Jacque Bermejo "Pinay WANTED in DUBAI?"

http://pinoypetition.blogspot.com/2009/09/official-statement-of-jacque-bermejo.html




It all started when a Filipina by the name of Jacque Bermejo has made an inconsiderate and mean comment about the Filipinos on typhoon "Ondoy" on September 27, Sunday, 2009 which goes like this:

"buti n lng am hir in dubai! maybe so many sinners bak der! so yeah deserving wat hapend!"

Filipinos all over the world hated her for such statement! Her Facebook and multiply account has been flooded with harsh and mean comments. And she has even got herself a Fanclub..or shall I say Hate club...Here's the link to her multiply account her Facebook fanclub . To date, her facebook account cannot be opened or was intentionally deleted.

Well, here's her background:

She is experienced PR associate who has been active in the Middle East for over four years. Currently working with a number of luxury property developers. she has extensive knowledge of the market, and media.

Official Statement of Jacque Bermejo

Jacque Bermejo made her official statement. Jacque received calls and emails from friends and relatives informing her about the issue. She was crying about the issue slapped on her. His brother explained that it was not her sister’s account. If this letter’s from Jacque Bermejo herself, so be it.

"This is my real account please help disseminate."

I am issuing this statement to clear my name in the current controversy in which I allegedly posted a highly insensitive and offensive message on the social networking website, Facebook, in relation to the victims of typhoon Ondoy that recently struck parts of the Philippines.

About two years ago, an anonymous source created these accounts using my identity, posting my personal details, my real pictures captioned roughly and attacking other people. Because of these incidents, I reported such abuses and sent my credentials to the administrators of such sites, particularly Facebook. I have been abused and am still being abused online in social networking websites such as Facebook, Friendster, Multiply etc.

In the early stages, I was advised by close friends to ignore the situation, saying this would simply go away. Unfortunately, it has not stopped. Hence, I filed a complaint with the Dubai Police about eight months ago hoping they could help me with my problem. Should anyone wish to check my statement, my case is still under investigation with said authorities.

Time passed and these sites continued to generate malicious, obscene and cruel messages that are widely exposed and relayed to the public under my name.

Yesterday, September 27th 2009, I received phone calls from my close friends regarding very alarming posts in the above mentioned websites that directly offended flood victims as a result of typhoon Ondoy..

These malicious statement(s) which are posted under account names Jacque or Jackie are not of my doing. It is unfortunate that such statements were maliciously attributed to me and I do sympathize and understand the adverse and somehow verbally violent reaction that has been elicited by such insensitive statements or posts. Rest assured, I have taken every legal step that can be done in this regard.

I too, have become a victim as much as those who may have lost their lives and properties to such a devastating natural calamity. This recent controversy has greatly affected my reputation, my family, and my friends. I am devastated and shocked at the extent my character, my personal information and private space have been violated.

I have a deep respect and regard for my country. I am proud to be a Filipino and would never say or do anything to harm the interest of my country or countrymen. I have also had the privilege of participating in civic-oriented activities in Dubai, particularly in trying to help my fellow countrymen seek employment during the height of mass layoffs brought about by the ongoing global financial crisis, as well as those seeking employment for the first time. Making a mockery of any unfortunate incidents befalling any of my fellow Filipinos is simply contrary to my character. I condemn the person or persons behind these malicious acts to impute damage on my integrity and I hope that you can dig deep into your hearts and minds to truly find the truth in all these."

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• Gregorio F. Zaide (Pagsanjan, Laguna) - Filipino Historian/Author

takot sa tubig o di marunong lumangoy kaya nagpa pasan na lang si PINOY GENERAL...!!!!!!

emailed by : ERIC ABELLANO RIZAL COLLEGE OF LAGUNA BSBA STUDENT

A couple of days ago, an embarrasing scene was played on tv when a

flip general was carried on someone else shoulder so he wouldnt get wet when
he stepped on a banka boat . the american officer on the other hand waded
on the water and stepped on the banka without any help. See the
symbolism on why the philippines have problems ?

