John Lloyd and Sarah Geronimo Cover. May 1-15 2013 Issue

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MAY 1-15, 2013

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PHILIPPINES

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By leon kilat

ANCOUVER - Elmore, Kalaw, Lim, Sherst, Pagtakhan.

They may not be all recognizable names to voters across British Columbia.But in the coming provincial election on May 14, 2013, the burgeoning Filipino community in B.C will watch them. More importantly, political parties are watching too.

All five are Filipino-Canadians.

And all of them hope to get elected to the B.C. legislature with the support of the Filipino vote.

This is an historic moment for the community’s political journey, when all major political parties are being represented.

Being the fastest growing ethnic community in the province, their political clout can no longer be ignored.

In the coming years, the political landscape of the province will be transformed with the emergence of a politically-charged community.

It all began in the 2009 provincial election, when a heretofore politically unknown surprised political pundits by wresting the nomination from a seasoned opponent.

Elmore

Elmore, the trailblazer Mable Elmore was driving a transit bus for 10 years and active in her union when she decided to challenge Jinny Sims for the Vancouver-Kensington riding for the B.C. NDP. Sims was the high-profile former head of the B.C. Teacher’s Federation and favoured by party stalwarts.

The second-generation activist was born and raised in Canada by a Filipina nurse and Irish Canadian father. After finishing university, she became active in the Filipino community through the Philippine Women’s Centre

MAY 14 BC ELECTION

A Milestone for FilipinoCanadians

The entry of five Filipino candidates in the coming provincial election is a watershed event in the political maturing of the community, a first for the province where all major parties are represented. where she immersed herself in the fight for migrants’ rights especially the Livein Caregivers Program (LCP).

Vancouver-Kensington is located in the southeast corner of the city and contains the largest number of Filipinos, a fact not lost to Elmore in her first bid.

Stringing together a volunteer corps from her union and Filipino advocacy groups, Elmore was able to win the riding by a comfortable 52 percent majority.

T h i s t i m e around, w i t h f o u r years of legislative experi-

ence and the party ahead in the polls, she vows to get re-elected with even greater majority.

Her historic win in 2009, the first openly lesbian woman of colour to be elected, paved the way for Filipinos to get involved in the political process.

Liberal’s Kalaw, Sherst However, Elmore’s bid to get re-elected is given a new twist with a challenge from a fellow Filipino-Canadian – Gabby Kalaw of the B.C. Liberal Party.

The Philippine-bor n Kalaw moved to Canada at a young age.

This is not

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the first political foray for the 34-year-old software executive.

In the 2011 civic election, he ran for the Non-Partisan Association (NPA) for a seat in the Vancouver Parks Board.

Meanwhile in the Vancouver-Mount Pleasant riding, B.C. Liberal CelynaSiaSherst is challenging veteran NDP Jenny Kwan which she had held for four consecutive terms since 1996.

The 63- year-old travel consultant from Surigao province in Mindanao immigrated to Canada in 1981, and settled in Vancouver where she became involved in several community organizations while upgrading her education.

Armed with a Business Administration degree from the University of the East in Manila, Sherst struggled to find her place in Canadian workforce starting in fast-food establishments as a waiter and eventually becoming a manager.

Volunteerism is in her blood, offering her skills in finance and administration to the Archdiocese of Vancouver where she worked in the finance office and the vocations office.

Her numerous community activities include the Multicultural Helping House Society (MHHS), Sampaguita Dance Group, Filipino Association of B.C. (FABC), and the Philippine BagongPag-Asa Society of B.C. She has been married to husband Mark for 29 years, and they have one son.

Lim and Pagtakhan for the B.C. Conservatives Over in nearby Richmond, Nathaniel Lim is running under the B.C. Conservatives in Richmond East against incumbent B.C. Liberal Linda Reid.

This is a first for Lim who was born in the Philippines and moved to Canada at a young age.

After completing his stud-

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oPagtakhan, a relative of former MP Dr. Rey Pagtakhan of Winnipeg, the first Filipino to be elected as a Member of Parliament in Canada. They have two sons.

Watershed political event

Lim ies at BCIT, he worked as an aircraft electronics technician, but Lim later opted for a career change and obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Work from the University of British Columbia.

Lim subsequently moved to China, where he worked for two years at the Western Academy of Beijing. He’s been employed since 2009 as a family and youth counselor with Family Services of Greater Vancouver.

A volunteer with Big Brothers of Canada, the Richmond L i o n s Manor Senior Home and the

Pagtakhan

There is a wide spectrum of political affiliations in the community, signifying a diverse voting pattern.

Richmond Family and Youth Court Advisory Services, Lim was recognized for his community service by the City of Richmond with the Asset Champion U-Roc Award in 2012.

In another part of Metro Vancouver, realtor Elizabeth Pagtakhan takes another run for office under the B.C. Conservatives in Surrey-White Rock.

Pagtakhan first ran for the Conservative Party of Canada in the 2006 federal election.

The B.C. Conservative Party is not affiliated with the federal party, as is the B.C. Liberal Party, which is not a provincial wing of the federal Liberals.

Pagtakhan challenged the NDP’s Libby Davies in the Vancouver East riding with a third place showing of 5,631 votes against Davies’ 23,927 votes.

Philippine-born Pagtakhan holds a degree in Political Science from the University of British Columbia. She is married to Antoni-

Theentry of five Filipino candidates in the coming provincial election is a watershed event in the political maturing of the community, a first for the province where all major parties are represented.

For years, Canadian provinces have been lagging behind Manitoba which has been at the cutting edge in terms of Filipino political involvement, achieving several political ‘firsts’.

Manitoba was the first to elect a Member of Parliament - Liberal Dr. Rey Pagtakhan in 1988 - and the first member of a provincial legislature - NDP Conrad Santos in 1981.

The province has now two Filipino sitting MLAs. The first is NDP’sFlorMarcelino who is Minister of Culture, Heritage and Tourism and also the first woman of colour to be appointed a cabinet minister. She is on her second term.The other is Marcelino’s brother-in law, Ted Marcelino, also of NDP, who was elected in 2010.

Rey Pagtakhan’s nephew, Mike Pagtakhan, is the first Filipino elected in a city council. Several school boards in Winnipeg have Filipino members.

Alberta had its first MLA in 2008 with the election of Conservative Carl Benito. Benito served only one term.

Ontario, with the most number of Filipinos, has not been able to elect a single member in the provincial legislature, though it has the first Filipino senator – Tomas Enverga Jr., appointed in 2012.

Evidently, there is a wide spectrum of political affiliations in the community, signifying a diverse voting pattern.

The result of this year’s election in B.C. could have a significant impact especially if the NDP will form the government as predicted.For one, Elmore is a possible cabinet contender given her experience as critic for several portfolios in the last assembly.

It would be a wise political move for the party if it were to continue cementing the inroads it has built in the emerging Filipino constituency. n

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O N S U L G enera l Jose Ampeso has apologized for an incident in Red Deer, Alberta last month in which he blew his top and berated Filipino passport applicants. (The Philippine Consulate in Vancouver has jurisdiction over British Columbia, Alberta, Yukon and Northwest Territories.)

The incident, recorded on a smart phone camera and posted on YouTube, has made the rounds of the Internet and caught the attention of Ampeso’s superiors at the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). Ampeso has been recalled to his home office in Manila to explain his side of the incident.

The video clip, captioned “Rude, arrogant, drunk consul.

More fun in the Philippines!,” showed Ampeso berating a group of passport applicants.

Apparently talking about voluntary contributions, Ampeso was captured on camera telling his fellow Filipinos: “What compulsory? I’m telling them to give what they can afford.”

He was also seen confronting someone and saying, “You’re against it?”

He was later heard urging his compatriots to “pass it, pass it forward” in between inaudible words.

Secretary of Foreign Affairs Albert del Rosario said Ampesoerred when he shouted angrily at a passport applicant in Alberta.

“Without any explanation, I see that as an errant behavior,” Del Rosario said in a press briefing in Manila on April 26. “You know the view of the DFA is that all of our people must project professional conduct and behavior at all times and nothing less is acceptable.”

Del Rosario said Ampeso was on his way home to answer questions about his behavior. Ampeso was expected to arrive in Manila end of April.

“I viewed [the video] and I found it questionable. He’s on the way back to answer questions, [and] there [will be] an investigation,” he said. “My position is we should be exacting the highest professional standard from all of our people without exception.”

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Consul General Apologizes for Alberta Incident ‘The video alone is not sufficient to draw any reasonable conclusions from, one way or the other. Hence, it is unfair and unjust to use it to malign my character,’ says Ampeso, a career diplomat for the past three decades, serving in various overseas posts.

A screen grab of video clip showing Ampeso berating a group of Filipino passport applicants.

Del Rosario promised an “unbiased investigation” and penalty depending on the findings.

Caught on video The video was posted by one “greatauror28”, apparently the person who earned Ampeso’s ire.

The passport applicant, Proceso Flordeliz Jr., from Edmonton,

wrote an account of his encounter with diplomat in a Filipino online forum.

Flordeliz said Ampeso berated him for donating only a dollar during the Vancouver mission’s Passport Renewal Outreach program at the Sheraton Hotel in Red Deer, Alberta. He said Ampeso, who “smelled [of] alcohol in his

breath],” initially ignored him at the passport renewal desk when he said he was not going to make a donation.

When he was called again to the renewal desk, he said Ampeso asked him again for a donation and became angry when he asked if a dollar would be fine. He said Ampeso threatened to disregard his passport renewal papers if he would give only a dollar.

“Here I was just wanting my passport renewed and I have to deal with this arrogant, rude and drunk old man! Being berated as cheap by not giving a ‘donation’ God knows what will become of it. Being threatened of not having my passport renewed, I most certainly know that I didn’t violate any laws to be denied of such. And being shouted at like a little kid in front of a crowd just smacks my morale to the ground,” Flordeliz said.

(DFA spokesman Assistant Secretary Raul Hernandez said the collection of voluntary donations from members of the Filipino community was a common

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practice among Philippine missions abroad, especially during times of calamities. Ampeso explained that funds collected during the Alberta outreach program “are fully recorded” and “will be remitted soonest in full to the PNRC (Philippine National Red Cross).”

There is no video of that encounter between Flordeliz and Ampeso. Flordeliz probably began recording right after the incident, when Ampeso was speaking to other Filipinos applying for passport renewal.

Video not accurate Ampeso said the video did not show that before the outburst, the applicant allegedly insulted him by insinuating that the Philippine official might just pocket his donation.

“First of all, the 27-second video showing me talking in a loud voice to a passport applicant, which made some people conclude that I was rude and arrogant, does not tell the whole story,” Ampeso said in a statement emailed to media outlets.

“The video alone is not sufficient to draw any reasonable conclusions from, one way or the other. Hence, it is unfair and unjust to use it to malign my character,” said Ampeso, a career diplomat for the past three decades, serving in various overseas posts.

Ampeso said he only raised his voice because “he (applicant) insulted me and poked fun at being requested to make a donation to the Philippine National Red Cross by offering to give a measly one dollar for this charitable cause.”

“That’s why I became so agitated while explaining to him that if he had to give anything at all, it has to come from the heart for the typhoon victims,” Ampeso said.

“And definitely, it was not a requirement for a passport application or rendition of any other consular services, contrary to what some allege. Thus, any allegation or insinuation that we were forcing people to give is entirely untrue,” he said.

Ampeso denied being rude or arrogant at the event. His statement, however, did not address the question of whether or not he was drunk.

The consul has apologized for his actions.

“I apologize to anyone whom I may have offended. I assure you that I had only the best intentions in reacting in that manner,” he said in his statement. n

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Church Never Wins in Elections’

Our Electionsread last April 14.

The Bacolod diocese has put up Team Buhay and Team Patay tarpaulins clearly identifying senatorial candidates that should be voted for or rejected based solely on their stand on the Reproductive Health bill.

By aries rufo

OR the 2013 midterm polls, the lines have been drawn not only for political rivals but also for leaders of the Catholic Church.

Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas rebuked his fellow bishops against overt political acts in the May elections, saying it is a game that the Church will end up as “loser” in the end.

“When the Church endorses candidates in political elections, she always ends up a loser. The endorsed candidate may win in the votes but the Church never wins with him,” Villegas said in a pastoral letter entitled The Church and

El Shaddai leader Mike Velarde (5th from left) and the six senatorial bets he endorses: Koko Pimentel, Antonio Trillanes, Gregorio Honasan (1st, 2nd and 3rd from left), Cynthia Villar (7thfrom left) and Mitos Magsaysay (extreme right). Not shown is JV Ejercito.

‘The Church must refuse to play with the fire of political power or it risks burning herself. The Church does not win when her endorsed candidate wins. The Church should not be perceived as winning or losing an election. The Church must be beyond such.’

“The Church must refuse to play with the fire of political power or it risks burning herself. The Church does not win when her endorsed candidate wins. The Church should not be perceived as winning or losing an election. The Church must be beyond such,” the prelate added.

Villegas issued the pastoral statement on the day that the Catholic charismatic group El Shaddai revealed its favored senatorial candidates last April 13.

El Shaddai’s bets The newly formed White Vote Movement led by El Shaddai has endorsed six senatorial candidates, +10

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The Church PLANET

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Should Face

the Problem

I myself, a convert to Catholicism, have at times despaired of some acts or omissions of the Church and the thought of leaving it (not Christianity, mind you) has crossed my mind.

But very fleetingly.

By solita collas-monsod

maying responses from some clergy.

HE results of the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey on leaving the Church (for Catholics) and church attendance (for both Catholics and non-Catholics) seem to have elicited misguided and, for me, dis-

Take the survey question, addressed to Catholics, on whether they agree or disagree with the following statement: “Paminsan-minsan iniisip ko na baka umalis ako sa Simbahang Katoliko.” The choices of answers were: strongly agree, somewhat agree, undecided whether to agree or disagree,

A survey found that only 37 percent of Catholics go to Mass once a week -- a very significant and alarming decrease from the 64 percent who did so in 1991. somewhat disagree, and strongly disagree.

