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ROBIN PADILLA USES FILM, TV NO OFW INFECTED WITH EBOLA SO FAR, SAYS DOH PROJECTS TO PUSH ADVOCACIES

HEALTH authorities have not yet monitored any overseas Filipino worker (OFW) who has been infected with the deadly Ebola virus, which has killed over

5,000 in West Africa. “As of this time, no Filipino has been infected by Ebola,” said Dr. Lyndon See Suy, spokesperson for the Department 3517

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December 2014 / Fortnightly – No. 24 • UK & Europe Edition

Decongestion of Manila’s ports seen completed early next year MANILA - Stranded container cargo at the country’s two main ports of entry could be wiped out early next year as yard use has gone down significantly. In a statement, Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) general manager Juan C. Sta. Ana said yard utilization at both the Manila International Container Terminal (MICT) and the Manila South Harbor has dropped to 81 percent as of December 12. The Cabinet Cluster on Port Congestion is aiming to bring back the rate to 80 percent, which is considered normal for both ports. MICT already has an 84 percent rate or about 42,400 TEUs (twentyfoot equivalent units), whereas South Harbor has 77 percent or about 23,800 TEUs. “Yard utilization has been significantly reduced giving our port operators ample elbow room to maneuver to send out and take in containers compared to the condition a couple of weeks ago,” Sta. Ana said. “We have likewise significantly reduced vessel queue at the Manila

International Container Terminal by at least half in the last couple of days,” he said. The number of vessels at queue has gone down to a combined 16 excluding those at berth, from a high of 30 a couple of weeks ago. As of December 12, MICT has 6 vessels at berth with 12 vessels at queue, while South Harbor has 4 vessels at berth and 4 vessels at queue. “If we can sustain such efforts in the next couple of months, we will hit our target to fully decongest the ports by early next year,” Sta. Ana said. The Cabinet Cluster on Port Congestion, which is headed by Secretary to the Cabinet Jose Rene Almendras, is negotiating with tyhe Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and the Metro Manila Council to allow trucks to ply the Roxas Boulevard beyond December 22. Starting December 17, MMDA will again allow trucks to ply Roxas Boulevard from midnight to 5 a.m., but only until December 22. On December 3, MMDA imposed

a truck ban along Roxas Boulevard to give way to the holidays and next month’s Papal visit. As a result, combined container gate outs from the two Manila ports declined by at least

10 percent from an average of 7,000 TEUs from Monday to Friday to an average of 6,200. “We are making all measures work that is why we are adjusting

almost everything. With these, we are banking on the private sector to do their share,” Sta. Ana said. ■ Darwin G. Amojelar / InterAksyon.com / December 15, 2014 / 2:54 PM

Government cracks down on erring taxi drivers

Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Chairman Winston Ginez shows the approved “Petition for Reduction of Fares of Public Utility Jeepney (PUJ) in National Capital Region (NCR) Region III and IV during press con in LTFRB office in Quezon City. Photo by Krisken Jones, ©InterAsyon.com

Government approves hefty cut in Metro Manila jeepney fares MANILA - Public transport fares are going down. The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has approved a P1 reduction in public utility jeepney (PUJ) fares in Metro Manila. “It would be effective today,” Maan Salada, LTFRB spokesperson, told InterAksyon.com This means the minimum jeepney fare would be reduced to P7.50 from the prevailing P8.50. The minimum fare reduction only covers the first 4 kilometers, with the rates for succeeding kilometers unchanged. The fare reduction comes amid the continued decline in oil prices. Diesel averages P33 a liter, down from P48 per

liter in 2012. Early this week, oil companies delivered the heftiest cut yet in prices at the pump after the international oil cartel decided to keep production at current levels. Recently, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) cut its demand forecast for 2015 to a decade low amid the US’ ample supply of fuel. Winston Ginez, LTFRB chairman, said the board has directed regional LTFRB directors to assess the prevailing condition in their areas and make recommendation if minimum fare rollback is also feasible in their respective jurisdictions. ■ Darwin G. Amojelar / InterAksyon.com / December 11, 2014 / 12:02 PM

MANILA - The government is requiring all taxi operators registered in Metro Manila to submit a list of their authorized drivers. In a memorandum circular, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has ordered all taxi operators in Metro Manila to submit soft and hard copies of a list of their authorized drivers to the agency’s Information and System Management Division (ISMD) on or before January 15, 2015. The list should be accompanied by an afﬁdavit attesting that the list is complete and names of the drivers are all legitimate. To keep the list updated, the operators are required to submit to ISMD the name/s and other details of their drivers who are no longer authorized to drive their units as well as new authorized drivers every 15th and 30th of the month. LTFRB also ordered taxi operators to issue identiﬁcation cards to their

authorized drivers with content and design to be prescribed by the agency. Drivers shall not be allowed to drive their units without the IDs issued by their operators. The drivers must hang the IDs on the rear view mirrors of the taxi units or face penalty for refusing to display the same. Once the circular takes effect, taxi drivers must also secure a certificate from LTFRB to verify their employment history and check if there have any pending complaint filed against them. Taxi operators face cancellation, suspension or revocation of their franchise if their driver fails to secure the LTFRB certificate. Taxi operators found not complying with any of the provisions of the circular will be fined P5,000 per violation. LTFRB chairman Winston Ginez said the agency issued a memorandum circular after a sharp increase in the number of complaints against discourteous, arrogant, dishonest and Photo by Bernard Testa

irresponsible drivers in the last couple of weeks. These include several passengers who alleged having been robbed by taxi drivers and their accomplices. “As part of our mandate in ensuring the safety of the people, we need to act to protect the riding public from these criminals disguising as legitimate taxi drivers,” Ginez said. LTFRB will also expedite resolution of passenger complaints against erring taxi drivers. The agency’s Public Assistance and Complaint Desk (PACD) will immediately call to a conference the driver, operator and the complainant upon receipt of complaint. If the complainant is unable to attend the conference, a show cause letter shall be sent to the operator to explain their side. In case an amicable settlement or agreement is not reached, LTFRB will require the complainant to submit a written statement with the details of their complaint and will be sworn before the hearing officer on the hearing date provided for by the PACD. If proven at fault, the taxi operator will be penalized under Joint Administrative Order No.2014-001. If the driver is at fault, LTFRB will make the proper notation in its records and refer its findings and recommendation to the Land Transportation Office for investigation and imposition of appropriate fine or penalty. ■ Darwin G. Amojelar / InterAksyon.com / December 15, 2014 / 11:44 AM

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OFW cash transfers hit new monthly record at start of fourth quarter MANILA - Money sent home by overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) notched a new monthly record at the start of the fourth quarter. In a statement, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said cash remittances climbed 7 percent to $2.224 billion last October from $2.079 billion in the same month last year. The BSP said last October’s money transfer was the biggest for a month since it started tracking remittance data. Last October’s transfers brought the 10-month tally to $19.9 billion, or 6.2

percent more than the $18.716 billion in the same period last year. Including in kind transfers, personal remittances rose 6.7 percent to $22.02 billion at end-October from $20.641 billion in the same period last year. According to the BSP, stable demand for skilled Filipino workers was responsible for the record remittance transfers. Citing data from the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), the BSP said the country received 768,741 job orders in the

ﬁrst 10 months of this year, of which more than a third were for service, production and professional work in Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Taiwan and Qatar. Remittances help fuel consumer spending, which accounts for twothirds of the Philippine economy. In the ﬁrst half of the year, the country’s gross domestic product expanded by 6 percent year-on-year on the back of household expenditures and exports. ■

Scarlet Venilia / InterAksyon.com / December 15, 2014 / 5:17 PM

Moody’s lifts Philippines’ credit rating further into investment grade MANILA - The Philippines has gone further into uncharted terrain after one of the world’s three leading credit rating ﬁrms delivered yet another upgrade. In a statement, Moody’s Investors Service today said it raised the Philippines’ debt score by a notch to “Baa2” from “Baa3.” The debt watcher assigned a “stable” outlook, which means the new score will remain in the next 12-18 months. Moody’s latest move comes more than a year after it ﬁrst elevated the Philippines to investment gradepushing a country that had been dubbed the “sick man of Asia” further into uncharted territory. According to Moody’s, the government’s success in reducing its debt was one of the key reasons for the fresh upgrade. Since the Arroyo administration, the Philippines has been trimming its debt, particularly

the foreign component, which has been a source of instability in the past given the country’s erratic foreign exchange earnings. From more than half of its gross domestic product (GDP), the Philippines’ debt has slipped to less than 40 percent so far this year. The foreign component of the country’s debt also has slipped to about a fifth this year from a third a decade ago. Besides an improving fiscal profile, the country’s strong economy and limited vulnerability to financial risks that usually infect emerging markets like the Philippines also called for the increase in its debt score, the rating firm said. Despite headwinds in the global economy that have pulled Japan and parts of the euro area back into recession, the Philippines has been growing above trend, making it one of Asia’s fastestgrowing in the last two years.

Adjustments by advanced economies to the global financial crisis of 2008-2009 also have created financial market volatility, but the Philippines remains less vulnerable than its emerging market peers given the country’s strong current account, which has been in surplus for more than half a decade. Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Amando M. Tetangco Jr. said the latest credit-rating upgrade is welcome news coming at a time when the global economy remains fragile. “The latest credit rating upgrade is a recognition of our efforts to keep the Philippine economy resilient amid constant challenges posed by the external environment. Contributing to this resiliency are the country’s comfortable external liquidity, strong financial system, and a favorable inflationary environment,” Tetangco said.

Finance Secretary Cesar V. Purisima said Moody’s latest move is the result of the Aquino administration’s “efforts... to institutionalize reforms to help ensure the agenda of good governance continues.” “The upgrade is an acknowledgment of the sound

management of the economy. There should be no turning back as far as good governance is concerned; the only direction we should see for the Philippine economy is forward,” Purisima added. ■ Scarlet Venilia and

Chantal Reyes / InterAksyon.com / December 11, 2014 / 4:10 PM

Regulators mull permanent secondary price ceiling at electricity spot market MANILA - Energy sector regulators plan to make permanent next year a secondary price cap at the country’s

trading platform for electricity. In a press brieﬁng, Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC)

executive director Francis Saturnino S. Juan said the agency will release by January a new pricing scheme “similar

to the design” of the secondary price cap introduced early this year at the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM). WESM is a trading platform where electricity distributors can purchase additional supply from power plant operators whenever demand exceeds that covered by their bilateral supply contracts. “We are still revising or reviewing the ﬁgures to take into account the inputs from the public consultations conducted,” Juan said. He said the trigger for the secondary price cap, which is set at P6.245 a kilowatt-hour (kWh), could however be raised. The secondary price cap is imposed whenever average offers of power plant operators breach the trigger price of P8.186 over a 72-hour period. Under the existing setup, the secondary price ceiling remains in force until succeeding offers of power

plants drop below the trigger price of P8.186 a kWh. Juan said the secondary price cap lapsed last December 8, adding that ERC has yet to renew it on expectations that WESM prices won’t spike this month. The secondary WESM price ceiling was established last May by the ERC after spot market prices spiked to alltime highs in November and December last year. Regulators have since slashed the rates and are investigating the WESM trading of power suppliers during that period. Juan said the investigation has yet to wrap up. “They are not yet prepared to come out with the results of the investigation. But anytime soon” once they have completed their studies and ﬁndings they will forward their recommendation to the ERC, he said. ■

Euan Paulo C. Añonuevo / InterAksyon.com / December 15, 2014 / 2:03 PM

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December 2014 / Fortnightly – No. 24 • UK & Europe Edition

Bangko Sentral keeps interest rates steady, cuts inﬂation forecasts once more MANILA - The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) today decided to maintain its key interest rates. In its ﬁnal meeting for this year, the BSP’s policy-setting Monetary Board

found merit in keeping the overnight borrowing and lending rates at 4 percent and 6 percent, respectively. The special deposit account (SDA) rates and reserve requirement ratios

Grid operator to complete repair of power lines in typhoon-hit areas before Christmas MANILA - The country’s power grid operator aims to complete before Christmas the restoration of transmission lines tripped by Typhoon Ruby. “NGCP is fast-tracking the restoration of transmission lines and facilities affected by Typhoon Ruby in the Visayas. We are targeting completion of restoration activities before Christmas,” National Grid Corp of the Philippines president Henry Sy Jr. said in a statement. The deadline is based on NGCP’s assessment of the extent of damage to its facilities. To expedite restoration, 36 line gangs – 24 from Visayas, six from Mindanao, three from North Luzon, and three from South Luzon – were mobilized to ensure that NGCP complies with the deadline set by the Department of Energy (DOE). “We intend to restore our backbone lines within the week. All our remaining unrestored 69-kiloVolt lines in Leyte and Samar will be ready to transmit power

to the different distribution utilities and electric cooperatives by December 25,” Sy said. The system operator and power transmission service provider, however, clarified that the completion of repairs will depend on weather conditions prevailing in the area. NGCP is a privately owned corporation in charge of operating, maintaining, and developing the country’s power grid. It transmits high-voltage electricity through “power superhighways” that include the interconnected system of transmission lines, towers, substations, and related assets. The consortium, which holds the 25-year concession to operate the country’s power transmission network, is jointly owned by Sy’s Monte Oro Grid Resources Corp, Robert Coyiuto Jr’s Calaca High Power Corp, and the State Grid Corporation of China (SGCC) as technical partner. ■ Euan Paulo C. Añonuevo / InterAksyon.com / December 10, 2014 / 6:48 PM

likewise were kept at their current levels. This is the second straight meeting that the Monetary Board opted to put on hold the tightening cycle that began early this year when runwaway money supply growth and spikes in prices of food and fuel threatened a breach of the central bank’s inflation target. Today’s decision to hold on to existing rates comes after inflation plumbed to a one-year low last month, and a slowdown in the Philippine economy. The BSP said the Monetary Board’s decision was based on its assessment that the inflation environment remained manageable, with a breach of its target no longer on the horizon. In line with this assessment, monetary authorities slashed yet again their forecasts for inflation for this year through 2016. From an already reduced forecast of 4.4 percent when they met last October, Monetary Board members cut this year’s full-year forecast to 4.2 percent, still above the mid-point of the 2014 target range of 3-5 percent. For next year, the forecast has been reduced to 3 percent from the October estimate of 3.7 percent. The 2016 forecast also was cut to 2.6 percent from the already revised 2.8 percent. The BSP set its inflation target at 2-4

percent for both years. BSP Deputy Governor Diwa C. Guinigundo said the resolution of the congestion at Manila’s ports and the decline in oil prices weighed heaviliy on the latest revision in inﬂation forecasts. “Port congestion is mitigated in the last months, rice imports provide additional supply so rice prices have come down especially in areas outside metro manila,” he said. “Oil prices also started to decline beginning July. There is a big decline of oil prices and we know that the impact of oil prices is quite pervasive. It impacts not only in transport but also food and other related items in the consumer basket,” he added. Earlier, Trade Secretary Gregory

L. Domingo called on retailers and manufacturers to pass on to consumers the cheap-oil dividend they were enjoying. Guinigundo said the latest reduction in the BSP’s inﬂation forecasts doesn’t incorporate today’s announcement of a cut in jeepney fares. “We would expect that while there will be some marginal impact on December inﬂation, the entire year will not have any perceivable effect.” Earlier today, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) said it decided to slash the minimum fare in Metro Manila by a peso -- a move the agency attributed to cheaper fuel. ■ Scarlet Venilia / InterAksyon.com / December 11, 2014 / 4:19 PM

Manny Pacquiao Alliance Global expects all business units to contribute to growth in 2015

sport

December 2014 / Fortnightly – No. 24 • UK & Europe Edition

MANILA - The holding firm of billionaire Andrew Tan expects faster growth next year anchored on expansion across its business units. “The growth momentum is there. We expect growth for next year obviously,” Alliance Global Group Inc (AGI) president Kingson Sian said on the sidelinesStory of Emperador Inc’s special on page 38 stockholders meeting on Monday. AGI’s net income attributable to equity holders was flat at P11.4 billion in the first nine months of the year due to reduced ownership in Emperador and Travellers International Hotel Group Inc. PropertyStory arm Megaworld on page 38 Corp will “continue to expand on all fronts,” launching more projects fuelled by the country’s high-growth trajectory and

the recovery in the United States, Sian said. Megaworld maintained an upbeat outlook on the sector even after the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas imposed stricter control on lending to real estate. “Most of our buyers, majority is still funded out of equity. [It may affect] those that need more ﬁnancing. Based on our ﬁnancing plan, by the time we turn over [our projects], buyers would have paid 40-50 percent so pasok ka na sa value,” Sian said. Liquor maker Emperador will introduce new products and capitalize on synergies with Scotch whisky maker Whyte & Mackay for its expansion into new markets. “With the acquisition, we need to

Story on pageat38 or 0.71 percent, to end 7,275.62. The local barometer fell by as much as 2 percent to 7,077.59 before gradually paring its losses. The property counter Story on page 39 climbed

shares changed hands. The most actively traded stocks were PLDT, Universal Robina, BDO, Bloomberry and Ayala Land. The top gainers were Citystate Savings,

Pacquiao victory stokes anticipation for new biopic

Azkals move up in latest FIFA World Rankings after impressive Suzuki Cup showing

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‘HE’S GOING TO FIGHT ME?’

reprises famous line when asked about Mayweather fight be able to leverage off each other’s network. Whyte & Mackay is expanding into new markets, same with Emperador, and also introducing new products to the market,” Sian said. A joint venture with Genting of Malaysia, Travellers International will continue expanding Resorts World Manila with the Marriott Grand Ballroom expected to be completed next year. The new wing of the Marriott Hotel will be unveiled in 2016, followed by the completion of the third phase expansion in 2017 and the opening of Bayshore City Resorts World in 2018. Golden Arches Development Corp, the master franchisee of McDonald’s in the Philippines, is on track to open its 500th store next year. McDonald’s

already has 430 stores in the common shares and equity linked securities convertible to common Philippines. AFTER his dominant victory over During the special meeting, shares. Arran Investment is an affiliate Chris Algieri on Sunday, Filipino Emperador shareholders approved the of GIC, Singapore’s sovereign wealth boxing icon Manny Pacquiao was issuance to Arran Investment Private fund. ■ Krista Angela M. Montealegre / InterAksyon. again asked about the possibility of Limited of up to P22 billion worth of com / December 15, 2014 / 3:08 PM a mega-fight between him and Floyd Mayweather. The eight-division world champion, Taking their cue from the slump in US who scored six knockdowns in the stocks last Friday, Asian stocks faltered fight against Algieri, responded by on Monday, as oil’s decline to five-year reprising his famous line from a recent lows deepened concerns of a global Foot Locker advertisement that went viral. economic slowdown. “He’s going to fight me?” Pacquiao The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index sank 1.6 percent to 2,002.33, while the Dow said with a smile. The Filipino fighter turned serious, Jones Industrial Average dived 315.51 though, that heby was “ready” we’ll for as $45saying per barrel yearend, points, or 1.8 percent, to 17,280.83. fight.above 7,000,” Limlingan said. ■ “Investors are factoring the worst thefinish “I’m Angela ready.M.I’m ready to fight next Montealegre / InterAksyon.com case scenario and assuming that oil will Krista ■ InterAksyon.com / December 15, 2014 / November 4:50 PM 23, 2014 / 2:27 PM be the only problem, if oil falls to as low year.”

Suzuki Cup-Vietnam coach expecting to win vs Azkals Story on page 38 Philippine share prices pare losses on bargain hunting MANILA – Philippine share prices 1.49 percent to drive the stock market Philippine H20 and Primex, while San Miguel Beer, the biggest losers were Republic overcame a rocky startAlaska on Monday, higher. as investors picked up bargains to Market breadth was negative as Glass, Lorenzo Shipping and Oriental aim to strengthen hold push the benchmark index to positive decliners beat advancers, 94 to 81, Petroleum. “The market fell drastically as a territory at the close. while 51 issues were unchanged. Value of top two against At the Philippine Stock Exchange, turnover slid to P10.48 billion from reaction to the close of Dow Jones. We Meralco, NLEX the benchmark index rose 51.41 points, P11.61 billion last Friday as 2.27 billion have said the trading range will be at FIBA bans Japan from international play

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7,032 to 7,160 so investors found it was a good time to buy and bargain hunt near these support levels,” said Luis Limlingan, business development head at Regina Capital Development Corp.

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Search for most gleeful OFW Christmas carol launched O come all ye singing OFWs! A Philippine-based non-government organization has launched a global search for the happiest Christmas carol sang by Filipinos abroad. In a statement Monday, the Blas F. Ople Policy Center, which assists distressed OFWs, the contest dubbed “JoyTube the World!” is open to groups composed of three to 10 OFWs or OFW family members. To join, participant groups should create “the happiest, most joyful, and best sounding Christmas carol,” the center said. “The Christmas carol can be an existing one or an original composition,” it added.

Every entry shall be in video format with the song not exceeding two minutes and must be sent to the Ople Center’s ofﬁcial e-mail address: blasoplecenter@gmail.com. The Ople Center said the e-mail entry must contain the names of the OFWs, their company or residence when a family is involved, name of country, and the title of their song. It assured interested parties that it will immediately reply to acknowledge each entry and to say whether it qualiﬁes depending on the quality and length of performance. All entries will be uploaded on the Ople Center’s YouTube channel where a panel of judges composed of OFW

advocates will select the winning entry. A cash prize of P10,000 and a trophy awaits the single winner of this global contest. “This is our way of spreading the Christmas cheer among global Filipinos using technology through YouTube,” said Susan Ople, president of the Blas F. Ople Policy Center said. The winner will be announced on Tuesday, December 16, during the 3rd Annual Happy OFW Christmas Party hosted by the Ople Center for around 500 OFW families at Club Filipino in San Juan City, from 2 to 6 p.m. All OFW groups can start sending their entries by Sunday, December 7 through e-mail, the center said.

“The main criteria would be how joyful the Christmas carol is, and how creative, colorful, and talented the OFW group was in their performance. Bawal ang seryoso at malungkot na pamaskong awit,” Ople said. OFWs on vacation this December can sign up to join the Happy OFW

Christmas Party by visiting www. facebook.com/blasoplepolicycenter and ﬁlling up the online registration form. For more details, please call the Ople Center, (+632) 833-5337 and look for Jianne Orcelada or Mark Borromeo. ■ KBK, GMA News / December 8, 2014 / 3:39 PM

Business as usual in PHL Consulate despite Sydney hostage-taking

17 more balikbayans from Ebolahit countries undergo quarantine

SEVENTEEN overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from Ebola-hit countries are currently undergoing quarantine procedures in the Philippines, a report on “24 Oras” said Thursday. Citing information from the Department of Health (DOH), the report said the OFWs arrived in the country last week. Of the number, 15 are in Metro Manila, one in Cebu and another one in Davao City, the report said. Last week, 14 OFWs from West Africa, the hardest hit region of the Ebola outbreak, also underwent

quarantine procedures upon their arrival in the country. In accordance with protocol, the latest batch of OFWs will have to undergo quarantine for 21 days. The report did not state the country of origin of the 17 OFWs. The DOH, however, assured the public that the Philippines remains Ebola-free. Latest figures from the World Health Organization placed the number of Ebola patients to over 18,000, with over 6,000 fatalities, mostly from West Africa. ■ KBK, GMA

News / December 11, 2014 / 8:29 PM

IT’S business as usual for the Philippine Consulate General in Sydney as it monitors the hostage-taking incident inside a local cafe there involving an unknown number of hostages. In a phone interview with GMA News TV’s “Balitanghali” on Monday, Consul General Anne Jalando-on Louis said the consulate is about 20 minutes away by foot from Lindt Cafe in Martin Place, where the hostages are being held by a lone assailant. “As of this time, hindi pa rin maascertain ng mga pulis kung sinu-sino ba ‘yung mga hostages na involved, including ‘yung nationalities, so as of this time hindi pa po natin alam,” she said. “Tayo ay nagdarasal na walang Filipino na affected,” Louis added. Louis said local authorities are still in the dark as to the motivation and demands of the lone hostage-taker. “We are confident naman that the local officials are handling this situation very seriously. The consulate is also in touch with the New South Wales police force tungkol sa development dito,” she said. The Consul General said it is “business as usual” for them, following directives from Australian Prime

Minister Tony Abbott, who she noted had urged everyone “to remain calm, to be vigilant, and to go about their business as usual.” Louis said most employees in nearby ofﬁces there have been sent home, and buildings have been cleared shortly before noon there, with authorities on standby as the situation unfolds. She noted that most Filipinos who may be working in Sydney live in

suburban areas, which are 30 minutes to an hour away. Filipino tourists have been advised not to get near the cafe. “Kung meron man tayong mga kababayan dito na bumibisita as tourists, then of course I would advise them na ‘wag lumapit sa area na ito to avoid any untoward incident,” said Louis. ■ Rose-An Jessica Dioquino / KBK, GMA News / December 15, 2014 / 1:24 PM

Hostages held in Sydney cafe, Islamic flag seen in window. A New South Wales state police officer is seen at a corner near Lindt Cafe in Martin Place, where hostages are being held, in central Sydney on Monday, December 15. At least 13 hostages are being held inside the cafe where a black flag with white Arabic writing could be seen in the window, raising fears of an attack linked to Islamic militants.

Draft resolution may allow deployment of Pinay maids to UAE –report FILIPINO women wanting to work as household helpers in the United Arab Emirates may beneﬁt from a prospective resolution that will allow their deployment there, a UAE news site reported Sunday. The resolution awaits the nod of both countries as they started negotiations on the standardization of employment contracts, according to a report on Gulf News. “We already have a general understanding on how maids should be treated and this should be stated clearly in the terms and conditions

in the standard contract that both governments will agree and adhere to,” Gulf News quoted Philippine Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz as saying when she visited the UAE. “The negotiations are ongoing and both sides have now formed technical panels for the discussions,” she added. Baldoz said the Philippines is negotiating with the Ministry of Labor, as opposed to before when issues pertaining to domestic workers are under the Ministry of Interior. “We do not know how long

negotiations with the UAE will take but we have been given the impression that their government wants a resolution as soon as possible,” Baldoz said. Since June, the direct hiring of new housemaids from the Philippines had been on hold, due to conﬂicting recruitment rules from the UAE and labor-sending countries like the Philippines. The report said the UAE interior ministry introduced a uniﬁed contract for domestic workers. This led to the suspension of embassies’

role in verifying and attesting contracts, including the Philippines. But the Philippines as a laborsending country insisted on its right to verify and record such contracts to protect its workers. No time frame. Baldoz, who visited the UAE last week, insisted that there is no deployment ban for maids but added there has been progress in the negotiations between the UAE and the Philippines. She said there is no time frame on when a resolution or an agreement will be reached.

