Vol 7 No 45.indd

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Punto! Luzon
VOLUME 7
NUMBER 45
MON - TUE
SEPTEMBER 23 - 24, 2013
Central
PANANAW NG MALAYANG PILIPINO!
Transfer of PHL military to Subic
primed for US forces comeback
A
BY DING CERVANTES
NGELES CITY- A militant group
said yesterday that the plan
of the Aquino administration
to move large contingents of the
Philippine military to Subic Bay was
designed primarily to accommodate
plans of the US government for an
“increased rotational presence” of the
US military in the Philippines.
PAGE 2 PLEASE
GAPO FLOODED
Mayor seeks
US Navy help
EVEN ON SUNDAY. While work continues at the Clark International Airport terminal -photo taken at 11:30 a.m., Sept. 22 -- the progress of construction has been doubted as to
meet the Sept. 30 deadline in time for the Oct. 1 maiden Dubai-Clark flight of Emirates. Road
construction leading to the terminal has also been noted as “at digging phase.”
PHOTO BY BONG LACSON
EMIRATES AT CLARK
Catalyst for economic uptrend
in Central, Northern Luzon
BY ASHLEY MANABAT
CLARK FREEPORT –
The arrival Emirates Airlines here – starting with
its maiden flight October
1 -- has become a catalyst to further spur economic activity in the region as more investors
are mulling of moving
into this vibrant freeport
that once served as a
US military facility located some 80 kilometers
north of Manila
Economic indicators
show that this freeport
and Subic, a former US
naval base me 50 kilometers west of heret, are
beginning their transformation into world-class
business and travel hubs
with the overhaul of the
Clark International Air-
port (CIA) in preparation
for Emirates Airlines and
as the Philippines’ new
international gateway.
“The renewed and
increased economic activity and the positive future of tourism up north
of Metro Manila make
investors bullish about
investing,” said Gigie
Baroa, Emirates Philippines country manager.
Lopez group
eyeing Clark
This renewed development has also prompted the First Philippine Industrial Park, Inc. (FPIP)
of the Lopez group of
planning to develop industrial parks here and
in Subic, complementing
the rise in investor confidence.
PAGE 6 PLEASE
ANGELES CITY -- Some
12 hours of non-stop
heavy rains since Sunday night submerged
areas formerly spared
from flooding in Olongapo City, prompting local
officials to seek the help
of the US Navy and marines in ships docked at
Subic Bay.
Acting mayor Rodel
Cerezo announced as
early as 4 a.m. yesterday
the suspension of classes at all levels in the city,
as waters abruptly rose
at the approach of dawn.
Mayor Rolen Paulino,
PAGE 6 PLEASE
‘Whistleblower
Anonymous’
CLARK FREEPORT -- Is there an effective way to
curb a repeat of the recently uncorked P10-billion
“pork barrel” scam now scandalizing the nation?
This was the question that former Bulacan
Rep. Willy Villarama tried to answer in last Friday’s
weekly media forum “Balitaan” of the Capampangan in Media, Inc. (CAMI) at the Bale Balita here.
The politician who is also an officer of Buhay
Partylist told his audience of CAMI members and
guests that the scam allegedly masterminded by
Janet Lim-Napoles was a result of the “weak and
corrupt system of governance prevailing in the
country.”
PAGE 6 PLEASE
SBMA sets tours for National Tourism Week
PUNTO! CENTRAL LUZON • SEPTEMBER 23 - 24, 2013 • MONDAY - TUESDAY
BY MALOU DUNGOG
2
SUBIC BAY FREEPORT –
Familiarization tours of various tourism attractions in this
freeport will highlight the fiveday celebration of the National
Tourism Week organized here
by the Subic Bay Metropolitan
Authority (SBMA) from September 23 to 27.
SBMA Chairman Roberto V. Garcia said the tours will
be held throughout the week
to acquaint tourists, residents
of nearby communities, and
even employees of the SBMA
with the scenic spots and adventure tourism facilities here,
which have made the Subic
Freeport among the top tourism destinations in the country
today.
“This is our chance to see
Subic Freeport for free, so I
exhort everyone, even SBMA
employees, to join the tours
during their free time. As they
say it, ‘Huwag tayong maging dayuhan sa ating sariling
bayan’,” Garcia said, adding
that SBMA tour buses would
be available to the public for
rolling tours of the free port.
The week-long celebration
will also feature other activities
put up by the agency in cooperation with business locators
in the free port.
On Monday, the SBMA will
kick off the celebration with a
motorcade around the central business district here and
along major avenues in Olongapo City.
A two-day job fair will also
be held at the Harbor Point activity center from September
23 to 24, followed by a “Tourism Talk” at the same venue
on September 25. The forum
will be open to students and
will feature notable speakers
from the tourism industry.
On September 26, a fun
run will be held, to be followed
by a clean-up drive along the
seashore in consonance with
this year’s National Tourism
Week theme, “Tourism and
Water: Protecting our Common Future”.
The week-long celebration
will be capped by flair tending,
and ice- and fruit-carving exhibitions at the Harbor Point activity center.
The SBMA Tourism Department, which coordinates
the program here, said the water-themed celebration is very
apt for the Subic Bay Freeport,
which has capitalized on its
bay to attract both industrial
and tourism business locators.
Last year, the Department
of Tourism declared the Subic
Bay Freeport as the “Premier
Convention Capital of Cen-
tral Luzon” under its nationwide campaign to promote the
country’s natural tourism attractions and cultural assets.
Winning dance interpretation by
PYAP Olongapo. PHOTO COURTESY OF
MICHAEL CANLAS
SM City Pampanga hosts youth assembly
BY ASHLEY MANABAT
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – Out-of -chool youths
as well as troubled children
in the region who want a
better future gathered for
the 8th Pag-asa Youth Association of the Philippines
(PYAP) Regional Assembly
at the SM City Pampanga
here last week.
Under the banner: “Sayaw at Gabay, PYAP ang Hahataw,” PYAP members said
they felt the positive vibe in
the meeting which was organized by Regional PYAP focal person Elena L. Carreon.
The event is a venue
where different PYAP sectors from all over the region come together to forget
about their personal problems and just have fun, said
Carreon.
The event’s objective is to
make an impact to the members of the PYAP through the
presentation of accomplishments of the PYAP, Carreon
said adding that it is also a
venue for PYAP members to
meet and get to know each
other.
The PYAP chapters came
were Bulacan, Tarlac City, Cabanatuan City, Aurora, Angeles City, Olongapo City, San
Jose City and Tarlac Province.
In attendance were all presidents of the PYAP in Central
Luzon as well as local government representatives.
According to Carreon, the
PYAP is open to any interested youth no matter what social
class they belong. All they had
to do is go to any Department
of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) office in their
locality and apply to the PYAP.
“All out-of-school youths
are welcome here in PYAP so
that we can help them help
themselves and can make
them productive citizens of the
country,” said Carreon.
She added that the theme
for this year is “Positive Life”
which is about healthy lifestyle, anti-smoking, anti-drugs
and anti-early sexual encounter.
“We need this kind of activity because we need to sustain the organization, because
if there will be no programs or
projects for the youth, the organization will just fade-away
and will not be able to do the
things it’s supposed to do,”
she added.
