October 2014 'B' issue by MShare Limited

Celeb Scoop page 24

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Connecting Global News & Views For The Community

UK & Europe Edition

September 2014 / Fortnightly

Volume 5 - Number 20

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WHO IS BUSINESSMAN ANTONIO TIU? THE name of businessman Antonio L. Tiu has been dragged into the controversy surrounding Vice President Jejomar Binay’s supposedly ill-gotten wealth, which allegedly includes a 350-hectare estate in Rosario, Batangas estimated to be worth P1.2 billion. In a Senate investigation on Wednesday, former Makati Vice Mayor Ernesto Mercado — a former Binay ally who has admitted to beneﬁting from corruption in the city’s government — accused Tiu of acting as a dummy to cover up the Vice President’s ownership of the Rosario property. TOYM awardee. In several newspaper reports, the 38-year-old Tiu has said he did not come from a wealthy family and did not inherit anything from his parents, but has gone on to acquire wellknown food brands such as the Big Chill juice bars and the Sugarhouse franchise. Tiu obtained a Masters degree in Commerce specializing in International Finance from the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia in 1999, and a BS Commerce major in Management from De La Salle University, Manila in 1996. He is also a candidate for a Doctorate degree in Public Administration at the University of the Philippines. He was among the Ten Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) of the Philippines for 2011.

After college, Tiu worked in a small company involved in agriculture. In 1997, he founded AgriNurture, Inc. (ANI), the first agricultural company to be listed in the PSE. The company was initially involved in the trade of post-harvest agricultural machineries, but later diversified into various agro-commercial businesses including the export of fruits and vegetables to China, Japan and Korea, as well as to the Middle East, North America, Europe and Australia. ANI’s family of brands now includes FCA (Fresh Choice Always) for fresh and processed wellness food products; La Natural for coconut juice and Nikka for mango nectar and tamarind juices, which are exported to other countries; Sungrown rice; Superfresh and Big Chill for fresh fruit beverages and dessert kiosks; Canecoctions for sugar cane juice; and Cafeteria Verde, Fresh Bar by Big Chill, and C’Verde by Big Chill. Some of the popular food brands in the ANI group are the bakeshops Sugarhouse and Cheesecake, Etc. It also entered into a master license agreement with Tully’s Coffee International PTE LTD to operate the Seattle-based Tully’s coffee shop in the Philippines. ANI currently has satellite offices in Australia, Spain and the Netherlands. Greenergy Holdings Inc. In 2008, Tiu

bought MUSX Corporation (MSC), a company listed in the PSE since 1992. It is primarily engaged in the creation, design, development and manufacture of specialty semiconductor products, which it markets and sells worldwide. Upon his acquisition of the company, Tiu turned it into a holdings firm. In the latter part of 2010, MSC began venturing into other business opportunities, especially in the field of renewable energy. In June 22, 2011, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) approved the company’s proposal to change its name to Greenergy Holdings Incorporated. To expand into renewable energy, Greenergy established the subsidiaries Biomass Holdings, Inc., Winsun Green Ventures Inc., Total Waste Management Recovery System, Inc., and Isabela Alcogas Corporation in 2012. Sunchamp. In October last year, Tiu folded the companies Sunchamp Real Estate Development Corp. and The IT Group into the holding firm “to diversify Greenergy’s investment portfolio.” The IT Group specializes in the fields of management consultancy, technology, and outsourcing services. Sunchamp is a real estate developer engaged in self-sustaining agri-tourism projects. It is the registered owner of the

property in Rosario, which ex-Makati Vice Mayor Mercado and Senator Antonio Trillanes IV say is actually owned by the vice president. Tiu has admitted that Sunchamp owns the property in Batangas, but denied that it is a dummy corporation for Binay. He said that the property is actually an agri-tourism hub and not a hacienda. He also said that Greenergy is publicly listed in the Philippine Stocks

Exchange (PSE) and is not a ﬂy-by-night corporation. In July of this year, Greenergy acquired a 26-percent stake in ANI to further diversify Greenergy’s investment portfolio in terms of “green” projects. Currently in Spain, Tiu said he is willing to face the next Senate hearing to clear his name and the reputation of his companies. ■ Elizabeth Marcelo / JDS, GMA News / October 10, 2014 / 12:23 AM

BUSINESS & FINANCE

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October 2014 / Fortnightly – No. 20 • UK & Europe Edition

Rice prices drop for a ninth week MANILA - The price of rice has gone down for a ninth consecutive week, even as the latest data show the country’s inventory of the staple dropping. In a report, the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS) said the farm gate price of palay eased by 0.41 percent week-on-week to P20.79 a kilo during the September 24-30 period. Year-on-year, prices however were still higher by 18 percent. The wholesale price of well-milled rice averaged P40.84 a kilo, down 0.54 percent from the previous week, but 11.34 percent higher than a year ago. The retail price also fell by 0.48 percent week-on-week to P43.64, but was 11.68 percent higher year-on-year. Regular milled rice also was cheaper by 0.57 percent at P37.87 a kilo and by 0.37 percent at P40.40 a kilo on wholesale and retail, respectively, from the previous week. Year-on-year, prices however were higher by 11.94 percent and by 12.56 percent on wholesale and retail, respectively.

Agriculture Assistant Secretary Edilberto de Luna, who is coordinator of the government’s National Rice Program, said the recent drop in prices is temporary amid the delay in imports of the staple. To recall, a public bidding failed, thus forcing the government to procure additional stock through a bilateral contract. In a separate report, the BAS said the country’s rice inventory of 1.49 million metric tons was enough for 44 days as of September, or two months before the end of the lean season. The September level was 13.5 percent below the previous month’s 1.72 million and the year before’s 1.53 million. The month-on-month drop in inventory was brought about by withdrawals in households and commercial warehouses. Year-on-year, withdrawals in commercial warehouses and National Food Authority (NFA) warehouses were responsible for the decline in inventories. ■ Orti Despuez / InterAksyon.com / October 12, 2014 / 2:49 PM

No MRT3 shutdown despite frequent breakdowns, says Transport chief MANILA - Transport Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya said the management of MRT3 hasn’t endorsed a shutdown of its operations despite a series of breakdowns in recent weeks. “There is no recommendation from MRT3 to shutdown operations for any reason,” Abaya told InterAksyon.com in a text message. In an interview aired on News5 on Wednesday, MRT3 ofﬁcer-in-

charge Renato Z. San Jose said train operations may shut down if more steel bars of the railroad track get broken. Last Tuesday morning, operations from North Avenue to Shaw Boulevard and vice versa were suspended for about an hour due to a broken rail in the northbound area between Santolan and Ortigas stations. According to records obtained by News5, six of the 16.9-kilometer rapid

Hefty cut in fuel prices MANILA - Oil companies are slashing prices at the pump by at least a peso. In separate text messages, PTT Philippines, Seaoil, Pilipinas Shell and Phoenix Petroleum said they wouuld reduce prices as follows: • Diesel, P1.55 a liter; • Gasoline, between P1.10 a liter (Shell) and P1.20 a liter (PTT, Seaoil and Phoenix Petroleum); and

• Kerosene, P1.60 a liter (Seaoil and Shell). The price adjustments will take effect between 12:01 a.m. and 6 a.m. of October 12. Other oil companies have yet to make similar announcements, but they usually track each other’s movements since the country imports at least 90 percent of its fuel requirements. ■ Euan Paulo C. Añonuevo / InterAksyon.com / October 11, 2014 / 11:04 PM

Your share of the national debt at end-August: P61,837 MANILA - Each Filipino’s share of the government’s debt swelled some more. Data from the Bureau of Treasury show that the national government’s debt rose to P5.713 trillion at endAugust from the P5.683 trillion at end-July. This marked the third straight month of increase in the government’s liabilities. Given a population of 92.34 million, this means that every

Filipino at end-August was in hock for P61,837, or higher than the per capita burden of P61,544 the month before. The government incurs debt whenever tax revenue falls short of expenditures, creating what is called a budget deﬁcit. At end-August, the deﬁcit stood at P25.871 billion or a tenth of the government’s full-year ceiling of P266 billion. Fueling the increase in the government’s liabilities was the

unabated rise in borrowing from domestic lenders. Money owed to foreign creditors also had been on the rise because of the weakness of the peso vis-a-vis the US dollar. For the entire 2014, the government’s debt is expected to hit P6.322 trillion, equivalent to 47 percent of the economy as measured by the country’s gross domestic product (GDP). ■ Rain Castro / InterAksyon. com / October 8, 2014 / 5:23 PM

transit system needs to be replaced immediately because it is already old and defective. However, the rail stocks are not adequate to replace all the faulty steel bars. The number of stock rails for the MRT3 has gone down to 2.5 pieces from 29 pieces last year. Hernando Cabrera, spokesperson of MRT3, said the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) asked the Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) to lend spare rails to MRT3 to avert a shutdown. The government has extended Autre Porte Technique Global Inc’s (APT Global) maintenance contract, which expired last month. Last August 13, a southbound train of the MRT3 crashed through the barrier of the Pasay terminal, hurting at least 38 people. DOTC found that the accident was caused by its personnel’s negligence. The government operates MRT3 under a build-lease-transfer contract with Metro Rail Transit Corp (MRTC), which is majority owned by privatelyheld MRT II Holdings. MRT3 runs from North Avenue in Quezon City to Taft Avenue in Pasay City, serving nearly 500,000 passengers per day, or way beyond its rated capacity of about 350,000. The rail system has a ﬂeet of 73 Czechmade rail cars, of which up to 60 threecar trains operate daily. The trains run at a maximum speed of 65 kilometers per hour to cover the rail system’s 13 stations in about 30 minutes, including short dwell times of about 25-35 seconds in each station. ■ Darwin G. Amojelar / InterAksyon.com / October 10, 2014

/ 10:28 AM

BUSINESS & FINANCE

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Photo by Bernard Testa

Manila Water subsidiary inks loan for Boracay spending requirements MANILA - Manila Water Co Inc’s Boracay subsidiary has taken out a fresh loan to fund its capital spending requirements. In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange, Manila Water said Boracay Island Water Co Inc signed its third omnibus loan and security agreement worth P650 million with Security Bank Corp.

“The loan will be used to finance the capital expenditures of Boracay Water in fulfilment of its service obligations in the island of Boracay in Malay, Aklan,” Manila Water said. Prior to the agreement, Boracay Water had tapped two separate P500 million credit facilities from the Philippine Water Revolving Fund of the government, the United States Agency

October 2014 / Fortnightly – No. 20 • UK & Europe Edition

Government mulls use of taxpayers’ money to revive auto industry MANILA - The government plans to set aside part of the national budget to develop the country’s auto manufacturing industry. On the sidelines of Tuesday’s Philippine Economic Briefing, Cabinet Secretary Jose Rene Almendras said the government is eyeing $600 million for the purpose. “We’re still talking about the amount. It is not yet final. We’re still looking at an amount that can work over three years or five years, depending on how it goes,” he told reporters. Almendras said the investment is meant to ensure economic growth is inclusive by creating more jobs in the manufacturing sector. “This is not about producing a car made in the Philippines. No. It’s about generating jobs. It’s about making sure there are many jobs we can create here,” he said. “I think we can do it this year. I am

sure it can be done this year,” he said, adding that the plan needs “some ﬁne tuning.” President Benigno Aquino III had ordered a roadmap be crafted for the auto industry in line with his administration’s job-generation program. The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has yet to release the ﬁnal roadmap, which local assemblers say is crucial to their own investment plans in the country. Based on the initial draft of the roadmap, the government is partial to granting tax incentives only to those assemblers that can meet a production quota, preferably for export. The head of the Senate Committee on Trade however is averse to granting new tax perks. The Philippines has been Southeast Asia’s hottest auto market, but domestic production has lagged behind its neighbors. ■ Chelsea Cruz /

InterAksyon.com / September 30, 2014 / 11:59 PM

for International Development and the Japan International Cooperation Agency. The financing was coursed through state-run Development Bank of the Philippines and Security Bank. The fund aims to help the country address its millennium development goals for access to water. ■ Euan Paulo C. Añonuevo / InteraAksyon.com / October 10, 2014 / 11:22 AM

Unkindest cut: Inﬂation higher for poorest Filipinos

MANILA – The poor are bearing the brunt of higher inﬂation, as most of their income is spent on food, which has been responsible for the spike in prices. In a report, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said while the average inﬂation for the entire country has stayed within its target range of 3-5 percent, that for the poorest 30 percent of Filipino households has breached the upper end of this goal since December last year. The poorest 30 percent comprise 5.4 million families, with 3.6 million of

them earning monthly incomes that are not enough to buy the minimum basic food and non-food needs. Citing the 2008 Philippine Poverty Survey, the BSP said the bottom 30 percent of the population can be described as follows: • 67 percent of heads of the households have at most an elementary education, • 36 percent do not have electricity at home, • 25 percent have no sanitary toilet, • 30 percent do not have access to safe water, and

• 50 percent live in 10-29 square meter housing units, many of which are made of light materials. Compounding their squalid living conditions, the bottom 30 percent lay claim to only 11 percent of the country’s economic output as measured by gross domestic product (GDP). In contrast, the upper 30 percent income group corners 60 percent of GDP. “This gap in income and living conditions is now aggravated by the difference in inﬂation rates,” the BSP said. So far this year, price increases have

Source: BSP

averaged 4.4 percent for all income groups, with inflation near three-year highs since July. According to the BSP, the heavier inflation burden on the poor stemmed from the following: • Food comprises 70 percent of the expenditures of the bottom 30 percent of Filipino households as against 47 percent for all income groups; and • Prices of food, particularly rice, have fueled the increase in overall inflation in recent months. In the first quarter alone, 4.5

percent of the 5.7 percent inflation for the bottom third of Filipino households can be blamed on food. Of the 5.7 percent inflation for the bottom 30 percent, 2.4 percent was due to higher prices of rice alone. “That inflation rate is higher for the bottom 30 percent is true in almost regions, with Region 8 experiencing the highest inflation rate possibly due to the impact of typhoon Haiyan which devastated farms and destroyed infrastructure causing a spike in transportation and logistics costs,” the BSP said. “The steady increase in the inflation rates for the bottom 30 percent bears watching given that this income group is most economically sensitive and vulnerable to price increases. Moreover, high inflation can increase the incidence and severity of poverty in the short-run and can exact a toll on the country’s long-run economic development as lower income households, in order to meet food requirements, reduce spending on health and education,” the central bank said. ■ InterAksyon.com / October 6, 2014 / 12:14 AM

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October 2014 / Fortnightly – No. 20 • UK & Europe Edition

Philippine households are sitting on a P21-billion goldmine, says OLX MANILA - If there’s money in trash, then there’s a goldmine in unused household items, according to a leading Internet-based sales platform. OLX Philippines said households have a combined P21 billion worth of second-hand items lying around waiting for their value to be unlocked online. This amount can be broken down as follows: • P10.36 billion, electronics; • P4.5 billion, automotive items; • P3.04 billion, fashion items; • P1.96 billion, home appliances; and • P1.38 billion, collectibles. OLX came up with those ﬁgures through a survey it asked TNS to conduct among 500 households in urban Philippines between June and July this year. The survey ﬁrm however provided no details on how the aggregate amount or the individual amounts per category were computed. “It’s astonishing to learn that P21 billion worth of unused items in working condition are just sitting in people’s homes, gathering dust and left to waste. Just imagine how much cash people can make when they sell these items,” RJ David, managing director of OLX Philippines said. The survey also showed that many

Filipinos are interested in selling their unused items over the web. About 41 percent of respondents said they are comfortable selling their pre-loved items, while 56 percent of those who have plans of selling unused items said they are open to selling those online. “Selling secondhand items is a smart way for Filipinos to upgrade their lives. Selling can earn extra cash from stuff they don’t need while buyers get a fail deal, “ Arianne David, head of operations of OLX said. The study is part of OLX’s campaign to educate Filipinos on the untapped wealth sitting in their homes and the

value of online selling of secondhand items through its “Yesss, Yaman!” movement. More than 600,000 Filipinos have already listed their pre-loved items for sale on OLX.ph, while more than a million Filipinos are projected to sell on the site before the year ends. Previously known as Sulit.com until its takeover by a foreign company, OLX is the country’s largest marketplace for buying and selling items of all kinds, such as mobile phones, cameras, bicycles, musical instruments, baby strollers, furniture, cars and gadgets. ■ Darwin G.

Amojelar / InterAksyon.com / October 9, 2014 / 2:39 PM

Job-creating foreign investments fall in July MANILA - Foreign direct investments (FDI) at the start of the second half of the year dropped from a year ago. In a report, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said net inflows -- which means gross inflows exceeded outflows -- reached $436 million in July, 20 percent lower than the $549 million in the same month last year. Despite the decline, the country still enjoyed net inflows for a 13th straight month in July, the BSP said. FDI pertain to money invested in putting up a business or expanding an existing one, and so creates jobs. Responsible for that month’s drop in net inflows was a reduciton in the amount that foreign companies lent to their Philippine subsidiaries and affiliates. Foreign firms’ lending to their local affiliates fell by 43.8 percent to $274 million this year from $487 million last year.

Net inflows of equity capital surged by 920 percent to $104 million this year from $10 million last year, as new placements of $120 million were 88 percent more than the $64 million in 2013. Withdrawals of $16 million were 70 percent less than last year’s $54 million, thus the net inflow position. Equity capital largely came from the US, Sweden, Netherlands, Taiwan and Switzerland and was invested in the finance, real estate, trade and transport and agriculture sectors. Foreign companies reinvested 11 percent more of their earnings from their domestic operations to close July at $58 million from a year ago’s $52 million. Year-to-date, the country enjoyed net inflows of $4 billion this year, up 56 percent from $2.6 billion in the same seven months of last year. ■ InterAksyon.com / October 10, 2014 / 2:59 PM

October 2014 / Fortnightly – No. 20 • UK & Europe Edition

IMMIGRATION / OFNEWS

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10 outstanding Pinoy maritime students honored TEN graduating maritime students have been honored by a remittance service for showcasing excellence in their communities. In a news release Tuesday, Western Union said these students, who have yet to undergo cadet examination, were selected on the 19th National Seafarer’s Day in September for “being academically excellent, highly competent in practice, in good moral standing and active in their respective communities.” Both mentors and peers of the chosen students were seen as the

embodiment of the “ideal seafarer,” displaying “integrity, passion, assertiveness, dependability and camaraderie” that will allow them to become globally competitive Filipino seamen. The 10 students are: Elijah Jose C. Barrios, BS in Marine Transportation, John B. Lacson Foundation Maritime UniversityArevalo Inc. Boy George Benavente, BS in Maritime Transportation, John B. Lacson Colleges Foundation – Bacolod

Niño Copones, BS in Maritime Engineering, Mariners’ Polytechic Colleges Foundation Sheila May Diaz, BS in Marine Engineering, Maritime Academy of Asia and the Paciﬁc CGSO Campus Emmanuel Dotrillos Jr., BS in Marine Transportation, University of Ceby Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue Christian John Fajarito, BS in Marine Transportation, Manuel S. Enverga University Foundation Frank Stevens O. Mendoza, BS in Marine Transportation, Asian Institute of Maritiem Studies

Roger Roland Roullo, BS in Marine Transportation, Philippine Merchant Marine Academy Joseph Ryan Sanchez, BS in Maritime Engineering in DMMACollege of Southern Philippines John Lawrence Tabanao, BS in Maritime Transportation, Maritime Academy of Asia and the Paciﬁc CGSO Campus “In recognizing the achievements of the maritime student community, we hope that we instill a lifelong love for learning and a passion for excellence, establishing the beginning of a

brighter future for the next generation of seafarers,” said Patricia Riingen, Western Union’s senior vice president for South and East Asia and Oceania, in the statement. Remittances from Filipino seafarers are estimated to reach $5.5 billion by the end of 2014. It has already reached $2.746 billion from January to June. Some 375,000 Filipinos actively work abroad, comprising one-fourth of 1.5 million merchant mariners worldwide. ■ Rie Takumi / KBK, GMA News / October 7, 2014 / 7:09 PM

5 Pinoys killed in Qatar road mishap

Front row (L to R) Joseph Ryan S. Sanchez, Christian John B. Fajarito, Niño C. Copones, Boy George R. Benavente, Elijah Jose C. Barrios. Back row (L to R) John Lawrence G. Tabanao, Roger Roland S. Roullo, Frank Stevens O. Mendoza, Patricia Riingen, Senior Vice President of Western Union for South and East Asia and Oceania, Steve Peregrino, director for marketing for Western Union for South and East Asia and Oceania, Emmanuel D. Dotillos Jr, Shiela May M. Diaz. Photo from Western Union

FIVE Filipinos perished in a vehicular accident in Qatar Monday night, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Tuesday. Foreign Affairs spokesman Charles Jose, however, said a companion of the ﬁve Filipinos survived the accident, which happened near Hamad International Airport. “The three fatalities are a family based in Qatar while the other two are Saudi Arabia-based nurses who are visiting Qatar during the Eid al-Adha holidays,” Jose told a press brieﬁng in Manila.

The survivor, a nurse in Saudi Arabia who is related to the Qatarbased family, was pronounced “out of danger” and recuperating at Hamad hospital, Jose said. He declined to identify the victims pending clearance from their immediate family. A report on Gulf Times, citing an unnamed Philippine embassy ofﬁcial who visited the Hamad hospital mortuary, said the bodies were “charred beyond recognition.” It said the victims’ car caught ﬁre after being hit by another vehicle near the airport on the Corniche-Wakra

highway. It was not known whether the victims were going to the airport to send off somebody or to receive someone. ■ Michaela del Callar / KBK, GMA News / October 7, 2014 / 4:24 PM

IMMIGRATION / OFNEWS

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Artist makes PHL proud in Malaysian art expo A Filipino artist did the country proud again at a recently concluded art expo in Malaysia, the Philippine embassy there said over the weekend. The Philippine Embassy in Kuala Lumpur said Clarence Eduarte joined the 2014 Art Expo Malaysia (AEM), which opened with a VIP Preview Night Sept. 24. “It is our honor to bring once again one of the shining stars in the Philippine arts scene to the Art Expo Malaysia. Mr. Eduarte is a ﬁne example of what Filipino art is known for – bold, deeply expressive, always experimenting, and authentic,” Ambassador Jose Eduardo Malaya said. This is the second year the Philippine Embassy is participating in the AEM, which ran until September 28. AEM, now on its eighth year, is the longest-running art fair in the region. It attracts nearly 400 artists from 78 exhibitors and galleries from 31 countries. Some 2,000 pieces of art such as paintings, sculptures, installation,

digital art and photography are exhibited. For his part, Eduarte said painting is the best way to express God’s given creativity in him. “The creative process of my work fuels energy, passion and excitement regardless of any particular subject. My working method is very physical and spontaneous. I try to push the medium to its limit, and I love the element of surprise of what the painting can produce,” he said. Others in the AEM Embassy Row included Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Cuba, Ecuador, the

Netherlands, Iran, Italy, Mexico, Mongolia, and Romania. Filipino-born Belgian artist Gina Frias represented Belgium in the Embassy Row, the embassy said. The embassy said Eduarte won several Philippine art contests, including the Metrobank Foundation’s Metrobank Art and Design Excellence and the Government Service Investment System’s Painting Competitions. His works are shown in wellknown institutions and hotels in the Philippines, as well as in China and Singapore. ■ Joel Locsin / LBG, GMA News /

October 12, 2014 / 9:49 AM

Japanese ship owners prefer Pinoy mariners on their crews FILIPINO seafarers got another thumbs up, this time from Japanese shipowners and mariners’ management associations satisfied with their performance on Japanese merchant ships. Officials of the Japanese Shipowners’ Association and the International Mariners Management Association of Japan aired this sentiment after they were introduced to new Philippine Labor Attache Ma. Luz Talento. The officials were also introduced to Welfare Officer Liwayway Ilo of the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) Tokyo, the Philippine embassy in Tokyo said. “(IMMAJ chairman) Capt. Masami Sasaki and (JSA vice preisdent) Osamu Suzuki said that the employment of Filipino seafarers who comprise the majority in the crewing list of the Japanese merchant fleet underscores the importance of Filipino seamen in the international commercial maritime fleet of Japan,” the embassy said. Both officials also said their groups prefer Filipino seafarers because of their competence, skills and dedication to the maritime profession.

