Angel & Phil Cover. July 16-31, 2012 Issue

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complaints that public officials are mandated to attend religious services during office hours.

Although Palatino stressed that he never intended to “suppress any religion or belief and prevent government from practicing their faith,” his proposed bill had received backlash from various sectors. The public’s reception of and reaction to the bill were enough motivation for Palatino to withdraw the proposal.

A Pampanga auxiliary bishop and member of the CBCP commended Palatino for “listening to the people he represents.”

This latest controversy once again brings to light the contentious issue of politics and religion in the Philippines. Does the Catholic Church truly command a pervasive influence on the country’s policy-making bodies? Are politicians kowtowing to the dictates of the clergy?

The Catholic vote

WHO’S AFRAID OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH?

The main thrust of the so-called Catholic vote is strength in numbers.

The contention is that since Catholicism is the primary religion in the country, Catholics dominate the voting majority. When the Catholic Church is opposed to a certain proposition, then there is a possibility – considering how many Catholic voters there are – that the opposition will prevail. This was challenged re-

The influence of the Catholic Church is so pervasive that politicians fear to tangle with the clergy.

By cherie m. del rio

UST recently, news sites and social networking platforms were flooded with shared posts and comments on the issue that a “Congressman wants to ban God”---it was a headline that seemed too absurd (and unacceptable) for a Catholic country like the Philippines.

Representative Raymond Palatino of the Kabataan party list became target of criticism and contempt after he proposed House

Bill 6330 - “An Act Empowering Heads of Offices and Departments to Strictly Implement the Constitutional Provisions on Religious Freedom in Government Offices.”

The bill, according to Palatino, was meant to “ensure that government offices do not favor one religion over the other, or discriminate against the other.” It sought to ban all religious symbols (such as the Bible and the Koran) and activities (such as prayers, Holy Mass, ceremonial blessings, etc.) in government offices as a response to alleged

The influential Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines is the leading voice of the clergy on important social and political issues.

The Church’s opposition to the Reproductive Health and Divorce bills once again brings to light the contentious issue of politics and religion in the Philippines. Does the Catholic Church truly command a pervasive influence on the country’s policy-making bodies? Are politicians kowtowing to the dictates of the clergy?

cently by a statement issued by Senator Miriam Santiago.

“Don’t fear the Catholic vote,” she said---speaking to the supporters of the Reproductive Health Bill in the Senate. The RH Bill has been strongly opposed by the Catholic Church because it allows Filipinos access to artificial birth control methods such as pills and condoms. Santiago surmised that her fellow senators could be playing it safe, unwilling to reveal their true stand on the bill and afraid of the Catholic vote.

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Santiago refuted the implications of the Catholic vote, however, by citing the case of former Senator Juan Flavier who succeeded in pushing the family planning program without losing in the senatorial race.

“The Catholic Church campaigned against him, but he won as senator anyway,” Santiago reminded her colleagues. “So apparently there is no such thing as a Catholic vote.”

It will be recalled that President Fidel V. Ramos likewise succeeded in his political endeavors despite being a non-Catholic, a Protestant to be exact.

Paranaque Representative Roilo Golez, on the other hand, said: “Some say don’t fear the Catholic vote? Perhaps the Catholics are not solid? They should review their arithmetic. Catholics account for at least 80% of the population. The second largest group accounts for only around 5%. If only 20% of the Catholics are solid, that’s still 16% of the population, more than three times the size of 100% of the second largest religious group. But of course we all know that Catholics, faced with a just and compelling moral issue, can mobilize much, much more than 20%.”

Is there really a Catholic vote?

And if there was, how powerful is it? Is it just a myth? Or is it an unseen yet solid force that controls various aspects of Philippine politics and governance?

The controversial bills The issue of the Catholic vote, or the Church’s involvement in general, is somewhat entrenched in the

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“The Church may tell its followers who not to vote.

But in the end, it is the individual who makes the decision.”

Supporters of the Reproductive Health bill denounce the Church opposition to the proposal. disputes regarding the two pending ning was important not only for the controversial bills: the previously individual families but also for the mentioned RH Bill and the Divorce county as a whole.

Bill.

The responses from these surBoth bills have garnered con- veys more or less indicate the pubsiderable support from the public, lic’s pulse on the issues. The majoras evidenced by polls and surveys. ity stand on the two controversial The subject matter of the Divorce bills can be deduced from the figBill is not new, and surveys have ures generated by the survey. been conducted many times over Do these numbers reflect the the past decade. Out of the 1,200 Catholic vote now? adult Filipinos surveyed, only 33 percent opposed the enactment of Separation of Church and State the divorce law and sixteen percent Article II, Section 6 of the 1987 were undecided.

Philippine Constitution states: A survey for the RH Bill revealed “The separation of Church and that 80 percent of Filipinos advocate State shall be inviolable.” And in family planning and were in favor Article III, Secof having the government impose a tion 5, it was limit on the number of children that further provided married couples can have. Out of the that: “No law 1,200 respondents, 82 percent held shall be made the government responsible for pro- respecting an viding information on the subject of establishment artificial contraception. A whopping of religion, or 93 percent replied that family plan- prohibiting the

free exercise thereof. The free exercise and enjoyment of religious profession and worship, without discrimination or preference, shall forever be allowed. No religious test shall be required for the exercise of civil or political rights.”

The concept of the separation of the Church and State is simple.

Religion cannot and must not intervene with politics. However, these recent arguments concerning the Catholic vote on controversial bills inevitably suggest that there is a possible involvement of the Church in the matters of the State.

Tommy Tirona, in his essay Separation of Church and State: What it Means for the Philippine Church, clarified: “...this country is a democracy and, as such, one cannot really prevent the Church from ‘intervening’ in the affairs of the State. The State

may turn a deaf ear to the rhetoric of the Church, do nothing (i.e., act neutral) that would violate the doctrine, and institute, say, its population control programs or continue imposing the death penalty. The Church, in reprisal, may simply tell its followers to not vote for those who favored such bills. But in the end, it is the individual who makes the decision and exercises his political rights. All in all, this was done within the framework of democracy with no violation of the doctrine by either side. Thus, the Church’s role in the EDSA rallies was one that constituted an exercise of political rights within the framework of democracy. The masses held, the prayers made -- all these were merely an invocation for spiritual guidance and not an imposition of its dogma upon the State in order to capture it.”

The implied involvement and impact of the Catholic Church on various issues will continue to be debated upon. There is nothing final and conclusive in yesterday’s histories and today’s headlines that ultimately prove that the line between the Church and the State is blurred. The conclusion is ultimately left to the Filipino individual -Catholic or not, pro-RH/Divorce bill or not. n

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By solita collas-monsod

RULY, a picture is worth a thousand words.

The pictures of the top 15 Filipino billionaires (in US dollars, mind you) in Friday’s (June 22) issue of the Inquirer brought home with crystal clarity the domination of the Philippine economy by ethnic Chinese. This is, of course, not a unique situation, as it seems to be the case in all of Southeast Asia (with the possible exception of Malaysia), but that is cold comfort indeed.

Yale Law Prof. Amy Chua, in her book World On Fire, asserts that Chinese Filipinos comprise 1 percent of the population but control 60 percent of the economy. Presumably, she means ethnically Chinese Filipinos (i.e., of pure Chinese descent). If one includes, however, mixed-blood Chinese Filipinos, where the other part of the blood, as it were, would be Filipino, or Spanish, or maybe a combination of both, then the percentage of Filipinos of Chinese origin goes up to around 22 percent. That is to say, more than 1 in 5 Filipinos have more than a small amount of Chinese blood.

What constitutes more than a small amount? I haven’t put my hands on the information, but for purposes of this discussion, let us assume that one has to be at least one-third Chinese to be considered Chinese Filipino.

So let us now hark back to those 15 pictures. One immediately sees the Chinese domination. And the small amount of research I did validates the eyeball conclusion. Nine of the 15 billionaires -- or 60 percent -- are in fact ethnic (pure-blooded) Chinese: Henry Sy, Lucio Tan, John Gokongwei, Andrew Tan, George Ty, Robert Coyuito, Tony Tan Caktiong, Lucio Co and Emilio Yap. Their mother tongue has to be a Chinese dialect.

And in fact, six of them were born in China, or what is now China, immigrating to the Philippines in their youth.

Another three of the 15 certainly have Chinese names: Dave Consunji, Bobby Ongpin and Danding Cojuangco. But that’s about as far as it goes, and while I have not been able to ascertain that they have less than one-third Chinese

Retail magnate Henry Sy has consistently topped the list of Filipino billionaires.

ETHNIC CHINESE DOMINATE PH ECONOMY

Taipans John Gokongwei, Lucio Tan and Alfred Ty (L-R) attend a trade forum during President Aquino’s visit to China. blood, I am willing to bet on it, particularly since I was able to talk to Maribel Ongpin and Marilou Tuason (walking social historians). One thing is sure: Their mother tongue has nothing to do with any of the Chinese dialects. So even if two of the three have a mestizo look (Dave Consunji is as Filipino-looking as they come), I would tag all three of them as Filipino Filipinos.

The final three: Ricky Razon, Jaime Zobel, and Iñigo Zobel, are obviously Spanish Filipinos -- and their mother tongue is most probably Spanish, although Iñigo’s father, the late Enrique Zobel, spoke Filipino like a native Batangueño.

But there are ways of classifying these 15 billionaires other than by their ethnic origins. For example,

nine of them I would classify as “self-made,” in that they came from almost nothing -- Sy, L. Tan, Gokongwei, Consunji, A. Tan, Ty, Tan Caktiong, Co, and Yap. The other seven had from some amount to a very great deal of inherited wealth, which at the very least assured the best education, which they then used to excellent effect.

Then, of course, one can also classify these billionaires -- and here I will not name names because of possible libel suits -- as having come by their wealth from 1) hard work while keeping their noses clean, or 2) hard work combined with political and/or financial hanky-panky, or 3) hard work with shameless labor exploitation, or 4) the pits (2 and 3 combined; hard work plus

Nine of the 15 Filipino billionaires -- or 60 percent - are ethnic (pureblooded) Chinese; in fact, six of them were born in China.

Another three of the 15 certainly have Chinese blood.

The final three are obviously Spanish Filipinos, and their mother tongue is most probably Spanish.

President Aquino confers with the officers of the Federation of FilipinoChinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Inc. during a courtesy call at Malacañang. getting rich by hook or by crook), or 5) just sitting back and not rocking the boat on inherited wealth. I invite the Reader to do his/her own private classifying.

Still another way of classifying the billionaires is by the nature of their activities (not mutually exclusive): There are at least five in banking or finance, six in real estate

development, three in manufacturing (including food and beverage), and three in retail trade. The greatest common denominator seems to be real estate development, in one form or another.

What is also very interesting about the Filipino billionaires is how they have increased in number, and how their net worth (and their rankings) has changed over time. For example, in 2007, there were only four Filipino billionaires (in US dollars, remember) listed by Forbes magazine: Jaime Zobel de Ayala and family at the top, worth $2 billion, followed by three ethnic Chinese -- Henry Sy, Lucio Tan and Andrew Tan. By 2011, there were 11 billionaires, and, of course, the latest number is 15.

Over the same period, the three ethnic Chinese overtook Don Jaime in terms of wealth. Why that happened would make for a very interesting case study.

And see how fast some of their net worth has grown in the 5-year period between 2007 and 2012, the global financial and economic crises occurring within that period notwithstanding. The biggest success story seems to be that of Dave Consunji. Now I am not afraid to say that Dave is in Category 1 as far as how he came by his wealth is concerned: by the sweat of his brow and keeping his nose clean.

He is one of the straightest shooters in business that I have had the privilege to meet. In 2007, when he was 86, his family’s net worth was “only” $210 million, making him the 19th richest man in the Philippines. Well, as reported in the Inquirer, his net worth in 2012 is $2.78 billion, or more than 13 times what it was in 2007. Not bad for a 91-year-old man—and one who has kept his nose clean.

Which is why my vote for “Filipino Billionaire of the Year” -- if there is such an award -- goes to Dave Consunji. (Philippine Daily Inquirer) n

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H E N Cebu City earned the moniker “Ceboom” in the 1990s because of its economic and tourism boom, progress began spreading into the neighboring towns, thus, giving birth to new urban centers. Ceboom did not only refer to the Queen City of the South, but to the whole province of Cebu.

Among the towns to ride the unprecedented wave of development are Bogo, Naga and Carcar which were declared cities in 2007, and whose cityhood statuses were affirmed by the Supreme Court last year.

Bogo: The Place to Go Located in the province’s northern portion is Bogo, the hub for trade and commerce, agri-business, education, fishery and aquaculture, and transportation of 10 towns in Cebu’s fourth congressional district.

The growing trade and industry led to Bogo’s expansion, says Mayor Celestino Martinez Jr. The public market was moved to a bigger area, portions of

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CEBU’S

NEW CITIES ON THE RISE Acknowledged as the Heritage City of Cebu, Carcar is famous for its picture perfect structures -- the Greek-Orthodox style inspired Church of St. Catherine of Alexandria, its rows of colonial Spanish and American period houses; the art deco Carcar City Museum, the city plaza and the Carcar rotunda.

the shoreline had to be reclaimed and a new business center had to be created.

Just like the proverbial northern star, this new city has been a beacon of progress for its neighboring towns.

Due to its ideal location, Bogo has been chosen to be Cebu’s northern gateway through the Polambato Roll-on-Roll-off Port, which is undergoing a long-range expansion program to make it capable of accommodating more and bigger ships to declog the ports in Cebu City.

The port connects to the provinces of Leyte and Masbate, and all the way to Manila through the Strong Republic Nautical Highway.

The city boasts of the biggest livestock market in the province, thanks to the city’s ports.

Adjacent to the Pol-

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ambato port is a 40-hectare land envisioned to form part of the planned Special Economic Zone for light and medium industries.

Due to its rapid urbanization, Bogo has put up a new sprawling city center in Bgy. Cayang along the provincial highway to house the new government and business district. Seeing the potential of the new CBD, retail giant Robinson’s Mall has reportedly acquired 10 hectares which will be northern Cebu’s commercial and recreational hub.

