PNoy`s LP cronies are scot-free `Pacquiao will

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www.philippinecourier.com
Vol. 10 No. 3
PNoy’s LP cronies are scot-free ‘Pacquiao will KO Rios’ - Roach
…Trainer can’t forget old insult
…. in pork scam cases
DE LIMA SAYS: Only non-allies will be charged with plunder. (Daily Tribune)
... Full story on page 11
Comelec:
Elections
generally
peaceful
‘I’m Hungry’: Pacquiao doing the speed ball with assistant trainer Buboy Fernandez
keenly watching at the back in yesterday’s training in GenSan. Coach Roach sees a KO
win for his prized ward.
Please turn to page 9
Marc ‘Gwapo’ stakes unbeaten record Nov. 30
FINALLY: Marc
‘Gwapo’ Pagkaliwangan
will showcase his boxing prowess before his
family, friends and the
Filipino community for
the first time November
30 after campaigning
in Montreal where he
chalked up six straight
wins in as many fights
all by stoppages.
(Photo by Rob Cruz)
COMELEC chairman Sixto
Brillantes says problems
in the just concluded
Barangay poll were very
minimal.
… Story on page 27
…Story on page 15
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EDITORIAL
Time for national snap polls
P130-B phantom fund
The Malampaya fund of Noynoy
should be included in the budget and the
strongest argument for this is the complete loss economic managers found
themselves in to explain the exact character of the money pool that is generated
every year by about P70 billion in royalty
payments to the government from the
lucrative Malampaya natural gas project
off Palawan.
If there is such a thing as a ghost
project, it can be accurately said that the
Malampaya fund has been turned into a
ghost fund, existing only in the opaque
financial books of the Palace but as National Treasurer Rosalia de Leon had
earlier claimed that the fund is intact, she
now says that “There is no more cash.”
The treatment of the fund according
to Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima in
a roundabout way, was that it existed
merely in the accounting books of the
Palace but the cash was already used to
cover shortfalls in the budget.
That was the concept of the reduced
borrowing policy of Noynoy which as
Budget Secretary Butch Abad said, was
to draw from the Malampaya fund instead.
There was no mention earlier of the
funds being used to augment the budget
since the express purpose of the Malampaya fund is to use this for energy related projects.
The Palace had to use an outdated
and unconstitutional law, Presidential
Decree 910, to skirt the requirement on
the use of the Malampaya fund and allow Noynoy to have full discretion over it.
It was the same fund used for the purchase of two Hamilton-class cutters for
the Philippine Navy and appears to have
been used also to purchase other military hardware in the guise of modernizing the armed forces.
The Supreme Court needs to freeze
the Palace’s continued use of the Marcos-era decree to allow the diversion of
the Malampaya funds but the SC order
6
appeared to have come too late to save
the fund from the greedy clutches of
Noynoy.
Again, the stock argument would be
that the fund was not misused and was
spent for worthy causes. That is the
same issue that Malacañang is now trying to argue against to pin down Gloria
Arroyo in the plunder case involving the
Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office
(PCSO) funds used as blood money to
rescue detained Filipino workers in the
Middle East.
The line being put forward now by the
Palace, particularly on the pork barrel of
Noynoy, is that it is not about the nature
of the funds but how these are used or
misused.
Thus, to the Palace rechanneling the
Malampaya funds to expenses other
than what it was intended for, is perfectly
acceptable since it is Noynoy approving
the spendings and that these were not
misused.
The fact, however, is that the fund had
run dry and Purisima, Abad and the other economic miracle workers of Noynoy
had a hard time conjuring up a scenario
where P130 billion in the pool still exists.
The Malampaya fund being totally
empty, is a compelling reason also for
Noynoy not to let go of the fund since
putting it in the budget and subjecting it
to Congress’ scrutiny may open a can of
worms that the Palace badly wants hidden.
Still, the revelations that a fund as big
as the royalties the government receives
from the highly-profitable energy project
can disappear in thin air is enough reason for Congress to demand that it be
placed in the budget.
The dried up Malampaya fund is
also the best argument for the people’s
movement to demand the removal of all
of Noynoy’s discretionary funds to be
stepped up. (Daily Tribune)
Coming up with a People’s
Initiative (PI) can be a very potent tool granted by the Constitution to the Filipino electorate to
legislate — even if it is only limited to once every five years —
and if can be done and correctly,
with the right proposition that
moreover cannot be undone by
a Congress that wants a people’s
law undone.
Quite frankly, while the PI is
laudable, as envisioned by former Chief Justice Reynato Puno,
the people’s law, even if successful, can be undone by a Congress
that wants to continue coming up
with the pork barrel allocation
and lump sums budgets, even if
disguised through another name.
And in reality, more people
want the pork barrel of congressmen to continue — but want this
to really benefit the constituents.
Stated differently, pork barrel
is not evil, as Puno puts it. It is
the abuse and misuse of the pork
barrel that is bad, or evil, if such
is the adjective one wants to use.
Abolishing the pork barrel of
legislators, or keeping this in the
budget through a different mode,
moreover, would merely transfer the power of the purse of the
legislators to one single entity
— the president, who will now
have total and absolute control
over the entire budget, which is
much too dangerous, considering that already the President has
control over about P1 trillion in
lump sum allocations in the budget. This huge presidential pork
must be abolished.
A PI may change all that, depending on the proposition that
will be crafted and implemented
successfully, if 10 to 12 percent
of the population, and three
percent of the electorate from
each congressional district is
achieved by the proponents of PI.
Why not have a proposition for
the PI calling for a snap national
elections — meaning, leaving all
elective seats vacant, from the
president, vice president, senators and congressmen only —
and with the national elections
conducted manually, in order to
eliminate automated electoral
fraud?
Since the issue is over the
pork barrel, and reputations of
government officials, whether in
the Executive department or the
legislature are being ruined, and
since our so-called democratic
institutions have been so corrupted by the Malacañang ten-
ant through bribery and threats
of impeachments against heads
of constitutional bodies who go
against his wishes, why not have
the electorate decide, once and
for all, on such a proposition of
a snap national elections that
would give the people the power
to decide who, among their senators and congressmen they would
want retained, and whether they
still want Noynoy for their president for two more years.
Impeachment is a useless tool,
since it is not the sovereign —
the Filipinos — who make that
decision but the House of Representatives whose members, as already established, can be bribed
by Noynoy or whoever sits in
Malacañang, to kill impeachment complaints or pursue such
against Noynoy’s political foes.
Noynoy also has to be subjected to a snap election, given the
fact that his hands aren’t all that
clean on the pork barrel issue,
along with charges of widespread
bribery. Change the president,
and you change the Cabinet.
It is generally accepted that
when a candidate is elected and
is the true choice of the electorate, whatever charges of pork
barrel abuse or misuse are leveled at him are deemed eliminated or dropped, on the principle that the Filipinos, through
their right of suffrage, are sovereign and therefore, Filipinos
who voted for candidates and get
them elected, have reposed their
trust in these legislators and the
current Malacañang elective officials.
Forget the yellowsurveys, they
never give the accurate sentiments of the Filipino people, being beholden to the yellow president.
Forget automated elections,
and the fight to review the source
codes, along with pleading for
the safeguards to be placed on
the cheating precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines. Another PCOS automated polls will
merely have the same president
and the same senators elected
again, as they were elected in
2010 and 2013 through massive
60-30-10 digital cheating.
Let’s have the true sentiments
of the people expressed through
an honest ballot on a manual basis. At least, the cheating can be
checked through the evidence of
the paper ballot.
All this can be done through
the PI demanding snap polls.
October 2013
Philippine Courier
THE TALL ORDER
Reprinted from
Malaya with the
author’s consent
By Mon Datol
Walang Martial Law sa Pinas, Madam Leila
Senator Jinggoy Estrada leaves for the
US not only to accompany his wife for a
second medical opinion but to challenge
Justice Secretary Leila de Lima to stop him
from leaving the country due to a pending
move by the DOJ chief to have the Senator’s
passport cancel along with Senators Juan
Ponce Enrile and Bong Revilla and several
others who stand accused of plunder.
The overzealous, ‘ganda-point-seeking’
Malacanang now-big mouth De Lima finally admitted the other day that neither she
nor the Bureau of Immigration can stop
Senator Jinggoy Estrada or anybody to
fly out of Manila because there is no hold
departure order or a lookout bulletin that
will prevent Sen. Jinggoy Estrada from
leaving the Philippines.
Yan ang hirap ke Sec. De Lima, eh, wala
pang kasong isinasampa kina Senators
Jinggoy, Tata Juan at Kap Amazing Revilla
ay gusto ng harangin sa pag-alis sa bansa?
Wala namang Martial Law sa Pinas, ah!
I used to admire Sec. Leila de Lima for
her herculean stand against corruption in
the government and I was the first to clap
my hands and feet when PNoy appointed
her to the DOJ. Ok ang first two years niya
sa puwesto. Daming nanginig ang tumbong. Never will Sec. de Lima condone
bad eggs in the government services. Dahil
kung malalaki ang itlog nga mga bad boys
in the government agencies..
Me big balls din si Madam Leila.
*****
But, I can’t pick up the logic now on
why Sec. de Lima rush-rush decision to
‘convict’ Sens. Jinggoy, Tata Juan and
Kap Bong despite the fact that no concrete charges have been filed in court
against these lawmakers. Bakit ura-urada
tira, Madam Leila?
Me nagu-utos ba?
*****
And I can’t also comprehend why
Madam Leila is only targeting lawmakers
from the opposition and not one from the
allies of President Aquino’s Liberal Party.
I have a front page story on it. It will probably answer my querries….
Na simpleng aritmetik lang naman po.
*****
Sec. Leila de Lima should have just wait
for the right time and timing to expose the
‘Ph10-B Pork Barrel’ scam allegedly masterminded by Janet Napoles. Andyan na
naman ika niya ang report ng NBI about the
Napoles Scam that involved a number of
lawmakers and Cabinet members, eh. Let
the Ombudsman does its job Madam Leila
and send these people to prison….
Pag me Order na si PNoy, err.. ang
Korte pa la.
*****
I really enjoyed Pokwang’s antics
Sunday afternoon when she, Angeline
Quinto, Sam Milby and Piolo Pascual were
brought here in Toronto by TFC & ABSCBN in its ‘Kapamilya Fiesta World’ Tour
at the Sony Centre for the Performing Arts
in downtown Toronto. Pokwang’s mimic of
Wonder Woman and Darna were hilarious
and kakabagan ka sa katatawa, hehehehe…
Instant fan mo na ako, dahil….
Ang galing at lupet mo, Miss Pokwang!
*****
Of course, Angeline Quinto has changed
a thousand fold from a so-so-dressedsinger three years ago when she first came
to perform here into a gorgeous performer
who owns a voice of an angel and a flawless skin. I liked the way she interpreted
October 2013
‘Bukas na Lang Kita Mamahalin.’ And I
further admired her when she thanked us
audience for continuously supporting her:
‘Dahil kung hindi po sa inyo, hindi po ako
magkakaruon ng Dream House.’ Clap,
Clap, Clap… Naniniwala ako, dahil, galing
sa puso pasasalamat mo at tunay na..
Wagas na wagas ka, Angeline.
*****
Sam Milby has added another repertoire
to his singing style and that gives him
added aura of masculinity. Fans of all categories ran after him when Sam went down
the stage to shake hands and kiss some
lucky ladies that included a beautiful ladywriter of a local tabloid here in Toronto
sitting beside me and my associate Miguel
Caducio in the JJ Section of the Centre.
“Sam is her super crush,” the writer’s boss
whispered to me. No wonder.
Natulala after a sweet moment with
Sam Milby.
*****
But the night really belonged to Piolo
Pascual, who repeatedly giggles over sipping of coffee on stage and conversing with
the boisterous crowd of not less than 3,000
TFC subscribers all over the GTA. Piolo,
who visited Toronto several times before
for shows together with Sam Milby and
other ABS-CBN Talents, also was a revelation that night as he did some acts for the
first time, like having a duet with Angeline
to the huge crowd’s roaring approval and
delight, and, rendering new songs different
from his usual ‘safe’ songs.
Piolo, whom I’ve met thrice here in
Toronto the last at Max’s Resto, also wanted to go down the stage ala-Sam and
Angeline to also personally shake hands
with the fans that included Ambassador
Lesli Gatan, Consul General Jones and
husband John West, PIDC Pres. Norma
Carpio, among others, but was cut-short of
his trek at the middle aisle after a throng
of ladies rushed towards him that forced
the Centre’s big Sekyus and Pinoy Jaguars
led by my friend Boyet Enero to rush Piolo
back on stage to prevent any harm staring
at the Hunk Actor.
‘Wow! Muntik na akong ma-rape duon,
ah!’ Piolo said after returning at the stage
that drew wild response from the crowd.
Miguel and I just grinned; so as some
colleagues at the VIP Section at Piolo’s
remark. It was so evident that Piolo was
so happy and gay that night, giggling at
any instance; making the crowd cheers and
applauds for his mabentang-mabentang…
Pakilig acts Piolo-style.
*****
The ‘60th TFC-ABS-CBN Kapamilya
Fiesta Tour’ show October 27, 2013 at
the Sony Centre was a colossal success
and many thanks again, to Piolo Pascual,
Sam Milby, Angeline Quinto and Miss
Pokwang, my instant stand-up comedienne now, for bringing joy and happiness
to our kababayans here in the GTA and
to the Kapamilya Network for the early
Christmas Gift to all OFWs and FilipinoCanadians here!
And lastly, my deepest appreciation to
Ms. Rosary Escano of TFC-ABS-CBNToronto for inviting The Philippine Courier
to the ‘Kapamilya Fiesta Tour’ shows
Sunday even if we still have a very young
business relationship. Maraming-maraming
salamat, po, Ms. Rosary! I doff my hat to
you, Kapamilya people!
Mabuhay Kayo!
Boosting the Economy
WITH the country becoming increasingly
bullish about its economic prospects and our
recording growth rates that are the best in the
region, it’s time the country honors its international commitments vis-a-vis its trade policies, particularly tariff commitments with the
World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement
partners.
The Philippines, at present, is in prime
position to implement long-overdue trade
policies that will boost its already growing
economy.
The time is ripe for the government to invest its political capital and goodwill with policy reforms, which in the short, medium, and
long term will benefit the economy. It is time
for the country to embrace trade liberalization
and allow agricultural products to enter the
local market under a tariffied scheme, something it should have done a long time ago.
A lot has been said about the so-called
“evils” of trade liberalization that have no basis in economics or real-life experience.
Protectionism has been sold hand-in-hand
with nationalism to promote the idea that our
farmers and our people benefit when trade
barriers shield their products from foreign
competition. Our farmers supposedly benefit
because protectionism strengthens their sector, while providing consumers with affordable, locally-grown agricultural products like
rice.
In truth, the country’s agricultural sector
has continued to decline over the years despite, or perhaps because of, these protectionist policies. Experts have repeatedly pointed
out that a “protectionist policy environment”
which continues to impose restrictions–real
and disguised–in the importation of agricultural products, supposedly to protect our own
industries against “unfair competition,” have
hurt the agricultural sector more than they
have helped.
Little surprise, then, that Philippine agriculture is considered the “poor man’s sector.”
In other countries that have long opened their
borders to international agricultural trade–like
Japan, China, South Korea, and Asean neighbors, Thailand, Malaysia, and even Vietnam–
such has not been the case. Their consumers
enjoy commodities at more affordable prices
while their countries have gone on to strengthen export-oriented industries where they are
most competitive.
In a 2013 discussion paper entitled “Philippine Agriculture to 2020: Threats and Opportunities from Global Trade” written by
UP-trained economist Dr. Roehlano Briones
for government think tank Philippine Institute
for Development Studies (PIDS), two models
of agricultural development were compared.
The first is a “protectionist approach”
typical of the country’s current “highly conservative” outlook; the second is the “alternative,” which advocates the engagement of
Philippine agriculture with the global market,
“through trade and specialization on comparative advantage”.
The second option, “entails more liberal
trade policies (lowering of tariffs and nontariff barriers) as well as directing expenditure
support on a more neutral basis, i.e. greater
outlays towards products with lower support,
which typically are the export-oriented commodities (i.e. products for which the Philippines has comparative advantage).”
After a thorough analysis of both models,
Briones’ conclusion was that the strategy of
curtailing imports resulted in substantial price
increases for most agricultural products presenting “a substantial burden to the poor.”
This is reflected in the prices of our country’s staple food, rice. According to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), Filipinos sometimes have to
pay twice more for the same rice that can be
bought cheaper in other countries. The local
production of rice has not helped lower prices; even the National Food Authority (NFA)
has admitted that transporting palay from the
provinces to Metro Manila adds as much as
one peso per kilo to the cost of rice.
On the other hand, embracing international trade allows investment to be “re-allocated
towards export-oriented commodities to accelerate productivity growth in the mediumterm, while tariff and non-tariff barriers are reduced. Here, consumers benefit through food
affordability for most agricultural products
while allowing for competitiveness in other
export-oriented commodities: banana, aquaculture products, and even coconut.”
Lowering trade barriers benefits the Filipino consumers because it allows them to purchase products at much lower prices because
these are more efficiently produced elsewhere
and are therefore cheaper than those produced
locally.
While there are challenges yet to be hurdled in allowing for the importation of agricultural products under a tariffied scheme, the
economist predicts “land and other resources
are expected to move towards sub-sectors
with brighter income opportunities for farmers.”
Briones is basically saying that farmerprovided alternatives are most likely to transition from growing crops that are not profitable
to crops that can bring them more income.
Take, for example, rice farmers who only earn
an average of 16,251 pesos per hectare per
crop, as opposed to farmers who grow onion
bulbs that can earn an average of 302,070 pesos per hectare per crop.
This is where revenues generated through
tariffs imposed on imported agriculture products come in. Revenues from tariffs may be
invested back into the agriculture sector by
way of irrigation, farm-to-market roads,
post-harvest equipment and facilities, credit,
research and development, extension services, other market infrastructure and market
information. This is especially true because
the Republic Act 8178, also known as “The
Agricultural Tariffication Act” mandates that
tariffs from imported agricultural products go
to the Agricultural Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (ACEF), which in turn can be used
to fund agriculture development initiatives.
While the law – enacted in 1996 – endeavors to make the country’s agricultural sector
viable, efficient, and globally competitive, it
has not, until today, been fully implemented
and nor fully maximized.
RA 1878 abolishes restrictions on the
importation of agricultural products while
protecting Filipino firms against unfair trade
through the strict implementation of antidumping and countervailing measures.
The law requires the tariffs or taxes levied
on agricultural commodities imported from
another country be invested into the ACEF.
