See this article about the old casino in manila:
In walking through the Casino Español de Manila, there is so much life and history reflected and safely kept and nurtured in this “home away from home.” Beyond the grandeur it exudes, there are the stories on the walls of the club that make it a classy choice, or, more often than not, the only choice among its members.
Meeting the club’s board of directors, we were welcomed by an incredibly warm and accommodating group of men and their tempting spread of authentic Spanish cuisine.
Though at some point we could barely understand their animated conversation with their classic perfect Spanish accents, we were made to feel a part of their family.
Casino’s rich history
OLD documents reveal that Casino Español de Manila has been in existence since 1832. While the club’s library does not have proper documentation of the date, there is a written account from a Royal Navy surgeon, Alick Osborne:
“A club of these foreign gentlemen have [sic] a billiard table where they meet every evening and enjoy an hour or two of social converse; they play for amusement [no betting permitted] who are exclusively selected, only admitting strangers by introduction of a member on Tuesdays, Fridays and holidays.”
The description fits that of the club, which back then was simply referred to as the Casino. Documents provided after a few years reveal that “Intramuros felt itself upstaged by the incomers, this was the reason why in 1843, the Real Sociedad Economica de Filipinas founded in Intramuros the Sociedad de Recreo [believed to be the original name of the Casino].”
The foundation of the Casino was formalized on October 31, 1844, by Governor General Narciso Claveria y Zaldua. That makes the club now 166 years old.
Casinos back then strictly functioned as clubs, ideal for interaction and relaxation, but not for gambling. Senior people with considerably high salaries joined the nonprofit organization. Soon after, the Casino attracted both Spaniards and foreign traders as members.
Up to 1851, the members of the Casino exclusively catered to Spanish peninsulares and insulares and the foreign community. In time, the club then admitted mestizos to its membership.
The present Casino was the brainchild of Don Antonio Melian y Pavia, the Conde de Peracamps who stood as its first president. As a tribute to the man who unselfishly devoted his time to the welfare of Casino Español de Manila, he was bestowed with the title of Presidente de Honor a Perpetuidad (president for all time).
In an oil painting by Maestro Oscar Navarro, it depicts the façade of the Casino Español de Manila built by architect Don Juan Arellano in 1916. On January 21, 1917, the Casino Español at the corner of San Luis Street (now T.M. Kalaw) facing Taft Avenue was inaugurated.
Compania General de Tabacos de Filipinas’ then-general manager Don Carlos de las Heras, then-Senate President Manuel Luis Quezon, then-American Governor General Francis Harrison and then-House Speaker Sergio Osmeña were some of the high-profile dignitaries who attended the club’s inauguration.
In the last months of World War II, heavy artillery devastated the club. Barely anything was left but for a few pieces of furniture and several valuable works of art. Fortunately, these were saved and moved to a Tabacalera warehouse for emergency storage.
The club officers eventually found a temporary place in a two-story house at the corner of Oregon (now Apacible Street) and Perez streets in Paco, Manila. Don Ignacio Planas, the president of the Casino, was able to generate funds for the reconstruction of the club in 1951.
With the support of various social groups, the club brought itself back on top as the “hub of Spanish social and cultural life in the city.” More improvements were done to the Casino. It expanded its facilities by building tennis courts and bowling alleys.
It was the Spanish game of pelota which became the most popular source of sporting entertainment in Casino Español, especially before the Jai-alai was erected adjacent to the club in 1940.
In 1962 the club reached its crowning glory as it welcomed royal dignitaries in the presence of Prince Don Juan Carlos de Bourbon and his wife Princess Doña Sofia to Manila.
Adding to the colorful narrative of the Casino, its corporate life was extended in July 1963. The board of directors sought an extension of another 50 years. The immediate approval of the petition by the Department of Trade and Industry attested to the good relations between Filipinos and Spaniards.
Spanish feasts
AMONG the feasts celebrated by the Casino is Dia de Santiago, or the Feast of St. James, the Patron Saint of Spain, held every July 25. Male members and guests gather for drinks at the bar, followed by a sumptuous lunch.
Funds generated from the luncheon are donated to Hospital de Santiago, a residence for old and poor Spaniards in the country.
Dia de Hispanidad, another festive celebration, is observed on the Feast of the Virgen del Pilar. This is Spain’s national holiday honoring Spain and also all its former colonies which share a common history, culture and religion. In times past, the club held a dinner dance.
Other memorable celebrations of the Casino include the annual celebration of Fiesta de los Tres Reyes, or Three Kings. The Three Kings festivity is an old tradition which serves to mark the end of the Christmas holiday. Three young men garbed as Melchor, Gaspar and Baltazar ride on horseback from St., Vincent Church in San Marcelino to the club premises to distribute gifts.
The Three Kings is a festival of giving that everyone in the club looks forward to, moreso the members’ children, as they are treated with special gifts, great entertainment, exciting games and an array of delicious delicacies.
Philippines and Spanish ties
Casino Español de Manila maintains its good relationship among its membership, and plays a key role in fostering Filipino-Spanish culture. In the past, membership was done on an individual basis through invitation and sponsorship by an active club member.