They said they will continue to provide the Filipino seafarers with training support through their recognized maritime education and training institutions in the Philippines to ensure compliance with international shipping standards. Philippine embassy chief of mission Gilberto Asuque, Talento and Ilo called on the top shipping executives of Japan to establish closer links with Japanese shipowners and ship managers to promote the welfare of Filipino seafarers working aboard Japanese-flagged and Japaneseowned or operated ships. Citing figures from the JSA and IMMAJ, the embassy said 35,380 Filipino seafarers make up 72.54 percent of the total number of

foreign and Japanese seafarers working aboard Japanese-flagged and Japanese-owned merchant ships flying a foreign flag. The embassy noted the Filipino seamen are members of the Associated Marine Officer’s and Seamen’s Union of the Philippines (AMOSUP). Meanwhile, the two Japanese association officials informed the embassy officials that Filipino seafarers with Japanese license or certificates comprise about 70 percent or 4,477 of the total number of foreign seafarers working aboard Japanese flag merchant ships. ■ Joel Locsin / JDS, GMA News / October 2, 2014 / 7:21 PM

October 2014 / Fortnightly – No. 20 • UK & Europe Edition

Fil-Am teen in daredevil WTC climb in trouble again HE did it again! Justin Casquejo, the thrill-seeking Filipino-American teen who made headlines in March after slipping past security to climb atop One World Trade Center in Manhattan, is in hot water once again — only two weeks after he got off the hook from his first offense. The 16-year-old Weehawken, N.J. resident is now being accused of trying to climb another structure in his hometown — the historic Weehawken Water Tower on Park Avenue and 41st Street. He has been charged with defiant trespassing and resisting arrest in a Sept. 17 incident that was allegedly captured on cell phone video by an eyewitness. Casquejo was reportedly caught on video while he was over 175 feet up in the air on top of the historic Weehawken Water Tower. The witness who captured the climb on his cell phone told “Eyewitness News” that Casquejo looked happy and thrilled. “He was like a thrill seeker, he was happy, screaming ‘Hey, I’m on top of the world,’” the witness said. On Sept. 3, Manhattan Criminal Court Judge Felicia Mennin decided to forgive Casquejo without any jail time in connection with his World Trade Center case that caused security embarrassment. On March 16, around 4 p.m., Casquejo made his way up the 1,776foot WTC tower using a ladder, scaffolding, elevators and stairs — at one point walking past a sleeping security guard. He got as high as the base of the antenna, even snapping photos and selfies that he later posted on Twitter. A Port Authority officer finally arrested Casquejo during his descent. Many netizens said authorities must thank Casquejo, not scold him, for exposing serious security lapses that could prevent terror attacks in the future. Casquejo pleaded guilty in July to breaking a New York City misdemeanor law against scaling tall buildings without permission. He was sentenced to 23 days of community

service, which he had already completed. He also had to complete two youth counseling sessions and write a 1,200word essay on the consequences and risks of his stunt. The apologetic teen even completed six extra days of community service. The judge said she was so impressed by the teen’s “sincerity, remorsefulness and willingness to accept responsibility for your conduct.” “It will now be up to you to prove the court right,” the judge told the FilAm boy. Officials said the latest incident could violate Casquejo’s probation. His identity was not originally released publicly due to his age until police sources confirmed that it was indeed Casquejo. In his latest misadventure, Casquejo and two others apparently jumped a fence and broke into the brick tower before police arrived, one report said. All three then fled, but only Casquejo was reportedly caught after a short chase. A week after Casquejo’s WTC climb, three extreme-skydiving fans were arrested for a September leap off the tower. As a result of the two events, the building’s private head of security resigned, and the guard Casquejo got past was fired, the Associated Press reported. According to The Village Voice, One WTC has a security system estimated back in 2008 to cost at least $20 million (a figure that has since doubled to $40 million) — “a stateof-the-art integrated security system that includes closed-circuit television, coupled with video analytics to detect abnormal situations; digital recorders; access control systems; provisions for chemical, biological and radiation detection; a fiber-optic backbone and network; and related electrical infrastructure.” “All that hardware, though, doesn’t mean much if the guard on duty is sleeping,” The Village Voice said. The tower is scheduled to open later this year. ■ Filipino Reporter / October 3,

2014 / 1:09 PM

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October 2014 / Fortnightly – No. 20 • UK & Europe Edition

IMMIGRATION / OFNEWS

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Pinay made $1.08M in Singapore by luring kababayans into sex work A Filipina registered as a Singapore permanent resident now awaits sentencing for six charges stemming from her alleged recruitment of sex workers for bars owned by her Singaporean husband. According to a report on The New Paper, a Singaporean print and online publication, Ylarde Anne Asuncion, 31, and her husband, Ang Boon Seng, pleaded guilty in August to charges related to vice activities, including the provision of sexual services in their establishments. A separate report on Straits Times

said Asuncion helped her husband by recruiting women to work as “performing artists” in the pubs whenever she returned home to the Philippines. She would allegedly tell the women that they must pay off a “debt” by providing sexual services in the pubs. If they accept the clause, these women will be ﬂown out to Singapore. At least 55 women were brought to Singapore through this method, which brought at least $60,000 “on good months,” according to The New Paper. Described as a “highly organised”

operation by Singaporean e-newspaper My Paper, the women earned points for servicing clients. Each point was worth $4, and by offering clients sexual services worth $22 to $55, they may earn three to four points. These points were reportedly used to pay off their debts. Ang allegedly monitors the clubs through cameras feeding to his ofﬁce and through four local nightclub managers, who would arrange the women’s entry to Singapore and their living accommodations. Straits Times reported that Ang’s ﬁrst pub, Tokyo Drift, was established in 2009 in the popular Orchard Road area. He eventually built six others in the area and two more in Cuppage Plaza by August 2013. The Singaporean faces more charges than his Filipino wife, with 232 charges for “procure women for the purpose of prostitution, abetting with others to harbour the women, and living off their immoral earnings and managing brothels.” Asia One reported that Asuncion was Ang’s second wife, bearing him three more children in addition to Ang’s six children with his previous wife. ■ Rie Takumi / KBK, GMA News / October 10,

Recruiter preventively suspended over high placement fees

A recruitment agency was slapped with a preventive suspension for allegedly collecting excessive placement fees from 20 Filipinos deployed to Taiwan as factory workers. The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration said it issued an order of preventive suspension against Lexus Inc. for allegedly collecting fees higher than allowed. POEA head Hans Leo Cacdac said the case stemmed from the separate complaints of overcharging lodged by 20 Filipino factory workers deployed by the company to Taiwan. He said the Filipino workers filed their complaints separately before the Manila Economic and Cultural Office’s Labor Affairs office in Kaohsiung in July. “The workers alleged that Lexus charged each of them placement fees ranging from P90,000 to P130,000. They have signed employment contracts with a monthly salary

of NT$18,000 to NT$19,000 or just equivalent to about P28,000,” the POEA said. It also said the agency did not issue the appropriate receipts to the Filipinos. Cacdac said a recruitment agency may collect from workers an amount equivalent to one month salary, exclusive of documentation and processing costs. But he said the 2002 POEA Rules and Regulations Section 2 b, Rule 1, Part 6 bars “charging or accepting directly or indirectly any amount greater than that specified in the schedule of allowable fees prescribed by the Secretary, or making a worker pay any amount greater than that actually received by him as a loan or advance.” Following the development, Cacdac reminded Filipino jobseekers to avoid licensed recruiters who violate the government’s placement fee policy. ■ Joel Locsin / KBK, GMA News /

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October 2014 / Fortnightly – No. 20 • UK & Europe Edition

HK’s Umbrella Revolution in the eyes of a Pinay ON the train home last Friday, September 26, I noticed a smattering of teenagers clad in black, eyes glued to the screens of their mobile devices, talking animatedly in Cantonese. In a spurt of comic relief I thought maybe there was a teenage post-apocalyptic movie I didn’t know about. My levity was snuffed out when I looked at them closely and caught a glimpse of one of their screens. It was a video of a protest. Not just any protest, but a prodemocracy rally. Their rally. I should have known. Trouble had been brewing for months about the 2017 chief executive election, even before the Chinese government announced in late August that candidates for Hong Kong’s top job would have to be vetted and approved by a Beijing-loyal nominating committee. There had been whispers about a pro-democracy movement for months. But it was the teenagers who were most vocal in their outrage—with students from more than 20 tertiarylevel institutions and secondary schools boycotting classes since Monday, September 22. Donning white shirts and yellow ribbons, thousands of them ﬂooded the gates of the Chinese University of Hong Kong to demonstrate their resentment. That set things in motion. Again, I should have known. But

in my defense, teenagers dabbling in intense political issues—in theory— seemed unlikely. It was improbable but not entirely implausible. Things went from bad to worse for the current administration last Friday, September 26, when thousands of students, mostly in their late teens or early twenties, gathered in the ﬁnancial hub—the Central district—where they held ground in front of the government’s headquarters and blocked streets nearby. When news broke about what initially was dubbed Occupy Central, I was unfazed. A People Power revolution was something I was familiar with, having witnessed the EDSA trilogy ﬁrsthand. So I couldn’t help but draw a comparison. Although Hong Kong’s Umbrella Revolution is somewhat similar to the Philippines’ People Power movement, it is in its own right very different. And to be totally honest, it is also quite impressive. For one it is driven mostly by young people, not aged politicians with vested interests. In fact, one of the protest leaders, Joshua Wong, is only 17 years old. What started as a relatively large yet calm protest blew into a full-scale demonstration on Sunday, September 28, when riot police stepped in and used tear gas to try and disperse the

Baldoz: Help underway for kin of Pinoy fatalities in Qatar car crash GOVERNMENT assistance is underway for the families of three of the five Filipinos who were killed in a vehicular accident in Qatar last Monday. In a statement Thursday, Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said she has already instructed the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) to prepare the necessary assistance to the victims’ families. “The legal heirs of three of the five OFWs who were killed in a car accident near the Hamad International Airport in Doha, Qatar will receive P200,000 in death benefits because their deaths were caused by an accident,” Baldoz said. “In addition, they shall receive P20,000 in funeral expenses,” she added. Baldoz said three of the victims — an engineer and two nurses — were active OWWA members and thus their families are entitled to benefits. She also assured families of the victims that the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in Doha is coordinating with the Philippine Embassy for the swift repatriation of the victims’ remains. “We will provide the families of the victims appropriate

repatriation assistance, including airport assistance when the remains of the victims arrive, as well as psycho-social counseling for the families, if necessary,” Baldoz said. Heirs of the victims will also be given livelihood assistance under the National Reintegration Program for OFWs. The victims — the engineer at Louise Berger Company in Qatar and his wife and one-year-old son, as well as two vacationing nurses from Saudi Arabia — were killed when their car exploded after being hit by a land cruiser driven by an 18-year-old Qatari national near the airport on the CornicheWakra highway. Another vacationing nurse survived the accident and is currently recuperating at the Hamad Hospital in Doha. ■ Rie Takumi / KBK, GMA News / October 9, 2014 / 6:59 PM

Tired but determined protesters on the highway between Wanchai and Admiralty. Photo by Cherry Velarde.

protesters. Most Hong Kong residents were appalled by the use of violence. The pro-democracy participants are far from hostile, I learned later. They are polite, quick to apologize if they accidentally step on your foot on the trains and the streets, and they clean up after themselves—they even recycle. So no matter how hard the government tried to justify their aggressive move that Sunday—calling the protests illegal—it was inexcusable. It became worse when photos of teenagers lying on the streets, running from the tear gas or using their umbrellas to ward off the smoke and pepper spray, flooded media outlets. A line had been crossed. In response, local residents, even expats, started showing up to express their support for occupying not only the Central district but also major roads in commercial hotspots like Admiralty, Mong Kok and Causeway Bay. Some even set up barbecues, treating the streets like their own backyard, providing free food for the protesters, who got a welcome break from crackers, fruit, bottled water and the occasional Yakult. The crowd grew during the midweek holiday in celebration of China’s National Day, October 1. The annual fireworks display that day had to be canceled. The flag-raising ceremony was snubbed. It has been more than a week since the protests began. Many protesters have been taking turns sleeping on the humid streets and sidewalks. Students have been doing their homework in the

Yellow ribbons abound in HK protests. A woman holds an umbrella with yellow ribbons as she walks along a street blocked by protesters in Hong Kong on Thursday, October 2

protest sites and some professors have been conducting classes on the streets. Apparently, in a place as academically competitive as Hong Kong, rallying is no excuse to neglect physics. Without doubt some demonstrators are getting exhausted, missing their comfortable beds and longing for a shower. The unseasonably warm and humid weather hasn’t been helping either. The occasional downpour and thunderstorms are making it even harder. But it would take more than heat and rain to ward them off. They may seem tired but they are far from done. Although the Occupy groups continue to gain momentum, “antiOccupy” movements have started to take root in Sham Shui Po and Tsim Sha Tsui—both busy industrial districts. They say the protests are futile and urge students and professors who back the rallies to return to school. And while the pro-democracy group wear yellow ribbons in a show of unity and hope, the anti-Occupy troop use blue ribbons to advocate peace. Political analysts are also cautiously pragmatic, stressing that the possibility of Beijing yielding to the Umbrella Revolution’s demands—including the resignation of Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying—is slim to none. They say full autonomy for Hong Kong is a dream too big only the young could afford. I’m not a teenager anymore. And when I pass by the “occupied” streets, there is a part of me hoping I could join

Joshua Wong, leader of the student pro-democracy group Scholarism, addresses demonstrators after the press conference of Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying on Thursday night, October 2. Hong Kong’s embattled leader rejected protesters’ calls for him to resign, but agreed to talks with groups involved in mass protest actions that have paralyzed parts of the city.

and sit in with the demonstrators and spare a few minutes to show my support in the fight for democracy. I also have selfish reasons. I am a mother, and I want my husband and I to raise our daughter in a place that is safe, where opportunities abound, and where freedoms and rights are respected. Living in a foreign land, it’s easy to take a step back and watch everything unfold like a three-ring circus. To just be an opinionated spectator. It’s not our fight, I sometimes remind myself. But looking at the protesters—those children who are hopeful almost to a fault—I couldn’t help but feel guilty. Because when I bump into them on the train, all I could give them is an encouraging smile and an assenting nod, hoping it’s enough to tell them not to stop pursuing their dreams. ■ Aileen Garbin Gabutina / KG, GMA News / October 3, 2014 / 12:07 PM

Protesters in Hong Kong switch on their mobile phone flashlights as they block the main street to the financial central district, outside the government headquarters on Monday night, September 29. Pro-democracy protesters defied volleys of tear gas and police baton charges to stand firm in the center of the global financial hub as they challenged China since the Tiananmen Square crackdown 25 years ago.

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Gov’t studying possible lifting of deployment ban on Ebola-hit countries THE government may soon lift the deployment ban on the countries affected by the Ebola virus, Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said Wednesday. At the sidelines of a forum on the 2015 ASEAN economic integration, Baldoz said the Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) are currently monitoring the situation in West African countries affected by the deadly virus. “Ang latest na alam ko, the countries earlier identiﬁed affected by the Ebola ay nire-review na for the possible lifting of the ban... I think the situation is easing, so possible na ma-

lift na nga,” she said. She, however, refused to elaborate, saying that she might pre-empt the assessment of the DOH and the DFA. “Until and after the DOH and DFA said so, I will not preempt anything. Basta, we are still awaiting advise from them,” Baldoz said. She said the DOH is working “very closely” with the World Health Organization (WHO) to get the right signal on whether it is already safe to deploy Filipino workers in areas earlier identiﬁed as affected by Ebola. Last month, the DOLE imposed deployment ban on in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone due to the Ebola

virus. Baldoz said that despite the ban, many overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) still choose to work in these countries. “It’s always a personal decision. They know that there is this kind of risk sa health. We have raised the level of awareness naman about the effects of this disease but they still chose to leave and work there,” she said. She maintained that so far, no Filipino has been tested positive with Ebola. In August, the DFA said it is preparing for the evacuation of OFWs in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone due to the Ebola virus, which has

2 Pinay nurses qualify in PHL-Germany migration project

TWO more Filipinas have passed a recognition examination for a Philippine-German nurses’ program in Frankfurt, Germany, the Department of Labor and Employment said Friday. The DOLE also said Krystel Anne Sumido and Eowyn Galvez are the first Filipino nurses to pass as Qualified Nurses (Gesundheits-und Krankenpflegerin). Both qualified under the Triple Win Project of the Philippines and Germany, and brought to 27 the number of nurses employed under the program. Philippine Overseas Employment Administration head Hans Leo Cacdac said other nurses deployed to Germany through Triple Win will have their chances to take the recognition examination, after passing the German TELC test (The European Language Certificates). “The future of Filipino nurses in Germany looks bright with the initial success of ... Sumido and Galvez, who were hired under the Triple Win Project through the POEA,” added DOLE Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz. According to the DOLE, there are now 225 nurses under the program. Of these, 70 are in language class A1

and A2; 102 nurses due for language classes; four nurses with B1 (or language skills) waiting for employers; and eight nurses with B1 waiting to be deployed. There are 16 nurses who backed out, reducing the number of nurses in active status to 209. Starting December 2013, 25 Filipino nurses have been hired under the government-to-government migration program to work in three hospitals in Frankfurt and Tuebingen, Germany. The Triple Win Project started in March 2013 after Germany’s Federal Employment Agency (BA) and the

DOLE signed a bilateral agreement. Under the agreement, the BA’s International Placement Services (ZAV) recruits hospital employers willing to support Filipino candidates, while the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) prepares the nurses to be deployed and provides integration services and monitoring of candidates onsite. Meanwhile, the POEA recruits and deploys qualified nurses whose immediate goal is to fulfil their requirements for recognition and German language proficiency level. ■ Joel Locsin / JDS, GMA News / October 3, 2014/ 9:36 PM

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already claimed the lives of 2,909 people as of September 20. A total of 6,185 cases have been recorded in the three African countries including Nigeria and Senegal. Ebola is introduced into the human population through close contact with the blood, secretions, organs or other bodily ﬂuids of infected animals. Humans can also be exposed

to Ebola virus from direct physical contact with body ﬂuids like blood, saliva, stool, urine, sweat, etc. of an infected person and soiled linen used by a patient. It can also be spread through contact with objects, such as needles, that have been contaminated with infected secretions. ■ Elizabeth Marcelo / KBK, GMA News / October 8, 2014 / 8:26 PM

Pinoy pilots world’s largest passenger plane as it lands at NAIA THE world’s largest passenger airplane, the Airbus A380, made its first landing at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on Tuesday night, GMA 7 news program “Saksi” reported. The landing was even more special as the the A380, an Emirates airline flight from Dubai, was piloted by a Filipino captain, Franklin Desiderio. Desiderio is the first Filipino to be certified to fly the double-decker plane. The Emirates super jumbo jet received a water-cannon salute upon touching down at the NAIA, the report said. Emirates is the first airline to use the A380 to Manila for a commercial flight, according to aviation news

site, Philippine Flight Network. President Benigno Aquino III was at the NAIA to witness the A380’s arrival. Aquino earlier inspected the NAIA, which several travel websites have billed as among the world’s worst airports. ■ Joel Locsin / DVM/ELR, GMA News / October 8, 2014 / 4:23 AM

World’s biggest jetliner arrives. The jetliner, piloted by Filipino aviator Capt. Franklyn Mallari Desiderio, is said to be the world’s biggest passenger aircraft which can carry more than 800 people. Photo by Mark Cristino.

Pinoy journalist honored as Photographer of the Year in New South Wales THE New South Wales (NSW) Parliamentary awarded a Filipino journalist for his work on covering an important movement against racial discrimination. Romy Cayabyab, editor of The Filipino Australian, received the Award for Photographer of the Year 2014 at the Multicultural and Indigenous Multicultural Awards (MIMA) held in Sydney last September, according to a report on The Filipino Australian. His entry, “Walk for Respect: Its Story in Photos,” was a series of photographic stories documenting the protests staged by the Lakemba community in NSW. These protests were part of the “Walk for Respect” campaign, a movement opposing attempts by Tony Abbott and the Liberal party of Australia to repeal Section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act, according to a report on The Guardian. Section 18C states that actions which humiliate or intimidate persons

according to their race, color, national or ethnic origin are prohibited by law. Cayabyab was a previous winner of MIMA, having won the Award for Coverage of Community Affairs in its inaugural year in 2012, according to Ang Kalatas. Sydney Morning Herald reported in August that Abbott gave up on the changes after ethnic community leaders and the general public heavily criticized his move. ■ Rie Takumi / KBK, GMA

News / October 3, 2014 / 2:17 PM

Romeo ‘Romy’ Cayabyab. Photo from Romy Cayabyab’s website.