The event featured seminars from three speakers:
Jhonny Flores who talked
about “Pilipinas Go Health,
Nelly Medina who spoke on
“Child Sexual Abuse Prevention” where she presented a
film entitled “A Good Boy” and
Panela Pangilinan who discussed teenage pregnancy its
causes and consequences.
Also part of the event was
a dance competition where
the different sectors competed
in promoting positive lifestyles
through their dancing skills.
The performances were
led by Bulacan, Tarlac City,
Cabanatuan City, Aurora, Angeles City, Olongapo City, San
Jose City and Tarlac Province.
One of the highlights of the
dance competition was when
Olongapo City performed on
stage dressed in costumes
depicting beggars, hobos and
homeless people. They broke
the ice with their comedy performance leaving everyone
laughing and on their feet.
The judges later gave
them a special award.
Intermission numbers by
Jenely Cruz and Armin Poblete of Bataan who did an
energetic ballroom dance
also brought the house
down.
PYAP Ambassador of
Goodwill, Kino Del Rosario sang his heart out with
a song rendition of “Ipagpatawad Mo.” He said” PYAP
helped me a lot, especially with my problems. I’m a
proud PYAP member.”
The last intermission
number was performed by
the Tarlac City Dance crew
where they dance to the audience’s delight.
Judging the participants
are Artistic director Erwin P.
Vicente, dance instructor of
the University of Assumption
Editha S. Carlos, and PYAP
regional officer Evelyn N.
Manalo.
The winners were Cabanatuan City, Aurora and
Bulacan. -Michael Canlas,
Charmane Cayanan and
Yeo Intake/SPCF-OJT
Transfer of PHL military to Subic primed for US forces comeback
FROM PAGE 1
Thus, the fisherfolk
alliance
Pambansang
Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas
(Pamalakaya) urged the
Senate to be “extra vigilant” on the proposed
plan that, it noted, could
even pave the way “even
for the construction of
new US military facilities”
in the country.
Pamalakaya cited reports that despite lack
of consultation with the
Senate, which has the
sole authority to ratify
agreements of such nature, US and Philippine
defense and military officials have allegedly already secretly worked
out details for a pact for
such scenario.
“The Philippine Senate --the ratifying authority of any PH-US military
agreement in the country
has been completely ignored,” the group said.
Pamalakaya assert-
ed that the planned relocation of Philippine air
force and navy units to
Subic, a former US naval
base up to 1991 when
the Senate terminated
the Philippine-US Military Agreement, “ is part
of the grand design that
would justify Washington’s unlimited access to
Philippine bases.”
In an interview during
the recent opening of the
bailey bridge along the
damaged portion SubicClark-Tarlac
Expressway, Bases Conversion
Development Authority
(BCDA) President-CEO
Arnel Casanova said all
units of the air force occupying some 320 hectares within the Clark
Freeport would have to
be moved to Subic.
“The air force already
wants to move,” he said,
but declined to comment
on whether the move
was part of the proposal
for US “rotational presence” in the Philippines.
He said such issue
should be addressed to
Defense Sec. Voltaire
Gazmin.
Pamalakaya said “it
is time for Senators to
get their acts together,
demand transparency in
the on-going PH-US military bases talks, compel
the executive to submit
this agreement so that
they could shred it to
pieces, “ said Salvador
France, vice chairperson
of Pamalakaya.
France said “the Senate should summon officials of the Department
of Foreign Affairs (DFA)
and the Department of
National Defense ( DND)
and compel them to report on the outcome of
the talks between Malacanang and the US government.”
“The Filipino people
have no idea what’s going on and what the Philippine government has
offered so far at the altar
of US military campaign
in the Philippines and in
Asia Pacific. It would be
constitutionally, legally
and politically correct for
the Senate to demand
a black and white report
on the on-going negotiations,” France stressed.
Earlier, Foreign Affairs
Undersecretary
Carlos Sorreta said the
Aquino government saw
no problem with the construction of US military
facilities as long as these
would be approved by
the Armed Forces of the
Philippines (AFP) and
that ownership would be
turned over after every
joint military exercises.
Sorreta admitted to
the possibility of construction of US military
bases in the country, but
only with approval of the
government and only if
the bases would be temporary.
“At the end of the
(joint military) exercise
these will be either removed or transferred
to us either through an
existing process granted by the US Congress
in terms of transferring
equipment or through our
Mutual Logistics Support Agreement (MLSA)
mechanism,” he said.
The DFA official said
that in the second round
of talks, which was held
in Washington on September 12, both parties
expressed understanding that the US will not
establish a permanent
military presence in the
country.
Philippine military officials earlier defended
the transfer of air force
and navy to Subic as this
would allegedly “allow
local troops to gain faster access to waters being contested by China
in the South China Sea
(West Philippine Sea).”
Pamalakaya cited “a
confidential military report saying Subic will
provide the Armed Forces of the Philippines stra-
tegic location, direct and
shorter access to support West Philippine Sea
theater of operations.”
The report said the
cost of repairs and improvements for an air
force base in Subic
would be at least P5.1
billion (about $119 million). It said that, on the
other hand, building a
new military base would
cost P11 billion ($256
million).
Relocating about 250
air force officers and
men to Subic, along with
“increased
rotational
presence of foreign visiting forces” would bolster
business and trade at
the port, the military document said.
The Philippines plans
to grant visiting US forces, ships and aircraft
temporary access to
more of its military camps
to allow for a larger number of joint military exercises than are currently
staged each year.
Wife files raps vs PNB exec
for cohabiting with husband
TARLAC CITY – “I
shall fight them tooth
and nail.”
Thus said an emotionally battered wife,
whose husband was
allegedly “taken away”
by a top executive of
the Philippines National Bank.
“I have proofs, and
my husband already
admitted to me and to
our children, that he
and Rosario Guevarra are immorally and
unlawfully cohabiting,”
said Carmelita Dulay-Cabrera, a native
of this city and who
had been living in Italy
since 1991.
Guevarra is said to
be the assistant vice
president for reinsurance of PNB.
In her letter-complaint to the office of
Rona Ople, PNB AVP
for Human Resources
and Administrative Division, Cabrera sought
an “official comment/
action relative to Guevarra’s unlawful act
and immorality” preparatory to her filing a
case of bigamy.
“During our family
vacation here in 1999,
Guevarra frankly told
me that she wanted to
take Reynaldo if I will
give him up,” Cabrera
lamented.
“Barely two months
upon our arrival in Italy
that same year, Reynaldo secretly went back
to the Philippines with a
plane ticket paid for him
by Guevarra”, Cabrera
revealed.
Apparently, Guevarra and Reynaldo were
“childhood sweet hearts”
in their hometown of
Sasmuan, Pampanga,
until Cabrera married
Reynaldo in 1982.
In an exclusive interview, the 52-year-old
Cabrera also disclosed
that her three children
by Reynaldo are already
settled with their own
families in Europe.
Cabrera also claims
that Guevarra “financed”
the filing of a Petition
for Declaration of Nullity of their 1982 marriage
which was filed by Reynaldo at the Regional
Trial Court Branch 67,
Paniqui, Tarlac, in October 2010.
The petition, however, was dismissed after
the court was informed
by Cabrera that Reynaldo was not a resident of Paniqui, Tarlac.
