June 2013 a issue

Riza Santos, Ariella Arida, and Ruth Jennifer Ondo Mouchita.

Connecting Global News & Views For The Community

UK & Europe Edition

June 2013

3 Filipinas to compete for Miss Universe 2013 crown Story on page 30

Volume 4 - Number 11

Celeb Scoop

E E FR

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4 Filipino businessmen on Forbes list of Asian philanthropists Eat less saturated fat

EATING a diet that is high in saturated fat can raise the level of cholesterol in the blood.

Having high cholesterol increases the risk of heart disease. These practical tips can help you cut down on saturated fat.

Saturated fat is the kind of fat found in butter and lard, pies, cakes and biscuits, fatty cuts of meat, sausages and bacon, and cheese and cream.

Most of us eat too much saturated fat – about 20% more than the recommended maximum amount.

• The average man should eat no more than 30g of saturated fat a day.

• The average woman should eat no more than 20g of saturated fat a day.

Continued on page 26

PHL Embassy Organizes “Across Asia Film Festival 2013: Focus Filipino New Wave” in Sardegna, Italy AS part of the year-long commemoration of the 65th anniversary of the establishment of Philippine-Italian diplomatic relations, the Philippine Embassy in Rome, in collaboration with Associazione Culturale ZEIT, successfully organized the “Across Asia Film Festival: Focus Filipino New Wave,” from May 15 to 18 in Cagliari, Sardegna.

Continued on page 34

MANILA - For sharing their fortune, four Filipinos made it to Forbes magazine’s 48 Heroes of Philanthropy in Asia. The magazine defined true philanthropists as people who give their own money, not their company’s, unless they own most of the company.

Henry Sy Sr., the country’s richest man, and John L. Gokongwei Jr. were included in the magazine’s annual Asia’s list of top philanthropists.

The other two Filipinos who were included in the list were architect Felino “Jun” A. Palafox Jr. and perfume manufacturer Joel. S. Cruz.

Gokongwei Jr., 85, the founder and chairman emeritus of JG Summit Holdings Inc., is the chairman of one of the country’s most generously funded foundations, the

Gokongwei Brothers Foundation, launched in 1992 with his three siblings.

In 2006, Gokongwei gave half of his JG Summit shares, a donation now worth more than $1 billion, after a four-year bull run on the stock.

The foundation is the conglomerate’s largest shareholder, with a 29.4 percent stake worth $2.3 billion.

“Disbursements are funded out of company dividends and focus on education, such as a $6 million gift made over the past two years to De La Salle University’s College of Engineering, now renamed the Gokongwei College of Engineering. Money goes to scholarships, faculty development, facilities and research,” Forbes said.

Sy, 88, a founder and chairman of the SM Group, continues to disburse chunks of his fortune.

According to Forbes, Sy gave $7 million to De La Salle University last year to help build the Henry Sy Sr. Hall as part of the school’s revamp for its 100th anniversary.

The 14-floor, eco-friendly building is based on the concept of a tree that can be inhabited.

In December he donated $112 million to an unnamed foundation.

Cruz, 48, the founder and chief executive of Central Affirmative Co, focuses most of his donations on helping children and teenagers who are abandoned, troubled or sick, as well as the elderly and disabled.

“Each year his company—the manufacturer of Aficionado Germany, the country’s leading mass-market perfume bran—celebrates its anniversary by giving cash to charities and paying employees to volunteer for a day. Nicknamed the ‘Lord of Scents,’ he plans to launch the Joel S. Cruz Aficionado Foundation in the next year,” Forbes said.

The last Filipino on the list was Palafox, 63, the founder and managing partner of Palafox Associates.

His internationally recognized architecture and urban design firm offer its services for free to low-income housing projects.

One 12-hectare project was for the Smokey Mountain, a dumpsite community

in Manila that was the symbol of Philippine poverty during the terms of Presidents Ferdinand Marcos and Corazon Aquino, the later mother of President Benigno Aquino III. A former Catholic seminary student, Palafox gives money to a program helping needy churches and in the last five years, his firm has done pro bono architectural and interior design or master planning for six church-related projects.

This is Forbes’ seventh annual list of Asia’s Philantrophists, highlighting the generous and often innovative efforts of the Asia-Pacific region’s most notable givers.

“The selections are subjective: Figures for contributions aren’t always available so a ranking by size of donations isn’t possible.

Instead we aim for a mix of people and causes. We also try to identify an entirely new group of philanthropists each year, though a few people here are returning to the list because of a newsworthy donation or project announced in the past year. And we pick only true philanthropists–people who are giving their own money, not their company’s (unless they own most of the company), because donating shareholder funds isn’t charity,” Forbes said.

Forbes also doesn’t list people who work in philanthropy as foundation heads, volunteers and fundraisers but aren’t able to donate sizable sums themselves. ■ Darwin G. Amojelar / InterAksyon.com / May 31, 2013 / 10:12 AM

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INTERNATIONAL / GLOBAL NEWS

June 2013 – No. 11 • UK & Europe Edition

‘Uncatchable’ Algerian Jihadi Mastermind Belmokhtar AN undated grab from a video obtained by ANI Mauritanian news agency reportedly shows former Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) emir Mokhtar Belmokhtar speaking at an undisclosed location. The jihadist group led by Algerian Mokhtar Belmokhtar that claimed twin suicide car bombings in Niger that killed at least 20 people threatened on May 24, 2013 to launch further attacks in the country. ‘We will launch further operations’ in Niger, the group said in a statement posted on Islamist Internet forums that also threatened France and countries involved militarily in battling Islamist extremists in Mali.

Algiers. Mokhtar Belmokhtar, the one-eyed Islamist reportedly behind Thursday’s suicide bombings in Niger, is an Al Qaeda veteran who was the mastermind of the devastating attack on an Algerian gas plant in January.

Branded “the Uncatchable,” Belmokhtar personally supervised the operational plans for the twin car bombings in Niger that killed at least 20 people, according to a spokesman for his group.

The breakaway Al Qaeda group “Signatories in Blood”, which Belmokhtar founded in late 2012, said the bombings were in retaliation for Niger’s support for military operations against Islamist

extremists in neighbouring Mali, and threatened more attacks.

Chad claimed that Belmokhtar was killed during fierce fighting in northern Mali in early March, although France, which has led the armed intervention there, never confirmed his death.

In January, Belmokhtar’s group seized the In Amenas gas plant in southern Algeria, also in retaliation for the Frenchled offensive in Mali.

During the four-day siege and army rescue operation that followed, 38 hostages, all but one of whom were foreign, and 29 militants were killed.

Branded a terrorist by some, Belmokhtar is seen by others as a common criminal.

He was born in 1972 in the Algerian desert city of Ghardaia.

In a rare 2007 interview, he said he was drawn away from home by his fascination with the exploits of the mujahedeen combating the Soviet invaders of Afghanistan, whom he joined in 1991 when he was barely 19.

It was in Afghanistan that he claims to have lost his eye when it was hit by shrapnel, and where he had his first contacts with Al Qaeda.

Now nicknamed Lawar (The OneEyed), he returned to Algeria in 1993, a year after the government sparked civil war by cancelling an election the Islamic Salvation Front was poised to win.

He joined the Armed Islamic Group

(GIA), which conducted a violent campaign of civilian massacres in its battle against the government, sometimes wiping out entire villages.

Belmokhtar thrived thanks to his intimate knowledge of the nearly lawless “Grey Zone” of southern Algeria, northern Mali and neighbouring Niger. That success was strengthened by a network of tribal alliances that he cemented through marriage.

In 1998, the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC) broke away from the GIA. Belmokhtar, now also nicknamed “The Uncatchable” by a former French intelligence chief, went with them.

Nine years later, the GSPC formally adopted the jihadist ideology of Osama bin Laden and renamed itself Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM).

These Islamists have spun a tight network across tribal and business lines that stretch across Africa’s Sahel region, supporting poor communities and protecting all kinds of traffickers.

They are comfortable operating in harsh desert terrain and have made millions of dollars from the ransoms of European hostages.

Belmokhtar was pushed out as one of AQIM’s top two leaders in northern Mali in October for what one regional security official said were his “continued divisive

activities despite several warnings.”

The precise details are not entirely clear, but his third nickname, “Mr Marlboro,” could provide a hint.

With a reputation as a smuggling baron — dealing in contraband cigarettes, stolen cars and even drugs, as well as profiting from illegal immigration networks — Belmokhtar’s commitment to AQIM’s puritanical brand of Islam was questioned by some members of the group.

A Malian official said AQIM supremo Abdelmalek Droukdel had said Belmokhtar had been “dismissed for straying from the right path.”

After his ouster from AQIM, Belmokhtar founded Signatories in Blood, which launched the Algerian gas plant attack days after France sent fighter jets, attack helicopters and troops into Mali on January 11.

Thursday’s bombings in northern Niger targeted an army base in the main northern city of Agadez and a uranium mine majority-owned by French nuclear group Areva.

The jihadist group said it would continue attacking Niger until the country withdrew its forces from Mali, and also threatened France and other countries involved in what it called the “Crusader campaign” there. ■ Agence France-Presse /

May 25, 2013 / 12:00 am

Calls for Australia’s Top Catholic France to hold first gay marriage after last-ditch protest to Resign Over Sex Abuse SYDNEY–Victims of child sex abuse

by Catholic clergy in Australia and their supporters on Tuesday called for the resignation of the church’s top ranking cardinal, saying they were unimpressed with his apology.

Sydney Archbishop Cardinal George Pell on Monday fronted a Victorian state government inquiry into the criminal abuse of children, admitting to coverups by a predecessor and saying he was “absolutely sorry.”

But many in the public gallery of the hearing were left unmoved by the statements from Pell, a former archbishop of the Victorian capital Melbourne.

Stephen Woods, who suffered at the hands of a pedophile priest, said he was surprised by Pell’s comments that he acted in the best interests of victims.

“The little care for the victims that he showed, showed that they still don’t get it,” Woods told reporters.

“He needs to resign. His era is finished.”

Victims’ campaigner Helen Last, from the organization In Good Faith, said Pell should be removed given his admissions that the church covered up crimes in order to protect its reputation.

“He is actually incompetent when it comes to running such a difficult area that we’re dealing with here, where there’s so many complexities for people, there’s so many issues to do with offenders, the victims, the family and the church itself,” she told the ABC. “He just showed once again that

basically he’s not set up to be doing it and I really think that the church should put someone else in there.”

Pell was the final person to appear at the Victorian inquiry looking into the abuse of children by nongovernment and religious bodies triggered by investigations into the suicide of dozens of child sex abuse victims.

The Catholic Church in Victoria has admitted there were 620 cases of criminal child abuse dating back to the 1930s.

Pell, one of eight cardinals selected by Pope Francis to advise on reforming the Catholic Church’s opaque administration, told the inquiry he would be “very surprised” if priests had committed hundreds of rapes in Australia.

But he admitted that the actions of former Melbourne archbishop Frank Little in covering up crimes was “reprehensible.”

Asked whether he agreed that the Catholic Church had placed pedophile priests above the law, he replied: “In some cases, unfortunately.”

Pell stressed that progress had been made as the church became aware of the extent of the problem. ■ Agence FrancePresse / May 28, 2013 / 10:09 am

MONTPELLIER, France–The first gay marriage in France was to take place Wednesday, May 29, in the southern city of Montpellier, amid fears of protest after months of opposition that saw tens of thousands take to the streets Officially a secular republic, France is overwhelmingly Catholic, and the issue of gay adoption and marriage—a key campaign pledge of Socialist President Francois Hollande—has caused deep divisions.

On Sunday, May 26, at least 150,000 demonstrators took to the streets of Paris in a last-ditch protest to denounce the new law which authorizes both gay marriage and gay adoptions.

The largely peaceful gathering later turned violent as riot police battled hundreds of right-wingers.

The country’s first gay couple to marry will be 40-year-old Vincent Aubin and Bruno Boileau, 30, in Montpellier, known to homosexuals as the “French San Francisco” because of its gay-friendly reputation.

Boileau is keenly aware that the nuptials at Montpellier’s town hall — which follow a five-year relationship — will be a media circus with at least two cabinet ministers and 600 people attending, including 130 accredited journalists.

“It could be intimidating,” Boileau said.

“But we will try to retain the spirit of the goal — equality for all. That Mister or Miss Anybody can get married in the town hall.”

France is the 14th country to legalize same-sex marriage, an issue that has also divided opinion in many other nations.

Opposition to the move started as a

HISTORIC MARRIAGE. Picture taken on May 18, 2013 in front of the city hall of Montpellier, southern France, shows Vincent Autin (L) and his partner Bruno Boileau posing for a photograph.

The socialist mayor of Montpellier, Helene Mandroux, will celebrate on May 29, 2013 at the city hall of Montpellier the first French homosexual marriage with the wedding uniting Vincent Autin and his partner Bruno. Photo by Pascal Guyot/AFP

grassroots campaign which was backed by the influential Roman Catholic church. The right-wing opposition then jumped into the fray and the movement ballooned.

On Sunday, French police made a total of 293 arrests and said six people were injured — four police officers, a photographer and a protester. Interior Minister Manuel Valls blamed the extreme right for the violence.

Supporters and opponents of the bill began protesting last autumn when it was adopted by the cabinet, and continued to do so at regular intervals throughout the country during the legislative process.

The definitive vote in the French parliament came on April 23 when the law was passed legalizing both homosexual marriages and adoptions by gay couples.

Montpellier’s mayor Helene Mandroux, who had symbolically married two homosexuals — Tito Livio Santos Mota

and Florent Robin — on February 5, 2011 before the legislation was approved, said she did not want a media circus.

“I am not a celebrity type,” she said.

“I am into values. I have told everyone: This moment should be a moment that is respectful of the event.”

The marriage vows have been honed down to a simple: “Do you take this man as your spouse?”

After the ceremony, the newlyweds plan to publicly thank those who battled for homosexuals to have the right to marry.

But the local administration has banned festivities outside the venue, fearing protests.

According to a survey published Sunday in the Journal du Dimanche, nearly threequarters of French people are tired of the anti-gay marriage protests and think they should stop. ■ Agence France-Presse / Updated May 28, 2013 / 3:49 pm

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June 2013 – No. 11 • UK & Europe Edition

India PM Calls for Nuclear Deal, More Japan Investment

French Foreign Minister: There are ‘mounting suspicions’ of chemical weapons use in Syria FRENCH Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius on Monday said there were “mounting suspicions” that chemical weapons were being used in Syria.

Speaking to journalists after talks with his EU counterparts, Fabius said that “very detailed verification” was necessary however.

There were indications of “localised use” of chemical arms, he said.

“We are consulting with our partners to examine what concrete consequences to draw,” added Fabius.

He was then heading for Paris where he will meet his Russian and US counterparts Sergei Lavrov and John Kerry for talks on convening a Syria peace conference next month.

INTERNATIONAL / GLOBAL NEWS

French newspaper Le Monde reported Monday that the Syrian army was using chemical weapons against rebel forces in the outskirts of Damascus.

It quoted two of its journalists who were in the area in April and May as saying they had “witnessed over several consecutive days” the use of explosive chemical weapons and their effects on rebel fighters in the village of Jobar on the outskirts of the capital.

Reporter Jean-Philippe Remy and photographer Laurent Van der Stockt reported that on April 13 they saw fighters “suffocating and vomiting” in the area after an apparent attack using chemical weapons. ■ Agence France-Presse / May 27, 2013 / 4:00 pm

TOKYO–Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has called for an early accord on civil nuclear cooperation with Tokyo and more Japanese investment ahead of an official visit, reports said on Sunday.

Singh, who will travel to Japan in the coming week for talks with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, made the remarks during an interview with Japanese media in New Delhi on Saturday.

The Indian leader said he would “use this visit to strengthen our strategic and global partnership, which also includes trying to reach an agreement with regard to civil nuclear energy cooperation,” according to Kyodo News.

Japan-India negotiations on a civil nuclear energy agreement have been suspended since Japan suffered a nuclear crisis triggered by a massive earthquake and tsunami in March 2011.

Singh also called on Japanese industry to boost investment and contribute toward India’s economic growth, describing his country’s inadequate infrastructure as “a big bottleneck.”

“I see an enormous role for Japanese industry to contribute not only to infrastructure development of India, but also to accelerate the tempo of the manufacturing sector,” he said.

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, center, wants to develop a partnership with Japan on nuclear energy. (AFP Photo/Punit Paranjpe)

The premier said that to help Japanese and other foreign investors, he had set up a cabinet committee on investment to look at those bottlenecks that hamper development of the infrastructure sector.

Singh will arrive in Tokyo on Monday for a four-day visit during which he will also meet with Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko.

His trip was originally scheduled

for November when Japanese premier Yoshihiko Noda was in power, and had been expected to include the signing of infrastructure projects deals worth $15 billion.

However, the visit was postponed after Noda called December elections which saw him ousted and Abe installed in the top spot. ■ Agence France-Presse / May 26, 2013 / 2:45 pm

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INTERNATIONAL / GLOBAL NEWS

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June 2013 – No. 11 • UK & Europe Edition

Police Surround China Village for Catholic Celebration DONGLU–Police surrounded a Chinese village on Sunday to prevent pilgrims from joining a Catholic parade to honor the Virgin Mary, who locals say appeared in the village a century ago.

Authorities placed roadblocks on main roads leading to the small village of Donglu, just a few hours drive from Beijing, where locals — an estimated 90 percent of whom are Catholic — are fiercely devoted to Mary.

“Police don’t let any outsiders into the village during May… it’s been like that for years,” a local believer who identified herself as Maria said, standing by the towering spires of a church which dominates the village’s skyline.

Donglu’s Catholics believe that the Virgin Mary appeared in the sky above the village in 1900, terrifying attackers from the anti-foreign Boxer uprising, which also targeted Catholics, into an awestruck retreat.

“More than 100 years ago, everyone felt the power of Mary to protect the village, and each generation has passed on the story,” Maria said.

A police lock-down lasting the entire month of May, when celebrations dedicated to Mary reach their peak, was established in the 1990s, after tens of thousands of pilgrims from China and abroad gathered in the village, locals say.

AFP reporters — who entered the village through tiny back lanes, before being briefly detained and escorted out by local police — saw officers sitting in blue tents erected as checkpoints on access roads.

Red banners calling on locals to “Carry out religious activities in a lawful and orderly manner” flapped in the breeze.

But celebrations dedicated to Mary continued despite the restrictions. Around 200 Catholics, including young children, gathered outside the village church on Sunday to prepare for a parade.

Locals waved bright red flags while women in yellow silk dresses decorated with crosses climbed aboard a pick-up truck loaded with red drums, and two

men held a large picture of Mary and Jesus in front of the crowd.

“The authorities are afraid that we will cause trouble, but the vast majority of Catholics would never cause trouble,” an 81-year-old local surnamed La said.

China has repeatedly said that its citizens enjoy freedom of religious belief, but Catholic rights groups have for years reported police repression of “underground” churches, which operate without government approval.

