Aquino names Cabinet members

The members of Aquino’s Cabinet are:

1. Paquito Ochoa Jr., Executive Secretary

2. Alberto Romulo, Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs

3. Cesar Purisima, Secretary of Department of Finance

4. Leila de Lima, Secretary of Department of Justice

5. Voltaire Gazmin, Secretary of Department of National Defense

6. Bro. Armin Luistro, Secretary of Department of Education

7. Florencio Abad, Secretary of Department of Budget and Management

8. Cayetano Paderanga Jr., Secretary of National Economic Development Authority

9. Proceso Alcala, Secretary of Department of Agriculture

10. Ramon Paje, Secretary of Department Environment and Natural Resources

11. Jose "Ping" de Jesus, Secretary of Department of Transportations and Communications.

12. Rosalinda Baldoz, Secretary of Department of Labor and Employment

13. Enrique Ona, Secretary of Department of Health

14. Alberto Lim, Secretary of Department of Tourism

15. Gregory Domingo, Secretary of Department of Trade and Industry

16. Corazon Soliman, Secretary of Department of Social Welfare and Development

17. Mario Montejo, Secretary of Department of Science and Technology

18. Jose Rene Almendras, Secretary of Department of Energy

19. Rogelio Singson, Secretary of Department of Public Works and Highways

20. Virgilio de los Reyes, Secretary of Department of Agrarian Reform

21. Teresita Deles, presidential adviser on peace process

22. Julia Abad, presidential management staff chief

23. Edwin Lacierda, presidential spokesman

24. Eduardo de Mesa, presidential legal counsel

25. Patricia Liguanan, Chairman of Commission on Higher Education

26. Kim Jacinto-Henares, Commissioner of the Bureau of Internal Revenue

27. Benigno Aquino III, Secretary of Department of Interior and Local Government

(Source)

Presidential quote: “You will see old and new faces, the young and also young, but the bottomline is these are the people, who I believe have committed (to solve the problems of the country),”
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I have no reason not to believe so. May the Lord guide and strengthen you all.

Cheers!
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Unbelievable...

Gays ask Aquino to back anti-discrimination, RH bills

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines – Members of gays and lesbians groups here danced to disco music along downtown Baguio on Sunday, celebrating the 4th Baguio Pride Week by preaching gay rights in their colorful costumes and wigs.

But behind the make-up and Michael Jackson afro wigs was a serious campaign to draw the attention of incoming President Benigno Aquino III -- scheduled to be sworn into office on June 30 -- to issues of gay rights and reproductive health issues, said Bemz Benedito, the first nominee and national secretary of the party-list group Ang Ladlad.

Benedito said the national organization of lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgenders (LGBT) was persuaded by incoming Social Welfare Secretary Corazon “Dinky” Soliman to join the Aquino volunteer network and campaign for Aquino in exchange for support for measures institutionalizing reproductive health (RH) and anti-discrimination laws.

“Maniningil na kami (It’s time for payback),” he said...

On April 9, the Supreme Court reversed Comelec’s decision, arguing that to reject a gay party-list group “on purely moral grounds amounts more to a statement of dislike and disapproval of homosexuals rather than a tool to further any substantial public interest.”

Benedito said the high court’s ruling came too late for their campaign. “So we campaigned for Noynoy and we now have started lobbying aggressively with the [representatives who won the elections] to try to get the anti-discrimination and RH bills reinstated for the incoming Congress,” he said.

“We have just sat with Quezon City Rep. Feliciano “Sonny” Belmonte Jr. [who is being groomed by the Liberal Party as Speaker] and he said he would support the bills in principle, provided we can get him the numbers,” he said.
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What ? WHAT ?!?!?
Dinky Soliman and Sonny Belmonte engaged in wheeling-dealing with Ang Ladlad ???
Public officials worth their salt wouldn't admit to promising or influencing public policy based on favor/s granted.

Incredible. I almost spewed my coffee into the monitor.