I think the Filipino General should be fired. How could he win the war
against the Abu Sayaf? Eh, tubig lang takot na siya. Nakakahiya!!
Lalong nakakahiya doon sa Kano na kasunod niya.
he he he he he he he he

BAGONG PEDICURE SIGURO ANG LOKO.
Send this to all your friends and hopefully this will circulate back to the
Philippines para mapahiya itong General na ito.

(See attached file: BrigGenMarcianoIlagan.jpg)

ELECTION 2010: Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr for President;

paano na ang pangarap ni BAYANI FERNANDO? 

PHILSTAR.COM

DINALUPIHAN, Bataan , Philippines – Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. will be the standard-bearer of the pro-administration Lakas-Kampi-CMD in next year’s presidential elections, Bataan Gov. Enrique Garcia said yesterday.

At Malacañang, presidential adviser for political affairs Gabriel Claudio said Lakas-Kampi will try to proclaim its presidential bet by Thursday after the meeting of the party’s national executive committee.

Garcia, a Lakas-Kampi stalwart, made the announcement yesterday during Teodoro’s visit to Bataan to assess the extent of damage caused by widespread flooding over the past week.

“As of yesterday morning, he is our party’s presidential standard-bearer,” Garcia said.

In response, Teodoro said he respects the party’s selection process.

“I cannot say that I am the one out of respect to the party which I submitted myself to its selection processes,” Teodoro said.

“Those who say they’re the one is doing a great disrespect to the party,” he added.

Garcia said once Teodoro is officially chosen as Lakas-Kampi standard-bearer, he would be included in the survey screens.

“Once he is officially declared as Lakas-Kampi-CMD standard-bearer, he will pick up in survey ratings, and those on top will drop down.”

Most governors nationwide have already endorsed Teodoro’s presidential bid, Garcia said.

From his aerial and land surveys of flood-stricken Bataan yesterday, Teodoro proceeded to Iba, Zambales where he ordered the immediate release of additional disaster funds for the local governments.

Lakas-Kampi surprise

At Malacañang, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita and presidential adviser for political affairs Gabriel Claudio said Lakas-Kampi might pull off a surprise in next year’s presidential elections.

Ermita said they are not worried over the high survey ratings of other presidential contenders.

“Our party is big, strong and tough and we will go by the (selection) process,” Ermita said.

“You will be surprised that when we have a standard-bearer, there are people coming in from other parties to our party.”

Ermita said one of the big mistakes of national candidates is complacency.

“Just because they know they’re strong in surveys, that’s enough to carry them (so) they take things for granted, they belittle the others. That should not happen,” he said.

Claudio said some presidential aspirants have already stumbled but the race has not started yet.

“Before this gets to us, it is already causing a lot of nervousness and might trigger a reversal of strategies among the opposition,” he said.

Once Lakas-Kampi proclaims its standard-bearer, the voters would examine his qualifications and track record, Claudio said.

Holiday one more time and its a long weekend again

PHILSTAR.COM



MANILA, Philippines - President Arroyo has declared Monday, Sept. 21 a national holiday in observance of the Islamic feast of Eid’l Fitr.

Immediately after the end of Ramadan, the Islamic month of fasting, Muslims will celebrate for three days.

The holiday will only be for a day.

Eid’l Fitr is a regular holiday but the actual date for the celebration was determined only recently by the Office of Muslim Affairs based on the Islamic calendar.


“To promote cultural understanding and integration, the entire Filipino nation should have the full opportunity to join their Muslim brothers and sisters in the observance and celebration of Eid’l Fitr,” read the presidential proclamation.



On the same day, the nation will observe International Day of Peace, a special day of non-violence and cessation of hostilities in solidarity with the community of nations.

The International Day of Peace itself is not a holiday. However, since it falls on the same day as Eid’l Fitr, there would be more opportunities for people to join the activities. The Department of Foreign Affairs, in coordination with the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, was tasked to lead the observance of the International Day of Peace.

On Sept. 7, 2001, the United Nations General Assembly designated Sept. 21 of each year beginning 2002 as the International Day of Peace.

