The Filipino Express v27 Issue 29

Transcription

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VOL. 27 w
NO. 29 w
NATIONAL EDITION w
NEW JERSEY w
NEW YORK w
JULY 26 - AUGUST 1, 2013 w
(201) 434-1114 w
$1.00
‘FOR LOVE
OF COUNTRY’
We came, we demonstrated,
we had our voices heard and
our placards read !!!
- Loida Nicolas Lewis
Loida Nicolas Lewis of U.S. Pinoys for Good Governance, holding microphone, addresses protesters at the
rally in front of the United Nations building in New York City to denounce China's sweeping claim to much of
the South China Sea and its incursion in Philippine territorial waters. Story and photos on page 4.
July 26 - August 1, 2013
Page 2
THE FILIPINO EXPRESS
PNoy's longest SONA is short on key policy issues
By Ira Pedrasa
MANILA — It was President
Benigno Aquino III's longest State
of the Nation Address (SONA) so
far, and maybe the longest post1986.
Despite a close to 2-hour
State of the Nation Address, two
analysts still found it short on key
policy decisions. They said it
lacked depth on issues that
mattered to his overall theme of
“inclusive growth.”
Aquino's first SONA in 2010
ran for close to 40 minutes, his
second ran for 53 minutes, and his
third ran for around one hour and
30 minutes.
Aquino's fourth, which went
on for around hour and 43
minutes, was replete with
“melodramatic” clips, University
of the Philippines sociologist
Nicole Curato noted.
“It felt like it was crafted for
foreign investors, he's doing a
cheerleader role, but in terms of
him playing an elected official to
his bosses, it had melodramatic
clips that [do not] affect us in real
life," she said.
UP political analyst Jean
Encinas-Franco also noted the
“long, boring” speech that did not
dig deep into issues that really
mattered.
For instance, there was no
discussion on how he would
generate jobs for Filipinos, she
said. “There was not anything
about job creation, rights of labor.”
She said Aquino reiterated
too much on the conditional cash
transfer program even if it can't
solve poverty.
“Let us be reminded that the
budget for the [CCT] is from a loan
from the World Bank…It's not the
end all and be all to end poverty,"
she said.
She said the “melodramatic”
spiels were “ok” since it was in
response to the “teleserye”
culture of Filipinos.
“He took note of the framing
of the nice people [such as the late
Interior and Local Government
Secretary Jesse Robredo], I have
no doubt about that, but we
needed the institutions," she
added.
Curato, on the other hand,
noted the murky message of
Aquino.
She cited, for example, how a
“big chunk of the SONA went to
honorable policemen and how
p o l i c e s h o u l d h ave b e t te r
pensions. So what's the
underlying message here? Is it
more of taking care of them to
push them to do better jobs, or
was for morale boosting?”
Aquino talked about the
government's inability to
purchase equipment for those in
the military. “Does it mean we
can't afford to protect ourselves?”
Curato asked.
She said this is where the
SONA referred to the country's
allies instead of the people. “Is it
sending a message that we need
external allies? It's reflective of
who he's talking to really in his
SONA.”
The international group
Human Rights Watch, meantime,
noted that Aquino did not talk
about human rights at all.
“We are dismayed that
President Aquino, in his State of
the Nation Address today, chose
not to talk about the continuing
culture of impunity in the
Philippines. We are disappointed
that he did not take the
opportunity to communicate to
the military and the police that
they will be held accountable for
human rights violations,” the
group said.
“President Aquino's failure
to denounce abuses against
SONA Protest Rally
President Aquino delivers his SONA at the 16th congress in Batasan Pambansa,
Quezon City. Photo by Edwin
outspoken activists,
environmentalists, clergy and
journalists sends the wrong
message to abusive security
forces and corrupt politicians,” it
added.
Curato also cited the lack of
discussion on “sustainable
political reforms.”
She said Aquino did not talk
about the need for a freedom of
Left out of SONA, BPO workers
urge PNoy to back Magna Carta
MANILA -- Workers in the
business process outsourcing
industry fretted Tuesday over being
left out by President Benigno
Aquino III in his fourth state of the
nation address and challenged him
to support the passage of a measure
protecting their welfare.
In a statement, the BPO
Industry Employees Network
Philippines said Aquino can help
improve their plight by asking
Congress to include among its
priority bills the Magna Carta for
BPO Workers, which will ensure job
security and better working
conditions.
Kabataan party-list
Representative Terry Ridon has
filed House Bill 1180 or the BPO
Workers' Welfare and Protection
Act of 2013.
An effigy of President Benigno Aquino is wheeled as protesters, carrying banners and placards, march towards the House of
Representatives, where Aquino will deliver his 4th State of the Nation Address (SONA), in Quezon City, Metro Manila July 22, 2013.
The protesters denounced President Aquino's 4th SONA saying people are still suffering from high prices, low wages,
landlessness, unemployment and poverty, reported local media. Banner (front) reads, "no change in three years, fight the puppet,
fascist and burden the US-Aquino regime".
Protesters fall on the ground as anti-riot policemen disperse
them during a clash as they try to get near the House of
Representatives, where President Benigno Aquino will deliver
his 4th State of the Nation Address (SONA), in Quezon City,
Metro Manila July 22, 2013.
An anti-riot policeman swings a baton at a protester during a
clash as demonstrators try to get near the House of
Representatives, where President Benigno Aquino will
deliver his 4th State of the Nation Address (SONA), in Quezon
City, Metro Manila July 22, 2013.
information bill or the antipolitical dynasty bill despite the
call for these laws.
She said Aquino can't just
rely on his Cabinet officials
“whom he glorified in his SONA.”
She said he should make sure that
his supposed programs will be
sustainable even if he is not
anymore in office. ABSCBNnews.com
Among the salient proposals in
bill are:
Regularization of all BPO
workers upon the sixth month of
employment as trainee or
apprentice, or upon the completion
of a maximum probationary
training period of six months
Standardized restroom
breaks not shorter than five minutes
each at two-hour intervals of two
hours during their working hours
Entitlement to medical
benefits upon entry in the BPO
company and not merely upon
regularization
Right to self-association, to
engage in collective bargaining and
participate in democratic exercises
"We expected that President
Aquino, in his fourth SONA, would at
least recognize the need for a law
that will protect BPO employees
from companies who arbitrarily
implement schemes that are
detrimental to job security,
occupational health and safety,
working conditions, and basic
rights," the group said in a statement
Tuesday.
It said it is time for a law
protecting workers in an industry
that generated 22 percent of the
revenues in the service sector,
noting that the growth of the BPO
industry is not felt by BPO
employees as various factors,
including the rising cost of living, are
not addressed by the government."
"The President even called on
the public to brace for an increase in
LRT (Light Rail Transit) and MRT
(Metro Rail Transit) fares, SSS
(Social Security Service)
contributions, and Pag-IBIG fund
contributions. These measures will
surely reduce BPO employees
wages," the group added.
BIEN said a study it conducted
showed that a regular employee
spends about P1,200 a month for
transportation alone and
contributes an average of P200 to
Pag-IBIG and P500 to SSS.
"Aquino's call would mean the
doubling of the amount in each item.
Therefore, a BPO employee with a
basic salary of P18,000 a month and
who receives P 9,000 for each cut off
date, will get a deduction of P 1,500
per pay day or a total of P 3,000 per
month as a result of the planned fare
hike and premium hikes," it said.
"Aquino talked about the socalled economic gains of the current
administration and promised
inclusive growth ... It comes as no
surprise, however, that all these
economic achievements are out of
reach for ordinary workers,
including BPO employees," the
group added.
Page 3
Palace on 'missing'
SONA items: PNoy
can't include everything
MANILA -- Several
issues were obviously left
out of President Benigno
Aquino III's fourth State of
the Nation Address (SONA),
but a Palace spokesperson
on Tuesday said this was
only natural.
"Given the limited
amount of time… Meron
nga pong suggestion na
baka daw po dapat magchecklist na lang si Pangulo,
tapos banggitin lahat ng
sektor. Pero kung gagawin
po natin 'yon ay baka
dalawang araw din po
t a y o n g n a g s o - S O N A ,"
deputy presidential
spokesperson Abigail Valte
told reporters during a
press briefing on Tuesday.
She likewise said it
was the "judgment" of the
President which items can
and can be mentioned.
But she quickly noted
that non-inclusion in the
SONA does not mean that
the issue is being ignored
by the administration.
"Hindi naman po ibig
sabihin na hindi nabanggit
ay wala po tayong ginagawa
o kaya'y hindi po 'yan
importante din sa atin.
Binanggit po 'yon ng
Pangulo, in reference to the
supposed MRT scam and
'yung PDAF scam. Malinaw
naman po 'yung sinabi ng
Pangulo na iniisip 'nung iba
na wala tayong ginagawa
kasi hindi natin
nababanggit, pero hindi
naman po totoo 'yon," she
said.
Among the issues
which were not mentioned
by Aquino in his speech is
the country's row with
C h i n a , wh i c h Fo re i g n
Affairs Sec. Albert del
Rosario said was a good
call.
Highlights of President Aquino's
4th State of the Nation Address
Bacasmas/INQUIRER
Key strategies and principles:
* Maximize opportunities for all,
especially for those most in need.
* “We are not content to wait for
the trickle-down effect; we
cannot leave their fate (receiving
the benefits of progress) to
chance.”
* Inclusive growth drives every
initiative, action and decision of
government. Widespread
opportunity is the key to
comprehensive and sustained
progress (e.g. TESDA scholarship,
Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino
Program and quality education)
* “Kayo ang aking lakas (You are
my strength).”
Examples of those who
contribute to nation-building:
* Niño Aguirre, and police officers
Edlyn Arbo, PO3 Felipe Moncatar
and Dondon Sultan, and disaster
relief workers and volunteers
Jobs:
* Scholars of the Technical
Education and Skills
D e v e l o p m e n t A u t h o r i t y,
Department of Labor and
Employment: Of the 503,521
people who graduated from their
programs, six out of 10 have
found jobs; and 70.9 percent of
the graduates found employment
i n Te s d a ' s I n f o r m a t i o n
Technology-Business Processing
Operations program, up from
28.5 percent from 2006 to 2008.
Social Welfare:
* Almost 4 million householdbeneficiaries of the conditional
cash transfer program
* Families with children up to 18
years old will be included in the
program
* Calls for reforms in the Social
Security Service (SSS) pension
scheme to address shortage of
funds
* PhilHealth coverage jumped
from 62 percent of Filipinos in
2010 to 81 percent
* Expanded Z benefit package to
cover other conditions and
diseases
* Allotted P33 billion for the
modernization of 4,518 hospitals,
rural health units and health
stations in the country
Education:
* Erased backlogs in chairs, in
textbooks, and about to address
shortage in classrooms.
Agriculture/fish industry:
* Agricultural sector grew 3.3
percent, triple that of 2012
* Rice self-sufficiency on-target.
The maximum to be imported
would be the minimum access
volume of 350,000 metric tons,
including the 187,000 metric tons
of buffer stock
* Tap the potentials of coconut
industry by intercropping; 434
sites targeted in 2013 for coconut
intercropping
* Cites the cold storage facility in
Bataraza, Palawan province
* Ongoing construction of ports,
roads and other infrastructure to
benefit the fishing industry
Agrarian reform:
* The Department of Agrarian
Reform has completed the list of
beneficiaries of Hacienda Luisita;
turnover of lots will start in
September.
* All notices of coverage under the
Comprehensive Agrarian Reform
Program will have been served by
2014.
u
Page 6
Page 4
Fil Ams Hold Rallies Before China Consulates, Embassy
By Joseph G. Lariosa
(© 2013 Fil Am Extra Exchange)
CHICAGO (FAXX/jGLi) They
may not have the numbers but
some gritty members of the
Filipino American community
across the United States have
continued to shine a bright light
Wednesday (July 24) on China to
give up some islands within the
Philippine territory in Philippine
Western Sea (South China) it had
invaded and prove her claim
before the United Nations
Arbitral Tribunal (UNAT) it has
continuously ignored.
Chicago, Illinois-area
community newspaper publisher
Yoly Tubalinal, a leader of the U.S.
Pinoys For Good Governance
(USP4GG) in Chicago area,
denounced China before its
consulate in Chicago, which
asserts its “indisputable
sovereignty” over one million
square miles of Philippine
Western Sea (China Sea).
Meanwhile, Vietnam
Americans have expressed
solidarity with members and
supporters of USP4GG, who were
also rallying before the China
Embassy in Washington, D.C.
Wednesday, according to Eric
Lachica, USP4GG leader in
Washington, D.C.
Lachica quoted Mr. Trinh
Nguyen-Mau, co-chair of the
Vietnamese Community of DCMarylandVirginia, as saying that
China should recognize the 200mile exclusive economic zone of
Vietnam on the map with the
Philippine Western Sea (South
China) recognized by the United
Nations Convention of Law of the
Seas (UNCLOS).
The rallies Wednesday in
the U.S. and in the Philippines
coincided with the one-year
anniversary when China created
the Sansha prefecture “to oversee
and administer” one million
square miles of the China Sea
based on the “Nine-Dash-Line”
map that was originally
promulgated as the “ElevenDash-Line” map drawn by the
Ku o m i n t a n g i n 1 9 4 7 a n d
modified by the Communists in
1949.
The rallies also ushered in
the global day of prayer on Aug.
21 next month when USP4GG will
continue to press China thru
prayer into coming to the
negotiating table before the
UNAT in Hamburg, Germany.
Aside from Ms. Tubalinal,
the other community leaders,
who joined the rally, were Skokie
Commissioner Jelly Carandang,
Ms. Thelma Fuentes, R.N., and
acting human rights advocate and
community organizer Grace
Villamora. Ms. Villamora believes
“China's aggression is going to be
around for a long haul but we will
need to keep the pressure up, so
China will give up its imperialist's
designs.”
SIMILAR RALLIES HELD IN
NEW YORK, SAN FRANCISCO
Similar rallies were held in
New Yo rk led by Filipino
American Atty. Loida N. Lewis
and in San Francisco led by Atty.
Rodel Rodis, co-leaders of
USP4GG.
In October 2012, Beijing
vested Sansha with the police
authority, effective January 1,
2013, “to board, seize and expel
foreign ships” within a vast
jurisdiction that encompasses
islands and reefs in the West
Philippine Sea.
Since Sansha's formation,
China has increased its
provocative moves against the
Philip p in es, in c lu din g t he
occupation of the Scarborough
Shoal (115 miles from Zambales
province) by up to 90 Chinese
ships, which barred Filipino
fishers from their ancestral
fishing grounds, and an increased
Chinese military presence at
Ayungin Reef (105 miles from
Palawan province).
This “salami slicing” of
Philippine territory was
described by Major General
Zhang Zhaozhong on Beijing TV
as part of China's “cabbage
strategy,” the thrust of which is to
surround Philippine territories
with a massive Chinese naval
presence to starve Filipino
d e t a c h m e n t s a n d p re ve n t
reinforcements from reaching
them.
China insists that according
to its “Nine-Dash-Line” map, it is
the Philippines which is “illegally
occupying” the Ayungin Reef,
considered the gateway to the
Recto Bank, located just 85 miles
from Palawan, which the US
Energy Information
Administration (EIA) believes
may contain as much as 213
billion barrels of oil and 2
quadrillion cubic feet of natural
gas.
China asserts that the
YOUNGEST RALLYIST JOINS RALLY: Chicago, Illinois Fil Am Megascene community organizer Yoly
Tubalinal (extreme left, second row) of the U.S. Pinoys For Good Government cuddles her first
grandson (apo), less than a year-old, Quincy, when nobody could babysit him at home during the rally
of Filipino Americans before the China consulate (right) Wednesday (July 24). “Quincy is the youngest
rallyist,” Ms. Tubalinal took prid of her apo. Others in photo are Skokie, Illinois Commissioner Jelly
Carandang (extreme left, backrow), Thelma Fuentes (to Yoly's left), R.N., and Ms. Grace Villamora
(second from right, front row). The rallyists screamed “China goods are no good” as they urged China
to stop the aggression in Philippine Western Sea (South China Sea) and face the Philippines before the
United Nations Arbitral Tribunal in Hamburg, Germany to settle the maritime dispute with her
neighbors. The same group will hold a global prayer rally on Aug. 21, 2013. (FAXX/jGLi Photo by Joseph
G. Lariosa)
Philippines is not entitled to its
200 nautical mile Exclusive
Economic Zone (EEZ) boundaries
under UNCLOS because, in
China's view, the boundaries of all
countries extend just 12 nautical
miles from their coasts.
If allowed to stand, China's
“Nine-Dash-Line” claim will go
down as the most brazen
maritime territorial grab in
history, according to USP4GG
statement.
In contrast to China, which
is threatening to use force to
enforce its claims, the Philippines
has advocated working within a
multilateral framework, such as
the Association of Southeast
Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the
United Nations, to resolve
territorial disagreements.
On January 22, 2013, the
Philippines brought its complaint
over China's illegal occupation of
its Scarborough Shoal to the
United Nations Arbitral Tribunal
(UNAT), which began its formal
hearing on the Philippine
petition on July 11.
Unfortunately, China has
ignored the UN petition and
declares that only bilateral talks
can resolve its territorial
disputes, a format where it can
easily bamboozle its weaker
neighbors.
(lariosa_jos@sbcglobal.net)
Fil Ams protest in New York City
Loida Nicolas Lewis of US Pinoys for
Good Governance answers
reporters’ queries.
Page 5
Protesters storm closed
Chinese consulate
By ASHZEL
MANILA --- More than 600
protesters belonging to the West
Philippine Sea Coalition, an
umbrella group of about 30 causeoriented groups, yesterday staged a
rally in front of the Chinese
consular office in Makati City to
denounce China's sweeping claim
to much of the South China Sea and
its incursion in Philippine
territorial waters.
But the consulate was closed
yesterday, with the officials citing
“security concerns.”
Carrying Philippine flags and
streamers printed with the words
“China Respect Philippine
Sovereignty” and blowing horns,
the protesters converged at the
Chinese consular office along Gil
Puyat Avenue shortly before noon.
