The Filipino Express v28 Issue 41

Transcription

PH is Asia-Pacific's
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Arrivals. More fun in the
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VOL. 28 w
NO. 41 w
October 10-16, 2014 w
NATIONAL EDITION w
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Ties that bind point to Binay interests in farm
The 350-hectare property allegedly owned by the Binay family. Photo from the Office of Senator Antonio Trillanes IV
'Hacienda Binay': A property in question
By TJ Burgonio
Aquino in Bali for
democracy forum
By Niña Calleja
Pres. Aquino. AP file photo
LOS ANGELES -- Very few
Filipinos are showing interest in a
new law that would provide a driver's
license to all Californians regardless
of immigration status, even as
advocacy groups and community
leaders on October 3 celebrated at the
steps of City Hall the one-year
anniversary signing of AB 60's
signing.
The Coalition for Humane
Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles
subcommittee Wednesday that
he had proof the estate was
owned by the Binay family.
In a PowerPoint
presentation at the Senate
hearing on Makati's allegedly
ove r p r i c e d c a r p a rk , S e n .
Antonio Trillanes IV unlocked
Binay's ties with Tiu and Subido.
To show they were talking
about the same farm, Trillanes
said Sunchamp's logo that
showed a lagoon matched with
the lagoon in the photos of the
farm presented minutes earlier
by Mercado. The senator said
Tiu set up Greenergy Holdings
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Page 4
BALI, Indonesia -- President
Aquino arrived here on Thursday night
(Oct. 9) for the Bali Democracy Forum
Ties that bind
which he will co-chair with outgoing
Former Makati Vice Mayor
Indonesian President Susilo Bambang
Ernesto
Mercado told the
Yudhoyono.
Aquino, with members of his
Cabinet, arrived at Ngurah Rai
International Airport at 8:30 p.m. on
Thursday on board the special flight
PR-001.
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Revilla P87M deposits found
Few undocumented Filipinos
showing interest in California's
new driver's licenses
By Mico Letargo
MANILA -- Vice President
Jejomar Binay could be using
companies headed by a former
supplier to the Makati city
government and the law
partner of his daughter to front
as owners of a 350-hectare farm
in Batangas province, senators
said on Wednesday, Oct. 8.
While Binay claimed to have
divested himself of his interests
in the farm in Rosario town, he
had ties with the president of
Sunchamp Agri-Tourism Park,
Chinese-Filipino businessman
Antonio Tiu, and Sunchamp
director Martin Subido, the
senators said.
The “piggery farm” on a
leased property in Batangas
was operated by Sunchamp,
Binay's spokesperson had said.
Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III, chair
of the Senate blue ribbon
subcommittee investigating
alleged irregularities in the
Makati city government, said
the panel would invite the Vice
President anew to respond to
the “serious charges.”
AMLC: Fund movements jibe with Luy's records
By Gil C. Cabacungan
MANILA -- Justice is catching up with accused
plunderer Sen. Bong Revilla, with a forensic
investigation into his and his family's bank
transactions from 2006 to 2010 indicating that he
received kickbacks from the pork barrel funds he
(CHIRLA) called it a “victory,” saying
channeled to bogus foundations controlled by
that it will benefit California's
Janet Lim-Napoles as exposed by whistle-blower
economy and make the roads safer.
Benhur Luy.
With the new law taking effect
The Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC)
January 1, 2015, CHIRLA estimates
report on Revilla's bank transactions involving his
that approximately more than one
Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF)
million people could potentially apply
also showed discrepancies in his official cash
for a driver's license.
declarations that could indicate “concealment of
However, in spite of the high
unexplained wealth”; P87.626-million deposits
number of projected beneficiaries of
made in the personal accounts of Revilla, his wife,
the law, it seems that only a few
Cavite Rep. Lani Mercado, and his children, and
Filipinos are interested in the
some of his siblings that tended to confirm his
landmark service for the
receipt of the kickbacks; and more than P40
undocumented.
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million in suspicious funds were poured into a
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Sen. Bong Revilla. Inquirer file photo
October 10-16, 2014
Page 2
THE FILIPINO EXPRESS
Eco groups slam plans to dispose
of Canada wastes in Philippine soil
By Jaymee T. Gamil
MANILA -- Pick up your
garbage, Canada. The
Philippines is not your garbage
bin.
T h i s wa s t h e c a l l o f
environmental and health
groups on Thursday, Oct. 9, as
they decried government for
allegedly allowing the unlawful
disposal of toxic waste from
Canada in the Philippines,
instead of shipping it back in
accordance with international
laws.
On Thursday, groups led by
Greenpeace, Ecowaste
Coalition, Ban Toxics and the
Ang Nars partylist held a press
conference at the Quezon City
Memorial Circle (QCMC),
exposing what they called as
government plans to simply
dump in a Tarlac landfill the
shipment of garbage
intercepted by the Bureau of
Customs earlier in 2014.
Late in 2013, 50 forty-foot
container vans from Ontariobased Chronic Inc. started
arriving at the Manila
International Container Port
for consignee Chronic Plastics
based in Valenzuela city. The
contents of the container vans
were declared as “scrap plastic
materials for recycling.”
In January, the Bureau of
Customs (BOC) confiscated the
container vans after
discovering that they actually
contained possibly hazardous
wastes such as used plastic
bags, used bottles, newspaper,
household garbage, and even
adult diapers.
In February, the BoC filed a
complaint in the Department of
Justice against Chronic Plastics,
saying the shipment violated
the Toxic Substances and
Hazardous and Nuclear Waste
and Control Act of 1990, and
the Basel Convention On The
Control Of Transboundary
Movements Of Hazardous
Waste And Their Disposal, to
which both the Philippines and
Canada are signatories.
Under the Basel
convention, the “exporting
country must take back the
waste materials if the receiving
country refuses to accept
them.” Environmental groups
have since urged that the
container vans simply be
shipped back to Canada as per
the international treaty.
But 459 days after the first
shipment of wastes to the
Philippines, a bulk of the
container vans and their waste
Entire Mindanao under mercy
of Bangsamoro - Lobregat
contents remain in the vicinity
of the Bureau of Customs in
By Marc Jayson Cayabyab
Manila, according to Abigail
Aguilar, toxics campaigner of
MANILA -- A lawmaker raised the
Greenpeace Southeast Asia.
alarm of subjecting Mindanao's water
Last Aug. 30, to decongest
and power resources under the mercy
the Manila ports, 16 of the vans
of the Bangsamoro government upon
were shipped to the Subic
the creation of a Bangsamoro entity.
International Container
During the ad hoc committee
Terminal Services, which
hearing in the House of Representatives
immediately requested that the
on Wednesday, Zamboanga city
Manila port take them back as
Representative Celso Lobregat said the
there were already “big holes in
Bangsamoro basic bill gives so much
the vans leaking and emitting a
power to the Moro government to
foul odor,” Aguilar said.
regulate power and water resources.
On Thursday, the advocate
“The proposed law talks about
groups said that in a meeting in
certain exclusive powers of the Rep. Celso Lobregat of Zamboanga City.
August, held by the BoC, the
Bangsamoro government such as over Photo from congress.gov.ph
environment department, and
power generation, transmission, and
the foreign affairs department,
distribution. That's why I think many of the Pulangi plant is located in
one of the recommended
the congressmen inside and outside the Bukidnon.
actions on the toxic wastes was
Bangsamoro are now taking a closer
“I could not help, historically
to “permanently dispose of
look at the bill because it will not only Mindanao enjoys low power rates and
them in Philippine soil,” in
affect the people and residents of the we will depend on ‎inter-governmental
particular, in a sanitary landfill
Bangsamoro, but also people outside of relations. Who will decide? The entire
in Tarlac province, Aguilar said.
the Bangsamoro, the entire Mindanao,” Mindanao will be at the mercy of
Aguilar said this was
Lobregat told fellow representatives Bangsamoro,” Lobregat added.
discovered by the groups in
and members of the government peace
According to the bill, the
September, when Ang Nars
panel.
Bangsamoro government can regulate
Rep. Leah Paquiz received
He cited the Agus and Pulangi power generation, transmission, and
word from the Environmental
hydropower plants, supplying 982 distribution operating exclusively in the
Management Bureau about the
megawatts or 50 percent of Mindanao's Bangsamoro as long as it is not
agreements in the interagency
power requirement, which may be connected to the national transmission
government meeting.
subjected to the Bangsamoro's control.
grid.
“I will not tolerate this
Agus hydropower plant snakes
“It shall promote investments,
matter sitting down. As a
from Lanao lake in Marawi city to Maria domestic and international, in the
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Page 5
Cristina falls in Iligan city. Meanwhile,
u
Page 5
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October 10-16, 2014
Page 3
Maritime affairs expert separates facts
from fiction on Scarborough Shoal
MANILA -- Despite China's
assertions that it has “indisputable
sovereignty” over the entire South
China Sea, a maritime affairs
expert maintained that historical
facts tell otherwise.
Jay Batongbacal, Director of
the University of the Philippines
Institute for Maritime Affairs &
Law of the Sea, laid out the history
of Scarborough shoal, one of the
many disputed maritime features
in the South China Sea, from the
era of ancient Chinese dynasties to
the modern times to find out who
really has sovereignty over it.
“China argues that it is entitled
to Bajo de Masinloc on the ground
that it first discovered the island,
gave its name and incorporated it
into its territory, and had always
exercised jurisdiction over it,”
Batongbacal said during a lecture
in De La Salle University.
“A serious examination of
these grounds, however, bears out
severe internal inconsistencies.
Examination of the evidence
shows the basis to be largely
published fiction,” he said.
B e l o w a re s o m e o f t h e
important points he raised. A full
copy of the lecture can be read
here.
1) [FACT] The Philippines,
under the Spanish colonial
administration, was already
exercising sovereignty over
Scarborough shoal by end of the
18th century.
Scarborough Shoal got its
name from a British cargo ship that
was grounded there on September
12, 1784the HMS Scarborough.
Before the incident, the exact
location and size of what was then
called Bajo de Masinloc or Panacot
shoal was not clear.
In 1792, a five-year global
scientific exploration from Spain
known as the Malaspina
Expedition after Commander
Alessandro Malaspina, was able to
accurately chart the location and
size of Scarborough. After its
location was properly charted, the
Spanish government in Manila
ordered a detailed survey of the
shoal by sending the frigate Santa
Lucia under command of Captain
Francisco Riquelme in 1800.
A second detailed survey of
Scarborough was conducted on
March 13-18, 1866 by the British
ship HMS Swallow, led by Master
Commander Edward Wilds, which
came from Hong Kong and was
headed back to England.
The “Map of the Entire Empire and Frontier Countries” drawn in 1402 based on
Yuan Dynasty maps. The Philippines appears as a small collection of spots in the
lower right corner, west of the large patch that represents Japan.
“That Spain began exercising
jurisdiction at this time is very
important. The end of the century
saw the transfer of the Philippines
to the United States (US) through
t w o t r e a t i e s o f c e s s i o n ,”
Batongbacal said.
“While the Treaty of Paris of
1898 described the Philippine
Islands as being comprised of all
the islands within an irregular
polygon, Spain also had
sovereignty and jurisdiction over
islands and places outside of the
lines of that polygon. These islands
and places were clarified to have
also been transferred to the US
under the terms of the Treaty of
Washington of 1900,” he said.
2 ) [ FA C T ] P h i l i p p i n e
sovereignty over Scarborough
shoal continued under the US
colonial government.
A Swedish cargo steam ship,
the SS Nippon, headed for Hong
Kong from Manila was wrecked on
Scarborough shoal due to a
typhoon in 1913. Philippine
maritime authorities, under the
American colonial government,
exercised jurisdiction over the
shoal when they rescued the crew,
salvaged the cargo, and conducted
an investigation into the incident.
The SS Nippon's cargo became the
subject of a civil case between the
ship owners and salvors that went
all the way up to the Supreme
Court which discussed the details
of the incident elicited from shipowners, cargo owners, salvors,
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Page 5
October 10-16, 2014
Page 4
‘Hacienda
Binay’ ...
From page 1
after purchasing Sunchamp, and
became its president.
Greenergy's major
stockholders are Earthright,
Sunchamp and Three Star
Capital, proof that the
originallyrenewable energy
company branched out into agritourism, Trillanes said.
When his staff searched
Greenergy's website, they
discovered that its corporate
secretary is Subido, he said.
Subido is also director of
Earthright, the largest
shareholder of Greenergy, which
owns controlling interest in
Sunchamp, according to
Trillanes.
It turned out that Subido is a
senior partner at Subido Pagente
Certeza Mendoza & Binay Law
Office, he said.
Subido is a senior partner of
the Vice President's daughter,
Makati Rep. Abigail Binay, and
Claro Certeza, lawyer for Makati
Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay Jr.,
he said. Greenergy also shares
the same address of the law firm
at the third floor of Value Point
Executive Building on Salcedo
Street, Legaspi Village, Makati,
he said.
“If you look at the website, it
is agri-tourism, yet it has no
telephone number. It was really
set up as part of the cover-up,”
Trillanes said.
August despite the bad weather.
“You know, when it was
launched in Batangas, Typhoon
'Jose' was raging. I asked my
staff, 'Is the launch pushing
through?'” he said.
“Mr. Tony Tiu is [ChineseFilipino], and they have what
they call a ghost month - August.
Why can't they postpone it? Well,
apparently, everything was set
up. There was full coverage,” he
added.
Cayetano said.
“It's not that we presume
him guilty now. But we can't
presume him innocent because
there is already evidence of illgotten wealth. It's now up to him
to show that this is false,” he said.
Binay's spokesman, Joey
Salgado, said Binay divested
himself of his interests in JCB
Farms, a lessee of the property,
when he was elected Vice
President in 2010.
Not a front
Subido denied Sunchamp
was a front for Binay.
He confirmed he was the
LIKE LONDON'S MAZE GARDEN. An aerial view of the 350-hectare agriculture estate in
c
o
r
porate secretary of
Rosario, Batangas province that has a garden patterned after London's Kew Gardens.
Greenergy Holdings, which
Former Makati City Vice Mayor Ernesto Mercado, who was on a helicopter when the
invested in Sunchamp Realty to
photo was taken last week, claims that the property is in the name of dummies of Vice
develop its agri-tourism
President Jejomar Binay. Contributed photo by former Makati City Vice Mayor Ernesto
business.
Mercado.
“That cannot be because
these companies are publicly
l i s te d c o m p a n i e s a n d a l l
disclosures are made,” he said in
a statement.
“The company is audited by
one of the top four auditors of
the country. We have foreign
investors coming into the
By Maricar Cinco
“He would arrive either on a
company or are part of the
helicopter or travel by land. You'd not
company. So definitely this is not
ROSARIO, Batangas -- If you go by miss him because there were a lot of
a dummy corporation or a fly-bythe municipal government records, escorts,” he said.
night corporation because
you cannot find documents that will
A gate, about 3 meters high,
Greenergy Holdings and
show Vice President Jejomar Binay has blocked the view into what seemed to
AgriNurture Inc. are both listed
a business or real estate property in be an orchard.
companies and they follow the
this town.
A peek through a crack on the gate
strictest corporate governance
But residents in the remote village revealed a network of concrete
standards being listed
of Maligaya in Rosario quickly refer to a driveways and large mango trees.
companies,” he added.
gated property, about 12 kilometers
But Roger Basa, a security guard on
Subido also said that Binay's
from the town center, as owned or used the property, said the land was owned
piggery business was reported
to be owned by the Binays.
by Antonio Tiu's Sunchamp Real Estate
in his SALN and income tax
A 67-year-old woman, who refused Development Corp. and never by the
Proof of divestment
returns. He said Binay divested
to be identified, said she worked at the Binays.
“Other people might think himself of his interests in AgriCleaning up their act?
Binays' farm as an orchid cutter for 14
People going in and coming out of
Trillanes disclosed that he that if they have their picture fortuna as early as 1994 and
years until last year, when her daughter the property - one on a motorcycle,
was invited to the launch of taken with you, or you are a 1995, and the shareholding was
asked her to retire from work.
another in a van - when the Inquirer
Sunchamp Agri-Tourism Park in guest in their activities, you will worth only P50,000.
“So, again, look at the SALN,
In all those years she worked at the visited on Wednesday, Oct. 8, refused to
August this year, along with be cleared,” Trillanes said. “We
farm, the woman said the Binays were talk and claimed they were not from
Secretary Francis Pangilinan and will grill you until you tell the the interest in Agrifortuna was
reflected and that it was divested
always her employers. The Vice the village.
Agrarian Reform Secretary truth.”
Cayetano also challenged the as early as 1994 or more than 20
Virgilio de los Reyes. He showed
President, she said, often visited the
Basa, who said he started working
a slide showing a picture of Vice President to prove that his years ago. So, it is not something
farm. “It was really big inside, with a for Sunchamp in 1997, said the
himself, Tiu and De los Reyes divestment of his interests in the that happened just recently,” he
private pool and a lot of greenhouses. I property was just about 2 hectares.
farm was reflected in his said. He maintained that JCB was
taken during the launch.
think they were building one more
“There's nothing inside but mango
statement
of assets, liabilities only leasing nine hectares, and
“When
it
was
launched,
(greenhouse) by the time I left,” she trees,” he said. JCB Farm, the piggery
does not own real property on
there was an intention to use and networth (SALN).
said.
owned by Binay, ceased operating in
In a divestment proceeding, the estate.
several government officials,
She said each greenhouse was t h i s tow n i n 2 0 1 0 , m u n i c i p a l
“So, again, it is consistent
including myself and Secretary one could not undertake a
twice the size of her daughter's house, government records showed.
with the documents but was
Pangilinan, to clean its image simulated sale, he said.
which is about 300 square meters.
“ I t s h o u l d h a v e b e e n given a different spin, a different
and to make it appear
There were also a lot of pig houses, Municipal certification
reflected as cash,” Cayetano said, interpretation by the resource
legitimate,”
Trillanes
said.
“but only those housing the sows were
The municipality of Rosario,
He said he was surprised to referring to Binay's sale of his speaker, because of their
air conditioned,” she said.
through the office of the municipal
find during the launch that some interests. “How come P1 billion preconceived disposition on
“[The Binays] used to tell us their administrator, lawyer Cipriano Asilo,
how they want to portray the
of the park's facilities, including is not in the SALN?”
business was not earning much that's issued a certification “that as per
Binay released copies of his Vice President. So, again, all of
the pavement, looked old.
why they never gave us a raise,” she records of this office, JCB Farm, with
“This is one proof that Vice financial disclosures last month. our positions are based on
said. She said she earned P4,000 a b u s i n e s s a d d re s s a t B a ra n gay
President Binay is resorting to a The documents showed the Vice documents, while theirs are
month.
Bayawang, Rosario, Batangas, was a
d u m m y , t h a n k s t o h i s President's net worth was P60 based on speculations and bare
Another resident, Gas Arceo, said registered business since 1994 until
statements,” he said.
spokespersons. Attorney JV million as of the end of 2013.
he had entered the property a few 2010 and ceased/stop their business
“While it's true that there's a
Subido, who also confirmed
Bautista is here. I'm not more
times through friends who worked at operations [in] the same year (2010).”
popish than the Pope, but presumption of innocence - he was a law partner of
the farm.
“This also further certifies that
because of what they said, we got that's why it's a presumption - Representative Binay, said the
there is no record of JCB Farm in our
to know who their dummy is,” he meaning you presumed in your o r c h i d f a r m o f t h e V i c e
Frequent Binay visits
current database of duly registered
mind that he is innocent. But if President's wife, Elenita Binay,
said.
He said the Vice President businesses for the year 2014,” it added.
Trillanes said Sunchamp y o u p r e s e n t e v i d e n c e , on the estate was also leased.
frequented the farm and the last time
The certification did not indicate
couldn't wait to do the launch in presumption is reversed,” Inquirer.net
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Page 5
he saw him was last month.
Village folk readily say
Binays own hacienda
Aquino ...
From page 1
Upon arrival, the President
was met by Philippine
Ambassador to Indonesia Ma.
Rosario C. Aguinaldo and Col.
Raniel Ramiro, the Philippines'
defense and armed forces
attaché. Indonesian officials
were also at the airport to
welcome him.
Aquino will proceed to Nusa
Dua Beach Hotel where he was
billeted for the night.
On Friday, Oct. 10, Aquino
will co-chair the forum and
Links to Makati gov't
Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano
presented slides showing Tiu's
connection to the Makati city
government.
Cayetano said Tiu was
president and CEO of
AgriNurture Inc. (ANI), which
traded in postharvest machinery
and was formerly known as
Mabuhay 2000 Enterprise. It
eventually diversified into the
agro-commercial business.
Citing a report by
Commission on Audit
Commissioner Heidi Mendoza,
he said Mabuhay supplied
hospital beds to Ospital ng
Makati in 2000.
The audit team led by
Mendoza confirmed this from
Tiu himself, the senator said,
citing the audit report.
Trillanes moved that Tiu be
subpoenaed to clarify how he
was able to develop the 350hectare farm. This was seconded
by Cayetano, who also moved for
the issuance of a subpoena of
Tiu's financial records.
deliver his speech before highlevel representatives from 51
participant-countries as well as
68 international observers.
He is set to highlight the
Philippines' recent positive
political and economic
developments as well as the
b i l a te ra l re l a t i o n s o f t h e
Philippines and Indonesia.
The forum, a two-day annual
event with theme “Evolving
Regional Democratic
Architecture: the Dynamics of
Political Development, SocioEconomic Progress and Public
Participation in the Democratic
Process,” will also be attended by
Timor Leste Prime Minister
Xanana Gusmao and the Sultan
of Brunei Darussalam Hassanal
Bolkiah. In the afternoon, the
Indonesian government will
confer upon Aquino its highest
award, the “Bintang Republik
Indonesia Adipurna (Star of the
Republic of Indonesia).”
Accompanying the
President are Foreign Affairs
Secretary Albert del Rosario,
presidential spokesperson
Edwin Lacierda, Cabinet
Secretary Jose Rene Almendras,
and Presidential Management
Staff Secretary Julia Abad.
Inquirer.net
October 10-16, 2014
Page 5
Entire Mindanao
under mercy ...
From page 2
power sector industry in the
B a n g s a m o ro . Po we r p l a n t s a n d
distribution networks in the
Bangsamoro shall be able to
interconnect and sell power over the
national transmission grid to electric
consumers,” the bill said.
If the power plants are connected to
the grid, the national and Bangsamoro
government should “cooperate and
coordinate through the
intergovernmental relations
mechanism.”
Peace panel chair Miriam CoronelFerrer said the Bangsamoro may only
take control of power plants under their
jurisdiction while inter-government
relations may only apply in case of
conflict.
Vicente Lao, chairman of the
Mindanao Business Council, said the
control over water and electricity should
be clarified.
“It should be properly monitored.
Who will control the utilization of
welfare and control of the grid so that we
will not have problem in the future.‎ We
are now scared, we would like to protect
the remaining areas, we want Mindanao
to have cheaper power (rates),” Lao said.
