PNoy on Ferdinand Marcos heroes' cemetery burial

President Noynoy Aquino (PNoy) has not made his position yet about late President Ferdinand Marcos' burial at Libingan ng mga Bayani.

"Anything I say on the matter sasabihin decided on a subjective basis rather than on an objective basis. We would want to spare our country from that," Aquino said yesterday. "I have a government official whom I will task to study (it)." PNoy told GMA News.

The son of the late President Marcos, Sen. Bongbong earlier said on reports that it is the right of his father whose remains have lain in state inside a refrigerated crypt at his family’s ancestral home since 1993, to be finally buried at the heroes' cemetery.

"We've always said that it's his right as a former president, as a former soldier, as a bemedalled soldier, that he be buried in Libingan ng mga Bayani, and it's very clear that that is his right," Senator Bongbong Marcos told reporters on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, PNoy admitted that Marcos’ burial at the Libingan ng mga Bayani would implicate many things.

“Should it be in recognition of his being a soldier during World War II, should it be because he was former commander in chief, should it be because he was a former president," the President said.

“Of course there will be a sector, a significant sector, especially we’re celebrating the 25th anniversary of EDSA (People Power Revolution) by next week, na nagsasabi na bibigyan natin ng honor as commander in chief and as president, hindi ba tinaggal iyung mandato sa kanya ng taumbayan. So paano magkakaroon ng entitlement," PNoy added.

DND issues statement on its former secretary Angelo Reyes's death

The government agency that once had him as secretary, The Department of National Defense (DND) issued a statement on the tragic death of Angelo Reyes on February 8, 2011. Through the government's website, DND said

“The news on the tragic death of former DND Secretary Angelo Reyes comes as a shock to the Department of National Defense and the Armed Forces of the Phillippines.”

The Department added, “Secretary Voltaire Gazmin together with the officials, officers, men and women of the Department conveys their deep sympathies and condolences to the family of former Secretary Reyes.”

Here are more Noypistuff articles about the death of Ex-AFP Chief Angelo Reyes.

Angelo Reyes's Family releases statement on former Defense Secretary's death
Ex-AFP Chief Angelo Reyes commits suicide

Ex-AFP Chief Angelo Reyes commits suicide

Former Defense Secretary and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief Angelo Reyes died today, February 8, 2011 after shooting himself in front of his mother's grave at the Loyola Memorial Park in Marikina City.

Reyes was 65 years old.

According to an Inquirer.net report, Reyes was rushed to Quirino Memorial Medical Center to revive him at 7:45AM. He was proclaimed dead on arrival by the doctors who resuscitated him.

Health Secretary Enrique Ona confirmed that Reyes died of gunshot wound to the heart. He added that the cause and the kind of gun used have not been determined and are still under investigation.

In the same report, the Health Secretary said:

"He was brought here to the emergency room, wala nang pulso at di na humihinga. Nilagyan ng tubo at nag-resuscitation, swero, binigyan ng gamot. But after 45 minutes, which means that at 8:32 a.m., talagang wala na (without pulse and not breathing. He was tubated and resuscitated, put on IV. But after 45 minutes, which means that at 8:32 a.m., he’s really gone)."

Here are more excerpts from the Inquirer.net report:

Reyes, who earlier suffered a mild stroke before the congressional investigations on the alleged AFP financial irregularities, said he could not take anymore the smear campaign against his name and his family.

“Not my family,” he said.

Reyes, who loved his mother very much when she was still alive, earlier told the Philippine Daily Inquirer in an interview that he would never do anything that would besmirch the name of “my good mother.”

Reyes, a graduate of Philippine Military Academy Class ’66, was AFP chief under President Joseph Estrada, and secretary of defense, interior and local government, and energy during the term of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo from 2001 to 2003. He graduated as the class valedictorian in high school and was among the top ten graduates of the PMA.

He went on to obtain two masteral degrees, namely: Masters in Business Administration from Asian Institute of Management in 1973 and a Master of Public Administration from Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government in 1991. He also took up International Defense Management Course in Monterey, California in 1983.

In 1987, he graduated No. 1 in Trust Operations Management Course conducted by the Trust Institutes Foundation of the Philippines at the Ateneo Business School which eventually earned him a scholarship to the Northwestern University in Chicago, Illinois.

Lucky 50 millionth passenger gets an unlimited travel pass from Cebu Pacific

Harold Toifi, an Austrian, received an unlimited travel pass from the world-famous (after the dancing flight attendants viral video) low-cost airline company, Cebu Pacific. It was in celebration of the airline's 50,000,000th customer which happens to be Toifi. He was on a flight from Beijing, China.

Present on the awarding ceremony were no less than President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III and Cebu Pacific's President and CEO Lance Gokongwei.

Gokongwei shared that they aim to improve this milestone.

"What we achieved in 14 years, we plan to achieve by 2015,” he said.

The President also thanked Cebu Pacific's management and staff for exhibiting “the well-known warmth and genuine Filipino hospitality to tourists throughout the years.”

“Suffice it to say, you have demonstrated true Filipino qualities and values to every guest; making their travels worthwhile and giving them more and more reasons to revisit our country,” the president stated.

Cebu Pacific is currently flying to 16 destinations abroad such as Bangkok, Beijing, Brunei, Busan, Guangzhou, Ho Chi Minh, Hong Kong, Jakarta, Kota Kinabalu, Kuala Lumpur, Macau, Osaka, Seoul, Shanghai, Singapore, and Taipei, and flies to 33 domestic destinations from its four operational hubs in Manila, Clark, Cebu, and Davao.

By the way, there is an ongoing promo in Cebu Pacific right now. 50% on all flights, domestic and international! Check their website HERE.

P40 Taxi Flag Down Rate Approved

The Land Transportation Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has recently approved the petition of taxi owners to increase the flag down rate of taxicabs. The government agency favors an additional P10 to be added on the current P30 rate. And thus, taxi meters will soon show P40 as the commuter sits inside the public vehicle.


Not only that. When the new rate takes effect after its publication in major newspapers, the passenger will also be paying P3.50 per 300 meters distance of travel which is currently set to P2.50.

However, only taxi units with receipt-issuing meters are allowed to charge the new rates. One can still refuse to pay the new rates if the cab does not have one.

Wow! It seems like riding on a taxi will already be a luxury to regular Noypis these coming days. Sorry for the bad news.

2011 Philippine Holidays

As outlined in Proclamation No. 84, here is the list of Philippine Official Public Holidays for 2011 which was released by the Malacanang and signed by President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III:

A. Regular Holidays

• New Year’s Day – January 1 (Saturday)
• Araw ng Kagitingan – April 9 (Saturday)
• Maundy Thursday – April 21
• Good Friday – April 22
• Labor Day – May 1 (Sunday)
• Independence Day – June 12 (Sunday)
• National Heroes Day – August 29 (Last Monday of August)
• Bonifacio Day – November 30 (Wednesday)
• Christmas Day – December 25 (Sunday)
• Rizal Day – December 30 (Friday)

B. Special (Non-Working) Days

• Ninoy Aquino Day – August 21 (Sunday)
• All Saints Day – November 1 (Tuesday)
• Last Day of the Year – December 31 (Saturday)

C. Special Holiday (for all schools)

• EDSA Revolution Anniversary – February 25 (Friday)

The Islamic holidays Eid’l Fitr and Eidul Adha observance shall be determined according to the Islamic or lunar calendar. The National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) shall determine their dates.

On the other hand, The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is tasked to promulgate the implementing guidelines for this Proclamation, the proclamation stated.