Men who have made their mark in the Filipino-Spanish community were accepted. In time, a special resolution by the Casino’s board of directors finally opened its doors to both individual and corporate membership.
The policy will ensure the club’s stability and growth. Today one can be a member of the Casino either in one’s private capacity or upon sponsorship of a company.
The Philippines has had a long history with Spain. The club tries to preserve Spanish traditions, and makes sure that these are still maintained. Even the architecture of the club has been maintained.
Though left unsaid, membership is open to any person who is qualified. Even the late President Corazon Aquino recognized this strong affiliation between Filipinos and Spaniards when, during the club’s diamond anniversary, Aquino wrote: “I am pleased with the continuing efforts of this club in fostering camaraderie among its Filipino and Spanish members, as well as in strengthening the historical ties between the Philippines and Spain.”
The Casino in the modern times
THE club has blended perfectly with the changes brought about by technology. It has installed a Wi-Fi connection for the members’ convenience and integrated its accounting software. Also, the Casino’s web site is now on live and ready for easier access. It has also upgraded the amenities, improved the catering services and added structures in the club.
Despite these changes, the club remains committed to foster Spanish culture and the exquisite and authenticity of Spanish cuisine.
The current composition of the club’s directors and officers:
Sr. Don Francisco Gomez de Liaño, president
Sr. Don Manuel Igual, vice president
Sr. Don Jose Luis Romero-Salas Jr., secretary
Sr. Don Gabriel Ripoll Jr., assistant secretary
Sr. Don Antonio Alumno Jr., treasurer
Sr. Don Jose Miguel Cabarrus, assistant treasurer
Sr. Don Francisco Eizmendi Jr., director
Sr. Don Jack Arroyo, director
Sr. Don Ernesto R. Jalandoni, director
Sr. Don Francisco Magsaysay, director
Sr. Don Francisco Tankiang, director
Sr. Adolfo Manatad Jr., general manager
Sra. Sheena Karen Ojeda, chief finance officer
Sra. Atty. Rachelle Padre-Isip, corporate secretary
more from here: http://businessmirror.com.ph/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=25778:casino-espanol-de-manila&catid=32:life&Itemid=68
Monday, May 31, 2010
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Kris’ sacrifice for her ‘Kuya’ Noynoy
Just browsed through some articles from the paper today and found this interesting news about Kris' sacrifice for Noynoy. Read on below:
“The most selfless among us is the greatest. We must grow in selflessness by engaging in acts of humble service day by day… Lord, make me a servant today.”
--Pempe Rodrigo, Rivers of the Living Water Community
We had an hour with president-elect Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III last Wednesday in his home on Times Street, (still decked in yellow) and had a quiet chat. The home he shared with his mother Cory remains frozen in time with her paintings on the wall, on the throw pillows on the two sofas, her collection of Madonnas, and other personal items of the beloved icon. He has his own compact unit adjacent to the main house but now, Cory’s home is his haven, his personal headquarters where he meets his core of advisers.
He still nurses a hoarse voice, but looked relaxed in his jeans and signature black t-shirt with the yellow ribbon and Philippine map and wearing a comfortable pair of loafers without socks. My companion and I were apparently one of the first visitors that morning and the next appointment was with the barber at a nearby mall.
I commented on his tan which was very becoming and he said it was a result of his whirlwind provincial trips. He recalled two nerve-wracking landings his entourage had when the planes had to go up suddenly during their descent.
“I could see the ground coming up already when our plane zoomed up again. Later we found out there was some obstruction on the runway. Oh well, the two trips ended well.”
From the chat that we had, here are some gems we can share- for instance, the flurry of text messages on who will be who in his cabinet are all still products of the imagination and guess work. He still has to come to a decision as to who he will be appointing when he is finally proclaimed. He had a few names they have been vetting like for DPWH, DoJ and DepEd but at this time, only he knows who they are.
“When I took over the campaign, there were many around me who were advising me to do this and that. I finally decided to get hold of it (the campaign) and it will be so for the selection of key people who will work with me,” he stressed. “The chosen ones will be my responsibility alone. As to the others - around 4,000 other positions to be filled - we will work on them.”
He realizes it is not easy to find good, reliable, hard-working, and honest team players with the right job credentials to fill up those positions. He expects them also to function on their own without him breathing down their necks. But give him time, he will find them! He has a search committee but its members will remain unnamed as of now.
And he really hasn’t lost any pounds, but if he looks slimmer now, he thinks it is because he’s all muscle. His weight hovers at 160 -164 pounds which is fine for him.
Meanwhile, the resignation of the president-elect’s youngest sister Kris Yap from her talk shows “The Buzz” and “SNN” should satisfy the most vociferous (on Twitter and Facebook) and cruelest of her bashers. She stands to lose millions in terms of exposure and real income and possibly, endorsements, but it was a selfless act on her part, and we salute her for the sacrifice.
