Ex-TV host appointed press assistant secretary

MANILA, Philippines - President Arroyo has appointed TV host and former actress Cecil Kristin “Baby” O’Brien as press assistant secretary and former monsignor Crisanto de la Cruz as presidential assistant for Western Mindanao.

O’Brien was a consultant to then Interior Secretary Angelo Reyes in 2005. She also worked as consultant for various anti-drug campaigns of various government offices.

O’Brien co-hosted the television show “Dance-O-Rama” with the late Pete Roa in 1962. She is the daughter of actress Sigrid von Giese, more popularly known as Paraluman. O’Brien is also a former Miss Pink Camay Girl.

O’Brien has been hosting the programs “People’s Government Mobile Action or PGMA” and “Serbisyo Muna” at the state-run television channel NBN-4.

De la Cruz, on the other hand, left the priesthood when he ran for mayor of Zamboanga City in 2007 after founding the Nuevo Zamboanga Movement party.

He was supposed to run under ruling party Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats but the administration supported Celso Lobregat instead.

Press Secretary Cerge Remonde also announced the appointment of Chief Government Negotiator for the Moro Islamic Liberation Front Rafael Seguis as concurrent special envoy to the Organization of Islamic Conference.

Filipino comics writer Jose Santos was appointed full-time commissioner and concurrent chairman of the Commission on the Filipino Language, for a term that will expire in January 2013.

Also appointed was Lily Rosales as acting chair of the Board of Guidance and Counseling of the Professional Regulation Commission.