New Year’s wishes

A Happy New Year to all! May you have good health and a successful career in 2015.

Our New Year’s wishes:

For President Aquino, may he have mercy and compassion for the remaining 18 months of his term.

For Vice-President Binay, may his approval ratings go up to 50 percent or more.

For Mayor Joseph Estrada, may his disqualification case be dismissed by the Supreme Court (SC).

For Manong Johnny Ponce Enrile, may he live to be a 100 years old.

For Senators Bong Revilla and Jinggoy Estrada, may they be acquitted of plunder by the Sandiganbayan.

For Senator Grace Poe, may the Lord guide her to make the right decision on what she should do in 2016.

For former Speaker Noli Fuentebella and Mayor Evelyn Fuentebella, may they continue to have good health and a happy family life.

For President Aquino’s Cabinet members, may they work double-time 24/7.

For Vice Mayor Isko Moreno, may he achieve his dream to be mayor of Manila.

For Rep. Trisha Bonoan-David, may she be successful in her next political plan.

For Luis Antonio Cardinal-Tagle, may he be guided by the Lord to conduct a successful Papal visit on January 15-19.

For Senate President Franklin Drilon, may he lead the Senate to pass more good laws and less investigations.

For Speaker Sonny Belmonte, may he find a new love.

For compadre Danding Cojuangco, continue to have good health.

For compadre Ramon Ang, may you have more success in your business projects.

For Miguel Belmonte, may you guide the Philippines STAR to continue to be the leading newspaper of the country.

For my sons Emmanuel, Ernest, Erwin, Edmond, and Edward, may you continue to be happy and enjoy good health.

Poor increasing

Conducted from Nov. 27 to Dec. 1, the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) self-rated poverty survey reports that 54 percent of 1,800 respondents have rated themselves as poor, the worst figure in 8 years.

A total of 11.4 million families are poor with most of them unemployed or underemployed; 9.1 million families or 41 percent rated themselves as “food poor,” meaning to say they don’t eat 3 meals a day.

Sociologists say that conditional cash transfer (CCT) or Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4 Ps) has not helped reduce the number of poor Filipinos.

No preconditions

President Aquino said the government is open to the resumption of peace talks with the National Democratic Front (NDF), composed of Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and its armed group New People’s Army (NPA), but emphasized that there can be no “preconditions” like the release of CPP leaders Benito and Wilma Tiamzon, who were facing multiple charges before the Quezon City (QC) regional trial court including kidnapping and serious illegal detention, despite several attempts in the past did not prosper.

CPP founder, Jose Maria Sison had announced that he was willing to meet with the President, adding that the on-and-off peace talks between the government and the NDFP may start again after Pope Francis’ visit to the Philippines this month.

While remaining pragmatic about the possibility of the two parties reaching a final peace agreement before the President bows out of office in 2016, Mr. Sison had said the two parties could reach agreements on social and economic front, including a possible ceasefire.

Reports say that retired General Emmanuel Bautista would be the government’s negotiator.

Meanwhile, NPA rebels ambushed 2 army soldiers and a Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU) member in Mabini, Compostela Valley while they were on their way for Christmas break when they were mercilessly shot at point blank. The NPA declared truce on Dec. 24, 25, 26 for Christmas; Dec. 31 and Jan. 1 for New Year and Jan. 15 to 19 for the visit of Pope Francis.

A grenade was thrown at Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC) in Masbate City, wounding 2 persons.

Tidbits

Typhoon Senyang made landfall a third time over Cebu province. Six people are reported dead. At least 11 areas in Luzon and Visayas were placed under storm signals as it accelerated toward Cuyo in Palawan.

President Aquino considers granting presidential pardon or executive clemency to aged and sick inmates, especially the terminally ill, to present it as a gift to Pope Francis who will visit next month.

The number of firecracker-related injuries has increased to 162, according to the Department of Health (DOH).

Carlitos Tiquia and Avelino Nicano, the two politicians who own the guns found in drug lord Peter Co’s kubol in the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) snubbed the subpoena sent to them by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

New Year’s greetings to Tony Boy Floirendo and Leo Magno of Davao; Ellen Bocalan and Congressman Elpidio Barzaga Jr. of Cavite; Rey and Bebet Veloso; Tony and Ching Evangelista; Boy and Cora Tibayan.

Belated birthday greetings to Speaker Jose de Venecia. New Year’s greetings to Rep. Georgina Vera Perez de Venecia.

Condolence to Governor Jonvic Remulla and his brothers on the passing away of former Governor Juanito “Johnny” Remulla. He was 81 years old.