Former Interior Secretary
Rafael Alunan, the coalition's lead
convenor, said the protest action
was meant to mark the first
anniversary of China's occupation
of the Ayungin Shoal, which Manila
regards as an integral part of its
territory.
“This is about time that
Filipinos stand as one nation to
uphold national honor and
sovereignty as we urge the Chinese
government to adhere to the rule of
law and the peaceful resolution of
disputes,” Alunan said.
Global Day of Action. Hundreds of members of the West Philippine Sea Coalition, an umbrella group
of about 30 cause-oriented groups, gathered at the Chinese consulate in Makati City to denounce
China's sweeping claim on much of the South China Sea and its incursion in the country's territorial
waters. PHOTO BY MIKE PEREZ
He said that as a permanent
member of the United Nations
Security Council, China has the
responsibility to preserve peace
with its neighbors but its
deployment of warships and
fishing vessels in other countries'
territorial waters is heightening
tension and insecurity in the
region.
Alunan said simultaneous
protests actions were also staged in
the United States, Singapore,
Australia, Rome and Saipan as part
of the second “Global Day of
Protest” against China.
The protest caused a traffic
Jam in the area as the
protesters virtually blocked Gil
Puyat Avenue. Senior Supt. Manuel
Lukban, Makati police chief, said no
untoward incident took place. The
rally ended at around 2 p.m.
Presidential spokesman
Edwin Lacierda said the
Malacañang did not have a hand in
the protest.
“All the actions taken by the
individual citizens wherever they
are from, whether here or abroad,
these are the actions taken by the
Filipinos on how they view the
situation,” he said. With Jocelyn
Montemayor (Malaya)
Fil Ams protest in Washington DC
Victory for the Philippines: Filipino Americans protest the Chinese government's occupation
of the West Philippine seas at a rally of the U.S. Pinoys for Good Governance in front of the
Embassy of China in Washington DC, July 24, 2013
Solidarity Ally: Mr. Mr. Trinh Nguyen-Mau, second from left, co-chair of the Vietnamese
Community of DC-Maryland-Virginia, joins the Washington DC rally organized by the U.S.
Pinoys for Good Governance in front of China's Embassy in Washington DC, July 24, 2013.
Page 6
Ozamiz gang leaders' slay case: Former PNP brass in supply
mess face jail without bail
Cop confesses it was rubout
MANILA - Two policemen
involved in the killing of Ricky
Cadavero, the leader of the
dreaded Ozamiz robbery gang,
and his lieutenant in Laguna
were slapped with murder
charges Thursday.
Written by Gerry Baldo
The Office of the Ombudsman
has recommended jail sentences
without bail for 17 retired and
active Philippine National Police
(PNP) officials, seven non-organic
personnel and nine private
individuals in connection with four
charges of malversation of public
funds and falsification of public
documents.
At a press conference,
Interior Secretary Manuel
Roxas II said one of the escorts
of Cadavero and Wilfredo
Panogalinga who chose to tell
the truth had confessed that
the killing of the Ozamiz gang
leaders was “well planned,”
bolstering earlier suspicion of
a rubout.
Roxas identified the
officers as Police Senior
Inspector Manuel Magat and
Inspector Efren Oco.
Magat and Oco are
members of the Regional
Special Operations Group
(RSOG) of Region IV-A. They
headed the custodial team that
escorted the two high-profile
fugitives.
Cadavero a.k.a “Kambal”
and Panogalinga a.k.a “Kulot”
were killed on July 15 in San
Pedro, Laguna while they were
being transported back to a
camp after attending inquest
proceedings in Cavite.
C a d a v e r o a n d
Panogalinga allegedly grabbed
the gun of one of the escorts but
police shot the two.
At the press conference
Thursday, Roxas said the most
damning evidence yet against
the police team guarding the
Ozamiz gang leaders was the
sworn statement of one of the
officers who professed that the
ambush was planned by his
colleagues.
The name of the witness
was withheld. Roxas said he is
under protective custody and is
being applied for the Witness
Protection Program.
In his statement, the
officer admitted he himself
shot the Toyota Hi Ace Van
carrying Cadavero and
Panogalinga while the vehicle
was traversing the road along
San Antonio, San Pedro,
Laguna on the night of July 15.
The cases, pending before the
Sandiganbayan's 4th Division,
were filed last July 16 relative to a
fraudulent supplies contract
amounting to some P385.48
million. The charges involved
allegations of ghost deliveries of
spare parts and fictitious claims of
repairs on 28 units of V-150
armored cars in 2007 and 2008.
The accused police generals
are former PNP chief Avelino
Razon Jr.; former PNP Comptrollers
Eliseo de la Paz and Geary Barias;
former Logistics Support Service
(LSS) Director Teodorico Lapuz IV;
former PNP National
headquarters-Bids and Awards
Committee chairman Reynaldo
Varilla; and Committee vice
chairman Charlemagne
Alejandrino.
Also charged were Senior
Superintendents Victor Agarcio,
Emmanuel Ojeda and Reuel
Leverne Labrado; Superintendents
Rainier Espina; Warlito Tubon,
Henry Duque, Edgar Paatan and
Josefina Dumanew; Chief Insp.
Analee Forro; and Senior Police
Officers 4 Victor Puddao and
Alfredo Laviña.
Among PNP non-uniformed
personnel indicted were former
PNP Accounting Division chief
Antonio Retrato, LSS Supply
Accountable Officer Eulito Fuentes,
and Property Inspectors Patricia
Enaje, Maria Teresa Narcise, Nancy
Basallo and Alex Barrameda.
Named private defendants
were Alppa Times News editor
Artemio Zuñiga; and traderscontractors Gigie Marpa and
Marianne Jimenez (both of RKGK
Enterprises), Oscar Madamba
(Serpenair Group Inc.); Carmencita
Salvador and Rasita Zaballero
(both of Dex-Lan Enterprises);
Harold and Tyrone Ong (both of
Enviro-Aire Inc.); Pamela Pensotes
( RJ P I n t e r n a t i o n a l Tra d i n g
Construction and General
Services); and Evangeline Bais
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Page 9
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Page 7
Highlights of Pres.
Aquino’s ...
From page 3
Disaster preparedness:
* Multi-hazard mapping complete for
28 most vulnerable sites; Greater
Metro Manila area to be completed in
2014
* 5 2 5 a u t o m a t e d wa t e r - l e ve l
monitoring stations and rain gauges
set up under Project NOAH
* Cooperating with LGUs to relocate
informal settlers
* Allocation of P6.2 billion to address
flooding in Metro Manila
(Construction of the Blumentritt
Interceptor Catchment area)
* 9,377 houses for “Sendong” victims;
4,374 additional houses underway
* 53,106 houses for “Pablo” victims;
17,609 additional houses underway
* 19,400 families to be relocated from
Metro Manila waterways
* Justice Secretary Leila de Lima to file
cases against owners of structures
who have closed or obstructed
waterways
Benefits of men in uniform
* 21,800 housing projects for
policemen completed in 2012; this
year's target of 31,200 houses to be
completed next month
* Calls on the Government Service
Insurance System to assist in
addressing the pension and benefits
problems of police and soldiers
Peace and order situation:
* Distribution of firearms and
weapons to meet the goal of one pistolto-one police ratio
* 491,929 licenses verified under
Oplan Katok
* Private armies down by 63 percent;
election-related violence down to 77
cases
* Peaceful elections in the
Autonomous Region in Muslim
Mindanao
* Accountability for the deaths of
Ozamiz Gang members
* Agreement with the Moro Islamic
Liberation Front on the issue of wealth
sharing between the Philippine
government and a Bangsamoro
autonomous entity
* Reiterated the government's
commitment to uphold agreement.
Procurement:
* The Department of Science and
Technology to assist in purchase of big
ticket items
Legislative agenda:
* Amend Cabotage Law
* Enact Fiscal Incentives
Rationalization Bill
* Focus on Land Administration
Reform Bill
* Review of PD 1638 and RA 8551 to
ensure pensions of PNP and AFP
personnel are timely and balanced
* Passage of Bangsamoro Basic Law
before end of 2014
* Review of Marcos-issued decrees PD
No. 1113 and PD No. 1894
* Review of Civil Service Code and PD
No. 1
* P2.268-trillion national budget
Infrastructure:
* Ternate-Nasugbu Road
* Aluling Bridge in Ilocos Sur
* Laguindingan Airport
* Inauguration of the Advanced Device
and Materials Testing Laboratory to
support the semi-conductor industry
* Jalaur River Multi-Purpose Project II
to benefit 24,000 farmers
* PPP airports: Laguindingan;
Tacloban; Bicol International; New
Bohol; Mactan; Puerto Princesa
* NAIA rehabilitation underway
u
Page 8
Page 7
Former PNP brass in
supply mess ...
From page 6
(Evans Spare Parts Motor Works Repair and
Trading).
Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales has
approved the recommendation of the prosecutors
that all defendants be arrested and held without
bail for the duration of the trial considering the
huge amount involved and the complex nature of
the criminal offense.
The biggest of the four contracts was the
P239.61-million “repair and maintenance” of 18 V150 Light Armored Vehicles (LAV) awarded to
Evans, RJP and Enviro-Aire.
Prosecutors said defendants held a
simulated public bidding for the contract noting
that the Invitation to Bid was supposedly
published in Alppa Times News, a non-existent
newspaper.
A joint panel of fraud investigators from the
Ombudsman and the Commission on Audit
reported that documents submitted in support of
the repair deal were fakes including delivery
receipts, certifications, inspection and acceptance
reports, pre-repair and post inspection reports
and disbursement vouchers.
The second contract was the P134.39-million
repair and maintenance of 10 units of V-150 LAVs
also awarded to Evans, Enviro-Aire and RJP.
The Ombudsman found out that there was no
actual delivery of engine and transmission spare
parts and other materials although full payment
was released to the contractor-suppliers.
The last two cases was about short-deliveries
of tires for the V-150 LAVs worth P2.78 million by
Serpenair and ghost purchase of unspecified
supplies worth P8.7 million from RKGK and DexLan.
DOJ readies cases vs owners of structures
along Metro Manila waterways
By Tetch Torres-Tupas
MANILA -- The Department of
Justice (DOJ) is already preparing the
necessary case against private
p ro p e r t y ow n e r s wh o p u t u p
structures in vital waterways in Metro
Manila, as instructed by President
Benigno Aquino III.
During his 4th State of the Nation
Address (SONA), Aquino said part of
the government's objective of clearing
waterways along the metropolis is
filing cases against those who put up
structures that blocked waterways
causing floods.
De Lima said aside from the DOJ,
the President has directed the
Departments of the Interior and Local
Government (DILG), Environment and
Natural Resources (DENR), Metro
Manila Development Authority
(MMDA), Land Registration Authority
(LRA) and other agencies to focus on
the clearing of eight vital waterways in
Metro Manila.
These waterways are: San Juan
River, Tullahan River, Estero Tripa de
Gallina, Maricaban Creek, Manggahan
Floodway, Pasig River, Estero de
Maypajo and Estero de Sunog Apog.
“We have already pinpointed
encroachments along the waterways
so, on the basis of that, we have
dispatched teams for ground surveys,”
De Lima said Tuesday.
Shanties of informal settlers line the waterways of Metro Manila. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
Prior notices shall be given to
these informal settlers for them to
vacate the waterways, she added.
“I confirm that we are already
preparing the necessary complaints to
be filed against private property
owners who have structures or
encroachments on the waterways,
specifically within three-meter
easement or three-meter buffer zone
provided specifically under the Water
Code of the Philippines,” De Lima
added.
De Lima said they discovered
that there are individuals possessing
titles to lots within this buffer zone,
which should not be the case.
“These waterways, creeks are
properties of public dominion, and,
t h e re f o re , n o t s u s c e p t i b l e t o
appropriation or to private
ownership,” De Lima explained.
The Justice Chief said the DOJ will
file at least 2 cases in the next 2 weeks
involving the cancellation or reversion
of titles.
Local government units (LGUs)
may also be held accountable once
found that they have failed to do their
job in the implementation of the law,
De Lima added. INQUIRER.net
Page 8
Noy's allies secure plum Senate
committee chairmanships
By Marvin Sy
MANILA --- Senators belonging to
the administration coalition bagged the
chairmanships of some of the most sought
after committees in the Senate during the
first round of assignments yesterday.
Three of the neophyte senators who
ran under the administration's Team PNoy
coalition Senators Grace Poe, Paolo
Benigno Aquino IV and Cynthia Villar
were among first to be given committee
assignments.
Poe, the topnotcher in last May's
elections, was given the committees on
public information and mass media and
public order and illegal drugs.
As a former chief of the Movie and
Television Review and Classification
Board and the daughter of the late actor
Fernando Poe Jr., she's a natural for the
committee on public information and
mass media.
In recognition of the role played by
Sen. Gregorio Honasan in heading the
committee on public order and illegal
drugs, Poe said she would like to tap him as
her vice chairman.
Villar, on the other hand, was given
the committee on agriculture, which was
her main preference and one of the most
sought after committees in the Senate.
Aquino, the youngest member of the
Senate, would handle the committee on
trade and commerce, also among his
preferred committees, considering his
familiarity with the sector of
entrepreneurship. Sen. Francis Escudero
would head the committee on education
while Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV would take
over the committee on national defense
and security.
Highlights ...
From page 6
* Integrated Transport System Terminals
in Parañaque, Muntinlupa, Quezon City
* NLEx-SLEx Connector Road project
Cabinet men praised:
Secretaries Armin Luistro (Department
o f E d u c a t i o n ) , Ro g e l i o S i n g s o n
(Department of Public Works and
Highways), Albert del Rosario
(Department of Foreign Affairs) and the
late Secretary Jesse Robredo
(Department of Interior and Local
Governments). (Also thanked soon-toretire Presidential Security Group head,
Gen. Ramon Mateo Dizon.)
Tourism:
* Earned titles such as Best Tourist
Destination, Most Romantic Destination,
Best Diving Site, Palawan as Best Island in
various travel magazines
* 4.3 million tourists in 2012; targets 56.1
million domestic travel in 2016
* Tourism brought in 3.8 million jobs in
2012
* Lifting of Philippine Airlines ban from
flying to Europe
Turnaround stories of governmentowned and -controlled corporations:
* Local Water Utilities Administration's
P870 million in net profit in 2012
* Metropolitan Waterworks and
Sewerage System posted P2 billion in
profit in 2012 from a P34-million net loss
in 2010
L-R: Senators Grace Poe, Paolo Benigno Aquino IV and
Cynthia Villar
Sen. Manuel Lapid would retain the
chairmanship of the committee on
tourism while Sen. Ramon Revilla Jr. would
continue to head the committee on public
services.
Revilla, who has been critical of the
administration for some time, voted for
Sen. Franklin Drilon as Senate President,
thus securing his place in the majority
bloc.
Sources, however, revealed Revilla
would no longer be given the
chairmanship of the committee on public
works, a post he has held since he became
senator.
Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III,
meanwhile, would head the committee on
justice and human rights and would be
representing the Senate in the Judicial and
Bar Council.
No other committee chairmanships
were announced yesterday as these were
still being worked out by the Senate
leadership and the majority bloc.
Drilon said there was nothing
unusual or new about the distribution of
the key committees among the members
of the majority bloc. (Philstar.com)
Good governance and government
savings:
*
P18.4-billion savings by the
Department of Public Works and
Highways
* P2.9-billion savings in textbook
purchase
Good governance and justice:
* Former leadership of the Technical
Education and Skills Development
Authority (TESDA) now being held
accountable for overpriced purchases
during the term of Augusto Syjuco Jr.
* Indicted former officials of the
Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.
(Pagcor) who are accused of embezzling
P26.7 million to produce a movie and
spending P186 million to finance a partylist group
* Former leaders of the Philippine
National Police (PNP) being made to
answer allegations regarding P131.6
million wasted on defective rubber boats
and P105 million spent on anomalous
purchase of secondhand helicopters
Agencies slammed:
* Bureau of Immigration for the escape of
brothers Joel and Mario Reyes (suspects
in the murder of broadcaster Gerry
Ortega) and Korean fugitive Park Sungjun
* National Irrigation Administration for
their “make-do” culture
* Bureau of Customs, for permitting
smuggling of goods
Compiled by Inquirer Research
(Philippine Daily Inquirer)
House elects new heads for
four major committees
By Jess Diaz
MANILA - The House
of Representatives
immediately buckled down
to work yesterday by
organizing four of its major
committees and electing
their chairmen.
First to be elected was
Mandaluyong Rep. Neptali
Gonzales II, who was named
chairman of the rules
committee. As head of the
rules panel, he
automatically assumed the
job of majority leader, a post
he held in the last Congress.
T h e
s e c o n d
appointment was that of
Romblon Rep. Eleandro
Jesus Madrona, who chairs
the accounts committee, the
panel that manages the
House budget.
M a d r o n a ' s
appointment was
considered urgent since he
had to immediately sign
checks for payroll and other
expenses.
Davao City Rep. Isidro
Ungab was named
appropriations committee
chairman. He chaired the
ways and means committee
in the last Congress.
(Clockwise, from top left) Rep. Neptali Gonzales II, Rep. Eleandro Jesus Madrona,
Rep. Joseph Emilio Abaya, and Rep. Isidro Ungab
S p e a ke r Fe l i c i a n o
Belmonte Jr. said Ungab
shepherded the committeel e ve l a p p rova l o f t h e
controversial sin tax bill,
which increased levies on
the so-called “sin” products
like cigarettes and liquor.
Then Cavite Rep.
Joseph Emilio Abaya was
appropriations committee
head until President Aquino
recruited him to his Cabinet.
The committee is the panel
that scrutinizes the annual
budget.
Ungab will soon hold
public hearings on
President Aquino's
proposed P2.268-trillion
national budget for 2014.
Iloilo City Rep. Niel
Tupas Jr. was reelected
justice committee
chairman. In the last
Congress, he led the House
panel that prosecuted then
Supreme Court chief justice
Renato Corona in his Senate
impeachment trial.
In May last year, the
Senate, as an impeachment
court, voted to remove
Corona for failing to declare
millions in bank accounts in
his statement of assets,
liabilities and net worth.