Experts estimate that there are around 12 million Catholics in China, with about half worshipping in state-sanctioned congregations, and the rest belonging to unofficial churches. ■ Agence France-Presse / May 26, 2013 / 3:47 pm

Chinese government and public security officials monitor journalists as they delay the start of a religious parade at the Catholic cathedral in Donglu, Hebei Province on May 26, 2013.

(AFP Photo/Mark Ralston)

PH included in French aid blacklist PARIS, France - France has drawn up a blacklist of 17 countries, including the Philippines, that do not help investigate foreign aid fraud, banning the use of their banks to help distribute development funds, officials said Monday, May 27 (Tuesday in Manila).

Aides to development minister Pascal Canfin were unable to say how much French foreign aid currently transits via banks in the countries featured on the new blacklist.

The blacklist expands on an already-established register of 8 “noncooperative states and territories” that already includes Botswana, Brunei, Nauru, Guatemala and the Philippines.

It adds Switzerland, Lebanon, Panama, Costa Rica, the United Arab

Emirates, Dominica, Liberia, Trinidad and Tobago, and Vanuatu.

The officials justified the move by saying there was a lack of transparency in the nations on the list, adding that poor and developing countries were often the main victims of fraud.

“The aim is primarily preventative, to put pressure on these countries by publicizing this list to progress towards more transparency,” they said.

It comes hot on the heels of a damaging scandal involving Jerome Cahuzac, a former budget minister who was once in charge of fighting tax evasion but admitted to having a secret, foreign bank account after months of denial. ■ Agence France-Presse / May 29, 2013 / 12:10 am

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BUSINESS AND FINANCE

June 2013 – No. 11 • UK & Europe Edition

Aquino signs law allowing foreign ownership of rural banks

Cebu Pacific to fly to Doha next year CEBU Pacific is set to fly to Doha in Qatar in February next year as part of the airline’s efforts to service Filipinos living and working overseas.

At present, the budget airline is seeking green light from the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) for its Manila-Qatar flight.

The flight will be three times a week— Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays— using the airline’s Airbus A330.

Bulk of the country’s 10 million Filipinos working and living abroad are in the Middle East and are concentrated in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, among others.

Cebu Pacific, the airline arm of taipan John L. Gokongwei Jr., is scheduled to launch its long haul operations with its first Manila to Dubai flight on October 7 using A330-300 aircraft with a configuration of more than 400 alleconomy class seats.

The airline has a fleet of 43 aircraft consisting of 10 Airbus A319, 25 Airbus A320, and eight ATR-72 500. It plans to expand its fleet to 55 aircraft by the end of 2015 to increase frequency on current routes and add new city pairs and destinations. ■ KBK, GMA News / May 29, 2013 / 6:04pm

MANILA - Foreign investors can now own up to 60 percent equity in rural banks after President Benigno Aquino III signed into law a measure amending the Rural Bank Act of 1992.

“Non-Filipino citizens may own, acquire or purchase up to sixty percent of the voting stocks in a rural bank. The percentage of foreign-owned voting stocks shall be determined by the citizenship of the individual or corporate stockholders of the rural bank,” read Republic Act No. 10574, also known as the Foreign Equity Bill.

Foreigners may also become members of the board of directors of a rural bank but their participation shall be limited to their proportionate share in the equity.

“This opens up another area for foreign capital,” deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said in a briefing aired over state-run Radyo ng Bayan on Wednesday.

“Another salient point is that the new law allows rural banks to foreclose lands mortgaged to it even if the property is under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program,” Valte added.

Under the new law, the Land Bank of the Philippines, the Development Bank of

the Philippines or any state-run financial institution can subscribe to any rural bank’s capital within 30 days so that these lenders can have supplemental capital until they have accumulated enough funds of its own to attract private investors.

According to the new law, the subscription shall be equal to the total equity placement of the private shareholders, which shall be paid in full at the time of the subscription or such amount as may be necessary to promote and expand rural economic development.

The shares of stock issued to Land Bank, DBP, or any government-owned or -controlled bank or financial institution, however, may be bought at adjusted book value at any time. The Rural Bankers Association of the Philippines (RBAP) said allowing foreigners to have a stake in these lenders would give additional source of capital—allowing them to be on a level playing field with thrift and commercial banks.

“Now that foreign investments are allowed, rural banks are now in a better financial position to reach out and serve both the unbanked and under-banked through improved banking services. We

President Benigno Aquino III

expect continuous development in the countryside especially now that rural banks are made even stronger and sustainable,” said RBAP president Edward Leandro Z. Garcia Jr. Last year, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas has shut down 24 banks, one of which is Export and Industry Bank and the rest are rural lenders. These banks were found to have insufficient capital to support operations. ■ Dexter San Pedro and Likha Cuevas-Miel / InterAksyon.com /May 29, 2013 / 6:41 PM

Philippine economic, stock market gains Gov’t mulls allowing all firms to unsustainable, British accountants say import capital equipment duty-free MANILA - The Philippines’ faster economic growth and the gains in the stock market cannot be sustained, according to the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW).

“The Philippines looks to be doing exceptionally well as the government spends heavily on infrastructure and confidence about governance and business prospects abounds. Strong exports and booming household expenditure are adding to the positive picture,” ICAEW said a report.

ICAEW forecasts the Philippines’ gross domestic product (GDP) to grow 5.1 percent this year, slower than the government target of 6-7 percent. For next year, growth is projected to rise a little to 5.4 percent.

However, “capacity constraints are likely to catch up with the success story, leading to higher inflation, tighter monetary policy and a fall in growth to about 4.5 percent in 2015,” ICAEW said.

Still, the slower growth projection for 2015 “remains a good figure, and the country looks set to shake off its former reputation as the ‘sick man of Asia,’” said ICAEW economic advisor Charles Davis.

The stock market, which hit recordhighs several times this year, reflects “stagnation in industrialized nations” that brought investors who are “in search of higher yield” to emerging economies like the Philippines, Davis said, adding

that, “Asean stock markets have ridden this wave of capital, sending stock prices skywards.”

“As well as gaining investment grade public debt ratings over the past year, Indonesia and the Philippines have become stock investors’ darlings, pushing stocks up 19.9 percent in the former and 34.1 percent in the latter in the 12 months to March 2013,” Davis said.

But ICAEW cautioned that the equity market expansion in the two countries are “unsustainable and they may be seen as evidence of a bubble.”

“Growth outlook for both Philippines and Asean as a whole remains healthy.

However, careful judgment will be needed to ensure that credit growth and capital inflows are used to lay the foundation for future prosperity and not fuel a bubble,” ICAEW Southeast Asia regional director Mark Billington said.

The ICAEW report reviews five of the biggest Southeast Asian economies, which apart from Indonesia and the Philippines, also includes Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand. ■ Ben Arnold O. De Vera / InterAksyon.com / May 29, 2013 / 4:09 pm

MANILA - To prepare Philippine firms for the Asean Economic Community that begins in 2015, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) will push for the dutyfree importation of capital equipment for all businesses.

“Duties on all capital equipment should be reduced to zero... Hopefully we can execute that soon,” Trade Secretary Gregory L. Domingo said in a speech at the general membership meeting of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) on Wednesday.

Domingo later told reporters that the Tariff Commission should first conduct a public consultation to determine whether the policy should be issued through a Presidential order or legislation.

Domingo said the Department of Finance (DOF) already agreed to the tax perk during a meeting between the two agencies six months ago.

The DTI through its investment promotion agencies (IPA) -- the Board of Investments (BOI) and the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) -- award tax and other perks to attract investors.

The DOF, which ensures revenues are enough to finance expenditures, usually is averse to fiscal incentives that erode revenues.

At present, only BOI- and PEZAregistered companies enjoy duty-free importation of equipment.

Domingo said slashing the cost of imported capital equipment will “make

industries competitive in the free-trade regime.”

Duties of goods sourced within Asean are mostly down to zero, but most favored nation (MFN) rates applying to trading partners outside the region remain relatively high.

Domingo said granting duty-free importation perks to local firms will “level the playing field with producers outside the country.”

Citing a survey by the Asean Business Advisory Council (ABAC) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB), PCCI vice chairman Donald G. Dee noted in an open forum that high operating costs are among the constrains to Philippine small and medium enterprises’ (SMEs) readiness for the upcoming Asean economic integration. ■ Ben Arnold O. De Vera / InterAksyon.com / May 29, 2013 / 7:36 PM

Trade chief Gregory L. Domingo

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BUSINESS AND FINANCE

June 2013 – No. 11 • UK & Europe Edition

Ilocos Sur is helpless against illegal black sand mining—stakeholders ILLEGAL miners continue to extract black sand from Ilocos Sur, exporting the commodity out of the country placing coastal areas and the people at risk of erosion, according to a priest, an environmental group, and the Mines Bureau.

The group has brought their plea to the Mines and Geo sciences Bureau (MGB), whose geohazard mapping showed the coastal areas are vulnerable to wind and water erosion which makes sand mining a prohibited activity.

Black sand contains iron and metallic minerals for making steel.

In an interview with reporters, MGB director Leo Jasareno said black sand mining in Ilocos Sur is illegal. The bureau has ordered a blanket moratorium on permits for processing black sand in the province, the mining chief noted.

In Sta. Catalina, residents have been complaining of subsidence—a gradual caving in or sinking of an area of land—and coastal erosion of up to 100 meters from the beaches, according to stakeholders.

“Through letters and petitions, we have appealed to President Benigno Aquino III to put a stop to the illegal activity,” said Melchor P. Ines, Ilocos Sur Collective Action for the Protection of the Environment (ISCAPE) convenor.

“Nothing is happening. We don’t know what to do to stop this,” he said.

Fr. Albert Rabe, parish priest of San Juan, Ilocos Sur also asked Jasareno to help put an end to the illegal activity.

Rabe and Ines also told reporters they have sought the help of Malacañang, and already wrote three letters to President Aquino. So far, the Palace has

not responded to them.

Ines claimed mining companies continue to haul black sand from coastal areas and ship the commodity out of the country—likely a case of smuggling— while local officials turn their cheeks the other way around. The ISCAPE convenor alleged that some local officials are likely in connivance with the mining companies, considering that no action has been taken despite the repeated complaints and demands of residents to stop black sand mining in the area.

The illegal extraction of black sand along the rivers and beaches of Ilocos Region has been going on since 2008, Ines noted.

While black sand mining isn’t illegal, Jasareno said Ilocos Sur is “... a no-go zone.”

What is frustrating, according to the mining chief is that the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) was already informed of the illegal activities going on in Ilocos Sur. “We are waiting for the NBI to act on it,” he said.

Jasareno identified Taiwanese-owned Wellresource Mining Co. as actively operating in Ilocos Sur. The bureau will pursue legal action against Wellresource and recommend that it be blacklisted before concerned offices, he said.

MGB Region I has been ordered to strictly monitor black sand extraction and transport activities in the province, Jasareno added. ■ VS, GMA News / May 29, 2013 / 7:57pm

Foreign investments to spur countryside growth—rural banker THE Foreign Equity Bill or Republic Act 10574, which President Aquino recently signed into law, will enable rural banks to grow in terms of capital strength that may spur economic growth in the countryside, stakeholder said Wednesday.

“The passage of the Foreign Equity Bill into a law is a major win not only for rural banks, but to the countryside as well,” Edward Leandro Garcia Jr., Rural Bankers Association of the Philippines president, noted in a statement.

“Now that foreign investments are allowed, rural banks are now in a better financial position to reach out and serve both the unbanked and under-banked

through improved banking services,” he added.

Malacañang on Monday said the President signed the Foreign Equity Bill into on May 24. The measure amended RA 7353 or the Rural Banks Act of 1992.

RA 10574 or “An Act Allowing the Infusion of Foreign Equity in the Capital of Rural Banks, Amending RA 7353, Otherwise Known as the Rural Bank Act of 1992 as amended and For Other Purposes” is a consolidation of House Bill 5360 as amended and Senate Bill 3282 as amended.

With the new law in place, foreign investors—individuals or companies— may own up to 60 percent of the

voting stocks in rural banks. The voting shares held by foreign investors will be determined by the citizenship of the individual or corporate stockholders of a bank, according to RA 10574.

“We expect continuous development in the countryside, especially now that rural banks are made even stronger and sustainable,” Garcia said.

Garcia said rural banks may now initiate talks with potential foreign investors and partners. As additional sources of capital are now available, the industry is elevated to a level playing field with thrift and commercial banks. ■ VS, GMA News / May 29, 2013 3:58pm

Gokongwei group, Okada talks for casino venture collapse

MANILA - The group of Japanese billionaire Kazuo Okada and Philippine tycoon John Gokongwei have failed to reach a deal for their casino venture at the Philippines’ up-and-coming gaming hub along Manila Bay. “Upon mutual agreement, Robinsons Land Corporation (RLC) and Universal Entertainment Group have decided not to pursue discussions between them concerning the proposed development located in the Pagcor Entertainment City Project,” RLC said in a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange.

Universal Entertainment is one of the four licensees of the Entertainment

City project of state-run Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp at the reclaimed area in Manila Bay, envisioned to give gambling hubs Macau and Las Vegas a run for their money.

The Okada group is tagged in a $40-million case on allegations that his company paid grease money to Rodolfo Soriano, a consultant of former Pagcor head Efraim Genuino.

In December, Universal Entertainment and RLC signed an initial agreement that will allow the Gokongwei-owned property developer to acquire a minority stake in Tiger Resorts Leisure and Entertainment Inc, the Okada-led operating company of

the Manila Bay Resorts development.

RLC was supposed to take a majority stake in Eagle I Land Holdings Inc, the landowner of the project site.

In February, the two parties extended negotiations for the development of an integrated entertainment and resort complex after they failed to come up with a final agreement the previous month.

Set to open in 2015, the 44-hectare Manila Bay Resorts will house three hotels, a shopping mall with cinemas, a trade hall, luxury retail stores, restaurants and gaming facilities. ■ Krista Angela M.

Montealegre / InterAksyon.com / May 29, 2013 / 3:52 pm

Monetary Board member Felipe Medalla

Philippine banks run by ‘lazy brokers’, Monetary Board member says MANILA - (UPDATED 7:42 p.m.) A former University of the Philippines economics professor who sits on the Monetary Board today lectured banks on how they should run their business.

On the sidelines of the BSP-UP Professorial Chair lectures, Board member Felipe Medalla described the country’s biggest banks as “lazy brokers,” citing the dearth of innovative products they could have offered their clients who had opted for the safety of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ special deposit accounts (SDAs).

He said more than half of the $1.9 trillion in funds parked in the central bank’s SDAs were retail accounts under investment management activities (IMAs).

Banks are “already turning us almost into a regular bank. A lot of these [funds] are of this nature already. It would not be so bad if it’s a little amount,” Medalla said.

“Pool the money naman. Isn’t it the function of a bank to pool money? It’s not a broker,” he said.

“There’s nothing preventing them from pooling money and telling their depositors, ‘This UITF [unit investment trust fund] is X [invested] in SDAs, Y in shares. Nothing prevents them from creating new products,” he added.

Earlier, the BSP issued a memorandum that restricted retail investors’ access to the SDAs. This was aimed at making SDAs deal directly with the trust units of the banks.

Medalla said having retail investors’ money in the central bank’s SDAs runs counter to its role as a regulator, adding that the BSP ceases to be a central bank once it accepts deposits from the public.

Regular deposit products have become less attractive to the public because these earn next to nothing, prompting banks to offer special deposit products, which can provide yields higher than what can be had from Treasury bills and bonds, the rates of which have plummeted to record lows.

Medalla said the BSP’s additional restrictions on its SDAs should turn away portfolio investors, thus easing the upward pressure on the peso.

“If that kind of money leaves the country, then good riddance. We may use that opportunity to shrink our

balance sheet. Our exchange rate goes up a little bit,” he said.

BSP Governor Amando M. Tetangco Jr told reporters that streamlining the SDAs is meant to keep the original intent of using this as a monetary policy tool and not as an avenue for investments.

“What’s going to happen is there may be some shifts in funds from investment management agreements to trust funds such as UITFs. It doesn’t necessarily mean that there would be a significant deduction in the amount,” he said.

Tetangco said some may migrate back to regular bank deposits, which banks can use for their lending business.

Besides the explicit restrictions, the BSP also has reduced the rates on its SDAs by a combined 150 basis points since the start of the year, bringing them to a record low of two percent across all tenors.

Medalla said the BSP should put off further reduction of rates until such time it sees the impact of earlier cuts.

“Too many changes have happened.

There are too many moving parts— maybe we should see [first] what is happening in the system,” he said.

Among the things that monetary authorities must look into are how much money will fly abroad, how much will go into time deposits, and how much will go into UITFs and other investment channels, he added.

No need to offer new products.

Union Bank of the Philippines president Victor B. Valdepenas however said there is no need to offer new trust products to clients because “there is not much” to be invested in.

He said retail savers have limited access to investment instruments such as the equity markets and real economic investments such as setting up their own businesses.

With tighter access to SDAs, some of these retail savers may return to regular bank deposits, he said.

Valdepenas said Union Bank’s placements in the SDAs are equally divided between the IMAs and trust accounts.

“At the end of the day, the money would still be in the system. It’s just a matter of instrumentation. Will it impact liquidity? No, it has already been there,” he said. ■ Likha Cuevas-Miel / InterAksyon.com / May 24, 2013 / Updated 7:42 pm

NEWS

June 2013 – No. 11 • UK & Europe Edition

2 more heads roll as probe of Cagayan ambush continues MANILA, Philippines - Two top intelligence officers of the Cagayan Provincial Police Office (Cagayan-PPO) and Regional Police Office 2 (PRO2) were ordered relieved by National Police Director General Alan Purisima in connection with the land-mine ambush that killed 8 elite cops and injured 7 others in Allacapan town Monday.

Fired from their positions were Supt.

James Cipriano of the Cagayan-PPO and Senior Supt. Joselito Cantos of PRO2.

The two officers will be replaced by their respective deputies, said Purisima.

In a news briefing at Camp Crame, PNP spokesman Chief Supt. Generoso Cerbo Jr. said the firing of the two intelligence officers “is part of the ongoing investigation of the incident in Cagayan,” which the government has strongly protested as a violation of international conventions banning the use of land mines.

The National Democratic Front, political umbrella of the New People’s Army that carried out the ambush, had defended the operation, saying command-detonated land mines were not prohibited, only those that are randomly planted and which could hit even non-combatants or non-targets.

A day after the ambush, Special Action Force (SAF) commander Chief Supt. Carmelo Valmoria had relieved Senior Insp. Ronnie Albino, chief of the 24th Special Action Company of SAF, and Supt. Nestor Lobos, commander of SAF’s 2nd Special Action Battalion.

Purisima also ordered not only the SAF but all police forces to review their current deployment to avoid a repeat of the incident.

Earlier, Cagayan police chief Senior Supt. Gregorio Lim admitted security lapses and failure of intelligence had made it easy for the rebels to carry out

the attack. The elite team, which was on its way to a medical examination ahead of an annual fitness test, had gone unprepared through the route which is known as a frequent ambush site, about 4 kms away from the nearest village.

“The chief PNP wants to review and re-define roles of special units like our SAF to prevent this kind of incident.

