Ambient Masthead tags
Wednesday, November 6, 2013
Who Wore It Better: Toni Gonzaga vs Rihanna
Labels:
Who Wore It Better
Fab or Drab: Bianca Gonzales
Labels:
Fab or Drab
Caption This: Arjo Atayde
Labels:
Caption This
The People's Congress on NOV 9
Image courtesy of Facebook: People's Initiative and Referendum Movement Alliance
The Empowered People’s Initiative and Reform Movement Alliance (ePIRMA) will hold their The People’s Congress at the Asian Institute of Management Conference Center, Paseo de Roxas corner Benavidez Street, Makati City, on November 9, 2013 from 1:00 to 7:00 p.m.
ePIRMA’s The People’s Congress is an offshoot of the events in the recent series of protests against the alleged abuse by certain members of Congress of the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF), which began with the Million People March protest and was sustained by more movement in the streets, including the more recent Ayala Avenue rally and Million Mask March.
Answering the recurrent question “what now?” or “what’s next?”—signifying some protesters’ apprehension about the citizen’s role as mere protester obliged to wait for people in government to act on his demands—EPIRMA was formed even before former Chief Justice Reynato Puno made his pronouncements on TV about a people’s initiative as a possible answer to the pork barrel issue.
ePIRMA convenors are familiar with a direct democracy feature in our Constitution, namely the people’s initiative clause (Article XVII, Section 2), as well as its enabling law, Republic Act 6735, the Initiative and Referendum Act. ePIRMA later announced to the press saying the people could go in this constitutionally-bestowed direction wherein the people can become a third house of Congress, armed with the power to craft a law that the people want when the Congress of the Republic fails or refuses to craft that law or ignore its importance to the people.
While acknowledging the importance of the continuing protests, ePIRMA took the parallel route of a dream initiative that it hopes would finally address the problem and subject of the continuing spurts of protest: a bill to reform the public finance system, but written by the people.
First, ePIRMA’s convenors formed an alliance with various other reform-seeking groups and individuals, with the aim of consolidating various ideas. The alliance then hastened to form a legal team that would craft the framework of their dream law. Finally, they decided to call for a People’s Congress.
ePIRMA’s People’s Congress idea came about due to the following occurrences:
Two events confirmed ePIRMA’s apprehension about protesting as a frustrating act when it’s the sole act people can resort to. First, there was the petition by the government in the Supreme Court to withdraw the Court’s prior restraining order on the PDAF, which displayed Congress’ general reluctance to scrap the PDAF. Second, the lengthy Congressional debate on whether to junk the PDAF (“pork barrel” or discretionary fund) or not, which was held despite protesters’ call for its final and immediate scrapping. These events prompted ePIRMA to hold the belief that Congress will never legislate against its own interests, and therefore that the people must establish and hold its own alternative Congress.
But, above all, the legal team of ePIRMA—tasked with the responsibility of writing the initiative bill—felt that they cannot be content with a bill with mere legalese. With their mission born from the tenets of participatory democracy, ePIRMA and the group’s legal team decided that their bill must first be presented to the people and to leaders of various groups willing to join the movement.
ePIRMA’s People’s Congress thus renders the ePIRMA legal team as akin to a congressional committee that has crafted a bill (or the framework of a bill) that shall now present its product to a plenary session that would debate on the bill, suggest emendations to it, or simply laud it.
The group realizes, however, the enormity and tediousness of their task that not only must be open to suggestions coming from the appreciation of various parties, but that they must likewise avoid any challenge to the initiative bill’s constitutionality. ePIRMA know the bill cannot be done by either the eagerness of amateurishness or the inspiration of anger, even realizing the possibility of endless emendations on the bill that might be necessary before it can be filed at the COMELEC. Furthermore, the group also know that the government may open itself to compromise, discussion and counterproposals regarding the people’s bill. In short, the group know that the People’s Congress may have to be sustained even after the November 9 event.
For information or inquiries, please contact:
Empowered People's Initiative and Reform Movement Alliance (EPIRMA)
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/pirma/
Email: epirmaph@gmail.com
For those interested to join the People’s Congress, please PM me or email @epirmaph@gmail.com
Tuesday, November 5, 2013
Question: Did NCCA Make Credible Choices for Ambassadors of Arts and Culture?
Image courtesy of Facebook: Philippine Arts Festival
Source: www.rappler.com
The post announced the NCCA had selected Boy Abunda as its ambassador for art, Lucy Torres-Gomez for dance, Sarah Geronimo for music, Shamcey Supsup for architecture and the allied arts, Ogie Alcasid for heritage, Piolo Pascual for culture, Dingdong Dantes for youth, and Venus Raj and Jericho Rosales for indigenous peoples.
