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March 2014

Volume 5 - Number 5

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PNOY TAKES UP SABAH ISSUE DURING MALAYSIA VISIT

PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III on Friday said discussions have been held on Philippine and Malaysian claims to Sabah, contrary to his previous statement that it will not be on the agenda of his state visit to Kuala Lumpur this week.

“We discussed it [Sabah]... this is part of the effort to understand exactly what has transpired,” Aquino told reporters at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in the Malaysian capital on Friday.

Aquino said his meeting with Malaysian Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Haji Mohammad Najib bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak included going over

significant events in the historical timeline of Sabah.

He specifically cited the signing of the Bates Treaty in 1899—when the Sultan of Sulu and his principal chief supposedly accepted the succession of the US to the rights of Spain—and the death of Sultan Makahuttah Kiram in 1986, which started disputes on who represents the Sultanate of Sulu.

“So medyo napaka-extensive...

Nung sinede [cede] ba ng Sultan yung rights to the US, then eventually to us as a Philippine government, at nagre-react nga siyempre yung family ni Kiram,” he said.

The President, however, said they are still waiting for the results of a Department of Justice studyon the matter. He also said the government will be asking the University of the Philippines to help “flesh out all of these things.”

“This has to be again verified by the historians, by the lawyers...

The endpoint being [to] explain to the people what this issue is all about, what we can establish as fact, tapos what is the way to move forward. But we are not yet ready to be able to parang come up with a complete timeline of the story,” he said.

President Benigno Aquino III is escorted by AFP chief Gen. Emmanuel Bautista during departure rites at the NAIA Terminal 2 on Thursday, February 27. Aquino is bound for Kuala Lumpur upon the invitation of Malaysian Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Haji Mohammad Najib bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak. Malacañang said the two are expected to discuss the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro and several “defense cooperation” issues on Feb. 27 and 28. Photo by Danny Pata.

He likewise said he told his Malaysian counterpart that the Philippines is “not after conflict with anybody.”

“But we want to be able to tell our people the real score, and in that sense, come up to a consensus based on that which is right,” he said.

The discussion happened even after Aquino said last week that Sabah was not on the agenda of his state visit.

In February 2013, followers of the late Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III landed in Sabah and engaged Malaysian forces in a one-month standoff, which led to deadly clashes in March.

Meanwhile, the President did not expound on their discussion on the crackdown on undocumented Filipino workers in Malaysia.

He just said he is thankful that the Malaysian government did not send all the undocumented workers back at once.

“How do you address generating employment for hundreds of thousands and at least a couple of hundred thousands?” he said.

“Malaysian authorities were very conscious of what the negative effects are if they sent all of them back at the same time.

We recognize also ‘yung parang the anxieties on their concerns. So that’s just more or less the extent of our discussion on that particular topic,” he added. ■ Kimberly Jane Tan /

JDS, GMA News / February 28, 2014 / 6:19 PM

President Benigno Aquino III, accompanied by Sultan Abdul Kalim, Malaysia’s Yang di-Pertuan Agong (Supreme Head of State), and Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Haji Mohammad Najib bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak, arrives for the state welcoming ceremony at Parliament Square on Friday, February 28. Aquino is in Malaysia for a two-day state visit. Photo by Ryan Lim.

OFW contribution in 2013 up 22% year on year – SSS CLOSE to 100,000 overseas senior vice president for account Filipino workers (OFWs) became Social Security System (SSS) members in 2013, with their contributions reaching P3.1 billion, a 22-percent year-on-year growth.

SSS data showed that some 923,000 remitted contributions last year as a result of the agency’s sustained campaign to attract migrant workers.

“To better serve our expanding OFW membership, we deployed more roving officers to assist SSS foreign representatives in the Middle East, Europe and Asia, and we reached out to Filipino communities in 14 major locations overseas,” said Judy Frances See, SSS

management and concurrent head of international operations.

Among the duties of SSS foreign representatives are to highlight the value of SSS coverage, promote reactivation of SSS membership, and set up foreign representative offices (FROs) in countries with high OFW populations.

Last year, two new FROs—in Macau and Bahrain—were set up.

Also last year, the SSS initiated exploratory talks on proposed bilateral social security agreements (SSA) with China and the USA, and pursued its SSA negotiations with Germany, Japan and South Korea.

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BUSINESS & FINANCE

March 2014 – No. 5 • UK & Europe Edition

Biggest port operator weighs in on Manila truck ban: It’s the economy, stupid MANILA - The Philippines’ biggest port operator on Wednesday blamed traffic in Manila on the lack of roads leading to and from the country’s busiest port.

“What is lacking, and what has been lacking for the last few decades, is road infrastructure. Congestion on land is largely a result of lack of road infrastructure to match the growth of the economy,” Christian R. Gonzalez, Asian region head of International Container Terminal Services Inc (ICTSI), said in a statement.

ICTSI issued the statement days after the Manila City government imposed a wider truck ban that has cargo traffic at the Manila International Container Port (MICP) and at the Port of Manila (POM) nearly grounding to a halt.

Owned by Enrique Razon, ICTSI operates the MICP. “The low utilization of our ports is likewise driven by poor road infrastructure.

No shipping line or customer of a shipping line will want to use Batangas or Subic if it cannot get the majority of imports

destined into the capital through the roads,” Gonzalez said.

He said POM handles about 3.8 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) of containers, while the Port of Batangas has a maximum capacity of no more than 300,000 TEUs. Manila has 24 ship-to-shore cranes and more than 70 yard gantry cranes, whereas Batangas has two and four of these equipment, respectively.

Gonzalez said the market is made up of about 1.4 million TEUs of imports, a majority of which are consumption goods used in and around Metro Manila.

Another 500,000 TEUs are exports, a good majority of which is spread across the Calabarzon, but with most coming from Cavite on the Manila Bay side, or areas inaccessible by road from Batangas.

About 900,000 TEUs are empty containers, a result of the trade imbalance, and from which majority of truck movements is created because of multiple handling, Gonzalez said.

The remaining 900,000-plus TEUs are containers used for domestic movements around the archipelago.

“Trade represents growth. Growth represents jobs and prosperity. Closing the roads to trade slows down growth, jobs and prosperity. It’s that simple,” Gonzalez said.

“Those are the facts, and those are the statistics, and people need to start understanding them in order to develop proper sustainable strategies to keep trade moving and our economy growing,” he added.

Under the policy, trucks will only be allowed on Manila streets from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. every day except on Saturdays and Sundays.

The Manila City government would observe a window from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m that would last for six months.

Added costs for night delivery.

Federation of Philippine Industries chairman Jesus Lim Arranza said the expanded daytime truck ban will disrupt the vital flow of goods that sustain commercial operations.

Manila International Container Terminal

“It will cripple business and the economy particularly considering the strategic location of the City of Manila relative to the Port of Manila as sell as the manufacturing and commercial operations,” Arranza said in a separate statement.

He said night delivery will entail added costs as various businesses that usually operate only during daytime will now be constrained to operate in the evening to

prepare and receive deliveries.

“This will certainly affect the competitiveness of the local manufacturing industries that are struggling just to survive during these trying ties. Moreover, night deliveries also come with increased cases of theft, pilferage and hijacking as experience has shown,” Arranza added. ■ Darwin G. Amojelar / InterAksyon.com / February 26, 2014 / 4:57 PM

Expert warns lack of jobs may turn PH ‘demographic boom’ into a curse

MANILA – An expert warned that the socalled “demographic dividend” is not a sure thing, adding that a growing population may end up a curse for the Philippines if it fails to create ample and quality jobs for labor entrants.

Dr. Dan Steinbock, research director of the International Business, India, China and American Institute, said that being in a demographic “sweet spot” alone does not guarantee significant economic gains.

“If you have good demographics but you don’t have jobs, that is potentially very

destabilizing,” Steinbock told members of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry last Tuesday.

The Philippines is about to enter the demographic sweet spot, a period where majority of the population will be joining the work force, thus fuelling spending and providing the opportunity to accelerate economic growth.

“By next year, 60 percent of our population is in the working-age bracket, a golden population where the economy is supported by very strong work force

with appropriate age and skills, therefore assuring the country of ample and adequate supply of labor force,” said First Metro Investment Corp (FMIC) president Roberto Juanchito Dispo, adding that the demographic window is expected to last until 2050.

Once dubbed as the “sick man of Asia,” the Philippines became one of the fastest-growing nations in the region last year, expanding at a pace of 7.2 percent, anchored on robust consumer spending.

Despite the strong economic expansion, the Philippines continues to have one of the highest unemployment and poverty rates in Asia.

President Benigno Aquino III plans to create 2.34 million jobs by 2016 to bring down unemployment rate to between 6.56.7 percent, and trim income poverty to between 18-20 percent, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan said earlier this month.

“In terms of youth unemployment, the Philippines ranked very high in that category.

It shows that the economy’s absorptive capacity in terms of employment remains

Pull over: Are killer bus companies paying right taxes?

MANILA - With their claims of not earning enough to pay their workers regular wages instead of commissions, do bus companies even pay correct taxes to the government?

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has released the list of the country’s most dangerous bus companies by number of deaths, injuries and damage to property.

G.V. Florida, the company whose unit fell into a ravine in Bontoc, killing several artists including Tado Jimenez, has around P1.9 million in taxes due in 2012 on gross receipts of P81 million.

Don Mariano Transit, the notorious flying bus along Skyway, had around P201,724 income taxes due on gross receipts of P40.77 million in 2012.

Among the deadly buses (based on the number of deaths caused), Gasat Express, Joyselle Express and A. Carating Transit--all operating in Metro Manila-- did not file their

2012 income tax returns.

EM Transit Service, meanwhile, did not even have a tax identification number (TIN)— a vital information that every tax payer must have.

Among the most destructive buses, Jell Transport Inc had zero gross receipts and

zero income tax due in 2012.

Nova Auto Transport, a sister company of Don Mariano and among those that caused the most deaths and injuries, had the lowest declared income tax due as percentage of gross receipts at 0.21 percent. ■ Likha CuevasMiel / InterAksyon.com / February 26, 2014 / 12:24 PM

very weak despite decent economic growth,” Dispo said.

Steinbock noted that high growth during a time when an economy was in a demographic sweet spot was supported by other factors, such as urbanization and infrastructure.

“The reality is only those who had the demographic sweet spot and job creation that was sustained for a little while -- that’s where it really worked,” he said.

Steinbock encouraged increased investments in research and development (R&D), another key contributor to high economic growth that may translate to more foreign direct investments (FDI).

“One of the countries in Europe that has experienced seven years of dramatic transformative gains in R&D is Finland. They didn’t start in the 1990s. They started in the 1970s when against all odds they started investing in innovation and R&D. They didn’t invest all over the place. They invested in three to four clusters,” he said.

Historically, the first 10 years of the demographic bonus window in Asian economies were accompanied by a period

of high growth, said Dispo, citing reports by the United Nations and International Monetary Fund.

“In the case of Japan, its demographic window happened between 1965 and 1995 and that probably underpinned the industrialization of Japan,” he said.

Dispo said the anticipated rise in the government’s infrastructure spending, strong consumption, robust business process outsourcing sector and the revival of the local manufacturing industry will continue to fuel economic growth seen at 7.5-8 percent this year.

What also sets the Philippines apart from its emerging market counterparts is its strong current account, he said.

The current account is the sum of the country’s net receipts from sales abroad of goods and services, overseas income and other current transfers.

“The roadmap is littered with danger.

It’s not a walk in the park from where we are now to where we want to go, but the fundamentals are here and they are intact,” Dispo said. ■ Krista Angela M. Montealegre /

InterAksyon.com / February 27, 2014 / 9:52 AM

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BUSINESS & FINANCE

March 2014 – No. 5 • UK & Europe Edition

OFW contribution in 2013 up 22% yearSSS on year – SSS reminded OFWs of changes in the from an additional layer of social security

Continuation from page 1 “OFWs often fall outside of social protection schemes in their place of employment, a situation that may leave them and their families vulnerable during times of sickness, maternity, disability, retirement and death—contingencies that are all covered by our Social Security program,” See said.

She added the Social Security program “is supplemented by the Flexi-fund Program, a mechanism for OFWs to maximize returns on their investments and benefit

protection.”

Enrollees of the Flexi-fund Program—a provident fund type of scheme that allows OFWs paying at the maximum monthly salary credit (MSC) to save on top of their regular SSS contributions—reached 165,661 in 2013, up by eight percent from the previous year.

Members’ Flexi-fund equity, meanwhile, rose to P388.5 million as of November 2013, as compared to P330.1 million as of December 2012.

Social Security and Flexi-fund programs caused by the new contribution schedule that took effect in January 2014.

Starting this year, OFW contributions range from P550 based on the P5,000 minimum monthly salary credit (MSC) for OFWs, to a maximum of P1,760 per month, in line with the new P16,000 MSC ceiling and 11 percent contribution rate. The MSC refers to the amount of monthly income covered by SSS contributions. ■ KBK, GMA News / February 28, 2014 / 5:02 PM

LTFRB on tax-delinquent ‘killer’ bus companies: BIR cleared them MANILA - The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has turned the heat on the Land Transport Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) after the revenue agency today released a list showing some of Metro Manila’s “killer” bus operators had been delinquent in their tax obligations.

According to the BIR, three bus operators -- Gasat Express, Joyselle Express and A. Carating Transit -- failed to file their 2012 income tax returns (ITR), while one -- EM Transit Service -- didn’t even have a tax identification number (TIN), a requirement of all taxable entities, be they individuals or companies.

The BIR said it drew up the list based on LTFRB information tallying the number of accidents that Metro Manila bus operators were involved in.

According to its rules, the LTFRB is tasked with renewing every year the certificates of public convenience and necessity (CPCNs) of public utility vehicle operators, and one of the requirements before issuing the certificate is a tax clearance from the BIR.

Sought for comment, Mary Anne Salada, chief of staff of LTFRB chairman Winston Ginez, however said the agency is not responsible for a bus operator’s failure to comply with tax rules.

“It is not our jurisdiction [to check on the tax compliance of bus operators]. We trust the judgment of BIR. We trust our fellow government workers,” Salada told InterAksyon.com.

She said the BIR-issued tax clearance supposedly certifies that the bus operator has paid all taxes due the government. This means the bus operator should have filed its ITR. The tax agency on Wednesday published a list of Metro Manila’s most dangerous bus companies from 2010 to 2011, detailing their tax records.

According to the BIR, Jell Transport Inc had zero gross receipts and zero income tax due in 2012.

G.V. Florida, the company whose unit fell into a ravine in Bontoc killing 14 people, had around P1.9 million in tax due in 2012 on

Photo by Bernard Testa

gross receipts of P81 million.

Don Mariano Transit, the operator of the notorious flying bus along Skyway that killed 18 people, had around P201,724 in income tax due on gross receipts of P40.77 million.

Nova Auto Transport, a sister company of Don Mariano and among those responsible for the most deaths and injuries, had the lowest declared income tax due at 0.21 percent of gross receipts.

Earlier, LTFRB found a number of Nova Auto bus units were “colorum,” vernacular for public utility vehicles operating without the necessary permits. ■ Darwin G. Amojelar /

Source: DBS

Peso ‘well-positioned to weather’ US Fed taper—DBS MANILA – The Philippine peso is “wellpositioned to weather” the US Federal Reserve’s withdrawal of its economic stimulus, according to DBS. In a research note, the Singaporean bank today said the peso has bounced back to the P44.47:US$1 level seen at the start of 2014 despite a sharp drop in Philippine foreign reserves last month brought about by “hot money” outflows.

The country’s gross international reserves (GIR) dropped to an 18-month low of $78.9 billion in January, whereas the amount of foreign portfolio investments that fled the Philippines last month hit their highest since the Asian financial crisis of the late 1990s.

“Then again, the PHP is also supported by positive factors,” DBS said, citing the country’s double-digit growth in exports

in the fourth quarter last year, record-high remittances, easing foreign debt burden, and above-trend economic growth since the first quarter of 2012.

“With headline CPI inflation above 4 percent and core inflation above 3 percent in recent months, consensus expects the central bank to hike its 3.50 percent overnight borrowing rate in the second half of this year. Hence, the Philippine peso looks well-positioned to weather the Fed taper, and take advantage of the better global economic environment,” DBS said.

At the Philippine Dealing System, the local unit today closed at P44.60 to the greenback, weaker than yesterday’s P44.43.

Trading ranged from a high of P44.665 to a low of P44.450, as transactions reached P969.700 million. ■ InterAksyon.com / February 18, 2014 / 5:36 PM

InterAksyon.com / February 26, 2014 / 9:27 PM

US Fed chair’s dovish tone sends PH stock market above 6,400-mark MANILA - Philippine share prices sustained their uptrend on Friday with the benchmark index piercing the 6,400 level after US Federal Reserve chairwoman Janet Yellen maintained her dovish tone.

At the Philippine Stock Exchange, the benchmark index soared 70.20 points, or 1.11 percent, to finish at 6,424.99, extending its gains for a third straight session. It was

the local barometer’s highest level since closing at 6,436.49 on November 6, 2013.

The property sub-index jumped 2.43 percent and the industrial sector rallied 1.60 percent to lead all counters in the green.

Advancers beat decliners, 104 to 57, while 51 issues were unchanged. Value turnover improved to P11.04 billion, as 1.59 billion stocks were traded.

Most actively traded stocks were ICTSI, JG Summit, Ayala Land, PLDT and Megaworld. Top gainers were Pancake House, LRWC and Philrealty, while the biggest losers were Liberty Telecoms, EverGotesco and Medco.

“We took it positively, the statement of Yellen,” said Astro del Castillo, managing director at First Grade Finance Inc. Foreigners were net buyers of Philippine stocks to the tune of P965 million.

Overnight, the S&P 500 added 9.13 points, or 0.5 percent, to hit a new record at 1,854.29 after Yellen reaffirmed the US central bank’s accommodative policy before the Senate Banking Committee. The Dow Jones Industrial Average advanced 74.30 points, or 0.5 percent, to 16,272.71.

Window-dressing activity may have also buoyed local share prices, pushing the composite index’s monthly gain to 6.35 percent. ■ Krista Angela M. Montealegre / InterAksyon.com / February 28, 2014 / 4:24 PM

Savemore opens 94th store in General Santos City MANILA - The department and food stores unit of SM Investments Corp has beefed up its presence in Southern Philippines with the opening of its newest Savemore branch in General Santos City.

Located along Nunez Street, Purok Malakas in Barangay San Isidro, the new outlet of SM Retail Inc is the 94th store under Savemore, a stand-alone store format patterned after a typical neighborhood grocery.

“We continue to expand aggressively in key areas of the country, taking into

consideration the steady population growth and shifting preferences of the market,” Savemore Market president Jojo Tagbo said in a statement.

Savemore is SM’s fast expanding vehicle for introducing organized retail in areas where there is either a limited offer of products or none at all.

In Southern Philippines, SM operates 39 hypermarkets, 94 Savemore stores and 39 supermarkets.

The Savemore General Santos store

intends to become a one-stop shop destination as it offers services like bills payment, Western Union money transfer and Watsons pharmacy. It also houses Master Siomai, Takuyaki, Waffle Time, Buko Juan, and Porky Best. Memo Express and Mary Pauline Salon will soon open shops in the store.

Aside from Savemore, Henry Sy-owned SM is present in the city through its mall, SM City General Santos, which opened in 2012.

■ Krista Angela M. Montealegre / InterAksyon.com /

February 28, 2014 / 6:24 PM

MBC statement on truck ban: National interest paramount in implementing local ordinance IT is a fact that traffic congestion has been costing the economy billions of pesos in lost revenues arising from decreased productivity. It is also a fact that the city of Manila is host to the country’s major ports, and that the efficient and least costly movement of goods through the city’s streets is essential for a progressive economy.

As the city of Manila strives to address its serious traffic problems, it is necessary that an appropriate balance be attained between relieving congestion and facilitating the free flow of goods through the city’s streets.

Solving this challenge requires a coordinated effort from both public and private spheres. In this context, we welcome the initiative of the Office of the Cabinet Secretary to convene pertinent national government agencies to facilitate dialogue between the government of Manila and other stakeholders.

With this mechanism in place and taking note that further delay in resolving this issue will result in adverse effects to the country’s

economic performance, we call on the government to ensure that a fair solution will be reached at the soonest possible time.

In the long term, however, we believe that the provision of adequate infrastructure remains as the primary solution to this problem. As such, we also call on the government to facilitate the immediate construction of much-needed mass transportation and road projects.

Government should also provide the necessary infrastructure and incentives to increase cargo traffic in and economic activity around the ports of Subic and Batangas to decongest the port of Manila.

