September 2014 'A' issue

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September 2014

Volume 5 - Number 17

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Henry Sy remains Philippines’

richest, says US magazine MANILA – Mall magnate Henry Sy remains the Philippines’ richest Filipino, who bannered the US-based Forbes magazine’s list for the seventh consecutive year.

With a net worth of $12.7 billion, Sy and his family owns SM Prime Holdings, the Philippines’ largest mall operator, and Banco de Oro, the country’s largest bank in terms of assets.

Lucio Tan and his family came in at second place with a combined net worth of $6.1 billion. Tan owns the country’s flag carrier, Philippine Airlines,

forbes.com

and the fifth largest lender, Philippine National Bank.

Enrique Razon Jr saw his wealth rise to $5.2 billion to become the country’s third richest man. He owns International Container Terminal Services Inc, which has port operations across Asia, the US, Middle East and Europe. He also owns Solaire Resort & Casino, the first of four licensees to open a casino at the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp’s Entertainment City.

Rounding out the top 10 of the Forbes’ wealthiest list are

Andrew Tan ($5.1 billion), John Gokongwei Jr. ($4.9 billion), David Consunji ($3.9 billion), George Ty ($3.7 billion), Aboitiz family ($3.6 billion), Jaime Zobel de Ayala & family ($3.4 billion) and Tony Tan Caktiong ($2 billion).

The Forbes’ richest list saw the entry of four new names this year. They are Ricardo S. Po and family of Century Pacific Group (No. 21, $770 million); Dean Lao, co-founder of D&L Industries (No. 26, $625 million); Raul and Jose Concepcion and family, twin brothers who took over their father’s manufacturing

and food businesses, Concepcion Industrial and RFM Corp (No. 34, $320 million); and pawnshop titan P.J. Lhuillier of Cebuana Lhuillier (No. 49, $180 million).

The nation’s 50 wealthiest are worth a combined $74 billion, up 12 percent from $65.8 billion in 2013, riding on the strength of robust consumption and consumer activity, Forbes said.

The full list of the 50 richest Filipinos can be seen at http:// www.forbes.com/philippinesbillionaires/. ■ Krista Angela M. Montealegre / InterAksyon.com / August 28, 2014 3:43 PM

Just own up to bullying of Makati contractor, Remulla tells Trillanes

MANILA - Cavite Gov. Jonvic Remulla, newly designated as one of Vice President Jejomar Binay’s spokesmen, has challenged Senator Antonio Trillanes IV to admit that he “cursed and bullied” the representative of Hillmarcs Construction at the last Senate hearing on the Makati City Hall Building 2.

“Applying his way of

questioning resource persons, then the good senator should just give a categorical answer. Did he or did he not bully and curse the representative of Hillmarcs?”

Remulla said.

Hilmarcs is the contractor of the 11-story building now the focus of a Blue Ribbon inquiry initiated by Trillanes.

“Simpleng tanong, simpleng

sagot lang ang hinahanap ng taumbayan [It’s a simple question that needs just a simple answer],” he added.

“Nakita n’yo naman, sinubukan ng Hilmarc’s Construction na ipaliwanag ang costing ng building. Ano hong nangyari pagkatapos?

Pinagmumura po ni Senator Trillanes ang witness at sinasabing ‘bakit ka

nagtestify? Hindi ka dapat nagtestify dito,’” Remulla said.

Remulla said it is disappointing that Trillanes is now asking the Vice President to show proof that the bullying and cursing happened, and even raised the issue of connivance.

This only shows a double standard, he added.

“When it’s the Vice President making statements, Senator

Trillanes says show proof first. But when it’s their local political allies who are the Vice President’s detractors making baseless and malicious remarks in a Senate hearing, he does not demand proof and in fact coaches and guides them in their answers. This is a clear case of double standard,” he said.

Continue to page 2

Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV: treatment of witness denounced.

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Just own up to bullying of Makati contractor...

Remulla said Trillanes’ double standard was also evident when he failed to ask former Makati Vice Mayor Ernesto Mercado how much he received as kickbacks for the project.

Mercado had admitted during the hearing that he materially benefited from the project during his term as vice mayor, and concluded that if he [vice mayor] got something, “more so the mayor,” referring to the then-mayor Jejomar Binay.

Trillanes, after Mercado’s admission, immediately zeroed in on the Vice President. Instead of making a direct statement, Mercado gave a speculative and evasive answer.

“I am glad that the senator, in an interview, said the hearing is not a court trial and that there are proper venues for airing evidence. This has been the Vice President’s position from the start. The way the hearing is being conducted and the demeanor and statements of Senators Trillanes and Allan Cayetano are those of a prosecutor not an impartial legislator crafting laws,” Remulla said.

“There is clear double standard when you allow a person like the

former Vice Mayor to get away with a tacit admission of violating the laws without so much as an admonition from Senator Trillanes. In contrast, auditors and specialists from the COA, the contractor, and Makati officials including Mayor Junjun Binay are bullied,” he said.

Remulla also cited the case of Renato Bondal who admitted that his claim that the birthday cakes being given to the city’s seniors cost P1,000 each was just a “guess.”

“Why didn’t Senator Trillanes admonish this person, or charge him with perjury for lying under oath?

These persons are flouting the law in front of the senators yet they are being treated with kid gloves,” he added.

Binay awaiting Senate invitation.

Remulla said the Vice President will wait for an official invitation from the Senate before replying on whether or not he will attend the next Blue Ribbon subcommittee hearing.

“Sa ngayon po ang [stand ni Vice President Binay] ay hihintayin niya po ‘yong mga tanong at sasagutin niya sa tamang panahon at sa tamang lugar,” Remulla said.

In a TV interview, the Cavite governor also slammed Mercado’s insinuation that the Binays are the only ones to blame if anything bad happens to him.

“Napakalungkot ng ganyang klaseng paratang. Hindi ho gawain ni Vice President na magpa-ambush, hindi ho niya gawain na manakit ng tao,” Remulla said.

Remulla added that the Vice President has no plans to file charges against Mercado even if the former vice mayor’s allegations are disproved.

“Sa totoo lang po, masama po ang loob ni Vice President at ang kanilang pagkakaibigan ay nadiskaril dahil sa pulitika. Naniniwala siya na sa dulo ng lahat ay maliliwanagan ng ulo si dating vice mayor at magkakaayos naman lahat,” he said.

Remulla’s new role ‘has blessing of Villar’. Earlier on Wednesday, Remulla announced he is joining the camp of Vice President Binay as political spokesperson for the 2016 national and local elections.

“I will speak for the Vice President,” Remulla said at a press conference at the Coconut Palace.

Brandwise: Shakey’s dusts off ‘old-fashioned’ tag MANILA - How do you breathe new life into an old, seemingly tired restaurant brand?

Do you spice up the menu with new offerings completely different from your traditional fare? Or do you transform your store into a temple of zen or whatever is in vogue among interior designers?

For Shakey’s, the answer lay in neither of these antics. One of the few restaurants in the country that is nearing 40 years old, the American pizzeria wants to prove that sometimes all you need to attract consumers is to bring back that old cozy feeling.