Ok, let's repeat Ang Ladlad's Benedito's statements;

... (LGBT) was persuaded by incoming Social Welfare Secretary Corazon “Dinky” Soliman to join the Aquino volunteer network and campaign for Aquino in exchange for support for measures institutionalizing reproductive health (RH) and anti-discrimination laws.
...
“We have just sat with Quezon City Rep. Feliciano “Sonny” Belmonte Jr. [who is being groomed by the Liberal Party as Speaker] and he said he would support the bills in principle, provided we can get him the numbers,” he said.

I take note of the words "..in exchange for support..." (reportedly by Soliman) and "...provided we can get him the numbers" (reportedly by Belmonte).

Ang Ladlad's Bendito should realize he (she?) is attributing statements that put the integrity of the two prominent figures in question. Legislative policies and positions of public interest are decided on its objective merits ALONE, and not in exchange for private favors granted.
I dare ANYONE to contest that.

Dinky Soliman and Sonny Belmonte should clarify this issue ASAP.

President Aquino, these things should not be allowed to pass.

"Kung walang corrupt, walang mahirap".
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Power made perfect

Sunday - June 27, 2010.

...On the way they entered a Samaritan village
to prepare for his reception there,but they would not welcome him,
because the destination of his journey was Jerusalem.
When the disciples James and John saw this they asked,
“Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them?”
Jesus turned and rebuked them, and they journeyed to another village...
(Lk 9:51-62)

This passage relating to the disciples James and John struck me with some amusement. They must have been reading too much of Elijah. At the time, it was evident that the disciples were still on the journey to spiritual maturity, at which they were still overcome by their human feelings of bravado and revenge. Although they realized they had some amount of power connected with their intimate association with Jesus, they did not yet realize the ultimate meaning of that real power. This reminds me of that memorable line in the spiderman movies: "With great power comes great responsibility".

The Samaritan village did not welcome them, and I imagine the two offended disciples could have been pelted by overripe tomatoes. It is easy to see why they thought of invoking fire from heaven to get back at their offenders. This kind of reaction is a worldly reaction to trials, and that is why "Jesus turned around and rebuked them". Didn't Jesus say we should love our enemies? Did He not tell us to do unto others what we want others to do unto us? Divine power is for a higher purpose - He desires the salvation of all.

It is not so easy not to succumb to our emotional reactions to those which offend us. All of us are subjected to these kinds of trials, and in my case this typically happens while I am driving on the road. A usual instance is when a reckless driver would suddenly swerve into my lane causing me to hit the brakes abruptly. This so infuriates me for a moment, enough to wish that all four tires of that reckless vehicle go flat all at the same time. Certainly, the traffic cops should accost this person. In a while I would will myself to calm down, as I realize I had to pray for the conversion of that driver, for his sake and for the sake of the other drivers on the road. Wishing that driver to suffer four flat tires was not very Christianlike, I thought. Well... maybe one flat tire was enough.

The disciples soon realize that the greatest power and strength emanates from the love of our Risen Savior. It comes with immense responsibilities for whomever is gifted with it. It also turns our worldly concepts of power and strength upside down, but it is the only kind of power and strength that matters. In 2 Cor 12:9, St Paul typified the disciples' ultimate strength when he acknowledged Jesus' power inside him. Jesus said to Paul:

"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.".
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Odds and Ends 6/25/10

Solon to Luistro: View sex education with an open mind

MANILA, Philippines--A staunch advocate of reproductive health in the House of Representatives urged newly-appointed Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Armin Luistro to view with open mind the need to pursue sexuality education for children.

“Sex or reproductive health education is one aspect our society direly needs . . .This, I believe is something that Secretary Luistro will consider,” Iloilo Representative Janette Garin said in a text message.

Garin says view sex education with an open mind - as opposed to viewing sex education with a closed mind? Of course what the "open-minded" solon means is that all those who oppose sex education are closed-minded people. If we go by the declaration of this solon (a rabid advocate of contraceptives) who feels she and her RH-bill cohorts are the only thinking persons around, the only thing to do for the incoming DepEd Secretary is to approve of the UN-prescribed brand of sex education, otherwise he must be automatically branded as closed-minded. Again, again, again: The church is not against sex education per se. Catholic schools have been teaching sex education for a long time. What the church is against is the faith-incompatible instruction (read:immoral teaching) that goes along with their version of secular sex education. Show us the modules if it ain't so.