No doubt her ates Ballsy, Pinky and Viel had a hand in her decision to quit the two shows which could cause the president-elect, her kuya Noy embarrassment later on. Kris can be very outspoken and in the past had caused quite some turmoil in the family circle because of her candidness.
However, the decision was hers alone and again, as we pointed out, it is she who will lose from it. Those who know how I have stayed away from anything even remotely connected to Kris lest I be misunderstood again will appreciate my sincere “salute” to her selflessness in taking this bold step for the sake of her brother. Rising above one’s interest is an admirable family trait with the Aquinos. The “bunso” has been weighed and found not wanting.
I haven’t been on Kris’ radar ever since I was the messenger of her mom’s disapproval of her two headline-grabbing love affairs in the past. I displeased her, but my boss, her mom, quietly assured me that I still had her trust , and I continued to speak for her when needed.
President-elect Noynoy has time and again firmly, but gently declared that none of his sisters (including Kris) will have any official role in his administration. I think this is unfortunate, for the public will lose out on what the sisters can bring to his administration, even in non-official capacities. I sincerely believe, based on the sisters’ behavior and appeal during the campaign period, that they fulfilled the Filipinos’ hunger for something akin to Camelot days – with luminous heroines and courageous heroes embodying qualities of virtue and grace.
Kris, in her own irrepressible way and unique style, has made local television talk shows more exciting and fun to watch. You may not always like her gowns, her make-up or her bubbly chatter, but you’ve got to admit, she’s very “watchable!” Ask her millions of fans here and abroad. Those of us who are old enough will remember also how she contributed to our struggle to regain our freedom.
As a precocious five-year-old, Kris campaigned for the opposition against the dictatorship. She could rattle off the names of the candidates on her jailed father’s Laban slate and make the rally crowds weep when she appealed for votes for them and Ninoy.
And yes, as my boss, her mom used to say when her “Krissy” was the butt of sarcasm among columnists and radio commentators, “Why pick on Kris? She hasn’t done anyone harm. She is not a government official, earns her own money honestly through hard work, and she hasn’t stolen a centavo from government coffers!”
See more from Manila Bulletin here: http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/258505/kris-sacrifice-her-kuya-noynoy
“The most selfless among us is the greatest. We must grow in selflessness by engaging in acts of humble service day by day… Lord, make me a servant today.”
--Pempe Rodrigo, Rivers of the Living Water Community
We had an hour with president-elect Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III last Wednesday in his home on Times Street, (still decked in yellow) and had a quiet chat. The home he shared with his mother Cory remains frozen in time with her paintings on the wall, on the throw pillows on the two sofas, her collection of Madonnas, and other personal items of the beloved icon. He has his own compact unit adjacent to the main house but now, Cory’s home is his haven, his personal headquarters where he meets his core of advisers.
He still nurses a hoarse voice, but looked relaxed in his jeans and signature black t-shirt with the yellow ribbon and Philippine map and wearing a comfortable pair of loafers without socks. My companion and I were apparently one of the first visitors that morning and the next appointment was with the barber at a nearby mall.
I commented on his tan which was very becoming and he said it was a result of his whirlwind provincial trips. He recalled two nerve-wracking landings his entourage had when the planes had to go up suddenly during their descent.
“I could see the ground coming up already when our plane zoomed up again. Later we found out there was some obstruction on the runway. Oh well, the two trips ended well.”
From the chat that we had, here are some gems we can share- for instance, the flurry of text messages on who will be who in his cabinet are all still products of the imagination and guess work. He still has to come to a decision as to who he will be appointing when he is finally proclaimed. He had a few names they have been vetting like for DPWH, DoJ and DepEd but at this time, only he knows who they are.
“When I took over the campaign, there were many around me who were advising me to do this and that. I finally decided to get hold of it (the campaign) and it will be so for the selection of key people who will work with me,” he stressed. “The chosen ones will be my responsibility alone. As to the others - around 4,000 other positions to be filled - we will work on them.”
He realizes it is not easy to find good, reliable, hard-working, and honest team players with the right job credentials to fill up those positions. He expects them also to function on their own without him breathing down their necks. But give him time, he will find them! He has a search committee but its members will remain unnamed as of now.
And he really hasn’t lost any pounds, but if he looks slimmer now, he thinks it is because he’s all muscle. His weight hovers at 160 -164 pounds which is fine for him.
Meanwhile, the resignation of the president-elect’s youngest sister Kris Yap from her talk shows “The Buzz” and “SNN” should satisfy the most vociferous (on Twitter and Facebook) and cruelest of her bashers. She stands to lose millions in terms of exposure and real income and possibly, endorsements, but it was a selfless act on her part, and we salute her for the sacrifice.
No doubt her ates Ballsy, Pinky and Viel had a hand in her decision to quit the two shows which could cause the president-elect, her kuya Noy embarrassment later on. Kris can be very outspoken and in the past had caused quite some turmoil in the family circle because of her candidness.
However, the decision was hers alone and again, as we pointed out, it is she who will lose from it. Those who know how I have stayed away from anything even remotely connected to Kris lest I be misunderstood again will appreciate my sincere “salute” to her selflessness in taking this bold step for the sake of her brother. Rising above one’s interest is an admirable family trait with the Aquinos. The “bunso” has been weighed and found not wanting.
