After spending the Christmas holidays in the Philippines, Filipino balikbayans left the country with a heavy heart. Many of my balikbayan friends were telling me that they would prefer to stay in the Philippines once they retire. They find the Philippines a happy place to live in. There are many beautiful places to see, many eateries and restaurants with different food style which cater to one’s appetite even in the wee hours of the morning. Whiling away the evening in one of the coffee shops in places like Greenbelt area in Makati, Serendra & Bonifacio High street at the Old Fort Bonifacio, Eastwood at Libis, Quezon City, Araneta area, Cultural Center area in Manila, the eateries at Macapagal Avenue in Pasay and other interesting places within Metro Manila and nearby towns, one will not feel lonely because by just watching people pass by –the young and old , is already entertaining in itself.

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How true was the revelation that Speaker Prospero Nograles when he was still the House of Representatives majority floor leader, asked then Philippine Deposit Insurance president Ricardo Tan who was investigating at that time the Legacy group, to go slow on the investigation of Celso de los Angeles because the latter helped in the campaign of Vice President Noli de Castro? If this is true, Nograles should also be investigated especially because of his alleged investment of 20 million pesos in the Legacy group.
De los Angeles should be made answerable to the people who put money for the education of their children in the pre-need companies he headed, if their investment should go to waste. If found guilty, proper authorities must confiscate the properties of de los Angeles and use them to pay all the claimants.

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When will the quarrel between Pampanga Governor Ed Panlilio, and the vice governor, the board members and the town mayors end? The town mayors once again snubbed the invitation of the governor to attend the Provincial Development Council meeting. The people of Pampanga are the ones suffering because of these squabbles. No project of the Governor is being implemented because the provincial board is opposing. Why can’t they talk and just focus on their common goal and set aside their differences. After all it is still better to lose and bend one’s ego for a common good. It is a heroic act that gets its own reward. Besides, quarrelling is done only by spoiled brats which I hope they are not.

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Maybe it is about time that the Oil Deregulation Law be repealed. The world crude oil price is going down and yet the gasoline price in the Philippines is going up.
The Filipino consumers & motorists are suffering enough as this is translated to the spiralling cost of living..

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Philippine Army Supply Command chief, Brig. General Ric Brillantes was suspended by the Office of the Ombudsman for alleged involvement in the anomalous purchase of combat shoes. It is long over due that prosecution of not only erring high ranking military officers but also the officers in the police department and other government offices be strongly pursued. If corrupt high ranking officers will be put to jail, the low ranking officers & employees will think twice before committing the same mistake.
Proper government authorities should check the lifestyle of government officials & employees including those who already retired from the service. I wonder why many of them can afford to have two or more expensive cars and a lifestyle of a rich person if their only source of income is their monthly salaries.

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I doubt if the coming election in 2010 will be fully automated even if the supplemental budget of P11 billion will be approved. Time is running short. With all the deliberations that is causing the delay, before they know it is already election time. Even the bidding for the automated counting machine has not yet started .

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Many are asking why February 25^th , the anniversary of the people power revolution in 1986 is no longer a holiday. Is it because of the economic crisis that the country should not miss a day of work in order to be productive or it is because of the political enmity between President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and former President Cory Aquino, the leader of the people power revolution.



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Another showbiz personality who is very rich today like boxer & entertainment personality Manny Pacquiao who I believe is now a multi-millionaire, is Willie Revillame. Willie is the host of the TV noontime show Wowowee. Suspended a couple of times by ABS-CBN TV network, he was able to stand up and recover to rise as the most successful TV host of a variety show that is beamed in almost all countries of the world where there are watching Filipinos.


I heard one good act which Revillame did when his program Wowowee went to the Middle East and this was his benevolent act of sponsoring the air fare of several Filipina overseas workers who were stranded in Dubai. Continue the good work Willie !



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The fight between Manny Pacquaio & Ricky Hatton is becoming more interesting. Tickets which cost higher than Manny’s previous fight with Oscar de la Joya are fast selling out.. Manny is expected to earn one billion pesos in this fight.
I hope Manny will stop fighting after this and just enjoy his money with his family.



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It is good that the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) will investand redevelop Puerto Azul, a five-star hotel & beach resort that used to be one of the tourist spots and vacation place in the country. Puerto Asul in Batangas used to host international golf competitions years ago. The revival of the place will add to our growing tourist destinations that will surely lure more foreign travellers to our shore.

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Email: pachecober@yahoo.com

 

 

Munting Nayon News Magazine