Pinoy Herald January 5.Indd
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January 5, 2009 www.pinoyherald.org First Year, No. 4 January 5, 2009 INSIDE Nation Honors Rizal PAGE 3 Fil-Am Youtube star is the new DOT Ambassador PAGE 4 (Photo by Paul Morse) PGMA hopes for stability in 2009 Yul Servo is Brussels MANILA, Philippines--- Living days in silent retreat with her family sage, Mrs. Arroyo recounted events in the global economic recession, which fi lm fest Best Actor to fi ght another day! Perhaps the best in Baguio, marked New Year’s Eve what was truly a testing year, not only is expected to continue into the New way to sum up 2008 for embattled by giving gifts to some 3,000 poor for the Philippines, but, also for the Year, she is prepared to make tough if PAGE 8 President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. residents collected from the city’s de- whole world and expressed her wish unpopular decisions and will let “his- Surviving every bit of staunch criti- pressed communities. The country’s for stability in the coming year. “The tory judge her.” PGMA releases P2M for cism and bitter opposition in what was summer capital, which kicked off the year was tumultuous for the world The past year has truly been the truly an eventful year, the toughest celebration of its centennial year with due to the global economic recession toughest for the President and her Task Force 211 since her assumption to power, Arroyo a big bang, once again played host to that, thankfully, has not become a cri- administration, having to contend PAGE 9 said her wish for the New Year was for the First Family, whose holiday re- sis in the Philippines,” the president with numerous allegations of corrup- more stability as the countdown to her treats to the Mansion house (the offi - said. She said that she was wishing for tion and scores of crucial issues. 2008 remaining 18 months in offi ce began cial Presidential summer retreat) have “peace, progress and prosperity for the saw the President face another fresh Table tennis, the on January 1. been regular during Arroyo’s tenure people of the nation.” She also added underrated workout The President, who spent the holi- in offi ce. In a brief New Year’s mes- that to cushion the upcoming blows of continued on page 22 PAGE 19 The Ifugao woodcarv- Flunking MCC corruption test imperils $700-M for RP poor ers of Asin Road, Baguio By Rodney J. Jaleco Gaa explained. man and improving transparency in City PAGE 21 ABS-CBN North America News Bureau The control of corruption is part of the Bureau of Internal Revenue’s tax the parameters for “ruling justly”, one collection programs. WASHINGTON D.C. The Philip- of three main MCC indicators. Last Elevation to Compact status made pine’s apparent diffi culty to hurdle the January, MCC CEO John Danilovich the Philippines eligible to hundreds of Millennium Challenge Corporation’s expressed “serious concerns” with millions of dollars in grants and aid. corruption test is putting in peril over corruption indicators in the Philip- The MCC budget has grown from $700 million in aid for the country’s pines. $650 million when it was established poorest families. “The drop in performance was in in 2004 to $2 billion in 2007. Ulti- Ambassador Willy Gaa said the fact very dramatic,” he told reporters mately, it aims to make available $3 Philippines passed 14 of the MCC’s at the Foreign Press Center at the time. billion in succeeding years. 17 yardsticks in a review earlier this But in March, the MCC Board gave “The Board agreed that the Philip- month. the green light for the Philippines to pines remains eligible for developing The MCC indicated the govern- move up from Threshold to Compact a compact proposal,” an MCC state- ment was not spending enough for status. ment said, “but the MCC will sign a Rose Chomling from the Mt. Province health and primary education. But The Philippines was in Threshold compact until the country passes the holding woodcarvings from Baguio most damaging was the failing grade status since July 2006 and received indicator criteria on corruption.” in the area of “control of corruption”. $21 million mainly for anti-corruption “It’s a must-pass indicator,” Amb. projects of the Offi ce of the Ombuds- Ambassador Willy Gaa continued on page 22 January 5, 2009 2 January 5, 2009 Nation Honors Dr. Jose Rizal US clamps down on religious Visa December 30, 2008 marked the 112th death fateful moment finally arrived, Rizal was more By Rodney J. Jaleco anniversary of Philippine national hero Dr. Jose than ready. He declined the blindfold and chose ABS-CBN North America News Bureau Rizal, and once