The Filipino Express v28 Issue 39
Transcription
The Filipino Express v28 Issue 39
US urged to approve PH request for TPS for undocumented Filipinos Story on page 3 Pres. Aquino’s US trip Stories and photos on pages 7-9 VOL. 28 w NO. 39 w Sept. 26 - Oct. 2, 2014 w NATIONAL EDITION w NEW JERSEY w NEW YORK w (201) 434-1114 w $1.00 PH bears brunt of Aquino to UN: climate change impacts By Nikko Dizon Act now to stop perils of climate change UNITED NATIONS -- President Aquino on Tuesday, Sept. 23, called on nations to end a protracted debate and work together to save the world from the perils of climate change. Joining some 100 world leaders at the one-day UN Climate Summit, the President said one nation should not wait for another's action before determining its own, saying this would only defeat the goal of establishing a collective and effective response to mitigate the effects of global warming. “The time of debate of whether climate change is real or not is over. There is no doubt that it exists, which is the reason we are all here. It would be wrong, however, to engage in another protracted debate over the individual commitments of countries. To my mind, that would be adopting the wrong framework,” Aquino said. “Instead, everyone here has to do everything they can to address climate change, without first waiting for their neighbors to engage in action. Doing anything less leaves the problem unattended, too, thereby increasing the problem we all face,” he said. “It would not be an exaggeration to say that Filipinos bear a disproportionate amount of the burden when it comes to climate change,” the President said, pointing to the battering his nation received from Super Typhoon President Benigno Aquino III speaks during the United Nations Climate Summit, Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2014 at U.N. u Page 4 headquarters in New York City. AP photo/John Minchillo Gazmin on Sayyaf threat to Owners of care homes arrested behead German: We don't for wage theft in SF Bay Area negotiate with terrorists Abu Sayyaf group. AFP file photo SAN FRANCISCO -- Four owners of million-dollar senior care homes, By Bong Lozada including a Filipino, in Brentwood and other Bay Area cities were MANILA -- Defense arrested for alleged wage theft. Secretary Voltaire Gazmin They allegedly paid workers, on Thursday, Sept. 25 said some of whom are immigrants, for they will not bow to the as little as $4 an hour, working day demands of the Abu Sayyaf and night. group, which has Arrested on several felony threatened to behead a counts of wage theft were Sara German hostage. Abraham, Annette Sanchez and Julio “What the Abu Sayyaf Sanchez of Abraham Rest Home Inc. are doing are like a and Sanchez Abraham Corporation, propaganda of theirs so that and Florinda Yambao of Florin the government would give White Dove Care Homes. In some u Page 5 One of the senior care homes where workers allegedly received cases, labor officials said caregivers substandard wages. Bay Area News Group u Page 6 As our community partner, you may be aware that during the U.N. General Assembly on September 25, the Iraqi Prime Minister made statements indicating that his intelligence agency uncovered a plot to attack the subway systems in New York City and Paris. The NYPD Intelligence Bureau is aware of this statement and is in contact with international and federal agencies. At this time, no plot has been verified. The NYPD will remain in close contact with the FBI and other federal partners as we assess this particular threat. New York City normally operates at a heightened level of security and we adjust that posture daily based on our evaluation of information as we receive it. Although we have no confirmation of the threat's validity, we take any threat seriously and remain committed to keeping New York City safe. As always, if you see something, say something. Witness: Binay used dummies to hide wealth New witness says VP owns P1B Makati property By Kristine Angeli Sabillo and Maila Ager MANILA -- Vice President Jejomar Binay allegedly used dummies to hide his wealth when he was still the mayor of Makati City, former city vice mayor Ernesto Mercado told a Senate hearing on Thursday, Sept. 25. Mercado submitted documents to the Senate blue ribbon committee investigating the allegedly overpriced Makati City Hall 2 parking building involving an 8,877-square meter lot in Makati City and ownership of Omni Security and Investigation formerly known as Omni Security Investigation and General Services. Te s t i f y i n g b e fo re t h e committee, Mercado claimed that Binay used a certain Gerardo Limlingan and Erlinda Chong as fronts in the Makati lot, which was split between the local government and the military to house its personnel. M e rc a d o h a d a l re a dy u Page 4 Sept. 26 - Oct. 2, 2014 Page 2 THE FILIPINO EXPRESS Aquino's revenge comment understandable - Palace By Kristine Angeli Sabillo MANILA -- Any person who had a relative murdered would probably feel the same, Malacañang on Tuesday, Sept. 23 said of President Benigno Aquino III's comment that he wanted to seek revenge against former President Ferdinand Marcos. “I think you cannot take it away from the President as an ordinary human being…for his father to be brutally murdered. I think kung mangyari ito (if it happens) to anyone of us, we will experience that rage,” presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda told Palace reporters. Aquino on Sunday, during a speech in Boston, admitted that after his father was assassinated upon his return to Manila, he had wanted Marcos to also suffer, like how their family suffered under his administration. “What makes it more painful for him is the fact that he was thousands of miles away,” Lacierda explained. Aquino was living in exile in Boston, along with the rest of their family when the former senator flew back to the Philippines. Nevertheless, Lacierda said the President never talked to them about it and doesn't seem to be interested anymore in revenge or finding the real mastermind. “The President recognizes that this is really a personal burden that the family would have to carry. But his number one priority is to govern the country and to ensure that he improves the lives of Filipinos,” he said. Inquirer.net Bongbong Marcos won’t comment on Aquino's past desire to avenge Ninoy's death By Christine O. Avendaño MANILA -- The son and namesake of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos is not about to tangle with President Benigno Aquino III's past desire to exact revenge against his father for the assassination of Aquino's father, Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr. in 1983. Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said on Tuesday, Sept. 23 he did not want to comment on President Aquino's statements in Boston Monday that he had thought of avenging the death of his father who was assassinated upon his return to Manila in August 1983 after three years of self-exile in the United States. The President, who has been in the US for a four-day working visit, earlier said he had wanted to exact revenge on Marcos, his father's jailer. Asked for his reaction, Senator Marcos said: “Those are his feelings. It's not for me to comment.” Marcos told reporters to ask President Aquino about his statement. Senator Ferdinand “Bong-Bong” Marcos. AFP file photo Asked whether he should be concerned because of the President's statements, he said he did not feel that way. In his speech in Boston, President Aquino said he calmed down only after a Japanese diplomat told him people would be looking up to him and his mother, the late President Corazon Aquino. The President conceded that he realized then that “you cannot make decisions just for yourself.” The death of Ninoy Aquino sparked national outrage that concluded in the military-backed Edsa people power revolution in 1986 that ousted Marcos and swept Mrs. Aquino into power. While his death was largely blamed on Marcos, this was never proven in court. Inquirer.net Our Lady of Guadalupe - Message of Trust and Hope ‘..... I am the ever Virgin Holy Mary, Mother of the true Godfor whom we live, of the Creator of all things, Lord of Heaven and the earth. I wish that a temple be erected here quickly, so I may therein exhibit and give all my love, compassion, help and protection, because I am your merciful mother, to you and to all ......’ Pilgrimage Mexico City Cuernavaca Taxco Tlaxcala Ocotlan Puebla (Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe) December 8-13, 2014 US$1,499.00 RTA TRAVEL NEW YORK: 39-85 65th Place, Woodside, New York 11377 Phone: 718-507-2500 Fax 718-478-8683 Email: [email protected] NEW JERSEY: 2713 Kennedy Boulevard, Jersey City, 07306 Phone: 201-434-8282 Fax 201-434-0880 Email: [email protected] Sept. 26 - Oct. 2, 2014 Page 3 THE FILIPINO EXPRESS US urged to approve PH request for Temporary Protected Status for undocumented Filipinos N EW YORK, 24 September 2014 -- Saying there is still much to be done, Manila today called on Washington to approve its request for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to allow undocumented Filipinos in the United States to help the Philippines rebuild much faster from the devastation wreaked by Typhoon Haiyan. In letters to Secretary of State John Kerry and Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson, Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert F. Del Rosario underscored the importance of the request, saying its approval would not only alleviate the plight of eligible Filipinos in the US but also greatly ease the strain placed in the country's infrastructure and resources. “I take this opportunity to once again reiterate the Philippine Government's request for the US Government's immediate positive consideration of the request.” Secretary Del Rosario said. “Many of my countrymen in the US were affected by Typhoon H a iya n . T h i s h u m a n i t a r i a n assistance would provide temporary relief for them from the natural disaster,” he added. Secretary Del Rosario sent the letters, which were dated 22 Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert F. Del Rosario, left, assures Fil-Am Community leaders that the Philippine Government will continue to push for the approval of the request for TPS for the more than 200,000 undocumented Filipinos in the U.S. Also in photo are Consul General Mario L. De Leon Jr.,2nd from left, Consul Felipe Cariño III, 4th from left, and Atty. J.T. Mallonga, Chair of the National Federation of Filipino-American Associations, extreme right. (Philippine Embassy Photo by Elmer G. Cato) September 2014, to Secretary Kerry and Secretary Johnson more than a month after the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) told leaders of the Filipino-American Community that the Philippine request to be placed under TPS is still under consideration. Manila formally filed for TPS designation in December, a few weeks after Typhoon Haiyan, one of the most powerful storms in history, devastated the Central Visayas, killing more than 6,000 people and severely affecting more than 1.4 million others in 17 provinces. Secretary Del Rosario said a TPS designation for the Philippines will allow more than 200,000 undocumented Filipinos to stay and work legally in the US for at least 18 months. In previous years, the US granted the same immigration relief to undocumented aliens from El Salvador, Nicaragua and Haiti after these countries were struck by natural disasters and subsequently placed under TPS. On Wednesday, Secretary Del Rosario met with leaders of the Filipino-American Community led by lawyer J.T. Mallonga, Chair of the National Federation of Filipino- American Associations (NAFFAA) and assured them of the full support of the Philippine Government in pushing the TPS request. “We stand with you on this issue,” Secretary Del Rosario said, adding that the Philippine Embassy in Washington D.C. and the Consulates General in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Honolulu and Guam will continue to work with the FilipinoAmerican Community on the TPS initiative. Secretary Del Rosario also told the Filipino-American Community leaders that he will personally follow up the Philippine request when he meets US officials in Washington on Sept. 25. In his letters to Secretary Kerry and Secretary Johnson, Secretary Del Rosario said: “In a little over six weeks, the world will observe the first year anniversary of Typhoon Haiyan. While the memory of the devastation still lingers in the mind and psyche of the Filipino people, we h ave n o t fo r g o t te n t h e unprecedented outpouring of international support for the Philippines.” “We will always remember and c h e r i s h t h e i nva l u a b l e a n d immediate assistance provided by the United States in the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan,” Secretary Del Rosario said as he cited the overwhelming and timely response of Washington, which not only provided troops, ships and aircraft but also more than $86 million in assistance. “However, almost one year after the calamity, there is still m u c h t o b e d o n e . M a s s ive i nve s t m e n t s a n d n e c e s s a r y expertise are still necessary to continue the reconstruction work,” Secretary Del Rosario said. Khrystina P. Corpuz, Vice Consul, Philippine Consulate General - New York Sept. 26 - Oct. 2, 2014 Page 4 THE FILIPINO EXPRESS Multiple charges filed vs PNP chief Purisima By Julliane Love De Jesus MANILA -- A consumer rights group filed plunder, graft and indirect bribery charges against the Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Alan Purisima on Monday, Sept. 22. The Coalition of Filipino Consumers Secretary-General Perfecto Tagalog went to the Office of the Ombudsman to file multiple charges against the highest PNP official amid his alleged hidden properties, the P25-million “White House” controversy and his allegedly spurious gun licensing contract. This is the second time Purisima was slapped with plunder charges. In April, a complainant in Legazpi City accused the PNP chief of plunder for entering into an allegedly anomalous P100-million contract with a courier service company for the delivery of firearms licenses. Chief Superintendent Reuben Theodore Sindac, PNP Public Information Office chief, told the media that the PNP assures that Purisima will respond to the cases. “There are allegations and if there are charges filed, [they] will be answered in the proper forum,” Sindac said. Last August, the consumer group also filed a petition before the office of Commission on Audit chairperson Grace Pulido-Tan PUBLIC PROPERTY THAT REPORTEDLY BECAME BINAY'S. An 8,877-square-meter property on J.P. Rizal Extension and Sampaguita Street in Makati City, now worth about P1 billion, is owned by Vice President Jejomar Binay, according to his former Makati Vice Mayor Ernesto Mercado. The property (inset) is now occupied by commercial buildings and a Mormon church. GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE AND GOOGLE EARTH SCREENSHOT PNP Director General Alan Purisima. Inquirer file photo seeking for a lifestyle check on Purisima. Purisima left the country for an anti-kidnapping and anti-extortion conference in Bogota, Colombia which will last until September 26. The same group also claimed in an exclusive ABS-CBN report that Purisima allegedly owns a P3.7million worth mansion in San Leonardo, Nueva Ecija. Although Purisima declared this in his statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN), the San Leonardo Municipal registry certified that Purisima has no registered property in the town. Inquirer.net Aquino to UN: Act now ... From page 1 “Yolanda” (international name: Haiyan) in November last year. Green Climate Fund At the UN summit held after tens of thousands rallied around the world, presidents and prime ministers urged action to combat climate change, but pledges remained well short of goals. France promised $1 billion to the Green Climate Fund, making it the only contributor other than Germany to the new institution that would help the worst-hit countries. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said that $2.3 billion had been pledged to the Green Climate Fund, but the amount was well below the $10 billion aimed for by year end let alone the Witness: Binay used ... From page 1 mentioned a certain Gerry Limlingan in his previous testimony in the committee and identified him as finance officer of the Vice President, who he said had received kickbacks for Binay. But he said the property that went to the city government became a private property later under a company owned by Chong, who he said is a contributor of canned goods. The lot, which he said now costs more than P1 billion, was eventually divided into four one was sold to the Mormons while the three remained with Chong. Asked by Senator Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes IV how Chong would link to Binay, Mercado said: “Siya ho iyong nagiging front ni $100 billion a year aimed starting in 2020 to help poor nations cope with rising temperatures and disasters. The UN chief called the meeting more to build momentum than to reach concrete achievements. It was the first such event since the Copenhagen summit on climate change ended in disarray in 2009 and aims to set the tone for a conference next year in Paris designed to seal a new global agreement. French President Francois Hollande said the Paris conference should deliver a “global and ambitious” deal and warned that climate change posed a “threat to world peace and security.” US President Barack Obama, addressing the summit hours after ordering strikes on Syria, said that the “urgent and growing threat of climate change” would ultimately “define the Mayor Jejomar Binay or Vice President Binay sa mga ganitong property na dapat ay malihis o maitago ang kanilang pangalan.” “Actually, ang talaga hong kaibigang-kaibigan ni Vice President dyan yung kanyang asawa, si Mr. Vic Chong dahil yun po ang ka-badminton nya araw-araw, si Mr. Vic Chong,” he said. Mercado said Erlinda Chong was also managing the canteens at Makati City Hall and in Ospital ng Makati. “Yun din pong pangalan nila ang ginagamit sa transaction ng cake ni Senadora Nancy Binay kaya nandun ho talaga yung link…” the former vice mayor said. He also noted that when Chong was selling a portion of the land , it was Limlingan who was talking to the Mormons. Mercado claimed that the Vice President was also part owner of Omni Security. Notably, he said, Limlingan was also the co-signatory of the former president of Omni in all its transactions with the Makati City government. A former president of Omni, Jose Orillaza, who was present in the hearing, confirmed that Limlingan was indeed his cosignatory in the cheques of Omni though the latter was not an incorporator of Omni. “Ang pagkakaalam ko po simula ng dumating po siya dun, sya po ang pinadala ng dating mayor ng Makati na si Jojo Binay para sumama sa aming corporation,” Orillaza said, responding to Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, who was presiding over the session. Asked by Trillanes if he would admit that he was used as a dummy of the Vice President, Limlingan answered yes. Mercado said Limlingan was also the president JCB Foundation Incorporated. JBC, he said, stands for Jejomar C. Binay. Inquirer.net Sept. 26 - Oct. 2, 2014 Page 5 THE FILIPINO EXPRESS 'Mission accomplished': Aquino says of Europe trip By Christian V. Esguerra BERLIN -- Mission accomplished. President Benigno Aquino III ended his weeklong European trip on Saturday, September 20 convinced that he had gathered enough support behind the Philippines' call for a peaceful resolution of conflicts in the South China Sea, particularly through international arbitration. “The short answer is yes,” he told reporters over coffee at 8 p.m. on Friday, September 19 here when asked if he felt he had achieved the goal of his four-nation tour of Europe. With Spain (which has offered to be the Philippines' voice in the European Union), Belgium, France and Germany all seeking a resolution of the territorial disputes through processes provided under international law, the President said it was time to “get to a stage where we have reasonable and doable objectives.” Mr. Aquino said he had been told by some of his European counterparts that they had been asking Beijing about its claim to 90 percent of the 3.5-million-squarekilometer South China Sea. He said another point of inquiry was “adherence” to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos). “There seems to be a push,” he said. One of the most categorical statements came from German Chancellor Angela Merkel who described “international dispute settlement arrangements that we have on the basis of Unclos” as “a very good way forward in order to settle those differences.” “We share the concerns about the tensions arising in that particular part of the world and we believe in good, pragmatic approaches,” Merkel said. “But we also believe in solid, legal settlements of the disputes.” Merkel cited similar cases in Europe where Germany took the position that “we should embark on such roads where the limitation, for example, of borders has to be settled by arbitration.” “So that is the road that we would opt for,” she said. “A peaceful approach, a diplomatic approach is always the one that is called for.” The Philippines and China are locked in dispute over territory in the South China Sea, where islets, reefs and atolls are believed to be sitting atop vast reserves of natural gas and oil. Grabbing territory China has grabbed Panatag Shoal (Scarborough Shoal), a rich fishing ground in the West Philippine Sea, part of the South China Sea within the Philippines' 370-kilometer exclusive economic zone recognized under Unclos. Beijing has also seized several Gazmin on Sayyaf ... From page 1 in to their demands of a ransom,” Gazmin said in a radio interview. “We will not be intimidated by these gestures and actions.” In a report from SITE monitoring that Arab News wrote, the Al-Qaedalinked Islamic rebels threatened to behead one of two German hostages they have been holding captive since August. T h e A b u S ay ya f g ro u p a l s o demanded a P250-million ransom for the release of the captive. Gazmin, however, would not budge and said that the Philippine government “does not negotiate with terrorists.” “We will continue to contain them,” Gazmin said. He added that President Benigno Aquino III has ordered to “once and for all stop the Abu Sayyaf.” Troops in Patikul, Sulu, where the small terror group is said to be concentrated, would be reshuffled, Gazmin said. Members from Philippine Marines and Philippine Army would comprise the government force. “We are changing our action plan, and we do hope to effectively contain the movement of Abu Sayyaf,” Gazmin said. In recent months the Abu Sayyaf has uploaded videos on the Internet proclaiming its allegiance to the Islamic President Benigno S. Aquino III at a forum in Berlin with members of the Philippine media before he left for Boston. Malacañang Photo Bureau islets in the Spratly archipelago that are in the West Philippine Sea, i n c l u d i n g Pa n g a n i b a n Re e f (Mischief Reef), which it has converted into an offshore g a r r i s o n , a n d M a b i n i Re e f (Johnson South Reef), where it is reclaiming land that could be used to build an airstrip. China is also harassing supply vessels to keep them from restocking a small Filipino garrison on the BRP Sierra Madre, State group, which has taken control of large parts of Iraq and Syria. “They are taking advantage of the international attention the ISIS is getting so that the ransom would increase,” said Lieutenant General Rustico Guerrero, Armed Forces of the Philippines Western Mindanao Command Chief. “All their activities are criminal in nature.” He added that there are continuous operations that the AFP and the Philippine National Police jointly conduct. Gazmin said that even with their small number, the Abu Sayyaf continues to operate as they get support from the civilians in the area. The Abu Sayyaf, considered a “foreign terrorist organization” by the United States, is a loose band of several hundred Islamic militants originally organized with Al-Qaeda funding in the 1990s. The Abu Sayyaf has been blamed for the Philippines' worst terrorist attacks, including kidnappings, abductions and beheadings of foreign and local hostages. It was also blamed for the bombing of a ferry on Manila Bay that killed more than 100 people in 2004. The group is believed to be currently holding several other foreign and Filipino hostages, including two European birdwatchers abducted in February 2012. With a report from Agence France Presse. Inquirer.net TO ADVERTISE, PLEASE CALL 201-434-1114 which Manila grounded on Ayungin Shoal (Second Thomas Shoal) in 1999 to mark Philippine territory in the Spratlys. Without military muscle and firepower to counter China's aggressive actions in the West