Hello Philippines September 2011 issue

HELLO PHILIPPINES Connecting Global News & Views For The Community

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September / October 2011 Monthly Issue

FRE INSIDE E

Travel News • OFW News • Global & Economy News • Politics News • Current Affairs • Business & Personal Finance • Celebrity, Showbiz & Entertainment News • Horoscopes • Sports News

Volume 2 - Number 09

9/11

www.hello-philippines.com

911memorial.org

Memorial Dedicated on the

The art exhibit scandal at CCP Page 22

10th Anniversary of 9/11

Paris Hilton wears Pacquiao t-shirt Page 32

Page 4

larrygc.com

911research.wtc7.net

Violence contagion spreads

Dengue cases

bbc.co.uk

Page 18

HK Bus Hostage 1st Anniversary Page 14

Page 12

Don’t be a victim of immigration fraud

Page ge 26

cebuexperience.com

Immigration cap

Page 34

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Cover Story

www.hello-philippines.com

September / October 2011 – Monthly Issue • UK & Europe Edition

9/11’s 10th Anniversary Vittorio Hernandez

T

his month, the second Sunday of September will read as 9/11/11. It would be one of those rare dates that have the same day and year.

However, the bigger event this year other than its numerical uniqueness is that the world observes the 10th year anniversary of the bombing of the Twin Towers in New York City, which occurred on September 11, 2001.

9/11 forever changed the world in terms of global security as airports installed additional security measures, air travel became more difficult and the group behind the bombings became the world’s top terrorist.

The four coordinated attacks by the Al Qaeda was preceded by hijacking of four passenger jet airliners. The American Airlines Flight 11 and United Airlines Flight 175, hijacked planes crashed into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, the third jet, AA Flight 77, crashed into the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. and the fourth, UAL Flight 93, was bound for either the Capitol Building or the White House, but crashed at a field near Shanksville in Pennsylvania.

Besides all the passengers of the four ill-fated planes, the crashes killed almost 3,000 victims, plus the 19 hijackers. The 2,753 victims on the World Trade Center were mostly civilians from more than 70 countries. The count includes 343 firefighters, 60 police officers and 8 private emergency medical technicians and paramedics. In the Pentagon crash, 184 people died.

911memorial.org

Although Al Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden initially denied involvement in the attacks, he claimed responsibility for the events in 2004. He said the terror attacks were made as revenge for American support of Israel, US troops’ presence in Saudi Arabia and sanctions imposed on Iraq.

The incidents caused a drastic drop in international flights as air travelers feared being caught by terrorist attacks. As a result, North American air space was closed for several days and when it reopened air travel suffered a 20 percent drop in air travel capacity, while air carriers reported drastic losses.

During the few months after the 9/11 attack, tickets bound for the U.S. were selling below $100, but there were very few takers.

The U.S. government launched the War of Terror, which led to invasion of Afghanistan to decimate the Talibans who were harboring Al Qaeda members.

In May this year, Bin Laden was found and killed, but the threat of terror remains because the Al Qaeda is still active in its terrorist activities.

Among the victims were 18 Filipinos and Fil-Americans living in the U.S. The website legacy.com listed some of the victims including: • Cesar Alviar, 60, of Bloomfield, New Jersey, who worked as an Accountant at Marsh & McLennan, which had offices at the 94th floor of World Trade Center, Tower 1.

• Grace Alegre-Cua, 40, of Glen Rock, NJ, an employee of Chuo Mitsui Trust & Banking Co. • Jayceryll de Chavez, 24, of Carteret, NJ, Assistant to the Portfolio Manager of Fiduciary Trust in Tower 2.

larrygc.com

Almost 3,000 people died from the crash of two airplanes into the Twin Towers and Pentagon and the crash of the four hijacked commercial jets.

larrygc.com

• David Marc Sullins, 30, New York City, NY, a Paramedic who made at least three trips to local hospitals bringing injured people pulled from building, but re-entered the South Tower moments before it collapsed.

• Cecile Caguicla, 55, Boonton, NJ, Assistant Vice President of March & McLennan’s Corporate Accounting Department. Went to Mass that day and returned to her office on the 98th floor of One World Trade Center which was hit by the first hijacked plane.

On the second anniversary of the 9/11 attack, the 15-year-old daughter of Cua, Nicole, was among the 100 pairs of children of 9/11 victims who read the names of their loved ones in a memorial ceremony in New York City.

However, the tradition will be done for the last time on September 11, 2011. The change, however, was met with anger by some family members of the 9/11 victims, who want the rite to be continued as part of the official Ground Zero ceremony.

Rosemary Cain, one of those who insist on keeping the tradition in

memory of her 35-year-old firefighter son, told The Filipino Reporter, “The 9/11 victims are not a number. They all had lives, hopes and dreams, and they deserve to be remembered individually.”

After Bin Laden’s death, families of Filipino 9/11 victims were among those who felt justice was served.

However, Aurora Santos, mother of Rufino Santos III who perished in 9/11 said despite the slaying of Bin Laden by US Navy Seals in Pakistan, it could not bring back the life of her son.

The Santoses, who have since then migrated to Canada, plan to visit Ground Zero on the 10th Anniversary of 9/11.

Pentagon’s damage was cleared and repaired within one year and the Pentagon Memorial was built adjacent to the building. The rebuilding of the 1,776-foot high World Trade Center started in 2002 and is expected to be ready by September 11, 2011. On November 8, 2009, there was a groundbreaking for the Flight 93 National Memorial, with the first phase expected to be unveiled also that day.

911memorial.org

US President Barack Obama will take part in the 10th year anniversary rite at The National September 11 Memorial & Museum at the World Trade Center along with his predecessor President George W. Bush. Both men will be among the past and present government officials who will take part in poetry reading.

The ceremony features also the unveiling of two memorial pools in the footprints of the towers with the names of the victims, including first responders, carved in bronze plaques around the pools’ edges.

Ironically, just two blocks away from Ground Zero, a Muslim community center is being built beside a mosque which is undergoing renovation. The construction has sparked a debate about the propriety of such a construction because of the Islamic links of Al Qaeda. Many Filipinos in the US are among those who oppose the center.

The people behind the center and mosque projects, however, insist they are constructing the two structures to help in the healing of wounds inflicted by the 9/11 attacks. ■

911memorial.org

911memorial.org

Museum Pavilion

Vigils and Gatherings

thegourmetfoodblog.deandeluca.com

Waterfall at the Memorial Quadrant

Memorial Names Parapet 911memorial.org

thegourmetfoodblog.deandeluca.com

Gift of Julie Sweeney Roth in memory of Brian D. Sweeney 911memorial.org

From the ruins of the Twin Towers, two memorials were built and will be inaugurated on the 10th Anniversary of 9/11

Aerial View of Memorial Quadrant

Gift in Memory of Firefighter Jimmy Riches, FDNY

World Trade Center site recovery efforts

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Events Diary

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September / October 2011 – Monthly Issue • UK & Europe Edition

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If you have any general or any enquiries, please kindly send an email to: enquiries@hello-philippines.com If you want your event to be added in our Events Diary, please kindly send an email to: info@hello-philippines.com If you want to get copies of Hello Philippines, please kindly send an email to: distribution@hello-philippines.com

DATE / TIME 3 September 2011 - Saturday 6:30pm

EVENT Hiyas Ng Silangan – Charity & Calendar Fashion Show

VENUE Baden Powell House, 65 – 67 Queens Gate, London SW7 5JS

ORGANISER Candid Productions Limited

CONTACTS / REMARKS Baby Sumang 07883 024 325 Tickets: Adult £12.00 / Child £10.00 (refreshments included)

4 September 2011 - Sunday 11:00am to 1:00pm

Rally & Event for Migrant Domestic Workers

Old Palace Yard opposite House of Lords

Justice for Domestic Workers (J4DW) Kalayaan (Justice for Migrant Domestic Workers) Unite the Union

justice4_dw@yahoo.co.uk / www.kalayaan.org.uk / www.unitetheunion.org

10 September 2011 Saturday 6:00pm to 12:00am 11 September 2011 - Sunday 11:30am to 5:00pm

An Evening of Singing and Dancing with Pilar Pilapil

Pilar Pilapil Foundation

For tickets please call: Ms Pilar Pilapil 07466 670 010 / Ticket £25.00

Bicol Association UK

Julius Maristela, President

11 September 2011 - Sunday 11:45am to 4:00pm

Boat Mass on the River Thames

Philbeach Hall, Philbeach Gardens, Earls Court, London SW5 9EB Westminster Pier, Victoria Embankment, Westminster, London SW1A 2JH Butlers Wharf Pier, Shad Thames, London SE1 2YE

Friends of Penafrancia

Exequel Angulo 07946 510 347 / Edgar Bautista 07824 885 553 / Adela Caguimbal 07717 493 541 / Aida Paningbatan 07703 396 191

17 September 2011 – Saturday 6:00pm to 12:00am

Miss Philippines UK and Mr Philippines UK 2011

Camden Centre, Camden Town Hall, Judd Street, London WC1H 9JE

17 September 2011 Saturday 6:00pm to 12:00am

Filipiniana & Coronation of Mutya and Lakan UK 2011 (Karagan)

Colliers Wood Community centre, Colliers Wood, London SW19 2BY

Mitcham Filipino-British Association (MFBA)

020 8646 4181 / 07894 824 512 / 07766 314 207 / info@mitchampinoy.com / www.mitchampinoy.com / www.mutyaandlakan.co.uk

17 September 2011 Saturday 6:00pm 18 September 2011 - Sunday 2:00pm 18 September 2011 - Sunday 2:00pm

Mega Europe Tour 2011 – Sharon Cuneta with Derek Ramsay

Champagne Suite, Novotel London West, Hammersmith, London W6 8DR Carmelite Priory, 41 Kensington Church Street, London W8 4BB St Mary’s Catholic Church, Cadogan Street, London SW3 2QR

Aguman Kapampangan UK

Zanie Del Mundo 07886 881 432 / SMS with your name 07846 505 776 / 020 8743 7462

Bicol Association UK

Julius Maristela, President

Friends of Penafrancia

Exequel Angulo 07946 510 347 / Edgar Bautista 07824 885 553 / Adela Caguimbal 07717 493 541 / Aida Paningbatan 07703 396 191

18 September 2011 - Sunday 6:00pm

Mega Europe Tour 2011 – Sharon Cuneta with Derek Ramsay

Aguman Kapampangan UK

Vicky 07956 288 862 / Luz 07949 078 266 / Jay 07743 989 752 / Paul 07917 005 330 / Zanie 07733 781 858 / Stella 07506 797 772 – Tickets £10.00 Advance and £12.00 At Door – Smart Dress

Fluvial Procession at Westminster Pier celebrating the Feast of Our Lady of Penafrancia

Holy Mass to celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Penafrancia Church Mass & Induction of Officers – Celebrate the 301st Anniversary of Our Lady of Penafrancia

Eva Macadangdang 07983 593 914 Marlowe Macadangdang 07956 944 520 / mp_uk@yahoo.com

24 September 2011 Saturday 6:00pm to 11:00pm

18 Anniversary and Mrs Philippines UK 2011

Grand Canal Theatre, Grand Canal Square, Docklands, Dublin 2, Ireland Sion Manning RC Girls School, St Charles Square, London W10 6EL

22 to 30 September 2011

The YouLeaD Experience

Manila and Palawan, Philippines

The Philippine Embassy

The Philippine Embassy is extending invitation to all interested overseas Filipino Youth Leaders aged 16-34 years of age to the Commission of Filipinos Overseas (CFO) event.

27 to 29 September 2011

Diaspora to Development: AGlobal Summit of Filipinos in the Diaspora

Manila, Philippines

The Philippine Embassy

The Philippine Embassy is extending invitation to all interested memebrs of the Filipino Community in the UK to the Commission of Filipinos Overseas (CFO) event.

30 September 2011 - Friday 6:00pm to 10:00pm

Launching of Samar Leyte Association Wales UK “Get together party and networking”

Cardiff City, Wales

8 October 2011 - Saturday 1:00pm to 10:00pm

FCN OctoberFest 2011

Kilnamanagh Community Center, Treepark Road, Dublin 24, Ireland

9 October 2011 - Sunday 7:00pm

Diamond in the Rough – The First UK All Pinoy Fighting Event

15 October 2011 - Saturday 6:30pm to 1:00am

BAUK 18th Annual Charity Dinner & Dance

Camden Centre, Camden Town Hall, Judd Street, London WC1H 9JE Marriott London Hotel, Grosvenor Square, London W1K 6JP

22 to 23 October 2011

Birmingham Dive Show

NEC Birmingham

29 October 2011 - Saturday 6:00pm to 3:00am

Miss TG Diamond 2011 (TransGender / Gay Beauty Pageant) and Halloween Ball After Party!