The review of the policies governing the use of elite units will also help in strengthening the internal security capability of your PNP,” Cerbo said. ■ Jaime Sinapit / InterAksyon.com / May 30, 2013 / 4:57 pm

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Gazmin: It’s China that violates code of conduct in disputed territories MANILA, Philippines – Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin accused China on Thursday of violating with impunity the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea. The agreement was signed in 2002 by China and members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, a number of which are involved in disputes over territory in the South China Sea, which Manila calls the West Philippine Sea. Since last year, China has become increasingly aggressive in pushing its claims to the disputed territory, prompting the Philippines to seek arbitration before the United Nations.

“Well, we’ve been adhering to the (Code of) Conduct, we’ve been following the DOC, we did not violate it. They (China) were the ones violating it and that’s why we had filed several protests already,” Gazmin said in an interview in Camp Aguinaldo.

On Wednesday Gazmin met with Chinese Ambassador to Manila Ma Keqing in Camp Aguinaldo to discuss the situation in Ayungin Reef, which is part of the Spratly Islands and where China has deployed armed vessels.

During the meeting, Ma said China was finding ways of “cooperation” and “exchanges” to ease tensions in the Spratly Islands.

Gazmin said Ma told him their forces were in Ayungin to “monitor” the

activities of Philippine forces, especially the possible construction of additional structures in the area.

The Philippines claims Ayungin as part of the Kalayaan Island Group municipality of Palawan.

Meanwhile, Gazmin said he will holding bilateral talks with counterparts from the United States, New Zealand, Singapore, and Malaysia during a conference of defense ministers this week in Singapore.

He said he has talked to his counterpart from Brunei while the Japanese defense minister will becoming to the Philippines for their meeting.

Gazmin said he is not sure if the territorial dispute with China and other nations such as Vietnam, Malaysia, and Burnei including Taiwan will be raised during the Singapore conference.

“If the issue will pop up then we will discuss it,” he said. ■ Jaime Sinapit / InterAksyon.com / May 30, 2013 / 1:29 pm

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NEWS

June 2013 – No. 11 • UK & Europe Edition

Taiwanese probers, NBI team finish parallel work on May 9 shooting MANILA, Philippines – A six-man team of Taiwanese investigators flew back home Friday morning, wrapping up four days of work almost at the same time as an NBI team doing a parallel inquiry in Taipei into the May 9 fatal shooting of a fisherman off Batanese coast.

The investigators said they were generally satisfied with the cooperation extended by the National Bureau of Investigation, which helped them interview members of the Philippine Coast Guard and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, and view the official video of the incident from the BFAR boat.

The 8-man NBI team, meanwhile, is expected to be back in Manila later Friday.

Atty. Virgilio Mendez, deputy director of NBI, said in radio interviews Friday that more work needs to be done, particularly, to evaluate “the evidence we have gathered,” but added the work isnt’ so much.

Mendez said the NBI probers in Taiwan received cooperation from authorities there. The NBI men were allowed to examine the vessel, determine the trajectory of bullets from the volley of gunfire unleashed by the PCG team when, they alleged, the Taiwanese fishing boat repeatedly tried to ram their vessel to prevent their boarding the fishing boat suspected of illegal fishing. The NBI also examined slugs retrieved by the Taiwanese from the fishing boat that was towed back to Taiwan, for “comparison with the slugs we extracted from guns turned over to NBI by PCG,” explained Atty. Mendez.

There is yet no formal report from

the NBI team which is flying in late Friday, he said.

Mendez acknowledged the possibility there will be differences in the parallel reports of the Taiwanese and Filipino probers, especially on the location of incident---was it within Philippine or Taiwanese waters?

He declined to confirm if the NBI investigation showed it indeed happened in Philippine territory. He wanted to avoid a premature disclosure, saying location is a vital aspect of the investigation.

“We also want to see everything, evaluate everything we have, since we’ve advanced well into this inquiry.”

In case of a variance in parallel reports of Taipei and Manila, Mendez doesn’t

see a need “to reconcile our findings, since the point of the exercise” was for both sides to do their exhaustive factfinding and come up with reasonable conclusions into what really happened on Balintang Channel last May 9.

MECO chief: Tensions eased, but precautions taken Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) chairman Amadeo Perez said the situation in Taiwan has eased considerably, and it’s been 13 days since they last received any spot report of tense encounters involving Filipino workers. Still, they advised OFWs to be careful and avoid unnecessary trips outside their homes or work sites. ■

Marlene Alcaide / News5 and InterAksyon.com / May 31, 2013 / 12:21 pm

AFP file photo shows Taiwanese probers inspecting the bullet holes on the Taiwanese fishing boat that figured in the May 9 shooting by the Philippine Coast Guard off the Batanes coast.

Aquino signs law vs drunk, drugged driving MANILA, Philippines – President Benigno Aquino III has signed into law a measure criminalizing driving under the influence of alcohol or dangerous drugs.

Under Republic Act No. 10586 or the Anti-drunk and Drugged Driving Act of 2013, a law enforcement officer who has probable cause to believe a person is driving under the influence of alcohol or dangerous drugs shall conduct field sobriety tests.

The law says signs of drunk or drugged driving include overspeeding, weaving, lane straddling, sudden stops, swerving, poor coordination or the evident smell of alcohol on a person’s breath.

If a driver fails the sobriety tests, he or she will undergo a breath analyzer test or a drug confirmatory test.

A driver who refuses to undergo the mandatory field sobriety and drug tests shall have his or her driver’s license confiscated and automatically revoked.

The law mandates the Land Transportation Office and the Philippine National Police to acquire sufficient

breath analyzers and drug-testing kits within four months, with the LTO to use its Special Road Safety Fund for the purpose.

The LTO may deputize traffic enforcement officers of the PNP, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, and cities and municipalities to implement the new law.

A driver found to be driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs who is involved in an accident that does not result in physical injuries or homicide can face three months’ imprisonment and a fine ranging from P20,000 to P80,000.

If the violation results in physical injuries, the fine will range from P100,000 to P200,000.

If the violation results in homicide, the fine will range from P300,000 to P500,000.

A non-professional driver’s license shall also be confiscated and suspended for a period of 12 months for the first conviction and perpetually revoked for the second conviction, while a professional driver’s license shall

also be confiscated and perpetually revoked for the first conviction.

The owner or operator of the vehicle driven by the offender shall also be directly and principally held liable unless he or she is able to convincingly prove extraordinary diligence in the selection of the driver.

Applicants for driver’s licenses will be required to complete a course of instruction that provides information on safe driving including the effects of the consumption of alcoholic beverages on the ability of a person to operate a motor vehicle.

Professional drivers must take the course every time they renew their license. ■ Dexter San Pedro / InterAksyon.com / May 30, 2013 / 2:04 pm

Beware of ‘liking’ online: You may be part of an investment scam, SEC warns

MANILA - Investment scams have inflitrated the social networking space, with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) warning the public about likes-for-profit schemes meant to lure even students.

In several notices published on the regulator’s website, the SEC warned the public against seven potential Aman Futures investment scams.

The first of these involves a group recruiting students from the Negros Oriental State University in Dumaguete City for an online activity called “JustBeenPaid.”

Under the scheme, students are allegedly lured to initially invest P950 with a guaranteed profit in the range of 10-20 percent of the initial investment per day, and to join a “profit clicking activity by liking a certain page three times a day.”

“As a precautionary measure, the public is advised to exercise due diligence before investing in a risky business venture. Investigate and check the personal background of the people behind the scheme. Consider the value of the goods or products offered and whether there are real goods and sales involved in the deal. If the income depends on the number of recruits to the program, don’t invest, as it is likely a pyramiding scam bound to collapse,” the SEC said.

In Marinduque, a company selling pre-need/memorial plans and insurance plans with a promise of high return on their investment may be involved in a potential scam, the regulator said.

The firm, which is based in Boac and operates five branches in various other municipalities, is not registered with the Insurance Commission -- a requirement for a company that sells such pre-need and insurance policies.

Another firm that is not licensed by the insurance regulator is Cardlinks Teleconn Insurance Agency Inc. Formerly Cardlink Teleconn Inc, the company is registered with the SEC to engage in the business of providing telemarketing services for credit cards, loans, non-life insurance, insurance and different types of business services involving “items of commercial value”.

The SEC also came out with a warning against unregistered Evergreen Co, which is allegedly recruiting individuals to sell at least one product costing P3,898, an amount that represents “more than its true value.” The firm obliges applicants to attend a seminar during which the company requires P600 for the payment of clearance from various government offices for their intended hiring.

The SEC likewise raised a red flag against the multi-level marketing scheme of 1Riderspower Team Inc, which has not been issued a secondary license to sell securities. It offers products like coffee, toothpaste, soap, juice, and lubricant oil for vehicles.

“Hence, it is not authorized to offer securities to the public or to engage in investment taking activities. Neither its salespersons, agents or representatives are licensed to offer said securities,” the regulator said, adding that 1Riders has no license to operate either as food or cosmetic distributor and its products are not registered with the Food and Drugs Administration.

OK’s Global Wellness Inc is also not licensed to offer or issue securities to the public, the SEC said. The company sells, distributes, markets, exports and imports at wholesale/retail all kinds of goods, commodities, wares and merchandise of every kind and description, among others.

Lastly, Finance Global Marketing Services and Finasia Global Marketing Services, which are not registered with the SEC, allegedly use a credit card company to apply/avail of their services offering lower package cost for travel. Any customer who has agreed to the services may no longer retract and recover the money paid, the SEC said.

In August 2012, the SEC issued a similar warning against Aman Futures Philippine Inc, a company operating in Pagadian City that promised a “double your money” investment scheme.

Aman Futures had duped 15,000 people in a P12-billion pyramiding scam.

The group’s leader has since gone into hiding in Malaysia. ■ Krista Angela M. Montealegre / InterAksyon.com / May 28, 2013 / 3:21 pm

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Customers may not be able to use Electronic Top-Up at all locations where the top-up logo appears

Lycamobile National Bundle (‘the offer’) inclusive allowances are for calls and texts from the UK to standard UK landline (starting 01,02 or 03) and other UK mobile numbers, and for mobile internet usage in the UK. Other usage will be charged at standard rates. Unlimited usage is subject to a fair usage of 3000 minutes/texts/MB per month per SIM. Usage in excess of your allowance will be charged at standard rates. Allowances are valid for 30 days from the date of purchase. Calls are rounded up to the nearest minute for the purpose of calculating remaining allowances. A customer may have only one offer on their account and may not buy another during the 30 day validity period. Any remaining allowance after 30 days will not be carried over into the next 30 day period should the customer repurchase their bundle. Lycamobile reserves the right to replace or amend the offer or these Terms & Conditions or to withdraw the offer at any time on reasonable notice. Note that promotional credit (credit which Lycamobile has given to customers for free) cannot be used towards purchasing a bundle. The offer is for non-commercial, private, personal use only - Lycamobile reserves the right to withdraw or suspend the offer or to disconnect you if we suspect that offer is being used for commercial purposes, for conferencing, or if it is not being used in a handset (in a SIM box for example), or if it is being used for tethering.

Promotional period: the offer is valid from 1st June 2013 until 30th June 2013.

16

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IMMIGRATION / OFNEWS

June 2013 – No. 11 • UK & Europe Edition

Fil-Aussie strives to make history in Australian politics

ONLY 33 years old, FilipinoAustralian Carmen Garcia hopes to make history in Australia’s politics as the first person with Filipino roots to hold a position in the lower house of Adelaide.

“I do hope to be the first one elected as a member of the Liberal Party of Australia,” Garcia told GMA News Online via email.

Garcia said she feels that it is a privilege to serve the party, the people and the country where she was born and raised.

“Our party has clear values and we know what we stand for. In a nut shell,

the Liberal Party of Australia stands for hope, reward, and opportunities for all of us. We value freedom and choice and we encourage the personal responsibility of give and take,” she said.

Garcia said the Liberal Party’s objectives mainly revolve around this: a strong and prosperous economy while maintaining safety and security in Australia.

“The seat of Adelaide covers an area of approximately 76 square kilometers and takes in the capital city,” she explained.

The Australia elections will be held on September 14 this year.

Fairly new to politics. Although fairly new to politics, Garcia said she will be using her experience working as a long-term advocate for the youth with migrant and refugee backgrounds.

“We need a representative who is genuine, community-minded and has life experience they can bring to the privileged position,” she said.

Garcia became the director of the non-profit organization Multicultural Youth South Australia Inc. in 2010.

She turned it into a multi-million dollar education and development center in three years.

For her contributions to society, she received the Young Achiever Award for community service and the Governor’s multicultural award, among others.

“But beyond all this, it is my commitment to advancing Adelaide, to see a greater investment in our area, more jobs, better local services and strong voice in Parliament that will fight for the needs and interests of the people that makes me the best person to represent Adelaide,” she said.

If she wins... She may dream big but she knows how to keep her feet on the ground.

Asked about her thoughts on winning the election and making history, Garcia said, “I have not looked that far in front of me. For now I’m trying to speak to as many of the 100,000 voters in my area to convince them that I am the best person for the job.”

Garcia said she wants to be a “responsive representative,” who asks her constituents about their needs.

A family-oriented person, Garcia said she will be fighting for families if elected into office.

“I am fighting for all of us, so that we can all participate in the economic, social and cultural prosperity of our country,” she said.

A new mother, Garcia emphasized that Adelaide needs “a quality education system [and] childcare that supports women’s participation in the workforce.”

She also hopes to help create more jobs in Adelaide. “...Supporting our small businesses that are our biggest employer in Australia will create more jobs and we have committed to generating one million new jobs over the next five years. And we will do this by growing a bigger, more productive economy,” she added.

She said she intends to work hard “to make life easier and to deliver a better future for our city.”

“I want to use my experience to create real opportunities for people in Adelaide by generating more local jobs, reducing cost of living pressures, delivering better frontline services and improving our roads,” Garcia said.

Love for the Philippines. Garcia was born and raised in Australia but she still loves the Philippines.

She made her first trip to the

Philippines for baptism when she was only four months old.

She started visiting the Philippines after graduating from college.

Garcia even started scholarship programs to support her less fortunate countrymen.

“I have always had a passion for children and women and have supported orphanages, domestic violence centres and seed projects for women to earn income,” she explained.

Garcia was also the first vice president for youth affairs in the Filipino Communities Council of Australia (FILCCA) and further becoming the vice president for internal affairs.

“Through these roles I spearheaded many initiatives including raising money through Miss FILCCA for Gawad Kalinga and other projects across Davao, Cebu and Manila,” she said.

Garcia said she tries to “go home” to the Philippines every year. However, since the birth of her nine-month old daughter, she has been unable to visit the country.

“I love everything about the Philippines, but the people stand out to me the most. I am proud of my heritage.

I believe it is responsible for my strong belief in public service and giving back to the community,” she said.

Garcia said she plans to visit the Philippines after the Australian elections. ■ Andrei Medina / VVP, GMA News /

May 28, 2013 / 6:00pm

Over 4,300 Pinoys repatriated Pinoy gets 1 year jail term for stealing from Syria since 2011—DFA more than Dh31,500 in UAE THE number of Filipinos repatriated from war-torn Syria since 2011 will reach more than 4,300 as 85 more are expected to return to the Philippines by Wednesday, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said.

In a statement on Tuesday, the DFA made continued to urge Filipinos in Syria to seek repatriation “as the security in the country continues to deteriorate.”

The 85 Filipinos were declared physically fit to travel, according to the Philippine Embassy in Damascus. They are scheduled to cross the Syrian-Lebanese border on Tuesday along with Embassy staff.

Upon the group’s arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal I on Wednesday afternoon, the total number of Pinoy repatriates will reach 4,305.

According to a Reuters report Tuesday on latest developments in the strife-torn country, United Nations human rights investigators said they had “reasonable grounds” to believe that limited amounts of chemical weapons had been used in Syria.

In their latest report, based on interviews with victims, medical staff and other witnesses, they said they had received allegations that Syrian government forces and rebels had used the banned weapons, but that most testimony related to their use by state forces.

“There are reasonable grounds to believe that limited quantities of toxic chemicals were used. It has not been possible, on the evidence available, to determine the precise chemical agents used, their delivery systems or the perpetrator,” Paulo Pinheiro, who chairs the U.N. commission of inquiry, told a news conference in Geneva.

The commission examined four reported toxic attacks in March and April but could not determine which side was behind them.

“The witnesses that we have interviewed include victims, refugees who fled some areas, and medical staff,” Pinheiro said, declining to be more specific for reasons of confidentiality.

The team, composed of more than 20 investigators, conducted 430 interviews

from Jan. 15 to May 15 among refugees in neighbouring countries and by Skype with people still in Syria.

For Filipinos who need assistance from the DFA regarding immediate repatriation, they may call the Embassy at 963-116132626, +963-96-8955057, +963-934957926, +963-99-2264145, +963-968953340, or +963-95-8903893.

Family members may also give the DFA with latest information regarding the latest locations of their kin in Syria and corresponding contact details.

Those who wish to do so may call the Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs (OUMWA) at (02) 8343240 or 834-4583 or the DFA’s 24-hour Action Center at (02) 834-3333. ■ Gian C. Geronimo / VVP, GMA News / June 4, 2013 / 5:20pm

A United Arab Emirates court has sentenced a Filipino to one year in jail for stealing more than Dh31,500 while he worked at an auto parts shop at a gas station.

The Dubai Court of First Instance also ordered the Filipino, 38, to pay a fine in the amount of Dh31,500 fine, even as it decreed that he be deported after he serves his prison term.

But the verdict can still be appealed within 15 days, news site Khaleej Times reported on Monday.

The Filipino had been on trial for forgery and embezzlement of public funds, after an auditor noticed financial irregularities from September to October last year.

At the time, the Filipino was placed in charge when the store’s manager was on annual leave.

Pinay in UAE accuses Jordanian of rape

A Jordanian security manager of a hotel in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) faced a court this week on charges that he raped a Filipina employee last January.

The Jordanian, 42, was accused of luring the Filipina into a hotel room in Jebel Ali, after claiming that a party was being held there, Khaleej Times reported on Monday.

The Filipina, 26, whose job is to monitor surveillance cameras at a local hotel, reportedly agreed to go with the Jordanian on January 12.

However, when she went there with him, she found nobody in the room, but the Jordanian allegedly insisted that she drink alcoholic beverage, and she became drunk.

Although the Jordanian denied raping

her, she found blood stains.

For her part, a Filipina nurse who worked in the same hotel said the victim went to her, crying and “looking terrible.”

She said she examined the Filipina and found she had been bleeding.

During investigation, the Jordanian admitted he had raped the Filipina.

The court set another hearing on June 12. ■ VVP, GMA News / May 29, 2013 / 4:50pm

Following the discovery, the Filipino was suspended from work pending an internal probe, during which the auditor found a deficit of Dh31,500.

Prosecution records showed the Filipino was placed in charge of a shop selling tires, batteries, oil and other auto parts.

Investigation showed he tampered with the shop’s electronic system and revised revenue figures to embezzle Dh31,500.

The shop’s Indian auditor testified the Filipino was assigned with collecting sale revenues and turning them over to a local bank daily.