Move over customer, here come the guests (again). “In Shakey’s we don’t have customers, but guests,” Vic Gregorio, chief executive officer of the Philippine franchise-holder of the American brand, told InterAksyon.com In a business where everyone claims to be in the service of the “customer,” that very word has lost its meaning. Despite the industry’s service mantra, the retail experience for many consumers is anything but satisfying, much less pleasant.

Blame it on the fast-food culture.

Management is obsessed with turnover, on which the front-end crew is drilled no end. For them, delighting the customer usually doesn’t go beyond the customary greeting to that stranger who goes through the door.

That was exactly what Gregorio saw when he took over the helm at Shakey’s Philippines back in 2003.

“Shakey’s lost its way. At one point, it was a beer-drinking place. Many people coming in, but it wasn’t the original Shakey’s I knew,” said Gregorio, who knows his stuff, having waited tables

at the Greenhills branch in 1986 while finishing an engineering degree.

After graduation, he worked as store manager of the Katipunan branch for a time before moving on to another job.

When the owners asked him 10 years ago to rejoin the company as its CEO, Gregorio saw “the brand was sliding.”

“It was still in the top three, but losing market share – a far number three,” he said.

After ditching the concept of a beer-drinking place, Shakey’s then had “shifted to a new position – a fastfood. But it sacrificed a lot – quality, ambience, family spirit,” Gregorio said.

International Family Food Services Inc, which holds the Philippine franchise of Shakey’s, saw revenues shrink to P629.5 million in 2003 from P660.5 million the previous year.

The company ended 2003 in the red, with a net loss of P28.230 million, increasing from P22.462 million the year before.

Bring back original concept. That was why the company decided to “bring back its original concept – fun, family and pizza,” Gregorio said. “For me, central to bringing back to number one spot is brand strategy.”

The focus on family finds resonance with Filipinos, who like many Asians,

look to family for support. The household is at the heart of consumer spending, which accounts for twothirds of the Philippine economy.

To be sure, beer drinking still has a place in Shakey’s. After all, it was San Miguel Corp that introduced the pizza brand back in 1975 to go with the Philippine company’s top brew.

“Beer drinking is still there so we can offer something to everyone,” Gregorio said. However, more brightly lit dining areas underscore Shakey’s turn to a more wholesome retail experience.

“Guests from 70s no longer here.

But some still there, so we have to hold onto that,” said George Concepcion, the company’s chief operating officer.

He said the basic menu of pizza, pasta, salad, chicken and mojos remains, but the variety of flavors has expanded to address the shift in taste, such as the consumer preference for a healthier lifestyle.

“But going back to original concept was not enough. We had to make it relevant to the times,” Gregorio said.

In line with the global chain’s adoption of a “younger” looking logo, the Philippine franchise holder also introduced in select branches the socalled “Funzone,” where children can play “classic, wholesome games” while

Remulla and his Magdalo Party supported the candidacy of former Senate President Manny Villar in the 2010 presidential elections.

However, Remulla clarified that his decision to join the camp of Binay as the latter’s spokesman does not involve any political party affiliation.

“It’s not between NP and the Vice President but between me and VP Binay. There is no alliance to speak of because even the (NP) party has not announced its standard bearer,” Remulla explained.

He clarified that he is not an official of NP; it is his brother, former Congressman Gilbert Remulla, who is the party’s chairman in Cavite.

Remulla also said the Magdalo coalition with NP will remain but in his personal capacity, he will support Binay’s presidential bid in 2015.

Who knows, NP and VP Binay might join. That’s only speculation but it can happen,” Remulla said.

He added that his appointment as Binay’s spokesperson was the product of a long discussion that started even before the 2013 mid-term elections.

“My appointment was made two

Continuation from page 1

months ago and it has the blessing of NP president (former) senator Manny Villar,” Remulla said.

Remulla said his appointment will not also conflict with the job of Toby Tiangco, secretary general and spokesperson of the opposition United Nationalist Alliance (UNA).

“I will speak in his (Tiangco) capacity as the vice president’s spokesman. Congressman Tiangco will talk about the broad political spectrum. I will speak in behalf of the vice president,” Remulla said.

Asked why he supported Binay, Remulla said the Vice President is the most qualified person to be President in 2016.

“I believe in the Vice President and in his vision for the country. I believe what he can do, what he did in Makati, he can do for the entire country. I believe in his sincerity and integrity,” Binay said.

When asked for comment about this latest development, NP senator Antonio Trillanes IV had said Binay is apparently in panic mode. ■ Pots de Leon and Ernie Reyes / InterAksyon.com / August 29, 2014 / 2:13 AM

Photos courtesy of Shakey’s

waiting for their food.

Freestanding stores. Complementing the “return” to its roots, Shakey’s also expanded its free-standing store network starting in 2004.

“There’s advantage to free-standing store. We can operate longer hours, design stores you want, more than ample parking, big brand statement outside. Not many companies do this because it requires investment,” Gregorio said.

But “site strategy is a key to growth,” he said.

This move came at a time when it was difficult getting premium space in shopping malls amid very prohibitive rental rates. Up until 2004, the country’s leading mall developer, SM Prime Holdings Inc, was opening new malls at a rate of only two a year. It would increase the pace to double that number only two years later.

“It’s very hard to get space in malls.

Sometimes you get the basement, but that’s not good for the brand,” Gregorio said.

In contrast, a freestanding store “acts as a billboard,” he said.

Alongside the limitations of a mall, consumer standards have gone up, as Filipinos look for “more than just the basics,” Gregorio said, adding that retailers “have to exceed expectations.”

Consumers now demand more space, bigger parking areas, among other amenities that a cramped outlet in a mall cannot provide.

“Malls are important, but more important is what our customers need,” said Concepcion.

The company aims to end the year with 10 more stores, adding to the existing 146. Gregorio said majority of the new outlets will be free-standing, which already comprise 40 percent of Shakey’s network in the country.

“We cannot be 500-plus stores, but as the country continues to improve economically, we see opportunity to grow. It’s not quantity for us, but quality stores,” he said.

From P29,000 back in 2003, a Shakey’s store now racks up P109,000 in sales a day, with the average for pizza sales alone the highest in the industry, according to Gregorio.

Over the past decade, Shakey’s has enjoyed a compounded annual growth rate of 19.18 percent whereas its main rival, Pizza Hut, has expanded by 9 percent.

“We’re one of few brands that will be 40 years next year. As early as now, we’re confident of another double-digit growth for Shakey’s in the Philippines,” Gregorio said. ■ Arnold S. Tenorio / InterAksyon. com / August 24, 2014 / 3:18 PM

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September 2014 – No. 17 • UK & Europe Edition

Commentary: PH economic growth target too ‘ambitious’? Not if the gov’t can help it MANILA - A Standard Chartered Bank (StanChart) report cited the lowering of the inflation target to 2-4 percent inflation rate in 2015 as a constraint on Philippine growth.

Lower inflation will entail the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) tightening liquidity and raising interest rates thus, dampening investment.

The StanChart researcher should have looked at recent data to find out the strong negative correlation between

gross domestic product (GDP) growth and inflation. In 2012 and 2013, when GDP growth reached 6.8 percent and 7.2 percent, respectively, inflation (using GDP price deflator) dropped to 1.9 percent.