Philippine Sea, Manila filed a petition for arbitration in a United Nations arbitral tribunal in The Hague in January last year. In late March, the Philippines submitted evidence to the tribunal, Which ordered China to comment on the Philippine case by Dec. 15. China has refused to take part in the proceedings, insisting on bilateral negotiations to resolve the dispute. At a policy forum here on Friday, Mr. Aquino reminded China that it is a signatory to Unclos, which grants countries 370-km exclusive economic zones in the sea. Mr. Aquino rejected China's u Page 6 Sept. 26 - Oct. 2, 2014 Page 6 THE FILIPINO EXPRESS Aquino doubles security due to 'credible threat' vs Pope By Nikko Dizon NEW YORK -- President Aquino on Tuesday, Sept. 23 said he expected stepped up measures by the Presidential Security Group (PSG) to protect Pope Francis during his visit to the Philippines in January next year amid a news report in Italy of a possible threat against the Pontiff by Islamic militants. “We are not going into details. What the PSG affords me, I want to see them double the effort especially for the head of the Holy Mother Church. There shouldn't be any incident while he's in our country. But going into details now might increase the problems of the PSG,” Aquino told reporters in a briefing. The Iraqi ambassador to the Vatican, Habeeb al-Sadr, has been quoted by the Italian newspaper La Nazione earlier this week as saying there is a “credible threat” from the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (Isis) against the Pope. With 'Yolanda' victims Pope Francis will be in the Philippines from Jan. 15 to 19, primarily to visit the survivors of Super Typhoon “Yolanda” that devastated the Visayas in November last year. He is scheduled to fly on Jan. 17 to Tacloban, which bore the brunt Pope Francis arrives for his weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican on Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2014. AP PHOTO/ALESSANDRA TARANTIN of the cyclone, internationally known as “Haiyan.” The PSG will also beef up security for 21 world leaders, including the United States, China and Japan, who are expected to attend the AsiaPacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit in the Philippines in November next year, the President said. Aquino said the terrorist groups in the Philippines being pursued by security forces are not part of the Isis. “The Abu Sayyaf, maybe even the BIFF (Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters) are doing basically the same things but now attributing it to their joining IS, which doesn't necessarily mean that they are IS,” the President said. Foreign Secretary Albert Del Rosario was set to meet with officials from the US D e p a r t m e n t o f S t a te o n Wednesday morning on the latest air strikes by the US military carried out against the Islamic extremist group in Syria. The President said Del Rosario would seek “more details, exactly if they [US] are asking for assistance [from the Philippines] and what manner of assistance… which we will review.” “Of course, we want to do something that is doable and within our capabilities without posing undue risks to our forces or the country at large,” said Aquino, who was winding up a two-week visit to Europe and the United States. Inquirer.net ‘Mission accomplished’ ... before members of Koerber Stiftung Foundation and Asia-Pacific Committee of German Business. From page 5 Threats to rule of law The President said “tensions in the S o u t h C h i n a S e a h ave c re a t e d uncertainty in our region” and “this uncertainty poses threats to the rule of law.” “Ladies and gentlemen, if it is true that international law embodies our consensus as coinhabitants in a single, global community, then it stands to reason that violating it means flouting not just a single nation, but the entire community of nations,” he said. “ C o n v e r s e l y, o b s e r v i n g international law strengthens a dynamic harmony among nations, which could then be harnessed to uplift the lives of all,” Mr. Aquino said. At the open forum, Mr. Aquino was asked how he intended to “balance” the need to resolve the Philippines' territorial dispute with China with its economic relations with the Asian powerhouse. “We still adhere to that belief that this particular tension should not be the be-all and end-all of our relations with China,” Mr. Aquino replied. But the Philippines, he said, could not stand down and tell China, “Yes, OK, you are the bigger country, you are the military power, you have everything and we have nothing except what we believe is right.” “At the end of the day, if we [fail] to protect our rights, then we will lose them [because] we don't think anybody else will rise up to protect [our] rights, which we chose not to defend,” he said. “Now it behooves us to really expand our trade relations with everybody [who is] willing and eager to trade with us. Perhaps to give us that degree of independence that we need to chart our own course,” he said. Inquirer.net position to resolve the dispute through bilateral talks, noting that there are six claimants to territory in the South China Sea. “How does a situation where two parties agree to a solution bind the four other parties who are not even part of the dialogue?” Mr. Aquino asked. Other claimants Besides the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam and Taiwan also claim parts of the South China Sea, but China spurns their claims and rejects efforts at resolving the conflicts on international forums, always insisting on one-on-one talks with its rival claimants. “This problem has been put on the back burner for far too long and that's why in the Philippines' case, we want a resolution,” President Aquino said in a joint press conference with Merkel at the Federal Chancellery here earlier on Friday. “It is not a situation that can be ignored and it has to be confronted and perhaps that will prod everybody to a r r ive a t a s o l u t i o n b a s e d o n international law, based [on] justice and fairness,” Mr. Aquino said. The Philippines has been trying to “internationalize” the issue, arguing that instability in the South China Sea could also affect global trade. The disputed waters are crisscrossed by vital sea-lanes where a third of annual global commerce passes, making the disputes a major concern for countries that trade with emerging economies in Southeast Asia. Mr. Aquino sought to drive home the same message in another policy speech Owners of care ... From page 1 worked 12 to 16 hours a day for $50 to $80 total. There were no allegations that senior residents in their care homes were harmed or mistreated. The arrests in Walnut Creek, and others in Concord, Brentwood and Antioch, were part of a one-year probe into fraud allegedly committed by the owners of 19 residential care homes. Complaints filed with the US Department of Labor triggered the investigation. “It's almost like slave labor,” Pat McGinnis, executive director of California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform, told the Contra Costa Times of the Bay Area News Group. Some 60 workers are owed a total of $2 million, and $624,000 in fines against the companies will be split among the workers, according to Contra Costa deputy district attorney William Murphy, “(The owners) can afford to pay off these million-dollar homes because they're only paying their workers a couple of bucks,” Murphy told the Contra Costa Times. The homes will be allowed to remain open if the owners begin to pay legal wages and taxes and comply with workers' compensation laws, Murphy said. Inquirer.net The Filipino Express is only $40 (52 copies) for one year. That’s only 77 cents per copy and mailed right to your home ! For details, call us at 201-434-1114 or send an email to [email protected]. Sept. 26 - Oct. 2, 2014 Page 7 THE FILIPINO EXPRESS President Benigno S. Aquino III delivers his policy speech at Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, during the John F. Kennedy Jr. Forum. Edwin Bacasmas Aquino at Harvard: I am chasing my father's ‘impossible' dream By Nikko Dizon CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts -President Aquino on Monday, Sept. 22 told a forum at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government that he had committed himself to fulfilling the dreams of his father, the late Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr. “I have to do whatever I can to be able to finish that dream and to make the sacrifice have some meaning,” Aquino said to the audience that included teachers, students and members of the Filipino-American community on his sentimental journey to his old home in Boston. “John F. Kennedy dreamed bigger, and acted on it. My father laid down his life, and in so doing, ignited a movement that toppled a dictatorship. My mother devoted her life to ensuring that the democracy we had reclaimed would never again be taken away. All of them were faced with daunting tasks, and all of them dared, risked and acted,” Aquino said. NEW YORK -- President Benigno Aquino III was heckled by individuals who appeared to belong to US-based Filipino militant organizations during his visit to Columbia University on Tuesday (Sept. 23) afternoon. Aquino delivered a policy speech at Columbia's World Leaders' Forum and had just begun taking questions when a man and a woman took turns shouting at him. The woman was heard saying: “I look up to your mother. I am a Filipino woman and I saw her as a hero - a modern-day hero for me - and what do you do? You want a charter change to extend your presidency? I looked up to her as a hero and now I see the realities of what your family has done. I have been to Hacienda Luisita. I have seen nine-year olds who lost…” The forum host interrupted the woman and asked her to stop but she told the emcee: “This is the only opportunity I have Aquino meets Kennedy scion By Nikko Dizon coverage, reporters were not allowed at the meeting between the two scions of their countries' most influential political families. At press time, details of their 30-minute meeting have yet to be released. Kennedy is the grandson of the late US Sen. Robert Kennedy and grandnephew of US President John F. Kennedy. On a recent visit to Manila, the 33-year-old Kennedy invited Aquino for a meeting if he travels to Massachusetts. From the Kennedy meeting, Aquino proceeded to his family's former home on Connecticut Avenue. A statement from the Office of the President said that Aquino met with several American companies on Monday afternoon. Inquirer.net NEWTON, Massachusetts -'Why not?' President Benigno Aquino III “This is my message to all of you: shared a pepperoni pizza with Like JFK, Ninoy and Cory, each one has United States Representative the capacity to dream, to die, to live, to Joseph Kennedy III at a pizzeria fight, to stand for something, to ask 'Why that was one of the Philippine not?' when the challenges seem leader's favorites when his insurmountable. Thus can we transform family lived in exile in Boston. the world for the better.” Aquino met with Kennedy Aquino arrived in Boston on at Bill's Pizzeria in Newton on Saturday night from Berlin following a Monday (Sept. 22) morning. weeklong visit to Spain, Belgium, France Except for a photo and Germany to drum up support for the Philippines' move to bring its territorial dispute with China to international arbitration and invite investors to the country. He flies tonight to New York to join a United Nations summit on climate change. The elder Aquino, jailed by President Ferdinand Marcos for nearly eight years, was assassinated on Aug. 21, 1983, on his return to Manila, from three years of self-exile in the United States with his family. The President said his father, as an opposition senator in the premartial law u Page 12 Aquino heckled at Columbia University By Nikko Dizon MAKING HISTORY IN A PIZZERIA. President Aquino talks with US Rep. Joseph P. Kennedy III at Bill's Pizzeria on Beacon Street, Newton Center, Massachusetts, the former's favorite pizza place when his family lived in Boston. The lawmaker is a grandson of US Sen. Robert Kennedy and grandnephew of US President John F. Kennedy - who were both felled by assassins' bullets. Edwin Bacasmas to talk to the person…” She screamed “Shame on you!” as she was led out of the Low Library where the forum was held. Inquirer photographer Edwin Bacasmas said he saw the woman join protesters holding up banners of the militant groups Gabriela and Bayan. At a press briefing with the Philippine media, Aquino said he was used to being heckled. “I am ready to listen to everyone,” he said but expressed hope that there would be a “synthesis” of ideas and not simply end with an “anti-thesis.” A man also tried to engage President Aquino in a debate after he delivered a policy speech at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government last Monday, Sept. 22. The man questioned the Philippines' purchase of firearms from the United States and Canada, when such a program would not create employment for the Filipino people. Inquirer.net BOSTON COLLEGE VISIT. President Aquino greets students, members of the faculty and members of the Filipino community at the reception line during his visit to Boston College on Sunday, Sept. 21. Ryan Lim/Malacañang Photo Bureau Boston College renames scholarship grant to honor Ninoy and Cory Aquino By Nikko Dizon NEWTON, Massachusetts -President Aquino on Sunday, Sept. 21 expressed his gratitude to Boston College for renaming its Asian-American Scholarship after his parents, Benigno and Corazon Aquino. “Mom and Dad placed a very high premium on education. They believed that a person can be famous one day, and a nobody the next; he can be rich today, and penniless tomorrow. But education is a permanent resource; once you have it, you can never lose it,” he said in a speech. “I remember my father stating that there were two things he wanted most of all: to preserve our good name, and to ensure that we would learn the value of a good education,” Aquino added. The Asian-American Scholarship was created in 1995 and renamed after President Aquino's parents in 2010. Min Hyoung Song, director of the Asian American Studies, chairs the program. He said that for years, students questioned why the scholarship program was not named after a specific person u Page 8 Sept. 26 - Oct. 2, 2014 Page 8 THE FILIPINO EXPRESS After 31 years, Aquino visits Boston home of Aquino family By Nikko Dizon NEWTON, Massachusetts -After 31 years, President Aquino thought it was time to go back to his second home, a two-story red brick house at 175 C o m m o nwe a l t h Ave n u e i n Chestnut Hill, an affluent area in this Boston suburb. The house has been owned by a retired American schoolteacher over the past decade. Aquino was to visit the house at 10 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 21. “I normally try to remove emotionalism in my speeches but it's the first time I have been back in Boston. And I actually had several opportunities to come earlier, and I kept begging off. I said, 'Let me make sure that my emotions are in check before I do make a homecoming,'” the President said in a speech at Boston College, a stone's throw away. “ To t h o s e o f yo u w h o remember me back then as the dog-handler, carpenter, plumber and baggage-carrier, as that young man who found it difficult to weather your cold winters, you must be thinking, 'How things have changed.' Boston played a significant role in this,” he added. He said Boston gave the Aquinos during three years of self-exile a sense of normalcy “in what can only be described as abnormal times” in the Philippines under the dictator Ferdinand Marcos. Here, he experienced his first snowfall, which coincided with one of the coldest winters in the state at the time. To survive the biting cold, he slept in a tracksuit and thermal underwear, snuggled inside a sleeping bag, and buried himself in heaps of blankets and sheets which he topped with a comforter. “One typical Boston winter, our family had an influx of v i s i t o r s , a m o n g t h e m my Aquino to UN: Act now ... From page 4 contours of this century more dramatically than any other” issue. The Philippines has taken important measures in an effort to address the effects of climate change despite its limited resources, Aquino said, citing the enactment of the Renewable Energy Act in 2008. “We are now treading a climate-smart development pathway. We continue to take steps to maintain and even improve our low-emission development strategy and the trajectory of our energy mix. And we are hopeful that our fellow developing nations, especially those who have been Aquino remembers a pretty woman in Boston neighborhood By Nikko Dizon HOME AWAY FROM HOME. President Aquino visits the house on Commonwealth Avenue in Newton, Massachusetts, where the Aquino family lived for three years while his father, then opposition leader Sen. Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr., was on exile in the United States. The President returns after 31 years, saying it's an emotional time for him. Edwin Bacasmas grandmother who came to America to receive treatment for colon cancer. Her company and contingent of relatives, and some Japanese friends of my family, were all our guests at the house at 175,” Aquino said. With so many people in the house, Aquino said, the hot water eventually ran out. “And I, being part of the host, that was how I learned to take a shower in two minutes flat, using ice cold water in the dead of winter,” he said, drawing laughter from the crowd. As he shivered, he saw TV advertisements of sunny Florida “with its warm breeze and palm trees.” He remembered the Philippines. And he recalled how much he missed the Philippines that he was thankful to the kutsinta that longtime family friend Norma Bucal, who hosted lunch for him o n S u n d a y, m a d e e v e r y Christmas. “And since there were so many Filipinos waiting for her kutsinta, it was divided by, I think, two pieces per person per year… And I have to tell you - it's a confession - that up to now, w h e n e ve r I s e e k u t s i n t a , regardless of where I am in the Philippines or elsewhere, I have to [eat] it. Perhaps I was too deprived then,” Aquino said, again eliciting laughter.It was in Boston where he said he learned the value of introspection, as he considered how his family lived in exile while the Marcoses partied in Malacañang, “raping the economy and oppressing my people.” He also learned to empathize with overseas Filipino workers who missed the Philippines. The President expressed gratitude to the Bucals, Dr. Steve a n d C h e r i A g u i l a r, t h e Buenaventuras, and all his family's supportive friends who helped him ease his “entry into a new life in the midst of a small community composed of professionals and students.” He thanked them for being supportive to this day, especially when Cheri Aguilar “defended t h e t r u t h” wh e n h e r l a te husband's name was dragged into the 2010 presidential election “in an attempt to slander me.” Dr. Aguilar was allegedly the psychiatrist from whom the President sought treatment for a mental disorder. Cheri Aguilar denied this. “It was in Boston, thanks to all our friends, that my family was given a haven from the persecution of the dictatorship,” Aquino said. Inquirer.net gaining the economic wherewithal to pursue similar strategies, will tread a path akin to ours,” he said. needed at a national level. Nations, including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Guatemala and Uganda, said they would restore 30 million hectares of tropical forest, more than doubling the 20 million hectares already pledged through a global initiative. Star power Leonardo DiCaprio brought star power to the UN summit, urging leaders to stop treating global warming as if it were fiction. “As an actor, I pretend for a l iv i n g . I p l ay f i c t i t i o u s characters often solving fictitious problems,” DiCaprio, sporting a ponytail and suit and tie, told the summit. “I believe mankind has looked at climate change in that same way as if it were fiction.”With a report from AFP. Inquirer.net Fears of being wiped out Small island nations fear that climate change will literally wipe them out as water levels rise, turning their people into environmental refugees. “Tuvalu's future is in your hands. The time for denial, for hesitation, for pandering to the interests of the fossil fuel industry is over,” said the Pacific island's prime minister, Enele Sosene Sopoaga. In one notable promise, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio vowed that the metropolis and host of the United Nations would cut its emissions by 80 percent by 2050, a level of ambition that activists say is NEWTON, Massachusetts -- He had a pretty neighbor but someone else in a flashy car picked her up one day. And that ended Noynoy Aquino's plans of asking her out on a date. This was among the fond memories that President Aquino shared with friends who accompanied him to his family's former home in Newton on Monday (Sept. 22) morning. Aquino brought a gift for Ione Malloy, the retired American schoolteacher who had bought the house more than a decade ago. Mah-jongg, informal dinners Dr. Mario Bucal, a good friend of the late Sen. Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. in Boston, also joined the President in his nostalgic return to the house that saw a lot of mahjongg games and informal dinners. The President spent some 30 minutes inside the house with his friends, Doctor Bucal and Malloy. It was a private meeting, which members of the media were not allowed to cover. Coverage of the visit was limited to a photo and video opportunity outside the house. Aquino was overheard by Inquirer photographer Edwin Bacasmas sharing his stories with friends as they ambled on the sidewalk after emerging from the house. The President said he shoveled the heavy snow on the sidewalk and their driveway, not an easy task Boston College renames ... From page 7 like the Martin Luther King Scholarship and the Oscar Romero S c h o l a r s h i p fo r o u t s t a n d i n g African-American and Latino students, respectively. After two years of brainstorming for a name, Min recalled that someone eventually mentioned the Aquinos. “They used to live down the street from us and they did a few important things in their lives. So we looked at their history and we were very impressed,” Min said. The Aquino scholarship is awarded to students who are not only intelligent, dedicated and hardworking, but also embody courage, dedication to social justice, has a “commitment to giving back as much as they got.” According to the Boston College we b s i t e , t h e w i n n e r o f t h e scholarship is given a $15,000 toward senior year tuition. “What I personally love about the name Benigno and Corazon Aquino is that it tells us something about this problem for justice. It says that one might never see the fulfillment of one's aspirations for justice. But that one, nevertheless, considering the bitter winters in Massachusetts. An elderly American couple, John Paul and Rebecca Valette, patiently waited for Aquino outside the house. And when he got near them, Rebecca introduced herself as the Aquinos' neighbors and pointed to him where they lived. Cute The anecdote on the “cute neighbor,” as Bacasmas heard from one of the President's friends, was the closest one got in satisfying the curiosity about whether Aquino dated anyone while in Boston. At 54, the President remains a bachelor. u Page 12 strives and finds courage to attain it,” Min said. Matt Alonsozana, the recipient of the Aquino scholarship in 2014, told the President that it was “humbling” to be named “in honor of heroes who gave their lives to better realize the restless dream of Philippine freedom, and who in the spirit of democracy demonstrated to the world that the Filipino is worth fighting and dying for.” In his speech, the President said his father once told him: “The most basic freedom is the freedom from hunger, and until that is resolved, everything else is irrelevant; political freedoms are nothing but mere afterthoughts to a people deprived of food on the table.” He said he now had the chance to “apply this idea, and help our country recover from its lost decade under the previous administration.” Aquino gave a detailed list of his administration's accomplishments: the economic turnaround, the conditional cash transfer program, reforms in graft-ridden Bureau of Customs and Department of Public Works and Highways, the peace agreement with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, and the campaign against corruption, which led to the detention of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and three sitting senators for plunder. Inquirer.net Sept. 26 - Oct. 2, 2014 Page 9 THE FILIPINO EXPRESS More photos of Pres. Aquino’s US trip Pres. Aquino visits his family's former residence at 175 Washington Avenue in Boston, Massachusetts Monday, Sept. 22, 2014. MNS photo Pres. Aquino delivers his speech at a public forum at the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University in Boston, Massachusetts on Monday, Sept. 22. MNS photo Pres. Aquino signs the Harvard University official guest book during public forum at Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University in Boston, Massachusetts on Monday, Sept. 22. MNS photo Pres. Aquino answers inquiries of CEO's and officials from the US Chamber of Commerce and the US-ASEAN Business Council in a roundtable conference at the Omni Hotel on Tuesday, Sept. 23. The roundtable conference aims to facilitate smooth business transactions between US companies and the Philippines. MNS photo NEW YORK, New York - Pres. Aquino meets with Her Majesty Queen Maxima of the Netherlands United Nations Secretary-General Special Advocate during their bilateral meeting on the sideline of the United Nation Climate Change Summit held at the UN Headquarters here on Tuesday, Sept. 23. MNS photo NEW YORK, New York - Pres. Aquino exchanges views with the President of Republic of Serbia during their bilateral meeting on the sideline of the United Nation Climate Change Summit at the UN Headquarters here on Tuesday, Sept. 23. MNS photo NEW YORK, New York - Pres. Aquino delivers his speech during United Nation Climate Change Summit held at the UN Headquarters here on Tuesday, Sept. 23. MNS photo NEW YORK, New York - Pres. Aquino tours the City of New York, walking across Park Avenue with Cabinet Secretary Jose Almendraz. MNS photo NEW YORK, New York - Pres. Aquino with Lee Bollinger, President Columbia University after the program of the World Leaders Forum Tuesday, Sept. 23 at the Low Library Rotunda of the Columbia University. MNS photo NEW YORK, New York - Pres. Aquino delivers his speech at the Columbia University World Leaders Forum Tuesday, Sept. 23 at the Low Library Rotunda of the Columbia University. MNS photo [email protected] NEW YORK, New York - Pres. Aquino graces the business roundtable with the CEO's and senior officials from the US Chamber of Commerce, the US-ASEAN Business Council and the US-Philippine Society held at the Omni Berkshire Place here. MNS photo Sept. 26 - Oct. 2, 2014 Page 10 THE FILIPINO EXPRESS World's heavy burden Before the largest assembly of world leaders gathered on Tuesday, Sept. 23 in New York City to promise “catalytic” action on climate change, the largest climate change protest rally took to the city's streets the Sunday before. More than 300,000 people took part in the “People's Climate March,” and were joined by more protesters, perhaps another 300,000 or so, in other cities around the world. The marches were designed to put public opinion squarely behind the United Nations Climate Summit, and also to put public pressure on it. The summit was a one-day event for leaders from government, business and civil society, convened by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to “galvanize and catalyze climate action.” The idea was to help ensure that a substantial and legally binding agreement on limiting greenhouse gases will be reached in Paris late next year. The summit is separate from the ongoing and complicated negotiations undertaken under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, but its goal, according to official UN literature, is “to raise political will and mobilize action, thereby generating momentum toward a successful outcome of the negotiations.” Did it work? It is of course too early to tell, but there are disquieting signs. China, now the world's largest single source of carbon dioxide emissions, was not represented by its new paramount leader, Xi Jinping. