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HUNDREDS OF POLITICAL PRISONERS FAST ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO REMEMBER MARTIAL LAW
Cong Corrales, InterAksyon.com
AT least 385 detained political prisoners across the Philippines have participated in an eight-daylong fasting to commemorate the martyrs of martial law. The fasting will culminate in time for the 40th anniversary of the proclamation of martial law on Friday, September 21. Alfredo “Ka Paris” Mapano – who is currently detained at the Misamis Oriental Provincial Jail in this city – leads 10 other political detainees incarcerated in provincial jails in Northern Mindanao. Mapano was nabbed while “on family integration leave” by combined personnel of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, National Intelligence Coordination Administration and the 4th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army. He was arrested in a local apartelle in Barangay Carmen in on a Saturday night, August 1, 2009. In an interview, Monday, September 17, Mapano, 58, said the fasting, which involves skipping breakfast and lunch, also aims to
drum up support for their “general, unconditional, and omnibus amnesty.” “Now that the son of probably the most famous victim of martial law (President Benigno Simeon Aquino,
III) is in power, he should be in the best position to empathize with the detained political prisoners all over the country,” he said. Mapano added that like them, the older Aquino was incarcerated for
refusing to kowtow to the dictates of Marcos and his cronies. The late senator Benigno S. Aquino Jr., the President’s father, was also arrested “under criminal cases like illegal possession of
firearms, murder and conspiracy to commit sedition, among other trumped up charges.” Mapano recalled that he was only 18 years old when Marcos proclaimed martial law and that he got the news from his school mates. He was already a member of the Samahang Demokratikong Kabataan (SDK) – an organization of student activists. “It was a Saturday and I remember going to campus in military uniform because we were supposed to have our ROTC (Reserve Officers’ Training Corps). My classmates greeted me at the gates frantically and told me that some of my friends were arrested earlier and that some have gone into hiding,” he said. He recalled that officers of the nowdefunct Philippine ConstabularyIntegrated National Police (PC-INP) who were roaming the campus that day failed to notice him because he was also wearing a fatigue uniform. After three years in hiding, Mapano was finally caught in 1975 in his hometown in Davao.
Continuation on page 10
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Special Feature - 30th Olympic and 14th Paralympic Games London 2012
September 2012 / Fortnightly – No. 17 • UK & Europe Edition
Britain says goodbye to Games with victory parade Robin Millard, AFP HUGE crowds cheered Britain’s Olympic and Paralympic athletes during a victory parade to Buckingham Palace Monday, September 10, amid hopes that the golden sporting summer will give the country a long-term boost. Hundreds of thousands of people packed the streets of central London to show their appreciation for the athletes, who both surpassed expectations by finishing third in the medals table in both events. Meanwhile leaders hoped the feelgood factor and can-do spirit of the Games would stave off the pessimism of recent times and help drag debtladen Britain out of recession and into a new era of self-confidence. London 2012 faced plenty of predictions that the Games would be a badly-organised flop, with concerns about the £9.3 billion ($14.9 billion, 11.6 billion euro) cost, security and transport capacity. But the efficient running of both events and the public response has defied naysayers who predicted chaos and a lack of enthusiasm. Sports fans were leaning out of windows and waving flags to show their support for Great Britain’s athletes, who won 29 gold, 17 silver and 19 bronze medals at the Olympics, and 34 golds, 43 silvers and 43 bronzes at the Paralympics. The parade began at Mansion House, the official residence of the lord mayor of London, before passing
St Paul’s Cathedral and the former newspaper industry headquarters Fleet Street, en route to the packedout Trafalgar Square. The athletes in their Games tracksuits, travelling on 21 opentop floats in alphabetical order by sport, headed down The Mall, the processional route leading to Queen Elizabeth II’s Buckingham Palace residence. The Mall was open to 14,000 ticket-holding volunteers, the emergency services and the military who worked on the Games; athletes’ coaches, support staff and family; plus schoolchildren from across London. Juliet Holden, 42, who works for a law firm, held up a sign reading “Well done Richard Whitehead”, the double above-the-knee amputee who won the T42 200m gold in a world record time of 24.38 seconds. “I wasn’t looking forward to it beforehand particularly, in a typical English way I was moaning about it and thought it looked like too much hard work,” she said of the Olympics. “But since it’s started, it’s been amazing. “London’s changed. It’s got a real sense of community. It’s going to be a let-down after today.” Outside his Downing Street office, Prime Minister David Cameron, surrounded by volunteers in their purple and orange shirts, said it had been a golden summer for Britain, with the Games following celebrations for the queen’s diamond jubilee. “For countries to succeed in this ©AFP/Pool, David Davies
competitive and difficult world, you need to have confidence that you can do big things and get them right... that you can take on the best, be the best, beat the best,” Cameron said. “We’ve absolutely done that as a country. “Once the celebration has ended, some of that spirit inevitably will fade as everyone knuckles down and gets back to work after this magical summer. “But I think we’ll always have that knowledge of what we can be as a country. “This summer brought out the best in Britain for the world to see and that spirit we must cling to.” Sunday night’s Paralympics closing ceremony extinguished the flame in the Olympic Stadium, bringing the curtain down with a spectacular celebration of the human spirit, amid claims the Games had led to a “seismic” shift in attitudes towards disability. “The Olympics showed that we can carry out the most difficult logistical operation demanded of any country in peacetime, and do it with efficiency and style,” London Mayor Boris Johnson wrote in The Daily Telegraph newspaper. “The Paralympics have shown that Britain remains a beacon of enlightenment. “The Games have changed not only much of London; they have changed the world’s attitude to Britain, and our own view of this country and what it can do.” ■ (©AFP – London, United Kingdom
©AFP, Will Oliver
Gold medal winning cyclists Jason Kenny and Laura Trott look down from their float.
– September 10, 2012)
©AFP/Pool, David Davies
Hundreds of thousands of people packed the streets of central London.
©AFP, David Davies
©AFP/Adrian Dennis/Getty Images
Tom Daley poses on his float.
©AFP/Stefan Rousseau/Getty Images ©AFP Photo
British Prime Minister David Cameron gives a thumbs up next to London mayor Boris Johnson.
©AFP/Getty Images
Party at the Palace: the victory parade reaches its climax.
The Red Arrows fly past the Queen Victoria Memorial monument in front of Buckingham Palace.
Jessica Ennis shows off her heptathlon gold to the crowds.
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Special Feature - 30th Olympic and 14th Paralympic Games London 2012
September 2012 / Fortnightly – No. 17 • UK & Europe Edition
Filipino volunteers take the stage for their contributions to London 2012
Jamie Tolentino THE London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games were undoubtedly two of the biggest international multisport events of all time. The games, which took place this summer, had a total of around 7 million spectators in attendance which made the participation of its 70,000 volunteers invaluable. As you can imagine, servicing the needs of 7 million spectators is not an easy task. Thus, 70,000 volunteers were called upon to help ‘make London 2012’ a reality. Volunteers were called to be Games Makers, Travel Champions or Ceremonies Cast, but either way, these people have given up huge amount of time to make these games enjoyable and hassle-free for the spectators. Unsurprisingly, a handful of these volunteers were Filipinos who naturally embodied the warmth, helpfulness and performing skills of the Filipino, which the nation is globally renowned for. So, to formally acknowledge the contributions of the Filipino volunteers, each individual volunteer was invited to the Philippine Embassy for a recognition day in the presence of Ambassador Enrique Manalo. The Formal Recognition of the Olympic and Paralympic Volunteers from the Filipino Community took place on September 7, 2012 at 4pm in the Philippine Embassy London. The volunteers were asked to come in their London 2012 attire, majority of which were Games Makers Uniforms or Opening/Closing Ceremony costumes with some opting to wear London 2012 volunteer T-shirts. Mr Cleofe Sagun emceed the event in a typical British Filipino fashion incorporating elements of the Filipino culture in a British environment. The program started with the Philippine National Anthem led by Ms Marie
Jocelyn Luzadas.-Spolnicki followed by Prayer led by Ms Lyra Del Rosario. Welcome remarks were then given by Ms. Carolyn Panday followed by a Brief Presentation on the Work of Filipino Volunteers during the Olympics and Paralympics. The presentation showed a variety of Filipino volunteers in action together with the modest perks of being a volunteer such as free granola bars, Pringles, sandwiches and water during the final rehearsals for the opening and closing ceremonies. Ambassador Enrique Manalo then gave a speech dedicated to the volunteers on how proud and appreciative he is of the Filipino Olympic and Paralympic volunteers and went on to present certificates of recognition to each and every Filipino volunteer with the assistance of Deputy Chief of Mission Reynaldo Catapang. After the certificates had been given out, an acceptance speech was carried out by Mr Edwin Dela Cruz on behalf of all the volunteers. Finally, as a treat to all those attending, Ms Tamara De La Cruz performed a special number. The event was also made possible through the help of various Filipino organisations and communities like UST Nursing Alumni Association, the KabisigBromley and Phil Jury Campaign International through the leadership of Amy Balliao and Tim Sapurco. As a Filipino volunteer who has participated in the Opening Ceremony of the Paralympic Games, I felt that the Filipino spirit was very much present in each and every Filipino volunteer during this historical event. All of us were generally very proud of being a part of London 2012 and will never forget this once in a lifetime experience to represent the nation in a unique manner. After all, not everyone can say ‘We made London 2012’. ■
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10/09/2012 16:33
Military centre stage at closing ceremony HELLO PHILIPPINES
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MILITARY personnel and refashioned hardware took centre stage at the London Paralympics closing ceremony Sunday, September 9, after Games in which wounded ex-servicemen and women have played a high-profile role. British army captain Luke Sinnott, who lost both legs above the knee in a homemade bomb attack in restive Helmand province, southern Afghanistan, in 2009, climbed the flag pole to hang the British Union flag at the Olympic Stadium. Another British soldier, Captain Tony Harris, who in 2009 lost a leg below the knee in a blast in Sangin province, southwest of the capital Kabul, drove Queen Elizabeth II’s youngest son, Prince Edward, into the stadium. Even the body of the custombuilt “royal” limousine was partly made of a military vehicle once used in Afghanistan, stripped of its armour and bulletproofing. Other specially made vehicles in the show’s “Truck Parade” included the “Hellcopter”, a former British Royal Navy helicopter transformed into a whale. “The Beast from the East” used panels from Soviet MiG-21 fighter planes welded onto the chassis of an East German all-terrain army truck.
