PNoy kin: Luisita raffle timed for SONA

CLARK FREEPORT — President Benigno Aquino III’s uncle and Former Tarlac Congressman, Jose “Peping” Cojuangco, Jr., on Friday said the raffling off of nearly 5,000 hectares of Hacienda Luisita land was rushed before the president will deliver his fourth State-of-the-Nation Address today, Monday.

“The Sona has become the reason for the land distribution, not the improvement of the lives of the Hacienda farm workers and their beneficiaries,” Cojuangco told that media during a breakfast forum with members of the Capampangan in Media Inc. (Cami) in Clark.

Cami is a group of Kapampangan veteran editors and journalists from Manila and Pampanga who hold the forum every Friday at the Bale Balita in Clark.

Cojuangco, elder brother of the former President Corazon C. Aquino, said it (raffle) was political in nature because of the timing of the decision.

He also said that they will insist the government will pay the Cojuangcos for expropriating the estate with a just price.

“It (the government) cannot pay us at acquisition price because that is absurd and it’s unfair,” he said.

Over and above the politics and financial factors involving the issue, Cojuangco also expressed worries about the future of some 6,200 workers of the hacienda who started receiving their shares of land in a raffle conducted by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) last Thursday in Barangay Cutcut in the vast sugar estate.

“How can they survive on one-sixteenth of a hectare of land that they will receive?” Cojuangco asked.

The land distribution, he said, will not benefit the people in the long term.

Cojuangco said the land distribution will only break up land into uneconomic parcels that, along with the varying characteristics of the land itself, may not be as productive and profitable for the beneficiaries.

“Some of it is clay, some sandy and some either get flooded or get no irrigation while some is fertile or barren and nobody knows which one a worker will receive,” he said.

Cojuango warned that these situations could lead to hunger and, eventually, to social unrest and unstable distribution of the land’s wealth and its eventual produce.

He said about 96 percent of the Luisita workers favored the stock option over land distribution but were pressured by militant groups into accepting the latter scheme.

Cojuangco said they decided to offer the workers the stock option upon the request of his late father, Jose Sr., to take care of the welfare of the farmers of Hacienda Luisita.

“Hacienda Luisita workers were better off then because they were given free benefits and hospitalization apart from being the highest paid farm workers compared to their counterparts outside the estate,” he said.

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/pampanga/local-news/2013/07/21/pnoy-kin-luisita-raffle-timed-sona-293710

Families with small children prefer outdoor resort in Manila clean and safe place in Pampanga Clark to bring kids to relax and unwind.  Highly recommended resort for family reunion near Manila is Clearwater Lake Hotel Clark Pampanga.

Philippines Travel Guide just unveiled recommendations and tips for Holy Week and Easter Holidays in Philippines.  The report covers highly recommended resorts and hotels in North Luzon, nice getaway destinations for families with children, safe and convenient place for tourists to relax and unwind, good restaurants, resto bars, pubs and fine dining establishments in Pampanga, frequently visited places as well as historical sites in Angeles City, Pampanga, Clark Philippines.  Clearwater is one of the best hotel in Clark and the resort is a very popular venue for rest and relaxation especially for golfers after a round of golf at one of the best golf courses near Manila.   Clark is home to some of the best golf courses in Pampanga.

Residents or Manila travel out of town to head north to Pampanga to relax, unwind and spend a few nights in the new hotel rooms situated right on the lake of Clearwater Resort in Clark Airbase.   Many visitors and tourists enjoy the feeling of waking up by the lake.  The sunrise produces a spectacular sight with the sunlight reflection on the calm surface of the three-hectare fresh water lake of this famous resort in Clark.  This hotel in Clark Philippines is generally considered by Manila residents to be a good and safe destination and vacation spot for family trips in Pampanga.

The Lake House is a cluster of two medium-sized deluxe twin rooms, a deluxe single room and a one-bedroom suite and adjoins one of the twin rooms making it a good choice of lodging for bug families.  The Lake House is becoming a very popular choice of accommodation for vacation rentals as well as weekend getaways from Manila.  It is located near the reception and the alfresco Clearwater Breakfast Garden and Café.