On this day, nations are urged to honor the cessation of all hostilities. — Marvin Sy

After AH1N1 Dengue cases hit 16,000

philstar.com(By Mayen Jaymalin)

Nearly 200 people have died while more than 16,000 others have been hospitalized this year because of dengue, the Department of Health (DOH) reported.

Latest data from the DOH’s National Epidemiology Center (NEC) showed that a total of 16,317 dengue cases were admitted in various government hospitals nationwide. The figure recorded from Jan. 1 to Aug. 1 also includes 165 deaths.

Health officials said ages of dengue patients range from less than a month to 96 years. A majority of the 70 percent of cases belonged to one to 20-year-old age group.

Death rate was high among those less than 10 and 40 years.

Despite the high number of dengue cases, DOH officials noted that the recorded dengue cases in the first seven months of the year was 37.2 percent lower compared to the same period last year.

The National Capital Region (NCR) accounted for the biggest number, or 23 percent of the total cases.

Other regions that posted high number of dengue cases were Southern Mindanao, Calabarzon, Western Visayas, Region 12 and Central Luzon.

The DOH also reported clustering of cases in some areas of Quezon City and Valenzuela and in the provinces of Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Ecija, Batangas, Rizal, Occidental Mindoro, Iloilo, Guimaras, Misamis Oriental and Davao del Sur.

Health officials earlier said the public should be more cautious against dengue, which has resulted to the deaths of more people nationwide compared to influenza A(H1N1).

The DOH has called on the public to rid their places of mosquito-breeding sites to prevent possible rise in dengue cases.

ELECTION 2010: Roxas for their vice-president?

abs-cbnnews.com

“We will support whoever will win in CPM’s vice-presidential elections,” Karaos said, whether it would be Roxas or another candidate. “Even if the winner is not Aquino’s running mate,” she added.

Aquino said earlier that he is waiting for Senator Roxas to decide on the former’s request to become his running mate in 2010.

Muslim leader Mhos Abas, a member of CPM from Mindanao, said that Roxas is not particularly loved by people from Central Mindanao because of his stand against the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain (MOA-AD) between the government and Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

If Roxas would win in the CPM elections and would be formally announced as Aquino’s running mate in the 2010 elections, they would have to organize a series of seminars in Mindanao so Roxas could explain properly his stand against the MOA-AD, Abas said.

He has to explain his stand because “nagtanim na ng sama ng loob ang mga tao sa Mindanao dahil sa kanyang posisyon sa MOA-AD (people in Mindanao harbored ill-feelings against Roxas because of his position against the MOA-AD),” Abas added.

If not, it would be hard to translate votes for the senator, he said.

Arragoza said that when Roxas spoke in a meeting with Muslim leaders, the latter concluded that the Senator needs more information about what is happening in Mindanao and why the MOA-AD is important for them.

But, “they admire Roxas’ political conviction when he said that he knows that he will not have a lot of votes in the area because of what he believes in,” Arragoza said.

Soliman said that in their May 2009 CPM nominations for support process, Senators Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan and Escudero and Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay were among the 9 candidates in the CPM’s shortlist for vice-president.

But the said list is now void, Soliman said.

They will reconvene and re-elect new candidates since Binay declared that he might not run to give way to Roxas’ probably candidacy for vice-president. The voting will be done through on-line and text votes of CPM members, Soliman said.

The CPM will announce before end of the September 2009 who they will support as vice-president in the upcoming elections. – abs-cbnNEWS.com/ Newsbreak

ELECTION 2010: Noynoy declares 2010 presidential bid

Senator Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III, son of democracy icon Corazon Aquino and national hero Ninoy Aquino, on Wednesday finally declared that he is running for president of the Philippines in 2010.

"Bayang Pilipinas, tatakbo po ako sa pagkapangulo sa darating na halalan. Itutuloy natin ang laban (Philippines, I will run for president in the coming elections. We will continue the fight)," Aquino declared in Club Filipino in Greenhills, San Juan City.

The declaration was timed with the 40th day after the late President Aquino's death.

