THE MOON, THE STAR

This Yuletide season, the Romeos of the world may promise anew these celestial bodies to their respective Juliets to get their sweet “I do's.” Be wary though. The glib-tongued may be promising nothing more than moon cakes. Here, a star lantern frames the moon dawn of Friday, Nov. 27, reminding one and all that Christmas is just around the corner.

 

 

 

 

(Text and photo by JhDodson)

JUSTICE DENIED

 

Former employees of Hongkong Shanghai Banking Corp. (HSBC), a number of whom are now senior citizens, wield placards and banners in front of the Supreme Court in Manila Thursday to press the issuance of a decision on the illegal dismissal case they filed against the bank. The case has dragged on since 1993.

(Text and photo by JhDodson)

LEGAL HAUL?

 

Truckloads of timber, including those transported by this plate number-less truck, regularly make their way to the province of Cavite in the dead of the night. This photo enhanced via post-processing was actually shot at the break of dawn.

Text and photo by JhDodson

AfterAPEC

Roxas Boulevard (right photo) is back to “normal” Nov. 23, 2015 with its medium to heavy traffic after being shut down (left picture) Nov. 15-20 except for official APEC vehicles.

Text and photos by JhDodson

SET junks disqualification case vs. Grace Poe

 

The nine-member Senate Electoral Tribunal (SET) on Tuesday denied the petition to disqualify Senator Grace Poe over her citizenship issue.

The tribunal, composed of six senators and three Supreme Court justices,  voted 5-4 in favor of Poe, who is seeking the presidency in the 2016 elections.

The disqualification case was filed by Rizalito David, a defeated senatorial candidate in the 2013 elections who said Poe, a foundling, is not a natural-born Filipino.

Senators Loren Legarda, Vicente Sotto III, Pia Cayetano, Cynthia Villar, and Bam Aquino voted to dismiss David's petition.

Those who voted in favor of the petition were Associate Justices Antonio Carpio, Teresita Leonardo-de Castro, and Arturo Brion and Sen. Nancy Binay, whose father, Vice President Jejomar Binay, is also vying for the presidency next year.

David still has the option to move within 10 days for the reconsideration of the SET decision. If David files an appeal, the tribunal will reconvene in early December to decide on the matter.

The SET will have to promulgate its final decision before December 10,  the deadline of the printing of the ballots for the 2016 elections.

COLD, HARD PAVEMENT

                              

The street boys in Roxas Boulevard have been rounded up and sent to Boys Town in Marikina. Meanwhile, their elders have been shooed into the side streets of Manila away from the view of APEC delegates. So much for the promised P4,000 rent money for homeless people. Oh well, all this to doll up the Metro for a week of the  APEC show.

 

 

 

(Text and photo by JhDodson)

PAROL GALORE

 

Plaza Quezon in Las Piñas is the place to source your old-school or traditional Christmas lanterns made of bamboo sticks, colored papers and cellophane. A basic 12-incher can be had for as low as P30 apiece while a huge, garland-type Star of Bethlehem can be yours for P300 if you know how to haggle Divisoria-style.

(Text and photo by JhDodson)