The Filipino Express Issue 10 Mar 8

Bam, Grace big gainers
Sillag Festival of Lights
Tourism boost in PH
Peso is best performer
Filipino in Nascar race
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VOL. 27 w
NO. 10 w
NATIONAL EDITION w
NEW JERSEY w
NEW YORK w
MAR 8 - MAR 14, 2013 w
(201) 434-1114 w
$1.00
IMMIGRANTS RALLY AGAINST DEPORTATIONS
i l l e g a l i m m i g r a n t s . T h e immigrants are living under the been granted a work permit by
immigrants are pushing for shadow of suffering and fear. the USCIS. But deportation
NEW YORK Waving comprehensive immigration Although they contribute to the charge remains in effect.
placards and chanting slogans, reform that would lead to a path economy through their hard
Meanwhile, in
immigrants, including Filipinos, of citizenship.
work, and many pay taxes, they Washington, DC, senators are
By JOSEPH G. LARIOSA
(© 2013 Fil Am Extra Exchange)
rallied in Lower Manhattan
F i l i p i n o i m m i g ra n t are afraid of being arrested and d i s c u s s i n g a b i p a r t i s a n
Monday, March 11, to push for leader Hanalei Ramos said deported.
immigration bill that may likely
CHICAGO Securing
legalization of undocumented deportations must be stopped.
In an emotional appeal ditch the idea of requiring a new
the border should not be
immigrants. It was billed as the “We are concerned on the way to President Obama, Filipina high-tech federal identity card
contingent upon the passage
National Day of Action Against immigrants are penalized and Annabelle Sibayan said the for workers because it is too
o f t h e p r o p o s e d
Deportations.
criminalized in this country,” President should understand expensive.
Comprehensive Immigration
In passionate speeches, Ramos said.
how difficult it is to be separated
Republican Sen.
Reform (CIR) by the United
immigrants from multi-cultural
The Migrant Power from family. She related how she L i n d s ey G ra h a m o f S o u t h
States Senate Gang of Eight
groups derided the government Alliance, the umbrella of many was detained, including her Carolina is worried on higher
that will legalize the 11 million
fo r d e p o r t i n g 1 . 5 m i l l i o n immigrant groups, demands an husband when their temporary cost of biometric ID card. The
undocumented immigrants,
undocumented immigrants from a c c e s s i b l e , f u l l - p a t h t o work visa expired. They still card is aimed as a way to ensure
according to a grassroots
2008 to 2012. The Obama citizenship and that all families attend hearings to justify their employers don't hire illegal
recommendation by The
a d m i n i s t r a t i o n w a s a l s o that are separated due to these stay in the U.S. and to stop their workers. Graham and his backers
criticized for spending $18 hearings and processes are deportation. Sibayan was also a
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billion to imprison and deport u n i te d n o w. M a ny o f t h e human trafficking victim and has
“Border Security” issue should
not stop immigration reform
By Contessa Rita Bourbon
Fil-Am named to FCC
Advisory Committee
Jason T. Lagria
Pope Francis assumes Papacy
NEW YORK - Filipinos
Francis of Assissi, was elected on
Americans welcomed the
the second day after four rounds
election of Cardinal Jorge Mario
of voting and will serve as the
By Ricky Rillera
Bergoglio of Buenos Aires, a
leader of 1.2 billion Catholics.
He is the first pope from Latin
Jesuit, as the 266th pope of the
JERSEY CITY, NJ -- The
America.
Catholic Church as soon as a
Fe d e r a l C o m m u n i c a t i o n s
Within hours after he
white smoke appeared at the
Commission (FCC) has named
was voted in by the Catholic's
Sistine Chapel chimney on
Jason T. Lagria, a 34-year-old
Church's 115 cardinals, the big
Wednesday afternoon.
second generation Filipino
bell of St. Peter's Basilica rang
“I'm happy with news!
American to the Advisory
confirming the election.
Viva Santo Papa Francisco I - Un
Committee on Diversity for
According to news
Jesuita!,” said Ner Martinez, a
Communications in the Digital
reports, the 76-year-old pontiff
product of Jesuit-run Ateneo de
Age on Monday, March 11. He
received at least 77 votes from
Manila University and current
will serve for a term of two
t h e C a t h o l i c C h u rc h 1 1 5
board member of the Philippine
Newly elected Pope Francis
years, which coincides with the
appears on the central balcony of
cardinals who voted in this
Independence Day Council, Inc.
charter of the committee.
St. Peter’s Basilica on March 13,
election.
The new pope, who took
2013 in Vatican City. Getty Images
the name Pope Francis after St.
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PH seeks more Public-Private
Partnership Projects
Jerramiah T. Healy Steven Fulop
Abdul Malik
Meet the candidates at
The Heights Mayoral Forum
JERSEY CITY, NJ - A
Mayoral Candidate Forum
hosted by a non-partisan
coalition of Jersey City Heights
community organizations and
the Jersey City Independent
will be held on Thursday, March
21 from 7-9PM at the Christa
McAuliffe Middle School, 167
Hancock Avenue.
WASHINGTON, D.C. - As
President Benigno S. Aquino III
was inviting potential investors
at the Philippine Investment
Forum 2013 on Tuesday, March
12, Ambassador Jose L. Cuisia, Jr.
did his pitch as well to shore up
i nve s to r ' s s u p p o r t i n t h e
government's push for pubicprivate partnership projects at a
forum at the Center for Strategic
and International Studies (CSIS).
“The Philippine
government remains committed
to driving infrastructure
development as it recognizes its
importance to future rapid and
According to Becky
Hoffman, representative of the
organizers, Jersey City
candidates for mayor
Jerramiah Healy, Steven Fulop
and Abdul Malik have
confirmed their participation
Ambassador Jose L. Cuisia, Jr. presents the challenges and opportunities in
in The Heights Mayoral
infrastructure investments in the Philippines in a panel discussion on Monday, 11 March
Forum.
2012, hosted by the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C.
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(Philippine Embassy Photo by Lilibeth Almonte-Arbez)
March 8 - 14, 2013
Page 2
THE FILIPINO EXPRESS
23 Kiram men dead, Haji Musa
still alive - spokesman
MANILA - Twenty-three
followers of self-styled Sulu
sultan Jamalul Kiram III have
been killed in Malaysia since the
start of the Sabah conflict, the
sultan's spokesman said
Wednesday.
He said former Moro
National Liberation Front
commander Haji Musa is still
alive, contrary to reports that he
had been killed last week.
Spokesman Abraham
Idjirani said he had just spoken to
Raja Muda Agbimuddin Kiram
who confirmed that Musa is still
alive, contrary to the claims of
Malaysian police.
“He is still alive and they
have regrouped at 1 a.m.
Wednesday. They are drinking
coffee. The Malaysian news
report is wrong,” Idjirani said.
An Astroawani report
said Musa is the deputy chief of
the “royal sultanate army”, led by
Agbimuddin. It said Musa plotted
the move of Agbimuddin's group
to go to Lahad Datu and revive
the sultanate's claim over Sabah,
Malaysia.
Idjirani also confirmed
that 23 of Agbimuddin's men
have been killed in the conflict.
The information came from
Princes Jacel Kiram, who spoke
to Agbimuddin.
Earlier police reports
said at least 63 people have been
killed in the Sabah conflict.
Authorities have also arrested at
least 97 people throughout the
state and are investigating if they
have links to the incursion.
Supporters of Manilabased Jamalul Kiram III, whose
supporters claim he is heir to the
defunct southern Philippine
sultanate of Sulu, have said about
235 people took part in the
mission.
Meanwhile, Idjirani
said the Philippine government
and the sultanate of Sulu must
first agree on the parameters of
the “disengagement” of Kiram's
forces before deciding on their
next move.
He said the sultanate
thanks the Philippine
government for letting Interior
and Local Government Mar
Roxas talk to Sultan Bantilan
Esmail Kiram, brother of Jamalul,
on how to solve the Sabah
conflict.
“Let us not waste it. Let
us sit down and discuss the
problem. Disengagement was
offered but we need to define
disengagement,” he said.
The spokesman said the
meeting between Roxas and
Esmail had the blessings of
Jamalul.
He also denied reports
that a conspiracy involving
former national security adviser
Norberto Gonzales, Pastor “Boy”
Saycon and MNLF founder Nur
Misuari are backing the Sabah
conflict.
He noted that if there
was a conspiracy, then the
sultanate “would not have sent
only 235 men to fight in
Malaysia.”
For his part, National
Bureau of Investigation Director
Nonnatus Rojas said authorities
are still investigating claims that
a conspiracy backed the Kiram
incursion to Sabah.
“
There are no findings
yet, no results. The investigation
is still going on in Mindanao and
here in Manila. Hindi pa namin
masasabi kung ano ang
conclusion naming,” he said.
He also said the
subpoena to Idjirani is just an
invitation and that there would
be no sanctions against the
Kirams if the invitation is denied.
“The subpoena is just an
invitation. Whether it is a letter
or subpoena, it is an invitation
that allows those invited to give
their explanation. It is a chance
for them to talk. They are not
treated as criminals,” he said.
Kirams eyed Sabah incursion
last year: Saycon
MANILA -- An adviser to
Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III
revealed Wednesday the forces of
the sultanate had wanted to stake
its claim to Sabah, Malaysia as
early as August last year.
Pastor "Boy" Saycon,
secretary-general of Council for
Philippine Affairs (COPA) and a
long-time friend of the Kirams,
said the sultan's followers, led by
Raja Muda Agbimuddin Kiram,
had started planning to go to
Sabah last year due to the Aquino
administration's supposed
failure to hold talks with them.
S a y c o n
s a i d
Agbimuddin had originally
planned to set off for Sabah in
August last year but the plan did
not push through. He said the
plan was put off to September
and then November.
"Gusto na nilang
tumulak last year eh. Ang sabi ko
makasisira iyan doon sa
ginagawa nating preparation sa
petition sa International Court of
Justice," Saycon said.
"August of last year,
nasabi na ni [sultanate
spokeperson Abraham] Idjirani
na masyadong naiinip na daw si
Raja Muda Agbimuddin na tutal
'di sila napapansin ng gobyerno,
at wala namang tulong,
nahihirapan na rin ang mga
Suluanons, ang sabi niya mas
maigi nang doon kami
manirahan."
Saycon said that although he is a
trusted adviser of the Kirams, he
did not sanction the crown
prince's move to go to Sabah on
February 12 with some 235
followers.
"Tinawagan na lang nila
ako at sinabi nila na nakapaglanding na... Ang sabi ko: 'Bakit
nagkaganyan iyan?' Nagpaalam
na raw kay sultan at binigyan ng
blessing," he said.
He said he prefers to
bring the matter before
international bodies such as the
ICJ and the United Nations.
"Nagpirmahan four
years ago ng unity document.
Naayos natin 4 yeas ago at for the
first time nagpirmahan ang mga
magkakapataid [na Kiram].
"Kaya sabi ko, dito tayo tatahak sa United Nations - kung saan we
will pick up from where [then
president] Diosdado Macapagal
left in 1962 to 1964. Kasi iyun ang
dokumentong legal at
pinasukang sistema na pangdiplomasya ang approach," he
said.
Asked why he did not
tell the government about the
plans of self-proclaimed Sulu
Sultan Jamalul Kiram III, Saycon
said: "Hindi ko pwedeng gawin
iyun sapagkat napigilan ko eh, 'di
ba? As a consultant, I was given
the rank of a datu five years ago.
As a loyal follower, those are
confidential information."
The Kirams had
lamented the Aquino
administration's ignoring of their
request for assistance on the
Sabah claim.
They were particularly
dismayed when the government
inked a peace pact with the Moro
Islamic Liberation Front (MILF)
with Malaysia as broker.
The National Bureau of
Investigation earlier summoned
Saycon to find out if he has any
knowledge about the mission of
Raja Muda and his followers who
are now engaged in a standoff
with Malaysian forces.
Saycon appeared at the
NBI office Tuesday morning and
denied any conspiracy behind
the intrusion of the Kiram group
in Sabah.
Aside from Saycon, the
NBI also sent a similar subpoena
to former National Security
Adviser Norberto Gonzales and
f o r m e r m e d i a m a n Wa l d y
Carbonell.
The NBI is also
reportedly set to subpoena Moro
National Liberation Front
(MNLF) founding chairman Nur
Misuari in its ongoing probe.
Misuari, however, is not
keen on attending, saying he is
preoccupied with preparations
for the 45th anniversary of the
MNLF in Sulu.
Gov't gathering evidence
of 'abuse' in Sabah
MANILA -- The
Philippine government is
gathering evidence of alleged
brutality that Filipinos
experienced in Sabah before
deciding what course of
action to take.
S o c i a l We l f a re
Secretary Dinky Soliman said
that this has been President's
Aquino's instruction.
“The instruction of
the President is to first find
the evidence and then it will
be upon the recommendation
of the DFA [Department of
Foreign Affairs] what we need
to do,” Soliman told reporters
in Malacañang.
Soliman said that
victims of brutality would be
asked to submit written
statements narrating their
experience.
She added that there
may be some who have
already given statements but
d e c l i n e d t o h ave t h e i r
identities disclosed to media
for their protection, as well as
their families'.
It would be up to the
Department of Foreign Affairs
what form of action or protest
that the Philippine
government will take.
“Hindi natin sinasabi
na kailangan nilang i-justify.
Ka i l a n ga n l a n g n i l a n g
isalaysay at 'yung salaysay na
'yun ay kailangang meron
pong taong magsasabing, 'Ito
talaga ang nakita ko.' Palagay
ko naman, maiintindihan ng
ating mga kababayan, ng
ating mamamayan na bago
tayo magsampa ng reklamo,
may ebidensya tayong
pwedeng ibigay,” Soliman said.
“Ang ebidensya, hindi
kailangang meron kang sugat.
Ang kailangan lang may
maliwanag na salaysay, kung
saan nangyari, kailan
nangyari, at sino itong
nagkukuwento,” Soliman said.
Authorities are also
coordinating with a
newspaper reporter who has
interviewed Filipinos who
experienced abuse in Sabah.
AID FOR “BALIKBAYANS”
Meantime, Soliman
assured returning residents
from Sabah of the
government's assistance.
Those who have reached
Tawi-Tawi and Sulu are being
given food packs and will be
assisted to return to their
home provinces.
Around 1,000 more
sacks of rice will be used for
relief distribution while 2,000
s a c ks w i l l b e u s e d fo r
“commercial purposes” to
help bring down the price of
rice.
Soliman said that old
stocks of rice are not being
used for relief distribution
and clarified that the browncolored rice appears such
because it is iron-fortified, not
rotten.
“Natural naman na
ang ating isinasagawa, ang
ating mga pagkilos,
pangunahin ang protektahan
ang karapatan at kapakanan
ng mamayayan natin. 'Yan ay
maliwanag na pag-uutos ni
Pangulong Aquino, hindi
lamang sa usapin ng kanilang
nararanasan doon but lalonglalo na sa usapin ng
pagsisigurado na 'pag balik
nila, sila ay nasa mabuting
pag-aaruga ng pamahalaan,
mula po sa pagsisigurado na
merong pagkain 'pag dating
na pagdating nila, meron
silang dadalhin na food packs
at least for five days, at meron
ho silang pamasahe para
umuwi,” Soliman said.
Aside from relief
goods, livelihood support will
also be given. Those who wish
to return to Sabah will also be
assisted in processing their
work papers.
“Kung hindi actual
e m p l o y m e n t ,
entrepreneurship. O kung
gusto nilang bumalik sa
Sabah, tutulungan silang
makakuha ng mga ligal na
dokumento, nang sa ganoon
m a l a y a
s i l a n g
makapagtrabaho sa Sabah,”
Soliman said.
The Philippine
government's rapid response
team in Lahad Datu will be
helping Filipinos who wish to
return to the Philippines as a
result of the standoff, and also
help process work documents
for those who wish to stay.
Approximately 200300 Filipinos in Kampung
Batu Batu wish to return to
the Philippines, according to
Soliman.
Social workers are
among those part of the rapid
response team.
“Inaasahan na itong
rapid response team and
humanitarian welfare desk ay
tutulong para doon sa mga
gustong makauwi, makauwi,
at [sa] mga gustong manatili,
matulungan kung wala silang
dokumento, na mabigyan sila
ng dokumento, nang sa
ganoon malaya silang
makapagtrabaho sa lugar na
kanilang pinagtatrabahuhan,”
Soliman said.
The team has visited
F i l i p i n o s i n eva c u a t i o n
centers in Sabah as well as
Filipinos working in Felda
plantation. Soliman said the
Filipino workers in Felda
were assured of their job
security.
March 8 - 14, 2013
Page 3
THE FILIPINO EXPRESS
PH team arrives in Sabah,
checks refugees' condition
MANILA - A team
formed by the Philippine
government arrived in the
disputed territory of Sabah
on Tuesday to check on the
condition of Filipinos who
fled conflict-affected areas
in the Malaysian territory.
The 15-man
humanitarian team arrived
yesterday in an area 110
kilometers away from
Lahad Datu, the town
where some 235 followers
of self-proclaimed Sulu
Sultan Jamalul Kiram III
landed on February 12 to
assert their ownership of
Sabah.
The Malaysian
government earlier gave
the green light for the
entrance of the
humanitarian team,
c o m p o s e d
o f
representatives from the
Department of Foreign
Affairs, Philippine National
Police, and the Department
of Social Welfare and
Development.
Around 600
Filipinos and 200
Malaysians who fled Lahad
Datu, Semporna and
Sandakan at the height of
the armed clashes between
Malaysian security forces
and members of the royal
army, led by Raja Muda
Agbimuddin Kiram, met
the humanitarian team.
On Tuesday, three
alleged supporters of the
sultan and a Malaysian
soldier were killed in a
fresh outbreak of violence
in Lahad Datu, Malaysian
authorities said. The
fighting occurred near
Kampung Tanjung Batu.
Authorities did not
provide an overall death
toll from the month-long
drama, but reports and
government statements
had indicated an earlier
count of 63 killed prior to
Tuesday's clash -- mostly
intruders.
Authorities have
also arrested at least 97
people throughout the
state and are investigating
if they have links to the
incursion.
DOJ OKs raps versus
intercepted Sultan's men
MANILA -- Justice
Secretary Leila de Lima
confirmed that the Philippine
Navy intercepted two groups of
armed Filipinos Wednesday
morning in the seas of Tawi-tawi.
The armed men,
numbering around 35, had come
from Sabah and identified
themselves of the sultan's Royal
Security Force, de Lima said.
The armed group will be
held liable for illegal possession of
firearms and deadly weapons and
for violating the Comelec gun ban.
Other charges will be determined
as a PNP-NBI composite team
continues to process their case.
"Hindi lang under the
Revised Penal Code but also
under appropriate election laws,
they can be charged immediately
with the illegal possession of
firearms and other deadly
weapons. 'Yon clear 'yon," de Lima
said.
"Now, there would be
other charges, I'm sure, but I leave
it up to those men on the ground,
the composite team to determine
precisely what charges will be
filed."
The intercepted men are
currently held in a naval camp in
Panglima Sugala, Tawi-Tawi
where it is deemed safer.
A probe is still being
conducted by an NBI-PNP CIDG
Leila de Lima
team to determine the possible
liability of Sultan Jamalul Kiram
III and other personalities as a
result of the standoff in Sabah.
All angles are being
looked at, including possible
conspiracy. De Lima said the
government cannot ignore
violations of the law.
"Lahat naman umaasa
kung pwedeng ma-resolve an
incident as serious as this
peacefully. Pero since nagkaroon
na ng mga [violation] and look at
the consequences, the
seriousness and the gravity of the
consequences, unintended or
otherwise, then government must
act," de Lima told reporters at the
Palace.
Meantime, de Lima is
hoping that the standoff will not
affect efforts to bring Aman
Futures founder Manuel Amalilio
back to the Philippines to face
charges in connection with an
investment scam.
S h e r u e d t h e
"unintended consequences" of
the Sabah standoff, saying that a
trip of a DOJ team to Kuala
Lumpur working to find ways to
bring back Amalilio was
postponed following the incident
in Sabah in the absence of a "right
environment" for discussions
with the Malaysian authorities.
"We can say that is
probably one of the unintended
consequences of the acts of the
Kiram group. Meron pang iba, I
think it's too evident for everyone
kung ano ang mga consequences
na 'yan. We hope na naisip nila
'yan before they did this," de Lima
said.
Amalilio is currently
serving a two-year sentence in
Malaysia for possessing false
travel documents.
De Lima nonetheless
assured victims of the scam that
the government will work on
Amalilio's return even before his
sentence in Malaysia lapses.
"We will continue to
work for the successful
prosecution of Amalilo et al," de
Lima said.
March 8 - 14, 2013
Page 4
THE FILIPINO EXPRESS
Syrians treated Pinoy peacekeepers
like brothers - military
MANILA - The Syrian militants
treated the 21 Filipino
peacekeepers like brothers they
ate with them, laughed with them
and exchanged stories with them.
In fact, the soldiers recently
released by their Syrian captors
intend to finish their mission in
Golan Heights.
"There is no indication that they
want to end the mission…There is
no indication that they want to
return (to the Philippines). They
want to continue the mission," said
AFP spokesman Col. Arnulfo
Marcelo Burgos. He said the
peacekeepers, who were released
before midnight on Saturday
(Manila time) to Jordan security
forces after three days of captivity,
underwent stress debriefing.
Heights since 2009, as part of the
country's commitment to the
United Nations.
“We are still waiting for the result
of the psychological debriefing (or
stress debriefing). The debriefing
will be a factor (in determining if
they will continue with the
mission) and recommendation
from UNDOF [United Nations
Disengagement Observer Force]
officials," he said.