“Hahayaan
ko
na sanang ma-desisyunan ang isinampang
annulment of
marriage, pero hindi ko
matanggap ang mga
sinabi niya sa petition
na ako ay psychologically incapacitated, na
ako ay naging masamang asawa at ina ng
aming pamiilya, na ako
ay nangaliwa, etc. etc.
kaya hinarang ko ito”,
said Cabrera.
“It is not my intent to
win back my husband
from Guevarra but for
them to be penalized
under the law,” Cabrera
further narrated in her
letter-complaint.
“Being an AVP of
PNB, I know I am no
match to Guevarra’s
power and influence.
But I want justice and I
am ready to face whatever it takes. I want
them jailed,” Cabrera
stressed.
Punto! tried to contact Cabrera’s husband
Reynaldo and Guevarra for their side but
failed. (This paper is
open to their reply, if
they so wish – Editor).
FLYOVER, STINK UNDER. Heaps of uncollected unsegregated
garbage are dumped among concrete barriers below the flyover at
the junction of GSO and MacArthur Highway in Dolores, City of San
Fernando. PHOTO BY BONG LACSON
Pogi Lazatin seeks
tuition-free CCA
ANGELES CITY -- “Education is a universal right
and no person should be
deprived of it on account
of poverty. If we want to
provide Angelenos with
the necessary skills to
succeed in life, then we
have to make education
accessible to everyone.”
Thus Councilor Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin, Jr
premised his ordinance
seeking to amend the
charter of the City College of Angeles (CCA),
particularly Section 34b,
making the school tuition-free, with the city
government absorbing
tuition costs through “full
subsidy.”
This, Lazatin’s ordinance proposed, with
the city government allocating five percent from
its General Fund, five
percent from its Inter-
nal Revenue Allotment
(IRA), and five percent
from its collection of market stall fees to CCA’s
annual budget appropriation.
Lazatin cited the city’s
Local Expenditure Program for 2013 as having
P873 million in its General Fund, P438 million
in IRA and an estimated P20 million in the city
collection of market stall
fees – five percent from
each totaling to P66 million enough to fully subsidize the tuition of CCA
students.
At present, the City
College of Angeles has
a budget of P37 million and serves 1,258
students and the proposed new budget for
the college is more than
enough to support some
2,500 students.
If Lazatin’s proposed
ordinance is approved
students of CCA will be
spared of tuition and
will just have to pay the
miscellaneous
fees,
which fall roughly around
P2,000 per semester.
Lazatin’s proposed
ordinance which he filed
at the city council’s session last week at Lewis
Grand Hotel here is seen
as complementary to his
father’s efforts to alleviate the cost of education
at the CCA for poor but
deserving students.
Former
Pampanga
1st District Rep. Carmelo “Tarzan” Lazatin allocated P2.1 million from
his Priority Development
Assistance Fund (PDAF)
to CCA intended for the
payment of the tuition of
its students.
– Bong Z. Lacson
Zest Air to be
rebranded as
AirAsia Zest
ZEST AIR is now flying with AirAsia,
The World’s Best Low Cost Airline.
The Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) approved “AirAsia Zest” as the new brand
name of Zest Airways, Inc. CAB
also approved the new logo
of Zest Airways, Inc.,
wherein the Zest name
has been incorporated
into the iconic red hot
circle, which is the signature logo of AirAsia.
AirAsia Zest Chairman Mikee Romero
said, “We are excited to introduce AirAsia Zest, and what it represents. With our alliance,
we are well positioned to offer
our guests the strength of our combined network of domestic and international routes and unrivalled daily low
fares, proving a world class travel experience that every Filipino deserves.”
“We hope this brand new look is
the first of many steps towards making AirAsia Zest an airline that
continues to revolutionize
air travel in the Philippines. We are geared
up and committed to
ensuring that AirAsia
Zest lives up to the
same incredibly high
standards of AirAsia,”
Romero said.
Following this approval, the airline is
currently updating its records with the Civil Aviation
Authority of the Philippines
(CAAP) to include the new business
name “AirAsia Zest” in its permits with
CAAP.
PUNTO! CENTRAL LUZON • SEPTEMBER 23 - 24, 2013 • MONDAY - TUESDAY
BY GEORGE HUBIERNA
3
O pinion
Editorial
acaesar.blogspot.com
Zona Libre
by Bong Z. Lacson
Down the summit
I
THREE YEARS
and 10 months.
That is how long it has been
since 52 men and women
– 34 of whom media workers –
were slaughtered in what has
been recorded as the the worst
killing of mediamen in all the
world, in all of history.
Three years and 10 months.
And the wheels of justice grind
so frustratingly, so fearfully, so
painfully, so slowly.
The culture of impunity that bred
the Ampatuan Massacre
continues.
Three years and 10 months.
PUNTO! CENTRAL LUZON • SEPTEMBER 23 - 24, 2013 • MONDAY - TUESDAY
We shall not forget.
We mourn.
We rage.
4
TEM 1. The city Government of San Fernando on Friday spearheaded an
education summit at Heroes Hall in response to the urgent and critical need to
improve the quality of basic education.
So Sun-Star Pampanga reported. It
furthered: Together with Department of
Education officials led by City Schools Division
Superintendent Esperanza Laya were heads
and representatives from the Department of
Labor and Employment, Commission on Higher
Education, Technical Education and Skills
Development Authority, teachers, students
and other allied stakeholders gathered for the
whole day summit themed “Reaching Out and
Building a Better Community.”
Item 2. Subject of a recent Balitaan forum
in Bale Balita at the Clark Freeport were the
doldrums of the socio-economic and political
kinds keeping the wind off the sails of the Clark
airport to reach its destiny as the country’s
premier international gateway, or even just an
equal twin to the Ninoy Aquino International
Airport.
The solution proffered by 1st District
Rep. Yeng Guiao: Clark summit, among all
stakeholders – representatives of airlines,
freeport locators, local government units, the
CAAP, CDC, CIAC and DOTC, travel and tour
agencies, hotels and restaurants, advocacy
groups, business chambers, etc.
Item 3. Faced with the persistence of
tuberculosis in many areas of Pampanga, both
urban and rural, the provincial government in
coordination with the Department of Health
held a health summit participated in by chiefs
of the provincial and district hospitals, heads
of rural health units as well as barangay health
workers.
Item 4. A series of carjacking cases and
killings in Pampanga prompted the provincial
government to hold a peace and order summit
participated in by the Camp Olivas top brass,
the provincial police office, all commanders of
city and municipal police stations, the Highway
Patrol Group and the Drug Enforcement
Agency.
Item 5. The Department of Public Works and
Highways last May announced the completion
of the repair and rehabilitation of the San
Fernando-Sto. Tomas-Minalin tail which, it
said, “was designed to protect the towns from
floodwaters coming from upstream...(and) can
rest assured of the integrity (of the repair) of the
dike to prevent another flooding.”
Came typhoon Marin and the habagat again
last August: the dike was breached again, the
towns inundated anew.
To come up with a definitive solution to this
perennial flooding, no need to guess what has
been recommended – a flood summit, dummy,
to be participated in by the local governments
of Pampanga, the DPWH and all its attached
offices, and other stakeholders.
