WWF Philippines Reaches Out to Sibuyan Island

The World Wildlife Fund Philippines continues to help us, Romblomanons, in preserving and protecting the natural resources of Sibuyan Island by promoting its newest program called the "Direct Debit Donor Program," where a volunteer donates an amount of P300-P500 per month to the WWF Philippines through debit and/or credit cards like Visa and Mastercard.

This project aims to raise funds for the protection of dolphins and whales [and butandings] inhabiting and enjoying the rich marine life in Sibuyan Sea, for reforestation and preservation of greeneries nationwide, and for continuing environmental education and awareness among our people.

Prior to this, WWF-Philippines has initiated the development of livelihood systems among the Sibuyan Mangyan-Tagabukid, the indigenous group of the area, through farm extension, technological demo farms and credit. WWF has also assisted the group in obtaining a Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title and preparing a management plan covering 7,900 hectares of ancestral land.

For more information, you may visit http://www.wwf.org.ph/.

Cory Aquino's remains arrive at Manila Cathedral

The convoy carrying the remains of former President Corazon Aquino arrived at the Manila Cathedral Monday afternoon, a television report said.

GMA News' Pia Arcangel said Mrs. Aquino's children arrived at the Manila Cathedral first and waited for the remains of their mother there.

Her remains were transferred to the Manila Cathedral from La Salle Greenhills in Mandaluyong City, where a mass was held earlier in the day.

The ride from Mandaluyong to the Manila Cathedral took almost five hours, with thousands of supporters shouting her name and confetti being showered on the streets.



A solemn atmosphere enveloped the whole Manila Cathedral as the casket of Mrs. Aquino was slowly carried to the altar. The casket was carried by members of the Philippine National Police (PNP).

A Mass was then held presided by Balanga, Bataan Bishop Socrates Villegas.

Nuns and family members surrounded the casket and offered their prayers for the late democracy icon.

Mrs. Aquino, who was diagnosed with colon cancer in March 2008, died early Saturday morning due to cardiorespiratory attack.

In 1986, she became the country's first woman president after a civilian-backed military uprising resulted in the ouster of then president Ferdinand Marcos. - GMANews.TV

Rolling the Wheels of Justice

Perhaps at no other time has the justice system in the Province of Romblon seen so many strides than in the present incumbency of the good and able Congressman, Hon. Eleandro Jesus “Budoy” Madrona. In the main, his unparalleled efforts have concentrated on filling up vacant posts in the local courts or offices, and in providing support mechanisms for the enhancement of their employees.

Prior to 2007, many court cases have languished by the wayside, owing to the lack of judges. The Prosecuting arm of the province had also been greatly undermanned, hobbled by the fact that only one public prosecutor had been doing the thankless job of attending court hearings all over the whole province. Needless to say, the detrimental result was that people had become estranged from the justice system, and consequentially, from the government as a whole. To all perspectives, such an overwhelming state of neglect was paralleled only in the neglect that had been callously wrought to the medical services and hospital system in the province.

Enter Congressman Madrona. Daring the odds presented by the past dispensation, he thus spearheaded efforts to jump-start the sputtering wheels of justice in the Province of Romblon by paving the way for the installation of a fresh batch of judges, namely: Hon. Ramiro R. Geronimo (RTC Branch 81, Romblon, Romblon); Hon. Edwin Buffee (MCTC—San Agustin, Romblon); and Hon. Glen Santos (MCTC—San Andres Romblon). This present infusion of judges certainly complements the gallant judgeships of Hon. Jose M. Madrid (RTC Branch 82, Odiongan, Romblon), and Hon. Cirile F. Foja (MCTC—Odiongan, Romblon), who had expressed oneness with the good Congressman in the drive to give more in law to those who have less in life in the province.

In the same thrust, the good Congressman had already made written representations to the Department of Justice and its Regional Offices, so that additional public prosecutors may be appointed or at least detailed in Romblon, in order to reinforce the valiant efforts of the lone-workhorse of a Provincial Prosecutor, Hon. Arsenio R.M. Almadin. In the meantime, the good Congressman had dialogued with the bigwigs of the local justice system towards a more efficient allocation of court schedules in order to maximize the availability of practicing lawyers and public prosecutors, with the end-view of expediting the termination of cases and avoiding unnecessary delays and expenses being suffered by poor litigants.

In terms of affording support mechanisms to employees or personnel in the justice system, the good Congressman also keeps his doors open in order to provide reasonable financial assistance to them, by way of travel and other allowances, so that they will be able to keep abreast of challenges as public servants by attending conventions and seminars for the enhancement of theirs craft or skills.

As if his resolve was not clear already, the good Congressman had also made an unexpected appearance at the Annual IBP-Romblon Chapter Election of Officers, last March 2009 at the Provincial Capital. Needless to state, his appearance and active participation during the affair was a welcome and heartfelt surprise to the IBP members and officers. That appearance was a far-cry, and unprecedented, considering that at no other time had any public official shown such a keen and hands-on interest in the dispensation of justice in the Province of Romblon.