Col. Roberto Ancan, chief of the
AFP Peacekeeping Operations
Center, said the Syrian militants
were treated well. “They were not
threatened by the rebels, they were
treated as brothers. They
exchanged pleasantries. They
talked. Actually they
(peacekeepers) were even taught
the language of the rebels which is
Arabic," he said.
The soldiers are under the auspices
of the UNDOF. They are due to
complete their six-month tour of
duty by May. The Armed Forces of
the Philippines (AFP) has been
sending peacekeepers to Golan
The Filipinos were even given food
that the rebels were also eating.
They even “ate together,” Ancan
said.
Somali pirates release 26 sailors
MANILA - Somali pirates have
released a Greek-owned oil
tanker and its 26 sailors,
including 14 Filipinos, who were
seized in the Arabian Sea 10
months ago, the Philippine
government said on Tuesday.
The Liberian-flagged MT Smyrni
as well as its crew were released
on Saturday, and are en route to
O m a n , t h e fo re i g n a f fa i r s
department said in a statement.
"All of the crew members are in
good physical condition," the
statement said.
T h e S my r n i wa s c a r r y i n g
135,000 tonnes of crude oil when
it was hijacked on May 10 last
year. It had sailed from Turkey
and was seized 300 nautical
miles east of Oman as it headed
towards Somalia.
No reason was given as to why the
pirates released the vessel,
owned by Athens-based
Dynacom Tanker Management,
and its crew. Dynacom Tanker
Management also released a
short statement on its website
confirming the release, without
explaining the circumstances.
More Pinoys repatriated
from war-torn Syria
MANILA -- More Filipinos from
war-torn Syria are set to arrive
in Manila on March 9.
The government is continuing
its efforts to repatriate
Filipinos as the violence
escalates in Syria. Sixty-one
Filipinos are set to arrive in
Manila at 9:15 a.m., aboard
Qatar Airways flight QR 648 on
Saturday.
This will bring the total
number of repatriates from
Syria to 3,692.
The Philippine Embassy in
Beirut coordinated with the
Lebanese Immigration
authorities to facilitate the
t h o s e a g e n c i e s t h a t h ave
provided support through this
long ordeal."
"We are very pleased to report
that the Mt Smyrni has been
released after ten months in the
captivity of Somali pirates," the
statement said.
Pirates based in lawless Somalia
have in recent years netted
millions of dollars in ransom
payments by carrying out highprofile sea hijackings, which have
driven up the costs of shipping
along vital seaways.
"We would like to take this
opportunity to thank the crew,
their families, our employees and
The number of Somali pirate
attacks is currently at a threeyear low, thanks to beefed up
repatriates' entry into
Lebanon through. The Filipino
repatriates were brought to
Beirut's Rafic Hariri
International Airport where
they took the Qatar Airways
flight to Doha, Qatar and then
another flight to Manila.
The Department of Foreign
Affairs (DFA) continued to
urge all Filipinos who are still
in Syria to seek immediate
repatriation.
Relatives of Filipinos in Syria
may also provide the DFA with
up-to-date information
regarding their loved ones'
current location and contact
details in Syria.
naval patrols and teams of armed
security guards aboard ships in
the Gulf of Aden and the Indian
Ocean.
However, the International
Maritime Bureau says Somalia's
waters remain extremely
dangerous.
The Philippine foreign affairs
department said Somali pirates
were still holding nine other
Filipino sailors taken hostage
from two other vessels.
Saudi King grants three-month reprieve
to Pinoy, other inmates on death row
MANILA -- Even though the
deadline for raising blood
money for his freedom lapsed on
Tuesday, overseas Filipino
worker Joselito Zapanta will be
getting another three-month
reprieve.
In a press conference on
Tuesday, Vice President Jejomar
Binay said a Saudi official
confirmed with the Philippine
embassy in Riyadh on Monday
that King Abdullah has granted a
three-month reprieve to all
those on death row.
Adbulaziz Abdulrahman Al
Gaeit, assistant of the
Undersecretary for Public
Rights at the Emir's office, made
the confirmation.
"Kinumpirma ng nasabing
opisyal na nagbigay ng kautusan
ang Hari ng Saudi Arabia na
lahat ng mga kaso na ang
sentensya ay pagpugot ng ulo o
yung tinatawag na qizas ay
ipinagpapaliban ng tatlong
buwan. Kinumpirma rin ng
nasabing opisyal na kasama ang
kaso ni Joselito Zapanta sa
pagpapaliban na ito," said Binay,
who is presidential adviser on
OFW concerns.
"Inuulit ko, dahil sa kautusan ng
Hari ng Saudi Arabia na
ipagpaliban ang lahat ng kaso na
ang hatol ay pagpugot ng ulo,
Saudi King Abdullah
Nabigyan ng tatlong buwan na
palugit o extension ang ating
ka b a b a y a n n a s i J o s e l i t o
Zapanta," he said in a statement.
Zapanta went to Saudi Arabia in
2007 to work as a tile setter. He
killed his Sudanese landlord
after an altercation in 2009.
Binay said the reprieve begins
the day after the deadline set by
the Sudanese victim's kin for the
payment of the blood money.
The reprieve would end on June
8. However, Binay said this does
not mean that the extension to
pay the blood money of more
than P40 million has also been
extended.
"Wala pa pong desisyon ang
kaanak ng biktima sa usaping
yan. At yan po ang binibigyang
pansin ng ating embahada sa
Riyadh," he said.
March 8 - 14, 2013
Page 5
THE FILIPINO EXPRESS
Border security ...
From page 1
Alliance of Filipinos for Immigrant
Rights and Empowerment
(AFIRE) and the Bride of Christ
Church's “Usap-Usapan” (Town
Hall Meeting) held Feb. 24 at
Chicago's far northwest side.
Workshop participants
also asked President Barack
Obama to refine his proposed
d e f i n i t i o n o f “ b a c k l o g ” by
legalizing quickly those waiting in
line by letting them pay low fees
and exempting them from paying
fines since most of them have no
jobs because they have no work
permits as proposed by the
nationwide Dignity Campaign for
Real Immigration Reform
(http://dignitycampaign.org/)
that includes AFIRE.
Dozens of Filipino
community members led by
AFIRE's Jerry B. Clarito, Executive
Director, and Angela “Ging”
Mascarenas, AFIRE Board
President, and Senior Pastor Bert
C. Villaluz of Bride of Christ
Church, had dissected the
proposals of the Gang of Eight
composed of Senators Richard
Durbin (D-IL), Robert Menendez
[D-NJ], Chuck Schumer [D-N.Y.],
Michael Bennet [D-Colo.], Marco
Rubio [R-FL], Jeff Flake [R-ARIZ.],
John McCain [R-ARIZ.] and
Lindsey Graham [R-S.C.], who
c a m e u p w i t h “ fo u r b a s i c
immigration legislative pillars” on
Jan. 28 before President Obama
came up with his own in the event
that the Gang of Eight proposal
loses steam.
Philippine Consul
General Leo M. Herrera-Lim of the
Midwest in brief remarks talked of
his meeting with Sen. Mark Kirk
(R-IL) and urge AFIRE to get Mr.
Kirk involved in the
comprehensive immigration
reform debate. Others in
attendance were Indian American
Pal George of American Carpets
and Ms. Frances E. Roehm of
Skokie Public Library
(skokienet.org) and Ella Basilio,
R.N., AFIRE volunteer and
employee of Veterans Affairs
Chicago Regional Hospital.
Remy Cabagnot, widow
of a Filipino World War II veteran,
suggested that the U.S. Congress
should pass or incorporate the
proposal of Sen. Mazie K. Hirono
[D-HI] in the comprehensive
immigration reform bill by
processing the Green Cards of her
children under current visas and
exempted them from numerical
limitations following the death of
her husband.
In one of his proposals,
Obama said the undocumented
must come forward and register,
submit to biometric data, pass
criminal background and national
security checks and pay fees and
penalties to be eligible for
provisional legal status.
The Gang of Eight added
t o O b a m a' s p r o p o s a l t h a t
undocumented must settle debts
and pay back taxes to earn
probationary legal status to live
and work in the U.S. People with
probationary status will be
required to go back in line of
prospective immigrants, pass
background check, pay taxes,
learn English and civics, prove
history of work in the U.S. and be
currently employed to apply for
LPR (legal permanent
residency). Under the Obama
plan, where applicable, Green
Card applicants will have to
register for Selective Service.
Obama and the Gang of
Eight agree to legalize minors
“who did not knowingly violate
immigration law” and
agricultural workers. Mr. Obama
makes these minors eligible to a
path for citizenship by going to
college or are eligible for
expedited citizenship if they
serve in the Armed Forces for
two years.
Like the Obama plan,
the Gang of Eight said
individuals must wait until the
existing legal immigration
backlogs are cleared before
getting in line to apply for lawful
permanent residency (green
card) and ultimately citizenship,
a plan that met strong
opposition among workshop
participants.
AFIRE volunteer
Connie Triggiano said to clear
the backlogs, the government
should employ steps to sped up
the legalization processes.
Among them is to allow those
waiting for the permanent visas
outside the U.S. for five years or
less to come to the U.S. and get
their Green Cards. She said
unmarried children regardless of
a g e s h o u l d b e c o n s i d e re d
immediate family members and
p a r t o f a n u c l e a r f a m i l y.
For the Obama plan, people with
provisional legal status will not be
eligible for welfare or federal
benefits, including subsidies or
tax credits under the new health
care law. This is, however, being
opposed by the Dignity Campaign,
which is suggesting that these
benefits should be available to
those newly legalized after one
year.
While the plan of the
Gang of Eight calls for “immediate
deportation for those who
committed serious crimes,”
participants argued that the
definition of “serious crimes”
should be broken down.
Under the Obama plan, applicants,
whose provisional status has been
revoked or denied, can seek
administrative and judicial
review, a complete departure
from current immigration laws
that mean outright deportation.
Participants were
largely in agreement with the
proposals of the Dignity
Campaign for the removal of
language requirement for
legalization applicants, which is
more appropriate for U.S. citizen
applicants; graduates of any U.S.
high school should receive
expedited processing and cannot
be denied financial aid because of
immigration status; applicants
s h o u l d re c e ive p e r m a n e n t
residence status, not an extended
temporary status; move the
registry date every year so that in
the future anyone in the country
for five years can apply for legal
status; brief absence from the U.S.
or previous deportations will not
make applicants ineligible; and
applicants will receive immediate
work authorizations; and
applicants will be eligible for
citizenship five years after
receiving residency status.
AFIRE volunteer Sally
Velasco-Richmond suggested that
the government should protect
both the employer and
undocumented employee.
AFIRE volunteer Myrla
Baldonado, one of the workshop
leaders, also proposed that
existing petition should not die
with the death of the petitioner.
This means that the beneficiary
may be allowed to get a substitute
petitioner, who is not a relative.
She added new visa category
should be created for caregivers.
Since the Obama has
deported 1.5-million
undocumented under his watch,
there should be a moratorium on
deportation; a petitioner may file
a petition even he is below the
100% poverty level; and there
should be repeal of the three- and
10-year bars. When someone
overstays his visa for 180 days but
less than one year, he is barred
from re-entry to the U.S. for three
years. But if someone overstays
his visa in the U.S. for more than a
year, he is barred for re-entry in
the U.S. for ten years, according to
AFIRE legal staff member, Atty.
Roy John Basa, Jr.
March 8 - 14, 2013
Page 6
THE FILIPINO EXPRESS
Old Taxi Phase-Out Begins
MANILA --- Operators of over
1,000 utility vehicle (UV)
express are now jobless after
the government's 13-year-old
phase-out policy for taxi units
has prevented them from
plying their routes.
“Since they could not ply their
routes without renewing their
motor vehicle registration,
they don't have a choice but to
stop operating,” CODEX
president Rosalino Marable
said.
Members of the Coalition of
Operator and Drivers of UV
E x p re s s AT B P ( C O D E X )
yesterday said they could not
renew the registration of their
respective units after the Land
Transportation Franchising
and Regulatory Board
(LTFRB) refused to issue
certification of franchise
validity for units that have
breached the 13-year age
limit.
Marable added that operators,
who are mostly former
overseas workers, retired
government , police and
military personnel, are feeling
the effect of their lost
livelihood.
PH seeks ...
From page 1
Sustainable economic growth,”
the ambassador told potential
investors on Monday, March 11,
2013.
In his presentation
“Philippines: Opportunities and
Challenges in Infrastructure
Investment,” Ambassador Cuisia
urged investors to take another
look at the Philippines and take
advantage of the country's
unprecedented growth that has
made it the s0-called rising star
of East Asia.
Ambassador Cuisia said
that under the Philippine
Development Plan 2011-2016,
the government of President
Benigno S. Aquino III seeks to not
only accelerate infrastructure
development but also provide
safe, efficient, reliable, coste f fe c t ive a n d s u s t a i n a b l e
infrastructure.
With the 6.6 percent
growth in GDP, which was the
highest in Southeast Asia in
2012, Ambassador Cuisia said
the Philippines can be expected
to continue increasing
infrastructure spending to as
much as 5 percent of GDP by
2016. Last year, the Philippines
allocated 2.6 percent of GDP for
infrastructure spending from 1
percent in 2005.
“There is no doubt we
need to invest in infrastructure
through smart and transparent
spending and promoting publicprivate partnership projects
“They were already crying for
help because they could not
send their children to school,
pay their loans and sustain
their families because they
cannot afford to replace their
which have attractive
incentives,” he said citing among
others, the income tax holidays
and duty free importation of
capital equipment that potential
private sector partners can avail
themselves of.
Ambassador Cuisia said
there are nine ongoing privatepublic infrastructure projects in
various parts of the country,
namely: Daang Hari-South Luzon
Expressway Link Road Project;
School Infrastructure Project
Phases I and 2; Light Rail Transit
Line 1 South Extension; Ninoy
Aquino International Airport
Expressway Phase II;
Modernization of the Philippine
Orthopedic Center;
Rehabilitation of the Angat
Hydro-Electric Power Plant
Auxiliary Turbines 4 and 5;
Automated Fare Collection
System; and the Mactan Cebu
International Airport New
Passenger Terminal Building.
Aside from publicprivate partnership ventures in
infrastructure, Ambassador
Cuisia said foreign investors can
also pursue projects in the
P h i l i p p i n e s
o n
agriculture/agribusiness and
fishery; creative industries;
shipbuilding; mass housing; iron
and steel; energy; motor vehicle
manufacturing; exploration,
mining, quarrying and
processing of minerals; refining,
storage and marketing of
petroleum products; and
ecological solid waste
management, among others.
phased-out units with brand
new or three-year old units,”
he added.
But the Land Bank of the
Philippines (LBP) is already
processing the financing of
the refleeting of CODEX
members who were affected
by the phase-out policy. LBP
Leasing Corporation
president Manuel Lopez said
they are finalizing the process
by which UV express
operators could apply for a
loan to finance the refleeting.
“We have been doing this with
bus operators and now we are
also opening it to UV express
operators,” Lopez said.
However, application for loan
Immigrants rally
From page 1
are planning to expand the
existing E-Verify system so
employers can monitor the
legal status of their
prospective workers.
However, E-Verify
system is ineffective at this
time and has to be upgraded
nationally. E-Verify permits
from the LBP Leasing
Corporation, Lopez clarified,
should be coursed through
their respective associations,
such as the CODEX.
“It has to be through the
associations because we will
need the association's help in
screening the applicants and
in monitoring and collecting
mortgage payment,” Lopez
added.
M a ra b l e s a i d L B P o n ly
charges 27 percent interest
for a five-year loan term,
compared to the 43 percent
charged by other commercial
banks.
span of PUVs is based on the
scientific calculation of the life
expectancy of the steel used to
make automobiles and the
fact that public utility vehicles
are more used than privatelyused ones.
At least 34 percent of some
20,000 units of Asian utility
vehicles and vans that are
franchised as GT express
vehicles nationwide will be
affected by the assailed policy
by 2013.
Operators can seek legal relief
if they can convince the Office
of the President to reverse the
LTFRB policy or the court to
issue a restraining order.
The LTFRB's prescribed life-
employers to electronically
submit prospective hires
Social Security numbers or
to be double-checked against
government databases
Graham and Sen.
Chuck Schumer, a Democrat,
from New York, are both
members of the bipartisan
Senate immigrationnegotiating group. They
were pushing for biometric
ID that can use fingerprints
of workers for effective
checking of their
immigration status. They are
a l s o p u s h i n g fo r t h e i r
proposals to legalize 11
million undocumented
workers, at the same time,
securing the border. An
immigration bill is expected
to be finalized in April.
March 8 - 14, 2013
Page 7
THE FILIPINO EXPRESS
Gov't to build climate of mutual trust and cooperation with PR of China Amid Sabah crisis, Malaysia
MANILA -- Malacañang on
Thursday said the Philippines
will continue to “seek all
opportunities to help build a
climate of mutual trust and
cooperation” with the People's
Republic of China following
the formal assumption of Xi
Jinping as its new president.
In a statement extending its
'sincere congratulations' to the
n e w ly - i n s t a l l e d C h i n e s e
l e a d e r, P r e s i d e n t i a l
Spokesman Edwin Lacierda
expressed that the Philippines
is in one with the people of
China in welcoming Xi's
Fil-Am named ...
From page 1
The mission of the
committee is to make
recommendations to the FCC
regarding policies and practices that
will further enhance the ability of
minorities and women to participate
in telecommunications and related
industries.
Lagria, an Asian American
Justice Center (AAJC)
telecommunications and broadband
policy senior staff attorney, said he
was honored to represent the Asian
American community at the FCC.
“It is important for all
communities to “have a seat at the
table, especially when it comes to
advising the FCC on diversity issues
in the communications field,” Lagria
told the Filipino Express
He is also concerned about
the lack of diversity in ownership of
broadcast radio and television
s t a t i o n s , w h e re wo m e n a n d
minorities own very little stations. ” I
hope the committee works on policy
p ro p o s a l s to i n c re a s e t h o s e
numbers, ” Lagria added.
According to AAJC, as of
2011 the most recent year available
only 11.9 percent of full power TV
stations were owned by women or
minorities. Asian Americans owned
only six, or 0.5 percent.
At AAJC where he has
worked for nearly three years, Lagria
advocates for policies that promote
universal access to broadband and
reduce barriers to critical
technology and services for Asian
Americans and Pacific Islanders and
other underserved communities. He
also works to increase diversity in
the mass media.
Lagria said he initially
joined AAJC as a Pro Bono Attorney
presidency.
“The People's Republic of
C h i n a v i e ws t h i s a s a n
auspicious moment as they
work towards their prosperity
a n d s t a b i l i t y. T h i s i s a
sentiment shared by all
peoples of good will, who look
forward to opportunities for
positive engagement fortified
by trust, good will, and
cooperation, for the mutual
benefit of all peoples in our
region and around the world,”
Lacierda said.
Xi assumed the presidency
for AAJC's Judicial Nominations
program where he advocated for
the nomination and confirmation
of AAPI candidates to positions in
the judicial and executive branches.
He was transitioned to the telecom
position a few months after.
Prior to working at AAJC,
Lagria was employed by a large
New York-based law firm, Milbank,
Tweed, Hadley & McCloy as a
patent litigator at its Washington,
DC office.
His practice
concentrated on intellectual
property dispute and other
complex litigation.
He also participated in
various pro bono cases, including
successfully negotiating a
trademark dispute for a national
Asian American non-profit
organization. He is a former
volunteer and law clerk for the
Asian Pacific American Legal
Resource Center and an active
m e m b e r o f K AYA : F i l i p i n o
Americans for Progress and
APABA-DC.
Besides having a
biomedical engineering degree
from The Johns Hopkins University
in Baltimore, Maryland, he also
holds a law degree from the George
Washington University. While this
combination of academic degrees
seemed a rarity, Lagria said he
always” tried to work in some sort
of area that involved technology,
whether it was patents at my
p r e v i o u s
j o b
o r
telecommunications now.”
“In DC at least, there are a
ton of telecom attorneys! I think I'm
very lucky that I have a job that is at
the cross section of civil rights and
technology two of my passions,”
Lagria said.
Lagria is a national cochair of KAYA, an organization
which started in 2008 as Filipinos
after getting majority of the
votes in the 18th National
Pe o p l e' s C o n g re s s , h e l d
Thursday in Beijing, and his
election as General Secretary
of the CPC Central Committee
and Chairman of the CPC
Central Military Commission.
“We will seek all opportunities
to help build a climate of
mutual trust and cooperation
to enhance stability in our
region so that the positive
economic momentum of our
respective nations may be
s u s t a i n e d ,” L a c i e r d a
concluded.
for Obama but has transitioned
into a political organization.
According to Lagria,
KAYA's mission is to mobilize the
Filipino American community to
vote, advocate for policies that
affect the community and increase
the number of Filipino Americans
in all levels of government.
“We've been successful in
electing Filipino American
candidates such as Mark Pulido and
Rob Bonta in California. We're
nationwide right now with four
chapters and still growing. We are
open to everyone and membership
is free,” Lagria said.
He emphasized, however,
that his involvement “in the Obama
campaign didn't have anything to
do with the FCC appointment. The
appointment came about because
of my work at AAJC.”
“A big reason why I am
involved in the Filipino and Asian
American community is because of
my parent's involvement in Filipino
organizations when I was growing
up,” Lagria said.
Lagria was raised in
Houston, Texas. His parents are
from Lila, Bohol who came to the
U.S. in the early 70s but are now
spending their time between
Houston and Bohol as retirees. He
has an older sister and younger
brother who also reside in Houston.