19 November 2011 Saturday 7:30pm 19 to 26 November 2011

The Filipino Cultural Show “Lahing Kayumanggi” Dance Company in Cardiff 2011 Philippine Volcano Climb

Motor Point Arena, Mary Ann Street, Cardiff CF10 2EQ

Lahing Kayumanggi Dance Company

Philippines

Fundraising event of the Scottish Filipino Charity

27 November 2011 - Sunday 6:00pm

Vice Ganda with Jon Avila

Every Sundays

Ssshhh…DYBK?

O2 Apollo Manchester, Stockport Road, Ardwick Green, Manchester M12 6AP The Shadow Lounge, 5 Brewer Street, London W1F 0RF

th

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=158923797508 140 Filipino Community Network (FCN)

Contact: 087 663 016701 www.tri3tar.com

Batangas Association UK (BAUK)

Lorna Fortunado 07776 223 212 / Glo Diaz 07572 795 321 / Ched Gomez 07980 066 209

Buttons Media Annual International Transgender and Gay Beauty Pageant hosted by DIVA

020 8123 0559 / 07919 888 692 / office@buttonsmedia.com / www.misstgdiamond.com

For more details on how to register and itinerary can be found on this link http://www.scottishfilipinocharity.org/?page_id=271 www.ticketmaster.co.uk

DIVA / Ssshhh Dolls

020 8123 0559 / office@buttonsmedia.com / www.dybk.co.uk

FREE LISTING of your events on the Hello Philippines newspaper and if you know of any Events do not hesitate to contact us at all. Please kindly contact us and submit your event via email or text to the following at info@hello-philippines.com / 07577 813 104.

Date of the Event / Time of the Event Title of Event Venue Address (please kindly provide complete address with postcode) Organiser Contact Details Polite Remarks: any other information you want added we will endevour to include it if possible depending on space.

10

HELLO PHILIPPINES

www.hello-philippines.com

Travel News

September / October 2011 – Monthly Issue • UK & Europe Edition

A Vatican Pilgrimage: Faith booster or faith shaker?

Vittorio Hernandez

I

f Muslims have Mecca in Saudi Arabia as the Islamic faith’s ultimate pilgrimage destination, Catholics and Christians have two favourite sites for religious pilgrimages. These are Israel – the birthplace of Jesus Christ – and Vatican City - the seat of the Roman Catholic Church.

However, travel to the Holy Land is riskier because of the decadeslong battle between the Israelis and the rest of the Arab world.

That is why the Vatican City is a safer alternative for many Catholics who want to step into the hallowed grounds and experience its faithenriching environment.

I had the fortune of visiting the Vatican City several times in 2000 when I served as advance party of an international Catholic community that participated in the World Youth Day. Thus, just hours after I arrived in Rome, I immediately hied off to the Vatican City with the advanced party head of a Canadian community to fulfill a dream to see the Holy See. For Pinoys who will have the chance to visit the Vatican City, here are some tips to help maximize your stay in the city.

1. Be properly attired - If you want to be allowed to enter St. Peter’s Basilica, the first rule you must obey is be properly dressed.

Visitors wearing shorts (whether male or female), strapless blouses and slippers are not allowed inside the Basilica.

Women wearing tank tops and sleeveless blouses are advised to wear a coat or sweater on top.

To help guide Pinoys planning to visit the Basilica, consult the posters in Catholic churches when attending mass in the Philippines on the proper attire to wear.

2. Observe proper decorum Because the Basilica also houses several art pieces such as Michaelangelo’s Pieta statue, visitors are advised to take photos of these art pieces discreetly because Mass could also be ongoing during those moments.

3. Wear comfortable shoes - A number of streets in the city are closed to motor vehicles, so be prepared to walk a lot around the 44-hectare city to see the different places of interest. To add to the challenge, a lot of the streets are made of cobbled stones, which would definitely pose a challenge to women wearing high heels.

4. Use public transport - Vatican is accessible by rail and bus. No need to take taxis, which are very expensive not only in the city, but throughout Italy and the rest of Europe. You could take Bus 64, 60 or 40. Bus 60 and 40 stop between Castel Sant’Angelo and Piazza San Pietro, while bus 64 stops south of the piazza and the Basilica. The Basilica and the Vatican Museums are a short walk from these bus stops. For those who will take the Metro subway red line, alight at the Ottaviano station (marked Ottaviano-San Pietro) which is about 10 minutes walk away from Vatican City.

5. Learn a little bit of Italian - Most of the signs are in Italian language, not English, so when moving around the city and navigating your way, carry a pocket EnglishItalian dictionary to help you find and understand directions.

I learned this lesson the hard way when I and another Filipino friend made the mistake of entering the wrong staircase while in the Termini train station and we were fined a hefty 200,000 liras by the Caribeniere (Italian police).

6. Approach our Kababayans for help - You could avoid our experience of being fined for not following directions; if you need guide on how to go around ask Pinoys. A lot of them, who are working as domestic helpers in Rome, hang around the Central train station and are willing to help. They also could speak some Italian and may help translate for you in case you need assistance. My friend and I benefited from their help when we left a printer inside a bus. A female DH helped him recover the printer.

7. Go to the shops along via di Porta for souvenirs - A trip to the Vatican aycalifeclub.com

The Roman Catholic clergy has been criticized for not being a church for the poor.

world-wallpaper.com

The Author (in green t-shirt) visiting the Vatican City hours after arrival in Rome, with a representative from the Canadian WYD Delegation.

Pinoy Delegation at the World Youth Day (WYD) 2000 held in Vatican City. thetruthsoflife.com

Free cold tap water from fountains abound in many major Italian cities such as the Vatican Rome and Milan.

is not complete for the Pinoy faithful without bringing home standard Vatican pasalubong such as blessed rosaries. While there are so many small stalls selling these wares near the St. Peter’s Basilica, the best place where to buy them and other religious items are on via de Porta.

8. Bring an umbrella - If you are afraid of getting sunburned, bring along an umbrella because the summer weather could be deceiving. While the weather is not as humid as in the Philippines and walking around the city may not be as hot compared to Manila, you will notice at the end of the day that your face and arms are already sunburned.

9. Bring an empty water jug Vatican and other major Italian cities such as Milan, Florence and Venice have a lot of water fountains spouting cold and clean drinking water for free to quench your thirst. It is also a very good alternative to canned soda, which are very expensive in the city.

10.

Dine instead at Chinese restaurants - Meals in standard Italian retaurants are quite expensive. One good alternative for tourists on a tight budget is to eat at Chinese restaurants in the city, which are more affordable.

These dining establishments also offer many meals, including the staple rice, which are familiar to Pinoys.

Look for the word “Cinense”

Sistine Chapel - Don’t use flash when taking photos at the Sistine Chapel.

which means Chinese in the Italian language.

11.

Follow museum rules - One of them is that camera flashes are not allowed in some of the museums, particularly when taking photos of The Creation painting on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapels.

12.

Beware of pickpockets Rome and Vatican are notorious for the many gypsy-looking pickpockets on its subways and buses. If any of these gypsyattired people (often carrying babies to distract tourists) approach you, immediately secure your wallets, passports and other important items.

My Vatican trip is one of my most treasured trips overseas.

Aside from it being my first travel abroad, I definitely gained a lot of spiritual blessings with my visit to the Holy See because I got quite close physically to seeing then Pope John Paul II during the WYD celebration, passed through the Jubilee Door and had confession at St. Peter’s Basilica where the priest immediately recognized I was a Pinoy because of my accent.

While many Pinoys, like myself, would surely be blessed by a pilgrimage to Vatican City, some have their Catholic sensibilities shaken because of recent funding scandals some Filipino bishops found themselves in.

A government investigation of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office alleged fund anomaly resulted to reports that some of the bishops have requested for

PCSO funding to purchase utility vehicles, considered luxury cars in the Philippines.

Seven bishops have been named recipients of the PCSO money. One bishop requested for the PCSO funding as a birthday gift.

The act of asking money from a gaming company, while condemning gambling as a sin, is viewed by a growing number of Pinoys as pure hypocrisy. It is even worsened by clergymen being expected to live to their vows of poverty (although it only technically applies to diocesan priests), yet they ask for gambling money to buy luxury vehicles!

Although the bishops have returned the SUVs, some Filipino politicians and celebrities have ridden on the issue and are contributing money to raise P8.2 million to buy new cars for the bishops.

The shaken faith of many Catholics because of the spending pattern of religious leaders is actually felt by many faithful around the world. Now, even the alleged luxurious lifestyles and Vatican’s collection of art pieces are being questioned by some quarters as proof that the modern-day Catholic Church has ceased being a church for the poor.

Whether these controversies are enough to shake one’s faith in the church is a personal question Pinoy Catholics have to deal with – which could be reinforced or questioned further upon experiencing the holy atmosphere and the grandeur at the same time of Vatican City. ■

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12

HELLO PHILIPPINES

www.hello-philippines.com

Special Report

September / October 2011 – Monthly Issue • UK & Europe Edition

Violence contagion spreads Vittorio Hernandez

L

ike Europe’s debt contagion and the Middle East’s political unrest which spread around surrounding nations like a virus, a similar violence contagion is hopping from one country to another.

Protests, demonstrations and other forms of mass action often lead to incidents of violence, although most of these actions are often to show public disagreement with an official policy, law or even against a private company.

Violence becomes inevitable as protesters take over streets and other public places and in the process disrupt the lives of others in the area who may not agree with their cause. To protect the rest of the residents and the state or community, the police often step in to disperse the protest or prevent the dissent from creating chaos.

In the process, demonstrators and security forces clash, leading to violent dispersal operations, abuse of rights from both sides and injuries or deaths to participants and even innocent bystanders.

Since most of these protests are held in commercial centers, establishments and retail outlets often end up damaged.

One recent example of such an event was the riot in Tottenham, North London on August 7, 2011, which eventually spread to other

cities across Britain such as Birminghan, Manchester, Salford, Liverpool, Nottingham and to the Midlands.

The incidence was sparked by the police shooting of 29-year-old Mark Duggan on August 4 when he was ordered by the Metropolitan Police to stop for several times along Ferry Lane, but he did not stop. Four shots were later heard.

A few days after, in protest of the shooting, petrol bombs were thrown at police officers and patrol cars and buildings torched. From a simple demonstration seeking justice for the death of Duggan, chaos followed as the police clashed with the protesters and shops were looted, causing injury initially to 29 people, including 26 police officers.

More than 40 people were arrested and charged with violent disorder, burglary and theft. The London Fire Brigade had to douse 49 fires in Tottenham.

As the rioting and looting spread to other UK cities, British Prime Minister David Cameron ordered the deployment of more than 16,000 police officers to contain the anarchy, which has resulted to damage to different retailers such as Tesco, Currys, Foot Locker, HMV and Body Shop.

The riots brought to fore the government’s plan to cut police funding by £2 billion over the next few years as part of its austerity measures. Police Officers said the budget reduction would lead to less police visibility. Home Office

Secretary Theresa May criticized the police for wrong and weak response to the rioting, which further incensed the officers.

Cameron insisted on pushing through with the cuts, but announced new measures such as granting authorities the discretion to remove the facemasks of people on the street suspected of links to criminal activity, preventing Britons from using social media if these would be used to plot violence, disorder and criminality and giving landlords power to kick out criminals from social housing.

In a bid to show that the coalition government is tough on criminality, stricter sentencing rules were imposed on about 3,000 looters and rioters in terms of longer jail terms and higher fines. A woman in Manchester who received a looted pair of shorts was slapped a 5-month sentence and a 23-yearold student was given a 6-month sentence for stealing £3.50 worth of bottled water from a grocery.

Prison Governors Association Prison Eoin McLennan Murray warned that the tougher sentencing would jampack Britain’s prisons which are already bursting with 88,000 inmates as judges gave 25 percent longer than normal sentences and 70 percent of the convicts were given immediate prison sentences.

There were at least three Filipinos who were injured in the London riots. One was a Filipino who was mauled in by rioters in

Photos taken at The Mall Wood Green Shopping City - Aftermath of the first riot which started on Saturday evening, 6 August 2011.