SWS found that 9.2 percent of the respondents either strongly (2.5 percent) or somewhat (6.7 percent) agreed. And that result got a lot of attention, with the casual reader tending to forget the “paminsanminsan” part of the statement.

I can’t see what the hullabaloo is all about. I myself, a convert to Catholicism, have at times despaired of some acts or omissions of the Church

and the thought of leaving it (not Christianity, mind you) has crossed my mind. But very fleetingly. Because at the same time, its positive attributes also cross my mind -- that an institution that has survived corrupt and even murderous leaders from the inside, as well as all attempts from the outside to destroy

The author maintains that the Church faces problems and its leaders should face the challenges instead of engaging in self-denial.

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it over the past 2,000 years or so, is certainly worth sticking to and supporting.

Besides, 85.6 percent of the Catholic respondents either strongly (74.2 percent) or somewhat (11.4 percent) disagreed, meaning that they haven’t thought of leaving the Church at all, with the rest (5.2 percent) remaining undecided. That definitely constitutes a supermajority. And yet some quarters took umbrage – unjustifiably -- because they obviously mistook the thinking (“sometimes” at that) for the act. And argued that the number of church enterers compensated for the leavers, so there was no net loss (something to that effect). They must be reminded that the survey was not counting leavers, but only those sometimes thinking of it.

But that doesn’t mean that the Church can rest on its laurels, because as it turns out, those who “sometimes” think of leaving the Church are mostly those who also say that they have “no religious beliefs” (how can one be a Catholic and have no religious beliefs?).

Which profile points to what the Church must do in order to nip in the bud any thoughts of leaving it: stronger catechesis, and Masses to which the churchgoer wants to go, rather than is obliged to go with gritted teeth.

Which brings us to the matter of church attendance. And this has to be cause for the greatest concern for us in the Church, both clergy and laity. Never mind that Catholics apparently attend Mass less frequently than those of other Christian and non-Christian faiths attend services.

The really disturbing result is that: Only 37 percent of Catholics go to Mass once a week -- a very significant and alarming decrease from the 64 percent who did so in 1991

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The same survey found that 9.2 percent of the respondents sometimes entertain thoughts of leaving the Church. (the first time SWS asked the question). That should cause alarm bells to ring, and an enormous amount of soul-searching on our (the Church) part. Right? Because the fact that church attendance among non-Catholics is also decreasing -the so-called “secularization” phenomenon, world-wide -- is nothing but cold comfort.

Alas. Instead of the alarm bells and soul-searching, the reaction seems to be an outright denial that a problem even exists, that thesurvey-results-are-wrong (which evokes the standard answer of the politician who is not doing well in the polls).

Why is there no problem? Why must the survey results be wrong?

Because, according to my very dear Archbishop Angel Lagdameo of Iloilo and others, the churches are

filled to the brim every Sunday, priests sometimes have to celebrate five to six Masses on that day, more and more parishes/dioceses are being created. These facts are incompatible, they say, with the survey result of declining church attendance.

Ergo, the survey result is wrong.

But are they incompatible? Is it wrong? Let’s do a little arithmetic. Start with the 2013 population: 97,353,290 (midyear estimate). Multiply by the percentage of the population that is Catholic: 80.58 percent (as of

The author contends that declining church attendance is still valid even if churches are full on Sundays, which, she explains, is due to the huge Catholic population in the country.

2010). The product, 78,447,280, represents the number of Catholics we have in the Philippines today.

Multiply that by 37 percent to get the number of Catholics who go to church/worship at least once a week, and you get 29.0 million.

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Add the weighted average of the 24 percent of Catholics who attend Mass 2-3 times a month and the 23 percent who attend once a month, which gives us another 18.7 million. In other words, on any given Sunday, 47.7 million Catholics will be attending Mass. This will not include the other 16 percent of Catholics who say they go to Mass less than once a month (10 percent) or once a year or less (6 percent).

Let us now assume that each municipality and city (rounded up to 1,600) has an average of four places of worship. These 47.7 million Filipino Catholics will now be distributed to over 6,400 places of worship every Sunday -- for an average of 7,453 per church or place of worship. Now assume seven Masses per church on Sunday (including anticipated Masses), and you find that each location must accommodate more than 1,000 worshipers at each Mass (1,065 would be more accurate).

Bottom line: Churches crowded with worshipers and the results of the SWS survey are completely compatible. One does not negate the other. So let us stop playing ostrich, and face the problem. (Philippine Daily Inquirer) n

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President Aquino: I’m accepting that honor on their behalf, rather than for myself.

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PNoy Lands on ‘Time’ Magazine’s ‘100 Most Influential People’ ‘In a country of nicknames, Filipinos proudly call their President PNoy – a pun on the word they use for themselves: Pinoy. For his courage, however, he really should have the pet name the family gave his eldest sister Maria Elena: Ballsy.’

HAT does President Benigno Aquino III have in common with Pope Francis, US President Barack Obama, American rapper and record producer Jay Z and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un? They are all on Time Magazine’s 2013 list of “The 100 Most Influential People in the World.”

Aquino landed on the magazine’s list, falling under the “Leaders” category.

In an article posted on Time.com on April 18, the magazine praised the Philippine president for steering the economy, and taking a stand on controversial issues in his country and the region.

“In a country of nicknames, Filipinos proudly call their President PNoy – a pun on the word they use for themselves: Pinoy. For his courage, however, he really should have the pet name the family gave his eldest sister

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Maria Elena: Ballsy,” wrote Time’s Howard Chua-Eoan.

Time cited economic gains under the Aquino administration and Aquino’s support for the reproductive health law, as well as his position on the territorial dispute with China.

“The sputtering economy stabilized and became hot. Aquino pushed through a reproductiverights law that many said was impossible in the fervently Catholic nation. Most important, he became the face of the regional confrontation with Beijing over its claim to virtually all of the South China Sea. It is a brave stance, the longterm consequences still unknown.”

Under Aquino’s presidency, the Philippine economy grew by 6.6% in 2012 amid a global slowdown, the stock market reached record highs, and the Philippines recently earned investment grade status.

Aquino pushed for the passage of the reproductive health law – what is described as a birth control measure – despite strong opposition from the Catholic Church.

He also took a strong stand on the Philippines’ claim to territories disputed by China. The Philippines raised its territorial dispute claims against China before the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS).

While Aquino has been criticized for riding on his parents’ name, Time said the President came into his own.

“His father was the Philippines’ most famous political martyr, his mother its most beloved President. Benigno (“Noynoy”) Aquino III inherited that legacy and boosted by national mourning at the death of Corazon Aquino in August 2009, won the presidency in 2010.”

“President Aquino quickly began making his own name,” Time added.

Reacting to the citation, Aquino

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President Aquino chats with US senators during his visit to Capitol Hill in June 2012.

‘If we achieve success, this is the success of everyone.’ said he was merely the “face” of Filipinos, who have always been there for him.

“First they gave me the chance to serve, and they continue to support me. I’m accepting that honor on their behalf, rather than for myself,” he said.

“This is a recognition of all our countrymen, of the whole country, more than anything. And I’m just the face; by way of speaking, I’m the first to respond to a problem.

That’s fine by me. But if we achieve success, this is the success of everyone,” he said.

Speaking at the ground-breaking of the Mactan Circumferential Road in Lapu-Lapu City last April 19, the

President announced that the backlog of 66,800 classrooms would be erased by the end of the year.

Initially the backlog seemed daunting, he said. In the six years of his administration, the government could only fund the construction of 8,000 classrooms a year or 48,000 classrooms in six years.

“Solving this problem seemed impossible, but there’s cooperation. DepEd (Department of Education) promised that by 2013, there won’t be any classroom backlog of 66,800,” he said, but did not explain how the department would go about

this. “This will be matched by 60,000 teachers.”

Such reform became doable because of the Filipino people’s solidarity, Mr. Aquino said.

“The impossible is now possible. What our predecessor has failed to do in nine years, we’ll ac-

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complish in three years, and this will even be fast-tracked. But could Noynoy do this on his own? Of course not. We’ve been given the chance to serve because of you. If reforms are taking place, that’s because of you. If these are going to be carried out sooner, that’s all because of you,” he said.

Aquino joined other influential leaders on the list: US President Barack Obama, South Korea’s first female president Park Geun-hye, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Pope Francis, North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un, and other world leaders.

Also on the list were influential personalities Time categorized as Titans, Pioneers, Icons, and Artists. The list was published on the magazine’s April 29 issue.

Aquino was on the cover of the magazine’s Asia Edition in 2010 when he was running for president. The magazine then carried the story: “The Next Aquino: Can Noynoy Save the Philippines?”

The President’s late mother was also featured several times on Time, with the magazine naming her “Woman of the Year” for 1986, the year of the EDSA People Power Revolution. n

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Church Never Wins in...

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From page 5

who have stood by the Church in opposing the Reproductive Health Law, for the upcoming May 13 elections.

The movement named the senatorial candidates it was supporting as Joseph Victor Ejercito, Gregorio Honasan, Mitos Magsaysay, Koko Pimentel, Antonio Trillanes IV and Cynthia Villar.

“It is one way of expressing our gratitude for the steadfast commitment they showed despite the pressure for them to change their position and vote for the passage of the RH bill,” said Bro. Mike Velarde, El Shaddai leader and the movement’s designated spokesperson.

Groups involved in the movement included the Couples for Christ-Foundation for Family and Life, Catholic Women’s League, Focolare Movement, BukasLoob-

The Church’s involvement in the upcoming May elections was triggered by its failure to stop the passage by Congress of the Reproductive Health measure. saDiyos, among other biggest charismatic groups and parish-mandated organizations within the Church in the country.

Velarde said the movement would soon announce another batch

of candidates it would endorse to the electorate in the coming weeks after a “discernment process.”

The White Movement The White Movement apes the growing fad in other dioceses and lay groups endorsing particular candidates and campaigning against those who are perceived to be enemies of the Church.

Lay groups in the Lipa archdiocese, for instance, with the backing of Lipa Archbishop Ramon Arguelles, launched the Solidarity Vote aimed at creating the mythical Catholic vote.

The Bacolod diocese under Bishop Vicente Navarra, has put up Team Buhay and Team Patay tarpaulins clearly identifying senatorial candidates that should be voted for or rejected.

Lay leaders in Cebu archdiocese, for its part, launched its own Catholic vote initiative with its own list of preferred senatorial candidates.

But Villegas

Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas: Vote like Jesus.

‘Religions that waltz with politics will die with politics.’ said such openly partisan activities is not the realm of the Catholic Church and the laity.

In apparent lecture to his colleagues, Villegas reminded other bishops that “religions that waltz with politics will die with politics.”

The prelate, a protégé of the late Manila Cardinal Jaime Sin, stressed that the Church’s role is to “guide and not dictate” and should be an agent of unity and not division.

“The Church must be a mother and teacher of voters and candidates together. The Church must be a mother and teacher also for all the candidates from opposing political parties,” he said.

Instead of naming names and creating a divide between the candidates and their supporters and the Church, Villegas said Church leaders should just respect the boundary between Church and politics and provide guidelines for voters for an informed choice.

Guidelines for voters He said Church interest is best served if Church leaders and laity

will help voters in not voting candidates who: • cannot declare a categorical and clear NO to divorce, abortion, euthanasia, total birth control and homosexual marriages; • has been linked to drug trade, drug possession and drug use or who receives money from illegal gambling; • has been convicted for a criminal offense; • supports black sand mining and tolerates irresponsible quarrying or illegal fish pens; • has not done anything until now to uplift the plight of the poor; • buys votes or distributes goods during the campaign period; • has been involved or linked to terrorism; • only shows of religiosity during the campaign period or antagonistic to church teachings; • is unfaithful to his or her marriage vows; • has other members of the immediate family in government positions already.

Villegas offered a simple rule of thumb in assessing the candidates: “If Jesus would vote, for whom would he vote? Vote like Jesus. If you cannot find Jesus from among the candidates just make sure you do not make Judas or Barabbas win.” (Rappler.com) n

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Bringing Up Children at Home and Abroad

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He author’s son, a Fil-American raised in the Midwest, is two years old is just about to be weaned from his bottle.

Sheltered within their little “villages”, Pinoy children are noted to be shy and quiet compared to their Western playmates who were reared early on to be assertive because there was no yaya to attend to their needs.

ing him sucking once on his mother’s breast as a little boy was disturbing to say the least.

By ana maria villanueva-lykes

LAYMATES Mira and Finn have a lot in common. They love to play with clay, are attached to their “blankies”, and take a bottle of milk to bed. The only difference aside from their gender is their age: Finn is two while Mira is almost six. Mira is by no means delayed in development. She, like many Filipinos raised in the Philippines, is just reared differently. My son on the other hand is Fil-American, raised in the Midwest, and is just about to be weaned from his bottle.

During a recent visit to the Philippines, I noticed a stark difference in how Filipinos are raised compared to children in the Western world. During a get-together, I expressed concern over my son’s attachment to the bottle. My friends waved it off. One said she weaned hers when he turned five. The oth-

ers had similar stories. I found that surprising, thinking kids back home no longer take a bottle after the first year. But what shocked me most was the confession of another friend. He claimed that he breastfed on his mom until he was seven years old. Seeing him now as a grown up with his own children and imagin-

It takes a village

Compared to those raised overseas, Filipino children receive more attention from their parents and caregivers.

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The whole conversation about weaning did not settle my concerns and instead made me think about how different Filipinos are brought up. They say it takes a village to raise a child.

It is never truer in the Philippines.

Without question Pinoys receive more attention from their caregivers. After all, Filipino children are closely surrounded by family from the immediate family to the extended members. If parents work during the daytime, kids are often left to the care of a close family member or a yaya who the child has usually grown to love. In this environment,

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the child gets the sole attention.

