Naga City Mayor Jesse Robredo endorses Mar Roxas for President!

In his column today, August 23, in Abante, Naga City Mayor Jesse Robredo of Kaya Natin! has finally threw his support to Senator Mar Roxas as our next President.

Entitled "Mar for President", Robredo praised Roxas and endorsed him to be our next President in 2010.

Below is the full article that Robredo wrote in Abante:
Ngayong maugong na ang mga balita tungkol sa pagtakbo ng mga kandidato sa eleksyon sa 2010, hayaan ninyo akong ipaliwanag ang aking desisyong tulungan ang aking kasamahan sa Liberal Party na si Senador Mar Roxas.

Sa aking mahigit na 18 taong paglilingkod sa pulitika, samu’t saring problema na ang aking mga nakita sa ating bansa. Bilang isang mayor sa rehiyon ng Bikol, batid ko ang paghihirap na nararanasan ng ating mga kababayan kaya naman pinag-isipan kong mabuti kung sino ang nais kong tulungan at suportahan sa susunod na halalan. Bakit si Mar? Para sa akin, ang susunod na pangulo ay hindi lamang dapat magaling ngunit dapat ito ay matino at may puso para sa mahihirap din.

Magaling ba si Mar? Kung titingnan natin ang kanyang nagawa bilang dating kalihim sa Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) at bilang isang senador, makikita natin na naging maganda ang kanyang nagawa para sa ating bansa.

Halimbawa, noong DTI secretary siya, inayos niya ang pagbibigay ng PEZA permit sa mga palapag ng mga gusali. Ang PEZA ay nagbibigay sa isang negosyo o korporasyon ng mga pribelehiyo kapalit ng pagbubukas nito ng negosyo sa ating bansa. Dati-rati ang mga lupa at lote lamang ang pwedeng maging PEZA at dahil sa ginawa ni Mar nahikayat ang maraming mga call center sa ibang bansa para mamuhunan sa atin at magbukas ng mga call centers dito.

Ngayon, libu-libong mga Pilipino ang nakikinabang dito at patuloy pang dumarami ang trabahong nakaabang para sa bawat Pilipino. Pag may trabaho, may perang pambili ng pagkain, pampaaral sa anak at pambili ng mga gamot. Dahil kay Mar, tunay na ramdam ng libu-libong pamilyang Pilipino ang asenso. Ipinakita ni Mar na hindi lamang siya hanggang salita na siya ay tumutulong sa mahihirap ngunit nagagawa niya itong realidad para sa mga kababayan natin.

Matino ba si Mar? Kung ihahambing natin si Mar sa ilang kasamahan niya sa Top 5 ng mga “Presidentiables” sa nakaraang mga survey ng Pulse Asia, si Mar lamang ang kandidatong hindi nasangkot sa kahit anong katiwalian sa pamahalaan at si Mar lamang ang kandidatong walang nakadikit na tiwaling negosyante.

Nagkausap kami minsan ng isang malapit na kamag-anak ni Mar at sinabi nito na noong si Mar ay DTI secretary, ni hindi sila makapunta sa kanyang opisina at makakuha ng PEZA permit para makapagpatayo ng mga call centers sa Cubao. Kaya kung mapapansin ninyo, ngayon na lamang naglilitawan ang mga call center sa Cubao dahil hindi na si Mar ang DTI secretary na nagbibigay ng PEZA. Ayaw kasi ni Mar na maisip ng mga Pilipino na ginagamit niya ang kanyang kapangyarihan para yumaman ang kanyang pamilya at mga malalapit na kaibigan. Alam naman nating lahat na may isang naghahangad na tumakbong Presidente ngunit hindi man lamang makapagpaliwanag nang maayos kung ginamit nga ba niya ang pera ng taong bayan para makinabang ang kanyang negosyo.

Panghuli, si Mar ang aking Presidente sapagkat naniniwala akong mabibigyan niya ng tamang direksyon ang ating bansa tungo sa hinahangad nating magandang kinabukasan at pagbabago. Kailangan natin ang isang lider na may konkretong paglilingkod na nagawa sa ating mga kababayan at hindi lamang puro daldal at pangako sa mga komersyal sa telebisyon.