The London riots, which spread to other cities in Britain, were sparked by the shooting of a motorist by police officers.

Birmingham, another lost a car during the anarchy and Filipina who runs a shop in London said the glass panel of her shop was broken.

The riots created fear in the hearts of Pinoys in Britain.

The London incident happened almost a year after a similar incident happened in Canada when protesters clashed with police over the country’s hosting of the G8 and G20 Conferences in Ottawa and Toronto.

Similar to the London riots, the protests in Canada resulted in violence, damage to commercial establishments and arrest of hundreds of demonstrators.

Lootings were also reported.

In other parts of the world, thousands of protesters in the Middle East and North Africa are injured and arrested as dissenters seek to overthrow the dictatorial regimes in Libya and Syria.

In Spain, the protests in early August were over the weak economy and high unemployment rate, which was at 21.3 percent. Since the joblessness rate was at 44.6 percent for people under 25 years old, majority of the demonstrators in Madrid were youth.

In Chile, students sought reforms in the country’s educational system. Like in other protests,

the riot police had to use tear gas and water cannons to disperse the rallyists.

Such scenes, of course, are not new to Filipinos who lived in Manila in the 1970s and mid-1980s. The student protests in the 1970s were to seek the ouster of then Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos. More than a decade after when Corazon Aquino became president after the EDSA 1 People Power Revolution, the Mendiola Massacre occurred.

Farmers belonging to the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas were violently dispersed on January 22, 1987 while they were marching toward Malacanang to seek genuine agrarian reform. The violent dispersal led to the death of 12 marchers.

More than 20 years after the Mendiola Massacre, the agrarian reform problem remains with another Aquino in Malacanang and Luisita Hacienda tenants still seeking their own piece of land.

By now the furor over the London riots have decreased and peace and order started to be felt in cities in Britain. However, as long as there would be violations of human rights by both protesters and police, violence incidents would continue to take place in different parts of the world as ideals clash, batons swing and petrol bombs fly. ■

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Special Feature

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September / October 2011 – Monthly Issue • UK & Europe Edition

Hong Kong bus hostage taking marks First Year Anniversary Vittorio Hernandez

H

ostage taking is a fairly common crime in the Philippines.

Robbers often take bank employees or depositors as hostages to ensure they would not be fired at by responding policemen. Drunk or desperate men have taken their wives, live-in partners or children as hostages when a domestic problem arises and no apparent solution is found.

However, when a law enforcer is the hostage taker, such an incident is bound to make the headlines. That happened on August 23, 2010, when dismissed Philippine National Police Senior Inspector Rolando Mendoza took hostage a bus with 20 Hong Kong tourists, one HK tour guide and four Filipinos aboard.

The former Western Police District Officer seized the bus while it was leaving Intramuros.

Mendoza, who said he made the desperate move to get his job back, insisted he was unfairly

dismissed and used the incident to draw public attention and get a fair hearing.

The negotiations, which were aired live by Philippine TV stations while the bus was parked in front of Quirino Grandstand, took 10 hours. Mendoza’s brother Gregorio, a policeman also, tried to help with the negotiation, but when authorities arrested Gregorio, Rolando began shooting, which resulted to the death of eight hostages.

The incident raged Hong Kong and Chinese officials, which led to two separate investigations by the Hong Kong and Philippine governments. To retaliate, the Hong Kong government issued a black travel alert.

The Philippine investigation recommended the filing of administrative or criminal charges against 15 individuals and organizations, including Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim. Early this year, President Benigno Aquino III dismissed ombudsman Emilio Gonzales, who handled Mendoza’s appeal of the dismissal case.

The Hong Kong probe concluded that all the eight

hostages were unlawfully killed and blamed the Philippine government’s incompetence for its handling of the crisis. But the investigation did not attribute any criminal or civil liabilities to the Philippine officials.

Although Aquino sent his condolences to the victims and even declared August 25, 2010 as a National Day of Mourning for the bus hostage victims, he refused to apologize for the incident, which was also demanded by family members of the victims. The President insisted that the state was not responsible for the actions of a deranged gunman.

He pointed out that Filipinos in other parts of the world are also affected by similar incidents, grapco.wordpress.com

Rolando Mendoza (C), a disgruntled expoliceman, hangs dead out the bus door after being shot by police in a hostage drama on August 23, 2010

tadonggeniuskuno.wordpress.com

The ill-fated bus carrying 20 tourists from Hong Kong

“(but) we do not blame the entire population. We know that there are criminal elements, there are mentally deranged individuals that pose a threat to anybody regardless of race or country of origin.”

The official policy, though, had some repercussions on the 150,000 Filipino domestic helpers in the Crown Colony, who bore the brunt of Hong Kong’s anger. There are reports that some of the DH were insulted and sent home by their employers, but they were just few.

Lee Ying Chuen, 36, one of the survivors, however appealed in an essay published in a Chineselanguage daily that, “The way to

Aquino visits China for Trade Talks, Mend Ties Vittorio Hernandez

P

hilippine President Benigno Aquino III held his first state visit to China on August 31 to September 3, 2011 for bilateral trade talks. He also used the occasion to mend ties with China broken by the August 23, 2010 bus hostage crisis.

He discussed with top Chinese leaders strengthening cooperation in different fields, particularly business. Aquino met with Chinese President Hu Jintao, Premier Wen Jiabao and Standing Committee Chairperson of the National People’s Congress Wu Bangguo.

With Aquino, was a 300-man

delegation, many of whom were businessmen seeking trade opportunities in China. At the end of the state visit, the Philippines and China inked several trade deals.

The new agreements are expected to boost bilateral trade between the two nations, which reached $27.7 billion in 2010.

With the new deal, bilateral trade is expected to hit $30 billion this year.

Liu Jianchao, Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines, pinpointed enhanced cooperation in mining, agriculture, infrastructure and tourism as among the business segments covered in the discussions.

While in the country, the president also attended three business fora in Beijing, Xiamen and Shanghai.

president.gov.ph

president.gov.ph

P-Noy addresses the Philippines-China Economic and Trade Forum president.gov.ph

president.gov.ph

P-Noy interacts with the crowd who met him during the visit at the Hongjian Village

P-Noy views an Araucaria Tree planted in 1988 by his mother, the late President Corazon C. Aquino during the visit at the Hongjian Village, Jiaomei Township, Longhai City, Zhangzhou Municipality

comfort the souls of the dead is not to blame the innocent Filipina domestic helpers and the people of the Philippines. Our focus should be clearly on the Philippine government… to build a more trustworthy government and a more just society.”

Hopefully, one step toward that direction is the formation by the PNP of an elite action force that would handle crisis situations similar to what happened a year ago. The force would be made up of manpower from the Special Action Force, Maritime Group and Aviation Security Group that went through an inter-operability training for six weeks at Fort Sto. Domingo in Silang, Cavite. ■

Among the government officials in the party were Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario, Trade Secretary Gregory Domingo, Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, Transportation Secretary Mar Roxas and Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda.

The discussions included controversial issues such as the Spratly Islands and changes to the

P-Noy is welcomed by Badaling Special Administrative Center Deputy Director Rong Xinfeng upon arrival for his visit to the Great Wall of China, Badaling Section

Northrail contract. Manila sought a renegotiation of the terms of the railway project which would like Manila to Clark. The project was initiated during the previous administration and has been delayed and costs have escalated.

• The six agreements the two countries signed were: • Joint Statement on the South China Sea • Philippine-China Five-Year Development Program for Trade and Economic Cooperation • Memorandum of Understanding Between the PCOO and State Council Information Office on Friendly Exchanges • Memorandum of Understanding on Sports, Cooperation • Implementing Program on the Memorandum of Understanding on Tourism and

• Exchange of Letters on the Executive Program of the Philippine-China Cultural Agreement.

The bus hostage crisis was no longer discussed since Aquino had made his stand regarding Hong Kong’s demand for an apology.

One year after the incident, healing appears to have started since the Philippines and Hong Kong Special Administrative Region are finalizing arrangements to implement the Transfer of Sentences Persons Agreement that would cover nationals from both nations serving prison sentences for various offences.

Ahead of the signing of the deal, several Filipinos in Hong Kong jails have applied for transfer to Philippine prisons. Hong Kong authorities have agreed in principle on eight applications. ■

16

HELLO PHILIPPINES

www.hello-philippines.com

Special Report

September / October 2011 – Monthly Issue • UK & Europe Edition

Marcos Hero Burial Acid Test of Aquino’s Administration Esther C. Tanquintic-Misa

I

n as much as he would want to be fair to all concerned sectors, Philippine President Benigno Simeon Cojuangco Aquino III could be very much aware he is threading hot waters on the Marcos hero burial debacle.

Currently in the hot seat, Aquino knows no balancing of the scales of justice would be sufficient to validate whatever decision he will arrive at on this subject.

Aquino recognizes that personal vendetta cannot be the exclusive reason should he decline the former late president a hero’s burial, aware that Marcos in his early years of leadership was instrumental in many wide-ranging programs of infrastructure development and economic reforms in the country.

The current Philippine President’s family is themselves a victim of Marcos’ iron hand when the latter ordered the killing of Senator Benigno S. Aquino II, PNoy’s father, on August 21, 1983.

Thirty-nine years ago, the Philippines was placed under military rule. Twenty-five years ago, the Filipino people reclaimed independence and democracy through a peaceful People Power revolution. Three years after, the perpetrator of the country’s second martial law era – Ferdinand Marcos – died while in exile. In Filipino

teleserye fashion nowadays and of old Hollywood films, the story should have ended there. Stop.

Period. Roll credits.

But old wounds die hard.

And unfortunately, though quite unintentionally, it was the seat of government leadership – Malacañang – that opened Pandora’s Box. The nation’s emotional floodgates over Marcos’ decadeold martial rule reignited recently when President Aquino asked Vice President Jejomar Binay, upon the request of Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr., to study the possibility of burying the late strongman’s remains at the Libingan ng mga Bayani (Heroes Cemetery).

Immediately, a wave of disgust enveloped the country.

The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) right away took to the forefront to air its strong opposition to the hero burial plan.

“Ferdinand E. Marcos does not deserve to be buried in the Libingan ng mga Bayani. His human rights record does not deserve the inspiration and emulation of this generation and of generations still unborn.” the CHR stressed in a fourpage position paper dated June 23.

Although no official record has been made, human rights violation committed during the Marcos’ led martial law could be anywhere from 35,000 – 120,000.

Apart from these, the late older

hot-men-identity.blogspot.com

hot-men-identity.blogspot.com

ph.news.yahoo.com hot-men-identity.blogspot.com

The Marcos family is already amenable to burying the late President Ferdinand Marcos in Ilocos Norte

Former Philippine first lady Imelda Marcos allvoices.com

President Benigno Aquino III asked Binay to review a proposal to bury Marcos in the Libingan ng mga Bayani.

Marcos reportedly stole US$100 billion from the country’s coffers during his 21-year rule from 1965 to 1986.

Vice President Binay, after conducting series of talks with various sectors, had recommended for the remains of former President Marcos to be given military honours and buried in Ilocos Norte.

Binay had said that he tried to come up with a balanced proposal that he hopes will be favourable to everyone.

But as with any television drama series, the Marcos hero burial issue has also its fair share of supporters. About 200 members of Congress are open to giving the former dictator a hero’s burial at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.

Sorsogon Representative Salvador Escudero III, who authored House Bill 1135 or the resolution pushing for the late strongman’s burial at the heroes’ cemetery, explained Marcos merits the honour of a hero burial since he was a bemedalled World War 2 veteran and a former Philippine President.

Some individuals, anti-Marcos activists at the height of his dictatorship, had expressed that the issue had carried on long enough, and that it is high time to put both the person and his legacy to rest.

“Allowing Marcos the final rite of burial could reflect that the Filipinos had already healed from its dark past.” said Escudero, adding that it is already high time to bury the hatchet and forgive the dark past that the late dictator had incurred to some of its citizens.

As for the family of the late dictator, the fact that President Aquino had listened to their request and even created a committee to look into the probability of their appeal is already a big thing for them.

“We are happy that after 22 years, the burial is finally being talked about. With prayer and compassion, my family and the country will hopefully find a closure.” said Marcos’ eldest daughter Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos.

“Nagpapasalamat kami kay President Aquino dahil siya lang ang nag-seryoso sa pagpalibing sa papa ko.” she added.