In theory, when growth rises, the supply of goods available in the market also rises. This dampens price levels and in turn, reduces interest rates. This is the reason why the lowering of the inflation target should not be seen as

Figure 1.

Figure 2.

Figure 3

negative factor for growth. The BSP’s moving from a regime of negative real interest rates to positive real interest rates is more sustainable in the long run; it avoids bubbles and maintains the growth of savings.

The slowdown of growth to 5.7 percent in the first quarter of 2014 is just a short-term phenomenon and should not be seen as a trend. For instance, the manufacturing sector returned to double-digit growth level of 13 percent in the first quarter based on the Monthly Integrated Survey of Selected Industries (MISSI).

Also, robust investment growth continued to be sustained. In economic zones, investment is 27 percent up in the first half of 2014 and foreign direct investment (FDI) net flows are up 34.5 percent from January to May 2014.

Likewise, slow government expenditures in the first quarter may be reversed in the next few months as the disbursement rate is one of the eligibility requirements of the performance-based bonus (PBB).

When government departments were reminded that disbursement rates below 90 percent will automatically disqualify them from PBB, government expenditures quickly rebounded by a

Philippine economic growth picks up in 2Q MANILA - The Philippine economy grew faster in the second quarter of the year on the strength of manufacturing.

In a press briefing, Economic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan today said the economy grew 6.4 percent in the April to June period, rebounding from the 5.6 percent in the first quarter of this year, but slower than the 7.9 percent in the second quarter of last year.

“This higher growth rate, coming from a high base a year ago shows that the economy is back on the higher trajectory of growth registered in 2012 and 2013 and bodes well for economic growth for the rest of 2014,” Balisacan, who is director-general of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), said.

Industry led this year’s secondquarter growth, expanding by 7.8 percent, followed by services’ 6 percent. Agriculture output registered a 3.6 percent increase year-on-year (see figure 1).

Fueling the increase in industry was manufacturing, which expanded by 10.8 percent.

On the demand side, exports and household consumption led economic growth in the second quarter, picking up the slack from government spending and investment. Public spending was flat, whereas capital formation contracted by 2.4 percent year-on-year (see figure 2).

“Net exports contributed 4.2 percentage points and household

consumption contributed 3.6 percentage points. This profile is in line with a more positive global economy, favorable business sentiment, and robust inflows of overseas Filipinos remittances,” said Balisacan.

“The strong household spending in the second quarter of 2014 reflects the still upbeat consumer sentiment in the country. However, the slowdown in disbursements in Personal Services and Maintenance and Other Operating Expenditures or MOOE led to the nil growth in government consumption,” he said.

The second-quarter growth figure means the Philippines’ gross domestic product (GDP) expanded by 6 percent in the first six months of the year, well below last year’s 7.8 percent and the 6.5-7.5 percent target range that the government set for the entire 2014.

“We remain as a bright spot in the region, the second fastest growing economy among major Asian countries for the period. We are tied with Malaysia, but topping other Asian countries like Indonesia and Thailand,” Balisacan said.

“Overall, we can see that the country still has a strong likelihood of achieving the full-year growth target of 6.5 to 7.5 percent,” he said.

Finance Secretary Cesar V. Purisima said the Aquino administration “will continue to focus efforts on institutionalizing good governance reforms” to ensure faster economic growth.

hefty 44 percent in June 2014.

The medium-term growth prospects of the economy are sound. The Philippine economy has the capacity to grow faster than the 7.2 percent attained last year with or without the boost from election spending. The reasons are as follows: 1. The Philippines ‘gross national savings exceeds its gross domestic investment by between 3-6 percent of GDP depending upon the estimation approach used (see figure 1).

In the last ten years, surplus savings averaged 3.3 percent using the current account balance in the balance of payments (BOP) as basis. In the first quarter of 2014, it was set at 3.1 percent of GDP. Using the national income accounts approach, the average excess saving for the last decade is 3.8 percent of GDP. Last year, it was 5.2 percent of GDP. This implies that the Philippines has excess resources to spend to push the economic growth higher. If these savings surpluses were invested in productive activities, the economy would grow by the amount of new investments plus the real rate of return on investment.

2. Economic theory says growth

Photo by Bernard Testa

arises from new capital investment and increases in productive efficiency.

During the last two years, growth in fixed capital investment has been very robust, rising 10.8 percent in 2012, 11.9 percent in 2013 and 11.2 percent in first quarter of 2014. Growth in GDP can thus potentially grow at doubledigit rates (see figure 2).

3. Government investment will contribute to this effort through planned increases in national government infrastructure investment from 3.1 percent in 2013 reaching 5 percent of GDP in 2016. Regression analysis shows that national government infrastructure investment has a real GDP growth elasticity of 1.96, which implies that the economy will grow by almost twice the original amount of investment (see figure 3).

If these trends continue and plans are implemented as targeted, the country would attain the 6.5-7.5 percent growth target for 2014 and the 7-8 percent growth in 2015. ■ Undersecretary Gil S. Beltran / Philippines’ Department of Finance / August 24, 2014 / 2:55 PM

Figure 1. ©Philippine Statistics Authority

These include passage of the following bills: Fiscal Incentives Rationalization, Tax Incentives Monitoring and Transparency Act, Amendments to the Foreign Investments Negative List, and Amendments to the Build Operate Transfer Law. Normalizing. Economics professor Benjamin Diokno said the secondquarter GDP results point not to a slowdown, but to the economy’s return to a normal growth track.

“Rather than seeing the economic result as slowing down, it is more realistic to see it as normalizing. Last year’s growth rate was unusually high.

It included election effect. Note that the economy peaked in 2004, 2007, 2010, 2013 -- all election years,” Diokno, a former budget secretary during the Estrada administration, said.

“I think the long-term growth of the Philippine economy would be in the neighborhood of 5 to 6 percent. Major risks in the second half of the year are El Niño, power shortage, delays in public infrastructure spending, including PPP projects,” he said, referring to the Aquino administration’s public-private partnership program.

Figure 2. ©Philippine Statistics Authority

Senate President Franklin Drilon said there is a need to shore up government spending given the absence of growth in that item during the second quarter.

He blamed the slowdown in government spending to the “chilling effect” of the Supreme Court decision to strike down the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP).

“The members of the bureaucracy now have apprehension against taking initiatives, because they might

face charges stemming from the DAP decision. Whether you like it or not, the SC decision on the DAP had a chilling effect on the government expenditure program,” Drilon said.

In light of this, the Senate president said the country’s economic managers should look for ways to ramp up public spending in the remaining months of the year, without resorting to DAP or such similar measures. ■ Darwin G. Amojelar / InterAksyon.com / August 28, 2014 / 10:01 AM

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Trans-Asia unit surges in market debut, plans fundraising for 2 petroleum blocks

Listing ceremony for TAPET at Philippine Stock Exchange today. Photo courtesy of PSE.

MANILA - Trans-Asia Oil & Energy Development Corp plans to pursue next year the development of two petroleum blocks under its newly listed unit, which debuted at the stock market today.