Madaling sabihin ng isang kandidato na siya ay para sa mahirap ngunit kung ito ba ay kanyang nagawa o gagawin ay hindi natin masisiguro kaya naman dapat tingnan na­ting mabuti kung ano nga ba talaga ang nagawa ng mga kandidatong ito. Para sa akin, si Mar ay hindi lamang hanggang salita ngunit napatunyan niya na maayos na paglilingkod ang tunay niyang hangarin sa kanyang pagtakbo sa 2010.

Para sa inyong mga komento, paki-text sa 0922-8570496 o kaya ipadala sa kayanatin@yahoo.com.
Tell your friends about this and let's spread the support for Mar Roxas!

Oras Na! Roxas Na!

Sunday, August 23, 2009 | posted in , , , , , | 0 comments [ More ]

Fernandez couple apologize to Roxas

Gary and Lorita Fernandez, parents of the three remaining quintuplets born in April this year who received help from Senator Mar Roxas and his girlfriend Korina Sanchez, last night apologized to Roxas and Ms. Sanchez for criticisms labeled at them by some sectors after the Fernandez couple sought financial help for further medical treatment of one of the babies in a radio station last Tuesday.


In a letter to Roxas signed by Lorita Fernandez, the couple said they never criticized the senator and Ms. Sanchez but rather sought help from an anchor of a radio station because one of their children could be suffering from hydrocephalus.
"Kami pong mag-asawa ay humihingi ng paumanhin sa nangyaring kontrobersiya laban po sa inyo ngayon. Wala po kaming intensyon na siraan kayo (We apologize for the controversy we generated. We have no intention to besmirch your name)," said the couple in their letter to Roxas.
In response, Roxas said the couple had nothing to apologize for, saying he understood the impatience that couples like them undergo because of the extreme poverty they live in.
"Nalulungkot ako na talagang sa hirap ng buhay ngayon, maraming pamilya gaya ni Gary at Lorita ang kailangang bigyan ng tulong pinansyal (I feel sad that there are couples like Gary and Lorita who really need financial assistance because of their poverty)," Roxas said.

"Nakausap ko na sila Gary at Lori at nainitindihan nilang mas mabuting maturuan silang magtayo ng sariling kabuhayan kesa sa umasa na lang sa tulong ng iba (I have talked to Gary and Lori and they understood that our approach which is to help them gain their own livelihood is better than relying on help from others)," he added.
In their letter, the couple admitted they felt bad towards the social welfare officer assigned to assist them, thus they resorted to seeking help from a radio anchor, who in turn misinterpreted it as abandonment of the couple and their children despite all the assistance they already received.
"Kami po’y humingi ng tulong dahil kailangan po ng suporta ng mga bata … lalo na po sa pagpapagamot ni Marie Loralaine at Wenna Mavinia (We sought help for further support for our children .. especially for medication for Marie Loralaine and Wenna Mavinia)," the couple said.

"Wala po kaming masamang sinabi laban po sa inyo. Ang lahat ng negatibo ay pawang mga kumento (We did not say anything against you. All the negatives were just commentaries)” of the radio anchor, they added. “Alam po naming na sa lahat ng nilapitan naming nu’ng nanganak ako ay walang unang tumulong at nakinig kundi kayo. Kaya’t gusto pos ana naming kayo pasalamatan ng personal (We know that you were the only one who helped us immediately when I gave birth. That’s why we wanted to thank you personally)," Lorita said.
Roxas’ chief-of- staff, Atty. Blas Viterbo, said the senator assigned a social welfare officer to assist the couple after taking care of the hospitalization and medical care for the quintuplets, two of who died from sepsis despite extra medical attention and medication paid for by Roxas and Ms. Sanchez. Until now, sepsis is a common cause of death among Filipino babies born under similar circumstances of poor parents and multiple baby births.

The social welfare officer, Ms. Menchie Silvestre, had advised Roxas and Ms. Sanchez that it would be best to spare the Fernandez couple from more cash gifts and recommended that the couple be given livelihood training instead so they can raise their children without relying on financial help from others.