However, she likened the process with the negotiations the Philippines had with Saudi Arabia on the deployment of Filipino workers there. Last year, the two countries signed an agreement to protect Filipina maids from being exploited there. Baldoz said the negotiations for that deal took a year. The agreement stipulates Filipina maids will get one day off weekly, will be paid a minimum of $400 (Dh1,468), and hiring costs will not be deducted from their salary. ■ Joel

Locsin / KBK, GMA News / December 8, 2014 / 2:14 PM

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Pinay nurse nominated for 2014 Press Ganey Nurse of the Year Award YOU should have seen the look on her face. When Maritess De La Cruz learned that AdvantageCare Physicians had nominated her for the 2014 Press

Maritess Dela Cruz is from Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, and is a graduate of Riverside College. Filipino Reporter photo

Ganey Nurse of the Year Award, her expression was priceless. At a surprise ceremony held at the Lincoln Square medical office, her initial uncertainty over what all the fuss was about quickly changed to surprise and delight as Rob Warburton, AVP of Business Intelligence, delivered the good news along with a framed certificate commemorating her nomination and an invitation to attend the Press Ganey National Care Conference where the winner will be announced. R.N. De La Cruz is the first ACP nurse to be nominated for this prestigious award, given annually to recognize an outstanding direct care nurse who has gone above and beyond in his or her role and has demonstrated

care innovation, transformation and collaboration that supports an exceptional patient experience. Eveth Green, regional nurse director for the ACP Manhattan region, praised Maritess’ warm and caring approach to nursing. “Ms. De La Cruz makes an extra effort to bring a smile to the patients’ face,” Eveth wrote in her letter of nomination. “She is able to strongly empathize with very sick patients and their families while remaining calm herself, thinking clearly and rationally and controlling her emotions.” For her part, Maritess said: “No one can teach you how to be compassionate to people.” “We give high quality, cost-effective care with good care coordination

with members of the family and the community,” she added. “This is a validation of my hard work.” A nurse for more than 20 years who consistently earns high Press Ganey scores, Maritess ﬁrst received her nursing license in her native Philippines and expanded her nursing skills while employed throughout Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. “Through my nursing knowledge and education, I know how it feels to be in the patient’s shoes when they go to the hospital or they come to the practice,” said Maritess, who is from Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, and is a graduate of Riverside College. “I love to be with people and patients. This is like second nature to me,” she added.

Maritess, who joined ACP in 2011 and works at ACP’s Lincoln Square ofﬁces, was also commended by Dr. William Gillespie, president and CEO of AdvantageCare Physicians. “Maritess has stood out amongst her peers and proven herself to be wholly dedicated to our mission — to be the preferred care destination for our patients and the communities we serve,” he wrote in his letter of nomination. “We are extremely impressed with her commitment to learning and improvement.” “This means so much to me, for my family, and for the practice,” Maritess said. “Patients know that we have the best team here. This is the proudest moment of my career,” she added. ■ Amit

Levran / Filipino Reporter / December 5, 2014 / 5:43 PM

Pinoy Christmas in NY returns with Simbang Gabi sa Konsulado

NEW YORK – After a two-year hiatus, Simbang Gabi sa Konsulado (SGK) was revived and is back on its 27th year, as the delighted Filipino community resumed the traditional nine-day Christmas novena last 4 December and will run until 12 December at the Philippine Center New York. During its opening day, Consul General Mario De Leon acknowledged the efforts of the community saying, “This is a display of faith at work,” and thanked the organizations and individuals who never tired from requesting, coordinating with the diocese and sending petitions to have the Filipino Christmas custom back in

the Consulate. It may be recalled that Timothy Cardinal Dolan, Archbishop of New York, sent his approval of its return last September after much supplication from the community. After the Consulate announced its return, the planning committee started meeting as early as ﬁrst week of September. As a sign of solidarity and unity, the ConGen cited that 45 organizations bonded together to sponsor the masses, program and fellowship during each of the nine nights. He noted with praise that the community is faithful in observing the religious tradition and expressed his hope for the younger generations to carry on the celebration of the Simbang Gabi and Panunuluyan year

PHILIPPINE Catholic bishops this week sought “zero tolerance” against human trafﬁcking as they warned a failure to ﬁght modern slavery could undermine the Church, a news site reported. Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the

Philippines president and LingayenDagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas issued a pastoral letter to the effect, according to a report on the Union of Catholic Asian News. “One Filipino victim of human trafﬁcking alone is one victim too many

after year. He further encouraged the mass-goers to offer the novena prayers for the safety of the Philippines and the Filipinos in light of the incoming storm Hagupit/Ruby. Each of the evening starts with a recital of the rosary at 6 PM and followed by a reﬂection video on the Nativity verse, and the celebration of the Eucharist. On the last day, a live re-enactment of the Panunuluyan will be staged. A simple community fellowship and light dinner salo-salo proceeds at the Gallery Lobby, which includes caroling and gift-giving. The mass on the ﬁrst night was celebrated by Father Patrick Longalong, who also served as the SGK Planning Committee Spiritual Director. Papal

Nuncio to the United Nations and Boholano Archbishop Bernadito Auza presided the mass on the third day. For the ﬁrst time, SGK is recorded

and broadcasted on live streaming via Handang Tumulong President Troi Santos’ YouTube account. ■ Press Release / December 12, 2014 / 12:26 PM

PHL bishops push zero tolerance vs. human trafficking for us as a Christian nation,” it quoted Villegas as saying in his pastoral letter. “Seeing how evil has spread and threatens to scatter the ﬂock, we can only cry with the Good Shepherd, This cannot go on! It must stop,” he added. He said no less than a joint effort from Church and government is needed to get rid of the “evil of human trafﬁcking.” “This infamous network of crime

is now well-established in our cities, and many people have blood on their hands as a result of their comfortable and silent complicity,” he said. UCAN cited the 2014 Global Slavery Index, where the Philippines was among countries “making comparatively strong efforts with limited resources” in the campaign against human trafﬁcking.

Last week, Manila auxiliary bishop Broderick Pabillo warned against human trafﬁcking, especially involving survivors of super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan). In this instance, Pabillo said trafﬁckers offer housing and jobs to typhoon victims. “Some survivors resort to criminal deeds,” he said. ■ Joel

Locsin / KBK, GMA News / December 9, 2014 / 2:00 PM

2 Pinoys among 4 killed in Qatar bus terminal accident –report FOUR people, including two Filipinos, were killed when a bus plowed into a group of waiting passengers in a bus station in Qatar last Friday, according to a report on Doha News. Citing the Philippine Embassy in Qatar, the report identified the two Filipino fatalities as Acasar Barabay Arato, 50, and Marescia Mendoza Tanaid, 30.

It said Arato was a security supervisor at a contracting and trading company while Tanaid was a housemaid. The two other fatalities were Indian nationals, the Doha News report said. The accident occurred at around 12:30 p.m. on Friday at the Al Ghanem bus station near Souq Waqif. According to Doha News, the driver of the bus lost control as he was about to collect more passengers at the terminal,

resulting in the vehicle crashing through concrete barriers and driving through a passenger island. The bus reportedly came to a stop in the adjacent parking lot after hitting a taxi cab, but not before hitting several waiting passengers first. The report said aside from the fatalities, several other passengers were hurt in the incident. ■ KBK, GMA News / December 15, 2014 / 4:44 PM

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Fil-Am groups launch info drives on Obama’s immigration action NEW YORK – Several FilipinoAmerican organizations launched public information drives in response to President Obama’s recent executive action on immigration that will allow undocumented immigrants to stay and work temporarily in the United States. Over the weekend, two public forums were sponsored by Filipino-American groups — one in Jersey City on Saturday and one in Queens, New York. “We want to help our kababayans by providing information about this new immigration relief,” Hanalei Ramos of the New Jersey-based Filipino Immigrants and Workers Organizing Project (FILIWOP) said. “We want to inform them about the resources and help that they can get.” “There is a need to educate the community so they won’t fall victims to fraud. There are people out there who will to take advantage the situation,” Anne Berryl Corotan, vice chairperson of the National Alliance for Filipino Concerns (NAFCon) said at the New York City forum. On Nov. 20, President Obama announced a three-pronged immigration policy that calls for tighter border security, the modernization of visa programs to entice high-tech workers to come or stay in the U.S., and deportation relief for undocumented immigrants.

An estimated ﬁve million unauthorized immigrants, out of the total 11 million, are expected to be eligible for Obama’s initiative that will allow them to work and stay in U.S. According to estimates of the Department of Homeland Security, there are 310,000 undocumented Filipinos in the U.S. as of 2012. Immigration lawyer Cristina Godinez said in both forums that application for the new immigration relief has not yet begun. “The USCIS is still ﬁnalizing guidelines and the application forms,” she said. “Application for the expanded DACA will start on or around February 18, while application for DAPA will begin on or around May 19,” said Godinez, who handles immigration cases at the Migrant Center at the Church of St. Francis of Assisi in Manhattan. DACA refers to the Deferred Action on Childhood Arrivals, while DAPA is the Deferred Action on Parental Accountability. “Those who are approved under both deferred action programs will obtain three years of deportation relief and work authorization,” said Godinez. The Obama executive action that will take effect in February next year expands the DACA program by removing the age cap and extending the date-of-entry requirement to a later date.

This is expected to cover an additional 290,000 undocumented childhood arrivals, referring to those who arrived the U.S. prior to turning 16 years. Godinez explained that initial and renewal DACA applications under the June 2012 program are ongoing and the recipients will receive not two, but three years, of deportation relief and work authorization. DAPA, for its part, allows undocumented parents of U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents who have been in the U.S. for ﬁve years as of January 1, 2010 to apply for a threeyear permit to stay and work in the U.S. “This is not an amnesty, nor does it provide a path to citizenship,” Godinez pointed out. “This is just an executive action and it is limited. Legalization of status can only happen through a legislated comprehensive immigration reform program.” Yancy Gandionco, also of FILIWOP, said Obama’s immigration action was a result of the advocacy and struggle of the immigrant community. “We celebrate this executive action as a victory. But we also recognize that a lot of immigrants were left out. We need to come together and push for genuine immigration reform,” he said. The forum in Jersey City, held at the St. Peter’s University auditorium,

Immigration lawyer Cristina Godinez stresses appoint during the forum at the t. James Episcopal Church in New York City.

was co-sponsored by FILIWOP with the Center for Undocumented Students of St. Peter’s University, We Are One New Jersey, American Friends Service Committee, Anakbayan-NJ and NAFCon. The New York City forum was held at the St. James Episcopal Church in Elmhurst, Queens. The church co-sponsored the event with the International Migrants Alliance, Philippine Forum, Anakbayan-NY and NAFCon. Other Filipino groups have also

started or have scheduled their respective information campaigns on the new immigration program. The Philippine Consulate General in New York have made lawyers available to answer questions about the executive action during its traditional Simbang Gabi sa Konsulado. The Migrant Center at the Church of St. Francis of Assisi in Manhattan will hold a similar public forum on President Obama’s executive action on December 17. ■ Noel Pangilinan / ImmigraNation / December 15, 2014 / 2:03 PM

Search for 7 Pinoy crewmembers of ill-fated Korean ship continues

Pinoys in Saudi warned vs. fake welfare oﬃcer FILIPINOS in Saudi Arabia were warned over the weekend against transacting with a person claiming to be a Philippine labor welfare officer and recruiting workers via Facebook. The Philippine Embassy in Riyadh said Philippine Overseas Labor OfficeRiyadh welfare officer Romeo Pablo does not have a Facebook account for recruitment or labor transactions. It issued the advisory after receiving information about a “Romeo C. Pablo” who claims to be the OIC of POLORiyadh and is into consulting and business services. “According to reports, Mr. Pablo is using his Facebook account in

communicating with the Filipino public on their queries, on behalf of the Philippine Overseas Labor Office,” the embassy said. “All Filipino nationals are urged to be more cautious in responding to social media invitations for protection from unscrupulous individuals who resort to these scheme in deceiving other Filipino nationals,” it added. The Embassy also reminded the Filipino community that any request for assistance or queries on labor matters may be coursed through polo_riyadh@ philembassy-riyadh.org or through hotline 00966-545917834. ■ Joel Locsin / KBK, GMA News / December 8, 2014 / 1:09 PM

THE search operations for the missing crewmen, among them Filipinos, of the South Korean ﬁshing vessel that capsized off Bering Sea in Russia last December 1 continued over the weekend, but yielded negative results. “Daylight search results for 6th December are negative, no bodies were retrieved,” Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) spokesperson Charles Jose told GMA News Online in a text message. He said the search operation resumed on daylight of December 7, likewise “yielding negative results.” Seven Filipinos remain missing from the ill-fated South Korean ﬁshing vessel Oryong 501. The South Korean

government and the vessel’s operator, Sajo Industries, had earlier said there were 60 people on board Oryong 501, including 11 South Koreans, 13 Filipinos and 35 Indonesians. The DFA had earlier confirmed the retrieval of the bodies of three Filipinos while three more had earlier been rescued, identified as Rowell Cantuba Aljecera, Micol Insigne Sabay and Teddu Zumarraga Parangue Jr. Meanwhile, of the three Filipino fatalities, only one, Jessie Alovera Londres, has been named so far. Jose, in another text message, said the two other fatalities were already identified by the Philippine Embassy in Moscow, Russia, but their names will not yet be disclosed to the media as

their families were yet to be notified by the Philippine Embassy. “Yes, identified na sila, but we don’t have update if their families were notified already. We won’t release their names to the media unless their familes have been notified,” he said. He said the three rescued Filipinos, as well as bodies of the three Filipino fatalities, “are still on board the vessels involved in the search and retrieval operations.” “Our embassy in Moscow is still in discussion with the Russian and South Korean authorities on the disposition of the remains,” Jose said. Jose said the search operations were being conducted by US Coast Guard ships Alex Haley and Monroe, seven Russian vessels, four Korean vessels and a C-130 aircraft. Jose said that on Saturday evening two more aircraft of the Sourth Korean Coast Guard arrived in the area of the incident and are expected to help in succeeding search operations. He said a South Korean Coast Guard ship KCG 5001 also departed from Korea and is expected to arrive in Russia on December 14. ■ Elizabeth Marcelo / KBK, GMA / December 8, 2014 / 6:20 PM

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Pinoy nurses warned vs. email scams promising jobs in New South Wales THE Australian government has warned nursing graduates in the Philippines against fake job offers supposedly coming from hospitals in New South Wales. The warning was issued by the Ministry of Health of New South Wales, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) in a statement Thursday. “A spokesperson for the NSW Health advised recipients of the email scams to disregard said emails and refrain from making payments,” the DFA said. The emails were purportedly sent by nursing directors of St. Vincent’s Hospital and Liverpool Hospital in

New South Wales. “Nurses looking for employment in Australia are further advised by NSW Health to be cautious in accepting similar job offers which require applicants to pay upfront,” the DFA said. Meanwhile, an event on preventing human trafficking was spearheaded by the Philippine Embassy in Ankara, Turkey. Attendees were taught how to differentiate human trafficking and illegal recruitment, informed on the hotline for trafficking victims, and told about the need for cooperation in tackling each “multi-dimensional, complex and unique” trafficking issue.

Ailing Pinay maid in Saudi seeks help to go home A video of an ailing overseas Filipino worker claiming she is being maltreated by her Saudi employers is going viral online, even as Saudi authorities look into the matter. Saudi news site Arab News on Tuesday said the video clip featured a sobbing Sarrah Grace Suriaga, who said her health is deteriorating and she wants to return home. The report quoted Ali Al-Asmari, director of Public Relations and Social Affairs in Asir, as saying the committee that handles disputes between employers and employees could examine the case. Dr. Hadi Al-Yami, General Supervisor of the Human Rights Commission in Asir, added his department is working with relevant authorities to check the video’s credibility. If needed, legal actions may be taken, the Arab News report quoted

The event also gave several trafﬁcking victims the opportunity to tell their stories, a separate statement from the DFA said. ■ Rie Takumi / KBK, GMA News / December 11, 2014 / 3:30 PM

Pinay maid in distress in Saudi ﬁnally repatriated AN ailing Filipina helper who claimed being maltreated by her Saudi employers was repatriated Thursday, a Saudi-based news site reported Saturday. The Philippine Embassy in Riyadh told Arab News that Sarah Grace Suriaga, 35, was ﬁnally on her way to Manila. Suriaga had posted online a video where she claimed she is being

maltreated by her employers. The video went viral online. Ali Al-Asmari, director of Public Relations and Social Affairs in Asir, was quoted as saying the committee that handles disputes between employers and employees could examine the case. Dr. Hadi Al-Yami, general supervisor of the Human Rights Commission in Asir, added his department is working with relevant authorities to check the

him as saying. A separate Arab News post said the video showed Suriaga claiming her employer refused to give her medical assistance. She also said she had been vomiting for six days and she had lost her appetite. “Tulungan ako makaalis dito sa amo ko,” she said. ■ Joel Locsin / KBK, GMA News / December 9, 2014 / 1:07 PM

video’s credibility. Arab News noted many human rights advocates picked up Suriaga’s video. It said that when it published news about Suriaga’s situation, her employer ordered her immediate repatriation. The report quoted the Philippines’ Overseas Labor Ofﬁce’s staff in the Eastern Provinces as saying a ﬁnal exit visa and ticket were issued for her. Recovery from illness. Arab News also quoted Suriaga, who has three children, as saying she already recovered from her urinary tract infection, the condition she had referred to in her video. “Actually I was getting my salary every month but was sick from an UTI illness since Nov. 30 and wanted to go home,” she told Arab News. She also said her employers had not physically hurt her but she had become homesick after working in the Kingdom for six months. ■ Joel Locsin / KG, GMA News / December 13, 2014 / 10:29 AM

Pinoy pizza waiter gets life over 0.08g drugs in UAE Pinoy shot dead by fellow A United Arab Emirates court on Monday upheld a life sentence for a Filipino pizza waiter who had been convicted for possessing 0.08 gram of methamphetamine allegedly for trading purposes. The Dubai Cassation Court

conﬁrmed the life sentence against the Filipino, Gulf News reported. Monday’s ruling has become irrevocable, it added. “The court has rejected the petitioner’s appeal. He will also have to pay a ﬁne of Dh50,000,” the report quoted presiding judge Abdul Aziz Abdullah as saying. The 32-year-old Filipino had earlier appealed his conviction but the court rejected it. According to a separate report on the Filipino Times, the Filipino admitted in the courts that he possessed the methamphetamine but only for personal use. “I did possess the drug but only for my own use,” he was quoted as saying in both the criminal and

appeals courts. The Filipino was arrested by the police following a tip-off, the report said. Last May, the Dubai Court of First Instance acquitted the Filipino and a fellow Filipino of possessing methamphetamine for trading purposes. Only one of the convicts appealed the decision before the Cassation Court. According to the Filipino’s lawyer, 0.08 gram was too small for trading purposes or distribution. The lawyer added the Filipino already confessed possessing the substance for his personal consumption. ■ Joel Locsin and

Rie Takumi / KBK, GMA News / December 10, 2014 / 4:54 PM

Pinoy in Malaysia –report MALAYSIAN authorities are tracking down a Filipino linked to the shooting of a fellow Filipino, supposedly over a work-related dispute at an oil palm estate in Sibu. The shooting occurred Monay morning in front of the workers’ quarters, Malaysia’s The Star Online reported. Citing sketchy initial information, The Star’s report identified the victim only as Anil, 36. The suspect reportedly fled after the shooting. Village headman Tuai Rumah Digat Kasi said Anil called the suspect to his quarters to settle the work-related matter. “The suspect dashed to the front of

the victim’s quarters armed with a knife and a homemade gun. Suddenly there was a sound of gunshot and the victim collapsed,” he said. Digat described the victim as “a nice man” who he said had been working in Sabah for 10 years and could speak Malay well. “He had been working here for about three years,” he said. Also, Digat said the victim worked as a mechanic while the suspect is a driver of the estate. Anil had three children including boys aged 8 and one just a few months old. The third child is a 10-year-old girl.

■ Joel Locsin / KBK, GMA News / December 8,

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St. Lawrence Church, Church, Cawley Road, Chichester, Sussex Presbytery, The Green, St. Joseph’s West Roman PO19 1XB Catholic Church, 12 Feltham TW13 4AF, Eastgate Gardens London, London, UK Guildfo f rd,Chapel, fo Surrey GU1 4AZ St. Joseph’s Roman St. Lukes Kings 42 Francis St., London Catholic Church, 12 College Hospital, SW1P 1QW Eastgate Gardens Denmark Hill, London, Guildfo f rd, Surrey GU1 4AZ fo SE5 9RS (Brixton, Zone 42 Francis St., London 2), , London, United SW1P 1QW Saint Anges Catholic Kingdom

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Cricklewood (Venue Lane, NW2 Manchester to Saint Anges Catholic 1HR R be confirmed), Church, No 35 Blessed Sacrament Parish, Manchester, UK Cricklewood Lane, 157 Copenhagen St,NW2 1HR R Conway Hall, 25 Red London N1 OSR Blessed Sacrament Parish, Lion Square, London Filwood Community y 157 Copenhagen St, Centre, Barnstaple Road, WC1R 4RL, UK London N1 OSR Bristol BS4, 1JP, UK K Filwood Community y SS Michael & Martin Centre, Barnstaple Road, ChurchBS4, 1JP, UK Bristol K

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CynthiaCanias Presider: Fr. Claro Conde 07941 335 557 Vannz Bio Alvi and Genevieve Baldomero – 07947160826 or 07949208329 Presider: Fr. Allan Satur 07445975098 email a_baldomero@yahoo.com / (07785758478) bibe_4u@yahoo.com Evelyn Jerere 07476637441 CynthiaCanias Presider: Fr. Aaron Espenilli 07941 335 557 Mr.Oneng Ben Ortiz 07723318486 Sr. Mendoza 07806824642 Presider: Presider: Fr. Fr. Jake AllanDicto Satur

(07785758478) Presider: Father Voltaire Dimol Evelyn Jerere 07476637441

Contact- F a r m S t r e e t F i l i p i n o

Presider: Canon Christopher Mr. Ben C om m uOrtiz n i t y 07723318486 Tuckwell and07956386041, Fr. Dicto Jake Dicto Presider: Fr. Jake Tina Fletcher Florencia Eleanor Dayawon – 07877027667, Kingscote 07875867739, Josie Ramos Presider: Father Voltaire Dimol Jean Hawkins –a07521715951 07723024591. B tangas Contact- F a r m S t r e e t F i l i p i n o

A s s o c i a t i o n U K Gloria Diaz –

Community 07947347067 07572795321. K n i g h t s o f R i z a l a n d Tina Fletcher 07956386041, Florencia Gina - s07786652450 Ladie of Rizal (KRINC) London

Kingscote 07875867739, Josie Ramos C h a p t e r U K Lady Aurea 07723024591. Bata n g a s Taguiang – 020 7724 A sso c i a t i7332 o n U K Gloria Diaz – Presider: Fr. Alan Satur 07572795321. K n iMinnock, g hts of R izal and Presider: Fr. Giles Catholic 07743369977 L a d i e s oCo-celebrant: f Rizal (KRIN C) Londo n Chaplain Fr. Johnny Go, Chapte r U K Lady Aurea Taguiang – Simon 07795324859, Mario 020 7724 7332 0117-9414672 07818021874

admin@filcombristol.co.uk Presider: Father Fr. Giles Minnock, Catholic Presider: Voltaire Dimol

Chaplain Co-celebrant: Contact:Bro. Jeck / Sis. Fr. LillJohnny Paler – Go, Simon 07795324859, Mario 07869293397, palerblue@yahoo.com 07818021874 Presider: Father Rev. Fr.Gideon Presider: Voltaire Wagay Dimol Contact:Bro. Jeck / Sis. Lill Paler – Mr. Robert Picache, 0755456564 Rebecca Bohlander 07869293397, palerblue@yahoo.com

Tel: c/o 0117-9414672 Presider: Fr. Claro Conde

Presider: Rev. Fr.Gideon Wagay– Alvi and Genevieve Baldomero Mr. Robert Picache, 0755456564 07949208329 or

email a_baldomero@yahoo.com Presider: Fr. Claro Conde

Susan Hussey bibe_ 4u@yahoo.com Alvi _ and Genevieve Baldomero – Tel: 07847206429 Presider: Fr. Aaron Espenilli 07949208329 or

Sr. Oneng Mendoza 07806824642 email a_baldomero@yahoo.com bibe_ _4u@yahoo.com

Presider: Fr. Aaron Espenilli Judith Christine Esguerra Presider: Canon Christopher Tuckw k ell kw Sr. Oneng Mendoza 07806824642 Tel: 07435152727

and Fr. Jake Dicto Eleanor Dayawon – 07877027667, Presider: Canon Christopher Tuckw k ell kw Jean Hawkins – 07521715951 and Fr. Jake Dicto 07947347067 Eleanor Dayawon – 07877027667, Gina Hawkins - 07786652450 Jean – 07521715951

Jassin Fuentes 07947347067 Tel: 07557551624 Gina - 07786652450 Presider: Fr. Alan Satur Website: mutyaunitedkingdom.com 07743369977 Contact: JHERMY Presider: Fr. Alan Satur Tel: 07825509624 0117-9414672 07743369977 Website: admin@fil f www.fwuk.com fil combristol.co.uk 0117-9414672 admin@fil f combristol.co.uk fil

