Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim started his Christmas Day morning with his gift-giving at the four (4) city-run hospitals in Manila. At 9:00 in the morning, he started his ‘Christmas rounds’ at Ospital ng Sampaloc, followed by Ospital ng Tondo, and Gat Andres Bonifacio Memorial Medical Center (GABMMC), where he visited each hospital ward and gave christmas gifts to the patients confined .

His last visit was the Ospital Ng Maynila where a special visit to the woman who delivered her twins last wednesday December 23, 2009.

The 30-year old woman Marilyn gave birth to twins succesfully according to Dr. Teodoro E. MArtin, Hospital Director of Ospital ng Maynila. After the couple from Las Pinas City went around nine (9) hospitals (public and private) in metro manila, they landed in Ospital ng Maynila where she was given immediate care and medical attention.

“We were in a restaurant with Mayor Lim after the misa de gallo until Mr. Taruc (DZRH) called the Mayor and informed him of the situation. Their relative from Bicol called the radio station crying because Marilyn and Leonardo had been declined and refused by already nine hospitals from Las Pinas, Quezon City, San Juan, and even in Sta. Cruz Manila. After the phone call, Mayor Lim immediately tasked me to get the woman in an ambulance and we brought her to Ospital ng Maynila, where we had her checked.”

“There were no referrals from the hospitals where they went to. They said it’s because the case is delicate and dangerous and they are not well-equipped in case the children would need respirators and other medical equipment.” Martin explained.

 ”After ultrasound and other medical laboratories, we found out that she was about to deliver twins, and one is in a breech presentation, where the legs are oriented to come out first, so she underwent caesarian delivery. She’s only 31 weeks so premature.”

“It’s her 4th pregnancy so she has 5 children now. The babies are in good condition, in fact they are for discharge today, they are just waiting for the father of the babies.”

 ”Mayor Lim’s policy is free hospital for all. And we don’t choose our patients. Even if you are not from Manila, patients are always welcome and we will not have second thoughts about giving them treatment. And even in dangerous cases, we check them first to see what emergency measures we can do. We cannot send them away.” Martin added.

Mother Marilyn was so thankful to Dr. Martin and Mayor Lim when Lim visited her in her room.

“I think they will name the twins Joe and Fred,” Martin said in a jest referring to Joe Taruc and Mayor Fred Lim who ended the painful saga of the couple.

On one hand, Mayor lim reiterated immediate medical attention and free hospitalization for poor patients not only Manilans but for those who need medical help from anywhere in the country.

 ” I always tell the directors and doctors of all the 5 city-run hospitals to make sure that all patients who seek medical treatment will be given proper attention. And whether they are from Manila or elsewhere, if they seek and need to be hospitalized, accept them. Don’t think twice. If they cannot accomodate, make sure they will be brought to other available hospitals in an ambulance and they must bring them themselves if possible.” Lim said.

Manila has currently five city-run hospitals offering free hospitalization. Ospital ng Maynila, Ospital ng Tondo, Ospital ng Sampaloc, Gat Andres Bonifacio Memorial Medical Center, Jose Abad Santos Mother and Child Hospital, and soonest on February 2010, the 6th city-run hospital in Sta. Ana will also be opened. All of these have been provided with 150,000 peso-revolving fund to cater to the needs of the patients as to medicines and emergency necessities.

Last Monday, IMC held its Christmas party.

I came late because I did two corporate shows in Villamor Air Base and in Makati.  When I arrived at our own party, after an hour of hurdling an obstacle course called traffic-choked EDSA,  it was time for the exchange of gifts.

Anthony Andres, one of the most talented close-up workers in the Philippines, surprised me with a beautiful gift.  He put to good use his talent as graphic artists to sketch a caricature of me.

What he produced was a beautiful exaggerated graphic rendition of me.  I didn’t know I look good in caricature.  It’s so good I spend eight hours a day looking, gazing and staring at it.

Thanks Anthony for a beautiful Christmas gift.  It goes straight to my marketing material.

Stay magical,

Leodini

www.leodini.com

Asian Development Bank, Manila
2010 Internship Program

Please visit:

http://www.adb.org/Internship/default.asp

for full details about this year’s opportunities.

The American University deadline is 11:59 pm on Tuesday, January 12, 2010. (Up to 6 AU candidates can be submitted to ADB.)

