Arroyo cuts short US trip, sets Aug 5 holiday for Cory

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is cutting short her visit to the United States so she can pay her last respects to former president Corazon Aquino, whose funeral is scheduled on Wednesday, a palace spokesperson said Sunday.

Mrs. Arroyo also declared Wednesday, August 5, a non-working special holiday to give Filipinos a chance to take part in the burial rites of Mrs. Aquino. The former Philippine leader passed away early Saturday after battling colon cancer for more than a year.

Deputy presidential spokeswoman Lorelei Fajardo said Mrs. Arroyo, who met with US president Barack Obama last July 30 and was officially scheduled to return to the country sometime on Aug. 5, expects to be back in Manila before dawn Wednesday.

"Ang gusto ni Pangulo na the moment we arrive magpunta na siya sa wake ni dating Pangulong Cory (The President wants to go to the wake of former president Cory the moment we arrive)," Fajardo said in an interview on dzBB radio.

Iboboto nyo ba ang mga to?

Now that we’ve remembered, relived and recreated the spirit of ’86 let’s make sure this yellow ribbon doesn’t get tangled up in other people’s political campaigns.



Subtle electioneering IN A FUNERAL?!?! SHAME ON YOU. Do not ride on Cory’s wave to pursue your vested interest. The people who waited in the streets weren’t there to see you! The revolution doesn’t belong to you, phony politician, it belongs to the people. And what makes you think you could get away with such a dirty trick? Cory’s lasting impression of sincerity, humility and honesty is now the benchmark of what leaders are supposed to be. You think people don’t see through you? The respect we have for Cory is not something you acquire with falsity (or through endorsement from Judy Ann Santos) it is earned. How dare you pose as someone offering sympathy to the Aquino family while you think about the votes you’re going to get come election time.

As I waited for the cortege (news networks’ new favourite word) along the South Super Highway , my mom and I bought 2 yellow umbrellas from this street vendor who was also selling nuts. And then as we paid, he pulled out something from his pocket – a yellow beaded bracelet nicely packed in a small clear plastic bag. Upon handing it over to us, he said: “Eto o, bonus para sa inyo.”Of course my mom and I were pleased and were all “awww how sweet.”Until I actually looked at the bracelet and saw a little tag with the name and photo of Jamby Madrigal.

I called out to him and asked, “O bakit may Jamby Madrigal itong bracelet na ito” and when I looked at the vendor for an answer he had already walked away.

Maybe an hour before this incident, I saw her car passing by the growing sea of people. Window open, flashing the L sign and strangely enough, a cameraman in front filming the people. My mom started shouting “Transparencyyyy!” and then I looked at her asking if I could put up my middle finger and my mom looked at me and said I should just shout transparency, accountability or good governance. In other words “BOOOOOOOO!!!!” And then the two of us just started shouting BOO JAMBY!!!

I am utterly disgusted by you, Ms.Madrigal. And to you other filthy politicians, behave yourselves because we are all watching you, even if you’re supposedly Cory’s “favorite” mayor. Genuine democracy is People Power and everything Ninoy and Cory stood for. It also means that now, whenever there’s a phony claiming he or she is there to protect Cory’s legacy, we will be able to speak up and act with the same fearless fervour we had before.

You know sometimes I wish I could march in the government offices with a magical broom that can sweep away all the dirty politicians we have in this country. A giant clean up, but this time not just for the environment but for our government. Haha, imagine if we could really do that? I’m already writing down the names of the people I’d attack first with my magic walis!

So, before you file for candidacy (a bit too late though in this case) think again. Actually, good luck! The people have remembered.

Senator Madrigal, if memory serves me right, there were close to 300,000 people during Cory’s memorial service. By spitting at her memory by campaigning, you just lost 300,000 votes for 2010. I’m sure you will lose millions more when this piece of information spreads out to the general public. This Jamby Madrigal Bracelet fiasco is something that I just can’t stomach.

WALA YAN SA LOLO KO
If this is true, wala na naman bago sa mga politiko sa bansa natin.. They will grab all opportunities and do every means possible para maka-kampanya.. pero! WALA YAN SA LOLO KO..! While I was watching the funeral procession of our late president Cory, I was deeply touched by the enormous love and support being shown by the people then all of a sudden the camera caught the convoy of SENATOR MAR ROXAS as this nakikiramay kuno na senador was waving to the people, nakababa ang bintana ng kotse, nakangiti habang kumakamay sa mga tao.. as if it was the election campaign. AMAZING! Imagine, habang nagluluksa ang sambayanan, this senator MAR ROXAS took the opportunity and minded his own business just to further his ambition to run for public office in 2010! The video can speak for itself, I dont know if ABSCBN will run a story on this. YAN ANG LOLO KO.. KAPAL NG FACE..