MAY 18,2012 BUSINESSWEEK MINDANAO

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BusinessWeek

YOUR LOCAL ONLINE BUSINESS PAPER

www.businessweekmindanao.com Issue No. 73, Volume III • May 18-20, 2012

Market Indicators

AS OF 5:54 P.M., MAY 17, 2012 (Thursday)

FOREX

PHISIX

US$1 = P42.92

5,017.02 points

; ; Briefly 12 cents

152.79 points

Normin’s growth

THE economic growth of Northern Mindanao is expected to gather steam in 2012 and shall be within the range of 7-7.5 percent.

This, as more development projects and private investments are implemented in the region, National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) - Region 10 Chief Economic Development Specialist Engr. Cecilio Clarete said during the Macro and Development Administration Committee Meeting of the Regional Development Council (RDC), last week.

Clarete, who presented the macroeconomic sector of the 2011 regional development report, also reported that although the regional economy is believed to have slowed down in 2011, its economic growth last year is expected to have fared slightly better than the country average.

Jewelry production

NABUNTURAN -- The province of Compostela Valley continuously improves the craftsmanship and quality of its jewelry pieces in a bid to widen its market.

The province, which is the biggest producer of gold and silver in the region, is into jewelry production already to give additional value to the minerals that it produces.

This value-adding initiative started in 2002 but actual adoption and implementation was only done in 2007. This was also the time when gold and silver jewelry was adopted as the provincial One Town One Product (OTOP).

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IIEE hosts Mindanao power forum

By MIKE BAÑOS, Correspondent

THE Institute of Integrated Electrical Engineers of the Philippines (IIEE) will be hosting a Mindanao Power Forum Update at the Grand Caprice Restaurant and Convention Center, this city, on May 24.

“This will be one of the events cum technical sessions we will be holding in connection with our hosting of the 2012 National Midyear Convention theme “En-

gineering a Safe and Better Nation Through Excellence in Electrical Profession” May 23-26, 2012 Grand Caprice Restaurant & Convention Center, Limketkai Center, Cagayan de Oro City.

The forum is sponsored

by Primavera Residences as presentor and the following major sponsors: Energy Development Corporation, Steag State Power Inc., and Italpinas Euroasia Design and Eco-D e velopment Corporation, developers

of Primavera Residences.

Ms. Waga said the forum will focus on the technical aspects of the Mindanao Power Development Plan and its role in the current power crisis sweeping the island. Although most of the participants would be convention delegates, she added it would also be open to interested participants from the general public.

Usec. Josefina Patricia SUMMER HEAT. Kids take shelter inside culverts in a M. Asirit, Chief of Staff of construction site in downtown Cagayan de Oro as temPOWER/PAGE 9 perature rises in northern Mindanao. PHOTO BY GERRY L. GORIT

Govt set to resolve issue on bananas with China Pineapples, papayas impounded, too

By IRENE DOMINGO, Reporter

AFTER holding huge shipments of Philippine banana in their ports recently, Chinese authorities have also started impounding Philippine papayas and pineapples, an official said on Wednesday.

Clarito Barron, director of the Bureau of Plant Industry, said some 43 crates of papayas and pineapples worth around $1 million were held at Chinese ports last May 2 after being found infested with “mealybugs” during a random inspection.

Barron explained a mealybug is a cosmopolitan pest which can also be found in China and other parts of the world.

He said after the discovery of the supposed pests, Chinese authorities decided to conduct a total inspection of the fruits.

He expects the impounded fruits will already be rotten by the time Chinese authorities finish

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inspecting them.

The official also said he is puzzled that Chinese authorities are suddenly claiming that the fruits were fraught with bugs when their counterparts in Japan and Korea are not reporting of a similar infestation.

Nevertheless, Barron said Phil-

ippine authorities are willing to cooperate with their Chinese counterparts to finally resolve the trade issue.

He added the agriculture officials are just waiting for the official invitation of the Chinese government so they can visit the PINEAPPLE/PAGE 8

By CARMELITO Q. FRANCISCO Correspondent

T

HE Philippine government is sending a team this week to China to look into the protocols the Chinese government is imposing on Philippines exports, particularly bananas.

At a press briefing during the visit of President Benigno S. C. Aquino III in Davao City on Monday, Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala said the team will look at how banana exporters can comply with the requirements.

Mr. Alcala also said the Philippine government is inviting Chinese government representatives to check local systems and procedures.

“The important thing is we can improve our protocols,” Mr. Alcala said, in response to the call of the banana growers who felt they have been bullied by the Chinese government by claiming some pests were found on Philippine banana exports even when such pests only appear BANANAS/PAGE 8

Creation of power firm pushed

Bukidnon blackouts to be solved soon

power situation in the island and wants the two hydroelectric plants serving Mindanao made more efficient instead of being privatized.

MinDA chair Secretary Luwalhati Antonino said her office presented a sum-

MALAYBALAY City -- The earlier warning of ‘catastrophic blackouts’ in Mindanao if unchecked appears real with six hours of daily rotational blackouts.

These blackouts are imposed by the Bukidnon BLACKOUTS/PAGE 10

By BUTCH D. ENERIO Correspondent

THE Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) said it is asking Malacañang to approve the creation of a Mindanao Power Corp.

(Minpocor) to address the

mary to President Benigno Aquino III on Monday detailing the profitability of the Agus and Pulangi hydro plants, contrary to claims by the National Power Corp. that they are losing.

She said that the AgusFIRM/PAGE 10

2

May 18-20, 2012

Economy

BusinessWeek

MINDANAO

Production of crops, veggies in NorMin, up 44.70% in 2011

By RUTCHIE C. AGUHOB, Contributor

OZAMIZ City -- A combined production of 8,774,530 metric tons (MT) of industrial, non-food root crops, fruits and vegetables was recorded in Northern Mindanao, last year, higher by 44.70 percent compared to 6,063,790MT in 2010.

As reported by the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS), region 10, the industrial and non-food crops posted the biggest increase from 2,602,899MT to 5,127,972MT or 97.01 percent.

In turn, among the industrial crops, sugarcane posted the biggest increase, from 2,549,197MT to 5,068,828MT or 98.84 percent, followed by the palm fruit, 18.74 percent, rubber, 5.09 percent, “tuba,”

or coconut wine, 4.11 percent and abaca, 3.22 percent.

However, production of cashew, cacao and coffee declined by 35.80 percent, 28.49 percent and 1.65 percent, respectively, Engr.

Carlito Baclayon, Regional Statistics Officer of BAS-10, said.

Likewise, production of root crops also increased from 509,348MT or 590,935MT or 16.02 percent, with cassava posting the biggest increase of 16.68 percent, followed by ginger,

6.74 percent and camote, 6.07 percent, except for peanuts which declined by 5.45 percent.

Baclayon said the production of fruit crops also went up, from 2,846,915MT to 2,948,037MT or 3.55 percent, with pineapple and bananas posting increases of 8.63 percent and 1.37 percent, respectively.

The rest of the fruit crops, however, posted negative production: lanzones, down by 77.57 percent, mangosteen, down by 62.66

percent, papaya, down by 27.53 percent, and rambutan, down by 27.21 percent.

Also with negative production were: mandarin, down by 24.34 percent, watermelon, down by 9.0 percent, durian, down by 7.90 percent, mango, down by 5.52 percent, and calamansi, down by 0.67 percent.

Meanwhile, production of vegetables increased from 104,629MT to 107,585MT or 2.83 percent, with broccoli posting the biggest increase

of 15.54 percent, followed by ampalaya, 8.23 percent, eggplant, 8.12 percent, cauliflower, 8.09 percent and pechay, 7.48 percent.

The following vegetables also posted increases in production: okra, 6.59 percent, squash, 6.46 percent, gabi, 6.21 percent, stringbeans, 5.39 percent, pepper, 5.37 percent, lettuce, 3.36 percent, habichuelas, 2.92 percent, tomato, 1.23 percent, gourd, 0.42 percent, and cabbage, 0.28 percent.

CROPS/PAGE 9

MinDA signs MOA for Mindanao 2020

By APIPA P. BAGUMBARAN Contributor

THE Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) has signed a memorandum of agreement with the National Youth Commission (NYC) to strengthen support for the implementation of Mindanao 2020.

The agreement was inked by Secretary Luwalhati Antonino, chairperson of MinDA, and Assistant Secretary Earl Saavedra, NYC Commissioner for Mindanao during the Mindanao Economic Policy Forum held May 15 at N Hotel here.

Mindanao 2020, or the Mindanao Peace and Development Framework Plan for 2011-2030, is a 20-year blueprint that addresses not only economic and infrastructure development but also peace and security, human development, governance, and other key dimensions that are integral to the holistic sustainable development of Mindanao.

Incorporated in this roadmap is the Mindanao Youth Agenda, formerly known as the Kabataan sa Mindanao Natin Program, which seeks to create a programs and services for youth development.

NYC Commissioner Saavedra said the program was crafted to help the youth appreciate their contributions in the stability of the peace and order situation through strengthening of efforts on areas and issues that have something to do with the general peace condition in the island such as education, health, participation, among others.

“This is our way of reaching out to Mindanao and letting the constituents feel that we are aware of their aspirations and needs. As such, we are ready to help them being the youth authority in government,” he said.

Mindanao LGUs, fisher folks receive assistance from PNoy

By CARINA L CAYON Contributor

DAVAO City -- President Benigno C. Aquino III led the awarding of citations and handing over of P13 million worth of rural assistance for the best performing local government units and one people’s organization (PO) in implementing the Mindanao Rural Development Program (MRDP) projects.