Saturday December Simbang Gabi SS Michael & Martin Philippine Centre FREE LISTING of your events in HELLO PHILIPPINES newspaper. If you know of any events please contact us via 20th 2014 Church info@hello-philippines.com to submit your event. FREE LISTING of your events in HELLO PHILIPPINES newspaper. If you know of any events please contact us via DISCLAIMER: The Events Diary Listing does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, in l ob-yp H he i ll lio pp in to uabpm yh oeu r ew ve . d opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or o r ffo a@ v o uh re i nl g Ph i le i psp. icno em s ne w ssp e ri .t T vie s natn r sR e : oT f hH l lv oe P hsi l D i pi p si s ntei w s pdao peesr .n T s eic s em n nE y p L il s nsg eonf dw ae tm i se n hta, prpeecn ng i tdhaitni otn h,e F i l i p i n o DeIfSl e Cc LtA tI h MoE ee E nt a irn yeL ng oh t in s searrei l y a co sv te i tn uttse D oira r im yt i t oh rs oim mw en o f am vo in y H e lrlo op P ip p iin n egw . fTohre s o and Cr om uu nr it i egs bi n Eu eh . iTl h is sefso r es np ea rp a le r in mv aitei w on l y .o p i n i o n s o f a u t h o r s e x p r e s s e d h e r e i n d o n o t n e c e s s a r i l y s t a t e o r

reflect those of Hello Philippines newspaper. This is merely an Events Diary Listing of what is happening within the Filipino 2014 MONTHLY FILIPINO COMMUNITY MASSES IN GREATER LONDON C st om m u n i t i e s i n E u r o5:00pm p e . T h i s i s f o r Devotion g e n e r a l in i n fHonour o r m a t i oof n Our o n l yLady . 1 Saturday of Fatima (Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament / Rosary / 2 0 1 4 M O N T HBenediction L Y F I L I P I/ NMass) O CO MPius M UX NCatholic ITY MA S S E S 108 I N Orme GREA T E RKingston LONDO N St Church, Road, Upon Thames KT1 3SB – st 1 Saturday 5:00pm Devotion in Honour of Our Oliver Abasolo – 07782 661Lady 922 of Fatima (Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament / Rosary / st Benediction / Mass) St Pius X Catholic Church, 108 Orme Road, Kingston Upon KT1 3SB – 2:00pm Five Precious Wounds Parish, Brentfield Road, Stonebridge Park, London NW10Thames 8ER 1 Sunday Oliver Abasolo – 07782 661636 922140 Mervic Monocillo – 07894 st 2:00pm Five Precious Wounds Parish, Church, Brentfield Road, Stonebridge Park, London NW10 1st Sunday Sunday 5:00pm Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Friary Road, Peckham, London SE15 1RH 8ER 1 Mervic Monocillo – 07894 Allen Abeleda – 07713 625 636 888 140 st Sunday 5:00pm Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church, Friary Road, Peckham, London SE15 1RH 1nd Saturday 4:00pm St Peter the Apostle Catholic Church, 103 Woolwich New Road, London SE18 6EF 2 Allen Abeleda – 07713 625 888 Moises Espanola – 07894 648 639 4:00pm St Peter the Apostle Catholic Church, 103 Woolwich New Road, London SE18 6EF 2nd nd Saturday Sunday 2:00pm English Martyrs Church, Chalkhill Road, Wembley Park, Wembley HA9 9EW 2 Moises Espanola – 07894 648 639 Becky Sarinas – 07949 857 699 / 07425 519 / Park, Lina B – 07579 HA9 418 510 Sunday 2:00pm English Martyrs Church, Chalkhill Road, 761 Wembley Wembley 9EW 2nd 2:00pm St Dominic Catholic Church, 243 Waddon, CR0 4HN 2nd Sunday Becky Sarinas – 07949 857 699 / Violet 07425Lane, 761 519 / Lina Croydon B – 07579 418 510 nd Merlie Mirto – 07722 216 462 Sunday 2:00pm St Dominic Catholic Church, 243 Violet Lane, Waddon, Croydon CR0 4HN 2 2nd Sunday 4:00pm St. Anselm and St. Cecilia, 70 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London WC2A 3JA Merlie Mirto – 07722 216 462 Feliciano Ramirez 07733 70 680 748 2nd Sunday 4:00pm St. Anselm and St. – Cecilia, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London WC2A 3JA rd Sunday 3:00pm Sacred Heart of Jesus, New680 Priory, 3 Feliciano Ramirez – 07733 748Quex Road, Kilburn, London NW6 4PS Sheidrick de Leon – 07738 202Quex Road, Kilburn, London NW6 4PS 3:00pm Sacred Heart of Jesus, New210 Priory, 3rd Sunday Sheidrick de Leon –Parish, 07738 157 210 Copenhagen 202 3rd Sunday 3:00pm Blessed Sacrament Street, Islington N1 0SR 3rd Sunday 3:00pm Blessed Sacrament–Parish, Street, Islington N1 0SR Christy Sangalang 07709 157 119 Copenhagen 969 Christy Sangalang – 07709 119 969 Church, 264 Fulham Road, London SW10 4EL Last Saturday 6:00pm Our Lady of Dolours, Servite Parish Last Saturday 6:00pm Our Lady of Dolours, Servite Parish Church, 264 Fulham Road, LondonAdap SW10 Fr Allan Satur – 020 7352 6965 / fulhamroad@rcdow.org.uk / Roland – 4EL r_adap@hotmail.com Fr Pius AllanXSatur – 020 7352 6965 / fulhamroad@rcdow.org.uk / Roland Adap Last Sunday 12:00pm St Catholic Church, 108 Orme Road, Kingston Upon Thames KT1 3SB – r_adap@hotmail.com Last Sunday 12:00pm St PiusAbasolo X Catholic Church, 108 Orme Road, Kingston Upon Thames KT1 3SB Oliver – 07782 661 922 Oliver Abasolo – 07782 661 922 Last Sunday 2:00pm St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, 218 Roehampton Lane, London SW15 4LE Last Sunday 2:00pm St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, 218 Roehampton Lane, London SW15 4LE Rafael Santiago – 07795 254 451 Rafael Santiago – 07795 254 451 Every Sunday 5:00pm Holy Redeemer Catholic Church, 20 Brixton Road, Oval, London SW9 6BU Every Sunday 5:00pm Holy Redeemer Catholic Church, 20 Brixton Road, Oval, London SW9 6BU Ben Ortiz Ortiz – – 07723 07723 318 318 486 486 Ben First Wednesdays Wednesdays 6:30pm Filipino Mass Mass and and Novena Novena to to Our Our Mother Mother of of Perpetual Perpetual Help, Help, Farm Farm Street Street Church Church of of the the Immaculate Immaculate First 6:30pm Filipino Conception (Jesuit (Jesuit House House Chapel), Chapel), access access on on 114 114 Mount Mount Street, Street, London London W1K W1K 3AY 3AY – – Josie Josie Ramos Ramos – – Conception 07723 024 591 07723 024 591

December 2014 / Fortnightly – No. 24 • UK & Europe Edition

NEWS

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Cebu City to Malacanang: Give us P1.5 billion to help rebuild hospital destroyed in 2013 quake CEBU – Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama has asked the City Development Council (CDC) to persuade Malacañang to extend ﬁnancial help for the construction of the new P1.5-billion Cebu City Medical Center (CCMC). Rama urged the CDC to adopt a resolution asking the Ofﬁce of the President and the Department of Health to donate P1.5 billion for the project. “The resolution will bring to the attention of the President and the health department that the city needs the hospital. It is the hospital for the poor. Hence, please give us the support,” he said.

Oscar Abordo of the CDC secretariat said the resolution requested by the mayor will be included and tackled in the council’s next meeting on Feb. 20, 2015. Rama asked the national government to help fund the construction of a new hospital on N. Bacalso Ave. But he said his Oct. 20, 2013 letter to Malacañang did not get a response. Rama said he sent a follow-up letter last month but this was also unanswered. The old hospital building was demolished because it was declared unsafe after the magnitude 7.2

earthquake on Oct. 15 last year. The Cebu City government launched last year the “Piso Mo, Hospital Ko” fund drive and raised only P16 million. The Cebu City Council allotted P300 million this year for the construction of the new CCMC and proposed another P300 million under the 2015 annual budget. The City Council is yet to approve the P18.9-billion 2015 budget proposed by the executive branch. The new hospital building will have 10 stories and about 500 beds. The old one only had 200 beds. ■ Philippines News Agency / December 14, 2014 / 8:53 AM

SURPRISE! DOJ chief saw bath tub, air-con units, possible illegal drugs in visit to Munti prison

MANILA - Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Leila de Lima conducted a surprise inspection at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) Monday morning as part of the ongoing

crackdown against the entry of contraband items, including drugs, into the facility. Accompanied by several dozen agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Special Action Force of the Philippine National Police (PNP-SAF), de Lima discovered a bath tub, several airconditioning units, and suspected drugs inside the penitentiary. They also recovered close circuit television (CCTV) cameras and several

Internet broadband sticks in one of the cells that house an inmate, a certain Peter Co, who was reportedly convicted for his involvement in the illegal drugs trade. De Lima vowed to punish prison officials who have allowed the entry of the said items inside the facility as she demanded answers from the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor). “Somebody will answer for this,” de Lima said.

The DOJ secretary also ordered the transfer of 19 inmates convicted drug inmates for their alleged involvement in the drug trade inside the NBP. She also ordered the suspension of their visiting privileges. The NBP was in the news recently after reports surfaced that an inmate convicted for operating a shabu flea market in Pasig City several years ago allegedly managed to construct a two-story air-conditioned

house at the NBP. Aside from Amin Imam Boratong, the reports said another inmate identified only as one “Sebastian,” also convicted for engaging in the illegal drugs trade, has also allegedly constructed a swimming pool at the NBP’s compound. De Lima also disclosed that there is a drug trade ongoing in the NBP and ordered a crackdown. ■ Brian Maglungsod /

December 15, 2014

COMMUNITY FOCUS

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December 2014 / Fortnightly – No. 24 • UK & Europe Edition

Coco farmers, groups agree to maintain P100-B levy in a trust fund - Villar MANILA – Coconut farmers, groups and government entities have agreed to maintain the P100-billion coconut levy in a trust fund, of which 10 percent will be invested in blue chips and government bonds, Senator Cynthia Villar said on Monday. In an interview after hearing the proposed Coconut Farmers ad Industry Fund Act, Villar said, however, that there is no consensus yet on who would head the committee to be set up to manage the funds. Villar said they limited the hearing to key issues, including the manner of disposal and management of the P100billion coco levy fund, as ruled recently by the Supreme Court. “We will put it in a trust fund so farmers can use the money. Only the annual interest will be touched... We can also provide that drawing from the principal be allowed during the ﬁrst year so the program can be implemented right away. But the consensus is to have a trust fund with only the interest to be touched,” Villar said, speaking mostly in Filipino. She said the proposed measure also aims to limit the investment instruments to be used by the still-tobe-established committee, including blue-chip companies and government bonds to lower the risk. “There’s a committee but we can limit the investment, like there is a thinking to invest only in government bonds; there’s another thinking to have blue chips so the interest is not so low, ﬁxed-income private bonds that are bluechips, meaning, very stable companies that issue private bonds,” Villar said. Villar said the projected amount

of the interest to be earned from investments is around P2 billion a year. On Wednesday, Chief Justice Lourdes Sereno and six others: Associate Justices Presbitero Velasco, Jr., Mariano del Castillo, Martin Villarama Jr., Jose Mendoza, Bienvenido Reyes, and Marvic Leonen unanimously voted for the immediate issuance of the judgment concerning the high court’s Sept. 4, 2012 resolution, causing its execution. The court’s 2012 decision had declared 753,848,312 San Miguel Corp. shares as public funds as they were acquired through taxes levied on coconut farmers during martial law. “The coconut farmers who earn only P50 a day are the poorest in our country. The levy fund rightfully belongs to the farmers and should be used to improve their condition,” Villar said. As chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food, Villar had authored Senate Bill 2126 or the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Act, which seeks to establish a trust fund that will pay for the implementation of the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan. The bill mandates the creation of the Coconut Farmers and Industry Fund, a trust fund to be perpetually maintained for the development of the coconut industry for the ultimate beneﬁt of coconut farmers and farm workers. Under the bill, the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan will be prepared for the development and rehabilitation of the coconut industry. “It will include, among others,

A coconut farmer loads his produce onto a donkey in this May 2014 file photo. Bernard Testa, ©Interaksyon.com File Photo

a national program for coconut productivity, replanting, intercropping, rehabilitation, scientific and medical research, crop protection, crop insurance, integrated downstream processing, and market promotion,” Villar said. “It will also include local programs that directly benefit small coconut farmers and farm workers, such as medical and health and life insurance services, educational scholarships for deserving students coming from families of coconut farmers, or beneficiaries of the coconut levy funds, she added in the bill. Who’ll manage fund? Meanwhile, Villar said that there was no consensus yet from the stakeholders on who will chair the committee tasked to manage the fund. “There are many [possible parties considered] we will have to talk

about it. Some people say it should be under the President, others say it’s the DA (Department of Agriculture), and still others think it’s the NEDA (National Economic and Development Authority),” Villar said. Villar explained why giving the chairmanship of the committee to farmers or groups is not practicable: these are not permanent in nature, unlike government agencies. The government, she stressed, is “more stable,” adding, “when you say ‘farmers’ who are these? The farmers might even end up ﬁghting, and then there’s nobody to chair the fund.” However, Villar gave assurances that there will be representation from the farmers and groups in the committee to ensure transparency and accountability of the fund management. “They have a representation. They

are asking for [half of the committee], we’ll see,” Villar said. The earnings from the interest will only be used in the programs enumerated in the proposed measure, Villar stressed. “We will enumerate by percentage on where the committee can use the earnings, such as for scholarships to children of farmers, for shared facilities program, or for replanting, for intercropping, or livelihood.. they also have needs in research and development or for emergency,” Villar said. The intention of the measure, Villar said, is to preserve the coco levy fund for the beneﬁt of farmers. “Our intention is the preservation of the principal. We will protect the principal so that it will be there perpetually for the small farmers,” she said. ■ Ernie Reyes / InterAksyon.com / December 15, 2014

Mountain Province elders recognize role of women in defense of land and peace BAGUIO CITY – The amam-a (male elders) of Mountain Province have recognized the role of women elders in the defense of their ancestral homeland from corporate and state projects. In strengthening their elders’ organization in the province, they instituted membership of women and

Bontoc women. File Photo by Arthur Allad-Iw

programs that would give them greater role in the campaign for the defense of their land and community peace. In the recent congress of the elders under the Movement for the Advancement of Inter-Tribal Unity and Development (Maitud) in the capital town of Bontoc, they affirmed the role of elders, including

women, for the defense of land and resources for future generations. Elvira Taguba, from the Bontok ethnolinguistic group, explained this new achievement of their organizing had not only enlightened the male elders who dominated leadership. “They recognized the role of women during times that their homeland is threatened by large-scale projects and how these women elders took the cudgel for the protection of their communities.” In an interview, Taguba explained the role of women who stopped the largescale mining plan in Mainit, Bontoc and in the opposition of the World Bank-funded Chico River Hydro Energy project that would submerge ili (villages) in Bontoc and Kalinga. She cited the leadership of Mother Petra Macliing of Bontoc who led the women in removing their clothes that drove mine spectators from Mainit. Presently in the watershed areas of the Chico River in the boundaries of

Ifugao-Mountain Province and Mountain Province-Kalinga, there are at least six applications for financial and technical assistance agreement (AFTA) mostly by foreign corporations, two applications for production and sharing agreements (PSA), and five exploration permit agreements (Expa), which is almost 49.92 percent of the total mine applications covering 1,111,995.4351 hectares based on records of the Mines and Geo-Sciences Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in the Cordillera Autonomous Region. “It is through the women, like Mother Macliing, that went to Bugnay, Tinglayan, Kalinga in the late 70s and early 80s to explain the consequences of the Chico River dam if allowed. Macliing Dulag, a pangat(peace pact holder) of Bugnay led the Kalinga in the anti-Chico Dam protest until he was killed by state soldiers in the 80s,” explained Taguba, who is a member of the secretariat of the Cordillera Elders Assembly where Maitud is a member.

In the elders’ congress, Anglican priest Fr. Pablo Buyagan urged the promotion of the value of life and all that sustains life. “The defense of life, land, and resources is tantamount to our survival as people and communities. The destruction of our lands and resources would rob the future generations the means for survival,” added Fr. Buyagan. As elders, both men and women, this is a great consciousness that made us live even today and it is our obligation to pass to the next generation. We need to actively participate in all aspects of local struggles in our communities to defend our resources against destruction, added Fr. Buyagan, who is from Kalinga. The recent elders’ congress was held at the Bishop Longid Hall, ENDP Building, Bontoc, Mt. province and was participated in by almost 100 male and women elders from the various towns of the province. ■ Arthur L. Allad-iw / InterAksyon. com / December 14, 2014 / 11:00 AM

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December 2014 / Fortnightly – No. 24 • UK & Europe Edition

Bangladeshis use sponges to clean oil spill threatening dolphins DHAKA - Bangladeshi villagers using sponges, shovels and even spoons worked Friday to clean up a huge oil spill in a protected area that is home to rare dolphins, after environmentalists warned of an ecological “catastrophe”. Thousands of litres of oil have spilt into the protected Sundarbans mangrove area, home to rare Irrawaddy and Ganges dolphins, after a tanker collided with another vessel on Tuesday. The government has sent a ship carrying oil dispersants to the area, which is inside one of three sanctuaries set up for the dolphins.

But environmentalists say the chemicals could harm the delicate ecology of the Sundarbans, a UNESCO world heritage site. As authorities debated whether to deploy the dispersants, the company that owns the stricken oil tanker said it would buy up the oil that local villagers have collected. “It has no commercial value as it can’t be used, but we are using the offer to encourage people so that the cleaning up process speeds up,” said Raﬁqul Islam Babul of the Padma Oil Company. “Villagers including children are

going out onto the river in boats to collect the oil floating on the water using sponges, shovels and spoons,” he said. “Then they are putting it in small ditches on the river banks and our employees are buying it.” The head of the local port authority earlier told reporters that fishermen would use “sponges and sacks” to collect the spilt oil, which has already spread over an 80-kilometre (50-mile) area. Amir Hosain, chief forest official of the Sundarbans, admitted that authorities were unsure about the best

Bangladeshi villagers try to collect oil that spread in the river after an oil tanker sank in the Shela River in Mongla, in a photo taken on December 11, 2014 and received from the World Conservation Society on December 12. ©AFP Photo/World Conservation Society

A Bangladeshi oil-tanker lies half-submerged on December 9, 2014, after it was hit by a cargo vessel on the Shela River in the Sundarbans in Mongla. ©AFP Photo

course of action. “This catastrophe is unprecedented in the Sundarbans and we don’t know how to tackle this,” he told AFP. “We’re worried about its long-term impact, because it happened in a fragile and sensitive mangrove ecosystem.” Damage already done. Rescue vessels have now salvaged the tanker, which was carrying an estimated 357,000 litres (77,000 gallons) of oil when it sank. But ofﬁcials say the damage the has already been done as the slick has spread to a second river and a network of canals in the Sundarbans, the world’s largest mangrove forest, which straddles India and Bangladesh. Rubayat Mansur, Bangladesh head of the New York-based Wildlife Conservation Society, said most of the oil appeared to have already leaked out of the tanker before it was salvaged. “I visited the sunken trawler this morning. Only few hundred litres of oil remain inside, so almost all the oil has spilled into the Sundarbans,” he said. Mansur said oil dispersants were “not appropriate for the mangrove ecosystem” and urged local villagers to

help collect the oil from nets that have been placed in the river to contain its spread. Spread over 10,000 square kilometres (3,800 square miles), the Sundarbans is a UNESCO-listed World Heritage Site and home to hundreds of Bengal tigers. The delta comprises a network of rivers and canals. Mansur said Bangladesh’s coastal areas including the Sundarbans were the “largest known home” of the Irrawaddy dolphins. “Irrawaddy Dolphins can be found in South East Asia. But their population size is very small compared to Bangladesh,” said Mansur. Bangladesh set up sanctuaries in the Sundarbans in 2011 after studies showed that there were hundreds of endangered Irrawaddy and Ganges river dolphins there. Fishing is banned in the area, but tankers and other boats are allowed to pass through. The Irrawaddy and Ganges dolphins are both on the warning “red list” of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), which says numbers are falling. ■ AFP / December 12, 2014 / 8:02 AM

Executed Chinese teenager found innocent 18 years on A Chinese teenager executed after being convicted of murder and rape 18 years ago was declared innocent by a court Monday, in a rare overturning of a wrongful conviction. The 18-year-old, named Hugjiltu and also known as Qoysiletu, was found guilty and put to death in Inner Mongolia in 1996, but doubt was cast on the verdict when another man confessed to the crime in 2005. “The Inner Mongolia Higher People’s Court finds Hugjiltu’s original guilty verdict... is not consistent with the facts and there is insufficient evidence,” the court in Hohhot said in a statement. “Hugjiltu is found not guilty.” The retrial comes after a pledge by leaders of the ruling Communist Party to strengthen the rule of law “with Chinese characteristics”—a concept experts caution refers to greater central control over the courts rather than judicial independence. The court’s deputy president gave Hugjiltu’s parents compensation of 30,000 yuan ($4,850), according to the official Xinhua News Agency—although the money was a personal donation by the

head of the court, it added, rather than an official payment by the institution. Images on social media showed the deputy president apologising to Hugjiltu’s now elderly parents. “This is an amazing thing the court did, to admit that they were wrong,” said Wang Gongyi, deputy director of the research institute of the Ministry of Justice. “It also sends a clear message to the police and prosecutors around the country: if there’s not enough evidence, don’t impose wrongful convictions,” he told AFP. “In the future, this case will be singled out as what not to do and will influence the entire legal system.” Police in Hohhot, where the crime took place, said they opened an investigation into the officers responsible for the original case, according to the Legal Evening News. The regional court said Hugjiltu’s confession did not match the autopsy report as well as being inconsistent with “other evidence”, and that DNA evidence presented at the trial did not definitively connect him to the crime. Wrongful convictions. China’s courts, controlled by the ruling Communist Party, have a near-100 percent conviction rate in

criminal cases and confessions extracted under dubious conditions are commonplace. In Hugjiltu’s case, authorities interrogated the teenager for 48 hours, after which he confessed to having raped and choked the woman in the toilet of a textile factory, the state-run China Daily newspaper reported in November. He was executed 61 days after the woman’s death. Hugjiltu’s family tried for nearly a decade to prove his innocence, according to reports, and the Higher People’s Court officially began a retrial in November. Many on social media decried what they saw as insufficient compensation for such a grave miscarriage of justice, with one asking: “Is 30,000 yuan really enough to buy the life of a family member?” Others demanded the court officials and police responsible for the original conviction be held responsible. “We must bring all those morally corrupt public security officers to justice,” another user said on Sina Weibo, a Twitter-like microblogging platform. China executes more people than the rest of the world combined, according to rights groups. The country put an estimated 2,400 people to death last year.

The judge of the higher people’s court delivers retrial files to Hugjiltu’s parents (C) in Hohhot, northern China’s Inner Mongolia autonomous region on December 15, 2014

China has occasionally exonerated wrongfully executed convicts after others came forward to confess their crimes, or in some cases because the supposed murder victim was later found alive. In one case, police claimed a dead body was that of a woman who had recently disappeared and charged Teng Xingshan with her murder. Teng was executed by firing squad in 1989, but in 1993 the supposedly murdered woman returned to the village saying she had been kidnapped. Teng was exonerated of all crimes in 2005. Several other high-profile wrongful convictions have sparked public outrage in recent years.

Last year, a man who served 17 years in prison for killing his wife was declared innocent by an appeals court in the eastern province of Anhui. A few months earlier two men who had been sentenced to death and life in prison in 2004 for the alleged rape of a 17-year-old girl were also acquitted. Doubts have been raised about several high-profile death penalty cases in the US. But the Innocence Project, a group advocating for those it says are wrongfully convicted, does not highlight on its website any instances of executed people later having their convictions quashed. ■ AFP / December 15, 2014

December 2014 / Fortnightly – No. 24 • UK & Europe Edition

INTERNATIONAL / GLOBAL NEWS

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Philippine prosecutors charge US Marine with murder MANILA - Philippine prosecutors on Monday ﬁled murder charges against a US Marine accused of killing a Filipino transgender woman, in a case that has fanned anti-American sentiment. Prosecutors found “probable cause” against Private First Class Joseph Scott Pemberton and decided that he used “treachery, abuse of superior authority and cruelty” against his alleged victim, lead prosecutor Emilie Fe delos Santos told a televised brieﬁng. “You can see the kind of cruelty she (victim) endured, the injuries she sustained,” delos Santos said. “We believe we have a strong case.” Pemberton will not be allowed to post bail, she said. Murder is punishable by up to 40 years in jail.

Jennifer Laude, a 26-year-old transgender woman also known as Jeffrey, was found dead on October 12 in a cheap hotel in the port city of Olongapo. She was half-naked in a bathroom with marks of strangulation on her neck, according to police. Laude died from “asphyxia by drowning”, according to a police autopsy. “This is not an ordinary murder. This is heinous because she was beaten up,” Laude family lawyer Harry Roque told reporters. Pemberton, who had just ﬁnished taking part in US-Philippine military exercises near Olongapo, had checked into the hotel with Laude and was the last person seen with her, police said Pemberton, aged 19 at the time

Filipino soldiers stand guard in front of the facility inside the Armed Forces of the Philippines headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo where Private First Class Joseph Scott Pemberton is detained in Manila on October 22, 2014. Photo by Noel Celis, ©AFP Photo.