In a press briefing after the listing of Trans-Asia Petroleum Corp (TAPET), Trans-Asia president Fransisco L. Viray said the parent company will help bankroll the development of Service Contracts (SC) 50 and 52 next year.

The company, through TAPET, will pursue a rights offering “between fourth quarter to early 2015 to cover enough for SC 50 and 52” of roughly P500 million, Viray said.

TAPET shares surged 60.87 percent to P7.40 apiece on its market debut.

The Trans-Asia unit, which entered the bourse by listing by way of introduction, was among today’s top gainers.

TAPET recently signed a memorandum of agreement with Frontier Oil Corp for the acquisition of a 10-percent interest in the latter’s SC 50, an oil development area in offshore Northwest Palawan.

TAPET also has an option to acquire shares in the oil firm’s SC 52, a gas appraisal project in Cagayan province, in return for help funding its development.

Viray said the company will sign the “definitive agreement within a month” for the acquisition of shares in SC 52.

Frontier targets to start oil production from SC 50 by April 2015.

An appraisal well, on the other hand, is planned for SC 52 within the second quarter of the same year.

Viray said production from the oil and gas projects will start as soon as possible.

Besides SC 50 and 52, TAPET has interests in SC 55 West Palawan, SC 51 East Visayas, SC 69 Camotes Sea, and SC No. 6 Block A and Block B Northwest Palawan. ■ Euan Paulo C. Añonuevo / InterAksyon. com / August 28, 2014 / 4:07 PM

Asian shoemaker for luxury brands to establish factory in Bataan, hire 5,000 workers own building at the FAB in Mariveles that will initially produce four million shoes and hire 5,000 workers.

Under its expansion program, the multimillion-peso shoe-making investment will increase its work force to 10,000, the mayor said.

Garcia said parts of the shoes will be prepared in houses of interested residents in 25 barangays of the city and assembled at the FAB. “This is a huge blessing to our communities that even though in their houses, the residents will have

source of income,” the city chief executive said.

Stella International was founded in Taiwan in 1982 and was listed on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Ltd. on July 6, 2007.

It produces six of the world’s top 10 casual footwear brands, namely, Clarks, Deckers, ECCO, Rockport, Timberland, and Wolverine.

Also, the revered high-fashion brands Alejandro, Ingelmo, Alexander Wang, Bally, Burberry, Ivanka, Trump, Marc by Marc, Jacobs, Miu Miu, Prada, Sigerson

Morrison, Vera Wang, and Via Spiga.

In 2006, it began retail operations in China for its own brands Stella Luna and What For. “We have to be prepared for this big and rare opportunity for our villagers,” the mayor told officials of the 25 barangays.

Gov. Albert Garcia and their father, Second District Rep. Enrique Garcia, said they are happy for their constituents about this new development. ■ Philippines News Agency / August

24, 2014 / 2:58 PM

Rockport shoes are among the brands that are expected to be manufactured at the Freeport Area of Bataan with the entry of Stella International.

ORIGINAL CREATION & COPYRIGHT RESERVED BY © HELLO PHILIPPINES 2014

BALANGA City, Bataan – Stella International, a leading developer and manufacturer of quality footwear products and publicly-listed in Hong Kong, will soon establish a factory at the Freeport Area of Bataan (FAB) and agreed to have footwear parts prepared in this city.

City Mayor Jose Enrique Garcia III said he has met with Jack Chang, a top executive of one of the biggest footwear makers in the world and Asian shoemaker for luxury brands.

Stella International will build its

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IMMIGRATION / OFNEWS

September 2014 – No. 17 • UK & Europe Edition

Berkeley-based Pinoy cooperative named finalist for US award A Berkeley-based Filipino community group has been chosen as among the finalists for the 3rd Annual Torchlight Prize, which recognizes self-organized groups in the US for their efforts to strengthen their communities.

Sama Sama Cooperative, a Filipino language, arts and ecology summer camp for children aged 5 to 10 years old, will be competing with nine other groups for a $10,000 grand prize.

The cooperative began with a group of five Filipina mothers interested in creating a children’s Filipino arts and ecology summer camp.

Seeing limited opportunities for their children to explore Filipino and Filipino-American language, culture, and history “with a lens that challenges dominant hegemony, colonialism and imperialism,” Sama Sama parents were inspired to create an alternative educational space.

“Sama Sama filled gaps of history and culture that I experienced being born and raised in the United States,”

said Sama Sama member Frolayne Carlos in a statement.

“My daughter’s journey of cultural identity will begin at a very young age thanks to Sama Sama Cooperative. It offers a safe and nurturing space with unique learning opportunities that she might otherwise not have access to,” she added.

Mia Birdsong, vice president of Family Independence Initiative, which created the Torchlight Prize in 2012, said they came up with the award to spotlight regular people who “come together to innovate and implement their ideas and solutions to create a better future for their communities.”

She said the Torchlight Prize also seeks to “encourage direct investment in resident-led solutions that are already working to improve some of our country’s least-resourced communities.”

Winners for this year’s prize will be announced in September. ■ KBK, GMA News / August 28, 2014 / 6:40 PM

Pinay maid in UAE jailed for stealing jewelry Young Fil-Am’s 3-minute film makes it to HBO docu series A Filipina domestic helper in the United Arab Emirates was sentenced to three months in jail for stealing her Egyptian employer’s jewelry and hiding it in hygiene pads.

The 24-year-old maid said she stole the items as she wanted to run away from her sponsor, who she claimed was abusive, UAE news site The National reported Tuesday.

She will be deported after she serves her sentence, the report said.

The Dubai Criminal Court handed down its sentence Tuesday morning.

The maid worked for the Egyptian, 44, since July 2013 and was caught with the jewelry last March.

Court records showed the maid was caught with the watch of her sponsor’s brother, along with a Nokia mobile

phone and some clothing items of her sponsor.

While she claimed she did not steal anything else, a police search yielded the stolen jewelry in the hygiene pads.

The maid was also found to have stolen two memory cards, a USB stick and a toolbox belonging to the sponsor’s former husband. ■ Joel Locsin /

KBK, GMA News / August 27, 2014 / 12:52 PM

A young US-based Filipino filmmaker has earned a spot in the Top 200 of an HBO reality television series, with an “inspirational” short film currently making waves online.

Joshua Ortiz, who runs a small production outfit with his siblings, wrote and directed “Listen,” a nearly three-minute film on the importance of perseverance and hard work despite talent and failure.

As of posting time, “Listen” has been viewed more than 37,600 times on YouTube.

The short film was the 25-yearold’s entry to “Project Greenlight,” a documentary series on HBO that will follow the winner of a digital film competition to the making of his prize — a feature film.

The show, with Hollywood actors Matt Damon and Ben Affleck as executive producers, “takes a revealing, uncensored look at the challenges facing a first-time director.” It will follow the winner through the various stages of film production.