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Page 9
Page 9
Expanded Hours, Case Managers Assigned to Each Ward & Metrics Driven Performance Reviews
Mayor's Action Bureau Expanded &
Renamed 'Resident Response Center'
JERSEY CITY, July 24 -Mayor Steven M. Fulop today
announced the expansion
and enhancement of the
fo r m e r M ayo r ' s Ac t i o n
Bureau, which is also being
renamed as the 'Resident
R e s p o n s e C e n t e r.' T h e
Resident Response Center,
will be open from 8 a.m. to 8
p.m. Monday through Friday
beginning in early August, is
the City's central constituent
services office where
residents can have all type of
i s s u e s r e s o lve d
from
potholes to parking
problems. The proposed
changes will help streamline
the process for constituent
services, guarantee response
times, centralize the process,
and provide a mechanism for
the city to track how we are
using our resources
“Improving customer
service for our residents was
one of the first issues we set
out to address, because we
know that residents want
quicker and more effective
results,” said Mayor Fulop.
“We are professionalizing the
House elects
new heads ...
From page 8
Tupas and his Senate
counterpart will most likely
a l t e r n a t e ly re p re s e n t
Congress in the Judicial and
Bar Council, the body that
scrutinizes appointments
in the judiciary.
The Supreme Court
has ruled that the
legislature should have
only one representative,
instead of two, in the
council.
The House also named
office, adding and properly
training staff, and
implementing accountability
measures. The 'Resident
Response Center' will live up
to its name and set the tone of
responsiveness for city
departments and agencies.
Mayor Fulop said
employees will receive
training to handle more calls
while solving issues faster
and more efficiently. Staff will
also be assigned to each ward
to ensure that complaints are
being handled properly and
tracked to completion.
Each department
director has also been
instructed to have their staff
prioritize Resident Response
Center matters when they are
r e c e i v e d . A d d i t i o n a l l y,
management in the office will
review each department's
performance and provide
weekly metrics reports to the
Mayor's Office.
Mayor Fulop has also
assigned staff to complete the
creation of a Jersey City 311
Call Center that would work
several other members of
t h e r u l e s a n d
a p p rop ria t ion s
committees.
Jorge Banal Jr. of
Quezon City, Abigail Binay
of Makati and Magtanggol
Gunigundo I of Valenzuela
City were elected
representatives of the
majority in the rules panel,
while Minority Leader
Ronaldo Zamora and Neri
Colmenares of Bayan Muna
and Carol Jayne Lopez of
You Against Corruption and
Poverty will represent the
opposition in the
committee. With Danny
Dangcalan (Philippine Star)
in conjunction with the
Resident Response Center.
The city is also in the process
of implementing a mobile
app, SeeClickFix, that would
allow residents to report
complaints using their
mobile phones directly to the
Resident Response Center
wherever and whenever they
want. Once reported,
SeeClickFix allows residents
to see the progress of their
complaint online as the
issues is tracked to
resolution, increasing
transparency and
accountability.
“Improving constituent
services also involves
enhancing the city's
t e c h n o l o g y a n d
communications capabilities
so that residents can report
issues using a variety of
channels, not just the
traditional phone call to City
Hall,” said Mayor Fulop. “We
have listened to what the
residents want and increased
responsiveness was one of
the top requests and we are
delivering that.”
Council President Lavarro to Introduce
Ordinance to Abolish Health Benefits
For Jersey City MUA Commissioners
Fulop Sponsored Ordinance to Change in 2011 and Healy Protected
For Existing Employees; Ordinance would eliminate for all
JERSEY CITY, July 24 – City
C o u n c i l P re s i d e n t Ro l a n d o
Lavarro, Jr. will introduce an
ordinance at next week's City
Council meeting that will abolish
health benefits for volunteer
commissioners of the Jersey City
Municipal Utilities Authority
Board. MUA Board members get
full health benefits despite only
working one hour per week.
“This ordinance is something
I fought for while on the City
Council, but was blocked more
than once by Healy administration
allies who wanted to protect their
friends and family members in
these appointed positions,” said
Mayor Fulop. “I am ecstatic that
Council President Lavarro is
closing the loop here.”
In 2010, notwithstanding
op p osit ion from t he Hea ly
administration, then Councilman
Fulop was able to enact changes
that resulted in the commissioners
of the both the MUA and the Jersey
C i t y I n c i n e ra t o r Au t h o r i t y
contributing 20 percent to the cost
evident from the police escorts'
refusal to use a vehicle from the
Bureau of Corrections, their refusal
to let a BuCor official escort them,
and for taking the convoy to a more
complex route.
Ozamiz gang
leaders’ slay ...
From page 6
“He was one of those who
opened fire at the Hi Ace. It was not
true that a motorcycle chased the
vehicle
and one of the riders fired at
the van… he was the one who shot
the windshield and the right front
wheel of the van,” said Roxas to
belie the claims of Region 4-B
Police Director Chief
Superintendent Benito Estipona.
of their health benefits. Changes to
the city code also prohibited new
commissioners from receiving
benefits. Despite further changes
in the code in 2011 that then
Councilman Fulop proposed
ending health benefits entirely for
commissioners of both boards
effective Dec. 31, 2011, two
commissioners of the MUA board
h ave c o n t i n u e d t o re c e ive
taxpayer-funded health benefits.
“The two ordinances we are
introducing Wednesday night will
officially codify the abolishment of
health benefits for these two
boards,” said Council President
Lavarro. “This is what the public
wants and this action is long
overdue in changing the culture of
city government.”
Mayor Fulop and Council
President Lavarro have also
pledged to fill board vacancies
with more members of the
c o m m u n i t y, h av i n g s o u g h t
resumes during the transition
period.
“Eto mga nagbibigay hudyat
napag-isipan nila ito,” Roxas said,
adding that there was even an
attempt to confuse investigators by
replacing the firing pin and barrel
of the guns used in the incident.
Ozamiz rob gang leader Rick Cadavero with his
police escorts just hours before he was killed
allegedly in an ambush Monday night in San
Pe d ro, L a g u n a . I N Q U I R E R / M A R I A N N E
BERMUDEZ
Estipona said motorcycleriding gunmen blocked the convoy
and fired at the van.
from the back of the van hit
Cadavero and Panogalinga.
“[Ito ay] para hindi nga matrace yung ballistics. Kaya nung
unang pag-test walang match. Pero
nung lumabas katotohanan, nagmatch dahil naibalik na yung
tamang baril at firing pin,” the
secretary noted.
Roxas said that the witness
believed the shots he heard coming
The Interior secretary noted
that the incident was planned as
With a report from Jamie
Elona (INQUIRER.net)
Editorial & opinion
Page 10
Institutional
changes
As of July 23, there was still no word from
Malacañang on whether President Aquino had accepted
the resignation of Danilo Lim as deputy commissioner for
intelligence of the Bureau of Customs. The offer came on
the heels of a similar offer that Customs Commissioner
Ruffy Biazon sent by text to the President shortly after he
lambasted the BOC in his State of the Nation Address last
Monday.
Ye s te rd ay a n o t h e r B O C o f f i c i a l , D e p u t y
Commissioner for internal administration Juan Lorenzo
Tañada, also announced that he had texted his
resignation to Biazon. All the offers are not irrevocable,
and are reportedly meant to give the President a free
hand if he wanted to reorganize the bureau.
Lim, a chronic coup plotter until he decided to join
the government, should blow the whistle on anyone
requesting for favors from the BOC that would violate the
law. That a self-styled reformist is giving up on the bureau
indicates the difficulty of eradicating the culture of
corruption in an agency that is perceived to be among the
most graft-ridden.
Similar problems exist, in varying degrees, in many
other government offices. Unless communication is
intercepted and recorded, money received as payoff
marked, or someone is willing to go on record to
denounce corruption, it is difficult to pin down anyone
demanding a commission or “facilitation fee” from those
doing business with the government.
The President, in his SONA, acknowledged that
corruption continues under his watch, and he vowed to
go after those involved. He should make good on his
threat, and ensure that all probes will be credible and
undertaken by independent bodies. Anyone who shows
prejudgment of a complaint should be taken out of an
investigation ASAP.
Apart from catching crooks under his watch, the
President must instruct all agencies to implement
changes in their systems and processes to plug
opportunities for corruption. Procurement and bidding
rules must be simplified and transparency built into the
process to prevent collusion among bidders and the
design of requirements to favor a particular bidder.
Concerns have been raised that reforms initiated under
the current administration may not be sustained. This
possibility can be prevented if the changes are
institutionalized, built into the system and difficult for
individual officials to reverse. (Philippine Star)
Founded in 1986
Publisher/Editor-in-Chief: Lito A. Gajilan, Jr.
Columnists: Reuben S. Seguritan, Esq.,
Juan L. Mercado, Jonathan Suarez, Joel Baclit
Correspondent: Contessa Bourbon
The opinions expressed by columnists are their
own and do not reflect the opinion of the paper
nor that of the publisher
Contact us:
Email: filexpress@aol.com
Phone: 201-434-1114 Fax 201-434-0880
What To Do If Sponsor's
Income Is Insufficient
A U.S. citizen or lawful
permanent resident who
petitions or sponsors a family
member for a green card must
submit with the relative's
adjustment of status application
or immigrant visa application an
affidavit of support or form I-864
to guarantee that the intending
immigrant will not become a
public charge.
In order to be eligible to
execute an affidavit of support,
the sponsor must be a U.S. citizen
or a lawful permanent resident,
at least 18 years old and
domiciled in the United States.
The sponsor's income must
also be able to meet at least 125
percent of the Federal Poverty
Guidelines. This varies according
to the sponsor's household size
which will include the number of
immigrants previously
sponsored. The 125 percent
threshold is determined at the
time of the filing of the affidavit of
support.
Whether it is reasonable to
assume that the sponsor will be
able to sustain the minimum
income required is the question
that examiners look into to
determine if the affidavit of
support is sufficient. If the
sponsor's income in the most
recent tax year meets the 125
Poverty Guideline threshold,
then it is generally acceptable.
H o w e v e r, t h e r e a r e
instances when even if the
income indicated in the most
recent tax return does not meet
the requirement, USCIS may still
find the affidavit of support
sufficient. One example is when
the sponsor's income from a new
job can meet or even exceed the
125 percent threshold. In this
case, the affidavit of support in
itself may be sufficient.
On the other hand, USCIS
might also find that the affidavit
of support is not sufficient even if
the income reflected in the most
recent tax return meets the
requirement. An example is when
the job is only temporary in
nature and the USCIS finds that
the sponsor is not likely to
maintain the income.
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Page 12
Flawed head counts
XXIII. Some Filipinos itch to
compare Manila's “world record”
with the 2013 WYD rites.
On July 23, the first-ever
Latin American pontiff will
launch, in Brazil, the 14th World
Youth Day. “WYDRio2013” will
run until Sunday in Rio de Janeiro.
Pope Francis will offer Mass and
interact with youngsters from
countries ranging from Slovakia
to the Philippines to Indonesia
against the backdrop of the
“Christ the Redeemer” statue
towering on Sugarloaf Mountain.
In January 1995, four
million attended the WYD Mass at
the Luneta offered by Pope John
Paul II. He will be canonized as a
saint on Dec. 8 with Blessed John
Six of 10 pilgrims now
cascading in Copacabana
environs are between 19 and 34
years old. Still some pontiffs
establish a livelier bond with the
youth than others. John Paul II did.
Rio will be “the biggest Catholic
blowout of the early 21st century.”
There, Francis wants to inspire a
more missionary Church. His
ability to galvanize young
apostles will be critical. But head
counts can mislead. The Catholic
population in 21 Latin American
countries dwarfs that of the
Philippines.
Within three months,
Francis has been stamped as the
“pope of the poor.” After Rio, will
he emerge as the “pope of the
young”? asks the hard-nosed
Vatican journalist John Allen Jr.
“Triumph is hardly a foregone
conclusion, given multiple
challenges.”
Start with the “Pink Tide.” In
14 Latin American countries, Leftleaning parties are in power. They
splice-managed capitalism with
varying policies on women issues,
reproductive health and gay
rights. Can the Church carve
constructive relations with these
governments? Or will ties be
ruptured by disputes?
Francis clashed with
Argentina's Cristina Kirchner,
especially over gay marriage. In
Brazil, Dilma Rousseff was
elected, despite the contention by
Catholic bishops that she would
legalize abortion. The Guarulhos
diocese tagged Rousseff as the
“candidate of death.”
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Page 14
Page 11
OPINION Aquino's SONA: Lies, deceptions and silly boasts
By RIGOBERTO TIGLAO
How can you respect a
President who, in a speech that
should discuss where we are as a
nation, instead brags about his
purported accomplishments by
barraging us with claims which
turn out to be downright false,
deceptive, arguable as to its
veracity, or puerile boasts?
Given this newspaper's
deadline for column
submissions, what follows is a
preliminary list of such atrocious
claims made by President Aquino
in his 1.7-hour State of the Nation
Address the other day.
RICE IMPORTS
Aquino (translated from
Pilipino) said in his SONA:
Making
life worth
living
Ellen Tordesillas
Albert del Rosario, SONA
2013: The fourth State-of- theNation Address by President
Aquino is notable for the number
of issues that he didn't touch.
He did not mention
anything about the Freedom of
Information Bill which he
promised to support when he
wa s c a m p a i g n i n g fo r t h e
presidency.
He did not say anything
about China and Taiwan.
The once vibrant relations
with Taiwan took a dip with the
killing of a Taiwanese fisherman
by a Philippine Coast Guard at
the disputed waters in Balintang
Channel last May 9. Taiwan has
OPINION
By Rodel Rodis and Walden Bello
July 24 marks the first
anniversary of China's creation of
the Sansha prefecture to “oversee
and administer” 1 million square
miles of the South China Sea over
which China asserts
“indisputable sovereignty.” If
allowed to stand, China's claim
will go down as the most brazen
maritime territorial grab in
history.
In October 2012, Beijing
vested Sansha prefecture with
the police authority, effective Jan.
1, 2013, “to board, seize and
expel foreign ships” within a vast
jurisdiction that includes islands
and reefs in the West Philippine
Sea. Since Sansha's formation,
China has increased its
provocative moves against the
“According to the NFA, in 2010,
the country imported more than
2 million metric tons of rice. In
2011, this fell to 855,000 metric
tons. In 2012: 500,000 metric
tons. And now in 2013: the
maximum we will import ,
including the private sector, will
be the minimum access volume of
350,000 metric tons. “
Did Aquino think we forgot
about the reports of massive rice
smuggling that the National Food
Authority obviously can't report?
What follows is the report from
www.oryza.com, the recognized
global grains industry news site,
quoting separate reports of the
US Department of Agriculture,
which is known to rely for its data
even on CIA intelligence:
“The USDA estimates that
rice imports by the Philippines in
MY2012?13 (May to April) are
likely to reach around 1.5 million
tons, while rice imports in
2013?14 are forecast at around
1.2 million tons. These figures are
significantly higher than
government figures of 500,000
tons of rice imports in 2012 and
the targeted . . . rice imports in
2013.
The USDA says that the
continued entry of
undocumented rice (estimated at
around 400,000 to 600,000 tons
in MY 2012?13) into the country
is a serious challenge to the
Philippine rice industry. It says
that smuggled rice into the
country increased in 2012 and
hurt the profits of local rice
p r o d u c e r s a n d t r a d e r s .”
(Emphasis mine.)
THE CONDITIONAL CASH
TRANSFER PROGRAM
The rationale of the
programto prevent it from
becoming merely a give-awayis
that poor families receiving the
funds are required to keep their
children in school. Thus, the
argument goes, the cycle of
poverty will be broken as
educated or merely literate
workers have higher wages.
Aquino in effect claimed
that the conditional cash transfer
program is such a success in its
major aim of getting children of
poor people finish elementary
that he would extend the
program to include “families with
children up to 18 years old …so
that their children will be able to
finish high school.”
However, a comprehensive
assessment by the World Bank
(“Philippines Conditional Cash
Tr a n s f e r P r o g r a m I m p a c t
Evaluation 2012) released this
year had the following main
conclusion:
“The findings suggest that
the program has not had a
significant impact on increasing
enrollment among older children
aged 12-17 years old. . . . However,
the program was unable to even
improve enrollment of children
12- 14 years of age, who are
currently covered under
Pantawid Pamilya.”
Why would Aquino extend
coverage to families with
children up to 18 years old, when
the program is failing in getting
poor families' children finish
even elementary school, which is
the minimum requirement for
them to crawl out of the poverty
quagmire?
u
Page 15
A farewell tribute to Del Rosario?
suspended the hiring of Filipino
workers pending the President's
decision on the report of the
investigation of the incident
which had been with him since
June 11.
L a s t J a n u a r y, t h e
Philippines took China to the
United Nations arbitral court
over the latter's nine-dash line
map which encroaches on
Philippine territory. Relations
with one of the world's economic
power is at its lowest in its 38year history.
The President also did not
allot even a minute of his almost
two-hour speech for the
Overseas Filipino Workers,
whose remittances are one of the
major reasons why the
Philippines is considered a
bright spot in the global
economy.
However, he did mention
about OFW in his lavish praise of
Foreign Secretary Albert del
Rosario for something the latter
did more than two years ago:
“May mga katulad ni Kalihim
Albert del Rosario. Kung ibabase
sa tradisyon, ang unang opisyal
na biyahe sa labas ng Pilipinas ng
isang kalihim ay sa mga bansang
may matibay at mapayapa
tayong ugnayan. Ngunit
pagkatapos niyang manumpa
bilang Foreign Affairs Secretary,
kumuha lang yata ng pambihis,
lumipad agad si Secretary del
Ro s a r i o p a t u n g o n g L i by a ;
dumaan sa mahigit
dalawampung checkpoint sa
gitna ng putukan, at pinamunuan
ang paglikas ng mahigit
dalawampung libong Pilipino na
naipit sa kaguluhan sa Libya.
“Baka po magulat kayo pag
narinig ninyo kung taga-saang
bansa ang mga banyagang
nakiangkas pa sa ating paglilikas.
Iba na nga po ang Pilipinas
ngayon: Imbes na tayo lang ang
parating tinutulungan, ngayon,
kaya na rin nating tumulong sa
mga dayuhan.
