July 2012 monthly issue

HELLO PHILIPPINES Connecting Global News & Views For The Community

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July 2012

INSIDE

Business & Finance • Celebrity, Showbiz & Entertainment • Economy • Events Diary • Global News • HP News • International News • OFW News • Social Issues • Special Report • Spotlight

Volume 3 - Number 12

THE Philippines may ask the United States to send spy planes to help it monitor a disputed area in the South China Sea, a presidential spokesman said Monday, July 2 in a move that could deepen tensions with China.

The move to request P3C Orion spy planes would first require the approval of President Benigno Aquino’s top defence advisers, Ramon Carandang said.

The request “is a possibility as a way to enhance our monitoring capabilities,” Carandang told AFP. “But definitely, this is just for monitoring and surveillance purposes.”

The statement comes two weeks after Aquino withdrew a coast guard ship and a fisheries bureau boat that were engaged in a tense stand-off with Chinese ships in Scarborough Shoal, a group of rocky outcrops in the South China Sea. The shoal sits about 230 kilometres (140 miles) from the

©AFP/File/Indranil Mukherjee

US Navy personnel sit under a P3C Orion Maritime Surveillance aircraft in 2005.

western coast of the Philippines’ main island of Luzon. The nearest major Chinese land mass is 1,200 kilometres northwest of the shoal, according to Philippine navy maps.

China had welcomed the pull-out, and reciprocated by removing its boats in the area, though both sides have said there was no accord to permanently abandon the area.

Carandang said the request for US spy planes should not be viewed

by China as a form of aggression, and sought to downplay fears it could re-ignite tensions in the area.

“It is not inconsistent with our policy to de-escalate tensions in the area. First of all, it is only for surveillance and there is no armed component” to the request, he said.

US State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland refused to comment specifically but said that “as part of our longstanding cooperation, the United States supports the Philippines in enhancing its maritime awareness”.

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©AFP/File/Jay Directo

President Benigno Aquino

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Chinese embassy officials were not immediately available for comment, but Beijing has in the past repeatedly warned against US involvement in the dispute.

Last week, China said it would oppose any military provocation in the South China Sea, which it called its “indisputable territory”.

That warning was apparently directed at the US, which had recently launched major naval exercises in Hawaii involving 22 nations.

The Scarborough Shoal dispute began after Chinese government vessels blocked Philippine ships from arresting Chinese fishermen near the shoal on April 10.

Since then, both countries have maintained ships there to press their respective claims to the area.

China claims nearly all of the South China Sea, even waters close to the coasts of neighbouring countries. The Philippines says the shoal is well within its 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone. ■ (©AFP – Manila, Philippines – July 2, 2012)

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Global & Social Issues

July 2012 – No. 12 • UK & Europe Edition

As eurozone crisis bites, jobless rate hits record 11.1%

THE eurozone debt crisis delivered more bad news on Monday, July 2 with data showing a record high unemployment rate of 11.1 percent and the manufacturing outlook at the lowest levels for three years.

Unemployment hit its highest rate since the eurozone was created in 1999 and analysts warned job queues would likely continue to lengthen in coming months.

More than 17.5 million people were jobless in the 17-nation single currency area in May, as 88,000 more men and women lined up for work. Spain was the hardest hit with almost one in four unemployed, according to Eurostat data agency.

Youth unemployment again surged, with 3.4 million people under 25 looking for work, an increase of 254,000 from 12 months earlier.

“It was of little real comfort that May’s rise in unemployment

was actually the smallest for 11 months,” said economist Howard Archer of IHS Global Insight.

A key survey meanwhile showed manufacturing activity remaining at its lowest level since the summer of 2009, with the second quarter registering the biggest contraction for three years.

“We fear that the ‘growth pact’ agreed by EU leaders last week will not be enough to foster a sustained recovery – and that more is likely to be needed, starting with an ECB rate cut on Thursday,” said Martin van Vliet of ING. European Union leaders agreed at the summit on Thursday, June 28 and Friday, June 29 on growth measures to offset austerity reforms imposed on debt and deficit sinners that some say have choked struggling economies.

Van Vliet said the pace of reform should be slowed if politically feasible.

Both the employment data and bleak manufacturing PMI figures

©AFP/File/Noel Celis

A Filipino nurse injects an infant with a vaccine in Manila. Philippine President Benigno Aquino said Monday, July 2 the government would vaccinate 700,000 babies this year to protect them from a virus that causes diarrhoea, a killer disease ravaging poor communities.

Philippines to vaccinate 700,000 babies PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino said Monday, July 2 the government would vaccinate 700,000 babies this year to protect them from a virus that causes diarrhoea, a killer disease ravaging poor communities.

While diarrhoea is a preventable disease, Aquino said health authorities had struggled to stop outbreaks from happening with many poor communities having no access to basic medical care.

“In the Philippines alone, thousands of children suffer from diarrhoea each year, with over 3,500 cases leading to death,” Aquino said.

released on Monday raised “the risk of eurozone unemployment reaching 12 percent,” he said.

At 11 percent in March and April, the unemployment rate in the eurozone has remained above 10 percent for 13 months as the bloc struggles to revive economies contaminated by a debt crisis now in its third year and threatening large members, Spain and Italy.

In the wider 27-nation European Union, unemployment rose to 10.3 percent against 10.2 in April, the same level as in March. About 24.86 million men and women were jobless in the EU as unemployment increased by 151,000 people.

Spain recorded again the worst unemployment rate at 24.6 percent, with more than one in two people under 25 without work.

Greece was next at 21.9 percent in March, the latest available figures for that country, followed by Latvia at 15.3 percent in the first quarter and Portugal at 15.2 percent in May.

Austria has the lowest rate at 4.1 percent, followed by the Netherlands at 5.1 percent, Luxembourg at 5.4 percent and Germany at 5.6 percent.

The Purchasing Managers Index (PMI), a survey of 3,000 manufacturers compiled by Markit research firm, remained unchanged in June from May at 45.1 points, from 45.9 in April.

That showed the largest rate of decline in manufacturing in the second quarter since the same quarter of 2009.

The survey is an important leading indicator of activity.

“Companies are clearly preparing for worse to come, cutting back both on staff numbers and stocks of raw materials at the fastest rates for two-and-a-half years,” said Markit economist Chris Williamson.

Ireland, however, proved an exception in gloom, registering a 14-month high figure of 53.1 in the pace of manufacturing expansion.

Powerhouse Germany on the

other hand saw its steepest decline in three years to 45.0 points, its fourth successive monthly fall.

Sharper rates of contraction were also signalled in Italy and Spain, Greece fell to the bottom of the table, Austria teetered just above stagnation and the Netherlands and France slow slight decelerations.

“With the eurozone likely having suffered appreciable GDP contraction in the second quarter and in grave danger of contracting again in the third, and with eurozone business confidence generally low and fragile, the likelihood is that the eurozone unemployment rate will move significantly higher over the coming months,” Archer added.

“Indeed, it now looks odds-on that the eurozone unemployment rate will reach 11.5% by the end of the year, although the situation will vary markedly between countries.” ■ (©AFP – Brussels, Belgium

WORLDWIDE cases of cancer are likely to rise by nearly 75 percent by 2030, driven by demographic and lifestyle factors, according to a study published on Friday, June 1 in the journal The Lancet Oncology.

A team led by Freddie Bray of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) in Lyon, France, said that in 2008 there were 12.7 million new cases of cancer, which would rise to 22.2 million by 2030, with 90 percent of the rise occurring in the poorest countries.

In many countries, falls in cancers linked to infection have

been offset by cancers of the colon, rectum, breast and prostate which are associated with a “westernised” diet, they said.

The study used data from GLOBOCAN, an IARC database of cancer cases in 184 countries.

In 2008, breast, lung, colorectal and prostate cancers accounted for half of the tally of cancers in rich countries. In middleincome countries, cancers of the oesophagus, stomach and liver were relatively more common.

Both categories of countries have seen falls in cervical and stomach cancer in recent years.

In the poorest countries,

cervical cancer was particularly numerous, outstripping the cases of breast and liver cancer.

“If the cancer-specific and sexspecific trends estimated in this study continue, we predict an increase in the incidence of allcancer cases from 12.7 million new cases in 2008 to 22.2 million by 2030,” said the study.

“Targeted interventions can lead to a decrease in the projected increase... through effective primary prevention strategies, alongside the implementation of vaccination, early detection and effective treatment programmes.”

– July 2, 2012)

World cancer cases to rise by 75 percent by 2030

■ (©AFP – June 1, 2012)

©AFP/Illustration, Philippe Huguen

“For this year, 700,000 infants from families listed in our national household targeting system will be vaccinated,” he said.

He said the vaccines would address infections from rotavirus, the most common cause of severe diarrhoea in babies and children aged five and below.

According to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), diarrhoea is the third leading cause of child illness and the fourth leading cause of deaths among children less than five years in the Philippines. ■ (©AFP – Manila, Philippines – July 2, 2012)

Worldwide cases of cancer are likely to rise by nearly 75 percent by 2030.

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Special Report

July 2012 – No. 12 • UK & Europe Edition

Philippines rice terraces off endangered list: UN PHILIPPINES

THE Philippines’ ancient rice terraces, carved into mountains like giant green stairs, have been removed from a UN list of endangered world heritage sites, the UN office in Manila said Wednesday, June 27.

The 2,000-year-old living cultural monuments were put on the World Heritage Committee’s danger list in 2000 at the Philippine government’s request to rally local and international aid, and for better management of their preservation.

“Both actions were successfully undertaken, leading to the conservation of the remote high rice fields,” the UN information office said in a statement.

The UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) said it had extended $153,200 to aid Philippine efforts to conserve paddies it said were threatened by deforestation, disuse, climate change and earthquakes.

The terraces, located in five towns in the northern Cordilleras, were named as a UNESCO world heritage site in 1995, citing the need to preserve the traditions of

terrace-building peoples in Ifugao province.

Jerry Dalipog, mayor of Banaue town, where two of the five terraced fields are located, said UN-assisted conservation efforts should drive tourist traffic to the sites by up to 30 percent.

“Once the tourists are convinced that there are still terraces left to see, more of them will come and visit us,” he told AFP in a telephone interview.

He said Banaue is set to complete by year’s end a four-month project to repair amphitheatre-shaped rice terraces in the village of Batad, one of the most famous sites that had been disfigured last year by a huge landslide.

The repair works, estimated to cost 50 million pesos ($1.18 million), are being funded by the government and private donors, Dalipog added.

UNESCO describes the terraces as an “expression of sacred traditions and a delicate social balance,” which have helped create “a landscape of great beauty that expresses the harmony between humankind and the environment.”

■ (©AFP – June 27, 2012)

©AFP/File

Hikers walking past terraced rice paddies in the town of Banaue, Ifugao province, in Northern Luzon, Philippines. ©AFP/File/Jay Directo

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International News

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July 2012 – No. 12 • UK & Europe Edition

China vows to oppose military provocation

China views the South China Sea as part of its “indisputable territory”.

CHINA said Thursday, June 28 it would resolutely oppose any military provocation in its territorial waters, remarks which appeared to be directed at the United States, Vietnam and the Philippines.