The recently submitted Bangsamoro
bill seeks to implement the peace pact
signed between the Philippine
government and the Moro Islamic
Liberation Front, which hopes to end
decades of Muslim secessionist
movement in the region.
Once the bill is passed by Congress,
the law must be ratified by a plebiscite
for the creation of a Bangsamoro political
entity to replace the Autonomous Region
in Muslim Mindanao. Inquirer.net
Eco groups ...
From page 2
legislator, I filed for a congressional
inquiry in aid of legislation the unlawful
importation of the 50 container vans
filled with garbage. Clearly, this
[dumping of waste in our country] is a
reflection of our dignity as a nation,”
said Paquiz in a statement.
Von Hernandez, president of the
EcoWaste Coalition and executive
director of Greenpeace Southeast Asia,
said the planned move would set a
“wrong precedent.”
“This government proposal sends a
signal to unscrupulous and illegal waste
traders to ship their unwanted junk to
the Philippines. There can be no
Village folk ...
From page 4
who owned JCB Farm and municipal
employees claimed they did not know
who.
Asilo gave the Inquirer a copy of the
certification on Wednesday, Oct. 8, when
asked about the Vice President's
businesses in the town.
The copy of the certification was
dated Sept. 24, issued at the height of the
Senate inquiry into the allegedly
overpriced Makati City Hall Building II.
The mayor of this town, Manuel
Alvarez, is a member of the vice
president's United Nationalist Alliance
(UNA).
JCB building
A check in the municipal assessor's
office here also showed that JCB Farm
last declared real property tax in 2010.
Maritime ...
From page 3
and insurance companies. “The facts
narrated, as well as the case itself,
demonstrates the free and absolute
exercise of governmental powers by
the Philippines, as well as the
application of Philippine law to
activities taking place on the shoal,”
Batongbacal said.
The US Commonwealth
Government, in 1937, considered
the shoal as a part of the Philippines
after considerable research if there
were other claimants.
“A l l t h r o u g h o u t t h e
Commonwealth Period, the
Philippine Government had always
considered Scarborough Shoal
under its exclusive sphere of
influence, marking it prominently in
maps of the Commonwealth and
continuously exercising particularly
maritime jurisdiction over the
shoal,” Batongbacal said.
3) [FACT] Scarborough shoal
continued to be under sovereign
rule of the Philippines even after
it had gained full independence
from the US.
The Philippine Coast and
Geodetic Survey conducted a fourday mapping survey of Scarborough
shoal led by Lieutenant Commander
Antonio Ventura in 1961. A hut with
a tide and current station was also
installed on the biggest rock,
Batongbacal said. Another ship, a
French vessel, was wrecked on
Scarborough in 1963 and the crew
was rescued by a commercial vessel
and a US Navy ship.
That same year, the Philippine
Navy found and destroyed a
smuggler's outpost on the shoal
which was being used to bring
contraband into the Philippines.
“An actual photograph of the
facility was published in the
newspapers. The Philippine Navy
sent ships to bombard the wharf
t w i c e i n t h e s a m e m o n t h ,”
Batongbacal said.
“No other government action
c a n e x p re s s s ove re i g n t y s o
completely and convincingly than
this enforced destruction of these
illegal facilities,” he said.
Following the anti-smuggler
operation, the Philippine
government declared a 20-mile
radius around the shoal as a US
Naval Operating Area turning it into
a target and bombing range for the
Philippine and US Navy.
Throughout the 1970s and
1980s, the Philippines warned all
international ships passing near
Scarborough shoal of live fire
exercises and missile firing
exercises by the US Navy operating
from Subic Bay. “All these exercises
of sovereignty were uninterrupted
and conducted peacefully and
openly, without protest from any
country including China, all
throughout this time,” Batongbacal
said.
4) [FICTION] China's claim of
first discovery of Scarborough
shoal under the Yuan Dynasty in
the 13th century.
China claims it has first
discovered Scarborough in the 13th
century under the Yuan Dynasty.
The Yuan Dynasty however, was
established by Kublai Khan of the
Mongol Empire which had
conquered China.
“If Bajo de Masinloc was indeed
acquired by virtue of discovery, then
such discovery could only be in the
name of the sovereign, the Mongol
Empire. Perhaps it should therefore
be claimed by the remnant of the
Mongol Empire, which is Mongolia,
compromises here. This garbage
shipment must be sent back to Canada,
its country of origin. The Philippine
government must do everything it can to
prevent these incidents from happening
ever again in the future,” Hernandez
said.
“Why our government is even
contemplating on accepting these illegal
wastes when international law is behind
us is exasperating,” noted lawyer
Richard Gutierrez, executive director of
BAN Toxics.
In April, the groups launched an
online petition on change.org urging the
Canadian embassy in the Philippines to
facilitate the return of the garbage back
to Canadian soil. As of press time, the
petition has garnered 23,631
supporters. Inquirer.net
But according to the assessor's
office computer database, the only
property under the name, JCB Farm, was
a building (records did not indicate the
number of floors) with a floor area of
728 square meters and a market value of
P1,520,064, classified for “agribusiness” use.
The JCB building was located on a
property owned by a certain Renato
Comia from Barangay Baybayin, while
the land is located in Barangay Maligaya.
Maligaya, Bayawang and Baybayin are
neighboring villages. “That's the only
record we have (of JCB),” said municipal
assessor Guillerma Delen. No one in the
office could say who Comia is.
T h e n a m e A g r i fo r t u n a I n c . ,
reportedly the registered name of JCB
Farm in the Securities and Exchange
Commission, did not come up in a quick
search into the assessor's computer
database. Inquirer.net
not China,” Batongbacal said.
The name “Huangyan Island,” or
even its existence, never appeared
in any of China's ancient maps
meaning China did not know the
location, size, or shape of
Scarborough shoal during that time.
“Chinese cartographers did not
give the Philippines much
importance, as compared with
Japan, Taiwan, and Hainan. China at
the time clearly did not have full and
accurate knowledge of even the
largest islands of our archipelago,”
Batongbacal said.
“If it could not even determine
the location, size, or shape of Luzon,
then much less could it identify the
infinitesimal rocks and reef of Bajo
de Masinloc. China could not
possibly claim discovery in this
period, since information from the
period itself is non-committal,” he
said.
5) [FACT] China was fully
aware that the Philippines was
inhabited by seafaring people
and even feared them.
Under the Tang dynasty some
700 years before the Yuan, Chinese
a n n a l s w ro te o f s l ave - ra i d s
conducted by Visayans going as far
north as Fujian province in
mainland China.
“As early as the 7th and 10th
century, the ancestors of the
Filipinos had established contact
with China under the Tang Dynasty
700 years before the Yuan. Thus
China knew very well that the
islands of the Philippines were
inhabited by coastal seafaring
peoples,” Batongbacal said.
“Chinese annals such as the 'Chu
Fan Chi' of Chau Ju Kuo even [spoke]
in fear of the slave-raiding
expeditions of the Visayans,
reaching as far north as the coast of
Fujian Province. Thus, it was
Philippine ancestors, not Chinese,
who were the masters of the
Southeast Asian seas,” he said.
6) [FICTION] China claims to
be the first to name Scarborough
shoal as “Huangyan Island” based
on ancient maps.
China claims that it has named
the shoal as “Huangyan Island” as
early as 1983 in a map that then
showed 11-dashed lines around the
South China Sea.
“The original map (containing
11 dashed lines), gave the reef the
Sinicized name of Scarborough.
Thus, the very first name given for a
place discovered in ancient times
was the Chinese version of an
English name given by English
cartographers,” Batongbacal said.
“This is stark evidence that as
late as 1947, China did not even
know of the shoal, and only became
aware of it from British Admiralty
charts,” he said. China only called the
shoal as “Huangyan Island” after it
conducted a hydrographic survey
around 1983 without permission
from the Philippines.
At one point, the shoal was
named Minzhu Reef and was
mistakenly grouped as part of the
Spratly Islands that was as far as 260
nautical miles South.
“For China, “Huangyan Island”
only came into existence in 1983,
and it was nothing more than a
pinpoint on a map as far as its
government was concerned,”
Batongbacal said.
“The only time it attempted to
exercise any kind of jurisdiction
over Bajo de Masinloc was in 1994,
when it issued a permit to an
amateur radio operator to set up an
amateur radio station on the shoal,
igniting the present day dispute
over it,” he said.Photo from
www.imoa.ph. Inquirer.net
October 10-16, 2014
Page 6
Revilla P87M
deposits ...
From page 1
dummy corporation, Nature
Concepts Development and Realty
Corp., controlled by his wife.
The AMLC said the deposits
and withdrawals from the bank
accounts of the five foundations
corresponded with the names,
amounts and dates in the entries
made by Luy, Napoles' finance
officer, in his ledger of Napoles'
cash and check disbursements,
one of the evidence in the P10billion pork barrel scam case.
“Considering all the foregoing,
there are indications of money
laundering scheme using the
aforementioned bank accounts.
There is, however, a need to
conduct further investigation to
determine the extent of the
subjects' participation and
identify the other monetary
instruments that were possibly
involved in the laundering
scheme,” the AMLC said in a
confidential report received by the
Office of the Ombudsman on Oct.
8.
Presented in court
The Ombudsman prosecution
team, led by Director Joefferson B.
Toribio, presented the report in
court as its latest evidence in the
plunder case against Revilla.
The report was presented in
court through the testimony of
AMLC Bank Officer II Leigh Von
Santos, who said a similar report
involving the PDAF transactions of
other accused pork plunderers Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Juan
Ponce Enrile - was being prepared.
Justice Undersecretary Jose
Justiniano, an adviser to the
prosecution team, said the AMLC
report was “important” in proving
that Revilla did receive the
kickbacks through his aide
Richard Cambe.
“When we took up the case, we
did not know the extent or who
would be included, we had only
Luy's testimony and files to work
on,” Justiniano said. “The lifting of
the bank secrecy law definitely
strengthened our case because we
are now talking of documentary
evidence and not only testimonial
evidence.”
Justiniano refused to echo
Justice Secretary Leila de Lima's
description of the evidence
against Revilla as “slam dunk,” as
h e p re fe r re d t o l e ave t h e
assessment of the evidence to the
court.
Pattern in funds flow
The AMLC found a pattern in
the flow of funds of the deposit
accounts of five Napoles-owned
foundationsAgri and Economic
Program for Farmers Foundation
Inc. (AEPFFI), Agricultura para sa
Magbubukid Foundation Inc.
(APMFI), Masaganang Ani para sa
Magsasaka Foundation Inc.
(MAMFI), Philippine Social
Development Foundation Inc.
(PSDFI) and Social Development
Program for Farmers Foundation
I n c . ( S D P F F I ) t h a t re c e ive d
Revilla's pork barrel funds: The
f u n d s we re w i t h d raw n by
Napoles' staff members, like
whistle-blowers Luy, Marina Sula
and Merlina Suñas, and accused
plunderers Evelyn de Leon and
John Raymond de Asis, even
though they were not officially
linked to a specific foundation.
They used JLN Corp. IDs to
identify themselves in
withdrawing the money, thus
establishing a link between
Napoles and the foundation.
The deposit accounts were
used as temporary repository of
funds since the money was
immediately withdrawn
practically on the same day it was
deposited.
And all withdrawals were
made in cash despite the huge
amounts involved - as much as P35
million in one day.
Based on the AMLC's forensic
investigation of Revilla's and his
family's joint bank account
transactions for four years, from
April 6, 2006, to April 28, 2010, the
Revillas made a total of P87.626
million in various bank deposits
and investments within 30 days
from the dates recorded in Luy's
ledger.
Luy claimed that the “rebates”
of Revilla were received by the
senator's senior staff member
Cambe, coaccused in the plunder
case.
81 bank accounts
The investigation covered 81
bank accounts that were allowed
to be opened by the Court of
Appeals on May 28 and Aug. 15
this year.
“This fortifies the veracity of
the contents [of the] ledger.
According to Luy, the foregoing
withdrawals were used to fund
several cash disbursements of
[Napoles] from 2006 to 2010,
including the cash given to Revilla
through Cambe totaling
P224,512,500,” the AMLC said.
Justiniano explained that the
AMLC did not include deposit
accounts Revilla used for his
“legitimate” earnings as a movie
actor and television personality.
“It's hard to think that the cash
deposits he made were legitimate
because the amounts involved
were huge. If the source of the
funds were legitimate, these
would have been deposited
through checks and not cash,”
Justiniano said.
Unexplained wealth
The AMLC also said it found
“ d i s p a r i t i e s ” a n d
“inconsistencies” in the cash and
i n v e s t m e n t va l u e s R e v i l l a
declared in his statement of
assets, liabilities and net worth
(SALN) submitted from 2004 to
2010 and with his cash and
investments extracted from
various bank and investment
accounts, with the difference
between what he declared and
what he actually had in his bank
accounts, ranging from P49
million in 2004 to a high of P94
million in 2007.
The AMLC said this was “an
indication of concealment of
unexplained wealth.”
But Justiniano said it would be
“overkill” to file a case of
unexplained wealth against
Revilla, as the plunder case was
more than enough to put him in
jail if convicted.
The AMLC investigation also
uncovered a total of P27.745
million in funds deposited in 2010
in the account of Nature Concepts,
a real estate firm formed by
Revilla's wife, Representative
Mercado, in March 2006 with a
minimum paid-up capital of
P62,500.
The company did not file
financial statements with the
Securities and Exchange
Commission from 2007 to 2010,
the AMLC found.
Same lawyer as Napoles
The AMLC said the firm's
incorporation papers and other
corporate documents were
notarized by Joel G. Gordola, the
same lawyer consulted by Napoles
in forming some of her bogus
foundations.
Justiniano said there was no
plan to charge Mercado with
plunder, even if she is a public
official, because she was not
included in the charge sheet.
The AMLC said the
investments and bank accounts
were “terminated immediately
before and after the PDAF scandal
circulated in [the] media.”
The Inquirer published its sixpart pork barrel scam series in
August 2013. Inquirer.net
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Advocates celebrate first anniversary of passage of AB 60, which gives driver' licenses to
undocumented immigrants. AJPRESS photo
Few undocumented
Filipinos ... From page 1
Joe Bernardo, a Filipino-American
policy analyst for the Mayor's Office of
Immigrant Affairs, lamented that only a
handful of Filipinos have shown up at
the recent driver's license educational
forums organized by the city. Bernardo,
who coordinates most of the forums,
said only one Filipino family showed up
to both of their recent outreach events
in Van Nuys and Canoga Park.
“We try to reach out to the Filipino
community, but only one family
showed up,” Bernardo said.
“We had 350 attendees for the first
one in Van Nuys, only one Filipino
family was there. In Canoga Park,
maybe 200 people showed up, there
was only one Filipino family there,” he
added.
Most of the people who attend the
forums to learn more about the driver's
license are from the Latino community,
Bernardo observed.
Just like DACA
Bernardo compared the low
turnout for the undocumented driver's
license forums to the Deferred Action
applications among Filipino youths.
According to community groups, fewer
than 20 percent of the eligible Filipino
youths apply for DACA.
Bernardo said that this could be
caused by a prevalent stigma in the
F i l i p i n o c o m m u n i t y re g a rd i n g
undocumented immigrants. “People
are scared. But I think people need to be
u
Page 8
October 10-16, 2014
Page 7
25TH ANNUAL TTG TRAVEL AWARDS
PH is Asia-Pacific's 'Destination of the Year’
Palace hopes 'Destination of the Year' award will bring more tourists to PH
By Ivan De lara, Marc Jayson
Cayabyab
MANILA -- Even one of AsiaPacific's most prestigious travel
and trade resources agrees: It's
more fun in the Philippines.
The country bagged the
“Destination of the Year” award
during the 25th Annual TTG Travel
Awards, the Department of Tourism
said in a statement on Thursday,
Oct. 2.
The Philippines was cited as
Asia-Pacific's “Destination of the
Year” for 2014 in a ceremony held in
Bangkok, Thailand because of its
“proactive steps and initiatives
toward the development of the
travel industry.”
Tourism Secretary Ramon
Jimenez Jr. accepted the award
during the ceremony at the Centara
Grand and Bangkok Convention
Center in Thailand on October 2.
“This award belongs to all
Filipinos. It is the Filipino people
that have ensured the acceptance of
'It's More Fun in the Philippines' as
a true and accurate description of
the participative and active role
every Filipino plays in ensuring a
successful and enjoyable visit to the
Philippines,” Jimenez said.
The Destination of the Year falls
under the Outstanding
Achievement Awards. Other
categories include Travel
Personality of the Year, Best Travel
Entrepreneur, Best Marketing and
Relationship Effort and Best Trade
Supporter.
The TTG Travel Awards is one of
the most coveted awards in the
region's travel industry, organized
by the TTG Asia Media's Travel
Trade Publishing group.
The recognition is seen as a big
boost for Philippine tourism,
especially as the Department of
Tourism prepares its “Visit the
Philippines” campaign for 2015.
“Again, the determination of the
Filipino people, coupled with the
support of our President, Benigno
S. Aquino III, is our inspiration to
build a brighter tourism future for
the Philippines - an industry that is
more profitable and more
inclusive,” Jimenez said.
Previous top destinations cited
by TTG were Singapore in 2010 and
2011, and Thailand in 2012 and
2013.
As of July 2014, 2,861,572
tourist arrivals have been recorded
by the government.
Malacañang hopes that more
tourists will visit the Philippines
after the country was named as
“Destination of the Year” by one of
Asia-Pacific's most prestigious
travel and trade resources.
“Hopefully, this new accolade
will bring more of our friends from
all over the globe to our country to
experience the sights and the
beautiful places that our country
has to offer,” deputy presidential
spokesperson Abigail Valte said
Saturday.
Malacañang congratulated the
Department of Tourism for its
successful campaign, which gave
the Philippines the recognition.
“We do not doubt that the
campaign continues to spread
because mainly it is true that it is
'more fun in the Philippines,” Valte
said.
The Philippines bagged the
“Destination of the Year” award
during the 25th Annual TTG Travel
Awards.
The country was recognized
because of its “proactive steps and
initiatives toward the development
of the travel industry.” Inquirer.net
Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr. accepts the award during the ceremony
at the Centara Grand and Bangkok Convention Center in Thailand. Contributed
photo/www.gov.ph
The heritage Village in Vigan City remains busy at night as tourists enjoy walking on its
cobblestone streets and ride in calesa (horse-drawn carriages) that ply the city famous
for its rich culture and Spanish-era mansions. Leoncio Balbin Jr.
Vigan one of 14 wonder
cities finalists
By Cristina Arzadon
VIGAN CITY -- This heritage city in
Ilocos Sur province is a step closer to
becoming one of the new seven wonder
cities of the world after the latest round
of online voting pushed it into the list of
14 finalists.
Netizens flooded Vigan's campaign
page on Facebook moments after
Bernard Weber, founder and president
of the New7Wonders, announced at 1
a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 8, the Top 14
cities that made it to the world race.
They egged the city on to secure its Top
7 spot, with the winners to be
announced on Dec. 7.
Edgardo de la Cruz, city tourism
officer, said the road to the final cut in
December was no walk in the park. “The
selection is lean and mean. Vigan is up
against the biggest cities of the world,”
he said.
The other finalists in the
New7Wonders Cities are Barcelona
(Spain), Beirut (Lebanon), Chicago
(United States), Doha (Qatar), Durban
(South Africa), Havana (Cuba), Kuala
Lumpur (Malaysia), La Paz (Bolivia),
London (United Kingdom), Mexico City
(Mexico), Perth (Australia), Quito
(Ecuador) and Reykjavik (Iceland).
Weber described the roster of
finalists as “inspiring as it is
enlightening.”
1,200 nominees
Some 1,200 cities were nominated
since the start of the global competition,
u
Page 8
October 10-16, 2014
Page 8
Fil-Am solon will push for health coverage of undocumented in California
By Jun Nucum
SAN FRANCISCO -- The lone
Filipino-American member the
California State Assembly vowed to
push for legislation that would
provide health care coverage for all
Californians regardless of
immigration status.
If passed, the law would benefit
an estimated two million
undocumented immigrants in
California including thousands of the
1.2 million Filipinos in the state.
Assembly Member Rob Bonta,
buoyed by the huge enrollment
figures in the state for the new
Affordable Care Act, promised to
push for the passage of Senate Bill
1005, authored by Senator Ricardo
Lara, that would give undocumented
immigrants access to coverage.
Unfortunately, their efforts have
the bill passed this year stalled, even
after it passed the policy committee.
Bonta was the keynote speaker
at a recent New America Media
special newsmaker briefing titled “A
Report Card on Health Care Reform:
Who's Covered, Who Isn't, What's
Next?”
“The senate bill was held in the
appropriations committee where
discussions, debate and questions
about how it would be paid for were
raised,” rued Bonta. “The legislative
process is over for this year, the bill
will not be signed this year.”
Sons of immigrants
Proponents of the bill also have
to contend with the firm belief of
some people that undocumented
Few
undocumented
Filipinos ... From page 6
more brave, and know that LA is a
sanctuary for them,” Bernardo stated.
He pointed out that in Los Angeles,
the immigrant community can enjoy a
lot of rights that may not be available
to them in other places. “I think that
Filipinos should take full advantage of
all the rights they have, whether
they're undocumented or not here in
the US,” he said.
Bernardo, who admitted that he
also has relatives and friends who are
undocumented, said that he
understands why a lot of people who
are “out of status” are scared to come
out into the open.
However, he pointed out that in
the last few years, Los Angeles has
enacted progressive measures that
allow the city to become more
inclusive of all people, regardless of
whether they have papers or not.
There should be little to no reasons
now for undocumented Filipinos to be
afraid to come out, he said.
As far as the license itself is
concerned, immigrant rights advocate
Anthony Ng said that there are
protective measures in place that will
help prevent the license holder's
security from being compromised.
For example, the approved design
for the license will very closely
resemble a regular California driver's
license, save for a small marking on
the side that would indicate federal
limitations. The new design does not
disclose the immigration status of a
license holder.
Fu r t h e r m o re , t h e S t a te o f
California has begun training its
highway patrol officers and law
California Assembly Member Rob Bonta (left), Nicole Saulsberry, Akiko Aspillaga and Beatrice Sanchez at New America Media
newsmaker briefing in San Francisco. Photo by Jun Nucum
immigrants do not deserve to benefit
from services because they are in the
United States illegally.
Both Bonta and bill author
Senator Lara are sons of immigrants
and strong supporters of the
undocumented and known for
working for health care coverage for
as many Californians as possible.
Since budget considerations
were the main reasons for the bill's
rough sailing in the legislature, Bonta
explained that investment in the less
costly front end of the health care
system particularly in wellness and
prevention programs, could actually
lessen the pressure on health care
spending as a whole.
