Speaker Sonny Belmonte faces Boy Abunda in The Bottomline

Quezon City 4th District Congressman-elect Feliciano "Sonny" Belmonte, who is the next Speaker of the House of Representatives in the incoming 15th Congress, will face Boy Abunda and answer the people's questions in The Bottomline, this Saturday, June 19 on ABSCBN. :)

Chiz Escudero's New TV Ad endorsing Noynoy and Binay

Today on ANC, Karen Davila welcomed a cool and relaxed Chiz Escudero, looking great and confident as ever. I was tagged by Belinda Carlos in a post narrating today's guesting of Senator Francis "Chiz" Escudero in ANC's Headstart, hosted by Davila every 8am, weekdays.

The first question thrown at him was "Why do you endorse Noy-Bi (Senator Noynoy Aquino and Mayor Jojo Binay)?", and "Why did you chose this tandem over other teeming political teams?"

Chiz expressed confidently that he believes that they (Noy and Binay) are the best team who is worthy of the presidential and vice-presidential positions, respectively. He strongly believes in their capacity and worthiness, both as persons and public servants, who will fill competently the said positions. He further stated that he believes Noy's good intentions and he is seeing it from his heart. Noy could truly perform such position, and so does Binay's competency and legislative experiences, that would make them a good tandem!

Karen asked again, "Why endorse Binay when all the while, Roxas is Noy's teammate in LP? Didnt he think that what he is doing will create a division from among LP members?"

Chiz firmly believes that there is no such thing as "block-voting" in our electoral system, and anybody may choose for himself whomever he believes is worthy of his trust and vote. He further explained that this is also applicable for any other candidates. If they chose to support Noy-Legarda or Gordon-Mar, this is anybody's choice that nobody should be bitter why he was not chosen. As Belinda says, "I guess this is where credibility of one candidate factors in. If he or she is really worthy, you don't need to ask for people's support because they will automatically support you because they know."

Chiz emphasized that whomever will win in the coming election, will need the people's support, because nobody is really prepared for the position, but everything will fall into place as soon as there is unity from among our citizens.

Karen asked Chiz if it is his plan for the coming 2016 to run with Binay as Pres and VP respectively, "why he did you not chose to endorse Mar, is it because you two shall be both vying for the position?"

In a cool way, Escudero answered Karen with "No, not this early, it was not yet on my mind, and it has no relation whatsoever with Mar's dreams of running in 2016." He chose to support Binay, and explained further that Binay is originally with him for so long in the Opposition, compared to Mar who sided with GMA's ticket opposite FPJ during the last elections, where he and Binay jointly supported the latter's candidacy as oppositionists.

Karen finally asked why TeamChiz were allegedly expelled from the campaign of LP team. Escudero pointed out that, we chose to stand down, and let the LP team handle the campaign to cause no problem whatsoever, because we have been informed that they will make various changes and adjustments in the campaign. To avoid any arguments, or disagreements, our decision was to stand down.

In between takes, Danton Remoto of Ang Ladlad Partylist was interviewed over the phone. He clearly declared, " I support NOY-BI tandem because I believe Noy is the "Mr. Clean of Philippine Politics, di na kelangang labhan o ikula, malinis talaga!" On Binay, he confirmed that he was with Binay during the PDP-Laban and both Noy and Binay's platform have gender component which he likes.

Karen asked Chiz' reaction regarding LP Campaign team manager Butch Abad's comment over an interview jokingly asking if Chiz is already a member of Ladlad?

Chiz straightened out the facts that some people are "walang intindi" or "makitid ang utak." Karen sustained with asking if Abad's actions were uncalled for. Chiz reiterates that, "maiwasan na lang sana ang ganyang comments."

In Belinda's personal opinion, and I couldn't agree more, Abad is embittered with Chiz' decision to support Binay instead of Mar. It was very obvious that his remark over Chiz and Ang Ladlad is a litlle bit vindictive to the point of asking the interviewer if Chiz is already a member, meaning, he is in doubt now of CHIZ' status just because Chiz did not support Mar, then adding a sarcastic laugh? "Who's "politically immature" now?", she asked.


Chiz' latest TV advertisement endorsing Noy and Binay are to be aired next week. It was played during the interview. He denied LP blocked the commercial in fairness, but nobody can block it because Binay's campaign team spent for the TV Ad.