He allegedly embezzled Dh7,355 of Dh8,000 he was entrusted with to handle the shop’s expenses.

The Filipino confessed to the auditor via a written acknoledgment that he used the money in providing for his sick mother back home. The acknowledgement was among the evidence in the case.

Investigation also showed the Filipino sold tires and other services without recording the transactions, or falsified electronic data to show an increase in revenues on payments by credit cards and decrease the revenues on payments by cash.

He was also found to have only two invoices, when he was supposed to keep receipts and invoices of sales. ■ KG, GMA News / June 3, 2013 / 1:17pm

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EVENTS DIARY UK & EUROPE

www.hello-philippines.com

DATE / TIME 2 June Sunday 2 June Sunday 0pening Reception 03 June 2013, Monday 6.30pm Exhibition runs from 04 to 09 June 2013 9.30am-5.00pm 8 June Saturday 8 June Saturday 8 June Saturday 8 & 9 June Saturday & Sunday 9 June, Sunday 3:00pm 9 June, Sunday 3pm & 8pm 15 June, Saturday 8:30am – 6:00pm

EVENT

Misa ng Bayan One Kapamilya Go! Digital Abstraction, An Exhibition of Digital Paintings by ANTONIO GORORDO

115th Philippine Independence Day Celebration FWA-UK’s 25th Philippine National Day Dinner & Dance Hawaiian Party for Bantay Bata & Sagip Kapamilya 115th Philippine Independence Day Celebration 115th Independence Day Thanksgiving Mass and Salo-Salo A Day of Philippines Italy Friendship with Bayanihan Dance Company 115th Philippine Independence Day Celebration

VENUE

Basilica della Madonna di Caravaggio, Italy Palasesto - Palazzo del Ghiaccio, Piazza Primo Maggio, Sesto San Giovanni 20099, Milano Philippine Embassy 10 Suffolk Street London SW1Y 4HG

Philippine Independence Day 2013 TFC Milan

St John’s Church Hall Hayocks Road Stevenston, Ayrshire KA20 4DE Palace Suite, Royal Garden Hotel 24 Kensington High Street London W8 4PT Plaistow Community Centre, 63 Queens Road West, London E13 0PE Morden Park,London Road, MordenSurrey SM4 5DX Church of Our Lady of Victories, 235A Kensington High Street, London W8 6SA Teatro dal Verme (Cairoli MI), Italy

Phil-Scot Trust

16 June 2013, Sunday 2.00pm- 6.00pm

5th Rizal’s Youth Workshop Series and Graduation Day

The Quadrangle Conference and Exhibition Centre, The Kassam Stadium, Grenoble Road, Oxford OX4 4XP Philippine Embassy, 10 Suffolk St.London SW1Y 4HG

16 June Sunday 11am 20 June 2013 Thursday 7.15pm

Philippine Kalayaan Fiesta 2013

Idrescalo Park, Italy

“Boses”, First Screening in UK This is the first screening in the UK of this highly-acclaimed Filipino film directed by Ellen Ongkeko Marfil, with the acknowledgement of the Philippine Embassy, London.

Riverside Studios Crisp Rd., London W6 9RL (Nearest Tube Stn: Hammersmith)

24-30 June 2013 Monday-Sunday

Max Balatbat Solo Art Exhibit

29 June Saturday 9:00am - 6:00pm 30 June, Sunday 8:00am – 6:00pm 6 July 2013 Saturday 7.30pm

Northern Ireland Barrio Fiesta 2013

Chelsea Gallery, Chelsea Library Chelsea Old Town Hall, King’s Road, London SW3 5EZ Lower Botanic Gardens Belfast

6 July Saturday 7 July Sunday 6 & 7 July Saturday & Sunday 7 July Sunday 12 - 15 July Friday - Monday

Pistahan sa Newcastle 2013

13 July Saturday

Fiesta sa Cardiff 2013

13 & 14 July Saturday & Sunday 13 & 14 July Saturday & Sunday

Birmingham Barrio Fiesta 2013

20 & 21 July, Saturday & Sunday 10:00am – 7:00pm 27 July, Saturday 9:00am - 5:00pm 28 July Sunday 3 August Saturday

29th Barrio Fiesta sa London 2013

3 & 4 August Saturday & Sunday 17 August Saturday 17 August Saturday 30 & 31 August Saturday 19.30 & Sunday 15.00 / 19.30 7 September Saturday 14 September Saturday 21 September Saturday 19 October Saturday

Milton Keynes Barrio Fiesta 2013

November Date tbc

Parokya Ni Edgar Comeback Concert

Barrio Fiesta Sa Bradford 2013 London Piano Trio and Friends, In association with The Inter-Cultural Society of London

Leeds Barrio Fiesta 2013 Pista Sa Bristol 2013 Pista Sa Paris Pilgrimage to Lourdes France Coach trip

A Weekend Pilgrimage to Norfolk

Mitcham Barrio Fiesta 2013 Barrio Fiesta Sa Dublin Barrio Fiesta Sa Colchester 2013

Mr. & Miss Bicolandia UK ‘13 Barrio Fiesta Sa Brighton Sayaw Miss Philippines & Mr Philippines UK 2013 Mama Mary’s Birthday Aguman Kapampangan Mrs. Philippines UK 2013 20th Anniversary Dinner & Dance

ORGANISER

Ladyhill Park, Allerton Road Bradford BD15 St. John’s Smith Square London SW1P 3HA

Blaydon Rugby Club Hexham Road, Swalwell Newcastle Upton Tyne NE16 3BN Event Field Temple Newsam Road Leeds LS15 0AE Eastville Park, Muller Road, Bristol, BS5 6XA Stade de la Muette 60 Bd. Lannes 75016 Paris Lourdes, France

University Hospital of Wales, Sports and Social Club, Heath park, Cardiff CF14 4XW Woodgate Valley County Park, Clapgate Lane Bartley Green Birmingham B32 3DS Norfolk - places to visit: Sandringham Estae, Carmelite Community at Quidenham, Claretian Missionaries, Cambridge Bus Tour and Chauffeured Punting Apps Court Farm near Hampton Court, Hurst Road, Walton-on-Thames Surrey KT12 2EG Three Kings Piece, Commonside West Road, Mitcham, Surrey, CR4 4HA National Basketball Arena, Tymon Park, Tallaght Dublin 24 Lower Castle Park Colchester CO1 1TJ Campbell Park, Avebury Boulevard, MK City Centre, Milton Keynes MK9 4AN Conway Hall, 25 Red Lion Square Holborn, WC1R 4RL East Brighton Park, Wilson Avenue, Brighton The Cockpit Theatre Gateforth Street Marylebone NW8 8EH ILEC Conference Centre and Ibis Hotel 47 Lillie Road, Earls Court, London SW6 1UD Holy Cross Chapel Charing Cross Hospital Fulham Palace Road, London W6 8RF Baden-Powell House South Kensington 65 - 67 Queen’s Gate London SW7 5JS Radisson Blu Portman Hotel, Portman Square, London W1H 7BG TBC

Filipino Women’s Association UK

Bayanihan in UK Pasuguan ng Pilipinas Embassy of the Philippines London The National Folk Dance Company of the Philippines Filipino Community of Oxfordshire Organized by the Order of the Knights of Rizal and Ladies for Rizal, London Chapter, UK Philippine Consulate General in Milan “Boses” is a poignant tale about a gifted boy made mute by his unbearable experiences and his emotionally damaged mentor as they find their voice through the redemptive and healing power of music.

Q&A follows with Director Marfil and lead actor and violinist Coke Bolipata.

Organized by Mr. Ver Cuizon (Art Impresario), in cooperation with the Batangas Association UK (BAUK) Proud Filipinos of Northern Ireland with TFC Fiesta Caravan British-Filipino Association of Bradford The London Piano Trio, Robert Atchison, Olga Dudnik, and David Jones are pleased to return to St John’s with renowned friends William Hawkes and Christopher Laurence.

The concert features two very well known pieces by Mozart and Schubert together with the world premiere of Jed Balsamo’s work, Piano Trio No.2, commissioned for the London Piano Trio by The Inter-Cultural Society of London.

Filipino Community of Newcastle Upon Tyne (FILCAN) Filipino Leeds Association (FLA) Association of Filipino-British in Bristol TFC Fiesta Caravan Batangas Association UK

Star Dragon Events in cooperation with Samar Leyte Association Wales UK (SLAWUK) Filipino Association of Birmingham Pilgrimage Chaplain: Fr. Norlan Julia

ABS-CBN Europe Limited and Philippine Centre Mitcham Filipino British Association Bayanihan Entertainment and TFC FIBRICS (Filipino British Cooperative Society) in Cooperation with Colcheter FILBRIT Community Filipino British Society Bicol Association UK Ltd Brighton and Hove Filipino Community LK Dance Company Philippines UK Org

June 2013 – No. 11 • UK & Europe Edition CONTACT / REMARKS

TFC Milan Payment Center at Via Baracchini 1 for FREE Tickets

Nally Carroll: 01294 461 709 Arlene Hunter: 01294 601 628 Imee Pinto: 0776 9588 640 / Nieves Bates: 0777 9286 351/Clarita Richardson: 020 8767 0180 Mr & Mrs Joey & Luz Figueroa 07878 349 127 Tess Juval: 07956 593 236 Gil Zarcilla: 020 8204 7808 Organised in co-operation with the Philippine Embassy in London

Jose Ariel Lanada chairman@filcomoxford.org.uk Sir Alfonso Taguiang KCR Area Commander for UK & Ireland and Lady Aurea Taguiang, Pres., Ladies for Rizal / taguiang.alfonsoaurea@gmail.com 02.4398.0383 ext 220 For more details, call the Box Office at 02082371111 or visit www.riversidestudios.co.uk.

Tickets at £9.50, concession at £8.50.

TFC: 00 800 7868 4535

Nina Ricci Santos: 07780 076 256 Box Office: 020 7222 1061

Sally Sellars: 07886 742 417/ Bong Bangayan: 07824 338 251 Eden: 07809 404 580 / Chris: 07766 015 698 Wilma: 07846 088 537/ filipinoleedsassociation@gmail.com Julius 0778 632 0131/marksburyrd44@yahoo.co.uk TFC: 00 800 7868 4535 Ched Gomez: 07980066209 / Julie Villanueva: 07956422068 /Lorna Fortunado - 07776223212 / Tita Leus McCarthy - 07958732406 Richard: 07414 442 151 Jhune: 07855 294 528 Lito: 07956 211 903 Rozen Malonzo: 07985 159 203 / Dennis Cortes: 07737 540 136 / Marlo Quilang: 07531 022 269 Betilda: 07919 380513 Merla: 07939684558

Omie Rocha: 07867 940 447 londonbarriofiesta@yahoo.com Atty. Romulo Rivera, 07891 604 638 or 07789 930 496 Ronald Dalida: 07766 314 207 018721410 / 086 - 0750807 / 087-1209270 Allan: 0750 669 3837 / Joy: 07717 441 468 Jing: 07834 323 408 / info.fibrics@yahoo.co.uk Maria Davis: 07737 676 850 Grace: 07951 939 090 Jules Maristela: 078 2333 6085 Garry Gabot: 07917450125 / Riezel Paniza: 07872512828 / Email: events@bahfc.co.uk Ronnie del Barrio: 07445 132 613 hello@lkdance.org.uk / www.lkdance.org.uk Eva Macadangdang: 07983593914 / Marlowe: 07956944520 / MP_UK@yahoo.co.uk / www.philippines-uk.org Mario: 07818021874 / 07557348240

Aguman Kapampangan UK

Zannie del Mundo: 07886881432

Batangas Association UK

Gloria Diaz - 07572795321 / Julie Villanueva 079422068 / Ched Gomez - 07980066209 / Tita Leus McCarthy - 07958732406 Alaistair Macdonald: 07584 242 763 Rodolfo Alvia: 07855 294 528

FREE LISTING of your events on the Hello Philippines newspaper and if you know of any Events please contact us and submit your event via email to the following at info@hello-philippines.com 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.

2013 Monthly Filipino Community Masses in Greater London 1st Sunday

2:00 p.m.

5:00 p.m.

2nd Saturday

4:00 p.m.

2nd Sunday

2:00 p.m.

2:00 p.m.

4:00 p.m.

3rd Sunday

3:00 p.m.

3:00 p.m.

Last Saturday

6:00 p.m.

Last Sunday

2:00 p.m.

Every Sunday

5:00 p.m.

First Wednesdays

6:30 p.m.

Five Precious Wounds Parish, Brentfield Road, Stonebridge Park, NW10 8ER Ms. Mervic Monocillo 07894636140 Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church, Friary Road, Peckham SE15 1RH Mr. Allen Abeleda 077 1362 5888 St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church, 103 Woolwich New Road, SE18 6EF Mr. Moises Espanola 078 9464 8639 English Martyrs Church, Chalkhill Road, Wembley Park, HA9 9EW Ms. Becky Sarinas 079 4985 7699 or 074 2576 1519 St. Dominic Catholic Church, 243 Violet Lane, Waddon, CR0 4HN Ms. Merlie Mirto 077 2221 6462 St. Anselm and St. Cecilia, 70 Lincoln’s Inn Fields, WC2A 3JA Mr. Feliciano Ramirez 07733680748 Sacred Heart of Jesus, New Priory, Quex Road, Kilburn, London, NW6 4PS Mr. Sheidrick de Leon: 07738210202 Blessed Sacrament Parish, 157 Copenhagen Street, Islington N1 0SR Ms. Christy Sangalang: 07709119969 Our Lady of Dolours, Servite Parish Church, 264 Fulham Road, London, SW10 4EL Fr. Allan Satur: 02073526965/ fulhamroad@rcdow.org.uk/ Mr. Roland Adap r_adap@hotmail.com St. Joseph’s Catholic Church/ 218 Roehampton Lane, London SW15 4LE Mr. Rafael Santiago 077 9525 4451 Holy Redeemer Catholic Church, 20 Brixton Road (Oval), SW9 6BU Mr. Ben Ortiz 0772 331 8486 Filipino Mass and Novena to Our Mother of Perpetual Help Farm Street Church of the Immaculate Conception (Jesuit House Chapel) Access on 114 Mount Street , W1K 3AY / Josie Ramos 077 2302 4591

20

www.hello-philippines.com

IMMIGRATION / OFNEWS

June 2013 – No. 11 • UK & Europe Edition

Gazmin: Pinoy troops need new skills for UN peacekeeping missions ON the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers on Wednesday, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said Filipino troops need new skills as they are now performing new roles while deployed abroad for peacekeeping missions under the auspices of the UN. During the celebration in Camp Aguinaldo, Gazmin said peacekeepers are celebrating an important milestone: the 50th year of the Philippines’ deployment of troops for UN peacekeeping.

“The challenge then is for our peace keepers to learn new sets of skills and develop their capacity to address emerging trends in peacekeeping operations,” said Gazmin, adding there is a need “to develop the peacekeeping capabilities of our Armed Forces.”

“Peacekeeping operations have evolved since our first deployment 50 years ago. Peacekeepers are now called upon not only to maintain peace and security,” he said.

“They are also tasked to protect civilians; assist in the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of former combatants; support the organization of elections; protect and promote human rights; and assist in restoring the rule of law,” he added.

About 604 Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) personnel are deployed in the three largest Filipino contingents of the UN Peacekeeping forces: • UNDOF in Golan Heights, • UNMIL in Liberia and • MINUSTAH in Haiti.

The Philippines deploys over 1,000 Filipino peacekeepers to these three contingents every year.

Aside from the three contingents, the country is also actively conducting UN Peacekeeping missions in the Ivory Coast (UNOCI), India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) and Abyie (UNISFA).

As one of the founding members of the UN, the Philippines holds its duty to keep peace not only in Asia but around the world where keepers are needed.

The first deployment of Filipino peacekeepers was from 1950 to 1953 where a call for multi-national operations was heeded by the Philippines to resolve conflict in Korea.

Risks peacekeepers face. In March and May this year, 25 Filipino peacekeepers in Golan Heights were abducted by Syrian rebels but were later released.

After the kidnapping of 21 peacekeepers in Golan Heights, Gazmin

said that the government is reviewing its deployment of peacekeepers.

As to the status of the review, DND spokesman Peter Paul Galvez said: “it’s undergoing assessment.” He said Filipino peacekeepers will remain deployed abroad, pending the outcome of the review, “We are committed with our arrangement with UN that we will help in ensuring peace in other countries where UN request our presence. However, our own troops have to be protected and we have to ensure their security,” said Galvez.

Luiza Carvalho, UN Resident Coordinator to the Philippines, said everything is being done to avoid abductions and other similar incidents from occurring.

Capabilities of Pinoy peacekeepers.

Gazmin said the defense and military establishment is exploring cooperative activities with foreign partners to improve the capabilities of Filipino peacekeepers.

“We are cognizant of the need to balance our international commitments while ensuring the safety of our peacekeepers, which is of paramount importance,” he said, referring to the risks involving Filipino peacekeepers.

During the celebration of the International Day of UN Peacekeepers at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City on Wednesday, May 29, Filipino UN Peacekeepers look at photos of past contingents deployed in foreign countries. Asti Flores

He said the DND, together with other agencies, aim “to come up with ways to address such challenges.”

He said this includes the “continuous monitoring of the security situation in mission areas.”

The measures also include the procurement of protective equipment and “conveying to the UN, through diplomatic channels, the concerns of the Philippines and our call on all parties to respect the immunity accorded to UN peacekeepers,” he added.

Remembrance, awards.

The ceremony on Wednesday was also held

in remembrance of the 3,100 fallen peacekeepers around the world.

During the ceremony, Filipino peacekeepers were also given awards for their peacekeeping efforts.

There were seven awardees from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and five from the Philippine National Police.

The awardees include Brig. Gen. Daniel Lucero, the current commander of the Army’s 1st Infantry Division.

Lucero previously commanded the country’s peacekeeping contingent in Haiti. ■ Andrei Medina / VVP, GMA News / May 29, 2013 / 5:24pm

Many Pinoys still want to work in Taiwan despite freeze hiring

EVEN after Taiwan stopped the hiring of new overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) early this month, many Filipinos are still seeking work there.

According to a report of Jam Sisante for GMA Network’s “24 Oras” newscast, the freeze hiring failed to discourage Filipinos like Marilou Bongcalos, a factory worker in a Philippine province.

“Sana po matanggap kami kasi yung sahod dito mababa. Kung baga nasa probinsya ka, provincial rate talaga yung pinaka ano nila [sweldo]. Pinaka minimum P325,” Bongcalos told Sisante.

However, workers like Bongcalos would have to be more patient because the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) imposed new requirements to secure a working visa, such as an NBI clearanceand birthday certificate authenticated by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the TECO which may take up to five days to process.

Applicants are now also required to have a unified multi-purpose SSS identification card which may take from two weeks to a few months to obtain.

Once an applicant completes all the requirements, he will have to wait for 14 working days for the processing of his application when previously, this only took three to five days.

Expediting the process. Amelita Guinto, marketing consultant of AU Management Services Inc. said they are working out ways to expedite the process for jobseekers.