Bella Rose Maltzman, one of the actors in Ortiz’s short film, broke Ortiz’s inclusion in the Top 200 of the

competition in a Facebook post on Wednesday (Manila time): In an interview with Sun Star, Ortiz, who was born and raised in the US to Filipino parents, said he initially wrote the short film for him and his two siblings, Monica and Joel, who are also part of the cast as the golfer and the figure skater, respectively. ■ Rose-An Jessica Dioquino / KBK, GMA News / August 27, 2014 / 8:30 PM

No Pinoys hurt in California quake–DFA NO Filipinos were hurt in Sunday’s 6.0 magnitude earthquake that struck Napa in California, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Monday.

“According to our Consulate General in San Francisco, they have not received any report of Filipinos affected by the earthquake in California,” said DFA spokesman Charles Jose.

Still, Jose said the consulate is encouraging Filipinos in the affected area “to practice extreme caution during an earthquake or its ensuing aftershocks in order to reduce the risk of injury or death.”

The temblor, the biggest in California in 25 years, damaged historic buildings, set some homes on fire and caused power and water outages around picturesque Napa, a famous wine-producing region and tourist destination.

There were no known fatalities, but

three people were seriously injured, including a child who suffered multiple fractures after a fireplace fell on him, according to a Reuters report.

Jose said the consulate is closely coordinating with city officials and Filipino community leaders to monitor the situation of Filipinos and FilipinoAmericans. A 24-hour emergency hotline has also been activated by the Philippine Consulate in San Francisco.

Filipino Rj Payomo, who was in Napa for a wedding, described the earthquake as “an up-down motion, like the movement of the Indiana Jones ride at Disneyland.”

“I instinctively covered my head and got in a fetal position. It sounded like a tank driving through the building, like machinery grinding through a mountain. I will never forget the sound,” she said in a Facebook post. ■

KBK, GMA News / August 25, 2014 / 8:34 PM

Rick Ruiz (left) and Tyler Paradise collect broken wine bottles at the Cult Following Wine Bar after an earthquake in Napa, California on Sunday, August 24. The 6.0 earthquake rocked wine county north of San Francisco early Sunday, injuring dozens of people, damaging historical buildings, setting some homes on fire and causing power outages around the picturesque town of Napa.

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Pinoy films take spotlight at 7th Sinehan Sa Summer in New York AVID moviegoers, film buffs, and wannabe critics gathered once again and reveled in Filipino films during the week-long Sinehan sa Summer organized by the Philippine Consulate General New York at the Philippine Center last August 11 to 15, 2014.

During the opening, Consul General Mario L. De Leon echoed movie pundits’ observation that the recent years have been considered as the renaissance of Philippine cinema. He cited Filipino films that are being recognized by international award-giving bodies and are doing the rounds of festival circuits around the world. In New York alone, some Filipino filmmakers whose works have been featured in film festivals around the city including Lav Diaz at the Lincoln Center and the Museum of Modern Art are becoming favorites of film connoisseurs and are filling up venues SRO. At the premiere night, co-sponsored by the Alumni Associations of Ateneo, De La Salle University, and Assumption College, the audience were treated to Eddie Romero’s 1976 classic “Ganito Kami Noon Paano Kayo Ngayon.”

Overwhelmed with an abundance of submissions, the festival showcased 20 short films shown over two nights dedicated for shorts on Tuesday and Wednesday. Both were sponsored by youth organizations JCI Philippine New York, UniPro, and Legacy NY.

The screening committee found that there was a recurring theme in many of the 3- to 20-minute films: the immigrant life and the Filipino diaspora. Some of the movies told stories of settling into a new home country such as the opening prefeature documentary “To Manong Carlos”. “The Houseband’s Wife” tackles the social costs of having an OFW mother, while “Ins and Outs” is a humorous take on a dayin-the-life of immigration police officers. The entries came from all over, too. “Erintes” was submitted from Hungary by Filipino Erasmus scholar Panx Solajes; “Mabuhay Ang Pilipinas” by director Bor Ocampo came all the way from Australia where part of it was filmed.

A Q&A session followed the two short films screenings, where filmmakers came to entertain queries from the audience. Festival Screening committee members Fiel Zabat (award-winning production designer) and film producer and writer Gil Quito moderated each of the days and had a lively discourse of comments, reviews, reveries, and musings with the fans and panelists.

The Filipino independent film movement also has seen a steep rise during the recent years, and the festival took note of this trend by featuring two indies. “Ang Huling

From Left: Marshall Factoran (Underdog); Joam Villabrosa (Deep Water, My Friend Charlie Whight); Vice Consul Khrystina Corpuz, Fiel Zabal, Paolo Bitanga and Gil Quito of the Screening Committee; Josh Russel, friend and Michael Rosenbaum (Limbs); Cultural Officer Olive Magpile and JCI VP Reggie Torrejon pose for a photo opportunity after the Shorts Night Q&A. Photo by Victor Cruz.

Cha Cha Ni Anita” (Anita’s Last Cha Cha), a big winner in acting awards during the first Cine Filipino Festival in the Philippines, was a crowd pleaser with the audience and the partner organization Philippine American Friendship Committee (PAFCOM). “Ang Daan Patungong Kalimugtong” (The Road to Kalimugtong), which garnered

8 wins and 17 nominations from local and international award-giving bodies with its heart-wrenching story of rural children’s struggle to go to school, struck a chord with the viewers, mostly from co-sponsor Association of Filipino Teachers in America (AFTA). A simple cocktail reception and fellowship preceded the indie night screenings.

Permissions for films from the Philippines were provided by ABSCBN, Kapatid 5 TV, Unitel Pictures, CineFilipino and Film Development Council of the Philippines.

The complete lineup of films may be accessed from the Consulate’s Facebook page:www.facebook.com/ PHConsulateNY. ■ Press Release / August 28, 2014 / 1:10 PM

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IMMIGRATION / OFNEWS

September 2014 – No. 17 • UK & Europe Edition

Pullout of peacekeepers from Liberia, Golan Heights to affect PHL image, ex-Army chief says THE Philippine government’s decision to stop sending peacekeepers to Golan Heights and Liberia may affect the country’s image to the international community, a former peacekeeper said Monday.

“It will have some negative reaction,” said retired Army chief Lt. Gen. Jaime delos Santos, who once headed the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor.

He said the United Nations may no longer prioritize the Philippines as a force provider when it comes to future peacekeeping operations abroad as a result of the country’s decision.

“Maybe in the future, instead of giving us the priority, they (UN) will give priority to other countries that can withstand critical problems,” Delos Santos said.

Last Saturday, the Department of National Defense (DND) announced that it will repatriate the 331-strong Filipino contingent serving as part of the United Nations Disengagement Force (UNDOF) in the Golan Heights in October when their tour of duty ends.

The DND also said the health risk posed by the outbreak of Ebola virus in West Africa, which has killed over 1,000 people already, has prompted the immediate withdrawal of the 115 Filipino troops deployed to the UN Mission in Liberia.

Delos Santos, chairman emeritus of the UN Veterans Association of the Philippines, said the negative impact that may result from the DND’s decision will just be “temporary.”

“That (effect) will not be permanent,” he said. ■ KBK, GMA News / August 25, 2014 / 8:04 PM

New registration process for UK-bound nurses, midwives STARTING September, Filipinos wanting to work in the United Kingdom as nurses and midwives may have to comply with a new registration process, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said.