Tourism-wise, the city is getting known for its inland resorts, religious sites and the rock-of-ages islet of Capitancillo, formerly a lighthouse, which is now a protected marine sanctuary.

It is also a vital transit point to the resort islands of Bantayan and Malapascua, as well as Kalanggaman in Palompon, Leyte which are all noted for their fine sand beaches and dive sites.

Moreover, Bogo is being eyed as a retirement haven.

Naga: Industrial Hub south of Cebu Situated 21 kilometers from Cebu City is the City of Naga, dubbed as the “Industrial hub south of Cebu” because of the presence of vital industries.

Even before its elevation into a city, Naga has been an industrial town with the 147-MW Salcon Power Corp. coal-fired plant and Apo Cement Corp. which produces 4,000 metric tons of cement daily.

The latter also has the distinction of being the country’s biggest factory and supplied cement to the

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iconic Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco.

Bolstering Naga’s industrial status was the opening last year of the KEPCO Philippines Corp. (KEPHILCO) 290-MW Circulating Fluidized Bed Combustion (CFBC) thermal plant.

A government-to-government economic cooperation between Korea and the Philippines, the project is under a new scheme of a merchant power plant, characterized by power sales contracts (PSC) with distribution utilities and electric cooperatives.

The city’s other major industries include Kyocera Crystal Device, Kinseki Philippines Inc., Rikio Southeast Asia, Pryce Gases, FSP Oxy & Acet Inc. and MRC Allied Industries. These are supported by livestock and poultry farms and agro-industries such as Bounty Agro Ventures, Daily Fresh Foods and Cebu Sherilin Agro-Industrial Corp.

According to Mayor Valdemar Chiong, the city’s exponential growth has improved the delivery of basic social services such as health care, education, public safety and sanitation under his Vision and Leader-

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The city hall of Naga is decorated for this year’s Independence Day celebration. ship 20/20.

Naga’s income has surpassed the P100-million annual income mark, making it at par with some of the country’s medium-size cities.

The city now boasts of a modern city hall complex, a new sports coliseum,

Carcar refuses to be stuck in the past with its modernity efforts, cashing in on the influx of tourists to the Heritage City.

a picturesque Baywalk Park and a material recovery facility which recycles the solid wastes of Naga and neighboring towns.

Moreover, it also has the bragging right of having a sports complex being bought by a local retail giant to be converted into a supermarket, perhaps the only one of its kind in the country.

Carcar: Heritage City of Cebu Carcar is an eclectic city which combines old world charm and the potentials of a new urban center.

Acknowledged as the Heritage City of Cebu, Carcar is famous for its picture perfect structures which have withstood the ravages of time.

There is the

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Greek-Orthodox style inspired Church of St. Catherine of Alexandria, its rows of colonial Spanish and American period houses; the art deco Carcar City Museum, the city plaza and the Carcar rotunda.

As beautiful as these heritage sites are, the city refuses to be stuck in the past with its strides to modernity, its light steel industries, agribusiness ventures, commercial and retail establishments of known brands such as Jollibee, Mercury Drug, Gaisano, LBC and M Lhuillier.

Its local economy is propelled by its noted shoe making industry, wood craft, as well as native delicacies like the famous chicharon (pork crackling), ampao (sweetened rice crispies) and bucarillo (colored coconut strips) which have found their way into the international market.

Mayor Nicepuro Apura said that Carcar City hopes to cash in on the influx of tourists brought about by its proclamation as a Heritage City and its award-winning Kabkad Festival which won honors in the province-wide Pasigarbo Festival.

Recognizing the importance of higher education in an emerging metropolis, Carcar has put up the City College which offers polytechnic courses which can provide immediate employment for graduates.

Because of its location as a convergence point in southern Cebu, Carcar is constructing a diversion road which will bypass the busy city center. Apura added that once completed, the road project will further spur economic activities in the barangays outside the poblacion.

(Manila Bulletin) n

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COMPOSTELA VALLEY

HAVEN FOR THE ADVENTUROUS

Aside from the tourist attractions, ComVal is also home to 16 indigenous tribes which have their own unique sets of tradition.

The annual Bulawan Festival shows how the diverse culture and traditions in the province have become one of its main assets.

By Vince lopez

Combilan Cave boasts of cathedral-like rock formations and stalagmites inside the first cave and an underground river on the other cave.

F you have the adventurous spirit and your idea of a fun summer escapade involves mountain climbing, bathing in the sulphuric hot waterfalls, exploring mysterious caves and bumming in secluded beaches, Compostela Valley might just be the perfect destination for you.

True, Compostela Valley province may not be the first thing that would cross your mind when planning for your summer vacation but for those who have visited this province, they would agree that it has enough wonders that would mesmerize any visitor.

As soon as you enter Compostela Valley, more popularly referred to as ComVal, you are welcomed by breathtaking sceneries, serene lakes and uncrowded beaches.

Located at the heart of eastern Mindanao, its physical features contain unique geological landmarks that effortlessly charm tourists.

It also boasts of “special treats” that are uniquely found only at ComVal: • Spelunking in Combilan Cave.

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Explorers of the unknown will be treated to a big surprise once they reach the entrance of the mysterious cave. Both with unique identities, adventurers will see cathedral-like rock formations and stalagmites inside the first cave while an underground river lies secretly on the other one. Up and down Lunod island. Buried within thick mangroves is the 17- hectare island which is also known as St. Anthony Island. Fifteen-minutes away from the shores of Mabini in Compostela Valley, the island boasts of colorful coral garden near the shores and a unique isolated island swimming experience for tourists.

• The seven scenes of Tagbibinta Falls. Adventure junkies will definitely get challenged upon knowing that there are seven scenic falls to be explored in Compostela Valley’s Mount Candalaga. One of the falls of Tagbibinta even measures up to 700 feet high. The place also has its own legends and mysteries including a prince waiting for her lady in the water.

• Take a bite in Bibingka City. A culinary adventure for tourists, this specific stretch of bibingka stalls in Nabunturan in Compostela Valley offers a number of variants of the well-loved rice cakes. It’s a “filling” stopover for tourists after a day of

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“We would like to show tourists a memorable time with the unique culture that we have in the province.” adventure in the exciting province of ComVal. Apart from adventure, there’s a whole lot more to ComVal for their visitors.

“We have festivals and numerous tourist sites which delight visitors.

Aside from being known as a gold mining province, visitors love our tourist attractions ranging from lakes, beaches and hot springs,” Christine Dompor, Senior Tourism Officer of Compostela Valley, reveals.

The Mainit sulphuric hot waterfall is one of the province’s natural wonders. Though it may seem as an ordinary resort from the outside, it draws a lot of local and foreign tourists because of the falls’ therapeutic effects.

Most of ComVal’s resorts are budget-friendly. This explains why they attract a diverse crowd of tourOne of the falls of Tagbibinta measures up to 700 feet high. Legend has it that a prince is waiting for her lady in the water.

The annual Bulawan Festival features the diverse cultures of the 16 indigenous tribes in the province.

ists—from backpackers to serious vacationers.

The province is also proud of their majestic Mt. Leonard which rises 3,904 feet above sea level. Adventurers and trekkers are usually enamored at the mountain’s serene and fertile valley view on the top.

A 30-minute ride along the old and winding North Davao mountain road can lead tourists to the inspiring view of the Amakan Crater.

Lush greeneries and peaceful ambience, the trek towards the crater is one of the most peaceful and re-

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warding journeys for any trekkers.

Aside from the number of tourist attractions, the province is also home to 16 indigenous tribes which have their own unique sets of tradition. The annual Bulawan Festival in ComVal shows how the diverse culture and traditions in the province have become one of its main assets.

“We are very proud of our tourist attractions as well as the unique culture that comes with it. I think that tourists will be in for a big surprise when they come to the province. We would like to show tourists a memorable time not only with our number of tourist attractions but the unique culture that we have in the province,” added Dompor.

After surging through the adventurous sites in the province and getting to know their rich culture, it’s time to hit the beach. And ComVal has a lot. In the municipality of Pantukan alone there are at least five resorts which offer a different take on being a beach bum.

The price on the said resorts is very affordable, but more than that, it’s the opportunity of discovering a secluded beach that could very well be worth your trip. The Welborn Resort, for example, is known as a child friendly resort for its long shallow shore. The soft sands and shallow shores ensure a memorable experience for both children and adults.

The SeaWorld Oasis Resort, on the other hand, features a more modern approach to the beach experience. The facilities are relatively new which includes a beautiful pool placed near the beach.

“Our municipality is generally safe for tourists. We have brown sand and white sand beaches all around us.

We have already received a number of tourists over the years and nothing has stopped them from having fun on our beach which just shows you how peaceful and safe it is to come onto our province,” expressed Pantukan Mayor Toc Sarenas. n

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N a mock-up stage in a Philippine music studio, singlemom Joanna Talibong is singing for her life.

The former church-choir girl is nervous and struggling to stay in key as she battles through more than a dozen takes of the syrupy Olivia Newton-John ballad Suddenly.

If she and keyboard-playing friend Jason Panggoy can get their video-demo right, they stand a chance of securing a series of gigs in South Korea that would enable them to start a long journey out of crushing poverty.

“I did not finish college, so I don’t have many job options… overseas I can earn a lot more,” the carpenter’s daughter tells AFP during a break from singing at the studio in a rundown quarter of Manila, the country’s capital.

Filipino musicians entertain visitors to Disneyland in Hong Hong.

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SING THEIR WAY OUT OF POVERTY

Tens of thousands stand under spotlights entertaining crowds as singers and musicians. From high-class hotel bars in the Middle East to Las Vegas casinos, ex-pat pubs in Asia and luxury cruise liners sailing the Caribbean, Filipinos are often found performing near-perfect cover versions of almost any genre.

Roughly nine million Filipinos, or 10 percent of the population, work overseas because there are so few job opportunities in their largely impoverished homeland.

While many toil as largely anonymous maids, sailors, construction workers and laborers in foreign countries, tens of thousands also stand under spotlights entertaining crowds as singers and musicians.

From high-class hotel bars in the Middle East to Las Vegas casinos, ex-pat pubs in Asia and luxury cruise liners sailing the Caribbean, Filipinos are often found performing near-perfect cover versions of almost any genre.

Talibong is desperate to join them, or she will be forced back to

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a bar in a small northern Philippine city where for the past three months she and Panggoy have played to tobacco traders and travelling salesmen for $3.50 a night.

Adding to her problems is her nine-month-old son, who has a clubbed foot and lives with his grandparents while Talibong pursues her musical career.

Her manager has lined up a six-month booking for Talibong and Panggoy at bars in South Korea that would pay them each $800 a month, and she knows exactly where her first pay checks would be spent.

“My priority is an operation for my son’s clubbed foot. That’s really my goal. That’s what’s pushing me to work really hard,” says Talibong, who is just 21 years old.

But first the duo’s demo tape – which also includes a Taylor Swift and Matchbox 20 numbers – must pass muster with the artist review board in Seoul, a review process that takes about a month.

Their manager, Wilma Ipil, who has been sending an average of two bands to South Korea every month since 2008, concedes the duo may not get the gig, amid growing competition from other Filipino talents trying to make it overseas.

“Previously, even inexperienced musicians got hired,” says Ipil, who sang in Hong Kong, Thailand and China herself before going into

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Our musicians are well-known for their warm audience rapport reflecting our easygoing nature. band management. “But now, with the wealth of talent available, promoters have become more discriminating.”

Nevertheless, the demand for Filipino performers overseas is enormous, according to Jackson Gan, the head of the music studio where Talibong is recording her demo.

“Our only competition is ourselves. The whole world knows that if you have a low budget but need quality, you get Filipino talent,” says Gan, who also acts as an agent for other export acts.

Gan estimates between 25,000 and 30,000 Filipino musicians and singers play in 3,000 clubs, hotels, cruise ships and restaurants around the world at any one time.

The pay generally ranges from $8001,500 a month, ac-

The all-Filipino band Resound is a regular fixture in Dubai’s night life. cording to Gan. He says even Malaysian, Indonesian, Australian, and Chinese bands tend to recruit Filipina lead singers.

Gan attributes the success of Filipino performers overseas to the deep roles music and dance they have in local culture.

Singing contests are often the highlights of village fairs and beauty contests, while song and dance are a staple of the most popular national television game shows.

Karaoke is one of the country’s most

loved forms of entertainment, with guests at weddings and birthday parties expected to be able to belt out songs behind a microphone to entertain their hosts.

Karaoke is also a mainstay at bars, restaurants and shopping centers.

“Some of my singers were discovered at karaoke joints,” says Gan, a 20-year veteran of the business, whose scouting regimen sees him serving as judge at singing contests in remote villages across the country.

Gan says Philip-

pine musicians are also well-known for their warm audience rapport, a reflection of a general easygoing nature for which Filipinos are famous.

“That is a very important part of the music. It’s not just plain singing,” he says.

However, Gan says most performers have a short shelf-life overseas, particularly the female lead singers who often have to end their foreign sojourns when they have babies or for other family reasons.

And although many can copy perfectly the world’s most popular songs, few cover band members will ever get a recording contract.

But there are some inspirational success stories for those who continue to dream of making it big.

The most famous is Arnel Pineda, who for many years fronted Filipino bands in Manila bars and in Hong Kong.

His big break came in 2007 when members of US rock group Journey were looking for a new lead singer and saw clips of him singing the band’s songs on YouTube.

Pineda was hired soon after an audition in the United States, and his first album fronting the band debuted in the top 10 of the American Billboard Charts. Pineda and Journey continue to perform at sold-out concerts around the world. (Agence France-Presse) n

Arnel Pineda (middle) and the Journey band.

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NNE Curtis leads YES! M a g a z i n e ’s 100 Most Beautiful Stars list for 2012, the latest accolade for an actress whose career just keeps going and glowing.

Does she ever feel ugly or inadequate in the looks department?

Yes, Anne does get those bad hair days when she just can’t get the girl in the mirror to smile back at her.

