While the Air Force finds it too expensive to add one more C-130 so that it would have at least two cargo planes in working condition, Malacañang has acquired two helicopters worth P1.4 billion, or P700 million each, for use by President Arroyo.

Members of the House appropriations committee learned of the acquisition yesterday when they compared the P4.3-billion budget of the Office of the President (OP) this year and its proposed P2.9-billion outlay for 2009.

They told reporters that the difference of P1.4 billion between this year’s and the 2009 OP budgets represents the purchase price of the two presidential helicopters.

The new acquisitions are in addition to several choppers and other aircraft comprising the presidential airlift wing available to Mrs. Arroyo.

In contrast, the Air Force could not buy a replacement for its C-130 transport plane that crashed in the Davao gulf more than a month ago.

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Aiza Seguerra’s singing career is flourishing as she conquers the international music scene. After her big hit album Para lang Sa’yo, her first international album, Open arms has been dominating the Singapore jazz chart for three weeks. And it’s not in the Philippines.

Open Arms was produced by S2S productions, a recording Label in Singapore. It was also released in other Asian countries mainly in Taiwan, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Indonesia, Japan and Thailand. Distributors from these countries have given positive feedback about Aiza’s album. In fact, they have been asking for repeated orders of Open Arms.

All the latest album of Aiza Seguerra contains in all-English revival hit songs from the past decades such as Open Arms, Vincent, Somewhere Over the Rainbow, Time After Time, Smooth Operator, Home, Journey and Longer.

“Open Arms” is the carrier single of Aiza Seguerra’s 3rd studio album which is currently the no. 1 album in Singapore.

Open Arms
(Aiza Seguerra)

Lying beside you, here in the dark
Feeling your heart beat with mind
Softly you whisper, you’re so sincere
How could our live be so blind
We sailed on together
We drifted apart
And here you are by my side

So now I come to you, with open arms
Nothing to hide, believe what I say
So here I am with open arms
Hoping you’ll see what your love means to me
Open arms

Living without you, living alone
This empty house seems so cold
Wanting to hold you, wanting you near
How much I wanted you home

But now that you’ve come back
Turned night into day
I need you to stay.

(chorus)

Wishing to have a cozy place to live in with her mom, that what Charisse Pempengco before had wished.

But now, since she�s been already admired all over the world, what now could she still wish for? We�ll maybe; people will be even be the one to wish to be like her instead.

A finalist and a second runner-up in the Little Big Star hosted by Sarah Geronimo, Charisse Pempengco has been known. From this event, she has not just shown her talent as a singer, but also, her love and dream for her mother. It�s a genuine love that made her to strive harder not just to fulfill her own wish but more for to help her mother.

It�s more than a wish come true if we will consider. Everyone has already begun to admire not just here in the Philippines but also around the world. Well, it�s truly more than a wish come true! Charisse Pempengco, Mabuhay ka!