Photos
Batangueños give Noy-Mar big welcome
Text by ELLEN TORDESILLAS
Photos by MARIO IGNACIO
LIPA CITY.—Batangueños gave Liberal Party presidential candidate Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III and his running mate, Manuel “Mar” Roxas Jr., a rapturous welcome here over the weekend.
Gov. Vilma Santos and her husband Ralph Recto, who is running for senator in the LP slate, received and hosted Aquino and Roxas, who were in the province for rallies here and in Batangas City.
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Bringing political rallies to another level
THE Nacionalista Party has brought provincial rallies to another level with Wowowillie’ s team of TV host Willie Revillame. The format is open-air concert with world-class production values featuring big stars like Andrew E, Randy Santiago, Geneva Cruz, Jessa Zaragoza and Ara Mina. In between musical numbers, senatorial candidates give a five-minute speech.
Last Sunday’s show, held at the Koronadal athletic field, had a special guest: boxing champ Manny Pacquiao, who did several musical numbers with the much-in-demand songwriter Lito Camu. Loren Legarda, NP’s vice presidential candidate opened the political portion of the show, and the finale was presidential candidate Manuel “Manny” Villar.
Police estimated the crowd—many of them started lining up at 9 a.m. for the concert that started at 5 p.m.— at 100,000. Philip Duquiatan of Malaya newspaper and journalist Dana Batnag share their photos:
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Civil society rallies vs SC
VARIOUS civil society organizations staged a rally on Padre Faura in Manila yesterday to protest the Supreme Court decision allowing President Gloria Arroyo to appoint a new Chief Justice during the election campaign period.
The High Tribunal had voted 9-3 to give the president the power to appoint, saying the constitutional provision barring the president from appointing during the 90-day election period does not apply to the Supreme Court.
Among civil society stalwarts who rallied in front of the Supreme Court were University of the Philippines professor Winnie Monsod, NGO activist Teresita Quintos-Deles and Bayan Muna’s Teddy Casiño. They were joined by Senators Francis Pangilinan and Ma. Ana Consuelo “Jamby” Madrigal.
Akbayan Rep. Riza Hontiveros was also at the Supreme Court to file a motion asking the Supreme Court to disqualify Arroyo from running for congresswoman of Pampanga. Hontiveros filed a motion asking for a reversal of an earlier ruling throwing out a petition to disqualify Arroyo.
VERA Files’ Mario Ignacio was on Padre Faura yesterday and filed the photos below:
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A tree is not a poster area
SECTION 22 of Comelec Resolution 8758, which implements the Fair Election Act (Republic Act 9006) is very clear where political posters can and cannot be posted.
Common Poster Areas. – Political parties, party-list groups, organizations and/or coalitions thereof, and independent candidates may, upon authority of the Commission, through the City or Municipal Election Officer (EO) concerned, erect, at their expenses, common poster areas wherein they can post, display, or exhibit their election propaganda to announce or further their candidacy subject to the following requirements and/or limitations:
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Ang Galing ni Mikey
REP. Juan Miguel “Mikey” Arroyo of the second district of Pampanga gave up his re-election bid in favor of his mother, President Gloria Arroyo, who has made an unprecedented move of an outgoing president running for a congressional seat.
But it doesn’t mean Mikey will be out of the House of Representatives.
It has been reported that Mikey is the first nominee of ” Ang Galing Pinoy,” the party-list group registered as representing the marginalized tricycle drivers and security guards.
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Candidates face off in Inquirer debate
Text and photos by MARIO IGNACIO
EIGHT of the nine presidential candidates running in the May elections attended a forum organized by broadsheet Philippine Daily Inquirer at the University of the Philippines Theater in Quezon City Monday.
The forum, dubbed “1st Edition Presidential Debate,” was attended by Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, Councilor JC delos Reyes, Sen. Richard “Dick” Gordon, Sen. Maria Ana Consuelo “Jamby” Madrigal, environmentalist Nicanor “Nicky” Perlas, former defense secretary and administration candidate Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro, evangelist Eddie Villanueva, and Sen. Manuel “Manny” Villar. Former president Joseph Estrada was a no-show.
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Automated polls tested; Rizal voted president
THE Commission on Elections held a test run Saturday of the automated voting system to be used in the May elections.
Voters in select precincts in the cities of Quezon, Taguig, Baguio, Cebu and Davao took part in the mock elections.
But instead of the names of actual candidates, voters chose among a list of national heroes.
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Cory Aquino monument unveiled
Text and photos by MARIO IGNACIO
THE Manila city government unveiled a monument to former President Corazon Aquino on Monday, her 77th birthday.
Mayor Alfredo Lim led the ceremonies, which had Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III as guest of honor.
The 15-foot monument, sculpted by Eduardo Castrillo, stands across a monument to her husband Benigno Aquino Jr. at Padre Burgos Drive and Roxas Boulevard.
Pacman, Maguindanao massacre depicted at 2009 UP Lantern Parade
FLOATS depicting the Maguindanao massacre and giant effigies of boxing champ Manny Pacquiao and his celebrity mother Dionisia hogged the limelight at the 2009 Lantern Parade of the University of the Philippines Diliman campus Friday.
But it was the College of Engineering, celebrating its centennial next year, which won the best “lantern” for its entry, a diorama of Mother Nature and a robot, made from scrap material. A panel of judges named it the best among this year’s “lanterns” for its creativity and use of recycled material. The College of Engineering also displayed an e-jeepney, which is fuel-free and runs on just a Motolite battery.
These were among the dozens of “lanterns” on display at the Lantern Parade, which marks the closing of classes for the year at the country’s premier state university.
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Day of mourning, indignation
NEVER again to martial law. Justice for the victims of Maguindanao massacre. Stop killing journalists.
These were the resounding messages in Wednesday’s media-led indignation rally at the Chino Roces (formerly Mendiola) Bridge held to demand justice for victims of the Nov. 23 massacre in Maguindanao and protest the imposition of martial rule in the province.
Black was the color of the day. Participants from different sectors mostly wore black clothes and arm bands to assail the attacks on the media, rule of law, and accountability.
VERA Files photojournalist Mario Ignacio and trustee Chit Estella share their photos: