Here’s an excerpt from my latest CNET Asia blog post.
In what you might call Braceletgate, Senator Maria Ana Consuelo “Jamby” Madrigal has earned the ire of Filipino bloggers for the yellow beaded bracelets that were being given away during the memorial services for former Philippine President Corazon “Cory” Aquino on August 5.
The bracelets included a picture of Madrigal, who, incidentally, had announced on July 31 that she would run for president in 2010 in a move that caught even her colleagues by surprise, based on this INQUIRER.net article.
Read the full story.
Here’s an excerpt from my latest CNET Asia blog post.
It may have taken several years and elections, but citizen journalism is expected to play a key role in covering the Philippine presidential polls in 2010.
One sign of recognition for Filipino bloggers and citizen journalists is that the Philippine Commission on Elections is officially welcoming blog coverage of the polls.
Read the full story.
What do you think of the Katrina Halili media circus in the Philippine Senate?
Blogged about this issue for CNET Asia. Here’s an excerpt:
As you might expect, the Katrina Halili-Hayden Kho sex video scandal is one of the hottest topics on the Philippine blogosphere. After all, this latest video that has been leaked online involves one of the most popular Filipina sexy actresses and the beauty doctor/model Kho, who has seen his own share of the limelight as the former beau of the country’s most well-known cosmetic and dermatologic surgeon, Vicki Belo, whose clients include showbiz personalities, politicians and members of high society.
Not surprisingly, this sex scandal has also attracted the attention of Philippine legislators and government officials, with the Palace itself declaring it wants to “go hard” on Kho, according to Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, who said the videos “affect the morals of society”. Earlier, Senator Ramon Revilla Jr. (a former actor, by the way) demanded the revocation of Kho’s medical license in a privilege speech. The National Bureau of Investigation is now conducting a probe on Kho, who has been placed on the Bureau of Immigration watch list to prevent him from leaving the country. Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez has said Kho could be jailed for six years if found guilty. Amazing, isn’t it, how a “sexy issue” like this causes the Philippine Government to immediately spring into action? Unlike, say, issues such as the Philippine Book Blockade of 2009.
Read the full story.