"...direly needs....", my foot.
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Tennis: Longest-ever match finishes after 11 hours 5 minutes

LONDON—(UPDATE) The longest tennis match in history finally finished on Thursday after an epic 11 hours and five minutes at Wimbledon, with John Isner beating Nicolas Mahut by an incredible 70-68 in the final set.

American Isner dropped his racquet and fell to the ground in delight before embracing his opponent at the net when the marathon match ended at last – two days after it had begun.

A host of tennis records were shattered in an extraordinary contest which finally ended at 6-4, 3-6, 6-7 (7/9), 7-6 (7/3), 70-68, a record unlikely ever to be beaten.

Had this been a basketball game, it would be a lot like going through 20 overtimes. These two guys hit more than 200 aces between themselves, and it appears neither of them lost their serves that much. This thing can only happen in the fast surfaces of Wimbledon. At least it was also an historic treat for the spectators, whose tickets were good for 3 days. Bravo!
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Lasers Reveal First Icons of Sts. Peter and Paul
Vatican Unveils 4th Century Paintings found in Chamber Beneath Office Building in Downtown Rome

(AP) Twenty-first century laser technology has opened a window into the early days of the Catholic Church, guiding researchers through the dank catacombs beneath Rome to a startling find: the first known icons of the Apostles Peter and Paul.

Vatican officials on Tuesday unveiled the paintings, located in an underground burial chamber under an eight-story modern office building on a busy street in a working-class neighborhood of Rome.

The images, which date from the second half of the 4th century, were uncovered using a new laser technique that allowed restorers to burn off centuries of thick white calcium carbonate deposits without damaging the brilliant dark colors of the original paintings underneath...

Monsignor Giovanni Carru, the No. 2 in the Vatican's Pontifical Commission of Sacred Archaeology, which maintains the catacombs, said:

"The Christian catacombs, while giving us value with a religious and cultural patrimony, represent an eloquent and significant testimony of Christianity at its origin,".

Awesome.
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DepEd's SexEd fumbles...

DepEd stops sex education program

MANILA, June 22, 2010—The government on Tuesday put on hold the teaching of sex education in public schools amid strong opposition from the country’s influential Catholic Church.

Education Secretary Mona Valisno said the implementation of the controversial program is postponed until after consultations with the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines.

“We decided to hold sex education module in abeyance until a final decision is made on the consulting process,” Valisno said...
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Mighty strange the way DepEd blew hot and cold on this issue. They couldn't have been intimidated by the class suit filed by CBCP lawyer Jo Imbong in behalf of parents. The DepEd chief herself claimed the decision to suspend the implementation had nothing to do with the case filed against them.In fact, she already went ahead with the sex ed program without waiting for the consultations to transpire and then suddenly stopped it. So, what gives? Most likely, they ran into problems that they were not prepared to handle. To illustrate, a typical field account goes as follows:

(In a grade 6 classroom)

Teacher Pedro: Ok class, the lesson for today is about pregnancy.
Does anyone know what pregnancy means?...Juanita! stop talking there!
Now stand up and answer my question!

Juanita (stands up): er, what question sir?

Teacher Pedro: Hmmp. I asked what does pregnancy mean.

Juanita: Pregnancy means...when my mother expects a baby and her tummy grows bigger?

Teacher Pedro: Well, yes...but pregnancy can also happen to to any female, not just to married mothers. In fact it can also happen to you! When a male and a female engages in irresponsible sex, the female can get pregnant.

Juanita: But teacher, what does irresponsible sex mean?

Teacher Pedro: It means when you are too young and not yet ready to get pregnant, having sex is irresponsible.

Juanita: But teacher, does it mean absolutely not having sex until you are older and ready to be pregnant?

Teacher Pedro: Yes...as much as possible. Now when you really, really, really cannot help it...there are ways where you can actually enjoy sex without getting pregnant. Yes, for example there is a preventive device called 'condom'. In fact I have an actual specimen of a condom here... (holds it up and shows it to the class) -- this is supposed to be worn by the males during sex to prevent the female partner from getting pregnant. It is 85% effective...