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the leader of the third-biggest emitter, India, did not show up either. The climate change skeptics who run Canada and Australia, Stephen Harper and Tony Abbott, skipped the event, too. Even should not displace the regular both the beneficiary's career Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany, who pledged $1 billion to employment of citizens and outside the United States and his the UN's Green Climate Fund, missed the summit. The USCIS recently released a resident workers. overseas employer. While the UN has sought to put a positive spin on these and policy guidance on H-3 A foreign nurse may enter the The petition for an H-3 trainee other absences, saying it is each respective country's set of nonimmigrant trainees. The new U.S. under an H-3 visa to receive is made on Form I-129. The commitments to climate action that is important, the reality is less guidance consolidated previously training provided he meets the petition must be accompanied by a congenial. The summit was convened precisely in recognition of issued guidance on the program. basic H-3 trainee requirements, is statement describing the training the nature of the climate change negotiations: Everything boils The H-3 visa is for foreign not on an H-1 status, and has a full program, the supervision to be down to political will. If the leaders of some of the countries most nationals coming to the U.S. to and unrestricted license in the given, the proportion of time crucial to the negotiations did not bother to show up, what is the participate in training programs country where he obtained his devoted to productive employment message being sent to those countries' negotiators? with U.S. employers. The training nursing education or such and the number of hours spent on Even more disquieting are the consequences of climate program may be in any field education was obtained in the U.S. classroom or on-the-job training. change, which become more and more obvious with each passing including agriculture, commerce, or Canada. The statement must also season. communications, finance, The petitioner seeking H-3 include the reasons for training the The international community long ago reached consensus on government , transportation, classification for a nurse must beneficiary and why such training the 2-degree mark: that if global average temperatures rose more among others. It must not be certify that under the laws of the cannot be obtained in the foreign than 2 degrees (or 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-Industrial available in the foreign national's place where the training will be national's country, the benefit the Age levels, the result would be calamitous. At current rates, and home country and must benefit his conducted, the nurse is fully beneficiary's training will bring to despite the progress of the environmental movement in many career or employment outside the qualified to receive training and the the petitioner, and the amount and countries, the world will breach the 2-degree mark well before the United States. petitioner is authorized to give source of the beneficiary's end of this century. Although H-3 trainees are such training. remuneration. Indeed, as the Global Carbon Project's annual report, released allowed to receive compensation The petitioner must also certify The USCIS will scrutinize the just in time for the summit, shows, carbon dioxide emissions while training, they cannot engage that there is a genuine need for the training program and may not in productive employment unless nurse to receive training and that approve the program if the reached a new record high last year, and are expected to rise even necessary to the training and the training is designed to benefit u Page 12 further this year. “Carbon dioxide … emissions from fossil fuel burning and cement production increased by 2.3 percent in 2013 … 61 percent above 1990 emissions (the Kyoto Protocol reference year). Emissions are projected to increase by a further 2.5 percent in 2014.” Those numbers should shock us. In the quarter-century since the landmark Kyoto Protocol was reached, which encouraged u Page 12 Nonimmigrant Visa for Nurse Trainees Other prisms 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 A different prism on martial law came, over the weekend, from a Filipino who grew up in Argentina. To mark the 42nd anniversary of Marcos' saving “democracy by bayonets,” Bino A. Realuyo wrote about “my belated awakening (that) came mostly from a Buenos Aires education.” A poet and novelist, Realuyo worked as community organizer, then as educator. He recalls “seeing historical parallels,” while studying “La Guerra Sucia”: Jorge Rafael Videla and Ferdinand Marcos were “great architects of repression.” In Argentina's “dirty war,” thousands of dissidents were kidnapped, tortured and killed. Under Marcos, 3,257 were “salvaged” and 737 disappeared or were made “desaparecidos.” “Marcos was the only Filipino president I lived under. Books and news were sanitized even then. I remember curfews, power outages, little else. My love for books began in readings of history and encyclopedias. I joined and won history quiz bees in high school, my young mind having the capacity to memorize dates and fa c t s . B u t t h e re wa s l i t t l e understanding of why history happens. “I didn't know I lived in a climate of repression. People like us lived too far from the inner circles of politics, as many Filipinos d o e v e n n o w. L u c k i l y, m y international education allowed me to become more critical of the world around me, search for truth, and increase capacity to understand.” Why did martial law happen? How did it impact the country? Why does the Philippines continue to be beleaguered by graft and corruption? Some answers came years later. Realuyo today reluctantly accepts that Filipinos don't grasp the power of these two words: “nunca mas” (never again). Many Filipinos confuse (Catholic) Forgiveness with these two wrought sisters: Denial and Powerlessness. That “history repeats itself” axiom was nurtured in the Philippines is beside the point. Perhaps, it is totally moot at this historical impasse: “There is very little room to move in this discourse. History is tight, and fast.” u Page 14 Sept. 26 - Oct. 2, 2014 Page 11 THE FILIPINO EXPRESS The month that changed Filipino-American history By Rodel Rodis agricultural history. From the time Filipinos first landed in Morro Bay, California on October 18, 1587 to the present, no other month has held more significance for Filipinos in America than September 1965, when three major historic events occurred. The most celebrated of them began in the early morning of September 8, 1965 when 1,500 Filipino farm workers in Delano, California arrived at work to cut the grapes off the vines as they had been doing since they first arrived in the United States in the 1920s and 1930s. But after placing the grapes in boxes at the base of the trees, they walked off their jobs to picket the grape farms. It was the first day of the Delano Strike of 1965, perhaps the most significant labor action in American The Delano Strike of 1965 It was the strike that led to the formation of the United Farm Workers of America, AFL-CIO; the strike that caused sweeping changes in U.S. farm labor laws; and the strike that led to the formation of the first national political organization of Filipinos in the U.S. But it almost did not happen. Earlier in the week, about 150 Filipino farm workers crammed the Filipino Community Center in Delano to hear labor leader Larry Itliong describe how he and Pete Velasco had successfully organized 1,000 Filipino grape pickers in Coachella Valley, just south of Delano, to go on strike on May 3, 1965. The strikers protested the disparity in wages between the $1.40 per hour paid to “braceros” Making life worth living Ellen Tordesillas All these investigations on the alleged corruption of Vice President Jejomar Binay are primarily to level the playing field for the 2016 presidential elections. That's because surveys showed that Binay is way, way ahead of o t h e r p o l i t i c i a n s wh o h ave ambitions to run for president in 2016. When Pulse Asia asked 1,200 representative adults, 18 years old and above last June 24 through July 2, who they would vote for president if elections were held at that time, 41 percent said, “Binay.” That's a good number. Analysts say that a presidential candidate has to have at least 40 per cent of the votes cast to win the presidency. After Binay was Sen. Grace Poe Opinion By Rodel Rodis (migrant workers brought from Mexico under a government program) and the $1.10 per hour paid to Filipino farm workers. Itliong narrated that soon after the strike began, the Coachella growers relented and agreed to pay the Filipino farm workers the same as they paid the Mexican braceros. “We can get the same result here,” Itliong assured the Delano Filipinos. But many were unconvinced, fearing that they may offend the growers who provided them with free housing in labor camps during the grape season. When the vote came, only one hand was raised to support the call for a strike. This meeting is recounted in the newly-released documentary “Delano Manongs: Forgotten Heroes of the United Farm Wo r k e r s ” b y M a r i s s a A r o y (DelanoManongs.com). An eyewitness relates how Itliong regretfully accepted the result of the vote but implored the workers to return in a few days to reconsider their vote. A f e w n i g h t s l a t e r, o n September 7, 1965, the workers returned to the community hall to hold another vote. Only this time, the vote was unanimous as they all enthusiastically voted to go on strike. Itliong asked them all to spread the word and get all the workers to go to work at 4 a.m and then, when the whistles are blown, to stop work and set up picket lines outside the grape farms. The amazing fact that 1,500 Filipinos would act in such a unified and organized manner should lay to rest all the s te re o t y p e s o f F i l i p i n o s a s hopelessly afflicted with the crab mentality and incapable of uniting on any issue. Larry Itliong had prepared for this historic moment since he first landed in California in 1929 from San Nicolas, Pangasinan, In 1956, he formed the Filipino Farm Labor Union and in 1958, he was the main organizer of the Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee (AWOC) of the AFL-CIO. Among the early members of AWOC were Carlos Bulosan and Philip Vera Cruz. When the Delano Strike began, Itliong hoped that the u Page 14 Disqualify Binay to level playing field for 2016 with 12 per cent. As of now, however, Poe remains unconvinced about running for the top post especially if it's primarily to prevent Binay from becoming president. Third was former president and now Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada w i t h n i n e p e rc e n t . T h i s i s something to be concerned about which we will take up in future columns. Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, the Liberal Party's candidate, presumably the candidate also of Aquino, was preferred only by seven percent of the respondents. He had the same following as senators Chiz Escudero and Miriam Defensor-Santiago. Senators Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. and Alan Cayetano, both vying to be the Nacionalista Party's standard bearer for 2016, were each preferred by only five per cent of the respondents. Given what seems to be the overwhelming advantage of Binay, the other presidential aspirants know that they have to improve their appeal to the voters in the next 20 months. They also have to pull down Binay. Or better yet, eliminate Binay from the race to level playing field. If one is to believe coffee shop talks about institutionalized corruption in Makati, Binay is one smart politician to have gotten away with it the past so many years. But his political opponents want to make sure that this time they will get him. In the Senate, Cayetano together with Senators VP Jejomar Binay did not present proof to debunk corruption allegations Antonio Trillanes IV and Aquilino against him. u Page 14 Wanna bet? They say you should put your money where your mouth is. But they also say it's unsporting to bet on a certainty. Regardless, let's make a friendly wager out of this, if you, dear reader, are up to it. Because I'm willing to bet that President Noynoy Aquino will not fire his good personal friend and national police chief Director General Alan Purisima, whatever happens. It's a bet I'd be perfectly happy to lose. But I'm so certain of victory, even if I'm not a betting man, that I'm willing to put some of my meager journalist's pay on the line. Regular readers already know about my belief that Aquino will never fire any of the people he personally picked for a government post. That's because, not having any real executive experience in the past, the President naively believes that he cannot be mistaken about any of the friends he appointed to high office. The other Aquino trait that informs his refusal to fire even the most obviously corrupt of his people - a title that Purisima is now seriously in the running for - is his stubbornness in the face of even the clearest, most credible evidence. The more people demand that he fire someone (see Budget Secretary Florencio Abad), the more Aquino digs in and refuses to budge. As for Purisima, I'm sorry to say that the latest word from his friend, protector and Commander-in-Chief in New York (where he really should be enjoying his favorite Sabrett's street frankfurters instead of worrying about what's going on back in Manila) only makes me more confident of winning the wager. “I do not know him [Purisima] as someone who is extravagant or greedy,” Aquino said, continuing a defense of the national police chief that began even before he left on his pleasure tour of Europe and the US. Aquino's defense of Purisima already crossed over to the surreal once, when the President declared that the national police chief and his men were responsible for cracking the recent robbery case on Edsa involving a group of Quezon City police officials. As everyone with an Internet connection knows, the police would not even have heard of that incident had an eyewitness not taken a picture of the crime as it was happening and posted it on Twitter. A n d Aqu in o ha s a lrea dy admitted that he has known Purisima since 1987, when the officer became his personal closein aide as a member of the Presidential Security Group during his mother Cory's administration. In the unofficial ranking of Aquino relatives and close friends, that makes Purisima a bona fide, lownumbered member of the so-called “KKK,” the inner circle of Aquino sycophants who are also longtime friends or favored relatives of the President. It matters little that corruption charges have been filed against Purisima, for a supposed illegal firearms deal, for accepting improper donations to refurbish the official residence of the PNP chief in Camp Crame also known as the “White House”and, soon, for owning a San Leonardo, Nueva Ecija mansion and a Cabanatuan City poultry farm that he may or may not have declared in his official statement of assets and liabilities. It matters little that a proadministration senator, Grace Poe, has asked Purisima to step down, not only over the corruption charges hanging over his head but also because of the perceived corruption of the police force in general. It doesn't even matter if the most damaging exposes about Purisima's alleged corruption have come from an influential television network that is overly friendly with the Aquino administration. And it matters even less that, inside Malacanang, Purisima is reported to have made a powerful enemy in the person of his direct superior, Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas, who reportedly wants to replace the national police chief with his own protege. Aquino is not going to fire u Page 12 Sept. 26 - Oct. 2, 2014 Page 12 THE FILIPINO EXPRESS Aquino at Harvard ... From page 7 years, was “perhaps the fiercest fiscalizer of Mr. Marcos, in conformity with the concept of checks and balances in government.” By sheer irony, Aquino began his official working visit in Boston on Sept. 21, the 42nd anniversary of Marcos' declaration of martial law. As he was only 23 years old when his father was killed, the President remarked that he c o u l d h ave s a i d “ t h ey ' re (Filipinos) probably not worth fighting for, not worth living for, [for] they allowed this tragedy to happen to my dad.” But despite the assassination, “there really seems to be that plan that will prepare you for the next step, that will help you overcome it,” Aquino said. When his mother, former President Cory Aquino, died in 2009, there was a clamor that the Aquinos' only son seek the presidency after the nine-year administration of then President Gloria MacapagalArroyo, which was tainted with allegations of massive corruption. He said in his policy speech that starting in 2001, Arroyo “instead of learning the lessons of martial law, seemingly adopted Mr. Marcos' handbook of how to abuse the democratic process.” “At the end of her regime, our people were so apathetic to all the scandals and issues affecting her, and government's inability to effect change, that the overwhelming ambition of so many was to leave the country. Now, an estimated 10 million of our countrymen reside abroad,” Aquino said. When he assumed the presidency in 2010, Aquino said that he wanted to eliminate corruption to eliminate poverty. Freedom from hunger This echoed the lesson he learned from his father who had told him that the “most basic freedom is the freedom from hunger, and until that is resolved eve r y t h i n g e l s e b e c o m e s irrelevant.” Aquino said his administration's efforts to reform a “broken-down government that Filipinos had once accepted as the norm,” had led to an “effective and efficient government working to uplift the country.” He gave as an example four case studies that “illustrate the adherence to our bedrock p r i n c i p l e s o f i n t e g r i t y, inclusiveness and justice based on the rule of law.” 4 case studies The first was about a young girl of 16 whom he met on the campaign trail, pregnant with her second child. To Aquino, she represented the problem of government's failure to empower its people, considered a nation's most valuable resource. Thus, his administration stepped up programs that would invest in “the wellbeing of the people” to ensure that “no one will be left behind.” The second case involved the impeachment trial and conviction of Chief Justice Renato Corona, which the President said, showed the need for public officials to be held accountable for their wrongdoing. Third was his secret meeting with Moro Islamic Liberation Front chair Murad Ebrahim in 2011 that paved the way to a peace agreement with the secessionist group. And fourth was seeking a peaceful resolution to the territorial dispute with China. Aquino stressed that to have prosperity, there needed to be “peace and stability within our own borders and in our part of the world.” Transformation The President said the “transformation” of the Philippines happened because his administration refused to give up on the reforms it sought and chose to change the status quo instead of settling for or enduring it. “Today, even the political opposition grants that we have made tremendous progress, which the Filipino people, of course, have seen for themselves,” he said. Despite criticisms, Aquino said he would not give up because it would mean “allowing the shameless and the unscrupulous to have free reign over the fate of everyone else.” “My administration's mandate lasts six years, and I am determined to make the most of it. Our challenge today is to make the gains even greater, and to ensure that the transformation becomes an enduring mainstream of justice and inclusiveness,” he said. The President expressed hope that the Philippines' experiences would motivate those in the audience to be “influencers” that would inspire other communities and institutions. Inquirer.net Aquino ... From page 8 Going to No. 175 Commonwealth Avenue on Chestnut Hill, an affluent neighborhood in this town, was perhaps the highlight of the President's homecoming to Boston since returning to the Philippines in 1983 to bury his slain father. Emotional In a speech at Boston College on Sunday, Aquino said he knew that going back to Boston for the first time after 31 years would be an emotional moment for him. The three years he spent with his father, mother Cory and four sisters in the red brick, two-story house were obviously the happiest moments they had as a family. Boston and the friends they made there, Aquino said, gave his family a Wanna bet? From page 10 Purisima before the police officer retires as scheduled in November 2015. Purisima is just too close to Aquino - and knows too much about the President from way, way back - to ever be let go. Wanna bet? *** Oh, and if some people are really interested in going after the national police chief, here's a free tip: look into the business dealings of Purisima's son. The PNP chief's son is involved in several businesses, actually, but the most unethical of them all is an outfit that