Piercing Pens

While the Muslim world is enraged over the publication of Muhammad cartoons parodying the prophet, a video depicting a Jesus Christ impersonator sashaying on the street while singing “I Will Survive” is circulating on the Web.

In this country populated mostly by Christians, I’d like to see our reaction to this video.

When I heard earlier this month that Gen. Angelo Reyes was appointed as the next environment secretary, my reaction was: “Hello?! Ok lang sila?!”

Read his profile from OPS website and tell me if his credentials could justify his appointment to the post of secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources:

Profile : The Honorable ANGELO REYES
Source: Office of the President
(www.op.gov.ph/profiles_reyes.asp)

GENERAL ANGELO TOMAS REYES (Ret.) is also the concurrent Anti-Kidnapping Presidential Adviser Office of the President, Malacañang SECRETARY Reyes, or “Angie” to friends, was born on March 17, 1945 in San Miguel, Manila to Pablo S Reyes of Binangonan, Rizal and Purificacion Tomas of Malate, Manila.

Angie spent most of his child days in San Miguel, Manila. He completed his secondary schooling at the Cubao High School in 1960 where he graduated as the class valedictorian. In 1966, he was among the top ten graduates of the Philippine Military Academy in Baguio City. He then proceeded to acquire two masteral degrees, namely: Masters in Business Administration from Asian Institute of Management in 1973 and Masters in Public Administration from Harvard University in 1991.

Continue reading “Reyes at DENR? Hello… Garci!”

The Inquirer published today an AFP wire report on “deadly stampedes of the past two decades.”

Around 66 people were killed during a stampede at the ULTRA in Pasig City this morning, radio and television reports say.

The crowd reportedly gathered there to attend the anniversary celebration of ABS-CBN’s noontime show Wowowee.

Initial reports say the victims were mostly elderly women. It is not yet clear why the stampede occurred.

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