Proceeds in the ACEF will be deposited and
then “earmarked by Congress for irrigation,
farm-to-market roads, post-harvest equipment
and facilities, credit, research and development, other marketing infrastructure, provision of market information, retraining, extension services, and other forms of assistance
and support to the agricultural sector,” resulting in: (1) increased investments in the agriculture sector translating to higher productivity, better quality of produce, competitiveness,
and ultimately higher income for local farmers; (2) constant sufficiency in the supply of
agricultural products, stability and affordability of agricultural products; (3) and a significant reduction in corruption and arbitrariness
in the importation process, typical of when
only “favored importers” are given “special
permits, exemptions, and privileges” under an
importation-prohibitive environment.
Always, the key, if the law were to be allowed to accomplish its objectives, is honest,
transparent, and conscientious implementation.
The intent of RA 8178 -- an Act of Congress -- should not be diluted by administrative and/or department orders whose only purpose is to circumvent the spirit of agricultural
tariffication.
As it is, despite RA 8178, virtual monopolies in the importation of agricultural products continue to exist. Whether wittingly or
unwittingly, undue regulation, in the form of
restrictions outside of what the law provides,
has allowed certain quarters to grant “special
favors” to a select few.
This is the kind of perversion to the Agricultural Tariffication Act that we must all
guard against. When, lost in implementation,
a noble concept is reduced (once more) to
nothing more than a tool for corruption.
***
Readers who missed a column can access www.duckyparedes.com/blogs. This is
updated daily. Your reactions are welcome at
duckyparedes@yahoo.com or you can send
me a message through Twitter @diretsahan.
7
Philippine Courier
Reprinted from
Malaya with the
author’s consent
Empowering barangays
through honest, peaceful
elections
I HAVE seen some campaigners
for candidates running for positions
in the barangay elections on Monday
but in Metro Manila, the Oct. 28 elections do not have the hoopla of the
congressional, senatorial and presidential elections.
But it’s a different matter in the
provinces, especially in the barrios,
where the environment is much more
intimate and emotions are much more
intense.
The Philippine Star reported that a
total of 6,195 barangays or 14.74 percent of the 42,028 barangays nationwide were declared by the Philippine
National Police as election watchlist
areas.
VERA Files’ Babylyn Kano-Omar
reported that the Comelec and local
government units recommened that
100 of Tawi-Tawi’s 203 villages be
classified as areas of immediate concern for Monday’s elections.
In Bongao, the provincial capital,
16 of 35 barangays have been named
areas of concern.
Should the DILG approve the recommendation, polling precincts in
these barangays should have five to
seven police or military security on
Election Day.
Tawi-Tawi is not new to heated
barangay elections. VERA Files reported that “Failure of elections were
declared in certain areas in the past
years. In 2007, elections in barangays
Lahay-Lahay and Tandubas did not
push through after a polling center
burned down. In 2010, elections in
Putat, South Ubian failed after members of the Board of Election Inspectors left the precincts fearing for their
lives.”
VERA Files further reported that
last Saturday night, unidentified men
threw a grenade at the Tawi-Tawi police station. No one was reported hurt.
Elections on Monday will be
manual.
A barangay is the smallest unit of
the government but it is also the most
important because there are more than
42,000 all over the country, which
serve as foundation of our political
system. The government is only as
strong as its foundation.
Under the Local Government Code
(Republic Act 7160) barangay elections are supposed to be non-partisan.
Candidates should not belong to a political party. But it’s common knowledge that national politicians support
certain candidates in preparation for
their next election venture when they
would tap these local officials for
their campaign.
The Center for People Empowerment in Governance, in its analysis,
“Reclaiming the Lost Potential of the
Barangay” states that , “ In reality, barangay officials are bound to a web of
political clans from the president and
Congress to local government units
(LGUs) such as governors, mayors,
and councilors. Barangay elections
are critical to national and local elections.
In the presidential race, for instance,
8
barangay officials are expected to
deliver the vote quotas through vote
buying or other fraudulent means and
enticements if necessary, orchestrated
by campaign machineries run by mayors, governors, and other politicians.
Similarly, the candidacy of barangay
aspirants is bankrolled by town officials and politicians; payback time
is during the next local elections.
With the patronage money, positions,
perks, and kickbacks in projects involved, barangay elections are highly
partisan and hotly-contested.”
CENPEG said that “Envisioned 22
years ago under the Local Government Code, the barangay (village)
was to serve as the basic administrative unit in the community – a grassroots governance system tasked with
delivering basic health, social, and
other government services. The barangay was also planned as a mechanism for participatory economic governance toward eliminating poverty,
unemployment, and social inequality.”
CENPEG said the vision has not
materialized and paints a dismal picture of the barangays:
“Today, there is hardly any sign of
human progress in a typical barangay
most especially in the rural areas.
There is of course the ubiquitous,
hastily-built basketball court in the
middle of the road and in the heart of
the village the barangay center which
also functions as a social hall at night.
Then there is what looks like an unfinished bridge and what appears to
be a short stretch of road of sub-standard materials.
“The barangay cannot pass for a development model. It remains a vista
of mass poverty which is no different
from past decades: Up to 60% of the
rural population is poor, more than
30% in the urban areas. Claimed GDP
growth does not translate to food and
jobs among majority of the villagers;
income disparity between the rich and
poor is widening by the day. What
little mobility there is can be seen in
people’s out-migration – toward town
centers in search of odd jobs and destined to join clusters of informal settlers, or out of the country tucking
away meager savings or borrowed
money with family members left at
home. In 2012, the number of Filipinos leaving the country every day
reached 5,000 or up by 2,000 since
2010; a great number of this diaspora
came from the rural barangays.”
But CENPEG said “the barangay
as an institution is a basic political
and economic unit that can promise
an all-sided development. The human
potential, resources, and opportunities for productivity that will make
a country great are in the barangay.
If welded together by a grassrootsdriven development program, peoplebased leadership, new development
models, and real participatory democracy the barangay – or the community
that comprises it – is a powerful engine of growth. “
It would take more than Monday’s
election to genuinely empower the
barangays.
***
Blog:www.ellentordesillas.com
E-mail:ellentordesillas@gmail.
com
KAKAMPI MO
ANG BATAS
By Atty. Batas Mauricio
Rotarians put up windmill water
pump in far village
LIFE’S INSPIRATIONS: “… Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people…” (Ephesians 6:7, the Holy Bible)
ROTARIANS PLAY SANTA
CLAUS TO VILLAGERS: To
the nearly 1,000 or so families
residing at the far-flung barangay or barrio village of Sto. Domingo, Lupao, Nueva Ecija who
had always suffered acute water
shortage and, at times, absolute
water lack for as long as they
could remember, Rotarians from
Australia and District 3810 in the
Philippines played an early Sta.
Claus for all of them last Thursday, October 10, 2013.
The reason? The Rotarians,
from the Rotary Club of Batesman
Bay, Australia and from the Rotary Club of Intramuros Manila,
gave them an early Christmas
gift, bringing Christmas cheers
to them 75 or so days earlier, in
the form of a fully completed
windmill and electricity powered
submersible water pump which is
capable of producing fresh, clean
and potable drinking water, free
of charge, for all the villagers.
The water pump, the first of
its kind in Bgy. Sto. Domingo and
only the third pump in the area,
is connected to a huge overhead
water tank that is capable of storing about a thousand gallons of
water, said First Class President
Rolando Marasigan of the Rotary
Club of Intramuros, during the
turn over of the water pump to
Bgy. Sto. Domingo, through its
village chief, Bgy. Capt. Antonio
Villanueva, as well as to the Sto.
Domingo Elementary School,
through its principal, Ms. Myrna
Hesham Ahmed.
-oooWATER WINDMILL PROJECT
RISES IN FAR BARANGAY:
Explaining how the water windmill project came about, Marasigan said the Rotary Club of Intramuros Manila and the Rotary
Club of Batesman Bay Australia
had already collaborated many
times in the past to install water
systems in several places in the
Philippines which were previously not provided with any water service, either by their municipalities, cities, and provinces,
or by their water districts, for one
reason or another.
The Australian club,
through the efforts of its officers
working closely with Rotarians
Peter Woods and Paul Street,
makes available the money to
install the water systems, while
the Rotary Club of Intramuros,
in partnership with other Rotary
Clubs and non-governmental
organizations and local government units, looks for the areas
where the water systems are to be
put up. The selection of the areas
is usually led by Intramuros Rotarians Floren Naguit and Jimmy
Lim and the other past presidents
of the Club.
Through this collaboration,
water systems have been successfully installed in many remote
places, like Bgy. Oogong in Sta.
Cruz, Laguna, in the mountainous villages in Cavinti, Laguna
(for a school for the deaf and the
dumb), and in flood-prone Minalin, Pampanga, serving residents
who had no access to clean water
supply. For the Sto. Domingo water windmill project, a nun from
the Franciscan order, Sis. Vida
Cordero, took the lead. Cordero
is a member of the Rotary Club
of Intramuros.
-oooROTARY PROVIDES
CLEAN DRINKING WATER:
In a report to Past District Gov.
Lyne Abanilla (also a member of
the Rotary Club of Intramuros),
Marasigan gave this synopsis of
the water windmill project: “The
project seeks to provide a water system for the students and
school personnel of the Sto. Domingo Elementary School, and
for the residents of the village.
“ The project is named
Windmill with Jack Pump and
Water Distribution System and
Submersible Water Pump: This is
envisioned to provide a reliable
water system for the students and
school personnel of the Sto. Domingo Elementary School; for
clean drinking water, cleaning
the school premises, and putting
up of vegetable gardens as a livelihood program. Also, the water
pump is aimed at giving easy access to clean drinking water for
the families who reside in the village.
“For clean drinking water, villagers have been buying
from water stations in the town
proper, which is about eight (8)
to ten (10) kilometers away from
the village, for PhP35 per gallon.
Transportation fare from Barangay Sto. Domingo to the town
proper of Lupao, Nueva Ecija,
is PhP 50-PhP150. This is now
a thing of the past, and villagers can now use the money they
have been spending for their water needs for some other necessities…”
-oooREACTIONS? Please call
me at 0917 984 24 68, 0918 574
0193, 0922 833 43 96. Email: batasmauricio@yahoo.com, mmauriciojr111@gmail.com.
October 2013
Philippine Courier
‘Pacquiao will KO Rios’ - Roach
…Trainer can’t forget old insult
GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Philippines (October 28, 2013) - Manny Pacquiao’s showdown with Brandon Rios
on Nov. 24 in Macau is going to end in
a knockout.
And Hall of Fame trainer Freddie
Roach says it’s the Mexican who will
kiss the canvas.
Roach made this prediction to
visiting Asian journalists last week in
General Santos City, where Pacquiao is
holding his training camp.
“Manny will be doing me a big
favor by knocking this guy (Rios) out,”
Roach said.
Roach’s ill-feeling toward Rios
emanated from a 2010 video showing
the Mexican-American mocking his
slurred speech and mannerism in front
of trainer Robert Garcia and Antonio
Margarito.
Undaunted by the brutal sixthround knockout Pacquiao suffered
against Juan Manuel Marquez last Dec.
8, Roach said Pacquiao’s hunger (of
winning) is back.
The Filipino also
suffered a controversial split
decision loss to
American Timothy Bradley last
June 9.
Roach said
he wants Pacquiao to ease up
on his training a
bit so as not too
peak too soon.
Filipino assistant
trainer Buboy
Fernandez put
Pacquiao’s physical condition at
85 to 90 percent,
and there are
four weeks left
before the welterweight bout
is staged at The
Coach Freddie Roach
Venetian Macao’s Cotai Arena.
But Pacquiao said he needs to
put in more work to regain his old form.
“I need to train more,” he told the Inquirer. “I am hungry.”
Renowned promoter Bob Arum,
who accompanied the media horde
with Sands China CEO Edward Tracy,
was also impressed with Pacquiao’s
performance in his sparring with Ghanaian welterweight Fredrick Lawson
and Briton light middleweight Liam
Vaughan.
Tracy was quoted by South China
Morning Post that tickets for PacquiaoRios are 80 percent sold out. Ticket inquiries reportedly came from fans from
31 countries, including Zimbabwe and
Russia.
Celebrities like Denzel Washington, George Clooney and Eva Longoria
are also reported to have expressed their
intention to see the fight. (Roy LuarcaINQ7.net)
Pacquiao is 4-3 favorite over Rios
… Not even thinking of retiring after Nov. 24 fight
By Eddie Alinea
Philboxing.com
GENERAL SANTOS CITY (October 26, 2013) - Those who believe
Manny Pacquiao’s days as a fighter are
numbered, think again.
Pacquiao, the world’s boxing
icon, is not retiring soon as many think,
especially if he loses his coming fight
with American Brandon “Bam Bam”
Bradley next month in Macau.
“Retiring? Of course not. Not
at the most immediate time,” Pacquiao
exclaimed in an exclusive one-on-one
interview last week after completing
his fifth month of preparation in General Santos City.
“If the measurement of their
prediction lies in me losing to Bradley,
then they’re mistaken. Because losing
that fight never entered my mind,” a
jovial Pacman said with eyes aglow.
“I’m sorry, but I have to tell them, they
will be disappointed.”
“Marami na nga akong naririnig
mula sa kung sino-sino na kailangan
kong nang isabit ang fighting gloves
ko kapag ako’s natalo kay Bardley. For
the first time I will be speaking for myself, let me just say na ni sa guniguni,
hindi ko inisip na matatalo ako. Precisely that’s the reason why I started
training early, 10 months to be exact,”
he reasoned out.
The 34-year-old eight-division
champion who will turn 35 weeks before his November 24 date with Brandon, admitted the coming rendezvous
with the former WBA lightweight belt
owner who totes an envious 31-1-1
win-loss-draw record with 23 KOs is
very important in his efforts to bounce
back from a twin setbacks he suffered
last years.
The Filipino boxing icon is also
October 2013
favored 4-3 to beat Rios by the odds
makers which are expected to put the
ante further up by 5-1 comes fight time.
“This coming fight is very significant to me not only because I want
to come back from that losses last year
but because of my desire to make up
for all boxing fans in the world, especially our kababayans, who felt sad and
frustrated as result of those defeats,” he
stressed.
A questionable split decision
loss to Tim Bradley in his first fight in
2012 broke his string of 15 consecutive
victories that started on September 10,
2005 following a setback to Eric Morales, whom he beats twice by KO the
next time around.
A devastating sixth round
knockout to arch-enemy Juan Manuel
Marquez came as the only third time
he didn’t answer the bell for the next
round blotting what could have been a
perfect triumphant record that included
stoppage wins over Morales (twice),
David Diaz, Oscar Dela Hoya, Ricky
Hatton and Miguel Cotto that catapulted him to top spot in the world’s best
pound-for-pound fighter.
“Alam ko namang mahal pa rin
ako ng fans, nararamdaman ko yun kahit saan ako magpunta. Like this afternoon, di ba, when I stepped down from
the gym, dami paring naghihintay sa
akin makita man lang ako,” Pacquiao
said in reference to a daily occurrence
every practice session where supporters and believers wait for him and greet
him.
That afternoon, among the crowd
was a polio-stricken little boy, who
dropped his cane and fell to the ground
when shoved by his security men. Out
TOP FORM: Pacquiao flexes his muscles during Thursday's workout at Pacman's
Wildcard Gym in General Santos. (Photo by Dong Secuya-Philboxing.com)
of pity Pacquiao approached the boys
help him to his feet and handed him a
bunch of P500 bills.
“Naawa ako sa bata. He could
hardly walk but still waited for me for
hours just to see me,” he said. Konti
lang ibinigay ko kasi baka agawin lang
ng iba. Para kasing walang kasama.”
“That is what I don’t want to lose,
ang pagmamahal, pag-galang at pagkilalang ibinibigay sa akin ng mga tao,
hindi lamang dito sa atin kundi maging sa ibang bansa man, Reason why
I don’t wasn’t to lose this fight and the
few more bouts na gagawin ko bago
ako mag-retire,” he said.
“I feel very happy kasi making
people happy. And I consider that one
of the legacies I can bestow the entire
sports community when I am no longer
fighting,” he stressed.
9
Philippine Courier
Stars of the Month
Successful OMCs are SUCCESS-Oriented
By O
B
Ores Ti
Ting
Emmanuel D. Abellanosa
For me, life’s simplest pleasure is having lunch with my brod of Tau Sigma
Alpha or simply called “ACES” - a fraternity founded by a group of pre-med students
who excelled in academic while finishing their respective degrees.
Visiting Toronto for a few days, Emmanuel D. Abellanosa , an ACE, was
more than happy to meet us over lunch in one of the restaurants in Toronto with his
wife Susan and son.
Meeting him the first time, I was impressed with his simplicity and his positive attitude over life and everything else.
An Electrical Engineer by profession, Emmy, as they call him, is Head of
the Mindanao Operations and Maintenance with National Grid Corporation of the
Philippines (NGCP) stationed in Iligan City, a private corporation headed by Henry
Sy. According to him, one of the undertakings of the Corporation was to establish and
maintain reliable electricity throughout the country. The transmission facilities or the
power grid, serve and deliver sustainable environment-friendly energy system in the
Philippines and Southeast Asia. He is currently stationed in Mindanao.
When typhoon SENDONG hit the Visayas and Mindanao in December
2011 causing flooding, many houses destroyed, and transmission lines destroyed –
electricity completely shut off, he was summoned to deliver the necessary repairs to
ensure power delivery to the affected area immediately.
In 2012, the destruction of typhoon PABLO (Bopha) in Davao Oriental,
particularly the town of Cateel caused residents to panic over the danger of possible
disaster and storm. Without any concerns for his own safety, he was instructed by his
employer to have the transmission power back in running in 2 weeks.
An impossible feat but the challenges to help his kababayans, NGCP provided
him with four helicopters and support staff to monitor high-voltage transmission
power, and grid interconnections generators damaged by typhoon Pablo.
With his experience, technical expertise, and leadership, he successfully repaired
and delivered the electricity needed in the province immediately.
I vow to his dedication and commitment helping our people and most importantly
his professionalism is indeed self-fulfilling. Kudos to you, Brod!!!
“Though my soul may set in darkness, it will rise in perfect light; I have loved
the stars too fondly, to be fearful of the night”, Sarah Williams.
(For Star of the Month inquiries, pls. call Ores Ting@ 416-546-9391)
Servicio Filipino
p Internationale
Call us now at
(416) 266-3838 or
(416) 264-7676
Fax (416) 265-3939
And look for
Marissa Corpus (UP Graduate)
65 Elfreda Blvd.,
Toronto ON M1L 4L5
Email: mbcimmigration@yahoo.ca
> Want to sponsor / help a relative?