Roxas said he supports Ms. Silvestre’s advice in the handling of the couple, but assured them he continues to monitor their situation and will help them gain their own means of livelihood.
"Hindi ko sila pababayaan (I will take care of them)," he said.

Friday, August 21, 2009 | posted in , , , , , | 2 comments [ More ]

Roxas presses more teeth in OFW protection

Liberal President Senator Mar Roxas called for stronger government protection for the estimated 10 million Filipinos working abroad, especially against abuse by their employers or host countries.

At the same time, Roxas vowed to press for reforms in government policy involving the deployment of skilled and non-skilled workers to other countries as he noted the growing number of Filipinos overseas and the rising number of OFW-related incidents.
"Naniniwala akong ang pinakamahalaga nating maibibigay sa mga OFW natin ay seguridad. Kailangang bigyan natin ang mga OFW ng sapat na suporta at proteksyon para hindi sila abusuhin kapag nasa abroad na sila (I believe that the best thing we can give to our OFW is security for them. We need to give them all the support and protection so they will be spared abuse when they are abroad)," he said.

The Visayan senator said the government must also reduce the financial burden of Filipino overseas workers by removing the 0.15% Documentary Stamps Tax (DST) on money remittances to the country. It is a "significant financial burden to (OFWs) considering that the country is already experiencing unprecedented highs in food and oil prices," he said.

At the same time, Roxas pushed for the professionalization of the Foreign Service system, which he said would ensure that only the most talented and most qualified are recruited by the government to ensure that our OFWs will get quality assistance from personnel and officers of the Department of Foreign Affairs here and abroad.

He also pressed Malacañang to release the P50 million for the OFW Social Reintegration program that President Arroyo has yet to release to the Department of Labor and Employment. The program provides "balikbayan" OFWs with sufficient knowledge of how to use their savings as well as investment opportunities and other forms of reintegration assistance.

Roxas said the government must ensure that OFWs have access to communication wherever they are to so they can easily call Philippine offices in their areas in cases of employer problems and that free legal services for those facing legal problems are readily available.

He also said pre-departure orientation and preparation seminars should likewise be given to departing OFWs to brief them of their rights and on what they should and could do should they encounter difficulties in their jobs.

But all these reforms, he stressed, could only take place once an activist government – one that cares for and listen to its people – takes over from the current administration, which has consistently shown insensitivity to the plight of its workers abroad.

Thursday, August 20, 2009 | posted in , , , | 0 comments [ More ]

Mar and Korina should get Buddy Gancenia as their wedding videographer

Get a credible wedding videographer! I guess Senator Mar Roxas and Korina Sanchez must get fellow blogger Buddy Gancenia, the best Philippine wedding videographer for having won the Grand Prize in the 1st Sony Wedding Video Competition 2007, for their wedding videography on October 23, 2009 in their "People's Wedding."


This website owned by Buddy, a wedding videographer, is the first and only Documentary-Reality Wedding Video producers in the Philippines’ – and in the world. This must be something!

FEATURES AND BENEFITS:
  • Distinctive presentation and a professional feel, much like a TV reality show
  • Beyond the traditional music video-style production
  • No content sacrificed. Interviews, behind-the-scenes footages, and unexpected occurrences are put as part of the story. It’s as real as it gets.
  • Highly personal and unique. No two Reality Wedding Videos are alike.
Buddy has been producing many quality and creative videos and I'm confident that producing a wedding video will be another hit!

MATCHLESS DELIVERY TIME: Wedding Videos in 2 Weeks!

Filipino newly-weds usually call it a common sight when their wedding video is delivered 3-6 months after their wedding, but not with this wedding videographer.

Buddy and his company understands your need for immediate replays of your wedding day and guarantees you to get your copy of High Production Value Wedding Videos in just 2 weeks from your wedding day. Just provide them the necessary materials such as your preferred music on or before your wedding day.

Mar and Korina should take this cool wedding videographer in their upcoming wedding.

To check their rates and services, visit http://realityweddingvideo.tv/rates-and-service/ NOW!