German Marc Susselbeck, boyfriend of murdered Filipino transgender woman Jennifer Laude and her sister Marilou climb over the gate of the facility where Private First Class Joseph Scott Pemberton is detained in Manila on October 22, 2014. Photo by Noel Celis, ©AFP Photo.

of the death, had asked prosecutors to downgrade the murder charge to homicide, which carries a maximum 20-year prison term. Laude’s death sparked street protests and the public outcry pressured the Philippine government to seek the transfer of Pemberton’s detention from a US warship to military headquarters in Manila. Under a 1998 agreement governing US troops when they are in the Philippines, Filipino courts have jurisdiction over cases involving American soldiers accused of crimes. But the agreement also allows suspects to remain in US custody. “We look forward to the full cooperation of the US government in ensuring that justice is secured for Jeffrey ‘Jennifer’ Laude,” Philippine

foreign ministry spokesman Charles Jose said in a statement. The US embassy had no immediate comment. President Benigno Aquino has said the case should not sour relations with the United States, the Philippines’ most important diplomatic and military ally. “Name me any place that doesn’t have any crime. And the sin of one person should be reﬂective of the entire country? I don’t think so,” Aquino said in October. Following formal charges by prosecutors, the local court which has jurisdiction over the case will decide whether there are enough grounds for the accused to stand trial, although there is no timetable for this process. The case is the second major test of the 1998 Visiting Forces Agreement.

In 2006 US Marine Lance Corporal Daniel Smith was sentenced to 40 years in jail after being found guilty of raping a Filipina a year earlier. Smith, however, walked free in 2009 after his accuser recanted her statement, prompting an appellate court to acquit him. The US military presence has long been controversial in the Philippines, a former colony of the United States. The United States was forced to close down two major military bases in 1992, after the Philippine Senate bowed to anti-US sentiment and refused to renew their leases. However the 1998 agreement allowed US troops to take part in war games on Philippine soil. Military exercises involving thousands of US soldiers have since taken place each year. In March a new agreement was signed to allow a greater US troop presence in the Philippines, including more exercises and the building of new facilities. This was part of US President Barack Obama’s so-called pivot to Asia. Aquino has courted a greater US presence to try to counter what the Philippines sees as rising Chinese aggression in a long-running territorial dispute in the South China Sea. The agreement signed in March has not been implemented, while the Philippine Supreme Court deliberates on a challenge to its legality. ■ AFP /

December 15, 2014

Syrian regime ‘loses two key bases to rebels’ THE Syrian army on Monday lost control of two strategic bases in the northwestern province of Idlib to coordinated assaults by Al-Qaeda and other Islamist groups, a monitoring group said. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Al-Nusra Front, an AlQaeda afﬁliate, in coordination with Islamist rebels of Jund al-Aqsa and Ahrar al-Sham, seized Hamidiyeh and Wadi al-Deif bases, the biggest regime positions in Idlib. The Al-Nusra Front initially reported a lightning victory in Wadi al-Deif, putting large swathes of Idlib province, which borders Turkey, under jihadist control.

The takeover was a show of force for the Al-Qaeda branch, which in November drove mainstream rebels seeking President Bashar al-Assad’s ouster from Idlib province. Mainstream opposition ﬁghters had been ﬁghting for Wadi al-Deif and Hamidiyeh for around two years, but despite repeated attempts failed to capture it from government troops. “The jihadists’ advance has major symbolic importance, and it also shows the rebels that Al-Nusra Front really is in control of the area,” said Observatory director Rami Abdel Rahman. In its attack on Wadi al-Deif, “AlNusra Front used tanks and other heavy weapons that it captured last month from the (Western-backed)

A fighter from the Al-Nusra Front poses next to the movement’s flag in September 2014. Photo by Rami al-Sayed ©AFP Photo.

Syrian Revolutionary Front”, he told AFP. Al-Nusra’s defeat of the SRF was seen as a blow to US efforts to create and train a moderate rebel force as a counterweight to jihadists of the Islamic State group. Within hours of their Wadi al-Deif victory, Al-Nusra and the two other Islamist rebel groups also took over Hamidiyeh, said the Observatory. “They took 15 soldiers prisoner from Hamidiyeh,” said Abdel Rahman. Ahrar al-Sham had until September tried to distance itself from more hardline jihadists fighting in Syria. But a September 9 blast killed its entire top leadership, and according to Abdel Rahman, “this pushed the group to align itself more openly with AlNusra. Now the two are fighting side by side.” On Monday, Ahrar al-Sham broke its silence on the September explosion and accused “a criminal group” with “international links”, which Abdel Rahman said was an apparent reference to Western intelligence agencies. Idlib was among the first provinces to fall out of Syrian government hands, soon after the 2011 outbreak of the armed revolt against Assad’s rule. ■ AFP / December 15, 2014

A black dehorned rhinoceros is followed by a calf at the Bona Bona Game Reserve, in Klerksdorp, South Africa, August 3, 2012

Rhino horn trafficking up 30-fold: wildlife group PARIS - The trafficking of African rhinoceros horn on the black market has surged 30-fold in the past 13 years and is now running “out of control,” animal protection advocates said Thursday. “In 2013, more than 2,000 rhinoceros horns from Africa were trafficked, which is 30 times more than in 2000,” Celine Sissler-Bienvenu, director of the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) for France and French-speaking Africa, told reporters in Paris. The trafficking is “out of control. Like for ivory, like for products from tigers, these are very organised networks that have a great capacity to adapt to changes,” she said. Demand for rhino horn -- which is made from keratin, the same material as in hair and nails -- has skyrocketed in recent years, largely driven by demand from Asia where the powdered horn is valued for its supposed medicinal properties. It sells on the black market for as much as $35,000 (28,237 euros) per pound.

Experts say the drive for illicit rhino horn, which is worth as much as cocaine or gold, has caused African rhino numbers to shrink by over 90 percent since 1970. In addition to traditional avenues for smuggled goods, traffickers now have the Internet, which is “a large supermarket open seven days a week,” Sissler-Bienvenu said. During an investigation of 280 online sales sites operating across 16 countries in early 2014, IFAW found “a total of 33,006 specimens, body parts and products derived from endangered species.” The 9,500 adverts they discovered listed sale prices that collectively hit around 7.8 million euros. At least 32 percent of the ads were for ivory, real or fake. The extent of endangered species trafficking, which is estimated to net criminal gangs 15 billion euros a year, means “anti-fraud agencies need to work together to muster a proper response,” IFAW said. ■ AFP / December 11, 2014

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INTERNATIONAL / GLOBAL NEWS

December 2014 / Fortnightly – No. 24 • UK & Europe Edition

Abe pledges Japan constitution rewrite after election win PRIME Minister Shinzo Abe said Monday he would work to convince voters of the need to revise Japan’s paciﬁst constitution the day after scoring a thumping election victory. The premier, who was re-elected by a landslide in Sunday’s polls, at his ﬁrst news conference since the vote pledged to pursue his nationalist agenda while promising to follow through on muchneeded economic reforms. “We must go ahead with Abenomics swiftly, this is exactly what has been shown in the vote. We have to respond that,” Abe said, referring to his controversial three-pronged economic strategy.

Abe’s victory takes him a step closer to reviving his controversial a plan to rewrite Japan’s paciﬁst constitution, a move that has proved divisive at home and strained already tense relations with China. His ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its junior partner Komeito swept the ballot on Sunday with a twothirds majority in the lower house of parliament. The coalition won a combined 326 of the 475 seats, crushing the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan. Their slightly-improved tally of 73 did not include leader Banri Kaieda, who fell on his sword on Monday.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe speaks during a press conference at the headquarters of the Liberal Democratic Party in Tokyo on December 15, 2014

Abe, 60, is expected to reappoint a broadly similar cabinet after he is formally named prime minister again by the lower house on December 24. Asked by reporters about his priorities for the coming four-year parliament, Abe said he would work to “instil patriotism in schoolchildren” and “offer a more sympathetic retelling of Japan’s wartime misdeeds”. “As for revising the constitution, it has constantly been an objective since the LDP was launched,” he said, referring to a clause in the US-imposed document that bans Japan from aggressive military action. A revision, which he abandoned earlier this year in the face of public opposition, requires a two-thirds

Projected results of Japan’s parliamentary election according to Nippon TV

parliamentary approval, as well as a simple majority in a referendum. “I will make an effort to deepen understanding and receive wider support from the public,” Abe said. ‘Crucial phase ahead’. Abe stormed to power in 2012, pledging to revive the animal spirits of Japan’s ﬂagging economy. His signature “Abenomics” plan involves monetary easing, government spending and structural reforms to cut the red tape that binds the economy. The printing presses at the Bank of Japan have run hot ever since, pushing down the value of the yen -- to the delight of exporters -- and giving the stock market a huge boost, as stimulus programmes have provided an economic shot in the arm. But Abe has shied away from the tough reforms that economists say are vital if Japan is to get back on a ﬁrm footing, including employment deregulation and tackling the entrenched interests of the agriculture lobby. A sales tax rise in April snuffed out consumer spending, sending Japan into the two negative quarters of growth that make a recession. “The election result is an endorsement of the past, not the future,” said Hideo Kumano, chief economist at Dai-ichi Life Research institute.

“From now on, he has to show results in line with his promises,” Kumano said. “If he fails to improve the economy, his political capital will be reduced easily. A crucial phase is still ahead.” The Mainichi Shimbun daily was among those who noted that the record low turnout of around 52 percent diminished Abe’s claim to a free hand. On the diplomatic front, his election victory may temper frayed relations with China, who have painted him as a dangerous revisionist. Relations began to thaw last month after more than two years of chill, which Beijing blamed on Abe’s provocative nationalism, including a visit to a war shrine and equivocations on Japan’s wartime record of enslaving women for sex. Masaru Kohno, a politics professor at Waseda University in Tokyo, said despite his professed desire to retell the history of Japan’s aggressive warring -- an instinct largely unshared by the Japanese public -- Abe would be pragmatic. “Many of the issues Japan is facing such as depopulation and women’s advancement should be resolved with liberal policies,” he said. “I don’t think the election result will herald another era of conservative politics in Japan.” ■ AFP / December 15, 2014

Two more Pinoys confirmed dead in Bering Sea accident; 5 remain missing TWO more Filipino seafarers have been confirmed dead following the sinking of Korean vessel Oryong 96 off Bering Sea in Russia, raising the total number of Filipino fatalities to five, the Department of Foreign Affairs said Thursday. Three Filipinos survived the December 1 tragedy, while five more remain missing. Three bodies were recovered early this month. It could not be immediately ascertained when the two other fatalities were recovered. At a press briefing, Foreign Affairs spokesman Charles Jose said the three survivors and the remains of the victims will be transported to Busan, South Korea. Jose said Russian vessel Odin will leave for Busan on Dec. 12 and is expected to arrive there on Dec. 22. Jose said the ship will make short call first at Vladivostok to undergo necessary Russian government documentation. “Our embassy in Moscow gave a certification of nationality for the three Filipino survivors that will be used for their passage from Russia to Busan,” Jose told reporters. Upon reaching Busan, Jose said the Filipinos will undergo medical exam and their statements will be obtained as part of a marine investigation procedure.

“Our embassy in Seoul will send a representative to Busan upon arrival to assist the survivors and attend to the expeditious repatriation of the deceased,” Jose said. The principal shipping agency, he added, will be responsible for all the needs of the survivors, as well as the repatriation requirements of the remains of the deceased to the Philippines. Search and retrieval operations, meanwhile, will continue in

cooperation with the United States, Russia and South Korea, Jose said. Only seven survived the sea tragedy – three Filipinos, three Indonesians and one Russian. Twenty-seven fatalities were reported: five Filipinos, 14 Indonesians, six Koreans and two unidentified nationals, while 26 remain missing, including five Filipinos, 16 Indonesians and five Koreans. ■ Michaela Del Callar / RSJ, GMA News / December 11, 2014 / 3:14 PM

Flag with Arabic writing displayed by Sydney hostage-taker. A screengrab taken from the Australian Channel Seven broadcast shows presumed hostages holding up a flag with Arabic writing inside a cafe in the central business district of Sydney on Monday, December 15. One armed man is holding an undisclosed number of hostages in a siege in Sydney, adding that it was yet to be deemed a terrorism event.

Pinoys in New South Wales urged to remain calm, vigilant amid Sydney hostage crisis THE Philippine government has called on Filipinos in New South Wales to be calm and vigilant after an armed man took several hostages in a café in Sydney on Monday, shocking the usually tranquil Australian city. Foreign Affairs spokesman Charles Jose said the Department of Foreign Affairs is coordinating with its diplomatic posts in Canberra and Sydney in monitoring the unfolding hostage crisis. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Australia in this time of crisis and we hope that this unfortunate predicament will be resolved soon in a peaceful manner,” Jose told a press briefing. Jose said the DFA has no available

figure on the number of Philippine nationals living in Sydney, adding Manila has not received information of any Filipino involved in the incident. The New South Wales police, he said, have yet to ascertain the nationalities of the hostages. “We urge the members of the Filipino community in New South Wales to remain calm and vigilant as the Australian police continue to handle the situation,” Jose said. The hostage-taker’s motivation was unknown but two of his hostages at the Lindt Chocolate Cafe were seen pressing a black flag with Arabic writing against the shop’s window. Reports said it is not an Islamic State flag. ■ Michaela del Callar /

KBK, GMA News / December 15, 2014 / 2:56 PM

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HEALTH and Lifestyle

December 2014 / Fortnightly – No. 24 • UK & Europe Edition

Back pain at work? BACK pain is the second most common cause of long-term sickness in the UK after stress. About 7.6 million working days were lost due to work-related back pain and other musculoskeletal disorders from 2010 to 2011. The most common causes of back pain are strained muscles or ligaments, wear and tear, bad posture and stress. Most of us will have back pain at some point in our lives. Although painful, back pain isn’t serious in most cases. The pain generally lasts from a few days to a few weeks. It usually clears up after about six weeks. Treating back pain. In general, the best treatment is to stay active and, if necessary, use over-the-counter painkillers. You may feel like going to bed, but this won’t help and could make it worse. The longer you’re immobile, the weaker your back muscles will become, and the more they will hurt in the long term.

The best ways to deal with pain and help your back to recover are to maintain your mobility, based on your usual activities, and return to work as soon as possible. Any exercise that strengthens your legs, back and stomach will help to keep your back healthy. At your desk. Sitting badly in front of a computer for hours on end is storing up trouble. The body can tolerate being in one position for only a short period of time before you feel the need to adjust. Workstation factors that can affect your back include: • seating posture • computer screen position • chair height • keyboard position • mouse position • desk equipment layout If you work in an ofﬁce and use a computer, you can avoid injury by sitting in the right position and

Exercises for back pain THE best way to deal with back pain is to stay active and continue doing regular exercise. “The advice 20 years ago was to rest, but research has shown that inactivity only makes things worse,” says Dries Hettinga of BackCare, a charity that offers support and information to people with back pain. “When you’re in pain you may want to stay in bed and not move around, but that results in further loss of mobility and will only prolong the pain.” Staying active means continuing with regular day-to-day activities to avoid becoming sedentary. Examples include walking to the shops rather than taking the car, getting off the bus one stop early, gardening and taking the dog for a walk. If you experience mild pain, take painkillers available over the counter from your pharmacist or supermarket. Your pharmacist or GP can advise you on using your medication effectively. Yoga and other exercises. If the back pain is mild, try to exercise as well as maintaining an active lifestyle. You can do any activity that gives your body a good workout. “It’s important to pick an exercise you enjoy,” says Hettinga. “If you do something you enjoy, you’re more likely

to stick with it. There’s no quick fix for back pain so you need to work at it.” There’s some evidence that regular yoga practice is beneficial for people with high blood pressure, heart disease, aches and pains, including low back pain, depression and stress. Find out more ina guide to yoga There’s also some research to show that pilates can provide pain relief to people with non-specific low back pain. Find out more ina guide to pilates. Some studies suggest that the Alexander technique, a method for improving posture, can help to relieve persistent and recurring low back pain. However, the Alexander technique is not recommended by NICE as a treatment for back pain. Ideally, your choice of activities should involve elements of endurance as well as strength and flexibility. Examples include walking, running or jogging, cycling, dancing, swimming, hydrotherapy (exercising in water) and aquarobics. For low-impact exercise ideas, read Easy exercises. Hettinga says exercise programmes are most effective if performed regularly and over prolonged periods of time. Aim for at least 150 minutes a

arranging your desk correctly. Get tips on how to sit correctly. If you’re not sure about your seating position and workstation, ask your manager to arrange a workplace assessment for you. Good posture when sitting at a desk can help prevent repetitive strain injury (RSI), which is a cause of back

week. You may want to build up to this gradually over several weeks. Hettinga says an individually designed exercise programme gives the best results. It is advisable to seek medical advice before starting an exercise routine for back pain. Manual therapy. Hettinga suggests combining an exercise programme with a course of manual therapy, especially when the pain is persistent. Manual therapy is provided by chiropractors, osteopaths and physiotherapists. “Evidence suggests manual therapies can be effective. Your back is examined to see if any joints need to be freed up. “They can do it with a gentle massage, mobilisation or manipulation. It’s especially helpful if your back is stiff and ﬂexibility is an issue,” he says. Manual therapists are also qualiﬁed to advise you on the type of exercises that will be most effective at dealing with your type of back pain. “You should see improvements after a few weeks,” says Hettinga. “If the pain hasn’t disappeared after a few weeks of treatment, seek further medical advice to explore alternatives. “There is always something that can be done about back pain, but it requires some work and dedication from you.” ■ NHS Choices

pain. Sit up straight and make sure that your lower back is supported. Adjusting your chair. By law, workstation chairs must be stable. The standard office chair has five legs in a star shape. The seat height must be adjustable, and the back rest must be adjustable in height and tilt. Ideally, the back rest should move independently of the seat to allow a comfortable position. When you’re sitting, your thighs should be at right angles to your body or sloping slightly down. If your chair is properly adjusted, your feet should be firmly on the floor, but if it’s more comfortable, use a footrest. The basic rule is to plant your feet on the floor and support your back. Lifting safely. One of the biggest causes of back injury, especially at work, is lifting or handling objects incorrectly. Learning and following the correct method for lifting and handling objects can help to prevent back pain. Key points for lifting safely: • Think before you lift.

• Start in a good position. • Keep the load close to your waist. • Keep your back as straight as possible. • Avoid twisting your back or leaning sideways. • Keep your head up. • Know your limits. • Push heavy objects, don’t pull them. • Distribute the weight evenly. For more information on correct lifting techniques and safe manual handling, read Safe lifting tips. Take regular breaks. Don’t sit in the same position for long periods. Make sure you change your posture as often as is practicable. Frequent short breaks are better for your back than fewer long ones. It gives the muscles a chance to relax while others take the strain. This can prevent you from becoming stiff and tense. Most jobs provide opportunities to take a break from the screen, such as getting a drink, going for some fresh air, ﬁling or photocopying. ■ NHS Choices

Top 10 back care tips

TOP 10 tips for a healthy back, including lifting advice, how to sit properly and back-strengthening exercises. 1. Exercise your back regularly. Walking, swimming (especially backstroke) and using exercise bikes are all excellent ways to strengthen your back muscles. 2. Always bend your knees and your hips, not your back. 3. Never twist and bend at the same time. 4. Always lift and carry objects close to your body. 5. Try to carry larger loads in a rucksack and avoid sling bags. 6. Maintain a good posture. Avoid

slumping in your chair, hunching over a desk or walking with your shoulders hunched. 7. Use a chair with a backrest. Sit with your feet flat on the floor or on a footrest. Change how you sit every few minutes. 8. Quit smoking. It is thought that smoking reduces the blood supply to the discs between the vertebrae and this may lead to degeneration of these discs. 9. Lose any excess weight. Use our Healthy weight calculator to find out if you’re a healthy weight for your height. 10. Choose a mattress suited to your height, weight, age and sleeping position. ■ NHS Choices

December 2014 / Fortnightly – No. 24 • UK & Europe Edition

HEALTH and Lifestyle food

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Eating disorders explained FIND out the facts about eating disorders, including what they are, who’s affected by them and what to do if you need help and support.

What

eating

disorder?

There are several different types of eating disorder, the most common being anorexia, bulimia and binge eating. Eating disorders are mental health conditions that all involve an unhealthy relationship with food and eating, and often an intense fear of being overweight. If you have an eating disorder you may experience one or more of the following: • You have a preoccupation and concern about food and gaining weight. • You would like to lose weight even though friends or family worry that you are underweight. • You let people around you think you have eaten when you haven’t. • You’re secretive about your eating

Binge eating BINGE eating is an eating disorder where a person feels compelled to overeat on a regular basis. People who binge eat consume very large quantities of food over a short period of time and they often eat even when they are not hungry. Binges are often planned and can involve the person buying “special” binge foods. Episodes of binge eating often alternate with periods where the person severely cuts down on the amount of food they eat, which can make the problem worse. Binge eating usually takes place in private, with the person feeling that they have no control over their eating. They will often have feelings of guilt or disgust after binge eating. These feelings highlight underlying psychological issues, such as: • low self-esteem and lack of conﬁdence • depression – feelings of extreme sadness that last for a long time • anxiety – a feeling of unease, such as worry or fear, that can range from mild to severe These feelings can be made worse over time while the person is still binge eating.

Who is affected by binge eating?

Anyone can be affected by binge eating. Unlike anorexia, where more women than men are affected, binge eating affects men and women equally. The condition tends to be more common in older adults than in younger people. Binge eating and bulimia. People who binge eat and those with bulimia (another type of eating disorder) often eat until they are uncomfortably full. People with bulimia then purge (ﬂush out) the food they have eaten by making themselves vomit or by taking laxatives (medicine to help empty the bowels). Unlike those with bulimia, people who binge eat do not purge themselves to control their weight, and are more

habits because you know they’re unhealthy. • Eating makes you feel anxious, upset or guilty. • You make yourself vomit or use laxatives in order to lose weight.

What causes eating disorders? It’s

unlikely that an eating disorder will be the result of one single cause. It’s much more likely to be a combination of many factors, events, feelings or pressures that lead to you feeling unable to cope. These can include low self-esteem, problems with friends or family relationships, the death of someone special, problems at school, college, university or work, lack of conﬁdence, or sexual or emotional abuse. Many people talk about simply feeling too fat or not good enough. You might use food to help you cope with painful situations or feelings without even realising it. In situations where there are high

academic expectations, family issues or social pressures, you may focus on food and eating as a way of coping. Traumatic events can trigger an eating disorder. These might include bereavement, being bullied or abused, a divorce in the family or concerns about sexuality. Someone with a long-term illness or disability (such as diabetes, depression, blindness or deafness) may also have eating problems. Some studies have also shown that there are biological factors involved. In other words, some people will be more likely to develop an eating disorder because of their genetic make-up.

Who is affected by eating disorders?

Anyone can develop an eating disorder, regardless of age, sex or cultural or racial background. The people most affected tend to be young women, particularly between the ages of 15 and 25, and around 10% of people with eating disorders are men.

What should I do if I think I have an eating disorder? People with eating

disorders often say that the eating disorder is the only way they feel they can stay in control of their life. But, as time goes on, it is the eating disorder that starts to control you. You may also have the urge to harm yourself, or misuse alcohol or drugs. If you think you have an eating disorder, talk to someone you trust. You may have a close friend or family member you can talk to. There are also a number of organisations that you can talk to, such as the eating disorders charity beat (0845 634 1414) and the

Samaritans (08457 90 90 90). Your GP can also give you advice and talk to you about getting a diagnosis and the possible treatment options, which will depend upon your individual circumstances and the type of eating disorder you have.