MBC maintains its position that promoting national interest must remain paramount in the formulation and implementation of local ordinances. It is our hope that the resolution of this issue will provide the impetus for better coordination between private and public sectors regarding proposed local policies with national implications. ■ InterAksyon.com / February 27, 2014 / 6:19 PM

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INTERNATIONAL / GLOBAL NEWS

March 2014 – No. 5 • UK & Europe Edition

Spain-led group says deal struck on Panama Canal row

A Spanish-led consortium said on Friday it had struck a deal resolving a financial dispute over its expansion of the Panama Canal, which handles five percent of world maritime trade.

The multi-billion-dollar project to build extra locks on the 80-kilometre (50-mile) waterway linking the Atlantic (Frankfurt: 98S.F - news) and Pacific Oceans has been plagued by disagreements over who

will pay for an estimated $1.6 billion (1.2 billion euros) in cost overruns.

The GUPC consortium led by Spain’s Sacyr (Stuttgart: 853624 - news) announced “a final agreement in principle” after negotiations with the Panama Canal Authority.

The deal offers co-financing of the canal project while awaiting the result of abritration, which would assign final

responsibility for the cost overruns, the consortium said.

Paperwork was underway for the deal to be signed “shortly”, it said in a statement.

“GUPC expects the prompt conclusion of the agreement and the financing with the aim of executing the works and completing the project efficiently,” it said.

■ AFP / February 28, 2014

Thousands trapped in Syria’s Yarmuk camp ‘slowly dying’ Here, there’s nothing. We are slowly dying.”

“Sometimes, crowds of children stop me on the streets, begging me: ‘For the love of God, we want to eat, give us food.’ But of course, I have no food to give them,” Sayed said.

After months of shelling and fierce fighting in and around Yarmuk between rebels and President Bashar al-Assad’s troops, the camp’s population has shrunk from more than 150,000 to 40,000. Among them are 18,000 Palestinians.

Since last summer, the area has been under choking army siege, creating

inhumane conditions for its inhabitants.

“We’ve been living off herbs, but these herbs are bitter. Even animals won’t eat them,” said Sayed.

“And if you go to the orchards to pick herbs from there, to use them to cook soup, you’ll get sniped.”

“The situation is really tragic. On the streets, all you see are emaciated people, their faces drained of any life. Sadness is everywhere,” said Sayed.

Even the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) for Palestinians was overwhelmed by the drama.

Since January, the agency has only been able to carry out limited, intermittent food distribution in the camp.

‘Let us out, or let us die.’ “Gaunt, ragged figures of all ages fill the streets of the devastated camp for as far as the eye can see,” UNRWA said, adding that such scenes were the agency’s “daily reality.”

“Humanitarian need has reached profound levels of desperation. Hunger and anxiety are etched on the faces of the

waiting multitudes.”

Since January, UNRWA has distributed only 7,500 food parcels in Yarmuk, describing that as “a drop in the ocean compared with the rising tide of need.”

One parcel feeds a family of between five and eight for 10 days.

“Yesterday (Wednesday) only 10 percent of people here received assistance,” said Sayed.

Ali Zoya, a Palestinian living in Yarmuk, said “the aid will only last a few days.”

Much of the camp has been reduced to rubble by shelling, fighting and occasional aerial bombardment.

The distribution only began after rebels from outside the camp agreed to withdraw, following a deal reached with Palestinian factions.

The lack of food in Yarmuk is compounded by medical shortages.

“In the hospitals, there are wounded people who cannot be treated because there are no doctors or medicines,” said Sayed.

“I saw a young man with a shrapnel wound to his leg. He won’t get better until he is able to leave the camp,” which is still under siege even though the rebels have withdrawn.

Since October, more than 100 people have died from food and medical shortages, says to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

After a visit on Tuesday, UNRWA chief Filippo Grandi described the “shocking” conditions of life he witnessed in Yarmuk.

He compared the people flocking to the distribution point as “the appearance of ghosts.”

Their despair echoes that of families who were trapped in rebel-held areas of the central city of Homs for more than 18 months, also under a tight army siege imposed to turn people against Syria’s nearly three-year revolt.

“People here are completely exhausted,” said Sayed. “They feel tortured. They say: ‘Let us out, or let us die.’” ■ Serene Assir / Rana Moussaoui / AFP / February 28, 2014

ORIGINAL CREATION & COPYRIGHT RESERVED BY © HELLO PHILIPPINES 2013

GAUNT, ragged figures fill the streets for as far as the eye can see in the besieged Palestinian refugee camp of Yarmuk outside Damascus, where some 40,000 are said to be slowly starving to death.

The United Nations distributed shocking images this week of thousands of people, their faces emaciated, desperately flocking to receive food aid that only a few were lucky enough to collect.

“We live in a big prison,” said Rami alSayed, a Syrian activist living in Yarmuk, speaking to AFP via the Internet.

“But at least, in a prison, you have food.

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INTERNATIONAL / GLOBAL NEWS

March 2014 – No. 5 • UK & Europe Edition

Ukraine accuses Russia of ‘armed invasion’ in Crimea UKRAINE accused Russia of staging an “armed invasion” of Crimea on Friday and appealed to the West to guarantee its territorial integrity after pro-Moscow gunmen took control of the peninsula’s main airport.

Amid the spiralling tensions in the ex-Soviet state, the country’s ousted president Viktor Yanukovych prepared to emerge defiant from five days of hiding after winning protection from the Kremlin.

Unidentified armed men were patrolling outside of Crimea’s main airport early Friday while gunmen were also reported to have seized another airfield on the southwest of the peninsula where ethnic Russians are a majority and where pro-Moscow sentiment runs high.

Ukraine’s parliament on Friday appealed to the United States and Britain to uphold a 1994 pact signed with Russia that guaranteed the country’s sovereignty in return for it giving up is Soviet nuclear arsenal.

Interim president Oleksandr Turchynov also told agitated lawmakers that he was convening the country’s security and defence chiefs for an emergency meeting over the unfolding crisis.

Western governments have been been watching with increasing worry as Kiev’s new pro-EU rulers grapple with dual threats of economic collapse and secession from Russified southern and eastern regions that had backed fugitive ex-president Viktor Yanukovych.

Russian President Vladimir Putin this week stoked concerns that Moscow might use its military might to sway the outcome of Ukraine’s three-month standoff by ordering snap combat drills near its border involving 150,000 troops and nearly 900 tanks.

Interim president Turchynov responded on Thursday by declaring that any movement of Russian troops out of their Black Sea bases in Crimea “will be considered as military aggression”.

US Secretary of State John Kerry attempted to relieve diplomatic pressure that has increasingly assumed Cold War overtones by announcing that Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov had assured him that Moscow “will respect the territorial integrity of Ukraine.”

Putin also appeared to take a more conciliatory approach late on Thursday by vowing to work on improving trade ties with Ukraine and promising to support international efforts to provide Kiev with funds that could keep it from declaring a debt default as early as next week.

Yet tensions continued to soar by the hour in the Russian-speaking Crimea—a scenic Black Sea peninsula that has housed Kremlin navies for nearly 250 years and was handed to Ukraine as a symbolic gift by a Soviet leader in 1954.

‘Armed invasion.’ Ukraine’s Interior Minister Arsen Avakov accused the

Russian armed forces of being directly involved in armed dawn raids on an airport in Crimea’s main city of Simferopol as well as an airfield on the southwestern coast.

AFP reporters saw dozens of men armed with Kalashnikovs encircle the Simferopol airport on Friday morning after reports suggested that they had briefly seized control of its runway.

An administrator told AFP the “airport was operating normally” on Friday morning despite the presence of the armed men in battle fatigues.

Unconfirmed reports by Ukrainian media said armed men had also seized the Belbek airfield near the city of Sevastopol, which is home to Russia’s Black Sea fleet.

Avakov accused the Russian armed forces of being behind both incidents.

He said gunmen at the Simferopol airport “are not even hiding the fact that they belong to the armed forces of the Russian Federation.”

The interior minister added that the Belbek airfield was “blockaded by military

units of the Russian navy.”

“I consider what is happening to be an armed invasion and an occupation,” Avakov said in a statement posted on his Facebook account.

But Russia’s Interfax news agency quoted an unnamed source as saying that the Belbek air field was under the control of local pro-Russian self-defence units who had no links to the Black Sea fleet.

The peninsula of nearly two million people has been in crisis since dozens of pro-Kremlin gunmen seized and raised the Russian flag over Crimea’s parliament and government buildings on Wednesday.

Crimean lawmakers appointed Russian Unity party member Sergiy Aksyonov as regional premier in place of Kiev-allied Anatoliy Mohilyov in a vote held late on Thursday under the watchful eye of the pro-Kremlin militia.

Aksyonov said on Friday that he still recognised Yanukovych as Ukraine’s legitimate head of state.

The fugitive leader had not been seen since making a brief taped television appearance last Saturday that was aired only hours before parliament stripped him of power for a week of carnage in Kiev that claimed nearly 100 lives.

Yanukovych emerges in Russia.

Ukraine’s bloodiest crisis since its 1991 independence erupted in November when Yanukovych made the shock decision to ditch an EU trade pact in favour of closer ties with old master Russia.

The 63-year-old fugitive issued a statement to Russian news agencies from an undisclosed location on Thursday announcing that he was “compelled to

ask the Russian Federation to ensure (his) personal security.”

A source later told the same agencies that Yanukovych’s request for protection “was satisfied on Russian territory.”

The ousted leader is now expected to appear before the media at 1300 GMT in Rostov-on-Don—a Russian city less than two hours’ drive from the Ukrainian border.

Yet his personal problems do not appear to be over even if Yanukovych pronounces himself to be the head of a Ukrainian government in exile.

Swiss bank accounts. Switzerland said on Thursday said it was prepared to freeze any funds the Yanukovych family might have in the Alpine country’s banks.

It is unclear whether Yanukovych himself has funds in Switzerland. But his 40-year-old son Olexandr opened a branch of his Management Assets Company (MAKO) in Geneva in late 2011.

The Swiss weekly L’Hebdo estimates that Olexandr had amassed a personal fortune of around half a billion dollars (365 million euros) in the past three years alone.

Ukraine’s new leaders meanwhile are suffering from Moscow’s decision to freeze a $15-billion bailout package Putin promised to Yanukovych.

The leadership in Kiev won some reprieve when Kerry promised quick delivery of $1 billion in loan guarantees “with some other pieces” to follow.

Kerry said the EU was looking at loan guarantees worth some $1.5 billion for the nation of 46 million people.

Ukraine’s new rulers have appealed for $35 billion for the teetering economy.

■ Bertrand De Saisset and Dmitry Zaks in Kiev /

AFP / February 28, 2014

Venezuela pursues second opposition figure VENEZUELA issued an arrest warrant for a second opposition figure, his party said, ramping up the pressure on protesters who have staged nationwide rallies in the biggest challenge to President Nicolas Maduro since he came to power.

Near-daily demonstrations have seen dueling pro- and anti-government protesters face off in sometimes violent confrontations that have left 14 people dead in the deeply polarized and economically troubled oil-rich country since the start of February.

Leopoldo Lopez, of the opposition Voluntad Popular (Popular Will), turned himself in last week after a warrant went out for his arrest. The party said Thursday that Maduro’s embattled government was now seeking Carlos Vecchio, the party’s national political coordinator.

The party said the arrest warrant issued by Judge Ralenis Tovar Guillen ordered the general directorate of military intelligence to capture Vecchio “for the alleged crimes of arson, public incitement, damage and criminal association,” the same charges brought against Lopez.

Court officials have not confirmed the move against Vecchio.

In a tweet, Vecchio said the warrant

was politically motivated. “There is no evidence against me,” he wrote.

Tear gas fired. Students and the opposition have hit the streets of the capital Caracas and other cities denouncing rampant street crime and protesting over shortages of basic goods and inflation, as well as against the government’s crackdown on demonstrators.

They were at it again on Thursday in Caracas, though in fewer numbers, as revelers prepare for Carnaval celebrations.

Between 2,000 and 3,000 people gathered in the wealthy Caracas neighborhood of Chacao, an opposition stronghold, under the theme “No more dead.”

Clashes broke out when about 200 demonstrators tried to block a nearby highway and security forces dispersed them using tear gas.

Similar clashes took place in the neighborhood of Las Mercedes as protesters threw stones at riot police, who dispersed them with tear gas.

Gerardo Blyde, mayor of the Baruta district which includes Las Mercedes, said on Twitter that 20 people were being treated for cuts and for skin and eye irritations triggered by the tear gas.

The protesters also commemorated the 25-year anniversary of the so-called Caracazo popular uprising against thenpresident Carlos Andres Perez that left hundreds of people dead.

Party or protest? In the morning, at the start of a six-day holiday for Carnaval, roadblocks were reported in some eastern neighborhoods of Caracas and the industrial hub of Valencia.

In Maracay, locals said shops selling food and alcohol were looted.

Thousands of pro-government supporters meanwhile converged on the Miraflores presidential palace in the capital for an official ceremony celebrating the anniversary of the 1989 revolt.

Maduro had been expected to speak at the event, but he withdrew.

Among those killed since protests began February 4, at least eight were gunned down.

Another 140 people have been wounded and 600 arrested, in a country that saw an average of 65 murders a year in 2013, according to independent local observers.

Maduro, who accuses protesters of plotting a coup with support from Washington, met Wednesday with business and church leaders,

An activists faces National Guard troopers during a protest in San Cristobal, capital of the western border state of Tachira, Venezuela, on February 27, 2014

intellectuals, journalists, lawmakers and governors at his presidential palace in what was dubbed a national peace conference.

Some opposition figures did show up. But the main umbrella opposition grouping known as MUD stayed away.

Beyond speeches by the president and several participants, no dialogue took place and no decision was taken.

The opposition’s main leader Henrique

Capriles—who lost narrowly to Maduro in last year’s elections—did not attend, dismissing the talks as a government photo op.

Also absent were student leaders involved in the protest movement and university presidents.

Capriles and the MUD are demanding the end of the crackdown on protesters and the release of Lopez. ■ Sara Piug / AFP / February 28, 2014

IMMIGRATION / OFNEWS

March 2014 – No. 5 • UK & Europe Edition

www.hello-philippines.com

9

PHL, Saudi agree to automate recruitment procedures

FILIPINOS seeking work in Saudi Arabia may benefit from automated procedures in the recruitment process, following a recent meeting between labor officials from the two countries, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said.

Philippine and Saudi officials agreed to reduce the process cycle time and automate recruitment procedures at the second Joint Committee Meeting between

the Kingdom and the Philippines.

“I welcome the salient points of their discussions during the second Joint Committee Meeting, particularly the agreement to further reduce the process cycle time in OFW documentation and the agreement to further enhance the existing 24-Hour Assistance Center established by the Saudi government to receive household service workers’ complaints,” said DOLE

secretary Rosalinda Baldoz.

In his report, DOLE Undersecretary Danilo Cruz said the Philippines informed the Saudi government that the Philippine Department of Health wants to reduce the process cycle time to complete medical examination results from five to only three days.

This would reduce the process cycle time from 16 to 14 days.

Improving documentation process.

Cruz also said the Philippine side committed to “seriously study and further improve the documentation process, including the adoption of one master contract for bulk job orders,” provided there is a list of workers included.

“We have also requested – and the Saudis agreed — for data on the nature of calls and the frequently-asked questions (FAQs) of OFWs to the 24-Hour Assistance Center the Saudi government has established to receive domestic workers’ complaints,” he added.

For their part, the Saudi officials reiterated their intention to finance the development of an online portal to link the Kingdom and the Philippines on the e-contract scheme.

This is an effort by both parties to automate recruitment and deployment procedures.

“Both sides agree to nominate a team to meet, discuss, and fix a date for the completion of the online portal or automated system,” Cruz said.

Mega-recruitment. Meanwhile, Cruz said the Saudi side emphasized private companies in the Kingdom can continue to recruit their workers from the Philippines without passing through the Saudi megarecruitment companies (MRCs).

He added the Philippine delegation clarified various issues with the Saudi side, such as the matter of service contracting where the MRCs are the visa sponsors, including the transfer provisions under KSA laws.

“We have emphasized the need to come up with a mechanism for cooperation between the Saudi Ministry of Labor and the Philippine Embassy on this matter, including on the matter of access to visit Filipino workers in Saudi accommodation facilities; affording the domestic worker freedom to visit the Philippine Embassy; facilitation of repatriation; and dispute settlement,” Cruz said.

He added the Philippines was emphatic in its position that the rights and entitlements of workers specified in the employment contract agreed prior to their departure from the Philippines are not undermined.

Cruz also said the Saudi side welcomed the offer of the Philippines to provide the Saudis technical assistance, including the possible engagement of the services of conciliation experts in the Philippines and the Philippine Overseas Labor Offices in the Kingdom. ■ KBK, GMA News / February 26, 2014 / 9:16 PM

86 recruitment firms penalized for violating POEA rules in 2013

EIGHTY-SIX private recruitment firms were either suspended or ordered to stop operations in 2013 for alleged illegal recruitment activities, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) announced Wednesday.

Most of the agencies were penalized for violating the Household Service Worker Reform Package (HSWRP), according to POEA administrator Hans Leo Cacdac.

Under HSWRP, a domestic worker should receive $400 (or its equivalent

in local currency) minimum wage, additional welfare benefits like owning a cellphone, one day off, and other protection mechanisms.

Cacdac said the cancellation and suspension of the recruitment agencies’ permits was part of the government’s continuing drive to weed out unscrupulous licensed agencies that continue to defy POEA Rules and Regulations.

Frequent violations. Among the frequent

violations committed were the collection of placement fees, which is prohibited under the HSW package, and the deduction in the salary of the household service worker (HSW) when hired. Most of the violators were also penalized for not following to the $400 minimum salary.

Cacdac said recruitment agencies that circumvent the POEA rules are liable to any misdeed committed by their employers including abuses, contract violations, and non-payment of salaries, among others.

He also said the recruiters’ failure to abide by their responsibility to protect OFWs warrants cancellation or suspension of their license depending on the gravity and frequency of the offenses.

Cacdac noted that some recruiters are taking shortcuts in the HSW placement process by engaging another agency to deploy its workers.

“Passing off a domestic worker as another type of worker, using fake documents... and training certifications,

deployment through the backdoor or deployment to countries with travel restrictions, are common activities of illegal recruiters,” he said. ■ KBK, GMA News / February 26, 2014 / 4:13 PM

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March 2014 – No. 5 • UK & Europe Edition

British envoy: Going to UK not too difficult BRITISH Ambassador to the Philippines Asif Ahmad on Wednesday said going to the United Kingdom is not really difficult and that roughly 90 percent of visa applications are approved.

“What you probably don’t know is that Manila is one of our biggest hubs for issuing visas, not only for people in the Philippines but also the surrounding regions,” Ahmad said during his speech at a media reception at the British Ambassador’s Residence at Forbes Park, Makati.

“It’s not difficult, it might be expensive for some of you but I tell you it’s cheaper than a handbag,” he added.

To know more about the process of obtaining visas to the UK, Ahmad urged the public to take part in the Great British Festival at Bonifacio High Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig from March 7 to 9.

The festival is the culmination of a fivemonth celebration of British culture, food, trade, and fashion.

Ahmad said there will be information booths during the Great British Festival to help demystify the process of getting visas.

The “UK Visas” and “Visit Britain” booths

will be open from 1:00 to 8:00 p.m. on March 7 and from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. from March 8-9.

During the three-day event, there will also be a trade exhibit, a British fashion show, a street theater, rugby drills with the Philippine Volcanoes, football drills with the Younghusband siblings, among others.

Football fan. The ambassador, a big fan of football, said his personal mission was to “make football far more popular in the Philippines.”

A passionate supporter of Liverpool FC, Ahmad said he hopes Filipinos would “learn to love this great game, this global sport.”

The ambassador remarked that during his tenure as UK Ambassador to Thailand, the Liverpool FC team went there twice, adding that it might be possible to accomplish that too in the Philippines.

Chevening scholarshi. Meanwhile, the ambassador cited the Chevening Scholarships granted by the UK government to a select number of Filipinos every year.

While applications for the 2014-2015 Chevening Scholarships in the Philippines

are now closed, Ahmad said the UK government aims to grant 15 scholarships to Filipinos next year for a Master’s degree of their choice.

“We’ll pay everything, your living expenses, tuition,” Ahmad said.

Chevening Scholarships are the UK government’s global scholarship program for outstanding leaders who would like to pursue one-year Master’s degrees— (although some awards are for tailor-made short courses—at any of the UK’s leading universities.

“The UK boasts over 1,800 postgraduate courses and is home to some of the most prestigious universities in the world,” the Chevening website said.

Representatives of leading British schools recently held a conference to encourage Filipinos to consider studying in the UK, where some of the world’s top universities – Oxford, Cambridge, and Imperial College – are located.

Master’s courses in the UK usually take a year to finish and cost between P900,000 to P1.3 million. ■ Veronica Pulumbarit / KBK, GMA

News / February 27, 2014 / 8:44 PM

Number of distressed OFWs in Bahay Kalinga in Riyadh down

THE number of distressed overseas Filipino workers at a halfway house run by the Philippine government in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia has gone down to 117 from 200 in December, the Department of Labor and Employment said Tuesday.