> Visitor needing an employer?
> Need a new employer?
> Any immigration problems?
> Caregiver sponsorship available
NARIRITO PARA
TUMULONG SA INYO!
10 YEARS HELPING OUR
KABABAYANS
Manila: Please call Rubie Tupas at Tel: (632) 830-0573
Fax: (632) 830-0547. Suite 821 Cityland Herrera Towers,
#98 Herrera Corner Valero Sts., Salcedo Village, Makati City
Email: mbbcons@nsclub.net
Member: Canadian Society of Immigration Consultants (CSIC)
"Full Member" M041454
10
We salute our OMCs here and abroad who have been very consistent and determined to promote The Filipino Healthcare’s Exclusive Care Program. It’s no
easy job to promptly succeed in this line of business. Many have faced struggles
and failures before they have totally succeeded. But thanks to persistency and the
sheer goodness of the program, many have not just succeeded, but have totally
embraced being an OMC as a profession.
A responsible OMC takes this job as a serious profession as he posts as
“the ambassador of goodwill and service” for the company. It is therefore important that as OMC, you know the product very well, the company that carries and
promotes the product, and the objectives of the program.
OMCs who succeed are S-U-C-C-E-S—oriented.
S- erve
Serve others. You are of service to others when you help promote TheExclusive Care Program. You are an instrument of good health when you spread
this important piece of good news to others.
U-nique
You are unique. You are different because you live your life not just for
yourself but for others.
C-ommitted
Commited to deliver positive results. Generating sales is important because it will not only generate income for yourself or the company but will also
give more people the opportunity to have comprehensive yet affordable healthcare protection.
C-onnect
Connect with people. It is important to connect with friends, relatives,
colleague and other people. Build rapport to establish a vast network and share
with them the good news about the program.
E-xample
Set a good example to your fellow OMC. You are what you offer.
Show dedication in what you do and be passionate on what you want to achieve.
S- trategize
Think of the best strategy to achieve your goals and succeed in this
business. Strategize in your community. How? Connect with people.
A challenge to all our OMC’s reading this article, share your SUCCESS
story to inspire and motivate others.
What’s your story? Share. We’ll listen.
Visit us at http://www.filipinohealthcare.com or http://www.icsstaffingcanada.ca
From: Ms. Josephine Almazor – President/The Filipino Healthcare
UK wants Pinoy with exceptional talents
….than healthcare workers
MANILA (October 23, 2013) - The demand for healthcare workers in the United
Kingdom is not a priority at the moment, the UK’s new envoy to Manila said, noting
they are in need of exceptionally talented nationals, including Filipinos, who excel
in the fields of science, engineering and the arts to come and live in Britain.
“On the issue of caregivers and nursing, they’re at the bottom end of the
cycle now,” British Ambassador Asif Ahmad told reporters in a luncheon meeting on
Wednesday when asked if there is still a demand for health professionals in the UK.
Faced with increasing illegal migration problem, the UK in 2011 introduced
the “Tier 1 Exceptional Talent” immigration scheme for foreigners who are considered the “brightest and the best in their field.”
The policy was aimed at bringing foreign migration levels to the country lower,
tackle abuses against illegal migrants and ensure that the system effectively meets
the needs of the country.
Presently, the need for foreign workers in certain fields in Britain usually "go
up and down in cycles,” Ahmad explained, adding he does not know “if that will
change in the future.”
“As countries grow and contract, labor needs always change,” he said. “One
can’t guarantee that one type of employment would be needed forever.”
The Philippines used to be one of the largest sources for foreign health workers
in the UK and the United States. But the easing of labor shortage in these countries
and the economic recession forced them in the last few years to stop hiring Filipino
nurses and caregivers.
“I don’t think people should go to nursing schools in the Philippines thinking
that this is a ticket to land a work abroad,” he said.
On the other hand, employment for Filipino seafarers, Ahmad said, “will continue provided that qualifications from the Philippines are strong.”
Amid the shift in the UK’s labor policy, Ahmad said more jobs from Britain
are moving to the Philippines.
“What we are actually seeing is that sometimes not the people are moving but
the work is moving to them. And the BPOs are the classic example of that,” Ahmad
said, referring to the processing centers for finance of the U.K. Foreign Office that
were established in Manila.
Ahmad described Manila as an “important and expanding center of operations” for British embassies in the Asia-Pacific region and the only other location of
its BPO outside its head office in the UK.
“One in the UK, one in Manila and there’ll be none other. So all of our other
individual processing centers throughout the world in every embassy is being shut
down and moving here,” he said. — RSJ, GMA News
October 2013
Philippine Courier
PNoy’s LP cronies are scot-free
…. in pork scam cases
MANILA (October 26, 2013) – It pays
to be a close ally of the sitting President as not one Liberal Party senator
or congressman, as well as President
Benigno S. Aquino III’s allies in both
houses of Congress, nor even a Cabinet
official will be charged for plunder on
the pork barrel scam.
This was bragged by Justice
Secretary Leila de Lima to reporters
yesterday and despite glaring proof to
the contrary, De Lima claimed that partisan politics played no part in indicting opposition lawmakers and virtually
clearing Palace allies for their alleged
part in the scandal over the diversion of
lawmakers’ discretionary funds.
De Lima likewise confirmed that
neither member of the ruling Liberal
Party nor allies of President Aquino
would be included in the second batch
of Priority Development Assistance
Fund (PDAF) charges being prepared
by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and expected to be filed before the Ombudsman next week.
De Lima has also asked the
Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA)
to cancel the passports of the non-allies of Aquino, namely Senators Juan
Ponce-Enrile, Jinggoy Estrada and Ramon Revilla Jr., along with the others
named in the DoJ-NBI complaint of
plunder lodged before the Ombudsman
on grounds of “national security
De Lima admitted that the NBI
probe on the pork controversy is limited to the testimonies of whistleblowers against alleged brains of the scam,
Janet Lim Napoles and supporting evidence gathered by the team.
She justified the exclusion of the
allies of Aquino who were also named
in the Commission on Audit (CoA)
special report and the non-investigation by the NBI on the Aquino allies
and partymates, claiming that the NBI
cannot investigate everything in the
CoA.
“The NBI cannot investigate
everything in the CoA report due to
limited resources,” she said. She failed,
however, to explain why the investigation was focused solely on the nonallies of Aquino who are key opposition figures at the same time, using the
same resources.
The cancellation request of
the Justice chief of the passports of the
three senators came a day after Aquino,
in his talk in the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines
(Focap) forum claimed that the attacks
against his Disbursement Acceleration
Program (DAP) was a conspiracy he
blamed on “well known political persons” who had conspired to attack his
DAP funds.
“All of these attacks came after
plunder cases, among others, that were
filed in the Office of the Ombudsman
against a few well-known politicians.”
He did not name names, but was obviously referring to the three non-allied
senators for the alleged attacks on his
DAP funds.
“Since I am in a room full
of journalists, perhaps I can leave it to
you to connect the dots,” he said during the Focap forum,” he was quoted
as saying.
Aquino is known
October 2013
for his vindictiveness.
The DAP issue came to
fore after Senator Estrada,
in a privilege speech, mentioned that senators were
given P50 million each as
“incentive.” As the P50
million “incentive” was
bared which implicated LP
stalwart Sen. Franklin Drilon, then the finance chairman, and said to have been
a bribe to get the senators
to convict then impeached
Chief Justice Renato Corona, the Palace quickly came
up with its damage control,
with Budget Secretary
Florencio “Butch” Abad
saying that the millions
given to senators were from
the unknown DAP funds, to
“stimulate” the economy.
However, virtually the majority of senators said they were unaware of such a
program, which was moreover not included in the 2012 budget. The Palace
damage control went awry as it was
later found that several senator allies
got 100 million and not just P50 million. Also Abad was hard put to justify
the PDAF as stimulus to the senators.
Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago
wants the allies of Aquino to also be
charged with plunder, naming at least
two of them, Senate President Drilon
and Sen. Francis Escudero along with
the three non-allies of Aquino, saying
that they were given P100 million each
while the rest of the senators were given only P50 million.
Santiago said that the three
senators already charged with plunder
– Enrile, Estrada, and Bong Revilla –
are expected to be joined shortly by
other senators, as soon as the Justice
secretary finds the NBI reports to be
sufficient in substance.
But this won’t happen, because the Justice Secretary herself has
already stated that the second tranche
of plunder cases which is probably the
last of the plunder complaints will not
include the allies of Aquino.
The DoJ chief revealed that
the lawmakers and non-government
organizations included in the CoA report apart from those linked to Napoles
would be subject of the investigation of
the Inter-Agency Anti-Graft and Corruption Council (IAAGCC).
“It is not our fault, it was not
deliberate on our part that only opposition lawmakers were included in the
first batch of charges. We don’t look at
political affiliations of respondents. We
only based our findings on evidence
gathered,” the DoJ chief stressed.
During the impeachment proper,
House prosecutors confirmed that they
had signed the impeachment complaint
against Corona without reading the
same and that they felt it was poorly
prepared.
Subsequent investigation showed
Malacañang also tapped funds in the
form of discretionary funds contrary to
the constitutional requirements on the
disbursement of public funds.
“The senators suspected of plunder have lost their moral right to steer
the debate from the PDAF to the DAP.
I myself believe that the DAP should
be abolished for being unconstitutional. But I will not allow my colleagues
to deflect their criminal liabilities concerning PDAF by harping on the DAP
system from which they themselves
profited,” she said.
According to the Budget secretary, the biggest recipients of the controversial DAP, receiving P100 million
each, are the following senators: Enrile, Drilon, and Escudero. Other allies
were said to have gotten more than P50
million but were not listed by the Budget chief.
“They can shout to high heavens
about how useful their projects were,
but that is begging the issue. The issue
is whether the DAP is constitutional,
whether those senators received kickbacks from their bonanzas, and why
those three were favoured over the rest
by receiving double the amount,” she
said.
“President Aquino’s priorities are
correct. For purposes of deterrence, it
is more efficient and bloodcurdling to
send senators to jail, if they are guilty
of plunder. Analyzing and retrofitting
the pork barrel system should come
later, because it will take more time
and requires highly technical skill,”
said Santiago.
Santiago repeated her advocacy
that “justice delayed is justice denied,”
and urged public support for the Ombudsman in resolving the preliminary
investigation so that if merited, criminal cases can be filed in court this year.
“Clearly, the persons in interest are availing of the hoary courtroom tactic by the defense to delay the
case, so that the endgame will never be
reached. Trial courts all over the country are too familiar with this tactic to
lend credence to the various efforts of
persons in interest to distract public attention and resort to technicalities,” the
senator said.
Santiago said that, having been
an RTC judge herself, just like the Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales,
she knows that preliminary investigation should not be treated as a full-scale
trial, but basically as an examination of
the affidavits of the complainant and
the counter-affidavits of the respon-
dents.
“If the public supports her, the
Ombudsman can actually finish the
preliminary investigation in only two
or three months. The justice secretary
should no longer entertain any motion
for reconsideration, because the justice
department already reviewed at length
the NBI evidence.
When media asked whether
preventive suspension might disable
the Senate from constituting a quorum,
Santiago said: “Dura lex sed lex. If that
is what the law provides, the lack of a
quorum is not a reason for disobeying
the law. The Senate itself can change
the rule on quorums to enable the Senate to function.”
However, contrary to Aquino’s
stand, Santiago said that it is not an excuse for pork barrel to be retained, just
because it will help to ensure the reelection of incumbent representatives.
“To help the best and brightest
to get elected to public office, it is not
necessary to convert the office of the
congressman into a local DSWD with
freebies for all constituents. That is a
matter for campaign finance reform.
Ideally, government should finance
and strictly regulate campaign advertising. In other words, government
should subsidize campaigns, to make
sure that candidates do not resort to
vote-buying using pork barrel which
are public funds,” she said.
Santiago said there is no provision in the Constitution stating that distribution of freebies in the community
is part of the function of a lawmaker.
“Candidates should win on
the basis of academic excellence and
professional excellence. They should
not win reelection by using pork barrel
to bribe voters. That system is corrupt
and breeds a culture of dependency on
the person rather than on the institution
of government,” she said.
Santiago, reacting to a recent
speech by Aquino, said that he is
“mostly correct” in insisting that the
first item of business concerning the
pork barrel scam should be to jail, if
warranted, the senators and representatives charged by the NBI with plunder
before the Ombudsman. (With report
from Benjamin B. Pulta - The Daily
Tribune)
11
Philippine Courier
The Royal Family
The official christening photo of Britain's Prince George photographed in the Morning Room at Clarence House in London on Wednesday. Kate Duchess of
Cambridge holds her son Prince George seated next to Queen Elizabeth II and Prince William, back row from left, Prince Philip, Prince Charles, and the Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Harry, Pippa Middleton, James Middleton, Carole Middleton and Michael Middleton. (AP)
PerryScope Dictatorship sans martial law
By Perry Diaz
On September 21, 1972, then President
Ferdinand E. Marcos declared a craftily
designed – nay, conjured -- martial law;
thus began an authoritarian regime that
lasted 14 years until it ended in an attempted coup d’etat that morphed into a
successful “people power” revolution.
Another coup d’etat that was
promoted as a “people power” revolution ousted then President Joseph “Erap”
Estrada in 2001, which brought his vice
president, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, to
power. For the next nine years, Gloria
ruled with a tight grip on the House of
Representatives, the Supreme Court, and
the Armed Forces of the Philippines. The
only body that she couldn’t control was
the Senate.
Then came Benigno “Noynoy”
Aquino III, a lackluster senator, who
suddenly found himself in the limelight
upon the death of his mother -- the wife
of the martyr Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino
Jr. -- who was catapulted to the presidency in the aftermath of the EDSA people
power revolution in 1986. The only son
of Ninoy and Cory, Noynoy was bandied
about as a “man of destiny.” Regrettably,
while Cory remained “iconic” until her
death on August 1, 2009, democracy never took hold after the ouster of the dictator
Ferdinand E. Marcos. EDSA was nothing
more than a transitory event that bridged
the oligarchic rule of Marcos to the oligarchic rule of Cory. But, curiously, one
had to look up the “social registry” of the
country’s elite to realize that while the
president was replaced, the same people
played the field, plundering the treasury
– or whatever was left of it -- with gusto.
And now, 27 years after that
momentous passage from an authoritarian regime to a democratic regime, things
didn’t change much. As a wise man once
said, “The more things change, the more
they stay the same.” Indeed, the Philippine economic landscape changed and
pronouncements of growth abound. The
ruling elite is celebrating; the Philippines
is no longer the “Sick Man of Asia,” they
say. While that might be true from their
12
lofty standpoint, it is not what the suffering people -- masang tao -- feel. And
underneath all that hyperbole about an
“emerging Asian tiger,” the people remain
in a perpetual state of bondage.
And it is in this context that
the administration of P-Noy -- short for
“President Noy” -- as Aquino wants to be
called, is going through a conglomeration
of scandals and anomalies involving lawmakers, Cabinet officials, members of the
Judiciary, military officers, local government officials, scam operators, and nongovernment organization (NGOs). Never
in the history of the nation had so many
people been caught in a web of corruption
that was spun to snare billions of pesos
from pork barrel allocations.
With the Supreme Court’s issuance of a temporary restraining order
(TRO) stopping further disbursement of
pork barrel funds, known officially as
Priority Development Assistance Fund
(PDAF), the Aquino administration continues to use the controversial Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP), which
was created without any congressional
authorization.
In a speech before the Philippine
Constitution Association on October 24,
2013, former Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson said: “Recently, a newly minted program named Disbursement Acceleration
Program or DAP, which the DBM [Department of Budget and Management]
claims to be in existence since 2011, surprised everyone, including myself and all
the senators and congressmen, both active and retired.
“Further, DBM has claimed
that the P50 million to P100 million in
additional pork barrel allocations to most
senators after the conviction of the former
chief justice in May 2012 came from DAP,
funded by savings in 2011, or what is
termed in the GAA as Unused Appropriations amounting to P238.8B. When we
speak of Unused Appropriations, it consists of two items, namely (a) Unreleased
Appropriations (P79.6B) and (b) Unobligated Allotments (P159.2B).”
Lacson also disclosed that P-Noy
had P700 billion at his disposal in 2012,
which was the same year when Supreme
Court Chief Justice Renato Corona was
impeached and found guilty of culpable
violation of the Constitution.
P-Noy insisted that the DAP is not
pork barrel and claimed it as his “economic stimulus package,” which he created to increase government spending;
thus, stimulating growth.
In all appearances, the DAP
is an illegal extension of PDAF used to
funnel “savings” from budget items and
released to lawmakers as extra pork.
But since DAP doesn’t exist in the eyes
of Congress, DAP evades congressional
scrutiny. Yet, the recipients of DAP funds
are members of Congress themselves!
It is interesting to note that
the Supreme Court had refused to issue a
TRO against the DAP, an action – or inaction – that “pork watchers” criticized.
If PDAF were bad enough to warrant a
TRO, why didn’t the high court issue a
TRO against the DAP, which is far worse
than the PDAF?
One of the “pork watchers,”
seasoned columnist Emil Jurado, made an
observation, which he shared in his column, “Is the President virtual dictator?”
He wrote: “With the House of Representatives ruled by the administration majority
under Speaker Sonny Belmonte, and Senate President Frank Drilon acting like an
extension of Malacañang protecting the
President from allegations of abuse and
misuse of public funds, with the Supreme
Court under Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes
Sereno, and with most junior anti-graft
court Justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang as
Presiding Justice of Sandiganbayan, the
President now appears to rule over the
three branches of government.”
With the Senate, House of
Representatives, Supreme Court, and
Sandiganbayan clearly under his control,
P-Noy exercises dictatorial powers no
President in Philippine history had attained before. Indeed, P-Noy achieved
what Marcos didn’t; that is, dictatorship
sans martial law.
As a matter of record, P-Noy
has a free hand in redirecting his discretionary funds – amounting to more than
50% of the national budget to projects and
programs of his choice without authorization from Congress. In effect, P-Noy has
created a humongous piggy bank that he
can use any which way he wants. He is
like a spoiled brat who always gets what
he wants. And poor mother Filipinas, she
couldn’t do anything to stop him from
squandering public funds.
Other sources of P-Noy’s discretionary fund are the Malampaya Fund,
Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.
(PAGCOR), Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), and other state
funds. Recently, retired Brig. Gen. Rosalino Alquiza, former President of the
Association of Generals and Flag Officers
(AGFO) said that there is a consensus
among members of the military that all
government accounts should be deposited
in the National Treasury and subjected to
the budgetary process.