Aquino bestowed the awards and assistance during the “Parangal sa mga Bosing ng Kanayunan” awarding ceremony at MRDP’s People’s Organiza-

tion (POs) Congress held on Monday at the Grand Regal Hotel, Davao City.

The President was assisted by Secretary Proceso Alcala of the Department of Agriculture that spearheads the implementation of MRDP in 26 provinces covering 225 municipalities and 1,920 barangays in Mindanao.

In his message after the awarding rites, Aquino thanked DA and all other key stakeholders of MRDP including the POs for being partners of the government in fast-tracking progress in Mindanao.

“Together with people’s organizations, we continue to shed light and hope towards a prosperous future for the Philippines,” he told about 1,200 participants of MRDP POs Congress.

The President handed over the Best Performing PO award to Doyos Eastern Coast Fishermen Consumers Cooperative (DECFISCOCO) of the municipality of Carrascal, Surigao del Sur, Region 8, for successfully implementing MRDP Community Fund for Agricultural Development (CFAD) project.

DECFISCOCO Chair Tito T. Garcia received on the coop’s behalf, P1 million worth of post-harvest facilities.

DA said that from the P200,000 grant from DAMRDP, the cooperative comprising of fisher folk members has learned to maximize meager financial resource through efficient and transparent procurement system.

The coop now owns 11 pump boats as fishing vessels which have increased their catch from barely five kilograms a day to at least 50 kilos daily.

Among the recognized LGU was the municipality of Salay in Misamis Oriental of Region 10, for its good construction and management of all the farm-tomarket road projects under MRDP Rural Infrastructure FISHER/PAGE 7

BusinessWeek

MINDANAO

Petron open to more acquisitions in Asia PETRON Corp. is looking at acquiring other Asian refiners. Petron chairman Ramon Ang said the company is open to more acquisitions in the Asian region, but declined to give details.

Petron had just bought Esso Malaysia this year, and has said it is also interested in Esso Thailand.

“We are very interested if there are opportunities to acquire more in the region... I cannot be speficic on which one is our target because the competition

is very tight,” Ramon Ang, chairman of Petron, said.

Meanwhile, Ang denies Petron will be giving fuel discounts to Philippine Airlines since both Petron and PAL are now part of the San Miguel group.

But Ang promises he can make PAL profitable again.

“We hope to be able to turn it around as quickly as possible... I don’t think Petron will give discount to PAL. Whatever price we sell to everybody, it’s the same,” he said.

Companies

3 Jollibee soon to open in Singapore May 18-20, 2012

SINGAPOREANS will soon get a taste of Chickenjoy, Yum burger and Jolly Spaghetti, as the Philippines’ biggest fast food chain Jollibee is laying the groundwork to finally open a store in the city-state.

In a disclosure to the stock exchange, Jollibee Foods Corp. (JFC) said its wholly owned subsidiary Golden Plate Pte. Ltd. signed an agreement to form a company with Beeworks Inc. to open and operate Jollibee stores in Singapore.

The new company will

be 60% owned by Golden Plate and 40% owned by Beeworks. Golden Plate will have full management control of the company, while leveraging on Beeworks’ experience and network to establish Jollibee in Singapore.

JFC said the new Singapore company will have an initial funding of $1 million.

Beeworks is described as a company owned by mostly Singaporeans with experience in retail and hospitality sector.

After its successful international debut, Jollibee is now There are currently 79 entering the city-state Singapore.

Jollibee stores around the world: 26 in the U.S., 32 in Vietnam, 11 in Brunei, 7 in Jeddah and 1 each in Hong Kong, Qatar and Kuwait.

JFC, the country’s largest food service company, saw its profit grow by 8.1% BPI President and CEO as proof of the transaction. leading the way in onto P682 million in the first Aurelio Montinola, who And because the machines line and mobile banking three months of 2012, as its took center stage along- function 24 hours a day, 7 solutions, cognizant of restaurants in the Philipside winners representing days a week, they take away the increasing need for pines and other countries the best banks from 146 the need for customers to banking services while continued to show strong other countries said, “We deposit through bank tellers on the move. The bank growth. offers BPI ExpressLink are achieving our target of during banking hours.

The company operates Moving forward, Mr. Mobile for corporate cli5 million customers, and 2,004 stores in the Philiphave provided them with Montinola further explained, ents and offers BPI Express pines, including Jollibee additional banking con- “We will focus on cost ef- Mobile for individuals.

(752 ), Chowking (381), venience in the form of ficiency, capital efficiency Both applications, when Greenwich (204), Red Ribonline investing and loan and differentiating ourselves downloaded on androids, bon (207), Mang Inasal applications, and real-time primarily through relation- smartphones and on iPads, (436) and Burger King (24). cash acceptance machines.” ship managers providing allow users to check acOverseas, JFC operates Another first in the Phil- appropriate financial solu- count balances, transfer Yonghe King and Hong ippines, the BPI Cash Deposit tions to our key clients, and funds, pay bills, remit Zhuang Yuan in China, as Machine allows for actual superior online and mobile government dues and for well as Jollibee, Red Ribbon, cash deposit that gets cred- banking solutions for every- corporate clients, approve disbursements and other ited to your ATM account one else.”

Chowking in the Middle Indeed, BPI has been financial transactions. real time. It gives out a receipt East and Southeast Asia.

BPI is country’s Bank of the Year & Top Bank Brand — says London-based The Banker WHILE banks across the globe helplessly watched their brand values dive with the persisting effects of the

2007 global crisis, the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) leveraged strategy and innovation that resulted in its winning the 2011 Bank of the Year Awards as well as in strengthening its position as the country’s top bank brand.

On top of earnings, assets, Tier 1 capital growth and returns on equity, contenders for the Bank of the Year Awards were evaluated against their ability to set new standards for the local banking industry, their use of new technology, and their innovation and cost efficient expansion strategies.

4

May 18-20, 2012

Companies

BusinessWeek

MINDANAO

Globe protests use of illegal repeaters GLOBE Telecom has formally filed a complaint with the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) against the use of illegal repeaters as part of its intensified efforts to track down users and sellers of the equipment that cause network interference for subscribers in a specific area.

Illegal repeaters come in the form of indoor or outdoor antennas and wireless adapters that boost network coverage and signal by means of hogging bandwidth from a legitimate Globe network infrastructure. They are installed in between trees, building windows, toilet areas, rooftop areas and building spaces, making them increasingly hard to locate. As a result, Globe subscribers experience dropped calls as well as a significant dip in call quality and clarity.

Monitoring reports from Globe Network Group revealed that there was a significant increase in interference cases in the National Capital Region, specifically in Makati over the last 3 months, with over 80 sites affected.

Taking a proactive stance to combat the growing num-

ber of cases that involve the use of illegal repeaters, Globe and NTC started to conduct a joint ocular inspection in February this year to confiscate illegally-installed repeaters and clamp down on sellers of illegal repeaters, including online retailers of these devices. To showcase the serious implications of the illegal practice, NTC issued a show cause order this month to an owner of an illegal repeater in San Andres, Manila.

“Network and clean frequencies are important components for quality delivery of our services. The use of illegal repeaters in order to get good network coverage at the expense of others has no place in this society. It’s a totally unfair practice especially as it impacts a great majority of subscribers in an identified area,” said Atty.

Froilan M. Castelo, Head for Corporate and Legal Services at Globe. “With our strengthened partnerships with the police, courts, and other government institutions like the NTC, Globe will remain relentless in going after and prosecuting perpetrators, both users and sellers, to ensure a stable, consistent, and reliable network for Globe subscribers nationwide.”

Globe earlier announced that it is in the thick of a massive $700-million landmark mobile network modernization program that will increase its 2G/3G coverage significantly, enable faster call and data connections, on-time delivery of text messages, and reduced incidence of dropped calls even at peak hours and traffic-heavy occasions. The modernized Globe network is designed to be future-proof, capable of using the most advanced 4G technologies such as HSPA+ and long term evolution (LTE).

It is also IPv6 ready and boasts of an all-IP infrastructure for business customers.

Actual images of illegal repeaters installed on top of houses and buildings.

Petron open to more acquisitions PETRON Corp. is looking at acquiring other Asian refiners. Petron chairman Ramon Ang said the company is open to more acquisitions in the Asian region, but declined to give details.

Petron had just bought Esso Malaysia this year, and has said it is also interested in Esso Thailand.

“We are very interested if there are opportunities to acquire more in the region... I cannot be specific on which one is our target because the competition is very tight,” Ramon Ang, chairman of Petron, said.

Meanwhile, Ang denies Petron will be giving fuel

Samsung on top as mobile phone sales dip: survey SAN FRANCISCO — Mobile phone sales worldwide suffered a rare dip in the first three months of this year on softened demand in Asian markets, industry tracker Gartner reported Wednesday.

Approximately 419.1 million mobile phones were bought worldwide during the quarter in a two percent decline from the same period a year earlier, Gartner said. It was the first quarterly decline since early in 2009.

“Global sales of mobile devices declined more than expected due to a slowdown in demand from the AsiaPacific region,” said Gartner principal research analyst Anshul Gupta.

“The first quarter, traditionally the strongest quarter for Asia — which is driven by Chinese New

Year — saw a lack of new product launches from leading manufacturers, and users delayed upgrades in the hope of better smartphone deals arriving later in the year.”

South Korean consumer electronics titan Samsung became the top mobile phone seller in the quarter, bumping Finland-based

Nokia from a leading position it had held since 1998, according to Gartner.

Samsung sold 86.6 million mobile phones in a 25.9 percent increase from the prior year.