“Yung feeling na hindi ako beautiful, and pangit na pangit ako sa sarili ko? Yes, it happens,” she says.

“And my make-up artist can attest to that.

Kasama ang team ko, there are days talaga na kahit ano ang gawin nila, I feel na ang chakachaka ng itsura ko. But I guess, normal lang naman ‘yun, lalo na ‘pag napuyat ka. But once naman na nacomplete ang sleep or rest ko, talagang when

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BASKING IN ANNE’S GLOW

So what’s the secret to that glow?

‘It may be a cliché, but it’s the beauty that you exude from within,’ says Anne. ‘Kung lahat ng nasa paligid mo maaliwalas, naki-carry ‘yun sa mga nangyayari sa ‘yo with your life . . . you need to love yourself first and take care of it. And be content with what you have. Make the most of what life offers you.’

I look in the mirror, ang saya ko and it reflects naman. Kaya, I can say na ‘ang ganda ko today’ in the mirror. And I feel most beautiful when I am with my family and my friends.”

So what’s the secret to that glow? Apart from the fact that her love life is aglow.

“It may be a cliché, but it’s the beauty that you exude from within. Kung lahat ng nasa paligid mo maaliwalas, naki-carry ‘yun sa mga nangyayari sa ‘yo with your

Vancouver Edition

‘I feel most beautiful when I am with my family and my friends.’ life, hindi ba? So, being asked what I need to do when I get into that pangit mode, hindi ko rin alam what I can advise. But what I know for sure, you need to love yourself first and take care of it. And be content with what you have. Make the most of what life offers you.”

A Box Office Queen title. Highprofile projects and endorsements left and right. Now, this Most Beautiful Star crown. What else is lacking?

“I’ve done my best na to really, really fulfill my dream of becoming a singer. God didn’t gift me with that. Pero since it’s my passion, talagang I prayed harder na kahit just this once lang, mapagbigyan ako ni God and nangyari naman,” she says, referring to her “No Other Concert” at the Smart Araneta Coliseum back in January.

“Kung ano pa ang kulang, siguro dance concert naman. Or sa ibang bagay, start a family. Find a husband.

When the time comes, I just want to be ready sa kung ano pa ang dadating sa akin,” she adds.

Anne gives credit to the people who take care of her wardrobe, hair and makeup.

“What else is beautiful in me?

Talagang I’m very thankful lang to the whole staff. Siguro lang, I was able to find a team that I was comfortable with sa mga shots or pictorials that were done kaya lumabas ‘yung gusto nila.

“And gusto ko lang naman ipursue my dream. I was able to sing na. Sa malaking venue pa. Basta lang achieve what I want. And see what I find beautiful in myself. It always boils down to my voice,” she quips.

And without batting an eyelash, the Most Beautiful Star breaks into song, the infectious pop tune Call Me Maybe. As usual, everybody basks in her glow. (Interaksyon.com) n

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Angel

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&Phil

MATCH MADE IN TWITTER

Angel: Na-prove ko naman kasi kung gaano ko kamahal ‘yung tao and sa tingin ko talaga blessing na pumasok siya sa buhay ko. Ang dami kong natutunan sa kanya and isa siyang malaking happiness para sakin.

By cherie m. del rio

I Angel !

This is P h i l .

How are you? I was just wondering if you are free for Valentines day?”

This was the tweet that started it all, the tweet that set the Phil-Gel ship a-sailing. In February 2011, Filipino-British footballer Phil Younghusband (@PhilYHusband) sent a tweet to Angel Locsin (@143redangel) asking her out for Valentines Day. The Kapamilya actress then replied: “hi! this is angel J Congrats on your win last night! Tnx for the invite but I have work on valentines.

Let’s try another day J” The entire Pinoy Twitterverse held on in anticipation, wondering if the good-looking pair would eventually go out. And they did!

Over a year later, on May 27, 2012, 11:56 PM to be exact, Phil and Angel officially became a couple.

The courtship started over Twitter, just shortly after Angel and former flame Luis Manzano (@luckymanzano) broke up. Sometime before Phil’s somewhat historic tweet, Angel even posted a message on her Twitter account which everyone believed was meant for Luis: “Dear ex, stop texting, stalking & fighting It took nearly a year and half before the pair admitted they were “officially on.”

The lovebirds pose for an ad for Century Tuna. me if you’re over na. Pinrotektahan kita pero pag di ka tumigil magsasalita na ko sa pinaggagagawa mo. Respeto pls.”

Later that day, Luis replied with his own tweet: “with the harsh words i said earlier, im sorry, hope we let bygones be bygones, we have moved on but sorry sa sinabi ko kanina.”

The Twitter exchange between Angel and Luis eventually ended and the issue, as they say, died

JULY 16-31, 2012

a natural death. And a new love story began between the athlete and the actress. Since 2011, Phil and Angel have been seen together although neither has confirmed the official status of their relationship. In one of Angel’s interviews this year, it was revealed that although the couple was dating exclusively, they have not put any labels on their relationship.

It was only sometime in mid-June that the pair came forward and admitted that they were officially “on”.

Apparently, Phil already asked Angel last Christmas of 2011 to be his girlfriend, but Angel reportedly replied, “Ask me another time.”

That perfect time came when Angel arrived from Baguio last May. Phil was interviewed in The Buzz and he shared the story of how he prepared for the momentous occasion and how Angel finally became his girlfriend.

At Angel’s home, Phil had prepared four boxes. The first one represented the place where they first met, the second was where he first said he loved her, and the third box was where she first said she loved him. All these boxes contained flowers and a heart, which indicated the meaning of each place.

The fourth and final box, however, was symbolic of a new place.

“This is the place I ask you to officially be mine,” Phil narrated in his interview with Toni Gonzaga, Charlene Gonzalez, and Vice Ganda. He had written on a piece of paper, “Will you be my girlfriend?” and left two boxes (YES and NO) to be ticked off. Angel checked the YES box and Phil remembered, “sobrang masaya ako.”

“We were just like, ‘Yay!’ And we’re finally together,” Phil recounted.

Angel, on the other hand, was likewise gushing over the Azkals star player, commenting that Phil is consistent in his sweetness and sincerity towards her. “Na-prove ko naman kasi kung gaano ko kamahal ‘yung tao and sa tingin ko talaga blessing na pumasok siya sa buhay ko,” Angel divulged in an interview. “Ang dami kong natutunan sa kanya and isa siyang malaking happiness para sakin.”

Phil is obviously smitten with the talented actress and he couldn’t be more proud that they are now officially together. “I’m very, very happy,” he said. “Now I can say ‘my girlfriend Angel is this and that’, so sobrang proud ako…” n

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CELEBR TY

CURTAINS DOWN FOR DOLPHY AT 83

COMEDY King Dolphy passed away last July 10.

Eric Quizon, spokesman for the family, said Dolphy died at 8:34 p.m. following a cardiac arrest.

“He lived a full life. He is at rest.

He is at peace,” said Eric hours after news of his father first broke on the social media network Twitter.

Eric said his father “knew as he was going how much the country loved him and knew that everyone was praying for him”.

“If he could he would have stayed so just he could thank you personally,” said Eric of Dolphy who has been confined at the Makati Medical Center since June 9 for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Eric said that while his father’s “spirit was strong his body has so weakened he had to go.”

“On behalf of everyone who loved him — my brothers, sisters, Zsa Zsa [Padilla], we all thank you from the bottom of our hearts,” said Eric. He asked that the people “pray for his [father’s] eternal repose.”

Dolphy, whose real name is Ro-

DOLPHY dolfo Quizon, is survived by his livein partner actress-singer Zsa Zsa Padilla and 18 children by different women.

President Benigno Aquino led the nation in paying tribute to Dolphy, calling him the embodiment of the “humble, honest, and help-

ful” Filipino, who made life easier for his friends and followers in the face of daunting challenges.

“He changed not just his industry, but also the national consciousness,” Aquino said in a statement.

“Through his art, he widened our outlook, he gave us the power to find and cherish happiness in our daily lives.”

News of Dolphy’s death sent shockwaves across social networking sites, with many of his fans and colleagues paying tribute to him.

Former president Joseph Estrada, an ex-movie action star and a long-time friend of Dolphy, said he joined millions in mourning for a “national artist.”

“His memory will live forever.

He was the kindest, funniest, most helpful man I know,” Estrada said.

“He made life bearable for the masses, and his roles sympathized with the plight of the millions of poor Filipinos.”

Sharon Cuneta tweeted: “My Tito Dolphy. The King of Comedy. A good father. Loving and devoted to Zsa

ANGELICA READY TO ACCEPT SUITORS AFTER her breakup from Derek Ramsay, Angelica Panganiban has moved to her new house.

“Okey naman. Nag-a-adjust.

Nag-aayos ng gamit,“ she said.

“Kung walang trabaho, lagi lang akong nandun. Ligpit lang nang ligpit, ayos lang nang ayos. Walang katapusan. Feeling ko mga two years pa ‹kong mag-aayos!”

She said she is extremely happy over her investment. “Ful-

filled din na may napundar nang gano’n. Na mag-isa mo siyang itinayo. Kumbaga, mag-isa mo siyang na-achieve. Basic pa lang yung laman ng bahay. Parang kama pa lang, ref... yung mga kailangan ko pa lang talaga para maka-survive.”

Asked how she is coping with the breakup, she said, “Uhm, okey naman. Well, nakikita ko naman yung sarili kong happy. So feeling ko, ready naman… ready na ‹ko.”

Is she ready to enter into a new relationship? “Hindi naman.

Ready lang akong mag-explore, mag-enjoy, makipag-date... kung uso pa siya. Yung gano’n. Pero yung ibang bagay, e, hindi ko alam. Hindi naman yun napipigilan, di ba? Pero kaya ko, kaya ko,” she said.

But is she prepared to accept suitors?

“Naghihintay lang ako,” she replied.

ANGEL, PHIL NOW ‘OFFICIALLY ON’

ANGEL MORE than a year since he asked her out for Valentine’s Day on Twitter, Fil-Brit soccer player Phil Younghusband and Angel Locsin are “officially” together.

The good-looking striker of the Philippine national football team Az-

kals revealed that he and Angel officially became a couple last May. “We’re officially together, like boyfriend and girlfriend. We’re happy. We fall more and more in love with each other. Love and happiness are really the words to describe our relationship. We became a couple a few weeks ago. It’s May 27,” Phil said in an interview on June 25.

Phil, however, said it is too early to talk wedding bells, as they still have individual goals in their respective careers.

“We’re very happy. It’s too early to plan that. I’ve always said I want-

ed to have a future with Angel but no plans of weddings yet. We’re in love but we have to work first and things like that. I look forward to more happiness with Angel,” he said.

Since their talk-of-thetown tweet exchange in February 2011, Phil and Angel have openly expressed their admiration for each other, but have refused to confirm their status as an official couple.

Zsa. Extended help to whoever needed it and quietly. God brought him home not just to release him from his pain and suffering, but because He had lent Tito Dolphy to us for too long a time and wanted him home.”

Sen. Ramong “Bong” Revilla, Jr., in a statement said: “Lubhang akong nabigla at nalungkot sa pagpanaw ng ating Comedy King na si Tito Dolphy . Malaking kawalan siya sa industriya, ngunit sa pagbabalik tanaw, hindi matatawaran ang kanyang mga pamana sa larangan ng sining at sa ating kultura.”

Richard Gomez said, “Mahal ka namin, Mang Dolphy. Thank you for having the privilege of working with you in the movies. God bless you!”

Lea Salonga: “RIP, Comedy King. You are sorely missed. Condolences to the Quizon family, you are in our prayers.”

KC Concepcion: “To our beloved Tito Dolphy... You are loved by our nation. May you rest in peace.”

GEARLD & SARAH

GERALD FINALLY CONFIRMS HE’S COURTING SARAH AFTER months of telling the public that he is only “enjoying the company” of Sarah Geronimo, Gerald Anderson finally admitted that he is formally courting the Pop Star Princess.

In an interview on Kris TV, Gerald said he has been courting Sarah since February.

“She’s very special to me also. You know, itong panliligaw ko sa kanya, it’s been an amazing journey for me. Ang dami kong natutunan,” the actor said.

“Like I said, it’s been an amazing journey. You know, ang dami kong natutunan sa sarili ko, sa kanya. In life, mas naging mature ako. Pero I’m very open din po sa posibleng mangyari,” he added.

Gerald said he has been visiting Sarah at her home to prove that his intentions are pure.

“Dumadalaw po ako.

Sinabi ko sa kanya kung pwede ba kitang ligawan.

Para mas makilala niya ako at mas makilala ko siya. I’m just really happy and fortunate na pinayagan ako ng magulang niya na makadalaw ako sa kanila,” he said.

Gerald also said that he is happy that Sarah’s fans welcomed him as a “special friend” of the Pop Star Princess.

Last July 7, during Sarah’s birthday concert at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, the crowd went wild when Sarah sang It Might Be You and acknowledged the presence of Gerald.

Gerald said he gave a pair of Yves Saint Laurent shoes for Sarah’s 24th birthday.

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CELEBRITYFILES

VILMA HANDPICKS KIM FOR CHALLENGING ROLE VILMA Santos has handpicked young actress Kim Chiu to co-star with her in the horror-suspense film The Healing.

Directed by Chito Roño, The Healing marks Vilma’s 50th anniversary in show business. For the special big-screen outing, the woman dubbed “Star for All Seasons” said she especially chose Chiu among the “new breed” of local superstars.

“This one, ‹yung kay Kim, special request ko ‹to. When I read the script, ang sinabi nila, ‹May kasama ka dito, narito ‹yung role niya. Sino sa mga new breed of superstars natin ang gusto mo makasama?› And then nagbigay sila ng pangalan and I chose Kim,” said Vilma She said that the horror starrer is a departure from Kim’s usual portrayals.

“Si Kim, ano eh, fresh, plus the fact ‹yung role magugulat ho kayo kasi hindi ito love team-love team, ‹yung Kim na madalas natin makita, ‹yung pa-sweet na may love team. Iba ho si Kim dito, kaya perfect ‹yung challenge na ito for her,” Vilma said.