SPECIAL FEATURE - 14TH PARALYMPIC GAMES LONDON 2012
“The Bug” meanwhile was fashioned from a wartime British army truck with wings from the moulds of submarine nose cones. Eleven days ago, the Paralympic flame was brought down a zip wire from the nearby 115-metre (377feet) high observation tower by a former Royal Marine commando, who lost his legs in a bomb attack in Afghanistan. South African Rory Mackenzie, a lance corporal in the British army who lost a leg while on patrol in Basra, southern Iraq, and whose rehabilitation has been aided by the charity Help for Heroes, introduced the Paralympic athletes. The bloody legacy of nearly a decade of wars in Iraq and Afghanistan is not only a sharp rise in the number of injured service personnel but also those taking up para-sport, particular in Britain and the United States. The host nation’s team included Jon-Allan Butterworth, a former Royal Air Force weapons technician who lost an arm in a rocket attack in Basra, southern Iraq, in 2007. He won three track cycling silver medals. Israeli former helicopter pilot Noam Gershony, who was injured during the country’s 2006 war with Lebanon, won the Jewish nation’s first gold in London with victory in
September 2012 / Fortnightly – No. 17 • UK & Europe Edition
©AFP, Adrian Dennis
A general view shows the start of the closing ceremony of the London 2012 Paralympic Games.
the men’s quad singles wheelchair tennis. Former Nepali army warrant officer Bikram Bahadur Rana, who was blinded by Maoist rebels in 2003,
competed in the T11 200m sprint for blind and visually impaired athletes. The most successful, however, was former US Navy lieutenant Bradley Snyder, who won a swimming silver
and two golds, including one 12 months to the day since the explosion in Afghanistan that blinded him. ■ (©AFP – London, United Kingdom – September 9, 2012)
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Special Feature - 14th Paralympic Games London 2012
September 2012 / Fortnightly – No. 17 • UK & Europe Edition
Coldplay, Rihanna, Jay-Z star in Paralympic Games finale Katy Lee, AFP FANTASTICAL wheeled vehicles, roller-skating warriors and bursts of fire brought the London Paralympics to a close Sunday, September 9, in a quirky closing ceremony headlined by Coldplay, Rihanna and Jay-Z. British supergroup Coldplay provided the backdrop to a three-hour extravaganza interspersed with dance and performance at the Olympic Stadium in east London, belting out hits including “Clocks”, “The Scientist” and “Yellow”. “Being asked to play at the Paralympic Closing Ceremony in our home town is a huge honour,” said lead singer Chris Martin. “This will be the biggest night of our lives,” added Martin, who is married to US actress Gwyneth Paltrow. The band, who have sold more than 50 million records worldwide, accepted a fee of £1 ($1.60, 1.25 euros) to headline the show. The ceremony kicked off with a procession of fire jugglers, a parade of drummers carrying blazing beacons, and a giant burning model cyclist who wheeled around the stadium. Dressed unusually modestly
in a flowing orange gown and veil, Barbados star Rihanna sailed into the show onboard a model ship and sang a steamy duet with Martin, before performing another number on a swing strung high over the stadium. Trapeze artists tumbled from the skies as sparks flew from above their heads in a festival-themed show watched by 80,000 spectators in the stadium and millions worldwide on television. Outlandish vehicles also played a central role in the show, with trucks including a giant dinosaur made of 25 old BMWs, a whale built from an old helicopter and a giant grasshopper joining the parade. Drummer Mat Fraser, who was born with deformed arms after his mother took the drug thalidomide during her pregnancy, performed a number with Coldplay after Martin watched him perform during the Paralympic opening ceremony. A cast of 1,336 volunteers from around the world and more than 50 drummers were also among the performers in a show with themes ranging from military sacrifice to the changing seasons. The next Paralympic hosts, Rio de
©AFP, Adrian Dennis
Janeiro, provided a carnival-flavoured taste of 2016 with a colourful segment featuring “dance battles” between performers of different styles. Roberta Marquez and Thiago Soares, both Brazilian stars of the British Royal Ballet, performed with a group of Brazilian visually-impaired dancers. There was a huge sigh from the packed stadium as International Paralympic Committee chief Philip Craven declared the London Games officially closed, before British athletes Ellie Simmonds and Jonnie Peacock extinguished the flame. “These have been quite simply amazing Paralympic Games,” said Craven. US rapper-producer Jay-Z lifted the mood, joining Coldplay and Rihanna -now in a more customary transparent top and shiny black skirt – to perform his hit, “Run This Town”. As fireworks exploded over the stadium and the River Thames in the final minutes of London’s summerlong festival of elite sport, a message was projected onto Britain’s Houses of Parliament: “Thank you London, thank you UK.” ■ (©AFP – London, United Kingdom –
September 9, 2012)
©AFP, Adrian Dennis
Flagbearers parade around the stadium. ©AFP, Adrian Dennis
Rihanna performs at the closing ceremony.
©AFP/Pool/Stefan Rousseau
©AFP Photo/Ben Stansall
London Mayor Boris Johnson (left) hands the Paralympic flag to President of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Philip Craven (centre) as Mayor of Rio de Janeiro Eduardo Paes (right) waits during the handover ceremony during the closing ceremony of the London 2012 Paralympic Games.
©AFP, Adrian Dennis
The Olympic Stadium is lit up for the Paralympics closing ceremony. London bid farewell to the Paralympics, with a spectacular celebration of the human spirit.
Britain’s Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex (left), and president of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Philip Craven (right) are driven into the closing ceremony.
Brazilian dancers perform during the closing ceremony to represent the handover of the Olympic flame destined for Rio in 2016.
©AFP Photo/Ben Stansall
©AFP Photo/Ben Stansall
©AFP Photo/Ben Stansall
An artist suspended from lights spouting sparks.
A bicycle engulfed by flames representing the Olympic flame. ©AFP Photo/Ben Stansall
Britain’s David Weir (centre) carries the Union Flag amid flag bearers from other countries as they arrive at the closing ceremony.
(Left to right) US rapper Jay-Z, Barbadian singer Rihanna and Chris Martin and Jon Buckland of British rock band Coldplay perform during the closing ceremony. ©AFP Photo/Ben Stansall
A general view shows the laser-lights show inside the Olympics stadium.
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LAW / POLITICS
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September 2012 / Fortnightly – No. 17 • UK & Europe Edition
President signs law to combat cybercrimes as well as gaining illegal access to or interception of data. The bill also defines “computerrelated offences” for forgery, fraud, identity theft, cybersex and child pornography. Spamming as well as “cybersquatting” – the use of an Internet domain name to mislead consumers, destroy other’s reputations or prevent them from using their name – were included in the bill. The law also punishes libel, Valte said, though asked if this would cover even messages sent on social network websites such as Twitter, she added the state would “leave it up to other lawyers to determine”.
The bill also calls for the creation of a “Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center” that will implement the law, she said. Valte did not say what penalties will be imposed for different offences under the new law. In 2000, two Filipino computer students were accused of releasing the “ILOVEYOU” computer virus that infected computers worldwide, destroying millions of computer files and causing millions of dollars in damage. However the two suspects could not be charged because there was no law against computer hacking in the country. ■ (©AFP – Manila, Philippines – September 15, 2012)
©AFP/File, Saeed Khan
Philippines President Benigno Aquino as he arrives at a summit in Russia’s far eastern port city Vladivostok on September 8. Aquino has signed into law a bill to combat cybercrime, his spokeswoman said, in a bid to stamp down on everything from forgery to child pornography.
Hundreds of Political Prisoners Fast Across the Country...
“No one should experience what the PC-INP did to us while in detention at the PC Barracks in San Pedro street. If the government is punishing us for fighting for what we believed in then why were the military who committed all those atrocities during martial law never held accountable,” he said. On September 21, 1972, then President Ferdinand Marcos placed the entire country under martial rule through Proclamation No. 1082. Marcos, however, made the now infamous live television broadcast of the proclamation, on September 23.
For their part, human rights lawyers and law students under the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL) has also started a sympathy fast for political detainees and will be visiting jails to push for the release of the 385 political detainees across the country. In an emailed statement on Sunday, NUPL secretary general Edre Olalia said that together with their members in Manila, they will visit political prisoners – some of whom are their clients – detained at Camp Crame, Fort Bonifacio, Camp Bagong Diwa, and the National Bilibid Prisons.