Samsung also reclaimed the smartphone market throne from iPhone maker Apple, selling 38 million Internet-compatible hand-

sets in the quarter in which overall sales were 144.4 million, Gartner reported.

Smartphones powered by Google’s Android software accounted for 56 percent of the global market, or 81.07 million handsets, while the iPhone operating system was the next most popular with 22.9 percent, or 33.12 million devices.

Samsung sold more than 40 percent of the Androidbased smartphones bought in the first quarter of this year, according to Gartner.

Apple sales of the iPhone 4S nearly doubled in the quarter as the latest model of the smartphone spread to new markets.

Apple sold more than five million iPhones in China, making it the top market for the California-based SAMSUNG/PAGE 7

discounts to Philippine Airlines since both Petron and PAL are now part of the San Miguel group.

But Ang promises he can make PAL profitable again.

“We hope to be able to turn it around as quickly as possible... I don’t think Petron will give discount to PAL. Whatever price we sell to everybody, it’s the same,” he said.

Republic of the Philippines REGIONAL TRIAL COURT OF MISAMIS ORIENTAL 10th Judicial Region Cagayan de Oro City 2012-213 OFFICE OF THE PROVINCIAL SHERIFF NOTICE OF EXTRA-JUDICIAL SALE FILE NO. 2012-080 Upon extra-judicial petition for sale under Act. No. 3135, as amended by Act No. 4118, filed by HDMF (PAG-IBIG FUND) with principal office address at Atrium of Makati, Makati Avenue, Makati City, with branch office at Pagibig Fund, Bldg., Borja St., Cagayan de Oro City against NESTOR L. LIMKIM married to CRISTINA B. LIMKIM, with postal address at Fatima College of Camiguin, Mambajao, Camiguin, the mortgagor, to satisfy the mortgage indebtedness which as of February 24, 2012, amounts to SEVEN HUNDRED SEVENTY FOUR THOUSAND ONE HUNDRED SEVENTY EIGHT PESOS & 44/100 (P774,178.44), Philippine Currency, inclusive interest, penalty charges, court fees, attorney’s fees and expenses of foreclosure, the undersigned or duly authorized deputy will sell at public auction on June 18, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. or soon thereafter at the main entrance of the Office of the Court, Hall of Justice, Hayes-Mortola Streets, Cagayan de Oro City to the highest bidder, for cash and in Philippine Currency, the following property/ies described below including all existing improvements found thereon, to wit: TRANSFER CERTIFICATE OF TITLE NO. T-192192 Lot : Lot 15, Block 6, Psd-10-042689 Portion of Lot : Lot 1, Block 37, Psd-10039732 As Surveyed : Pueblo de Oro Development Corporation : San Agustin Valley Homes 2 Land use : Residential Location : Canitoan, Cagayan de Oro City Area : FIFTY FOUR (54) SQUARE METERS, more or less.

Registered in the name of NESTOR L. LIMKIM Married to CRISTINA B. LIMKIM TRANSFER CERTIFICATE OF TITLE NO. T-192193 Lot : Lot 15, Block 6, Psd-10-042689 Portion of Lot : Lot 1, Block 37, Psd-10039732 As surveyed : Pueblo de Oro Development Corporation : San Agustin Valley Homes 2 Land use : Residential Location : Canitoan, Cagayan de Oro City AREA : FIFTY FOUR (54) SQUARE METERS, more or less.

Registered in the name of NESTOR L. LIMKIM Married to CRISTINA B. LIMKIM All sealed bids must be submitted to the undersigned on the above-stated time and date.

In the event auction sale cannot take place for whatever legal reason, the same will proceed on the following working day, without further notice, posting, and publication.

Prospective buyers may investigate for themselves the title herein abovedescribed and encumbrances thereon, if any there be.

Cagayan de Oro City, May 7, 2012.

BWM: MAY 18, 25, & JUNE 1, 2012

ANTONIO A. CAGULANG, JR. Sheriff IV

BusinessWeek

MINDANAO

Banking / Finance

AMLA bill now up for Senate OK A BILL strengthening the country’s anti-money laundering law is now up for Senate approval, as a deadline set by an international watchdog for its passage closes in.

Senator Teofisto L. Guingona III, anti-money laundering amendments committee chairman, sponsored Senate Bill (SB) No. 3123, paving the way for the bill’s second and third reading approval at the plenary.

SB 3123 seeks to amend Republic Act (RA) No. 9160 or the Anti-Money Laundering Act (AMLA) of 2001 by adding foreign exchange firms, moneychangers, remittance centers and similar establishments, pre-need companies, casinos, real estate agents, and precious stones and metal dealers to the list of “covered institutions” that must submit reports on “covered” and suspicious transactions to the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC).

A covered transaction is one that exceeds P500,000 and is done with a covered institution within one banking day. Suspicious transactions are those done by persons not properly identified or too high for the capacity of the persons making the transactions,

among others.

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) wants the bill enacted by endMay, warning a blacklisting for the Philippines if the country fails to do so.

The watchdog moved the country to the “dark grey” list in February from the “grey” list for failure to approve amendments to the AMLA and to pass the Terrorist Financing Suppression bill last December.

Blacklisting means higher financial costs for Filipinos and Philippine banks and closer scrutiny of transactions originating from the Philippines.

“The government should continue to update and formulate effective and potent counter-measures to address [money laundering],” Mr. Guingona said in his speech yesterday.

“When we signed international commitments against money laundering and terrorism, we committed to establish the proper legal framework to support such commitments,” he added in a statement

yesterday.

SB 3123 also adds bribery, fraud, graft, plunder, violation of fisheries and mining laws, and carnapping as predicate crimes or crimes that generate money for money launderers.

Another bill amending the AMLA -- SB 3009 that wants to authorize the AMLC to look into suspect accounts without informing account holders -- is pending second reading approval at the Senate.

Senator Sergio R. Osmeña III, banks, financial institutions and currencies committee chairman, last week said the two bills, once they get third reading approval at the Senate, will be consolidated before they will be harmonized with the House-approved bill at a bicameral committee.

May 18-20, 2012

5

Security Bank Foundation supports children of PMA alumni

SECURITY Bank Foundation, Inc. (SBFI), the corporate social responsibility arm of Security Bank Corporation, donated an endowment fund worth PhP500,000 for the Special Scholarship Program of the Philippine Military Academy Alumni Association (PMAAA) Educational Foundation, Inc. (PETFI) in a turnover ceremony held on March 20 at the Security Bank Centre in Makati City. Through this annual endowment fund, SBFI is able to support the college education of deserving children of disabled or deceased Philippine Military Academy alumni. Participating in the turnover were (from left to right) PETFI Treasurer and P/Director Rufino Ibay, Jr. (Ret.); SBFI officers Treasurer Joey Mape, President Anastasia Dy, and Chairman Rafael Simpao, Jr.; other PETFI officers President Brig.

Gen. Rosalino Alquiza, AFP (Ret.); Chairman Brig. Gen. Mamerto Bocanegra (Ret.); Vice President Capt. Manuel Mendoza, PN (Ret.); and PMAAAI Chairman Brig. Gen. Remy Tigulo (Ret.).

6

Opinion

May 18-20, 2012

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MINDANAO

Older and Better THINK a minute…

An older man I know was walking back to his office after eating lunch. On the way back he met a friend, so he stopped and they talked a few minutes. As they were saying goodbye to each other the old guy said to his friend: “When we met just now, which way was I walking? To my office or to the restaurant?”

His friend answered, “You were walking to your office.” The old man smiled and said: “OK, I guess that means I’ve already had my lunch, so I better get back to work now.” That poor old guy’s memory was so

short, he really didn’t know if he was coming or going!

It seems no matter how hard we try, none of us can stop from getting older.

Aging is a natural law and process we simply can’t stop or change.

We can exercise, eat only healthy food, take vitamins, use all the best lotions and oils on our skin, but we’re still getting older every day. And if it’s true that our memory is the first to go, then I know I’m well on my way!

It’s sad that many people become grouchy, mean, or impatient as they grow older. But in fact, it should

be just the opposite. As we grow older, we should grow sweeter, kinder, more gentle and accepting of others’ faults. We should become more compassionate and understanding of other people’s needs and problems, since we’ve learned how easy it is for us to make mistakes. We should just become more caring and forgiving.

Friend, if you want to get better with age, then today you can ask Jesus Christ to forgive you and take full charge of your heart and character every day. He’s the only One Who can help you start changing daily

Opening new windows for economic freedom AMERICAN F-16 Fighter Planes are built in Turkey?

Hardly anyone notice that until trade relations between the Philippines and Turkey started in 2009. Turkey is the only site outside of the American territory that built this type of powerful air armaments for the US military and its NATO allies.

A bustling free market economy with a Gross Domestic Product of USD 1.44 Trillion in 2011, Turkey has a GDP per capita income of USD 11,600 and a growth rate of 8.9%. It is the 16th largest economy in the world and number 6 in Europe. It has a young population of 72.6 Million.

Turkish businessmen came for the second straight year in Cagayan de Oro City last May 11. With worldwide standing as number one for wheat flour exports, cement, dried apricots, hazelnuts and organic textiles. Turkey likewise, produces boron, the additive compound to

gasoline that makes racing cars run faster. The Turkish trade delegation representing all scales of companies in the Turkish economy was surprisingly young averaging 29 years old. These could be part of their 24.7 million young and trained professionals coming from an average of 400,000 graduates annually from 143 universities run by Americans and Europeans professors. The visit was a good opportunity to establish trade relations and investments in Northern Mindanao.