For herp part, Kim said her role in The Healing is by far her most

PILITA: I ENDURED 10 YEARS OF ABUSE

VILMA challenging.

“Sa buong six years ko sa industriyang ‹to, ngayon ko lang ‹to gagawin. Ngayon ko lang ginawa ang ganitong klaseng character, and sana magustuhan nila at maappreciate nila ‹tong effort ko and sana matanggap ‹to ng mga tao,” said Kim. She added: “Yung role ko dito, stepmom ko si Ate Vi. Mommy ko dito si Ms. Carmi Martin, and marami silang kailangang abangang eksena talaga na ‹di ko pa po pwedeng sabihin, dahil kahit ako nagulat ako nung una kong nalaman ang gagawin ko.’

PILITA

THE woman hailed as “Asia›s Queen of Songs” at one point in her career lost her voice due to domestic abuse.

In an interview on the TV show Pipol, veteran singer Pilita Corrales said she endured 10 years of domestic abuse when she lived under the same roof with former husband Amado del Paraguay. The folk singer from Paraguay died in 2008. “[It was] very bad, I was beaten up. At one time, I lost my voice, although the doctor said it will come back after one month,” Pilita revealed.

She said she even had to nurse a bleeding ear while performing on stage.

Pilita blamed alcohol for her husband›s violent episodes.

“Once he would already take a drop of alcohol, I was already like this (hands clasped in prayer), it would happen again,” she recalled. “[There was a time] I was hit with a telephone here (points to her ear) -- it was bleeding -- can you imagine singing with that.”

Years after the grim chapter of her life, Pilita is still befuddled as to why she stayed in the relationship after the first time she was hit. “Up until now, I cannot understand why. Why didn›t I just walk out and run? I don›t understand,” she said. “Seems like I thought, if I leave him, wala naman ako dito, maghahanap naman ako ng iba. I don›t want to be alone,» Corrales said.

At the time, Corrales nonetheless had her two children -- Jackie Lou Blanco (bu her first husband) and Ramon Christopher Gutierrez (by actor Eddie Gutierrez).

“Until a certain day came -- parang sinabi ko -- that›s it. You leave and never go back. It took me 10 years,” she said.

Today, she said she won›t stay in a relationship a year if she were faced with the same situation anew. “If it would have happened now., the next day I will leave. I won›t stay an hour.”

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CELEBRITYFILES

ANNE ECSTATIC ABOUT FOREIGN STINT ANNE Curtis is back to her hosting job on the ABS-CBN noontime show It›s Showtime after a month’s absence to shoot her first international film, Blood Ransom, in the United States.

“It was a super-experience made duper amazing, fun, and unforgettable experience,” said Anne. “It’s a totally different working system to what we have here.

Because when you work with the actors there, you work with the director, you work with the whole team, they are so professional.”

She said her experience was an eyeopener and made her appreciate more her craft.

“It’s crazy and that makes me want to learn more about my craft. . . You know, as I said, sobrang nakakatuwa kasi nga, iba, ibang mundo, iba din yung style of work nila -- how they go about in shooting things.

Anne said she did not tell her foreign co-workers that she is an actress back home.

“It felt good, you know, it’s so humbling to go through that whole experience again, na parang you start from ground zero all over again, kasi I’m a nobody,” she said. “But it was new and fun for me and I enjoyed it so much.”

She added: “I auditioned for it… that was another experience for me, kasi parang ang tagal-tagal-tagal na nung huling nag-audition ako. Ang last audition ko yata ay Magic Kingdom days… or Kampanerang Kuba pa yata. So, ang tagal na nun.”

AMALIA

AMALIA, SON FACE RAPS

ANNE

FORMER movie queen Amalia Fuentes and her son are facing a slew of complaints following a heated confrontation with two of their tenants in Quezon City.

Peter and Rosemarie Licup, of 4th St., Rolling Hills Subdivision, New Manila, lodged fru-

strated homicide, grave threats, grave coercion, oral defamation and unjust vexation raps against Fuentes and her son Gerard Stevens.

In their affidavit, the couple claimed the incident happened in the afternoon of July 4 when Amalia and Gerard, with some policemen, went to the house the Licups were renting. They said they were renting the house for P25,000 a month for the past one and a half years.

The dispute arose from an altercation between the two camps over rental money. Amalia claims the Licups have unpaid rental fees, which the other camp denies.

Amalia allegedly shouted invectives against the couple, while Gerard allegedly ordered his dog to attack the couple. Gerard also allegedly branded the couple as thieves.

Mr. Licup said Amalia punched him in the face and that Gerard assaulted him, causing him to fall down as the respondents allegedly kicked and punched him.

Mrs. Licup’s brother, a sergeant in the military, was accused of pointing his gun on Amalia.

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CELEBRITYFILES

A FINAL OVATION FOR DOLPHY RODOLFO “Dolphy” Quizon received a final standing ovation befitting his stature as the King of Comedy as he was buried on July 15 at the Heritage Park in Taguig City.

His family and close friends rose to their feet and applauded as Dolphy’s gold coffin was closed.

The ceremony was brief as it was solemn, the way the Quizon family had wanted it.

At 1:55 p.m., the casket was wheeled out of the Heritage Park chapel for the short procession to the crypt about a hundred meters away.

A white horse was supposed to pull the carriage carrying Dolphy’s remains but the horse had died before the burial.

Following right behind the casket were Zsa Zsa Padilla, daughters Zia and Nicole Quizon, and the rest of Dolphy’s sons and daughters headed by Eric, Jeffrey, and Vandolph Quizon.

At the tomb, Zsa Zsa addressed the public and Dolphy one last time.

After thanking everybody, she said, “I love you lovey ko. Till we meet again.”

The coffin was opened to give a chance for the family to say their final goodbye.

Dolphy’s son by Alma Moreno

Vandolph was very emotional.

Fr. Larry Faraon, who had officiated a mass for the movie icon earlier, urged the people present to smile.

“Dolphy doesn’t want to see us sad, so let us all smile,” Fr. Faraon said. “Let us all say, ‘Dolphy, we’re happy because you are now with the Lord.’”

Zsa Zsa was the last to bid farewell, along with daughters Zia and Nicole. In tears, the actress hugged and kissed the casket for about a minute.

The song “Seasons of Love” played in the background.

Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim, a close friend of Dolphy’s, honored the Comedy King with a salute before the casket was closed.

At that moment everybody gave Dolphy one last standing ovation. Then they showered the coffin with flowers as doves were released into the air.

The entire ceremony took about 30 minutes.

The casket was then slid into the black granite tomb.

The Quizon family sought crowd control assistance from the police and Heritage security, keeping the official list of guests to about 200.

Dolphy’s relatives take a last look at his remains before he is interred at The Heritage Park in Taguig City.

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PH

BRAIN DRAIN WORSENS

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Nurses and midwives accounted for 60 percent of S&T workers who left the country. Engineers comprised the second-biggest group, averaging 4,117 yearly, or 26 per cent of the total outflow of S&T manpower.

Vancouver Edition

HE brain drain has become a bigger problem in the last 12 years, as the yearly exodus of people trained in science and technology (S&T) grew by about two and a half times from 1998 to 2009.

According to a Bureau of Labor and Employment Statistics (BLES) report, the number of S&T workers who opted for overseas jobs rose from 9,877 in 1998 to 24,502 in 2009.

The numbers refer only to new hires or those leaving the country for jobs for the first time.

The BLES cited data from a study titled International Migration of Science and Technology Manpower-OFWs, which the Department of Science and Technology’s SciIn the last 12 years S&T deployment grew by an average of 11 per cent yearly, peaking at a 59-per cent increase in 2001 when 17,756 professionals left, compared with 11,186 the previous year.

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ence Education Institute (SEIDOST) published in 2011.

Filipino nurses in Saudi Arabia celebrate a colleague’s birthday.

S&T deployment

Results showed that during the 12-year period, S&T deployment grew by an average of 11 per cent yearly, peaking at a 59-per cent increase in 2001 when 17,756 professionals left, compared with 11,186 the previous year.

Based on the SEI-DOST study, S&T manpower includes physicists, chemists, mathematicians, statisticians, computing professionals, engineers, life science professionals, health professionals (except nurses), and nurses and midwives.

The study found that nurses and midwives represented the biggest group with an average of 9,348 deployed yearly, or 60 per cent of the total S&T average of 15,555.

Engineers comprised the second-biggest group, averaging 4,117 yearly, or 26 per cent of the total outflow of S&T manpower.

Other health professionals including medical doctors accounted for the third-largest group with an average of 1,426 yearly, or 9.2 per cent of the lot.

“On the average, women accounted for about 60 per cent of the annual [S&T] deployment,” the BLES report said. “The proportion of women has been rising over time-50.3 per cent in 1998 to 57.8 per cent in 2009.”

Top 10 destinations The top 10 destinations for these professionals were Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom, United States, United Arab Emirates, Singapore, Kuwait, Libya, Malaysia, Qatar and Taiwan.

Although the S&T deployment represents only a fraction of the annual outflow of temporary OFWs or new hires-an average of

From 1998 to 2009, the total number of newly hired OFWs increased at an average of 13.5 per cent yearly.

5.6 per cent share (in the yearly total)-the BLES report indicated that the proportion has risen steadily from 4.5 per cent in 1998 to 7.4 per cent in 2009.

During that period, the total number of newly hired overseas Filipino workers increased at an average of 13.5 per cent yearly

from 219,724 in 1998 to 331,752 in 2009.

“This study attempts to do an accounting of temporary migration of S&T (workers) in the Philippines as the basis for human resource d e ve l o p m e n t policies, particularly (for) S&T workers,” the BLES said.

The agency explained that the study was a follow-up to an earlier SEI-DOST re-

port titled Emigration of Science and Technology Education Filipinos which dealt with S&T profession-

JULY 16-31, 2012

als who had left the country for good.

Five priority areas

When the national budget for 2012 was pending in Congress last year and Malacañang was pushing for a 10-per cent increase in allocations for state universities and colleges (SUCS), Budget Secretary Florencio B. Abad said the executive branch supports the development of SUCs toward five priority areas that are expected to drive economic growth and employment.

These areas include agriculture and fisheries, tourism, general infrastructure, semiconductor and electronics, and business process outsourcing.

“President Aquino has directed the Commission on Higher Education to work together with SUCs as well as the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority and the Department of Labor and Employment, and with industry to align their curricula to these priority areas,” Abad said.

“There is an immense opportunity in these areas but they are lacking in qualified manpower,” he added. (Philippine Daily Inquirer) n

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IGURING out a savings plan is quite a challenge for the overseas Filipino worker (OFW) who prioritizes sending money for household needs, children’s education expenses and debt payments.

Investing money is a foreign concept in itself for many Filipinos who grow up practicing only an “earn-spend” culture in their money cycle.

Investing earnings may not be a priority for OFWs for now, as reflected in a study by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) which shows that only 8.5% of OFW households allocate money for investment. The same study, however, signals an increasing awareness among OFWs on the need to save and invest.

The lack of financial know-how of OFWs and Filipinos in general hinders the utilization of excess funds more effectively and recognizing the options and opportunities money-wise.

Investing is simply making your money work for you, says Belle Tiongco, Pru Life UK Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer.

“It’s putting your money in an instrument or investment vehicle that will allow it to grow. It’s important to invest because money left unattended will not grow, and the steward is tempted to spend, spend, spend,” she explains. “Money is not like a plant or seed that you throw on the side of the road and by some miracle sprouts. Money needs to be managed for it to keep growing.”

One of the main reasons why many OFWs are hesitant to invest are the many horror stories of people who have lost everything they have worked for because they made wrong choices or were victimized by syndicates such as those involved in pyramid scams.

“It is understandable that OFWs want assurance that their money will grow,” Tiongco says.

“They’ve made a lot of sacrifices for the money that they have; even individuals who made the wrong choices before them probably had the same concerns.”

There is no one simple way to invest, but Tiongco said there are guidelines OFWs can follow to make their money work for them.

1. There is no “one size fits all”

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Investing is simply making your excess funds earn interest.

INVESTING FOR

OFWS

One of the main reasons why many OFWs are hesitant to invest are the many horror stories of people who have lost everything they have worked for because they made wrong choices or were victimized by syndicates such as those involved in pyramid scams. investment option that is applicable to everyone. Each person has different financial needs, requirements and behaviors, and there is no generic investment option that will work for everyone.

2. One’s investment decision depends on his level of “risk tolerance.” The standard rule in investing is: the higher the risk, the bigger the gain.

“If I were an OFW, and already

Small businessmen attend a seminar on microfinance to provide them the basics of doing business. a full nester (middle-aged with a family), I’d probably be more conservative with my funds, so I’ll put them in investment instruments that are on the low risk side,” Tiongco advises. “On the other hand, if I were just starting out, and I’m single and more adventurous with my funds, I can choose to invest in equities and see my investments gain value in the long term.”

3. Identify your goals and timeframe. Your financial needs and

Investing in stock exchange requires knowledge of how the system works and a decent sum to buy stocks.

goals should also be identified according to where it falls in your investment timeframe. Short-term investments mature quickly and are usually ideal for those who recognize and understand trends in the investment market. It is also for those who will need to get back their money in the next six months to one year.

Long-term investments are ideal for those who wish to set aside and grow their money for their retirement, or for their young children’s college education. They have a relatively lower risk, but seeing the yield of your investment takes time.

So be patient, and remember your goals.

4. If it is too good to be true, think twice. One common denominator of those who have lost their savings to get-rich-quick scams is that the victims were offered big returns in a short time.

“For investments to grow, it takes time. A lot of time. So if the promises seem too great, it most probably is,” says Tiongco.

5. Seek counsel. The best thing that OFWs can do is to seek professional advice from stable and trusted financial institutions on getting started in investing.

“Look for good advice, which you can get from certified financial planners and also from certain bank personnel and investment or wealth advisers,” she says.

