Legarda Remains on Top in Latest SWS Survey

Reelectionist Senator Loren Legarda remained on top of the people’s choice for senator in the 2013 elections as revealed in the SWS’ final pre-election survey conducted on May 2-3, 2013 with 2,400 respondents.

Legarda said she is ever grateful that despite the black propaganda hurled against her, she remains number one in surveys and in the hearts of the people.

“Salamat sa Diyos at salamat sa lahat ng tao na patuloy ang tiwala at suporta sa akin. The result of this latest survey gives me renewed strength and inspiration. This goes to show that Filipinos will not be swayed by the dirty tactics deployed by some to tarnish the good name and track record I have worked hard on,” she stressed.

“I hope that on Election Day the Filipino electorate will look into our track record, what we have done and what we plan to do,” she added.

Among Legarda’s priorities in her next term in the Senate is the Universal Healthcare Coverage Act, which will ensure free healthcare services for the twenty-five million Filipinos through Philhealth.

She will also expand college scholarship through the Pantawid Tuition Program, which seeks to fund one college scholar for every poor family, particularly those belonging to the 3.8 million poorest households.  

Legarda continues to work with different sectors in solving key issues such as poverty, malnutrition and unemployment, through L.O.R.E.N. sa Bawat Barangay, which is short for Livelihood Opportunities to Raise Employment Nationwide.

The program aims to inform citizens about livelihood and employment opportunities available to them and to involve various sectors and local government agencies in the creation of jobs and businesses.

REGAL MATRIARCH MOTHER LILY ENDORSES EDGARDO "SONNY" ANGARA

Regal Entertainment producer Lily Monteverde endorsed Team PNoy senatorial candidate Edgardo "Sonny" Angara today (May 7) in a press conference at the Imperial Palace Suites in Quezon City.

“I support Sonny Angara because of his exceptional credentials and track record. He has attained excellent education here and abroad. In his nine years as congressman, he has accomplished incomparable legislative work and projects not only for his district but for the entire country,” said Monteverde, a pillar of the Philippine entertainment industry.

“In my decades of experience as a producer, I can say that I’m a good judge of character. I know a qualified candidate when I see one, and Sonny Angara is definitely among them,” she added.

Monteverde also noted the achievements of the senatorial candidate's father, Senator Edgardo Angara, who was in public service for 24 years. The older Angara, the longest serving post-Edsa senator, is now on his last term.

“Sonny’s a very smart, hardworking and competent public servant. There’s no doubt he would continue, or surpass even, the outstanding performance of his father in the Senate,” the movie mogul said.

Angara said that an endorsement from Monteverde is definitely “sought after,” since her stature in the Philippine entertainment industry carries a lot of weight.

“I am deeply thankful for the vote of confidence Mother Lily has shared for my candidacy, especially since she is really known to follow stringent criteria in choosing who she endorses. Piling-pili po talaga ang kanilang endorsements,” said the Harvard-trained lawmaker.

Earlier, Angara was endorsed by Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago, who described him as “young and idealistic, also full of sex appeal.”

Kris Aquino, top celebrity endorser and sister of President Benigno Aquino III, also backed Angara’s candidacy explaining that she really feels that the Aurora representative wants to serve.

“Sa mga batas na naisulong niya, buong pamilya naalagaan na ni Sonny Angara,” said Aquino during an earlier ambush interview. 

Army teams up with DA in development of select portions of Fort Magsaysay as farming areas

FORT MAGSAYSAY, Nueva Ecija, May 6, 2013-7^th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army has teamed up with the Department of Agriculture (DA) in transforming certain portions of its Fort Magsaysay Military Reservation (FMMR) as farming areas.

 

Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala and Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin solidified the five-year partnership with a recent signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).

 

“This MOU is in line with President Aquino’s directive to our agencies to have livelihood programs in selected military reservations across the archipelago. DA will provide marketing assistance and the necessary equipment and facilities as well as inputs and trainings on production” said Alcala.

 

“Per plan, certain parts of the camp will be planted with cassava, corn, rice, high value crops, and fruit trees while some will be utilized for the production of fish, free range chicken, and goat” Alcala added.

 

For his part, Gazmin said “The Defense Department and the Armed Forces are truly glad for the realization of this project. Without doubt, this program and partnership with DA shall open doors for economic utilization of the idle portions of our military camps and reservations in the entire country.”

 

The FMMR was conceived by virtue of Presidential Proclamation No.237 dated December 19, 1955 with a total land area of 44,970 hectares.