Many Filipinos impressions about Turkey are what they see in Fashion TV and in the spy and adventure movies chronicled by the James Bond and Bourn Legacy saga which regularly features Istanbul. The old city built by the Ottoman Empire has a rich culture whose Islamic religion was spread to Europe. Istanbul is a must city to visit spe-

cially the Sultan Ahmet Mosque and the Hagia Sophia Mosque in the center of the city. It is a tourist destination and the center of educational institutions in Turkey. I have not been there but my knowledge and pigment of imagination about the city was taught by Agent 007. There must be some truth and relevance to my descriptions?

Ankara is the capital of Turkey and sits as the regional and global distribution center of many companies and headquarters of many international chains of hotels serving the 25 Million tourist arrivals per annum. It is a potential market, if not for the distance, to shift our banana exports now rotting in the Chinese Ports, a victim of a political row over disputed territories.

With the tremendous growth of the Turkish economy, ranking 3rd after China and India, the Philippines

THINK A MINUTE

JHAN TIAFAU HURST

into the person you really want to be. That’s how you can enjoy even more the second half of your life, as you grow older—and better.

Just think a minute …

TRAVERSING THE TOURISM HI-WAY

PED T. QUIAMJOT which has vast economic zones and supportive governance can find opportunities for outsourcing many of their manufacturing activities with our cheap labor which has a low operational cost and higher work standards compared to their neighboring Middle East countries. The Philippine’s PHIVEDIC industrial zone could be a good site for manufacturing Turkish RTW fabrics for exports to the US and Asia which is still dominated by low quality Chinese fabric products?

Business implicates changes in the human society. The trade transacBUNYE/PAGE 7

War and peace

Mindanao Examiner/Mindanao Daily Unit 15, 3F Fair Land Bldg., Nunez Extension Zamboanga City Phone & Fax (062) 992 5480 Email: mindanaoexaminer@gmail.com

BusinessWeek

IS peace elusive these days?

I refer more to peace of mind more than anything else, though we can not discount the fact that we can get the sensation that peace is also slippery in the social, political, ideological and even religious spheres.

We just have to look around to see that some trouble and disturbance are erupting in many parts of the world, and even in our own country, our own province, town or city, and even in our places of work and in our homes.

Of course, we know that even in our own selves, we can not have peace. We can also see tension and conflicts among the different parts and aspects of own selves—the mind warring against the heart, reason against feelings, etc.

This is unavoidable, and therefore, understandable, given the delicate status of our human condition, assailed as it is by human frailty, mistakes and failures, if not sin and malice pursued

with hellish intentions. Yes, we can go to that extreme too.

We need to understand what true peace is, because there are now many ideas, definitions and descriptions being attached to it, and frankly, they sound more nice than true, more feelgood and subjective than objective, more false and illusory than real.

There is peace offered by drugs, or by some escape mechanisms like sex, exercise and body cult, and other forms of panacea and psychological conditioning.

These are Faustian bargains that sooner or later will just fall through.

Peace in society or in the political and ideological fronts is often an artificial, plastic product of all kinds of consensus and deterrents to war that are at best shaky and volatile. It’s a peace built on sand, not on solid rock.

True peace can only come from God. “Peace is my farewell to you, my peace is my gift to you,”

Christ says. “I do not give it to you as the world gives peace.” (Jn 14,27) We have to understand these words well, accepting them first of all by faith, and then analyzing them with all the resources of our God-given human powers.

We should never depart from this peace of Christ. All our efforts to come up with an estimation of peace for our personal health or for social, economic or political well-being, should always be inspired by this peace Christ gives us. It cannot be any other way.

Christ is the prince of peace. He knows how to tackle any and all sources and causes of trouble, conflict and war. He meets them head-on, not escaping from them, and in fact converts these causes of evil and war into paths to goodness and human redemption.

He goes straight to the very core of evil, the malice that can spring in the hearts of men, the primal source of all our troubles, conflicts

HINTS AND TRACES

FR. ROY CIMAGALA

and wars. And he does the ultimate to annul the effects of evil, by assuming them himself, killing them with his own death, and conquering them with his own resurrection. He always has the last word.

While in pursuing and trying to gain peace we may have to do some practical and temporary things, we should never forget that the ultimate source of peace is Christ himself who is God who became man for our sake. We should always go BAÑOSPAGE 7

BusinessWeek

May 18-20, 2012

MINDANAO

7

Inflation rate in NorMin increases: Its Implication?

STATISTICS on prices play an important role not only in the study and analysis of economic activities but also in the formulation of economic policies. Price statistics are used as bases to adjust contracts, wage rates, pensions , taxes and a variety of other transaction f lows. These changes are indicated by prices indices.

The price level changes are closely m on it ore d b e c au s e they are used to measure inflation. Thus, inflation rate is the rate of change in the average price level between two periods as measured by the Consumer Price Index.

Based on the results of April 2012 C onsumer Price Sur vey conducted by the National Statistics Office (NSO), the Philippines’ annual headline inflation rate picked up to

3.0 percent in April 2012 from 2.6 percent in March. The uptrend can be attributed to higher annual increments recorded in all the commodity groups except in the transport, communication and education indices. Inflation a year ago was posted at 4.7 percent.

According to the National Economic and Development Authority, the 3-percent inflation rate in April remains manageable, but in the low end of the government’s target for 2012. “The latest report brought the yearto-date inflation average of only 3 percent, which is the low-end of the government’s target of 3 [percent] to 5 percent for 2012,” the former Socioeconomic Planning Secretary and NEDA Director General Cayetano Paderanga ,Jr. cited.

On the other hand,

NSO Administrator, Carmelita N. Ericta said that the annual hike in food and non-alcoholic beverages index in the Philippines moved up to 1.8 percent in April from 1.4 percent in March. The food alone index at the national level picked up to 1.7 percent in April from 1.2 percent in March.

Moreover, the annual add-on in fish index was higher at 7.5 percent in April from 6.5 percent in March; milk, cheese and egg index, 3.2 percent from 2.8 percent; fruits index, 6.9 percent from 4.9 percent; and food products not elsewhere classified index, 2.9 percent from 1.6 percent. The annual changes in all the other food groups either decelerated or were negative during the month.

Let us take a glance on Northern Mindanao’s inflation rate.

At the regional level, inflation rate soared to 4.3 percent in April 2012 from 4.0 percent in March 2012. The increase can be attributed to higher annual increments recorded in the following commodity groups; housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels index moved up to 10.1 percent in April from 8.1 percent in March; furnishing, household equipment and routine maintenance of the house index, 9.9 percent from 6.2 percent ; transport index, 5.8 percent from 4.4 percent; Communication index, 1.0 percent from 0.8 percent; and restaurant, miscellaneous goods and services index, 4.6 percent from 3.2 percent. The annual adjustments for the rest of the commodity groups showed a decreasing trend on their indices.

Unlike that of the national level in which food index exhibited an increase, the food index in Northern Mindanao declined to 1.4 in April from 2.3 in March. Under this group, oil and fats displayed the highest decrease, that is, 6.7 percent in April from 10.6 percent in March.

It can be noted that the transportation index at the national level indicated a downward trend. However, index for this group in Northern Mindanao displayed otherwise. The increase of transport index to 5.8 in April from 4.4 percent in March was affected by the land transport fare hikes in the region together with the price add-ons in engine oil.

Across provinces in Northern Mindanao Region, Misamis Oriental showed the highest inflation rate of 5.7 percent. This figure is

higher compared to its rate in March with 5.2 percent. On the contrary, the lowest inflation rate was noted in the province of Lanao del Norte with 3.3 percent.

Increasing inflation usually denotes slowing of economy as prices for food, commodities and services rise and the currency weakens.

If inflation is not compensated by nominal increases of income, people become poorer.

Fisher...

ed over the Best LGU award to Mayor Rolando P. Garcia of the municipality of Kalamansig, Sultan Kudarat of Region 12 for implementing the MRDP NRM-Mangrove Rehabilitation and Management project.

Garcia accepted the P1.5 million worth of NRM subproject.

In Region 9, the Best Performing LGU was accorded to the municipality of Roseller T. Lim, Zamboanga Sibugay, for implementing the MRDP-NRM Fish Sanctuary Management.

R.T. Lim Mayor Michel Arnada Pioneda received P1.5 million worth of NRM sub-projects for the said town which was also bestowed of a special citation for its rural infrastructure project implementation under MRDP. Another special citation was conferred to the LGU of Libungan, North Cotabato in Region XII for its exemplary performance and overall sustainable management of CFAD. Libungan Mayor Manuel dela Serna represented the municipality in the awarding rites.

DA said more than 3,500 POs have been organized under MRDP through its CFAD and NRM components, benefiting around 124,866 households from CFAD alone.

half to 6.9 percent. RIM sold 9.9 million devices in the quarter, down from 13 million a year earlier, as competitors encroached in markets around the world, according to Gartner.

“RIM desperately needs to deliver winning BB10 products to retain users and stay competitive,” Gupta said, referring to a new smartphone platform being developed by the Canadian company.

“This will be very challenging, because BB10 lacks strong developer support, and a new BB10 device will only be available in the fourth quarter of 2012.”

T h e e b b i n m o bi l e phone sales was expected to prompt price cuts on models left in stock rooms.

“The lower results in the first quarter of 2012 have led us to be cautious about sales for the remainder of the year,” said Gartner principal analyst Annette Zimmermann.

“The continued roll-out of third generation (3G)based smartphones by local and regional manufacturers such as Huawei, ZTE, Lenovo, Yulong and TCL Communication should help spur demand in China.”