The post said the ambassadors "are expected to advocate and stir everyone's interest in our culture and the arts scene with many fun-filled, exciting, and educational activities particularly in the coming month-long Philippine Arts Festival in February 2014."
Critics in social media took offense at the selection, with many questioning the celebrities' qualifications to serve as pillars of Philippine arts and culture.
Some called it a "marketing move" or a "commodification of art." Others defended NCCA, saying it was a legitimate way of drumming up support.
NCCA 'icons'
The NCCA is aware of the backlash. Rene Napeñas, head of the NCCA Public Affairs and Information office said the ambassadors were chosen to make the NCCA more visible to the public.
They are not so much representatives of the country's art and culture scene as a whole, he said. Instead, they are "icons to call for attention."
Napeñas said many of their programs are not heard or seen among certain markets, including the masses and the youth.
"We just needed popular celebrity icons who could represent us in popularizing festivals," he told Rappler.
The ambassadors were commissioned to guest in cultural events around the country as well as participate in NCCA infomercials.
They were approached by the NCCA artistic committees, and by Napeñas himself, who admitted a number of other celebrities had turned them down.
Global reach
Napeñas said that each ambassador was invited to serve according to need, and would remain an ambassador for roughly a year.
Boy Abunda and Dingdong Dantes, for example, were the first two NCCA ambassadors chosen in 2009 to promote the National Arts Month held every February.
Abunda was chosen because of his global reach, a distinction that would make it easy for him to promote NCCA events to Filipinos abroad. Dantes was appointed because the commission believed his achievements in as an actor and director made him a suitable role model for the youth.
Napeñas also clarified that the NCCA did not pay any of the ambassadors to promote their events. In fact, the celebrities even shouldered their own airfare to join out of town events. The ambassadors considered their assistance a "way of giving back" to the community.
Not discounting other artists
He said the celebrity ambassadors are part of the "mainstream layer of NCCA," not to be confused with national or folk artists.
"With the celebrity ambassadors," said Napeñas, "NCCA and its events became more recognized and visible to the public... mas malayo ang mararating ng presence ng voice ng NCCA in terms of pop culture, but we don't discount the maximization of other artists."
Napeñas added that while their affiliation with the celebrities helped boost the NCCA's popularity, they are "not discounting other artists" who are not celebrities, actors, or actresses.
Labels:
Question
Insta Scoop: Gretchen Barretto Calls Claudine Barretto Schizophrenic and Bipolar
Labels:
Insta Scoop
Tweet Scoop: Restaurant Waiter Spotted KC Concepcion and Paolo Avelino on a Date
Labels:
Tweet Scoop
Question: Who's That Boy with Michelle Madrigal?
Labels:
Question
Hot or Not: Enzo Pineda for Bench
Labels:
Hot or Not
Blast from the Past: Alessandra de Rossi
Labels:
Blast from the Past
Separated at Birth: Alicia Mayer and Toni Gonzaga
Labels:
Separated at Birth
Who Wore It Better: Jennylyn Mercado vs Shaina Magdayao
Labels:
Who Wore It Better
Who Does It Better: Katy Perry vs Kyla
Labels:
Who Does It Better
Fab or Drab: Ariella Arida at the Miss Universe 2013 National Costume Show
Labels:
Fab or Drab
Caption This: Dingdong Dantes
Labels:
Caption This
Monday, November 4, 2013
Come and Do It, Pals
Image courtesy of www.cometoconsti.tumblr.com
PS is actually not a regular kind of gay because he seldom does sex with any of his boytoys. He prefers to just watch while H2 "performs" by himself. Now, he does not just have H2 but H1 as well, the show becomes more fun in his eyes. PS maybe weird and eccentric to most, but that is his own kind of fun.
Reportedly, PS is very generous with H1, too. H1 and H2 were often mistaken to be real close because they were often seen together. But what the public didn't know was that both hunks share something in common - PS. To this day, the three of them are active playmates.
Right now, the very pleased and charitable PS reportedly pays H1 and H2 very handsomely especially when the two turn in very good and awesome performances everytime. PS so loves them perform together. The two prepare well and are very enthusiastic everytime they are called to perform.
And who would not be inspired when "work" is like a walk in the park - done in a day, then paid in cold cash after. Interestingly, their talent fees vary. H1 is paid a lot bigger than H2 because he is the bigger star. Since H2 is already stable under the wings of PS, he is given a reasonable amount, nonetheless.
Reportedly, H1 gets paid a staggering 1M plus, while H2 gets 1/3 of the amount.
" I used to say that politics was the second-oldest profession. I have come to know that it bears a gross similarity to the first. " ~ Ronald Reagan
Follow @FashionPulis on Twitter for the latest update. Please continue to send your juicy stories to michaelsylim@gmail.com. Thank you very much for loving Fashion PULIS!