Tiongco adds that OFWs can start investing even while they still stationed outside the country through Philippine banks that offer investment instruments overseas.

It all boils down to financial literacy, which Tiongco hopes that the government will address soon. She says the government can do much in the area of financial education -- teaching OFWs how to best manage their earnings and savings.

“We really have a serious lack of financial education in the Philippines,” she laments. “The fact that we are not a savings-focused nation is already a problem, what more not having enough knowledge to go about investing.”

Tiongco’s parting word of advice: “Be patient and be careful. Pay your taxes and be compliant. When investing and making your money work for you, these are the biggest contributing factors. Do not shortcut. It will all be worth it in the end.” n

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JULY 16-31, 2012

Filipino migrant workers in Dubai share a meal during their rest day.

Laughter is the best medicine for pain and loneliness as these OFWs in Hong Kong attest. sense of humor can assist people cope with stress. Migrant workers can find time to watch funny movies on the ship or in their foreign station, or simply have fun with colleagues.

Moods and emotions shift to something positive when people laugh.

5. Be optimistic. Whenever loneliness sets in, it would be helpful for the migrant workers to remember the

EAVING loved ones behind to seek employment in other countries can be lonely. This loneliness can be aggravated and can lead to sickness when one feels emotionally isolated. How can migrant workers cope with this feeling of loneliness?

COPING WITH LONELINESS

1. Recognize that you are lonely and express your feelings.

Admitting that one is lonely is healthy. One can only find creative ways of dealing and coping with his or her loneliness by recognizing and accepting this feeling of emotional isolation. Denial only leads to problems because it can lead to unhealthy behaviors (e.g., overeating, promiscuity, too much drinking or drugs).

When possible, share these feelings with a trusted friend. Writing down one’s thoughts in a securely guarded diary or journal may also help.

2. Stay connected.

Migrant workers can always get in touch with their loved ones by phone, email, social networks, video calls, and even through letters.

Whenever possible, OFWs should try to connect with their loved ones at least once a week, to share, listen, and update with one another’s activities and events.

3. Bring mementos of loved ones.

Migrant workers can bring pictures, videos or other mementos that they can look at when they are lonely.

4. LOL. Laughter is the best medicine for pain and loneliness.

Studies show that having a good

Migrant workers can always get in touch with their loved ones by phone, email or social networks.

Be optimistic. Whenever loneliness sets in, it would be helpful for the migrant workers to remember the reason for their sacrifice - a higher income for the family, a more comfortable lifestyle, quality education for their children.

reason for their sacrifice - a higher income for the family, a more comfortable lifestyle, quality education for their children. Some migrant workers also say that their job also provides them with the opportunity to meet other nationalities, see different countries, and expand their knowledge about diverse cultures.

6. Get involved in various activities. To temporarily take their minds off their loneliness, migrant workers are encouraged to stay busy - play sports games, cards, or chess, etc. These activities not only give them the opportunity to meet people of different nationalities but also enhance their social skills.

They will be less lonely if they are involved in hobbies or activities such as reading books, listening to music, watching DVD movies or doing crosswords or other puzzles.

It is also essential that they have proper diet, sleep and exercise.

7. Pray. Migrant workers say that their faith sustains them. They entrust their worries, fears and anxieties about their families to God. Reliance on a Higher Being does not mean passively accepting the realities of life, but rather embracing the fact that some things are just beyond their control. As one seafarer says, “Just do your best and leave the rest to God.” Beyond all these, it may help to remember that this feeling of loneliness, like any other feeling (such as joy and happiness), is temporary and does not last forever. Life, they say, is marked by opposites. There is a time to be lonely and time to be happy. There is a time for planting and the time for harvesting. There is a time to be rich and a time to be poor. There is a time to be with people and the time to be alone.

There is a time to be in the air and a time to be on land or sea. All these opposites are part of an integrated whole, which we call LIFE. (The author, Ronaldo A. Motilla, is a certified clinical psychologist and a board member of the Psychological Association of the Philippines) n

JULY 16-31, 2012

By marites d. vitug Below are excerpts from an exclusive interview of the author and Rappler’s Purple Romero with President Benigno Aquino III on June 1, 2012, two days after the conviction of Chief Justice Renato Corona. The interview was held in Malacañang Palace. As he enters his third year in office, the President shares his thoughts on reform, mortality, faith and the future.

During the campaign, you were the first candidate to speak up against the midnight appointment. Was that instinctive? Did you feel that that was something you had to take a position on?

Aquino: I must assume that I read it somewhere, that particular constitutional provision. Then I got a copy of the Constitution and started reading it. Then that was it.

The law was very clear to anybody with Grade 3 English. Our predecessor made the appointment [of the chief justice] one week after the elections. Not only that. Now, the Supreme Court has [made into law] this interpretation of the Constitution.

If the Supreme Court is the final arbiter, she [Gloria Arroyo] had a unique position of practically putting every member there. Remember I campaigned on a promise of change, that corruption will be stopped. If our predecessor orchestrated this corruption and she will not be put before the bars of justice and get the corresponding penalty, then the course of impunity continues. And this was such really a blatant attempt.

Q: If we look back at the impeachment, was there an educational value? How did it strengthen our democracy or institutions in the country?

Aquino: For the longest time, you had judges, justices who actually said ‘I am the law’ by their actions. Now, what is the main lesson? You can be the chief justice but you are still accountable to the people. Our mechanisms may be tedious but they can work. If there is a will, they will work. If the people are already behind the moves toward changing the status quo, then it could happen.

I guess we saw a very concrete

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PNOY: I’M THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF THIS COUNTRY

‘At the end of the day, I’m the head of the executive. I’m the chief executive of this country. The buck literally stops with me. So what does that mean? You can’t be anxious, angry.

And that’s true, about being lonely at the top, literally true.’

‘Whatever I do, I’m still wrong.’

and real example of abuse. How do you overlook 98 percent of your assets and remember just the 2 percent? And force that to the people?

We all swear to defend and uphold the constitution. The Constitution doesn’t give us a choice of

‘You can be the chief justice but you are still accountable to the people.’

whether or not to come up with a SALN. We are ordered to produce one, we are ordered to attest to the veracity of it under oath. We can be removed from office by violating the Constitution. We

are not a dictatorship. We will go through all of the processes. We will protect everybody’s rights even of those that oppose us.

Q: What prepared you to do battle with the court? Was it something your mother

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told you, the way you were raised?

Aquino: I guess it starts with Martial Law. The day my dad got sentenced to death, I was 16 years old. Our world turned topsy-turvy.

You had the entire machinery of the state against you. I was only incidental to this because of my parents but the state can still kill you.

How bad was it? My mom would be walking on the sidewalk, then there would be a person whom they knew who [in the past] swore undying loyalty and would literally jaywalk to cross the other side of the street [to greet my mom] but was now afraid to be seen with her. We made so many adjustments. But more so when my dad got killed.

At the end of the day, my school prepared me with theology instructions, how do you fight an oppressive structure? You have to make your life as simple as possible. And my interpretation was: what are the levers? The levers are you’ll get incarcerated, or you’ll get killed.

So I made a decision -- what’s the point of living in a world wherein you will not rise because of your merits? Where right and wrong was exactly how it was portrayed in the film 1984 by George Orwell.

I was 12 years old when Martial law was proclaimed, I’m a student of history, when you look at the totalitarian regime, how do they get removed from office? Normally through bloody revolution. Those in the frontlines never get to see the end of the revolution. So expectations in one’s life change.

I didn’t expect to reach 30, honestly. I got ambushed in 1987, so all of this is bonus. I have not gotten a wife nor a family. It’s like God’s plan. Would I be as brave if I would be thinking of a child and a wife.

So when I accepted this latest chapter in my life, I went back to the same question that my Mom had; my mom always thought that she would just be helping to finish my Dad’s work. But when the clamor came and it was pointed to her that she was the unifying factor, and without her there, the guarantee of the Marcoses’ perpetuation in office… So I guess in a sense it’s really an opportunity, to finish the work. Finish the obligation. Now, we’re changing the status quo, we’re disturbing so many people’s rice bowls.

Q: What kind of leader would you like to appoint in the Supreme Court?

Aquino: Of course, someone who is respected by the members, somebody who can manage, somebody who’s acknowledged as

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learned in the law, who has a vision for the countrymen. In this whole [impeachment] process, we wanted the truth. With the truth, we move forward as a people; it’s not about whose interest versus whatever else’s group’s interest.

Q: What are the leadership lessons you’ve learned through all these difficult 4 1/2 months [of the impeachment process]? Maybe even earlier, in dealing with the Court?

Aquino: At the end of the day, I’m the head of the executive. I’m the chief executive of this country.

The buck literally stops with me.

So what does that mean? You can’t be anxious, angry. And that’s true, about being lonely at the top, literally true. There are days that we have apprehensions. Am I free to share these with anybody? Will it weaken the resolve of those at the frontlines with you? Will it change the outcome? Then you have to be transparent also so you need to balance.

Perhaps, that’s when the faith dimension comes in. You have a feeling that you can accomplish a hundred steps, but you’re still on the third, fourth or fifth step. How do you manage the rest of the 95?

Q: So you’re a spiritual person.

Aquino: Not to the extent that

Aquino: “If there’s pressure I feel, not to boast, but I measure it in promises I’ve fulfilled.”

‘Now, we’re changing the status quo, we’re disturbing so many people’s rice bowls.’ my Mom was. I’m more temporal.

Q: So do you receive a lot of pressure for this upcoming major decision [to choose a chief justice]?

Aquino: With all these critics I have – and it has become an industry – should I still pay attention to them? Whatever I do, I’m still wrong. Why waste your time? When I visited my parents [on October 31], there was this old lady, who approached me, and the message was: don’t think about what the media say, just think about us. At the end of the

PHILIPPINES day, did people’s lives change?

Did it change for the better? Are they apathetic or optimistic? Are they empowered, whether they are young or of my age; people who are older, are the opportunities really open for everybody, are we moving forward?

If there’s pressure I feel, I don’t want to boast, but I measure it in terms of what promises I’ve fulfilled. And my greatest regret will

JULY 16-31, 2012

be to let down their expectations.

I will be remiss if I don’t train a successor or for that matter if we pin our hopes on only one person or group. Nothing will happen to us. So I was hoping we will institutionalize this. Our party is the oldest party in the country; we’re hoping we could make it an institution. We decide based on party, platform, ideology rather than personality. (Rappler.com) n

SUDOKU RULES: Place a number from 1-9 in each empty cell. Each row, column and 3x3 block bounded by bold line (9 blocks) contains all the numbers from 1-9

Solution on page 26

Janno Gibbs Live In Vancouver

By joseph lopez

K

ing of Soul crooner and actor Janno Ronaldo Gibbs performed at Vancouver’s Original Pinoy Music Festival 2012 on July 14, 2012.

On the eve of his performance, Mr. Gibbs graced a media conference in the newest Canadian branch of the world-famous Max’s Restaurant. This is Mr. Gibb’s first visit to Vancouver.

The affable thespian said, “Maraming Pilipino sa Vancouver. Masarap ang weather” (There are many Filipinos in Vancouver. The weather is great.)

The day Mr. Gibbs arrived; it was sunny and hot in Vancouver – a city typically rainy and cold.

Local fan Marissa Legara and her fellow Max’s staff excitedly posed with Mr. Gibbs and said, “We are very delighted to have Janno here. We welcome him to Max’s Restaurant and Vancouver.”

Mr. Gibbs, the 42 year old singer and comedian who looks 32, is the son of action star no-smile Ronaldo Valdez. When asked why the polarity of acting genre between father and son, Mr. Gibbs said,” at home it is actually the opposite. I am the serious guy and my dad is the comic.”

The genteel and down-to-earth performer said both he and his father owe their career to comedian Dolphy.

“Dolphy paved the way for both my

STAR STRUCK: Max’s Restaurant staff excited at the presence of King of Soul Janno Gibbs (not in picture)

DOWN-TO-EARTH: Actor and singer Janno Ronaldo Gibbs answering media questions on the eve of Vancouver’s Original Pinoy Music Festival last July 13, 2012

EMOTIVE: Vancouver singer Melanie Salas impressed Vancouver audience with her moving renditions and poignant tonality

dad’s and my own career. I learned a lot from him.” Asked how he felt about Dolphy’s recent demise, Mr. Gibbs said quietly, “I felt sad about it but we all knew Dolphy had been suffering for awhile. It was for the best.”

Singer Rachelle Ann Go was supposed to join Mr. Gibbs in the Festival.

But according to the organizers, the Filipino Canadian Marketing Group, Ms. Go’s entry visa was not released on time by the Canadian Embassy in Manila, Philippines. Ms. Go was in Vancouver a year ago and performed at another event, the Metro Vancouver Philippine Summer Festival.

In addition to Mr. Gibbs, Vancouver-based artists Melanie Salas, Mar-

ion Torres, and the hip-hop rap group Krewmatik Music sang at both media briefing and festival.

Vancouver mom Grace Delfino was at the concert and said she thoroughly enjoyed Janno Gibb’s performance “although there were numerous interruptions Janno had with fans

WATCH OUT FOR: Marion Torres, a superb GMA TV contract artist who sang at the Vancouver’s Original Pinoy Music Festival on July 14, 2012 asking for side-by-side photographs.”

Vancouver’s Original Pinoy Music Festival 2012 was in celebration of the Filipino Canadian Marketing Group’s (FCMG) 7th Year Anniversary.

The president of FCMG, Ms. Faye Nalicat-Auyong said, “This music festival was our way of thanking Greater Vancouver Filipino Community’s support all throughout the years of our humble operation. And it is definitely an honor to have been given this great opportunity to partner with GMA TV Network.”

SPUNKY RAP: Krewmatik Musik group introduced to Vancouver at the press event for singer Janno Gibbs

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VANCOUVERIMPRESSIONS

VANCOUVER Impressions

By Mel Tobias

SYMBOLS OF CANADA A

Canada Day poll asked people to identify the best “symbol’’ of what Canada really is. And the findings showed that most Canadians identified themselves not to man-made things but things in nature. The poll demonstrated the “spiritual connection” of Canadians to the country’s wilderness, epitomized by symbols such as the Rocky Mountains near Banff. It reflected the robust and enduring sense of pride of Canadians in the country’s vast and diverse landscapes.