China’s military has established routine naval patrols in the South China Sea, “indisputable territory” of the nation and a matter of “national sovereignty,” defence ministry spokesman Geng Yansheng said.

“We will resolutely oppose any military provocations,” Geng said in statements posted on his ministry’s website.

“The determination and will of China’s military to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity is unwavering.”

Geng’s remarks came as the United States launched the largest-ever “Rim of the Pacific” naval exercises in Hawaii, involving 22 nations, including the US, India, Russia, Australia and the Philippines.

China was not invited to participate or observe the exercises.

Tensions in the South China Sea have intensified recently with Vietnam and the Philippines both accusing China of increasingly flexing its military muscle in the region, despite a pledge from all claimants to avoid actions that could further stoke tensions.

Both the Philippines and Vietnam have also sought to shore up relations with the United States to counter China’s increasingly vocal assertions over the region that also includes key international shipping routes.

Geng downplayed the USsponsored multi-national military exercises, but voiced concerns over Washington’s recent announcement to deploy more of its naval forces to the Pacific Ocean.

“Frankly speaking, we do not believe that this (the multilateral exercises) is such a big matter and it is not worth being upset about,” Geng, who was speaking at a press briefing that was only open to Chinese journalists, said.

But “deploying more military forces in the Asia-Pacific goes against the world’s pursuit

of peace, development and cooperation, as well as trust among nations in the region,” he said.

The Philippines said Thursday it was committed to “defuse the tension” with China over a disputed shoal, despite the continued presence of Chinese ships in the area.

“While we continue to assert our sovereignty over (the shoal) and sovereign rights over the waters surrounding it, we are committed to defusing the tension in the area through diplomatic discussions and consultations,” Department of Foreign Affairs Raul Hernandez said in a statement.

“We urge everyone to refrain from making statements that would tend to re-escalate the situation in the area,” the statement added.

China says it has sovereign rights to the whole South China Sea, believed to sit atop vast oil and gas deposits. The sea is also claimed in whole or part

by Taiwan, Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia, and the Philippines. ■ (©AFP – Beijing, China – June 28, 2012)

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Events Diary

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DATE / TIME

EVENT

VENUE

July 2012 – No. 12 • UK & Europe Edition

ORGANISER

CONTACTS / REMARKS

2 November 2011 to 31 October 2012

Filing of Applications for Registration / Certification and Transfer of Registration Records

Philippine Embassy, 6 Suffolk Street, London SW1Y 4HG

Philippine Embassy, London, United Kingdom

For purposes of the May 13, 2013 elections, the filing of applications for registration / certification and transfer of registration records will resume at the Philippine Embassy.

30 June & 1 July 2012 – Saturday & Sunday 9:00am to 6:00pm

28th Barrio Fiesta sa London 2012

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

ABS-CBN Europe Limited in cooperation with The Philippine Centre

Event Coordinator 07577 813 104 / londonbarriofiesta@yahoo.com

8 July 2012 – Sunday 8:00am to 6:00pm

Bradford Pinoy Barrio Fiesta and Santacruzan 2012

Lady Hill Park, Allerton Road, Bradford BD15 7TS

British-Filipino Association of Bradford

Nina Ricci Santos, Chairman bfabmail@yahoo.com / 07780 076 256 / Lorrie 07597 135 617

27 May to 14 July 2012

Global Run: Takbong Alay sa Pilipino at sa Buong Mundo

27 to 29 May – Finland Leg 30 May to 9 June – Sweden Leg 10 to 11 June – Denmark Leg 12 to 14 June – Sweden Leg 15 to 27 June – Norway Leg 28 June to 14 July – Britain Leg

Mr Cesar Guarin, 56 years old, and first Filipino global runner and Father of Ultra Marathon in the Philippines, will run a 2,262 km ultra marathon from Helsinki to London starting on 27 May up to 14 July 2012. This run is the 6th stage of his 43,258 km global run in 42 countries across the world.

Global Run would like to get in touch with the Filipino communities in the following areas where Mr Cesar Guarin and his team will pass: 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

Edinburgh Glasgow Manchester Bradford Liverpool Birmingham Cardiff Bristol

9. Swindon 10. Oxford 11. London 12. Brighton 13. Mitcham 14. Milton Keynes 15. East Grinstead

End point in London will be at a venue near the London Olympic Stadium. The Global Run Team will be in London area for 10 days to fellowship with kababayans before their departure for the Philippines.

14 July 2012 – Saturday 8:30am to 6:00pm

Barangay Kabisig Summer Fun Day

Hewitts Farm, Court Road, Orpington, Kent BR6 0BX

Kabisig Bromley

21 & 22 July 2012 – Saturday & Sunday

1st Worcestershire Barrio Fiesta 2012

Perdiswell Leisure Centre & Football Ground, Bilford Road, Worcester WR3 8DX St Andrew’s United Reformed Church Hall, Frognal Lane, London NW3 2DS

Worcestershire Filipino International Edwin Vargas, President 01905 352 092 / 07889 947 112 Community (WFIC)

22 and 29 July 2012 – Sundays Kunday Kunday (Movement) 5, 12, 19 and 26 August 2012 – Sundays Six Weeks Summer Workshop 4 August 2012 – Saturday 1st Barrio Fiesta in Sussex 2012 – 8:00am to 8:00pm Party at the Beach!!!

Bring gazebo and food to share. Entrance fee: £5.00 per car and £2.00 walk-in

Lahing Kayumanggi Dance Company

Mae Williams 07921 263 993 / info@philippinegenerations.org / www.philippinegenerations.org

Lancing Beach Green, West Sussex BN15 8RA

KMF Production & Pimoymart Store

Ron Albano 07827 965 478

5 August 2012 – Sunday 9:00am to 8:00pm

Town Fiesta in Swansea 2012

Brangwyn Hall, Swansea

Star Dragon Events UK Limited and Filipino Community in Wales

stardragon2012@yahoo.co.uk / filipinoswales2005@yahoo.co.uk

18 August 2012 – Saturday

1st Orpington Barrio Fiesta 2012

Hewitts Farm, Court Road, Orpington, Kent BR6 0BX

Orpington Filipino-British Association

orpington_fba07@yahoo.co.uk

18 August 2012 - Saturday

1st Barrio Fiesta sa Colchester 2012

Lower Castle Park of the famous Roman Castle Park in Colchester

Filipino British Cooperative Society

Allan Etrata 07774 646 926

18 August 2012 – Saturday 7:30pm

“God Will Make A Way” featuring Don Moen

Kensington Great Hall, Hornton Street, Kensington, London W8 7NX

JCCM

Edith 07411 950 204 / Kenneth 07412 576 486 / Helen 07552 491 507 / jccmchurch@yahoo.co.uk / admin@jesuschristcitymission.co.uk / Ticket Prices: £35.00 / £45.00 / £60.00

27 August 2012 – Monday 4:00pm to 10:00pm

Dinner & Dance Party

Indian YMCA Student Hostel, London W1T 6AQ

Dumangas-London Association

Mr Harold Gonzaga 020 8274 1531

28 August 2012 – Friday

Ai Ai Got More Talent

O2 Apollo Manchester

Star Global and Management Limited

07775 441 369 / 07876 508 835 / 07786 950 323

29 August 2012 – Saturday 11:00am

Ginebra na UK Tour 2012

Kelvin Hall, Argyle Street, Glasgow G3 8AW

QS Life London

Bong Palmares 07766 057 000

29 August 2012 – Saturday

Ai Ai Got More Talent

Newport Centre South Wales

Star Global and Management Limited

07775 441 369 / 07876 508 835 / 07786 950 323

30 August 2012 – Sunday 11:00am

Ginebra na UK Tour 2012

Loughborough, Sports Hall, Leicester LE11 3TU

QS Life London

Bong Palmares 07766 057 000

30 August 2012 – Sunday

Ai Ai Got More Talent

Troxy London

Star Global and Management Limited

07775 441 369 / 07876 508 835 / 07786 950 323

17 November 2012 – Saturday

Eat Bulaga! Live in London, United Kingdom

ExCel London, ICC Auditorium, One Western Gateway, Royal Victoria Dock, London E16 1XL

OSN and Hello Philippines

Hello Philippines TV Connect 020 3174 1894 / 07553 767 059 / hptvconnect@hello-philippines.com / www.hptvconnect.com / www.hellophilippines.com / Ticket Prices: £35.00 / £45.00 / £55.00 / £65.00 / £75.00 Premium / £85.00 VIP

23 November to 1 December 2012

Okay Fine, Todo Na’To! – Ms Rufa Mae Quinto

23 November – Port Talbot 24 November – Swindon 25 November – Newcastle 30 November – Belfast 1 December - Sussex

Star Dragon Events UK Limited

Port Talbot 07769 273 618 / Swindon 07897 753 064 / Newcastle 07886 742 417 / Belfast 07850 151 678 / Sussex 07827 965 478

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FREE LISTING of your events on the Hello Philippines newspaper and if you know of any Events do not hesitate to contact us. Please kindly contact us and submit your event via email or text to the following at info@hello-philippines.com / 07989 403 904.

DISCLAIMER: The Events Diary Listing does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favouring by Hello Philippines newspaper. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of Hello Philippines newspaper. This is merely an Events Diary Listing of what is happening within the Filipino Communities in Europe. This is for general information only.

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ECONOMY / Business & Finance

July 2012 – No. 12 • UK & Europe Edition

Budget deficit shoots up Australia’s Packer, Macau’s Ho in Manila casino talks PHILIPPINES

THE Philippines’ budget deficit soared in May, the government said on Tuesday, but a senior economic official insisted there was still room to pursue higher spending to sustain economic growth.

The government spent 19.90 billion pesos ($468.31 million) more than it earned in May, Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima said in a statement.

He insisted the deficit was manageable, expressing confidence the full-year fund shortfall would stay within 2.6 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP), or 279 billion pesos.

“We are pleased with the continued rise in revenue collections, especially since this allows us to pursue our spending programme for the year while making sure that our fiscal position remains under control,” Purisima said.

“The wide fiscal space will now give us an advantage to finance infrastructure projects and social programmes that shall in the long term curb poverty and promote equality.”

The January-May deficit reached 22.79 billion pesos,

©AFP/Photo File/JAY DIRECTO

Philippine Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima gestures during a press conference at the Department of Finance office in Manila on July 8, 2010. As part of a plan to crackdown on smugglers and tax evaders, Cesar Purisima said he was imposing a quota for the agencies to file one criminal case a week against a smuggler or tax evader to show how serious their programme was.

well within the government’s self-imposed first-half ceiling of 109.34 billion pesos.

The government said it spent 668.43 billion pesos in the first five months of the year, up 13.1 percent compared to the same period last year.

Over the same period, revenues reached 645.64 billion pesos.

For May, revenue grew 9.4 percent to 131.40 billion pesos, while spending reached 151.30 billion pesos.

Purisima said the government remains committed to reaching its 5.0-6.0 percent growth target this year, having recorded 6.4 percent expansion in the first three months.