Officials of the Philippine
Military Academy Alumni Association
(PMAAA) also weighed in on the pork
barrel scandal. The association’s chairman, retired May. Gen. Reynaldo Reyes
said that members of the PMAAA share
the sentiment of Alquiza.
However, P-Noy was unruffled
by the retired generals’ call for him to give
up his pork. And by the looks of it, surrender is not in his vocabulary. But with
the retired military officers encroaching
into his turf, P-Noy might just draw the
gun on them… with the aid of his loyal
Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin who
many believe has the respect of active
generals.
At the end of the day, while
P-Noy may now be enjoying dictatorship sans martial law, a martial law sans
dictatorship might be in the works at the
barracks. Heaven forbid! (PerryDiaz@
gmail.com)
October 2013
Philippine Courier
Business
Edited by: Miguel Caducio
Sin tax collections seen breaching P100 B mark
MANILA, Philippines (October 21, 2013) - The government expects sin tax collections to breach the P100 billion
mark next year as excise taxes
on tobacco and alcohol are expected to increase further.
Sin tax collections are
forecast to reach P104.8 billion in 2014, up 22 percent
from P85.85 billion this year.
Of the total, P65.15
billion will come from revenues from tobacco while the
balance of P39.64 billion will
come from alcohol.
In the first half this
year, sin tax collections rose
46 percent to P38.5 billion
even as volume of sales of
cigarettes and alcohol fell 43
percent.
The BIR expects to
sustain the growth in excise
tax collections as tobacco
firms run out of stock. The
government expects tax revenues to rise by 44 percent this
year with the six tax measure,
which took effect on Jan. 1.
For 2014, the government aims to collect P42.86
billion in incremental revenues. Collections are expected
to increase further to P50.63
bilion in 2015 and P56.86 billion. (philstar.com)
DPWH sets bidding for P62-B projects
MANILA, Philippines (October 25,
2013) - The Department of Public Works
and Highways (DPWH) is drumming up
interest for three major road projects worth
over P62 billion to be offered to prospective investors under the Public-Private
Partnership (PPP) scheme next year.
DPWH Undersecretary Rafael
Yabut said the government has scheduled
the bidding of the contracts for the Laguna
Lakeshore expressway Dike, the phase
1 of the Central Luzon link expressway
(CLLEX), and the Calamba-Los Baños
expressway.
Yabut said the Laguna Lakeshore
expressway worth P36.74 billion involves
the construction of a 41.54-kilometer, fourlane road dike including bridges, pumping
stations, and ancillary flood gates.
He pointed out that the road starts
from Bicutan, Taguig connecting to the
proposed circumferential 6 (C-6) expressway road project and would help ease
traffic congestion along Muntinlupa and
Calamba area.
“The bidding for the Lakeshore Road
is the middle of next year,” Yabut stressed.
The DPWH official added that government is also finalizing the first phase of the
P15-billion Central Luzon Link Expressway (CLLEX) from Tarlac to Cabanatuan
in Nueva Ecija.
“For your information, there is an
ongoing detailed engineering of the first
phase of the CLLEX,” he told prospective
bidders.
The CLLEX would start at the
end of the 94-kilometer Subic Clark Tarlac
expressway (SCTEX) up to Tarlac – Pangasinan – La Union expressway (TPLEX).
It is being funded by Japan International
Cooperation Agency (JICA)
October 2013
“The detailed engineering is ongoing. We would like to consider the project
for PPP funding,” Yabut explained.
CLLEX forms an important lateral
(east-west) link of overall High Standard
Highway (or Expressway) network within
the 200-kilometer radius from Metro Manila. It diverges from SCTEX at 2.5 km
north of Luisita Interchange and traverses
flat plain of Central Luzon in the east-west
direction, then passes Cabanatuan City and
ends at San Jose City in Region III. Phase
I ends at Cabanatuan City and Phase II at
San Jose City.
The Phase 2 of CLLEX would connect Cabanatuan City and San Jose City in
Nueva Ecija. The two-lane road network is
35.7 kilometers.
Yabut also said the government
is set to start the P10.4 billion Calamba –
Los Banos toll expressway starting at the
Calamba exit of the South Luzon expressway (SLEX) traversing Laguna de Bay until it reaches Bay, Laguna.
The DPWH announced Wednesday that four groups led by conglomerates
Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC),
San Miguel Corp., and Ayala Corp. submitted prequalification documents for the
P35.4-billion expressway to connect the
provinces of Cavite and Laguna.
Groups that submitted documents for
the Cavite-Laguna (CALA) expressway
project included Alloy MTD Philippines
Inc.; Team Orion led by conglomerate
Ayala Corp.; MPCALA Holdings Inc. led
by the group of businessman Manuel V.
Pangilinan through MPIC’s Metro Pacific
Tollways Development Corp. and partner
Leighton Contractors (Philippines) Inc.;
and SMC’s Optimal Infrastructure Development Inc. (philstar.com)
Exports seen slowing considerably this year
MANILA, Philippines (October 23,
2013) - With the projected drop in electronics shipments, earnings from merchandise exports would likely grew at a
slower pace of three to four percent, from
an initial growth target of 10 percent for
this year, the Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc. (PhilExport) said yesterday
On the sidelines of the 39th Philippine Business Conference and Expo,
PhilExport president Sergio Ortiz-Luis
said the exporters‘ group now sees total
shipments rising by three to four percent
to $51.994 billion from last year’s $60 billion.
“I think we have already accepted
the fact that we will not meet target but we
are still hoping we will be positive by the
end of the year,” he said.
Ortiz-Luis said the group expects
slower export growth this year due to the
weak performance of electronics which
make up the bulk of merchandise exports.
The Semiconductor and Electronics
Industries in the Philippines Inc. (SEIPI)
announced on Monday that it has slashed
its forecast for outbound shipments of
electronic products for the year, citing
weak global demand.
From an initial projection of fivepercent growth in electronic exports for
this year, SEIPI now expects shipments
to contract by 10 to 12 percent from last
year’s $22.557 billion.
For the first eight months of the year,
electronics exports amounted to $13.664
billion, down 13 percent from $15.707
billion a year ago.
As a result, receipts from merchandise exports for the eight-month period also recorded a 0.8 percent decline to
$35.003 billion from $35.297 billion last
year.
While he declined to give a forecast
for 2014, Ortiz-Luiz said they expect total
exports to post better performance due to
the recovery of overseas markets such as
the US and Europe.
“I think they’re fixing it in such a
way that while it is slow, there is still recovery,” he said. (philstar.com)
India eyes visa reform to attract tourists
NEW DELHI (AFP) - India is looking at issuing visas on arrival for visitors from 40
more countries, raising hopes it will overcome national security fears to boost its tourism
industry. The new countries would include the United States and Britain—the source of
about 25 percent of all tourists last year—as well as Canada, Brazil, Australia and most
western European nations including France and Germany. (Manila Times)
13
Philippine Courier
Windows 8.1 is here
IT BUZZ
AROUND
By Miguel Caducio
Microsoft is releasing its long-awaited
Windows 8.1 upgrade as a free download
starting Thursday. It addresses some of the
gripes people have had with Windows 8, the
dramatically different operating system that
attempts to bridge the divide between tablets
and PCs.
Windows 8.1 still features the dual
worlds that Windows 8 created when it came
out last October. On one hand, it features
a touch-enabled tile interface resembling
what's found in tablet computers. On the
other, there's the old desktop mode where the
keyboard and mouse still reign. The update
adds some new finger- and gesture-friendly
shortcuts for touch-based apps, while restoring some respect for the desktop mode that a
billion PC users have become accustomed to.
The release comes as sales of
traditional desktop and laptop computers
continue to decline because consumers are
spending money instead on the latest smartphones and tablets. It also comes at a time
of transition for Microsoft as the Redmond,
Wash., company focuses on devices and services, not just software. Earlier this month,
Microsoft struck a deal to acquire Nokia's
phone business and patent rights for more
than $7 billion. Microsoft is also searching
for a new CEO to replace Steven A. Ballmer,
who announced last month that he plans to
retire within the next year.
The Window 8.1 update is free
for current owners of Windows 8. It's available starting at 7 a.m. Thursday in New York,
which corresponds to the start of Friday in
New Zealand. Simply go to the Windows
Store app to find it. It may take a few hours
for updates to reach everyone. Computers
with Windows 8.1 already installed will go
on sale Friday local time. That's also when
people will be able to buy stand-alone copies
of Windows 8.1.
The changes range from the cosmetic to
improved functionality:
RESTORING RESPECT FOR THE
DESKTOP
START ME UP — The Start button
is back in desktop mode, although not
the way it was before Windows 8 came
along. In Windows 7 and before, a click
on Start would have brought up programs
and important folders in a list. Now, one
tap on Start flips you back to the new tile
interface, where you can click or tap tiles
to open programs. A long press brings up
crucial settings such as the Control Panel.
BOOT TO DESKTOP — You can now
start up the machine in desktop mode,
bypassing the tiles for a short time. That
removes some of the headache for companies that want to use Windows 8 but
don't want to buy a touch-screen monitor
for every employee.
TOUCH AND GESTURE
UPDATES
ONSCREEN KEYBOARD SWIPES
— The onscreen keyboard now includes
the ability to type numbers or punctuation marks by swiping up or away from
certain keys on the standard "QWERTY"
layout, eliminating the need to toggle between numeric and alphabetic layouts.
You can also select from suggested words
mid-stream using side swipes and taps on
the virtual spacebar.
GESTURE-ENABLED APPS — You
can now wave in the air in front of the
front-facing camera to get a response.
For example, in the new app Bing Food
& Drink, a right-to-left wave in "Hands
Free Mode" flips through pages of a recipe.
QUICKER TILE ORGANIZING —
You can tap and hold Windows tiles with
your finger to move them. Another couple
taps will allow you to resize them in one
of four sizes. In the previous version, you
had to go back to the mouse or touchpad
and right-click on tiles to do this, and you
were limited to two sizes.
EASIER APPS ACCESS — Finding
all your apps takes just a swipe up on
your start screen, as long as you don't do
it from beyond the bottom edge. Before,
you had to swipe up from the bottom
edge, then tap on the All Apps button.
SMALL CONVENIENCES
AUTOMATIC UPDATES —
Apps update in the background, replacing
the constant reminders to go to the Windows Store to update the apps yourself.
SMALLER TABLETS — Windows
8.1 now has a home screen that looks
good in portrait mode on screens measuring 7 inches to 8 inches diagonally.
LOCK SCREEN ACCESS — You can
now answer Skype calls or take photos
from the lock screen without having to
log in. Just swipe down. You can also set
other apps like Twitter to send notifications when the screen is locked.
FUNCTIONAL CHANGES
BETTER MULTITASKING — In
Windows 8.1, you can run up to four apps
at once side by side, double the previous
amount, though you need a large, highresolution monitor to do so (On their
own, Microsoft's Surface tablets are not
big enough for more than two). You can
resize panes using a slider that moves
side to side, instead of being limited to
one larger window and one slender one.
This is still not as capable as Windows 7
or in desktop mode, where you can open
dozens of items in windows that can be
resized horizontally, vertically and diagonally. And many app makers have yet
to adapt, meaning some apps still appear
as a thin sliver, even if you want them to
take up half the screen.
GLOBAL SEARCH — Typing while
on the tile-based start screen will pull up
multiple search results — if applicable
— from your computer, the Web and the
Windows app store. If you're searching
for a musician, you'll see a list of popular
songs you can play using Xbox Music,
and if it's someone famous (like President
Barack Obama) you'll see biographical
details, videos and other information. Before, you had to choose where to search:
in apps, settings, computer files or on the
Internet.
EMAIL UPDATE — The standardissue Mail app now has a "power pane"
on left-hand side with folders for updates
from social networks like Facebook, messages from favorite contacts and newsletters. Some of these features work only
with Microsoft accounts such as Hotmail
and Outlook.com, though. A new "sweep"
command deletes multiple messages with
a couple taps.
BETTER BROWSING — No longer
are you limited to 10 open tabs in the
tile version of Internet Explorer. Before,
Web pages automatically closed without prompts when you try to open more.
You can open as many as you want now.
Better yet, you can have two different
websites displayed side by side, the way
you've long been able to before Windows
8 came along.
FUN STUFF
XBOX MUSIC REFRESH — The
music streaming app now optimizes playback over discovery with a layout that
has more lists and smaller photos. It also
adds the ability to create playlists from
any website with a couple taps. When on
a website featuring artists, swipe in from
the right edge and tap the Share button
followed by the Music button. It will create a song playlist based on those artists,
which you can then stream for free.
PICTURE EDITING — A picture editor with pre-set effects comes with the
update, allowing for photo touchups,
cropping, contrast changes and other features.
XBOX ONE INTEGRATION — You
can pick up where you left off if you start
playing a video purchased on Xbox Video
on a tablet and then watch the rest on Microsoft's upcoming game console, Xbox
One.- (philSTAR.com)
4500 Sheppard Avenue East Units 25 & 26 Scarborough, ON M1S 3R6
(416) 335-8555
14
October 2013
Philippine Courier
Comelec: Elections generally peaceful
MANILA, Philippines (October 29,
2013) - The conduct of Monday’s barangay elections was generally peaceful and orderly except for “some minor
incidents,” according to Commission
on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr.
As of early evening Monday,
Brillantes said only 18 “peace, security
and other election-related incidents”
had been reported.
Asked about problems in the
vote, Brillantes told a press briefing,
“There’s almost none.”
He said the 18 incidents were “very
minimal” considering that the country
has 42,028 barangays.
The leadership of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the military
shared the same observation.
“The elections were successful,” Armed Forces public affairs chief
Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala said. Several
teachers assigned as board of election
tellers (BET), however, did not show
up for duty due to security threats,
forcing the deferment of voting in 94
barangays.
The Comelec director for elections and barangay affairs department
said 66 of these barangays are in Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, including 51 in Lanao del Sur,
three in Maguindanao, six in Basilan
and two in Tawi-Tawi.
On Calayan island in Cagayan
October 2013
province, the vote was reset for tomorrow and Thursday as election paraphernalia failed to reach the island on
time due to the refusal of the Philippine Coast Guard to allow sea travel,
citing bad weather.
Comelec deputy executive director for operations Bartolome Sinocruz
said polling precincts in the National
Capital Region and regions 1, 3, 4, 7,
9, 11, 12 and 13 “functioned” effectively.
The 18 violent incidents included
ballot snatching in San Antonio, Catubig in Northern Samar and in BukutUmus in Tabuan-Lasa, Basilan; a fire
that partially damaged seven clustered
precincts in Padre Burgos Elementary
School in Sta. Mesa, Manila; missing
ballots in Tonsuya, Malabon; delayed
delivery of election paraphernalia in
Banoctog, Pinagtigasan, Mankawayan
and Vinzon in Camarines Norte; harassment of board of election tellers
in barangays San Jose and Lucmayan
in Nueva Valencia in Guimaras, and
shooting incidents that left one person
dead in Poblacion, Toboso in Negros
Occidental.
There were also reports of molotov bomb explosions in Don Mariano
Marcos Elementary School and Isaac
Ablayan Elementary school in Mati,
Digos City in Davao de Sur; shooting incidents in barangay Nagba, Cuartero, Capiz between two groups of
kagawads, and strafing in barangay
Macasindig in Midsayap, Cotabato.
Brillantes attributed the generally successful conduct of the elections
to preparations set by the Comelec’s
steering committee. He said this year’s
village polls were “more satisfactory”
than the one in 2010.
Brillantes expressed hope the
trend would continue “as we move into
more critical stages of counting and
canvassing.”
Asked about voter turnout, the
poll chief said he could not yet give
a figure. The Comelec was expecting
70 to 80 percent of the over 54 million
voters would take part in the elections.
Filipinos are historically more interested in barangay polls.
Suspension of proclamation
Despite what he considered
generally orderly polls, Brillantes said
proclamation of some winning candidates may have to wait indefinitely as
the poll body would have to resolve
first some candidates’ eligibility issues.
“Because of time constraints, we
were not able to resolve some issues
like the petitions that seek to declare
some candidates as a nuisance candidates. So we decided in the en banc
that they should not be proclaimed in
case they win,” he added.
The Comelec has also de-
cided to suspend the proclamation of
candidates who were found to be not
registered voters. So far, some 300 bets
were found to be in this situation.
“If you are not a register voter,
you are not eligible to run. We have
not declared them as eligible as yet, so
we are suspending the proclamation of
those we have verified in our records
who are not registered voters,” he said.
The poll body has also ordered
the suspension of the proclamation of
four bets, in case they win, who were
found to have been convicted by the
courts.
Section 6 of Republic Act 6646
provides that: “If for any reason a candidate is not declared by final judgment before an election to be disqualified and he is voted for and receives
the winning number of votes in such
election, the court shall continue with
the trial and hearing of the case… the
Commission may order the suspension
of the proclamation of such candidate
whenever the evidence of his guilt is
strong.”
“We already informed the concerned Board of Election Tellers not to
proclaim, the Board of Canvassers not
to proclaim those with nuisance petitions against them. There will be hearing to give them due process,” Brillantes added. (Alexis Romero and Cecille
Suerte Felipe, Paolo Romero and Jess
Diaz-philstar.com)
15
Philippine Courier
Entertainment
Edited by: Ross D. Tierra
Freddie charged with qualified seduction
Predator?
Perito said Aguilar’s admission and
his public display of love and affection
violated morals and ethics on separating the adult from a child and the prey
from the predator.
“What this old man had done was
to prey on the innocent child (young)
enough to be his granddaughter after allegedly being separated from his
wife, which is no excuse,” he added.
The lawyer said in his complaint
“that undoubtedly, having the child in
home and company, the conclusion is
the old man had been engaging in all
kinds of sexual orgies with the child. If
the parents consented, they should be
held criminally liable.”
The case will undergo preliminary investigation to determine if
there is probable cause to file the case
in court.
Based on the Revised Penal Code,
“the seduction of a virgin over twelve
years and under eighteen years of age,
committed by any person in public authority, priest, home-servant, domestic,
guardian, teacher, or any person who,
in any capacity, shall be entrusted with
the education or custody of the woman
seduced, shall be punished by prison
correctional in its minimum and medium periods.”
Aguilar earlier defended the
relationship and said that it was love at
first sight. He also said his third wife
was only 17 years old when he started
dating her.
In an interview with radio station
dzMM, Aguilar said he is ready to face
the complaint.
“If I will not face it, it would appear
that I agree with what they are doing,”
he said, adding that his girlfriend was
hurt by this development. (philstar.
com)
Lone Philippine Entry
MANILA (October 25, 2013) - Freddie Aguilar “deserves to be castrated” for having a relationship with a
16-year-old girl, according to a lawyer
who filed qualified seduction charges
against the 60-year-old folk singer before the Quezon City prosecutor’s office.