Top rated destination for family reunion, bonding, retreat, picnic and getaway out of town from Manila is Clearwater Beach Resort; frequently visited spots are lake, picnic grounds; water sports, boating, swimming, kayak, camping.  The private resort’s child friendly facilities are attractive to Manila residents and family tourists also.

Located inside the ring of the lazy river is one of the largest herb gardens in North Luzon.  The Herb Garden of this private resort in Pampanga also serves as an event venue for company outings, family picnics, team building and other outdoor corporate and social functions.  The river provides a high degree of privacy for this venue making it an attractive option for wedding planners to consider the Herb Garden Picnic Grounds as a possible choice for garden style wedding receptions also.

What really defines the ambience and lifestyle of this private outdoor resort in Clark is its spacious picnic grounds.  The largest one is called the Brunello Garden which can easily accommodate functions and events for 3000 or more.  Being several hectares in area, this amenity of Clearwater Resort is frequently visited for family picnics.  Visitors from Manila travel to Clark to unwind and relax underneath old Acacia trees in the Brunello Gardens.  This is one way for stressed out city residents to spend quality time in a leisure laidback pace.

Quiet place for rest and relaxation near Manila, in Subic, Angeles City Pampanga and Clark Philippines is something that residents of Manila travelling to the north for a short getaway are looking for.

For reservations, comments and inquiries,

Clearwater Resort & Country Club

Creekside Road corner of Centennial Road,

Central Business District, Clark Freeport Zone,

Pampanga, Philippines 2023

Tel: (045)599-5949 0917-520-4403  0922-870-5177

Manila Sales Office

3003C East Tower, Phil Stock Exchange Center,

Exchange Rd Ortigas Metro Manila, Philippines 1605

(632) 637-5019   0917-520-4393  Rea or Chay

<a href=”http://www.ClearwaterPhilippines.com“>http://www.ClearwaterPhilippines.com</a>

Email:   Inquiry@ClearwaterPhilippines.com

Getting to this hotel in Clark Philippines

After entering Clark Freeport from Subic, Manila, Dau and Angeles City, proceed straight along Clark’s main highway MA Roxas, passing Clark’s largest wine shop called Clark Wine Center on your right, continue to bear right making no turns at all, go past Mimosa Leisure Estate on the opposite side of the road, you will hit a major intersection.  Go straight and the road becomes Creekside Road.  YATS Clearwater Resort and Country Club is on your right just 200m down.   Traffic in Clark Philippines is light so it should be quite easy for get to this hotel in Clark Philippines.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qngtcg4mmRw

For inquiries and bookings, <a href=”http://www.clearwaterphilippines.com/contact/index.html”>Youmay click here to contact Clearwater Resort for inquiries and reservations</a>

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:

<a href=”http://www.PhilippinesWeddingVenue.com”>http://www.PhilippinesWeddingVenue.com</a>

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.  It is located in Mimosa Leisure Estate of Clark Freeport Zone.  For more information, visit <a href=”http://www.YatsRestaurant.com”>http://www.YatsRestaurant.com</a>

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

While in Clark, one might as well add to the itinerary a visit to the famous Clark Wine Center, the largest wine shop in Philippines which offers over 2000 selections of fine vintage wine from all wine regions, vintages spanning over 50 years covering all price ranges.

<a href=”http://www.ClarkWineCenter.com”>http://www.ClarkWineCenter.com</a>

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:

<a href=”http://www.LondonPubClark.com”>http://www.LondonPubClark.com</a>

<a href=”http://www.HotelClarkPhilippines.com”>http://www.HotelClarkPhilippines.com</a>

<a href=”http://www.ClarkPhilippines.com”>http://www.ClarkPhilippines.com</a>

<a href=”http://www.YatsWineCellars.com”>http://www.YatsWineCellars.com</a>

For jobs and business investment opportunities in the Philippines please visit <a href=”http://www.yilp.com”>http://www.yilp.com</a>