provides the required neuro- Nonimmigrant visa ... From page 10 following features are present: it deals with generalities and does not have a fixed schedule, objective or means of evaluation; it is incompatible with the petitioner's business or enterprise; the beneficiary already has substantial training and expertise in the field of nursing and his training will unlikely be used outside the U.S. In addition, the training program may not be approved if it results in “productive employment, unless necessary to the training”; it is designed to recruit and train foreign nurses for staffing of U.S. hospitals and other healthcare facilities; the petitioner has no venue or sufficient staff to provide proposed training; and it is designed to extend the total allowable practical training allowed a nonimmigrant student. An H-3 trainee is admitted for the duration of the program but for not sense of normalcy amid “abnormal” times, referring to the brutality of martial law. It was a “home away from home,” he said. His father, one of the leading o p p o s i t i o n f i g u re s a g a i n s t t h e dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos, was in jail for seven and a half years, before an urgent heart surgery in 1980 became the family's ticket to seek exile in the United States. Formative years The time he spent in Boston was also his formative years, Aquino said, in imbibing his father's fight for freedom and democracy. Before going to Commonwealth Avenue, the President shared a pizza with US Rep. Joseph Kennedy III at Bill's Pizzeria, said to be one of Mr. Aquino's favorites when his family lived in exile in Boston. Inquirer.net psychological testing of policemen, security guards and others in the public safety sector. The police chief's son is so uncaring about what people may think about his business dealings, I'm told, that he actually signs the clearances of people who have undergone neuropsychological tests with his outfit. Now, which police official would cast doubts on the legitimacy of the tests given by the younger Purisima's company if the son of his boss is the earlier signatory? And, as everyone knows, these psychological tests are often given - if they're given at all - by flyby-night outfits simply out to make a quick buck. That story may break real soon. But it's still not going to get Purisima fired. more than two years. Extensions may be obtained if their original period of stay under H-3 status was less than two years. After two years, an H-3 trainee may not seek extension, change of status or be readmitted to the U.S. under H or L status unless he resided and had been physically present outside the U.S. for the preceding six months. There are a few exceptions to this general rule. One exception is where the H or L status of the H-3 nonimmigrant was seasonal, intermittent, or lasted for an aggregate of 6 months or less per year. Also, an H-4 dependent may change status to H-3 and vice versa. The time spent as an H-4 dependent does not count towards the maximum period of stay under H-3 status. There is no annual limit for the H-3 category. The spouse and children of the H-3 visa holder may enter the U.S. under the H-4 visa. (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.) World’s heavy burden ... From page 10 developed economies to reduce emissions but allowed developing economies a virtual free pass, the annual level of carbon dioxide emissions has soared. Today, two of the largest developing economies exempted under the Kyoto Protocol account for over one-third of all emissions: China with 28 percent, India with 7. Any disinterested observer would suggest that any new global arrangement require major restrictions on China, India and the United States, which did not sign the Protocol and which today accounts for 14 percent of all carbon dioxide emissions. But no one on this planet is, or should be, disinterested. The very future of the human race is at stake, and those of us who live in disaster-prone zones are especially at risk. As President Aquino emphasized in his short speech at the UN Climate Summit: “It would not be an exaggeration to say that Filipinos bear a disproportionate amount of the burden when it comes to climate change.” Supertyphoon “Yolanda” and the typhoons that have wrought havoc on oncestorm-free Mindanao are howling reminders of that disproportionate burden. Inquirer.net Sept. 26 - Oct. 2, 2014 Page 13 THE FILIPINO EXPRESS A Smile of Hope By Daryl Dano One hundred year-old Badjao Sawira Biddin, otherwise known as Babu, which translates as grandmother in Sinama language, sits contentedly outside her new, seafront home. Asked the reason for her beaming smile, she waves at the new hut made of pandan leaves that she shares with six others. “Them,” pointing to her greatgrandchildren tossing coins on 'dry land' now that it is low tide. “And them,” referring to her neighbours, who stop by to buy cooking ingredients or to simply have a chat with her. Babu was among the people displaced during the September 2013 Zamboanga City crisis, which was due to weeks of armed clashes between the government forces and the rogue elements of the Moro National Liberation Front. Earlier this year, the Philippine government signed a final peace agreement called the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro - a peace deal that would create an autonomous political entity bigger than the current Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao, concluding 17 years of negotiations. Meanwhile, Babu and her family were among the first 49 families transferred to a new transitional site in Buggoc, located in the northcentral part of the city, where shelters were built specifically for Badjaos, whose lives, cultures, and traditions are closely tied to the sea. The Buggoc transitional site, built in respect and in accordance to the group's traditions, is a realization of the community's wishes. Babu and some of the Badjaos who moved to Buggoc, as tradition dictates, sailed in vintas, traditional boats with sails of distinctive vertical bands and triangles of kaleidoscope colours, which represent the community's rich culture and history. The Philippines' Department of Social Work and Development, together with its partners, is currently building 900 transitional shelters in Buggoc and Mampang alone. An additional 1,300 more (transitional shelters) are to be constructed to accommodate the remaining displaced families. Meanwhile, the National Housing Authority's Zamboanga Road Map to Reconstruction and Recovery plans to build a total of 6,900 permanent shelters through June 2015. The government recognises the diverse cultural needs of the displaced (indigenous) peoples. An essential part of the resettlement process is a series of community consultations, which often lead to inter-faith and peace-building dialogues. The International Organization for Migration's displacement tracking matrix shows that the displaced population includes 75% Tausug, 18% Sinama, 4% Bisaya/Cebuano, 2% Chavacano and 1% other ethno-linguistic groups, including Yakan, Subanen, Elanon, Maranao, Maguindanao. The biggest challenge faced by Photos by Daryl Dano the government and its partners is the complex dynamics of identifying land for durable shelter solutions and land use rules relating to identified sites, not to mention the complex ethnic and cultural composition of Zamboanga. But Babu is just happy to be in her new home and out of the sweltering heat in the recently closed evacuation site along the narrow stretch of shoreline known as Cawa-cawa, which hosted more than 1,000 families during the peak of displacement. Adjacent to Cawa-cawa is the Joaquin Enriquez Sports Complex, the largest evacuation centre in the city, where over 2,000 families, mostly Badjao and Tausug Muslim 280 Luis Munoz Marin Boulevard Jersey City, NJ 07302 ethno-linguistic groups, have been housed for the last 12 months, since after the conflict erupted. “It is good to be beside the sea and to have fresh air. I am happy it has been peaceful for a year now,” she says. “Panggi and fish also make Badjaos happy,” she adds with a smile. Panggi is cassava, a staple food of the Badjaos, which they roll into small balls on the right hand, while holding a (usually dried) fish on the other hand. For Badjaos, rice, the staple food of the Philippines, is reserved for special occasions or for dessert. They have no regular meals, as they eat whenever they are hungry or when there is food. Consequently there is no equivalent word for breakfast, lunch or dinner in their language. Badjaos, a close-knit community whose lives revolve around the Sulu Sea, pride themselves as Godfearing individuals and guardians of the seas. Their search for answers to penetrating questions to life is by reading nature. They are also noted for their extraordinary free diving skills, enabling them to dive longer and see better underwater. It is said that some Badjaos intentionally rupture their eardrums at a young age to 'ease' diving and fishing. “Badjaos only take what the sea gives,” says Babu. “If the sea gives us this,” lifting her right palm, “we are grateful. But if the sea gives us this,” u Page 19 201-333-8060 BY APPOINTMENT ONLY Sept. 26 - Oct. 2, 2014 Page 14 THE FILIPINO EXPRESS The month that changed ... From page 11 Delano growers would accept the demands of the workers as the Coachella growers had done. But unfortunately, the Delano growers refused to negotiate and, instead, moved aggressively to recruit scab Mexican labor to replace the striking Filipino farm workers. For the Delano strike to succeed, Itliong knew that he needed the support of the Mexican workers. “That's when I went to see Cesar and asked him to help me,” Itliong told a reporter. “Cesar” was Cesar Chavez, the head of the National Farm Workers Association (NFWA), who was also based in Delano. He was the Larry Itliong of the Mexican farm workers. When Itliong asked him to join the strike, Chavez said no, it was not yet the right time to go on strike. He asked Itliong to wait three more years and then his group would gladly join the Filipinos. Itliong replied that the Filipino farmworkers could not wait three years. They were already in their 60s. No, the time was now, he insisted. It was now or never. Filipinos vs. Mexicans Chavez and Itliong both knew that forging a united front between the Filipinos and the Mexicans would not be easy as the growers had historically used Filipinos to break Mexican-led strikes and Mexicans to break Filipino-led strikes. Divide and conquer had proven to be an effective growers' strategy. “For 80 years prior to 1965, every organizing attempt had been defeated, every strike had been crushed, the only law they knew was the law of the jungle and abuse and contempt and violence against farm workers was commonplace,” wrote Other prisms From page 10 Fact: the Marcoses have been back in office for years. Fact: Many are rallying to revise historical truths, creating heroes and fairy tales out of the 14 years of Marcos (abuses). Fact: Many of the new generation of Filipinos, in the motherland or beyond, don't understand a drop of the martial law concept, much less its corollary. Realuyo's prism, however, skips o v e r, s a y, m o t h e r s o f t h e “disappeared” in Argentina. Every Thursday, since 1977, desaparecido mothers, in white head scarves, walk around Plazo de Mayo. How do they differ from mothers of still unaccounted for activist Jonas Burgos, and UP student leaders Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Empeño? Both groups are aging, their ranks dwindling. His prism throws no light on Chile or El Salvador. Is there relevance between the paramilitary killing of Bishop Oscar Romero and Fr. Fausto Tentorio who served indigent tribal people in North Cotabato for 39 years? A UN commission later established that death squad leader Roberto D'Aubuisson ordered a sniper to kill Romero who had denounced junta abuses. The probe into who gunned down Tentorio in October 2011, stalled as the Armed Forces of the Philippines' Eastern Mindanao Command washed its Marc Grossman, a Sacramento political consultant. After his meeting with Itliong, Chavez spoke to the Mexican farm workers at the Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Delano on S e p te m b e r 1 6 , 1 9 6 5 , wh i c h happened to be Mexican Independence Day. From the pulpit of the church, Chavez delivered an impassioned speech urging the Mexican workers to join their Filipino brothers in the field and to go on strike with them. When he called for a vote on whether to join the Filipino-led strike, the estimated 1,200 Mexican workers started to chant “Huelga! Huelga! Huelga!” After combining their forces in the picket lines, Chavez and Itliong agreed to merge their organizations, AWOC and NFWA, to form the United Fa r m Wo r k e r s O r g a n i z i n g Committee (UFWOC), with Chavez as Executive Director and Itliong second in command. First VicePresident was Dolores Huerta, Second Vice-President was Philip Vera-Cruz, and Third Vice-President was Andy Imutan with Pete Velasco as Secretary-Treasurer of the union. Four of the top six leaders of UFWOC were Filipinos. Despite this merger of forces, the growers were winning as they succeeded in getting scab labor to replace the striking workers. It was then that UFWOC launched a national boycott of all Delano-grown table grapes, forging alliances with students, churches, consumers and members of unions throughout the US. Chavez appointed Itliong as the UFW's national boycott coordinator. At its height, more than 14 million Americans joined the grape boycott and it eventually forced the Delano growers to sign historic contracts with the UFWOC in 1969, a first in American farm labor history. What did the Delano Strike of 1965 achieve? According to writer Rick Tejada-Flores, “there was an hands. Tentorio “sought justice for lumad or indigenous people, dispossessed of their land, harassed by armed men, when government s e e m e d t o a b a n d o n t h e m ,” Kidapawan Bishop Romulo de la Cruz recalls. Siding with the oppressed “can earn you enemies who go after even the kindest of men.” “Punishment is not revenge or even justice,” the late Jesuit sociologist John Carroll wrote. It is the community reaffirming values seriously violated. Not to react as a community would be to reduce a “common conscience” to personal preference and invite collapse. Willingness to forget Marcos' crimes reflects weakness of common conscience. “We forget at the cost of betrayal…. Unless (the country reaffirms) those values, it may be condemned to forever wander in the valueless power plays among the elite.” Is there a middle ground between tragic sentimentality and common sense, asks Realuyo. Is there a place where people who don't think and those who do, and the many who don't care, can meet? The Philippines is a country of either rain or shine. A day after Sept. 21, we move on to a next topic. Celebrity controversies have more lasting power in our conversations than issues of national interest. “No lessons learned. No real life applications.” end to the abusive system of labor contracting. Instead, jobs would be assigned by a hiring hall, with guaranteed seniority and hiring rights. The contracts protected workers from exposure to the dangerous pesticides that are widely used in agriculture. There was an immediate rise in wages, and fresh water and toilets provided in the fields. The contracts provided for a medical plan, and clinics were built in Delano, Salinas and Coachella.” The UFW also set up the Pablo Agbayani Retirement Village in Delano for retired farm workers, many of the first residents were Filipinos who participated in the 1965 Delano Strike. The village was named after a Filipino farm worker who died of a stroke while picketing during the strike. The Filipino food caravan of 1965 The 1965 Delano strike made the front pages of the national newspapers and was featured at the top of the TV network news. The media interviews of Larry Itliong countered the widespread public image of Filipinos as docile houseboys and obedient navy stewards. There was now a new positive image of an assertive Pinoy who was articulating the just demands of the Filipino workers “I'm an SOB when it comes to fighting for the rights of Filipino farm workers,” Itliong said. The Delano Strike was the talk of the town among Filipinos all over the U.S. but none more so than in San Francisco where Filipino community leaders, led by Alex Esclamado, publisher of the Philippine News, and Ariston Armada, president of the Iloilo Circle, mobilized the Bay Area Filipino community to gather canned goods to support their kababayans in the picket lines in How can we move the populace out of poverty and bring them to the educated middle class with power and decision-making? The powerlessness of the poor is the root of social putrefaction. Indigents are meaningless to the powerful few and the so-called Catholics who live off them. We see this reenacted in Filipino movies all the time. Except that it is not fiction. Like other dictatorships in the world, Marcos' “New Society” was all about using the poor as pawns. The bigger the poverty, the longer the party. Granted that the Marcos years deserve to be relegated to the evil sections of history, what has really happened since? Have we had great leaders? Have we improved governance? Or have we bred more crooks, more thieves, and more corrupt officials? Joseph Estrada became the first Philippine president ever to be convicted of plunder. Former president Gloria Arroyo is in detention, facing corruption trial. Former presidents Fidel Ramos and Corazon Aquino, as well as incumbent President Aquino are perceived to be personally clean. “The Marcos clan returned because they know they could,” Realuyo notes. The question is not, why did they? It is, why would they not? (E-mail: [email protected]) Delano. Emil Heredia of the Filipino Professionals group, Celestino Alfafara of the Caballeros de Dimasalang, Mike Magdaluyo of the Filipino Community of San Francisco and other community leaders asked the members of their organizations to collect canned goods among their friends, relatives and neighbors to help their manongs in the fields of Delano. After two weeks of collecting canned goods, the San Francisco Filipinos drove in a convoy to Delano to the Filipino Community Center. It was billed as the Filipino Food Caravan of 1965, the forerunner of future Filipino community efforts to help other Filipinos in need whether victims of natural calamities in the Philippines or locally in labor strikes. Los Angeles ProTem Judge John Armington, the son of Mariano Armington, recalled eating corned beef for several weeks at the Filipino Community Center and thinking that it was a native Philippine delicacy because San Francisco Pinoys had brought tons with them. Filipino American Political Association While the Bay Area Filipinos were in Delano, they joined the striking farm workers in the picket lines to express their solidarity. They also sat down together at the Filipino Community Center to form the Filipino American Political Association (FAPA), the first national political organization of Filipinos. Larry Itliong as unanimously elected the first national president of FAPA. There had been national Filipino cultural, religious, military, masonic, professional community organizations in the past, but no national political organizations had been formed. This was a national organization that would develop Disqualify Binay ... From page 11 Pimentel III are leading the investigation against the alleged overpriced Makati City Hall building 2. Plunder charges have been filed against the Vice President and his mayor son over the Makati City Hall building 2. The Office of the Special Prosecutor of the Ombudsman has also revived graft and malversation charges against Mrs. Binay in connection with overpriced hospital beds in the Ospital ng Makati during her tem as the city's chief executive. Aquino, who has made the anti-corruption crusade his administration's banner program, has tried to keep a distance from the demolition job on Binay saying only that “the truth will set us all free.” However, he has stressed several times, in the presence of Roxas that he wants someone who will continue his “Tuwid na Daan” crusade to succeed him. But it seems that even in his camp, Aquino cannot get everybody to join the “Demolish Binay” campaign. House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. doused cold water on impeachment plans against Binay saying a vice president cannot be impeached and advance the Filipino political agenda of opposing discrimination and working for the election of Filipinos to elective office. In just a few years, FAPA established 39 chapters throughout the US. Its members were elected to various elective positions in California including Leonard Velasco as mayor of Delano, Monty Manibog as mayor of Monterey Heights, and Glen Olea as Mayor of Seaside. Mark Pullido, the current Fil-Am mayor of Cerritos, California is spearheading a revival of FAPA in time to celebrate its golden anniversary next year. The National Federation of Filipino American Associations ( N a F FA A ) , a t i t s N a t i o n a l Empowerment Conference held in San Diego on August 8-10, 2014, approved a resolution to celebrate the golden anniversary of the three September 1965 events the Delano Strike, the Food Caravan and the founding of FAPA in September of 2015. There will be commemorative events in Filipino communities throughout the US. Larry Itliong died in 1977, at age 63, leaving a wife and 7 kids. At his funeral, Cesar Chavez eulogized him as “a true pioneer in the farm workers movement.” But Fred Cordova, a past president of the Filipino American National Historical Society (FANHS), believes he should be considered more than just a pioneer. “I'd like to see his grave site included as a national shrine and the name Larry Itliong mentioned in the same breath as Cesar Chavez. His impact on the Filipino American ex p e r i e n c e i s u n s u r p a s s e d ,” Cordova said. (Rodel Rodis taught Philippine History and the History of Filipinos in America at San Francisco State University. He is the General Counsel of NaFFAA. Send comments to [email protected] or mail them to the Law Offices of Rodel Rodis at 2429 Ocean Avenue, San Francisco, CA 4127 or call 415.334.7800). for acts he did as mayor. This is not surprising. It will be recalled that in the 2010 presidential elections, one faction in the Aquino camp was Noy-BI ( Pnoy for president and Binay for vice president). T h e N oy - B I s u p p o r te r s included Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa, Jr., who worked as city administrator when Belmonte was Quezon City mayor. Justice Secretary Leila de Lima last Sept. 19 told media she was not pleased that Renato Bondal, one of the witnesses against Binay who was placed under the Witness Protection Program, held a press conference reacting to the speech of Binay last Thursday, without the DOJ's permission. Binay, in his Sept. 18 speech, did not present proofs to dispute the allegations of corruption in the Makati City Hall Building II. Since congressmen are not eager to impeach Binay, another option to disqualify him from the presidential race is to convict him of plunder. Not just charge and imprison him because unless convicted, he can still run for president. He might even get sympathy votes. He has to be convicted and the conviction deemed final and executory Those who want a level playing field for the 2016 elections have about one year and half to do that. Sept. 26 - Oct. 2, 2014 Page 15 THE FILIPINO EXPRESS October is Filipino American History Month New Jersey in the Filipino American History By Nestor Palugod Enriquez The tie-breaking vote in the US Congress in 1898 changed world history and the Filipino people. It was delivered by Vice President Hobart; he only cast his tie-breaking vote once, using it to defeat an amendment which would have promised self-government to the Philippines one of the possessions which the United States had taken from Spain after the war. What's really more interesting was the Vice President was from New Jersey, law graduate of Rutgers. In the late 1897 and early 1898, many Americans called for the United States to intervene in Cuba, then a Spanish colony, revolting against the mother country. These calls greatly increased in February 1898, when the American battleship MAINE sank in Havana harbor after an explosion. McKinley sought delay, hoping to settle the disputes peacefully, but in April 1898, Hobart told the President that the Senate would act against Spain whether McKinley liked it or not. McKinley gave in; Congress declared war on April 25, beginning the Spanish-American War, and Hobart sent McKinley a pen with which to sign the declaration. McKinley was not the hawk, but rather a very religious veteran of the US Civil War. Hobart was more assertive as Senate president than his