April 2012 Fortnightly issue by MShare Limited

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PHILIPPINES Connecting Global News & Views For The Community

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April 2012 Fortnightly

Volume 3 - Number 7

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PHILIPPINES HAILS START OF US WAR GAMES ECONOMY

Jason Gutierrez, AFP

“The Healthy Man Of Asia” – The Philippines PAGE 4

POLITICS Arroyo pleads not guilty

PAGE 8

HP NEWS Ex-rebel held in blasts

GLOBAL NEWS

PAGE 10

Aquino urges united ASEAN stand on South China Sea

OFW NEWS

PAGE 16

Changes to the Immigration Rules PAGE 24

SPECIAL FEATURE Philippine swordsmith has Hollywood touch PAGE 29

CELEBRITY, SHOWBIZ & ENTERTAINMENT 24 Oras finalist in the 2012 Monte-Carlo Television Festival

PAGE 33

SPORTS Filipino-American skater in top 21 spot – 2012 World Figure Skating Championships PAGE 38

THE Philippines hailed the start of major war games with the United States on Monday, April 16 as a timely boost to the two nations’ military alliance amid growing regional security challenges. More than 6,000 Filipino and US soldiers will take part in the 12 days of exercises across the Philippines, which come as the host nation is embroiled in an escalating dispute with China over rival claims to the South China Sea. In a speech at the opening ceremony for the exercises in Manila, Philippines’ armed forces chief Jessie Dellosa did not specifically mention China but said the war games highlighted strong US support for its weaker ally. “Given the international situation we are in, I say that this exercise, in coordination with all those we had in the past, (is) timely and mutually beneficial,” Dellosa said. “The conduct of this annual event reflects the aspirations to further relations with our strategic ally, a commitment that has to be nurtured especially in the context of the evolving challenges in the region.” The Philippines has over the past year made repeated public calls for closer military ties with the United States, its former colonial ruler and long time ally, as part of its strategy to deal with China over their maritime dispute. China and Taiwan claim nearly all of the South China Sea, even waters approaching the coasts of

the Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei and Malaysia. The competing claims have for decades made the sea – where there are shipping routes vital for global trade and which is believed to hold huge deposits of fossil fuels – a potential flashpoint for military conflict. While diplomatic efforts have largely kept the dispute from flaring into violence over recent decades, the Philippines and Vietnam said last year that China was becoming increasingly aggressive in staking its claim to the sea. The Philippines accused Chinese vessels of firing warning shots at Filipino fishermen, harassing an oil exploration vessel and laying markers in areas close to Philippine landmass. Tensions spiked again last week when the Philippines sent its biggest warship to a tiny shoal about 230 kilometres (140 miles) west of the county’s main island of Luzon where eight Chinese fishing boats had been seen. China deployed three vessels to stop Philippine personnel from arresting the fishermen, and the dispute escalated with both countries launching protests and trading accusations that the other was violating their sovereign territory. While the fishing boats left Scarborough Shoal over the weekend, both nations are continuing to assert their sovereignty over the area, which is many hundreds of kilometres from the nearest major Chinese landmass. The Philippine government has sought to emphasise the Balikatan exercises have nothing to do with the

©AFP/File/Ted Aljibe

More than 6,000 Filipino and US soldiers are to take part in the 12 days of exercises across the Philippines. ©AFP/Noel Celis

©AFP Graphic

Graphic on disputed claims in the South China Sea. Eight Chinese fishing vessels which sparked the standoff however had already left the area.

Scarborough Shoal dispute and there is no reason for the war games to provoke China. However the Philippine military has confirmed some of the drills will be held just off the western coast of Palawan in waters facing the South China Sea. The Balikatan exercises are also being held as the United States is rebuilding its military presence across the Asia Pacific, partly to counter

The Philippines has accused Chinese vessels of firing warning shots at Filipino fishermen.16/04/2012 06h22 GMTActivists are pictured during a protest in front of the Chinese Consular Office in Manila, on April 16, demanding the Chinese government to immediately pull out from Scarborough Shoal.

the growing political, economic and military might of China. China has criticised the US move, with the Chinese defence ministry describing it as proof of a “Cold War mentality”. However Philippine President Benigno Aquino III told AFP last month he was willing to help the US in this context by allowing more joint exercises such as Balikatan. ■ (AFP – Manila, Philippines – April 16, 2012)

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Who can register for an RRN? Registration for an RRN can be completed on behalf of the Receiver by either the Sender or the Receiver. Why do I need an RRN? Registration and receipt of an RRN is required in order to perform a Direct-to-Account money transfer. If a Sender chooses Account Deposit and sends money to three different Receivers, does each Receiver have to be registered? Will the Sender have three different RRNs? Yes. Each Receiver has a different bank account number, so the Sender will have three different RRNs Can multiple Senders send to the same RRN? Yes. The RRN is tied to the Receiver’s account. Is it possible to change an RRN? The Sender will need to contact MoneyGram to change any RRN. Depending on what change need to be made, a new RRN might have to be created.

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ECONOMY

April 2012 – No. 7 / Fortnightly • UK & Europe Edition

Asia ‘to maintain growth’ despite global headwinds Stephen Coates, AFP EMERGING Asian economies will experience flat growth this year before recovering in 2013, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) said in a regional report released Wednesday, April 11. The Asian Development Outlook report for 2012 said the region was shifting toward a “more sustainable long-run growth path” based on strong domestic demand instead of exports, which have been hit by wobbly Western demand. But the study also warned that the region’s rising wealth was fuelling inequality and income disparities, with the underprivileged at risk of being sucked into a “vicious circle” of poverty and neglect. The vast region’s gross domestic product (GDP) growth will “cool somewhat” to 6.9 percent in 2012, down from 7.2 percent last year, before edging higher again to 7.3 percent in 2013. “Despite the weak global environment, developing Asia’s growth momentum continues,” it said. “Strong domestic demand provided necessary support in 2011 and this will need to continue in light of the soft export demand expected from the major industrial economies of the United States (US), eurozone, and Japan.” Even with a slowdown this year, developing Asian economies would easily outshine Europe, the

United States and Japan where output is forecast to grow only 1.1 percent this year and 1.7 percent in 2013, the report said. “Continued uncertainties in the eurozone and a further slump in global trade pose the biggest threats to the growth outlook,” ADB Chief Economist Changyong Rhee said in a statement. “At the same time, Asian economies are gradually diversifying into new markets, private consumption is trending up and the region has limited direct financial exposure to the eurozone – which should help sustain its momentum.” The stronger trend in domestic consumption – in a group of countries known for high savings rates – could be seen in the region’s current account surplus, which fell to 2.6 percent of GDP from four percent in 2010. The report covers most economies in Asia except Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan. The countries account for more than 80 percent of Asia’s population. Inflation was a concern for the region last year until the eurozone debt crisis and the patchy recovery in the United States sapped demand for exports, forcing policy-makers to worry more about growth. The ADB said prices had eased but remained a “potential threat”, especially given the volatility of food and fuel costs. China, the world’s second biggest economy, would see growth moderate to 8.5 percent

©AFP/File/Antony Dickson

©AFP/File

Changyong Rhee, chief economist of the Asian Development Bank.

this year and 8.7 percent in 2013, compared with 9.2 percent in 2011. The region’s other emerging giant, India, would post 7.5 percent growth in 2012. Southeast Asia’s GDP would expand 5.2 percent this year from just 4.6 percent in 2011, thanks largely to Thailand’s recovery from last year’s devastating floods. The report said Asia had “lifted people out of poverty at an unprecedented rate” over the past few decades, but its recent growth had been characterised by widening income disparities between the super-rich and the rest. If the spoils of growth had been more evenly shared and inequality rates had remained stable, another 240 million people or 6.5 percent of developing Asia’s population – would have moved out of poverty between 1990 to 2010. Rhee said rising inequality is a concern for Asia – cited as a successful example of high growth with low inequality in the 1970s – as many African and Latin American countries have

Stronger trend in domestic consumption could be seen in Asia›s current account surplus. ©AFP/File/Nicolas Asfouri

Emerging Asian economies will experience flat growth this year before recovering in 2013, according to an ADB report.

witnessed a decline in such divide. “What we are worrying about is that if this trend continues Asia may lose one of our strong points,” he told reporters in Hong Kong. “Rising inequality can weaken the basis of growth by undermining social cohesion – you can think of the Arab Spring

– and worsen the quality of governance,” he warned. The ADB recommended measures including greater spending on health and education, cutting fuel subsidies and broadening the sources of tax revenues to address rising inequality. ■ (AFP – Hong Kong – April 11, 2012)

The Philippines, “The Healthy Man Of Asia” – Reuters AFTER being dubbed as the “sick man of Asia” for many years, the Philippines has now regained its economic health and earned the distinction of being “the healthy man of Asia,” according to a report from Reuters on February 20. The wire agency has enumerated several reasons for giving the Philippines its new monicker and for the positive reviews that it has been getting from economists. There is the Philippine Stock Exchange, undeniably the best performing bourse in Asia, which gained a record high of 13 percentage points in February allowing it to breach the allimportant 5,000 mark. The Philippines was also able to buck the trend with a GDP growth of 3.7 percent last year amidst a flurry of debt crises and severe austerity measures in other

countries. At the same time, the country was able to keep inflation in check at 3.9 percent in January, one of the lowest in Southeast Asia. This gave the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas some elbow room to cut interest by at least another

quarter-point this year. The Government also promised to boost spending on infrastructure this year, particularly through the so-called “Public-Private Partnership scheme”. Reuters saw the Philippines’ $200 billion-dollar economy as

being on a stronger footing as shown by burgeoning corporate incomes and the narrowing budget deficit which is now down to two percent from 5.3 percent in 2002. To maintain the momentum, the Department of Foreign

Affairs (DFA) has gathered its Ambassadors, Consuls General, and Honorary Consuls in the country this month for a consultation meeting and seminar which puts special emphasis on the DFA’s economic diplomacy initiatives. ■ (DFA – March 6, 2012)

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Events Diary

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April 2012 – No. 7 / Fortnightly • UK & Europe Edition

Original Creation and Copyright Reserved By: Hello Philippines 2011

WE WILL MATCH ANY PRICE

2012 CALENDAR OF EVENTS DATE / TIME

EVENT

1, 5, 6, 7 & 8 April 2012 Various Times

Semana Santa sa Southampton – Contact Father Claro Conde for more information

15 April 2012 – Sunday

Discovering the Cuisine of The Philippines

DATE / TIME

EVENT

VENUE

ORGANISER

St Patrick’s Catholic Church, 45 Portsmouth Road, Woolston, Southampton SO19 9BD

2012 CALENDAR OF EVENTS

London Cooking Club

VENUE

CONTACTS / REMARKS Father Claro Conde 07803 191 502 / cconde8254@aol.com

ORGANISER

Luiz Hara luizhara@hotmail.com / www.londonfoodie.co.uk

CONTACTS / REMARKS

Philippine Embassy 2nd Consular Semana Santa sa Southampton – Contact Outreach Mission infor 2012 – Belfast, Father Claro Conde more information Northern Ireland Discovering the Cuisine of The Aegis Band – Rock-Rakan sa Dublin, Philippines Ireland Aegis BandEmbassy – Rock-Rakan sa Belfast, Philippine 2nd Consular Northern Ireland Outreach Mission in 2012 – Belfast, Northern Ireland Aegis Band – Rock-Rakan sa Norte Aegis Band – Rock-Rakan sa Dublin, Ireland Aegis Band – Rock-Rakan sa Belfast, Newcastle Northern Ireland

Ennis Room,Catholic Belfast City Hospital, 51 Lisburn St Patrick’s Church, 45 Portsmouth Belfast BT9 7AB Road, Woolston, Southampton SO19 9BD

25 April 2012 – Wednesday 29 April 2012 – Sunday 6:00pm 6:00pm 28 April 2012 – Saturday 5:30pm 5 May 2012 – Saturday

Aegis Band – Rock-Rakan sa Norte Aegis Band – Rock-Rakan sa London

Hilton Bradford, Hall Ings, Bradford BD1 5SH Hammersmith Town Hall, King Street, Hammersmith, London W6 9JU Lightfoot Center, Wharrier Street, Walker, Newcastle upon Tyne NE6 3BR

29 April 2012 – Sunday 6:00pm

Aegis Band – Rock-Rakan sa London

Hammersmith Town Hall, King Street, Hammersmith, London W6 9JU

12 May 2012 – Saturday 5 May 2012 – Saturday 1:00pm

Santacruzan 2012 in East London Pinoy Showcase Talent

St Antony’s Church, Stratford, London

Filipino Community in East London, Kensal Community Association and India London East End Rosary Crusade and Investment Plc Leyte-Samar Organization in the UK

12 May 2012 – Saturday 6:00pm 12 May 2012 – Saturday 1:00pm 19 May 2012 – Saturday 6:00pm to 1:00am 26 – Saturday Saturday 12 May May 2012 2012 –

Camden Centre, Euston Road, London WC1H 9DB St Antony’s Church, Stratford, London Pettswood War Memorial Hall, Orpington, Kent BR5 1LA 1. Powis High Street Camden Centre, Euston Road, London WC1H 2. St Peter Church 9DB 3. Gen. Gordon Square Pettswood War Memorial Hall, Orpington, Kent BR5 1LA Harrow Club W10, 87 Freston Road, London 1. Powis High Street W10St6TH 2. Peter Church 3. Gen. Gordon Square Eastville Park, Fishpond Road, Eastville, Bristol BS5 6AX

Controllers UK

Aguman Kapampangan UK Greenwich Filipino Community in line with the multi-cultural celebration for the declaration of Greenwich as a Royal Filipino Community in Bristol Borough and the 2012 Olympics

Erroll 07429 187 991 / Luz 07721 338 366 / / Zanie Moises Espanola, President – 07894 548 939 07733 781 858 / 07886 881 432 mespanola2@yahoo.com

9 2 June 2012 – Saturday 3:00pm to 11:00pm 6:00pm

2nd Miss London NABA 2012 Beauty Pageant Santacruzan 2012 in East London Rock Intensity – A gig for earthquake victims in Negros Independence Day 2012 – Celebrations 2nd Miss London NABA 2012 Beauty in the Royal Borough of Greenwich Pageant 1. Flores de Mayo Rock IntensityService – A gig for earthquake 2. Liturgical victims in Negros 3. Barrio Fiesta / Cultural Show Aguman Kapampangan Disco Independence Day 2012– –Summer Celebrations in the Royal Borough of Greenwich 1. Flores de Mayo Bristol Barrio Fiesta 2012 2. Liturgical Service 3. Barrio Fiesta / Cultural Show th 114 Independence Thanksgiving Aguman Kapampangan – Summer Mass Disco and Salo-Salo

The Holy Apostles Church, Harrow Club W10, Catholic 87 Freston Road, Winchester London Street, Pimlico, London SW1V 4LY W10 6TH

Philippine Embassy, London, United Aguman Kapampangan UK Kingdom with various Filipino Associations

Erroll 07429 187 991 / Luz 07721 338 366 / Zanie 07733 781 858 / 07886 881 432

9 June2012 2012– –Saturday 2 to 10 3 June Saturday & Sunday& Sunday

th 114 Philippine Independence Day in Bristol Barrio Fiesta 2012 Morden

Morden Road, Morden, Surrey EastvillePark, Park,London Fishpond Road, Eastville, SM4 5DX Bristol BS5 6AX

Bayanihan UK Filipino Community in Bristol

Teresita Valencia-Juval 020 7341 7431884 / Willy 07900 485 194 / Gerome 07717 293 / Carlo juvaltravel@btconnect.com / Gil Zarcilla 07802 761 446 07528 770 491 / www.filcombristol.co.uk

16June June2012 2012– –Saturday Saturday 9 9:00am 3:00pm

th 4th Pistahan sa Newcastle 2012 114 Independence Thanksgiving Mass (Newcastle Filipino Festival 2012) and Salo-Salo

Blaydon Club Field (Car Boot Winchester Sale The HolyRugby Apostles Catholic Church, Area), Hexham Swalwell, Newcastle Street, Pimlico,Road, London SW1V 4LY Upon Tyne NE16 3BN Morden Park, London Road, Morden, Surrey Rowntree Park, Terry Avenue, York YO23 1JQ SM4 5DX

Filipino Community of Philippine Embassy,Association London, United Newcastle Upon Tyne Filipino (FILCAN) Kingdom with various Associations

Sally Sellars 07886 742 417 / sallysanchez@btinternet.com

Bayanihan UK Yorkshire Maharlika Filipino Club in association with City of York Council Filipino Community Association of Filipino Leeds Association Newcastle Upon Tyne (FILCAN)

Teresita Valencia-Juval 020 7341 7431 / Lolita Boddy 01765 535 015 / 07973 469 450 / juvaltravel@btconnect.com / Gil Zarcilla 07802 761 446 www.maharlika.org.uk Sally Sellars 07886 742 417 / Eden 07809 404 580 / Wilma 07846 088 537 / Rowena sallysanchez@btinternet.com 07717 220 095 / Mayona 07977 149 417

Inter-Cultural SocietyFilipino of London Yorkshire Maharlika Club in association with City of York Council

For more details contact: 07961 445 249 Lolita Boddy 01765 535 015 / 07973 469/450 / gia@westendmamas.com www.maharlika.org.uk

Kirkstall Abbey Leeds, Abbey Road, Kirkstall, Woodgate Valley Country Park, Clapgate Lane, Leeds LS5 3EH Bartley Green, Birmingham B32 3DS Royal Overseas League, Overseas House, Park Campbell Park, Milton Keynes Place, St James’s Street, London SW1A 1LR

Filipino Leeds Association Filipino Association of Birmingham (FAB)

Eden 07809 404 580 / Wilma 07846 088 537 / Rowena Marlo Quilang, Chairman 0121 244 6900 / 0121 421 07717 220 095 / Mayona 07977 149 417 7762 For more details contact: 07961 445 249 / Maria 07737 676 850 / Merald 07909 957 313 / Fe gia@westendmamas.com 07588 636 573

28th Barrio Fiesta sa London 2012

Lampton Park, Lampton Road, Hounslow, Middlesex TW3 4DN

ABS-CBN Europe Limited in cooperation with The Philippine Centre

Event Coordinator 07577 813 104 / londonbarriofiesta@yahoo.com

Bradford Pinoy Barrio Fiesta and Santacruzan 2012

Lady Hill Park, Allerton Road, Bradford

British-Filipino Association of Bradford

Nina Ricci Santos, Chairman bfabmail@yahoo.com

215, April - Saturday 1, 6, 72012 & 8 April 2012 Various Times 15 April 2012 – Sunday 21 April 2012 – Saturday 6:00pm 22 April 2012 -– Saturday Sunday 21 25 April 2012 – Wednesday 21 April 2012 – Saturday 6:00pm 6:00pm 22 28 April 2012 – Sunday Saturday 5:30pm

6:00pm 19 May 2012 – Saturday 6:00pm to 1:00am 2 June 26 May 2012 2012 –– Saturday Saturday 6:00pm to 11:00pm 2 to 3 June 2012 – Saturday & Sunday

Aegis Band – Rock-Rakan sa Newcastle Pinoy Showcase Talent

9 to 10 June 2012 – 17 June 2012 – Sunday Saturday & Sunday 10:00am to 5:00pm 16 June 2012 – Saturday 17 June 2012 – Sunday 9:00am 9:00am to 6:00pm

114 Philippine Independence Day in 5th Yorkshire Barrio Fiesta 2012 Morden

22 23 2012 June 2012 – Friday 17 to June – Sunday & Saturday 10:00am to 5:00pm 7:30pm 17 June 2012 – Sunday 23 to 24 June 2012 – 9:00am to 6:00pm Saturday & Sunday 22 to 23 June 2012 – Friday 23 to 24 June 2012 – & Saturday Saturday & Sunday 7:30pm 30 June to 1 July 2012 – Saturday & Sunday 10:00am to 6:00pm 8 July 2012 – Sunday 8:00am to 6:00pm

East Meets West 2…Fiesta Kantahan Naman! 5th Yorkshire Barrio 2012

4 Pistahan sa Newcastle 2012 Filipino Leeds Association Barrio Fiesta (Newcastle Filipino Festival 2012) 2012

Filipino Leeds Association Barrio Fiesta 5th Fiesta sa Birmingham-Midlands 2012 2012 East Meets West 2… Kantahan Naman! Filipino British Society (FBS) Barrio Fiesta in Milton Keynes