In the Western world, the young ones are left at day care with a bunch of other kids. In this structured environment, they are taught to follow rules and schedules and learn to live with other kids. They are expected to know where to find their snacks while halfway across the world, Filipinos their age are still being spoonfed. Yayas follow them around with a lampin in hand.

Case of the night stalker The spoon feeding extends to the formative years. Even adolescents are still “babied”, co-sleeping with their parents. If a nightmare wakes them up in the middle of the night, they are patted or rocked back to sleep. Back in the States, when the child comes running to their parents’ room in the middle of the night, a parent simply takes the kid back to his room.

We also have a little night stalker.

He was never used to being carried or rocked to sleep. A bedtime story and a “baba” will send him happily off to slumber, but in the middle of the night we would hear the patter of feet heading towards our bed.

We had long since surrendered the battle and had gone accustomed to him clambering into bed with us.

Apparently, this should not be a problem as my friends kids (many close to their adolescents) are still happy campers in the master’s bedroom. It’s cheap and effective contraception they say.

Towards independence

Back in the States, kids are not only expected to sleep in their own room, they’re also expected to take care of themselves with both parents working. After their toddler years, they don’t have maids to clean up their room or help give them a bath. In some instances they are paid to mow the lawn or paint the fence. As they grow older, they are encouraged to baby sit or wait tables to finance a Justin Beiber concert or a new mobile app.

Early on, Western children are conditioned to be self-sufficient because soon as they are of legal age, they leave the house. It’s not like they are kicked out of the house; even the kids themselves yearn for independence, to earn their own way and finally be able to paint their walls black without anybody breathing down their neck.

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Early on, children in the Western world are taught to be independent and assertive.

Filipino children receive more attention from their caregivers and are closely surrounded by family members. little “villages”, Pinoy children are noted to be shy and quiet compared to their Western playmates who were reared early on to be assertive because there was no yaya to attend to their needs. If they want something, they go get it themselves.

Filipinos on the other hand will

always have someone to get something for them even when they can do it themselves. If there is no yaya, there is always ate, lolo, and of course papa.

The Filipino values family more than anything else and they take care of each other no matter what. To leave our aged at a senior’s home is unthinkable.

We care for our own too much that we cannot close our doors to a bachelor son who still has not found the initiative to get his own place or a

Caregivers and go-getters

Experts say that the kind of sheltered upbringing of Filipinos can be detrimental to growth and maturity. Sheltered within their

PHILIPPINES

Experts say that the kind of sheltered upbringing of Filipino children can be detrimental to their growth and maturity.

widowed aunt who has no one else.

We even open our doors and hearts to strangers.

Anybody who needs assistance can rely on a Filipino’s healing hand. This is one reason why Filipinos are known to be excellent caregivers. The best example of

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this is Gertrude Baines. She is not Filipino but is recognized by the Guinness World Record as the oldest living person until her death in 2009. She was cared for by a group of Filipino caregivers, nurses and doctors.

There is great pride in the fact that we are outstanding caregivers, but I’d like to think that we are more than just that. Surely we should also be known for our talent, our ingenuity, and so much more.

I would like to raise my son to be an exceptional caregiver too. I want to see him grow up as a loving and caring person who will not drop us off at the nearest nursing home when the time comes. But at the same time I’d like to see him as a go-getter. I want to see him conquer and care for the world as a doctor, a pilot, or an artist.

For now, it’s time to wean him off his “baba”. n

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CELEBR TY BARRETTO FAMILY FEUD ERUPTS AGAIN

THE Barretto sisters – Gretchen, Marjorie and Claudine - are feuding again, this time drawing the mother, a brother and a sister into the squabble.

The latest feud pits Gretchen and Marjorie against younger sister Claudine. Their quarrel was initially talked about in social media but it came into public view when the mother, Inday Barretto, issued an open letter to Gretchen accusing her of being a “liar” and openly siding with Claudine. In her letter, the mother also admitted that that Claudine’s husband, Raymart Santaigo, has left their marital abode.

“Do not call Claudine evil!,” the mother said. “Do not start giving away that title that belongs to you and you alone, now that it’s burning your palm and scarring your beautiful face… I am letting go of a child now who never want-

ed me in order to save one who has always been there for all, and with all of her love…Claudine!”

The mother’s lament earned an immediate response from son Joaquin, who issued his own open letter to his mother. Describing his mom’s letter was “shocking” and “hurtful”, Joaquin came to the defense of Gretchen and alluded to Claudine’s “mental illness”. He wrote: “We all know the truth about Claudine’s condition. . . May I remind you that it was you and dad who had her put in a hospital because you wanted to save her from destroying herself. . . And if you truly love her, then you should take concrete steps to save her rather than hitting Gretchen simply because she is standing up to Claudine.”

Still another sibling, Gia, joined in and issued her own statement from Boston, castigating elder sister Gretchen. Portions of her statement

ECHO SAYS HE HAS FOUND ‘RIGHT GIRL’

Claudine and Gretchen read: “No Gretchen, it was not you who helped us during rough spots.

It was Claudine… JJ (Joaquin) comments on TV are only credible in as far as he is caught between a rock and a hard place, because he is in your employ… Just totally disappear from our lives without leaving a trail of vile and misery.”

PNOY, BIANCA HAD ‘CASUAL DINNER’ TWICE AFTER admitting that they indeed had dinner twice, Bianca Manalo went on record again to deny that President Benigno Aquino III is pursuing her.

In an exclusive interview with ABS-CBN News, the beauty queen-turned-actress stressed that their meet-ups were purely casual dinners with her sister and their friends around.

“Hindi po kami nagde-date.

Na-meet ko siya before. We had dinner with friends. Kasama ko ‘yung sister ko with me. Dinner lang, casual dinner, walang dating, walang ligawan,” she said.

Bianca said she never talked about their dinners in public because she wants to respect the

privacy of the President.

“Actually nagulat ako [na lumabas ngayon]. Matagal na iyan eh. We had dinner siguro noong December

JERICHO Rosales revealed that he was ready to quit showbiz and leave for New York when he met Kim Jones, who is now his girlfriend for more than a year. “That was the time when I wanted to give up already, when I wanted to move to New York, that was before signing up with ABS-CBN ... and then I met Kim,” he said in an interview on the late-night talk show Martin Late @ Night.

Echo was introduced to Kim, an Australian commercial model, in March 2011 by a common friend. Kim, who hosts a lifestyle television show on local cable, said that the actor eventually won her over through their shared passion for sports and his sense of humor.

“It’s very seldom that you meet a person in this business na talagang parang normal person,” Echo said of his girl-

and January. Parang three months ago na, tapos bakit biglang lumabas?” she said.

The Binibining Pilipinas-Universe 2009 winner said she admires the President because “sobra siyang down to earth, sobra siyang mabait and I must say sobrang talinong tao.”

Bianca said the last time she got to talk to PNoy was during his birthday in February.

“Grineet ko lang siya nung birthday niya. Siyempre, na-meet ko naman siya personally so hindi naman siguro masama kung babatiin ko siya ng happy birthday,” she said.

Bianca was last linked to model Carlo Gonzales and before him, actor John Prats.

mahirap kalimutan yung ginawa nila sa iyo. Napatawad ko naman na sila,” Kim said on The Buzz last April 21 as tears welled up in her eyes.

She said that the reason she is able to work with Maja in the primetime series Ina, Kapatid, Anak is because of her love for work.

“Professionalism siguro, number one, and sa pagmamahal ko sa trabaho ko kaya [nakakapagtrabaho kami],” she said.

Asked if she is also hoping that everything will be okay in

the future, Kim said: “Oo naman.

Wala namang nangangarap magkaroon ng pangit na buhay. Pero time will tell and siguro hindi pa ngayon.”

friend. “Parang, like, whatever happens, parang walang arte sa katawan, talagang chill lang talaga, parang normal person.”

He said they have discussed marriage. “Pinag-usapan namin, pinagbibiruan namin. I think I found the one for me and that’s her,” he said

SARAH SEEKS ‘REAL LOVE’ IN NEXT RELATIONSHIP

KIM FORGIVES MAJA, GERALD KIM Chiu said she has already forgiven her erstwhile best friend Maja Salvador and former boyfriend Gerald Anderson.

In January, Kim expressed regret over her “wasted” friendship with Maja, following reports of a blooming relationship between her and Gerald. Maja and Gerald have since openly expressed that they are special to each other.

Kim and Gerald broke up in 2010 amid controversies surrounding their relationship.

“Madaling magpatawad pero

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SARAH Geronimo says she is hoping that the next time she falls in love, it will be with the person who will make her feel the true meaning of love.

“Sabi ko nga the next time na I fall in love, sana totoo na. Sana totoo na talaga. Iyon ‘yung kahit ilang taon ako maghintay, okay lang basta totoong pagmamahal.

Kahit na hindi mag-work out, kahit mag-fail, at least naramadaman ko ‘yung totoong pagmamahal, hindi lang ‘yung para lang sa mga taong

nakakakita,” she said in a TV interview.

Sarah said she does not want to make the same mistakes again in choosing the “right guy.”

“Napakaimportante ang say ng mga magulang. Ayaw ko nang gawin ang mga naging pagkakamali ko in the past. Kailangan balanse lahat eh. Mayroon din akong sariling desisyon pero kailangan i-honor ko din yung gusto ng mga magulang ko,” she said.

She had two brief relationships in the past – with Rayver Cruz and Gerald Anderson – which did not prosper reportedly because her parents disapproved of them.

The singer-actress, however, seemed content with her single life. “Tahimik ang buhay na walang love life. Ang sarap kayang maging single. Iyan kasi ang bagay na ayaw mong...siyempre may pagkakataon na nalulungkot ka, naiinggit ka pero at the end of the day, kailangan mong intindihin na mayroong tamang panahon para sa pag-ibig.”

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CELEBRITYFILES

ANGELINE TO UNDERGO COSMETIC SURGERY

ANGELINE Quinto will undergo several cosmetic procedures on her face and parts of her upper body, according to celebrity dermatologist Vicki Belo. The first procedure began last April 20.

The 23-year-old Kapamilya singer, who rose to fame after winning the talent search Star

Power in 2011, said she plans to undergo procedures on her nose, eyes, cheeks, armpits and back.

Angeline, who previously admitted to having regular glutathione treatments, said she has been meaning to have her nose “fixed” after getting comments on its supposed “disproportionate” size in

comparison to her face.

“Matagal ko nang sinasabi na sana kung may chance mapagawa ko ‘yung ilong ko,” she told reporters during her recent pictorial as an endorser of Belo’s chain of beauty clinics.

“Kasi dati pa naman marami nang nagsasabi sa akin na parang hindi raw proportion ‘yung ilong ko sa mukha, kasi medyo malaki.

So ngayong mas pumayat ako, mas lalong napansin ng mga tao na malaki pala ‘yung ilong ko talaga,” she said.

According to Belo, whose clinic will perform the planned procedures, the singer’s nose will be “enhanced” to address its “Pinocchio tip.”

“Most Pinoys nagpa-

pagawa dahil kulang ‘yung bridge.

Pero ‘yung kay Angeline, mataas ‘yung bridga niya. Ang problema natin ‘yung tip, masyado mahaba, parang kaunting Pinocchio type,” she said.

Asked why she is open about her planned cosmetic surgeries, unlike other celebrities who undergo the same, Angeline said she sees the

move as helpful to her career.

“Matagal ko naring sinasabi sa iba, kumbaga sabi ko nga hindi naman ako mahihiya sa mga tao kung ano talaga ‘yung totoo.. nakita niyo naman ‘yung itsura ko noon,” she said, laughing. “Ito naman, alam ko naman kasi na makakatulong sa ‘kin lalo sa trabaho ko.”

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CELEBRITYFILES

ABS-CBN LETS KRIS GO ON LEAVE THE management of ABS-CBN has agreed to let Kris Aquino go on temporary leave, saying the actress-host will continue to fulfill her contractual obligations after she attends to personal matters involving her sons.

In a statement, ABS-CBN said the 42year-old TV host will go on leave in June, in light of her responsibilities as a mother to her sons Joshua Aquino and James “Bimby” Yap, Jr. “ABS-CBN and Kris Aquino have met several times to discuss her intent to resign.

ABS-CBN fully understands Kris’ desire to

be the best mother to Bimby and Josh. On the other hand, ABS-CBN values Kris as an iconic talent and a respected national media personality. Both parties recognize her responsibilities to the public, her co-workers and to the advertisers,” said Bong Osorio, head of ABS-CBN Integrated Corporate Communication.

“After thorough discussions, Kris has agreed to take a leave instead. This will allow her to spend quality time with Bimby in June when he is on school break and to bring Josh abroad to advance his developmental progress. After her leave, Kris will honor her responsibilities and will fulfill her contractual

commitments to ABS-CBN without impairing her role as a mother,” Osorio added.

Last March, Kris announced that she was tendering her resignation from her shows, calling it as a sacrifice to ensure the welfare of her children. The announcement came after her latest spat with former partner James Yap,

the father of Bimby, became public and was subsequently taken to court.

Kris has a morning talk show (Kris TV), stars in a primetime soap (Kailangan Ko’y Ikaw, which aired its final episode on April 19), and acts as a judge in the talent search Pilipinas Got Talent.

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CELEBRITYFILES

VICKI, HAYDEN ‘UNOFFICIALLY’ TOGETHER AGAIN CELEBRITY doctor Vicki Belo and former boyfriend, doctorturned-actor Hayden Kho, are “unofficially” together again, according to a report.

In an interview with Bianca Gonzalez for her column in the Philippine Star, Vicki also said she “sincerely” loves Hayden.

“I don’t know if we’ll be together but I know that I really love him sincerely,” Vicki told Bianca. “Now he’s so strong. If I left his life today, he would be really okay.”

