July 5, 2009
Announcements, Corporate, General Santos City, Mindanaoan Update, Personalities, Sarangani, SoSCksargen, Soccksargen, Society, Socsksargen, South Cotabato, Sports, Videos
Mindanaoan Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao will again star in a major Nike commercial — but this time, he will be joined by two other sports giants – NBA star Kobe Bryant and golf sensation Tiger Woods. I may be wrong…but I think that while this isn’t Pacquiao’s first time to do a Nike commercial, this is the first time that he will film a commercial with Woods and Bryant.
As expected, this will be one very explosive commercial…one that Pinoys, most especially Mindanaoans, will look forward to.
This much-awaited Nike commercial featuring Manny Pacquiao, Kobe Bryant and Tiger Woods will reportedly be shot in Los Angeles on July 8, 2009.
Meanwhile, check out this cool Nike superstars commercial featuring Pacman, Kobe, Cristiano Ronaldo, Maria Sharapova and others: (this one’s for Nike Hongkong)
LikeJuly 2, 2009
Business, Cagayan de Oro City, Commentary, Controversial, Government, Media, Mindanaoan Update, News, Opinion, Personal, Personalities, Society, Weird, northern mindanao
The banner story of a Mindanao regional newspaper yesterday, July 1, 2009, may have been surprising for many (shocking even) but for a Mindanao journalist like me who has been working around politicians for quite a while, it was really nothing new. The same thing, although probably not as “worse,” has been happening not only in the local city councils but also even down to barangay councils and even in the Senate and Congress.
According to Mindanao Gold Star Daily, Cagayan de Oro City Vice Mayor Vicente Emano has reportedly incurred 99 absences out of 100 council sessions. That means Emano has presided only ONCE since assuming office. Emano reportedly only attended the inauguration of the present Cagayan de Oro City council and that was it.
And as if to really add “more color” to an already controversial issue, Emano’s arch-rival at the council, Councilor Zaldy Ocon, a former radio broadcaster, tore to shreds Emano’s “excuse letter” addressed to the council, which reportedly claimed that the vice mayor was on official business…which then led to Councilor Alfonso Goking calling on his fellow legislators to “punish” Ocon for tearing up a copy of Emano’s letter which is considered an official document.
As expected, Ocon stood firm. He even challenged his fellow councilors to sanction him if they think what he did was wrong. The former broadcaster, known for his tirades against Emano and usually hit by critics for “grandstanding,” said that the council was free to exercise disciplinary actions against him if he really was at fault. Fortunately for Ocon, he found a “kakampi” in Councilor Teodulfo Lao, who thought that the shredding of the excuse letter was a mere “freedom of expression” and that it was based on “the essence of democracy.”
IMO, Ocon has the right to get mad. After all, the tax-paying public does expect that the “public servants” they entrusted their votes with should do their jobs, yes? And that includes regularly attending sessions, meetings etc. Ocon knows that Emano’s absences can be a good reason to stir up controversy, to show to the public that he has been right all along in criticizing Emano and his brand of politics. Ocon knows that Emano’s absences can be a good controversy to bank on — he can raise valid points during council sessions, question Emano’s so-called “on official business” excuses and can even get away calling the city vice mayor as “mangingilad” (deceiver) during the session proper.
Unfortunately for Ocon, he also knows very well that he’s virtually alone in his quest – with most of his fellow legislators on Emano’s side. And because of political alignments and politicians defending partymates, the root problem has yet to be addressed.
It’s a David versus Goliath war, really. And the only ones at the losing end is the public.
Exactly who in Lanao del Norte, Cagayan de Oro, Davao and Caraga received the P2.7M worth of checks?
March 1, 2009
Cagayan de Oro City, Commentary, Controversial, Davao City, Government, Headline, Lanao del Norte, Mindanaoan Update, Opinion, caraga, northern mindanao
This is exactly why I sometimes dislike writing news articles based on press releases or announcements (especially those from government entities.) You really don’t get the minute details, you know that most of the time these PRs are just to “beautify” the government’s image and if you really need to get to the bottom of things, you have to exert effort and really research. Unfortunately for journalists like me, however, there really are days when you don’t have any other choice but to stick to the PR or media statement and hope that your article comes out fair, balanced and factual.