“Kung tutuusin, maaari
namang tanggihan ni Secretary
Albert ang pagtatrabaho sa
gobyerno. Isa siyang respetado't
matagumpay na negosyante, at
tiyak na mas magiging
komportable siya sa pribadong
buhay. Dati na rin po nating
siyang nakiambag bilang
ambassador sa Amerika. Puwede
naman siyang nadismaya nang
pababain siya sa puwesto, dahil
tinutulan niya ang pagdeklara ng
State of Emergency ng nakaraang
administrasyon noong 2006.
“Pero tinawag po natin siya
para bumalik, at tumugon siya.
“Ngayon po, nagbibigay siya ng
mas malaki pang ambag bilang
kalihim. Handa niyang ilagay ang
sarili sa panganib, dahil alam
niyang walang ibang sasaklolo sa
Pilipino kundi ang kapwa rin
Pilipino. Sa patuloy mong
paninindigan para sa ating
karapatan, saludo po ako sa inyo,
Secretary Albert del Rosario.”
(“There are those like
Secretary Albert del Rosario.
Going by tradition, a Secretary's
first official travel outside the
Philippines would be to a
country with whom we enjoy
strong and peaceful relations.
But only a few hours after taking
his oath as Foreign Affairs
Secretary, Secretary del Rosario
only took the time to possibly
pack a change of clothes before
immediately flying to Libya. He
went through more than twenty
u
Page 14
FILIPINOS PROTEST CHINA ACTION
OP-ED San Francisco Chronicle, July 24, 2013
Philippines, including the
occupation of the Scarborough
Shoal (115 miles from the
Philippines coast) by 90 Chinese
ships that barred Filipino fishers
from their fishing grounds, and
the dispatch of Chinese frigates
to Ayungin Reef (105 miles from
the Philippines).
This slicing up of Philippine
territory was explained by Major
General Zhang Zhaozhong on
Beijing TV as all part of China's
“cabbage strategy,” the thrust of
which is to surround Philippine
territories with an enormous
Chinese naval presence.
According to China, it is the
Philippines that is illegally
occupying the Ayungin Reef,
which is considered the gateway
to the Recto Bank (85 miles from
the Philippines coast). The U.S.
Energy Information
Administration estimates that
Recto Bank may contain 213
billion barrels of oil and 2
quadrillion cubic feet of natural
gas.
China contends that the
Philippines is not entitled to its
200 nautical mile boundaries
under the United Nations
Convention on the Law of the Sea
(UNCLOS) because the
boundaries of all countries,
except China, extend just 12
nautical miles from their coasts.
The Convention is a 1982 accord
by 163 countries that aims to
govern the use of offshore areas.
The Philippines and China are
both signatories to the treaty.
In contrast to China, which
is threatening to use force to
enforce its claims, the Philippines
has advocated working within a
multilateral framework, such as
the Association of Southeast
Asian Nations and the United
Nations, to resolve territorial
disagreements.
On Jan. 22, the Philippines
brought its complaint over
China's illegal occupation of its
Scarborough Shoal to a United
Nations arbitral tribunal, which
began its formal hearing July 11
on the petition. Unfortunately,
China has ignored the U.N.
petition and declared that only
bilateral talks can resolve its
territorial disputes, a format
where it can easily bamboozle its
weaker neighbors.
China's behavior in the
South China Sea dispute is that of
an imperial state, imitating the
expansionist conduct of the
western powers it condemns.
Standing squarely behind
the Philippine government's
efforts to defend its interests in
the South China Sea are the 90
million Filipinos in the
Philippines and the 12 million
Filipinos in the global Diaspora,
who are resolved that their
homeland will not be bullied into
submission by China.
At noon on July 24, Filipinos
will stage simultaneous protest
rallies in front of China's
consulates all over the world,
including San Francisco, to
condemn China's aggression
toward the Philippines.
Rodel Rodis, a San Francisco attorney,
is the president of the Global Filipino
Diaspora Council. Rep. Walden Bello is
a representative in the Philippine
House of Representatives.
Page 12
Newsflash: The creeping Chinese invasion of Zambales mainland has been stopped for now.
SC stops Zambales mines; Chinese 'invaders' socked
By Jarius Bondoc
The Supreme Court
yesterday issued a temporary
environment protection order
(TEPO) against 94 “small-scale
mines” that extract nickel in
Zambales. Among the “small”
mines are at least five fronts of
giant nickel miners from China
(see Gotcha, 24 July 2013).
Allegedly operating outside the
allowable area, the mines are
illegal, pollutive, unregulated,
untaxed, and destabilizing the
economy.
The SC en banc acted on a
petition of ten Masinloc
townsmen for a TEPO against
Zambales Gov. Hermogenes
Ebdane, the Provincial Mining
Regulatory Board, and one
Camilo Esico.
Covered by the TEPO are
respondents Environment and
Natural Resources Sec. Ramon
Paje, his Mines and Geosciences
Bureau, the Dept. of Interior
and Local Government, and the
Philippine National Police.
In a 35-page petition filed
July 17, the townsfolk decried
Ebdane's granting of smallscale mining permits (SSMPs)
outside the officially designated
“minahang bayan.” As example,
they cited the ones given to
Esico in 2010, good for two
years, and again in 2012, valid
till 2014.
Provincial capitols may
issue SSMPs under the People's
Small-Scale Mining Act of 1991.
But these are supposed to be
within the zone for subsistence
miners, who employ only
brawn, picks, and shovels.
The Zambales nickel
miners in Masinloc and Sta.
Cruz towns use sophisticated
excavators, crushers, loaders,
and explosives. Thousands of
dump trucks laden with ore line
up the national highway and
side roads.
The five Chinese fronts
have built a common wharf in
Sta. Cruz, betraying the fact that
they are one operation. Their
mother companies are Jiangxi
Rare Earth & Metals Tungsten
Group, Wei-Wei Group, and
Nihao Mineral Resources Inc.
All tainted by bribery reports,
they set up the five “small
mines” through Filipino
dummies.
Other “small” miners
deliver ore to the Chinese-built
pier, from which sail off four
Chinese bulk carriers a week.
Processed in China, the nickel is
used for hi-tech weaponry and
surveillance systems mobilized
to sabotage the Philippine
military and economy into
submission. The Philippines is
China's top supplier of nickel.
Mining pollution of the
rivers and seas are forcing
fishermen from Masinloc, Sta.
Cruz, and Infanta, Pangasinan,
to sail farther out to sea. But
when they enter the vicinity of
the Bajo de Masinloc shoal,
Chinese warships shell them
back to shore.
China in 2012 grabbed the
shoal, also called Panatag, 124
miles west of Zambales. It is
well within the Philippines 200mile exclusive economic zone,
but 800 miles from the nearest
Chinese coast. Chinese military
vessels escort fish poachers
from Hainan province, and
forbid Filipinos from entering
the traditional fishing grounds.
China's creeping invasion of
Zambales mainland for nickel
began eight years earlier, but
w o r s e n e d o n ly r e c e n t ly.
Aside from Esico's, Ebdane
issued 93 other SSMPs in just
one day, on July 12, 2011, the
p e t i t i o n e r s reve a l e d . H e
invoked Presidential Decree
1899, but the townsmen said
80 mainland Chinese held by police for illegal mining in Zambales
the People's Small-Scale Mining
already had repealed it. But the
DENR issued a memo allowing
the application of both the
P re s i d e n t i a l D e c re e a n d
superseding Republic Act. So
the petitioners included Paje as
answerable.
Residents of Masinloc-Sta.
Cruz-Infanta suffer the worst
air pollution in the country due
to mining waste, explosives, ore
dust, and dump truck
emissions. Having the highest
morbidity incidence of acute
respiratory infections, they
have taken to calling the
destructive Chinese miners'
What to do if ...
From page 10
When the sponsor's income is
insufficient, his assets may be
counted to meet the shortfall. The net
value of the assets must equal at least
5 times the difference between the
household income and the minimum
income required. The assets included
should be “readily available into cash
within one year.” Assets may include
money in the bank and personal
properties such as automobiles. The
assets listed must be specifically
described including the existence of
liens and liabilities. If it is a bank
statement, the transaction history
must cover at least 12 months.
Personal properties may be
considered using standard valuations
and appraisals.
The sponsor may not use
supplementary security income or
SSI, food stamps and other federal
means-tested benefits as income.
If the petitioner has not filed an
income tax return, he may still
sponsor his relative; however, he
abettors “modern-day
Makapili” collaborators.
The petitioners said that
national and provincial
environment officials, and
policemen see Esico openly
using heavy equipment for his
“small-scale” mine. The
policemen even escort the
trucks and guard the mine
gates.
The MGB reports 291
SSMPs to have been issued as of
last April 12. Ninety-nine of
these are in Zambales alone.
The Philippine Star
must file a late tax return and proof of
late-filed tax return must be obtained
prior to filing. If the petitioner had no
legal duty to file, he must provide an
explanation.
The income of other household
members may also be included in the
affidavit of support to augment the
household income. This is made
through Form I-864A. The intending
immigrant's income may also be
included so long as the income was
earned through lawful employment
and it will continue to be available
after he obtained her green card. This
is indicated in the affidavit of support
of the principal sponsor and will not
require the submission of Form I864A.
If the sponsor does not meet the
income requirement, a joint sponsor
may file a separate Form I-864. The
joint sponsor must meet the income
requirement separate from the
sponsor. Their income cannot be
combined to meet the requirement.
(Editor's Note: REUBEN S. SEGURITAN has
been practicing law for over 30 years. For
more information, you may log on to his
website at www.seguritan.com or call (212)
695-5281.)
Page 13
'No letup in US pivot to Asia-Pacific'
By Jose Katigbak
STAR Washington Bureau
assortment of volatile territorial
disputes in East Asia,” Ted Galen
Carpenter, senior fellow of defense
and foreign policy studies based in
Washington, said in an article
titled “Ending a Dangerous Game”
in the Opinion page of China Daily.
WASHINGTON The new US
point man on East Asia on Monday
vowed no let-up in Washington's
focus on the region, pledging to
build cooperation both with US
allies and a rising China.
Daniel Russel, Assistant
Secretary of State for East Asian
and Pacific Affairs, said there will
be “no let up, no backtracking, no
diminution” of America's
commitment to rebalance its
interests and investments in the
Asia Pacific region.
“You can count on us to
remain deeply engaged in the AsiaPacific region because our
interests are so profound in that
region,” he said in his first press
conference since assuming his
post.
Russel, who succeeded Kurt
Campbell, said the Asia Pacific
region was in an extraordinary
period of growth and prosperity
and “promoting that growth,
facilitating it, sustaining it and
harnessing it, frankly is central to
America's economic and strategic
interest.”
But he said the US was also
very mindful of the problems and
the challenges, citing North
Korea's nuclear program and
tensions over territorial disputes
in the South China Sea and in the
East China Sea.
Daniel Russel
Russel said China and the US
were working hard to develop a
candid dialogue on areas of
disagreement and to make sure
each understands the motivations
and objectives of the other.
“The US and China don't
agree on everything, of course, but
talk about everything,” he said.
Maintaining good lines of
communication between
Washington and Beijing is a
priority also for the other
countries in the region, he added.
China: US should change tack
In a related development, an
article published by China Daily
said the US should change its
approach to territorial disputes in
East Asia and match its statements
of neutrality.
“Washington must exercise
great care or the United States
could become entangled in an
Carpenter said: “Washington
is playing a dangerous game by
stirring tensions and backing
certain parties regarding
emotional territorial
disagreements.”
“Except for the preservation
of navigation rights through the
relevant bodies of water, the US
does not have important interests
at stake in these disputes. Strict
neutrality is appropriate for
Washington in deeds as well as
words,” he said.
Carpenter noted that US
actions, particularly in the past
three years, belie its statements of
neutrality in all of these disputes.
H e s a i d Wa s h i n g to n h a s
increasingly become involved, and
US policy has tilted toward any
claimant other than China.
“That is an unwise course,
since it encourages some nations,
especially US treaty allies such as
Japan and the Philippines, to adopt
uncompromising stances and
re d u c e s t h e p ro s p e c t s f o r
compromise solutions,” Carpenter
said. “A policy so biased against
China also has the potential to
poison the US's crucial economic,
diplomatic, and strategic
relationship with a re-emerging
great power in the international
system.”
Another China Daily column
by Zhou Bo, an honorary fellow of
the Center on China-American
Defense Relations at the Academy
of Military Science, said Beijing is
worried about a number of worstcase scenarios involving its
territorial disputes with other
countries.
“While the West believes
China is strong enough not to be
attacked by anyone, China is still
concerned about a number of
worst-case scenarios where
external forces could be involved
in either China's internal affairs
such as Taiwan or its maritime
territorial disputes with other
countries,” Zhou said.
“China believes that there is
still a gap between its strength and
that of the US-led Western powers.
Its objective, as laid out in the
defense white paper, is to achieve
military modernization by midcentury,” he said With Pia LeeBrago, Jaime Laude (Philippine
Star)
US military contingent
in Phl for defense talks
MANILA — A United
States military contingent,
including a senior marine
official highly critical of
China's military buildup in
the South China Sea, is in the
country for the Mutual
Defense Board-Security
Engagement Board (MDBSEB) talks.
Brig. Gen Richard
Simcock III, deputy
commander of US Marines
Corps Forces Pacific, arrived
in the country at about 9 p.m.
S u n d ay a b o a rd U n i t e d
Airlines flight UA183 from
Guam.
A US embassy staff car
fetched Simcock and his
contingent at the airport.
His team will meet with
A r m e d Fo rc e s o f t h e
Philippines senior officials
for MDB-SEB talks set today
at Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon
City.
u
Page 14
Page 14
but merely said he was not
acting on any cabinet
resignations before the May
2013 elections. Last February,
at the height of the Lahad Datu
(Sabah) siege, Malacanang
expressed displeasure over the
statement of “grave concern”
issued by del Rosario in
connection with the reported
human rights violations against
Filipinos by Malaysian
authorities.
A farewell tribute
to Del Rosario?
From page 11
checkpoints in the middle of
crossfire and led the evacuation
of more than 20,000 Filipinos
who were caught in the conflict
in Libya. You might also be
surprised to hear the
nationalities of the men and
women we also ended up
e v a c u a t i n g . T r u l y, t h e
Philippines is different today:
From a country that was always
just the recipient of help, we
have become a country capable
of providing help.
(All things considered,
Secretary Albert could have
s a i d “ n o” to wo rk i n g i n
government. He is a successful
and respected businessman,
and, certainly, he would be
much more comfortable living a
private life. He had also already
served as ambassador to
America. He could have become
disillusioned after being
removed from his position,
because he opposed the past
administration's declaration of
a State of Emergency back in
2006. But we asked him to
return to government, and he
did. Now, he is contributing
even more as Secretary. He is
ready to put himself in harm's
way, because he knows that no
one else will save Filipinos but
fellow Filipinos. For continuing
to stand up for our rights, I
salute you, Secretary Albert del
Rosario.”)
Secretary Albert del Rosario
After heaping praise on
del Rosario, he recalled the
exemplary public service of the
late Jesse Robredo. Next, he
gave another tribute: to the
soon-to-retire Brig. Gen. Ramon
Mateo Dizon, chief of the
Presidential Security Group.
Was it a farewell tribute
that President Aquino was
giving del Rosario?
Reliable sources said del
Rosario had offered to resign
June last year over the rift with
Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, who
back-channeled with China
when communications
between the foreign secretary
and the Chinese ambassador
broke down in connection with
the standoff in Bajo de Masinloc
also known as Scarborough
Shoal.
According to sources, the
President did not act on the
foreign secretary's resignation
Del Rosario, sources said,
told a cabinet official, who
relayed to him the President's
displeasure that if Aquino has
lost confidence in him, he was
willing to resign.
A f te r t h e M ay 2 0 1 3
election, there have been a
number of political figures who
have signified their interest in
the position of foreign affairs
secretary. One is former senator
Edgardo Angara. Another is
presidential political adviser
Ronald Llamas. Another one
said to be positioning for it is
Ambassador to the US Jose
Cuisia, Jr.
A Malacañang source said
the foreign affairs position has
been dangled to Interior
Secretary Mar Roxas, who is
reported to nurture 2016
presidential plans. But Roxas is
not biting, the source said.
Del Rosario said he is
“very humbled” by the
President's words of approval
adding that Aquino has always
inspired him.
www.ellentordesillas.com
US military
contingent in Phl
for defense talks
From page 13
Aside from the
humanitarian aspect, also to
be discussed in the MDBSEB meet usually held in the
country and Hawaii under
the auspices of the Mutual
Defense Treaty are the joint
Balikatan exercises and
other military drills
between Filipino and US
servicemen.
Simcock has criticized
Beijing, saying it is
generating fears among its
neighbors.
He made the remark at a
time when China is engaged
in territorial disputes over
islets in the East China Sea
and the South China Sea
with Japan and the
Philippines.
Jaime Laude, Alexis Romero
(Philippine Star)
Flawed head
counts
of Buenos Aires. He was among
the pioneers in navigating this
transition. He positioned his
Church “as a credible social force.”
From page 10
How? Not by magisterial
pronouncements but in
ministering to the poorest. He
turned over his cardinal's palace
for use as a hospice by a religious
nursing order. He took the bus and
lived in a rundown apartment.
Now, he faces the task of “scaling
up” this approach across the
continent. Rio could be his
breakout performance.
Didn't the Filipino bishops of
Bacolod and Lipa clone Guarulhos
in assailing those who voted for
the reproductive health bill as
“Team Patay”? They, too, were
trashed. More important, can
Filipino prelates learn from Latin
America?
Rousseff last year adopted a
controversial national registry of
pregnancies. Prochoice groups
strafed her, claiming it defines a
fetus as a person. Hold it. Isn't that
precisely the issue that the
P h i l i p p i n e S u p re m e C o u r t
grapples with in challenges to
implementing the RH Law?
There's the Evangelical and
P e n t e c o s t a l “ t s u n a m i ,”
meanwhile. In the late 20th
century, Latin America morphed
from being a Catholic region into a
competitive religious
marketplace. At its peak, some
8,000 Catholics bailed out daily
into various Protestant
movements.