The Philippines suffered a 197.8 billion-peso budget deficit last year, equivalent to 2.0 percent of GDP. Officials have said the government will step up its spending this year in order to spur growth. ■ (©AFP – Manila, Philippines – June 25, 2012)

THE Philippines’ richest family said on Wednesday, June 27 it was in talks with Australian billionaire James Packer and Macau gambling tycoon Lawrence Ho to develop a $1-billion casino in Manila.

SM Investments Corp, which is controlled by the Henry Sy family, confirmed an Australian media report that the casino plan was being discussed, but said no deal had yet been agreed.

“These are just talks for now.

Nothing is final,” Cora Guidote, senior vice president of SM Investments Corp, told AFP. The Australian Financial Review reported that Packer and Ho, through their joint venture casino operator Melco Crown Entertainment, would enter into an equal joint venture with Henry Sy Jr. Lawrence Ho is the son of gaming mogul Stanley Ho. The casino would form part of a huge gambling development, which the government hopes will turn the Philippine capital into the world’s number-two gaming destination ahead of Singapore and Las Vegas, and behind only Macau.

Despite Guidote’s insistence

©AFP/File, Torsten Blackwood

File photo of one of Australia’s richest men, casino and gaming tycoon James Packer, seen here, and Macau’s Lawrence Ho about a casino.

that no deal was imminent, the Review said that Packer and Ho flew to Manila on Tuesday to sign the deal that could be announced as early as this week.

Sy’s SM group holds one of four licences handed out by the Philippine government to build a casino worth at least $1 billion each at a site on Manila Bay called Entertainment City.

Gaming regulator Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. has also granted licences to Malaysia’s Genting Group, which already runs Manila’s largest casino, Bloomberry Resorts Corp., and another casino backed

by Japanese gaming equipment supplier Kazuo Okada.

The regulator was unavailable for comment Wednesday. ■ (©AFP – Manila, Philippines – June 27, 2012)

Contact Details: Jolly Li | 9 Holborn, London, EC1N 2LL, United Kingdom Tel: +44 (0) 20 3005 6135 | Mobile: 07538 344 631 | Email: courseinfo@lsbf.org.uk Fax: +44 (0) 20 7823 2302 | Website: www.lsbf.org.uk

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HP News / BUSINESS & FINANCE

July 2012 – No. 12 • UK & Europe Edition

Philippines seizes illegal China-bound ore ©AFP/File, Romeo Gacad

A legal iron ore milling plant in the Philippines.

PHILIPPINE authorities said Thursday, June 21 they had seized a huge amount of iron ore intended to be smuggled to China, as part of a long-running battle against illegal miners.

The 50,000 tonnes of iron ore, believed to be worth more than $2 million, were found stockpiled near a private wharf at a coastal mining town in the eastern province of Camarines Norte, mines bureau head Leo Jasareno said.

“A cargo ship was seen anchored at a distance, and it was believed to be waiting for the ore to be loaded when the raid happened,” Jasareno told AFP. “The shipment was supposed to go to China and they were clearly intending to smuggle it out.”

Jasareno said the ore was extracted illegally because the mining companies involved did not have a mineral export permit, adding one was suspected to be a front for a Chinese firm.

Initial estimates by the bureau’s experts placed the shipment’s value at $50 per metric tonne, or $2.5 million, he added.

The Chamber of Mines of the Philippines last year warned of Chinese companies using Filipino fronts to take advantage of a law reserving small-scale mining for locals.

The seizure last week came four months after the government deported eight Chinese nationals caught working illegally for a mining firm. More than 100 other Chinese

have been detained for similar offences over the past two years.

In 2010, a diplomatic row broke out between Manila and Beijing after police detained but eventually freed 80 Chinese found working illegally at a mine site on the main island of Luzon.

The Philippines is believed to have some of the biggest mineral reserves in the world. The government estimates the country has at least $840 billion in gold, copper, nickel, chromite, manganese, silver and iron.

But the mining industry remains relatively small because of laws that discourage investment and a very strong anti-mining lobby led partly by the influential Catholic Church. ■ (©AFP – Manila, Philippines – June 21, 2012)

Guinness says Philippine croc worlds largest

A saltwater crocodile weighing more than a tonne and suspected of killing two people in the Philippines has been declared the largest such reptile in captivity by the Guinness Book of World Records.

The 6.17-metre (20.24-foot) male, nicknamed “Lolong”, was captured in the Agusan marsh on the southern island of Mindanao last September after a two-year search following the killing of a girl and the disappearance of a fisherman.

“The largest crocodile in captivity is Lolong, a saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus), who measured 6.17 m,” Guinness said on its website.

“Lolong’s weight was also measured at a nearby truck weighbridge and verified as approximately 1,075 kg (2,370 lbs).”

Welinda Asis Elorde, media affairs coordinator for the town of Bunawan, which has custody of the new record-holder, said Monday the local government had received an official certification from Guinness.

“He’s doing well. I think he has already adapted to his new environment,” Elorde told AFP by telephone.

At first, Lolong was fed the equivalent of 10 percent of his body weight in beef, pork and poultry every month, but an expert put him on a diet of eight to 10 kilograms a

week to get him to be more active, she added.

The expert also recommended that the meat be given with skin and feathers attached, to help digestion.

“I was there (at the crocodile park where Lolong is kept) yesterday and he remains a big tourist attraction.

Hundreds of people visit him in a day,” Elorde added.

The Guinness record was previously held by Cassius, a 5.48-metre Australian saltwater crocodile weighing close to a tonne.

Cassius has been kept at a crocodile park at an island off Queensland since his capture in the Northern Territory in 1984. ■ (©AFP – July 1, 2012)

©AFP/File, Jay Directo

File photo taken in September 2011 shows the saltwater crocodile called “Lolong”, which was captured in the Agusan marsh on the island of Mindanao last September. Lolong has been declared the largest such reptile in captivity by the Guinness Book of World Records.

Britain introduces round-the-clock weddings

COUPLES in England will be able to get married at any time of night or day from October 2012, officials announced Sunday, July 1.

Marriages in England and Wales are currently banned outside the hours of 8:00 am and 6:00 pm, under rules dating back to 1837. ©AFP/File/Stan Honda

Couples in England will be able to get married at any time of night or day.

The change opens up the possibility of dawn ceremonies or midnight marriages at historic venues that are only open to the public during the day.

The new rules will also apply to civil partnerships for homosexual couples.

However, 15 days’ notice will still be required and local authorities and religious groups will not be forced to conduct marriages at unusual hours.

“Marriage and civil partnerships are something very personal to every couple that chooses to undertake them,” said Sarah Rapson, the Registrar General for England and Wales.

“This change will allow people to make their day unique to them.”

There are no restrictions on wedding times in Scotland, while Northern Ireland retains the traditional hours. ■ (©AFP – London, United Kingdom – July 1, 2012)

©AFP/File/Jay Directo

Workers assemble a car in the Ford plant near Manila.

Ford to close Philippine assembly plant US auto giant Ford said Wednesday, June 27 it is to close its vehicle assembly plant in the Philippines by the end of the year, with the loss of 360 jobs, as part of an ongoing restructuring across Asia.

The decision will leave the country without a motor vehicle exporter, Ford Group Philippines president Randy Krieger said in a statement.

“This is a very difficult decision.

The company studied every

possible scenario and opportunity, but we could not make a strong enough business case for future manufacturing,” he added.

The company said it had exported more than 80,000 vehicles worth $1 billion over to Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia since 2002.

Ford invested $270 million in the 36,000 vehicles per year factory in Santa Rosa, south of Manila that opened in 1999. ■ (©AFP – Manila, Philippines – June 27, 2012)

Youth bag first place in worldwide ILO Video Contest

YOUTH took top honors in a recent worldwide video contest organized by the International Labor Organization (ILO).

The Pinoy Team consisting of law students Mr. Alfonso Orioste, Jr., Ms. Janeca Naboya and Mr. Gian Carlo Miranda bested hundreds of other entries from around the world and was awarded during the ILO’s Youth Employment Forum held in Geneva on May 23 to 25.

ILO launched the video contest in March 2012, with the theme “Decent Work for Youth” for individuals or groups ages 18-29 years old to reflect how the global economic crisis has affected lives of the youth.

Their video entitled, “Listen to my

Story,” focuses on the plight of Janet who having trained and studied to be a teacher in the Philippines is forced by circumstance to seek employment as a domestic worker in the Middle East. It may be viewed at http://www.youtube. com/watch?v=4qEIXuMCALE. Orioste, Naboya and Miranda are currently students of the law schools of San Beda College, Lyceum of the Philippines and Ateneo de Manila University, respectively.

Inspired by their victory and the Forum, the three intend to continue the advocacy of youth employment in their schools and in the future as lawyers. ■ (DFA – June 11, 2012)

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HELLO PHILIPPINES

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Spotlight - Filipino Achievers from Around the World

July 2012 – No. 12 • UK & Europe Edition

Milan exhibit features World Class Philippine Furniture

OUTSTANDING designs and creations of Philippine furniture and home accessories by Mr. Kenneth Cobonpue of Cebu were exhibited at the Salone Internazionale del Mobile in Milan last April 17 to 22.

The Salone Internazionale del Mobile is one of the world’s most prestigious furniture exhibits and is held every April at the huge Fiera Milano exhibition halls in Milan.

Participants go through a rigorous screening of their works before being allowed to join and given a booth. There are other exhibition places all over Milan where various furniture and home accessories manufacturers display their wares but Fieramilano is where the best ones are given spaces and where buyers from all over the world visit to choose their wares.

Philippine Ambassador to Italy Virgilio Reyes and Philippine Consul General to Milan Lourdes S. Tabamo

Mr. Kenneth Cobonpue and Consul General Lourdes S. Tabamo (2nd and 3rd from left) with his family (seated on chair) and team in his booth at Fieramilano.

and the Consulate’s staff visited Mr. Cobonpue’s exhibition area on separate days. A lot of buyers also came to see Mr. Cobonpue’s works.

In the final evening of the exhibition, Consul General Tabamo hosted a dinner for Mr. Cobonpue and his team. ■ (DFA – May 15, 2012)

Cities case which is based on an actual Indra project for the City Government of Barcelona.

Indra is a global technology, innovation and talent company with stakes in the transport, energy, healthcare, financial services, security and communications sectors worldwide. The company, which was established in the town of Aranjuez in Spain, is now considered as the leading technology provider in Spain and one of the leading multinational firms in Europe and Latin America.

The winning students will be given the opportunity of joining the information technology (IT) multinational upon completion of their studies. This will provide the students with an international experience early in their professional careers, thus developing the global profile that companies currently look for.

The UP students bested ten (10) other participating teams from Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, the Czech Republic, Mexico, Peru, and Spain in the final phase of the competition. ■ (DFA – May 14, 2012)

Philippine furniture designed and manufactured by Kenneth Cobonpue were greatly admired by Italian and foreign buyers.

UP students win grand prize at the Second Edition of the Indra Future Minds Competition

UNIVERSITY of the Philippines (UP) students Erwin Soleta, Maria Katrina Volante and Benedict Ivan Andrade won the grand prize during the Second Edition of the Indra Future Minds Competition in Madrid last April 26.

