April 2015 'B' issue

Celeb Scoop page 28

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Connecting Global News & Views For The Community

UK & Europe Edition

April March2015 2015/ Fortnightly / Fortnightly

Volume Volume66- -Number Number86

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LISA MACUJA DERIVES PLEASURE FROM MENTORING ASPIRING BALLERINAS

Manny Pacquiao, trainer Freddie Roach confident against ‘best fighter in the world’ Mayweather

President Bongbong Marcos?

Pnoy says: ‘I don’t think that will happen - for obvious reasons’ Story on page 12

oach, too, was confident during FILIPINO boxing icon Manny Pacquiao remained humble during the press conference although he did the press conference for his megabout acknowledge Mayweather, calling him the best fighter in the world”. with undefeated American Floyd I’d really li e to than all the Mayweather on Wednesday in Los Angeles, pointing to God for his people who made this fight happen. meteoric rise in the sport but some of I love challenges. This is the biggest his confidence shone through while challenge of my life. It’s finally here. It’s answering questions about the fight finally in front of me. I’ve been loo ing forward to this for a long, long time,” itself.

“The most important thing is the the trainer said.

I’m going to get my fighter as ready ord will be glorified. I want to let people know that there is a God that as possible. We are in the toughest can raise someone from nothing into fight of our life. e’re fighting the best fighter in the world and we’re going to something,” Pacquiao said.

After addressing the crowd, kick his ass.”

Pacquiao also praised Roach during though, Pacquiao was asked about his opponent’s best attributes in the ring the event, spea ing glowingly about Lisa Macuja teaches a male student at the School of Ballet Manila. their partnership. and he didn’t seem too concerned about Our team, we have loyaltythe in each skill of the Mayweather. chool of Ballet Manila, only of unbeaten the th anniversary EVEN though it has been four thestaging becauseballet we’veschool been wor ing e has of a good butthe I’mdance not other Philippine directly Balletdefense Manila, years since she officially retired from concert said. ■ about he insaid. .I can (together) associatedsince with2001,” the he aganova company shethat,” founded performing, prima ballerina isa worried 12, 2015 /Ballet 6:59 AM in t.

Academy /ofMarchussian es, that I getdefense.” requests to perform InterAksyon.com Macuja-Eli alde remains very much easily break involved in the art of dance that has again and I am greatly touched by the Petersburg, ussia.

It’s the basic pleasure of being become her way of life since her very people who want to see me onstage first ballet recital at the tender age of . again. Maybe one day, od and my able to teach something that you now, and love, and are passionate o I miss performing Of course, body willing, I will perform again I do. I miss dancing. It has been a part but not right now as I am still healing about, and able to share with your students. It’s a thrill just watching of my life for more than years so from hip surgery.” isa admitted that despite such them get stronger as dancers yes, I miss it. hat I do when I feel li e dancing again is I do, but in a clamor for her to come out of everyday, watching them get more the studio by myself. ot anymore retirement, much of her time and confident, grow as learners and as in front of an audience,” isa told energy is now devoted to mentoring performers,” she exclaimed.

Story on InterA syon following the successful future ballerinas as directress of the Continue to page page2828

From Ruffa to Megan: 7 showbiz stars who became beauty queens

2

BUSINESS & FINANCE

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April 2015 / Fortnightly – No. 8 • UK & Europe Edition

Q&A Bloomberg says Philippines ripe for first business news channel name is on the channel, which means that it is absolutely paramount that we protect it with everything that we have and make it the best in class in the market we are in.

(EDITOR’S NOTE: Cignal and Bloomberg TV last month announced their tie-up for a Philippine edition of Bloomberg, the U.S.-based financial information provider’s fifth such joint venture in Asia. InterAksyon. com sat down with Bloomberg Media Asia Pacific managing director Parry Ravindranathan to talk about the partnership.)

Q: Can we talk about the production side? How has new media changed the news cycle?

A: I can talk only globally because it

Q: Why is now the right time to have a business news channel in the Philippines?

A: My question is the other way

around. Why isn’t it the right time?

Because in my view, this is absolutely the right time for a company like us, which is Bloomberg Television, to have a local iteration. Because the Philippines right now is at a growth curve, the growth momentum is with it, it’s growing enormously at a fast rate with some great initiatives. It’s one of the fastest-growing economies in Asia and when things are growing so quickly, that’s when businesses grow and we want to be able to enter when businesses are growing and establishing themselves, and being able to tell that story of growth. So it could not be at a better time, in my view.

And I think, being able to come here and establish a world-class business television network and being able to create a market of its own sounds very, very exciting to us. And also kind of builds a new business television culture in a way that we want to be part of, and we want to be ahead of everyone in. It’s perfect timing.

Bloomberg Media Asia managing director Parry Ravindranathan (left) with TV5 president Emmanuel Lorenzana and Cignal chief operating officer Oscar Reyes Jr. Photo by Bernard Testa

ever been. We want to make business accessible to anyone who’s never seen business before and get interested in business. At two levels: we want to be able to get – and it’s not just youth but everyone – you’ve got to cast them young, to be interested in business, entrepreneurship, anything to do with aspiration, and understanding the world of money, world of business.

That in some sense will, I think, hugely benefit you, if you’re just out of business school. It’s a point of conversation, it gets you a little bit more attuned with what’s happening in business all over the world, as well as the Philippines, and get you immersed in the business world, which has now become inescapable, I think.

Q: Does this involve going digital?

Will Bloomberg TV Philippines have a digital component?

A: I think when I say digital being

the stock market story. And some amazing business stories, some amazing companies that grow here.

Some of them are growing at an amazing rate and also expanding enormously. And Bloomberg News has a fairly large bureau here, and we cover a lot of the Philippines. If you go to Bloomberg.com or any one of our digital properties, you’ll always see stories from the Philippines. And of course, we do think that there is just so much progress here. Each time I come here, it’s changed a bit. I was here for the World Economic Forum exactly a year ago and in that time it’s changed already. And we cover the Philippines extensively. As we speak, one of our famous columnists, William Pesek, is interviewing the President as we speak, today. There’s lots happening here and we want to be part of it.

at various stages, Bloomberg Television has gone through various stages, as well, on every platform. I think Noel summed it beautifully when he said, ‘I want everyone to start the day with us, and end the day with us. And through the day, be able to consume us at any platform that is available.’ And when I say consume, that’s live TV playing, it’s video on demand, it’s keeping abreast with everything that’s going on, the stock market, etcetera. Someone asked me what the difference between the regional channel and this will be. I think the biggest difference is, it’s local.

You’re not trading the global markets.

You’re trading the Philippine markets.

All the data, analysis, and everything attached on television and the visual format is priceless. It’s much more relevant for this market than getting what happens anywhere in the world, or, say, the US or anywhere else. So I think making that accessible is really our biggest aim.

is always the challenge as well as the exciting part of it. We have done that; if you watch Bloomberg Television, it’s much more accessible today than it’s

practices are the same in every country in the world. It’s not going to change because our editorial standards are standardized everywhere in the world.

We have a new editor-in-chief for Bloomberg News, John Micklethwait,

Q: What Filipino stories are you interested in particularly?

A: I think you can never escape

Q: Emmanuel Lorenzana, who is president of Cignal and TV5 Network, was talking about how you want to target the youth in particular. How is Bloomberg TV Philippines going to do that?

A: I think making business appealing

Q: You’ve had localized channels since 2008. Do you already have some best practices? Does it differ from one country to another?

A: The global standards and best

and my boss, CEO Justin Smith.

John Micklethwait has laid down the editorial standards of all of Bloomberg, and Justin, of course, has laid out the operational and business standards for all of our businesses, in collaboration.

That’s really helped us standardize globally. We want to make sure that’s what all the Bloomberg products look like, feel like. Bloomberg TV Philippines will look like a Bloomberg channel, will have the same editorial standards as a Bloomberg channel or any Bloomberg entity, and of course, the accessibility of all the other Bloomberg products. Making it world-class is the most important part.

Bloomberg never just gives the license to someone and then forgets about it.

That’s not how we function. We are invested in every way. That’s why we always keep an executive sitting here full time, because they’re our eyes and ears on the ground, they’re our partner’s partner in setting it up and growing along with my executives here. Paul Yurisich is making his third, fourth trip here in the last two months.

He’s the head of TV. I can tell you, he’s a busy guy. But he invests fully in these partnerships to standardize them and make them as good as what in the panregion.

Q: In Mongolia, you built an office there and you also trained the journalists.

A: Which we do here, as well. We

train all the journalists, we help with production techniques, we help in the hiring, as well. Paul Yurisich is deeply involved in vetting and choosing the right people, and then being able to train them. We help them with the global templates, how to use the Bloomberg data, it’s very complicated. Those are things we bring to the table, and these are just off the top of my head. There are numerous things we help on. And of course, we help on other things, as well. We help where there is a business need – in this case, Noel doesn’t need business help – the man’s an amazing businessman himself. And of course, the PLDT chairman himself is an amazingly astute businessman. We help in every way that we can because the Bloomberg brand is involved, which means we safeguard it with everything that we have. For us, the founder’s

is in various levels in various countries.

Noel was telling me that pay-TV is increasing at an amazing rate, and I can see that. In Asia, television itself continues to grow, but digital is growing at an equally enormous rate.

Every different country you have a different level of where it is. In Japan, China, it’s growing much faster than everywhere else. Others, it’s growing to an extent, but mobile has taken over some other places like Indonesia, Malaysia. The consumption of pure digital is amazingly high in Singapore and Hong Kong, compared to any other market. It also has to do with the infrastructure and everything else that comes with it. A small example is video content. Video content is growing at an amazing rate in some parts of the world where infrastructure is good enough to be able to support it. I don’t think new media is changing the way every platform is run. Television itself is being consumed in different ways today. Plenty of people watch us on our digital platforms, but there is still a huge number who are watching us on pay-TV, different kinds of television platforms, as well. I think new media is an amazing new element to the whole broadcasting world. At various times, people have said, people are going to switch from TV to digital. I don’t believe that’s how it is happening.

I think the device on which they are watching is changing, but they’re still watching broadcast content.

Q: What are some of Bloomberg’s principles which allow it to thrive?

A: For us, Bloomberg culture is an

extremely important part of how we as a group function. And of course, that comes from our founder who’s an amazing, amazing achiever. Mike Bloomberg, who is now back to our company. He’s now running the company again. It’s amazing to see the man whose name is on the door being so energetic in everything he is doing, and his belief in everything we are doing. And you can see why we are what we are, because it is the energy of the man, his ability to understand way ahead of what everyone else does, what the trends are. And I would say the Bloomberg culture is what makes us unique and successful, on top of the products that we make. Every product we get, we excel in. We are ready to invest in it, we are ready to think longterm, we don’t sit and say, ‘It didn’t work for one quarter, let’s just give it up.’ Or two quarters, and then give it up. We go with it. And if we believe in something, we invest, and grow, and spend time on it, and it grows with

time. So I think that those are qualities that very few companies in the world have.

Q: How will you innovate in the coming years?

A: We’re already seeing innovation.

I think the biggest advantage of being a privately-held company like ours is you can take risks. You can take long-term strategic and investment decisions, and that allows us to be entrepreneurial in the way we look at our businesses. And also we believe in constructive paranoia, we kind of are always loo ing five steps ahead and saying, ‘What could disrupt our business?’ We want to be ahead of that and disrupt before anyone else. I’m always asked in the media space who our biggest competitors are. I always say that the old traditional competitors are always there, but they are not the threats to business. Any guy sitting in a little garage coming with a new startup could be a challenger tomorrow. So we have to have the same culture within our organization to stay ahead of that.

And that is what we’re trying to build, which is a culture of innovation, of entrepreneurship and kind of staying ahead of everyone else. That’s what keeps us on our toes.

Q: What kinds of preparation are you making before the June or thirdquarter launch?

A: Paul Yurisich is most deeply

involved. The one person who does all the hard work is him, and his team.

He’s already working with the Cignal team to kind of put the templates together and planning what it will look like, what the talent is like. The hiring process has already begun.

We are moving very, very quickly on it. From our end, we have already started planning the training sessions as soon as the staff come in, our teams will come in to train. Various teams: the production teams, the research teams…. We would soon have our executive producer here as well, which is finding the right person, absolutely right person, and help take this to the next level. It’s hardly been a few weeks but I can tell you, the progress we’ve made has been amazing.

Q: What is your impression of business reporting in the Philippines and what still needs to be done as you partner with them?

A: I think what we are trying to do

is bring world-class standards to a local operation. We want to be able to change the landscape of business reporting.

With the quality of reporting, quality of production, quality of storytelling.

If the standards are great, we want to be better. If the standards are poor, we want to still be the best out here.

The best not just out here, but best in class anywhere. That’s a challenge, but that’s a challenge that us and Cignal are ready to ta e on. e are confident we can make it happen. We made it happen in a lot of countries where

Continue to page 3

BUSINESS & FINANCE

April 2015 / Fortnightly – No. 8 • UK & Europe Edition

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Philippine Business Bank’s 2014 earnings cut by nearly half

PAL turns in a profit in 2014 MANILA - Philippine Airlines (PAL) is back in the black.

In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange, the flag carrier earned P129.74 million last year, a turnaround from the P11.85 billion loss in 2013.

Its top line rose 80.3 percent to P100.95 billion from P55.98 billion in 2013, on the back of an increase in its passenger business, which accounted for at least eight out of every 10 pesos of revenue.

Cargo revenue accounted for 7.8 percent of top line and ancillary services the remaining amount.

At least nine million and six hundred thousand people flew PAL last year,

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an improvement from the five million passengers in 2013.

The growth in revenue outpaced that of operating expenses, which increased 60.3 percent to P98.58 billion from the previous year’s P61.50 billion.

Jet fuel comprised PAL’s biggest expense at P38.81 billion, up from the P24.26 billion in 2013. The airline burned 6.8 million barrels of oil, up from the 4.4 million the previous year.

Billionaire Lucio Tan last year took back control of the flag carrier from onetime partner San Miguel Corporation (SMC). n Cassandra Lee / InterAksyon.com / April 16,

MANILA Profitability at Philippines’ Business Bank (PBB) dropped by almost half in 2014.

In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange, the bank owned by former ambassador Alfredo Yao earned P536.2 million last year, a 46.6 percent decline year-on-year.

Full-year net revenue was up 36 percent year-on-year at P2.507 billion, of which net interest income climbed 29 percent to P2.235 billion from P1.7billion the previous year.

Net interest income rose on the back of a 29 percent increase in PBB’s loan portfolio to P39.5 billion last year from P30.7 billion in 2013. The expansion in its loan portfolio in turn was helped

2015 3:15 PM

by a 16 percent increase in the lender’s branch network to 116 last year from 100 in 2013.

Despite the increase in loans, the bank’s non-performing loan ratio improved to 1.52 percent in 2014 from 2.37 percent the previous year. PBB set aside 150.7 percent to cover its nonperforming loans last year.

“Our performance in 2014 was satisfactory given the intense competition and the uncertainty with regard to record-low borrowing costs,” said PBB president Roland Avante.

“The core income we delivered in 2014, at over P900 million, highlights the maturation of the bank from one that is reliant on its treasury trading business to one that is a more mature and more resilient financial services firm,” he said.

For this year, PBB plans to open between 25 and 30 branches. It has opened five in the first quarter.

“We understand the importance of establishing our presence in areas with a high concentration of SMEs and entrepreneurs. While short-term performance may lag due to a drag

caused by the opening of branches, and the necessary expenses associated with additional personnel and other fixed costs, we at PBB are delighted to invest for the future,” said Avante.

“We believe the work we put in over the last few years has significantly improved the bank’s value – expanding the branch network, growing our risk assets, and maintaining asset quality – all these investments over the past few years are finally beginning to bear fruit. Overall, we are satisfied with the performance, but we continue to look for opportunities, both organic and inorganic, to enhance shareholder value,” Avante said.

“Most importantly, our stated strategy of serving our partners - the small and medium entrepreneurs who are the backbone of the Philippine economy - has been our guiding light. While asset expansion is a key priority, we remain steadfast in our commitment to becoming a key pillar in the growth and maturation of the Philippines’ financial and business community,” he added. n InterAksyon.com /

April 16, 2015 / 11:38 AM

Metro Pacific hikes stake in Meralco MANILA – Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC) is increasing its ownership in Meralco.

In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange, MPIC said it will acquire from Beacon Electric Asset Holdings Inc some 112.71 million shares in Manila Electric Company for P235 a share.

The purchase price is a 10 percent discount from Meralco’s Tuesday close at P263.80 apiece. Meralco yesterday closed at P262.40 a share, down 0.53 percent from Tuesday.

Beacon is a special purpose company jointly owned by MPIC and PLDT Communications and Energy Ventures (PCEV) and whose main asset is

Meralco.

PCEV is a holding company that is 99.84 percent owned by Smart Communications Inc, which in turn is a unit of Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT).

The transaction will cost MPIC a total of P26.5 billion, with P1 billion payable immediately, another P17 billion in June and the remaining amount in July.

MPIC said it expects to receive a dividend from Beacon at the time the conglomerate settles the remaining amount in July.

MPIC will finance the acquisition from internal sources after signing a P25-billion 10-year bilateral term loan

which is part of the PLDT Group. n Tricia Aquino /

facility.

The acquisition will bring MPIC’s direct stake in Meralco to 15 percent.

Adding Beacon’s remaining 17.48 percent interest in the utility, MPIC will have a 32.48 percent effective interest in Meralco. MPIC said there will be no change in its combined interest with Beacon at 49.96 percent of Meralco.

According to MPIC, its board members who also sit on the boards of PLDT and PCEV took no part in the discussion for the acquisition in line with the infrastructure conglomerate’s code of corporate governance.

“We have previously indicated MPIC’s intention to deleverage Beacon and have concluded the optimum way to achieve this is to acquire more of Meralco from Beacon,” said MPIC chief executive Jose Ma. K. Lim. “The deepening of our investment in Meralco is reflective of our expectation of growth in this business, especially from much needed power generation in Luzon. MPIC retains its partnership with PCEV for the rest of our investment in Meralco,” he said.

Meralco has resumed work on building its maiden power plant at the Subic economic zone after the Supreme Court dismissed a legal challenge thrown by third parties. Meralco derives its income largely from its distribution business and contributes about a third of MPIC’s profit.

InterAksyon.com is the online news portal of TV5, which like MPIC, Meralco and PLDT, is chaired by Manuel V. Pangilinan. n InterAksyon.com / April 16, 2015 /

InterAksyon.com / April 5, 2015 5:17 PM

7:48 AM

Q&A Bloomberg says Philippines ripe

for first business news channel people said we can’t make it happen, and I think that just tells you the fact that we’ve chosen the right partners, and two, the fact that we began this in 2008, so now we have a fairly large, long experience of doing it. In fact, I was heading the first project that we had.

Q: You’ve said in previous interviews that Bloomberg benefits from having local partners because it gets a lot of stories. Can you talk about that?

A: Bloomberg benefits, of course, on many levels. One of the big benefits is brand. We want a larger, more consumer-driven brand. It gives us more influence, the more the brand is spread out and people know the brand a lot more, for all of our businesses.

Continuation from page 2

But more than that, I think it also gives us content. Any big story in the Philippines is of interest to us globally.

And we are able to take that from our partners and actually play that on our global network. A big interview… we always feature Filipino businessmen.

Many times we have interviewed the PLDT chairman, and that’s how we all first met him. Jaime Zobel Ayala…

There are so many prominent, worldclass businessmen. San Miguel as a company.Ayala as a company, PLDT as a company. There are so many worldclass companies and we think these are stories to tell.

InterAksyon.com is the online news portal of TV5,

Investment in Meralco, core businesses lift JG Summit MANILA - The Gokongweis saw their share in the earnings of their listed holding company grow by three-fourths in 2014.

In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange, JG Summit Holdings Inc said net income from equity holders of the parent rose 75 percent to P18.25 billion last year from P10.43 billion in 2013.

The company ascribed the increase largey to the full-year recognition of equity earnings from investments in Meralco, higher dividends from PLDT and Jobstreet Malaysia, lower foreign exchange losses and growth in JG Summit’s core businesses.

Revenue increased 22.9 percent to P184.81 billion last year from P150.35 billion in 2013. According to JG Summit, only its banking business turned in weak results in 2014.

Universal Robina Corporation (URC) grew 16 percent year-on-year on the strenth of its branded consumer foods and agro-industrial businesses.

Higher passenger revenue lifted

Cebu Pacific’s top line, while single-digit growth in real estate and hotel revenue boosted Robinsons Land’s results.

JG Summit’s petrochemical business ramped up revenue to P3.23 billion at end-December, from P542.55 million the year before, after operations resumed last November.

Robinsons Bank’s earnings fell 68 percent to P146.91 million last year from P452.34 million in 2013.

JG Summit’s equity in net earnings of Meralco and other associates and joint ventures more than tripled yearon-year to P7.25 billion. Meralco alone contributed P4.68 billion. JG Summit acquired a 27.1 percent stake in Meralco in December 2013. n InterAksyon.com / April 16, 2015 / 12:14 PM

4

BUSINESS & FINANCE

www.hello-philippines.com

April 2015 / Fortnightly – No. 8 • UK & Europe Edition

New PSE trading system hurdles first test, as market posts best quarterly gain in 2 years MANILA – The Philippine Stock Exchange P E has hurdled the first test for a new trading system.

In a statement, the PSE said the market rehearsal, which was conducted on last March 28, was a success, and formed part of the final stages of testing being done in preparation for the roll-out of the new trading engine next month.

Ninety-six percent of trading participants took part in the market rehearsal.

“We are pleased with the turnout for the market rehearsal as it provided our market operations team and

bro ers the experience of using T during trading. It also gave us the opportunity to identify issues that need to be resolved as we prepare for the implementation of the new system,” said PSE president Hans B. Sicat.

The PSE is holding four more rehearsals – on April 11, 18, and 25 and May – before rollout. The new system called P Etrade T was provided by NASDAQ. “We would like to thank everyone for supporting the various activities related to the migration to the new system. We are grateful that everyone has been proactive to ensure that the

implementation of the new system will be successful,” icat said.

The successful market rehearsal comes amid the local market hitting fresh records. The PSE index hit fresh records times for a combined gain of . percent in the first quarter of the year, its biggest quarterly gain since the first three months of when the main gauge rose by . percent.

Trading activity climbed . percent to P . billion in the first quarter of this year from P . billion in the same period a year ago.

Average daily turnover surged by . percent year-on-year to P . billion.

et foreign buying nearly tripled to P . billion this year from P . billion in .