I haven’t been on Kris’ radar ever since I was the messenger of her mom’s disapproval of her two headline-grabbing love affairs in the past. I displeased her, but my boss, her mom, quietly assured me that I still had her trust , and I continued to speak for her when needed.
President-elect Noynoy has time and again firmly, but gently declared that none of his sisters (including Kris) will have any official role in his administration. I think this is unfortunate, for the public will lose out on what the sisters can bring to his administration, even in non-official capacities. I sincerely believe, based on the sisters’ behavior and appeal during the campaign period, that they fulfilled the Filipinos’ hunger for something akin to Camelot days – with luminous heroines and courageous heroes embodying qualities of virtue and grace.
Kris, in her own irrepressible way and unique style, has made local television talk shows more exciting and fun to watch. You may not always like her gowns, her make-up or her bubbly chatter, but you’ve got to admit, she’s very “watchable!” Ask her millions of fans here and abroad. Those of us who are old enough will remember also how she contributed to our struggle to regain our freedom.
As a precocious five-year-old, Kris campaigned for the opposition against the dictatorship. She could rattle off the names of the candidates on her jailed father’s Laban slate and make the rally crowds weep when she appealed for votes for them and Ninoy.
And yes, as my boss, her mom used to say when her “Krissy” was the butt of sarcasm among columnists and radio commentators, “Why pick on Kris? She hasn’t done anyone harm. She is not a government official, earns her own money honestly through hard work, and she hasn’t stolen a centavo from government coffers!”
See more from Manila Bulletin here: http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/258505/kris-sacrifice-her-kuya-noynoy
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
This special time worth timeless, precious mementos
A very nice article about Precious Moments creating a figurine for President Cory Aquino. Read on for more details.
WHEN A BELOVED ARTIST MEETS a beloved former President, it’s one of life’s “precious moments.”
Samuel John Butcher, creator of the “Precious Moments” inspirational greetings cards, posters and figurines, has added a “Cory figurine” to the “Precious Moments” collectibles, in honor of the late President Corazon Aquino and in memory of their friendship.
The porcelain figurine shows a young girl with classic teardrop eyes looking at a shoe marked “Cory,” the nickname of the former President who succumbed to cancer in August last year.
Also inscribed at the base of the figurine are the words, “Who’s gonna fill your shoes?”
According to Jojo Sonillo, a spokesperson for Butcher, the words express the artist’s admiration for the world’s “Icon of People Power” and “Saint of Democracy.”
“He is a big fan of Cory and her family. He admired her clean image; he always liked the simplicity of her lifestyle,” Sonillo said of Butcher, who resides in New Washington, a municipality in Aklan.
According to Sonillo, the image of the young girl looking at Aquino’s shoe was originally a painting Butcher made for the birthday of Aquino’s third child, Pinky Abellada.
After a dinner with the Aquino family in December, Butcher, who is known for artwork that conveys the message of “loving, caring and sharing,” decided to design a figurine based on the painting. The first prototype of the figurine was finished in March.
A “first Philippine exclusive,” the “highly collectible” Cory figurine would be available in the market, retailing for $40 or P1,800, Sonillo said. Part of the proceeds of the sales would be donated to the Aquino Foundation.
Two versions of the Cory doll in the Children of the World Collection would also be launched alongside the Cory figurine, Sonillo added.
Humble beginnings
Originally from Michigan, Butcher, who is now 70 years old, has chosen to retire in the Philippines. He owns the Sampaguita Garden Resort and Spa in New Washington, Aklan, a family-oriented recreation spot that also hosts a “Precious Moments” gallery and a “Precious Moments” Chapel by the Sea.
Butcher’s life is itself an inspiration.
Born poor, Butcher spent his childhood sketching on paper rummaged from a factory. He pursued formal art training following his high school graduation and won a scholarship to the College of Arts and Crafts in Berkeley. After graduation, Butcher married his college sweetheart, worked as an artist for the Child Evangelism Fellowship where he devoted his time to art and studying the Bible.
Forever special
“Precious Moments” was launched in 1975 on inspirational greeting cards and posters designed by Butcher. The first “Precious Moments” figurines were unveiled three years later.
To date, he has painted over 3,000 “Precious Moments” images almost all with the endearing teardrop-eyed child trademark. His designs have propelled an international giftware industry for weddings, birthdays and baptisms.
How does he feel about his life’s work?
In his coffee table book, “Sam Butcher: An Artist for Everyone,” he wrote: “When it comes to special times, ‘Precious Moments’ is forever.”
more from here http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20100516-270241/This-special-time-worth-timeless-precious-mementos
WHEN A BELOVED ARTIST MEETS a beloved former President, it’s one of life’s “precious moments.”
Samuel John Butcher, creator of the “Precious Moments” inspirational greetings cards, posters and figurines, has added a “Cory figurine” to the “Precious Moments” collectibles, in honor of the late President Corazon Aquino and in memory of their friendship.
