Wazzup Pilipinas News and Events

Saturday, September 11, 2021

Duterte wants Red Cross to submit themselves to government audit

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

President Duterte has threatened to stop all government transactions with the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) as he continued to slam its chairman Senator Richard Gordon for leading the investigation into the alleged overpriced procurement of pandemic supplies.

Duterte said he will write a letter to PRC, a private entity, to open up its financial records for government audit.

“Either you submit an auditing procedure or we quarrel.”

Duterte says he will disassociate with the PRC if Senator Gordon won't allow the Commission on Audit (COA); to audit PRC

It would be a dereliction of his duty as head of the COA if Chairman Michael Aguinaldo refuses to audit the PRC.

Nag-tantrums na naman nang hindi nag-aaral si Duterte.

Why would Duterte threaten the PRC during a health crisis?

PRC has always been at the forefront in the country's fight against COVID-19 pandemic.

From COVID-19 testing & vaccination, isolation facilities, emergency field hospitals, and so much more..

Didn't Duterte know PRC conducts more tests than other Government testing facilities?

PRC also has the cheapest RT-PCR rates in the country and they’ve done a lot during the pandemic.

Now tell me who's going to suffer when you stop transacting with PRC?

Independent and autonomous pero obligasyon ng gobyerno na kilalanin ang Red Cross. May international laws na pinirmahan ang Pilipinas na kumikilala sa Red Cross bilang isang humanitarian organization. Ire-revoke na rin ba ni tatay ang mga iyon tulad ng Rome Statute?

Tsaka di yata siya aware sa RA 10072 or "The Philippine Red Cross Act of 2009?" Di ba lawyer siya at alam ko expert sa Public International Law si Roque (who was not seen on their meeting or more appropriately pre-recorded and edited talk show)? Bakit ganiyan sila sa Malacañang?

Sabi sa unang sentence ng Section 3:

The Philippine Red Cross shall be recognized as a voluntary, independent and autonomous non-governmental society auxiliary to the authorities of the Republic of the Philippines in the humanitarian field, to assist said authorities in discharging the obligations set forth in the Geneva Convention and the Statutes of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement."

Mamang taga-Davao, mahirap po bang ma-gets na wala sa sakop ng COA ang PRC? Hanap ho kayo ng elementary student, para i-explain sa inyo. Kaya tayo ganito ngayon eh, simpleng bagay palang sablay na kayo...

It's quite clear to see why Duterte wants the COA to audit the PRC in spite of the COA's statement that it has no jurisdiction over the PRC:

Because Gordon is the head of the Blue Ribbon Committee which is investigating the dealings of those connected to Duterte.

Hindi kami interesado sa corruption sa PRC, kung meron man.Kahit ginagamit ni Gordon na milking cow ang PRC, hindi pera ng bayan yan.

What we are more concerned about is how this syndicate government was able to manipulate procurement procedures to favor Pharmally.

We're now at 26K daily cases and Duterte is very busy digging up dirt on Drilon, Gordon and trying to blackmail the PRC.

#RightinformationThisElection

Service Contracting Program of DOTr

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

Muling aarangkada ang Service Contracting Program ng Department of Transportation (DOTr) at Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) matapos ilunsad ang Phase II o ikalawang bahagi ng programa nitong Biyernes, 10 Setyembre 2021.Sa pagpapatuloy ng programa na ngayo’y sa ilalim ng P3 bilyong pondo na bahagi ng General Appropriations Act 2021, balik operasyon din ang Libreng Sakay para sa health and medical frontliners, essential workers, at Authorized Persons Outside of Residence (APORs). Nakatakda itong simulan sa Lunes, 13 September 2021.

“Nandito kami, malugod at masaya kaming inilulunsad ulit ang Service Contracting Program Phase II pagkat ito ay mabuti sa lahat, mabuti sa sambayanan, mabuti sa ekonomiya, mabuti sa paglago ng negosyo (sa tinatawag ng new normal),” ani DOTr Secretary Art Tugade.

Paliwanag ni Sec. Tugade, mas pinalawig ang Service Contracting Program dahil sakop na rin ng programa ang iba’t-ibang rehiyon sa bansa.

“Noon, sa Libreng Sakay, limitado ang operations nito sa Metro Manila. Ngayon ay mas pinalawak natin ang coverage nito. Sakop na po ng programa ang ibang rehiyon at lugar sa bansa, at maging ang mga APORs at essential workers,” paliwanag ni Sec. Tugade.

