Begging

Lakas-Kampi’s empty threats

Malaya editorial

Leaders of the Lakas-Kampi coalition have given presidential aspirants seeking the party’s nomination to join the party by July otherwise…

Otherwise what? Lose the chance to be nominated as the administration candidate?

The merged Lakas and Kampi was supposed to be a powerhouse that would deliver the votes for administration candidates in 2010. Now it’s almost begging Vice President Noli de Castro and Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro of the National People’s Coalition, to validate its claim of being the party to beat by joining. How pathetic.

De Castro, an independent who ran as a guest candidate of Lakas, has a power base of his own, primarily the DE voters whose affection he won when he was the country’s highest rated radio and television host. While he was present at the recent launch of the Lakas-Kampi merger, it is said that he is wary of being too closely identified with Gloria Arroyo whose support is feared to be the kiss of death to anybody’s presidential ambition.

He needs the organizational reach and the logistical support of the administration to win. But he also believes Lakas-Kampi has no other viable candidate. He apparently believes, with good reason, he can set the terms for his joining Lakas-Kampi.

Teodoro, too, is not about to be stampeded into joining Lakas-Kampi. He said it’s the presidency or bust, and if he could not be assured of the presidential nomination he apparently thinks it is useless joining the new administration party.

Teodoro was only lately visible on the political radar screen. In fact, he is pulling low single digits in awareness ratings. But his strategists believe that in a wide-open field resulting from a fragmented opposition, he could nose out the rest on the back of the administration’s organization and logistics.

Organization and logistics are seen as the key. So why are De Castro and Teodoro rushing to join Lakas-Kampi?

It’s because Lakas-Kampi is hardly a political party. It’s just a collection of politicians bound by their bought loyalty to Arroyo. De Castro and Teodoro know this. If they would sell their body and soul in exchange for the presidency, then the devil to strike a deal with would be Gloria, not the nominal leaders of Lakas-Kampi (who they, by the way?).

The truth is ego-deflating for Lakas-Kampi leaders. But they could not deny they are just “mirons” in the unfolding game if they would be honest to themselves.

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Noli has the edge

Ratings give De Castro the edge – party exec

By Leila Salaverria
Philippine Daily Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Noli de Castro has the edge in the race to be the ruling party’s standard bearer in 2010 because of his higher ratings, although the numbers could still change as the polling date nears, an official of the administration party Lakas-Kampi-CMD said.

Prospero Pichay, the party’s vice president for membership, said Lakas-Kampi-CMD would put a premium on “winnability” when choosing its candidate for president.

At present, De Castro has the highest rating among those reportedly being considered. Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and Metro Manila Development Authority Chairman Bayani Fernando are the other possible bets, but the two have so far registered low ratings.

“Any party is really looking for winnability; that’s number one. I’d be a hypocrite to say that we must have a qualified candidate. Let us look first for winnability and then we go to qualification. Those running believe they will win. But at the end of the day, the surveys are quite accurate,”

Pichay said at the Serye forum in Quezon City.

Even President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s anointment of a particular candidate may not ensure his selection as the standard bearer if there is another option who clearly has a better chance of winning, he said.

“Even if President Macapagal Arroyo likes a candidate but his rating is five percent, that would be nothing,” he said. “You cannot argue with the ratings.”

The party’s national executive committee would decide on the standard bearer, he added. The party officials would meet on July 31 to draw up its shortlist of candidates.

Asked if De Castro, who has been doing well in surveys, has the edge among potential bets, Pichay said, “Well at the moment, Noli is always ahead, so Noli has an edge but all these names can change.”

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DILG chief: Don’t underestimate De Castro

By Christian V. Esguerra
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 20:12:00 06/25/2009

MANILA, Philippines — Who thinks Vice President Noli De Castro isn’t smart enough to be the next president?

Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno, himself a vice presidential hopeful, has come to De Castro’s defense saying the vice president was “not what people think he is.”

“Nag-iisip din yan [He thinks too],” he said in over dinner with editors and reporters of the Philippine Daily Inquirer (parent company of INQUIRER.net), noting he regularly spoke with De Castro since both of them belong to the Cabinet.

But between De Castro and Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr., he said he would be more comfortable serving as vice president under a Teodoro presidency, much like what United States Vice President Joe Biden now is to Barack Obama.