Education. Tourism. Health. Peace and
Order. Infrastructure. Any and all problems and
issues in any and all sectors have only one
solution – hold a summit.
Summit. A most misappropriated word,
given its current usage hereabouts.
Summit came with perfection the first time I
heard of the word – in Grade 1 or Grade 2 with
a picture of Mayon Volcano providing the visual
aid.
Summit, thereafter, I associated exclusively
with mountains, their highest points specifically.
No matter their jaggedness, as in the Alps. No
matter the imperfection of their cone, as in Fuji.
I have not yet graduated from the elementary
grades when summit assumed another
meaning. That was when the so-called leaders
of the “free world” gathered in the Philippines to
talk about the Vietnam War.
I still have a mental image of Nguyen Cao
Ky and Van Thieu of South Vietnam, Holt of
Australia, Holyoake of New Zealand, Thanom
Kittikachorn of Thailand – I don’t know but
that name is forever etched in my memory –
and Lyndon Johnson of the USA seated on
a roundtable with our very own Ferdinand E.
Marcos presiding, in what was hailed as the
Manila Summit.
Associations in definitions now – summit
means the top of a mountain, a summit meeting
means that which is exclusive to the top of a
hierarchy, principally political.
As in the Reykjavik Summit between US
President Ronald Reagan and Soviet Union
General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev to ban or
limit intercontinental ballistic missiles.
As in the periodic G-20 Summit of leaders
of the world’s major economies. Or the APEC
Summit of the leaders of the countries in Asia
and the Pacific. Or the ASEAN Summit among
leaders of neighboring countries in Southeast
Asia.
In all those wise, it is the exclusivity among
top leaders that makes a summit meeting. Any
other participated in by just any Tom, Dick and
Harry whose family names are not Jefferson,
Nixon and Truman, won’t make a summit
meeting.
Just like all those education summit, tourism
summit, flood summit, health summit or peace
and order summit foisted at every turn of a
problem or a disaster. Summit is not the proper
term there. General assembly or forum is the
more appropriate.
Yeah, from the rarefied airs of Olympus, the
summit has descended to the pits of triviality.
Still, for those too hung-up on summitry here
are some words from Barry Goldwater: “The
only summit meeting that can succeed is the
one that does not take place.”
Touché.
TODAY IN HISTORY
LLL Trimedia Coordinators, Inc.
General Manager
Editor
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Caesar “Bong” Lacson
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Jojo Manalo/Lacson Macapagal
EDGAR V. MOVIDO
Founder
Business & Editorial office at Unit B Essel Commercial Center,
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Punto! Central Luzon is a proud member of
The Philippine Press Institute
Philippine Historical
Institute is created
ON SEPTEMBER 24, 1972,
the National Historical Institute
(NHI), the government agency
responsible for the conservation and preservation of historical legacies, was created under Presidential Decree No. 1
as part of the government reorganization.
Since the early part of the
1930’s, the government had
created a number of committees tasked to preserve and
mark antiquities, commemorate historical events and other cultural works.
The NHI was created following the abolition of other
government entities performing identical or parallel functions.
Looking back in history, the
NHIs forerunner was the Philippine Historical Research and
Markers Committee (PHRMC)
created in 1933 by virtue of Executive Order No. 451 signed
by American Governor General of the Philippines Frank
Murphy
The directive of PHRMC
was to identify, designate and
appropriately mark the many
antiquities abounding in the
Philippines so that they may
not be lost to posterity.
Today, the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) is tasked to undertake research and publication of the Philippine historical
works; administer educational
activities on historical events
and personages; restore, preserve and conserve movable
and immovable objects of historical value.
The NHCP also oversees
the implementation of the National Historical Act of the Philippines and of the Flag and
Heraldic Code of the Philippines.
Source: www.kahimyang.info
Ceteris Paribus
Romeo Dyoco, Jr.
Insult to the pig
T
HE PRESENT public outrage about the pork barrel scam and the sheer audacity
of its abuses has brought into focus a system which is de facto defective in
concept and practice. There have probably been effective and efficient utilization
of the funds and legitimate local needs may have been addressed through the
specific ground access and knowledge of the legislators. Still these do not justify
the inherent wrong premise, transactional arrangements and feudal values of
the process. There are also the procedural lapses of the institutions and people
involved who should oversee the integrity of the mechanics. This responsibility
has been neglected by either a hesitance to step on the toes of the powerful
legislators and/or an involvement in the benefits themselves.
It must also be admitted that everyone has
some share of the fault here. We have always
known that in the projects of government
and the use of government money a certain
percentage or SOP usually is allocated as
grease or facilitation expenses to go into the
pockets of the officials. This may be as low as
10% or even as high as 30%. We tolerate this
as a fact of life. At least we justify to ourselves
that the bulk of the funds go to the project. It is
just the way of doing business.
Then suddenly we wake up one day and a
whistle blower named Benjamin Luy accuses
his aunt and employer, Janet Napoles, of being
brighter than us all, including the taipans and
corporate executives. Without a graduate
degree or training from AIM, Ateneo or La
Salle, she has allegedly conceptualized and
implemented the mother of all scams involving
the pork barrel. She has, in a very short span of
time, managed to accumulate billions of pesos
and lived and hobnobbed with the rich and
famous. She also reputedly has direct access
to the highest officials in the corridors of political
power. She has changed the whole business
model. Now 50% goes to the legislator. 40%
goes to Napoles. 10% goes to the linked
facilitators who are also high government
officials and NGO officers. And a big fat 0%
goes to the project. Luy further named the top
legislators in the Senate and the House who
were the clients of Napoles.
This explicit exposure by this whistle
blower and the sheer audacity and magnitude
ignited a wave of outcry and indignation.
Demonstrations clamoring for the abolition of
the pork barrel fund and the filing of charges
against the named officials began to be held.
Legislators were jeered at, given dirty looks and
made to hear insulting stage whispers in public,
malls, restaurants and even universities. I was
embarrassed when this happened to a friend
who is a very decent and honest congressman
while we were walking inside the university
grounds. He was gracious enough to say that it
comes with the job.
This anger is exacerbated by the fact that it
had to take a whistle blower to expose Napoles
and the legislators. What were the conduit and
involved government departments and the
Commission on Audit doing? Now the other
employees of Napoles have come out and
joined in denouncing her. It seems that in spite
of her gargantuan revenues she paid them low
wages, treated them badly and even mistrusted
them. Imagine that Luy who directly handled
documentation and hundreds of millions in
cash was paid only Php 40,000 a month.
Under the present arrangements, senators
are allocated Php 200 million and congressmen
Php 70 million, which all adds up to around Php
25 billion for the whole Congress. Of course
some, due to their other positions in Congress
and their closeness to Malacañang, get more.
When some of them pocket these funds
substantially or even entirely, it is not because
of “hunger” but because of greed or gluttony.
In Kapampangan, “ela danupan, matako la!” In
Tagalog, “hindi sila gutom, matakaw sila!”
When the public outcry brand these
legislators as pigs, draw pig cartoons over their
heads and make masks of pigs to depict them, I
find it insulting. It is an insult to the pig. Vultures
is probably a more accurate brand.
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Napaguusapan
lang
by Felix Garcia
(Bilang panalala king pang-dinalan ampon atlung banuang
Aldo nang Kebaitan (103th birth year) nang DIOSDADO P.
