“In thy foul throat thou liest.” ― William Shakespeare, Richard III
LONDON, England – Philippine President Benigno S. Aquino III, “Noynoy” to the Filipino masses, appeared to have sneaked out of Manila, flew across the Pacific Ocean, soared over the United States and landed in Toronto, Canada.
The trip by commercial airlines spanning two continents normally take 16 hours and 56 minutes but if he had chartered one of Philippine Airlines’ long-range Airbuses, which would cost an arm and a leg, flying time could’ve been less.
And because Noynoy is president, he travels with a select crew, a contingent of armed presidential guards, a retinue of aides and diplomats, perhaps some members of the press, and the usual piggy-backers. He can’t just travel by himself, his handlers would not allow it.
The government of the state he’s visiting would be informed as a matter of protocol, which means he could just be waived in without passing immigration and customs.
But apparently he did travel, alone or with an entourage, and surfaced in Toronto last year just to be at the much-touted Canada Philippine Fashion Week during its five-day run on June 10-15, 2013. (Video at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sr3hTF6IuYg).
It’s hard to believe that a president would squander people’s money and time running the affairs of state because he wanted to watch a fashion show in another country.
But that is the claim being made by Michael Alexander, counsel of events promoter Jeff Rustia, in a May 30, 2014 letter informing Balita’s lawyer of his intent to file another complaint for libel against Balita publisher and editor Tess Cusipag and this reporter.
Rustia, according to Alexander, “is the founder of Toronto’s highly successful Canada Philippine Fashion Week, which was attended by the President of the Philippines last year . . . ”
I suspect that the parenthetical clause – “which was attended by the President of the Philippines last year” – is a tall story.
Given, however, Rustia’s pomposity that has probably trickled down on his lawyer, the statement might seem normal in its absurdity. (Related story:http://www.balita.ca/2014/06/01/philippine-press-club-ontario/)
Alexander’s claim is amusing as it is ludicrous; it’s a barefaced lie, a farce.
I reach that conclusion after checking and cross-checking the files of stories, photos, videos and statements in the Presidential Communications Operations Office in Malacanang, the presidential palace in Manila.
True enough, I found nothing to confirm the claim. In the days before and after the June 10-15, 2013 fashion event in Toronto, Noynoy was in Manila and in some out-of-town engagements, archival materials show.
As of this writing here in London, England, I’m still awaiting further confirmation of my findings from the presidential press office.
Alexander’s fatuous assertion could be deliberate to accord some prestige on Rustia’s fashion show that was more of an event in social media than in the real physical world that is the Filipino community. Besides, it will have its second staging this week.
No one knew that Noynoy was in Toronto in whatever capacity – personally, unofficially, privately, officially, covertly – and slipped unnoticed in one of the show’s venues last year.
In my years of experience covering the presidency – from the sunset of Ferdinand Marcos’ term to the rise of Cory Aquino to her successor Fidel V. Ramos – it’s extremely difficult to conceal presidential movements. Presidential guards are an easy giveaway.
Even the occasional trysts of Marcos with American actress Dovie Beams had managed to creep out of their bedroom despite a vow to secrecy by his choice protectors.
Coverage of presidents is a 24/7 affair and knowing this, it’s hard to fathom that none of the reporters in Malacanang Press Corps knew that Aquino was flying to Toronto in secret just to attend a fashion show.
Why would Aquino hide his Toronto visit, assuming it’s true, only to be disclosed later by Alexander who, I suppose, must be very close to him in some personal or professional capacity enough to be entrusted with such secrets?
Considering that the community is a gossipy lot, why wasn’t Noynoy talked about? And the photo ops lovers and social climbers, where were they when the ultimate kodak moment happened?
Somebody here is lying. And the lie is deeply insulting!***
“In thy foul throat thou liest.” ― William Shakespeare, Richard III
LONDON, England – Philippine President Benigno S. Aquino III, “Noynoy” to the Filipino masses, appeared to have sneaked out of Manila, flew across the Pacific Ocean, soared over the United States and landed in Toronto, Canada.
The trip by commercial airlines spanning two continents normally take 16 hours and 56 minutes but if he had chartered one of Philippine Airlines’ long-range Airbuses, which would cost an arm and a leg, flying time could’ve been less.
And because Noynoy is president, he travels with a select crew, a contingent of armed presidential guards, a retinue of aides and diplomats, perhaps some members of the press, and the usual piggy-backers. He can’t just travel by himself, his handlers would not allow it.
The government of the state he’s visiting would be informed as a matter of protocol, which means he could just be waived in without passing immigration and customs.
But apparently he did travel, alone or with an entourage, and surfaced in Toronto last year just to be at the much-touted Canada Philippine Fashion Week during its five-day run on June 10-15, 2013. (Video at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sr3hTF6IuYg).
It’s hard to believe that a president would squander people’s money and time running the affairs of state because he wanted to watch a fashion show in another country.
But that is the claim being made by Michael Alexander, counsel of events promoter Jeff Rustia, in a May 30, 2014 letter informing Balita’s lawyer of his intent to file another complaint for libel against Balita publisher and editor Tess Cusipag and this reporter.
Rustia, according to Alexander, “is the founder of Toronto’s highly successful Canada Philippine Fashion Week, which was attended by the President of the Philippines last year . . . ”
I suspect that the parenthetical clause – “which was attended by the President of the Philippines last year” – is a tall story.
Given, however, Rustia’s pomposity that has probably trickled down on his lawyer, the statement might seem normal in its absurdity. (Related story:http://www.balita.ca/2014/06/01/philippine-press-club-ontario/)
Alexander’s claim is amusing as it is ludicrous; it’s a barefaced lie, a farce.
I reach that conclusion after checking and cross-checking the files of stories, photos, videos and statements in the Presidential Communications Operations Office in Malacanang, the presidential palace in Manila.
True enough, I found nothing to confirm the claim. In the days before and after the June 10-15, 2013 fashion event in Toronto, Noynoy was in Manila and in some out-of-town engagements, archival materials show.
As of this writing here in London, England, I’m still awaiting further confirmation of my findings from the presidential press office.
Alexander’s fatuous assertion could be deliberate to accord some prestige on Rustia’s fashion show that was more of an event in social media than in the real physical world that is the Filipino community. Besides, it will have its second staging this week.
No one knew that Noynoy was in Toronto in whatever capacity – personally, unofficially, privately, officially, covertly – and slipped unnoticed in one of the show’s venues last year.
In my years of experience covering the presidency – from the sunset of Ferdinand Marcos’ term to the rise of Cory Aquino to her successor Fidel V. Ramos – it’s extremely difficult to conceal presidential movements. Presidential guards are an easy giveaway.
Even the occasional trysts of Marcos with American actress Dovie Beams had managed to creep out of their bedroom despite a vow to secrecy by his choice protectors.
Coverage of presidents is a 24/7 affair and knowing this, it’s hard to fathom that none of the reporters in Malacanang Press Corps knew that Aquino was flying to Toronto in secret just to attend a fashion show.
Why would Aquino hide his Toronto visit, assuming it’s true, only to be disclosed later by Alexander who, I suppose, must be very close to him in some personal or professional capacity enough to be entrusted with such secrets?
Considering that the community is a gossipy lot, why wasn’t Noynoy talked about? And the photo ops lovers and social climbers, where were they when the ultimate kodak moment happened?
Somebody here is lying. And the lie is deeply insulting!***