Yet, Catholics, Evangelicals
and Pentecostals have common
interests, especially in
secularism's corrosive inroads. In
Brazil, the growth of
Evangelicalism and
Pe n t e c o s t a l i s m s t a l l e d . I n
contrast , the most rapidly
expanding religious cohort in the
country is the “nones,” i.e.,
Brazilians who say they have no
religious affiliation at all.
“Will Francis be able to
reorient ecumenical outreach
toward the most consequential
form of non-Catholic Christianity
in the world today? [That'd] be a
key measuring stick for the
success of his papacy.”
“Learning a new language” is
the third challenge. In Latin
America, the Church can no longer
speak as the quasiofficial arbiter
of public morality. On a complex
religious landscape, it is now one
actor among many, although it
counts as a substantial bloc of the
population.
Filipino prelates like Luis
Antonio Cardinal Tagle and
Archbishop Antonio Ledesma
insist that “the authority of
establishment must give way to
the authority of witness.” That
profiles Jorge Cardinal Bergoglio
Early images of Francis'
papacy have been compelling. He
spurned the sprawling papal
apartments and lodged in the
spartan Vatican guesthouse Casa
Santa Marta. He drives through St.
Peter's Square, to greet people, in
an open-topped jeep instead of
the bulletproof bubble.
Priests shouldn't drive fancy
cars, he said mid-July. “It hurts me
when I see a priest or nun with the
l a te s t - m o d e l c a r. A c a r i s
necessary to do a lot of work, but,
please, choose a more humble
one. If you like the fancy one,
think about how many children
are dying of hunger in the world.”
After his speech, Francis
visited the Vatican garage to
inspect his own fleet, according to
The Associated Press. He arrived
at Castel Gandolfo in a simple Ford
Focusa far cry from the luxury
cars of his predecessor: a custommade Renault, a BMW X5, a
Mercedes. “Now here's a Pope
who practices what he preaches,”
wrote Yasmin Hatz of the
Huffington Post.
Example is contagious. A
priest in Colombia answered the
Pope's call. He planned to sell his
white Mercedes Benz E200
convertible, given to him as a gift
by his four brothers. “I can ride a
bicycle,” he said.
In Rio, there are the media
and the message. Since midMarch, the usual stream of Vatican
leaks in the Italian media has
largely dried up. Francis plays his
cards close to the vest in his
insistence on the Church going
into the streets. This Pope often
veers off-script. Will he avoid
blurring his own message during
the biggest public outing of his
young papacy? Abangan, Filipinos
would say.
E-mail:
juan_mercado77@yahoo.com
Page 15
Aquino’s SONA:
Lies ...
years he succeeded in introducing
intercropping in 0.1 percent of the
Philippine coconut hectarage?
From page 11
A LIE SO HE COULD BOAST
Aquino said in his speech:
“Let us take the Philippine
Reclamation Authority (PRA) as an
example. In the thirteen years prior
to our term, from 1996 to 2009, the
dividends of the PRA amounted to a
sum total of P676.8 million. Along
the straight path: in 2012 alone,
their dividends: P1 billion pesos. Is
this not a complete
transformation?”
Audited statements of the
PRA show that its dividends from
2007 to 2009 amounted to P2.1
billion. If you include those for
2010, the total would be P2.6
billion. Aquino clearly lied on
reporting the P678 million figures.
There's more. PRA's income
for 2012 has grown allowing it to
remit P1 billion to the National
Treasury thanks to you commuters,
at least those regularly commuting
from Cavite and Manila, who pay
about P64 to use the R-1 Extension
of the Manila-Cavite Expressway
(Cavitex), which opened in 2011.
That stretch of Cavitex is owned
and operated by the PEA Tollways
Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary of
the PRA. And who shepherded this
project, which involved massive
funding from Malaysian
companies? Presidents Ramos and
Arroyo.
Aquino claims its P1 billion is
due to the PRA's “complete
t r a n s f o r m a t i o n” u n d e r h i s
administration. Of course Aquino
d i d n' t m e n t i o n t h a t P R A' s
president and chief executive
COCONUT INDUSTRY
Aquino thought he had hit on
a brilliant idea by claiming that if
coconut farmers just intercrop
their farms with coffee (or bananas
and cacao), they will be rich,
earning more than P150,000 a year.
Wow!
But somebody should tell
Aquino that's been tried even
before the last world war in almost
all coconut-producing countries in
the world.
The Philippine Coconut
Authority during Marcos time
(using the controversial coco levy)
even made heroic efforts to
introduce intercropping. Such
programs were mostly failures, and
proven to be unworkable, unless
billions of pesos in funds support
them. Small, poor coconut farmers
(which dominate the industry)
can't afford the seedlings and
fertilizers for the new crops,
markets for the new crops (like
cacao) are too far, and risks for
incurring loans for these new
ventures are too high. If they fail
they'll be losing their lands.
Aquino bragged: “We were
able to use 5,500 hectares of land
for intercropping in 90 different
locations throughout the country.”
Didn't someone tell him that there
are 3.9 million hectares of land
planted to coconuts? Isn't it so silly
that Aquino thinks it is such a big
accomplishment to report to the
nation in his SONA that after three
officer is Peter Anthony Abaya, who
h a d b e e n o n e o f A r r o y o' s
technocrat from 2001 to 2008, first
as energy undersecretary, with his
last post being CEO of PNOC
Alternative Fuels Corp. from which
he resigned because of health
reasons.
PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP
Aquino boasted: “(We) are
seeing the effects of the honest,
transparent, and clear way we have
been going about our PPP Projects .
. . Apart from the Laguindingan
airport, which is already being
utilized, we are upgrading and
modernizing the Tacloban Airport,
the Bicol International Airport, the
New Bohol Airport, and the Mactan
Airport, all at the same time. The
Daang Hari-NLEX link road is the
fastest PPP project that has been
awarded in any administration,
with no shortcuts in the processes.”
The International Monetary
Fund assessment of the PPP
project, quoted from is Staff Report
on its 2012 Article IV
consultations:
“The current government
initiated a series of PPP projects,
but these have been implemented
slowly, with contracts for only two
projects (road network and
classroom construction) awarded
so far to the private sector. While
the PPP pipeline includes 22
projects across various sectors, the
total cost of all projects is still small
(less than 2 percent of GDP).“
DPWH AS THE MODEL OF A
GRAFT-FREE AGENCY
Aquino said: “In the space of
only three years, we have proven
that agencies that were once
cesspools of corruption can be
transformed into examples of
honest and efficient service.
(Secretary Singson's) kind of
honest leadership has allowed the
DPWH to save P18.4 billion, which
h a s b e e n a l l o t te d to o t h e r
meaningful projects.”
Both Aquino and Singson
have been repeating again and
again that the DPWH has been
saving billions of pesos by reducing
graft in its projects. They have,
however, not given any details how
this has been accomplished, so that
they might as well claim P100
billion and we have no way of
verifying it.
One case where the project
cost significantly went up is the
Ternate-Nasugbu road. Ricardo
Ramos, head of the NGO InfraWatch
that is monitoring the government,
reported that the signage for the
early 2010 for that project showed
that it costs P600 million.
Now the DPWH lists its cost in
its reports at P820 million, Ramos
said. Ramos, who has been in the
construction industry, explained
that a significant part of the
corruption at the DPWH now
involves contracts to repair roads
that do not need to be repaired, but
only to provide easy projects for
DPWH officials' favored
contractors.
The modus operandi Singson
would have told contractors: “Incur
savings on this project so we'd
appear good in media, and I'll give
you easy projects to capture these
savings.”
Strangely, there have been no
changes at all in the DPWH's
bureaucracy. Nor has there a single
charge of graft filed in the
Ombudsman under this
administration for cases of
corruption in the DPWH
committed in the past or
incumbent administrations. Are we
to believe that personnel of the
DPWHin surveys always ranked in
the top three most graft-ridden
agencies in the past several
administrationshave suddenly
become saints?
What is also shameless for
this president is to claim that
infrastructure projects that were“
started 20 years ago” such as the
Ternate-Nasugbu road and the
Aluling bridge in Ilocos are being
constructed only under his term.
As a former congressman and
senator, Aquino knows full well the
DPWH has master plans looking
into decades in the future, renewed
almost every year that includes just
about any infrastructure project
the country needs. These projects,
however, actually get started only
when Congress approves budgets
for these, based on the assessment
of their urgent needs.
Why the heck is Aquino so
obsessed with TESDA, a minor
agency whose main
activityrunning training programs
for blue-collar workdoesn't require
much brains and leadership, just
enough funds to pay for trainors?
If we can't trust Aquino on
information he claims in the most
important speech he makes every
year, why should we trust him at
all?
Tiglao.manilatimes@gmail.com
www.rigobertotiglao.com and
www.trigger.ph
Page 16
Page 17
EXPRESSWEEK
Page 18
Pictured above are the participants of the Victor D. Reyes ChFC, CLU 2013 Annual golf outing held on July 22, 2013 at the Mattwang Golf Club.
Jaycees Whip Up Pinoy Food with Chef Romy
New York, New York
(July 14, 2013) --- As part of
its golden anniversary series
of events, the Junior Chamber
International (JCI)
Philippine-New York, also
known as the Jaycees, invited
New Yorkers for a fun and
educational "Filipino Cooking
Experience and SorbetesMaking Class" with the
renowned chef, Romy
Dorotan of Purple Yam.
The Bicolano Chef Romy,
along with his wife Amy Besa,
is the restauranteur behind
New York Times-reviewed
Cendrillon and Purple Yam.
They are also the authors of
the IACP (International
Association of Culinary
Professionals) awardwinning book "Memories of
Philippine Kitchens." The
New York Times describes
the book as "the most
comprehensive book in
English on (this) country's
rich and complex food
culture."
Spearheaded by the
Jaycees' Individual
Development Vice President,
Loren San Diego, Chef Romy
taught the class how to cook
an appetizer (Ukoy), an
entree (Adobo) and a dessert
(Sorbetes).
the summer fruits in the
Philippines.
At the end of the class,
Philippine-New York Jaycees'
president Bel Molina thanked
Chef Romy for sharing his
culinary expertise and for his
invaluable contribution to the
promotion of Filipino food.
Ukoy is the Filipino
version of shrimp fritters.
Small shrimps are mixed in a
batter, placed on a banana leaf
and deep-fried until crispy.
Adobo is often called the
" N a t i o n a l " fo o d o f t h e
Philippines. Chef Romy's
chicken adobo is braised in
vinegar, soy sauce, coconut
milk and a variety of spices
until pungent and rich. The
chicken is then deep-fried
and served with the sauce
that is boiled on high heat
until thick. This sumptuous
chicken adobo has been
featured in the Martha
Stewart Show, New York
T i m e s a n d N Y 1 C h o w.
Sorbetes is the traditional
variation of ice cream made in
the Philippines. The flavor of
the ice cream that the class
made was sinigwelas- one of
JCI Philippine-New York
(Jaycees), Inc. is a group of
young men and women whose
mission is to develop leaders
who will create positive
change in the local and global
community and their own lives
through training and
networking opportunities.
The Junior Chamber
International ( JCI) is a
membership-based nonprofit
organization of 200,000
young people ages 18 to 40 in
5,000 communities and more
than 100 countries around the
world. Although "Philippine"
is part of our chapter name, we
are not solely a group of
Filipinos. Rather, we are an
international chapter where
everyone is welcome to join.
This is our chapter's 50th year
anniversary and we invite you
to make a difference in your
community, your nation, and
your world!
For more
information, please visit:
www.philnyjaycees.org
Chef Romy Dorotan (center) receives a Certificate of Appreciation from JCI Philippine-New York
Chef Romy Dorotan with Jaycees Individual Development VP Loren San Diego, Secretary Reggie
Torrejon, President Bel Molina and Marj Taway with updated copies of “Memories of Philippine
Kitchens”
Page 19
TV chef to host Fiesta in America 2013 cooking show
When not serving as a
priest of the Archdiocese of
Baltimore and associate
pastor at Our Lady of the
Fields Catholic Church in
Millersville (MD), Fr. Leo
Patalinghug can be seen on
cable TV's EWTN making
culinary magic. On Saturday,
August 17, 2pm at the Fiesta In
America 2013, he will share
his unique gastronomic style
with Fiesta visitors through a
special cooking show.
Currently host of a
nationally broadcast program
on the Catholic Channel, Fr.
Leo was born in the
Philippines, raised in the
Baltimore area and was
ordained a priest in 1999. He
served as parish priest at St.
John's Church in Westminster,
MD for five years. He recalls
that while attending the
seminary at the North
American College in Rome, he
became friends with Italian
re s t a u ra n t ow n e r s wh o
invited him to their kitchens.
There, the future cable TV chef
traded cooking secrets with
the masters of Italian cuisine.
His recipe-swapping
experiences in Rome inspired
Fr. Leo to write his first book,
Grace Before Meals: Recipes
and Inspirations for Family
Meals and Family Life, in
which he combined food
p re p a ra t i o n w i t h l i gh t hearted expositions on family
and faith. In 2009, Fr. Leo
famously defeated cooking
icon Bobby Flay in a TV
e p i s o d e o f M r. F l a y ' s
Throwdown!with Bobby Flay,
and has since become a
re n ow n e d i n te r n a t i o n a l
speaker and host for the
m o v e m e n t ,
GraceBeforeMeals.com.
Today, Fr. Leo hosts his
own cooking show called
Savoring Our Faith on EWTN,
in which he prepares favorites
of Italian, American, Asian and
Filipino gastronomic cultures
while encouraging families to
share meals together. He also
hosts a regular radio show on
The Catholic Channel on
SiriusXM called “Entertaining
Truth” with a former
Hollywood screenwriter, Tom
Leopold, airing Thursdays at
2pm.
F r. L e o a l s o h o l d s
advanced theological degrees
from the Pontifical Gregorian
University and the Pontifical
Maranium Institute in Rome.
Behind his genial persona is a
black belt in tae kwon do and a
national trophy in the ancient
Filipino form of full contact
stick-fighting, arnis de mano.
Fr. Leo will deliver the
opening prayer at the Fiesta's
ribbon-cutting ceremonies on
Saturday, August 17 and will
host a one-hour cooking show
a t t h e fo o d c o u r t . T h e
gastronomic challenge? How
to fuse a popular Asian or
Latino dish with available
Asian condiments, or possibly
a Filipino favorite using
condiments from American
sources such as the local BJ's.
Copies of his book will be
available for sale at the Fiesta.
Will Fr. Leo whip up the
traditional Pinoy adobo or
paksiw by creatively using
American wine vinegar and
Chinese spices? Or will Fr. Leo
prepare a chewy Mexican
fajita using authentic Filipino
ingredients? How about
pancit palabok garnished with
crunchy Mexican chicharones
Fr. Leo Patalinghug
instead of the tinapa (smoked
fish)? At this point, Fr. Leo is
tightlipped about his fusion
concoctions, keeping the
Fiesta's food court aficionados
guessing.
For more information,
call 212-682-6610 or visit
www.philippinefiesta.com.
“Like” the event on Facebook
as Philippine Fiesta.
BUSINESS & ECONOMY
SoKor seeks bilateral trade
agreement with Philippines
By Kris M. Crismundo
MANILA - South Korea is
pursuing to have a bilateral trade
with the Philippines to further
accelerate the economic growth
of two countries.
T h i s i s w h a t Ko re a n
Ambassador Lee Hyuk
expressed in an interview during
the four-day buying mission of
Korean Importers Association
(KOIMA) that will end tomorrow.
”We are pursuing bilateral
free trade agreement (with the
Philippines) since we don't have
it now,” said Lee.
Philippines and South
Korea only have a multilateral
free trade agreement (FTA)
through the ASEAN-Korea FTA
since the country is an ASEAN
member.
AS E A N m e m b e r s a n d
Korea both enjoy advance free
market through elimination of
tariff and non-tariff barriers to
enable businesses to expand in
inter-regional exports.
Hence, by lowering trade
barriers countries in ASEANKorea FTA expect intra-trade
and investment within the
region to increase up to $ 150
billion in by 2015.
ASEAN-Korea FTA also
intends to attract more foreign
South Korean Amb. Lee Hyuk
direct investments to further
create more jobs.
Further, Lee admitted that
SoKor cannot maximize its
investment and trade in the
country because of some
disadvantages.
He mentioned the 20
percent tariff and taxes seem to
be the burden of Korean
investors and traders to transact
business in the country.
He added that since there is
no PHL-SoKor FTA it will be hard
for Korean businessmen to
compete with other countries,
like Japan which have a bilateral
trade agreement with
Philippines.
”But we need to have FTA,”
said Lee.
The Ambassador further
explained that a bilateral trade
agreement between Philippine
and SoKor will strengthen the
'diversified' relation between
the two countries from military
alliance during the Korean War
evolving to political, economic
and cultural relations.
Meanwhile, Trade and
Industry Under Secretary
Ponciano Manalo Jr. said that
they are open to negotiate for a
bilateral trade with SoKor.
He added that they are only
waiting for the advice of Korea
and after that they will be
examining points and needs to
be included in the bilateral trade.
South Korea is the
country's 6th export market
with a total trade of US$ 2.9
billion in 2012. Most of these
exported products are raw
materials, food and other
agriculture products.
On the other hand,
Philippine imported products
from Korea such as petroleum
oil, digital monolithic, circuits,
cars, and cosmetics among
others.
It has been the Philippine'
5th import source with a total
trade value of US$ 2.5 billion in
the previous year. (PNA)
Page 20
Jollibee plans to enter
European market
ABS-CBNnews.com
MANILA -- Will
Europeans soon enjoy
Chicken Joy and Jolly
Spaghetti?
In a recent interview
with BBC's Rico Hizon,
Jollibee Foods Corp. chief
operating officer Ernesto
Tanmantiong said the fast
food giant is planning to
expand into the European
market, but perhaps in the
next few years.
"We are looking at the
European market. Maybe, 3
years from now because we
still see a lot of opportunity
growth in North America.
Once we kind of saturate
the North American market
then we will enter Europe in
the near future," he said.