On the subject of the top “10” or great symbols, they are the flag, national anthem, hockey, the Mounties, medicare, the Artic, the beaver, multiculturalism and the military.

Canada’s official animal symbol is still the beaver. Meanwhile, Justin Beiber finished 13th out of 13 choices offered in the ranking of Canadian symbols.

Canadian superstars like Celine Dion were not embraced as fervently as the country’s transcendent symbols of national pride. The maple leaf is considered the overwhelming choice for a natural symbol.

MORE AMERICAN TOURISTS IN CANADA DESPITE LOONIE RISE

Canada’s tourism industry is currently enjoying a boost in spending from foreign tourists, meaning American visitors and Canadians who prefer domestic vacations. Spending on vacations in Canada has been increasing since late 2009 and climbed again in 2012. In Vancouver, the number of visitors from the U.S. has increased significantly, specially impressive given the increased security that makes crossing the border by car less enticing.

More people in other parts of Canada chose to vacation closer to home in the wake of the recession. Compared to 10 years ago, Canadians now spend almost 50% more on vacations in their home country. But while vacation spending is increasing, Canadians spent less money on recreation, entertainment and food while on vacation.

It is also interesting to know that more Vancouverites are driving to nearly Bellingham to save hundreds of dollars on plane tickets. According to a Canadian Airports Council report, about 950,000 passengers a year use Seattle or Bellingham airports instead of the Vancouver

International Airport.

Airfares are cheaper in the U.S. because of lower fares, taxes and surcharges in American airports. Canadian airports are losing 4.5 million passengers annually to airports across the border. It amounts to $1 billion in lost revenue per year.

VICTORIA’S DOWNTOWN STREET PIANOS

Victoria, the capital of British Columbia has street art, street furniture, street people, street entertainment, street food and will be having street pianos. It’s a wonderful idea for a subdued and civilized city, known as a haven for honeymooners and the retired generation (not retarded).

The street pianos promise to be an attraction to tourists and residents hungry for new “live” performances. The idea originated in Birmingham, England. How to keep the pianos safe and secure from vandals and hooligans is a major concern. The organizers expect people will care enough about the pianos to protect them from vandalism and carefree graffitti artists. This requires a caring, educated, mature and community-spirited citizenry.

PROVOCATIVE SUMMER READING EVERYDAY SURVIVAL (Why Smart People Do Stupid Things) – Laurence Gonzales Trouble finds us even when we are

not looking for it. What form it takes, we don’t know. There’s plenty of trouble out there to go around.

This book focus on everyday situations where we are perfectly comfortable and believe ourselves, mistakenly, to be perfectly safe. It illustrates how the modern man fall into a pattern of creating situations for his daily life that prevents him from thinking critically about his surroundings. It is a book about changes and change can only come through a new way of looking at things.

Everyday Survival will hopefully help our choices in our complex, dangerous and frenetic every changing world.

THE GENIUS FACTORY – Unravelling the Mysteries of the Nobel Prize Sperm Bank – David Plotz Why are there are so many young people today who lack passion, direction, ambition, drive and just average intelligence. What’s wrong with the kids today? There are of course many exceptions. But one wonders if the race can be improved with more superbrainy children instead of a generation of underachievers. Or is a cushioned life making a lot of passive people, slackers who don’t aspire to achieve greatness? Can we really make superkids? The book “The Genius Factory” raised some theories and conclusions.

In 1980, an eccentric millionaire launched a “Nobel Prize Sperm Bank”, intended to create a generation of brainy children. It collected sperm from scientists, inventors, businessmen and thinkers, including Nobel Prize Winners.

“The Genius Factory” produced more than 200 children and this highly fascinating book tracked down many of the donors, children and mothers to shed new light on the unique battle between nature and nuture. David Plotz, the author was known as the “Semen Detective” after the publication and successful release of his book.

In conclusion, measuring what the sperm donor contributed is quite impossible. But the smartest of kids had smart donors, but they also had smart mothers, and they have been raised in intellectually challenging environments. The Novel Sperm Bank may not have met the world’s expectations, but it met the expectations of those who mattered most – its customers.

JENNIFER SURATOS STARS IN RENT REVIVAL

“Rent” is the new “Hair” in the history of rock musicals. It is ageless and is constantly being re-staged but its freshness is intact. It opened to thunderous acclaim when it started as a stage reading way back in 1993 at the New York Theater Workshop.

The late Jonathan Larson who created Rent wanted to update Puccini’s opera La Boheme to a modern setting.

It later moved to Broadway in 1996 and Larson won the 1996 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Rent was one of the longest running shows (7th on the list) on Broadway. It was later made into a successful movie. Today, there are many touring companies and revivals around the world.

After a 12-year run, the final Broadway performance was filmed “live” on stage and can be enjoyed on Blue-Ray DVD. This one-only historic event, with the special appearance of the original cast will nostalgically remind us that there is there is truly “no day like today”, Rent comes alive again in Vancouver. Fighting Chance Production, headed by Ryan Mooney is re-mounting the musical from July 19 to August 18 with a new production at the Waterfront Theater (Granville Island).

Fighting Chance is an independent community theater with humble beginnings 5 years ago when it staged its first production, “Side by Side

by Side with Sondheim”.

The last local production of Rent was 3 years ago. For the 2012 production, Mooney re-auditioned everybody, including the old cast. In the end, only 4 were take from the original cast and the rest are all brand new performers, including the understudies.

One of the major characters in the musical is Joanne, a lawyer with a wonderful career, a Harvard graduate. She connects with the bohemian society of I989-1990 New Yorkers because her partner is Maureen, a lesbian performance artist with a diva temperament. Joanne and Maureen are lovers but they have many conflicts.

Joanne sings a show stopping number “Take Me or Leave Me” and also a song and dance routine “Tango Maureen”. Jennifer Suratos por-

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VANCOUVERIMPRESSIONS trays the demanding role of Joanne.

Jennifer is a gifted Filipino-Canadian who is well-known in Vancouver’s theater community.

She is not a pop singer, not a Lady Gaga imitator, not a singing contest winner, not a beauty contest finalist, not a disco queen –but a professional, legitimate, musical-comedy theater actor with a sold scholastic literary background.

When asked why Rent is popular even in 2012, this was her reply.

“Rent is a snapshot in time. It’s a burst of everything when it first came out. It focussed on young bohemians. It dealt with controversial issues, the AIDs crisis, drug addiction, sexuality, artistic freedom and homelessness to name a few. It spoke to the young generation. We still have many bohemians today. I know many of

them. Maybe I am one myself. Rent is a timeless piece.”

Asked about her favorite Rent song. Jennifer replied misty-eyed.

“Another Day” is a personal favorite.

Like you have to live your life like it’s the last day. And while the song is being performed, there are 10 different stories being told.”

Rent’s new ensemble includes another Filipino Canadian, Petersen Masaigan who is being considered as understudy for a major role. A Langara College Nursing lecturer, this is Petersen’s first musical outing. n

Fighting Chance Production 2012 production of “Rent”

2012-2013 PCTC Board of Directors (seated from left to right- Gigi Astudillo, President Laarni Liwanag, Critie Lane Sotana and Melecia Azares (standing from left to right) Butch Guevarra, Leo Valdez, Shawn Bowden, Vice President Ray Lino and Wilbur Victoria.

PCTC Officers for 2012-2013 Announced ( by WSVictoria / 10 July 2012, Richmond B.C. )

T

he Philippines Canada Trade Council (PCTC) recently announced its new set of officers for year 2012-2013 during its general assembly held last Thursday, July 5, 2012 at Max’s Restaurant in Vancouver, British Columbia.

The Elections Committee, which was headed by past president Atty. Vic Asuncion, proclaimed the following as the PCTC Board of Directors for 2012-2013: President: Laarni Liwanag / Vice President: Ray Lino / Directors: Gigi Astudillo , Melecia Azares, Shawn Bowden, Butch Guevarra, Cristie Lane Sotana , Leo Valdes and Wilbur Victoria.

In her inaugural address, Ms. Liwanag emphasized the need for volunteerism in the coming year, agreeing with past president Vic Asuncion that those who contributed more ( in time ) seem to reap the most benefits from the organization. This was further illustrated with a short presentation by Wilbur Victoria on why “It’s More Fun with PCTC”.

Outgoing President Manny Ilao presented the highlights of the past year wherein PCTC held several events and made efforts to update its brand image and relevance to members. Mr. Ilao congratulated new President Laarni Liwanag, noting in a play of words, that the succession was from “Ilao to Liwanag” or “Light to Brightness ” in English. Ms. Liwanag, in turn, presented a certificate of appreciation to Mr. Ilao for his invaluable service to the Council. For more information about PCTC, please visit www.pctcnet.org.

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FIL-AMS ARE 2ND LARGEST

ASIAN GROUP IN U.S. ILIPINOAmericans, numbering more than three million, are now the second largest Asian group in the United States next to Chinese Americans.

A report by the Pew Research Center showed that Filipinos comprise 19.7 percent (3,416,840) of Asians living in the United States.

The Chinese accounted for 23.3 percent (4,010,114), making them the largest Asian group in the US. The other large Asian groups, each estimated at more than a million, included Indians (18.4 percent), Vietnamese (10.0%), Koreans (9.9 percent) and Japanese (7.5 percent).

Pew used the 2010 American Community Survey (ACS) of the US Census Bureau which estimated that 2.3 million adult FilipinoAmericans lived in the US during that year.

Based on the 2010 ACS, the median age of an adult Filipino-American is 43. Their individual median annual earnings working full-time and year-round is $43,000. Among Filipino-American households the median annual income is $75,000.

The 2010 ACS also found that among adult Filipino-Americans, 69 percent are foreign born; 77 percent are US citizens; 62 percent own a home; 66 percent live in the West and six percent live in poverty; 56 percent are married; 78 percent speak English proficiently; and 47 percent of those aged 25 and older have obtained at least a bachelor’s degree.

According to the Pew study, Filipino immigration to the US be-

Sixty-one percent of Filipino-Americans still have closeknit families -- which include spouse, parents, siblings or children -- living in their country of origin. About 67 percent said they had sent money to relatives in the Philippines in the past 12 months.

Fil-Ams celebrate Philippine Independence Day with a parade in Manhattan, New York City.

After 1965, many Filipinos came to the US, to escape the Marcos regime or to seek employment. gan after the Philippines became a colony of America in 1898.

The research agency, citing 2008 data, said that a large number of Filipinos went to Hawaii to work on sugar plantations there before coming to the US mainland.

Filipino-Americans gather at the front lawn of the Maui County in Hawaii to hear a mayoral proclamation declaring October as Filipino-American History Month in the county of Maui.

“Filipinos were the only Asians who lived on American territory and were therefore exempted from the 1917 and 1924 laws that prohibited Asian immigration to the country,” Pew said.

However, severe limits were

enforced on Filipino immigration in 1934 when the country was established as a commonwealth of the US, resulting in a decline of the Filipino population in the US in the following decade from 108,000 to 98,000, the report said.

After the passage of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, many Filipinos came to the US again. Some came to escape the dictatorial regime of Ferdinand

Marcos and seek more opportunities for employment, Pew added.

The Pew report combined a detailed analysis of economic and demographic data from the US Census Bureau and other official sources and findings of a telephone survey of 3,511 Asian Americans last January 3 to March 27.

Results of the 2012 survey found that 61 percent of Filipino-Americans still have close-knit families -- which include spouse, parents, siblings or children -- living in their country of origin. About 67 percent said they had sent money to relatives in the Philippines in the past 12 months.

The poll also showed that most Filipino-Americans (64 percent) perceive that the strength of family ties is better in the Philippines compared to the 11 percent who said that the strength of family ties is better in the US. In terms of economic opportunities, majority of Filipino-Americans (78 percent) said that the US offered better prospects than the Philippines.

When asked whether the US or China will be the world’s “leading economic power” 10 years from now, more Filipino-American’s favored China (41 percent) while those who chose the US accounted for 32 percent.

On social attitudes, Pew said Filipino-Americans stand out for their low levels of social trust with 73 percent saying “you can’t be too careful in dealing with people” and only 23 percent saying “most people can be trusted.” n

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PNOY: NO NEW MINING PERMITS IN PALAWAN PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino has served notice to Environment Secretary Ramon Paje that no new mining applications should be approved in Palawan province, home to “world wonder” Puerto Princesa Underground River.

In an accompanying memorandum to his new order on mining, the President ordered Paje to “desist from processing mining applications” in Palawan.

This was among nine specific actions that Malacañang outlined in a memorandum for the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to carry out in compliance with Executive Order No. 79. The July 6 memorandum was signed by Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. It was a surprise that Malacañang came up with a specific action for Palawan only, which was among the 78 tourism sites declared by EO 79 as “no-go” zones.

Current nickel projects, however, will be allowed to continue, he said. Palawan hosts several big mining projects, including Rio Tuba, Coral Bay, Berong and Oriental Peninsula Resources.

Paje said Mr. Aquino’s specific order on Palawan was prompted by the fame gained by the Puerto Princesa Underground River as one of the world’s new seven wonders and the Department of Tourism’s plan to boost the promotion of tourism in the province.

“The government feels that the primary land use of Palawan should be tourism. We should somehow be biased for tourism because of the accolade it’s giving to the country as one of the seven wonders of the world,” the environment secretary said.

Mining has been a touchy issue in Palawan. Environmentalist groups have tangled with the DENR and mining companies over the operation of large-scale mining in the province. Paje has rebuffed calls to cancel active mining projects. n

27

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JULY 16-31, 2012

AQUINO EXPANDS NO-MINING ZONES

P

RESIDENT Benigno Aquino III has expanded the “no-go” mining zones in the country to include 78 tourism sites, and farms, marine sanctuaries and island ecosystems in response to the public clamor to protect the environment from mining.

