NP has most women bets in nat’l slate

by ROLLY T. CARANDANG, HANNAH TORREGOZA (Manila Bulletin)

http://mb.com.ph/articles/246667/np-has-most-women-bets-nat-l-slate

As the world celebrates International Women's Day on Monday, Senator Pia Cayetano lauded Nacionalista Party standard-bearer Sen. Manuel “Manny” Villar for including the most number of women candidates in the party’s national slate for this year’s elections.

Cayetano also called on Filipino voters to support pro-women candidates in the May 10 polls to ensure that the interest and issues of women are protected under the next administration.

“Voters should carefully study the track record of candidates, particularly their stand on women’s concerns,” she said.

“Regardless of whether they are male or female, the candidate should have a clear platform that looks after issues affecting women, including maternal health, the declining state of public health services, feminization of labor migration, gender discrimination, poverty, and trafficking.”

Cayetano, principal author of the Magna Carta of Women, added that a deeper and more diverse field of male and female candidates would give voters more options and better chances of pushing for genuine reforms in 2010.

Villar dares TV, radio to disclose earnings from political ads

by Christina Mendez (The Philippine Star) 
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=555416&publicationSubCategoryId=63

DAVAO CITY , Philippines – Nacionalista Party (NP) presidential bet Sen. Manuel Villar Jr. yesterday challenged television and radio broadcast firms to make public their actual earnings from airing political advertisements.

Villar, a billionaire real estate developer turned politician, lamented what he called “exorbitant” airtime rates being charged by broadcast firms from candidates.
“On ad spending, I am following what is in the Fair Elections Act. As far as I am concerned, the figures shown are not the actual figures, they are the published rates and there are discounted rates,” he said.
Villar said the high airtime rates are costing him so much in the campaign.
Villar made the statement as he received criticisms from major TV and radio networks.
NP spokesman Gilbert Remulla agreed that he too is having difficulty putting out campaign ads because of the high rates, a concern also raised by fellow NP senatorial candidates Adel Tamano and Gwen Pimentel.

Even political rivals admire Gibo"s qualities

from The Daily Tribune Jan 15, 2010

http://www.tribune.net.ph/metro/20100115met4.html

Even members of the political opposition are beginning to express admiration for the intelligence and leadership qualities of Lakas-Kampi-CMD presidential candidate Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro Jr.

They did so at the birthday bash for Zambales Rep. Mitos Magsaysay in Olongapo City over the weekend that was attended mostly by lawmakers who belonged to several rival political parties.

Magsaysay said Muntinlupa City Rep. Rozanno Rufino Biazon and Bukidnon Rep. Teofisto Guingona III — both of the opposition Liberal Party — did not conceal their admiration for Teodoro when they spoke at the gathering.

“Both warmly greeted Secretary Teodoro when they met each other at my birthday party,” Magsaysay said.

“When they went up to the stage, both of them praised Gibo for his intelligence, leadership skill and integrity, the virtues he had consistently shown when he was a member of the House of Representatives,” the woman solon said in an interview.

Biazon and Guingona are on the LP senatorial slate of presidential candidate and Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino II.

Party stalwarts from the Lakas-Kampi-CMD and the other political parties as well as former Zambales Gov. Vicente Magsaysay, her father-in-law, warmly applauded the two lawmakers in an atmosphere of genuine camaraderie despite the coming May national elections
Although a gathering of rival politicians, the party was cordial with no visible political distinctions. “Secretary Teodoro was warmly received by all,” Rep. Magsaysay said.

The party guests included a number of senatorial candidates, among them Secretary Silvestre Bello III (Lakas-Kampi), reelectionist Sen. Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada (Partido ng Masang Pilipino), Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. (Nacionalista Party), Jose “Joey” de Venecia III (PMP), Gwendolyn Pimentel (NP), Susan “Toots” Ople (NP), and Rep. Ompong Plaza. Also visible was former Public Works and Highways Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane who is running for vice governor of Zambales.

Magsaysay observed that it is in Teodoro’s character not to engage in “mudslinging and spats with his political opponents,” the qualities that have endeared him even to his political rivals. “A stable political environment will bring much good to the country,” she added.

Teodoro, the 1989 Philippine Bar Examinations topnotcher, earlier vowed a leadership of healing and political conciliation should he win the presidential elections in May.

“My leadership will be those of the ‘paghihilom’ (healing) style as I believe friendship is more important than  politics,” he stressed.

“There will be no witchhunt against those who did not help in my campaign. Cooperation between all leaders, regardless of party-lines, will be the hallmark of my administration so that the greatest amount of reforms and benefits will be brought to our people,” Teodoro said.

He added it is important to build a broad-based unity among Filipino leaders and their followers, because a “leadership of hate will be very counterproductive.”

“Working together offers us the best chance to bring our country back on the path to development and progress,” Teodoro said.

Erap-Binay nakabuo na

ni Ray Marfil

from Abante Tonite

http://abante-tonite.com/issue/jan1210/news_story7.htm

Bagama’t namumuro ang mga guest candidate, ipinagmalaki ng tambalan nina dating Pangulong Joseph “Erap” Estrada at Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay ang pagkakumpleto ng 12-man senatorial ticket.
Sa isang press statement, inilabas ng Puwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) ang bumubuo ng 12 pangalan sa pagka-senador kung saan apat ang ‘inampon’ mula sa ibang kampo. Kahit nakaumang ang pagkadiskuwalipika sa presidential race, ipinagmalaki ni Estrada na magiging katuwang sa pagpapaunlad ng bansa at magpapanumbalik ng kapangyarihan sa masang Pilipino ang mga napili nitong senatoriables. Katulad ng inaasa­han, nanguna sa senatorial ticket ng PMP ang ori­ginal members ng partido, kinabibilangan nina Se­nate President Juan Ponce Enrile, Senate pro-tempore Jinggoy Ejercito-Estrada Jr., businessman Joey De Venecia, Cong. Rodolfo ‘Ompong’ Plaza, Cong. Apolinario ‘Jun’ Lozada Jr., at ex-Cong. JV Bautista. Nasa senatorial ticket din nina Estrada at Binay si dating senador Francisco “Kit” Tatad na naunang nakasamaan ng loob ng dating Pangulo matapos kuwestyunin ang political dynasty, sa panahong magkasama ang mag-inang sina dating senadora Luisa “Dra. Loi” Ejercito at Jinggoy. Tumayong guest candidate sa PMP sina Sens. Miriam Defensor Santiago, Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., dating senador Sergio “Serge” Osmena III, General Danilo Lim at Atty. Gwendolyn Pimentel.