D4 Hotel, Ballsbridge, Dublin, Ireland Ramada Plaza Hotel,City Milton Road, Belfast, Ennis Room, Belfast Hospital, 51 Lisburn Northern Ireland Road, Belfast BT9 7AB

Philippine Embassy, London, United Kingdom

Father Claro Conde 07803 191 502 / cconde8254@aol.com

London Cooking Club

Luiz Hara luizhara@hotmail.com / Ticket Prices: EUR 40.00 / EUR 50.00 www.londonfoodie.co.uk

Philippine Embassy, London, United Kingdom

Hilton Bradford, Hall Ings, Bradford BD1 5SH D4 Hotel, Ballsbridge, Dublin, Ireland

Ticket Prices: £25.00 / £35.00 / £40.00 Ticket Prices: EUR 40.00 / EUR 50.00 Ramos 07775 615 031

Ramada Hotel, Milton Road,Walker, Belfast, LightfootPlaza Center, Wharrier Street, Northern NewcastleIreland upon Tyne NE6 3BR

Ticket Prices: £25.00 / £30.00 / £40.00 Noralyn Rozas 07917 181 729 / 07930 652 068 / 0191 265 1302 Ticket Prices: £25.00 / £35.00 / £40.00 Teody Ticket Prices: £35.00 Elaine Ramos 07775 615 031/ £40.00 07784 618 868 / Judith 07932 484 155 / Nugroovz Ticket Prices: £25.00 / £30.00 / £40.00 07717 616 546 / Fil-Events.com 07940 954 642 Noralyn Rozas 07917 181 729 / 07930 652 068 / 0191 Jojo 1302 Almojuela 07515 475 780 / Malcolm Conlan 07940 265 954 642 / Vanessa Horca 07921 079 199 / Myra Adap Ticket Prices: £35.00 / £40.00 Elaine Dela Cruz 07896 955 96 / Elijah Villanueva 07414 924 07784 618 868 / Judith 07932 484 155 / Nugroovz 303 07717 616 546 / Fil-Events.com 07940 954 642

Blaydon Rugby Club Field (Car Boot Sale Kirkstall Abbey Leeds, Abbey Road, Kirkstall, Area), Hexham Road, Swalwell, Newcastle Leeds LS5 3EH Upon Tyne NE16 3BN Royal Overseas Overseas House, Rowntree Park, League, Terry Avenue, York YO23 Park 1JQ Place, St James’s Street, London SW1A 1LR

Kensal Community Association and India Investment Plc

Filipino Community in East London, London End Rosary Crusade and Kabisig East Bromley Leyte-Samar Organization in the UK Greenwich Filipino Community in line with Controllers UK the multi-cultural celebration for the declaration of Greenwich as a Royal Kabisig BoroughBromley and the 2012 Olympics

Inter-Cultural Society of London Filipino British Society (FBS)

Teody

Jojo Almojuela 07515 475 780 / Malcolm Conlan 07940 954 642 / Vanessa Horca 07921 079 199 / Myra Adap Dela Cruz 07896 955 96 / Elijah Villanueva 07414 924 Ryan Abeleda (President, Controllers UK) 07515 252 303 235 / controllers.basketball@gmail.com

Moises Espanola, President – 07894 548 / 252 Ryan Abeleda (President, Controllers UK)939 07515 mespanola2@yahoo.com 235 / controllers.basketball@gmail.com

Willy 07900 485 194 / Gerome 07717 884 293 / Carlo 07528 770 491 / www.filcombristol.co.uk

FREE LISTING of your events on the Hello Philippines newspaper and if you know of any Events do not hesitate to contact us. Please kindly contact us and submit your event via email or text to the following at info@hello-philippines.com / 07989 403 904. DISCLAIMER: The Events Diary Listing does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favouring by Hello Philippines newspaper. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of Hello Philippines newspaper. This is merely an Events Diary Listing of what is happening within the Filipino Communities in Europe. This is for general information only.

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April 2012 – No. 7 / Fortnightly • UK & Europe Edition

Help Myanmar not to backslide on democracy – Aquino

THE international community should lift sanctions on Myanmar to encourage further reforms and prevent the country from backsliding on its democratic gains, Philippine President Benigno Aquino said. Aquino joined other leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in calling for sanctions to be lifted, after byelections in Myanmar on Sunday in which pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi won a seat in parliament. The leaders are expected Wednesday to issue a formal call for the sanctions – imposed by the European Union and the United

States in the 1990s over the junta’s human rights abuses – to be lifted immediately. Leaving Myanmar on its own during the crucial transition from military rule to democracy risked encouraging recalcitrant factions to roll back the reform process, the Philippine leader told reporters late Tuesday. “We want to encourage them, we want to promote their stability because it will improve the whole region’s stability and that lays the basis for the improvement of living standards for the entire region,” he said. “We have to show the people who

are reforming in Myanmar that the road they chose is the right road. There has to be a reward.” Keeping the sanctions in place as the country shifts to democracy might force some vested interests “to go back to where they were,” he said. Aquino’s mother, former president Corazon Aquino, battled several coup attempts in the 1980s shortly after being swept to office in a “People Power” revolt that toppled the 20-year rule of dictator Ferdinand Marcos. Benigno Aquino was himself wounded in an ambush during one of the coup attempts, and a

fragment of a bullet remains lodged on his neck. He said much depended on the Myanmar people’s commitment to democracy. “Your power emanates from the people. If people are committed to a direction then the government basically has to follow the people,” he said. Myanmar’s neighbours should “share our experiences, share our resources, share our knowledge in that transition and make that democracy work”. Aquino said Suu Kyi’s supporters should temper their expectations in the short term, warning that the

road to democracy would not be easy. “When you are already in office your followers have a lot of expectations,” he said, speaking as a leader who carries his parents’ weighty legacy on his shoulders every day. “Some people expect that today it’s black, tomorrow it’s white. So the levelling of expectations, I think, should be addressed with her followers. “But I hope that they are headed toward something better. Getting used to a new situation – that’s when the fear of the unknown sets in.” ■ (AFP – Phnom Penh – April 4, 2012)

Philippines faces money laundering ‘blacklist’

©AFP/PNP-PIO/Renz Posedio

Gloria Arroyo (center) talks to her husband Mike (left) and son Mikey (right).

Arroyo pleads not guilty to graft FORMER Philippine president Gloria Arroyo and her husband pleaded not guilty on Wednesday, April 11 to corruption charges involving a government Internet deal with a Chinese telecom firm while she was in power. Arroyo, 65, calmly made the plea at a special anti-graft court in Manila after being taken from a military hospital where she has been detained for more than four months while awaiting trial on a separate charge of election fraud. “She said it in a normal tone. She was not scared or angry,” the clerk of the court, Joffre Zapata, told AFP. The former leader smiled to photographers as she entered the building, still wearing a neck brace to support her spine that she says is weakened from a rare disease. She was accompanied by her husband, Jose Miguel Arroyo, and a third co-accused, political ally Benjamin Abalos, both of whom also pleaded not guilty. The charges stem from allegations that Arroyo’s husband

and Abalos arranged for China’s ZTE Corp. to win a 329-million-dollar contract to set up a government Internet broadband network in exchange for huge kickbacks. The deal collapsed in 2007 due to the allegations, with thenpresident Arroyo stepping in to cancel it following a wave of bad publicity. ZTE previously denied any acts of corruption in securing the contract. If found guilty, Arroyo could be jailed for 15 years, Zapata said. She is already facing life in jail on the vote fraud charge, which stems from allegations she rigged the 2007 senatorial elections to ensure an ally could win. Arroyo’s successor, President Benigno Aquino, has vowed to bring her to justice for many corrupt acts he alleges she committed during her near-decade in power. However the Philippines’ justice system is extremely slow and it could be many years before a verdict is delivered on the first two charges. ■ (AFP – Manila, Philippines – April 11, 2012)

PHILIPPINE President Benigno Aquino has warned parliament to outlaw terrorist financing and toughen an anti-money laundering law by May 2012 or risk getting the country blacklisted, the senate said Thursday, March 8. The House of Representatives has passed the bills required, but some senators have expressed reservations and indicated they want to amend them, said Tala Maralit, executive assistant of Senate president Juan Ponce Enrile. Aquino’s chief aide, Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa, urged the senators last week to pass the bills that would boost the Anti-Money Laundering Council’s powers to look into and stop suspect transactions, Maralit added. “The Philippines has been given until May 2012 or before the next FATF Plenary in June 2012 to enact

the said two bills, otherwise the country will be blacklisted,” Ochoa said in a letter to the senators. The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) is a multilateral body set up in 1989 to combat money laundering and terrorist financing. The group of 35 includes the Philippines as well as western countries such as the United States. The FATF website said it warned the Philippines and three other countries last month to make terrorist funding and money laundering criminal acts, set up adequate steps to tag and freeze terrorist assets, and seize laundered funds. It said that countries that fall into its blacklist of “non-cooperative countries and territories” could face financial sanctions from individual FATF member countries. Ochoa said in his letter that a blacklisting would subject

transactions, such as vital remittances by its nine-million-strong overseas workforce, to delays and higher charges. The Philippines passed an antimoney laundering law in 2001, but the FATF considered it inadequate. Aquino asked parliament last year to urgently amend the statute, as well as to pass a second law that would make terrorist financing a standalone criminal offence. The amendments would make it easier for the government to enquire into and freeze bank accounts suspected of being involved in money laundering or terrorism. They would also make processing financial transactions in support of terrorism punishable by life in jail. Senate president aide Maralit said the senators were aiming to approve the legislation by the end of May. ■

(AFP – March 8, 2012)

Philippine communists praise North Korea’s rocket NORTH Korea was widely condemned for its failed rocket launch on Friday, April 13 but the isolated regime in Pyongyang won some support with communist rebels in the Philippines praising its defiance. The Communist Party of the Philippines, which has been battling to overthrow the government in Manila since 1969, congratulated North Korea for “successfully defying the US-led campaign” to stop its rocket launch. “The launch, however, was not a complete success,” the insurgents conceded in a statement, although

they also sought to put it in perspective. “Even the most advanced capitalist countries have encountered rocket-launch failures in the past, including the mid-flight explosion of the US Challenger Space Shuttle in 1986.” The Philippines, a close US ally, had joined the widespread global condemnation of the North Korean rocket plan. It had diverted flights and stopped boats from going to sea in the north of the country in case the rocket’s debris reached its territory. The Maoist-inspired Communist

Party of the Philippines has grown more isolated since the collapse of the Cold War and now counts a little over 4,000 fighters in the hinterlands of this country. However the rebels are still active, extorting funds from rural businesses and politicians and raiding isolated police and military outposts. The government opened peace talks with the communists but negotiations reached an impasse last year after the government rejected rebel demands to free their captured comrades. ■ (AFP – April 13, 2012)

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Bomb in Philippines kills one, wounds 27 soldiers

A powerful booby trap bomb killed one Philippine soldier and wounded 27 others as they patrolled a former stronghold of AlQaeda-linked militants on Tuesday, April 10 the military said. The soldiers were patrolling the outskirts of a remote camp captured last month from Abu Sayyaf extremists when the device went off, local army commander Colonel Ricardo Visaya told AFP. The Abu Sayyaf had formerly used the camp on the southern island of Basilan, to hide many of their kidnap victims until a large military assault dislodged the rebels in March, Visaya said. “The camp had a lot of improvised explosive devices planted around it... to strengthen (the extremists’) defensive position. They are very difficult to detect,” he told AFP. He described the device as an old booby trap left behind by the Abu Sayyaf before they abandoned the

camp. It was set off when soldiers tripped on it. Helicopters were deployed to airlift the wounded to a military hospital but one soldier died before he could be treated while six others remained in critical condition, Visaya said. The heavily-forested island of Basilan is a known stronghold of the Abu Sayyaf, a group founded with seed money from late Al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden in the 1990s. The group has been blamed for the worst terror attacks in Philippine history and has frequently resorted to kidnapping to raise funds, often targeting foreigners. Seven foreigners – a Dutchman, a Swiss national, an Australian, two Malaysian traders, an Indian and a Japanese man – are believed to still be held by the Abu Sayyaf and other outlawed groups in the south. US troops have been based in the southern Philippines for a decade to help train local soldiers in hunting the Abu Sayyaf. ■ (AFP – April 10, 2012)

Passenger’s bomb threat delays Philippine flight A commercial Philippine plane halted its flight just before takeoff on Thursday, April 12 after a passenger screamed he would blow up the plane, a civil aviation spokeswoman said. The offending passenger and six of his relatives and companions were taken off the aircraft and questioned by police after the

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incident at Manila airport, said civil aviation authority spokeswoman Joy Songsong. The Air Philippines Airbus A320 was just about to take off from Manila for the tourist island of Palawan when a male passenger screamed, “I will blow up this plane,” in Filipino, said Songsong. “When he yelled that out... the pilot in command decided to return the plane to the ramp. His group of passengers was held for questioning while the other passengers had to be de-planed,” she added. The plane was then taken away from the terminal and searched but no bomb was found. Air Philippines senior vicepresident Matthew Tamaray said that the man was apparently upset that his companions could not get seats beside him when he made the remark. The flight to Palawan went through after several hours delay but the man was held in Manila while his companions chose not to board the plane without him, Tamaray told AFP. Just last week, two bombs went off in popular tourist haunts in Palawan, wounding three people. Two suspects were later held for the crime. Palawan is a major attraction for both Filipinos and foreign visitors due to its beaches, forests and spectacular rock formations. ■ (AFP – April 12, 2012)

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Ex-rebel held in Philippine blasts PHILIPPINE police have arrested a former Muslim rebel in connection with bomb blasts on the western Philippine tourist island of Palawan that wounded three people, an official said Monday, April 9. Two blasts went off nearly simultaneously outside a hotel in the El Nido beach resort and outside a bus depot in the provincial capital Puerto Princesa on Thursday, April 5 the start of peak Easter tourist holiday season. Suspect Hiya Hassan was arrested Sunday after allegedly sending a threatening text message to the bus company that was hit, Palawan police chief Abad Osit told reporters. Hassan’s 14-year-old daughter, who owned the mobile phone used, was also initially detained but had since been released without charge, Osit said. “He’s a former MILF who later returned to the fold of the law,” Osit said of Hassan, referring to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, the largest Muslim guerrilla group in the southern Philippines. Police would file charges of attempted murder for the bombings, as well as for making grave threats against one of the bombed establishments, Osit said. “He sent a message to the effect that, ‘If you persist, there will be more of the same’,” Osit said.

©AFP/File/Romeo Gacad

A coastal village in Puerto Princesa city.

He did not disclose what Hassan was allegedly demanding. Police have not found any threats sent to the hotel that was bombed but investigators are treating it as a related case, he added. “The IEDs (improvised explosive devices) that we detected in the debris recovered from the scenes were similar and appear to have come from the same source,” Osit said. The blasts wounded a hotel cook in El Nido as well as a rickshaw driver and his female passenger in Puerto Princesa, about 175 kilometres (110 miles) away.

Palawan, and El Nido in particular, are major Philippine tourist draws with its beaches and spectacular rock formations. Attractions include a famous underground river that passes through a cave near Puerto Princesa, the provincial capital that was selected as one of the “New Seven Wonders of Nature” in a global poll last year. The blasts occurred as Filipinos trooped to the beaches and other holiday destinations on Maundy Thursday, the start of five days of Easter holidays in the mainly Catholic nation. ■ (AFP – Manila, Philippines – April 9, 2012)

Three dead, 33 wounded in Philippine bombing THREE people were killed and 33 others wounded after a man hurled a grenade into a cockfighting arena in the southern Philippines on Saturday, April 14 a police official said. More than a hundred people had gathered at the makeshift cockpit in the small rural town of Aleosan when a fragmentation grenade went off, said provincial police chief

Superintendent Conrado Salinas. Survivors saw the man who threw the grenade and recognised him as a local resident, Salinas said, adding that he is now being hunted by police. “We suspect that the man lost (money) in previous cockfights and he wanted to get even,” the police chief added. Cockfights are a popular past-

time in the Philippines, attracting scores of gamblers who bet on the fights between the birds. The southern Philippines has long been troubled by the widespread availability of weapons such as grenades due to decades of fighting involving soldiers, communist rebels, Muslim separatists and other armed groups. ■ (AFP – Cotabato, Philippines – April 14, 2012) ©AFP/File/Mark Navales

More than a hundred people were in a makeshift cockpit in Aleosan today when a fragmentation grenade went off.

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Rescued pitbulls saved from Philippines cull

©AFP/Ted Aljibe

Police raided a farm south of Manila and arrested 12 people suspected of running illegal dog fights.

The dogs were suffering from dehydration and poor nutrition.

Pitbulls put down in Philippines after rescue Teodoro Aljibe, AFP TWENTY-five pitbulls rescued from an online dog-fighting racket run by South Koreans in the Philippines have been put down, and another 215 could be also destroyed, rescuers said Tuesday, April 3. All the dogs, rescued by police from a farm south of Manila Friday, could end up being destroyed unless people come forward to adopt the least aggressive ones that can still be nursed back to health, vet Wilford Almoro said. Most are weakened by dehydration and poor nutrition, and many of those that were destroyed had serious injuries, said Almoro, of the Philippine Animal Welfare Society, a charity that rescues and rehabilitates abused animals. The remaining dogs “condition could go downhill in the coming days, and if no one will help, then they would have to be put down as well,” he told AFP. Seventeen dogs with the worst injuries were put down on Saturday, including one that had half its tongue

ripped out and another with both its ears bitten off, said Almoro. Eight other dogs were destroyed Tuesday, and another five were set to be put down later in the day, he added. “Some have unhealed wounds, but most are down to skin and bones and their rib cages are showing,” Almoro said, adding most had scars from being wounded in fights. “They appear to be suffering from dehydration and they are just lying down on the ground where they are tethered.” He estimated that physical rehabilitation for all the animals would cost 3.34 million pesos (about $78,000) and they would also need treatment to correct their aggressive behaviour. “Just imagine the amount of work required for their continuous upkeep... I don’t know if people can raise money for that 24/7,” he added. After police raided the two-hectare (4.94-acre) farm, they arrested 12 people, including eight South Koreans accused of running the illegal dog fights that were streamed

live on the Internet to spectators who placed bets. Dog fighting does not have a large following in the Philippines, unlike cockfighting, which is the country’s most popular sport and sees roosters with metal spurs tied to their legs forced to fight to the death. Almoro said the dogs had been kept in abominable conditions, tied up with chains, in an orchard hidden from view by high walls of sheet metal. “They were constantly exposed to pain, trauma, and deep wounds. Given their condition, many of them would likely get infected if they remained here,” he said. “Putting them up for adoption is easier said than done, because you have to make sure you are not handing them over to people who would sell them back to dog-fighting gangs.” He urged the Philippine parliament to amend and toughen up the law against animal cruelty, now punishable by a maximum prison term of two years and a 6,000-peso fine. ■ (AFP – San Pablo, Philippines – April 3, 2012)

Vietnam monks set sail for disputed Spratlys FIVE Buddhist monks from Vietnam have set sail for the disputed Spratly islands where they will spend six months setting up pagodas in the archipelago, also claimed by China, a senior monk said Friday, April 13. The monks will re-establish three temples which were abandoned by Vietnam in 1975 but have been recently renovated as part of the communist country’s drive to assert its territorial claims over the potentially oil-rich islands. “We plan to stay on the Truong Sa (Spratly) Islands for six months,” Thich Giac Nghia told AFP by phone on board a boat sailing towards the islands in the Spratly chain which are held by Vietnam. The team will stay on one of the larger islands which is under

Vietnamese military control. One more monk will join the team at a later date, he added. The monks aim to improve the spiritual lives of island’s Vietnamese community – mostly military staff and small-scale farmers and fishermen – and to help them overcome daily hardships, Nghia has said. Vietnam’s claim to the Spratlys competes directly with China, which says it has sovereignty over essentially all of the South China Sea, a key global trading route. In 1988 China attacked the Ga Mac Island – another of the larger Spratly Islands under Vietnamese military control – killing 64 Vietnamese soldiers. Taiwan, Brunei, Malaysia, and the Philippines also claim all or part

of the potentially oil-rich Spratlys. All claimants except Brunei have troops based on the archipelago of more than 100 islets, reefs and atolls, which have a total land mass of less than five square kilometres (two square miles). The Philippines and Vietnam have recently complained of increasing

MORE than 200 pitbulls rescued from an illegal online dog-fighting operation in the Philippines were saved from a mass cull after two animal shelters agreed to care for them, rescuers said Thursday, April 5. Thirty-three dogs weakened by wounds, dehydration and poor nutrition or showing overly aggressive behaviour had already been put down while four other animals died since their rescue, the Philippine Animal Welfare Society said. On Wednesday 225 dogs were turned over to shelters that have pledged to try to nurse them back to health and ensure they do not attack people if they are put up for adoption, its executive director Anna Cabrera said. “These two shelters have taken on the task of rehabilitating them,” Cabrera told AFP. Police raided two farms south of Manila on March 30 and arrested 12 people, including eight South Koreans accused of running illegal dog fights that were streamed live on the Internet to spectators who placed bets.

