Thursday, October 13, 2005
Call DYAB Absolutely FREE
Thursday, October 06, 2005
Call DYAB Absolutely Free
Thanks to DB Edwards' iNTouch VOIP technology, you can now call DYAB AM from wherever in the globe by simply clicking on Leo Lastimosa's picture. You can call during Arangkada's time slot, 6-10 a.m., RP Time.
Wednesday, August 17, 2005
Alternatives
There's The Rub : A modest proposal
Conrado de Quiros dequiros@info.com.ph
Inquirer News Service
IT'S the most infuriating thing in the world to have to look for an alternative just to get rid of someone who has no right to be in Malacañang. To repeat an analogy, it's like having to explain to the officer on duty in a police precinct why you deserve to get your stolen cell phone back. Indeed, why the thief who has been caught red-handed with it deserves to be jailed and not be allowed to keep your cell phone as punishment for his misdeed. One would imagine it is common sense. But these are uncommon times ruled by uncommon sense. You now have to argue even for things like that.
If President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has survived this long, it is only because the people who want her out, who are eight out of 10 inhabitants of these islands, cannot agree on a common agenda. It is the only thing that has kept her from being pried loose from her chair. The longer it takes for that common cause to be forged, the longer the one person who stole the presidency will be able to keep it. This country has become that weird police precinct.
I have a proposal. But before I propose it, and advance my reasons for it, let me just look at the other alternatives on the table.
The first, which is what Cory Aquino and the resigned Cabinet members have been pushing, is that Vice President Noli de Castro becomes president. (Which should result, among other things, in the firing of the current secretaries and the rehiring of the resigned ones.) That is problematic on several grounds. At the very least, it is just as divisive as keeping Ms Arroyo in power. Indeed, if we are to go by the lack of enthusiasm for it, it is probably worse. It is the one single thing that is keeping an outraged citizenry at bay, the thought that De Castro would replace Ms Arroyo, which is not unlike Ms Arroyo replacing Joseph Estrada. Like I said before, Ms Arroyo's greatest weakness is also her greatest strength: People are afraid to oust her out of fear of creating another her, a cure worse than the disease.
There are moral and legal arguments against that option. One is that while there is no evidence De Castro cheated in the elections, there is reason to believe he was at most an accessory to it and, at least, a beneficiary of it. Certainly, he cannot escape suspicion, and the Office of the President may only be above it. You may not remove De Castro as vice president for lack of a prima facie case of cheating -- there is one in Ms Arroyo's case -- but you may not promote him either as president.
More importantly, unlike Estrada's, this is not a case where the presidency has been vacated, the President having been found to betray the public trust. This is a case where the presidency was never occupied, the non-President having been found to have cheated the public will. The normal rules of succession do not apply here.
The second alternative is impeachment. Impeachment does have its upside. At the very least, it does remind the public Ms Arroyo has done a humongous wrong. Even if she has the numbers in Congress, there is no telling how an impeachment will go. Estrada, too, had the numbers in Congress, and was moreover the most popular President ever to have blessed, or cursed, this country. Yet ere the trial was over, he was fighting for his life. Not the least of the reasons for it being that the trial took a life of its own, no small thanks to the media, which turned it into the most powerful soap opera this side of the Pacific. It became more popular than the PBA professional basketball games and the Mexican "telenovelas" [TV soaps] and Japanese animés combined. The public became positively addicted to it. Like any riveting soap opera, it told a story of heroes and villains, good and evil, the "api" [maltreated] daughter and the evil "madrasta" [stepmother]. Guess who more easily conforms to the role of evil madrasta?
My problem with impeachment, however, is two things. One is that, as I said above, this is not a case of removing a president for betrayal of public trust, which impeachments are for and which appropriately pertained to Estrada. This is a simple case of removing a non-President or a usurper. You do not need an impeachment for that. Two is that, an impeachment falls into the same category as a Truth Commission, and is equally redundant. What more truth do you want to ferret out that Ms Arroyo has not already revealed? Ms Arroyo has confessed to being the voice on the "Hello Garci" tape. That is a crime punishable by the comfort of jail, not by the cross of the presidency. It is not for Ms Arroyo to assess the weight of her crime and prescribe her own punishment, it is for the people.