The identification of more minefree areas in the country is the centerpiece of the administration’s mining reforms program under Executive Order No. 79, which the President signed on July 6.

“One of the most important provisions here is Section 1, expanding in effect the areas close to mining,” Environment Secretary Ramon Paje said at a press briefing in Malacañang.

“We call them the ‘no-go’ zones.

Before this EO, the no-go zones were

confined [to] the protected areas.”

Other highlights of the executive order: • Moratorium on the grant of new mining agreements until Congress shall have come up with a revenuesharing scheme between the government and mining firms.

• Consistency of ordinances with national laws.

• Confining small-scale mining to designated areas to be called “Minahang Bayan.”

• Review and possible renegotiation of existing contracts.

• Awarding of areas with verified reserves through public bidding.

• State ownership of mine tailings and wastes upon expiration of contract.

• Formation of a Mining Industry Coordinating Council to implement industry reforms.

• Ban on the use of mercury in small-scale mining.

On top of the protected areas cited in the Philippine Mining Act of 1995 and the National Integrated Protected Area System, EO 79 bans mining in these areas: • Tourism development areas identified by the National Tourism Development Plan (NTDP); • Prime agricultural lands such as plantations and other properties devoted to valuable crops; • Fisheries development zones and marine sanctuaries as declared by the agriculture secretary; and • Island ecosystems to be determined by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) through mapping technology.

“Based on the DOT (Department of Tourism) submission, there were 78 sites identified by the DOT in the NTDP as no-go zones. This, in effect, will be completely banned for mining activities,” said Paje.

The new EO also reiterated the government’s commitment to fully enforce environmental standards by setting up a multi-stakeholder team that will review the performance of

existing mining operations.

The team, to be led by the DENR, is tasked with recommending actions against firms that do not fully comply with state regulations on mining and the environment.

Aside from widening the areas banned from mining, Paje said the EO would seek to boost state revenues from mining by including a 5-percent royalty in future mining contracts and areas to be declared as mineral reservations by the President.

The new order also seeks to increase occupational and application fees, and to sell abandoned ores and valuable metals in mine wastes and mill tailings.

Paje said the government expected a windfall of P50 billion from the sale of mining wastes; P760 million from occupational fees upon filing (it used to be paid only when the Financial Technical Assistance Agreement [FTAA] was approved); and up to P16 billion from royalty payments from the existing 33 mining operations in the country by 2016.

“We would like to somehow tell the investors, the business community that we will respect existing contracts and, if they invest, we will protect their investments.

Paje said the new EO would extend the moratorium on the grant of new mining agreements until Congress shall have finalized the proposed revenuesharing scheme between the government and mining companies, specifically the 5-percent royalty government wants the mining firms to pay. n

PNOY, VILLAR TO FORGE LP-NP COALITION

PRESIDENT Aquino has met with Senator Manny Villar to forge the coalition between the ruling Liberal Party (LP) and Nacionalista Party (NP).

Budget Secretary and LP official Butch Abad said the meeting was held last week before the President announced that the coalition talks between the two parties were “very, very successful.”

“There has been a meeting between the President and Senator Villar where the agreement in principle to coalesce was forged,” Abad told reporters.

The next step would now be for a group of two or three officials from the LP and the NP to meet and discuss

the operational details, including the slate for the 2013 senatorial elections and details on local coalitions.

Coalition talks would resume next week, he said.

Cebu Rep. Eduardo Gullas was one of the “intermediaries” who made the meeting possible.

“There were some intermediaries who brought the idea to the President that the Nacionalista Party was interested in forging a coalition,” Abad said.

Abad conceded that the LP could not fill up a full senatorial slate hence the coalition.

Abad said Aquino and Villar also took up the heated allegations thrown

VILLAR against each other during the 2010 elections when Liberal Party officials and Aquino’s campaign leaders had even given Villar the nickname “Villarroyo” to indicate their suspicions that Villar was then President Arroyo’s “secret candidate.”

Abad said both the President and Villar have agreed to move on, with the President also stressing the need to form an “enduring” partnership.

“Those issues, not in great detail, were taken up. The President was very frank in saying that if we are to come together in a partnership, it has to be an enduring one based on shared values… If there had been differences in the past, both the President and Senator Villar said that those are the past and therefore we need to look at this partnership moving forward,” Abad said.

Abad hopes that the coalition will last beyond the 2013 elections. n

PLANET

JULY 16-31, 2012

28

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Vancouver Edition

NEWSROUND-UP

BINAY-JINGGOY TANDEM SHAPING UP FOR 2016 HAVE Senators Francis “Chiz” Escudero and Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada gone their separate ways to run for the vice presidency in 2016?

The buzz in Manila’s political circles is that the long-time friends have been jockeying for Vice President Jejomar Binay’s choice of No. 2 in 2016, and that Estrada has edged out Escudero.

And probably out of the senatorial ticket of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) for next year’s midterm elections as well.

The UNA is a coalition formed earlier this year by Binay’s PDP-Laban Party and former President Joseph Estrada’s Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP).

The two parties teamed up to dominate the congressional and local races next year, but it is widely believed that Binay will use UNA as a springboard for the 2016 presidential contest and that the deal between him and Estrada was the choice of the younger Estrada as his running mate.

But Escudero, the buzz goes, wants that spot as a reward for supporting Binay in the 2010 elections.

His endorsement of a “Noy-Bi” vote as the 2010 campaign hit the homestretch cost then Senator Manuel “Mar” Roxas the vice presidential election and gave then Senator Benigno Aquino III, the eventual presidential winner, a vice president from a rival party.

Relations between Mr. Aquino and Binay have been good so far, but relations between the President and Escudero may be severely tested when the senator comes knocking for shelter in the Liberal Party.

Escudero can no longer return to the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) of businessman Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco that he deserted in 2010 because it could not bankroll his run for Malacañang.

Meanwhile, former President Estrada said that Escudero may not be on the UNA senatorial ticket for next year.

Estrada said that it was his impression that Escudero was joining the senatorial slate being formed by the Liberal Party.

Besides talking with the Nacionalistas, the Liberals are also talking with Cojuangco’s NPC. “Now he is ambivalent,” Estrada said in Filipino, referring to Escudero.

“I don’t know why. What I think is that he may have asked for many favors from President Aquino.”

If it is true that the President is fixing things between Escudero and Roxas, then UNA is not looking to get Escudero even as guest senatorial candidate next year.

“We will not accept guest candidates,” Estrada said. “That’s what we have agreed on.”

Estrada denied that his son is being groomed to become Binay’s vice

Vice President Binay (right) with Senate President Enrile and Sen. Jinggoy Estrada. presidential running mate in 2016.

“It’s not true,” he said. “You can ask Binay if we have talked about it.”

Escudero won’t join UNA to run for reelection next year if Binay is not picking him as his No. 2 in 2016, which seems certain, so the buzz goes, because handing that spot to

U.S. PROBES MIKEY ARROYO OVER PROPERTIES MIKEY

GMA TRIAL MAY LAST 3 YEARS THE Pasay City Regional Trial Court (RTC)Branch 112 is drawing up its schedule to insure the uninterrupted proceedings of former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s trial on her electoral sabotage case, which could last for three years.

Arroyo, along with former Maguindanao governor Andal Ampatuan Sr. and former Commission on Elections (Comelec) lawyer Lintang Bedol, is facing charges in relation to alleged cheating in the 2007 midterm election in Maguindanao.

Joel Pelicano, Branch 112 Clerk of Court, said that Judge Jesus Mupas has already designated every Wednesday as trial day.

He said they will be coordinating with the Sandiganbayan where a graft case against Arroyo is also being heard to avoid conflict of schedule.

Considering the number of witnesses to be presented, it is likely that direct and cross examination of every witness may take up to three weeks or even months.

The Comelec has lined up at least 32 witnesses. They have already presented 12, including former Maguindanao administrator Norie Unas, who was presented during the bail hearing of the former president.

“To speed up the proceedings, the prosecution may adopt the testimonies already presented in the bail hearings,” Pelicano said.

Mupas has already terminated the proceedings of the petition for bail filed by Arroyo and the court is set to decide on whether to grant or deny it. n

Senator Estrada is a done deal.

Escudero leads senatorial candidates in national surveys and as such he will be a prized catch for any party.

With the NPC and the UNA out and with the Nacionalista Party of Senator Manuel Villar talking of a coalition with Mr. Aquino’s Liberal Party, he has

nowhere to go but to the President for adoption.

But Roxas, whom Escudero junked in 2010 in favor of Binay, is the president of the Liberals. Would Mr. Aquino plead with his best friend Roxas to let bygones be bygones and let Escudero come aboard?

A source close to Escudero said that did not pose a problem at all. Escudero, the source said, is considering a number of options for 2016.

If he can’t run for vice president, then he will run for president. Then again, he might stay out of the fray and be a “kingmaker,” as he did in 2010 when he gave the vice presidency to Binay by endorsing “Noy-Bi.” But the source said that President Aquino had been hinting to friends a Roxas-Escudero team for 2016, which will be a “powerhouse” combination if Escudero has no problem running as Roxas’ No. 2.

If he has, the source said, the NPC is not really lost to him. He may have abandoned the party, but not the party boss, Cojuangco, who considers him a “prodigal son,” the source said. n

THE US Justice Department is investigating party-list Rep. Juan Miguel “Mikey” Arroyo over his alleged properties in the United States, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima has revealed.

De Lima said the US Department of Justice has sent her a letter about the investigation.

However, she declined to discuss details regarding the issue.

“Mayroon kaming natanggap na request... about an ongoing investigation.

But you have to pardon me, hindi pa namin puwedeng sabihin iyung detalye, kasi ongoing pa nga,” she said.

De Lima added that Washington

and Manila have existing cooperation agreements on cases involving the 2 countries.

Arroyo’s lawyer, Atty. Ruy Rondain, said he is not aware of any US investigation on his client.

The lawmaker, a son of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, was earlier reported to have bought and sold a beachfront house in Foster City, California.

A financial expert interviewed by ABS-CBN News North America last year wondered how Arroyo got his mortgage approved when he purchased the Foster City property in 2006.

“He makes P455,000 a year. That would not even cover the property taxes on that property. How did they get a loan for $1 million? They would have to commit mortgaged fraud and

claim that they had a $300,000 plus income in the United States, when of course he’s functioning as a congressman in the Philippines to qualify,” said James Triguero, a member of the Filipino American Chamber of Commerce.

A company partly-owned by Arroyo later sold the house for $1.125 million to owners of the restaurant chain “Gerry’s Grill,” according to Vera Files.

The property was not allegedly listed in the annual statements of assets, liabilities, and net worth that Arroyo is required to disclose under the law.

The former President’s son and his wife, Angela, are also facing tax evasion charges filed by the Bureau of Internal Revenue and the Department of Justice. n

AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE FOR KIN OF OFWS OVERSEAS Filipino workers (OFWs) can now ensure better health for their families and enjoy a worry-free stay abroad once they become a member of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp.

PhilHealth executive officer Eduardo Banzon said at a cost of only P7.50 a day, OFWs can be shielded against unforeseen hospital and other medical expenses for the whole household.

“It would be prudent for them to invest a fairly small amount for the healthcare of their families here, especially their spouses who in most cases are the ones left behind to look after the household,” Banzon said.

He said wives of OFWs can avail

themselves of P8,000 for every normal spontaneous delivery (or a total of P32,000 for up to four deliveries) in an accredited lying-in clinic or level 1 hospital.

“Our additional P1,750 newborn care benefit also ensures the infant’s screening for potentially harmful or fatal disorders that aren’t apparent at birth, eye prophylaxis, vitamin K administration, weighing, BCG vaccination, initial dose of hepatitis B immunization, and hearing test,” Banzon said.

PhilHealth also grants a fixed amount of P19,000 for a one-time, non-elective caesarian section delivery in accredited levels 2 to 4 hospitals and performed by qualified prac-

titioners.

Banzon said the availment of benefits by the OFW’s wife would not prejudice the rest of the family’s enjoyment of the PhilHealth benefits due them.

“For instance, should another dependent of the OFW be hospitalized due to dengue fever or for any other ailment while the spouse is giving birth to a baby, PhilHealth will still pay for their respective benefits all together,” he said.

Should the OFW himself or principal PhilHealth member be repatriated here or come home for any reason, and require hospitalization or treatment, he too would also be entitled to benefits. n

PLANET

Vancouver Edition

29

PHILIPPINES

JULY 16-31, 2012

NEWSROUND-UP • Associate Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno

MILF SAYS NO COMPROMISE ON BANGSAMORO SUB-STATE THE Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has spelled out its “bottom line” in negotiations with the Philippine government, saying it would not compromise with the Philippine government on its desire for the creation of a Bangsamoro sub-state in Mindanao.

At a news conference in Camp Darapanan, Maguindanao, MILF chairman Al Haj Murad Ebrahim that Bangsamoro leaders would push for a “state sub-state” relationship with the national government, similar to the set-up under a federal form of government.

“We seek genuine self-governance for our people in a state-substate asymmetrical arrangement where the powers of government are divided between the central and state or substate governments and each level of government has sovereignty in some areas and shares powers in other areas,” Ebrahim said.

“The product end of the negotiations…what we are aiming for…is this sub-state. We have already reached our bottom line. We cannot compromise further. If this position of the MILF will still be watered down, then there is no actual autonomy,” he added.

Ebrahim said the proposed autonomous sub-state, which will follow the framework of countries such as the United States, Malaysia, Germany, Australia and Canada, “will not be altered by a unilateral decision of the central government,” He said that if the creation of a Bangsamoro sub-state pushes through, there would be a three-year transition period and the MILF wants the transition period to be an “inclusive affair.”

“Meaning we are willing to let others participate in the transition mechanism but what we are demanding is that it will be led by MILF because the MILF is party to the negotiations and as party we are the ones very interested in implementing and in letter and speed whatever agreement we can reach,” Embrahim said.

While stressing that they would no longer compromise on their demands, the MILF said they would continue engaging in negotiations with the government “as long as it’s necessary.”