He spoke with authority upon the issue of his backing out from the presidential candidacy, and cleared that there was no backing out to do since there was no declaration in the first place. He referred to his announcement of leaving NPC at Club Filipino in October last year. Chiz claimed that NOY-BI is his personal vision and choice of tandem for he believes in them. He believes Noy can do a better job.

About Danding Cojuangco, he declared that they are in speaking terms, nothing amiss, because he asked permission to leave NPC and they have just spoken over the phone a month ago before Danding left for Australia for a summer vacation. He simply answered Karen's intriguing question about how he felt when Danding didn't support his candidacy, in terms of money, "pera n'ya yun eh, siempre he decides"..jokingly smiled a cute boyish smile as ever.

Karen asked if he is ready to assume the position of Senate President in case of a failure of election on May? Chiz explained that he is ready and it should be that every member of the Senate be ready to assume the position in case of an Election failure. That the Senate President has only 90 days to sit in as temporary president, whose duty is to find out the causes of the failure and to call for a new election as is called for under our constitution. There is no such thing as "succession" in the Senate Presidency, and that a new one must be chosen.

No new political party is being claimed by Escudero to join, but after NPC, he is looking forward to form his own political party. Regarding the Appointment of SC chief, after Justice Puno be relieved on May 17, Chiz said that they are duty-bound to follow the appointment, anarchy results, otherwise.

And lastly, Karen asked Chiz about his comments on GMA's appointment of her "manicurist" as Board of Trustees in Pag-ibig? Chiz admitted that those are "midnight appointments" of GMA and he wouldn't be surprised at all.

Finally, after reading a couple of questions from the audience via twitter, Karen concluded that people observed Chiz was mellowed, cooled down and relaxed. Chiz simply said, there are more important things in life, than before. Again he smiled and Karen thanked the "most popular Senator in the Philippines" :)

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Most of the content and the latter photo, courtesy of Belinda Carlos of TeamChiz. ANC Headstart photo courtesy of Karen Davila.

ABSCBN's Himig ng Pagbabago

Boto Mo, I-Patrol Mo Ako Ang Simula HIMIG NG PAGBABAGO, a free concert on February 19, 2010 at 6pm at the UST Parade Grounds, University of Sto. Tomas, España, Manila. Featured bands and artists include Parokya Ni Edgar, Kamikaze, Rocksteady, Moonstar 88, Bituin Escalante, Bayang Barrios, Barbie Almalbis and rapper Pochoy Labog.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, The Manila Forum

The University of the Philippines Administration, through the Office of Student Affairs, invited us to go to the US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, The Manila Forum, mounted by ABS-CBN in the historic and scenic University of Sto. Tomas in Manila.

We left the University of the Philippines using the new Varsity bus of UP at around 5:30am to reach UST around past 6am. The bus went through Gate 10. We were asked to dislodge from the bus for the first line of security clearance. We were asked to line-up alphabetically, and were each called, our ID's checked, went through body search, by UST security.


After that, we were asked to proceed to the venue proper, the UST Medicine Auditorium, where heads of states, including Pope John Paul II, gave talks before. At the entrance of the building, security and PNP were stationed, we were checked using metal scanners (the ones you see in the malls) and were rechecked and searched by more security and US embassy personnel before we entered the auditorium at the topmost floor.


Admittedly, it's a nice experience, and truly a once in a lifetime opportunity. A lot were excited, some, restless because it was held early in the morning. Before it started, the crew ran us through practices (cheering, clapping, cheering for our schools, again, and again, and again).

It wasn't very funny, because it was like we were being in the noontime show Wowowee. The difference between the two, however, is that at least in that show, people receive prizes.


Maria Ressa, Ricky Carandang and Pinky Webb the lucky anchors of the forum. They were joined in by ABSCBN News bigshot Charie Villa and Ging Reyes in the audience. Also, Tony Velasquez and Ces Drillon joined in via video-patch in Visayas and Mindanao.


It was quite frustrating to note that the discussion wasn't that beefed-up with issues the Filipino people were dying to ask and know the real deal. It wasn't as straightforward and juicy as I would like it to be. Of course, Madame Secretary answered all the questions well, as expected. She cleared up some issues, but stuck to those we already know.


It was just sad that we were sort of paraded in the forum, and didn't get to ask questions that matter, questions millions of Filipino people are dying to ask, dying to know the real score. As a law student said in his facebook wall, "Policy issues were not discussed (why the US hasn't ratified the Rome Statute nor signed the Covenant on the Protection from Forced Disappearances). More intelligent questions, please. All gloss, no grit." Well, I think I expected too much from the forum.