“Ginagawa po natin ang mga ito dahil ang Kagawaran ng Transportasyon ay naniniwala na hindi lamang ito pang-hanapbuhay ng tsuper at operator—ito po ay kaakibat sa paghahanap-buhay ng iba pa nating kababayan sa Republika ng Pilipinas,” dagdag pa ng Kalihim.

Umabot ng 31.6 milyong Pilipino ang tumangkilik sa Libreng Sakay habang nakapagbigay naman ng halos P1.5 billion total payout ang LTFRB sa mga operators at mga tsuper na lumahok sa programa habang nasa P3.388 billion naman ang inilaan para sa payouts ng mga operator at tsuper na lumahok sa programa.

Sa pamamagitan ng Service Contracting Program, binibigyan ng pagkakataon ang mga public utility vehicle operator at mga tsuper na kumita ayon sa bilang ng kanilang pasada na itinakbo kada linggo, may sakay man o wala. Sa ilalim ng GAA 2021, babayaran ang mga operator at tsuper linggu-linggo.

Muli namang hinikayat ni LTFRB Chairman Martin Delgra III ang mga operators at tsuper na makilahok sa Service Contracting Program upang magkaroon sila ng sapat at tuluy-tuloy na kita sa gitna ng pandemya at makapagbigay-serbisyo rin sa mga health workers at APORs.

“The program provides for operators and drivers an opportunity to earn based on the number of trips they run per week and make their public utility vehicle (PUV) operations sustainable whether they have passengers or none,” ani Delgra.

Samantala, nagpa-abot naman ng pasasalamat si Land Bank President and CEO Cecilia Borromeo sa DOTr at sa LTFRB sa pagkakataong maging bahagi ng Service Contracting Program at makatulong sa mga operator at mga tsuper.

"We thank the DOTr and LTFRB for this another opportunity for Land bank to take part in continuing efforts to advance the country's transportation sector. We welcome this collaboration to deliver financial assistance to PUV operators nationwide towards ensuring pay and uninterrupted operations of public transportation in the new normal," pahayag ni Borromeo.

SpectaculART 2: An auction of art, jewelry and homeware

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

Calling all art lovers and collectors!

The Santuario de San Antonio Parish Francisfest joyfully presents SpectaculART 2:

An auction of art, jewelry and homeware.

Both pristine and pre-loved pieces are up for grabs!

The proceeds of the auction shall assist in the numerous Social Services and development ministries of SSAP and its sister parishes.

SpectaculART 2 will feature:

Fine Jewelry, Estate, Artisan and an assortment of diamonds, pearls and colored stones.

The homeware collection will feature European, Asian, and locally sourced pieces ranging from antique, vintage, and contemporary furniture and home décor.

This year, SpectaculART 2 shall showcase a carefully curated selection of meaningful works created by esteemed artists namely: National Artist for Visual Art Carlos “Botong” Francisco, Impy Pilapil, Romeo Tabuena, and Anita Magsaysay Ho. Unique pieces by renowned Filipino Visual Artists Gus Albor, Ramon Diaz, Jojo Guingona, Noli Principe Manalang, Isabel Campa, Ivy Lim and Marivic Rufino are pooled together in a celebration of Philippine Art in the last few decades. Unique prints by Salvador Dali and John Lennon will also be for sale.

SpectaculART 2 also gathers numerous up-and-coming artists to give them an opportunity to reach a wider audience and also to showcase their work. They may just dominate the scene in the years to come. A bid on their work gives a heartwarming sense of validation and accomplishment. A ray of positivity and inspiration during these troubled times. A win-win situation.

SpectaculaART kicked off

its first edition last year

in response to the pandemic and the quarantine restrictions imposed upon us.

So let us bid, buy and invest in art, jewelry and unique pieces for your home while helping the Santuario de San Antonio Parish Ministries. Support SpectaculART 2.

ONLINE VIEWING BEGINS on September 25 at www.spectaculartph.com

PREVIEW of SELECTED ITEMS starts on September 25 in the San Antonio Parish Center. By appointment.