Citing figures from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, DOLE Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz attributed this to the prompt action of Philippine overseas officials.

“We are very pleased over the steady decline in the number of OFWs staying as wards in our FWRCs [Filipino Workers Resource Center] due to faster processing by the POLOs [Philippine Overseas Labor Offices] of their cases,” she said.

She said the number of Filipino wards at the Philippine Overseas Labor Office’s Migrant Workers and Other Filipinos Resource Center (MWOFRC) or Bahay Kalinga was at 117 as of February 19, compared to 200 at end-December.

Of the 117, 13 have lodged complaints ranging from rape and maltreatment.

Baldoz said these are being handled by the Assistance to Nationals Section of the Philippine Embassy.

Baldoz also noted she had directed POLOs to fast-track the settlement of cases of distressed OFWs and to repatriate them soonest by working closely with the Philippine embassies in their countries of destination.

This is to be done by establishing rapport with licensed recruitment agencies, and by intensifying networking and coordination with immigration and labor offices of host countries, she said.

“Since 2013, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) had also strictly implemented the requirement for licensed recruitment agencies to provide within 48 hours airline tickets to OFWs they have deployed as soon as they get their exit visas,” Baldoz said.

The DOLE also said the Philippine delegation to the second Philippine-Saudi Joint Committee Meeting visited the Bahay Kalinga last February 19 and learned there were 117 wards and 17 children.

“The children were mostly infants and toddlers and we were informed that most of the fathers of the children had left for the Philippines,” said Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) chief Carmelita Dimzon, the head of the Philippine delegation.

She added that of the 117 wards, 19 were skilled workers and the rest are household service workers.

The DOLE said the release of 42 household service workers is under negotiation, while 16 had ready exit visas and plane tickets ready for their repatriation. ■ KBK, GMA News / February 25, 2014 / 7:39 PM

Talented Pinoy fifth grader making waves in UAE

AL AIN, United Arab Emirates — The son of two overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), Ian Cris Tocle would spend his time joining various singing and talent competitions here when he’s not in school.

This, despite the difficulty one faces when transplanted from his home country to a foreign land, especially at a young age.

“It was a family decision,” said Ian’s mother Irene of their decision to relocate to the Middle East. “My husband came here in Dubai first then I followed three months after.”

“It was quite difficult for Ian when we moved in here because he already likes staying with my parents,” she added via email. “He also already has a circle of friends in school where he would perform

in some events.”

But the change didn’t affect Ian’s passion for singing. In fact, on the same year he arrived here, he got commissioned to sing Michael Jackson’s “Beat It” for the graduation rites of the Filipino Digerati Association (FDA).

“Music is my passion and I want to reach my dreams to become a famous musician someday,” Ian, who had begun performing the songs of Gary Valenciano at 3, said.

Competitions. Amidst his schedule, Ian, now a fifth grader at The Philippine School (TPS), remains remarkable particularly in his math subject.

Last year was big year for him: He was recognized as Mr. TPS Campus and won first place during the KidsFest Talent

Competition, sang during Sharon Cuneta’s concert here, performed during the Yamaha Music Festival Guest, sang at a PETA Benefit Concert, and at PCG Concert-for-a-Cause, among others.

For this year, Ian is going to perform as the front act for the “Ultimate Divas,” a show of Sheryn Regis and Angeline Quinto in March, and play as one of the three tough boys in “The Wizard of Oz” in April.

“We are proud of him as parents. He has done remarkably in his talents and he is learning lots of things from his Dad,” Irene, 34, an office administrator at Sasol Middle East, said.

Challenges. Young as he is, Ian has already experienced challenges when performing.

“The most frequent involve technical issues. You just still have to continue because that’s what makes you a good performer,” he said, already speaking like a true professional.

Ian also chooses his songs carefully.

“My dad keeps on saying that before I choose the song, I need to know first what the occasion is and who will be my crowd so I can deliver the song well and entertain the audience,” he said.

“I love acoustic music but I also love to sing different genres in different languages.

I want to express myself in different areas whether the song is in Japanese, Korean, Tagalog, Hindi, Arabic, or English,” Ian added. ■ Lucky Mae F. Quilao / KBK, GMA News / February 24, 2014 / 7:00 PM

Ian Cris Tocle has shared the stage with the likes of Sharon Cuneta.

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OPM to take center stage in NYC this April ORIGINAL Pilipino Music (OPM) will be showcased in a concert this coming April in New York City to celebrate Filipino composer Cecile Azarcon’s timeless pop songs.

The concert — “An Evening of Original Philippine Music with Cecile Azarcon and Sounds of Manila” — will be held on April 27, a Sunday, at the Peter Norton Symphony Space. The show will start at 7 p.m.

Produced by Synergy Productions, the concert “will be a musical tribute to celebrate Filipino composer Cecile

Azarcon’s timeless pop songs that have been pervading the airwaves over the last 35 years—whether it be in their original form and arrangement, or contemporary rendition—in the Philippines or in many Filipino American communities across the United States,” said Grace Labaguis, Synergy’s marketing director.

“The time is also ripe to introduce Azarcon’s melodious love songs such as ‘Even If,’ ‘I Think I’m In Love,’ and ‘How Did You Know,’ newly rearranged by the

renowned musical director and arranger Lorrie Ilustre, and interpreted by Sounds of Manila, a band that produces an authentic ‘70s, ‘80s Manila sound, to a more diverse group of concertgoers,” Labaguis added.

Joining Azarcon, Ilustre, and Sounds of Manila in the one-night-only concert are emerging young vocalists Tiffany Viray (“Stars of Tomorrow” at the Apollo Theater), Jared Martin (The Outstanding Filipino Americans in New York Awards at Carnegie Hall), Arnel Arcedo (Finalist, Broadway’s

March 2014 – No. 5 • UK & Europe Edition

“Rock of Ages” at Superbowl Boulevard), and Tony Gado (FDR Band); and guest guitarist Carlo Tampac of Chapter 2 band.

As a special treat to concertgoers, Sounds of Manila will also launch in the concert one of Azarcon’s three newest songs that is included in the band’s debut album, which features 10 songs written and produced by Azarcon, and arranged and co-produced by Ilustre, available in April 2014 and at the concert hall lobby. ■ KBK,

GMA News / February 26, 2014 / 12:30 PM

Noted Filipino composer Cecile Azarcon

Czech-based firm opens new jobs for Pinoys from Yolanda-hit areas A Czech-based company is opening new jobs for over a dozen Filipino workers from Typhoon Yolanda-hit areas this year, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Tuesday, quoting Philippine Ambassador to Prague Victoriano M. Lecaros.

The company, Telepan, is set to hire 55 OFWs in May, the DFA said in a news release.

“When looking for suitable employees, we decided to turn toward the Philippines for their skills and mainly due to last year’s disaster, when many families and friends of our employees found themselves without money and roofs over their heads,” said Peter Pesek, Teleplan’s human resource manager in its Prague branch.

“By providing them with employment, we want to give them the opportunity to get back on their feet and improve their living conditions,” he added.

Teleplan Company provides a comprehensive range of services that support the lifecycle care of electronic devices and products following the point of sale.

The DFA said the Prague branch is one of Teleplan’s 22 centers around the globe.

Its 530-strong workforce is composed of 52 percent Czechs, 32 percent Slovaks and 10 percent Filipinos.

“This is a welcome development in Philippine-Czech people to people relations and shows that Filipino workers are worldclass,” Lecaros said in the news release.

Pinoy jobseekers. Philippine labor and embassy officials in Prague visited Teleplan Company on February 14 to join Czech Ministry of Labor officials for a briefing, discussion, and site tour. The Ministry of Labor was represented by Dr. Ji?í Král, deputy general director of the Labor Office in Prague and Bc. Renata Malichová of the Regional Branch of the Labor Office in Pribram.

According to Malichová, the Labor Office has been working with Teleplan since it established business operations in 2006.

“We try to find workers from the pool of our jobseekers, but when we do not manage to find enough qualified candidates, we fill the positions from ranks of foreigner workers, especially Filipinos, in the case of Teleplan Company,” Malichová said.

Pierre Gingras, Teleplan’s vice president for operation, said they plan to open 110 new jobs for the operator positions starting May 2014 due to higher demand.

Pesek said they intend to recruit new workers from the ranks of jobseekers from the Labor Office and foreign workers from the Philippines.

As part of the planned recruitment in May, Teleplan decided to get half its new employees from the Philippines.

Survey. Based on the survey conducted by Teleplan among its employees, the main reason why Filipino workers accept employment in the Czech Republic is the opportunity to financially

support their families back home. Most workers come with the intention to stay for five years.

“I am very satisfied with my work in Teleplan,” said Marlon Jore, 31, a Teleplan employee. “Czechs are friendly and I made many friends here.”

“Although I miss my family a lot, I have the opportunity every two years to visit them,” he addd.

This is the case of the Filipino youth 31-years old Marlon Jore, one of the 55 Filipino workers of Teleplan. who works for the company for the past five years.

Pesek and other Teleplan officials were in Manila from February 21 to 25 February to meet with Philippine and Czech Embassy officials to finalize plans in recruiting 55 Filipino workers.

Teleplan employees comprise the members of the Sunday English-mass choir in the Infant of Jesus of Prague Church in Mala Strana and actively participates in Filipino community events organized by the Philippine Embassy in Prague. ■ KBK, GMA News / February 25, 2014 / 5:57 PM

DFA denies 100,000 illegal Filipinos deported from Malaysia Pinoys in Beijing starting to get sick as smog worsens

THE Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Monday denied reports that 100,000 Filipinos were deported by Malaysian authorities during its ongoing crackdown of illegal foreign workers.

Earlier reports said thousands of Filipinos are staying in cramped evacuation camps in Bongao, Tawi-Tawi after being sent home from Malaysian-controlled Sabah – a resource-rich territory also being claimed by the Philippines.

“Upon verification with relevant sources, our embassy in Kuala Lumpur has determined that there is no truth to the news report,” Foreign Affairs spokesman Raul Hernandez said.

“Only 1,113 Filipinos from Sabah were processed from their return to their respective hometowns by the Department of Social

Welfare and Development from January 1 to February 19,” he added.

Malaysia has renewed its crackdown on undocumented foreigners last Jan. 21.

Manila has repeatedly urged illegallystaying Filipinos in Malaysia to voluntarily return to the Philippines, warning that those who will be caught will be kept in detention while undergoing deportation proceedings.

Arrested individuals will also be subjected to biometric fingerprint registration to ensure that they would not be able to return to Malaysia under a different name.

Malaysia is home to thousands of Filipinos. Many of them, who hail from the Philippines’ poorest provinces in warplagued Mindanao, are undocumented and reside in Sabah. ■ Michaela del Callar / KBK, GMA News / February 24, 2014 / 3:41 PM

SOME Filipinos in Beijing are starting to get sick as the air pollution there continues to worsen, a report on “Balita Pilipinas” on Monday said.

“Minsan, nagigising ako na masakit yung ulo ko. But the worst was, I have facial rashes,” said Jocelyn Cambaya, an English teacher in Beijing.

“I visited four times sa doctor, twice in Beijing, once in the Philippines and once in the States. The same findings, the same diagnosis, air pollution,” she added.

Another teacher, Humphrey Agcaoili, on the other hand decided to just come home to the Philippines for the meantime as he can no longer bear the air pollution in Beijing.

“Nagkakaroon sila [other Filipinos] ng ubo’t sipon. Tapos ako nagkaroon ng back pain.

Na parang magic, nang dumating ako sa Pilipinas, nawala yung back pain ko,” he said.

On Friday, February 21, the Chinese government raised its pollution alert level to “orange,” the second highest alarm in

its four-tier system, following a week of thick smog—or a combination of smoke and fog—shrouding the city.

A reportd on China-based Taipei Times said the Beijing Municipal Environmental Monitoring Center has recorded as of 11 a.m. Sunday a PM2.5 concentration of 198 micrograms per cubic meter near Tiananmen Square.

The PM2.5 is a kind of fine particles considered hazardous to health.

The report said the PM2.5 concentration in Tiananmen Square last Sunday was eight times higher than the recommended 25 micrograms per cubic meter over 24 hours by the World Health Organization.

Apart from Beijing, also affected by the worsening air pollution are the cities of Shijiazhuang and Xingtai in Hebei province and Yangquan in Shanxi province.

According to US Environmental Protection Agency, the thick smog in these areas is considered very hazardous

for humans and might lead to various respiratory diseases. The Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, meanwhile, said Beijing is almost no longer fit for human habitation.

As of 10 a.m. Monday PM2.5 levels were as high as 309 in Shijiazhuang, 431 in Xingtai, 356 in Yangquan and as of 11 a.m., 239 in Beijing, a Bloomberg report said.

Following days of thick smog, the government of China has already advised its residents to refrain from using cars and to prevent children from going out to the streets.

The provincial government of Hebei, meanwhile, ordered the closure of 19 steel manufacturing companies, the “Balita Pilipinas” report said.

China is considered one of the largest emitters of carbon dioxide in the world as 65 percent of its energy supply comes from coal plants, according to international studies. ■ Elizabeth Marcelo / KBK, GMA News /

February 24, 2014 / 6:22 PM

Embassy urges Pinoys in Saudi, Yemen to register online

AFTER updating its website anew, the Philippine Embassy in Saudi Arabia urged Filipinos in Saudi Arabia and Yemen over the weekend to register online with it, so it can alert them during emergencies.

The Philippine Embassy in Riyadh assured them the data entered into its website will be kept confidential and will not be “shared” with non-government organizations.

“For those in Saudi Arabia, they should click on the flag of Saudi Arabia to enter to the Saudi Arabia specific module. Those in Yemen should click the flag of Yemen to access the module for registration for those in Yemen,” the embassy said in an advisory posted on its website early Monday.

It said registering is important especially for emergency situations.

Data from the registration will allow the Embassy to “contact Filipinos regarding updates on services and advisories on matters important to Filipinos in Saudi Arabia and Yemen.”

Also, the embassy assured the Filipinos the information submitted is “saved on the Embassy’s server, and will not be shared with non-government agencies.” ■ KBK, GMA News February 25, 2014 / 12:54 PM

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March 2014 – No. 5 • UK & Europe Edition

DOLE blacklists recruiter of OFW who was abused by employer in Saudi

OFW in Jeddah accuses employer of burning her with flat iron

PHILIPPINE labor officials have blacklisted a Saudi Arabia-based recruitment agency for the alleged maltreatment of a Filipina housemaid who was burned with a flat iron by her employer.

The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) banned Snood Manpower Employment Office from hiring overseas Filipino workers (OFW) over the incident, Arab News reported.

Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said the OFW, identified as Melody de Jesus, also did not receive proper compensation,

the report added.

The POEA had earlier said the recruiter and employer of de Jesus had been slapped a preventive suspension, though POEA head Hans Leo Cacdac did not immediately identify the OFW. Cacdac said a criminal case has also been filed and is now pending against the employer and recruiter before the Prosecutor’s Office in Jeddah.

De Jesus has accused her female employer of burning her skin with a flat iron eight times in January, and not paying her salary for four months.

She said she managed to escape and went to the Philippine Consulate in Jeddah for help.

“These are clear violations of the provisions of the Standard Employment Contract (SEC) entered into by the employer and the employee,” Baldoz said.

Investigation showed Mayon International Trading Corporation and Saudi recruitment agency Snood Manpower Employment Office deployed De Jesus in July 2013 to work as a domestic helper. ■ KBK, GMA News / February

a great wealth of experience. By virtue of that, all our Filipino nurses are gaining scholarships,” he said.

For the scholarships, Phillips said they look at the students’ academic profile, clinical profile, years of experience, and their personal statements.

Phillips said aside from masters in nursing, their university also offers courses in the creative industries, media journalism, photography, theater production, fine arts, business programs and engineering programs that range from aerospace to aeronautical, among other courses.

Asked about the ballpark figure for their courses, he said it was approximately 9,700 pounds for their undergraduate programs and 10,000 pounds for their masters programs.

Affordable courses. Meanwhile, Julie Edgar of Northumbria University, told GMA News Online that their university has more affordable courses as they are located well away from London – about 250 miles north of UK’s capital – and they are actually closer to Scotland.

“Different universities have different charges but masters programs there are institutions that start around the 11,000 pound mark but obviously scholarships are available so that could be reduced depending on the student’s qualifications,” said Edgar, Associate Dean of the International Health and Life Sciences Department.

“Then living expenses in the northeast of England you’re probably looking around 7,000 pounds living expenses for the year,” she added.

Edgar explained that while most of their masteral courses take only a year to finish, they have programs that last longer: 21 months for a science course and 24 months for a business course.

Edgar noted that their law school program won the biannual Queen’s award for achievement last year.

She said there are about 10 to 15 Filipino

students on their campus, “doing health or mass communication or designer programs in our university.”

She noted that most of their Filipino students are taking up masteral courses as it only takes them a year to finish it.

US style of education in UK. Meanwhile, Radhika Longbottom, head of recruitment of Richmond American International University in London, said they are the only educational institution in the UK that offers a US style of education.

Longbottom told GMA News Online that because their university offers an American curriculum, they accept Filipino K+12 graduates unlike other universities in the UK. “We are probably the only university in UK that allows you to get an American qualification. Any student who has a GPA of 2.5 or above is more than welcome to join us,” she said.

“Our most popular courses at the minute tend to be relating to international business.

Politics and international relations, psychology and believe it or not, film and theater studies, acting,” she added.

She noted that each class is limited to 17 students, adding that “the attention that students get is exceptional.”

However, as their university is located at the heart of London, their courses are more expensive than other schools in UK. “Our fees for international students is 13,500 pounds but we offer generous scholarships starting from 1,500 pounds to 4,000 pounds,” she said.

“The cost of living in Britain as it recommended by the home office it varies.

If you are in our Central London campus then it’s 9,000 pounds a year,” she added.

Longbottom explained that students can receive scholarships based either on their academic or extracurricular performance.

The advantage of enrolling at Richmond is that one gets “an American degree and a British degree. You get two pieces of paper,” she said. ■ Veronica Pulumbarit / KBK, GMA News /

26, 2014 / 3:47 PM

UK universities woo Pinoy students IT probably is every serious Filipino student’s dream to pursue further studies abroad, especially in the United Kingdom where some of the world’s best universities — University of Oxford, University of Cambridge and Imperial College of London, to name a few — are located.

Although quite expensive — figures run from P900,000 to P1.3 million, including living expenses — it could be considered cost-effective in the long run, according to Mike Cabigon, program officer of the British Council.

In a recent interview with GMA News Online, Cabigon said this is because unlike in other countries, masteral courses in the UK only take a year to finish. In the Philippines and other countries, masteral courses usually take two years to finish.

“Parents from private schools are actually looking at options for their kids for universities in the UK,” Cabigon said, adding many Philippine companies are beginning to appreciate the convenience of having their executives take a year off work to take further studies in the UK. Cabigon added that the requirements for studying in the UK are not too difficult to meet—basically just an undergraduate degree plus a couple of years of work experience.

The British Council was one of the organizations featured during the “Conference on UK Higher Education and Corporate Training” last February 14.

According to the British Council, close to

500,000 international students study in the UK each year.

“Every year close to 500,000 students from 200 nations come to the UK to study at a school, college or university and 600,000 more come to do an English language course,” it said.

Based on the 2012 Stock Estimate of the Commission on Filipinos Overseas, there are 218,777 Filipinos in the UK. In the past, there have been controversies about Filipinos pretending to go to the UK as students but are actually bent on working there.

However, in an earlier interview with GMA News Online, Philippine Ambassador to the UK Enrique Manalo said the loophole that allowed some Filipinos to do that has been closed.

“In 2011, the UK instituted changes in its immigration rules governing those acquiring student visas. The changes include limiting the number of hours they can engage in part-time work, redefining the maximum period of stay in the UK, and strict vetting of educational institutions to ensure that they are legitimate,” he had said.

The website of the UK Council for International Students Affairs (UKCISA) provides detailed practical information for students from outside the UK. The topics cover everything from visa fees to finding financial support for one’s studies.

The UKCISA, a national advisory body serving the interests of international students, said one of the first problems that

international students may encounter is culture shock.

To help students cope with culture shock and overcome loneliness, the agency advised “keeping in touch with home” via the phone or Internet and having “familiar things from home” such as photographs.

The agency also warned that stress from the differences in food, weather and customs may take a toll on one’s health and urged students to take care of themselves and know that they are entitled to free medical treatment under the UK state health system.

Opportunities for Filipino nurses, other students. Meanwhile, in an interview with GMA News Online, Drewe Phillips, head of International Development of the University of South Wales, said some Filipino students, mostly nurses, enrol in their masters program.