In a statement, DOLE Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said the new process of the UK Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) applies to nurses and midwives educated outside the European Union (EU) and the European Economic Area (EEA).

Labor Attaché to the UK Joan Lourdes Lavilla said this is part

of the UK NMC’s efforts to protect migrant workers from exploitation, while emphasizing equality, fairness, and transparency in the application process.

The process includes: • a test of competence replacing the overseas nursing programmes (ONP) and adaption to midwifery programmes (AMP). The two-part test includes a computer-based multiple-choice examination and a practical objective-structured clinical examination (OSCE), but the costs of the tests have not yet been determined.

• practical exam to be held in the UK, initially at a test center at the University of Northampton, to be subsequently broadened out to encompass more centers.

Preparation. Lavilla said the new application will let applicants prepare for the test of competence in their home countries before relocating to the UK. “The computer-based examination is the first part of the test of competence and must be successfully completed before nurses and midwives can undertake the OSCE in the UK,” Lavilla said.

“With this, applicants can plan and

save for the cost of coming to the UK to complete the OSCE,” she added.

Transition arrangements. The DOLE said non-EU/EEA-educated applicants who have already joined the NMC register may have to follow transition arrangements: • Applications processed before October 2014 will still be processed using the current arrangements and applicants will receive a decision letter requiring them to complete the ONP or AMP within two years from the date of the decision letter; • In October 2014, non-EU/EAA-

educated applicants who have been issued with a decision letter prior to September 2014 will be informed of the new test of competence and offered a choice of accessing the current programme or the test of competence; • For applications received from October 2014, the test of competence will be the only route to UK registration for non-EU/EEA-educated nurses and midwives.

Applicants can access additional information regarding the application process here. ■ Joel Locsin/KBK, GMA News / August 28, 2014 / 4:01 PM

Mystery surrounds death of Fil-Am mother in NJ No Pinoys hurt in California quake–DFA A departing overseas Filipino worker (OFW) for Dubai lost P300,000 worth of jewelry and expensive watches to thieves while in an airport in the Philippines.

The items were placed inside his luggage, which was found forcibly unzipped, a report on GMA News TV’s “Balitanghali” said Thursday.

A suspect was arrested after the victim spotted one of the missing watches on an online selling site and contacted his family, who then enlisted the help of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) for an entrapment operation.

The “Balitanghali” report said the 32-year-old suspect may be part of a criminal syndicate that sells stolen items, including those from airports, in Manila’s Arrangue market.

“Within that day na nakapag-conduct tayo ng entrapment operation, nagawa

naman nating mahuli yung sinasabing nagbebenta,” said Marvin Dillena, Special Investigator III of the NBI. The report said other stolen items were confiscated from the suspect, who is facing charges for violating the antifencing law.

The OFW’s mother, meanwhile, believes airport employees had a hand in the thievery.

“Siguro dapat i-reshuffle na yung mga tao diyan dahil mukang alam na alam na nila kung paano ang gagawin nilang paikot para kumita sa hindi magandang pamamaraan,” she said in the same report.

In a text message, officials of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 said check-in baggage are the responsibility of the airlines. It, however, added that it will cooperate in any investigation. ■ KBK, GMA News / August 28, 2014 / 8:16 PM

The victim Monica Garcia Montone. ©Filipino Reporter photo.

JERSEY City — A Fil-Am mother was found dead in her family’s home in this city Monday with initial investigation indicating she was beaten to death, the Filipino Reporter has learned.

The woman was identified as Monica Garcia Montone, 34, of 124 Sycamore Road in the Country Village.

She reportedly left behind a threeyear-old son, who was taken to Jersey City Medical Center for evaluation, at the time detectives removed the body from the house around 1 p.m.

Hudson County Assistant Prosecutor Gene Rubino said her death has been ruled suspicious, with the cause and manner of her death still being determined by the state Regional Medical Examiner’s Office in Newark.

Rubino told the Reporter it would take weeks before the medical examiner releases a full autopsy report.

He declined to release other personal information about Montone, but said the homicide police is already in touch with the victim’s family.

Montone is the second New Jersey Fil-Am mother to die under suspicious circumstances in less than a month.

On July 25, Fil-Am nurse Jennifer Bongco of Winslow, N.J. was found dead

on a roadside with her body bearing multiple stab wounds; her husband Kevin Ambrose was arrested and charged with first-degree murder and is being held on $2 million bail.

Montone’s husband Kevin Montone has not been charged in connection with his wife’s death, but he was arrested on narcotics charges following the discovery of the body in their home reportedly belonging to Kevin’s mother, a former Jersey City police officer.

According to a Jersey Journal report, a neighbor saw Kevin, 33, laughing uncontrollably and had trouble walking when he was placed in the police car, without handcuffs.

The same report said he appeared Tuesday in Central Judicial Processing court on charges of possession of heroin with intent to distribute within 1,000 feet of school property.

Represented by a public defender, he is also charged with possession of a prescription drug that was not obtained from a practitioner under a valid prescription.

At the hearing, bail was set at $35,000 with a 10 percent cash option.

■ Filipino Reporter / August 25, 2014 / 3:08 PM

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September 2014 – No. 17 • UK & Europe Edition

Pinoys take note: Sharjah cops frown on ‘driving selfies’ FILIPINOS in the United Arab Emirates may have to think twice before taking selfies while driving in Sharjah, now that police there are cracking down on that practice.

Sharjah police launched Sunday a safe driving campaign that discourages distractions while driving,UAE news site Gulf News reported.

“The number one activity that should be occurring while you are behind the wheel is driving. Hundreds of thousands of people are injured each year as a result of distracted driving and these injuries and deaths are preventable. Put the camera down and wait until you arrive at a safe destination. Don’t let that driving selfie or video be the last photo you ever

Pinoys still most active job-seekers in US among foreign-educated nurses OVER a thousand Filipino nurses took the first step in gaining employment in the United States on the first half of the year—the most number among foreigneducated nurses—but a lawmaker said they should not get their hopes up.

“We do not expect the number of Filipino nurses seeking to practice their profession in America to increase any time soon,” said House Assistant Majority Leader and Cebu Rep. Gerald Anthony Gullas Jr. “Healthcare labor market there remains somewhat bleak.”

Based on data reaching Gullas’ office, 1,951 Philippine-educated nurses took the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) for the first time from January to June this year, slightly higher compared to the 1,944 who took the same exam during the same period in 2013.

Gullas said based on statistics by the US National Council of State Boards of Nursing Inc. (USNCSBN), which administers the NCLEX, Filipinos are

the most active job-seekers in the US among foreign-educated nurses.

He said 420 Indians, 300 Canadians, 266 Puerto Ricans and 234 South Koreans also took the NCLEX for the first time in the first semester of 2014.

Noting that US hospitals and nursing homes are still laying off workers, Gullas said it would be better for Filipino nurses to instead seek potential employment in the Middle East and other countries that continue to recruit foreign healthcare staff.

“Based on the latest report from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, in July alone, US hospitals shed off 7,000 jobs, while nursing care facilities there got rid of another 6,000,” he pointed out.