In the end though, I still congratulate ABS-CBN for mounting such a forum - for the chance given to us to be recognized internationally once again.

DOCUniversity Tour: UP Diliman

The Mass Communicators Organization (UP MCO) recently hosted one leg of the Correspondents’ DOCUniversity tour in the Media Center of the UP-College of Mass Communications.

Seasoned broadcast-journalists and Correspondents Karen Davila, Abner Mercado and Bernadette Sembrano presented their greatest works and talked about being in the business of making documentaries.

The first documentary, “Ito Ang Klase Ko”, a 3-segment story by Karen Davila, showed the inhumane state of our elementary schools. They compared and contrasted a public elementary school to a not so expensive private elementary school, and the learning environment the kids are subjected to. Also, they pointed out the absence of the ideal environment for kids to be able to learn.



She was really shocked and disturbed when she did the story on Payatas Elementrary School. To illustrate, one Grade 4 classroom had 146 students, and neither one of them was able to spell a simple word --- “beautiful.”

“Kids nowadays do not learn anymore,” Karen said. She explained that the kids do not even have the nutrition they should get, the right learning environment (teacher to student ratio, classroom facilities, etc) and the right home environment, for them to be able to study and to really learn something.

The short segment elicited a mixed feeling of sympathy, frustration and anger. “Wala tayong karapatan maging tamad, at ‘di pumasok,” one student said. She’s right. We don’t have the right to cut classes and be irresponsible because those kids should deserve more to study in a good school in your place.

In her 20 years in News and Current Affairs, Karen admits that the writer in her stands out. From being an anchor in the daily news TV Patrol World, in Wonder Mom, co-anchor in Pasada Sais Trenta, and in the Correspondents, Karen says that she enjoys doing stories for the Correspondents the most because she can educate the people.

As Iskolars-ng-Bayan, like Karen, we should be able to be “agents of change.” She says that even though every year stories may be similar, it’s important to look for these stories (of injustices, inhumanity, and other ills of society), because one way or another, it will touch people, and change will bound to happen.

What I admire most of Karen is her humility and her passion in doing the best she could in her line of work, and to be, one way or another, an agent of change in the Philippine society.

Unfortunately I didn’t get to finish the event because I had to rush to my STS class, which discussed the “Possibility of a transcendental subject” by CSSP Dean Zosimo Lee. Blog about lectures of ENG’G Dean Rowena Guevarra on “Science, Technology and Music,” and CSSP Dean Lee shall soon be posted.

Similar posts:

“Science Technology and Society,” CS Dean Caesar Saloma
“The Culture of Medicine,” Anthropology Prof. Felipe Jocano, Jr.
“Alternative Sources of Energy,” NIP Director Henry Ramos

ABS-CBN bags rights for "Takipsilim", a local 'Twilight' remake

UPDATE (12/29/08): To end this once and for all? Here's the real deal.



So it's now official, says the online news of TV giant ABS-CBN. They bagged the rights to do a local remake of the popular teen chick flick hit Twilight of Stephanie Meyer. Kill us now, please!



Rayver Cruz and Shaina Magdayao? No offense, but, can't we be more original?



Oh here's a Petition aptly titled "Say no to Twilight, Filipino Version!". I know I'm signing that. You?









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PDA Scholar's a Xaverian

Pinoy Dream Academy scholar Rafael Ting, more known as Inaki, is the 13th pick among the 25 "dreamers" (Pinoy Dream Academy scholars).

Only 16 lucky dreamers will get the chance to be included in the Academy and be mentored and taught by only the best - headed by PDA Headmaster Ryan Cayabyab, Voice Master Kitchy Molina, Performance Master Joey Javier and Voice Mentor Monet Silvestre.

Pinoy Dream Academy is a Philippine franchise from Endemol, the brains behind the Big Brother and Deal or No Deal local franchise. It is their goal, with Pinoy Dream Academy, to give "pop star hopefuls a chance to be a step closer to their dream."

We can follow them at PDA Überture with Host Billy Crawford every 5:30pm Mon-Fri, PDA Primetime with Host Nikki Gil every 9:30pm Mon- Fri, PDA Performance with Toni Gonzaga on weekends at 7:45 PM.

Xaverian Pride! Woot! :) LUCEAT LUX!

Photos from Pinoy Dream Academy site