Phillips said there are “very good career opportunities for nurses in the UK. Many of our Filipino students are applying to the Gulf states, Australia, and the UK.” “We offer a 2,000 pound scholarship for our masters programs. A cost for a masters in nursing is 10,000 pounds after the scholarship,” he said.

“We offer two options: a masters for 12 months, and a masters for 18 months.

The 18-month program has a six-month internship built into the masters course,” Phillips added.

“What were finding is all our Filipino nurses are coming to study with us with

PHL manning agency in hot water over 2 missing Pinoy seamen A Philippine-based manning agent is in hot water over two Filipino seafarers who have been missing after going overboard in the South Baltic Sea last December.

“We hold Philippine manning agent Wagenborg responsible for two missing Filipino seafarers on MV Marietje Andrea who went overboard in the South Baltic Sea,” Philippine Overseas Employment Administration head Hans Leo Cacdac said on his Twitter account Thursday night.

Cacdac said Wagenborg showed insensitivity to the two seafarers’ families when it failed to explain how the two were thrown overboard.

A report on the United Filipino Seafarers website said the two seamen are from Cebu and have been missing since Dec. 5 last year.

It added Cebu Rep. Gwendolyn Garcia has already sought an investigation into the incident involving cousins Harlan

Layosa and Gleemar Sapanta of Barili town in Cebu.

Citing initial information, the UFS report said both seafarers were employed as crewmen of the M/V Marietje Andrea, a cargo vessel owned by Danser Van Gent Shipping Company in the Netherlands.

Last Dec. 5, the M/V Marietje Andrea sailed from Halsvik in Norway, to Riga in Latvia, through the Baltic Sea. Layosa and Sapanta were supposedly on the cargo vessel’s deck at 8 a.m. for cleaning duty.

The two were cleaning the deck when Chief Officer Richard Orsel reportedly heard a scream.

He then said he saw the men floating in the water and screaming for help.

The Swedish Coast Guard conducted search and rescue operations for the two seamen but failed to find them, even with three helicopters, two planes, and two rescue craft.

interaksyon.com

“It was reported that the water temperature in Baltic Sea was 6 degrees Celsius at the time of the incident, making it unlikely for anyone in the water to survive for long,” the report added. ■ JDS, GMA News / February 28, 2014 / 12:39 AM

February 24, 2014 / 1:14 PM

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DATE / TIME

EVENT

8 and 9 March 2014 Saturday and Sunday 9:00am to 5:00pm 12 March 2014 Wednesday 6:30pm

2014 Leeds 2 Days Basketball League

15 March 2014 Saturday 6:00pm to 1:00am 15 March 2014 Saturday 5:00pm

That’s My Pogi Pageant

A Charity Recital for Tohoku Earthquake and Typhoon Haiyan Victims

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4 April 2014 Friday 8:00pm 4, 5 and 6 April 2014 Friday, Saturday and Sunday 17 May 2014 Saturday

Eraserheads

Spring Filipino Food Festival

The 70's Superband – The OPM Hitmakers Summer Disco

14 June 2014 Saturday 9:00am to 6:00pm

Independence Day sa Newcastle

21 and 22 June 2014 Saturday and Sunday 10:00am to 5:00pm 28 June 2014 Saturday 9:00am to 5:00pm

Barrio Fiesta in Bristol 2014

28 June 2014 Saturday 10:00am to 5:00pm 5 and 6 July 2014 Saturday and Sunday 10:00am to 6:00pm 19 and 20 July 2014 Saturday and Sunday 10.00am to 6:00pm 17 August 2014 Sunday 10:00am to 5:00pm

VENUE

Ramgarhia Sports Centre, 10 Chapeltown Road, Leeds LS7 3AP Jesuit Church of the Immaculate Conception (entrance 114 Mount Street, London W1K 3AH Mazenod Community Centre, Quex Road, Kilburn, London NW6 4PS Walbottle Campus Theatre, Walbottle Campus, Hexham Road, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE15 9TP The Centre Conference Venue (Spirit), Farnham Road, Slough, Berkshire SL1 4UT Ashford Christian Fellowship Church, Bank Street, Ashford, Kent TN23 1BA Eventim Apollo, 45 Queen Caroline Street, Hammersmith, London W6 9QH The Dome, London / Epic, Norwich / Britannia Theatre, Chatham, Kent Baden Powell House, 65 – 67 Queen’s Gate, London SW7 5JS Blaydon Rugby Club (Carboot Area), Hexham Road, Swalwell, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE16 3BN Eastville Park, Bristol BS5 6XA

1st Southampton Barrio Fiesta

Hoglands Park, Southampton

7th Barrio Fiesta in Yorkshire 2014

The Racecourse, Boroughbridge Road, Ripon, North Yorkshire Lampton Park, Lampton Road, Hounslow TW3 4DN

HELLO PHILIPPINES proudly presents Hounslow Summer Festival 2014 30th Barrio Fiesta Sa London 2014 Scotland Barrio Fiesta 2014

6 September 2014 Saturday

Mr & Miss Philippines United Kingdom 2014

20 September 2014 Saturday

Mrs Philippines UK

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March 2014 – No. 5 • UK & Europe Edition

CONTACTS / REMARKS

Freddie 07595 248 917 / Rodamin 07446 906 608 Ticket £10.00 for sale on the door on the night only from 6:30pm

FilMo

Vannz Bio 07947 160 826

Georgia’s Filipino & Oriental Food Supply

Sally Sellars 07886 742 417 / 0191 273 6779

Robin Gaudiel 07428 677 870 / Lito Martinez 07882 709 234

Finest Workers UK Side Projects Productions in association with Simply C PR & Events

Tickets: Adult £6.00 / Children £3.00 (between 5 to 13) / Family £15.00 / www.filipinofoodfestival.co.uk (tickets on line are cheaper) For tickets and inquiries: 07784 881 850 / sales@finestworkers.com Tickets and General Information: 07903 547 676 / www.sideprojects.biz Zhanie Del Mundo 07886 881 432

Filipino Community of Newcastle Upon Tyne (FILCAN)

Sally Sellars 07886 742 417 / Program: Eva Bartolome 07542 026 296 / Santacruzan: Haidee Atienza 07814 425 547

Filipino Community in Bristol

Wil Manuel 07900 485 194 / Honeylyn 07783 343 848 / Clarence 07500 896 239 / Hilda 07909 724 653 For stalls, sponsorship and other enquiries: Paul Maspinas 07894 227 754 / Jimmy Cabotaje 07878 852 153 / Nora Zuniga 023 8023 4412 Lolita Boddy 01765 535 015 / Tess Wills 07920 280 549

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HELLO PHILIPPINES

Philippine Centre and ABS-CBN The Filipino Channel In Association with FIL-GLAS, PSG (Pinoy Sa Glasgow), PHIL-SCOT FIFE, Lanark FILCOM & different Filipino communities in Scotland and surrounding areas Philippines-UK

Roselle Collado – 07577 813 104 Mike McCarthy – 07538 201 870 Email: events@hello-philippines.com Tickets & General Enquiries: 020 3004 9268 General Information: 01932 244 822

Eva Macadangdang 07983 593 914 / Marlowe Macadangdang 07956 944 520 / Myra Adap del Cruz 07789 695 596 / MP_UK@yahoo.com Zhanie Del Mundo 07886 881 432

Baden Powell House, 65 – 67 Queen’s Gate, London SW7 5JS 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 vi ews and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of Hello Philippines newspaper. This is merely an Events Diary Listing of what is happening within the Filipino Communities in Europe. This is for general information only.

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MONTHLY FILIPINO COMMUNITY MASSES IN GREATER LONDON

Five Precious Wounds Parish, Brentfield Road, Stonebridge Park, London NW10 8ER Mervic Monocillo – 07894 636 140 Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church, Friary Road, Peckham, London SE15 1RH Allen Abeleda – 07713 625 888 St Peter the Apostle Catholic Church, 103 Woolwich New Road, London SE18 6EF Moises Espanola – 07894 648 639 English Martyrs Church, Chalkhill Road, Wembley Park, Wembley HA9 9EW Becky Sarinas – 07949 857 699 / 07425 761 519 / Lina B – 07579 418 510 St Dominic Catholic Church, 243 Violet Lane, Waddon, Croydon CR0 4HN Merlie Mirto – 07722 216 462 St. Anselm and St. Cecilia, 70 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London WC2A 3JA Feliciano Ramirez – 07733 680 748 Sacred Heart of Jesus, New Priory, Quex Road, Kilburn, London NW6 4PS Sheidrick de Leon – 07738 210 202 Blessed Sacrament Parish, 157 Copenhagen Street, Islington N1 0SR Christy Sangalang – 07709 119 969 Our Lady of Dolours, Servite Parish Church, 264 Fulham Road, London SW10 4EL Fr Allan Satur – 020 7352 6965 / fulhamroad@rcdow.org.uk Roland Adap – r_adap@hotmail.com St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, 218 Roehampton Lane, London SW15 4LE Rafael Santiago – 07795 254 451 Holy Redeemer Catholic Church, 20 Brixton Road, Oval, London SW9 6BU Ben Ortiz – 07723 318 486 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, London W1K 3AY Josie Ramos – 07723 024 591

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Take my heart: Pinoys make most number of organ pledges in 1 hour; Guinness validating record MANILA – A government-initiated event to boost organ donation in the country drew over 3,000 pledges in one hour Friday, a record that is seen to break India’s and which the Guinness Book of World Records is validating.

The Department of Health (DOH) set up the event for the organ donation pledges in a single site in one hour at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) in Sta. Mesa, Manila.

The DOH program manager for Philippine Network on Organ Sharing Dr. Antonio Paraiso, said PUP drew a total of 3,540 pledged organ donors from 9am to 10 am, beating India’s 2,755 in Sept. 17, 2013.

“All past records were done in universities so we said we can do this.

We’ve already beaten one hour with more than 3,000 pledges,” he said.

The Philippines also aims to break India’s

record of having 10,450 organ donation pledges in eight hours in a single site.

This, as the country has set its sights on a new record for “most number of people who sign up in an hour and in eight hours in multiple sites.”

Aside from PUP, sign-up sites have also been set up in Quezon City Circle in Quezon City; RTMC, San Fernando City, La Union; L. Mamba Gym in Tuguegarao City, Cagayan; JMR Coliseum in Naga City and and in Almendr’s Gym, Davao City in Davao del Sur. Health Assistant Secretary Dr. Eric Tayag said the DOH conceptualized the campaign to increase Filipinos’ awareness about organ donation, as most Filipinos are not open to donating an organ because of the stigma and wrong notions associated with it.

“So many unsavory stories are spreading. For example, one story says a syndicate kidnaps children to harvest their

kidneys. That is not true. No donation can take place outside of the hospital setting,” he assured the public.

He also allayed fears that by donating an organ, the donor risks jeopardizing his or her health.

“A donor must go through a screening process. One must check if they are compatible and if the doctors can mount it.

There’s also the need to protect the organ recipient,” he claimed.

Since 1983, there have only been only around 500 organ donations performed in the Philippines. Last year, there were only 33 donations and most of them were kidneys and cornea.

“The number of donors remains barely stagnant so we have to do something about it. This is our first big attempt to come up with a mass registration all over the Philippines,” he said. ■ Jet Villa / InterAksyon.com / February 28,

2014 / 5:39 PM

The Polytechnic University of the Philippines in Manila: site of the biggest number of organ donation pledges in one site in one hour. Photo by Bernard Testa ©Interaksyon.com.

‘Undue and unbearable pressure’: Cunanan details how solons directly ‘influenced’ PDAF racket MANILA, Philippines – Employees of the Technology Resource Center came under “undue and unbearable pressure” from lawmakers who endorsed - and whose staff actively followed up on - multimillion projects funded by their pork barrel, coursed through the agency, and executed by eight shell organizations linked to Janet Lim Napoles, embattled TRC Director General Dennis Cunanan has claimed.

In his affidavit submitted to the Justice department, a copy of which was obtained

by InterAksyon.com, Cunanan said that in the case of 18 congressmen who endorsed use of their Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) to eight nongovernment organizations linked to Janet Lim Napoles, the pressure was up close and personal: one congressman spent the whole day at the TRC, waiting for the release of a check to his duly designated NGO. Cunanan also directly disputed the claims of three senators who were impleaded in plunder cases pending with the Office of the Ombudsman, that: their roles were limited to “at best recommendatory” in picking the NGOs to execute PDAF-funded projects coursed through TRC; that they never

lobbied the TRC to honor their choice of the Napoles-linked NGOs; that their signatures in some documents may have been forged.

Cunanan, among those charged with plunder at the Ombudsman and whose testimony is now being vetted amid a proposal to make him state witness, claimed that ever since Napoles--who first came to his office sometime in 2006 or 2007- introduced herself to him as someone acting on behalf of several lawmakers who had endorsed their PDAF to her NGOs, his office had been under relentless pressure from lawmakers’ staff and lobbyists from the Napoles group, including chief whistle blower Ben Hur Luy who once, to impress him, whipped out his cell phone and supposedly dialled the numbers of Sens.

Bodies still being found in debris of Yolanda, even as government count stands unmoved MANILA - Bodies are still being found under the wreckage almost four months after Super Typhoon Haiyan ravaged the Philippines as survivors struggle to rebuild their lives, officials said Thursday.

The government’s confirmed death toll of 6,201 has not been updated for a month, as officials investigate whether the recentlydiscovered corpses are among the 1,785 listed as missing.

UN undersecretary-general for humanitarian affairs Valerie Amos recounted the shock of discovering the dead during a visit Wednesday to the devastated central city of Tacloban.

“As the debris is cleared, they are finding more dead bodies. We experienced that for ourselves,” she told reporters.

Amos visited Tacloban to inspect the progress of the UN-aided rehabilitation effort and check on the condition of survivors of one of the strongest typhoons ever to hit land.

The government’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council confirmed bodies are still being found.

“Sometimes they find two or three a day, then there are days where they find none,” its spokesman Reynaldo Balido told Agence France-Presse.

The latest casualty figures were a month old and did not reflect any subsequent corpse retrievals as the authorities work to reconcile the numbers, he added.

Balido said residents have learnt to

File photo of body bags lined up in Tacloban soon after Typhoon Yolanda plowed through central Philippines. Agence France-Presse

adapt to the sight of newly found corpses.

Haiyan raked across the central Philippines on November 8 last year, wrecking 1.1 million houses and displacing more than four million residents of some of the country’s poorest provinces according to the UN. The worst damage was inflicted by huge tsunami-like surges of seawater into Tacloban and other coastal communities.

Amos said Tacloban survivors need more help.

“They are many people trying to live in their original (ruined) homes. They put up a tarpaulin as a roof and put some wood on the side and that’s not good enough. It

won’t stand up to a storm,” she said.

The UN was also concerned about the welfare of more than a million farmers after 30 million coconut trees were destroyed, she said.

Replacement trees will not bear fruit for another six to eight years, Amos said.

About 30,000 small fishing boats were also destroyed or damaged, she added.

To help these people, the UN asked aid donors for $788 million in December, but Amos said only just over $362 million has been raised.

“Signs of devastation are still evident but so too are signs of progress,” she added. ■ Agence France-Presse / February 27, 2014 / 4:24 PM

Jinggoy Estrada and Ramon Bong Revilla Jr.; and from the lawmakers’ offices.

“True enough, soon after Mrs. Napoles’ visit, the TRC started to receive letters from certain legislators informing us that they have allocated part of their PDAF fort projects which are to be implemented by the NGOs they have chosen and/or that the SAROs for the said PDAF-funded Projects were in fact already issued by the Department of Budget and Management,” Cunanan said in his affidavit.

“Needless to state, these frequent and persistent episodes of NGO representatives and representatives of legislators standing by our Office and/or talking to us either personally or through the phone, or asking us to expedite the processing of their PDAF-funded projects, caused undue and unbearable pressure upon us. To us simple and lowly government employees, even just the letter of a Senator or Congressman following up on a project is enough to cause undue panic and pressure upon our office, since we know for a fact that Senators and Congressmen exercise functions over our agencies and wield tremendous political power,” Cunanan added.

The pressure gets worse, he added, “when the senators of congressmen and/ or their representatives directly talk to us to personally follow up on their PDAF-funded projects. Needless to state, it was because of this tremendous pressure exerted by Senators Enrile, Revilla and Estrada, and certain congressmen and their representatives, together with the representatives of their selected NGOs, which compelled many of us at TRC to process and approve on their PDAF-funded projects despite our initial misgivings about the same.”

Congressmen lobbied like basketball players. As for members of the House of Representatives who coursed their PDAF through the TRC, most of the time, said Cunanan, “it was the legislators themselves who personally followed up on the status of releases and often times sought immediate processing and transfer of funds to their designated implementing NGO partners.”

In fact, he said, “I remember that some congressmen and/or their authorized representatives even go to the extent of personally ‘lobbying’ at the Center for the immediate release of checks to their

selected NGOs.” He singled out Congressman Eduardo Roquero as among some legislators who “even stayed and waited the whole day at the Center until the release of checks to their duly designated NGO partner.”

Based on the TRC records shared by Cunanan, the following are the NGOs linked to Mrs. Janet Lim Napoles and/or her corporate vehicle, JLN Corp., which implemented projects funded through PDAF of legislators coursed through the TRC: • Agricultura Para sa Magbubukid Foundation (AMFI) • Agri and Economic Program for Farmers Foundation (AEPFF) • Social Development Program for Farmers Foundation (SDPFF) • Masaganang Ani para sa Magsasaka Foundatiion, Inc. (MAMFI) • People’s Organization forr Progress and Development Foundation, Inc. (POPFDI) • Philippine Social Development Foundation Inc. (PSDFI) • Countrywide Agri and Rural Economic Develoipment Foundation Inc. (CARED) • Philippine Agri and Social Economic Development Foundation Inc. (PASEDF).

Based on TRC records, the following legislators implemented projects funded by their PDAFs using NGOs linked to Mrs. Janet Lim Napoles and/or her corporate vehicle, JLN Corp., through the TRC: • Sen. Jinggoy Estrada (P21.75M) • Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile (P29.6M) • Sen. Ramon Revilla Jr. (P48.8M) • Rep. Amado Bagatsing (P8M) • Rep. Antonio M. Serapio (P2.8M) • Rep. Arrel R. Olano (P7.7M) • Rep. Arturo Y. Pingoy Jr. (P17.6M) • Rep. Conrado M. Estrella III (P33.1M) • Rep. Constantino G. Jaraula (P38.4M) • Rep. Douglas Cagas (P17.7M) • Rep. Edgar Veldez (P18.4M) • Rep. Joel Villanueva (P3.4M) • Rep. Ernnesto A. Nieva (P1.8M) • Rep. Erwin Chiongbian (P32.9M) • Rep. Florencio T. Miraflores (P1.9M) • Rep. Isidro E. Real Jr. (P4.8M) • Rep. Manuel C. Ortega (P32.6M) • Rep. Marc Douglas Cagas IV (P17.7M) • Rep. Rizalina Seachon-Lanete (P47.1M) • Rep. Robert Raymund Estrella (P4M) • Rep. Rodolfo Valencia (P3.2M) ■

InterAksyon.com / February 27, 2014 / 6:57 PM

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Top 10 stress-busters

IF you’re stressed, whether by your job or by something more personal, the first step to feeling better is to identify the cause.

The most unhelpful thing you can do is turn to something unhealthy to help you cope, such as smoking or drinking.

“In life, there’s always a solution to a problem,” says Professor Cary Cooper, an occupational health expert at the University of Lancaster. “Not taking control of the situation and doing nothing will only make your problems worse.”

He says the keys to good stress management are building emotional strength, being in control of your situation, having a good social network and adopting a positive outlook.

These are Professor Cooper’s top 10 stress-busting techniques: Be active. If you have a stress-related problem, physical activity can get you in the right state of mind to be able to identify the causes of your stress and find a solution. “To deal with stress effectively, you need to feel robust and you need to feel strong mentally.

Exercise does that,” says Cooper.

Exercise won’t make your stress disappear, but it will reduce some of the emotional intensity that you’re feeling, clearing your thoughts and enabling you to deal with your problems more calmly.

Take control No matter how difficult your problem may appear to be, there’s always a solution.

“If you remain passive, thinking, ‘I can’t do anything about my problem’, your stress will get worse,” says Professor Cooper. “That feeling of loss of control is one of the main causes of stress and lack of wellbeing.”

The act of taking control is in itself

empowering, and it’s a crucial part of finding a solution that satisfies you and not someone else.

Connect with people. A problem shared is a problem halved. A good support network of colleagues, friends and family can ease your work troubles and help you see things in a different way.

“If you don’t connect with people, you won’t have support to turn to when you need help,” says Professor Cooper. The activities we do with friends help us relax and we often have a good laugh with them, which is an excellent stress reliever.

“Talking things through with a friend will also help you find solutions to your problems,” says Professor Cooper.