Cabrera’s group said the animals had been chained and kept in shabby conditions. Dog fighting has no major following in the Philippines, and police said the gamblers were based in South Korea. The suspects face two years in prison if convicted of animal cruelty. Police turned over the rescued dogs to Cabrera’s group, which said it had faced the prospect of having to cull them because the shelter was already full. “They are actually dying one by one,” Cabrera said. “It would have been cruel to have just let them die one by one under those conditions.” One of the two groups that agreed to adopt the pitbulls had taken 68 dogs of the same breed that were rescued by police from an apparently related South Korean-led online dogfighting gang in December, Cabrera said. Six of the South Koreans arrested on Friday are already facing animal cruelty charges from the December raid but were free on bail, police said. ■ (AFP – April 5, 2012)

Two dead in southern Philippine bus bombing: Military TWO people were killed and five others were wounded when a bomb exploded on a bus in the southern Philippines on Wednesday, April 11 the regional military commander said. The explosion occurred as the bus was pulling into a terminal in Carmen, a town on the restive island of Mindanao that is home to a long-running Muslim insurgency, Lieutenant Colonel Benjie Hao told reporters. The regional military spokesman initially reported that 10 people were killed and two wounded, but Hao said the death toll of two was

confirmed after soldiers reached the scene of the blast. The bomb was apparently planted inside the bus, according to Hao. Although there were no immediate suspects in the blast, Hao said that extortionists had previously carried out such bombings to force the bus company to pay them protection money. The incident took place in a region where Muslim separatist rebels and heavily-armed outlaw groups are active, often resorting to extortion, kidnapping and banditry to raise funds. ■ (AFP – April 11, 2012)

harassment of their fisherman by Chinese vessels in the region. Vietnam and China also have a long-standing dispute over the Paracel island group. ■ (AFP – Hanoi – April 13, 2012) ©AFP/File/Vietnam News Agency

©AFP Graphic

Vietnam›s claim to the Spratlys competes directly with China, which says it has sovereignty.

Disputed claims in the South China Sea.

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Instagram fans moan over slap in the Facebook Sebastian Smith, AFP FACEBOOK’S $1 billion gobbling up of Instagram has sent disgruntled fans of the quirky photo-sharing app to the delete button. Twitter and other online platforms buzzed Wednesday, April 11 with depictions of Facebook as a corporate monster trampling over a

defenseless community of creative, free-spirited types. “Guess it’s time to delete my Instagram app before Facebook ruins it,” Twitter user Charlie Robinson griped. In another tweet, Jay El Nino Garcia moaned: “Nice facebook just bought Instagram. Another thing to delete.” ©AFP/Getty Images/File/Justin Sullivan

Online platforms buzzed with depictions of Facebook as a corporate monster.

According to analysts at Crimson Hexagon, which studies social media content, just 12 percent of 201,000 relevant Twitter mentions of the takeover were positive. Ten percent registered “disgust” with Facebook and another 10 percent promised to quit Instagram. Why the outcry? Facebook is wildly popular and has the same basic mission as Instagram – encouraging people to build virtual networks on which to share their lives. But for Instagram’s 30 million users, the cult-status app has a very different identity to the mass market Facebook. Unlike Facebook, there is no advertising, and certainly no selling of users’ personal details to advertisers. It’s single-minded, pure. Sure, the main point is to share snaps, which can be made to look cool with filters, but Instagram’s mobile-to-mobile traffic is seen as safe from the privacy problems said

to plague Facebook’s advertiserfriendly pages. “Its ability to let its users delicately toe the line between public and private gave us a little breathing room from the all-pervasiveness of Facebook, and to see it whisked away feels like a tangible loss,” wrote Jenna Wortham on The New York Times tech blog. “The sale of Instagram brings a harsh reality into focus, the realization that the secret rooms or private spaces online where we can share, chit-chat and hang out with our friends are fading. The few safe havens that do exist are quickly being encroached upon or are next on the shopping list for a company like Google, Apple or Facebook.” New York magazine compared Facebook to an alien spaceship and said that for “some users, this looks like a sell out. And that’s because it is.” Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg went out of his way to reassure Instagram purists that they

needn’t get their hands dirty. On his own Facebook page, Zuckerberg noted that users can maintain their Instagram photos off Facebook and also keep their Instagram followers separate. “We need to be mindful about keeping and building on Instagram’s strengths and features rather than just trying to integrate everything into Facebook,” Zuckerberg said. Zuckerberg may not be popular in all quarters of the global online world, but his announcement notched up over 140,600 “likes.” Among the many positive comments were “great decision” and “congrats!” But even on Zuckerberg’s virtual doorstep there were dissenters mourning the arrival of mega money into a cozy hipster world. “A picture’s worth a thousand words,” wrote Peter RonPaul Kallman, crossing out “thousand words” and replacing them with: “billion dollars.” ■ (AFP – New York, USA – April 12, 2012)

Philippines gets back bells taken as US war booty THE Philippines said Saturday, March 10 it had taken back a pair of church bells believed seized by US troops as war booty during the American colonisation of the archipelago in the 19th century. An inscription on a wooden link that held the bells together indicated they were taken from a church in Meycauayan, north of Manila, after the town was pounded by US artillery on March 29, 1899. An archivist found the bells at a California convent last year and they were later handed over to Manila, foreign department spokesman Raul Hernandez said.

They are among religious objects believed to have been taken away by US soldiers as the American military government consolidated control of its colony after it was ceded by Spain at the end of the Spanish-American War. “It is unknown who gave the bells to the convent, but... perhaps a small museum or a family could have turned it (the artefact) over to the convent after noting that they were church bells,” Hernandez told AFP. The foreign department gave the bells to the National Museum on Friday, Hernandez said.

In total the bells and link weigh 2.27-kilograms (5.0 pounds). The Philippines, which gained independence from the US in 1946 after World War II, has since the 1990s been formally demanding the return of three much larger objects known as the Balangiga church bells. The bells were taken by the US Army from Samar island in 1901 after machete-wielding Filipino insurgents killed about 50 Americans in their single bloodiest attack of the three-year Philippine military campaign. ■ (AFP – March 10, 2012)

Four die in Philippine clash with militants

THREE police aides and a member of an Al-Qaeda-linked militant group were killed in a clash in the southern Philippines Thursday, April 5 the military said. Abu Sayyaf militants ambushed a truck carrying the police aides on patrol at a rubber plantation on Basilan island at daybreak, said Colonel Ricardo Visaya, commander of a counter-terrorist task force in the area. Three of the government men were killed and seven wounded, while their colleagues returned fire and shot dead one of the attackers,

Visaya added. “The Abu Sayyaf is engaged in extortion in this area. They are demanding 50,000 pesos ($1,200) a month from the owners of the rubber plantations,” Visaya told reporters. The police aides are local residents trained and armed by the government security forces to help defend remote communities from guerrilla and terror attacks. The Abu Sayyaf, a small band of Islamic militants set up in the 1990s with seed money from Osama bin Laden’s Al-Qaeda network, is

based on remote southern islands and is responsible for the country’s deadliest terror attacks. The number of Abu Sayyaf fighters has dropped from roughly 2,000 a decade ago to a few hundred today, according to security analysts. Visaya put their number on Basilan at 53 gunmen. However they remain a threat in the south, capable of kidnapping locals and foreigners, as well as bomb attacks, partly due to support from members of local Muslim communities. ■ (AFP – April 5, 2012)

©AFP/File/Gamal Noman

Central province of Marib.

Yemen kidnappers release three Filipino sailors YEMENI tribesmen have released three Filipino sailors kidnapped more than two weeks ago east of Sanaa, a security official said on Wednesday, April 4. “The three Filipinos have been released, thanks to a tribal mediation, and without answering the demands of the kidnappers,” said the official requesting anonymity. The kidnappers had demanded the release of one of their own from jail. “They are on their way to Sanaa, under protection, and will be handed over to the embassy of their country,” said the official. The three were kidnapped on March 20 in the central province of Marib as they travelled to the far-eastern Mahrah province from which they were to embark on their ship.

The kidnappers belong to the Bani Jabr tribe and are demanding the release of a relative, who is in prison in Sanaa for a “serious criminal offence,” according to a then interior ministry statement. More than 200 people have been abducted in Yemen over the past 15 years, many of them by members of the country’s powerful tribes who use them as bargaining chips with the authorities. Almost all of those kidnapped were later freed unharmed. The three Filipinos were kidnapped few days after a Swiss woman teaching at a foreign language institute in the Red Sea port of Hodeida was abducted by gunmen from her home on March 14 and moved to the eastern province of Shabwa, according to the interior ministry. ■ (AFP – April 4, 2012)

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April 2012 – No. 7 / Fortnightly • UK & Europe Edition

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ASEAN to ‘intensify efforts’ on China sea disputes Suy Se, AFP SOUTHEAST Asian leaders on Wednesday, April 4 pledged to step up efforts to resolve overlapping maritime disputes with China, at the end of a two-day summit which also focused on Myanmar and North Korea. Leaders of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) “reaffirmed the importance” of a 10-year-old declaration on the conduct of the parties (DOC) pledging to promote peace and understanding in the disputed area. “We stressed the need to intensify efforts to ensure the effective and full implementation of the DOC based on the guidelines for the implementation of the DOC,” the leaders said in a statement at the end of the two-day summit. The same language was used in a statement issued at the end of an ASEAN summit in Indonesia last year, reflecting the paralysis within the bloc over conflicts with China, analysts said. “This is a weak statement but it’s understandable in the sense that ASEAN has been unable to find a common position regarding the South China Sea,” Pavin Chachavalpongpun, a former Thai diplomat and expert at the Institute for Southeast Asian Studies in Singapore, told AFP. China and several ASEAN countries have rival claims to uninhabited islands in the sea, which is believed to be rich in hydrocarbons and straddles strategic shipping lanes vital to global trade. The United States claims a “national interest” in keeping the waterway open and has recently stepped up military cooperation with the Philippines, one of the claimants, as part of its foreign policy “pivot” to Asia. China has competing territorial

claims in the sea with ASEAN members Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam. US naval commanders have repeatedly said they are concerned about minor incidents, such as recent clashes over fishing rights and energy exploration near the islands, blowing up into major regional conflicts. Chinese President Hu Jintao visited Cambodia on the eve of the summit in what many analysts took to be a form of pressure on Phnom Penh to use its chairmanship to slow down the South China Sea negotiations. Philippine Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario said there was a “big disagreement” on Tuesday over whether to invite China to help draft a code of conduct, designed to prevent small incidents in the sea from escalating. Cambodia, which holds the ASEAN chair in 2012, is eager to bring China into the drafting process but the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam say the bloc should draft a code among themselves before presenting it to Beijing. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen used his closing press conference to angrily reject reports of a rift over how to proceed in the negotiations. He also denied he had tried to pull the issue off the agenda of the bloc’s summit. “Maybe some people think that during the ASEAN summit there is a difference of view between ASEAN and China. That is the wrong thinking,” he said, adding that all parties were committed to peacefully resolving the disputes. “What I hate the most is that they talk about Cambodia (being) under the pressure of China. Cambodia is the chairman of ASEAN and Cambodia has the right to set the agenda,” he said through a translator. ASEAN comprises Brunei,

Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam – a grouping of nearly 600 million people from disparate economic and political systems. The talks have also focused on historic by-elections in Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, which gave pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi a seat in parliament for the first time. The leaders repeated a call made Tuesday for Western sanctions to be lifted in light of the elections, which Myanmar President Thein Sein praised as being “held successfully”. “We called for the lifting of all sanctions on Myanmar immediately in order to contribute positively to the democratic process and economic development of that country,” the joint statement said. ASEAN has often been dismissed as a talking shop but it has assumed new strategic importance in light of the economic and military rise of China in recent years. In a step welcomed by some ASEAN members but which has irked China, the United States is deploying up to 2,500 Marines to northern Australia. The first 200odd of the Marines arrived in Darwin on Wednesday. ■ (AFP – Phnom Penh –

©AFP/Hoang Dinh Nam

April 4, 2012)

©AFP Graphic

©AFP/Hoang Dinh Nam

Myanmar›s President Thein Sein (center) arrives at the ASEAN summit.

Maritime disputes with China are expected to dominate the ASEAN summit.

China urges ‘direct’ talks on maritime disputes ©AFP/POOL/File/Rolex Dela Pena

An aerial photo shows Thitu Island, part of the disputed Spratly group of islands.

CHINA urged “direct” talks with Southeast Asian nations Thursday, April 5 to resolve overlapping maritime disputes, a day after regional leaders pledged to work towards easing tensions. China and several Asian countries have rival claims to uninhabited islands in the South China Sea, which is believed to be rich in hydrocarbons and straddles strategic shipping lanes vital to global trade. Leaders of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations on Wednesday stressed the importance of a decade-old declaration on the conduct of the parties (DOC), pledging to promote peace in the disputed area. China did not participate in that

meeting, but is a signatory of the DOC agreement. “Formulating a code of conduct on the South China Sea... should be reached through direct negotiations between China and ASEAN countries,” foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei told a regular news briefing in Beijing. Cambodia is eager to bring its diplomatically China into the drafting process for the code of conduct, but the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam say the bloc should draft it themselves before presenting it to Beijing. Hong said that the dispute should be resolved peacefully among the countries involved and suggested a regional organisation like ASEAN should not take a stance on the dispute. China has competing territorial

(AFP – Beijing – April 5, 2012)

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April 2012 – No. 7 / Fortnightly • UK & Europe Edition

North Koreans vow loyalty to regime after launch flop PHILIPPINES

Simon Martin, AFP TENS of thousands of people gathered in a football stadium Saturday, April 14 to shout support for North Korea’s ruling dynasty, a day after a failed rocket launch seen as a major embarrassment for the regime. Under bright spring sunshine, bemedalled soldiers, women in colourful hanbok gowns and men in dark suits and ties packed Kim Il-Sung stadium to hear fulsome praise for the family that has ruled since the nation’s founding in 1948. “Let’s safeguard Kim Jong-Un with our lives!” they shouted after a lengthy and passionate speech from ceremonial head of state Kim Yong-Nam. Current leader Kim Jong-Un, who was present but did not speak, sat under a giant portrait of his grandfather and founding president Kim Il-Sung. The crowd filled the stadium as well as rows of seats covering the artificial grass pitch. An official explained that Saturdays in the tightly regimented nation are “political activity day” while Sundays are a holiday. Celebrations marking the 100th anniversary of the founder’s birth on April 15 are designed to build loyalty to the dynasty and bolster the authority of the young leader, who took over when his father Kim Jong-Il died last December.

But several analysts see the launch flop as a damaging setback. “Inviting many foreign media, North Korea has become an object of public ridicule in the world,” Masao Okonogi of Tokyo’s Keio University told IHS Jane’s Defence Weekly. The North invited about 150 journalists to witness preparations for what it called a satellite launch and the anniversary celebrations. But there has been only a brief mention of the failure of the launch, which was seen by the United States and its allies as a disguised ballistic missile test. One woman interviewed by AFP at the stadium through an official guide said she had not known of the failure. Two other people said their country would succeed soon in putting a satellite into orbit. “Failure is the mother of success,” said Jong Dae-Chol, a commerce ministry deputy director. Kim Tae-Sung, an officer in the 1.2 million-strong military, used the same phrase. As for the new leader, “he is a really caring person”, said Kim Yong-Suk. “I’m convinced our future will be bright and we will become a powerful and prosperous nation,” she said, referring to the regime’s stated goal by 2012. In reality, “the North Korean economy today is characterised by macroeconomic instability, widening inequality and growing

corruption,” said Marcus Noland, of the Washington-based Peterson Institute for International Economics. Outside observers, he wrote in an op-ed piece, believe per capita income today is lower than it was 20 years ago, partly because of a disastrous currency reform in November 2009. Severe food shortages have persisted since a famine in the 1990s but the rocket launch has cost the North 240,000 tonnes of US food aid. After a visit last autumn, UN humanitarian chief Valerie Amos reported “terrible levels” of malnutrition, especially among children. ■ (AFP – Pyongyang – April 14, 2012)

©AFP/Ed Jones

Saturdays in North Korea are «political activity day», an official says. ©AFP/Pedro Ugarte

The crowd filled the stadium as well as rows of seats covering the artificial grass pitch at today›s Pyongyang ceremony.

Philippines urges united ASEAN stand on South China Sea Martin Abbugao, AFP ASEAN should forge a common position on a proposed code of conduct aimed at easing tensions in the South China Sea before talking with China, Philippine President Benigno Aquino III said Tuesday, April 3. Aquino told fellow leaders of

the Association of Southeast Asian Nations that the fundamentals of the proposed code should be “internal” to the regional bloc’s members, according to a statement from the Philippine foreign ministry. “It is important that we maintain ASEAN centrality,” Aquino said at the annual ASEAN summit in the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh. ©AFP/Tang Chhin Sothy

Philippines President Benigno Aquino III.

“After the CoC (code of conduct) has been finalised by ASEAN, then ASEAN member states will meet with China.” Philippine Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario said there was a “big disagreement” at a session earlier when ASEAN Secretary General Surin Pitsuwan announced that China might be invited to take part in the drafting of the code. “We are saying that we’re happy to invite China but this should be done after the approval of the CoC (by ASEAN). I think that we should be masters of our own destiny as far as the CoC is concerned,” del Rosario told reporters, adding that Vietnam expressed a similar sentiment. He said that it would be difficult for ASEAN – which operates by consensus – to have all of the 10 members agree on inviting China to be involved in the code’s drafting. “I believe that they need to have consensus if they are going to pursue this and they will not have consensus,” del Rosario said. “We are trying to do it as fast as

we can, but what we are objecting to is we don’t want China to be invited in terms of the drafting and the decision making.” Asked which countries wanted China to take part, he said: “I think Cambodia would be one of them.” Cambodia is the current chair of ASEAN’s rotating leadership. During Indonesia’s chairmanship of the regional bloc least year, ASEAN and China agreed on a set of guidelines for the proposed code, ending a nine-year impasse. The code is envisioned to be a legally binding document aimed at preventing small incidents in the South China Sea from escalating into bigger conflicts that could draw in major world powers like the United States. ASEAN members Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam along with non-members China and Taiwan have overlapping claims in the South China Sea, a conduit for more than one-third of the world’s seaborne trade and half its traffic in oil and gas.