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October 2014 / Fortnightly – No. 20 • UK & Europe Edition

FREE LISTING of events in HELLO PHILIPPINES newspaper. Please email info@hello-philippines.com to include your event. r listing does not constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation or fa f vouring by D I S C L A I M E R : The Events Diary ry HELLO PHILIPPINES newspaper. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those / r the Publisher. What’s On is a Filipino Events Diary r listing fo f r UK and Europe. of Hello Philippines newspaper and/o /o ry DATE / TIME

Saturday 25th October 2014

2014 CALENDAR OF EVENTS – UK & EUROPE VENUE ORGANISER

EVENT

The Trial Theatrical Screening Miss Saigon

Saturday 25th October 2014 Sunday 2nd November 2014 Doors open: 5:00pm Show Starts: 6:00pm Friday 7th November 2014

Hawak Kamay UK (Fundraiser) Reo Brothers in Belfast - UK tour 2014

Saturday 29th November 2014

Miss Pearl Of Asia UK

Saturday 13th December 2014 6pm until 1am

Fil Mo Christmas Party

Saturday 13th December 2014 6pm to 12pm Saturday 20th December 2014

Philippine Centre Dinner and Dance

Mocha Girls UK Tour

Simbang Gabi

Shine Business Centre Harehills Road, Leeds, eds, west Yorkshire LS8 5HS, UK Prince Edward Theatre. Old Compton Street London W1D 4HS TBC

CONTACTS / REMARKS

07973 469450 / 01765 535015 0844 4825155 http://www.miss-saigon.com/

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The Devenish complex 33-37 Finaghy Road North Belfast BT10 OJB, Belfast, UK

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FM Bar 4th Press Conference, London Camden Centre Jude Street, King's Cross, London, WC1H 9JE Mazenod Community Centre, Quex Rd, kilburn NW6 4PS.Off Kilburn High Road Park Inn Hotel Heathrow Bath Road, Middlesex, UB7 0DU SS Michael & Martin Church

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Devotion in Honour of Our Lady of Fatima (Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament / Rosary / Benediction / Mass) St Pius X Catholic Church, 108 Orme Road, Kingston Upon Thames KT1 3SB – Oliver Abasolo – 07782 661 922 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 Pius X Catholic Church, 108 Orme Road, Kingston Upon Thames KT1 3SB Oliver Abasolo – 07782 661 922 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

October 2014 / Fortnightly – No. 20 • UK & Europe Edition

NEWS

www.hello-philippines.com

Bidding for MRT3 maintenance contract deferred MANILA - The government has pushed back the bidding for the maintenance contract of the MRT3. In a general bid bulletin, the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) said the deadline for the submission and opening bids for the P2.2-billion three-year contract has been deferred to October 28. The deadline originally fell on October 17. The agency said the extension aims to allow prospective bidders to prepare competitive tenders. The DOTC did not identify the potential bidders. At present, Autre Porte Technique Global Inc (APT Global) handles the maintenance of the MRT3. Transport Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya had said the management of MRT3 hasn’t endorsed a shutdown of its operations despite a series of breakdowns in recent weeks. Last Tuesday morning, operations from North Avenue to Shaw Boulevard and vice versa were suspended for about an hour due to a broken rail in the northbound area between

Santolan and Ortigas stations. Last August 13, a southbound train of the MRT3 crashed through the barrier of the Pasay terminal, hurting at least 38 people. DOTC found that the accident was caused by its personnel’s negligence. The government operates MRT3 under a build-lease-transfer contract with Metro Rail Transit Corp (MRTC), which is majority owned by privatelyheld MRT II Holdings. MRT3 runs from North Avenue in Quezon City to Taft Avenue in Pasay City, serving nearly 500,000

passengers per day, or way beyond its rated capacity of about 350,000. Capacity expansion has been stalled because of disputes between the private owner and the government. The rail system has a ﬂeet of 73 Czech-made rail cars, of which up to 60 three-car trains operate daily. The trains run at a maximum speed of 65 kilometers per hour to cover the rail system’s 13 stations in about 30 minutes, including short dwell times of about 25-35 seconds in each station. ■ Darwin G. Amojelar / InterAksyon.com /

October 13, 2014 / 7:43 AM

Don’t be a victim: MRPO gives tips to avoid getting kidnapped at home and the oﬃce A support organization for the victims of kidnapping and their families, Movement for Restoration of Peace and Order organized a forum recently to share kidnapping prevention tips with a mostly Chinese-Filipino crowd. This was following the death of umbrella factory owner Benito Chao, 69, who was kidnapped on August 27 and found dead the following day. A P20million ransom was demanded from his family prior to his fatal shooting. Here are tips from the MRPO of anti-crime activist Tessie Ang See, on avoiding being a kidnap victim at home and at the office: • Avoid routine. • Appoint a security officer within the family to keep tabs on where each member is. • Screen and choose house help and office workers.

• Instruct house help and office staff not to volunteer information which could compromise one’s safety. • Avoid a conspicuous and luxurious lifestyle. • Make friends with neighbors. • Avoid payroll transport. • Secure one’s home. Never open doors or gates for strangers, and instruct helpers not to do so. • Keep emergency numbers on speed dial. Memorize emergency numbers. • Beware of strangers trying to befriend house help. • Avoid personal ads, especially on social media, such as, “Here at so and so restaurant with so and so friends.” • Keep lights on outside the gate at night. • Check house surroundings before leaving. ■ Tricia Aquino / InterAksyon. com / September 15, 2014 / 4:03 PM

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‘DAP-list’: DBM beats deadline, but does it (finally) answer critics’ questions? MANILA - A day after he drew flak from Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco for submitting incomplete documentation on lawmakers through whose offices projects were coursed for the Disbursement Acceleration Program, Budget Secretary Florencio Abad announced the posting of the complete list of projects. The “list of legislator-nominated projects funded from savings and supported through the (DAP) will now be accessible to the public through the DBM’s official web portal for the program. The list—which will be ready within the day—includes information on the projects and their respective endorsers in the Congress and Senate,” a DBM press release said early Wednesday afternoon. The DBM beat a Wednesday evening deadline set by lawmakers for it to post the full details of recipients of the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP), insisting there was

no effort to “sanitize” the list. In a statement, the DBM said that the list of legislator-nominated projects supported through the spending acceleration program contains the pertinent details of DAP-supported projects, in line with the agency’s initiatives to make the budget more transparent to the public.

According to the DBM Chief Information Ofﬁcer Richard E. Moya, the newly released list—which includes a column identifying project proponents—supplies the necessary information on DAP-supported projects and the names of legislators who endorsed the initiatives. Moya noted that besides furnishing

the names of lawmakers who endorsed speciﬁc projects, the updated list gives details on the Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) number for each project, the dates the SAROs were issued, project descriptions, and actual output per project, among other information. “The list was designed to be as exhaustive as possible, given the sheer bulk of the information we were dealing with. We need to be very transparent with information like this so that the public can demand greater accountability from the government. This is all consistent with our work of making the budget more transparent and open to the citizens,” Moya said. “It is not in the interest of DBM to ‘sanitize’ this list. What we actually want is to give citizens an opportunity to study the data and form conclusions based on that. The purpose here is to clear the air over the DAP and to make sure that all budget processes

are accounted for,” he added. “Any mischief insinuated is just that: an insinuation,” he emphasized. An earlier list that Abad supplied lawmakers deliberating on the 2015 budget was criticized by Rep. Tiangco for being incomplete, with many items rendered in blanks. The lawmakers gave Abad until 8pm Wednesday (Sept. 17) to submit the complete record. DBM announced it was posting the complete list on its web site. “The list has been rendered so it is accessible and easier to understand. It is out, open, and based on ofﬁcial records. We’ve posted all the details we have on the projects and, where it applies, their respective endorsers,” Moya said. The list has been made available on the DAP portal in the DBM’s ofﬁcial website. It is accessible via a downloadable PDF link labeled “List of DAP Projects with Proponents.” ■

InterAksyon.com / September 17, 2014 / 6:55 PM

Tiangco bares ‘incomplete complete’ record of DAP recipients given by Abad MANILA – On Tuesday (Sept. 16), Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco denounced the “incomplete” documentation by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) of the Disbursement Acceleration Program. He was referring to the official list of recipients of the DAP submitted in Plenary by Budget Secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad to Tiangco. As Tiangco pointed out during the floor deliberations last Sept. 15, the report submitted was inadequate and incomplete with numerous blanks, where the names of the legislator/ recipient were omitted. (To name a few, Tiangco’s office draws attention to these pages: 41 of 66 items 9-12, page 42 of 66 items 32-34, 44 of 50 items 32, 33, 34, etc. )

Toby Tiangco and Butch Abad: a tale of two DAP lists.

Tiangco’s ofﬁce described as illogical the DBM’s claim that the blank requests were made by DPWH, as the blank items are scattered throughout the enumeration of requests made by legislators. In a statement issued Wednesday afternoon, or just hours before the “8 pm Wednesday deadline” given him by the lawmakers lapses, Abad’s ofﬁce issued a statement saying the complete list will be posted on the DBM web site, and even challenged the public to examine the list well to ensure accountability by parties concerned. The list that will be posted Wednesday night will include information on the projects and their respective endorsers in the Congress and Senate.

Abad reminded the public that the DAP was launched by the Aquino administration in 2011 to ramp up public spending and boost the country’s economic growth. “We’re pleased to announce that the list of lawmaker-endorsed projects is now available. The disclosure of this list is well-timed, given that it coincides with the development of the 2015 budget. We’re taking this opportunity to improve budget processes towards efficient spending, and the DBM’s full transparency on the DAP is crucial towards that end,” Abad said. “Although combing through all the projects took some time, we believed that the fidelity of our data could not be compromised in favor of speed. We now urge the Filipino people to scrutinize the list carefully. In this manner, the Aquino administration will be better-positioned to heed the citizens’ call for increased transparency, accountability, and openness in public expenditure,” he added. The Supreme Court unanimously ruled in July to strike down four key practices under DAP as unconstitutional. Abad’s office noted that various reports—including that of the World Bank and the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA)—had cited DAP “as instrumental to the country’s economic successes in 2011 onwards.” ■ InterAksyon.com / September 17, 2014 / 6:29 PM

AFP chief Catapang orders probe of P80-M deal on hospital supplies THE Armed Forces of the Philippines on Monday confirmed that it was investigating the questioned procurement of P80 million worth medicine and other medical supplies for the AFP Medical Center. Based on news reports, a certain Renato Villafuerte filed a complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman as regards the procurement of supplies without public bidding. AFP Chief of Staff General Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. ordered the probe on September 5. “There was a letter to the AFP chief of staff regarding reported irregularities as far as the P80 million purchase of medicines and medical supplies that happened in the AFP Medical Center,” Major General Domingo Tutaan, military spokesperson, told reporters.

Among those being investigated was AFPMC commander Brigadier General Normando T. Sta. Ana Jr. “With the receipt of this undated and unsigned letter, the chief of staff directed an investigation to be conducted by the Committee on Ethical Standard and Public Accountability,” Tutaan said. “We are awaiting for the initial result of the investigation. After that, appropriate actions will be undertaken,” Tutaan said. He did not say when the initial results would be released. Tutaan said that the AFP was conducting its investigation separately from the Ombudsman. “It’s a parallel probe but we do not know what the Ombudsman is doing right now at kung ano’ng status ng kanilang investigation,” he said. ■ Rouchelle R. Dinglasan / NB, GMA News / October 13, 2014 / 8:38 PM

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Pinay teen among X Factor Australia’s 3 finalists YOUNG Filipina singer Marlisa Punzalan has been included in the Top 3 contenders for the grand finals of X Factor Australia. The 15-year-old Punzalan, who wowed the judges with her version of Alicia Keys’ “Girl On Fire” during Sunday’s show, will compete with Brothers 3 and Dean Ray in the finals set for next week, according to reality TV blog Zeibiz. Punzalan’s inclusion in the Top 3 was announced at the end of the Live Decider episode on Monday,Zeibiz

said in a separate blog post. She sang a cover from the Beatles. “You are on fire,” one of the judges, Dannii Minogue, told Marlisa on Sunday. “Not only you stepped into your voice and confidence, but you are mastering those rounds. Amazing.” Another judge, Redfoo, praised Punzalan for her “great vocal” although he advised her to have some “body language” next time. Punzalan is the only Filipino performer who made it to the finals. Girl group Trill, composed of

Filipina teenagers, was eliminated in the show’s ﬁrst live show. Solo singers Jal Joshua, Erin Miranda, Justin Vasquez and Mary Ann van der Horst, meanwhile, were eliminated during the elimination rounds. ■ KBK, GMA News / October 13, 2014 /

6:57 PM

PNoy ally: Church leaders should concentrate on their flock, not politics RELIGIOUS leaders demanding President Benigno Aquino III’s resignation should focus on strengthening the moral fiber of their flock and not on meddling in politics, an administration ally in the House of Representatives said Sunday. Cavite Rep. Elpidio Barzaga Jr. said he sees no basis for Aquino to resign despite the controversies he is facing because his administration has been effective in implementing reforms promoting good governance. “We have the separation of the

Church and State.... Sa pananaw ko, itong ating mga kaibigang obispo should concentrate more [on] strengthening the moral fiber of all Catholics and all the people in the Philippines rather than asking for the resignation of the President,” he said in an interview over dzBB radio. The public’s satisfaction with Aquino, Barzaga noted, bounced back last month after falling to a record low in June, a new survey by pollster Social Weather Stations suggests. For the lawmaker, the President’s high satisfaction rating only proves the National Transformation Council

(NTC) was wrong in alleging that Aquino has “lost the moral right to lead the nation.” “The voice of the people is the voice of God. Eh yon na,ang ating mga kababayan, ipinakita na ang kanilang boses sa pamamagitan ng halalan and we have to respect that,” Barzaga said. The NTC—a multi-sectoral group composed of religious leaders and civil society members—has called on Aquino to step down from office for “damaging the moral fabric of society.” Among the group’s prominent members are Cebu Archbishop

Emeritus Ricardo Cardinal Vidal and Davao City Bishop Emeritus Fernando Capalla. Malacañang has brushed aside the group’s calls for Aquino’s resignation, saying the administration is focused on implementing its reform programs. Barzaga said some Church leaders may be holding a grudge against Aquino because of the Reproductive Health (RH) law, a landmark legislation enacted in 2012. The Catholic Church has been vocal about its opposition to the RH law because it promotes both natural and artificial family planning methods.

The Church supports only natural family planning. Barzaga said he is concerned that some Filipinos might break the law in calling for Aquino’s resignation after hearing the bishops’ sentiment. “We are a [predominantly] Roman Catholic country at maraming naniniwala na devoted catholics sa sinasabi ng ating mga obispo. The danger is that people might lose their faith or adherence to the rule of law at maniwala dito sa sinasabi ng ating mga bishops,” he said. ■ Xianne Arcangel / JDS, GMA News / October 12, 2014 / 9:16 PM

OWWA help assured for kin of Pinay who died in HK freak accident FAMILY members of Racquel Fortes Espinar, the Filipino domestic helper who died in a freak accident in Hong Kong, are set to receive beneﬁts

from the Overseas Workers Welfare Association (OWWA). Espinar was napping with her ﬁve-year-old ward on the morning of

October 4 when a heavy cabinet fell on her. She was brought to a hospital from the apartment of her employer at Mau Yip Road, Tseung Kwan, but was pronounced dead-on-arrival Espinar’s family will receive death and burial benefits worth P220,000, according to OWWA. Since she was an active member, her family is also eligible for the OWWA Education and Livelihood Assistance Program (ELAP). If they qualify, they stand to receive a livelihood assistance of P15,000 and educational assistance of P5,000 for elementary students; P8,000 for high school; and P10,000 for college until the beneficiary finishes their degree. OWWA has yet to receive repatriation details from the Philippine Embassy in Hong Kong regarding Espinar’s remains. ■ Rie Takumi / KBK, GMA

News / October 10, 2014 / 4:14 PM

Pinay fashion designer to showcase 60’s-inspired designs in Brooklyn FILIPINA fashion designer Joyce Peñas Pilarsky will showcase her Spring Summer 2015 collection at the ongoing Fashion Week Brooklyn at Industry City in Sunset Park, Brooklyn. Her collection follows the Fashion Week theme of “Designs of the Times,” with flowers and a nod to Filipino fashion during the 1960’s.

Described as a “model, beauty queen, and philanthropist” by Fashion Week Brooklyn, Pilarsky’s collections uses indigenous materials from different regions in the Philippines. Pilarsky also designs jewelry, maintaining a site for her selfdescribed “body-hugging fashion accessories.”

She won the Classic Mrs. Asia International Global 2014 in Malaysia, the pageant’s first Filipina winner. Her work was also featured during the Philippine Fashion Week Holiday 2014, where she showed off a fleshcolored dress dotted with lilies and butterflies. ■ Rie Takumi / BM, GMA News / October 2, 2014 / 10:28 PM

Suspect in cellphone theft unwittingly sends selﬁe to victim’s email A robbery suspect has unwittingly helped authorities identify him after he took a selﬁe with his alleged victim’s cellphone,” a report on GMA News’ “24 Oras” showed on Monday. The suspect reportedly took the cellphone and watch of Donnie Mabagos and the cellphone, wallet, and bag with P30,000 cash of Jonnie Miranda on October 7 at 1:00 AM at the corner of Quezon Avenue and Biak na Bato St. in Quezon City. Mabagos opened his email account over the weekend and saw the suspect’s picture that was taken an hour after the incident.

While Mabagos did not protect his cellphone with a security code, he said his Android phone was set to automatically send pictures from his phone to his email account. The victim, who is a computer programmer, said it would be helpful to install a mobile application that would determine the location of a stolen cellphone. The picture of the suspect was given to the La Loma Police station. The victim has also posted the picture of the suspect in his social media account. ■ Kathryn Tubadeza / NB, GMA News / October 13, 2014 / 10:14 PM

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Students bear the strain of Malaysian school ‘crisis’ KUALA LUMPUR - Bowing before an altar in a Hindu temple, 12-year-old Dharmishta Ramachandran prayed for strength and wisdom before taking high-stakes Malaysian school exams that have huge bearing on her future. She looked weary, and for good reason: it was the second time in weeks that nearly 500,000 students took the exam, after initial results were invalidated when test questions were found leaked online. The fiasco has incensed families and spotlighted mounting criticism of a government-run school system seen to be in disarray. The Primary School Evaluation Test taken by nearly 500,000 pupils can decide coveted access to elite government-run secondary schools or private-school scholarships, and the reexamination has only magnified that pressure. “My fear is I may not perform well,” said a pensive Dharmishta, primly dressed in her Kuala Lumpur school’s blue uniform. “I’ve had trouble sleeping and eating the past few weeks.” Re-examinations were held last week, with additional subjects set for Thursday, despite wide complaints that children were paying the price for official incompetence. Around a dozen people have reportedly been arrested over the leak, mostly teachers. While authorities have released no details, many parents attribute the scandal to fierce jockeying to stand out in an education system they say is failing to prepare students for the world. “It’s a crisis. It’s ‘code red,’” Sivaraman Sabapathy, a public relations consultant with a school-aged son, said of the school system. “It’s sad. The government is unable to provide a good education for its citizens.” Poor marks. The school system was respected during and after British colonial times, credited with aiding Malaysia’s growth from agrarian backwater to regional economic standout.

It has some of Asia’s highest percapita education funding, and access is near-universal. But in 2012 standardised tests, Malaysian 15-year-olds were the worst in East Asia, outperforming only Indonesia. Of 65 countries worldwide, Malaysians ranked no higher than 52nd in any subject, and were 39th out of 44 countries in problem-solving skills. Universities also have slipped in global rankings over the past decade, and employers frequently lament the quality of graduates. English skills, long a Malaysian advantage in attracting foreign investment, have “deteriorated” as well, the World Bank said in a report last year, adding to an erosion of national competitiveness vis-a-vis regional rivals. It said student abilities were “not on par” with ambitious government development promises, citing poor administration, the standard of teachers and excessive bureaucracy. Malaysia’s race-based politics also loom large. The ruling United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) has long imposed controversial policies favouring majority ethnic Malays -- UMNO’s political base -- including quotas that ensure Malay numbers in the best secondary schools and in public universities. This often shuts out better students from the large ethnic Chinese and Indian minorities, contributing to a much-chronicled “brain drain” overseas of some of Malaysia’s best talent that has economic planners worried. “Perhaps the most serious problem is that (education ofﬁcials) see their role as ensuring the well-being and interests of Malay students,” said Lim Teck Ghee, head of the Centre for Policy Initiatives, a Malaysian think tank. “Teacher recruitment has been politicised for over 30 years and we are paying a heavy price.” Deputy Education Minister P.

Student Dharmishta Ramachandran (C), a Malaysian Hindu ethnic Indian, reads notes before the second Primary School Evaluation Test at a school in Kuala Lumpur on September 30, 2014

Kamalanathan denied any racial bias, but said criticism of schools was “quite accurate.” However, ambitious reform plans announced last year will, by 2025, address key problems including student performance, teacher quality, school management, and excess bureaucracy, he said. “The aim is to empower parents and teachers while creating an educational system that brings out the potential of students to meet global standards,” he told AFP. Down the ‘drain’. But Lim said the government, frequently accused of corruption and misrule by critics, has a “bad record” on institutional reform. “The most we can hope for is not to fall further back,” he said. Meanwhile, many parents complain of unqualified instructors, or none at all for extended periods due to chaotic administration. Poor students often receive passing marks despite learning little. Policy flip-flops, including a recent move to abandon English as the medium of instruction for math and science, sow confusion, they add. The government had switched to English in 2003, hoping to enhance students’ high-tech competitiveness. The latest reversal is widely seen as an admission that English levels were insufficient for that. “(Students) may get straightAs but when they enter university they have poor problem-solving and writing skills, especially in English,” said Tengku Azita Tengku Aziz, a telecommunications lecturer at Universiti Kuala Lumpur. “Many parents want their children to enter (elite government-run) boarding or private schools, a clear indication of deteriorating standards.” V. Ramachandran, Dharmishta’s father, hopes to enrol her in an expensive private school and, eventually, university in Singapore, another drop in Malaysia’s “brain drain”. “She can live there and not come back,” he said. ■ M Jegathesan / AFP / October 8, 2014 / 1:41 AM

Student Dharmishta Ramachandran, a Malaysian Hindu ethnic Indian, lights candles at a temple before attending the second Primary School Evaluation Test in Kuala Lumpur on September 30, 2014

Hong Kong leader says democracy protests have ‘almost zero chance’ HONG KONG’S pro-democracy protesters have an “almost zero chance” of changing Beijing’s stance and securing free elections despite more than two weeks of rallies, the city’s embattled leader Leung Chunying said Sunday. Demonstrators calling for Beijing to grant full democracy to the former British colony have paralysed parts of Hong Kong, prompting clashes with elements who oppose the blockades and widespread disruption. Despite repeated orders to disperse, the rallies have taken on an air of permanence, with tents, portable showers and lecture venues -- drawing thousands of people in recent evenings. In an interview broadcast on local channel TVB Sunday, Leung said the street protests had “spun out of control” and warned it was highly unlikely the action would alter Beijing’s position. After police were criticised for unleashing tear gas on the rallies in late September, the city’s chief executive said that if the government had to clear the protests sites, police would use a “minimum amount of force”. China announced in August that while Hong Kongers will be able to vote for Leung’s successor in 2017, only two or three vetted candidates will be allowed to stand -- an arrangement the protesters dismiss as “fake democracy”. Since last month students and pro-democracy campaigners have taken to the streets -- sometimes in their tens of thousands -- to call for Beijing to change its position and allow full, free and fair elections and to demand Leung’s resignation. “In achieving universal suffrage in 2017, if the prerequisite is to put down the Basic Law and the decision made by the National People’s Congress Standing Committee, I believe we all know that the chance is almost zero,” Leung said. Crunch talks between student leaders and city officials collapsed last week, deepening the crisis in the semi-autonomous city as protesters vowed to dig in for the long haul.