"Tinatanggap ko ang hiling ng sambayanan. Tinatanggap ko din ang bilin at tagubilin ng aking mga magulang. Tinatanggap ko ang responsibilidad na ituloy ang laban para sa bayan (I am granting the people's wish. I'm accepting my parents' request. I am accepting the responsibility to continue the fight for the country)," Aquino said.

The senator made the announcement after spending several days in the late President Aquino's favorite convent in Zamboanga City, which was one of the requests of his sisters before coming up with a declaration on his presidential run in 2010.

Aquino, meanwhile, said he is waiting for Senator Mar Roxas to decide on his request to become his running mate in 2010.

"Our party president (Roxas) has led us in difficult times. I've offered the slot to him. I'm awaiting his decision," Aquino said when asked who will be his running mate.

Roxas, the Liberal Party's (LP) supposed standard bearer, decided to withdraw amid clamors for Aquino's run for the presidency.

The LP president, who was present during Aquino's declaration, declined to comment on his possible vice-presidential bid.

However, in a previous interview over radio dzMM, Roxas said that Aquino had asked him to be his running mate.

"Sabi ko sa kanya, kung kalmado ka na... Nakapag-retreat ka na at gusto mo pa rin [akong tumakbong vice-president], mag-usap tayo ulit (I told him that if you have cleared your mind. After your retreat and you still want me to run for vice-president, we will talk again)," Roxas said during the radio interview.

He was relating to a conversation during one of the meetings he had with Aquino before he declared his withdrawal from the 2010 presidential race.

Aquino also announced during the press conference LP's partial senatorial ticket, which includes former Senate President Franklin Drilon, Muntinlupa Rep. Ruffy Biazon, former congressman Neric Acosta and Akbayan party-list Rep. Risa Hontiveros.

abs-cbnews.com

EXPIRED NOODLES WE BOUGHT IN A SUPERMARKET!

HERE ARE THE LIST OF PHOTOS THAT I PROVIDE TO PROVE THAT WE PURCHASE THE SAID PRODUCT (SORRY FOR THE INCONVENIENCE BECAUSE THE PHOTOS ARE JUST TAKEN TRU A CELLFONE CAMERA)

MONTEGOLD FARM95GRG NVL MIKI LONG on the receipt

MONTEGOLD FARM95GRG NVL MIKILONG on the receipt

worth 31,50

the expiration date (AUGUT 7 2009)

MONTEGOLD FARM95GRG NVL MIKI LONG

the look of the noodles after 2days we purchace this

AND HERE'S THE STORY WHEN WE BROUGHT IT:

My tita together with her son and his husband go to ALABANG,MUNTINLUPA CITY SATURDAY AFTERNOON dated SEPTEMBER 5 2009. I am not belong to the group since i go to school for my whole day class that saturday.

LIST OF SUPERMARKET INSIDE THE 4 MALLS IN ALABANG MUNTINLUPA:

1. ROBINSON'S SUPERMARKET- METROPOLIS ALABANG
2. SAVEMORE SUPERMARKET- FESTIVAL MALL
3. ST. FRANCIS SQUARE ( i dont know the store name)
4. ALABANG TOWN CENTER (i dont know the store name)


one of the listed supermarket above is the one where they purchase the said product, i cooked the 2 pack of that noodles for our breakfast but before i cooked it......

i've noticed the expiration date of one of the pack and its dated AUGUST 7 2009 so it means almost 1 month ago the product is still on display even its already expired..( i must be thankful because before i cooked it i look first for the expiration) that a trivia hehe...


then i decided to take a shot of that product and sad to say after i uploaded it here its too dark pala,,haizt,,,

so next time to all the readers make sure before you cook or take any kind of food especially repacked foods and products please look first to the expiration date to make sure that it wont be a problem after we got full even it is already cook.

Monday a holiday for INC's LEADER Ernie Manalo burial

philstar.com

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang declared this Monday, Sept. 7, a special non-working holiday marking the burial of Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) leader Eraño Manalo.

Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said President Arroyo has also released a proclamation declaring Sept. 21 as a non-working holiday for the Islamic holy day of Eid’l Fitr.

The President decided to declare a national day of mourning this Monday for the death of Manalo.

Remonde said the national colors would be flown at half-mast on Monday.