The Philippines and Vietnam accuse China of aggressively asserting its claims in recent years. The United States meanwhile asserts a “national interest” in keeping the sea’s shipping lanes free and open. Surin, the ASEAN chief, said recent clashes have “given a sense of urgency” on efforts to try to resolve the disputes. “It has given the global community a sense of concern that this could lead to open conflict which will not be in the interest of any party,” Surin said in an interview with AFP. “So we have the support of the international community to resolve this problem peacefully, effectively as soon as possible and we are working on it.” The South China Sea will be a key issue during the ASEAN Regional Forum, a security-focused meeting held annually in July involving ministers from 27 countries, including the United States, China, India, Japan and Australia. ■ (AFP – Phnom Penh – April 3, 2012)

April 2012 – No. 7 / Fortnightly • UK & Europe Edition

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Philippines stages bloody crucifixions to mark Lent ROMAN Catholic fanatics in the Philippines had themselves nailed to the cross Friday, April 6 in a bloody display of religious frenzy as the Christian world marked the day Jesus was crucified. The gruesome real-life reenactments of the crucifixion, which are held every Good Friday in the Philippines, are frowned upon by the Catholic church but have become freak tourist draws. Faith healer Arturo Bating, 44, spread his arms and maintained stoic calm as he was hoisted onto a wooden cross atop a sandy mound. He then had 10-centimetre (four-inch) nails driven through his palms. It was the first time he had done it, he said. “This is a vow I had made to God so that He will spare my family from sickness,” the penitent, swathed in a white robe, told AFP after his ordeal, which lasted several minutes, as is usual, and was seen by hundreds of people. “It was a bit painful, but bearable,” he added, pledging to take part in the ritual every year. In some cases the devotees – who do not take painkillers – also had their feet nailed to the cross and one person had to be rushed off in a waiting ambulance after his feet suffered from heavy bleeding. More than 20 fanatics, including one woman, were nailed to crosses in the farming regions on the outskirts of the northern city of San Fernando and nearby Paombong town, AFP photographers on the scene said. Crucifixions are the grisliest, but by no means the only extreme acts of penitence on show in the Philippines, Asia’s largest Catholic outpost with about 75 million followers. Dozens of barefoot male devotees wearing black hoods whipped their own bare backs bloody with strips of bamboo tied to a string as they went around the San Fernando neighbourhoods on Thursday and Friday. They were followed by groups of children who covered their faces as blood from the whips sprayed on to their clothes. Alex Laranang, 57, told AFP he had had himself crucified every year for the past 12 years. “I had made a vow to do this every year until I die,” said Laranang, who sells snacks aboard buses for a living. “I do not expect anything in return. I do this for my God.” Like Bating, he said the physical pain was a minor inconvenience. “I hardly feel any pain. The nerves have been deadened.” He added: “After this, I go home,

eat and go to sleep. After two days I go back to work.” Archbishop Jose Palma, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, said earlier this week that while the Church did not encourage the extreme show of worship, it does not fault those who go through it. “We do not judge and condemn, but we discourage it,” the church leader said on Catholic radio Veritas. The ceremonies are supervised by local governments, which put medical treatment on standby, said Reynaldo Sulit, a district official in Paombong. “People here follow their own beliefs. We should not take that against them,” he told AFP. Camilla Kozinska, a freelance photographer from Poland who is on the last leg of a four-month Asian tour, said she was both repelled and fascinated watching the crucifixions. “There’s just too much blood,” the 29-year-old Catholic told AFP as she joined about 3,000 Filipino and foreign spectators in one village. “It’s a new experience for me.” Many Filipinos went through more practical acts of piety like visiting churches on foot to pray during the Maundy Thursday and Good Friday holidays. ■ (AFP – Manila – April 6, 2012)

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April 2012 – No. 7 / Fortnightly • UK & Europe Edition

Britain and Japan pledge joint defence projects Hiroshi Hiyama, AFP BRITAIN and Japan pledged on Tuesday, April 10 to expand collaboration on defence equipment as Prime Minister David Cameron looked to prise open Tokyo’s potentially lucrative arms market. On a brief visit to Japan, Cameron and his Japanese counterpart Yoshihiko Noda agreed to co-operate on projects as Britain seeks to cash in on a relaxation of Japan’s strict rules on weapon exports. In a joint statement released after a brief meeting in Tokyo, Cameron and Noda said their two countries would be searching out ways to work together. They agreed “to identify a range of defence equipment for joint development and production

(and) to seek to launch at least one programme of such defence equipment as soon as possible”. The statement, which was short on specifics, came after Cameron said Britain was keen to become “Japan’s partner of choice” alongside Tokyo’s major ally the United States for defence industry collaboration. Cameron, who has headed Britain’s coalition government since May 2010, brought a phalanx of businessmen with him during a trip in which he met Japan’s ageing emperor, who earlier this year underwent heart surgery. Tokyo is keen to forge new defence partnerships after loosening its decades-old self-imposed ban on weapons exports. Tuesday’s agreement will pave the way for Britain to become only ©AFP/Toru Hanai

Britain will become only the second country to have any kind of defence collaboration with Japan, after the US.

the second country to have any kind of defence collaboration with Japan, after the United States. The ban, lifted in December, had prevented Japanese firms from joining international weapons projects, other than with the United States, and left Tokyo with little choice in where it bought its hardware. The easing of export restrictions means Japanese companies are now able to supply parts to foreign contractors, for example in Britain, who will be hoping to leverage their more advanced weaponry technology and sell finished products to Tokyo. Japan in December chose to buy the US-developed F-35 stealth jet for its next-generation fighter over the Eurofighter Typhoon, in a deal that is estimated to be worth $4.7 billion. Japan, whose industries took years to recover after World War II,

Nissan›s plant in Britain will create 3,000 jobs.

a freeze on Pyongyang’s nuclear and missile programs. After Pyongyang went ahead, China urged “calm and restraint” from all sides. North Korea said it

failed to put a satellite into orbit, in a launch that the United States and South Korea considered a disguised missile test. ■ (AFP – Washington, USA –

April 14, 2012)

©AFP/File/Pedro Ugarte

North Korean technicians check the Unha-3 rocket.

Japanese automaker said it would start building a new compact hatchback model, called “Invitation”, at the same factory from mid-2013 with investment worth $198 million. Production of the two models will create more than 3,000 jobs in Britain, said Nissan, which was yet to disclose other details of the model. Cameron welcomed the announcement, saying it was “a huge vote of confidence in the skills and flexibility of the UK workforce”. “It’s proof of the strength and vitality of the British manufacturing industry that leading companies like Nissan are expanding their production in the UK,” he said, according to a Nissan statement. Cameron is expected to leave Japan for a brief tour of Southeast Asia starting on Wednesday. ■ (AFP –

Tokyo, Japan – April 10, 2012)

©AFP/Pool/File/Kerim Okten

©AFP/File/Kazuhiro Nogi

Clinton asks China to voice concern to North Korea US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton asked her Chinese counterpart to convey US concern to Beijing’s ally North Korea after its defiant but unsuccessful rocket launch. Clinton, who was heading Friday to a summit in Colombia, spoke by telephone with Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi as she sought a “unified way to speak out and condemn this action,” State Department spokesman Mark Toner said. “We’re asking them to use their relationship with North Korea to convey our concern about their recent actions,” Toner told reporters. China is believed to have the most influence over North Korea and the United States has repeatedly urged the rising Asian power to rein in its isolated and heavily militarized neighbor. China had taken the rare step of criticizing the launch plan, which came just weeks after the United States and North Korea sealed an agreement negotiated in Beijing for

declared in 1967 that it would tightly control its foreign weapons sales. But China’s rise and East Asia’s changing security environment – as highlighted by the expected launch in the coming days of a North Korean rocket – have nudged policymakers into the change. Meanwhile, on the business front, Cameron visited the headquarters of Nissan Motors, which announced it would produce a new midsize hatchback at its huge plant in Sunderland in the north of England from 2014. The move will come with a fresh investment of 127 million pounds ($200 million) from Nissan, along with an 8.2 million pound grant from the British government’s Regional Growth Fund. The announcement came only a month after the number-two

British Prime Minister David Cameron arrived at Tokyo›s Haneda airport shortly afternoon (0300 GMT).

Philippines, Vietnam to hold ‘fun games’ in Spratlys PHILIPPINE and Vietnamese troops plan to hold joint “fun games” in the Spratlys to calm tensions over the disputed island chain in the South China Sea, the Philippine navy chief said Tuesday, April 10. The islands, also claimed by China, are regarded as one of Asia’s most dangerous potential flashpoints but there will be no weapons involved, said Vice Admiral Alexander Pama. “We will be sending some of our boys to their occupied islands and they will also be sending their boys to our occupied islands,” Pama told correspondents, dubbing it “fun games.” “They will actually be doing games, like basketball or soccer (and) there will be no firearms (training) involved.” Pama said the joint activity was part of an agreement with his Vietnamese counterpart who accompanied President Truong Tan Sang on a visit to Manila late last year. Apart from the games, he said troops from both sides would also boost information sharing on the weather and search and rescue operations involving fishermen who may run into trouble in disputed areas. Asked whether other claimants to

the Spratlys could also be invited to take part in the games, Pama replied: “There are no discussions along those lines.” The Spratlys is a group of islets and atolls believed to be potentially rich in mineral and gas deposits. China and Taiwan both claim the entire South China Sea, which is called the West Philippine Sea by Manila, while the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Vietnam have overlapping claims to parts of it. The Philippines and Vietnam have both accused China of increasingly flexing its military muscle in the region, despite a pledge from all claimants to avoid actions that could further stoke tensions. Manila last year accused the Chinese military of firing on Filipino fishermen, laying buoys and harassing an oil exploration vessel in waters that fall within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone. Regional leaders at a summit in Cambodia last week reaffirmed a commitment to settle the row peacefully by crafting a code of conduct in the area, but were divided over China’s participation in the discussion. ■ (AFP – April 10, 2012)

April 2012 – No. 7 / Fortnightly • UK & Europe Edition

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MoneyGram expands online money transfers to customers in the U.K. New U.K. website begins global expansion of convenient online service LONDON (April 11, 2012) – MoneyGram (NYSE: MGI), a leading global money transfer company, announced at a news conference in London that it has expanded its online money transfer service to its customers living and working in the United Kingdom. The new U.K. website, which was unveiled at the morning’s event, is the first step in MoneyGram’s strategy to expand the convenient online service globally. The growth of MoneyGram’s online money transfer service is part of the company’s effort to provide self-service enhancements to its core money transfer business and grow its customer base. “Our online service provides customers with the ultimate convenience of being able to send money in minutes from the comfort of their homes, or anywhere they can access the Internet, regardless of the time of day,” said Mark Perryman, MoneyGram senior regional director for the U.K, Ireland and Nordics. “The service is already extremely popular with consumers in the U.S., and is attracting new customers who had not used a traditional walk-in service before. We are confident the service will be very popular here as well.” Customers using MoneyGram’s online service can: • Create and update an online profile with saved information on individuals they send to regularly. • Receive notification when funds are collected by their receivers. • Estimate a transaction fee or locate a MoneyGram agent location in 192 countries and territories. • Online transactions are protected by market-leading fraud protection and monitoring systems for security and customer information. About MoneyGram MoneyGram, a leading global money transfer company, enables consumers who are not fully served by traditional financial institutions to meet their financial needs. MoneyGram offers money transfer services worldwide through a global network of more than 267,000 agent locations – including retailers, international post offices and financial institutions – in 192 countries and territories around the world. To learn more about money transfer or bill payment at an agent location or online, please visit www. moneygram.com or connect with us on Facebook. ■

MoneyGram Press Conference – April 11, 2012 – The Waldorf Hilton Hotel, London, UK

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April 2012 – No. 7 / Fortnightly • UK & Europe Edition

Facebook buys Instagram photo app for $1BN Glenn Chapman, AFP FACEBOOK announced a billiondollar-deal to buy the start-up behind wildly popular smartphone photo sharing application Instagram. The big ticket purchase was seen by some as a move by Facebook to strengthen defenses against Google and blazingly hot newcomer Pinterest in the weeks ahead of what promises to be a history-making stock market debut. “For years, we’ve focused on building the best experience for sharing photos with your friends and family,” Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg said in announcing the deal. “Now, we’ll be able to work even more closely with the Instagram team to also offer the best experiences for sharing beautiful mobile photos with people based on your interests.” Zuckerberg called the acquisition “an important milestone for Facebook because it’s the first time we’ve ever acquired a product and company with so many users” but promised it was a rare acquisition. An Instagram application tuned to Apple’s iPhones, iPads, and iPod touch devices has been downloaded more than 30 million times since the first version was released in late 2010 by the San Francisco start-up. A version of the application tailored for smartphones powered by Google-backed Android software racked up more than a million users

in the 24 hours after its release last week. “Instagram has built a sizable mobile photo sharing community,” said NPD analyst Linda Barrabee. “Clearly the value-proposition of Instagram’s offering is a solid fit for Facebook.” The free mini-program lets people give classic looks to square photos using “filters” and then share them at Twitter, Facebook or other social networks. Apple crowned Instagram its appof-the-year for 2011. “We’re psyched to be joining Facebook,” Systrom said in a message at the Instagram website. “It’s important to be clear that Instagram is not going away,” he continued. “We’ll be working with Facebook to evolve Instagram and build the network.” Facebook users flood the world’s largest social network with images to share with friends, but the website hasn’t proven to be an ideal stage for organizing pictures around topics – a forte that has made Pinterest a star. “Facebook is pushing into the Pinterest space,” said analyst Tim Bajarin of Creative Strategies. “The thing about Instagram and Pinterest is that they are really interesting in the context of posting pictures around topics,” he continued. Silicon Valley analyst Rob Enderle said that Facebook is building a defense against Pinterest, which has

©AFP/Getty Images/Justin Sullivan

©AFP Graphic ©AFP/File/Kimihiro Hoshino

Facebook announces billion-dollar-deal to buy Instagram.

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg.

been luring people’s attention from the social network. “Instagram is a reasonable competitive hedge against Pinterest,” Enderle said. “At the heart of both start-ups is picture indexing, they are just handled differently.” While Bajarin referred to the billion-dollar price tag for Instagram “boggling,” Enderle contended that it could prove to be a bargain if it helps Facebook shine for its IPO on Wall Street.

Facebook in February filed for a stock offering and could raise as much as $10 billion in the largest flotation ever by an Internet company on Wall Street. Facebook – the leading social network in all but six countries, notably China and Russia – claims more than 845 million users. Facebook’s value has been estimated at between $75 billion and $100 billion. “The Instagram buy could be worth tens of billions of dollars if it holds off Pinterest and Facebook remains on top, Enderle said. “Given what Facebook is trying to do – get a massive valuation when it goes public – a billion dollars is a trivial sum.” Facebook likely wanted to keep Instagram out of the hands of rivals

such as Google while at the same time ramping up mobile offerings as people increasingly weave smartphones and tablet computers into lifestyles, according to analysts. “It’s conceivable that Facebook made this acquisition now to prevent other companies from snatching up Instagram,” said Forrester analyst Melissa Parrish. “It wouldn’t be too surprising to later learn that Facebook wasn’t their only courtier,” she continued. Some Instagram lovers were upset by the takeover news and expressed themselves, fittingly, in images posted online. There were images of the word “no” as well as “R.I.P. Instagram” and “FU FB.” ■ (AFP – San Francisco, USA – April

US Internet giant Google on Tuesday, April 3 started building one of its three planned data centres in Asia to meet fast growing online demand from the region, the company said. “More new Internet users are coming online everyday here in Asia than anywhere else in the world,” Daniel Alegre of Google said during a ceremony to begin work on the $300 million, 15 hectare (37 acre) site in Changhua county, western Taiwan.

“They are looking for information and entertainment, new business opportunities and better ways to connect with friends and family, near and far. “That is why we are building data centres in Asia – to ensure that our users here have the fastest, most reliable access possible to all of our services, so they can continue putting them to work. Construction of the two other data centres for the region – in Singapore and Hong Kong – started in December and will cost $700 million in total. Google also has similar centres in the United States and Europe, but none so far in Asia. The search engine giant has faced stiff competition in Asia, particularly in the China market where domestic search services, including Baidu, are household names to a 485 million-strong internet population – the world’s largest. ■ (AFP – Taipei, Taiwan – April 3,

10, 2012)

Google lets users monitor Google starts building their online activity data centre in Taiwan GOOGLE on Wednesday, March 28 began letting people get monthly reports summarizing what they have been up to at the Internet titan’s free online services. A freshly-added feature keeps people posted on patterns at Gmail, YouTube, online search and other Google venues visited while signed into their user accounts with the Californiabased company. “Sometimes it’s helpful to step back and take stock of what you’re doing online,” Google product manager Andreas Tuerk said in a blog post announcing the “Account Activity” feature. “Knowing more about your own account activity also can help you take steps to protect your Google Account.” He gave an example of a report potentially revealing that someone’s account was signed into from countries they have not visited or from gadgets they don’t own. Google will incorporate more of its services into Account Activity reports in coming months, according to Tuerk.

©AFP/File/Kimihiro Hoshino

Google on Wednesday, March 28 began letting people get monthly reports summarizing what they have been up to.

Those who sign up with get password-protected links to reports and tools to manage account privacy. The new feature was introduced the same month that Google rolled out a new privacy policy allowing the firm to track users across various services to develop targeted advertising, despite criticism from consumer advocacy groups. Google contends the move simplifies and unifies its policies across its various services such as Gmail, YouTube, Android mobile systems, Google+ social network and Internet search. But critics including European privacy agencies and US consumer

watchdogs argued the new policy, which offers no ability to opt out aside from refraining from signing into Google services, gives the Internet giant unprecedented ability to monitor its users. And some say it violates EU privacy protections. Google said the changes are designed to improve the user experience across the various products, and give the firm a more integrated view of its users, an advantage enjoyed by Apple and Facebook. ■ (AFP – San

Francisco, USA – March 28, 2012)

©AFP/GOOGLE

Work has begun on the $300 million, 15 hectare (37 acre) site in Changhua county, western Taiwan.

2012)

April 2012 – No. 7 / Fortnightly • UK & Europe Edition

Business & Finance

www.hello-philippines.com

HELLO PHILIPPINES

San Miguel buys 49% stake Philippine Airlines says in PAL for $500 million signs deal with San Miguel Jason Gutierrez, AFPxml SAN Miguel said Wednesday, April 4 it had bought a 49-percent stake in loss-making Philippine Airlines for $500 million as part of a strategy to move away from its beer and food businesses. San Miguel, one of the Philippines’ biggest conglomerates, said it planned to help modernise PAL’s ageing fleet and rejuvenate Asia’s oldest commercial airline, which has lost its status as the nation’s top carrier in recent years. San Miguel president Ramon Ang said the $500 million investment had bought his company a 49-percent stake in PAL and its low-cost offshoot, Airphil Express. “The new investment will allow the two airlines to strengthen operations and stay competitive with the implementation of PAL and AirPhil’s fleet modernisation,” said a joint statement from PAL chairman Lucio Tan and San Miguel. Billionaire Tan, the country’s second-wealthiest man, is PAL’s controlling shareholder. Cash-rich San Miguel, one of the

country’s largest companies, began as a Manila brewery in 1890 and grew into Southeast Asia’s largest food company. Over the past decade, it has diversified into a wide range of businesses. Its purchase of the PAL stake dovetails with recent investments, including a controlling stake in Petron Corp., the country’s top oil refiner and a key jet fuel supplier, as well as its recent involvement in airport development. Other recent acquisitions include US giant ExxonMobil’s refinery and retail stations in Malaysia, and a third of top power distributor Manila Electric. San Miguel has also branched out into toll highway and rail system construction and operation. PAL, which began flying in 1941, reported a net loss of $33.5 million in the three months to December, reversing a profit of $15.1 million from the same period the previous year. It had said the losses were mainly due to soaring fuel costs, and added that it was looking for fresh money to upgrade its fleet, which has lost its status as the nation’s most popular

©AFP/File/Ted Aljibe

PHILIPPINE Airlines said Wednesday, April 4 it had signed a deal giving San Miguel Corporation a minority stake in the loss-making carrier. In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange, PAL’s majority shareholder, Trustmark Holdings Corporation said it had entered into “investment agreements with San Miguel Equity Investments”.

San Miguel, flush with cash, has been aggressively expanding its business portfolio in recent years.

carrier to low-cost rival Cebu Pacific. PAL was also forced to cut hundreds of flights in September 2011 after a day-long wildcat strike by ground crew who were protesting the outsourcing of 2,600 catering, airport services and call centre reservation jobs. It took the airline more than a month to cut the flight backlog. San Miguel shares rose 0.79 percent Wednesday to close at 114.40 pesos ($2.67). PAL’s listed parent PAL Holdings dropped 0.12 percent to close at 8.29 pesos. ■ (AFP – Manila, Philippines – April 4, 2012)

The investments “will result in the issuance of shares... where the latter will have minority stake in the company”. “The investments through Trustmark will be flowed down to Philippine Airlines which is expected to strengthen and enhance the operation of the airline,” it said. ■ (AFP – April 4, 2012) ©AFP/File/Ted Aljibe

Philippine Airlines has signed a deal giving San Miguel Corporation a minority stake.

