|  | The LP Senatorial Candidates visited Quezon Province for a campaign sortie. We flew by helicopter from Manila while the SLAMAT LORRRD Bus ferried the staff and some media.
We landed in Camp Nakar in Lucena City and proceeded to the resort of Cong. Prosy Alcala where he served us a sumptuous breakfast. Of course, Lucban longganiza was in the menu.
We then proceeded to some radio station interviews before going to the convention center where all the public school teachers were gathered for a conference hosted by Gov. Raffy Nantes.
After the handshaking and greeting in the teachers' conference, we flew by chopper to Lopez where a mammoth crowd gathered by Mayor Sonny Ubana awaited us. After the sppeches in Lopez, we rode the SLAMAT LORRRD bus to Gumaca and just outside the town, we transferred to an open truck for a motorcade to the town center where another huge crowd was assembled.
We finished just in time to fly out of Quezon by 5:00PM and land in Manila before sunset.
Excellent day! Tahnks to Gov. Nantes, Cong. Alcala, Cong. Tañada, Sen. Pangilinan and the SLAMAT LORRRD Sherpas and support team. Go LP!
Photos by Jeremiah Tanael
Photos from onboard the chopper by me. |
| | The Liberal Party candidates for national positions held a rally in Moriones, Tondo right in front of the house where another presidential candidate was said to have lived.
A huge crowd gathered to listen to the candidates, accompanied by Manila Mayor Fred Lim and other local candidates.
Photos by Gilbert Gutierrez |
| | The Liberal Party launched its campaign in Tarlac on the first day of the official campaign period.
The day started with a mass at the Immaculate Conception Church in Concepcion, Tarlac. We then proceeded on a motorcade passing through several towns among which are Concepcion, Capas and finally in Tarlac City.
We also had rallies in the public market of Concepcion and Capas. There were also unveiling of two monuments in honor of President Cory, one in Concepcion and the other in Tarlac City.
I had a side trip to Holy Cross College for a forum with students.
Photos by Jeremiah Tanael |
| | Last January 29, 2010, I was invited to a students' forum in the Ateneo entitled "Sabay sa Bayan" where the issues of private armies and terrorism were discussed.
Together with Yasmin Busran-Lao, a fellow Liberal Party senatorial candidate, we answered questions from the students after delivering our individual speeches. |
| | I was invited to speak during the Cooperatives Month Celeberation in Balasan, Iloilo. |
| | I was invited to give a talk on Security Sector Reform (Legislator's View) during a seminar on Security Sector Reform under the auspices of theInternational Center on Innovation, Transformation
and Excellence in Governance (INCITEGov) and Freidrich Ebert Foundation.
I talked about the necessity of Reform in the Security Sector and how legislation can bring about those reforms. I gave examples on proposed legislation and explained the process involved as well as the different factors which affect the process of law making.
Photos By Gilbert Gutierrez
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| | We celebrated the passage of R.A. 9775, the Anti Child Pornography Law, of which I am one of the authors.
Akap Bata, a non-government organization which strongly lobbied for the passage of the bill, also celebrated it's 7th Anniversary by holding an assembly where the expression of joy and thanksgiving for the new law was held.
The celebration also coincided with the observance of the Universal Children's Day on November 20.
I gladly accepted their invitation and spent some time with the beneficiaries of the law, the children.
Welfare of the family, specially the children, has always been a primary consideration in my agenda as a public official. |
| | I was the sponsor of the budgets of the Department of National Defense and Department of Agrarian Reform during the recently concluded plenary debates on the 2010 General Appropriations Bill.
These are two of the most controversial departments and attract a lot of probing and critical questions from other members of Congress.
But I had it easier this year compared to last year. Somehow, there were fewer interpellators with few questions as well.
But as usual, we adjourned well past midnight.
Photos by Paul Gajes |
| | I went on an ocular inspection of the shores of Muntinlupa along Laguna Lake to get a view of the situation on the other side.
We inspected the creeks and rivers which are supposed to be flowing out into the lake. But what we find are stagnant waters with the outlets clogged by water lily and trash.
The water level of the lake is still high, preventing water from the communities from draining into the lake.
Thanks to the Philippine Marines' Force Recon Battalion for the rubber boats.
Photos by Gilbert Gutierrez |
| | 8 out of 9 barangays are still under water in Muntinlupa City due to the high elevation of Laguna Lake after typhoon Ondoy.
It is expected that water will remain for the next two to three months. Many communities are still flooded and thousands of families are forced to leave their homes.
We continue to provide relief as needed and as resources permit.