Lagria is not the first
FilAm appointed to an advisory
committee of the FCC. Mia Martinez
from the National Asian American
Coalition (formerly Mabuhay
Alliance) was also named to the
Consumer Advisory Committee in
2011. Elizabeth Andrion is another
Filipino American who serves as a
legal counsel for the Chairman of
the FCC.
sends new batch of peace monitors
for GPH-MILF peace process
MANILA-- Despite its
operations against armed
Filipino followers of Sulu
Sultan Jamalul Kiram III in
Sabah, Malaysia has sent a
new batch of peace monitors
to oversee a ceasefire between
the Philippine government
and Moro Islamic Liberation
Front (MILF).
The MILF on
Wednesday said the eighth
International Monitoring
Te a m ( I M T ) c o n t i n g e n t
headed by Maj. Gen. Dato
Fadzil Bin Mokhtar takes over
from the IMT Batch 7 led by
Maj. Gen. Dato Abdul Rahim
Bin Mohd Yusuff.
"I don't think so... We
are clear on our mission here
to continue monitoring the
ceasefire," an article posted on
the MILF website quoted
Fadzil as saying, referring to
their arrival amid the ongoing
operations against Kiram's
followers in Sabah.
The MILF article
added Fadzil does not think
their mission to monitor the
ceasefire agreement will be
affected by the situation in
Sabah.
Malaysian security
forces continue to hunt down
Kiram's armed followers in
Sabah, even as Malaysia
rejected Kiram's offer of a
unilateral ceasefire.
Earlier Wednesday, a
report on dzRH radio quoted
p re s i d e n t i a l s p o ke s m a n
Edwin Lacierda as saying
M a l ays i a w i l l re m a i n a
facilitator of the peace efforts
b e t we e n t h e P h i l i p p i n e
government and the MILF
despite the crisis in Sabah.
Other than Malaysia,
the IMT has representatives
from Brunei, Indonesia, Japan,
Libya and Norway.
The MILF said the
IMT, which was established in
2004, has a military
contingent of 19 members
from Malaysia, 15 from
Brunei, and 14 from
Indonesia.
For development,
humanitarian and
rehabilitation aspects, it has
two each from Japan, Norway
and the European Union, the
MILF added.
The Filipino Express
is only
$40
a year for
52 issues.
March 8 - 14, 2013
Page 8
THE FILIPINO EXPRESS
President Aquino pitches Filipino
labor to potential investors
M A N I L A - - P re s i d e n t
Benigno S. Aquino III
highlighted to potential
investors the creativity,
dedication, and loyalty of
Filipino labor, saying these
are the characteristics that
firms want in their work
force.
In his speech keynoting the
opening rites of the
Philippine Investment
Forum 2013 held at the
Peninsula Manila on
Tuesday, the President
cited the business process
outsourcing industry in
which the Filipino has
excelled and has brought
“to great heights in such a
short time.”
them greater power to
contribute to economic
growth and opportunities
to uplift their lives and even
the lives of their fellow
Filipinos. All together, we
will be building the success
o f t h e i n d u s t r y, t h e
Philippines and the Filipino
people,” he added.
President Aquino
The government in
expanding their businesses
in the country.
“Given the opportunity,
they will do the same for
you, whatever industry you
may be involved in,” the
President said.
“The investments that you
will bring into our country
will redound to tens of
thousands of jobs for our
countrymenmen and
women who will be able to
put food on their tables,
send their children to
school, and meet the needs
and wants of their families,”
the President said.
He also called on potential
investors to partner with
“Together, we will be
empowering them: giving
“Even if you have come here
only with a mind to invest
in the Philippines and ride
on the resurgence of our
economywith your
decision to bet on our
country, you will be doing
so much more --- you will
be giving thousands of
Filipinos gainful
employment that will
empower them as
consumers thus spurring
the growth of both your
businesses and the
Philippines. And we hope
you will take this chance
and join us on the straight
path to progress,” the
President said.
Pope Francis ...
From page 1
Manila Archbishop
Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle,
who was sthe first Filipino
priests to be considered
“papabile” (serious
contender for the papal
throne) and a member of the
conclave that elected the new
pontiff, urged the faithful to
thank God for his gift, Pope
Francis.
“When I approached
Pope Francis to assure him of
the closeness and
collaboration of the Filipinos,
he said, 'I have high hopes for
the Philippines. May your
faith prosper,'” Tagle was
quoted to have said.
President Aquino,
himself a product of the
Jesuit-run Ateneo de Manila
University, said he prayed the
Catholic pontiff would serve
as a voice for peace, justice,
and charity in a world
threatened by tension and
armed conflict, poverty,
uncertainty, and loss of
confidence in institutions.
“It is indeed a happy
and momentous time in the
life of the Catholics and also of
all the peoples around the
world that we have a new
Pope Francis 1, the global
leader (spiritual and
otherwise) of the Catholic
Church. I join those who have
been educated in the Jesuit
tradition and take pride in
having the 1st Jesuit Pope. Ad
Majorem Dei Gloriam!,, “ said
Dean Suba of Suba Law
Meet the ...
From page 1
A s o f p re s s t i m e ,
Hoffman said Jerry Walker has
not yet responded to their
invitation.
Hoffman said the
objective of The Forum is for
“candidates to have an
opportunity meet interested
local voters and address issues
of specific concern to Heights
residents.” The organizers are
hopeful that candidates will
“leave with a better
understanding of Heights
concerns and residents will be
able to make an informed
choice.
The Forum will be
Offices in New York.
The conclave
played out against the
backdrop of the first papal
resignation in 600 years and
r e v e l a t i o n s
o f
ismanagement, petty
bickering, infighting and
corruptioin in the Holy See
b u r e a u c r a c y.
Those
revelations, exposed by the
leaks of papal documents
last year, had divided the
College of Cardinals into
camps seeking a radical
refort of the Holy See's
g o ve r n a n c e a n d t h o s e
defending the status quo.
“As the first pope
from outside Europe in a
millennium…the election of
Pope Francis brings with it
the promise of renewal in the
Catholic Church, as it strives
to fulfill its mission here on
earth,” President Aquino's
spokesman Edwin Lacierda
said.
“We hope and pray
that this will inaugurate a
pontificate that will bear
witness not only to the basic
tenets of the Gospel, but will
also serve as a voice for
peace, justice, and charity in
a world threatened by
tension and armed conflict,
poverty, uncertainty, and
loss of confidence in
institutions.”
“The choice of the
new Pope, Argentine Jorge
Bergoglio is a good one,
although I favored
our Filipino Cardinal Tagle”
said Ernie Gange of
Pennsylvania.
moderated but is not a “debate
w i t h t h e i r o p p o n e n t s ,”
Hoffman said. Rather,” the
c a n dida tes w ill a ddress
questions that Heights
Coalition organizations have
culled from their members.”
After the question and
answer period, the candidates
will be given the opportunity
to respond with a brief closing
statement.
The questions will
delve on areas of concern
specific to Heights residents
s u c h a s t ra n s p o r t a t i o n ,
parks/open space,
infrastructure, economic
development, quality of life,
budget/taxes, zoning and
planning, and education.
March 8 - 14, 2013
Page 9
THE FILIPINO EXPRESS
Bam, Grace are biggest gainers
in Senate race - Pulse
MANILA -- Eight Team PNoy bets
and 4 United Nationalist Alliance
candidates are now leading in
the senatorial race, according to
the latest Pulse Asia pre-election
survey.
MANILA -- Team PNoy senatorial
candidate Grace Poe on Monday
said she is willing to act as a gobetween to patch things up
between former President Joseph
Estrada and Sen. Francis
Escudero.
The survey, conducted last
February 24-28, 2013, showed 2
Team PNoy candidates, Bam
Aquino and Grace Poe, making it
to the Magic 12 after ranking
13th and 14th in the last Pulse
Asia survey.
It also showed Aurora Rep.
Sonny Angara and former
senator Juan Miguel Zubiri
dropping out of the Magic 12.
The survey showed 3 reelectionists - Senators Loren
Legarda, Chiz Escudero and Alan
Peter Cayetano - continuing to
lead the race.
Placing 4th-9th in the race is
former Las Pinas Rep. and Team
PNoy candidate Cynthia Villar,
with 44% of voters choosing her.
She is followed by San Juan Rep.
and UNA candidate JV Ejercito
Estrada, who also placed 4th-9th
with 43.8% of voters supporting
him. He is followed by Team
PNoy bet Bam Aquino, with
43.2%.
Poe said she is willing to act as a
go-between for Estrada and
Escudero amid reports that the 2
are now fighting. She said she
wants to make peace between
Estrada and Escudero since the
two were both loyal to her father,
the late actor Fernando Poe Jr.
Bam Aquino
Grace Poe
Nancy Binay, daughter of Vice
President Jejomar Binay, placed
4th-9th in the latest survey, with
42.5% support.
placed 11th in the race, with
36.6%. He is now ranked 9-15.
Team PNoy bet Grace Poe,
daughter of the late Action King
Fernando Poe Jr., is now ranked
4th-10th in the race, with 42.1%.
Two re-electionists - Koko
Pimentel (40.1%) and Gringo
Honasan (37.9%) - placed 9th
and 10th in the survey. Pimentel
was ranked 4th-12th, while
Honasan ranked 8th-13th.
Jack Enrile, son of Senate
President Juan Ponce Enrile,
Palace search committee
opts for anonymity
MANILA -- Deputy presidential
spokesperson Abigail Valte said
it is up to President Aquino if he
would heed the reported
recommendation of
Commission on Elections
chairperson Sixto Brillantes to
appoint an outsider as
commissioner.
This is after two of Aquino's
choices for commissioner,
Macabangkit Lanto and
Bernadette Sardillo, both
turned down the appointments.
Valte said members of the
Palace's search committee also
declined to have their identities
revealed to avoid the search
committee members being
approached by lobbyists or by
those interested in government
positions.
"The members of the search
committee have asked
specifically that their names not
be divulged primarily for this
reason. Kasi ayaw po nilang
lapitan po sila nang lapitan
nang mga humihingi po ng
posisyon sa pamahalaan," she
said.
The United Nationalist Alliance
(UNA) earlier said it wants
a n s we r s o n w hy fo r m e r
ambassador Macabangkit
Grace wants Chiz,
Erap to make peace
Lanto was appointed to the
Comelec despite a pending
election case in 2007 and being
linked to alleged election fraud
in 1994.
In a statement, UNA said it has
informa tion t ha t Lanto's
appointment did not pass
through the regular screening
process of the Cabinet Search
Committee.
Instead, UNA claimed the
appointment was "detoured"
through the Presidential
Management Staff (PMS), which
is headed by Julia Abad,
daughter of Budget Secretary
and Liberal Party stalwart
Butch Abad.
" I s i t t r u e t h a t L a n t o' s
appointment did not pass
through the Cabinet Search
Committee? Now, the plot
t h i c ke n s , a n d t h e g ra n d
conspiracy gets clearer now
that the LP has reached its limbs
in the search committee,” UNA
secretary general and campaign
manager Toby Tiangco said.
He said that it would be best if
someone from the Cabinet
Search Committee, or from
PMS, explains the
circumstances behind Lanto's
appointment.
Finally, re-electionist Sen.
Antonio Trillanes IV made it to
the top 12 with 36.1%. Angara
received the support of 35.1% of
voters, putting him in 13th place
and statistically in 10-15th
place.
Meanwhile, Juan Miguel Zubiri
dropped to 14th place with
33.2% of voters supporting him.
It was the first time that Zubiri
dropped out of the Magic 12.
Former senator Dick Gordon was
ranked at 11th to 16th places,
with 32.2% support.
Estrada is the best friend of the
late actor while Escudero served
as Poe's campaign spokesman
during the 2004 elections.
Poe said she does not know if she
has any clout with the two but said
she is unwilling to let any
opportunity to reconcile the two
slip by.
A Philippine Daily Inquirer report
earlier quoted Escudero as saying
that he had heard reports the
former president is campaigning
against him. Estrada denied the
allegation, saying he is busy with
his own campaign for mayor of
Manila.
The roots of enmity between
Estrada and Escudero apparently
started during the 2010
presidential election.
In the book "Ambition, Destiny,
Victory" by Chay Hofileña and
M i r i a m G ra c e G o , E s t ra d a
allegedly offered Escudero the
chance to be his running-mate.
Escudero, however, allegedly told
sources: "Siya na lang (Estrada)
ang mag-VP sa akin."
Estrada later tapped Makati
Mayor and opposition stalwart
Jejomar Binay as his runningmate.
The book said Escudero later
approached Estrada' son, San Juan
Rep. JV Ejercito, to say that he was
still open to becoming the former
president's running-mate. This
was after Nationalist People's
Coa lit ion founder Da nding
Cojuangco allegedly refused to
support Escudero's presidential
bid.
Estrada, however, refused to
remove Binay as his running-mate
to accommodate Escudero.
Escudero quit the NPC in 2009 and
endorsed the candidacies of Binay
and Liberal Party presidential bet
Benigno Aquino III. Both
candidates won in the 2010
elections.
Editorial & opinion
March 8 - 14, 2013
Page 10
THE FILIPINO EXPRESS
Memo to the President
CONFRONTED by a growing diplomatic crisis that has
turned violent, President Benigno Aquino III last week all but
rejected advice from one of his predecessors, former President
Fidel V. Ramos.
In remarks to the press, the President turned down Mr.
Ramos' suggestion that he convene the National Security Council to
deal with the Sabah crisis, which had already claimed the lives of up
to 20 Filipinos, largely due to his administration's inability to nip
the problem in the bud.
Mr. Aquino's response was typically cheeky: “If they have
inputs that they want to share, former President Ramos in
particular, I'm sure he can send it to me through a memo and we will
consider it.”
In the spirit in which Mr. Aquino's suggestion was given to
Mr. Ramos, we offer here, for his consideration, our own memo, in
the hope it will not “get lost in the bureaucratic maze.”
To: The President
Re: The Sabah crisis
The brewing crisis in Sabah, in which a small, armed
contingent from the Sulu Sultanate is battling Malaysian security
forces, can quickly spin out of control. Malaysian officials have
reported 60 deaths so far, 52 of them Filipino combatants. Sultan
Jamalul Kiram III contests these figures, saying his forces have lost
only 10 men. He says many of the deaths may be Filipino noncombatants living in Sabah, where Malaysian forces have begun a
security roundup. But such claims and counter-claims are to be
expected, particularly in a guerrilla war, which this is shaping up to
be.
Our recent failure to defuse the crisis early in the game
highlights how we might do things differently going forward.
1. Do not make this issue about yourself. From the start, in
your public pronouncements, you have made this personal. You
publicly refused to speak with the sultan unless he withdrew his
men in Sabah, a move that may have scored you some PR points for
looking tough and resolute, but one that left the other side no room
for maneuver or for saving face. We are not schoolchildren trying to
show who can shoot higher on the schoolyard wall. Let us stop
behaving as if we were.
2. Do not pour fuel into the fire, unless it is a conflagration
you wish to create. At this stage, less rather than more fiery rhetoric
would be constructive. With hindsight, it was probably not the
wisest thing to ask the sultan's followers to return to the Philippines
and then threaten them in the same breath with arrest and
prosecution. Your attack dogs in the Justice Department have
continued in this vein, announcing to the world that they are
“building an airtight case” against the sultan, rendering any appeals
to stand down ineffectual and ultimately meaningless. And for
goodness sake, with at least 10 Filipinos dead at the hands of a
foreign power, do not refer to the conflict as “a propaganda war.”
3. Stop lawyering for the Malaysians. They may be your
friends but they are guided by their own national interests, as we
should be. As more and more Filipinos suffer the consequences of
our own government's failure in diplomacy, the last thing that your
countrymen wish to hear out of your mouth is a defense of the
Malaysian attacks.
This memo does not offer a solution that is for you, as the
leader of the Philippine nation, to work out. It merely offers advice
on what more experienced national leaders might have already
figured out by now. We are gladdened that you have professed an
openness to receiving advice, and do hope you will heed it from time
to time.
Founded in 1986
Publisher/Editor-in-Chief: Lito A. Gajilan, Jr.
Columnists: Reuben S. Seguritan, Esq.,
Juan L. Mercado, Jonathan Suarez, Joel Baclit
Correspondent: Contessa Bourbon
The opinions expressed by columnists are their
own and do not reflect the opinion of the paper
nor that of the publisher
Contact us:
Email: filexpress@aol.com
Phone: 201-434-1114 Fax 201-434-0880
Improved protections under
VAWA for battered immigrants
The House finally
passed the Senate's bipartisan
bill reinstating and extending the
Violence Against Women Act
(VAWA) for another 5 years. The
bill passed after many months of
long and heated debates with 87
Republicans and 199 Democrats
voting for the bill. This was after
the Republican version of the bill
was defeated.
Since its passage 19
years ago, various provisions
have been incorporated in the
Violence Against Women Act
(VAWA) to provide better
protection to vulnerable
immigrants mostly women and
children from the crimes of
domestic violence, sexual assault,
dating violence and stalking.
When it was initially
passed in 1994, VAWA allowed
battered immigrants to selfpetition. The process provided
victims of battery and extreme
cruelty to file a petition
independent of their abusive
spouse/relative.
W h e n i t wa s l a t e r
reauthorized in 2000, it created
the U and T visas which protected
victims of violent crimes and
sexual assault or trafficking,
respectively. The U visa allowed
victims of qualifying crimes,
mostly undocumented women
and children who are victims of
domestic abuse and rape, to
remain legally in the U.S. and
assist in the investigation and
prosecution of the crimes. These
protections were further
expanded when the VAWA was
reauthorized in 2005.
With the passage of this
bipartisan Senate bill this year, no
new immigration benefits are
created but improvements to the
current immigration protections
are introduced. The bill is in stark
contrast to the failed bill
introduced by the Republicans
which did not give enough
protections to gay communities,
Native Americans and
undocumented residents against
sexual and domestic abuse.
One of the more
important provisions under the
bill is preventing children of U
visa holders from aging out.
Under the current law, aliens who
u
Page 14
“BILLBOARD SQUABBLE”
Bacolod's Catholic
diocese is clashing with
Commission on Elections over
display of “Patay / Buhay”
tarpulins on its cathedral. The
Supreme Court will hear oral
arguments March 19 on a petition
to scrap Comelec rules on tarp
size, display , etc.
Media dubs this the
“Tarp War”. It's about who should
win -- or be trashed -- in 2013
senatorial elections. That'd
hinge on how they voted on the
Reproductive Health Law (RA
10354).
Every Filipino is free to
speak. That includes ministers or
priests. Bacolod Bishop Vicente
Navarra, however, can not speak
for 71 other dioceses.
Certainly not for Manila
archdiocese led by Luis Antonio
Cardinal Tagle. He is one of 114
cardinals who'll vote in March's
conclave. Tagle is listed among
“papabiles”, by Vatican observers.
These are men who could be
elected this month as the 257th
successor to Peter.
“The sufferings of
people and difficult questions
they ask are an invitation to be in
solidarity with them, not to
pretend we have all the
solutions,” Tagle told the last
Synod. “The Church should
contribute in the public square.
But we in Asia are particular
about the mode. … You may say
the right things. But people will
not listen if the manner by which
you communicate reminds them
of a triumphalistic, know-it-all
institution…”
Like Bacolod? Yes, like
Bacolod, wrote Ateneo de Davao's
Joel Tabora SJ in his blog:
Unconscionable.” He recalls an
elderly lady interviewed on TV in
front of Bacolod's tarpaulin. “I'm
old enough to decide for myself”,
she declared..
“Me too,” says Fr. Tabora.
Hardliners bluster that the
'Catholic vote' will “set RH
advocates” packing to the eternal
consequences of your
disobedience.” They lost the
battle against the RH bill. Now,
they'd wage a war to win the
elections?. This “silly in its
arrogance… Worse, is it is
harmful to the Gospel”.
Look at election history,
suggests San Carlos Major
u
Page 15
March 8 - 14, 2013
Page 11
THE FILIPINO EXPRESS
OPINION
By Bernie Lopez
Noynoy's big
geopolitical blunders are
starting to emerge first,
Spratleys, now, Sabah. As in the
Spratleys, the thing that makes
the issue a dilemma is OIL,
which the Malaysians will not
easily give up. For them, like the
Chinese, oil is non-negotiable.
But so is territorial ownership
for the Tausugs, so it seems. In
oil lies the impasse.
What exactly did our
dear President Aquino do? He
ordered Datu Kiram to back
down and come home in the
name of peace. He in fact gave
two messages
one, the
Philippine government will not
back up the Tausug sultanate
and its people in their bid to
Noynoy’s big blunder in Sabah
claim what is rightfully theirs;
and two, instead of giving hope
to the Tausugs, he gave despair
and alienation. The end result is
first, a profound effect on the
election campaign of
administration senators, who
may lose millions of Muslim
vo te s ; s e c o n d , i ro n i c a l ly,
Noynoy's move to achieve peace
may bring war. He virtually
'severed' Bangsa Moro instantly
from the rest of the country.
Noynoy in effect was saying with
authoritarian impunity, “Nagiisa kayo”. (You are alone.), when
he could have said, “Ayusin natin
ito. (Let's fix this.) We are in this
together. We support your
cause, but let's do this properly.
Let us sit down and find a
solution together”.
We perhaps cannot
blame Noynoy. He and his
political advisers know no
better. The only thing in their
mind is we are not in a position
to go to war. But there is a middle
road they did not consider in
their 'panic diplomacy'. If
Noynoy told the Tausugs that
the Philippine government will
revive the case of Sabah in the
United Nations, he would have
given hope and not alienation.
He would have gone closer to the
peace he wanted by cooling
heads.
The issue can perhaps
be handled this way. Talk to
Kiram. Listen to him. Assure him
the government is behind them,
but not this way. Let's go to the
UN. Give him hope. Give him
options. Do not put him in a
corner. Noynoy did not even give
Kiram an audience,
exacerbating the problem.
Listening to Kiram is critical in
forming a diplomatic solution.