Olympics 2012 chiefs concerned Duavit clarifies by Adidas ‘sweatshop’ Philippine Star article

LONDON Olympics organisers said Saturday, April 14 they were taking “extremely seriously” allegations of “sweatshop” conditions for Indonesian workers producing outfits for British athletes and Games volunteers. The Independent newspaper alleged that the clothing being made for the London 2012 Olympics was “being manufactured for Adidas in sweatshop conditions in Indonesia, making a mockery of claims by London 2012 organisers that this summer’s Games will be the most ethical ever”. Adidas, the German sportswear and equipment manufacturer, is investigating, the London organising committee said.

“We place a high priority on environmental, social and ethical issues when securing goods and services and take these allegations extremely seriously,” said a spokeswoman. “We have spoken to Adidas and they have assured us that they are investigating these allegations, the conclusions of which will be made public. “We regularly remind all of our licensees of the importance we place on the sustainable sourcing code they have each signed up to.” Workers at nine Indonesian factories which have contracts to produce Olympic shoes and clothing for Adidas are working up to 65-hour

©AFP/File/Carl Court

The Commission for a Sustainable London 2012 told The Independent it was “deeply concerned”.

weeks and earning as little as 5,000 rupiah ($0.55, 42 euro cents) an hour, the report claimed. The Commission for a Sustainable London 2012, the body responsible for monitoring ethical practices relating to the Games, told The Independent that it was “deeply concerned” by the report. The organising committee’s priority “must be to investigate these issues and act accordingly to protect workers’ rights and improve working conditions,” said Shaun McCarthy, the commission’s chairman. The Independent said in its editorial that the working conditions reported by staff at the Indonesian factories were “unconscionable”. “Workers tell of pitiful wages, unreasonable production targets, appalling hours and even outright abuse,” it said. The London Games organisers “should be ashamed” of themselves, it added. Last month fashion designer Stella McCartney revealed the Union Jackinspired outfits she has designed for the British Olympic team at a glitzy London launch. The 2012 Olympics run from July 27 to August 12, 2012. ■ (AFP – London, UK – April 14, 2012)

GMA Network President and Chief Operating Officer Gilberto R. Duavit, Jr. clarified certain points raised in a news article by Mary Ann Ll. Reyes published in the Philippine Star last April 14 headlined “MVP offers up to P45B for GMA Network.” Duavit said that it is not true that two out of the three major stockholders of GMA “are already amenable to selling their respective 33-percent stake.” He added that the major and controlling shareholders have not yet received a price that is acceptable to them. “We are presently not in serious negotiations with the PLDT group as we have not yet received an offer price that is acceptable to us. The

Network is not for sale but that is not to say it may not be sold, depending on the offer price,” Duavit reiterated. Duavit also clarified that the sale of GMA to the PLDT group nearly occurred in 2001 with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the owners and the said group. He mentioned that there were agreements already reached then among the owners on both pricing and a sale of a majority stake, contrary to the news article. The transaction, however, did not materialize due to issues encountered by the buyer, and not because of a disagreement on the indicated P14 billion price. ■ (GMA Network – Manila, Philippines – April 16, 2012)

GMA Network President and Chief Operating Officer Gilberto R. Duavit, Jr.

HELLO PHILIPPINES

www.hello-philippines.com

OFW NEWS

Annual Tier 2 limit announcement RULES have been laid in parliament confirming changes to Tier 2 of the points based system. Following the Migration Advisory Committee report in October 2011 to advise on the 2012-13 annual limit for Tier 2 and associated policies, the government has after careful consideration, announced that: The Tier 2 (General) limit will remain at its current level of 20,700 for the next 2 years until April 2014. The skill level required by migrants who wish to work in the UK will increase. This means the number of middle-management jobs such as IT technicians and security managers will no longer be open to migrant workers. However, highlyskilled occupations such as architect, teacher or chemical engineer will still be available. Additionally, the rules for businesses around advertising highly paid and PhD jobs will be relaxed. This will cut bureaucracy, meaning companies will no longer

have to advertise vacancies through JobCentrePlus, where they are unlikely to get applicants for these types of jobs, but will still have to advertise more widely. Furthermore, companies will now be able to select the best candidate for PhD level occupations, even if they require Tier 2 sponsorship. For the full detail of the changes, please see the statement of intent which was also published today at UKBA website. These reforms will continue to restrict the ability of lesser skilled workers to enter the county and deny UK residents job opportunities. These changes are key to improving the selectivity of the UK immigration system – ensuring that only the brightest and the best are able to come to the UK and work. Immigration minister, Damian Green said: ‘The government has been clear that the UK is open for business and our limit has been designed with the industry’s needs

in mind. We believe there is no incompatibility between economic growth and controlling migration – our reformed, more selective immigration system can achieve both.’ Prospective workers will still need to have a graduate level job, speak an intermediate level of English and meet specific salary and employment requirements before they are able to work here. Those earning a salary of £150,000 or more will not be subject to the limit. These changes are part of the government’s radical overhaul of the immigration system. Firm action has already been taken on the student route, settlement and those coming here to work, in order to bring immigration levels back down to sustainable levels and make sure we receive only the brightest and best people. By summer the government will also have made changes to family migration routes. ■ (UKBA – April 4, 2012)

Changes to the Immigration Rules came into effect on 6 April 2012 AS previously announced, a number of changes to the Immigration Rules are coming into effect on 6 April. These include changes for migrants coming to the UK under the following routes of the points-based system: Tier 1 - high-value migrants. Tier 2 - skilled workers, including: new arrangements for students switching into Tier 2 and confirmation that the limit for nonEU skilled workers allowed into the UK will remain at 20,700 for the next 2 years. Tier 4 - students. Tier 5 - temporary workers. In addition to these changes the

government is also increasing from 6 April, the funds that applicants will need to provide evidence of, in order to meet the maintenance requirements for Tier 4 and Tier 5 (Youth Mobility Scheme). Changes to the level of funds needed for applicants in Tier 1, Tier 2 and Tier 5 (Temporary worker) will come into effect on 14 June. Changes are also being made to: Curtailment (cutting short the leave you have if you fail to start, or have ceased your work or study). The visitor rules, with the creation of a new visitor route for permitted paid engagements to allow a small group of professionals, artists, entertainers and sportspersons who

are to come to the UK to undertake short-term remunerated activities, for up to 1 month without formal sponsorship. The overseas domestic worker routes. The extension of leave to remain, so that Tier 2 migrants can now extend for a further 3 years, to take their stay up to a maximum of 6 years in total. A more detailed summary of the changes can be found in the UK Border Agency news story published on 15 March and the news story published on 4 April, when the changes to the rules were laid in Parliament. ■ (UKBA – April 5,

2012)

Bulacan, Poea-OnWheels’ First Stop Bringing its services closer to the public, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration is set to launch its project “POEA-on-Wheels” on March 27, 2012 in Malolos, Bulacan. Administrator Hans Leo Cacdac said the mobile project will take employment-related services of the POEA, including anti-illegal recruitment and pre-employment orientation seminars (Peos) to

selected provinces nationwide. During PEOS, applicants who want to work abroad are educated on the basics of overseas employment, and proper procedure and requirements in job application. Participants are also asked to assess their readiness to leave the country. Other services include free legal counseling and assistance to victims of illegal recruitment, on-

line registration of workers for job placements, free internet access to POEA website, and jobs fairs. The kick-off ceremonies will be held at Bulacan State University, in partnership with the Provincial Government of Bulacan, the Public Employment Service Offices in Bulacan, Globe Telecom, and other cooperating entities. ■ (News Release,

26 March 2011)

April 2012 – No. 7 / Fortnightly • UK & Europe Edition

POEA warns OFWs against use of backdoor exit

The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration warns Filipino workers, especially women, against accepting offers of employment that would require them to leave illegally using exit points in the southern parts of the country. Administrator Hans Leo Cacdac said workers deployed through the backdoor exits would usually end up either stranded without work in a foreign country, or forced to accept low-paying household jobs or as farm hands in remote plantations or establishments used as front for prostitution. Cacdac said human traffickers use exit points in the southern provinces to deploy workers without proper work documents to countries such as Malaysia, South Korea, China, Morocco, Lebanon, Syria, and other Middle East countries. “From the southernmost parts of Mindanao and Palawan, traveling by sea to Malaysia is the

more convenient way for a human trafficker to move its victims to their final country of destination because government controls in these parts of the country are either lax or totally lacking”, Cacdac added. The POEA administrator said that just recently, the Philippine Overseas Labor Office in Kuala Lumpur reported that five Filipino women are being held in a night club in Malaysia, which is controlled by a large syndicate involved in human trafficking for prostitution. The report said the syndicate transported the victims through the Zamboanga- Sandakan-Kota Kinabalu-Johor Bahru route. Cacdac said recent studies on human trafficking in the Philippines indicated that most of the victims were willing travelers but were deceived by their recruiters about their real jobs or the conditions of their employment overseas. ■ (News Advisory, April 13, 2012)

Philippine Embassy brings home more OFWs from Syria as violence continues A new batch of repatriates came home last Thursday, April 12, 2012, the day when the United Nationsbrokered ceasefire is supposed to be fully implemented. 24 female overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) arrived in Manila. This will bring the total number of repatriates to 1,267. There has been no let-up in the Philippine Embassy in Damascus’ efforts to repatriate Filipinos out of strife-torn Syria as the viability of the ceasefire deal remains uncertain.

The Philippine Government has kept alert level 4 in place over Syria, which calls for the mandatory repatriation of Filipinos, amidst continuing violence in the country. The DFA continues to urge the next-of-kin OFWs in Syria to provide the Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs (DFA-OUMWA) with relevant information regarding their relatives by calling (02) 834-3245 or (02) 834-3240. ■ (DFA – April 11, 2012)

Visa application fees changed on 6 April 2012 FOLLOWING parliamentary approval, an increase in for some overseas visa fees, and UK-based visa application fees, has been introduced last Friday, 6 April 2012. All payments made from 00:01 (UK time) on Friday 6 April, should be paid according to the fee information

UKBA website. Applications will not be accepted where an incorrect fee is paid. For further information on the new fees, including the announcement made by Immigration Minister Damian Green on 9 February 2012. ■ (UKBA – April 5, 2012)

Balik-manggagawa processing soon at Duty Free Phils Returning Filipino workers may soon have their exit clearance processed while shopping at Duty Free Philippines in Paranaque City. Administrator Hans Leo Cacdac said the POEA is setting up a satellite unit of its Labor Assistance Center at the Duty Free Philippines Corporation’s Balikbayan Plus OFW Center for the convenience of returning workers who may wish to have their overseas employment certificate while at the Duty Free Shop. The Balikbayan Plus OFW Center is a business area that hosts government agencies and private

companies for the documentation of overseas Filipino workers and regular travelers. Cacdac said the POEA labor assistance unit at the Duty Free Philippines is having a test run until the end of March 2012 and will start regular operations soon after. POEA and Duty Free Phils. are expected tosign a memorandum of understanding to implement the partnership between the two agencies. The Center will be open from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. during weekdays, excluding holidays. ■ (News Release, March 16, 2012)

April 2012 – No. 7 / Fortnightly • UK & Europe Edition

Philippine Embassy Around The World

www.hello-philippines.com

HELLO PHILIPPINES

Philippine explores linkages with Fulham FC

2012 Presidential Awards for Filipino Individuals and Organization Overseas THE Embassy of the Philippines in London is now accepting nominations for the 2012 Presidential Awards for Filipino Individuals and Organizations Overseas. Organized by the Commission on Filipinos Overseas of the Office of the President of the Philippines, the Presidential Awards aims to recognize individuals and organizations for their outstanding contribution to Philippine progress and development. The Awards are also conferred on overseas Filipinos who have shown excellence and distinction in their work or profession. There are four categories of awards to be conferred on Filipinos and private organization overseas as follows:

Lingkod sa Kapwa Pilipino (LINKAPIL) Award — conferred on Filipino individuals or associations for their exceptional or significant contribution to reconstruction, progress and development in the Philippines. Banaag Award — conferred on Filipino individuals or associations for their contributions in advancing the cause of or have benefitted significantly overseas Filipino communities or sectors. Kaanib ng Bayan Award — conferred on foreign individuals or organizations for their exceptional or significant contribution to Philippine reconstruction, progress and development, or have significantly benefitted a sector or community in the Philippines, or advanced the cause of overseas Filipino communities.

Pamana ng Pilipino Award — conferred on Filipinos overseas, who, in exemplifying the talent and industry of the Filipino, have brought the country honor and recognition through excellence and distinction in the pursuit of their work or profession. The completed nomination forms must be submitted to the Embassy of the Philippines on or before 07 May 2012 to give ample time for the Embassy to endorse the applications to the CFO. Kindly address all nomination forms and supporting documents to the following: Ms. Vivian Pascua, Embassy of the Philippines, 6-8 Suffolk Street, London, SW1Y 4HG, tel. no. 020 7451 1804. For more details, please visit www.2012presidentialawards.cfo. gov.ph. ■ (London, 20 March 2012)

Advisory: Consular Outreach Mission, BELFAST THE Embassy is pleased to announce the holding of its 2ND Consular Outreach Mission for 2012 at the following venue: DATE : 21-22 APRIL 2012, SATURDAY AND SUNDAY TIME : 9 AM TO 5 PM (SATURDAY) 9 AM TO 12 NOON (SUNDAY – SPILL OVER TRANSACTIONS FROM PREVIOUS DAY) VENUE : ENNIS ROOM, DINING FLOOR, BELFAST CITY HOSPITAL, LISBURN ROAD, BELFAST BT7 7AB SERVICES OFFERED: • E-PASSPORT APPLICATIONS (by booking with the Embassy from 9-13 April on a first-book/ first-served basis) – please see attached booking form) • EMERGENCY GREEN PASSPORT APPLICATIONS • PASSPORT VALIDITY PERIOD EXTENSION APPLICATIONS • PASSPORT AMENDMENT (FROM

SINGLE TO MARRIED NAME – ON GREEN PASSPORTS ONLY) • ONE-WAY TRAVEL DOCUMENT APPLICATIONS • REPORTS OF BIRTH, MARRIAGE, DEATH, DIVORCE • NOTARIAL & LEGALIZATION SERVICES (AFFIDAVITS, SPAs) • NBI FORM APPLICATIONS • ACCEPTANCE OF PHILIPPINE VISA APPLICATIONS (NOTE: NO ACTUAL VISAS WILL BE ISSUED DURING THE OUTREACH MISSION) • PHILIPPINE CITIZENSHIP RETENTION/RE-ACQUISITION • ASSISTANCE-TO-NATIONALS AND LEGAL ADVICE REGARDING PHILIPPINE LAW • SSS, PAG-IBIG AND OWWA MEMBERSHIP/BENEFITS (OEC ISSUANCE) • ADVICE ON EMPLOYMENT/ LABOR RELATED MATTERS • OVERSEAS ABSENTEE VOTING

REGISTRATION (Please bring a valid passport) All those who will avail of the services during the Outreach Mission are advised to check the documentary and other requirements at www.philembassyuk.org. Applicants may likewise download application forms in advance from the same website. Those who wish to receive their e-Passports, visas to the Philippines, or other documents by Post are advised to submit a selfaddressed stamped special delivery envelope with their applications. Payments for consular services can be made in cash (English currency) or with postal money orders made out to the Philippine Embassy. Personal cheques are not accepted for payment purposes. The Embassy looks forward to seeing you at the Consular Outreach Mission in Belfast. ■

Notice on Conference of Filipinos in Europe 27 to 29 September 2012, Rome

THE Philippine Embassy in London wishes to invite leaders of Filipino organizations in the United Kingdom and interested individuals to attend the 1st Conference of Filipinos in Europe which is scheduled from 27 to 29 September 2012 in Rome, Italy. The Conference is being convened by the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) and

the Global Filipino Diaspora Council (GFDC). lt is designed “to provide a forum of Europebased Filipino organizations and associations for a consensual and collective thinking of issues regarding migrant socio-economic integration/re-integration in host and home country processes.” A total of seven (7) seats have been allocated for Filipino

community leaders from the United Kingdom to attend this Conference. lt will be on a first come-first served basis. Interested participants are advised to visit www.d2d.ph for further information and details regarding registration for this Conference. Philippine Embassy, London ■ (London, 20 March 2012)

THE Philippine Embassy in London reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs that its officials met with representatives of Fulham FC last February 11 to study possible new areas of promotion and cooperation between the Philippines and the English Premier League team. The introductory meeting between

the Philippine officials and the club formed part of the Embassy’s economic diplomacy efforts and further broaden tourism and cultural ties between the Philippines and the United Kingdom. Fulham FC is one of the English Premier League’s oldest and most prestigious clubs. ■ (PDOT – February 27, 2012)

Fulham FC and Philippine Azkals goalkeeper Neil Etheridge (center) and Fulham Sales Manager Nick Childs (left) welcomed Philippine Department of Tourism-UK Officer-in-Charge Rosario Afuang (second from right), Minister Louis Alferez (right) and Third Secretary Emmanuel Guzman (second from left) to the team’s home field, Craven Cottage, in west London.

MAM Awards: Now accepting nominations for 2012

NOMINATIONS to the Migration Advocacy and Media (MAM) Awards 2012 are now formally open. Conceived in 2011 by the Commission on Filipinos Overseas for the Celebration of the Month of Overseas Filipinos and International Migrants Day in the Philippines (December and December 18, respectively every year) chaired by the Philippine Migrants Rights Watch (PMRW) and co-chaired by the CFO, Migration Advocacy and Media (MAM) Awards aim to recognize the significant role of the media in the promotion and advocacy of migration and development. Eligible for the Awards are works by any individual, government and private media outlets, institutions and practitioners in the fields of print, radio, movie and television, advertising and internet based in the Philippines and abroad. Entries must have raised public awareness on issues on Filipino migration, advocated the cause of Filipinos overseas, or/and promoted a positive image of Filipinos overseas, and migration and development. Entries to the Awards must be submitted on or before September 30, 2012 to MAM Awards’ Secretariat, Commission on Filipinos Overseas, Citigold Center, 1345 Pres.Quirino Avenue cor. Osmeña Highway (South Superhighway) Manila, Philippines 1007.