“The family has already agreed that Ilocos Norte is the burial place. The issue of a hero’s burial at the Heroes Cemetery has become moot and academic.”

Vice President Binay said.

However, it is not clear if the Marcos family has finally accepted the proposal as Marcos’ widow, Former First Lady and incumbent Ilocos Norte Representative Imelda Marcos, has yet to issue a formal statement about their family’s acceptance.

The former dictator died in exile in Hawaii in 1989 and the government had allowed his remains to be returned to the Philippines in 1992. The Marcos family kept his remains inside a glass box in an air-conditioned crypt in the family mausoleum in Batac City. However, the family is considering Sarrat, the former dictator’s birthplace, to be his final resting place. ■

18

HELLO PHILIPPINES

www.hello-philippines.com

HP News

Russians first to launch space hotel in 2016 Berlin Domingo

S

pace tourism is set to happen five years from now as Russian firm Orbital Technologies announces plans to launch a space hotel in 2016.

Reports say it will float 250 miles above Earth.

Dubbed the Commercial Space Station, the space hotel will service visiting tourists, scientists from other countries as well as private industries wanting to conduct experiments in space. The orbital nest will likewise accommodate overflow from the International Space Station in times of maintenance and emergencies.

Still according to Orbital Technologies, what they intend to do is to build a homey capsule that can hold a maximum of 7 passengers. The company is also planning to include other services such as flying tourists to the dark side of the moon in 2016 and eventually to Mars by 2030.

To follow the same orbit as the International Space Station, the Commercial Space Station “will provide a unique destination for commercial, state and private spaceflight exploration

mission.” says Sergey Kostenko, Chief Executive Officer of Orbital Technologies.

According to Kostenko, space tourism is a real and fast-growing business and whoever builds the first new spaceship now is sure to reap big dividends.

The Russian company has since commissioned RSC Energia to assemble the space hotel. RSC Energia is the same company that built the Soyuz passenger capsules and the Progress cargo ships used by the Russian space agency. And these same aircraft are eyed to shuttle guests and hotel crew to the cosmic nest.

A five-night stay is reportedly pegged at $1million with a promise of real stellar view from its aircraft window. Cost still does not include the transport service to and from the space hotel. This early, Orbital Technologies claims to have booked a number of customers already, most of which are for medical research work, while others are purely for enjoyment.

Despite stiff competition from rival U.S. private sector firms for contracts with NASA, the project’s proponents believe such an ambitious goal is still very much attainable. As of this writing, the project is already at the design stage. ■

alicebecomes.blogspot.com

September / October 2011 – Monthly Issue • UK & Europe Edition

US Lawmakers’ Debate on Renewable Energy Berlin Domingo

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he ongoing debate on renewable energy among lawmakers in the United States (US) is further spawned by the national energy policy of President Barack Obama to cut the dependence of the US on oil imports through the discovery and production of more domestic oil and through the substitution of cleaner alternative fuels for oil.

Being cognizant of the insufficiency of the oil reserves of the US to meet the country’s long term needs, President rff.org Obama acknowledged that the US would have to quickly discover and produce cleaner, renewable sources of energy with less of the carbon pollution that threatens the climate. The Obama Administrations’ energy policy, thus, spurred debates among lawmakers on the potentials and efficiency of renewable energy as a substitute for oil.

Renewable energy is derived from natural sources, has no restricted supply and may be used on a repeated basis. Sources of renewable energy include sunlight, wind, rain, tides and geothermal heat. President Obama specifically identified natural gas and renewable biofuels as options for oil substitutes. Among the arguments advanced in favour of natural gas is that made by Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, who stated that natural gas is clean-burning and abundant, well understood and scalable; and that it is clearly in the best interest of the US to ensure that it maintains a stable and affordable supply going forward. Criticisms to natural gas policies, on the other hand, include concerns on extractions through fracking, as well as costs and availability.

Another substitute for oil that holds tremendous promise, according to President Obama, is renewable biofuels – not just ethanol, but biofuels made from switchgrass, wood chips and biomass. The prospect of using biofuels as a substitute for oil triggered the food vs. fuel debate. This debate raises concerns on the displacement of farm crops to give way to the production of biofuels or energy crops to the prejudice of food supply. ■

Dengue cases still on the rise – DOH Blessie Adlaon

Anti-gravity yoga craze hits the Big Apple Blessie Adlaon

I

n New York City, there is a new hype that’s rapidly gaining intense popularity both in fitness and fashion: anti-gravity yoga.

Anti-gravity yoga is a fitness regimen that focuses on relieving compressed joints and realigning the whole body.

It is called anti-gravity not because it tries to teach people to float, as some may think when they hear its name for the first time, but because it is performed while the practitioner is artificially suspended in mid-air, like air ballet.

Originally created for gymnasts and athletes, the technique has been modified for the everyday person. Using elements of aerial acrobatics, Pilates, dance and calisthenics, anti-gravity yoga is said to be beneficial for preventing and rehabilitating not just serious injuries but also daily wear and tear.

This unique form of yoga was conceptualized and designed by Christopher Harrison, a world-class gymnast and professional dancer. Harrison, who was introduced to yoga while traveling in India in the early 1990s, realized that yoga is the key to the healing of his body, which had suffered from the daily grind of his dancing and gymnastics career.

Combining his practice of yoga with his expertise as a choreographer of aerial performances, Christopher created anti-gravity yoga as a fusion technique.

During the performance of anti-gravity yoga, you are held aloft by a hammock – a strong fabric attached to the ceiling in two points – that supports your entire body, acting like a trapeze or swing. While suspended, you learn to balance and hold yoga poses that were developed for your body’s healing.

By doing anti-gravity yoga, practitioners are expected to build both cardiovascular and muscular strength, increase their flexibility and joint mobility, and decompress their spinal vertebrae. ■

Cups and weeds

Responding to the need for a more intensive drive against the disease, the he Department of Health has Department of Science and Technology recorded 45,500 cases of dengue (DOST) has stepped up its distribution since early this year, with around of its newly invented mosquito traps to 270 deaths. The fatalities are mostly combat the egg-laying mosquitoes.

Each set, distributed mostly to schools infants and children from dengue and hard-hit communities, is made hotspots, which include Metro up of a black cup filled with Manila and the provinces a mosquito-attracting of Bataan, Ilocos Sur, ovicidal and larvicidal Pampanga, La Union solution and a lawanit and Pangasinan. wood-paddle where While records the mosquitoes can show a drop in lay their ill-fated cases across eggs. the country The trap has compared to been proven to the 465 figure be very effective in last year, a 73% curbing mosquito increase in Luzon populations by wiping has alarmed the vaccinenewsdaily.com out their larvae and eggs. medical community.

“This mosquito trap is Malabon, for instance, practical, inexpensive and easy to suffers a 90% spike – more than 500 cases of dengue have already been handle. It’s not rocket science, but it can save lives.” said DOST Secretary Mario reported, compared to 259 last year.

DOH Metro Manila Director, Dr. Eduardo Montejo.

The DOST is also studying the medical Janairo, said that among all Metro Manila cities, the highest number of dengue properties of the tawa-tawa plant. cases are in Quezon City. Next in rank are The weed, often growing in sidewalks and vacant lots, is said to prevent the Caloocan and Manila.

Only the city of Marikina recorded a dehydration of dengue patients.

After hemorrhage, dehydration is the decrease in dengue cases after its local most common cause of dengue deaths. ■ government intensified its clean-up drive.

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HELLO PHILIPPINES

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Current Affairs

September / October 2011 – Monthly Issue • UK & Europe Edition

The Art Exhibit Scandal at CCP Vittorio Hernandez

H

is name means cross in the Spanish language and Filipino artist Mideo Cruz has stirred a hornet’s nest in the Philippines with his recent Poleteismo exhibit at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP).

The so-called offensive art piece entitled “Relic of My Nation” was a mixed media installation of a crucifix interspersed with phallic symbols. Cruz explained that he gave that title to the installation because the Philippines was named after a Spanish monarch, King Philip, who had a great passion for relics.

The issue divided Filipinos into pro- and anti-groups. It became an extended argument of the freedom of expression versus offending the sensibilities of Catholics, who comprise the majority of the nation.

Mideo’s work was part of a 32-artist exhibit at the CCP titled “Kulo” which means boil.

The exhibit literally caused blood pressures to rise and temperatures to boil after the CCP cancelled the exhibit ahead of its several weeks run until August 21 in response to protests and threats it received from the public.

Although apologetic for the furor his pieces caused, Cruz – a Catholic – was insistent that his obras were meant to challenge the Filipino mind to think. He said he was not into painting beautiful landscapes or colourful flowers, but like many Filipinos, is fond of collecting relics.

Cruz said that he collects relics, including religious icons, to be used as materials for his collages, assemblage,

installation and other creative projects. He stressed that the controversial cross did not have Jesus Christ’s image, but has a convex glass which means the cross reflects the image of the viewer and the community as a whole. Cruz explained that his artworks are tools to re-examine public morals and ideals, but he is leaving it to the viewers’ logical decision-making to reject or accept the message his pieces convey.

Following the controversy, charges were filed against CCP officials and Cruz for violation of Article 201 of the Revised Penal Code on obscene exhibitions and indecent shows.

Several art groups such as the Surreal Arts Club, Edge Zone Art Center, Poly-artistic and Intermedial Association ARKA immediately came to Cruz’s defense.

Faculty members of the Department of Art Studies of the University of the Philippines asked the CCP to reopen the “Kulo” exhibit. In a statement, the faculty pointed out that, “While freedom of expression and artistic license are not absolute and must be guided with reflexivity… the work in question is art and while it is a site of struggle over meanings and definitions, it is protected as expression in a free society.”

Religious groups and even a prominent Filipino artist and writer insisted that Cruz’s work is not an art, but a blasphemy.

Fr. Sionil Jose, in a newspaper commentary, wrote that had Cruz brought his piece to Jose’s La Solidaridad art gallery (which opened in 1967 and closed in 1977), he would have rejected the controversial artwork because it is “an immature and juvenile attempt at caricature.”

Cebu Archbishop and Catholic Bishops Conference of the

Different art groups marched around the CCP to denounce the closure of the Kulo Art Exhibit.

Philippines Vice President Jose Palma said that while human freedom is a gift of God and absolute, it has responsibilities to the moral law of God, the rights of others and the common good. For an art to be just or moral, the artistic expression must respect the religious symbols of different religions.

However, while the church condemns the exhibition of the images they consider blasphemous, it does not condemn the artist because he may not be aware “of the objective immorality of his action.” the Bishop said.

The controversy generated by the exhibit led to the formation of the group Palayain ang Sining, whose main purpose is to uphold the right of freedom of expression. The group bewailed that the ruckus created by the exhibit exposed the real state of democracy in the country wherein “clerics impose on state affairs” and claim authority of doctrine over minds and bodies.

On August 21, which was the original closing date of the exhibit, art groups gathered at the CCP and held a symbolic march and three hours of presentation to continue the protest. Art groups such as Kabataang Artista para sa Tunay na Kalayaan, Filipino Freethinkers and the Concerned Artists of the Philippines turned up to support the protest action.

To show their support for freedom for the arts were prominent artists such as national artist Bienvenido Lumbera, stage director and actor Soxy Topacio, filmmaker Carlitos Siguion-Reyna, icon Juana Change and CCP officials Chris Millado and Karen Flores.

Kenneth Keng of the Filipino Freethinkers stressed that even the UN recently upheld that blasphemy is a human right.

Source: Mideo Cruz Facebook Source: Mideo Cruz Facebook

Mideo Cruz’s art installations, which created public furor

One member of the group, who wore a Jesus costume and held the protest placard “I am not offended.” said that “Although hindi lahat ng artists ay nagkakasundo tungkol sa isyu, kailangan may laya tayo sabihin ang nararamdaman natin.”

Despite the controversy, Cruz is satisfied that it generated discourse about art since Filipinos talked about the exhibit,

The closing rites at CCP featured a mime to protect the freedom of expression by Filipino artists.

which led to a discussion on art and freedom of expression.

Mideo, who said he has received invitations to exhibit Poleteismo in and out of the country, said he will not remove the controversial cross and the phallic symbols surrounding it despite the controversy. Cruz acknowledged that there would likely always be restrictions wherever he mounts an exhibit, but the difference is that here, he faced the risk of “ending up in a casket.”

