Subject: CENTENNIAL OF MARTYRDOM
Newscast: TWTONITE - Air Date: 12/30/96
Today is a special day in the history of the Filipino nation. Thousands trooped to the luneta to commemorate the death of Jose Rizal, whose execution 100 years ago, led to the birth of the nation.It took a year of preparation, and it was worth it. Organizers called the celebration of the centennial of Rizal's martyrdom a success. A parade followed the President's speech at the quirino granstand. Descendants of the Rizal family joined the parade. Rizal had no child, but he had eight sisters and a brother. Also present were the knights of Rizal, the mari a clara ni Rizal, an organization for women, and of course, the Rizalista cults.
The life and works of the martyr were depicted in floats. From his days as a young and inquisitive boy to his final moments, when he wrote the "Mi Ultimo Adios", his last farewell in his prison cell in Fort Santiago, just hours before he was executed in B agumbayan on the spot where his monument now stands. Composer Ryan Cayabayab set the poem in music for the centennial celebration. Showbiz personalities also dramatized Rizal's life story.
Subject: VENERATION W/O UNDERSTANDING
Newscast: TWTONITE - Air Date: 12/30/96
How much do Filipinos know of Jose Rizal? The Education Department believes not enough. And it shows in the way some of us ignore or adore him.They were not exactly part of the official guest list, but that didn't stop the Rizalistas from holding their own celebration at the Luneta. Rizal after all was not just a hero. To them, he was God. A hundred years since his martyrdom, a Rizalista cult ex ists in almost every corner of the Philippines. All of them believe in slightly varying degrees on the divinity of Rizal. Some even teaching that Rizal was the incarnation of Christ.
It's the exact opposite in the town of Bayambang, Pangasinan. Like most towns, there's a statue of Rizal in the plaza. Residents blame the vandalism on a construction company that wants to tear down the statue and build a commercial bank in its place. The town mayor sold the property to the bank for four million pesos. Residents say the construction company has ignored a temporary restraining order from the court.
The Education Department now wants to revive interest in schools on Rizal. The ignorance and the idolatry may well be the product of failure of understand the real Rizal.
Subject: CHINA HITS RP AIRSTRIP
Newscast: TWTONITE - Air Date: 12/30/96
Malacañang is ignoring the warnings of China regarding fortifying part of the Spratlys held by the Philippines. Executive Secretary Ruben Torres says the armed forces is not building a new garrison in the Kalayaan group of islands.If China wants an apology for the AFP's extension of an airstrip at a Spratlys islands military detachment, they're not going to get it. Executive Secretary Ruben Torres says the move was only meant to improve supply lines and not to build up military mig ht. Aside from re-opening the airstrip, Armed Forces Chief General Arnulfo Acedera says his Christmas day visit was meant to boost his men's morale. The Spratly islands detachment he says is the military's lonliest assignment.
Still, the Chinese government criticized the opening of the airstrip, saying they enjoy indisputable sovereignty over the Spratlys. This military move, China says, could harm bilateral relations.
Last month, President Ramos and President Jiang Zemin agreed to put aside their differences over the disputed islands and to consider cooperation in developing the area. Unfortunately, this is proving to be harder than they hoped.
Subject: COMBINATIONS IN 1998
Newscast: TWTONITE - Air Date: 12/30/96
Vice President Joseph Estrada accuses businessmen of pressuring Defense Secretary Renato De Villa into running for President. The art of political survival has a lot to do with second-guessing your opponent. But what is Miriam Defensor-Santiago's batting average? In this Wednesday's edition of "Dong Puno Live", Santiago will say Estrada won't be the administration's bet in 1998.Guesting in the same show, the Vice President also thinks the Defense Secretary may just be forced into following the footsteps of Ramos. Estrada is referring to the same businessmen who backed Ramos in 1992. The Makati business crowd that was also of the Cory administration. But if Estrada is interested in being the President's chosen one, he can take comfort in the thought De Villa won't get it that easily. There's talk the lakas party might split over whom to back for the presidency, De Villa or House Speaker Jose De Venecia. But who's to say what will cause a Lakas disintegration. Shahani claims she might be Estrada's running mate.
Economic officials put the brakes on the politicking. They say since elections are a year and a half away, early-bird campaigning is disastrous for a tiger economy.
Subject: EMERGENCY MEET / BILLS SIGNED
Newscast: TWTONITE - Air Date: 12/30/96
President Ramos will have to use his persuasive powers in getting Congress to pass the 1997 budget. Ramos is set to meet with Senate and House leaders to discuss ways of resolving the budget deadlock. Executive Secretary Ruben Torres says an emergency cab inet meeting has been called on January 2 to asses the impact of using the 1996 budget for government's first quarter operations.Government workers are assurred of a pay increase next year with the appropriation of 27 billion pesos for the final phase of the salary standardization law. This was among the 4 bills the President signed into law today. He also signed the bill increasin g the internal revenue allotments for local government units, the expansion of the Court of Appeals, and the one-year extension of the Alien Social Integration Act.