Have some ‘me time’. The UK workforce works the longest hours in Europe. The extra hours in the workplace mean that people aren’t spending enough time doing things that they really enjoy. “We all need to take some time for socialising, relaxation or exercise,” says Professor Cooper.

He recommends setting aside a couple of nights a week for some quality ‘me time’ away from work. “By earmarking those two days, it means you won’t be tempted to work overtime on those days,” he says.

Challenge yourself. Setting yourself goals and challenges, whether at work or outside, such as learning a new language or a new sport, helps to build confidence.

That in turn will help you deal with stress.

“By constantly challenging yourself you’re being proactive and taking charge of your life,” says Professor Cooper. “By continuing to learn, you become more emotionally resilient as a person. It arms you with knowledge and makes you want

The 10,000 steps challenge RESEARCH shows that walking 10,000 steps a day will significantly improve your health. Putting one foot in front of the other can build stamina, burn excess calories and give you a healthier heart.

What’s so great about walking?

Walking can be done almost anywhere, at any time, and in any weather. It’s also a great way to get from A to B, which means you can fit walking into your daily routine.

How do I know how many steps I’m taking? The average person walks between 3,000 and 4,000 steps per day, and 1,000 steps is the equivalent of around 10 minutes of brisk walking. To find out how many steps you take each day, buy a pedometer similar to the one in the video at the bottom of this page. You can get a simple one that tracks steps for as little as £4. Clip it firmly to your belt or waistband, and it will measure every step you take: around the house, across the office, window shopping, to school or the park. You might find that you walk almost 10,000 steps a day, or that you walk less than you think. Whatever your results, knowing how far you can walk in a day will help motivate you.

How many calories will I burn if I walk 10,000 steps a day? A person weighing 70kg (about 11 stone) can burn about 440 calories by walking 10,000 steps briskly (3.5mph). If you’re trying to lose weight, you should aim to burn 600 more calories than you take in through food

and drink every day. This is best achieved by a combination of diet and exercise.

What if I don’t take any exercise at the moment? If you’re not very active, increase your walking distances gradually. No one expects 10,000 steps on the first day! If you’re worried about your joints or any existing health conditions, talk to your GP. If your joints are a problem, you can see if your local swimming pool holds exercise classes. The water helps to support your joints while you move, and once you lose a bit of weight, that will reduce the pressure on your joints.

Do I need any special clothing? We recommend a pair of cushioned trainers, which most people have already.

HEALTH and Lifestyle

March 2014 – No. 5 • UK & Europe Edition

to do things rather than be passive, such as watching TV all the time.”

Avoid unhealthy habits. Don’t rely on alcohol, smoking and caffeine as your ways of coping. “Men more than women are likely to do this. We call this avoidance behaviour,” says Professor Cooper. “Women are better at seeking support from their social circle.”

Over the long term, these faulty coping mechanisms won’t solve your problems.

They’ll just create new ones. “It’s like putting your head in the sand,” says Professor Cooper. “It might provide temporary relief but it won’t make the problems disappear.

You need to tackle the cause of your stress.”

Do volunteer work. Cooper says evidence shows that people who help others, through activities such as volunteering or community work, become more resilient. “Helping people who are often in situations worse than yours will help you put your problems into perspective,” says Professor Cooper. “The more you give, the more resilient and happy you feel.”

On a more basic level, do someone a favour every day. It can be something as small as helping someone to cross the road or going on a coffee run for colleagues.

Favours cost nothing to do, and you’ll feel better.

Work smarter, not harder. Good time management means quality work rather than quantity. Our long-hours culture is a well-known cause of workplace illness.

“You have to get a work-life balance that suits you,” says Professor Cooper.

Working smarter means prioritising your work, concentrating on the tasks that will make a real difference to your work. “Leave the least important tasks to last,” says Cooper. “Accept that your in-tray will always be full. Don’t expect it to be empty at the end of the day.”

Be positive. Look for the positives in life, and things for which you’re grateful. Write down three things at the end of every day which went well or for which you’re grateful.

“People don’t always appreciate what

they have,” says Professor Cooper. “Try to be glass half full instead of glass half empty,” he says.

This requires a shift in perspective for those who are more naturally pessimistic.

“It can be done,” he says. “By making a conscious effort you can train yourself to be more positive about life. Problems are often a question of perspective. If you change your perspective, you may see your situation from a more positive point of view.”

Accept the things you can’t change.

Changing a difficult situation isn’t always possible. If this proves to be the case, recognise and accept things as they are and concentrate on everything that you do have control over.

“If your company is going under and is making redundancies, there’s nothing you can do about it,” says Professor Cooper.

“There’s no point fighting it. In such a situation, you need to focus on the things that you can control, such as looking for a new job.” ■ NHS Choices

What’s the best way to start? Using your pedometer, find out how many steps you take during a normal day. It could be as little as 900 steps, or as much as 5,000 steps, depending on what you do. Record your daily steps over a week and use the total weekly number to work out a daily average.

Use this daily average to build your steps gradually, by adding a few more steps every so often until you’re regularly walking 10,000 steps a day.

10,000 steps sounds a lot. How do I fit all that walking into my busy day?

Increasing your walking is easier than you think. Try these tips for getting more steps into your life: • get off the bus early and walk the rest

of the way home or to work • walk to the station instead of taking the car or bus • invest in a shopping trolley and shop locally if you can • walk the children to school, whatever the weather • get fit with Fido – walk the dog For more tips and advice see the links on the right of this page.

I find walking boring. How can I make it more fun?

• find a walking partner so you have someone to chat to as you walk • get an MP3 player and listen to your favourite music or podcasts as you go • plan interesting walks during your days off

• join a walking group like the Ramblers How long do I have to keep walking?

The rest of your life! Being active is a lifelong health habit. It’s great for preventing weight gain, lifting your mood, and reducing your risk of a raft of serious diseases, such as heart disease. It takes a while for a regular activity to become a healthy habit, so just keep going and it will become second nature. You’ll soon find yourself doing many more than 10,000 steps some days.

What if I can’t walk for a few days due to illness or a holiday? Walking is a gentle form of exercise that is easy to get back into after a break. Just start again when you can, and build up slowly if you’ve been ill. The sooner you get back into the exercise groove, the better.

When going on a holiday, choose one where you’ll have plenty of opportunities to walk, for instance along the beach or in the countryside.

Is walking enough? Or should I think about other exercise as well? The amount of exercise that is recommended depends on your age. Adults between 19 and 64 should get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity – such as fast walking or cycling – per week. Learn more in physical activity guidelines for adults. Once you’re feeling the benefits of 10,000 steps a day, you may start thinking about getting more active. You could visit your local fitness centre and see what’s on offer. Some people enjoy competitive sports, others prefer sociable physical activity such as dancing. ■ NHS Choices

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HEALTH and Lifestyle food

March 2014 – No. 5 • UK & Europe Edition

Eating disorders: Advice for parents IF your child develops an eating disorder, you may feel unsure how to help and how to act around them.

Understanding your role. Your son or daughter’s behaviour may suddenly become very different from what you’re used to: withdrawn, touchy and even rude. This can make it very difficult to talk to them at a time when communication is so important.

It can help to remember that they are likely to be defensive because their eating disorder is their way of coping, and therefore they will be reluctant to let go of it, at least at first.

If your child is receiving treatment for their condition, the treatment team will play an essential part in their recovery.

But don’t underestimate the importance of your love and support.

Susan Ringwood, chief executive of the charity beat, explains: “Everyone who recovers from an eating disorder tells us how important it was to have unconditional love and support from those who care about them, even when they knew their behaviour was quite difficult to understand.”

Speak to one of the health professionals in your child’s treatment team about your role as parent and carer, and get their advice on what you can do at home to help. The following tips may also help with communication and dealing with mealtimes.

Tips for talking. Talking to your child about their condition can be very difficult, especially if they still can’t understand that they have a problem. However, communication is essential to help with

recovery, so keep trying.

When you want to talk to them directly about the eating disorder, Susan Ringwood advises that you: • Prepare what to say.

• Don’t blame or judge.

• Concentrate on how they’re feeling.

• Stay calm.

• Have resources to refer to.

• Be prepared for a negative response.

It can also help to: • Learn as much as possible about eating disorders. It helps you understand what you’re dealing with.

• Emphasise that no matter what, you love them and will always be there for them.

• Avoid talking about their appearance, even if it is meant as a compliment. Try to build their confidence in other ways,

about portion sizes, calories or the fat content of the meal.

• Avoid eating low-calorie or diet foods in front of them or having them in the house.

• Try to keep the atmosphere lighthearted and positive throughout the meal, even if you don’t feel that way on the inside.

• If they attempt to get too involved in cooking the meal as a way of controlling it, gently ask them to set the table or wash up instead.

• Try not to focus too much on them during mealtimes. Enjoy your own meal and try to make conversation.

• A family activity after the meal, such as a game or watching TV, can help to distract them from wanting to purge themselves or over-exercise.

• Don’t despair if a meal goes badly, just move on.

Help and support. If you need further support, there are a number or organisations that can help you.

It is important that the whole family understands the situation and gets support. See your GP as soon as possible. Your GP and your child’s treatment team will then be able to offer advice. Alternatively, you can call the beat helpline on 0845 634 1414 to speak to an advisor about any issue related to coping with eating disorders, including how to find local self-help and support groups.

Carers Direct provides a wealth of information on caring, including day-today living, claiming benefits and advice on combining caring with work or study.

for example by praising them for being thoughtful or congratulating them on an achievement at school.

• Avoid talking about other people’s diets or weight problems.

• Talk to them about the range of professional help available, and say that you’ll support them through it when they’re ready.

• Talk positively about activities they could be involved in that don’t involve food, such as hobbies and days out with friends.

• Try not to feel hurt if they don’t open up to you straight away, and don’t resent them for being secretive. This is due to their illness, not their relationship with you.

• Ask them what you can do to help.

• Try to be honest about your own feelings. This will encourage them to do the same.

• Remember that the feelings behind the eating disorder may be really difficult for them to express. Try to be patient and listen to what they’re trying to say.

• Be a good role model by eating a balanced diet and taking a healthy amount of exercise.

Tips for mealtimes.

• If they are in treatment, ask their treatment team about the most appropriate way to arrange your mealtimes.

• Consider going shopping together and agreeing on meals that are acceptable to you both.

• An agreement with the whole family about what and when meals will be can help to set everybody’s expectations.

• Agree that none of you will talk

■ NHS Choices

for specialist treatment. This can only be done after the doctor has consulted colleagues, who have to agree with the doctor’s decision. This is usually called being sectioned because it is done under the rules in one of the sections of the Mental Health Act. Will they be cured when they come home? Your friend will still need your support. Most people with an eating disorder do recover and learn to use more positive ways of coping. However,

recovery from an eating disorder can be a very difficult process that can take a long time. Part of your friend may want to get better, while the other part might be very scared about giving up the eating disorder. They might think, “I want to get better, but just don’t want to gain weight”.

They will probably have good days and bad days and, during times of stress, the eating difficulties may return. Changing the way people think and feel is never easy and it takes time. ■ NHS Choices

Supporting someone with an eating disorder IF your friend or relative has an eating problem they will eventually have to get professional help from a doctor, practice nurse, or a school or college nurse.

If a friend or relative has an eating disorder, you might want to encourage them to speak to someone about it. You could go with them for support if they want you to.

But there are other things you can do. You’re already doing a great job by finding out how to help them. It shows you care.

You may have noticed that your friend has changed. They may no longer go out or want to be included in things.

Keep trying to include them, just like before. Even if they don’t join in, they will still like to be asked. It will make them feel valued as a person.

You can also try to build up their selfesteem, perhaps by telling them what a great person they are and how much you appreciate having them as a friend.

Try not to give advice or criticism. Give your time, and listen to them. This can be tough when you don’t agree with what they say about themselves and what they eat.

Remember, you don’t have to know all the answers. Just being there is what’s important. This is especially the case when things are hard to cope with, particularly when it feels like your

friendship, help and support are being rejected.

What does treatment involve?

Treatment varies around the country, and different types of help may be offered depending on where you live. Treatment includes dealing with the emotional issues as well as the physical, but this must be done slowly so that your friend or relative is able to cope with the changes.

Treatment will involve your friend or relative talking to someone about the emotional difficulties that have led to their eating disorder. It will also explore their physical problems, general health and eating patterns. Help with eating and putting on weight is usually not enough.

The more actively your friend participates in the treatment programme, the better their chance of making a good recovery.

Will they have to go into hospital?

Most people with eating disorders are seen as outpatients (which means they visit the hospital, for example, one day a week). In severe cases, they might need to visit the hospital more often, or stay in hospital for more intensive support and treatment (known as inpatient care).

Should I visit them in hospital? This depends on what your friend wants, how you feel and what the treatment centre allows. Let them know you’re thinking of them and would like to visit them. If this

is not possible, you can always write to them or call to let them know that you’re still there to support them.

Can my friend be forced to get help?

If they have lost a lot of weight, they may be in danger of starving themselves and developing serious complications. In these circumstances they may not be able to think clearly, which may result in them refusing essential treatment and even life-sustaining food.

A doctor may decide to admit them

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CELEBRITY, SHOWBIZ & ENTERTAINMENT SCOOP

March 2014 – No. 5 • UK & Europe Edition

TV5 wins top honors at 49th Anvil Awards TV5 won big at the 49th Anvil Awards on Wednesday, bagging the prestigious Anvil Award of Excellence and the Bronze Anvil for the mobile app Pinoy Hoops, and the Anvil Award of Merit for its emergency response unit Rescue5.

Dubbed as the Oscars of PR, the Anvil Awards is staged annually by the Public Relations Society of the Philippines.

TV5’s vice president for New Media Sheila Paul, public service head Sherryl Yao, News5 anchor Paolo Bediones, and Voyager representative Patricia Gavino, product owner of Pinoy Hoops, received the trophies at the awarding ceremonies held at Solaire Resort Hotel.

Bestowed with the Anvil Award of Excellence, Pinoy Hoops is an innovative mobile app from TV5, Smart, and Voyager Innovations, Inc. It gives users real-time

basketball updates, scores, game alerts, stats, and schedules straight from their mobile devices.

A perfect companion for PBA, NCAA, and FIBA viewing, this app has earned over 270,000 downloads. It is cited for effectively enriching the Filipino’s basketball TV watching experience, making it the Philippines’ premier basketball app.

Pinoy Hoops was also one of only two recipients of the esteemed Bronze Anvil, the highest award given out in the PR Tools category, for successfully adapting to the Pinoy’s changing behavior by supplementing the viewers’ content. Pinoy Hoops is available for download on Android and iOS phones. For more information, visit www.tv5.com.ph.

Another big winner is News5’s premiere public service team Rescue5, recipient of

the Anvil Award of Merit for its entry “Aksyon sa Baha”.

The Anvil recognized Rescue5 for its practice of “cause journalism” by providing immediate assistance to people in distress during emergencies and disasters, and imparting disaster preparedness knowledge and skills to the general public.

It also featured the internationally acclaimed team’s other disaster risk reduction and management initiatives, such as launching a Rescue5 activity book for kids and producing safety interstitials to show the public how to make an improvised floatation device using common items like water bottles and even your jeans.

Rescue5 is the first local news unit to equip its reporters and cameramen with life-saving skills, allowing them to deliver not only news but also crucial assistance during

TV5 Public Service Head Sherryl Yao (center) flanked by TV5 VP for New Media Sheila Paul and News5 anchor Paolo Bediones, along with TV5 New Media and Rescue5 team members.

emergencies and disasters.

This year’s Anvil Awards is hailed as the most competitive thus far with a record number of entries, making TV5’s

achievements an exceptional testimony to its integrity, commitment, and excellence in public relations. ■ InterAksyon / February 27, 2014 / 9:33 PM

Derek Ramsay plays ‘the other man’ for a change in Studio5’s ‘Bawat Sandali’

CONTRARY to persistent rumors that he’s not happy with TV5, Derek Ramsay has constantly maintained that he is well taken care of by the Kapatid network.

The 37-year-old actor-athlete said it was TV5 that gave him a chance to realize his lifelong dream of being surrounded by the world’s best athletes when he hosted the London Olympics in 2012. Derek also got see different parts of the Philippines

when he hosted “The Amazing Race Philippines”, a gig he is excited to do again as its upcoming new season now includes several places in Asia.

“They also gave me teleseryes like ‘Kidlat’, ‘Undercover’ and ‘For Love or Money’. After ‘Amazing Race’, I’ll be doing a new teleserye with Aga Muhlach called ‘My Brother’s Keeper’ scheduled for the last quarter of the year. And now this movie,

Derek Ramsay. Photo by Connie Tungul ©InterAksyon.

Derek Ramsay and Angel Aquino star in ‘Bawat Sandali’.

‘Bawat Sandali’ with Angel Aquino,” Derek said during the recent press screening of the latest Studio5 Original Movie that will air Tuesday, February 25 at 8PM. In terms of reach, Derek added that it is also not true that TV5’s signal is limited in the provinces.

“Dun lang sa Palawan, malakas ang signal ang TV5 so talagang fans sila ng mga shows,” he pointed out to InterAksyon in an earlier interview. “I think that’s a good thing as it keeps everyone on their toes and maintains the high quality of our work. The challenge for us is to always tell a good story. Otherwise, mawawala din ang viewers.”

The actor said what attracted him to “Bawat Sandali” is its intriguing storyline where he gets to play “the other man” for a change.

Written by Raquel Villavicencio and directed by Joel Lamangan and Eric Quizon, the made-for-TV movie special finds Derek portraying Nico, a balikbayan filmmaker who returns to his hometown and becomes

attracted to Reso, a lonely woman (Angel Aquino) who turns out to be married to Charles, his elementary school classmate (Yul Servo).

Things turn from bad to worse when a heated argument between Nico and Resa following their one-night stand resulted in Nico being pushed out of a window.

Believed to be dead, Resa and her best friend (Mylene Dizon) dispose of the body.

But Nico isn’t dead yet and eventually recovers with temporary amnesia.

Not only does Resa have to deal with the prospects of Nico regaining his memory, she also has to contend with the keenly interested police officers (Phillip Salvador and Mon Confiado) who are investigating what really happened.

Derek said that he was also fascinated with the crime mystery aspect of “Bawat Sandali”. He said he particularly enjoyed working with Angel Aquino whom he has always admired as an actress. Derek and Angel figure in an extended steamy love scene that also serves as one of the

highlights in the TV movie.

With regards to him being often romantically linked with most of his leading ladies, Derek laughed in agreement but noted that it was only Angelica Panganiban and Cristine Reyes who became his real-life girlfriends. The rest were/are just rumors.

Which now leads to the question regarding the present state of his heart. And no, believe it or not, Derek Ramsay is not seeing anybody these days. He added that much of his time is devoted to his work.

He said that if there’s anyone who deserves his unconditional love and that of his fellow celebrities as of the moment, it’s none other than the surviving victims of typhoon Yolanda.

“I was recently in Tacloban and naiyak ako when I saw the devastation there. It’ sad to see people living in those conditions. It’s nice that local and foreign organizations like PLDT, Smart and Unicef helping out. There have been some improvements but a lot still needs to be done,” he admitted. ■ Edwin P.

Sallan / InterAksyon.com / February 25, 2014 / 7:58 PM

‘Quick Change’, ‘Nuwebe’ continue Cinemalaya 2013’s hot streak in filmfest circuit HOT on the heels of the recent victory of “Rekorder” which won the Special Jury Prize and Best Music at the 31st Annonay International Film Festival on Monday, two other Cinemalaya 2013 entries are also doing well in the international filmfest circuit.

Eduardo Roy, Jr.’s “Quick Change”, a harrowing look at the illegal cosmetic trade as seen in the eyes of a transgender who believes she is a lady trapped inside a man’s body, won the Critic Jury’s Prize at the Vesoul International Film Festival of Asian Cinema (Festival international des cinémas d’Asie) held in France last February 18.

As posted by the film’s director on his Facebook page, the film was honored for “its difficult topic”.

“The director wanted us to present and take consciousness about the harsh life of a certain community of the Filipino population. He succeeds in doing so by the violence of certain images,” went the citation of jury members Victor Lopez (East Asia), Marie-Pauline Mollaret (Ecran Noir) and Yanick Ruf (Cine Alliance).

An entry in the New Breed category of Cinemalaya last year, “Quick Change” won Best Actor (Mimi Juareza), Best Sound (Albert Michael Idioma), Best Screenplay

and Special Jury Prize for Roy, whose previous Cinemalaya film, 2012’s “Bahay Bata”, also won awards in the Deauville Asian Film Festival, Las Palmas Film Festival and Vancouver International Film Festival.

In his review for the Hollywood trade bible Variety magazine, critic Richard Kuipers hailed “Quick Change” as “a well-crafted drama that explores Manila’s transgender community with docu-like authenticity”.

Established in 1995, the Vesoul

International Film Festival of Asian Cinema is an annual special interest film festival held in Vesoul, France that focuses specifically on Asian cinema.

