Former Budget Secretary Emilia Boncodin Passes Away at 55.

A loyal and responsible public servant,  former budget secretary Emilia Boncodin passes away yesterday afternoon at the age of 55. The cause of death is cardiac arrest due to renal disease. Boncodin served as a secretary in 2001 and quit her post in 2005 during the height of the 'hello Garci' controversy. She was also a professorial lecturer at the University of the Philippines and the Lyceum of the Philippines. 

The Kris Aquino-Ruffa Gutierrez issue

Last Sunday. Kris Aquino commented to Ruffa Gutierrez that 'mas masaya sa The Buzz' causing Ruffa Gutierrez to cry and walk out during commercial break. After few minutes, Annabelle Rama appeared on Showbiz Central saying offensive words against Kris and even the candidacy of his brother Noynoy Aquino. Well, that's showbiz. May pagpipistahan na namang bago ang mga tao. Anong masasabi nyo tungkol dito?

The death of press secretary Serge Remonde

I felt sad when I read about the sudden death of Press Secretary Serge Remonde. I just found the breaking news when I was browsing on Yahoo homepage yesterday, less than 1 hour after his death. I was shocked because I used to see him on the evening news delivering speeches, answering questions, etc., and now, he is dead. He was just interviewed by Vic de Leon Lima and Karen Davila two weeks ago. Vic Lima commented that the press secretary was very 'cool' in answering questions about the failures and alleged issues concerning the current administration.
I am sure many people especially the anti-administration used to get mad at Serge Remonde but I think he just did his job to defend the president. His sudden death brought sorrow to his family, friends, relatives, subordinates, many politicians and many Filipinos who loved him. I don't know him personally but I am sure that he was a good person because he served the nation to his grave.

Press Secretary Serge Remonde Dies

Malacanang Press Secretary Serge Remonde found unconcious inside the bathroom. Doctors at the Makati Medical Center declared him dead at 11:51 a.m.. He suffered from a major heart attack  this Tuesday morning.  The press secretary reportedly had intestinal flu last week.
I am expressing my condolences to the family of the late press secretary.

COMELEC approves Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates

Here is the list of the approved candidates:

For Presidency
Sen. Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III (Liberal Party), Olongapo City councilor JC de los Reyes (Ang Kapatiran), former President Joseph Estrada (UNO-PMP), Sen. Richard Gordon (Bagumbayan), Sen. Jamby Madrigal (independent), former Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro (Lakas-Kampi-CMD), Bro. Eddie Villanueva (Bangon Pilipinas) and Sen. Manny Villar (Nacionalista Party).



For Vice Presidency
Sen. Mar Roxas (Liberal Party), Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay (UNO-PMP), former Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chairman Bayani Fernando (Bagumbayan), Sen. Loren Legarda (Nacionalista Party), Edu Manzano (Lakas-Kampi-CMD), broadcaster Jay Sonza (KBL), former Securities and Exchange Commission chief Perfecto Yasay (Bangon Pilipinas) and Dominador Chipeco Jr. (Ang Kapatiran).

Pacquiao opens a store in Manila

Visit Manny Pacquaio's novelty store in Robinson's Mall in Ermita, Manila. The store's name is 'Team Pacquiao' and it sells Manny Pacquiao t-shirts (including Nike branded tees), jackets, boxing gloves, shorts, shoes and trinkets that were reportedly handpicked by Jinkee Pacquiao.

CHACHA is still Arroyo's priority

Malacanang admitted yesterday that charter change is still President Arroyo's priority. Is that certainly the reason why she still wants to run as a congresswoman in Pampanga? Well, let's see. It is obvious that Arroyo still wants to be in power. She can easily do her actions of ammending the 1987 constitution if she will be in the congress. Indeed, she still has strong influence in the lower house. I am convinced that she is really eyeing to be the house speaker so that she can be the prime minister if our country's government form will be changed to parliamentary.

They say that we can achieve progress if the Philippines will shift from presidential to parliamentary system like Japan, Malaysia, Singapore etc. Well, I strongly disagree, Japan is Japan, Singapore is Singapore but the Philippines is the Philippines. The people sitting in power in those countries have high moral, not corrupt and they know how to handle their countries well. They do not have greed of power unlike many Filipino politicians nowadays. In these times we need to have some people like Nelson Mandela, Cory Aquino, Ronald Reagan, etc. to govern our nation. I don't think that the problem is on the form of government but on the people sitting in power. We have to remove much of them by choosing the right candidates on the coming 2010 national elections.