The controversial couple split up in February last year amid rumors of an alleged romance between Hayden and former actress Nancy Castiliogne, who were reportedly seen kissing at a bar in Taguig. Vicki said then that she was letting Hayden go so he won’t have to “hide” his romance with Nancy, who denied any involvement with Hayden.

But early this year, Vicki and Hayden have been seen

together in public several times.

In the interview with Bianca, Vicki didn’t mention Nancy but discussed another controversy involving Hayden – the video sex scandal involving actress Katrina Halili in 2009.

Asked how she got over the scandal, Vicki said: “I don’t know! I think because he told me the truth and he told me ahead of everyone. I think because I understand how it happened and why it happened.”

ANGEL, EL PRESIDENTE WIN AT FAMAS AWARDS ANGEL Locsin won her second best actress trophy for her performance in the drama One More Try at the 61st Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences (FAMAS) Awards at the AFP Theater in Quezon City.

Angel was also named best actress for the Star Cinema film last March at the PMPC Star Awards.

But the awards night belonged to the historical biopic El Presidente, which won 13 awards, including Best Picture and Best Director for Mark Meilly.

Its lead star, Jeorge “E.R” Estregan, also took home the Best Actor trophy, while Cesar Montano was named Best Supporting Actor for his role as Andres Bonifacio in the movie.

Jaclyn Jose was named Best Supporting Actress for the movie A Secret Affair.

Angel said that winning at the FAMAS was one of her dreams when she was starting out as an actress.

She said it is overwhelming to know that award-giving bodies appreciates her doing drama because she considers herself an “action star” by nature.

“Para sa isang struggling [actress], hindi naman kasi talaga ako nagda-drama, action star ako, tapos pinagkatiwalaan nila ako sa drama so nagpapasalamat ako. Ibang klaseng happiness kasi dati pinagpe-pray ko talaga. Ngayon hindi ko mabitawan ang trophy,” she said.

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By cherie del rio

The love team of Jericho and Kristine was the toast of Philippine movies and teleseryes a decade or so ago.

NE failsafe method to achieve tremendous success in the Philippine showbiz industry is to first become one-half of a kilig love team.

It is an infallible recipe for fame and instant popularity: being paired off with another celebrity of the opposite sex and charming audiences with kilig moments that will later give rise to blockbuster movies and top-rating soap operas.

It seems an easy enough task to act all lovey-dovey with someone in order to give fans something to cheer for. It seems easy enough to project a happy smile and twinkling eye on the pretense of being in love, especially if this will be rewarded with numerous projects and celebrity endorsements. But finding that partner who will complement one’s looks, talent, and onscreen personality is what’s difficult.

A lot of showbiz newcomers attempt to win the crowd and the press by posing together as one promising love team. In talent searches as well as reality TV shows such as Pinoy Big Brother, it can be noted that the housemates who get to stay longer are those who have formed not alliances but romantic entanglements. Love teams are what the masses watch out for: they look for sweet moments

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LOVE TEAM

A SUREFIRE FORMULA FOR SUCCESS

Both products of the reality show Pinoy Big Brother, the “KimErald” titillated fans with their onscreen and off-screen romance.

Love teams have clicked because one, they looked good together. Two, they knew how to reel in the audiences.

They knew how to act and what to say in order to tickle the crowd. Fans loved them because the love teams gave them hope, hope that one day the stars will end up married.

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and even cutesy conflicts that later lead to even sweeter moments. Soap operas can have the best plots but still suffer poor ratings if the chemistry between the leading male and female actors is not apparent. Unlike in Hollywood where movies are made between two lead stars even with the absence of a love team, Philippine romantic flicks are tailored for whoever is the hottest love team of the season.

In recent years, there’s only been a handful of love teams that have earned sufficient following and projects that were enough to make them icons in the industry.

These pairs have been such a big hit among Pinoy audiences that together they have created movies, TV shows, music albums, music videos, TV commercials, and many other showbiz ventures.

Jericho Rosales and Kristine Hermosa won the award of “Most Popular Love Team of Philippine Movies” in 2001 and 2002 from the Guillermo Mendoza Awards.

During those years, Echo and Tin were indisputably the most popular love team of Philippine showbiz. The lovely contrast between the moreno Jericho and the mestiza Kristine shaped an on-screen chemistry so spellbinding that their partnership gave rise to several movies and TV shows. They were brand endorsers together, they sang together, and eventually, they ended up dating each other. The on-screen romance transitioned into an off-screen love affair that, sadly, did not end at the altar. Indeed the Echo-Tin showbiz love story is one for the books.

Another love team that has surpassed expectations is that of John Lloyd Cruz and Bea Alonzo. This couple has been paired off in so many movies and soaps already that critics predict conclude that the more recent projects will not do well anymore because they have lost their charm. But time and again, John Lloyd and Bea have proven their detractors wrong. It is clear, however, that it is John Lloyd that has the star power to pull his love team – regardless of whoever is his partner – to box-office success. His movie

and TV projects with other leading ladies, such as Angel Locsin and Sarah Geronimo, have become huge money-makers as well. Bea, on the other hand, seems to only thrive when paired with Lloydie.

Her projects with Robin Padilla and even real-life beau Zanjoe Marudo were not as effective as those she did with Lloydie.

The phenomenal success at the till of the Lloydie-Sarah starrer It Takes a Man and a Woman (earning P267 million as of April 9, it is now the second highest grossing film of all time, next to Sisterakas) has cemented the actor’s claim to the title Box Office King. And Sarah deserves to be seated next to him as Queen. It Takes a Man and a Woman is the couple’s third movie after the equally smash-hits A Very Special Love in 2008 and You Changed My Life in 2009. The Lloydie-Sarah love team is so hot that Star Cinema is now tossing the idea of coming up with another romantic comedy for the two.

Like Jericho and Kristine, another love team which evolved into a real-life romantic couple is that of Gerald Anderson and Kim Chiu. Both products of Pinoy Big Brother, Kim and Gerald (their fans call them “KimErald”) were so great together in so many TV shows, movies, and product endorsements for some four years.

Their fans adored them

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The last teamup of John Lloyd and Bea was in the movie The Mistress, released in September 2012 to commemorate the 10th anniversary of their love team.

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so much so that many of them have taken the on-screen and off-screen breakup too seriously to the point of issuing threats against Gerald.

Nowadays, Gerald is dating Kim’s former BFF Maja Salvador, and Kim has found a hot new love team in Xian Lim. These love teams have clicked because one, they looked good together. Two, they knew how to reel in the audiences. They knew how to act and what to say in order to tickle the crowd. Fans loved them because the love teams gave them hope, hope that one day the stars will end up married. Their strengths were rooted in how good their talents were and how they behaved around each other on and off the screen.

For as long as this kilig and hope thrive, love teams will dominate local showbiz. Mostly, their weaknesses would be getting involved with a different person. Fans will be disappointed and the love team will slowly fade away. A case in point is young actor Albie Casino, whose love team with Kathryn Bernardo took an abrupt end when it was found that he was the father of Andi Eigenmann’s baby.

Pinoy showbiz love teams will always be around and they will always be a surefire formula for success. But putting up an enduring twosome is not as easy as it seems.

Finding the right partners, establishing chemistry, creating magic and evoking kilig among the fans are the hard part. n

The John Lloyd-Sarah love team has proven itself in three blockbuster movies despite the fact that the two have been linked to other partners in real life.

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By aries rufo (Editor’s note: On April 10, the Sandiganbayan upheld the plea bargain deal entered into by retired military comptroller Carlos Garcia and the Office of the Ombudsman. The controversial deal allowed Garcia to escape plunder charges. The book “The Enemy Within”, written by Glenda M. Gloria, Aries Rufo and Gemma Bagayaua-Mendoza looked into this deal. We are reprinting excerpts from the chapter on the Garcia deal written by Aries Rufo.)

HE senior prosecutor’s words carried an air of resignation: “I just cannot stomach the plea bargain.”

He was on the phone with a colleague who had called him to ask why he had suddenly become inactive in the Garcia plunder case.

The senior prosecutor said, “This is going to explode.

The deal has been submitted to the Sandiganbayan for approval.”

It was December 2010, and word had already leaked that the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) had entered into a plea bargain deal with the disgraced retired Maj. Gen. Carlos Garcia.

It was about the withdrawal of the plunder case filed against him in exchange for pleading guilty to the lesser offenses of indirect bribery and facilitating money laundering.

The plea bargain required Garcia to surrender to the government his real estate properties, shares of stocks and bank deposits amounting to P135 million -- which is not even half of the P303 million that he was accused of amassing. More importantly, it allowed him to post bail and spend Christmas at home after 5 years in jail.

A tsunami of protests greeted the deal that the prosecutors attempted to keep under wraps. With the imprimatur of then Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez, it was hammered out by Garcia and his lawyer on one side and 5 state prosecutors on the other: Wendell Barreras-Sulit, Jesus Micael, Robert Kallos, Jose Balmeo, and Joseph Capistrano. Of the 5, only two - Balmeo and Capistrano -- were part of the original team that prosecuted the ex-military comptroller for plunder. The rest entered the picture only when the plea bargain

Despite the court’s ruling, retired Maj. Gen. Carlos Garcia is still in jail due to a case filed against him by the military.

How the Big Fish Got Away

The plea bargain required Garcia to surrender to the government his real estate properties, shares of stocks and bank deposits amounting to P135 million -- which is not even half of the P303 million that he was accused of amassing.

The plea bargain happened under the watch of then Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez, who quit just before the Senate was to begin her impeachment trial in May 2011. talks were about to begin.

The agreement was finalized only less than 3 months after a special division of 5 justices threw out Garcia’s petition for bail in a 3-2 vote, on Jan. 7, 2010. The verdict, however tight, meant that up to that time, the court was convinced that

the evidence of plunder against him was solid.

Yet, the prosecution and defense still proceeded with the joint motion for approval of the plea bargain agreement, triggering public outcry that plunged the career of some, and raised the stock of oth-

ers. It prompted a Senate investigation that pushed former Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes to commit suicide.

Although the plea bargain deal was not among the listed complaints, it put the spotlight on Merceditas Gutierrez, who quit just before the Senate was to begin her impeachment trial in May 2011. It made instant self-styled heroes and heroines, as in the case of former Lt. Col. George Rabusa, who spilled the beans on the alleged “pabaon” system in the military, and former auditor Heidi Mendoza who was later appointed commissioner of the Commission on Audit.

What happened?

Based on court records and interviews with people privy to the case and Ombudsman insiders, we discovered that: • The real estate properties and deposits that Garcia supposedly surrendered in the deal were already the subject of two forfeiture cases in the Sandiganbayan’s Fourth Division, which was not even informed about the plea bargain deal.

• Gutierrez only showed token interest in the case. She hardly supported the team that prosecuted Garcia.

• Despite the importance and complexity of the case, it was a former Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) lawyer, who had indigents as former clients, who was assigned to handle it. From a mere “coordinator” of the team, this prosecutor assumed the burden of a lead prosecutor when the original prosecutors got promoted or refrained from further handling the case.

• The prosecution rested its case only on two pieces of evidence: the written statement of Garcia’s wife, Clarita, and the testimony of Heidi Mendoza on the supposed missing P50-million fund from the United Nations’ reimbursements to the Philippine military.

• Witnesses called to buttress Mendoza’s testimony debunked the former auditor’s court statements.

Mendoza’s testimony also crumbled during cross-examination by Garcia’s lawyer.

• Despite its vast powers, the Office of the Special Prosecutor and the Ombudsman failed to persuade a single military supplier that supposedly provided bribes to Garcia to testify.

“We were beaten to the draw by the defense in talking to those suppliers,” one prosecutor admitted.

Thus, this is a classic story of how the big fish got away without trying too hard. (Rappler.com) n

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GOV’T TO CONTEST RULING MALACAÑANG is determined to fight the Sandiganbayan ruling affirming the plea bargain agreement between then Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez and former Armed Forces of the Philippines comptroller Carlos Garcia.

The government’s top lawyer, Solicitor General Francis Jardeleza, and Justice Secretary Leila de Lima have been told to “take action,” Communications Secretary Ricky Carandang said. Asked how the Sandigan decision would affect President Aquino’s anticorruption drive, Carandang said, “As you know, this issue led to the impeachment of former Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez, and so we’re certainly disturbed by this latest development.”

“Right now, the Department of Justice and the solicitor general are studying what legal options we may take, but we don’t have a definite course of action right now. But the Department of Justice and the solicitor general are on it,” he said.

Asked about chances, if any, of Garcia evading prosecution, Carandang said, “We’re prepared to take action to contest that.”

Under the plea bargain agreement, Garcia pleaded not guilty in 2010 to direct bribery and facilitating money laundering, and was no longer charged with plunder, which carries the penalty of life imprisonment. He was allowed to post bail.

Garcia also cleared his family of involvement in the cases he is facing in court.

He also agreed to transfer to the government various assets valued at P135.433 million. Garcia was later released after posting a P60,000 bail.

The Sandiganbayan also said that there was insufficient evidence to convict Garcia of plunder, a nonbailable offense, on the basis of allegations that he received commissions, gifts and kickbacks totaling P303 million from government contractors.

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Why Political Families Are More Brazen Today Why is the family taking on the function of leadership recruitment that belongs to political parties? Why have we regressed from that era when political parties took center stage, and party conventions were conscientiously held to choose the nation’s candidates?

By randy david

HERE’S no hard evidence to confirm it.

But the growing perception is that at no other time in our nation’s political history have political families become more brazen in promoting their interests than in this year’s elections.

One quickly notes this in the senatorial slates of the two dominant coalitions. The opposition United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) slate is led by the children of the three key figures who formed the coalition, namely the son of former President Joseph Estrada, the daughter of Vice President Jejomar Binay, and the son of Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile. The administration’s Team PNoy is not any different. Two-thirds of its 12 candidates belong to political families.

