IBALIK ANG TIWALA

Lacson: PMA Virtues My Guide in Navigating PH's Challenges FORT DEL PILAR, Baguio City - The values of Courage, Integrity and Loyalty will be the guide of Sen. Panfilo "Ping" M. Lacson in addressing the challenges facing the country, should he be elected President in 2022. Lacson said these virtues, which he learned as a member of the PMA Matatag Class of 1971, are much-needed in facing the "unprecedented" and humongous problems. "These virtues are much-warranted in today’s unprecedented challenges: the long-term impact of the pandemic, the ballooning national debt, the biggest dip of our economy, the maritime disputes in the West Philippine Sea, as well as the undeniable climate crisis," he said during his speech at the 50th anniversary of the PMA Class 1971 here. It was at the PMA that Lacson learned not just the three virtues of Courage, Integrity and Loyalty - but he also developed his brand of leadership by example and his personal motto, "Wh...

  Lacson Leads Mistahs in Offering Moment of Silence for 'Odette' Victims FORT DEL PILAR, Baguio City - Led by Sen. Panfilo "Ping" M. Lacson, the Philippine Military Academy Matatag Class of 1971 offered a moment of silence for the victims of Typhoon "Odette." Lacson led the show of respect during his message to his "Mistahs" at the 50th anniversary of PMA Class 1971. "At this very moment, I ask of you a minute of silence for all of our countrymen who as we speak, have been suffering the devastating impact of Typhoon 'Odette,'" he said. "Kung kaya tumulong, election or no election, tumulong ka nang tahimik (When I extend help, election or no election, I do it quietly). I did it many times in the past," he noted. *********

GOLDEN JUBILARIANS  Philippine Military Academy Matatag Class of 1971  Text of Sen. Ping Lacson's Speech: In recent decades, scientists have been putting forward the radical idea that the human brain is designed to forget that old, unused memories wither over time like a photograph left under the sunlight. This is exactly the reason why getting old sucks. Let me say what my “mistahs” hate to hear, but I will say it anyway: there is a moment in being old when nothing is left in your brain except happy, pleasant, even naughty memories that you cannot even remember. Do not get me wrong. The surviving members of this year’s Golden Jubilarians, the Matatag Class of 1971 are not there yet. And when the inevitable happens to many of us - maybe ten to twenty years from now, or earlier - I am quite certain - that my brain would designate a special compartment that houses the good, the bad, the ugly and even the painful memories inside the resounding walls of our cadet barracks, the cad...

  Lacson Revisits PMA Cadet Barracks He Helped Restore December 18, 2021 FORT DEL PILAR, Baguio City - This was where it all started 50 years ago. Sen. Panfilo "Ping" M. Lacson on Saturday attended the blessing and inauguration of the New Florendo Hall, the cadet barracks of the Philippine Military Academy, his Alma Mater. Lacson was here to mark the 50th anniversary of the Philippine Military Academy "Matatag" Class of 1971. In 2016, Lacson - in his capacity as Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee of Finance and sponsor of the DND budget for FY 2017 - sought an investigation into why Florendo Hall had been allowed to deteriorate. He inquired with Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana if they can include in their spending program the repair of the PMA Florendo Hall. For the 2017 budget, Lacson proposed an institutional amendment increasing the allocation for the construction of new cadet barracks in the PMA from the original P100 million to P335.02 million. Lacson gra...

  Lacson: Calamity politics is lowest form of campaigning MANILA, Philippines — Noting that he has always helped calamity victims with or without elections, presidential aspirant Senator Panfilo Lacson slammed “calamity politics” as the “lowest form of campaigning.” “In fact, I consider it abominable…Election or no election, we assist and help, period,” Lacson said in a statement Friday. Lacson was asked about his reaction to the call made by Senator Manny Pacquiao for all presidential bets to come together for Filipinos affected by Typhoon Odette (international name: Rai). Lacson and Pacquiao are both running for president in the May 2022 elections. Pacquiao earlier appealed to fellow presidential aspirants to “set aside all politics” and pool their resources to help Filipinos displaced by the typhoon. “If it was done through private communication, I would have responded privately as well and offered whatever resources we can share at our disposal in a coordinated effort,” Lacson ...

On Efforts to Help Victims of Typhoon Odette December 17, 2021 My take:  “Calamity politics” is the lowest form of campaigning. It is abominable. We just help, period. In fact, our BRAVE Movers can help us by identifying the hardest hit areas in their locations so we can send whatever assistance we can without fanfare. We did it before in Cagayan, Isabela and the Bicol region. We can do it again, election or no election. If it was done through private communication, I would have responded privately as well and offered whatever resources we can share at our disposal in a coordinated effort. Since it was done through media - it goes against my principled belief that “calamity politics” is the lowest form of campaigning. In fact I consider it abominable. As in the past calamities, my Senate office as well as friends and supporters assisted without fanfare and without any media coverage. We did it in Cagayan Valley, and Bicol region and some other areas hit by strong typhoons. Election...