Author: Julian Alejandro

To our friends who are wondering why we haven’t updated Piercing Pens for sometime, we’re still here. After our last post, we took a short break in the province. As soon as we got back to work, we had to focus on the news. Lately, we’ve been busy covering Manny Pacquiao’s victory in Las Vegas.

Regular updates will be back next week.

Last Monday, Cristina “Tinay” Bugayong made a courtesy call to Gloria Arroyo at the Malacañang Palace. Gloria commended the latter for her honesty.

Tinay, a 12-year-old Grade 6 public school student, returned to its owner checks and cash worth P300,000 that she found near her house last week.

In these modern times, it’s indeed hard to find such honesty that Tinay displayed. She deserves all the rewards she’s been getting, including awards and praises from the lead female star of the “Hello Garci” scandal.

Now, if only Arroyo–and other politicos of this country, too–possess Tinay’s honesty, the questions brought about by the “Hello Garci” controversy would be answered.

Related blog links:
Emulate honest girl, Ma’am

Cristina Bugayong
Two Modern-day Heroines: One Dead, One Living
Ride and Jump
A Shining hope…..
One Hit Wonder
Mabuhay Ka, Cristina Bugayong!
What would you have done?

The Olongapo City Prosecutor’s Office today formally filed charges the four of the six US Marines accused of gang-raping a Filipina in Subic last November.

Charged with rape were Staff Sergeant Chad Carpentier, Lance Corporal Dominic Duplantis, Lance Corporal Keith Silkwood, and Lance Corporal Daniel Smith. Timoteo Soriano Jr.. driver of the van where the alleged rape took place, was also charged.

The complaints against Corporal Corey Burris and Lance Corporal Albert Lara were dismissed because there was no sufficient evidence to show they were preent when the crime was committed.

Sources: US Embassy in Manila, INQ7

Merry Christmas! 🙂

— Julian & Oriah

The Counsels for the Defense of Liberties (CODAL) suggested that newly appointed Chief Justice Artemio Panganiban should inhibit himself in cases arising from the current political crisis, such as the petitions on Executive Orders 420 and 464, Batas Pambansa 880 and the CPR, the motion for reconsideration on the Arroyo’s impeachment case, and Virgilio Garcillano’s petition for ‘declaratory relief.’ Its members say since Gloria Arroyo violated the seniority rule when she appointed Panganiban, he now owes his position to Garci’s phone pal.

CODAL further says given Arroyo’s recent actions that would ensure her political survival, “it is not surprising if the public will perceive her appointment of CJ Panganiban as a part of her scheme to stay in power.”

Below is the full text of the statement of the CODAL on Chief Justice Panganiban’s appointment:

Gloria Arroyo yesterday administered the oath of office of Artemio Panganiban, the new Supreme Court chief justice. The OPS photo above also shows Panganiban’s wife Elenita. Arroyo appointed Panganiban as Chief Justice Hilario Davide’s replacement last Tuesday evening.

Described by his colleagues as a prolific write, it was Panganiban who arranged Arroyo’s oath as president during the EDSA revolt in 2001. According to a newspaper report, he has the support of the Iglesia ni Cristo, Protestant and El Shaddai groups, as well as the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines and the business sector.

(Text and image from PETA)

Manila — Dressed as a modern-day angel and holding a baby pig, model Raya Mananquil is the latest Filipino star to appear in a prestigious People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) ad campaign. The ad, released just in time for Christmas, bears the tagline “Be an Angel: Go Vegetarian.”

Raya knows that the best way to protect animals, the environment, and your own health is to go vegetarian. “The holidays are all about peace and giving, and what could be better than to give innocent animals a reason to celebrate too?” says Raya, who credits her vegetarianism with her own good health and advises anyone who still eats meat to watch PETA’s powerful video “Meet Your Meat.” “Anything we can do to lessen the suffering of animals used in the food industry makes the world a better place for all of us.”