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Mar Roxas - Korina Sanchez wedding on October 23, 2009

Here's an article from Ricky Lo of Philippine Star about the wedding of Mar Roxas and Korina Sanchez. Originally from his article, "Mar-Korina 'People's Wedding' set Oct. 23"

Photo courtesy of MARC NICDAO, reprinted from People Asia magazine.
It’s confirmed: Senator Mar Roxas and Korina Sanchez will (finally, finally!) get married in what they call a “People’s Wedding” on Oct. 23.

“It will be an afternoon wedding,” Korina said in an interview with Funfare.

The venue is a toss-up between Sto. Domingo Church and the Manila Cathedral. But the reception will definitely be held at Bahay na Puti (in Cubao, Quezon City), the home of Mar’s lolo and lola and the venue of the reception for the wedding of Mar’s parents, former Sen. Gerry Roxas and Judy Araneta, and his aunt Baby Araneta and Dr. Raul Fores.

“So,” said Korina, “in a big way, we are following tradition. There may be more than a thousand guests although we have yet to finalize the list. Mar has relatives in Negros, Iloilo, Capiz and Bulacan; while mine are from Pampanga. Some of my relatives will come from New York.”

There are not too many details as yet.

“Mar and I want to hold it at the Sto. Domingo Church which has a long walk and a beautiful entrance with beautiful stained glass all over it. There are wonderful, wide corridors and a garden in the middle,” added Korina. “The Manila Cathedral is also an old church which has beautifully gilded cornices and a beautiful ceiling and is very regal aside from it already being air-conditioned. There may be another church we are looking at, like San Sebastian Church and Quiapo Church. We will decide which one this week.”

What about the entourage?

“I think I will have 12 bridesmaids. I have called my best friends from my childhood until today. I’ve lost touch with some of them so I had to look them up and call them. They were all thrilled and so am I. These bridesmaids make this special event very real for me as these are women who had been there to share my lowest moments and my highest throughout my life so far. I will have six flower girls one of whom is my niece Saila. Of course, Baby James is our ring bearer, Dyan Castillejo’s son Matthew is the Bible bearer and I am hoping I can make my nephew Miguel walk as the coin bearer. My two nieces, Tyra and Maya, will be junior bridesmaids along with Mercedes, Mar’s niece.”

She and Mar have yet to finalize the list of ninongs and ninangs and secondary sponsors.

Kris Aquino will anchor the ABS-CBN coverage of the Filipino wedding. Korina’s gown will be designed by Pepito Albert and those of the entourage by Patrice Ramos-Diaz and Randy Ortiz. Mar’s cousin Margarita Fores has drawn up the menu and, in fact, they have set up a mock of the reception dinner tables.

“Ang ganda!,” exclaimed Korina. “ It’s exactly how I would want a wedding dinner table to be. Beautiful! Mar keeps reminding me, ‘Not too much,’ so it’s great that my contacts all gave me discounts and friends lent me old things to use for the decor. It is turning out so well.”

Korina calls it a “People’s Wedding” because she and Mar are not keeping anything secret. Every detail will be documented and shown as a two-hour special on Channel 2.

“So, makikita ng tao ang lahat ng detalye ng kasal. We are thinking of a way to acommodate people who would like to be at the church and be part of this special moment between myself and Mar. Mar has helped so many people and everywhere I go, people ask, ‘Kailan ang kasal? Imbitado ba kami?’ They want to go. It is very heartwarming and I wish we could invite the whole country. Hahahaha! So I guess television is the best way to make them part of it.”

And what about the honeymoon?

Korina didn’t say where.

Hmmmm. Are we going to see that, too, in the TV coverage?

Tuesday, August 18, 2009 | posted in , , , | 0 comments [ More ]

Akbayan endorses Mar Roxas for President; Risa Hontiveros, to run as LP guest candidate

The AKBAYAN party-list group formally endorsed the presidential bid of Liberal President Senator Mar Roxas in the 2010 national and local elections.


The group likewise announced it has accepted the offer of the Liberal Party for AKBAYAN Rep. Risa Hontiveros to be a guest candidate in LP's senatorial slate for next year's election.