HEATED STAND-OFF Demonstrators are occupying three areas of the city. In the districts of Admiralty and Causeway Bay on Hong Kong island many have dug in with food, tents and bedding, as well as displays of artwork, giving the usually busy thoroughfares a carnival feel. There was a heated stand-off Sunday as a pro-government group marched on Mongkok -- a flashpoint district which has seen ugly scuffles -with police intervening to keep them apart from the rival activists. About 200 people took to the streets of the popular shopping hub to call for action to clear the democracy camps, shouting slogans such as “Support police to strictly enforce the law” and “Clear the occupation”. “We want to have a peaceful life. I don’t want anybody to occupy Hong Kong. They are making our home a mess,” said 63-year-old Stanley Yeung. “They cannot threaten the central government with a knife at its neck. China is a very powerful country now. Too much freedom and democracy is no good,” the retired civil servant told AFP. In what has become a colourcoded battle, the pro-government Blue Ribbon Movement has threatened to surround the protest sites unless authorities dismantle them by Tuesday night. Leung was unable to say how the current stalemate between the two sides might end, despite being repeatedly asked for a solution during the television interview. “We’ve resorted to all kinds of persuasions, the way we resolve it in the end is being constantly reviewed,” he said. “We absolutely would not prefer clearing the venue, but if one day the venue has to be cleared, I believe the police will use their professional judgement and training using minimum amount of force,” he said. Leung reiterated his insistence that he will not resign, saying it would not resolve the situation. ■ AFP / October

12, 2014

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Future ground role for US military advisors in Iraq likely: Dempsey

US military advisors are likely to take a more direct role in the ground campaign against jihadists in Iraq once Iraqi forces are ready to go on the offensive, the top US ofﬁcer said in comments aired Sunday. General Martin Dempsey, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff,

said he had not yet encountered a situation where US air strikes would be more effective if US troops were on the ground spotting targets. But he said that when Iraqi forces are ready to take the offensive against the Islamic State jihadists who have overrun swaths of territory in northern

Iraqi security forces man a checkpoint in the northern city of Kirkuk on October 1, 2014

and western Iraq, as well as in Syria, that would likely change. “Mosul will likely be the decisive battle in the ground campaign at some point in the future,” Dempsey said in an interview with ABC’s “This Week,” referring to the northern Iraqi city seized by IS militants in June.

“My instinct at this point is that will require a different kind of advising and assisting because of the complexity of that ﬁght,” he said. Dempsey caused a stir last month when he told lawmakers that if he believed US military advisors should accompany Iraqi troops on the ground against IS ﬁghters, he would recommend that to President Barack Obama. Obama has insisted there would be no US boots on the ground. National Security Advisor Susan Rice said on a separate Sunday talk show that US commanders have not asked to put US combat forces into Iraq and she did not anticipate such a request. “We are not going to be in a ground war again in Iraq,” Rice said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” “It’s not what is required by the circumstances that we face and even if one were to take that step, which the president has made clear we are not going to do, it wouldn’t be sustainable.” Former defense secretary Leon Panetta, however, said Obama “has to

be open to whatever recommendations are made in order to ensure that we are effective in going after ISIS.” Speaking on CBS’s “Face the Nation,” Panetta said boots on the ground were needed to stop the Islamic State group, which is also known as ISIL or ISIS. “It doesn’t have to be American boots on the ground, but you have got to have people on the ground who can identify targets and who can help us develop the kind of effective air strikes that are going to be needed if we’re going to be able to undermine, destroy this vicious enemy that we’re dealing with.” The Iraqi military’s weak performance, meanwhile, is another lure for more direct US military involvement. Dempsey revealed that US Apache attack helicopters had to be called in recently to repel an IS attack on Iraqi forces 20 to 25 kilometers (12 to 15 miles) from the Baghdad airport. “Had they overrun the Iraqi unit, it was a straight shot to the airport, so we’re not going to allow that to happen. We need that airport,” he said.

■ AFP / October 13, 2014

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China’s Li in Russia for Putin talks MOSCOW – Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang on Sunday arrived in Moscow for talks with President Vladimir Putin as Russia is struggling with its most pronounced isolation since the end of the Cold War. “It is a major event in the bilateral relations,” Chinese Vice Minister Cheng Guoping said ahead of Li’s visit. He said both sides would sign a joint communique and about 50 agreements. “We are confident it will be a success,” he said. Deputy foreign minister Igor Morgulov in Moscow said the two countries would sign a host of deals including on nuclear energy, natural gas, financing and banking. “I am convinced that the Chinese Prime Minister’s visit will allow us to make substantial progress in key areas of practical cooperation,” he said in comments released by the foreign ministry on Sunday. Li’s first visit to Russia as premier comes at a sensitive time as the Kremlin is grappling with the consequences of its support for separatists in Ukraine

during a six-month conﬂict in the east of the ex-Soviet country. Besides meeting Putin on Tuesday, Li will also meet with his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev and attend a forum on innovations during the three-day visit. Li’s Russia’s trip is part of a weeklong visit to Europe. ‘China against sanctions’. Ahead of his Moscow visit, Li travelled to Germany for talks with Chancellor Angela Merkel. He will also participate in a summit in Milan next week. Merkel, a ﬂuent Russian speaker, has been seen as one of the European Union’s top negotiators on the Ukraine crisis. She has held regular talks with Putin but has also thrown her weight behind EU sanctions against Russia in a bid to make Putin drop support for separatists in eastern Ukraine. Saddled with several rounds of Western sanctions and the Russian economy in tatters, the Kremlin appears keen to see an easing of punitive measures from the West.

Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang (L) and German Chancellor Angela Merkel (R) lean towards each other

Putin late Saturday ordered a pullback of troops from the border with Ukraine and will hold key talks with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko on the sidelines of an Asia-Europe meeting in Milan next week. China has spoken out against Western sanctions against Russia. “China always opposes the wilful use of sanctions or the threat of sanctions,” said Cheng. “We welcome the moves by various parties to encourage the momentum of a political settlement of the Ukrainian issue.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Bocharov Ruchei residence outside Sochi on October 11, 2014

Once bitter foes during the Cold War, Moscow and Beijing have over the past years ramped up cooperation as both are driven by a desire to counterbalance US global dominance. China and Russia often work in lockstep at the UN Security Council, using their veto power as permanent council members to counter the West on issues such as the Syria crisis. Russia’s showdown with the West over Ukraine has given Kremlin a new impetus to court Beijing. Resource-hungry China is seeking

to diversify its sources of energy amid booming domestic consumption, while Russia is seeking to tap fast-developing Asian markets. After a decade of tough negotiations China and Russia inked a 30-year, $400-billion agreement in May that will eventually involve 38 billion cubic metres of gas annually. Critics however disparaged the terms of the deal, saying Putin, in his bid to spite the West, signed an agreement that was more beneﬁcial to China than Russia. ■ AFP / October 12, 2014

more unjust. It’s deeply disappointing that new President Ashraf Ghani has allowed the executions to go ahead.” Before the executions, the UN High Commission for Human Rights had called on Ghani to refer the cases back to the courts “given the very serious due process concerns.” The accused were found guilty and sentenced at a nationally-televised trial, which attracted noisy rallies outside the courtroom calling for the death penalties. Applause erupted inside the courtroom when Kabul police chief Zahir Zahir also called for the men to be hanged. It was only nine days between the men’s arrest and their trial, and the sentences were quickly conﬁrmed by the appeals court and the Supreme Court. “The horrendous due process violations in the Paghman trial have only worsened the injustices of this terrible crime,” said Phelim Kine of Human Rights Watch. HRW said the case included a manipulated lineup for identiﬁcation

and a trial with little evidence. The crime in the early hours of August 23 has become a symbol of the violence that women face in Afghanistan, despite reforms since the Taliban regime fell in 2001. Women’s rights have been central to the multi-billion-dollar international development effort in Afghanistan, but they still endure routine discrimination, abuse and violence. Under the Taliban’s harsh version of Sunni Islamic law, women were forced to wear the all-enveloping burqa, banned from jobs, and forbidden even to leave the house without a male chaperone. The gang-rape unleashed a wave of public anger via protests, the media and the Internet, echoing the response to recent similar crimes in India --including the fatal attack on a student on a bus in New Delhi in 2012. According to Amnesty, Afghanistan executed two people last year, and 14 in 2012. ■ Emal

Five Afghan men hanged for gang-rape despite UN appeal KABUL – Five Afghan men were hanged on Wednesday for the gang rape of four women despite the United Nations and human rights groups criticising the trial and urging new president Ashraf Ghani to stay the executions. The brutal attack in Paghman, outside Kabul, provoked a national outcry with many Afghans demanding the men were hanged, and then-president Hamid Karzai signed their death sentences shortly before leaving ofﬁce last week. Amnesty International slammed the executions as “an affront to justice”, while the European Union ambassador to Afghanistan questioned President Ghani’s commitment to human rights. But the ministry of women’s affairs in Kabul welcomed the

hangings “as a step towards ensuring social justice and defending women’s rights, and a lesson for those who think of committing such crimes.” There was no immediate comment from Ghani, who faced strong public pressure to not delay the executions after he came to power on August 29. “Five men in connection to the Paghman incident and one other big criminal were executed this afternoon,” Rahmatullah Nazari, the deputy attorney general, told AFP. The men were hanged in Pul-eCharkhi prison near Kabul along with Habib Istaliﬁ, head of a kidnapping gang. “Today’s executions cast a dark shadow over the new Afghan government’s will to uphold basic human rights,” EU ambassador FranzMichael Mellbin said on Twitter soon after the news broke. The armed gang members, wearing

Many Afghans demanded the five rapists be hanged for a brutal attack in Paghman, prompting security forces to increase security ahead of their execution at Pul-e-Charkhi prison near Kabul, on October 8, 2014. Photo by Wakil Kohsar ©AFP Photo.

police uniforms, stopped a convoy of cars returning to Kabul at night from a wedding in Paghman, a scenic spot popular with day-trippers. The attackers tied up men in the group before raping at least four of the women and stealing valuables from their victims. But the court process raised major concerns. The trial lasted only a few hours, suspects were alleged to have tortured before confessing, and Karzai called for the men to be hanged even before the case was heard. ‘Deeply disappointing’. “The outcry and anger this case has caused is of course understandable... But the death penalty is not justice -- it only amounts to short-term revenge,” said David Grifﬁths, Amnesty International’s Asia-Paciﬁc deputy director. “The many fair trial concerns in this case only make these executions

Women’s rights have been central to the international development effort in Afghanistan and the brutal gang rape of four women in Paghman triggered nationwide protests, such as this rally in Herat, on September 8, 2014. Photo by Aref Karimi ©AFP Photo.

Haidary / AFP / October 8, 2014 / 9:42 AM

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HEALTH and Lifestyle

October 2014 / Fortnightly – No. 20 • UK & Europe Edition

Women and heart disease

Top 10 healthy heart tips A healthy lifestyle will make your heart healthier. Here are 10 things you can do to improve yours. Get active. Do 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity every week. One way to achieve this target is by doing 30 minutes of activity on ﬁve days a week. Fit it in where you can, such as by cycling to work. Give up smoking. Smoking is one of the main causes of coronary heart disease. A year after giving up, your risk of a heart attack falls to about half that of a smoker. Manage your weight. Being overweight can increase your risk of heart disease. Stick to a well-balanced diet low in fat and high in fruit and vegetables, combined with plenty of physical activity.

Ditch the salt. To maintain a healthy blood pressure, stop using salt at the table and try adding less to your cooking, or cut it out completely. You’ll soon get used to it. Also watch out for high salt levels in processed foods. Check the food labels – a food is high in salt if it has more than 1.5g salt (or 0.6g sodium) per 100g. Get your 5 A DAY. Eat ﬁve portions of fruit and vegetables a day. Add dried fruit to breakfast cereal, and add vegetables to your pasta sauces and curries. Eat oily fish. Eat oily ﬁsh twice a week. Fish such as mackerel, sardines, fresh tuna and salmon are an excellent source of omega-3 fats, which can help protect against heart disease. Walk off stress. If you’re feeling under pressure, clear your mind with

STRESS is the feeling of being under too much mental or emotional pressure. Pressure turns into stress when you feel unable to cope. People have different ways of reacting to stress, so a situation that feels stressful to one person may be motivating to someone else. Many of life’s demands can cause stress, particularly work, relationships and money problems. And, when you feel stressed, it can get in the way of sorting out these demands, or can even affect everything you do. Stress can affect how you feel, think, behave and how your body works. In fact, common signs of stress include sleeping problems, sweating, loss of appetite and difficulty concentrating. You may feel anxious, irritable or low in self esteem, and you may have racing thoughts, worry constantly or go over things in your head. You may notice that you lose your temper more easily, drink more or act unreasonably. You may also experience headaches, muscle tension or pain, or dizziness. Stress causes a surge of hormones in your body. These stress hormones are released to enable you to deal with pressures or threats – the so-called “fight or flight” response. Once the pressure or threat has passed, your stress hormone levels will usually return to normal. However, if you’re constantly under stress, these hormones will remain in your body, leading to the symptoms of stress.

Managing stress in daily life. Stress is not an illness itself, but it can cause serious illness if it isn’t addressed. It’s important to recognise the symptoms of stress early. Recognising the signs and symptoms of stress will help you ﬁgure out ways of coping and save you from adopting unhealthy coping methods, such as drinking or smoking. Spotting the early signs of stress will also help prevent it getting worse and potentially causing serious complications, such as high blood pressure. There is little you can do to prevent stress, but there are many things you can do to manage stress more effectively, such as learning how to relax, taking regular exercise and adopting good time-management techniques. Studies have found that mindfulness courses, where participants are taught simple meditations across a series of weeks, can also help to reduce stress and improve mood.

Understanding stress

Recognising your stress triggers.

If you’re not sure what’s causing your stress, keep a diary and make a note of stressful episodes for two-to-four weeks. Then review it to spot the triggers. Things you might want to write down include: • the date, time and place of a stressful episode • what you were doing • who you were with • how you felt emotionally • what you were thinking

a walk. It will help put your ideas in order and reduce tension. If it’s a brisk walk, it will also count towards your daily activity. Cut saturated fat. Small changes to your diet can have positive health beneﬁts. Choose semi-skimmed over full-fat milk, leaner cuts of meat, and steam or grill foods rather than frying. Find out the Drink less. Alcohol can be fattening. If you added three or four gin and tonics to your usual daily diet, you could put on nearly 2kg over four weeks.

Read the food label

When shopping, look at the food label on food packets to see what the product contains. Understanding what is in food will help you make healthier choices. ■ NHS Choices

• what you started doing • how you felt physically • a stress rating (0-10 where 10 is the most stressed you could ever feel) You can use the diary to: • work out what triggers your stress • work out how you operate under pressure • develop better coping mechanisms Doctors sometimes recommend keeping a stress diary to help them diagnose stress. Take action to tackle stress. There’s no quick-ﬁx cure for stress, and no single method will work for everyone. However, there are simple things you can do to change the common life problems that can cause stress or make stress a problem. These include relaxation techniques, exercise and talking the issues through. Get stress support. Because talking through the issues is one of the key ways to tackle stress, you may ﬁnd it useful to attend a stress management group or class. These are sometimes run in doctors’ surgeries or community centres. The classes help people identify the cause of their stress and develop effective coping techniques. ■ NHS Choices

DID you know that women are three times more likely to die of heart disease than breast cancer? In the years following the menopause, your risk of getting heart disease rises significantly. But you can take simple steps to protect yourself. 1. Get your cholesterol and blood pressure checked. If you’re over 40, ask your GP about having a health check to assess your risk of developing heart disease. This would include checking your blood pressure and cholesterol level. If your blood pressure or cholesterol level is higher than it should be, this increases your risk of heart disease. Your GP can suggest lifestyle changes or, if necessary, prescribe medication to reduce your blood pressure or cholesterol. 2. Stop smoking to protect your heart. You’re twice as likely to have a heart attack if you smoke. Over the past few decades, men have increasingly quit smoking but women haven’t been stopping smoking as much. In fact, more young women now smoke than young men. Stopping smoking will lessen your chances of developing heart disease. 3. Do more exercise to prevent heart disease. Only about one woman in four in England does enough physical activity to protect her heart. Try to do more exercise, including regular aerobic exercise such as walking and swimming. To protect your heart, you need to do at least 150 minutes (2 hours and 30 minutes) of moderate-intensity aerobic activity (such as cycling or fast walking) every week. 4. Lose weight if you need to. About six in every ten women in England are either overweight or obese. Carrying excess weight puts a strain on your heart, and you’re more likely to have high blood pressure and high cholesterol, which also increase the risk of heart disease. Use our BMI calculator to find out if you are overweight.

5. Change shape to reduce your risk of heart disease. Your shape matters as well as your weight. Like many women in the 40-60 age group, you may be apple shaped, where excess weight settles around your waist. Being apple shaped puts you at higher risk of heart disease than being pear shaped, where excess weight is concentrated on the hips. Aim for a waistline of less than 80cm (31.5 inches). 6. Drink moderately to help your heart. Drinking a little alcohol regularly may be good for your heart, but make sure you stay within the recommended limits. Drinking more will increase your risk of heart problems. Heart healthy drinking for women is one or two units of alcohol a day. If you drink more than this, you’ll increase your risk of heart disease. Too much alcohol, or bingedrinking, can damage the heart muscle leading to abnormal heart rhythms or heart failure. 7. Balance your diet. Eat healthily and be especially careful not to eat more salt than is recommended (no more than 6g a day) and to cut down on the amount of saturated fat you eat. 8. Don’t rely on HRT to stave off heart disease. Doctors used to think that using hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for menopausal symptoms also protected women against heart disease. Research now suggests that HRT isn’t heart protective and, as with all drug treatments, there are side effects. Take HRT if you need it to relieve menopausal hot flushes and night sweats, but don’t expect it to help your heart. 9. Manage your stress. Some studies have suggested that stress can contribute to heart disease. If you feel under a lot of stress, it’s important to learn how to relax. There are some simple techniques you can learn to help you cope with stress. If you feel so stressed and anxious that it’s affecting your daily life, your GP can help you deal with it. ■ NHS Choices

October 2014 / Fortnightly – No. 20 • UK & Europe Edition

HEALTH and Lifestyle food

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Twelve tips for a healthy Christmas FROM defrosting turkey to using leftovers, these food safety tips will help stop your turkey from knocking the stufﬁng out of you this Christmas. Avoid cross-contamination. Keep all raw food, whether it’s turkey or vegetables, separate from ready-to-eat foods to avoid cross-contamination. Use separate chopping boards for raw food and ready-to-eat food. Raw foods can contain harmful bacteria that are spread very easily to anything they touch, including other foods, worktops, chopping boards and knives. Set the fridge to 5°C. Store food that needs to be chilled in the fridge until you need it. Make sure the fridge temperature is below 5°C. Don’t pack food too tightly, as the cold air needs to circulate to cool food down. If you’re storing food such as fresh vegetables outside in a garage or shed, keep them in a sealed container. Wash your hands. Always wash and

dry your hands thoroughly before and after handling food, especially when handling and preparing raw meat and poultry. You also need to remember to wash and dry your hands after going to the toilet, touching the bin or touching any pets. Bugs are spread between food, surfaces and utensils most effectively on wet or damp hands. Defrost turkey safely. Defrost the turkey on a large dish and cover, preferably in the fridge. Remove the giblets and the neck to speed up thawing. Alternatively, defrost the turkey in a cool, clean place where the temperature is fairly constant. Keep in mind that the temperature of where the turkey is kept will affect thawing times. Turkey defrosting times. It can take up to 48 hours for a large turkey to thaw. To work out the defrosting time for your turkey, check the packaging. If there aren’t any defrosting instructions, use the following times as a guide:

• in a fridge at 4ºC (39ºF), allow about 10 to 12 hours per kg • in a cool room (below 17.5ºC, 64ºF), allow approximately three to four hours per kg • at room temperature (about 20ºC, 68ºF), allow approximately two hours per kg A turkey is fully defrosted when there are no ice crystals inside the cavity and the meat is soft when you insert a fork or skewer. Once thawed, store it in the fridge until you are ready to cook it. If this isn’t possible, you should cook it immediately. Don’t wash the bird. Eighty per cent of people say they wash their turkeys before cooking them, but this signiﬁcantly increases the risk of food poisoning by splashing germs around the kitchen. Don’t wash your bird, because it will only spread germs. Thorough cooking will kill any bacteria that might be present. Cook turkey properly. Seventeen per cent of people aren’t sure how to tell when their turkey is cooked. Make sure your turkey is steaming hot all the way through before serving. When you cut into the thickest part of the turkey, none of the meat should be pink. If juices ﬂow out when you pierce the turkey or when you press the thigh, they should be clear. If you’re using a temperature probe or food thermometer, ensure that the thickest part of the bird (between the breast and the thigh) reaches at least 70°C for two minutes.

Goose and other birds. Other birds, such as goose and duck, have different cooking times and temperatures. The oven should always be hotter for duck and goose in order to melt the fat under the skin. • goose should be cooked in a preheated oven at 200ºC/425ºF/Gas Mark 7 for 35 minutes per kg • duck should be cooked in a preheated oven for 45 minutes per kg at 200ºC/400ºF/Gas Mark 6 • chicken should be cooked in a preheated oven at 180ºC/350ºF/Gas Mark 4 for 45 minutes per kg plus 20 minutes Wash your veg. Most of the bacteria on vegetables will be in the soil attached to the produce. Washing to remove any soil is therefore particularly important. When you wash vegetables, don’t just hold them under the running tap. Rub them under water, for example in a bowl of fresh water. Start with the least soiled items first and give each of them a final rinse. Washing loose produce is particularly important, as it tends to have more soil attached to it than prepackaged fruit and vegetables. Know your dates. Sniffing food is not a reliable way of telling whether food is still safe to eat. Some harmful bacteria don’t always change the way foods smell, taste or look. Food with a “use-by” date goes off quite quickly and it can be dangerous to eat after this date.