“This cradle snatcher wants to
take advantage of the adulation of the
child by pretending to be loving her
and allegedly marrying her later. This
old man deserves to be castrated to
spare the children,” lawyer Fernando
Perito said in his two-page complaint
filed on Tuesday but released by the
prosecutor’s office yesterday.
Perito charged Aguilar with qualified seduction under Article 337 of the
Revised Penal Code. Perito said that
he was outraged, offended, and scandalized by the acts of Aguilar for publicly bragging that he is in love with a
16-year-old girl.
“His admission in the television
showed (that) he even had the temerity
and boldness to brag and challenge that
he is in ‘love.’ He is lusting,” the lawyer added in his complaint-affidavit.
Christian Bautista is the lone Philippine representative in this year’s ASEAN
Japan Music Festival to be staged and aired at the NHK Studio on Nov. 28.
Other participants are top artists from the region, namely Zul Faden (Brunei Darussalam), Preab Sovath (Cambodia), AKB48/W-inds/EXILE (Japan),
Agnes Monica (Indonesia), Annita (Laos), Siti Nurhaliza (Malaysia), Sai Sai
Kham Leng (Myanmar), Olivia Ong (Singapore), Bird Thongcha (Thailand)
and My Linh (Vietnam).
Ramon ‘Mon’ Datol
Online Marketing Consultant
647-588-7844/ 905-780-0114
Email: mondatol@rogers.com
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October 2013
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October 2013
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‘Wowowillie’ bids goodbye
MANILA, Philippines (October 12,
2013) - "Ito na ang huling araw natin
na magkasama!"
This was Willie Revillame's farewell
message to the thousands of people
watching Wowowillie for the last time
both in the studio and in their homes.
Willie moved to TV5 in 2010
after he had issues with the management of ABS-CBN. His show aired in
the Kapatid network for three years.
“Ilang minuto na lang po, hindi
muna tayo magkikita-kita,” he started.
“Marami kaming pinagdaanan bago po
mabuo ang programang Willing Willie, Wowowillie, Wil Time Big Time.
“October 23 (2010) po nagsimula ang
isang programa—nagmula sa tanghalian, naging gabihan. Alam n’yo nine
years n’yo na akong kasama sa pananghalian, naging sa gabihan, bumalik sa
tanghalian," Willie said.
He said that during the airing
of the gameshow, all he wanted was to
give the people hope.
After a short speech, the staff of the
show reminisced how everything started since they moved in TV5.
A video showing the evolution
of the game show from Willing Willie
to Wil Time Bigtime and to Wowowillie was presented. After the presentation, Willie performed live some of his
singles like “Ikaw na Nga” and “I Love
You,” which made everyone in the studio emotional.
He thanked everyone, starting with TV5’s former and current executives: Manny V. Pangilinan, Noel
Lorenzana, Rey Espinosa who he said
convinced him to be a TV5 talent.
He also thanked the people working
behind and in front of the camera for game show may still air in the future
“Wowowillie,” and even mentioned its again, although he jokingly said he has
former hosts Ethel Booba and Ate Gay, yet to get offers. “Kapag may kumausap, pag-iisipan," he said. (philstar.
whom he once had a rift.
“Ako po ‘yong taong hindi com)
nagtatanim ng galit kahit
kanino. Ako po ‘yong taong
wala sa akin ‘yong hatred,
bitterness, wala po sa akin
‘yon,” he added.
Willie, meanwhile, did
not mention why Wowowillie is going off air despite its
good ratings. “Mawawala po
kami dahil sa aming paningin, e, masyadong mahal
kami, pero hindi po totoo
‘yon—mahal namin kayo,
‘yon po ang importante,” he Willie Revillame's message to his fans: "Wala ho
said.
ako dito kung hindi dahil sa inyong lahat."- File
Willie also hinted that the Photo
As body ages…
Jackie Chan longs for Hollywood's full embrace
BEVERLY HILLS (October 19,
2013) -- Jackie Chan wasn't in the
mood for proclamations.
The Hong Kong martial arts
film star, who declared last year at
France's Cannes film festival that he
was retiring from action films, now
says that after more than a decade of
contemplating quitting, he is going to
let his body decide.
"When I was 40-something
the media would ask me and then I
said another five years, and then five
years and five years until now," the
Kung Fu actor said in an interview
promoting his 2012 Chinese action
film "Chinese Zodiac," which will be
released in U.S. cinemas on Friday.
"Six more months and I'm going
to be 60," Chan said. "And I (will)
see how far I can go until my body
tells me, 'Stop.'"
Chan, famous for performing
all of his high-flying and physically
punishing stunts, has appeared in
more than 100 films and now writes,
produces and directs his own films in
Asia.
18
"I get hurt," the actor said after 50
years of flips, kicks and punches. "It
gets really tiring, not like it used to
be."
The only real outward sign of
aging in Chan are some crow's feet
around the eyes. He is obviously in
great shape still, but won't reveal his
secrets for staying that way.
But as Chan starts to enter his
twilight years he laments how Hollywood typecasting may force him
to begin using a stunt double for his
acrobatic scenes as he believes Hollywood studios would never cast him
in dramatic roles.
"I hope the audience, after they
say, 'Jackie, that's a double!,' they forgive me," Chan said in his trademark
broad-grinned and animated style.
"Then I can continue (my
career) because poor me, nobody
in Hollywood hires me to make a
'Kramer vs. Kramer' (or) like 'Sound
of Music' - actually I'm a pretty good
singer - and nobody hires me to do
this kind of film," Chan said, refer-
ring to the 1979 family drama and
1965 musical, both Oscar winners.
"All we think about Jackie
Chan: Chris Tucker, 'Rush Hour' one,
two, and three ... always action-comedy, action-comedy," he said about
the "Rush Hour" buddy-cop film series with comedian Chris Tucker that
helped Chan cement his place in Hollywood 15 years ago.
TURNED DOWN
'INTERPRETER'
Chan has already added "dramatic
actor" to his resume with the 2011
Chinese historical drama "1911"
about the revolution that overthrew
China's final imperial dynasty.
"I really hope someday in Hollywood, some producer or director
will hire me only to do drama," Chan
said. "I (would) really appreciate it."
But that is never going to happen, Chan believes. "Why?" he asks
rhetorically with a sigh. "Because the
audience is just not used to seeing
Jackie Chan doing drama."
Chan's ideal roles would be
in films such as 1988 Oscar-winner
"Rain Man," which starred Dustin
Hoffman as a savant and Tom Cruise
as his yuppie brother together on a
road trip, or 1982's "Tootsie," also
starring Hoffman as an actor who
dresses as a woman to land acting
roles.
"It's just ... my English is not
that good," Chan explains. That also
held him back from pursuing a role in
"The Interpreter," a 2005 thriller starring Nicole Kidman and Sean Penn.
Chan said his manager thought the
role would be good but told him the
amount of dialogue was too tough.
Chan said that although the part
would have been difficult, he does regret turning it down because he lost
an opportunity to work with Kidman
and a chance to burnish his legacy.
"I see so many action stars all
those years come and go, and come
and go," Chan said. "Action stars
cannot live too long, unlike drama,
true actors, like Robert De Niro,
Dustin Hoffman, they live forever."
-- Reuters
October 2013
Philippine Courier
October 2013
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October 2013
Philippine Courier
Megastar is TV 5’s Madam Chairman
MANILA, Philippines - Amidst the
raging pork barrel scandal, Sharon Cuneta said she’s glad that her husband,
former senator Kiko Pangilinan, is out
of politics.
They may be out of politics now,
but Sharon is still negotiating the territory — at least in the barangay level
— in her first-ever TV series, TV5’s
Madam Chairman.
Directed by Joel Lamangan and
written by Jose Javier Reyes, Madam
Chairman is dubbed “tawa-serye” for
its comedy but with drama elements
thrown in the mix, airing weeknights
at 7 starting on Oct. 14. Despite the
theme and the timing, Sharon and direk Joel claimed that it is not a political
commentary, but it’s socially-relevant,
highly-entertaining and relatable because it features everyday characters.
In Madam Chairman, Sharon is
Bebeth de Guzman, a simple and loving
wife and mother
suddenly
entrusted with the
responsibility to
run, not just her
household, but
an entire community, the fictional Barangay
Sta. Clara.
Bebeth’s
problems run
the gamut. Her
OFW husband
Dodong
(Jay
Manalo) abandons her and
their three kids
— played by
Akihiro Blanco, Shaira Mae dela Cruz and Byron
Ortile — for his other
woman Beverly (Regine
Angeles) who lives in
the neighboring barangay. Bayani Agbayani is
Jojo Campomanes, the
deceased barangay chairman’s ambitious son-inlaw, who schemes and all
to oust Madam Chairman
with the egging of her
other political foes.
At the same time,
Bebeth is surrounded by
friends, her BFF (Ciara
Sotto), her auntie (Nanette Inventor) who Sharon does her first-ever teleserye via TV5’s Madam
spoils her kids and her Chairman
barangay
kagawads
cessful decades in showbiz — largely
— from religious Cita
(Malou de Guzman), tactless Hermes earmarked by singing shows and melo(Manny Castaneda) who is obsessed dramas — Madam Chairman will diswith beautification and sports fests, to play Sharon’s natural comedic side for
Mercy (Glenda Kennedy), the unso- a change.
“I’m so happy that this is my
licited adviser to Madam Chairman’s
seemingly never-ending problems. first teleserye. It’s really a happy show.
Also in the cast are Tony Mabesa, I hope our happiness and our love for
Fanny Serrano, Bearwin Meily, Chris the show really translate into audience
Cuneta, Adrian Sebastian, Patani, Jim ratings, so that our happiness will also
go to them what with all the dramatic
Pebanco and Gilleth Sandico.
Apart from being Sharon’s debut things going on in the country right
teleserye in her more than three suc- now,” she added.
Willie Revillame top celeb taxpayer
MANILA (October 15, 2013) - TV
host Willie Revillame is the highest celebrity taxpayer of 2012, second only
in the Bureau of Internal Revenue’s
(BIR) list of the top 500 individual tax-
payers for taxable year 2012 – released
on Monday, Oct. 14 – to drugstore
magnate Vivian Que Azcona.
Revillame, who bid farewell to
his TV5 noontime show “Wowowillie”
on Saturday, paid almost P64 million
in income taxes.
He “outpaid” actress-TV host
Kris Aquino, who was the highest
paid celebrity and top celebrity taxpayer in 2010; and who earned
a total taxable income of P101
million, and paid taxes of P32.3
million that year. The Queen of
All Media ranked sixth this time
around, after paying nearly P45
million in income taxes.
Actor John Lloyd Cruz
is on eighth spot with payment
of P42.8 M, followed closely by
the Megastar, Sharon Cuneta,
who paid P42 million, at ninth
place.
Former love team Judy
Ann Santos and Piolo Pascual
ranked 32nd (P24 M) and 34th
(P23 M), respectively. Not far
behind at 36th place is boxing
icon and Sarangani representative Manny Pacquiao, who paid
a total income tax of P22 million.
Actress-host-endorser Anne Curtis rounds up the list of celebrities in
the top 50, ranked 50th with P19 million in tax payments.
Other celebrities included in
BIR’s top taxpayer list are Sarah
Geronimo, 59th (P18.3 M); Robin
Padilla, 60th (P18.2 M); Derek Ramsay, 68th (P16 M); Coco Martin, 79th
(P15 M); Vic Sotto, 89th (P14.61 M);
Boy Abunda, 110th (P13 M); Vice
Ganda, 137th (P12 M); Joey de Leon,
156th (P11.09 M); Michael V., 118th
(P12.59 M); former Vice President,
currently ABS-CBN news anchor Noli
de Castro, 168th (P10 M); Dingdong
Dantes, 216th (P9.48 M); Angelica
Panganiban, 226th (P9.06 M); Gerald
Anderson, 297th (P7.7 M); Kim Chiu,
309th (P7.2 M); Toni Gonzaga, 390th
(P6.63 M); and Solenn Heussaff at
327th place (P7.23 M). (Manila Bulletin)
MARCO SISON TO SERENADE YOU
Culture Philippines of Ontario and
Josie de Leon School of Performing
Arts invite you to reminisce to Marco
Sison’s “Always” concert. All proceeds for this event will be donated
to Kalayaan Cultural Community
Centre. It will be held on Friday, November 15, 2013 at Kalayaan Cultural
Community Centre, 5225 Orbitor
Road, Unit 3, Mississauga, Ontario.
Marco Sison started his singing
career after his triumph in a singing
October 2013
segment of Student Canteen, a noontime variety show. Being one of the
classic balladeers to have captured the
true vocal essence of OPM in the '90s,
Sison was responsible for the songs
My Love Will See You Through, Si
Aida, Si Lorna, O Si Fe, I'll Face Tomorrow, Always and Make Believe.
“Isang Pagkakataon” is now
playing on local radios in the Philippines. Marco Sison is coming to
Canada to promote this new album.
As Marco Sison says, ''Filipinos are
sentimental people so they always go
for love songs. No matter the genre,
we always look for the 'love' angle in
the lyrics so what I'm trying to is offer
them new ones but from a more personal perspective.''
Culture Philippines of Ontario
(CPO) is a non-profit organization
whose mandate is to promote Philippine culture through music and dance.
Josie de Leon School of Performing
Arts was established to provide a centre for artists to expand their knowledge and talent in the three areas of
performing: acting, singing and dancing.
For more information, please
call Chat @ 647-656-1637, Fe Tabago
@ 647-300-8785, Ellen’s Place, 905629-9559 or Kalayaan Centre at 905602-0923 or e-mail at promosix@yahoo.com
23
Philippine Courier
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October 2013
Philippine Courier
Sports
So seals crown with quiet draw
MANILA (October
28, 2013) - Grandmaster Wesley So
held top seed English GM Michael Adams to a draw in 21
moves to officially
clinch the 17th Unive
Tournament crown in
Hoogeveen, Netherlands yesterday.
With the title virtually in the
bag, So still went for
a win, opting for a
complicated tactical
line of the Nimzo-Indian and emerging
from a minor piece exchange with an
active pair of bishops.
But Adams, the world No. 13
and boasting of the highest rating here
with 2753, neutralized whatever slight
advantage the Filipino had with sound
knight countermoves, forcing the Filipino to a draw via repetition moves.
SPECTATOR
Wesley So
Still, the standoff proved enough
for So, ranked No. 40 in the world, to
secure the title with 4.5 points in the
double-round tournament.
Adams finished joint second with
Dutch GM Robin Van Kampen with 3.5
points.
It was So’s second victory following his
gold medal effort in the Universiade in
Kazan, Russia in July. (philstar.com)
Edited by: Laurence Tierra
Fil-Am, partner cop Swiss Indoors doubles crown
MANILA, Philippines (October 28,
The win in the week-long ATP500
2013) – Fil-Am Treat Conrad Huey event sent Huey zooming from No. 25
and Brit Dominic Inglot showed steely to his personal best No. 23 while Inglot
nerves in the third and deciding set as leapt from No. 31 to another career-best
they turned back Austrians
No. 29.
Julian Knowle and Oliver
Along the way, Huey
Marach, 6-3, 3-6, 10-4, to
and Inglot shocked secseize its first doubles title
ond pick Aisam-Ul-Haq
in the year in the Swiss
Qureshi of Pakistan and
Indoors Basel in SwitzerJean-Julien Roger of the
land Sunday night.
Netherlands, 3-6, 7-6 (4),
Huey and Inglot,
10-8, in the first round, Arranked 25th and 31st in
gentina's Horacio Zeballos
the Association of Tennis
and Uzbekistan's Denis IsProfessionals but came
tomin, 6-4, 7-6 (5), in the
here as unseeded, thus
quarters and Michael Llowent home with their first
dra and Nicolas Mahut of
crown of the year after a Fil-Am Treat Conrad Huey France, 7-6 (3), 7-6 (2), in
pair of second place perthe semis.
formances in Dusseldorf,
The Huey-Inglot
Germany and Winstonduo also put an end to
Salem, North Carolina and a quarterfi- the giant-slaying ways of Marach and
nal finish in the US Open.
Knowle, who eliminated top seed RoFor Huey, who is the spearhead han Bopanna of India and Edouard
of the Phl's Davis Cup squad, it was Roger-Vasselin of France, 6-4, 6-4, in
his third runner-up effort in doubles af- the quarters and No. 3 Mariusz Frystenter he also teamed up with brief part- berg and Marcin Matkowski of Poland,
ner Polish Jerzy Janowicz in Shanghai, 6-4, 7-6 (4), in the semis. (philstar.com)
China early in the year.
Bradley’s boring win; La Salle is UAAP champ
By Al Mendoza
IT was another boxing bore, all right.
But who said it wasn’t to be?
Minutes after the fight deal was inked, I
immediately said it was going to be a bore
in the magnitude of the Mayweather-Alvarez stinker. Only the results of both fights
provided some topic of conversation: Split
decision.
A judge had completely taken a detour
and voted Alvarez the winner even as it
was more than obvious that Mayweather
was the winner, which the two other judges
had correctly scored. That was on Sept. 14,
earning for Mayweather a 2-1 result for a
split decision victory to remain unbeaten in
45 fights.
On Oct. 13, a virtual replica of that result
was framed when one of the three judges in
the Bradley-Marquez sleeper did a U-Turn,
turning Bradley from winner to loser. So,
instead of a 3-0 win, Bradley settled for a
similar 2-1 triumph for the second straight
bore in as many months.
Boxing has never been this battered,
thanks to some judges constantly flailing
away with the wildest of shots designed
not to gain but to maim. But in fairness,
it was Bradley who provided some thrill,
though it came as rare as the poems of Jun
Velasco.
While Marquez contented himself with
waiting for the right opportunity to land
his big blow that never came, Bradley, at
times, would initiate a brawl. Sadly, however, except for a couple of brief exchanges when Marquez obliged, rather unhesitatingly, the Bradley brawl would fizzle out
just as fast.
Thus, if you still have questions on how
Bradley was able to remain unscathed in
42 fights, refer back to his October 13 fight
October 2013
with Marquez. Bradley rarely gets hit and,
matched against one that rarely charges
like a bull in Marquez, he becomes virtually untouchable.
Nowadays, it is hard to find boxers that
excite and, sadly, even Manny Pacquiao,
after his back-to-back losses to Bradley
and Marquez in 2012, has become suspect.
Thus, the question is, should Pacquiao
defeat Brandon Rios on Nov. 24 in Macau,
will it be an exciting win—the way it used
to be when PacMan was pummeling his
way to winning eight world titles in eight
different categories?