Launches of new Android phones along with models powered by Microsoft Windows software, along with the likely debut later this year of a newgeneration iPhone, was expected to catalyze sales in the US and Western Europe.

H o w e v e r, G a r t n e r trimmed 20 million units from its mobile phone sales forecast for this year.

Quiamjot...

99% Muslim population, the remaining is Jews and Greek Orthodox, sets well for a good relations with the people of Mindanao.

For more economic freedom, Northern Mindanao businessmen have these new windows to work closely

with the Turkish Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines which is in existence since 2009. It is represented in Cagayan de Oro by Monde Best International Corporation located along Unit No. 17, Goking Building, Corrales Avenue, Cagayan de Oro City.

from page 2

project.

Salay LGU represented

by Mayor Romeo L. Gue, Sr. also received P5 millionworth of rural infrastructure assistance.

The LGU of Mati City, Davao Oriental in Region 11 was conferred of the Best Performing LGU award for its outstanding implementation of MRDP Community Fund for Agricultural Development (CFAD).

The LGU was able to cause an increase of its farmers’ income through the cattle and goat production projects.

Aside from the award, Mati City LGU received through Mayor Michelle Marie Denise N. Rabat, P2.5 million worth of rural infrastructure projects.

Another LGU awardee was the municipality of Nasipit, Agusan del Norte of Region XIII for implementing MRDP’s Natural Resources Management (NRM)-Agro Forestr y Management project that provided alternative income to its beneficiaries.

The project has brought about the organization of the Jamiguitan Farmers’ Cooperative to implement the Community-Based Agroforestry Project to protect and conserve the Jamiguitan watershed.

For these achievements, the Nasipit LGU was given the award and the P1.5 million worth of Natural Resources Management Sub-project which were accepted by Mayor Roscoe Democrito B. Plaza.

The President also hand-

JSamsung... from page 4

company after the United States.

BlackBerry maker Research In Motion saw its share of the smartphone market slashed almost in

from page 6

between countries of many ideologies and religions come together for freedom and prosperity. Turkey which has

Cimagala... from page 6

to him, praying and asking for his help. We should never set him aside.

Following him will indeed involve effort and sacrifice, but we have to look at the bigger picture, the long-range vision. We will be asked to deny ourselves and to carry the cross, we will be asked to undertake a continuing ascetical struggle, but all these come with the territory.

The peace Christ gives us is the peace he himself won for us on the cross.

It is a peace that comes with some war—against our weaknesses, our temptations, and sins in all their forms and variety.

We should be wary when we are presented with an easy program of life that can give us instant advantages but will certainly lead us nowhere but disaster.

This is the kind of peace the world gives us, as our Lord hinted. Its perks and advantages are actually only ephemeral, short-lived and shallow.

We have to strengthen our faith in Christ and hope in the promises he made for us. We can use these words contained in the prayers of the Mass: “Father, make our faith strong and our hope sure. May we never doubt that you will fulfill the promises you have made.

Amen!”

WHEN STATISTICS SPEAK

SALVADOR A. AVES, Ph.D, DM.

Republic of the Philippines REGIONAL TRIAL COURT OF LANAO DEL NORTE 12th Judicial Region BRANCH 07 Tubod, Lanao del Norte In re: Petition for correction of entry SPL. PROC. NO. 259-07-2012 (i) in the Certificate of Live Birth of JULYBEM PARAGOYA CANO-OG - fo r Relative to the entry of his Sex or Gender.

Correction of Entry JULYBEM PARAGOYA CANO-OG, Petitioner, - versus LOCAL CIVIL REGISTRAR OF TUBOD, LANAO DEL NORTE, Respondent. x---------------------------/ ORDER A verified petition for correction of entry in the Certificate of Live Birth of JULYBEM PARAGOYA CANO-OG as to his gender/sex which was erroneously entered as MALE instead of FEMALE, his true sex/gender, was filed before this Court on April 13, 2012 by the herein petitioner praying among others that after notice and hearing, an Order be issued directing the Respondent to effect the corrections sought for.

Petitioner alleges that he is of legal age, Filipino, and a resident of Barangay Candis, Tubod, Lanao del Norte. He was born on July 27, 1991 at Candis, Tubod, Lanao del Norte and his birth was duly registered at the Respondent’s office. However, under the entry of “Sex”, the one entered is “FEMALE” instead of “MALE”, his true and correct sex. That such erroneous entry may have been inadvertently done by the one who entered the facts of his birth. That he had never undergone sex transplant neither intends to submit for medical operation to change his sex. That he filed the instant petition to avoid confusion and to put in proper order his Certificate of Live Birth from correcting his gender/sex from FEMALE to MALE to conform to the true facts of his sex. That she filed the instant petition as pauper litigant in accordance with OCA Circular No. 121-2007.

Finding the petition to be sufficient in from and substance, set the initial hearing of the case to June 18, 2012 at 8:30 in the morning before the sala of this Court. Any person/s interested to the petition may come to Court on said date and time to show cause why said petition should not be granted.

Furnish copy of this Order to the office of the Solicitor General at Makati City, Office of the Provincial Prosecutor in Tubod, Lanao del Norte, office of the Local Civil Registrar in Baroy, Lanao del Norte, Public Attorney’s Office in Tubod, Lanao del Norte and to the petitioner, Julybem Paragoya Cano-og whose address is at Barangay Candis, Tubod, Lanao del Norte.

The petitioner is hereby directed to publish copy of this Order to Business Week for Three (3) consecutive weeks, at his expense, to comply with the jurisdictional requirements.

So Ordered.

Tubod, Lanao del Norte, April 19, 2012.

BWM: May 11, 18 & 25, 2012

(Sgd.) ALAN L. FLORES Presiding Judge

8

May 18-20, 2012

Yamashita Mold hires TESDA grads FIVE Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA-X) certified graduates were hired in one of the most promising companies in the Philippines, the Yamashita Mold Philippines Corp. (YMPC), as per information disclosed

by YMPC’s Human Resource Officer.

YMPC is a production plant member of the YK Group with the main company located in Japan, a manufacturing industry of ultra-precised plastic molds used in automobiles and diverse electronic equipment.

At present, the Yamashita Mold Corporation in Japan holds top market share being Japan’s “Mold Professional Manufacturer.”

In an email sent May 3, TESDA certified graduates recently confirmed to have joined the YMPC workforce were Porferio Cabarse Jr. (Quality Control Staff ); Marianato Fuentes, Jr. (EDM TESDA/PAGE 10

CAGAYAN de Oro 1st District Rep. Benjo Benaldo has cited recent projects and outlined coming ones for the city’s first congressional district.

Among the projects to be turned over by Benaldo is the one-kilometer long 10-inch thick concrete road at the resettlement site at barangay Canitoan where Sendong survivors now live, following last week’s turnover of 1,500 housing units constructed through combined efforts of various entities.

He expressed gratitude to a group of congressmen who came to the city to help in

BusinessWeek MINDANAO

LTFRB-10 implements fare reduction

By GERRY L. GORIT, Reporter

FOLLOWING the recent increase of 50 centavos to the minimum fare charged by public utility jeepneys in Cagayan de Oro, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board in Region 10 said the minimum fare should now revert from P8 to P7.50 effective the other day.

LTFRB regional director Mandangan Darimbang said the reduction is a result of a price decrease for diesel implemented by oil companies nationwide.

Darimbang said the minimum fare in the National Capital Region and other regions in the country has also been decreased as per order of the LTFRB national office, which regulates the amount of fares to be charged by public utility vehicles.

Passengers, however, have observed that jeepney

Benaldo cites projects

By GERRY L. GORIT, Reporter

Metro CDO

the resettlement of Sendong survivors, although he was not able to join them as his schedule kept him around the barangays to launch livelihood projects.

Benaldo also recently released P1.2-million for barangay Carmen under the SEA-K program, as well as funded the purchase of a tractor with the Department of Agriculture for the use of farmers.

On May 24-26, his office will conduct a surgical mission to benefit more than 300 patients.

According to Andrew Bascon chief of staff of the congressman’s office, there will be 30 major surgeries BENALDO/PAGE 10

Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board regional director Mandangan Darimbang explains the reason for the reduction in the minimum fare from P8 to P7.50.

Darimbang cited the order from the national office of the LTFRB to implement the reduced PUJ fare following the price reduction of gasoline and diesel nationwide.

PHOTO BY GERRY L . GORIT

drivers in Cagayan de Oro in their jeepneys.

LTFRB will be fielding still collect P8 and don’t To address this prob- p ers onnel to monitor display the new fare guide lem, Darimbang said the jeepneys plying various routes as well as call the presidents of transport

Bananas... from page 1

Cagayan de Oro City 1st district Rep. Benjo Benaldo bares his latest projects for the city’s first congressional district. Benaldo also reiterated his support for the proposed national sin tax, saying it’s for the betterment of everyone in the long term.

PHOTO BY GERRY L . GORIT Republic of the Philippines REGIONAL TRIAL COURT OF MISAMIS ORIENTAL 10th Judicial Region BRANCH 18 Cagayan de Oro City 2012-197 IN RE: PETITION FOR CORRECTION OF ENTRY IN CIVIL REGISTRY REGARDING THE GENDER OF MINOR REGIE GOMERA DUALLO,

SPEC. PROC. CASE NO. 2012-057

MINOR REGIE GOMERA DUALLO REPRESENTED HEREIN BY HIS FATHER, REMEGIO A. DUALLO Petitioner, -versusTHE OFFICE OF THE CITY REGISTRY OF CAGAYAN DE ORO, Respondent. x---------------------------------------------------x ORDER The instant Petition filed by Remegio A. Duallo, (hereafter petitioner), seeks the correction of entry in the Certificate of Live Birth of his son, Regie Gomera Duallo, vi Gender: from “Female” to “Male”

FOR YOUR ADVERTISEMENTS PLACEMENTS CONTACT

Finding the instant Petition to be sufficient in form and substance, let the initial hearing of this case be set on August 1, 2012 at 8:30 in the morning before this Court. Let copy of this Order be published, at the expense of petitioner, once a week for three (3) successive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in Cagayan de Oro City.