The total market capitalization of listed firms increased by nearly percent to P . trillion this year from P . trillion in .

“We are pleased with the market participation we saw in the first quarter. Investors are really een on being part of the Philippine growth story. e hope that upbeat corporate earnings and optimism over the local economy will continue to attract investors to our market,” Sicat said. n

InterAksyon.com / April 6, 2015 / 1:32 PM

EDC bags feed-in tariff for maiden wind farm MANILA - Regulators have granted Energy Development Corporation’s (EDC) request for guaranteed returns for its investment in the Philippines’ biggest wind farm.

In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange, the Lopez-owned company said the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has issued the certificate of compliance (COC) to EDC Burgos Wind Power Corporation (EBWPC) for the first two phases of

the Burgos Wind Project (BWP).

Under its COC, EBWPC can charge buyers P8.53 per kilowatt-hour from November 11, 2014 to November 10, 2034.

The actual rate is subject to adjustments as may be approved by the ERC. EBWPC commissioned the project last November after the Department of Energy nominated it for feed-in tariff (FIT) eligibility. A month later, the ERC issued the provisional authority to operate the BWP.

The project is EDC’s first foray into the wind energy business. It represents the company’s single largest investment to date. EDC has invested $450 million in BWP including the $315 million in project financing with leading international and local banks led by EKF, Denmark’s export credit agency.

Located in Burgos, IlocosNorte, the project will provide 370 gigawatt-hours of electricity to power approximately 2 million households and displace about

200,000 tons of carbon emissions annually.

At 150 megawatts (MW), the BWP is the largest of its kind in the Philippines. It used 50 units of the V90-3.0 MW wind turbines and ancillary plant constructed by Vestas, the world’s leading wind turbine manufacturer.

Aside from the wind farm, the project also includes a 115-kV transmission line connecting the wind

farm from the Burgos substation to the Laoag substation of the National Grid Corp of the Philippines, as well as the expansion of the switchyard and substations. n InterAksyon.com / April 15, 2015 / 6:42 PM

Higher vehicular traffic boosts NLEX operator’s net income MANILA – The private operator of the orth u on Expressway E saw its profit rise in the high singledigits last year.

In a statement, Manila North Tollways Corporation (MNTC) said it earned P . billion in , up percent from the P . billion the previous year.

The company, which is controlled by Metro Pacific Investments Corporation MPIC , ascribed the growth to higher

Real estate sales fuel increase in Sta. Lucia Land’s 2014 net income MANILA - Sta. Lucia Land Inc (SLI) earned substantially more in on the stregth of its real estate sales.

In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange, SLI said it earned P million last year, an percent increase from the P million in . eal estate sales grwe by percent to P . billion from P million over the same period.

According to I, bul of the growth came from sales of the Colinas Verdes Residential Estates (San Jose del Monte, Bulacan), Monte Carlo Tower-

Sta. Lucia Residence (Cainta, Rizal), Greenmeadows (Pavia, Iloilo) and Ponte Verde (Davao City).

Rental income from mall operations grew by a slower . percent to P million last year from P million in . rowth came from mall expansion, the cost of which tempered the increase.

I has projects, most of which are large-scale master-planned subdivision communities in emerging cities and provinces near Metro Manila.

n InterAksyon.com / April 16, 2015 / 1:23 PM

traffic volume and an expansion in its non-toll revenue base. ehicle traffic hit a new record of , a day in , exceeding by percent the previous year’s record, as daily traffic hit , a day on average.

MNTC said the higher volume could be ascribed to bris er economic activity in the areas surrounding the E , higher vehicle sales and lower fuel prices.

M TC’s revenue climbed percent year-on-year to P . billion in .

The company expects higher revenue this year once the government turns over operation of the ubic-Clar Tarlac Expressway CTE as well.

MNTC and state-run Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) are completing regulatory approvals for the transfer of the CTE concession. n Cassandra Lee / InterAksyon.com / April 16, 2015 / 6:14 PM

Philippine stock market ends three-day selloff MANILA - Philippine share prices rebounded after a three-day selloff.

At the Philippine Stock Exchange, the benchmark index gained 41.74 points or 0.53 percent at 7,948.20.

Market breadth was positive, with advancers edging out decliners, 95 to 83, with 50 issues unchanged.

Value turnover eased to P11.013 billion, but was still above the firstquarter daily average of P10 billion.

Fewer stocks were traded, as volume fell to 851 million from yesterday’s 2.286 billion.

Foreign net selling climbed to P1.891 billion from Wednesday’s P1.483 billion.

Most sub-indices advanced, with the industrials sub-index leading the rebound and gaining 1.15 percent, amid buying in URC and EDC, which yesterday reported that regulators approved the tariff for its maiden wind farm.

The property counter gained nearly a percent, as investors lapped up shares in Ayala Land and Megaworld.

The mining and oil sub-index was the lone decliner, but today’s loss of 0.10 percent was not as sharp as in previous sessions, amid buying in Nickel Asia, which gained 3.68 percent after reporting yesterday that first-quarter shipments rose year-on-year.

Besides URC, the most actively traded stocks were PLDT, GT Capital,

Metrobank and BDO. Top gainers were ATN B, Manila Mining B and Philippine H2O, while the biggest losers were Megaworld warrants series 2, Makati Finance and Petron preferred series 2A. The PSEi’s advance today mimicked gains in most Asian bourses, which got a lift from Wall Street’s uptick overnight and the European Central Bank’s loose monetary stance. n InterAksyon.com/ April 16, 2015 / 12:48 PM

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April r h 2015 / Fortnightly – No. 8 • UK & Europe Edition

Senate economic committee chair pushes Family of Mary Jane Veloso begs Indonesia for her life passage of bills removing foreign restrictions THE family of a Filipina on death row in Indonesia made a tearful appeal for her life on Wednesday, insisting that an international drug syndicate duped the single mother of two.

Mary Jane Veloso, 30, has been in an Indonesian jail for five years after being caught at Yogyakarta airport with 2.6 kilograms (5.73 pounds) of heroin, and is among a batch of foreigners facing imminent execution.

But in an interview with AFP in Manila, her parents and sister said a crime syndicate involving a friend had deceived her, and she did not know the drugs had been sown into her suitcase before flying from Malaysia.

“Please don’t kill my sister. She is innocent. If you kill her, you will have blood on your hands,” Veloso’s elder sister Marites Veloso-Laurente said in a plea to Indonesian President Joko Widodo.

Sen. JV Ejercito chairs Committee on Economic Affairs

With tears streaming down his cheeks, Veloso’s father said theMANILA syndicate– The thatPhilippines used herstill as lags an behind its Asean neighbors in foreign unwitting drug courier had pledged direct I inflows ifdespite to killinvestment all family members they hitting an all-time high $6.2 billion or in reported the racket toofauthorities 2014, according to an opposition senator. went to the media.

In a statement, Senator Ejercito, “Life’s been hard.

We’ve JV been living who chairs the Committee on Economic in fear. My daughter’s recruiters have Affairs, said the record inflthreatened ows are a been threatening us... they very good indication of confi dence by to kill us one by one,” said 59-year-old foreign investors.

Cesar Veloso. owever, The the family Philippines ‘Framed’. is fromstill a remains behind our Asean neighbors,” poor farming town about three hours’ Ejercito said,ofciting Singapore’s $58.202 drive north Manila, and Veloso had billion, Indonesia’s $19.219 billion and sought to provide for her two young sons by working as a maid overseas.

The single mother initially worked for nine months in Dubai in 2009 but to 8 1forced unit tothicome ye rhome ro after 5 the was her year before. employer tried to rape her, according Commercial to her father. vehicle sales remain higher t 12A51family l t friend onth then ut ent up t Veloso lo er offered p e o 11. per ent ro 11 215 unit in 201 . work as a maid in Malaysia.

Toyota Motor Philippines Corporation When Veloso got to Malaysia re was in thetolde tthe elling nd noithlonger . she job rwas per ent h re o the r et ollo ed available but there was anothery it u ini hiIndonesia otor hilippine orporthere tion one if she flew hi h h d 18. per ent. immediately, according to her parents.

A erisister’s n r a loving er Ford tr iledshe’s the “My person, tsookind. p neBut e she uto trusts o p nie ith n 8. too much. We percentengage share of the ■ Chelsea Cruz / don’t in market. vices or anything InterAksyon.com / March 12, 2015 / 8:10 PM illegal, no cigarettes, no alcohol,” her

elder sister said.

When Veloso was arrested, her Thailand’s sons were $14.064 aged justbillion. one and seven and “This big is brought by they too havedifference become victims. the“It’s respective foreign policies in each as if they lost all hope... they country.

Thailand for instance, decided are worried about what would happen to foreign ownership early to liberali them ife their mother neverascame as 1986,” the senator said. back,” the Veloso matriarch, Celia, weher follow example set other saidIfas twothe grandsons satby quietly developing countries, we can greatly next to her. improve position andMark keep She our saideconomic the eldest son, up with the others,” he said.

Daniel Candelaria, 12, was struggling is pushing for to legislation at Ejercito school and may have repeat along these lines: Senate Bill (SB) No. eighth grade.

1424 proposes to shorten Foreign Veloso’s youngest, Markthe Darren, 6, Investment egative ist by excluding copes by singing his mother’s favorite song, a Filipino ballad called: “Just wait,” which has become an anthem of hope for the family.

Poverty trap. Veloso’s mother, 55, insisted that if her daughter was involved in the drug trade, her family would have seen some benefits of it.

Instead, she shares a cramped brick and wood shanty with her husband and six grandchildren, including Veloso’s sons.

“We beg you, Mr Indonesian president, if my daughter was involved in drugs, we wouldn’t be this poor,” she said.

About 10 million Filipinos work overseas, with most heading abroad

to escape deep poverty.

Many work in menial jobs or face the practicework of profession, B dangerous conditions, while but even 2517 aims to liberalize salaries of $300 a month investment are more activities andearned areas at that contribute to than can be home. industrialization and has socioeconomic The government previously development, suchheading as lending, warned Filipinos abroad adjustment and financing about the dangers of drug which traffic are ers governed by specifi laws. them. trying to exploit orc dupe I am are optimistic that we can The 125 Filipinos onimprove death our position.

Theworld, committee is doing row around the with many of its bestconvicted to wor on that ing, will them of measures drug traffic encourage more Is to maximi e the Connie Bragas-Regalado, chairperson opportunities the upcoming Asean of overseas from workers’ rights group Economic told Integration.”

Ejercito said. ■ Migrante, AFP. ErnieThe Reyes / Indonesian InterAksyon.com / March 13, 2015 / 8:06 AM Supreme Court last week denied Veloso’s request to review her conviction.

The Philippine government said ednesday it would file a second appeal.

Veloso’s parents and sons also visited the Indonesian embassy in Manila on Wednesday to lodge a letter appealing to Widodo for mercy.

Aside from Veloso, convicts from Australia, Brazil, France, Ghana and igeria are set to face a firing squad after they had their requests for presidential clemency rejected.

The death penalty was abolished in the Philippines in 2006. n Joel Guinto / AFP

February auto sales zoom on brisk demand for passenger cars

AN A – trong de nd or here ee to e no let up in le . enger r pu hed up otor ehi le ith e er lend r d y or Fe ru ry le y ore th n i th in Fe ru ry. the indu try i urpri ed to ee le n t te ent the h er o re hing le el nor lly hie ed during Auto oti e nu turer o the the pe onth o e e er id hilippine n pi id it le o el utierre pi pre ident. o ined ith tho e o the ru thi trend ontinue indu try y nu turer A o i tion A ro e y g in e eed it t rget or the ye r he 22. per ent to 20 unit l t onth id. ro 1 85 in Fe ru ry o l t ye r. he indu try i i ing or le o hi rought ye r to d te le to 2 2 000 thi ye r ter lo ing 201 ith 25 unit 21 per ent in re e ro ne re ord o 2 unit .

Mother of death row Pinay in Indonesia appeals for govt help. Celia Veloso, mother of Mary Jane Veloso, the Pinay who 2 50 in the e t o onth o l t enger r le led the Fe ru ry is on death row in Indonesia for drug smuggling, appeals to the government outside the Department of Foreign Affairs year. grodaughter. th hDanny ingPata in re ed y . per ent office in Pasay City on Tuesday, April 7, to help spare the life of her p

/ April 8, 2015 / 5:51 PM

April 2015 / Fortnightly – No. 8 • UK & Europe Edition

IMMIGRATION / OFNEWS

www.hello-philippines.com

7

Interfaith group asks Pinoys to pray for Mary Jane Veloso AN interfaith group has called on Filipinos to unite in prayer for the release of the Pinay on death row in Indonesia for drug traffic ing.

The Philippine Interfaith Movement Against Human Traffic ing – composed of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, the Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches, and the National Council of Churches in the Philippines – called on ilipinos to ma e use of the windows of opportunity to continue to have Mary Jane Go be spared from execution via firing squad.

“Individually as church federations and collectively as PIMA T, we are called to spea in defense of life. hile we are relieved that legal remedies are now being underta en and the execution has been stayed temporarily, these are mainly windows of opportunity to unite in solidarity with Mary Jane and join hands in praying and see ing her release,” the group said on statement released ednesday. e also extend our plea to the Indonesian government to heed the growing voices in the country and within the international community to grant her clemency,” it added. oreign Affairs spo esperson Charles Jose said ednesday that

they have already instucted the Philippine Embassy in Indonesia to file for an appeal for a second review of Veloso’s case after the government’s motion to re-open it was rejected late last month.

Jose added that since the Indonesian government will not execute anyone until the Bandung Conference concludes on April 24, it will give the Philippine government time to prepare for new arguments for the second appeal.

Jose said they are still waiting for the report of the investigation of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and Philippine National Police. e’re loo ing at the results of the visit of PDEA and the PNP, if we can include any of the results ditosa second appeal. If not, we’ll as for a better appreciation,” he added.

A single mother to two boys, Veloso was arrested at the ogya arta Airport on April , 2010 after her suitcase was found to be loaded with . ilograms of heroin. he said that she was only tric ed to bring the luggage by her friend and recruiter Maria ristina ergio but she denied all accusations.

Aside from appealing for Veloso’s life, PIMAHT also urged

the government to fight human traffic ing. uman traffic ing is a scourge that thrives on the vulnerability of our poor sisters and brothers who have no recourse but to grab the proverbial nife apit sa patalim in order to survive... e also urge our government to ensure that people who prey on the vulnerable are ta en into custody and charged immediately to avoid any more potential victims and that justice be served for those who abuse others for profit,” the group said. n Trisha

Macas / RSJ, GMA News / April 15, 2015 / 5:05 PM

Philippine stock market ends three-day selloff WITH a Filipina facing execution in Indonesia for a drug-related offense, the Department of Labor and Employment on Saturday said it will continue reminding overseas Filipino workers against unwittingly being used as drug mules.

Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said the reminders are issued during pre-employment orientation seminars and re-deployment.

“So meron pa rin tayong ganyan na nabibiktima but, yun na nga, kahit anong paalaala natin, ang importante ay dirediretso lang nating paalalahanan kasi nga hindi pa naman nila naiintindihan siguro yung pasikot-sikot ng kanilang pinapasukang ganyang mga sindikato,” she said on government-run dzRB radio.

Even recruitment agencies issue their own reminders to the OFWs, she said.

Presently, the Philippine government

is working to save Mary Jane Veloso from the death penalty. She was caught with 2.6 kilograms of heroin at Yogyakarta airport in 2010.

But Baldoz also noted some may still get tempted by the large amounts of money promised them.

“Nahu-hook din sila sa ganoong klaseng mga ano dahil malaki rin yata ang kanilang kinikita,” she said.

According to Veloso’s family, she did not know that there were drugs in her luggage. They said she had been deceived by a friend who was part of a crime syndicate. n Joel Locsin / JDS, GMA

News / April 11, 2015 / 2:37 PM

8

IMMIGRATION / OFNEWS

www.hello-philippines.com

April 2015 / Fortnightly – No. 8 • UK & Europe Edition

OFW who cried rape on Facebook now in PHL Embassy in Bahrain ABBY Luna, the Filipino domestic helper who claimed in an already viral Facebook video that she had been raped by the son of her employer, was taken under the custody of the

Philippine Embassy in Bahrain on Thursday, Department of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Charles Jose has said.

Luna’s video, wherein she

explained how her employer’s son raped her, received 1,433,903 views since being posted on Thursday.

Concerned netizens and friends immediately rushed to help the Filipina, with some claiming that their acquaintances had connections to the police and the Philippine Embassy.

“She’s already under the care of our Embassy since yesterday,” Jose told GMA News Online in a text message.

Kristine Vergara Garma, a friend of una, confirmed una’s stay with the embassy in a public status message on Facebook on Thursday.

“Nasa Embassy na daw po siya at hawak na ng mga pulis. Sana makauwi na siya agad, waiting pa rin po kami makauwi siya ng maayos dito,” Garma wrote.

In the video, the domestic helper

said she was taken advantage of while doing her household chores. She was unable to complain to her employer immediately out of fear and threats from her attacker.

“Sa sobrang takot ko, natatakot akong magsalita. Pag katapos akong galawin nung anak niya, pinagbantaan ako na kapag nagsumbong daw ako, dadalhin daw niya ako sa disyerto, papatayin, ibabaon daw niya ako dun,” Luna said. hen she finally told her employer of the incident, she was told to wait for a week for a check-up and two more months for a plane ticket she would have to purchase using her own salary.

“Sabi niya, kung gusto mong umuwi, maghintay ka ng dalawang buwan, bibilhan kita ng ticket pero sarili mong pera dahil hindi

mo pa natatapos yung kontrata mo... pagkatapos ng isang linggo, papacheck-up kita. Kung buntis ka, ipapatanggal ko at papauwiin kita,” Luna said.

Luna’s attacker also accused her of seducing him, a claim she shut down as she was not even in the same room when she allegedly approached him.

“Ang sabi pa ng anak niya kagabi, ako daw yung kusang lumapit sa ka niya. Nandun daw siya sa loob nang lumapit daw ako sa kanya. Pano ko gagawin yun eh nasa loob ako ng sala, nagtatrabaho, naglilinis,” she said, adding that her assaulter was a drug addict.

GMA News Online has yet to receive updates regarding the date of her repatriation from the DFA. n Rie

Takumi / NB, GMA News / April 10, 2015 / 1:48 PM

Pinay in UAE, fellow defendants blame each other for death of child in school bus A Filipina and four fellow defendants blamed each other before a United Arab Emirates court for the death of a fouryear-old private school kindergarten pupil who was left inside a school bus last year.

Lawyers of the OFW bus attendant, bus driver, Lebanese supervisor, school president and Indian owner of the bus blamed each other for negligence, Gulf News reported late Wednesday.

The Court of Misdemeanors is handling the case of the death of former Al Worood Academy Private School pupil Nizaha Ala’a, who died inside a

school bus after being left inside.

A verdict is expected on May 11.

Court records showed the child died from heat exhaustion and had internal head injuries likely from banging her head on a solid object.

An initial investigation showed the pupil was left behind by the school bus driver for about four hours after the bus arrived at the school.

The Filipina bus attendant admitted to prosecutors she had failed to walk to the back of the bus to check for any pupils who may have been left behind.

But during the court session, the

defense team for the Indian transport company owner insisted their client was innocent, saying the buses owned by their client followed regulations and were licensed.

Also, the defense team indicated the Abu Dhabi Education Council does not have in place a system for school buses, adding that it is the responsibility of the Department of Transport.

Meanwhile, the lawyer for the OFW, who claimed she was opposed to working as a bus attendant, pointed out the school had resorted to money-saving techniques by hiring a cleaning staff to take on added

responsibilities she may not be trained for.

Thus, the lawyer argued it was the school’s responsibility.

When asked by the judge, the Filipina said she had refused to take on the job of bus attendant at first and requested the school to adhere to its contractual agreement. But she agreed when the school insisted.

On the other hand, the lawyer for the Lebanese supervisor and the school’s South African principal contested the claim.

The lawyer said the Filipina is a graduate familiar with the duties of a bus

attendant and that she had frequently accompanied students aboard buses.

As for the bus driver’s lawyer, he reminded the court his client was not responsible for keeping a watch on the students aboard the bus.

The lawyer said the bus driver’s duties would be limited to driving the students to and from school.

Earlier, the driver said he was prohibited from making contact with the students and that the job of ensuring the bus was empty fell to the bus attendant. n Joel Locsin / LBG, GMA News

/ April 16, 2015 / 8:51 AM

Pinay maid admits abortion try in UAE A Filipino household helper has admitted before a United Arab Emirates Court that she tried aborting her baby in January, a UAE news site reported Sunday night.

The maid, 30, was accused of taking pills to abort a pregnancy following unmarried sex with her boyfriend, according to the report by Gulf News.

She entered a guilty plea when she appeared before the Dubai Court of First Instance on Sunday.

“Yes, I had consensual sex with (my boyfriend) who impregnated me. I also took abortion pills,” she told presiding judge Fahd Al Shamsi.

The judge is expected to hand out a ruling on April 29.

Prosecutors had charged the maid with having unmarried sex with her Filipino boyfriend, then taking abortion pills.

Her boyfriend, who was charged for consensual sex, left the UAE some months back. Another Filipino had also been charged with aiding the maid to carry out the illegal abortion by selling her the abortion pills.

Last January, the maid was rushed to a hospital by paramedics at the Dubai International Airport as she was about to board a plane for the Philippines. At

the time, she collapsed in pain and bled profusely.

Prosecutors claimed the Filipina got pregnant and took six Panadol pills and mixed them in cola. She also took two pills to abort the baby.

‘Go back home’. When asked if she drank the spiked cola and pills, the maid said, “Yes Sir, I did … all I want is to go back home.”

Prosecution records also showed the maid underwent an immediate operation after the abortion attempt.

When she recovered, she told police she met her boyfriend in July 2014 and they had a love affair - and consensual sex in his flat in atwa several times before he left the country. She told

prosecutors her boyfriend got her pregnant.

“We had sex several times. On the day of the incident, I went to the airport with my sponsor who had cancelled my residency and wanted me to go back home. A week before I collapsed at the airport, I purchased two abortion pills from (a Filipino) for Dh400 after I met him in a mall. I took Panadol and CocaCola and used the abortion pills,” she said.

A paramedic who rushed the Filipina to a hospital told police the Filipina’s sponsor insisted that she had bled because of menstruation and not an abortion. n Joel Locsin / RSJ, GMA News / April 13, 2015 / 9:04 AM

Illegal recruiter hunted for fleecing Ilocos jobseekers of P1.185M THE National Bureau of Investigation is now tracking down a recruiter who had allegedly fleeced prospective overseas Filipino workers in Ilocos of more than P1 million.

