, but it must rediscover what "it" means. I mean, Madonna is still relevant, still "in" despite being fifty-ish. Maybe Playboy should find its "inner soul" first before finally giving itself up to Penthouse.

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5:25 PM | 0 comments