In 2013, a total of 4,034 Filipinos took the NCLEX for the first time, representing less than one-fifth of the record-high 21,499 that took the same examination at the height of the 2007 nursing boom. ■ KBK, GMA News / August 27,

take,” said Maj. Abdul Rahman Khatr, director of communications at Sharjah Police Traffic Department.

“Selfie photos have gotten a lot of attention lately,” he added, noting the popularity of selfies prompted Sharjah police to remind the public of the dangers of taking a selfie while driving.

He cited figures showing most major accidents stemmed from using mobile phones while driving.

Offenders can get a Dh200 fine and

the police failed to dissuade many motorists from using mobile phones while behind the wheels.

Meanwhile, the Gulf News report said safety tips will be distributed to the public in Sharjah city and the Eastern Region via brochures and booklets, in Arabic and English.

Police also posted safety measures and procedures on social media such as Twitter, Facebook. YouTube and Instagram. ■ Joel Locsin / KBK, GMA News

Pinay entrepreneur making waves in US by connecting families to babysitters A Filipina entrepreneur is making waves in the US business community with her Care.com, which the Boston Globe described as “an Amazon.com for caregivers.”

After founding Care.com in 2006, Sheila Lirio Marcelo, 43, has become a fixture of online ads, TV commercials, and morning television talk shows to plug her company, according to an article on the Boston Globe.

Her tireless determination paid off: In January this year, Care.com went public on the New York Stock Exchange at $17 a share, the first venture-backed Massachusetts tech firm to debut on Wall Street in more than 18 months. In July, it announced that revenues and memberships are up.

As of August 28, 2014, Care. com—which connects parents with babysitters and nannies, and the elderly

ASHFIELD SOLICITORS 2014 / 2:21 PM

four black points, Maj Khatr noted.

Khatr said the traffic department launched a traffic campaign dubbed “Focus on the Road While Driving,” to catch reckless drivers and traffic law violators in the emirate.

The Gulf News report said police figures indicated that over the past seven months, 8,154 motorists were fined for using mobile phones while driving, compared to 7,251 in 2013.

Yet, he said, repeated warnings from

with home healthcare providers—has 11,800,000 members in 16 countries.

According to its website, Care.com offers child care, adult and senior care, pet care and home care. Its mission is to “improve the lives of families and caregivers by helping them connect in a reliable and easy way.”

Reservations. In her interview with the Boston Globe, Marcelo, who had graduate degrees in law and business from Harvard, admitted to having reservations when she was starting Care.com.

“I was worried about being perceived as a female entrepreneur settling on a female business,” she said.

“I had friends saying, ‘After all these degrees, and your experience, you are going to run a baby-sitting company.’ ” Partners, however, loved Marcelo’s plan enough to invest in it.

All in the family. Marcelo’s knack for business isn’t surprising. Growing up in the Philippines, she watched her parents operate several businesses, among them a coconut production, a rice mill, a trucking company, and chicken farms.

The family, however, migrated to the US in 1977 when Marcelo was 6, settling at a Filipino community Houston, according to the Boston Globe.

At the age of 20, Marcelo married Ron Marcelo, whom she met at a conference of Filipino student organizations in Yale. It was her experience after having their first child which would later become her inspiration for Care.com.

“As immigrants without family nearby, my husband and I struggled to find care for our infant son, Ryan,” Marcelo said. ■ KBK, GMA News / August 28, 2014 / 2:28 PM

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Filipina Sheila Lirio Marcelo, the founder and CEO of Care.com, embraces a colleague after the initial public offering of her company on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange in New York on January 24, 2014

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INTERNATIONAL / GLOBAL NEWS

September 2014 – No. 17 • UK & Europe Edition

Nigeria confirms Ebola death in oil city of Port Harcourt ABUJA - Nigeria on Thursday said that a doctor had died from Ebola in the southeastern oil city of Port Harcourt in the first case of the deadly virus outside the country’s biggest city, Lagos.

Health minister Onyebuchi Chukwu said the medic died on August 22 after treating a patient who had contact with Liberian-American Patrick Sawyer, who brought the virus to Nigeria and who died in a Lagos hospital on July 25.

“Following the report of this death by the doctor’s widow the next day, the case had been thoroughly investigated and laboratory analysis showed that this doctor died from EVD (Ebola Virus Disease),” he told reporters in the capital Abuja.

The latest case brings to six the

number of people who have died from the haemorrhagic fever in Nigeria. Fifteen people have now been confirmed to have the disease.

On Wednesday, Chukwu had said that the virus was contained as there were no cases outside Lagos but warned against complacency in fighting the disease.

News that a doctor died 435 kilometres (270 miles) away will raise fears about the spread of the virus, just as Nigerians began to think that they had stopped Ebola in its tracks.

Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers state, is the centre of Nigeria’s oil industry and home to a number of oil giants, including Anglo-Dutch giant Shell, France’s Total and US firm Chevron.

Medical workers wear protective suits at Biankouma hospital, Ivory Coast, on August 14, 2014

DAMASCUS - Islamic State jihadists boasted Thursday they had executed scores of Syrian troops after capturing a key air base, the latest in a string of abuses that have shocked the world.

News of the killings came as US President Barack Obama weighed air strikes on IS positions in Syria and edged closer to greenlighting a mission to aid Shiite Turkmen trapped in an Iraqi town besieged by the jihadists.

It also came as rival Islamist rebels led by Al-Qaeda affiliate Al-Nusra Front seized 43 UN peacekeepers on the Golan Heights, part of a mission that has monitored an armistice between Syrian and Israeli troops on the strategic plateau for decades.

IS posted grisly video footage on the Internet of scores of bodies heaped

Nigerian Health Minister Onyebuchi Chukwu speaks at a public hearing on the Ebola virus

An airport security officer, wearing a face mask and hand gloves, searches a passenger at Murtala

Nigeria is Africa’s largest oil producer, churning out roughly two million barrels a day, with crude accounting for more than 90 percent of its foreign exchange earnings.

Residents in Port Harcourt said they were shocked and scared by the arrival of Ebola and called on the state government to tackle the virus.

“Port Harcourt plays host to a lot of people, including foreigners. All efforts should be made to check the spread of the virus,” said local student Lucy Ekeh.

Hotel room. Chukwu said the patient, an official with the ECOWAS regional bloc who took Sawyer to hospital after he arrived unwell at Lagos airport on July 20, managed to evade detection and went to Port Harcourt in the last week of July.

Another ECOWAS official died of

Ebola, the bloc announced on August 12.

His colleague saw the doctor who died in Port Harcourt in a city hotel room after showing Ebolalike symptoms, Rivers State health commissioner Sampson Parker said separately.

Chukwu added: “After four days, following a manhunt for him, he (the patient) returned to Lagos by which time he was found to be without symptoms.

“This case would have been of no further interest since he had completed the 21 days of surveillance without any other issue but for the fact that the doctor who treated him died last Friday.”

Following the doctor’s death, the minister said that several contacts had now been “traced, registered and placed under surveillance”.

in the desert they boasted were those of Syrian soldiers they captured and executed following its seizure of Tabqa air base.

The jihadists have repeatedly posted gruesome videos, which have appalled international opinion but served as a propaganda tool to recruit volunteers.