predecessors had been. It was customary for the vice president not to rule on disputed points, but to submit them to a vote. Hobart, with his experience as a presiding officer in the New Jersey Legislature, took a more assertive role, ruling on disputes, and trying to expedite legislation. Hobart was initially diffident in his role, feeling himself unproven besides longtime national legislators, but soon gained self-confidence, writing on a letter that "I find that I am as good and as capable as any of them. If they know a whole lot of things, I don't know, I also know a whole lot of things they don't know. And there is a common humanity running through them all that makes us all as one, after all." Hobart was so successful at guiding the administration's legislative agenda through the Senate that he became known as the "assistant President". He died before the end of 1899, we would always remember his successor. The young lion NY Governor Theodore Roosevelt, who took Hobart's place on the Republican ticket in 1900 and succeeded as president after McKinley's assassination in 1901. The faith of the Filipino with the new American empire became history as we know now. Garret Hobart was buried in Patterson, he could have been the US President. The only president from New Jersey was Grover Cleveland, who was currently in the White House when Jose Rizal arrived in New York in 1888. Filipino scientist helps make cooking on Mars possible Cornell team develops device for cooking in zero gravity UP Los Banos scientist is in postdoctoral program that made it By Anthony Advincula NEW YORK -- For the next NASA space explorations, astronauts would soon be able to cook as if they were in their own home kitchen, without worrying about their ingredients floating away when they stir-fry in a zero gravity spacecraft, thanks in part to a Filipino scientist. According to Apollo Arquiza, a postdoctoral research associate at Cornell University, it is now possible to cook on the moon or Mars without having the shredded potatoes and sizzling oil travel a greater distance from the pan. Does it seem like a scene from a George Clooney movie? Yes. But can it really be done with modern-day technology and applied research? Absolutely. “Even daing [dried fish] can now be fried, if there's a Filipino aboard the spacecraft,” Arquiza, 45, said in an exclusive phone interview with INQUIRER.net. “No one in the world has ever done anything like this before.” Arquiza was part of the team that designed the first low-gravity space galley ever recorded in history. After a series of rigorous research and testing that started since 2011, the team led by Jean Hunter, assistant professor and director of undergraduate programs at Cornell's College of Biological and Environmental Engineering unveiled the result early this year: a prototype cooking device which, to the untrained eye, may just look like an ordinary oven enclosed in a giant stainless metal box. Last April, the team boarded a GForce 1 space simulator aircraft to test the effectiveness of the galley. In a series of four flights from Houston, they sautéed tofu and potatoes in a frying pan. Although the experiment was described as “a bit messy,” with oil splatters floating away, Arquiza said the results were crucial steps to improve the design of future terrestrial and extraterrestrial cooking technology. “Gravity on Mars is only onethird as that on Earth,” he said. “The biggest challenge here is how to control the oil splatter from traveling.” Under low-gravity, he added, oil droplets are much bigger, more numerous and do travel more. Mission to Mars in 2030 How significant is this new cooking innovation for space missions? The U.S. government has reportedly been working on a NASAled manned mission to Mars in 2030. With plans of establishing a permanent base on the Red Planet, Arquiza says, astronauts may have to stay there for a year or longer. Traveling alone from Earth to Mars could take up six to eight months, depending on planetary alignments. That means that astronauts need to have the right amount of food for the entire duration of their mission. “If they [astronauts] eat the same food over and over again, they could experience some kind of food fatigue,” he said. “So, if they are going to be on Mars for a long time, they may have to cook at some point.” Astronauts today eat prepackaged and freeze-dried meals that they get from the International Space Station. Yet experts are concerned that such diet has inadequate nutrition, making them malnourished, and that it may be difficult on their minds and bodies to sustain longer space visits. From Los Baños, Laguna to Ithaca, NY Before he came to Cornell University, an Ivy League school located in Ithaca, New York, to earn his doctoral degree in biological and environmental engineering, Arquiza was an adjunct professor at the University of the Philippines-Los Baños (UPLB) College of Engineering. “My goal at the time was just to earn my PhD,” he said, “and, hopefully, get tenured and have a guaranteed permanent teaching position at UPLB.” But during the course of his studies, he said, Professor Hunter became his academic adviser, and she then asked him to be part of the Reduced Gravity Program team, including another Cornell University research associate, Bryan Caldwell, and Susana Carranza, a scientist engineer from Makel Engineering in Chico, California. “Getting accepted into Cornell's PhD program is already a huge opportunity for me. Everything is free, and I get a monthly allowance,” Arquiza said. “But to be part of the team was a much bigger opportunity. I just feel very lucky.” In most premier US universities, where there is a higher endowment Apollo Arquiza (center), with Bryan Caldwell (right) and Susana Carranza, aboard the G-1 Force space simulator aircraft. NASA photo to cover financial costs for doctoral a n d p o s t d o c t o ra l p ro g ra m s , admitted students are offered free tuition fees and living allowances. Named by his parents after Apollo 11, the spaceship that NASA launched to the moon in 1969, the year he was born, Arquiza feels at times that “everything seems coincidental.” Nevertheless, each time he gets introduced in relation to his research on low-gravity cooking, he says that people would give him a smile, alluding that his name is meant for his job. “Nakakatuwa din [It's quite amusing],” he said. Back to the future While there could be more future opportunities that await him in the United States, Arquiza admits that staying or going back to the Philippines after he finishes his postdoctoral work is “a hard decision to make.” Considering the resources of the Philippine government for science and research, he is aware that a landmark project, like the one that he has been currently involved in, might not be available. “Perhaps, if I decide to continue working in the US, it would be a short-term consulting work,” he noted. “I can't just tell, for now. Pero hindi rin siguro ako magtatagal [But I guess I won't stay that long].” Arquiza is committed to giving back to his country. The Philippine government, he says, paid almost his entire academic life, from his years at the Philippine Science High School to UP-Los Baños as a recipient of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) scholarship program. “I owe our country a lot. I have already gained here [United States] the research expertise I needed, so I can teach again and share that with fellow Filipinos,” he said. “I can use my training and expertise on food security and food processing.” Since he started his doctoral program seven years ago, Arquiza has not had a chance to go back to the Philippines. He said that his wife, Amy, who is also teaching at UPLB, had visited him a few times, and that they were able to spend time together and see some tourist-spots in New York City. “Some of the people I know back home, when I told them that Cornell is in New York, they immediately think of New York City,” he said. “It's funny because they are surprised when I told them, 'No, I'm in a rural area.'” Still, for Arquiza, being away from his native Laguna province seems like a million light years away from home. “Yes, I miss my family,” he said. Inquirer.net Sept. 26 - Oct. 2, 2014 Page 16 THE FILIPINO EXPRESS Exhibit culled from more than two dozens of art works selected by five curators. Photos by Dexter R. Matilla MET Open 2014 sure to elicit both approval and head-scratching By Dexter R. Matilla In keeping true to its aim to make art accessible to all, the Metropolitan Museum of Manila has launched a benefit exhibition gathering more than 200 art pieces in different mediums. The MET Open 2014, which opened Sept. 21 and will run until Oct. 4, will feature paintings, sculptures, mixed-media works, ceramics, art installations and performance art that reflect, enable and challenge the current state of Philippine art. The exhibit is a mish-mash of both contemporary and modern art that is sure to elicit nods, applause, and of course its share of head scratches. But as curator and art critic Cid Reyes puts it, how one interprets an artwork is a reflection of one's personality. “It's only you and the artwork,” Reyes said during the exhibit's press preview. “The artist is no longer involved.” Other curators include Patrick Flores, Joselina Cruz, Yael Buencamino and Dannie u Page 19 Alvarez. Sept. 26 - Oct. 2, 2014 Page 17 THE FILIPINO EXPRESS Sept. 26 - Oct. 2, 2014 Page 18 THE FILIPINO EXPRESS Arvin Amatorio for Bergenfield Council By Grace G. Baldisseri Attorney Arvin Amatorio New Jersey -- I met ATTY. ARVIN AMATORIO on September 10, 2014 during a monthly meeting of the Jersey City Filipino American Chamber of Commerce (JCFACC) held at Hudson RehabSpa, Hudson Mall, JC, on September 10, 2014. I did not know that he was the special guest of the evening. Upon his arrival, he was introduced as an immigration lawyer and had been serving the Filipino community for several years now. The host announced that ATTY. AMATORIO is a candidate for the Bergenfield Council and the election will be in November this year. I was intimidated why he was running for a public office that does not earn him more money considering the fact that he is doing good as a Counsel of Vctor G. Sison's Law Office in New Jersey and in New York City. I also heard that he had helped a lot of our kababayans got their green card pro bono, helped women get their path to citizenship via VAWA. and a lot more stories of defending our less fortunate brethren in court who cannot afford to pay a lawyer. After that wonderful party composed of businessmen, community leaders and friends, I asked Atty. Arvin Amatorio for an interview. He agreed and I was so happy to get that 'special time' for getting to know more about the Bergenfield Borough candidate. The Filipino Express was there for two reasons: Our Publisher/Editor-in-Chief Jersey City businessman and leaders commend ABS CBN Foundation International By Grace G. Baldisseri JERSEY CITY -- Ms. Jo Ann Kyle, Managing Director of ABS CBN Foundation International, who was introduced by Mr. Sonny Austria of The Filipino Express, met with business leaders in the Jersey City area for the purpose of presenting what the Foundation had done in the devastated area in Tacloban City. Through video clips and graphics, Ms. Kyle made a substantial report on what help they gave as an outreach program of ABS CBN to the less fortunate families from medical missions for those who were shocked, sick and suffering from skin diseases to distribution of rice, water, clothes and goods for the residents while waiting for the arrival of government support. They also built some shelter for all of the homeless. A B S C B N Fo u n d a t i o n reported that a total of 3.5 million dollars came from Filipino Americans all over the U.S. She assured the audience that all the donation in cash went to providing services to the victims of Yolanda. There was a Question & Ms. Jo Ann Kyle, Managing Director,ABS CBN Foundation International Answer portion where Ms. Kyle a n s w e r e d t h e a u d i e n c e' questions. The group was one in saying: "Job well done!" It was a very interesting mixture of celebrities, community leaders, businessmen, communit y organizers, artists and friends. Hosted by businessman Lito A. Gajilan, Jr., publisher and editor of The Filipino Express, the event was held at Pal Inasa Resto Grill, 663 Newark Ave. J e r s e y C i t y o n F r i d a y, September 19, 2014 at 6 PM. The guests include the following Michael Florendo of Hudson Rehab Spa, Mario V. Garcia, Edwin Solano, Helen Castillo, Ledy Almadin & Paulita Ong of PAFCOM, Don Tagala of ABS CBN News with friend Paul Cheon, Johnny Rustia, AARP; Michael Urbino, Pal Inasal, Fred Cacho of Kapatiran, Victorino Lontoc; Luz Burke, Jean Daniel & Chuchi Calingasan of Catholic Action of Mary, Eloisa A. Porto of the Ladies for Rizal, Gani Puertollano of the Knights of Rizal Union NJ Chapter, Sir Francis D. Sison - Knights of Rizal Regional Commander for USA, Bert Aguilera of Fil Aid, Rose Javier of PACCAL, Martha Baltazar of The Handmaiden Services and Joy CalupitanBirsin. The event was capped by delicious food specially prepared by Mike Urbino's staff. Lito A. Gajilan is the president of the JCFACC and I was there to cover the Event. Interviewing Atty. Arvin Amatorio is, indeed, a bonus! This is an excerpt of The Filipino Express (TFE) and Arvin G. Amatorio's (AGA) interview: TFE: Hi! I am Grace of The Filipino Express and I am honored to have this exclusive interview. AGA: Thank you, Grace. The pleasure is mine. TFE: What made you run for Councilor of Bergenfield when you are already good in your profession and by being a lawyer, you are already serving our community? AGA: You are definitely right but you know, Grace, the Council only meets on Tuesday evenings. I saw a lot of issues that are in need of improvement. I want to be part of the solution to Bergenfield's problems. And to make that happen is to be a voice in the Bergenfield Borough Council. TFE: How do you define your candidacy? And how is politics in your area? AGA: I am offering myself to be a voice in the Bergenfield Borough Council and craft policies that would enable everyone in the community whatever race, religion or culture he is. Bergenfield is under the New Jersey municipal government which elects a Mayor and six council members that form the Borough Council. TFE: Is it true that in Bergenfield, the Council is more powerful than the Mayor? Why? AGA: I do not want to say that, Grace. In Bergenfield, it is true that the council members act as the legislative body. The mayor presides at meetings and he only votes when there is a tie. He also makes committee and liaison assignments for council members and appointments are made by the mayor with the advice and consent of the Council. Maybe, that is what makes the Council more powerful than the Mayor to some political observers. TFE: If you and your teammate are elected to the Bergenfield Borough Council, what difference would you make for your constituents? AGA: Our platform of government is of fiscal responsibility. We will make sure that the money of the people is well spent in projects that will benefit everyone. We will work for the safety of the kids in the schools by having school safety zones. These are just some of the things we want to do for the people. TFE: Thank you so much, Atty. Amatorio for your time and honest-togoodness answers. We hope to be there for your kick-off rally. When will this be? AGA: You are welcome, Grace! Yes, the Kick-Off Rally is on Saturday, September 27th at 2:00-5:00 PM at Bamboo Grill, Bergenfield, NJ. We are inviting all our supporters, friends, businessmen, community leaders, FilAm Press Club members and the working press. Talking to Atty. Arvin Amatorio is enough to endorse his candidacy as he is aggressive, sincere, intelligent , approachable, nice and sincere. PIDCI Election of President and Board Members Set Oct. 4 N e w Yo r k - - N o n - p r o f i t organization best known for the largest Philippine Independence Day parade outside of the Philippines, Philippine Independence Day Council Inc. (PIDCI), will hold its election of president and seven members of the Board at the Philippine Center (556 Fifth Avenue, between 45th and 46th Sts.) on Saturday, October 4, 2014 from 12 noon to 6 p.m. PIDCI Committee on Elections 2014, chaired by Board Member Prospero Lim, MD, says Fe Martinez, the ninth president of PIDCI, is running unchallenged for a fourth oneyear term. Additionally, six candidates are vying for seven Board of Director seats that will be vacated. Candidates are Helen Kwong LaBarbera, Antero Martinez, Nonoy Rafael, Maryann Sanagustin, Margie Wisotsky, and Tambi Wycoco. PIDCI spearheads the annual c o m m e m o ra t i o n o f P h i l i p p i n e Independence in New York City, which will include next year's grand parade on Madison Avenue on June 7, street fair and cultural festival, Mrs. Kalayaan and Diwa Ng Kalayaan pageants, G ra n d M a r s h a l G a l a , a n d t h e Philippine Independence Ball. PIDCI's more than 200 member organizations are highly encouraged Fe Martinez is running unchallenged for a fourth term. Photo by Oliver Oliveros to exercise their right to vote on election day. For more information, contact Dr. P r o s p e r o L i m a t [email protected] or phone number (1) 718-727-9340. The Philippine Independence Day celebration in Manhattan includes not only New York but also the 12 states under the jurisdiction of the Philippine Consulate General in New York, namely Connecticut, Delaware, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont. Sept. 26 - Oct. 2, 2014 Page 19 THE FILIPINO EXPRESS Nocturnal” “Better than Leather Muzzle” “Prudent Wife Kevin Yirin: An Artist to Look Out For By Erika Barretto No matter where a person is, art is a universal language. Painting or sculpture or whatever kind of art, whether it is understandable or not, it will catch a person's attention. Art can entertain you. Art can make you think. It will undeniably leave a viewer with a new experience every time he or she appreciates it. As for the artist, it is a way of expressing his views of the world. With this being said, art must be really special then. It must be done then by a lot of people to create that “magic” of experience, both for the viewer and the artist himself. It must be done then to create a bond, as if the artist is talking to the audience on how he sees things in his own perspective. Enter Kevin Yirin, a new artist trying to actualize this dream and the beauty of experiencing his artworks. Kevin Yirin is a 25 year old artist from Olongapo City. He is currently residing in Cubao to look for fellow artists and connections to fulfill his dream of being a fullfledged artist. Surprisingly, he was not A smile of hope From page 13 lifting her hand into a metre stretch, “we praise in thanks,” she heartily laughs. However, Babu's community is slowly fading into cultural endangerment. As with many other groups in contact with dominant cultures, many of the Badjao's oral literature and traditional ways are slowly being replaced with new beliefs and practices. The houseboat tradition is slowly vanishing into extinction as many Badjaos have moved into homes in nearby larger Sama settlements where they become more sedentary. Nearby, a group of Badjao men work together to erect stilt foundations from mangrove remnants for a soon-to-be home of another Badjao family. The bayanihan, a Filipino tradition where neighbours help each other in fulfilling seemingly impossible tasks through the power of unity and cooperation, is dubbed as the “Buggoc MET Open 2014 ... From page 16 In making sense of the vast collection of works for the inaugural staging of the MET Open, director Sandra Palomar-Quan praised the curators for sorting out the submissions from artists, art students and galleries for the exhibit. She also mentioned the importance of academic institutions that nourish the arts including but not limited to the University of Santo Tomas, University of the Philippines, Philippine Women's University and Far Eastern interested in the arts before. His father is a baker and his mom is unemployed. He is currently the only one in his family who paints. He studied at Olongapo City National High School and at UST College of Fine Arts. Obviously, when you are studying in a college with art courses, you are bound to find an artist friend. Most of Yirin's friends are into music but they also paint. He only got interested in the arts when he was invited by his friend to an exhibit in 2009. It was his first time and then he was inspired to take up painting, motivating himself to do better than what he had seen. After that, he taught himself to paint. His paintings are mostly about surrealism because he wants to fully translate his unusual thoughts and ideas into his works. “Surrealism is a style in which fantastical visual imagery from the subconscious mind is used with no intention of making the work l o g i c a l ly c o m p re h e n s i b l e .” (artcylopedia.com) His paintings may be hard to understand but he says that his paintings reflect his experiences in life and his love for Challenge,” a livelihood programme to people affected by conflict. The Challenge is a collaboration of various stakeholders from public and private sectors, as well as private individuals, in providing manual, moral and financial support for the construction of temporary shelters. While pounding hammers continue to make discordant sound in the new neighbourhood, the laughter of children wafted across the water from a docked fishing boat. “The only thing I wish in my last few breath is peace,” said Babu, with conviction, as she shifted her gaze from the men to me. “I've seen enough war to destroy lives. I can only hope the younger ones learn to take care of the sea and to talk to each other to resolve their differences.” The road to recovery may be long and winding, but Zamboanga has hope. - Daryl Dano works for Communications with Communities International Organization for Migration based in Makati City, Philippines University. Established in 1976, the Metropolitan Museum of Manila's principal program involves the exposure of its audience to quality art exhibitions and the liberal exchange of ideas. And with the MET Open 2014, proceeds should benefit this program and the museum's other programs. The MET Open 2014 is being launched in cooperation with Rolls Royce, Del Monte Philippines Inc. and media partners. The Metropolitan Museum of Manila is located at the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Complex, Roxas Blvd., Manila. Inquirer.net religion. His paintings can relate to chapter 3 of John Dewey's work, Art as an Experience, in which he says that, “In an experience, flow is from something to something. As one part leads into another and as one part carries on what went before, each gains distinctness in itself.” His experiences in life transpire into his paintings and when the viewers look at contemplate on them, they will develop a new experience, a new perspective on life and possibly religion. The themes of his works also revolve around human behavior and the Bible. He says he also paints about politics sometimes. His reason was that he wants to show what reality is at this time. Since he gets his inspiration from the Bible and his religion, Ang Dating Daan, he also paints about the stories and moral lessons written in there. An example is his work entitled, Better than Leather Muzzle. The painting shows a man and a beast. He says that this artwork means that one must not fight back with his enemy but instead retaliate with the power of the Bible. The paintings may be hard to understand, but surely, there lie deep meanings underneath the subject matter, colors and all. It is quite surprising for a young artist to paint about these things. You can say he is very mature and bound for greater things. His works are usually of dark shades of colors or of earthly tones like, burnt amber, raw amber, and burnt sienna. He says that his paintings use chiaroscuro effects. He also says that he likes using these colors because they have the strongest pigments. I think his choice of colors also dramatically enhances the subject matter of his works. Besides being a mature and fantastic artist, he is also ambitious. He says that he wished to have an impressive solo exhibit one day. With his humility and determination, no doubt he will shine in the coming years. He is still young so he will have more time to hone his craft. He does not need to brag about himself because his paintings speak about themselves. He may be unpopular these days, but surely he will get the last laugh. - Erika Barretto is a fourth year Humanities student at the University of Asia and the Pacific in Manila, Philippines. Got hurt at work? LISA A. ARKIN, ESQ. NO CHARGE CONSULTATIONS “Dedicated to helping injured workers” 201-444-1078 Wwww.lisaarkinlaw.com www.lisaarkin.com Sept. 26 - Oct. 2, 2014 