The international competition for students sponsored by Indra, aims to find solutions to the challenges faced by the business sector, such as globalisation, multiculturalism, and collaborative networking. The Philippine participants earned their victory by resolving the final Smart

Children’s artworks receive Awards in the 40th International Children’s Exhibition of Fine Arts

(Photo above) Embassy’s Cultural Officer Gaspar (in Barong Tagalog) with Mr Khaled Hassan, Counselor of Egypt (left) and Mr Nik Yon, Counselor of Malaysia (right). (Rught photos) entries from the Philippines.

THE 40th International Children’s Exhibition of Fine Arts Lidice was held last May 30 in Lidice, Czech Republic.

The exhibition, which was originally intended to be at the national level, is organized annually to commemorate the children of Lidice who were murdered by the Nazis in 1942.

It has become an international event for art exhibition for children from 4 to 16 years old with talents in painting, drawing, print making, photography and ceramics.

The Lidice International Children’s Exhibition of Fine Arts is considered as the oldest and largest in Europe and in the world.

This 40th year exhibition was participated in by entries from countries such as the Philippines, Afghanistan, Belarus, Bosnia and

Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Cuba, Denmark, Estonia, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Malaysia, Romania, Serbia, South Africa, Thailand, Turkey and Venezuela.

The Philippines submitted nine (9) entries from different schools in Manila, which included Assumption College Makati, and St. Stephen’s High School Manila. The entries from said schools received medals. Two (2) other entries from St. Stephen’s High School and Hope Christian Learning Center received an honorable mention.

The 40th International Children’s Exhibition is organized by the Lidice Memorial under the auspices of the Czech Ministries of Culture, Foreign Affairs and Education, Youth and Sports with the support of UNESCO’s Czech Commission. ■ (DFA – June 3, 2012)

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HELLO

www.hello-philippines.com

Spotlight - Filipino Achievers from Around the World

July 2012 – No. 12 • UK & Europe Edition

Ateneo de Manila College Glee Club wins first prize in Ireland’s Top International Chorale Competition PHILIPPINES

THE Ateneo de Manila College Glee Club (ACGC) was awarded the prestigious Fleischmann International Trophy in the recentlyconcluded 58th Cork International Choral Festival, beating top choirs from Germany, Ireland, Sweden, Slovenia, Singapore, England, and Wales last May 5.

Aside from the first prize, ACGC was also awarded the Heinrich Schütz Perpetual Trophy Special Award and PEACE Trophy for the choir that best embraced the spirit of the festival and fulfilled the intentions of the trophy’s benefactors, the P. E. A. C. E. Movement, Cork.

The ACGC was also featured prominently in Ireland’s leading

national newspapers, The Irish Times and the Irish Independent.

Philippine Charge d’affaires, a.i.

Hjayceelyn Quintana hailed ACGC for being outstanding cultural ambassadors and for continuing what is becoming a tradition of Filipino chorale groups of representing the Philippines in one of Europe’s bestknown chorale competitions.

The Fleischmann International Trophy Competition consistently features top class adult choirs from many countries singing a historicallybalanced and coherent range of styles that include a piece composed before 1750, an original work by a living composer, and a work by a composer of the choir’s native country.

The 39-member ACGC delegation headed by their conductor, Professor Maria Lourdes Venida-Hermo, also received stunning reviews for their concert at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin last May 9, which was spearheaded by the Filipino Community Network (FCN), the national umbrella group of Filipino organizations in Ireland.

The concert, entitled “Two Worlds, One Voice,” featured the ACGC back-to-back with one of the finest Irish choirs, the New Dublin Voices.

The concert was attended by the Diplomatic Corps in Ireland as well as members of Irish Parliament. ■

(DFA – May 19, 2012)

Nurse wins prestigious award for Care of Vulnerable Elderly Patients in the United Kingdom

THE excellence and dedication of Filipino healthcare professionals in the United Kingdom (UK) were recognized once more with the presentation of the National Health Service (NHS) Clinical Leaders Network (CLN) AQuA Henderson Quality Award to Mr. Francis Fernando, a Filipino nurse working at the Salisbury District Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.

Mr. Fernando received the Award’s First Prize during the CLN Congress last April 25 for the “Striving for Excellence in the Care of Elderly Patients with Hip Fractures” project at the Salisbury Hospital. The awardwinning project is now set to be adopted in hospitals across the UK. Philippine Ambassador to the UK Enrique A. Manalo welcomed Mr. Fernando to the Philippine Embassy in London last May 2 to congratulate and praise Mr. Fernando for his accomplishments and for the honor he brought to Filipinos across the UK. “Mr. Fernando is a consummate and caring professional and a true representative of Filipinos in the UK,” said Ambassador Manalo.

“He has certainly raised the image of the Filipino and made all of our Kababayans proud with his prestigious award and his selfless work.”

CLN is a 5,000-strong national professional leadership network for clinicians in England. The group bestows its Quality Award each year to recognize the work of clinicians who have led successful projects that resulted in both tangible clinical improvements and real differences in patients’ lives. There were more than 1,000 entries for this year’s award.

Mr. Fernando has been working at the Salisbury Hospital for the past 12 years. Two years ago, he was appointed as the hospital’s first Filipino Band 7 nurse (Orthopaedic

Nurse Practitioner), and proceeded to campaign for the improvement of service to vulnerable elderly patients with hip fractures. The hospital began significantly improving its national rankings, last year placing 12th out of 176 NHS Trusts which participated in the largest database of hip fractures in the world.

“I had to be more pro-active and find innovative ways of meeting the Best Practice Tariff Standards for hip fractures, and then present our project to different audiences around England,” said Mr. Fernando. “We have a fantastic team of clinicians here at Salisbury that is at one with our goal to be the best in the country.”

Mr. Fernando said there are about 200 Filipinos working at the hospital, including five in his team.

This year, Mr. Fernando’s hospital stands close to the top of the national rankings with respect to achieving the Best Practice Tariff for hip fractures. Their work resulted in reduced length of stays and readmission and mortality rates as well as excellent responses from patients and their families.

Mr. Fernando received his award from Chief Nursing Officer in England Jane Cummings and NHS

Medical Director Professor Bruce Keogh.

UK Secretary of State for Health Andrew Lansley provided an inspirational video message at the Award presentation during the CLN congress.

Apart from the Award’s glass trophy, Mr. Fernando received a £5,000 bursary from the CLN to start a Fracture Liaison Service in his hospital, the third of its kind in the UK, to help prevent primary and secondary hip fractures and save billions of pounds in medical treatment expenses. He has also agreed to continue to campaign for vulnerable patients with hip fractures across the UK through CLN’s bank of clinicians and the National Hip Fracture Database.

Mr. Fernando is the first nurse and the first non-British national to win the Award’s First Prize. Previous winners were doctors and other health care professionals.

“The ultimate winners in all of this are the patients and their families,” said Mr. Fernando. ■ (DFA – May 5, 2012)

Baao Children’s Choir wins grand prize at the 18th Certamen Internacional de Juvenil de Habaneras 2012 THE Baao Children’s Choir won the grand prize at the 18th Certamen Internacional de Juvenil de Habaneras 2012 which was held from April 27 to 29 in Torrevieja, Spain.

During the competition, the group sang the following songs for which the choir received a standing ovation: El Negro (obligatory Habanera competition song interpretation); Qué bonita es Cuba; Dicen que se muere el mar (arranged

by J. Madurga Oteiza); and scenes from the North (arranged by Fidel G. Calalang Jr.).

The choir was directed by Mr. Virgilio Briones.

Baao Children´s Choir is the first Asian choir to join the said competition. For 2012 alone, more than 40 choirs from around the world auditioned but only eight made it to the finals.

The Baao Children’s Choir, established in 2003, is a community and churchbased choir composed of children ages 11 to 18 years old. It annually holds auditions and training programs in different public and private schools in the Municipality of Baao, Camarines Sur. ■ (DFA – May 6, 2012)

Junior Diplomat graduates from Prestigious Ecole National d’Administration

MS Rapunzel Acop, a junior diplomat of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), received her Public Administration Diploma from the prestigious Ecole National d’Administration (ENA) on April 24.

Mr. Henri de Raincourt, French Minister in charge for Cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, conferred the diplomas to all the graduates.

Philippine Ambassador to France Cristina G. Ortega was present during the awarding ceremonies.

Ms. Acop participated in the 17-month long International Course

(CIL), Batch “Marie Curie” of ENA. She was one of the 28 foreign participants in the program who

©DFA

ENA Director Bernard Boucault, Ambassador Cristina Ortega, Ms Rapunzel Acop and Minister Henri de Raincourt.

underwent internships and training in France. She is the first Filipino to be accepted to ENA and the first to finish any of its programs.

ENA was created by General Charles de Gaulle’s Executive Order in 1945. It is an internationally renowned school which promotes government service and provides professional training for civil servants.

Prior to her successful stint in ENA, Ms. Acop worked as a Principal Assistant in the DFA’s Office of the United Nations and Other International Organizations (DFA-UNIO). ■ (DFA – May 3, 2012)

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July 2012 – No. 12 • UK & Europe Edition

Google rolls in tablet market with Nexus 7 Glenn Chapman, AFP HUGO Barra, product management director of Android, introduces Google’s low-cost computer tablet Nexus 7 during the keynote speech at Google’s annual developer conference, Google I/O in San Francisco. Google unveiled its own branded Nexus 7 tablet computer Wednesday, June 27 challenging the Apple iPad and Amazon Kindle Fire, and opening a window to its online shop for books, movies, TV shows and more Google unveiled its own branded Nexus 7 tablet computer Wednesday, challenging the Apple iPad and Amazon Kindle Fire, and opening a window to its online shop for books, movies, TV shows and more.

The new tablet will be priced at less than half the cost of the market-leading iPad and broadens Google’s arsenal in its battle against Apple, Amazon.com, and Microsoft to keep Internet users in their own ecosystems.

The seven-inch tablet powered by the latest generation of Android software is being made for Google

by Taiwan-based Asus and weighs about as much as a paperback book, according to Android team head Hugo Barra.

“We wanted to design a best-of Google experience optimized around

the content available at Google Play,” Barra said during a presentation opening the Internet titan’s annual developers conference in San Francisco.

Nexus tablets were available for order in Australia, Canada, Britain, and the United States at the Google Play store at a price of $199 and would begin shipping in mid-July, Barra said. That is the same price as Amazon’s Kindle Fire.

The tablets come with a $25 coupon for Google Play content – Google’s answer to Amazon and Apple’s iTunes stores for books, music, magazines and other content.

“It has always been a goal of the Nexus program to provide you with the best-of Google experience the way Google envisions it,” Barra said.

Google also introduced an Android-powered Nexus Q device for wirelessly streaming films or music from Google Play to televisions or speakers.

Along with the new hardware, Google said it is beefing up its Google Play store to offer more entertainment.

“Google Play is your digital entertainment destination, with more than 600,000 apps and games plus music, movies and books,” a Google blog post said.

“It’s entirely cloud-based, which means all of your content is always

available across all of your devices.”

In addition to movie rentals, Google will be offering films for sale. The California-based Internet powerhouse boasted partnerships with major studios such as Disney, Paramount, and Sony.

