A response unearths a past controversy

ASTATEMENT

that kicked up controversy in recent days was the reported response given by Camarines Sur Congressman and former budget secretary Rolando Andaya Jr. to statements of Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez about the ZTE broadband controversy which took place while Gloria Macapagal Arroyo was president.

The editorial of the online magazine resurgent.ph offers a frank observation:

“While Andaya may have intended to show that his former boss Gloria Macapagal Arroyo was clear of any wrongdoing in the said scandal, or downplay it altogether, the sad fact is that Andaya`s response only refreshed the memories of many about how the ZTE scandal went down to define a big part of the Arroyo presidency .... Andaya fell into the trap of deepening Arroyo`s association to a scandal that she should avoid in the first place. “(http://www.resurgent.ph/ articles.aspx?id=699)

The editorial may be tough on the scandal, but it jogs our memory with the cold fact that the ZTE project would have been a good one that could have delivered the fast Internet many today seek.

The colder fact is that it was mired so deep in scandal and alleged wrongdoing as seen in the congressional and other investigations that it was canceled.

While the cases filed against former government officials and those involved were dismissed, the memory of the scandal still leaves a bad taste in the mouth, made worse by the need for fast Internet it was supoosed to fill had it pushed through.

Sources say that as the congressional terms of Andaya and Arroyo reach their three-term limit, new electoral options or appointive government positions may be open for them. But will a revived ZTE scandal just shut them out of these opportunities? You tell me.

How does a hotel bring a city to the world? In its 20th year, the Marco Polo Davao’s journey is a legendary story of how a hotel can do that.

Marco Polo is one of few hotels that can proudly present Davao as a destination, hinged on an unabashed pride in Davao City’s flavorful and exotic offerings that you can taste and feel in the buffets, signature dishes, pastries, and decor, mixing the modern with Davao’s homegrown. When we think of a hotel in Davao, Marco Polo is top of mind. Thats how powerful the association between a city and a hotel has become.

The Marco Polo Davao has, over the last 20 years, become the preferred address for important visitors and events in Davao City, even more so with the election of its former Davao Mayor Rodrigo Duterte to the presidency.

What took place within its conference rooms and function halls in the months leading up to the historic 2016 election are the stuff of legend.

The hotel has also become a tourist spot of sorts, as travelers would snap selfies in front of it. Being a landmark in the Davao cityscape puts it smack at the urban heart of the boom town.

An important note is that no other hotel has gone out of its way to push its city as a destination for tourists and investments the way Marco Polo has over the years.

This was most strongly felt in the way it recently hosted a Davao themed buffet at its sister hotel in Kowloon to familiarize Hong Kong residents and help launch the direct Hongkong – Davao flights.

Few hotels can achieve this blend of exotic sophistication, and help its host city push the boundaries of its tourist offerings. The Marco Polo Davao has found its place not only in the heart of Davao City, but in the hearts of many.

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