Please note that the application requires the following:

·        Apply for one assignment only.  Students applying to more than one assignment will be disqualified;
·        Ensure that all fields in the form are completed.  ADB will not accept incomplete and hand-written forms; and
·        Submit the (i) application form-students, and (ii) CV, if preferred, to internship coordinator (John Charles: charles@american.edu)
Note: In launching the MS Excel Internship Application Form, choose Open and Enable Macros. Macros must be enabled to use the workbook.  In         Excel, click on Tools > Macros> Security and set your Security level to Medium.

If you require asssitance on the mechanics of your application, please schedule a phone or in-person appointment with John:

http://www.american.edu/careercenter/Student-Appointment-Calendar.cfm

Wednesday promises to be a full and stellar day of basketball at the Convocation Center as the second round of the NEA Tournament gets underway. Eight boys and eight girls games fill the schedule and GameFace will bring you live blog coverage from much of the action throughout the day. The perfect early Christmas present for those stuck at work and missing the NEA action.

Click the link to launch the live blog when the action tips off at 10:30 or check out what you missed later in the day anytime.

Click Here

Mayon volcano in the Philippine spews lava as eruption looms.

Mayon is the most active volcano in Philippine.

People around the area had fled their homes.

The government wants everybody to move from the area near the volcano because the eruption can kill many people and it will be a big disaster.

The lava is very, very hot and during a volcano eruption burning lava will come out from the volcano and destroy things along the way.

The Philippine Institute on Volcanology and Seismology was considering ratcheting up the volcano alert to the highest level, which would mean an eruption was underway, the Philippine News Agency (PNA) reported.

Mayon is 500km south of the Philippine capital of Manila.

There are other active volcanoes in the Philippine.

I think after Mayon there will not be any volcano eruption in the Philippine for a while but not forever.

(Well it was published yesterday but what the heck…)

BONG REVILLA’S SUGGESTION TO ‘SHOW ONLY ONE HOLLYWOOD MOVIE A MONTH’!

Hooray!! Pft.

Yes, he DOES  have a point with regards to the continuing battle between Filipino-Hollywood films and that we should support our local film industry blah blah… point taken. But, c’mon!! Seriously??

Trust me, the Filipino people WILL watch local films if the quality and the substance is there. We had good films back then, right?! We had “Ang Tanging Ina”, “Tanging Yaman”, “Dekada ‘70″, “Anak”, “Magnifico”, “Bata, Bata Pano Ka Ginawa?”, etc. And to add to that, we are facing the boom of award-winning digital films (“Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros”, “Serbis”, “Kinatay”,  “Ded na Si Lolo”). See? There IS hope. There IS potential.

Now, fast-forward to the almost disastrous line-up of movies included in the upcoming Metro Manila Film Festival…

Oh Bong. Bong, Bong, Bong… (sigh)

Getting home was foremost on my mind. Not just because it was Christmas – I simply had to get home and see my family, be with my family. Feeling exhausted and depleted from trying to piece together a shattered life in Singapore and eventually starting a new one in Indonesia, the Philippines was my ultimate sanctuary.  But before I was to get to my sanctuary, I had to put up with the unpleasant side of travelling beginning with a puffed-up co-AirAsia passenger who couldn’t wait his turn at the counter.

He didn’t have an iota of a brain to respect what I call public space. Be it queues for a turn at an ATM machine or counter (check-in counter, sales counter or McDonald’s counter), one should wait his/her turn until the customer has left the counter. It’s called common decency, which he lacked. Being taller than me, he arched his arm and dropped his documents on the counter and glared at me as if to say “Get out” after he saw that I was issued my boarding pass. I glared back at the Neanderthal and was about to give him a piece of my mind, but my yoga senses kicked in stopping the fusillade of invectives I was so ready to unleash at him.

“He can eat the counter if he wanted too,” I said to myself and walked off, mentally flicking him off like a fly.

It’s a common misconception that public spaces are without boundaries. Au contraire, public spaces are governed by good behavior, common sense and consideration. Airline check-in is just one of the instances where the three codes of conduct coalesce shining the spotlight on one’s upbringing. Are you a well-mannered individual or a boor who is missing half a brain having stepped on the other half earlier on?  The three are interconnected. Good behavior is the result of an upbringing steeped in the practice of consideration for others and not being caught up in narcissistic tendencies. But being well-bred doesn’t mean turning into a door mat. Common sense comes in when you need to know how to act, which can be done by “reading” the situation. For example, if there is still someone at the counter tidying up their documents, waiting for that person to leave the counter is appropriate behavior. Common sense doesn’t need Einstein’s mental acuity but people dumber than a box of rocks will certainly have problems with common sense.