Kiram is known to be loyal to
him, attending many events
where he was invited. The hope
Noynoy could have given would
perhaps calmed down Bangsa
Suluk (the Tausug nations) into
considering viable options
instead of going into a defensive
war. Then the next step is to talk
to Malaysia with Kiram behind
you, not against you.
Interviewed by talkshow-anchor-wanna-be Boy
Abunda at ABS-CBN, Kiram's
daughter Princess Jacel
exhibited her true royal blood.
Abunda, trying to be a neutral
third party, was in fact cornering
her with a barrage of questions
representing the Christian
perspective. But he failed
miserably at every turn. The
Princess, who is extremely
articulate in English and
Pilipino, would not be cornered.
Asked if she would sacrifice the
common good of the entire
nation going to war, she simply
said the government seems to be
on the side of Malaysia. This
subservience is a sign of
weakness that the Malaysians
can exploit. Right now the
Malaysians have the initiative
and we have our tail in between
our legs. True to her royal blood,
the Princess answered barbed
questions calmly and surely.
The Tausugs are a
warrior class that can match the
resilience of the Japanese
kamikaze or the Vietcong. They
will not easily back down. They
have a sense of pride and dignity
in the face of overwhelming
odds. During the Philippine
American War, the Americans
invented the 45 calibre because
u
Page 12
Disguising imminent defeat as
unilateral ceasefire
You have to hand it to
the Sultanate of Sulu for its
masterful utilization of
propaganda methods. Their
unilateral declaration of a
ceasefire, timed after UN
Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon
called for a cessation of
hostilities in Sabah, was a face
saving devise to avert the
humiliation of defeat by the
vastly superior Malaysian
armed forces.
The casualties were
rising in the Sultanate's side and
if a reliable source is to be
believed they're running low on
supplies in Sabah. Last Monday,
March 4, my informer in the
Sultan Jamalul Kiram camp told
me that by Friday, March 7, the
so-called Royal Army of the
Sultanate of Sulu could run out
of bullets. The so-called
unilateral ceasefire called last
Thursday, March 7, by the
Kirams coincides with this
development.
By calling for a
unilateral ceasefire, the
Sultanate hopes to avoid
humiliating defeat and if
Malaysia bites they'll be
elevated to the status of an
equal, instead of criminals who
invaded and terrorized a
territory that had voted in 1963
to remain with Malaysia. No way
would Malaysia bite at that
declaration of a unilateral
ceasefire. They had the
terrorists encircled. They would
want to teach these terrorists a
lesson. As expected, Malaysia
rejected the call to reciprocate
the Sultanate's unilateral
declaration of a ceasefire and
opted to press their offensive.
Malaysia is determined to
charge the Sultan and his
followers in court and have
them tried as criminals.
The Kirams didn't fool
me for a moment. Ever since the
Sabah shooting started, they
were engaging in psywar
(psychological warfare) and
many of our media colleagues
provided them with undeserved
exposure. In the Iraq War, we
laughed our heads off when we
heard that Iraqi propaganda
minister predict the
annihilation of US-led forces.
Over here, our media could not
discern if they were facing a
Baghdad Bob, as that Iraqi
propaganda minister was fondly
called, and bit hook, line and
sinker the Sultanate's
propaganda lines.
L a s t W e d n e s d a y,
March 6, the truth finally
emerged. The Filipinos in Sabah
who were supposed to rally to
the Sultan's cause refused to be
associated with the Sabah
incident. They condemned it.
They were more concerned with
their livelihoods, lives and
assets. The real situation on the
ground must have dawned on
the Kirams they were running
low on supplies, their casualties
were rising and there were no
reinforcements to be expected
from the local Sabah Filipino
population.
The call for a ceasefire
by UN Secretary-General Ban KiMoon provided the Kirams with
a face saving mechanism to call
for a unilateral ceasefire.
Throughout the crisis, they were
proudly boasting of their
willingness to die and that
they'll never surrender. In my
book, that unilateral ceasefire
was all about throwing in the
towel after creating so many
deaths, havoc and tension. If we
had a narrow-minded
president, we could have been
dragged into a war with
Malaysia.
In declaring the
unilateral ceasefire, Abraham
Idjirani, Sultanate spokesman
was quoted: “The achievement of
u
Page 14
Noynoy tells FVR off
Former President Fidel
Ramos drew a response from
President Noynoy Aquino after
the former suggested that the
incumbent and Sulu Sultan
Jamalul Kiram III sit down and
discuss the Sultanate's Sabah
claim: Send me a memo, Aquino
told Ramos.
I don't know if Ramos
can find time between his many
speaking engagements, his
column-writing and his golf
games to write a memo to
Aquino. All I know is, Ramos
may not want to send a letter to
Aquino, given what happened to
the letters that Kiram has been
writing to the President since
2010.
Ramos may not take
kindly to his memo getting “lost
in the bureaucratic maze,” the
fate that befell the Sultan's notes
urging Aquino to include the
Sultanate in negotiations
between the government of the
Philippines and the secessionist
Moro Islamic Liberation Front
and which directly led to the
conflict in Sabah. I'd also like to
believe that if Aquino ignores
any memo that Ramos sends, the
former President will not go the
Sultan's route and send an
invading armed force to make
his point.
But seriously, why
should Ramos say more than he
already did, seeing as Aquino
seems to have gotten the former
President's message more or
less clearly without any letter
being sent? If I were Ramos, I'd
resent the suggestion that he
has to write Aquino like he was
some supplicant or
subordinatehe is, after all, once
also President of this country
and someone whose advice
should be automatically
considered by his successor-inoffice.
M o r e t h a n l i k e l y,
Aquino's “send me a memo”
response to Ramos is a not-sopolite brush-off of the former
P re s i d e n t , a re b u ke t h a t
signifies that the current Chief
Executive doesn't really need
any advice on how to handle the
Sabah situation, not even from a
distinguished predecessor.
Which is sad, really, because
Aquino whether he admits it or
notneeds the counsel of
someone like Ramos, under
whose term our relations with
our neighbors were probably
never better.
Ramos can offer sage
advice and counsel to Aquino
because of his long experience
a n d d i re c t k n owl e d g e o f
regional and national politics
and his friendly ties with
longtime Malaysian Premier
Mahathir Mohamad. For Aquino
to kiss off Ramos' advice smacks
of arroganceespecially from a
President who has surrounded
himself with diplomatic
nobodies and political thirdstringers.
But what can anyone
expect from a President who has
not even consulted Congress
through the LegislativeExecutive Development
Advisory Council or even his full
Cabinet about a crisis that has
such grave national security and
diplomatic implications?
Aquino says he is merely “in
touch” with the security cluster
of his Cabinet, which he claims
gives him enough advice on
what to do in Sabah.
To this day, nobody
really knows who is advising
Aquino on Sabah. (The coffeeshop joke has Interior and Local
Government Secretary Mar
Roxas involved because the
matter involves the contentious
“padyak” or lease of Sabah to
British and to Malaysia; who
would know better what to do,
the wags note, than “Boy
Padyak” himself?)
***
Ramos must have been
chafing at the bit to get involved
in resolving the crisis, having
been one of the initiators in
1994 of the East Asean Growth
Area concept, also known as
BIMP-EAGA. Ramos was a prime
mover of that subregional
grouping of Brunei, Indonesia,
u
Page 12
March 8 - 14, 2013
Page 12
THE FILIPINO EXPRESS
Noynoy’s big ...
From page 11
Conchita Carpio-Morales Leila de Lima
Maria Lourdes Sereno
Kim Henares
Appointing women in government
empowers them, Palace says
MANILA -- As the country
observes the International
Women's Month, the Palace
said it hopes President Benigno
S. Aquino III's appointment of
women in key positions in
government would empower
Filipino women and make them
role models worthy of
emulation.
In a radio interview Saturday
over dzRb Radyo ng Bayan,
Deputy Presidential
spokesperson cited several
studies that found more and
more Filipino women are now
holding positions of
responsibility and authority in
the society.
This is contrary to some
observations saying Filipino
women are being abused and
that there is a need for them to
be more assertive of their
rights.
When President Aquino took
office in the 2010, Valte said
more Filipino women were
given positions of
responsibility and authority in
the government.
Among them include
Ombudsman Conchita CarpioMorales, Justice Secretary Leila
de Lima, Supreme Court Chief
Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno,
and Bureau of Internal Revenue
Commissioner Kim Henares,
she noted.
“Umaasa din tayo that this will
also serve as a model for other
women to also fight for their
empowerment,” she said. “Kasi
k a h i t s a p r i v a t e s e c t o r,
lumalabas that there are more
women in the board room.
Marami nang mga nagiging
babaeng CEO [chief executive
officer]. We hope that this trend
continues,” continued Valte.
Responding to the criticism of a
women's advocacy group that
said Filipino women haven't
benefited from economic
growth in the country, Valte
said more women have been
receiving assistance from the
government's conditional cash
transfer (CCT) program.
“Mas magandang makausap
natin ang mga nanay na kasama
sa Pantawid Pamilya Program,
dahil ang mga nanay ang mga
nagtataguyod sa kanilang mga
pamilya,” she said.
Housewives are the ones giving
positive feedbacks on the
benefits of the CCT on their
families, Valte added.
the 38 calibre, a standard
cavalry issue, failed to stop the
oncoming Tausug warriors.
They would wrap themselves
tightly with cloth to prevent
massive hemorrhage, and like
the kamikaze, they have a
sacred prayer ritual before
going to battle.
The recent Tausug
'invasion' of Sabah involved no
arms and was a peaceful move
to establish physical presence, a
non-violent 'occupy Sabah' akin
to 'occupy Wall Street', which
was their right as the landlord.
Kiram's group will not attack.
They will simply defend
themselves and not back down.
They will not be exiled from
their own land. The Malaysian
media succeeded in poisoning
the minds of the public and
induced adrenaline to opt for
o ve r k i l l w i t h t a n k s a n d
helicopters on the wrong
premise a Tausug invasion.
Legally, we have a tight
case. The rent the Malaysians
pay is clear evidence the place is
not theirs. The UN option is
good, but we have to go beyond
the legal option. As in the
Spratleys, in the end, when the
chips are down, the issue is no
longer legal. It can easily
escalate to the level of war. We
Filipinos, who are fond of court
cases and rebuttals, should
Noynoy tells FVR
From page 11
Malaysia and the
Philippines and which
covers the entire area of
Brunei Darussalam,
provinces of Kalimantan,
Sulawesi, Maluku, West
Papua and Papua in
Indonesia; the states of
Sabah and Sarawak and the
federal territory of Labuan
in Malaysia; and the island
of Mindanao and the
province of Palawan in the
Philippines.
Why Aquino would
give someone with Ramos'
credentials and standing the
bum's rush is beyond me. At
the very least, Aquino could
ask Ramos to initiate a sitdown between the Sultan,
current Malaysian Premier
Najib Abdul Razak,
Mahathir and the two
Philippine Presidents, if the
incumbent really wanted to
resolve the Sabah claim and
restore peace in the
territory.
But Aquino has
never been known to seek or
value advice from people
who he has not known since
grade school, who have not
spent time with him in the
firing range, who is not a top
banana of the Liberal Party
start to realize that the issue is
evolving beyond the verbal and
legal.
But even before that,
there are still many options. We
have to stand up to our rights, or
the rights of our fellow
Filipinos, the Tausugs. We
cannot abandon them. What are
some options beyond a UN
court case? Could we perhaps
involve our former colonizers,
the British for the Malaysians
and the Americans for the
Filipinos? Can a neutral Islamic
third party intervene? The
international community can
be an ally for the underdog. Can
we get Sabah back without
further bloodshed? That is a tall
order because oil is the
geopolitical thorn. But it is
about time we face the issue
squarely and think of new bold
options, not cower down.
Right now, dozens of
international civic groups are
appealing for an immediate
'humanitarian ceasefire'. They
are of course pointing a finger at
Malaysia which took the
military initiative. The Filipinos
in Malaysia are on the defensive.
They do not want to fight,
especially such a bigger foe. But
if they are forced to, based on
history, the Tausug warrior may
just rise to the occasion, heaven
forbid. The purpose of Malaysia
is obvious cleanse Sabah of the
'troublesome' Filipinos. They
want to oust their landlords.
or who did not take him
seriously when he was still a
nobody with a famous
pedigree. So Ramos, even if
he is the ideal broker with
the Sultan and with
Malaysiaand who certainly
will never be a part of a
“conspiracy” to bring down
Aquino using the Sabah
issuemust just write a
memo to Aquino.
Ramos would have
welcomed such a role, had it
been offered to him by
Aquino. By speaking about
S a b a h w h e n s o m a ny
politicians allied with
Aquino kept very low
profiles, fearful of a possible
backlash on them, Ramos
basically made himself
unconditionally available to
the President.
Now, I'm not so sure
anymore if Ramos would
accept a role in resolving the
Sabah dispute. FVR is of the
old school, and he must
certainly know when he has
been told that his
involvement is not welcome.
Aquino may feel
that, as usual, he can go it
alone with just the Boy
Padyaks who make up his
inner circle advising him.
But he is wrong to do so not
to mention supremely
arrogant and full of hubris.
March 8 - 14, 2013
Page 13
THE FILIPINO EXPRESS
Militants torch photos of Pnoy, Brillantes
MANILA -- Several militant
groups on Thursday picketed
the Commission on Elections
office in Manila and set fire to
pictures of President Benigno
Aq u i n o I I I a n d C o m e l e c
Chairman Sixto Brillantes to
protest Comelec's actions
against some party-list groups.
The League of Filipino Students
(LFS) slammed Comelec for
a lleg edly rest ric t in g t he
campaigns of poor and
marginalized candidates and
party-list groups while
exempting candidates
supported by President Aquino
from the same regulations.
Kabataan party-list group, the
sole youth party-list running
for its third term in the Lower
House, received several notices
by Comelec because of illegal
posters in public places.
Comelec also scored Kabataan
su p p orters for a lleg edly
bringing the campaign inside
schools.
Another party-list group,
Piston, which aims to represent
drivers and public utility
vehicle operators, was
reminded that their
supporters, mostly drivers, are
prohibited from posting Piston
campaign materials on their
vehicles as a sign of support.
The groups said Comelec is
showing bias by picking on
marginalized groups and
candidates while providing
leeway for big-time violators
who haphazardly hold
Facebook contests, or
candidates using partyaffiliation with President
Aquino for campaign mileage.
The groups said Comelec even
defended President Aquino for
distributing PhilHealth cards
200 meters away from a United
Nationalist Alliance (UNA)
motorcade.
Anakbayan, meanwhile,
slammed Comelec's "double
standard" on the
implementation of campaign
rules and regulations.
Anakbayan chairman Vencer
Crisostomo said Comelec "has
been consistent in harassing
progressive party-lists Piston
and Kabataan."
"This is despite proof that these
partylists have already publicly
complied with the notices sent
to them. Meanwhile, there are
so many other groups and
senators, especially those allied
with the President that are left
Osmeña: Aquino allies
could dominate Senate
MANILA - A senator sees a Senate
dominated by allies of President
Aquino after the 2013 midterm
elections, with administration
senatorial candidates doing well
in recent popularity surveys.
This can also mean a change in the
Senate's leadership, Sen. Sergio
Osmeña III told reporters on
Thursday. “You can practically be
definite it will happen," he said.
Sixto Brillantes
off the hook," he said.
He said Team PNoy candidate
Risa Hontiveros is the top
violator when it comes to illegal
posters.
Election watchdog Kontra Daya
scored Comelec for being
inconsistent in disqualifying
party-list groups. They
expressed concern at the
problems encountered by the
automated election system
during the mock polls and field
tests.
Kontra Daya has written a letter
to Brillantes to air their
concerns.
Osmeña, who has been helping
the campaigns of some senatorial
candidates, said the surveys
indicate that the Aquino
administration "will be able to
garner a majority." He added,
however, that survey results can
still change as the elections draw
near.
Sergio Osmeña III
said, "although a 9-3 would be
fantastic."
Osmeña said that if the coalition
among senatorial candidates
from the Liberal Party and
Nacionalista Party-which were
rivals in the 2010 elections-holds
out, they can have the numbers in
the 16th Congress.
Osmeña said he has been a
campaign adviser to Team PNoy
senatorial candidates Bam
Aquino and Grace Poe, while also
helping some candidates from the
opposition United Nationalist
Alliance. But he does not want to
take credit for Aquino's and Poe's
rise in the surveys.
He believes their numbers would
be enough to install a new Senate
president. Among the possible
candidates is Sen. Franklin Drilon,
a staunch Aquino ally and LP's
campaign manager. For Osmeña,
however, a "12-0" win for Team
PNoy is not achievable. "The 12-0,
that's a propaganda claim," he
"The common denominator
between these two is that they're
young, they're well-educated, and
they have a very clean record,"
Osmena said. "To top it all, most of
our voters are very young also. I
guess the appeal has been there
and the connection has been
established."
March 8 - 14, 2013
Page 14
THE FILIPINO EXPRESS
UNA: Volatile survey
results show tight race
MANILA - The rankings of
senatorial candidates have
become more volatile than
ever as shown in the latest
Pulse Asia survey, the United
Nationalist Alliance said
Monday.
In a press conference, UNA
secretary general Toby
Tiangco said it is a very tight
race, that's why ratings in
surveys keep changing a lot.
The margin is also very slim
between each candidate, he
noticed.
This could only mean that
many voters are still
undecided as to whom they
should vote, he said.
He said they intend to
subscribe to the surveys of
Pulse Asia in order to
monitor the performance of
each candidate.
The newest Pulse Asia
survey showed 8 Team PNoy
bets and 4 UNA candidates
making it to the top 12
candidates for senator. The 4
UNA bets in the top 12 are JV
Ejercito, Nancy Binay, Gringo
Honasan and Jack Enrile.
Included among the Team
PNoy bets who made it to the
top 12 are Senators Loren
Legarda, Francis Escudero
and Alan Peter Cayetano,
Cynthia Villar, Bam Aquino,
Grace Poe, Sen. Koko
Pimentel and Sen. Antonio
Trillanes.
Pulse Asia said 42% of
Filipinos are already naming
12 preferred candidates for
the Senate the maximum
number of seats up for grabs
in the elections.
As of February 2013, at least
half of those in the Cordillera
Autonomous Region (50%),
Region 4-B (50%), Region 10
(50%), Region 12 (51%) and
the Autonomous Region of
Muslim Mindanao (51%)
have a complete senatorial
slate while less than two in
ten residents of Region 5
( 1 9 % ) a re n a m i n g 1 2
favored senatorial
candidates.
In addition, Filipinos are
naming an average of eight
preferred senatorial
candidates and a median of
10 (out of a maximum of 12).
Disguising ...
From page 11
The Sultanate of Sulu obtained
over the last few days cannot
compare to the value of lives lost
since the March 1st massacre.” Do
they mean that this did not occur
to them when they planned this
misadventure? And do you
believe them?
It's amazing how many
supposedly educated folks were
taken for a ride by this Sabah
misadventure. They were made
to perceive the troublemakers as
romantic Muslim warriors,
believing the Kiram proud boast
that they were willing to die for
their cause, which is to reclaim
Sabah from Malaysia. Nobody
even wondered why this undermanned and under-gunned
Royal Army was hoping to regain
Sabah from Malaysia when we,
with our armed forces, cannot
and should not undertake that
misadventure.
Forget about all the
presentation of documents,
speeches and what not about our
historical claim to Sabah. These
documents further cluttered the
confused minds of many instead
of enlightening them. When more
light shines on a confused mind,
the more confused it gets. That's
what happened to these
charlatans and would-be instant
Sabah experts who failed to see
through the pattern of deception
being weaved and the futility of
reviving the Sabah claim now. The March 6 editorial of
GMA News online that was
contributed by an anthropologist
best described the bottom line of
this exercise in hypertension:
“The asymmetry between the
failed Sultanate and the modern
Malaysian state it is challenging
could not be more stark. What is
interesting is that, confronted by a
challenge to its sovereignty,
Malaysia has revealed the true
basis of a state's power. Not
democracy, not a social contract,
not the rule of law, not the
recognition of the international
community of states -which are
the myths, the lies the state tells
about itself but violence.”
It continued: “Sabah
belongs to Malaysia because they
can hold on to it, and neither the
Philippines nor the Sultanate can
take it from them. So the Sultanate
fails in modern, “statist” terms as
well, in that it cannot match
Malaysia's capacity for violence.”
Go check the capability
of the Malaysian armed forces. In
2012, they spent $4.37 billion. Go
check the Malaysian air force and
their combined firepower
composed of BAE Hawk Mk.208,
Sukhoi Su-30 MKM Flanker,
Boeing F/A-18D Hornet,
Mikoyan MiG-29N Fulcrum and
Northrop F-5E Tiger II jets.
M a l ays i a c o u l d d e s t roy a
Philippine invasion expedition
within an hour after it leaves a
Philippine port.
When the charlatans
and P-Noy haters raised their
voices to “save the Filipino
invaders in Sabah” they're
actually suggesting that we
should send an expedition there
to rescue the troublemakers.
Philippine-Malaysia relations
have been mutually beneficial in
terms of trade and tourism.
Malaysia played a key role in the
crafting of the framework for
peace with the MILF (Moro
Islamic Liberation Front). It's
insane to want to be at war with
such an ASEAN neighbor.
To b o l s t e r t h e
Malaysian claim to Sabah, they
have a 1963 referendum where
two-thirds of Sabah voted to
remain with Malaysia. The UN
duly acknowledged the validity
of this referendum. To bolster the
Malaysia claim, Dictator
Ferdinand Marcos had
renounced our claim to Sabah in
1977. To bolster the Malaysian
claim to Sabah, the international
court where these claims are
contested doesn't honor
historical claims because that
would only open a Pandora's box.
