In memoriam of Susan Fernandez Magno

Susan Fernandez Magno (August 3, 1956 - July 2, 2009) was a Filipino singer, activist and academic. She was known for her protest music, especially at the height of the authoritarian regime of Ferdinand Marcos.
An alumnus of the University of the Philippines, where she earned a degree in A.B. Sociology and Master of Arts in Philippine Studies, Susan Fernandez (later known as Susan Magno or Susan Fernandez Magno) first gained prominence as a performer during anti-Marcos rallies in the first half of the 1980s. She would come to be hailed as "the voice of a protest generation". She also became known for her rendition of the feminist anthem Babae Ako, which was released as a track in her 1990 album Habi at Himig.

For eleven years, Susan Fernandez Magno hosted the television variety program Concert at the Park. In the 1990s, Fernandez co-presented the children's show, Bulilit, alongside Bodjie Pascua. In 2008, Susan Fernandez Magno was featured, along with other Filipino celebrities such as Ely Buendia, Chris Tiu and Angel Locsin, in the Ako Mismo television advertising campaign.
Fernandez was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2008. Despite her illness, she continued to teach at the Ateneo de Manila University and perform at nightly gigs. She died at Pasig City on July 2, 2009, aged 52. A friend of hers was performing her favorite song, Both Sides Now, at the moment of her death.

She taught at the Ateneo de Manila University, St. Scholastica's College and the University of the Philippines, where she earned her master's degree.
Susan Fernandez was married to Philippine Star columnist Alex Magno, with whom she had two sons, Kalayaan and Sandino Magno.

3 months

Time really flies. I’m working for almost 3 months here at Nestle. I started on Dec. 8 last year. Work here is not that hard. I feel almost no pressure although sometimes I feel lacking compared to the rest of the crew here. My body and mind seems to have adjusted fine here. Unlike my 1 year stay at that audit firm (shivers), I’m looking healthy here. it was a good decision for me to just leave on that fateful day in August. I just didn’t show up. It was a very gratifying experience. Sometimes I have nightmares of my former boss. Sigh.

Last night I joined the rest of the TBMC crew for a birthday party. Everyone seem to be drunk including me. I drank about 5 bottles of SMB lite. I didn’t like the taste of brandy for the 1st time.

I’m going home earlier today because I have a task to perform.

Getting sleepy. Yawn.

Senators suspend inquiry into military fund scam

By Maila Ager
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 13:49:00 02/08/2011

Filed Under: Graft & Corruption, Congress, Military, Obituary, death notices

MANILA, Philippines – Senators have agreed to suspend the Senate hearings into the alleged corruption in the military in the wake of the death of former Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes.

Reyes committed suicide this Tuesday morning amid allegations that he received
millions of pesos when he retired as chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

“The consensus is to defer the hearings in the Senate,” said Sotto in a text message to reporters.

Sotto said those who agreed with the suspension of the hearing were Senate
President Juan Ponce-Enrile, Senators Francis Escudero, Jose "Jinggoy"
Estrada, and Gregorio Honasan.

Escudero confirmed this, in a separate text message to reporters.

"In deference to and given the untimely demise of Secretary Reyes who once served as a soldier and co-worker in government as co-chair of the Senate Committees conducting the inquiry given that Senator Guingona is presently out of the country, I am deferring the hearings of the Senate on the plea bargain of Garcia for a week," he said, referring to former military comptroller, General Carlos Garcia, who is facing plunder charges for allegedly amassing illegal wealth.

Guingona is Senator Teofisto Guingona III, chairman of the Senate blue ribbon committee, investigating the controversy.

"This would also enable all of us to take stock and gain perspective of recent events and the steps we should take in the weeks and months ahead with only the best interests of our country and people, as well as the men and women in uniform in the AFP, in mind," Escudero added.

The hearing by the committee being was set to resume on Thursday next week.

Guingona could not be reached by reporters for comment but in a statement, he joined his colleagues in condoling with the family of Reyes.

"The news of former Secretary Angelo Reyes’ untimely death has come to us as a shock. We share the pain of the Reyes family in this time of great loss. We condole with them and assure them of our prayers," he said.

It was unfortunate, Guingona said, that that their last interface with the late Secretary should be under "difficult circumstances.

"However, Secretary Reyes’ untimely death can only further strengthen our
resolve to bring the current probe on issues hounding the Armed Forces of the Philippines to a swift, just and rightful conclusion. We are confident thatSecretary Reyes shares with all of us the aspiration to help shed light on AFP-related issues and help reform the institution," he further said

My day today

I managed to extend my readings from 7:30am to about 9:30am today. I did this random readings in order to check up on any new equipment they might put up or any new meter I should read.