 

It consists of the Cantonment area, Training Circuit, Kalinga sa Kawal off-based housing for military personnel, Jethropa Plantation, National Training Center (Balikatan area), and the Libingan ng mga Bayani. (Carlo Lorenzo J. Datu)

DILG revisits five-year action plan of CL provinces on Manila Bay Clean-up, rehab, and preservation

ANGELES CITY, Pampanga, May 5, 2013-Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) recently held a series of workshops that seeks to revisit the five-year action plan of Central Luzon provinces within
the so-called Manila Bay area namely Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, and Tarlac on clean up, rehabilitation, and preservation.

“The objective of the activity is to align the Local Government Unit (LGU) Five-year Action Plan with the Implementation Plan of the Operational Plan of the Manila Bay Coastal Strategy (OPMBCS),” said
DILG Monitoring and Evaluation Division Chief Lerrie Hernandez.

It also aims to re-evaluate the LGUs compliance to the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) prescribed by the Manila Bay Advisory Council (MBAC).

Attendees consisted of planning and development coordinators, environment and natural resources officers, and DILG officials of concerned municipalities and cities.

“These LGUs need to come up with new strategies in taking the necessary actions to address the issues and problems with regards to Manila Bay. I hope they will actively coordinate with concerned national government agencies and take this matter seriously,” said DILG Assistant Regional Director Abraham Pascua. (Rosa Bianca Pamintuan)

Ombudsman junks plea to reverse decision dismissing move to suspend Ecija mayor, 7 town officials

CABIAO, Nueva Ecija – The Office of Ombudsman has denied a motion for reconsideration to reverse its earlier ruling dismissing apetition to preventively suspend reelectionist Mayor Gloria Crespo-Congco and seven other town officials.

          In a seven-page decision penned by Joaquin Salazar, director of the evaluation and investigation office of the Deputy Ombudsman for Luzon and aproved by Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales, the anti-graft body denied the motion for reconsideration filed by Councilors Julito Wycoco and Rodrigo Rivera seeking a reversal of its March 27,2012 ruling which junked the motion to suspend Congco, Vice mayor Ernesto S. Talens Jr. and Councilors Danilo Bagan, Danilo Clemente, Luisito Relucio, Jose Talens and Dante Umali and Sangguniang Bayan secretary Luisito Guevarra.

          Wycoco, younger brother of the late National Bureau of Investigation Director Reynaldo Wycoco, is running for vice mayor under the Unang Sigaw Partido ng Pagbabago as the running mate of Rivera’s brother Ramil.

          They are challenging the reelection bids of Congco, a four-time mayor and Talens who are under the banner of the National Unity Party headed by outgoing three-term fourth district Rep. Rodolfo Antonino.   

          In its March 27,2012 ruling, the Ombudsman threw out the complaint filed by Julito Wycoco and Rivera after finding no strong evidence of guilt to warrant the suspension of Congco and her seven co-accused pending investigation of an administrative complaint for grave misconduct the duo had earlier filed against the respondents.

          In their complaint-affidavit, Wycoco and Rivera earlier sought the respondents’ preventive suspension after accusing them of conspiring in allegedly falsifying two SB appropriation ordinances and misappropriating public funds worth at least P10.48-million in 2011 allegedly for the promotion of their personal interests and political gains.

          In March 27, 2012 order, the Ombudsman said the complainants’ motion is not meritorious as it failed to concur with two pre-requisites of the law before a preventive suspension order of any public officer could be handed down pending the investigation.           These two requisites are Sections 24 of Republic Act 6770 (Ombudsman Act of 1989), and 9, of Rule III of the Ombudsman Rules of Procedure, which said that: “(1) the evidence of guilt is strong,” “(2b) the charges warrant removal from the service,” and “(2c) the respondent’s continued stay in office may jeopardize the case filed against him.”

          It also said: “The complainants alleged that the respondents unlawfully spent millions of pesos but (they) surprisingly failed to buttress such allegations with telling proof such as a copy of an audit report from the Commission on Audit.

“It is a basic rule that bare allegations, unsubstantiated by evidence, are not equivalent to proof. In short, mere allegations are not evidence,” it said.

In junking the motion, the Ombudsman also said: “That the pieces of evidence presented by the complainants do not suffice to produce compelling proof that may warrant the removal from service of the respondents.”

          “This office finds that the administrative adjudication of the case may proceed without necessarily placing the respondents under preventive suspension,” it further stated.