At least 10 victims from Laoag City have lodged complaints against the suspect identified as Almie ose Calipco, GMA Ilocos reported Friday.

“Sa ngayon, mahigpit ang imbestigasyon ng NBI para matunton kung saan nagtatago ang suspek,” NBI Laoag agent-in-charge Diosdado Araos said.

An investigation showed Calipco had promised her victims jobs in New Zealand, Australia, Canada, and South

Korea.

One of the victims, “Betty,” told GMA Ilocos they even underwent seminars and training sessions.

But they got suspicious when the suspect disappeared when they were heading for Metro Manila for a predeparture orientation seminar before their flight.

Araos also said their findings showed at least one of the victims shelled out P115,000.

“Balikan mo kami, at kung ano man ang obligasyon na nakuha mo sa amin ibalik mo, nakakahiya ang ginawa mo,” said the victim. n Joel Locsin / LBG, GMA

News / April 10, 2015 / 7:26 AM

HELLO PHILIPPINES IS PUBLISHED FORTNIGHTLY BY MSHARE LIMITED. THIS PUBLICATION IS COPYRIGHTED AND ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. UK & EUROPE EDITION • NORDIC, IRELAND, ITALY, SPAIN, AND FRANCE • WWW.HELLO-PHILIPPINES.COM

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www.hello-philippines.com

April 2015 / Fortnightly – No. 8 • UK & Europe Edition

A Star in the Making

SHE is a young girl who always loves being on stage, enjoys performing and entertaining, she is a star in the making, Miss Jahna Pauleen Lucero. Born and raised in London with a Filipino background, she has always enjoyed being on the spotlight singing and dancing at a young age of 3. She is now currently taking street dance and vocal lessons at the prestigious ‘Sylvia Young Theatre School.’

Jahna loves to entertain and has been involved in Filipino Cultural events, performing in Barrio Fiestas, singing as a front Act for shows such as ‘The Reo Brothers’ and ‘The Pinky Amador concert’. She has also been given major singing roles in musical play productions at school and performs in many occasional events.

She has also entered Filipino Beauty and Talent contests and was crowned “Munting Princessa 2010” (Little Princess 2010) where she also won

the title Best in Talent. Jahna was part of the Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Musical Stage Production of ‘The King and I’ at the Royal Albert Hall as one of the Royal Children alongside the famous Maria Friedman and Daniel Dae Kim. Jahna loves to listen to a wide variety of music, mostly from popular artists such as Adele, Meghan Trainor, Carly Rose Sonenclare and Taylor Swift, as well as artists back home such as Yeng Constantino.

Jahna is motivated to pursue this career as a singer to reach her dreams.

Jahna’s Parents have always inspired her to chase her ambitions and gives her their full support. She also reached the grand finals at the national singing competition Teenstar last year, and is competing again this year in hoping to take home the grand title.

Let us support this talented girl in the next stage of the competition at Beck Theatre, Hayes on the 17th of May for the Area Finals. n

POEA: Licenses of 55 recruitment agencies cancelled in 2014 for malpractices

THE Philippine Overseas Employment Administration canceled licenses of 55 recruitment agencies in 2014 for unethical recruitment practices.

POEA head Hans Leo Cacdac posted the list on his Twitter account Thursday, saying these firms violated Philippine migration laws and regulations.

Cacdac said the recruitment firms include: 1. A-M Phil. Professional Services Corporation 2. Al-Siq International Placement and Manpower Services, Inc. 3. AFT International Manpower Services 4. Aguila Management and Resources Corporation 5. Al-Ahram International Group Services, Inc. 6. Al-Sadiq Manpower Corporation 7. Apex Grande International Labor Agency

8. Asian International Manpower Services Inc. 9. Asmara International Placement Agency, Inc. 10. Batie International Manpower Services, Inc. 11. Bobstar International Recruitment Agency, Inc. 12. B & E Overseas Manpower Services Corporation 13. Chronos International Manpower Corporation 14. Creative Artist Placement Services, Inc. 15. Dalandan International Manpower Inc. 16. Dream Fame International Manpower Corporation 17. Dywen International Manpower Agency 18. Expeditor International Manpower Services Co. 19. Experts Placement Agency Inc. 20. Findstaff Placement Services, Inc. 21. France Asia International, Inc.

36. M.G.M International Recruitment Services, Inc. 37. Mind Resources Corporation 38. Nahed International Manpower Services 39. Non-Stop Overseas Employment Corporation 40. Pacific Mediterrenian International Manpower Agency, Inc. 41.

Perfect Employment Agency Corporation 42. PERT-CPM Manpower Exponents Company, Inc.

43. Renaissance Staffing Support Center, Inc. 44.

Ridzkey Human Resources International Services 45. Sacred Heart International Services, Inc. 46. Sand-dune International Manpower Services 47. Saranay Philippines, Inc. 48. Seven Ocean International Manpower Corporation 49. Sherine Manpower Services, Inc. 50. Sunshine Recruitment Agency, Inc. 51. Sky Top Service Contractors, Inc. 52. Sunshine Recruitment Agency, Inc. 53. Tuem International Manpower Corporation 54. Wandy Overseas Placement Agency, Inc. 55. YMC International Manpower Services n Joel Locsin / LBG, GMA News / April 9, 2015 / 11:01 AM

Cardinal Tagle appeals for ‘due process’ for Pinay in Indonesia death row

CIDG nabs Syrian illegal recruiter THE Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group on Friday arrested a Syrian national allegedly involved in the illegal recruitment of overseas Filipino workers.

The CIDG identified the suspect as 31-year-old Adulkarim Mohammad Majed, a resident of Imus, Cavite.

The CIDG said they caught the suspect in an entrapment operation inside an establishment in Ermita on Friday afternoon.

The police recovered two Philippine passports owned by Majed’s alleged victims whom he had promised to send to the United Arab Emirates.

The case stemmed from a tip from

22. Global Care International Manpower Services 23. Global Unlimited International Manpower, Inc. 24. Globrec Manpower Services Inc. 25. Gerardo J. Santos Manpower 26. Goodman International Manpower Incorporated 27. IDM Manpower Services 28. Inter-Globe Manpower & Consultancy Services, Inc. 29. Jade Jobwell Philippines, Inc. 30. Japhil 2000 International Agency Corporation 31. Jenar Maritime, Inc. 32. Jovineria Manpower Services 33.KabayanKo Overseas Manpower Placement 34. Kookies International Recruitment Agency, Inc. 35. Meccaj Manpower International Services

MANILA Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle on Monday appealed for “due process” for Mary Jane Veloso, the Filipina facing execution in Indonesia over a drug conviction.

the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission after it rescued four victims in Mindanao that the suspect also allegedly recruited.

Philippine Overseas Employment Agency records show that the suspect was not authorized to recruit and deploy workers abroad.

Majed faces illegal recruitment charges and is currently being held in a CIDG facility. n Andrei Medina / JDS, GMA News / April 11, 2015 / 2:30 PM

Tagle particularly asked the Indonesian government to respect the rights of Veloso and of all overseas Filipino workers, Churchrun Radyo Veritas reported.

But the cardinal also made it clear that he did not mean to disrespect the Indonesian legal system in making his call.

“Ang isang panawagan natin ay sana katulad ng lahat ng tao na nasasakdal, si Mary Jane sana ay mabigyan ng karampatang pagdinig,” said Tagle.

“Kaya, bagama’t ginagalang natin ang ibang bansa at ang kanilang mga batas, tayo ay nakikiusap hindi lamang para kay Mary Jane kundi sa lahat ng mga tao na nasasakdal, mahuhuli, na sana mabigyan ng paggalang ang kanilang karapatan

at ang mga procedure, ang tinatawag nating due process ay huwag ipagkakait sa kanila.”

In Veloso’s case, he said she may not have been given an interpreter.

Tagle also appealed to those who may have given Veloso the drugs to be responsible and to be consciencestricken, as their actions may have doomed an innocent overseas Filipino worker like Veloso.

Tagle likewise reminded OFWs not to accept any offer or accommodate any request to carry another person’s baggage.

“Kasi kapag hindi mo alam ang laman niyan, ikaw na ang may dala, kung yan ay ilegal, sino pa nga ba ang dadamputin at huhulihin dahil ikaw ang may dala.” n Joel Locsin / DVM, GMA News / April 14, 2015 / 4:53 AM

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April 2015 / Fortnightly – No. 8 • UK & Europe Edition

President Bongbong Marcos? Pnoy says: ‘I don’t think that will happen - for obvious reasons’ MANILA i e the bullet embedded in his neck that may kill him if removed, President Benigno Aquino III believes it is safer that some atrocities of his nation’s previous dictatorship remain buried.

But like the thousands who were tortured, jailed or lost relatives during the reign of Ferdinand Marcos a generation ago, Aquino is still seething.

In a lengthy interview with AFP this week from the presidential palace that was once the domain of his nemesis, Aquino offered rare insights into his struggle to ensure anger did not impact his running of the country.

“I am 55 years old right now. I cannot act li e I am a hot-headed -year-old,” Aquino said when as ed to reflect on the Marcos dictatorship.

“It doesn’t mean I don’t have emotions. It doesn’t mean I’m not frustrated. It doesn’t mean I am not angry. But I do know that letting go of my emotions does have serious repercussions.” howing just such gritted restraint, Aquino declined to offer expansive comments on Marcos’s son and namesake, now a senator and being pushed by his mother to reclaim the nation’s top post.

“I don’t think that will happen,” said Aquino, who is limited by the constitution to one term, when asked whether Marcos could win presidential elections next year.

“For obvious reasons.”

Marcos vs Aquino. The power struggle between the Marcos and Aquino families has created one of Asia’s great political rivalries, with betrayals, murders and family secrets worthy of a ha espeare plot.

The dueling began with Aquino’s father and namesake leading the democracy movement that sought to end Marcos’ martial law in the 1970s.

Marcos infamously ruled the outheast Asian nation with the aid of the nited tates, his theatrical wife, Imelda, and omnipresent security personnel who were willing to abduct, torture and kill for their boss.

But the deadly shooting of the elder democracy-champion Aquino at

Manila airport in 1983 as he returned from exile proved to be the dictator’s undoing.

‘New cycle of violence’. The assassination triggered national outrage that launched the victim’s wife, Corazon, into the leadership of a suddenly powerful opposition.

In 1986, the previously timid housewife led millions onto the streets in what became known as the “People Power” revolution that forced the Marcos family to flee aboard a military plane to exile in Hawaii.

Corazon Aquino had a tumultuous six years as president, surviving coup attempts by military figures who were once loyal to Marcos, then to her, then only to themselves.

The Philippines endured many more years of political chaos after she stepped down in 1992, as Imelda Marcos and her children returned home and began plotting their return to power.

In 2010, Benigno Aquino III was elected president in a landslide victory after pledging to eradicate the corruption that was crippling the country.

Many also hoped Aquino would use the full powers of his office to uncover more of the crimes committed

during the dictatorship. Previous administrations, including his mother’s, were unwilling or unable to do so.

Aquino told AFP he had long dreamed of a outh African-style truth and reconciliation commission, through which human rights victims could give testimony and perpetrators reveal their crimes with the hope of amnesty.

But he decided against creating such a commission for fear of re-igniting tensions and creating more violence.

As an example, Aquino raised the prospect of a father finally finding out what happened to his son who had been abducted during Marcos’ reign, but then the statute of limitations meaning there could be no prosecution.

If suddenly we find the people who took him, and they say: ‘We tortured him, we burned him, we pulverized the bones so nobody could find him,’ the father can no longer press charges,” Aquino said.

“Would he take the law into his own hands and begin a new cycle of violence?”

Some justice. Aquino emphasized this did not mean martial law victims should forgive and forget.

He pointed to his championing of landmark legislation introduced in

2013 to ensure thousands of victims who suffered human rights violations under martial law are compensated, even though the payments are expected to be very small.

“It is a small token on behalf of the state. (To say) the state is here to protect you, at one point in time it oppressed you,” he said.

“But, more importantly, it seems like it carves in stone the collective memory (of) people so we do not repeat the mistakes of the past.”

On a personal level, Aquino said he learnt the hard way the importance of not acting on emotions.

He recounted the coup attempts against his mother, when he said he impulsively rushed to help her and was fired on by rebel soldiers.

In one incident, three of his security personnel were killed and he was shot in the neck, where the bullet remains embedded.

“There is a danger if you try to remove it, you will hit a nerve bundle that controls the facial expression. And it’s kind of close to the carotid artery, which if injured is very dangerous,” he said.

“I keep it as a reminder (not to be emotional).” n AFP / April 16, 2015

Mayor Binay files contempt charges vs Trillanes over CA bribery claim MANILA - awyers for Ma ati Mayor Jejomar Erwin “Junjun” Binay on Thursday filed contempt charges against enator Antonio Trillanes I before the Court of Appeals for his “malicious and baseless” accusation that the mayor paid two associate justices P25 million each in return for issuing a temporary retraining order, followed by an injunction, that stopped his suspension by the Office of the Ombudsman over the Makati City Hall Parking Building II case.

Binay said the CA should use its inherent power to cite for contempt the lawmaker for bringing into disrepute the authority of the court and the administration of the law, with his reckless, unsubstantiated accusations against Associate Justices Francisco Acosta and Jose Reyes Jr. He admitted he did not have evidence but cited “reliable sources” and then cited published reports to paint an unflattering picture of the man he alleged to have “brokered” the payoff, noted lawyer Pancho Villaraza. He later said the sources are very credible, but are uncertain about surfacing later to affirm their story.

The CA’s 6th Division counts as members Acosta and Reyes, who on Monday described Trillanes’ attack on them as tantamount to harassment of the court, preventing it from doing its duty.

Villaraza, a founder of the Villaraza and Angangco Law Firm, also denied a role in any payoff and dared Trillanes to substantiate his “libelous” accusation.

“The Honorable Court should not hesitate to wield its inherent power to preserve its honor and dignity and safeguard the morals and ethics of the legal profession against the malicious and baseless attacks of Respondent Trillanes,” part of the Binay petition said.

Binay said Trillanes’s wild accusations against the justices displayed a lack of respect for the Court and the judicial system as he made his claim without any shred of evidence whatsoever.

“This tends to bring the authority of the Court and the administration of

law into disrepute. For this Respondent Trillanes should be cited for indirect contempt,” he further said as he also condemned the lawmaker for uttering threats against the justices when he made the accusation.

All told, in the face of Respondent’s disrespectful act and unrelenting malicious attacks toward the Honorable Court and its Justices, there is a need for the Honorable Court to protect and preserve its dignity and independence.

It, therefore, behooves the Honorable Court to cite Respondent Trillanes for indirect contempt and mete out the appropriate punishment on him,” Binay said.

Both justices and Villaraza have denied Trillanes’ claim. n Brian Maglungsod / InterAksyon.com / April 16, 2015 / 5:55 PM

People walk past the rubble after an air strike by the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen.

More Pinoys leave Yemen MANILA – More Filipinos continue to leave war-torn Yemen, with the latest batch of 21, and one foreigner, leaving the capital Sanaa and expected to reach the border with Saudi Arabia on Thursday, the Department of Foreign Affairs said.

This brings the total number of Filipinos evacuated from Yemen to 537.

Yemen, where a Saudi-led coalition has been carrying out air strikes against Houthi rebels fighting the government, has been under Alert Level 4 since February 18, meaning mandatory repatriation for all Filipinos there.

Last week, the DFA evacuated 464 Filipinos.

Aside from these, the DFA said the Pakistan Navy evacuated five Filipinos, another one went to Dubai while four others were repatriated by their employer.

On Wednesday, 60 Filipinos left Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and are scheduled to arrive in Manila Thursday afternoon, the DFA said.

Their arrival will bring the number of Filipinos repatriated from Yemen to 405.

More repatriates are scheduled to leave Riyadh on Friday and Saturday. n InterAksyon.com / April 16, 2015 / 12:46 PM

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April 2015 / Fortnightly April 2015 – No. 8 • UK & Europe Edition

FREE LISTING of events in HELLO PHILIPPINES newspaper.

Please email info@hello-philippines.com to include your event.

D I S C L A I M E R : The Events Diary r listing does not constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation or fa f vouring by HELLO PHILIPPINES newspaper. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of Hello Philippines newspaper and/o / r the Publisher. What’s On is a Filipino Events Diary r listing fo f r UK and Europe.

201 DATE / TIME

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CALENDAR OF EVENTS – UK & EUROPE VENUE

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CONTACTS / REMARKS

FREE LISTING of your events in HELLO PHILIPPINES newspaper. If you know of any events please contact us via info@hello-philippines.com to submit your event.

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.

1st Saturday

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MONTHLY FILIPINO COMMUNITY MASSES IN GREATER LONDON

5:00pm

Devotion in Honour of Our Lady of Fatima (Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament / Rosary / Benediction / Mass) St Pius X Catholic Church, 108 Orme Road, Kingston Upon Thames KT1 3SB – Oliver Abasolo – 07782 661 922 2:00pm Five Precious Wounds Parish, Brentfield Road, Stonebridge Park, London NW10 8ER 1st Sunday Mervic Monocillo – 07894 636 140 5:00pm Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church, Friary Road, Peckham, London SE15 1RH 1st Sunday Allen Abeleda – 07713 625 888 4:00pm St Peter the Apostle Catholic Church, 103 Woolwich New Road, London SE18 6EF 2nd Saturday Moises Espanola – 07894 648 639 2:00pm English Martyrs Church, Chalkhill Road, Wembley Park, Wembley HA9 9EW 2nd Sunday Becky Sarinas – 07949 857 699 / 07425 761 519 / Lina B – 07579 418 510 2:00pm St Dominic Catholic Church, 243 Violet Lane, Waddon, Croydon CR0 4HN 2nd Sunday Merlie Mirto – 07722 216 462 2nd Sunday 4:00pm St. Anselm and St. Cecilia, 70 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London WC2A 3JA Feliciano Ramirez – 07733 680 748 3:00pm Sacred Heart of Jesus, New Priory, Quex Road, Kilburn, London NW6 4PS 3rd Sunday Sheidrick de Leon – 07738 210 202 3rd Sunday 3:00pm Blessed Sacrament Parish, 157 Copenhagen Street, Islington N1 0SR Christy Sangalang – 07709 119 969 Last Saturday 6:00pm Our Lady of Dolours, Servite Parish Church, 264 Fulham Road, London SW10 4EL Fr Allan Satur – 020 7352 6965 / fulhamroad@rcdow.org.uk / Roland Adap – r_adap@hotmail.com Last Sunday 12:00pm St Pius X Catholic Church, 108 Orme Road, Kingston Upon Thames KT1 3SB Oliver FREE LISTING of your events in H E L L OAbasolo P H I L I P–P 07782 I N E S n661 e w s922 paper. If you know of any events please contact us via Last Sunday 2:00pm St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, 218 Roehampton Lane, London SW15 4LE info@hello-philippines.com to submit your event.

Rafael Santiago – 07795 254 451 D I S C LSunday A I M E R : T h e E v5:00pm e n t s D i a r y L i s tHoly ing d o e s n o t nCatholic e c e s s a r iChurch, l y c o n s t20 i t uBrixton te or im p l y i Oval, ts end o r s e m eSW9 n t , r6BU ecommendation, Every Redeemer Road, London or favouring by Hello Philippines newspaper. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or Ben Ortiz – 07723 318 486 reflect those of Hello Philippines newspaper. This is merely an Events Diary Listing of what is happening within the Filipino First Wednesdays 6:30pm and C o m m u n i t i e s i n E u r o p e . T h i s i s f o r Filipino g e n e r a lMass infor m a tNovena i o n o n lto y . Our Mother of Perpetual Help, Farm Street Church of the Immaculate Conception (Jesuit House Chapel), on 114 Mount W1K 201 M O N T H L Y F I L I P I N O C O M M U N I T Y access MASS ES IN G R EStreet, A T E RLondon LOND O N 3AY – Josie Ramos – 07723 024 1st Saturday 5:00pm Devotion in591 Honour of Our Lady of Fatima (Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament / Rosary / Benediction / Mass) St Pius X Catholic Church, 108 Orme Road, Kingston Upon Thames KT1 3SB – Oliver Abasolo – 07782 661 922

PUFC IN YORKSHIRE CALLING FILIPINO FOOTBALLERS! ARE YOU A FOOTBALLER AND HAVE A DREAM ONE DAY FOR THE AZKALS – YOUR NATIONAL TEAM – PHILIPPINE UNITED CAN HELP YOU TO MAKE THAT DREAM COME TRUE , LIKE WE DID TO ROB GIER, WHO IS NOW ONE OF THE BEST DEFENDERS FOR THE AZKALS..

Also few players from our successfully team in London from 2009-11 have been on trials there and Jason Arroyo played few friendlies for them and he has even been on a trial for the famous FC Barcelona.

And from our team in Manchester we found Mervin Evangelista who is now playing in the UFL League in the Philippines for FC Forza and has been playing for the Azkals U/21 and soon will be on the first team.

PUFC will now together with PFF the Philippine Football Federation PFF in Manila start up a team in a Yorkshire league next season and will set up a trial in Sheffield on Saturday May 9th We would like to invite players from all over UK to that trial , not just Sheffield and surrounding areas.

If that’s appealing to you please send us an email with your name, age, contact number and your position on the football pitch. Our email is philippineunitedfc@yahoo.com. Or you can also find us on Facebook on PUFCYorkshire And we will contact you ASAP. Remember at least one of your parents have to be Filipino if you want to play for the Azkals.

For more info about our team please visit philippineunitedfc.com. There you can also read about our team in Norm Parkins new book Legends and Rebels where he has made interviews with big names from the football world . That book can be orded from Lulu.com or Amazon and only cost £12,99 but more important : all the proceeds of that book goes to the victims from the Yolanda typhoon in November 2013 and we have on March 1 ,2015 already raised more than £ 3000.

We hope to see you soon in our team Leo Jensen Founder Norm Parkin Head Coach

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April 2015 / Fortnightly – No. 8 • UK & Europe Edition

Milk tea deaths prompt Koko to train radar on mounting cases of food poisoning MANILA – Prompted by the deaths of two persons after recently taking milk tea in Sampaloc, Manila Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III on Thursday filed a resolution see ing

an investigation in aid of legislation on mounting food poisoning cases in the country.

Citing various laws and the Constitution, Pimentel said it is

File photograph by Krisken Jones

imperative for the Senate to conduct investigation on various incidents of food poisoning in the country.