More than 300 lawyers and 200 law students and paralegals of its 18 regional and provincial chapters are participating in the sympathy fast, Olalia said. They will also be conducting jail visits in their respective areas. Lawyer-members of NUPL have been handling human rights cases on a pro bono basis since its founding date on September 15, 2007. According to the Alliance for the Advancement of People’s Rights (Karapatan), “the same human rights violations and culture of impunity that was a trademark of martial law did not end with Marcos
but continue up to the present.” “Forty years since the proclamation of martial law and political dissidents are jailed for trumped up charges of murder, illegal possession of firearms, and other criminal offenses,” Cristina Palabay, Karapatan secretary general said in her statement during the 29th death anniversary of Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino. To date, Karapatan has documented “170 political prisoners arrested and detained,” and “almost 30,000 individuals have become victims of forced evacuation” in
Continuation from page 1
the two years of President Benigno Simeon Aquino III’s presidency. “Despite the opportunity to correct this practice and stop human rights violations, as he witnessed the suffering of his own father. Noynoy refused to release all the political prisoners. In fact, he has perpetuated the same forms of injustice inflicted against their family. Like the dictator Marcos, he declared that there are no political prisoners at present,” added Palabay in the same statement. ■ (©InterAksyon.com – Cagayan De Oro City, Philippines – September 17, 2012)
Original Creation and Copyright Reserved By: Hello Philippines 2012
PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino has signed into law a bill to combat cybercrime, his spokeswoman said Saturday, September 15, in a bid to stamp down on everything from forgery to child pornography. The bill will be a boost to lawenforcers who have previously complained of difficulty charging people who use the Internet to commit crimes as there were no legal codes that penalise their acts. Aquino’s spokeswoman Abigail Valte said the bill covered most forms of hacking, defining cybercrimes to include “offences against the confidentiality, integrity and availability” of a computer system,
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13 October 2012 – Saturday 5:00pm tp 11:00pm
Retro Dinner and Dance Party
Kensal Community Club, Kensal Road, London W10 5BJ
FIL MO
13 October 2012 – Saturday 6:00pm
Ms Glamour Philippines UK
Baden Powell House, 65 – 67 Queens Gate, London SW7 5JS
20 October 2012 – Saturday 6:30pm
Batangas Association UK – 19th Annual Charity Dinner & Dance
The Ballroom, Radisson Blu Portman Hotel, 22 Portman Square, London W1H 7BG
Batangas Association UK (BAUK)
Cora Santos 07956 271 750 / Lorna Fortunado 07776 223 212 / Gloria Diaz 07572 795 321 / Attire: Strictly Formal
27 October 2012 – Saturday 5:00pm to 11:00pm
Fancy Dress-up Halloween Disco
The White Hall, Glencoyne Square, Bristol BS10 6DE
FilCom Bristol
Bel Pangilinan 07789 935 777
27 October 2012 – Saturday
MFBA Halloween Party
Mitcham Filipino British Association (MFBA)
Roger Ferreol 07771 892 997
2, 3 and 4 November 2012 – Friday, Saturday and Sunday
1st Reel Gate International Film Festival in London and Manila (1 st RGIFF) Eat Bulaga! Live in London, United Kingdom
Colliers Wood Community Centre, 66 – 72 Colliers Wood High Street, London SW19 2BY Riverside Studio in London ExCel London, ICC Auditorium, One Western Gateway, Royal Victoria Dock, London E16 1XL
OSN and Hello Philippines
Hello Philippines TV Connect 020 3174 1894 / 07553 767 059 / hptvconnect@hello-philippines.com / www.hptvconnect.com / www.hello-philippines.com / Ticket Prices: £35.00 / £45.00 / £55.00 / £65.00 / £75.00 Premium / £85.00 VIP
23 November – Port Talbot 24 November – Swindon 25 November – Newcastle 30 November – Belfast 1 December – Sussex York Sports Club, Clifton Park, Shipton Road, York YO30 5RE
Star Dragon Events UK Limited
Port Talbot 07769 273 618 / Swindon 07897 753 064 / Newcastle 07886 742 417 / Belfast 07850 151 678 / Sussex 07827 965 478
Cancer Research UK – Filipino Beat Cancer
Kim Hawker 07871 446 135 / 01904 691 308 / Les Bright 07758 356 639 / Admission: £10.00 Adult / £5.00 Tennagers / Under 10s Free
Colliers Wood Community Centre, 66 – 72 Colliers Wood High Street, London SW19 2BY
Mitcham Filipino British Association (MFBA)
Roger Ferreol 07771 892 997
12 October 2012 – Friday 8:00pm to 2:00am
17 November 2012 – Saturday
23 November to 1 December 2012
Okay Fine, Todo Na’To! – Ms Rufa Mae Quinto
9 December 2012 – Sunday 5:00pm to 11:30pm
Christmas Charity Party for Cancer Research
22 December 2012 - Saturday
MFBA Thanksgiving / Christmas Party
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14
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Business & Finance
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September 2012 / Fortnightly – No. 17 • UK & Europe Edition
Philippine Embassy in Rome conducts pre-travel briefing for Italian companies PHILIPPINES
AT the suggestion of the Philippine Embassy in Rome, CONFINDUSTRIA informed its members of the plan to organize a business mission to the Philippines sometime in November 2012. CONFINDUSTRIA is the biggest organization in Italy representing Italian manufacturing and services companies, with currently 149,000 companies as voluntary members. As the planned mission was received with great interest by some Italian companies, CONFINDUSTRIA, in cooperation with the Embassy, conducted a Pre-Travel Briefing. Philippine Ambassador to Italy Virgilio A. Reyes, Jr., Atty. Ferdinand Tolentino, Deputy Executive Director of the Public-Private Partnership of the Philippines, and Mr. Jose Antonio Buencamino, Commercial Counsellor of the Philippine Trade Investment
Center in Rome (PTIC-Rome), together presented a holistic and detailed picture of the recent economic developments and potential in the country, the current Public-Private Partnership (PPP) programs, and practical tips on how to do business in the Philippines.
Eighteen Italian companies attended the pre-travel briefing, representing varied sectors such as renewable energy, construction, defense, industrial automation systems, airlines, services and architecture. Infrastructure, Tourism,
Agriculture, Mining and the 3Fs (Fashion, Food and Furniture) were specifically identified as the main sectors with the highest potential for Philippine-Italy business engagement. From Manila, Trade and Industry Undersecretary Cristino Panlilio, the Italian Ambassador to Manila Luca
Fornari, and representatives from the Italian Chamber of Commerce, the European Chamber of Commerce and Italian businesses already operating in the country were also able to participate in the pre-travel briefing via tele-conference. ■ (DFA – September 14, 2012)
Philippine Ambassador to South Africa promotes Philippine mining industry PHILIPPINE Ambassador to South Africa Constancio R. Vingno, Jr. met with the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Management Team of Exxaro Resources, a large coal and heavy minerals mining company in South Africa last September 6. Ambassador Vingno made a brief presentation about mining in the
Philippines before the CEO and his team. The company was established in 2006 and is the second-largest coal producer in South Africa. Its main customer is Eskom, South Africa’s public electric utility. The company also exports coal to Europe, a traditional partner, and is planning
to expand exports to the Americas. Exxaro has coal mining operations in Perth, Australia and considers it as the future for their coal operations. Ambassador Vingno and Mr. Nkosi agreed to meet again to conduct more detailed discussions about Exxaro’s operations. ■ (DFA – September 14, 2012)
(Left Photo) Ambassador Constancio Vingno Jr., with Exxaro CEO Sipho Nikosi and (Right Photo, from left) Ambassador Constancio Vingno Jr., Mr Mongezi Veti (General Manager: Safety and Sustainable Development), Mr Ernst Venter (Executive General Manager Business Growth), Mr Sipho Nikosi (Chief Executive Officer – CEO), MR Mellis Walker (Manager for Coal Operations) and Ms Carina Wessels (Company Secretary).
Central Bank keeps key rates unchanged THE Central Bank kept its key interest rates unchanged Thursday, September 13, saying the global inflation outlook remained muted as recession flattens demand for oil and other commodities. Central bank governor Amando Tetangco said the overnight borrowing rate remained at 3.75 percent, and the overnight lending rate stayed at 5.75 percent. Three cuts this year had pushed both rates to historic lows as the bank sought to ward off an economic slowdown. “While inflation forecasts have risen slightly due to the higher August
inflation and recent increases in global oil and other commodity prices, the future inflation path remains well within the target,” Tetangco said. Officials said the central bank raised its inflation forecasts Thursday, to 3.4 percent this year and 4.1 percent in 2013 from 3.1 and 3.2 percent, respectively. “Weak global economic prospects continue to temper the inflation outlook, as a possible easing in global demand could contribute to moderate international commodity prices,” Tetangco said in a statement. Meanwhile, he said the Philippine peso’s rise – to four-year highs against
the dollar this week – could also temper inflationary pressures. Inflation surged to 3.8 percent in August amid widespread floods, pushing the eight-month average to 3.2 percent. ■ (©AFP – Manila, Philippines
– September 13, 2012) ©AFP/File
Central bank governor Amando Tetangco.
(Left to right) VP for GMA International Joseph Francia, Alessandra Otero Marketing of Time Warner Cable, and GMA Marketing Help for US (East Coast) Grace Labaguis at the awarding ceremony in Hilton New York in Manhattan. (Left photo) EMMA’s won by GMA.