“Ang dami-dami and it takes a lot of time

bago makakumpleto [ng requirements] ang isang aplikante,” Guinto said.

Due to this, Guinto said that our competition will definitely get the best of us.

“May ibang countries tayong competitiors like Indonesia, Vietnam and Thailand,” Guinto explained adding “Yung employers dahil may production period na kailangan punuan yung mga yan hindi siyempre sila makakahintay.”

Meanwhile, the Palace said the Department of Labor and Employment is already looking for alternative countries for Taiwan-bound jobseekers.

Taiwan-Philippines row. The row between Taiwan and the Philippines stemmed from the alleged shooting of Taiwanese fisherman Hung Shih-cheng, who was suspected of poaching by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on May 9.

The PCG claims that the incident occurred in the Balintang Channel but

Taiwan said satellite records show that the fisherman was within Taiwanese territory.

After saying the initial apology of the Philippines for the incident was insincere, the Taiwanese government issued an order freezing the hiring of new Filipino workers.

Taiwan demanded for an apology from the Philippine government, compensation for the family of the slain fisherman, impartial investigation on the incident, and bilateral talks between Taiwan and the Philippines to avoid similar incidents.

Taiwan also recalled its envoy to Manila in protest of the killing.

The death of the fisherman has caused public outrage in Taiwan with some Filipinos bearing the brunt of their anger.

Taiwan’s president has already called out to his countrymen not to involve Filipinos who have nothing to do with the incident. ■ Andrei Medina / VVP, GMA News / May 29,

2013 / 1:00pm

Pinay housemaid, gardener in UAE cleared of molesting three children

A United Arab Emirates (UAE) court has cleared a Filipina housemaid and a Pakistani gardener of charges that they molested three children and had them perform lewd acts.

The Dubai Court of First Instance ruled there was insufficient evidence against the Filipina, 35, and the Pakistani, 39, who had denied the accusations against them.

“Prosecutors brought in evidence against the suspects that turned out to be insufficient and uncorroborated enough to indict the suspects, hence the court has cleared the suspects,” the court said Tuesday, according to a report on Gulf News.

Presiding Judge Mohammad Jamal acquitted the two, who denied that they molested two Emirati sisters and their brother.

Court records showed the six-yearold boy told his mother the Filipina maid threatened to burn him with matchsticks if he refused to sleep on his sisters aged seven and one, and

take part in indecent acts.

The children’s mother claimed that the Filipina exploited the children sexually to make a profit.

The mother said her sister-in-law informed her that the Filipina had a photo of her one-year-old daughter on her mobile phone.

However, Gulf News said the prosecution’s witnesses “gave inconsistent statements.”

The primary judgment sheet said the reports of the forensic examiner and criminal evidence contradicted the claims of the children’s mother that her children were abused and molested over a one-year period.

It added there were “no signs of sexual abuse or molestation.”

Court-appointed lawyers who represented the suspects asked the judge to dismiss the case due to lack of evidence.

Tuesday’s judgment remains subject to appeal within 15 days. ■ VVP, GMA

News / May 29, 2013 11:10am

The Making of the Philippine Flag

by Marcela Marino de Agoncillo and company’s manual sewing.

President Emilio Aguinaldo, 1st President of the Philippines and he conceptualized the Philippine Flag while on exile.

The Philippine Declaration of Independence was proclaimed on June 12, 1898 in Kawit, Cavite, Philippines.

CONCEPTUALIZED, CREATED AND COPYRIGHT:

1898 - 2013

Aguinaldo Shrine where Emilio Aguinaldo declared the country’s Independence from Spain.

Y A D E C N E D N E P E D N I E N I P P I 115TH PHIL O L A S O L A S D N A S S A M G N I NKSGIV 9 June 2013 at 3:00pm THASunday, Church of Our Lady of Victories, 235A Kensington High Street, Kensington, London W8 6SA (Tube Station: High Street Kensington Station Buses: 9, 10, 27, 28, 49, 52, 70 328, 452 and C1)

22

www.hello-philippines.com

HEALTH and Lifestyle

June 2013 – No. 11 • UK & Europe Edition

Relaxation tips to relieve stress RELAXATION can help to relieve the symptoms of stress. It can help you calm down and take a step back from a stressful situation.

Although the cause of the anxiety won’t disappear, you will probably feel more able to deal with it once you’ve released the tension in your body and cleared your thoughts.

All relaxation techniques combine breathing more deeply with relaxing the muscles.

Don’t worry if you find it difficult to relax at first. It’s a skill that needs to be learned and it will come with practice.

Yoga and tai chi are both good forms of exercise that can help to improve breathing and relaxation.

Relaxed breathing. Practise deep breathing at a regular time and in a quiet place where you won’t be disturbed.

Loosen or remove any tight clothes you have on, such as shoes or jackets. Make yourself feel completely comfortable.

Sit in a comfy chair which supports your head or lie on the floor or bed. Place your arms on the chair arms, or flat on the floor or bed, a little bit away from the

side of your body with the palms up. If you’re lying down, stretch out your legs, keeping them hip-width apart or slightly wider. If you’re sitting in a chair, don’t cross your legs.

Good relaxation always starts with focusing on your breathing. The way to do it is to breathe in and out slowly and in a regular rhythm as this will help you to calm down.

• Fill up the whole of your lungs with air, without forcing. Imagine you’re filling up a bottle, so that your lungs fill from the bottom.

• Breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth.

• Breathe in slowly and regularly counting from one to five (don’t worry if you can’t reach five at first).

• Then let the breath escape slowly, counting from one to five.

• Keep doing this until you feel calm.

Breathe without pausing or holding your breath.

Practise this relaxed breathing for three to five minutes, two to three times a day (or whenever you feel stressed).

Deep muscle relaxation. This

technique takes around 20 minutes. It stretches different muscles in turn and then relaxes them, to release tension from the body and relax your mind.

Find a warm, quiet place with no distractions. Get completely comfortable, either sitting or lying down. Close your eyes and begin by focusing on your breathing; breathing slowly and deeply, as described above.

If you have pain in certain muscles, or if there are muscles that you find it difficult to focus on, spend more time on relaxing other parts.

You may want to play some soothing music to help relaxation. As with all relaxation techniques, deep muscle relaxation will require a bit of practice before you start feeling its benefits.

For each exercise, hold the stretch for a few seconds, then relax. Repeat it a couple of times. It’s useful to keep to the same order as you work through the muscle groups: • Face: push the eyebrows together, as though frowning, then release.

• Neck: gently tilt the head forwards, pushing chin down towards chest, then

How to feel happier

TRY our five tips, designed to help you feel happier, more in control and able to cope better with life’s ups and downs.

If you have feelings of anxiety along with your stress, breathing exercises can help.

MANAGE YOUR STRESS LEVELS Being in a stressed state of mind a lot of the time can make it easier for you to overreact or feel negative compared to someone who is relaxed.

Managing your stress can be a gradual process. Look at your lifestyle. If you have a lot of stress in your life, find ways to reduce it, such as asking your partner to help with chores in the house, taking a relaxing yoga class, or talking to your boss about changing your working hours.

Introduce regular exercise and time to yourself. These are positive changes.

Taking control of your time in this way can effectively reduce stress.

USE HUMOUR AND ENJOY YOURSELF A good sense of humour is a great inner strength. Try to see the funny side of situations, and you’ll often be able cope better. Jokes have a way of making worries seem less important.

Doing things that you enjoy is also good for your overall emotional wellbeing. Watching sports with a friend, having a soak in the bath, or meeting up with friends for coffee are examples of small activities that can improve your day.

Doing something you’re good at, such as cooking or dancing, is a good way to enjoy yourself and have a sense of achievement. “If you’re feeling low,

tell yourself how good you are at the activity. It really gives you a lift,” says clinical psychologist Isabel Clarke.

Avoid things that seem enjoyable at the time but make you feel worse afterwards, such as alcohol, or clothes shopping if you’re on a tight budget.

BUILD UP YOUR SELF-ESTEEM Self-esteem is the way you feel about yourself. Lots of things can lower our self-esteem, such as a relationship break-up, not getting the job you wanted or putting on weight. None of these things makes us worth less, but it can feel that way.

If your self-esteem is low, it’s important to learn how to improve it.

Clarke says the best way to improve your self-esteem is to “treat yourself as you would treat a valued friend”,

slowly lift again.

• Shoulders: pull them up towards the ears (shrug), then relax them down towards the feet.

• Chest: breathe slowly and deeply into the diaphragm (below your bottom rib) so that you’re using the whole of the lungs. Then breathe slowly out, allowing the belly to deflate as all the air is exhaled.

• Arms: stretch the arms away from the body, reach, then relax.

• Legs: push the toes away from the body, then pull them towards body, then relax.

• Wrists and hands: stretch the wrist by pulling the hand up towards you, and stretch out the fingers and thumbs, then relax.

Spend some time lying quietly after your relaxation with your eyes closed.

When you feel ready, stretch and get up slowly. ■ NHS Choices

in a positive but honest way. Notice when you’re putting yourself down, such as thinking: “You’re so stupid for not getting that job,” and instead think: “Would I say that to my best friend?”.

You probably wouldn’t.

Tell yourself something positive instead, such as: “You’re a bright person, you’ll get the next job.”

Choose an exercise that you enjoy.

If it helps, do it with a friend or listen to music. Adults should aim for 150 minutes a week.

Get enough sleep. Around seven to eight hours is the average amount of sleep an adult needs for their body and mind to fully rest. But this can vary.

Some people need less and some need more before they feel ready for the day.

Whatever the case, make sure that you make sleep a priority. Some people, such as new parents and those working shifts, can find this very hard. Ask your partner or a family member to help you so that you can catch up on sleep.

Talk and share. Communication is important, whether it’s with a friend, family member or counsellor.

Communication enables you to release tension rather than keep it inside. Isabel Clarke advises: “If you’re talking about your innermost feelings, be careful who you talk to. Make sure that it’s someone who has your best interests at heart.”

Talking about your feelings doesn’t have to be formal or too serious. You can discuss small things that annoy you or make you sad. You might end up laughing about a previous difficult experience. It helps you to strengthen your relationships and connect with people.

Many people find that talking to a counsellor about the things that are troubling them is very helpful. If you want to talk anonymously or urgently, you can call the Samaritans 24 hours a day on 08457 90 90 90.

Reslience grows by making something worthwhile out of painful times. Starting a support group to help others, or making something creative out of bad experiences, such as writing down what has happened, painting or singing can help you express pain and get through hard times. ■ NHS Choices

HAVE A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE Limit your alcohol intake. You don’t have to give up alcohol completely to be emotionally healthy, but avoid drinking more than the recommended limit. If you’re a man, don’t regularly drink more than three-to-four units a day. If you’re a woman, don’t regularly drink more than two-to-three units a day. Use the alcohol tracker tool to help you stick to the recommended daily limit.

When times are hard, it’s tempting to drink alcohol because it “numbs” painful feelings. However, it can exaggerate some feelings and make you feel angry or aggressive. It can also make you feel more depressed.

If you think that your drinking might be becoming a problem, talk to your GP for advice.

Choose a well-balanced diet. Making healthy choices about your diet can make you feel emotionally stronger.

You’re doing something positive for yourself, which lifts your self-esteem, and a good diet enables your brain and body to work efficiently.

Aim to have a balanced everyday diet that includes the main food groups.

Do some exercise. Even moderate exercise releases chemicals in your brain that lift your mood. It can help you to sleep better, have more energy and keep your heart healthy. If you’re trying to reach a healthy weight, exercise will help you lose the pounds.

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Fish and shellfish A healthy diet should include at least two portions of fish a week, including one of oily fish.

That is because fish and shellfish are good sources of many vitamins and minerals. Oily fish – such as salmon and fresh tuna – is particularly rich in long-chain omega-3 fatty acids, which may help to keep your heart healthy.

Most of us should have more fish in our diet, including more oily fish. However, there are maximum recommended amounts for oily fish, crab and some types of white fish.

There is also additional advice for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, and children and babies.

For a healthier choice, go for steamed, baked or grilled fish or shellfish, rather than fried. This is because frying makes fish and shellfish much higher in fat, especially if they’re cooked in batter.

To ensure there are enough fish to eat now and in the future, we should try to eat a wide variety of fish and to choose fish from sustainable sources.

Types of fish. Different types of fish and shellfish provide different nutrients.

Oily fish. Examples of oily fish are salmon, mackerel, sardines, trout and herring. These are rich in long-chain omega-3 fatty acids, which may help prevent heart disease; a good source of vitamins A and D. There are some oily fish with bones that you eat. These include whitebait, canned sardines, pilchards and tinned salmon (but not fresh salmon). These fish can help make our bones stronger because they are good sources of calcium and phosphorus.

White fish. Examples of white fish are cod, haddock, plaice, pollack, coley, dab, flounder, red mullet, gurnard and tilapia.

White fish are very low in fat, making them one of the healthier, low-fat alternatives to red or processed meat, which tends to be higher in fat, especially saturated fat; a source of omega-3 fatty acids, but at much lower levels than oily fish.

Shellfish. Shellfish includes prawns, mussels and langoustine. They are low in fat and a good source of selenium, zinc, iodine and copper.

Some types, such as mussels, oysters, squid and crab are also good sources of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids, but they do not contain as much as oily fish.

Oily fish and omega-3. Oily fish contains a special kind of fat, called longchain omega-3 fatty acids.

Long-chain omega-3 may help prevent heart disease. It is also important for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding because it can help a baby’s nervous system to develop.

Oily fish are the richest source of longchain omega-3. Some white fish and shellfish also contain long-chain omega-3, but not as much as oily fish. The main shellfish sources of long-chain omega-3 are mussels, oysters, squid and crab.

Which fish are oily fish? These fish are all oily fish, and so good sources of long-chain omega-3: anchovies, carp, herring (bloater, kipper and hilsa are types of herring), jack (also known as scad, horse mackerel and trevally), mackerel, pilchards, salmon, sardines, sprats, trout, tuna (fresh) and, whitebait.

Canned tuna does not count as oily fish. Fresh tuna is an oily fish, but when it is canned the amount of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids is reduced to levels similar to those in other fish.

How much fish? Most people should be eating more fish, including more oily fish.

A healthy diet should include at least two portions of fish a week, including one of oily fish.

But for certain types of fish there are recommendations about the maximum amount you should eat.

How much oily fish? We should eat at least one portion of oily fish a week.

A portion of oily fish is around 140 grams when cooked.

There are recommendations for the maximum number of portions of oily fish we should be eating each week. This is because oily fish can contain low levels of pollutants that can build up in the body.

These recommendations are different for men and women, and there is separate advice on swordfish.

Men and boys: Up to four portions of oily fish a week.

Women and girls: Up to two portions of oily fish a week for women and girls who may become pregnant in the future, or who are pregnant or breastfeeding. This is because pollutants found in oily fish may affect the development of a baby in the womb in the future.

Up to four portions of oily fish a week for women who won’t become pregnant in the future.

The one exception to the recommendations above is swordfish.

Children, pregnant women and women who are trying to become pregnant should not eat swordfish. Other adults should eat no more than one portion of swordfish per week. This is because it can contain more mercury than other fish, and consuming high levels of mercury can cause health problems.

How much white fish? White fish include cod, haddock, plaice, pollack, coley, dover sole, dab, flounder, red mullet and gurnard.

With the exception of some white fish listed below, you can safely eat as many portions of white fish per week as you like.

Shark and marlin: Children, pregnant women and women who are trying to get pregnant should not eat shark or marlin.

This is because they contain more mercury than other fish.

Other adults should have no more than one portion of shark or marlin per week.

Many shark and marlin species are endangered, so we should avoid eating these fish to help stop these species

HEALTH and Lifestyle food

becoming extinct. See the sustainable fish and shellfish section below for more.

Other white fish that may contain similar levels of certain pollutants as oily fish are: sea bream, sea bass, turbot, halibut, and rock salmon (also known as dogfish, flake, huss, rigg or rock eel) Anyone who regularly eats a lot of fish should avoid eating these five fish, and brown meat from crabs, too often. There is no need to limit the amount of white crab meat that you eat.

Trying to get pregnant, pregnancy and breastfeeding. Eating fish is good for your health and the development of your baby.

But pregnant women should avoid some types of fish and limit the amount they eat of some others.

When pregnant, you can reduce your risk of food poisoning by avoiding raw shellfish.

Below is advice from the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition and the Committee on Toxicity about eating fish when trying to get pregnant, or when pregnant or breastfeeding: • Shark, swordfish and marlin: do not eat these if you are pregnant or trying to get pregnant. All other adults, including breastfeeding women, should eat no more than one portion per week. This is because these fish can contain more mercury than other types of fish, and this can damage a developing baby’s nervous system.

• Oily fish: if you are trying for a baby, pregnant or breastfeeding, you should have no more than two portions of oily fish a week. A portion is around 140 grams.

• Canned tuna: if you are trying for a baby or are pregnant, you should have no more than four cans of tuna a week.

This is because tuna contains higher levels of mercury than other fish. If you are breastfeeding, there is no limit on how much canned tuna you can eat.

These figures are based on a medium size can of tuna with a drained weight of around 140g per can. Remember, canned tuna doesn’t count as oily fish, so you can eat this as well as your maximum two portions of oily fish.

Due to the higher levels of mercury in

tuna, if you’re eating canned tuna, don’t pick fresh tuna as your oily fish.

Unless your GP advises otherwise, avoid taking fish liver oil supplements when you’re pregnant or trying for a baby. These are high in vitamin A, which can be harmful to your unborn baby.

Children and babies over six months.

Children should avoid eating any shark, swordfish or marlin. This is because the levels of mercury in these fish can affect their nervous systems.

You should also avoid giving raw shellfish to babies and children to reduce their risk of getting food poisoning.

You can give boys up to four portions of oily fish a week, but it is best to give girls no more than two portions. This is because the low levels of pollutants that oily fish contain can build up in the body and may harm an unborn baby during a future pregnancy.

Fish liver oil supplements. If you take fish liver oil supplements, remember these are high in vitamin A. This is because fish store vitamin A in their liver. Having too much vitamin A over many years could be harmful.

The Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition advises that if you take supplements containing vitamin A, you should not have more than a total of 1.5mg a day from your food and supplements combined.

Sustainable fish and shellfish. When fish or shellfish are caught or produced in a way that allows stocks to replenish and that does not cause unnecessary damage to marine animals and plants, those fish or shellfish are called “sustainable”.

To ensure there are enough fish and shellfish to eat, choose from as wide a range of these foods as possible. If we eat only a few kinds of fish, then numbers of these fish can fall very low due to overfishing of these stocks.

Overfishing endangers the future supply of the fish and can also cause damage to the environment from which the fish is caught.

Fish and shellfish safety. Eating fish or shellfish that is not fresh or that has not been stored and prepared hygienically can cause food poisoning. In this section you can find tips on how to store and prepare fish and shellfish.

Shellfish such as mussels, clams and oysters that are raw or not thoroughly cooked can contain harmful viruses and bacteria that can cause food poisoning.

Thorough cooking usually kills any bacteria or viruses.