He disclosed that he has received several proposals to create different versions of the work on various spaces, but he is not accepting any of the offers for the meantime. Cruz said he is not inclined to make art pieces in the future using images from other religions.

“What I did is represent my culture and my experiences.

I grew up with a Catholic upbringing so my points are empirically legitimate. Why will I do something that is not coming from me or things that I’m not familiar with.” Cruz reasoned.■

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HELLO PHILIPPINES

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Business & Personal Finance

September / October 2011 – Monthly Issue • UK & Europe Edition

Paris Hilton signs deal with Philippines’ Century Properties Berlin Domingo

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op Hollywood Celebrity and Hotel Heiress Paris Hilton inks partnership with leading Philippine real estate firm Century Properties to design the central amenity of one of its landmark projects in the southern part of the city called Azure Urban Resort Residences in Paranaque. Hilton also sits as the firm’s Official Ambassador for this beachfront project.

Hilton is the great-granddaughter of hotel magnate Conrad Hilton.

Conrad founded the Hilton Hotels & Resorts (formerly known as Hilton Hotels), an international chain of fullservice hotels and resorts. To date, there are over 540 Hilton branded hotels in 76 countries across six continents.

Century Properties, on the other hand, is a property management and real estate firm of Jose Antonio.

The company is distinct to develop high-end residential condominiums, among of which are Grand Soho Makati (first fully-fitted, fully-furnished condominium), Canyon Ranch (the first Wi-Fi integrated residential community in Carmona, Cavite) and The Soho Central (the country’s first transportation-oriented development

with direct access to the MRT station).

The young Hilton will help in the design of the Azure Beach Club. In a statement, Ms Paris Hilton said: “I look forward to working with Century Properties and feel confident they will develop an amazing and aspirational destination in Azure Urban Resort Residences. I will personally help design the Azure Beach Club, creating a unique and special place that will bring happiness to many people.

I’m, excited for people to experience it. More than putting in my favourites from every beach destination I have been, the Azure Beach Club will showcase my personality. It is going to be sexy, fun, exciting and beautiful.” stresses Hilton.

Though Azure Urban Resort Residences is Hilton’s initial venture in property management, the socialite assures that “Real estate runs in my blood. My grandfather has taught me a lot about the business.”

Moreover, Century Properties Chief Operating Officer and the Project Head of Azure Mr John Victor R. Antonio is all praises for Hilton. “Her unparalleled style that made her a successful businesswoman and a style icon, as well as her zest for living the good life are the qualities that we would like to incorporate into our vacation-inspired residential property.” Antonio says

lifestyle.inquirer.net

parishilton.com

in a statement. He added: “With her exposure to the best beaches around the world, coupled with her fun and sensible fashion sense, we believe that we’ve made the right choice in partnering with someone who appreciates urban resort style living and who can lend a world-class touch to Azure.”

Mr Robbie Antonio, Managing Director of Century Properties, shared: “We chose Ms Paris Hilton because of her exposure to travel and her predisposition to many aspects of design – from fashion, beauty, lifestyle to world-class service. Deciding to work with her was the logical choice as we found no other personality more suited to embody the upscale

fashionable beachgoer.” He also added: “We put our absolute trust in Paris’ abilities to fully-integrate a superior lifestyle that cannot be found elsewhere in the country. This is of utmost importance to us as developers and to our clients.”

Azure Urban Resort Residences was launched in 2010 a six-hectare residential development with a resortinspired theme. Its iconic centerpiece is a sizeable man-made beach complete with white sand, multiple water slides and water cascades.

Designed by the award-winning masterplan and architectural firm Broadway Malyan, each tower is set in a breathtaking tropical modern aesthetic and named after the world’s

most famous beach destinations: Rio, St Tropez and Positano among others.

A kidney bean-shaped clubhouse complements an organically formed lustrous landscape. The design of the aesthetic components of this central amenity is what the young Hilton will oversee.

Said Mr John Victorio Antonio: “Ms Paris Hilton is a very focused and creative individual. Her knowledge of the highest standards in high-living makes her a valuable partner for us in creating a completely unique experience for Azure.”

Hilton recently met with Century Properties’ creative and design group to come-up with a stylish, international feel to Azure’s Exclusive Beach Club. ■

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I

n these days of spending cuts, reduced benefits and scarce overtime work, you are not alone in feeling the pinch and coming up short financially.

It comes as no surprise that Filipinos in the UK have the same dilemma of addressing the so-called basic economic problem: wants and needs that seem to be always higher than the available resources. Whilst we try our best to live within our means, at times we find ourselves in the position of needing some extra cash due to an unexpected bill, urgent ‘padala’, fees payment or immediate travel requirements; not to mention the added burden of supporting families back home via money remittance, investment (in properties, land or business) and fluctuating exchange rates.

As the effects of recession kick in and the financial climate gets tougher, some of us come up short and require emergency funds to fill the gap.

Various options are available in these circumstances i.e. bank loan, credit union, advance cash payment from your employer, credit card/overdraft or borrowing from friends and families.

When you need credit, it is important to

be careful as to what option is best for you. Hasty and uninformed decisions may drive you deeper into debt and cause you to miss out on offers that allow you to stretch that hard-earned £. For example, it may be a good idea to opt for 0% balance transfers or use your overdraft as it may be a cheaper option. Also, an interest-free loan from a family may be possible or a loan from a credit union (most of them offer low interest).

However, your needs may be urgent and the above options may not available to you. In this case, a payday loan may be the best option for you. Payday loan is defined as a “monetary loan provided

to borrowers that must be paid in full when the borrowers receive their next pay check.” (businessdictionary.com, 2011) Payday loans are unsecured loans hence they carry higher interest rates.

Furthermore, pricing is risk-based, providers have to charge more in terms of interest rates and fees as they cater to borrowers with greater credit risk and therefore more likely to go into default. Consumers should go to payday loan companies only when previously mentioned credit options have been exhausted. Also, one has to bear in mind that a payday loan is designed to be for small and shortterm loans. It is not structured to be for long-term requirements and should only be used for emergencies.

The cost of a payday loan may be high, but in the case of many Filipinos who have urgent cash requirements, it is a suitable option as application only takes minutes online or over the phone, no up-front costs are required and there is minimal customer service contact as money is deposited in the customer’s account on the same

day of approval. There are a number of payday loan providers that uphold the virtues of responsible lending and understand in depth the market they cater to bearing in mind the circumstances their customers are in.

The discreet, quick and secure nature of payday loans, plus the insecurity surrounding the financial atmosphere in the UK combine to feed the growth of payday loan’s popularity.

A. Roberts - The author is a Director of Kabayan Finance, a short-term credit lender established in 2009 in the UK and is the first payday loan company tailored around the needs of Filipinos in the UK. Kabayan Finance is one of the lowest-cost payday loan providers; it is committed to supporting the promotion of financial literacy among Filipinos in the UK and has helped many Filipinos deal with their emergency cash needs. Kabayan Finance adheres to the UK responsible lending guidelines and is regulated by the Office of Fair Trading. Consumer Credit Licence # 628834. For more information about Kabayan Finance, visit www.kabayanfinance.co.uk or call 01869 220 433. ■

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Law & Immigration News

September / October 2011 – Monthly Issue • UK & Europe Edition

Don’t be a Victim of Immigration Fraud The difficult times have spurred people to seek better opportunities elsewhere through migration. (Below) Besides visiting websites, a good way to prevent being a victim of immigration fraud is to read books on migration.

Vittorio Hernandez

F

inding employment become harder for people all over the world as economies contract. Even for the fortunate ones who are still employed, raising a family on current wages is a major challenge despite both spouses working.

Immigration, is thus, seen as a way out of unemployment and poverty. Although immigration has been a global phenomenon for decades, the continuous movement of people from one country to another has led governments to establish rules to control the inflow of migrants into their countries.

Sending people to other nations has also turned into a big business both for the legitimate recruitment and immigration enterprises, as well as syndicates that prey on people’s desire to move to other countries and improve their lives.

Migration has ceased to be a simple activity wherein the migrant would simple pack his belongings and move to another place. On a local level, that could still work, but on an international level, migrating

becomes a landmark event in a person or family’s life which could determine his fate for the rest of his life.

Migrating involves not only big money to cover travel expenses and proof that the migrant will not be a burden to his new country, but also includes legal issues that could land a migrant in jail if he enters another country without the necessary and valid documentation.

To avoid being a victim of immigration fraud, here are some tips for people considering migrating: Tip 1: Familiarize yourself with immigration laws in the planned country of destination.

Fraudsters thrive on the lack of knowledge among migrants. They offer visas, travel documents and other schemes that could be illegal, non-existent or could cost the migrant so much money.

One way to become familiar with immigration laws is to check the websites of immigration bureaus of the target country. Here are some of them: United Kingdom – UK Border Agency (http://www.ukba. homeoffice.gov.uk) United States of America – U.S. Citizenship and Immigration

Services (http://www.uscis.gov/ portal/site/uscis) Canada – Citizenship and Immigration Canada (http://www. cic.gc.ca) Australia – Department of Immigration and Citizenship (http://www.cic.gc.ca) New Zealand – Immigration New Zealand (http://www.immigration. govt.nz/) These five nations are generally open to immigrants, but have different regulations ranging from age of migrants, to skills required and funds as proof of financial capability to migrate.

For Filipinos, these five nations are often the choice ones because aside from being progressive nations, the language is English, which is the second language of many Filipinos.

The webpages listed above provide prospective migrants sufficient information to guide them as to what type of visas are available, application periods, requirements, costs and updates on regulations that govern immigration.

For non techies, they could instead buy immigration books which are available at local bookstores.

Tip 2: Secure the services of immigration lawyers or consultants While webpages provide a good idea of how to navigate through the immigration process, reality is that securing a migrant’s visa goes beyond following rules. There are some technicalities or loopholes in regulations and procedures which could spell the difference between getting or being denied a migrant’s visa.

Immigration lawyers or consultants often are able to provide advice to visa applicants of the procedures and other ways on how to successfully secure a visa.

However, getting their service often involves a sum of money.

There are also unregistered immigration lawyers or consultants, so before getting the services of one, check with the immigration websites or other portals and government institutions if the lawyer or consultant is registered with the proper government agencies.

However, even with legally registered immigration firms, some of them could be engaged in unscrupulous practices to earn a fast buck. If the lawyer or consultant suggests that the applicant go around the law just to secure a visa, then that is a red flag for the prospective migrant to drop the lawyer or consultant.

Payments should always be receipted, which could serve as the applicant’s proof of having acquired the services of the lawyer or consultant in case of future problems with their agencies or companies.

Tip 3: Get contact details and proper documentation Whether you are dealing through immigration lawyers or consultants, or directly with the embassies, ensure that you are dealing with the proper person. Get the names and contact numbers of the agents or employees whom

you deal with. When meeting with lawyers or consultants, make sure that you meet them most of the time in their offices as a way of ensuring they are not fly-by-night operators.

Whenever you turn over documents or payments, ensure that these are given proper receipts of acknowledgment, which would serve as proof in your favour of having complied with the requirements.

Tip 4: Be wary of shortcuts Legal migration often takes several years from inquiry to physical relocation. Some immigration frauds would offer shortcuts for a fee to facilitate the grant of a migrant visa. Don’t fall for their offers, which are often illegal.

Some may be legal, such as suggestions to marry a national of a foreign country, and then change to a migrant visa later after the wedding. Some nations no longer allow that conversion or it may leave the applicant in a legal limbo, particularly if the migrantapplicant is already married or the foreign spouse is married in his country.

Despite all these precautionary measures, some prospective migrants still end up being victims of immigration fraud. In case you end up victimized, get the services of a lawyer to assist you in filing a case against the fraudster.

Report the matter to the Embassy of the country of intended destination to ensure that the fraudster is exposed and blacklisted. Report also the incident to Government Agencies that could assist you in recovering your money and documents or apprehend the perpetrators of the fraud.

The adage, “There is a sucker born every minute.” is especially true in the immigration sector.

They abound among lawyers or consultants who want to earn quick money at the expense of the prospective migrant. ■

Delay in passage of “Right-to-Know Right Now” Bill angers some sector Esther C. Tanquintic-Misa

V

arious sectors assailed the Aquino administration for failing to include the Freedom of Information (FOI) or ‘Right to know right now’ Bill as one of priority bills this year, saying the delay runs against President Aquino’s personal crusade of anticorruption in the government.