GMA Network is one of this year’s most awarded companies at the EMMA’s
GMA Network, Inc. (GMA) reaped the harvest of its hard work anew as it brought home six EMMAs (Excellence in Multi-Cultural Marketing Awards) at the 26th National Association for Multi-Ethnicity in Communications (NAMIC) conference last September 11 to 12 at the Hilton New York in Manhattan. GMA – through its international unit that distributes GMA Pinoy TV, GMA Life TV and GMA News TV abroad – has been recognized by NAMIC almost every year since the launch of GMA Pinoy TV in 2005. This year, however, is a special one for the Kapuso Network after emerging as one of the most awarded companies in the prestigious competition. The awards also remarkably honor several techniques in GMA’s wide-ranging approach in reaching existing and potential subscribers. CableFax Magazine, a respected US pay-TV industry publication, took note of this in its September 2012 issue saying that “GMA... took home a number of wins across content categories.” GMA won first place for its “Support Manny Pacquiao” online marketing campaign (Digital category) and for its international magazine “Kapuso Abroad” (Grassroots category). Meanwhile, Eat Bulaga’s San Francisco show sponsored by GMA Pinoy TV came in second in the Experiential Marketing category. GMA won third place for its
participation in the TOFA (The Outstanding Filipino Americans) Awards under the Diversity Awareness category, its eco-friendly green bags under the Premium category, and its one-minute free advertising “Pinoy Inbox” under the Television category. “These awards are a testament of our efforts to continuously innovate and become more relevant in today’s highly-competitive and fast-evolving pay-TV landscape,” said GMA International Vice President and Head of Operations, Joseph T. Francia. “We offer our victory to our subscribers, who have consistently supported us over the last seven years.” NAMIC President and CEO Nicole Turner-Lee extended her congratulations to GMA for its harvest of awards and expressed her desire for the Filipino-American market segment to have even more representation in future projects of NAMIC. NAMIC is an international organization that recognizes superior multicultural marketing practices in the cable industry. Established as nonprofit trade organization in 1980, it has over 2,700 professionals from a network of 16 chapters worldwide. GMA’s international unit oversees the distribution overseas of flagship channel GMA Pinoy TV, as well as GMA Life TV, GMA News TV International, DZBB and DWLS. At present, the channels reach over 2 million viewers on various pay-TV platforms in 90 countries worldwide. ■
16
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International News
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September 2012 / Fortnightly – No. 17 • UK & Europe Edition
Philippines deposits instrument of ratification for ILO Convention protecting Migrant Domestic Workers THE Philippines attained an additional significant milestone in the protection of migrant domestic workers when it deposited on September 5, at the International Labor Organization (ILO) the Instrument for Ratification of ILO Convention 189, otherwise known as the Convention on Decent Work for Domestic Workers. Philippine Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva, Ambassador Evan P. Garcia, presented the Instrument of Ratification to ILO Director General (DG) Juan Somavia
at the ILO Headquarters in Geneva. The Philippines is the second country to ratify the ILO Convention after it was adopted by the 100th ILO Conference in June 2011. The deposit of the Philippines’ Instrument of Ratification will bring the Convention into force a year later. As part of its continuing commitment to and leadership in the global promotion of migrant worker causes, the Philippines, through the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), chaired the ILO Committee on Decent Work that finalized the draft Convention
Philippines contributes to improving International Merchant Shipping
THE Philippines has been elected to the Steering Group of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) tasked to reduce the administrative burdens imposed on ship owners, seafarers, and governments, the Philippine Embassy in London reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). The shipping sector is regulated by the IMO to ensure maritime safety and the protection of the marine environment. In carrying out its responsibility, IMO requires periodic reporting and attainment of standards in the operation of merchant ships. The Steering Group will identify which reports and requirements of IMO could be simplified or reduced in order to allow seafarers and ship owners to concentrate on the technical tasks of transporting 90% of global trade rather than complying with bureaucratic requirements. To ensure the widest consultation possible, Philippine Ambassador to the United Kingdom and concurrent
Permanent Representative to the IMO Enrique A. Manalo urges Philippine seafarers’ unions and Filipino shipowners to volunteer information on how to reduce the bureaucratic burdens imposed on seafarers. Any comments or contributions from ship owners, seafarers, and their associations may be sent to the Department of Foreign Affairs’ (DFA’s) Ocean Concerns Office or the Philippine Embassy in London (embassy@philemb.co.uk). The Steering Group was convened at the IMO Headquarters last September 4 with Mr. Kees Polderman of the Netherlands elected as its chairman. Minister Francisco Noel R. Fernandez III of the Philippine Embassy in London was appointed by the IMO Secretary General to the Steering Group, together with 18 other selected government and industry representatives. ■ (DFA – September 10, 2012)
for adoption by the ILO Conference in 2011. Ambassador Garcia conveyed the appreciation of the Philippine Government to DG Somavia, who will be leaving his position, for his vision and leadership, and to the secretariat of the ILO, for their contribution in helping to move ILC 189 forward. Last August 20, the Philippines also deposited its Instrument of Ratification for the Maritime Labor Convention, another landmark international labor agreement. ■ (DFA – September 6, 2012)
First Filipino-Canadian appointed to Senate of Canada
PRIME Minister Stephen Harper announced on September 7, the appointment of Filipino-Canadian Tobias C. Enverga Jr. to the Senate of Canada effective immediately. Senator Enverga was one of five distinguished Canadians joining the 105-seat Senate of Canada where they are expected to serve until the age of 75. Senator Enverga fills one of two vacant seats for Ontario while the rest of the quintet will represent Quebec, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. “I look forward to working with these talented individuals,” the Prime Minister stated. “Their skills and experience will help to further advance our shared goals of jobs, growth and long-term prosperity for all Canadians.” Prior to his appointment, Senator Enverga was a project manager at the Bank of Montreal, where he has worked for more than 30 years. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Letran College in
the Philippines, a Masters Certificate in Project Management from the Schulich School of Business at York University, and a Computer Studies Certificate from Centennial College. Mr. Enverga has been involved in various organizations and a number of charitable projects. He is the first Filipino-Canadian elected in the City of Toronto, and served as Trustee to the Toronto Catholic District School Board. He is Co-Chair of the Asian Heritage Month Celebration for the Greater Toronto Area and was previously a Director of the Canadian Multicultural Council - Asians in Ontario. He is also the founder of the Philippine Canadian Charitable Foundation and a former president of the Philippine Independence Day Council. In 2012, Mr. Enverga was the recipient of the Queen’s 60th Diamond Jubilee medal of distinction. Within the Filipino community in Toronto, Mr. Enverga is known for his active involvement in charitable
projects in the Philippines which include medical missions, building schools, churchers and artesian wells, funding livelihood training programs, and supporting Bantay Bata and GK Villages in Camarines Norte and Quezon City. For his exceptional contribution to reconstruction, progress and development in the Philippines, Mr. Enverga was conferred the Linkapil Award by the Office of the President in 2008. “The Philippine Embassy in Ottawa hails the appointment of Senator Enverga together with Filipino communities across Canada. Slowly but surely, Filipino excellence continues to gain recognition in the highest echelons of Canadian officialdom. We hope that his appointment will inspire other FilipinoCanadians to achieve their own high aspirations in this welcoming land of opportunity,” remarked Philippine Ambassador to Canada Leslie B. Gatan. ■ (DFA – September 8, 2012)
Pioneering exchange program between German and Philippine Universities launched
Ambassador Maria Cleofe R. Natividad presents the processed documents to Professor Dr Axel Bader.
THE first batch of seven students from the Ingolstadt University of Applied Sciences will begin their exchange program with Silliman University in Dumaguete City for the winter semester of 2012 to 2013. “This student exchange signals closer cooperation in the field of education,” Philippine Ambassador to Germany Maria Cleofe Natividad said upon handing the students’ documents to Professor Dr. Axel Bader, who handles the program for Ingolstadt University. Professor Bader, who teaches external accounting and international taxation at the Ingolstadt University, called on Ambassador Natividad, to discuss Philippine-German cooperation in the field of education and to finalize the documents required of the visiting students. The two universities have agreed
to cooperate in admitting exchange students, enabling German students at Ingolstadt to spend their foreign guest semester at Silliman, and Silliman students to study for a semester in Ingolstadt. The German students will attend full credit courses at the College of Business Administration and the College of Computer Studies in the second semester of this school year. Ambassador Natividad briefed Professor Bader on the developments in the Philippine educational system, including alignment to the Bologna process such as the K+12 school system. They also discussed the possibility for German students to undergo practicum in the Philippines, with the German dual system of education, particularly that of the Ingolstadt University, as a model, as well as scholarships for Philippine
students to Germany. According to Professor Bader, the Philippines, which is considered one of the so-called emerging markets, is an interesting destination for business students. Professor Dr. Bader also thanked Ambassador Natividad for the Embassy’s active support for the pioneer exchange students, especially facilitating documentary requirements for their academic applications at Silliman University. The Philippine Embassy in Berlin supports closer academic cooperation as part of its cultural diplomacy efforts. It was also instrumental in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between The Manila Times College and the Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität Frankfurt (Goethe University) in 2011. ■ (DFA – September 4, 2012)
18
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International News
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September 2012 / Fortnightly – No. 17 • UK & Europe Edition
Beijing, Taipei turn on Manila for renaming sea NGO accused of misuse of USAID funds
BEIJING and Taipei on Thursday, September 13, dismissed Manila’s renaming part of the South China Sea as the “West Philippine Sea”, with both saying the designation did not affect their own sovereignty claims. Beijing asserts its sovereignty over nearly all of the South China Sea, even waters approaching the coasts of other countries, while the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan have overlapping claims. On Wednesday, September 12, Philippines President Benigno Aquino announced that his government had officially dubbed the waters off the country’s west coast the “West Philippine Sea” and would register the name with the United Nations. China’s foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei told reporters: “The act by the Philippines cannot in the least way change the fact that China has indisputable sovereignty
over the islands in the South China Sea and adjacent waters. “For a long time the South China Sea has been a geographic name universally accepted by the international community and widely used by countries the world over, including the United Nations and other international organisations,” he added. In Taipei, the foreign ministry said in a statement that Taiwan “does not recognise this unilateral move that will provoke disputes and sternly reaffirms its territorial claim” to the sea. “We urge neighbouring countries to exercise self-restraint and avoid any unilateral moves that will affect peace and stability in the region, instead replacing confrontation with dialogue,” it said. Strategically important shipping routes run through the sea and it is
thought to harbour large petroleum reserves. The rival claims make the area a potential military flashpoint and earlier this year Chinese and Filipino ships engaged in a stand-off at Scarborough Shoal. The rocky outcrop sits about 230 kilometres (140 miles) from the west coast of the Philippines’ main island of Luzon, while the nearest major Chinese landmass is 1,200 kilometres northwest, according to Philippine navy maps. The Philippines defended its latest move, with Aquino’s spokesman Edwin Lacierda saying the renaming should not be a “cause of conflict” with its neighbours. “How does one threaten other nations when what we’ve called the West Philippine Sea covers (our) exclusive economic zone?,” he said. ■ (©AFP – September 13, 2012)
THE US development agency has filed a criminal complaint against a leading Philippine anti-human trafficking group for allegedly misusing millions of dollars in aid, authorities said Friday, September 14. The US Agency for International Development (USAID) asked investigators from the Philippine justice department in August to probe the Visayan Forum Foundation (VFF) over funds the group could not account for. At least 210 million pesos ($5 million) in aid meant to fund the group’s projects have since been found to be missing, said the head of the investigating division, Rachel Marfil Angeles. “We have recommended to the Department of Justice the filing of charges of falsification of documents. More serious charges could follow,” she said. Angeles said the findings were
backed by external auditors hired by USAID, which checked disbursements to the Foundation covering the period 2005 to 2011. Established in 1991, the foundation had been considered the leading Philippine group in the fight against human trafficking. It had also received financial support from international companies Starbucks and Microsoft. The foundation’s founder Maria Cecilia Oebanda has also been tapped as an adviser to the Philippine government as it seeks removal from an international watchlist where human trafficking remains rampant. Oebanda denied the accusations. “I’m still in shock. We just hope we get due process... so we can defend ourselves in court,” she told AFP. The US embassy said in a statement that it was aware of the investigation. ■ (©AFP – September 14, 2012)
A two-member delegation from the Philippine National Agribusiness Corporation (NABCOR), headed by its president, Mr. Honesto Baniqued, visited Beijing from August 24 to 26 to participate in the China-ASEAN Trade and Promotion Fair for Agricultural Products. The fair was organized by China Chamber of Commerce of Import and Export of Foodstuffs, Native Produce and Animal By-Products (CCCFNA), in cooperation with the Chinese Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM). The primary objectives of the fair were to strengthen interaction and communication between Chinese and ASEAN agricultural enterprises and to serve as a venue for Chinese government officials and agricultural industry experts to discuss government policies on
trade and investment of agricultural products, forecast and trends on agricultural markets, and exchange views on topics of mutual interest. With the exception of Brunei, representatives from ASEAN member countries attended the fair. During the opening ceremony, Director Jiang Yinggang of MOFCOM’s Asian Affairs Department showed the rapid growth of trade between ASEAN and China since the adoption of the Framework Agreement on Comprehensive Economic Cooperation between China and ASEAN, signed in 2002. Mr. Jiang pointed out that ASEAN has now become China’s second largest agricultural trade partner and stressed ASEAN’s growing importance to China as a trading partner.