That would mean the return of
the Americas to the Native
Americans or the return of
California and Texas to the
Mexicans.
In effect, these
charlatans and P-Noy haters
want us to embrace a troublemaking Sultanate and lose our
good and mutually beneficial
relations with Malaysia over a
spurious Sabah claim. These
charlatans like to posture as
patriots. They're really traitors.
Improved ...
disclosures regarding any violent
criminal histories of sponsoring
U.S. fiancé(e)s/spouses and as
well as other information they
need to protect themselves from
entering abusive marriages.
The bill further provides
that self-petitions under VAWA
will extend to surviving minor
children of the self-petitioner
when the abusive spouse dies
after filing of the petition. The bill
also extends hardship waivers for
conditional residents in case of
invalid bigamous marriages of
U.S. citizen or LPR spouse. It also
clarifies the individuals who are
exempt from public charge
inadmissibility grounds which
include the VAWA self-petitioner,
a U visa petitioner or holder,
among others.
The reauthorization of
VAWA w i t h i t s i m p r o v e d
protections will without doubt
further serve and safeguard
vulnerable immigrants from
being victims of sexual abuse,
domestic violence and other
crimes. The bill is now on its way
to the President's desk where it
will be signed into law.
From page 10
file for U visa may include their
spouse and their children below
21 years of age in the petition.
The bill clarified that the children
are still qualified to receive
immigration benefits under their
parent's petition even if they turn
2 1 ye a r s o f a g e a n d t h e
application is still pending.
The bill also includes
“stalking” as one of the qualifying
crimes under the U visa. Under
the current law, qualifying
criminal activities under the U
visa are crimes which vulnerable
immigrants are often targeted
such as sexual exploitation,
extortion, domestic violence,
among others.
Another significant
improvement is protecting
foreign fiancé(e)s/ spouses of
U.S. citizens by providing vital
disclosures regarding any violent
criminal histories of sponsoring
U.S. fiancé(e)s/spouses and as
well as other information they
need to protect themselves from
entering abusive marriages.
Another significant
improvement is protecting
foreign fiancé(e)s/ spouses of
U.S. citizens by providing vital
(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.)
March 8 - 14, 2013
Page 15
THE FILIPINO EXPRESS
Senate committee to recommend
raps vs Ongpin over 'behest loan’
MANILA -- The Senate
banks committee has finished its
committee report on its probe on
the alleged "behest" loan granted by
a government-owned bank to
businessman Roberto V. Ongpin.
One of its recommendations is the
filing of criminal charges against
Ongpin and others.
The committee's
chairman, Sen. Sergio Osmeña III,
said the report recommends to the
Ombudsman the filing of criminal
charges against Ongpin, former
Development Bank of the
Philippines (DBP) president Rey
David, the entire former board of
the DBP, and other officials of the
bank.
He said the former DBP
officials violated the Anti-Graft and
Corrupt Practices Act by giving
undue advantage to Ongpin, and
entering into contracts that are
grossly disadvantageous to the
national government.
“We found proof of insider
trading. We found proof of price
manipulation. We found proof of
Billboard ...
From page 10
Seminary's dean of studies Fr.
Ramon Echica. Catholics never
voted as a bloc. “The implicit
premise of hardliners is the single
issue facing us is reproductive
health." This is myopic. It whittles
Catholic morality into one issue. But
RA 10354 is not the sole
determinant of one's Catholicity.
`Hardliners are silent on
issues to which Catholic moral
principles should be applied”, from
poverty alleviation, land reform to
peace in Mindanao, Echica notes in
his paper “Catholic Vote, Anyone?”
Indeed, the litmus test is not
whether one voted for or against the
RH bill, Fr. Tabora adds. But did you
reach out for the hungry, sick,
imprisoned and homeless?.
All that sends us, hurtling
through a time tunnel, to Bacolod
City on Friday 20, 1981. There, Pope
John Paul II spoke to “landowners
and workers (sacadas) of sugar
cane plantations.
“It is not admissible to use
this gift ( of land ) in such a manner
that the benefits it produces serve
only a limited number of people,
while the vast majority are excluded
from benefits which the land
yields,” John Paul stressed : …“(
Heed ) the moral imperative of
contributing to a decent standard of
living and to working conditions
which make it possible for either
duma-ans, sacadas or industrial
workers to live a life that is truly
human…”
Do Bishop Vicente
Navarra and co-workers share their
crusading zeal for tarpaulins
equally for sacadas of 2013? It'd
help clear the air if they show this is
the case.
In a plural society, like the
Philippines, the Church proposes,
but Congress disposes, Tabora
notes. RA 10354 was not written so
Catholics will follow teachings of
their church. It is a law legislated for
the common good.
“RA 10354 clearly
proscribes abortion. It respects the
conscience of Catholic government
workers. It undertakes to fund and
Roberto V. Ongpin
short-swing profits," Osmeña said.
Also, the committee is
e ye i n g a m e n d m e n t s t o t h e
Securities and Regulation Code,
General Banking Act, and the
charters of the DBP, Bangko Sentral
ng Pilipinas, and Land Bank of the
Philippines, among others.
Osmeña said he hopes to
sponsor the committee report
when session resumes in June.
promote natural family planning.
Major changes were introduced
because of Catholic influence. It is
grossly unjust to assert now that it
is unconscionable for Catholics to
vote for these legislators.”
After Congress passed the
RH bill, a pastoral letter labeled
those who voted “nay” as heroes. “Is
a politician who plundered the
nation's coffers but who is against
use of condoms, deserving of our
vote? Fr. Echica asked. “Does this
mean that Imelda, who has not
shown any remorse for the conjugal
dictatorship, is a hero?”
Conscience should be the
ultimate norm. Threats of a Catholic
backlash do not address the
conscience of politicians. Instead, it
appeals to political survival, “not to
the depth of values that the Church
e m b r a c e s .” T h e t h r e a t h a s
consequences.
'The Bacolod tarps
undercut credibility of the Church
as a neutral election watchdog, won
by decades of service, both Tabora
and Echica caution. The Bacolod
billboard campaigns for or against
some candidates The Church
cannot eat her cake and have it too:
If the church opts for the
role of power broker, it will
compromise it's prophetic role, fret
Echica and Tabora Can bishops
bravely denounce abuses of officials
they helped catapult to
power?..“When the politically
powerful believe they owe their
position to the church and when the
hierarchy thinks secular rulers are
indebted to it, the result can be an
unholy alliance. That has often
proved tragic to the Church.
“The key player here is the
laity,” Fr. Tabora adds. After Vatican
II, “The paradigm-shifted insight
into God's presence in a plural
society. Imposition of values by the
church or society will be resisted.
“Listening will have to be two-way,
and discernment shared.
So, who is spooked by the
Catholic vote, Bacolod style? “I am,
Fr. Echica writes. “I am afraid of its
impact on the Church whose
servant I am.”
(Email:
juan_mercado77@yahoo.com)
Aquino confers Order of Sikatuna
on outgoing President of ADB
MANILA -- President
Benigno S. Aquino III conferred
the Order of Sikatuna with the
rank of Datu Katangiang Ginto
(Grand Cross, Gold Distinction)
on outgoing outgoing Asian
Development Bank (ADB)
president Haruhiko Kuroda, in
simple ceremonies at the Music
Room of the Malacanang Palace
on Wednesday.
The Chief Executive
p re s e n te d t h e awa rd o n
Kuroda, in recognition of his
contribution for making the
ADB an invaluable partner in
the Aquino administration's
pursuit of the Millennium
Development Goals (MDGs),
through various initiatives such
as the Conditional Cash
Transfer (CCT); technical
assistance projects, including
the Social Protection Reform;
and the delivery of multiple
forms of loan assistance to spur
the needed reforms in the
Philippines.
The award was also
given to Kuroda "in recognition
of eight years of dedicated
leadership at the helm of the
Asian Development Bank,
contributing to the over-all
economic development of the
Philippines as well as other
countries in Asia."
Kuroda was likewise
cited for tripling ADB's capital
base from US$55 billion to
US$165 billion, bolstering the
Asian Development Fund and
enabling the ADB to further
support important socioeconomic initiatives in the
fields of poverty alleviation,
climate change, infrastructure,
a g r i c u l t u re , s c i e n c e a n d
technology, social services,
education, among others.
H e wa s a l s o
recognized "for the ADB's
support of a new financing
framework for Philippine
national government projects,
which gives the government
greater flexibility in arranging
for Philippine development
initiatives."
Kuroda helped in
President Benigno S. Aquino III confers the Order of Sikatuna with the
rank of Datu (Gold Distinction) on outgoing Asian Development Bank
(ADB) president Haruhiko Kuroda.
promoting the Philippines as
the location of the ADB's 2012
Annual Meeting, which
provided an invaluable
opportunity to showcase the
country's economic
achievements and national
beauty.
He was awarded for
utilizing his post to foster
goodwill, enhance cooperation
and deepen fellowship among
the world's nations and
peoples, through regional
macroeconomic stability.
Kuroda was recognized "for
being a good and steadfast
friend of the Filipino people".
Last February, Japan
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe
nominated Kuroda as the next
governor of the Bank of Japan, a
key post in Tokyo's bid to
overhaul the economy.
Kuroda, 68, was
named along with two deputies
Kikuo Iwata, an economics
professor at Tokyo's Gakushuin
University, and Hiroshi Nakaso,
the BoJ's executive director.
Kuroda submitted his
resignation from the ADB on
February 28.
H i s w i f e Ku m i ko
Kuroda accompanied Kuroda to
Malacanang for the conferment
rites. Present during the event
were Finance Secretary Cesar V.
Purisima, Tomoyuki Saisu,
Chief Advisor to the ADB
President and Kunio Senga,
Director-General of the
Southeast Asia Department.
The Order of Sikatuna
was established in 1953 and is
conferred by the President of
the Philippines to give
recognition to individuals who
have rendered exceptional and
meritorious services to the
Philippines, and to diplomats,
officials and nationals of
foreign states who have
rendered conspicuous services
in fostering, developing, and
strengthening relations
between their country and the
Philippines as well as
personnel of the Department of
Foreign Affairs both in the
Home Office and in the Foreign
Service.
March 8 - 14, 2013
Page 16
THE FILIPINO EXPRESS
Sillag Festival of Lights in
San Fernando, La Union
MANILA - Despite being only two
years in age, the Sillag Festival
also called the Festival of Lights
2013 in San Fernando, La Union is
slowly putting the city in the
tourism map.
coming years.”
Gerdan said that after last year's
festival, he and his team had been
thinking of ways to contribute to
what was already bringing in
tourists in the area.
Day one of the festival, which
kicked off on Saturday, 4 p.m. at
the Thunderbird Resorts in the
Poro Point Freeport Zone,
featured a performance of
marching bands, a fun run, UnIdentified Flying Object (UFO)
formation, and the ceremonial
lighting of the Sillag village.
“ We c o n c e p t u a l i z e n i g h t
activities because during day
time, tourists usually go to Baguio
City and other tourism
destinations but by four o'clock of
everyday, we shall have more
a c t i v i t i e s h e r e ,” G e r d a n
explained.
On Sunday, activities will include
an air show, street dancing
competition, pyro musical show,
and a concert/variety show as
well has the much-awaited
Lantern Fluvial Parade and the
releasing of Hope Lanterns in the
evening.
“It has put San Fernando and the
province of La Union in the
tourism map because Sillag is
already being compared to the
Hot Air Balloon Fiesta in Clark,
Pampanga and the Panagbenga
Flower Festival in Baguio,” he
said.
Poro Point Management
Corporation (PPMC) president
a n d C E O F l o ra n te G e rd a n
explained in an interview that the
Sillag Festival, which was first
c o n c e p t u a l i z e d l a s t y e a r,
celebrated for the first time.
But just like newly born festivals,
Gerdan said that so far, the local
government of San Fernando, the
PPMC, the Bases Conversion and
Development Authority (BCDA)
and Thunderbird Pilipinas Hotels
and Resorts were making do with
what they had.
“It was only a one-day activity last
year, this year, it is now a two-day
activity,” Gerdan said. “We plan to
extend the days celebration in the
However, he also mentioned that
next year, he has high hopes that
they can triple or quadruple the
activities and further publicize
the festival.
Future plans
Among tourism businesses being
handled by Thunderbird
included a seaport, airport, food
products and global resources
which will cater to distant
learning in the future.
Gerdan said that he and his team
are further developing open
spaces for business in the area.
“For example, is a lighthouse we
already have a design for the sixhectare lighthouse which we will
bid maybe in the next three
months,” Gerdan said.
“We shall be developing a 50hectare light industrial area and
finish the master planning by
December this year and we will
also be opening up an airport
terminal,” he added.
The amount spent for the funding
of the entire Sillag Festival,
including contributions from
partnerships totaled to some P
5.8 million, Gerdan said.
He added that as soon as new
investors come in, they can
immediately start with future
projects for the coming years.
A kaleidoscope of colors provides a breathtaking sight at the Sillag
Festival. Photo courtesy of BCDA
March 8 - 14, 2013
Page 17
THE FILIPINO EXPRESS
EXPRESSWEEK
March 8 - 14, 2013
Page 18
THE FILIPINO EXPRESS
Filipino American community salutes Cora Reyes
On Saturday, March 9, 2013, the
Philippine-American
Friendship Committee, Inc. held
its Grand Marshal's Gala in
honor of Cora Reyes, its 23rd
Grand Marshal, at the
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel in
Newark, New Jersey.
The pre-dinner cocktail hour
was abuzz with community
leaders and distinguished
guests from the tri-state area
showing admiration of and
support for Cora Reyes. The
elegant evening featured
esteemed speakers, a live band
and more than 220 glittering
donors and supporters.
Cora Reyes
PAFCOM 2013 Grand Marshal
The guest speakers of the
evening were Jersey City Mayor
Jerramiah T. Healy, Ambassador
Mario De Leon Jr. of the
Consulate General of the
Philippines in New York and
Councilman-at-Large Rolando
Lavarro, the first Asian and
Filipino American elected to the
Municipal Council of the City of
Jersey City. Mayor Healy
presented Cora Reyes with a
Proclamation in recognition of
Cora's vital contributions to the
community through her civic
service and professionalism
and declared March 9, 2013 as
PAFCOM Grand Marshal's Day.
Annual “It's more fun in the
Philippines” trip set for July
NEW YORK -- The annual
Ambassadors, Consuls General
and Tourism Directors Tour to
the Philippines will be held this
year from July 9-12 2013, the
Philippine Consulate General,
New York and the Philippine
Department of Tourism, New
York have announced.
Now on its 8th year, this “it's More
Fun in the Philippines” trip will
bring participants to a fournight stay at the EDSA Shangri-la
H o t e l i n O r t i g a s C e n t e r,
Mandaluyong City with a daily
buffet breakfast, two lunches,
dinner with cultural show and
entertainment.
They will also experience a
historic wreath-laying
ceremony at Rizal Park, a visit to
Malacanang Palace with a lunch
at Heroes Hall, and a meeting
with President Benigno Simeon
Aquno III and a photo
opportunity with him.
Participants will also tour the
Fort Santiago, Manila Cathedral,
San Agustin Church and Bahay
Tsinoy -- all within the vicinity of
historic Intramuros.
This four-day visit also includes
spa treatments and beauty salon
visits, a study tour and audience
to variety shows and an out of
town day tour to Tagaytay with
lunch and fun activities.
Post-basic/extension tours
from July 12-15, which is
o p t i o n a l , h ave a l s o b e e n
arranged. Trips are planned for
Laoag-Vigan, CDO-Camiguin,
Southern Luzon Golf Tour,
Davao, Cebu-Bohol, IloiloBacolod, Kalibo-Boracay, Puerto
Princesa, and Camarines SurLegazpi.
Perhaps the most touching and
heart-rending part of the
program was Cora's speech
when she said that “It is with
profound pride that I accepted
this recognition from an
organization that is known for
c o n s i s t e n t ly s e r v i n g t h e
Filipino American community
through the years by providing
vital intergenerational
programs for the youth and
seniors, in pursuit of bridging
the cultural gap and
strengthening family ties.
PAFCOM is an organization with
a lofty vision and its goal for
growth and advancement
centers on a golden dream thus
the theme of this year's
celebration is BELIEVE IN THE
POSSIBILITIES ONE DREAM,
ONE HEART.”
Attorney Victor G. Sison,
PAFCOM 2012 Grand Marshal,
also gave an extemporaneous
speech. He said that it is with
deep respect and privilege to
hand over to Madame Cora
Reyes the honor of being
PAFCOM's 2013 Grand Marshal.
Her choice reflects PAFCOM's
mature, societal consciousness
which believes that leadership
is never, never, gender-based;
that a leader is found in any
individual who stands up, is
committed and willing to serve.
He then invited everyone to rise
and stand to salute, applaud,
clap and cheer on Madame Cora
Reyes in her new role as the
2013 Grand Marshal of
PAFCOM.
Given the resounding success of
the Grand Marshal's Gala, it's
hoped that the upcoming
Philippine American
Friendship Day Celebration
Grand Parade and Festival in
Jersey City on June 23 will be a
grand event.
Cora and Dr. Kits Reyes
Atty. Victor G. Sison, 7th from left, proudly holds the Plaque of Appreciation given
him by PAFCOM for his enormous contribution to the organization as its 2012 Grand
Marshal. Also in photo (L-R): Gerry Austria - 2008 Grand Marshal, Nena Kaufman 2011 Grand Marshal, Dr. Manny Villafranca - 2003 Grand Marshal, Ambassador
Mario De Leon Jr., Cora Reyes - 2013 Grand Marshal, Edwin Solano - 2013 Overall
Chair, Linda Rupel - 2008 Overall Chair, Helen Castillo - 2005 Overall Chair, Jun
Hornilla - 2006 Overall Chair and Francis Sison - 2007 Overall Chair
Magazine
March 8 - 14, 2013
THE FILIPINO EXPRESS
Discovering Puerto Galera
A paradise for sea lovers, beachcombers and mountain trekkers, Puerto Galera is home to
several unexplored coves with pristine emerald and azure waters and heights with mystical
tops covered with thick fog and lush foliages. Located at the northern tip of Mindoro Island,
this coastal town of sloping and curving roads could be reached directly through a two-hour
boat ride from Batangas City Port or by passing Oriental Mindoro's capital city Calapan.
About two hours drive from Calapan
City, the famous Tamaraw Falls will
greet travelers to Puerto Galera with
its waters that flow, two-pronged,
down to a basin that cut across a
bridge where you will see bathers
wading on its cool waters.
tales have it that a fire ravaged the
old town and what was left was the
burnt rice that was washed ashore.
The black rice was, however, only
visible during low tide. Surprisingly,
they do not disappear until these
times.
Standing on the bridge, you will be
mesmerized by the sight of the
ravine, with crowns of thick forest
trees and coconut palm trees rising
to capture the sun rays and the road,
curved following the contour of the
mountain, that leads to Puerto
Galera.
Going farther from the town proper,
life is livelier along the seashores
frequented by both local and foreign
tourists; the foreign tourists usually
seen with their local partners in tow,
some look very young and could
pass as their own children.
Pocket sights of Puerto Galera's
several bays will be seen while
traversing the road where from time
to time, you will see foreigners
either walking or riding a motorcycle
enjoying the warm sun and the
undisturbed beauty of the
countryside and its tranquility.
It would be a plus to see sometime,
members of the local Mangyan tribe
Iraya that inhabit the town, walking
barefooted along the road. While
most of them sports clothes used by
the mainstream, you can distinctly
identify them because of their thick
wavy hair, slightly thick lips and
darker skin color.
It is very unfortunate that the Iraya
tribe is slowly dwindling and their
culture, particularly their language,
to be near extinction.
A school principal who has been
with the Iraya for over 20 years now
related that only five among the
tribe members can speak their
language fluently. The children
barely understand, do not
understand and others have never
heard of their language anymore.
“We lack funds to pay the remaining
Iraya member to teach the language
to the pupils,” the principal said. She
said before, through the help of an
international organization, children
were taught the language by elder
members of the tribe who were paid
P5,000 monthly. It stopped two
years ago.
Reaching the town proper of Puerto
Galera, you will be surprised to see
its sloping roads filled with people
crisscrossing the narrow streets
with traffic lights that were hung but
not working, busy with their daily
lives.
Known during ancient times as
center for the galleon trade, nothing
will be seen of the old trading post as
described in history books where
ships with their masts rolled down,
docked on the seashore bringing
their trades for barter. The only
reminder of the ancient time was
the black rice on the pier which,
Lined with resorts, bars and
restaurants, the beachside is alive
with the sounds of both the water
washing on the shores and the loud
music crisscrossing over the air.
Puerto Galera's beaches are divided
according to visitors that frequent
each area, the Sabang Beach which
is a favorite among foreign tourists
and the White Beach which local
tourists frequent.
Tourism leaders, however, deplored
that Sabang Beach has allegedly
become a center for prostitution
due to the influx of foreign tourists.
They also narrated the dwindling
numbers of tourists coming to the
town due to unreliable water
transport. Small boats do not travel
when the sea is rough hampering
the continuous flow of tourists.
The ro-ro ship which used to ply the
Batangas City Puerto Galera route
was diverted to Calapan City
following a mishap that occurred in
late December in 2012 to augment
the transport in the capital city.
Night beach crawlers are,
meanwhile, entertained by fire
dancers who fluidly move with the
gas lamps they hold in their hands,
some made as crowns and wings,
executing their awesome routines;
bending, stretching, flying and
grinding to the beat of their music.
Inside a bar, a videoke singer belts it
out unmindful whether he is out of
key, out of tune or the words are
mispronounced.
From the seashore, you will have a
glimpse of the private rest houses
owned by renowned rich Filipinos,
among them, the Ayalas and the
Locsins.