The third alternative is a transitional government or council, revolutionary or not. Dodong Nemenzo, the proponent of the first, cautions people about a knee-jerk reaction to the word, "revolutionary." Cory's government after Ferdinand Marcos was a revolutionary, transitional one. She was never elected president -- the results of the "snap election" are arguable even now -- and she wielded extra-constitutional power at least until 1987, when a new constitution was ratified. She did not abuse those powers. She ushered in a liberal democratic order, however some argue that she just restored the pre-martial law one with all its infirmities.
My beef with a transitional government, revolutionary or not, quite apart from its intrinsic problems, is that however lofty its purposes and well meaning its proponents, it will probably not get off the ground. It is probably the second thing that is keeping an outraged citizenry at bay, no small thanks to an elite that has put the fear of God and radicalism on it.
More intrinsically, a transitional government, or council, will have the same problem as Ms Arroyo right now, which is legitimacy. Where does its mandate come from? How can it presume to speak for the people?
Saturday, August 13, 2005
House Warned
Substantive justice against procedural technicalities
Inquirer News Service
ALTHOUGH the process of impeachment is available, there is a mounting call for President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's resignation, which is anchored on the belief that in these abnormal times, one more day of her administration is another day of moral erosion and economic recession.
Impeachment is one of the modes of removing a president, but only the House of Representatives has the power to initiate an impeachment, and only the Senate has the power to try and decide impeachment cases. At least one-third of all the members of the House is needed either to affirm a favorable resolution of the committee on justice, while at least two-thirds of all senators is necessary to convict.
The opposition congressmen pushing for President Arroyo's impeachment still do not have the required number to automatically transmit the petition for impeachment to the Senate.
Second, according to news reports, they were caught flatfooted when Ms Arroyo's lawyer filed a formal answer to the original impeachment complaint filed by lawyer Oliver Lozano. Under the Rules of Court, they may no longer amend the aforesaid original complaint when there is already an answer. Thus, the majority congressmen defending the President will have a reason to oppose the amended impeachment complaint filed last July 25.
Third, according to Rep. Prospero Pichay, the amended impeachment complaint is considered a new complaint. Under the law, only one impeachment complaint is allowed per year. If such is the case, considering that an impeachment complaint had been filed earlier, the July 25 amended complaint will be considered a third complaint and will have to wait until 2007 to be heard.
Fourth, Rep. Prospero Nograles has come out with an opinion that even if the opposition mustered the necessary one-third vote, the fact that the impeachment complaint is already with the committee on justice, it will have to stay there until after a committee report is submitted to the plenary session. Therefore, the committee on justice can sit on it for at most 60 session days or about six months, considering that there are no sessions during Fridays.
Fifth, the impeachment rules have not yet been formulated up to this time. The congressmen seem to be busier with the proposed Charter change than with the impeachment proceedings. Hence, the committee on justice cannot act yet on the impeachment complaint.
Substantive justice should be given emphasis vis-à-vis procedural technicalities. Technicalities should aid, not impede, substantive justice although they are important for well-ordered proceedings. Would it not be a monstrous parody of justice if the members of the House inflicted serious injustice just for the sake of technicality?
EMMANUEL LJ. MAPILI, House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal, Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon City
Saturday, August 06, 2005
Please Resign
Corrupt, exploited political system
Inquirer News Service
"YAHWEH then said, 'I have seen the misery of my people. I have heard them crying for help on account of their taskmasters. Yes, I am well aware of their sufferings.'" (Exodus 3:7)
Indeed, this has been the plight of our Filipino people and it has reached disastrous proportions: "12M children below the age of 10 suffer from hunger and malnutrition," "12-14M are unemployed and underemployed," "3,000 Filipinos leave the country daily, forced by massive poverty, to accept jobs that are dangerous and degrading to human dignity," "our women and children are being trafficked and commodified," "our patrimony is being plundered and sold to MNCs [multinational companies] and TNCs [transnational companies]," "prices of basic commodities rise unabated."
We have witnessed and experienced, through our various Good Shepherd ministries the sufferings and struggles of women and children, urban and rural poor, indigenous peoples and migrants. We have seen the continuing destruction of our environment.
Globalization has exploited the graft-ridden and corrupt political system in our country, which intensifies the chronic economic crisis. This government has failed to avert the present crises.
Past administrations, including the Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo administration -- which should be promoting the common good and protecting our national sovereignty -- have become subservient to foreign interests and patronage politics. The trust of our people in our government leaders' capacity to govern has been eroded.
"At the sight of the crowds, Jesus was moved with compassion for them because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd." (Mt. 9:36)
Our people are being pushed to the limits of human endurance. We challenge Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to prove her avowed love of country and to heed the call of the suffering people. She must step down now!