Last Wednesday, the President also declared a period of national mourning for Manalo, which ends on Monday.

Sept. 21 marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan, and would be highlighted by the celebration of Eid’l Fitr.

Muslims actually celebrate Eid’l Fitr for three days.

The start of Ramadan is determined in accordance with the Islamic calendar or the lunar calendar, and the date of Eid’l Fitr is determined by the sighting of the new moon.

The INC, on the other hand, announced the interment of Manalo would begin at 12 noon on Monday.

INC spokesman Bienvenido Santiago said the remains of Manalo would be interred at the Tabernacle located near the INC Central Temple in Tandang Sora, Quezon City.

Manalo died of cardiopulmonary arrest last Aug. 31 at the age of 84. His remains lie in state at the INC Central Temple in Quezon City.

In the 95 years of its existence, the INC has been an influential religious organization with many politicians, even presidents, seeking their endorsement during elections. – Marvin Sy, Evelyn Macairan

Biography of Iglesia leader Eraño Manalo

Brother Eraño Manalo served as executive minister of Iglesia ni Cristo following the death of his father, INC founder Felix Y. Manalo, in 1963.

Known as “Ka Erdy” among INC followers, Eraño led the expansion of the INC not only in the country but also overseas. Under his leadership, INC started its missions abroad in 1968 and has grown the number of its members ever since.

Also under him, the INC started to make use of its media agencies extensively to propagate its mission to spread God's word.

In the 2000 census, the National Statistics Office put the INC membership in the country at 1.8 million or around 2.3 percent of the total population.

Eraño was born on January 2, 1925, the fifth child of the late INC founder and Honorata De Guzman.

Ka Erdy was married to the Cristina Villanueva and had six children.

ELECTION 2010: Undecided Aquino to seek ‘divine guidance’

By Maila Ager
INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines— Senator Benigno “Noynoy”Aquino III has again deferred his decision on joining the presidential race, saying he still needed to pray for “discernment and divine guidance.”

Aquino issued the statement at a press conference Wednesday, a day after Senator Manuel “Mar” Roxas made a surprise announcement that he was backing out of the 2010 presidential contest to give way to Aquino.

But Aquino vowed never to turn his back on the challenge.

“I’ll never turn my back on this fight. And I hope you’ll join me in this fight,” he said.

Aquino said he needed to go into a spiritual retreat this weekend to seek divine guidance on his 2010 plans.

“As I pray for discernment and divine guidance, I urge you to pray with me so that you too can assess your own readiness to take part in the difficult struggle ahead. We are in this together,” he said.

Calls mounted for Aquino to run following the death of his mother, former president Corazon Aquino on August 1. People across the country mourned her passing and hundreds of thousands turned up to pay their last respects for the country’s “Icon of Democracy.”

Soon, grief turned into a campaign for the younger Aquino to continue his mother’s endeavors for democracy and good governance.

His family however remained apprehensive about the idea of his running for the highest post in the land.

“In the remaining days of mourning for our beloved mother, I would strive to sincerely answer this question,” Senator Aquino said.

He then recalled how his father, martyred senator Benigno Aquino Jr., fought the corrupt and brutal rule of Ferdinand Marcos, and how his mother continued the battle to regain democracy in this country.

“Ngayung umatras muli ang ating bayan patungo sa bangin ng kapahamakan, panahon muli upang manindigan, panahon ding maghanda para sa isang mas mahaba at matinding laban kung saan walang bibitiw hanggang makamit natin ang pagbabagong ating hinahangad” Aquino said.

But Aquino did not let the occasion pass without commending Roxas for giving up his presidential ambition for him.

Aquino said Roxas’ sacrifice was “the finest example of selflessness that our nation solely needs in this morally troubled times.”

ELECTION 2010: EMELDA MARCOS Still dreaming of power

Twenty years after the death of her controversial husband, former first lady Imelda Marcos still dreams of a return to power but this time with her son as president.

“Yes, I am egging him... I am practically pushing him to run for a higher office,” the energetic and immaculately dressed 80-year-old told AFP when asked if she wanted Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to lead the Southeast Asian nation.