The truth is, Pacquiao is into the crossroad of his career and talks of either a
Pacquiao-Bradley rematch or a PacquiaoMarquez return bout are unpalatable at the
moment.
First of all, Pacquiao must defeat Rios
first before we could even start discussing about his succeeding fights. In fact, we
should not be even talking here of just a
victory for Pacquiao.
A resounding win it must be, as in a
knockout of earthquake proportions, for
Pacquiao to become saleable again. To be
honest, a win on points for Pacquiao would
be as unacceptable as Drilon’s claim that
he doesn’t personally know Janet LimNapoles.
That’d be a joke as cruel as suddenly
seeing Mayweather raise his hand and say,
“Hey, guys, I am ready to fight Pacquiao.
But on one condition—that Pacquiao fights
Marquez again and defeats Marquez by
knockout!”
Who said flips like Mayweather is incapable of cracking up stupid things? Ah,
boxing. It never stops to baffle us, to con-
fuse us, to irritate us.
With Bradley’s victory—his 31st
straight to remain unbeaten like Floyd
Mayweather Jr. (45-0)—talks quickly
swirled once more on the Bradley-Manny
Pacquiao rematch happening soon.
The fight is actually Pacquiao’s most
crucial in a career spanning almost two decades now.
A win is a must for Pacquiao, not only
because it reopens doors for a return bout
with Bradley, who also won by split over
Pacquiao in 2012, but more importantly it
will restore order in the PacMan’s camp
that was battered and badly shaken by that
sixth-round knockout loss to Marquez in
December 2012.
When that December debacle happened,
it was like a whole camp had been razed
to the ground. Thus, there is major repair to be done and the key to rebuilding
that structure of strength and invincibility
within the confines of Pacquiao’s shattered
world begins with the win over Rios.
Now, to La Salle’s gut-wrenching, 71-69
overtime victory over University of Sto.
Tomas on Saturday to win its first UAAP
men’s basketball crown since 2007, luck,
more than anything, did it.
But don’t get me wrong. Spectacular
plays by Jeron Teng were vital in the end,
especially his homestretch baskets and with
that killer of an assist from him to Almost
Vosotros that grabbed for UST the pulsating 70-69 margin with the game-clock expiring. For all intents and purposes, that
Jeron assist to Vosotros who jumped from
the right, unleashed after one dribble and
a pump-fake, was the dagger at the heart.
But then, if UST, indeed, had been
knifed that bad by Jeron and Almond, what
about Ustean Aljon Mariano’s ill-timed,
unordered shot from afar with 6.1 seconds
left that was way off line?
Why Mariano deviated from coach Pido
Jarencio’s strategy at that stage and played
a role that wasn’t his was absolutely bizarre, resulting in the critically wounded
Tigers to be declared DOA (dead on arrival) at the UST infirmary.
If that Mariano misplay wasn’t unsolicited help for La Salle, what is it? Anyway,
that’s all water under the bridge now, so
to speak. With La Salle’s triumph, Juno
Sauler is a rookie champion coach, reprising Jarencio’s own Cinderella finish in the
2006 UAAP victory of UST.
Over at the PBA, Gee Abanilla is also
in the cusp of history as a win by Petron
Blaze over San Mig Coffee in the Governors Cup would likewise make him a
champion rookie coach.
By the time you are reading this column, the PBA Governors Cup title could
be over. Petron Blaze or San Mig Coffee?
Meanwhile, I bumped into Chot Reyes,
the Gilas Pilipinas coach, during the title
playoffs. He told me he needs “one year”
to prepare his squad for the 2014 Fiba
World Cup in Spain. He was exaggerating, of course. The tournament is set for
August 2014. He also said Marcus Douthit, his team’s 6-foot-10 center, is keeping
himself in shape “by training on his own.”
Chot’s pick in the Petron-San Mig Coffee
match? “San Mig, of course,” he said.
His reason? “Tim Cone’s experience as
a coach will carry his boys to victory past
the Petron Boosters of Gee (Abanilla), who
is a rookie coach in the PBA,” said Reyes.
Did Reyes predict it right?
25
Philippine Courier
Fil-Am skater competes in Winter Olympics
MANILA (October 17, 2013) - After becoming
the first Filipino to qualify in the Winter Olympics,
ice skater Michael Christian Martinez is setting his
sights for the country’s first Olympic gold medal
in the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, in
February.
Martinez, 16, who ranks 24th in the world,
is considered to be the youngest among the international competitors who qualified for the Sochi
Olympics after earning the needed points in previous tournaments.
His mother Teresa Martinez is not in a hurry
for Michael to win a gold, and believes her son
could wind up in 19th to 22nd places against the
world’s best skaters especially in North America
and Europe.
“Michael is definitely one of the rising stars in
figure skating,” Teresa told Philippine News USA
reporter David Casuco. “People in the sport believe
in the next few years Michael will blossom into a
real world-beater.”
If Martinez doesn’t grab the gold on his first
The Game
of My Life
try, the kid from Muntinlupa City could peak at age
20 and become an instant favorite in in 2018 Winter Olympics.
Martinez shows a lot of promise since he is
competing both in the senior level and the junior
division, where he ranks fifth in the world. He can
compete in the junior’s side for three more years or
can stay in the senior class.
Denied funding by the Philippine Sports
Commission (PSC), Martinez gained financial support from generous Filipino-Americans in Los Angeles.
He won his first gold in the 13th Crystal Skate
in November last year in Brasov, Romania. Last
year, Martinez competed in the 2012 Youth Winter
Olympics in January.
“I didn’t have a coach to boost me up, so I
was really nervous,” Martinez said after winning in
Romania. “My mom, who was acting as my coach,
noticed that I was not myself. But I asked the Lord
to help me with my jumps.” (JOSEF T. RAMOSManila Times)
Here we go again
By Bill Velasco
Another of the country’s leading
collegiate leagues is deliberating on
whether or not to ban foreign athletes
beginning the 2015 season. If their
goal is to develop more parity in the
league, they are taking a dramatic
step back. Every major leap forward
in development in every field has
been a product of shared knowledge
and experience, and sports is no exception. More brains, more input,
better results.
Sometimes, schools operate as if
they were another country with their
own set of rules alien to the laws of
the land, and to a certain extent, they
can be right. In this case, however,
they would be stepping on the rights
of foreign students to partake of
privileges granted to any other student. Once you are accepted and enrolled in a particular school, there is
no reason for you to be discriminated against or denied every possible
way to obtain a scholarship. You are
a student, regardless of what your
passport says. This writer spoke out
challenging discrimination against
foreign coaches in the PBA many
years ago. We would be depriving
ourselves of the advantages of having extra brains working for us with
a fresh perspective.
Let’s take the case of our own national athletes, from the Smart Gilas basketball team to even Manny
Pacquiao to those in other sports.
What is the one thing they constantly crave? It’s foreign exposure. They
know they have to play against bigger, stronger, more experienced foes
if they are to improve as athletes and
26
overcome their fears. If not for its
constant travels, Smart Gilas would
probably not have been so successful
in the last FIBA-Asia tournament.
In 2005, the secret to our recordsetting performance in the Southeast
Asian Games was our athletes’ twomonth training stint in China, where
they learned alongside Olympic and
world record holders.
If we banned foreign athletes,
we would be punishing success
and breeding mediocrity. Around
the world, other countries seek the
most talented trainors and athletes
to make themselves better. Our own
basketball coaches have developed
national teams in the Middle East
and all over Southeast Asia, and our
players have served as reinforcements in less-talented programs in
Southeast Asia. Our best billiards
champions constantly travel to China and Japan to teach in exchange
for large US-dollar paychecks. If
foreign leagues and even private individuals acknowledge our advances
in sports, why can’t we use their
physical advantages to develop our
own players?
In professional team sports in other countries, there are no restrictions
on nationality. Can you imagine the
NBA without Tony Parker, Pau Gasol, Dirk Nowitzki, Yao Ming and
dozens of others who have inspired
the youth all around the globe? The
NBA would not be as colorful or
profitable as it is today. It would not
have penetrated large markets like
China and parts of Europe as successfully as it has.
Though the PBA has restrictions
based on citizenship, this is to differentiate its tournaments from one another. Early on, the league realized
that the monotony of having just
one long conference would not succeed, so it broke up its calendar into
three competitions, the most popular
of which perennially being the AllFilipino. The league hasn’t even had
a two-import conference since 1990.
This is to allow Filipino talent to
shine. But in its early days, imports
almost always guarded one another. Now, there are Filipino players
strong and skilled enough to defend
against imports. That is just one sign
that we have developed through our
exposure to foreign competition in
our own country.
In the sciences, many breakthroughs are accomplished by foreign students or scholars. When
their discoveries or studies are acknowledged, their names and their
schools are recognized worldwide.
In the end, their nationalities are not
even mentioned. It’s their schools of
residence that gain renown. Eventually, the learning institutions gain
a reputation for excellence in that
field. That series of achievements ultimately leads to more financial support to develop programs in the field
from donors, sponsors and alumni.
When Sam Ekwe came to the Philippines to study at San Beda College,
he made an immediate impact on
the school’s basketball program and
helped end a 28-year NCAA championship drought. San Beda has since
managed to be successful with or
without foreign players, but they did
prove to be catalysts in this instance.
African athletes have also benefited
schools in athletics and other sports,
just as Korean student-athletes have
influenced varsity taekwondo in the
country, and Commonwealth nationals have helped improve football.
There are already rules in place
limiting the impact of foreign athletes in team sports like basketball.
It’s the choice of other schools not to
avail of the option of recruiting them.
Perhaps school leagues could borrow
a page from the defunct Philippine
Basketball League, which once held
a communal scrimmage of imports,
and allowed each member team to
“draft” from the pool. That concept
applied to a collegiate league would
help more or less equalize the field.
Otherwise, our amateur athletes (not
just basketball players) will only
realize their weaknesses after they
graduate, and this will limit their options of becoming professionals or
national athletes later on. They will
be oblivious to the fact that there is
a much bigger world with much better opposition for them, because they
will have been deprived of the opportunity to experience it.
Every time you create exclusionary rules, there is usually a simple
excuse behind it. At times it is to
protect those who are resistant to
change, or those who do not want
to spend on development. As a great
teacher once said, there is no such
thing as stagnation; there is only
growth or decay.
October 2013
Philippine Courier
Classic Filipino vs. Mexican Boxing Rivalry Comes Alive
at Missississauga Hershey Centre Nov. 30
Undefeated Toronto-Born Boxer Marc “Gwapo” Pagcaliwangan Homecoming Fight
Philippine Courier Exclusive
By Boxing Writer Robert Cruz
TORONTO - Since turning pro just over a
year ago, the young Filipino Canadian phenom Marc “Gwapo” Pagcaliwangan is on a
hot winning streak with a perfect record and
100% knockout rate. The Filipino-Canadian
Phenom will have the opportunity to showcase his knock out power and blazing speed
this Saturday November 30 at the Mississauga Hershey Centre when he laces his gloves
up against a seasoned Mexican opponent
Octavio “Coco” Hernandez.
Marc “Gwapo” Pagcaliwangan with
a pristine 6-0 record all by knockout tucked
under his belt will be looking for his seventh win against Octavio “Coco” Hernandez
, 13W (6KO)-5L (3KO). Hernandez is an
accomplished journeyman who went on a
9 fight win streak for 3 years at the prime
of his career. This is the first time that Pagcaliwangan will be fighting a Mexican Ring
Warrior who is known for their durability
and stamina.
If you had the opportunity to watch
Pagcaliwangan past fights live or on Youtube, you can bet that he will be after his seventh straight KO fight right here in our backyard.
Pagcaliwangan commented
that he is very eager to demonstrate how he
has evolved into a fighting machine in the
ring in a year’s time in front of his family,
friends and Kababayans here at home. Pagcaliwangan who is already in phenomenal
condition is motivated to give us his best
performance on Nov. 30.
October 2013
Boxing aficionados who have followed
the careers of a young Manny Pacquiao,
Gerry Penalosa and Nonito Donaire Jr. before they became champions will discover
that the 23-year old Pagcaliwangan has
many similarities and characteristics with
the great boxers produced by the Philippines
who have been to the world stage.
What makes Marc Pagcaliwangan
special is that he has emerged amongst our
community; he wants to represent the Filipino-Canadian spirit in the ring. He is proud of
his Filipino Heritage along with his strength
and conditioning Coach Glen Erjas who is a
second generation Filipino-Canadian similar
to Pagaliwangan.
Team Gwapo along with Marc’s
parents Henry and Francesca Pagcaliwangan
recently hosted a couple of open meet and
greets events at the cozy Marcellina’s Restaurant in North York announcing their son’s
homecoming fight to the Filipino Community located in the heart of Filipino Town.
Team Gwapo continues to reach out to the
strong Filipino Community across the GTA
region to promote Marc’s homecoming fight
and promote and distribute tickets sales to
the community. There is still much work to
be done in promoting Marc Pagcaliwangan
here, however, the acknowledgment and
recognition of his presence has taken its first
steps into the Filipino Community.
There should be future meet and greet
opportunities planned with Team Gwapo
for the Filipino Community and boxing fans
alike when Marc completes the second portion of his training camp in Montreal, Quebec with former Professional Boxer and Titlist Coach Ian MacKillop. The fight card
on Nov. 30 is hosted by United Boxing Promotions which put up their first successful
fight card at Casinorama last month; United
Boxing Promotions holds several fight cards
a year at the Mississauga Hershey Centre.
Over the last year, Pagcaliwangan’s
manager Mark Erwin has been pleased with
the progress and development of his fullblooded Filipino prized fighter. Coach Erwin commented that every time “Gwapo”
steps in the ring, he just gets better and better with his focus, composure and urgency to
win. In his last fight in Halifax, Nova Scotia,
“Gwapo” destroyed David Kanalas early in
the second round by devastating knock out.
Winning doesn’t go unnoticed in the
ring as Marc Pagcaliwangan gets bigger and
his name starts to get out there. Several
visionary Filipino owned businesses have
jumped on board to help propel the future of
this Filipino boxing wonder in his quest to
be a future world champion. Team Gwapo
has recently acquired a sponsorship with a
Filipino-owned brewery company named
Bamboo Beer.
Bamboo Beer was founded by Vincent
Villanis who is a young Filipino entrepreneur; he is the first Filipino to own a brewery
company in North America. Marc Pagcali-
wangan will be the face of his newest product Bamboo Water Energy Drink that will be
rolled out in the near future.
Chester Canlas, owner of Hardwork
and Dedication Clothing out of Florida has
supported Team Gwapo from day one. Hardwork and Dedication promotes physical fitness and living a clean and healthy lifestyle
which is a perfect fit for Marc Pagcaliwangan’s objectives as a professional athlete.
Also on board to promote Team Gwapo’s Filipino–Canadian heritage is Fil-Can
Clothing Company of British Columbia.
Fil-Can Clothing which is a start up clothing
company captures the essence and the image
of being a Filipino Canadian will be supplying Team Gwapo’s sports attire and ring side
outfit.
Everything is in place for the young
and promising Marc “Gwapo” Pagcaliwangan, from training, sponsorships, coaches
and the love and support of this family and
team to propel our home grown FilipinoCanadian prized fighter as far as his pugilistic skills will take him. There will be many
boxers that will emerge as the iconic Manny
Pacquiao who has paved the way for many
other Filipino boxers, though, he is in the
twilight of his career. The promise and the
thought that we will have another Filipino
world champion may be right here amongst
us is extra ordinary, as it unfolds before our
eyes.
27
Philippine Courier
Community Potpourri
October-Born Celebrants
Sally Marquez
October 26, 2013
Sheng Maligsay
October 29, 2013
WONDERFUL TREBLE
Mary Louianne
Ayascha Nebres
October 12, 2013
Marivi Botero October 2, 2013
Zamboanga Hermosa Association
Lopez Association President Sena Flores
Newly inducted officers of the Zamboanga Hermosa
Association; The dinner dance was held at Filipino
Centre Toronto (FCT) on October 5, 2013. (Photo by
Ariel Ramos)
Another Blessed Year
Dr. Belle Tumbokon, Ms. Ores Ting and Lady Rose Cruz were
the Co-Chairs of the CARP Fund Raising Event held October
26, 2013. (Photo Courtesy of Ms. Ores Ting)
Son
Christopher,
wife Regi Dizon
with grandson Raine
and
grandaughter
Czarina Riley. husband Romy Zetazate
and the Fagaragan
family, Louie and
wife Ruby, daughter Louise and son
Robin. (Photos by
Manny Papa)
Olivia Galang celebrates her birthday recently with
friends in her modest home in the GTA. (Photo
courtesy of Ms. Ores Ting)
Ms. Sena Flores, president of the Lopez
Quezon Association of Toronto thanked all
the supporters of the ANCOP for their continuing efforts to sustain and maintain the
housing project which will benefit the poor
sector of the "our country" during the Feast
of the Rosary which was held at the QSSIS Beanquet Hall, Markham, Toronto,
Ontario. (Romy Zetazate, St. Jamestown
News Service)
Tess Zetazate is 69 years old
Ricky Castelvi, and Juliet Parel from the Filipino Community attended the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) recruitment drive; held at Mel Lastman Square on September 21, 2013. (Photo By Ariel Ramos)
28
October 2013
Philippine Courier
Master Jim Torres – Taekwondo Master
Martial Arts guru Jaime I. Torres established himself as one of the few Filipino
Taekwondo Masters in Canada whose passion for the sports is unquestionable and
absolute as evident by his masterful conquest of the Iron Fist-Taekwondo Style and
the Two-Finger Accu-Pressure of which he is now using as a major therapy for painsuffering Filipinos, For Free.
Master Jim, as he is addressed by his students, opened his Torres Taekwondo
Gym located at 2525 Warden Ave., Scarborough, Ontario several years back with the
majority of his young students coming from the Filipino and Chinese communities.
His present battalion of taekwondo students, however, belongs to almost all categories
of kids living in the Scarborough Area.
Master Jim, a Pre-flight Engineer and presently working at Bombardier Aerospace
as Aircraft Mechanic, also practice his Accu-pressure therapy knowledge in relieving
the muscular pains of all kinds to Filipino kababayans going to his gym every Wednesday and Saturdays afternoon, FREE of charge.
“I am just repaying the community,” Master Jim told this writer in an exclusive
interview one Saturday afternoon in his Gym on whys he is not even charging a cento
to his services to patients visiting him twice a week. “ I have a good paying job for so
many years now and lives here in my Gym, so, I don’t need to charge our kababayans
October 2013
for my services,” Master Jim added.
And after more than 20 years of advocating the discipline in the Filipino community, Master has finally set his eyes on the Guinness Book of World Records where
no Filipino Taekwondo practitioner yet has ever put his name in the niche of greatness.