Let us act now to help bring about the much-needed radical systemic change in our economic, political and cultural institutions.
We call on the Filipino citizenry to support the basic sectors and other people of goodwill who are now participating in the transition of government and coming up with their agenda for meaningful change.
We will continue to intensify our prayers and fasting until God's reign of justice, peace and freedom will prevail in our country.
SR. CARMELITA CRUZ, RGS, provincial superior, Sisters of the Good Shepherd (RGS), Philippine Province, 1043 Aurora Boulevard, Quezon City
Friday, August 05, 2005
Sumalipao Interview
By Ryan Rosauro
Sun-Star Ozamiz correspondent
MARAWI CITY -- In an act that could provide leads into the authenticity of the conversations in the "Garci tapes," a Lanao election official confirmed that one of the wiretapped exchanges over mobile phone is true.
Lawyer Rey Sumalipao, provincial election supervisor of Lanao del Sur, told reporters here he actually received a call from then Commission on Elections (Comelec) Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano inquiring about the developments in the field.
This admission makes him the second person to confirm that it was his voice on the tape. The first was President Arroyo but did not specify which of the conversations.
In a transcript of the tape prepared by the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ), Sumalipao was telling Garcillano about a canvassing going on in Lumba-Bayabao town of Lanao del Sur.
Sumalipao told Garcillano there was an en banc order to continue with the canvassing but suspend the proclamation. In the conversation, Garcillano seems surprised by the issuance of the order. The conversation happened on May 30, 2004 at around 1:30 pm.
Sumalipao said he was in Lumba-Bayabao to enforce the order when Garcillano called. A day before, he said, there was an order to stop the canvassing.
Sumalipao said the conversation had nothing to do with defrauding somebody during the elections.
No call
The second time his name was mentioned in the tape was a June 8, 2004 conversation allegedly between Garcillano and President Arroyo on how to deal with the allegations of Abdullah Dalidig, provincial chair of Namfrel in Lanao del Sur, that there is massive "dagdag-bawas" in the province.
Garcillano assured the President that Sumalipao will answer the allegations.
Sumalipao defended this line by Garcillano saying it is but logical for him to answer the Namfrel charges as he is the Comelec official with responsibility over administering the elections in Lanao del Sur.
But he said he did not receive any call from Garcillano instructing him to answer the charges.
Sumalipao, who is now Comelec's assistant regional director for the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Armm), said it is flimsy to conclude that the 2004 election results in Lanao del Sur was heavily rigged in favor of Arroyo just because of those conversations.
Save for the results from two towns where there is complete failure of election and about three others with partial failures, the results for the province were already transmitted to Congress afternoon of May 24, 2004.
Sumalipao estimated that the remaining towns where failure of election was declared comprised only of around 15,000 voters.
"How can those conversations have bearing on the electoral outcome when they took place after we have transmitted the election results to Congress?" Sumalipao asked.
Meetings
Responding to recent allegations made by Michaelangelo Zuce, Sumalipao said these are falsehood, especially that about the consultation meeting in Tubod town of Lanao del Norte and a gathering in President Arroyo's La Vista residence.
Sumalipao said the alleged consultation meeting was actually a three-day sportsfest held towards the end of 2002. A local reporter who covered the event attested to this, and said Garcillano was also present.
When asked of the possibility the consultation meeting happened during the night, a shrugged shoulder was the only reply.
The reporter noted that throughout the event, there was always a program at night after which socials follow.
But the reporter observed the expensive prizes of their raffles like a refrigerator for the major prize and uppity mobile phone units as consolation prizes.
Sumalipao also debunked Zuce's claim that Mindanao election officials were gathered for a payoff at La Vista. He admitted that a meeting of Mindanao election executives did occurred but in a hotel, although he could no longer recall the name of the hotel by now.
Not stupid
He related that sometime January 2004, the provincial election supervisors were in Manila to submit the list of candidates to the central office.
"We made use of that opportunity for the organizational meeting of all provincial election supervisors of Mindanao," he said.
He said the fact that they were already there, "it is just a matter of each of us to come together." The meeting led to the creation of the Mindanao Provincial Election Supervisors Association.
During the meeting, Sumalipao said, the "elected interim officers, assign members to draft a Constitution and by-laws."
