National Museum of the Philippines (First Stop: The National Museum of the Filipino People)

Filipinos, specially those who are living in Metro Manila and those who love to travel, have you ever been to our National Museum?

My first time was in grade school, and that was during our field trip. Well, after almost two decades, I decided to visit again the Museum, and this was because I don't have enough money for an out-of-town trip, and I want to see something different during my restdays.  So people of the Metro Manila, if you are thinking what to do in the metro, besides malling or eating, why not try to visit historical places.  It turned out my visit was a worthy and learning experience.

Our National Museum consists of two adjacent buildings, one is the National Museum of the Filipino People and the other building is the National Art Gallery.

First stop, some info and photos of National Museum of the Filipino People... (next post is about the National Art Gallery)

The Museum of the Filipino People is located at the old Department of Finance building in Rizal Park. This is a four-story museum. It houses the anthropology and archaeology division of the National Museum. Here you can find wreckage from a Spanish battleship called San Diego where many artifacts were recovered like jewelries, potteries, coins, and war weapons.  You can also find an exhibit about the origin of the Filipino nation, pre-historic Philippines and some of its archaeological treasures.

Below are some photos of the Museum of the Filipino people.

National Museum
P. Burgos Drive, Rizal Park, Manila
Tuesdays-Sundays, 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Free admission on Sundays
website: nationalmuseum.gov.ph

Entrance:  Individual Fee (PHP)
Student: 30.00
Senior Citizen: 80.00
Adult: 100.00

National Museum of the Filipino People (the Old Department of Finance bldg)

Manunggul Jar, a burial jar

Marble Hall (inside the Museum)

FORMER SEN. ROXAS, A TROUBLESHOOTER -- WHAT A CRAP...

President Aquino announced that he will appoint former Sen. Manuel Roxas, his running mate last 2010 election, as government's chief adviser and "troubleshooter." The president's justification for this appointment was that he is not Superman and he cannot run the government alone. So what is the use of his cabinet? I thought he appointed his cabinet members to help and advise him. Kulang pa ba? In the first place, he should not run for president if he needs Roxas for the reason that he is not Superman. I don't think that if Roxas was the one who ran for president and won, he will need Noynoy to become his troubleshooter.

Some say Noynoy should ask help from Binay instead because he is the vice-president. Well that is not correct if the only reason is because he's the vice-president. In our presidential system, the Vice President is not the assistant of the president, he is just the president-in-waiting, the first in line in case of succession. His prime responsibility is to replace the president in case of death, resignation or incapacity. In other words, he has really no real function unless the President appoints him in his cabinet. Kaya nga it is a practice in our country to appoint his vice president with a position to the cabinet. Kaya nga it has also been said that the vice-president is the most boring position...

NEVERTHELESS, the President has his cabinet. Kaya nga the president appointed secretaries to different executive departments and head of some minor agencies to help and advise him to different matters concerning their respective departments. Collectively, they are known as the Cabinet.

So again, Roxas being troubleshooter by June this year I BELIEVE IS NOT NECESSARY. Anong silbi ng cabinet? Kaya some sectors in our country do not want Aquino to appoint Roxas as troubleshooter but instead to appoint him in an existing cabinet position that have a defined parameters of power. Kulang pa ba ang cast ng pelikula, kaya kailangan pa mag-create ng isang character. Being a chief adviser/troubleshooter is an additional position that needs to be created that the duties are undefined and it seems to have a power as vast as the president.

If Roxas is not a replacement of Ochoa in June, then it seems that we will have two Executive Secretaries, and remember Executive Secretary is the "Little President" the alter-ego of the President. ES possesses great power 'almost' the same as the president.

Come to think of it, by June, perhaps we will have two executive secretaries or perhaps TWO PRESIDENTS, a "de facto" president and a "de jure" president, since the de jure one "seems" to be "incompetent."

GILBERT "GIBO" TEODORO

As things become clearer on who will be running for presidency next year, I have decided to go for Gilbert "Gibo" Teodoro. He is, I think, the only candidate that has a firm stand on every issue. Everytime he answers questions or everytime he speaks, mapapahanga ka talaga. He expresses his ideas, plans, etc. eloquently, a very good speaker.