Freaky, I’m going to the high hygiene area here at the plant. Sigh. I am geared up for it with white shirt and white pants.

Feel like a geek in my suit. Sigh.

JM is taking a while with his meeting. Lunch break will be in a few minutes. At least I have work to do this afternoon. Yey! I’m getting to be a bit busy now. Unlike the previous weeks.

I really think when people call you sir it’ll get in your head. That must be the case of that guy. Sigh.

Lunch time break! I’m gonna sleep for a while.

Sigh. People seem to notice that I go to areas every time. They think I’m really busy today. Truth is I am. I feel like a part of the company. And not just a contractual guy. I should have had training at TNC’s Calamba plant when I was there. I should have asked to be transferred somehow. I really need the exposure to real life on the plant and not just inventories during those years. It’s a blessing though that I am able to cope up with the system here at my age.

I’m going home earlier today. The new computer shop very near our house has a very fast internet connection so it’s worth the 1-hour rental. Last night I wrote about 3 or 4 new blogs for publishing today and tomorrow.

The weather is still cold during nights and mornings.

Ate ice cream for snack today. only about an hour left before I go home.

Need to go home. Brought pizza for the kids.

the week starts

January 3



Well this is the real start of work for most of the people here at the plant. It seems a lot has happened in the period where everyone was on vacation. A few of the folks here didn’t quite made it back. They’re either resigned or are at their contract’s end. Still no Delta V data. It’s been 3 days already since the power shutdown. My work really depends on that data. For now, I’ve monitored the readings of just about everything on my list for the last 3 days. ok now I’m technically did my job. I hope I can repeat everything again next week somehow. I want to do it alone again just like the last 2 days.

It’s hot here at the office today. Wearing my sweat shirt would be a waste and it would be too hot. Already the day is half over. The 1st Monday of the month and of the year. Next week will be my 43rd birthday. I think we’ll celebrate it this Sunday with mom, pop and Dodo’s family. I hope we have money on that day.

I hope kulit sets our gathering soon. Sigh. I think they’re waiting for Arnel to be available. I hope I have money then.

Damn it’s so hot.

Lunch break is over for most of us. No Milo on the dispenser. I’m settling for coffee since yesterday.

They have a meeting here again. Sigh.

It’s 1:01pm and already I want to do something else. Our data center is still kaput.

Thinking about it, I can write a couple of stories with my free time here at my PC. I hope I can find inspiration for some fan fiction or original work. It’s that time.

It’s getting cold outside but the air conditioning system in our office seem to be off. I’m really sweating it out here. It’s freaking hot in here.

The guy I replaced appeared today. Looks like he’s coming back here. I wonder what position he’ll be given. Sigh.

I’m on my 2nd cup of latte. Yesterday I drank 2 cups of cappuccino. There’s still no Milo on the dispenser.

Technically finished my duties for the day. I’m on standby for any orders from the top guys.

It’s still a wee 27 minutes before we take our break for the pm.

Finished my afternoon break. It’s less than an hour to go before we all go home.

You can never really get rid of office politics. I hope I won’t have the problems some of the contractual people here had today. I’m totally sweaty today. It’s so damn hot.

Only about 33 minutes to go before I call it a day. I’m just doing some finishing touches on my reports.

That’s my day today. Tomorrow will be another.

I hope dinner’s ready once I arrive home.

January 4

Well this morning was a busy one. I got dusted by debris left over from the construction of some cables near the boiler. I got the ladder from the chiller area. All just to find the reason for our data center’s breakdown. I think I still have concrete on my hair. At least I’m doing something right and I’m not just sitting around.

My hands are sore from carrying that big ladder. Sigh. Still standing by and watching the tech do her job on the delta V data. It seems that lost data stay lost with this program. Sigh. Unlike the last accounting program I used at TNC when we can write a script and all lost data could be retrieved. I think it’s because no outside instruments are involved unlike here at the plant when everything is connected.

I’m going to the bank today to check if my ATM card is already available for release. It’s been 3 weeks already. I do hope it’s available so I can withdraw without being shy or embarrassed.

My head feels like it’ll explode. It’s freezing all of a sudden here. I’m getting hungry. Sigh.

We’re all busy today, the kids are at school, Joyce and me are at work. It seems like a long time since we all were this busy. I wonder how my folks are doing today.

Every day that passes gets me near to my 43rd birthday. What to do on my birthday? Sigh.

I can’t get over the fact that these contractual works jumped from one contractor to the other in the span of 2 days. When their output was in check, everyone was in an uproar. I think it’s a bit unfair on some level. But that’s just me.