The recipients of the first MAM Awards include “From Carabao to Sheep” by AKLnzPlNOYS (Print Journalism Award), “Multicultural Family Broadcasting for Filipinos” by Woongjin Foundation (Radio Journalism Award—Regular Radio Program), “Citizen Pinoy by ABS-CBN Global Ltd. (Television Journalism Award-Regular TV Program), “Front Row-Pag-Uwi” by GMA NEWS TV Channel 11 (Television Journalism Award -Episodic), “The Filipina On Top: Deconstructing Maria Clara” by lllustrado Communications FZ-LLC (Film Media Award-Documentary), “Highlights and Lowlights: 38 Years of Pinoys Abroad” by Joseph Holandes Ubalde, www.interaksyon.com (Interactive Media Award) and “Maglngat sa mga Illegal Recruiter” by CLTV 36 (Advertisement Award ). For more information on the Awards, please call the MAM Secretariat at (632) 561-8291 (telefax), (632) 5524766 or email at info@cfo.gov.gh. To download the primer and nomination form, please check www.cfo.gov.ph. ■

1898 – 2012

114th INDEPENDENCE DAY THANKSGIVING MASS AND SALO-SALO

Date: Saturday, 9 June 2011 at 3:00pm Venue: The Holy Apostles Catholic Church, Winchester Street, Pimlico, London SW1V 4LY Main Celebrant: Fr. Cirino G. Potrido, CM – Head, Filipino Chaplaincy Participation at the Mass: Fr. Agustin Paunon, Fr. Irvin Morastil OMI, Fr. Edgar Dizon of Wolverhampton

HELLO PHILIPPINES

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Philippine Tourism

April 2012 – No. 7 / Fortnightly • UK & Europe Edition

15 Kalakbay ni Gat Jose Rizal finishers awarded at DOT THE Department of Tourism (DOT), led by Secretary Ramon R. Jimenez, Jr., awarded the top fifteen finishers of the Lakbay Jose Rizal @ 150 Heritage Trail project, which was launched in May 2011 by an inter-agency committee composed of the DOT, National Parks Development Committee (NPDC), Intramuros Administration (IA), National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP), Heritage Conservation Society, and Cebu Pacific Air as major sponsor. “This celebration today is a dramatic example of a different kind of fun,” said Secretary Jimenez. “With all of our national hero’s monuments and commemorative sites not only in the Philippines, but

all over the world, Jose Rizal, has remained the single most important memory in our history.” Lakbay Jose Rizal @ 150

Heritage Trail, an initiative to support heritage and cultural tourism, aims to encourage people to visit places of interest relevant to Dr. Jose Rizal’s

DOT Secretary Ramon R. Jimenez, Jr. (center) with some of the awardees of the Kalakbay ni Gat Jose Rizal project, inter-agency committee members and sponsors.

life. Through a passport rubber stamp project and a heritage trail to follow, the Department has been encouraging both Filipino and foreign tourists to learn about the journey and heroism of Dr. Jose Rizal. “Do not hesitate to share Rizal with the world because the world can surely appreciate what he did, and what he fought for, which is justice and freedom. Truly, the world can see what heroism can achieve,” Jimenez added. The first 15 finishers who received an official “Kalakbay ni Gat Jose Rizal” completion certificate, Rizal books, and a round-trip Cebu Pacific Air ticket to any local destination include Requilio Labarda and Gloria Labarda,

Anthony Rabor, Alvidon Asis, Danny Diez, Juanito, Maureen, and Franze Micah Castaneda, Marjorie Salinas, Jeremaia Joson, Lilibeth Cruz, Charlie Garcia, Edelburgo and Miguela Cheng, and Renante David. To date, there are 54 tourists who have visited all 27 Rizal sites around the Philippines. The project will run until June 19, 2012, with the DOT planning to develop it as a regular tour. As a final note, Jimenez shares “We, together with those who are all over the world, who commemorate and remember Jose Rizal, are living proof that the most important heritage site of Rizal is indeed in our hearts.” ■ (DOT – March 12, 2012)

Philippines bags 2 awards in OneWorld Travel Mart India THE Department of Tourism (DOT) proudly proclaimed its newest slogan “It’s more fun in the Philippines” to the Indian market in the recently concluded OneWorld Travel Mart (OTM) 2012 held on February 17-19 in Mumbai, and February 24-16 in New Delhi. Showcasing the fun spirit of the Philippines’ 7,107 beautiful islands, the DOT captured the hearts of 23,035 visitors from all over India, 810 booth exhibitors, and 61 countries across the globe. “We have taken advantage of the OTM to introduce our new campaign as this is one of the largest, longestrunning, and reputable travel events catering to a large cross-section of the Indian travel trade industry and consumers. The OTM has generated big outbound traffic from India,” said Tourism Secretary Ramon R. Jimenez, Jr. The Philippines bagged the Best Booth Design and Decoration in the International Pavilion category at both events in Mumbai and New Delhi. Adding to these recognitions,

the country was also awarded with having the Best Promotional Materials in New Delhi, making it the only national tourism organization which received two awards in this year’s OTM in New Delhi. The Philippine delegation included the DOT team and several booth participants - Shroff International Travel Care, Blue Horizons Travel and Tours Inc., Intas Destinations, Bantayan Island Nature Park and Resort, Tamber Travel & Tours, and Philippine Airlines. The Indian market is of significant importance to the country due to its huge potential in helping boost foreign tourist arrivals. Latest figures show that the Philippines recorded a remarkable growth of 24% in Indian arrivals. In an effort to increase awareness and penetration in the Indian market, the Philippines will continue to participate in trade shows, conduct familiarization trips for the travel trade sector, and carry out sales missions and joint advertising campaigns with select tour operators in India. ■ (DOT – March 15, 2012)

Awards received: 1) Crowd-drawing Philippine booth, 2) Patiqueros Band, 3) Bar Tricks, 4) Philippine Night and 5) Philippine delegation.

Boljoon Mayor Teresita Celis (left) and DOT Director Rowena Montecillo (right).

DOT urges community to follow whale shark interaction guidelines THE Department of Tourism (DOT) stresses the need to give awareness trainings on whale shark interaction and marine conservation to local government units (LGUs) and communities where whale sharks frequent in all parts of the Philippines. Tourism Secretary Ramon R. Jimenez, Jr. urges the public to follow the laws and guidelines set by the LGUs for whale shark interaction. “Tourism should coexist with the protection and conservation of these marine animals. We need to heighten people’s awareness and capacitate the community to effectively manage the interaction, so that it will not cause undue harm or disturbance to the normal behavior of the sharks,” said Jimenez. “The guidelines are there to be enforced not only for the stakeholders to protect its principal natural attraction, but also to raise

awareness on marine conservation issues,” he added. The photo of a girl riding a whale shark along the shoreline of Barangay Granada, Boljoon, Cebu prompted DOT Region VII Director Rowena Montecillo to meet with Mayor Teresita Celis, who confirmed the unfortunate incident. The local executive narrated that the whale shark was trapped in the net of local fishermen. It was brought near the shore because the fishermen had difficulty in freeing the creature while in deeper waters. Those involved in the incident were already reprimanded and warned of being penalized if caught again. The whale shark was later released into the open sea. “Director Montecillo also met with the local community and got their support and willingness to undergo training. The DOT is committed to assist in preparing

communities to be systematic and responsible in harnessing this livelihood opportunity,” Tourism Undersecretary Maria Victoria V. Jasmin said. “We have also dialogued with Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Regional Director Andres Bojos, who agreed to partner with us in conducting an Awareness Caravan in May during the Month of the Ocean aimed at raising awareness on marine protection and conservation, and promoting a culture of tourism,” said Director Montecillo. The DOT is part of the technical working group created by Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia in charge of formulating guidelines and monitoring systems to ensure that this tourism opportunity remains a boon to the communities. Measures are also being undertaken to conduct further research on the migratory pattern of the whale sharks. ■ (DOT – April 12, 2012)

April 2012 – No. 7 / Fortnightly • UK & Europe Edition

Philippine Tourism

www.hello-philippines.com

HELLO PHILIPPINES

More tourism publicity for the Philippines this season FOR the second year running, Boracay is named “Best Beach in Asia” by Trip Advisor’s Traveller’s Choice Awards (http://www. tripadvisor.com/TravelersChoiceBeaches-cDestinations-g2). The recognition draws attention to the other excellent beaches of the island apart from the popular White Beach. The Philippines also received numerous publicities from different travel and trade publications these past two months within the United Kingdom, Spain and Italy. Travel Bulletin released two editorials on the Philippines in March with an article about the $43,000 charity donation of Voyages of Discovery to the House with No Steps (tahanang walang hagdanan) in the Philippines. The editorial highlighted the growing cruise market from

the UK to the Philippines with more itineraries being added on companies such as Fred Olsen, P&O, Saga, Orion, Voyages of Discovery and Voyages of Antiquity. The second issue included an editorial on PDOT London’s record-breaking report on surpassing the 100,000 mark by reaching a total of 104,466 arrivals from the UK in 2011. The article also included bits from the tourist board’s promotional campaigns, joint advertising and other projects. On ABTA Magazine, there was a full-page Philippines section containing fast facts and special focus on Palawan. Several Italian magazines also released feature articles on different destinations in the country and one of which is Viaggiando wherein a 12page feature on the Philippines was

written by Davide Scagliola who went to the Philippines a few month back. This April, Selling Long Haul will be having their annual Philippines feature mentioning new hotels/ resorts in Manila and Palawan and a unique cultural tour of Intramuros involving Segways. Lastly, Ariara Island continues to get heaps of publicity resulting from the media familiarization trips from late last year. Snippets and articles can be seen from illustrious magazines like Angels and Urchins, Harrods Magazine, The Spectator, Wine and Dine, Urbanollogy and Talter, among many others. PDOT London continues to promote the Philippines in many traditional and creative ways to ensure more publicity and visibility in the coming months. ■ (PDOT London – April 2012)

PDOT London brings the FUN at the dive shows in Madrid and London THE Philippines Department of Tourism (PDOT) in London has once again showcased its “FUN” banner during the 4th Dive Travel Show in Madrid, Spain and the recently concluded London International Dive Show (LIDS) held at the ExCel Exhibition Centre. The Dive Travel Show in Madrid is the leading fair for diving in Spain and has seen a 30% increase in attendance to 11,000 this year. To complement the growing market for divers, PDOT has also increased its stand from 24sqm to 36sqm and has created a colourful and prominent booth design to attract the consumers with its new branding “It’s more fun in the Philippines”. PDOT was joined by a representative from the Philippine Embassy in Madrid as well as three major tour operators selling the Philippines, namely: Atlantis Dive Resorts, Buceo Filipinas and Jeepney Travel. The highlight of the show came at the end when Ingrid Reira, one of the show’s organizers, announced that the Philippines is going to be “Guest

Country” for the 5th Dive Travel Show on 16-17 March 2013. Meanwhile, LIDS last 31 March and 1 April saw a huge number of loyal and repeat visitors to the Philippines. Most of these visitors have been to the most popular dive destinations and are seeking new sites such as Sogod Bay, Romblon, Carabao island and the many islets of Cuyo, to name a few. All of PDOT’s co-exhibitors exclaimed successful participation at the Philippines booth: Kasai Village in Moalboal, Cebu, had loads of inquiries on the first day; Ultimate Diving received intense demand for their packages as customers booked immediately the day after the show; Equator Diving ran a competition for a 7-day holiday to Atlantis Resorts in Dumaguete or Puerto Galera which attracted crowds and more than a thousand entries. On the other hand, Mabuhay Philippines Tours and Banca Dive Safari also conducted a competition at the stand for an all-inclusive 7-night dive holiday in Cebu and Bohol.

The successful trade show was complimented by an impressive performance from the 5th Avenue singers composed of young and talented Filipinos under the direction of Mr. Fredric Herrera. They serenaded the consumers and attracted a massive crowd at the Philippine booth during their performances. They also performed at the Open Bar in the dive show. PDOT served Philippine fruit juices like mango, calamansi and pineapple together with crisps and other giveaways like mini ‘banig’ fans, bags and lanyards labelled with the new brand “It’s more fun in the Philippines”. In both dive shows, the Philippines showed why it’s more fun to dive in the Philippines as the country also emerged as the new pick for longhaul dive destination, value-formoney and diversity. Cebu remains the most popular destination for both Spain and the UK with inquiries and demand for packages running high during both events. Puerto Galera, Palawan and Bohol follow closely with high interests and requests. ■ (PDOT London – April 2012)

HELLO PHILIPPINES

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Philippine Tourism

April 2012 – No. 7 / Fortnightly • UK & Europe Edition

APEC Tourism and Air Transport officials forge convergence in PH THE Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Tourism Working Group, which the Philippine Department of Tourism (DOT) is part of, convened recently in a two-day meeting held at Sofitel Philippine Plaza to identify areas for regional cooperation and integration of programs, projects, and initiatives. With a theme of “Destination APEC 2020: A Conference on Enhancing Tourism and Air Transport Connectivity in the AsiaPacific Region,” the meeting was participated in by 180 representatives from the tourism and transportation sectors of APEC nations, academe, government agencies, and other stakeholders. It served as a venue for creating solutions towards greater integration and convergence through the exchange of ideas on current developments and issues on tourism and aviation, as well as experiences on policies, practices and processes in addressing roadblocks to growth and development. In his opening message, Tourism Secretary Ramon R. Jimenez, Jr. conveyed that “Tourism is about energy transfer from the one making the welcome to one who is travelling. Which leads us to what connectivity

is all about. Connectivity, in the view of the Philippine Department of Tourism, is not merely about making flight plans. It is not just about cooperation. It is, in a very real sense, about friendship.” Relating the conference objective to the country’s new brand campaign “It’s More Fun in the Philippines”, Secretary Jimenez said that “Fun is a very important goal because it ensures that travel is finally, in the Philippines and everywhere else in the world, a gesture of real friendship among us.” “We, in the tourism business, realize that we cannot do it alone. We need partners such as the people in this room, like those in the air transport sector to ensure that each citizen becomes part of tourism growth,” the tourism chief added. In response, Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) Secretary Mar Roxas assured the tourism sector of wide support from his department. Roxas cited current projects in the pipeline and a huge infrastructure budget focused on improving tourism access and connectivity. He added, “We have been complying with international standards to ensure security of our premier

gateway. The TSA of the United States government has found NAIA in general compliance with ICAO standards, further attesting that our initial efforts to make improvement in our airport security have been successful.” The transportation secretary likewise said that “sustaining these improvements will bring benefits to our local and international passengers and tourists as well as making it more fun to travel to and within the country.” On the other hand, United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Secretary-General Mr. Taleb Rifai also stressed the need of tourism and air transportation to work together to address three main areas critical to the advancement of common goals and reap socioeconomic benefits. These are Sustainability and Climate Change, Taxation, and Travel Facilitation. “At an annual growth rate of 3.3%, the next 20 years will see 43 million more tourists coming to the marketplace every year, creating immense opportunities for destinations around the world, advanced and emerging economies alike,” Rifai said.

“By joining forces, we have an opportunity to demonstrate tourism’s value, not just as an economic force, but as one of the human activities best able to lead a new decade of fairer, stronger, and more sustainable growth,” Rifai added. Mr. Javier Esteban Guillermo Molina, Lead Shepherd of the APEC Tourism Working Group, said that the discussions will help the APEC economies to identify action programs and activities that will lead to better understanding and integration of stakeholders in the tourism and transport sectors. Presentations on trends, country experiences, air liberalization studies were made by various tourism and transport officials, as well as industry experts. These include Datuk Dr. Victor Wee (Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board), Mr. George Anjaparidze (International Air Transport Association), Mr. Martin Craigs (Pacific Asia Travel Association), Mrs. Thanitta Maneechote (Thailand Ministry of Tourism and Sports), Ms. Beatrice Lim (Association of Asia Pacific Airlines), Mr. Diego Silva (Chile Civil Aeronautics Board), Undersecretary

Andrew Wilson (Australia Department of Infrastructure and Transport), Undersecretary Daniel G. Corpuz (Philippine Department of Tourism), Atty. Carmelo Arcilla (Philippine Civil Aeronautics Board), Professor Tae Hoon Oum (Sauder School of Business, University of British Columbia), Ms. Jessica Soto (Peru Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism), Mr. Ross Clapcott (New Zealand Ministry of Economic Development), Mr. Felix Cruz (Philippine Board of Airline Representatives), Mr. Eddy Krismedi (ASEAN Secretariat), Col. Ramon Gutierrez (Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines), Prof. Anthony Chin (National University of Singapore) and Undersecretary Jorge Enrique Mezher (Mexico Secretariat of Tourism). The conference came to a close with Ambassador Laura del Rosario (Philippine APEC SOM) stating, “The valuable inputs and learning that have been elicited from the discussions will be carefully considered and presented to our leaders. We hope that this conference leads to real progress in terms of our respective governments’ policies for air transportation and tourism.” ■ (DOT – March 6, 2012)

Exciting familiarization trips to the Philippines this month FAMILIARIZATION tours to the Philippines for tour operators, photographers and travel writers continue to be one of PDOT London’s institutional programs to generate exposure, create more packages and new tourism materials for the country. Tony Exall of TXL Video Productions joined PDOT London at DIVE Birmingham last year as part of Savedra Dive Resort. Tony provided the booth with an impressive BluRay HD video of most popular underwater sites in the Philippines. This video has subsequently been shown at numerous dive shows attended by the Department and used for official presentations. Currently, Tony is in the Philippines to capture land footage of famous sites of the Cordilleras like the Banaue Rice Terraces, Batad, Bontok and Sagada. He will also explore the northern treasures of

Vigan and Laoag as well as the pristine lake Taal. He will also visit the beautiful Boracay, culture rich Bohol, famous underground river in Puerto Princesa, Palawan and sample the beaches down in Dakak, Northern Zamboanga. He will finish off with visits to the Bicol region. The videos resulting from this tour will undoubtedly raise the profile of the country by showing its attractions in the best light. Giordano Cipriani, an Italian underwater photographer will be embarking on an underwater safari from 11 April - 20 May. These photographs will also be used for tourism promotions by the whole Department. Etihad Airways partnered with PDOT London to take a group of luxury tour operators to the Philippines this April and aims to direct the discerning Italian market to the country by sampling the best of its high-end holidays. Some of the participants includes Viaggi di Maurizio Levi, Aliviaggi, Scirocco Tours, Il Viaggio, Azonzo Travel, Hirondelle and La Repubblica. Ingrid Reira, director of the Dive Travel Show in Madrid will be going to the country for an ocular inspection of underwater sites, to be featured on Buceadores magazine pocket guide on Philippines diving. ■ (PDOT London – April 2012)

Tourism Secretary Ramon R. Jimenez Jr (center) shares a toast with Ambassador Maria Cleofe Natividad (left), and DOT officials Assistant Secretary Domingo Enerio and Attache Venus Tan on the successful opening of the Philippine pavilion at this year’s Internationale Tourismus-Borse in Berlin.

Mayor of Berlin Klaus Wowereit (right) receives a book on the Philippines from Ambassador Natividad and DOT Secretary Jimenez.

DOT Secretary Jimenez and Ambassador Natividad flanked by the members of the Philippine delegation consisting of DOT officials, advertising consultants and representatives from 19 hotels, resorts, travel agents and tour operators.

“It’s More Fun in the Philippines” campaign rocks Berlin DEPARTMENT of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Ramon R. Jimenez, Jr. led the Philippine delegation in launching the “It’s More Fun in the Philippines” campaign in Berlin, Germany as part of the country’s participation in the Internationale Tourismus Borse (ITBBerlin) 2012, the world’s biggest travel fair. The Philippine delegation kicked off with a launch party last March 8, 2012 at the ultra trendy disco club Felix, to give more than 300 European travel trade and media representatives an experience of how it is indeed more fun in the Philippines. Party host Secretary Ramon R. Jimenez, Jr. was welcomed and introduced to the crowd by German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s body double-slashimpersonator. Home-grown world class talent was shared by Cebuano violinist Jake Gacang, a Filipino dance band based in Germany called Maloy’s

Band, and Grupo Tribale, a three-man Bacolod-based percussion band. The event also awarded the winner of the DOT-Frankfurt’s “It’s More Fun in the Philippines” meme-writing contest. Silvia Alander of First Reisseburo won a fun package to the Philippines sponsored by Annset Holidays, Blue Horizons Travel and Tours, the Manila Hotel, El Nido Resorts, Ambassador in Paradise and Amorita. The campaign highlights the most important tourist attraction the Philippines can offer, aside from its beautiful beaches and perfect weather – its people. The Filipino’s joyful disposition and love of life makes every vacation in the Philippines an unforgettable experience. In his opening speech, Secretary Jimenez said, “The fun is always greater than the problems that we face in travel and that it is also the core principle behind relativity which I

think is a German idea. The objective of tonight is to have more fun than anything else because tonight you’re going to have more of the Philippines than anything else. The only thing you could probably have more of is the vodka. Thank you very much for being here. This room is hereby declared as a piece of the Philippines.” Fans with Fun Philippines graphics served as giveaways to the happy European guests. The Philippines’ very own ‘Vuqo Vodka’ was the welcome drink. Special Philippine cocktails called ‘Philippine Fun Twist’ and ‘Manila Sunset Breeze’ were served throughout the evening, with Philippine memes and graphics shown on the multiple screens of restaurantbar Felix to create the Fun Philippines atmosphere, convincing even the non-tourism crowd that partying is so much more fun in the Philippines. ■ (DOT – March 13, 2012)

SPECIAL FEATURE

April 2012 – No. 7 / Fortnightly • UK & Europe Edition

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Philippine swordsmith has Hollywood touch Cecil Morella, AFP FILOMENO de Guzman does not know Sparta from medieval Scotland, but the Philippine swordsmith is an expert at replicating ancient warriors’ tools for killing each other. A stubby ex-military sergeant who has never set foot abroad, de Guzman and 15 rice farmerneighbours who moonlight as blacksmiths craft old truck leaf springs into things of terrible beauty. The business feeds an overseas market for replica swords of Roman gladiators, Greek infantry and Japanese samurais, as well as movie-inspired weapons from “Braveheart”, “Conan the Barbarian”, and “Rambo”. “Swords are enjoying a renaissance in Hollywood. That means the storied weapon remains popular, and that works in our favour,” de Guzman, 63, told AFP during a visit to his workshop in a farming area of the northern Philippines. De Guzman never went to university and confesses he does not know much about ancient

history, although he does enjoy learning from movies. “Hollywood, yes, I love Hollywood movies. I watched ‘Braveheart’, ‘Gladiator’, ‘Lord of the Rings’, ‘Conan the Barbarian’, ‘Rambo’, and ‘Samurai’, all on DVD,” he said. De Guzman’s unlikely export business had its origins in him deciding to quit the Philippine security forces in 1980 and taking free government lessons in metalworks. He began producing kitchen knives using a wood-fired forge in his backyard, set amid vast rice fields in the farming town of Pozorrubio, 180 kilometres (110 miles) north of Manila. “It’s a good, non-perishable product. All households need blacksmiths and their knives,” de Guzman explained of his career choice. However US soldiers deployed at two nearby US military bases soon noticed his craftsmanship and they also began commissioning him to make knives. Later on the soldiers started ordering swords and, as the demand for more elaborate

De Guzman describes his overseas clientele as medieval warfare and history buffs with a lot of disposable income.

designs grew, he started delving into books on ancient weaponry. When a friend took some of his swords to an exhibition in the United States in the 1990s, de Guzman was connected with an American

De Guzman’s workers are full-time farmers working part-time as swordsmiths.