A representative from each of the six participating ASEAN countries presented an overview of his country, agriculture industry and major products, and discussed trade and investment opportunities. Presentations were made by Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Vietnam. CCCFNA also arranged businessmatching meetings which provided an opportunity for Chinese enterprises to make detailed queries and hold discussions on business opportunities with the participating ASEAN countries. The participants went on field visits to Tianjin and a wholesale supermarket in Tongzhou district, Beijing on August 25 and 26, respectively. ■ (DFA – September 11, 2012)
Philippines joins China-Asean trade and promotion fair for agricultural products
(Left Photo) National Agribusiness Corporation (NABCOR) President Honesto Baniqued delivers his presentation on the Philippines’ agriculture industry. (Right Photo, from left) NABCOR President (3rd from right) Honesto Baniqued, with Embassy officials, Commercial Attache Christine dela Cruz, First Secretary Ivan Frank Olea, Commercial Counsellor Zafrullah Masahud, Agriculture Counsellor Victoriano Leviste and NABCOR Vice-President for Finance Marilou Sanchez.
US envoy hopeful China will lower territorial tensions THE US Ambassador to China voiced hope Thursday, September 13, that the Asian power was looking to ease tensions in the region after flareups in territorial rows with Southeast Asian nations and Japan. China’s leaders told US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during “very good discussions” last week in Beijing that they wanted to pursue a code of conduct with the ASEAN bloc on the South China Sea, Ambassador Gary Locke said. “I’ve also heard from many prominent Chinese academics that China would like somehow to return to the status quo, that they would like to lower the temperature,” Locke said at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Washington. Locke said the United States did not take positions on claims but wanted to make sure that no side “engages in any type of activity that
escalates tensions and jeopardizes safety and freedom of navigation, which would hurt everybody.” Tensions have soared between China and Japan over a dispute in the potentially resource-rich East China Sea as Tokyo announced that it would nationalize islands where rival nationalists have sailed to stake claims. In the South China Sea, the Philippines and Vietnam have accused China of a wave of intimidation against fishermen and rival nations’ ships as Beijing exerts its claims to virtually all of the strategic waterway. “It’s going to be incumbent upon China and the Philippines to have their own negotiations on this (and) China and Vietnam on a bilateral basis,” Locke said. Locke’s remarks, made in passing in response to a question, appeared to take a different emphasis from
other senior US officials who have called on China to negotiate with the full 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Under a 2002 agreement, China agreed to reach a code of conduct for the South China Sea with ASEAN but Beijing has since preferred to deal with each nation individually, instead of as a unified bloc. Clinton visited ASEAN’s headquarters in Jakarta to urge unity before her talks in Beijing, where Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said China wanted the “eventual adoption of a code of conduct” on the “basis of consensus.” US officials say that a code of conduct would provide ways to manage disputes and increase dialogue so that incidents do not turn into full-fledged conflicts in the sea, through which half of the world’s cargo flows. ■ (©AFP – September 13, 2012)
Rebels ‘will not attack US over Islam film’
THE Philippines’ largest Muslim insurgent group on Sunday, September 16, rejected Al-Qaeda calls to attack US targets over an anti-Islam film that has sparked protests around the world. The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has instructed its 12,000 members to observe a ceasefire pact with the government, and will not attack US targets in the country, the MILF’s chief political officer Ghazali Jaafar said. “We do not live in the dark ages, there are rules and laws that need to be followed,” Jaafar told AFP by telephone from the MILF’s southern headquarters. “We have an existing ceasefire with the Philippines, and we will not violate that.” He branded the killing of the US ambassador to Libya, Chris Stevens, and three other Americans at the US consulate in Benghazi a “senseless act of violence”.
“Even in war, there are international norms that need to be accepted, including the protection of diplomats and embassies,” he said, while condemning those behind the amateur film produced in the United States that sparked the violence. Jaafar said the MILF would monitor other Muslim groups in the mainly Catholic Philippines, adding: “We will inform government negotiators of any impending terror attacks.” A Muslim rebellion has raged in the southern Philippines since the early 1970s, leaving some 150,000 dead. The MILF has dropped its bid for an independent state in the south, and is negotiating a peace pact with Manila to create an autonomous region. The Al Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf group also operates in the country. ■ (©AFP – Manila, Philippines – September 16, 2012)
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September 2012 / Fortnightly – No. 17 • UK & Europe Edition
Philippines participates in 2012 Asian Grand Prix International Ballet Competition 22
PHILIPPINES
Lisa Macuja Elizalde (6th from left) is joined by her Ballet Manila students, including her daughter Michelle Elizabeth (3rd from left) and scholar Jessa Balote (5th from left) during a break from competition on August 7, 2012 at the 2012 Asian Grand Prix International Competition for Students and Young Dancers at the Y Theatre in Chai Wan, Hong Kong.
BALLET dancers from the Philippines bagged bronze medals at the recently concluded 2012 Asian Grand Prix International Competition for Students and Young Dancers, which was held at the Y Theatre in Chai Wan, Hong Kong from August 6 to 11. Rudolph Capongcol got a bronze in the Senior Division for his rendition of Diana and Actaeon, while Arnulfo Andrade, Jr. was hailed as the most promising in this division. For the Pas de Deux division, Elpidio Magat, Jr. and Joan Emery Sia also garnered bronze for their interpretation of Giselle Act II. Among the competitors were Jessa Balote, a 14-year-old dance
scholar from Tondo, Manila under the tutelage of Ballet Manila’s Lisa Macuja Elizalde, as well as Ms. Elizalde’s daughter, Michelle Elizabeth. Filipino dancers were represented in Junior A, B, C, Senior, and the Pas de Deux divisions. Now on its second year, this edition’s Asian Grand Prix has attracted more than 170 dancers from around the region. Participating Philippine ballet schools included Academy One Music & Dance Centre, Balletcenter Cebu, Ballet Manila, Ecole De Ballet Manille, Maquiling Ballet, Philippine High School for the Arts, and Steps Dance Studio. ■ (©DFA – August 15, 2012)
Filipina artist works showcased at Australian National University THE “Untitled” Artwork of Ms. Kelsy Marie Senturias, daughter of Ms. Priscilla C. Senturias, Records and Communication Officer of the Philippine Embassy in Australia, was selected for display in the annual Step into the Limelight-Voyage Art Exhibition organized by the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Education and Training Directorate. The exhibit was officially opened at the Australian National University
(ANU) School of Art Foyer Gallery on August 8 to 18. It includes over 150 artworks representing students from 25 ACT public schools. Fourteen-year-old Kelsy, a Year 9 student at Stromlo High School Canberra, made her younger sister, Kaithlyn Marian, the subject of her acrylic painting, emphasizing her sister’s sporting and musical interests – handball and the xylophone. ■ (©DFA – August 15, 2012)
The Asia Cup 2012 champions from the Ateneo Law School (from left) Angela Abala, Nonalyn Superable, Lauren Toledo, and Vincent Aureus pay a courtesy call on Ambassador Manuel M. Lopez, First Secretary and Consul Josel Ignacio, Second Secretary and Consul Christian de Jesus, and Second Secretary and Consul Hans Mohaimin Siriban.
Philippines wins Asia Cup 2012 International Law Moot Court Tourney
THE Philippines, represented by the Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) Law School, won the “Asia Cup 2012” International Law Moot Court Competition hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan (MOFA) on August 20 and 21 in Tokyo. Composed of members of the Ateneo Society of International Law, the Philippines won the Best Team and Best Memorial Awards. The team also did well individually. Jericho Tiu was awarded as the Overall Best Oralist while Lauren Toledo, Angela Abala, and Nonalyn Superable were ranked as 4th Best Oralist, 6th Best Oralist, and 7th Best Oralist, respectively. The team members are Angela Abala, Vincent Aureus (team captain), Nonalyn Superable, Jericho Tiu, Lauren Toledo. The team was coached by Atty. Domnina Rances and Atty. Jose Victornino Salud.
The team from Ateneo Law School was the Philippine representative in the international rounds in Tokyo this year. The participating universities this year also included Universitas Gadjah Mada ALSA LC of Indonesia, Chulalongkorn University of Thailand, Singapore Management University of Singapore, Peking University of China, Soongsil University of the Republic of Korea, Kathmandu School of Law of Nepal, the Diplomatic Academy of Viet Nam, and Sophia University and Waseda University of Japan. The Philippines has won the Asia Cup the most number of times, winning in eight tournaments since 1999. The Ateneo won the Asia Cup in 1999, 2002, 2008, and 2012. The University of the Philippines won the Asia Cup in 2000, 2003, 2007, and 2009.