ONLINE BIDDING is from October 1 to 3 at www.spectaculartph.com

For more information visit us at:

www.Instagram.com/SpectaculArt.ph

www.Facebook.com/SpectaculArt.ph

Or email us at

hello@spectaculartph.com

SOCIAL SERVICES AND DEVELOPMENT MINISTRIES

Livelihood Assistance

Here, impoverished mothers are given the chance to build a source of income through numerous livelihood assistance programs. Hope, for them, is made palpable through empowering opportunities in generating remuneration.

Medical Assistance - PGH

This ministry provides assistance to patients most in need. It assures that the suffering of our marginalized brothers and sisters in need of medical attention is alleviated.

Relief and Rehabilitation

The numerous demand for relief throughout a year normally marred by calamities of all sorts is addressed by this ministry. The unfortunate occurrence of the pandemic has aggravated this need, and donations largely help to touch the lives of others in this light.

Health Care Ministry

HCM seeks to provide and extend compassionate and quality care to parishioners by raising awareness on current health and wellness issues through free seminars, offering regular exercise sessions and extending to sick parishioners healing Masses for spiritual upliftment.

Medical Assistance – Rizal Medical Center

This ministry renders tender loving care and services to the indigent patients in the pediatric ward of Rizal Medical Center. Aside from providing financial assistance by giving medicines to the patients, they also extend health-related and spiritual guidance.

Restorative Justice Program

This ministry strives to show the face of God to persons deprived of liberty (PDL) through spiritual and socially inclusive activities. While all efforts are focused primarily on the PDL, the ministry is slowly transitioning to a more wholistic approach to reformation by looking into the concerns of the PDL’s family and community which is now recognized to be integral to ones restoration and conversion.

Scholarship Assistance

This ministry is dedicated to provide education, spiritual and moral values formation through scholarships and guidance to indigent youth in order to develop them into responsible Christian Filipino citizens (Kristiyanong Mamamayan) to indigent young Filipino men and women.

Pastoral Care for Franciscan Vocation

This ministry finances the tuition, lodging and other fees of Franciscan seminarians, who are in their last 2 years of their formation. It has been able to produce 12 ordained priests, who are now sent to spread God’s word to the Philippines, Myanmar and Sri Lanka.

Household Accompaniment Program

A group of household helps gather in the Parish for spiritual formation through regular catechism classes, as well as for activities to promote camaraderie and social development through community.

Eco-Justice

Eco-Justice Ministry currently assists very poor communities in building an environment that can address the problems of climate change, at the same time uplift the lives of the people in the surrounding area. For now, the EcoJustice Ministry supports the aeta community in building their environment as well as their livelihood.

WRITE UP ON ART PIECES

Paalam Anak II

Egai Talusan Fernandez, 2020

Soft pastel on paper

Paalam, Anak II

Executed by noted social realist Egay Talusan Fernandez, at the inception of the pandemic in 2020, at a time when mystery surrounded the Corona virus. Many doctors and nurses caught the virus from their patients and surroundings. Many died.

Paalam Anak II depicts a mother, tucking in her daughter in bed, shortly before going off to her nightly hospital duties, not knowing whether this goodbye is for now or for all time.

CELESTE

by Impy Pilapil

1984

Painted during that historical interlude between the assassination of Ninoy Aquino in 1983 and the Edsa Revolution in 1986. The economy was in shambles and people were getting restless. Pilapil's silkscreens on double glass call to mind the confetti floating down in protest from buildings on Ayala Avenue, a prelude to the overthrow of the government.

Per noted art critic Eric Torres:

“Tension occurs between symmetrical static vertical stripes and tiny vertical flakes, fluttering across them…..As one shifts his point of view from one side of the work to the other, he experiences optical illusions of lines blending, expanding and contracting, of linear and spatial transmutations, working on him. All this illusionism is but another aspect of Pilapil’s penchant for beguiling the eye…..”

Exhibit brochure 1986, featuring “Celeste”accompanies the painting

LA JOTA

NA Carlos V. Francisco

1948

Watercolor on paper

National Artist Carlos “Botong” Francisco’s LA JOTA captures the elegance and refinement of this Philippine dance. In this extraordinary work, Francisco portrays not only a dance routine; he also gracefully depicts the characters’ playful spirit.

With a certificate of authenticity signed by Beatriz Ventoza

BEADED HEADDRESS

Hand-beaded headdress from the Kuchi nomads of Afghanistan. There aren't very many of them left practicing their traditional nomadic lifestyle since some have become farmers or settled in towns and cities, and with the present situation, they will probably be dispersed further, making this piece a prized cultural and artisanal relic.