“A massive inspection of all food outlets should be made by the LGUs, DOH, and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to prevent similar occurrences of food poisoning, because of the contents of the food product being prepared as well as the unhealthy conditions that attend to their preparation,” Pimentel said.

Senate Resolution No. 1273 directs the Senate committee on health and demography chaired by Senator Teofisto uingona II to conduct the probe.

On April 9, 2015, two persons — a tea house proprietor and his customer — died after drinking an odd-tasting batch of milk tea from Ergo Chan Tea in Sampaloc, Manila.

The customer’s companion, who took just a sip of the milk tea, fell ill and was hospitalized.

“Although the initial investigation of the Department of Health (DOH) yielded negative result with respect to the presence of toxic substance in the milk tea sample, the incident still raised alarm on the possible harmful contents or substances in food products and the manner of food preparations in food outlets,” Pimentel said.

On June 20, 2014, at least 130 people fell ill due to food poisoning in Tampakan, South Cotabato after eating food prepared by a caterer during a community meeting.

In October 2013, 11 South Korean nationals were rushed to the hospital in Iloilo City in another case of food poisoning.

In yet another case, last September 26, 2013, salmonella bacteria was believed to have triggered the food poisoning of 66 people who ordered products of Dakasi Milk Tea outlet in Iloilo City.

That incident was also being blamed for the death of a 27-year-old man from Iloilo City.

Other food poisoning incidents include 50 people in La Union who were hospitalized on May 2012 after eating consuming food served at a wedding reception; 200 people in Bulacan who fell ill on June 2012, after eating at a birthday party; and, in 2012, 21 youths who participated in the 1st Provincial Youth Summit were rushed to different hospitals in Butuan City after eating lunch served by an internationally known food chain. n Ernie Reyes / InterAksyon.com / April 16, 2015 / 6:21 PM

Court junks kidnap case vs CPP-NPA-NDF leaders Benito and Wilma Tiamzon - Karapatan MANILA - The judge of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 81 has dismissed a kidnapping case lodged against detained couple Benito and Wilma Tiamzon, top leaders of the Communist Party of the PhilippinesNew People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF).

The dismissal was due to the absence of the complainant-witness, Sergeant John Jacob, during Wednesday’s pre-trial hearing, Cristina Palabay, secretary-general of Karapatan, said Thursday.

The hearing was held at the Training Service of the Philippine National Police (PNP) General Headquarters in Camp Crame instead of the usual Quezon City Hall of Justice.

“The court transferred the venue of the trial, purportedly due to ‘security reasons’, within Camp Crame, meters away from the Custodial Center where the two are detained,” Palabay said.

But the Tiamzons have to contend with other charges, such as illegal possession of firearms and explosives in Toledo, Cebu, a multiple-murder case being heard at the Manila Regional Trial Court, and still another kidnapping charge.

The second kidnapping case stemmed from four other complaints, including one from a certain Lt. Abraham Casis who was among those taken “prisoners of war” by the NPA in 1989 in Tiaong, Quezon. They were later released by the rebels.

“We are wondering why this Lt. Casis, after 28 years of not attending any of the

‘UMUWI KAMING WALANG WALA’

MANILA – Overseas Filipino wor ers O may have fled the war in Yemen but not the war in their own country, which was the reason why they had decided to work abroad.

“Umuwi kaming walang wala [We came back with nothing],” says the teary-eyed Girlie Compas who returned to the Philippines on Tuesday to escape the war in Yemen only to again face the war on poverty in Mindanao.

Compas says the destitution that she and her family suffered in Cotabato made her decide to become an OFW in Yemen. She says she borrowed money to be able to work overseas and even faked some personal information to hasten her recruitment.

But 20 days after her deployment, Compas had to go back to the Philippines amid the worsening conflict in emen.

Like Compas, Glessy Cabales returned home with a heavy heart.

Cabales had been working as a nurse in Yemen for six years and decided to make the Arab nation

her home where she lived with her husband and two children aged three and one.

But their home in the foreign land turned into a war zone as the conflict in the country intensified with the Saudi Arabia-led air strikes against the Iran-allied Houthi rebels, who now control most of Yemen.

“Nakakaparanoid po, gabigabi na lang may dumadaan na eroplano… nakakatakot… Pag daytime normal, pero pag gabi na, ayun na, di mo alam kung saan nanaman bobomba,” says Cabales.

[The airplanes that pass through

Overseas Filipino worker Girlie Compas who returned home from war-torn Yemen. Photo from News5 video screenshot

court proceedings on this case that led to the dismissal of the case for the other co-accused, attended this hearing for the Tiamzons,” Palabay said.

The Tiamzon couple and five other companions have been detained for more than a year.

“Numerous criminal cases have been logged against them because the Aquino regime detests their beliefs and the work that the Tiamzons do for just and lasting peace,” Palabay said.

At the end of the hearing, Wilma Austria Tiamzon came out of the courtroom of Camp Crame, angry and in pain for the handcuffs on both wrists. “I have a back problem. I can’t hold both my wrists together because it is too painful.

My only request is to handcuff me in one

wrist,” Tiamzon shouted.

“How could her guards be so inconsiderate to a woman with a medical condition? What security risk would they

face when they just travel within the premises of the Camp Crame?” Palabay asked. n Jamie Sinapit / InterAksyon.com / April 16, 2015 / 2:47 PM

The Tiamzon couple being taken to attend inquest. File photograph by Krisken Jones.

s ee ar in emen ace poverty trap again in

in the area every night makes me paranoid…it’s frightening.

It’s normal during daytime but at night, there it goes, you don’t know where the bomb will be dropped.]

Cabales was not with her family when she returned home on Tuesday with 77 other OFWs. Her husband and children remain in Yemen as their documents for repatriation are still being processed.

Cabales says her being unemployed and the anxiety she feels over the danger being faced by her family while they are still in emen worsen the difficulties she now faces.

“Sana makauwi na sila sa next flight. May mga natira pa pong Pilipino doon…’Yong mga may family, sana po maayos na ang visa nila at makauwi na sila [I hope that they’ll be able to return home in the next flight. There are still ilipinos remaining there…Those who have families there, I hope they will be able to process their visas so they can already return home],” says Cabales.

A total of 342 OFWs in Yemen

have already been repatriated.

There are still about 400 Filipinos who are still in the war-torn country, according to the Philippine government.

5,000 OFWs deployed daily.

Everyday, 5,031 Filipinos leave the country to work abroad, based on latest data from the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency.

From only 867,000 in 1972, the yearly documented deployment of Filipinos overseas jumped by 111 percent to 1,836,345 in 2013.

Ironically, the answer to the Philippines’ worsening unemployment problem has always been inclined towards the creation of jobs at home and not abroad.

Even when the Marcos administration started sending Filipino workers abroad in the early ‘70s, policy makers made it clear the move was just intended as a stopgap measure while the government was working to build a solid domestic economy to provide sustainable and decent jobs for Filipinos.

Even before he won the presidency, Benigno Aquino Jr. said

that his aim was to transform the government from one “that treats its people as an export commodity and a means to earn foreign currency to a government that creates jobs at home so that working abroad will be a choice rather than a necessity.”

After he won the May 2010 elections, Aquino said in his inaugural address that, “Layunin nating paramihin ang trabaho dito sa ating bansa upang hindi na kailanganin ang mangibang-bansa para makahanap ng trabaho. [Our goal is to create more jobs at home so that there will be no need to look for employment abroad].”

But statements and promises of presidents proved to be more of a rhetoric than a reality. As the problem of local unemployment continues to worsen, overseas deployment is growing by leaps and bounds, such that the exodus now means that thousands of Filipinos have to leave the country every day, not so much because they wanted to but more because they needed to. n Video report

by Kaye Imson / News5 / Additional reporting by InterAksyon.com / April 15, 2015 / 6:53 PM

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Should a community hosting a power plant be brownoutfree? Petilla says special treatment justified LINGAYEN, Pangasinan - Should a community that hosts a power plant be brownout-free? For Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho Petilla, the special

treatment is justified.

The question was asked by Sual, Pangasinan Mayor Roberto Arcinue, calling on power operator Team Energy

Sual coal-fired power plant.

to allocate at least one megawatt of power to his town.

As host to the 1,200-megawatt ual Coal-fired Power Plant, the town deserves this kind of treatment, Petilla told newsmen here on Tuesday.

This, he said, can only be done if there is an existing commercial contract between Team Energy and the local electric cooperative distributing power in Sual town.

He said if there is a commercial agreement, DOE will help ensure that Sual town gets the one megawatt it is requesting in case of massive brownouts for the whole of Luzon.

But the problem is the Pangasinan Electric Cooperative (Panelco) based in Bani town has a commercial agreement

with an independent power provider in Bataan, not the ual Coal-fired Plant operated by Team Energy.

Following the same logic, the town of San Manuel in Pangasinan may also get special treatment from the San Roque Power Corporation which operates the San Roque Multipurpose Dam project that the town hosts, but only if it has a commercial contract with the Pangasinan Electric Cooperative III. What about the entire province of Pangasinan? Since both the Sual Coal-fired Power Plant and the an Roque Multi-purpose Dam Project are in Pangasinan, can’t the province demand the same?

Again, the answer depends on

whether or not the electric cooperatives and corporations operating in the province have commercial contracts with the two IPPs in Pangasinan.

Secretary Petilla said this was not the first request made of a power producer. He said when he was governor of Leyte, a town hosting a geothermal power plant made a similar request.

But the request was not granted, according to the secretary, because the electric cooperative from which that town is getting electricity had no commercial agreement with the geothermal plant but rather with a power plant somewhere in Luzon. n

Leonardo V. Micua / Philippines News Agency / April 16, 2015 / 10:38 AM

Assessment team to conduct safety oversight on Philippine air carriers still under EU ban MANILA - Philippine air carriers still barred from flying to Europe are the subject of a review by a five-man safety assessment team from the European Union.

The EU team, which will be in Manila until April 24, called on Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines Director General William Hotchkiss lll on Thursday. They were accompanied

by Ambassador Guy Ledoux of the EU Delegation to the Philippines.

The EU team is tasked to examine the safety oversight system of Philippine air carriers that remain on the list of those banned from flying to Europe.

Currently, only flag carrier Philippine Airlines and Low Cost Carrier Cebu Pacific have been taken out of the EU list of airlines that fail to meet international aviation standards.

The team will assess the capabilities of the CAAP and air carriers Air Asia Inc., Air Asia Zest, Air Philippines Corporation, Island Aviation Inc., Magnum Air, South East Asian Airlines and South East Asian Airlines International Inc., with the view to finding out if any measures still in place under the current operating ban could be mitigated.

The EU safety assessment visit to the Philippines will seek to confirm whether or not CAAP has addressed the root causes of previous areas of concerns and can conduct effective oversight of air carriers certified in the Philippines.

It also seeks to validate CAAP’s ability to confirm compliance with safety regulations, as well as detect any significant safety risk within an air carrier; and act effectively to contain the risk and ensure that those directly responsible for

air carriers certified in the Philippines are correctly following CAAP procedures and Philippine Civil Aviation Regulations (PCARs).

The assessment also seeks to confirm that the CAAP-certified air carriers which the EU team visits can ensure compliance with PCARs and can identify safety risks to the air carriers’ operations and take effective action on them.

The assessment will be conducted by experts from the European Commission, the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and EU Member States led by Captain Richard Miller, Messrs. Per-Erik Oberg, Vincent Lambotte, Sebastian Zacharias; and Mrs. Mureil Belzunce.

On hand during the CAAP meetings are: Air Asia Inc. represented by Ms. Marianne Hontiveros, Air Asia Zest -Ms. Josephine Joy Caneba, Air Philippines-

The EU safety assessment team meets with officials of CAAP and Philippine air carriers that remain on an EU blacklist. The team is in town until April 24. Eric Apolonio, InterAksyon.com

Mr. Bonifacio U. Sam, Island Aviation Inc. -Capt. Benhur Gomez, Magnum Air (Skyjet Inc.)-Capt. Teodoro Fojas, Southeast Asian Airlines (Tiger Airways)- Mr. Michael Shau

and South East Asian Airlines (SEAIR) International Inc., representative Mr. Avelino Zapanta. n Eric B. Apolonio / InterAksyon.com / April 16, 2015 / 4:09 PM

Lawyer accuses Binay of pocketing billions from Makati housing projects but shows no proof MANILA – A lawyer on Thursday accused Vice President Jejomar Binay of pocketing “billions” in two Makati City Housing project for informal settlers but proffered no proof to substantiate his allegations, basing his disclosure instead on gut-feel.

In his 61-slide presentation during the 18th public hearing of the Senate

Blue Ribbon Subcommittee chaired

by Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III on alleged Makati City anomalies, Atty. Renato Bondal said that Binay may have raked in an average of 13% of the total cost of Friendship Suite and resettlement projects in the town of Calauan, Laguna.

“Binay made money from

Atty. Bondal leads picket against the Binays. File photograph by Krisken Jones

Friendship Suites that should have gone to housing projects for poor residents of Makati. Again, overpricing was the name of the game,” Bondal told the Pimentel panel, in Filipino.

“Binay made money from the Calauan relocation site project,” he added.

Bondal showed photocopies of two Makati ordinances approved by Binay, who at the time was mayor of the city, particularly Ordinance No. 2002-091 in the amount of P17.2 million for the purchase of three buildings in the Guadalupe Bliss Project to complement the existing City Pabahay project and informal settlers’ relocation program.

Another document, Makati City Ordinance No. 2007-A-015, showed the availability of P1.240 billion from which the proposed rehabilitation of Guadalupe Bliss in the amount of P120-M and the proposed Calauan, Laguna housing development project and facilities, for P600-M, were to be sourced from.

Bondal claimed that, based on supposed industry estimate, the rehabilitation cost of the Makati Friendship Suites was 13 times higher than the P17.2 million purchase cost for the three phases of rehabilitation that totaled P242-M. “P195 million was the overprice,” Bondal said.

On the Calauan Housing Development Project, Bondal said that the city acquired 40 hectares in Barrio Santol, Barangay Dayap, Laguna dubbed as Makati Homeville, for the amount of P120 million and P900 million construction of Phases I and II. “If the City spent more than P1 billion for poor residents to be relocated in Calauan, then why is it that they did not exactly relish being transferred there?” Bondal asked.

He pointed out that the Calauan Housing Project was poorly developed, with no running water facilities, no electric power, and no opportunity to live humanely.

However, Bondal failed to show

documentary evidence to substantiate his allegations that Binay pocketed the overprice amount.

“In the next hearing, we will show you,” Bondal simply told journalists after the hearing.

He said his allegation is based on his own personal gut feel that there was overpricing.

“I am not an engineer, just a lawyer, but we have also have our own engineers telling us that, as was the practice in Makati, the pattern would show, every infrastructure project there is overpriced. Former vice Mayor Ernesto Mercado said that in every project, there was 28% kickback.

Where would that come from? Why, from the overprice, of course” he said.

Bondal said that, in order to pinpoint with certainty how Binay pocketed the billions in various kickback, he would seek the assistance of the Pimentel panel to subpoena relevant records from the Commission on Audit and from Makati City itself. n Ernie Reyes / InterAksyon.com / April 16, 2015 / 8:26 PM

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INTERNATIONAL / GLOBAL NEWS

April 2015 / Fortnightly – No. 8 • UK & Europe Edition

Migrants ‘throw’ fellow passengers overboard in religion row: Italy police ITALIAN police said Thursday they had arrested a group of African migrants after witnesses said they threw 12 passengers overboard following a row about religion on a boat headed to Europe.

The deadly dispute, which saw a group of Muslim passengers allegedly attack a group of Christian passengers, coincided with reports of a new migrant drowning tragedy.

Four days after a migrant shipwreck

off the coast of Libya, in which 400 people are believed to have died, another 41 migrants were missing feared drowned Thursday after their dinghy sank en route to Italy, Italian media reported.

The stricken vessel was spotted by a plane, which alerted the Italian coastguard but by the time a navy ship arrived at the spot only four passengers were found alive, the reports quoted the police and aid agencies as saying.

Italian police officers look on as shipwrecked migrants line up to receive first aid from Italian Red Cross personnel as they arrive in the Italian port of Augusta in Sicily on April 16, 2015

The four survivors, who came from Nigeria, Ghana and Niger, said they were part of a group of 45 people that set sail from Libya.

A separate group of migrants rescued by an Italian vessel related a deadly standoff over religion in their dinghy, which ended in 12 Nigerian and Ghanaian passengers being drowned, the police said.

The victims were “of Christian faith, compared to their attackers who were of Muslim faith,” police in the Sicilian port of Palermo said in a statement.

Fifteen migrants were arrested on suspicion of “multiple aggravated murder motivated by religious hate”, the statement added.

The incident aboard the vessel, which was carrying about 100 migrants, took place in the Strait of Sicily, between Tunisia and Italy.

According to a group of Nigerian and hanaian survivors, a fight bro e out over religion, with a group of Muslim passengers threatening the Nigerians and Ghanaians after they declared themselves to be Christians.

“The threats then materialised and

12 people, all Nigerian and Ghanaian, are believed to have drowned in the Mediterranean,” the police statement added.

The remaining passengers were rescued and brought to Palermo, where the 15 alleged attackers, who came from Ivory Coast, Mali and Senegal, were arrested.

‘Human chain’. The boat, like many of the claptrap vessels flooding Italy’s shores each wee with migrants fleeing conflict and poverty in Africa and the Middle East, had set out from Libya on Tuesday, according to the survivors.

The police said the distraught Nigerians and Ghanaians told a “dreadful” story of their struggle to escape with their lives “by forcefully resisting attempts to drown them, forming a veritable human chain in some cases.”

Some passengers had taken photographs of the incident, judicial sources who described the accounts as “coherent” told Italian media.

The International Organization for Migration said it had received reports of a fight between different groups -

maybe for religious reasons... on one of the boats rescued some days ago.”

Italy pleaded for more help from other European Union countries Thursday to rescue the migrants risking their lives to reach Europe and to share the burden of accommodating the arrivals.

Italy is not the final destination of most of the tens of thousands of migrants who risk their lives each year in search of a better life in Europe but as their first port of call it is saddled with handling all their asylum requests as well as saving those in danger from a watery grave.

“Ninety percent of the cost of the patrol and sea rescue operations are falling on our shoulders, and we have not had an adequate response from the EU,” Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni told the daily Corrieredella Sera.

And then there is the difficult issue of knowing where to send those rescued at sea -- to the nearest port To the country where their boat came from The E has to respond clearly to these questions,” Gentiloni said. n AFP / April 16, 2015

Nigeria army aims to destroy last Boko Haram camp by handover

Nigerien army forces patrol in pickup trucks near Malam Fatori on April 3, 2015, after the town in north-eastern Nigeria was retaken from Boko Haram by troops from Chad and Niger

freed before the handover on May 29, God willing,” he said.

It was believed that most of the 219 schoolgirls abducted by Boko Haram from Chibok, also in the northeastern state of Borno a year ago, were being held in the forest.

The military said last year that it knew where they were, but ruled out a rescue operation because of the dangers to the hostages.

There have since been several claims of the girls’ whereabouts, including that they had been split up and sent to different Boko Haram strongholds and even taken to Cameroon and Chad.

A lot of surveillance flights have been undertaken to identify where these girls can be located,” Dasuki said, without giving further details.

Efforts were ongoing to rescue all

IRAQI Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi sought Thursday to walk back sharp criticism of the Saudi air campaign against Shiite militias in Yemen, and welcomed news that the Saudi embassy in Baghdad will reopen.

Abadi had told reporters Wednesday that there was “no logic to the operation at all in the first place,” according to the New York Times. “Mainly the problem of Yemen is within Yemen.”

But the Iraqi leader told a Washington think tank on Thursday that while he was “frank” about the situation in Yemen, “my intention is not to criticize anybody.”

Abadi, a Shiite, stressed, though, that decisions and actions taken within the Middle East region by other actors about Yemen “have their fallouts on us.”

“We are on the same boat in the

region. If anybody makes a hole in that boat we all will sink.”

He stressed: “We are only giving some advice, some opinion on this. We don’t intervene in their own affairs, and ask them not to intervene in our own.”

Diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Iraq were severed in 1990, but restored in 2004 after the fall of Saddam Hussein’s regime Saudi Arabia announced in January it was sending a delegation to Iraq ahead of opening an embassy in Baghdad where its last mission closed nearly 25 years ago.

Abadi said the Saudi compound was “ready” for the new ambassador, adding that having a Saudi “embassy in Baghdad makes our job much easier.”

The Saudi-led drive to push out the

ABUJA - Nigerian troops will storm what it said was the last remaining Boko Haram stronghold before the handover of power to incoming president Muhammadu Buhari, national security advisor Sambo Dasuki said Tuesday.

“If not for the bad weather, we would have taken over that forest by now. But we are determined to ensure the Sambisa Forest is liberated and

the girls before President Goodluck Jonathan hands over power on May 29 to Buhari, Dasuki said in a statement.

Nigeria’s military, backed by Niger and Chad with support from Cameroon, have in recent months recaptured a string of Boko Haram-controlled towns in the restive northeast.

The operations were used as a pretext to postpone February 14 elections by six weeks.

Dasuki said at the time that most of the camps would be destroyed before the rescheduled date of March 28.

Jonathan’s handling of the sixyear insurgency and response to the abduction of the Chibok girls was seen as a factor in his defeat to Buhari, a former army general who was military ruler of Nigeria in the 1980s. n AFP / April

14, 2015 / 4:19 PM

Iraq PM downplays criticism of Saudi airstrikes on Yemen Huthi militias and restore to power ousted President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi is now in its fourth week.

“We think it’s very important that the prime minister has re-established ties with all of the regional leaders and they don’t have to agree on everything, but there are a lot of common interests,” McGurk told the Washington-based Arabic language Radio Sawa. n AFP / April

16, 2015

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi speaks at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington, DC, April 16, 2015

China dismisses Philippine leader’s call to fear Beijing BEIJING on Wednesday dismissed as “groundless” Philippine President Benigno Aquino’s warning to AFP that the Asian giant’s actions in the South China Sea should “engender fear for the rest of the world”.

Aquino made his remarks in an exclusive interview on Tuesday, saying that China’s increasing bold assertions of its territorial claims could cut access for other nations to vital international shipping lanes and rich fishing grounds in the sea.

China’s foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei told a regular briefing: “The relevant accusations by the Philippines are groundless.”

China claims sovereignty over most of the South China Sea, using vague demarcation lines that first appeared on Chinese maps in the 1940s, locking it into territorial disputes with several of its neighbours.