The RIGHT TO KNOW, RIGHT NOW! COALITION / BANTAY FOI and SULONG FOI! CAMPAIGN

groups said the President had promised to assign first priority to the FOI’s passage into law, and in June 2010, as president, launched his government on the principles of transparency, accountability and good governance.

The FOI is the reinforcement of the Article 3, Section 7 (of the 1987 Constitution) which is the freedom to information. Once passed, it would promote and inculcate transparency in government transactions, and provide check and balance.

President Aquino in his two years in office still has to make the FOI a

priority bill by his administration.

However, Malacañang continues to work with groups and sectors in getting the bill passed. It had suggested creating an Information Commission to regulate the release of government records and to deliberate on complaints from citizens denied access.

Aquino’s government strongly supports the need for an FOI Bill. But it maintained that some information, if released, could implicate government services and national security.

Other groups such as the National Press Club, the College

Editors’ Guild of the PhilippinesNational Capital Region, the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan-National Capital Region and the Alyansa ng Filipinong Mamamahayag had also been pressing for the passage of the FOI Bill.

The groups were likewise disappointed when the bill has not been certified as “urgent” by Malacañang.

Even Senator Teofisto Guingona III, Chairman of the Senate blue ribbon committee, believed the FOI Bill is the “cornerstone of transparency.” ■

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Philippine Embassy - Press Releases & Advisories

September / October 2011 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Monthly Issue â&#x20AC;˘ UK & Europe Edition

Republic of the Philippines

COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS COMMITTEE ON OVERSEAS ABSENTEE VOTING MANILA

NOTICE OF REGISTRATION AND ELECTION TO ALL FILIPINO CITIZENS Notice is hereby given that under Republic Act No. 9189, otherwise known as â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Overseas Absentee Voting Act of 2003â&#x20AC;?, all citizens of the Philippines abroad, not otherwise disqualified by law, at least eighteen ( 18 ) years of age on the day of the election, and who are registered overseas absentee voters with approved application to vote in absentia, may vote for Senators and Party-List Representatives. For this purpose, all qualified Filipinos citizens not registered as voters under Republic Act No. 8189, otherwise known as â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Voters Registration Act of 1996â&#x20AC;?, (the system of continuing registration) shall file an application for registration while those who are already registered under the said Act shall file an application for certification.

For purposes of the May 13, 2013 elections, the filing of applications for registration/ certification and transfer of registration records shall be filed at the Post or other designated registration areas from October 31, 2011 to October 31, 2012.

The 30-day voting period will commence on April 13, 2013 until 3:00 oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;clock in the afternoon (Philippine time) of May 13, 2013 at Philippine Embassies or Consulates.

(The time for voting to be announced later) For details, please contact Mr. Rosendo Rodriguez/Mrs. Edith Malilin at telephone numbers 02074511816/02074511826/02074511803 or the following online/web sources: The Philippine Embassy, London (Official Facebook Page); @philemblondon (Official Twitter Account); www.philembassy-uk.org (Official website); and embassy@ philemb.co.uk (for email queries).

Embassy of the Philippines, London, United Kingdom

DFA-Overseas Absentee Voting Secretariat (Manila) COMELEC-COAV (Manila): www.dfa.gov.ph / ww.dfa-oavs.gov.ph www.comelec.gov.ph Hotlines: +6328344361, +6328343275 Hotlines: +6325222251, +6325212952, +6325239924

ADVISORY ON RENEWAL/CHANGE OF VISAS The Philippine Embassy in London wishes to advise all Filipinos intending to renew or change their entry/student/other visas to the same visa category or another visa category, as a result of changes in the Point Based System of managed imigration adopted by the UK Government, to transact only with duly licensed immigration consultants and/or solicitors.

The Philippine Embassy has been in receipt of numerous complaints from Filipinos regarding their failed dealings with unlicensed immigration consultants and/or solicitors. While these complaints have been brought to the attention of local government authorities in the UK, our kababayans fail to obtain refund of the unconscionable fees often paid by them when they submit their documents to these unlicensed immigration consultants and/ or solicitors. lt is suggested that all transactions be made at the offices of licensed immigration consultants and/or solicitors and, when necessary, ask them to produce their license to practice as immigration consultants and/or solicitors before making any payment. Refrain from transacting business in clinics, cafes, telephones or mobile phones, e-mail, and other venues where it is not possible to ascertain the legitimate status of the immigration consultancy practice being offered.

London, 23 August 2011

6 - 8 Suffolk Street, Landon SW1Y 4HG Tel: 020-7451-1780 020-7930-9787 E-mail: embassyy@philemb.co.uk Website: www.philembassy-uk.org

25 August 2011 Dear Filipino Academics, Scholars and Authors: The Embassy of the Philippines in London, in collaboration with the UP Alumni Association UK, would like to give due recognition to the academics (professors, readers, lecturers, teaching fellows, etc.), researchers (scientists, post-docs, research fellows, research associates and assistants, etc.), book and chapter authors, and scholars/fellows (Nippon Foundation, Ford Foundation, Chevening, Gates Foundation, World Bank, Department Bursaries, UP Development Fund, etc.) who are based in British universities and research centres. This will be held during the following event: Pinoy at Its Best: An Afternoon with Authors, Artists and Academics 2 September 2011, Friday 2.00 PM â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 5.00 PM Embassy of the Philippines â&#x20AC;&#x201C; London 10 Suffolk St., London SW1Y 4HG It would be very much appreciated if you could send to ambasec@philemb.co.uk your full name, designation/position and university/institute affiliation to enable us to prepare the certificates.

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OFW News

September / October 2011 – Monthly Issue • UK & Europe Edition

Displaced OFWs Hope to Return to Libya Esther C. Tanquintic-Misa

O

verseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) displaced by the uprising in Libya months ago look forward to working again in the once heavily warravaged country, as Libyan rebels seemed to have finally gained the upper hand versus dictator Muammar Gaddafi.

This, even as the Philippine government has yet to formally lift the OFW deployment ban to Libya.

Bella, wife of an OFW who used to work for a hotel in Libya, said they heaved a sigh of relief when they learned that conflicts are now under control in the African country.

“Nagdarasal kaming matapos na sana ang gulo doon, para makabalik na rin sana ang asawa ko dun. At para maging normal at maayos na ulit ang buhay namin.” she said.

Bella’s husband was one of thousands of OFWs displaced when the popular revolt started March this year.

“Mahirap nun nawalan siya ng trabaho.” Bella said. Their family decided to open a small sari-sari store to augment their daily needs as her husband tried to find ways to support his family.

To recall, more than 9,000 OFWs, mostly engineers and highly skilled workers employed by oil companies, went home to the Philippines last April following the rebellions in Egypt, Libya and Tunisia.

Immediately after repatriation, the government instituted schemes to help the OFWs get back on their feet again. It set aside at least P130 million pesos for the repatriation of more than 13,000 Filipino migrant workers displaced by the Libyan conflict.

Joel, who worked for only a month and a half when the crisis hit Libya, sought government institutions, like the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), that promptly gave assistance to displaced OFWs like him.

OWWA, through its National Reintegration Center for OFWs (NCRO), earmarked P100 million pesos for the displaced Filipino workers.

OWWA offered P10,000 pesos cash assistance to the repatriated OFWs to help them undergo adjustments in their daily lives. The grant was part of the government’s repatriation assistance program for OFWs that aims to reduce the impact of unemployment and income displacement resulting from their repatriation to the country.

Member-OFWs and their dependent-beneficiaries may participate through business counseling, community organizing, financial literacy seminars, capability-building, networking with support institutions and other social preparation programs activities.

Aside from OWWA, the local government unit of Bulacan also pitched in to assist its displaced OFW residents.

The Bulacan Provincial Cooperative and Economic

Development Office reported it also allotted P11 million pesos loan for some 150 OFWs residing in the province. An initial P5 million pesos has been given to the 150 repatriates. Each OFW is qualified to receive from P25,000 to P50,000 pesos in livelihood assistance.

The remaining P6 million pesos is invested under a trust fund, available for loans.

Angelo Delos Santos, who worked two years in Libya, said he will use the P25,000 loan to expand his agriculture business.

He shared life was hard in Libya as they suffered in the conflict after militants invaded their company.

The Home Mutual Development (Pag-Ibig) Fund also offered a special assistance package for the dislodged OFWs from Libya who are Pag-Ibig Fund members.

They can either withdraw their fund contributions or ask for a moratorium on payment of contributions and loans.

Meanwhile, the Philippine government had announced the deployment of Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) in Libya. Positioned

at the Libya-Tunisia border, the RRTs were placed to help the OFWs who are still in the African country.

The team is the one monitoring developments in the area and will assist OFWs wanting to leave Libya via that route.

In Libya, OFWs mostly consisted of skilled workers and professionals in the construction industry. While others are engaged in IT services, education and hotels and restaurant business.

An RRT has also been positioned in Syria to aid possible repatriation of OFWs from that country.

The teams are composed of select personnel from the Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of Labor and Employment, Department of National Defence and the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

They report directly to the Overseas Preparedness and Response Team (OPRT) and work in tandem with the Foreign Affairs office.

The OPRT was established through Executive Order 34 signed

by Aquino on April 6, 2011. ■

DFA mulls review on deadline for OFW departure from Syria and Afghanistan Esther C. Tanquintic-Misa

T

he Department of Foreign Affairs and Department of Labour and Employment are mulling over the deadline set for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) based in Syria and Afghanistan to be repatriated back to the country.

This after the OFWs based in Afghanistan expressed opposition to go home.

Filipinos in Afghanistan (FIA), through Carlo Echano, sent a letter addressed to President Aquino, Vice President Jejomar Binay, Zambales Rep. Mitos Magsaysay and Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario, appealed for an extension of their stay and employment in Afghanistan.

“There is no time to debate now.

Five thousand or more families are about to suffer due to ill decisions.

The Philippine economy is about to lose about $100 million a year in remittance money. It would only take one letter from the Philippine

government to stop this. Please, for the sake of the families, for the sake of our country, let us set aside politics and do the right thing for once.” Echano said.

DFA and DOLE had earlier denied appeals for the extension, alluding to security concerns for the OFWs. A “demobilization process” has been set for some 5,000 Filipinos in Afghanistan starting September 9, following an August 13 memo sent to their employers to prepare an “exit strategy timeline.”

Meanwhile, only 40 of the estimated 17,000 OFWs in Syria had reportedly requested for repatriation, while 2,000 more from Libya.

Regardless of the dangerous situation the OFWs face in the three war-stricken countries, majority refuse to go home where there are just not enough jobs or sources of livelihood.

The OFWs opt to stay despite grave danger rather than lose their jobs and face hunger here, said OFW activist group, Migrante International. ■

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Celebrity, Showbiz & Entertainment News

September / October 2011 – Monthly Issue • UK & Europe Edition

Mabuhay Paris!

Hotel Heiress visits the Philippines, and leaves RP donning a Pacquiao shirt

Sharon R. Martin

S “

he looks like a Barbie Doll.” says a number of gawkers who had the rare opportunity of seeing Paris Hilton as she rode down the escalator in a mall in Mandaluyong City.

With her blond locks, dewy tanned skin and a whistle-bait body topped with a gorgeous head, Paris is sure to earn admiring looks even if she sashayed down the hall in rags. Not to mention the fact that the locals have a peculiar penchant for Caucasian beauties.

The reality show star and socialite recently flew to Manila for a 5-day business trip with a bit of leisure on the side. She helped promote Azure Urban Resort Residences, a resort-themed residential project developed by Century Properties Corporation.

Paris partnered with the company in designing the development’s central amenity area.

Paris also allotted a day to visit Megamall to grace the opening of her signature store, Paris Hilton.

The hotel heiress sells her own collection of stylish bags, the designs of which took inspiration from Hollywood glamour and latest trends among celebrities.

More than a bombshell Paris entered famedom with much notoriety, an upshot of a bitter ex-boyfriend colliding with technological advances. She sued her co-star Ricky Salomon for releasing the video tape for sale on the internet and the case was settled out of court. She then diverted the public eye from the scandal by immersing herself in

several undertakings like starring in realty shows, appearing in movies, making an album and venturing in various businesses.

Despite her stormy beginnings as a celebrity, Paris proved that underneath the bombshell exterior is a brilliant impresario with a flair for market trends. Her sharp business acumen is evidenced by her successful line of bags, clothing, shoes, watches and perfumes.