This prompted Wycoco and Rivera to file a motion for reconsideration, arguing that the assailed order is contrary to law and jurisprudence.

They said they did not present any COA report as all monies spent and released through an invalid law or ordinance is “considered malversed or stolen.”

In its latest ruling, the Ombudsman said the motion for reconsideration is not impressed with valid grounds to reverse or modify its assailed order. It noted that the Ombudsman Rules of Procedure provides that a motion for reconsideration must be based on any of the grounds such as the discovery of new evidence which materially affects the order, or grave errors of facts or laws or serious irregularities have been committed.

It said in the motion for reconsideration, Wycoco and Rivera neither presented new evidence and miserably failed to show or establish that the Ombudsman indeed committed grave errors or irregularities regarding the March 27,2012 order.

It further stated that its “insistent prayer” for the issuance of a preventive suspension order pending investigation are “mere rehash of those already mentioned in the complaint and which had already been discussed in the order sought to be reconsidered. Hence, it would be superfluous to further discuss them.”

“In fine, this Office finds no cogent reason to warrant the modification, much less the reversal of the order dated March 27,2012,” the Ombudsman said. (Manny Galvez)

         

Senator Loren Legarda in Pampanga

Senator Loren Legarda with Mayor Marino "Boking" Morales. The Senator is warmly welcomed by the people of Mabalacat City in her visit to Pampanga.

LEGARDA DEPLORES GUTTER POLITICS, SHOWS LAWYERS' CERTIFICATION 'ALL PROPERTIES IN MY SALN' – LEGARDA

Sen. Loren Legarda (Nationalist People’s Coalition) lamented the continued misinformation campaign against her, stating these were all part of black propaganda meant to pull down her consistent top ranking in election surveys. Legarda was reacting to a smear online campaign alleging non-disclosure in her Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Networth (SALN) of a piece of real property in the United States. 

             "Hindi po ako magtatago sa anomang anomalya dahil ako po ay naglilingkod ng tapat sa bayan. Isa po itong black propaganda dahil di po ako natitinag sa pagiging number one," she added. 

            In an interview, Legarda said, “The certification I have in my hand, prepared by my lawyers, is clear: The Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Networth (SALN) I filed in June 30, 2007 includes the New York property subject of the black propaganda, described as ‘Other Investment’ in Annex A, in the amount of P 7,175,000 equal to one-fourth of the total investment in the acquisition of apartment amounting to P 28,700,000.  Beginning December 31, 2007 up to December 31, 2010, the same property was also included on the SALN described as “Equity in Real Property”, also one-fourth of the total P 28,700,000. As of December 31, 2011 and December 31, 2012 the New York property was also included in my SALN described as “Real Property-USA.”

Legarda said it is deplorable that people, possibly even some fellow candidates, could engage in such gutter politics, diverting people from the real issues.  “It’s political season and I have survived to answer clearly all the black propaganda hurled against me. I challenge the source of all this to come clean. I ask other candidates to stick to what we as candidates can do to address the problems facing the country,” Legarda said.                              "Hindi po sila nakuntento sa pagkalat ng mga kasinungalingan, ngayon ito po ang inimbento. Lahat po ito ay walang katotohanan at handa po akong humarap sa kahit kanino. At ipagdadasal ko nalang po sila," Legarda said.

LEGARDA SUSTAINS LEAD IN LATEST SURVEY

With less than two weeks before the May 13 elections, reelectionist Sen. Loren Legarda (Nationalist People’s Coalition) sustained her lead in the latest pre-election survey conducted by pollster Pulse Asia.

            Legarda, who also topped the Pulse Asia survey last month, got 51.5% votes of those polled. The survey, conducted from April 20 to 22, had 1,800 respondents from a national sample.

            Legarda said she is thankful to the public for continuing to put their trust in her, adding that she will work doubly hard in her last term to push more high-impact laws.

           Legarda, in previous statements, said she will work on finishing the Universal Healthcare bill which she principally authored to benefit the 25 million poorest Filipinos. “Providing for the healthcare needs of the poorest Filipinos is my top priority,” Legarda has said.

            She said she will also push for the expansion of scholarship programs for indigent but deserving college students by providing scholarships for the three million families that are beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program.

            Legarda also said she will continue to look after the welfare of senior citizens by ensuring the full implementation of the Expanded Senior Citizens Act as well as author more environmental laws, among others.