Asked to assess recent Chinese government moves, Aquino said: “Does it engender fear? Yes, I think it should engender fear for the rest of the world.”

“The question of it escalating to something beyond everybody’s control should be at the top of the minds of all world leaders,” he added.

Using the Chinese name for the Spratlys, where satellite imagery shows Beijing has recently constructed artificial islands, runways and manmade harbours, Hong said: “The Philippines’ territory has never covered the Nansha islands.

“We urge the Philippines to respect China’s territorial sovereignty,” he added.

Hong said that Beijing favoured the resolution of territorial disputes through “negotiation with countries directly concerned, based on respect for historical facts”.

He added that Chinese construction “does not impact or target any other countries, or threaten the security of international shipping lanes and fishing activities”.

The US has weighed in on China’s projects, with a State Department spokesman saying the reclaimed land was “fuelling greater anxiety within the region” and might become “militarised”.

US President Barack Obama warned last week that Beijing should not “elbow aside” countries it is in dispute with in the South China Sea. n AFP / April 15, 2015 / 6:16 AM

NEWS

April 2015 / Fortnightly – No. 8 • UK & Europe Edition

www.hello-philippines.com

21

DOH to push for inclusion of hemophilia patients in PhilHealth’s Z package MANILA - Patients suffering from hemophilia and other bleeding disorders may soon be relieved of high costs of treatments, a Department of ealth official said over the wee end.

At a gathering of hemophilia patients and their families in Glorietta Mall on Saturday, Health Undersecretary Vicente Belizario said the O would push for the inclusion of hemophilia, von Willebrand Disease, and inherited bleeding disorders in the Z Benefit Pac age offered to Phil ealth members.

Z Benefit Pac age is aimed at addressing health conditions that trigger prolonged hospitalization and very expensive treatments.

Conditions under type Z, the farthest end of the spectrum, are cases “perceived as economically and medically catastrophic” due to the seriousness of the case.

After tal ing to some patients earlier today, I found out that treatment for bleeding in hemophilia patients is very costly. e at O will wor out that hemophilia and other bleeding disorders will be included in the Z Benefit Pac age,” Beli ario said, rousing a loud applause from the audience. undreds of persons with hemophilia and other bleeding

disorders gathered in Glorietta over the wee end to commemorate the orld emophilia ay which is celebrated around the world on April .

Dubbed as “Count Me In,” the two-day activity was organi ed by the Hemophilia Association of the Philippines for Love and Service (Haplos), the national membership organi ation of persons with hemophilia and other bleeding disorders. aplos president ic elipe, who himself has hemophilia, noted that there are only around , patients in their registry.

According to the World Hemophilia Federation, there could be around , ilipinos affected by hemophilia and around one million more with von Willebrand Disease and other clotting factor deficiency disorders.

What is hemophilia?

Hemophilia, von Willebrand isease, and clotting factor deficiency disorders are life-long genetic medical conditions where the person’s blood lac s the ability to clot normally.

Seemingly minor injuries can cause profuse bleeding. Bleeding into joints and muscles causes severe pain and disability while bleeding into major organs, such as the brain, can lead to death.

Felipe said the cost of treatments for hemophilia and other bleeding disorders are very costly.

Treatment for minor bleeds such as those in joints could cost around P , to P , per day while serious bleeds such as those in the gastro-intestinal tract or the brain could reach hundreds of thousands to millions.

“Many patients die because they could not afford the high cost of treatments or they do not have access to treatment at all,” elipe said.

On the other hand, despite being considered as a serious and lifelong condition, awareness for hemophilia, von Willebrand Disease, and other bleeding disorders remain very low.

Marvin alladolid, , who was at the gathering in Glorietta, said that he only found out he had severe hemophilia two wee s ago.

Three years na po a ong pabali bali sa ospital. abi noong una may von illebrand daw po a o. Tapos, nitong huli sabi naman hemophilia I’ve been in and out of the hospital in the past three years. At first, they said I had von illebrand. ately, they said I have hemophilia ,” he said.

Out of exasperation, Valladolid came to Manila and sought help of aplos.

Hemophilia campaign poster.

e was advised to have himself chec ed at the ational idney and Transplant Institute and it was found out that he had severe hemophilia.

“Huli na po ang lahat, ngayon lumpo na po a o It’s too late, now I’m already crippled ,” alladolid lamented. nli e other conditions, Hemophilia, von Willebrand Disease, and other bleeding disorders receive little public awareness and attention.

The World Hemophilia Day is an opportunity for the bleeding disorder community to come together, spea out, and focus on the need to improve

and maintain treatment.

“Count Me In” lead campaigner Andrea Echave said the event was also aimed as a call to action to those with hemophilia, von illebrand Disease, and other bleeding disorders to be more active and be included in the ational emophilia egistry.

By nowing our numbers, the government, doctors, and organi ations li e ours could strategi e more on a way forward in addressing our concerns,” Echave , who has von illebrand isease, said. n InterAksyon. com/ April 16, 2015 / 10:11 AM

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HEALTH and Lifestyle

April 2015 / Fortnightly – No. 8 • UK & Europe Edition

How TVs, phones and screens impair kids’ sleep A survey has shown that using computers, mobiles and TVs at night affects children’s sleep and, therefore, their health, mood and performance at school.

Studies show that many children are severely sleep deprived. One in three children aged 12 to 16 sleeps for just four to seven hours a night, according to a poll of 1,000 youngsters

by The Sleep Council.

Children in this age group require eight to 10 hours’ sleep a night, say sleep experts.

They reckon that screens and other electronic devices are to blame and advise placing strict limits on the use of TVs, mobile phones or computers in a child’s bedroom during the evening.

Nearly one in four of the children surveyed admitted they fell asleep more than once a week while watching TV, listening to music or during other technical distractions.

Virtually all the children polled

(98.5%) have a phone, music system or TV in their bedroom and two-thirds (65%) have all three. he e e t o l o leep. Most teenagers don’t make the link between getting enough quality sleep and how they feel during the day, says Dr Chris Idzikowski of the Edinburgh Sleep Centre.

He says the impact of poorquality sleep on a teenager’s health is comparable to regularly eating junk food. “We’re seeing the emergence of junk sleep,” he says.

“That’s sleep that is neither the length nor quality that it should be in order to feed the brain with the rest it needs to perform properly at school.”

Evidence shows that night-time sleep is just as important as healthy eating and exercise for children to develop. Those who don’t get enough sleep are more likely to be overweight or obese. This is because they tend to crave and eat sugary or starchy food

Why are teens always tired?

TROUBLE getting up on school days, dozing off in class, marathon lieins at weekends ... You’d be forgiven for thinking teenagers sleep their lives away.

In fact, the opposite is true. Sleep experts say teens today are sleeping less than they ever have. This is a worry, as there’s a link between sleep deprivation and accidents, obesity andcardiovascular disorders.

Physiological changes, social pressures and external factors such as TVs and other stimulating gadgets in the bedroom contribute to late nights and mood swings.

Lack of sleep also affects teenagers’ education, as it can leave them too tired to concentrate in class and perform to their best ability in exams.

een leep thie e . Our sleep patterns are dictated by light and hormones. When light dims in the evening, we produce a chemical called melatonin, which gives the body clock its cue, telling us it’s time to sleep.

“The problem is that society has changed,” says Dr Paul Gringras, consultant paediatrician and director of the Evelina Paediatric Sleep Disorder Service at Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital in London.

Artificial light has disrupted our sleep patterns. Bright room lighting, TVs, games consoles and PCs can all emit enough light to stop the natural production of melatonin.”

Other distractions include mobile phones and instant messaging, which teens may use well into the night.

during the day to provide energy to stay awake.

The key to adequate sleep is whether a child gets up fairly easily in the morning, is alert and happy for most of the day and is not grumpy.

Younger children who are persistently sleep deprived seem irritable and overactive, seek constant stimulation and lack concentration.

Such symptoms can be mistaken for mild A attention deficit hyperactivity disorder). hildren need deep leep. Professor Jim Horne of Loughborough University’s Sleep Research Centre is an expert in sleep deprivation and says children going through puberty and adolescence need to “sleep longer and deeper”.

“It’s a time during which their brains are undergoing major change,” he says. “The brain is undergoing major restructuring and rewiring and sleep is important for it to recover.

“A poor night’s sleep can interfere

with a child’s performance and behaviour the following day. There’s a stereotype of teenagers being grumpy and bad tempered, and that’s sometimes due to a lack of sleep.”

Peer pressure and social factors, including the increase in entertainment equipment in the bedroom, are making it increasingly difficult for children to sleep well.

“Bedrooms are changing from a place of rest and tranquillity to places where there are lots of things to keep

children awake, such as computers and televisions,” says Horne.

“Children are often tempted to take their mobile phone to bed with them and start texting without their mum and dad knowing.

“This distraction means they’re not in a relaxed state for good-quality sleep, which can affect their learning.

I would place firm night-time limits on the use of a television, mobile phone or a computer in their bedroom.” n NHS

nine hours of sleep. The result is a tired and cranky teenager.”

Several school districts in the US have introduced later start times for pupils in an effort to improve their performance, although results have been mixed.

morning – and chronotherapy, which involves restoring the individual’s natural sleep phase.

“Sometimes we give a small dose of melatonin in the evening, about an hour or so before bedtime,” says Dr Gringras. “Over the long term, this helps to reset the body clock.”

“However tired they feel, they should avoid lie-ins at the weekend.

They should get exposure to outdoor light,” he says.

o

These all worsen the usual changes taking place in the body during adolescence, which means teenagers fall asleep later in the evening.

“That wouldn’t be a problem if there was no need to get up early in the morning for school,” says Dr Gringras.

“The early-morning wake-ups mean they’re not getting the average eight to

the ody lo

et

leep.

“Catching up on sleep at weekends isn’t ideal. Late nights and long lie-ins further disrupt the body clock,” says Dr Gringras.

In severe cases, an individual’s body clock can be so different to everyone else’s that they can’t fall asleep until late at night. This condition is called delayed sleep phase syndrome (DSPS).

It’s similar to the feeling of jet lag and is a disorder of the body’s timing system.

Treatment for DSPS includes bright light therapy – such as exposure to a bright light for about half an hour every

Choices

etting help or leep pro le

A range of services for sleep problems can be accessed through the NHS. Your GP can tell you more about this.

Dr Gringras says: “Your doctor will also be able to give you basic advice on addressing sleep issues and, where appropriate, recommend a sleep clinic.” n NHS Choices

Healthy sleep tips for children KEE N your hild to regul r edti e routine n e di i ult ut it n help i pro e the u lity o their leep.

For o e hildren irregul r leeping hour n e pro le ti . etting regul r edti e hedule n re lly help hildren get the right ount o leep. t i port nt to de i e routine th t or or you nd your hild nd to ti to it.

Keep regul r leeping hour y e i Ale nder o he leep oun il non pro it org ni tion th t pro ide d i e on good leep.

A edti e ritu l te he the r in to e o e ili r ith leep ti e nd e ti e he y . t progr e the r in nd intern l ody lo to get u ed to et routine.

el

tion te hni ue to id leep

inding do n i riti l t ge in prep ring your hild or ed. here re ny y or the to rel

• A r not hot th ill help their ody re h te per ture here it ot li ely to re t.

• el tion e er i e u h light yog tret he ill help rel their u le .

• el tion or y rel ing the li tener ith re ully ho en ord nd gentle hypnoti u i nd ound e e t .

• e ding oo or li tening to the r dio ill rel their ind y di tr ting it ro ny orrie or n ietie . ere re o e ore rel tion tip your teen ger n u e to prep re the or leep.

A oid in the edroo . he edroo hould e rel ed en iron ent.

E pert y th t edroo re trongly o i ted ith leep ut th t ert in thing e en the o i tion. he e in lude o ile / rtphone nd other ele troni g dget light or noi e nd d ttre or un o ort le ed. ry to eep your hild edroo ree one nd get the to h rge their

phone nd other de i e do n t ir . h t y they ll e out o te pt tion nd on t di tur the i te t or e il o e through. et o y ed. t i port nt to re te n en iron ent th t our le or leep y Ale nder. Keep the edroo u t or leeping. he edroo need to e d r uiet nd tidy. t hould ell re h nd e ept t te per ture o 18 2 . e i dd Fit o e thi urt in . there noi e out ide on ider in e ting in dou le gl ing or or he per option e rplug .

A o ort le ed i e enti l. e e r h y he leep oun il ho th t good u lity ttre nd ed r e ill gi e you n e tr hour leep night. r hri i o i o the Edin urgh leep entre ho led the re e r h y people ene it ro h nging their ed i it un o ort le. t li ely th t long ter in o ni nd tho e ith in de u te

leep h it

ould ene it o t he y .

Keep

leep di ry. ne o the ir t

thing your or leep e pert ill get you to do i to eep leep di ry or your hild p rt o di gno ing ny leep pro le . he leep di ry ight re e l o e underlying ondition th t e pl in leep pro le uh tre or edi tion y Ale nder.

A leep di ry ight re e l li e tyle h it or e perien e in your hild d y to d y ti itie th t ontri ute to leep pro le .

A leep di ry ould in lude n er to the ollo ing ue tion

• h t ere your hild leeping ti e • o long did it t e the to get to leep • o ny ti e did they e up during the night • o long did e h ening l t • o long did they leep in tot l • id they do ny e er i e hortly e ore going to ed • id they t e ny n p during the d y or e ening • nything de the n iou or up et n NHS Choices

MEDIA PARTNER:

24

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HEALTH and Lifestyle food

April 2015 / Fortnightly – No. 8 • UK & Europe Edition

Foods to avoid in pregnancy THERE are some foods to avoid or ta e care with when you’re pregnant because they might ma e you ill or harm your baby. Ma e sure you now the important facts about which foods you should avoid or ta e precautions with when you’re pregnant.

CHEESES TO AVOID IN PREGNANCY Soft cheeses with white rinds. on’t

eat mould-ripened soft cheese cheeses with a white rind such as brie and camembert. This includes mouldripened soft goats’ cheese such as chevre.

These cheeses are only safe to eat in pregnancy if they’ve been coo ed.

Soft blue cheeses. ou should also avoid soft blue-veined cheeses, such as anish blue, gorgon ola and roquefort. oft blue cheeses are only safe to eat in pregnancy if they’ve been coo ed.

The advice to avoid some soft cheeses is because they are less acidic than hard cheeses and they contain more moisture, which means they can be an ideal environment for harmful bacteria, such as listeria, to grow in.

Although infection with listeria listeriosis is rare, it is important to ta e special precautions in pregnancy because even a mild form of the illness in a pregnant woman can lead to miscarriage,stillbirth or severe illness in a newborn baby.

These are the symptoms of listeria.

If you’re pregnant and showing signs of listeria infection, see medical help straight away.

Cheeses that are safe to eat in pregnancy. All hard cheeses are safe in

pregnancy ou can eat hard cheeses such as cheddar, parmesan and stilton, even if they’re made with unpasteurised mil . ard cheeses don’t contain as much water as soft cheeses so bacteria are less li ely to grow in them. It is possible for hard cheese to contain listeria, but the ris is considered to be low.

Soft cheeses that are safe to eat in pregnancy. Other than mould-ripened

soft cheeses, all other soft types of cheese are O to eat provided they’re made from pasteurised mil . These include cottage cheese, mo arella, feta, cream cheese, paneer, ricotta, halloumi, goats’ cheese, and processed cheeses such as cheese spreads.

Cooked soft cheeses that are safe to eat in pregnancy. Thorough coo ing should

ill any bacteria in cheese, so it should be safe to eat coo ed mould-ripened soft cheese, such as brie, camembert and chevre, and coo ed soft blue cheese, such as roquefort or gorgon ola, or dishes that contain them. It’s important to ma e sure the cheese is thoroughly coo ed until it’s steaming hot all the way through. are hard cheeses safe to eat in pregnancy are coo ed brie and blue cheeses safe to eat in pregnancy is it safe to eat goats’ cheese in pregnancy

Pâté in pregnancy. Avoid all types of p t , including vegetable p t s, as they can contain listeria.

Avoid raw or partially coo ed eggs if you’re pregnant Ma e sure that eggs are thoroughly coo ed until the whites and yol s are solid to prevent the ris of salmonella food poisoning. almonella food poisoning is unli ely to harm your baby, but it can give you a severe bout of diarrhoea and vominting.

Avoid foods that contain raw and undercoo ed eggs, such as homemade mayonnaise. If you wish to have dishes that contain raw or partially coo ed eggs, consider using pasteurised liquid egg.

Raw or undercooked meat is risky in pregnancy. Try not to eat rare

meat because of the potential ris of toxoplasmosis.

Coo all meat and poultry thoroughly so it’s steaming hot and there is no trace of pin or blood - especially with poultry, por , sausages and minced meat, including burgers.

The epartment of ealth previously advised that it was fine to eat whole cuts of beef and lamb rare, as long as the outside had been properly coo ed. As a precaution, this advice has now been removed while a food safety committee The Advisory Committee on the Microbiological afety of ood loo s into the issue of toxoplasmosis.

Toxoplasmosis is an infection caused by a parasite that can be found in meat, soil, cat faeces and untreated water.

If you are pregnant the infection can damage your baby, but it’s important to remember that toxoplasmosis in pregnancy is very rare.

Toxoplasmosis often has no symptoms. But if you feel you may have been at ris , discuss it with your P, midwife or obstetrician. If you are infected while you’re pregnant, treatment for toxoplasmosis is available. ash all surfaces and utensils thoroughly after preparing raw meat to avoid the spread of harmful bugs. And wash and dry your hands after touching or handling raw meat.

Be cautious with cold cured meats in pregnancy. Many cold meats such

as salami, Parma ham, chori o and pepperoni are not coo ed, just cured and fermented, so there’s a ris that they contain toxoplasmosis-causing parasites.

It’s best to chec the instructions on the pac to see whether the product is readyto-eat or needs coo ing first. or ready-to-eat meats, you can

reduce any ris from parasites by free ing cured fermented meats for four days at home before you eat them. ree ing ills most parasites and so ma es the meat safer to eat.

If you’re planning to coo the meat for instance, pepperoni on pi a then you don’t need to free e it first.

If you’re eating out in a restaurant that sells cold cured fermented meats they may not have been fro en. If you’re concerned, as the staff or avoid eating it.

Pre-packed meat is safe to eat if you’re pregnant. Pre-pac ed meats li e

ham and corned beef are safe to eat in pregnancy. ome other sites maybe from other countries such as the A may suggest that you avoid pre-pac ed meats in pregnancy but here in the we do not.

Liver can harm your unborn baby.

on’t eat liver, or liver-containing products such as liver p t , liver sausage or haggis as they may contain a lot of vitamin A. Too much vitamin A can harm your baby.

Vitamin and fish oil supplements.

on’t ta e high-dose multivitamin supplements, fish liver oil supplements or any supplements containing vitamin A. Fish in pregnancy. ou can eat most types of fish when you’re pregnant.

Eating fish is good for your health and the development of your baby. But you should avoid some types of fish and limit the amount you eat of some other types. hen you’re pregnant or planning to get pregnant, you shouldn’t eat shar , swordfish or marlin. ou should also limit the amount of tuna you eat to no more than two tuna stea s a wee about g coo ed or g raw each , or four medium-si ed cans of tuna a wee about g when drained This is because tuna contains more mercury than other types of fish. The amount of mercury we get from food isn’t harmful for most people, but if you ta e in high levels of mercury when you’re pregnant this could affect your baby’s developing nervous system. hen you’re pregnant, you should also avoid having more than two portions of oily fish a wee , such as salmon, trout, mac erel and herring, because it can contain pollutants such as dioxins and PCBs polychlorinated biphenyls . emember that fresh tuna is an oily fish, so if you eat two fresh tuna stea s in one wee , you shouldn’t eat any other oily fish that wee .

Tinned tuna doesn’t count as oily fish, so you can eat this on top of the maximum of two portions of oily fish as long as it’s not fresh tuna or swordfish .

But remember not to eat more than four medium-si ed cans of tinned tuna a wee when you’re pregnant or trying to get pregnant.

There is no need to limit the amount of white fish and coo ed shellfish you eat when you’re pregnant or breastfeeding,

apart from shar , swordfish and marlin.

Shellfish in pregnancy. Always eat coo ed rather than raw shellfish including mussels, lobster, crab, prawns, scallops and clams when you’re pregnant as they can contain harmful bacteria and viruses that can cause food poisoning. Cold pre-coo ed prawns are fine.

Smoked fish in pregnancy is safe.

mo ed fish, which includes smo ed salmon and smo ed trout, is considered safe to eat in pregnancy.

Sushi and pregnancy. It’s fine to eat raw or lightly coo ed fish in dishes such as sushi when you’re pregnant as long as any raw wild fish used to ma e it has been fro en first. This is because occasionally wild fish contains small parasitic worms that could ma e you ill. ree ing ills the worms and ma es raw fish safe to eat.

Coo ing will also ill them.

Certain farmed fish destined to be eaten raw in dishes li e sushi, such as farmed salmon, no longer need to be fro en beforehand. This is because farmed fish are very unli ely to contain parasitic worms due to the rearing methods used. If you’re unsure contact the ood tandards Agency for advice. ots of the sushi sold in shops is not made at the shop. This type of sushi should be fine to eat, because if a shop or restaurant buys in ready-made sushi, the raw fish used to ma e it will have been subject to an appropriate free ing treatment. If you’re in any doubt, you might want to avoid eating the inds of sushi that contain raw fish such as tuna.

The safest way to enjoy sushi is to choose the fully coo ed or vegetarian varieties, which can include coo ed seafood, for example fully coo ed eel unagi or shrimp ebi vegetables, for example cucumber appa ma i avocado, for example California roll fully coo ed egg If a shop or restaurant ma es its own sushi on the premises, it must still be fro en first before being served. If you’re concerned, as the staff.

If you ma e your own sushi at home, free e the fish for at least four days before using it.

Peanuts are safe in pregnancy. Go ahead and eat peanuts or food containing peanuts such as peanut butter during pregnancy, unless you are allergic to them or a health professional advises you not to. ou may have heard that peanuts should be avoided during pregnancy.

This is because the government previously advised women that they may want to avoid eating peanuts if there was a history of allergy such as asthma, ec ema, hay fever, food allergy or other types of allergy in their child’s immediate family.

This advice has now been changed because the latest research has shown that there is no clear evidence showing that eating peanuts during pregnancy

affects the chances of your baby developing a peanut allergy.