The porcelain figurine shows a young girl with classic teardrop eyes looking at a shoe marked “Cory,” the nickname of the former President who succumbed to cancer in August last year.
Also inscribed at the base of the figurine are the words, “Who’s gonna fill your shoes?”
According to Jojo Sonillo, a spokesperson for Butcher, the words express the artist’s admiration for the world’s “Icon of People Power” and “Saint of Democracy.”
“He is a big fan of Cory and her family. He admired her clean image; he always liked the simplicity of her lifestyle,” Sonillo said of Butcher, who resides in New Washington, a municipality in Aklan.
According to Sonillo, the image of the young girl looking at Aquino’s shoe was originally a painting Butcher made for the birthday of Aquino’s third child, Pinky Abellada.
After a dinner with the Aquino family in December, Butcher, who is known for artwork that conveys the message of “loving, caring and sharing,” decided to design a figurine based on the painting. The first prototype of the figurine was finished in March.
A “first Philippine exclusive,” the “highly collectible” Cory figurine would be available in the market, retailing for $40 or P1,800, Sonillo said. Part of the proceeds of the sales would be donated to the Aquino Foundation.
Two versions of the Cory doll in the Children of the World Collection would also be launched alongside the Cory figurine, Sonillo added.
Humble beginnings
Originally from Michigan, Butcher, who is now 70 years old, has chosen to retire in the Philippines. He owns the Sampaguita Garden Resort and Spa in New Washington, Aklan, a family-oriented recreation spot that also hosts a “Precious Moments” gallery and a “Precious Moments” Chapel by the Sea.
Butcher’s life is itself an inspiration.
Born poor, Butcher spent his childhood sketching on paper rummaged from a factory. He pursued formal art training following his high school graduation and won a scholarship to the College of Arts and Crafts in Berkeley. After graduation, Butcher married his college sweetheart, worked as an artist for the Child Evangelism Fellowship where he devoted his time to art and studying the Bible.
Forever special
“Precious Moments” was launched in 1975 on inspirational greeting cards and posters designed by Butcher. The first “Precious Moments” figurines were unveiled three years later.
To date, he has painted over 3,000 “Precious Moments” images almost all with the endearing teardrop-eyed child trademark. His designs have propelled an international giftware industry for weddings, birthdays and baptisms.
How does he feel about his life’s work?
In his coffee table book, “Sam Butcher: An Artist for Everyone,” he wrote: “When it comes to special times, ‘Precious Moments’ is forever.”
more from here http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20100516-270241/This-special-time-worth-timeless-precious-mementos
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Villar Plans 'Quick Fixes' for Philippines If Elected President
This is an interesting article about Presidential Candidate Manuel Villar's strategy when he's elected versus Cory's son Noynoy. Please read on:
April 21 (Bloomberg) -- Philippine tycoon Manuel Villar pledged to deliver "quick fixes" for the nation's agricultural and infrastructure shortcomings should he defeat frontrunner Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino in the May 10 presidential election.
"What will impress foreign investors is if they see things moving in this country," Villar, 60, said in an interview yesterday in Manila's business district. "If you go to Shanghai, every three months you will see a different landscape."
Aquino, the 50-year-old son of a former president, has built a lead in polls by painting his rival as corrupt. Villar, ousted as Senate leader in 2008 amid graft allegations, counters that his experience as a property developer who survived a credit crisis makes him the only candidate qualified to revive an economy that trails the rest of the region.
"Our neighbors have left us behind precisely because of the incompetence of our leaders," Villar said. "The next president will be confronted by serious problems. He must be able to manage the country's problems from day one."
Aquino led 37 percent to 29 percent in a Social Weather Stations survey commissioned by Villar. The March 28-30 poll had a 2.2 percentage point margin of error.
The successor to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will be squeezed between the need to alleviate poverty and the lack of funds to do it. One in four Filipinos live on less than $1.25 a day and the government has run an annual budget surplus only four times in the past 24 years.
Investment Gap
The Philippines received $1.5 billion in foreign direct investment in 2008, compared with $7.3 billion for Malaysia, and $9.8 billion for Thailand, Association of Southeast Asian Nation statistics show. Its $167 billion economy ranks 13th among 17 in Asia tracked by Bloomberg, while its population comes in seventh.
Villar's "platform is that what he did in the private sector he can do for everyone else," said Luz Lorenzo, an economist at ATR-KimEng Securities Inc. in Manila.
As a boy, Villar helped his mother sell shrimp in Manila's largest market before earning degrees in business and accounting. After running a sand-and-gravel business, he built low-cost housing before winning a congressional seat in 1992 and taking his company, C&P Homes Inc., public three years later.
Creditor Accord
Laden with debt after the 1997-1998 Asian financial crisis, the company settled with creditors in 2007, the same year Villar sold shares in Vista Land & Lifescapes Inc. He has a personal fortune of $530 million, according to Forbes magazine.
Villar almost closed Aquino's lead in January. The gap has since widened amid allegations he's secretly backed by the unpopular Arroyo and used his Senate career to accrue wealth.