LEGARDA THANKS PURPLE RIBBON: WE SHALL THRIVE IN DEMOCRACY

MANILA, April 30, 2013-We all seek to preserve, not destroy life, by making it less difficult for the poor, our women, and their children to access health services. 

This was the statement of reelectionist Sen. Loren Legarda as she thanked the Purple Ribbon for RH for endorsing her candidacy along with selected senatorial candidates.

“Experience has shown that we cannot always agree on every issue.  That is part of a thriving democracy.  I am certain, however, that as Filipinos, we all share the desire to make democracy work in favor of those who have lesser in life,” Legarda said.

She said she remains committed to the cause of women’s rights, including freedom from violence, quality healthcare, education, and access to jobs.  “I look forward to continue working with you on these issues,” she added.

Legarda is credited with passing laws to protect the rights of women and promote their welfare such as the Anti-Violence Against Women and Children Act, the Magna Carta of Women, and the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act.

Purple Ribbon for RH is made up of supporters of the RH law, including NGOs, civil groups, business groups, former government officials, private institutions, youth, writers, artists, and celebrities.

Wage boards must grant daily wage petitions—Jinggoy

MANILA, April 30, 2013-Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada strongly urged regional wage boards to immediately review and eventually grant the salary petitions of workers as prices of basic goods and services have already risen since the last wage hike was implemented last year.

 

Sen. Estrada notes that no petition for wage increase may be entertained within the 12-month period from the effectivity of the wage order. In the case for the National Capital Region (NCR), a wage order was issued last June 3, 2012.

 

Estrada, nonetheless, argues that the wage boards are not prohibited from reviewing the need and validation to increase wages before the prescribed period so as to immediately ameliorate compensation upon lapse of the same.

 

Estrada, who is chairman of the Senate Committee on Labor, Employment and Human Resource Development, noted that the current P456 minimum daily wage is no longer enough for a worker to pay the increasing power and water rates as well as health, transport, and education costs.

 

He said a salary adjustment would send a strong message to the world that our economic gains are starting to trickle down. “This would be one of the brightest spots in our economy—that our daily wage earners can keep pace with the rising cost of living,” Estrada said.

 

The senator earlier batted for a P125 across-the-board daily wage increase for all workers. He said his proposal addresses the plight of the working class by bringing them closer to the State's assurance of a decent wage.

 

In filing the bill, Estrada said “the labor sector has often criticized the Regional Boards for their delayed reaction to the conditions of their respective regions, and their slow action on petitions for minimum wage increase, so much so that the labor sector is now demanding that Congress reverts back to the old system of legislated wage increases.”

 

The senator also recommended that the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) inspect the payroll and other financial records kept by a company or business to determine whether the workers are paid the prescribed across-the-board wage increase and other benefits granted by law.

JACKIE ENRILE: FORGET ANIDO, LET'S UNITE AND MOVE ON

In a press conference held today in Bulan town, Sorsogon, senatorial aspirant Jack Enrile today urged his opponents to “stop the sinister allegations” for the sake of national unity.

Enrile, a first-term congressman from the 1st district of Cagayan, has been hounded by murder allegations concerning Alfie Anido and several others over the course of his young political career.

Anido, 21, was a rising star in the entertainment industry when he died from gunshot wounds after a spat with his girlfriend Katrina Ponce Enrile, Jackie's sister.

“The prescriptive period in the Anido murder case has lapsed. Let's move on for the sake of national unity,” said the son and namesake of Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile.

Murder cases in the Philippines have a prescriptive period of 20 years. The alleged murder of Alfie Anido happened on December 30, 1981, more than 31 years ago.

“Preventing me from serving the Filipino people as a senator will not bring Alfie back to life. It's better that we stick to the issues at hand,” said Jackie Enrile, who is running on a platform of food sufficiency.

“Something that happened three decades ago does not define who I am today; as they say, the past is past,” insisted the younger Enrile, “what matters now is for us to unite and help me provide food on the table of every Filipino”.

PROTECT OUR OCEANS, SAYS LEGARDA

Sen. Loren Legarda, chair of the Senate climate change committee, vowed legislative support to policies that would protect oceans and marine resources, saying food security and environmental sustainability should remain a top priority.

            “I join Environmental Secretary Ramon Paje in declaring that the Philippines has a major role to play in protecting oceans and ensuring the sustainable use of underwater resources,” Legarda said, referring to the Cabinet official’s statement during the recent Sustainable Ocean Summit in Washington, D.C.

            Secretary Paje had said that the Philippines, especially, is a major player in the sustainability of coastal and marine resources, being an archipelagic country with 240 million hectares of water, and being at the center of the world’s marine biodiversity. 