Aside from Roy, fellow filmmaker Brillante Mendoza was honored with Vesoul’s Golden Cyclo of Honor for his acclaimed filmography. Mendoza is the festival’s international jury head for this year.

On the opposite side of the globe, Joseph Israel Laban’s “Nuwebe” has been

Mimi Juareza and Junjun Quintana in a scene from ‘Quick Change’.

nominated in four major categories in the Queens World Film Festival in New York City. The incest drama received nods for Best Actress for Barbara Miguel, Best Actor for Jake Cuenca, Best Director for Narrative Feature for Laban and Best Narrative Feature.

The film festival is scheduled to take place from March 4 to 9 this year.

The Queens World Film Festival focuses on independent films with challenging

Queens World Film Festival Best Actor nominee Jake Cuenca (left) in a scene from ‘Nuwebe’.

stories. It particularly prides itself with “providing screening opportunities for that overlooked, yet gem of a film”.

Overlooked may indeed be the right word to best describe “Nuwebe”. A film that struggled to find its niche in its home country after its Cinemalaya debut last year, “Nuwebe” has nonetheless been a hit with international audiences everywhere else.

It has been invited to more film festivals all over the world than any other Cinemalaya film in the same batch.

To date, the film has won the Youth Jury’s Mention of Honor at the III Festival Internacional Lume de Cinema in Brazil, Best Actress for child star Barbara Miguel at the Harlem International Film Festival and the Special Mention Citation at the Puebla Internacional de Cine in Mexico.

In addition to Queens, the well-travelled indie is headed to the Rome Independent Film Festival (March 16 to 23): CinemAsia Film Festival in Amsterdam (April 1 to 6); and the Festival Cinematográfico Internacional del Uruguay in Montevideo (April 10 to 20).

Like “Rekorder” and “Quick Change”, “Nuwebe” was also originally an entry in the New Breed category of Cinemalaya 2013. ■ Edwin P. Sallan / InterAksyon.com / February 27, 2014 / 9:14 PM

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CELEBRITY, SHOWBIZ & ENTERTAINMENT SCOOP

March 2014 – No. 5 • UK & Europe Edition

Marian Rivera turns over 100 bangka to Yolanda victims Via GMA Network’s Kapuso-Adopt-A-Bangka Project EXACTLY a month after its launch, GMA Network’s Kapuso Adopt-A-Bangka Project was able to fulfill its commitment to give out, for its first wave, 100 bangka to the fisherfolk communities of the Bantayan Island in Northern Cebu through a turnover ceremony held on February 18.

Said campaign, which was launched

by GMA Regional TV, the business unit which manages the regional TV operations of GMA, on January 18, in partnership with the Bantayan Island Association of

Hotels, Resorts, Bars, and Restaurants Inc., intends to help provide long term livelihood opportunities to those affected by super typhoon Yolanda in Northern Cebu by rehabilitating and rebuilding their bangka through the help of various sponsors.

Present during the formal turnover of bangka were: Kapuso Adopt-A-Bangka Project Ambassadress, Marian Rivera; Kapuso Adopt-A-Bangka Project Key Point Person and AVP/Head, Integrated Marketing Services Division of GMA Regional TV, Oliver

Victor Amoroso; Kapuso Adopt-A-Bangka Project Co-key Point Person and Station Manager of GMA Central and Eastern Visayas, Ann Marie Tan; and Bantayan Island Association of Hotels, Resorts, Bars and Restaurants, Inc. President, Allan Monreal.

For updates and developments on the Kapuso Adopt-A-Bangka Project, the campaign website www. kapusoadoptabangkaproject.blogspot.com may be visited. ■

Sharon Cuneta bids ‘Madam Chairman’ adieu, looks forward to new shows, indie debut SHE’S definitely going to miss her.

That’s what Megastar Sharon Cuneta keeps saying about indefatigable barangay chairman Bebeth de Guzman as “Madam Chairman” finally end its five month run on TV5 this Friday, February 28.

“Going in on our last taping days, we try to avoid talking about the show’s finale because it makes us sad, the cast and the crew have grown to become very close to each other over the course of the series,” she told InterAkasyon and other entertainment media during a recent set visit.

Ate Shawie admits that even she was surprised with how she was able to provide her first ever teleserye with the kind of commitment she was never able to give her previous TV projects.

“I’ve never had so many working days for a TV station in a week. Dati, two days lang, big deal na sa akin,” she exclaimed.

“I guess it’s really my love and devotion to ‘Madam Chairman’ and I’m thankful because it really is a good show.”

Sharon added that the involvement of both writer Jose Javier Reyes and director Joel Lamangan were big factors in motivating her to work very hard on the show. It also helped that she was also surrounded by a wonderful supporting cast that mixed seasoned veterans with promising newcomers.

She said also enjoyed working with leading man Jay Manalo, who played Bebeth’s philandering husband Dodong.

After teasing viewers about their possible reconciliation, the show’s final episode will reveal if the estranged couple will give love another chance even as Madam Chairman ponders the future of Barangay Sta. Clara and her constituents.

So what’s next for Mega after “Madam Chairman”? The 48-year-old actress said she will take a brief vacation after which she will immediately start work on her new series, “My Pirated Family”.

Oh, and she and Ogie Alcasid will also start Season 2 of “The Mega and the Songwriter”.

“It’s something I want to keep doing. I miss watching and having shows like that on TV. Me and Ogie, we both like laughing and being funny. I always had a great time on that show,” she quipped.

By the third quarter of the year, Sharon will also start work on “Minamahal” but contrary to initial speculations, she explained that the show is not following the same format as “Maalaala Mo Kaya”.

“We’re not imitating ‘MMK’. Institusyon na yun. There’s no letter to read and I’m not going to host. What I will do is sing the a song of the week with Jay Durias. A story will then be based on that song, which other actors will dramatize. Since I’m a singer, we thought a song is a nice way to connect with a story.”

One other project Sharon is very excited about is an upcoming indie film that she will produce based on the ongoing scriptwriting contest she announced last year.

“We’ve extended the contest but we’re not actually looking for a script in the literal sense. We realize not everybody can write a script so we just want a really good storyline,” she noted.

To avoid bias, Sharon said she is not personally reading the submitted entries— yet. “I have people that’s going to choose the top 20 and submit to Direk Joey Reyes. From the top 20, they’re going to narrow it down to a top 5 and then choose

the eventual winner which will receive P300,000 and will be mentored by Direk Joey who will guide this person and come up with a good script for us to make.”

“With regards to my own input, I might also put in a word or two if there’s something that I feel should be added or modified from the script”.

The actress added that any of the non-winning entries in the Top 20 may still be used for a TV show or movie in the future “because you’ll never know”. Those interested can still send their scripts and storylines to megascripts2013@gmail.com.

As to what exactly she’s looking for, Sharon said while she does not have anything particular in mind, she hopes to see something that “excites” her, something different and something she has not done yet.

Perhaps a project with another off-beat character like Bebeth de Guzman herself?

We’ll find out soon enough.

Catch the farewell telecast of “Madam Chairman” on TV5 this Friday at 7:30PM after “Let’s Ask Pilipinas”. ■ Edwin P. Sallan / InterAksyon.com / February 28, 2014 / 12:46 PM

Sharon Cuneta speaks to reporters on the set during the last taping day of ‘Madam Chairman’.

Aljur Abrenica, walang takot na lumangoy kasama ang mga dolphin para sa ‘Kambal Sirena’ MISTULANG professional dolphin trainer at walang takot ang Kapuso hunk na si Aljur Abrenica sa kaniyang pakikisalamuha sa mga dolphin sa dagat bilang bahagi ng kaniyang paghahanda sa inaabangang Kapuso series na “Kambal Sirena.”

Sa ulat ni Lhar Santiago sa “Chika Minute” ng GMA news “24 Oras” nitong Huwebes, sinabing kailangan ni Aljur na magsanay kasama ang mga dolphin dahil trainer ng mga nabanggit na hayop at may-ari ng lugar kung saan ginagawa ang dolphin show, ang role na gagampanan niya sa serye.

Kaya naman daw talagang naglaan ng oras si Aljur na makapagsanay kasama ang mga dolphin.

“Nagkaroon ako ng chance na makasama [ang mga dolphin]... tumalon

lang kami tapos ‘yon na, lumapit na yung mga dolphin sa amin. Very social sila, tapos, ‘yon na. Yung false whale shark lumapit na, ang laki-laki. Nakita ko yung amo nila, they’re so gentle,” masayang kwento ng aktor.

Mistulang nakikipaglaro lang at parang matagal nang ka-bonding ni Aljur ang mga dolphin habang nagsasanay ang aktor.

May pagkakataon pang sumasakay siya sa malaking dolphin at nagpapaikot-ikot sa tubig.

“Kung titingnan mo naman kasi, yung mga dolphin very social sila. Kilala naman sila, ‘di ba simula sa bata ka, alam mo naman na hindi sila nananakit,” paliwanag ni Aljur kung bakit hindi siya natakot sa mga dolphin.

Nagpasalamat si Aljur sa GMA na sa kanya ibinigay ang male lead role sa “Kambal Sirena” kung saan first time niyang makakatambal si Louise Delos Reyes, na gaganap sa dalawang karakter.

Puring-puri rin ni Aljur si Louise dahil sa pagiging professional at masayahin daw itong kasama sa set.

Sa “Kambal Sirena” rin sila natutong mag-scuba diving ni Louise sa pagtuturo ng professional dive master at under water director nila na si Jess Lapid, Jr. ■ FRJimenez / GMA News / February 27, 2014 / 11:00 PM

Sharon Cuneta (center) with her TV family (from left), husband Jay Manalo and kids Byron Ortile, Akihiro Blanco and Shaira Mae dela Cruz. Photos by Connie Tungul.

Dennis Trillo sa usap-usapan ng ikalawang yugto ang ‘My Husband’s Lover’: ‘Sana matuloy’ KAKA-RENEW lang ng GMA contract ng mahusay na aktor na si Dennis Trillo.

Sa loob ng mahigit isang dekada niya sa showbiz, nakatanggap siya ng iba’t ibang parangal sa pag-arte. Umani rin ng papuri ang pagganap niya bilang Eric sa My Husband’s Lover.

Ano ang susunod na kabanata para kay Dennis?

Sa kanyang contract signing, nabanggit ni Dennis na kung bibigyan siya ng pagkakataong piliin ang kanyang susunod na proyekto, gusto niyang magkaroon ng romantic comedy o action na series.

Gusto raw niyang malayo ang kanyang magiging bagong karakter sa kanyang role sa My Husband’s Lover.

Kung leading lady naman ang pag-uusapan, marami pa raw hindi nakakatrabaho si Dennis at marami pa rin siyang gustong makatrabaho ulit. Nais daw niyang makatrabaho sina Heart Evangelista, Carla Abellana at maging si Barbie Forteza.

Kuwento pa ni Dennis, kailangang pagisipan mabuti ang kanyang susunod na proyekto, lalo na’t sobrang tinangkilik ang huli niyang show na My Husband’s Lover.

“Siyempre nandoon yung pressure dahil

sobrang phenomenal ng My Husband’s Lover at mahirap talaga siyang pantayan.

‘Yon yung naging benchmark pero siyempre dahil doon, pinipilit naming lalo pang pagbutihin kahit alam naming mahihirapan kami,” aniya.

May mga usap-usapang magkakaroon daw ng ikalawang yugto ang My Husband’s Lover.

“May mga naririnig akong balita. Sana matuloy, pero kung sakaling magkakaroon ‘yan ng part two, gagawin namin lahat para mas lalo pa siyang kagiliwan,” sagot niya.

Dagdag ni Dennis, “Hindi man mapantayan, pero kung ano iyong dedication na ibinigay namin sa book one, ganoon pa rin ‘yung level ng dedication na ibibigay namin sa book two, kung sakaling magkakaroon.”

Kung ano man ang susunod niyang mga proyekto, buo ang tiwala niya sa GMA dahil dito siya nahasa at nakilala sa larangang kanyang kinabibilangan.

Ani Dennis, “Secured ako dito sa GMA dahil 11 years na akong nandito. Alam kong hindi nila ako pababayaan. Priority kong magtrabaho at maipakita ulit kung ano ‘yung kaya kong i-offer sa mga manonood.”

“Ang gusto ko na lang ay manatili at lalong mas tumagal dito dahil ito na ‘yung trabahong talagang minahal ko nang gawin and naniniwala akong ‘pag pumili ka ng trabahong talagang mahal mo, hindi mo na mararamdaman na nagtra-trabaho ka, kaya siguro nag-e-enjoy ako,” dagdag niya.

Abangan si Dennis Trillo kasama ang kanyang My Husband’s Lover co-star na si Tom Rodriguez ngayong Sabado sa Magpakailanman. Para makatanggap ng updates, mag log-on sa www.gmanetwork. com. ■ Samantha Portillo and Elisa Aquino /

Dennis Trillo, My Husbands Lover

GMANetwork.com / February 27, 2014 / 11:22 PM

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CELEBRITY, SHOWBIZ & ENTERTAINMENT SCOOP

March 2014 – No. 5 • UK & Europe Edition

Jonalyn Viray ends February on a high note with feature film debut, solo concert

FEBRUARY is a month that ends on a particularly high note for singer, and now, actress Jonalyn Viray. And for two big reasons.

Her first full-length feature film, “Cattleya: An OFW Story” is currently showing in theaters nationwide. She plays a successful singer based in Hong Kong who bumps into a down-and-out friend (Glaiza de Castro) during one of her Manila visits and helps the latter land a job as a domestic worker.

“It’s my first time on the big screen so kinakabahan ako. Ang awkward palang panoorin ang sarili mo sa pelikula,” she told InterAksyon during the film’s recent red carpet premiere.

Admitting that her hands were literally shaking during their first shooting day, Jonalyn said she eventually became comfortable as the production progressed.

For this, she credits co-star Glaiza who also happens to be a fellow mainstay at GMA

Network’s “Sunday All-Stars” for making things easier for her.

“Nakakatuwa din na si Glaiza ang una kong nakatrabaho, kasi nagkakasama naman kami sa ibang projects, magaan siyang kasama,” the 24-year-old native of San Mateo, Rizal added.

Like Glaiza, Jonalyn also met a good number of OFWs in Hong Kong and learned from their stories and the sacrifices they had to make in order to provide well for their respective families.

Since she’s playing the role of a singer and even got to sing in the film, the former Pinoy Pop Superstar champion said that she enjoyed doing this project and hopes to get more acting offers in the future.

Singing, however, remains Jonalyn’s top priority. This Friday, she will headline a special solo concert called “#Fearless” which also features Asia’s Songbird, Regine Velasquez-Alcasid and Pop Diva Kuh

Jonalyn Viray. Photo by Kim David Laquindanum.

Ledesma as among her special guests.

Fans expect Jonalyn to perform her popular hits, most of which are actually theme songs of GMA teleseryes like “Gaano Kadalas ang Minsan”, “Maging Akin Ka Lamang”, “Ang Mundo Ko’y Ikaw” from “Bakekang” and most recently, “Help Me Get Over” from “My Husband’s Lover”.

The last song was so popular that Jonalyn was asked to be part of the US tour of “My Husband’s Lover” causing her to give up an equally coveted lead spot on PETA’s ongoing hit musical, “Rak of Aegis”.

“It was Ate Uge (Eugene Domingo) who asked me to audition. Gusto ko sanang mapabilang sa ‘Rak of Aegis’ kaso nagka-problema naman sa schedule ko at sumabay sa US tour ng ‘My Husband’s Lover’. Since hindi pa ma-finalize yung duration ng tour, hindi ako maka-commit sa ‘Rak of Aegis’ so eventually, I had to give it up,” she recalled.

Aicelle Santos, who like Jonalyn is a member of the vocal trio, La Diva, was eventually cast in ‘Rak of Aegis’. Jonalyn said she’s very happy for Aicelle, but like the former, she also laments the recent disbanding of La Diva.

“But I think it’s a good thing naman that we are all allowed to focus on our individual

careers. Aicelle is doing well in theater musicals, si Maricris (Garcia) is starting to appear in teleseryes while ako naman, active sa concert scene.”

Jonalyn added that while there are no plans yet for any reunion concert by La Diva, she has fond memories of her time with the group particularly when they were asked to sing the Philippine National Anthem for the Pacquiao-Cotto fight in Las Vegas, Nevada.

“Napakalaking opportunity para sa aming tatlo na kantahin ang Philippine National Anthem sa laban ni Manny Pacquiao,” she exclaimed.

If given another chance to sing the national anthem at another Pacquiao fight, this time as a solo singer, would she be willing to do it again?

“Of course. Kung okay lang po sa ating Pambansang Kamao, why not?” was her quick reply. ■ Edwin P. Sallan / InterAksyon.com /

February 27, 2014 / 11:26 AM

Wally Bayola says computer shop, not Yosh Rivera, leaked sex video WALLY Bayola pointed to a computer repair shop in Quezon City, not his former lover Yosh Rivera, as the culprit in the circulation of their sex video last year.

In an interview with pep.ph Tuesday night, the comedian opened up about the scandal that forced him into a five-month hiatus, which started with the video’s online release in early September and ended two weeks ago with his return to “Eat Bulaga”.

“Ang ipinagtataka ko, ang tagal na nun, 2010 pa,” he said of the video that showed Bayola having sex with Rivera, then a member of “Eat Bulaga’s” resident allfemale dance group, the EB Babes.

Bayola — who is one half of a famed comic duo with Jose Manalo — has been

married for almost 19 years to registered nurse Riza Ruen Bayola, with whom he has five children.

He admitted that he himself uploaded the video to his laptop in 2010, but he deleted it and all other personal files when he sold the laptop to Rivera in 2012.

“Bago napunta sa kanya, lahat ng files dun dinelete ko lahat. Laha t-lahat. E, kahit pala na-delete mo na yung files, nari-retrieve pa rin pala ang mga yun,” Bayola said in the interview by reporter Jullie Bonifacio.

He said an investigation conducted by the National Bureau of the Investigation traced the source of the leak to a computer service center near the Zirkoh comedy bar on Morato Avenue in Quezon City.

The computer shop closed down after the NBI probe.

Bayola said the NBI acknowledged that both he and Rivera are victims of the leak.

He added that the last time he saw her was during the NBI investigation.

“Pati nga siya, nasira rin. Nawalan siya ng trabaho at tumigil na rin siya sa pag-aaral.

Huminto siya. Biktima rin siya. Hindi ko alam kung nasaan na siya ngayon. Baka umalis na lang ng bansa, hindi ko alam,” Bayola said.

He revealed that he suffered financially during his hiatus because one of his children had been undergoing chemotherapy for leukemia, which forced an older sibling to stop schooling. ■ InterAksyon.com / February 27, 2014 / 3:22 PM

Wally Bayola and Yosh Rivera

Diamond Star Maricel Soriano signs contract with GMA Network, Inc.

DIAMOND Star Maricel Soriano is now a Kapuso after signing a contract for a primetime soap opera with GMA Network, Inc. The contract signing was held on February 19 at the GMA Network Center and attended by the top officers of the Network.

Present during the contract signing were GMA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Atty. Felipe L. Gozon, GMA Entertainment TV’s Senior Vice President Lilybeth G. Rasonable, GMA Vice President for Drama Productions Redgie Acuña-Magno, and Maricel’s manager Shirley Kuan.

Maricel, one of the country’s most respected and multi-awarded television actresses, is part of the network’s upcoming primetime drama series with a working title Ang Dalawang Mrs. Real.

The Diamond Star says her role in Ang Dalawang Mrs. Real is very challenging and she looks forward to working with Primetime King Dingdong Dantes and Kapuso Premier Actress Lovi Poe, “Excited na excited ako kasi maganda yung story.

Ibang set ng mga kabataan naman yung mga makakatrabaho ko ngayon. Alam ko ito ay magiging masaya.”

As she officially becomes part of the Kapuso Network, Maricel wants to start anew and be an inspiration to her fans and supporters. Of this exciting new chapter in her life as a Kapuso, she says,“Lahat tayo pwedeng mag-move on. Positive na lahat.

Gusto ko maging happy ako. At gusto ko silang lahat makatrabaho ko. Masarap maging masaya.”

Rasonable is very happy that Maricel is joining GMA’s stable of stars. “We’re looking forward sa tagisan ng acting ng show na ito na dapat abangan ng mga manonood. She is a precious actress na makakadagdag sa drama ng GMA. At sana maging pleasant na experience sa kanya ang maging isang Kapuso. We look forward na mapanood natin siya sa telebisyon sa mga susunod na buwan,” she says.

Among the Kapuso stars, Maricel also wishes to work with Dennis Trillo, Tom Rodriguez and Carla Abellana.