MACAPAGAL a pang-siyam (9th) karing meging Pamuntuk
ning Bansa, masuyu mi yang miuman yampang iting
makatuking kawatasan para king malugud yung pamamasa)
DIOSDADO P.
MACAPAGAL:
Ing mapuring
Capampangan
BULAN ning Setyembre,
Caduang pulu’t walung aldo king bilang na,
Banuang ning Miglalang,
Libu siyam a ralan, apulu ing petsa;
Carin San Nicolas,
Ning balayan Lubao, macalmang linto
Lalam nang bubungan
Ning metung a dampang meging carinan da
Ding pamilyang PANGAN
Ampon MACAPAGAL king panaun a ita
Iting parangalan
A meging mapuring anac ning Pampanga.
Ibat king malati,
King bie cacaluluan carin na miyanad,
Dela nang meragul
Itang cababan lub, ganaca at sipag;
Ing cacaluluan da,
E meging sumbagal king cayang paninap
Uli ning matibe
Capagnasan niting magyari yang ganap;
Ing bengi gewa neng
Aldo, at ing oras nang paynawa dapat,
Pegobra na banting
King para gastus na macasaup ditac.
Nu’ anti caragul
Ing meging papil na keti Capampangan,
Bakit anti ta’yang
Idolo mo wari king bie nang delanan?
Balen… e mu bucud
Dai de ring Watas king Amanung Sisuan,
Meging matibe neng
Pundasyun mu naman niting lalawigan;
At ketang panaun
A metung ya caring kekatang Congressman,
Penicuanan niti
Ing asuywan na ca king cayang cagiwan;
E mu pilan ucdung
Menungculan ya’yti carin king Congresu,
At metung ya naman
Caring dacal diling asaupan a tau;
Dapot misan mu man,
E na gewang punan iti king gubyernu,
Banting micualta ya
O magcamal banding ibat king e ustu;
King mipmung tetagan
Ampon calinisan ning cayang prinsipyu,
Pepakit na niti
At gimpanan mayap ing pamagserbisyu.
At agiang canitang
Ya nang matas diling opisyal ning bansa,
King cayang tungculan
Ala yang depat a pamagsamantala;
Catapatan murin
Ampon tetagan lub itang migdatila
Busal ning pusu nang
Alang nanu pa mang keca pamagcunwa;
Capilan man, Balen
Caring para keca e ya migpasasa,
Nune lalu ya pang
Migsicap canita king ba’cang minawa!
(Atin yang kasuglung)
PUNTO! CENTRAL LUZON • SEPTEMBER 23 - 24, 2013 • MONDAY - TUESDAY
O pinion
5
Mayor seeks US Navy help
FROM PAGE 1
who was in the US, confirmed to other local officials he sought the help
of the US Ambassador
Harry Thomas in Manila
to allow US Navy crew
on ships now docked at
nearby Subic Bay to assist with rescue and relief efforts in the sudden
flooding described as
the worst flooding ever in
Olongapo.
Three US Navy ves-
sels with a combined
total of around 4,000
American sailors and
marines have remained
docked at Subic freeport
since last week.
The US vessels include the US Navy Wasp
Class Amphibious Assault Ship USS Boxer
(LHD4), the Submarine
Tender Ship USS Emory S. Land, a frequent
Subic visitor, and the
amphibious
transport
dock ship USS New Or-
leans (LPD18).
The second floors
of homes were reached
by the strong currents
in Barangay Sta. Rita,
parts of Barangay Mabayuan and other areas
near the river channel,
Barangays West Bajac
Bajac, East Tapinac and
Banicain, Cerezo reported. The floods were reported to have suddenly
swelled at about 5 a.m.
yesterday.
A major bridge in Ba-
rangay Sta. Rita was
reported to be in danger of collapsing amid
the strong currents that
brought logs and other debris pounding on
it. Also overtopped by
strong currents were the
bridges in Tabacuhan
and Kalaklan.
Many local folk were
reported to have sought
help via social network,
using their smart phones
to access the internet.
–Ding Cervantes
Catalyst for economic uptrend...
PUNTO! CENTRAL LUZON • SEPTEMBER 23 - 24, 2013 • MONDAY - TUESDAY
FROM PAGE 1
6
Business indicators
also show that industrial
parks, offices and residential
developments
are on the rise, further
fueling the area’s potential for economic and
tourism development.
Ditto, with the upcoming investments and expansion of manufacturing and business process outsourcing (BPO)
firms which in turn drive
higher demand in the retail market.
vices, a company which
offers customer support
on the phone, the development and execution of customer loyalty programs, processing
financial
transactions
and logistics among others. It has approximately 63,000 employees in
more than 40 countries.
SMPHI is also set to
inaugurate the Radisson
Hotel, an international
hotel company with 470
locations in 73 counties,
at the leased area of SM
City Clark in 2015.
SM City Clark
expands with BPO
buildings, hotel
Property
development
on the rise
The grand opening
of the expansion of SM
City Clark, located on the
southeastern area of this
freeport, is slated next
month, offering a bigger
mall with more local and
international brands.
SM Prime Holdings,
Inc. (SMPHI), which operates 47 malls in the
country including Clark,
three in China and
Guam, will also inaugurate two buildings with
three storeys each inside the leased property
of SM City Clark in November to serve as BPO
offices for Arvato Ser-
Property
developer CBRE Philippines reportedly said businesses from Metro Manila
have begun to expand
because of infrastructure developments, making Central Luzon a major
investment destination.
Already,
Hausland
Development
Corp.,
which developed the Fiesta Communities, recently broke ground on
a new 27-hectare housing development site in
nearby Mabalacat City
and has on-going projects in Subic and Tarlac
City.
Travel and leisure opportunities are also open
to travellers, especially
international ones who
would like to explore another side of the Philippines apart from Metro
Manila.
North Luzon tourism
potential eyed
On the west coast
from Subic, the Zambales coast is known for
its laidback resorts and
surfing spots. For a break
on the beaches, one can
head inland to the majestic Lake Mapanuepe,
formed after Mt. Pinatubo erupted in 1991.
Head to Lingayen
and come face to face
with the Hundred Islands, which are part of
a national park covering almost 20 square kilometers in the Lingayen Gulf. Snorkeling is a
popular activity in these
islands.
Further along the
coast, La Union draws
visitors, both foreign and
local, for its surfing-perfect beaches. Found at
the northeastern end of
the Lingayen Gulf, La
Union does not only provide access to magnificent waves and beaches
but it also boasts of trek-
With Clark opening
as an international gateway in addition to Manila, it is set to be another business gem shining
brightly, business observers said.
But aside from tourists and businessmen,
overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) are the number one benefactors of
these developments.
Luzon is the largest
exporter of OFWs with
Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal
and Quezon), down
south of Metro Manila,
contributing 18.1 percent
of the total OFWs in the
country and the National Capital Region (NCR)
with 12.6 percent.
However, Central Luzon, which has initially
registered a 14.1 percent, is steadily climbing with the total number
of OFWs living north of
Metro Manila going up to
75 percent.
Emirates Airlines to
mount daily flights
This increasing number is geared towards the
CIA which is set to host
Emirates Airline’s maiden flight from Dubai to
Clark on October 1. The
non-stop flights will then
be scheduled daily.