Most of the shellfish we eat is cooked first, but oysters are often served raw. There is a small risk of food poisoning when oysters are eaten raw or without being thoroughly cooked. If you are serving oysters raw, be

June 2013 – No. 11 • UK & Europe Edition especially careful when buying and storing them: see below for more advice.

Pregnant women should avoid raw shellfish because of the risk of food poisoning.

Older people, very young children and people who are unwell can reduce their risk of food poisoning by avoiding raw shellfish, including raw oysters.

Buying fish and shellfish. When choosing fish and shellfish, remember: • Buy fish and shellfish from reputable sources.

• Choose fresh fish or shellfish that is refrigerated or kept on ice.

• Don’t buy cooked or ready-to-eat fish or shellfish that is touching raw fish or shellfish.

• When shopping, pick up fish and shellfish last and take it straight home. Fish and shellfish go off very quickly once out of the fridge.

• When buying or cooking live shellfish such as mussels, make sure that the outer shell closes when you tap it. Live shellfish will ‘clam up’ when their shells are tapped.

• Where possible buy fish and shellfish from sustainable sources Storing and preparing fish and shellfish. It’s important to store and prepare fish and shellfish hygienically.

Storing: • Put fish and shellfish in the fridge or freezer as soon as you get home.

• Make sure that all fish and shellfish are in covered containers. But don’t put mussels, oysters, clams or any other live shellfish into airtight containers, because they need to breathe.

• Don’t store fish or shellfish in water.

• Discard mussels, oysters, clams or any other live shellfish if their shells crack or break, or if the shells are open and don’t close when you tap them. Live shellfish will ‘clam up’ if their shells are tapped.

Preparing: • Wash your hands thoroughly before and after handling fish or shellfish.

• Don’t allow raw fish or shellfish or fluid from live shellfish to come into contact with cooked or ready-to-eat food.

• Use separate utensils and plates for preparing raw fish and shellfish and other food.

• Thaw fish or shellfish in the fridge overnight. If you need to thaw it more quickly, you could use a microwave. Use the “defrost” setting and stop when the fish is icy but flexible.

• If you’re marinating seafood, put it in the fridge and throw the marinade away after removing the raw fish or shellfish. If you want to use the marinade as a dip or sauce, set some aside before it touches the raw fish.

• Do not eat clams or mussels that do not open when cooked. It is likely that the clam or mussel has died, and that it is not safe to eat.

Fish and shellfish allergy. Allergies to fish or shellfish are quite common and can cause severe reactions.

People who are allergic to one type of fish often react to other types. Similarly, people who are allergic to one type of shellfish, such as prawns, crabs, mussels or scallops, often react to other types.

Cooking fish or shellfish doesn’t make someone with a fish or shellfish allergy less likely to have a bad reaction. ■ NHS Choices

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HEALTH and Lifestyle food

Cut down on saturated fat

USE these practical tips about common foods to help you cut down on saturated fat: At home • Spaghetti Bolognese: use a leaner mince as it’s lower in saturated fat. If you aren’t using leaner mince, brown the mince first, then drain off the fat before adding other ingredients.

• Pizza: choose a lower-fat topping, such as vegetables, ham, fish or prawns, instead of pepperoni, salami or extra cheese.

• Fish pie: use reduced-fat spread and 1% fat milk.

• Chilli: use leaner mince to reduce the saturated fat content. Or try it vegetarian-style by adding beans, pulses and vegetables instead of mince.

• Ready meals: compare the nutrition labels on different ready meals. There can be a big difference in saturated fat content. Pick the one lower in saturated fat using per 100g or per serving information. Remember, serving size may vary, so read the label carefully.

• Potatoes: make your roast potatoes healthier by cutting them into larger

pieces than usual and using just a little sunflower or olive oil.

• Chips: choose thick, straight-cut chips instead of french fries or crinklecut. If you’re making your own, cook them in the oven with a little sunflower oil, rather than deep-frying.

• Mashed potato: use reduced-fat spread instead of butter, and 1% fat milk or skimmed milk instead of whole or semi-skimmed milk.

• Chicken: before you eat it, take the skin off to reduce the saturated fat content.

• Meat: trim the visible fat off meat such as steak.

• Sausages: compare nutrition labels on the packs and choose the ones lower in saturated fat using per serving or per 100g information. Remember, servings may vary so read the label carefully.

Make sure you grill them instead of frying.

• Bacon: choose back bacon instead of streaky bacon. If you’re cooking your own, grill the bacon instead of frying.

• Eggs: prepare eggs without oil or butter. Poach, boil or dry-fry your eggs.

• Pasta: try a tomato sauce on your pasta. It’s lower in saturated fat than a

You can use these figures to guide your choices when you’re shopping. When you check nutrition labels on food packaging and see how much saturated fat is contained in many common foods, you’ll see how easy it can be to exceed the recommended maximum amount.

creamy or cheesy sauce.

• Milk: use 1% fat milk on your cereal.

It has about half the saturated fat of semiskimmed.

• Cheese: when using cheese to flavour a dish or sauce, try a strongtasting cheese, such as mature cheddar, because you’ll need less. Make cheese go further by grating instead of slicing it.

• Yoghurt: choose a lower-fat yoghurt.

There can be a big difference between different products.

Out and about The tips below can help you cut down on saturated fat when eating out.

• Coffee on the go: swap any large whole-milk coffee for regular ‘skinny’ ones.

• Curry: go for dry or tomato-based dishes, such as tandoori or madras, instead of creamy curries such as korma, pasanda or masala. And choose plain rice and chapatti instead of pilau rice and naan.

• Kebabs: at the kebab shop go for a shish kebab with pitta bread and salad, rather than a doner kebab.

• Chinese takeaway: choose a lowerfat dish, such as steamed fish, chicken chop suey or Szechuan prawns.

• Thai: try a stir-fried or steamed dish containing chicken, fish or vegetables.

Watch out for curries that contain coconut milk, which is high in saturated fat. If you choose one of these, try not to eat all the sauce.

• Snack time: have some fruit, toast, a low-fat yoghurt or a handful of unsalted nuts, instead of chocolate, doughnuts, croissants or pastries. If you must have something sweet, swap cakes and biscuits for a currant bun, scone or some malt loaf, plain or with reduced-fat spread. ■ NHS Choices

June 2013 – No. 11 • UK & Europe Edition

Eat less saturated fat Continuation from page 1

Why is saturated fat bad for me?

Eating a lot of saturated fat can increase the cholesterol in your blood.

High levels of cholesterol can increase your risk of: • heart attack, • stroke, and • narrowed arteries (atherosclerosis).

Cholesterol is a type of fat that your liver makes from the fatty food that you eat.

Is all fat bad for me? Your body needs small amounts of fat to help it work normally. However, some types of fat are healthier than others. There are two main types of fat in food: • saturated fat, and • unsaturated fat.

It’s a good idea to eat less saturated fat, to reduce the health risks linked with high cholesterol levels.

Which foods contain saturated fat?

Saturated fat comes from foods such as: • butter, lard and ghee (oil made from butter), • fatty meats and meat products, such as sausages and pies, • full fat milk, • cream, soured cream, crème fraîche and ice cream, • cheese, particularly hard cheese, • some savoury snacks, such as crisps, • coconut oil, coconut cream and

Eating less saturated fat. If you do eat foods that contain saturated fat, it’s a good idea to eat less of them. Below are some tips to help you: • Include less fat and less fatty foods in your diet.

• Choose lean meat or skinless poultry, instead of fatty meat or meat products.

• Trim the fat off meat before you cook it.

• Grill meat instead of frying it.

• Eat less pastry, cakes, biscuits and crisps.

You can also choose foods with lower levels of saturated fat, or foods that contain unsaturated fat. For example: • Choose lower-fat dairy foods, like 1% fat milk, low-fat yoghurt, or lowfat crème fraîche.

• Grating cheese instead of slicing it may help you to eat less of it.

• Cook with small amounts of unsaturated vegetable oil, such as sunflower, olive or rapeseed oil.

• Compare food labels and choose the option that contains less saturated fat. Some foods have traffic light labels that show if the food is high, medium or low in fat, saturated fat, sugars and salt. ■ NHS Choices

• low – 5g of total sugars or less per 100g If the amount of sugars per 100g is between these figures, then that is a medium level of sugars.

The sugars figure in the nutrition label is the total amount of sugars in the food.

It includes sugars from fruit and milk, as well as the sugars that have been added.

A food containing lots of fruit or milk will be a healthier choice than one that contains lots of added sugars, even if the two products contain the same total amount of sugars. You can tell if the food contains lots of added sugars by checking the ingredients list.

Sometimes you will see a figure for “Carbohydrates”, and not for “Carbohydrates (of which sugars)”. In this case, check the ingredients list to see if

the food is high in added sugars.

Labels on packaging. There are labels containing nutritional information on the front of some food packaging.

This includes traffic light labelling and advice on guideline daily amounts (GDAs) of some nutrients, which can include sugar.

Traffic light labelling allows you to see at a glance if the food is high, medium or low in sugars.

• red = high • amber = medium • green = low Some labels on the front of packaging will display the amount of sugar in the food as a proportion of the GDA. GDAs are guidelines about the approximate amount of particular nutrients required for a healthy diet. ■ NHS Choices

palm oil, • biscuits, cakes and pastries, and • sweets and chocolate.

Are you eating too much sugar?

MOST adults & children in UK eat too much sugar. Cut down by eating fewer sugary foods, such as sweets, cakes and biscuits, and drinking fewer sugary soft drinks.

Sugars occur naturally in foods such as fruit and milk, but we don’t need to cut down on these types of sugars.

Sugars are also added to a wide range of foods, such as sweets, cakes, biscuits, chocolate, and some fizzy drinks and juice drinks. These are the sugary foods that we should cut down on.

Why cut down on sugars? Evidence from the National Diet and Nutrition Survey shows that most adults and children eat more sugar than is recommended as part of a healthy balanced diet.

Many foods that contain added sugars also contain lots of calories, so eating these foods often can contribute to you becoming overweight.

Food and drinks that have a lot of added sugars contain calories, but often have few other nutrients. To eat a healthy, balanced diet, we should eat these types of foods only occasionally, and get the majority of our calories from other kinds of foods such

as starchy foods and fruits and vegetables.

Sugary foods and drinks can also cause tooth decay, especially if you eat them between meals. The longer the sugary food is in contact with the teeth, the more damage it can cause.

The sugars found naturally in whole fruit are less likely to cause tooth decay because the sugars are contained within the structure of the fruit. But when fruit is juiced or blended, the sugars are released. Once released, these sugars can damage teeth, especially if fruit juice is drunk frequently.

Fruit juice is still a healthy choice, and counts as one of your recommended daily five portions of fruit and vegetables. But it is best to drink fruit juice at mealtimes in order to minimise damage to your teeth.

Tips to cut down on sugars. For a healthy, balanced diet, cut down on foods and drinks containing added sugars.

These tips can help you cut down: • instead of sugary fizzy drinks and juice drinks, go for water or unsweetened fruit juice (remember to dilute these for children to further reduce the sugar) • if you like fizzy drinks, try diluting fruit juice with sparkling water

• swap cakes or biscuits for a currant bun, scone or some malt loaf with low-fat spread • if you take sugar in hot drinks or add sugar to your breakfast cereal, gradually reduce the amount until you can cut it out altogether • rather than spreading jam, marmalade, syrup, treacle or honey on your toast, try a low-fat spread, sliced banana or low-fat cream cheese instead • check nutrition labels to help you pick the foods with less added sugar, or go for the low-sugar version • try halving the sugar you use in your recipes – it works for most things except jam, meringues and ice cream • choose tins of fruit in juice rather than syrup • choose wholegrain breakfast cereals, but not those coated with sugar or honey Nutrition labels and sugars. Nutrition labels often tell you how much sugar a food contains. You can compare labels and choose foods that are lower in sugar.

Look for the “Carbohydrates (of which sugars)” figure in the nutrition label.

• high – over 15g of total sugars per 100g

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June 2013 – No. 11 • UK & Europe Edition

Last battle ground: Grocery stores help pitch tobacco to young-watchdog of our airwaves, movies, newspapers and magazines. Our governments have worked successfully to curb the tobacco industry’s access to sporting and entertainment events.” However, noted SEATCA Director Bungon Ritthiphakdee, “there remains a loophole in the regional and national policies – in countries such as Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Lao PDR, the tobacco companies lobbied hard to be allowed to still advertise cigarettes in and around convenient and grocery stores, road side stalls, and display cigarette packs at POS.” SEATCA said a ban on advertising and promotions at POS is included in countries’ obligations as outlined in the global tobacco treaty, the WHO Framework

Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).

“The tobacco companies lie when they say they don’t advertise to children. Of course they do – each time our children enter grocery stores and convenience stores they are exposed to the dangerous sales pitch of tobacco companies. We should be as vigilant about the activities by tobacco companies at POS as we have been about the mass media,” Ritthiphakdee said.

All over Southeast Asia, cigarettes are strategically displayed on the walls just behind the check-out counters in stores.

In the Philippines and Indonesia, entire stores are branded with the colors of cigarette brands, effectively transforming stores into enormous advertising vehicles in themselves.

Price of LPG goes up

MANILA - The country’s third biggest distributor of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) today announced a price hike.

In a text message, Isla LPG Corp said it would increase the price of its cooking gas by a peso per kilogram. The price adjustment would take effect 12:01 a.m. of May 31.

Isla LPG owns the Solane brand of LPG. It used to be called Shellane before Isla LPG bought the business from Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp.

Solane has 17 percent of the LPG market, after Petron, which has 38 percent, and Liquigaz, 27 percent. ■ Euan

MANILA, Philippines – While most Southeast Asian governments have succeeded in curbing tobacco advertisements and promotions from public view, aggressive promotions at points-of-sale help the industry go around such restraints, a regional watchdog warned Thursday.

The tobacco industry targets youth by displaying multiple packs of cigarettes at grocery stores, sending the message that cigarettes and smoking are as ‘common’ and ‘acceptable’ as other consumer products, said the Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance (SEATCA) in a statement issued day ahead of World No Tobacco Day on May 31.

SEATCA observed: “Tobacco ads are out

Paulo C. Añonuevo / InterAksyon.com / May 30, 2013 / 6:24 PM

In 2005 Thailand became the first country in the Asia to ban cigarette pack display at POS, and in October this year will apply 85% pictorial health warnings on packs to remove the glamour of the pack as a promotional tool. Additionally, Thailand, Singapore, and Brunei have licensed cigarette retailers as a best practice.

In Lao PDR, a loophole in their Decree on Tobacco Advertising Ban 2010 allows tobacco advertising on umbrellas at points-of-sale, thereby allowing tobacco companies to put up many umbrellas with tobacco brands in strategic locations of retail shops. This loophole must be plugged.

Vietnam faces a big challenge in enforcing the country’s tobacco control legislation. Although advertising at POS is banned, “a 2010 study shows 93% of the retail stores selling tobacco violated the provision which restricts the display to one pack or one carton per brand name, resulting in unlimited visibility of cigarettes,” SEATCA said.

Malaysia has banned advertising and

promotions at POS, but tobacco companies are still promoting cigarettes by deploying attractive display panels or power-walls of numerous cigarette packs thereby making the ban completely ineffective. They launch new cigarette brands and tobacco products through innovations, offer special packaging and aggressively display these through prominent, attractive display panels at the counters.

Asia, with its high male smoking prevalence, is a key target region for transnational tobacco companies such as PMI, BAT and JTI. Between 2007 and 2012, PMI’s market share grew from 25% to 35%. It has identified several countries as exciting growth opportunities especially Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand and Korea.

This year’s theme for World No Tobacco Day 2013 on 31 May is: “Ban tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship (TAPS)”. A comprehensive ban of all forms tobacco advertising, promotion (TAPS) and sponsorship is required under Article 13 of the FCTC. ■ InterAksyon.com / May 30, 2013 / 4:17 pm

Taiwan probers leave Manila with controversial video of shooting incident

AFTER nearly a week-long investigation in the Philippines, the Taiwanese team probing the May 9 killing of a fisherman left Manila on Friday with the most contentious piece of evidence – a purported video of the incident recorded by the Philippine Coast Guard.

The video may or may not be the smoking gun that will prove innocence or guilt. Both Philippine and Taiwanese authorities are mum about its specific contents, although Philippine officials have suggested the video will support their contention that the Coast Guard fired in self-defense and that the Taiwan boat was inside Philippine territorial waters.

Asked what the particular purpose of the Taiwanese team was in getting a copy of the video, Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) chairman Amadeo Perez said: “Maybe they need it for them to complete their investigation.”

Apart from the video provided by the Coast Guard, the Taiwanese team carried with them various documents and testimonies they obtained from their four-day investigation in Manila.

“Iyong video (na) ibinigay ay pinakita muna uli sa Coast Guard at kinopya at signed by Coast Guard,” Perez said. He added that the Department of Justice (DOJ) gave the permission to give the Taiwanese a copy of the video for the sake of “transparency.”

The seven Taiwanese investigators and prosecutors left Manila at 10:30 a.m. via China Air, he said.

Bone of contention. The only known recording of the tragedy was a major bone of contention between the two sides. The Taiwanese had refused to grant visas to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) team of probers before the Philippine government agreed to turn over a copy of the video.

The fatal shooting that occurred in disputed waters north of the Philippine mainland has severely damaged Philippine-Taiwan relations.

Both sides agreed to a “parallel probe,” rather than the joint investigation demanded by Taiwan. An NBI team that went to Taiwan at the same time that the Taiwanese team was in Manila will wrap up their visit Friday as well.

The Taiwanese probers made no comment on the results of the ballistics tests they did on the firearms of the Coast Guard personnel that engaged the Taiwanese, as well as on their interviews with those involved and their viewing of the video.

NBI team in Taiwan. Meanwhile, Perez said the eight-man NBI team is scheduled to leave Taiwan on Friday afternoon. The team, which flew to Taiwan last Monday, was led by NBI foreign liaison division chief Daniel Deganzo.

Perez said the team will be coming home with another video related to the incident.

“I am sure kumuha sila [NBI team] ng kopya ng video footage ng autopsy ng Taiwanese medico-legal on the victim,” he said.

The MECO chief said the NBI investigators would be bringing home documents and testimonies of the three companions of the victim: the fishing vessel’s captain, the victim’s brother, and an Indonesian companion.

Perez said the NBI team inspected the slugs recovered from the Taiwanese fishing vessel, but said he was not sure if the team was allowed to take some of the slugs back to the Philippines.

Parallel but independent probes.

According to a report from Unang Balita’s Mav Gonzales, NBI head Nonato Rojas clarified that the results of the investigation of the Philippine and Taiwan teams may vary.

“Ang resulta natin ng NBI ay base sa ating sariling assessment at evaluation ng evidence. Although we shared the evidence, we also inspected in Taiwan and the Philippines pero kanya-kanya naman kami ng resulta, kanya-kanya naman kami ng evalutaion,” Rojas explained in a media conference Thursday night.

He added that teams conducted parallel probes and not a joint

investigation, meaning the results will be independent.

He also maintained that the NBI will stand by their findings.

Officials from the Taiwanese investigative team were present during the media conference with Rojas on Thursday.