Food with a “best before” date is longer-lasting. It may not be at its best quality after this date but should be safe to eat. Eggs can be eaten a day or two after their best before date, as long as they are cooked thoroughly until both yolk and white are solid, or if they are used in dishes where they will be fully cooked, such as a cake. Preparing a buffet. Cold items for a buffet should remain covered and in the fridge until the last minute. Don’t keep them out for more than four hours. Food kept out for longer could be open to harmful bacteria if left to get warm at room temperature. Foods which are cooked and intended to be served cold should be cooled as quickly as possible, ideally within one to two hours. You can cool food down faster by separating it into small batches, placing it in a container and placing the container in a shallow dish of cold water. Cool leftovers. Cool leftovers as quickly as possible, ideally within 90 minutes, then cover and refrigerate. Splitting food into smaller portions can help cooling. Use leftovers within two days and reheat until they are steaming hot all the way through. Don’t reheat leftovers more than once. If you want to keep leftovers longer than two days, you can freeze them instead. Cool leftovers as described above before putting them in the freezer. Once defrosted, don’t refreeze the leftovers unless you cook them again ﬁrst. ■ NHS Choices

STORE MEAT ON THE BOTTOM SHELF. Always cover raw meat and store it on the bottom shelf of the fridge, where it can’t touch other foods or drip onto them. COOK FOOD THOROUGHLY. Cook

food thoroughly and check that it’s piping hot all the way through. Make sure poultry, pork, burgers, sausages and kebabs are cooked until steaming hot, with no pink meat inside. KEEP YOUR FRIDGE BELOW 5°C. Keep your fridge temperature below 5°C. By keeping food cold, you stop food poisoning bugs growing. COOL LEFTOVERS QUICKLY. If you have cooked food that you’re not going to eat straight away, cool it as quickly as possible (within 90 minutes) and store it in the fridge or freezer. Use any leftovers from the fridge within two days. RESPECT ‘USE-BY’ DATES. Don’t eat food that’s past its “use-by” date label. These are based on scientific tests that show how quickly harmful bugs can develop in the packaged food. ■ NHS Choices

Ten ways to prevent food poisoning THE UK has more than 850,000 reported cases of people experiencing food poisoning a year, according to the Food Standards Agency (FSA). If you’ve ever had food poisoning, you’ll know how unpleasant it can be, even for a fit and healthy person. Sometimes food poisoning can cause serious illness and even death. Most people assume that food poisoning comes from restaurants, cafes and fast food outlets, but according to the FSA you’re just as likely to get ill from food prepared at home. “People don’t like to admit that the germs might have come from their own home,” says Dr Andrew Wadge, chief scientist at the FSA. But it’s a common myth to think that food poisoning only comes from a dodgy takeaway. Follow these tips to reduce the risk of food poisoning at home. WASH YOUR HANDS. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and hot water and dry them before handling food, after handling raw foods including meat, fish, eggs and vegetables, as well as after touching the bin, going to

the toilet, blowing your nose, or touching animals, including pets. WASH WORKTOPS. Wash worktops before and after preparing food, particularly after they’ve been touched by raw meat, including poultry, raw eggs, fish and vegetables. You don’t need to use antibacterial sprays: hot soapy water is fine. Wash dishcloths. Wash dishcloths and tea towels regularly and let them dry before you use them again. Dirty, damp cloths are the perfect place for bacteria to breed.

USE SEPARATE CHOPPING BOARDS. Use separate chopping boards for raw food and ready-to-eat food. Raw foods can contain harmful bacteria that spreads very easily to anything they touch, including other foods, worktops, chopping boards and knives. KEEP RAW MEAT SEPARATE. It’s especially important to keep raw meat away from ready-to-eat foods such as salad, fruit and bread. This is because these foods won’t be cooked before you eat them, so any bacteria that gets on to the foods won’t be killed.

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ENTERTAINMENT CELEBRITY

October 2014 / Fortnightly – No. 20 • UK & Europe Edition

Dennis Trillo reaps rewards for playing ‘out-of-the-box’ characters DENNIS Trillo may be regarded as one of the country’s most popular leading men but some of his best roles are the ones where he plays against his boy-next-door looks. Starting his career as part of ABSCBN’s Star Circle, he was already a rising matinee idol by the time he transferred to GMA Network. Dennis surprised everyone when he debuted on the big screen in 2004 as a transgender woman in Joel Lamangan’s World War II drama “Aishte Masu 1941: Mahal Kita”. His unforgettable performance resulted in eight acting honors from the country’s top award-giving bodies and established his versatility as an actor. Nine years later, Dennis would again reap similar accolades for his portrayal of a gay architect in the groundbreaking gay-themed GMA soap opera “My Husband’s Lover”. This year, he followed it up with another well-received portrayal, this time as a former cop tapped by his former superior to eliminate suspected

bank robbers in Mike Tuviera’s “The Janitor”. “It’s nice to do out-of-the-box projects from time to time especially this project where my supporting cast includes actors that I’ve always idolized and admired like Richard Gomez and Derek Ramsay,” Dennis told InterAksyon in a recent interview. Based on what is considered as the bloodiest bank heist that took place in an RCBC branch in Cabuyao, Laguna where all hostages were killed, “The Janitor” is a fictionalized account of the events that was also partly inspired by a gangster film character known as “The Cleaner” as portrayed by Harvey Keitel in films like “Pulp Fiction” and “Point of No Return”. “Dennis’ role is the Pinoy interpretation of that character,” director Michael Tuviera pointed out. “As developed with my fellow screenwriter Aloy Adlawan, the film is a totally fictionalized retelling that focuses on the possible effects of that real-life incident.” “Yung ibang mga suspects, mga

dating pulis so ayaw ng ipaalam ng kapulisan sa tao kaya gusto nilang ipa-salvage sa character ko,” Dennis added. In choosing Dennis for the lead role, Direk Mike admits that he has always been a fan of the actor’s work while noting that Dennis was actually the lead star of his very first movie, “Txt”, in 2006. Now 33, the still youthful looking Dennis said he was very happy when Tuviera tapped him for this film. “Ito talaga ang dream project ko, to do an action film of this caliber,” he enthused. At Cinemalaya X where it was an entry in the Directors Showcase section, “The Janitor” racked up five awards for Best Sound, Best Editing, Best Screenplay, Best Supporting Actor for Nicco Manalo and Best Director for Tuviera. Although Dennis narrowly lost the Best Actor plum to Robert Arevalo in Carlitos Siguion Reyna’s “Hari ng Tondo”, Tuviera paid tribute to his lead actor in his acceptance speech during the awards night.

Dennis Trillo in a scene from ‘The Janitor’.

With some critics going as far to comparing “The Janitor” with Erik Matti’s “On The Job”, the film also intends to make the rounds of international film festivals. It is already confirmed for the Fantasporo Film Festival in Portugal for March of next year. Asked why he decided to do “The Janitor” when there is a clamor for him to reprise his performance in a possible Book 2 of “My Husband’s Lover”, Dennis said while he does not discount doing a sequel for his wellloved soap, he also wants to do more different and challenging roles. As for the prospects of reaping awards for “The Janitor” for himself, the actor said awards are not

something he deliberately shoots for when accepting a project. “Kung mangyari man, salamat. Pero hindi ko kasi naging ugali na mag-expect or umasa or magplano ng awards. Yung mga award-giving bodies na ang bahala dun. Mahirap kasi mag-expect lalo na kung hindi matutupad. Basta kaming lahat sa cast and crew, ginagawa lang namin yung ikakaganda ng pelikula,” he assured. Also starring Raymond Bagatsing, Alex Medina, Jerald Napoles, Nicco Manalo, Sunshine Garcia, Ricky Davao, Irma Adlawan and LJ Reyes, “The Janitor” is now showing in theaters nationwide. ■ Edwin P. Sallan / InterAksyon.com / October 11, 2014 / 10:21 AM

Derek apologizes to Angelica, her family, fans for concubinage case

Akihiro Blanco with ‘Poser’ co-stars Chanel Morales and Sam Rodriguez.

Akihiro Blanco happy to reunite with Chanel Morales on ‘Poser’ AKIHIRO Blanco, 19, product of TV5’s reality star search “Artista Academy,” looks like a regular chinito cutie compared to his “AA” batchmates, the telegenic Filipino-Croatian lad Mark Neumann and the very tall and Pinoylooking Vin Abrenica. The challenge is for Akihiro, or Aki for short, to make that Everyman quality work to his advantage by having the “masa” identify with him. In the third installment of Wattpad Presents entitled “Poser,” he plays Brix Torres, the admirer of emerging star Angel Gonzales (played by newcomer Sam Rodriguez, daughter of the late actor Miguel Rodriguez) who unwittingly falls for the latter’s Facebook poser Jammy (Chanel Morales). Wattpad is the home of online novels for Pinoy young adults. Written by Maxine Jiji, “Poser” has close to 400,000 reads and has been turned into a bestselling pocketbook by LIB Creatures Publishing. “Happy ako na nakatrabaho ko ulit

si Chanel at first time ko nakatrabaho si Sam,” reports Akihiro. “Comfortable akong makatrabaho si Chanel kasi ka-love team ko siya from ‘Artista Academy’ days pa.” Aki says that he likes how Chanel has dyed her hair back to jet black. “Kamukha siya ni Selena Gomez ngayon,” he quips. He is, meanwhile, amazed at how the voluble Sam learns her lines quickly. “Sobrang talino niya,” says Aki of Sam Rodriguez. Aware that the first two installments of “Wattpad Presents,” namely “My Tag Boyfriend” and “Mr. Popular Meets Ms. Nobody” both rated well, Akihiro is hopeful that their episode will fare the same way. “Kaya ganado kaming magpromote. Tweet kami nang tweet about it.” Also featuring Helga Krapf, Mhyco Aquino and Victor Silayan, “Wattpad Presents Poser” starts airing Monday at 7:30 PM on TV5 and will run until Friday. ■ Arnel Ramos / InterAksyon.com / October 9, 2014 / 6:37 PM

LESS than 24 hours after his estranged wife ﬁled a concubinage lawsuit against him and Angelica Panganiban, Derek Ramsay took to Twitter and issued this apology to his former girlfriend’s family. Angelica Panganiban, on the other hand, seemed unfazed by this latest development as she instead took to Instagram and posted this photo of her and current boyfriend John Lloyd Cruz. In a News5 report by MJ Marfori shortly after Mary Christine Jolly ﬁled the concubinage case against her husband and former live-in girlfriend, Derek’s camp was quoted as saying, “This move is but another ploy to harass Derek. It is also a continuing effort to try Derek by publicity.” The report also said Angelica had no comment since she had not yet received

a copy of the complaint at press time on Wednesday. In the concubinage complaint that she ﬁled with the Ofﬁce of the City Prosecutor of Parañaque Wednesday afternoon, Mary Christine alleged that Derek and Angelica had been live-in partners for six years. She said this was proven by a tell-all interview with Angelica published in the April 2013 issue of StarStudio magazine where the actress was quoted to have admitted that she lived together with Derek at Marina Heights in Parañaque City, hence, the venue of the complaint. Under Article 334 of the country’s Revised Penal Code, concubinage

is defined as a crime committed by any husband who shall keep a mistress in the conjugal dwelling, or, shall have sexual intercourse, under scandalous circumstances, with a woman who is not his wife, or shall cohabit with her in any other place. Mary Christine’s lawyer, Atty. Argee Guevarra, however, told InterAksyon and other media who covered the filing of the concubinage case, that they would drop the case against Angelica if she is willing to tell the truth about her own experience with Derek. The TV5 actor was also earlier sued by his wife for Republic Act 9262 or Violence Against Women and Children where she also accused the actor of “psychological violence, economic abuse and physical violence”. Derek has denied all these allegations and, after briefly considering settling the case for the sake of their son, was quoted by later reports as saying he was determined to fight the case tooth and nail in court. ■ Edwin P. Sallan /

InterAksyon.com / October 9, 2014 / 5:09 PM

Angelica Panganiban and Derek Ramsay

October 2014 / Fortnightly – No. 20 • UK & Europe Edition

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ENTERTAINMENT CELEBRITY

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GMA Network rules nationwide ratings in September GMA Network grabbed the nationwide ratings lead in September, citing data from the industry’s leading ratings service provider, Nielsen TV Audience Measurement. During the covered period (with the dates of September 21 to 30 based on overnight data), GMA led National Urban Television Audience Measurement (NUTAM) ratings with a 35 percent total day household audience share, higher than ABS-CBN’s 34.1 percent and TV5’s 8.9 percent. GMA ruled over ABS-CBN in the morning and afternoon blocks in NUTAM with 32.6 and 36.2 percent, respectively, ahead of the latter’s 28.9 and 32.4 percent by 3.7 and 3.8 points. GMA bested TV5 across all day parts in NUTAM. “We saw our audience shares increasing further across all time blocks in NUTAM in September,” said GMA Chairman and CEO Felipe L. Gozon. “We are grateful to our viewers for their continued support and are all the more challenged to keep providing them with superior content.”

Similarly, GMA held onto the top post in Urban Luzon and Mega Manila, which account for 77 and 60 percent of the all urban TV households in the country, respectively. In Urban Luzon, GMA recorded an impressive 38.8 percent total day audience, comfortably ahead of ABSCBN’s 29.7 percent by 9.1 points, and of TV5’s 8.2 percent by 30.6 points. GMA also came strongly ahead of competition in Mega Manila with a 39.6 percent audience share, up 12.4 points from ABS-CBN’s 27.2 percent and up 30.8 points from TV5’s 8.8 percent. Moreover, GMA dominated the list of 30 top performing programs

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

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

Lies Love

in NUTAM, Urban Luzon and Mega Manila - with 17, 19 and 21 programs, respectively. Multi-awarded news magazine program Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho (KMJS) retained its number one standing in both the Urban Luzon and Mega Manila lists of top shows, while leading all Kapuso programs in the list for NUTAM. Other ratings drivers (including specials) for the month of September were the recently concluded top-rating drama Niño, weekly drama Magpakailanman,

newly launched primetime soap Strawberry Lane, weeknight romantic-drama My Destiny, GMA’s ﬂagship newscast 24 Oras, weekend programs Celebrity Bluff, Ismol Family, Marian and Pepito Manaloto, and the much talked-about Kapuso drama Ang Dalawang Mrs. Real. GMA subscribes to the Nielsen TV Audience Measurement service, while ABS-CBN is the lone local major TV network that subscribes to Kantar Media, formerly known as TNS. Nielsen data is gathered through a greater number of sampled homes nationwide in comparison to Kantar Media. Incidentally, Super Radyo DZBB,

GMA Network’s ﬂagship radio station, clinched the top spot in Mega Manila for the third consecutive month in August, according to data from Nielsen Media Research. DZBB grabbed the lead in Mega Manila in June 2014 and has since then sustained leadership in the area. DZBB recorded higher total week and weekday ratings compared to other AM stations. In August, DZBB posted a total week audience share of 32.3 percent, ahead of DZMM’s 26.5percent by 5.8 points and of DWWW’s 14.6 percent by 17.7 points. During weekdays, DZBB garnered a 32.3 percent audience share, outscoring DZMM’s 26.8 percent by 5.5 points and DWWW’s 13.1 percent by 19.2 points. ■

Dorfman Theatre Previews from 30 September, press night 13 October, playing until 8 January 2015

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

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October 2014 / Fortnightly – No. 20 • UK & Europe Edition

Lucy Torres-Gomez gives marriage advice to Marian Rivera RICHARD Gomez and Lucy Torres-Gomez are one of the most admired married couples in showbiz. The pair have been together for 16 years and are proud parents to 14-year-old daughter, Juliana. Besides being a guest judge for the Celebrity Showdance segment of Marian, Lucy also had a heart-to-heart talk about wedding preparations and married life. Lucy shared that in preparing for her wedding, Richard gave her a free hand. She chose everything and recalled that their wedding motif was

powder blue and silver. She told the Primetime Queen, “It’s really a fun time for any girl’s life, so namnamin mo talaga. You are in that stage now. Namnamin mo, kasi by the time na ikakasal kayo, panibago ang chapter ng buhay niyo, so you adjust to being a housewife na araw-araw kayo magkasama, pero ang saya lang.” Marian asked Lucy how she deals with all the women who admire her good-looking husband. Lucy answered, “Hindi talaga mawawala iyan, kaya ihanda mo ang sarili mo. I always say kasi na ang

advantage kasi ng lalaki over a girl is, ‘yung lalaki, as they age, as they mature, mas lalo sila gumu-guwapo, while tayong mga babae, we reach a peak and then after that, we have to work at it.” She added, “In terms of nag-asawa ka ng guwapo, isipin mo na lang na sa dami naman ng puwede niyang piliin para maging asawa niya, ikaw ‘yung pinili, ‘di ba?” Was there any point in their relationship that she almost gave up? “Meron din, kasi siyempre 16 years [kami]. Everyday kayo magkasama. I

always say na every couple, hindi lang lovers. You also have to be the best of friends kasi lagi kong sinasabi kay Richard, one day, ‘pag 85 na kami, tapos kulu-kulubot na, ‘pag nawala ‘yung looks, it’s important na something holds you together. That’s the friendship that you have,” stated Lucy. What advice could she give to Marian, who will soon be wed to Dingdong Dantes? “Just be yourself. Make him your

best friend and huwag kayo magtago ng sikreto. I am able to tell Richard everything, siya rin. Ang pundasyon niyo talaga is the time you spend together and the memories you make kasi ‘pag nasanay kayo na lagi kayong busy sa ginagawa niyo individually, hindi niyo na hahanapin. Find time talaga kasi masasanay kayo na hindi kayo laging magkasama,” said Lucy. ■ Samantha Portillo / GMANetwork.com / October 10, 2014 / 6:32 PM

Bakit love ni Mikael Daez ang kaniyang beki fans? ANGAT ang galing ni Kapuso hunk Mikael Daez sa pagpo-portray ng gay role. Makikita sa Ismol Family na kumportable na ang aktor na gumanap bilang closet gay. Kaya maraming mga Kapuso viewers ang pumupuri kay Mikael dahil kuwela ang karakter niya rito na si Bernie. Sa panayam ng GMANetwork.com sa aktor, masarap daw sa pakiramdam na nagagampanan niya ang role na ibinigay sa kanya ng Kapuso network. Pero mas higit na nakaka-inspire ang mga positive comments na kanyang nakukuha sa show galing sa mga Kapuso viewers na sumusubaybay

sa show every week. Aniya, “Happy siyempre kahit anong project ang tanggapin ko there is always a chance na baka hindi magwork and for this one ﬁrst time ko na ‘tong gagawin, ﬁrst time kong ginawa ang gay role, well not exactly gay role but this kind of role kasi si Bernie is more of undecided eh. Undecided closet something so it was a risk.” “Pero it worked out. I’m happy kasi the fans are happy, the producers and the director is happy. So happy.” Dahil sa angking kaguwapuhan at matinding sex appeal, hindi lamang mga babae ang humahanga sa kanya.

Sa katunayan, pantasya rin siya ng mga mareshki ni Mother Lexi sa Dading. Kaya tanong namin sa kanya, kung paano niya hina-handle ang mga gay admirers niya. Sagot ni Mikael, “I love the beki fans. Nakakatuwa sila. Actually sila nga ‘yung nagpapaganda ng newsfeed mo kasi ang dami nilang sinusulat na kung ano-ano. Though sila nga ‘yung maiingay lagi, sila ‘yung mga vocal, sila ‘yung very honest. So para sa akin, I appreciate them.” ■ Aedrianne Acar and Bochic Estrada / GMANetwork.com / October 8, 2014 / 5:24 PM

Miss Universe in 2014 as pageant moved to January Vic Sotto, ninong sa kasal nina NoTHEnew board of the Miss Universe was held in November, while the 2012 success and holding the Miss Universe pageant here will amplify its reputation Dingdong Dantes at Marian Rivera pageant have decided to postpone this edition was held in December.

MAY bagong batch ng ninong at ninang sa kasal sina Marian Rivera at Dingdong Dantes. Kabilang sa kanila ang “Bossing” ng Eat Bulaga na si Vic Sotto. Sa “Chika Minute” report ni Lhar Santiago sa GMA news 24 Oras nitong Martes, sinabing naglaro sa masasayang games ang mga miyembro ng entertainment press sa idinaos na send-off party para sa mag-aasawa nang si Dingdong. Ang Kapuso Primetime King, kitang-kinta na nag-enjoy din. Ginusto raw talaga niyang magkaroon ng ganitong pagtitipon dahil itinuturing niyang malalapit na kaibigan ang press. “Very symbolic din yung party na ‘to dahil it also marks, parang technically, my last party as a single man kasama ninyo [sa press],” anang aktor. May mga bagong batch ng ninong at ninang na raw silang naka-usap ng Kapuso Primetime Queen, at kabilang dito Vic.

year’s competition to January 25, 2015. In a release posted on the pageant’s ofﬁcial website, business mogul Donald Trump and Miss Universe president Paula Shugart announced the change of date, but did not give a reason for the move. Last year’s Miss Universe pageant

“Early last week we saw Dra. Vicki Belo and then kahapon marami rin po kaming napuntahan na ninong at ninang namin. Kasama na rin si Mother Lily, napuntahan na namin kahapon, kanina si Bossing [Vic], umu-oo na rin,” patuloy ni Dingdong. Planado na raw nila ang halos lahat ng aspeto ng kasal at kahit sa mismong wedding day, alam na raw niya ang gagawin niya sa umaga habang hinihintay ang oras. “I plan to sleep and rest because I know that it will be a long day ahead and I’m sure kakailanganin ko lahat ng energy na dapat ibigay dito,” ayon kay Dingdong. ■ FRJ, GMA News / October 7, 2014 / 10:11 PM

The 63rd annual Miss Universe pageant will be held in Doral, Miami, Florida. “In its 11 years of being an established city, Doral has become internationally recognized for its outstanding commercial and industrial accomplishments. Doral is a symbol of

as a world showcase city,” Trump said. Since 1960, the Miss Universe pageant has been held in the Greater Miami area for 15 times, more than any other host city in the world. 2013 Miss Universe Gabriela Isler from Venezuela is expected to crown her successor at the conclusion of the pageant. Meanwhile, netizens continue to root for their country’s candidates despite the pageant being “late.” ■ Bianca Rose Dabu / JST, GMA News / October 8, 2014 / 12:55 PM

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October 2014 / Fortnightly – No. 20 • UK & Europe Edition

PRC calls for volunteers for Ebola duty in West Africa MANILA - Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Chairman Richard Gordon on Saturday called for volunteer-health workers, logistic experts and other professionals who are willing to be deployed to Ebola virus-stricken West Africa. “We have to protect our country, but at the same time we should go into the fray. We must fight the fire where it is happening in West Africa. Learn from it, don’t be afraid of it,” Gordon said, adding that Mattea Bandol, a former financial manager of the PRC, is now active in Sierra Leone as part of the Red Cross response. Gordon said the Philippines must join the international community in stopping the Ebola virus in its tracks by sending volunteers to areas affected by the current outbreak in West Africa. “We have to contain the Ebola virus in those areas, so as to protect our borders. In this day and age of air travel, we have to make sure that we have the necessary mechanisms in place to detect the Ebola virus at our airports, and have prepared isolation facilities when necessary,” he said. “Ebola will come to the Philippines, so the fight against Ebola must be

waged in West Africa, and we must join the battle now so we can learn more about the pandemic. That is our humanitarian duty as Filipinos, for which we are well known throughout the globe,” he added. Gordon assured that the Philippine Red Cross is ready to deploy staff and volunteers after they have undergone intensive training and provided with equipment, in cooperation with the Canadian Red Cross and the International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC). He added that the volunteers be deployed for only a month, and then quarantined for 21 days after completing their tour of duty.