He warned that should negotiations fail, the MILF would continue with its struggle – both political and armed. n

PMA NOW OPEN TO GAYS GAYS may enroll at the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) but risk a reprimand from a military school proud of its “macho” tradition if they display effeminate behavior.

PMA officials insist they do not discriminate against gays but they expect them to behave the way cadets should. In any case, they say, gay cadets eventually leave the PMA anyway before completing the four-year course because they cannot stand the rigors of training.

The PMA position appears to be in contrast to the stance taken by US President Barack Obama and the American Congress, which in September last year formally repealed a 17year-old discriminatory law known as “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”

The abolished American law banned openly gay men, lesbians and bisexuals from military service.

Obama said the law’s repeal meant that members of the US Armed Forces “will no longer have to lie about who they are in order to serve the country they love.”

According to the PMA superintendent, Major General Nonato Peralta Jr., the country’s premier military training school does not turn away applicants because they are gay. He said that would be a violation of human rights.

But he admitted that having gays was not yet quite accepted in

the PMA. “We do not prohibit them. As it is in Filipino culture, (gays are) not yet very acceptable outright. So Philippine society is under transition. That is also how it is in the PMA. We cannot say (gays are) prohibited. No, they’re not prohibited,” Peralta stressed during a visit to the Armed Forces of the Philippines headquarters in Camp Emilio Aguinaldo.

Captain Agnes Flores, PMA spokesperson, said gays were not discriminated against but “once they are admitted to the PMA they are required to behave the way the cadets are supposed to behave.”

“So anyone who displays gay behavior would be reprimanded because that’s not what is expected of them. They enter our institution and they are to follow the rules and regulations of our organization,” she stressed.

Flores admitted there were some gays among PMA graduates but she said these military officers did not show gay behavior while in the Academy.

“From experience, there are (gay PMA graduates). Maybe he was able to graduate because during the training in the Academy there was no opportunity for his (gay) tendencies (to show). When he left the academy that’s when it came out,” Flores said.

22 NOMINEES FOR CHIEF JUSTICE POST THE Judicial and Bar Council has trimmed down to 22 the list of individuals aspiring for the vacant post of chief justice.

JBC ex-officio member and Iloilo Rep. Niel Tupas revealed that only 22 of the 26 people who either applied or accepted their endorsements made it to the “long list.”

Meanwhile, Malacanang said the next chief justice need not be near retirement to be appointed. Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said a chief justice of any age can be appointed.

“It depends on the prerogative of (the President). If he (nominee) was recommended by the JBC (Judicial and Bar Council) and the President finds a person fit to serve as Chief

Justice, and regardless of age, that’s something that we can accept,” he said.

Some senators earlier warned President Benigno Aquino III against appointing a young Chief Justice.

Of the SC justices in the running, Associate Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno is the youngest. She marked her 52nd birthday only last July 2. Sereno is the first appointee of Aquino to the high court.

The Supreme Court justices included on the long list are: • Acting Chief Justice Antonio Carpio • Associate JusticePresbitero Velasco Jr. • Associate Justice Teresita Leonardo-de Castro • Associate Justice Arturo Brion • Associate Justice Roberto Abad

Other former and current government officials also included are: • Justice Secretary Leila de Lima • Solicitor General Francis Jardeleza • Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez • Chairman Andres Bautista of the Presidential Commission on Good Government • Commissioner Rene Sarmiento of the Commission on Elections • Securities and Exchange Commission Chairperson Teresita Herbosa • Retired Judge Manuel Siayngco Jr. • Former Executive Secretary Ronaldo Zamora Those from the academe who were included are: • Raul Pangalangan, former dean of the University of the Philippines College of Law • Cesar Villanueva, former dean of the Ateneo de Manila Law School • Jose Manuel Diokno, founding dean of the De La Salle University College of Law • Amado Valdez, dean of the University of the East College of Law Other lawyers on the “long list” are: • Atty. Katrina Legarda • Atty. Soledad Cagampang-De Castro • Atty. Rafael Morales • Atty. Vicente Velasquez Public interviews will then start on July 24 and will run for four days until July 27. The JBC plans to interview around six candidates per day. n

ROXAS PUSHES CONSUMER PROTECTION FOR AIR TRAVELERS THE multi-government agency effort to address consumer complaints will not kill the highly successful budget air travel that has fueled the growth of the local aviation industry, the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) said.

“Let me reiterate to the airline companies that we are not here to ruin their business or cause them to lose money or in any way jeopardize what has been a successful model,” Transportation Secretary Manuel Roxas II said.

“But this model cannot be successful at the expense of the rights of the innocent passenger, who is a contractual partner in a contract entered into whenever a ticket is sold,” he noted.

Roxas along with Trade and Industry Secretary Gregory Domingo presided over a first public hearing on the Passenger Bill of Rights.

Domingo said the hearing was meant to strike a balance between the interest of airline companies and passenger’s rights.

Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez described the hearing as a “historic day” and said that the problem of runway congestion in our airports was

ROXAS brought about by the sudden surge in travel.

“We wouldn’t be in this room today if there wasn’t a sudden surge in travel in our country,” Jimenez said.

The stakeholders were given turn to present their positions and submit their inputs or amendments to the 13-page working draft of the Air Passenger Bill of Rights.

House committee of transportation member Samar Rep. Mel Sarmiento, co-author of the Airline Passenger Fairness Act, extended his

support to the administrative order.

Elvira Medina of the National Center for Commuter Safety and Protection made a pitch for the rights of persons with disabilities and the improvement of emergency facilities inside aircraft. Other representatives and private individuals also expressed the sentiments of the senior citizens.

Among the issues raised by airline companies were passengers’ responsibility in arriving at airports three hours before their flight, delayed and cancelled flights due to force majeure, the requirement for a reserved aircraft, and the coverage of inbound and outbound international flights.

They also vowed to follow the administrative order that would create the Passengers Bill of Rights.

Roxas said the hearing would rationalize and clarify the rights and obligations of the passengers and the airlines to foster a better relationship between the two sectors.

“The rights and obligations will be more clear both for the passengers and the airline companies. This will also help in improving their relationship in such a way that the blaming and pointing of fingers can be lessened,” Roxas said. n

PLANET

JULY 16-31, 2012

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NEWSROUND-UP

NATIONWIDE HAZARD ASSESSMENT PROJECT LAUNCHED PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III sees no more “Bahala na si Batman” during the rainy days as he led the launching of Project NOAH (Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards) in Marikina City.

In his speech, Aquino said Project NOAH aims to manage uncertainty during typhoons and rains and prevent loss of lives and property through the use of advanced technology to accurately predict rainfall and warn vulnerable communities.

“Ngayon po, hindi na palad ang panukat sa lakas ng ulan. Tiyak ang datos na makakalap natin sa ating rain gauges. Hindi na po tuhod, baywang, at ulo ang panukat natin sa lebel ng tubig-ulan; eksaktong sukat na ang hatid sa atin ng water level sensors,” he said.

“Hindi na rin po padadaanin sa

hula ang lagay ng panahon at kung saan babagsak ang ulan; real time na datos at impormasyon na rin ang hatid sa atin ng Doppler radars,” he added.

Based on data from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), he said at least 1.7 families were affected by the 500 flooding incidents recorded from 2000 to 2011. The damages were pegged at P160 billion.

“Malinaw po: ang pinsalang dulot ng baha sa buhay, bahay, at kabuhayan ng mga Pilipino ay hindi po biro,” Aquino said.

Because of this, he said his administration pushed for the modernization of weather equipment. He said the country now has 12 locally-assembled water level monitoring sensors from four in 2010 and 100 auto-

CHED COOL TO CHANGE OF SCHOOL OPENING

THE Commission on Higher Education (CHED) is not inclined to support a call to change the school calendar and reset the opening of classes from June to September.

CHED chair Patricia Licuanan said the change would not in any way spare students from heavy rains and floods since September, October and November are also months when the country experiences heavy rains, and suffer the consequent floods.

“We simply have to deal with the reality of rain for six months of the year and deliver education during the rainy season,” Licuanan said.

Licuanan added that holding classes during the summer months of April and May have its own problems of severe heat that would require airconditioning, which will increase electric bills of schools.

“Changing the school calendar is not the solution,” Licuanan said.

Meanwhile, Sen. Francis Pangilinan advised the Department of Education (DepEd) to study the proposal very carefully before actually making any decision to implement this.

“The proposal to move class opening to September must be studied carefully and we must not rush into it until we have empirical data to prove that moving it to September will indeed promote the welfare of our students,” Pangilinan said in a statement.

Pangilinan said the DepEd should not be carried away by the clamor for moving the start of the school year to September immediately after Metro Manila and several parts of the country experienced heavy rains and flashfloods over the past few days.

He clarified that he was not opposed to the proposal per se but only wants to make sure that all of the possible outcomes for such a move are known before any decision is made.

Among the things that the DepEd must figure out first, according to Pangilinan, is if the move to September would actually mean less disruption of classes due to heavy rains and flooding.

“Firstly, no less than PAGASA (Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration) has said that the strongest and most destructive typhoons are now taking place in the ‘ber’ months – as in September, October until December,” Pangilinan said. “‘Sendong’ happened in December while ‘Ondoy’ happened in September. If we move classes to September, aren’t we jumping from the pan into the fire?” he added.

Another factor that the DepEd must consider is the fact that moving the opening of classes to September would mean that the students would still be in school during the hottest months of the year.

“Can our children benefit more when they are made to suffer steaming, scorching heat every day for two months in non-air-conditioned classrooms? What do we prefer our children avoid, several days of typhoon weather a month during the typhoon season or unbearable heat every day for two months?” Pangilinan said.

Pangilinan said the DepEd must have all the answers to these questions before making any move to transfer the opening of classes. n

mated rain gauges, 86 of which have been deployed to different regions.

The Doppler radar stations in Baguio, Subic, Tagaytay, Virac, Mactan,

and Hinatuan have also been operational since 2010 and he expects three more Doppler weather radars to be operational in Tampakan, Aparri,

and Baler before 2012 ends.

With the launch of Project NOAH, the Department of Science and Technology aims to provide, within two years, high-resolution flood hazard maps and install 600 automated rain gauges and 400 water level measuring stations for 18 major river basins of the Philippines.

The other river basins of the Philippines will follow soon after the work on the 18 major river basins is completed.

The initial output of Project NOAH is focused on the Marikina WatershedThrough the use of advanced science and technology, NOAH aims to improve disaster management capacity of local governments and assure homeland security by reducing casualties and property loss from extreme hazard events. n

RICE SELF-SUFFICIENCY SEEN IN 2013 LONG one of the world’s leading importers of rice, the Philippines is now entertaining thoughts of becoming an exporter, as the government forecasts rice self-sufficiency by 2013.

Relatively good weather and public investment in machinery and other support for rice farmers are being credited for bumper harvests in the first half of 2012.

Palay production in the first six months is expected at 7.875 million metric tons, indicating the country is on the way toward self-sufficiency, Malacañang and the Department of Agriculture have both indicated.

“According to (DA Secretary) Proceso Alcala, we no longer need to import rice because we will become rice self-sufficient by then,” President Benigno Aquino III said in a speech at the Makina-Saka 2012, an agriculture trade event on farm mechanization at the World Trade Center in Pasay City.

“In 2013, if we are fortunate to not be hit hard by typhoons, it looks like we won’t just be self-sufficient, we will also be the ones to export

rice,” he added.

Unlike in the past when the country recorded a 1.3-million-metric-ton (MT) shortage and imported 2.47 million MT, the government last year imported only 850,000 MT and only 500,000 MT this year, Aquino noted.

The country’s palay production for the year’s first semester may reduce rice imports to 100,000 MT in 2013 and could make the Philippines selfsufficient in rice, said the DA. In exchange for lower imports, the National Food Authority (NFA) will be tasked to buy more palay from farmers to stabilize local prices and prevent traders from preying on farmers, according to the department.

Alcala said the country expects another record-breaking harvest brought about by intervention measures implemented by the department to prop up rice production.

“We will be able to break the record harvest in the first semester last year,” he said. Alcala noted that standing crops in the second quarter standing looks promising and would compensate for the previous quarter’s slight dip in output.

Agriculture Assistant Secretary and Rice Program director Dante Delima attributed the expected robust output to good weather conditions this year.

Alcala presented the DA’s Food Staples Sufficiency Policy to Aquino during the Makina Saka, noting that the country is on schedule to attaining rice self-sufficiency by 2013.

Through the Food Staples Sufficiency Program (FSSP), the country would also no longer need to import corn, cassava and other fruits and vegetables in the coming years, the President said. n

SC STOPS WAGE SCHEME FOR BUS DRIVERS, CONDUCTORS THE Supreme Court has stopped the implementation of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) order fixing wages of bus drivers and conductors.

At a press conference, acting Public Information Chief Gleo Guerra said the high court has decided to issue a status quo ante meaning preserving the current situation where the bus drivers and conductors are receiving commissions.

Guerra added that the bus drivers and conductors who no longer received their commission beginning July 1 when the DOLE order took effect will be paid their commissions.

Guerra said the DOLE and the Land Transportation Franchising

and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) are ordered to comment on the petition filed by bus operators.

In their petition, bus operators asked the high court to declare as unconstitutional the DOLE order setting up of fixed wages for bus drivers and conductors saying the order could lead to their bankruptcy.

Petitioners, which include a majority of bus operators, said the implementation of Department Order 11812 the fixing of wages for bus drivers and conductors “could lead to their ultimate corporate demise.”

“The bus operators depend on their income solely on passenger fares that are not flexible enough to cope with changes in compensation schemes already in place,” the peti-

tion stated.

Under the new wage system, the drivers and conductors “should not earn lower than what they presently receive under the straight commission-basis. This is following the nondiminution principle.”

The order also calls for company safety and health programs, including measures against smoking, drugs, and the spread of AIDS, as well as antisexual harassment and disaster risk-reduction programs.

The DOLE arrived at the scheme due to the prevalence of road accidents involving busses who resorted to several schemes to gather passengers because drivers and conductors are being paid on pure commission basis. n

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Vancouver Edition