Respondent Local Civil Registrar of Cagayan de Oro City and any person having or claiming any interest on the entries whose corrections are sought may, within fifteen (15) days from notice of this Order or from the last date of publication thereof, file their opposition/comment thereto and appear at the scheduled hearing.

Furnish copies of this Order, together with the Petition and its annexes, to the Office of the Civil Registrar of Cagayan de Oro City, the Office of the Solicitor General and the National Statistics Office, Manila.

SO ORDERED. April 20, 2012. Cagayan de Oro City.

BWM: MAY 4, 11, & 18, 2012

(Sgd.) DENNIS Z. ALCANTAR Presiding Judge

on coconuts.

Mr. Aquino assured the region’s banana growers that the government will assist them in complying with the additional requirements that the Chinese government is imposing on Philippine bananas.

Reacting to this development, Stephen A. Antig, executive director of the Pilipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association, said his group is grateful for the swift action from the Philippine government.

“Hopefully [his move] can and will resolve the quarantine issues (that the Chinese government is imposing [on Philippine bananas] once and for all,” Mr. Antig said.

Mr. Aquino has also ordered Mr. Alcala to help banana exporters in looking for new markets, adding that it would be difficult for them to just depend on one or two big buyers.

He recalled that last year, banana exporters were also in a difficult situation due to political issues in the Middle East.

Mr. Aquino was referring to the Iran issue, another big market for Philippine bananas, which has been faltering in buying Philippine exports after the international community, particularly the US government, imposed sanctions on it for refusing to open

Pineapple... from page 1

ports where the fruits are being held, and hold talks with their with Chinese agriculture officials.

Barron said since the incident, Philippine quarantine officials have become more stringent in the inspection of fruits before

groups to a meeting this week.

He said passengers may lodge complaints to the LTFRB office of drivers and jeepney operators who do not comply with the fare reduction.

Darimbang said the penalty for violators will be P3,000 for the first offense, P4,000 for the second offense and P5,000 and cancellation of franchise for the third offense.

He added that the new minimum fare for senior citizens and students is P6.

The minimum fare is good for the first 4 kilometers of distance traveled by a passenger.

As for motorelas, the new fare does not apply to their current rate of P7 which remains in effect.

The LTFRB national office noted this week that several oil firms have decreased their pump prices of gasoline and diesel, hence the fare reduction throughout the country. up its nuclear program to international scrutiny.

In the last controversy to have hit the Philippine banana industry, the Chinese government has ordered local banana producers to comply with stringent requirements for their products before they could enter its market.

Although big companies could easily comply with these requirements, Mr. Antig said small banana growers will find it difficult to comply due to resource problems.

Among these requirements, he explained, were the setting up of packing plants that are concrete and with free-flowing water supply, and that these packing plants must be free from mosquitoes.

Mr. Antig last weekend said about 200 containers of bananas have not been released, now apparently rotting, from Chinese ports since May 7 even before the Chinese government could impose new requirements set for compliance next month.

A container, he said, contains about 1,500 boxes of bananas. A box weighs 13.5 kilograms (kg)generally sold to importers at roughly $4 per kg.

Last year about 70 million boxes of bananas were exported by Mindanao growers, 24 million of which went to China, or about a third of the total volume. it is shipped overseas. “[We are practicing] zero tolerance. If an insect is seen in a fruit, the goods will be rejected,” Barron said in Filipino.

The Chinese government has also given the Philippines until June 1 to send a list of accredited fruit growers in the country.

BusinessWeek MINDANAO

Misor.Today

May 18-20, 2012

9

Laguindingan Airport expected to open late next year

This is, if bidding for the Air Navigation System and Support Facilities (ANSSF) could start this month, said Engr. Mangalili.

The loan agreement between the government of the Philippines and the Korean Export-Import Bank for the ANSSF was signed on October 13, 2011. Comments of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines on the Korean-made Instrument Landing System is being awaited.

“We don’t mind the delay of the project as long as safety and integrity of the airport project is not sacrificed,” Governor Moreno reiterated.

Given the interfacing works with the ANSSF, the

overall accomplishment of the project is 89.33 percent as of April 30, putting it behind schedule by 3.17 percent.

The Depar tment of Transportation and Communications and PublicPrivate Partnership (PPP) Center has already contracted the services of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu as Transaction Advisor for the preparation of the business case or terms of reference for the operation and maintenance of the LADP, which will be offered for PPP. On the power supply for the airport, Misamis Oriental-1 Rural Electric Service Cooperative General Manager Julie B. Real reported that the Energy Regulatory

Commission has approved the construction of the 40 km alternative 69-kV line (N-1) from Manticao town to Moog, Laguindingan.

Energization of 10-MVA Moog Substation is now in process.

Expecting increased water requirements with the airport operations, the municipal government of Laguindingan proposed to rehabilitate their existing water system and welcomed prospective investors on the municipal water supply.

The Department of Public Works and Highways representative also reported that funds are already allocated for the upgrading/ widening of about 210 km of national arterial road from the municipality of Magsaysay to the municipality of Lugait, Misamis Oriental. Moreover, the PPA feasibility study for the Laguindingan seaport development project will soon be submitted to the RDC for review and evaluation.

AIRPORT/PAGE 10

Power...

Power Corporation who will discuss how the present situation affecting the grid arose and what is being undertaken on the supply side to address it.

Four discussants representing the generation companies (suppliers), consumers , private utilities and electric cooperatives would next present their reactions to the first two presentations: Engr. Ernesto B. Pantangco, executive vice president, Energy Development Corporation; Engr.

David A. Tauli, spokesperson of the Mindanao Coalition of Power Consumers; Ralph U. Paguio, vice president, CEPALCO (private utilities) and Clint Djanggo G. Pacana, executive director, Association of Mindanao Rural Electric Cooperatives (AMRECO).

An open forum to address issues not covered by the presentations and reactors will cap the afternoon’s forum, Ms. Waga said.

The IIEE 2012 Midyear National Convention will commence on May 23 with

the registration, Socials, Sports & Skills Competitions and mini-exhibit, said Ramil L. Ombina, REE, President CDOC 2012 Host Chapter.

A plant and eco-tour has been arranged by the host IIEE- Cagayan de Oro Chapter on the same date to Camiguin Island where participants can get a firsthand look at the Camiguin Submarine Cable, Island Distribution System and visit Camiguin’s tourism attractions such as the HibokHibok Volcano, Katibawasan Falls, Ardent Hot Springs, White Island, Walkway Stations of the Cross and Sunken Cemetery.

The 2102 National Midyear Convention and General Assembly formally opens on May 24 to be followed by technical sessions and fellowship night. Techical sessions continue on May 5 concurrent with the Chapter Presidents and ACMEE Meetings. The convention wraps up on May 25 with more technical sessions, IIEE Board of Governors Meeting, and closing ceremonies

“THE earliest time that the Laguindingan airport can be opened for commercial operation is November 2013,” Engr. Edgardo J. Mangalili, project manager of the P7.85-billion Laguindingan Airport Development Project (LADP) reported during the May 10 meeting of the Regional Development Council (RDC) Special Committee on LADP chaired by Misamis Oriental Governor Oscar S. Moreno.

The Laguindingan International Airport is expected to start commercial operations in November next year.

DAR turns over project to Opol FARMING households in several barangays in Opol, Misamis Oriental will now be safe from water-borne diseases after the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) turned over to the local government unit (LGU) the Community-Managed Potable Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (CPWASH) project.

The turn-over ceremony was graced by DAR Undersecretary for Support Services Jerry E. Pacturan, Mayor Dexter B. Yasay, Provincial Agrarian Reform Officer (PARO) Zoraida Omar Macadindang, Al Hadja, LGU dignitaries, and other DAR officials from the central, regional, provincial, and municipal offices.

DAR, in partnership with the Philippine Center for Water and Sanitation, trained 21 members of farmers’ organizations and residents of agrarian reform communities on how to construct, operate, manage, and maintain low-cost potable water and sanitation system.

Out of the 21 CPWASH para-engineer graduates conferred with certificates of course completion, five

hailed from Barangay Malanang, another five from Barangay Awang, two from Barangay Tingalan and nine from Barangay Nangcaon, all in the municipality of Opol, province of Misamis Oriental.

The CPWASH project consists of rain water harvester, biogas digester, iron removal filter, bio-sand filter, and ram pump. These are low-cost, indigenous based materials, and propoor technology aimed at improving access to water supply and proper sanitation services.

“Water is basic to life and providing low-cost water supply and technology is the main rationale of the project. The DAR lauds the LGU of Opol for its support by providing ample counterpart equity and thanks the community-based organizations that are very much willing to replicate the technology and capable of sustaining the operations and maintenance of the project,” Macadindang said.

Studies made by DAR showed that installing these indigenous water supplies will eliminate too much iron and bacteria present in most water wells in the

rural areas. The device can also help reduce greenhouse emissions in the environment.