It is worse at the local level. The “Movement Against Dynasties” (MAD) claims that 73 political clans control the country’s 80 provinces.

That is true as well at the level of congressional districts, cities, and municipalities, where it is not unusual to see rival families running

The Movement Against Dynasties claims that 73 political clans control the country’s 80 provinces. against one another for the same key positions. In some instances, as in Pampanga, a mother and her son have teamed up to vie for the positions of governor and vice governor. This has no precedent in the province. Where the same family has ruled in every election, as in the city of Danao in Cebu, it is almost

inevitable that members of the same family will be challenging one another for the same positions.

The question we must ask is why. Why is the family taking on the function of leadership recruitment that belongs to political parties? Why have we regressed from that era when political parties took

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Left to right: JV Ejercito, Jackie Enrile and Nancy Binay of the opposition United Nationalist Alliance. center stage, and party conventions were conscientiously held to choose the nation’s candidates? We must draw from history and sociology to find the answers.

Our modern political system did not evolve from the premodern conditions of our society. Instead, we took all the formal institutions of modern politics from the United States, and grafted them onto our basically feudal society. The lack of fit between the modernity of these borrowed institutions and the traditional structures of Philippine society has been the major cause of the dysfunctions of our political system.

The dysfunctions were not obvious in the beginning. Modern politics was a novelty to our people.

They were in awe of the individuals who came forward to lead a nation that was determined to show the world it was capable of self-rule.

Indeed, most of our early leaders were brilliant politicians who were conscious of the requirements of modern governance. They formed durable political parties to consolidate their influence. They debated the key issues that were crucial to the future of the new nation-state.

More than that, they were conscious that they were building a modern nation, and not merely seeking to advance the fortunes of their families. +23

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Back Home:

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Relearning

Old Ways

Having been away for some 27 years, we had forgotten the little nuances so typical in our culture. We had become American and fiercely independent, forgetting that once upon a time we were just like everybody here at home.

By monsy c. gomez

ACK in the ’80s when the Marcos regime was near its end, we decided to move our family to the United States. Life in those days was exciting, but uncertain, and volatile. So we packed our belongings and moved to Los Angeles. Our family of four crowded in a tiny bedroom at a friend’s townhouse. The kids erties, moved up the food chain. were three and six at that time; so it was like a home. For it is true that there is Except now, we were seniors with big camping party for them. dignity of labor in America. (Well, our aging parents to worry about.

I worked at many jobs, each one frowned upon by my mother, who still lived in the Philippines. She would tell me, “What? You are a sales girl? You went to America to do that? You were in upper management here.”

And when I became a hostess

in a restaurant, she was especially upset because the connotation back home was that of a hospitality girl.

Life was a novelty. Everybody was equal and everything was an adventure. We did not mind the hardships we suffered. We figured no one knew us there anyway.

We worked at all sorts of jobs that we would never have taken back

maybe I did get embarrassed one time—when I ran into a friend at a swap meet where I sold So-en panties.)

Fast forward many years. We had learned how the system worked, acquired prop-

The US is not an easy place for the elderly. Since most able people work, a lot of their elders stay home alone—unless one is financially able to place his or her parents in a seniors’ day care, where they are entertained, cared for, and their

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needs attended to.

But we Filipinos take care of our own. It is not in our culture to put our old folk in retirement homes.

Since our parents are now in their twilight years, my husband and I decided to come back home. We wanted to make sure that our parents continue to enjoy the quality of life they have long enjoyed.

Back home, we are impressed with so much progress.

Skyscrapers soar to the sky. The malls, condos, and new buildings are pretty amazing. Makati has become so cosmopolitan, it feels like another country. Dining out is like participating in a reality show in the Food Channel. The food scene here has never ceased to surprise us: So many talented local chefs; so many innovative and delicious creations; so many first-rate restaurants.

Astounding as the changes are, some things, however, have remained the same. We came back to an old house long neglected in our absence. As we lined up a crew to do the necessary repairs, a plumber showed up. He was dressed in a pair of shorts and a tank top, wearing flip flops. He was carrying a wire hanger, with which he was ready, he told us, to remove the clog in the toilet.

Then there were the men who worked on our roof. “Why do we need two guys for that job?” my husband asked the foreman. “Sir, it is very hot,” explained the foreman.

“The other guy has to hold the umbrella.” They climbed up a rickety ladder with their flip flops and umbrella, wearing no protective gear, not even helmets.

“Don’t underestimate their knowhow by the

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way they are dressed,” I was told.

But as we went through numerous workers and their supposed skills, we were frustrated by their lack of professionalism, something we had come to expect when we lived in the US. We had to learn to expect the work to be done in double the time they promised to complete it. They used old-fashioned tools, coming to our house armed with manual screw drivers and saws. Sanding they did by hand. Aghast, we offered the power tools we brought home—to speed up the job—but they would just stare at us blankly.

On the other hand, our hires, we found out, could be quite resourceful and creative in repairing things.

And only in the Philippines can you find signs etched on walls and buildings that befuddle the mind. I went into a hospital bathroom and saw this in the sink. “Bawal maghugas ng paa dito.” I just had to take a

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picture and share it with a friend because it was so funny. Another one I read along EDSA: “Ingat! May namatay na dito.” And of course, this one found in so many street corners, “Bawal umihi dito.”

Shopping here is another new experience. How many people does it take to ring up a sale? Back in the US, we had become used to going to the register, having our items pass through a scanner, paying for them, and then bagging them ourselves. But here, there is the lady who will take the merchandise from you, who will hand it over to another lady, who will write a manual receipt, and then pass it on to yet another lady in the assembly line to ring up.

It doesn’t end there.

Another salesgirl will put your merchandise in a bag, then give it to a stapler lady, who will give it to the checker, who will finally hand it over to you. A friend describes the

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ritual as “job security.”

All those stories said, we realize that we need to be Filipinized all over again. Having been away for some 27 years, we had forgotten the little nuances so typical in our culture. We had become American and fiercely independent, forgetting that once upon a time we were just like everybody here at home.

We are still very glad we made the decision to come back. Aside from the fact that this country boasts of the best senior perks ever, it is nice to live in a place where you are treated with respect and made to feel special. Even if the decision we made to return was for our parents, they are not the only ones benefitting from our move. Our lives have come full circle and we are so happy to be back, to enjoy that unique and quintessential quality of life, so familiar to most Filipinos, for the rest of our years. (Philippine Daily Inquirer) n

Why Political Families Are More Brazen Today From page 21

Perhaps I’m romanticizing the age that was dominated by the likes of Quezon, Osmeña, Laurel, Roxas, Recto, Tañada, Diokno, Tolentino, Aquino, etc. -- when it was both a pleasure and an education to watch our leaders deploy wit and intelligence in the session hall.

These leaders were the closest we had to a political nobility. As such they were bound by the norms of hierarchical society, the most important of which was the sense of personal honor we call delicadeza.

Any of the people mentioned above would have considered it shameful to form a party meant primarily to foster the political careers of their scions.

Philippine society has moved far away from that era, and has become more complex in the process.

There are more players today in the political arena, notably men and women recruited from mass media and business who capitalize on their celebrity status and their enormous wealth to gain elective positions.

The old morality of traditional society no longer commands the new generation of politicians. But, neither have the rule of law and institutional governance associated with modern society fully taken root in our society. We are in transition. As Gramsci once said, the old is dying but the new cannot be born. The reason for this protracted transition, I suspect, is the persistence of absolute poverty and the

The Marcos dynasty: (L-R) Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos, Sen. Bongbong Marcos and Ilocos Rep. Imelda Marcos.

Political dynasties treat politics as business.

Jinkee Pacquaio files certificate of candidacy for vice governor of Sarangani as her husband, Sarangani Congressman Manny Pacquiao, looks on. widening disparity in wealth and functionally differentiated society, power between the few at the top where politics is freed from the grip and the masses below. These condi- of dynasties, we are going back to tions foster the culture of patronage the ways of traditional society, miand dependence that we see in ev- nus the ethical restraints that used ery sphere of our society. to regulate rule by the few. It is not The inescapable conclusion difficult to imagine where this road is that, instead of evolving into a will take us. It will lead us to more

patronage and populism, both of which require the concentration of public resources in the hands of persons rather than in institutions.

This mode of governance, which engenders systemic corruption, has long been out of sync with the conventions of the modern world economy.

Recently, the global economy

showed us how it positively responds to a country’s visible shift toward modern governance. The strengthening of institutions signals the advent of an autonomous economy that runs by clear and stable rules. Credit must go to P-Noy for decisively choosing this path. Perhaps only time will tell if the strategic political alliances he has forged in the midterm elections are consistent with the general direction of his “daang matuwid” philosophy.

One can’t help noting with alarm that he has chosen not to draw a sharp line against political dynasties. (Philippine Daily Inquirer) n

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E

BEAUTIFUL By ma. stella F. arnaldo

Y most distinct memory of Sagada, Mountain Province - aside from the climate that chills you right to the bone -- was my heart thumping so loudly against my chest I thought it would surely leap out. This, after a bit of hiking up some tree-lined hill and forgetting just how thin the air is up there.

On a positive note, I was overwhelmed with the raw power and breathtaking natural sights in Sagada. There’s nothing like waking up, literally, with your head in the clouds; lush pine forests with the striking blue sky above; interestingly suggestive rock formations in a cave; or gushing waterfalls that pour into shallow pools below.

Most of the retailers, cafes and restaurants, as well as inns, are proudly local -- owned by those who have a heart for Sagada and its environs. So city types should dispel notions of finding a McDonald’s or Starbucks anywhere there.

Despite the grandeur of Sagada’s surroundings, a word of caution -- the trip may not be for everybody. Sagada is for those with a genuine love for outdoor adventure and nature. There will be long winding, bumpy rides, dampness, strenuous hikes and just basic inns or B&Bs. Bring a cap and a warm jacket, and leave your flipflops at home -- this is rugged country and hiking boots or trekking shoes are more suited to the terrain. Also bring a face towel, lots of water and sunblock, especially on hikes! Just because it’s cool most of the time in Sagada doesn’t mean the sun’s rays are powerless.

Must-see’s Sumaguing Cave -- If you want proof that the earth was all under water once, this cave is it. Despite the altitude of Sagada, you can actually find seashells still stuck to the walls of the cave, frozen in time. In

Up in the mountains, Sumaguing Cave is proof that the earth was all under water once upon a time.

Sagada

Up in the Clouds Despite the grandeur of Sagada’s surroundings, a word of caution -- the trip may not be for everybody. Sagada is for those with a genuine love for outdoor adventure and nature. There will be long winding, bumpy rides, dampness, strenuous hikes and just basic inns or B&Bs. fact, the rock formations do look sculpted by water as they undulate and curve like ocean waves.

Close the visit by taking a dip in

the cave’s bone-chilling waters…brrr! and back to civilization.

Definitely a wake-upper! It is invigoEcho Valley -- The valley is where rating and will kick up your energy the famous Hanging Coffins -- probas you make your way out of the cave ably the most iconic Sagada tourist attraction -- are located. It is a pleasant short hike through more trees and vegetation (while amusing yourself by shouting to hear your voice echo).

A few of the coffins hanging on a cliff look new, but there are older coffins stacked on top of each other at the Lumiang Burial Cave.

Rice Terraces -- These are smaller than those found in Banaue, and the Igorot farmers here piled rocks instead of compacting soil to construct them. You can view this agricultural masterpiece by hiking to the Kiltepan Tower -- about 45-minutes to an hour from the town proper (tiring yes, but you are gifted with breathtaking The Echo Valley is where the famous Hanging Coffins - probably the most iconic views) -- or rent a van to take you Sagada tourist attraction – are found. there. Locals will encourage you to

take off much earlier for Kiltepan so you can catch the sunrise.

Bomod-ok Falls -- The hike to these waterfalls is about two hours and takes you through the stunning rice terraces, giving you an up close and personal perspective of this geographical wonder.

The water plunges 200 feet from the top of a cliff, splashing onto craggy rocks, and into a pool below where you can jump in for an invigorating swim. Yes, the waters are ice-cold but you’ll get used to the temperature eventually. The hike back will likely be more strenuous, and you will be sweating buckets for sure.

If long hikes are not for you, go to the Bokong or Small Falls instead.

It’s some 20 minutes from the town proper, and while it is smaller with the water dropping from a height of just 20 feet, it has its charm as well.

You can jump off from the top of the falls and plunge into the pool of water below. Even children can manage the short hike and you will definitely enjoy the swim.

Other places to visit if you still have time are the Latang Underground River, Lake Danum and the Saint Mary’s Episcopal Church.

Must-do’s Eat up a storm -- For those who want a local feel, try Pinikpikan Haus (Dao-angan, Sagada/0920-8135797) for its famous pinikpikan chicken, a dish traditionally prepared by lightly beating (pikpik) the live chicken first, before the bird is thrown into a pot of boiling water to remove the feathers, then its cut-up parts cooked into a broth flavored with etag (smoked dried pork­—another Igorot delicacy.)

The restaurant also serves etag as a separate dish.

Lemon Pie House (Atey, Daoangan/0907-7820360) is famous for, you guessed it! lemon pies. The tart citrusy custard is topped off by a light toasted meringue, giving it a slightly sweet undertone. It’s best eaten with strong brewed coffee or some mountain tea, which the café also serves.

For salads, pastas and thick, creamy yogurt topped with fruits, try the Yoghurt House (Poblacion).

Check out the Log Cabin (Sagada-Besao Road/ 0920-5200463) for its Saturday Night Buffet of rustic French dishes, with freshly baked

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PHILIPPINESthe BEAUTIFUL bread and divine desserts -- very reasonably priced at only P300 (with a P100 deposit for reservation the day before). This is also the place to kick back and relax with a round of drinks after a day of touring, before turning in. (Besides you can’t do much late at night -- Sagada still observes a 9 p.m. curfew.)