He assailed the attendance sheet that was attached to Zuce's affidavit as only lifted and hence out of context. "We are lawyers. We are not stupid to make evidence of ourselves in an irregularity," Sumalipao stressed.
He also admitted seeing Zuce once in Garcillano's office but could not recall anymore when, although he said he recalled meeting him when he saw Zuce on television.
"It is quite easy to remember his face and built," he said.
Sumalipao said Zuce's "lies" are "designed to let the Comelec succumbed to people who intend to grab power."
"Please stop all these lies," Sumalipao implored Zuce.
Tuesday, August 02, 2005
Inquirer Editorial
Editorial : Better way to Charter change
She could follow that up by scheduling the election of delegates to the constitutional convention. She would be well advised to abandon her announced plan of leaving the job of amending the Constitution to Congress meeting as a constituent assembly.
Earlier this year, Ms Arroyo said she was in favor of a constitutional convention, but last month, after experiencing the most serious political crisis of her presidency, she changed her mind and said she was for a constituent assembly. Well, she can change her mind again and go for a constitutional convention, if she wants to promote the national interest.
In the first place, there is no need to speed up the amendment of the Constitution, unless it is going to be a part of a "graceful exit" for Ms Arroyo. She said in her recent State of the Nation Address: "The mode of Charter change is the exclusive prerogative of Congress. But a constituent assembly may well give our people the quickest reforms."
But why subject the Constitution, the fundamental law of the land, to a fast-track procedure? Proposed amendments to the Constitution should be discussed and debated thoroughly. The constitutional convention (or the constituent assembly, whichever mode is finally chosen) would be amending the fundamental law that will be the guiding light of the nation not only for this generation but also for many generations yet to come. Certainly this task should be done not in haste, but with a great deal of deliberation and circumspection.
If we are to proceed slowly and with deliberation in amending the Constitution, then it is best done by a constitutional convention. A constituent assembly made up of the members of Congress would be an assembly motivated largely by self-interest. The legislators, once functioning as members of the constituent assembly, can be expected to promote and protect their personal, familial and parochial interests. They could not even pass a really effective land reform law. They would not even give up their wasteful and graft-ridden pork barrel. And now they would be expected to have the best interest of the nation at heart in amending the Constitution?
The Citizens for ConCon said that "without the perks and powers of Congress to protect, the delegates to the Constitutional Convention can be expected to be less self-serving, more objective, and thus more credible." Inquirer columnist Juan Mercado has warned that a constituent assembly would be an assembly of self-seekers. He quoted H.L. Mencken, who said that an assembly of self-seekers would be "a place where Jesus Christ and Judas would be equals. But the betting odds would favor Judas."
We all know that many times in the past the national interest was betrayed by Congress. Are we going to see a repeat of these betrayals in the event that the task of amending the Constitution is given to Congress?
A constitutional convention would be less partisan and more independent-minded than a constituent assembly. Its delegates would be elected by the people on the strength of their qualifications and not their celebrity or political or dynastic ties. The election of delegates should see the emergence of new leaders with a new vision and fresh perspectives.
Legislators who oppose the constitutional convention proposal say that it would need the allocation of new money "which we don't have." Estimates of the cost of holding a constitutional convention range from P2.5 billion to P8 billion. If our legislators can find sources of funds for their pork barrel, surely they can find a way to fund a convention. But they should not focus on the cost of holding a constitutional convention. They should not consider the outlay a huge cost but money well spent, an investment for a more progressive and stable future.
It is well that the current political crisis has brought to the fore the need to amend the Constitution. It is a task that has been postponed many times. It's time we gave serious thought to the idea of revising the Charter to make it more responsive to the economic, social and political ills plaguing the nation. But let the task of amending it be done by a constitutional convention, not by a discredited body like Congress.
Friday, July 15, 2005
Gloriagate Blogs
PCIJ
LET a thousand (journalist) blogs bloom.
No doubt about it, the current political crisis rocking the Arroyo administration has made blogging, for all its unmediated, instantaneous and personal nature, an attractive reporting medium for Filipino journalists. Of course, the case for blogging journalists has already been made by the likes of Manuel L. Quezon III, Jove Francisco (By Jove!), Chin Wong ( Digital Life), Erwin Oliva (cyberbaguioboy), to name a few, even before we at the PCIJ started venturing into the blogosphere ourselves.