The International Law Moot Court Competition “Asia Cup” is a moot court competition where students from Asian countries demonstrate their ability in writing memorials and presenting oral pleadings on a fictitious lawsuit case concerning international human rights and humanitarian laws. Hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan since 2003, this International Law Moot Court is highly regarded among the Asian international law circles. The competition fosters crosscultural experiences and promotes mutual understanding among the delegations from Asian countries and Japanese participants. It is also an “outstanding occasion [for] international cooperation in human rights education and dissemination of international human rights and humanitarian treaties.” ■ (DFA – August
24, 2012)
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1st Reel Gate International Film Festival in London, UK
September 2012 / Fortnightly – No. 17 • UK & Europe Edition
Reel Gate International Film Festival launch star-studded PHILIPPINES
Boy Villasanta
NEVER SAY DIE. THIS is the mantra controversial and intriguing Fil-Briton filmmaker Jowee Morel (of “Moma,” “Ec2luv,” “Mga Paru-Parong Rosas (Pink Butterflies),” “Mona Singapore Escort,” “When a Gay Man Loves,” “Latak (Residue),” “HiStory,” “Moving Dreams,” “Strictly Confidential” and the newly wrapped up migration film “Leona Calderon starring Filipina screen legend Pilar Pilapil and award-winning British and Hollywood actress Virginia McKenna) has been chanting all through his way to show business, the world he ultimately wants to inhabit. After all, Morel’s pursuits in filmmaking have been slowly but surely paying off. His meet-the-press gig recently in the Philippines in connection with his mounting the annual Reel Gate International Film Festival successively in London and Manila has been quite successful. Amidst hardships and tribulations in the entertainment industry both home grown and in diaspora, Morel hasn’t given up a single day in his life committing to meaningful events and projects he can muster and sink his teeth into. After completion of his Master of Arts (MA) in Cinematography and Post-Production from the University of Greenwich in London and putting in can “Leona Calderon” early this year, Jowee immediately sat down with his British friends and business associates to realize the long overdue project, an international film festival of Filipino and British cinemas which he eventually billed Reel Gate. It was this writer and Programmer of Cine Adarna of the University of the Philippines in Diliman and active member of the academe-based film scholars Young Critics Circle Nonoy Lauzon who egged on Morel to do a showing of Filipino films in London some five years ago but due to lack of funds and time constraints the bright prospect of the event was called off. Although the inclusion of British movies was a belated section in the fest – in deference to Morel’s gratitude to his Western influences and gladly, his citizenship – the idea was a bright enough gleam of hope for the mutual understanding and visionary attempts of both countries to a bilateral dialogue and cultural exchange. The RGIFF press conference was a story in itself. You see, Morel had no extra budget for a presscon (food, venue rental, preparations etc) but thank God, he was able to pull through a simple yet significant forum with Philippine media. He just transited from London to Dubai to Manila to get to personally see and talk to the press people about RGIFF.
Jowee Morel, Reel Gate International Film Festival Organizer and Director
Tita Mega C, Ambassador of Charity
A scene from Jim Libiran’s “Happyland”
ER Ejercito in “Manila Kingpin The Asiong Salonga Story”
Joy Viado, Gardo Versoza and Allan Paule in “MNL 143”
Among the official line-up entered to the festival: “Bisperas (Trespassers)” (2011) Quantum Films and Cinemalaya Foundation, Producers; Jeffrey Jeturian, Director; “MNL 143” (2012) Voyage Films, Producer; Emerson Reyes, Director; “Manila Kingpin The Asiong Salonga Story” (2011) Scenema Concept International, Producer; “Biyaheng Lupa (Soliloquy) (2009) Quantum Films, Producer; Armando Lao, Director; “Tribu (Tribe) (2007) 8 Glasses Productions and Cinemalaya Foundation, Producers; Jim Libiran, Director; “Happyland” (2011) 8Glasses Productions, Producer; Jim Libiran, Director; “Rindido (Rage)” (2010) Ironoriel Films, Producer; Noriel Jarito, Director; “Bangka ha ut sin duwah sapah (The Boat Between Two Rivers)” (2012) Film Development Council of the Philippines, Fireball Multimedia, Red Room Media Productions, Producers; and “Tsardyer (Charger)” (2010), Cinema One Originals both directed by Sigfreid Barros-Sanchez. Among the British films, “A Summer House” (2009) Daisy Gili, Director and Robert Pattenson, Actor; “Choices” (2012) Djonny Chen, Director and a collection of shorts by Ivan Madeira (2012) which was shown at the 64th Cannes International Film Festival. The crème de la crème of the local entertainment press were at the Max’s Restaurant in Scout Tuazon in Quezon City such as Ricky F. Lo, Ronald Constantino, Art Tapalla, Arthur Quinto, Dennis Adobas, Isah V. Red,
Eugene Asis, Mell Navarro, freelance photographer Luz Candaba, Ronald Rafer, Obette Serrano of ABS-CBN, Jeff Fernando of TV5, Gary Sta. Ana, Alice Vergara and Julie Bonifacio. Likewise most of the filmmakers, directors and producers of the official feature entries like Libiran (“Tribu” and “Happyland”), director/producer Chuck Gutierrez and Baby Ruth Villarama of Voyage Films (“MNL 143”), Barros-Sanchez (“Bangka ha ut sin duwah sapah (The Boat Between Two Rivers)” and “Tsardyer (Charger)” and producer Maylyn Enriquez (“Manila Kingpin The Asiong Salonga Story”). Especially present was Reel Gate’s appointed Ambassador of Charity Yvonne Benavidez, also known as Tita Mega C who was excited and honoured to be the event’s representative to the world of social welfare. “That was my first taste of a presscon and I was very pleased although nervous. I was able to articulate the importance of charity in mounting such an important event as an international film festival. “I will represent Reel Gate to all its beneficiaries,” said Tita Mega C. Among the recipients of RGIFF financial support are Terrence Higgins Trust, an HIV/AIDS advocate in London; Pilar V. Pilapil Foundation, an NGO which nurtures and oversees Christian values and education; Ilayang Ilog Association, a private group which promotes and protects gay rights and Positive Action Foundation, an
Presscon of Reel Gate International Film Festival recently at Max’s Restaurant in Quezon City, Philippines
organization which supports HIV/AIDS awareness campaign. According to Morel, he is all set to give these socio-civic groups the push they all need to intensify their altruistic objectives. “I am very positive Reel Gate will be a lifetime partner of these social institutions. As long as I live I will see to it that we are conduits to important social interactions in the Philippines and abroad,” exclaimed Jowee. Meanwhile, Libiran is ecstatic this early. “I know that London has a very exclusive film industry. And it’s quite difficult to penetrate this expensive city. By way of Reel Gate, my films will finally hit its screens,” Jim admitted. Gutierrez and Villarama were equally hopedul and inspired their films, one of them “MNL 143” would be received overseas like London. “I know that Reel Gate will be a
success,” the two filmmakers qualified. “When Sir Boy Villasanta (Philippine Registrar approached me for the showing of ‘Manila Kingpin The Asiong Salonga Story’ I didn’t have second thoughts. As a matter of fact, I was waiting for a go-signal from a London film programmer but Reel Gate came ahead of them so I was convinced it could help our film circulate in London,” said Enriquez. “My friends in London wanted to see my films but they couldn’t because of strict compliance of its government to rules and regulations about theatre film showing so when Reel Gate came to my knowledge I immediately applied to them. I sent in my films (‘Bangka ha ut sin duwah sapah (The Boat Between Two Rivers)’ and ‘Tsardyer (Charger)’ without any doubt so that my friends could watch them,” quipped BarrosSanchez. ■
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HELLO
Hello Philippines Band Showcase
www.hello-philippines.com
September 2012 / Fortnightly – No. 17 • UK & Europe Edition
EkiZ: “The Rise of an Exciting Rock Band” PHILIPPINES
FORMED by a group of friends in Mitcham in 2010 EkiZ has undergone some major changes to evolve to the band it is today. A couple of bizarre coincidences and random conversations only meant that the band took form at all. Originally the brainchild of Ron Dalida (now the adviser of the group) also known as “Ka Roni” fame at Radyo Maynila UK, the band started as “The EkiZ Band” and was little more than a collective of musicians just gathering to play for fun. As time progressed and line up’s shifted continuously the band struggled to find any consistency. However, under the guidance of manager, Jess Magdaong (MFBA, Bicol Association), a performance at the Mitcham Filipino British Association’s – Summer Barrio Fiesta in 2011 brought the band to the wider attention of the Filipino Community. Subsequent shows at “Pinoy Ako” Charity Concert, Kabisig
Bromley Rock Intensity, Noypi 3, Pinoy Magkaisa in East Grinstead and releasing a mini-EP of original material that has received radio air play has raised the pedigree of the band even further than many had expected. Now known as just “EkiZ”, the Alt-Rock Fil-Brit 5 piece has fixed on a settled line up consisting of energetic frontman Omar Palarca, Joey Palomeno on Rhythm guitar and returning drummer David Owen Johnson. Adding further impetus to the group is the recent inclusion of brothers Christian (Lead Guitar) and Jessie Jualo (Bass). Not only does this lend the band a fraternal chemistry on stage it has moved the band up to the next level. hristian, a multi-instrumentalist (Ex Audio Delta and also of Pinoy Metal band Doppelganger) brings the technical chops and creativity to combine with the bands main songsmith, Joey, to reach for higher goals, expect more to come! ■
Next Gigs: 30th September 2012 – “Ai Ai Got Talent” – Troxy, London 12th October 2012 – “Pinoy Live Sessions” AAA@Archangel, High Street Kensington www.aaa.net.uk http://soundcloud.com/smooth_operator-ekiz https://www.reverbnation.com/theekizband
L-R – David, Christian, Joey, Jessie, Omar Soaring guitars, crunching rhythms and energetic vocals. Mixing originals with Tagalog and English Alternative covers.