According to DAR Officials, the CPWASH project is being showcased in one barangay in a particular municipality per province nationwide. In the case of Misamis Oriental, one project was already launched in Villanueva, but through the request, united efforts, and perseverance of local DAR as well as the municipal and barangay officials in Opol, four barangays of the municipality became recipients of components of the CPWASH project.

On the same occasion, DAR-Misamis Oriental also took the opportunity to award to 15 farmer-beneficiaries their individual Certificates of Land Ownership Award that covered 29 hectares in Barangay Awang of the same municipality.

Crops... from page 2

However, negative production was noted on asparagus, down by 60 percent, carrots, down by 1.85 percent, and irish potato, down by 1.82 percent.

from page 1

the Department of Energy will present the status of the Mindanao Power Development Plan which was conceived by the National Power Corporation in the 1980s.

Dr. Ricardo E. Rotoras, president of the Mindanao University of Science and Technology (MUST) which hosts the Institute of Power Sector Economics (IPSEC) will next present the think tank’s proposal to update the plan with new developments which have arisen after the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) went into effect in 2004.

Engr. Eugene H. Bicar, assistant vice president and head for Mindanao Systems Operations of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) will next present a Status Report on the Load Curtailment of the Mindanao Grid and Related Issued to be followed

by Engr. Rudy P. Brioso, vice president for MindanaoGeneration of the National

10

May 18-20, 2012

Congress.Watch

BusinessWeek

MINDANAO

House panel approves amended tax measure THE House of Representatives has approved agencies will have no more a measure that seeks to raise the taxes for reason to deny the Philippines a better investment tobacco and alcohol products.

Abante Mindanao (Abamin) party-list Rep. Maximo Rodriguez and brother Cagayan de Oro City 2nd district Rep. Rufus Rodriguez go over papers of their projects for the city. Last Friday, groundbreaking and turnover ceremonies for infrastructure projects were held in different barangays in the city.

PHOTO BY GERRY L . GORIT

Villar helps 3 housemaids

By PAT SAMONTE Correspondent

BUTUAN City -- The three overseas Filipino workers – Romelyn Daguplo, Joanalyn Pascua and Jacquelyn Costuna – and their relatives cannot thank the Villar Foundation enough for putting an end to their distress and desperation.

The Villar Foundation led by its Managing Director former Las Piñas Representative Cynthia Villar has been repatriating distressed OFWs and helping them and their relatives as part of its key advocacies.

“We are happy that we are in a position where we can help our countrymen, especially our OFWs who unfortunately encounter different types of problems abroad. We cannot rescue them all, so it is good that both the private sector and the government are extend-

Firm... from page 1

Pulangi hydro plants are making money to about P68 billion over a 10-year period.

“We in Mindanao can operate those power plants efficiently and profitably and we have suggested that a P200-million annual budget will be used to protect the watersheds around the water sources of the hydro plants,” Antonino said.

She said that the impending privatization of the hydro plants that supply about 50 percent of the power requirements of the island, is out of the question and they should remain as

Benaldo... from page 8

and 300 minor surgeries scheduled to be performed by doctors from the City Hospital with the help of a group from Davao and the Philippine Army.

Bascon said this activity will be funded by the congressman’s PDAF and has the full support of Cagayan de Oro Mayor Vicente Y.

Voting 46 for and 14 against, the House Ways and Means panel passed House Bill 5727 or the Restructuring of Excise Taxes on Tobacco and Alcohol after its principal author, Rep. Joseph Abaya of Cavite province, agreed to adopt the amendments proposed by the Department of Finance.

Under the amended measure, cigarette tax will be two-tiered instead of the unitary scheme proposed by Abaya. On the other hand, the taxation for distilled spirits and fermented liquor will be three-tiered.

During the first year of its implementation, the price of a cigarette pack costing P11.50 and below will increase by P12. Cigarettes priced higher than P11.50 will have a tax of P28.30.

Meanwhile, the price of liquor or beer will increase

by P15.49 if it is priced P50 and below. However, if the liquor costs P50 or above, the levy will be P20.57. “ These amendments were proposed because we recognize the concern of all sectors and we want to be responsive to the industries [which will be affected],” Finance Undersecretary Jeremias Paul said.

With the amendments, the Finance department expects the tax measure to generate P33 billion in revenues, down from the original P60 billion.

“This measure will give

ing similar help to OFWs,” said Villar.

The Villar Foundation has repatriated thousands of OFWs. This, in coordination with the Office of Senator Manny Villar, government offices such as the Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of Labor and Employment and the Overseas Workers’ Welfare Administration as well as the Blas Ople Center and Migrante.

“Besides repatriation, we also extend other forms of help to OFWs and their relatives. We help them get reintegrated into the society through livelihood trainings and medical assistance. We even organized an OFW summit with Go Negosyo for them to become entrepreneurs,” Villar said.

Arriving back in the country from Dubai, United Arab Emirates aboard Fligh, GFI 154 via Gulf

Airlines, the OFWs are a picture of happiness to be back home safely to be with their families and loved ones.

Their stories, no different from most OFWs, are tales of hope and ambition that turned into desperation. But now back home, thanks to the Villar Foundation, they can start anew.

Bukidnon native, 31year old Romelyn Daguplo worked as a domestic helper in Dubai, UAE. Undetected by authorities, she left the country in March last year, already pregnant. Since punishment for pregnant unmarried women are harsh in an Arab country, she got scared and ran away from her employer.

This prompted her mother, who works as a housemaid in the Philippines, to seek the help of Sagip OFW. VILLAR/PAGE 11

government owned.

MinDA and the Australian Agency for International Development (AUS-Aid) were here for the presentation of the Mindanao 2020 Peace and Development Framework.

MinDA citing figures from the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management (PSALM), said the net income of Agus and Pulangi hydro plants from 2001 to 2011 was P68 billion.

“But these incomes were used to pay off losses of the inefficiency of other power of which, among the heavy losers are the power plants operating in Zamboanga City and Alabel, Sarangani province.

Both plants are owned

by Alsons Consolidated Resources, Inc, while part of the income was allotted to pay the 210-megawatt coal-fired power plant in Misamis Oriental operated

by STEAG State Power, Inc. “The government is bound to pay because of the contracts we have with these independent power producers (IPPs).” Antonino said.

She said that with the establishment of the Minpocor, the island will have cheaper and sufficient power supply in the near future considering that government contracts with the IPPs will expire in 2020.

“We have looked at

the financial statement.

We have shown proof that the hydro plants can be operated with efficiency and supply ample power to the whole island and profit from each operation.”

Antonino said.

Meanwhile, Ricardo Juliano, vice president of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry for Mindanao said that the move of the MinDA of creating Minpocor is a welcome development as it could well serve the consumers in Mindanao as a government corporation, rather than privatized where investors would only think on how to recoup investments and maximize profit.

Emano.

The surgical mission will be coordinated with barangay chairpersons of the city’s first congressional district.

In a national issue, asked why he supports the proposed national “sin tax”, Benaldo said this will be for “the betterment of everyone in the long term” because it would generate more revenue for the government

and lessen health problems when the public would no longer afford to buy liquor and cigarettes as the prices for these would increase.

In the regional scene, he said the Padayon Pilipino officials aim to register their party with the Commission on Elections as a regional party as they begin to spread outside of Cagayan de Oro and Misamis Oriental.

He said, however, that the

party has yet to finalize its slate for the 2013 elections.

In the local front, Benaldo said he fully supports press freedom as the Cagayan de Oro Press Club readies to mark Press Freedom Week this month. Benaldo said he also supports the Freedom Of Information bill as well as the decriminalization of libel, noting that his father is a past president of the press club.

us incremental revenues that will fund our universal health program. We will make sure that 15 percent of the incremental revenues will go to the farmers,” Paul said.

In a position paper submitted to the Ways and Means panel, the Distilled Spirits Association of the Philippines (DSAP) argued that the Abaya measure would not generate revenues for the government considering that 91.3 percent of alcohol consumers belong to classes D and E. “With this measure, the government will lose their market,” the DSAP said.

Representatives Rufus Rodriguez of Cagayan de Oro City and Mitos Magsaysay of Zambales province tried to postpone the voting of the tax measure, saying that another consultation should be made concerning the amendments proposed by the Department of Finance.

Malacanang welcomed the passage of the tax bill, saying that credit rating

Airport... from page 9

Present during the meeting were the chairs and members of the sub-committees on infrastructure;investment

Blackouts... from page 1

Second Electric Cooperative in its coverage area of 10 municipalities in this province.

But such a grim outlook aired last February by former Sen. Miguel Zubiri appears no longer possible, at least in this part of Mindanao.

Zubiri, former chairman of the Senate committee on environment and natural resources, is the author of the Renewable Energy Law of 2008.

This is true because the municipality of Kitaotao led by Mayor Rodito Rafesura and Vice Mayor Lorenzo Gawilan Jr signed on Wednesday a memorandum of agreement with HEDCOR, Bukidnon, Inc, a subsidiary of the Aboitiz Power Corporation, to

TESDA... from page 8

Jr. (EDM Operator); Sern Ry Tajud (Design Staff) who were graduates of Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology; Robert Nietes (Grinding Operator) from TESDA Provincial Training CenterBukidnon; and Johne Carl Tejano (Finishing Staff) of Cagayan de Oro College.

YMPC is set to conduct

grade status.

“Based on their commitment that if they see the sin tax reform bill passed, then there should be no reason for them not to give us investment grade status,” Palace spokesman Edwin Lacierda said.

“We expect them to live up to their promise that the will give us investment grade status if we pass the sin tax reform bill,” he added.