“You can watch as much as you like. You can also purchase episodes of your favorite TV shows,” the California tech giant said.

Google Play will also be adding digital magazines from Hearst, Conde Nast and other publishers.

The company described Nexus 7 as “a powerful new tablet” which “makes everything, including games, extremely fast.”

It weighs 340 grams (12 ounces) and has a front-facing camera.

Android platform developer Chris Yerga said Nexus 7 is also “a serious gaming device.”

Google at the same time said it was releasing a new version of its Android software for mobile devices, called “Jelly Bean,” which “builds on top of Ice Cream Sandwich,” the current iteration of Android.

“It makes everything smoother, faster and more fluid,” the Google blog said.

“The keyboard is smarter and more accurate, and can predict your next word. And voice typing is faster, working even when you don’t have a data connection.”

©AFP Photo/Kimihiro Hoshino

Hugo Barra, product management director of Android, introduces Google’s low-cost computer tablet Nexus 7 during the keynote speech at Google’s annual developer conference, Google I/O in San Francisco. Google unveiled its own branded Nexus 7 tablet computer Wednesday, challenging the Apple iPad and Amazon Kindle Fire, and opening a window to its online shop for books, movies, TV shows and more.

While Android has leapt to the top of the mobile phone market, Apple remains dominant in tablets, holding around 62 percent of the market to 36 percent for Android, according to research firm IDC. The news from Google comes just a week after Microsoft took on Apple with a plan to release its own branded tablet called Surface later this year.

“Learning a lesson from Amazon, Google can see that the only way to beat the premium-worthy iPad is to go for the millions of customers who are ready for smaller and cheaper

tablets,” said Forrester analyst James McQuivey.

After hooking fans with a lowprice Android tablet, Google could then direct their loyalty to higher-end devices powered by the operating system and build the ranks of customers at Google Play, the analyst reasoned.

“That range of services will be the secret to stitching together this rag-tag fleet of Android gadgets into a platform that can compete with Apple for minutes of users’ attention rather than premium device dollars,” McQuivey said. ■ (©AFP – June 27, 2012)

Apple launches iTunes Store in 12 new Asia markets APPLE launched its iTunes Store in 12 Asian markets on Wednesday, June 27 giving consumers access to millions of songs and movies including local favourites, but regional giants China, India and Indonesia were not on the list.

The move by California-based tech giant Apple, which has sold more than 16 billion songs worldwide on the online store, enables it to make more money from digital content in markets where its devices have become hugely popular.

Asian musicians would also benefit from having a secure new platform to sell their work to local fans in a region rife with intellectual piracy.

“What took them so long?” said Chen Wei Li, a 28-year-old Singaporean who owns an iPhone, iPad and MacBook Pro laptop.

“I personally am looking to download some music off the iTunes store,” he added.

The iTunes Store is now open to consumers with credit cards issued in Brunei, Cambodia, Hong Kong, Laos, Macau, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Sri Lanka and Vietnam.

It was already available in Japan, Australia and New Zealand.

Customers will now be able to choose from more than 28 million songs, including hits by Asian stars.

They will also be able to rent or buy

©AFP/File, Dale de la Rey

File photo of the Apple retail store in Hong Kong.

©AFP/John D. McHugh/Getty Images

movies from studios such as 20th Century Fox, Paramount, Universal, Disney and Warner Brothers.

“We know that people will pay for content if they are able to access good services,” said Jasper Donat, the Hong Kong-based president of Music Matters, an annual gathering of executives from the music industry in the Asia-Pacific region.

“Having promoted the Asian music industry around the world for nearly eight years, we are genuinely excited about today’s iTunes announcement and look forward to welcoming more digital entertainment platforms and services to the region soon.”

But China, India and Indonesia

– the three most populous Asian countries – were notable omissions from Wednesday’s launch.

“We’re always working to bring the iTunes Store to more customers around the world, as conditions permit,” Apple said in a written reply to AFP when asked why China and India, which have a combined population of 2.5 billion and a growing middle class eager to spend their new-found wealth, were not yet included.

Neha Dharia, a Mumbai-based analyst with business research firm Ovum, said several criteria including support for intellectual property rights are considered by Apple before opening up the iTunes Store to any market.

“These include the adoption of Apple devices, consumer preferences for digital distribution of content, ability to forge partnerships for procuring local content and, of course, levels of piracy and the measures to combat it,” Dharia told AFP. Apple’s Asian expansion, which followed the December launch of the iTunes Store in Brazil and 15 other Latin American markets, now makes commercial sense despite concerns over piracy, another analyst said.

“Up to a certain point, piracy in

the whole region was something they were looking at with a critical eye,” said Melissa Chau, a Singaporebased regional research manager with US market intelligence firm IDC. “But what has changed in the last couple of years was how popular iPads and iPhones have become in this region.

“It makes sense for them to capture revenues from these users who have iPads and iPhones.”

Apple is estimated to have shipped 35 million iPhones and iPads in the Asia-Pacific region excluding Japan in 2011, Chau said.

“This is the natural evolution of an integrated ecosystem for their own products and services,” said Chau.

Apple’s latest earnings report showed it made a profit of $11.6 billion on revenues of $39.2 billion in the March quarter, thanks largely to booming demand for iPhones and iPads in Asia including China.

More than 16 billion songs have been sold through the iTunes Store since it was launched in 2003, according to Apple figures.

In March, the firm announced that more than 25 billion apps had been downloaded from the App Store by the users of more than 315 million iPhone, iPad and iPod touch devices.

■ (©AFP – Singapore – June 27, 2012)

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POEA warns recruiters and workers on restricted OFW destinations

POEA Administrator Hans Leo J. Cacdac yesterday warned placement agencies to stop recruiting workers, and job applicants not to accept job offers, for Syria and other countries declared by the government as dangerous to OFWs. Cacdac said the POEA is filing charges motu propio against licensed recruitment agencies found to have deployed workers to countries with existing restrictions.

“These recruiters are heartless, sending their recruits to actual war zones and other destinations with hostile and hazardous working conditions,” he added.

Cacdac said the deployment of OFWs to prohibited destinations cannot proceed without those illegal recruiters who continue to

circumvent the ban by sending Filipino workers to their destinations through a third country.

The POEA has already filed charges against nine recruitment agencies for deploying household service workers to Syria early this year. The government issued a total deployment ban to Syria in August 2011 because of continued political unrest in that country. Hundreds of illegally deployed Filipino workers have already been repatriated from Syria as of date.

Cacdac further identified other countries with varied restrictions, as follows: 1.

Afghanistan – Only rehires working inside American military camps and facilities with existing employment contracts are allowed.

(Governing Board Resolution No. 5, Series of 2011) 2. Iraq – All skills are banned except in Kurdistan Region. (Governing Board Resolution No. 3, Series of 2012) 3. Lebanon – Returning workers who were processed prior to June 18, 2007 and returning to the same employer are allowed (Governing Board Resolution No. 1, Series of 2011) 4.

Jordan – Newly hired household service workers are not allowed (POEA Advisory No. 1, January 13, 2011) 5.

Yemen – Only workers returning to existing employers are allowed (Governing Board Resolution No. 2, Series of 2012) ■ (POEA – June 18, 2012)

Two US employment agencies in POEA blacklist

POEA Administrator Hans Leo J. Cacdac ordered the exclusion of two US-based companies from participating in the government’s overseas employment program for contractual violation under the POEA Rules and Regulations Governing the Recruitment and Employment of Land-based Overseas Workers.

Cacdac said the order resolved with finality the recruitment violation case filed against US Opportunities and Royal Hospitality Services, LLC, both employment services company, for their failure to provide several OFWs the jobs specified in their contracts.

The POEA initiated the complaint motu propio after the Philippine Overseas Labor Office in Washington reported to Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz in 2010 regarding the plight of 24 OFWs who were alleged victims of human trafficking for forced labor.

To prevent them from recruiting other OFWs, the POEA immediately suspended the license of ZDrive, Inc, the U.S. companies’ accredited recruitment agency in the Philippines on August 20, 2010. Its license was eventually cancelled by the POEA on May 31, 2011.

Awaiting the resolution of the case, the POEA also put US Opportunities and Royal Hospitality Services, LLC under preventive suspension and were not allowed to recruit additional Filipino workers for their client companies.

The victims said they paid up to P350,000 in fees to get jobs in hotels in Florida under US H2B visa, but were instead brought to Mississippi and were made to work in farms planting seeds and have to live in trailers, trapped in the woods for a month without water and electricity.

They were allegedly subjected to threats and intimidation, made to

work raking and bailing pine leaves in the dead of winter, and forced to plant 1,800 pine tree seedlings a day for a measly wage of US$40.00 a week. Eventually, they found the courage to escape and got in touch with ZDrive, Inc. However, instead of helping the victims, ZDrive, Inc. referred them to Royal Hospitality Services, which placed them in various hotels and entertainment facilities where they were paid below the minimum wage and their wages subjected to illegal deductions.

Cacdac said separate human trafficking cases were already filed against the recruiters in the US Department of Home Security and the Department of Justice in the Philippines. The owner of US Opportunities, a certain Mike Lombardi had recently pleaded guilty to charges of visa fraud, and is now in detention, awaiting judgment on August 6, 2012. ■ (POEA – June 20, 2012)

THE Philippine Overseas Employment Administration has suspended the license of FMJ International Manpower and Allied Services Inc. for using visas issued to sales and restaurant workers to deploy domestic workers to other employers in Jordan.

Administrator Hans Leo J. Cacdac said the POEA has stopped processing of contracts of newlyhired Filipino household service workers for Jordan since January 2008. Cacdac said the POEA, on its own, initiated a complaint against FMJ International for violation of the POEA Rules and Regulations Governing the Recruitment and Employment of Land-based Overseas Workers based on a letter-

complaint of Mr. Semean Dahdal, human resource manager of Aqaba Grand Stores in Amman, Jordan.

Mr. Dahdal alleged that “FMJ International, Aqaba’s recruitment agent in the Philippines, has abused the job orders issued to it”. “Upon verification through Aseza of Aqaba and the Ministry of Labor in Amman, the names on the list are all entered as housemaids in Jordan with different sponsors and different local housemaid agencies”, Mr. Dahdal said in his letter.

Cacdac said misrepresentation in connection with recruitment and placement of workers, and falsifying or altering travel document of an applicant worker in relation to overseas recruitment activities are

acts prohibited under Section 2 , Rule I, Part VI of the POEA rules and regulation.

In his order, Cacdac said “… we find strong prima facie evidence of violations of the aforementioned provisions against respondent FMJ International Manpower and Allied Services Inc. and that exists a reasonable ground to believe that the continued recruitment and deployment of OFWs by the said respondent agency will result in further violation and exploitation of migrant workers.” Cacdac said the suspension order will remain pending investigation of the case and determination of other possible charges against FMJ International. ■

July 2012 – No. 12 • UK & Europe Edition

Consultancy office padlocked for illegal recruitment

Dubai outside its office. The report also cited that the staff assured the operatives of the availability of the said job orders and the placement fee shall be equivalent to one month salary except for Qatar where no placement fee shall be collected.