AKBAYAN is the first party-list group to endorse a presidential candidate for the 2010 polls. The Liberal Party is expected to name Roxas as its standard bearer in the presidential election next year.
"Oras na para ang mga pwersang nagnanais ng tunay na pagbabago sa ating bansa ay magkaisa para makamit na natin ang matagal nating minimithing maunlad at modernong bansa (It is time for the political forces that yearn for a progressive Philippines to unite)," Roxas said after being informed of AKBAYAN's endorsement of his bid for the presidency.
The Liberal Party and AKBAYAN, he added, will be offering a common agenda of good governance and reforms that will push for an activist government that truly cares for the people and their welfare.

AKBAYAN President Ronald Llamas said their group believes Roxas is the only presidential candidate who could stop rampant graft and corruption in government.
"Walang Presidente, kahit na gaano kagaling, ang makakapagsulong ng anumang reporma kung hindi nito sisingilin ang GMA administration dahil sa talamak na korupsyon sa gobyerno (No President, however competent, can push true reforms unless it makes the current administration pay for the gross corruption in government," he said.

"Kailangan natin ng isang lider na kayang itulak ang mga tunay na reporma, at para sa amin, sa lahat ng nagbabalak na tumakbo bilang presidente ay si Mar Roxas lang ang tanging pwede naming makasama (We need a leader that can push true reforms, and for us in Akbayan, among all those aspiring to become President, it is only Mar Roxas that we can join in this fight)," Llamas said. Llamas was re-elected as Akbayan president in the partylist group's 4th Regular Congress held last Friday at the Club Filipino.
He added Roxas' principles and platforms made him different from the other candidates.
"Pinili namin ang kandidato na klarong hindi makikipagnegosasyon sa GMA administrasyon at hindi sasabak sa halalan sa 2010 na ang batayan ay baluktot na political accommodations (We chose a candidate who will not compromise with the GMA Administration and will not run in the 2010 elections through unprincipled political accommodations)," Llamas said.

"Matagal na rin kaming nakakatrabaho si Mar Roxas batay sa aming mga tinutulak na reporma, kagaya ng pagtulay sa batas para sa murang gamot (We have worked for reforms with Mar Roxas based on our platform, like the passage of the Cheaper Medicines Law)," he also said.
Llamas said he is confident that with the inclusion of Hontiveros in LP's senatorial line-up, Filipinos could look forward to a stop in government corruption and an economic policy that would protect local industries and the interests of farmers, workers and professionals.

Monday, August 17, 2009 | posted in , , , , , , | 0 comments [ More ]

Roxas to public: Beware of defective, fake LPG tanks

Senator Mar Roxas cautioned the public against using defective or substandard Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) tanks as he vowed to pursue illegal refillers and manufacturers of faulty cylinders.


Roxas vowed to fast-track committee discussions and approval of the proposed LPG bill, which the House of Representatives has approved and transmitted to the Senate that seeks a stronger government campaign against defective or fake LPG tanks.

As a testimonial for the urgent passage of this bill, a fire victim, Abigail Eugenio has approached Roxas and sought medical assistance for minor burns she sustained when the LPG tank at a "lugawan" where she and her boyfriend were eating exploded last June 21.

The Liberal Party president said, because of the injuries she sustained, Ms. Eugenio lost the opportunity to work abroad after she missed a final interview for the job she was applying for.

Roxas said he will run after those who sell fake and defective LPG tanks because he will not let Filipino family’s dreams to turn into ashes and that the guilty party should be punished.

Roxas urged the public to meticulously check cylinders they buy from refilling stations and listed tips on how to detect substandard tanks:
  1. No embossed brand name in the tank’s body;
  2. Improper painting and is rusty;
  3. Corroded foot ring and bottom cap;
  4. Tampered serial number, date of manufacturing and has no "quality seal" from the Bureau of Product Standards (BPS) of the Department of Trade and Industry;
  5. Leaking valve and dents; 6) No "ring" collar; and 7) Light in weight and bought from suspicious refilling station.
The Philippine Association of Cylinder Manufacturers has said 12 million LPG tanks are being sold in the local market, of which 3 million are for scrapping because they could not be fixed anymore, while another 3 million are for pre-qualification or for inspection and certification by the DTI. LPGIA and Bureau of Fire Protection records show almost 1,700 fires due to defective or fake LPG tanks since 2001 until last year.