Juanita: My, what an interesting device! It looks like a party balloon! How is it used to prevent pregnancy? Teacher, please give us an actual demonstration.

Class: Yes! Yes!! Show and tell ! Demonstrate to us by wearing it please, sir Pedro. Sige na sir !!!

Teacher Pedro: Class...DISMISSED !!!
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Toy Story 3

Watched it today with the wife and three kids and we all enjoyed it.

It's good.

No... it's a very good film.

If your heart is not touched by this film, then it is made of stone.
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A father's legacy

In 1957 he married the woman of his dreams. He was 33 and she was 21.They had two sons and two daughters.

He married at an age quite late than was customary at the time. It came to light that he postponed marriage as he prioritized being a major moral and financial supporter of his younger siblings, all six of them - as their own father died soon after the war. He supported himself through college as a working student, even as he supported his siblings' education. At the time of his marriage he was already able to see their youngest and only sister through medical school.

He worked as an accounting manager for a private home appliance firm, while his wife devoted full time to being a housewife. He was dedicated to his job, and often regaled the family at dinnertime with challenging yet amusing incidents at his work. He would also share his experiences at the local parish where he is active as a member of the Knights of Columbus. He was by nature a jolly person and would punctuate his conversation with a lot of jokes, at which the family all laughed heartily. His wife was his number one fan and joke appreciator, and it also shows when she laughs the most - even at most of his corny ones.

In the mid-seventies, at about 50 years of age, he lost his job. The private company he loyally worked at for many years folded up due to the folly of its owners, as is bound to happen with private, family-controlled businesses. It was not a good time to lose a job. The children were all privately schooled in the primary and secondary grades, jobs were scarce due to the 70's oil crisis, and 50 years of age was far from being an ideal employable age. He took on all sorts of odd jobs to tide the family over, even selling used clothes and shoes. His wife resorted to doing part time sewing job at a measly rate for a local factory. With the help of one young son, the mother also bought and sold pineapples to neighbors and acquaintances at a meager profit - 20 centavos per piece. Earning enough just to feed the family became extremely tough. Eventually, they loaned a small amount to open a small eatery business in the Blumentritt area, a modest affair catering to mostly low-income jeepney drivers and pedestrians. The couple would rise up every day at 4am to prepare for the day's business, and close store late in the evenings. It was tough and the small business was hard-pressed to support a family of 7 (his old mother was also living with them), but somehow as if miraculously... the family was able to scrape by and make both ends meet. No child was forced to stop their education, and they all went on to finish their college studies one by one.

In all this time, he remained active serving at the local parish. He became a 4th degree KofC, and was eventually elected Grand Knight. When things like this happen, usually the entire family follows suit. His wife became active in the Catholic Women's League, and their children became active as altar servers and parish choir members. He would goad the entire family to mass every Sunday, lead the rosary every night, and adorn the house with religious images so much so that the house already resembled a chapel of sorts. He was an industrious, all-around, do-it-yourself repairman around the house, and sometimes he inadvertently broke things even worse while he attempted to fix them. He never had a vice. It is an example of spiritual headship that brought the family together, in spite of the hard financial problems and the usual family difficulties which they were not spared of. It helped that he never lost his sense of humor. It also helped most of all that he never lost his faith. He was not perfect, but the entire family and his colleagues witnessed that he strove to be. His two sons also learned the hard way of his capability to be a tough disciplinarian, and it is something that they now concede much gratitude for. The children now look back at their juvenile years and its dangers which they were able to surmount - thanks in large part to heavy doses of fatherly tough love. Thanks also in large part to their mother, who proved to be a steadfast support and a joyful ray of light for the family.

Today, the clan has now expanded with 4 married children and a total of 13 grandchildren - the eldest of whom is now 22, about to finish college and become a father in his own right. They are all doing well, and owe their legacy to a (grand) father who kept the faith and strove to be a perfect one, even in an imperfect way. That is all it takes, and that is all that counts.

This piece is a tribute to my father, who joined his creator in August of 2002.

Happy Father's Day!
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