Worried that a friend or relative has an eating disorder? If you are concerned

about a friend or family member, it can be difﬁcult to know what to do. It is common for someone with an eating disorder to be secretive and defensive about their eating and their weight, and they are likely to deny being unwell. ■ NHS Choices

Causes of binge eating

likely to try to limit weight gain by having periods of eating very little. However, this often leads to more binge eating and sometimes weight gain, which can lead to obesity (see below). Binge eating and obesity. Binge eating is often associated with obesity, where someone is very overweight with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or over. Obesity is a serious health problem that can lead to a number of serious chronic (long-term) health conditions, such as: • high blood pressure (hypertension) • high cholesterol • type 2 diabetes • heart disease Being obese can also shorten your life expectancy. For example, the life expectancy of obese adults who are over the age of 40 can be shortened by six or seven years. Read more about the symptoms of binge eating for details of other health conditions related to obesity. Seeing your GP. Visit your GP if you think that you have a binge eating problem. They will be able to diagnose the condition and refer you to a specialist, such as a psychiatrist or a psychologist. In some cases, you may also be referred to a dietitian. In diagnosing binge eating, your GP will ask you about your eating habits and look for three or more of the following signs: • you eat much faster than normal during a binge

• you eat until you feel uncomfortably full • you eat a large amount of food when you are not hungry • you eat alone or secretly due to being embarrassed about the amount of food you are consuming • you have feelings of guilt, shame or disgust after binge eating People who regularly eat this way are likely to be diagnosed with a binge eating disorder. Treating binge eating. Binge eating is a treatable condition and a number of different treatment options are available. For example, treatments include: • a self-help programme – this may be individually with a book or online course, or as part of a self-help support group • psychological therapy, such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) • a type of antidepressant known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) that are usually prescribed in combination with therapy If you are overweight, a healthcare professional may draw up a weight loss plan once any psychological issues have been dealt with. This is to help you lose weight in a safe and effective way. People can recover from binge eating if they can understand the psychological issues causing their condition, adopt regular eating patterns and receive realistic advice about food. ■ NHS Choices

THERE is no single cause for binge eating. However, like most eating disorders, it is seen as a way of coping with feelings of unhappiness and low self-esteem. The binge eating cycle. People who binge eat often display a particular pattern of behaviour known as the binge eating cycle. The binge eating cycle (described below) is difficult to break. • binge eating leads to a surge in blood sugar that causes the pancreas to produce insulin (a hormone that helps to break down fat and carbohydrate in the body) • the insulin causes blood sugar levels to fall rapidly, resulting in a false message being sent to the brain that more food is needed to top up glucose levels • this results in cravings for sugary foods to provide a quick glucose fix, so the person eats large quantities of food even when they are not hungry • eating large amounts of sugary foods leads to a rapid increase in blood sugar levels and the production of insulin, causing the cycle to begin again Depression. It is estimated that about 50% of people who binge eat have been depressed at some point in their life. However, it is not clear whether depression causes binge eating or whether binge eating causes depression. Stress and anxiety. Stress is another common trigger of eating disorders. Stressful events, such as moving house, job or school, or the death of a friend or relative, can sometimes cause someone to binge eat. People with eating disorders usually experience difficulties in their personal life. Those who binge eat are often ashamed at the amount of food

that they consume. They may also feel that their lack of control around food mirrors the lack of control they have over their personal lives. Research has suggested that there are other factors or emotions that may bring on an episode of binge eating, including: • anger • boredom • worry or anxiety • sadness • low self-esteem There are also specific behaviours that are more common in people with a binge eating disorder. These include: • impulsive behaviour – acting quickly without thinking about the consequences • alcohol misuse – regularly drinking more than the recommended daily amount of alcohol • avoiding discussing feelings and emotions openly • not feeling responsible for yourself or your actions Trying to lose weight. The social pressure of trying to achieve a slim body shape can sometimes cause a person to binge eat. People who binge eat may be unable to achieve their desired body shape. This can result in a sense of inadequacy, causing them to overeat and feel guilty afterwards. It is not known whether dieting and binge eating are related. However, some people binge eat after: • skipping meals • not consuming enough food each day • avoiding certain foods These are unhealthy methods of trying to lose weight and alter body shape, and these methods increase a person’s risk of binge eating. ■ NHS Choices

www.hello-philippines.com

Scoop

ENTERTAINMENT CELEBRITY

December 2014 / Fortnightly – No. 24 • UK & Europe Edition

Robin Padilla uses film, TV projects to push advocacies ROBIN Padilla has reached a point in his career where he doesn’t need to do anything without a good reason. Once known as “the Bad Boy of Philippine cinema,” literally and ﬁguratively, the 45-year old action star seems to have transformed into a model citizen, who in recent years, has earned the respect and admiration of both fans and former critics alike. “Hayaan na natin kay Daniel (Padilla) ang pagpapagandang lalaki. Hindi na pwedeng gumawa ng mga proyektong walang kabuluhan. Kailangan may tinutumbok ang bawat project,” Robin told InterAksyon and other entertainment media during the recent press conference for the Grand Finals of “Talentadong Pinoy 2014” which airs this Saturday night. The actor is referring not just to his well-received hosting stint on TV5’s ﬂagship talent search series but also to his widely anticipated Metro Manila Film Festival entry “Bonifacio: Ang Unang Pangulo”, as well as his upcoming sitcom that will co-star him with brothers Rommel Padilla and BB Gandanghari, “2 ½ Daddies”. Robin said he had such a great time with his hosting gig on “Talentadong Pinoy” that he’s already looking forward to hosting it again when it returns on the air next year. “Sana maulit muli at madagdagan pa ng ibang programa,” he replied when

asked if he’s coming back to the show. Robin admitted that “Talentadong Pinoy” had become close to his heart. He said he had grown attached to the show’s numerous contestants who week in and week out never failed to astonish him with their extraordinary talents. As a matter of fact, Robin’s willingness to add extra cash prizes is considered as one of the key features of the current season. “Para sa akin, hindi naman premyo yun, balato na lang yun,” he quipped. In the same way that he has revitalized and, yes, somewhat revolutionized the long-running talent show with his refreshing approach to hosting, Robin is also on a mission for another revolution, this time on the big screen with “Bonifacio: Ang Unang Pangulo”. Taking on a more serious tone, Robin said he has a special reason for deciding to do a movie about the controversial national hero. He has become so enthralled with Bonifacio’s story that he joined a protest rally in Liwasang Bonifacio last November 30, the hero’s birth anniversary, where he read the Kartilya ng Katipunan in character as Andres Bonifacio. “Tungkol sa pagbabago ang aming pelikula, tungkol sa rebolusyon. Ginawa namin ito para sa kabataan dahil gusto namin silang mamulat sa katotohanan. Walang pupuntahan ang bansa natin

LONDON – Beauty queens from across the globe have descended on London for Sunday’s Miss World 2014 final, a competition rocked by the murder of Miss Honduras. Some 121 contestants from Albania to Zimbabwe are taking part in the pageant, but there will be no representative from Honduras following the fatal shooting of finalist Maria Jose Alvarado. The bodies of the 19-year-old national title-holder and her 23-year-old sister Sofia Trinidad were found buried on a remote riverbank near the northwestern city of Santa Barbara on the day Maria Jose was due to fly to London. Tears were shed when the Miss World contestants attended a special remembrance service in London. They held candles and said prayers in their own languages in front of a framed photograph of Alvarado. “We are devastated by this terrible loss of two young women, who were so full of life,” said Miss World chairwoman Julia Morley. The new Miss World will travel to crime-plagued Honduras to build a school in their hometown that will

Robin Padilla in character as Andres Bonifacio with protesters in Liwasang Bonifacio during the hero’s 151st birth anniversary. Photo by Gregorio B. Dantes, Jr.

pag minulat natin ang kabataan sa mali. Ang dapat nating gawin ay ibigay sa kanila ang katotohanan.” And what to him is the truth about Andres Bonifacio? “Parte lang si Bonifacio sa mga kasaysayan natin na napaglaruan lang ng mga pulitiko. Hanggang ngayon, nakikita natin na pinaglalaruan pa rin tayo ng pulitika. Pero noon pa man, nangyayari na ito. Yan ang hindi alam ng mga kabataan,” he pointed out. Robin noted that “Bonifacio: Ang Unang Pangulo”, directed by Enzo Williams, is not the ﬁrst time he has made a ﬁlm with social relevance. In 2003, he headlined the World War II action-drama “Alab ng Lahi”. In 2011, he directed and starred with wife Mariel Rodriguez and daughter Queenie Padilla in “Tum: My Pledge of Love” which he said was about the feud

between Muslims and Christians as a result of politics. Last year, he won Best Actor for his turn as a framed senator on the run on Joyce Bernal’s acclaimed Metro Manila Film Festival entry, “10,000 Hours”. “Tapos ngayong taong ito, ginawa namin yung ‘Sa Ngalan ng Ama, Ina at mga Anak’ kung saan ipinakita naming kung paano ginawang masama ang mga hoodlum. Nawala ang mga hoodlum, sino ang pumalit? Mga pulitikong magnanakaw.” As for “2 ½ Daddies”, his 2015 sitcom which will star him with Alice Dixson and his brothers, Robin said that he’s doing the show not just for mere laughs but also to promote gender equality. “Yan naman ang aming misyon para sa show na yan. Importante yang gender equality dahil marami sa ating nagsasabi na pantay-pantay na ang

be named in their honor, the contest’s organizers announced. Police in Honduras accuse Sofia’s boyfriend of shooting the sisters in a fit of jealousy after seeing Sofia dancing with another man at a party. Three other people have appeared in court alongside him for allegedly helping him bury the bodies. Oxford’s challenge. The contestants arrived in London on November 20 for the 64th annual final, being held at the Excel Exhibition Centre. The remembrance service was part of a series of events in the run-up to the televised extravaganza.

The contenders visited prestigious Oxford University to address the Oxford Union debating hall — where some of the world’s finest minds have honed their ideas. “Miss World is not a celebrity; she is an ambassador,” Miss United States Elizabeth Safrit told students. “She tells women all around the world that it’s OK to have an opinion. She makes changes happen. She identifies problems and she finds solutions.” Students threw questions at them, including if they thought there could be such a competition with no beauty element at all.

File photo of Miss Honduras World 2014 Maria Jose Alvarado, who was shot to death with her sister allegedly by the latter’s boyfriend. ©AFP

Filipino actress Megan Young reacts upon being announced as the winner of Miss World 2013 in Bali, Indonesia last year. ©AFP

“Some of us run very fast, some of us speak very well, some of us have received the gift of outer beauty that’s being emphasised by inner beauty,” replied Miss South Africa Rolene Strauss. British bookmakers Ladbrokes have the 22-year-old medical student as their 2/1 hot favorite, followed by Miss England and Miss India at 7/1, Miss Australia at 8/1 and Miss Russia at 10/1. “It’s always one of the hardest events to come up with odds for,” Ladbrokes spokesman Alex Donohue told AFP. “Fans think Miss South Africa ticks all the boxes and she has been the most popular bet to win, but Miss France at 14/1 shouldn’t be discounted at all and she looks like a good outside bet to be crowned.” Venezuela tops the all-time leader board with six titles, ahead of India and the United Kingdom on five titles each. ‘Beauty with a purpose’. While beauty has always been at the heart of the event, brains, skills and commitment to good causes also play a role. Contestants have to present their “Beauty With a Purpose” projects to the judges.

pagtingin sa bawat kasarian pero nung pinatay si Laude, iilan lang kaming nagsalita tungkol dun. Maging sa mga pulitiko at mamamahayag, iilan lang ang nagsalita. Dun makikita kung gaano pa rin kalaki ng kaplastikan sa bansang ito,” he lamented. Robin hopes that through the light and funny approach of “2 ½ Daddies”, people will get and appreciate its underlying relevance. As the brother of BB, who like Laude is a transgender, Robin said it’s important for every Filipino to take a stand on not just gender equality but on any relevant issue. “Kailangan meron tayong tayuan, hindi pwedeng puro pananahimik lang. Pag dumating ang problema, that’s the time na magsalita ka agad at ilabas ang iyong paninindigan,” he declared. ■ Edwin P. Sallan / InterAksyon.com / December 13,

2014 / 2:20 PM

Miss World showdown in London in shadow of murder Miss Serbia has been coaching a disabled volleyball team, while Miss India founded an organisation which teaches slum children the importance of washing their hands. Miss Bolivia has been helping to improve the lives of children living in prison with their jailed parents, bringing them books, other learning materials and even puppies to help them learn how to care for another living thing. The contestants have already been put through their paces on the fitness front, with Miss Finland coming out on top of a test that included a tug of war. Last year’s final was won by Miss Philippines Megan Young. It was held in Bali in Indonesia after switching from the capital Jakarta following protests by Muslim hardliners. Miss World began in 1951, a year before its chief rival Miss Universe. Former Miss World contestants include Oscar-winning US actress Halle Berry, a 1986 finalist, and 1994 winner Aishwarya Rai, the Indian movie star. Twelve have appeared in James Bond films. ■ Robin Millard / Agence France-Presse /

December 12, 2014 / 11:02 AM

PILGRIMAGE TO PHILIPPINES Date: Saturday, 10 to Saturday, 24 January 2015

Experience the Papal visit in the Philippines and make a difference.

PLACES TO VISIT:

OUR LADY OF MANAOAG, PANGASINAN - visit one of the most venerated 17th-century ivory images of the Blessed Virgin Mary with the Child Jesus in the Philippines. In 1610 a middle-aged farmer walking home heard a mysterious female voice. He saw on a cloud-veiled treetop an apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary, holding a Rosary in her right hand with the Child Jesus on her left arm amidst a heavenly glow. Mary told the farmer where she wanted her church to be built. The shrine of Our Lady of Manaoag was built on the spot where Mary appeared to the man and the town quickly grew around it. MONASTERIO DE TARLAC - is where the Relic of the Holy Cross can be found. The relic authenticated by a Papal seal is believed to be part of the cross discovered by Saint Helena in Jerusalem, the mother of Emperor Constantine the Great. It was believed that Saint Helena excavated three crosses in Jerusalem which were believed to be the crosses used during the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. She brought a woman who was about to die and asked her to touch the first two crosses but nothing happened. When the third cross was touched, the dying woman was healed.

NATIONAL SHRINE OF THE DIVINE MERCY - is a church dedicated to the Divine Mercy in Marilao, Bulacan, Philippines. It was elevated to the status of National Shrine by Cardinal Orlando Quevedo of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines. The first Mass was held at the site on February 2, 1992, the Feast of the Presentation. OUR LADY, MARY MEDIATRIX OF ALL GRACE - The Marian apparition in 1948, shower of petals, other miraculous events associated with this church, and the over all feeling of serenity make anyone seeking spiritual refuge to visit Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church in Lipa, Batangas. According to accounts of the apparition, Mama Mary showed herself to Teresita Castillo, a nun, telling that she is the "Mediatrix of All Grace". "On September 12, 1948 in this Carmel of Lipa, Mary Mediatrix of All Grace appeared on top of a vine.

OUR LADY OF PEACE AND GOOD VOYAGE, ANTIPOLO - is a 17th-century brown wooden statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary venerated in the Philippines. The image was originally brought to the country from Mexico and the safe voyage across the Pacific Ocean was attributed to the image. SHRINE OF OUR LADY OF ASSUMPTION, BOHOL - is an 18th-century church dedicated to Our Lady of the Assumption. The image of the Blessed Virgin Mary is famed to be miraculous. Pilgrims from afar hike the distance from their city to the site to invoke special petitions or mainly to honor the Patroness. In addition, at the foot of the altar of the church is a well also believed to have healing power. The water tastes oddly fresh, despite the well's proximity to the seashore.

LOBOC RIVER CRUISE, BOHOL – Enjoy the river cruise along nipa-lined river on board a native catamaran while lunch is served on board. See historic BLOOD COMPACT SHRINE, a historical landmark commemorating the First Treaty of Friendship between the east and the west. Visit the centuries old Baclayon Church and Museum, built in 1595. Be amazed with the perfect landscape of the CHOCOLATE HILLS, BOHOL.Experience the lush of the MAHOGANY MAN MADE FOREST and the green farmlands in Bilar and Batuan. See the famous TARSIER, one of the worlds smallest primates with its gentle demeanor and large bulbous eyes. Visit the NIPA WEAVING AND KNIFE MAKING FACTORY, Bohol. Enjoy the ORGANIC GOURMET LUNCH at the Bee Farm Restaurant during the tour.

STO. NINO DE CEBU (Holy Child of Cebu) - is venerated by many Filipino Catholics who believe it to be miraculous. The statue was originally given in 1521 as a baptismal gift by Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan, who physically handed it to Lady Humamay, the principal wife of Rajah Humabon. This event marks the beginning of Christianity in the Philippines. Enjoy the whole day SINULOG FESTIVAL SHOW (included in the price)! CEBU CITY - the trading center of Southeast Asia in the 13th century. Discovered by Ferdinand Magellan on April 8,1521. Rich in pre-Hispanic relics, antiques, and artifacts that have been found in different parts of the island. It is the country's Second City after Manila and a favorite tourist destination. Catch the glimpse of rural life in livelihood activities like SHOEMAKING, DELICACY COOKING, WOODCARVING and BASKET WEAVING. Experience the CARABAO RIDE (water buffalo ride), a TRICYCLE SPIN to a colorful market, LEARN HOW TO WEAVE A BAMBOO BASKET, and get the thrill from DRINKING FRESH COCONUT WINE.

MANILA CITY TOUR - Immerse yourself in the Philippines' rich cultural past through Manila's diverse museums. From the Old Walled City of Intramuros to the Financial District of Makati, this tour is a well-rounded glimpse of the country. Trace the past with a visit to the MALACANANG PALACE, the CULTURAL CENTER OF THE PHILIPPINES, the RIZAL PARK and SAN AGUSTIN CHURCH (UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993).

Get on board to a SUNSET DINNER CRUISE along MANILA BAY. Admire the MANILA CITY SKYLINE while FEASTING ON TRADITIONAL PHILIPPINE CUISINE. Enjoy the lights of Roxas Boulevard and Evening Live Performance on Board from the famous local band in the City of Manila.

BENEFICIARIES OF THE PILGRIMAGE:

PEDIATRIC CANCER PATIENTS OF NATIONAL CHILDRENS' HOSPITAL – Indigent children undergoing chemotherapy treatment. BETHANY HOUSE STO NINO ORPHANAGE – founded in 1986 by Bishop Almario and entrusted to Dominican Sisters of St. Joseph.

BAHAY PAG IBIG – Home for Senior citizens forgotten by their families and their own children. Home of the abandoned, poor and the sick. ERDA TECHNICAL VOCATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL IN PANDACAN, MANILA - is a free school for deserving students. It is managed by Fr. Ari Dy,SJ.

EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS IN BOHOL CARMELITE SISTERS OF LIPA RETIRED JESUIT PRIESTS OF LOYOLA HOUSE OF STUDIES, ATENEO. RESERVATION AND PAYMENT: PRICE: £1900 includes return air ticket and tour package to Philippines. Entrances to some places included in the price. Pick up transport, ferry transfer and all coaching arrange in every destinations plus assistance from Tour Operator based in London and English speaking guide throughout our tour. Our group will stay in comfortable hotels with basic ensuite room facilities on a half board basis. Extra to your tour: Single room supplement and Travel insurance required per passenger. PAYMENT: £500 required deposit. Baggage allowance is 30 kilos per passenger and flights can be extend prior to issuance of airline ticket per arrangment with our travel agency partner based in London. NB: Please note we reserve the right to alter the above itinerary if required for operational reasons. Deposits and Flights are non refundable. The Community Prayer Crusade – West London is a nonprofit organization with no budget. Only reservation with deposit considered confirmed. Any friends, please contact Betilda on 07919380513 or Merla on 07939684558 or Mario on 07818021874.Thank you and God Bless.

interested

& Scoop Beatboxer Neil of Davao bags P1M as Ultimate Talentadong Pinoy 2014 26

www.hello-philippines.com

ON paper, Neil Ray Garcia did not look like a contestant who would make it very far in a talent competition show like TV5’s “Talentadong Pinoy” where only the most uniquely talented usually shine. With the exception of the all-singers Ultimate Talentado International Edition, musical talents who made it as far as the grand ﬁnals don’t do particularly well in the show’s ﬁnal reckoning.

ENTERTAINMENT CELEBRITY

But the beatboxing artist from Davao changed all that Saturday night with a dazzling performance that sent talent scouts Ms. Pilita Corrales, Jaya, Jasmine Curtis-Smith, Richard Gutierrez, Cherie Gil, Gelli de Belen and Charice reeling with delight. Eliciting the loudest cheers from his throng of supporters, Neil who has declared his name to be an acronym for “Never Exit in Life”, claimed the stage and showcased his remarkable

Neil wows the crowd with his extraordinary beatboxing skills en route to his victory at the grand finals of ‘Talentadong PInoy 2014’.

beatboxing talent in a perfectly executed performance, producing eight distinct sounds and blending them well in an impressive danceable ensemble. Besting flag turners Escapades Blazing Color Guard, pole dancer and aerial hoops gymnast Amaya, air dancer Miztiq, fire dancers Bonfire, handicapped ballroom dancers BMG Wheelchair Dancesports and high

Neil holds his trophy after being declared the Ultimate Talentado 2014.

December 2014 / Fortnightly – No. 24 • UK & Europe Edition

energy dance group Tazmania, Neil also showed that what he lacked in visual spectacle, he more than made up for with his riveting display of beatbox prowess. “Hindi ko po talaga ini-expect na mananalo ako. Yung talent ko po hindi tulad nung sa iba, basta ang nasa isip ko lang mapaghalo-halo yung iba-ibang boses. Dapat nga sana 10 sounds ang gagawin ko pero hindi ko na kaya so 8 sounds para symbol din ng inﬁnity,” Neil told InterAksyon and News5 shortly after he won the cool P1 million cash prize and the title of Ultimate Talentado at the show’s grand ﬁnals night at the Newport Performing Arts Theater in Resorts World Manila. In the show dubbed as “Mighty Revolution” in reference and support of host Robin Padilla’s Andres Bonifacio biopic and Metro Manila Film Festival entry, “Bonifacio: Ang Unang Pangulo”, the show opened with an upbeat musical number from the trio of Jaya, YouTube sensation Zendee Rose and “Kanta Pilipinas” grand champion Chadleen. Robin, his wife Mariel Rodriguez, and comedienne Tuesday Vargas guided the rest of the audience

throughout the evening as they introduced each of the seven Hall of Famers and interviewed them immediately after their performances. As the judges articulated their appraisal of each contestant, it was pretty much clear that Neil stood head and shoulders over everybody else. Cherie Gil in particular, wished that her children were in the venue to personally see Neil’s stunning performance while the visibly wowed Jasmine Curtis-Smith and Charice both could not ﬁnd the right words to express their elation over the same number. Asked about his immediate plans after his victory, Neil said he hopes that his P1 million prize money will ﬁnally help his family buy their own house while he hopes to further pursue his beatboxing career and participate in international talent competitions. Hosts Robin, Mariel and Tuesday, who all have done an admirable job providing a fresh approach to the original and longest-running talent show of its kind on Philippine television, said that “Talentadong Pinoy” will return in 2015. ■ Edwin P.

Sallan / InterAksyon.com / December 14, 2014 / 9:40 PM

In ‘iconic’ PH countdown, QC govt, TV5 to welcome 2015 and 75th year with fireworks, street gig MANILA – The inspiration, according to TV5 president Emmanuel Lorenzana, came from industrialist and TV5 chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan, who envisioned an iconic fireworks display like those seen in New York, Sydney, Hong Kong, among others. In this year’s Philippine countdown, MVP wanted the Philippines to be known globally for the countdown. “In my heart I believe that the QC Memorial Circle is very iconic; and what a way to celebrate an iconic countdown than with iconic fireworks,” Lorenzana explained, referring to the choice of the sprawling QC circular park for the New Year’s Eve revelry. Lorenzana explained the details of the planned events at a press conference after the Monday flag-raising ceremony at the QC hall grounds. “It is so apt because it’s the 75th [anniversary of the city], it has the number “5’ that echoes TV5, and that’s why we wanted to celebrate the last day of the year in a way that everyone will enjoy; it’s like having a hologram at the foot of the monument,” said Lorenzana, speaking partly in Filipino. After the Monday flag raising at the QC grounds, TV5 executives led by Mr. Lorenzana and Mayor Herbert “Bistek” Bautista signed a memorandum of agreement wherein the Happy Network will create a fantastic and exciting program for the countdown.

QC Mayor Herbert Bautista welcomed the partnership with TV5, which was forged three days after City Hall officials met with MMDA, and the Metro Manila Council (MMC) approved and designated the QC Circle as a safe place to sell, use, watch and enjoy fireworks. The MMC approved a resolution, to be implemented by LGUs, designating areas where fireworks may be used. Mayor Bautista said TV5’s partnering with the QC government is “something we have to look forward to, [it’s of] international caliber.” He enjoined people to go to the Memorial Circle, and expressed hope the countdown at the circle becomes a yearly tradition. He said he was looking forward to a

TV5 president Emmanuel Lorenza poses for a picture at the Quezon City Hall grounds after signing a memorandum of agreement with the Quezon City government on Monday morning. Photo by Bernard O. Testa, ©InterAksyon

“new and happy, happy new year with the happy Kapatid network” as QC marks its 75th Jubillee. At the press conference, TV5 chief content officer Wilma Galvante said there will be a street party, an “artista search” and 20-minute fireworks on New Year’s Eve. The fireworks are envisioned to be on a par with displays in other countries. QC administrator Aldrin Cuna said the decision to hold the New Year Countdown at the circle is timely, coinciding with their Jubillee, and assured the public that those flocking to the park to celebrate are most welcome. He said their goal is “we always have a zero casualty.” ■ Text and

photos by Bernard Testa / InterAksyon.com / December 15, 2014 / 4:16 PM

TV5 chief content officer, Quezon City mayor Herbert Bautista, and TV5 president Emmanuel Lorenzana lead the singing of the national anthem during the flag-raising ceremony at the Quezon City Hall grounds on Monday. Photo by Bernard O. Testa, ©InterAksyon.

JC Intal and Bianca acknowledge the cheers of their guests during their wedding reception at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday. Photo posted on Instagram by Roxy Liquigan.

The Smart Araneta Coliseum before the guests arrived. Photo posted on Instagram by Bianca Gonzalez.

Bianca Gonzalez, JC Intal celebrate wedding at Big Dome SIX days after tying the knot in a private ceremony at a resort island in Palawan, TV host Bianca Gonzalez and basketball player JC Intal celebrated their union with 300 guests who occupied the hardwood at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday. “Let’s do this, wifey!” JC said in an Instagram post with a photo of the couple waiting behind curtains for the reception to begin. “We still can’t believe THIS happened. Too many amazing people to thank for making this celebration possible!!!!!!!!!!” she exclaimed on Instagram after the event, which was attended by friends and colleagues of

the couple in the fields of entertainment and sports. Bianca and JC, both 31, became the first couple to hold their wedding reception at the Big Dome, where she said their romance began and bloomed. The famous coliseum in Cubao is a regular venue for the Philippine Basketball Association, the professional league where JC currently plays for the Barako Bull Energy team. Bianca, who also shared a video of the couple singing the Eraserheads song “Ligaya”, and JC had dated for more than three years before they got engaged in March. ■ InterAksyon.com / December 11, 2014 / 3:29 PM

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Lies Love THE award-winning New York production of David Byrne and Fatboy Slim’s musical HERE LIES LOVE will open the new Dorfman Theatre (formerly the Cottesloe), following its complete refurbishment as part of the NT Future project. HERE LIES LOVE plays from 30 September to 8 January, with a press night on 13 October. With concept and lyrics by David Byrne, music by David Byrne and Fatboy Slim, and additional music by Tom Gandey and J Pardo; it is directed by Alex Timbers, with choreography by Annie-B Parson, set design by David Korins, costume design by Clint Ramos, lighting by Justin Townsend, sound by M. L. Dogg and Cody Spencer, and projection design by Peter Nigrini. The music supervisor is Kimberly Grigsby; Justin Levine is the collaborating music producer, and the music editor is Matt Stine. The cast is Christine Allado, Gia Macuja Atchison, Mark Bautista (Ferdinand Marcos), Lauren Chia, Christopher Chung, Julius Ebreo, Jim Andrew Ferrer, Li-Tong Hsu, Dean John-Wilson (Ninoy Aquino), Maria Lawson, Kok-Hwa Lie, Frances Mayli McCann, Natalie Mendoza (Imelda Marcos), Aaron Jan Mercado, Martin Sarreal, Julie Yammanee and Sunny Yeo. The Public Theater’s production of HERE LIES LOVE, which premiered in New York in 2013 to critical and popular acclaim, traces the astonishing journey of Imelda Marcos, First Lady of

the Philippines, from her meteoric rise to power to descent into infamy and disgrace. The new Dorfman Theatre is transformed into a pulsating club for an immersive theatrical event which combines heart-pounding beats with adrenaline-fuelled choreography and 360-degree staging. Audiences are advised to dress comfortably and those in the pit performance area will stand and dance with the actors. There will be seating in the galleries; the performance length is 90 minutes. In addition to places bookable in advance, 20 tickets at £20 in the pit will be made available every Friday at 12 midday for the week ahead for every performance, bookable online. David Byrne is a founding member of the band Talking Heads and creator of the record label Luaka Pop. His works include Playing the Building, an interactive sound installation at the Battery Maritime Building, New York and the Roundhouse in London; contributions to the score of The Last Emperor, for which he won an Oscar; Everything That Happens Will Happen Today, a collaboration with Brian Eno; This Must be the Place, a collaboration with Will Oldham for the soundtrack to the Sean Penn film; and Love This Giant, his collaboration with musician St. Vincent. David Byrne’s books include Bicycle Diaries and How Music Works; he also publishes and exhibits visual art, including photography and filmmaking.