“We at Emirates have
always seen the need
of our kababayans from
Northern and Central Luzon who have to travel
three or more hours just
to get to Manila. So we
decided to open up a
new hub at Clark International Airport,” Baroa
said.
“Whether they are
business savvy individuals or OFWs, they are
now assured of the convenience of our flights
through our new route,”
she added.
the matter and the filing
last week of complaints
against the members of
the Napoles gang before
the Office of the Ombudsman.
Without these “whistleblowers” in the persons of Luy and company, the Napoles scheme
would have remained
a secret and continued
the misuse of the people’s money, the former
lawmaker pointed out,
even as he pressed for
the creation of a group
or groups in the private
sector to operate as dedicated whistleblowers.
“We, at least the
majority of us, must be
‘whistleblowers’ in order to check the activities of grafters and corrupt members of our society,” Villarama said,
stressing it is imperative
for the public (private individuals and groups) to
take the lead in the fight
against corruption.
Government or people in government can
never be fully relied
upon to fight corruption,
he stressed, as this will
naturally work against
their personal interest,
besides being prone to
“peer pressure.”
He said, government’s role (or that of a
state agency) in any anti-corruption drive should
be limited to the adoption of policies, programs
and laws that will protect
whistleblowers from harassment and physical/
financial harm and official investigation of uncovered anomalies and
prosecution of erring
parties.
Villarama noted that
a growing number of
countries have initiated
steps to lick corruption in
both the official and private circles by encouraging “whistleblowing”
by the public against corrupt activities in government and even private
enterprises imbued with
public interest, like power companies, telecommunications entities and
other utilities.
The United States, for
instance, enacted The
Whistleblower
Protection Act of 1989 in a bid
to encourage people to
report any law violations,
gross waste of funds,
and abused of authority
by federal employees. It
also put in place a “Whistleblower Protection Program” being run by the
Occupational Safety &
Health
Administration (OSHA) to provide a
shield to employees and
other personnel that report violations of various
work-places, like in airlines, commercial motor
carriers, consumer product manufacturers, etc.
India’s private group,
Janaagraha, has even
started to operate a website – ipaidbribe.com –
as a way of encouraging
ordinary individuals to
help curb and, eventually, eliminate corruption.
Brazil, too, just recently followed suit in the
global trend to fight corruption by passing a law
which imposes stiff administrative and criminal
actions against foreign
and domestic companies
that bribe government
officials.
–Ashley Manabat
king and climbing activities.
Further up north is
Ilocos Sur, almost synonymous with its popular
old town, Vigan. Situated
near the western bank of
the Mestizo River, Vigan
was an important political, military, cultural and
religious center during
the Spanish times.
The old town is characterized by cobbled
streets and some of the
finest old colonial architecture in the country.
For history- and culture-buffs, Laoag the
capital of Ilocos Norte,
features a number of
sites related to former
President Ferdinand E.
Marcos, who was born in
the nearby village Sarrat.
On the northwestern
edge of Luzon, excellent
beaches can be found in
Pagudpud.
Home of OFWs
About Emirates
Emirates, one of the
fastest growing airlines
in the world, has received more than 500
international awards for
excellence and has over
nine million members
worldwide of Skywards,
the airline’s frequent flyer program.
Emirates flies to 134
destinations in 76 countries and operates 203
wide-bodied Airbus and
Boeing aircraft.
The airline has orders for an additional
190 aircraft, worth more
than USD$71 billion.
Renowned for its excellence in service and innovation, both on board
and on the ground, Emirates holds an impressive array of prestigious
awards most recently including, the ‘Best Airline
Food and Wine’ by Frequent Business Traveler
and the highly coveted
2013 ‘World’s Best Airline’ award presented by
Skytrax.
‘Whistleblower Anonymous’
FROM PAGE 1
It being so, he declared that he was “positive that a way could be
found to reduce, if not
immediately eliminate,
corrupt practices in government, and even in
the private sector for that
matter.”
Doing so will not be
easy, he explained, adding that any move to
curb corruption in a society like the Philippines
will require the involvement of a vigilant public,
especially courageous
individuals – the whistleblowers -- as in the
case of the uncovered
P10-billion pork barrel
scam.
Benhur Luy, a nephew and former employee of Napoles, exposed
the systematic looting of
the people’s money under the pork barrel system in government out of
fear and obviously to get
back at his ex-employer
whom he accused of illegally detaining him due
to imagined infractions
of company regulations
and disloyalty.
His
revelations
brought to light the supposed active participation of a good number of
lawmakers, top ranking
and ordinary government
bureaucrats and private
individuals in the theft
of public funds lodged in
the government’s national budget known as the
Priority Assistance Development Fund (PDAF).
The fund is for the exclusive use of senators
that get an annual allocation of P200 million
each and members of
House Representatives
that each gets a P70-million yearly allotment for
the financing of their pet
projects in the form of
roads, buildings and other infrastructure, relief
and medical assistance
to their constituents and
education-linked activities.
Villarama said this
system was devised to
ensure the lawmakers’
support for the President’s pet proposed bills,
programs and policies.
He said the lawmakers’
take from this arrangement is a boost to their
re-election bids.
But the lawmakers would need to have
a key to gain access to
this people’s fund, Villarama noted. And that
key comes in the form
of projects fronted by
non-government organizations (NGOs) and
foundations that represent “qualified” constituents such as farmers,
students, indigents and
poor communities, victims of calamities, etc.
But in the uncovered
scam of Napoles, bogus NGOs/foundations
and spurious government documents were
allegedly used to secure
the release of the funds
that went straight into the
pockets of the Napoles
cabal which included
senators, congressmen,
bureaucrats and their
private sector partners.
Luy’s
allegations
were buttressed by other
former employees or insiders of Napoles’ camp,
prompting an official
government probe into
The Gossipmiller
by Cesar Pambid
AiAi Delas Alas nahihiya kay PNoy
NAHIHIYA SI Comedy Queen Ai-Ai delas Alas kay President Noynoy Aquino dahil nadadamay pa raw ito
sa marital problem nila ng estranged husband na si Jed Salang.
Matatandaang nagsalita na ang Malacañang kamakailan na wala raw kinalaman ang Pangulo sa
problema ni Ai-Ai at ni Jed bilang sagot sa sinabi ng abogado ng huli na suportado raw ni PNoy ang
Comedy Queen.
Dahil dito ay humihingi ng paumanhin si Ai-Ai sa ating Presidente.
“Humihingi ako ng paumanhin para sa sarili ko,” simula ni Ai-Ai nang makatsikahan namin sa presscon
ng movie nila ni Marian Rivera, ang Kung Fu Divas.
“Kasi nakakahiya naman sa Presidente, nakakahiya sa Malacañang na pati ’yung mga pangalan nila,
nadadawit sa domestic problem namin ng husband ko.
“Mali ’yun. Sabi ko nga, next time na magsasalita sana ’yung lawyer niya (Jed), sana isipin niya na
’yung kliyente niya ay may gag order. Na lahat kami, may gag order. Anything (about the case), hindi kami
pwedeng magsalita.
