Denying reports from a credible source on PGMA's lavished meals

Filipinos here and abroad are mourning over the death of the mother of Philippine democracy, the mother of every Filipino who we fondly called ‘Tita Cory’’.

As former President Corazon Cojuangco-Aquino passed away on August 1, many of us shed tears for her.

All nations mourn for while President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and her allies were in the United States for official business.

Arroyo also offered mass in states and visit the wake of Aquino upon her landing back in the country, she again offered mass in Malacanang just to show she was extending her condolences and sadness to the bereaved family.

But 5 days after the former president was laid to rest, the country was shocked after

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and her party racked up a dinner bill of close to P1 million at a ritzy New York restaurant during her recent trip to the United States, according to an online news report.

Richard Johnson wrote the brief report in the Page Six “Eat and Drink” section of the NY Post online edition.
It read: “The economic downturn hasn’t persuaded everyone to pinch pennies. Philippines President Maria Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was at Le Cirque the other night with a large entourage enjoying the good life, even though the former comptroller of her country’s armed services, Carlos Garcia, was found guilty earlier this year of perjury and two of his sons were arrested in the US on bulk cash-smuggling charges. Macapagal-Arroyo ordered several bottles of very expensive wine, pushing the dinner tab up to $20,000.”

However, a Malacanang official denied that PGMA President Arroyo and her entourage enjoyed a lavish dinner in New York City during her recent trip to the United States.
Folks in the province criticized the Arroyo government because such huge amount could already help almost 3,000 poor families across the country.

The restaurant tab, purported copies of which have since circulated on blogs, showed that the Arroyo delegation had five servings of wild golden osetra caviar ($1,400), 11 bottles of Krug champagne ($5,610), and 25 orders each of the Chef’s Seasonal Menu and Tasting Menu (totaling $1,450 and $4,500 respectively), along with 17 other items.
Who was the telling the truth now?
You can also check on www.lerque.com for more information about the said restaurant.

A tribute story for the late Pres. Aquino

A human life is a story told by God. We must embrace pain and burn it as fuel for our journey. While we are mourning the loss of our dear former Pres. Corazon Cojuangco Aquino, others are rejoicing to meet her behind the veil. Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal. I am extending my deepest sympathy and condolences to the Aquino family. She who has gone, so we but cherish her memory, abides with us, more potent, nay, more present than the living man.

Students of the Digos City National High School also mourns the death of the peoples fondly called ‘Tita Cory’.

Students like Mary Ann Tampadong and Reivein Fernandez, were thankful of former president's help in education especially that DCNHS is one of the recipient of a two-story science building under her administration.

Governor Douglas Cagas, who earlier asked his constituents to offer prayers for Tita Cory to survive the colon cancer, said he felt sad upon knowing that the past president had expired at Makati Medical Center.

Cagas is one of the Aquino appointee as OIC-Governor of the province after he joined the Edsa People Power revolt in 1986.

Malita town Mayor Benjamen Bautista Jr., said their family expressed their sympathy and condolences to the Aquino family.

Bautista’s father, the late Benjamen Sr., won as assemblyman of the province during the election under Aquino’s presidency.

The Davao del Sur provincial police office put the nation’s flag in half mask after the former president died.

Senior Supt. Ronald Dela Rosa, said he is one of the first Philippine Military batch graduated during the term of Cory.

“The Filipino nation mourns the loss of its true icon of democracy," Dela Rosa said.

The military’s 39th Infantry Battalion said they were sadden on the death of Cory.

1Lt. Raul Villegas, Alpha Coy commander, said now is the time that the nation will unite for peace and to always remember the good teachings of the former head of state.


“It’s sad that a former president who had done so many great things in our country just passed away. But as christians, we’re happy for her to be with our creator in heaven,” Villegas said.


Ordinary folks in the province said although they can not see the wake of the former president due to its far location, but they could offer prayers for the eternal repose of her soul.

According to them, Aquino is the true mother of democracy.

Religious sectors and Roman Catholic churches also celebrated mass and prayers in the entire province of Davao del Sur.

Is PGMA serious in not extending her term?

Is PGMA serious in not extending her term?