“The maintenance of an office with advertisements of job openings and countries of destination, entertaining queries of applicants regarding requirements, and giving out application forms to applicants are acts of recruitment which could be done only by licensed agencies,” said Cacdac.

Cacdac further cautioned applicants of a similar modus operandi committed through emails recruiting workers for nonexistent hospital jobs in the U.S.A. and United Kingdom and collecting fees for supposed training on English language and other “selfimprovement” courses. ■ (POEA – June

THE Philippine Overseas Employment Administration padlocked the office of KPM Hotelier Consultancy Services in Ermita, Manila for recruitment of Filipino workers for overseas employment without a valid license or authority from the Department of Labor and Employment and POEA. Administrator Hans Leo J. Cacdac said he ordered the closure of KPM Hotelier Consultancy Services after verification by POEA operatives of the complaint filed by an applicant for alleged illegal recruitment activities.

“Posing as jobseekers, our operatives were told by a staff of KPM Hotelier that they provide training for those who wish to work in 5-star hotels abroad at a cost of P4,500 per person,” Cacdac said.

According to the surveillance report, KPM Hotelier has announcements of job vacancies for hotels in Qatar, Kuwait and

28, 2012)

ADMINISTRATOR Hans Leo J. Cacdac advises overseas Filipino workers to stay away from unreliable clinics and other medical facilities when seeking medical or dental treatment while working overseas.

Cacdac issued the warning following a report from the Philippine Embassy in Turkey about Filipino seafarer Arnold Mejia whose life was endangered when he got tetanus infection after undergoing a simple tooth extraction in a little-known dental clinic in Ukraine.

The report said Mejia was

confined in the intensive care unit of Hased Egitim ve Arastirma Hastanesi, a hospital in Istanbul, on May 14, 2012 and is now out of danger.

“In the event that they become ill while overseas, OFWs have to seek treatment only from reliable and hygienic clinics and hospitals or they should contact the nearest Philippine Embassy for medical referral,” Cacdac added. Administrator Cacdac also reminded recruitment agencies to make sure our OFWs are healthy and physically fit for work before deployment. ■ (POEA – June 18, 2012)

Avoid fly-by-night clinics when out of the country

Beware of agency t h at recrui t s Fi l i p i n o domest i c Recruitment agency suspended helpers in Singapore for deployment to Chile for evading deployment ban

(POEA – June 21, 2012)

THE POEA has advised Filipino household workers against accepting offers of jobs in Chile from a Singapore-based agency.

Administrator Hans Leo J. Cacdac said he received reports that Caregiver and Manpower International Services (CMIS) with business address at Lucky Plaza, Orchard Road, Singapore, and owned by a certain Noel Muyco Aguilar has been illegally recruiting Filipino domestic helpers in Singapore who would like to transfer to Chile.

In his report to POEA, Labor Attache Vicente M. Cabe said CMIS is neither registered nor accredited

by Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower (MOM).

Cacdac also said CMIS is not in the list of POEA’s licensed recruitment agencies and accredited foreign employers and principals.

The Philippine Ambassador in Santiago has confirmed that CMIS has two Chilean employment agencies as partners and has already deployed eight Filipino household workers with another four DHs to arrive soon.

CMIS collects US$35,000 as placement fee from the workers but does not issue receipts. The Singapore agency also charges the applicants payment for a oneway plane ticket even though it was already paid for by the Chilean employer. ■ (POEA – June 18, 2012)

May 2012 – No. 10 • UK & Europe Edition

Philippine Embassy Around The World

www.hello-philippines.com

HELLO PHILIPPINES

21

30

HELLO PHILIPPINES

www.hello-philippines.com

Celebrity, Showbiz & Entertainment

July 2012 – No. 12 • UK & Europe Edition

Mula Manila hanggang Britania - Eat Bulaga Live in London this November OSN and Hello Philippines will treat Filipinos all over UK and Europe to a night of fantastic entertainment with Eat Bulaga Live in London, on November 17 at the ExCel London.

Touted to be the biggest Filipino show to hit Europe todate, ang Eat Bulaga Live in London will bring to the UK the happy cast of the show plus some surprise guests stars sa isang gabi na puno ng kantahan, tawanan at kasiyahan.

Ang Eat Bulaga ay ang longest running Filipino variety show na well-loved by Filipinos all over the world. Sino ba ang hindi lumaki sa atin kasama sina Tito, Vic & Joey kasama ng pasaya ng pasayang EB dabarkads? From their Bulagaan comedy skits hanggang sa mga production numbers ng mga hosts at katuwa-tuwang game portions, ang Eat Bulaga ay ang kasama sa tanghalian ng milyon milyong Pinoys hindi lang sa Pilipinas kundi saan mang sulok ng mundo.

And with the entry of TV2MORO powered by OSN into the homes of Filipinos across the UK and Europe, inaahasang aabangan ng libo libong subscribers ang Eat Bulaga sa London ngayong November. “Kami sa OSN ay natutuwa sa pagdala ng Eat Bulaga sa London dahil ito ay pagsagot sa napakadaming requests from our subscribers to bring the show to Europe,” sabi ni Chuck Silva, head of OSN’s Filipino business. “And with the warm

reception that we have received from Filipinos in Europe since we launched last March, this is also our way of saying thank you to all of our subscribers” dagdag pa niya.

Ang Eat Bulaga ay mapapanood araw araw sa GMA Pinoy TV, one of the nine (9) Filipino TV channels included in the Filipino Plus package of TV2MORO powered by OSN. Ang TV package na ito ay may siyam (9) na Filipino TV channels na pinangungunahan ng GMA Pinoy TV, Kapatid TV5, Aksyon TV, GMA Life TV, Pinoy Extreme at M&L TV. Ang mga channels na ito ay dinadala ang mga nangunguna at naglalakihang programa at artista mula sa Pilipinas na matagal ng inaabangan ng ating mga kababayan sa UK at Europa.

GMA Pinoy TV is the home of Eat Bulaga, Dito din mapapanood ang gameshow ni pambansang kamao Manny Pacquiao ang Manny Many Prizes, ito din ang home station nina Marian Rivera, Dingdong Dantes, Richard Gutierrez, Ogie Alcasid at Regine Velasquez na bumibida sa mga GMA Pinoy TV programs tulad ng My Beloved at Party Pilipinas. Ang GMA Life TV naman ay isang Pinoy lifestyle channel featuring GMA celebrities. Dito din natin mapapanood ang Reel Life na tinatampukan ng mga piling pelikula mula Pilipinas. Ang Kapatid TV5 ay pinangbibidahan nina Willie Revillame of Wil Time Bigtime; ang

Face To Face, ang talk show ng totoong buhay na mas pinapanood ng mga overseas Filipinos hosted

by Amy Perez; ang bagong daily talk show ni Megastar Sharon Cuneta, Cesar Montano’s Artista Academy and the Amazing Race Philippines with Derek Ramsey. Ang Aksyon TV naman ay isang news and sports channel kung saan ipapalabas ang programa ni Aga Muhlach – ang Pinoy Explorer, kung saan dadalhin tayo ni Aga sa mga kakaibang destinations worldwide. Ang Aksyon TV ang official worldwide broadcaster of the

Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) games at mapapanood din dito ang eksplosibong public service show ng Tulfo brothers at iba pang news programs mula sa News 5 team.

“Subscriber na ako noong March pa, pagka-launch pa lang nila kasi solid Eat Bulaga fan ako” sabi ni Jenny, a subscriber from London. “I subscribed because it is a lot better watching Eat Bulaga via TV2MORO powered by OSN versus on the pirated websites on the internet.

And now that OSN is bringing Eat

Bulaga Live in London, this is truly a wonderful bonus!” she further exclaimed. Tickets to the show are sold as a single ticket or for more value are added to a TV2MORO powered by OSN subscription.

For more information on Eat Bulaga Live in London in November 2012 and on how to get Eat Bulaga into your homes everyday via TV2MORO powered by OSN call HELLO PHILIPPINES TV CONNECT (Master Dealer for the UK and Ireland) at 020 3174 1894. ■ (OSN – London, UK – June 26, 2012)

TV2MORO powered by OSN Fiesta Offer: Free Decoder plus Free One Month Subscription, Maski Monthly Ang Bayad Mo TV2MORO powered by OSN joins the fiesta spirit of Filipinos in the UK sa pagbigay ng Free decoder and Free one month subscription sa lahat ng mag-sa-subscribe until July 31, 2012. At kahit monthly ang pagbayad pwedeng ma-avail ang value offer na ito.

With TV2MORO powered by OSN’s fiesta offer, may instant access na ang mga subscribers sa nine (9) Filipino TV channels na pinangungunahan ng Kapatid TV5, Aksyon TV, GMA Pinoy TV, GMA Life TV, Pinoy Extreme, M&L TV. Ang mga channels na ito ay dinadala ang mga nangunguna at naglalakihang programa at artista mula sa Pilipinas na matagal ng inaabangan ng ating mga kababayan sa UK at sa buong Europa. Ang Kapatid TV5 ay pinangbibidahan nina Willie Revillame of Wil Time Bigtime; ang Face To Face, ang talk show ng totoong buhay na mas pinapanood ng mga overseas Filipinos hosted

by Amy Perez; ang bagong daily talk show ni Megastar Sharon Cuneta.

Sa Kapatid TV5 din natin aabangan

ang mga bagong programa nila Cesar Montano (Artista Academy) at Derek Ramsey (Amazing Race Philippines). Ang Aksyon TV naman ay isang news and sports channel kung saan ipapalabas ang programa ni Aga Muhlach – ang Pinoy Explorer, kung saan dadalhin tayo ni Aga sa mga kakaibang destinations worldwide. Ang Aksyon TV ang official worldwide broadcaster of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) games at mapapanood din dito ang eksplosibong public service show ng Tulfo brothers at iba pang news programs mula sa News 5 team.

GMA Pinoy TV is the home of Eat Bulaga, ang longest-running na variety show sa Pilipinas na pinagbibidahan nina Tito, Vic at Joey na walang kupas na nagbibigay ng saya sa mga Pinoys

worldwide. Dito din mapapanood ang gameshow ni pambansang kamao Manny Pacquiao ang Manny Many Prizes, ito din ang home station nina Marian Rivera, Dingdong Dantes, Richard Gutierrez, Ogie Alcasid at Regine Velasquez na bumibida sa mga GMA Pinoy TV programs tulad ng My Beloved at Party Pilipinas. Ang GMA Life TV naman ay isang Pinoy lifestyle channel featuring GMA celebrities. Dito natin mapapanood ang mga shows tulad ng DayOff, isang palabas na binibigyan ng masayang day off ang mga masisipag na Pinoys habang ang guest celebrity ang gumagawa ng kanyang naiwan na trabaho hosted

by Pekto at isang guest celebrity; Balikbayan, isang travel show hosted by Drew Arellano and a guest celebrity kung saan dadalhin

tayo sa hometown ng naturang guest celebrity plus sa GMA Life TV din mapapanood ang Reel Life na tinatampukan ng mga piling pelikula mula Pilipinas.

Ang Pinoy Extreme channel ay isang sports and movie channel na pang-machong Pinoy. Dito natin mapapanood ang mga classic PBA games tulad ng bakbakang ToyotaCrispa at San Miguel-Anejo. Ang M&L TV ay isang movies, music at lifestyle channel na may kasama pang mga Visayan programs from Cebu.