“Yon na lang siguro ang kulang sa buhay ko, a place in the Guinness Book of
World Records,” the bespectacled Taekwondo Red Belt master, who turns 60 December 14, 2013, told this writer.
And Master Jim is now on a 4-month rigid training, together with some of his
young students, in preparation for a date with the Guinness Book of World Records
for several Taekwondo marks some of which are being recorded by South Koreans,
Europeans, Indians among other world-class taekwondo practitioners.
‘Aside from my attempts, we will try to produce records in the youth categories
such as the triple bags kicks, longest youth split, quadruple 360 kick-bag, single youth
speed bag kick, among others,” Master Jim noted.
And with the way his students and their parents support are pouring in, Master Jim
sees no other obstacles in achieving his fervent wish to see Filipino-Canadian names
in the list of world achievers in the Guinness Book of Taekwondo World Records next
year. (Text and Photos by TPC’s Mondee)
29
Philippine Courier
Joke Time
TICKLE ME!
Ni Edgar Bello
SI LOLO AT LOLA
Lolo: Mahal, naalala ko nung mga bata pa
tayo..
Lola: Ah yun ba..oo nga no? Bilis ng panahon
parang kelan lang..
Lolo: Tara, ibalik naman natin ang nakaraan.
Lola: Sige ba!
Lolo: Bukas antayin kita sa tabing dagat..
Lola: Sige mahal..
KINABUKASAN
Lolo sa tabing dagat…
Lolo: Hayyy… bat kaya padilim na wala pa
siya?
SA BAHAY..
Lolo: (tampo) Dito ka lang pala, di mo man
lang ako sinipot, ginabi na ako kakaantay
sayo.
Lola: Mahal pasensya ka na, mahigpit si
Nanay, eh!
-------SOSYAL NA MAG-GF AT BF
Gf: Connect me if I’m wrong! I saw you with
your another!
Bf: I’m sick of tired! You always this!
Gf: Keep your mouth shock!
Bf: Ha? Y?
Gf: Stock up! Give me alone!
Bf: Ok, ok, I hope you don’t mine! I am go!
Gf: The were you go?
Bf: I need to be back my home!
Gf: Hey! Don’t back me!
Bf: Don’t worry, I shall go be back.
-------BUGBOG BAGO ROMANSA!
MISIS 1: Ayoko na sa mister ko, lagi na lang
akong binubugbog bago ako niroromansa…
MISIS 2: Mas grabe yung mister ko. Binubugbog ako tapos si Inday ang niroromansa.
-------TULALA
Juan: Pare bakit ka tulala?!
Pedro: Yung asawa ko eh. Nag-hire na driver
na gwapo, bata at macho.
Juan: Oh bakit? Selos ka?!
Pedro: Hindi naman. Shocked lang ako, parang …
MASARAP KASI SIYA!
-------Kaunaunahan
(Magsyota sa motel ):
BOYFRIEND : Alam mo mahal, …Ikaw ang
kaunaunahan na dinala ko rito…
GIRLFRIEND : Sinungaling, bakit kilala mo
yung mga receptionists sa lobby?
sabi nila lagi ka raw rito…
BOYFRIEND : OO nga, pero ikaw lang talaga ang unang babae nasama ko rito.
-------Translation Tagalog-English
TITSER: Juan, translate this in English.
JUAN: What Ma'am?
TITSER: Ang uwak ay hinang-hina, naglalakad-lakad.
JUAN: The wak wak , weak weak , wok wok!
-------Smartest Move
Nag123 sa restaurant si Juan.
MANAGER: Hoy! San ka pupunta? Di kapa
bayad ah.
JUAN: Wala po akong pera.
MANAGER: Waiter bigyan mo ito ng isa
pang buong fried chicken. hahaha… Pag inuna mo
ang leeg, sasakalin kita. Pag hita, lulumpuhin kita. Pag pakpak, pingkaw ka, pag
pitso,
durog ang dibdib mo. Lahat ng gawin
mo sa manok gagawin ko sau.
JUAN: Hehehe… O yan sinipsip ko ung pwet
na manok, ano pa iniintay mo. Sipsipin muna
pwet ko. hahaha..
-------School Principal
BOY: Kilala mo ba ung principal nating masungit, yung mukang
tambay sa kanto at parang pinaglihi sa
sama ng loob?
GIRL: Kilala mo ba ako?
BOY: Hindi, bakit? Hahaha…
GIRL: Anak niya ako
BOY: Eh, ako kilala mo ba ako?
GIRL: Hindi, bakit?
BOY: Ah, buti naman. (Sabay takbo.)
-------Booommm!
Nakita ni BOY si GIRL na nakadungaw sa
bintana..
BOY: Miss, talon ka na jan.
GIRL: Bakit naman?
BOY: Para mahulog ka sa akin.
GIRL: Ah? Ganun? Alam mo para kang man-
30
By Chuchi Punzalan
hole
BOY: Wow! Gumaganti ah., bakit naman?
GIRL: Tanga lang ang mahuhulog sayo!
-------The Stupid Burglars
JUAN: Boss pano natin to nanakawin kung
nakapadlock?
PEDRO: Tanga ka ba? Gagamitin natin yung
lagari para masira
JUAN: Ah ganun ba? Boss hindi naman siya
nakalock eh...
PEDRO: Hay! Kung hindi ka ba naman isang
malaking tanga,
edi, ilock mo muna para malagari natin
tapos saka natin nanakawin!
-------Yabangan Ng Pangalan
NOEL: Ipapangalan ko sa aking anak "Leon"
baliktad ng Noel.
NINO: Sa akin Onin baliktad ng nino.
TOTO: Wag ninyo akong maisali-sali dyan sa
usapan niyo!
-------Bad Trip, Oh!
GIRL: Gusto kita.
BOY: Ganun ba.
GIRL: May gusto ka ba sakin?
BOY: Wala.
Umiyak si Girl. Habang papaalis,
hinabol siya ni Boy at niyakap.
BOY: Di mo pa nga tinatanong kung mahal
kita.
GIRL: (Nabuhayan) Mahal mo rin ba ako? :')
BOY: Hindi rin. Sige, iyak ka na ulit.
-------Anime Suspect
Sa isang presinto...
PULIS: Ano ang itsura ng suspek?
SAKSI: Naka-orange po siya at dilaw ang
buhok.
ARTIST: (gumuhit) Bossing, hindi natin kayang hulihin ‘to.
PULIS: Bakit?
ARTIST: Dilaw raw ang buhok at naka-orange.
ARTIST: Kung hindi si Naruto, si Son Goku
‘to!
-------Pulubi nga!
Nakita Ni Juan Ang Isang Pulubi
JUAN: Kawawa ka naman, magkano gusto
mo?
PULUBI: 3 Piso po
JUAN: Tatlong piso lang pala eh. Heto, o…
PULUBI: Salamat po.
(Sabay punta sa tindahan)
PULUBI: Ate, Malboro Light nga po, yung
menthol.
-------Ang Magkumpare:
PEDRO: Pare,akyat kang puno, pisilin mo
yung bunga kung hinog na.
JUAN: (dali-daling umakyat ng puno)…
Hinog na pare !
PEDRO: Sige baba kana! Sungkitin na natin.
-------I Have A Girlfriend At Last
PARE 1: Pare, sa wakas nag ka GF na rin
ako!!
PARE 2: Bakit!?! Ngayon ka lang ba nagka
GF?
PARE 1: OO pare! sobrang higpit kasi ni Misis eh! Ngayon lang ako nakalusot!
-------Special Love For You
Bigo ka ba sa love? Eto para sayo
KUBA: Mapagkumbaba
PILAY: Hindi ka tatakbuhan
BULAG: Walang pakialam sa looks mo
PIPI: Hindi nagbibitiw ng bad words
DULING: Hindi ka hahayaang mag isa!
-------Request ni GF
GF: I'm warning you! darating na si daddy
within 1 hour!
BF: Eh ano ngayon? eh wala naman tayong
ginagawang masama ah!
GF: Kaya nga! kung may plano ka, DALIAN
MO NA!!
-------Wife To A Husband Abroad
IDD call from US...
HUSBAND: Hon, musta ang tindahan?
WIFE: Department store na!
HUSBAND: Ang carinderia?
WIFE: KTV bar na!
HUSBAND: Ang mga tricycle?
WIFE: Taxi na!
HUSBAND: Ang dalawa kong anak?
WIFE: LIMA na!
Dementia Blues….
A Couple in their nineties are both having
problems remembering things.
During a checkup, the doctor tells them
that they're physically okay, but
they might want to start writing things
down to help them remember….
Later that night, while watching TV, the
old man gets up from his chair.
'Want anything while I'm in the kitchen?'
he asks.
'Will you get me a bowl of ice cream?'
'Sure..'
'Don't you think you should write it down
so you can remember it?' she asks.
'No, I can remember it..'
'Well, I'd like some strawberries on top,
too. Maybe you should write it
down, so as not to forget it?'
He says, 'I can remember that. You want a
bowl of ice cream with
strawberries.'
'I'd also like whipped cream. I'm certain
you'll forget that, write it
down?' she asks.
Irritated, he says, 'I don't need to write it
down, I can remember it! Ice
cream with strawberries and whipped
cream - I got it, for goodness sake!'
Then he toddles into the kitchen. After
about 20 minutes, The old man
returns from the kitchen and hands his
wife a plate of bacon and eggs.. She
stares at the plate for a moment.
'Where's my toast ?'
-------An elderly couple had dinner at another
couple's house, and after eating, the wives
left the
table and went into the kitchen.
The two gentlemen were talking, and
one said, 'Last night we went out to a new
restaurant and it was really great.. I would
recommend it very highly.'
The other man said, 'What is the name of
the restaurant?'
The first man thought and thought and finally said, 'What is the name of
that flower you give to someone you
love?
You know.... The one that's red and has
thorns.'
'Do you mean a rose?'
'Yes, that's the one,' replied the man. He
then turned towards the kitchen
and yelled, 'Rose, what's the name of that
restaurant we went to last
night?'
-------Hospital regulations require a wheel chair
for patients being discharged. However,
while working as a student nurse, I found
one elderly gentleman already dressed and
sitting on
the bed with a suitcase at his feet, who
insisted he didn't need my help to leave the
hospital.
After a chat about rules being rules, he
reluctantly let me wheel him to the elevator.
was meeting him.
'I don't know,' he said. 'She's still upstairs
in the bathroom changing out of her hospital
gown.'
--------A senior citizen said to his eighty-year
old buddy:
'So I hear you're getting married?'
'Yep!'
'Do I know her?'
'Nope!'
'This woman, is she good looking?'
'Not really.'
'Is she a good cook?'
'Naw, she can't cook too well.'
'Does she have lots of money?'
'Nope! Poor as a church mouse.'
'Well, then, is she good in bed?'
'I don't know.'
'Why in the world do you want to marry
her then?'
'Because she can still drive!'
-------Three old guys are out walking.
First one says, 'Windy, isn't it?'
Second one says, 'No, it's Thursday!'
Third one says, 'So am I. Let's go get
a beer.'
-------A man was telling his neighbor, 'I just
bought a new hearing aid. It cost me four
thousand dollars, but it's state of the art..
It's perfect.'
'Really,' answered the neighbor. 'What
kind is it?'
'Twelve thirty..'
-------An elderly couple are attending church
services.
About halfway through, she writes a note
and hands it to her husband. It
says, "I just let out a long silent fart, what
do you think I should do?"
He scribbles back, "Put a new battery in
your hearing aid."
-------Morris, an 82 year-old man, went to the
doctor to get a physical.
A few days later, the doctor saw Morris
walking down the street with a
gorgeous young woman on his arm.
A couple of days later, the doctor spoke to
Morris and said, 'You're really
doing great, aren't you?'
Morris replied, 'Just doing what you said,
Doc: 'Get a hot mamma and be
cheerful.''
The doctor said, 'I didn't say that.. I said,
'You've got a heart murmur; be
careful.'
-------One more. . .!
A little old man shuffled slowly into an
ice cream parlor and pulled himself
slowly, painfully, up onto a stool. After
catching his breath, he ordered a
banana split.
The waitress asked kindly, 'Crushed
nuts?'
'No,' he replied, 'Arthritis.'
On the way down I asked him if his wife
October 2013
Philippine Courier
Metro
Edited by:
Maria Isabelle D. Bello
Canada Offers Condolences to People of Philippines
…. Following the 7.2 magnitude earthquake
OTTAWA (October15, 2013)
- Foreign Affairs Minister John
Baird today issued the following
statement:
“On behalf of all Canadians, I offer my deepest sympathies
to those who have lost loved ones
or have otherwise been affected by
the earthquake that struck the Philippines’ Central Visayas region, including Bohol and Cebu.
“Canada continues to closely
monitor events in the region and
stands ready to provide emergency
consular assistance to Canadian
citizens as required.
“Canada stands in solidarity
with the people of the Philippines
during this difficult time.”
Canadian citizens in the Philip-
pines requiring emergency assistance should contact the Canadian embassy in Manila at
(63-2) 857-9000 or 1-800-1-1100226 (toll-free within the Philippines only using a landline).
Friends and relatives in Canada
concerned for Canadian citizens
they believe to be in the affected
area should contact Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development
Canada’s 24/7 Emergency Watch
and Response Centre in Ottawa
by calling 613-996-8885 (collect
calls are accepted where available) or 1-800-387-3124. They
can also send an email to sos@
international.gc.ca<mailto:sos@
international.gc.ca>.
Minister Baird
The Filipino Renal Nurses Association
The Filipino Renal Nurses Association of Ontario (FRNAO) are
Registered Nurses fromHemodialysis and Nephrology Program of
different hospitals in Ontario with
the missions of supporting different
organizations that will benefit our
youth, the poor and the needy
Kababayan in the Philippines and
in Toronto.
Another $2,000.00 was given to Gawad Kalinga Canada for the community Health, Child and Youth development. and another $1,000.00
to Abranian Club of Ontario donation towards maintenance of dialysis machine send to
Abra, Philippines .
The cheque was presented to Vilma
Tahsin Chairman of PIDC Mabuhay Cup Basketball Tournament
FRNAO presents a $1,300.00
cheque to Mabuhay Cup Filipino
at the FRNAO 7th Dinner/Dance
Basketball Tournament.
Fundraising at the The Estate BanDonations towards helping for the quet and Event Center on Septemvenue of three days summer tour- ber 7,2013. Chairman of the event
is Theresa Venier of Scarborough
nament.
General Hospital.
PCCT and PCCF Cease Partnership
…for Pinoy Fiesta and Trade Show 2014
TORONTO (October 24, 2013) - The
Philippine Chamber of Commerce-Toronto (PCCT) and the Philippine Canadian Charitable Foundation (PCCF)
will separately hold their events next
year, which for the last three years had
been billed under the “Pinoy Fiesta and
Trade Show sa Toronto” banner at the
Metro Toronto Convention Centre
This was disclosed jointly by Oswald Tugadi and Romy Rafael, Presidents of the PCCT and PCCF, respectively, saying that PCCF will hold its
event on Saturday, June 28, 2014 and
PCCT’s, on Saturday, August 16, 2014.
October 2013
This developed after the PCCT
Board of Directors decided not to renew the contract with PCCF on the
“Pinoy Fiesta and Trade Show sa Toronto” to accommodate an offer made
by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines (CanCham) to
have a suitable month with which its
members may participate in the annual PCCT Trade Show. The PCCT and
CanCham have an existing business
organizational partnership.
During a meeting by the PCCT
last July with CanCham Executive Di-
rector Cora dela Cruz, she said that the
month of June when the “Pinoy Fiesta
and Trade Show …” is held annually
is simply not an ideal month for CanCham members to travel to Toronto.
The PCCT and CanCham have an existing MoA to work together for the
common benefit of its member-businesses.
In his letter, Tugadi thanked
the PCCF for the opportunity of having
worked with the group. The contract
between PCCF and PCCT’s partnership on the staging of the biggest annual indoor summer event for Filipino
Canadians is renewable every year.
In his response on behalf of
the PCCF, Rafael thanked the PCCT
for the effort and trust that it has shown
for the past three years and wished the
Chamber all the best in its future endeavours.
Most likely, the PCCF will retain the event billing “Pinoy Fiesta and
Trade Show sa Toronto”.
Meanwhile, the PCCT decided to
bill its event as “Taste of Manila Multicultural Event & Trade Show.”
31
Philippine Courier
"Comfort women" survivor from Philippines promotes human
rights against wartime rape, human trafficking
by the Japanese
military in socalled "comfort"
stations.
The two
spoke today at
Northern Secondary School
and
Blessed
Mother Teresa
School.
They
also participated
in public events
at the University
of Toronto and
Barbara Forum
Library.
"Breaking
“Comfort Women” survivor Lola Fidencia David (right), Ther- the silence about
apist Cristina Lope Rosello, CMHR President and CEO Stuart human
rights
Murray and WCCCC President Dr. Joseph Du
violations is essential for healTORONTO - October 21, 2013 - One
of the last living survivors of military ing and growing: for the global community
as
well
as
for
victims,"
CMHR
sexual slavery in the Second World
War spoke to more than a thousand To- president and CEO Stuart Murray said.
ronto high school students today, part "This is a story of inspiration. By facof a visit to Canada organized by the ing the past and learning its lessons,
Canadian Museum for Human Rights we help shine a light on human rights
and the Toronto Association for Learn- abuses that continue today, including
ing and the Preserving of History of wartime rape and human trafficking
of women for sexual exploitation. The
WWII in Asia (ALPHA).
Lola Fidencia David, 86, has CMHR is committed to encouraging
been accompanied from The Philip- reflection and dialogue about these impines by Cristina Lope Rosello, a portant subjects."
The story of the comfort women
Filipina therapist who helps former
comfort women deal with the trauma came to the attention of the international
community only in the 1990s.
o their past. Rosello's book, Disconnect: The Filipino Comfort Women, Rosello helped campaign in 1999 for
traces the human impact of 50 years inclusion of gender justice and victims'
of post-war silence about women who rights in the Statute of the International
were abducted and sexually enslaved Criminal Court (ICC), which ultimately recognized wartime rape as a crime
32
under its jurisdiction. Her therapy has
not only enabled former comfort women to regain a sense of dignity, but empowered them to speak out in support
of women's rights around the world.
Biographical information is attached
below.
"Survivors' stories must be
preserved so younger generations are
aware that these kinds of transgressions against women should never be
allowed, and that we must be vigilant against modern forms of atrocity
against women," Rosello said.