Rigger boat owners said majority of
the islands in Puerto Galera was
owned by the family of architect
Locsin who, during the early 70's,
bought them with the dream of
turning Puerto Galera as a “living
aquarium.”
The plan did not materialize because
the local people were opposed to
Page 19
the idea. However, the preservation
of the islands that dotted the coves
of the coastal town could be
attributed to the family.
“Those islands which remained
unexplored are owned by the
Locsins. Had they did not buy them,
they would have been ravaged by
now,” a local leader said.
A diver paradise as well, Puerto
Galera has more than 30 dive sites
that offer the best views of coral
gardens and diversified marine
species. Its beautiful coves teem
with marine life that could only be
found in Mindoro which earned its
title as Man and Biosphere Reserve
of UNESCO in 1973.
A spectacular view of Puerto Galera
and its neighboring islands can be
seen on top of its several mountain
ranges , among which, from the
mountain resort called Ponderosa.
Ponderosa is a mountainous private
village with 25 residents, mostly
expatriates , who come to Puerto
Galera when it is winter in their
countries. Its owner used to mine
the site for marble but after ceasing
operations , they turned it into an
eco-friendly residential and
recreation area.
It has a nine-hole golf course where
teeing off is done on top of the
mountain, with the next hole down
the slope. It is not a place for those
afraid of heights where to reach the
other side of the mountain, you
have to go through a 650-meter zip
line.
The road to Ponderosa is a narrow
winding alley of curves and turns
only good for single vehicle.
Reaching the area, you will be awed
by the beautiful sight of Puerto
Galera's several bays, the pristine
water sparkling under the bright
rays of the sun.
It is freezing cold on top with the
temperature 10 degrees lower than
below the ground according to its
owner who demurely admitted that
she owns the place. The mountain
tops are covered with thick fog
adding mystic to the awesome
place.
A trip to Puerto Galera is not
complete without visiting the Iraya
village which, for several years now,
has as it benefactor, the Ayalas. The
family of the business tycoon built a
replica of the Iraya's mountain
village where the settlers now live.
Dancing Iraya children, clad in their
wooden bark clothes, to the tune of
an Iraya epic song which was
unfortunately translated to Filipino
as the children speak more Tagalog
than their mother tongue, greeted
us during the visit.
Iraya weavers were also present
showing off their expertise how
they weave baskets and trays using
local grass called “nito,” a thin sturdy
black grass that could not be
replanted as it grows on its own on
trees.
Rich in both culture and natural
beauty, Puerto Galera is a must see
place to visit. It is the place for
nature lovers, for adventurers, for
those who love rustic life and who
enjoy exploring the underwater
world.
BUSINESS & ECONOMY
March 8 - 14, 2013
Page 20
THE FILIPINO EXPRESS
AirAsia, Zest Air Group
form strategic alliance
MANILA -- Philippines' AirAsia
Inc. (PAA) and Zest Airways Inc.
(Zest Air) will “combine each
other strength” to grow the
Philippine market and create
more jobs, and stimulate
international market as well.”
Philippines' AirAsia has entered
into a strategic alliance
agreement with Alfredo Yao,
who is the majority shareholder
of Zest Airways Inc. and
Asiawide Airways, Inc., which is
collectively the Zest Air Group.
“We want to bring Ambassador
[Alfredo] Yao into our group
[AirAsia Group] because we
think it will add a lot of value, it is
all about combining our strength
a real merger in terms of
combining each other strength,
Zest has a bigger fleet here
[Philippines] AirAsia group has a
lots [of] network. We have a fleet
so we really combined the best of
both, so I think it's a good
merger,” said Tony Fernandes,
chief executive officer of the
AirAsia Group.
In the agreement, AirAsia
intends to invest in the Zest Air
Group by acquiring 49 percent of
common stock of Zest Airways
and 100 percent of Asiawide
Airways. In turn, Yao will
subscribe to shares in PAA.
Philippines' AirAsia said that the
partnership will require various
regulatory approvals. To further
strengthen the partnership, the
shareholders of the companies
involved in the transaction will
infuse funds to augment
Court approves
Globe-Bayant el
frequency sharing
MANILA -- The National
Te l e c o m m u n i c a t i o n s
Commission (NTC) said on
Monday that a rehabilitation
court confirmed the joint use
of assigned frequencies of
Bayan Telecommunications
(Bayantel) Inc. and Globe
Telecom.
The NTC on September 28,
2012, provisionally approved
the joint use by Bayantel and
Globe of the 1800-megahertz
frequency assigned to
Bayantel, subject to the
condition that the Lopezowned telecom firm shall
secure confirmation of joint
use of the subject frequencies
from the rehabilitation court
(which is the Regional Trial
Court of Pasig City, Branch
158), within 60 days from
notice. Otherwise the
provisional approval shall be
deemed revoked.
Globe's recent investments in
infrastructure and network
upgrades, as well as moves to
acquire an equity interest in
Bayantel have positioned the
company for a strong
performance. Globe said that
its ongoing network
transformation program,
coupled with the Bayantel
tender offer and its intention
to bid for the 10-megahertz
third generation frequency
held by CURE, will give Globe
more than enough prospects
to remain a formidable player
in an increasingly
c o m p e t i t i v e
telecommunication industry.
The company is in the midst
of a $700-million network
modernization program that
will increase network
capacity and resiliency, and
accommodate more voice,
short message service, and
data traffic.
The first phase of the
network upgrade is on track
with 90-percent completion
in various cell sites all over
t h e
c o u n t r y.
In December, Globe also
successfully completed a
tender offer to acquire over
96 percent of all existing and
outstanding debt of Bayantel
and its subsidiary RCPI, as
part of its efforts to acquire a
significant share in the
Lopez-owned company.
working capital.
“This proposed investment in
the Zest Group will complement
the strategies for future growth
of PAA, which currently operates
out of Clark,” said Marianne
Hontiveros, chief executive
officer of Philippine AirAsia Inc.
“This will allow us to leverage on
our respective strengths, which
in the case of Zest Air, include its
operations out of the Ninoy
Aquino International Airport,
which constitutes a majority of
the air traffic in the Philippines,
and a strong domestic network,
which feeds into its current
i n te r n a t i o n a l ro u te s . T h e
stockholders of PAA welcome
this partnership with
Ambassador Yao, a seasoned
entrepreneur who is well
regarded in Philippines,” she
added.
Part of strategy
The investment of PAA in Zest
Air also aligns with AirAsia
Group's business strategy. The
AirAsia Group consists of
existing operations in Malaysia,
Thailand, Indonesia, Japan and
the Philippines. With India to
follow, AirAsia becomes the
largest Asian low cost carrier,
with a combined fleet of 120
aircraft plus over 350 more on
order, and operating over 158
routes spread across 18
countries, of which 56 routes are
unique.
“In terms of fleet, obviously all of
it depends on route acquisition
and market potential with the
lifting of the Category 2, the
potential growth is dramatically
with the prosperity in the
Philippines and with many
people wants to come in for
tourism,” said Fernandes.
AirAsia sees enormous growth
potential in the Philippines,
especially with a population of
over 100 million people across
an archipelago of just over 7,000
islands, which is a landscape
conducive for air transportation.
For his part, Yao commented
that, “The goal in ZestAir is
d r ive n by my p a s s i o n to
capitalize on the tourism
potential [of the Philippines]
and, hence, our investment to
quickly increase our fleet and
expand Zest's market share.”
PLDT to add 5,000 kilometers
of fiber optic cable facilities
MANILA - Philippine Long
Distance Telephone Co. said on
March 11 that it is rolling out
over 5,000 kilometers of new
fiber optic cable facilities this
year at the cost of about P2.5
billion.
“With this expansion program,
we are bolstering our already
formidable fiber advantage.
Fiber is key to having the
c a p a c i t y to d e l ive r n ex t generation, large-bandwidth
data services,” said Napoleon
Nazareno, president and chief
executive officer of PLDT and
Smart Communications.
PLDT said that the P2.5-billion
investment would extend the
total reach of its fiber network to
almost 60,000 kilometers, about
five times more than the
competition.
“For our customers, this means
that in more places in the
country they will be able to enjoy
superior high-speed Internet
service using their PCs [personal
computers], laptops, tablets, or
smartphoneswhether at home,
office or on the go. Your devices
can be only as good as your
network,” Nazareno said.
The fiber expansion program for
2013 will cover the domestic
fiber optic network (DFON) used
for long haul applications, fiberto-the home (FTTH), fiber-in theloop (FITL) and other interoffice fibering projects.
The FTTH project, for example,
will make PLDT's high-speed
Internet services available to
about two million homes in
different parts of the country
such as Metro Manila, the regions
of Central Luzon, Southern
Tagalog, and the provinces of
Panay, Negros Occidental, Cebu
and Davao.
Moreover, the additional fiber
optical cable (FOC) links include
submarine cables that will boost
the data connectivity of the
islands of Palawan, Bohol and
Panay, where the demand for
resilient data services is rising
from the booming tourism and
business process outsourcing
industries in these areas.
“Our DFON expansion program
w i l l d i re c t ly s u p p o r t t h e
economic development
p ro g ra m s o f t h e s e m a j o r
islands,” Nazareno said.
At the same time, PLDT's
wireless subsidiary Smart
Communications will expand the
coverage of its Long Term
E v o l u t i o n ( LT E ) f o u r t h generation mobile data network
which at this point has about
1,000 cell sites. This will also
provide the connectivity to raise
Smart's third generation (3G)
network coverage from about 70
percent to about 85 percent to 90
percent of the total network. The
DFON program is part of PLDT's
P29-billion capital expenditure
(capex) for 2013. The capex
program also provides for the
installation and firing up of more
Smart LTE cell sites and the
expansion of the 3G coverage of
Smart and Sun Cellular. PLDT is
also building content delivery
platforms to handle Internet
protocol-based multi-media
content.
Besides strengthening its
domestic data network, PLDT
continues to beef up its
international data facilities as
well.
Last month, PLDT announced the
completion of the Hong Kong
FOC extension project as part of
the 7,800-kilometer undersea
Asia Submarine-cable Express
system that links the Philippines
to Japan, Malaysia, Singapore,
and Hong Kong through PLDT's
new landing station in Daet,
Camarines Norte.
Starting in 2013, PLDT will
upgrade the capacity of its
different cable systems up to 40
gigabytes per second and then to
100 gbps. PLDT has also doubled
its Internet gateway capacity to
better handle Internet traffic
going to and coming from the
Philippines.
March 8 - 14, 2013
Page 21
THE FILIPINO EXPRESS
DBP Opens P5-Billion Credit
Facility for Education Sector
MANILA - State-owned
Development Bank of the
Philippines (DBP) has launched a
P5-billion facility that seeks to
finance projects that will
promote quality and excellent
higher education in the country.
The Financing for Higher
Education (FHE) credit facility
will fund various initiatives that
will ensure the relevance and
responsiveness of education
programs and promote good
governance in accordance with
the thrusts of the education
sector as stated in the Philippine
Development Plan 2011-2016.
It is a component of the
Financing Program for
Philippine Education (FPPE), an
umbrella program that covers
basic education, tertiary
education, technical and
vo c a t i o n a l e d u c a t i o n a n d
alternative learning systems.
The FHE will be available for 10
years and will support higher
education institutions
recognized by the Commission
on Higher Education and the
Technical Education and Skills
Development Authority. It is
offered nationwide, especially in
rural and poor provinces and
regions.
The credit facility will fund
projects such as lot acquisition
and infrastructure; repair and
renovation of classrooms and
other school facilities; purchase
of furniture and equipment;
purchase of supplies and
materials like school bags, books
and notebooks; and working
capital requirements. Maximum
loanable amount is up to 90% of
the total project cost.
FDI reaches $2-billion in 2012
MANILA -- FOREIGN direct
investment (FDI) in 2012
reached $2 billion, higher by 9.8
percent than the previous
year's (revised) level of $1.9
billion, the Bangko Sentral ng
Pilipinas (BSP) said on Monday.
BSP data showed that the surge
of FDI emanated largely from
net infusion of equity capital
amounting to $1.3 billion from
$558 million in 2011.
The cumulative increase in FDI
last year reflected investors'
p o s i t ive re a c t i o n t o t h e
country's robust economic
performance.
and quarrying and financial and
insurance sectors.
Also contributing to the
increase in net FDI inflows in
2012 were reinvested earnings,
which amounted to $1.1 billion,
or a 7.9-percent increase.
Meanwhile, the BSP added that
the other capital
accountconsisting largely of
i n t e r c o m p a n y
borrowing/lending between
foreign direct investors and
their subsidiaries/affiliates in
the Philippinesposted net
outflows of $373 million, a
reversal of the $311-million net
inflows in 2011.
“In particular, gross equity
capital placements during the
period aggregated $1.6 billion,
an increase of 60.1 percent from
the year-ago level of $1 billion,”
the central bank said.
The BSP said that for December
alone, FDI yielded net inflows of
$20 million, a turnaround from
the $28 million net inflows in
2011.
Inflows were channeled mainly
from the United States,
Australia, The Netherlands,
Japan and the British Virgin
Islands. By sector, investments
were primarily directed to the
manufacturing, real estate,
wholesale and retail, mining
However, reinvested earnings
for 2012 amounted to $85
million, the other capital
account recorded a net outflow
of $158 million mainly because
of intercompany loan payments
to foreign direct investors
abroad.
Rockwell earns P1.1b
MAKATI -- Rockwell Land Corp.
said Monday net income in 2012
rose 23 percent to P1.1 billion
from P914.9 million in 2011, on
strong residential sales, timely
completion of projects and
income from recurring business.
Rockwell said in a disclosure to
the stock exchange reservation
sales reached P9.2 billion in
2012, up 87 percent year-onyear, with the strong sales takeup of its Grove project as well as
newly launched projects, 205
Santolan and the Proscenium.
Revenues grew 10 percent to
P6.7 billion in 2012 from P6.2
billion in 2011. Bulk of the total
revenues came from residential
development, which rose 11
percent to P5.8 billion. Revenues
from recurring income business,
consisting of retail leasing, office
leasing and cinema operations,
went up 3 percent to P965.3
million in 2012.
The company spent P7.9 billion
in 2012, up from P4.4 billion a
year earlier. This included
acquisition of lots in San Juan,
Quezon City and Cebu City, where
several projects would be
launched this year together with
The Proscenium's third tower,
The Lincoln.
SM Investments raises capital to
P12b to support ventures, projects
MANILA -- Conglomerate SM
Investments Corp. is increasing its
capital base to P12 billion from P7
billion to support ventures in the
infrastructure sector and finance
expansion projects.
SM Investments said in a filing
w i t h t h e P h i l i p p i n e S to c k
Exchange it would submit the
proposed capital increase to its
board of directors and
stockholders for approval.
SM Investments chief finance
officer Jose Sio confirmed in a text
message the capital hike would
support company's investments
in infrastructure projects as well
as expansion projects.
SM Investments was one of the
companies that acquired bid
documents for the P17.5 billion,
M a c t a n - C e b u I n te r n a t i o n a l
Airport project. The
conglomerate also teamed up
with Metro Pacific Investments
Corp. to build a P15.5-billion
expressway project that will link
the terminals of the Ninoy Aquino
International Airport with each
other and to the governmentsponsored Pagcor Entertainment
City.
SM Investments' operating units
are on the expansion mode. Its
shopping mall unit SM Prime
plans to launch SM Aura Premier
in Taguig and SM City Cauayan in
Isabela this year.
S M Re t a i l i s o p e n i n g t wo
department stores, two
supermarkets, 19 SaveMore
branches and seven
hypermarkets.
The group's residential unit, SM
Development Corp., plans to
launch at least three new projects
in Metro Manila.
SM Hotels is set to open Park Inn
hotel in Davao this quarter while
subsidiary SMX Manila will
launch SMX Convention Center in
Taguig next month.
SM Investments earlier reported a
net income of P24.7 billion in
2012, up 16.3 percent from P21.2
billion in 2011.
Consolidated revenues increased
12 percent to P223.9 billion from
P199.9 billion in the previous
year.
Banking unit BDO Unibank Inc.
accounted for the largest share of
SM Investments' consolidated net
income, contributing 34.4 percent
of the total. Retail operations
accounted for 28.1 percent,
followed by mall operations at
22.9 percent and property
development at 14.6 percent.
The group has earmarked P65
billion for capital expenditures
this year.
P1-B 'social investment' firm
to help grow rural banks
MANILA They are now slowly
knocking on the door. Pretty
soon, more will come in droves.
Amid the impending opening up
of the rural banking industry to
majority foreign ownership, a
.2-million, "socially-motivated"
investment and technical
support company Bridge of
Singapore was formed
composed of different foreign
finance companies dedicated to
building Filipino banks in
provincial areas.
Social investors are corporate
e n t i t i e s i nvo lve d i n a ny
invest men t st ra teg y t ha t
considers both the financial
return and social good in its
investment initiatives. It also
i n c l u d e s m o re p ro a c t ive
practices such as impact
investing, shareholder
advocacy and community
investing which matches the
s u s t a i n a b l e d eve l o p m e n t
initiatives currently being
implemented in the countryside
to spur growth.
Bridge will infuse equity
investments into successful
banks serving lower income
populations and small
businessesan expertise of rural
banks. It will also provide these
banks with a range of
capability-building services to
help them grow faster and serve
more people according to Rural
Bankers Association of the
Philippines (RBAP) Executive
Director Vincent Mendoza.
T h e s o c i a l ly - r e s p o n s i b l e
investment company aims to
support the livelihoods of three
million Filipinos by 2020.
as part of the partnership
framework.
According to a recent statement
by the National Economic and
Development Authority, only 41
out of 100,000 Filipinos have
deposit accounts. This is way
below the government's target
of 750,000 Filipinos, or 750 out
of 100,000, for 2016. This data
tally with the Consumer
Finance Survey (CFS) recently
conducted by the Bangko
Sentral ng Pilipinas.
Socioeconomic Planning
Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan
said market participants and
re g u l a to r s a l i ke h ave to
innovate and foster strategic
partnerships to further expand
client reach in the countryside.
Industry pundits say this is just
the first sign of things to come as
a bill allowing foreign capital
infusion in rural banks is
expected to be enacted into law
by March. The bill amends
Section 4 of Republic Act 7353
that allows foreign individuals
and entities to acquire equity of
up to 60 percent in rural banks.
Meanwhile, this conundrum has
led to slower job creation,
greater risk for the poor and
general inequality especially in
t h e g row t h o f o u r r u ra l
communities.
Bridge seeks to remove this
barrier to development as it has
already identified a number of
rural banks it will be partnering
with in the future. The rural
banks will be provided with
long-term capital to fund
growth, with expertise to
manage risk, and with central
services to reduce cost
according to RBAP President
Attorney Edward Leandro
Garcia.
These services will be provided
to a team of Filipinos and
international experts working
with the banks on a daily basis
The two panels of the Senate
a n d t h e H o u s e o f
Representatives already agreed
to adopt the Senate version of
the billSenate Bill No. 3282 and
is in the process of transmitting
this to the Office of the
President.
Legislators, regulators and
economists predict that foreign
investors' entry into the local
rural banking industry will have
a direct impact on countryside
development, as it will spur
economic activities in rural
areas by creating an
environment that is beneficial
to foreign investors, local
banking patrons, and national
economy.
A healthier and more
competitive rural banking
sector, with the benefit of
international partnerships, will
mean more resources to reach
out to the unbanked, underbanked, and the less privileged
sector of society, said RBAP
President Attorney Edward
Leandro Garcia.
u
Page 22
March 8 - 14, 2013
Page 22
THE FILIPINO EXPRESS
Gov't sees tourist influx Tourism boost seen after signing of
law scrapping foreign carriers' tax
MANILA -- Malacañang expects
tourist arrivals to surge with the
recent development in the
country's aviation and tourism
sectors.
Interviewed over state-run dzRB
Radyo ng Bayan Saturday,
Deputy Presidential
spokesperson Abigail Valte said
the signing of the law exempting
foreign air and shipping carriers
f ro m p ay i n g t h e c o m m o n
carriers tax would be a boost to
the country's tourism industry.
This is in addition to the travel
and tourism competiveness
report of the World Economic
Forum ranking the Philippines
from 92 to 94 and then to 82,
Valte said.
The International Civil Aviation
Organization's (ICAO) validating
mission also lifted significant
safety concerns in the Philippine
commercial aviation industry.
Explaining the government's
position on the tax exemptions of
international carriers from
paying the common carriers tax,
Valte said the government earns
less than one percent of the
n a t i o n' s b u d g e t f ro m t h e
revenues collected from this tax.
“But on the other hand, because
you have given the international
carriers exemption, then when
we forego that particular portion
of revenue, which is less than one
percent of the budget anyway,
magkakaroon ng multiplier
effect; kasi ma-i-encourage sila
lumipad dito sa ating bansa so
that means more flights, it means
more tourists will be coming in,”
she said.
More tourists arriving the
country is a way of creating jobs
for Filipinos, she added. “Alam
naman natin that the tourism
P1-Billion ...
From page 21
“Our goal is to continue the
role for which rural banks
where established and that is
to promote financial
inclusion in the far flung
areas of the Philippines” he
added.
Foreign equity in rural banks
will serve as a major stimulus
for microfinance, microenterprise, and agriculture
sectors, and all will serve as
MANILA -- Tourism in the
Philippines is expected to get a
big boost after President
Benigno Aquino III signed a new
law exempting foreign air and
shipping carriers from paying
the common carriers tax on
passenger traffic.
Abigail Valte
industry is one of our drivers.
Patuloy ang pagdating ng mga
turista dito at nagkakaroon ng
multiplier effect sa job
generation natin.”