“Estimates show that we spend
around $1.3 billion on
undocumented Californians,” he
said, “but we would spend in the
enforcement agents on how to
properly interact with people who
hold this kind of license. Ng also
pointed out that in relation to AB 60,
additional legislation was passed to
ensure confidentiality of the license
holders' information.
Culturally competent outreach
Ng, who works for Asian
Americans Advancing Justice LA, said
that the low turnout could be mainly
due to the Filipino community being
“hard to reach.”
Ng, a Filipino DACA recipient
himself, emphasized the need for
culturally competent communication,
in terms of the outreach efforts to
ethnic groups. He said that ethnic
media play a huge role in dispelling
misconceptions surrounding new
services for the undocumented
community.
Ng also pointed out that the
culturally competent outreach on AB
60, whether it's through ethnic media
or through community groups, would
also help prevent immigrants from
becoming victims of fraud.
According to community leaders,
applicants should be wary of
fraudulent offers, including those that
promise to expedite the process or
replace required documents with
other documentation.
“[We're] making sure that they
don't become victims of fraud. The
only place that you can pay is the DMV.
No one else is processing it other than
the DMV,” Ng said.
Ng said that Filipinos who want to
apply for the license should not
hesitate to seek for help from trusted
community partners, like Advancing
Justice LA. The community partners,
he explained, are more than willing to
help immigrants prepare their
documents for the application process
and provide in-language assistance to
those who need it. Inquirer.net
range of $350-460 million if we
provided health coverage as well as
wellness and preventative care. If
you are diagnosed, treated and
managed early enough (then you)
avoid the costly trips to the hospital.”
Not much more costly
Tanya Broder, a senior staff
attorney at the National Immigration
L a w C e n t e r, e c h o e d B o n t a' s
argument. “The University of
California in both Los Angeles and
Berkeley has determined that it
won't cost too much even to extend
Medi-Cal coverage.”
“Results show that it would only
cost two cents extra on a Medi-Cal
dollar to get a full coverage in
California for everyone. It is not too
much to spend for something that
will help all of us,” Broder stated.
Bonta said he and the bill's
supporters have to satisfy Gov. Jerry
Brown's and their legislative
colleagues' on how to pay for the cost
of covering everyone, including the
undocumented. “We need to do our
best to accommodate their concerns
without diluting the importance of
this bill, Bonta acknowledged.”
Meanwhile, before the bill is
passed, undocumented immigrants
and their families' medical needs will
have suffer through lack of coverage.
Broder reported that because of
the Affordable Care Act, additional
3.1 million people have received
coverage in California. “However, half
of the 2.7 to 3.4 million of the
remaining uninsured are ineligible
because of their immigration status.”
Undocumented and uninsured
Vigan ... From page 7
initiated by Swiss nonprofit
New7Wonders Foundation and
which aims to preserve the
world's man-made and natural
heritage sites.
The foundation was behind
the campaign that named Puerto
Princesa City one of the world's
New7Wonders of Nature in 2011.
“The short list will now help
voters to focus their
understanding on a key trend
s h a p i n g o u r wo rl d
todayurbanization,” Eamonn
Fitzgerald, head of
communication at New7Wonders,
said in a statement.
“Whether it is innovation or
income inequality, or migration or
mass transport, some of the most
provocative questions of our time
are being debated in the context of
a changing world in which the
majority of humanity lives in
cities,” Fitzgerald said.
The United Nations
Educational, Scientific and
Cultural Organization (Unesco)
inscribed Vigan on the World
Heritage list in 1999, citing the
city for its “best practice in
sustainable conservation and
management of world heritage
properties.”
One of six Unesco World
Heritage sites in the Philippines,
Vigan, also the capital of Ilocos Sur,
is dubbed as the best-preserved
example of a planned Spanish
colonial town in Asia.
De la Cruz said Vigan Mayor
Eva Marie Medina had been up all
m o r n i n g o n W e d n e s d a y,
responding to congratulatory
messages and thanked Filipinos
here and abroad for supporting
Vigan's bid.
Appeal for support
“Having come this far, the
unprecedented votes from local
and international communities
affirm that Vigan is truly a wonder
city,” Medina said in a statement. “I
t h e re fo re a p p e a l fo r yo u r
unequivocal support in the final
leg of the search as we are up
against formidable megacities.”
De la Cruz said he had no
means to monitor where the Vigan
votes were coming from. “We
firmly believe since the
Philippines is the world's texting
capital, text votes from Filipinos
have helped us to the final round.”
Race organizers said voting in
the final round would now
continue across a range of
platforms such as dedicated iOS
and Android apps, international
telephone voting lines and, where
available, via national short
messaging service (SMS).
They did not divulge the
rankings when they announced
the cities that made it to the next
round.
Selection process
According to New7Wonders,
each voting session done online
and via the mobile applications
produces seven votes, one each for
a different chosen finalist. On the
other hand, each vote via
telephone voting line or text
message produces one vote for
that chosen finalist.
Each of these votes has equal
status, and the votes are added up
to determine the chosen
New7Wonders Cities.
The Switzerland-based
foundation has enabled
international phone voting using
Such is the plight of Deferred
Action for Childhood Arrivals
(DACA) recipients Beatrice Sanchez
and summa cum laude nursing
graduate Akiko Aspillaga, a Filipina,
who were brave enough to share
their experiences of being
undocumented and uninsured.
President Barack Obama
ordered that action on deportation
be deferred for undocumented
children who were under 31 years of
age as of June 15, 2012, came to the
U.S. while under the age of 16 and
have continuously resided here from
June 15, 2007 to the present, among
other stipulations. DACA recipients
are allowed to work, may apply for a
driver's license and are eligible for
Medi-Cal. Until recently, however, an
estimated 20,000 of about 37,000
(54 percent) potential DACA
recipients are Filipinos who have not
availed of the program.
Sanchez, who had been afraid to
see a doctor since a school accident
at the age of seven for fear of steep
medical bills. She also endures her
mother's lack of medical benefits.
“My mom continued to work hard
while fast developing diabetes that
had gone worse until she fell into a
coma,” Sanchez recalled.
Aspillaga's mom, on the hand,
had to take over the counter pain
relievers to temporarily ease
whatever pain she feels. She told of
her mother's desperation:
“Anak (My child), if I die, sell all
my jewelry, my possessions so you
can bury me without debt. But anak,
if I go to the hospital I will bury you in
debt.” Inquirer.net
t h e
f o l l o w i n g
numbers+881821611990;
+ 8 8 1 9 2 1 6 1 1 9 9 0 ;
+ 3 4 9 0 2 7 3 5 4 7 1 ;
+ 4 4 7 5 8 9 9 7 5 2 0 1 ;
+447559121023; and
+447559583500.
B e fo re We d n e s d ay ' s
announcement, Fitzgerald said
the rankings among the 21
remaining cities were changing
daily. “(T)hat shows how dynamic
and exciting this campaign is,” he
said, adding that a photo finish
was expected for the list of 14
finalists.
“Vigan always appears last in
the roll because winners are
announced in alphabetical order,”
he said. He said Vigan was always
assigned with the last number
code in the international phone
voting but this seemed to have
never worked to the city's
disadvantage.
“From Code 28 (the initial
number assigned in the previous
round), we always get the last
number but we make it to the next
round nonetheless,” he said.
He said Vigan's multimedia
platform campaign also helped
draw more votes for the city.
To support Vigan's campaign,
Ilocos Sur Gov. Ryan Luis Singson
issued a memorandum to all
provincial government offices and
towns and cities in the province
asking employees to conduct
simultaneous voting from 8 to 9
a.m. on Tuesday.
“The win of Vigan is the
triumph of Ilocos Sur and the
entire nation,” Singson said.
The Department of Foreign
Affairs, meanwhile, has urged
Filipinos to vote for Vigan. Public
may vote online via
new7wonders.com. Inquirer.net
October 10-16, 2014
Page 9
PH Dept. of Tourism Asst. Sec. Benito Bengzon speaks
before Filipino American leaders in Washington DC Sept.
19, 2014.
Bring Medicare Home!
PH Med. Tourism booth: Dr. Erie Agustin (NY), Daisy Tucay
The Medical City, Makati Med, St. Luke's and PH DoT reps with World Medical RN, PRA Gen.Manager Vernie Atienza, & Zeny Pallugna (NY
Tourism Congress officials.
Consulate DoT)
PH Medical Tourism Officials Urged to Support Feasibility Study
WASHINGTON, DC -- The PH
Medical Tourism delegation led by
Tourism Asst. Sec. Benito Bengzon
and the representatives of the top
Manila hospitals were urged by the
US Medicare PH advocacy
organization to support a Medicare
portability feasibility study during a
September 19 luncheon forum at the
PH Embassy. The estimated cost of
the study is $200,000.
The accredited PH hospitals
were represented by St. Lukes' senior
V.P. Marilen Lagniton, The Medical
City Marketing Director Millete
Escasinas, Makati Med V.P. Arlyn
Songco & Asian Hospital's founder
Dr. Jorge Garcia.
They later participated at the
prestigious 7 t h World Medical
Tourism Congress in the Gaylord
Convention Center in the nation's
capital.
The PH Retirement Authority
(PRA) Gen. Manager Vernie Atienza
joined them. Atienza hosted the chair,
Daisy Tucay RN, and the organizer
Eric Lachica of the advocacy
campaign during the three-day
educational conference where
thousands of delegates attended
fro m a do ze n c o u n t ri e s a n d
international healthcare industries.
" We a p p e a l e d t o t h e P H
Department of Tourism to commit to
the cause of Medicare Portability for
the tens of thousands visiting FilAms
seniors by ensuring high quality
health standards and keeping
medical costs low in the homeland.
We need the feasibility study to
provide the marketing research and
statistics to bolster the healthcare
and retirement businesses there,”
said DaisyTucay.
Eric Lachica of US Medicare PH
said, "We stressed to the delegation
that feasibility study is necessary to
persuade US Medicare Advantage
insurance companies to invest and
provide long term full coverage for
American retirees there. We need to
build their confidence in doing
business with the top PH hospitals
and their doctors." The advocates
also submitted a letter to the PH
Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez.
Medicare coverage in the PH is a
major concern of 400,000 Americans
residing in the PH. They have raised
this issue with members of the US
congress and the U.S. Ambassador in
Manila.
The advocacy group wants
Medicare Advantage (Part C)
insurance companies to pay directly
the top Philippine hospitals and their
doctors for treating American
retirees using the current Guam
model and TRICARE PH
Demonstration project.
The proposed PH healthcare
industry study would show the past
year's cost savings experience and
the quality of care provided to ten
thousand US military retirees in the
TRICARE PH program and the 30,000
Guam Medicare American
beneficiaries who are treated at the
top PH hospitals at negotiated low
prices.
E a r l i e r i n J a n u a r y, t h e
organization leaders launched their
2014 campaign with their Manila
based partners including the
Retirement & Healthcare Coalition
(www.rhc.com.ph), formed by the
four influential foreign chambers of
commerce (American, European,
Japanese and Korean).
If TRICARE and Medicare federal
Guam benefits are good for them,
why not for Americans on the US
mainland, they asked. Medicare will
be facing cuts of spending in the
range of two to five billion dollars per
month, according to US
Congressional Budget Office.
The group estimated that a
billion dollars of Medicare expenses
could be saved yearly if 200,000
Filipino Americans seniors retire and
are covered in the PH compared to if
they resided in the US.
The anticipated results of the
study would build confidence of
insurance companies paid by
Medicare: United Healthcare,
Carefirst, Kaiser, Humana, Molina,
Blue Cross, Aetna and others to do
business with the top PH hospitals
and their accredited doctors to
realize tremendous savings.
Currently, certain policies of
these companies only provide
TEMPORARY worldwide emergency
/medically necessary coverage (6months maximum) for Medicare
seniors who travel overseas.
Join the campaign! Call Eric
Lachica and Daisy Tucay 202 2461998, www.USMedicarePH.org, USA
202-246-1998.
Bitter truth: Filipinos more likely to have diabetes
By Aries Joseph Hegina
INQUIRER.net photo
MANILA -- Here is the bitter truth
without the sugar coating: simply being a
Filipino puts you in the risk of having
diabetes. Doctor Cynthia Rosanna Halili
Manabat, past president of Philippine Society
of Endocrinology and Metabolism, said that
Filipinos are more prone to diabetes because
of their lifestyle choices.
“First, Asians are more prone to diabetes
than other ethnic groups; second, having
adapted the Western “fastfood” lifestyle,
more Filipinos are becoming obese; third,
rice and other foods rich in carbohydrates
play a central role in our diet; and lastly,
Filipinos simply love to eat,” Manabat said
Tuesday in a press briefing.
Manabat said that these practices
resulted in the rise in the number of Filipinos
diagnosed to have the disease: from 3.4
percent of the country's population in 2003,
it increased to 4.8 percent in 2008 and spiked
to 5.1 percent in 2013. The doctor also said
that more than four million people are
diabetics but more Filipinos are unaware
that they have the disease.
If diabetes remains unabated, the World
Health Organization stated that by 2030, it
will be the seventh cause of death worldwide.
[email protected]
Manabat added that if diabetes is
compounded with obesity, the risk of death
for the diabetic will increase by 20 to 40
percent. In order to assuage the threat of
d i a b e te s a n d o b e s i t y, A s t ra Z e n e c a
introduced Dapagliflozin, a drug which
targets the kidney and flushes out the glucose
through urine. The said drug will also aid in
weight loss and blood pressure reduction.
However, AstraZeneca cautioned that the
drug should only be used by diabetics who
are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
The drug is now available at drugstores
in the Philippines at P61.75 per pill and
should be taken once a day. Inquirer.net
October 10-16, 2014
Page 10
High cruelty
World Animal Day was marked last Oct. 4, the feast day of St.
Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals and the
environment. In these parts and elsewhere on the planet,
people took their beloved pets for a special treat, or to chapels
and churches to be blessed.
But earlier in the month, as though to herald the day
reserved for creatures big and small, a La Union court
sentenced a couple to double life terms and ordered them to
pay more than P9 million in penalties for hiring minors to
torture and kill small animals for fetish videos sold online. The
couple, Dorma and Vicente Ridon, were arrested in Burgos
town in 2011 and charged with violating the Wildlife
Protection and Conservation Act (Republic Act No. 9147) and
the Anti-Child Abuse Act (RA 7610), among others.
La Union Regional Trial Court Judge Alpino Florendo of
Branch 30 found the Ridons guilty of hiring girls aged between
12 and 18, dressing them in provocative attire, and having them
torture small animals to death. The acts that the girls were
made to do, filmed on video, would make even the stone-cold
blanch: skinning a dog alive, cutting off rabbits' ears and
torching the animals, crushing puppies with stiletto heels, etc.
Snuff videos, in effect, for which the girls were paid anything
from P100 to P1,000 each, and which were sold on the Internet
to “sexual fetishists” in Australia, France, Korea, Malaysia, the
United Kingdom and the United States, according to the animal
rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta)
Asia-Pacific.
A concerned person had found the videos online and
brought the matter to Peta, which then sought the arrest of the
Ridon couple, Inquirer Northern Luzon reported. “Cases such
as this one show why we must never be silent about cruelty to
animals,” Peta said in a statement.
It's particularly reprehensible when helpless creatures are
violated, and the couple's conviction is a high-water mark in
child and animal protection. The violation has the added horror
of having minors involved in acts of high cruelty in exchange for
money. Unfortunately, this terrible case isn't the first time that
animals have been maltreated and abused in the Philippines for
profit.
In 2011, authorities raided a dog-fighting club in Indang,
Cavite. A scant four months later, over 300 malnourished and
badly injured pit bulls were discovered in another dog-fighting
operation in Laguna. It turned out that the two illegal
operations were being run by the same people, a group of
Koreans who were out on bail for the first raid. The dogs were
made to fight in five-minute bouts broadcast live on the
Internet using expensive equipment; the bets received ran up
to P37,900.
There were at least two sad discoveries in this case. One was
that among the dogs rescued in the raids, at least 70 were in
such bad shape that they had to be put down. The other was that
the arrested Koreans faced relatively minor penalties for their
acts. The Animal Welfare Act (RA 8485) imposed on violators a
piddling fee of P5,000 and a jail term of six months up to a
maximum of two years. Back then, animal rights groups led by
the Philippine Animal Welfare Society or PAWS led the call for a
heightening of penalties for the abuse and maltreatment of
What To Do If Your
Immigration Case
Is Denied
If the USCIS denies an
application or petition, it will send
a denial notice to the applicant or
petitioner explaining the reasons
for the denial. The applicant or
petitioner may appeal the decision
to the USCIS Administrative
Appeals Office (AAO) or the Board
of Immigration Appeals (BIA). The
denial notice will provide
information about his appeal
rights.
The applicant or petitioner,
with certain exceptions, may also
file a motion to reopen or
reconsider. If there is no right to
appeal, the applicant or petitioner
may still file a motion with the
USCIS. Also, where the option to
appeal is available and the decision
made on appeal is still unfavorable,
a motion to reopen or reconsider
may be filed.
In a visa petition case, the
beneficiary cannot file an appeal or
motion unless he is also the
petitioner such as in the case of a
VAWA self-petitioner, widow/er of
a citizen and other visa petitions
where the beneficiary selfpetitions.
When an applicant or
petitioner files an appeal, he is
requesting a higher authority of the
original deciding office to review
the decision due to the incorrect
application of law or
misinterpretation of pertinent
facts of the case.
Generally, a decision denying a
family-based petition is appealable
to the BIA. The appeal is made on
Form EOIR-29, Notice of Appeal to
the Board of Immigration Appeals
from a Decision of an INS Officer,
and is filed with the office that
originally made the decision. Most
appeals, with certain exceptions,
are made on Form I-290B, Notice of
Appeal or Motion. The denial
notice will provide the instructions
as to which form to use and where
to file it.
When the applicant or
petitioner appeals the decision to
the AAO, the adjudicating officer
who made the original decision will
review the record. If the officer
determines that reopening or
reconsidering the case is not
warranted, the case will be
forwarded to the AAO or the BIA.
The appeal must be filed within
the set period indicated in the
denial notice which is generally 30
days from the date of the decision.
Shorter period may apply to some
cases. There is no extension for the
set deadline.
A brief may be submitted with
the appeal. The brief and other
supporting evidence may be filed
u
Page 12
High-risk duty
u
Page 12
Publisher/Editor-in-Chief: Lito A. Gajilan, Jr.
Columnists: Reuben S. Seguritan, Esq.,
Juan L. Mercado, Joseph G. Lariosa
Correspondent: Grace G. Baldisseri
The opinions expressed by columnists are their own and do
not reflect the opinion of the paper nor that of the publisher.
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 201-434-1114 Fax 201-434-0880
2711 John F. Kennedy Boulevard, Jersey City, NJ 07306
“If we let this pass, no
significant witness will testify…
because of fear,” Sen. Miriam
Defensor Santiago fumed. She
seeks 24-hour police protection for
Audit Commissioner Heidi
Mendoza who documented Makati
hospital scams before the Senate
blue ribbon committee.
Medical equipment for Ospital
ng Makati - from sterilizers to beds
to cabinets - worth P9.3 million
were padded by P61.2 million
under Mayor Elenita Binay's
watch, Mendoza revealed. That's a
9,056-percent overrun.
There was a break-in at
Mendoza's home this year, and she
received threatening phone calls
before the Senate hearings. The
Commission on Audit official,
nonetheless, testified that beds
claimed to be manufactured in the
United States were Taiwanese
imports. No public biddings were
conducted. And so on.
A parallel controversy erupted
over the weekend, when Makati
Mayor Junjun Binay slammed
Senate President Franklin Drilon
for indicating he'll sign a subpoena
to compel Binay to testify on the
overpriced P2.3-billion Makati City
Hall parking building. If a witness
refused, “the entire committee can
decide if a witness can be detained”
until he sings. Drilon stressed he
“merely explained Senate
procedures.”
Binay protested, presenting a
“reasonable appeal” to the
committee to desist. “The
Ombudsman now has jurisdiction
over the related plunder case.” And
Sen. Nancy Binay weighed in: Sen.
Teofisto Guingona III should
convene the committee to address
the jurisdictional issue.
Will this replay the July 1950
investigation of the purchase of
Buenavista and Tambobong
estates (GR No. L-3820)? Jean
Arnault clammed up on demands
that he finger the person to whom
he slipped P1.44 million.
Cited in contempt, Arnault was
held by the Senate sergeant-atarms until he answered.
Yes, the Senate had the power
to punish Arnault for contempt, the
Supreme Court decided. Yes, the
Senate had the authority to commit
him “for a term beyond its period of
legislative session.” And no,
Arnault may not rightfully invoke
u
Page 14
October 10-16, 2014
Page 11
Hong Kong, the golden goose Beijing cannot sacrifice
Agence France-Presse
B E I J I N G - - H o n g Ko n g ' s
democracy protests have stoked
fears of retribution from China, but
observers say the city is simply too
valuable to punish and sideline,
even as it faces a long-term
challenge from mainland rival
Shanghai.
Demonstrators, sometimes
numbering in the tens of
thousands, have taken to Hong
Kong's streets over the past week
to demand free elections for the
city's leader in 2017, a display of
civil disobedience initially met
with tear gas from riot police and
later attacks by unidentified men.
Large-scale disruption has
triggered fears in the semiautonomous city that Beijing which does not tolerate any
challenge to its rule - may seek to
penalize it for the show of popular
Making
life worth
living
Ellen Tordesillas
The incident involving car
model Alyzza Agustin and Police
Chief Superintendent Alexander
I g n a c i o i s o n e exa m p l e o f
something good coming out of a
stupid act.
God works in mysterious ways
indeed.
Last Sept. 28, Agustin, who
apparently enjoys social media but
does not comprehend it's power
and perils proudly posted in her
Facebook and Instagram accounts
that she was able to get away
violating the number coding traffic
scheme in Metro Manila by using a
calling card Ignacio gave her.
She bragged: “Nahuli na naman
ako dahil coding but because of you
Boss Alex wala ng huli-huli. Thank
intransigence.
The greatest threat could be for
the leadership to sideline the freewheeling former British colony in
favor of China's emerging financial
center Shanghai, where authorities
established a much-vaunted free
trade zone (FTZ) a year ago.
“Because Hong Kong is now
standing up to China, it is seen as an
unreliable partner,” said Francis
Lun, a financial analyst and CEO of
Hong Kong-based Geo Securities.
“This will escalate (the trend)
that Shanghai will one day replace
Hong Kong as the financial capital
of China.
“If the tide changes, there is no
going back,” Lun added. “It could
happen. It could happen very fast.”
But experts maintain that Hong
Kong is not at risk of being
marginalized in the short-term.
That would be self-defeating for
Beijing, which continually stresses
that the city is part of China, and
itself uses it as a key economic
conduit.
Ta k i n g m e a s u r e s t o
economically punish Hong Kong
would just “harden views” in the
territory, noted Julian EvansPritchard, China economist at
Capital Economics.
