Spectacular sights in Bacolod

I really got my wish yesterday. The sight of traffic aides conspicuously present in key junctions of the city where President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was supposed to pass. And more in key areas. The most impressive was the one in a windbreaker under the noon-day heat of the sun at the corner of 6th Street and Lacson. There were two others at the corner of North Capitol Road and Lacson. But these two were engaged in a prolonged debate over something. Not handling the traffic.

Well, pointed out a colleague while taking lunch at the Dunkin Donuts, typical "ningas cogon." A Filipino trait. Well, as he pointed out, they appear only when there is a visiting top dignitary. Otherwise, they are nowhere to be found.

Well, at least even briefly, they did serve a purpose. To impress the visitor that they are around and that there are traffic aides in the city.

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President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was glowing yesterday at the USLS awarding to Negrense entrepreneurs of Go Negosyo. She was more relaxed than in any other event in the past when she would come in pouting. But she moved around with complete aplomb yesterday.

And she broke her rule of never delivering more than one speech per visit. She also had pronouncements about the E-Jeepney and delivered another speech before the Visayas governors in the Silay Airport in Silay City.

But one of those present at the E-Jeepney trial run at the USLS campus noted yesterday that Rep. Newks Puentevella (Bacolod City) got edged out by Mayor Bing Leonardia. Finally, when Puentevella managed to get into the vehicle via the left side, the President had already alighted had has strolled off.

That was given to me by a keen-eyed observer who must have waited for just an opportune time to catch such a nuance as that.

Watch that on X-Press Com TV on Channel 11.

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Assistant Press Secretary Jose Capadocia is worth his money in gold. The poor guy, who had worked his way through various media positions before being appointed assistant press secretary, is at ease with working mediamen. He does not carry with him the bureaucratic airs of one who had risen above their ranks. And he continues to banter with newsmen and newshens. That's the kind of advance men the President really needs to handle media coverages in the provinces.

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Go Negosyo has already proven a major success if you ask me. Presidential Consultant for Entrepreneurship Jose Concepcion III, pointed out that the two-day event in Bacolod aimed to develop among Filipinos a positive mindsets, despite the economic woes the country is currently experiencing. The Go Negosyo caravan will be visiting next Baguio, Cagayan de Oro, Las Piñas and Pampanga.

"It has always been our aim to drum up an entrepreneurial revolution in the country," Concepcion noted.

And Presidential Macapagal-Arroyo added to that in her speech before the crowd at the awarding ceremonies when she told them that they, too, could become awardees. That triggered a major applause among the audience.

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Concepcion paid tribute to the Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Bacolod City Economic and Business Council for supporting the Go Negosyo. He cited MBCCI head Bobby Montelibano and BCEBC chairman Bro. Rolly Dizon.

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The electric jeepneys (three in Bacolod yesterday) is an innovative project of Green Renewable Independent Power Producer Inc. (GRIPP), and Solar Electric Company that uses energy from biogradable waste from the city's wet markets to power the batteries they use.

It can run as far as 100 kilometers without need to take on fuel. But I still have to study how the batteries can be recharged for the next run.

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I was astonished to learn yesterday that the Provincial Agrarian Reform Coordinating Council (PARCOM) had long endorsed the petition by Department of Agrarian Reform employees expressing their concern on the illegal detail and reassignment of personnel and the "unwarranted support of the DAR to members of Task Force Mapalad."

Way back in 2004, PARCOM, chaired by Xenia Tupas approved on June 18, a resolution expressing their support for DAR Negros Occidental personnel demands for a more effective and efficient delivery of agrarian justice to beneficiaries of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program.*

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