Shop around -- For unique woven bags, wallets, placemats, espadrilles, etc. go to the Sagada Weaving and Souvenir Shop (Nangonogan, Poblacion/0918-9276488), which is just about a 10-minute walk from the center of the town.

The women still use wooden handlooms and create a wide array of colorful and artistic fabric designs.

Intricately designed clay pots, urns, jars, mugs and the like can be purchased at the Sagada Pottery House. For a standard fee, you can also learn how to spin the wheel and sculpt a clay pot with your hands, from one of the artisans.

Get some beans -- Sagada produces some of the best coffee beans in the country. Aside from the highland Arabica, it also produces the rare and expensive Café Alamid made from the droppings of civet cats. Buy your beans at Bana’s Res-

Smaller than those found in Banaue, the Sagada rice terraces were built by Igorot farmers by piling rocks instead of compacting soil to construct them

Getting there The water of Bomod-ok Falls plunges 200 feet from the top of a cliff, splashing onto craggy rocks and into a pool below. taurant, a favorite breakfast nook of tourists; aside from the robust full-bodied coffee, it serves great omelets as well.

Where to stay Rock Inn and Café (http:// www.rockfarmsagada.com) is some distance from the town proper but the perfect location away from the hordes of tourists. What’s more, it is located amid an orange orchard so you are allowed to pick and eat the fruits from the trees. Very clean and the staff are most courte-

ous. The inn has massage services as well, an added bonus to soothe your tired sore muscles from doing all the hiking.

If you want to wake up to grand views of the mountains and greenery, check into the Kanip-aw Pines Lodge (0928-2847507/09266092960). The rooms are basic with firm beds, a private kitchenette and balconies that look out to the mesmerizing mountain views. The owner, Oscar Magwilang, is also a tourist guide and can bring you around Sagada.

Yes you can drive all the way to Sagada; just make sure you have a powerful sedan or SUV, as well as handy relatives or friends to take over the wheel when fatigue sets in.

I’d recommend staying overnight in Baguio to recover from the six-hour trip, before heading the next morning to Sagada (six hours away via Halsema Highway).

Most who go to Sagada, though, commute. From Manila, take the Victory Liner (727-4534/833-5019 to 20), which has hourly bus trips to Baguio from its Caloocan, Pasay or Cubao terminals. Another option is Dagupan Bus (Cubao/9296123); Dangwa Transit (Sampaloc, Manila/731–2879); Saulog Transit

(Parañaque/825-2930); or Genesis Transport (Cubao or Pasay/T4211427/551-0842).

From Baguio to Sagada, take the GL-Lizardo Bus to Sagada at the Dangwa Terminal.

Other routes are via Banaue and Bontoc, which also give tourists the chance to explore these scenic places (e.g., Banaue Rice Terraces) before heading on to Sagada. Via Benguet, take Autobus (Sampaloc/4934111) or Dangwa Transit. The bus arrives in Banaue after nine hours. From the same terminal, transfer to a jeepney bound for Sagada and which will travel for about four hours.

If going via Bontoc, take Cabletours Bus (E. Rodriguez Avenue, Quezon City, inside the Trinity University campus/63918-5216790) -- the trip will take 12 hours. From Bontoc, there are jeeps that go to Sagada; the ride will take an hour.

(For more on Sagada, check out http://www.visitsagada.com. Local tourist guides are available via the Sagada Genuine Guides Association at 0929-5569553 or the Sagada Environmental Guide Association at 0999-3915660 or 09197856140). (BusinessMirror) n

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COMMUNITYNEWS

The Role of Filipinos in British Columbia

L

Hon. Mable Elmore (6th from right), stylist Gian Carlo (center), guests and organizers at the Stand for Color fundraising fashion show held at the Aria Club in Port Moody

ARTISTS, ENTREPRENEURS HOLD FUNDRAISER IN PORT MOODY

T

he Fundraiser Fashion Show held in Port Moody on April 19th was a coming together of independent artists and entrepreneurs in the pursuit of a more vibrant B.C. economy. The event was hosted

by Ria Jade, with a guest performance from 2012 Mr. World Canada and Mr. Talent at the 2012 Mr. World competition, Frankie Cena.

Organized by CNM Communications and facilitated by dedicated volunteers headed

by Santi Pelaez. Guests included Hon. Mable Elmore, MLA for Vancouver-Kensington, Hon. Joe Trasolini, MLA for Port Moody-Coquitlam and Cecilia Ampeso, wife of Philippine Consul General Joey Ampeso and Jerica Santos, the 2013 “Variety Got Talent” champion.

The show featured the JC Studio spring line from Jacqueline Conoir, a 26 year old Canadian brand and trend setter in Canadian fashion. Clients of JC Studio include Sharon Stone,

business. I know how hard it can be running a business in this economic environment, and I commit to ensuring that government does not sabotage your hard work with unreasonable taxes and burdensome regulation.

As a father and grandfather, I am believe in a great education and that is why I will fight to defend the $1,200 education grant that the BC Liberals have introduced.

This country has given me so much and I want to give back. I joined the Board of Directors of World Vision Canada which has operations in the Philippines and fought for a fair share of resources for all residents south of the Fraser as Mayor of Langley.

I believe there’s so much more to be done and that is why I am running to be your MLA for Surrey Fleetwood.

Peter Fassbender is the BC Liberal candidate for Surrey Fleetwood. n

ASHTON COLLEGE ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FROM NEW IMMIGRANTS FOR 2013 LILIAN TO BURSARIES Joe Trasolini, 4-time mayor and now MLA for Port Moody, addressing the audience at the fashion show

L-R Rosalie Crisanto, Beatriz Cabilin of Beatriz Boutique, Raechzelle Ariola, Zeala Cortes and Bootz Estella

Angelina modeling the Jacqueline Conoir spring line

ike many Filipinos, I too am an immigrant. I have experienced these challenges, and I appreciate what it means to see the Filipino community succeed so well in Surrey.

As a member of the Fraser Health Municipal Advisory Board, I witnessed the essential role of Filipino nurses. We would not have a healthcare system if it were not for your warm touch and expert care. That is why I am pleased to see the BC Liberals commit to working with the BC Nurses Union to respect the democratic wishes of Licensed Practical Nurses to join the BCNU and to strive to improve the process of Filipino having their credentials recognized and experience respected.

I know many Filipinos run their own businesses, another adventure I share with you. I had to work for everything I had, from being a cameraman to a weatherman, eventually helping grow a small business from $400,000 to $35 million and building my own small

Paula Abdul and popular newscasters in Vancouver. Gian Carlo, stylist extraordinaire put together a fabulous fashion show participated by two up and coming young fashion designers and models from ModelCo. Limousine services for the models were provided by Limo Vancouver. All photos are credited to Bert Morelos.” n

V

ancouver, BC: Ashton College is now accepting applications for the Lilian To Bursaries from new Canadian immigrants who would like to improve their education and pursue a more fulfilling career.

The bursaries, presented in partnership with Canadian Immigrant Magazine , will be awarded to four outstanding students and cover full-time tuition for a range of Ashton College programs.

Newcomers to Canada often face seemingly insurmountable barriers when it comes to job searching in their adopted country. Unable to secure a role matching their level of education and expertise, many recent immigrants are unable to gain relevant Canadian work experience. And with college fees costing thousands or tens of thousands of dollars, many people do not have the option of returning to school to upgrade their skills.

Often, the only obstacle between an immigrant and employment is recognized credentials. That’s why Ashton College is offering new immigrants the chance to advance their career prospects, embark upon exciting opportunities, fuel their self-worth and empower them to achieve their highest potential.

For Lourena Dicdiquin, her career transformed when she received a Lilian To Bursary in 2008. Like many immigrants, Lourena moved to Canada searching for greener pastures, only

to discover that her degree was not recognized here. She credits the bursary and Ashton College’s Human Resources Management program with enabling her to retrain in her field and gain hands-on skills.

“It was life-changing,” she says. “It gave me so much knowledge about the workplace in Canada and it was a wonderful experience.”

Last year’s winner, Melissa Remulla-Briones, immigrated from the Philippines to provide her children with more opportunities, which is why she used her bursary to pursue an Immigration Consultant Diploma.

“It was a way for me to obtain what I want for my family, which is to have a better life,” she says. “When I won, I was like, ‘Wow, I’m a step closer to my dream.’ It gave me the push that things will be better for us in Canada.”

The bursaries honour the life of Lilian To, who was a crusader for immigrants as the long-time executive director and CEO of SUCCESS, a multiservice community organization that provides assistance to new immigrants. To died suddenly of a heart attack 2005 and the bursaries ensure that her work with immigrants continues by addressing the challenges they face when trying to secure a stable career in Canada.

For more information about the submission requirements for the Lilian To Bursaries, visit www.ashtoncollege.com/grants . n

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ELECTION FEVER HEATS UP:

12 KILLED IN LANAO AMBUSH Namfrel says it has observed several technical glitches in PCOS machines.

POLL WATCHDOG WORRIED OVER COUNTING MACHINES

WORRIED about the reports it was getting from the field, the National Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel) on Thursday wrote the Commission on Elections to express its apprehensions about the reliability of the Precinct Count Optical Scan machines.

Namfrel national chair Corazon de la Paz-Bernardo said their volunteers, who were present in several PCOS demonstrations, noticed numerous glitches and raised concerns about the reliability of the performance of the 77,829 PCOS machines that would be used in the May 13 elections.

Because of this, Bernardo urged Comelec to share with its citizen’s arms its contingency plan–or “Plan B”–should the automated elections fail so that election watchdogs could also be ready for it.

“We would like to respectfully bring to your attention our concern about the capability of the PCOS machines to initialize, operate and transmit the results on Election Day,” Bernardo said in a letter to Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. “We are receiving reports from our provincial chapters about the preparations for the coming elections and this is one of the areas that we feel we have to raise a red flag on,” he added.

Bernardo said malfunctioning PCOS machines would pose problems such as congestion and long lines in the precincts, voluntary disenfranchisement for voters who do not have the time or patience to wait, possibility of low turnout, and frustration for both Board of Election Inspectors (BEIs) and the

voters.

She said the bases for their concerns included the glitches during the Feb. 2 mock elections, where Namfrel had observers in 17 out of the 20 mock election sites.

She said the PCOS machines malfunctioned in a number of places and had to be replaced, with the “common problem” being “ballot rejection.”

“This happened in UPIS, Quezon City and Bato, Camarines Sur. The PCOS machine performed initially but stopped after accepting a few ballots at EDSA Elementary School in Manila,” Bernardo said.

Bernardo said this happened in Cagayan de Oro Central School, UPIS in Quezon City, and two precincts in Camarines Sur. She also said transmission failure was observed in a number of places such as Bongao and TawiTawi in Mindanao; Dumaguete City; Iriga City; and Bato in Camarines Sur. “During the training of the Board of Election Inspectors in Vigan, Ilocos Sur, the PCOS failed to function. In the designated Comelec “Demo Centers” (for voters education), the PCOS failed in Cubao and in Davao,” Bernardo said.

“We know that the Comelec is trying its best to ensure that the preparations for the May 13 elections include the operation-worthiness of the PCOS machines,” she said.

We enjoin you to have your technical staff double check the capability of the PCOS so that the elections will run smoothly from voting to transmission,” she added. n

Mayor Abdul Manamparan of Nunungan town lies on a bed in a private hospital in Iligan City.

IT’S a family feud (rido) complicated by politics. Thus was described the deadliest attack so far in a string of election-related violence in Mindanao in the run-up to the May 13 elections.

The military said it had sent more troops to Nunungan, Lanao del Norte, to forestall further violence as a result of the attack on Mayor Abdulmalik Manamparan and his supporters.

About 15 unidentified gunmen opened fire on a truck carrying Manamparan who was returning home after campaigning in Barangay Malaig, a remote village.

Twelve people, including a daughter and granddaughter of Manamparan, were killed in the 6:30 p.m. ambush.

Eight people, including Manamparan, were injured in the attack which police officials blamed on longrunning clan disputes of Muslim families in troubled Mindanao.

A police report said an officer serving as the mayor’s bodyguard was also wounded as he fought off the attackers with an M16 rifle before soldiers and policemen arrived.

Brig. Gen. Daniel Lucero, the commander of the 1st Infantry Division in Zamboanga del Sur, said Nunun-

gan, like other Muslim communities in Mindanao, is gripped by politically motivated conflicts, where the antagonists are mostly armed and pose serious problems for the military and the police.

Manamparan, the outgoing mayor, is running for the lower post of vice mayor of his mainly Muslim town. His son and namesake, who is running for mayor, was not among the ambush casualties.

The Manamparans are running against candidates backed by President Aquino’s Liberal Party.

“They are facing strong opponents from the Liberal Party,” Col. Ricardo Jalad, the local military commander, SAID. However, the Manamparan family’s election opponents are not being considered suspects at this time, he said.

“It is unclear at this point who is responsible. The police are investigating, but the mayor’s relatives have made themselves scarce,” Jalad said.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said the authorities were attempting to establish the identities and motives of the attackers.

“We strongly condemn this act of violence,” she told reporters in Manila.

“We appeal to the supporters of the different candidates to keep calm and continue to campaign for their particular candidates.”

Manamparan said from his hospital bed that he had a good idea who was responsible for the attack, but declined to discuss his suspicions.

Senior Supt. Gerardo Rosales, the provincial police chief, said investigators were checking the involvement of certain clans which had had previous scraps with the Manamparan family.

“They (survivors) identified the attackers last night, they gave us names … They told us it was a family feud,” Rosales told reporters.

Election-season violence continues to plague elections in the country where more than 18,000 posts are at stake in the May 13 balloting, from town mayors and governors to members of Congress.

A running police tally lists 30 deaths from 45 other violent incidents reported since the start of the campaign in February.