Recent welcome additions to the journalist blogging community are GMA Network's Howie Severino (Side Trip with Howie Severino), who has a blog on blogs today, and Philippine Daily Inquirer's editorialist John Nery (Newsstand). Much earlier, we also saw GMA reporters coming out with blogs of their own — Tina Panganiban-Perez ( crimson page) and Joseph Morong (Essays and Other Lullabies). The media network is said to be encouraging its reporters to go into blogging.
Another journalist has also been blogging anonymously since May at The Early Edition.
While the mainstream media based in Metro Manila seem slow in grasping the potential of blogging as an important addition to the journalistic toolkit, interesting developments have happened elsewhere. In Cebu, Sun.Star has spiced up its coverage of "Gloriagate" by launching the Citizen Watch: The Arroyo Presidency blog. There's also dyAB, the first radio station (as far as I know) that is complementing all its programs with blogs ( dyAB Abante Bisaya).
Monday, June 20, 2005
Hello, Garci Ring Tone Download
Indymedia server:
"Hello Garci" ringtone, MP3 format (124.1 KB)
"Hello Garci" ringtone, MP3 format (72.1 KB)
Server Mirror 1:
"Hello Garci" ringtone, MP3 format (360KB)
"Hello Garci" ringtone, WAV format (197KB)
Server Mirror 2:
"Hello Garci" ringtone, MP3 format (360KB)
"Hello Garci" ringtone, WAV format (197KB)
Server Mirror 3:
"Hello Garci" ringtone, MP3 format (360KB)
"Hello Garci" ringtone, WAV format (197KB)
To save, right-click on the file and click save as.
Many thanks to QC Indymedia and Yuga of PinoyBlog and Ploghost for hosting the files.
Links to the entire tape are at the PCIJ blog.
How do I put it in my phone?
1. Download your choice by clicking any or all of the files.
2. Transfer the downloaded file/s from the computer to your phone using either an infrared connection or a USB-to-phone cable.
3. For those whose phones have GPRS/WAP access, point your phone's browser to www.txtpower.org and download it directly to your phone.
4. Once transferred to your phone, the sound file may be used as ringtone for calls or text messages.
Other options
1. Ask for file-transfer from friends who may already have the ringtone. Both your phones should have either infrared or bluetooth connections.
2. Join any of the future anti-GMA rallies and look for the TXTPower banner. Next big date is June 24.
3. Watch out for the TXTPower "Hello Garci" Ringtone Download Team when they go around offices, stores and tiangges, communities and schools!
Friday, June 17, 2005
Download Garci Ring Tone From TxtPower
Here are Mp3 and wav files of the Hello Garci ring tone:
Server Mirror 1:
"Hello Garci" ringtone, MP3 format (360KB)
"Hello Garci" ringtone, WAV format (197KB)
Server Mirror 2:
"Hello Garci" ringtone, MP3 format (360KB)
"Hello Garci" ringtone, WAV format (197KB)
Server Mirror 3:
"Hello Garci" ringtone, MP3 format (360KB)
"Hello Garci" ringtone, WAV format (197KB)
To save, right-click on the file and click save as.
Many thanks to Yuga of PinoyBlog and Ploghost for hosting the files.
Links to the entire tape are at the PCIJ blog.
Wednesday, June 15, 2005
Veco's Announcement
SCHEDULED POWER SERVICE INTERRUPTION FOR JUNE 19, 2005
Visayan Electric Company, Inc.'s (VECO) Transmission and Distribution Department (T & D) has scheduled on June 19, 2005 the maintenance & upgrading of our primary lines that will require power interruption as follows:
1) Lateral portion of KBL221
at CABANCALAN substation.Time: 6:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Purpose: To facilitate relocation of primary poles affected by the on-going
road widening project of DPWH at Binaliw area in Cebu City.
Areas/customers affected: Binaliw-1, 2, & 3, Agsungot, Guba, Adlawon, Mabini,
Paril, Cambinocot, Lusaran, Lanipga and part of Pit-os Talamban.
VECO apologizes for any inconvenience the temporary loss of power on Sunday might cause our customers.
For more information, please call VECO's Call Center at 230-VECO (8326).
(SGD.) PAUL G. HUBAHIB
Head, Community Relations Department
Friday, June 10, 2005
Kapamilya Run
- Ayala Center (beside the Activity Center)
- Aboitix Express in E-Mall
- SM City (beside the Supermarket)
- Cebu City Sports Commission (Cebu City Sports Center)
- ABS-CBN Broadcast Complex, Jagobiao, Mandaue City
Friday, June 03, 2005
Pulso sa DYAB Abante Bisaya, Maayong Buntag, Kapamilya ug TV Patrol Central Visayas
Typhoon Dante Is Here
Metro Cebu: Cloudy with rainshowers and thunderstorms, winds will be light to moderate blowing from the south and southwest, coastal waters will be slight to moderate, temperature range 24 to 30°C (75 to 86°F).