Milk and yogurt in pregnancy. tic to pasteurised or T ultra-heat treated mil – sometimes also called long-life mil .

If only raw unpasteurised mil is available, boil it first. on’t drin unpasteurised goats’ or sheep’s mil or eat foods made from them, such as soft goats’ cheese.

All types of yogurt, including bio, live, low-fat etc are fine. Just chec with homemade yogurt that it is made with pasteurised mil - and if not, avoid it.

Ice cream in pregnancy. oft ice creams should be fine to eat when you’re pregnant, as they are processed products made with pasteurised mil and eggs, so any ris of salmonella food poisoning has been eliminated. or home-made ice-cream, use a pasteurised egg substitute or follow an egg-free recipe.

Foods with soil on them. ash fruit, vegetables and salads to remove all traces of soil and visible dirt.

Caffeine in pregnancy. igh levels of caffeine can result in babies having a low birth weight, which can increase the ris of health problems in later life. Too much caffeine can also cause miscarriage.

Caffeine is naturally found in lots of foods, such as coffee, tea and chocolate, and is added to some soft drin s and energy drin s. ome cold and flu remedies also contain caffeine. Tal to your midwife, doctor or pharmacist before ta ing these remedies. ou don’t need to cut out caffeine completely, but don’t have more than mg a day. The approximate amount of caffeine found in food and drin s is one mug of instant coffee mg one mug of filter coffee mg one mug of tea mg one can of cola mg one can of energy drin mg one g bar of plain dar chocolate around mg one g bar of mil chocolate around mg o if you have, for example, one bar of chocolate and one mug of filter coffee, you have reached almost mg of caffeine. on’t worry if you occasionally have more than this amount – the ris s are small. To cut down on caffeine, try decaffeinated tea and coffee, fruit juice or mineral water instead of regular tea, coffee, cola and energy drin s.

Herbal and green tea in pregnancy.

There’s little information on the safety of herbal and green teas in pregnancy so it’s best drin them in moderation.

The A recommends drin ing no more than around cups of herbal or green tea per day during pregnancy and to see advice from your P or midwife if you are unsure about which herbal products are safe to consume. n NHS Choices

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April 2015 / Fortnightly – No. 8 • UK & Europe Edition

CBCP chief asks Indonesian counterpart to help save Mary Jane Veloso’s life THE head of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has asked his counterpart in Indonesia to help convince the Indonesian government to reverse the death sentence meted out on Mary Jane Veloso, the Filipina convicted of drug smuggling.

CBCP President Socrates Villegas made the appeal through a letter sent to Archbishop Ignatius Suharyo Hardjoatmodjo, Archbishop of Jakarta and head of the Episcopal Conference of Indonesia.

In his letter, Villegas asked the Catholic Bishops Conference of Indonesia “to implore the President of Indonesia to commute the harsh sentence meted out on Mary Jane and to allow her children to grow up in the loving embrace of their mother.”

Villegas echoed the Philippine government’s argument in its request for judicial review that Veloso, 30, was not given fair trial since she did not have an effective translator.

“On inquiry with the Philippine diplomatic mission in Indonesia, we were informed that Mary Jane had for a translator one who, though able to understand and to speak both English and Bahasa, was totally unfamiliar with Tagalog that Mary Jane speaks.

She then may not have been properly and completely understood by the trial court,” the Lingayen-Dagupan prelate said.

Veloso, who was arrested at the Yogyakarta Airport on April 25, 2010, claimed she was tricked by a close friend into bringing a suitcase loaded with 2.6 kilograms of heroin to

Indonesia.

Villegas decribed Veloso as “one of thousands of overseas Filipino workers who leave their families behind in the hope that their sacrifice will allow those they love to live more comfortable lives.”

In light of Veloso’s case, Villegas said the Catholic Church will continue to teach and guide Filipino workers so that they will not be faced with such predicament.

“We, for our part, as the CBCP, will do our utmost towards the proper education and orientation of our Overseas Filipino Workers to avoid unfortunate events,” he said, as he reiterated the Church’s stand against death penalty.

The Philippine government said it would push through with a second

request for a judicial review after the first one was rejected by Indonesia’s Supreme Court.

Indonesia, for its part, said it is scheduled to proceed with

the executions of convicted drug smugglers when the Asian-African summit or Bandung Conference concludes on April 24. n KBK, GMA News / April 15, 2015 / 7:32 PM

Chiz wants P70B BBL funds under line-item budgeting to ensure accountability MANILA – Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero, chairman of the Senate committee on finance, says that, just like with every local government unit, the P70-some billion in funds allotted in the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) for the proposed Bangsamoro regional government setup should fall under the line-item budgeting system.

“The proposed Bangsamoro

government stands to receive at least P70 billion during its first fiscal year alone, but we would want line-item budgeting of this allocation, just like the appropriation of every local government unit in the country,” Escudero said.

Escudero, whose Senate Committee on Finance has come out with a breakdown of the total funding under the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) proposal, said the spending package

Senator Francis Escudero.

could still go up.

“This is just a ballpark figure. They can impose taxes and fees and charges on their own. They can explore and exploit natural resources and these have not yet been factored in,” Escudero explained.

Based on the computation of the finance committee, P25.2 billion of the P70 billion will come from the Annual Block Grant; P7 billion from the Special Development Fund; P1 billion from the Transition Fund; P12.6 billion from the National Government Subsidy; P19.9 billion from the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA); P1.7 billion from the ARMM/Bangsamoro collections; and a one-time P2.6 billion Normalization Fund.

These allocations, Escudero said, do not include revenue-generating measures that the Bangsamoro government is empowered to impose, such as taxes and fees.

He said he will push for the lineitem budgeting of this amount during the deliberation of the proposal in the Senate.

“I don’t question the amount per se.

I have always said that Mindanao should get its fair share from the government.

But we want to know how, where, when and who will spend this. Will it be beneficial to all Bangsamoro people?

Will it go to where it should go?”

Escudero pointed out.

He added: “Let’s face it. The government is providing P70 billion in one swoop, and every Filipino contributed his or her hard earned money there. We want to know if this will be spent fairly and judiciously to all Bangsamoro people, whether they belong with the MILF or not.”

Itemizing the budget, he further said, will also unravel potential redundancy of funding as already shown in the lump sum proposal.

“The current ARMM-IRA share for 2015 is at P18 billion. In the additional LGU (local government unit) under the BBL proposal, there is an additional P1.80 billion share, which brings the IRA share to P19.8 billion. BBL still wants continuous IRA share coming from different parts of the Philippines

even after the law is passed, but the national government will not have a single centavo share from their IRA,” Escudero explained.

He also debunked the position of the government peace negotiators that the BBL does not come with a high price tag in terms of budget. He said the Annual Block Grant alone, which is by far the biggest amount among the breakdown, seems to have been left out in terms of numbers in the proposal.

“The proposal did not specify the exact amount of this fund. But take note that under Article XII, Section 15 of the BBL proposal, the block grant cannot be lower than the last budget received by the ARMM. For 2015, ARMM received P25.22 billion,” he said.

“We are pouring so much money into the region. What are we, our people, getting out of it? That’s why we have to study it carefully, specify all items carefully, fairly and judiciously,” Escudero said. n Ernie Reyes / InterAksyon.

com / April 14, 2015 / 7:24 PM

Runway approach ‘not normal’ in Hiroshima crash: Asiana Airline ASIANA Airlines said Thursday a plane accident that injured more than 20 people at a Japanese airport made an abnormal runway approach.

Akiyoshi Yamamura, vice-president of the South Korean carrier, made a public apology at a press conference at Hiroshima airport, where 27 people were hurt when the plane smashed into a communications antenna as it came in to land.

“I express a deep apology for those who were affected by the accident,” he said. “We have received a report that the plane approached the runway at an extremely low altitude, which led

to the accident.”

“As for the angle (of approach), it was not normal,” he said.

Flight OZ162 from Incheon, near Seoul, to western Hiroshima was carrying 73 passengers and eight crew when it smashed into the localiser -- a large gate-like structure, six metres (20 feet) high, that sits around 300 metres (yards) from the start of the runway.

Transport officials from Japan and South Korea were investigating the accident on Thursday, but no final report has been published.

Suggestions also emerged that a

sudden down draft may have played a part in the crash.

Initially the South Korean carrier said 18 passengers had been hurt, but later corrected the figure.

Tuesday’s accident had echoes of an Asiana flight that crashed in an Francisco in July 2013, killing three people and leaving 182 injured.

US investigators concluded that a mismanaged landing approach in a highly automated cockpit was the probable cause of the accident, in which a Boeing 777 clipped a sea wall with its landing gear and then crashed and burst into flames. n AFP /April 16, 2015

Japanese transport safety officials inspect the Asiana Airlines plane that overran the runway at Hiroshima airport in Mihara, on April 15, 2015

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Continuation from page 1

April 2015 / Fortnightly – No. 8 • UK & Europe Edition

LISA MACUJA DERIVES PLEASURE FROM MENTORING ASPIRING BALLERINAS Ballet Manila’s summer intensive program is geared mainly towards young and talented dancers and offers several fun classes covering specific age brackets like Maria Ballerina (for ages 3 to 5), Fairy Tale Ballet (6 to 8), Beginner (7 to 12), Intermediate (12 to 14) and Advanced (14 and above).

“We even have adult classes for the young at heart and those with minimal and zero dance background who are willing to learn,” Lisa noted.

She added that part from the basics of the dance art, the classes follow a holistic approach by including fun activities for a more engaging summer endeavor.

“For example, apart from ballet techniques taught in the baby ballet class, we also teach our students how to learn to play musical instruments

Lisa Macuja (right) offers intensive summer classes at the School of Ballet Manila.

GMA stars graduate with flying colours SHOW business may seem to be all about glitz and glamour. But what is often unknown to many is that life in the showbiz industry is tough. The long work hours, sometimes crazy schedule, and the hard work needed to pull off a good performance can really take up an artist’s time and energy. owever, despite the demands of the industry, a number of GMA Artist Center stars still manage to prioritize their education. Meet these Kapuso artists who recently celebrated their graduation, and get to know their thoughts on how taking the extra mile to finish school while juggling with work is worth it.

For teen idol Ruru Madrid, he considers education as the primary thing he should be focusing on. e devotes his time on studying, and it helps him develop a sense of selfdiscipline. This has become useful to him at work since he knows how to manage his time wisely. e shares, “Para ka ring nag-aaral kasi ‘pag nasa work. You have to memorize your lines and dapat maintindihan mo talaga yung instructions and yung gusto ninyong ma-achieve sa eksena. In a way, may similarity yung discipline ng acting and studying.”

School also taught Ruru a sense of achievement. e believes that dreams can only be achieved if one works hard for it. “Lahat naman siguro kami ito ang pangarap, yung pumasa at maka-

Ruru Madrid

graduate. Pero hindi mo makukuha ‘yun ng basta-basta. Kaya ang sarap pala ng feeling na nakamit mo yung goal mo sa buhay because of hard work and perseverance. It makes your achievement sweeter kasi alam mong pinaghirapan mo. Kaya, ito rin yung gagamitin kong motivation sa work ko as an artist. I really have to work hard and develop my craft para maging isang mahusay na actor.”

Gabbi Garcia

Ruru’s on-screen partner Gabbi Garcia also finished high school recently. Gabbi, who has been a consistent member of her school’s student council, wants to continue with her studies and to fulfil her dream of being a pilot.

She admits that time management can be a bit challenging for her, but her parents are always there to guide her. She shares how they appreciate all of her achievements and at the same time, keep her feet on the ground, and she wants to impart something with her fellow celebrities who are studying and working at the same time.

“I was taught that it is important to respect each and every one, as well as to be God-fearing. Being in the industry isn’t forever. Iba pa rin ‘pag nakapag-aral. If you really want to study while working, there will always be a way. You just have to be focused and determined in reaching your goal, and that is to graduate,” affirms the Kapuso actress.

and create props using fabrics. Our intensive dance exercises for our intermediate classes are combined with street dance, yoga and pilates.

There will also be lectures on injury prevention, film screening about ballet and inter-active workshops with theater artists.”

Lisa added that honing fresh and promising talents and even getting people of all ages to have even a passing interest in ballet to take the dance more seriously has been very fulfilling for her.

“It’s wonderful! The difference is that I am a member of the audience now. Not anymore dancing alongside them onstage. I am not sweating or aching anymore myself. But I still get very emotional watching the kids

Derrick Monasterio

Miguel Tanfelix

Miguel Tanfelix, who also finished high school this year, shares his secret in maintaining balance between work and school.

“You have to plan your schedule for the week para alam mo kung kelan ka nasa work at ano yung time mo para mag-aral. Marami a ring sacrifice na dapat gawin. Walang imposible pag ginusto mo, so you got to have to the right motivation to make it work.

Pag nasa taping naman ako, I focus myself dun sa mga eksena ko and the way I act. I guess the key is, you have to focus on what you do,” the Kapuso actor recommends.

It is a big help for Miguel that he didn’t get special treatment in school. e ta es pride in having a normal life in school, and he feels glad to have a set of friends who supports him in both school work and celebrity-related commitments. e claims that having this set-up in school taught him how to deal with different people and develop self-discipline.

Both Derrick Monasterio and Miggy Jimenez take their modules to work as they study in between takes.

And their hard wor finally paid off as they are now ready to take the next step.

Derrick is planning to take up Law at San Beda College. And since he is busy with work, he knows that this will not be easy, “Nothing worth having comes easy, so if you want to achieve something, you have to work hard for it.”

Miggy, who was recognized in school as the most talented and most

perform. My own dancing will have to wait,” she conceded.

Ballet Manila’s summer intensive workshop will run from April 6 – May 31 with enrollment ongoing until April 19. All participants will be part of the summer recital on May 31 at the AliwTheater, where students will have a chance to perform alongside senior Ballet Manila dancers.

Interested parties may enroll at Ticketworld outlets or via www. ticketworld.com.ph.

For further inquiries, email info@balletmanila. com.ph. Ballet Manila is located at 1915 Donada Street, Pasay City and has a satellite school in Crossfit alcyon at Fisher Mall on Quezon Avenue in Quezon City. n Edwin P. Sallan / InterAksyon.com

/ April 13, 2015 / 6:55 PM

Miggy Jimenez

behaved, believes that celebrities should still know the value of education. “This is something you cannot exchange for anything, and you should never give up on your dreams. Strive hard so you can make it,” the teen actor shares.

Renz Valerio did not only graduate, he was even given a special academic citation and academic excellence awards. On learning one significant lesson from school, he shares that it is only ourselves who can lead our way to success. e claims, “Success starts with you. I had to struggle my way to finishing high school because there were lots of trials, but I am thankful to have had them because they have given me the opportunity to know who my true friends are. It revealed people who will always be there for me, such as my family. With these challenges, I managed to strive harder and finish high school with flying colors.”

Renz also shares that priorities should be well thought of, and education should always be on top of the list, “While your career may be something great, education will always be the greatest thing you will ever have. Always remember to have faith in yourself, because no one else will make the move for you. Lastly, have faith in od, because e always got good plans for each of us. It is just up to us on how we will reach the finish line.”

Finally, Charee Pineda shares her joy and pride after finishing her bachelor’s degree in Political Science. Aside from several showbiz commitments, Charee keeps herself busy in public service as she is currently

Renz Valerio

a councilor in Valenzuela City.

For the Kapuso actress, being able to finish college amidst wor difficulties is already an achievement and considers herself lucky to have supportive people in her life. “Communicating well and having an efficient support system, which are my family and staff, were and will always be best for me in dealing with work and school,” Charee closes.

The importance that these Kapuso artists give to having a good education serves as a much needed breath of fresh air to the industry. May they serve as an inspiration not only to their fellow celebrities but also to the rest of the young people to always keep their eyes on the prize.

For updates on GMA Network’s artists, programs, international channels and events, visit the website www.gmanetwork.com/international, Facebook pages www.facebook.com/ GMAPinoyTV, www.facebook.com/ gmalifetv, and www.facebook.com/ gmanewsinternational, Twitter pages @gmapinoytv, @gma_lifetv, and @ gmanewstvintl and Instagram account @gmapinoytv. n

Charee Pineda

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April 2015 / Fortnightly – No. 8 • UK & Europe Edition

Mariel Rodriguez joins Danica Sotto, LJ Moreno on ‘Happy Wife, Happy Life’ RR Enriquez and Jeck Maierhofer are out, Mariel Rodriguez is in.

Four months after it was introduced as part of TV5’s dynamic morning lineup, “Happy Wife, Happy Life” is back for a second season.

A lifestyle show with elements of reality television, “Happy Wife, Happy Life” has left an indelible mark on its mostly female audience as its celebrity hosts provide a daily glimpse of their daily lives covering the perks and challenges of what it’s like to be “a happy wife living a happy life.”

“We also found out advertisers are coming in so we decided to renew the show for a second season,” TV5 business unit manager Marge Natividad revealed during the show’s press conference.

The show’s renewal came with some major changes, most notably in the composition of its hosts. Natividad said the network decided not to renew the contracts of RR Enriquez and

JeckMaierhofer in the show after the two ladies figured in a controversial video that showed them making fun of a sleeping commuter.

“We talked to them about the incident and told them that TV5 does not tolerate those kinds of misdemeanors. The network is very strict when it comes to these things. As they are also housewives, they should set good examples to mothers out there,” Natividad added.

The two remaining hosts, Danica Sotto-Pingris and LJ Moreno-Alapag, were then asked about their thoughts on the exit of their former co-hosts.

Danica said she and LJ are still in touch with both RR and Jeck who she said have no hard feelings about their departure and are even happy about the addition of Mariel Rodriguez on the show.

“I think they’ve learned their lesson from that episode and they both understand the decision of the

network. RR is very happy when she found out about Mariel while Jeck texted to say ‘Good Luck’ on our new season,” Danica admitted.

Despite the recent loss of what would have been her first baby with husband Robin Padilla, Mariel said she did not hesitate when she was offered “Happy Wife, Happy Life”.

“The offer to do this show came in very timely indeed. God wanted me to move on so he gave me this show. It is really helping me a lot,” she noted.

To welcome Mariel into the “Happy Wife, Happy Life” family, the new season’s maiden broadcast that aired last Monday focused on the Padilla household as both Danica and LJ marveled at the blissful life enjoyed by the happy couple.

“Seeing the romance of Robin and Mariel up close and personal is surreal.

We already got comfortable with each other the first time we met,” J quipped.

Mariel Rodriguez (center) with ‘Happy Wife, Happy Life’ co-hosts Danica Sotto and LJ Moreno.

Photo by Edwin P. Sallan/Interaksyon

LJ added that with the addition of Mariel, all three of them are expected to do most of the show’s segments together, which will also now include single mothers, second marriages and many more.

“There will still be individual segments for each of us but we still have our Happy Me segment where we are all together,” LJ added.

“Happy Wife, Happy Life” airs on TV5 every weekday at 10AM. n

Shadow dancers El Gamma Penumbra confident they’ll go far on ‘Asia’s Got Talent’ EASILY the most original among the four “Golden Acts” that advanced to the semifinals of A ’s Asia’s ot Talent” is the shadow theater dance group, El Gamma Penumbra.

Their extraordinary audition number to the tune of Imagine Dragons’ “On Top of the World” was aptly described by judge Melanie C as “mind-blowing”. The shadow dance depicted a love story that spanned generations and is set against the backdrop of several wonders of the world, including the Statue of Liberty, the Sydney Opera House, the African Safari, the Eiffel Tower, the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro and the Petronas Twin Towers of Kuala Lumpur.

All four judges were visibly awed by their performance but it was FrenchIndonesian singer-songwriter Anggun that showed the most appreciation by pressing the Golden Buzzer that sent El Gamma Penumbra straight to the semifinals.

Dong Pilotos, the group’s manager and proprietor of El Gamma Penumbra Dance Theater where they took their name, told InterAksyon that their seemingly effortless performance which lasted less than three minutes was rehearsed for 12 hours a day for eight straight days.

“Conceptualizing the project alone during our meeting at a 24-hour McDonald’s store in Quezon City lasted all night and extended through the wee hours of the morning,” Pilotos recalled.

Asked about how the group came about and how they went on to specialize in what they describe as

The members of El Gamma Penumbra.

“shadow play”, Pilotos revealed that the group was originally a group of hip-hop dancers formed by a group of schoolmates in Tanauan, Batangas.

“They were originally 24, then five departed and they were down to 19 but for ‘Asia’s Got Talent,’ only 13 were allowed because of production limits,” he added.

The boys that performed on “Asia’s Got Talent” were Marvin Marfa (creative head), Rowell Amano (senior choreographer), Wahlid Bucana, Mark Tadia, Johndolf Bayer, Kenneth Arante, Carl de Guzman, Rey Andamon, Michael Sapin, Paolo Esteban, PJ Javier, Allen Latido and Arnel Cipriano.

If El Gamma Penumbra sounds and looks familiar, it’s because this is not the first time they competed in a talent show. Four years ago, they participated in Season 3 of the “Pilipinas Got Talent’, the now

defunct Philippine edition of the “Got Talent” franchise.

But instead of doing their hip-hop thing, they decided to do something different. “The boys got inspired with the concept of shadow play and decided to do their own take on it,” Pilotos added.

Rooted upon shadow puppetry that dates back to ancient China, the art of telling a story through silhouettes has since evolved and been adopted in other countries. El Gamma Penumbra, however, took it to a totally different level as they created amazing silhouettes with very minimal props.

“We have some cardboard materials but most, over 90 percent of what you see in our performance is pure human shadow, the bodies of our dancers,” Pilotos underscored.

It came as no surprise that they became crowd favorites on “Pilipinas

Got Talent” and made it as far as the grand finals in that contest.

Although they did not win, their amazing performances did not go unnoticed. No less than the country’s Department of Tourism tapped them for its “Choose Philippines” campaign in a promotional clip that went on to win Best Music Video at the 34th Catholic Mass Media Awards.

For “Asia’s Got Talent,” they hope to even go further now that they landed in the semifinals. Although they forgot to include the Philippines among the wonders of the world they featured in their winning number, they’re very proud to be representing the country in such a prestigious international competition.

Asked if they have anything more to offer if they continue to advance in Asia’s ot Talent,” Pilotos confidently said that their next performance is

El Gamma Penumbra’s ‘mind-blowing’ audition.

even more emotional than their debut in the competition.

“You will cry. We will make Filipinos cry,” he promised.

To ensure El Gamma Penumbra and other ilipino semifinalists remain on the show, viewers must vote for them in one of three ways: SMS, Facebook and the “Asia’s Got Talent” mobile app. Voting opens after the broadcast of each semi-final episode and will remain open for four days. Full details on how to vote can be found on the Asia’s Got Talent official website.