“Obviously, they're not happy
about what's happening in the
protests, but they're still trying to
model a lot of the (financial)
reforms on the mainland on Hong
Kong,” Evans-Pritchard said.
“So, I don't think they want to
set Hong Kong back. It would be
silly to have a tit-for-tat.”
'I will use you'
Hong Kong was returned to
China in 1997 and has its own
government and legal system, with
its residents enjoying rights and
freedoms unknown on the Chinese
mainland.
Nonetheless the protests are
fuelled by soaring inequality and
living costs as well as anger over
the cozy relationship between the
city government and its financial
elite, contributing to a sense of
disenchantment among the
younger generation.
Hong Kong - known for its open
approach to business - was ranked
the world's freest economy this
year for the 20th consecutive year,
according to the Index of Economic
Freedom, published annually by
the Heritage Foundation and the
Wall Street Journal. Mainland
China, by contrast, ranked 137th.
Analysts cite Hong Kong's
“transparent and fair” legal system
as a keystone of the bridge it forms
between China and the global
financial community.
The city is also a major
destination for mainland Chinese
investors, with nearly 60 percent of
Chinese outbound investment
either directed to or channeled
through it by the end of 2012,
according to China's Ministry of
Commerce.
Beijing is moving slowly to
open up its capital markets and
promote the yuan as an
international currency.
But at the same time it is
looking to maintain its control over
key economic levers and foreign
firms have lamented the sluggish
pace of promised reforms in the
Shanghai FTZ.
“Obviously there's a clear
preference for China to develop
Shanghai,” said ANZ senior
economist Raymond Yeung. “But
that doesn't mean they've already
abandoned Hong Kong.”
The pro-democracy Occupy
Central campaign was first
u
Page 12
When stupidity resulted in something good
you so much sa napaka-useful
mong card with matching
dedication pa.”
She even posted the calling
card of Ignacio and with a signed
note at the back which said: “Please
assist my EA, Alyzza Agustin.”
EA is understood to be
Executive Assistant.
Of course the traffic policeman
let Ignacio's EA get away with the
violation which ordinary motorists
who are not the EA of any
government official would not
have escaped without paying a fine
and undergo so many hassles.
It was a good thing Agustin
didn't realize the perils of social
m e d i a ( Fa c e b o o k , Tw i t t e r,
Instagram): that there's nothing
private once posted. There's no
such thing as limiting your
message to your friends because
u
Page 12
Noynoy goes solo
Everyone knows about fairweather friends. Now President
Noynoy Aquino is learning the
hard way about fair-weather
political allies (and even
subordinates) in his singleminded defense of his beloved,
beleaguered national police chief.
Let's start with the most
prominent missing person these
days, who is, ironically, the official
most often accused of political
“epal,” that not-so-endearing trait
that makes politicians jostle to
always be in the middle of things,
whether it's the headline news or
just a town fiesta. Yes, Interior
Secretary Mar Roxas has
seemingly taken a vow of silence
just when he should be front and
center because his job requires it.
By rights, Roxas should be
leading the effort to look into
a l l e ga t i o n s t h a t h i s l i n e a l
subordinate, Director General
Alan Purisima, enriched himself
by securing huge discounts on
land, houses and SUVs. But after
saying in the beginning of the
controversy that he would order a
lifestyle check on the national
police chief, nothing more has
been heard from Roxas.
And Roxas has never shied
away from free publicity before,
whether that required tipping off
the media that he would be
cursing at a protest rally or issuing
p h o t o re l e a s e s o f h i m s e l f
awkwardly driving a pedicab,
hoisting a sack or rice on his
shoulder or even hammering a
nail into a wooden school desk.
But on the issue of Purisima,
Roxas has gone both mute and
invisible, forcing Malacañang
Palace to keep regurgitating the
line that Aquino continues to trust
the police chief and will not even
investigate him.
Roxas can argue that since
Aquino has taken over Purisima's
case, he can no longer insinuate
himself into it like some unwanted
photobomber. But that is a
disingenuous defense because
Roxas, if he really wanted to stop
Aquino from looking like a fool
protecting Purisima, should
actually take the lead in
exonerating the police chief as
DILG secretary.
As it is, Roxas has joined the
legions of supposed staunch
political allies of Aquino in
keeping a studied silence about
the embattled police chief, leaving
the defense of Purisima to the
President and his mealy-mouthed
spokesmen. And it's clear that no
one among the President's allies
in the Executive or in Congress
wants to join Aquino in defending
his longtime security aide,
apparently because they are
afraid to be tarred by the same
corrupt brush that was used to
paint Purisima.
But the silence of Roxas, who
is both the general's immediate
boss and Aquino's supposed most
trusted ally and defender in the
Cabinet, is the most traitorous of
all. And Aquino, if he has not
totally lost his mind in his defense
of Purisima, must have noticed
that he is going it alone in
defending the corruption-tainted
general who used to protect him.
No Cabinet member, senator,
congressman or even Liberal
Party leader wants to have
anything to do with Purisima
something that speaks volumes
not only about the guilt of the
general but also of the fickle
loyalty of Aquino's supposed
allies. And Roxas, the man who
seeks nothing but Aquino's
anointing and support “to
continue the reforms” after 2016,
will not even touch the general
with the proverbial 10-foot pole,
for fear of smearing himself with
the nasty stuff that's been
covering both Purisima and
Aquino.
***
One of the latest strategies
being considered by government
revenue planners and antitobacco advocates is the setting of
minimum retail prices for
cigarettes. The theory behind
setting minimum prices looks
good on paper, because it will
supposedly raise government
u
Page 12
October 10-16, 2014
Page 12
Noynoy goes
solo ...
From page 11
revenue and reduce cigarette
consumption.
In practice, it gets a bit more
complicated than that. The
setting of minimum prices for
tobacco products has only been
proven, in countries whereit
has been tried, to encourage
smuggling while not affecting
t h e vo l u m e o f c i g a r e t t e
consumption.
Minimum selling prices will
only aid tax evaders, who will
merely continue selling
smuggled cigarettes at very low
prices, leaving tax-compliant
manufacturers to abide with
mandated minimum prices.
Hong Kong, the
golden goose ...
From page 11
announced last year but
officials still pushed ahead with
plans for a cross-trading
scheme between Hong Kong
and Shanghai's stock markets,
he pointed out.
“It's too simplistic to think
that 'You're naughty, and I don't
want to take care of you any
more'. The leaders of China
today are very pragmatic: 'So
long as you can deliver, then I
will use you.'”
Overall consumption will also
not diminish but government
r e ve n u e s w i l l s u f f e r a s
consumption shifts to illicit
products.
In 2010, the European
Union banned the setting of
minimum prices for cigarettes
in Austria, Ireland, and France
because the scheme
undermined the freedom of
manufacturers and importers
to determine the selling prices
of their products and,
c o r r e s p o n d i n g l y, f r e e
competition. The EU stated
that for the protection of public
health, higher price levels may
be adequately attained by
increased taxation, with the
increases reflected in an
increase in the retail selling
price.
Malaysia also set minimum
prices for cigarettes in 2010,
but witnessed a surge in the
entry and sale of smuggled
cigarettes selling below the
legal prices. Surveys indicated
that illegal cigarettes have
cornered almost 40 percent of
the entire market, denying the
government billions in lost tax
revenue.
The real issue here is
stopping tax evasion and not
requiring all cigarette
manufacturers to pay the
proper taxes, not setting
artificial minimum prices that
only encourage smuggle and
lose revenue for government.
The challenge is fighting
smuggling and collecting the
right taxes, which cannot be
remedied by employing some
fake magic bullet.
Narrowing gap
Yet while Hong Kong need
not worry about being eclipsed
by its mainland rival in the
short-term, the dynamic could
shift as the territory's full
return to Chinese control in
2047 nears.
At that point, Hong Kong
will probably still retain some
of its “inherent advantages”
such as the widespread use of
English, Evans-Pritchard said,
but may stand to lose others,
such as its independent legal
system.
“I could see a scenario in
the very long run - after it
returns to China in 2047, if
basically it loses its special
status - then at that stage you
wonder,” he said.
“I do think Shanghai will
become increasingly important
and it could overtake Hong
Kong, at least as a domestic
financial center.”
For his part Yeung felt
Shanghai was unlikely to
displace Hong Kong, but added:
“Obviously a convergence will
be coming, because China is
catching up, Shanghai is
catching up.
“ S o t h e ga p b e t we e n
Shanghai and Hong Kong will
narrow; this is undoubtedly
true.” Inquirer.net
When stupidity
results ...
From page 11
the friends of your friends can share
what they find interesting, intriguing,
infuriating.
That's what happened to Agustin's
post. Several netizens reacted to it
because it showed misuse of authority
on the part of Santiago.
President Aquino's “no wangwang” policy was most applauded
because it was supposed to put
government officials into their proper
role as public servants. A government
position is not supposed to be a
position of privilege to be used to put
officials above the long- suffering
ordinary citizens.
The number coding scheme was
devised to ease traffic in Metro Manila
which is a daily curse to commuters and
motorists. Giving one an exemption for
a flimsy reason that she is a friend of an
official makes a mockery of the
regulation and rubs salt to the suffering
of the commuters and motorists.
That's why Agustin's post drew
collective ire.
Ignacio now denies that Agustin
was his EA. So what was she?
Someone must have told Agustin
what a stupid thing she did because she
What to do ...
From page 10
concurrently with the appeal. However,
it may also be submitted after the
appeal is filed. The applicant or
petitioner is not required to submit a
brief; however, he must provide an
explanation as to why he believes the
original decision was made in error. If
the applicant or petitioner opts not to
file a brief, failure to submit at least an
explanation as to why the decision was
made in error may result in the denial
of the appeal.
When the applicant or petitioner
files a motion to reconsider or reopen,
he is requesting the adjudicating officer
who originally made the decision to
review it. A motion to reopen must be
based on factual grounds such as the
discovery of new evidence or changed
circumstances and must be supported
by affidavits and other documentary
evidence. A motion to reconsider on the
other hand must establish that the
decision was incorrect based on an
later deleted those posts. Too late. In
social media, once posted, it's spread
(goes viral) and it cannot be recalled.
Not even her apology could undo
what she did: “I would like to apologize
to everyone who was affected and
offended by my post: fellow motorists,
Director Alexander C. Ignacio and his
family, and the PNP institution as a
whole. I was just overwhelmed by that
moment because I was caught in traffic
for hours coming from work.
I would like to make it a point that I
do not know Director Alexander C.
Ignacio personally. I mean no harm to
anyone, and just like any Filipino
motorist , I would like a little
convenience on the road. Naniniwala po
ako na ang bawat isa sa atin ay may
pagkukulang din naman sa daan.
Pasensya na po sa aking pagkakamali.”
Ignacio declared that he is “not a
womanizer” and complained that his
family “including my ailing mother, is
badly affected by this scandal.”
Upon arriving from Malaysia, where
he attended an ASEAN Police
Conference, he requested “for private
moments “with his family.
He also said he is consulting with his
lawyers about filing of charges against
Agustin for “moral damages caused by
the calling card scandal.”
It's so funny.
Hooray for social media!
incorrect application of law and must
be supported by pertinent precedent
decisions.
Most motions are filed on Form I290B, Notice of Appeal or Motion,
generally, within 30 days from the date
of the decision. Although a brief is not
required, it may be filed with the
motion. If not filed, the applicant or
petitioner must provide a sufficient
explanation as to why he believes the
decision was made in error.
The USCIS tries to adjudicate
motions within 90 days from receipt. If
the motion is denied or dismissed, it
may be appealed to the AAO. Although
it may take longer, the AAO attempts to
resolve appeals within six months from
receipt.
In some cases, the USCIS can waive
the fee for filing an appeal or motion as
long as the fee for the underlying
petition or application can also be
waived.
(Editor's Note: REUBEN S. SEGURITAN has
been practicing law for over 30 years. For more
information, you may log on to his website at
www.seguritan.com or call (212) 695-5281.)
High cruelty
From page 10
animals. In 2012, PAWS executive director Anna Cabrera testified before
lawmakers that in that year alone, her group had recorded more than 100
cases of animal abuse. “Society's treatment of animals is inseparable from
its treatment of human beings,” she said.
In 2013, PAWS and animal-welfare advocates got what they had
worked for. Congress passed RA 10631, an amendment of the 15-year-old
Animal Welfare Act. Now, violators face a fine of up to P250,000 and a
three-year prison term. The amendment singled out those who would be
liable for the maximum penalties: “1) a syndicate; 2) an offender who
makes business out of cruelty to an animal; 3) a public officer or employee;
or 4) where at least three animals are involved.”
This development is significant in this country where too many
horrendous acts against animals are carried out for profit and perverse
enjoyment. Similarly, the conviction of the Ridon couple in La Union stands
as a clear example that animal welfare laws can be enforced with a
persevering citizenry and enlightened courts. We hope for more
encouraging news by the time the next World Animal Day comes around.
Inquirer.net
October 10-16, 2014
Page 13
Russian Official Reveals China
and Russia's Delicate Relations
Source: NTD.TV
On August 27, Russian
Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov
said that there is no need to
worry about the Chinese
C o m m u n i s t Pa r t y ( C C P ) ' s
territorial claims against Russia.
Lavrov's remarks caused
reverberations in public opinion
after broadcasted via Russian
state television. Commentators
say it reveals the delicate
relationship between China and
Russia.
“No need to worry about the
CCP's territorial claims against
Russia.” This is what Lavrov said
on Aug. 27 during an informal
meeting with participants of the
“All-Russian Youth Forum” held in
Russia's Tver region. The BBC's
C h i n e s e l a n g u a g e we b s i te
reported that Russia's state news
channel broadcasted Lavrov's
speech.
O ve r s e a s m e d i a w i d e ly
reported Lavrov's remarks. On
the same day, BBC quoted an
article by Roger Boyes of British
newspaper, The Times, saying
that the CCP needs Russia more
than ever and that a series of
factors show that the two sides
are re-adjusting their strategic
positioning.
Why does the CCP take Putin
seriously? The article said Putin
will seek re-election to stay up to
2018, while Xi Jinping's tenure
goes to 2022, very close to 2034.
According to prediction of a
Russian scholar of China affairs,
World War III between the U.S.
and China will happen in 2034.
The scholar also analyzed that the
CCP has to maintain double-digit
growth in military spending for
20 consecutive years to keep up
with U.S. and Japan in East Asia. In
addition, the CCP needs to get
three things done: First, to reduce
dependence on Western markets;
Second, to ensure smooth
channels of raw materials over
land; Third, to find good strong
allies and reinforce relationships.
Commentator Wu Fan says
the CCP faces enemies to the East,
West and South. If confrontation
happens between China, Japan,
and the U.S., the CCP has no help.
Wu Fan: “Will the Russians
help China to fight the U.S.? No,
they want China defeated in a
battle with the U.S. Then Russia
wouldn't have a strong threat in
the south. This is what they need,
so they will not help.”
Wu says the CCP does not
want another enemy in the North.
So for the CCP, it is not the time to
raise the issue of territory.
Wu Fan: “Are there any
activities between China and
Russia? Yes, there are economic
relations and trade relations, as
well as financial business. But
they will not form a coalition. So
in this situation, Lavrov said how
can you ask for territory from
Russia while dealing with the U.S.
and Japan? Won't that add more
enemies?”
Russian President Vladimir
Putin visited China in May. China
and Russia signed an Economic
and Trade Agreement, and also
conducted joint military
exercises. The outside world
regarded this as a sign of alliance.
However, Western countries
indicated that there are conflicts
between China and Russia in
terms of territory. Lavrov's
remarks are considered to be a
confirmation of this to the
outside world.
Lan Shu, commentator:
“Russia's Foreign Minister words
have confirmed Russia has an
understanding with Beijing.
Xi Jinping of China and Vladimir Putin of Russia
Beijing's high-levels will not
continue to make a fuss on this.”
However, Boyes says in his
article that with the CCP anxious,
Russia plays the role of an
increasingly intimate partner. But
Putin is the opposite of the
former soviet leader. Boyes says
Russia wants to win over the CCP
and build a close Russian-Chinese
relationship, and the West must
convince Beijing not to follow
Putin's will.
Boyes emphasized that if Xi
Jinping signed any treaty with
Putin, he will eventually find
himself suffering for it.
Financial services
corporation Morgan Stanley
reported in April 2014 that the
Russian economy is close to a
recession. On August 26, RIANovosti News Agency reported
that The Russian Ministry of
Economic Development Bureau
of Macroeconomic Analysis
leader Oleg Zasov also said that
a n e c o n o m i c re c e s s i o n i s
approaching.
October 10-16, 2014
Page 14
Asian American voters plan to turn out in November and don't affiliate with a political party
Political candidates should
court Asian American voters,
survey indicates
WASHINGTON, DC – New
polling released today by Asian
Americans Advancing Justice |
AAJC and Asian Pacific Islander
American Vote (APIAVote) shows
that at least 60 percent, and up to
as many as 77 percent, of Asian
American registered voters are
planning to vote in the 2014
Midterms. In addition, 46 percent
do not affiliate with a political
party, compared to 37 percent that
are Democrat and 17 percent that
are Republican.
See our infographic for
summary of findings.
These results, coupled with
the fact that Asian Americans are
rapidly growing in population in
the Southand Midwest, indicate
that this community will be a
sought-after political power force
in years to come.
“Asian Americans should no
longer be an afterthought in our
political process,” said Mee Moua,
president and executive director
of Asian Americans Advancing
Justice | AAJC. “It is clear that Asian
Americans will have a say in
shaping future elections and the
future direction of our country.
Candidates from both sides of the
aisle should be making inroads
with this community, and yet,
most Asian Americans have yetto-be contacted by either political
party. The polling results found
that 66 percent of Asian
Americans haven't heard from
Democrats and 74 percent have
not heard from Republicans.”
In more than 60 House races
across the country
in
congressional districts in Georgia,
New York, Illinois, Minnesota,
Maryland, California and Hawaii
Asian Americans make up eight
percent or more of the voting-age
population, large enough to close
the gap in some of these races.
To counter challenges to
voting such as discriminatory
voting laws and practices,
language barriers, lack of access to
voter resources and unfamiliarity
with the voting process and
political candidates, the Asian
American community is building
civic and political infrastructures
across the country. This includes
on-the-ground organizing in
states like Nevada and Virginia,
where in close House races, Asian
Americans make up 10 percent
more of the citizen voting age
population.
“This growing base of Asian
American voters remain mostly
undecided,” said Christine Chen,
executive director of APIAVote.
“Many are disengaged from
politics because the parties and
candidates are not directly
addressing them. As many as 64
percent of those surveyed believe
politicians don't care much about
what they think. APIAVote and
partners have launched
grassroots efforts engaging
200,000 households with direct
voter contact and we encourage
the campaigns to do the same. Our
polling indicates what they should
already know - these votes are up
for grabs.”
The survey was conducted by
AAPI Data and polled 1,300 Asian
American registered voters
nationwide in-language. Findings
reflected voter attitudes on social
issues as well as political leanings.
“The Asian American
electorate is growing rapidly and
is already a significant presence in
High-risk ...
From page 10
h i s r i gh t a ga i n s t s e l f incrimination.
The legal controversy
uncoils in a setting where
Vice President Jejomar
Binay's standing among the
2016 potential presidential
candidates plummeted from
41 to 31 percent in the latest
Pulse Asia survey. Conducted
from Sept. 8 to 15, the survey
also tracked Interior
Secretary Mar Roxas placing
second with 13 percent. He is
up from 7 percent in the
previous survey.
“We expected worse,”
given the “smears,” a Binay
spokesperson admits. Will
the Binay free fall continue in
the surveys ahead? The track
is littered with the remains of
2010 “front runner” former
senator Manuel Villar. Road
diversion scandals dragged
Villar to a losing third with
4,525,913 votes behind
Benigno Aquino III's
12,688,024-vote victory.
“The support that a
legitimate whistle-blower,
like auditors, should get
remains unclear. An explicit
policy… is needed,” says the
Asian Institute of
Management study “Whistleblowing in the Philippines:
Awareness, Attitudes and
Structures.”
Whistle-blowers who
tell the truth make
c o r r u p t i o n a h i gh - r i s k
activity, wrote Dr. Romulo
Miral. The absence of a legal
framework makes the
personal costs of whistleblowing very high. It is
many states and Congressional
d i s t r i c t s ,” s a i d K a r t h i c k
Ramakrishnan, director of AAPI
Data and lead researcher on the
survey. “In-language polling of
Asian Americans is now getting to
be critical, in order for us to have a
more accurate picture of what
voters care about, and how they
will vote.”
sometimes a “matter of life
a n d d e a t h .” I n d e e d ,
Jerusalem crucified its
Whistle-blower.
I n m a ny i n s t a n c e s ,
whistle-blowers are key to
solving cases. In 2013, the
Inquirer picked whistleblower Benhur Luy, Mary
Arlene Baltazar, Merlina
Suñas, Gertrudes Luy, Marina
Sula and Simonette Briones
as “Filipinos of the Year.”
They blew the lid off the
country's biggest sleaze
scandal.
To d a y ' s W i t n e s s
Protection Program is a
hodgepodge assortment of
personnel, Santiago fumed.
Indeed, a separate law is
needed to protect COA
auditors who put their lives
on the line.
A n ex p e r t i n f ra u d
examination, Mendoza was
employed by the COA, recalls
Ateneo's dean of Graduate
School Antonio La Viña. In
September 2004, then
Ombudsman Simeon
Marcelo handpicked
Mendoza to lead a group to
investigate Armed Forces of
the Philippines comptroller
Carlos Garcia.
Mendoza and team
proved sleaze in the handling
of funds from the United
Nations for peacekeeping
missions. Yet, government
prosecutors defended a plea
bargain, saying: The case was
“ d e f i c i e n t .” M e n d o z a
resigned from an Asian
Development Bank post to
participate, from 2007 to
2009, in over 16 hearings
where she documented her
team's findings. “Most of the
time, only her husband was
there to give her moral
support.”
Garcia was convicted and
imprisoned. But the strains
on Mendoza and family were
severe. Aside from the
physical risk, there was
unrelenting pressure to
crumble. President Aquino
thereafter handpicked
Mendoza, along with Grace
Pulido Tan, for the COA.
Sen. Jinggoy Estrada,
however, repeatedly blocked
Mendoza's confirmation. He
reserved “two questions,”
then failed to show up for the
h e a r i n g s . E s t ra d a a l s o
torpedoed the confirmation
of Justice Secretary Leila de
Lima. Section 20 of the
C o m m i s s i o n o n
Appointments rules allows
m e m b e r s to b l o c k t h e
confirmation of any nominee
during the plenary session.
No need to give a reason.
De Lima and Mendoza
did not buckle and were
finally confirmed in June
2014, along with
Department of Social Welfare
and Development's Dinky
Soliman. Estrada today is
detained on unbailable
Ombudsman charges of
p l u n d e r. H e w a s a l s o
suspended from the Senate,
by the Sandiganbayan, for 90
days.