Thursday, August 13, 2009 | posted in , , , | 0 comments [ More ]

Roxas files resolution declaring Jan. 25 as "Cory Aquino Day"

Liberal President Senator Mar Roxas today filed a resolution declaring January 25, the date of birth of former President Corazon Aquino, as "Cory Aquino Day."

In Joint Resolution No. 28, Roxas said the former President, who passed away on August 1, deserves to be honored yearly for her crucial role in the revival of democracy in our country.

He said the country should look up to Mrs. Aquino as a symbol of the fight against corruption.
"Former President Cory Aquino has demonstrated in the clearest terms that steep moral values and strength of character are what our nation need in times of unabated corruption and political and social decay," he said.
When she was president, Mrs. Aquino, endearingly called as "Tita Cory" by the people, took on the mission to run after the riches stolen from the nation during Martial Law, Roxas said.

The Senate is expected to pass Joint Resolution 28 today. The House of Representatives is also expected to pass a similar resolution.

Monday, August 3, 2009 | posted in , , , , | 1 comments [ More ]

Tita Cory's dreams live on despite death - Roxas

Liberal President Senator Mar Roxas expressed deep, personal sadness over the death early Saturday morning of former President Corazon Aquino as he relayed his and his family’s condolences to Mrs. Aquino’s children and family.
"Tita Cory, personally and through her husband Ninoy, underwent so much pain and abuse but she never surrendered. Today, even in death, her dreams live on and they will never be defeated," Roxas said in a statement released after learning of the former President’s death.
To honor the former President, Roxas called on Filipinos to "pray as one nation" and on political leaders to tone down partisan and political statements and activities.
"Tita Cory stood for the unity and reconciliation of our people. The least that we can do today is to set aside our partisan interests, tone down our partisan voices and pray as one nation for her peace and the peace that she dreamt for all of us," he said.

Roxas and his family are close personal friends of the Aquino family. The senator’s late father, former Senator Gerry Roxas, was also a close friend and political ally of President Aquino’s assassinated husband, former Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr., who with Gerry Roxas and former Senator Jovito Salonga formed the Liberal Party’s triumvirate especially during the martial law years.

Mar Roxas returned to the Philippines in 1985 after nine years of working in the United States to help in the presidential campaign of Mrs. Aquino.

His full statement is as follows:
"Tita Cory, personally and through her husband Ninoy, underwent so much pain and abuse but she never surrendered. Today, even in death, her dreams live on and they will never be defeated."

"At no time did an ordinary housewife like her exert an extraordinary influence in the course of our recent history. As she cared for Ninoy and her family during the days of his brave struggle against the dictatorship, she nurtured the nation in its brave journey from darkness to freedom.

"Her leadership was a bridge between the long era of rebellion and strife in the seventies and eighties, and the restoration of democracy towards the nineties. It was a leadership steeped in pure selflessness. For Tita Cory fought dictatorship with the same fervor that she loved our nation. Through her, we were able to live out and show to the world, our own patriotism.

"We saw how the EDSA revolution that was sparked by Tita Cory reverberated globally. It inspired peoples all over Eastern Europe and Latin America to bring down authoritarian rule without violence, to the extent that even the Berlin wall was torn down three years later. The whole world owes much to her shining example.

"Tita Cory joins the ranks of the greatest freedom fighters of the last and current century— Ghandi, Mandela, Aung San Suu Kyi, among several others who have devoted their life and being to principle that there is nothing more precious than the liberty and dignity of human beings.

"Tita Cory stood for the unity and reconciliation of our people. The least that we can do today is to set aside our partisan interests, tone down our partisan voices and pray as one nation for her peace and the peace that she dreamt for all of us.

Sunday, August 2, 2009 | posted in , , , , , | 0 comments [ More ]

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