Page 20 THE FILIPINO EXPRESS New wave cities seen as alternate business sites to decongest Metro By Matikas Santos The Philippine government should consider other mass transit solutions to address worsening congestion in Metro Manila, including a $700-million subway system on Edsa to complement the busy Metro Rail Transit Line 3, said an official of Japan International Cooperation Agency. INQUIRER.net file photo PH urged to implement P2.6 Trillion infra plan Rail, road, airport, seaport projects to decongest NCR By Miguel R. Camus The Philippine capital may be grappling with worsening congestion issues but for the first time in decades, the country has the financial means to fully address the problem and should act soon, an official of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) said. Jica was the agency tapped to craft a socalled transportation dream plan, a P2.6trillion proposal mainly comprised of massive railway, road, airport and seaport that would solve costly congestion issues in Metro Manila by 2030. Shizuo Iwata, chair of Japan's Almec Corp. and among the team that crafted the dream plan, said various funding options were now available amid a resurgence in the Philippine economy. The country, also due to investmentgrade rating upgrades in recent years, could tap cheaper debt, avail itself of overseas development assistance (ODA) loans or implement deals with the help of the private sector. “Before, in 1996 and the 1980s, whenever we had a dream plan [the Philippines] always lacked money. So we had to reduce the size of the plan,” Iwata told reporters last week. “So now there is money. This [situation] is a first time in the history of a master plan for Metro Manila,” he added. Traffic congestion comes with high costs, or about P2.4-billion daily, according to Jica. That figure would balloon to P6 billion a day in 2030 if the government failed to intervene, he said. “If nothing is done, the situation in 2030 will become a nightmare. All roads will be saturated. Negative impact on economic, social and environmental aspects will be so large, deterring the function and livability of Metro Manila,” a part of Jica's roadmap, presented with the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda), showed. As an immediate u Page 22 DOTC woos UK investors for PPP deals By Miguel R. Camus MANILA -- The D e p a r t m e n t o f Transportation and Communications made a pitch to British investors and trade officials Sept. 18 as it seeks to drum up interests for upcoming infrastructure d e a l s u n d e r t h e administration's publicprivate partnership program. Transportation Undersecretary Rene Limcaoco made the presentation in Manila as President Aquino was in Europe on an official visit, partly to promote about $20 billion worth of PPP deals still in the pipeline. Part of the department's MANILA -- The expansion of Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) companies in several “next wave cities” outside Metro Manila may soon help decongest the Philippine's capital region, an international real estate services firm said. KMC MAG Group said that there is a growing demand for BPOs to expand to sites outside of Metro Manila driven primarily by the desire to lower attrition rates, which in some companies are up to 100 percent annually. “There are sites here in Metro Manila where they lose a thousand employees resigning every month,” Gerold Fernando, KMC MAG Associate Director, said in a recent roundtable discussion with reporters. “If you put a site where these people live, [attrition is] cut down to a significant number, a tenth probably, because the cost of living is cheaper and you work where you live,” Fernando said. “It's a win-win situation for the company and for majority of the BPO workers.” Among the potential Next Wave Cities around Metro Manila are in Laguna, Cavite, Pampanga, Bulacan, and also Clark. Meanwhile in the Visayas region, Iloilo and Bacolod are seen as the Next Wave Cities around Cebu. In Mindanao, Cagayan de Oro is being eyed as a Next Wave City near Davao. “[Expanding to the Next Wave Cities] promotes decongestion of Metro Manila and promotes uplifting the economy of these Next Wave Cities. It increases middle income earners making it advantageous in all aspects,” Fernando said. Michael McCullough, Managing Director of KMC MAG, however, noted that several key components are still missing in these Next Wave Cities to m a ke t h e m m o re a t t ra c t ive to international investors. “Educational institutions are there, the labor is there, but there's not a whole lot of available office space there. If you've been driving in the province you don't see a grade A office space just waiting to be leased,” McCullough said. “You can't fly some Americans in and take them to a grassy patch of land and say 'this will be your office, I promise it will look like this picture.' They don't buy it. They have to see something that exists and those are mostly always in Metro Manila, Metro Cebu, and Davao now,” he said. Some BPOs however are bold enough to take the risk in building sites in Next Wave Cities and some get rewarded when their gamble works, McCollough said. But when they do succeed in expanding to a site outside Metro Manila, the big BPO companies are sure to follow suit in that location. “The people are easiest for BPOs to find, they already have [them] inside their company. The Human Resources team says that a percentage of workforce actually live in Bulacan, for example. So if they locate to Bulacan they can just promote them or transfer them,” McCullough said. “They can make the same amount of money and they will have a shorter commute, they're gonna be happier and less stressed. It's a win-win for a lot of people. The idea is to help with that trickle down effect by improving the local economies,” he said. Inquirer.net own pipeline on Sept. 18 involved big-ticket airport and railway deals, as the department seeks to address an infrastructure gap needed to support the current pace of economic growth. The DOTC, for example, said that about P109.6 billion would be invested in various airport projects across the Philippines, partly to attract more tourists, Limacaoco said. “We n e e d i n te re s te d bidders. To enthuse interested companies to bid, we commit to a fair, transparent and level playing field,” Limcaoco told participants during the UK Transport Solutions forum on Thursday. In terms of PPPs, the government was seeking final SBMA bent on giving Subic a facelift The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) is bent on revitalizing the tourism industry at the Subic Bay Freeport and bring it at par with other popular tourist attractions found in Singapore and Guam. approval for at least six In a statement, SBMA chair Roberto provincial airport deals, or Garcia explained that, under “Operation those in Laguindingan, Bohol, Facelift” program, the agency hopes to P u e r to P r i n c e s a , I l o i l o , restore the natural beauty of Subic, long Bacolod and Davao. Limcaoco AFP file photo known for its lush natural resources like Subic Port. Inquirer file photo said these would be ready for rainforests, pristine beaches and native rollout in the fourth quarter of wildlife. in painting street curbs, planting trees 2014. The SBMA's tourism development and flowering plants, repainting The government was program will also make use of building walls, and cleaning the streets,” confident in airport PPPs, technology to enhance and preserve Garcia added. after drawing strong interest Subic's resources, for example, by He likewise urged business locators for the P17.5-billion Mactan replacing the existing grass with the and residents of the freeport to support Cebu International Airport “frog grass” variety, and planting the beautification drive by keeping their deal, which was won by the particular types of trees that require areas orderly and clean. consortium of Megawide little maintenance. With its natural and man-made Construction Corp. and India's “As years went by, some of the attractions, Subic was named the GMR Infrastructure last April. structures and spaces seem to have “Premier Convention Capital of Central “We want to expand been neglected or left unattended, and Luzon” by the Department of Tourism in Philippine tourism. Tourism is have become eyesores,” Garcia said, October 2012. a low-hanging fruit that will citing the reason why the SBMA started In December 2012, Subic was also s o p u p e x c e s s the program. identified by the DOT as one of the top underemployment that the “We hope that volunteers from destinations in the country, due to the u Page 22 companies, civic organizations and quality of its facilities and high level of schools, as well as residents, will help us tourist arrivals. Inquirer.net Sept. 26 - Oct. 2, 2014 Page 21 THE FILIPINO EXPRESS Record sales expected for this year amid strong economy Automakers see continued robust PH demand By Amy R. Remo MANILA -- Members of the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc. (Campi) unveiled new models and concept cars at the 5th Philippine International Motor Show on Sept. 18, as local automotive firms seek to tap the continued and robust growth in demand for vehicles in the country. Total vehicle sales this year are even expected to reach more than 260,000 units, much higher than the forecasts made by Campi, Toyota Motor Philippines Corp. president Michinobu Sugata said on the sidelines of the fourday motoring event. This, Sugata said, was assuming that the Philippine sector will be able to generate double-digit growth consistently, as seen over the past eight months. Campi has already raised its sales forecast this year to 250,000 units from the 230,000-unit target announced earlier this year. Last year, total automotive industry sales reached over 210,000 units. Campi president Rommel Gutierrez noted that the 17 participating companies at the 5th PIMS are looking to maintain this “glorious” growth momentum, as members continue to be “one with the government in empowering the Philippines to greater mobility.” To y o t a M o t o r P h i l i p p i n e s showcased a concept car called Toyota Fun-Vii, an electric vehicle with a LED screen for its exterior panel, while its unit, Lexus Philippines, featured the NX, the brand's first entry into the luxury compact crossover segment. Lexus is also set to launch a sports car next year, Sugata added. Ayala Auto Holdings Corp., meanwhile, provided Thursday a sneak preview of Golf GTI and the T5 multivan, the modern Kombi - two President Benigno S. Aquino III and French President Francois Hollande delivers their statements during the models that will add to the growing Joint Press Statement at the Ground Floor of the Palais de L'Elysee. RYAN LIM/Malacañang Photo Bureau) lineup of Volkswagen vehicles in the Philippines. John Philip S. Orbeta, chair and president of Ayala Auto Holdings, declined to disclose any sales targets as they are still in the process of ensuring a stable supply of VW branded vehicles in the country. He, however, noted that the market reception is good, prompting the Ayala firm to open a total of four dealerships this year. The first dealership was opened earlier at By Christian Esguerra the country is expected to hit year. Aquino said the integration the Bonifacio Global City, to be followed next year with a big proportion would also open doors of by the Cebu branch next week, and PARIS -- President Benigno of the population entering opportunity to France and the Quezon City and Alabang before Aquino III has declared 2015 as working age. rest of Europe. yearend. a “ b a n n e r ye a r ” f o r t h e “We have been investing in “This is a milestone in the u Page 29 P h i l i p p i n e s o w i n g to i t s our greatest resourceour evolution of Asean as we pursue economic “turnaround” and in p e o p l e , r e s u l t i n g i n a n the common prosperity of our time for the Southeast Asian expanding, productive labor peoples and foster the peace regional integration. force now even more prepared and stability fundamental to “Given the unprecedented to seize all the opportunities. continued development,” he confidence enjoyed by our We have a strategic location, and said. country, we expect 2015 to be a vast potential to be a crucial hub “This is a timely banner year,” he said in a speech of trade, investments, and d e v e l o p m e n t . G i v e n t h e at the French Institute of services.” recovery of markets in the International Relations The President said the Western Hemisphere, increased Thursday night. P h i l i p p i n e s ' “ e c o n o m i c cooperation can only redound “After all, the factors that can turnaround” was “especially to a healthier global economy, allow us to build on our significant” with the formal and the promise of further momentum are in place,” he integration of the Association of growth and development for added, citing the so-called Southeast Asian Nations into all.” Inquirer.net “demographic sweet spot” that “economic community” next Aquino declares 2015 'banner year' for PH “YLANG-YLANG” trees line the road to the small town of Anao in Tarlac province. Photo by Willie Lomibao Anao seeks ways to tap the export market Tarlac town profits from 'ylang-ylang' oil By Gabriel Cardiñoza ANAO, Tarlac -- One knows he is already in Anao town in Tarlac province when he sees “ylang-ylang” (Cananga odorata) trees lining its roads. Anao (pop: 10,873 as of 2010), the province's smallest town, has about 10,000 fully grown ylang-ylang trees in its 18 villages, making it the province's “ylang-ylang capital.” “We used to have more but many trees were felled in the last two years because of the construction of the TPLEx and road [widening] projects in our town. We lost about 30 percent of our trees,” says Maria Rosette Bagayas, the town council secretary and the local government's coordinator on the ylangylang livelihood project. TPLEx is the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway, an 88.85-kilometer PH, Germany ink tech-voc pact By Jeannette I. Andrade MANILA -- The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) has hooked up with its counterpart in Germany to boost technical-vocational education and training (TVET) in the Philippines. Tesda Director General Joel Villanueva, who joined President Aquino in his fournation European trip, signed in Berlin a cooperation agreement with the Federal I n s t i t u te fo r Vo c a t i o n a l E d u c a t i o n a n d Tra i n i n g (BIBB), an international center o f e xc e l l e n c e f o r T V E T research, for collaborative research and development. Villanueva witnessed on Sept. 19 the signing of a joint declaration of intent between Germany and the Philippines on “furthering technicalvocational education and training through consultancy, “ I n G e r m a n y, m a n y students take vocational training, and for those not yet ready, an intensive preapprenticeship program backs the youth. Their government has been investing massive amounts of talent and money on TVET and it is paying off,” Villanueva said. “The challenge we face in skills development is the need to increase the permeability of the TVET. Since the issues in the TVET are now global in nature, the more we should consider external support in the design of our training programs,” he said. With the cooperation agreement, the agency will be able to take concrete actions for capability-building, research and development and dual training as the BIBB can open up channels to fund research projects in the country, Villanueva said. Inquirer.net four-lane toll road from Tarlac City to Rosario town in La Union province. The highway cuts through 17 towns, including Anao, and two cities in the provinces of Tarlac, Pangasinan and La Tesda Director General Joel Union. Villanueva. tesda.gov.ph photo Bagayas says TPLEx hit the town's 1.7-hectare ylang-ylang mini-forest in technical assistance, exchange Barangay San Francisco West. of information, experiences, Anao, an agricultural town in the best practices, joint research, eastern boundary of the province, has s t u dy t o u r s a n d ex p e r t been producing and selling essential oil meetings.” extracted from ylang-ylang flowers Both initiatives, he said, since 1994. The oil is used in the would further improve the manufacture of perfumes, bath soap, TVET so it could provide the lotion and shampoo. skills needed by the graduates The town used to produce 36 liters and make them eligible for of the oil a year and hopes to double the w o r k , r e d u c i n g production with an upgrade of unemployment and extractors, Bagayas says. Extraction is at underemployment. its peak when ylang-ylang flowers are in season from March to May. u Page 22 Sept. 26 - Oct. 2, 2014 Page 22 THE FILIPINO EXPRESS Rebecca Bustamante: The maid who made it By Nestor Corrales But her promise to her mother to change her family's fortune kept her on course. While her girlfriends went to discos looking for rich husbands, Bustamante continued her work as a nanny until she was able to secure a permanent residency and with her savings established a recruitment agency to help fellow Filipino workers. She was born poor. But for Rebecca Bustamante, it was the beginning of a journey that was to be inspired by a promise she made to her late mother: To improve herself so that she can provide education and the life her siblings deserved. Extreme poverty Before becoming president of Charle Associates and Asia CEO Forum, Bustamante, born the seventh of 11 children in Pangasinan, spent her childhood living in homes of families as an unpaid servant in exchange for food and money to pay for school fees. She went to Bataan where her aunt promised to send her to high school. While there, her mother was diagnosed with cancer. She recalled how they were discriminated against whenever they would bring their mother to the h o s p i t a l w h e r e t h e d o c t o r, oftentimes, would not immediately attend her because they did not have means to pay for her medical needs. Seeing the plight of her family fueled her determination to change their life. But even before she could start, her mother passed away. No option but to leave Months after, Bustamante left the Philippines at the age of 19 to work as a domestic helper in Singapore. “I was so determined to improve myself to be able to help my brothers Anao seeks ... From page 21 The Anao government buys flowers from residents at P60 a k i l o . A n yl a n g - yl a n g t re e produces an average of 3 kilos of flowers a week. During peak months, extraction is done three times a week, with the rest of the week designated as buying days. The town now has two machines, each capable of extracting oil from 50 kilos of ylang-ylang flowers. Three smaller extractors from the Korean Intellectual Property Office in South Korea will be delivered to the town to improve its capacity, Bagayas said. She says Mayor Edgardo Felipe plans to put these machines in remote villages as satellite extractors. This is to immediately process the flowers right after picking them, she says, and sisters because I promise my mom to give the education and the life my brothers and sisters deserved,” she said. In Singapore, Bustamante worked as a nanny. She said she only had one day off per month and usually slept late at night. She said she sent her earnings to her siblings in the Philippines but left 20 percent of her salary as her savings. Bustamante said she wanted to study but her employer told her that she was there to work and not to study. She, however, found a way to resume her schooling without the knowledge of her employer. “Working as a domestic helper and studying, giving up never came to me,” she said. A Singaporean teacher agreed to support her while she studied accounting at the Open University of Singapore Institute of Management. Undeterred by challenges, adding that ylang-ylang flowers are quick to wilt. Twenty years after the town extracted its first essential oil from ylang-ylang flowers, the industry has not moved far, business-wise. This is because the income that the ylang-ylang flowers bring to the town only comes to about P200,000 a year. Bagayas says the town government has decided to use the essential oil in producing its own brand of perfume, “Aroma Anao,” which is sold in the town's display center, treasurer's office and in trade fairs in Central Luzon region. In the past, she says, they produced other products, such as bath soap, hair conditioner and lotion, but these were made by manufacturers outside the town. “Because we have no chemists, we just supplied essential oil to manufacturers. Then they returned them to us as Bustamante said she remained focused and was inspired by her Singaporean teacher who assured her that “someday she will be successful.” Bustamante said she was able to read Dale Carnegie's “How to Stop Worrying and Start Living.” She said the book influenced her a lot. Migrating to Canada After she finished college in Singapore, she decided to migrate to Canada where she also worked as a nanny. She pursued her graduate studies in Accounting and Marketing at the Ryeson University. While working and studying, she found out that there were a lot of other job opportunities like selling cookware in Toronto. Her hardworking attitude was criticized by friends who questioned her second job when there was one “that provides for your family in the Philippines”. finished products,” she says. Even in the manufacture of perfumes, town hall employees have to turn the conference room of the mayor's office into a perfume-making plant. “This is just a micro [industry] and our production is manual. The Department of Trade and Industry is helping us acquire a mixer for the perfume, and printing and filling machines to mechanize operations,” Bagayas says. “Manually, we have limited production. On the average, in an eight-hour work, we produce about 300 60-milligram bottles of perfume,” she says. “Our vision is for Anao to produce ylang-ylang essential oil for the world. We want to export,” s h e s ays . “ We h ave b e e n receiving inquiries from abroad. Our problem is, we cannot meet the demand.” Inquirer.net Love of her life At the age of 27, Bustamante thought it was time to think of herself especially since her brothers and sisters have finished college. She wanted to marry but did not have any experience with men so she asked her friends to help her find a suitable husband. One of her friends introduced her to Richard Mills who after going out on a date passed her strict criteria of what her husband should be. And after a year of being together, the two got married and have since been blessed with two sons Chris and Alex. Giving Back Having been poor, Bustamante wanted to share her success with others who were as less fortunate as she was years ago. As part of giving back, Bustamante started to buy computers and distribute it to schools in her province. “When these children are able to learn more, to be educated more, imagine the outcome from our country,” she said. “Basically the purpose is to increase the education in the province,” she added. She said she would also buy books and distribute them to schools in the province and have plans of setting up mobile schools for a wider coverage of her education program. Lessons shared Going through many challenges as a child and as an OFW, she had this advice to fellow OFWs and those who were born poor. “You have to really ask yourself. What do you really want? Find out what you want. Whatever you want, follow that,” she said. “It doesn't matter who you are if you want to be successful,” she added. She shared a quote from Hillary Clinton saying, “In life, no matter how good you are, there will always be people who don't like you. Never mind. Don't think about them. Ignore them.” Bustamante also shared a most important principle to her financial success: “Know how to save. Don't borrow money if not necessary.” Bustamante hopes that her story will help OFWs strive for a better life for themselves and those they left b e h i n d . H e r b o o k , “ Re b e c c a Bustamante: Maid to Made”, was launched September 17 at the Dusit T h a n i H o t e l i n M a k a t i C i t y. Inquirer.net Puerto Princesa airport is one of six provincial airport deals that will be ready for rollout in the fourth quarter of 2014 under the public-private partnership program. The Department of Transportation and Communications made a pitch to British investors and trade officials as it seeks to drum up interests for upcoming infrastructure deals under the administration's PPP program. DOTC woos ... From page 20 Philippine economy also has,” Limcaoco said. Big-ticket railway deals also include the operations and maintenance of Light Rail Transit Line 2, the $1.5 billion North-South Commuter rail line, a $3 billion mass transit system loop and the LRT-1 Dasmariñas extension. Limcaoco said the existing railways PH urged ... From page 20 solution, Jica said that about P520 billion should be spent between 2014 