Kapuso fans abroad can look forward to seeing the Diamond star in her forthcoming series Ang Dalawang Mrs. Real on GMA Network’s flagship international channel, GMA Pinoy TV. ■ GMA

Pinay ‘X-Factor Israel’ winner Rose Fostanes, nasa Pilipinas

Mac Macapendeg / FRJ, GMA News / February 27, 2014

BALIK-BANSA na si Rose Fostanes, ang Pinay caregiver na nagwagi sa “X Factor Israel.”

Sa ulat ng Chika Minute ng GMA news 24 Oras, sinabing lumapag sa bansa ang eroplanong sinakyan ni Rose nitong Miyerkules ng gabi.

Isang linggo raw mananatili sa bansa si Rose.

Sinabi ni Rose na abala siya ngayon sa paggawa ng album at may nakatakda rin siyang concert sa Israel at Australia.

Pag-uusapan naman daw kung magkakaron siya ng concert sa Manila. ■

/ 4:36 PM

FRJ, GMA News / February 26, 2014 / 11:26 PM

Kim Jones, wala raw munang baby kapag ikinasal na sila ni Jericho Rosales

SA darating na Mayo na ang nakatakdang kasal ng aktor na si Jericho Rosales sa fiancé nitong si Kim Jones, isang modelo at television host. Idaraos ang kanilang pag-iisang dibdib sa Boracay.

Kuwento ni Kim, isang local designer ang gagawa ng kaniyang wedding gown at suit na gagamitin ni Jericho.

“We’ve both been praying about it for so

long. For us, it’s just the next step and now, we’re just gonna get married. Nothing’s gonna change, no babies yet, it’s just gonna us together,” pahayag nito sa ulat ng “Balitanghali” nitong Huwebes.

Nag-propose ang aktor sa kasintahan noong Agosto 2013 sa isang simbahan. ■

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March 2014 – No. 5 • UK & Europe Edition

DFA Unveils New Mall-Based Regional Consular Office in Iloilo City THE Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), in partnership with Robinsons Land Corporation (RLC), unveiled the new DFA Regional Consular Office (RCO) Iloilo in Robinsons Place-Iloilo on 21 February 2014.

DFA Undersecretary for Administration Rafael E. Seguis led the inauguration of the new DFA RCO Iloilo office.

DFA Officials Assistant Secretary Wilfredo C. Santos (Consular Affairs), Assistant Secretary Teresita Barsana (ASEAN Affairs), Assistant Secretary Melita Sta. MariaThomeczek (Personnel and Administrative Services), and Senior Special Assistant Noel Servigon also attended the inauguration ceremony.

Iloilo local government officials including Governor Arthur Defensor, Sr., and Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog, and local heads of government agencies graced the occasion. Robinsons Land Corporation executives headed by Mr. Irving Wu (Operations Director for Luzon) also witnessed the event.

The transfer of DFA RCO Iloilo to its new home in Robinsons Place-Iloilo aims to accommodate more passport clients, provide a comfortable, convenient location, and offer world class and applicant-friendly consular services to residents of Iloilo and its neighboring provinces.

“We expect the relocation of the DFA office to Robinsons Place will not only make our office more accessible and convenient but also provide world-class consular services to the residents of Iloilo City, Iloilo Province and the neighboring provinces and islands. This cooperation is in pursuit of President Benigno S. Aquino’s administration policy of Public-Private Partnership,” Undersecretary Seguis said during the inauguration ceremony.

The DFA signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with RLC in October 2011 for the hosting of DFA Consular Offices in various regional hubs in the country. In July 2013, the DFA and RLC inked a second MOA for the latter’s hosting of five (5) consular and extension offices in Butuan City; Puerto Princesa, Palawan; Calasiao, Pangasinan; Santiago, Isabela, and Novaliches, Quezon City.

DFA Consular Offices are currently operating at Robinsons Malls in Robinsons Galleria in Quezon City; San Fernando, Pampanga; Lipa, Batangas; General Santos City; and Bacolod City.

DFA RCO Iloilo is located at the 3rd level of Robinsons Place Iloilo, and is open to serve the public from 9 A.M. to 6 P.M., Mondays to Saturdays. It accepts new passport applications, passport renewal,

(From left) Ms. Shiela Marie Tu (OIC, DFA RCO Iloilo), Asst. Secretary Melita Sta. Maria-Thomeczek, Mr. Noel Servigon DFA Senior Special Assistant), Mr. Irving Wu (RLC Operations Director for Luzon), Mr. Tommy Lee O (RLC Senior Consultant for Government Affairs and Special Projects), Undersecretary Rafael Seguis, Governor Arthur Defensor, Sr., Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog (Iloilo City), Asst. Secretary Teresita Barsana, Asst. Secretary Wilfredo Santos, and Ms. Tess Miranda (RLC Special Projects Manager)

and replacement of lost passports. The office also provides assistance-to-nationals services. OIC Ms. Shiela Marie Tu heads DFA RCO Iloilo.

During their visit to Iloilo City, Assistant Secretary Thomeczek, Assistant Secretary Barsana, Assistant Secretary Santos, and Senior Special Assistant Servigon also conducted lectures on the Philippine Foreign Service, ASEAN Integration, and life in the Foreign Service to students of Iloilo Doctors College and University of San Agustin. ■ Philippine Embassy, Philippines / February 25, 2014

PHL Ambassador Attends The 10th Parliament’s Official State Opening in Swaziland AMBASSADOR Constancio R. Vingno, Jr., Philippines’ Pretoria-based envoy to Swaziland, attended the official State Opening of the 1st Session of the 10th parliament of the Kingdom of Swaziland on February 7 held at Lobamba, Swaziland.

His Majesty King Mswati III delivered the key opening speech.

Ambassador Vingno and the mobile passport team of the Embassy also met with members of the Filipino community in Swaziland. ■ Philippine Embassy Philippines / February 27, 2014

(From left) Ms. Kristin September Hortillano (Robinsons Place Iloilo Manager), Mr. Noel Servigon, Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog, Undersecretary Rafael Seguis, Governor Arthur Defensor, Sr., , Asst.

Secretary Wilfredo Santos, Mr. Irving Wu, and Ms. Shiela Marie Tu.

(Cockwise) Undersecretary Seguis delivers his remarks during the inauguration ceremony; Tribu Panayon’s Ati-atihan spirited performance entertains the guests during the inauguration ceremony; DFA Officials engage students of University of San Agustin in a lively lecture and discussions; Undersecretary Rafael Seguis leads the inspection of the DFA RCO Iloilo office and facilities.

(Left photo) His Majesty King Mswati III delivering his speech. (Right photo) Ambassador Constancio R. Vingno, Jr. with the High Commissioner of the United Kingdom and Federal Republic of Nigeria during the Official State opening of the 1st session of the 10th Parliament of the Kingdom of Swaziland.

US Congressional Delegation’s Visit Highlights Strong Phl-Us Ties A bipartisan congressional delegation (CODEL) led by Republican Representative Ed Royce visited the Philippines from February 20 to 21.

The eight-member CODEL was composed of Representatives Ed Royce (Republican, California) Steve Chabot (Republican, Ohio), Brad Sherman (Democrat, California), Joe Kennedy III (Democrat, Massachusetts), Randy Weber (Republican, Texas), Luke Messer (Republican, Indiana), Joe Wilson (Republican, South Carolina) and Madeleine Bordallo (Democrat, Guam).

The US CODEL visited Tacloban to examine the damage caused by Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) and to oversee the US

assistance given to typhoon-affected areas. All of them expressed their admiration for the extraordinary resilience of the Filipino people. Seeing firsthand the extent of the devastation, they reiterated their commitment to extend assistance for the recovery of the Philippines.

On February 21, the delegation paid a courtesy call on President Benigno S. Aquino III at Malacañan Palace. The congressional delegation’s visit reaffirmed the enduring friendship between the two countries. The members of the delegation expressed their interest in strengthening further the political, security, economic and socio-cultural ties with the Philippines.

Also present during the call were Cabinet

officials including Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert F. del Rosario.

Members of the CODEL applauded the Aquino administration’s efforts in curbing corruption, demonstrating that the United States recognizes the Philippines’ improvements in good governance. They noted America’s high confidence in the Philippine government.

The CODEL also praised the Philippines for its adherence to international law in the settlement of territorial disputes.

The US lawmakers spent a weeklong tour in Asia meeting with high-level officials in Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and Hong Kong. ■ Philippine Embassy Philippines /

February 26, 2014

President Benigno S. Aquino III greets US CODEL head, Repersentative Ed Royce while Secretary Albert F. del Rosarion looks on.

Filipinos celebrate Feast of Sto. Nino in Milan VARIOUS celebrations by Filipinos marked the feast of Sto. Niño in Milan.

On 11 January 2014 the Filipino Catholic Community of Sto. Niño de Cebu held its 20th Anniversary at the Sta. Maria di Carravaggio Church in Via Borromini. A Holy Mass was officiated by Father Alessandro Vavassori, chaplain of the Sto. Niño Community, followed by variety show with members of the community as performers.

The Sto. Niño Community continued their celebration on 19 January 2019 with a procession, amidst the heavy rain, complete with marching band and dances honoring Pit Senyor, around the vicinity of the Chiesa Santa Maria Consolazione Largo Church in Cairoli 1, Milano. Filipinos, Italian and tourists watched the procession with interest and enthusiasm.

Another Sto. Nino celebration was held on 26 January 2014 at the Sta. Maria del

Carmine Church, this time headed by the Filipino Community of Sta. Maria del Carmine Parish Church. Father Gaetano Parolini officiated at the Holy Mass, reminding everyone in his homily that Filipinos should be proud of their faith and values which they carry all over the world.

The feast of Sto. Niño reminded the Filipino devotees to be childlike in their ways in order to be closer to God and to His great gift to mankind, Jesus Christ. At the end of the Mass, Fr. Parolini called on Consul General Lourdes S. Tabamo to greet the attendees.

She thanked Fr. Parolini and his associate, Fr. Prinky, for their untiring devotion to administer the spiritual needs of Filipinos. She also commended the Filipino Communities for organizing the Sto. Niño celebrations and for their continued cooperation with the Philippine Consulate in Milan. ■ Philippine Embassy Philippines / January 2014

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PHILIPPINE EMBASSY NEWS AROUND THE WORLD

March 2014 – No. 5 • UK & Europe Edition

Philippines, Indonesia Hold Successful Bilateral Talks FOREIGN Affairs Secretary Albert F. del Rosario met with Indonesian Foreign Minister Dr. Marty M. Natalegawa in Jakarta on February 24 for the 6thMeeting of the Philippines-Indonesia Joint Commission on Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC). The JCBC is a mechanism for discussing and reviewing the overall bilateral relations between both countries.

The ministers discussed cooperation in political, defense and security relations, including border patrol and border crossing; economic relations, including trade and investment; and socio-cultural relations, including cooperation in health, culture, labor, sports and youth.

The meeting approved the PhilippineIndonesia Plan of Action for 2014-2016, which provides a roadmap, concrete programs and specific timelines for cooperative initiatives between both countries. Emphasizing the importance of a “scorecard” for ensuring implementation of initiatives under the Plan of Action, Minister Natalegawa lauded the creation of three (3) Working Groups on political, security and border issues; economic issues; and socio-cultural issues and the establishment of a Senior Officials Meeting to monitor progress on these.

Both Ministers also approved and witnessed the signing of an Agreement on Mandatory Consular Notification and Assistance, which provides a mechanism to facilitate the protection of the rights of nationals who are detained, arrested, deprived of freedom or undergoing judicial process before national courts, or who have died while in custody of the receiving state.

The Ministers also welcomed the historic conclusion of bilateral talks on delimitation of their exclusive economic zones. The talks, which started in 1994, are expected to lead

to the signing of a maritime boundary treaty in the following months.

There were also discussions on regional and international issues, including the South China Sea and the evolving regional architecture in Asia, with particular emphasis on the role of ASEAN. The next meeting of the JCBC will be held in Manila in 2016.

The Philippines and Indonesia are celebrating the 65th anniversary of their bilateral relations, which were officially established on 24 November 1949. ■ Philippine Embassy Philippines / February 26, 2014

4th Philippines-Australia Ministerial Meeting Joint Ministerial Statement THE Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs, the Hon Albert del Rosario, and Secretary of Trade and Industry, the Hon Gregory Domingo, met with the Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Hon Julie Bishop MP, and Minister for Trade and Investment, the Hon Andrew Robb AO MP, on 20 February 2014 for the Fourth PhilippinesAustralia Ministerial Meeting.

The Secretaries and Ministers reaffirmed the steadfast friendship between the Philippines and Australia and agreed to work collaboratively to promote economic growth and new business opportunities and advance common objectives for the peace, stability and prosperity of the Asia-Pacific region.

Economic co-operation.

The Secretaries and Ministers agreed that the Philippines and Australia should co-operate to increase bilateral trade and investment, and to support the Philippine Government’s reforms to create a more resilient, vibrant and competitive economy. The Secretaries and Ministers welcomed the participation of high-level business delegations from Australia and the Philippines at PAMMrelated business events, and noted the importance of private sector engagement to drive the economic relationship forward. The Secretaries and Ministers also recognised the important role of the business chambers in promoting the expansion of trade and investment.

The Secretaries and Ministers agreed to: • Encourage the private sector to explore new opportunities for trade and investment in light of the strong economic growth in the Philippines and the sustained strength of the Australian economy.

• Provide an enabling environment for trade and investment by streamlining business regulations, boosting productivity and competitiveness, promoting greater utilisation of the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (AANZFTA), and ensuring frequent government dialogue

to address trade and investment concerns.

• Share Australian experience to assist the Philippine Government deliver on its major infrastructure agenda and assist in post-typhoon recovery and reconstruction.

• Build on strong co-operation in agriculture and market access that has yielded improved import protocols for Philippine mangoes and Australian fresh fruit, and better opportunities for farmers.

• Continue Australia’s support for the Philippines’ development of its Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) framework to further ensure that the supply of qualified skilled workers meets industry needs.

• Explore the viability of a Senior Officials’ Trade and Investment Dialogue to review progress in supporting growth in the bilateral commercial relationship.

• Share Australian experience to support the development of responsible mining in the Philippines.

Development co-operation.

The Secretaries and Ministers recognised the importance of development cooperation between the two countries and reaffirmed their commitment to pursue shared national interests of greater economic growth, stability and security for the region.

The Philippines expressed deep appreciation for Australia’s immediate response and early recovery to the Philippines in the aftermath of Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan), with the extension of over AU$100 million to date in aid, including the provision of an Australian medical team, and the deployment of Australian Defence Force personnel and equipment.

The Secretaries and Ministers agreed to: • Confirm Australian aid to the Philippines at AU$170 million in 2013-14, in recognition of the serious recovery and reconstruction challenges following Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan).

• Focus the Australian aid program on the agreed priorities of the Australian

and Philippine Governments as they seek to promote prosperity, reduce poverty and enhance stability through partnering for education reforms, enhancing the foundations for sustained economic growth, promoting better disaster preparedness, improving conditions for peace and security and building stronger institutions for accountable and inclusive development.

• Further our education partnership through the AU$150 million Basic Education Sector Transformation program. This will support the introduction of the K to 12 Basic Education Program, transforming children’s lives and supporting efforts to harmonise education standards across ASEAN. • Contribute an additional US$2.5 million from Australia to expand Public Private Partnership projects to deliver better services to Filipinos and increase private sector investment in key infrastructure projects. This will enhance the engines of economic growth by connecting people to markets through vital infrastructure.

• Continue cooperation on the Philippines’ long-term reconstruction and recovery efforts. At the same time, promote long term and better disaster preparedness to mitigate the social and economic shocks of disasters.

• Strengthen the governance of public institutions, including by helping embed economic and public finance reforms, and improve opportunities for women and girls to benefit equally from economic growth.

Defence and Security co-operation.

The Secretaries and Ministers agreed that the Philippines and Australia would maintain and deepen bilateral co-operation on defence and security matters, following the entry into force of the Philippines-Australia Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (SOVFA) in 2012.

The Secretaries and Ministers noted the SOVFA’s successful implementation via training in Australia for Philippine defence personnel and the deployment of Australian

Defence Force assets and personnel to support Typhoon Yolanda relief operations.

The Secretaries and Ministers agreed to: • Continue annual meetings of the Joint Defence Cooperation Committee.

• Convene Bilateral Counter-Terrorism Consultations in the first half of 2014.

• Maintain the excellent level of cooperation between Australian and Philippine agencies on counter-terrorism issues, and develop new areas of collaboration to support Philippine capabilities.

• Enhance the capabilities of the Armed Forces of the Philippines through the bilateral defence cooperation program focussing on maritime security, counter terrorism, bilateral and multilateral exercises, and education and training.

• Promote the establishment of a memorial to recognise Australia’s contribution to the Liberation of the Philippines and the Australian personnel who gave their lives.

Peace Process. The Secretaries and Ministers welcomed the conclusion of the negotiations of the Annexes to the Framework Agreement that will lead to the signing the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro.

The Secretaries and Ministers agreed to: • Provide an additional AU$6 million from Australia to support the peace process and boost institutional capacity to implement the Agreement.

• Continue Australia’s support for the Independent Commission on Policing, and explore the development of effective law enforcement in the new Bangsamaro.

Regional co-operation.

The Secretaries and Ministers agreed that the Philippines and Australia would support efforts to increase co-operation in ASEAN, the East Asia Summit (EAS), the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM+) and Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC).

They agreed to: • Increase engagement on regional cooperation, including the holding of the 2nd Senior Officials’ Strategic Dialogue in June 2014.

• Reaffirm their commitment to work together to build the EAS as a key regional institution for strategic dialogue.

• Celebrate the 40th Anniversary of ASEAN-Australia relations in 2014, including the holding of an ASEAN-Australia Leaders’ Summit in the margins of the EAS in Myanmar.

• Continue to encourage all parties to clarify and pursue territorial claims and maritime entitlements in the South China Sea peacefully and in accordance with international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and reiterate support for closer ASEANChina negotiations for the early conclusion of a substantive Code of Conduct in the South China Sea. • Strengthen humanitarian assistance and disaster relief preparedness in the region.

• Collaborate to take forward issues of mutual interest during the Philippines’ host year for APEC in 2015. Australia offered the secondment of an officer to the Philippine Government to support the host year.

• Work together to ensure the negotiation of a high quality Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership.

• Co-chair the second ARF seminar on UNCLOS in Manila on 28-29 May 2014.

New Colombo Plan. The Secretaries and Ministers looked forward to the Philippines participating in the New Colombo Plan from 2015, and hoped that the Plan would see Australian students studying in the Philippines in the near future.

Next meeting. The Secretaries and Ministers agreed that the Fifth PhilippinesAustralia Ministerial Meeting would be hosted by Australia in 2016. ■ Philippine Embassy Philippines / February 21, 2014

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NEWS

March 2014 – No. 5 • UK & Europe Edition

Ex-SC justices urge caution in Congress’ move on Cha-cha, warn it could frighten investors MANILA, Philippines - Simply inserting the phrase “unless otherwise provided by law” to the economic provisions of the Constitution could make the economic restrictions tentative and thus create more anxiety among investors instead of attracting them, former Supreme Court magistrates warned lawmakers Tuesday.

And, in amending the Constitution, the Senate and the House of Representatives should sit in joint session and discuss the amendments, and then vote separately to approve or reject it, according to two former Supreme Court justices.

Speaking at the hearing of the contitutional amendments committee of the House of Representatives on Tuesday, former Chief Justice Reynato Puno and former Associate Justice Vicente Mendoza said the current Resolution of Both Houses No. 1 being tackled by the chamber could face constitutional challenge if the said process of amendment would be ignored.

The former magistrates also cautioned that inserting the phrase “unless otherwise provided by law” in Articles 12, 14 and 16

File photo of former Chief Justice Reynato Puno.

to relax the restrictions on the economic provisions could create uncertainty with regard to the country’s economic policies.

Joint debates, then voting separately.

“Congress is required to sit in joint session with each House voting separately for revision or amendment,” Mendoza said.

He added that the proposals in the House resolution “are of far reaching importance to the economic life of this country; [they] must be fully discussed and debated in joint session acting as joint assembly, and the dleiberation must be widely publicized before the people cast their vote in a plebiscite.”

Puno said that the power to amend the Constitution is a known constituent power

of Congress as stated in Article XVII of the charter.

“In a bicameral legislature, it belongs to both Houses of Congress, it cannot be exercised unilaterally by one House alone. ... To trigger its use, either House as an institution must invite each other to gather in a joint assembly to propose amendments or revisions of the Constitution,” Puno said.

The ambience in a joint session is different from one where each chamber debates separately, according to the former chief magistrate.

“In a joint session, the quality of debate is enhanced and enriched by senators who represent the entire people, and the congressmen, who represent the particular interest of their district. ... It brings out nothing less than their cerebral best when the two Houses of Congress are amending the fundamental law of the land,” Puno said.

Former Associate Justice Adolfo Azcuna said that Article XVII of the Constitution did not state that Congress should act in joint session in amending the Constitution.

