Pat Ruiz: ‘Where’s the scandal?’

Wake-uppers:

Scene: Humfrey Nicasio, 24, from Tagbilaran City, has successfully passed the blind auditions of “The Voice Philippines Season 2" with his rendition of Pharell William's "Happy," making broadway diva Lea Salonga and Popstar Princess Sarah Geronimo press their buttons. "Sa pagkanta mo lang, wala, ngiti lang ako nang ngiti, sobrang happy listening to you. Kung meron lang akong aanuhin sa 'yo, diction lang, pero madali lang 'yun eh, madali lang ayusin 'yun eh. And if you're ready to work hard, and to fix that, I'm you're man for that," said Lea. According to Sarah, "Nagustuhan ko 'yung song choice mo, naramdaman ko din 'yung happiness mo habang kumakanta although may konting kaba, normal lang naman 'yun." Nicasio chose to be part of Salonga's team, adding that he believes the Broadway star can help him improve his diction. Another young singer Mercedita Quiachon was also chosen by Apl de Ap.

Humfrey Nicasio makes it through 

"The Voice PH” blind auditions. Courtesy: ABS-CBN

Scene: A businessman and his wife of fifteen years have called it quits (oh, so sad!). “They’ve been living apart for years now,” said VRS. “I don’t know if there’s any third party but what I know is that they just drifted apart.” The good news? They have remained friends.

Scene: The tribute for Mason widows was held last Nov. 22 at Metro Center Hotel.

Scene: Pag-asa-Bohol officer-in-charge Narci Cantor explained the unexpected movement of tropical depression Queenie during the PDRRMC meeting last Friday. “Such natural phenomenon can't be predicted,” said Cantor. What happened was a “wind wave” caused by the wrath of tropical depression Queenie that destroyed several houses and bancas in Jagna, Guindulman, Duero and other coastal towns leaving four dead, three missing and six hurt. Bohol Gov. Edgar Chatto said that there was no lapse on the side of the LGUs since Gov. Edgar Chatto. “Ang atong LGUs sa Bohol have undergone training naabot nami sa Bicol para sa  mga training sa disasters labi na pagkahuman sa earthquake. Giseryoso og handle nato sa probinsya ug sa mga lungsod ang mga disaster management,” said Gov. Chatto. “Karun dugangan nato na kay ang ”new normal” kay nausob kay maskin sila wala sila mutuo muabot ang tubig sa ibabaw.”

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I Love New York. Virginia Is for Lovers. What Happens Here, Stays Here!

These are the three most successful tourism slogans of all time and they are made in America.

To pump up tourism and attraction conventions, many countries in the world regularly roll out new logos, slogans, and marketing campaigns.

Our province has also come up with some doozies: Heart of Asia, Truly Philippines and Behold...Bohol! (which was guided by CNN) which was introduced last months and will be the focus of next year’s Visit Bohol marketing campaign.

Incidentally, the local government units, tourism establishments and stakeholders are collaborating to showcase the best of Bohol on Dec. 8 -10, 2014 at the Glorietta Activity Center, Palm Drive, Ayala Center, Makati City.

For the very first time, Tagbilaran headed by City Mayor John Geesnell "Baba" Yap II will make its presence felt in the major tourism exposition dubbed "Visit Bohol 2015" ("Behold Bohol"), together with the provincial government of Bohol and municipalities of Panglao and  Anda. Opening preliminaries will be at 10 a.m., while the opening ceremonies will be at 4 p.m. of December 8.

“Be there when it happens,” says Miss Tagbilaran 1987 Fiel Angeli Gabin.

“One more week to go: Visit Bohol 2015 fair in Glorietta Palm Drive Wing. Dec. 8-10. Avail of low fares, 50% off on rooms and super discounts on all your travel essentials,” says Andrea Trinidad-Echavez of the USAid Compete who helps the tourism recovery program of Bohol.

Slogans come and go. Some will resonate and be successful, while the vast majority will be forgettable or worse, loathed.

We are keeping our fingers crossed.  

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The most “controversial” woman last week was Pat Ruiz, an environmental activist and anti-graft and corruption crusader.

(l-r) Pat Ruiz, yours truly and Atty. Alma Aparece
 at Chocoreich Cafe.
  Photo by Glendon Villagonzalo

A text message was circulated (in verbatim): Txt from a disturbed school administrator - Will u be able to advise Mons Medroso how d prayer rally n Tagb last Fri Nov 21 was made as an alibi to solicit signatures for d Peoples Initiative agenda. In all letters of Msgr Malanog there was no mention of a signature campaign that will take place at d rally. Pat Ruiz, a former NPA & now working as a legal front, sought d assistance of d church, who responded by inviting schools & organizations. It now appears that d Tagb Diocese n Bohol s deceiving students & civic organizations of d true agenda of d mass action. D signature campaign should have been against drugs & crimes as mentioned in d letter of Msgr Malanog. Had we known that d motive of d march-rally was political, we shouldn't hav allowed students to leave, cancel classes &join d march-rally. But schools & organizations were deceived... & it appeared to be done by d church.

The other night, I chanced to see Maam Pat (who was with my good friend Atty. Alma Aparece) at Chocoreich Cafe.

I asked her, why there’s a scandal?

Here is Pat Ruiz:

A Walk of Life, Pray for Peace was held last Friday at 3:30 p.m., November 21, 2014 that started from three starting points: Our Lady of Lourdes Church of Poblacion 2; City Hall Grounds of Cogon and St. Jude Thaddeus Church of Mansasa converging in the ground of the Cathedral of St. Joseph the Worker.

Tropical depression Queenie aftermath. 

Photos by Leo Udtohan/GMANews

It was an overwhelming success.  The participants came in droves, hundreds and thousands. Students accompanied by their teachers of the various schools in Tagbilaran, government representatives and also representatives of the interfaith groups and socio civic organizations. The conduct of the prayer march, prayer rally and the celebration of the mass; from start to finish participated and witnessed by those who marched and prayed  in the cathedral grounds was one of collective prayer solely to draw out strength and inspire unity towards a peaceful, safe, happy and environmentally livable Tagbilaran amidst the growing threat of drug affectation.

Thanks to Bishop Leonardo Medroso who assigned the leadership of Mons. Jeff Malanog in this undertaking, the Cathedral clergy, parish priests of the satellite parishes, representatives of the interfaith groups, the city government for the following: the permit , traffic management group, stage and the tents and the hard work of the conveners of Tindogi Tagbilaran who initiated this undertaking.

Two signature stations for the people’s initiative against the pork barrel were present in the cathedral grounds approved by the leadership of the Cathedral for those who would want to sign the petition. This is part of the call of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines to provide signature stations to where it is possible nationwide.

Where is the scandal?

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