Marcos Jr., 51, only son of the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos, has already forged a successful political career that has been partly based on his parents’ enduring strengths and alliances.

He served as governor of Ilocos Norte, his father’s former stronghold, for 12 years and is currently an opposition member of the House of Representatives.

While acknowledging all mothers were proud of their sons, Mrs. Marcos said she had many special reasons to boast about hers.

“He has done great miracles in Ilocos,” she said in an exclusive interview on Monday from her double-storey penthouse apartment in a luxury suburb of Manila.

She said that among his many achievements while governor of Ilocos, the man nicknamed “Bongbong” had built hundreds of kilometers of roads, ensured all the poor had access to medical services and tripled average incomes.

“Bongbong, I am very proud of him. He can qualify for anything,” she said.

There is speculation that Marcos Jr. will run for the Senate in next year’s national elections, but he has not publicly announced any ambitions to lead the nation of 92 million people.

There is no clear front-runner among the more than a dozen candidates who have said they may enter the running to succeed President Arroyo, who is constitutionally mandated to step down next year.

However, Mrs. Marcos did not say when she hoped her son, educated at Oxford University and the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton Business School, would assume the nation’s highest office.

Marcos Sr. remains one of Asia’s most controversial and divisive figures despite two decades having passed since his death in exile on Sept. 21, 1989.

He ruled the Philippines from 1965 until being ousted by a “people power” revolution in 1986 that forced him and his family to flee to the United States.

His critics accuse him of plundering billions of dollars from government coffers and presiding over widespread human rights abuses.

His wife’s famously extravagant clothes and lifestyle were regarded as one of the most powerful symbols of the couple’s excesses, however, she insisted she and her husband have nothing to apologize for.

“Marcos was no dictator,” she said before launching into a defense of the martial law that her husband introduced in 1972 to stay in power.

After returning to the Philippines following her husband’s death, Mrs. Marcos made a failed bid for the presidency in 1992.

And unsullied by a conviction for committing any crime during her husband’s reign, she believes she still has much to offer her country.

Mrs. Marcos said she harbored ambitions of a top government post in her son’s administration that would put her in charge of overseeing basic services for the Philippines’ 42,000 villages, known as barangays.

She said the reason she was pushing her son to become president was that: “I want him to appoint me as ‘mother of the barangay’ at one peso (two cents) a year salary.”

“Marcos has already institutionalized politics in the family,” she said of her husband.

“What I want to do is simultaneously go to the barangay and bring basic services there so that people will not be deprived of care and attention. I just want to be mama of the barangays,” she said. – Jose Rodel Clapano

ELECTION 2010: Binay drops out of 2010 race, wants to be Erap's vice president

MANILA, Philippines - Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay wants to run for vice president in tandem with former President Joseph Estrada next year.

Speaking at the launching of a book honoring Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr. and former President Corazon Aquino, Binay said he would not run for senator if Estrada does not choose him as running mate.

“President Estrada said he is running for president in 2010,” Binay said. “So I will now only aspire to be his vice president. But if he will not choose me, I will return to private life and I will not run for senator.”

He added: “I am an executioner of policies and I only want a position of an executive. I have nothing to do in Congress.

Binay said he supports Estrada’s effort to unite the opposition and field a single candidate for president in 2010

“To enable us to unify, we must talk,” he said.

“But for me, if I am not chosen as vice president of the opposition, I will no longer run.

“President Estrada is carrying programs of a true opposition. Same as the program of the late former President Cory Aquino.”

Earlier, a source in the opposition said Estrada favored Sen. Francis Escudero as his running mate in 2010 because of his good showing in the surveys.

ELECTION 2010: Mar gives way to Noynoy

PHILSTAR.COM

Senators Mar Roxas and Benigno Aquino III flash the Laban sign after a press conference at the Club Filipino in Greenhills, San Juan yesterday. Roxas, president of the Liberal Party, announced he was withdrawing from the 2010 presidential race to support the candidacy of Aquino, whose response will be known today. Boy Santos

MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Manuel “Mar” Roxas II made the “supreme sacrifice” and announced yesterday that he would give way to Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III as the presidential candidate of the Liberal Party in the 2010 elections.