Subject: MACEDA PARTLY CORRECT
Newscast: TWTONITE - Air Date: 12/30/96
Budget Secretary Salvador Enriquez says his committee of peers investigating the PEA/Amari land deal will ask for a 15 day extension to wrap up their investigation. Enriquez submitted his status report to the President this morning. He says they already h ave all the documents they need to assess the allegations of anomalies against Transportation Secretary Amado Lagdameo. Enriquez says senate President Maceda's accusations are partly true. Partly speculative and partly wrong. But he refused to elaborate.
Subject: PNP SAYS SHABU NOT STOLEN
Newscast: TWTONITE - Air Date: 12/30/96
The PNP denies part of the 200 kilograms of shabu seized in Tagaytay recently is now missing and allegedly stolen by police officers. Police Inspector General Romeo Pena says he is willing to present the shabu to media but he needs to get clearance from t he court first. The shabu, worth about 800 million pesos, was seized from a Hongkong national, Alan Tong. It was the biggest haul in recent years.
Subject: ROBIN MAY BE FREED SOON
Newscast: TWTONITE - Air Date: 12/30/96
A Senate bill reducing the prison term for illegal possession for firearms may soon mean freedom for actor Robin Padilla. The Senate approved on second reading the bill reducing to one year to 5 years. The penalty for illegal possession of firearms. Padil la was sentenced to 17 years. Under a Marcos Presidential Decree that was aimed more at keeping leftist rebels in jail.
Subject: DOH WARNS VS FIRECRACKERS
Newscast: TWTONITE - Air Date: 12/30/96
With only a day before the new year, health officials are again warning the public against using firecrackers in the celebrations. According to the health department, firecrackers wounded 151 people last year. Most of them suffered hand injuries. Last yea r, firecrackers caused 181 fires nationwide, according to the Bureau of Fire Protection.
Subject: SHE'S HAVING CHECHE's BABY
Newscast: TWTONITE - Air Date: 12/30/96
Sarah Jane Salazar is back in the news. This time her news is that she's four months pregnant. And Sarah, who is HIV positive says she is keeping the baby.Sarah did not deny her delicate condition when abs-cbn news visited her this afternoon. Sarah has no plans of aborting the baby, despite the danger it poses to her and the baby's health. She considers the baby as her Christmas gift from God.
Sarah and her 16-year-old boyfriend "Che-Che" Atizado is currently staying at the H4 Pavilion of San Lazaro Hospital. Doctors here are continously monitoring Sarah's condition. They have asked her to take Vitamin-C and Iron on a regular basis. Sarah plans to support her baby by working with Pinoy Plus, an organization of people with AIDS whose aim is to inform people about the disease.
Subject: GARMENT EXPORTS FALL
Newscast: TWTONITE - Air Date: 12/30/96
Garment exports as of mid-December dropped by 1-point-3 percent to 2-point-691 billion. From 2-point-727 billion in the same period last year, garment and textile exports board officials say philippine garment exports had been outpriced by cheaper product s from other countries. Garments are the country's second leading exports. Sales to quota countries fell by 5-point-3 percent to 2-point-036 billion compared to last year's 2-point-151 billion.While exports to non-quota countries rose 13-point-7 percent to 6-hundred-55 million from 5-hundred-76 million, the US is still the country's largest market among quota countries. But sales dropped 6-point-2 percent compared to last year. The Philippines is still negotiating for the scrapping of the new US country of origin regulation which will reduce the country's export quotas to the United States.
Subject: STOX FORECAST
Newscast: TWTONITE - Air Date: 12/30/96
A money matters' informal survey of 5 brokerage houses projects a 20 to 25 percent growth for 1997. Following the economy's strong performance this year, the index is seen to reach an average of 3-thousand-875 points.Harry Liu of Summit Securities is even bullish about reaching a new high of 4-thousand-200 points. The forecast is anchored on expectations of accelerating growth in 1997. Two factors have been identified to have a major influence on the market next year: the expected drop in the Dow Jones and the Presidential elections in 1998. Liu says Dow Jones' expected decline may cause a knee jerk reaction in the Philippine market for the first month of the year. But with the dow jones already oversold, analysts say the country will benefit in the long term.
Investors are expected to shift to Asian markets and the Philippines is seen as one of the prime prospects. However, Sun Hung Kai's Raul Ruiz says the US plan to increase interest rates by second quarter of next year may be a damper. Most analysts believe presidential elections could put some volatility in market towards the latter part of the year. Foreign investors are expected to stay in the sidelines until a favorable candidate surfaces. The business community is banking on a candidate who could conti nue President Ramos' economic policies.
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Subject: PBA
Newscast: TWTONITE - Air Date: 12/30/96
Coach Norman Black may be on his way out of San Miguel Beer, but not out of the PBA. He says he is interested in coaching Mobiline. The Mobiline management is reportedly working on a deal to get his services since Fritz Gaston has already signed a contrac t replacing Yeng Guiao as head coach.