If elected, his top priority will be to improve tax revenue by cutting corruption and wringing out bureaucratic efficiencies. To deliver results quickly, Villar said he'll focus on what's achievable and affordable.
"If you really want to reduce poverty significantly, you've got to address agriculture," he said, because more than 60 percent of Filipinos rely on farming for their livelihood. "It may contribute only 20 or 30 percent of the economy, but it affects a lot of people."
Fixing irrigation, providing cheap loans to millers and investing in transportation and storage facilities would provide an immediate boost, he said. The Philippines loses as much rice from poor storage and transportation as it imports, he said.
Road Budget
The roads budget could also be better used, he said, citing the need to extend the main highway through Luzon, the archipelago's biggest island, and improve links with ports.
The challenge is "really tough," Villar said. "Improperly handled, it could be a crisis."
Eliminating corruption may prove equally daunting in a country ranked 139th out of 180 by graft watchdog Transparency International. Villar's ouster as Senate leader came after a fellow member raised graft allegations concerning a highway that ran through his property. He has denied any impropriety and the Senate hasn't voted on censure recommendations laid by 12 of the 23 senators, including Aquino.
"His wealth is tightly related to his being a public official," said Ramon Casiple, executive director of the Manila-based Institute for Political and Economic Reform. "He became rich when he entered government."
Villar said he now wants to focus on the need for leadership, rather than rebutting Aquino's "black propaganda."
"They want to avoid discussing who is more competent," he said. "I am up against someone who has no experience, has not demonstrated any managerial ability, and has not led anything."
Mother's Son
Aquino entered the presidential race following the death last year of his mother, former president Corazon Aquino, who remains a popular figure for her role in toppling dictator Ferdinand Marcos in 1986. Opponents say the son has achieved little in 12 years as a legislator.
The country's future depends on finding the right leader, Villar said, citing examples such as Singapore's Lee Kuan Yew, and Russia's Vladimir Putin.
"Always there is that one man, that leader, who is able to turn the country around," he said. "My dream is to be that man."
You can read more here: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2010/04/20/bloomberg1376-L17B8Y07SXKX-8.DTL
April 21 (Bloomberg) -- Philippine tycoon Manuel Villar pledged to deliver "quick fixes" for the nation's agricultural and infrastructure shortcomings should he defeat frontrunner Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino in the May 10 presidential election.
"What will impress foreign investors is if they see things moving in this country," Villar, 60, said in an interview yesterday in Manila's business district. "If you go to Shanghai, every three months you will see a different landscape."
Aquino, the 50-year-old son of a former president, has built a lead in polls by painting his rival as corrupt. Villar, ousted as Senate leader in 2008 amid graft allegations, counters that his experience as a property developer who survived a credit crisis makes him the only candidate qualified to revive an economy that trails the rest of the region.
"Our neighbors have left us behind precisely because of the incompetence of our leaders," Villar said. "The next president will be confronted by serious problems. He must be able to manage the country's problems from day one."
Aquino led 37 percent to 29 percent in a Social Weather Stations survey commissioned by Villar. The March 28-30 poll had a 2.2 percentage point margin of error.
The successor to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will be squeezed between the need to alleviate poverty and the lack of funds to do it. One in four Filipinos live on less than $1.25 a day and the government has run an annual budget surplus only four times in the past 24 years.
Investment Gap
The Philippines received $1.5 billion in foreign direct investment in 2008, compared with $7.3 billion for Malaysia, and $9.8 billion for Thailand, Association of Southeast Asian Nation statistics show. Its $167 billion economy ranks 13th among 17 in Asia tracked by Bloomberg, while its population comes in seventh.
Villar's "platform is that what he did in the private sector he can do for everyone else," said Luz Lorenzo, an economist at ATR-KimEng Securities Inc. in Manila.
As a boy, Villar helped his mother sell shrimp in Manila's largest market before earning degrees in business and accounting. After running a sand-and-gravel business, he built low-cost housing before winning a congressional seat in 1992 and taking his company, C&P Homes Inc., public three years later.
Creditor Accord
Laden with debt after the 1997-1998 Asian financial crisis, the company settled with creditors in 2007, the same year Villar sold shares in Vista Land & Lifescapes Inc. He has a personal fortune of $530 million, according to Forbes magazine.
Villar almost closed Aquino's lead in January. The gap has since widened amid allegations he's secretly backed by the unpopular Arroyo and used his Senate career to accrue wealth.
If elected, his top priority will be to improve tax revenue by cutting corruption and wringing out bureaucratic efficiencies. To deliver results quickly, Villar said he'll focus on what's achievable and affordable.
"If you really want to reduce poverty significantly, you've got to address agriculture," he said, because more than 60 percent of Filipinos rely on farming for their livelihood. "It may contribute only 20 or 30 percent of the economy, but it affects a lot of people."
Fixing irrigation, providing cheap loans to millers and investing in transportation and storage facilities would provide an immediate boost, he said. The Philippines loses as much rice from poor storage and transportation as it imports, he said.