The business feeds an overseas market for replica swords of Roman gladiators, Greek infantry and Japanese samurais.

A craftsman decorates the hilt of an Excalibur sword.

distributor and his international business was cemented. A few other Philippine smithies also craft swords for export, though de Guzman believes he is the biggest exporter. The majority of his work now caters for the overseas market, although he still makes some knives and machetes for local housewives and farmers. De Guzman describes his overseas clientele as medieval warfare and history buffs with a lot of disposable income. “I was told these are people who dress up with Renaissance costumes and bring swords to annual festivals,” he said. More than 100 models hang on pegs on his office wall, including copies of short Roman empire infantry swords and a massive broadsword like those used by Spartans against Persians in the Battle of Thermopylae in 480 B.C. De Guzman said he had sold more than 1,000 Excalibur swords from the Arthurian legend. He has also exported a similar number of the Sir William Wallace sword, popularised by the 1995 Mel Gibson “Braveheart” film of the 13th-century Scot who fought English rule. The two-handed sword, with a 73-centimetre (28-inch) long blade, weighs five kilogrammes (11 pounds) and sells for $600 abroad, according to de Guzman. While declining to talk in detail about how much money he had made exporting the weapons, de Guzman said his profession had allowed him to send his four children to university. His home is also clearly middle class, no small achievement in

the Philippines where roughly one quarter of the country’s 100 million people live on a dollar a day or less. De Guzman has also provided extra employment for his rice farming neighbours, who gather in his backyard in their basketball shorts and sandals to work the forge and mould metal when orders come in. “Like me, they are also unschooled. If there are orders we all work together, but since they are farmers, the crops get first priority and the shop orders just have to wait. My distributor understands,” he said. However lawyers in Hollywood have occasionally been less understanding of his profession. “I named one of my knives ‘Rambo III’,” de Guzman said of a 46-centimetre Bowie blade. “I got a letter from the Rambo producers, telling me, ‘Don’t use our name Rambo or we will sue you.’” Nevertheless, after renaming it ‘The Stallone’, after the movie’s star, there had been no more threatening letters. De Guzman also insists his popular “Braveheart” Wallace sword was not a movie rip-off, but made from specifications his distributor gave him of the original, which is stored at a museum in Scotland. After his distributor recently broke into Germany’s sword market, de Guzman is looking to explore more deeply the bloodsoaked history of medieval Europe. “I am already developing a prototype Teutonic great sword,” he said, referring to two-handed blades used by Germanic knights in the 11th-13th Century Crusades in Muslim lands. ■ (AFP - Pozorrubio, Philippines – February 11, 2012)

HELLO PHILIPPINES

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Social Issues

April 2012 – No. 7 / Fortnightly • UK & Europe Edition

Philippines to expand poverty alleviation scheme THE Philippines plans to expand a landmark poverty alleviation scheme that provides cash aid to the country’s poorest households to benefit nearly five million families, an official said Tuesday. Three million households currently benefit from the Conditional Cash Transfer programme, which provides monetary assistance to families under a number of conditions including that they keep their children in school. “We plan to continue to expand the programme until all 4.8 million families in the (poorest 20 percent of the population) are covered,” Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima said. The programme is seen as a key priority for President Benigno Aquino who has proposed to set aside 34.4 billion pesos ($800 million) for the project in the government’s 2012 budget.

The government office managing the cash transfer programme said it hopes to cover all 4.8 million target families by 2014. Over 26 percent of the Philippine population of about 95 million people are considered by the government to be living in poverty. Begun by the previous government, Aquino expanded the programme after he was elected in 2010, drawing from the experiences of other countries that have had success in reducing poverty through cash transfers. Describing Aquino’s views, Purisima said: “Education is the great equaliser for the poor.” The scheme will also help ensure that healthier, better-educated children will improve the work force in the future, Purisima added. ■ (AFP – Manila – March 27, 2012)

Homeless children sleep beside a frying pan at a street in Manila.

Cuts in aid putting lives Africa, Asia see rapid population growth to 2050: UN at risk warns Oxfam FACED with austerity budgets rich nations cut aid to developing countries by 2.7 percent last year, the OECD says, with aid group Oxfam warning this is putting lives at risk. The cut in development aid, the first for 14 years, looks likely to continue at a time when poor countries are already suffering from a slowdown in global economic activity, trade and investment, the OECD said. Last year, the 34 OECD members gave $133.5 billion (102.1 billion euros) in official development assistance, or 0.31 per cent of their combined national incomes, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development said in a report this week. The drop-off “is a source of great concern, coming at a time when developing countries have been hit by the knock-on effect of the crisis and need it most,” OECD secretary general Angel Gurria said. “Aid is only a fraction of total flows to low-income countries, but these hard economic times also mean lower investment and lower exports. “I commend the countries that are keeping their commitments in spite of tough fiscal consolidation plans. They show that the crisis should not be used as an excuse to reduce development cooperation contributions.” The largest donors in cash terms were the United States, Germany, Britain, France and Japan, the OECD report said. The OECD is a research body for advanced nations which it advises on policy in a wide range of activities. Relative to the size of their economies, Denmark, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden were the most generous, exceeding the United Nations’ aid target of 0.7

The largest donors in cash terms were the US, Germany, UK, France and Japan, the OECD report said.

percent of gross domestic product. The biggest cuts to aid were made by Austria, Belgium, Greece, Japan and Spain, the report said. Aid group Oxfam International said that the ability of some countries to meet their commitments and increase aid showed that cutting aid was “usually a political choice rather than an economic necessity”. Oxfam’s executive director Jeremy Hobbs said: “This cut in aid is a global scandal.” He commented: “Rich countries are using the economic crisis as an excuse to turn their backs on the world’s poorest at a time when they need help. “Cutting aid is no way to balance the books. Even small cuts in aid cost lives as people are denied life-saving medicines and clean water. “Aid is such a tiny part of budgets that cutting it has no discernible impact on deficits – it is like cutting your hair to lose weight.”

He added that countries including Spain, the Netherlands and Canada must reverse decisions they have made to cut back on future aid. “We also need rich countries like Italy, Japan and the US, who currently give only a tiny proportion of their incomes, to do more to help the poorest.” Until 2011, worldwide aid had been steadily increasing for more than a decade and reached its peak in 2010, said the OECD report. It warned that recession in some donor countries “severely squeezed their aid budgets and pressure may mount on other donors in the years ahead”. Looking ahead, the OECD said that global aid may rise somewhat this year, as money already in the pipeline is disbursed, before stagnating from next year onward as the full effects of the global downturn are felt. ■ (AFP – Paris, France – April 8, 2012)

AFRICA and Asia are the continents that will see the fastest urban population growth in the next 40 years, a UN report said Thursday, April 5, noting that India and China are leading the surge. The population of African cities will almost treble from 414 million now to more than 1.2 billion by 2050, while Asia will grow from 1.9 billion to 3.3 billion in that period, said the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs. When combined, Africa and Asia will represent 86 percent of the growth in the world’s urban population in the next 40 years, the “World Urbanization Prospects” report said. The report’s authors said such rapid population growth should open up new opportunities in education for Africans and Asians but it will also pose challenges in housing, employment, energy and the environment. The biggest rise in an urban population is expected to occur in

India, which is forecast to jump 497 million, followed by China (up 341 million), while Nigeria will see its numbers in cities rise around 200 million. India’s population, the world’s second biggest at 1.2 billion, is set to surpass China’s by 2025, according to separate data. The United States will likely see an urban population increase of 103 million by 2050, while the emerging Asian nation Indonesia will grow by around 92 million people, the UN report said Thursday. The authors also warned of dangers posed to such large population centers, noting that of 450 areas containing more than one million people (totaling 1.4 billion residents in 2011), 60 percent are situated in regions exposed to natural disasters, such as earthquakes and floods. Asia is the most exposed region for such climactic events, whereas Africa and Europe are least at risk, the report said. ■ (AFP – United Nations – April 5, 2012)

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Commuters pile onto a train from a busy platform during the rush hour in a Beijing underground station.

Environment

April 2012 – No. 7 / Fortnightly • UK & Europe Edition

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A hillslope of paddy fields in the mountainous region of Yuanyang, southwest China›s Yunnan province. ©AFP/File/Roberto Schmidt

A Kenyan woman turns on a tap at a water distribution site in the Kibera slum of Nairobi.

PRESSURES on Earth’s ecosystem are now so great that future generations could be doomed to falling living standards, the OECD said on Thursday, March 15 in a report looking to the mid-century. “Providing for a further two billion people by 2050 and improving the living standards for all will challenge our ability to manage and restore those natural assets on which all life depends,” it warned. “Failure to do so will have serious consequences, especially for the poor, and ultimately undermine the growth and human development of future generations.” The report by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) builds on previous peeks-into-the-future, ending in 2030, that focused on

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climate change, biodiversity and the impacts on health for pollution. “The prospects are more alarming than the situation described in the previous edition,” it said, speaking of “irreversible changes that could endanger two centuries of rising living standards.” The report made these points: • CLIMATE CHANGE: Carbon emissions from energy use are likely to rise by 70 percent by 2050, “locking in” more disruptive climate change. On present trends, the world’s average temperature will be 3-6 degrees Celsius (5.4-10.8 degrees Fahrenheit) higher than in pre-industrial times, compared with the UN’s target of 2 C (3.6 F). To reach the 2 C (3.6 F) goal would cost only 0.2 percentage points in economic growth each year on

A green Gecko walks on a palm at Vallee de Mai nature reserve on Praslin island in the Seychelles.

average if starting today. “This pales alongside the potential cost of inaction, which could be as high as 14 percent of average world consumption according to some estimates,” the OECD warned. In fact, previous estimates of the cost of climate action may be too high, as they fail to take into account its benefits in job creation and new technology, it said. • BIODIVERSITY: Species loss is set to continue, especially in Asia, Europe and southern Africa. According to a scientific benchmark called mean species abundance, diversity of land species is expected to fall by 10 percent by 2050 compared with today. Already about a third of freshwater species diversity has been lost. “The current trend of declining

biodiversity presents a threat to human welfare, and will be very costly,” said the report. “The aggregate loss of biodiversity and ecosystem service benefits associated with the global loss of forests, for example, is estimated to be between $2 trillion and $5 trillion per year.” • HEALTH: No country will be spared worsening problems of air pollution, according to the OECD’s scenarios. Levels in some cities, particularly in Asia, already far exceed World Health Organisation (WHO) safety limits. “With growing transport and industrial air emissions, the global number of premature deaths linked to airborne particulate matter is protected to double to 3.6 million a year, with most deaths occurring in China and India,” it said.

But rich countries, too, will be hit. Ground-level ozone – a respiratory irritant caused by the reaction of traffic fumes with sunlight – will be a danger to their ageing, highly urbanised populations. The report, OECD Environmental Outlook to 2050, reissued appeals for a change in policy. Pollution should be made more expensive, such as by scrapping environmentally-damaging subsidies for fossil fuels, it said. And natural assets should carry a monetary value that is factored into pricing, so that their true worth is appreciated. “Progress on an incremental, piecemeal, business-as-usual basis in the coming decades will not be enough,” it said. ■ (AFP – Paris, France – March 15, 2012)

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Fog or smog? Vittorio Hernandez ON December 5, 2011, residents of Metro Manila woke up with thick cloud-like air enveloping the national capital region. Ordinarily, it would have been attributed to the cold December weather which causes fog to develop. However, fog is associated with high places such as Baguio and Tagaytay City, not lowlands like Metro Manila. Weather forecasters explained that fog would cover lowlands if there are more trees such as the provinces of Rizal and Bulacan. As a result, Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific cancelled several flights because visibility was down from one to three kilometers which is lower than the five kilometers required by law, according to airport authorities. Weather experts attributed the smog to pollution which was worsened because of several days of continuous heavy rains in the national capital region (NCR). Science Undersecretary Graciano Yumul confirmed that Metro Manila experienced smog, which is the result of combination of moisture, pollutants and smoke which typically happens in urban cities. His statement is not surprising since data from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources showed that total suspended particulates (TSP) – a measure of air pollution – in Metro Manila went up to 163 microgrammes per normal cubic metres in 2010 from 134 microgrammes in 2009. It is 48 per cent higher than the normal standard of 90 microgrammes one-year average standard set by the World Health Organisation. Smog is actually not new to Metro Manila residents. In July 3, 2010, 38 domestic and international flights were diverted to other gateways as

thick smog enveloped Metro Manila. The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines explained the smog that day to trapped surface air which was thick with smoke, moisture and pollution caused by a high-pressure weather system that restricted air movement for seven hours. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) advised Metro Manila residents, especially the elderly, not to exercise outdoors in the morning to avoid exposure to smog. Pagasa recommended that they exercise instead in the afternoon when smog has yet to form and pollution from cars and factories are still high in the sky. However, if smog was already experienced on the first week of December, environmental groups warned Metro Manila residents to brace themselves for worst days ahead since the year-end is when TSP levels could even rise further. The EcoWaste Coalition explained that phenomenon to the Filipino practice of lighting up firecrackers and other pyrotechnics. The coalition cited the 369 microgrammes TSP level on December 28, 2009 at the Taft Avenue-EDSA area, which even worsened to 396 microgrammes on January 4, 2010. Health experts have warned that fine particles in the air could enter the upper respiratory tract and be deposited deep in a person’s lungs. Those at high risk are children, seniors and people with heart and lung ailments. According to a 2009 World Bank study, more than 1.5 million Filipinos, particularly residents of Metro Manila, suffer from different forms of respiratory ailments. Air pollutionrelated ailments cost is estimated a P1 billion, productivity losses placed at P502 million, personal costs for disease treatment. ■

Environment

April 2012 – No. 7 / Fortnightly • UK & Europe Edition

On an ordinary morning, this is the view of smog in Metro Manila. Shot is a view of Roxas Boulevard taken from a Makati condo.

The photos were taken late in the morning and thick smog still blankets the metropolis.

April 2012 – No. 7 / Fortnightly • UK & Europe Edition

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Mike Enriquez renews exclusive contract with GMA Network TOPNOTCH broadcast journalist Mike Enriquez recently renewed his exclusive contract with broadcast company GMA Network. Enriquez anchors the Network’s banner newscast 24 Oras and hosts the weekend primetime public affairs show Imbestigador on GMA Channel 7. He

also anchors the weekday early morning radio program Saksi sa Dobol B that is simulcast over GMA’s flagship AM radio station DZBB 594 khz and the Network’s all-news channel GMA News TV Channel 11. Enriquez serves as GMA Consultant for Radio Operations and President for RGMA Network, Inc. ■

One Direction are in Australia for a promotional tour and a one-off performance at this year›s Logie Awards. (From left) GMA President and COO Gilberto R. Duavit, Jr., Enriquez, GMA Chairman and CEO Atty. Felipe L. Gozon, and GMA EVP and Chief Financial Officer Felipe S. Yalong during the contract signing ceremony held recently at the GMA Network Center in Quezon City.

GMA Network’s 24-Oras finalist in the 2012 Monte-Carlo Television Festival

The five-member boy band One Direction was discovered on British television programme “The X Factor”.

Down under teens mob One Direction THOUSANDS of hysterical teenage girls mobbed a central Sydney television studio Wednesday for a glimpse of BritishIrish boy band One Direction, with some sleeping on the streets overnight to be first in. The five-member outfit, whose talents were discovered on British television programme “The X Factor”, have drawn wild crowds since touching down in Sydney for their first Australian tour. Devoted fans have followed their every movement, tailing their black security vans across Sydney for press engagements in the hope of catching a glimpse of their idols, aged between 18 and 21. Hundreds of fans braved an overnight cold snap to camp in the city’s central Martin Place plaza for front-row positions outside the

windows of the Seven television network where the band was due to appear. The crowd swelled to thousands through the morning, with girls sprinting from buses and train stations across town. Security fences were erected to keep fans at a safe distance and a row of police officers stood with linked arms to hold the screaming mass at bay. “I feel so sick, I was like a metre (yard) from them,” Felicity Powell, 16, told the Daily Telegraph. Another fan was prepared to take a stun gun for her idols, declaring: “I’ll do anything to see them, I’d even get tasered for this. I don’t care, I just have to see them.” Bemused office workers stopped to watch the colourful teenaged crowd, clad in a mix of pyjamas

and homemade fan T-shirts. Some waved signs proclaiming “Australia Loves 1D” and asking the band to marry them. Several girls were so overcome with excitement when the group arrived on set that they fainted and needed to be lifted out of the crowd for first-aid treatment, according to media reports. “This is mental, it’s absolutely incredible and we can’t believe it,” band member Liam Payne said of the crowds outside the studio. One Direction comprise four young Britons and an Irishman. Their first album made its debut at number one on the US charts last month – a feat never before achieved by a British band. It had earlier charted at number two in Britain. ■ (AFP – Sydney, Australia – April

11, 2012)

GMA NETWORK – After its nine nominations in the highly prestigious 2012 New York Festivals early this year, the Philippine’s most awarded and most credible broadcast news organization, GMA News and Public Affairs, is at it again. This time, it is the Network’s flagship primetime newscast 24 Oras that has earned the nod after being nominated in the News Competition for the 24-Hours News Program category in the esteemed 52nd Monte-Carlo Television Festival. GMA Network’s 24 Oras is the only nominee from the Philippines and one of only two nominees from Asia for the said category, the other one being from Qatar. It will also be competing against internationally recognized news organizations such as CNN, BBC, and Al Jazeera. Anchored by the formidable tandem of GMA News pillars Mel Tiangco and Mike Enriquez, 24 Oras was nominated for its top notch coverage of the devastation brought by Typhoon Pedring (international name Nesat) in late September of last year. In its coverage, 24 Oras provided an extensive, no-nonsense scope of the disaster with gripping images of a capital buffeted by strong winds that triggered a storm surge in Manila Bay. Waves as high as coconut trees lashed Roxas Boulevard and practically

destroyed the Baywalk Area. The rising waters of Manila Bay also flooded the US Embassy and even inundated a fivestar hotel. But 24 Oras went beyond Metro Manila and into the center of every calamity-stricken area, from Northern Luzon to the Bicol region, through GMA News and Public Affair’s team of ace reporters. Going beyond the usual reportage, 24 Oras served as a medium to extend help to the areas most devastated by the typhoon. Advisories about class suspensions and updates on the movement of the typhoon were also constantly given to viewers to avoid further damages and casualties. More importantly, the newscast showcased how the Pinoy prevails in the face of adversity. The Monte-Carlo Festival, which was established by Prince Rainier III of Monaco in 1961 “to encourage a new art form, in the service of peace and understanding between men,” is considered as one of the most distinguished international award-giving bodies today. The 52nd Monte-Carlo Television Festival Awards Ceremony is slated on June 10 – 14, 2012 at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco. 24 Oras is seen worldwide via GMA Network’s flagship international channel, GMA Pinoy TV. ■

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Celebrity, Showbiz & Entertainment

April 2012 – No. 7 / Fortnightly • UK & Europe Edition

Beh Lih Yi, AFP CHINA’S booming movie industry is attracting interest from Hollywood heavyweights, as they chase bigger box-office returns to offset tighter margins at home. Films with Asian and especially Chinese themes are becoming more prominent after Hollywood hit a 16-year low in movie tickets sales last year, while some of its biggest studios are setting up shop in the country. DreamWorks Animation is setting up a China base while Legendary, the studio behind Christopher Nolan’s wildly successful “Batman” series as well as “Clash of the Titans” and “The Hangover” franchises, is also developing a venture. Keanu Reeves is making his directorial debut with “Man of Tai Chi” which is currently filming in China and Hong Kong, while Aamir Khan’s Bollywood comedy drama “3 Idiots” is in talks for a Hollywood remake. “It’s a hugely interesting time now,” said executive producer Tracey Trench, whose projects have included “Just Married” and “Ever After”. “The United States is still the biggest market. Within the next 10 years, we are not going to be the biggest market place, everything is going to change,” she told a forum at the Hong Kong International Film and Television Market (FILMART) in March. China’s rapidly expanding film industry continues to break new ground and set new records, collecting an estimated 13.1 billion yuan ($2.07 billion) in 2011 – up by around 30 percent on-year. Around 2,500 more cinema screens are expected to be unveiled across the country this year, with its market now the

©AFP Graphic

Chart showing the growth of box office takings outside of the United States.

third largest behind Japan and the United States. This compares with a clear slowdown in North America. The Motion Picture Association (MPA) says box office takings from 2007 to 2011 in the United States and Canada grew only 6.3 percent to $10.2 billion, while the Asia-Pacific region saw 38-percent growth to $9 billion. Zhang Yimou’s “The Flowers of War” was China’s biggest box office smash of the past 12 months, starring Oscar-winning American actor Christian Bale. It collected around $90 million from the Chinese box office while picking up a nomination for best foreign language film at the prestigious Golden Globes in the United States. It comes as Hollywood looks to increasingly give a Chinese angle to its output. “There are so many stories that you can tell and right now China is hot, so many people want to know more,” said screenwriter Glenn Berger, who wrote the popular 2008 animated Hollywood comedy “Kung Fu Panda” and its 2011 sequel.