As of end-March,
Jollibee had 783 Jollibee
branches in the Philippines
and 94 flagship branches
overseas.
There are 40 Jollibee
branches in Vietnam, 26 in
the United States, 13 in
Brunei, 9 in Jeddah, 3 in Qatar
and 1 in Hong Kong, Kuwait
and Singapore.
Ta n m a n t i o n g i s
confident Jollibee will
become a global brand that is
capable of helping Pinoy food
transcend borders.
"We believe our 'Chicken
Joy' is a superior product
which is universally accepted
by all races and from all parts
of the world," he said.
Jollibee has posted a net
income of P894.7 million in
the first quarter of 2013, a
growth of 33% from the first
quarter of last year.
With business in China
leading the growth,
Tanmantiong is looking at the
international market to
comprise "50% of the entire
JFC's revenue and profits" in
the coming years.
T h e J o l l i b e e g ro u p
operates a total of 2,654
stores worldwide, with its
brands such as Jollibee, Red
Ribbon, Chow King and
Yonghe King. - by Vincent
Paul A. Garcia, ABSCBNnews.com
Korean buying mission to boost investments in PH
The recent buying mission
of South Korea's largest
association of importers is seen
supportive of Department of
Trade and Industry's (DTI)
objective to grow investment-led
ex p ort s a n d to en cou ra g e
investments into the tourism
infrastructure.
“Our delegation will not
only import from the Philippines
but also invest in the country, hire
people, make the produce here
and bring it back to Korea or
export to ASEAN countries,”
Korea Importers' Association
(KOIMA) Chairman Thoma T.Y.
Shinn said in an interview.
“ L a s t y e a r, K o r e a ' s
investment into the Philippines
grew 400 percent from the
previous year and more than 1
million Korean tourists came to
the nation, being the No. 1 foreign
visitors to the Philippines,” Shinn
said during the recent trade and
investment business forum
hosted by the DTI for the KOIMA
buying mission to the Philippines.
This mission was jointly
hosted by DTI and the
Department of Tourism (DOT). It
is a 182-member delegation
c o m p o s e d o f 1 0 3 KO I M A
members and their spouses. The
KOIMA handles 70 percent of
Korea's total imports, which
reached US$519 billion in 2012
and composed of more than 8,000
importers, supplying Korea's
end-user principals,
manufacturers and processors,
distributors and retailers, and the
government's procurement
agencies.
Shinn also noted that the
Philippines has become one of the
key trade partners of Korea as the
trade volume between the two
nations was growing fast to set
the record high of $11.5 billion
last year.
“We want to increase our
import value from the
Philippines. Most of our exports
are agricultural products. We
intend to expand in agriculture,
garments and mining products,”
Shinn said.
He also mentioned one big
telecommunication company in
Korea is seriously eyeing jointventure arrangements in the
Philippines.
He also noted that there no
manufactures of aluminum foil in
the Philippines. Aluminum foils in
the country are imported 100
percent.
“If we can find a partner
here, it will be a big investment.
Aluminium is very important
because the packaging industry is
important in the Philippines. If
Sergio Ortiz-Luis (left), President of the Philippines Exporters Confederation Inc., and KOIMA Chairman Thomas T.Y. Shinn, sign the Memorandum of
Understanding between the Philippines Exporters Confederation and the Korea Importers Association during the Philippines-Korea Business Forum
Thursday at the Luzon Ballroom of the Sofitel, Philippine Plaza, in Pasay City. (MNS photo)
somebody will produce here, it
will be a good industry,” Shinn
said.
S h i n n' s c o m p a ny, t h e
Hanshinn International
Corporation, in particular, has
been exporting and importing
products in the Philippines for
more than 10 years. It has
supplied a lot of mold for PET (or
polyethylene terephthalate)
bottles for mineral water,
medicine bottles, and known
brands like Gatorade and Eskinol.
It has also supplied tin plates, and
bought agricultural products in
the country.
“Through this forum, I am
optimistic that KOIMA will be at
the forefront in augmenting the
trade and investment between
our two countries. There are
numerous reason why the
Philippines is important to Korea,
I believe that the key factor is our
shared economic principle,”
Korean Ambassador to the
Philippines Lee Hyuk said during
the forum.
He mentioned the
Philippines is renowned across
the world for its highly skilled and
dynamic workforce. Filipinos are
service-oriented, easy to train,
and have a high command of the
English language. The Philippines
has a remarkable supply of raw
materials and natural resources
that make it so attractive to
foreign investors.
He noted for many years
now, a high percentage of Korea's
raw items are sourced from
abroad, specifically from
neighboring countries, to
produce and export quality good
across the globe.
Page 21
Chinese, Filipino
businessmen help ease
political tension
By Bernie Cahiles-Magkilat
Chinese businessmen and
the Philippine business
community have spearheaded a
move to bring President Aquino
to 10th China-ASEAN Expo
2013 (CAEXPO) to be held in
Nanning, Guangxi Province in
September this year as business
relations continue to flourish
between the two countries
amid the territorial dispute
being faced by the two
governments.
Atty. Miguel B. Varela,
president of the Philippine
Chamber of Commerce and
Industry (PCCI), said its Chinese
counterpart have formally
invited them to a roundtable
meeting with the two
Presidents
Philippines
President Aquino and Chinese
president Xi Jinping with the
private sector.
“They want us to moderate
the meeting and in organizing a
forum and a roundtable with
the leaders,” Varela said. This is
in time for the CAEXPO to be
held in Nanning, China on
September 16 this year where
the Philippines is a featured
c o u n t r y. “ D e s p i t e s o m e
misunderstanding, business
relations between the two
countries have been robust.
They kept on sending missions
and business delegations,” he
said.
The Philippines has
recorded over a dozen Chinese
groups visiting the country
since the start of the year with
one delegation comprising of as
many as 200 participants.
So far, Varela said PCCI has
forged 190 memorandum of
understanding with their
counterparts in 40 countries
since 2000 when Varela served
his first presidency in the PCCI.
To add value to these
agreements, both parties have
established joint business
councils in these countries.
They have forged
partnerships with most Latin
American and Asian countries.
Lately, they are courting
partnerships with Eastern
European countries. Manila
Bulletin
Rural bankers
thank PNoy for
foreign equity law
MANILA -- Sound economic
policies of the Aquino
administration will result in a
significant amount of foreign
investments in the long run, a
group of rural bankers said
Tuesday, a day after President
Benigno Aquino III delivered his
fourth State of the Nation
Address (SONA).
In a statement, the Rural
Bankers Association of the
Philippines (RBAP) thanked
Aquino for enacting the foreign
equity law, which gives nonFilipino investors opportunity to
own, acquire or purchase up to
60 percent of voting stocks in
rural banks.
“A s t h e s e h a p p e n , a
favorable economic environment
in the countryside can be made as
foreign investors now have the
option to infuse additional
capital to rural banks especially
now that we have the Foreign
Equity Law in place,” said Vittorio
Almario, the newly elected RBAP
president.
Enacted in May, Republic
Act 10574 or “An Act Allowing the
Infusion of Foreign Equity in the
Capital of Rural Banks, Amending
RA 7353, Otherwise Known as
the Rural Bank Act of 1992 as
a m e n d e d a n d Fo r O t h e r
Purposes,” lifted the limit on
bank ownership that has been a
hindrance for the expansion of
operations of rural banks for
more than two decades.
Under the law, non-Filipino
investors are now allowed to
own, acquire or purchase up to
60 percent of voting stocks in
rural banks, provided that the
percentage of foreign-owned
stocks will be determined by the
citizenship of the individual or
corporate stockholders of the
bank.
“We are grateful for the able
leadership of President Aquino
for being supportive to the rural
development through enactment
of such laws. RBAP will remain
one with its goal of fostering
inclusive economic growth
particularly in the countryside,”
Almario said.
With the country
consistently receiving positive
ratings and economic outlooks
from international financial
institutions such as the World
Bank, Moody's Investor Service,
and Fitch Ratings, Almario
considered it a “good signal” to
attract more foreign investors as
these reflect a stable economy.
Tawi-Tawi, Sabah trade to resume
ZAMBOANGA CITY -- Trade
between ports in Tawi-Tawi and in
neighboring Sabah, Malaysia will
resume early next week following
the establishment of a Temporary
Passport Enrollment Center
(TPEC) under the Department of
Foreign Affairs (DFA).
The center will provide
travel documents for Filipinos
entering the Malaysian state.
“We are only waiting for the
release of our passports. Maybe
next week, we can travel,”
Redentor W. Lauddin, chairman of
the Tawi-Tawi Boat Owners and
Tra d e r s A s s o c i a t i o n , to l d
B u s i n e s s Wo r l d i n a p h o n e
interview yesterday.
Sabah is just a few hours by
motor boat from the province.
Traders and shippers have
suspended their trips to Sabah
since April after the Malaysian
government imposed a new policy
over foreign crewmen entering
ports in Sabah.
That month, the Malaysian
Foreign Ministry sent a note
verbale to the Philippine Embassy
in Kuala Lumpur that, effective
April 15, “all crews of barter trade
ships or vessels will be required to
produce valid travel documents,
i.e. international passport or
seaman book, at all entry ports in
Sabah.”
The policy was triggered by
an armed conflict in mid-February,
when more than 200 members of
the so-called Royal Army of the
Sulu Sultanate and North Borneo
sailed to Sabah to reclaim the
territory as their ancestral
homeland.
The incident triggered a
standoff, eventually leading to a
firefight, killing more than 60
Sultanate followers and eight
members of Malaysian forces.
In the past, barter traders
and shippers in Tawi-Tawi only
needed a seaman identification
card from Malaysian authorities to
get their supplies of goods from
Sabah sources. But, this is no
longer issued to the crews of
barter trade ships or vessels
without valid travel
documentation.
Shippers in Tawi-Tawi
earlier complained that getting all
the necessary permits, including
passports, would entail huge costs
since the shippers would have to
travel to DFA offices outside the
region. Hence, they asked for the
government's intervention.
In a statement, the DFA
regional office here said it
established the TPEC at the OneStop Processing Center (OSPC) in
Bongao, Tawi-Tawi, to cater not
only to traders but also to Sabah
deportees and displaced persons.
Hassan Gabra Jumdain,
regional director of the Overseas
Workers Welfare Administration
(OWWA) and head of the OSPC
operations in Sulu and Tawi-Tawi,
said the establishment of the
passport processing center was
the result of meetings and
consultations with different
member-agencies involved the
OSPC and a Memorandum of
Agreement signed on April 30.
“The undertaking was a joint
effort of the Department of Labor
a n d E m p l o y m e n t , O W WA ,
Department of Social Welfare and
D e v e l o p m e n t , D FA , C r i s i s
Management Committee, and the
provincial government of TawiTawi,” Mr. Jumdain said.
Passport applicants being
accommodated include deportees
and displaced persons who plan to
return to Sabah for reemployment, regular passport
applicants, Hajj applicants, and
crew members of sea vessels
engaged in barter trading.
The statement said the
processing center has already
served more than 600 passport
applicants. “Traders in Tawi-Tawi
are optimistic because our trade
with Sabah will be legal,” Mr.
Lauddin said.
In Bongao alone, there 200
crew members that regularly
travel twice a week to Sabah. “We
have more than 500 crews in the
entire Tawi-Tawi,” Mr. Lauddin
said.
At least 80% of Tawi-Tawi's
commodities, such as rice and
sugar, are sourced from Sabah due
to proximity. -- Darwin T. Wee
Country tagged in US trade investigation
WASHINGTON -- The US
Commerce Department on
Tuesday launched one of its
biggest trade investigations in
years into charges that
manufacturers in South Korea,
India and seven other countries
are selling steel pipe used by oil
and natural gas producers at
unfairly low prices.
Imports of oil country
tubular goods (OCTG) from the
nine countries totaled nearly
$1.8 billion in 2012, more than
double their total in 2010, as
rising US oil and natural gas
production have increased
demand for the pipe.
In 2010, the US slapped
duties on China's OCTG imports
after they hit about $2.8 billion in
2008. That created an opening
for other suppliers.
The latest case targets
South Korea, which exported
about $831 million worth of the
pipe last year, as well as India,
Vietnam, the Philippines, Saudi
Arabia, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey
a n d
U k r a i n e .
US producers are asking for antidumping duties as high as 240%
on India, 158% on South Korea,
118% on Thailand and 111% on
Vietnam to offset what they say is
below market pricing, and lesser
but still hefty duties on the other
five countries. -- Reuters
Page 22
ENTERTAINMENT
Anne Curtis starts work
for new film 'The Gifted’
MANILA -- Actress-host
Anne Curtis has started work for
her upcoming horror film "The
Gifted."
In her official Instagram
account, Curtis posted a photo of
the plaster cast that she might use
for the movie to be directed by
Chris Martinez, who did the
"Kimmy Dora" movies.
"Had to do a plaster cast of
my face today for my new film.
Kinda creepy BUT it's pretty
amazing what the prosthetics and
make up team can come up with.
Pure talent. Loads of work put
behind the finished product,"
Curtis said.
In a previous interview,
Curtis said "The Gifted" might be
her reunion project with former
boyfriend Sam Milby after their
movie "Babe I Love You" in 2010.
Curtis also said she hopes to
get to work with one of her
favorite actresses in the film, but
refused to divulge her identity.
Anne Curtis
Currently, Curtis is busy cohosting "It's Showtime," while
Milby is doing hit series "Huwag
Ka Lang Mawawala."
Cameras set to roll
for Piolo-Toni movie
Page 23
Kim-Xian movie offers
something new, fresh
MANILA - Kim Chiu and
Xian Lim are now ready to show
to their supporters what they
have been working on in the
past months.
Teaming up in their first
full-length movie together, both
stars revealed they had fun
working with each other on
“Bakit Hindi Ka Crush ng Crush
Mo” despite their hectic
schedules.
Chiu and Lim began
shooting the movie while they
were still taping the last
episodes of their primetime
series “Ina Kapatid Anak.”
Asked if he had a hard
time transitioning from TV to
movie, Lim said: “It's different,
nakakatuwa. Una ko itong fulllength talaga. Kakaiba siya sa
TV kasi sa TV mabilisan. Dito
there's time to study and
analyze the scenes.”
Chiu, on the other hand,
noted that doing a movie is
actually more rigorous than
taping a series.
“Iba 'yung kapag
gumagawa ka ng movie kasi sa
isang sequence, aabot siya ng
two hours. Tapos gagawin mo
paulit-ulit, iba't ibang shot,” she
said.
Nonetheless, Chiu and
Lim said they enjoyed being
directed by Joyce Bernal, whom
they described as a very caring
director.
“Idol ko na talaga si Direk
Joyce Bernal noon pa. Nung
nalaman ko na siya yung
gagawa ng movie namin,
sobrang nasiyahan ako. Sabi ko
excited na ako kasi kakaiba ito,
iba ang gagawin niya, not the
usual. Ganun siya eh. Kung ano
Kim Chiu and Xian Lim
yung nakikita sa TV, babaguhin
niya,” Chiu said.
Her trust to the director,
Chiu said, was also the reason
she agreed to look "ugly" in the
movie.
“Idea ito lahat ni direk
Joyce. Alam mo naman si direk
Joyce lahat ng kabaliwan. 'Sige
go Kim gawin mo ito,
nakakatawa ka, mukha kang
tanga.' Ako naman, malakas ang
tiwala ko kay direk so sige
gawin natin ito,” she explained.
The Star Cinema-
produced movie tells a love
story about "the ugly duckling
in all of us and how we turn into
someone worth loving,"
Also starring Ramon
Bautista, Kean Cipriano and
Tonton Gutierrez, the movie is
set to hit theaters nationwide
on July 31.
“This is something
everyone can look forward to.
T h i s i s s o m e t h i n g n e w,
something fresh and something
worthwhile,” Lim said.
Benjie Paras to allow
sons to join showbiz
Piolo Pascual
Toni Gonzaga
MANILA — Cameras are
finally set to roll for the upcoming
movie of Toni Gonzaga and Piolo
Pascual, who first worked
together in a television
commercial back in 2001.
Gonzaga said playing the
role of Pascual's leading lady has
been one of her dreams because
she got her showbiz breaks after
starring with him in a popular
beverage ad.
“Magshu-shoot na kami ng
Piolo movie. First time, 13 years
ago, I started out as a fan sa
commercial and then now
makakasama ko na siya sa isang
pelikula as a leading lady,” she
said.
Gonzaga said she admires
Pascual because he hasn't
changed a bit since she first met
him.
“Isa sa mga napansin ko na
hindi ko makakalimutan, ang first
impression ko sa kanya napakahumble niya. Wala siyang special
treatment. Up to now ganun pa rin
siya. Mahusay siya makisama,”
she said.
Talk about a movie with
Gonzaga and Pascual first
surfaced in late 2011. The two
Kapamilya stars, however, were
given separate projects since
then.
Gonzaga's last movie was
the box-office hit “Four Sisters
and A Wedding,” while Pascual's
latest film is the acclaimed “On
The Job.”
MANILA --- Basketball
p l aye r - t u r n e d - c o m e d i a n
Benjie Paras is open to the idea
of allowing sons Andre and
Kobe to venture into show
business.
S ay i n g h e s u p p o r t s
whatever his sons want, Paras
said he will not stop the two if
they eventually decide to
follow his footsteps.
Paras, however, said his
younger son Kobe should first
wait until he's a little older so
he can properly manage his
time.
“Okay lang sa akin 'yung
panganay kasi maluwag ang
schedule niya. Hindi naman
showbiz, pero more on hosting
siguro. Kung merong
interesado sa dalawa sa
showbiz, why not, di ba?” he
said.
Asked if he has already
received offers in behalf of his
sons, Paras said: “Meron na.
Pero 'yung panganay (Andre)
na muna. Kasi yung pangalawa
ko (Kobe) nasa high school pa.
Ang schedule niyan ay fixed.”
Prior to joining showbiz,
Paras also played college ball
for the University of the
Philippines Fighting Maroons
before he became a PBA
legend.
“Siyempre sa basketball
naman, siyempre doon din ako
nagsimula. So kung ano ang
gusto nila, okay lang sa akin,”
he said.