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Embassy of the Philippines London, United Kingdom
September 2012 / Fortnightly – No. 17 • UK & Europe Edition
Embassy of the Philippines London, United Kingdom
ADVISORY: CONSULAR OUTREACH MISSION, EDINBURGH
ADVISORY: CONSULAR OUTREACH MISSION, NEWCASTLE
The Embassy is pleased to announce the holding of its 7th Consular Outreach Mission for 2012 at the following venue:
The Embassy is pleased to announce the holding of its 8th Consular Outreach Mission for 2012 at the following venue:
DATE : 22 SEPTEMBER 2012, SATURDAY TIME : 9 AM TO 5 PM VENUE : DESTINY EDINBURGH CHURCH, GORGIE CENTRE, 52 GORGIE ROAD, EDINBURGH, EH11 2NB CONTACT : MRS. MARJORIE CHONG (07837800658 or marjorie_chong@yahoo.co.uk) — for directions to the venue
DATE : 06 OCTOBER 2012, SATURDAY TIME : 9 AM TO 5 PM VENUE : PARK ROAD COMMUNITY CENTRE, PARK ROAD, ELSWICK, NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE NE4 7RU CONTACT : MR. CELSO ‘BONG’ BANGAYAN, PRESIDENT OF FILCAN (0782-4338251) AND MRS. SALLY SELLERS (O7886742417) — for directions to the venue
SERVICES OFFERED:
SERVICES OFFERED:
• E—PASSPORT APPLICATIONS (by booking with the Embassy from 12-19 September 2012 on a first-book/first-served basis) • ON E—WAY TRAVEL DOCUMENT APPLICATIONS • REPORTS OF BIRTH, MARRIAGE, DEATH, DIVORCE • NOTARIAL 8; LEGALIZATION SERVICES (AFFIDAVITS, SPAS) • NBI FORM APPLICATIONS • ACCEPTANCE OF PHILIPPINE VISA APPLICATIONS (NOTE: NO ACTUAL VISAS WILL BE ISSUED DURING THE OUTREACH MISSION) • PHILIPPINE CITIZENSHIP RETENTION / RE-ACQUISITION • ASSISTANCE-TO-NATIONALS AND LEGAL ADVICE REGARDING PHILIPPINE LAW • SSS, PAG-IBIG AND OWWA MEMBERSHIP/ BENEFITS (OEC ISSUANCE) • ADVICE ON EMPLOYMENT/ LABOR RELATED MATTERS • OVERSEAS ABSENTEE VOTING REGISTRATION (Please bring a valid passport)
• E-PASSPORT APPLICATIONS (by booking with the Embassy from 26 September to O3 October 2012 on a first—book/first-served basis) • ONE-WAY TRAVEL DOCUMENT APPLICATIONS • REPORTS OF BIRTH, MARRIAGE, DEATH, DIVORCE • NOTARIAL AND LEGALIZATION SERVICES (AFFIDAVITS, SPAs) • NBI FORM APPLICATIONS • ACCEPTANCE OF PHILIPPINE VISA APPLICATIONS (NOTE: NO ACTUAL VISAS WILL BE ISSUED DURING THE OUTREACH MISSION) • PHILIPPINE CITIZENSHIP RETENTION / RE-ACQUISITION • ASSISTANCE-TO-NATIONALS AND LEGAL ADVICE REGARDING PHILIPPINE LAW • SSS, PAG—IBIG AND OWWA MEMBERSHIP / BENEFITS (OEC ISSUANCE) • ADVICE ON EMPLOYMENT/ LABOR RELATED MATTERS • OVERSEAS ABSENTEE VOTING REGISTRATION (Please bring a valid passport)
All those who will avail of the services during the Outreach Mission are advised to check the documentary and other requirements at www.philembassy-uk.org. Applicants may likewise download application forms in advance from the same website. Those who wish to receive their e-Passports, visas to the Philippines, or other documents by Post are advised to submit a self-addressed stamped special delivery envelope with their applications. Payments for consular services can be made in cash (English currency) or with postal money orders made out to the Philippine Embassy. Personal cheques are not accepted for payment purposes. The Embassy looks forward to seeing you at the Consular Outreach Mission in Edinburgh. ■
All those who will avail of the services during the Outreach Mission are advised to check the documentary and other requirements at vvww.philembassy-uk.org. Applicants may likewise download application forms in advance from the same website. Those who wish to receive their e-Passports, visas to the Philippines, or other documents by Post are advised to submit a self-addressed stamped special delivery envelope with their applications. Payments for consular services can be made in cash (English currency) or with postal money orders made out to the Philippine Embassy. Personal cheques are not accepted for payment purposes. The Embassy looks forward to seeing you at the Consular Outreach Mission in Newcastle upon Tyne. ■ (06 October 2012 – COM-8)
(22 September 2012 – COM-7)
Philippine Embassy in Dublin donates Baldemor Art Piece to Ireland’s Premier Academic Institution AS a gesture of friendship and goodwill to Ireland and the Irish people, the Philippine Embassy in Ireland recently donated a Baldemor art piece in its art collection to Ireland’s largest university, the University College Dublin (UCD) during a presentation held at UCD’s Newman House, a famous landmark on St Stephen’s Green in Dublin last August 23. In her presentation, former Charge d’affaires Hjayceelyn Quintana said that the UCD has special links with the Philippines through its archaeology department which has an existing collaboration with its counterpart in the University of the Philippines (UP). “With the closing of the Embassy,
the art piece is a good legacy to leave behind as a symbol of the Philippines’ friendship with Ireland. The donation was received by Mr. Eamonn Ceannt, Director of Capital Development UCD on behalf of the UCD leadership. In his remarks, Mr. Ceannt expressed UCD’s appreciation for the gift. He added that it is an impressive work of art and came very timely as the UCD is beefing up its collection of contemporary art for further study by the UCD’s art student community. The art piece, entitled “Sa Aming Bayan” (In our Town, acrylic on board) was painted by Marvin Baldemor, son of renowned artist Manuel Baldemor. Marvin lives in Donegal, Ireland. ■ (DFA
– September 5, 2012)
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UK COMMUNITY FIESTAS IN PICTURES
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September 2012 / Fortnightly – No. 17 • UK & Europe Edition
Filipino Community Association of Newcastle Upon Tyne (FILCAN)
th
4 Pistahan Sa Newcastle 2012 Saturday, June 16 2012 – Swalwell, Newcastle Upon Tyne
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UK COMMUNITY FIESTAS IN PICTURES
September 2012 / Fortnightly – No. 17 • UK & Europe Edition
Yorkshire Maharlika Filipino Club (YMFC)
5th Yorkshire Barrio Fiesta 2012 – A Cultural Celebration of the Philippines Sunday, June 17, 2012 – Rowntree Park, York
The British – Filipino Association of Bradford (BFAB)
4th Barrio Fiesta sa Bradford 2012 Sunday, July 8, 2012 – Lady Hill Park, Bradford
September 2012 / Fortnightly – No. 17 • UK & Europe Edition
UK COMMUNITY FIESTAS IN PICTURES
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HELLO PHILIPPINES
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Filipino Association of Birmingham (FAB)
5th Barrio Fiesta sa Birmingham 2012 Saturday and Sunday, June 23 and 24, 2012 – Woodgate Valley Country Park, Bartley Green, Birmingham
THA
! R A NK YO E Y U! SEE YOU NEXT
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UK COMMUNITY FIESTAS IN PICTURES
28th Barrio Fiesta sa London 2012
PHILIPPINES
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September 2012 / Fortnightly – No. 17 • UK & Europe Edition
Saturday and Sunday, June 30 and July 1, 2012 – Lampton Park, Hounslow, Middlesex
September 2012 / Fortnightly – No. 17 • UK & Europe Edition
UK COMMUNITY FIESTAS IN PICTURES
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HELLO PHILIPPINES
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1st Barrio Fiesta sa Colchester 2012 Saturday, August 18, 2012
KABISIG Bromley Kabisig Bromley Fun Day 2012 – Hewitts Farm, Orpington, Kent
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UK Community Fiestas In Pictures
September 2012 / Fortnightly – No. 17 • UK & Europe Edition
Worthing Filipino Community UK (WFC-UK)
5th Hataw Sa Tag-Araw 2012 – The Annual Worthing Filipino Festival Saturday, September 1, 2012 – Homefield Park, Worthing
September 2012 / Fortnightly – No. 17 • UK & Europe Edition
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BB Gandanghari on Zoren-Carmina wedding: ‘I’m very happy for them’
Edwin Sallan, InterAksyon.com AS far as BB Gandanghari is concerned, Carmina Villaroel and Zoren Legaspi deserve their happy ending. “I’m very happy for them. They should get married and be legally husband and wife. After 14 years of living together, doon na talaga dapat papunta ‘yun,” said BB, who in her past life as actor Rustom Padilla was married to Carmina. That marriage was only annulled early this year, paving the way for the couple’s plan to tie the knot before the year ends. “My lawyer told me that it’s already annulled so I don’t see any legal obstacle for them,” BB told InterAksyon during a press conference for TV5’s fantaserye, Enchanted Garden on Thursday, August 30. Although she has not spoken to Carmina since she came out and later declared Rustom as dead, BB has remained supportive of her former spouse.