Dorfman Theatre playing until 8 January 2015. Previews from 30 September 2014. Fatboy Slim, also known as Norman Cook, is a Grammy Award-winning DJ, musician and record producer. He first rose to prominence in the 1980s as bassist of the indie rock band The Housemartins, and went on to form the band, Beats International. In 1996, as Fatboy Slim, he released Better Living Through Chemistry, and his followup successes include You’ve Come a Long Way, Baby and Halfway Between the Gutter and the Stars. In 2008 he collaborated with David Byrne and Dizzee Rascal on The Brighton Port Authority. Alex Timbers’ credits include Rocky, Peter and the Starcatcher (codirector, Obie Award Best Director, Tony nomination Best Director), Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson (also book writer; Drama Desk Award Best Book, Tony nomination Best Book), and The Pee-wee Herman Show on Broadway. He is the Artistic Director of the company Les Freres Corbusier. ■ HERE LIES LOVE is presented by special arrangement with Joey Parnes and EMURSIVE. The original cast recording of HERE LIES LOVE from Nonesuch records is now available to buy. The Dorfman Partner: Neptune Investment Management The National Theatre’s Airline Partner: American Airlines Press night: Monday 13 October at 7pm Contact: Susie Newbery on 020 7452 3061/snewbery@nationaltheatre.org.uk

Scoop GMA Pinoy TV’s Home Away From Home, now on its second season 28

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GMA Pinoy TV – the flagship international channel of GMA Network – is bringing back its award-winning mini-feature series, Home Away From Home, beginning December 20. Hosted by Luanne Dy, Home Away From Home flew to Ontario and Vancouver in Canada, Los Angeles, Connecticut and New York in the US, and Dubai in Asia to bring new stories of success, hope and inspiration to its worldwide audience. Taking centerstage in this new season are Filipino doctors, businessmen, artists, fashion designers and leaders of Filipino organizations abroad, who have become important parts of their communities and have shown success in their respective fields. Aside from opening their homes, the featured achievers will once again be sharing their secrets to their successful family and professional lives with the hope of inspiring viewers from all parts of the world. For its first salvo, the Home Away from Home will put the spotlight on businesswoman Elena Lapid from Los Angeles, Dr. Solon de Guzman from Canada, fashion designers Michael Cinco and Ezra Santos from Dubai, Dr. Gino and Alma Ang from Connecticut, and Lolita Savage from New York. Last May, Home Away From Home

December 2014 / Fortnightly – No. 24 • UK & Europe Edition

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has gained international recognition by bringing home a Silver Award of Distinction at the 20th Communicator Awards, the leading international awards program that recognizes creative excellence in advertising, corporate communications, public relations and identity work in print, video, audio and interactive formats. Home Away From Home is an original creation of GMA International and can be seen on GMA Pinoy TV in the US, Canada, the Middle East, North Africa and Asia Paciﬁc. For more details, visit the GMA International website www.gmanetwork.com/ international, Facebook page www. facebook.com/GMAPinoyTV, and Twitter page @GMAPinoyTV.■

Fashion designers Michael Cinco and Ezra Santos from Dubai.

Dr. Cruz

Elena Lapid from Los Angeles.

Dr. Solon de Guzman and family from Canada.

Luanne Dy

Mr. and Mrs. Chen

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Scoop Gozon, Enriquez: Driving forces behind GMA Network’s success 30

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CEMENTING their status as pillars of excellence in the local broadcast industry, GMA Chairman and CEO Felipe L. Gozon and veteran broadcast journalist Mike C. Enriquez were recently recognized by BizNewsAsia (BNA), the Philippines’ largest business and news magazine, during its 13th anniversary celebration on November 25. Hailed as “The Best Broadcast CEO” by the weekly magazine, Gozon received the Entrepreneurship Excellence Award, while Enriquez was the lone awardee for Broadcast Excellence.

BizNewsAsia’s Best Broadcast CEO.

BNA cited Gozon’s “hard work, diligence, dedication, scholarship, expertise, innovation, and family values” as factors that led to his indisputable success as a media mogul. “His values as a Godfearing family man, his training as a lawyer, and his experience as a broadcast CEO have enabled him to pursue truth with passion, fairness with conviction, and excellence with vision,” said BNA. In 2011, BNA named Gozon Tycoon of the Decade – a feat that puts a spotlight on his remarkable leadership, ﬁrst as President and later as Chairman and CEO of GMA Network. Gozon was also listed consistently among BNA’s Power 100 from 2003 to 2010, and was bestowed the Visionary Management Award last year.

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A distinguished lawyer prior to entering the broadcast business, Gozon, who earned his Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of the Philippines and his Master of Laws degree from Yale University, told BNA that he found the broadcast industry more challenging than law practice. “Everyday is a different day when you’re in this business. You cannot be certain that what appeals to viewers today, would still appeal to them tomorrow. And this is what makes our jobs very challenging yet fulfilling at the same time,” related Gozon. Dynamic as the industry is, his passion for excellence is what motivates Gozon to keep GMA at the top of its game. He has brought “tremendous creativity, management excellence, growth, profitability and credibility to GMA Network,” said BNA. Besides bringing in an estimated P20 billion in cumulative net profits, Gozon also laid out the framework that gave rise to the fulfilment of his vision to put GMA Network at the forefront of the broadcast field in the country. “I am deeply grateful for this award, as well as for the continued recognition of my accomplishments as a CEO by BizNewsAsia,” said Gozon. “I share this honour with our Kapuso viewers here and abroad, who are part of my and GMA Network’s success.”

Maintaining Excellence in Broadcast.

Mike Enriquez is – without question – one of the most credible, most respected and most admired broadcasters on TV and radio today. And his award from BizNewsAsia – with the multi-awarded GMA News and Public Affairs figure being its only recipient – is a testament to this. Over the years, Enriquez has kept his fearlessness uncompromised, his credibility unblemished, and his values intact. “He is the best broadcaster in the Philippines today,” said BNA of Enriquez, whose day-to-day duties with GMA include co-anchoring GMA’s flagship newscast 24 Oras together with fellow GMA News and Public Affairs Pillars Mel Tiangco and Vicky Morales, hosting the weekly investigative show Imbestigador, running the Network’s Radio business as its Consultant for Operations, and delivering hard-hitting news on DZBB, GMA’s flagship AM station. From working without pay to joining a strike and being awakened by soldiers at their picket line in the wee hours of the first day of Martial Law, Enriquez, as BNA puts it, “He has seen and done it all.” So when the time came for GMA to appoint someone who will lead the expansion of its Radio division in 1995,

GMA Chairman and CEO Felipe L. Gozon

Mike Enriquez

Felipe L. Gozon with with VP Binay and Tony Lopez

Mike Enriquez with Tony Lopez and VP Binay

he was the best choice for the role. Fast forward to today, GMA Radio continues to make signiﬁcant contributions to the Network’s earnings, while promoting its thrust of providing Serbisyong Totoo. This year, DZBB reached a signiﬁcant milestone when it became the number one AM station in Mega Manila – with Enriquez crediting his team’s hard work and dedication, and needless to day, the

continued patronage of their listeners. “At the end of the day, the best reward is when you see the fruits of your service changing the lives of many,” said Enriquez. “This distinction from BizNewsAsia speaks volumes of the responsibility that we, as media men, have to our fellow Filipinos. They can rest assured that we will continue to do our role in the country’s nation building.” ■

GMA Network stays ahead of competition in Urban Luzon and Mega Manila GMA Network facade

Manny Pacquiao

Mel Tiangco

GMA’s airing of Pacquiao-Algieri fight is most watched program in November GMA Network (GMA) kept its overall ratings lead in the viewer-rich areas of Urban Luzon and Mega Manila in November based on data from the industry’s leading ratings service provider Nielsen TV Audience Measurement. Urban Luzon and Mega Manila account for 77 and 60 percent, respectively, of all urban TV households in the entire country. Moreover, the airing of the PacquiaoAlgieri fight on GMA7 became the highest rating show (including specials) in NUTAM, Urban Luzon, Mega Manila and

Urban Visayas, leading all other programs in these areas. From November 1 to 30 (with the dates of November 23 to 30 based on overnight data), GMA recorded a 36.8 percent total day household audience share in Urban Luzon, surpassing ABS-CBN’s 31.1 percent by 5.7 points and TV5’s 8.8 percent by 28 points. Leading across all areas in Mega Manila, GMA posted a 37.8 percent total day audience share in the area, up 9.3 points from ABS-CBN’s 28.5 percent, and up 28.5 points from TV5’s 9.3 percent. Compared to its key competitor, GMA had more entries in the list of top-rated

Jessica Soho

Michael V

shows in Mega Manila with 18 out of 30. GMA’s lead in November was also driven by the ratings performance of its weekly anthology Magpakailanman, multi-awarded news magazine program Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho, reality sitcom Pepito Manaloto, GMA Telebabad’s Strawberry Lane, afternoon drama The Half Sisters, flagship newscast 24 Oras, weekend programs Celebrity Bluff, Marian, Ismol Family and recently launched primetime soap, More Than Words. In NUTAM, GMA more than doubled its afternoon block lead over its closest rival, ABS-CBN, to 7.6 points from its 3-point lead in October. In November, GMA scored 37.8 percent, higher than ABS-CBN’s 30.2 percent. GMA subscribes to the Nielsen TV Audience Measurement service, while ABS-CBN is the lone local major TV network that subscribes to Kantar Media, formerly known as TNS. Nielsen data is gathered through a greater number of sampled homes nationwide in comparison to Kantar Media. GMA’s top-rating programs can be seen worldwide on GMA’s flagship international channel, GMA Pinoy TV. For more information on GMA Pinoy TV as well as other GMA International channels, GMA Life TV and GMA News TV International, visit www. gmanetwork.com/international. ■

December 2014 / Fortnightly – No. 24 • UK & Europe Edition

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APEC 2015 Informal Senior Oﬃcials’ Meeting (ISOM) Highlights Inclusive Growth Through Investing in Human Capital Development

ASIA Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Senior Officials set “Investing in Human Capital Development” as one of the key APEC 2015 priorities at the recently concluded APEC Informal Senior Officials’ Meeting (ISOM) which was held from December 08 to 09 in Manila. At the Symposium on APEC 2015 Priorities on 08 December, APEC Senior Officials and experts from the academe and multilateral institutions emphasized the importance of an educated, skilled and competent workforce in sustaining competitiveness and attaining inclusive growth. For growth to be truly inclusive i.e. that no one is left behind, people must be prepared and equipped to adequately absorb and manage the changing economic environment in order to feel its benefits. The challenges brought by new technologies that increase the “volume, velocity, and variety” of knowledge and information flows emphasize the need for science and technology-based education and skills development, said Dr. William G. Padolina, President of

the National Academy of Science and Technology of the Philippines. We need “talent employment, talent incubation, and talent creating employment”. In his presentation, Mr. Ramon Del Rosario, CEO of the Philippine Business for Education (PBED) emphasized the “education constant” or the power of education in achieving inclusive growth. There are new basic skills to be learned, with innovation and upgrading of the educational system as key. Basic education is the starting point, and it must be done right. A lack of quality basic education disadvantages a person for life. Both the public and private sectors must contribute to this vision. “Growth coupled with equality of opportunity” is necessary in closing the human capital gap, echoed Mr. Juzhong Zhuang, Deputy Chief Economist of the Asian Development Bank. “Cross-country studies show one additional year of schooling predicts a signiﬁcant increase in average annual growth in the long run”. Guided by experts’ views and analyses and in line with the theme

of “Building Inclusive Economies, Building a Better World”, APEC 2015 will put premium in investing in human capital development across the APEC platform, including the Human

Resource Development Working Group (HRDWG) Meeting in January and the High-Level Policy Dialogue on Human Capacity Building in May. APEC Senior Ofﬁcials will meet

again at the First APEC Senior Ofﬁcials’ Meeting and Related Meetings in Clark, Pampanga from January 26 to February 07, 2015. ■ Philippine Embassy Philippines / December 12, 2014

Statement of the Department of Foreign Affairs on the Death Penalty Case of OFW Carlito Lana

Department of Justice Secretary Leila M. De Lima (3rd from right) with (from left) Mr. Guy Berger, UNESCO Director for Communications and Information Sector, Mr. David Kaye, UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of expression, Mr. Teofilo Pilando Jr., Deputy Executive Secretary of the Office of the President of the Philippines, Ms. Habiba El Mejri Cheikh, African Union Commission, and Judge Manuel Ventura Robles, Vice-President of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights.

Philippines Cites Progress in Addressing Safety of Journalists at UN Inter-Agency Meeting PHILIPPINE Department of Justice Secretary Leila M. De Lima led the Philippine delegation to the 3rd United Nations Inter-Agency Meeting on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity, which was organized by United Nations Educational, Scientiﬁc and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) at the Council of Europe in on November 04. Deputy Executive Secretary Teoﬁlo S. Pilando, Jr., DOJ State Prosecutor Atty. Gail Maderazo, and First Secretary Hendrik Garcia of the Permanent Delegation to UNESCO were the other members of the Philippine delegation. The meeting brought together concerned UN agencies, Member States, international and regional organizations, academe and media practitioners, to discuss the threats against the safety of journalists and the need to combat impunity surrounding the crimes against them. Recommendations centered on improving implementation of the U.N. Plan of Action and strengthening national-level strategies. Secretary De Lima underscored that the government bears the primary responsibility to ensure the protection of journalists, and shared the Philippine progress on the matter, particularly

the composite team approach, adopted by the Inter-Agency Committee under Administrative Order No. 35 (A.O. 35), which she chairs. The A.O. 35 Inter-Agency Committee is the primary body tasked to investigate all cases of extra-judicial killings, enforced disappearances, torture and other grave violations of the right to life, liberty and security, including media killings, both by state and non-state forces and to ensure a focused case build-up and speedy resolution of all unsolved and new cases. A.O. 35 adopts the “composite team approach” whereby prosecutors and investigators collaborate, cooperate and coordinate in the investigation and buildup of validated cases of extra-judicial killings, enforced disappearances, torture and other grave violations of the right to life, liberty and property. This creates “a pre-positioned” personnel able to respond quickly to these cases. Secretary De Lima also held bilateral meetings with ofﬁcials from UNESCO, the UN Ofﬁce of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the UN Special Rapporteur on the right to freedom of expression, and the Council of Europe, to discuss possible cooperation with the Philippines and in the region. ■ Philippine Embassy Philippines / December 15, 2014

IT is with deep sadness that we report the execution of Filipino national Mr. Carlito Lana in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The Department of Foreign Affairs condoles with his family for their loss. Mr. Carlito Lana, 37 years old, was convicted for murdering his employer in December 2010. He was sentenced to death after the family of the victim refused to execute an Affidavit of Forgiveness (tanazul) in exchange for blood money. Mr. Lana is survived by his parents, and two siblings, a brother and a sister. Under Shariah law, the next of kin would decide whether to advise the court

to implement the death sentence (qisas) or that the family is willing to forgive and spare the life of the convict in consideration of accepting blood money. Blood money is the amount of money paid or given to the victim’s heirs for the death or injury inflicted upon the victim. It is part of the customs and laws of the Arabs and Muslims. The Philippine Government provided the late Mr. Lana all necessary and appropriate assistance and ensured that his legal rights were observed throughout the whole judicial process. Mr. Lana was given a fair trial and the Philippine Embassy engaged the services of the Al Quwaizani law office and legal consultants to represent him in

Court to ensure that all his legal rights were respected and all legal procedures were being followed. The Government also facilitated the two visits of Mr. Lana’s mother to the prison facility in Riyadh where he was incarcerated. As a Muslim convert and in accordance with Muslim traditions, the remains of Mr. Lana were buried in Saudi Arabia. We shall continue to extend assistance to the late OFW’s family. Once again, we appeal to our nationals overseas to observe the local laws of their host countries, and to avoid involvement in criminal activities. ■ Philippine Embassy

Philippines / December 13, 2014

PHL Embassy in Damascus Celebrates International Day Against Trafficking in Persons THE Philippine Embassy in Damascus personnel, together with the 28 sheltered overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the Halfway Quarters, commemorated the International Day against Trafficking through a traditional flag raising ceremony held on December 08 at the rooftop of the Philippine Chancery.

The highlight of the celebration was the recitation of The DFA Pledge Against Trafficking in Persons by the Embassy personnel, led by designated Officer-In-Charge, William F. Tan. A light breakfast was also shared among the sheltered OFWs and Embassy personnel after the flag raising ceremony.

Philippine Embassy in Damascus personnel recite “The DFA Pledge against Trafficking in Persons” witnessed by sheltered OFWs during a flag raising ceremony held at the rooftop of the Chancery.

As Filipinos continue to seek employment abroad, the sheltered OFWs were advised to be more vigilant in their next quest for employment abroad. They were reminded that the Philippine government has put in place various legitimate mechanisms that could help them obtain employment abroad, legally. The Embassy in Damascus, being an Assistance-to-Nationals Post, had been at the forefront in securing the safety and welfare of Filipino nationals in Syria who sought repatriation assistance due to the ongoing military conﬂict in the country. With the ongoing Mandatory Repatriation Program, the Embassy has already repatriated 5,546 Filipino nationals: A majority of this number were victims of human trafﬁcking, who mostly came from the Southern Philippines. ■ Philippine Embassy Philippines / December 15, 2014

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Philippines, Indonesia Seek Greater Cooperation at Investment Conference AS the Philippines and Indonesia are celebrating their 65th year anniversary of diplomatic relations this week, the two countries sought greater cooperation at a recently concluded investment conference. “Our trade and business relations have ﬂourished over the years. But clearly the Philippines can further tap into the Indonesian market to move our export value at par with the level of Philippine importations from Indonesia. The Philippines and Indonesia can also further look into improving industrial and business linkages” Atty. Arnel Paciano Casanova, President and CEO of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority said at the Investment Conference 2014 held at the Kempinski Hotel. He cited opportunities in agriculture products, franchising as well as in infrastructures development and real estate, particularly projects being undertaken by the Bases Conversion Development Authority such as the Clark Green City, a $14.00 Billion project

development envisioned to become the Philippines’ most modem and the ﬁrst technologically-integrated city with a mix of residential, commercial, agroindustrial, institutional and information technology developments. Mr. Casanova also noted that there is a lot of unrealized potential in the area of tourism as it is estimated that only a little more than 45 thousand Indonesians visited the Philippines in 2013 while there were more than 129 thousand Filipinos who visited Indonesia on the same year. Mr. Casanova also emphasized that the Philippines and Indonesia are now called “new tigers” - rising, new dynamic economies projected to grow rapidly in the years ahead. He underlined sound fundamentals such as rising incomes, young and dynamic population, expanding middle class, stable governments and resilient banking industries that have led to positive developments in both countries. “Both our countries are also being recognized as part of this grouping called TIMP, which is a new “hot group” of high

ﬂying emerging economies - composed of Turkey, Indonesia, Mexico and the Philippines and projections for future growth are encouraging, with the IMF expecting real GDP growth for both our countries to average 5% in the next couple our years, “ he added.

Opportunities

for

Partnerships.

Distinguished panelists during the conference also discussed opportunities for partnerships. BKPM Deputy Director for investment promotion, Mr. Nuru Ichwan, cited areas for investments such as geothermal and electricity as having the most potential since almost one third of Indonesia’s population do not have electricity. He also stressed the need for further discussions to identify speciﬁc and concrete projects for cooperation between the Philippines and Indonesia. Manila Waters, Inc., Country Head for Indonesia and Myanmar, Mr. Pieter Tobing, shared the success story of Manila Waters in the Philippines where it was able to improve the quality, reliability and efﬁciency in bringing water services

(Left photo) Panelists at the Investment Conference celebrating the 65th Anniversary of the Philippines-Indonesia Bilateral Relations discuss opportunities for partnerships. (Right photo, from left) Ir. Maspiyono, Regional Head for ASEAN, Mayora Tbk; Mr. Nurul Ichwan, Deputy Director for Investment Promotion, BKPM; Mr. Reynaldo Espineli, Managing Director, Samuel International; Atty. Arnel Paciano Casanova, President and CEO, Bases Conversion and Development Authority; H.E. Roberto Manalo, Charge d’Affaires, Philippine Embassy; Mr. Pieter Tobing, Country Head for Indonesia and Myanmar, Manila Waters Inc.; Mr. Mark Castro, Consultant for Brainworks; Ms. Alma Argayoso, Commercial Counselor, Philippine Embassy.

Philippines Hosts ASEAN Forum on PPPs THE Philippine Government is set to host the first ASEAN Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Networking Forum from December 16 to 17 at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza Hotel which will gather members of the ASEAN Connectivity Coordinating Committee (ACCC), national coordinators, PPP focal points and officials responsible for infrastructure projects from the ten ASEAN Member States (AMS). The Forum will provide ASEAN member countries the opportunity to exchange information and share experiences about their PPP programs, establish a network of PPP units among ASEAN member countries and pitch their PPP projects to prospective investors, financing institutions, and development partners. It will also tackle the proposed ASEAN Guidelines/Principles on PPP that will harmonize policy, institutional, and regulatory frameworks of the AMS and enhance the economic integration competitiveness of the region. Ambassador Elizabeth P. Buensuceso of the Philippine Permanent Mission to ASEAN

shared that, “Among the ASEAN member countries, the Philippines is said to be the one with the most advanced PPP legal and administrative structure.” The Philippines has been ranked highest in terms of PPP readiness in the ASEAN Region in the Infrascope 2011 Study of the Economist Intelligence Unit commissioned by the Asian Development Bank. “There is room for improvement and we, together with our colleagues in ASEAN, would like to learn the best practices and guidelines of PPP in this workshop, as well as share our experience with our ASEAN neighbors,” added Ambassador Buensuceso. The Forum is being organized by the Philippine Permanent Mission to ASEAN, with support from the ACCC, the Office of ASEAN Affairs of the Philippines’ Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), and the PPP Center of the Philippines. The Forum is supported by the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA) and ASEAN Regional Integration Support from the EU (EU ARISE). ■ Philippine Embassy Philippines

/ December 15, 2014

Atty. Arnel Paciano Casanova, President and CEO of Bases Conversion and Development Authority, speaking before participants of the recently held Investment Conference 2014 organized on the occasion of the 65th Anniversary of the Philippines-Indonesia Bilateral Relations.

to millions of households in Manila. Mr. Tobing said that they aim to bring their successful model for water and wastewater services in Manila 10 Indonesia and other ASEAN regions. Global food player PT Mayora Indah Tbk representative Ir. Maspiyono also shared his company’s experiences in the Philippines where it was able to transform the landscape of coffee business in the Philippines and challenged the more established players in the country. “Our key strategies are to make sure that we have a good product that is suited to the Filipino taste, a competitive price, and effective distribution through our local partners. We recruit only the best local people with proven track record”, Mayora Regional Director for ASEAN lr. Maspiyono said. Ir. Maspiyono also underscored that although the focus of Mayora’s current operations in the Philippines are mainly in distribution and not manufacturing— their entire business in the Philippines

generates about 2,000 jobs. “Mayora plans to grow 10 times in three years with ASEAN, China and India as our top three priorities. In ASEAN, the Philippines is our number one priority outside of Indonesia. We have plans to manufacture in the Philippines but we are still studying the market well on what products would be more suitable. For instance, the biscuit market in the Philippines is even bigger than coffee, so we are making further evaluation on the best products that may be considered for production,” he explained. In the end, Ir. Maspiyono said that he can attest to the fact that it is indeed “more fun doing business in the Philippines.” The Embassy of the Philippines and the Philippine Trade and Investment Center organized the Investment Conference to mark the 65th year anniversary of bilateral relations between the two counties. ■ Philippine Embassy Philippines / December 15, 2014

PHL Embassy in Jakarta Visits Museum Perumusan Naskah Proklamasi TO establish strong camaraderie among personnel, the officers and staff of the Philippine Embassy in Jakarta visited the Museum Perumusan Naskah Proklamasi on November 14. The activity was also is in line with the celebration the 65th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral relations between the Philippines and Indonesia. The Museum visit enhanced the awareness of the Embassy personnel

regarding the history of Indonesia. The Museum Perumusan Naskah Proklamasi Staff for Education, Ibu Wahyuni, conducted a tour for the Embassy personnel around the Museum. The building which played a role during the formulation of the independence proclamation text in 1945 was converted into a museum in 1984 by the Minister of Education and Culture at that time, Nugroho Notosusanto. ■ Philippine Embassy Philippines / December 15, 2014

Ibu Wahyuni of the Museum Perumusan Naskah Proklamasi explains what took place during the drafting of the text of Proclamation of Independence of Indonesia.

(From left) Officers and Staff of the Philippine Embassy and Attached Agencies together with Ibu Tui of Museum Perumusan Naskah Proklamasi outside the museum; Museum Perumusan Naskah Proklamasi.