It has been said that an inefficient justice system is where the absence of the government most sorely felt, especially by the indigent litigants. Kudos to Congressman Madrona's efforts. One can almost see Lady Justice’s smile shining on the Province of Romblon. Kudos! - http://romblonpost.com

Palace flag at half mast; AFP offers 'volley of fire'

Malacañang Palace flew its flag at half-mast and the military fired howitzers Saturday to mourn the death of former President Corazon Aquino.

A report by Radio dzBB’s Aileen Intia said the flag was flown at half mast shortly after President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo declared a 10-day period of mourning for the democracy icon.

At Camp Aguinaldo, national headquarters of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), troops have begun offering the traditional “volley of fire," said a report by GMA Network news.

A volley of fire is an eight successive cannon shots meant to honor presidents and commanders-in-chief who pass away. It is done every 30 minutes from daybreak until nightfall.

The same ceremony will also be done in other military camps across the Philippine archipelago, the report said.

"The AFP condoles with the family of former president Corazon Aquino and the entire nation. We will provide full military honors befitting a former president of the republic and commander in chief," said military information chief Lt. Col. Romeo Brawner Jr.



Aquino passed away at 3:18 a.m. Saturday. The official cause of her death was cardiorespiratory arrest. [See: Former President Corazon Aquino, people power icon, passes away]

The 76-year-old Aquino was diagnosed with colon cancer in March 2008 and was treated with chemotherapy.

Last May, she underwent surgery and was brought to the Makati Medical Center in June.

Press Secretary Cerge Remonde has also said that Mrs. Arroyo will be delivering a “state of funeral honors" for the late president. [See: Palace declares week of mourning on passing of Cory] -

In Quezon City, neighbors and other people lit candles and left flowers in front of the home of Mrs. Aquino along Times Street to show their grief.

Motorists also honked their car horns in respect for the former leader as they passed by her house.

Radio dzBB’s Mao dela Cruz reported that a family from Isabela province left three roses and lit candles near the Aquino residence

In Makati City, some members of the Black and White Movement planned an ecumenical service for Mrs. Aquino but some members wore “Never Again" pins.

Former social welfare secretary Corazon Soliman said the pins referred to Mrs. Arroyo’s alleged plot to stay in power.

Mrs. Arroyo’s critics had accused her of plotting to stay in power beyond the end of her term on June 30, 2010, by having her allies amend the 1987 Constitution to make way for a parliamentary form of government.

Former President Joseph Estrada, in an interview on dzBB, also recalled Mrs. Aquino had the chance to stay in power after 1992 but chose to have elections and turn over power to her successor peacefully.

“'Di siya covered ng 1987 Constitution pero minarapat pa niya magpasalamat sa taumbayan- Kimberly Jane T. Tan, GMANews.TV (She was not covered by the 1987 Constitution but she chose to thank the people when her term ended)," Estrada added.

FVR: ‘Aquino represented past, future of Filipinos’

Former President Fidel V. Ramos on Friday expressed grief over the death of his predecessor, former President Corazon Aquino, saying her demise was a loss not only for Filipinos but for the whole world.

In a phone-patch interview with GMA News, Ramos, who took over the presidency when Mrs. Aquino bowed out of office in 1992, paid tribute to the role that the democracy icon had played in shaping the Philippines after coming out of martial rule under strongman Ferdinand Marcos.

"Not only the entire Filipino nation grieves, but the whole world. Cory Aquino represented the past and the future of our people and led in the direction of a better future for our people," Ramos said.

“Dito sa aming lahat sa aking pamilya ay nakikiramay sa pamilya at sa lahat ng mahal sa buhay ni Cory Aquino," said Ramos, who only learned about Mrs. Aquino’s death on radio.


Ramos, together with then defense chief Juan Ponce Enrile, led a military uprising in February 1986 that sparked the EDSA “People Power Revolution," toppled the Marcos regime and propelled Mrs. Aquino to power.

One of Mrs. Aquino's first appointees was then Lieutenant General Ramos, then Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) vice chief of staff, whom she named chief of staff and promoted to four-star rank.

As military chief of staff and later secretary of defense, Ramos stood by Mrs. Aquino in the most difficult times of her presidency, helping quell coup attempts mounted mostly by military officers who helped topple Marcos.

During the 1992 presidential elections, Mrs. Aquino threw her support behind Ramos, discarding then House Speaker Ramon Mitra, who was the choice of the ruling Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP) - the party formed by her political allies to back her presidency.

Because of Mrs. Aquino's support, Ramos managed to emerge as winner, albeit by a slim margin, in a field of seven candidates that included Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago; businessman Eduardo "Danding Cojuangco, Mrs. Aquino's cousin; then Vice President Salvador Laurel, former Senate President Jovito Salonga and former First Lady Mrs. Imelda Marcos. - GMANews.TV