In one program (Probe) where he was asked what he will do when he gets elected kung may mga kasong isampa kay PGMA, his answer, hindi siya mangingi-alam sa kaso kasi ang judicial branch ng government ang bahala dito, at ang presidente ay nasa executive branch, kaya hindi dapat makisawsaw ang bagong presidente sa anumang kaso na dapat ang judicial branch ang humawak (kung baga, let the wheel of justice takes its course). This is a smart answer, kaya for other candidates who keep on saying that they promise to prosecute GMA when they get elected, are you running for a judicial position to decide the case of GMA?

Now, I am going to post an article about Gibo taken from Facebook. For those who believe that Gibo will be a good president for our country, you can join "Gilbert "Gibo" Teodoro for President Movement" group in Facebook or visit http://www.gibo.ph

LET US BUILD A BETTER AND GREATER PHILIPPINE NATION
WITH GILBERT “GIBO” TEODORO!

By: Mike Loyola

Defense Secretary Gilbert C. Tedoro, Jr. has shown qualities, qualifications and character that separate him from the rest of the aspirants for the presidency in 2010. While he was borne and raised from an affluent family, Gibo, as he is fondly called by relatives and friends, never boasted his social stature but instead manifested humility and kindness to all that have come to know him from childhood to these days.

Gibo gave great importance and value to education, hardwork, self-discipline and respect to others regardless of status as primary yardsticks in measuring his actions all his life.
He graduated Law at the University of the Philippines and eventually topped the Bar Examinations. He went to Harvard University for his Masters of Law and became a legal associate of the best known living lawyer of the land, former Justice Secretary and Solicitor-General Estelito Mendoza, where he had undergone training and honed his skills and knowledge in the intricacies of the legal profession.

He joined public service when he was first elected Congressman of the 1st District of Tarlac in 1998 and served three (3) successive terms for nine (9) years. He was the leader of the so called “Bright Boys of Congress” that included Chiz Escudero and Allan Cayetano now Senators of the land, which was the counterpart of the so called “Spice Boys of Congress” that included Migz Zubiri also a Senator now, Nonoy Andaya the incumbent Budget Secretary and Mike Defensor the notorious nemesis of NBN-ZTE whistle-blower Jun Lozada.

Unlike his colleagues in Congress who flaunted everything they do in the media (including Mike Defensor’s intervention for some suspected pick-girls in Quezon City who were apprehended by the police), Gibo who got high regards even from senior leaders and members of Congress, remained humble and quiet all through his nine (9) years in the House of Representatives. He was not afraid to stand on unpopular issues for as long as he believed them to be right and just such as, going against the impeachment of PGMA and supporting Charter Change that will reform the political system and institutions towards a parliamentary form of government.
Gibo is the youngest ever appointed Secretary of National Defense at forty-three (43) years old in August, 2007. But his youthfulness was never a liability but more of an asset for the Defense Department and the military establishment. He has introduced programs and reforms to address the serious concerns and inherent problems of the institution. He now commands highest respect and regard from the top-ranking officers to the lowliest enlisted man in the AFP.
He is not a hypocrite and ingrate, but instead has shown courage, loyalty and humility to announce that he will only run for President if he is chosen as the administration candidate; meaning, getting the endorsement of the very unpopular GMA which would be a “kiss of death” according to the opposition and many political analysts.

Gibo also showed independence of mind, upheld the importance of delicadeza, and invoked the importance of public service over and above personal, family and poliical interests when he severed ties with his own political party, the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), whose benefactor is his own uncle Eduardo “Danding Cojuangco, Jr. and members include Senators Chiz Escudero and Loren Legarda, both aspiring presidentiables who declared themselves in public as oppositionists despite the fact that the benefactor and other leaders of NPC are known supporters and allies of PGMA, a very absurd and confusing political arrangement that does no benefit to our people at all but only to them.

All his experiences, training and background are more than enough to outclass the other political leaders who aspire for the presidency. But most important of all, Gibo Teodoro has the right character of a leader who can lead this nation into greatness and provide better lives to our people, a dream that never happened under previous administrations and Presidents. Such a dream would again be frustrated if the people commit the grave mistake of choosing someone because of his/her popularity enhanced by media projection and advertising promotions. Among the present presidential wannabes, other than GIBO, I say NOTA (None of the Above) can make our people’s dream a reality!

GO GO GIBO in 2010!