According to the Taiwanese probers, their investigation in the Philippines went smoothly as they managed to gather the evidence and information they sought.

The Taiwanese thanked the NBI and the Justice department for their cooperation.

The Taiwanese are expected to release a final report indicating their recommendation in a few days.

Interviews of Coast Guard, BFAR men. The Taiwanese probers interviewed 17 Philippine Coast Guard personnel and three Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources personnel from Wednesday to Thursday.

Immediately after arriving in Manila last Monday, Taiwanese investigators conducted a ballistics exam of the firearms used by Coast Guard personnel.

On Tuesday, the team inspected the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) vessel that confronted the group of the victim, who was allegedly caught fishing in Philippine waters.

The NBI team in Taiwan confirmed that the Taiwanese fishing vessel had at least 40 bullet holes.

Taiwan has insisted that their

fishermen were in Taiwan’s exclusive economic zone, not in disputed waters.

On Tuesday and Wednesday, the Taiwanese probers reviewed a two-hour video of the May 9 incident.

Taiwan-Philippines row. The PCG claims that the incident occurred in the Philippines’ Balintang Channel, but Taiwan said satellite records show that their fishermen were within Taiwanese territory.

After saying the initial apology of the Philippines for the incident was insincere, the Taiwanese government issued an order freezing the hiring of new Filipino workers.

Taiwan had demanded an apology from the Philippine government, compensation for the family of the slain fisherman, an impartial investigation of the incident, and new fisheries talks between Taiwan and the Philippines.

Taiwan also recalled its envoy to Manila in protest of the killing, while ordering the Philippine representative to leave Taipei.

The death of the fisherman triggered public outrage in Taiwan, with OFWs suffering harassment and in some cases, violent attacks.

Taiwan’s president has appealed to the Taiwanese not to vent their anger on Filipino migrant workers who had nothing to do with the incident. ■ Mark Merueñas

with a report from Andrei Medina / VVP/ HS / KBK, GMA News / May 31, 2013 / 12:26 pm

“Wash down Pure Foods Corned Beef with Red Horse Beer.”

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ENTERTAINMENT

June 2013 – No. 11 • UK & Europe Edition

3 Filipinas to compete for Miss Universe 2013 crown

GMA News TVs Reel Time accepts George Foster Peabody Award in New York TOP rating GMA News TV documentary program Reel Time received the prestigious 2013 George Foster Peabody Award at an awards ceremony held last Tuesday, May 20, at the Waldorf Astoria in New York. This is the Philippines’ third Peabody Award and also the third Peabody Award for GMA News and Public Affairs.

Program Manager Nowell Cuanang together with the Reel Time production team behind the award-winning episode Salat (Bone-dry) - Executive Producer Sharon Masula, Director Aaron Mendoza, and Researcher Mike Cristobal-were all present to receive the Peabody, considered the broadcast media’s equivalent of the Pulitzer Prize.

“This award is for all children in the world who are victims of malnutrition.

Our subject Mary Rose, inspite of hunger, remains hopeful and still continues to dream,” shared Cuanang, who was overwhelmed by the award being one of only two Asian entries together with Japan’s NHK to be included in this year’s list of winners.

The 2013 Peabody Awards’ theme was achieving excellence and overcoming mediocrity. Dr. Horace Newcomb, Lambdin Kay Chair of the Peabody Awards, elaborated this in his speech (http://peabodyawards. com/2013/05/ island-of-excellencepraised-in-peabody-awards-ceremony/)

when he addressed the 39 recipients, “Your work is the measure and the model of what should be achieved,” Newcomb, overseeing his final Peabody Awards before he retires, used his speech to urge the electronic media industry to use the medium to produce quality work: “We need information and analysis. We need entertainment that moves us deeply and opens us to new possibilities, delights us with our own humanity in all its glory and amuses us with our failures. We need documentaries that push the scene with new eyes, not fakery that pretends to be reality.”

ABC’s Good Morning America host Robin Roberts drew a standing ovation during the ceremony when she accepted the award for a documentary that chronicled her struggle against a rare blood and bone marrow disease.

U.S. networks CBS News, ABC News and PBS led the list of winners, with two trophies each. GMA News TV’s Reel Time was truly proud to stand in such esteemed company.

Reel Time’s George Foster Peabody Award-winning Salat has opened the eyes of many, here and abroad, including senatorial frontrunner Grace Poe--who was inspired to set up an elementary school lunch program after watching the documentary.

Reel Time airs every Sunday night only on GMA News TV Channel 11. ■

MANILA, Philippines – While most Southeast Asian governments have succeeded in curbing tobacco advertisements and promotions from public view, aggressive promotions at points-of-sale help the industry go around such restraints, a regional watchdog warned Thursday.

The tobacco industry targets youth by displaying multiple packs of cigarettes at grocery stores, sending the message that cigarettes and smoking are as ‘common’ and ‘acceptable’ as other consumer products, said the Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance (SEATCA) in a statement issued day ahead of World No Tobacco Day on May 31.

SEATCA observed: “Tobacco ads are out of our airwaves, movies, newspapers and magazines. Our governments have worked successfully to curb the tobacco industry’s access to sporting and entertainment events.” However, noted SEATCA Director Bungon Ritthiphakdee, “there remains a loophole in the regional and national policies – in countries such as Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Lao PDR, the tobacco companies lobbied hard to be allowed to still advertise cigarettes in and around convenient and grocery stores, road side stalls, and display cigarette packs at POS.” SEATCA said a ban on advertising and promotions at POS is included in countries’ obligations as outlined in

the global tobacco treaty, the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). “The tobacco companies lie when they say they don’t advertise to children. Of course they do – each time our children enter grocery stores and convenience stores they are exposed to the dangerous sales pitch of tobacco companies. We should be as vigilant about the activities by tobacco companies at POS as we have been about the mass media,” Ritthiphakdee said.

All over Southeast Asia, cigarettes are strategically displayed on the walls just behind the check-out counters in stores.

In the Philippines and Indonesia, entire stores are branded with the colors of cigarette brands, effectively transforming stores into enormous advertising vehicles in themselves.

At least three Filipinas will be competing for the Miss Universe 2013 crown later this year.

Besides the Philippines’ official bet, Binibining Pilinas-Universe 2013 Ariella Arida, the representatives from Canada and Gabon both have Filipino ancestry.

The Canadian bet is a familiar face to Filipino audiences. Riza Santos — a former “Pinoy Big Brother” housemate and FHM Philippines cover girl — was born to Filipino parents in the Philippines but grew up in Calgary, Alberta in Canada.

Santos already had two national beauty titles tucked under her belt —

Miss Earth Canada 2006 and Miss World Canada 2011 — before she won the Miss Universe 2013 crown under unusual circumstances over the weekend.

In an embarrassing gaffe, organizers crowned the wrong winner, Denise Garrido, on Saturday but discovered later that a typographical error had caused a mistake in the tabulation of the scores.

The corrected tally sheets revealed that Garrido was only good enough for a third runner-up finish and Santos was the rightful winner.

“I would like to say thank you to God, my family, friends, and all of my supporters during this humbling yet rewarding journey to become Miss Universe Canada,” Santos said on her webpage after being informed of her victory.

“I can’t begin to express my gratitude and excitement to represent Canada on the international stage. It’s an honour to represent our country and I ask you for your continued support and prayers,” she added.

Ruth Jennifer Ondo Mouchita — the representative from the western African state of Gabon — is half-Filipina, born to a full-blooded Filipino mother. Her Wikipedia entry says she stands half an inch shy of six feet.

Ariella Arida is a Chemistry graduate of the University of the Philippines Los Banos.

She stands almost 5’8”. ■ MJ Marfori / News5

/ May 30, 2013 / 11:43 am

As Vice Ganda presses wish to make peace, Jessica Soho ‘acknowledges’ his apology

GMA news anchor Jessica Soho “acknowledged” on Wednesday afternoon the public apology issued earlier by comedian Vice Ganda on his ABS-CBN noontime show “It’s Showtime” for a vulgar joke he had made at her expense during his recent concert.

But she also denied she shut the door on him after he tried to apologize to her on the phone.

“I acknowledge the public apology given by Vice Ganda, by way of his TV program. I sincerely hope and pray that this was done with the purest intentions and determination to put this issue behind us,” she said in a brief statement.

“Just to clarify certain points about my phone conversation with him – his call came without warning as his number was not programmed in my phone directory. I told him I wasn’t feeling well and I wasn’t sure I was ready to talk to him. But I clearly remember thanking him for his call.

“As I’ve said, this is not about me, but about the issue of rape not being an appropriate subject matter for comedy. Rape transcends age, economic class, gender — and even one’s weight. Once again, I thank everyone who gave their support,” she said.

Hours after his 10-minute apology on TV, Vice Ganda reiterated his wish to make peace with the award-winning broadcaster.

“Lahat tayo sana maging peaceful,” he said during a launch event for a mobile

Jessica Soho and Vice Ganda. (Vice Ganda photo by MJ Marfori/InterAksyon)

phone when asked for a personal message to Jessica.

He also refused to argue with his haters and detractors, who attacked him in social media over a rape joke he made pertaining to Jessica during a stand-up comedy routine in his May 17 concert at the Araneta Coliseum.

“I respect everyone. I respect kung ano sasabihan nila sa ‘kin. Ok lang kasi kung makikipagtalo ako walang patutunguhan ito. Hangga’t maaari hindi na ako magrereact. Para di na humaba hindi na ako magre-react,” he said.

He also denied that he uploaded a controversial photo of himself biting on his middle finger on Tuesday morning and then quickly deleted it.

But whatever came out on Tuesday on his social media accounts, he said his only objective was to put an end to the controversy over his jokes that had offended Jessica.

Vice said he learned two lessons from this firestorm.

First, “I realized na may ilalakas pa pala ako kasi this incident can destroy me but it has not destroyed me at all. This even made me stronger and lumakas lalo ang paniniwala ko sa Diyos… Lalong nakilala ko mga kaibigan ko. Maraming magagandang bagay ang nadulot,” he said.

And the second lesson? “You can never please everyone.” ■ MJ Marfori / News5 / May 29, 2013 / 6:56 pm

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Where will they go? Govt urged to deal with serious shortage of public high schools MANILA, Philippines – With only one public high school for every five elementary schools, the educational system can ill provide for millions of students forced to drop out, a party-list lawmaker said.

The government should thus pay serious attention to the shortage of public high schools as the new academic year begins next week, ACT Teachers Rep. Antonio Tinio said.

He noted the glaring problem: due to the lack of public secondary schools, at least 4.6 million youth from 12- to 15-years old are not enrolled in high school.

“The shortage of public high schools, particularly in rural areas, explains the alarmingly high number of children who are not enrolled in high school,” he said, adding that, “the existing high schools are simply too far away, making even free secondary education too costly for rural poor families.”

He advised the Aquino administration to embark on a massive program to ensure the presence of one high school in every barangay.

Citing Department of Education figures, Tinio noted that there were 7,268 public high schools throughout the country in 2011.

By contrast, there were 38,351public elementary schools.

“In short, there’s only one public high school for every five elementary schools.

Almost all barangays in the country

Photo by Erwin Mascariñas, InterAksyon.com file

have at least one elementary school.

By contrast, high schools may be found mainly in urban areas and population centers only. As a result, 91 percent of school-age children are enrolled in elementary, while only 62 percent are enrolled in high school,” he said.

Meanwhile, he criticized the Aquino administration for pushing the Kindergarten to 12 (K to 12) curriculum, which will add two years to high school, while failing to address the continuing lack of access of millions of children to secondary education.

“What is the DepEd doing to enable 4.6 million children to enter high school? It’s current intervention, particularly the Alternative Learning System, is commendable but grossly inadequate, compared to the magnitude

of the problem. Currently, ALS serves a mere 300,000 out-of-school children.

Furthermore, there’s no substitute for schooling in the classroom setting.

Children of the rural poor are as much entitled to quality teachers, classrooms, and textbooks as other Filipinos,” he said.

Failure to provide access to secondary education to the poor, he stressed, would worsen social inequality and hinder genuine national development.

“If the shortage of public high schools is not addressed, we will see a further widening of the gap in educational attainment among Filipino youth in the urban centers and the countryside, and among the middle and upper income groups and the poor,” he added. ■ Lira

June 2013 – No. 11 • UK & Europe Edition

Zaldy, Andal Ampatuan Jr., 76 others plead not guilty to murder of 58th massacre victim

MANILA, Philippines – Seventy-eight persons charged with involvement in the November 23, 2009 Ampatuan massacre were arraigned Wednesday and pleaded not guilty to the murder of the 58th victim, photojournalist Reynaldo “Bebot” Momay.

Among those indicted before Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 221 at Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City were former Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao governor Zaldy Ampatuan and his brother, former Datu Unsay mayor Andal Jr., according to the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines, which has been keeping close tabs on the case.

However, the court deferred the arraignment of Ampatuan clan patriarch Andal Sr., former governor of Maguindanao, five other clan members and seven other suspects because of pending unresolved motions.

The murder of Momay, whose body has yet to be found, was formally

included as the 58th murder count in the massacre case on July 22, 2012, 10 months after the Department of Justice found probable cause to file charges on his behalf.

Only the dentures of Momay were found at the massacre site in Sitio Masalay, Barangay Salman, Ampatuan town. But his name and signature were on a list of the media workers who joined the ill-fated convoy that was supposed to file the candidacy of now Maguindanao Governor Esmael Mangudadatu, who was supposed to run against Andal Jr. The 58 deaths, including that of 32 media workers, made the massacre the worst case of election-related violence in recent Philippine history and the single deadliest attack ever against journalists and media workers.

Of the 196 suspects, 106 have been arrested.

No one has yet been convicted almost four years after the slaughter. ■

InterAksyon.com / May 29, 2013 1:09 pm

Dalangin Fernandez / InterAksyon.com / May 29, 2013 / 6:20 am

Multilinguals do better at finding MECO: Pinoys still urged to statistical patterns, study shows stay away from public places

SINCE most Filipinos are multilingual, does this mean we’re all in some way better at math?

In a recent study published in Psychological Science, researchers and psychologists from Hebrew University performed a series of experiments which suggest that those who had an easier time learning a new language may be better at detecting statistical patterns.

Ram Frost, lead researcher and psychological scientist, and his team from Hebrew University tested American students in overseas program on how well they picked up the structure of words and sounds in Hebrew. The students were tested two times, once in the first semester and again in the second semester.

Visual patterns. The students were also tested on their ability to detect visual patterns when asked to watch a stream of complex shapes. The students didn’t know that the 24 shapes they were watching have already been organized into eight triplets. The order of shapes within the groups have been randomized but the shapes within each triplet always appeared in the same sequence.

Their results show a strong correlation between statistical learning and

language learning. The students that who were able to detect the patterns in visual pattern test were the ones who had an easier time learning Hebrew and were able to understand the language better than their counterparts at the end of 2 semesters.

This study, which was supported by the Israel Science Foundation (159/10) and by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (RO1 HD 067364 and PO1HD 01994) provides us with a new insight on how people learn a new language and why some people are better at picking up different languages.

Language and visual perception. In the story in Science Daily on the study, Frost says “These new results suggest that learning a second language is determined to a large extent by an individual ability that is not at all linguistic…It’s surprising that a short 15-minute test involving the perception of visual shapes could predict to such a large extent which of the students who came to study Hebrew would finish the year with a better grasp of the language.”

This study presents the possibility that statistical learning may have a broad impact on other cognitive skills.

And if a certain level of statistical or mathematical acuity is needed to learn a second language, then this implies that Filipinos, who are mostly bilingual, may have a higher level of statistical learning that may have not been exploited or explored.

In their paper, the researchers concluded that “This finding points to the possibility that a unified and universal principle of statistical learning can quantitatively explain a wide range of cognitive processes across domains, whether they are linguistic or nonlinguistic.” ■ Julia Jasmine Madrazo-Sta.

Romana / TJD, GMA News / May 30, 2013 / 6:01pm

EVEN though there have been no recent reports of Filipinos being abused or harassed in Taiwan, the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) on Friday said Filipinos are still being urged to avoid going to public places.

“Humupa na tension at emosyon ng Taiwanese. May 13 na araw na wala kaming nakuhang report sa task force na tumututok sa kaganapan,” MECO chairman Amadeo Perez Jr. said in an interview over radio dzBB. Perez reiterated there is still a chance some hotheaded people might attack Filipinos over the fatal shooting by Philippine authorities of a Taiwanese fisherman in disputed waters.

“Halos normal (ang sitwasyon) pero kahit ganoon hindi mo masasabi kung meron pang mga mainiting ulo.

Kaya sinasabihan namin sila kung hindi kailangan manatili kayo sa bahay magpahinga sa tinitirhan ninyo,” he said.

Meanwhile, Perez also reminded new Filipino workers seeking work in Taiwan that they still cannot go there at this time.

“Ang may regular contract pwede bumalik pero ang bago na kumukuha ng visa na magtatrabaho sa Taiwan nakafreeze pa rin,” Perez said.

The Philippine Coast Guard claims that the May 9 shooting incident occurred in the Philippines’ Balintang Channel, but Taiwan said satellite records show that their fishermen were within Taiwanese territory.

After saying the initial apology of the Philippines for the incident was insincere, the Taiwanese government issued an order freezing the hiring of new Filipino workers.

Taiwan had demanded an apology from the Philippine government, compensation for the family of the slain fisherman, an impartial investigation of the incident, and new fisheries talks between Taiwan and the Philippines.

Taiwan also recalled its envoy to Manila in protest of the killing, while ordering the Philippine representative to leave Taipei.

The death of the fisherman triggered public outrage in Taiwan, with OFWs suffering harassment and in some cases, violent attacks.

Taiwan’s president has appealed to the Taiwanese not to vent their anger on Filipino migrant workers who had nothing to do with the incident. ■ VVP, GMA News /

May 31, 2013 / 4:30pm

Filipino Community of Oxfordshire invites everyone to the

115th Philippine Independence Day Celebration “Filipino integration to the British Society” Saturday - 15 June 2013

The Quadrangle Conference and Exhibition Centre The Kassam Stadium, Grenoble Road, Oxford, OX4 4XP

Activities:

08:30 - Muse and Flower Parade • 11:00 - Con-celebrated Mass • 12:30 - Lunch (Salo-Salo) • 14:00 - Cultural Show • 18:00 – End of Event The Filipino Community of Oxfordshire (FilCom Oxford) was founded in 2002. Its Mission and Vision is to bring Filipinos in Oxfordshire together, united as one big family in promoting our cultural heritage and advocating fair and equal treatment in the community through proper education, training and good citizenship.

FREE FOR ALL - NO ENTRANCE FEE – FREE PARKING

For sponsorship, stalls and performances please email: Ariel Lanada chairman@filcomoxford.org.uk

www.filcomoxford.org.uk Major Sponsor:

Sponsors:

Media Partner:

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PHILIPPINE EMBASSY AROUND THE WORLD

June 2013 – No. 11 • UK & Europe Edition

PHL Embassy Organizes “Across Asia Film Festival 2013...