The Red Cross, as a worldwide movement, is engaged in beneﬁciary communication and community engagement, dead body management, burial and disinfection, psychosocial support, contact tracing and surveillance, clinical case management in the areas where the Ebola virus is raging. Gordon said that, since the Philippines is a ‘’beneﬁciary of the world’s generosity during times of great pain and suffering when we had to deal with multiple calamities like typhoon Yolanda and the earthquake that hit Bohol, it is also our duty to help out when the world needs us.” ■ Jet Villa / InterAksyon.com / October 11, 2014 / 5:14 PM

PNP: No bomb plot in Metro Manila THE Philippine National Police on Sunday reiterated that despite the recent arrest in Quezon City of three individuals linked to a terrorist group, no bomb plot has been discovered in Metro Manila. “Wala kaming natatanggap na report ukol sa terrorist bomb plot,” PNP spokesperson Sr. Supt. Wilben Mayor told GMA News Online in a phone interview. However, he added, “PNP continues to gather police intelligence report [on this matter].” The US Embassy in Manila warned its citizens against a possible bomb plot after the arrests were made. The suspects, who were nabbed in Quezon City last week, have been linked to terrorist group Abu Sayyaf and were implicated in the bombing of the Awang airport in Datu Odin Sinsuat in Maguindanao some 11 years ago. For his part, Armed Forces of

the Philippines chief of staff General Gregorio Pio Catapang said that the military is taking the situation seriously. “We take it seriously, especially may naaresto na tayong tatlong suspek. Inaalam natin ‘yung extent and duration, may plano ba talaga sila. We need to get down to the details,” he told reporters in a chance interview in Sulu. Mayor said that law enforcement officers are ready for any situation that may arise. He added that recent bomb threats made against schools in Metro Manila were the work of people who were “exploiting the situation.” Last week, classes were suspended in Miriam College in Quezon City and San Beda in Manila due to separate bomb threats. “We remain cautious against bomb threats,” he said. ■ Rouchelle R. Dinglasan / BM, GMA News / October 12, 2014 / 7:05 PM

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Cocktales: What property bubble? Ayala just sold a P200M penthouse in The Fort AYALA Land executives, barely containing their exuberance, told a bunch of awe-struck young reporters Wednesday that an undisclosed buyer had purchased sight unseen their latest offering, a 1,400-square-meter penthouse unit at The Fort with a P200-million tag. Said to be the most expensive in this part of the world, this paradise will be the crowning glory of the 50-story East Gallery Place when the condominium shall have been built in 2019 (by which time Jojo Binay shall presumably already be in Malacanang and shall have already wrestled that portion of Taguig from the Cayetanos and annexed it to Makati.) The Fort penthouse has eclipsed the biggest, most expensive Ayala penthouse in Makati, also still on the drawing board, at the Two Roxas Triangle beside the shuttered Mandarin hotel. The Two Roxas Triangle penthouse measures a more modest 493 sqm. The unit is listed at P168 million, the latter considered a lucky number among the Chinese since it sounds like “one road of prosperity” in Mandarin. Do not be deceived by the Two Roxas Triangle’s lower price tag, though, as it works out to an eyewatering P340,770/sqm. But back to the East Gallery Place. For the promdi readers

wondering where this new nest for multimillionaires could be, it is that still empty lot at the corner of 11th Avenue and 28th Street, right across Serendra. It has as neighbor on the other side of the intersection the W High Street building of Mindanao carageenan queen Rosalind Wee, where PGA Cars full of gleaming Audis that attract pretty young things is the anchor tenant. Asked about whether the continuing frothiness of the condo prices could lead to another bubble, Ayala Land Premier head Jose Juan Jugo confidently declared: “Our experience is if and when a bubble does come, it won’t be in the luxury segment.” “If the market overheats, it will most likely be in the lower or masshousing segment,” Jugo told our sister publication, BusinessWorld. Translation: The 1 percent of this country are different from poor you and me. For readers too young to remember the 1997 Asian currency crisis, the average price tag of the Pacific Plaza Fort when the turmoil swamped the markets was P30 million, semifurnished, or about $1.1 million then. The Pacific Plaza Fort has identical 300-sqm condos, with two units per floor up to the upper penthouse level.

Its chief and unparalleled advantage: an unobstructed view of the neighboring Manila Golf and Manila Polo clubs and the sweeping vista of Makati’s Ayala Center and Manila beyond. To make up for the rooftop, building and more cement views of the East Gallery Place, Ayala Land Premier loaded up the bi-level penthouse with a private 25-meter lap pool, an owneronly accessible elevator, and, this is not a misprint, a 600-sqm private garden. Given the size of the garden, two Paciﬁc Plaza Fort condo units could easily sink into it, reducing them to poor cousins to this new neighbor on the nearer side of Market! Market! Still, how many P200-million penthouses can Ayala Land Premier realistically move even in these exuberant times? To tap the aspiring 1 percent, the East Gallery Place has wisely widened the condo offerings, with units ranging from 76 sqm pied-a-terre to more substantive 648 sqm spread. The smallest condo cut is priced at P11 million, still a high-enough barrier to prevent even a call center executive or a Japayuki from taking residence and littering the lobby. Despite its average P200,000/sqm pricing, Ayala Land said it had already sold 70 percent of the East Gallery

A rendering of East Gallery Place at The Fort. Image from www.eastgalleryplace.com

Place, with 15 percent of the buyers classified as foreign nationals, chiefly from Singapore and Hong Kong. To continue with the comparison, the current asking prices for a furnished Pacific Plaza Fort unit are now hovering in the P50 million-P52 million vicinity, or about P166,000 sqm. Incidentally, P50 million works out to about $1.1 million, the dollar equivalent 17 years ago when the crisis nearly derailed what was then the Fort’s premiere high-rise development. For those thinking of living the Fort dream, rental prices in the Pacific Plaza Fort are listed anywhere between P200,000 to P230,000 a month. That does not include association dues that

could easily add another P30,000 a month. Utilities could add another P30,000. Did I hear you say, dream on?

Heard

through

the

grapevine.

Rockwell Land has lost the logoinfringement case it filed against taipan Andrew Tan’s Global-Estate Resorts, with the Intellectual Property Office ruling that the six vertical lines of the Rockwell logo could not be mistaken with Global-Estate’s logo of five vertical lines with a sixth diagonal line slashing across them. Besides, the Rockwell and GlobalEstate’s names are written as anchors below their respective logos as additional distinguishing marks, the trademark agency said. ■ Victor C. Agustin / October 10, 2014 / 11:42 AM

Briones slams Cotabato church bombing; Sunday services include solidarity action for victims

CIDG arrests condo-swindler in Cavite A suspected swindler who had allegedly victimized wouldbe condominium unit buyers was arrested in a Philippine National Police operation in Cavite province. Officers from the PNP’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) arrested the suspect, whom the unit called the “condo estafa queen,” at 1:05 p.m. at a fast-food outlet in Bacoor City last Friday. According to the CIDG the suspect was the subject of complaints by at least four buyers of a 77-squaremeter condo unit at 16-B Tower A, Kingswood Condominium, along the Vito Cruz Extension at Makati Avenue, Makati City. Victims, Samuel and Orpha Noveno, had paid the suspect an initial down payment of P794,448.91

for the condo unit, which had a contract price of P3.15 million. Another victim, Aniceto Igrubay, said he was fleeced of P600,000 as down payment for the same condo unit with a contract price of P2 million. Still another complainant, Michael Garcia, paid an initial down payment of P1 million for the condo the suspect allegedly sold for P2.5 million. CIDG detectives said the alleged swindler was caught receiving marked money from Garcia during a sting operation. The suspect is now detained at the Cavite CIDG, and faces criminal charges for large-scale estafa before the Bacoor City Prosecutor’s Office.

■ Joel Locsin / DVM, GMA News / October 12, 2014

/ 10:55 PM

MANILA – Former national treasurer and university professor Leonor Magtolis-Briones has condemned in the strongest possible terms the bombing of a United Church of Christ of the Philippines (UCCP) in Pikit, North Cotabato recently. In a statement posted on her Facebook account, a social media site, Briones, chairman of the Siliman University board of trustees, said that this act of violence and contempt for a Christian church has resulted in the killing of two innocent people and wounding of many people. “I condemn in the strongest terms the senseless bombing of the UCCP church in Pikit, North Cotabato during the midweek prayer service,” Briones said. More than 30 worshippers were gathered inside the church in Pikit Wednesday evening when motorcycleriding attackers ﬁred a grenade from an M-203. The explosion killed Felomina Ferolin, head nurse of the Pagalungan Community Hospital, and teacher Gina Cabilona, 39; and wounded engineer Jeremias Dandan, 60, teacher Virgie Manolid, 63, and businessman Jerome Dandan, 28. There is still no word on the identity of the attackers or their motive.

Briones said she condemned the attack not only as the chairman of Siliman University Board of Trustees - ﬁve of whom are UCCP members including herself - and as president of Manila Concert Choir, whose members come from different Christian denominations including UCCP, but as well as in her role as a Filipino. “In the meantime, I join UCCP in asking our members to stay calm even as we all pray without ceasing for justice and peace to ﬁnally descend on Mindanao,” Briones said. She then urged law enforcement authorities to initiate swift action for the apprehension of those involved in the brutal attack on Christians. “UCCP expects swift action from the authorities and the apprehension of the guilty parties,” she said.

Solidarity action at Sunday services.

File photo of last week’s attack on the UCCP church in Pikit. Photo courtesy of Jeffrey Mendez.

Meanwhile, leaders of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines joined Sunday services today at church where the deadly incident took place. The sect has also “encouraged interfaith, tri-people efforts to build unity, justice and peace, in response to the worship-service bombing,” a statement released Saturday said. The statement said Bishop Hamuel Tequis of the sect’s South East Mindanao Jurisdictional Area will lead the delegation of church leaders. “The UCCP condemns the dastardly act of bombing the UCCP Pikit worship service; and yet, we journey to Pikit with a most important intention to comfort the bereaved and join as a presence of solidarity and support to our church members,” the statement quoted Tequis as saying. “We will be reading messages that have been sent to the UCCP from around the world during Sunday’s worship service in Pikit. Nearby UCCP local churches will join us in Pikit, while UCCP local churches across the Philippines will also pray for the community during their worship services,” he added. “We want to make sure that the members know that many are thinking of them and praying for them during this difﬁcult time.” ■ Ernie

Reyes / InterAksyon.com / October 12, 2014 / 3:10 PM

October 2014 / Fortnightly – No. 20 • UK & Europe Edition

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Local government code, 23 years old, ripe for review as mandated by law - VP Binay MANILA – Despite a mandate for Congress to revisit it every ﬁve years, the 23-year-old Local Government Code of 1991 has never undergone a review, and Vice President Jejomar Binay on Sunday renewed his call for lawmakers to review the Code to make this more relevant to current and future challenges. Binay made the pitch in an address before the 2014 International Conference on Public Administration in Davao City. The review can be done by creating a Joint Executive-Legislative Local Government Reform Co “While each LGU (local government unit) continues to forge ahead with the power of this law fuelling its drive, it may also be wise for us to revisit this law and ensure it remains a living piece of legislation,” stressed the vice president. “Before we commemorate its quarter century of existence, perhaps now is an opportune time to frame it within our current and future challenges and address provisions

that may prove inadequate against the demands our nation will soon face,” he added. In August 2013, Binay wrote Speaker Feliciano Belmonte, Jr. and asked Congress to review the law. “Under Section 521 of the Code, Congress en banc is mandated to review the Local Government Code every five years since its enactment. However, no single congressional review has been undertaken in the last 22 years,” Binay wrote Belmonte. He suggested the creation of the same Joint Executive-Legislative Local Government Reform Commission that can tackle issues in local governance pre-identified in a local government reform agenda, which in turn can be formulated by a technical committee. Provisions ‘overtaken by time’. In his letter to Belmonte, the Vice President had cited several provisions of the Code that he said were already “obsolete and overtaken by time.” Section 17(h), which provides that regional offices of National Departments should be abolished one

year after the approval of the Code, has not really been implemented, Binay said. He added that relevant to this codal provision is the Right Sizing the National Bureaucracy under Executive Order 366. The Vice President cited the need to revisit the various rates of business taxes provided for in Section 143 (Tax on Business) of the Code. Moreover, implementation of Section 399 of the Code, or the Lupon Tagapamayapa, is “very nebulous,” according to him. “With respect to the Barangay Justice System under Presidential Decree 1508, technically, the Lupon Tagapamayapa, which is under the barangay captain, is supposed to be under the supervision of the city and municipal mayors,” he said. “Countrywide, the local chief executives need to provide more support to the Barangay Justice System to make it an effective alternative dispute resolution mechanism, thereby help unclogging cases in the regular judicial courts,” he added.

Finally, Binay said, the validity of Section 450 - which states the prerequisites in the creation of cities - is now put in question in view of the Supreme Court’s 2011 decision upholding the creation of 16 regional cities which do not comply with the provisions of Section 450. Devolution review. “We might also consider revisiting the devolution of public services such as that of health, in light of the difﬁculty that many local

governments still endure in the funding and management of hospitals and health centers,” Binay said in Davao. “It is crucial that we strike the proper balance between empowering our local governments and allowing the national government to intervene when circumstances require it to, so that this issue and ultimately the welfare of our citizens is squarely and thoroughly addressed,” he added. ■ Ernie Reyes / InterAksyon.com / October 12, 2014 / 11:10 PM

PH remains Ebola-free for now; Motorcycle-riding suspected terrorists facing only simple charges MANILA - The Philippine National militant groups in Southeast Asia that embassy issues security alert after arrest PNoy to speak at WHO forum Monday Police (PNP) said over the weekend that have expressed loyalty to the radical of 3 NCR bomb plot suspects. MANILA – Presidential Communications Operations Ofﬁce (PCOO) Secretary Herminio B. Coloma Jr. said on Sunday the Philippines remains free of Ebola Virus Disease after 18 persons suspected to have the virus tested negative of the deadly disease. ”There are 18 cases of suspected Ebola Virus Disease being monitored by the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) and all of them have negative results and because of that, we can say that the Philippines is Ebola-free,” Coloma said in an interview Sunday with Radyo ng Bayan. Asked if President Benigno S. Aquino III will tackle the government’s action plan against Ebola in a World Health Organization (WHO) event set on Monday, Coloma advised the people to wait for the President’s announcement at the Philippines International Convention Center. The PCOO chief said the RITM located in Muntinlupa City has been designated as national referral center for emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases. ”The RITM serves as center for research or testing and it will use the most modern technology from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,” Coloma said. The Department of Health (DOH) continues to strengthen a multisectoral response plan to ﬁght the Ebola virus, he said. In the recent National Ebola Virus Disease Summit in Pasig City, the

An airport quarantine employee mans a thermal scanner at the NAIA in this file photo.

DOH and other stakeholders have come up with plans on how to combat the infectious disease. “First is the interim guidelines for disease surveillance, notiﬁcation and reporting of suspected Ebola Virus Disease cases; secondly, clinical management, including laboratory testing of specimens from suspected EVD cases; and thirdly, infection control,” Coloma said. The Palace ofﬁcial said the government is focusing not only on Ebola but other infectious diseases to make sure that every Filipino will continue to experience good health. Asked if Mr. Aquino’s keynote address at a WHO event at the PICC will discuss the government’s action plan against Ebola, Coloma replied, “I don’t want to preempt what the President would say because we don’t know yet what the President would discuss during the meeting.” “Everything that we need to prepare have already been set up by the DOH to strengthen our defense against Ebola virus and other infectious diseases,” he added. ■ Jelly F.

charges have been ﬁled against three motorcycle riding persons who were arrested by the police in Quezon City last October 5. The three are alleged to be members of the Rajah Solaiman Movement (RSM), a group of radical Filipinos that have converted to Islam as their new religion and suspected to be involved in some deadly bombing incidents in Metro Manila. Facing charges for simple violation of RA 10591, otherwise known as the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act, were Ricardo Ayeras alias Abdul Karim Ayras , Andrescio Valdez alias Sabri Sindayen and Ricky Macapagal alias Abdurahim, Senior Supt. Wilben Mayor, PNP public information chief, said. RSM is believed to have ties with the Abu Sayyaf (ASG) and Jemaah Islamiyah (JI), an Indonesian terror group that is said to be aspiring to setup a Pan Islamic State in Southeast Asia. The AS, JI and RSM were among the

Musico / Philippines News Agency / October 12, 2014 / 9:07 PM

Anti-terrorism exercise. Photo by Mike Gubat

Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) that have taken over huge swaths of territory in the Middle East. Mayor said in a statement that the three suspected terrorists are also facing charges for violation of RA 10054 or Riding without Helmet and of RA 4136, Riding without License, and concealment of true name. The three were arrested during the conduct of OPLAN SITA by elements of Masambong Police Station led by Supt. Pedro Sanchez, Mayor said. They were presented for inquest proceedings upon their arrest last October 5, 2014 and continue to be detained at the lock-up cell of Masambong Police Station. Seized from their possession at the time of their arrest were a hand grenade, suspected falsiﬁed documents and government identiﬁcation cards. Their arrest prompted the US Embassy in Manila to issue a travel advisory warning its citizens of a possible terror attack in the Metro Manila. See: US

The issuance of the US travel advisory coincided with the PNP raising the alert status of its forces from normal alert to heightened alert status. But, Mayor said on Friday that the uptick in the alert status was not connected with the US travel advisory, but part of a protocol for the police and military to raise their alert status whenever the head of state or the President leaves for abroad. President Aquino left for Bali, Indonesia on Thursday to attend a twoday forum on democracy. When sought for comment on the US travel advisory, the police ofﬁcial said that that was part of procedural actions of a foreign government to protect their own citizens. “We also do the same,” Mayor said. A source from the police intelligence community conﬁrmed the status of Ayeras as a member of the RSM, which is believed to have ties with the shadowy Khilafa Islamiya Movement (KIM). Among the deadly attacks in which RSM has been implicated were the bombing of the Superferry cruise ship on February 27, 2004, in which hundreds of people died and scores of others were injured. The group was also suspected to be involved in the Valentines Day bombing in Makati City a year later. KIM was established by a certain Human Abdul Najib aiming to establish an Islamic state in the Philippines. It was blamed for past bombing attacks that include the bombing of a hotel in Cagayan de Oro City last year. ■ Thom

Andrade / InterAksyon.com / October 11, 2014 / 7:12 PM

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PHILIPPINE EMBASSY AROUND THE WORLD

October 2014 / Fortnightly – No. 20 • UK & Europe Edition

Ambassador Lopez urges Hitachi Ltd. to expand in the Philippines AMBASSADOR of the Philippines to Japan Manuel M. Lopez called on Hitachi Ltd., to choose the Philippines as its long-term partner in its future plans in the region. In a speech delivered during Hitachi’s Philippine Committee, a company-wide seminar-forum on the Philippines, Ambassador Lopez outlined the economic gains of the Aquino administration before approximately 60 Hitachi executives and personnel from various divisions and units. He presented the Philippines as a highgrowth country with solid economic fundamentals, an investor-friendly environment, and a young and talented workforce that can help enhance the company’s proﬁtability.

From consumer electronics to industrial-grade machinery and hightechnology devices, Hitachi is a major force in the global electronics industry, and has a signiﬁcant presence in the Philippines through its plants in Subic and Cavite. Citing the electronics giant’s expanding global reach, current presence in the Philippines, and reputation for quality and innovation, Ambassador Lopez remarked that Hitachi has barely scratched the surface of the potential of its relationship with the Philippines. He highlighted the Philippines’ comparative advantages in business process management (BPM), manufacturing, and renewable energy—high-growth areas where

Amb. Lopez with Hitachi executives.

Hitachi can expand its operations in the Philippines. The Ambassador also reiterated the continuing commitment of the Aquino administration to institutionalize governance reforms, upgrade infrastructure, and facilitate doing business. The presentation before the

management and staff of Hitachi Ltd. is part of the Embassy’s continuing advocacy to heighten awareness of the Philippines as an attractive investment site among major Japanese multinational business community in Tokyo. ■ Philippine Embassy Japan / September 30, 2014

US to provide $17.68M to boost Philippine Law Enforcement & Maritime Law Enforcement Capabilities, judicial reforms WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Philippines will be receiving more than $17.68 million in assistance from the United States as part of Washington’s commitment to help Manila enhance its law enforcement and maritime law enforcement capabilities and support justice sector reforms. The Philippine Embassy said the assistance will be provided under Amendment 3 to the 2011 Letter of Agreement on Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement that was signed by Ambassador Jose L. Cuisia, Jr. and Assistant Secretary of State for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement William Brownﬁeld at the Department of State last Thursday. Ambassador Cuisia said the agreement also covers funding to help the Philippines strengthen its capacity to address extrajudicial killings and other human rights cases.

“As early as 2003, the Philippines and the US have been working together to strengthen the institutional capability in the area of narcotics control and law enforcement,” Ambassador Cuisia said, noting that the cooperation has expanded in the past decade to include combatting trafﬁcking in persons, child sex tourism and alleged extrajudicial killings. “Both our countries perceive these challenges as common threats and

NEW YORK – Saying there is still much to be done, Manila today call ed on Washington to approve its request for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to allow undocumented Filipinos in the United States to help the Philippines rebuild much faster from the devastation wreaked by Typhoon Haiyan. In letters to Secretary of State John Kerry and Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson, Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert F. Del Rosario underscored the importance of the

request, saying its approval would not only alleviate the plight of eligible Filipinos in the US but also greatly ease the strain placed in the country’s infrastructure and resources. “I take this opportunity to once again reiterate the Philippine Government’s request for the US Government’s immediate positive consideration of the request.” Secretary Del Rosario said. “Many of my countrymen in the US were affected by Typhoon Haiyan. This humanitarian assistance would provide

we welcome the opportunity to work with the US Government to eliminate these threats that scourge our people,” Ambassador Cuisia added. Ambassador Cuisia said the funds will be used primarily to support the Global Security Contingency Fund Program (GSFP) to prepare the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Philippine Coast Guard to assume increased responsibility for combating terrorism and maintaining internal peace and security in the lands and waters of the southern Philippines. He said the funds will also be used to support the Southeast Asia Maritime Initiative project to assist further development of operational and institutional capabilities of the Coast Guard and PNP Maritime Group. Ambassador Cuisia said the agreement will also cover funding for the Law Enforcement Support Project that seeks to help develop

and institutionalize professional skills training within the PNP and other law enforcement entities as well as the Southeast Asia Regional Maritime Law Enforcement Development Project that seeks to strengthen regional coordination and law enforcement activities concerning maritime issues. “This Agreement will once again prove to be good to both the Philippines and the United States and for the entire Southeast Asia,” said Assistant Secretary Brownﬁeld. “With better enforcement and better ability of the Philippines to police its reefs, islands and other claims, the Agreement will be beneﬁcial to the rest of the world.” Also to be funded is the Justice Sector Reform Project that seeks to assist in institutional reform efforts aimed at strengthening the Philippine criminal justice system and provide professional skills training to the justice sector.