Following ICAO's positive
assessment on the Philippine
aviation industry, Valte said the
Civil Aviation Authority of the
Philippines (CAAP) has been
continuously working with the
Federal Aviation Administration
(FAA) and the European Union to
remove the country from the
blacklist.
John Paul Cabalza, president of
Philippine Travel Agencies
Association (PTAA), said the
travel industry “has long
waited" for the removal of the
Common Carriers Tax (CCT) and
Gross Philippine Billing Tax
(GPBT) as it is expected to drive
more foreign airlines to mount
additional flights to the
Philippines.
If the CAAP succeeded in
delisting the country from
Category 2 status, Philippine
carriers could start direct flights
to US and European destinations,
she said.
“This will definitely boost the
Philippine tourism industry as
unnecessary barriers to entry
into the country have been
removed,” Cabalza said in a
s t a t e m e n t . “ We l a s t ly
congratulate and thank
President Aquino for signing it
into law.” Cabalza explained that
PTAA maintains the scrapping of
the tax regime would greatly
impact the government's target
to reach 10 million tourists by
2016.
To prepare the country for the
influx of more tourists, the
Department of Transportation
and Communication (DOTC)
continues to rehabilitate old
airports or construct new
airports, Valte said.
Strategic move
Aquino described the signing of
the law as a "strategic move."
"This will actually mean an
initial loss in revenue for us; but
it is ultimately a strategic move,”
he said Thursday in his speech at
The Aquino administration
targets to achieve 10 million
tourist arrivals by 2016. Last
year, the Department of Tourism
launched the “It's More Fun in
the Philippines” campaign
slogan to attract more tourists to
come to the country.
catalysts in countryside
d e ve l o p m e n t , i n t u r n ,
sustaining the efforts being
implemented by the current
administration of President
Aquino.
Meanwhile, the legislation
will put rural banks in equal
footing with all other
banking categories, as it will
open a new source of equity
infusion, particularly for
rural banks that are hardpressed to expand and
cannot afford sophisticated
forms of financial services.
billion in revenues for the
government.
'Onerous' taxation
The PTAA has been actively
supporting for the past two
years the calls of various local
and foreign associations,
including the Board of Airline
Representatives (BAR) to fix
what it described as an onerous
taxation on airlines.
President Benigno Aquino III
the Philippine Meetings,
Incentive Travel, Conventions,
and Exhibitions Conference in
Davao.
"Airlines have long asked for this
measure, since it will only bring
in more traffic, and facilitate
connectivity among our
countries," Aquino added.
Under Republic Act 10374,
international air and shipping
carriers are exempted from
paying GPBT provided that the
carrier's home country "grants
income tax exemption to
Philippine carriers" on the basis
of reciprocity or an applicable
tax treaty or international
agreement . The law also
exempted international carriers
from paying the 12 percent
value added tax (VAT) for the
t ra n s p o r t o f p a s s e n g e r s .
Cabalza said both CCT and GPBT
carries a 5.50 percent tax on
airlines that translates to P2.50
The Philippines currently has
six million seats available with
about 369 flights weekly, the
second lowest in Asia and just
slightly ahead of Cambodia.
Cabalza said revenue losses
from the CCT and the GPBT
would be replaced by 20 million
seats by 2016 and would
translate to at least an eightpercent reduction in airfares.
“The law aims to attract foreign
carriers to operate more flights
to and from the Philippines,
helping boost tourist arrivals,”
he said.
Aquino, for his part, said
"everybody wins" with the new
law. “With this bill, everybody
w i n s : f r o m o u r av i a t i o n
industries, to our tourism
industries, to the millions of our
peoples who will have greater
freedom in planning their trips.
So I would like to thank our
legislators who worked on this,”
he said.
Gov't Gets Tourism, Employment Grants
MANILA - The Asian
Development Bank (ADB) is
providing the Philippine
government with $12.7
million worth of grants to
fund a pilot youth job
placement program and
improve skills in the
country's tourism sector.
In a statement, Neeraj Jain,
ADB Philippine country
director, said that the loan is
under the bank's two
technical assistance grants
aimed at creating more and
better jobs in industries
driving growth in the
Philippines.
“With the recent upsurge in
the Philippine economy, this
support will help match jobseekers' skills with emerging
industries to promote growth
and ensure that the benefits
are more inclusive and reach
even more people,” Jain said.
The country's gross domestic
product (GDP) growth
reached 6.6 percent in 2012,
lifted by robust consumption
and investments, and was
c o n s i d e re d o n e o f t h e
strongest economic
performances in the region.
However, the ADB noted that
job creation has not kept pace
of economic expansion.
The bank said the tourism
sector holds great potential
for growth, and has benefited
from reforms begun in 2011
to open up Philippine
airspace.
Of the total amount of the
grants, the ADB is providing
the $7 million to the
Department of Tourism to
test pilot projects in Bohol,
Cebu, Davao, and Palawan
that aim to reduce regulatory
costs for tourism operators,
improve hotel accreditation
systems, and provide funding
for skills development in the
industry.
ADB said another $5.5 million
grant will be given to the
Department of Labor and
Employment to connect
v u l n e ra b l e o u t - o f - wo rk
Neeraj Jain
youth to a job placement
program called MyFirstJob, a
pilot program that will
provide high school leavers
with career counseling,
f u n d i n g fo r vo c a t i o n a l
training, and work place
experience.
At least 1,600 youth half of
them women are expected to
participate in the pilot
project. The two grants
support implementation of
reforms under the Increasing
Competitiveness for Inclusive
Growth program approved by
the ADB Board of Directors in
June 2012.
March 8 - 14, 2013
Page 23
THE FILIPINO EXPRESS
Cagayan Int'l Airport Opening Q4
T he Cagayan Economic Zone
Authority announced the
scheduled opening of the $34.2million Cagayan International
Airport in the fourth quarter this
year.
Aviation Organization standards.
“ T h e c o n t ra c to r s a re n ow
working for the completion of the
apron, terminal building and
other airport appurtenances”
Ponce said in a statement.
The new airport in Lallo, Cagayan,
a joint venture between CEZA and
a private consortium, is expected
to provide investors, tourists and
Cagayan residents a faster access
to the Cagayan Special Economic
Zone and Freeport.
The partly private-funded project
was initiated by CEZA in 2009
with the aim of improving the
accessibility of Cagayan Freeport
through domestic and
international travels.
CEZA Administrator and CEO Jose
Mari B. Ponce said the airport's
2.1-kilometer and 45-meter wide
runway, was completed in
December 2012. The runway can
accommodate up to the capacity
of Airbus 320 aircraft.
The Freeport is 630 kilometers
north of Manila. At present, it
takes visitors 12 hours to drive to
Cagayan Freeport, a rapidly
growing tourism and logistics
hub in the northeastern part of
Luzon.
Government officials led by
Senate President Juan Ponce
Enrile, representatives of the
business sector, transportation
industry players and officials of
the Civil Aviation Authority of the
Philippines successfully tested
the runway on February 19 this
year.
The Tuguegarao airport in
Cagayan is also about two-hour
away from Cagayan Freeport by
land travel.
Airport facilities will include a
paved apron and tarmac, a control
tower and a terminal building
that meets the International Civil
Ponce said with the Cagayan
International Airport in place,
travel time will be shortened to
one hour (plane) and a 40-minute
land drive to the Freeport.
CEZA initiated the project
through a 58-42 joint venture
a g re e m e n t w i t h a p r iva te
consortium as minority investor.
“The realization of this project
shall intensify investment and
tourism opportunities, especially
of related ventures such as flying
school, medical and other
support system for the airport
crew and tourism facilities among
others,” said Ponce.
“Talks with potential investors to
complement the operations of the
project have begun,” he said.
Ponce said a large company has
manifested its intent to establish
a state-of-the-art park and hangar
to serve the booming business
aircraft sector in Asia.
“For this venture, we are eyeing
the mainland China as market
where hundreds of business jets
are being parked at Hong Kong
International Airport,
Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Macau and
other Asian airports at high rates
and restricted air spaces,” he said.
“Considering the more or less an
hour flight from the neighboring
Asian airports and with the vast
and cheap raw land readily
available at the Cagayan (Lallo)
International Airport, its
potential for this booming
industry is very promising,” he
added.
Peso Is Asian Best Performer PIDS says inflation to
average 3.8% this year
The peso is the bestperforming Asian and
emerging-market currency
in the past 12 months.
Net inflows into the nation's
stocks and bonds reached
$1.3 billion in January, or
almost six times the $213
million level in December,
the central bank reported
Feb. 14. Bangko Sentral ng
Pilipinas will keep its
benchmark overnight
borrowing rate at a record
low 3.5 percent, according
all 10 analysts in a
Bloomberg News survey
MANILA -- Philippine consumer
prices is seen to climb slightly in
2013 as the inflation rate is
expected to average at 3.8
percent, according to the latest
report of the state think tank
Philippine Institute for
Development Studies (PIDS).
before the March 14
meeting.
Consumer prices rose 3.4
percent in February, a fivemonth high, government
data showed March 5.
Inflation remains
manageable, BSP Governor
Amando Tetangco Jr. said
after the report.
(Bloomberg)
Peso more volatile without BSP intervention says IMF Exec
MANILA - An official of the
International Monetary Fund
(IMF) on Monday said the
Philippine peso will be volatile if
not for the Bangko Sentral ng
Pilipinas (BSP) intervention.
"Without the BSP's foreign
exchange operations it is likely
the peso would be exhibiting
more volatility," IMF Resident
Representative to the
Philippines Dr. Shanaka Peiris
said during the Management
Association of the Philippines
(MAP) forum in Makati City.
In 2012, the peso appreciated by
nearly seven percent and closed
the year at 41.05.
It closed at 40.69 Monday, almost
unchanged from the 40.68 finish
last Friday. Monetary officials
said the central bank does not
determine foreign exchange rate
in the country and leaves this to
market forces although the BSP
joins in the market only to
address volatility. Peiris said the
central bank has bought more
dollars to tame the peso.
As of end-November last year, the
central bank registered a net loss
of P86.31 billion, higher than
year-ago's P32.29 billion as the
peso strengthened against the
dollar.
The peso started 2012 at 43-level
against the dollar and even
dipped to 44-level in January
before ending the year at 41-
level. Thus, the central bank
boosted its currency operations
as part of its mandate to ensure
price stability in the domestic
economy.
S i m i l a r l y, P h i l e q u i t y
Management Inc. strategist and
technical analyst Jerome
Gonzales, during the same forum
said a 41-level against the dollar
is the stable level for the peso for
it to remain competitive.
He forecast the peso to trade
within 40-41.50 throughout the
rest of the year but pointed out
that the level depends primarily
on the recovery of the US
economy and the expected
investment grade rating for the
Philippines.
The PIDS projection is within the
3-percent to 5-percent target of
the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas
for the year.
Inflation was moderate
throughout 2012, as the average
headline inflation rate for the
entire year was 3.2 percent and is
in the lower band of the
government's 3-percent to 5percent target range, the PIDS
Development Research News
(DRN) said.
“Inflation will climb slightly this
year as the economy deals with
excess liquidity and strong
domestic demand,” said the
report's authors PIDS President
Josef Yap and Senior Research
Fellow Adoracion.
The DRN also noted that the two
more important external
variables for the Philippine
economy international fuel and
food prices exert a strong
influence on inflation.
It added that these variables
along with the exchange rate are
expected to remain stable in
2013. However, the report also
warned that the peso-dollar
exchange rate will also be
influenced by the weaker yen. In
2012, the price of foreign
exchange in terms of US dollars
continued to decline, and the
peso continued to appreciate, it
stated.
On the other hand, the DRN also
mentioned that while overseas
remittances are expected to
remain at a high level, portfolio
flows may decline slightly. In
terms of credit ratings, it
continued that the obsession of
economic managers with
favorable credit ratings must be
tempered and instead, focus has
to shift to the mediocre
investment rate.
The publication further said that
it is currently collaborating with
the Department of Trade and
Industry in crafting a
C o m p re h e n s ive I n d u s t r i a l
Strategy for the Philippines.
“The policy recommendations
from this study categorized as
low hanging fruit can be
implemented to spur investment
in the short term, particularly in
the manufacturing sector,” it said.
The DRN also suggests that small
and medium enterprises must be
the cornerstone of the revival of
t h e m a n u fa c t u r i n g s e c t o r
because they generate more
employment.
“The medium term goal of such a
strategy is significant product
diversification,” it added.
ENTERTAINMENT
March 8 - 14, 2013
Page 24
THE FILIPINO EXPRESS
Jed Madela releases new album
MANILA -- Singer Jed Madela
presents "All Original" album
under his new record label, Star
Records.
His latest album features 10
original tracks including his
carrier single "Ikaw Na," "Wish,"
"When Love Once Was Beautiful,"
"Dito Lang," "Ipinapangako Ko,"
"Sa Habang Buhay," "Dalangin Ko,"
"Will Forever," Home To You" and
the singer's very own
composition "Tanging Ikaw." It
also features bonus mixes of
"Wish," and "Dito Lang."
According to Jed, this "All
Original" album is new and far
from the usual songs he has done
in the past. “Everything sounds
album. We have put so much work
into it that the very moment I
heard the final tracks, I am
already looking forward to
sharing it with everyone who has
been supporting my music."
Apart from this new project, the
singer will be celebrating his 10th
anniversary in the music industry
later this year.
Jed Madela
different and the songs express
different feelings. Actually, each
one can be a potential single on its
own," he said. Jed added: "It's my
first full project with Star Records
and it is also my first all-original
Jed, the first Filipino champion of
t h e p re s t i g i o u s Wo r l d
Championship of the Performing
Arts, was also recently hailed as
the first Pinoy to be inducted into
the Performing Arts Hall of Fame
in Hollywood. The event will have
a live worldwide webcast on July
19, 2013.
Yeng Constantino receives award in Singapore
Janine Tugonon
Janine Tugonon wants
to give acting a try
MANILA -- After her first runnerup finish in the 2012 Miss Universe
pageant, Janine Tugonon is setting
her eyes on an acting project.
The beauty queen, who has gained
endorsement deals after her
impressive performance in the
prestigious pageant, said she is
willing to undergo workshops in
preparation for a career in
showbiz.
“I want to really try acting because
I haven't tried it before. Just to test
kung kaya ko,” Tugonon said. She
was quick to add, however, that
she has yet to be offered a contract
or a project. “Wala pa naman pero
[for now] I need a workshop,” she
said.
Asked who she wants to be her
first leading man, Tugonon
i n s t a n t ly re m e m b e r e d h e r
showbiz crush. “Jericho Rosales,
he's really great in acting,” she said.
Last year, Tugonon was hesitant
about the idea of joining showbiz,
saying, “I don't know kasi acting is
not… I'm not really good.”
But she did not close any doors.
“Pero I think kung meron man magopen na opportunity, I'll grab it,”
she said. Tugonon's predecessors,
Shamcey Supsup and Venus Raj,
have forged their own paths after
their runner-up finishes in the
Miss Universe pageant.
Supsup is currently an architect by
profession, while Raj is one of the
hosts of the ABS-CBN morning
show “Umagang Kay Ganda.” Some
of the beauty queens who have
ventured into showbiz include
Charlene Gonzales, Ruffa
Gutierrez, Gloria Diaz and Miriam
Quiambao.
Cristalle Not Romancing Derek
makes people think we're anything
romantic is because we are seen
together in many events out of town.
But really, we're just good friends.
There's nothing between us but
pure friendship.” Her doting mom,
however, says that she is “boto” with
Derek for her daughter. “You know
that we love Derek. He is such a nice,
nice guy and very handsome. But
since they say they're just friends,
then so be it,” she said, laughing.
Cristalle Henares
Single and available Cristalle
Henares, daughter of Dr. Vicki Belo,
once and for all denied rumors
linking her with TV5 actor Derek
Ramsay.
When we saw her at the summer
event of Watson's recently at the
Mall of Asia, Cristalle set the record
straight. She said, “We're really just
friends, buddies. The only thing that
It looks like only the two young ones
have perspectives that are far from
the hopes of their parents. We were
told that Derek's parents are so
much in favor of Cristalle for Derek.
“They love Cristalle and they have
been nudging him to date her,” our
source said.
“But Derek is taking his time. He
doesn't want to rush into anything
especially when it comes to his love
life.”
MANILA -- Following the release of
her fifth album, singer Yeng
Constantino has yet another
reason to celebrate as the Academy
of Rock (AOR) in Singapore gave
her an award in recognition of her
achievements as a musician and a
performer.
According to its official website,
AOR is the only music school in
Singapore that is dedicated to
teaching rock and popular music.
Its mission is to raise the
musicality of Singapore's youth
and to promote rock music
appreciation through a fun
learning approach.
Constantino said she is offering
this honor to the country and her
fans, who continue to support her
in her endeavors.
"Kakauwi ko lang po galing sa
Singapore at ako po ay nagagalak
sa aking natanggap na honorary
licentiate award. I'm really, really
happy po sa nangyari kahapon sa
aming concert . Nakakatuwa
magbigay ng parangal sa ating
bansa," she said.
Saying it was her first time to
perform before a huge crowd of
foreigners, Constantino said it felt
fulfilling that even non-Filipinos
appreciate her song "Salamat."
"Sobrang sarap po pala magperform at nakakatuwa na kahit
hindi nila nainitindihan ang kanta
Yeng Constantino
kong 'Salamat,' natuwa pa rin po
sila doon," she said.
I n h e r e a r l i e r i n t e r v i e w,
Constantino had mentioned that
her song "Salamat" is being taught
at AOR as part of its curriculum.
March 8 - 14, 2013
Page 25
THE FILIPINO EXPRESS
'Aparisyon' Wins Deauville Film
Fest's First Audience Award
Independent film “Aparisyon”
(English title “Apparition”) has
made history at the 15th
Deauville Asian Film Festival in
France, bagging the first
Deauville Audience Award.
Coleen Garcia
This was announced via the
Facebook page of the film on
S u n d ay a f te r “A p a r i syo n”
competed with nine other
masterpieces from Thailand,
India, South Korea, Malaysia,
Iran, China, and Japan, in the
festival which ran from March 6
to 10.
Deauville noted the film, which
was also nominated for a Golden
Lotus (Best Picture) award, as “a
profound reflection on sin, guilt
and faith, rooted in a specific
historical and political context
highlighted by a sophisticated
mise en-scene.”
Jodi Sta. Maria, one of the
featured actors in the film,
happily tweeted about the news.
“'Aparisyon' wins the Audience
Award at the 15th Deauville
Asian Film Festival held in
France. :-) Yahoo. God is good :),” she posted. The only other
Filipino film in the festival was
Brillante Mendoza's acclaimed
work “Thy Womb,” which was
Gab Valenciano
Coleen still in a relationship
with Gab Valenciano
MANILA -- "It's Showtime" host
Coleen Garcia maintained she is
still in a relationship with
dancer Gab Valenciano.
Jodi Sta. Maria
part of the non-competition
section, along with nine other
films.
Produced by director Vincent
Sandoval together with Darlene
Malimas, “Aparisyon” is a
psychological drama set in the
'70s centering on cloistered
nuns and how their political
consciousness have been stirred
by the times. It also stars Mylene
Dizon, Fides Cuyugan-Asensio,
and Raquel Villavicencio.
It debuted at the 8th Cinemalaya
Independent Film Festival under
the New Breed section, walking
away with the Best Sound
Design trophy.
Soon after, it took part in other
international film festivals, such
as the Busan International Film
Festival, Vancouver
International Film Festival,
Hawaii International Film
Festival in which it received the
Network for the Promotion of
Asian Cinema (NETPAC) award
and the San Diego Asian Film
Festival. “Aparisyon” will
likewise be exhibited along with
other Filipino films at the first
A s e a n I n te r n a t i o n a l F i l m
Festival in Malaysia, which will
be held from March 28 to 30.
It will have its theatrical
premiere in select local cinemas
on March 20.
G a rc i a s a i d t h i s d e s p i t e
Valenciano's plans to leave the
Philippines and pursue a degree
in music in the United States.
Garcia said she and Valenciano
are just taking things slowly and
they are not yet talking about
what will happen to their
relationship after the son of
singer Gary Valenciano leaves
for the U.S.
"Hindi naman. Sa ngayon kasi
nag-uusap pa kami kung paano
ito. When he leaves, doon namin
malalaman which path are we
gonna take. Sa ngayon, ayaw ko
magsalita. We are talking about
what's going to happen," she
said.
Valenciano, for his part, said he
will always be around for Garcia
even if they decide to part ways
in the future. "Hindi [kami nagbreak]. It's more of the closer we
get kasi, the harder it is.
We're giving each other that
space. Sabi ko sa kanya I'll
always love you whether magbreak man tayo or hindi," she
said.
In a past interview, Valenciano's
father Gary said things are still
going well between the young
couple.
"I think they have been talking
about it. I talked to Coleen and
she said he's (Gab) a little sad
and nararamdaman na niya na
he's about to leave. He's never
been away from the family and
we're always there," he said.
Why Aiko is not running
in May elections
MANILA -- Despite expressing
initial interest to run in the midterm elections, actress and
former Quezon City councilor
Aiko Melendez ultimately did
not file her candidacy for any
political seat.
The 37-year-old actress cited
her being a "stage mom" as the
reason she junked her plans to
run for office.
According to Melendez, her son
with former husband Jomari
Yllana, Andrei, is now preparing
to join showbiz. "Kaya siguro
hindi ako nag-file ng candidacy
ko this year, kasi nagiging mas
busy ako as mom, as a stage mom
to my son," she said.
Melendez ran in the 2010
general elections as Quezon
City vice-mayor but lost.
On her 14-year-old's son
following in her footsteps,
Melendez said she has
consulted with Yllana on how to
ease Andrei into the
entertainment industry. She
said formal plans with
concerned officials or talent
agents will be discussed next
week.