Among the election-related violent incidents in recent weeks: • The convoy of Gingoog City Mayor Ruth Guingona, the wife of former Vice President Teofisto Guingona Jr., was ambushed, killing two of her aides and wounding her and a police escort; • In Kabacan, North Cotabato, ahand grenade was tossed into the house of Councilor George Manuel; • An improvised explosive went off in Guindulungan, Maguindanao, killing a village chief and wounding a bystander; • A sub-village leader of Ampatuan town, also in Maguindanao, was killed while two others were wounded when they were ambushed by unidentified men; • Two supporters of Bacoor City (Cavite) Mayor Strike Revilla were killed and another was wounded when they were fired upon by unidentified men. n

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BINAY, VILLAR SOAR IN LATEST SURVEY FOR the first time since the campaign began, political neophyte Nancy Binay, one of the biggest buyers of prime time TV ads, has broken into the third to fourth spot of the senatorial race, according to a survey conducted by Social Weather Stations on April 13-15.

Results of the nationwide survey showed 49 percent of respondents supporting Binay of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA)—two percentage points up from her rating in March.

Nancy, daughter of Vice President Jejomar Binay, has been criticized for her lack of experience. Unlike her

two siblings, a reelectionist mayor of Makati City and a reelectionist representative of the city, Nancy has not held any elective post.

She is a UP BS Tourism graduate and a former personal assistant of her father.

Binay, 39, was tied with former Las Piñas Rep. Cynthia Villar (Nacionalista Party/Team PNoy), who also garnered 49 percent, two percentage points up from her rating last month.

Both Binay and Villar, wife of former Senate President Manny Villar, dislodged Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero (Independent/Team PNoy), who

has been hounded by controversies surrounding his girlfriend, actress Heart Evangelista.

Escudero, who consistently placed second in SWS surveys from December to February, landed in fifth place with 47 percent, down one percentage point from his rating in March, in which he placed third or fourth.

A total of nine candidates of the administration-backed Team PNoy had a statistical chance of winning a Senate seat if elections were conducted less than a month before the elections, based on the survey results.

Team PNoy is an alliance of can-

AQUINO: CRUSH NPA CHECKPOINTS PRESIDENT Aquino has ordered the police and the military to dismantle New People’s Army (NPA) checkpoints and protect politicians campaigning in areas controlled by the communist insurgents.

Aquino issued the order two days after NPA guerrillas attacked and wounded Gingoog City Mayor Ruth de Lara Guingona, wife of former Vice President Teofisto Guingona Jr., at a makeshift checkpoint in the hinterland village of Alatagan in Misamis Oriental province.

The President, campaigning in Misamis Oriental with his senatorial candidates in May’s midterm elections, said he was saddened by the attack on Mayor Guingona, a member of the ruling Liberal Party.

Aquino took time out from the campaign and visited the mayor at Capitol University Medical City (CUMC) in Cagayan de Oro City.

“I pledge, within my power and abilities (as President), and in the name of the law, to exact accountability from those responsible for this,” Aquino said in a speech during a rally in Jose Pelaez Roa Park in Balingasag, Misamis Oriental.

Police said Mayor Guingona was returning from a village fiesta with a six-member escort when a group of about 50 NPA guerrillas attacked her entourage in the remote village

New People’s Army rebels have put up checkpoints to force candidates to pay fees to campaign in areas the NPA controls. of Alatagan in Barangay (village) Upper Kapitulangan, Gingoog City, late Saturday.

Mayor Guingona, 78, survived a hail of bullets and grenade blasts, but two of her civilian bodyguards, who shielded her with their bodies, were killed.

A policeman in her entourage and another civilian bodyguard were wounded.

Malacañang advised candidates in May’s midterm elections not to pay protection money to the NPA and instead seek help from the Department of the Interior and Local Government

(DILG) if they are campaigning in rebel-infested areas.

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda told reporters that the Palace had ordered the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines to explain why the NPA could freely set up checkpoints in areas the rebels supposedly controlled.

Lacierda said Interior Secretary Mar Roxas had ordered the police to provide security to local candidates campaigning in areas influenced by the NPA. Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes told reporters that the election watchdog may tag areas where NPA attacks occurred recently as “areas of immediate concern.” n

EX-VP’S WIFE WOUNDED, 2 AIDES KILLED IN NPA ATTACK GINGOOG City Mayor Ruth de Lara Guingona, wife of former Vice President Teofisto Guingona Jr., and mother of Senator Teofisto “TG” Guingona III, was wounded and two of her bodyguards were killed in an attack in Misamis Oriental province last April 21.

Mayor Guingona, 78, a member of President Aquino’s Liberal Party (LP), suffered bullet wounds in the arms and feet. She was also wounded by shrapnel from a grenade blast during the attack in the hinterland village of Alatagan in Barangay (village) Upper Kapitulangan.

Guingona was returning with a six-member escort from a town fiesta in Alatagan when they were “ambushed” by New People’s Army (NPA) the rebels, Chief Supt. GenerosoCerbo, spokesman for the Philippine Na-

tional Police, said.

Cerbo said the rebels fled after a 10-minute fire fight with police. But the mayor was safely retrieved only at dawn Sunday, hours after the attack, because the site was a remote area.

Killed were the mayor’s civilian bodyguards, brothers Nestor and Tomas Velasco.

PO3 Rolando Benimerito and Leo Cañete, another civilian bodyguard of the mayor, were wounded.

The attack came less than a month before local elections in May. NPA guerrillas often take advantage of election seasons to raise funds by demanding protection money from candidates who want to campaign in areas under their control.

Mayor Guingona is not running

for any office in the elections, but her daughter Marie is running to take her place at city hall.

The NPA admitted the attack and apologized to Guingona and her family, saying it was not intentional, as the rebels’ plan was to hold the entourage, disarm the bodyguards and talk to the mayor.

“We feel sorry about the incident, but Guingona was warned last week not to bring an armed security escort with her while on the campaign trail,” Jorge Madlos, spokesman for the National Democratic Front in Mindanao, said.

“It is our heartfelt request to ask for forgiveness to the family of Guingona. We did not expect this,” he said.

Madlos said the NPA would indemnify the families of those killed. n

BINAY didates of the Liberal Party (LP), Nacionalista Party (NP), Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), PDP Laban and Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP).

Aside from Binay, three other UNA candidates—San Juan City Rep. JV Ejercito, Cagayan Rep. Juan Ponce Enrile Jr. and Sen. Gringo Honasan— made it to the list of probable winners.

Reelectionist Sen. Loren Legarda (NPC/Team PNoy), who consistently topped the poll since December, emerged in first place again with 59 percent, unchanged from her March rating.

Trailing Legarda was Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano (NP/Team PNoy, 52 percent), who managed to secure his ranking despite a five-percentage point drop from the March survey.

Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV (LP/Team PNoy), first cousin of President Aquino, surged to sixth place with 44 percent, up two percentage points from the previous survey, in which he landed in 10th place.

Sharing the seventh to eighth place were Sen. Koko Pimentel (PDPLaban/Team PNoy) and Ejercito (UNA), who both garnered 43 percent.

In ninth spot was Aurora Rep. Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara (LDP/Team PNoy, 42 percent), who rose from the 12th spot in the March survey, where he garnered 39 percent.

Both in 10th to 11th spot were former Movie and Television Review and Classification Board chief Grace Poe (independent/Team PNoy), 39 percent) and Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV (NP/Team PNoy, 39 percent).

Rounding up the list of probable winners were UNA candidates Enrile and Honasan, who both go 37 percent, landing them in 12th to 13th place.

Barely making it to the list were former Bukidnon Rep. Juan Miguel Zubiri (UNA, 35 percent) and former Sen. Ramon Magsaysay Jr. (LP/Team PNoy, 35 percent), who both landed in 14th to 15th place. n

PH TO REMAIN ASIA’S 2ND FASTEST-GROWING ECONOMY

THE international credit rating agency Standard and Poor’s (S&P) said the Philippines this year would still be the second-fastest growing economy in Asia next to China despite the weak global economy.

In its latest research note, S&P said the Philippines, which has been supported mainly by domestic consumption, would grow 6.5 percent this year and 6.3 percent in 2014.

This year’s growth projection for the Philippines is ahead of its neighbors, save for China, which would expand 7.9 percent, faster than its 7.8-percent growth in 2012.

“China and the Asean-5 (Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam) are more domestically driven, and therefore continue to enjoy relatively high and stable growth rates. This is not the case elsewhere,” S&P said.

It said economic fundamentals across the region remain strong and households, corporates, financial institutions and governments’ balance sheets looked healthy--thanks to the lessons learned from the Asian financial crisis 15 years ago, thus the region managed to evade most of the problems pestering the advanced economies.

S&P said it sees a modest pickup in the growth of emerging Asia, which would expand by 6.5 percent this year and rise to 6.8 percent a year after under the assumption that the US starts to recover and Europe starts to emerge from recession.

China will lead the growth for the region, accompanied by an uptick but still low inflation, on the back of investments by state-controlled enterprises financed by state banks.

India, in contrast, will continue to wrestle with low growth and relatively high inflation. Its gross domestic product (GDP) growth fell to barely five percent last year from an average of more than nine percent prior to the 2008 global crisis.

As for the rest of Asia, S&P sees Asean-5 to outperform the newly industrialized economies (NIEs) of Hong Kong, Korea, Singapore and Taiwan. The rating firm said the Asean-5’s quarterly growth has been near five percent year-on-year for the past two years while the growth in NIEs had been slowing to two percent.

Inflation, however, remains low -- with Philippines at 3.8 percent -while liquidity is still loose. Central banks in the region had been keeping their policy rates on hold and if there is any pick up, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and the Bank of Indonesia would be the first two to hike rates. n

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SC LIFTS LIMIT ON TV, RADIO POLITICAL ADS THE Supreme Court has stopped the Commission on Elections (Comelec) from enforcing its rules limiting political campaign advertisements that are broadcast by television and radio outfits on the run-up to the May 13 elections.

Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. expressed disappointment over the tribunal’s ruling and threatened to step down.

Theodore Te, spokesman of the tribunal, said the court issued a Temporary Restraining Order on Comelec Resolution No. 9615 and on amendments imposed by Resolution No. 9631, which entitle each national candidate to a total of 120 minutes of TV campaign commercials and 180 minutes of radio commercials for the entire campaign period.

The same resolutions entitle each local candidate to a total of 60 minutes of TV commercial time and 90 minutes of radio advertisements, for the duration of the campaign.

The case against the Comelec’s airtime limits was filed by the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster sa Pilipinas, GMA Network Inc., Radio Mindanao Network, BomboRadyo and TV5.

Te said nine justices voted for the status quo ante order: Associate Justices Antonio Carpio, Presbitero Velasco Jr., Teresita Leonardo-De Castro, Diosdado Peralta, MarvicLeonen, Lucas Bersamin, Martin Villarama Jr., Jose Mendoza and Jose Perez.

Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno led the dissenting votes alongside

Associate Justices Arturo Brion, Roberto Abad, Estela Perlas-Bernabe, Mariano del Castillo and Bienvenido Reyes.

Bayan Muna Rep. Teodoro Casiño Jr., who attended an earlier hearing at the Supreme Court here, said the ruling lifting the airtime limit on political ads “favored wealthy candidates or those backed by the ruling elite.”

“It is disgusting that the Supreme Court has decided against the Comelec’s effort to rein in expensive campaigns which poor or cash-strapped candidates like me cannot afford,” he said in a text message.

But GMA Network welcomed the Supreme Court order lifting the airtime limits on political ads.

“We maintain that the cheapest and most effective way of informing the public about the qualifications of the candidates, and issues involving them during elections, is through the medium of radio and television,” it said in a statement.

Reelectionist Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano said the tribunal’s ruling was a victory for democracy.

“Information about candidates should reach every Filipino family, not only those with access to national TV,” Cayetano said in a statement.

Cayetano said the Comelec’s fear of the Supreme Court ruling benefiting candidates with bigger budgets was unfounded because the candidates’ spending limit of P3 per voter remained unchanged.

His views, however, were not

Some 10.6 million families consider themselves poor.

HALF OF FILIPINO FAMILIES SEE THEMSELVES AS POOR

UNA senatorial bet JV Ejercito is the second biggest campaign spender, next to Jack Enrile, also of UNA. shared by one of his fellow reelectionists in the administration coalition. “This will definitely be a boost, revenue wise, for the smaller TV and radio stations during this campaign season,” said Sen. Francis Escudero, the chairman of the Senate committee on justice.

“However, this ruling will definitely also give an advantage and boost to the richer candidates who can more easily place more ads compared to candidates with less money like us,” Escudero added n

CHINA SLAMS PH BID IN U.N. CHINA has accused the Philippines of trying to legalize its occupation of islands in the disputed West Philippine Sea (South China Sea), repeating that Beijing would never agree to international arbitration.

The Philippines is seeking a United Nations ruling on the validity of Chinese claims to the resource-rich sea, with a possible unfavorable verdict for China seen as a test of its willingness to yield over territorial disputes.

Manila said that a UN arbitration court had set up a tribunal that would handle the Philippine case, but China said this was an attempt to steal Chinese territory.

Manila’s announcement came after ShunjaiYanai, president of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (Itlos), informed the Philippines about the appointment of the last three arbiters to the panel that would handle the Philippine case and rule on the country’s bid to clarify its rights in the West Philippine Sea. On April 26, Philippine Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario told reporters in Manila that the UN arbitral tribunal may open deliberations on the merits of the Philippine case by July.

The deliberations will proceed

even without the participation of China, Del Rosario said.

Any decision the tribunal hands down will be “final and unappealable,” Del Rosario said.

The Philippines brought the case in January, asking the United Nations to order a halt to China’s activities that it said violated Philippine sovereignty over islands within its 360-kilometer exclusive economic zone recognized under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos).

Invoking that law, the Philippines asked the tribunal to invalidate China’s “nine-dash line” map, as it encroaches on the Philippine exclusive economic zone. The map shows Chinese territory covering almost the whole West Philippine Sea, including the islands near the shores of its neighbors that are believed to be sitting atop vast energy and mineral reserves.