“Ito na ang pinakamabigat na desisyon sa buhay ko. Maniwala man kayo o hindi, ginawa ko ito para sa bayan, para sa inyo (This is the toughest decision of my life. Believe it or not, I did this for the nation, for all of you). I do this for unity in support of change. And if that means somebody must make the sacrifice, it must be me. Ako na (It’s me),” Roxas told a press conference at the Club Filipino in Greenhills, San Juan, which was organized by the Liberal Party (LP).

Roxas, the current LP president, declared that he would now support the presidential candidacy of Aquino, who is also an LP official and son of the late Sen. Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. and former President Corazon Aquino who recently passed away.

Wearing his signature blue shirt, Roxas was teary-eyed and emotional as he read a prepared statement that still surprised many despite speculation for several weeks that he would give way to the younger Aquino, whose popularity is rising a month after the death of his mother.

Roxas said his decision was the product of serious talks with Sen. Aquino and that he would like to make the sacrifice for the sake of the country

“Over the weekend, Noynoy and I had many long conversations. Masinsinang usapan. We agreed. Let us forget about ourselves for a moment. This is not about us; this is about our people and our country. This is about our common dream. The dream of our parents,” Roxas said.

“But let us not remain a country of dreamers. Tama na ang pangarap. Gawin na natin, ngayon (dreaming should end. We should do it now). Today, I am announcing my support for the candidacy of Noynoy Aquino for President in 2010,” he said.

Roxas was cheered by the audience composed of his family members, LP leaders and members led by party chairman emeritus, former Senate president Jovito Salonga, and supporters.

Sen. Roxas’ mother, Judy sat and listened silently to her son, while the senator’s fiancée broadcast journalist Korina Sanchez also appeared sad and emotional but managed not to cry unlike the cousins and other relatives of Roxas.

He flashed the Laban sign as the audience chanted: “Mabuhay si Mar!” “Go Mar!” and “We love you, Mar!”

Some of his staff were stunned because they said only Roxas and Aquino knew what they would say before the media.

“Noy (Sen. Aquino) has made it clear to me that he wants to carry the torch of leadership,” Roxas said.

Roxas said the passing of Aquino’s mother, former President Aquino, has reawakened a passion among Filipinos.

“I acknowledge this as fuel to bring us to the realization of our dream: Good will triumph over evil. “To you Noy, I say: I began the campaign to sow the seeds para sa pagbabago at reporma (for change and reforms). You must now be the one to grow them in the arena of leadership,” Roxas added.

While he did not make it clear whether he would run as vice president of Aquino, Roxas stressed: “Hindi kami maghihiwalay ni (we will not be divided) Noy. I will stand with him,” Roxas said.

“At sa aking mga kababayan, sa mga nagtiwala sa akin: Mahal na mahal ko po kayo. Mahal na mahal ko po ang ating bayan. Hindi rin tayo maghihiwalay. Itutuloy natin ang pagbabago sa ating bansa. Itutuloy natin ang laban para sa reporma!” Roxas said.

“Kay Noy, at sa aking mga kababayan: Country above self! Bayan bago sarili! Hindi ko kayo pababayaan! Lalaban tayo!” Roxas said.

Putting “country first before self,” Roxas said, was the legacy of his grandfather, former President Manuel Roxas.

“Our nation is in trouble. Leadership is bankrupt. Institutions are in disarray. People are hungry. Noynoy Aquino and I share the same outrage over the mess we are all in, the same way we share the solution—clean, honest, selfless public service,” Roxas said.

“Marami at matindi ang mga problema ng bansa. Kailangan nating ayusin. Matindi ang kalaban (The country has many serious problems we need to resolve. The opponent is strong). We need a determined force for good far stronger than the festering evil around us. We need to fight just as our own fathers fought dictatorship, and just as both died believing that good will conquer evil,” he said.

“Noynoy and I want to make a difference, but we also know that we need to unite to achieve what we want,” Roxas further said.

He said that as LP president it was within his power to preside over a potentially divisive process or to make the party a bridge for the forces of change.