She has also tried her hand in the recording industry, producing her own album under Heiress Records.

Her entrepreneur spirit eventually coalesced with her love of partying, leading to endorsements of a night club chain with branches in key cities in the United States.

Keeping up with her family’s astuteness in real estate and property development, she is mulling on launching her own chain of hotel and beach clubs someday. “I’d love to open my own hotel and beach clubs.” she was quoted as saying.

“I’m actually in the process right now of doing that and I’m excited.”

During a presscon in Manila, she related how proud her grandfather was upon learning of her business trip to Manila. The elder Hilton is one of the sons of Conrad Hilton, the founder of the Hilton Hotels chain. “My grandfather called me a couple of days ago and he found out I’m in the Philippines and heard about this project. He said, ‘I’m so proud of you. You’re my only granddaughter who achieved so much success. And to see you’re now on real estate is just so amazing.” she shared.

Her developing interest in real estate is her way of continuing the legacy started by her greatgrandfather. “Real estate is something that I really wanted to give all my time.” Paris revealed.

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Paris is welcomed by her Filipino fans mindanaoan.com

Paris wearing a Manny Pacquiao tee

A self-confessed Pacquiao Fan Many were surprised when Paris, with her equally gorgeous sister Nicky, were present at the recent Manny Pacquiao-Shane Mosley bout in Las Vegas. Filipinos were even more amazed and flattered when Paris proudly declared that he is a Pacquiao fan. “I thought it was a beautiful fight. I am a huge fan of Pacquiao.” the socialite proclaimed. She thought that Pacquiao and the whole bout was “very amazing.”

During the post-fight news conference, Paris went over to Manny and Jinkee Pacquiao to congratulate the couple for Pacman’s successful fight against Shane Mosley. She then tweeted to her almost 4 million followers how she admires the couple. “Hanging out with @ MannyPacquiao and his beautiful

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Meeting with couple Manny and Jinkee during the post-fight conference of Manny Pacquiao-Shane Mosley

wife Jinkee. They are such a sweet & down to earth couple! Love them!” her tweets said.

Her tweets also prognosticated on her impending trip to Manila.

“Wow! Such an honor to be brought on stage by Manny & his wife Jinkee after the fight. Can’t wait to visit them when I go to the Phillippines.”

During her visit, the Pacquiao couple then held a shindig in her honour at no less than the ritzy Shangri-la Makati. Paris enjoyed every minute of the glitzy affair.

She wrote in her site, “I am loving zimbio.com

Paris Hilton opens her signature boutique at SM Megamall on August 18, 2011

(Inset) Paris Hilton flashes new bling for her BlackBerry Torch

An avid fan gave her a painting of herself as a gift

the Philippines! Having the best time! Went to dinner with my friends Manny and Jinkee Pacquiao tonight. They had a dinner party for me and introduced me to all their lovely friends. We all had so much fun talking and laughing. The people in the Philippines are so warm, welcoming, genuine and sweet.

The Pacquiao’s are such a beautiful and amazing couple! Manny is such an incredible boxer and great friend. Jinkee looked so stunning tonight, she had the hottest Herve Leger dress on. Such a memorable evening! I feel lucky to have such special people in my life.”

With hints of another visit sometime in 2013, it is obvious that the Philippines and the Filipinos made an indelible mark on this celebrity. “I love the Philippines, I couldn’t wait to come back.” gushed Paris, who was spotted sporting a Pacquiao shirt as she made her way to NAIA’s departure terminal.

“The food is good. I love the food in the Philippines. It’s delicious.” she adds.

Now that’s hot! ■

For inquiries, please contact: DMCI HOMES UK - LONDON

www.dmciinternational.com

Gordon A. Geraldo - Mobile: (+44) 07803 177 595 Landline: (+44) 01923 661 155 Jean M. Cerbas - Mobile: (+44) 07754 028 775 Landline: (+44) 020 3556 8737

34

HELLO PHILIPPINES

www.hello-philippines.com

OFW News

September / October 2011 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Monthly Issue â&#x20AC;˘ UK & Europe Edition

Sumali na sa OWWA Model OFW Family of the Year Awards 2011!

Announcement: Invitation For Overseas Fiipino Leaders to Participate in the Global Summit of Filipinos in Diaspora and the YouLeaD Experience The Philippine Embassy in the United Kingdom joins the Commission of Filipinos Overseas (CFO) in inviting interested members of the Filipino Community in the UK to take an active part in two major events for the Global Filipino Community in 2011: â&#x20AC;&#x153;DIASPORA TO DEVELOPMENT: A GLOBAL SUMMIT OF FILIPINOS IN THE DIASPORAâ&#x20AC;? Conference to be held from 27-29 September 2011, Manila, Philippines AND â&#x20AC;&#x153;The YouLeaD Experienceâ&#x20AC;?, 9-day program for overseas Filipino Youth Leaders aged 16-34 years of age to be held in Manila and Palawan, 22-30 September 2011 Further details on participation in these two important events for the Global Filipino Community may be secured from the Commission on Filipinos Overseas via focal points Mr. Edwin Pajares (epajares@cfo.gov.ph), Ms. Arianne Omaga (aomaga@cfo.gov.ph), telephone numbers (+632) 5524764/5524761, telefax no (+632) 5618291 or on the CFO website at www.cfo.gov.ph.

As His Excellency President Benigno S. Aquino stated in his Philippine Independence Day Message to Overseas Filipinos. you are all encouraged to be a part of a genuine transformation of our country and people. Your active participation in these CFO-organized events is a major step towards your commitment to the establishment of a better Philippines.

Maraming Salamat at Mabuhay ang Filipino Community sa United Kingdom!

REYNALDO A. CATAPANG ChargĂŠ dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Affaires, a.i.

For more information and how to register please visit: www.d2dglobalsummit.cfo.gov.ph

Ngayong 2011, muling binubuksan ng Overseas Workers Welfare Administration ang nominasyon para sa taunang prestihiyosong parangal sa matatag na pamilyang OFW, ang MODEL OFW FAMILY OF THE YEAR AWARDS 2011 (MOFYA 2011).

Lahat ng 17 rehiyon ng Pilipinas ay magkakaroon ng tig-isang National Finalists sa dalawang kategorya: Sea-based at Land-based OFW and Family.

Mula sa tatlumput apat na National Finalists, 17 sea-based at 17 land-based, dalawang National winners ang gagawaran ngayong darating na Disyembre.

Meron ding ibibnigay na special awards parasa Gawaing Pangkomunidad at Pagnenegosyo.

Kung ang organisasyon ninyo ay may kakilalang pamilyang OFW na: â&#x20AC;˘ May OFW na head of the Family; â&#x20AC;˘ Kilala bilang isang magandang halimbawa sa komunidad; â&#x20AC;˘ Nakapagpaaral o nagpapaaral ng mga anak; â&#x20AC;˘ May maayos na pamumuhay at nakapagpundar ng negosyo. â&#x20AC;˘ Maari ninyo silang inomina sa Sea-based o Land-based category.

Ang mga sumusunod na grupo lamang ang maaring magsumite ng pangalan ng pamilyang OFW bilang kanilang nominado: â&#x20AC;˘ Non-Government Organizations (NGO) â&#x20AC;˘ Government Organizations (GO) â&#x20AC;˘ Peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Organization â&#x20AC;˘ Religious Organizations / Association â&#x20AC;˘ Community-based Socio-civic Organizations at; at â&#x20AC;˘ Local Government Units (LGU) Ipadala ang inyong nominasyon sa pinakamalapit na OWWA Regional at Overseas offices. Para sa kumpletong listahan ng addresses at telephone numbers, maaring magpunta sa www.owwa.gov.ph.

Maari rin tumawag o makipag-ugnayan sa MOFYA Secretariat para sa karagdagang impormasyon: Telephone numbers (02) 551-1560 / (02) 833-6992 / (02) 551-6644 / (02) 551-6646 Email address: owwa_rocs@yahoo.com at oocs_info05@yahoo.com Hanggang Setyembre 16, 2011 lamang ang pagtanggap ng inyong mga nominasyon kaya sali na!

Source: OWWA

Rise in Number of OFWs Want to be Entrepreneur

Immigration Cap - Employers continue to recruit from abroad

Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) have been responding to the call of President Benigno S. Aquino to avail themselves of the P2-billion OFW Reintegration Loan program to go into and grow their own businesses.

OWWA Administrator Carmelita S. Dimzon reported to Labor Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz that in the National Capital Region (NCR) alone, already 1,834 OFWs attended the program orientation at OWWA Center for the period June 8 to July 4, 2011 focusing on the loan procedures and loan features such as loan amount ranging from P300,000 to P2 million, interest rate of 7.5 per annum, loan repayment from 1-7 years, loan purpose, among others.

The President launched the 2 billion pesos reintegration program during Migrant Workers Day on June 7, 2011. This program is a joint venture of the DOLE, OWWA, Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) and the Development Bank of Philippines (DBP). OWWA provided P1-billion while LBP and DBP gave P500 million each for a total of P2-billion Reintegration Fund. (Please see the side bar for the guidelines of the P2-billion OFW Reintegration Loan Program).

Of this initial batch at the NCR, 272 business proponents were endorsed to the National Reintegration Center for OFWs (NRCO) for scheduling on the Entrepreneurship Development Training (EDT). Completion of EDT, aside from the borrower is a bonafide overseas worker and credit history are some of the prequalifying loan requirements before OWWA could issue a Certification and endorse to depository state banks.

Meanwhile, Administrator Dimzon reported that 11 OFW-proponents, mostly from the Cordillera Autonomous Region, have already been pre-qualified and endorsed to LBP for evaluation. Their business proposals ranged from operating Taxis, School buses, Day Care Center, Internet cafes, computer shop, trucking/hauling and general construction.

Further she said, these OFW-proponents were nurses, seafarer, household service workers and three of them were OFW returnees from Libya.

Fresh doubt has been cast on the effectiveness of the governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s immigration cap as CIPD research out this month shows the proportion of employers planning to recruit migrant workers has risen to a new high.

Twenty-five per cent of organisations questioned in the instituteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s summer Labour Market Outlook survey say they plan to recruit migrants in the next quarter â&#x20AC;&#x201C; up from 22 per cent in the spring survey and the highest figure in the history of the research. The finding, which is consistent with ONS data on new arrivals to the UK, comes despite the governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s annual migration cap on non-EU nationals, imposed in April.

A lack of job-specific skills in the UK was cited by six in 10 employers as the reason for continuing to look abroad. Worryingly for the government, employers affected by the cap were more likely to say they are responding by recruiting more EU workers (34 per cent) who are not limited under the cap, rather than by up-skilling their existing workforce (23 per cent).

This is happening because new jobs being created are highly skilled ones for which there is insufficient supply of talent, with engineering, IT and healthcare seeing particular skills shortages, according to CIPD public policy adviser Gerwyn Davies. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There is mixed news for the government here,â&#x20AC;? said Davies. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The bad news is that the first resort for employers is simply to look towards the likes of Ireland, Spain and other countries with high levels of unemployment to fill some of these roles. There is some good news in that a quarter say they will upskill existing workers â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a stated objective of the government â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and 18 per cent say they will recruit more graduates. However, another fly in the ointment is that 8 per cent say they are planning to offshore further jobs abroad, which is a real concern for us.â&#x20AC;?

The research showed that firms are reducing their use of intra-company transfers, which were restricted under the cap to workers earning more than ÂŁ40,000; only 23 per cent plan to use this method in the next quarter. Even so, the Tier 1 visa route for highly skilled non-EU workers remains popular, with 34 per cent hiring through this route.

Source: OWWA

Source: People Management

36

HELLO PHILIPPINES

Horoscopes

www.hello-philippines.com

Aquarius Does it in the water 20 January to 18 February Arguments with siblings, close friends and partners are possible this month. Day to day activities and getting about your normal routine, things you normally take for granted, could be fraught with complications and upsets.

What to do: Try not to be everywhere at once or race about trying to achieve too many things; no one is expecting miracles so stop trying to perform them. Now is the time for detailed work. Since you will seek perfection, plan each day carefully so no surprises can occur. These qualities will also assist you with those you work with. Be careful of criticism.

Don’t and you will fall down.

Pisces The Partner for Life 19 February to 19 March September is a good month to pour your energy into sorting out money matters and embarking on schemes that will see your cash working harder for you.

Thinking of all the adventures you could soon afford to go on will be more than enough of an incentive to get wise with your dough because money equals freedom for you this month.