again, one of the pivotal events to be shot on his feet, standing with his head held in Philippine history was commemorated by high. He wanted to die facing the firing squad, SILVER SPRING, Maryland. America’s visa “One is for non-immigrant petitions. You millions of Filipinos. reasoning that only traitors deserved to be shot woes have hit even the religious community, im- come here not as a green card holder, as a non- His death, summed up his life, held the record in the back and he was no traitor. Rizal was de- migration lawyers and church workers revealed immigrant worker. Then there is the immigrant of what he had become and defined its mean- nied that wish, so, when the order to fire came, here over the weekend. petition for special visa for religious workers,” ing. In the words of the man known to many as he swung around with all his might and died fac- “The INS (now called the Citizenship & she said. “The Great Malayan”, written in his immortal ing the bright sun. Instead of falling on his face, Immigration Service) discovered, over the last “If you want to petition someone, first of all farewell piece “Mi Ultimo Adios”, “We only die he fell on his back, “the sightless eyes staring at seven years, that there has been a lot of fraud in you have to be a legitimate religious organization. once” and “What an exceptional death it was!” the sun.” His last cry was “Consummatum est.” In his dreams, Rizal had taken the execution- (It is finished.) er’s bullet many times, moving him to write of Our yearly tradition of honoring Rizal on his wish to show by example how to die for duty his death anniversary goes back to a presiden- and principles. In death, he showed the world tial decree issued by former President Emilio that the Filipino knows how to die gloriously Aguinaldo in 1898, one of the first acts of the for his country. Although scholars may ques- First Philippine Republic. This beautiful tradi- tion the real motives of Rizal, whether his fight tion has endured the test of time, and although was for assimilation or independence, it is an there have been clamors to switch the celebra- undoubted fact that he inspired the first revolu- tion to Rizal’s birthday (June 19), to stop it is tion in Southeast Asia. In the words of the great to misplace our values. Rizal’s birth marked the freedom fighters, such as Andres Bonifacio, beginning of his mission, but, his death marked Rizal truly embodied the dream of a Filipino na- its accomplishment. The national hero’s death as tion and his martyrdom served to unite a nation, a martyr wielded his fractured nation for the first once taunted a cauldron of races, to fight for its time in its history, and convinced his people that freedom. the Spanish conquerors’ time was finished. In the early hours of December 30, 1896, the It’s the least we, Filipinos could do to thank Death Valley that was known as Bagumbayan an exemplary man, who according to Leon Ma. Church worker Edward Busque poses question on R visa at the free legal clinic by the Migrant was thronged with people announcing clearly Guerrero’s reckoning, had chosen to fall so that Heritage Commission A lot of people coming in from the Philippines are not only the execution to occur, but, that a turn- our nation may rise, truly earning the honor of the issuance of R visas,” church worker Edward those petitioned by a Catholic organization with ing point in history was to take place. When the being “The First Filipino”. Busque told ABS-CBN’s Balitang America at a ties to the Vatican. Migrant Workers Day forum. “However, what’s complicated is because they The R visa is issued to aliens proceeding to (DHS) really want to crack down on all frauds the United States to work in a religious capac- that are happening. You have instances where the ity. In its broadest interpretation, they can be people filing for petitions or the applicants are not issued to anyone “engaged in habitual activity actually working in that specific capacity, they’re that relates to a traditional religious function,” just getting the visa and in effect, they’re buying including liturgical workers, religious instruc- the visa. And that’s why there’s a crackdown in tors, workers in religious healthcare facilities, the R visa,” Tungol averred. translators and religious broadcasters. Valera hastened to add that the majority of R Busque helps organize visits of Filipino visa beneficiaries are legitimate “but because the church workers for the Holy Spirit Church, a system was abused by some, the government has Protestant church organization with a presence now resorted to on-site inspection and they (reli- in 50 states.