Australian singer and TV personality Dannii Minogue and Kris Smith have split.

A box-office hit in China, the film told the story of Po, an oversize and unfit panda who dreams of becoming a martial arts hero. But Berger said the movie was never really about China or kung fu. “We were just trying to tell a classic underdog story, not particularly a Chinese story,” he said of the film. “But it was very well received in the Chinese market because they thought it was very respectful of Chinese culture,” he said. Kung Fu Panda raked in an estimated $630 million, with $26 million from the Chinese mainland alone. Hong Kong’s FILMART exhibition is Asia’s major entertainment industry market and one of the top three events of its kind in the world. This year it attracted a record 648 exhibitors and more than 5,700 buyers, up 14 percent from last year. The US pavilion had over 40 US exhibitors, or about 25 percent more than last year. Industry veterans say Chinese audiences are particularly drawn to movies that include Chinese

China’s booming movie industry is attracting interest from Hollywood heavyweights.

references or elements of Chinese culture. “People want to feel connected,” said Chinese American writer Rita Hsiao, who wrote the screenplay for “Toy Story 2” and 1998 animated musical “Mulan”, a story about a legendary Chinese girl-warrior. “If you have that universal message and it’s interesting, everybody everywhere can connect with it,” she said. One of the main obstacles for foreign filmmakers wanting

to crack the Chinese market is a law limiting the number of international films that can be screened in the country to just 20 a year. It forces studios to co-produce films with Chinese partners or risk having their films blocked at the border. But all the pandas in the world won’t guarantee a hit in China. “It has to succeed on all the fundamentals of a movie, not just because it is shot in China,” Berger said. ■ (AFP – Hong Kong – April 8, 2012)

Australian star Dannii Minogue splits with partner AUSTRALIAN singer and TV personality Dannii Minogue said Wednesday, April 4 she had split from partner Kris Smith, a former British rugby league player and father of her baby son. “It brings me great sadness to tell you that Kris & I have separated,” the younger sister of pop star Kylie Minogue tweeted. “We still care for each other and ask for privacy at this difficult time, in particular for our son Ethan who remains our number one priority.” The former “X Factor” judge

later posted: “Hi Tweet peeps. Needing to retreat for a while. Thank you for your ever loving continued support.” Minogue, 40, met Smith, now a model, on the party island Ibiza in 2008. The couple, whose son Ethan arrived in July 2010, spent their time between London and Melbourne, where Minogue recently launched a fashion label and is a judge on “Australia’s Got Talent”. Smith, 33, also commented on

the break-up on Twitter. “Dannii and I have a deep mutual love and respect for each other and although things have not worked out we have a gorgeous son together that we both love and implore everyone to respect our privacy at this challenging time,” he said. Minogue was once briefly married to Australian actor Julian McMahon and had been engaged to Formula 1 driver Jacques Villeneuve. ■ (AFP – Sydney, Australia – April 4, 2012)

April 2012 – No. 7 / Fortnightly • UK & Europe Edition

Celebrity, Showbiz & Entertainment

‘Brangelina’ to be officially married HOLLYWOOD’S hottest couple has made it official, with Brad Pitt proposing to Angelina Jolie after six children and years of unwedded bliss, a spokeswoman said. “Yes, it’s confirmed,” Pitt’s manager Cynthia Pett-Dante told People magazine. “It is a promise for the future and their kids are very happy.” She said no date had been set at this time, and there was no word of the wedding’s location. The news put an end to months of speculation about the couple and their plans to marry. Jeweler Robert Procop designed Jolie’s engagement ring in collaboration with Pitt, and confirmed the news. The famous Beverly Hills jeweler, who has designed an entire collection inspired by Jolie, worked on the ring for a year. Pitt “wanted every aspect of it to be perfect, so Robert was able to locate a diamond of the finest quality and cut it to an exact custom size and shape to suite Angelina’s hand,” the jeweler said in a statement. “Brad was always heavily involved, overseeing every aspect of the creative design evolution... The side diamonds are specially cut to encircle her finger. Each diamond is of the highest gem quality.” Pitt, 48, and Jolie, 36, became close on the set of 2005 film “Mr.

and Mrs. Smith.” They have three biological children together and adopted three others, and Pitt apparently caved after pressure from the kids. “We’d actually like to,” Pitt said of making Jolie his wife, “and it seems to mean more and more to our kids.” “We made this declaration some time ago that we weren’t going to do it till everyone can,” he added in a January interview with The Hollywood Reporter, in a reference to the legalization of gay marriage. “But I don’t think we’ll be able to hold out. It means so much to my kids, and they ask a lot. And it means something to me, too, to make that kind of commitment.” Jolie had also stoked the media firestorm when she told ABC News in December that “the kids asked me the other day, and I asked them if it was just because they wanted to have a big cake.” “I explained to them that our commitment, when we decided to start a family, is the greatest commitment you can possible have. Once you have six children, you’re committed,” she added. Last year was very busy for Jolie, with the release of “In the Land of Blood and Honey,” a Bosnian War tell that marked her directorial debut. And Pitt has taken a pause from the frenetic pace of his film career to spend a bit more time with Jolie and

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their children. “It’s family first. This year, I needed to spend more time with my family so I spent more quiet time developing stuff,” he told AFP in February. Earlier this year, Jolie raised eyebrows, and probably temperatures, by exposing a thigh in a gown with a full-length slit while presenting one of the Oscars show in Hollywood. Within less than an hour someone had created @AngiesRightLeg – subhead: “I am Angelina Jolie’s right leg” – and by morning the Twitter feed had more than 15,500 followers. Jolie’s directorial debut was a love story set in the Bosnian war. It tells the story of a Muslim woman and a Serbian man who have a fling before the war and meet again when she has been taken prisoner by a Bosnian Serb army unit commanded by her former lover. This week it was announced that Jolie will play Maleficent, the villain from Sleeping Beauty, in a film due out in 2014. Pitt was nominated for Oscars for last year’s Moneyball, a story about baseball and money. He is to star in 2013 in “Twelve Years a Slave,” about a man kidnapped in New York in the 19th century and sold into slavery in the Deep South. ■ (AFP – Los Angeles,

Pitt said earlier making Jolie his wife, “seems to mean more and more to our kids”.

USA – April 14, 2012)

Pitt, 48, and Jolie, 36, became close on the set of 2005 film “Mr. and Mrs. Smith”.

Pacific atoll goes gaga for pop diva THE tiny Pacific atoll of Niue is attempting to lure US pop superstar Lady Gaga to its shores by pledging every single person from the island will attend if she performs there. The island, about 2,500 kilometers (1,500 miles) northeast of New Zealand, has about 1,600 inhabitants and Niue Tourism spokesman Mike Hogan said they were all keen to see a concert by the chart-topping diva.

“It’s not a promise many places could make, every person coming along,” Auckland-based Hogan told AFP. “She’s really struck a chord with the kids on the island. She’s so unusual and she thinks outside the box. So we thought we’d think outside the box and invite her here.” The hope is that Lady Gaga will add an appearance in Niue after

The tiny Pacific atoll of Niue is attempting to lure US pop superstar Lady Gaga to its shores.

performing concerts in New Zealand in June. Hogan said Niue would be thrilled to pamper the singer at one of its resorts if she did make the trip. “We’d reserve a whole wing for her, of course,” he said. “There’s only one flight a week from New Zealand but I presume she’d have her own jet, so she could stay as long as she liked.” Known locally as “The Rock”, Niue was settled by Polynesian seafarers more than 1,000 years ago and the palm-dotted island’s name in the local language means “behold, the coconut”. The British explorer captain James Cook tried to land there three times in 1774 but was deterred by fearsome warriors, eventually giving up to set sail for more welcoming shores and naming Niue “Savage Island” on his charts. Modern day Niueans are desperate for visitors, with the population dropping from a high of about 5,000 in the mid-1960s as people seek better economic opportunities in places such as New Zealand and Australia. ■ (AFP – Wellington – April 10, 2012)

©AFP Graphic

Map locating the Pacific island of Niue.10/04/2012 04h38 GMTMap locating the Pacific island of Niue. Known locally as “The Rock”, Niue was settled by Polynesian seafarers more than 1,000 years ago and the palm-dotted island’s name in the local language means “behold, the coconut”.

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Celebrity, Showbiz & Entertainment

April 2012 – No. 7 / Fortnightly • UK & Europe Edition

Houston drowned in bath after possible overdose: Coroner Michael Thurston, AFP GRAMMY-winning pop legend Whitney Houston may have overdosed on drugs and alcohol before drowning face-down in her bathtub, coroners said in a new report, giving grisly details of her February death. The 42-page coroner’s report gave more details than an initial report released last month, which concluded that the Grammy-winning singer died from accidental drowning after taking cocaine, possibly triggering a heart attack. “The decedent possibly overdosed on a narcotic substance, prescription medications, overthe-counter medications, and alcohol,” said the full report released Wednesday, April 5 from the Los Angeles County Coroner’s office. It added there were no signs of foul play in the 48-year-old’s death. It cited the star’s personal assistant as having found her lifeless in her Beverly Hilton hotel room on February 11, hours before a starstudded party on the eve of the music industry’s annual Grammys awards show. “The personal assistant... went into the bathroom, and she found the decedent lying face down in the bathtub, unresponsive... The bathtub was filled with water, and there was water on the bathroom floor,” it said. The report said a substance – which was later determined to be cocaine – was found in the bedroom. “Located on the south portion of the counter was a small spoon with a

white crystal-like substance in it and a rolled up piece of white paper,” it said. Various bottles were found in the hotel room – in all some 12 medications prescribed by five different doctors, including anxiety treatment Xanax and the potent corticosteroid Prednisone, the report said. It described in gruesome detail the scene when investigators arrived, after the body had been taken out of the bathtub and placed on the bedroom floor – where the carpet was soaked from water overflowing from the tub. Efforts to re-start her heart had apparently already been made, the report said, adding there was “a defibrillator patch on the upper right side of her chest and there was another defibrillator patch on the left central portion of her torso.” Houston’s sudden death cast a pall over the annual gathering at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, with several tributes to the singer – and a public prayer – added to the show at the last minute. The singer of hits such as “I Will Always Love You” sold more than 170 million records during a nearly threedecade career, but also fought a long battle against substance abuse while trying to keep her performing talent alive. It emerged that Houston had left all of her assets to her daughter Bobbi Kristina, who is currently 19 born from her troubled marriage to singer Bobby Brown, who gets nothing. She will inherit the proceeds

Whitney Houston died from accidental drowning and the effects of cocaine use and heart disease, coroner says.

Bobbi Kristina has said she plans to follow her mother into show business.

The 48-year-old was found lying face down in her bathtub.

Whitney Houston was found dead on February 11, a day before the music industry›s biggest awards show, the Grammys.

from all of the late singer’s money, furniture, clothing, personal effects, jewelry, and cars, according to the will published on March 7. A few days later Bobbi Kristina said she plans to follow her mother into show business.

Houston’s sister-in-law, Patricia Houston, claimed the star’s untimely death could have been predicted. “The handwriting was kind of on the wall. I would be kidding myself to say otherwise,” she told TV talk show queen Oprah Winfrey.

Bee Gees singer Robin Gibb in coma

The work, recorded with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, took more than two years to complete. Gibb had been due to perform in person the song “Don’t Cry Alone” at the premiere, staged at the Central Hall Westminster in London. “The one place he really wanted to be in two and a half years he couldn’t be and it was heartbreaking,” his son RJ Gibb told BBC television on Thursday. “He’s still in hospital. He’s fighting a lung infection. As a lot of people who’ve had family members or friends who have been through a cancer bout know, there are a lot of periphery problems afterwards that you have to deal with. “He will have to keep scrutiny on this for his entire life and, God willing and we’re all praying for him, he comes through and makes a speedy recovery.” Actor Leslie Phillips, 87, a close friend of the singer, was returning

Robin Millard, AFP ROBIN Gibb, singer with the legendary British band the Bee Gees, was in a coma in hospital Sunday, April 15 after contracting pneumonia in his battle against cancer. “Sadly the reports are true that Robin has contracted pneumonia and is in a coma. We are all hoping and praying that he will pull through,” said a brief statement on RobinGibb. com. British media reported Sunday that the 62-year-old was at a private hospital in Chelsea, west London, where wife Dwina, his three children and brother Barry – also of the group -- were keeping a bedside vigil. Gibb, part of one of the biggestselling groups of all time, had bowel surgery 18 months ago for an unrelated condition but a tumour was found and he was diagnosed

Media reported his wife Dwina, his three children and brother Barry were keeping a bedside vigil.

with cancer of the colon and the liver. Back in February, Gibb said he had made a “spectacular” recovery from his treatment, sparking hopes that his cancer was in remission, but he has since experienced a sharp deterioration.

Gibb was too ill to attend Tuesday’s premiere of his first classical work, “The Titanic Requiem”, composed with his son Robin-John Gibb to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the luxury liner on April 15, 1912.

Houston was buried a week after her death in New Jersey after an emotional farewell ceremony in the Newark baptist church where she sang as a child, which was watched worldwide. ■ (AFP – Los Angeles, USA – April 5, 2012)

from a holiday in Spain to visit Gibb, newspapers said. “It saddens me deeply -- poor Robin has taken a serious turn for the worse. I feel very sad if it is true that he has only days to live,” he was quoted as saying in The Sun newspaper. The Bee Gee underwent surgery for an ongoing problem with a twisted intestine in 2010. The same hereditary condition led to the death of his twin brother Maurice at the age of 53 in 2003, while younger brother Andy died in 1988 following a battle against cocaine addiction. Barry, Maurice and Robin Gibb scaled the heights of the pop world in the 1970s with disco hits including “How Deep Is Your Love”, “Stayin’ Alive”, and “Night Fever”. The band notched up record sales of more than 200 million since their first hits in the the 1960s. ■ (AFP – London, United Kingdom – April 15, 2012)

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Sports

BOXING

April 2012 – No. 7 / Fortnightly • UK & Europe Edition

2 Bronze Medals for Pinay Boxers

FLYWEIGHT division boxer of PLDT-Abap national team, Alice Kate Aparri, is a three-time SEA games gold medallist and a bronze medallist in the World Championships. The 27year old graduate of University of Baguio, however, has no intention of stopping and has recently added another award to her growing collection from the 6th Asian Women’s Boxing Championships in Ulaanbatar, Mongolia. Aparri completely dominated the fight against Chinese-Taipei’s Pin Mengchieh with an end score of 15-5 putting her in a 2-0 lead on March

BOXING

22. Aparri sadly had to bow down to the 5-time world titlist, Indian Mary Kom, for the fourth time (216). In the end, both Alice Kate Aparri and Nesthy Petecio, won bronze medals for their respective divisions. Petecio, on the other hand, lost in the bantamweight division against her bout to China’s Keija Luo (105). The Filipino delegates came directly from a training camp in Muaklek, Thailand. Prior to that, the team also had training sessions and a dual meet with their Sri Lankan counterparts in Manila and Tagbilaran City. ■

Pacquiao agrees to smaller guaranteed purse SKATING Filipino-American skater bags top 21 spot in 2012 World Figure Skating Championships INQUIRER Sports Philippines reports that the 8-division boxing champion, Manny Pacquiao, is likely to settle for a smaller guaranteed purse just to make sure that a fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr. becomes a reality. Pacquiao ignored Mayweather’s former negotiation offer of $40 million with no PPV share with a counter offer of 45-45 sharing with the remaining 10 percent going to

the winner of the fight. However, Pacquiao still insists that the payper-view of a 50-50 split. Pacquiao expressed that he is willing to go up against the American fighter with at least $50 million at stake for the end winner. There also have been reports that the reluctancy of Mayweather comes from the possibility of a career-ending loss for him while Pacquiao can fall back to his congressman duties. ■

AFTER finishing at 12th place in 2012 Four Continents Figure Skating Championships in Colorado Springs held last month, the farthest any Filipino skater has gone in the international competition, Filipino-American Christopher Caluza secures the 8th spot among 27 skaters in the recent Men’s Qualifying Round of the 2012 World Figure Skating Championships in Nice, France. The top 12 then joined the world’s top 18 in the men’s short and long program last March 30 and 31. The finals was held on the first of April and Caluza went on to amass a total of 184.10 points and place as top 21 among the 24 who advanced to Free Skating. It was only last year that Caluza went home to the Philippines to compete at the Philippine National Championships in order to represent the country and only after a year, he has exceptionally done so. ■

SWIMMING

Johansen Aguilar: Super Student and Super Swimmer Being a student-athlete is very difficult but Johansen Aguilar makes it look like a piece of cake. Seven individual gold medals in the UAAP, a Philippine record in the 26th Southeast Asian Games, and being an honor student are all in a day’s work for the 19-year-old DLSU Applied Economics and Applied Corporate Management student. Aguilar shares that there is no secret aside from mere discipline and good time management. Aguilar does not deny the fact that it can be very difficult especially when training and academics overlap. The SEA games required him to be out for almost a month and with DLSU’s 3-month term, coping and catching up was struggle when he came back. It was all worth it because he didn’t only set a new record of 27.29 seconds last November in Indonesia but he also ended up in the Dean’s List. His goals are sky-high, of course, and he is setting his sights at the most prestigious sporting event in the world. “I want to achieve more on my career. After this [the UAAP], I will still continue swimming. Since I can’t be in the 2012 London Olympics, Let’s see what happens in 2016. Of course, all athletes want to reach the Olympics,” he says in a report with the Philippine Daily Inquirer. ■

CYCLING

Johansen Benedict Aguilar was hailed Athlete of the year with 2 others of the UAAP Season 74.

Alice Kate Aparri claims gold in Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) Boxing on November 2011.

Le Tour de Filipinas in full swing

30 local riders and another foreign 85 will be gathering from April 14 to 17 for the Le Tour de Filipinas. The cycling event is only on its third year and Veteran Tour campaigner Santy Barnachea and Irish Valenzuela will be leading the pack. The tour costs up to $16,540 and it will have stops in the Philippines’ top tourist destinations Sta. Ana and Tuguegarao in Cagayan and in Nueva Ecija finally finishing in the Summer Capital of the country, Baguio City. Abraham Tolentino, the Integrated Cycling Federation of the Philippines president happily announced that Le Tour de Filipinas is sanctioned by the UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale) and thus, the event is listed in the calendar of UCI activities. This recognition has also been a leeway for the Philippines to be part of the 23rd Asian Cycling Championships,

first Asian Under-23, and 19th Asian juniors. The said events will be held in the next few months around the region and tour route includes the passing of the eastern side of Luzon and never-before-tried routes in Region 2 that covers 502 kilometers

of hilly country roads. Iran is still the biggest competitor in Le Tour de Filipinas but the local teams seem very promising as they are part of last year’s local squad whom placed third, Smart, Go21, LPGA/American Vinyl, Mail and More, Kia and Jinbei. ■

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