Road Budget
The roads budget could also be better used, he said, citing the need to extend the main highway through Luzon, the archipelago's biggest island, and improve links with ports.
The challenge is "really tough," Villar said. "Improperly handled, it could be a crisis."
Eliminating corruption may prove equally daunting in a country ranked 139th out of 180 by graft watchdog Transparency International. Villar's ouster as Senate leader came after a fellow member raised graft allegations concerning a highway that ran through his property. He has denied any impropriety and the Senate hasn't voted on censure recommendations laid by 12 of the 23 senators, including Aquino.
"His wealth is tightly related to his being a public official," said Ramon Casiple, executive director of the Manila-based Institute for Political and Economic Reform. "He became rich when he entered government."
Villar said he now wants to focus on the need for leadership, rather than rebutting Aquino's "black propaganda."
"They want to avoid discussing who is more competent," he said. "I am up against someone who has no experience, has not demonstrated any managerial ability, and has not led anything."
Mother's Son
Aquino entered the presidential race following the death last year of his mother, former president Corazon Aquino, who remains a popular figure for her role in toppling dictator Ferdinand Marcos in 1986. Opponents say the son has achieved little in 12 years as a legislator.
The country's future depends on finding the right leader, Villar said, citing examples such as Singapore's Lee Kuan Yew, and Russia's Vladimir Putin.
"Always there is that one man, that leader, who is able to turn the country around," he said. "My dream is to be that man."
You can read more here: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2010/04/20/bloomberg1376-L17B8Y07SXKX-8.DTL
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Obama concerned about failed RP polls: ex-US official | ABS-CBN News Online Beta
See this article about Obama's concern to RP's elections:
"MANILA, Philippines – The US government is concerned about alleged efforts to extend the term of the Arroyo administration through different failure of elections scenarios, a former US State department official said.
In an interview over ANC’s The Rundown on Wednesday, W. Scott Thompson said the US government is keeping its eyes and ears on how the May elections will be conducted. He said there are consequences if the process or the outcome of the elections is tainted.
“Now, they (Washington officials) are listening. Yes, they are aware that (failure of elections) might happen. There are awful lots of people warning them about it, and they might just make the difference,” Thompson said Wednesday evening.
He criticized former US Ambassador to the Philippines Kristie Kenney for painting an overly optimistic picture of the Philippines. He said the new Ambassador Harry Thomas Jr. and other Washington officials have been getting a clearer political picture just recently.
The May elections in the Philippines, a key ally of the US in Asia, has caught the attention of Washington after political tensions in neighboring Thailand erupted."
In an interview over ANC’s The Rundown on Wednesday, W. Scott Thompson said the US government is keeping its eyes and ears on how the May elections will be conducted. He said there are consequences if the process or the outcome of the elections is tainted.
“Now, they (Washington officials) are listening. Yes, they are aware that (failure of elections) might happen. There are awful lots of people warning them about it, and they might just make the difference,” Thompson said Wednesday evening.
He criticized former US Ambassador to the Philippines Kristie Kenney for painting an overly optimistic picture of the Philippines. He said the new Ambassador Harry Thomas Jr. and other Washington officials have been getting a clearer political picture just recently.
The May elections in the Philippines, a key ally of the US in Asia, has caught the attention of Washington after political tensions in neighboring Thailand erupted."
“The immediate reason is what’s happening in Thailand," Thompson said. "That is making the Philippines 10 times as important. That (Thailand) was a very secure, calm ally. Now it is going to pieces.”
The political crisis in Thailand has deteriorated as Bangkok’s ruling elite is pitted against working class groups. The red-clad movement’s continuous call for elections through street protests has claimed 15 lives and is shaking the confidence in the region as a whole.
Thompson is professor emeritus of International Politics at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy in Tufts University. He served the Ford and Reagan administrations. He used to be a Manila resident.
Consequences
Various scenarios—from failure of elections, to military juntas, to other schemes to extend the term of President Arroyo beyond 2010—have been floated. The warnings have come from the likes of former security adviser Jose Almonte, former House Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr., and former President Fidel V. Ramos.
“We’re waiting to see if the process is orderly,” he said. “I think it (Washington) has made clear now (to the Arroyo administration) that it is committed to a fair, orderly election process. If that doesn’t happen, then there are consequences.”
Washington, the political capital of the US, can send different signals to the Arroyo administration if the Philippine elections is not clean, Thompson stressed.
“The various elements we know she (President Arroyo) has put in place – the Supreme Court justices, the [PMA] Class of ’78 (Philippine military), etcetera – are ready. If she tries to steal or otherwise postpone the elections, then something can happen from outside,” he noted.
Washington has already sent signals to the Arroyo administration, according to Thompson. He cited how worried President Arroyo has been on the possible judicial reviews of her previous actions after she is no longer president by June 2010. “Officials in Washington might might have something to do with that.”
He said signals of the power relationship between the two countries can be checked through the goings on at the political capitals, Washington and Manila.
“Historically, the power relationship is always played out in the bigger country’s capital, in this case Washington, not here (in Manila),” he explained.