“I risked my life, my
family and career simply
because, I would like to tell
my fellow Filipinos: Not all
government employees are
thieves,” Mendoza told an
ABS-CBN interview. “Nor are
all Filipinos afraid to speak
out against corruption.”
E-mail: [email protected]
October 10-16, 2014
Page 15
October is Filipino American History Month
CAPAC Members Celebrate Filipino American History Month
Washington, DC -- In
recognition of Filipino American
History Month, which began
October 1st and lasts throughout the
month of October, Members of the
C o n g re s s i o n a l A s i a n Pa c i f i c
American Caucus (CAPAC) released
the following statements:
Congresswoman Judy Chu (CA27), CAPAC Chair:
“With a rich history of over 400
years in the United States, Filipino
A m e r i c a n s h ave m a d e v i t a l
economic, cultural, and social
contributions to our society. They
are the educators, health care
providers, military service men and
women, entrepreneurs, civic
leaders, and hardworking
Americans that have shaped the
growth of our great nation. October
is an important time for us to learn
more about the Filipino American
community, their roots and success,
and their place in America's diverse
history and vibrant future. It is also
an important time to come together
and urge our government to grant
Temporary Protected Status (TPS)
for the Philippines in wake of the
devastation of Typhoon Haiyan,
which struck the Philippines last
y e a r. A s w e c e l e b r a t e t h e
contributions of Filipino
Americans, I will continue to fight
for TPS so that affected individuals
are granted the relief that they
deserve.”
Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard
(HI-02):
“In Hawai'i, Filipino Americans
have made tremendous
c o n t r i b u t i o n s to o u r i s l a n d
communities. As one of the largest
ethnic groups in my home state,
they represent a storied history
beginning with the first sakadas
who came to Hawai'i looking for
work on our sugar plantations and
in the pineapple fields. Today they
are leaders in business, public
service, and in our Armed Forces.
As we celebrate Filipino American
History Month, we honor and
recognize the positive impacts the
Filipino community has had in
Hawai'i and across the United
States.”
Congresswoman Grace Meng
(NY-06):
“I'm proud to join the Filipino
American community in New York
and across America in celebrating
Filipino American History Month.
This month, we not only celebrate
the accomplishments and
achievements of Filipino
Americans, but we commemorate
the outstanding culture and
Heritage of the entire Filipino
American community. Americans
of Filipino descent contribute so
much to our nation, and continue to
make many positive impacts on our
society. I'm privileged to honor the
culture and traditions of all Filipino
Americans during this important,
month-long celebration.”
Congressman Robert C. “Bobby”
Scott (VA-03):
“As we celebrate Filipino
American History Month, we reflect
on the profound impact that both
the country of the Philippines and
Filipino Americans here in the
United States have had on the fabric
of our society. There are over 3
million Americans of Filipino
ancestry in the United States today,
and I am proud to say that I am one
of them. Filipino Americans have
contributed to American life and
culture in countless ways. Roughly
250,000 Filipino soldiers and
guerrilla fighters served under or
alongside United States armed
forces during World War II, and
Filipino Americans across the
country are leaders in their fields.
From science to the arts, there are
many Filipino Americans across the
country serving as leaders in their
communities. This month gives us
the opportunity to promote Filipino
culture, celebrate our extraordinary
diversity as a country, and provide
us a time to consider the numerous
contributions that Filipino
Americans have made to our
country.”
American History Month and the
countless contributions Filipino
Americans have made to our society
in the East Bay and across the
country. When Typhoon Haiyan
struck the Philippines just last year,
I was particularly moved by the
incredible response by the Filipino
American community to help the
country recover from that terrible
storm. I was honored to do my part
in the effort to encourage
Americans to donate to the relief
effort by sponsoring the Philippines
Charitable Giving Assistance Act,
which was signed into law by the
President.”
Congresswoman Susan Davis
(CA-53):
“America has not only benefited
culturally and economically from
the contributions of Filipino
Americans, but they have always
been willing to join the fight to
protect our freedoms. As we honor
the contributions of Filipino
Americans this month, let's also
honor the sacrifice that Filipino
veterans have made on our behalf
by ensuring they get the full
veterans benefits they have earned.”
About CAPAC
The Congressional Asian Pacific
American Caucus (CAPAC) is
comprised of Members of Congress
of Asian and Pacific Islander
descent and Members who have a
strong dedication to promoting the
well-being of the Asian American
and Pacific Islander (AAPI)
community. Currently chaired by
Congresswoman Judy Chu, CAPAC
has been addressing the needs of
the AAPI community in all areas of
American life since it was founded
in 1994.
Congressman Eric Swalwell (CA15):
“I join in celebrating Filipino
The foregoing article sent by Ben
Suarato
Opening Night of Philippine Exhibit
Filipino American History Month of New Jersey
Municipal Hall, City of Jersey City
October 3, 2014
Council President Rolando Lavarro, the first Filipino American elected to the Municipal Council
of the City of Jersey City, greets the attendees at the opening of the Philippine Exhibit. Also in
photo is Pam Andes, Council Secretary.
Photos from Amira Allahh photo album
October 10-16, 2014
Page 16
October 10-16, 2014
Page 17
First time in Manila - Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera masterpieces
on display at Ayala Museum
By Feliciano Rodriguez III
Mexico: Fantastic Identity, 20th Century
Masterpieces,” an exhibition of artworks by
renowned Latin American artists such as
Diego Rivera, José Clemente Orozco and
David Alfaro Siqueiros, is now on display at
Ayala Museum. The show opened Sept. 30
and will run until Nov. 9.
Get a chance to see an actual work by
famous artists like Frida Kahlo and Antonio
Ruiz.
Coming face to face with Kahlo's “My
Dress Hangs There,” knowing how the
famous artist labored on that piece when
she was in America, while not wanting to be
there and missing her native Mexico, is a
rare treat. It is the only collage in her entire
oeuvre, and misses the usual subject and
focal point of most of her paintings.
60 pieces
The exhibit features 60 pieces by
Mexican artists, all brought in for the first
time to the Philippines to inspire Filipino
artists, students and art-lovers with the
best of Latin American art and culture.
The Femsa Collection is considered one
of the most important and extensive
collections of Latin American artworks in
the world. It includes more than 1,200
p i e c e s o f d i f fe re n t d i s c i p l i n e s o f
artpainting, sculpture, drawing,
photography and audio-video.
Femsa has organized more than 100
exhibitions all over the world. From cities in
Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, Canada,
Columbia, Puerto Rico, Spain, the US, to the
Philippines, more than six million visitors
have seen the exhibit.
Femsa, a leading Mexican beverage
company behind Coca-Cola Femsa, is the
largest franchise-holder of Coca-Cola
products in the world. Recently acquiring
51 percent of Coco-Cola B ot t lers
Philippines, Inc., it has become one of the
leading foreign investors in the country.
“We are honored to bring the Femsa
Collection to the Philippines for the first
time, allowing us to further our goal of
promoting education by encouraging
appreciation for culture and the arts,” said
Juan Ramón Felix, chief operating officer,
Coca-Cola Femsa Asia Division.
“The Femsa Collection traveling
exhibitions program has made it possible
for us to share our artistic heritage with
diverse communities, and we couldn't be
more grateful to Ayala Museum for opening
its doors to us and letting us share with the
Filipino community a little piece of Mexican
art.”
“My Dress Hangs There,” by Frida Kahlo, 1933
Stronger bond
The exhibit highlights the closeness of
Filipino and Mexican culture and heritage,
the Philippines having been under Mexico's
direct viceroyalty for 250 of the 300 years of
Spanish rule. Femsa's role as a bridge both
in commerce and in culture for Mexico and
the Philippines is strengthened through
this exhibition.
“The influence of Mexican art in shaping
the visual vocabulary of Filipino artists in
the 20th century cannot be denied,” said
u
Page 28
THE FEMSA exhibit features 60 pieces by Mexican artists. LATIN American art and culture on display.
October 10-16, 2014
Page 18
Feast of San Lorenzo Ruiz
Vatican Cardinal offers mass
AT THE GALA. Cardinal Pietro Parolin, extreme right, greets the Filipino community.
Also in photo, from left: Hermana Mayores and Chair of the gala Dr. Dolly Rivera,
Archbishop Bernardito Cleopas Auza, and Vicky Baxa.
Dr. Francia Devera opens the gala with a wonderful and truly masterful
rendition of the song Sampaguita.
NEW YORK CITY -- More
than 500 Filipino Americans
gathered at St. Patrick's
Cathedral last September 28 in
honor of San Lorenzo Ruiz, the
first Filipino canonized saint.
Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican
Secretary of State, served as the
principal celebrant , and
homilist at the Mass. The
annual San Lorenzo Ruiz feast
was organized by Fr. Joseph
Marabe, Moderator of San
Lorenzo Ruiz Chapel and
D i re c to r o f t h e F i l i p i n o
Apostolate Archdiocese of New
York.
In his homily, Cardinal
Parolin stated “To live our faith
is a call to order. Today we may
not be asked to be martyrs but,
nonetheless, our faith asks us
to comply with our
commitments and
responsibilities.” Also at the
Mass was Archbishop
Bernardito Cleopas Auza,
Permanent Observer of the
Holy See to the United Nations.
Eleven Hermanos and
Hermanas were presented to
the congregation and Cardinal
Parolin acknowledged their
contribution to their respective
parishes.
After the Mass, a gala
reception was held at The Plaza
Hotel along Madison Avenue.
Fr. Joseph Marabe welcomes the guests,
sponsors and volunteers to the 5th Sampaguita
Dinner Gala.
Hermanos and Hermanas pose with some of the guests.
FFAI Kids delight the crowd with a Tinikling dance performance.
Photos by Arnold Castillo, Joel Flores and Sonny Austria
October 19 Typhoon
Haiyan Benefit Concert
World-renowned Filipina opera singer is special guest
Evelyn Mandac, world-renowned Filipina
opera singer, will be the special guest at a
Typhoon Haiyan Benefit Concert on October
19, 2014 at 6 p.m. at the New Providence High
School Auditorium (35 Pioneer Drive, New
Providence, NJ). She has performed with
Placido Domingo at the Metropolitan Opera
House in New York City. The event sponsor, the
New Providence Diversity Council, will be
directing proceeds from the concert via
YouCaring directly to Habitat for Humanity
who is actively working to rebuild the
Philippines.
Super Typhoon Haiyan was one of the most
powerful storms ever to make landfall. A year
later, many people still need help. Like Shylyny
Therese Negru, a 16-year-old from the
Philippines, who has learned to fend for herself
and her three younger brothers after Typhoon
Haiyan wiped away her neighborhood. The
storm had taken away her parents and one of
her brothers, leaving the children alone. “It
doesn't matter if we lose everything, as long as
we can have our parents here.”
It is not just Shylyny, however, but many
more just like her who have lost everything.
The mass devastation of Typhoon Haiyan had
shaken the lives of an entire nation; lives that
have not been restored to this day. Houses are
gone, food supply is low, yet there is still hope.
This is how it has been for a year now.
Rebuilding efforts must continue on a long
term basis in order to restore homes, schools,
and hospitals back to normalcy. “I hear too
many people talk about six months or 12
months. This is not the scale we are looking at.
We are looking at three to five years or more.”
As this survivor has said, it will take many years
to recover from such a large-scale disaster.
Please join this worthwhile event. Evelyn
Mandac is a Filipino national treasure who
performed at Metropolitan Opera House in a
several lead roles. An amazing group of
talented young musicians, many of whom are
current and past members of the New Jersey
Youth Symphony and New York Youth
Symphony, are volunteering their time and
talent for this cause and would love to have
your support. They are seasoned performers
who have had many appearances at Carnegie
Hall and other prestigious recital halls. The
New Jersey Intergenerational Orchestra
chamber group will be performing well-loved
classical repertoire everyone can all hum along
to. Filipino music, as well as classical and
Broadway tunes will be presented.
Skip the $40 Carnegie Hall entrance fee,
and instead come with a donation and enjoy a
wonderful evening of exceptional music.
Donate to our YouCaring fundraiser
http://www.youcaring.com/nonprofits/typh
o o n - h a i y a n - b e n e f i t /243855#.VDFNfSaJsLQ.facebook. Like us on
F
a
c
e
b
o
o
k
:
https://www.facebook.com/diversityfortyph
oonhaiyan. Contact person: Elenita Silverstein
[email protected]
John Alexander (Rodolfo) and Evelyn Mandac (Mimì) in Puccini's La
bohème, 1971 © Des Gates. Inset photo: The lovely Evelyn Mandac in a
cool and casual pose.
October 10-16, 2014
Page 19
Two prestigious Fil-Am Educators to be bestowed with Dangal ng Lahi Award
AFTA: Reflecting on twenty-five years
of Service at a gala on October 12
The Association of Fil-Am
Teachers of America (AFTA) is
throwing a party to mark a
milestone in its storied twenty-five
years. AFTA's Silver Anniversary
Gala will be held on Sunday,
October 12, at 12 Noon to 5 o'clock
P. M. at the Astoria World Manor in
Q u e e n s , N e w Yo r k . T h e
celebration's theme, “Reflecting
and Celebrating the Struggles and
Successes of the Filipino Teachers
in America” encapsulates all that
the association stands for. There
will be tributes to teacher
achievements, grateful
acknowledgement of its
supporters, and the renewed
determination of the group to make
a difference.
During the Silver Jubilee fete,
AFTA will present before the many
guests the Founding Members,
teachers in New York and New
Jersey schools, who in 1989,
banded to find a solution to their
immigration problem. Lobbying
some members of the US Congress
to get support for a bill that was
crucial to their visa extension, the
group had their initial success
when Immigration Act of 1990 was
passed. The Trailblazers, the first
group of teachers that was hired by
an agency to teach in New York in
1986, will be introduced. The past
presidents of the association
whose leadership contributed to
its success will also be
acknowledged during the event.
Not to be missed are AFTA's
DOÑA TEODORA ALONZO
awardees who continue to provide
encouragement and financial and
moral support to the association
for many years. Active teachers will
be honored with a CRYSTAL APPLE
SERVICE award for their hard work
and dedication to the profession.
To receive the TANGLAW award are
the teacher-retirees whose fine
teaching skills and competence had
paved the way for the hiring of
more Filipino teachers in 2003 to
2005 to teach in the New York city
public schools.
The highlight of the event,
however, is the DANGAL NG LAHI
Award, AFTA's highest award for
educators and education
leadership. This honor will be
bestowed on two Filipino
academics who have broken the
p rove r b i a l g l a s s c e i l i n g i n
American education: Dr. A. Gabriel
Esteban, president of Seton Hall
University in New Jersey and Dr.
Conrado Gempesaw, president of
St. John's University in Queens,
New York. Their achievement is
truly a pride of the Filipino nation
and people. Consul General Mario
de Leon, Jr., with assistance from
Dr. Raul Cajigas, AFTA president,
will present the award.
AFTA teachers cannot only
teach. They can dance as well. Some
AFTA members and friends will
show two Philippine folk dances,
the Habanera Botolena and
Rigodon de Honor. (Want to catch
A. Gabriel Esteban, Ph.D.
Conrado Gempesaw, Ph.D.
President, Seton Hall University
South Orange, New Jersey
President, St. John's University
Queens, New York
some two left feet? Watch them
closely. There will be a few for
sure!) More interestingly, selected
members and friends will perform
Kuratsa, a courtship dance that is
very unique to the province of
Samar. Favored by many Visayans,
Kuratsa is traditionally performed
during special occasions and the
audience pin money on the dancers
for good luck.
And for a few lucky attendees?
A surprise of mini sunset/brunch
Manhattan cruises, courtesy of
Advance Planners, awaits four
members of the audience during an
on-the-spot raffle. Additionally, a
grand, 7-day cruise to be donated
by CruisePlanners and partners
will be raffled off at a later time.
Interested guests may fill out a
form and drop it into a box at the
registration table.
So come one, come all! Put
those dancing shoes on and let's
have a paarrrtyyy!
(Tickets cost $80 and the
requested attire is Filipiniana or
Formal. For additional information
or for tickets, please call: Raul 347932-6631; Lilia 914-346-8520;
Pennie 646-541-2587; Milyn 917495-0706; Rena 347-223-6826;
Chit 347-355-4667.
myStorya v2 is first-ever EnglishFilipino-Cebuano storybook app
in Apple App Stores
myStorya v2 shown on ipad
Te c h n o l o g y a n d m o b i l e
content leader Apple has approved
the storybook app myStorya v2 to
be sold in its app stores worldwide.
Produced by Silicon Valley-based
EggCrate Ideas, myStorya is the
first and only storybook app of its
kind in the world, having both
written text and audio narration in
English, Filipino, and Cebuano.
The app will be available starting
on October 11, 2014.
myStorya v2 features two
books written for pre- and youngreaders ages 4 to 8 years old. It
also includes a word-matching
game where readers can match the
correct word in Filipino and
Cebuano to its English equivalent.
Two new touch puzzles are also
part of the new version.
myStorya is envisioned to be a
learning tool which children of
Filipino descent can have access to,
wherever they may be. OFWs in
the Middle East, immigrants in the
U.S.A., or a family transplanted to
Europe will find it difficult to
find children's storybooks written
in Filipino in their local libraries or
bookstores. But with myStorya v2
readily available in Apple app
stores, they will now have access to
storybooks that have English,
Filipino, and Cebuano versions
quickly and conveniently, right
from their mobile devices. This
eliminates the need to scour for
them online or have them sent
from the Philippines and pay high
shipping costs.
The new version of myStorya
has more interactivity, notes
EggCrate Ideas Founder and
General Manager Mark Gatela. “We
made improvements on this
version based on the feedback we
got from the children and parents
of our beta test group when we
launched the first version of the
app in September last year.” Gatela
explains.
The audio narration is another
feature that sets myStorya v2 apart
from the others that are available
out there, according to Gatela.
“The ability to expose readers to
the sound and cadence of the
languages gives this app an
advantage over text-only printed
and digital storybooks”, he points
out.
“In August this year, our team
showed a preview of myStorya v2
at a live Story Time session with
a ro u n d t we n t y c h i l d re n i n
Northern California, and it was
very well-received.
The
participating children responded
positively to the stories, and our
team observed kids as young as
four years old pick up words in
Filipino and/or Cebuano very
quickly just from reading or
hearing the stories,” Gatela adds.
Gatela emphasizes that the
goal of the app is not to replace
parents reading to their children.
Instead, it is the company's intent
and hope that the app will be used
to supplement other educational
tools that parents already use, with
an app that encourages discussion
and sharing of ideas and even
stories from the parents' own
experiences and childhood.
Another potential use for the
storybook app is to provide
Philippine educators with
supplemental materials that they
can use in the new Mother-TongueBased Multi-Lingual Education
(MTB-MLE) curriculum. This is
especially true for K 3rd Grade,
which corresponds with
myStorya's primary audience.
“The app could also be useful to
anyone who has an interest in
Filipino culture and languages,
such as travelers visiting the
Philippines or foreign-born
students who are studying in the
Philippines and who want to learn
or brush up on basic words”, Gatela
explains.
The storybook titled “The Girl
Who Wanted to Swim in the Sea”
was in the first version of the app.
This storybook introduces young
children to the idea that dreams
and wishes can come true, even
though sometimes one has to
overcome hurdles and work hard
to fulfill them. It originally had
English and Filipino text and
narration only. The Cebuano
version, added retroactively in
version 2, is narrated by talented
Cebuano entrepreneur Iris Castillo
Cular. The English and Filipino
versions are narrated by veteran
voice talent Mau Suguitan.
“The Boy Who Wanted to Catch
a Dragonfly” is a fun and whimsical
adventure that is set in the lush
countryside near the towering
Mount Apo in Mindanao, and
introduces readers to some of the
amazing animals found in that
area. The English and Filipino
versions of this book are narrated
by popular Philippine advertising
professional Joseph Benjamin
Tapia who has voiced major TV and
radio commercials, while the
Cebuano version is narrated by
local radio talent Gaspar Awid.
Both stories were written by
seasoned writer and editor Petite
Gaces Gatela, and illustrated by
Cebu International School Art and
IT teacher for Elementary and U.P.
Cebu Humanities Department
Instructor Jessie Saclo III. The
Filipino translations were edited
by marketing and events executive
and Ateneo de Manila alumna May
Frances Baluyot Gilbert, while the
Cebuano translations were edited
by Cebuano editor and U.P. Cebu
College Professor Januar Yap.
Davao-based journalist and Edge
Davao Associate Editor Jon Joaquin
was the story consultant for “The
Boy Who Wanted to Catch a
Dragonfly”.
Founder Mark Gatela earned
his undergraduate degree from the
Ateneo de Manila University and
his Master's Degree in Information
Systems from the University of San
Francisco. He was part of the team
that created ABS-CBN's "Game Ka
Na Ba!" game-show SMS app. He
also spearheaded a team that
provided content for the different
telecommunications companies in
the Philippines back in the early
2000s.
myStorya v2 will be available
for download on all Apple iOs
devices (iPhones, iPads) at $3.99.
Development is ongoing to make
this version available for Android
and Amazon devices later this year.
With the launch of version 2,
EggCrate Ideas is making the
original version of myStorya free
for download on iOS, Android, and
Amazon devices. For more
i n f o r m a t i o n , v i s i t
MyStoryaApp.com. - Simona
Opolentisima, EggCrate Ideas LLC,
October 10-16, 2014
Page 20
WB remains
bullish on PH
By Paolo G. Montecillo
The Philippines would be among the 10 biggest markets for technology devices next year with about $4.1 billion
worth of products expected to be sold in the country, according to global market research firm GfK. AP file photo
PH to rank among biggest
markets for tech devices
Research firm GfK estimates sales in 2015 to reach $4.1B
By Ben O. de Vera
MANILA -- The Philippines
would be among the 10 biggest
m a r ke t s f o r t e c h n o l o g y
devices next year with about
$4.1 billion worth of products
expected to be sold in the
country, according to global
market research firm GfK.
In a statement, GfK said
that while the global
technology device market in
2015 would only match the $1
trillion in revenues being
posted since 2011, greater
opportunities arise from 10
emerging markets that are
poised to grow a combined
$10.1 billion next year.
According to GfK
forecasting director Kevin
Walsh, this projection covers
up to 70 digital devices,
including personal computers,
TVs, cameras as well as phones.
In the case of the
Philippines, purchases of
technology devices are
expected to grow 6 percent
next year from projected sales
worth $3.8 billion this year.
Besides the Philippines,
the nine other emerging digital
device growth markets
identified by GfK were
Bangladesh, Brazil, China,
Egypt, India, Indonesia,
Nigeria, Pakistan and Vietnam.
China remains the largest
market for technology devices
with a $199-billion market in
The Philippines is expected once
again to grow faster than any other
major economy in Southeast Asia this
year, the World Bank said, even as it
stressed the need for the government
to sustain reforms that could cement
gains for the future.
