Friday, March 6, 2009

Sen. Revilla hails Francis M as modern-day icon, ‘Pinoy pride’

Master Rapper Francis Magalona was as much a “Pinoy pride" as his signature shirts that were emblazoned with words and images of patriotism, according to fellow celebrity and Sen. Ramon “Bong" Revilla Jr.

In a message of condolence, Revilla hailed Magalona as a Philippine icon who had helped inspire the public, especially the youth, into not losing touch of their love for the country through the arts. Magalona on Friday succumbed to multiple organ failure. He was 44.

“The country has lost a modern-day artist, a nationalist in his own creative way. Francis M. used music and fashion to promote love of country among Filipino youth," said Revilla, who was a full-time movie star before entering politics.

Revilla praised Magalona for serving as a perfect example of not only hurdling medical ailments like leukemia but also honing one’s skills to live a productive life.

"Ehemplo siya bilang isang Pilipinong nadapa sa mga pagsubok ng kabataan ngunit nakayang bumangon at paunlarin ang kakayahan [He is a model of a Filipino who fell down as a young man but stood up armed with his talent]," the senator said.

“Gaya ng tatak ng mga T-shirt na ginawa niyang intrumento para palaganapin ang patriotism sa mga bagong henerasyon, siya ay maipagmamalaki ng bansa, tunay na "Pinoy Pride [Like the messages and symbols of his T-shirts, which he used to spread patriotism among the new generation, he is a pride of the country, truly the pride of Filipinos]," Revilla added.

The demise of Magalona was announced by Vic Sotto halfway into Friday’s episode of GMA’s noontime show "Eat Bulaga," in which Magalona stood in as host for over a decade.

The Master Rapper is survived by his wife Pia Maria Arroyo Magalona and his eight children, including celebrity Maxene Magalona.

Magalona’s remains were brought late Friday to Christ the King Memorial Chapel at Green Meadows in Quezon City.

Immediately after news of Magalona’s death broke out, relatives and friends immediately came rushing to The Medical City Hospital in Mandaluyong City, among them long-time friends Michael V, Ogie Alcasid, and Quezon City Vice Mayor Herbert Bautista.

"Walang Michael V kung walang Francis M [There would be on Michael V without a Francis M]," Michael V said after emerging from the Intensive Care Unit of the hospital to face reporters.

Bautista – a showbiz personality himself – said Magalona was “a close friend [and a] great loss to the industry."

Fans also took the time to send messages of condolence through blog entries, with one blogger even alluding to an Eraserheads song that Magalona remade: “As the song 'Super Proxy' says, there’s no substitute for the real."

It would be remembered that Magalona himself mastered the technology of blogging to give fans a regularly updated account of his medical treatment, even posting pictures of his chemotherapy sessions.

As of 3 p.m. Friday, Magalona’s last blog entry got 700 comments, with at least 30 bloggers posting their condolences every minute.

Thursday, March 5, 2009

Jennylyn Mercado's house not from Bong Revilla

Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. has denied that he bought a house for former leading lady Jennylyn Mercado.

"Sa totoo lang hindi ko na siya nakikita. Huwag ‘yong tira ng tira dahil nakakasira kayo ng buhay ng may buhay," Revilla told “SNN: Showbiz News Ngayon.”

In a previous interview, Mercado already said there was no truth to that rumor, adding that she saw no reason for the senator to give her a house.

The controversial house is said to be located in Quezon City. Rumors said Revilla bought a house for Mercado, a single mother, after their movie “Resiklo” in 2007.

According to Mercado’s manager, Becky Aguila, the house is a rent-to-own type and the actress is the one paying the rent.

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Mandatory Helmet Bill pushed at Senate by Sen. Revilla

A measure obligating all motorcycle drivers to wear a standard quality helmet is now being pushed in the Senate.

According to Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla, Jr., the measure, Senate Bill 1863, is a bid to implement safe motorcycle riding nationwide and said he hopes that the Mandatory Helmet Bill would be approved.

Citing figures issued by the Metro Manila Development Authority Traffic Operations Center (MMDA-TOC) from January to December 2008, Revilla said motorcycles have the highest fatality rate with 106 motorcycles involved, or 28.19 percent of the total fatal accidents.

Likewise, a report of the Traffic Management Group (TMG) showed that out of the total 14,202 traffic accidents in year 2004, 3,010 or 21 percent involved motorcycles. The figures rose to 24 percent or 2,798 out of 11,425 accidents in 2005 and in the first two months of 2006, the TMG recorded a total of 485 motorcycle accidents out of the total 1,364 accidents, which accounted for 35 percent of the total traffic accidents.

“The World Health Organization (WHO) maintains that wearing a helmet is the single most effective way of reducing head injuries and fatalities resulting from motorcycle crashes. Wearing a helmet has been shown to decrease the risk and severity of injuries among motorcyclists by about 70 percent and the likelihood of deaths by almost 40 percent,” Revilla, chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Services, pointed out.

Revilla said Thailand gained a 40 percent reduction in head injuries among motorcyclists and a 24 percent drop in motorcycle deaths after it passed a legislation in the north-eastern province of Khon Kaen to make helmet use mandatory.

“There is also a considerable long list of other countries which have laws on mandatory helmet use, such as the US, Australia, Austria, Canada, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Singapore, and 31 others. The first motorcycle helmet use law in the world took effect on January 1, 1961, in Victoria, Australia,” Revilla said.

The bill provides all motorcycle riders, including its back rider, to wear a standard quality helmets while driving, whether on a long or short drive any time of the day and in any type of road or highway.

Tricycle drivers are exempted from this bill.

“Some camps argue that a legislative enactment is no longer necessary, and that what is needed is simply a strengthened motorcycle safety education program for riders to consider their own safety,” he said.

“They assert that enough space must be given for self-regulation. If we follow this argument, then we should not have passed the seatbelt law which has the same purpose and intent of this proposal,” Revilla stressed.