I read a rather interesting article today.”Displaced OFWs from Mindanao get P2.7M gift from Arroyo” – GMANews
The article claimed that President Gloria Arroyo handed out a total of 33 checks worth P2.7 million to displaced overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Mindanao as a way to help them rebuild their lives as entrepreneurs. The article also said that out of the 33 checks, 2 were worth P313,500 and these allegedly “went to displaced OFWs from Lanao del Norte under the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating mga Disadvantaged Workers (Tupad) project.” The news article also went on to say that when PGMA visited Cagayan de Oro Thursday, she “handed out” another check worth P573,000 to jobless residents from Lanao del Norte under the government’s Integrated Services for Livelihood Assistance for Marginalized Fisherfolk.
The remaining 30 checks worth P50,000 each were distributed to OFWs from Davao, Northern Mindanao and the Caraga region. Ten OFWs were selected from the three regions.
The main source of these data? That GMANews article cited “a statement from Malacañang” as source.
Now, IMHO, wasn’t that a very “general” statement? A couple of questions please:
- How did this Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating mga Disadvantaged Workers (Tupad) project identify the recipients of the assistance? When did the process of identifying these deserving recipients start? How much will the recipients receive? WHO are these recipients? What did these recipients propose as their entrepreneurial endeavor? Is the financial assistance considered a dole-out or will these “disadvantaged workers” pay the money back? For how long should these recipients pay the amount back if ever?
- What is the Integrated Services for Livelihood Assistance for Marginalized Fisherfolk? How come they were tapped to “assist” displaced OFWs? I mean, really, from the name alone — marginalized fisherfolk — fisherfolk! Does this mean that the fund recipients were part of a fisherfolk community in Lanao del Norte? Does this mean that the recipients were part of a coastal community in Lanao del Norte or somewhere else?
- How come only TEN recipients were selected from THREE regions (large ones at that!)? Ten is nothing compared to the TENS OF THOUSANDS of Filipino overseas workers who have now lost their jobs. I mean, seriously, what’s TEN? Nonetheless, I’m also interested to know exactly WHO these ten people are and how they were identified as probable recipients of P50,000 each.
I’m sure the TENS OF THOUSANDS of displaced overseas Filipino workers would like to know, too.
This got me thinking when I received a press release from the Office of Sen. Richard Gordon recently. The PR read: “Turn around Mindanao’s image as RP’s ‘Wild West’ – Gordon” The senator said that Mindanao has “gained a negative reputation in the international media as the country’s “Wild, Wild West” due to the continued spate of kidnappings, sporadic bombings, and the poor peace and order situation.” Is our beloved island Mindanao really the Philippines’ version of the so-called “Wild West”?
In a meeting with the Regional Development Council of Region 12 and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, Gordon challenged Mindanao executives to turn around Mindanao’s negative image from being the “Wild West of the Philippines ” into a premier tourist destination with its unique history and culture.
Gordon also emphasized that “there is no governance in area. Schools are decrepit; roads are bad; farm-to-market roads are non-existent and there is no focus on helping them solving their problem, or empowering them so they can conquer their own selves.”
Gordon, chairman of the Senate tourism committee, also stressed that the people of Mindanao should not wait for the national government to take the initial steps towards lasting peace and development of Mindanao.
“You should define what Mindanao is and assert yourselves as a people. Manila is never going to solve it for us. It is never going to be a solution. Mindanao should be self-sufficient,” he said.
The senator also said that Mindanaoans should encourage more tourists to visit Mindanao instead of other places.
What are your thoughts on this?
Follow Mindanaoan - Subscribe today
LOOKING FOR SOMETHING?
Recent entries
- Hot Hunks including gorgeous Brazilian-Jap Akihiro Sato sizzle in Mindanao!
- Havaianas Happy Soles – time for happy souls to travel to Brazil!