Remember that pompous co-passenger? The universe’s wicked sense of humor kicked in and had him sit a row before me. But the universe balanced it with the serendipitous finding of Elizabeth Gilbert’s Eat, Pray, Love at the Periplus bookstore at the airport sugar coated with a purchase discount. 

As I said, the universe has a wicked sense of humor. The flight departure had been moved again when I reached the departure gate. The original flight time of 530pm was moved to 615pm when I was checking in, and lunch and a browse through Periplus later, the departure time was moved to 655pm when I reached the departure gate.  That’s AirAsia Indonesia for you – ask for the reason for the delay and you’ll receive an explanation that it’s not a delay but a re-timing. Board the plane and you’ll hear the Captain apologizing for the delay in departure – something about technical difficulties and roster problems. Conflicting stories never sat well with me but I was going home so I let it slide.

The universe was being pleasant when I landed at Singapore Changi Airport three hours before midnight. No long queues at the immigration counter, luggage was already offloaded onto the belt and the taxi bay attendant was in control despite the snafu with guests from India who decided to board which ever taxi they wanted despite being assigned specific berths. The next morning started on the right foot as well – the taxi my friend booked for me arrived on the dot and the driver was gracious. Despite the snaking queue at the Philippine Airline check-in counters, check-in was prompt. The attendant was genial, remembering to ask me if I wanted an aisle or window seat.  Even the employee at Kedai Kue Kue was very solicitous carrying my bags of keropok udang to the counter.

Then the bubble popped when I ran into Ms. Grumpy Chops at Choco Fantasia who met my greeting with a scowl. It was only 9 am. It is hard work being in the service industry because one deals with various people and long hours. However, without overdoing it, people at the frontline of the service industry should radiate the amiability of Big Bird, the child-like wonder of Elmo and the vitality of Flora, Fauna and Merryweather, not channel the surly vibes of Voldemort and Neferet.    

“Let it slide. Just get the chocolates,” I told myself, as I went up and down the aisles of chocolates.

Let it slide became my mantra until my flight landed at the Centennial Airport. I let the disagreeable mien and disposition of the cabin crew slide – they probably woke up at the wrong side of the bed. I let the 35-minute delay in the departure slide – ranting at the pilot won’t move the plane an inch. I let the intermittent thumping on the back of my seat slide – the passenger seated behind me must have been frantically searching for the barf bag. I let the brusque answer of the steward slide after I asked him if my crackers wouldn’t get crushed after he shoved another bag in the overhead cabin – he probably had enough of dealing with doubters.  

Mantra two was “I’m going home” and that was all that mattered.

Baywalk along Roxas Boulevard during the Atienza Administration

Columns from Malaya and Abante – Edition 2009 – 356

Lito Atienza Wants Manila – Again!

“Manila has deteriorated once again under the present local administration with its lack of vision and program of government.”

by Ducky Paredes

Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary and former Mayor Lito Atienza, the only undefeated Mayor of Manila, was elated that, on filing his Certificate of Candidacy (COC), a large crowd of Manileños greeted him, shook his hands, clapped and urged him on. After a Thanksgiving Mass at Quiapo Church, Atienza marched to Comelec’s local office along Arroceros Street with his Buhayin ang MayniLA ticket to file his certificate of candidacy for Mayor of Manila.

Lito sees his candidacy as heeding the cry of Manileños to restore his urban renewal and sustainable development program and replace the present administration, which totally neglected the city and its residents:

“Manileños, especially the poor and other marginalized sectors, have not only witnessed but experienced genuine progress under my administration’s Buhayin ang MayniLA program. We had a vision and it was pursued and delivered. For nine straight years (which is the only allowable maximum term limit for elected local officials under the Constitution), residents enjoyed, among others, health centers and hospitals with adequate equipment, facilities, free medicines and services as nutrition programs were also in place.

“Young underprivileged Manileños were given ‘no tuition fee’ quality education with competitive standards. Businesses were thriving as jobs and livelihood opportunities were generated and city hall processes were streamlined against red tape and corruption. Manila was always safe then because law violators were not only apprehended but punished as well. Garbage, likewise, were regularly collected and roads were well maintained. The city had a clean, healthy and progressive environment to live in.”

Roxas Boulevard Baywalk - 2009

Inheriting a low revenue collection of only P2 billion annually from his predecessor in 1998, Atienza, through innovative reforms, raised the city’s revenue to P8 billion. Atienza’s income-generating efforts were highlighted when he was cited in a center spread published 2006 financial report of no less than the Commission on Audit (COA) and Department of Finance (DOF): “The city enjoyed a very healthy economy when taxes were effectively collected and efficiently delivered back to Manileños.” Atienza left a P2.6-billion fund after Lito’s term as Mayor ended in 2007.

