Government of Maribojoc: Travel, Business and News

Incoming President Benigno Aquino III defended his decision to retain several Cabinet officials who worked for outgoing President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, saying these people are well-qualified to take the post under his administration.

“Kung ganoon ang pananaw siguro dapat isisante natin ang buong bureaucracy dahil nagtrabaho silang lahat kay Gng. Arroyo. Mali siguro pananaw na yan. Kung walang issue ginawa ang tao nagkataon nagsilbi doon (If that’s the case, maybe we should fire the entire bureaucracy because they all worked for Mrs. Arroyo. I think that viewpoint is wrong especially if the person has no misgivings),” he said during a press briefing announcing the members of his Cabinet Tuesday in Quezon City.

Several Cabinet positions went to known allies of Aquino’s mother, former President Corazon “Cory” Aquino.

One of such allies is retired Lieutenant General Voltaire Gazmin, who was chief of the Presidential Security Group under the late President’s administration, who was named Defense Secretary.

Meanwhile, Alberto Romulo was retained as Foreign Affairs Secretary. Manila Electric Company president and Chief Operating Officer Jose de Jesus got the Transportation and Communications portfolio. Romulo was the Budget chief under President Cory’s administration while De Jesus was with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

Aquino said De Jesus was “one of the most if not the most hardworking” members of his mother’s Cabinet.

“As DPWH secretary, he used to sleep three hours a day to make sure government projects are done on a timely and correct manner. His only luxury was a five-hour rest period during Sundays. First assignment is to make sure he sleeps more than three hours a day because he is a work-driven individual who will oversee the transformation of DOTC characterized by the NBN-ZTE deal into an agency that truly serves the interests of the people,” Aquino said.

The incoming President responded to queries on criticisms he might face upon appointing old-timers, or people who have served previous administrations, including the Arroyo government which he has openly criticized.

“I don’t think Sec. de Jesus will mind., Sec. De Jesus started government service during the Marcos administration. When he served my mother, if I were to give out awards at that point in time, he would be No. 1 on the list or very close to No. 1 on the list of people deserving the best performing award,” he said.

2GO took part and won in Discovery Channel and Nido Fortified Science Discovery Center’s (NFSDC) Discovery Dash 2010 last April 30 at the SM Mall of Asia Music Hall.

The event marks the launch of Discovery Channel and Nido Fortified Science Discovery Center’s partnership as they collaborate to make science accessible and engaging to Filipinos of all ages.

Hosted by singer-actress Nikki Gil, Discovery Dash had the participating teams race through pit stops at the SM Mall of Asia Music Hall to solve challenges that tested their wits and knowledge on science, technology and art. Each pit stop in the Discovery Dash competition features popular Discovery Channel programs such as Planet Green, Man Vs. Wild, Dirty Jobs and Survivorman.

As one of the event’s sponsors, 2GO sent in a team to join the dash as well. The 2GO team went up against other participants, which included basketball players, musicians, radio personalities, other sponsors and former Ms. Earth beauty queens among others.

There were two race categories: the first was for the sponsors while the second was for celebrity participants. In the end, Nyoy Volante, Mike Chan and Noelle Cassandra of Team Smart Coed finished first in the celebrity category while the 2GO team with Daniel Tumalad, Mark Ceneta and Pierre Vergara emerged as the winner for the first race category.

Filipinos from all walks of life wearing yellow t-shirts trooped as early as 5 a.m. to the Quirino Grandstand despite the earlier rains to witness the inauguration of 15th President of the Republic of the Philippines Benigno Simeon “Noynoy” Aquino III and Vice President Jejomar Binay.

Guests, including incumbent and incoming officials and foreign dignitaries, started arriving around 9 a.m.

Quezon Rep. Lorenzo “Erin” Tanada III, who was reported to become the majority leader of the House of Representatives in the 15th Congress; singer Jim Paredes, Maria Montelibano, Manuel Quezon III, Father Arnold Abelardo, and Mikee Cojuangco were seen.

Incoming Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin was the first member of the Aquino Cabinet to arrive at the Quirino Grandstand.

Former Presidents Fidel Ramos and Joseph Estrada, and Vice President Teofisto Guingona Jr. came shortly after 9:00 a.m.

President-elect Aquino is expected to arrive at 10:45 a.m. with outgoing President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who will leave the venue and will go direct to Pampanga where she won as congresswoman in the province’s second district, after the military gives her a 21-gun salute, their final honors for the outgoing chief executive.

The pre-inauguration program, which started shortly before 9 a.m. to the cheers of the yellow-clad crowd, began with celebrities Jim Paredes and Juana Change hosting the event.

Binay’s guests arrived on board a coaster.

While waiting for the inauguration to formally start, Paredes and May Paner entertained the crowd by interviewing some people on stage. Folk singer Noel Cabangon also sang.

Maria Fe Policarpio, a 54-year-old mother of three, said she was at the venue as early as 5 a.m. to have a glimpse of the incoming President, whom she voted for in the May elections.

“Simula pa kay Cory (former President Corazon Aquino) saka sa asawa niyang namatay, hanggang ngayon suporta kami (Even from the time of Cory and her late husband, until now, we are supporters),” said Policarpio, who resides in Quezon City.

Policarpio is part of a group of volunteers named “Kabataan Kontra Korupsyon.” She said she also voted for Vice President-elect Jejomar Binay, who will also take his oath with Aquino before Supreme Court Associate Justice Conchita Carpio-Morales.

She said she did not care if the rains resume during the inauguration program, saying she and her three kids came armed with umbrellas.