The semifinals of Asia’s ot Talent” airs on AXN starting this Thursday, April 16 at 8:05PM. The Grand Finals performance night at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore is scheduled on May 7 with the results show happening on May 14. n Edwin P.

Sallan / InterAksyon.com / April 16, 2015 / 8:34 AM

ORIGINAL CREATION & COPYRIGHT RESERVED BY © HELLO PHILIPPINES 2015

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PHILIPPINE EMBASSY AROUND THE WORLD

April 2015 / Fortnightly – No. 8 • UK & Europe Edition

PHL Consul General Heads Filipino Community in Fruitful Dialogue with New Jersey Representative PHILIPPINE Consul General Mario L. De Leon, Jr., accompanied

by Filipino-American community members from New Jersey’s 6th district and Consul Felipe Cariño, called on New Jersey (NJ) Representative Frank Pallone in Long Branch, New Jersey, last April 07, to continue efforts to build strong friendships and raise awareness among officials of issues affecting Philippines-US relations.

The Filipino community members accompanying Consul General De Leon were Atty. JT Mallonga, National Chair, National Federation of FilipinoAmerican Associations (NaFFAA); Mr. Emerito Salud, Esq., Board of overnors, a AA, Bloomfield, J Ms. Gilda Sapaden of Hanover, NJ; Mr. Roberto Ticzon, Financial Professional, Prudential Insurance Company of America, East Hanover, NJ; and Councilor ic Joanow, Bloomfield J. Community members usually accompany Consul General De Leon during such calls not only to lend support but also to raise local issues of importance to them, particularly for those living in the same district of the

Congressman.

Consul General De Leon stated that Filipinos and Filipino-Americans in the United States are now the second largest Asian-American population in the US, next to the Chinese. The latest US Census puts 7,156 Filipino-Americans in the 6th District of New Jersey.

Consul General De Leon took the opportunity to thank Congressman Pallone for his co-sponsorship of House Resolution (HR) No. 535 on the Philippine Veterans’ recognition for the Congressional Gold Medal Award, which is awaiting action in the US Congress. This award is important to Filipino veterans and their family members who remain hopeful that the will finally recogni e the contribution and sacrifice of ilipino veterans’ in World War II. Representatives Juan Vargas and Mike Thompson, both Democrats in California, filed the bill in January of this year. The bill seeks to obtain recognition for Filipino and Filipino American WWII veterans for their services and make them qualify for the Congressional Gold Medal Award

– an honor previously given to other minority groups.

The Consul General also conveyed the status of the ongoing arbitration case filed by the Philippines against China on the issue of the West Philippine Sea. A decision on the merits and jurisdiction of the court is expected to be issued between January to April 2016. He cited the US Senate esolution affirming the importance of preserving the freedom of navigation in the South China Sea and the integrity of the Philippines-US Mutual Defense Treaty. He underscored that the Philippines has always adhered to rule of law, particularly the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 2002 ASEANChina Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea. Lastly, Consul General De Leon took the opportunity to invite Representative Pallone to join the Philippines-US Friendship Caucus.

The 14th-termer Representative Pallone reiterated his support for Filipino veterans and HR 535. He shared that his father was in the US

New Jersey Representative Frank Pallone (4th from right) with Philippine Consul General Mario De Leon, Jr. (4th from left) and Key Filipino community members in Central New Jersey and Consu Felipe Cariño (2nd from right).

Air Force as a tail-gunner in a B-29 aircraft in WWII and saw action in the Philippines and served also in Japan.

He also welcomed Consul General De Leon’s invitation to the Friendship Caucus and expressed his willingness to join as a member soon.

Representative Pallone was likewise pleased to be informed of developments relating to the arbitration case. He expressed concern on China’s action in the South China Sea vis-à-vis other claimants such as the Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam and Taiwan.

On their part, the accompanying

Filipino community members aired their concern over China’s actions in the South China Sea and expressed hoped that the US would honor its commitment to the Philippines, based on the existing Mutual Defense Treaty.

One Filipino leader, on the other hand, shared the ongoing campaign of the Filipino community dubbed “Filvote” to increase voter registration in US elections, which Representative Pallone lauded. Another leader expressed the hope that many Filipinos will participate in US elections. n Philippine Embassy Philippines / April 16, 2015

A Triumphant Return of the Philippines to the Venice Biennale International Art Exhibition THE Department of Foreign Affairs hosted a press conference today on the participation of the Philippines in the 56th Venice Biennale International Art Exhibition, in cooperation with the Office of enator oren egarda and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA). The press conference highlighted the country’s historic return to the Venice Biennale Art Exhibition after a 51year hiatus. The Philippine Pavilion will present the curatorial vision of

Dr. Patrick Flores. His theme, “Tie a String Around the World,” will feature the works of Jose Tence Ruiz and Manny Montelibano, along with the film enghis han” by ational Artists Manuel Conde and Carlos Francisco.

The Department of Foreign Affairs recognizes the impact of culture in modern diplomacy. It is undoubtedly an effective tool in reflecting the country’s important and rich cultural force and its fundamental values. The

56th Venice Biennale thus provides an invaluable opportunity to foster greater mutual understanding and more people-to-people exchanges through culture.

In his Welcome Remarks, Secretary of Foreign Affairs Albert F. del Rosario noted how the Philippine Pavilion in the 2015 Venice Biennale would be a great opportunity to showcase the immense talent and creativity of Filipino artists, as well as a source of pride for the country.

The Swiss students taking up “Filipino Tagalog” at the University of Zurich pose with the Philippine Emabassy’s Consul Jarie Osias (seated, 3rd from right) and FiIipino teacher Lenny Bugayong (leftmost).

Swiss Students in Zurich Learn About PHL Language and Culture

THE Philippine Embassy in Berne conducted on Filipino culture, particularly on understanding the relational characteristic of Filipinos and how it can give a deeper appreciation of the Filipino language, on April 13 at the University of Zurich.

The lecture, which was delivered by the Embassy’s Consul JarieOsias, was based on the presentation of the Philippine National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) Chairman Felipe M. de Leon, Jr. entitled

“Understanding the Filipino.”

“Filipinos are hardly alone… They are among the most highly relational in the world. They are happy being together - when they eat, sleep, work, travel, pray, create or celebrate. They feel connected to the world, God and nature, but most of all to people,” wrote Professor de Leon.

Consul Osias said this concept is the key to understanding the fundamental Filipino psyche which could explain how it is to be truly Filipino.

The students, who were enrolled in the University’s elective course on “Filipino Tagalog” found the lecture timely and useful as they seek to learn to speak Filipino and understand Philippine culture.

The Philippine Embassy supports the University of Zurich’s thrust of familiarizing its students with a culture that they rarely get to experience firsthand to give a global perspective to their college education. n Philippine Embassy Philippines / April 16, 2015

e are confident that the Philippine Pavilion will contribute to the dynamism of the dialogue of ideas and philosophies among artists and visitors to the Venice Biennale,“ stated Secretary del Rosario.

The participation of the Philippines in the 56th Venice Biennale further cements the Department’s partnership with the Office of enator egarda and the NCCA, under the able leadership of the NCCA Chairman, Dr. Felipe de Leon, Jr. The three agencies comprise the Philippine Art Venice Biennale

Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert F. del Rosario gives his Welcome Remarks at the press conference for the Philippine Pavilion at the 2015 Venice Biennale international art exhibition.

(PAVB) Coordinating Committee.

The Committee is now at the final stages of mounting the Philippine Pavilion, in time for its Official Opening on May 08 at the Palazzo Mora in Venice. Towards this effort, the PAVB Coordinating Committee is working closely with the Philippine Embassy in Rome, the Philippine Consulate General in Milan, and the relevant offices of the epartment of Foreign Affairs.

Held every other year, the Venice Biennale is the most prestigious gathering of the world’s outstanding artists from different disciplines and perspectives to interpret the relationship between art and the development of the human, social and political world. Some 90 countries will be represented in the 56th Venice Biennale, where a multitude of art lovers and culture watchers the world over are expected to visit.

The international art exhibition will be open to the public from May 09 to November 22. n Philippine Embassy Philippines / April 15, 2015

Q&A panel: (from left) Manny Montelibano, NCCA Chairman Felipe de Leon, Jr., Senator Loren Legarda, Dr. Patrick Flores, Italian Ambassador Massimo Roscigno, Jose Tence Ruiz.

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PHILIPPINE EMBASSY AROUND THE WORLD

April 2015 / Fortnightly – No. 8 • UK & Europe Edition

WWII Veterans’ ValorAnd Sacrifice Remembered in New Jersey THE Philippine Consulate, in cooperation with the ilipino Executive Council of reater Philadelphia, Inc. EC P , commemorated the rdAnniversary of the all of Bataan or the Araw ng agitingan at the Bataan eath March Memorial at Cooper iver Par , Cherry ill, ew Jersey on April . our II veterans, namely Mr. Pablo M. Barros, Mr. ostones E. ivera, Mr. egino B. Barreda and Mr. ogelio . Bucot from Jersey City and Cherry ill in ew Jersey, Broo lyn and ong Island in ew or , respectively, and members of their families attended the event. Invitations were issued to the living II veterans residing in the states under the Consulate eneral’s jurisdiction. A number responded with appreciation but due to age or mobility problems were unable to attend the event.

Cherry ill Mayor Chuc Cahn, who graced the solemn commemoration, paid tribute to the heroism of the ilipino and American soldiers of

II and honored the sacrifices they made for their respective countries.

Our town of Cherry ill was fortunate to have the Bataan eath March Memorial, the only memorial in the ortheast A, to honor the valor, bravery and sacrifice of II eterans in the Philippines and the Philippine theatre of military operations,” said the Mayor.

The Mayor, together with Camden County Commissioner wen de era, also handed over a Congressional Proclamation on the event signed by Congressman onald orcross of the irst istrict of ew Jersey.

Philippine Consul eneral Mario . de eon, Jr. extolled the II veterans and conveyed profound appreciation to the four of them who graciously participated in the ceremony. Consul eneral de eon also informed them of the Consulate eneral’s effort in ma ing representations with the overnment for support of ouse esolution , which see s to award collectively a Congressional

gold medal to the ilipino eterans of the II in recognition of their dedicated service to the and the Philippines.

Just this past wee , we have had fruitful dialogues with epresentatives athleen ice of ew or and ran Pallone of ew Jersey to request them to rally the behind the draft bill and pass it to law,” stated the Consul eneral.

A wreath-laying ceremony at the Bataan eath March Memorial led by the Consul eneral highlighted the program. Mayor Cahn joined the Consul eneral in the ceremony together with EC P President uth uyun, EC P Project Officer enen ontanilla and two II veterans.

Taps” was played after the wreathlaying to conclude the event.

After the ceremony, a reception was held at the Philippine Community Center in tratford, ew Jersey.

The EC P President welcomed the veterans and other guests. Mr. egino Barreda spo e on behalf of the veterans

WWII Veterans Mr. Rogelio Bucot (3rd from left), Mr. Sostones Rivera (5th from left); Mr. Regino Barreda (4th from right) and Mr. Pablo Barros (2nd from right) join Philippine Consul General Mario L. de Leon, Jr. and Mayor Chuck Cahn (3rd and 5th from right) in the wreath-laying ceremony at the Bataan Death March Memorial in Cooper River Park, Cherry Hill, NJ. Accomapanying them are FECGP officers President Ruth Luyun, VP Nilda Imperial and Mr. Senen Fontanilla.

and recounted his experiences as an intelligence officer of the A E during the war. e also detailed his training after the liberation of the Philippines and his subsequent assignment to O inawa to provide help to American soldiers still fighting there.

The Consul eneral conferred Certificates of Appreciation to the four veterans who attended the event. My

grandfather never attends any event but was so excited when he received the Consulate’s invitation. This is very important to him,” said Ms. Camille une , Mr. Barros’ granddaughter.

The affair was attended by more than people from the ilipino communities in the Philadelphia and ew Jersey areas. n Philippine Embassy Philippines / April 16, 2015

PHL Mission, Consulate General in Geneva Assures Assistance to Filipino Children Under Trial Custody with Swiss Adoptive Parents PHILIPPINE Permanent Representative to the United Nations and Other International Organizations Ambassador Cecilia B. Rebong assured visiting Philippine Social Welfare and Development Undersecretary Parisya

H. Taradji that the Philippine Mission and Consulate General in Geneva will continue to provide consular services to the adoptive Filipino children under trial custody.

“Until such time that these Filipino

WWII Veterans Mr. Rogelio Bucot (3rd from left), Mr. Sostones Rivera (5th from left); Mr. Regino Barreda (4th from right) and Mr. Pablo Barros (2nd from right) join Philippine Consul General Mario L. de Leon, Jr. and Mayor Chuck Cahn (3rd and 5th from right) in the wreath-laying ceremony at the Bataan Death March Memorial in Cooper River Park, Cherry Hill, NJ. Accomapanying them are FECGP officers President Ruth Luyun, VP Nilda Imperial and Mr. Senen Fontanilla.

children under trial custody acquires their adoptive parents’ nationality, they remain to be our sole responsibility in terms of providing consular services and assistance,” Ambassador Rebong explained.

She added that the Mission and Consulate General will also invite the adopted Filipino children and their adoptive families to the Filipino community Philippine Independence Day celebration and other Filipino Community and cultural immersion events. “This is to assist the adopted children in appreciating their Filipino heritage as well as their understanding of and integration into both Swiss and Philippine culture,” the Ambassador expounded.

DSWD Undersecretary Taradji, in her capacity as Alternate Chair of the InterCountry Adoption Board (ICAB) of the Philippines, together with Board Member

Atty. Del Prado, met with Geneva Philippine Consul General Enrico T. Fos to secure the cooperation and assistance of the Philippine Permanent Mission and Philippine Consulate General in Geneva, and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) in general, in monitoring the status of Filipino children who are being adopted by Swiss nationals through the Bureau Genevoisd’ Adoption (BGA), an accredited foreign adoption agency based in Geneva, Switzerland.

Undersecretary Taradji explained that, as provided under RA 8043, otherwise known as the Inter-Country Adoption Act of 1995, the DFA is mandated to set up a unit in the Home Office and also in Foreign Service Posts (FSP) to handle adoption issues, in support of ICAB’s work.

Sections 14 of RA 8043 provides that “the Department of Foreign Affairs shall set up a system by which Filipino children sent abroad for trial custody are

monitored and checked as reported by the authorized and accredited intercountry adoption agency as well as the repatriation to the Philippines of a Filipino child whose adoption has not been approved.”

The role of FSPs for adopted children during their transit from the Philippines to the country of their adoptive parents was highlighted also by the Undersecretary. He said their assistance was vital particularly in the trial custody period which can last up to a year, when the child is staying in the country of the adoptive parents while they wait for the adoption papers to be finalized.

Atty. Del Prado noted that there are around 7 children currently living with their adoptive families in Switzerland while waiting for their final adoption papers. n Philippine Embassy Philippines / April

16, 2015

150 Filipino Repatriates from Yemen Safely Return to PHL ONE hundred and fifty ilipinos evacuated from emen arrived safely in Manila today in two batches. This latest group to return to the Philippines was among the ilipinos extracted by the Crisis Management Team CMT out of emen and brought to audi Arabia last wee , where they too their return flights to Manila. oreign Affairs ecretary Albert . del osario welcomed the repatriates at the inoy Aquino International Airport. e was joined by other officials from the epartment of oreign Affairs A namely ndersecretary for Migrant or ers Affairs Jesus abes, Assistant ecretary Julius Torres, A po esperson Charles Jose and incoming Philippine Ambassador to uwait enato illa.

Administrator ans eo Cacdac of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration POEA and Administrator ebecca Cal ado of the Overseas or ers elfare Administration O A were also present at the airport to conduct the arrival briefing for the repatriates. uring the briefing, ecretary del osario discussed the volatile security situation in emen and expressed his appreciation for the repatriates’ quic decision to return to the Philippines. e also reassured them that the Philippine overnment will prioriti e the provision of employment, placement and livelihood assistance through the epartment of abor and Employment.

Overall, the CMT has evacuated ilipinos out of emen. Of this

number, have been successfully repatriated to the Philippines. The CMT is currently arranging the return flights of the remaining ilipinos to Manila.

The A in coordination with other agencies will continue to exhaust all efforts to repatriate the estimated ilipinos still remaining in emen. n

Philippine Embassy Philippines / April 11, 2015

Filipino repatriates from Yemen arrive at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert F. del Rosario with DFA Undersecretary Jesus Yabes (far right, left photo) welcome the Filipino repatriates from Yemen upon their arrival at NAIA.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert F. del Rosario discusses the situation in Yemen and forms of assistance offered by the Philippine Government during the briefing.

PABASA 2015

Date & Time: 02 April 2015 (Thursday from 20:00H – 24:00H) 03 April 2015 ( Friday from 9:00H – 12:00H and 16:00 – 24:00H ) 04 April 2015 (Saturday from 07:00H onwards Place: HO LY CRO SS CHAPEL Charing Cross Hospital, Fulham Palace Road,London W6 8RF

If you or your organisation would like to get involved or require more information, contact Dara at darabascara@kanlungan.org.uk

ORIGINAL CREATION & COPYRIGHT RESERVED BY © HELLO PHILIPPINES 2015

1. You can now register to vote online via https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote.

Alternatively, you can The 'PABASA' (which mean 'reading') is a Filipino Lenten tradition of continuous chanting the account of salvation history in still register by post by downloading paper versions of the voters registration form online or pickingFilipino it poetry form. The Pabasa lasts for around 16 hours, with one or two up from your local council office. people/groups alternating in singing verses from the Pabasa.

2. Know the policies of the political parties. Visit the BBC’s “Where the They Stand: Guide party election In the Philippines, Pabasa started fromto way back in the Spanish Times when the missionaries introduced Christianity to the islands. In policies” at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/election_2010/8515961.stm order to facilitate their catechetical work, they narrated the history salvation in poetry form which had greater appeal to the 3. Organize a voters’ education forum in your community. sensitivities of the Filipinos.

4. Work as one of Kanlungan’s volunteers for the Voters’ Education Program.

All over the world, wherever there are Filipinos, they bring with them this Lenten tradition along with many other cherished Catholic traditions.

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36

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PHILIPPINE EMBASSY AROUND THE WORLD

April 2015 / Fortnightly – No. 8 • UK & Europe Edition

Rotting in jail is a frightening thought, but not for Napoles who insists she has a clear conscience MANILA - Rotting in jail is a frightening thought for people sentenced to life imprisonment.

But not for Janet Lim-Napoles.

The alleged mastermind of the multibillion-peso pork barrel scam said she had a good night’s sleep after Judge Elmo Alameda of the Makati Regional Trial Court-Branch 150 on Tuesday declared her guilty of serious illegal detention of her cousin and former employee BenhurLuy and sentenced her to reclusion perpetua .

She said she was able to sleep soundly because her conscience was clear but said she was not sure if judges were able to also sleep peacefully like her.

“Mahimbing. ‘Yong mga judge hindi ko alam kung nakatulog... ako mahimbing, malinis ang konsensya ko,” Napoles said when asked on Wednesday by reporters after her bail hearing before the Sandiganbayan if she was able to sleep soundly after Alameda handed down the verdict.

But Napoles’ family got emotional after hearing that the 51-year-old businesswoman would be imprisoned for 40 years.

“S’yempre gloomy mga anak, malungkot. Expected na naman nila ‘yan noong pa lang dinen yang bail. ‘Yong mga anak n’ya umiiyak [Her children were of course gloomy, they were sad. They were already expecting the verdict after her motion for bail was denied.

Her children are crying],” Napoles’ lawyer Stephen David told reporters on Wednesday.

On Thursday at 2 a.m., following Alameda’s ruling, Napoles was transferred to the Correctional Institute for Women (CIW) in Mandaluyong City after being detained for almost nine months at the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology facility at Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan, Taguig City.

Napoles was earlier detained at Fort Sto. Domingo in Sta. Rosa Laguna for 10 months.

At the CIW, Napoles underwent

police booking process including the taking of mugshot and fingerprint. he also underwent physical examination that lasted for almost an hour and wore an orange uniform just like her fellow inmates who were under maximum security.

CI officer-in-charge, Dr.Edilinda Garcia-Patac, said she didn’t know if Napoles was able to sleep after she was brought to the institution at 2 a.m. “Ang waking time ng residents namin is 5 o’clock...They prepare for washing, the eat, then morning meeting,” said Patac.

On Thursday morning, Napoles attended an orientation with 180 other new inmates. Patac said Napoles would be given her work assignments. “She has her job functions (and) recreation programs like sports.”

Authorities said Napoles would stay at the Reception and Diagnostic Center of the CIW’s Maximum Security Camp for two months before she is transferred

InterAksyon file photo of Janet Napoles

to the instititution’s high-profile dormitory with 30 other wellknown inmates.

The reception center has its own mess hall, laundry area, drying area, bathroom, and sleeping area with mattresses, according to Patac.

Some who saw Napoles at CIW said she looked cheerful and even crac ed jo es despite her difficult situation.

The hearing on the plunder cases against Napoles before the Sandiganbayan will be heard in the meantime at the CIW’s courtroom.

Only her lawyers will be allowed to visit her during her first wee at the institution. After that, family members will already be allowed to see her from Thursday to Sunday from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. n Trish Roque and Pat Mangune / News5 / April 16, 2015 / 6:54 PM

SWS SURVEY Grace Poe nears Binay-level popularity as ‘presidentiable’; Duterte jumps, ties Mar MANILA - Senator Grace Poe continues her climb up the consciousness of potential voters, the latest SWS survey shows, with her popularity as a “presidentiable” near to closing the gap with the presumptive leading candidate for 2016, Vice President Jejomar Binay.

The SWS survey, published on Thursday by BusinessWorld, has Poe gaining 10 statistical points from 21 percent in December to 31 percent by March - among potential voters asked to name a preferred successor to President Benigno Aquino III. The spike in the senator’s showing stands against Binay’s stagnant numbers, even as the vice president remained the clear front-runner in the survey. Binay was named by 36 percent of SWS respondents, down insignificantly

from 37 percent in December.

Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, meanwhile, also posted a 10-point rise in the survey that asked respondents: “Who...are the good leaders who should succeed President Aquino? You may give up to three names.”

Duterte’s popularity as a possible contender jumped from 5 percent last December to 15 percent this March, BusinessWorld reported of the SWS poll. With that, he moved up the SWS list from 7th among the names that emerged last December to a tie for 3rd as of March with Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Mar Roxas.