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Congress ratifies P2.606-trillion 2015 budget MANILA – The Senate and House of Representatives separately ratified on Monday the proposed P2.606trillion 2015 national budget, setting the stage for its transmission to Malacanang to be signed into law by President Benigno Aquino III. The Senate was the first to adopt the report of the bicameral conference committee Monday afternoon. Senate President Franklin Drilon declared: “Without a negative vote, the Senate hereby adopts the bicameral conference committee report on the disagreeing provisions in the House bill for the 2015 national budget. So ordered.” Voting 183-12, it also approved on third and final reading the P22.4 supplemental budget for 2014, which aims to augment the allocation for the rehabilitation of areas devastated by typhoon Yolanda and fund 26 government projects, including those affected by the Supreme Court decision on the Disbursement Acceleration Program. The House will await the version

of the Senate on the supplemental budget. The 2015 budget had been controversial for two reasons: it was riddled with hundreds of “errata” which minority solons and critics feared could be entry points for the budget department making unilateral changes in allocation of certain agencies; it contained a redeﬁnition of “savings” which critics said was a way of circumventing the Supreme Court ruling outlawing the DAP. The ratiﬁed budget bill keeps the original amount proposed by Malacanang. However, the Senate made some realignments, totaling P72.542 billion, a large chunk of which came from the Unprogrammed Fund for the MRT 3 buyout. The biggest realigned item -- P20 billion -- went to the rehabilitation fund to cover Yolanda-damaged areas and other areas hit by recent disasters. Other realignments to the budget went to the Trade Remedies Fund amounting to P4.384 billion;

P10.694.754 for the incremental revenue from excise for the Department of Health; and P472.485 million for the terminal leave pay of Philippine Postal Office employees. Senate Francis Escudero earlier said the 2015 budget adopted the Senate version’s definition of savings to comply with the Supreme Court decision on the Priority Development Assistance Fund and the DAP. The General Appropriations Bill for 2015 quoted the entire 2013 PDAF article of the high tribunal defining savings as “the portions or balances of any released appropriations in the GAA which have not been obligated.” It also states that savings may result from the following: “noncommencement of the program/ activity/project (P/A/P) or the inability of the agency to obligate its released allotment and implement it within the period when the appropriation is valid.” A provision was also added saying, “Programmed appropriations which have not been released or allotments

December 2014 / Fortnightly – No. 24 • UK & Europe Edition

not obligated due to the fault of the agency concerned shall not be considered savings and shall revert to the General Fund.” However, budget watchdog Social Watch Philippines said the approved definition of savings means these could still be declared at any time of the year by the executive. “Though the phrase ‘at any time’ has been removed from the House of Representatives’ General Appropriations Bill (GAB), it was just reworded in the approved version, Leonor Briones, lead convenor of Social Watch Philippines, said. “Since the appropriations are valid from day one of next year until it ends, the intention to declare savings any time of the year is still present,” the former National Treasurer said. “The declaration of savings on a non-definite time-frame provided the mechanism for the Disbursement Acceleration Program and the redefinition effectively eliminates

the Congress’ vaunted power of the purse,” she added. According to Briones, this “leeway” would give DAP “legitimacy” despite the Supreme Court ruling on its unconstitutionality. “This touches issues on the balance of power between the executive and the legislative, since portions of the DAP were essentially pork barrel for legislators; not much different from the likewise SC declared unconstitutional Priority Development Acceleration Fund,” she said. “The 2015 Budget cannot reasonably be said to be pork-less or DAP-less,” she added. Briones said the General Appropriations Act, in essence, becomes a “superﬂuous law” because the redeﬁnition would give the executive the capability to realign it as it deems worthy, regardless of appropriations already written in the 2015 GAA. ■ Ernie Reyes and Lira DalanginFernandez / InterAksyon.com / December 15, 2014

MAGKANO TALAGA? Recto seeks audit of P100-B coco levy amid conﬂicting estimates MANILA – With various parties giving four different estimates of anywhere from P60 billion to P100 billion, Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto on Monday sought a complete audit to determine the present worth of the coconut levy funds. “There are lots of numbers being bandied about. One estimate, reportedly from the Asset Privatization Trust, puts it at P100 billion. One briefer presented by a ﬁnancial institution computes it at P73 billion. Government lawyers place it at P60 billion. A Cabinet

member says it’s P72 billion,” Recto said in a statement, as the Senate’s agriculture committee heard various proposals on the best way to make the fund work for millions of impoverished coconut farmers. “Just today, we were told by the Presidential Commission on Good Government that the fund is in the neighborhood of P80 billion,” Recto said. Recto was referring to the ﬁgure PCCG chair Andres Bautista told a Senate hearing as his agency’s appraisal of the fund’s present value. Recto said only an audit by the

Commission on Audit “can settle the confusion and present us with a clear picture on value, status, interests, income and assets of the fund.” He said COA has both the expertise and the mandate “to follow the money and catalogue the assets.” “Because the levies were used to acquire a myriad of corporations and ﬁnance ventures, we need an audit to show where these are and the state of investments,” Recto said. Among the investments are seven oil mills, as well as seven other ﬁrms engaged in a wide range of activities - from banking to insurance

to chemicals - and 10 copra trading companies. The investments were made prior to 1982 by the Coconut Industry Investment Fund which in turn was ﬁnanced entirely by coconut levy collections. One of the investments, the 753.8 million shares in San Miguel Corporation worth P56 billion at the time of buyback, has been declared by the Supreme Court as public funds. The high court’s partial entry of judgment last week paves the way for its eventual plowback to farmers. But, Recto noted, “for government to properly administer the fund and distribute the dividends, it must have an idea of how much money is involved.”

Easier to count fruits of levy Recto. Recto said ascertaining the

accurate amount does not involve “complicated accounting.” He recalled how government agencies were able to “count all the coconut tress in the country at 338,339,638,” adding that it’s “certainly easier to count the fruits of the coco levy funds.” The coconut levy was created under Republic Act 6260 - imposed on copra sales avowedly to raise capital investment for the coconut industry. By 1986, the total amount collected

between 1971 and 1982 amounted to P9.7 billion. In the aftermath of EDSA 1, the amount was sequestered by the PCGG, triggering a long legal struggle for its ownership. On May 7, 2004, the Sandiganbayan rendered a partial summary judgment declaring that the six CIIF-OMG companies, their 14 holding firms, and the CIIF-OMG block of SMC shares are “owned by the Government in trust for all the coconut farmers.” The Supreme Court, in its decision dated 24 January 2012, upheld the Sandiganbayan. In the same year, the SMC shares amounting to P57 billion were paid for by the San Miguel Corporation and the sum was remitted to the National Treasury. Malacanang is currently drafting an Executive Order to govern utilization of the interest on the fund in order to benefit coconut farmers. At the Senate, Recto has authored SB 455 which prescribes the mechanics of the disposition of coconut levy funds and assets. He also filed Resolution 30, which calls for an audit of all coconut levy investments. ■ Ernie Reyes / InterAksyon.com / December 15, 2014 / 6:16 PM

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DOJ: Significant portion of drug trade may be traced from inside NBP THE surprise inspection at the New Bilibid Prisons on Monday was meant to help the government’s cause against the “significant” contribution of convicted and incarcerated drug traffickers to the trade of narcotics at large. “Ang greater reason [why we did this] is that para ma-completely incapacitate sila from further transacting sa drugs,” De Lima said in an interview over GMA News TV’s Baltanghali. “A significant portion ng narcotics industry sa

Philippines ay nate-trace sa mga inmates sa loob,” she added. De Lima led the surprise inspection, conducted with at least 100 agents from the National Bureau of Investigation, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, and the Philippine National Police. The operation was about two to three months in the making, she said. Surprising finds. Authorities found kilos of shabu and other drug paraphernalia during the

Drugs, cash, appliances found in drug lords’ den inside NBP. Members of the PNP Special Action Force haul away three safes seized from inside a kubol of a drug lord inside the New Bilibid Prison maximum compound in Muntinlupa City on Monday, December 15. Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, along with a company of fully-armed SAF, made a surprise inspection of the jail facility. John Consulta

raid, along with a list of what authorities believe to be drug transactions that happened within prison. But the inspection further yielded surprising finds, including items and facilities that are said to be used only in luxury condominiums. In his reports, GMA News’ John Consulta said that among the items discovered during the inspection were a 48-inch flat TV, split-type aircondition units, a home theater, LCD projectors, and even a jacuzzi. Even when communication is forbidden at the maximum facility, authorities, led by Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, also found cellphones, as well as router and WiFi devices. Some of the drug convicts staying at the “extravagant” units also owned luxury items— from signature eyeglasses to clothes and shoes. Footage from Consulta’s reports showed a shelf of Ray-Ban sunglasses, as well as a small Louis Vuitton case that contained money. Reports said authorities found nearly P2 million in cash in the units, as well as expensive items like Rolex watches. Also discovered during the inspection were kilos of shabu and other drug paraphernalia, along with a list of what authorities believed to be transactions that happened within prison. De Lima noted that firearms, such as pistols, were also found in one of the units. Convicts transferred. Results of the inspection will eventually lead to more charges against the convicts, made up of Chinese nationals, as well as

Filipinos, De Lima said. She added that some of the 20 convicts in question were jailed for violating the anti-drug law, while others were convicted for other cases, and eventually engaged in the drug trade. The drug lords were transferred to an “undisclosed holding facility” while the inspection was still ongoing. De Lima said separating them from other inmates was a “concrete step” they were taking to stop drug-related activities in prison. The convicts were taken to their temporary facility with only their “basic needs” placed inside a “simple” bag. ‘Situation very ugly’. The Justice Secretary said officers and personnel who will be found responsible will also face charges, but refused to disclose specific actions they will be taking because she wants to see the full report from the inspection. “We’ll be declaring that in due time. Ayoko na munang sabihin what’s in my mind at kung anong magiging action ko in my level, anong pwede kong i-recommend sa Pangulo, kasi gusto ko munang makuha ‘yung full report. Partial lang yung nakita ko with my own eyes, apat na kubol. Gusto kong makita yung full inventory ng mga naconfiscate,” she said. De Lima added: “Naging very, very ugly na ‘yung situation. Sabi ko nga, we really need to take very drastic action.” ■ Rose-An Jessica Dioquino / NB, GMA

News / December 15, 2014 / 7:52 PM

Sandiganbayan justices ask to be recused from Jinggoy’s plunder case

En banc deliberation only a formality. Sandiganbayan Executive Clerk of Court Atty. Renato Bocar said the justices of the Sandiganbayan justices would have to meet en banc to deliberate the merits of the motion to inhibit, as well as to discuss the aforementioned “personal reasons” of the three justices. “Magkakaroon pa sila ng isa pang en banc session next year para mapakinggan at matanong yung dalawa pang miyembro ng division kung ano yung personal reasons na tinutukoy nila para maginhibit sila sa kaso ni Sen. Jinggoy Estrada,” Bocar said. “Kanina sa en banc meeting isa lang ang sumipot. At ayaw niyang sabihin yung personal reasons dahil hindi pa siya authorized ng dalawa pang miyembro ng division,” he added.

Bocar indicated that the recusal of an entire division might need to be looked at by the Supreme Court. “Kung sakaling gayahin ito, i-aakyat sa SC para di na maging established na practice,” Bocar said. However, the en banc proceedings would be more of a formality, since Bocar said the Sandiganbayan could not deny the request for inhibition of any justice in the anti-graft court. “Walang authority or power ang Presiding Justice, maski ang buong Sandiganbayan na i-deny ang inhibition ng Justices dahil nasa Rules of Court naman yun na pwedeng mag-inhibit on just and valid grounds,” Bocar said. Re-raffle to other divisions. After the antigraft court finalizes the recusal, Estrada’s case will be re-raffled off to the remaining four divisions of the Sandiganbayan. However, Bocar said it has yet to be determined if the First and Third Divisions, both handling their own respective pork barrel scam cases, will be exempted from the re-raffling. Meanwhile, in a text message, Estrada’s lawyers said they were surprised by the development, and were clueless as to the “personal reasons” mentioned by the justices. “We are very surprised by this development. We have absolutely no idea of the ‘personal reasons’ why they want to inhibit from the case. We wonder why now?” Atty. Alexis Abastillas said. Abastillas added that the timing of the recusal is curious as the court is in the middle of the bail proceedings of Estrada. “After the testimony of [principal whistleblower] Benhur Luy was terminated, they now want to inhibit from this case?” Abastillas added. ■ Patricia

Denise Chiu / NB/KBK, GMA News / December 15, 2014 / 1:03 PM

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JUSTICES of the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division have inhibited themselves from the trial of Senator Jinggoy Estrada “for personal reasons” In a one-page document submitted to Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice Amparo CabotajeTang, Justices Roland Jurado, Alexander Gesmundo and Ma. Theresa Dolores Estoesta requested to be relieved of handling Estrada’s case. “May we request for our recusal in the above indicated criminal cases for personal reasons,” the three justices wrote. Estrada is facing graft and plunder charges for allegedly channeling millions of pesos of his pork barrel allocations to bogus NGOs owned by businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles, in exchange for kickbacks. The Fifth Division is currently hearing his bail petition. It is the first time in the history of the anti-graft court that all three justices of a division asked to be recused from the case it is handling.

the Black Nazarene, the Mayan heritage & shopping for JADE!

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SCOTLAND weekend to Falkirk, Dunblane, etc. 29-31 MAY 2015

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December 2014 / Fortnightly – No. 24 • UK & Europe Edition

JESSICA ZAFRA Lest we forget, again: Maratabat, memory, and Maguindanao IN Maratabat, the first film by journalist Arlyn de la Cruz, one family—Abubakar—rules a fictional yet familiar province in Muslim Mindanao. The father is Governor, the eldest son Congressman, the younger son Mayor. Their power appears to be absolute; they don’t so much govern the province as hold it hostage. Early on the Governor (Julio Diaz, switching between charm and malevolence so fast it makes your head spin) has breakfast with a young relative. All is friendly until the younger man confirms that he intends to run for mayor against the Governor’s son. The Governor casually shoots him in the head and leaves. No witnesses come forward—“It happened so fast.” The most shocking thing about the violence is its casualness: the Abubakars have no qualms or scruples. They think they own the place, including the police and the army. In one scene the Governor not only smokes meth in front of the provincial commander, but has a discussion with the Mayor about where the shabu pipe is. Their sense of entitlement is total; when anyone contradicts them they are offended, as if their toys had been snatched. The citizens want a change in governance, so they approach the head of another prominent family, Ronwaldo Mahardika (Ping Medina), and ask him to run for office. Mahardika hesitates— his family knows the price of going against the Abubakars. After many discussions with his mother (Elizabeth Oropesa), his wife (Chanel La Torre)

and his constituents, he decides that entering politics is the right thing to do. Medina comes across as a decent, reasonable man, perhaps too decent and reasonable—you wish he would lose his temper once, to remind the audience he is human. Naturally the Abubakars are furious that anyone would stand against them, and the violence escalates to an event so horriﬁc, we can hardly believe it could happen. But it did happen. The question on everyone’s mind at the press screening was whether the ﬁlm was based on the Maguindanao massacre. There are similarities, to be sure, but as De la Cruz pointed out, these things happen in the Philippines (though the events of 2009 stand out for the scale of the atrocity). As cinema, Maratabat is problematic. There are too many scenes of characters sitting around and announcing what they intend to do instead of doing it. De la Cruz, a

veteran journalist who has covered Mindanao for two decades, hasn’t decided whether she’s writing a report or making cinema. The movie proposes a religion-based solution to the cycle of conflict, one which strikes us as naïve and unlikely to happen (Fine, we’re cynical). However, her passion for the subject, Mindanao, is never in doubt. This is a story that has to be told, unlike 90 percent of movies which have no real cause to exist other than profit. All too often, reviewers praise Filipino movies for their intentions rather than their execution. Take on an “important” or “relevant” hot-button topic, and wait for the awards. In this case, Maratabat may be our only reminder of recent, maybe ongoing, history. The Maguindanao massacre happened a mere five years ago, but our national memory is short: what gets ten million “dislikes” on Facebook today is completely erased from memory in a month. More than a movie, Maratabat

is a protest against amnesia. * **

How many movies have we seen in which a bitchy, overbearing woman is revealed in the end to be a tenderhearted softie hiding behind a veneer of toughness? Thankfully, Zig Dulay’s M (Mother’s Maiden Name) is not one of those movies. Zsa Zsa Padilla is terrific as Bella, a successful lawyer and single mother who discovers that she has late-stage cancer. “How did that happen?” she asks her doctor. “I eat expensive food. I seldom drink, and only expensive liquor.” Thus she sums up her upper middle-class notion that her lifestyle will protect her from anything really terrible. That’s what she thinks. In M, everyone is vulnerable to illness regardless of socio-economic class; however, money will determine the quality of medical treatment. There are at least two movies in M: a social commentary on the state of health care in the Philippines, and an exploration of the relationship between a mother and her gay son. The first is ripped from the headlines and highly informative, but the second is far more interesting. Bella alternately browbeats, tyrannizes, and coddles her son, Joven—she’s perfectly fine with his being gay, but she despairs at his lack of ambition. As Joven, Nico Antonio is a great foil for Padilla, patiently absorbing her putdowns without coming across as

a wimp. Bella raised him by herself— “Your father loved his country more than me” is how she sums up his absent father—and seems disappointed to have produced such a laid-back child. (There’s nothing laid-back about Bella—her arrival at her own law ﬁrm is greeted like the Mongol invasion.) You could say that Joven’s easygoing attitude is his rebellion against his domineering mother. M turns into a road movie, as Bella’s search for a cure takes her from the oncologists of Singapore to the faith healers of Pangasinan. This gives Dulay the opportunity to dramatize the disparity between medical care for the rich and for the poor. There’s the scene, obligatory in Filipino movies, where the uncaring staff of a hospital refuse to admit a patient without a cash deposit— it gets a new twist, courtesy of Bella’s acid tongue. Bella knows the probability of a cure is tiny, but like a proper lawyer, she does the due diligence. M (Mother’s Maiden Name) and Maratabat will screen at the New Wave (in other words, indie) section of the Metro Manila Film Festival, December 17-24, 2014 at Glorietta in Ayala Center, Makati and Megamall in Mandaluyong. ■ Jessica Zafra / December

15, 2014 / 6:46 PM

Indra obtains unanimous votes in initial stage of Comelec OMR bidding MANILA - Indra Sistemas S.A. has won one round against rival SmartmaticTIM Corp. in the ongoing public bidding conducted by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for optical mark reader (OMR) machines to be used in the 2016 elections. The Comelec Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) has voted “unanimously” in favor of Indra while voting for Smartmatic went 3-2. “We find Smartmatic eligible on the majority vote of 3-2; for Indra, unanimously. We find Indra eligible,” BAC Chair Helen Aguila-Flores declared on Monday.

A report of the Technical Working Group (TWG) of Comelec’s BAC said Indra met the eligibility requirements on tax clearance and Articles of Incorporation. Smartmatic-TIM, on the other hand, lacked a tax clearance certificate. The TWG had earlier ruled that both Indra and Smartmatic-TIM met the minimum requirement for their initial technical proposals. Panel chair Aguila-Flores explained to reporters later that the initial results would no longer matter when the bidding reaches the second stage, when bidders submit their final technical proposals. Flores said the two companies were

both found eligible on that account. “This is a very democratic committee, and each member has the right to vote individually,” she said. The Comelec is bidding out a P2.5-billion contract for the supply of some 23,000 OMR machines, but several groups have petitioned both the Supreme Court and the Comelec to blacklist Smartmatic-TIM Corp., the Venezuelan supplier that dominated the country’s first two automated election systems in the 2010 and 2013 poll exercises. Smartmatic-TIM critics had claimed the Venezuelan firm made gross misrepresentations about its relationship to the Taiwanese manufacturer of the Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machines it leased to Comelec in 2010; as well as with the fact it did not own - it was Canada’s Dominion Voting Systems the software used to run the PCOS. The critics also said the firm failed to deliver on safeguard measures, putting at risk the integrity of the elections. ■ Jet Villa / InterAksyon.com / December 15, 2014

Pinoy detained in UAE for allegedly raping Pinay co-worker —report A Filipino worker in the United Arab Emirates has been detained over allegations he raped his Filipina coworker, an Emirates news site reported Wednesday. The report on Emirates 24/7 said the Filipina, 28, accused the suspect of raping her at their shared labor accommodation in Al Satwa area. Maj. Gen. Khalil Al Mansouri, Director General of Dubai Police Criminal Investigation Division, said the case has been referred to Dubai Public Prosecution for further investigation. Investigation showed the woman was sleeping when the suspect

approached her and raped her. He supposedly put his hands over her mouth to keep her from screaming. She went to the Bur Dubai Police station and reported the incident the next day, noting the suspect was drunk when he raped her. But the suspect denied raping the woman, saying she agreed to have sex with him. For now, he is detained. Al Mansouri reminded communities living in the UAE must consider the Emirates’ cultural and religious values, and stay away from any act that may lead to the crime. ■ Joel Locsin / LBG, GMA News / December 14, 2014 / 11:44 AM

December 2014 / Fortnightly – No. 24 • UK & Europe Edition

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Lima climate talks end with ‘compromise deal’, pledges to fix sticky points toward Paris 2015 LIMA – The climate talks ended on Saturday evening after hours of negotiating marathon, with countries expressing mixed views of satisfaction as well as frustrations over the “weak” outline on the path to reaching a global climate change deal in Paris next year. At the plenary, while bitterly divided government leaders from more than 190 nations expressed their dismay, they agreed to continue to engage in a collaborative way and build mutual trust especially on the issues surrounding finance, differentiation of responsibilities between rich and poor countries, compensating for loss and damage caused by climate change, as well as tackle issues on mitigation through reducing emissions. In 2009, the climate talks in Copenhagen failed to reach a legally binding agreement. Ever since, climate conferences have been held annually in an attempt to hammer out a deal toward Paris 2015, which is hoped to succeed the 1997 Kyoto Protocol. Vulnerable countries for instance, such as the Philippines, Cooks Islands, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Marshall Islands, and other low-lying countries mostly affected by the devastating impacts of climate change, were disappointed in the absence of loss and damage in the negotiation text. Those countries, however, accepted the draft of the agreement in the hope that things can be worked out before the Paris climate deal next year. Loss and damage pertains to those impacts of climate change which cannot be adapted to, and therefore result in economic losses. “Loss and damage should be a standalone element in the Paris outcome. It also believes human rights should figure prominently into the agreement. We therefore, regret the absence of reference to loss and damage in the decision because extreme climate events hitting our country and others year after year, underscore the need for predictable mechanism for recovery and rehabilitation,” the Philippine delegation said. “And human rights because we need inclusivity and ownership of communities of climate actions the world has to undertake, in the same action that strongly advocate for human security.” ‘Loss and damage is a red line’. Dean Tony La Vina of the Ateneo School of Governments, senior adviser and negotiator for the Philippines, explained that indeed the most contentious issues faced by countries during the negotiations are in relation to the elements of “common but differentiated responsibilities,” loss and damage, and the assessment of the “intended nationally determined contributions” in the Paris Agreement. “The Philippines stands with other developing countries on “common but

differentiated responsibilities” as our climate change act mandates that but we think it does not mean any country is excused from doing their part to address climate change according to their capacity,” La Vina said as the negotiations were going on. He stressed that “loss and damage is a red line for us so we will fight hard to keep it in so that it will be institutionalized in the agreement. We support ex-ante assessments of contributions but it must be done in a practical way and respecting national sovereignty.” Asked about the next steps for the Philippines after the Lima climate negotiations, La Vina said that like other countries, the Philippines needs to prepare its contributions to ensure that agreed deadlines are respected in order to reach a successful conclusion in Paris next year. “We need to make sure we have a solid team in the year of negotiations ahead,” La Vina said. “Lima saw us successfully pivot in our alliances and in how we reframed climate justice as more of a human rights rather than a north-south issue. I hope we will be able to sustain our momentum and contribute to a good Paris agreement. Our country needs and deserves that.” Earlier in her speech at the high-level segment of the negotiations, Climate Change Commission Secretary and head of the Philippines delegation Mary Ann Lucille Sering said countries need to provide “a clear, simple, but substantive text that is morally grounded, one that will elevate momentum toward Paris. A balanced, well-structured, and coherent draft text brings hope that finally the world did not just listen to the pains of nature but is finally acting to cure it.” Sering said there is also a need to strengthen the Climate Vulnerable Forum, in which the Philippines leads 20 vulnerable countries, to push for more climate action. “Through this forum, vulnerable countries will strengthen its strategies on how to best share information like center of excellence and expertise in climate change, and identifying potential resources for sharing information,” Sering said. “We hope that countries see the leadership of the Philippines through this forum, seeing us not only on how we are trying to prepare on climate impacts and disasters.” United States Climate Change Envoy Todd Stern, on the other hand, warned delegates that the success of a Paris climate agreement is at stake as failing to produce decision in Lima will be a major breakdown for climate talks. “The hourglass is running out. I want us not to lose sight of what is at stake, as the success of the Lima climate talks is at stake, the Paris deal is at stake, as well as the process under the United Nations is at stake as we approach Paris,” Stern

said. “Let us focus now and let us not throw away what we have achieved.” The US and other rich countries stand by their position that they commit to carbon cuts, but poor nations wanted more mitigation measures that include ﬁnance for adaptation as well as inclusion of the compensation for loss and damage due to climate-disaster events. The sticky issue also holds over the issue of monitoring the scale of those commitments.

Re-labeling overseas aid budgets.

Nicholas Stern, Chair of the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment, said that after the Lima climate talks, all countries must continue to engage in a collaborative way with each other to build mutual conﬁdence. “Rich countries must accept the responsibilities that are associated with their greater wealth and historical contribution to the rise in greenhouse gas levels in the atmosphere. They must help in tackling the effects of climate change that are already with us. And they should also work to create and unlock much greater public and private investments in clean economic growth in the developing countries, and not just re-label overseas aid budgets,” Stern said in a statement. “There is great potential for sustainable and inclusive growth across the world. Investments in clean development hold the key to both managing the risks of climate change and overcoming poverty.” Jennifer Morgan, who is the Global Director, Climate Program, World Resources Institute, on the other hand, said that while more hard work remains, negotiators found common ground on the most pressing issues. She added that this emerging agreement represents a new form of international cooperation. “In the coming months, countries must propose their climate action plans and hammer out the details of the core agreement. Momentum has been growing for global climate action, with the US, China, and EU putting their emissions targets on the table early. Now others countries need to step up to the plate,” Morgan said. In Lima, countries also decided in detail how they will present their national contributions by March 2015 or soon after. “As contributions are put forward, peer pressure will grow for countries to be as transparent and ambitious as possible. World Resources Institute will conduct analysis of country action plans based on their level of transparency, ambition, and equity,” Morgan stressed.