In a report released at the weekend,
the World Bank said it expected the
Philippines to grow by 6.4 percent. The
Washington-based lender stuck to its
previous projection released last
August. Last year, the Philippine
economy surged 7.2 percent, beating
all major Southeast Asian markets.
The rest of developing East Asia is
expected to grow by 6.9 percent, but
excluding China, economies in the
region are expected to grow an average
5.3 percent.
“Private consumption, supported
by strong remittances, will account for
more than half of overall growth,” the
bank said.
This latest projection is still below
the government's target range of 6.5 to
7.5 percent for 2014. Next year, the
state goal moves up to 7 to 8 percent,
before rising another half percentage
point to 7.5 to 8.5 percent.
Last August, the World Bank said
that if current growth rates were
2014, although growth is seen
inching up by just 1 percent to
$200.8 billion in 2015.
Among emerging markets,
the Indian subcontinent is the
top growth area - sales of
digital devices are projected to
jump 16 percent in India, 15
percent in Pakistan and 13
percent in Bangladesh next
year.
“India provides by far the
g r e a t e s t o p p o r t u n i t y,
primarily driven by sales of
smartphones, where both
volume and pricing will
contribute to an overall
technology device growth of
nearly $5 billion in 2015,” GfK
noted.
u
Page 22
PH government earmarks
P4T for projects aimed at
attaining inclusive growth
By Ben O. de Vera
Export revenues seen to
grow by more than 8%
The Export Development
Council (EDC) remained
confident that the country's
total export revenues would
further grow by more than 8
percent this year, despite the
challenges posed by the
container congestion at the
Port of Manila, and some
uncertainties in the global
market.
“We can exceed the 8percent [total exports growth
forecast] this year. There is
that possibility because
electronics exports are going
up, while the services sector
is still strong. A downside
though is the port congestion,
the impact of which we are
still studying,” said Senen M.
Perlada, EDC executive
director.
The 8-percent growth
forecast for 2014 will bring
total export revenues to $85.2
billion, of which $60.1 billion
are merchandise exports,
while the remaining $25.1
billion will come from
services. This, Perlada said,
was within the range set
under the 2014-2016
Philippine Export
Development Plan.
Perlada admitted
however that the expected
growth of the semiconductor
and electronics sector could
be tempered due to “certain
realities.” Although global
demand is picking up, it
sustained over the next decade, income
levels could double and millions could
be lifted out of poverty.
“Higher government spending on
infrastructure and social services, an
acceleration of reconstruction, and
progress with ongoing and newly
awarded public-private partnership
(PPP) projects will provide an
additional boost to demand,” the
report read.
The Aquino administration's 80
PPP projects are worth the equivalent
of 15 percent of gross domestic
product (GDP).
In its report, the World Bank
stressed the importance of the success
of PPPs, noting that local infrastructure
has been undermined by decades of
under-investment.
Problems included inadequate
roads, ports and airports, and
unsatisfactory water, sanitation and
waste facilities. Recent congestion in
the port of Manila forced shippers to
divert cargo delivery 130 kilometers
away and widespread blackouts are
looming as energy supplies shrink.
The World Bank lamented that the
implementation of previous PPP
initiatives had been slowof the 10
projects put to tender in 2011, only one
has been finalized. Inquirer.net
remains to be seen whether
this will be sufficient to make
a dent in export receipts. Also,
the recovery in the United
States remains uncertain, he
said.
A good thing for the
semiconductor and
electronics industry, he
added, was the favorable
exchange rate.
The Semiconductor and
Electronics industries in the
Philippines last week
expanded its growth forecast
to 5-8 percent on the back of a
recovery in demand from key
markets like the United
States, Europe and Japan.
Amy R. Remo. Inquirer.net
The Aquino administration plans to
spend P4.19 trillion from 2013 to 2016
to roll out development projects aimed
at slashing poverty and attaining
inclusive growth, according to the
National Economic and Development
Authority (Neda).
In the “Philippine Development
Plan 2011-2016: Revalidated Public
Investment Program” report released
on Oct. 3, Neda Director General
Arsenio M. Balisacan noted that
despite the robust economic growth
rates being posted by the country
during the first half of President
Aquino's term, the Philippines had yet
to see the real sign of progress which
was the “improvement in the lives of
our people.”
“We need to do more to ensure that
our country's economic progress is felt
by all Filipinos, regardless of
geographic location or social standing.
To ensure inclusivity, we need new
approaches that are more responsive
to the needs of sectors and areas where
many of the poor are found so that they
can contribute to and benefit from
e c o n o m i c g r o w t h ,” B a l i s a c a n
explained.
Under the Revalidated Public
Investment Program (PIP), Neda said
the total estimated investment target
was P4.19 trillion to be disbursed to
1,500 priority programs and projects,
including core investment programs
and projects (CIPs) that are aimed at
attaining the goals of the Philippine
Development Plan (PDP).
The updated midterm PDP targets
to slash the incidence of
“multidimensional poverty” to 16-18
percent by the end of the Aquino
administration from 28.2 percent in
2008, the base year.
According to Neda, the investment
targets from 2013 until 2016 amount a
total of P3.44 trillion, while for
continuing investments, P739.81
billion.
For 2013 to 2016, more than half or
P1.84 trillion of the investments are
being planned for infusion into
i n f ra s t r u c t u re p ro j e c t s . S o c i a l
development projects would receive
P727.79 billion; agriculture and
fisheries, P522.71 billion; and
initiatives involving sustainable and
climate-resilient environment and
natural resources, P166.23 billion.
Inquirer.net
October 10-16, 2014
Page 21
Distilling the Filipino 'spirit'
By Linda B. Bolido
The Filipino lambanog is going
global, and the Philippine Distillers
Company (PDC) is hoping it will
soon find itself alongside the
world's best known and most
distinctive liquors.
On October 8, a modern, more
scientifically distilled version of
the truly Filipino alcoholic
beverage will be presented in
suitably posh surroundings - Salon
de Ning of the Manila Peninsula.
And it will be introduced for what it
truly is - not as the local version of
the Russian vodka but as a true
product of Filipino ingenuity and
indigenous material.
Anthony Manguiat , chief
executive officer of PDC, a boutique
enterprise by industrial standards,
says their product is “something
you will never find anywhere else,”
a distillation of “the true Filipino
spirit,” literally and figuratively.
The small group behind the
enterprise carries further the
allusion to the essence of the
Filipino by calling its product
Lakan, an ancient title of nobility.
Manguiat says it is a title bestowed
on a “warrior ruler, symbolizing
both character and strength of the
Filipino.”
He says Lakan is more than just
an attempt to raise the quality of
THE PDC team (from left), directors Adolfo Z. Reyes II, Jose Z. Osias and Jennifer
Joan O. Manguiat; Anthony C. Manguiat; Jocelyn S. Lim, director; Don D. Dizon,
director for sales; and Lawrence C. Lim, consultant.
lambanog and elevate it to worldclass standards. The initiative is
also meant to promote the
entrepreneurial spirit among
coconut growers, giving them
alternatives to the traditional but
no longer profitable copra (dried
coconut meat used for extracting
cooking oil and other food
products) production.
At present, he says, a hectare
planted to about 100 trees will
yield some 1,000 kilos of copra in
one year. At P30 per kilo, the
farmer/owner gets only P30,000 a
year. “Just enough to pay the real
estate tax,” Manguiat says of the
paltry amount.
PDC allows coconut farmers
use of their plantations to help
raise their income.
The farmers can set aside a
portion of the farmland just for
tuba (PDC calls it coconut nectar)
extraction, Manguiat says. The
distillery will buy the coco nectar
harvested from a hectare of trees at
P300,000 for one year.
“That's almost P30,000 a
month,” or about the same as what
A wide-mouthed glass should be used
for Lakan to allow the lambanog to
breathe.
the farmers will get in one year
from selling copra, he says.
PDC has identified up to 70
farmer cooperators from where it
can source the raw materials.
Manguiat says each hectare is
farmed by three to four families, so
the indirect beneficiaries may
number at least 100 people.
The distillery, says Manguiat, is
capable of producing in a month
10,000 bottles, each containing
750 milliliters.
The company has not reached
its full capacity yet, as it currently
produces only up to 7,000 bottles.
But he does not think
lambanog-making will become a
mass production enterprise. Those
who have tasted tuba will agree
with him when he says that “coco
nectar has to be distilled
immediately.” Highly perishable,
tuba starts fermenting right away,
and will turn into vinegar just
hours after it is harvested.
So PDC, based in Lipa City,
Batangas, sources its raw materials
from plantations closest to itin
Quezon and Marinduque.
“If we want to do more, we will
have to set up plants where the
source (of) coco nectar is,”
Manguiat says. This means
expansion will involve having
distilleries in the Visayas and
Mindanao.
Despite past and recent threats
of coconut pests and natural
calamities that devastate
plantations annually, Manguiat is
confident the initiative will be
sustained, as the tree grows in
almost 90 percent of the country.
The “inventor” of the new
lambanog aspiring for global
recognition is Lawrence G. Lim,
who has 10 years of experience
distilling the spirit behind him.
u
Page 22
Max's to buy US-based eMax to
consolidate overseas revenues
By Doris C. Dumlao
MANILA -- Leading casual
dining restaurant chain Max's
Group Inc. plans to gobble up the
US-based company that grants
franchises for the development
and operation of Max's-branded
restaurants in North America,
allowing the listed entity to
consolidate overseas revenues
into its books.
In a disclosure to the
Philippine Stock Exchange on Oct.
7, Max's said the management has
recommended to its board to
consider including eMax's LLC
(eMax) in the ongoing integration
of businesses. Max's is
consolidating with publicly listed
Pancake House Inc., creating one of
the country's largest restaurant
chains.
EMax is a duly registered entity
in Colorado, USA, which holds the
franchise and intellectual property
rights for Max's restaurants for
North America. This offshore
company is currently held by
certain principal shareholders of
the Max's group.
“Such an acquisition will allow
all shareholders of MGI to benefit
from the expected growth of the
Max's restaurant business in North
America, consistent with the
company's strategy and rationale
for the Integration,” the disclosure
said.
The transaction is expected to
be submitted for the approval of
the respective boards of directors
of Max's and eMax in the fourth
quarter of this year.
This is upon the availability of
third party valuation opinions to
be commissioned by the company
to ensure that the transaction will
be fair from a financial point of
view and customary due diligence.
The disclosure said this
transaction would allow the
company to consolidate all
revenues generated from
franchising operations of Max's
outlets in North America.
EMax's LLC reported sales
amounting to $630,782 (P28.23
million) for the year ended
December 2013. Inquirer.net
TO ADVERTISE, PLEASE CALL
201-434-1114
40 campus teams vie for Esquire's
business model competition
MANILA -- The competition
is on for 40 teams from 14
different Metro Manila colleges
and universities that attended
t h e p l e n a r y fo r E s q u i re
Financing Inc.'s (EFI) “Fueling
the Dream: Business Model
Competition” at the Asian
Institute Management's (AIM)
S te p h e n Fu l l e r H a l l l a s t
September 27.
Launched to encourage the
c r e a t i v i t y, p a s s i o n a n d
entrepreneurial aspirations of
college students, “Fueling the
Dream” will award a capitalbased funding of up to P1
million, aside from P100,000
cash and a feature in
Entrepreneur magazine, to the
winning team.
Participating schools are
Asia Pacific College, Ateneo de
Manila University, Colegio de
San Juan de Letran, De La SalleCollege of St. Benilde, De La
Salle University-Manila, Far
Eastern University (East Asia
College, Manila, and Makati
campuses), Lyceum of the
P h i l i p p i n e s U n i v e r s i t y,
Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng
Maynila, Raffles Design
Institute, San Beda CollegeManila, The One School,
University of Asia and the
Pacific, University of the
Philippines-Diliman, and
University of Santo Tomas.
The plenary was attended
by EFI's core management team
led by Chairman & CEO Rajan
Uttamchandani. There were
also an inspirational talk by
Ifore Yu, founder and CEO of
Chicken Charlie, and minilectures by SERDEF's Eduardo
Canela and AIM professor
Richard Cruz.
“Fueling the Dream” is also
brought to the students by
advocacy partners, Go Negosyo
and SERDEF (Small Enterprises
Research and Development
Foundation), with
INQUIRER.net onboard as
media partner. AIM hosts the
plenary and final presentation.
Final pitch happens on
December 6, where finalists get
to present their business model
in front of a select panel of
judges.
Esquire Financing Inc. is the
country's leading financing
company that caters to the
needs of SMEs. It was
incorporated in 2011 and has
since served more than 3,000
businesses around the country.
It aims to fuel the dreams of
entrepreneurs by providing
fast, flexible, hassle-free, and
non-collateral business loans
from P100,000 to P10 million to
small and medium enterprises.
Inquirer.net
October 10-16, 2014
Page 22
Case vs Sulpicio owner revived
By Tetch Torres-Tupas
MANILA -- The Supreme
Court has reinstated the
petitions seeking to revive the
case against Sulpicio Lines Inc.
owner Edgar Go as one of the
accused in the sinking of MV
Princess of the Stars during a
typhoon in 2008 when about
800 people died.
In a resolution made public
Wednesday, October 8, the high
court granted the motion for
reconsideration filed by the
government's Office of the
Solicitor General.
The government lawyers
said they support the petition
filed by some of the victims'
relatives asserting that Go
should pay for failing to ensure
the safety of passengers and for
committing negligence by
allowing the vessel to leave port
despite the threat of Typhoon
“Frank.”
The solicitor general's plea
sought a reversal of the high
court's July 2 resolution that
upheld the Court of Appeals'
ruling dismissing charges of
reckless imprudence resulting
in multiple homicide, physical
injuries and damage to
properties which the justice
department had filed against Go
for the passenger ferry's
sinking on June 21, 2008, off
Sibuyan Island, Romblon.
The OSG said the high court
should “take a second hard look
at the instant petition for
review, reverse and reconsider
its resolution, and exercise its
discretionary power of
appellate jurisdiction in this
case.”
The government's petition
cited reversible errors
committed by the Court of
Appeals in clearing Go.
Prior to the OSG's petition,
relatives of the victims through
the Public Attorney's Office
went to the Supreme Court after
the Court of Appeals ruled in
favor of Go.
The petition was dismissed
outright by the high court.
With the revival of their
petition, the high court ordered
Go to comment on the case
within 10 days upon receipt of
the resolution. Inquirer.net
More PH mangos expected
to reach US market
By Ronnel W. Domingo
An agency under the United
States Department of
Agriculture has finally allowed
the entry into the US of fresh
Philippine mangos from areas
other than Guimaras.
The Animal and Plant
Health Inspection Service
(Aphis) issued the ruling that
took effect on Oct. 1.
The US agency expanded
the list of areas in the
Philippines said to be free of
mango seed weevil and mango
pulp weevil. Before this ruling,
Washington only allowed
Philippine mangos from
Guimaras Island to enter the
continental United States.
US officials considered
mangos from Guimaras to be
free of pests.
Also, except for mangos
from Palawan, mangos from
elsewhere in the Philippines
may be shipped to Hawaii and
Guam.
Palawan mangos are
banned in all areas of the United
States because the mango pulp
weevil is present in the
province. Last April, Aphis came
up with a proposal to study
other parts of the Philippines
from where mangos could be
sourced.
The agency also proposed to
allow the importation of
Philippine mangos from areas
that are either free of mango
seed weevil or are treated for
the pest in accordance to US
rules on the treatment of
imported fruits.
In making such proposals,
Aphis was said to agree to a
request from the Philippines'
Bureau of Plant Industry for the
United States to recognize the
mango-growing regions of
Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao as
free of mango seed weevil and
mango pulp weevil.
Following the issuance of
the proposed changes on rules
related to the importation of
Philippine mangos, Aphis then
asked for comments from the
American public.
Opposing comments
included concerns about
possible adverse effects on US
mango producers as well as
worries that mango seed weevil
could be introduced into their
country.
“Current imports from the
Philippines comprise a
negligible share of total fresh
mango imports and the
additional quantity of fresh
mango that may be imported
from the Philippines because of
this rule is unlikely to make an
appreciable difference in the
total quantity imported,” Aphis
said.
And unless all Philippine
shipments are treated based on
US rules, the agency said the
new program would be
suspended.
Aphis data showed that in
2010 and 2011, fresh mango
exports to the United States
from the Philippines averaged
about 42,000 pounds - about 19
tons - a year.
The volume is considered
“negligible.” In fact, it accounts
for a mere 0.002 percent of total
US mango imports that
averaged more than 3.3 billion
pounds (1.5 million tons) yearly
between 2009 and 2012.
As for US mango
production, this was pegged at
about 6.6 million pounds
(around 3,000 tons) yearly, and
are mainly consumed where the
farms are - in Florida, California,
Texas and Hawaii. Inquirer.net
PEZA seeks KoreanBatangas ports tie-up
By Bernie Magkilat
The Philippine Economic Zone
Authority (PEZA) has signed a
memorandum of agreement with
Pyeungtaek port in South Korea to link
it up with Batangas port and facilitate
direct exports.
PEZA Director-General Lilia B. De
Lima told reporters during a sideline
interview at the inauguration of the
Transcosmos Global Philippines, Inc.
that she just arrived from South Korea
where the cooperation agreement was
signed.
“We have good prospects in Korea,
this Pyeungtaek I will introduce them
to Batangas seaport,” she said.
According to De Lima, she will push
for the same cooperation agreement
between Pyeungtaek and Batangas
port.
The Pyeungtaek port handles all
car shipments for China and the
Philippines.
“They said the Philippines is
number 2 in number of shipments
although we are a poor second to China.
Right now most of the shipment of
vehicles from Korea are all brought to
Batangas port ,” De Lima said.
Pyeungtaek ships not just Korean cars
to Batangas port but other European
cars as well.
Pyeungtaek is also closer to
Batangas enabling companies to save
on land transportation cost.
“So I think they should link up with
Batangas port,” he said.
Pyeungtaek has 63 berths and they
are adding another 13.
Earlier, Philippine Ambassador
Raul S. Hernandez discussed with Jung
Seung Bong, President of the Gyeonggi
Pyongtaek Port Corporation at the
Gyeonggi Pyongtaek Port Information
Distilling ... From page 21
Lim says what makes the product
different and better than the traditional
“brew” is the “multiple distilling/multistage process.”
He used all those 10 years “to study
a n d i m p rove c o n t i n u o u s ly t h e
traditional lambanog to a very high
degree of quality/purity comparable to
the best the world has to offer.”
Lim says that the traditional
la m b a n o g b u si n e ss “re m a i n s a
backyard industry to this day, not
geared to compete in the international
market” in terms of quality and
quantity.
But Philippine Craft Distillers Inc.
“has transformed the traditional
lambanog into a premium spirit
PH to rank ...
From page 20
In emerging markets, low-end
“feature phones” would continue to
grow, despite global sales seen dropping
rapidly both in terms of value (by 30
percent) and volume (by 20 percent)
next year. “[F]eature phone vendors in
emerging APAC [Asia-Pacific] countries
and the Middle East and Africa can be
slightly happier, with a forecasted
market size of $5.1 billion and $4.3
billion, respectively,” GfK said.
A s f o r t h e m o re e x p e n s ive
smartphones, its market size would
Center, a proposal that would link
Pyeongtaek, Korea's fastest growing
port, with Batangas, which serves the
CALABARZON industrial zone in
Southern Luzon island.
Jung also expressed confidence
that through enhanced partnership
with the port of Batangas, the
Pyongtaek port would be able to
expand trade with the Philippines.
Pyongtaek port combined with that
of Dangjin across Asan Bay ranks 5th
among the 31 ports in South Korea in
terms of cargo handling. It is of
strategic importance given its central
location in the Korean peninsula and its
proximity to 387 industrial complexes
housing hi-tech industries and major
automobile manufacturers.
The Batangas Containter Terminal,
whose business more than doubled in
late 2013 and early 2014 thanks to
imports from Singapore and exports to
China and Taiwan, has been declared as
alternative port to decongest container
traffic in Manila's ports.
In 2013, 3 percent of the total cargo
volume handled by Pyongtaek port
originated from the Philippines.
De Lima further said that two to
three Korean electronics
manufacturing firms are coming in this
year following his visit to that country.
De Lima refused to reveal their
identities saying the companies prefer
to announce their investments
themselves.
As many as 150 Korean firms
attended her investment seminar in
Seoul led by Korea's Export-Import
bank, which organized the seminar.
“They are very interested, already
three or four firms have called since I
arrived from my Korean trip,” said De
Lima. Manila Bulletin
through its craft distillation process,” he
adds.
As to why lambanog does not, as yet,
grace ceremonial events, like state
dinners where the basi, a product from
northern Philippines, takes center stage,
Lim explains that “ceremonial occasions
usually use wine for toasting.”
Basi, he adds, “is a traditional
Philippine wine made from sugar cane;
lambanog is a distilled spirit or liquor.”
Manguiat hopes Filipinos, especially
those living and working abroad, will
take pride in the new, improved
lambanog - enough to give it away as
presents or pasalubong and to mark
special occasions. He also hopes
foreigners will find it a good takeaway to
remind them of their visit to the
Philippines. Inquirer.net
expand 18 percent in 2015 in terms of
volume, especially as emerging markets
overtake sales in developed markets,
where “smartphone saturation is
nearing completion,” Walsh said.
Next year, the top 10 smartphone
markets for growth by value would be
India, China, Indonesia, South Africa,
Brazil, Pakistan, Nigeria, Egypt, Vietnam
and Bangladesh, GfK said.
Previously, developed countries
such as Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia,
South Korea, United Kingdom and
United States were among the fastestgrowing smartphone markets,
alongside emerging economies Brazil,
China and India. Inquirer.net
October 10-16, 2014
Page 23
Mikhail Red wins in Vancouver
Filipino filmmaker
Mikhail Red won Best New
Director for “Rekorder” at
the Vancouver International
Film Festival held last
October 2 in Canada.
A Cinemalaya 2013
entry, “Rekorder” competed
in the Dragons & Tigers
section.
The fest's website
explained: “This new prize is
awarded to a director for a
creative and innovative
film…We are pleased to help
launch the careers of the
world's most deserving and
promising young
filmmakers.” Bayani San
Diego Jr. Inquirer.net
Mikhail Red's “Rekorder”
Charie Vega (3rd from left) with Euro Pop singing competition delegates Gian Gloria,
Ana Ramsey, Chacha Cañete and Glee Nette Gaddi
Kapusong Pinoy concert plays to sold-out crowd
A new avenue for
Carla
and
Tom
chemistry
Filipino artists
By Crispina Martinez - Belen
Undiscovered Filipino talents
have reason to rejoice because
another avenue has opened for them:
the Euro Pop “Berliner Perle” singing
competition, which will be held on
Nov. 27 in Berlin, Germany.
It is only this year that Filipino
contestants are being accepted to the
prestigious annual singing contest
launched in 2005 by enterprising
music aficionado Viktor Leis, thanks
to Charie Vega.
