RENATO Reyes Jr., Bayan secretary-general, scored Congress for putting up new steel fences near its gates for the SoNA. Batasang Pambansa or Batasan pang VIP only?

* * *

Environmentalists are at odds with Environment Secretary Lito Atienza’s permit to DPWH to remove 5,446 trees along MacArthur highway from Pampanga to Tarlac. 1,282 trees will be transferred by earth balling, but 4,164 trees will be axed.

* * *

DENR placed three conditions: replace each tree with 30 seedlings, cut in the presence of local gov't and turn over logs to DENR, and put up billboards informing of the permit and earth balling. Environmentalist Cecile Yumul and local artists join hands to block legalized logging and Odette Alcantara runs last-ditch signature campaign to ask PGMA to stay the execution.

* * *

“I think I shall never see/A poem as lovely as a tree billboard!”

* * *

Manila Archbishop Gaudencio B. Cardinal Rosales declared the third Sunday of every month as Ecology Sunday for church leaders to engage in a catechesis of the integrity of creation by establishing “circles of discernment” in parishes and schools. And God saw that it was good and He rested on the 7th day which is the Sabbath.

* * *

Christmas came early last Saturday for Wowowee contestants – 6 OFWs fending for their orphaned siblings. When Sen. Manny Villar declared that presidential wannabees should help OFWs now instead of promises when elected, host Willy Revillame challenged the politician-realtor to gift the 6 contestants a house-and-lot each. Villar said "yes" and the enraptured audience and the lucky beneficiaries who couldn’t believe their heaven-sent prizes were moved to tears.

* * *

In the derby for presidential nomination Defense Secretary “Gibo” Teodoro suited for Lakas-Kampi-CMD. VP Noli de Castro stays away without Lakas Loob, and sulking party insider Bayani Fernando can join Bukas Loob to invoke divine intervention.

* * *

The Center for Global Best Practices seminar "Election Game Changer: Strategy, Deployment, Victory" should draw presidential wannabees to come incognito or by proxy. Jose P. Leviste speaks on the new political landscape and 2010 election challenges, George Balagtas on best communication practices to win an election, and Atty. Sixto S. Brillantes Jr. on vital election issues.

* * *

Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya Jr. said stimulus spending boosts consumer confidence in first half. Expect explosion of credit cards.

* * *

Senator Edgardo Angara filed Senate Bill 904 denying losing candidates returning to their elective positions. It negates R.A. 9006 (Fair Elections Practices Act) which allows public official to run for any other public office other than the one he holds without losing his current office.

* * *

Bantay Korte Suprema urged Cebuanos to ensure transparency in the appointment of the next Supreme Court justices. The last Cebuano Chief Justice was Hilario Davide Jr., who was recruited by DFA as Ambassador to the UN.

* * *

US State Secretary Hillary Clinton signed the ASEAN Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC), making up for Condolezza Rice’s snub of two ASEAN summits. France showed the way to the European Union by signing in Cebu in January 2008. The other signatories include Australia, Bangladesh, China, East Timor, India, Japan, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Russia, South Korea, and Sri Lanka who all commit to mutual respect for the independence, sovereignty, equality, territorial integrity and national identity of all nations.

* * *

The ousted president of Honduras, Manuel Zelaya, briefly stepped a few feet inside Honduran territory, before pulling back. One step forward, two steps back.

* * *

Historians remember that when astronaut Neil Armstrong took one small step 40 years ago, USA conquered the moon… but the Philippines’ Gloria Diaz won the Universe.

* * *

Feedback: jaz@mb.com.ph