Roxas’ showing in the SWS poll slipped from 19 percent to 15 percent.

Tied for 4th - both with 11 percent are Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago and Manila Mayor and former president Joseph Estrada. Estrada on Monday

announced that he intends to seek reelection as mayor of Manila.

J. Propsero de Vera III, political analyst and professor at the University of the Philippines National College of Public Administration and Governance, told BusinessWorld that the survey shows the level of Binay’s “core support.”

“Core support or political base consists of the voters who have made up their mind to support (Mr.) Binay no matter what. That’s his solid core.

He has clearly regained his political footing,” he said.

Senators Chiz Escudero (8 percent), Bongbong Marcos (7 percent), and Alan Peter Cayetano (4 percent), and former senator Manny Villar (3 percent), round out the top 10 among the names that figured in the openended survey.

Survey done 3 days after Senate Mamasapano report The latest SWS quarterly survey was conducted from March 20 to 23.

The polling period happened just three days after Poe, as chair of the Senate public order committee, reported out the highlights of the joint inquiry findings of her panel and those of two others into the Mamasapano mission that ended with international terrorist Marwan dead, but also claimed the llives of 44 police commandos.

The joint inquiry found President Benigno Aquino III “ultimately responsible” for the death of 44 Special Action Force (SAF) men in the

January 25 Mamasapano debacle, Poe disclosed to media on March 17.

The SWS’ March 20-23 survey polled 1,200 respondents: 300 in Metro Manila, 300 for the rest of the Luzon, and 300 each in the Visayas and Mindanao. The polling group said the survey allows for sampling error margins of 3 percent for national percentages, and 6 percent each for Metro Manila, the balance of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

Binay, Poe both grateful for trust. In separate statements, both VP Binay and Senator Poe expressed gratefulness to the public for their trust.

Vice Presidential spokesperson for political affairs Atty. Rico Paolo Quicho said Binay will continue working for the benefit of the Filipino people.

“The Vice President is truly grateful for the trust and recognition as shown by the results of the latest SWS presidential survey. This is defined by the competence and compassion of the Vice President as manifested in his programs in Makati especially in health and education and assisting OFWs as Presidential Adviser on OFW concerns and the gains achieved by the Pag-IBIG Fund,” Quicho said.

“The Vice President is focused on the task at hand and would continue to provide his kind of leadership and performance whoever will be the other presidential aspirants,” he added.

In a statement, Senator Poe for

her part said: “I am humbled by the results of the survey. I view it as a positive appreciation and validation by a good number of our countrymen of my work within and prior to the survey period. It inspires me that our people approve of what I have been doing and I will continue to do what I think is right and for the best interest of our countrymen. Patuloy akong magsisikap na gawin kung ano ang tama at makakatulong sa mas nakararami.”

Among all the personalities placing in the top 10 survey, only Binay has openly declared his certainty to run for President.

Former Senator Panfilo Lacson, a former police chief and anti-crime czar, has acknowledged “studying the numbers” to consider a run for Malacanang. He was mentioned by 1 percent of the SWS respondents, showing him at the same levels as his former colleagues in Senate Loren Legarda, Franklin Drilon and Bong Revilla - and as that of boxing icon and congressman Manny Pacquiao. They all placed just behind Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, who had 3 percent of all mentions.

Presidential Assistant for Food Security and Agricultural Modernization Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, who was named by 1 percent of the SWS respondents in the December survey, was not on the list in the latest poll. n With Chuchay Fernandez and Tricia Aquino/ InterAksyon.com / April 16, 2015 / 6:00 AM

NEWS

r h 2015 / Fortnightly – No. • UK & Europe Edition

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A DAY OF PILGRIMAGE ON FEAST DAY MAMASAPANO Mar OF absolves PNoy, ST. RITA OFblames CASCIAPurisima; resigned PNPATchief says case shouldn’t be prejudged THE SHRINE OF ST. RITA IN DEVON “Saint of the Helpless” “The mandate of the BOI was fact- I confirmed in my mind that the one MANILA - The camp of resigned Philippine National Police chief finding in nature. That is different that has the primary responsibility on Alan Purisima on Friday cautioned from finding fault or liability. There is the death of the 44 is no other than Department of Interior and Local a separate process for that. We shall the suspended Director General Alan Government (DILG) Secretary respond to allegations at the proper Purisima.]

Roxas said that based on the BOI Manuel Roxas II against prejudging time and in the proper forum,” added report, “it is clear that Purisima led theDate: Mamasapano case after the PNP Purisima’s lawyer.

After reading the BOI report on from the start Operation Exodus,” Board Inquiry (BOI) came out with C TonItheVJanuary I T I Eincident S : Friday, Roxas absolved President which was launched to neutralize two its A findings high-value targets Zhul ifli bin ir Benigno of Aquino III and put the blame in 06:30 Maguindanao resulted in thein front AMthatAssembly Charing Cross Hospital alias “Marwan” and Basit Usman. on Purisima. death of 67 people 44 elite from 06:45 AM including Departure London e said that after Purisima was “Matapos kong mabasa ang formal troopers of the Special Action Force.

10:30 AM Arrival and orientation around the Shrine of St. Rita “It appears that the Secretary report ay confirmed sa aking pag-iisip suspended by the Office of the Holy Massfollowed by the Exposition of the Ombudsman, the latter “should have angthe may pangunahing pananagutan is 12:00 prejudgingPM the case and Sacrifice playing naof Relic of St. Rita and Hundreds of Roses will be blessed for over the to certain sectors of the public. I dito sa pagkamatay ng 44 ay walang relinquished the command iba kundi angrelatives. suspendidong Director operation to P P Officer-in-charge would caution against entertaining Pilgrims, friends and Deputy Dir. Gen. Leonardo Espina.”

Alan Purisima,” DILG conclusions at thisLunch stage,” (Bring said Gen. 13:00 PM your own foodsaid or the food to share) “Hindi lang na hindi niya ipinasa, Kristoffer Purisima, lawyer of the chief.

14:00 PM Sacrament of Reconciliation and Free time sinabihan pa niya si Napeñas na ilihim [After reading the formal report resigned PNP chief.

37

Friday 22 May 2015 Price: £30

15.30 PM

BENEDICTION

17:00 OKs PM DPWH Departure from Devon MMDA work on totally closed Ayala Bridge

e u e it i ru hing to o plete the or on the ridge in ti e or the A i i i E ono i ooper tion u it. ppe ling to the otori t or or nd igh y the green p tien e. hey houldLondon oid the re light pro eed ith rehPrayer ilit tion Crusade-West ThetoCommunity is a non A e profit uirino Aorganization e e to A e g y y u h po i le nd t e ltern te route or on Ay l ridge in nil t rting oule rd nd o l d. with no budget. Reservation without deposit is not considered as reserved. in te d olentino id.

March 21. he reh ilit tion nd rep ir o the Any interested Are contact e pe ted to e e ted on y A ording to Afriends, h ir n please ridge t rted in t ge in y l t ye r Fr he ppro ed the the lo ure o the orn i olentino on . ridge in lude or nd i e pe ted to e o pleted y thorough re u h ue on oule rd onth long tot l lo ure o ridge uly. ■ Clara Masinag / Photo by Bernard Testa / t A e eg rd to l t untilyou April and 21 re ue ted y United N tion A enue Thank God bless.

InterAksyon.com / March 13, 2015 / 9:50 PM MANILA - The Metropolitan Manila

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File photos of resigned PNP chief Alan Purisima, DILG chief Mar Roxas, and President Benigno Aquino III

ito, itago ito, huwag itong sabihin kay OIC Espina at sa akin,” Roxas said.

[It was not only that he did not relinquish, he even told (sacked SAF chief Getulio) Napeñas to make it a secret, to hide it, not to tell it to me and OIC Espina.]

Also, Roxas said Purisima “failed to follow President Aquino’s orders to coordinate the operation with the Armed Forces of the Philippines, which would have allowed the AFP to respond on time.”

“Hindi nakakilos in a timely manner ang AFP because they didn’t

know, at ‘yong inaasahang responde, ‘resbak’ ay hindi nakarating hanggang naubos na ang th A sa kanilang kinalalagyan,” Roxas said. e, however, said that the President “had no accountability regarding the Mamasapano incident.”

Acoording to the DILG chief, “the President twice ordered Purisima to coordinate the operation with the AFP, and when he was already suspended, to turn over the chain of command to Espina but the President’s orders were not followed.” ■ InterAksyon.com / March 14, 2015 / 3:12 AM

38

SPORTS

www.hello-philippines.com

April 2015 / Fortnightly – No. 8 • UK & Europe Edition

BOXING

Pacquiao insists ‘killer instinct’ not gone, as strong as ever ahead of Mayweather fight MANNY Pacquiao said Wednesday his “killer instinct” and will to win is as strong as ever, rejecting suggestions he is past his prime for the May 2 blockbuster bout with Floyd Mayweather.

The Filipino was speaking in ollywood at the final news conference he will give before he heads to Las Vegas for the eagerly anticipated welterweight unification showdown with the unbeaten Mayweather, set to be the most lucrative in boxing history.

Boxing fans say the two men are getting it on five years too late, with Pacquiao now 36 and Mayweather two years older, and both showing tentative

BOXING

denying that the outcome of the Las egas fight would define his glittering career.

My entire career defines my legacy.

Everything I have done in boxing,” he said.

“I have had some great, great accomplishments and achievements in my career. I won titles in eight different weight divisions.”

Pacquiao spoke to a small group of reporters in the basement of the Wild Card gym in Hollywood.

He then went upstairs to the main gym for a workout in front of a standingroom only crowd of photographers and television cameras. n AFP / April 16, 2015

Mayweather says Pacquiao ‘too reckless’

FLOYD Mayweather says it will be two “hall-of-famers” in their prime when he and Manny Pacquiao clash in the richest fight in boxing history on May 2 at the MGM Hotel.

In the only Las Vegas news conference he is giving ahead of fight week, Mayweather said Tuesday that he is not worried about spoiling his perfect 47-0 record.

“He’s a future hall-of-famer. I am a future hall-of-famer and we are meeting at the pinnacle of our careers,” Mayweather said.

“From the matchup, it is going to be a very exciting fight.

Our styles are totally different. I fight with smarts. Every move is calculated.

Every move is thought about.”

He also discussed how his training is progressing, Pacquiao’s strengths and weaknesses, retirement, and revealed that the thrill of boxing is gone and that at this point in his career, it just feels like a job.

‘Over all of that stuff’. “No. I don’t enjoy it like I once did,” said Mayweather, who was fashionably late for his workout session.

“It is at a point where it is business. It is my job. I go to the gym. I train. I know what I have to do,” he added, speaking from a tent outside his Las Vegas gym located in the middle of the desert city’s Chinatown district.

“There was a time when it was fun but I am to a point now where I am really over all of that stuff.”

The welterweight unification fight, which has been the subject of on-off negotiations for six years, will not only be the richest fight but it will go a long way towards determining who was the greatest fighter of the era.

The fight is expected to shatter records for total revenue with Mayweather earning about $120 million, while Pacquiao could receive about $80 million.

Mayweather did allow reporters to watch him work out Tuesday. He said he is trying to rekindle his passion for the sport by using some different training methods, like chopping wood and swimming laps.

“I can have a good day in the gym and the sparring partners can have a good day on me. That don’t count. It counts under the lights when it is for all the marbles,” he said.

There was no sign Tuesday of the controversy that arose prior to his 2014 Marcos Maidana fight.

In September, Mayweather was ordered to appear before the Nevada State Athletic Commission after being accused of forcing fighters at his gym to allegedly endure 31-minute training rounds without a break.

Mayweather testified to the commission that the marathon sparring sessions were staged in order to boost pay-per-view sales for his personal cable

BASKETBALL

Candidates for new PBA commissioner down to four; Hizon in, Seigle out THE PBA on Thursday announced that the list of candidates for the next commissioner is just down to four, with one of them making it despite not being

Philex photo

signs of slowing down in recent fights.

Pacquiao, who has also faced accusations that he has neglected his boxing and concentrated too much on his political career, hit back, saying: “I feel very motivated.

“The inspiration and determination is back and the killer instinct is there. I love it. I like it.”

Pacquiao described the upcoming fight as one of the biggest ever and said that more people are interested in it now because it took years of on-off negotiations to put together.

“It is a good thing that it is happening now rather than five years ago because more people are informed,” he said,

included in the initial list.

Former PBA player Vince Hizon, current league executive Rickie Santos, St. Clare school owner Jay Adalem and former player

and coach Chito Narvasa made the cut.

Narvasa, once a PBA coach and now serves as president of the Basketball Association of the Philippines, was not part of the six initial candidates the league announced last week. But he made it anyway after the PBA changed the criteria for the post.

Talk ‘N Text player Danny Seigle, commentator Charlie Cuna and former NBA executive Mark Fischer are now out of the race.

A new commissioner is expected to be announced on May 15.

The search for a new commissioner came after the outgoing Chito Salud stepped down and eventually took the chief executive post of the league.

The PBA commissioner’s main task will be to oversee the game-to-game operations of the league. n InterAksyon.com / April 16, 2015 / 5:26 PM

T show to promote his next fight.

In the episode Mayweather referred to his gym as the “dog house” adding guys fight to the death. It is not right but it is dog house rules.”

Mayweather is now being sued by two of the fighters in question, 18-year-old Shariff Rahaman and his brother, Hasim, 23, who allege battery, tortious assault, false imprisonment and negligent hiring and training.

Still the “dog house” featured a carnival-like atmosphere that will continue to follow this mega title fight until May 2.

Mayweather’s longevity in the sport has been attributed to his superb defensive skills.

The May fight is expected to be decided by Mayweather’s brilliant counterpunching skills or Pacquiao’s blazing speed and power.

But Mayweather says he sees some flaws in the boxing style of Pacquiao.

‘Reckless fighter’. Mayweather described the 36-year-old Pacquiao - - , Os as a rec less fighter” who takes too many chances, referring to Juan Manuel Marquez’s knockout of Pacman in December 2012.

“He fought very, very recklessly in the Marque fight,” Mayweather said.

“I could have had the same type of career but my career wouldn’t have lasted this long.”

Mayweather is in the fifth fight of a six-fight contract with howtime, and he says this year will be his last on the job.

My last fight is in eptember,” he said. n AFP / April 15, 2015 Edienic vignat, verferita,

Phil Younghusband hopes Azkals to score e psets in A orl C p alifiers FOOTBALL

PHILIPPINE naitonal men’s football team star Phil Younghusband hopes the Azkals to score “a few upsets” against more favored foes in the FIFA World Cup qualifiers that will begin this June.

In the competition, the 139th-ranked Azkals are bracketed with Uzbekistan (73rd), Bahrain (108th), North Korea (157th) and Yemen (170th) in Group H. “It’s a tough draw against some strong teams, no matter what the rankings say,” Younghusband told InterAksyon.com.

“All teams at this level are going to be tough. Would have been nice to have drawn one of the big names.

“But at least we have experience against some of the teams in our group.

And I think we will be able to compete against those teams and maybe cause a few upsets.”

The Azkals already had a chance to face most of the teams in their bracket.

They already played Bahrain twice, with one ending in an impressive nil-nil draw in 2012 before a 2-1 loss just last March 31.

The Filipinos met North Korea during the 2012 Asian Football Confederation Challenge Cup where they lost, 2-nil, and also bowed to Uzbekistan’s Olympic squad, 3-nil, in a friendly on the same year.

The Azkals will have at least four home matches in the round-robin competition that will run from June this year to March 2016.

A team’s performance in the 2018 World Cup qualifiers will also have a bearing in one country’s chances of making it to the 2019 Asian Cup. The eight group winners and the four bestplaced squads are guaranteed of spots in the final round of the World Cup qualifiers as well as the Asian Cup which will then be expanded to 24 teams.

The squads who failed to make it through to the next round of World Cup qualifiers will slug it out for the remaining spots in the Asian Cup. n Ryan Fenix special to InterAksyon.com / April 16, 2015 / 4:12 PM

sport

April 2015 – No. • UK & Europe Edition

IMMIGRATION / OFNEWS

www.hello-philippines.com

9

US grandma appeals to keep name of PHL street Pilar Mencias GLENDORA, Calif. –Calif.

– Kierulf will turn 90 inwill October, PilarMenciasKierulf turn and 90 she in hopes to and celebrate the milestone with October, she hopes to celebrate thea victory forwith her family. milestone a victory for her family.

Kierulf recent wrote a letter the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP), the mayors and council members of the cities of San Juan and Mandaluyong, to preserve the name of the street where she grew up and the legacy of the heroes it honors: revolutionary icon Gen. Antonio Luna Bonifacio Lopez Lopez Mencias, Mencias, her and Dr. Dr.Bonifacio father. Story on page 38 Mencias,the the street between Luna Mencias, street between the the cities of San Juan and Mandaluyong, cities of San Juan and Mandaluyong, is is where the Pangasinan-born Dr. where the Pangasinan-born Dr.Mencias Mencias built aforhome for his wife, built a home his wife, Barbara Barbaraa Sacro, a nurse, their six Sacro, nurse, and theirand six children, children, in theon1930s. in the 1930s.

Story page 38 Dr. Mencias lived and died for his country. The graduate of Colegio de San Juan de Letran was an epidemiologist was dean of the College of Medicine of the University of Santo Tomas from 1938 until he was captured by Japanese while tending to guerrillas in World War II. Story on page 38 That mission to save lives led to his capture by the invaders. He was never seen nor heard from again. His children later learned that he was executed—beheaded—for abetting the underground resistance. or his ultimate sacrifice, grateful Story on attached page 38 his name to town authorities

Pacquiao insists ‘killer instinct’ not gone, as strong as ever ahead of Mayweather fight Mayweather says Pacquiao ‘too reckless’

Candidates for new PBA commissioner down to four; Hizon in, Seigle out

Phil Younghusband hopes Azkals to score ‘few upsets’ in FIFA World Cup qualifiers

that of General Luna.

Threatened. But the honor is threatened by efforts to rename the national road by the family of another departed resident, former Congress member ufino . Antonio.

The move prompted street resident Asiddao, 28, 28, to to alert her Mariel Kierulf KierulfAsiddao, grandmother and relatives in Manila, Northern and Southern California, Chicago, Vancouver, British Columbia, and Antwerp, Belgium, to appeal the name change. my my motivation was “At the thestart, start, motivation merely pride,pride, that that the name of the was merely the name of BOXING streetstreet wherewhere I liveI honors my great the live honors my grandfather,” said Asiddao, a marketing greatgrandfather,” said Asiddao, a executive atexecutive an IT at andanconsumer marketing IT and electronics electronics multinational company consumer multinational while pursuing her MBA her as aMBA senior company while pursuing asat a UP Diliman. senior at UP Diliman.

“In my short research, I found out details of a man’s life that aweinspired me—I could not believe that his accomplishments exceed what we alI knew. I realized it was up to me and my family to defend his memory.

Lolo may not hold a prominent place in history books, but in this corner of the city where he bought the land and built his home and brought up his family, he enjoys well-deserved recognition.”

She and her mother, Marian K. Asiddao, embarked on a campaign to illuminate city officials on their ancestor’s gift to Philippine history.

“This appeal is to ensure that he and his great deeds are not to be forgotten,” said Asiddao. he produced flyers heralding her Lolo’s accomplishments, which she distributed at the February 24 hearing of the San Juan City Tourism and Cultural Affairs Committee.

Similar case. Mariel Asiddao also discovered a similar case last year in ucena, where local officials had renamed part of a street originally named after the city’s first Catholic priest, Fr. Mariano Granja, after Felix Y. ni Cristo Manalo, founder of the the Iglesia Iglesiani (INC). The INC has a church on the street in contention.

A resident protested the renaming and brought the matter before the commission.

NHCP chief Maria Serena Diokno in a letter to Council Member Benito Brizuela, head of Lucena’s committee on tourism and cultural affairs and main proponent of the renaming, objected to the change.

Such renaming “would tend to disrupt the continuity of the street name,” Diokno said in a report by the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

Besides noting the impracticality of the change, Diokno questioned the propriety of renaming part of a street that has been sanctified by usage and therefore has attained a degree of historical association and importance

MAYWEATHER WEARS PHILIPPINE FLAGINSPIRED SHIRT DURING PUBLIC WORKOUT

this street’s name erases his legacy of hard word, perseverance, love of country and achievement.”

Castaneda’s eldest son, Bernardino M. Castaneda, Jr., is a “Kagawad” or member of the barangay council. Like his grandfather, he has chosen a life in public service. Many of his siblings and cousins also chose the same path as their patriarch in the fields of medicine, education, journalism and humanitarianism. One of them received the 2006 Philippine Presidential Award Dr. Bonifacio Lopez Mencias. Photo courtesy of family for Overseas Filipino Organizations and in the community.”

Individuals for service to Filipinos in the In the case of Luna Mencias, the heirs United States.

Bonifacio Menciashope hope that that the of Dr. Dr.BonifacioMencias “While we can understand the NHCP will adhere to its responsibility Antonio family’s wish to honor their to conserve and preserve the country’s ancestor, we appeal to you to prevent historical legacies by objecting to the them from doing so at the expense renaming of the entire street that of the memory and legacy of our begins at P. Guevara Street in San Juan grandfather who died so that others City and ends at Shaw Boulevard. may live,” the Mencias grandchildren Nine families since the early 1930s said in a joint letter to the NHCP POUND-FOR-POUND king Guia Floyd have continuously resided in the head, San Juan Mayor Gomez Mayweather had a public workout session on C. Mencias clan compound, including and Mandaluyong Mayor Benjamin Philippine time) in Addition Las Margarita Mencias Castaneda,Tuesday one (Wednesday Abalos, Jr, councilors and the Vegas which was attended by hundreds of of the two surviving daughters of Hills barangay captain. journalists all over the world.

Dr.Mencias.

“Our grandfather never met us Mayweather surprisingly “Our father’s name was attachedFor to the butevent, he lives in us. Some of us have wore a shirt with an image of him printed that of revolutionary hero Antonio Luna transplanted ourselves in on other a Philippine flag-inspired design.

He will be in as testimony of how our neighborhood countries, but we remain rooted facing Filipino ring icon Manny Pacquiao had recognized his important our home country, the heart ofinwhich their much-awaited megafightthey on emphasized.

May 2. n contribution to our community, country is Luna Mencias,” n InterAksyon.com / April 15, 2015 and history,” Mencias -Castaneda said Cherie M. Querol Moreno / Philippine News / March 25, in her letter to authorities. “Changing 2015 / 1:31 PM