The highlight of the festival was the homage to Khavn Dela Cruz, a multiawarded and internationally renowned Filipino filmmaker, composer, poet, and has been called the father of Philippine digital filmmaking. The featured films

by Dela Cruz included “Philippine New Wave,” “Kommander Kulas,” and the well-applauded, “Mondomanila.”

Other featured Filipino independent full-length films included “Ang Pangagahasa kay Fe” by Alvin Yapan, “Buenas Noches España” by Raya Martin, and short-films “Walang Katapusan Kuwarto” by Emerson Reyes, “Kalon” by Blecyrezza Piluden and “Si Pagong at Si Matsing” by Ayeen Pineda.

At a press conference on May 14, Cultural Officer Charisma Coros-Pineda emphasized the Embassy’s mission to promote Filipino culture and enhance cultural relations with Italy, and reinforce links with Filipino communities and overseas Filipino workers through the

Continuation from page 1

medium of films. Philippine Ambassador to Italy Virgilio A. Reyes, Jr. noted the importance of extending active support to cultural events and in promoting Filipino artistic talents and ingenuity despite the global economic slowdown and budgetary cuts in the cultural sector of many countries including the Philippines and Italy.

During the closing ceremony of the festival on May 18, Vice Consul Kristine Margret Malang acknowledged the generous support of the Provincia di Cagliari, Comune di Cagliari, Societa’ Umanitaria-Cineteca Sarda and the Film Development Council of the Philippines.

The Associazione della Comunità Filippina di Cagliari collaborated with the organizing committee and hosted a cultural program featuring Philippine folk dances performed by the Filipino youth.

The event concluded with Filipino dishes served for both the Filipinos and Italians guests. ■ May 29, 2013 / 12:21

19th Nikkei Future of Asia Conference Secretary Del Rosario Emphasizes Just International Order is Basis for Future Regional Stability and Growth ASIA’S future dynamism rests on the region’s ability to build mutuallybeneficial partnerships under a just international order. This was the central message of Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert F. del Rosario’s well-received address at the two-day 19th Nikkei Future

of Asia Conference held last May 23 at the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo.

“The future will not simply unfold to our benefit. We need to actively shape international affairs. We have to build a solid basis upon which regional stability, political and economic integration, and

growth may proceed unimpeded,” said the Philippines’ top diplomat.

He challenged the region to actively shape the future, on the basis of a universal adherence to the principles of democracy, freedom, peace, security, human rights and the rule of law.

Secretary del Rosario said these values and principles also guide and permeate Philippine foreign policy. He cited the Philippines’ active espousal of the rule of law in the international arena, as illustrated by the Philippines’ arbitral proceedings against China’s overextended claim and unlawful actions in the West Philippine Sea. He said this legal track embodied the Philippines’ resolve to “seek not just any kind of resolution, but a just and durable one, grounded on international law.

The Secretary cautioned that unless a rules-based resolution is achieved,

“status quo will favour military and economic might, and diplomacy will veer towards appeasement, which undermines any attempt to build a system based on equity and rules.”

Secretary del Rosario cited the Aquino Administration’s own commitment to these principles under the dictum of “good governance is good economics,” as the driving force behind the unfolding Philippine economic success story.

He underscored the Philippine Government’s determined efforts to forge ahead with reforms and measures to boost competitiveness and job creation, in order to sustain the Philippines’ economic dynamism, which international investors and which has earned the country consecutive credit rating upgrades.

Concluding on a positive note, the Secretary noted ASEAN’s progress in

attaining the 2015 timetable for the establishment of the ASEAN Community as well as the organization’s leading role in shaping the evolving security architecture. The Secretary expressed his hope that the region would be able to define paradigms and conditions that would sustain its rise to political and economic global ascendancy.

Established in 1995, the Nikkei Future of Asia conference is regarded Asia’s premier foreign policy forum. Apart from Secretary del Rosario, the 19th Nikkei conference featured Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida and Bank of Japan Governor Haruhiko Kuroda. This year’s speakers addressed the theme “Asia’s Search for Steps toward Stronger Ties and Integration.” ■ May 24, 2013 / 6:08pm

PHL Ambassador Joins Philippine Independence Day Golf Tournament in Brunei Darussalam Phl Embassy in THE Philippine Embassy in Brunei Darussalam reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs that the Independence Day Golf Tournament was held at the Royal Brunei Golf and Country Club on May 26.

The one-day tournament was organized by the Pinoy Golfers Around (PIGA) with Mr. Owel Fababier as captain, Mr. Obet Gatapia as vice captain, and Mr. Manny Santuile as competitionsecretary.

Athens Conducts Consular Outreach Mission in Cyprus

Philippine Ambassador to Brunei Nestor Z. Ochoa joined other participants in one of the activities organized leading to the celebration of the 115th Proclamation of Philippine Independence on June 12.

Mr. Rommel Rosales was the overall nettwinner of the tournament which saw the participation of 17 Filipino and Brunei golfers. ■ May 29, 2013 /12:28 pm

Ambassador Ocha (2nd from left) joins other winners of the Philippine Independence Day Golf Tournament 2013.

Members of the Pinoy Golfers Around (PIGA) with Ambassador Nestor Z. Ocha (center) at the Royal Brunei Golf & Country Club in Jerundong.

Ambassador Ocha with officers of the PIGA.

THE Philippine Embassy in Athens sent a consular team to Cyprus from May 16 to 20.

The five-member consular team included one Pag-IBIG representative, and in cooperation with the Philippine Honorary Consulate in Nicosia and with the assistance of some members of the Overseas Filipino Volunteers Cyprus, processed a total of 511 e-passport applications (including 5 lost passports), and rendered miscellaneous services (reports of birth and marriage, affidavits and certifications).

The team conducted consultations with the Filipino community on dual citizenship, change of status from single to married (amendment), especially for Filipinas married to Cypriot nationals, registration of births for single parent and contributions to Pag-IBIG, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) and Social Security System (SSS). ■ May 29, 2013 /4:42 pm

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June 2013 – No. 11 • UK & Europe Edition

Defense chief says China, not PHL, violating code of conduct in Spratlys DEFENSE Secretary Voltaire Gazmin on Thursday claimed that China and not the Philippines was allegedly violating the Declaration on the Code of Conduct (DOC) in disputed territories in the West Philippine Sea. Gazmin made the statement in a chance interview with reporters at Camp Aquinaldo a day after his meeting with Chinese Ambassador Ma Keqing over questions about whether or not China will remove its ships from the Ayungin Shoal.

On Wednesday, Gazmin said China intends to keep monitoring Manila over concerns that the Philippines intends to put up new structures on Ayungin Shoal (Second Thomas) in the disputed Spratly Islands.

Gazmin explained that China was concerned about a Philippine ship that

was on its way to the Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea. Gazmin explained that the ship is not there to build structures in the disputed territories but is on a supply mission.

On Thursday, Gazmin said, “Well we’ve been adhering to the conduct, we’ve been following the DOC, wala naman tayong viniolate.”

Gazmin alleged that it is China that is not adhering to the DOC. “Sila ang hindi [sumusunod], kaya nga ito pwedeng [isama] sa ating mga protesta, kaya nga lumalabas yang sunud-sunod na protest natin,” Gazmin said.

“Tayo ay nagpupunta dun because of routine provisional missions, at saka yung regular rotation of forces. Ang tao dun stays there for three months,

alangan naman three months ka dun sa barko, ang area mo napakaliit, tapos puro dagat lang so kailangan constant ang rotation,” he added.

‘Deescalation’. Meanwhile, Gazmin reiterated the Philippine government’s commitment to deescalation in the territories.

“Ang dapat nating gawin yung hindi natin i-escalate yung problema natin kasi merong tayong kasong finile para sa ganun ay hindi majeopardize yung legal proceedings,” he said.

The Defense Secretary is on the way to Singapore for a dialogue with other Defense MInisters of other countries.

While there, Gazmin said he will conduct several bilateral talks. “[The conference is for] different ministers of defense or secretary of

defense and [other] defense officials [to] meet and interact with each other regarding issues of security concerns, both dito sa ating region and sa international community,’ Gazmin said. din kami ng “Magkakaron pagkakataong magkaroon ng bileterals with these countries. Ang ka-bileral ko as of now will be US, New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia,” Gazmin added.

However he admitted that no scheduled talked with the Chinese defense head has been scheduled.

“China, wala. Hindi kasama,” he said Declaration of Sea Code of Conduct.

In November 2002, a Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea was signed between the ASEAN and China. Parties involved have yet to pen the actual code of conduct however, as

China has continuously insisted on a bilateral approach to territorial disputes.

The Philippines and China have been locked in a territorial dispute over the Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal since April 2012.

Both countries are also among six claimants to the Spratly Islands, which China calls the Nansha Islands. The other claimants include Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Vietnam.

The Aquino administration earlier favored peaceful negotiations and country to country relations with China to try and resolve the dispute, but have since elevated to an International Arbitral Tribunal, protesting China’s so-called nine-dash claim to almost the entire South China Sea, including the West Philippine Sea. ■ Patricia Denise Chiu / VVP,

GMA News / May 30, 2013 / 6:00pm

Philippines climbs five notches in IMD’s world competitiveness ranking MANILA - After dropping two steps last year, the Philippines climbs five notches in the International Institute for Management Development’s (IMD) 2013 World Competitiveness ranking.

The Philippines went up from 43 to 38 in the World Competitiveness Yearbook as investments in telecommunications, foreign direct and portfolio investments, real gross domestic growth (GDP) per capita and real GDP growth improved.

It also helped that the country’s direct investments abroad, social cohesion, and its international image or branding got better, the yearbook said.

The Philippines also benefitted from benign inflation; shrinking government subsidies; improved scientific research, researchers and scientists; narrowing interest rate spread; and easing protectionism.

Still, it was not all high marks. The Philippines was seen to have weaknesses in several areas of the economy, specifically: • high-tech exports, • real short-term interest rates, • employer’s social security contribution rate, • water transportation,

• government budget deficit, • relocation threats of production, • direct investments in stocks abroad, • communication technology, • current account balance, • state ownership of enterprises, • foreign investors, • employee training, • social responsibility, • investment risk, and • start-up procedures.

Overall, however, the Philippines was deemed attractive to investors. A big pool

of skilled workers was on top of investors’ lists of things to like about the country, IMD’s Executive Opinion Survey showed.

The country has to hurdle several key issues this year to climb further on the list. High up on the priority list, the IMD said, is improving and expanding infrastructure.

“Many roads remain unpaved and the main airport is operating beyond capacity,” the Yearbook says.

The Aquino administration also needs to step up its anti-corruption drive as the

country still ranked 105th out of the 174 surveyed by Transparency International.

Despite the stellar growth posted over the past few years, unemployment in the country is still the highest among the Asean-5, which also counts Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia.

Moreover, the country still has to contend with an undeveloped financial system and it should work to improve access to financing—the biggest challenge facing small and medium enterprises.

Additionally, it was noted that the Philippines suffers regularly from natural disasters—something that may be beyond government control. An average of 20 typhoons hit the Philippines in a year, causing billions of pesos in damages. The government must mitigate against the risks these calamities bring.

The 2013 World Competitiveness Ranking is released by IMD in partnership with the AIM Policy Center and the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung. ■ Likha Cuevas-Miel / InterAksyon.com / May 30, 2013 / Updated 7:49 pm

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38

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June 2013 – No. 11 • UK & Europe Edition

In the end, fourth-choice import Robert Dozier leads Alaska to first-place finish

World champion Merlito Sabillo looking to make first defense...

Continuation from page 40

The spanking new Solaire Resort and Casino is being eyed to host the world championship fight, according to ALA Boxing executive Dennis Canete.

The Solaire casino has been making heads turn the past couple of months and an appearance by Sabillo there could be a game changer.

Sabillo is one of three reigning Filipino world champions. The other two are Sabillo’s stablemate Donnie Nietes (WBO light-fly king) and Johnreil Casimero (IBF

light-fly ruler).

The Philippines is aiming to make up for the losses suffered by main fighters Manny Pacquiao, Brian Viloria and Nonito Donaire the past few months.

After Sabillo’s defense in early-July, it will be the turn of another ALA puncher, Milan Melindo, who will challenge Viloria’s conqueror, Juan Francisco Estrada for the WBO and WBA fly crown on July 28 in Macau. ■ Lee Jimenez / InterAKTV / May 29, 2013 / 5:09 pm

THE Alaska Aces almost missed out on Robert Dozier, the Best Import awardee of the Commissioner’s Cup. The former Miami Heat draftee was not on top of the team’s list for reinforcements prior to the start of the tournament.

“Si Robert pinagdaanan talaga namin yan. He’s our fourth choice as an import.

We lost Eric Dawson (to Meralco), lost Keith Benson (Talk ‘N Text) and then DJ Mbenga, who we offered max but didn’t want it,” said Alaska coach Luigi Trillo.

It turned out to be a blessing in disguise for the Aces, as Dozier helped the team top the standings for the whole tournament. As the No. 1 seed, Alaska dispatched dangerous Air 21 and defending champion San Mig Coffee in the playoffs before sweeping Barangay Ginebra San Miguel.

And Dozier was the biggest factor, anchoring the stingy Alaska defense while finding opportunities to score. He was dominant in the clinching Game

(Simpson). Mark my word, the best imports here get opportunities all over Asia. So it’s a chance for them to get contract elsewhere like China, NBA, or Euroleague,” said Trillo. ■ Rey Joble / InterAKTV / May 20, 2013 / 11:49 pm

Beau Belga should be considered for Philippine national team, says Rain or Shine owner

RAIN or Shine center Beau Belga has been invited to join the practice sessions of the Philippine national men’s basketball team as part of a PBA selection to help the squad train for the FIBA Asia Championship.

But for Elasto Painters co-owner Raymond Yu, the burly center deserves a shot to be considered for the SMARTGilas Pilipinas national team that will compete in the region’s top basketball competition.

“Sa palagay ko kailangan ng national tean ng klase ng player katulad ni Belga,” said Yu in a telephone interview with InterAKTV. Belga is one of the PBA’s most unique players. A brute on the defensive end, he is one of the league’s most skilled big men on offense, able to hit the outside shot and take his opponents off the dribble with his surprising athleticism.

He proved his mettle against international opponents after leading a

AKTV file/Paolo Papa

group of PBA players to victory over the Shanghai Sharks earlier this month.

Belga’s inclusion in the national squad carries no issue with Rain or Shine management, which has committed to support the Gilas program by lending as players for the squad as it needs.

Two members of the Elasto Painters,

Phil Younghusband sparks Loyola to opening victory in Singapore Cup

Gabe Norwood and Jeff Chan, are mainstays in the national team, helping Gilas win the William Jones Cup last year.

Apart from Belga, two more Rain or Shine stars, Paul Lee and Chris Tiu, have been invited to participate in Gilas practices to help train the national squad.

■ Rey Joble / InterAKTV / May 23, 2013 / 5:23 pm

Dozier, meanwhile, came home with the Bobby Parks trophy after winning in statistics as well as media, players, and PBA votes.

“It’s a nice individual award,” said Dozier. “It’s a great feeling to win this one, but my priority is really winning the championship.”

Sheryl Reyes, the agent who represents both Dozier and Macklin, said the Alaska import deserves the plum.

“Among the imports I sent, it’s him whom I don’t have any problem dealing with,” said Reyes. ■ Rey Joble / InterAKTV / May

Korean import Jang Joo Wong then nailed a shot at the 39th minute to pad Loyola’s lead to 2-nil.

Younghusband bagged a brace after sinking his second goal of the match at the 81st minute to seal the triumph for the Sparks.

The victory helped Loyola advance to the quarterfinals of the tournament, which is expected to be played in July.

The Singapore Cup is an invitational knockout tournament comprised of clubs in the S.League and abroad, mostly from Southeast Asia. Loyola made its debut in the competition last year and finished a respectable fourth place.

Aside from the Sparks, defending United Football League champion Global FC will also see action in the Singapore Cup on June 1 against defending champion Warriors FC. ■ Karl Decena /

19, 2013 / 8:00 pm

InterAKTV / May 27, 2013 / 1:04 am

InterAKTV/Justin Gener

LA Tenorio is Best Player, Robert Dozier named Best Import of Commissioner’s Cup THE Alaska Aces and Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, the protagonists of the Commissioner’s Cup finals, split the top individual awards of the tournament.

Gin Kings star point guard LA Tenorio won the Best Player of the Conference plum over Aces rookie Calvin Abueva, while Alaska reinforcement Robert Dozier won Best Import over Ginebra’s Vernon Macklin.

Tenorio led all players in statistics, as well as voting from media, players, and the PBA. “I owe it to my teammates, coaches and the fans,” Tenorio said.

AKTV/Pranz Kaeno Billones

Three, finishing with 27 points, 20 rebounds, seven assists, and six blocks.

Trillo said Dozier’s fine play in the PBA will open up a lot of opportunities “My goal for him is to make it to the NBA like (former Alaska import) Diamon

Continuation from page 40

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sport World champion Merlito Sabillo looking to make first defense of WBO belt at Solaire

MERLITO Sabillo will make his first defense of the World Boxing Organization mini-flyweight title in grand style on July 6.

Sabillo, who was installed as the WBO’s 105-lb king on the strength of his huge interim title fight victory in Colombia last March, is being targeted to face Jorle Estrada, a Colombian.

Continued on page 38

Phil Younghusband sparks Loyola to opening victory in Singapore Cup

Star striker Phil Younghusband fired two goals to lead the Loyola Meralco Sparks to a 3-0 victory over Harimau Muda B of Malaysia in the opening day of the 2013 Singapore Cup Sunday night at the Jalan Besar Stadium in the city-state.

Younghusband started off the scoring for the Sparks with a free kick at the 18th minute for his team’s 1-nil lead.

Continued on page 38

Floyd Mayweather to face Mexican Saul Alvarez in Las Vegas next LOS ANGELES – World welterweight champion Floyd Mayweather will put his undefeated record on the line when he fights Mexican champ Saul “Canelo” Alvarez on September 14 in Las Vegas.

“I chose my opponent for September 14th and it’s Canelo Alvarez,” the 36-yearold Mayweather tweeted Wednesday night. “I’m giving the fans what they want.”

Mayweather fought May 4 and remained unbeaten with a unanimous decision over Robert Guerrero to keep his World Boxing Council welterweight belt.

The two will meet at the MGM Grand Hotel where Mayweather (44-0, 26 KOs) will try to wrestle more belts from World Boxing Council and World Boxing Association light middleweight title holder Alvarez.

Alvarez posted a 12-round unanimous decision over Austin Trout on April 20 to unify those titles.

Mayweather is moving up in weight to face light welterweight boxer Alvarez, who is 14 years younger than the veteran American.

Manny Pacquiao has been trying for several years to get Mayweather into the ring but the Filipino and Mayweather’s feisty camp

couldn’t come to an agreement on how to split the revenue from what would be one of the biggest fights in boxing history.

So Alvarez (42-0-1, 30 KOs) is a bigger, more powerful and younger opponent for Mayweather who is coming off a win over hand-picked opponent Guerrero.

“I will be the first to beat Floyd,” Alvarez tweeted. ■ Agence France-Presse / May 30, 2013 / 4:00 pm