“Whenever I’m home which is not very often, I would try to watch her new soap (ABS-CBN’s Lorenzo’s Time) and I have to admit that I love the way she has handled her career.” As for Zoren who interviewed her for TV5’s Paparazzi last June and who is also one of her co-stars for in Enchanted Garden, BB added that she has not talked to him in length since then and has only encountered him in TV5 social functions. “We belong to different units so I haven’t had a scene with him since ‘Enchanted Garden’ started,” she pointed out. She revealed, however, that their paths will soon cross again as both of their characters in Enchanted Garden are in for an exciting plot twist that will also involve, yes, Rustom. “Peg lang ‘yun ha, haha. Ganito, my character Michiko is actually from Eden where he is actually the twin brother of Zoren’s character,” she revealed. “In flashback scenes, Michiko is presented as a man. Dun sa mga scenes na ‘yun, magkakasama kami ni Zoren. Sibling
rivalry? Yes, it’s possible. ” More than doing scenes with Zoren, BB said she’s more excited about playing a straight male character again. “No, I’m not nervous kasi that’s what I’m doing in New York naman as an androgynous model so I still get to model men’s clothing and pose as a man there.” Overall, BB said she’s very happy with the direction of her character and how the public has responded to Michiko so far. “People like the fact that I get to wear different clothes all the time. Sakay nila si Michiko,” she beamed. While TV5 has already discussed concepts for other shows that will feature her, BB said she is not yet at a liberty to discuss them. But while her showbiz career continues to enjoy an upward trajectory, she said she still needs to come back to New York to also pursue her modeling career there that already had initial success. “Before I came here, I was able to do several ramp shows including trunk shows that involve new designers,” she
BB Gandanghari
happily shared. “But I need to come back there by October or November because every six months, they need to see me. Sayang din naman ‘yung maraming opportunities ko dun.” On a more personal note, while BB admits that she still hasn’t talked to any of her brothers, she remains close and happily in touch with her nephews and nieces, including teen sensation
PHILIPPINES
Daniel Padilla and rising stars Bela, Kylie and Queenie Padilla. “These kids are very open-minded and very respectful to me,” she quipped. “I’m not the pakialamerang tita type so I don’t meddle with their personal lives.” She did give them valuable advice when it comes to handling matters of the heart. “Sa mga lalake, I just tell them especially, Daniel, to enjoy their teenage years. Kasi pag nagpakasal kayo, that’s it. ‘Yung focus mo, mapupunta na dun sa napangasawa mo so getting married is not something they should be in a hurry to do,” he pointed out. “Sa mga babae naman, I just tell them na okay lang ang magpaligaw. Napakasarap ng nililigawan ka, basta huwag lang muna seryosohin lalo na at may magandang career sila na dapat nilang alagaan.” Catch Enchanted Garden on Kapatid TV5 available in North America, Guam, Europe and the Middle East via DISH Network, MCV Broadband, and OSN respectively. ■
Nora Aunor stars in back-to-back drama special on TV5’s Untold Stories and Third Eye this weekend as kick-off celebration of her 45th anniversary
THE Superstar, Ms. Nora Aunor, will once again grace TV screens everywhere. Synonymous to brilliance and humility, her star quality continues to shine throughout her 45 bright years in Philippine show
business. This year marks yet another milestone in her glorious career, with mother network TV5 starting a fitting tribute to her talent with the Nora Aunor Weekend Special September 15 and 16.
Nora Aunor holds a crucifix while Grand Slam actress Lorna Tolentino, Eula Caballero and Daniel Matsunaga (background) look on.
Fresh from reaping praise for the critically-acclaimed film Thy Womb by Cannes-winning director Brillante Mendoza, Ms. Aunor returns to the small screen in two challenging characters that add to the long list
Superstar Nora Aunor is Sister Thelma Layog on Untold Stories.
Ruffa Gutierrez denies she’s Derek Ramsay’s mystery girl MJ Marfori, InterAksyon.com
“SECRET! Malalaman n’yo soon.” This was Derek Ramsay’s reply to the latest rumor that he has found a new girlfriend after his much-publicized split with Angelica Panganiban. Could the mystery girl be Ruffa Gutierrez, who was romantically linked to him after they both joined The Big Launch of KapatidTV5 Network and AksyonTV International in California in late May? “Ay hindi ako ‘yun! Hindi ako ‘yung secret na nagpapasaya sa kanya. I’ve never had the opportunity para pasayahin siya,” a laughing Ruffa said on Thursday, August 30, during a media conference for the TV5 fantasy series Enchanted Garden. “A little birdie told me na may nagpapasaya nga sa kanya,” she confirmed but did not elaborate. Ruffa insists that she and the
Kapatid hunk are nothing more than good friends. Besides, she has made a vow to herself to rest her heart for the meantime. “I’m on a love sabbatical until November,” the actress quipped. Coincidentally, she also happily shared the news that Enchanted Garden has been extended until November. Unlike Ruffa, her younger brother Richard is not on a love sabbatical. On the contrary, he has gone public with his romance with Kapuso actress Sarah Lahbati, a pairing that has Ruffa’s seal of approval. As for her ever-controversial mother, Ruffa gladly told the press that Annabelle Rama is serious about her plan to run for a congressional post in Cebu City. For proof, she cited her mother’s recent purchase of a pair of sneakers. “Meron na siyang sneakers! First time niya mag-sneakers sa buong
Ruffa Gutierrez
buhay niya! Kasi kailangan niya raw iyon sa pag-iikot sa buong barangay,” Ruffa said. Catch Enchanted Garden on Kapatid TV5 available in North America, Guam, Europe and the Middle East via DISH Network, MCV Broadband, and OSN respectively. ■
of remarkable portrayals. Fans can catch Ate Guy on Untold Stories as Sister Thelma Layog and on Third Eye as Ditas Gregorio. On Untold Stories, Ate Guy plays the role of a nun who left the convent for the man she loves. This Saturday’s episode reunites the Superstar with her Naglalayag leading man Yul Servo and Sidhi co-star Angie Ferro. The episode’s central love story endures the many challenges, like the sizeable age gap between how Yul’s character Danny and Ate Guy’s Thelma. Ate Guy will portray a totally different role in the supernatural mystery drama Third Eye on Sunday night. She plays the role of Ditas Gregorio, a school janitress who was forced to relive a dark memory involving demonic possession. The episode helmed by Jon Red (also Aunor’s director in Sa Ngalan ng Ina) marks Ate Guy’s reunion with Grand Slam actress Lorna Tolentino some 30 years after their first movie (Mga Uod at Rosas). “Sa taping, kapag eksena na niya [Ate Guy], pinapanood at napapamangha na lang ako sa kanya. I told myself, ‘I wanna act with her in a full-length movie. Kahit saan niyo pa kami dalhin,’ said LT, a multi-awarded actress herself, of her encounter with Ate Guy. Meanwhile, TV5’s own Eula Caballero is happy to reunite with the Superstar, whom she calls her “workshop master.” Eula shared, “Napayakap na lang ako kay Ina [Nora Aunor] noong makita ko siya uli sa taping. I owe a lot to her because she was generous enough to teach me everything when we were taping for Sa Ngalan (Ng Ina),” referring to the TV5’s mini-serye where she played Nora’s daughter.
Superstar Nora Aunor, Direk Brillante Mendoza, and the rest of Thy Womb cast returned to Manila last Tuesday, September 11, after their successful showing at the 69th Venice International Festival. The film received a five-minute standing ovation after its well-attended screening. The film was also a critics’ favorite and saw Ate Guy winning the Bisato d’Oro Award from the Premio Della Critica Indipendiente, a jury of independent film critics in Italy. Direk Brillante bagged the La Navicella Venezia Cinema Award from Rivista del Cinematografo. A restored, highdefinition version of the 1982 Nora Aunor-starrer Himala also premiered at the said film festival. Thy Womb will also hold a special screening at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). As her influence transcends from film to TV, another of the Superstar’s popular roles has been immortalized on stage. Bona, the original Lino Brocka film in which Ate Guy played the title role, is being showcased by the Philippine Education Theater Association’s (PETA). In an earlier interview, comedienne-actress Eugene Domingo, a self-confessed Noranian who portrays the modern-day Bona, admitted she wanted to please Ate Guy in her portrayal. Eugene added how the Superstar herself gave her blessing to play her character. “Ang gusto ko mangyari, maaliw si Ate Guy sa Bona naming ito. Alam mo, ilang taon, ilang dekada niya tayong inaliw sa mahusay niyang pagganap, panahon na na siya naman ang ating aliwin.” KapatidTV5 is available in North America, Guam, Europe and the Middle East via DISH Network, MCV Broadband, and OSN respectively. ■
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CHESS
September 2012 / Fortnightly – No. 17 • UK & Europe Edition
TEAM PHILIPPINES PARTICIPATING AT THE 40TH WORLD CHESS OLYMPIAD IN ISTANBUL
MEMBERS of Team Philippines, who are competing at the 40th World Chess Olympiad in Istanbul, which will be held from August 28 to September 10, arrived in Istanbul last August 27. The contingent was led by National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) Executive Director Grand Master (GM) Jayson Gonzales, head coach of Team Philippines. Philippine Ambassador to Turkey Marilyn J. Alarilla met with members of Team Philippines upon their arrival in Istanbul. The members of the Philippine Men’s team are GM Mark Paragua (ELO 2508), International Master (IM) Oliver Dimakiling (2428), GM Wesley So (2650), GM Oliver Barbosa (2554) and GM Eugene Torre (2469). The Philippine Women’s team is composed of World IM Catherine Perena (2091),
ROWING
World FIDE Master (WFM) Rulp Ylem Jose (2061), Women National Master (WNM), Jedara Docena (2061), WNM Jan Jodilyn Fronda (2022) and WNM Janelle Mae Frayna (2061). NCFP Chairman Prospero Pichay Jr. and NCFP Secretary-General Abraham Tolentino Jr. arrived in Istanbul on September 2 to support the team and to attend World Chess Federation (FIDE) Council meetings. Turkish Minister of Youth and Sports Suat Kilic, with FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, and Turkish Chess Federation President Ali Nihat Yazici opened the competition in the evening of August 27 at the WOW Congress Hotel in Istanbul. Chess National Federations from 158 countries are participating at the biennial Chess Olympiad. ■ (DFA – September 4, 2012)
DRAGON BOAT TEAM GARNERS SIX GOLD MEDALS IN MILAN WORLD COMPETITION IT was a day of pride, cheers and jubilation for hundreds of Filipinos residing in Milan and other parts of Northern Italy on Sunday, September 2, as they watched the Philippine Dragon Boat Team beat other nations in the grand finals. At the end of the world competition, the Philippine team garnered six gold medals and one
(Top Photo) Filipinos in Milan cheer the rowers as they reach the finish line ahead of other competitors. (Bottom Left Photo) Filipinos cheer together with Consul General Tabamo (right) after the team is awarded their gold medals. (Bottom Right Photo) The athletes with members of the Filipino community as they celebrate with a potluck get together at the Idroscalo grounds after the five day gruelling competition of elimination and finals.
silver in the seven competitions they were part of. The Philippine Consulate General in Milan, led by Consul General Lourdes S. Tabamo, and various Filipino communities were at the competition sites daily to bring food and give moral support to the Philippine team. ■ (DFA – September 4, 2012)
The Philippine Dragon Boat Team acknowledges the cheers of the crowd at the awarding of their gold medal in the Mixed Full Boat 200mm race.
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