Aquino's optometrist gets PRC board post
MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang on Friday defended the decision of President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III to appoint his optometrist to the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) Board of Optometry.
Celebrity optometrist Vivian Sarabia, who designed and supplies the eyewear of the President and his sister, actress-TV host Kris Aquino, was sworn in as PRC optometry board member on Thursday along with 32 other presidential appointees.
In a press briefing Friday, Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda rejected comparisons between Sarabia's appointment and then President Arroyo's decision to appoint her manicurist, Anita Carpon, as board member of the Pag-IBIG Housing Fund. Carpon later declined the appointment.
"You're comparing apples and oranges here. The manicurist was appointed to Pag-IBIG and Dr. Sarabia is being appointed to the board of optometry. She is, after all, an optometrist," Lacierda said in response to a reporter's inquiry.
He added: "There is no conflict of interest in the first place. If you look at the people that the President has appointed, of course he will need people whom he has trust and confidence. That's basic, and of course the requisite competence and integrity. There is nothing in the CV of Dr. Sarabia that would show her incompetence. The fact that she made the glasses for the President is irrelevant to the fact that she is competent to be part of the board of optometry."
Lacierda said it is unfair to say that Sarabia was appointed because of her professional relationship with the President. It was noted during the press conference that Kris Aquino also endorses Sarabia's eyewear.
"The premise is a bit unfair on the part of Dr. Sarabia. We are looking at competence here...She has proven her competence. She is known in the industry and she can very well contribute to the development of the optometry profession," he said.
The Sarabia family has been making the eyeglasses of all Philippine presidents since the time of President Manuel L. Quezon.
Printer-friendly version
Send to friend
Share your views
Aquino's optometrist
Same banana: P.Noy & PGMA. Hindi senstive sa public opinion.
At least si PGMA may mga mahirap na ina-point si P.Noy puro mga elite at mayaman ang nasa gov't niya.
Puro pa-pogi sa media like MMDA man na ini-ticket ang driver ni Kris.
Back to optometrist issue, katangahan na naman ito ni P.Noy at mga nas poder nya.
CRAB MENTALITY
eh sino ba gusto nio i appoint? bkt di na lng kase kau ang tumakbong Presidente kung kau ang magaling pumili ng iaappoint???? LOL
Let's continue on the discussion
Let's continue the discussion. It's the only way to inform or enlighten people. Kahit na papano, pumapasok din sa utak ang mga argumento. Kahit na parang makitid o sarado ang pag i-isip.
I think this appointment is okay. May kinalaman naman sa trabaho ang propesyon ng appointee. At mukhang mas may karapatan naman ang isang optometrist sa Board of Optometry. Masyado naman malayo ang comparison dun sa manicurista na inilagay sa PAG-IBIG.
At the very least hindi ito garapal di katulad ng pag-sibak kay Dr. Nilo ng PAG-ASA at pagpalit ni Montejo na brother in law pala ni Ochoa.
Excellente !
TAMMMMMMAAAAA ;-)
Useless Debate
Those who don't want to see the point, cannot see the point. Those who don't want to understand, cannot understand. It's very clear: Optometrist to her profession's Board is very relevant and reasonable. But a gardener and a manicurist to become board members of government bodies, what a questionable and an embarrassing move from a President!!!
Nothing wrong.
She is a qualified professional who happens to have the trust of the president. She is NOT a relative of the president so there is absolutely no problem in giving her the job. Knowing the president does not disqualify her for the job. It is regulatory board of her profession. She knows the job very well. There is no comparison to Gloria's blatantly insane move to appointment her manicurist and gardener as board members. There is nothing controversial about this appoinment at all.
lesson of the story
the lesson of the story is to do your job well. you dont know who's watching, and where fortune can take you. people might be grateful for your kindness and professionalism shown to them, and repay you in a big way.
that was not the point.
:).
If the optmetrist is not self-serving, he would decline and tell PNoy to look for the best person for the job and for the country.
Ewan
Eto na naman po tayo... ano ngayon ipinagkaiba ni PNoy kay GMA? Yung manikurista na board member ng Pag-ibig, we can always argue na she deserves kasi she belongs to that sector that the Pag-Ibig was created for in the first place. She can relate to the rest of the Pag-Ibig members and vice-versa. Pero itong personal optometrist na may negosyong related sa pagiging PRC board member niya, puedeng magkaroon ng conflict of interest. Yung manikurista, wala siyang business na related sa pabahay! So mas safe pa yung appointment ng manikurista kaysa sa optometrist na ito. Ewan ko sa iyo PNoy . . . akala ko ba walang "personalan"? Anong tawag mo dito sa appointment na ito?
Be Happy ;-)
Do you know Dra.Vivian Sarabia personaly? Where are you from? Regardless of any business she was engaged to, it's her lifestyle ;-) Sarabia was known even before she was appointed..it means she was not appointed for the job to do business there..It is to contribute her best knowledge to make it better;-) tamaaa ;-)