and 2016. The figure includes P164.7 billion for new expressways, including a proposed Calamba-Los Baños tollroad, and P178.8 billion for new railways like the proposed Mega Manila subway study. Airports were also a crucial part as a study was ongoing for a massive $10billion international airport in Sangley Point, Cavite, which would eventually replace the congested Ninoy Aquino serving Metro Manila account for only 6 percent of trips today but the figure is seen to increase to 17 percent to 18 percent after new and expansion railway projects are built. “In the Philippine transportation sector, the biggest challenges include the need to fill the infrastructure gap and deliver services to ensure mobility in a fast growing country,” Transportation Undersecretary Jose Perpetuo Lotilla said in a prepared speech. Inquirer.net International Airport in Pasay City. Jica also noted that the dream plan's economic benefits justified its massive cost as savings from vehicle operating costs and travel time was expected to reach P4 billion a day, or P1.2 trillion a year, for Mega Manila. “If a set of proper interventions are made, traffic congestions can be removed from most of the road sections. Compared to the present situation, overall transport cost can be reduced by 13 percent and air quality improved in Metro Manila,” Jica said. Inquirer.net Sept. 26 - Oct. 2, 2014 Page 23 THE FILIPINO EXPRESS Hot mama Jodi shares secrets to being sexy By Jojo Panaligan Sleep and stairs are her friends, stress and sweets are her foes. “Be Careful With My Heart” star Jodi Sta. Maria is down to her ideal weight of 105 lbs and it comes with realizations about things that don't work for her, and those that serve her in good stead. “Hindi pala totoo na kapag kulang ka sa tulog, automatic na papayat ka. Minsan yun pa ang nagtritrigger sa yo kumain ng kumain. Ang stress din, hindi laging nakakapayat so dapat iwasan yan, lalo na ang mga sweets,” said she in a recent interview. Admitting that she doesn't always have time to go to the gym to exercise because of regular tapings for her TV show, and having just shot a movie, Jodi makes do with simple exercises at home including brisk walking and “panic-panaog sa hagdan” to help her stay fit. “Especially kasi tabain yung mukha ko onscreen so I have to watch my weight. Besides, when you're comfortable in your weight, masaya ka, iba yung fulfillment na nararamdaman mo.” She doesn't aim to be reed thin unlike some stars because she looks “unhealthy” when down to just skin and bones. Being a mother single handedly raising her son Thirdy, Jodi needs to be in optimal health at all times. She recalled a time when her weight would “yo-yo” on the scales so she's now happy to have had that consistency. “Hindi naman porket nanay ka na, magpapabaya ka na sa yong katawan, that we'll forget about ourselves. When we feel good about ourselves, we become a confident person,” she said. Jodi endorses Cosmo Body, a weight loss supplement that claims to be effective in increasing metabolism which helps sheds pounds. Manila Bulletin Charice Pempengco with her family (Photo from Racquel Pempengco's Facebook account) How Charice and Mommy Raquel finally put aside their differences By Mikee Delizo Charice Pempengco's feud with her mom, Raquel, was among the most controversial family spats in 2013, said to have been caused by the former's coming out as gay woman. After more than a year of estrangement, the two have patched things up. On “The Buzz,” the singer shared that her mom tried to reach out to her in February via an email account she no longer uses. They finally reconciled in June. “Nakasulat nga po (sa email) na kinakamusta po ako and kinakamusta niya si Alyssa (Quijano, her girlfriend). First time ko na nakita na she mentioned her (Alyssa). I messaged her and five minutes after, nag-reply na siya,” Charice said. “And that night, nag-Skype kami the first time po na nagkita po kami sa Skype, nakita namin ang isa't isa tapos alam mo 'yung feeling na wala ng awkwardness?” It could've been a more emotional video call, but Charice controlled her feelings so as not to mar the “happiness” of the moment. Raquel and Alyssa have also settled their differences. “Eventually daw po kasi, nu'ng nakita niya (mom) na talagang hindi Jodi Sta. Maria (Photo by Jojo P. Panaligan) kami naghiwalay, nag-joke siya sa amin na sabi niya, para daw kaming Romeo and Juliet. Nakita naman daw po niya na inaalagaan namin 'yung isa't-isa and talagang nakayanan namin na kami lang dalawa,” Charice u Page 24 explained. Piolo Pascual told to keep mum on quitting By Marinel R. Cruz ABS-CBN contract artist Piolo Pascual said at a recent media gathering organized by E! News Asia that he had been “scolded by someone of authority” for publicly declaring that he wanted to quit show biz. “I was advised to stop talking about retirement anymore. Eventually, I realized that I should be grateful for what I have. I am still offered different projects, which I should welcome,” said Piolo. “I'm very candid in all my interviews. I guess that's why I sometimes get in trouble. I don't exactly plan what to say. This is because I've dealt with local writers for so long that they've already become my friends,” the actor explained. “I simply answer questions that I'm asked. At this point in my career, what else is there to keep hidden?” Kris Aquino Piolo said he was going through a tough time at work and was feeling drained when that eventful press interview took place. “Like most people, I was going through a certain phase in my life then. Being an actor can sometimes be overwhelming, but I should no longer say I'm tired of my profession,” he pointed out. “I'm currently tackling a father role. Then there's another film being developed for me and a concert.” Piolo told the Inquirer that he wanted to be a better City Mayor Herbert Bautista ended, father to his son Iñigo, 17, whom he finally allowed to join she denied dating the man show biz. “I'd like to spend more time with him. He wants me mentioned. to stay with him in the United States, where he is based, but I "The man in the article has been want him here. I guess it's just time management. We're thoughtful, to the point that my going to have to come up with a compromise.” home could be a flower shop Asked whether it was tough being dad to a teenager, the already, but I politely told him that 37-year-old replied: “I used to think it would be hard, but it's even if I'm single, I am not not, actually. Not now, when we get to talk more. We are able interested," she wrote. u Page 24 to discuss serious subjects. I'm thankful that he is a good kid.” The actor says he is thankful that his son Iñigo is a good teenager. Rodel Rotoni Inquirer.net Kris: No time for a 'lasting relationship' MANILA -- Television host Kris Aquino denied a report claiming she has an "ardent" suitor who will gladly "give her the moon if she asks for it." The "My Little Bossings" star admitted that while she went on a couple of "casual dinner dates" since her relationship with Quezon Sept. 26 - Oct. 2, 2014 Page 24 THE FILIPINO EXPRESS 'We're no longer Bench vows to uphold amused by anarchy' dignity of women amid Show biz folk seek justice for slain The Naked Truth outrage mom of actress Cherry Pie Picache By Aries Joseph Hegina By Erika Sauler and Marinel R. Cruz MANILA -- Bench Clothing issued a public apology Tuesday, Sept. 23 on its Facebook page for “offensive elements” shown during its fashion show entitled “The Naked Truth” last September 20. “We will take all these concerns seriously and will serve as a lesson learned when we plan our next show,” Bench said. The clothing company also maintained that they shall “continue to uphold the dignity of women.” The show earned the ire of netizens when a scene during the show depicted actor Coco Martin pulling a female model on a leash. Coco Martin and his ‘Pet’. Screengrab from Facebook Account G a b r i e l a Wo m e n' s partylist group in a statement slammed the particular scene as “a disturbing throwback to concepts of enslaving and subjugating women to male fantasies.” Inquirer.net Gabriela to file House resolution vs 'anti-women' T-shirt, Bench fashion show By Aries Joseph Hegina Representatives from a women's party-list plan to file a resolution in the House of Representatives to condemn the sale of a t-shirt allegedly promoting rape in a giant shopping mall chain and a scene in a fashion show where a male actor pulled a female model on a leash. Representatives Luzviminda “Luz” Ilagan and Emerenciana “Emmi” De Jesus of the Gabriela Women's Partylist said that they will file a House resolution urging the House Committee on Women and Gender Equality and the Committee on the Welfare of Children “to jointly investigate current government programs and agencies that monitor and enforce violations of laws that protect women and children committed by private parties such as shopping malls and event organizers.” The Gabriela party-list representatives are referring to a t-shirt sold in the boy's section of SM Department Store which states “It's not rape. It's a snuggle with a struggle” and a scene during the “The Naked Truth” fashion show of Bench clothing that showed actor Coco Martin pulling a female model on a leash. T h e p a r t y - l i s t representatives slammed SM for selling the t-shirt which trivializes rape and implies Screengrab from Karen Kunawicz Facebook Account that “women are merely playing coy to men's sexual advances”. “The shopping mall had the gall to market that offending shirt in the boy's section, and what message does this send to teen men about taking liberties with women? The managers of the mall should realize that exploiting this wrong message just to maximize profits can perpetuate anti-women attitudes and violent behavior,” De Jesus said in a statement. Also, Gabriela said that the scene in the Bench fashion show was a “disturbing throwback to concepts of enslaving and subjugating women to male fantasies.” On Tuesday, Sept. 23, SM said that it had withdrawn stocks of the shirt from all its stores and launched an investigation on how it got into their inventory. “We do not tolerate such action. SM does not support such irresponsible and malicious acts that mock important and sensitive social issues,” SM said in a statement. Netizens expressed their outrage as a picture of the said offensive shirt made rounds in the social media. Inquirer.net MANILA -- The tragedy that befell the family of actress Cherry Pie Picache gave rise to fresh waves of indignation over what one of her show biz colleagues called “the anarchy prevailing in our country.” Picache's 75-year-old mother Zenaida Sison was found dead with several stab wounds inside her Quezon City residence Friday (Sept. 19) night, in what the police later ruled as a robbery. The break-in at the victim's twostory house on Scout Dr. Lazcano Street, Barangay Paligsahan, apparently took place amid the heavy rains. With two sisters living in the United States, Sison lived alone though she had employed a housemaid, a laundrywoman and a gardener who reported for work only during the daytime, the Inquirer learned. Police said the body was discovered by Picache and her driver, after the actress became worried and rushed to the place when her mother did not pick up her phone call earlier that day. Picache and driver Mateo Mago Kris ... From page 23 Aquino also explained a photo of a bouquet of flowers she uploaded on her social media account, which she downplayed. "Mali ako to have posted the flowers because it may have sent the wrong signal, wrong move on my part. Of course I still pray to not grow old alone, to have a partner who will marry me in Church and who will be someone who is comfortable with my past, accepts my two sons, and who will want to build a good future together," she added. Aquino continued: "But I realize with my job, my schedule, and my responsibilities at present, a lasting, loving relationship is not possible. Kaya bakit ko ipipilit ang alam kong hindi pa pwede?" She also revealed that while she may How Charice ... From page 23 Now reunited, the two, along with other members of the family, are taking the time to catch up with one another. Just recently, they sprang a swimming party surprise on the girlfriend of Charice's brother, Karl. “This time parang pinagtatawanan na lang namin (iyong mga nangyari) and I think hindi lang ako 'yung nagbago. Lahat, the whole family, all of us changed,” Charice said. On Sunday, Charice and Raquel sang a duet on “ASAP 19.” Their reconciliation, according to Charice is “the best achievement that I could ever have in my life.” “(Sana) maging role model tayo sa kanila na kahit anong problema sa mundo, basta pamilya kayo, walang problemang hindi maso-solve,” Charice said in tears. Cherry Pie Picache arrived at the house around 6 p.m. and found the gate and main door forcibly opened. Mago was the first to go upstairs and find the victim dead inside her bedroom. Chief Insp. Rodel Marcelo, head of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD)Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit, said investigators found in the house a blood-stained knife and a piece u Page 26 not be perfectly happy about being single, she is "content" and that she believes that the right man will come at a right time. "My mom used to always remind me that it's impossible to have it all, that I should prioritize and be grateful for what I do have. Bongga ang career, happy and alagang alaga ang mga anak ko, close and loving kami ng mga kapatid ko. For now okay na yun," she added. Aquino ended the message by saying that she lied on an episode of "The Buzz," admitting that he has yet to move on from her relationship with Bautista, which only lasted a few days after being made public. "Further truth, I lied when I said sa Buzz before the ice bucket challenge that I've moved on, I haven't. May bubog pa sa puso. So I'll repeat, all in God's time," she said. MNS One-on-one with Oprah Charice had a one-on-one interview with Oprah Winfrey during her concert tour in the US and the former said that the popular TV host was “proud” of her. “Kinakabahan ako kasi nu'ng pagpasok ko pa lang sa studio, sabi ko, 'I'm really nervous.' Sabi niya (Oprah), 'Don't be! This is your homecoming,'” she recounted. “Sa studio, kami lang pong dalawa so mas intense. Siguro po nu'ng interview, it sounded like 'yun 'yung parang nag-come out naman ako sa US and yet she made me feel comfortable with everything and I'm excited for everyone to see kasi ibang side na 'to, ibang side ni Charice.” Her taped interview on “Oprah” will be aired on Oct. 19. Charice is set to release an album next year. “I just look forward for more blessings. I don't wanna ask for anything kasi parang andito na lahat ng pinapangarap ko dati pa,” she said. Manila Bulletin Sept. 26 - Oct. 2, 2014 Page 25 THE FILIPINO EXPRESS MARIAN Season 2 on GMA Pinoy TV Witness the new look of the Philippine's primetime dance party MARIAN as it opens its second season on September 20. Hosted by the Kapuso primetime queen Marian Rivera, brace yourselves as she displays her versatility in a fast-paced season opener where she attempts to do three quick costume changes in front of the camera. Together with co-hosts Julie Anne San Jose and Christian Bautista, put your hands together as the UAAP Cheerdance Competition 8-time Champion, UP PEP Squad, performs their much talked about routine on the newer and bigger stage that will accommodate the 30-strong squad. On Celebrity Showdance, Starstruck Ultimate Survivors go up against the Avengers. Kapuso stars Mark Herras and Kris Bernal team up against equally strong dancers Sef Cadayona and Diva Montelaba. Celebrity Showdance is a season-long dance battle of the stars to be judged by the stunning Ms. Lucy TorresGomez. Moreover, the beautiful dance diva will give the viewers updates on her royal wedding preparations. GMA Pinoy TV airs Hiram na Alaala Kapuso primetime queen Marian Rivera Catch the Season 2 of MARIAN every Saturday on GMA's flagship international channel, GMA Pinoy TV. TFC 20 Ambassador Gary V draw a capacity crowd at the recently held Pistahan Parade & Festival in San Francisco. He continues his global tour this September in Atlantic City, New Jersey, Auckland, New Zealand and Sydney, Australia. Gary V. goes on a hot streak in US, New Zealand, Australia DALY CITY, California -- To celebrate a very successful 30-year career Gary” Mr. Pure Energy” Valenciano is touring the US, New Zealand and Australia. He has performed at the Mark J Ettes Hall, Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City, New Jersey on September 20. He then will go on stage at the Victory Convention Centre in Auckland, New Zealand on September 26 followed by a show at the Rosehill Gardens in Sydney, Australia on September 28. Gary V has been touring the world since last year as the Ambassador of ABS-CBN's The Filipino Channel (TFC) for its 20th anniversary celebrations. After an explosive performance with son Gab in New York last year, Valenciano performed Toronto, San Francisco and London for TFC. He is set to visit Singapore, Saudi Arabia and Guam. He received a standing ovation GMA Network presents HIRAM NA ALAALA, another innovative primetime series that will captivate the hearts of viewers as it showcases how the power of shared memories can cause great love to become real. The show premiered September 22 on GMA Pinoy TV. Hiram na Alaala narrates how one soldier's trauma becomes instrumental in sustaining and bringing back great love between man and woman. This unique intertwining of lives and love stories fostered by shared memories will prove that GMA is determined to lead in primetime TV while showcasing the versatility of its stars led by Drama King Dennis Trillo as Ivan Legaspi and Kapuso drama sweetheart Kris Bernal as Andrea Dizon, together with multitalented actress Lauren Young as Bethany Sandoval and awardwinning actor Rocco Nacino as Joseph Corpuz. The series also stars respected movie and TV actors and actresses, Jackielou Blanco as Regina Legaspi; Nina Ricci Alagao as Martina Sandoval; Shyr Valdez as Araceli Corpuz; Dexter Doria as Ola Dizon; Antonio Aquitania as Benedict Corpuz; Allan Paule as Xander Dizon; and Lotlot de Leon as Annabelle Sta. Cruz. Completing the powerhouse cast are Julia Lee as Gelai, Kenneth Paul as Chris Corpuz, Jenny Rose as Krissy Corpuz, and Rap Fernandez as Bruno. In the series, Ivan (Dennis) and Joseph (Rocco) instantly became friends when they are deployed to war. They endure the ravages of armed conflict with Joseph's tales of great love for Andrea (Kris), highlighting shared memories of their years together as lovers, much to Ivan's amusement. However, in an encounter with rebels, both men are captured, imprisoned and tortured. Fate separates them as Joseph is left in captivity while Ivan is rescued by the military. The suffering Ivan experienced triggered him to assume the identity of Joseph, u Page 26 Carmina Villarroel: Tax case shocking By Marinel R. Cruz Actress-TV host Carmina when he performed for over 25,000 Villarroel is urging the Bureau people in London. He also staged a of Internal Revenue (BIR) to powerful five-city tour of Australia conduct a more extensive (Adelaide, Perth, Sydney, Melbourne, information campaign about Brisbane) with son Paolo in July just everything there is to know before staging the successful repeat of about taxes. his ARISE Gary V 3.0 concert franchise The BIR filed a P4.45this year at SM MOA Arena. He filled up million tax-evasion case against the Smart Araneta Coliseum for two her husband, actor Zoren nights in April before that. Legaspi, in June. “We were Paolo and Gary received a trophy shocked. We didn't expect that, for co-directing the concert series, since Zoren and I have always which won Best Concert of the Year at been diligent taxpayers,” the recent 6th PMPC Star Awards at Carmina told the Inquirer the Solaire Grand Ballroom. Aside during the launch of her latest Carmina (left) and Zoren (right) explained everything to their kids Maverick from receiving countless nominations e n d o r s e m e n t , S m a r t and Cassandra. Cebu Daily News that night, Gary also received three Communications' Sulit IDD other awards for Best Male Recording Card. efficiently. “I bet very few very hard. We should know Artist for his WITH YOU album as well people understand this. We where every peso goes.” as Best Male Star of the Night and Best All's well need someone to spell things Carmina said all is well now Male Celebrity of the Night. She said that she hopes the out.” She added, “Many of us between her family and BIR In the US, Valenciano sold out the bureau will conduct lectures don't know how much is being Commissioner Kim Henares. Chumash Resort in Santa Barbara, and seminars to help people deducted from our paychecks “She's just doing her job. I love handle their finances more for taxes every month. We work u Page 26 u Page 27 Sept. 26 - Oct. 2, 2014 Page 26 THE FILIPINO EXPRESS Alden Richards' skin ‘darkened' for Rizal role By Oliver M. Pulumbarit CAGAYAN DE ORO -- Alden Richards talked about portraying Jose Rizal in GMA 7's coming series “Ilustrado” at a press conference here for the network's “Kapuso Fiesta” event. It was difficult to imagine the mestizo actor in the role because of his fair skin, but he whipped out his phone and showed the Inquirer an unreleased photo of himself in full “darkening” makeup and costume. “Ilustrado,” he said, is the network's first bayaniserye and will air nightly in October. “It's also a movieserye. We use film equipment and shoot in HD. 