Said Charie in an interview held
yesterday at the Sequioa Hotel in
Quezon City: “I am very proud and
excited that we are joining the contest
this year.”
She added that our chance of
winning is “very high.”
Coco Martin now a
women's rights fighter
MANILA -- Actor Coco Martin
will take a new role as a women's
rights advocate.
He made the vow after women's
rights groups accepted his apology
Monday, October 6 for his act on “The
Naked Truth” fashion show where he
pulled a female model on a leash
which netizens saw as an act
commodifying women.
The actor personally apologized
to representatives from Gabriela
Wo m e n ' s P a r t y, P h i l i p p i n e
Commission on Women (PCW) and
United Nations Women.
He stressed that as an actor, he
should be responsible for his actions.
“On my part, I am apologizing to
all those who are concerned and all
the women that I may have wronged.
I am really sorry for what I have
thrills GMA Pinoy TV fans
in Los Angeles
Charie became involved with the
World Championships of Performing
Arts (WCOPA) last year.
She made clear, “I've been
managing talents before WCOPA
because I believe that there many out
there who have the innate ability to
Laughter, excitement and
sing. They just need proper training,
pure entertainment filled the
guidance and exposure to be able to
Redondo Beach Performing Arts
pursue, develop and establish a
Center as scores of loyal Kapuso
career in the entertainment industry.”
fans trooped to GMA Pinoy TV's
For the 2014 Euro Pop Contest
successful sold-out concert,
“Berliner Perle,” Charie is bringing to
“Kapusong Pinoy sa L.A.” last
Berlin as Philippine delegates six
September 27.
exceptional talents whom she
Featuring one of the hottest
selected after a series of rigorous
love teams on television - Carla
auditions. Among them: Chacha
Abellana and Tom Rodriguez,
Cañete and Natalie Martinez (10-13
the show was an exciting Kapuso
age division); Gleenette Gaddi (14-17
experience from beginning to
Age Division); and Ana Katrina
end as the audience was treated
u
Page 24
to exhilarating performances
and entertaining segments from
their favorite GMA stars.
Carla and Tom, who were
first paired in the
internationally-acclaimed series Kapuso leading man Tom Rodriguez and his onscreen partner Carla Abellana
My Husband's Lover, exuded gave the crowd an exhilarating show. (photo courtesy of Sthanlee B. Mirador)
undeniable chemistry as they
serenaded the crowd. Attesting with my family,” he expresses.
hinalikan ko talaga ang lupa
to the popularity of their
Tom also gave the crowd a pagdating ko ng airport. Masaya
onscreen pairing currently seen preview of his newest game rin kasi after the longest time,
in
the romantic-drama My show on GMA, Don't Lose The nagkita-kita kami ng mga
done,” Martin said. Martin also
Destiny, their fans eagerly Money, in a segment where two kamag-anak namin sa L.A. so
promised that he will support the
c h e e r e d o n t h e p a i r a l l c o u p l e s w e r e c a l l e d t o parang reunion na rin. [It was
advocacy of Gabriela and PCW to
throughout their production participate in the game.
my first time to visit America so I
fight violence against women.
number. They did not disappoint
Carla and Tom were also really kissed the ground upon
The women's groups accepted
their fans as they performed joined on stage by some of GMA's arriving at the airport. I'm also
the actor's apology.
thrilling duets and engaged in most versatile performers.
happy because, after the longest
Gabriela Representative
endearing banter.
Actor-comedian Betong time, I was reunited with my
Emerciana “Emmi” De Jesus said that
“We had a great time Sumaya portrayed his popular family here in L.A.]”
Bench, the organizer of the fashion
performing in L.A.,” says Carla. character Antonietta from the
The crowd was also amazed
show, should have the “discernment
“
T
h
e
c
r
o
w
d
w
a
s
v
e
r
y
country's
longest
running
with
Asia's Pop Sweetheart Julie
and consciousness to know what is
appreciative
and
it
was
nice
to
be
comedy
show
Bubble
Gang.
Anne
San Jose's powerful vocals
right and wrong.”
able to put up a good show and Betong elicited endless laughter which were showcased in her
PCW Chair Emmeline Verzosa
bring a piece of 'home' to our from the audience with his lively song and dance numbers.
believed that the apology of the actor
fellow Filipinos in the US.”
comedic segment. Like Tom, Julie Anne has been one of the
would convince more men to
It was also a homecoming of Betong was also able to meet most requested performers in
support the women's rights.
sorts for Tom as he was reunited with family members whom he GMA's international shows.
She also urged the actor to
with his family who came all the had not seen in a long time.
“The energy of the crowd
support the HeforShe initiative of the
way from Arizona to support the
“Nakakataba ng puso ang was contagious,” declares the
United Nations.
K a p u s o l e a d i n g m a n . mainit na pagtanggap sa amin Kapuso singing sensation and
Bench and its founder, Ben Chan,
“Performing in this show was dito sa L.A. [We are happy with Sunday All Stars mainstay. “It
have already issued public apologies
heartwarming for me because, the warm reception we received was definitely a lot of fun
regarding the controversy.
not only was I able to share the here in L.A.],” says Betong. performing for the Filipino
experience with our kababayans “Unang pagkakataon kong community in L.A.”
u
Page 24
abroad, I was also able to share it makarating sa Amerika kaya
October 10-16, 2014
Page 24
There's more to life with GMA Life TV!
Beginning this October,
GMA Life TV, the second
international channel of GMA
Network, reflects the vibrance
of life in its new line-up of
programs, catering to the everc h a n g i n g p re fe re n c e s o f
Filipino audiences abroad.
Indeed, “There's More to
Life,” as the channel's new
tagline goes, with its premium
mix of Filipino programming from drama to infotainment,
news to sports, reality to
fa s h i o n , a n d e s s e n t i a l ly
everything in between appealing to every member of
the household.
Now on its 6th year, GMA
Life TV combines both new and
well-loved Kapuso programs
that feature some of the
Network's biggest
Entertainment stars like
Regine Velasquez, Heart
Evangelista, Jean Garcia,
Camille Prats, Chris Tiu, Chef
Boy Logro, Donita Rose,
Alessandra de Rossi, Gladys
Reyes, Isabelle Daza, and
Solenn Heussaff, as well as
News and Public Affairs
personalities such as Raffy
Tima, Pia Archangel, Mariz
Umali, Jun Veneracion, Connie
Sison, Suzi Entrata, Drew
Arellano and Doc Ferds, to
name a few.
“We want to touch and
inspire as many viewers as
possible to enjoy, embrace and
celebrate life to the fullest,”
says GMA VP and head of
i n te r n a t i o n a l o p e ra t i o n s
Joseph T. Francia on the new
and exciting mix of Filipino
programs available on the
channel. “GMA Life TV is the
channel for Filipinos abroad
who feel that they can't have
enough of their favourite Pinoy
programming. So we are giving
our viewers another generous
serving of the programs they
miss. Apart from being a source
of the latest news, trends or
gossip, we are presenting GMA
Life TV as every viewer's
companion in finding ways to
enjoy his or her day-to-day
activities.”
Among the new shows on
GMA Life TV are Weddings TV, a
visual feast of wedding ideas;
Pinay Beauty Queen Academy,
a reality show on the dramas,
challenges, and intrigues in
becoming a beauty queen;
Nang Magising si Juan, which
tackles money issues and
financial management; and
Young Minds Inspired, a
program that puts the spotlight
on inspiring and talented teens.
I-Bilib, Byahe ni Drew and Born
Impact are also new additions
in the channel.
Besides these, existing
p ro g ra m s s u c h a s Ta s te
Buddies, Mars, Sarap Diva,
Aha!, Ang Pinaka, Day-Off, Reel
Life, Love Hotline, and Let's
Fiesta, to name a few, will
likewise continue to captivate
Kapuso viewers across the
globe.
They must also look
forward to the “There's More
To Life” music video with its
theme song sung by no less
Julie Anne San Jose
than Asia's Pop Sweetheart,
Julie Anne San Jose. The song
echoes GMA Life TV's
reinforced vision of inspiring
viewers to live each day to the
fullest, “It's a brand new day, a
brand new life/ More to love,
more to share, more to
celebrate/ There's more to life
with GMA Life TV.”
GMA Life TV is available in
the U.S, Canada, the Middle
East, North Africa, Hong Kong,
Guam, Japan, Australia, New
Zealand, Papua New Guinea,
and Madagascar with an
estimated one million viewers
from all over the world.
Learn more about GMA Life
TV and other GMA
International channels and
e v e n t s
t h r o u g h
www.gmanetwork.com/intern
a t i o n a l , Fa c e b o o k p a g e ,
www.facebook.com/GMAPino
yTV and follow GMA Pinoy TV
on Twitter and Instagram via
@gmapinoytv.
Variety is the spice of
Lovi Poe's show biz life
By Rito P. Asilo
We first noticed Lovi
Poe's dramatic promise in
independent films like
“Walang Hanggang Paalam”
and the Cinemalaya entry,
“Mayohan,” where she won
an acting award.
For Lovi, variety is the
spice of life. In the 10th
edition of the Cinema One
Originals film festival next
month (Nov. 9-18), she
topbills Remton Zuasola's
“Soap Opera,” one of the four
entries that we're eagerly
anticipating this year, the
other three being Sigrid
Bernardo's “Lorna,” Kanakan
Balintagos' “Abel/Cain” and
Eduardo Dayao's horrordrama, “Violator,” starring
Cesar Montano, Victor Neri,
Joel Lamangan and theater
actor Andy Bais (“Saan
Nagtatago Si Happiness?”) in
a rare dramatic role.
Starring Lovi and Rocco
Nacino, “Soap Opera” is
about a couple who fleeces
POE. Topbills challenging indie
for Cinema One film fest next
month
unsuspecting foreigners of
their money - and the
shocking motivation that
drives them to commit a
crime.
Her top-rated drama
series on GMA 7, “Ang
Dalawang Mrs. Real,” finally
wrapped up its run recently but, viewers are still talking
a b o u t i t s “ s l a p - h e av y ”
confrontations. She shares, “I
wasn't looking forward to
those slapping scenes with
Maricel Soriano (laughs) - it
was scary, because you
couldn't predict when she
would actually hit you!”
Would she be willing to
share the man she loves with
another woman, like her
character in the TV series?
She quips, “If I were in
Sheila's shoes, I would give
Anthony away!”
What has Lovi learned
from her past relationships?
She stresses, “Give it your
best shot - so that, if it doesn't
work out, you can look him
straight in the eye and not
feel guilty about it.”
Yes, she still misses her
father, Fernando Poe Jr. Lovi
discloses, “My dad was very
supportive of my
interestsbut, I was only 15
when he passed away. I
wasn't even in show biz yet,
so I had not really
accomplished anything. I
wish he were around to see
t h a t I ' m d o i n g O K .”
Inquirer.net
‘Sarap Diva’ host Regine Velasquez-Alcasid. The show combines great food and great music.
‘Basta Everyday
Happy’ hosts
Alessandra de
Rossi, Gladys
Reyes, Chef Boy
Logro and
Donita Rose
Carla and Tom ...
From page 23
Meanwhile, fast-rising teen star
Miguel Tanfelix, who starred in GMA's
top-rating primetime series Niño, also
impressed the crowd with his dancing
skills. In his first visit to the United
States, Miguel was overwhelmed with
the support from their fans abroad. “It
was my first time to be part of a GMA
Pinoy TV event,” said the Kapuso teen
artist. “It was a great experience and I
look forward to entertaining more
Kapuso fans abroad in the future.”
The show culminated in a meet and
greet with the Kapuso stars that had fans
lining up for hours just to meet and take
photos with their favorite artists.
Following the hugely successful event,
A new avenue ...
From page 23
Ramsey and Gian Marla Gloria (18-24 Age
Division).
They're still looking for the sixth
contestant, preferably a boy, according to
Charie.
“I personally chose them for their
talent, the quality of their voice and the
level of their performance. These talents
will still undergo further training to hone
their skills and bring them to an even
higher level because we want to present
the best that our country can offer as far
as singing is concerned,” Charie
remarked.
more Kapuso fans in different parts of
the world have expressed their desire to
see the GMA's artists perform in their
own countries.
Kapusong Pinoy sa L.A. was
sponsored by Camella, Cerritos
Mitsubishi, Vonage, Xoom.com, Vista
Residences, Debt Aid Consulting,
Moneygram, Thunderbird Platinum, Pag
Ibig Fund, Financial Rescue, The
Generics Pharmacy, Smart World
Mobile, Everest Cooling Systems and
Direct TV.
L e a r n m o r e a b o u t G M A' s
international events through the
w
e
b
s
i
t
e
,
www.gmanetwork.com/international,
F a c e b o o k
p a g e ,
www.facebook.com/GMAPinoyTV and
follow GMA Pinoy TV on Twitter and
Instagram via @gmapinoytv.
The Euro Pop singing competition
requires contestants to perform a world
hit song and an original composition.
The Gran Prix winner will bring home
500 euros and he/she will get to spend
two days in Berlin to record the winning
song, which will be sold in major music
stores in Europe.
“But more than the prize, the
contestants gain the much needed
experience and the distinction of having
to represent our country in a major
singing competition in Europe. Being
given the honor of putting the Philippines
once more in the world map is a rare
opportunity and provides a springboard
for a great singing career later on,” Charie
concluded. Manila Bulletin
October 10-16, 2014
Page 25
Anne’s international
film to be released in
the Philippines
MANILA - Anne Curtis announced
that her first international indie film
“Blood Ransom” will also be released
in the Philippines.
“Something to look forward to
next month! My very first
international indie film. I actually
auditioned to get this part and got to
experience filming in the States! So
excited to see how it turned out!
Yaaaaahoooooo,” she said.
According to Curtis, the movie will
be shown in cinemas in the
Philippines on October 29 and in
North America on October 31.
It was originally slated for release
last year. Curtis shot the movie in mid2012.
The preview clip for "Blood
Ransom," which was released early
this year, shows Curtis as Crystal with
co-star Alexander Doetsch, whose
character, Jeremiah, appears to be in
disbelief that she is still alive.
Ang Lihim ni Annasandra is topbilled by Kapuso leading lady Andrea Torres
Anne Curtis
No other details about the movie's
plot have been released, although
earlier promotional images showed
Curtis with her sharp fingernails
pressed against Doetsch's bare chest.
Ang Lihim Ni Annasandra
enchants viewers with a
mystifying secret
This October, GMA Network
presents a new drama that
combines romance and fantasy
with Ang Lihim ni Annasandra
premiering on the Network's
flagship international channel,
GMA Pinoy TV.
It describes every woman's
journey in finding true love,
while allowing her secrets to
remain a mystery, because like
her secret, every woman is a
mystery.
The original drama series is
topbilled by Kapuso leading lady
Andrea Torres as the alluring
but street-smart market vendor
Annasandra, a loving daughter
whose only wish is to provide
the needs of her parents.
Playing opposite her is
sought-after actor-host Mikael
Daez as William Benitez, a rich
and handsome man who works
as a marketing department head
for their family business (a
surgicenter). William eventually
falls for Annasandra without
knowing her secret. This is the
third team-up of Andrea Torres
and Mikael Daez, following Sana
Ay Ikaw Na Nga and With A
Smile.
Fast-rising actor Pancho
Magno is Enrico, the hunky
porter who is secretly in love
with Annasandra.
Rochelle Pangilinan plays
Esmeralda, the mysterious
mountain-dweller who cursed
Annasandra to become an awok.
Esmeralda herself is an awok.
When Annasandra's father
Carlos shot and killed Elena, her
Derek Ramsay vows to fight
Cetera finds Pinoys wife's beating, marital rape suit
Kenny Cetera
friendly, gracious
By Marjorie S. Duran
Like most foreign acts that visit the
country, Kenny Cetera of the Chicago
Experience finds Filipino hospitality
quite commendable.
He should know. He has been
around these parts a couple of times
already, notably for some concert
tours in 2009 and 2012.
“I always love coming over here,”
Cetera said, relating how his visits are
“always very wonderful.”
He added, “The people here are
always friendly and gracious.” Another
thing he likes about the Philippines is
the climate, reasoning that the hot,
humid weather is “good for his throat.”
Cetera is back in the country to
perform with Toto's original lead
singer Bobby Kimball in a concert
dubbed “Rock Legends.”
The singer maintains that music is
his “passion.”
That said, he is always on the
lookout for something that would
make a performance more exciting
than usual.
To add zing to his shows, he
sometimes asks his band to tweak the
arrangement of certain songs in the
repertoire.
“Sometimes we cut down on the
solos like in the song 'Dialogue.' We
still wanna keep it sounding like the
original but not quite the same,” he
said.
When performing, Cetera said he
wants people to sing along with him as
it boosts his energy.
Asked how he maintains his voice,
Cetera replied, “I just try to take care of
myself, that's all I can do to stay
healthy. Also, be smart, don't smoke.
Just stay away from things that
damage the throat.”
Presented by Steve O'Neal
Productions, “Rock Legends” was held
on Oct. 10 at the Grand Ballroom of
Solaire Resorts and Casino. Manila
Bulletin
By Julliane Love de Jesus
MANILA -- There's no
stopping Derek Ramsay's court
fight against his estranged wife
Mary Christine Jolly, who
accused the actor of domestic
violence and marital rape.
R a m s ay, i n re p o r t o n
Inquirer Bandera, vowed to fight
tooth and nail against Jolly, who
he said was desperately trying
to tarnish his image. He said the
rift has been affecting their 11year-old son.
In June, Jolly filed a violation
of the law on violence against
women and children complaint
before the Makati City
prosecutor's office. The former
commercial model said she did
it to pressure the actor to
support their son, Austin
Gabriel.
Jolly accused her husband of
physically and verbally abusing
her.
“He would call me a 'slut,'
'bitch,' and 'flirt.' He would at
Derek Ramsay. Photo by Ryan Leagogo
times demand that we make
love just to make me feel low and
unworthy… On one occasion, he
repeatedly punched me and
bloodied my nose. He also
committed spousal rape while I
was sick in bed,” she said.
But in his counter-affidavit,
Derek claimed that Mary had
“violent tendencies” especially
when they quarreled. The actor
also said that he was the “silent
victim” of Mary's alleged
“ o u tb u r s t s , p a ra n o i a a n d
insecurity.”
The TV host said the only
thing true in Jolly's complaint
was the fact they were married
in 2002 and that they have a son.
Reacting to Jolly's
statements Ramsay said he
didn't want to speak ill of his
child's mother. Inquirer.net
October 10-16, 2014
Page 26
Don Moen returns to Manila
MANILA -- Don Moen, the
singer-songwriter-producer
who gained worldwide
recognition for his hit praiseand-worship songs that
interpret closely the words of
the Bible, is scheduled to return
to Manila for an evening of
contemporary Christian music
on October 17 at the new CCF
Center, Frontera Verde Ortigas
Ave. in Pasig City.
The popular American
singer will take center stage
during the one-night musical
presentation from Ovation
Productions almost one year
after his last local tour that took
him to the cities of Davao,
Dumaguete, General Santos and
Dipolog in Mindanao and which
followed his 2012 concert
series that covered Metro
Manila, Tagbilaran City and
Butuan City.
“God Will Make A Way!
Philippine Tour 2014” will treat
concert-goers to an inspiring
musical and spiritual
experience featuring the
musical talent and skill of the
64-year-old artist who has
captivated millions with his
marvelous voice and style that
gave the world songs like “God
Will Make A Way,” “Thank You,
Lord,” “God Is Good All The
Time” and “Give Thanks”. Other
Christian songs he has
popularized include “Lord, I
Offer My Life To You”, “Crown
Midnight. Screengrab from riverflowsolingen Youtube account.
Johnny Midnight: Radio
broadcaster, healer
Him”, “I Want To Be Where You
Are”, “Blessed Be The Name Of
The Lord”, “Celebrate, Jesus,
Celebrate”, “Great Is Thy
Faithfulness”, “All We Like
Sheep”, “Your Steadfast Love”,
and many more.
Aside from his excellent
vocal quality and style, Don's
music stands out for its
straightforward simplicity that
bares men's souls before God,
and which contributes in
making worship music sound
his own show which airs at midnight in
1980 where he introduced “toning” and
MANILA -- Radio broadcaster “pyramiding” healing techniques. The
Johnny Midnight, who is John William radio broadcaster would chant
Xerez Burgos Joseph Jr. in real life, incantations at the stroke of midnight
succumbed to prostrate cancer Monday for 15 minutes. After speaking in
night (Oct. 6) at age 73. Midnight is tongues, listeners will drink their
remembered by his listeners for his “enrgized” water.On Sept. 28, 1981,
so effortless, animated by his
radio show, Midnight Connection M i d n i g h t o f f i c i a t e d t h e “ F i r s t
smooth tenor over catchy,
where he allegedly healed people Connector's Live Toning Session” at the
string-laden adult
through “toning” and “pyramiding”.
Araneta Coliseum attended by his
contemporary tunes.
Below
are
some
fast
facts
about
followers.
The healing session was met
While many worship
Johnny Midnight:
with widespread protests from the
leaders can reach only certain
1. Johnny Midnight was recognized Roman Catholic and Born Again
demographics, Don can extend
by then President Ferdinand Marcos for Christian groups.
to and touch a cross-section of
his initiative on raising funds for the
4. He started his own “Temple of
worshipers and believers from
victims of the Ruby Tower collapse.
Man” where he continued his alleged
diverse social classes and
Johnny Midnight was born on healing practices.
religious beliefs, with many
March 31, 1941 in Bacolod City. He first
After his show “Midnight
seniors and youngsters
worked
as
a
radio
broadcaster
in
ABSConnection”
was suspended, Midnight
enjoying his songs.
CBN. On Aug.1, 1968, a magnitude 7.3 transferred to various radio stations.
u
Page 27
earthquake rocked Manila and He also started his own temple where
Midnight was the first one who aired he continued his healing practices. In
the story to the public. The Ruby Tower, 2005, Midnight was shot by one of his
which is in Binondo, collapsed and patients. He was wounded at the hip.
killed 260 people. Midnight then rallied
5. Midnight allegedly bribed PDEA
his listeners to raise funds for the officials after his son was embroiled in a
victims and families of those who were high profile drug case in 2008.
killed. President Marcos gave him a
On Sept. 19, 2008, the “Alabang
Presidential Humanitarian Award of Boys” drug case made the headlines
the First Order for his efforts.
where three suspects were nabbed in a
2. With the declaration of Martial buy-bust operation. Sixty Ecstasy
Law in 1972, Johnny Midnight became a tablets, packets of marijuana and
dishwasher for Alba restaurant.
sachets of cocaine were found.