Presently, the Philippines has a BB+ rating from Fitch Ratings, one level shy of investment grade. It also has a BB from Standard & Poor’s and a Ba2 rating from Moody’s Investors Service.

“The bill is a priority measure of the administration that has hurdled a significant step in the legislative process,” Lacierda said.

“We look forward to the legislative deliberations in plenary where we hope the majority of Congress representatives will stand alongside their colleagues who support fiscal reform,” he added. promotion, tourism and employment; and land use and environment. Guests from the Ayala Lands Incorporated and PHIVIDEC Industrial Authority also attended. generate some 160 million kilowatthours annually by harnessing the Sita and Simod rivers, located in Barangay Sinuda and Kipilas, Kitaotao town.

HEDCOR is said to be the largest developer of the run-of-river hydropower plants in the country with 19 hydropower plants in Benguet, Ilocos Sur, and Davao.

Gregor io Jab onillo, HEDCOR Vice President for business development, said the project would help address the nagging problems on power shortage in Mindanao each summertime.

When completed, the project is expected to perk up the living condition in Kitaotao town in terms of farm-to-market roads, improve health services, and employment opportunities, among others. its second job hiring action in Iligan City on June 2012 with the assistance of the TESDA-Lanao del Norte provincial office.

TESDA skill-trained and certified graduates such as these individuals have proven to take on brighter opportunities in better paying jobs in the local and international markets. Indeed, “Sa TESDA, may choice ka,” said Engr. Edgar A. Sales, TESDA-X Director.

MINDANAO

BusinessWeek

Billboard

NCCA marks centennial of national artist Felipe Padilla De Leon THE National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) celebrates the 100th Birth Centennial of Felipe Padilla de Leon, National Artist for Music (May 1, 1912- May 1, 2012).

Pres. Benigno S. Aquino III signed Proclamation No. 283, declaring May 1, 2012 to April 30, 2013 as the Centennial Year of National Artist for Music Felipe Padilla de Leon. Likewise, the House of Representatives has issued for the same purpose House Joint Resolution No. 25, introduced by House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte, Jr., Congressman Neptali M. Gonzales II, Congressman Edcel C. Lagman, Congressman Salvador H. Escudero III, and Congressman Rodolfo W. Antonino.

Composer, conductor, scholar and cultural educator Felipe Padilla de Leon launched his calling at a time of passionate striving for nationhood during the Commonwealth period, Japanese occupation and the post-war Philippine Republic, he stood out most prominently as the champion of Filipino cultural dignity and identity. He always depicted what is noble, exalted and heroic in the Filipino, taking as his subjects the momentous events and symbols in our history and celebrated their deepest meanings through music.

Hence, he wrote the first fulllength Filipino opera based on Dr. Jose Rizal’s novel of social realism, “Noli Me Tangere” (1957), with libretto by another National Artist, sculptor-linguist-Filipinist scholar Guillermo Tolentino. He followed this up with another opera, again based on a Rizal masterpiece, “El Filibusterismo” (1970). Two arias from this opera, “Kay Tamis ng Buhay” and “Awit ni Sisa” are now part of the international operatic repertoire. Right after liberation, de Leon composed the symphonic poems “Cry of Balintawak” (1947) and “Bataan” (1947).

Central to his idea of recognizing Filipino cultural worth is his consistent

use of folk and ethnic themes as the basis of his compositions, for these themes – created by the people themselves – are the essential symbols of Filipino musical heritage. He celebrated folk ideas by integrating their character in his most serious compositions as well as popular but artistic and well-crafted works. His art song “Kay Selya” (1950) breathes the very spirit of the traditional awit.

His “Muntawit” Song Sonnet for Voice and Orchestra (1950) encompasses an epic breadth of moods and feelings while strongly retaining the character of indigenous musical forms. His well-known “Sapagkat Mahal Kita” (1952) could be mistaken for a traditional harana because of its highly popular style. His Filipinization of musical genres included zarzuelas, overtures, suites, chamber works, choral music, concertos, piano solos, band music, film music, children’s songs and Christmas carols. His carols “Pasko na Naman,” “Noche Buena,” and “Payapang Daigdig” have become so popular they have acquired the immortal status of folk songs.

His genuine concern for the Filipino musicians’ welfare led de Leon to gather band musicians in the country into one solid organization – the Pambasang Samahan ng mga Banda sa Pilipinas (PASAMBAP) – whose aims, among others, were to protect the welfare of Filipino band musicians and promote Philippine

band music. He was also the founding president of the Filipino Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (FILSCAP), to protect the legal rights of composers.

During his prodigious lifetime, Maestro de Leon was the most prolific composer of musical masterpieces that powerfully expressed the nation’s ideals, historical struggles and majestic destiny. For his outstanding achievements, he was well-recognized during his lifetime and continues to receive tributes from our people.

National Artist Felipe Padilla de Leon was proclaimed National Artist through Proclamation No. 1115 on October 9, 1997 by former President Fidel V. Ramos in recognition of his rare excellence and significant contribution to Philippine music.

In celebration of his 100th Birth Centenary, the NCCA shall present a Musical Concert entitled: “Sa Daigdig ng Musika ni Felipe Padilla de Leon: Celebrating the Centenary of a Cultural Visionary.” On May 28, 2012 at the Philamlife Auditorium at 7:00 pm, with the Manila Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of Prof.

Arturo Molina, eminent pianist Dr. Raul Sunico, violinist Alfonso “Coke” Bolipata and other performers.

Likewise, a Memorabilia Exhibit in his honor shall be opened at 10:00 at the NCCA Gallery, Lobby, NCCA Bldg., 633 General Luna St., Intramuros, Manila. The commemorative stamp in his honor will also be launched by Philpost Chairman Cesar Sarino and Philpost Postmaster General Josefina de la Cruz during the program.

Villar... from page 10

Joanalyn Pascua suffered in the hands of her employer in Dubai.

She was underpaid, overworked and worst, sexually harassed. She sought

May 18-20, 2012

11

Greenwich Pasta girls show why more is better GREENWICH tapped three of today’s most beautiful and talented celebrities, who all agree that More is Better, just like the new Greenwich Spaghetti Supreme. Their stories tell that something better definitely awaits those who give more.

No other Anne It is without a doubt that Anne Curtis is now ranked as an A-list actress. And it does not stop there.

Other than being an actress, Anne is also a bankable endorser, a witty TV host and an ultimate entertainer.

This record of credentials makes her one of the best, if not the best, in her generation. Starting off with teeny-bopper roles, Anne has taken a bold step in her career with the guidance of her VIVA family who she has been with all these years.

Her dedication to her craft, love for improvement and not to mention Anne’s unique charm became her aid to stardom. She didn’t settle for anything less and all her hard work paid off when she won her first Best Actress award at the Metro Manila Film Festival for her wonderful performance in “Baler” and then followed by a Best Supporting Actress award at the Film Academy of the Philippines Luna Awards for the movie “In Your Eyes.”

Recently, adding to her many accomplishments, Anne surpassed all expectations with the remarkable success of her concert “ANNEbisyosa”.

Her captivating personality was able to fill up the entire Araneta Coliseum and Waterfront Cebu.

Anne’s supporters were full force as they witnessed her live her lifelong dream of having her very own concert. This milestone showed her fans that Anne really gives more

of herself to becoming the supreme entertainer that she is.

Solenn takes it all Solenn Heussaff caught public attention with her undeniable X-factor.

She was enjoying a successful modeling career when show business came knocking at her door.

After Survivor, slowly but surely, Solenn became a full-fledged showbiz darling and her followers were never disappointed.

Immediately upon entering showbiz, film producers were on her heels to get her to star in their movies. She made her screen debut via the remake of “Temptation Island” which became a blockbuster hit. As a validation to her breakthrough performance, Solenn was named Best New Movie Actress in the recent Star Awards for Movies given by the Philippine Movie Press Club.

Solenn is not just an actress; she is also a painter, a make-up artist, a designer and a singer. The talents one can only dream of having, Solenn already possesses. Her list of talents shows that Solenn is really an artist by heart.

This Kelly can Kelly Misa made her mark as one of the country’s top most recognizable faces. She has posed for a number of magazine covers, graced hundreds of fashion spreads, walked on various catwalks, and appeared on several television commercials of top brands both here and abroad. More than being a certified super model, Kelly is also a health and beauty columnist in a popular broadsheet where she gives valuable tips on how to keep fit and enhance one’s looks.

While enjoying a successful and fashionable career, Kelly went ahead and did more than what was expected

from a top commercial model when she ventured into TV hosting. Her natural skill in facing the camera came in handy and she immediately gained a steady following. Kelly’s stint in “Wowowee” made her a household name.

More is definitely better Just like Anne, Solenn and Kelly, Greenwich gives more to its loyal kabarkadas with the new and improved Greenwich Spaghetti Supreme. Satisfying the customers is always Greenwich’s top of mind.

This is the reason why the Greenwich Spaghetti Supreme is made better than ever with the added 25% serving of noodles, more premium beef, more sweet tomato sauce and served with 1pc.

Garlic Stix still only P49. More of the yummy goodness for a more filling feast.

Visit the nearest Greenwich store and find out what Greenwich Spaghetti Supreme, Anne, Kelly and Solenn mean when they say More is Better.

refuge at the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO-OWWA) in Dubai, until her repatriation.

Jacquelyn Costuna, a 24-year old

resident of Manila, left the country for Dubai in October last year only. She ran away from her employer because she suffered from maltreatment and

verbal abuse.

She also stayed with POLOOWWA Dubai until her repatriation on Monday.