Aside from basketball,
Andre revealed in a previous
interview that he also wants to
pursue a career in filmmaking.
“I really want to make
film my career, my back-up
plan after basketball. I want to
be a director, in front of the
camera or behind the camera,
making videos and editing, or
coming up with stories that
make people happy,” he said.
Andre, who stands 6foot-5, has already appeared in
television ads in the past.
Among them is his commercial
for Cherifer.
Andre is currently
playing for UP in the 76th
season of the UAAP, while his
younger brother Kobe is
playing for La Salle Green Hills.
Page 24
Susan Roces enjoys
career in show biz
MANILA -- Veteran actress
Susan Roces said she still enjoys
acting in front of camera
despite having appeared in
numerous television and films
projects for decades.
The 71-year-old actress is
part of ABS-CBN's newest
primetime series "Muling
Buksan Ang Puso" alongside
younger actors Enchong Dee,
Enrique Gil and Julia Montes.
"It's my belief that the
best way to live one's life is to do
things that you enjoy doing.
Being busy is a good reason to
keep fit, to sleep early, to face
the following day at work.
Keeping busy keeps us young,"
she said.
Susan said she felt
flattered to be given the role of
Adelina Beltran in the series as
it is very different from her past
roles. It has always been her
dream to portray head strong,
tough and fearless woman on
television or movies, she said.
Susan added that during
the early years of her show biz
career, her main thrust was to
just entertain, but as time goes
by, she did more dramatic roles
and was challenged by them.
Susan Roces
“I live my career in
different stages. What I can
claim is my acting career
progresses as I age. I enjoy
tremendously the roles I'm able
to portray now. Because they
are roles that I couldn't be
convincing in when I was still
young," she said.
Before doing "Muling
Buksan Ang Puso," Susan
worked with Julia and Coco
Martin in the hit television
series "Walang Hanggan."
Susan said she doesn't
have any discomfort in
supporting young actors of
today as she also went through
the same cycle.
"Now we are supporting
our young actors the way other
actors supported us when we
were starting our careers," she
added. When asked what she
thinks of the young actors now,
Susan said they are very serious
with their craft and are open to
new learning.
"Seryoso sila sa kanilang
trabaho. Nakakainspire at
malaking bagay ito para sa mga
ka-eksena, kaya napapabuti
ang mga scenes," she further
said.
"Naalala ko yung mga
nasimula ako noon sa
Sampaguita Pictures as a
teenager. Ngayon ako naman
ang gumagagabay sa kanila. Sila
naman ang ginu-groom natin
for bigger roles for greater days
head of them for their stardom,"
she said.
"Muling Buksan Ang
Puso" airs weekdays on the
Kapamilya Channel.
Ogie Alcasid silent
on network transfer
MANILA -- Singer Ogie Alcasid
confirmed Monday that his contract
with GMA-7 has ended on June 30
but declined to share his thoughts
about his possible transfer to a rival
network.
"Right now I'm in between
contracts. I'm jobless," Ogie said.
Reports said the versatile
actor/singer has received attractive
offers from rival networks ABS-CBN
and TV5.
"My network GMA, I still have
to finalize things with them. I'm not
allowed to deal with anyone yet
until the prescribed period," he said.
He clarified that whatever decision
he may come up with, it will not
reflect on the show biz career of his
wife, Asia's Songbird Regine
Velasquez.
"We are very independent of
each other when it comes to our
careers. We support each other pero
walang ganoon (epekto yun)," he
said. Ogie shared that he is
constantly praying for guidance for
his family and his future in show biz.
"Sa lahat ng bagay kailangan
magdasal muna tayo. We always lift
up everything to prayers and God
will show the way, where I'm
supposed to be at this specific time.
It's not up to us. We do make plans,
but it's always God who lays
everything," he said.
Ogie Alcasid
The singer-songwriter is set to
stage an anniversary concert at the
SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City
on August 16.
Ogie is celebrating his 25
years in the entertainment business
as a singer, songwriter, actor, and
comedian.
" M e dyo m a t a g a l n a t i n g
pinaghandaan and marami tayong
guests at marami tayong hits na
kakantahin, so, super preparations
ang mga ginagawa natin. It's a
concert where you'll be hearing all
my hits and at the same time yung
mga nakakasama ko in the 25 years
will be there."
Charice and Aiza Seguerra
Aiza, Charice to hold
concert this September
MANILA -- Filipino
international sensation Charice and
child star turned singer Aiza
Seguerra will feature in one big
concert this September.
Dubbed as "Power of Two," the
said event will be happening at the
S m a r t - A ra n e t a C o l i s e u m o n
September 28, Saturday.
According to both singers, the
collaboration was conceptualized
after Charice graced Aiza and Noel
Cabangon's "Tambayan Hits"
concert at Onstage Greenbelt last
June 21.
Aiza then clarified that there's
no problem on who will get the
bigger billing during the show.
Charice said she respects Aiza
for her talent and years in the music
industry.
"We know kung bakit nacompare because pareho kami ng
situation (gender preference). Pero
hindi nila puwedeng i-compare
career wise kasi 25 years na siya sa
music industry,” she said in a
television interview.
The two are just keen to
mount the concert and will dedicate
it to the Lesbian, Gays, Bisexual, and
Transgender (LGBT) community.
"All the time na nagkakaroon
ng mag tao in show business,
especially women who are
courageous enough to accept who
they are. Us in this concert is
sending a clear message to people
that it is okay (to come out)," Aiza
said.
Meanwhile, she also gave her
two cents on the recent news that
same sex marriages was not just
legalized in most states in the US,
but also in United Kingdom.
Aiza said she's happy that
there are groups pushing for
equality and people are slowly
warming to the idea that two people
could get married in spite of their
gender preferences.
"I'm very, very happy. Finally,
more people are recognizing that
love is equal and should be equal.
That love is genderless," she ended.
Page 25
Andi Eigenmann
names 'greatest love’
MANILA -- Andi
Eigenmann has no doubts in
saying who she considers as her
"greatest love."
Asked to identify an object
or a person she associates with
the word "love," the 23-year-old
actress pointed at her one-yearold baby girl, Adrianna
Gabrielle.
"Ellie, kasi sa ngayon siya
'yung pinaka-greatest love ko,"
Eigenmann said.
"Siya 'yung reason kung
bakit ginagawa ko 'yung mga
ginagawa ko, [at kung bakit]
napi-feel ko 'yung napi-feel ko,"
she said.
Adrianna Gabrielle is
Eigenmann's daughter with
former boyfriend, actor Albie
Casino.
The actress is now
rumored to be in a relationship
with Jake Ejercito, the son of
deposed President and now
Manila Mayor Joseph "Erap"
Estrada.
When asked to describe
her daughter in one word,
Eigenmann said, "I just can't
think of one word to describe
my daughter, kasi she's my little
bundle of joy."
She added: "She's
everything, she's my
everything. She's the reason
why I'm always happy, she's the
reason why I keep going."
On passion, family
Eigenmann said she is
motivated to work because of
her daughter. It also helps that
she considers acting her
passion.
"I'm very very passionate
about what I do. I may have
realized it late, na gusto ko
pumasok sa showbiz at maging
artista, but now I can't even
By NR Ramos
imported, actor Luis Manzano
posted: "sana! :)"
Several celebrities from both
the entertainment and political
fronts took to Twitter to express
their reaction to Monday's State Of
The Nation (SONA) address.
Singer-songwriter Jim
Paredes tweeted from faraway
Australia to convey his thoughts
on the SONA. "I feel optimistic
about PHL. Change is happening
and will accelerate. And we must
support it actively," his message
read. He went on to sing-tweet
another thought to the tune of
early '80s hit "My Sharona."
Among those who were
actively posting their thoughts on
the matter is TV host-model
Bianca Gonzales who eagerly gave
her followers an almost minuteper-minute update of yesterday's
goings on at the Batasang
Pambansa on Commonwealth
Avenue in Quezon City.
Andi Eigenmann
imagine myself being in a
different industry than here,"
she said.
Eigenmann is currently
preparing to star in her
comeback series on ABS-CBN,
"Galema," and a comedy movie
under Viva Films, "Oh My
Mamma Mia."
Despite her busy
schedule, Eigenmann said she
makes it a point to put her
family first.
The actress comes from a
clan of local celebrities. Her
parents are showbiz veterans
Jaclyn Jose and Mark Gil. Her
siblings on her father's side -including Gabby Eigenmann,
Sid Lucero and Maxene
Eigenmann -- are likewise in
showbiz.
"I know that no matter
what happens, my family
should always come first and
should be my priority just as I
am theirs. Kahit ano mangyari,
sinu-support nila ako at
nandiyan sila para sa akin, so
dapat ibigay ko sa kanila 'yung
the same," she said.
Picache hopes court
verdict to help Geisler
MANILA -- Actress
Cherry Pie Picache hopes
Baron Geisler has learned his
lesson after a Makati court
found the actor guilty of acts of
lasciviousness.
Patizha Martinez, the
daughter of celebrity couple
William Martinez and Yayo
Aguila, filed the case against
the actor.
In 2011, Picache also
cried harassment against
Geisler who allegedly touched
her breasts while they were on
a set. After the incident,
Geisler issued a public
apology.
But after this latest
incident, Picache said she
hopes this will help Geisler to
become a better person.
"You know God is the
only one who knows their
hearts, the only one who
knows what really happened
or what's the truth ...We only
SONA 2013 draws mixed
reactions from tweeting celebs
Cherry Pie Picache
hope and pray that this will
bring about, especially for
Baron, a better Baron,"
Picache said.
As a woman, the actress
said she's happy that Martinez
got the justice she's been
fighting for.
"Long, but covered a lot.
Good job on education,
agriculture, tourism, and on
calling out corrupt bureaus," said
she at one point.
Gonzales also sniped at
those caught napping at the
ceremony. "Hello sa mga
natutulog sa Batasan. Kape kape
pag may time," she said.
For a moment, the former
Pinoy Big Brother contestant
veered from the proceeding
simply to announce: "In the
middle of all the #SONA2013
buzz, Kate Middleton goes into
labor!!"
Actor Enchong Dee on the
other hand, was seemingly
impressed with PNoy's speech,
Bianca Gonzales is among celebs who
watched SONA 2013 (GLOBE PROMO
PHOTO)
lauding the leader "by far the most
honest, risky, thrifty, honorable
and competent President since I
became Human.”
In contrast, defeated senatorial
candidate Risa Hontiveros wasn't
too crazy about the speech,
posting, "The challenge is not only
to sustain growth, but to put the
people front & center in that
growth.”
Meanwhile, in reaction to
Pnoy saying that the country
exported more rice than it
"OOOH my little PHilippines.
My Philippines. When you gna get
moving... Mamamamyy SONA."
He added, "My SONA. We are a
nation waking up. Many problems
but we will overcome if we dont
turn back. Bold irreversible steps
needed e.g. RH. Les go." Popular
designer Rajo Laurel simply took
to posting pictures of some of the
gowns he made for fashionconscious lawmakers including
Senator Grace Poe-Llamanzares.
Actor Richard Gomez
seemed only too happy to be in the
United Kingdom with daughter
Juliana. Replying to a fan's
question why he isn't with his wife
Congresswoman Lucy TorresGomez, he said: "She's in congress
while ako naman just watching
thru livestream here in London."
(ABS-CBN news)
Sam Milby welcomes 'haters’
MANILA -- Sam Milby is happy
to know that he has earned some
"haters" because of his character in
"Huwag Ka Lang Mawawala."
In the ABS-CBN drama series,
the 29-year-old heartthrob actor
portrays Eros, whose hope of
reuniting with his wife and their
child becomes an obsessive and
potentially fatal hunt.
Handpicked by lead star Judy
Ann Santos to portray Eros, the
character is Milby's first-ever
"kontrabida" role in his eight-year
career.
Over the course of "Huwag Ka
L a n g M a w a w a l a" s i n c e i t s
Primetime Bida debut in June,
Milby's character has evolved from
a sweet-talking and aggressive
suitor to Anessa (Santos), to her
ruthless and physically abusive
husband.
At the sidelines of his photo
shoot for a fitness magazine, Milby
said he is thrilled with the
response of the audience on his
portrayal in the soap.
"I'm really excited and happy
about 'Huwag Ka Lang Mawawala,'
na 'yung reaction ng mga tao...
maraming naiinis," he said,
bringing up reactions on the
popular micro-blogging site
Twitter.
"Maganda kasi 'yung sa mga
tweets, laging, 'Nakakainis talaga
'yung character ni Eros,' na,
'Sobrang bad siya.' Pero laging may
kasamang, 'You're doing such a
good job at portraying Eros, keep it
up!' Laging may positive note," he
said.
Admittedly anxious about
playing a "kontrabida" at first,
Milby said he feels relieved to get
favorable feedback on his take on
Eros.
"That's encouraging para sa
akin. It's something na I've been
working harder for, para sa role na
'to. Syempre it's soemthing
different na hindi ko pa nagagawa.
Having that acknowledgement,
seeing 'yung effort ko,
improvement sa acting at lahatlahat, it's encouraging. And ako,
I'm sobrang happy for all the
feedback I've been getting," he
said.
Fast-paced story
For what is seen as his most
well-received TV portrayal to date,
Milby expressed gratitude to
Santos for personally choosing him
to take on the role, and his
directors for guiding him.
"Ako, I owe everything to Juday
(Santos). Sa sobrang galing ni
Juday, I'm really learning a lot from
her and feeding off of her energy
din. Pati sina direk, I've been
asking them, 'Paano ko aatikihin
'tong eksenang to?' They've all
been helping me," he said.
The series is directed by Malu
Sevilla, Jerry Lopez Sineneng, and
Tots Mariscal IV.
Milby is also particularly
happy with the performance of
"Huwag Ka Lang Mawawala" in
terms of its nationwide ratings.
Based on data from multinational market research group
Kantar Media, the drama series has
consistently ruled its timeslot in
both urban and rural households.
Kantar Media uses a
nationwide panel size of 2,609
urban and rural homes,
representing 100% of the total
Sam Milby
Philippine TV viewing population.
Crediting the fast-paced storytelling of "Huwag Ka Lang
Mawawala," Milby said he isn't
surprised with the series'
nationwide ratings. "It's because of
the story. the story is sobrang
suspenseful eh, ang ganda ng story,
yo u d o n' t k n o w k u n g a n o
mangyayari," he said.
At the current point in the
story aired so far, Milby said his
character "[will have to be] the bad
guy right now." "Pero sana
maintindihan ng mga tao na, wala,
sobrang love niya si Anessa at ayaw
niyang mawala si Anessa at 'yung
anak niya sa buhay niya, so he'll do
anything and everything to keep
his wife," he added.
A i r i n g we e k n i gh t s a f te r
"Muling Buksan ang Puso," "Huwag
Ka Lang Mawawala" also stars KC
Concepcion, John Estrada, Coney
Reyes, Tirso Cruz III, Mylene Dizon,
Susan Africa, Empress Schuck and
Joseph Marco.
Page 26
Zsa Zsa hoping to do
more concerts abroad
Carl Guevarra, Lovi Poe, Agot Isidro and Maria Lopez at the pre-production
meeting for GMA News Tv’s “Titser’
Lovi Poe leads cast
of GMA News TV
International's
Original Series “Titser”
Following the critical and
ratings success of its original series
on good governance Bayan Ko GMA News TV International
launches a groundbreaking new
series entitled TITSER, which
discusses issues on Philippine
education.
Topbilled by multi-awarded
character actress Lovi Poe, casting
for GMA News TV International's
female-dominated series TITSER is
now complete. Lovi is joined by
singer-actress Agot Isidro and by
indie film darling Mara Lopez.
Lovi plays Michelle in
TITSER: a poverty stricken high
s c h o o l g i rl wh o d re a m s o f
becoming a teacher, but whose only
option after graduation is to work
as a housemaid. Mara Lopez plays
Rosa -- Michelle's best friend and
toughest competitor, who ends up a
single mother. The two girls
struggle against fate and financial
limitations to reach their goal of
finishing school. Their mentor and
inspiration is Teacher Sandra,
portrayed by Agot Isidro, who leads
her own fight against a corrupt
principal.
Actors Gardo Versoza, Irma
Adlawan, Carl Guevarra and Rocco
Nacino will also be starring in the
series - which is now being shot on
location in Boso Boso, Antipolo.
TITSER is directed by
acclaimed indie filmmaker and
head of the Ateneo Filipino
Department Alvin Yapan and
written by Bayan Ko's creator and
News TV channel head Nessa
Valdellon. It is filmed on high
definition and goes through the
color grading process.
TITSER begins airing on
August 24 on GMA News TV
International.
For more details, visit the
G M A I n t e r n a t i o n a l we b s i t e
www.gmanetwork.com/internatio
nal, Facebook pages
www.facebook.com/GMAPinoyTV,
www.facebook.com/gmalifetv,
www.facebook.com/gmanewsinte
rnational, or Twitter pages
@GMAPinoyTV and @GMA_LifeTV.
GMA Pinoy TV, GMA Life TV and
GMA News TV International can be
seen in the US, Canada and in
countries in Europe, the Middle
East, North Africa and Asia Pacific.
MANILA -- Singer-actress
Zsa Zsa Padilla is hoping to
stage more concerts with her
daughters abroad.
This comes after Padilla
felt that her singing career
took the backseat for a while
because she had to attend to
the health condition of her late
partner, Comedy King Dolphy.
Dolphy died exactly a
year ago due to pneumonia
and chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease. Padilla
shared how happy she is to be
singing again.
“It took a while kasi when
Dolphy was sick, nahihirapan
ako mag-commit sa concerts
abroad. Sabi ko icoconcentrate ko na lang muna
lahat ng efforts ko sa teleserye.
Kasi sa teleserye madali kang
makahanap ng exit. 'Yung
singing career ko took a
backseat. So now, sabi ko
siguro puwede ko naman na ipursue ulit so we started with
the album,” she said, referring
to her newest album titled
“Palagi.”
The singer said it took
four years before she was able
to record a new album.
Zsa Zsa Padilla
Padilla's last album was
"Unchanging Love" which was
released in 2009.
Song for daughter
Meanwhile, Padilla
shared that she wrote a song
included in her album for one
of her daughters.