He said the US government has various ways to show its displeasure. “You can recall your ambassador, or send ambassador in (to Washington) for a chat. The first thing that the Secretary of State or Assistant Secretary would do is invite your ambassador. “
“If that doesn’t play out, you can recall your ambassador, slow down aid flows, make speeches. You can warn the President that there are things that might happen.”
Kenny’s failure
The Obama administration has been taken by surprise by the failure-of-elections scenarios because the former US Ambassador to the Philippines Kristie Kenney painted an overly optimistic picture of the country under President Arroyo, said Thompson.
He said it was only in the recent months that the Obama administration has been taking a long look at the Philippines, and the picture they are getting is different from Kenny’s reports.
“For the past 3 years, the (US) embassy (in the Philippines) was sending the official message (to Washington) that there is no problem here. It’s like someone in Washington (was) saying in September 2001 ‘Oh what a beautiful month this is,’” he said sarcastically.
“She (Kenney) just didn’t get it. The embassy is just out of touch with the reality here,” he criticized.
He shared that, according to his friends in Washington, Kenney did not listen to her own staff, including opposition groups in Manila. “She had only two sources: GMA (President Arroyo) and (Executive) Secretary (Eduardo) Ermita.”
He criticized Kenny’s efforts to endear herself to the Filipinos by going to fiestas, dancing in entertainment shows on TV, and being a staple in basketball games and tennis matches.
“She was not listening to what was going, which is a diplomat’s first function,” he stressed.
It is only recently that Washington is discovering the political issues in Manila because “they sent
a much higher ranking ambassador and who is more senior than the one here in the past 3 years.”
New, tougher envoy
Thompson expressed confidence in Harry Thomas Jr,, the new US ambassador who replaced Kenney. US President Obama appointed the new envoy to the Philippines last November.
“He’s a tough guy. Has been in Bangladesh, not in tiny Ecuador like Kristie (Kenney). He has ran the biggest foreign service officers show in Washington. I think we should take him seriously,” he said of Thomas.
Thomas is a former Director General of the United States Foreign Service, executive secretary of the US State Department, director of the Department's Operations Center, and special assistant to former US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. Aside from Bangladesh, his previous postings include India, Nigeria, Zimbabwe and Peru.
Thompson said Thomas has the ears of key officials in Washington, and has already sent the message that failure-of-election scenarios are being mulled here.
Thompson said the new envoy will do things differently to continue getting a clearer political picture. “In the first place, there will be more distancing between the (US) embassy and Malacañang. None of the intimacy that you saw in the couple of years.”
‘Obama doesn’t like Arroyo’
Thompson said US President Obama does not like President Arroyo.
“I think he (Obama) doesn’t like her (Arroyo),” he candidly told The Rundown. “(His dislike is) not personal. I think he knows what she’s been up to.”
His basis? “That’s what my friends at high levels have told me. (Another is from) reading his body language with her.”
He gave an example: “His failure to acknowledge her presence on various occasions.”
President Obama did not immediately return the congratulatory call of President Arroyo, who was among heads of states that wanted to greet him after his historic win in 2008.
In February 2009, President Arroyo failed to meet with President Obama in Washington despite efforts by Filipino diplomats. She flew to the US after she failed to get an audience with him during a side trip to Bahrain to attend the National Prayer Breakfast, one of the earliest official engagements of the newly inaugurated President Obama. The foreign trip was originally intended for the economic meeting in Davos, Switzerland.
She finally met with him last July 2009. It was a brief meeting, lasting some 45 minutes. Thompson said it wasn’t taken seriously in Washington. “It was something extended to (different) heads of state. It was pretty routine.”
The cozy relationship between US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton also does not matter if, according to Thompson, higher principles like President Obama’s commitment to democracy come into play. Clinton visited Manila last November 2009.
“I don’t think her (Hillary Clinton’s) personal relationship with (President) Arroyo would come to play when it gets up to the level of stealing, postponing, and failing the elections under any guise that’s tainted. And it’s hard to see how it would fail without being tainted,” he stressed.
Why US cares?
The Rundown’s host Ricky Carandang prodded Thompson on why Washington cares about the goings on in the Philippines.
The former US State Department official cited Thailand’s political crisis as the trigger.
He also said that “Philippines is in our guilt conscience. We were not proud of the fact that we were a colonial power. We did a lot of things here we are not proud of. We don't like to think of the fact that we are not doing well here.”
He also said they are wary of “another 1972,” referring to the period leading to the declaration of martial law by former Philippine president Ferdinand Marcos who eventually stayed in power for two decades.
“We paid a high price when we supported Marcos.”
He added that supporting the administration of President Corazon Aquino, who replaced President Marcos after a bloodless revolution, was part of their atonement.
The sentiment of the US government under the Obama administration is to promote democracy, “which is part of his image.”
“Here is a friend (Philippines) where democracy can work with some nudging from its friend (US),” he concluded.
more from here:
Obama concerned about failed RP polls: ex-US official | ABS-CBN News Online Beta
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