“While it’s true that in some instances, Congress should meet jointly, when it tackles non legislative matters, there is no general provision that says that Congress should meet jointly,” he said.

Mere insertion like a vague Valentine’s Day vow. Both Puno and Mendoza also warned that the proposed resolution of Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. to insert the phrase “unless otherwise provided by law” into the economic provisions -- leaving it up to Congress to pass laws -- could create an air of “vagueness and uncertainty.”

“Is this a tool of flexibility or will the use of this phrase give rise to problems of vagueness and uncertainty. If they do, instead of attracting foreign investments, they will drive away foreign investments,” Puno said.

“If there’s something that will drive them away, it is the uncertainty of our laws ... problems of policy,” he added.

Mendoza said inserting the phrase “unless otherwise provided by law” to the economic provisions could make the economic restrictions tentative.

“It’s like the promise of a suitor to his lady that on Valentine’s Day, he would brave the rains, cross rivers just to see her, and then add a P.S. (postscript) saying, however, if it rains very hard and the streets get flooded, then let’s put off our date,” Mendoza said.

Puno said the lawmakers should thoroughly discuss the proposal, look at empirical data, and see if opening up the economy was the answer to the country’s woes on joblessness and lack of investments.

This was echoed by lawyer Jose Antonio Bernas who said that “the economic objectives can be addressed in other ways like longer lease on lands.”

“Just passing laws which allows foreign invetsors to come in will not bring in investors, the right environment for the investors to come in should also be provided for and that’s best provided for in the laws that Congress can pass, even without the changes in the Constitution.”

■ Lira Dalangin-Fernandez / InterAksyon.com /

February 25, 2014 / 11:26 PM

How are govt, MILF doing in peace process? ‘Gigantic progress’ but ‘need for speed’ - indie panel MANILA - How has the Mindanao peace process been doing? Particularly, how are the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front implementing the Framework Agreement on Bangsamoro?

Overall and before the signing of the fourth and final annex on normalization, the two parties have made “gigantic progress,” although there is a “need for speed,” according to the independent Third Party Monitoring Team, the panel created by the agreement that is mandated to monitor the implementation of the agreement.

“The government and MILF panels have made gigantic progress in completing all four Annexes to the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro (FAB),” said Alistair MacDonald, TPMT chairman and former ambassador of the European Union to the Philippines, at a press conference Friday.

After consultations with a wide range of stakeholders in September and December, TPMT noted the following in its first public report: • Commitment “It was evident that both parties continued to share the

strongest commitment to peace, and are absolutely determined to bring the process to a successful conclusion.”

• ‘Need for speed’ “There was a strong recognition of the ‘need for speed,’ and for the drafting of the Basic Law to be completed as soon as possible in order to allow Congress to commence its deliberations in a timely manner.

• Public info “Many stakeholders underlined the need for deeper public information about the FAB and its implications, and for the parties to strengthen their outreach and public messaging to a wide audience, including local government units, the ulamas and bishops, the business sector, and civil society more widely, and including also information in local languages.”

• Inclusiveness “A number of stakeholders expressed concern about the inclusiveness of the process, and there was a clear desire for the FAB to be something which would be beneficial for all residents of the Bangsamoro.”

‘Tremendous work’ done by both govt, MILF. The TPMT noted four “key steps” undertaken by both parties since the signing of the agreement in October 2013,

or what MacDonald called “some of the greatest steps” and “tremendous work”: • The signature of the Annexes on Transitional Modalities (February 2013), on Wealth Generation (July 2013), on Power Sharing (December 2013), and on Normalization (January 2014, together with the addendum on Bangsamoro Waters).

• The launching of the Bangsamoro Transition Commission in April 2013, and the work being carried forward in drafting the Basic Law. • The launching of the Independent Commission on Policing in September 2013, to prepare proposals for a new police service for the Bangsamoro.

• The launching of the Sajahatra Bangsamoro program in Feburary 2013, providing in coordination with the Transition Commission the government’s initial support for identified MILF combatants, families, and other affected persons and communities.

These, MacDonald said, are indications that “we can clearly see the construction of a lasting peace.”

Why is it important to have peace in Mindanao?

Mindanao peace dialogue, 17 September 2013. File photo by Dennis Arcon.

“Much remains to be done,” MacDonald said, among them: the signing of the comprehensive peace agreement (by March 2014), the drafting (by end 2014) and adoption of the Basic Law (by January 2015), and the full implementation of the agreements reached (by July 2016).

Everyone that the panel talked to on the progress in the implementation of the agreement expressed a desire for a

“comprehensive, inclusive and sustainable peace in Mindanao,” the panel said.

Why is this so? Because “building a peace…will bring an end to cycles of violence and displacement, and…will allow the tremendous economic, social and cultural potential of Mindanao to come to the fore,” MacDonald said. ■ Veronica Uy / InterAksyon.com / February 28, 2014 4:43 PM

PHL embassy denies envoy made anti-union remarks in NZ THE Philippine Embassy in New Zealand on Friday denied accusations that Philippine Ambassador Virginia Benavidez had made anti-union remarks during a recent event there.

“Ambassador Benavidez never advised the Filipino workers not to join Unions,” the embassy said in an emailed statement.

The embassy issued the statement

after FIRST Union accused Benavidez of “interfering” in New Zealand’s internal affairs when she allegedly advised Filipinos there not to join unions.

Benavidez allegedly gave the advice during a speech to Filipinos invited by the Canterbury Pilipino Assistance Group (CPAG).

According to the Philippine embassy,

what Benavidez said was for Filipinos there to consult with their employers first before heading to government support groups such as the embassy, Immigration New Zealand, Members of Parliament, and other local support groups.

The statement also clarified that should Filipinos choose to apply to unions, they are allowed to do so.

It also denied that Benavidez singled out the New Zealand Herald in her statement, saying if relevant authorities are approached, their cases would be resolved before they are aired over the media.

Alfie Alojado Jr., CPAG president, stood behind the ambassador by producing affirming statements with his officers.

“Alojado, who organized the meeting and invited Ambassador Benavidez... firmly stated that Ambassador Benavidez did not make any anti-union statements,” the Philippine embassy said.

Alojado and his staff also informed Benavidez that FIRST Union did not have a representative during the talk. ■ Rie Takumi / KBK, GMA News / February 21, 2014 / 5:54 PM

Iranian charged for posing as cop, raping Pinay in UAE

AN Iranian man was charged before a United Arab Emirates court last week for posing as a policeman and raping a Filipina sales coordinator in International City in the UAE. The Iranian, 34, was charged before the Dubai court Wednesday over the incident

that occurred last October, a report on UAE news site Gulf News said.

Citing court records, the report said the two met online, with the man claiming to be an Emirati criminal investigations officer.

An investigation showed the Filipina sought help for her cousin to obtain a visa

to the UAE. She said the man told her he had a solution and picked her up from her workplace.

He first told the Filipina they were going to his cousin’s house to have dinner, but she became suspicious.

“He grabbed my shirt and pulled me

inside the apartment,” she said, adding he then forcibly undressed and raped her.

“I yelled at him as he was putting his clothes back on. But he, speaking in the local dialect, told me to shut up and raised his hand with the intent of striking me,” she said.

The Filipina informed police about the incident, and police traced the suspect via his vehicle’s license plates.

Police arrested him after the Filipina identified him from the company’s employee list. ■ LBG, GMA News / February

23, 2014 / 8:12 AM

38

SPORTS

www.hello-philippines.com

March 2014 – No. 5 • UK & Europe Edition

San Mig Coffee defeats Rain or Shine in Game Six to win 2014 Philippine Cup

THE San Mig Super Coffee Mixers closed out the gritty Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in Game Six, 93-87, to win the PLDT Home DSL Philippine Cup on Wednesday at SMARTAraneta Coliseum.

Third-year guard Mark Barroca scored 24 points, including 10 of the Mixers’ final 12 points, while rookie Ian Sangalang added 15 points to lead San Mig Coffee.

The championship gives San Mig Coffee coach Tim Cone a record 16th PBA title, pushing him past the legendary Baby Dalupan in the league’s all-time list.

It also gives the Purefoods franchise its sixth All-Filipino trophy — the most of any team in PBA history. The team also won the league’s most prestigious title in 1991, 1993, 1997, 2006, and 2010.

The star trio of Yap, Simon, and Pingris also won their third Philippine Cup crown, putting them on par with the legendary Purefoods duo of Alvin Patrimonio and Jerry Codinera, who led the team to its first three All-Filipino titles.

It is also the first back-to-back titles in the 26-year history of the franchise after winning last season’s Governors’ Cup. Near walkout. San Mig Coffee took control early, scoring the first eight points of the game before opening up a 28-15 advantage on a three-pointer from James

Yap late in the first period.

The Mixers were still leading, 30-17, when Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao instructed his team to walk off the court after a foul call on Elasto Painters center JR Quinahan.

Sports5 reporter Erika Padilla was told by Guiao that the walkoff was “an expression of the team’s resentment on the calls of the refs.”

The Elasto Painters eventually returned to the court, but the delay barely dampened the play of the Mixers. Behind its energetic second unit, San Mig Coffee pushed the advantage to as much as 17 points several times in the second quarter.

But just when it looked dead in the water, Rain or Shine came alive, scoring the final 11 points of the first half to cut the San Mig Coffee lead to just six points, 49-43.

Tight second half. The Elasto Painters continued to threaten in the third period, coming within a single point, 51-50, on a three-pointer from Jireh Ibañes.

San Mig Coffee pushed back behind superstar Yap, who scored four points in a quick 7-2 run for a 58-52 edge.

But Rain or Shine rattled off a 13-4 blast capped by back-to-back three-pointers from Chris Tiu and Paul Lee for a 65-62 lead with three minutes left in the third quarter.

It was San Mig Coffee’s turn to strike back, with Simon, Barroca, and Sangalang combining for a 17-5 attack to give the Mixers a 79-70 advantage with 6:59 left in the game.

Lee nailed a much-needed three-pointer in the ensuing play for Rain or Shine, cutting the deficit to six points. He followed that up a couple of plays later with a steal on Sangalang and a fastbreak layup.

After a Pingris basket, Lee nailed another three-pointer to cut the San Mig Coffee lead to just three, 81-78, with less than five minutes remaining.

Barroca takes over. Mark Barroca nailed a three-point play with 2:44 left to give San Mig Coffee more cushio, 84-78. After a Belga layup, Barroca replied with a threepointer over the outstretched arms of Gabe Norwood.

Belga responded with his own threepoint play to push Rain or Shine within four, 87-83, with 1:49 left.

Barroca scored on a drive, before Belga nailed a three-pointer as the Elasto Painters came within one possession, 89-86.

Pingris made two free throws in the next play to put the Mixers ahead by five with 1:07 to go.

Lee had two good looks from three-point range in the next possession, but missed

Photo by Justin Gener ©InterAksyon.com

both times. Rain or Shine was still able to recover the ball, but Lee turned the ball over while being shadowed by Pingris with 37.6 seconds left.

The Elasto Painters sent Barroca to the line, where the third-year guard split his free throws for a 92-86 advantage with 29.4 seconds left.

Lee drew a foul on Pingris in the next play. He hit the first but missed the second, but Rain or Shine was able to recover possession of the ball.

Guiao, however, grabbed the ball from referee Jimmy Mariano on the inbounds,

resulting in his second technical foul and ejection. Barroca nailed the technical free throw to seal the deal for the Mixers.

The scores: SAN MIG SUPER COFFEE 93 – Barroca 24, Sangalang 15, Devance 12, Pingris 12, Yap 10, Simon 9, Reavis 5, Mallari 4, Melton 2.

RAIN OR SHINE 87 – Lee 23, Belga 21, Cruz 11, Chan 7, Quinahan 6, Rodriguez 6, Arana 5, Tiu 3, Ibañes 3, Norwood 2, Almazan 0, Tang 0.

Quarters: 30-17, 49-43, 66-67, 93-87 ■ InterAksyon.com / February 26, 2014 / 10:31 PM

Special feature: Once an airport detainee, Ghanaian booter embarks on UFL coaching career PASARGAD FC failed to start its 2014 United Football League campaign on a high note after the club squandered a 1-nil first half lead before allowing Green Archers United Globe to force a draw.

But for freshman coach Ayi Nii Aryee, that match was still a dream come true.

“Unforgettable moment of my coaching career,” said Aryee, who took over the squad just four days before the start of the season.

Aryee, who hails from Ghana, wasn’t looking for a coaching job when he came to Pasargad. He was looking for a roster spot,

but was offered a coaching gig instead.

“I went to Pasargad FC to try out but I was told there were too many foreigners lined up already,” he said. “But they can only offer me the vacant job as an assistant coach and, surprisingly, I became the head coach.”

Aryee didn’t expect to be a UFL coach so soon. But he has always stumbled upon the unexpected since he first set foot in the Philippines eight years ago.

He started his football career at the age of 14, playing in Ivory Coast and Togo —

Photo by KC Cruz ©Sports5

two nations adjacent to his home country Ghana.

Realizing his potential, he decided to take his talents to Asia at 18, playing one year in Malaysia before heading to Singapore.

When he was in Singapore, Aryee hoped to study while playing football. But he only had a work visa then, and needed a student visa instead.

“I cannot work and study at the same time because I’m not a Singaporean,” he said.

His club granted his request and terminated his contract with the agreement that he would be given a student visa. But he had to fly elsewhere while his documents were being processed. In 2006, he flew to the Philippines, where he took a “vacation” at a posh hotel for nine days.

But disaster struck came when he returned to Singapore. It turned out that his club didn’t process his visa, forcing him to be deported back to the Philippines, where immigration officials also disallowed him from entering.

“I was held at the airport without any criminal offense,” he said.

Aryee stayed for seven days at the Clark International Airport in Pampanga, where his passport and important belongings were confiscated. He said that he was even asked

Trainer Freddie Roach joins Manny Pacquiao’s camp in General Santos RENOWNED trainer Freddie Roach is already in General Santos City and training Manny Pacquiao, who will face Tim Bradley in a rematch scheduled April 12 in Las Vegas.

Roach arrived there Monday morning after working the corner of Chinese Olympic star Zou Shiming in Macau and the Hall of Fame trainer remains unsure when exactly they are bringing their act to the Wild Card

Boxing Club in Hollywood.

Roach is not actually not rushing things, saying he can afford to remain in the country until the third week of March.

During his first day of training with the Filipino icon, Roach did 13 rounds with the mitts and has told the fighting congressman to get ready for sparring against Lydell Rhodes, an undefeated American puncher who moves like Bradley.

Before Roach arrived, Pacquiao had already been going to the gym the past two weeks for conditioning.

Pacquiao is coming off a rousing win over Brandon Rios in Macau and needs no less than a scintillating win over Bradley to show everyone that he is still a marketable commodity on pay-per-view.

■ Lee Jimenez / InterAksyon.com / February 25,

2014 / 1:17 PM

for extortion money from officials.

“They were trying to get something from me. I am not ready to give them what they want because there was no violation against me. I’m not a criminal,” he said.

Aryee reached out to the media to address his situation. His story made headlines in newspapers and primetime news, which helped him his transfer to a facility near the airport, where he waited until his documents were sorted out.

During his stay, he made friends with the security guards, utility men, and just about everyone else in the vicinity.

“I just stay in the room. Early in the morning I jog, I play with the basketball (and) I kick it around. Some of them are really friendly. At night, I do the same thing,” he said.

“I had little money so sometimes I send someone to buy food for me. I eat with them. It was an office room, it was quite big, (with) air-condition, bed. The only thing is I didn’t get to go out.”

Upon learning of Aryee’s situation, the owner of Division Two club Union Internacional Manila helped him get his documents in order and bought him a plane ticket. Finally, after three months, he was headed back home.

Triumphant return. But soon, he made his way back to the Philippines. He finally

fulfilled his dream of studying and playing football at the same time, suiting up for University of the Philippines.

He helped the team win two straight UAAP football titles during his three-year stay.

After his collegiate career, he went on to play for a number of UFL sides such as Union International Manila, Global FC, Green Archers, Manila Jeepney FC before coaching Pasargad.

He hasn’t closed his doors for a UFL return — he is only 26 — but admitted that he would love to be a coach for a long time.

“Of course my career as a footballer will come off me and go but coaching is something that will be with me forever,” he said.

He added that he still wants to end his career with Union, which helped him out of the airport eight years ago.

“I started my UFL career with Union Internacional Manila and I still want to go back and finish my UFL career with them and become a coach there someday.”

For now, Aryee enjoys his new career as a coach and has learned lessons from his ordeal a few years ago.

“It was hard during those days but I went through and did not go around it,” Aryee said. “It was a life challenge and that made me who I am today.” ■ Karl Decena / InterAksyon.

com / February 6, 2014 / 7:21 PM

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NONITO Donaire is bringing his act to Macau on May 31 when the FilipinoAmerican puncher attempts to win his fifth world title.

Top Rank is staging Donaire’s clash with South African Simpiwe Vetyeka at the CotaiArena, the 15,000-seat venue that has hosted the fights of Manny Pacquiao, Brian Viloria and Chinese Olympic great Zou Shiming.

Vetyeka will risk his World Boxing Association featherweight crown against Donaire, who is regarded by many as the heir apparent to Pacquiao.

Donaire, who has a 32-2 record with 21 KOs, is fresh from scoring a ninthround stoppage over Vic Darchinyan and is eager to get back in the ring.

Top Rank head Bob Arum is currently in Macau as Zou is scheduled to headline another show there on Saturday night.

Arum began using Macau, a former Portuguese colony as a venue for big-time boxing last year when he promoted Zou and Viloria in April.

After that, Arum had another show in July featuring Zou again and in lateNovember featuring Pacquiao against Brandon Rios and Zou, again, in the undercard.

Arum once told mediamen that Macau’s gaming income is bigger than that of Las Vegas, saying that “Macau is like Las Vegas on steroids.” ■ Lee Jimenez /

Nonito Donaire to fight for world title in Macau on May 31

InterAksyon.com / February 20, 2014 / 4:16 PM

With record title win, Tim Cone honors former Purefoods coaches Baby Dalupan, Ely Capacio ON Wednesday night, Tim Cone piloted the San Mig Super Coffee Mixers to the PLDT Home DSL Philippine Cup title.

The victory gave Cone his 16th PBA championship, putting him No. 1 on the all time list for coaches.

But as he stepped into history, Cone made sure he shared the limelight with

two former coaches of the Purefoods franchise — Baby Dalupan and Ely Capacio.

Dalupan coached Purefoods to its first title, ironically coming at the expense of Cone’s Alaska squad in 1990. That was Dalupan’s 15th PBA title, a record that once seemed unbreakable until Cone

managed to top the feat.

But for Cone, Dalupan’s legacy goes beyond records in the PBA. “No one will ever surpass Baby as the greatest,” said Cone. “I’m thrilled that I’m able to bring Baby Dalupan’s name back into the consciousness of the young ones.

“He is the father of all coaches and I’m

really proud to have my name mentioned with him.”

Cone also honored Capacio, who succeeded Dalupan at the helm of Purefoods and led the team to its first AllFilipino championship in 1991.

Capacio passed away last Sunday at age 58.

“I wish Ely Capacio’s here to see this.

He’s one of my greatest supporters at San Mig. I know he’ll be thrilled,” said Cone, who has now won a title in each of his three seasons at the helm of the franchise.

“We’re gonna miss Ely. We’re gonna miss Mr. Capacio.” ■ InterAksyon.com / February 26, 2014 / 11:13 PM

UFL: Team Socceroo battles Pachanga to draw

Photo by Paolo Papa ©Sports5

NEWLY-PROMOTED Team Socceroo blew an early lead, but managed to rally in the second half to force a 2-2 draw against Pachanga PLDT Home Fibr in United Football League action on Thursday at Emperador Stadium.

Lee Jeong Woo scored at the 15th minute to give Team Socceroo an early 1-nil lead.

But Team Socceroo quickly lost its cushion after Pachanga leaned on goals from Ariel Zerrudo and Jinggoy Valmayor at the 25th and 32nd minutes to give their team a 2-1 halftime lead.

Lee found the back of the net once again at the 69th minute to tie the match and settle for a draw.

Team Socceroo stayed at eighth place with one win, three draws and six losses for six points.

Pachanga tied Philippine ArmyGeneral Trias International FC for fifth place with an identical 3-1-5 win-drawloss card for 10 points.

In Division Two action, Ceres-La Salle FC dispatched Union Internacional Manila, 4-2, to grab the top spot in the table.

Kim Jin Ho bagged a hat trick with goals at the eight, 49th and 88th minutes, while fellow Korean Son Yong Chan chipped in one at the 88th minute to lead Ceres, which notched its fifth victory along with a draw and a loss to lead all second division teams with 16 points.

Shayan Jafari accounted for the goals of Union, which suffered its third loss along with four victories for third place with 12 points. ■ Karl Decena / InterAksyon. com / February 27, 2014 / 10:44 PM