            Legarda said the legislative and executive branches’ partnership should continue as they find ways to protect and conserve the country’s marine resources and prevent illegal activities that destroy the ecosystem.

            The senator has been calling for the strict enforcement of relevant laws to stop illegal activities along coastal communities and on seas like poaching of endangered species, illegal and destructive fishing, and throwing of wastes.

"The degradation of our coastal areas has long ceased to be merely an environmental issue as it pushes poverty deeper in the coastal communities through losses in livelihood, vulnerability to natural hazards, hunger and food insecurity,” Legarda said.

 “I hope to immediately refile my bills on coastal resources management when the new Congress opens,” she added.

One pending bill of the senator is the proposed Integrated Coastal Management (ICM) Act under Senate Bill 1370 which seeks to create a national comprehensive framework that will promote the sustainable development of coastal and marine environment and resources. This will provide the direction, support and guidance to local government units (LGUs) in the development of their respective programs.

Another pending measure is Senate Bill 1337, which would create the Philippines Agriculture and Fisheries Extension Agency (PAFEA) that will unify all agriculture and fisheries extension systems and ensure maintenance of the high standards of extension programs. The agency shall orchestrate, provide national direction, set standards of performance, and provide institutionalized financial and technical support to LGUs.

As DOLE rules out wage hike order Tax-exempt bonuses & OT pay pushed for Labor Day

Sen. Ralph G. Recto today reiterated his proposal to tax -exempt Christmas and 13^th month bonuses and overtime pay of private and government workers that would effectively bring down income taxes and make it as part of government’s Labor Day surprise for May 1.

 

“I really don't expect them to announce a wage increase on Labor Day or sooner. I hope my proposal will make up for the lack of wage hike order this coming May 1 celebrations,” Recto, senior member of the Senate committee on labor, employment and human resources development, said.

 

He added: “If the working Juan de La Cruz can’t expect a raft of wage-related benefits on his special day, exempting their bonuses and overtime pay from taxes would be a welcome relief.”

 

True enough, the labor department has announced that workers won’t be receiving any wage increase on May 1.

 

But Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said some non-wage benefits package may be unveiled during Labor Day by President Aquino, including tax exemption to workers.

 

Recto stressed his proposal to tax-exempt Christmas and other bonuses could be integrated to the non-wage benefits that the Palace may have in mind.

 

He said the tax-exemption could be announced as part of government’s Labor Day package for all workers.

 

The senator is also proposing that employees who are earning P300,000 and below per annum should be exempted from income tax.

 

Currently, only minimum wage earners are tax-exempt.

 

According to his proposal, Christmas and 13^th month bonuses amounting to P60,000 and below should be free from tax as against the current ceiling of P30,000. 

 

Presently, 13^th month pay and Christmas bonuses that exceed P30,000 are subject to income tax.

 

Such proposal is contained in Recto’s Senate Bill 2879,  which has already reached the committee level in the Senate.

 

Recto has argued that the P30,000 tax-free ceiling on 13^th month and Christmas bonuses is obsolete.

 

He said the ceiling had not been adjusted for the last 18 years or since 1994 when the lowest monthly salary of a government worker was only P2,800 and that of the President of the Philippines was at P25,000.

 

“Now the monthly salary of a basic state worker as of June 2012 is P9,000 while the pay scale of the President is P120,000 but the ceiling of P30,000 has remained unchanged,” the senator said.

 

Overtime pay of workers for serving in excess of their regular time load should also not be taxed, according to Recto, who is chair of the Senate committee on ways and means.

 

“We should not punish a worker’s hard work and dedication with a tax,” he stressed.

 

Recto said the government need not wait for a new legislation to implement his proposal since the Department of Finance and the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) are empowered under the Tax Code to adjust the ceiling of P30,000,  but have not exercised it.

 

The senator said while there would be initial revenue losses, the proposal would become “revenue neutral” in the medium-term as money saved from the tax-exemptions are plowed back into the economy through increased spending. 

Water level at Pantabangan Dam nearing critical level

CABANATUAN CITY, Nueva Ecija, April 27, 2013–Water level at the mammoth Pantabangan Dam, which irrigates over 100,000 hectares of agricultural lands in Central Luzon, continues to drop and is now nearing critical level due to the searing heat which has taken its toll on farmlands in Nueva Ecija.