“Ako, ingat na ingat ako na magsalita about that. And maling-mali ’yun and anytime na maisip niya
na gusto niyang magpa-interview, magdasal na lang siya para sa mga tao natin sa Zamboanga, sa mga
kababayan natin, para hindi ka makapagsalita nang hindi maganda.
“Kasi, ang dami nang problema ng Malacañang, ang dami nang problema ng ating Presidente, bakit pa
naman ako dadagdag? ’Di ba naman, nakakatawa naman ’yun? Nakakatawang nakakaasar.
“Diyos ko naman, pati love life ko ba naman, iisipin pa ng Presidente natin? Love life nga ni friendship
(Kris Aquino), hindi niya iniisip, ’eto pa ba? ’Di ba naman, nakakatawa ’yun? Mamumroblema pa ba siya
sa love life ko?”
Ang payo na lang ni Ai-Ai sa abogado ni Jed, “dapat unang-una, huwag mong ipahamak ang kliyente
mo. Kung gusto niyang magpa-TV, kumuha siya ng kliyenteng walang gag order.”
When asked kung hindi ba puwedeng kasuhan ng contempt ang kampo ni Jed, say niya, “ewan ko,
tingnan natin, baka mabwisit ang Malacañang, kasuhan sila.”
Anyway, hanggang dito lang ang puwedeng sabihin ni Ai-Ai tungkol sa kaso nila ni Jed since may gag
order nga sila. Basta sa ngayon ay magku-concentrate raw siya sa movie nila ni Marian bilang ito ang
unang pagkakataon na nagkasama silang dalawa since alam naman nating Kapuso talent ang aktres.
Halatang ginastusan ang pelikula dahil may mga special effects na ginamit sa mga fight scenes nina
Ai-Ai at Marian. Comedy film ito na may halong action at dream project pala ito ng direktor na si Onat Diaz
as in noon pa niya nabuo ang materyal at noon pa niya gustong gawin with Ai-Ai and Marian lang talaga
as lead stars.
Co-produced ng Star Cinema, Reality Films and O & Co Picture Factory ang Kung Fu Divas, and yes,
kasosyo rin mismo sina Ai-Ai and Marian.
Showing na ang pelikula sa October 2 at kasama rin dito sina Roderick Paulate, Nova Villa, Precious
Lara Quigaman, Edward Mendez, Bianca Manalo and Gloria Diaz.
Momzillas (GP3)
1025FS • 1035MF • 1250 • 305 • 520
710LFS • 735LMF • 925END
Riddick (R13)
1050FS • 1100MF • 130 • 400 • 630
828LFS • 900LMF • 1058END
We’re the Miller (R16)
1150FS • 1200MF • 215 • 430 • 645
835LFS • 900LMF • 1050END
Insidious 2 (PG13)
1110FS • 1120MF • 145 • 410 • 635
828LFS • 900LMF • 1053END
Evidence (R13)
1025FS • 1035MF • 1240 • 245LMF • 426END
Momzillas (GP3)
440FS • 450MF • 655 • 900LMF • 1045END
About Time (PG13)
1235FS • 1245MF • 330 • 615
815LFS • 900LMF • 1108END
Elysium (PG13)
1150FS • 1200MF • 215 • 445 • 715
843LFS • 930LMF • 1108END
Katrina Halili ayaw munang pakasal kay Kris Lawrence
Kristoffer Martin napilitan lang tumambal kay JulieAnn San Jose
Julie Ann San Jose
MASUWERTE nga raw si Krsitoffer Martin dahil siya ang pumalit sa umayaw na si Elmo Magalona sa“Kahit
Nasaan Ka Man,” pero mukhang napasama siya dahil galit sa kanya ang fans nina Elmo at Julie Ann San
Jose na siyang dating magka-loveteam.
“Hindi ko naman kasalanan ito. Management assigned me, alangan namang tanggihan ko,” paliwanag
niya.
Honestly, we think he has nothing to worry about fans because they’re just noisy and annoying but do
not really have that much clout. If they did, Julie Anne’s movie with Elmo, “Just
Once Summer,” would have been a hit. But as we all know now, it laid a big
fat egg at the box office.
Nakapagtataka nga lang na inaayawan ni Elmo ang mga projects na
ibinibigay sa kanya ng GMA 7. Dahil kaya yun sa kanyang managger na
mismong nanay niya? Nagpapresyo lang ba si Elmo?
As we all know, there’s truth in the saying ‘out of sight, out of mind’. He
hasn’t been seen for quite a time now so we won’t be surprised if viewers
have already forgotten him.
Judging from the music video of Julie Anne’s own composition, “I’ll Be
There,” which she did as a duet with Kristoffer, they seem to have quite a
good chemistry. We won’t be surprised if their tandem and their show,
“Kahit Nasaan Ka Man,” would click with viewers, even if it’s common
knowledge that, off cam, Kristoffer is really going with Joyce Ching
who’s now part of the new Sunday afternoon show, “Dormitoryo.”
“Siyempre, may pressure talaga sa amin ni Julie Anne,” adds
Kristoffer. “Lalo na nga’t we’re up against the more established love
team sa kabila (Kathryn-Daniel). Kaya nga panay ang dasal ko na
sana, suportahan kami ng viewers at mag-rate ang unang pagtatambal
naming ito.”
“Kahit Nasaan Ka Man,” which replaces “Anna Karenina” on primetime
starting tonight, will run for eight weeks. It’s a musical drama, so expect
Julie Anne and Kristoffer to both be doing a lot of singing. They will be
supported by Rita Avila, Eula Valdez, Yayo Aguila and Tessie Tomas,
under the direction of Gil Tejada Jr.
Riddick (R13)
1050FS • 1100MF • 130 • 400 • 630
830LFS • 900LMF • 1100END
Rush (R13)
1050FS • 1100MF • 130 • 400 • 630
835LFS • 900LMF • 1105END
We’re the Millers (R16)
1100FS • 1120MF • 120LFS • 145LMF • 340END
About Time (PG13)
410MF • 840LFS • 900LMF • 1105END
Insidious Chapter 2 (PG13)
1130FS • 1140MF • 200 • 420 • 640
835LFS • 900LMF • 1055END
Momzilla (G)
1100FS • 1120MF • 145 • 410 • 635
825LFS • 900LMF • 1045END
Evidence (R13)
1130FS • 1140MF • 200 • 420 • 640
825LFS • 900LMF • 1040END
Riddick (R13)
1050FS • 1100MF • 130 • 400 • 630
830LFS • 900LMF • 1100END
Momzillas (GP)
1150FS • 1200MF • 215 • 430 • 645
830LFS • 900LMF • 1045END
Insidious Chapter 2 (PG)
1120FS • 1140MF • 200 • 420 • 640
830LFS • 900LMF • 1050END
PUNTO! CENTRAL LUZON • SEPTEMBER 23 - 24, 2013 • MONDAY - TUESDAY
MULING nagkasama sina Katrina Halili at Direk Maryo Delos Reyes sa Magkano Ba Ang Pag-ibig that
started airing yesterday, Monday. Si direk Maryo din ang director ni Katrina sa Magdusa Ka, which was
even nominated in the international Emmy Awards.