- Nacionalista Party’s Grand Cebu City “Wowowillie” rally
- Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte endorses fellow Mindanaoan senatorial bet Atty. Adel Tamano
- Review: Paragon Suites in Cebu City, Visayas | Budget hotel in Cebu
- From the campaign trail – Mindanaoan will post exclusive photos, kuwentos etc
- Mindanaoan’s new Swatch Vancouver 2010 watch
- Compostela Valley Mindanao celebrates 12th Bulawan Festival
- Review: Highway 21 Hotel in Iloilo City, Visayas
- Mindanaoan goes to Iloilo City
Posts by Category
Archives
Follow Mindanaoan in Twitter!
“Sa Manila, hindi ganito ang service…”
August 24, 2009
Advocacy, Bisaya, Cagayan de Oro City, Commentary, Consumer, Controversial, Mindanaoan Update, Opinion, Personal, Weird, blogging
3 comments
Mindanaoan can’t help but blog about this. What happened late last Saturday night at a 24 hour fastfood store located at Divisoria, Cagayan de Oro City, Mindanao reminded me of so many things — two of which are the need for Mindanaoans to be more assertive and why I love Mindanao (and why it will always be home for me). Before I go any further, however, I would just like to emphasize that the following are just my personal opinions and are not meant to hit anyone. My post is more like a reminder…an eye-opener, if you will…of the fact that discrimination even among Filipinos (still) exist.
Last Saturday night, right after the Tatak Environmentalist event, I went to a fastfood store at Divisoria. I decided to grab some grub as I waited for my brother to fetch me. As I fell in line at the counter, an irate man approached the cashier and yelled at her. He spoke in Tagalog. Apparently, he ordered siopao and couldn’t understand why it took so long for him to be served. He even showed the cashier his cellular phone — apparently he “timed” the entire thing using his phone’s stopwatch. From the very instant he paid and sat — he said he was “running late” and that “7 minutes” already passed and still no siopao! And then he said:
“Sa Manila, hindi ganito ang service! Mabilis ang buhay dun, Miss. Hindi ako taga-rito, taga-Manila ako at nakakapanghinayang naman na ang pangit ng service dito! Siopao lang, 7 minutes? Hindi to puwede sa Manila”
He then said that he wanted to cancel his order and that he wanted a refund.
The poor female cashier looked at him, a bit stunned. She just listened to the irate customer and then took some cash from the register and gave it to the guy. The guy took the cash and left.
The story doesn’t end there, unfortunately. A few minutes later, the guy came back and spoke to the store manager. His loud voice was hard to miss: “Buti pa magsara na lang kayo. Hindi kayo uubra sa Manila.”
At that point, some customers, myself included, couldn’t help but tell the customer off. An elderly couple remarked that he already got his refund so he was free to leave. For my part, I told him that it was unnecessary to insist that Manila was better.
His comments were unnecessary and uncalled for, IMO.
That Saturday night incident proved a few things — that Mindanaoans can still be courteous and patient, that Mindanaoans know when to acknowledge if they’re at fault (although I think a mere 7 minutes isn’t that big of a deal), that there really are “Manila people” who still insist that life in imperial Manila is still faster and better and that there are “Manila people” who forget that those from outside Manila (Mindanaoans, for instance) are now a big part of the very core that “move” Manila, of the very system that make things happen.
It’s the “probinsiyanos” who move Manila. The “probinsiyanos” who flock to Manila in search of better fortune — they’re the taxi drivers, salesladies in some Mall of Asia stores, MRT ticket sellers, security guards assigned at the House of Representatives (Congress), waiters of accredited caterers at the Senate and many more. They’re the ones who help shape and move Manila.
Sadly, the irate customer failed to remember that the very people who provide the “better service in Manila” are basically the same people whom he hit with his complaints.
Manila may be the capital of the Philippines but that doesn’t mean that it’s the be all and end all, so to speak.
No need to use it as the yardstick and certainly, no need to discriminate. Whether you’re from Manila or not, whether you speak Bisaya or not — we’re all Filipinos. That’s what’s important. That’s what’s necessary. That’s what’s real.