Ogie Alcasid appointed convenor of EDSA People Power rites

President Benigno Aquino III has appointed singer/composer Ogie Alcasid as convenor of music and entertainment for the 25th anniversary celebration of the first EDSA People Power on Feb. 25. Alcasid also became a member of the EDSA People Power Commission (EPPC). Aquino was one of the groomsmen in Alcasid’s wedding with singer Regine Velasquez last December. Alcasid supported Aquino during last year’s presidential campaign. Aquino had earlier appointed Alcasid’s father, Herminio Alcasid Sr., as chairman of the board of directors of the Development Management Corp., a subsidiary of the Philippine National Oil Company.

Aside from Alcasid, Aquino also appointed Christopher Carrion, advertiser Emily Abrera, Milagros Kilayko, Philippine Daily Inquirer columnist Conrado de Quiros, former Trade Secretary Jose Pardo, and former Government Service Insurance System chairman Cesar Sariño as members of the EPPC. EDSA People Power was a historic uprising in February 1986 that toppled the decades-old Marcos regime and catapulted Aquino’s mother, Corazon “Cory" Aquino, to the presidency. Meanwhile, Aquino also appointed Dr. Alexander Ayco, Mrs. Aqiuno’s cardiologist, as member of the board of directors of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (Philhealth). Other appointees were:

Ma. Roxanne Singson, representative of education and training institutions at the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority;

Virginia Miralao, secretary general of the UN Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) National Commission of the Philippines;

Hernani Panganiban, chairman of the Philippine Commission for the Urban Poor;

Delilah Deles, acting deputy commissioner of the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC);

Carlo Jose Martinez, deputy NTC commissioner; and

Amalia Tadukan, Jose Balatucan Jr., Jennylyn Malateo-Dawayan, and Jimmy Olivo as acting directors of the Department of Agriculture. - KBK, GMANews.TV