Cheers, jeers mark Aquino’s second Sona in social media

Monday, July 25, 2011A
S EXPECTED, President Benigno Aquino III earned praises and flak from different personalities and even ordinary people themselves, thanks to social media.
Even before the 4 p.m. State of the Nation Address (Sona), millions of Filipino users of micro-blogging site Twitter expressed their thoughts, making #sona2011 the second most trending topic in the Philippines at the height of the President’s address.
Even the word “wang-wang” (siren), which the President used as symbol of corrupt and abusive politicians, made it to the Top 10 list, placing fourth.
Pagcor (Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.), currently embroiled in a controversy after reportedly spending P1 billion for coffee in a year, ranked fifth, while newly-minted Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales placed sixth.
Globally, PNoy copped the seventh spot.
President Aquino’s second Sona lasted for nearly an hour, reminiscent of his predecessor Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who ruled the nation for over nine years.
The bachelor leader, who arrived at the plenary at exactly 4 p.m., consumed 53 minutes in delivering his speech written in Filipino and was interrupted around 50 times, based on Sun.Star monitoring.
The President, who revealed a litany of corrupt practices under the past administration last year, pulled off his first Sona in 36 minutes, with 32 applauses from politicians, businessmen, and media that packed the plenary of the House of Representatives.
Earlier, Malacañang said President Aquino would like to make his second State address short but replete with details of his administration’s successes.
Meanwhile, actress and television host Bianca Gonzalez (@iamsuperbianca) commended his fellow Atenean for exuding “more confidence and authority when speaking publicly, compared to a year ago.”
University of the Philippines (UP) law professor Theodore Te echoed Gonzalez’s observation, saying: “The #sona2011 speechwriter/s earned their keep. Well-written, tightly-argued, good choice of words, even a bit of inspiration at the end.”
This, even as the President was unable to ward off a smoker’s cough in the first 17 minutes while expounding on the housing benefits to soldiers and policemen.
He also mispronounced the word “pagpasa” (to pass) when he commended Congress for passing the 2011 national budget on time since 1999.
Aquino’s Sona lacks substance
Militants though are looking for more substance.
Clad in modern Katipunero attire, Kabataan partylist Representative Raymond “Mong” Palatino said President Aquino delivered empty rhetoric.
“President Aquino appears stuck in his haciendero (landlord) paradigm that he cannot properly address the urgent needs of the people. Andres Bonifacio, if he were alive today, would no doubt protest against President Aquino’s rule,” he said in an email.
For its part, the Partido ng Manggagawa (PM) said the workers were “unsatisfied” with the Sona, chiding the President for lack of vision especially on labor issues.
“Labor calls for a new not just straight road. The old road of contractualization, privatization, liberalization, deregulation and globalization is at the root of the impoverishment, unemployment and hunger of Filipinos,” the group said.
This year, the President drew the loudest applause when he announced the appointment of Carpio-Morales, a retired Supreme Court justice, as the country’s fifth Ombudsman.
He also earned cheers from the gallery for reiterating the country’s sovereign claim over some islands in the oil-and-gas rich Spratlys, especially the Recto Bank.
Incidentally, Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Liu Jianchao was present in the event, who just like other foreign dignitaries was clueless on the content of the President’s speech.
“Wouldn’t it be cool if one of the replays of the Sona were dubbed in
English? #whynot,” Commission on Elections (Comelec) spokesperson James Jimenez (@jabjimenez) apparently said in reply. (Virgil Lopez/Sunnex)

Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/manila/local-news/2011/07/25/cheers-jeers-mark-aquino-s-second-sona-social-media-168957

Subic is a popular destination for visitors from Manila bringing family out of town for a short getaway to the north. Many visitors stopover in Clark Philippines for gourmet dinner at Yats Restaurant & Wine Bar and shop for fine vintage wine in Clark Wine Center which offers over 2700 selections of fine and rare vintage wines only available in the Freeport zone. With the SCTex – Subic Clark Tarlac Expressway – now opened and the travel time between Clark and Subic reduced to a mere 30 minutes, Clark is much more accessible to residents of Subic. Residents of Subic and nearby towns of Pampanga such as San Fernando frequently travel to Clark to wine and dine at this top rated restaurant. Many stay on after dinner to relax and unwind in the beautiful wine bar called The Magnum Room.