“I choose to lead unity, not division. Bilang pinuno ng aking partido, magdedesisyon ako. Mahal ko ang Partido Liberal. My grandfather (former President Manuel Roxas) founded it. My father led it during the most difficult times of martial law. Sa harap ng peligro, sa kabila ng napakaraming tukso—hindi siya sumuko. He inspired me—to stay the course, to fight the good fight, to pass the test of true character. To believe,” Roxas said, referring to his father, former senator Gerardo Roxas.

‘This is his day’

Sen. Aquino said he was also surprised that Roxas made the decision in such a short period of time.

He said the two of them have been having long talks and that he himself was already close to making a decision.

“If you admire him (Roxas) now, you’ll admire him more this time. This is his day. Let us give this day to him,” Aquino told The STAR before Roxas made the announcement.

Sen. Aquino is expected to make an announcement today.

Liberal Party stalwart and former education chief Florencio Abad said Roxas’ decision was a result of personal talks between Sens. Roxas and Aquino.

“It was his personal decision para umusad lang ang usapan (so the talks would proceed),” Abad told reporters.

He, however, said there would be talks among the LP members on who will be Aquino’s running mate.

“Nasasaktan din siya (Roxas) about rumors that he is getting in the way of Noynoy. Nagbigay siya para mamatay na ang mga speculations,” said Abad who acted as campaign manager of Sen. Aquino in the 2007 elections.

Abad said it was a very difficult decision for Roxas who has been preparing for the 2010 presidential elections for the past two years.

Liwayway Vinzons-Chato, an LP member, said she has already an inkling of Roxas’ announcement.

“That’s a challenge to all parties of the opposition to unite,” Chato said.

Meanwhile, Malacañang said last night that the withdrawal of Sen. Roxas would have a negative impact on the opposition.

Presidential Adviser for Political Affairs Gabriel Claudio described Roxas’ announcement as “a very interesting development.”

“It will definitely complicate matters further for the opposition more than it will affect the administration coalition,” Claudio said.

RP school in Oman confirms first H1N1 case

abs-cbnnews.com

One of the students of the Philippine School in Oman was tested positive for A(H1N1) virus, ABS-CBN Middle East News Bureau reported.

School principal Dr. Narcisa Isla said the fourth year Sudanese student got the virus from a relative infected with A(H1N1).

“We have one but not a Filipino and he is a fourth year,” said Dr. Isla.

Dr. Isla explained that the student was absent from school since Saturday.

The case prompted the school to coordinate with the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education.

“We have been doing already some precautionary measures, of course yung hygiene at sanitation,” she said.

The student is now under quarantine. His classmates and friends who were in close contact with him are now also under observation.

The Ministry of Health said 250 more cases were reported in just a span of six days, bringing the total of number of people infected with A(H1N1) to more than 700 with six deaths. Reports from Rowen Soldevilla, ABS-CBN Middle East News Bureau, Oman and Balitang Middle East

Head of largest Philippine indigenous church dies

Im a devoted roman catholic but i spent a blog space here for our mga kapatid in Iglesya ni Cristo,, i do have a lot of classmates (since im not studying at a catholic school) which a Iglesia ni Cristo and they are all nice,,

my deepest condolences to the late Erano Manalo and family and the rest of the kapatiran,,

AP.COM

MANILA, Philippines – Erano Manalo, leader of the Philippines' largest indigenous religious sect, has died, his spokesman said Tuesday. He was 84.

Manalo took over Iglesia ni Cristo, or Church of Christ, after the death of his father and the church's founder, Felix Manalo, in 1963. The church is believed to have millions of members but does not disclose the figure.

Manalo died of a heart attack in his Manila home on Monday, the church's spokesman Bienvenido Santiago said.

The church was founded in 1914 when Felix Manalo resigned as minister of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church after questioning the observance of Sabbath on Saturdays. He experienced what he claimed to be a call similar to those of ancient prophets.

Iglesia ni Cristo rejects the Christian doctrine of trinity and believes Christ is one of several prophets.

It is considered the largest indigenous church that originated from the Philippines and the largest independent church in Asia.