“Iba talaga si Direk Maryo J. dahil he brings out the best in his actors,” says Katrina, whose daughter
Katrence turned one year old last Wednesday. “Dito sa ‘Magkano Ba ang Pag-ibig’, tatlo kaming aktres
na nag-Valentina ang nagkasama-sama. Una si Tita Celia Rodriguez na nag-Valentina kay Gov. Vilma
Santos sa ‘Lipad Darna Lipad’ in 1973. Then si Alessandra de Rossi na nag-Valentina on TV to Angel
Locsin’s Darna noong 2005, at ako na nag-Valentina kay Marian Rivera sa 2009 version ng ‘Darna’.”
She and Katrence’s dad, singer Kris Lawrence, hosted a Candyland-themed birthday party for their
baby. “She’s really a blessing kasi ang bait-bait, hindi iyakin at all. Ganyan din daw ako noong baby ako.”
So do they plan to get married soon for the sake of the baby? “Huwag muna. Siguro pag 30 na ako.
Mag-iipon muna kami. I’m having a dive resort constructed in El Nido, Palawan, para naman may income
pa rin ako pag walang trabaho rito. Mas conscious na ako sa mga gastusin ngayon. Di gaya ng dati, wala
akong pakialam sa bills, bayad lang ng bayad, but now, teka magtipid naman tayo sa kuryente, sa tubig.”
So Kris doesn’t live with them? “Hindi, dun pa rin siya sa pad nila ni Jay-R. Sila talaga ang magka-live
in, e. Malapit lang naman sa bahay ko sa New Manila ang bahay nila, kaya madalas siyang nakakadalaw
sa’min ng baby naming si Kate. Napakabait ng parents niya, laging may pinapadalang supplies sa amin
ni Kate from the States.”
What can she say now that Sen. Bong Revilla, who helped her at the height of the Hayden Kho scandal
and who’s now in the eye of the storm due to the pork barrel brouhaha? “Wala. I’m just praying for him na
malampasan niya ang mga pinagdaraanan niya ngayon.”
7
Rechannel PDAF for kidney, cancer, heart patients
BY DING CERVANTES
PUNTO! CENTRAL LUZON • SEPTEMBER 23 - 24, 2013 • MONDAY - TUESDAY
ANGELES CITY- With
many families burdened
with the huge cost of
chemotherapy, dialysis,
or heart bypass needed
by loved ones, a large
chunk of the soon-to-beabolished Priority Development Assistance Fund
(PDAF) should be used
to help them.
“These are all expensive procedures beyond the reach of ordinary people. As a result,
people do die from cancer, but secondary only
to poverty,” Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph
Recto said yesterday in
an email to Punto.
"A large chunk of
PDAF funds should now
be rechanneled to pay
for the chemotherapy of
cancer patients, the dialysis of persons suffering
from kidney failure, and
heart bypass operations.
PDAF should be reinvented as a cure for the
sick and a medicine for
the ailing," he said.
Although at present,
lawmakers funnel their
PDAF allocations to individual patients in selected hospitals, “these
are on a retail basis,”
Recto said. “What is
needed is the wholesale augmentation of
the budget of government hospitals.”
He cited tertiary hospitals like the Philippine
General Hospital (PGH)
and specialty medical
centers like the Philippine Heart Center (PHC)
which are sieged by patients daily as “worthy
recipients of the rechanneled PDAF.”
Recto said Congress
can raise the budgets
of these hospitals and
8
“treat such move as a
collective, block allocation by all congressmen
and all senators.”
“For example, Congress can increase the
budget of the PGH by
P1 billion, thus increasing by 50 percent its proposed operating budget
for 2014,” Recto said.
“Or it can uniformly add
P200 million each to the
14 regional hospitals.”
Among public hospitals in need of budgetary
augmentation, according to Recto, are the four
specialty hospitals clustered in Quezon City the Lung, Kidney, Heart
and Children’s Centers.
He described as
measly the P173 million
proposed 2014 subsidy for the Lung Center
of the Philippines; the
P189 million for the National Kidney and Transplant Institute; the P345
million for the Philippine
Children’s Medical Center; and the P372 million
for the Philippine Heart
Center.
PCMC has reportedly been served a notice to vacate a portion
of its property which has
been sold by the National Housing Authority to
a third party. “Prior to
this eviction notice, the
PCMC already needed
more funds to treat poor
kids, especially those
battling cancer,” Recto
said.
In the case of the
NKTI, Recto said 10,000
Filipinos are diagnosed
each year with endstage renal diseases but
less than ten percent
have the means to sustain dialysis or pay for a
transplant.
An epidemic of heart
diseases is also taking
its toll on the PHC, Recto said. In 2010, 101,000
Filipinos
succumbed
to cardio-vascular ailments. “The question is,
can we use pork to treat
heart disease? The answer is yes.”
Recto said that based
on the national budget, government annual
per capita spending on
health will only be P998
in 2014.
“From whatever angle you see it, it needs
to be increased. And the
ready reinforcement is
provided by the PDAF,”
he said.
Recto said a “reconstituted PDAF” can also
be used to increase the
P4.3 billion that will be
set aside next year for
the purchase of new
hospital equipment.
“It can also be used
to increase the drug and
vaccine
procurement
budget of P10.2 billion
for 2014,” Recto said.
Aunty Terry with Manong Junie during the premiere night of Iloilo in Singapore with display of
Cebu Pacific promoting Iloilo
Aunty Terry revisits with CebPac
TERESITA
SAJONIA,
better known as Aunty
Terry in Iloilo and Singapore, is revisiting and rediscovering places she
has not been to for more
than 16 years and reuniting with friends and relatives
Thanks to Cebu Pa-
cific, Aunty Terry, the instant celebrity who inspired a Singaporean
film director to produce
a movie entitled Ilo Ilo
which won the prestigious Camera D’0r
award at this year’s
Cannes Film Festival,
was reunited with her
Singaporean employers
in August in the city state
and made a short visit to
Manila last week.
Hearing the accomplishment of Anthony
Chen, the Singaporean
film director at Cannes,
CEB, through its public
relations
consultant, Charles Lim initiated the dramatic search
which led to the reunion
of Aunty Terry and the
Chen family.
First, two of the siblings - Anthony and
youngest brother, Christopher who was most attached to Aunty Terry in
his toddler age - visited
Iloilo City in July. In August, the dream came
true experience for Aunty
Terry not only was a trip
back to Singapore to reunite with the Chen family, but a delightful experience of participating at
the premiere screening
of Ilo Ilo at the grand Marina Sands Theater with
a packed 1,600 audience which included the
President of Singapore,
H.E. Tony Kang and his
wife.
All this was made
possible by Cebu Pacific, the only airline that
flies direct from Iloilo to
Singapore. CEB was
named the official airline
of the movie premiere in
both Singapore and the
Philippines.
“We are much honored to be part of this
wonderful reunion and
support Auntie Terry
when she went to Singapore through Cebu
Pacific’s direct flights
from Iloilo. For us, Auntie Terry is the epitome of
the hard work, sacrifice
and selfless love of our
Overseas Filipino Workers,” said Cebu Pacific
Vice President for Marketing and Distribution
Candice Iyog. “Like her,
our OFWs leave a lasting impact not only on
their families back home,
but also on the people
they work and care for
abroad.”
Aunty Terry upon arrival in Singapore greeted
by Anthony Chen and his mother Joan Chen