These are only one of the questions raised from the minds of Davao del Sur folks after President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, delivered her ‘State of the Nation Address’ (SONA) in the joint session of Congress and Senate on July 27.

Arroyo in her speech throws challenging words to all her critics especially those who cast stones on her.

“To those who want to be president, this advice: If you really want something done, just do it, do it hard, do it well, don’t pussy-foot, and don’t say bad words in public,” she said.

“I never declared martial law, I will defend democracy. I never expressed the desire to extend myself beyond my term,” this line of the President now becomes the talk of the town, as many people are not convinced that an election will be held next year.

Some of the people here, like Belen Mancera, a rice trader, said she did not felt that the economic growth was established in the country.

She said rice becomes an unaffordable even if the government had supplied more rice sacks through the National Food Authority.

Telma Amor is also commenting PGMA’s word “We created 8 million jobs” because according to her, she was now tired of hunting jobs from everywhere.

“I think only those who were back-up by prominent people were hired and find a stable job,” Amor said.

Some politicians in the province admitted they missed the SONA, while they were too busy in attending the needs of their local constituents.

Governor Douglas Cagas explained he missed the SONA due to his visit in Barangay Kasuga, Magsaysay, Davao del Sur.

“I missed SONA because I am with the people there,” he said adding that he was convinced the President will extend position beyond her term.

Even the town mayor and vice mayor Jess Lumanog and Arthur Davin of Magsaysay town, said they did not heard what PGMA’s message, like Cagas they were also attending another business.

But In Digos City, Vice Mayor Joseph Peńas, said he was not satisfied with what Arroyo has saying.

"Lahat promises (all is promises. No new things na nabago, I felt Filipinos in general is not satisfied," Peńas said.

Like other officials Malita Mayor Benjamen Bautista and Bansalan Mayor Edwin Reyes also admitted they have not seen the last SONA of the President for different reasons but they did not elaborate.

Majority of the folks in the province said they really believed all the contents in PGMA’s report to the nation if the 2010 election comes.

Metro Shuttle Bus face raps from bombing victim

It was one year ago when one unit of the Davao Metro Shuttle Bus was ripped through a bomb on July 24, and during the day a case against bus firm management was filed by Abellero family, one of its victim, Friday.

Sarah Fe Abellero has died in the incident and 34 others were founded during the incident.

Atty. Johari Bańa, family’s lawyer, Saturday said they have filed cases of civil case due to breach of contract of carriage because the bus management failed to deliver their passengers safely to their destination.

Bańa said the family also asked an amount of P650,000.00 as civil damages.

Aside from the said case the bus firm management is questionable for another case of loss of earning capacity which accounts the possible wage income of Sarah Fe in her job as computer science student.

“We have sent letter to the bus management earlier but in their response they denied that they have responsibility. As a bus carrier they have big responsibility to bring their passengers into destinations safe and sound,” he said.

But the Abellero expressed dismayed after police authorities failed to arrest the suspects.

The Al-Khobar extortion group was pinpointed responsible in the series of bombings here in Mindanao.

Cor Jesu College the school of Sarah Fe also urged authorities to arrest the suspects.

Chief Inspector Anthony Padua, city police director, said warrant of arrest was already issued by the court against Salahuddin Hassan and other five suspects.

Police also launched bomb drill activities in the city’s terminal to test the capacity of policemen in responding bombing incidents, Padua said.

Big politicians duel for 2010 election?

The Election spirit is really felt now, particularly in Bansalan town in Davao del Sur.

Tensions happened after two big politicians in Bansalan, Davao del Sur nearly had lasted into a fistfight after Municipal Mayor Edwin Reyes led the forcible operation of the business bureau to padlock one of the the rice mill owned by Vice Mayor Peter Melchor Arches on Thurday.

I heard Reyes and Arches exchanging heated altercations after the vice mayor resisted to sign the notice of the closure order.

Reyes said one of Arches rice mill was constructed even if did not complied business permit and was built in purely agricultural land which was a violation in the town’s zoning ordinance.

“During the time he was the municipal mayor, he was the one who signed his business license and even constructed the building without completion of documents,” Reyes said.