As of late Friday, the National Irrigation Administration’s Upper Pampanga River Integrated Irrigation Systems said water elevation at the dam was registered at 187.19 meters, way below the spilling level of 221 meters. It is fast approaching the critical level of 172 meters.

Engineer Josie Salazar, UPRIIS operations manager, said there has been a steady decrease of water level in the dam over the past week. Last April 20, its water level was placed at 187.71. A day after, it shrunk to 187.56. This further went down to 187.43 on April 22, to 187.32 on April 23 and to 187.24 on April 24.

Pantabangan supplies irrigation to farms in Nueva Ecija, San Miguel and San Ildefonso in Bulacan and Arayat in Pampanga.

Water level at the Masiway, Rizal and Aulo dams located downstream of Pantabangan Dam had also dwindled due to the intense heat and lack of rains.

Salazar, however, said there is no cause for alarm since the dam can still supply irrigation to the programmed areas this coming dry season of 115,000 hectares. She said that actually, the critical level of 172 meters is considered way, way too far to affect irrigation supply to farmers.

“There is really nothing to worry about,” she said, adding that by next month, they expect the water level to go up with the onset of the rainy season. 

UPRIIS has also programmed to irrigate 110,000 hectares this rainy season and 29,000 hectares in the third  crop.

Pantabangan Mayor Romeo Borja Sr. said farmers in certain barangays in his town where the Pantabangan Dam is located still managed to plant crops even if they don’t receive irrigation from the dam. (Manny Galvez)       

Mother Lily Throws Full Support Behind Sen. Loren Legarda

Senator Loren Legarda juggles many responsibilities as lawmaker, environmentalist and mother—giving equal devotion to her senatorial campaign, environmental advocacies, and her role as single mom to two sons, Lorenzo and Leandro. A tall order indeed—but one that she accomplishes daily with admirable grace.

Among her many supporters is another of the country’s most distinguished women today: Mother Lily Monteverde, the matriarch of Philippine show business.

These two mothers coming together for a cause greater than themselves comes at a very opportune time as the celebration of Mothers’ Day is fast approaching.

Mother Lily hosted a press conference for Legarda, whose senatorial bid she has full confidence in. “I really admire Loren for her strength and conviction,” said the veteran producer. “She always gives 110 percent of herself in everything she does.”

She added, “I know how difficult it is

to excel in your career and to still be around for your family. Most people focus on one and neglect the other, but Loren has succeeded in both. She certainly deserves to be Number One in this senatorial election.”

In her over 15 years as a lawmaker, Legarda has championed environmental protection and women’s rights, authoring such landmark laws as the Clean Air Act, Ecological Solid Waste Management Act,  Climate Change Law, Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act, Anti-Trafficking in Persons Law and the Anti-Violence Against Women and Children Act.

She is now running for her third and last term as senator and has consistently ranked first in pre-election surveys, demonstrating the confidence the Filipino people have in her track record and dedication to these advocacies.

And it seems she offers just as much inspiration in her home life. Legarda has taken it upon herself to care for her 80-year old Papa and her Nanay Fely, who at 79 years old has been her yaya for over 53 years.

“She’s a workaholic, she wants to get everything done and done right,” reveals Lean about his mother. “That isn’t a bad thing at all. We’ve all seen how much good the laws she has authored have done to protect the country’s natural resources and the people, especially women and children who are most vulnerable.”

He continued, “Imagine how much more good she will be able to do with another six years in the Senate. She has so much to share and offer in service of this country.”

Hundreds of Luzon bikers to join Sunday’s TakBulacan

MALOLOS CITY, Bulacan, April 25, 2013-Hundreds of bikers from Luzon will converge in Bulacan on Sunday, April 28 for the 2013 TakBulacan biking event which advocates for an Honest, Orderly, and Peaceful Elections (HOPE).

The event to promote camaraderie among all Bulakeños and people who never grow tired of believing in the value of unity, charity, and volunteerism.

The biking event will start at five in morning in Marcelo H. Del Pilar National Shrine in Bulakan town and ends at the Bulacan Sports Complex in Malolos City.

Those who are interested are enjoined to contact Wilfredo Barroquillo Jr. of Salika Foundation at 09235641308 or 09209477833.

There is a registration fee of P200 per participant inclusive of a jersey, food, drinks, and a raffle ticket.

Moreover, the first 200 registrants would get free Sun Cellular sim cards.

The event is co-sponsored by Salika Foundation, Commission on Elections, Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting, and Philippine Councilor’s League. (Shane F. Velasco)