Disclaimer: The comments of the readers do not reflect the views and opinions of Fashion PULIS.
Labels:
Blind Item,
public servant
Insta Scoop: Sarah Geronimo Hugging Kim Chiu Thanking Her for the Wonderful Intro
Labels:
Insta Scoop
Insta Scoop: Coleen Garcia and Billy Crawford Together in Palawan
Labels:
Insta Scoop
Question: Who's That Boy with Teejay Marquez?
Labels:
Question
Hot or Not: Vince Ferraren for Bench Body
Labels:
Hot or Not
Fab or Drab: Ariella Arida at the Miss Universe 2013 Charity Auction
Labels:
Fab or Drab
Blast from the Past: Sunshine Cruz
Labels:
Blast from the Past
Celebrity Sans Make-up: Georgina Wilson
Labels:
Celebrity Sans Make-up
Fairest of Them All: Shamcey Supsup, Bianca Manalo and Venus Raj
Labels:
Fairest of Them All
Who Wore It Better: Angelica Panganiban vs Taylor Swift in Elie Saab
Labels:
Who Wore It Better
Fab or Drab: Lovi Poe
Labels:
Fab or Drab
Caption This: Marian Rivera, Gabby Eigenmann, Dingdong Dantes and Direk Joyce Bernal
Labels:
Caption This
Sunday, November 3, 2013
Always a Put-On
Image courtesy of www.tradingphrases.com
Dirty politicos make spectacle of themselves, each trying to outdo and outsmart each other to use these calamities to advance their selfish interests. Thus the poor calamity victims become victims twice over. The various donations intended for them either do not reach them, or if at all they get to them, are already repackaged with greatly diminished contents/value – where names of real donors are usually replaced by that of the politicians'.
To say that this grave malpractice reeks of political color is an understatement.
The recent calamities have proved how politics can seriously derail relief efforts in earthquake-devastated areas, totally undermining the well-being of the greatly disadvantaged victims. The rift between private donors/groups and the politicians in the areas had complicated the distribution of the much-needed relief goods to the towns hit hardest by the earthquake where there was massive hunger and people were already begging for food on the streets. In some areas, the goods that were allegedly channeled through the local government never got to the intended recipients at all.
But unbeknownst to most, apart from politics and non-coordination, another reason is unbelievable greed - especially coming from the most unlikely person in this case.
Nasty Wife NW of a Popular Celebrity PC had asked from her friends and colleagues for donations that they will collectively give to the earthquake victims in the hard-hit areas. Friends of NW were only too glad to give - and give generously they did. Every cash collected, NW would give to her Staff ST for records and accounting. Total cash donation was huge.
When the time came to turn over the donation to the proper agency, NW instructed ST to make a check for an xx amount. ST was shocked! The amount NW instructed her to put on the check was way below the total amount collected. Worse, the shameless NW had the nerve to put the name of her company as the donor!
The members of the church where NW and PC belong were aghast beyond words when told of the story. Truly, in anything she does and says - NW's image always precedes her.
" Even worse than a tiger with three mouths is a person with a double-dealing heart." ~ unknown
Follow @FashionPulis on Twitter for the latest update. Please continue to send your juicy stories to michaelsylim@gmail.com. Thank you very much for loving Fashion PULIS!
Disclaimer: The comments of the readers do not reflect the views and opinions of Fashion PULIS.
Labels:
Blind Item
Miss Universe 2013 Top 16 Leaked?
Image courtesy of www.missology.org
Source: theultimatefan.blogspot.com
Among the readable ones were Great Britain, Spain, Poland, Ukraine, Venezuela, Russia, Netherlands, USA, Philippines and Brazil.
The judge was Elena Semikina (IG: @elenasemikina) and Miss Philippines Ariella “Ara” Arida” was 12th in her list.
The post could not be found on her Instagram anymore, either it has been removed or the said post was a hoax.
FB Scoop: Claudine Barretto's Message to Her Parents
Labels:
FB Scoop
Hot or Not: Aljur Abrenica
Labels:
Hot or Not
Blast from the Past: Paolo Avelino
Labels:
Blast from the Past
Celebrity Sans Make-up: Yeng Constantino
Labels:
Celebrity Sans Make-up
Face Off: Alicia Mayer vs Sunshine Cruz
Labels:
Face Off
Like or Dislike: Dennis Trillo and Tom Rodriguez for Bench
Labels:
Like or Dislike
Fab or Drab: Nicki Minaj
Labels:
Fab or Drab
Who Wore It Better: Rachel McAdams vs Lauren Young
Labels:
Who Wore It Better
Fab or Drab: Isabelle Daza
Labels:
Fab or Drab
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)