“Manila has deteriorated once again under the present local administration with its lack of vision and program of government. For three years, the Lim government has deprived Manileños of the right kind of life they deserve by removing and destroying what my administration worked hard for the people in nine years.

“Chaos and squalor in all parts of Manila were tolerated once more that shooed people and opportunities away from the city. Ang ibinigay naming tunay na pag-asa at liwanag ng kaunlaran sa Maynila ay muli na namang nagdilim sa mali at di-wastong pamamalakad. Noon, Maynila ang nangunguna at sinusundan. Ngayon, napag-iwanan na naman ang lungsod. Despite great opposition from residents, non-government organizations and the church, they (Lim administration) even railroaded an ordinance (8187) which allowed and ensured the permanent stay of “highly pollutive and extremely hazardous industries” in the capital, including the oil depots in Pandacan which placed the lives of Manileños in grave danger and made Manila the most polluted and toxic city in the world. I consider it the highest form of insensitivity against worldwide efforts to fight pollution and global warming. Plus, the massive syndicated graft and corruption which effected the sale of prime public properties to favor some individuals and personalities,” Atienza stressed.

Atienza was born and raised in Manila. He rose from the ranks starting as a barangay tanod (watchman). He moved up to kagawad then, barangay chairman. He was elected Assemblyman, despite being an opposition candidate, representing the City of Manila at the Batasang Pambansa during Martial Law and served as National Housing Authority (NHA) General Manager during Cory Aquino’s presidency. Atienza was elected Vice Mayor of Manila in 1992 and, in 1998, became the only Vice Mayor ever elected Mayor of Manila. He has defeated political giants in Manila including current Mayor Alfredo Lim in 2001. In 2004, he garnered the largest lead vote against an electoral opponent ever recorded in Manila’s political history.

Atienza’s governance has always hewed to his steadfast belief on the value of life. He was unanimously elected anew as President of Pro-Life Philippines, being the longest serving head of the organization. Atienza has consistently been at the forefront of upholding and protecting the value and sanctity of life. Lito dismisses the idea that poverty is caused by population growth; he sees this as a mere “alibi for failure.”

During his turn as Mayor, Atienza ensured an improved quality of life for Manila residents by bringing out the full potential of each and every Manileño. He firmly believes that development, good governance, and the equal distribution of opportunities are the necessary elements to sustain a healthy growing population and would bring people to their best state.

The other candidates under Atienza’s Buhayin ang MayniLA ticket are: Bonjay Isip-Garcia for Vice Mayor; for district 1 Councilors – Dennis Alcoreza, Edwin Simbulan, Eduardo Solis, Danny Isiderio, and German Nuñez; for district 2 Councilors – Marlon Lacson, Numero Uno Lim, Ivy Varona, Boy Laxa, Nida Buenaventura-Panti, and Ike Hernandez Villegas; Letlet Zarcal for district 3 Congressman; for district 3 Councilors – Joel Chua, Ramon Morales, Larsil Silva, Robbie Oca, Don Neil Dela Peña, and Alejandro Gomez; for district 4 Councilors – Gerino Tolentino, Jocelyn Quintos, Susan Beltran, DJ Bagatsing, Caloy Trinidad, and Robin Aquino Padilla; Amado Bagatsing for district 5 Congressman; for district 5 Councilors – Cora Gernale, Cristy Isip, Rafael Borromeo, Robert Ortega, Joey Cabreza, and Harry Huecas; Benny Abante for district 6 Congressman; and for district 6 Councilors – Joy Dawis-Asuncion, Joey Uy, Caloy Castañeda, Vladimir Cabigao, and Casimiro Sison

* * *

According to a recent survey, Lito Atienza is presently running third behind incumbent Mayor Fred Lim and former policeman and Peace Adviser Sonny Razon. Of course, the campaign has not yet begun and Lito has not yet begun campaigning and did not do so as a non-candidate prior to filing his CoC as Sonny Razon did.