“You have to guess which
one. She went through a very
serious heartbreak. Parang
hindi ko alam kung paano siya
i-console so I wrote a song for
her,” she said.
According to the singer,
the song is about figuratively
running out of tears and
moving on after a painful
heartbreak.
“Sabi ko, 'Mga bata pa
naman kayo. One day you'll
find it hard. You feel like you
can't move forward but you
can. Mauubusan ka din ng
tears.' So there, it's 'All Cried
Out,'” she explained.
Padilla said she also
wrote a song for Dolphy but
wasn't included in the album.
“Siyempre my heart was
so broken when Dolphy died.
Ganun pala, parati ko siyang
hinihintay umuwi for a long
time. The grieving process,
ganun pala, you go back and
forth. I [wrote a song for him]
but it didn't make it in the
album,” she said.
Aside from her regular
appearance in the top-rating
series “Juan dela Cruz,” Padilla
is also a mainstay of Sunday
musical variety show “ASAP.”
Cherie recalls struggle
with bitterness'
Cherie Gil
MANILA -- Veteran actress
Cherie Gil recalled her separation
from her children, following the
end of her 20-year marriage,
describing it as a "bitter" time in
her life.
The 48-year-old actress
looked back at her career
beginning as a child actress who
followed in the foot steps of her
celebrity parents -- actors Eddie
Mesa and Rosemarie Gil.
After a string of film and TV
portrayals which spanned
decades, Gil went on a 10-year
hiatus from showbiz, explaining
in her interview that it was
motivated by what she then
considered "the best thing" to
happen in her life.
She met renowned Isreali
violinist Rony Rogoff.
"I met Rony and I married
Rony and I knew that that was the
best thing that could happen to
me at that time, and even up to
this day," the veteran actress said.
u
Page 27
Page 27
Maja Salvador finds new
friend in Angel Locsin
MANILA — Actress Maja
Salvador considers her
upcoming series a big step in
her career since she will be
sharing starring with two of the
most acclaimed stars of this
generation.
Following the success of
“Ina Kapatid Anak,” Salvador
said she is already looking
forward to working again this
time with Angel Locsin and
Jericho Rosales.
“I am very excited kasi
panibagong step at panibagong
challenge 'yun sa career ko. The
story is all about love. Parang
hanggang kailan mo kakayanin
ang lahat para sa pag-ibig,” she
said.
Salvador said she is glad
to have found a new friend in
Locsin, who she described as a
very kind person.
“Kapag nakikita ko siya
parang walang siyang ibang
ginawa kundi ngumiti. Parang
angel talaga. Ang gaganda din
ng projects na ginagawa niya.
Excited ako na makatrabaho
siya. Happy din daw siya na
magkasama kami sa isang
teleserye,” she said.
As for Rosales, Salvador
admitted she has been a fan of
Maja Salvador
Angel Locsin
the actor because of his
brilliance as seen in his
previous work.
“Never ko na-imagine [na
magiging leading lady niya ako]
pero excited din ako. Kasi dati
pinapanood ko siya sa 'Pangako
S a ' Yo .' P a r a n g w a l a n g
pinagbago 'yung galing niya sa
pag-arte. Masasabi ko na being
part of this teleserye is a big
step and big challenge for my
career,” she said.
Having been in showbiz
for 10 years now, Salvador said
she is extremely grateful to
A B S - C B N fo r g iv i n g h e r
different projects that will
showcase her talents.
“ N e ve r p a k a s i a k o
nakagawa ng project na halos
parehas. Yearly, palaki ng
palaki. Laging bago. Ganon lagi
sa akin. Feeling ko mas okay
'yun kasi kapag naging
kampante ka sa isang bagay,
baka maapekuhan yung
trabaho. Kaya ako okay ako na
laging may kaba, takot na baka
hindi swak sa akin yung isang
character or kung magagawa
ko ba ng tama 'yung role ko,”
she said.
The working title of
Salvador's upcoming series is
“Hanggang Kailan Kita
Mamahalin.”
Sarah Geronimo admits
reconsidering career
MANILA -- Ten years in as a
professional singer, and with
only days before she turns 25, is
Sarah Geronimo having a
quarter-life crisis?
The Kapamilya singer,
whose birthday is on July 25,
admitted there are instances
when she reflects on whether
she should still continue her
career.
"May panahon na iniisip ko
kung ano talaga mangyayari, ano
ba talaga gusto ko?
Pagpapatuloy ko ba 'to? Meron
ba akong isang pangarap na sa
tingin ko doon talaga ako
magiging mas masaya?" she said.
Geronimo rose to fame in
2003 after winning "Star for A
Night," a singing competition
that secured its victor a record
deal with local label Viva
Records.
The singer dubbed the
Philippines "Pop Star Princess"
has since released over 10
albums, headlined international
concert tours, topbilled six films
and four TV series, and reaped
recognition from international
award-giving bodies.
In an interview in April,
also on "Showbiz Inside Report,"
Geronimo spoke at length about
her "struggles" as one of the
most visible personaliites in
local showbiz.
"Ako, honestly mahirap,
mahirap po. Kasi nandoon 'yung
struggle mo na, sino ba talaga
ako? Sino ba talaga si Sarah
Geronimo na nakilala nila ng 10
years dito sa business na 'to?
Sino si Sarah Geronimo na anak
ni mommy, ng mga Geronimo?"
"At 'yun 'yung palaging
nagtatalo -- becoming my real
self at kung ano 'yung gusto ng
Cherie recalls
struggle ...
From page 26
"But it came to a point
that there was something
missing in me, and he knew it
was that creative side that I
already had known and honed
since I was a child," she added,
referring to her acting career.
By the time they
separated in 2008, the couple
had two children -- Bianca,
who was 12 years old at the
time, and Raphael, 10. Gil's
eldest son, Jay, had also been
living with the couple.
Although Gil and
Rogoff's separation happened
"amicably," what followed was
a chapter of "bitterness" from
being apart from her children
with the musician.
While Gil resumed her
career in the Philippines,
Bianca and Raphael were
Sarah Geronimo
taong makita sa akin. May
struggle doon," she said at the
time.
Asked what she will wish
for when she turns 25, Geronimo
said, "Mag-grow lang talaga
'yung totalitly ng pagkatao ko."
"Sana mag-grow ako, lahat
ng relationships ko -- 'yung
relatinoship ko with my family,
with the Lord, at 'yung
relatinoship ko with yung mga
kasama ko sa trabaho," she said.
As to whether this wish for
"growth" also covers her love
life, whose tumultuous episodes
have made headlines time and
again, the singer said, "Syempre
parte 'yun, na the next time I fall
in love, 'yun pa rin, sana totoo na
talaga."
Apart from her regular
stint as one of the coaches on
"The Voice of the Philippines,"
Geronimo is set to release her
1 0 t h a n n ive r s a r y a l b u m ,
"Expressions," under Viva
Records.
based in Israel with their
father. The same set-up stands
today, and for Gil, it hasn't
gotten easier.
"That's not easy
(distance), and of course in
the beginning, it was a lot of
struggle with the bitterness
that had happened at that
time in my life. But I'm not
there anymore," she said.
Gil, in earlier interviews,
said she continues to be in
touch with her two children
with Rogoff. The veteran
actress also shared it helps
that she is in good terms with
her former husband.
" We' r e r e a l ly g o o d
friends. In fact, we're better
friends," she said.
Five years since
becoming single again, is Gil
open to being in a relationship
anew?
"Not that I'm closing the
doors, but I've come to be at
ease with being alone," she
said.
SPORTS
Miami Heat's LeBron James waves to the media during yesterday's (July 23) press
conference at the Shangri-La Mall in Makati for his one-day visit. (Tony Pionilla)
By Waylon Galvez
When LeBron James
surveyed the throng before him,
the NBA superstar of the Miami
Heat finally realized what his
coach Eric Spoelstra had told him
b e f o r e
c o m i n g .
In a hectic day that began
with a visit at the Nike Store at
Bonifacio High Street in Taguig
City, LeBron spent the rest of his
24-hour visit being amazed by
what he saw.
There were crowds
everywhere. They chanted his
name, shouted “MVP! MVP! MVP
“My coach told me all about
how big basketball here is. I'm
also passionate about it,” said
James as if trying to connect to
what many already knew.
Ramon Lainez, Pacquiao's
ex-handler, passes away
By Nick Giongco
Ramon Lainez was a
master story-teller that he
could talk all night long
provided the topic is about his
favorite subject boxing.
Whether the conversation
is on the phone or at his home
in Roxas District in Quezon
City over a serving of coffee
and native delicacies, the
seconds roll into minutes and
the minutes turn into hours.
Even if he often talked about a
certain incident repeatedly, it
always sounded as though it
was his first time telling it and
your first time hearing it.
Lainez also helped launch
the L&M Gym in partnership
with Lito Mondejar in the
early-1960s and it was this
derelict gym in the SampalocQuiapo area that spawned
Pacquiao through the show
Blow-by-Blow that Mondejar
staged alongside Rod Nazario
(who passed away in Sept.
2009).
Lainez had also travelled
extensively starting in the
1960s as a part of the group
that also ran and managed the
affairs of the World Boxing
Council during the presidency
of the late Justiniano Montano
and Rodrigo Salud (Lainez's
But the phone calls won't first cousin).
be taking place anymore.
When Pacquiao started to
Neither would be the visits to
fight
in the US, Pacquiao also
his humble home along the
took
him
along together with
river over a plateful of sweets,
Nazario,
Mondejar
and Gerry
Batangas brew and sometimes
Garcia.
beer, and the endless laughs
over the folly of others and his
During the years that he
as well.
wasn't involved in the fight
L a i n e z , a n o r i g i n a l game, Lainez hooked up with
member of Team Pacquiao, the MZet Productions of Vic Sotto
band of brothers credited for but he could not resist the lure
giving Manny Pacquiao his big of the ring as he made his
break in the US, passed away comeback in boxing in July
last July 13 at the UST Hospital 1999 with the launch of In This
from a heart attack. He would Corner, a weekly television
show that he produced at the
have been 70 on Aug. 3.
time of his death.
Page 28
LeBron: I will be back
“He said it's a great country
and the people are passionate
about what they love and what
they believe in,” said James, about
what Spoelstra told him.
Spoelstra, whose mother is
from Laguna, had visited the
country twice and conducted
clinics.
Prior to his Nike visit,
LeBron was at the Shangri-La
Hotel in Makati where he held a
press conference. The questionand-answer portion was
subsequently scrapped owing to
his tight schedule.
Then he went to the Mall of
Asia Arena for the final part of his
visit and the crowd there just
went bonkers.
A good portion had lined up
for days trying to get a ticket and
many more were turned away.
Tickets, given away for free, were
being sold by as much as P5,000
online.
GILAS JOINS FUN
At the MOA Arena, James
capped off his one-day tour with
skills challenge participated by
some local Nike basketball
endorsers, including the national
team Gilas Pilipinas.
James' introduction was
similar to what he had four years
ago when he was introduced by
the Miami Heat as loud hip-hop
music, dazzling lights, fireworks
and highlight reels of his games
were shown on a giant screen to
the delight of the crowd.
As he entered, the crowd
just went wild.
Its level of excitement went
even higher when James stepped
on the hardwood, where he
conducted a quick clinic with the
Filipino players. James also
played a 10-minute 5-on-5, acting
as playing coach for the collegiate
players against Gilas Pilipinas.
James did not disappoint his
fans as he delivered several rimrattling dunks and booming
three-pointers.
However, with time running
out and with the opposing team
up, 29-27, he failed to score on a
lay-up.
MEMORABLE DAY
Still, it was memorable for
James, and to some 15,000 fans
who filled the arena.
Needless to say, LeBron was
so happy with the reception, he
vowed to return.
“I can't believe it's my first
time here and it definitely won't
be my last.”
Though LeBron's visit is
partly aimed to promote a shoe
brand, he also hopes that his
presence will inspire his Filipino
fans, the young in particular, for
them to strive harder so they can
achieve their goals just like he
did.
“I love the game of
basketball, and to come here, I
just want to inspire everyone,”
said James, who won his fourth
NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP)
after leading Miami to its second
straight NBA championship last
June.
The 28-year-old James
arrived last Monday in a private
Gulf Stream jet. He disembarked
after 25 minutes and he and his
entourage quickly made their
way to the Shangri-La Hotel.
During his media briefing,
LeBron downplayed his role with
the Heat, saying it would not have
been possible without the help of
his teammates.
“No matter how good one
individual is, it takes a team to
win a championship,” he said.
As for his legacy, LeBron
said it was too early to talk about
it.
“I don't think about it [his
legacy]. I'm 28-years-old. I have a
lot more to prove. I've got a lot
more to accomplish.” (Manila
Bulletin)
Page 29
Aquino night out: Dateless at Big Dome for Dionne Warwick
By Pocholo Concepcion
“Approved na yung budget,
walang revisions,” President Aquino
was overheard telling some Cabinet
members after having dinner at Rasa
and Sachi restaurant, a few minutes
before he entered Smart Araneta
Coliseum to watch singer Dionne
Warwick's concert on Tuesday night.
Whatever “budget” okayed
without alterations he was referring
to, Aquino was a picture of
ebulliencesmiling and chatting with
his companions but with no date as
he stepped outside the restaurant to
have a smoke after a dinner of
sukiyaki, ebi tempura, tuna sashimi,
eel and US tenderloin steak.
Inside Rasa and Sachiwhich is
owned by the Araneta clansat
Interior Secretary Mar Roxas with a
group of friends. At a nearby table
were other Cabinet officials
including Budget Secretary
Florencio Abad and Presidential
Adviser on the Peace Process
Teresita Deles. Also spotted were
Internal Revenue Commissioner
Kim Henares and Social Welfare
Secretary Dinky Soliman.
Most of them likewise
accompanied the President the last
time he went to the Big Dome in
October 2012 to catch the gig of
1970s group America.
Security was tight inside the
restaurant, although a few diners,
like Jacqueline Inductivo, daughter
of former Social Security System
Senior Deputy Administrator Hector
Inductivo, and ophthalmologist Noel
Jusay Lacsamana, managed to have
their photos taken with the
President.
her rapping some of the lyrics to “Do
You Know the Way to San Jose”; and
her jazz improvisation on “I Say a
Little Prayer for You” was a bit
inappropriate.
Only a day before, Aquino
delivered his nearly two-hour fourth
State of the Nation Address and was
apparently stealing a few hours
chilling out.
But the heavens, which had
been pouring out a steady rainfall all
day, must have taken pity on
Warwick, because her voice started
regaining some of its legendary
silkiness and texture in the rest of the
numbers.
At Smart Araneta Coliseum,
Aquino occupied one of the seats at
Lower Box 201, the section usually
reserved for VIPs who want to enjoy
a show without attracting attention
since it is located at the back rows on
the opposite side of the stage.
The show opened with
Tavares, an American R&B/soul
group that scored a number of hit
singles in the 1970s. Originally
composed of six brothers and now
down to four members, Tavares
nonetheless had the crowd cheering
its repertoire, a mix of disco and soul
ballads: “More Than a Woman,” “A
Penny for Your Thoughts,” “Heaven
M u s t B e M i s s i n g a n A n g e l ,”
“Hardcore Poetry.”
Classic soul act
The group's energy was
i n fe c t i o u s i t s s o n g - a n d - d a n c e
routine recalling the classic soul act
of the 1960snever mind if it
performed only with a minus-one
(prerecorded backing tracks).
There was hushed silence
when Warwick walked onstage. She
had difficulty speaking, her voice
sounding gruff like that of Louis
Armstrong. She stroked her throat
after opening her show with
“Heartbreaker,” obviously trying to
explain why she seemed to be in bad
shape.
The audience swooned as she
sang “Alfie,” “Walk on By,” “What the
World Needs Now Is Love” and other
immortal hits that the Burt
Bacharach-Hal David songwriting
team composed for her.
There were moments when
Warwick let the crowd sing lead
vocals, perhaps out of fear that she
would lose her breath.
WHAT THE WORLD NEEDS NOW President Aquino shares a light moment with Defense Secretary
Gazmin, PSG Commander Dizon and other high government officials who attended American pop
singer Dionne Warwick's concert on Tuesday night at Smart Araneta Coliseum. PHOTO COURTESY OF
ARANETA GROUP
Brushing aside whatever
worries the audience might have at
that point, Warwick avoided making
an apology and instead remarked, in
proud diva fashion: “I'm gonna give
every ounce of what I can give that
you deserve…”
But what followed were rather
lame versions of “Wave,” “Waters of
March” and other samba songsthe
five-piece band deliberately playing
softly to avoid drowning out
Warwick's weak vocals.
Say a little prayer
EXPRESS SUDOKU
HOW TO PLAY: Place a number from 1 to 9 in each empty cell so that each
row, each column and each 3x3 block contains all the numbers from 1 to 9
Solution to Issue 28 Sudoku
Solution to Issue 28 Crossword
The bandJohn Robert Shrock
(piano), Renato Pereira
(percussion), Dan DeMorales (bass),
William Hunter (keyboards), and
Jeffrey Lewis (drums)was actually
Warwick's saving grace. Faced with
the enormous challenge of backing
up a singer who could embarrass
herself by going out of tune at any
given moment, the guys anchored
every song with grace and elegance,
allowing Warwick to sail through
them without much effort.
It was almost pathetic to hear
It turned out that she had
spent the previous night partying at
Bonifacio Global City to celebrate the
birthday of one of her musicians,
according to a source who had direct
knowledge of the occasion. “Wala
pang tulog 'yan (She hasn't had
enough sleep),” the source added.
At age 72, Warwick is not
exactly a superwoman who can party
all night and still be in excellent
shape to sing 17 songs in concert.
She almost made us cringe, although
there were flashes of the old, brilliant
Dionne that the world adores.
Yet, Aquino and company
obviously had fun, as they applauded
heartily when the house lights went
on after the show. Philippine Daily
Inquirer
EXPRESS CROSSWORD
ACTION
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Jobs
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Use the
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FOR CLASSIFIED ADS
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Only $30 for 25 words
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Page 31
Page 32

The Filipino Express v27 Issue 29

Transcription

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