“This is our way of joining the Filipino community in celebrating the various fiestas happening across the UK”, sabi ni Chuck Silva, head of OSN’s Filipino business.

“Aside from our value offer, asahan po ninyo, na tuloy tuloy ang paghatid ng OSN ng pinakamalalaking

artista at programa para sa Filipino community tulad ng pagdala namin sa Eat Bulaga ngayong Nobyembre sa London at sa mga magagandang palabas that our TV channels have lined up for the 3rd and 4th quarters of 2012” dagdag pa niya.

Filipino Plus is delivered via IPTV, ito ay isang convenient at hassle-free na paraan ng panonood ng TV. Kailangan lang ng broadband connection at ang OSN-TV2MORO set top box na kasama sa subscription, wala ng installation fees.

Pwede ng magsubscribe sa Filipino Plus TV package ng TV2MORO powered by OSN sa alin man sa mga dealers ng OSN sa United Kingdom. Interested parties may call: Hello Philippines TV Connect (Master Dealer for the UK and Ireland) at 020 3174 1894; Birmingham Dealer at 07531 022 269 (Marlo) / 07423 390 902 (Norma); Kapuso Entertainment at 07880 888 221 and SLR Pinoy at 07760 161 582. ■ (OSN – London, UK – June 26, 2012)

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32

HELLO PHILIPPINES

www.hello-philippines.com

Celebrity, Showbiz & Entertainment

July 2012 – No. 12 • UK & Europe Edition

Ang Eat Bulaga at si Willie Revillame magkasama na?

ANG mga Pinoys sa Britania ay nagkaroon ng pagkakataon masaksihan ang pagsama ng Eat Bulaga at ng programa ni Willie Revillame na Wil Time Bigtime sa isang TV subscription sa selebrasyong Barrio Fiesta sa Birmingham 2012 na ginanap noong ika-23 at 24 ng Hunyo sa Woodgate Valley Park, Birmingham.

Nagulat ang lahat ng dumalo ng malaman na pwede ng mapanood ng sabay ang Eat Bulaga at Wil Time Bigtime sa Inglatera, ito ay sa pamamagitan ng Filipino Plus, ang pinakabago at pinakabonggang Filipino TV subscription hatid sa atin ng TV2MORO powered by OSN. Ang TV package na ito ay may siyam (9) na Filipino TV channels na pinangungunahan ng Kapatid TV5, Aksyon TV, GMA Pinoy TV, GMA Life TV, Pinoy Extreme at M&L TV. Ang mga channels na ito ay dinadala ang mga nangunguna at naglalakihang programa at artista mula sa Pilipinas na matagal ng inaabangan ng ating mga kababayan

sa UK at Europa. Ang Kapatid TV5 ay pinangbibidahan nina Willie Revillame of Wil Time Bigtime; ang Face To Face, ang talk show ng totoong buhay na mas pinapanood ng mga overseas Filipinos hosted

by Amy Perez; ang bagong daily talk show ni Megastar Sharon Cuneta.

Sa Kapatid TV5 din natin aabangan ang mga bagong programa nila Cesar Montano (Artista Academy) at Derek Ramsey (Amazing Race Philippines). Ang Aksyon TV naman ay isang news and sports channel kung saan ipapalabas ang programa ni Aga Muhlach – ang Pinoy Explorer, kung saan dadalhin tayo ni Aga sa mga kakaibang destinations worldwide. Ang Aksyon TV ang official worldwide broadcaster of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) games at mapapanood din dito ang eksplosibong public service show ng Tulfo brothers at iba pang news programs mula sa News 5 team.

GMA Pinoy TV is the home of Eat Bulaga, ang longest-running

na variety show sa Pilipinas na pinagbibidahan nina Tito, Vic at Joey na walang kupas na nagbibigay ng saya sa mga Pinoys worldwide. Dito din mapapanood ang gameshow ni pambansang kamao Manny Pacquiao ang Manny Many Prizes, ito din ang home station nina Marian Rivera, Dingdong Dantes, Richard Gutierrez, Ogie Alcasid at Regine Velasquez na bumibida sa mga GMA Pinoy TV programs tulad ng My Beloved at Party Pilipinas. Ang GMA Life TV naman ay isang Pinoy lifestyle channel featuring GMA celebrities.

Dito natin mapapanood ang mga shows tulad ng Day-Off, isang palabas na binibigyan ng masayang day off ang mga masisipag na Pinoys habang ang guest celebrity ang gumagawa ng kanyang naiwan na trabaho hosted by Pekto at isang guest celebrity; Balikbayan, isang travel show hosted by Drew Arellano and a guest celebrity kung saan dadalhin tayo sa hometown ng naturang guest celebrity plus sa GMA Life TV din mapapanood ang

Reel Life na tinatampukan ng mga piling pelikula mula Pilipinas.

Ang Pinoy Extreme channel ay isang sports and movie channel na pang-machong Pinoy. Dito natin mapapanood ang mga classic PBA games tulad ng bakbakang ToyotaCrispa at San Miguel-Anejo. Ang M&L TV ay isang movies, music at lifestyle channel na may kasama pang mga Visayan programs from Cebu.

Filipino Plus is delivered via IPTV, ito ay isang convenient at hasslefree na paraan ng panonood ng TV. Kailangan lang ng broadband connection at ang OSN-TV2MORO set top box na kasama sa subscription, wala ng installation fees. Napakasimple ng pag-operate, ikakabit lang ang set top box sa broadband connection at sa TV, mapapanood mo na ang mga paborito mong programa. “Kami po ay nandito upang maghatid ng top-notch TV entertainment for Filipinos here in the UK, ito ay via our TV channels na kasama sa aming TV package”, ayon kay Chuck Silva, ang head ng

Filipino business ng OSN. “Asahan po ninyo, na tuloy tuloy ang paghatid ng OSN ng pinakamalalaking artista at programa para sa Filipino community tulad ng pagdala namin sa Eat Bulaga ngayong Nobyembre sa London at sa mga magagandang palabas that our TV channels have lined up for the 3rd and 4th quarters” pagtatapos niya.

Pwede ng magsubscribe sa Filipino Plus TV package ng TV2MORO powered by OSN sa alin man sa mga dealers ng OSN sa United Kingdom. May Fiesta Offer ngayon until July 31, 2012 kung saan customers will get a free decoder and free 1 month subscription maski monthly ang pagbayad. Interested parties may call: Hello Philippines TV Connect (Master Dealer for the UK and Ireland) at 020 3174 1894; Birmingham Dealer at 07531 022 269 (Marlo) / 07423 390 902 (Norma); Kapuso Entertainment at 07880 888 221 and SLR Pinoy at 07760 161 582. ■ (OSN – London, UK – June 26, 2012)

Megastar Sharon Cuneta is one of the newest Kapatid of TV5. Siya ay mapapanood sa daily primetime talk show niya sa Kapatid TV5.

Ang Eat Bulaga (with Tito, Vic & Joey) ay ang banner show ng GMA Pinoy TV, isang channel na kasama sa TV2MORO powered by OSN subscription.

Ang Aksyon TV ay ang official worldwide broadcaster ng PBA, isang channel na exclusibong mapapanood sa TV2MORO powered by OSN.

Mapapanood na ang bagong show ni Willie Revillame, ang Wil Time Bigtime sa Kapatid TV5, isang channel na kasama na sa TV2MORO powered by OSN subscription.

Pambansang kamao Manny Pacquiao of Manny Many Prizes na exclusibong mapapanood sa GMA Pinoy TV.

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38

HELLO PHILIPPINES

www.hello-philippines.com

Celebrity, Showbiz & Entertainment

July 2012 – No. 12 • UK & Europe Edition

Birmingham Barrio Fiesta 2012 pinasaya ng OSN at Kapatid TV5 sa pagdala kina Cesar Montano, Sunshine Cruz, Alex Calleja at Jessa Zaragoza LALONG uminit ang selebrasyon ng Birmingham Barrio Fiesta 2012 sa Woodgate Valley Park, Birmingham last June 23 and 24 sa galing ng mga piling mga artista mula sa Pilipinas na hatid sa atin ng TV2MORO powered by OSN sa pakikipagtulungan ng Filipino Association of Birmingham (FAB).

Sa pagtanghal nina Cesar Montano, Sunshine Cruz, Alex Calleja and Jessa Zaragoza, ang hapon ng libolibong Filipinos na nagmula sa buong UK was filled with songs, laughter and pure enjoyment.

Ang annual na Barrio Fiesta sa Birmingham is being organized

by FAB na pinangungunahan ni Marlo Quilang, over the years it has become a venue to showcase the Filipinos’ talents, culture, food and heritage. “Ang buong weekend na selebrasyon ng Barrio Fiesta sa Birmingham 2012 ay isang matibay na ehemplo ng pagkakaisa ng Filipino community sa UK” sabi ni Marlo Quilang. “At lubos kaming nagagalak sa pagbisita ng ating mga panauhin mula Manila sa tulong ng OSN, because they made this year’s Barrio Fiesta much more special” dagdag pa niya.

Dumating sa Woodgate Valley Park sina Cesar Montano, Sunshine Cruz, Alex Calleja at Jessa Zaragoza ng 1:30 pm at diretsong nagtungo sa Meet & Greet tent kung saan pumila ang swerteng subscribers ng OSN. Dito nagkaroon ng pagkakataon ang mga subscribers na makakwentuhan at magpakuha ng litrato

kasama ang mga artista. “Excited na ako to the max na magpakuha kasama si Jessa Zaragoza, idol na idol ko siya at memorize ko lahat ng kanta nya”, sambit ni Lisa, isang subscriber ng OSN na 10 years ng naninirhan sa Birmingham. “Ako naman, masayang masaya at may souvenir photo ako at matching autograph pa kasama sina Cesar Montano and Sunshine Cruz, I can’t believe that dito ko pa sila makikita in person sa UK” dagdag naman ni Manuel, isa sa mga masuwerteng OSN subscribers na bumiyahe pa mula London at maagang pumila para sa Meet & Greet.

Sinimulan ang programa ng OSN ng alas-tres ng hapon sa pagbulaga ni funny man Alex Calleja sa entablado.

Dito ay pinamalas niya ang kanyang angking galing sa pagpapatawa at pag host ng malalaking event tulad ng Birmingham Barrio Fiesta 2012.

“Ang saya mag perform para sa mga Pinoys dito sa Britania” ayon kay Alex ng makapanayam ng Hello Philippines pagkababa niya ng stage. “Ang lakas ng energy ng mga Pinoy audience at napaka-init ng pagtanggap nila sa amin kaya mas lalo kaming ginaganahan na ibalik ang saya sa kanila upang mapawi naman naming kahit konti ang kanilang pagka-miss sa mga mahal nila sa buhay na nasa Pilipinas” pahabol pa ng komedyante.