Ambassador Cuisia said the agreement will also provide funding for the Investigating, Prosecuting, and Preventing Extrajudicial Killings Project aimed at enhancing the country’s capacity to address extrajudicial killings and other human rights cases. In 2013, the Department of State and the Department of Defense allocated $40 million for GSCF programs for the Philippines to support capability of the PNP and the Coast Guard in the areas of maritime security, counterterrorism and other law enforcement training. In 2012, a total of $584,000 was allocated to support counternarcotics interdiction and law enforcement at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport and the Clark International Airport under Amendment 2 to the agreement. ■

temporary relief for them from the natural disaster,” he added. Secretary Del Rosario sent the letters, which were dated 22 September 2014, to Secretary Kerry and Secretary Johnson more than a month after the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) told leaders of the FilipinoAmerican Community that the Philippine request to be placed under TPS is still under consideration. Manila formally ﬁled for TPS designation in December, a few weeks after Typhoon Haiyan, one of the most powerful storms in history, devastated the Central Visayas, killing more than 6,000 people and severely affecting more than 1.4 million others in 17 provinces. Secretary Del Rosario said a TPS designation for the Philippines will allow more than 200,000 undocumented Filipinos to stay and work legally in the US for at least 18 months. In previous years, the US granted the same immigration relief to undocumented aliens from El

Salvador, Nicaragua and Haiti after these countries were struck by natural disasters and subsequently placed under TPS. On Wednesday, Secretary Del Rosario met with leaders of the Filipino-American Community led by lawyer J.T. Mallonga, Chair of the National Federation of FilipinoAmerican Associations (NAFFAA) and assured them of the full support of the Philippine Government in pushing the TPS request. “We stand with you on this issue,” Secretary Del Rosario said, adding that the Philippine Embassy in Washington D.C. and the Consulates General in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Honolulu and Guam will continue to work with the FilipinoAmerican Community on the TPS initiative. Secretary Del Rosario also told the Filipino-American Community leaders that he will personally follow up the Philippine request when he meets US ofﬁcials in Washington on Thursday.

In his letters to Secretary Kerry and Secretary Johnson, Secretary Del Rosario said: “In a little over six weeks, the world will observe the ﬁrst year anniversary of Typhoon Haiyan. While the memory of the devastation still lingers in the mind and psyche of the Filipino people, we have not forgotten the unprecedented outpouring of international support for the Philippines.” “We will always remember and cherish the invaluable and immediate assistance provided by the United States in the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan,” Secretary Del Rosario said as he cited the overwhelming and timely response of Washington, which not only provided troops, ships and aircraft but also more than $86 million in assistance. “However, almost one year after the calamity, there is still much to be done. Massive investments and necessary expertise are still necessary to continue the reconstruction work,” Secretary Del Rosario said. ■ Philippine Embassy WDC /

Philippine Embassy WDC / September 30, 2014

US urged to approve PH request for temporary protected status for undocumented Filipinos

Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert F. Del Rosario assures Filipino-American Community leaders that the Philippine Government will continue to push for the approval of the request for Temporary Protected Status for the more than 200,000 undocumented Filipinos in the Unitd States. Philippine Embassy Photo by Elmer G. Cato.

September 24, 2014

NEWS

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October 2014 / Fortnightly – No. 20 • UK & Europe Edition

Transgender woman slay: ‘US Marines presented in police line-up’ A lineup of suspects—all of them US Marines—have been presented for witnesses to identify the person who could be responsible for the killing of a transgender woman in Olongapo City on Saturday, the Philippine National Police in Central Luzon said on Monday. Transgender woman Jeffrey Laude was found dead in an Olongapo City inn over the weekend. She was reported to have been seen with a foreigner before her death. Chief Superintendent Raul Petrasanta, the police regional director in Central Luzon, said local police and the US Naval Criminal Investigative Service conducted a brieﬁng “to give the identity of the suspect.” “Kasalukuyan pa lang brieﬁng with NCIS [representatives] to give the identity of the suspect. We will release it as soon as possible,” Petrasanta said. “Police lineup pa lang pina-identify sa witness and all of them belong to the US Marines,” he said.

A witness said Jeffrey was last seen with an American, who didn’t give his name but who said he came from the “Peleliu ship,” a report on GMA News’ “24 Oras” said. One of the US Navy ships that ﬁgured in a recent joint military exercise in the country is the USS Peleliu. The Olongapo Police said it would request for the custody of the suspect once he was identiﬁed. A source, however, said that the issue of custody may only be brought up if the case would be brought before the courts. Earlier on Monday, the US Embassy in Manila disclosed that the “possible suspect” in the killing may have been a US Marine. A report on “24 Oras” showed that the 26-year-old victim, who also used the the name “Jennifer Ganda,” was found dead inside the toilet of a room at the Celfone Lodge in Olongapo City on Saturday night.

Roxas orders new NCR police commanders to lower crime rate or get replaced INTERIOR and Local Government Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II on Monday warned four newlyappointed police district directors in Metro Manila to lower the crime rate in their operation areas or get replaced. “We are willing to help you but your accountability is the number of crimes. This is your opportunity. Don’t waste it,” Roxas said during his meeting with the new police directors. On Wednesday, Roxas approved the change of leadership in four of Metro Manila’s five police districts, as recommended by the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO). Removed from their posts were district directors Chief Superintendent Rolando Asuncion of the Manila Police District (MPD), Chief Superintendent Edgardo Layon of Northern Police District (NPD), Chief Superintendent Richard Albano of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) and Chief Superintendent Jet Erwin Villacorte of the Southern Police District (SPD). Their replacements are Senior Superintendent Rolando Nana in the MPD, Senior Superintendent Joel Pagdilao in the QCPD, Chief Superintendent Henry Rañola in the NPD and Chief Superintendent Ferdinand Miano in the SPD. Also, 14 station commanders in the NCR (there are 38 police stations in the capital) had also been relieved and replaced over the last three months, as part of the intensified campaign against crime in the metro. “In addressing crime and

criminality, you act as the doctor. Your patient has to get better. Otherwise, either the prescription is wrong, the nurse was not giving the correct prescription, or the doctor has to be replaced,” Roxas told the four new district directors. He also emphasized the importance of implementing a more “deliberate, targeted and programmatic” approach in solving crimes. Among the mechanisms to be used to achieve a more systematic approach in crime prevention and resolution is the new Incident Report Form (IRF). All complainants will be given a copy of the IRF, which is similar to a police report. Previously, the police force was the only one who had a record of the complaint. Roxas said the IRF would put all criminal incidents, no matter how petty, on record. This, in turn, would guide district directors on what strategies to implement in their areas of jurisdiction. He also instructed the district directors to review their data on Most Wanted Persons (MWPs) and go after repeat offenders. “You go for the repeat offenders kasi pag nahuli ninyo yan, yung pangalawa, pangatlong krimen na gagawin nila ay maiiwasan na natin,” Roxas said. As a final reminder, Roxas told the new district directors not to be swayed by political influence, as they did not owe their appointment to the elected mayors in their area. ■

Elizabeth Marcelo / DVM, GMA News / October 13, 2014 / 10:52 PM

The victim was found slumped on the ﬂoor while her face was in the toilet bowl. A room attendant saw her lifeless about an hour after her companion left the lodge. The suspect left the door unlocked. “Meron kaming na-notice na mga injuries especially doon sa mukha niya, sa part ng leeg niya, at sa dibdib kaya possible na inano siya sa toilet bowl, nilunod siya roon,” Chief Inspector Gil Domingo of the Olongapo City Police Station 3 said in a report aired at GMA’s “24 Oras.” A photo grab from a CCTV footage showed the victim with a foreign companion exiting a bar called Ambyanz Night Life. The two walked across the street and checked in at the lodge around 10:55 pm, the television report said. After an hour, Jennifer’s body was found by the room attendant who was supposed to clean the room. Initially, the police speculated that

the suspect’s gender played a role on her killing. Police investigators said two used condoms were found in the bathroom. “Maaring na-ﬁnd out ng suspek

na ‘yung nakuha niyang partner is transgender. Maaring ito ang kanilang pinag-awayan o ito na ‘yung ikina-pikon kaya nagawa niya itong krimen na ito,” Domingo said. ■ Rouchelle R. Dinglasan / NB, GMA News / October 13, 2014 / 9:34 PM

US bars ships from leaving PHL after slay of transgender woman

US Pacific Commander Samuel Locklear has barred American military vessels from leaving the Philippines until the investigation on the alleged killing of a Filipino transgender woman by a US Marine is over, a senior Philippine official said Monday. Transgender woman Jeffrey Laude was found dead in an Olongapo City inn over the weekend. She was reported to have been seen with a foreigner before her death. “I’d like to tell you that the Pacific Commander ordered that no US ships will leave the Philippines until we are done with the investigation,” Commission on the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) Executive Director Eduardo Oban told reporters at the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). The US Embassy in a statement said a US Marine had been identified “as a possible suspect in the ongoing investigation.” “The United States will continue to fully cooperate with Philippine law enforcement authorities in every aspect of the investigation,” it added. According to a report on Marine Corps Times, citing an internal Navy memo, a US Marine has been placed in custody on board the Peleliu in connection with the incident. Filipino and US officials in the Philippines, however, have yet to confirm this.

Chief Superintendent Raul Petrasanta, the regional director of the PNP in Central Luzon, said some of the members of the US Marines have been presented to witnesses in a police lineup. “Police line-up pa lang. Pina-identify sa witness and all of them belong to the US Marines,” Petrasanta said. Jurisdiction. But Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario explained that under the VFA, the Philippines could take custody over a US serviceman if he is accused of committing a heinous crime in the country. “The VFA is very clear that we have jurisdiction. In the normal course of events, the US would have custody, but they would have to produce the suspect for court cases. But in the case of heinous crimes, we could ask them to waive custody and so I suppose it could go in that direction,” he said in an interview. In an event an American servicemen is involved in a crime in the country, the Philippines has the jurisdication over the case, according to the the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA). However, the VFA also said that the custody of the suspect goes to the United States of America. But, the US authorities are mandated to present the suspect in all judicial proceedings. “As embodied in the VFA--it’s under article 5, paragraph 6--the custody of a US serviceman involved in a particular case resides in the US military authorities,” Oban said. The VFA governs the treatment of US servicemen in military units and defense personnel who are in the Philippine territory for short periods for joint military exercises approved by both the Philippine and US governments. American soldiers regularly train with their Filipino counterparts as allowed by the VFA, which entered into

force on May 27, 1999, eight years after the closure of US military bases in the Philippines in 1991. It was negotiated and signed during the time of President Fidel V. Ramos and ratified during President Joseph Estrada’s time. Oban said the suspect was part of the more than 3,500 American troops who took part in joint military exercises in Zambales last month. PHL-US relations. The incident came out in the media months after the Philippines and the US signed a new military pact that will expand the presence and role of American soldiers in the country. The suspected American marine, who was not identified by US and Philippine officials, is the second US soldier to be involved in a criminal act in the country since 2005. Nine years ago, Lance Corporal Daniel Smith was charged and later on convicted for the rape of a Filipino woman. The case, which sparked a diplomatic row between Manila and Washington, was dismissed after the victim reversed her testimony. Laude, 26, was found dead inside the Celzone Lodge in Olongapo City. Initial reports said she was last seen with a foreigner. The DFA said it is closely coordinating with the US government and concerned agencies on the issue. “We have received an initial report on the incident and we note that investigations are ongoing and we are awaiting the results of the investigation,” DFA spokesman Charles Jose told a press briefing. “We are committed to do our part to ensure that justice is served.” Del Rosario, for his part, described the incident as “tragic.” “But we will work together in terms of being able to deliver what’s just,” he said. ■ Michaela Del Callar / KBK/NB, GMA News / October 13, 2014 / 3:32 PM

NEWS

October 2014 / Fortnightly – No. 20 • UK & Europe Edition

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Reversing downward trend: PH needs new politics with a new tax culture at its core

Tax filing at the Bureau of Internal Revenue. File Photo By Krisken Jones

Value Added Tax (VAT) collections declined by a 0.4 percentage point because power transmission was exempted and the 70 percent cap on input VAT crediting was lifted, as well as an overall weakening in tax administration; collections by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) declined by 1.2 percentage points due to lower trade taxes and increased smuggling. It may be true that private individuals should not rely on government to provide everything they need, it is also true that only government can supply much-needed public goods. In fact, it is a duty of government to provide them so a national community cannot only be maintained but could also prosper. It is accepted that one of the major reasons behind poor tax collection is a corrupt bureaucracy— tax collectors and spending agencies alike. The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), Bureau of Customs (BOC), Department of Public Works, and Department of Education regularly appear in the list of most corrupt government agencies. Taxation gaps. A corrupt government will not improve tax compliance among our people. Taxation involves an implicit social contract between a government and its citizens: we pay taxes and government must provide public goods in return. If tax revenues are siphoned into private pockets and the volume and quality of public goods suffers as a result, then citizens will not be so eager to pay their taxes. The situation is not helped any if well-connected persons can get away from paying taxes. It is also well known that our upper classes do not pay their proportionate share of taxes due to legal favors extended by malleable politicians and loopholes courtesy of corrupt tax bureaucrats. For instance, the 14th Congress (2007-10) alone passed 13 revenue-eroding measures costing around 1.1 percent of GDP, and introduced six more which would cost a further 0.5 percent of GDP. Not a single revenue-enhancing measure was passed. The role of Congress is supplemented by that of the investment promotion agencies such as the Board of Incentives, which grant tax incentives to an increasingly large number of businesses, economic sectors, and geographical areas (e.g. special economic zones, eco-zones). Most of the businesses receiving tax incentives are domestic and have an above-average level of profits. UPSE economist Renato Reside estimates these incentives cost the country an estimated 1 to 4 percent of GDP. Abundance of tax incentives for highly profitable firms leads to a high level of horizontal and vertical inequity of the tax system. According to IMF estimates, the Philippines is one of the countries with the highest gap (20 percent) between those businesses benefiting from the most tax incentives and those that do not benefit from any. The tax system is also inequitable across employment categories. According to World Bank

estimates, salaried workers pay around 80 percent of total personal income tax collections although they account for only 40 percent of total noncorporate sector net operating surplus. The selfemployed and professionals pay only 20 percent despite a 60 percent share of total non-corporate sector net operating surplus. Moreover, the actual personal income tax payments of the top 10 percent in terms of income, at an overestimated 1.7 percent of their income, are negligible.

Simultaneous big and small government.

The situation creates the ironical impression that government is too large and intrusive and small at the same time. To salaried workers, the State looms large as it is able to withhold income and impose all kinds of indirect taxes on the products they consume. At the same time, the state is puny, weak and compromised as it fails to provide needed public goods proportionate to tax collections given

the tax exemptions enjoyed by the powerful as well as the leakages caused by corruption. It is quite clear that our country cannot progress and be at par with our neighbors unless taxes are collected and spent properly for the public good. I am not advocating big and intrusive government; I am for a competent government imbued with legitimacy. Tax compliance is a function of the capacity to apply tax laws equitably and equally without any sector or group enjoying all kinds of incentives or able to avoid or underpay taxes due as well as the legitimacy of the collecting government. Legitimacy meanwhile is a product of government’s fulﬁllment of its contractual obligations to provide high quality and adequate public goods. We need a new politics, a developmental politics which has a new tax culture at its core. Tax compliance among our citizens will improve if political leadership improves. This new politics is actually not really new. It is the politics that we desired since we started the Philippine nationbuilding project early in the late 19th century. It is the politics of leadership by example. It is the politics of competence. It is the politics of leaders committed to protect and advance the citizens’ interest ﬁrst. It is the politics of concern. Of course, we cannot rely on the almost non-existent that our political leaders will become saints overnight. In fact, all of us are “sinners”—leaders and citizens alike. Rules and systems matter. New rules must be so designed, adopted, and implemented so we can be saved from our sins and propensities to look only after our self-interests. ■ Prof. Amado M. Mendoza Jr. /

InterAksyon.com / October 6, 2014 / 12:56 PM

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BY several standards, the Philippines has fallen behind her East Asian neighbors and suffer from predictable consequences. It is often said (and bragged) that the per capita income in the Philippines was second only to Japan in the 1950s. Rosa Maria Alonso i Terme, an economist from the World Bank who was also recently a visiting professor at the University of the Philippines School of Economics (UPSE), reported that almost 60 years later, in 2012 it had slipped down the rankings of the region behind all the by-nowdeveloped countries, such as South Korea, Taiwan, and Singapore, and all the upper middle-income countries, such as China, Thailand, and Malaysia. In addition, Vietnam and Indonesia had overtaken the Philippines in education results (Program for International Student Assessment tests), and were fast approaching it in income levels. This drop down the rankings is not unique to the East Asian context. I Terme also observed that the Philippines is now also below the income per capita level of almost all Latin American countries, ranking below Guatemala. The World Bank meanwhile noted that the country also exhibits the highest level of income inequality and the lowest rates of poverty reduction in East Asia during the 1980-2010 period. Even more worrying, despite increasing growth in the 2000s poverty increased steadily from 2003 to 2009 and only registered a statistically insignificant decline from 28.6 to 27.9 percent between 2009 and 2012. The country also exhibits the highest tuberculosis prevalence rate in the region, and infant and maternal mortality rates that are significantly higher than the region’s average. PH economic indicators. At the heart of these failures is the country’s dismal tax effort (the ratio of tax revenues to gross national product, or GNP). Consequently, Filipinos suffer from the poor quality and inadequate supply of public goods ranging from police protection to defense of (claimed) national territory to roads, highways, ports, and airports. Professor i Terme argues that the Philippine state’s performance is key. In particular, fiscal policy and governance failures explain weak accumulation of human capital, especially in the poorest 50 percent of the population, as well as low levels of public and private capital investment. According to the World Bank’s World Development Indicators, all combined, gross fixed capital formation in the Philippines is over 10 percentage points of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) below that of regional comparators, and in 2012 it was 8 points of GDP below its own 1990 level. The Bank’s Public Expenditure Review (PER) finds that the (largely declining) path of public spending since 1997 mirrors that of public revenue. It argues that shortcomings in the size of public spending compared to other countries in the region are at the core of the relative weakness in education, health, and infrastructure outcomes in the Philippines. These gaps are estimated at between 5 and 7 per cent of GDP. Tax effort in the Philippines is very low and has been declining over the past 10 years. By 2011, the tax-to-GDP ratio had fallen to a meager 12.3 percent, 4.6 percentage points below the pre-1997 level and well below the regional average. The decline in 4.6 percentage points in the tax to GDP ratio, according to i Terme, is due to the following: two percentage points are the result of a drop in collections from excise taxes, which are not indexed to inflation; one percentage point has been lost due to a decline in corporate and income taxation (0.5 points each) due to a combination of lower tax rates and increased tax exemptions;

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With 10-M OFWs, PNoy says country at risk of diseases, but mum on sending anti-Ebola team to Africa MANILA – President Benigno Aquino III on Monday underscored the critical challenge the Philippines faces in having 10 million overseas Filipino workers at a time when deadly diseases are rampaging across borders. However, he held off from announcing whether or not the country will send a team of health workers to West Africa, ground zero for the current Ebola outbreak. Keynoting the 65th regional session of the World Health Organization for Western Pacific, Aquino said recent months had shown just how chilling such risks of in-country infection are, when two nurses working in Saudi Arabia went home during the Holy Week, with one even traveling to her home province. This at the time there was a global alert out for the deadly Middle East Respiratory Syndrome-Corona Virus (MERS-COV). Aquino said the nurses arrived when Philippine authorities were alerted by Saudi officials that laboratory tests done while they were still in the Middle East showed one nurse tested positive. The strictest quarantine procedures kicked in, and the tedious contact tracing was done among all passengers who took the same flight with them, Aquino recalled. Luckily, confirmatory

tests showed both nurses were negative, and none of those who had come in contact with them were infected.

Interagency unit on infectious diseases. Soon after that chilling close

call with MERS-COV, Aquinio said he signed an Executive Order creating an inter-agency task force to manage emerging infectious diseases in the country. Still, he said, that episode showed the new challenge facing governments and multilateral organizations like WHO. Department of Health ofﬁcials and other stakeholders in recent days have been in frenzied consultations on the WHO’s earlier request for Manila to send a team of health professionals to the four West African countries now being ravaged by Ebola. As of last weekend, over 4,000 people have been killed in the latest outbreak of Ebola, a viral hemorrhagic disease with a 90-percent mortality rate, and for which there is no vaccine or cure. At Monday’s opening session, WHO ofﬁcials praised Aquino’s administration for pushing through some tough initiatives in public health. In his speech, Aquino alluded to these, saying, “some of our greatest achievements in health care arose from frustrating” circumstances.