De Castro and Teodoro are the frontrunners in the shortlist for standard-bearer of the administration’s Lakas-Kampi-CMD party. Neither of them has yet to join the party, although Teodoro has said he is ready to sign up anytime.

By Puno’s assessment, Teodoro held an advantage over De Castro in the race for administration standard-bearer. He noted that many party members became friends of Teodoro during his nine years in the House of Representatives.

“He has not really bonded with the party,” Puno said of De Castro. “Although he’s with the administration, he maintains his independence. That will make it a little bit harder for him to get the party nomination.”

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Rushed

Butuan City Mayor Rushed to Davao City Hospital

by: striker_jem

Butuan – As early as past 6 o’clock in the morning, Mayor Democrito D. Plaza II was taken out from the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Butuan Doctor’s Hospital and transported by an ambulance to Davao City for yet undisclosed hospital.

The Mayor was hospitalized since Sunday- June 21- accordingly due to hypertension. It is to be recalled that the Mayor was away for almost 3 months after long confinement at St. Lukes Hospital in Makati where he was diagnosed with aneurism and underwent angioplasty in January.

A physician in St. Luke’s who requested anonymity revealed, the Plaza family was able to find a kidney donor but after a series of evaluation and laboratory tests, Mayor Democrito D. Plaza II has been turned down for a kidney transplant due to complications. He has hypertension and diabetes.

Kidney Disease is on the Rise in Caraga Region

June 25, 2009 by MindanaoBob
Filed under News

June 25, 2009
by: striker_jem

Butuan – Kidney disease is on the rise here in Caraga Region based on the Department of Health Regional Office 2004 to 2008 statistics of patients who underwent dialysis treatment.

Caraga Regional Hospital in Surigao City posted the highest number at 36, followed by 31 from Miranda Hospital, 22 from Butuan Doctor’s Hospital and 21 in MJ Santos Hospital in Butuan.

Statistics showed that 63% are male patients, while 36% are female who are requiring dialysis for life in order to survive.

DOH said, often there are no symptoms until kidney disease reaches the later stages including kidney failure and as the country celebrates National Kidney Month this June with the theme “Kidneys are two — one to care, one to share,” health personnel intensified its campaign to create awareness among the populace through advocacy and networking to prevent the further rise in number.

DOH Regional Director Leonita Gorgolon said that early detection prevents chronic disease conditions and can be treated with medications and lifestyle changes.

“When the function of the kidney is compromised then it results in a variety of symptoms, particularly swelling of the hands and feet, frequent thirst, increased fatigue and sleepiness, decrease in appetite, poor growth, the passing of very small amounts of urine, unpleasant taste in the mouth and urine-like odor to the breath, pale skin, excessively dry, persistently itchy skin, shortness of breath, and a frequent urge to urinate”, added Dr. Gorgolon.

Kidney disease is the 10th leading cause of death in the Philippines.

Prior to his angioplasty, Mayor Plaza underwent kidney dialysis at Butuan Doctor’s Hospital thrice in a week.

It was also learned that just recently, a stem cell of Mayor Plaza was sent to the United States. The family hopes that through advanced medical technology, the bone marrow stem cells will result to renal regeneration.

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Dead

Farrah Fawcett dead at 62: reports
Agence France-Presse
First Posted 01:17:00 06/26/2009

LOS ANGELES — Actress Farrah Fawcett, best known for her role in television series “Charlie’s Angels,” has died, US media reports said Thursday. She was 62.Fawcett died in hospital in Los Angeles surrounded by friends and family shortly before 9:30 a.m. (1630 GMT) following a three-year battle with anal cancer, reports said.

Speculation that Fawcett’s death was close at hand had mounted earlier Thursday after veteran ABC television interviewer Barbara Walters said the actress had been given her last rites.Walters made the disclosure in comments to the “Good Morning America” breakfast television show.

“I’m not sure if she’s going to make it through the day,” Walters said. “She’s had her last rites.”

Walters said close family and friends including long-time companion Ryan O’Neal were gathering at Fawcett’s hospital bedside in Los Angeles.

“This is all he wants to do is be with her,”

Walters said of O’Neal.