'Ilustrado' is about Rizal's love for his mom, Teodora Alonso (Eula Valdez), for Leonor Rivera (Kylie Padilla) and for the country.” Alden, 22, is here for the “Bet ng Bayan” provincial showdown. The talent tilt will be on TV, a show he will cohost with singer Regine Velasquez. “It's a nationwide reality talent search… different from other talent shows because we bring the venue to those who cannot go to Manila to audition,” he said. he recounted. “And I enjoy hosting segments in (the variety show) 'Sunday All Stars.' Before I became an actor, I hosted a school pageant. So maybe [the execs] said, why not give him a project that involves hosting. I also enjoy the perks; I'm going white-water rafting later. I just deliver lines [in different places] but it's so rewarding.” But, made to choose between hosting and acting, Alden added, “I'd still choose acting.” Three years and eight months into the business, Alden said, he still pinches himself sometimes, incredulous about the quick ascent of his career. Really fast “It's gone really fast, thanks to GMA and my supporters,” he Alden Richards top-bills TV's first said, gushing. “I've learned to bayaniserye. stay humble and true to myself. That's how people started liking The actor admitted that he me, and it keeps me grounded.” took the cohosting gig because He is aware that it's a he does not have a regular show mindset not shared by some at the moment: “I asked GMA for new actors. “I won't name this. I told them, while I'm able, names, but there are newbies please keep me working.” who let a little taste of success go Alden, whose real name is to their heads.” Richard Faulkerson, feels As for why he's currently “blessed” that the network single, Alden explained, “I'm not trusted him with these big looking for love right now. I have projects. “It started with other priorities. It's very cliché, 'Carmela,' with Marian (Rivera),” but that's the truth.” Inquirer.net Gary V. Goes ... From page 25 California, and filled Harrah's Rincon in San Diego, California last February. For his concert “Gary V Live at the Taj Mahal,” Gary shared the stage with the same special guests headed by international super-selfie king Gab Valenciano, who recently graduated from Full Sail University with an associate's degree in Recording Engineering. He also featured the best female quartet in the country, Top 10 of The X Factor Philippines and Top 3 for Showtime's “Bida Kapamilya” for 2013, AKA JAM. The group is composed of four talented ladies, Suklay Diva Katrina Velarde of the “Trenderas” soap opera, Monique Lualhati, Ashley GMA Pinoy TV ... From page 25 while losing memories, perception and awareness of his own life and past. With this regained freedom and assumed identity, Ivan finds great love in the arms of Andrea as Joseph. Meanwhile, Andrea was devastated when she found out that Joseph was missing. But she will be surprised when Ivan claims that he is Joseph. Andrea eventually falls for Ivan because through him, she feels Joseph is still around. She carries on her great love for Joseph by allowing herself to relive her shared memories with her missing lover. Joseph is eventually saved only to find out that Ivan and Andrea are We’re no longer ... From page 24 of wood believed to have been used to attack the victim, and a crowbar that may have been used to pry the door open. The victim's family later reported that several pieces of expensive jewelry had gone missing, Marcelo said. The QCPD has to yet to come up with suspects at press time Saturday. Expressions of sympathy and outrage have since poured out from the entertainment industry. Multi-awarded screenwriter and director Jose Javier Reyes said: “I met Cherry Pie's mom. She was a feisty, independent woman. It goes to show that anarchy is prevailing in our country.” “My prayers and heartfelt condolences to Pie Picache and her family for the loss of her mother. May justice be served and the perpetrators of this heinous crime be given the punishment they deserve. And again let this be a wake-up call to the people we have entrusted the responsibility of ensuring peace and order as well as sustained by the taxes they so dutifully collect from us,” Reyes said, adding: “We, the ordinary citizens, are no longer amused by the anarchy around us. Neither are we entertained by their rah-rah self-serving speeches and politicking. We are not stupid or numbed by your cheering squads.” Writer-actress Bibeth Orteza recalled: “Her mom was kind. I've spoken with her on the phone one time To advertise please call Campbell and Jhelsea Flores. Acclaimed m u s i c p ro d u c e r / a r ra n g e r M o n Faustino is the concert's musical director. Filipino fans around the world can look forward to seeing one of the country's greatest artist perform his top hits live and in person. In the course of over 30 years, Valenciano has produced and recorded countless hit songs that helped define the history of Pinoy pop culture. He has also inspired millions of people around the world as UNICEF's Philippine National Ambassador for 15 years. For more on Gary Valenciano, check w w w. m a n i l a g e n e s i s . c o m www.garyv.com and his Facebook site Gary Valenciano Official, as well as his Twitter site @GaryValenciano1 and @therealgaryv for Intragram. Inquirer.net already in love with each other. He thinks that he is betrayed by his best friend and girlfriend and is now left with the daunting challenge of bringing back Andrea's great love for him. The same holds true for Bethany (Lauren), Ivan's girlfriend. Upon Ivan's return, Bethany is surprised to find out that her boyfriend is claiming that he is Joseph. What makes things worse is the fact that Ivan doesn't remember her and he thinks he is in love with someone else. Bethany will then become determined to do everything to get Ivan back. Under the helm of the highly acclaimed director of Temptation of Wife and My Husband's Lover, Dominic Zapata, Hiram na Alaala began airing on September 22, Monday to Friday on GMA Pinoy TV. when she was arranging for a surprise birthday party for her daughter.” Orteza suspected that “the crime (was) an inside job. I know the area where she lived. The security there is strict. I remember that my driver would always have to surrender his ID to the guard. I also know that at a certain (time), access to one of the gates is no longer allowed.” Veteran TV host German Moreno said he found the crime “unimaginable.” “Why was this done to a woman of that age? I could not believe that people would go kill someone so helpless just to earn a living.” Moreno asked the government to act quickly on the case and “show people that they're serious about what they do.” Director Adolfo Alix Jr. expressed “hope that justice will be served so that she'll have peace of mind. Prayers for her and her family.” In a statement, Picache said: “My family is very aggrieved by this unfortunate event that happened to our mother. We trust that the QCPD together with the Scene of the Crime Operatives, through their vigilance and effort, will apprehend the person or persons who committed this gruesome crime against our mother and family and against our society.” The actress thanked Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista and his sister, former actress Harlene Bautista Tejedor, for their immediate action and assistance; as well as QCPD homicide section head Insp. Elmer Monsalve, Kamuning station commander Chief Supt. Lemuel Obon and other police and barangay officials. Inquirer.net 201-434-1114 Sept. 26 - Oct. 2, 2014 Page 27 THE FILIPINO EXPRESS THE CHART-BUSTING R&B group from the 1990s performed their hits, except for one. Magic Liwanag / Ovation Productions Boyz II Men can still make 'em sigh, swoon and sing along By Allan Policarpio If there was one singular moment in Boyz II Men's recent concert at the Smart Araneta Coliseum that best illustrated the effect of the band's music on its fans, it would be the R7B group's ardent performance of the megahit, “I'll Make Love to You.” It's been 20 years since it was released and stayed at the No. 1 spot of the Billboard Hot 100 chart for 14 consecutive weeks, but the saccharine ballad has not ceased to make giddy teenage girls out of grown women. And there were a lot in that night's crowd. Toward the end of the show mounted by Ovation Productions, the three remaining members of the former singing quartet - Nathan Morris, Wanya Morris and Shawn Stockman - emerged onstage with bunches of long-stemmed roses in their hands. Sensing what was about to happen next, a lady made a mad dash toward the stage, only to be intercepted by two burly bouncers. One for her Hysterically, the woman motioned to the men in front of her to look at Nathan, who had already knelt on the edge of the stage, one arm outstretched, handing her a rose. The excited fan was eventually allowed to get close, and, before long, a swarm of squealing ladies had flocked around the stage, too, flailing their arms in a bid to get the attention of the trio, who wore matching white shirts. All the while, Boyz II Men serenaded the rapt audience with passage upon passage of lush, soulful harmonies, the kind that made it among the bestselling vocal groups of the 1990s. Bickering bridesmaids Shawn, tossing the final rose, spurred what could only be described as a throng of bridesmaids fighting over a bridal bouquet. Despite having performed for more than two decades, the men's individual vocals remain remarkable and showed no signs of deterioration: Shawn's falsettos and belts were smooth and bright; Nathan's baritone was sensuous, but could also dredge for the low notes that former member Michael McCary used to sing; and Wanya can still perform vocal Carmina ... From page 25 her! She has my respect, understanding and patience. I learned a lot from the whole experience. Zoren and I discovered that someone else is using his TIN (tax identification number). We're fixing everything,” she said. Carmina said the BIR case has affected their kids. “We had to assure them that their parents didn't do anything wrong. We explained what happened.” Twins Maverick Peter and María Cassandra are 12 years old. Both love sports, the proud mom calisthenics - riffs, runs, growls - with little difficulty. The three sometimes looked as if they were singing over prerecorded tracks, but Nathan, Shawn and Wanya erased all doubts when they huddled together to dish out a resonant, gospelinflected a cappella version of “It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday,” which melded their voices' contrasting tones and textures. They sang of love and its many forms, facets and stages; and the crowdfrom the VIP section to the rafters - diligently sang back: “The Color of Love,” “A Song for Mama,” “4 Seasons of Loneliness,” “Water Runs Dry,” and Journey's “Open Arms.” Motown tribute Another well-applauded song was “On Bended Knee,” which toppled “I'll Make Love to You” from the top spot years ago. (The feat made Boyz II Men the only music act, aside from Elvis Presley and The Beatles, to replace their incumbent No. 1 hit with another of their own.) Slick steps Meanwhile, Boyz II Men pulled off a series of slick and delightfully campy dance steps that hark back to that of The Temptations' and other doo-wop bands, during the group's tribute to Motown. The group had everyone dancing and grooving to renditions of Barrett Strong's “Money (That's What I Want)” and a mashup for Four Tops' “It's the Same Old Song” and “Reach Out I'll Be There.” The only letdown we could think of and we're nitpicking - is that the show felt a tad short. Not a few fans were hoping that the boys would perform their collaboration with pop-R&B superstar Mariah Carey, “One Sweet Day” - which remains the longestrunning No. 1 song in the history of Billboard, at 16 weeks. They didn't . But the song's recording was blasted from the speakers soon after the R&B group left the stage. And so, the fans, relishing the romance and nostalgia, spilled out of the coliseum, still singing enthusiastically along. Inquirer.net said; Maverick is into basketball; Cassandra, volleyball. “They're not so much into the arts, although Cassy writes poems.” About time Asked for her comment on the rumored reunion of the cast of the 1990s top-rating sitcom “Palibhasa Lalake,” Carmina exclaimed, “It's about time! It's been two decades since I last played Cathy. I feel so old! If I get to play her again, I think she will have become more mature, but still childlike. She'll forever be the baby of the family.” Inquirer. Net “China Airlines NexGen Plan” China Airlines to Introduce Family Couch in New B777 Aircraft China Airlines will offer an innovative service in the Economy Class cabin of its new B777-300ER aircraft starting September 2014. By booking three adjacent Family Couch seats on long-haul flights, families and couples can enjoy the comfort of lying flat on their backs. Each aircraft has a total of 30 Family Couch seats in the first 10 rows of Economy Class, where a set of three seats turns into a sofa bed. The First of its Kind in Asia, a Cost-Effective Alternative to Business Class China Airlines' Family Couch works by raising a specially designed footrest 90 degrees, which fills the legroom space and together with the seat cushion, three seats convert into a single sofa bed. The Family Couch comes with a mattress, pillows, blankets, and specially designed seatbelts to give passengers a comfortable, flexible personal space. Either at the time of ticketing or during airport check-in, a family of three with one child under the age of 12 can purchase the Family Couch product for US$200 in addition to airfare; the cost is an additional US$500 for a group of two and an additional US$1,000 for a solo traveler. Family Couch is based on Air New Zealand's Skycouch technology, and China Airlines is the first airline in the world to license Skycouch from Air New Zealand. Family Couch gives passengers a cost-effective alternative to the full-flat beds in Business Class, and they can even enjoy a promotional rate when China Airlines launches the service in September. Brand New Economy Class Cabin Enhances Comfort China Airlines' new B777300ER aircraft features a new seat design. The seats have slim seatbacks and recline 120 degrees to give passengers both more legroom and space to stretch out in. In addition, fourway adjustable headrests and side cushions provide more support to passengers during their sleep. The new aircraft is equipped with the Panasonic eX3 in-flight entertainment system, which features touchscreens, replacing traditional control units for selecting movies, shows, music, or games; and a social networking function called “Seat Chat”, which allows passengers on the same flight to m e s s a g e o n e a n o t h e r. Passengers can also enjoy Wi-Fi service for a fee starting at USD$11.95 for one hour, USD$16.95 for three hours, and USD$21.95 for 24 hours. These services enhance the flying experience by seamlessly integrating entertainment and communication. China Airlines will introduce a total of 10 B777-300ER aircraft, starting with three aircraft by the end of 2014, which will be dedicated to North American routes. China Airlines is committed to continually upgrading its fleet and launching next-generation cabin products to enhance the passenger experience. China Airlines to Debut Advanced In-flight Entertainment System China Airlines' new B777300ER fleet, equipped with brand new in-flight entertainment systems, is scheduled to be delivered starting from September 2014. The in-flight entertainment system features an industryleading high-resolution 18-inch screen and can be used to watch movies, listen to music, play games, use social media, read emagazines and news, as well as shop for duty-free products. Inflight Wi-Fi is also available to add more fun to the flying experience. 18-Inch Ultra Big Screen for Ultimate Enjoyment China Airlines' NexGen Plan introduces the most advanced Panasonic eX3 in-flight entertainment system that features multi-touch technology, so passengers can swipe the screen just as they do with their smart devices. Passengers can choose from hundreds of movies, short films, and more than 20 video games. China Airlines' in-flight entertainment system will have an upgraded “My Favorite” function, which allows passengers to save their favorite shows in “Personal Playlist” for continuous viewing after a rest or meal. Social Networking in the Air China Airlines' B777-300ER in-flight entertainment system is also equipped with a powerful social networking feature called “Seat Chat”, which allows friends on the same flight to message one another. A “Share” function also enables passengers to share their favorite music, movies, or games with their friends on the u Page 29 Sept. 26 - Oct. 2, 2014 Page 28 THE FILIPINO EXPRESS Filipino fighter Chris Cariaso to compete for UFC title By Tom Gerbasi/UFC.com Daniel Parantac competes in the men's Wushu Taijijian category. AFP file photo Wushu bet Daniel Parantac gives PH first medal in Asian Games By Mark Giongco MANILA -- The Philippines finally barged into the medal tally of the 17th Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea with wushu bet Daniel Parantac bagging the silver medal in the men's tajiquan event Tuesday, Sept. 23. Parantac, a Southeast Asian gold medalist in the same event, wound up with a score of 9.68 - a close second to Zhouli Chen of China, who registered a 9.78. Parantac also edged Myanmar's Chan Ko Ko Nyein, who ended up with a bronze medal after posting a 9.65. Inquirer.net WBC sees Pacquiao, Floyd fight happening By Nick Giongco The World Boxing Council (WBC) is not losing hope that Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao will finally get it on in the not-sodistant future as the Mexico Citybased governing body is calling on the two “to sit down and make the fight happen.” In a statement released Sept. 23, the WBC, headed by Mauricio Sulaiman, a matchup between Mayweather and Pacquiao, “clearly and simply, (is the fight) the world wants to see.” Mayweather has won several WBC titles in a legendary career, while Pacquiao has also done the same thing in racking up eight world titles the last 16 years. The WBC came out with the stand following Mayweather's successful defense against Marcos Maidana of Argentina last week and the impending clash between Pacquiao and unbeaten US fighter Chris Algieri. Pacquiao and Algieri are set to face each other on Nov. 23 in Macau and the WBC feels there is no other alternative for the two but to agree and give the world the fight they all want to see. Pacquiao's promoter Bob Arum said it's all up to Mayweather to decide if a Pacquiao match can be made as the Filipino has agreed to almost everything that he has demanded. Besides, Arum pointed out that HBO, which is aligned with Pacquiao, and Showtime, which has Manny Pacquiao Mayweather, are dead-serious in setting aside differences for the sake of making the fight happen. But recently, Mayweather came out smoking again, saying for the fight to take place, Showtime has to call the shots in the promotion and Arum has to be left out in the cold. Meanwhile, Pacquiao is not giving a Mayweather much thought as he is deeply focused on surviving Algieri when they slug it out in Macau. Trainer Freddie Roach is expected to reunite with the 35-tear-old Pacquiao early next month in General Santos City to begin the most crucial phase of the preparation. Pacquiao is the huge favorite against Algieri, who earned a shot at Pacquiao on the strength of his upset victory over Ruslan Provodnikov of Russia last June. Manila Bulletin While boxing's hold on the Philippines is more than secure thanks to the accomplishments of the likes of Manny Pacquiao and Nonito Donaire, mixed martial arts has been making its move into the hearts of fight fans over the last several years, with Filipino-Americans Mark Munoz and Brandon Vera embracing their new popularity. Yet what Munoz, Vera, and other fighters of Filipino descent haven't done in the UFC - the leading promotion in MMA is wear championship gold. That could change on September 27 though, as Fil-Am Chris “Kamikaze” Cariaso challenges Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson for the UFC flyweight title. The five-round bout, which headlines UFC 178 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, marks the first time a fighter of Filipino descent will challenge for a world title in the Octagon, but the 33-year-old Cariaso is cool under pressure heading into the biggest fight of his career. “I'm actually in full-on obsessed mode right now,” he Chris Cariaso (right). Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC./Getty Images said. “Right now my main focus is this fight. I've been putting 100-percent into this; it's what I'm going for.” A veteran of more than eight years as a professional, the southpaw paid his dues on the regional circuit before making it to the UFC in 2011. Formerly competing at the 135pound bantamweight limit, the San Jose, California native made the move to the flyweight division (125 pounds) in 2012, and after a rough 1-2 start, he has won three straight, earning him a call to face Johnson, the promotion's first and only flyweight champion, and a man considered to be among the best in the world, pound-forpound. Cariaso, who was already scheduled for another fight at the time, didn't turn that call down though. “A lot of people ask me about the call,” he said. “I was a l re a dy b o o ke d t o f i g h t s o m e o n e e l s e , s o I wa s surprised at the time, but then I was like 'I'm for sure taking this fight' and I've been excited ever since. My goal has always been to win it. When I finally got it u Page 29 Sept. 26 - Oct. 2, 2014 Page 29 THE FILIPINO EXPRESS Filipino fighter Chris Cariaso ... From page 28 (the title fight) I was like 'it's my time, it's my destiny.'” Preparing to beat a dominant champion like Johnson is no easy task, but with his busy striking style and underrated ground game, Cariaso is confident that while he's the underdog, he has the tools to pull off the upset. And if he needs any further inspiration, he looks to T.J. Dillashaw's May 2014 win over Re n a n B a ra o fo r t h e U FC bantamweight crown, a victory dubbed one of the biggest upsets in MMA history. “I think about that all the time,” Cariaso admits. “I definitely feel like everyone has always been beatable, especially looking at M i g h t y M o u s e . H e' s b e e n dominant in his last few fights, but I see holes in his game and I definitely think he's beatable.” And should the soft-spoken Cariaso put another major upset win in the books on September 27, he is more than eager to assume the mantle of MMA ambassador to the Philippines and the rest of the world. “I'm myself, and when I'm the champ I'm just going to continue being myself and continue being an ambassador for this sport and our division,” he said. “I'm not the loudest, I don't talk trash; I let my actions in the cage do my talking for me.” From page 27 friends. In addition, the brand new entertainment system offers other convenient services such as dutyfree shopping, e-magazines, news updates, and in-flight menus. same flight . The new social networking services even make it possible for passengers to make new In-Flight Wi-Fi China Airlines provides Wi-Fion the new B777-300ER aircraft on both a complimentary and fee basis. Passengers with personal mobile phones, laptops, or tablets can access the weather, and tourism information for free. Alternatively, for unrestricted access to the Internet, passengers can choose from 1-hour, 3-hour, or 24-hour options for surfing the Internet, with Record sales expected ... subcompact car segment, which is being led by the Mirage. Columbian Manufacturing Corp., the exclusive distributor of Daewoo, showcased newly designed commuter vehicles manufactured locally. Among those unveiled were the BV115 and BS106 Daewoo bus models, and three jeep variants namely the Conqueror, Explorer and the Socialite. Leading truck body builder C e n t ro M a n u fa c t u r i n g C o r p . meanwhile disclosed that it is bringing into the market a locally designed and mass-produced “mikrobus,” the Mitsubishi L300 XV. Using the longer L300 FB Exceed chassis cab as its platform, Centro designed then converted it into a single-body, 17-seater L300 XV mikrobus for sale at an affordable price of less than P1 million. “We saw the upsurge in the nationwide demand in the shuttle segment of the mass transport industry and realized that most of the reliable Japanese shuttle models have only 15 seats or less yet have price tags of over P1 million. We therefore saw the demand for a mikrobus converted from a Japanese chassis cab with over 15 seats yet costs less than P1 million. Our answer is the L300 XV as it has 17 seats (including driver) at an introductory SRP of only P898,000,” said Centro president Raphael T. China Airlines to debut ... From page 21 Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corp. (MMPC) gave a sneak preview of the new Outlander, which will be made available in the second quarter of next year, and formally introduced the new Pajero; the ASX, a compact SUV; and the concept GR at the motor show, said the company's vice president for marketing services Froilan Dytianquin. According to Dytianquin, MMPC is highly optimistic of the growth prospects, particularly for the local 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 38 Sudoku Solution to Issue 38 Crossword prices starting at NT$300. To celebrate the launch of the in-flight Wi-Fi service, China Airlines will offer a promotion giving passengers a free trial of unrestricted Internet access. Please visit http://www.chinaairlines.comfor more information. Juan. “PIMS is the perfect demonstration of the successes that the Philippine motoring industry has achieved over the years. We enjoyed double-digit growth since 2011, and we have no plans of letting up,” Gutierrez said. “We plan to maintain this momentum by doing what we do best - providing the Filipino motorists with only the best automotive products and services that suit their needs and lifestyles.” H o n d a p r e s i d e n t To s h i o Kuwahara, meanwhile, formally launched the Brio and the Brio Amaze, as well as presented the NSX sports car. Inquirer.net EXPRESS CROSSWORD ACROSS 1. Persists 6. Hens make them 10. Applications 14. Hello or goodbye 15. Certain 16. Following 17. Preachy 19. A style of design 20. Superior to another 21. Explosive 22. Biblical garden 23. Stitched 25. Laconically 26. A song for 2 30. Greek god of darkness 32. Beguile 35. Ecstasy 39. Cling 40. A rational motive 41. Welcome mat 43. In lieu 44. System of weights and measures 1. Young sheep 46. Makes a mistake 2. Found in some 47. Ancient Hebrew lotions vestment 3. Classify 50. Chasm 4. Not this 53. God of love 5. The general 54. Deep-dish or activity of selling meringue 6. S 55. Die 60. Violent disturbance 7. Trough 8. A type of milling 61. Indecipherable machine 63. Greek letter 9. Religious offshoot 64. Bridle strap 10. Downplay 65. Birdlike 66. At one time (archaic) 11. Squalid 12. Surpass 67. Historical periods 13. Obdurate 68. Homes for birds DOWN 18. Fury 24. Damp 25. Fools 26. Deceased 27. Annul 28. Reflected sound 29. Thermoregulator 31. Farm building 33. Possessing a weapon 34. Tidy 36. End ___ 37. Lion sound 38. Terminates 42. Coach 43. Frozen 45. A European peninsula 47. Creepy 48. Earlier in time 49. Owl sounds 51. Health resort 52. 4-door car 54. Unadulterated 56. Rant 57. Nile bird 58. Thin strip 59. Female chickens 62. N N N N Sept. 26 - Oct. 2, 2014 Page 30 THE FILIPINO EXPRESS 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 Driving a plus. Please call 848-232-6278 CONDO FOR RENT September 30, 2014 September 30, 2014 Well furnished 2 bedroom, 2 bath condo in Makati City for rent. Accessible to church, shopping malls and entertainment. Weekly, Monthly and Six Months rates reasonable. Please call 917-379-4478 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 917-578-4260 Reduced $62,500/BO Fax Resume’ to 212-625-9338 Call 6098121940 The Filipino Express is only $40 (52 copies) for one year. That’s only 77 cents per copy and mailed right to your home ! For details, call us at 201-434-1114 or send an email to [email protected] Sept. 26 - Oct. 2, 2014 Page 31 THE FILIPINO EXPRESS Sept. 26 - Oct. 2, 2014 Page 32 THE FILIPINO EXPRESS