More Weather
Thursday, June 02, 2005
Tuesday, May 31, 2005
Weather Update
Metro Cebu: Mostly cloudy skies with rainshowers and thunderstorms, winds will be light to moderate blowing from the southwest, coastal waters will be slight to moderate, temperature range 24 to 32°C (75 to 90°F).
Monday, May 30, 2005
Weather Update
Saturday, May 28, 2005
Weather Update
Metro Cebu: Mostly cloudy with rainshowers and thunderstorms mostly in the afternoon or evening, winds will be light to moderate blowing from the south and southwest, coastal waters will be slight to moderate, temperature range 24 to 34°C (75 to 93°F).
More Weather
Friday, May 27, 2005
Pulso sa DYAB Abante Bisaya, Maayong Buntag Kapamilya ug TV Patrol Central Visayas
Weather Update
Thursday, May 26, 2005
Weather Update
Metro Cebu: Mostly cloudy with rainshowers and thunderstorms mostly in the afternoon or evening, winds will be light to moderate blowing from the southeast, coastal waters will be slight to moderate, temperature range 24 to 34°C (75 to 93°F).
More Weather
Wednesday, May 25, 2005
Weather Update
Metro Cebu: Mostly cloudy with rainshowers and thunderstorms mostly in the afternoon or evening, winds will be light to moderate blowing from the southeast and south, coastal waters will be slight to moderate, temperature range 26 to 34°C (79 to 93°F).
More Weather
Tuesday, May 24, 2005
Weather Update
Metro Cebu: Mostly cloudy with rainshowers and thunderstorms, winds will be light to moderate blowing from the southeast and south, coastal waters will be slight to moderate, temperature range 26 to 34°C (79 to 93°F).
More Weather
Monday, May 23, 2005
Weather Update
Metro Cebu: Mostly cloudy with rainshowers and thunderstorms, winds will be light to moderate blowing from the southeast and south, coastal waters will be slight to moderate, temperature range 26 to 34°C (79 to 93°F).
More Weather
Saturday, May 21, 2005
Jean & Eula
An Interview with the Former Kontrabidas |
Weather Update
Metro Cebu: Partly cloudy to cloudy with rainshowers or thunderstorms in the afternoon or evening, winds will be light to moderate blowing from the east and southeast, coastal waters will be slight to moderate, temperature range 26 to 36°C (79 to 97°F).
More Weather
Friday, May 20, 2005
Phuket Visit
Watching our local hard-line news with the familiar recipe of playing on angry politicians and resorting to plain old sensationalism leaves me distraught and at times with a bad migraine.
Curtis as Kuba
Anne Curtis is both excited and nervous to portray the lead role in Kampanerang Kuba.
abs-cbnNEWS.com
FAMAS Rights
ABS-CBN secured exclusive rights to broadcast the 53rd Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences Awards Night on June 26, the network giant announced today.
abs-cbnNEWS.com
Kuya
ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation is set to revolutionize reality-based television by debuting "Kuya" this August on Studio 23.