"Kasi gusto ko makita and maexperience ng tao na may boses
'yung anak ko. He can sing, so
that's one thing na medyo gusto
kong i-hone na talent niya. Sa
Aiko Melendez
acting, medyo ipapa-workshop
pa namin, kasi hindi pa naman
siya sanay," Melendez said.
Asked to describe Andrei's
appeal as a young actor,
Melendez added, "He's a
combination of Jomari and
Aiko, but more of Jomari na
maputing version, so imagine.
I'm such a proud mom!”
Unlike other parents, Melendez
said she has managed to form a
close personal relationship
with Andrei, even if he is now a
teenager.
"Barka-barkada naman ang
relasyon ko kay Andrei eh, so I
want him to treat more like a
barkada, but with respect, para
hindi siya magtago sa akin," she
said.
March 8 - 14, 2013
Page 26
THE FILIPINO EXPRESS
Marian honored to work with Vilma Santos
MANILA - Actress Marian
Rivera revealed she badly
wants to work with veteran
actress Vilma Santos that she
agreed to do a guest role in
" E k s t ra ," t h e B a t a n g a s
governor's first independent
film -- for free.
Rivera said she doesn't mind
that she'll only be with Santos
in a scene or two as long as
she gets to act with her.
Vilma Santos
“Siyempre, Ate Vi 'yan, ano! So,
bakit ka pa magse-second
thought, isang Vilma Santos
na ang makasama mo na
halos pangarap din namang
makasama ng mga kagaya ko,
'di ba? Kaya walang second
thought talaga,” she said.
Rivera said she admired
Santos even more when the
veteran actress approached
her to personally thank her
for accepting the project.
Marian Rivera
Toni: Hosting 'Voice' will
also hone my singing
MANILA - Television host
To n i G o n z a g a b e l i e ve s
hosting the reality talent
show “The Voice Philippines”
will actually help hone her
skills in singing.
Gonzaga said it will be an
honor for her to also listen to
what the powerhouse judges
will say to the aspiring
singers.
“This will inspire me to
improve and develop myself
when it comes to the singing
department. Siyempre
maraming matututunan sa
coaches, form the singers and
this will help me also hone my
skills so hindi pa naman
nawawala yung music sa
buhay ko,” she said.
Gonzaga said she is proud to
host the upcoming Kapamilya
show because it shows the
contestants' abilities
"according to what they can
do and what they can give."
“I think one of the best asset
ng programang ito is that we
will not mold the singers, we
will not mold them into
something or someone na
hindi naman nila personality,”
she said.
“They can choose their songs,
they can choose their outfits.
Everything will be based on
their own choice. Maganda
yun kasi 'di ba sa ibang reality
shows they mold the singers
minsan sa mold na hindi
naman sila comfortable. Kaya
dito dun kami sa kung saan
Toni Gonzaga
talaga sila comfortable and
where they think they can
shine,” she added.
As in the United States
version of the show -- which
featured as coaches Christina
Aguilera, Blake Shelton, Cee
Lo Green and Adam Levine
for its first three seasons -the local edition of the contest
will pit contestants from four
teams against each other to
be named "The Voice."
Set to premiere in the second
quarter of the year, "The Voice
of the Philippines" will be
hosted by Gonzaga.
Among the competition's
judges are Sarah Geronimo,
Bamboo Manalac and Lea
Salonga.
While the show has yet to
reveal who the fourth judge
is, it has been reported that
apl.de.ap of the Black Eyed
Peas is already in talks with
the network for a possible
stint on the show.
“Ang eksena namin together is
parang nag-serve lang siya sa
akin ng isang drink tapos umexit na siya. Pero ang behind
the scenes ang gusto ko, kasi
pagtuntong ko lang sa set…
Siya ang lumapit sa akin, at
sabi niya, 'Hi Marian, thank
you sa pag-guest mo.' Thank
you siya nang thank you sa
akin. Sabi ko, ako nga ang
dapat magpasalamat sa
kanya. Ang bait-bait niya
talaga. Kaya ngayon,
masasabi ko na artista na
talaga ako kasi nakasama ko
na ang isang Vilma Santos
kahit sa isang eksena lang,”
she said.
According to Rivera, it was
really her dream to work with
the acclaimed actress.
“Sa totoo lang, ang dami kong
nadidinig na magaganda
tungkol kay Ate Vi sa mga
nakakasama na niya sa
pelikula. Kaya ako, gusto ko
ring ma-experience kung
paano makatrabaho ang
isang Governor Vilma SantosRecto. Hindi talaga ako
nagkamali,” she said.
“Sobrang maasikaso talaga
siya at mahal niya lahat ang
mga kasama niya sa trabaho.
Nagdadala siya ng food sa
akin. Dinalhan niya ako ng
leche flan… Tapos sabi niya,
'Sandali, sandali, ito pa,
kalamay pa. Mag-uwi ka nito
sa bahay n'yo.' Sobrang
thoughtful talaga niya. Kaya
tuwang-tuwa talaga ako dahil
nakasama ko na ang isang
Vilma Santos. At sabi ko nga,
masasabi ko na sa sarili ko na
artista na talaga ako,” she
added.
Aside from Santos, Rivera will
also share some scenes with
Kapamilya actor Piolo
Pascual in the same movie.
Asked if she there will be a
kissing scene between her
and Pascual, Rivera said:
“Naku, hindi ko pa po alam
[kung may kissing scene].
Depende pa rin sa direktor
(Jeffrey Jeturian) dahil siya
ang nagsasabi ng instruction.”
The actress, however, said she
is willing to do it if her role
demands for it.
“Kasi ako naman, ang trabaho
is trabaho talaga. Kumbaga,
eksena lang sa pelikula yun at
kung ano man ang command
ng isang direktor, eh dapat
sundin mo at puwede rin
namang pag-usapan, di ba?”
she said.
SPORTS
March 8 - 14, 2013
Page 27
THE FILIPINO EXPRESS
Muñoz vows to develop Filipino MMA talents
Mark Muñoz
MANILA -- ULTIMATE Fighting
Championship fighter Mark
Muñoz has vowed to develop
more Filipino fighters, who will
make the country proud in the
growing sport of professional
mixed martial arts.
“If there are promising
(Filipino) fighters out there,
who want to come and see me,
I'd love to train them. There are a
lot out there who knock on the
door of UFC and I'm willing to
help them get that opportunity, ”
said the UFC middleweight
contender during a media
conference Friday at the
Eugenio Lopez Communication
Center in Quezon City.
“From what I've heard, Filipino
fighters are strong, aggressive
and technically good in striking
and grappling. I think what I can
Provide them is a very good
knowledge in wrestling. I think
that's (wrestling) the missing
link here,” added the FilAmerican National Collegiate
Athletic Association Division 1
national champion, two- time
NCAA All-American wrestler.
His first homegrown project is
Edward Folayang, a multi-titlist
in numerous local and Asiabased MMA tournaments.
Munoz revealed that Folayang,
one of the stalwarts of Team
Lakas based in Benguet, will
train in his gym in the US for two
months.
For his upcoming fight in the
UFC, Muñoz has vowed to
bounce back from an ugly loss he
suffered at the hands of Chris
Weidman at UFC Fuel recently.
Sporting a 12-3 record at the
Octagon, Muñoz will face Tim
“The Barbarian” Boetsch (16-5)
at UFC 162 on July 6 as
undercard to the middleweight
championship bout between the
champion Anderson Silva and
Munoz's recent tormentor Chris
Weidman. This time around,
Muñoz vowed that he is raring
and ready to rock. “I'm 100
percent ready. It was not me the
last time and now I'm excited
about my fight at UFC 162,” he
said.
Muñoz, dubbed the “Filipino
Wrecking Machine,” because of
his vaunted ground and pound,
is on a four-day tour in the
country arranged by ABS-CBN's
Balls Channels and UFC Asia.
The UFC Mark Muñoz Media
Tour is sponsored by Balls
Channel, headed by Jojo Neri
Estacio and UFC Asia's Mark
Fischer.
Carlos Anton: Racing in Nascar is a dream come true.
Anton, Potenciano gear
up for Nascar kickoff
MANILA - Castrol-YokohamaMark Young driver and sixtime Philippine hillclimb
champion Carlos Anton is in
the thick of preparations for
the biggest race of his career
the Nascar Race-Ex World
Circuit next month at the
Charlotte Motor Speedway in
North Carolina.
“I'm so glad the Filipinos will
be part of this historic race
where 12 nations will be
competing at the 2.5 km oval. I
know our chances are good
because I have the best
teammates who will be joining
me in the US,” Anton said.
The other Filipino team
members are his mentor,
international racing champion
Mike Potenciano, four-time
Karter of the Year Stefano
Marcelo, Indy-lights protégé
Michelle Bumgarner and lady
champion drivers Gaby de la
Merced and Pia Boren.
The Philippine team is backed
by the Manozca Foundation,
ABS-CBN, Fox Sports, Cebuana
Lhuillier, Ford Global City,
Philippine Airlines, STP,
Prestone, Marcelo Racing,
Goodyear, Coral World Park
and Spirit Sports.
They will be using full scale
865 horsepower Sprint Cup
Nascar racing machines built
to hit top speeds of over 330
kph in an oval with banking of
24 degrees. Also competing
are the USA, Australia, New
Zealand, China, Singapore and
Malaysia.
“It's a dream come true to be
able to once again represent
the country on the world stage,
the pressure is immense since
none of us have been inside a
Nascar before but with the
proper training in the coming
weeks it should be good,”
Anton added.
Philippines bans
Balkman for life
From Post Wires
Fo r m e r K n i c k R e n a l d o
Balkman was banned from the
Philippines' professional
basketball league for life after
choking a teammate in the
middle of a game, the
association's commissioner
said yesterday.
Balkman, who played four
seasons with the Knicks and
two with the Nuggets, also was
fined $6,100 for the incident.
Balkman, 28, who was playing
with the PBA's Petron Blaze
Boosters on Friday, was
frustrated by a referee's call as
his team was losing to the
Alaska Aces and angrily
shoved aside one of his
coaches.
Renaldo Balkman
When teammates tried to
pacify him, Balkman pushed
them away and grabbed his
own team captain, Arwind
Santos, by the neck before
other players physically
restrained him. The Boosters
lost the game 73-83.
Balkman, who signed with
P e t r o n i n D e c e m b e r,
apologized for his outburst.
March 8 - 14, 2013
Page 28
THE FILIPINO EXPRESS
Eula Valdez: 'As an artist, it's okay to
go crazy with your choice of projects’
MANILA -- Unlike other kids her
age, Eula Valdez didn't want to be
a princess in a fairy tale. Believe
it or not, her original fantasy was
to be a ninja.
It came as no surprise, therefore,
that Eula collected the Marvel
comic book “Elektra: Assasin”
back in high school. Written by
Frank Miller in 1986, the comic
features the sword-wielding,
ninja-trained female assassin
who is both an enemy and a love
interest to the superhero
Daredevil. Jennifer Garner would
later portray her in a feature film
version.
Right about the same time, Eula
also started collecting medieval
swords. So when TV5 offered her
to star as Eula Caballero's
mysterious mother in
“Cassandra: Warrior Angel” in an
epic story that involves a war
between angels and demons, the
elder Eula knew that this was a
project that was right up her
alley.
“Na-excite ako. I'm a physical
type of person so I think I'm
going to enjoy this. Gusto ko din
kasi ng action. I don't always get
to be in fantaseryes tapos dito,
may superpowers pa ang
character ko so I'm really looking
forward to doing this,” the 44year old actress said.
A huge fan of rock music herself,
citing Van Halen as one of her
favorites (“I saw their concert
last year in the States, ang galing
pa rin nila!”), Eula also said she
had a lot of fun watching
Kamikazee perform
“Ang gulo nila tapos na-meet ko
pa ang mga parents nila.
N a k a k a a l i w ,” s h e f o n d l y
remembered.
Always the free-spirited type,
Eula's career has not been
defined by conforming to trends,
which also explains her
longevity in the business. She
chooses her vehicles well and for
the most part, those choices have
paid off well.
That same year, Eula was also
prevailed upon to finally do an
FHM cover shoot after a two-year
courtship from the magazine. It
was one of the magazine's most
popular issues ever, and she
again did another cover pictorial
five years later in 2011.
Alon g w it h Aga Mu hla ch,
Herbert Bautista, William
Martinez, Yayo Aguila, Jobelle
Salvador and JC Bonnin, Eula was
one of the lead stars of the
original “Bagets”, the coming-ofage teen flick by Maryo J. Delos
Reyes that is now considered a
classic.
busier than ever and even took
on projects that surprised even
her own fans.
It wasn't until the start of the
new millennium that she finally
became a household name and
received acting accolades when
she took on the now iconic role of
Amor Powers in the ABS-CBN
primetime soap “Pangako Sa 'Yo”.
Since then, Eula has become
In 2006, Eula was invited to
appear on the cover of “Maharot”,
the cover of the second album by
rock band Kamikazee. “Actually,
nag-email sila sa akin, asking me
if I want to be on the cover of
their album and I thought, why
not?” she recalled.
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
Eula Valdez
“I don't think I'll be doing
another FHM cover shoot again.
May maipapakita na ako sa mga
apo ko. At least, once upon a time,
naging cover ako ng men's
magazine,” she quipped.
Another smart career move for
Eula was her occasional foray
into theater. Although she does
not always appear on stage, it is
usually a welcome treat for
critics and audiences alike. In
2006, she won Best Actress in a
Musical from the Aliw Awards
Fo u n d a t i o n fo r “ Z s a Z s a
Zaturnnah”.
Last year, the Broadway World
Philippines Awards as Best
Featured Actress in a Musical
also recognized her portrayal of
Claudia.
“Hindi ko nga alam na nominated
at nanalo. Nakatanggap lang ako
ng mga text messages about it.
But theater is something I love
doing. This year, I'll be playing
Morticia Addams in the musical
staging of 'The Addams Family'
by Viva Atlantis. It should be fun,”
she said.
In explaining why she chooses to
do the kinds of projects that she
does, Eula said that as an artist,
it's just natural to get crazy
sometimes.
“Bilang artista, may karapatan
ka din naman magkatopak from
time to time, she mused. “Sabi ko
nga sa kanila dito sa 'Cassandra',
'FYI, meron akong puting pakpak
na malaki na pinagawa ko. Wala
lang, pang pictorial lang.”
March 8 - 14, 2013
Page 29
THE FILIPINO EXPRESS
New center to become hub of Fil-Am community activities
JERSEY CITY, NJ -- A vision of a
community center owned by a
Filipino organization has come
into a reality after a building
consisting of two floors with a
basement was purchased for
cash by the Philippine
Community Center Foundation
of NJ, Inc. (PHILCOM Center-NJ)
in August 2012. Located at 124
Mallory Avenue, Jersey City, the
building is dedicated to the
Filipino-American community
in the tri-state area.
As originally envisioned by the
organization's founders the late
Chairman Emeritus Ernie
Manuel and President Emeritus
Louisiana “Baby” D. Manuel
(now Louisiana D. Gardon), the
facility will be a hub of FilipinoAmerican community activities.
The first floor, which was
approved for commercial use on
February 21, 2013 by Jersey
C i t y ' s
B o a r d
o f
Adjustment/Planning Board
under a “d” variance, has been
named by PHILCOM-NJ board as
its “Filipino Heritage Hall.” The
basement will be renovated into
a m u l t i - p u r p o s e h a l l fo r
community meetings and social
activities. The second-floor, a
five-room residential unit will
be made available for lease. One
ro o m , h o w e ve r, i s b e i n g
refurbished into a cultural
library. Deputy Consul General
of the Philippine Consulate
General of New York and New
Jersey Assemblyman Bill O'Dea
were among those in attendance
when the building was blessed
on Dec. 1, 2012.
The cash purchase of the
building was effected through
donations from benefactors,
among whom were the defunct
U n i te d F i l i p i n o - A m e r i c a n
Associa t ion , I n c. (UFAA),
spearheaded by Ms. Serafina V.
Sengco; Mr. and Mrs. Vicente O.
Gardon, Jr., who have been
designated by the PHILCOM
board as life tenants of the
second-floor; the Tarlaquenos,
USA Foundation, Inc.; and the
relentless fund-raising efforts of
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PHILCOM's officers and
members. Incumbent president
Carmen B. Flores, a well-known
community leader, worked
diligently for the variance
approval.
Incumbent executive officers
are: Vicente O. Gardon, Jr., vice
president and treasurer; Norma
C. Rabara, deputy treasurer;
Nueva Elma, auditor; Helen D.
Amladi, executive secretary;
Nita V. Malazo, recording
secretary; Francine Savellano,
office manager; Tudy Basilio,
program administration
assistant; and Oscar Fernando,
public relations officer. The
Board of Directors is comprised
o f p ro m i n e n t c o m m u n i t y
leaders, namely: Remigio
Savellano, chairman, Domingo
“ J u n” H o r n i l l a , exe c u t ive
director; Atty. Victor G. Sison,
Rev. Gaudencio Soriano, Francis
D. Sison and Zonny G. Lerum,
board members.
Following approval of PHILCOM
Center-NJ's variance, its officers
Officers at the closing which took place in Law Office of Atty. Victor G. Sison (L-R),
Vicente Gardon - VP Treasurer, Carmen Flores - President, Atty. Victor G. Sison - Board
Member and Legal Counsel, Louisiana D. Gardon - President Emeritus/Adviser,
Serafina V. Sengco - Adviser, Jun Hornilla - Executive Director, and Norma C. Rabara Deputy Treasurer
are focusing on fundraising
activities to complete the
renovation of the facility while
at the same time engaging in
strategic planning to pursue its
various charitable, educational
and cultural projects. Targeted
beneficiaries of its programs
and projects are the youth, the
physically- or mentallychallenged, the elderly, newlyarrived immigrants and other
current social concerns.
The newly-acquired Philippine
Community Center at 124 Mallory
Avenue, Jersey City, New Jersey
EXPRESS CROSSWORD
ACROSS
1. Legions
6. Circle fragments
10. Broad valley
14. Perpendicular to the
keel
15. Cut back
16. Holly
17. The creation of
something in the mind
19. Smack
20. Used to boil water
21. Lay turf
22. Sheltered nook
23. Coach
25. Motor hotel
26. Urgent request
30. Irregular
32. Motion sickness on
planes
35. British soldier
39. Shockingly repellent
40. Reddish brown
41. Least difficult
43. Beginner
44. Change
46. Small city
47. Jeans material
50. Picture element
53. Iridescent gem
54. Ambition
55. Comfort
60. Fizzy drink
61. Unruly
63. Modify
64. Skin disease
65. Disdain
66. Arid
67. Epic
68. French for "Room"
DOWN
1. Cut away
2. Double-reed woodwind
3. Dispatched
4. Diplomacy
5. Refine metal
6. Appropriate
7. Dried grape
8. Balladeer
9. Transmit
10. Bewilder
11. Bestow
12. Depart
13. Kick out
18. Apiece
24. Arctic bird
25. TV, radio, etc.
26. Use a beeper
27. Former Italian
currency
28. Twin sister of Ares
29. Acculturate
31. Sleeveless garment
33. A part of the small
intestine
34. Vesicle
36. Savvy about
37. Again
38. Mountain pool
42. Soup thickener
43. Gender
45. Scheduling
47. Units of medicine
48. Lyric poem
49. Point of greatest
despair
51. Eastern Standard
Time
52. Loamy deposit
54. Garments of goat
hair
56. Killer whale
57. Anagram of "Loot"
58. Throw
59. Feudal worker
62. Ocean
ACTION
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Rentals
Help Wanted
Jobs
March 8 - 14, 2013
Page 30
THE FILIPINO EXPRESS
u
u
u
Personal u
Services
WANTED
Seeking NANNY/HOUSEKEEPER for
10 year old boy and executive mother.
Long term, live-in only in Morris County, NJ.
Must have valid DL, experience
and references.
COMPETITIVE SALARY
Email only to:
strategystyle@gmail.com
WANTED
DRIVING
LOOKINGSCHOOL
FOR A
LIVE-IN DRIVING NANNY
HELP
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From TUESDAY-FRIDAY
Office
Dispatcher/Secretary
3 children ages 8, 5, and 3
Includes housekeeping,
long-term job, loving and a
great family.
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Please contact:
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PERSONAL
White American male,
South Jersey, 51 years old
but looks younger, 5'11”,
brown hair, loyal, friendly,
attractive, great shape,
hard-working, financially
secure, likes restaurants,
eating home, movies, live
shows, beach, vacations,
exercise, music, singing,
laughing, in search of a
Filipino woman between
age 37 and 46b years old …
attractive, good shape,
fashionable, femininelooking for a long-term
relationship.
Email: njbrick@aol.com to
contact.
River Oaks Estates
Toms River, NJ
5 new homes on private cul-desac, 4 bedrooms, 2 ½ baths, full
basement.
Model home available.
Conveniently located to
Community Medical center,
Garden State Parkway, Route 9
and NJ Transit.
Asking $279,900.
The Filipino
Express
is only
$40
a year for
52 issues.
For more information, please
call:
Ocean Ventures Realty
732-793-0700
FOR SALE
Moringa/Malunggay
Leaf Powder Products.
Exceptional-Superior Quality,
Nicaraguan,
Retail and wholesale, grown on rich
volcanic plantation soil.
750-458-2151
Please visit:
Http://www.herbladyisintoday.
blogspot.com
Buy the highest quality Moringa Powder,
Moringa Seeds and Moringa
Supplements
Use the
Savings Coupon
Below
FOR CLASSIFIED ADS
CALL 201-434-1114
Only $30 for 25 words
(deadline is Wednesday noon)
March 8 - 14, 2013
Page 31
THE FILIPINO EXPRESS
March 8 - 14, 2013
Page 32
THE FILIPINO EXPRESS