Commitment to reduce emissions.

For most countries, however, the most inspiring development in Lima was an outpouring of support for a longterm effort to reduce emissions. Over a hundred countries now advocate for a long-term mitigation goal. This would send a strong signal that the low-carbon

Delegates arrive for the sessions on COP20 in Lima, Peru, December 2014. File Photo

economy is inevitable. “Support grew for establishing regular cycles to review and strengthen countries’ actions to curb emissions, adapt to climate change and support low-carbon growth. These cycles of improvement are critical to ensure the Paris agreement drives climate action for not years but decades to come,” Morgan added. Progress on the Green Climate Fund was a bright spot, with countries’ exceeding the $10 billion goal for 2014. These funds will jump start a transition to a low-carbon and climate-resilient economy. It will be important to identify additional sources of funding that are on par with the scale of the climate challenge. Despite these climate talks and climate inaction, scientists and scientiﬁc reports have been issuing stark warnings that the global greenhouse gas emissions have kept rising, endangering the planet on track for more warming and climate-related disasters in the years to come. Rajendra Pachauri, chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), called on all countries “not to lose sight of the science” in tackling climate action. “It is absolutely essential that we mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, and the sooner we start doing that the better,” Pachauri said urging countries to shift to low-carbon economy through renewables. Civil society groups angry. Civil society groups have also expressed their disappointments on the outcome of the “weak” Lima climate talks. “Negotiators failed to build on the momentum coming into these talks. Over the past year, hundreds of thousands of people have taken to the streets to demand climate action-millions more will join them in the year ahead. Politicians can either ride that wave, or be swept away by it,” said Jamie Henn, Strategy and Communications Director of 350.org. With the impacts of climate change already being felt in vulnerable communities around the world, Henn said the need for immediate action could not be clearer, and yet rich countries are

still dragging their feet on everything from finance to emissions reductions. Lidy Nacpil, coordinator of Jubilee South Asia Pacific from the Philippines said that, “the concrete demand was to set out how we would increase emission reductions from now until 2020, and set long-term climate targets to make sure we limit temperature increase to below 1.5°C.” “What has happened in Lima is that the world has said it wants to bury its head in the sand and not look at the weak and unjust 2020 climate targets again. Make no mistake, not revisiting our 2020 targets is to set us on track for 4C of warming and risk many more storms like that which hit our homes in the Philippines this week. Lima has failed the people of the world, Paris must not ignore the urgency of the crisis or its agreement will not be worth the paper it is written on.” Mattias Söderberg, co-chair of the ACT Alliance Advisory Group on Climate Change Advocacy, said: “The Lima talks have been clouded by missed opportunities: a missed opportunity to build trust among parties, with now even more division along north south lines; missed opportunities on finance since developed countries were not willing to discuss pre or beyond 2020; and a missed opportunity around ambition, which simply fell off the radar completely.” “We in the Philippines are dying because of climate change. For us the devastating effect of climate change is not in the distant future. We are dying now!” said Gerry Arances, National Coordinator of the Philippine Movement for Climate Justice.” As we speak, another storm will most likely hit the Philippines again. And many will die because of the lack of ambitious climate action.” Arances said his group also demand that developing countries, including the Philippines, do its share based on “fair share of the carbon budget” to stabilize the climate. “It cannot follow the same destructive development path that developed countries have taken. The right to development is not a right to pollute and condemn its people.” ■ Imelda V. Abano / InterAksyon.com / December 15, 2014

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Trucks allowed on Roxas Blvd midnight to 5 a.m. Dec. 17-22; MMDA mounts airport shuttle service MANILA - Heeding a Cabinet request, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) will allow cargo trucks to traverse Roxas Boulevard for a limited period in order to ease ports congestion before Christmas. Starting December 17 to 22, the cargo trucks will be allowed along Roxas Blvd. from 12 midnight until 5 a.m., MMDA chairman Francis Tolentino said on Sunday. “I am going to answer afﬁrmative to the request of Sec. (Jose) Almendras to allow truck operators to utilize once again the truck lanes traversing Roxas Boulevard,” said Tolentino. Almendras had asked the MMDA for a partial easing of an earlier order

banning cargo trucks from the historic boulevard running parallel to Manila Bay, to give way to urgent repair works. The MMDA ban was imposed even though Manila City Hall, the original truck ban proponent, had already designated express truck lanes as part of measures to speed up trafﬁc of container trucks coming in and out of Manila’s ports---where buildup has worsened as Christmas boxes piled up the past many weeks. Shuttle service to airport begins Dec. 15 Meanwhile, starting Monday, the MMDA will begin offering free shuttle to airline passengers going to the airports. The MMDA will deploy six buses,

including electric buses, with runs to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport’s Terminals 2, 3, and 4. The measure is also aimed at reducing the number of vehicles going to the airports, especially peaking in the run-up to Christmas, when hundreds of thousands of Filipinos based abroad come home for reunions; and foreign tourists avoiding cold winters in northern countries also ﬂy in. “Instead of these passengers utilizing their own private cars or cabs to bring them to the airport, they can go as a group by availing themselves of the free airport shuttle service we are providing,” said Tolentino, by way of explaining the shuttle’s rationale.

December 2014 / Fortnightly – No. 24 • UK & Europe Edition

The scene in Manila on Sept. 13, 2014, after the lifting of the daytime truck ban. The MMDA reimposed the ban recently to give way to urgent repairs on Roxas Blvd and in anticipation of major December events; but acceded to a Cabinet request to allow trucks to traverse Roxas Blvd from midnight to 5am, from Dec. 17-22. ©InterAksyon.com File

Tolentino said the South West Integrated Provincial Terminal (SWIPT) in Parañaque City and SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City will be designated as pick-up points. The MMDA Airport Christmas Shuttle service will run until December 23. Airline passengers must show their airline tickets to enjoy the service. “We

are targeting the travelers expected to go to the provinces to spend the holidays,” Tolentino said. The MMDA, with the cooperation of public utility bus operators, had also dispatched similar shuttle services to six major malls along EDSA to provide safe transportation to mall employees and late-night shoppers. ■ Clara Masinag / InterAksyon.com / December 14, 2014

Remains of beheaded OFW buried in Saudi Arabia — Palace

De Lima orders transfer 20 drug lords from NBP to undisclosed facility. Members of the PNP-Special Action Force and more than 100 DOJ agents take part in a large shakedown and inspection inside the maximum compound of New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City on Monday, December 15. Justice Secretary Leila de Lima orders the temporary relocation of 20 drug lords from the NBP to an undisclosed holding facility in Metro Manila after an undetermined amount of illegal drugs and cash were found during the raid. Photo by John Consulta.

De Lima: ‘Heads will roll’ for convicted drug lords’ luxurious lifestyle in Bilibid AFTER leading a surprise inspection of the maximum security compound of the New Bilibid Prison earlier Monday, Department of Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said that those who allowed convicted drug lords to live luxuriously inside the penitentiary are “deﬁnitely” at risk of losing their jobs. “Whenever I asked about the kubols of these so-called privileged few, sasabihin nila, wala na raw ang mga iyon. Matagal na raw na na-dismantle ‘yan. Pero apparently, those are all lies,” the Justice Secretary said in a report on “24 Oras” on Monday. The report also said that Bureau of Corrections Director Franklin Jesus Bucayu asked the help of the DOJ, and that the DOJ planned the raid, which involved the Philippine National Police Special Action Force and 100 agents of the National Bureau of Investigation. ‘Beyond disgusting’. During the inspection, De Lima and the rest of the raiding team discovered luxury items inside the cells.

“It’s beyond disgusting,” De Lima exclaimed during the inspection. The team found a 50-inch flat screen TV, a split-type aircon, a home theater system, an LCD projector, a sauna facility, and a jacuzzi with a TV screen in the cells. One cell even featured a stage with a sound system for live performances. They also discovered expensive shoes, sunglasses, and watches. One of the “kubols” even had sex toys and gadgets inside. Although there are signal jammers inside Bilibid, De Lima and the rest of the raiding team found a router for WiFi connection and loads of cellphones, which might have been used by the inmates for drug-related transactions. Notebooks containing names, calling cards, and records that may be connected to their illegal activities were also found. In one of the cells, a total of P500,000 in cash and a number of firearms were unearthed. The report said that the cell belongs to “big fish” Peter Co.

Given the amount of money found inside the cells, De Lima is not ruling out the possibility of money laundering inside the prison. “Titignan din natin ‘yung aspeto ng money laundering. If these are truly drug money, eh meron ng money laundering diyan. Predicate offense na ngayon ng violation ng Comprehensive Anti-Drugs Act,” she said. After the raid, at least 20 convicted drug lords were transferred to an undisclosed facility. The material possessions the inmates had in Bilibid have been taken from them, leaving them only their “basic needs” placed in a “simple” bag. Drug test. The raiding team also found packets of illegal drugs inside Bilibid’s maximum compound, which prompted the authorities to conduct a random drug test among the inmates. Of the 12 inmates who were tested, two of them tested positive for illegal drug use. ■ Trisha Macas / BM/NB, GMA News December 15, 2014 / 7:51 PM

THE remains of the Filipino beheaded in Saudi Arabia have been buried there in accordance with the Muslim tradition, a Palace official said Sunday. “Bilang isang Muslim at ayon po sa tradisyon ng pananampalataya ng mga kapatid nating Muslim, ang mga labi ni Ginoong Lana ay nailibing na po sa Saudi Arabia, at patuloy pa rin ‘yung paghahatid ng ayuda at tulong sa kanyang pamilya,” Presidential Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said at a press briefing aired over state-run dzRB. The 37-year old Carlito Lana was convicted for killing his employer in 2010. He was beheaded on Friday in Riyadh. Coloma said the family of the murdered employer refused to make an affidavit of forgiveness in exchange for the blood money. “Sa ilalim ng batas na Shari’ah, ang pinakamalapit na kamag-anak ay maaaring magdesisyon hinggil sa pagpapatupad ng hatol na kamatayan o death sentence, o kaya naman magpahiwatig kung sila ay nais na magpatawad at maisalba ‘yung buhay ng hinatulan bilang kapalit nung tinatawag na blood money, at ito po ay kasama sa mga kostumbre at batas ng mga Arabo at ng mga Muslim,” he said Coloma said the government has extended all the support and help Lana needed. “Ang atin pong pamahalaan ay nagbigay ng lahat ng kinakailangan at kinauukulang pagtulong kay Ginoong Lana at tiniyak po na ang kanyang mga karapatang legal ay iginalang at sinuportahan sa buong prosesong panghukuman o judicial process,” he said. Moreover, Coloma said the Philippine Embassy there hired the services of Al Quwaizani law office and other legal consultants which represented Lana in

trials and ensured that his rights were respected and all legal process were followed. The government also facilitated the visit of Lana’s mother in Riyadh where he was jailed. Meanwhile, Palace appealed to Filipinos to follow laws of host countries and to avoid involvement in criminal activities. Coloma said the Foreign Affairs department is also working on other issues faced by Filipinos abroad. “Patuloy na tinututukan ng ating... Department of Foreign Affairs ang kasalukuyang status ng iba’t ibang mga usapin na kinakaharap ng mga mamamayang Pilipino at masinsin pong inaalam kung ano ang mga hakbang na kinakailangan upang sapat na proteksyon ang maibigay sa kanila,” he said.

Most number OFW executions. Militant group, Migrante International, recorded Lana’s death as the sixth execution of an OFW in death row under the present administration. “This is a dark day for migrant Filipinos, especially for those in death row abroad. We call for an investigation on why there have been the most number of executions that pushed through under Pres. Benigno Aquino III’s term,” Garry Martinez, Migrante International chairperson said in a statement dated December 13. The group claimed the present administration has the “most number of [OFW] executions... since the Philippine labor export policy was implemented in the 1970s.” The group said that 123 OFWs remains in death row in different countries. Lana’s execution came five days before December 18, International Migrants’ Day, it added. ■ Kathryn Mae P. Tubadeza with a report from Rouchelle R. Dinglasan / LBG, GMA News / December 14, 2014 / 3:34 PM

December 2014 / Fortnightly – No. 24 • UK & Europe Edition

SPORTS

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FOOTBALL

Azkals bow out of Suzuki Cup after 3-nil semis loss to Thailand

FOR the third straight time, the Philippine national men’s football team fell short of making it to the ﬁnal as Thailand came away with a

FOOTBALL

3-nil victory in the second leg of the ASEAN Football Federation Suzuki Cup semiﬁnals Wednesday night at Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok.

After holding the Thais to a nil-nil draw in the first leg in Manila, the Azkals couldn’t pull off an upset of the Thais in front of a jampacked and hostile crowd as the hosts booked a return trip to the finals after also reaching it in 2012. Apart from failing to surpass their semifinals finish for the third consecutive time, the result also extended the Azkals’ winless drought to Thailand, a team the Filipinos haven’t beaten in 42 years. The Thais controlled the match right from the opening whistle. It didn’t take long for them to get into the scoring column, as Chanathip Songkrasin fired a shot inside the box at the seventh minute for a 1-nil lead. The quick Thais went on to dominate the first half as the Filipinos

were limited to just playing catch-up football with the hosts. Azkals coach Thomas Dooley was also forced to sub out defender Daisuke Sato at the 32nd minute after successive physical plays with the hosts which made him close to being sent off. Midﬁelder Patrick Reichelt replaced Sato at the 32nd minute and made immediate impact right away as he sparked a couple of Azkals attacks. But Thailand remained relentless, almost doubling its lead right before halftime when it missed a shot from point-blank range during a breakaway. The Azkals showed promise early in the second half, with Matrin Steuble almost drilling in a long-range shot. However, Thailand had other ideas, with Kroekrit Thawikan breaking away from the pack for a goal at the

56th minute which defender Simone Rota and goalkeeper Patrick Deyto couldn’t contain. Dooley then went to full attack mode, replacing Rota with scorer Mark Hartmann in an effort to ignite the Azkals offense. But the Filipinos failed to overcome the Thais for the remainder of the match. To add insult to injury, Steuble got a red card after a hard challenge to a Thai player as the Azkals ﬁnished the match with just 10 men. Thawikan sent home a goal at the 85th minute to seal the result for the Thais. The Thais, a three-time Suzuki Cup winner, now await the winner of the other semiﬁnals matchup between Vietnam and Malaysia. ■ InterAksyon.com /

December 10, 2014

UFL clubs Global, Ceres to compete in AFC Cup

TOP Philippine football clubs Global FC and Ceres-La Salle FC are set to see action in the Asian Football Confederation Cup, a second-tier competition for clubs in the continent. The AFC Cup is participated by teams which are considered as “developing” football nations in Asia, with the “mature” of the best ones playing in the flagship AFC Champions League. The AFC this year expanded

participating nations to 41 to open the door for more countries to participate in a high level club competition. That paved the way for the entry of two clubs from the Philippines, classified under “emerging nations” whose own club competition, the AFC President’s Cup, already seeing its last edition this year. In a draw conducted in Malaysia last Thursday, Ceres, champion of the United Football League’s FA Cup, was pitted against Maziya Sports and Recreation of

Maldives in a play-off ahead of the group stages scheduled on February 17. Global, UFL’s League champion, earned entry to the group stages, facing Yadanarbon of Myanmar, South China of Hong Kong and Pahang FA of Malaysia. The tournament is composed of eight groups of four nations each, with the top two advancing to the Round of 16 and playing in a home-and-away roundrobin basis. The group stages will begin in February. ■ InterAksyon.com / December 15, 2014

Pacquiao-Mayweather in Abu Dhabi? UAE group offering $200M purse to host megafight AN investment group based in the United Arab Emirates is pulling out all the stops to make the megafight between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather a reality. Boxing executive M.Akbar Muhammad said that a group of individuals based in Abu Dhabi is offering a combined purse of $200 million to Mayweather and Pacquiao for them to fight in the UAE capital. “The Abu Dhabi group (sic) a most serious and capable investment entity in the spot of boxing,” Muhammad told boxingscene.com. “It is ready, willing and able to fund to the extent necessary to turn the theory of a Mayweather-Pacquiao fight into a reality.” “Thus, my instructions remain the same: do whatever it takes to bring this

MORE SPORTS

Ginebra, Talk ‘N Text dispute last semis slot in winner-take-all match

BARANGAY Ginebra San Miguel and the Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters slug it out for the last semifinals seat as they clash in a do-or-die PBA Philippine Cup quarterfinals showdown Tuesday at SMART-Araneta Coliseum. The Gin Kings and the Tropang Texters face off at 7 p.m. live on TV5, with the winner earning the right to face the San Miguel Beermen in the best-of-seven semifinals. Ginebra and Talk ‘N Text advanced to the knockout phase of the quarterfinals

after successfully dispatching their respective opponents in just one game thanks to their twice-to-beat advantage. The Gin Kings routed GlobalPort, 95-78, while the Tropang Texters dominated Barako Bull, 105-76, last Friday. But there won’t be any incentives this time around, as the two tussle in a winner-take-all match. Ginebra seems to have the edge ahead of their meeting after winning in their first encounter of the season, 101-81, in the opening day last October 19.

Twin towers Greg Slaughter and Japeth Aguilar are leading the Ginebra charge against the smaller Talk ‘N Text frontline which is relying on Rob Reyes, Ranidel De Ocampo, Jay Washington and Kelly Williams who just returned from sickbay. Also expected to provide fireworks is the explosive backcourt matchup between LA Tenorio, Mark Caguioa and Joseph Yeo of the Gin Kings and Jayson Castro, Ryan Reyes, Kevin Alas and Jimmy Alapag of the Tropang Texters. ■ InterAksyon. com / December 15, 2014 / 8:57 PM

long-awaited and eagerly anticipated fight across the line.” From the record purse, $110 million wi ll go to Mayweather, whose company would be tapped as the lead promoter of the event and other future bouts in UAE, according to Muhammad. “We also envision that future fight cards in this part of world, regardless if Mr. Mayweather fights on them or not, will be done with Mayweather Promotions as the lead promoter,” said Muhammad, former Senior Vice President of Top Rank and tasked by the consortium to be a negotiator for bringing the megafight in Abu Dhabi. The bout is targeted to take place in the first half of 2015 to serve as a tribute to the 10th death anniversary of former UAE president Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, Muhammad added.

Apart from offering the recordsetting purse, the investment group needs to convince both fighters that bringing their acts in UAE, one of the largest economies in the Middle East, would be worth it. While Pacquiao had his last three fights in Macau, Mayweather hasn’t fought outside the United States. A megafight between Pacquiao and Mayweather, two of the greatest boxers of their generation, has long been clamored, with the bout projected to set record revenues. But it has always been stalled due to their failure to reach an agreement. Instead, the two have been exchanging jabs on social media in the past few days as clamor for them to fight intensifies. ■ InterAksyon.com / December 5, 2014 / 10:16 PM

sport Pacquiao victory stokes anticipation for new biopic BOXING

Manny Pacquiao reprises famous line when asked about Mayweather fight BOXING

Azkals bow out of UFL clubs Pacquiao-Mayweather Ginebra, Talk ‘N Text ‘HE’S FIGHTCeres ME?’ in Abu Dhabi- UAE dispute last semis Suzuki GOING Cup afterTOGlobal, 3-nil semis loss to to compete in group offering $200M slot in winner-takeall match AFC Cup purse to host megafight Thailand Story on page 39

Story on page 39

Floyd Mayweather says Azkals moveready up in latest to fight Manny he’s FIFA World Rankings after Pacquiao: ‘Let’s do it’ impressive Suzuki Cup Story on page 38

showing

FLOYD Mayweather said on Friday that he’s ready for the long-awaited Story on page 38 megafight with Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao. In an interview on the Showtime network during a fight card his company was promoting, Mayweather said he was Story on page 38 willing to make the fight happen, even suggesting a May 2 date for the bout. “We are ready. Let’s make it happen. May 2. Mayweather versus Manny Pacquiao. Let’s do it,” Mayweather said in the interview. There has been clamor for the megafight since 2009, but concerns Storytesting on page 38 money matters about drug and have made the fight seem unlikely to occur. The undefeated American boxer also said that it was not him that was Story on page 39 ©AFP

Suzuki Cup-Vietnam coach expecting to win vs Azkals San Miguel Beer, Alaska aim to strengthen hold of top two against Meralco, NLEX FIBA bans Japan from international play

keeping the much-anticipated fight from happening and pointed at Top Rank promoter Bob Arum instead. Arum, though, has stated that Mayweather was “smart” and has avoided the fight because Pacquiao poses the biggest threat to his pristine record. The fight is expected to be the richest fight in boxing history, though Mayweather is expected to demand a much larger purse than Pacquiao in the bout. Pacquiao has been calling Mayweather out recently, saying he was ready for the fight after his recent win over Chris Algieri and trading barbs with his rival on Instagram and in a Foot Locker commercial. ■ InterAksyon.com /

AFTER his dominant victory over Chris Algieri on Sunday, Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao was again asked about the possibility of a mega-fight between him and Floyd Mayweather. The eight-division world champion, who scored six knockdowns in the fight against Algieri, responded by reprising his famous line from a recent Foot Locker advertisement that went viral. “He’s going to fight me?” Pacquiao said with a smile. The Filipino fighter turned serious, though, saying that he was “ready” for the fight. “I’m ready. I’m ready to fight next year.” ■ InterAksyon.com / November 23, 2014 / 2:27 PM

December 13, 2014 / 4:16 PM

BASKETBALL

Rain or Shine’s Yeng Guiao all praise for ‘talented’, ‘mature’ Calvin Abueva: ‘Big reason for Alaska’s success’

ALASKA star Calvin ‘The Beast’ Abueva has been enjoying a breakout performance in the ongoing PBA Philippine Cup and it’s not surprised that he’s garnered a lot of attention because of it – including from opposing coach Yeng Guiao of Rain or Shine, the team his Aces will play in the semiﬁnal round. Guiao admired the maturity and focus that Abueva has displayed this season and believes that his new qualities have paid off in a big way for Alaska. “I think before when Calvin was doing things that are unnecessary, hindi lang siya yung parang distracted, pati yung buong team nadi-distract,” Guiao told InterAksyon in a telephone interview. “He has become more matured and he was one of the biggest reasons why Alaska is successful so far. He’s a talented player and he is a hard worker.” Abueva has always been a blue-chip talent in the league, exempliﬁed by his stellar showing in his freshman year two seasons ago where he beat out reigning PBA MVP June Mar Fajardo for Rookie of the Year honors. He averaged 12.3 points, 9.4 rebounds and 1.8 assists back that year. He has been even better this season, though, posting 15.5 points, 12.2 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game in a similar amount of playing time. His rebounding number is

particularly impressive. Despite standing just 6-foot-3, his work on the boards has been nearly on par with 7-foot-tall Greg Slaughter (12.8 rebounds per game) and 6-foot-10 Fajardo (12.7), clocking in as the thirdhighest average in the conference. Guiao believes that the coaching of Alaska’s Alex Compton has been a big factor not only helping Abueva mature as a player but also allowing the former San Sebastian star the opportunity to shine. “I think coach Alex Compton deserves credit for doing such a great job in transforming Abueva,” the Rain or Shine mentor said of his counterpart. Compton not only tamed Abueva’s wilder tendencies – removing his old antics like taunting opponents and opposing fans – he also made the decision to veer away from Alaska’s traditional triangle offense, a choice that has allowed ‘The Beast’ to play to the best of his abilities without compromising the team concept. “I think they’ve realized that Abueva is not suited for the triangle offense, that’s why Coach Alex and his staff worked on a system that will make Abueva more efﬁcient, like the one they’ve been doing now,” Guiao said. “They’ve been pressing a lot, they’ve been more aggressive on the defensive end and they’ve become deeper in the rotation.” Guiao believes that Abueva has become someone that any player or

coach would want on their own side. “With the way he’s playing now, sa tingin ko, every player or any team wants to have him while on the other hand ayaw mo naman siyang kalaban,” he said. He said that he has no plans on making a move to try to acquire Abueva, though, saying that Rain or Shine’s chemistry, something that has been worked on for several seasons, is foremost for him. “I’m not interested in getting him not because I don’t want him, but because I don’t want to disrupt my team’s chemistry,” Guiao added. ■ Rey

Joble / InterAksyon.com / December 15, 2014

Alaska’s Calvin Abueva impressing teammate Tony Dela Cruz with newfound maturity, leadership

BASKETBALL

GONE are the days when you see Alaska star Calvin Abueva mocking opponents, staring down rivals and cherishing the ire of opposing fans. Make way for Abueva 2.0 – a more mature player that is blossoming as a leader for the Aces. “I like the team’s maturity, but if there’s one guy who impressed me a lot in terms of maturity, it’s Calvin Abueva,” Alaska team captain Tony Dela Cruz told InterAksyon.com in a telephone interview. According to Dela Cruz, the former San Sebastian star has become a vastly different player under Alaska coach Alex Compton.

“Coach Alex did an amazing job transforming him,” said Dela Cruz. “I think Calvin realized as well that if he continues to be the villain on the court, he will be the target of every player, every team and even the fans.” “Don’t get me wrong, Calvin is a nice guy off the court, but inside the court, he had that previous reputation as the villain. He’s a changed man, he’s a more mature person.” Dela Cruz named instances where Abueva displayed some flashes of being a leader, something that has helped Alaska immensely. “He’s also developed leadership. Several times he would talk to me and

share to me how we should do our scheme of things and that amazed me,” he added. “I love playing for him because he’s not only a talented player, but he has also developed leadership qualities.” Abueva said in a previous interview that his maturity has something to do with the change of philosophy in the team and the change of team leadership. “Siguro dahil ito sa coaching staff, tapos iba na rin yung coach namin,” said Abueva. “Tsaka binibigyan nila kami lahat ng kumpiyansa, naka-focus ka. Hindi ka na puwedeng mag-extra motion pa kaya yun ang ginagawa ko ngayon.” ■ Rey Joble / InterAksyon.com / December 15, 2014