But Arches said he was already processing papers although he was a little bit delayed because he really believed that Reyes was behind in some of the delaying tactics.

But Reyes said for several times he had already sent notice to the vice mayor regarding the closure of his rice mill if he fails to secure the necessary requirements.

Arches said he believed that it was politically motivated because he was running back for mayor in 2010 against Reyes.

“There were many other rice mill there who also lack of compliance but he only chosen me in fact the other issues were the industrial building created in the residential area,” Arches said.

Reyes remained he was neutral and not in political motivation as he was only implementing the basic right of law.

“People here could testify that even small businessmen we have forced them to transact legal transaction to the local government,” he said.

Arches who earlier got angry to local media after the coverage of the closure order, said he will sue the mayor and company for the shortcut method of foreclosing the gate of his building.


But Reyes said the vice mayor was already charge before the office of the Ombudsman Mindanao for abuse of its authority during his incumbency.

Arches also questioned the presence of the police officers who went together with the local government’s team.

Senior Insp. Nasruddin Tayuan, chief of town police, explained they were just implementing and to secure the peace and order.

Arches blamed Reyes for the sudden lost of job of more than 200 employees in his rice mill.

He angrily called the mayor as greed in power and warned that he will really fight Reyes in the upcoming election.

The two officials who were both in hypertension nearly in had a duel after Arches tried to get the chain to be use in closing the gate of the rice mill and will go to the mayor’s team.

But the two camps were pacified by their own supporters.

Folks here expected a more heated election campaign next year after business properties of politicians wer already touched by the present administration.

Folks fear after military arrived in town's banana plantation

Residents near the banana plantation expressed their fear after the military vehicles and its forces arrived in Poblacion area, since Friday.

Police Inspector Elmer Cabuslay, chief of town police, said residents, some residents complained about checkpoints conducted by the 39th Infantry Battalion although he said the situation is normal and no untoward incidents.


Cabuslay said the military arrived after the personnel from the Department of Agrarian Reform Adjudication Board (DARAB) together with Sheriff Aberni Buenaventura to implement the turn-over of lands to farmer beneficiaries of the banana plantation.


Lt. Col. Lyndon Panisa, 39th IB commanding officer, explained it is normal for civilian residents to react upon seeing men in camouflage uniforms thinking that a war might happen.

Panisa, in telephone interview said, they are only escorting some DAR personalities.



“Accordingly the DAR would serve the writ of execution to 133 farmers in the 399n area and 136 farmers for the 317 area” he said.

“We are here to maintained the peace and order so that no violent reactions would happen” Panisa added.

Base in the record, a long been land dispute ensued between the Davao del Sur Farmers Association (Dasurfa) and the Alberto M.Soriano (AMS) Malalag Banana Plantation, after they both claimed of their rights in the said place.

The two groups of farmers both claimed thier right in which violence had erupted inside the banana plantation in the past.

Last year, a shooting incident occurred after it was being claimed by a group of farmers leaving one person dead and two others injured when the two security agencies have encountered.

Dasurfa has staked a claim over the 317 hectares occupied by the banana company in November 2006.


Police and military said they will secure the area and that the same situation would not happen again.

Elementary kids experienced partial solar eclipse in Mindanao

The school children in Bansalan Central Elementary School went out from their classroom while falling in line to see the partial solar eclipse around 10a.m., Wednesday.

But students like Junefrey Dominguez took time to wait for his turn to look due to only one film they can used to see the solar eclipse.

“I could see that the sun tip was covered with black,” the 9 year old Dominguez said.

Joshua De Manuel, said the sun turns into orange red but he could not explained what he seen.


Flor Anne Cosare, BCES Principal, said they allowed their children particularly in Grade 3 to 6, as part of their science lesson.


The school population is 1, 638 but only selected Grade levels were allowed to see as part of their actual lessons.

Cosare said it was a rare opportunity of their students because solar eclipse might happen again in the following years.

“Actually it is their chance to see the real eclipse because they can only read it in the book before” Cosare said.

Cosare advised teachers to tell their children not to look directly to the sun if there was no eye protection being use.