What to do: Your subconscious mind, dreams and visions, is directing your life and you may not be aware of this. As things end, new patterns emerge and acknowledging this can help create virtues. Plan more than the usual.

Aries The Aggressive 20 March to 19 April With fiery Mars in your sign, tempers and temperatures are set to soar high into the stratosphere. A difficult aspect from Mars to the area of your chart ruling home and family could see you clashing with your nearest and dearest.

What to do: Withdraw a bit — not as avoidance but more to examine and to reflect upon recent ideas. Talk with family and express your deepest thoughts. This is also a good time to create monthly family meetings. By the end of September, your energy levels will settle to a more constant and manageable pace, which is good for you so you could easily get on top of any practical issues. It’d be just perfect.

Taurus The Tramp 20 April to 20 May You start month focused, wanting to be taken seriously.

Others will be convinced by your methodical approach, making this an ideal time to deal with officials like bank managers, accountants and even bosses.

Distractions could occur though, and discussions and conversations will intensify.

What to do: Don’t try to relax, for it will be impossible. Don’t get caught up in other people’s glamours. Attempt to slow down by maintaining a bit more solitude. Who knows, you could even encounter someone who “lights your candle”. Things will lighten up soon.

Gemini The Twin 21 May to 20 June Keeping a watchful eye on the cash flow can be dreary, especially when your friends our out making the most out of summer. It can feel as if you’re missing out on all the fun. But don’t despair because when you are off on a bigger, better holiday than everyone else, you will be glad you saved your dough. What to do: Your intellect is sharp now, so use the benefits of this by using bits of information you have to your own advantage. Mercury, your ruler, is involved in a dramatic link between some very sexy planets — Mars, Venus and Pluto. You will soon find your love life reaching boiling point by midSeptember. And this is good.

Cancer The Beauty 21 June to 22 July You’d be full of life this month, but what exactly are you achieving from all these? There’s a chance you’ll be getting little in return for all your gallant efforts. This can be frustrating but a bright idea at the end of the month will help you find a solution to this. There will be a great need for you to be involved in some artistic endeavour for the purpose of expanding your imagination — your manifesting tool.

What to do: The best advice for you is to avoid mid day burn out and make the most of warm balmy nights which is more your style. Visit art shows or museums. Paint your room.

Buy a canvas. Begin to write, dance, sculpt or even consort with a musician. Whatever it is, just do it. Any art medium will do.

Leo The Lion 23 July to 22 August September sees you at your most charming.

Smooth talk comes easy, and you’re quite happy to use it on any unsuspecting individual you take

September / October 2011 – Monthly Issue • UK & Europe Edition

a shine to. You will communicate less and less in the next three months, however, being more intent on your inner life revealing mysteries you’ve been pondering. You adore attention and there’s no shortage this month, but you’re also generous with praise. People will love to bask in the warm glow you’re emitting. It’ll leave you walking on cloud nine and everyone is going to know about it!

What to do: Say what is needed lest others feel you’ve withdrawn somewhere far away and this may hurt their feelings.

Everything non-rational will be of interest. Research is best – and being alone.

Virgo The One that Waits 23 August to 22 September Strong undercurrents from other people will make you feel a little on the edge. It would seem everyone’s behaving oddly as though the sun’s gone to their heads. Even you’re acting is a bit out of character.

You should be able to smooth over any brewing trouble with soothing words that just roll off the tongue. What to do: Assess your goals and expectations, examining objectives and intentions to see whether they serve you. Perhaps you’ll find that your goals or ideals are actually someone else’s which, long ago, you assumed to be your own. Often, we do this with parents. Should this be true, assess whether your own goals are summoning you. Act on it.

Libra The Lame One 23 September to 22 October You’re determined to set the world on fire this September.

You’re feeling hot, ready to take the plunge with someone special to you. No one would be able to resist your confidence.

This is an important month in an important year for you.

With Jupiter in your sign (it only happens once every 12 years!) it’s time you make the most of every opportunity that come your way.

What to do: Analyze your professional life, how you serve society and how you are recognized in the world.

If present work tasks aren’t meeting your needs, begin making plans for a change.

Study exactly what it is you need to do. Communication at work is most important now. Do not be overwhelmed with tons of paperwork. Better visualize what needs to be done, and write them all down.

The angels will assist you.

Scorpio The Addict 23 October to 21 November A powerful, more meaningful connection with someone is on the cards. You’ll be a force to be reckoned with, and when you set your sights on your ideal partner there will be no stopping you in getting them, whether they like it or not! You may also be tempted to take a big financial risk this month, but practice caution if you can because there’s no guarantee of a settled outcome.

What to do: Be careful with communication and thinking in the next 4 months. There will be tests. Your desires will be expanded, your critical nature will burst forth, your lower self will make a stand, and you will square off with anyone who dare cross your path. You will need to release a lot of love in order to not be wounded. You can do this.

Sagittarius The Promiscuous One 22 November to 21 December You’re feeling wonderfully energized as the month starts, leaving others in your wake as you bounce from one task to another.

Watch out for ego clashes with other strong personalities who’d want the limelight too. MidSeptember will see you embroiled in heated exchanges with people from whom you can barely disguise your passion.

What to do: You are a born traveler and a philanthropist; now is a great time to in indulge both of these. Conversations and intellectual encounters will profoundly affect your mind which then creates changes in your thinking. You will also have this affect on someone else and both of you will realize that there is as intense intellectual hold on one another. Mortality now also comes to mind.

Capricorn The Passionate Lover 22 December to 19 January The month begins with a feeling of harmony and balance and you are feeling a bit more confident about your financial circumstances. You will feel at ease with expressing your deeper feelings to loved ones, too. As the month moves forward however, the possibility of some tension between your work and domestic life will increase, but any challenges you face could be a positive way of clearing the air.

What to do: It’s a good time for party or social interactions with friends. You’ll find yourself feeling friendship or love towards everyone. Large groups of people will also require you to assist them. Old love takes on a glimmer of friendship. ■ Signs icon courtesy of: horoscoper.net

38

HELLO PHILIPPINES

Sports News

www.hello-philippines.com

September / October 2011 – Monthly Issue • UK & Europe Edition

PATAFA set to bring home Gold in 2011 SEA Games Blessie Adlaon

W

ith the 2011 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Indonesia barely two months away, the athletes of the Philippine Amateur Athletic Track and Field Association (PATAFA) seem all set to bring home the gold for their country.

PATAFA president Go Teng Kok said that the association has 24 athletes with great potential, including Jayson Ramil Sid, who is competing in the 400-meter-long hurdles, Eliezer Sunang in shotput and Nino Espinosa in long jump.

All three had won medals in the recent Vietnam Open.

The young competitors’ resilience, commitment and desire to bring honour to their

country played a huge role in their marked improvement in recent competitions.

The PATAFA team has been preparing for the SEA Games since last year, starting with the 2010 Asian Grand Prix in Chennai, India, where Henry Dagmil won the men’s long jump event.

From India, the team has gone on to compete in several other international events, namely, the Hong Kong Standard Chartered Marathon in February, the three-leg Asian Grand Prix in May in China, the Vietnam Open in July and the Singapore Open in August.

They will also be joining upcoming competitions in Malaysia and Thailand.

All of these are part of the team’s preparations for Indonesia’s SEA Games. So far, the athletes

have been doing well and making the country proud.

“These are our future champions, so I’m now appealing to the Philippine Sports Commission to include them in the national pool.

Right now, they are on their own and we at PATAFA spend for them.” Go said in a PSA forum held on August 9 in Ermita, Manila.

The team brought home seven gold medals, three silver medals and four bronze medals two years ago from Laos, during the 2009 SEA Games and it is hoped that they will perform just as well or maybe even better, in Indonesia come November.

Go, who has been leading PATAFA for quite some time now, said the Philippine team will most likely bring home six to seven gold medals from the 2011 SEA Games. ■

pinoymiler.wordpress.com

National 400m Champion, Christian Archand Bagsit of Letran (Right) takes a surprise win in the 100m at the PATAFA Weekly Relays

References: http://www.usnewslasvegas.com/sports/phl-good-for-6-or-7-gold-medals-in-sea-games-go/ and http://www.manilatimes.net/index.php/sports/4786-patafa-gears-up-for-7-international-contests

missosology.info

azkalsunited.com

World Pool Masters 2011 open with Pacquiao and Marquez as guests

T

Roland Mueller

Kevin Ingreso

Azkals recruits 2 more Fil-Germans Blessie Adlaon

A

couple of new recruits from Germany is expected to make the Philippine Azkals a lot better overall as a team.” its coach, Hans Michael Weiss, said in an interview with ABS-CBNNEWS. com recently.

Arriving from Germany earlier this week, Coach Weiss announced that he will be adding Fil-Germans Roland Mueller and Kevin Ingreso to the Philippine Azkals’ line-up to further boost the country’s national football team.

Mueller, from Germany’s Duisburg squad, will be the team’s second option should Neil Etheridge, the team’s original goalkeeper,

“

becomes unavailable due to injuries.

On the other hand, Ingriso, who is an attacking midfielder, is expected to further add muscle to the team’s attacking capabilities. He is expected to suit up for the national team by next year as soon as he gets clearance from Hamburg, his mother club.

Speaking about his 2 new Fil-Am recruits, Weiss added, “I’ll now have a second option in Roland Mueller who can step in as goalkeeper when Neil Etheridge is unable to play. I will also have an added attacking threat at mid-filed in Kevin Ingreso. He (Ingreso) will not be able to join the team now but hopefully, he can play for us in the Challenge Cup.” “We now have many other players in the line. Together with (Fil-

British) Rob Gier who is helping in scouting, we’ve managed to make a great list and we’re now trying to contact them (prospects) one after the other. To make the team ready, we now have to bring in good players with high quality capabilities.” he added.

To aid in the team’s preparations, Weiss also said that the German Football Association is sending in Krautzen Ekhardt, a technical adviser and Michael Kruger, who will serve as assistant coach for the under-23 squad to the Southeast Asian Games in November. A former Bundesliga coach who also had stints in Egypt and Sudan, Kreuger will arrive in the country soon to help prepare the Azkals and the Philippine under-23 team. ■

wo of the world’s leading boxing champs, the Philippines’ own Manny Pacquiao and his long-time Mexican rival Juan Manuel Marquez, will grace the opening of the 2011 World Pool Masters billiard event, to be held in Manila from September 3 to 5 at the SM City North Edsa.

In the three-day competition, reigning Partypoker.net World Pool Masters champion Dennis Orcollo will be defending his crown against 15 of the world’s best pool players, which include other renowned Philippine players Django Bustamante, who is the reigning 9-Ball Champion and billiard legend Efren ‘Bata’ Reyes. Present, too, is 2004 WPA Asian Nine-Ball Tour champion Lee Vann Corteza, who will also by vying for the title.

Orcollo, who gained his title in 2010 with an 8-3 win against Toru Kobayashi of Japan, will face-off with Tony Drago of Malta.

Drago, who is the Predator International 10-Ball Champion, defeated Django Bustamante in the tournament’s finals game.

Other top-class players who will be joining the event are Shane Van Boening, from the US; Ralf Souquet, from Germany; Mika Immonen, Finland; Fu Jianbo, China; Chang Jung-lin, Chinese Taipei; Jason Klatt, Canada; Darren Appleton and Chris Melling, from the UK; Hidji See, Netherlands; Yukio Akagariyama, Japan; and India’s Raj Hundal.

And of course, there is Manny Pacquiao, who is a known billiard lover, though he will not be joining the competition.

Pacquiao and Marquez are able to attend the billiard event because it coincides with their World Press Tour, which starts off in Manila on the same date.

The tour then moves to New York and Los Angeles on September 6 and 8, respectively, and ends in Mexico on September 8.

This world tour by Pacquiao and Marquez is being done to promote their third match, slated for November 12 this year. ■ References: http://www.azbilliards.com/2000storya.php?storynum=8446 http://manila-paper.net/world-pool-masters-2011-world-cup-of-pool-in-manila-next-month/9488 http://www.matchroompool.com/page/Features/0,,12660~2428650,00.html http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/sports/08/17/11/pacquiao-also-fearless-billiards http://sports.inquirer.net/11427/pacquiao-marquez-all-set-for-tour billiardphilippines.com

Billiard Hall of Famer Efren Reyes (in red jacket) and Django Bustamante (second from left)

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