NOY ATTENDS ERAP'S BIRTHDAY PARTY /
RAMON TULFO'S ON TARGET COLUMN
[PHOTO - When former President
Joseph "Erap" Ejercito Estrada eyed the presidency again in 2010, he said, "This
is the last performance of my life." Now that he turns 75, is there anything
else he still wants? "Well, I think I've gotten all I wished for, all I prayed
for," Estrada said in a dinner in his honor on Monday, April 16. The former
President celebrates his 75th birthday , Thursday, April 19]
MANILA,
APRIL 24, 2012
(INQUIRER) President Aquino cited the
invaluable traits of former President Joseph Ejercito "Erap" Estrada that have
inspired the Filipinos in times of hardships and trials as he wished the former
President the best of health during his diamond birth anniversary celebration.
In his message during Erap's birthday celebration at the Le Pavilion
Metropolitan Park in Pasay City Thursday evening, President Aquino acknowledged
Estrada's unique character of dealing with the emotions of the common people and
giving them hope to surpass challenges.
"Niyakap kayo ng masang Pilipino at malinaw sa lahat ang dahilan nito… taglay
ninyo ang kakayahang tukuyin ang kanilang pulso at kurutin ang kanilang puso,"
the President said.
"Sa panahon na matumal ang pag-asa, marami ang napanghinaan ng loob na
magsumikap sa buhay... kumapit ang masa kay Erap. Dahil sa inyo, napanatag ang
loob ni Juan de la Cruz, nagkaroon siya ng kakampi upang harapin ang mga
pagsubok sa buhay at nagkaroon siya ng Erap na nakatindig at lumalaban para sa
katuparan ng kanyang mga pangarap," he added.
The Chief Executive said the former President's legacy will forever linger in
the minds of the people which will push them to strive further to attain
progress.
"Kaya naman, sa pagbibigay lakas at pag-asa sa mga Pilipino, habang-buhay
nang nakatatak si Erap sa kanilang isip at puso... sa inyo pong kaarawan wala
kaming ibang hiling kung hindi ang inyong magandang kalusugan at marami pang
taon na magbibigay ng inspirasyon sa bayan, muli maraming salamat at maligayang
kaarawan po," President Aquino said.
During the event, President Aquino shared a table with celebrator Estrada who
turned 75, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte
Jr., Vice President Jejomar Binay, Sen. Jinggoy Estrada and presidential sisters
Ballsy Aquino-Cruz, Pinky Aquino-Abellada and Kris Aquino.
Present were Senators Miriam Defensor-Santiago, Sergio Osmeña III, Gregorio
Honasan, Vicente Sotto III, Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr., Edgardo Angara and
Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III.
Also in attendance were Cabinet secretaries led by Executive Secretary
Paquito Ochoa Jr., Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, Education Secretary Armin
Luistro and Presidential Adviser on Political Affairs Ronald Llamas, among
others.
RAMON TULFO'S ON TARGET INQUIRER
COLUMN
By Ramon Tulfo -
Judging from the number of people who attended former President Erap's
75th birthday party Thursday night, it looks like the guy has not lost his
touch.
Old friends and new faces were at the huge Le Pavillon ballroom in Pasay City
to greet him.
President Noy and his sister, actress Kris Aquino, were among Erap's guests.
Erap's wife, former first lady Loi Ejercito, and their son Jinggoy joined the
birthday celebrator and P-Noy at the presidential table where Senate President
Juan Ponce Enrile was also seated.
I saw my Uncle Alex (retired Gen. Alexander Aguirre) and his wife, Chit,
among the many guests.
Aguirre was a member of Erap's Cabinet. His former colleagues in the Estrada
administration were also at the big bash.
I saw senators—among them Greg Honasan, Miriam Defensor-Santiago, Loren
Legarda, Ramon Revilla and Serge Osmeña—and a number of congressmen like Mindoro
Rep. Rodolfo Valencia, and congresswomen, in the big crowd.
Executive Secretary Jojo Ochoa came with Senator Legarda.
I kidded Jojo that somebody was eyeing him with envy, and he laughed.
Local officials, like controversial Davao City Vice Mayor Rody Duterte, were
also there.
I was asked by former Ambassador to Laos Tony Cabangon-Chua to sit at his
table where business tycoons William Gatchalian and Andrew Tan were also seated.
Douglas Lu Ym, once known as "coconut king," came all the way from Cebu City
to greet his long-time friend.
One of Erap's former detractors, former Solicitor-General Frank Chavez, and
his friend, restaurateur Rod Ongpauco, sat at another table.
I saw ABS-CBN's Karen Davila and Vic Lima pass by our table.
Newspaper publisher Jake Macasaet hopped from one table to another greeting
old friends.
Dr. Tyrone Reyes, a well-known bone surgeon and newspaper columnist, joined
fellow doctors at one table.
I saw a number of retired generals in the crowd, among them Danny Lim, now
with the Bureau of Customs.
And, of course, Erap's old friends and colleagues in the movie industry were
there.
In short, all sectors of society were represented in Erap's celebration of a
significant milestone.
(P.S. When I left the party—I left before the main course was served— Vice
President Jojo Binay was still not around, apparently waiting for the "grand
entrance.")
* * *
Lanao del Sur Rep. Nasser Pangandaman (photo) got down from
his car when security guard Albert Gemillan flagged it down at the gate of
Miranila Homes in Quezon City for having an expired village car sticker at past
10 a.m. on Wednesday.
Without saying a word, the congressman allegedly punched Gemillan in the
face.
Pangandaman's bodyguards, who were in another car, reportedly got down from
their car with guns drawn.
Shocked, the poor guard ran and sought refuge at the subdivision's clubhouse.
Later, Gemillan's supervisor at Northern Star Security Agency accompanied the
guard to the congressman's house at nearby Tierra Pura subdivision.
And what do you know: Gemillan was ordered to write a letter of apology to
the congressman!
The poor guy apologized, but for what—for doing his job?
So the next time you run into the congressman and his bodyguards, you know
what to do.
Failing to recognize him might lead to disastrous consequences.
Chief News Editor: Sol
Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2012 by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE
NEWS ONLINE
All rights reserved
PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS
ONLINE [PHNO] WEBSITE
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------
Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/phnotweet
This is the PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE (PHNO) Mailing List.
To stop receiving our news items, please send a blank e-mail addressed to: phno-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
Please visit our homepage at: http://www.newsflash.org/
(c) Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
-------------------------------------------------------------Yahoo! Groups Links
<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/phno/
<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional
<*> To change settings online go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/phno/join
(Yahoo! ID required)
<*> To change settings via email:
phno-digest@yahoogroups.com
phno-fullfeatured@yahoogroups.com
<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
phno-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
PH Headline News Online. Copyright 2011 All Rights Reserved