Photos by Gilbert Gutierrez. |
| | I joined Sen. Nynoy Aquino and Sen. Mar Roxas during their visit to Iloilo and Capiz. Also with us were Rep. Risa Hontiveros and former Rep. Neric Acosta, senatorial candidates of the LP in 2010.
We travelled by land from Iloilo City to Roxas City, with stops along the way. There were no prepared programs except for a multi-sectoral meeting and launching of the Noynoy Aquino for President Movement in Iloilo. In the towns along the way, we just had whistle stops and had impromptu gatherings.
Photos by Paul Gajes |
| | I sponsored the budget of the Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission, a agency tasked to restore the pristine condition of the Pasig River.
Their major project under the proposed budget is the dredging of 17 kilometers of the river. The Lopez-led non-government organization has initiated the relocation of squatter families along the river banks.
Photos by Paul Gajes |
| | The Committee on Appropriations approved the Disaster Risk Management Bill, moving it closer to becoming a law.
I filed the bill in order to make our present disaster program more proactive and shift towards preparedness rather than just relief and rescue. |
| | As Vice Chairman of the Committee on National Defense and a member of the Legislative Oversight Committee on the Visiting Forces Agreement, I have particular interest in the activities of the US military in the Philippines.
I was invited together with Sen. Pong Biazon, Chairman of the Senate Committee on National Defense, to observe the ongoing joint military exercises in Clark Field, Pampanga and Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija.
First we observed Command Post Exercise, then an artillery support coordination exercise, followed by a ground target acquisition and direction and sniper ops.
We got to see 155 howitzers pound a mountain top, F-18s drop bombs on a target and snipers shoot at more than 800 meters.
We went around using a pair of CH46 helicopters and land vehicles.
It was quite a lot of activities for one day. Hope to do it again in the future. |
| | Metrobank Foundation donated Three Hundred Thousand Pesos for the welfare of the victims of Typhoon Ondoy in Muntinlupa City.
The turnover was held at the Metrobank offices last September 30, 2009. Seen in this photo of the formal turnover of the donation- Mr. Francisco Sebastian, First Metro Investment Corp. President, Mr. Chito Sobrepeña, Metrobank Foundation President, myself and Metrobank Chairman Mr. Antonio Abacan.
I explained to them what we planned to do with the funds, which we intend to use in the delivery of medical attention to the victims and community-based rehabilitation projects. The donations of relief goods coming from private individuals and groups are enough to sustain the relief operations. With the cash donation, we intend to use it in activities that are needed by the flood victims apart from the food and other necessities.
In behalf the people of Muntinlupa, I would like to express our most sincere appreciation for the kind generosity of Metrobank under the leadership of Mr. George S.K. Ty and the rest of the management and staff . Rest assured that we will utilize your donation for the welfare of the victims of the flood in Muntinlupa with utmost responsibility and transparency. |
| | With donations still pouring in, we continued our relief operations, targeting areas where relief goods have not been distributed.
Although we have served all the evacuation centers, there are still communities which remain under water where residents are in need of relief. We are now servicing those communities, distributing the donations coming from private individuals, groups and companies. |
| | After our planning session, organizing the office and doing an assessment, we implemented our first relief operation late afternoon of Sept. 27.
We targeted the evacuation sites in Filinvest Housing, Alabang Elem. School, Sucat Elem. School, Buli Elem. School, Cupang Elem. School and Bayanan Unit 1, helping out around 1,000 families.
We conducted the relief operations well into the night, finishing our rounds after midnight.
My in laws and some friends, along with a squad of Marines joined Sen. Biazon and I in distributing the goods which is a combination of donations and goods which we purchased using our government funds.
It was a tiring day, but it was well worth it, seeing the plight that our constituents had in the evacuation centers. |
| | While my staff and volunteers assembled the relief goods back in my office, Sen. Biazon and I went around the city to conduct visual inspection of the affected areas in order to come up with the strategy for our relief operations.
The shoreline communities were badly hit, completely submerged in water. The level of Laguna Lake rose a couple of meters above its usual level even during high tide.
Many areas couldn't be reached even by six wheeler trucks. Some areas even had more than six feet of water.
But a real trademark of the Pinoy that we saw was in spite of the miserable conditions, many could still laugh about their situation and even have some fun. |
| | We conducted an ocular inspection of some areas in Muntinlupa, prior to delivering relief goods.
Eight out of the nine barangays of Muntinlupa are flooded, with areas even having chest-deep waters. Muntinlupa is right along the Laguna Lake, therefore it is really flood prone.
Sen. Biazon and I had to take a banca to go around the streets of the lakeside communities. |
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