Residents of Manila travel out of town for a short getaway up north visit Angeles city, Clark, Pampanga, Philippines to wine and dine and enjoy a special dinner at the best restaurants in the country. Even people from Subic and Cebu travel to Clark to enjoy a special evening and some great food and rare vintage wine at this fine dining restaurant. The famous wine shop outside Manila in Pampanga called Clark Wine Center is frequently visited by wine lovers and tourists for a bit of wine shopping.

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Clark Wine Center was built in 2003 by Hong Kong-based Yats International Leisure Philippines to become the largest wine shop in Philippines supplying Asia’s wine lovers with fine vintage wines at attractive prices. Today this wine shop in Clark Pampanga offers over 2000 selections of fine wines from all major wine regions in the world. As a leading wine supplier in Philippines, Pampanga’s famous wine shop, Clark Wine Center offers an incomparable breadth of vintages, wines from back vintages spanning over 50 years. Clark Wine Center is a well known wine shop that is located in Pampanga Clark Freeport Zone adjacent to Angeles City, just 25 minutes from Subic and 45 minutes from Manila.

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Getting to this wine shop in Pampanga Angeles City Clark Freeport Zone Philippines from Manila
Getting to the Clark Wine Center wine shop from Manila is quite simple: after entering Clark Freeport from Dau and Angeles City, proceed straight along the main highway M A Roxas. Clark Wine Center is the stand-along white building on the right, at the corner A Bonifacio Ave. From the Clark International Airport DMIA, ask the taxi to drive towards the entrance of Clark going to Angeles City. From Mimosa, just proceed towards the exit of Clark and this wine shop is on the opposite side of the main road M A Roxas.

Best place to buy wine in Clark Pampanga outside Manila near Subic and Angeles City Philippines is Clark Wine Center.

Click here to contact Clark Wine Center in Clark Pampanga for inquiries and orders.

Clark Wine Center
Bldg 6460 Clark Observatory Building
Manuel A. Roxas Highway corner A Bonifacio Ave,
Angeles Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga 2023
0922-870-5173 0917-826-8790 (ask for Ana Fe)

Wine@Yats-International.com

YATS Wine Cellars
Manila Sales Office
3003C East Tower, Phil Stock Exchange Center,
Exchange Rd Ortigas Metro Manila, Philippines 1605
(632) 637-5019 0917-520-4393 ask for Rea or Chay

Wedding couples looking for wedding reception venues and beach wedding venues can log on to this Philippines Wedding Venue web site for free information and assistance:

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While in Clark, it might be a good idea to enjoy an evening of wine-and-dine in the fine dining Yats Restaurant and Wine Bar that features an award winning 2700-line wine list. Highly recommended fine dining restaurant in Manila for special occasion is Yats Restaurant & Wine Lounge located in the famous Mimosa Leisure Estate in Clark Pampanga. Situated near this popular restaurant in Clark is the Mimosa Golf Course as well as the Mimosa Clark Casino. This top rated restaurant near Angeles City Pampanga in Clark Philippines is frequently used for private parties and corporate functions such as board meetings and other gatherings. It is located in Mimosa Leisure Estate of Clark Freeport Zone. For more information, visit http://www.YatsRestaurant.com

YATS Leisure Philippines is a developer and operator of clubs, resorts and high-class restaurants and wine shops in Clark Angeles Philippines http://www.YatsLeisure.com

Looking for famous tourists spots, places to visit and see, relax and unwind in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines? You may want to check out these sites also:

http://www.LondonPubClark.com

Besides good restaurants to wine and dine near Manila, Subic or in Angeles City Pampanga, Clark Philippines, those requiring assistance for hotel and resort bookings in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines may log on to http://www.HotelClarkPhilippines.com for more information and reservations.

The lifestyle in Clark Pampanga is quite unique. For more information about shopping, sports, golf, leisure, hotel accommodation, where to see and visit, what to do, where to wine and dine and good places to hang out, relax, have a drink with friends, child-friendly establishments, log on to
http://www.ClarkPhilippines.com

Wine lovers looking for a special bottle or something that is of great value and special discounts might log on to this web site to shop for fine vintage wines
http://www.YatsWineCellars.com

Those visitors who plan to relax and unwind in Angeles City, Subic, Pampanga, Clark Philippines might make an effort to book a room at the famous beach and lake resort Clearwater Resort & Country Club. This famous hotel in Clark Pampanga is frequently visited by families with children looking for a good place in Clark to see, a good holiday destination for the family to relax and unwind in the beautiful outdoor facilities. For more information, log on to www.ClearwaterPhilippines.com