My take on the Manila elections is that it will be a dogfight exclusively between Mayor Lim and Former Mayor Atienza.

lito-atienza

lito atienza

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Calling them ‘companies with conscience,’ Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Lito Atienza (center) honors eight companies that have shown exemplary environmental performance in a simple ceremony held at the DENR’s Social Hall in Quezon City. Leading the awardees in presenting the “DENR Seal of Approval” awarded them under the Philippine Environment Partnership Program (PEPP) implemented by the Environmental Management Bureau is business tycoon Dr. Lucio Tan for Absolut Distillers, Inc. (to Atienza’s left). The other awardees are (from left): Gilbert Javier for Nestle Philippines-Lipa Plant, Amador Alas for Nestle Philippines-Cabuyao Plant, Jess Reyes, also for Nestle Philippines-Cabuyao Plant, Edith de Leon, also for Nestle Philippines-Lipa Plant, Annie Ambay for PSI Technologies, Lloyd Magat for Vishay Philippines, Liza Beronio for STMicroelectronics, Robin Batacandolo for Analog Devices-Gen. Trias, Noel Pabilona and Gina Picandal for ON Semiconductor, and Gerry Tee, also for Absolut Distillers, Inc.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources awarded eight companies with exemplary environmental performance with the “DENR Seal of Approval”.

On hand to receive the awards for their companies include business tycoon Dr. Lucio Tan for Absolut Distillers Inc.; Facilities Manager Robin Batacandolo for Analog Devices-General Trias; Vice-President and Corporate Environment Officer Jess Reyes for Nestle Phils., Inc.-Cabuyao Factory; Sr. Vice-President for Corporate Affairs Edith de Leon for Nestle Phils., – Lipa Factory; Environment, Health and Safety (EHS) Manager Noel Pabilona for ON Semiconductor; EHS Manager Anne Ambay for PSI Technologies; EHS Manager Liza Beronio for STMicroelectronics, Inc.; and Facilities Manager Lloyd Magat for Vishay Philippines.

It is very important that we give recognition to companies that give importance to our environment through their strict compliance to environmental standards. The awardee-companies have shown excellence in mitigating pollution by establishing wastewater treatment facilities, thereby contributing to the protection of the country’s important bodies of water such as the Pasig River, Laguna de Bay and Manila Bay.

Aside from the “DENR Seal of Approval,” the awardees were also entitled to some regulatory privileges and assistance such as relaxation of reportorial requirements and simplified requirements for securing an environmental compliance certificate for their expansion projects.

The “DENR Seal of Approval” may be used by the companies in their product labels and other promotional campaigns for a period of one year.

Mabuhay ang mga korporasyong tumutulong sa pangangalaga ng ating kalikasan. We will continue to reward and acknowledge companies which contribute to the sustainability of our environment and our natural resources, while we will penalize those who do not.

The recognition rites was in line with the Philippine Environment Partnership Program (PEPP) of the Environmental Management Bureau, a line agency of the DENR, which seeks to support local industries achieve industry self-regulation through improved environmental performance.

Under the PEPP, a package of incentives and reward mechanisms await companies or industries that voluntarily join the program. Among these are technical assistance in the preparation and implementation of environmental management plan, public awareness-raising, development of industry-specific effluent standards and practical strategies and technologies to enable them comply with prescribed effluent standards.

To qualify for the program, companies must meet three important requirements: they should have no cases filed with the DENR’s Pollution Adjudication Board for at least three years prior to the date of application, they must be in full compliance with all applicable environment laws, and they must be proven to have superior environmental performance by a 3rd party auditor.

lito-atienza

lito atienza

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Related Post: November-December Manila Mania!

Manila North Cemetery ( Cementerio del Norte) is Manila largest public cemetery occupying 54 hectares of land , is considered the biggest and one of the oldest cemeteries in Metro Manila. Beside it are two other important cemeteries, namely the La Loma Cemetery and the Manila Chinese Cemetery. The cemetery is owned by the Manila city government and has initiated an expansion program to build more “apartment tombs” and a crematorium.

Notable personalities buried within the cemetery were FPJ, President Roxas,  President Osmena among others.

Manila Chinese Cemetery

Manila Chinese Cemetery is the second oldest cemetery in Manila  after La Loma Cemetery and was designated as the resting place for the Chinese citizens who were denied burial in Catholic cemeteries during the Spanish colonial period. The cemetery was witness to many executions during World War II. Among them were Girl Scouts organizer Josefa Llanes Escoda , literary geniuses  Rafael Roces and Manuel Arguilla , star athlete-turned-guerrilla spy Virgilio Logregat , and Chinese Consul General Yang Guangsheng. Apolinario Mabini was also buried in the cemetery before his remains were transferred to  Batangas .

Chong Hock Tong Temple (宗福堂)

Built in the 1850s, this is the oldest Chinese temple in Manila. Though not as elaborate, the architecture is still reminiscent of those in Fujian province as well as those in Singapore and Malaysia with their colorful friezes and uniquely upturned eaves.

Visit the Filipino- Chinese families richly ornate buildings and mausoleum.