abs-cbnNEWS.com
Thursday, May 19, 2005
Network War
AFTER the chaos, a more orderly show. Onstage is Bituin Escalante. |
Posted 10:23pm (Mla time) May 05, 2005
By Bayani San Diego
Inquirer News Service
CEBU CITY -- Fans stampeded in Ayala Center right before an ABS-CBN mall show on Saturday, second day of the network's promo blitz in the southern capital. Monobloc chairs and pieces of metal railings flew as waves of zealous spectators surged toward the stage. No one was reported hurt, but the melee left a wailing child or two in its wake, and a frantic lola searched the grounds for her missing bakya. The same couldn't be said of the stars, who suffered bruises and scratches. Amy Perez, Roderick Paulate, Nikki Gil, and Angelica Panganiban were among the casualties. But they all shrugged it off as "evidence of the Cebuanos' love and warmth." "There were so many people, everywhere we went," guest star Rachel Alejandro told the media later in Tambuli Resort, which was likewise swarming with fans even though it was on faraway Mactan island. To think that homegrown ABS-CBN talents Angela Calina and Jude Bacalso earlier claimed that Cebuano fans "are really not showy (demonstrative)." On this weekend they were, definitely. It was obvious that the showdown here between ABS-CBN and GMA 7 (April 29 to May 1) had charged up the local crowd. The collision has been described variously as "a miting de avance" and "all-out war." Strewn all over the city were streamers and posters of the two giant networks. "It really is a lot like an election," said a source from ABS-CBN, "or a fiesta." "Some of our Cebuano friends were saying this event was bigger than Sinulog," said Charo Santos-Concio, ABS-CBN EVP and Entertainment head. She added: "At the airport in Manila, I told some of our GMA-7 friends: 'This [weekend] will be fun!'" The revelry, however, smacked of politics. It was as if the Visayan viewers were being asked to vote which of the country's two top networks is No. 1. GMA 7 claimed it was No. 1 in Mega Manila; ABS-CBN countered that they were No. 1 all over the country. Throughout the weekend, they were clearly monitoring each other's movements. Case in point: Over merienda, "TV Patrol" Central Visayas anchor Leo Lastimosa fumed: "It's sad that our competitor had to resort to dirty tactics, ferrying audiences to the venues in a fleet of buses." The following day at breakfast, GMA insiders were denying the "dirty tactics" allegation. It was also a war of words. Charges and counter-charges flew thick and fast. The GMA camp insisted that ABS-CBN's decision to invade Cebu was a last-minute decision. ABS-CBN, through Santos-Concio, explained that summer specials have always been a part of the station's annual calendar. "Every year, we bring our different musical-variety shows like 'ASAP' and 'MTB' to the provinces. It's just that this year, we planned something bigger," Santos-Concio said. GMA 7, through president and CEO Felipe L. Gozon, reportedly approved a P40-million budget for the blitz only after the head-on collision with ABS-CBN was confirmed. On the other hand, Santos-Concio insisted: "We just spent our regular budgets [and] got a little help from our friends in Cebu." Food flowed from host restaurants and vehicles were lent by said Cebuano friends, who also donated streamers and giveaways. "Aggressiveness is also a function of competition," Santos-Concio said, unperturbed. "And there is nothing wrong with competition." "Surreal," a talent manager called the Cebu confrontation. "It's palpable proof that there is a raging network war." Guess who's caught in the crossfire? The hapless masses, of course, who would risk life and limb and brave a stampede for a glimpse of Jericho Rosales and Shaina Magdayao. |
Wednesday, May 18, 2005
Fans of 'Star Wars' Wait in Lines
|
Tuesday, May 10, 2005
The Ayuman Files
Atong Banat, aired 6-8 p.m. Saturdays, is anchored by Apas, Cebu
City's No. 1 Councilor Ramil Ayuman. It features the extended
versions of his exclusive interviews conducted during his daily
sorties for TV Patrol Central Visayas.
Ikaw ang Lahat sa Akin: May 16 na!
ABS-CBN proudly presents its newest teleserye, Ikaw ang Lahat Sa Akin,
set to premiere on a prime evening slot on Monday, May 16.
Ikaw ang Lahat Sa Akin stars teleserye princess Claudine Barretto,
cast for the very first time alongside one of today's most popular
screen teams, John Lloyd Cruz and Bea Alonzo. Also heading this
exceptional cast are Angelika de la Cruz, Shaina Magdayao, and Diether
Ocampo.
An emotional story about love and life that can happen to any one of
us, Ikaw ang Lahat Sa Akin is considered by many as a return to form
for the teleserye format that ABS-CBN pioneered and perfected.
Directed by Eric Reyes (Sana'y Wala Nang Wakas) and Jerome Pobocan
(Hiram), and costarring acclaimed actors Hilda Koronel, Tirso Cruz
III, Jaclyn Jose, Noni Buencamino, and Carmi Martin, with Kathleen
Hermosa, Vanna Garcia, Marla Boyd and Glaiza de Castro, Ikaw Ang Lahat
Sa Akin centers on the story of three young women whose journeys
intersect in the most unexpected of ways.
Nea Cruz Fontanilla (Claudine Barretto) and Jasmin Cruz Fontanilla
(Bea Alonzo) are sisters, although they haven't seen each other since
Nea was five – when Nea's father Larry (Noni Buencamino) abandoned her
and her mother Elena (Jacklyn Jose) to live with the rich Yolanda
(Carmi Martin).