Johnny Midnight was left jobless as Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency
ABS-CBN was shut down by the Marcos operatives arrested Joseph Tecson,
dictatorship during Martial law. As Richard Brodett and Midnight's son,
such, he worked as a dishwasher, Jorge Joseph.
waiter, and then the manager of Alba
Major Ferdinand Marcelino of PDEA
restaurant in Makati City.
accused Midnight and family members
3. Midnight returned to the of the suspects of bribing PDEA officials
airwaves in 1980 and introduced for their release.
“toning” and “pyramiding”
Sources: The Tusculoosa News,
healing.DZBB offered Johnny Midnight Youtube clips, Inquirer archives
Ang lihim ...
From page 25
daughter, Esmeralda cursed the human
Annasandra to be an awok.
Keeping the real identity of
Annasandra a secret to protect her from
being hurt and hurting other people,
Glydel Mercado plays Belinda Vergara,
the simple and loving mother of
Annasandra. Emilio Garcia is Carlos
Ve r g a r a , t h e l o v i n g f a t h e r o f
Annasandra who inadvertently brought
the curse upon his daughter.
Ma. Isabel Lopez is Rosario, an
“awok” and the mother of Esmeralda.
Arthur Solinap is Kenneth, the doctor
best friend of William. Joyce Burton is
Hazel Benitez, the ex-beauty queen
socialite mother of William; and Cris
Villonco as Lorraine Armada, the
beautiful surgicenter model who will
do anything just to win William.
Completing the cast are Gab de Leon
as Jimmy, the confidant of Enrico; and
Erika Padilla as Becca, the bubbly and
cheerful best friend of Annasandra.
In Ang Lihim Ni Annasandra, twist
of events led Annasandra to be cursed.
From her human form, she transforms
into an “awok” when dusk sets in. Her
parents keep her real identity a secret
to protect Annasandra from being
misjudged, from being harmed and
from harming other people.
Will Annasandra's life ever be
normal? Will she ever find true love and
happiness despite her secret?
Much like how your own secret
defines who you are, find out how one
woman's secret can lead her to
everlasting love in Ang Lihim ni
Annasandra, beginning October 7 on
GMA Pinoy TV.
For more information on your
favourite Kapuso programs, visit
www.gmanetwork.com/international.
October 10-16, 2014
Page 27
Filipinos in
Talents Tokyo
Tiya Pusit. Inquirer file photo
Tiya Pusit dies of
multiple organ failure
By Marinel R. Cruz
MANILA -- Veteran comedienne
Tiya Pusit, who became a household
name via the 1980s sitcom “Eh Kasi
Babae,” passed away due to multiple
organ failure at the Philippine Heart
Center in Quezon City on October 2. She
was 66.
Tiya Pusit, whose real name was
Myrna Villanueva, died at 11:30 p.m.,
according to her son Christian
Uybengkee.
Villanueva's remains now lie at the
St. Peter Chapels in Quezon City, with
public viewing from Oct. 4-7. Interment
details were to be announced later.
Uybengkee called for prayers from
his mother's fans. “The family is in pain
but is trying to cope with her death the
best way we can,” he told the Inquirer
by phone on Friday.
Villanueva, who had fallen ill in
April, battled several health problems,
including kidney failure and aortic
aneurysm. She underwent a double
heart bypass surgery on Sept. 9, but
failed to recover from it. In a statement,
Uybengkee said Villanueva had had two
episodes of stroke since the operation.
Her kidneys also failed “rapidly.”
Villanueva's friend, Elaine Lozano,
was at the hospital at the time of the
Don Moen ... From page 26
A frequent visitor to the Philippines
during the past several years, Don has
established a solid base of Pinoy fans of
different classes and ages and who are
expected to turn out in impressive
numbers during his coming
performance.
Associated with some of the bestknown contemporary Christian music for
more than three decades, Don developed
his musical talent while attending Oral
Roberts University in Oklahoma until he
became a Living Sound musician for
Terry Law Ministries before joining
Integrity Incorporated, authors of the
“Hosanna! Music” praise and worship
series.
As worship leader, he produced a
total of 11 volumes in the series,
including the first album, “Hosanna!
Music: Give Thanks” which sold
hundreds of thousands of copies and
became the label's bestseller. He followed
this up with a number of successful
albums of his own. His music has total
global sales of over five million copies.
Don received a Dove Award for his
work on the musical, “God With Us” and
Dove Award nominations for ”God Will
comedienne's passing. “I was also with
her last Monday. I even told her that she
should get better because she's too
beautiful to be staying in a hospital. She
just looked at me with her smiling
eyes,” Lozano recalled.
Lozano said Villanueva “flat-lined
right after the members of a prayer
group present (on Thursday night)
finished their prayer and said 'Amen.' It
was a bittersweet moment. It was like
she had been released and would no
longer experience all the hardships.”
Villanueva was last seen in ABSCBN's drama series “Ikaw Lamang” and
the TV5 sitcom “Confessions of a
Torpe.” She was also in GMA 7
programs “Akin Pa Rin Ang Bukas”
(2013), “One True Love” (2012),
“Bahay Mo Ba 'To?” (2005), as well as in
“Mara Clara” (ABS-CBN, 2011) and
“Momay” (ABS-CBN, 2010).
Tiya Pusit was best known for her
comedic roles in a career that spanned
over three decades. On the big screen,
she appeared in over a dozen movies
like “Dorm Boys” (2012), “A Journey
Home” (2009), “Bakit ba Ganyan (Ewan
ko nga ba, Darling)” (2000), “Huwag na
Huwag kang Lalapit Darling” (1997)
and “Hulihin si…Nardong Toothpick
(1990), and “Leroy Leroy Sinta” (1988).
Inquirer.net
Make A Way” and eight other songs two
years earlier. A greatest hits compilation
featuring 19 top hits and aptly titled, “God
Will Make A Way: The Best of Don Moen”
was released by Integrity in 2003.
A prolific songwriter, Don has
worked with Claire Cloninger, Paul
Overstreet, Martin J. Nystrom, Randy
Rothwell, Ron Kenoly, Bob Fitts, Debbye
Graafsma, Paul Baloche, Tom Brooks,
among many others. He has also worked
with talented musicians like Justo
Almario, Abraham Laboriel, Alex Acuna,
Paul Jackson, Jr., Lenny LeBlanc and Carl
Albrecht.
He is visiting the Philippines fresh
from a historic Holy Land tour on Sept. 914, where he worshipped in Israel
together with his wife Luisa and other
worship leaders like Lenny LeBlanc, Paul
Wilbur and Bible teacher and author
Stephen Mansfield. Three months earlier,
He embarked on a tour of Africa that was
highlighted by a three-day concert in
Kampala, capital city of Uganda.
“God Will Make A Way! Philippine
Tour 2014” is produced by Ovation
Productions and supported by The
Philippine Star, Manila Bulletin,
BusinessWorld, Inquirer.net, 96.3 Easy
Rock, Retro 105.9 and Monster Radio RX
93.1. Inquirer.net
Five Filipinos made it to
Talents Tokyo 2014 to be held
during the 15th Tokyo FILMex
from Nov. 24 to 29. Attending
the “filmmaker cultivation
project” are directors
Giancarlo Abrahan, Siege
Ledesma and Chuck Gutierrez,
and producers Alemberg Ang
and Armi Rae Cacanindin. Each
participant will have the
opportunity to present his or
her project for analysis by a
panel of industry experts.
Hannah Espia's second film
“Learning to Build a Fire” was
chosen for the Next Masters
Hannah Espia (left) and Alemberg Ang. Inquirer photos
Support Program Project the International Promotion
Development Fund, while Fund for “Bwaya.” Inquirer.net
Francis Xavier Pasion received
Glamorous
villainess
By Andy Bais
KC Concepcion
Ariel Yap-Reyes, visual merchandising
consultant: “KC Concepcion is very effective
playing a villainess in 'Ikaw Lamang.' I'm not a fan,
but I am impressed with KC's believable portrayal.
She was out of the limelight for almost a year to
study acting abroad, and it paid off big time. Like
Cherie Gil, she's a glamorous kontrabida!”
Inquirer.net
Kris Aquino buys
land for Josh, Bimby
MANILA -- Actress-host Kris Aquino
said she recently bought land for her two
sons, Josh and Bimby.
On Instagram, Aquino said the land
will be used for her sons' swimming pool
and outdoor area.
"Although we waited 24 months for
turnover, we were able to get corner lots
on a nice slope next to the cul de sac which
will be left with open green fields," Aquino
told her more than one million Instagram
followers.
"Where we live now, we don't have a
garden and my two [sons] have really
been wishing for more space... So now I
can fulfill my promise to them that we'll
have a swimming pool and a big outdoor
area to play in," she added.
The actress-host did not give further
details in her Instagram post.
Aquino, one of the Philippines' top
celebrity endorsers, earlier shared that
she bought a franchise of a Chinese fast
food restaurant.
She said she is working hard for the
future of her sons.
Kris Aquino. MNS photo
October 10-16, 2014
Page 28
Pacquiao prepares 'non-stop
assault' on bigger, taller Algieri
By Aquiles Z. Zonio
Daniel Parantac, proud of his silver medal in the Asian Games. Niño Jesus Orbeta
Dream that started in
Burnham fulfilled in Korea
By Kimberlie Quitasol
BAGUIO CITY -- One morning 12
years ago, Tony Candelaria was walking
in Burnham Park here and saw a boy,
then about 11 years old, mimicking the
movement of a group of elderly people
doing tai chi (a martial art characterized
by slow movements).
Candelaria, head of the Wushu
Federation of the Philippines' Cordillera
chapter, quickly saw potential as he
watched the boy, Daniel Parantac, move
gracefully.
He said more than Parantac's ease in
learning the art, what struck him most
when he first saw the boy at the park
was his heart.
“He was so focused and was
learning tai chi from the heart. You
could see it in his face,” said Candelaria,
who took Parantac under his wing.
That partnership bore fruit as
Parantac, now 23, continues to reap
honors for the country. He delivered the
Philippines' first silver medal in the
Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea.
Candelaria said Parantac did not
achieve this overnight.
“He showed his love for the sport
during the Incheon games, where he
stretched his limits and won the silver
even with an injured knee,” Candelaria
said.
“I know it was painful at some point
but he kept his focus and gave his best,”
he said.
Parantac started as a member of the
Baguio wushu team. His impressive
performance in regional competitions
won him a slot in the Philippine national
junior team and later, in the Philippine
wushu team.
In 2010, Parantac competed in the
Asian Games in Guangzhou, China,
where he ranked 14th among 45
competitors in the men's Taijiquan and
First time in
Manila ... From page 17
Ma. Elizabeth Gustilo, senior
director of arts and culture for the Ayala
Foundation, Inc. “We thank Femsa for
the opportunity to connect and to
continue to learn from our shared
histories and heritage through the
comprehensive exhibition 'Mexico:
Fantastic Identity, 20th Century
Masterpieces featuring the Femsa
Collection.'”
Taijijian all-round event.
In 2011, after winning silver in the
same event in the Southeast Asian (SEA)
Games in Indonesia, he represented the
country in the world championships in
Ankara, Turkey, and ranked 9th.
He returned to the world
championships in 2013 and won two
medals - bronze for Taijiquan and silver
for Duilian. He bagged gold in the
Taijiquan and Taijijian all-round event
in the 2013 SEA Games in Myanmar.
Candelaria said despite limited
resources from the Philippine Sports
Commission (PSC) and lack of proper
training facilities, Parantac and
members of the region's wushu team
have shown dedication and continued
to hone their skills.
“We have to make do of what we
have. The community support has been
very helpful but we need more to
sustain and move forward from where
we are now,” he said.
Candelaria said Parantac is a
dedicated and diligent athlete who has
not missed a single training day in the
past 12 years. “In wushu, training is
important and to be able to perfect it,
you must not stop training,” he said.
Parantac's mother, Nora, said her
son, a graduating education student of
the University of the Cordilleras, had to
squeeze in his training with school
work.
“He had to miss classes because of
his training and competitions,” she said.
Candelaria said Parantac shares his
time coaching the national junior team
and wushu teams in other universities.
“We have many wushu coaches in
Cordillera. But with Daniel helping in
developing the next generation of
wushu athletes, I am sure that more will
follow in his footsteps and make the
country proud,” he said. Inquirer.net
Juan Domínguez, human resources
and corporate affairs director of CocaCola Femsa Asia Division, said, “CocaCola Femsa Philippines endeavors to
build a stronger bond with the Filipino
people by promoting greater awareness
of the Mexican art movement and
bringing to the country heritage pieces,
including works made by Mexican
National Artists.
It is our hope that this will be
another milestone for Coca-Cola Femsa
Philippines as we continue on our
journey of value generation in the
country.” Inquirer.net
GENERAL SANTOS CITY -World eight-division boxing
champion and Sarangani
Representative Manny
Pacquiao has been training for
a 12-round non-stop offensive
against undefeated American
boxer Chris Algieri.
Pacquiao will be defending
his World Boxing Organization
(WBO) Welterweight crown
against a 5'11 Algieri on
November 23 at Venetian
Hotel in Macau, China.
“We are training him for
more head movements, more
punching combinations and a
non-stop assault. We expect a
bigger and taller Algieri to run
around the ring. We should be
ready for that. But, just in case,
Algieri decides to mix it up
then much better. The fight
would end earlier,” assistant
trainer and coach Robert
“Buboy” Fernandez said in an
interview.
Fernandez added that they
have been devising a game
plan to limit the movement of
Algieri inside the ring.
“We will employ non-stop
pressure. Our fighting
congressman will chase him
wherever he goes. Then try to
throw three to five punching
combinations to the head and
body,” Fernandez bared.
Fe r n a n d e z h a s b e e n
enduring pain on both wrists
brought about by the strong
punches unleashed by
Pacquiao during mitt's
session.
“There was no fracture but
the doctor advised me to take a
rest for two weeks. I can't do
that at this stage when we're in
the thick of training for the
Algieri fight. No matter what
would happen, the training
should continue,” Fernandez
said.
When asked to rate the
c u r re n t c o n d i t i o n i n g o f
Pacquiao, Fernandez said:
“The way I see it, he's 88
percent ready at this stage. It's
still a long way to go. My job is
to prepare him for a more
heavy training when Coach
Freddie Roach arrives.”
Roach is slated to arrive
here Wednesday (October 8).
Pacquiao's first sparring
session was scheduled on
Friday.
Canadian match-maker
and financial adviser Michael
Koncz said Roach would be
bringing along with him two
sparring mates for Pacquiao.
“We are not taking Algieri
lightly. The guy is not a onedimensional fighter. He has the
ability to adjust to an
opponent's fighting style,”
Koncz said in an interview.
Koncz, however, praised
Pacquiao for keeping himself
in shape even without a fight.
“Manny Pacquiao is
different from other fighters.
He stays in shape even if
there's no fight and his level of
enthusiasm remains high even
at this stage of his boxing
career,” Koncz said.
According to him, the
Filipino boxing legend is
already in tremendous
condition several weeks
before the scheduled fight.
“His focus is great and even
much better than what I had
observed two years ago,” he
said.
Pacquiao has been
suffering from a stiff shoulder
since last week after his
conditioning coach Justin
Fortune included plyometrics
in his training.
“That is a normal effect of
plyometrics. After two to three
days, muscle stiffness would
b e g o n e ,” Fo r t u n e s a i d .
Inquirer.net
October 10-16, 2014
Page 29
Filipina moms choose to build a generation
of kids with 'multiple intelligence’
MANILA -- Traditionally, it is
believed that standardized
intelligence tests measure
intelligence accurately and
meaningfully, but according to
Howard Gardner, Hobbs professor of
education and cognition at the
H a r va rd G ra d u a t e S c h o o l o f
Education, intelligence is more
complex than that.
“It was generally believed that
intelligence was a single entity that
was inherited, and that human
beings initially a blank state could
be trained to learn anything,
provided that it was presented in an
appropriate way,” said Gardner in his
landmark work Frames of Mind, The
Theory of Multiple Intelligences.
“Nowadays, an increasing number of
researchers believe precisely the
opposite; that there exists a
multitude of intelligences, quite
independent of each other, that each
intelligence has its own strengths
and constraints…” he added.
Gardner's theory eventually gave
rise to what's known as multiple
intelligence simply put, it is brain
smart, body smart, and people smart.
The theory questions the idea
that intelligence is a single entity, that
it results from a single factor and that
it can be measured simply via IQ
tests. The theory believes that
intelligence is something that can
continue to develop throughout life.
While the concept of multiple
higher standard of intelligence and
being the best enablers that our
children could have. We are more
than ready for progressive learning.
We are more than ready for our
children to take the lead,” says
celebrity mom to Kenobi and Sakura,
Giselle Tongi.
Stylist, Author, and Columnist Jenni Epperson with Model and entrepreneur Mikaela Actress Giselle Tongi-Walters with son
son Dylan Epperson.
Lagdameo-Martinez with son Tyler Kenobi Walters.
Martinez.
intelligence may not seem to have
caught on in the Philippines yet,
experts from Wyeth Nutrition's
Progress Pre-School GOLD say
otherwise, noting that the
progressive moms behavior very
much points to their acceptance of
the theory's advantages.
Moms' response to a challenging
environment
Every mom wants what's best for
their children.
With more readily available and
wide-ranged activities to explore,
Filipino moms involve their kids with
as much programs at an early stage.
Options such as special classes,
sorts clinics and art classes help
children know more about a wider
range of subject matters.
More mothers are also enrolling
their children in school to receive
pre-primary education at earlier
ages than the norm a decade ago.
Furthermore, with the social media
boost, Filipino moms have formed
the habit of showing off their child's
big and small achievements.
The digital space has urged
moms to celebrate that their children
have what it takes to stay ahead of
their generation by being more wellrounded. “It seems like the standard
EXPRESS SUDOKU
HOW TO PLAY: Place a number from 1 to 9 in each empty cell so that each
row, each column and each 3x3 block contains all the numbers from 1 to 9
Solution to Issue 40 Sudoku
Solution to Issue 40 Crossword
of intelligence had levelled up. A child
can be considered an achiever if he is
successful in demonstrating his
understanding of concepts and skills
in multiple ways given different
scenarios,” says Mikaela LagdameoMartinez, model, entrepreneur.
This paradigm shift in
developing intelligence has caused
moms to commit towards inspiring,
challenging and preparing their
children to become excellent in more
fields and make sure that as the next
generation, their kids will contribute
to society's progress.
“At the end of the day, for us
moms, it's all about moving to a
Intelligence supported by proper
nutrition
Progressive moms have a partner
in Progress Pre-School GOLD as they
further support the development of
their child's multiple intelligence.
Progress Pre-School GOLD is now
with tis best-ever GOLD Biofactors
System with higher levels of DHA,
Choline, and Lutein to support a
child's multiple intelligence.
“It has always been Wyeth
Nutrition's brand heritage to
continuously advance; to
continuously innovate; to
continuously lead. And Progress PreSchool GOLD's most advanced
formulation yet further supports a
child's multi-dimensional
development,” shares Rhea Villareal,
SeniorProduct Manager of Progress
Pre-School GOLD.
For more tips on how you can
develop your child's multiple
i n t e l l i g e n c e ,
v i s i t
www.facebook.com/progresspresch
oolgold. Inquirer.net
EXPRESS CROSSWORD
ACROSS
1. Bush
6. Gown
10. A female domestic
14. Wingless
bloodsucking insect
15. Website addresses
16. Cocoyam
17. Renunciation
19. Cultivate
20. Directed
21. East southeast
22. Part of a foot
23. Adolescents
25. Package holidays
26. Backside
30. Under the influence
of narcotics
32. Top of a house
35. Watch closely
39. Deadline
40. Decipher
41. Spire
43. Demesnes
44. Lose
46. In order to prevent
47. Malodorous
50. Great fear
53. A field of grass
54. Skirt's edge
55. Optical illusion
60. Largest continent
61. To begin with
63. Lease
64. Away from the wind
65. Bicker
66. If not
67. A covered garden
walk
68. Units of paper
1. Generous slice of the
pie
2. Vagabond
3. Flows
4. Applications
5. Give birth to
6. Furrow
7. The far east
8. Flower
9. Feudal worker
10. Organized
11. French farewell
12. Lazybones
13. Barbies
18. Citrus drink
DOWN
24. Clairvoyant's gift
25. Basic belief
26. Circle fragments
27. Defeat decisively
28. Achy
29. Unmanly
31. Gestures of assent
33. Lukewarm
34. "Wise" birds
36. Carry
37. Poems
38. A musical pause
42. Senior
43. Center of a storm
45. Battalions
47. Emergency
signal
48. Artist's
workstand
49. Fraternal or
identical
51. French for
"Friend"
52. Kuwaiti
monetary unit
54. Deception
56. Unusual
57. Aquatic plant
58. Dour
59. Visual organs
62. Obtain
October 10-16, 2014
Page 30
Rentals
u
Help Wanted u
Jobs u
Personal u
Services
We place:
Nannies-Housekeepers-Companions
NATIONWIDE PLACEMENTS
Live in Live Out Full Time Part Time
MANDATORY SCREENINGS
TOP SALARIES
Complete your online application today!
www.householdstaffing.com
610-664-5233
LIVE-IN
BABY SITTER
NEEDED
Energetic live-in
baby sitter needed
Friday morning to
Monday night.
Full Time
Westchester, NY
HOUSEMAN
WANTED
General
housekeeping duties.
Cleaning, occasional
cooking.
Other help in
household.
Must be legal.
Please call
848-232-6278
Call Christine
201-750-8041
MED-TECH
WANTED
PROPERTY
FOR SALE
Wanted Med-Tech
with experience.
Part time
(10 am to 6 pm)
CP Medical Lab
33 Bowery Street
New York, NY 10002
Property 4 Sale on
EAGLE ROCK
GOLF COURSE
PENNSYLVANIA
32 Free Rounds
Free Skiing Lot on
14th Green
Please call
Fax Resume’ to
212-625-9338
For details, call us
at 201-434-1114
or send an email to
[email protected]
Live-in.
Driving a plus.
917-578-4260
The Filipino
Express is only
$40 (52 copies) for
one year.
That’s only 77
cents per copy and
mailed right to
your home !
The Ugnayan
Filipino Ministry's
Costume Party 2014
Saturday, October 25
7:00 to 11:00 pm
San Damiano Hall
129 W. 31st St. New York, NY 10001
Come in your costume
with DJ and Light Refreshments
Suggested Donation: $20
For details and tickets, contact:
Carla (718-503-4637) Princess (917-208-5370) Zeny (718-762-0596)
Or at the front desk of the parish office on 31st St. Please look for Jimmy. Thanks!
Reduced
$62,500/BO
Call 6098121940
Take the A,C, E, 1, 2, 3, N, Q, R, B, D, F, M, LIRR
34th St. Station/ Penn Station between 6th & 7th Ave.
This fundraising event is for the
Church of St. Francis of Assisi's roof repair
and for the ministry's activities.
*Photo courtesy of laughingshed.blogspot.com
October 10-16, 2014
Page 31
October 10-16, 2014
Page 32

The Filipino Express v28 Issue 41

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