Naghiyawan ang lahat ng tao ng tinawag si phenomenal diva Jessa Zaragoza sa entablado. Kinanta niya ang mga awiting pinasikat

Cesar Montano and Sunshine Cruz

Alex Calleja

Cesar Montano

Jessa Zaragoza

Jessa Zaragoza, Cesar Montano, Sunshine Cruz and Alex Calleja

niya na hanggang sa UK ay patok na patok pa rin sa mga Pinoys.

Everybody joined her in singing Bakit Pa? at Di Ba’t Ikaw. Sabi ni Jessa, “Maraming salamat po sa OSN at FAB at binigyan ninyo ako ng pagkakataon na makasama ang mga fans ko sa UK”. Dagdag pa niya, “I am so overwhelmed at sa munting panahon na nagkasama tayo ay napasaya po namin kayo sa pamamagitan ng aking pagkanta.”

Pagkatapos kantahin ni Jessa ang kanyang sikat na love songs, pinasayaw naman niya ang mga Pinoys sa isang Sampaguita medley.

Nagkaroon ng intermission na game contest ang OSN kung saan nag dance-off ang mga napiling kalahok mula sa audience. Three lucky winners were each given three months of free OSN subscription giving them instant access to nine Filipino TV channels, including GMA Pinoy TV and Kapatid TV5.

Pagkatapos ng OSN dance-off game tinawag na sa stage si Ms. Sunshine Cruz where she delighted the audience with her rendition of Maging Sino Ka Man. She quickly then asked her husband, Cesar Montano, to go on stage as well.

The couple sang a duet na pinakilig ang lahat ng mga manonood.

Cesar Montano stayed on stage and sang his own compositions while playing the guitar na talaga namang ikinatuwa ng mga Pinoys.

“Grabe si Cesar, ang galing nya.

Pinahanga niya kami lalo, di lang pala siya magaling na action star, he can also sing!” sambit ng maraming nakapanood sa kanya. Ayon naman sa mag-asawang Cesar at Sunshine, “Ang init ng pagtanggap sa amin ng Pinoy community dito sa UK, we are so honoured to be given the chance to perform to you today”.

Kahit tapos na ang pagdiriwang ng Birmingham Barrio Fiesta 2012, mapapanood pa din natin araw araw sina Cesar Montano, Sunshine Cruz, Alex Calleja at Jessa Zaragoza sa mga Filipino TV channels na kasama sa TV package ng TV2MORO powered by OSN. Ito ay may siyam

(9) na Filipino TV channels na pinangungunahan ng Kapatid TV5, Aksyon TV, GMA Pinoy TV, GMA Life TV, Pinoy Extreme, M&L TV. Ang mga channels na ito ay dinadala ang mga nangunguna at naglalakihang programa at artista mula sa Pilipinas na matagal ng inaabangan ng ating mga kababayan sa UK at sa buong Europa. Ang Kapatid TV5 ay pinangbibidahan nina Willie Revillame of Wil Time Bigtime; ang Face To Face, ang talk show ng totoong buhay na mas pinapanood ng mga overseas Filipinos hosted

by Amy Perez; ang bagong daily talk show ni Megastar Sharon Cuneta.

Sa Kapatid TV5 din natin aabangan ang mga bagong programa nila Cesar Montano (Artista Academy) at Derek Ramsey (Amazing Race Philippines). Ang Aksyon TV naman ay isang news and sports channel kung saan ipapalabas ang programa ni Aga Muhlach – ang Pinoy Explorer, kung saan dadalhin tayo ni Aga sa mga kakaibang destinations worldwide. Ang Aksyon TV ang official worldwide broadcaster of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) games at mapapanood din dito ang eksplosibong public service show ng Tulfo brothers at iba pang news programs mula sa News 5 team.

GMA Pinoy TV is the home of Eat Bulaga, ang longest-running na variety show sa Pilipinas na pinagbibidahan nina Tito, Vic at Joey na walang kupas na nagbibigay ng saya sa mga Pinoys worldwide. Dito din mapapanood ang gameshow ni pambansang kamao Manny Pacquiao ang Manny Many Prizes, ito din ang home station nina Marian Rivera, Dingdong Dantes, Richard Gutierrez, Ogie Alcasid at Regine Velasquez na bumibida sa mga GMA Pinoy TV programs tulad ng My Beloved at Party Pilipinas. Ang GMA Life TV naman ay isang Pinoy lifestyle channel featuring GMA celebrities.

Dito natin mapapanood ang mga shows tulad ng Day-Off, isang palabas na binibigyan ng masayang day off ang mga masisipag na Pinoys habang ang guest celebrity

ang gumagawa ng kanyang naiwan na trabaho hosted by Pekto at isang guest celebrity; Balikbayan, isang travel show hosted by Drew Arellano and a guest celebrity kung saan dadalhin tayo sa hometown ng naturang guest celebrity plus sa GMA Life TV din mapapanood ang Reel Life na tinatampukan ng mga piling pelikula mula Pilipinas.

Ang Pinoy Extreme channel ay isang sports and movie channel na pang-machong Pinoy. Dito natin mapapanood ang mga classic PBA games tulad ng bakbakang ToyotaCrispa at San Miguel-Anejo. Ang M&L TV ay isang movies, music at lifestyle channel na may kasama pang mga Visayan programs from Cebu.

Filipino Plus is delivered via IPTV, ito ay isang convenient at hassle-free na paraan ng panonood ng TV. Kailangan lang ng broadband connection at ang OSN-TV2MORO set top box na kasama sa subscription, wala ng installation fees. “Kami po ay nandito upang maghatid ng top-notch TV entertainment for Filipinos here in the UK, ito ay via our TV channels na kasama sa aming TV package”, ayon kay Chuck Silva, ang head ng Filipino business ng OSN. “Asahan po ninyo, na tuloy tuloy ang paghatid ng OSN ng pinakamalalaking artista at programa para sa Filipino community tulad ng pagdala namin sa Eat Bulaga ngayong Nobyembre sa London at sa mga magagandang palabas that our TV channels have lined up for the 3rd and 4th quarters” pagtatapos niya.

PwedengmagsubscribesaFilipino Plus TV package ng TV2MORO powered by OSN sa alin man sa mga dealers ng OSN sa United Kingdom.

Interested parties may call: Hello Philippines TV Connect (Master Dealer for the UK and Ireland) at 02031741894; Birmingham Dealer at 07531022269 (Marlo) / 07423390902 (Norma); Kapuso Entertainment at 07880888221 and SLR Pinoy at 07760161582. ■ (June 26, 2012, Birmingham, UK)

July 2012 – No. 12 • UK & Europe Edition

Celebrity, Showbiz & Entertainment

www.hello-philippines.com

HELLO

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Spice Girls follow ABBA’s footsteps on the way to the stage THE music of the British pop group the Spice Girls is set for a comeback in a musical version of their phenomenal success during the 1990s, by the creator of Mamma Mia!, the show of ABBA’s hits.

The songs of Sporty, Scary, Baby, Ginger and Baby Spice will return to the London stage in a new

musical on December 11, to be called Viva Forever!.

The five singers – Victoria Beckham (née Adams), Melanie Brown, Emma Bunton, Melanie Chisholm and Geri Halliwell – became the best-selling female group, with 75 million albums sold worldwide after their debut

in 1996, reaching No. 1 in more than 30 countries with the song “Wannabe.”

The play will not just be a Spicemania-like musical tribute to the girl group, according to the Los Angeles Times. The show’s producer Judy Craymer brought aboard the writer and actress

Jennifer Saunders (Absolutely Fabulous) to the project, so it should have a good sense of humor.

The story follows the idea of an American Idol-type singing contest, a young woman with a chaotic home life who attempts to resolve her feelings about adoption, learning to believe in

PHILIPPINES

herself and about friendship and “girl power.”

“It isn’t just an excuse to put the Spice Girls’ songs on stage,” Craymer stated. “It’s a beautiful story, properly told. Whether you like the Spice Girls or not you will love these songs within a musical.”

■ (©AFP – Los Angeles, USA – June 28, 2012)

Spice Girl pop band members Victoria Beckham, (left) Mel C, (2nd left) Geri Halliwell, (3rd left) Emma Bunton (2nd right) and Mel B (right) pose for photographs before a press conference at the O2 Dome in East London.

British pop band the Spice Girls in 2007.

Scientologists ‘creepy,’ says Murdoch on Tom Cruise MEDIA mogul Rupert Murdoch weighed in on the Tom Cruise-Katie Holmes divorce story Sunday, July 1 saying he thinks Scientologists are “creepy” and possibly even evil.

The News Corporation chief urged his Twitter followers to watch the story, which broke on Friday, June 29 when Holmes announced she was filing from divorce from Hollywood A-lister Cruise, a prominent member of the Church of Scientology.

“Watch Katie Holmes and Scientology story develop.

Something creepy, maybe even evil, about these people,” Murdoch said on his Twitter account, @ rupertmurdoch.

The fairytale Hollywood couple’s split was revealed when Holmes’ publicist announced that the

actress had filed for divorce after five years of marriage, ending an unexpected love story dogged by tabloid rumors.

A spokesman for Cruise said the “Mission Impossible” star was “deeply saddened” by the news, fueling reports that his wife’s announcement had taken him by surprise.

Speculation about why Holmes wanted out has included suggestions she was concerned that Cruise was forcing their sixyear-old daughter Suri deeper into the Church of Scientology.

The TMZ celebrity news website has reported that Holmes is seeking sole custody of Suri. Citing unnamed sources, it said she feared “that Tom would drag Suri deep into the church.”

“We’re told the couple had been arguing over Suri – that she’s now of the age where Scientology becomes a significant part of her life,” it said.

Murdoch’s Scientology comment generated a surge of Twitter traffic, prompting another tweet: “Since Scientology tweet hundreds of attacks. Expect they will increase and get worse and maybe threatening.

“Still stick to my story,” he added.

There was no immediate response to a request for comment from the Church of Scientology or from publicists for Cruise or Holmes.

A short time after his Scientology tweet, Murdoch was asked his views on Mormonism – in the spotlight currently as Mormon Mitt

©AFP/File/Andrew Cowie

Tom Cruise.

Romney takes on President Barack Obama for the White House.

“Mormonism a mystery to me,

but Mormons certainly not evil,” the News Corp tycoon replied. ■ (©AFP – Los Angeles, USA – July 1, 2012)

9th Chicago International Screenings features “Moments of Love”

A classic tale romance of two individuals living in different time.

THE 2006 movie, Moments of Love by Director Mark A. Reyes of GMA Films, was featured at the 9th Chicago International Screenings on June 6 and 9, 2012.

The Philippine Consulate General in Chicago, in partnership with GMA Pinoy TV, participated in the 9th International Screenings Program. This international film

festival is being held at the Chicago Cultural Center from April 11 to September 29, 2012.

The 260-seat venue was almost filled up during the two-day screening. On both occasions, the movie received rounds of applause and standing ovations from the audience after the film showing.

The Cinema Chicago, together

with the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, consular corps and cultural partners, presented the international film festival with weekly film series showcasing 22 films from around the world that are not widely available in the United States (U.S.) Aside from the Philippines, the

Consulates General of Argentina, Austria, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Iran, Israel, Italy, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, Korea, Poland, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, and Uruguay and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) participated in this year’s festival. ■ (DFA – June 13, 2012)