China’s foreign ministry posted a statement on its website on April 26 saying the Philippines was attempting to “cover in a cloak of ‘legality’ its illegal occupation of Chinese islands and reefs.”

Beijing called on the Philippines to immediately withdraw all person-

nel and facilities from the islands that it said the Filipinos were occupying. Those include five islands in the Spratly archipelago in the West Philippine Sea. China has returned the Philippine notification of proceedings on the UN arbitral tribunal, rejecting arbitration and asserting “indisputable sovereignty” over the sea.

Instead of arbitration, China insisted on negotiations with the Philippines to settle the territorial dispute in the West Philippine Sea. “The position outlined by China will not change,” the Chinese foreign ministry statement said.

The Unclos does not apply in this case, as what the Philippines is asking for is a decision on sovereignty, the ministry said.

“China’s refusal to accept the Philippines’ request for arbitration has full grounding in international law,” it said.

The Chinese statement came a day after the leaders of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) called for urgent talks with China to seek a resolution to the increasingly tense territorial disputes in the West Philippine Sea. n

AN estimated 52 percent of Filipino families, or 10.6 million, consider themselves poor, the results of a new Social Weather Stations survey showed.

The March survey’s results are slightly lower than the December 2012 self-poverty survey that showed 10.9 million families, or 54 percent, saying they were poor.

Around 39 percent, or 7.9 million families, also consider themselves food poor, lower than December’s 44 percent or 8.9 million households.

The release of the survey follow results came after census figures released Tuesday showed that the Philippines has failed to make headway in cutting rampant poverty, with more than one in four citizens considered poor despite rosy economic growth figures.

The National Statistical Coordination Board’s July 2012 poverty rate of 27.9 percent is practically unchanged from 2006 and 2009.

The SWS said Mindanao showed significant gains with self-rated poverty down 19 points to 53 percent and while food poverty falling 20 points.

However, self-rated poverty and food poverty scores remained the same in Metro Manila and rose in Luzon.

The SWS said the median poverty threshold -- or the minimum monthly budget that would allow families not to consider themselves poor - rose to P15,000 in Metro Manila, P10,000 in the Visayas and P8,000 in the rest of Luzon and in Mindanao.

Food poverty thresholds -- the monthly food budget that households need in order not to consider themselves food-poor – were at P8,000 in Metro Manila, P5,000 in the Visayas and P4,000 in the rest of Luzon and in Mindanao.

The SWS survey was conducted among 1,200 adult respondents nationwide from March 19 to 22. n

GMA TO TESTIFY IN HER OWN PLUNDER CASE FORMER President Gloria MacapagalArroyo will testify for her own defense in the trial of her plunder case at the Sandiganbayan First Division.

Arroyo, the incumbent congresswoman of Pampanga’s second district, is the only witness on the defense list, according to her pre-trial brief filed last April 24.

In the seven-page brief, Arroyo’s lawyers said she’s the sole defense witness since the individuals who have personal knowledge of the fund transactions cannot be compelled to take the witness stand as they are her co-accused in the case, which concerned allegations of fraudulent handling of P366 million confidential intelligence funds of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).

Arroyo’s co-defendants were PCSO general manager Rosario C. Uriarte; former PCSO Board chair-

man Sergio O. Valencia; PCSO board directors Manuel L. Morato, Jose R. Taruc V, Raymundo T. Roquero and Ma. Fatima A. S. Valdes; PCSO budget and accounts manager Benigno B. Aguas; former Commission on Audit chairman Reynaldo A. Villar; and former COA-Intelligence Fund Unit head Nilda B. Plaras.

Arroyo, who is seeking re-election in next month’s midterm elections, said she has no personal knowledge about “the release, disbursement, use and liquidation” of the PCSO confidential intelligence funds.

For this reason, Arroyo said she would rather wait for her co-accused to finish their own presentations before starting her own defense.

“She prays that she be allowed to present evidence last so that she may adopt the testimonies of her co-accused,” her lawyers said. n

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STRANDED OFWS IN SAUDI REFUSE GOV’T OFFER OF ACCOMMODATION

OVERSEAS Filipino workers camping outside the Philippine Consulate in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia were disappointed with the slow action of the post.

“Dapat kung sila ay kikilos dapat nung isang linggo pa lang ginawan na nila ng paraan. Hindi na pinaabot pa nila sa ganitong sitwasyon na naghirap na lahat ng may mga anak, mga babae, kami lahat, kailangang ginawan na nila ng paraan,” said Daisy dela Armas.

The OFWs, who are temporarily staying in a so-called “Tent City”, said they refused the accommodation offered by the consulate for women and children because they said their ap-

peal for repatriation won’t be heard once inside the facility.

“Kung kami po ay aakyat dun lahat, naka hindi na kami asikasuhin,” said Joan Punongbayan.

Another stranded OFW said, “Kung saitaas kami, yung andun sa taas nga hindi napapansin, kami pa kaya?”

They said camping out would ensure that their appeal will be noticed.

“Nagtitiis po kami dito sa init.

Ang lahat po ng bata dito nagkakarashes dahil sa init, ang hirap po ng sitwasyon namin pero nagtitiis kami makauwi na kami sa aming bansang sinilangan,” said Punongbayan.

Consul General Uriel Garibay said that only 14 people—7 mothers and 7

children—have accepted their offer of accommodation inside the consulate.

The consulate said it was not the first time that the campers have refused an offer from them. The first facility it offered to them can occupy over 100 people.

He added that that the consulate will remain open to those who still want transfer inside.

The Philippine government has asked Saudi Arabia to go easy on some 1,000 undocumented Filipino workers

stranded in Jeddah who are facing imminent arrest and deportation.

President Aquino’s spokesperson, Edwin Lacierda, said the Philippine government has interceded on behalf of the undocumented workers.

“According to Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Raul Hernandez, among the rules we have asked the Saudi government to waive are the presentation of the ‘no objection’ certificate required from the employers to expedite the issuance of the exit visas

GOV’T MULLS 3 OPTIONS FOR NAIA

SMUGGLED RICE WORTH P1.2B SEIZED IN CEBU CEBU CITY— Customs authorities announced Thursday they had uncovered P1.2 billion worth of smuggled rice declared as stone and granite slabs in 1,169 containers from Vietnam.

“In this case, we hit the mother lode of rice smuggling,” said Danilo Lim, deputy commissioner for intelligence of the Bureau of Customs. “It’s probably the biggest in the history of customs,” said Lim of the haul.

Lim said the shipment in Cebu was bigger than the much-publicized smuggled rice seized at Subic Bay Freeport Zone earlier this year.

The estimated number of sacks of rice intercepted could reach around 600,000—larger than the 420,000 impounded in Subic, he said.

Lim said they had identified eight consignees of the smuggled rice: JJM Global Trading, Rm 212 Crown Building, North Reclamation Area, Cebu; JM-ARS Trading, 308 3/F, Crown Building, North Reclamation Area, Cebu; Neon Gateway Trading, Sta. Rosa, Poblacion, Alegria, Cebu; Custans Enterprises, 3H Gemini Building, M.J. Cuenco Avenue, Cebu; Melma Enterprises, Rm 201, GK Chua Building, M.J. Cuenco Street, Cebu; NMW Enterprises, Marigondon, Lapu-Lapu City; Ocean Park Enterprises and MMSM Trading.

He said the bureau would investigate these companies and check their past importation record.

Lim said that based on customs records, these companies had made previous imports in 2010, 2011 and 2012. “If warranted, there is no reason why they should not be facing cases,” he said.

Lim and Prudencio Reyes Jr., deputy commissioner for customs assessment, went to Cebu for the opening of 50 of the 286 containers of smuggled rice that arrived at Cebu Port on March 22.

The containers held sacks of rice bearing the brands Bochokoy premium white sinandomeng rice, Unicorn premium white rice, Doña Conchita gold fancy rice, Ruby Extra premium sinandomeng rice and Valentino premium grade sinandomeng rice.

Lim said an alert order was issued against the shipment based on information from outside the bureau and an investigation conducted by its risk management office.

He explained that profiling was based on the origin of the shipment and its weight, which was heavier than the usual weight of the declared cargo, among other things. The indicators showed that the shipment might be smuggled rice so an alert order was issued, Lim said. n

Customs Deputy Commissioner for Intelligence Danilo Lim (left) inspects smuggled rice seized in Cebu.

(for the workers),” said Lacierda.

Lacierda said the Philippine government has committed to help shoulder the repatriation cost of the stranded overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

Undocumented Filipino workers are camping outside the Philippine Consulate in Jeddah, and are calling out for mass repatriation even after the Saudi King announced a three-month reprieve on the crackdown against illegal workers in that country. n

The government cannot seem to decide on what to do with the existing NAIA terminal.

HOW do you solve a problem like NAIA? The government is considering three options, one which includes closing and selling off the country’s main gateway Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), according to Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya.

In a speech before the Makati Business Club, Abaya said the Department of Transportation and Communications has submitted three proposals on the airport system to President Aquino for approval.

The first option, Abaya said, involves a single airport system. Under this proposal, the government will end operations at NAIA and sell the property, and develop the Clark International Airport in Pampanga.

The second option is the twin air-

port system, where the government will develop Clark while maximizing operations at NAIA through 2025. At the same time, the government will look at an alternative site for a new airport, preferably 25 kilometers or 30 minutes away from the NAIA. Abaya said the third option is also a twin system, where the government will develop both Clark and NAIA, while considering an alternative airport.

“Previously, the direction was to move all NAIA’s current operations to Clark International Airport within the next 5 to 7 years. What is clear now is that we need Clark to absorb some of the traffic in NAIA. Even if initially, it seems more cost efficient to have a single main gateway, there are dual airport systems existing around the world that actually perform well com-

mercially,” Abaya said.

The DOTC is still looking to increase the capacity of NAIA, but Abaya noted there is no available land to extend its runway or build a new terminal.

While the Palace has yet to decide, Abaya said the Cabinet secretaries are in favor of the second option, wherein NAIA and Clark would be jointly developed while looking for a new site for an airport. Possible sites for the new airport include reclamation of Laguna de Bay or Manila Bay as well as the Sangley airport in Cavite.

“We will be seeking approval from the President to aggressively expand and promote Clark while at the same time continuing the ongoing improvements and upgrades that will maximize NAIA’s capacity. The studies we’ve been doing show that both can operate at the same time without compromising commercial viability,” Abaya said.

The DOTC chief said improvement works at the NAIA will be finished within the year, while the structural retrofit of Terminal 1 will continue through 2014.

MBC chairman Ramon del Rosario Jr.emphasized the need for the government to decide on the single airport or twin airport system, as NAIA remains heavily congested.

NAIA, the country’s main gateway for over 30 years, has repeatedly been named one of the worst airports in the world. n

P13B MORE FOR ‘TOURISM ROADS’

BUOYED by record-breaking tourist arrivals, President Aquino has announced a government plan to pour P13 billion more into “tourism roads” next year that would take tourists to all parts of the archipelago.

At the groundbreaking for the upgrading of a 14-kilometer “tourism road” in Dipolog City on April 18, the President said this would entail paving 7,256 kilometers of the national road network.

“From 2011 to 2013, P21 billion was allotted for the improvement of our tourism roads and we plan to allot P13 billion more in 2014 to speed up the flow of tourism to all corners of the country. We’re doing this to develop an industry that is now a wellspring of opportunities for our countrymen,” Aquino said.

Now that tourism was picking up, the President said the government

would aggressively implement infrastructure projects geared toward bringing livelihood and development to the countryside.

“Our plan—to pave 7,256 kilometers of our national road network.

And because of Secretary Babes Singson’s persistence and with the cooperation of various agencies and the private sector, we’re confident of accomplishing this fast and without ‘hocus pocus,’” he said.

Once the Dipolog City road upgrade is completed, Aquino said it would be easier for tourists to get to Sungkilaw Falls, the Cogon Eco-Tourism Park and Oisca Park.

“That means Dipolog will contribute more to reaching our target of 56.1 million domestic tourists by 2016,” he said in his speech, which was aired over government-run dzRB radio. The original domestic tourist

target was 35 million but this was breached back in 2011.

Foreign tourist arrivals, on the other hand, have hit 4.3 million, nearly half of the targeted 10 million arrivals by 2016, the President said.

“So to the tourists, come let’s go to Sungkilaw Falls, but then again it may take them a week to get there if the roads are not paved,” he said.

Of the 14-km road, some P80 million was allotted for the upgrade of 2.887 km of it but the winning bidder, Vicente T. Lao Construction, will charge the government only P69 million, resulting in savings of P11 million.

This phase runs from Junction Barangay Cogon to Oisca Park (Japanese Park) in Barangay Diwan, Dipolog City.

To pave the remaining 11.113 km of the road, public works officials have proposed allocating P225 million in the 2014 national budget. n

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PHILIPPINES

MAY 1-15, 2013

PLANET

MAY 1-15, 2013

32

PHILIPPINES

Vancouver Edition

PAGBABAGO para sa KABUTIHAN SA BAWAT PRAKTIKAL NA HAKBANG

GABRIEL YIU

HARRY BAINS

ADRIAN DIX

MABLE ELMORE

BRUCE RALSTON

gabrielyiu.bcndp.ca

harrybains.bcndp.ca

adriandix.bcndp.ca

mableelmore.bcndp.ca

bruceralston.bcndp.ca

VANCOUVER FRASERVIEW

SURREY NEWTON

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Iboto ang inyong kandidatong NDP sa araw ng halalan, May 14th.

Vote for your NDP candidate on Election Day, May 14th.

CHANGE FOR THE BETTER

ONE PRACTICAL STEP AT A TIME WWW.BCNDP.CA Authorized by Heather Harrison, Financial Agent, 604-430-8600 | CUPE 3787