He cited: • the effort to provide universal health care, noting how in the past the Philhealth beneﬁts were used by politicians during pre-elections; •the Sin Tax law, which slapped sharp increases in tax on tobacco; initial results show that besides the revenue hike, smoking prevalence among children has decreased from 2008 to 2013; • the RH law, which took Congress more than a decade to pass. Mr. Aquino said the “results of sin tax reform are also promising,” citing the 2013 National Nutrition Survey that showed smoking prevalence among adults 20 years old and above decreased from 31 percent in 2008 to 25.4 percent in 2013; while smoking prevalence among children aged 10 to 19.9 years old decreased from 9.1 percent in 2008 to 6.8 percent in 2013. Thanks to more resources for the health sector, the government has been able to deploy thousands of doctors, nurses, midwives, and community health teams all over the archipelago, the President said: P46.39 billion has been allotted, from 2010 to 2014, to upgrade and rehabilitate public health facilities. Much more needs to be done. He noted that the conditional cash transfer

Poe seeks Senate probe of ISIS recruitment in PH MANILA – Senator Grace Poe recently filed a resolution urging the Senate committee on national defense and security to conduct inquiry, in aid of legislation, regarding the reported recruitment of Filipinos in the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). Poe said the government cannot be passive about reports that the ISIS have been trying to recruit members in the Philippines, and that the terrorist groups in the country have publicly pledged support to the extremist group that established a caliphate in Syria and Iraq, and driven hundreds of thousands from their homes in a bid to stamp them with its brand of brutal interpretation of Islam. It has been accused of the massacre of entire villages, many of them women and children, and beheading many men. “We should investigate the reports that the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) and the Abu Sayaff Group have pledged allegiance to the ISIS as evidence by numerous video clips uploaded to Youtube, which BIFF spokesperson, Abu Misry Mama, even phoned the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and confirmed BIFF’s allegiance to ISIS,” Poe said. Brutal beheading and executions

BIFF leader Abu Misry Mama is seen with followers in this AFP file photo

of various individuals including journalists were circulated in video sharing sites and ISIS uses the same as some sort of “advertisement” regarding their brutal and superior nature, Poe said. In Proposed Senate Resolution No. 928, Poe said the Philippine government has the mandate to protect the State and Filipinos regardless of religion or beliefs. Thus, it should actively prevent the seeds of ISIS’ ideology and teachings from being sown on Philippine soil “and thwart any efforts of said group to influence and/or recruit our Filipino brothers and sisters in any and all parts of the country.” “Now, therefore be it resolved, as it is hereby resolved by the Philippines Senate, to urge the Senate Committee on National Defense and Security

to conduct an inquiry, in aid of legislation, regarding reported recruitment of Filipinos in the ISIS, with the objective of preventing the same, as well as thwarting any activity or plan of said group from prospering in the country, thereby affirming the Philippines’ zero tolerance regarding any act of terrorism, extremism and violence,” Poe said. The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) was earlier reported to have said that the ISIS has begun recruiting not just in the Middle East but also in the West and in Asia, she said. “The Philippines cannot afford to sit idly by while the ISIS continues to end lives of people worldwide in the most inhuman means imaginable,” Poe added. ■ Ernie Reyes / InterAksyon.com / October 12, 2014 / 2:07 PM

President Benigno S. Aquino III (center) graces the 65th Session of the WHO Regional Committee for the Western Pacific at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City on Monday (October 13, 2014). The Philippines hosting of the 65th Session is significant: after 25 years, another Aquino is addressing the regional committee as President. The meeting will tackle important health issues - Emergencies and Disasters, Universal Coverage, Antimicrobial Resistance, Tobacco, Mental Health, among others. Also in photo are Health Secretary Enrique Ona, 64th Session of the Regional Committee chairperson Dr. Leao Talalelie Tuitama, WHO Western Pacific regional director Dr. Shin Young-soo and WHO Geneva executive director Dr. Ian Smith. ©Malacañang Photo Bureau.

program, which covers more than 4 million poor households and homeless families, requires beneficiaries to have children vaccinated and to send pregnant mothers to regular check-ups, among others, for them to receive cash grants. “But more needs to be done,” said the President, in light of new challenges. He cited how Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) affected 44 of 81 provinces, destroying health infrastructure, incapacitating local first responders and sweeping away relief goods and equipment for rescue, etc. “A storm of unprecedented intensity,” typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) affected 44 out of 81 provinces, “destroying critical infrastructure, including communications, power, and our health facilities; incapacitating the local government units and other first responders; and sweeping away prepositioned relief goods, including medicines and equipment. Needless to say: it was something no country ever had to deal with before.” The terrible devastation served, he said, to galvanize everyone into action: from government, to the private sector, to our friends and partners in the international community. “Our own agencies, including the Department of Health, were quick to deploy all necessary equipment and personnel to provide the necessary relief and rescue efforts. Our resources and actions were complemented by those provided by other nations and international organizations. Aid poured in from all over the world, including significant donations of medical supplies and drugs. Our own surgeons and doctors worked alongside foreign medical teams to provide the medical attention and care needed by survivors. I have said it before and I will say it again: the generosity and solidarity that the world displayed was beyond compare.” At the same time, Mr. Aquino said the “worsening effects of climate

change show us a new imperative, in responding to the suffering of others, wherever they may be from: that the time to debate individual commitments is over. Instead, each of us must do everything within our capacities to address the problem at hand. This, I believe, does not apply only to climate change, but also to other sectors, including public health.” The “worsening effects of climate change show us a new imperative,” the President added. He stressed that the new challenge applies not just to climate change but also to public health. Having 10 million OFWs abroad makes such [deadly disease] outbreaks “a matter of concern for us,” he added, noting the 30-60- percent mortality rate of MERS-COV vis-a-vis the reality that over a million OFWs are based in the Middle East. “Among the questions we need to keep asking ourselves are: How can we best educate our countrymen about these outbreaks, without spreading fear and panic? Is there an efﬁcient and safe way to monitor our countrymen’s exposure to diseases, and to repatriate them, while ensuring their health, as well as that of the general populace?” the President continued. Still, he promised, the Philippines will continue to work together with global health authorities in the common effort to deal with diseases that respect no borders. However, he was silent on whether Manila had reached a decision on a pending request for Filipino health workers to join the multinational teams in Africa. Earlier Sunday, Presidential Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said on radio that he did not wish to preempt the President on what the decision would be, and advised listeners to await his speech at Monday’s WHO regional meeting. ■ InterAksyon.com / October 13, 2014 / 11:05 AM

October 2014 / Fortnightly – No. 20 • UK & Europe Edition

NEWS

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Tagalog third most widely spoken foreign language in US homes–study A survey conducted by the United States government showed Tagalog is the third most widely spoken foreign language in American households.

According to the 2013 American Community Survey (ACS) conducted by the US Census Bureau, there are approximately 1.6 million Tagalog

speakers in the US, making it third behind Spanish (38.4 million) and Chinese (three million). Following Tagalog—deﬁned as “the national language of the Philippines—are French (1.3 million), and Korean and Arabic (1.1 million each). Most foreign language speakers are based in California (45 percent), New Mexico (36 percent), and Texas (35 percent). The Center for Immigration Studies (CIS), however, noted that many of those who speak a foreign language at home are not immigrants. “Of the nearly 62 million foreignlanguage speakers, 44 percent (27.2 million) were born in the United States,” it said. It also said the number of people speaking a foreign language in their home has reached a record high of 61.8 million, higher by 2.2 million since 2010. The Commission on Filipino Overseas recorded at least 3.096 million Filipinos residing in the US in its 2012 stock estimate. Of these, 271,000 had an irregular or undocumented status, while 126,625 were temporarily staying in the US for employment. ■ Rie Takumi / KBK, GMA News / October 7, 2014 / 5:00 PM

Despite easing of tension, Pinoys in HK reminded to shun protest venues WHILE noting a gradual easing of tension in Hong Kong, Philippine officials reminded Filipinos there to continue avoiding venues of protests. The Philippine Consulate General in Hong Kong also said it will continue to monitor developments and will issue advisories accordingly. In its advisory posted on its Facebook page late Thursday, the consulate general said the situation in protest areas had “gradually normalized.”

A dialogue had been scheduled at 4 p.m. Friday between the Hong Kong government and student leaders, it said. “Notwithstanding these positive developments, the Consulate reiterates its advice to all Filipinos in Hong Kong SAR to continue avoiding venues of protest actions,” it said. It particularly warned them against going to Central, Admiralty, Causeway Bay and Mongkok. ■ Joel Locsin / LBG, GMA News / October 10, 2014 / 7:41 AM

Snowden and the Pope tipped for ‘wide open’ Nobel peace prize OSLO - The race for the Nobel peace prize, to be announced Friday, has rarely been as open or unpredictable, experts say, with the pope and Edward Snowden tipped as possible winners. Snowden, the former intelligence analyst who revealed the extent of US global eavesdropping, was one of the joint winners of the “alternative Nobel peace prize” last month. A hero to some and a traitor to others, he would be a highly controversial choice for the 878,000-euro ($1.11-million) award. The Pakistani girls’ education campaigner Malala Yousafzai—who

was also a favourite last year—is also said to be in the running along with Pope Francis for his defence of the poor, and a Japanese paciﬁst group. Predicting the winner is even harder than usual this year, as the Nobel committee has received a record 278 candidates, with experts only having the names of those made public by their sponsors to go on. Snowden, a former National Security Agency (NSA) analyst, was proposed by two Norwegian members of parliament. Last month he shared the “alternative” $210,000 Norwegian Right Livelihood Award with The

Congolese doctor Denis Mukwege and Pakistani rights campaigner Malala Yousafzai are tipped as possible winners of the Nobel Peace Prize

Guardian newspaper and human rights and environmental activists. But from his exile in Russia, the US fugitive said during a recent press conference that “it is somewhat unlikely that the Nobel committee would back...” him winning the real Nobel. However, other Russian-based individuals or groups could be a popular choice for the Nobel Committee. “Russia’s policy in Ukraine, annexing Crimea and questioning borders, but also the way the Kremlin treats dissenters cannot be ignored by the Nobel committee,” said Antoine Jacob, author of a history of the Nobel prizes. For the Nobel committee president Thorbjoern Jagland, “sanctioning Moscow would... be a way to prove that he acts independently, since (Jagland) is (also) the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, which counts Russia as a member,” Jacob told AFP. Co-founded by Mikhail Gorbachev in 1993 with part of his peace prize money, the pro-democracy Moscow newspaper Novaya Gazeta has been tipped as a possible laureate. It is one of the few independent media outlets left in Russia and has seen several of its journalists murdered, including Anna Politkovskaya who exposed huge human rights abuses in Chechnya. - Malala ‘still very young’ Kristian Berg Harpviken, director of the Peace Research Institute Oslo

(PRIO), a leading peace prize analyst and one of the few to publish a shortlist, revised his prediction in the last week, putting the peace group Japanese People Who Conserve Article 9—which wants to maintain the Asian country’s anti-war constitution—in ﬁrst place ahead of Malala. “We may have come to think of wars between states as virtually extinct after the end of the Cold War, but events in Ukraine and simmering tensions in East Asia remind us they may reappear, and a return to a principle often hailed in earlier periods of the Peace Prize would be well timed,” he wrote in an online explanation of his choice. Harpviken—who has yet to accurately predict a peace prize winner, despite his expertise—ranked Snowden and Novaya Gazeta in second and third place. Nobeliana.com, a website run by leading Norwegian Nobel historians ranked Malala—who was shot in the head by the Taliban in 2012—as their top candidate ahead of Snowden, for her ﬁght for girls’ right to an education around the world. But the historians noted that, despite the issue of girls’ rights being topical—with the Boko Haram mass kidnapping in Nigeria in April and the ongoing mistreatment of women by the fundamentalist Islamic State group in Syria and Iraq—there were several

Edward Snowden, the fugitive US intelligence agent, was granted political asylum by Russia

reasons to doubt that the committee would nominate her. “She is still very young (17 years), and she has said that she does not deserve the Peace Prize yet. As a Nobel laureate she will be an even greater target for extremist groups,” they wrote. Other favourites, also tipped last year, were Congolese doctor Denis Mukwege who has treated female victims of sexual violence for the last 25 years, and the human rights activist Ales Bialiatski from Belarus, who was released from prison by the Russianbacked dictatorship in June. The bookmakers Paddy Power are banking on Pope Francis for speaking out on poverty, giving him 9/4 odds, far ahead of another candidate who is also believed to have been nominated— Vladimir Putin, a long shot at 50/1. ■ Pierre-Henry Deshayes / AFP / October 8, 2014 / 12:47 PM

SPORTS

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October 2014 / Fortnightly – No. 20 • UK & Europe Edition

FOOTBALL

Azkals steamroll Papua New Guinea, 5-nil, in hastily-assembled friendly THE Philippine national football team manhandled Papua New Guinea, 5-nil, in a friendly match on Sunday at Rizal Memorial Football Stadium. Mark Hartmann scored four goals for the Azkals right in the ﬁrst half, with three in the ﬁrst 14 minutes of the match. Phil Younghusband scored at the 41st minute to add to the Philippine total. It was a hastily-organized friendly, with the announcement of the match coming less than a week before it was played and a few days after the Azkals’ date with Malaysia was canceled. Papua New Guinea also had a scheduled friendly versus Timor Leste

that did not push through. It was the ﬁrst international friendly between the two countries. Before the match, Philippine Football Federation secretary-general Edwin Gastanes was thankful that the friendly was approved by FIFA, AFF, and Oceania Football Federation, under which Papua New Guinea is organized. “It usually takes at least 21 days to a month to arrange friendlies, especially if it is between two countries that are not under the same Federation,” said Gastanes. With the Azkals building up for the

Suzuki Cup, Azkals captain Rob Gier lauded the PFF for moving quickly to organize another match for the squad. Fast arrangements for the match became possible since Papua New Guinea coach Wynton Rufer and Azkals coach Thomas Dooley used

to play against each other in the Bundesliga. “He was always kicking me,” remarked Rufer during the press conference where the two coaches took part in good-natured ribbing. “Organization for the match was 24/7,” Dooley said, adding that he and Rufer had been in contact through e-mail for a couple of years. The two former Bundesliga players also played in a few charity matches since their retirement from playing. Like Dooley, Rufer just started coaching the Kapuls earlier this year, but is based in his native New Zealand. Before the game, he remarked that he

would be seeing about six of his players play in a match for the ﬁrst time. Coming into the match, the Kapuls were ranked 199th in the world according to FIFA. Their highest was 160th in June 2004. The Azkals, meanwhile, came into the match ranked 134th in the world and No. 1 in Southeast Asia. The squad that played versus the Kapuls had a lone ﬂy-in — captain Rob Gier — a far removed situation from as recent as last year, where more than half of the Starting XI were based abroad. ■ Ceres Lina / JST, GMA News / October 12,

2014 / 10:21 PM

BASKETBALL

Yeng Guiao wants House probe of Team Philippines’ poor showing at Asian Games

BASKETBALL

Kiefer Ravena eyes Gilas Pilipinas stint, but wants to bring back title to Ateneo first REIGNING UAAP Season Most Valuable Player Kiefer Ravena wants to don the country’s colors as part of the national basketball team. In an interview on “Unang Balita,” Ravena said he wants to play for Gilas Pilipinas after his UAAP career before joining the pros. “S’yempre nandiyan ‘yung PBA, pero gusto ko muna i-serve ‘yung country ko. Gusto ko mag-Gilas if ever,” the Ateneo star guard said. He previously represented the country as a member of the Sinag Pilipinas team that won gold medals in the 2011 and 2013 Southeast Asian Games.

BASKETBALL

Ravena has one more year of eligibility in collegiate basketball. He earlier vowed to come back next season for Ateneo de Manila University following the Eagles’ loss to National University in the semifinals. “In my final year, gusto ko talagang mag-champion para at least maganda ‘yung maiiwan ko sa Ateneo,” Ravena said. Ravena was part of the Blue Eagles team that bagged the UAAP championship in 2011 and 2012. ■ Marisse Panaligan / JST, GMA News / October 10, 2014 / 2:20 PM

PAMPANGA Rep. Joseller “Yeng” Guiao — former coach of the national team — has asked Congress to probe the dismal performance of the Philippine team in the 17th Asian Games in South Korea, where it placed 22nd out 37 countries. House Resolution 1550, ﬁled by Guiao on Tuesday, calls on the House Committee on Youth and Sports to investigate the measly medal haul of the Philippine delegation to determine how the country can improve preparations for future international sporting events. The Philippine team concluded its Asian Games stint with a single gold medal courtesy of Daniel Caluag in BMX cycling. The country managed to snag another three silver medals and 11 bronze medals in other sports categories. Guiao, who also coaches the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in the PBA, noted the Philippine delegation’s performance has not improved from the previous Asiad games held in China in 2010, where it finished in 17th place. The national team’s finish in the 2014 Asian Games is reportedly its worst in the last 20 years. The lawmaker said the probe may help the country’s sports ofﬁcials determine if there is a need to refocus

attention on sports where Filipinos can truly excel and to improve athletes’ chances of getting more medals in international competitions. “The result of our 2014 Asian Games campaign should be an eye-opener for our sports ofﬁcials on the need to go back to the drawing board to determine what else can be done to improve our performance,” he said. Guiao stressed the need for the government to craft a “clearer and more focused national sports program” to prepare athletes for international sporting events such as the Southeast Asian Games and the Olympics. “There is also a need to review the training and support given our athletes

by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and private sponsors, through their individual National Sports Associations, to ﬁnd out appropriate interventions,” he said. The government also has to ensure that athletes are given enough support to help them in their quest of earning gold medals for the country, Guiao said. Malacañang earlier expressed its disappointment regarding the lackluster performance of the Philippine National Team in the 2014 Asian Games, with Communications Secretary Herminio “Sonny” Coloma Jr. saying the PSC focus on sports where Filipino athletes have a competitive edge. ■ Xianne Arcangel / JDS, GMA News / October 9, 2014 / 7:25 PM

Manila West gets mixed results, barges into 3x3 World Tour quarterﬁnals

THE undersized Manila West bowed to no. 2 team Bucharest in overtime, 15-13, in the FIBA 3X3 World Tour Final on Saturday in Sendai, Japan. Bucharest claimed the top spot of Pool B with the win, but both teams advanced to the quarterﬁnals. Bucharest posted a quick 3-0 run to open the game and controlled the pace most of the match. Bogdan Popescu and Catalin Vlaicu asserted their might on the inside to maintain their lead. Terrence Romeo was benched midgame as he struggled from the ﬁeld for Manila West despite his stellar performance against Sao Paulo. KG Canaleta and Rey Guevarra stepped up in offense, and an outside jumper from

Aldrech Ramos put Filipinos within one, 8-7. Bucharest pulled away again, but the newly-inserted Romeo nailed an outside shot to answer back, 10-9. He was fouled on another jumper attempt, and split his charities to tie the game. Angel Santana seized the lead back for Bucharest, but Canaleta forced another deadlock at 11-all. Things then went sour for Manila West, as the team reached the two-free throw penalty situation, but lucked out on missed charities. Santana made a one from the line, and Vlaicu followed up with a basket to push Bucharest ahead in the endgame. Romeo ﬁnally made an outside shot with two seconds left to tie the game, 13-13.

Santana quickly shot another from the corner, but it did not beat the buzzer and the game was sent into overtime. Vlaicu scored quickly inside, and got fouled to shoot one from the line to put away the game. In the earlier game, Terrence Romeo scored 13 points to eliminate Sau Paulo, 21-17. It was Manila West’s ﬁrst win in the tournament, while Sao Paulo bowed out as the team also lost earlier to Bucharest. The Filipinos opened the game with a 5-0 lead, with Romeo and Aldrech Ramos converting. Sao Paulo countered, but Romeo and Ramos buried consecutive jumpers to give Manila West a 10-3 advantage. Sao Paulo slowly cut the lead to 14-

13, but Ramos and Romeo nailed back to back two-pointers anew to post an 18-13 breather. Romeo pushed Manila West within one point of winning the game with another outside jumper, but Sao Paulo fought back to come close, 20-17.

Romeo dominated the inside and scored a basket to end the game 21-17 with 1:28 left. Manila West is set to face no. 3 team Kranj in the knockout stage on Sunday. ■

Marisse Panaligan / RAF, GMA News / October 11,

2014 / 1:52 PM

October 2014 / Fortnightly – No. 20 • UK & Europe Edition

SPORTS

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BASKETBALL

NCAA: San Beda grabs top seed against Arellano, JRU tops Perpetual for 3rd seed

MORE SPORTS

Floyd Mayweather says his father is totally wrong about him fighting Pacquiao

FLOYD Mayweather is not happy with his father’s recent statement that a fight with Manny Pacquiao will definitely happen down the line. In an interview with fighthype. com, Mayweather was quick to dismiss that a showdown with Pacquiao will definitely happen. He even went as far as saying that his father, who works as his trainer, might end up getting fired for the comments he made. “Well my father is totally wrong (that the Pacquiao fight will definitely happen). Like I said before, we have people constantly being removed from the Mayweather Promotions team, Team Mayweather, and we also have people being removed from The Money Team,” said Mayweather. “I want my dad to be with my

team, but if he continues to go out there and speak on things that he has no knowledge about without communicating with me, then I must get a new trainer.” Mayweather then went on to say that his father Floyd Sr. and Mayweather Promotions CEO, Leonard Ellerbe don’t have a say on his career. Mayweather has two more fights in his Showtime contract but says that he doesn’t know what the future holds for him. “I don’t know who I’m fighting next. I don’t even know if I’m fighting again. Like I told you, a lot of different crazy thoughts go through my mind every day. Sometimes I want to fight, sometimes I don’t want to fight,” told Mayweather. ■ JM Siasat / RAF, GMA News / October 12, 2014 / 11:10 AM

SAN BEDA overpowered a listless Arellano University, 97-69, on Friday to emerge the top seed for the ninth season in row in the 90th NCAA basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan City. Baser Amer sizzled with 21 points, eight of which came in the fourth quarter when the Lions turned a tight game into carnage to arrange a ﬁnal four showdown with the fourth-seeded Perpetual Help Altas on Wednesday at Mall of Asia Arena. The Chiefs fell to No. 2 and will tackle the No. 3 Jose Rizal Bombers, who edged the Altas, 82-79, in overtime earlier, on Wednesday. “We just want to keep the tradition,” said San Beda coach Boyet Fernandez. In the day’s opener, Bernabe Teodoro keyed Jose Rizal’s win as he

came through when his team needed it most. Down by two points with a minute to go, Teodoro drove through heavy traffic and scored to knot the count with 21.7 seconds to go eventually forcing OT. Teodoro then scored five points in OT including the go-ahead triple that helped the Kalentong-based dribblers seal the deal. “This win is important to us because it’s nice to go into the final four with a win,” said Jose Rizal mentor Vergel Meneses.

The Scores: First Game (srs) JRU (82) – Teodoro 16, Paniamogan

15, Abdulwahab 11, Benavides 9, Balagtas 8, Mabulac 8, Sanchez 4, Asuncion 4, Astilla 2, Grospe 2, Manuel

2, Lasquety 1.

UPHSD (79) – Alano 19, Arboleda 17, Baloria 16, Dagangon 10, Gallardo 8, Thompson 5, Oliveria 4, Dizon 0, Ylagan 0, Tamayo 0, Bantayan 0, Lucente 0, Jolangcob 0. Quarters: 16-12, 34-32, 50-55, 7373 (reg), 82-79 (OT). Second Game (srs) San Beda 97 – Amer 21, Adeogun 15, Pascual 14, Sara 10, Dela Cruz 10, Mendoza 9, Koga 7, A. Semerad 6, D. Semerad 5, Tongco 0 Arellano U 69 – Hernandez 11, Agovida 10, Jalalon 8, Holts 8, Cadavis 6, Nichols 5, Caperal 4, Enriquez 4, Ortega 3, Gumaru 2, Salcedo 2, Ciriacruz 2, Pinto 2, Palma 0 Quarters: 18-22; 43-32; 67-56; 9769 ■ Photos by Jeff Venancio / October 10, 2014 / 8:08 PM

sport

Azkals steamroll Kiefer Ravena eyes Yeng Guiao wants Floyd Mayweather Papua New Guinea, Gilas Pilipinas stint, but House probe of Team says his father is 5-nil, in hastily- wants to bring back Philippines’ poor totally wrong about assembled friendly title to Ateneo first showing at Asian Games him fighting Pacquiao Story on page 38

Story on page 38

Mayweather not scared and will more than likely put Pacquiao to sleep, says his father BOXING

Story on page 38 THE much-awaited showdown between poundfor-pound king Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Filipino ring icon Manny Pacquiao is still the talk of the town despite failed negotiations over the years. Mayweather’s out of this world demands prompted many fans and media into thinking that the brash American is reluctant to get inside the ring with Pacquiao. In an interview with ﬁghthype.com, Mayweather’s father and trainer, Floyd Sr. placed on record that his son is not afraid of Pacquiao. “Well, a lot of people are going to say, ‘Floyd was scared of Pacquiao. Floyd was this, that, and the other,’ Floyd is not scared of Pacquiao, man,” said Floyd Sr. who also mentioned in the same interview that Pacquiao versus Mayweather will deﬁnitely happen. “Believe me as I tell you today. Floyd done beat

Story on page 39 [expletive] that done beat Pacquiao. What’s his name? The one that knocked Pacquiao out. Marquez.” Mayweather dominated Pacquiao’s Mexican archrival Juan Manuel Marquez over twelve rounds in 2009. If Floyd Sr. is to assess, Pacquiao will even be an easier ﬁght for his son due to their styles. “How in the hell is he going to beat Floyd when Floyd took Marquez to school. I mean, it’s just going to be the same thing,” told Floyd Sr. “Matter of fact, it’s going to be easier because Pacquiao is tailormade for Floyd. He’s tailormade to eat the right hand all day long.” “You gotta remember, Pacquiao is a southpaw. He’s a southpaw and Floyd is righthanded, so he’ll eat right hands and left hooks all night, and more than likely, he will be going to sleep again. Believe me!” he added. ■ JM Siasat / RAF, GMA News / October 12, 2014 / 11:10 AM