Lola Fidencia David was 14
when she was forced into a Japanese
army garrison and repeatedly raped by
Japanese soldiers. In 2007, she testified
at Canada's House of Commons, which
subsequently passed a unanimous motion urging the Japanese government to
take full responsibility and offer a formal apology to the estimated 200,000
comfort women of Korea, China, The
Philippines and other nations.
The CMHR will record interviews with both women, to become
part of its collection of human rights
oral histories. Public events were also
held last week in Winnipeg.
Dr. Clint Curle of the CMHR
has organized the lectures and events,
with the assistance of Toronto ALPHA
and its founder, Dr. Joseph Wong; the
Winnipeg Chinese and Community
Cultural Centre and its president, Dr.
Joseph Du; Rod Cantiveros of The Filipino Journal; and Dr. Tina Chen of the
University of Manitoba.
"International justice and peace
must go beyond prosecuting war criminals and passing resolutions," Dr.
Wong said. "It must bring this knowledge into classrooms and the community. The goal is that each and every
single young person knows about this
history, and uses this knowledge to
build a peaceful and just future."
Opening in 2014 in Winnipeg,
the CMHR is the first museum solely
dedicated to the evolution, celebration
and future of human rights. It is the
first national museum to be established
in Canada since 1967 and the first built
outside the National Capital Region.
(PR)
Lola Fidencia David (right) and
therapist Cristina Lope Rosello
October 2013
Philippine Courier
‘Scary’ but-fun-filled FARH Halloween Party!
The 8th Halloween Party of the Filipino Association of Richmond Hill held Saturday at the Elgin Mills Community centre along Bathurst St. in Richmond Hill
attracted another ‘sell-out’ merrymakers with no less than 200 ‘masked party-goers’ including toddlers, teenagers and the seniors displaying their different scary,
funny and out-of-this-world costumes until the judges finally declared the Best in Costume awards for the Kids and Adults. 14-year-old Paula Castillejo provided the
entertainment with a wonderful song. Then, Consul Edna Paez inducted into Office the 2013-2015 FARH officers led by 2nd termer President Miguel Caducio, VP
Conrad Caiyod, Secretary Maria D. Bello, Asst. Sec. Elena Organizta, Treasurer Nanette Tambo, Asst. Treasurer Jocelyn Fernandez, Sgt-at-Arms Eddie Tambo and
John Agustin and the 12 Board Members. Consul Paez also swore in Four (4) applicants for the Dual Citizenship ceremonies, and then, MCs Mon Datol and Angel
Heart did the much-awaited Raffle Draw with the Round-trip to the Philippines Grand Prize won by a Lady from Toronto, that highlighted the event. Foods were so
abundant that almost everyone took their second serving while others burned the floor with the ‘hot’ music provided by FARH DJ Michael Caducio. Here are some
photos of the affair thru the lenses of TPC’s Bong Molano.
October 2013
33
Philippine Courier
JDL School goes Disney
Ms. Josie de Leon (2nd left) the founder of JDL School of Performing Arts presented Disney Showcase last Oct 26th at the KCCC in Mississauga. The School
had grown and added another school in Scarborough; for more information call 647-996-7755. (Photo by Chat Bautista)
34
October 2013
Philippine Courier
On The Red
Carpet
By Miss Rubi Talavera
A unique company that empowers women through their fantastic line
of jewellry has just been launched in
Markham.
And we were fortunate to have been
invited to their official opening together
with Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti
and Councillor Alex Chui.
Cloelle Designs, a new Canadian
owned direct seller of luxury sterling
silver jewellry has opened its doors to
women who want to own their own business, have fun, and make extra money.
Our good friend, Geraldine Aquino,
is Vice President of Sales, and welcomes
everyone to visit their huge showroom
on Konrad Crescent in Markham. Or go
to their website at www.cloelle.com for
more information.
Love Jewellery? Wanna Have Fun?
Make Extra Money?
HAPPY 80th BIRTHDAY!
Our youngest senior, Rose Sibbul, is
again being given a hug for celebrating
her 80th birthday recently.
Among her family and friends who
joined in on her birthday bash were:
George Samson, whom we had not seen
in ages, since he came back from California, and our young at heart barkadas
like Florence, Brenda, Roy, Willie, Purita, Aida, Elma, Loida, Nene, Norma,
Yoly, Panny, Tony, Sol, Sonia, Seth,
Aida, Bina.
OUR DEEPEST CONDOLENCES
To our dearest and nicest line dancing
and always smiling teacher, Aida Campos Villaruz, our sincerest sympathies
Still enjoying our Indian summers are BFFs: Elsa Hung, Sonia Morala, Jean Todas with Rubi Talavera
The tres amigas, this time posing on Main Street, Unionville:
Elsa, Jean and Rubi.
on the passing of her 90 plus old father,
Leonardo Campos. To Jun, Aida’s better half, and other family members, our
pakikiramay po.
CONGRATS TO NEW FILCREA
DIRECTORS
Recently, the Filipino Canadian Real
Estate Association (Filcrea for short)
held its election of directors and officers,
with a term of office to commence on
January 1, 2014 for two years. The following were elected as board of directors
and executive officers.
Jane Saquian, broker owner of
Homelife Hearts, was elected President; Myla Udaundo of Eva Realty, Vice
President, Membership; Resty Ragragio
of Century 21 Innovative, Vice President, Public Relations, Albert Lintag of
Royal LePage Signature, Vice President,
Special Projects; Benny Jose of Remax
West, Vice President, Constitution and
ByLaws; Willie Reodica of Remax Allstars, Secretary, Ramon Cezar, of Remax
Crossroads, Treasurer.
Other directors elected were: Joe
Evangelista, Alene Barcia, Pete Lintag,
Virgie Tigas, Malu Nejal, Tony Arroyo,
Vic Salazar, Rey Maestrado, Jess Cubos.
Immediate past president is Rubi Talavera.
Congratulations to you all!
And come out to the Filcrea Christmas Party on Saturday, December 7th
at the Bluffers Restaurant at 7 Brimley
Road, by the Scarborough Bluffs. Email
/contact filcreaontario@gmail.com for
more details.
Just sharing a boogie number with fellow realtor, Willie Reodica; taken during the
Binalonan Association's fund raising event.
Mrs. Rose Sibbul celebrated her 80th birthday recently with her zillion and one
family members and friends. Happy birthday Aling Rose!
Cloelle Designs, a top rate jewelry company in Markham, launched their unique
and remarkable jewelry products recently with Mayor Frank Scarpitti as guest
of honour. From left to right: Geraldine Aquino, VP of Sales, Eric Sutkiewicz,
President, Frank Scarpitti, Mayor of Markham Mimi Borromeo, guest, Michelle
At Starwalk Buffet during the former Mr. Leonardo Campo's celebration lun- Smith, Director of Field Development, Alicia Chiu, wife of Councillor Chiu, Alex
cheon are friends of Aida Campos Villaruz consoling her -- from left to right Chiu, Markham Councillor, Lina Perez, guest, Rubi Talavera, Philippine Courier,
-Racquel Manuel, Rubi, Elsa, Jean and Aida.
covering the event, Beth Malinay, guest
October 2013
35
Philippine Courier
Angel's Corner
‘Anghel ng Tahanan Canada Pageant’
BEAUTY AND BRAIN WITH A CAUSE
By Sheng Maligsay
1st Runner-Up Anghel Ng Tahanan2012
The most prestigious pageant in Toronto
for Caregivers once again is the talk of the
town, especially within the Filipino community in the Greater Toronto Area.
The recently-concluded Anghel
ng Tahanan Canada 2013, produced by
The Philippine Courier and EDCILLE
Productions, on its third year is a massive
success. The pageant has drawn interests
of Filipino Caregivers since its inception in
2011. Aside from the big prizes to be won,
the participants' exposure to the society is
what attracts the equally-talented and beautiful Filipinas around the GTA. The laudable event has been enhancing the talents
and skills of the candidates by engaging
them in various activities and events even
after the final competition. Their involvement in different events has developed
their confidence, draws them closer to the
Filipino community and gained them lots
of friends.
The Production's mission for
staging the event is to let Filipina Caregivers feel their importance and major roles
in the society, most especially in their field
of work. "Some of the Caregivers belittle
themselves by referring to their work as
Nanny "lang" (only). For us, they are not
just Nanny or helpers for they play a very
important role as guardians of those children whose real parents work all day; making them Angels in the family,” says one
of the producers. These Filipinas deserve
to be exposed in the society. They are not
to be restricted only in the four corners of
their employers' house, for they believe
that they, too, have talents, beauty and the
“IT” to be competing in a pageant just like
anybody else.
Previous candidates always ex-
press their gratitude and are always delighted to be identified as Angels. Their
participation in the pageant has once again
brought out the bests in them. Some are
now regular hosts and performers in various events ever since their participation in
the Angel Pageant. This year's pageant has
involved some of the previous candidates
as part of the production team. Hence, the
mission of the producers when they came
up with the idea of staging a pageant was
achieved - that is to see each of their candidates excel in what they do best outside
their nanny job.
It is not known to many that part
of the proceeds from the pageant each
year goes to charity projects initiated by
various Filipino Organizations in Toronto.
This makes the Anghel ng Tahanan event
the cream of all Caregiver's pageant in Toronto. It is also envisioned to reach out to
fellow citizens in the Philippines through
Charitable Foundations like the Canadian
Aid relief Project (CARP) founded and
headed by noted Filipino Family Physician
Francisco Portugal. "I always had a big
heart for charitable projects. I am so privileged and overwhelmed at the same time
to be touching others' lives through Anghel
ng Tahanan. I am looking forward to flying back in the Philippines and be part of
the project and using the airline ticket that
I won in the pageant," stressed the 2013
winner Shamaine.
‘Anghel ng Tahanan’ Canada is
getting better each year when it comes to
production, candidates and staging performers and is expected to come up with
a very unique and momentous pageant in
the years ahead. As early as now, the producers are thinking of better ways to make
The Winners and Finalists of the 2013 Anghel ng Tahanan Canada. (Photo by Bong Molano)
next year’s edition more fruitful and draw
more enthusiastic Filipinas to join the contest. Aside from gift certificates, bouquet
of flowers, sash, freebies, trophies, queenly
crowns and cash prizes, Anghel ng Tahanan Canada grand winner also wins FREE
round trip ticket to the Philippines.
To be eligible to join the pageant,
you must be a caregiver, single or married. The pageant is open to all caregivers
of all ages, needless also of the duration
of employment. Interested caregivers can
register now for the 2014 pageant. Contact
Ramon Datol (647-588-7844) & Miguel
Caducio (416-275-6093) of The Philippine
Courier; EDCILLE Production's Cecille
Araneta (647-409-4445) and Edward Que.
You can also contact any of the previous
Angel ng Tahanan candidates, including
this Contributing Writer @ 647-991-2470.
Mga Pangarap ng Caregivers
Ni Sheila Camangian Calica
Maraming nangangarap makapunta ng ibang bansa at
gagawin ang lahat at iiwan ang mga mahal sa buhay para
lang makaahon sa sinasabing kahirapang pang-pinansiyal. Kahirapang pang-pinansiyal pagka't yan ang karamihang dahilan ng marami sa atin dahil mayaman naman
tayo sa pagmamahal at likas na kayamanan ng kapaligiran at maging masipag lang tayo ay mabubuhay ng matiwasay at maayos kasama sana ang mahal na pamilya.
Ngunit tayo'y maraming pangarap na hindi lang
para sa pamilya kundi sa sarili natin mismo. Magandang trabaho ay iniiwan masubukan lamang ang salitang
ABROAD. Masarap kasing pakinggan pag-a-abroad
na paguusapan, eh. Parang napakadali, pagka't sa una
akala natin lahat ng nag-a-abroad ay nagtatagumpay o,
matagumpay.
Ngunit may dalawang mukha na kinakaharap pag
umalis na nang bansa; magiging matagumpay ba o’ masisira ang pamilya. Canada, Hongkong, Singapore, Dubai,
Saudi at marami pang ibang bansa ang pinapangarap ng
marami nating kababayan.
Canada, isa sa may pinakamaraming nangangarap
na puntahan, sa pangalan pa lang wow, sosyal na, parang
nasa America ka na pag nakarating ka ng Canada. Stepping stone ang bukambibig ng karamihan na nasa Hongkong para makarating dito. Isa rin ako sa mga nagsasabi
noon, oh, stepping stone ko lang dito sa HK, walang future para sa pamilya pag dito lang ako. Kailangan kong
umalis at punmunta sa Canada para makasama ko sila
dahil ayaw kong hanggang paglaki ng mga anak ko ay di
ko sila makakasama.
Mga pangarap na malapit ng matupad ngunit
sa daan na nilakbay para sa pangarap na yan ay maraming pagsubok na halos di kinaya. Maraming tuksong nakapaligid at kung di mahalaga ang pamilya ay marahil
gumuho na ang mga pangarap na yan sa unang taon pa
36
lamang. Dito sa Canada ay
maraming nababago na sa
una ay ayaw kong paniwalaan pagka't sabi ko wala
namang nabago sa akinat
ako pa rin ito at nangunguna ang pamilya sa listahan
ko.
Nakakalimutan
kung minsan ang sarili sa
kaiisip sa kapakanan ng
iniwang mga mahal sa buhay. Ngunit tama nga sila,
marami nga ang nagbabago at kung hahayaan mong
pati ikaw ay baguhin ng
kultura at nang mga taong
nakapaligid sa iyo at ng
bansang kinalalagyan mo
ngayon ay masasayang ang
iyong pinaghirapan at di The Writer, Sheila Camaginan Calica (far right) joined the ‘Anghel ng Tahanan Canada 2012’ for
makakamit ang mga pan- the purpose of reaching out to the community and meeting other Filipino caregivers here in Toronto.
garap na magandang kina- (Photo by Ariel Ramos)
bukasan.
Hindi masama ang
garap ng maraming Filipino? Anong meron ka at lahat
magbago pagka't yan ang dapat para mas maabot ang ay gustong mapuntahan ka at manirahan dito? Marami
mga pangarap mo ngunit sana sa tamang paraan ito gaga- naman na ang nandito, pero, kung kailan andito na ang
win at tamang landas ang tatahakin. Magbago ka sa pa- pamilya ay saka naman naghihiwalay. Marami rin na nananaw kung paano ang pagkamit ng mga pangarap pero karating na rito, pero biglang nagka-amnesiya na yata at
ito ay sa maganda at makakabuting paraan pa rin.
hindi na alam kung saan sila nanggaling at nakalimutang
Laging isa alang-alang ang dahilan kung bakit may pamilyang naghihintay pa rin sa kanila sa bansang
ka nandyan sa bansang kinalalagyan mo ngayon. Matuto pinanggalingan.
kang lumingon sa pinanggalingan at huwag magmalaki
Oh Canada, Oh Canada…. Our new home, na
lalo't wala naman dapat ipagmalaki.
sana ay maging tunay na sagot sa mga pangarapin namOh Canada, Oh Canada, bakit ka nga ba pinapan- ing mga Anghel ng Tahanan.
October 2013
Philippine Courier
Welcome to Club 60, Captain Leo!
Former Pao 2nd, Camiling, Tarlac Barangay Chairman Leo Agustin added another milestone to his already colorful Book of Life when he turned 60 years old October 15,
2013, but, his and wife Jessie’s children Gail, Aila and John decided to surprise their Tatay with a big birthday party October 20, 29013 at the Fil-Can SDA Church Hall located at 788 Sheppard Ave., West., North York where the celebrant’s closest kin, friends and co-workers in the GTA were invited to grace this eventful affair. Here are some
photos of the memorable event courtesy of TPC’s MonD.
October 2013
37
Classified Ads
Philippine Courier
MAMA PRICY IS 79 YEARS OLD
Ms. Priscila Milanes celebrated her 79th Birthday recently at the Holy Rosary Parish Hall in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, with a get together of family and friends.
Photos show Mama Pricy and with her 7 children: which include Imelda Cacayuran, Vilma Milanes, Ronie Milanes, Jake Milanes, Angelita Daclan, Nestor Milanes and Primo Milanes, and family friends, Senator Tobias (Jun) C. Enverga, Jr. and Rosemer Albovias Enverga. (Dindo Orbeso -St. Jamestown News Service)
CROSSWORD PUZZLE
1
6
10
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
23
25
26
27
30
34
35
36
38
39
40
42
43
44
Across
Pacman's coach.
Soy Sauce.
Upset
Asian nation
Expression of pain (tagalog).
Jewish calendar month
Lift
Charts
Musical symbol
Billion years
Elliptical
Loo
Cast off
Building addition
Battle-ax
Agencies
Kind of fabric
Talk back
Exhaust
__ Saxon
One (tagalog).
Stop
Perceive
First letter of the Arabic alphabet
Drill
38
45
48
49
50
51
54
55
58
59
61
63
64
65
66
67
68
Severe
Eldest
Crony
Off-Broadway award
Eggroll
Wading bird
BB association
Capital of Western Samoa
Smeller
Constellation
Gangster's girlfriend
Neat
Synthetic fiber
Aborts
AiAi Delas _____
Birds with webbed feet
8 Talk
9 Pearl makers
10 Philippine Capital
City
11 False god graven
image
12 Karma
13 Gall
22 Get to
24 Roberto's yes
25 Market
27 Parent teacher
groups
28 Had
29 Lion and tiger
cross
30 Vital
31 U.S. Air Force
32 Use
33 For one's good
35 Small spicy
pepper.
37 Fresh
40 Butterfly knife
(tagalog).
41 Unmannerly
43 ___ Braves
baseball team
46 Shocks
47 State
48 Kimono sash
50 Does what their
told
51 Injured
52 Onto
53 Weak
54 Tagalog for fish.
55 African river
56 Sounds of disapproval
57 Green Gables dweller
60 Grease
62 Seed bread
Solution to last issue
NO VISA? NO PROBLEM
Q. Who is the only person in the world who can travel anywhere
without the need for a visa?
A. The Pope.
The first 37 Popes had no specific obligation to celibacy. A classic example: Pope Hormisdas (514 -523) was the father of Pope
Silverius (526-537).
Papal Ring. When a new pope is elected, he is given a ring with a
picture of Saint Peter engraved on it. It is called the Fisherman’s
Ring, and all papal documents must bear its seal. When the pope
dies the ring is destroyed – no one but he is allowed to wear it
during his lifetime – and a new one is fashioned for his successor.
Down
1 Heave
2 Upon
3 A fox's hole (2 wds.)
4 Central Intelligence Agency
5 Favorite desert during hot
weather.
6 Juan _______.
7 Spoken
WORD WATCH
Zucchetto (tsoo-ket’ow): the small round skullcap worn by the
Pope.
October 2013
Philippine Courier
25
October 2013
39