Britain-based monitoring group the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that IS had executed at least 160 soldiers, among some 500 who had made a desperate bid to escape to government-held territory after their defeat last Sunday.

The footage posted by IS showed a close-up of some 20 bodies, but then panned out to show scores more.

Other shots showed men barefoot and dressed only in their underwear

walking in line with their hands on their head in surrender, escorted by jihadist gunmen.

One held up the black flag of the jihadists. Others chanted: “Islamic State forever.”

Tabqa was the last position in Raqa province to fall to the jihadists, who now control a vast swathe of northeastern Syria and Iraq.

A UN-mandated probe has charged that public executions, amputations, lashings and mock crucifixions have become a regular fixture in jihadistcontrolled areas of Syria.

Obama was to meet with top national security aides at 2000 GMT to decide whether to expand US air strikes launched against IS in Iraq earlier this month to its strongholds in Syria.

The Syrian government launched air strikes of its own on Thursday, killing six IS leaders, the Observatory said, but Washington has so far baulked at cooperating with Damascus against the group.

UN peacekeepers held. Rival jihadists of Al-Nusra Front, backed by other rebels, detained 43 Fijian peacekeepers on the Golan on Thursday, a day after their capture of the sole crossing over the UN-patrolled armistice line to the Israeli-occupied sector of the plateau.

“Forty-three peacekeepers from the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force were detained early this morning by an armed group in the vicinity of Quneitra,” a UN statement said.

The 43 peacekeepers from Fiji were forced to surrender their weapons and taken hostage, but 81 Filipino blue helmets “held their ground” and refused to disarm, the Filipino defence department said.

It said the Filipino peacekeepers were being surrounded by the gunmen.

The UN Security Council condemned the action and demanded the “unconditional and immediate release” of the peacekeepers, a statement said.

Peacekeepers were detained twice last year and released safely.

But the Philippines has said it will repatriate its 331-strong contingent, for security reasons, mirroring previous moves by Australia, Croatia and Japan.

Washington has also been weighing both aid drops and air strikes in Iraq to help residents of a Shiite Turkmen town

IS executes scores of Syrian troops in new atrocity

Aid flows into Gaza after Israel-Hamas truce

GAZA City (Palestinian Territories) - Vital humanitarian aid poured into Gaza on Thursday as residents began rebuilding their lives following a devastating 50-day war between Israel and Hamas that experts say left no winners.

Millions in and around the war-torn coastal enclave were enjoying a second

day of peace after the guns fell silent.

The truce, which went into force on Tuesday evening, saw the warring sides agree to a “permanent” halt to seven weeks of bloodshed in a move hailed

by Washington and the United Nations.

Israel agreed to immediately lift restrictions on fishing, allowing boats to work up to six nautical miles from the shore in a move which went into effect early on Wednesday.

It also pledged to ease restrictions at the two crossings into Gaza, Erez and Kerem Shalom, to allow the entry of goods, humanitarian aid and construction materials.

Debate on crunch issues such as Hamas’s demand for a port and an

airport, and the release of prisoners, as well as Israel’s calls to demilitarise Gaza have been postponed for another month until the sides resume talks in Cairo.

The focus is catering for the immediate needs of the 1.8 million residents of the Gaza Strip, nearly half a million of whom were forced to flee their homes because of the fighting.

From early Thursday hundreds of lorries heaped with biscuits, sweets, soft drinks and nappies, as well as humanitarian aid supplies, heaved through the Kerem Shalom crossing, an AFP correspondent said. ■ AFP / August

28, 2014

His widow, also a medical doctor, has shown symptoms of the virus and has been placed in isolation pending results of laboratory tests, he added.

“We don’t know what the result will turn out to be but certainly if it turns out to be positive, it’s likely we will move her to Lagos,” the minister said.

Chukwu said that there were 70 people under surveillance in Port Harcourt, while six people were being watched in the eastern city of Enugu, where a nurse who treated Sawyer visited before displaying symptoms.

A treatment group has been in Port Harcourt since Wednesday morning and a mobile laboratory was being sent to the city this weekend, he added.

Parker said that the hotel had been decontaminated. ■ AFP / August 28, 2014

Image made available by Jihadist media outlet Welayat Raqa on July 25, 2014,

besieged by the jihadists since early June, US officials said on Wednesday.

Inhabitants of the Salaheddin province town of Amerli, north of Baghdad, face danger both because of their faith, which jihadists consider heresy, and their resistance against the militants, “It could be a humanitarian operation. It could be a military operation. It could be both,” said a US defence official on condition of anonymity.

Iraq is preparing its own effort, massing forces north and south of the town and carrying out air strikes against the jihadist militants besieging it.

There is “no possibility of evacuating them so far”, Eliana Nabaa, spokeswoman for the UN mission in Iraq, said of Amerli residents.

UN Iraq envoy Nickolay Mladenov has called for an urgent effort to help Amerli, saying residents face a “possible massacre” if the town is overrun. ■ AFP / August 28, 2014

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September 2014 – No. 17 • UK & Europe Edition

‘Meron bang tinago?’ : PNoy shoots back at media to justify non-certification of FOI bill MANILA - President Benigno Aquino III on Thursday said he would not certify as urgent the Freedom of Information bill despite a consistent clamor, because there was no “emergency” that warranted such. Besides, he shot back at the media, his government never hid anything from the people anyway.

In a one-on-one interview with Radyo Bombo anchor Elmar Acol, Mr. Aquino hurled this question to media groups, which together with a big alliance of transparency and good government advocates have lobbied for passage of the FOI bill that Aquino himself championed as a former lawmaker: “Ngayon, pagdating naman ho sa FOI, meron ho ba kaming itinago sa inyong impormasyon or to anybody?

Hindi ba kami napaka-transparent. Di ba, ‘nung umpisa merong tinatawag na ‘bottom-up budgeting’—pinalitan na po ‘yung pangalan niyan—kung saan pinipilit natin maging transparent sa lahat ng gawain po natin at lahat ng tanong pinipilit nating sagutin?

[Now, when it comes to the FOI is there any information we hid from you or from anybody? Haven’t we been very transparent? At the start, wasn’t there a bottom-up budgeting - that has been renamed - where we try our best to be transparent in all we do, as we answer all questions]?”

The FOI bill came to the fore recently as the budget deliberations for the 2015 General Appropriations Act began, and in the wake of the continuing debate over the administration’s Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP), details of which many sectors said were hidden largely from the people until it was exposed by Sen. Jinggoy Estrada.

DAP and transparency. Transparency became an issue recently after it took Budget Secretary Florencio Abad months to comply with a Supreme Court

order to provide a two-column list of all the items in the previous GAA (for 2011 and 2012) from which the DBM unilaterally culled “savings” and the projects and agencies to which these “savings” were transferred. The Senate finance committee also sought a list, as did other transparency and media groups. To date, only the list of the DAP beneficiaries - not the sources from which the funds were pulled out - has been released.

The difficulty of getting vital information about DAP was underscored by the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) in a three-part series on the DAP, as serialized in InterAksyon.com Aquino was responding to an observation by Bombo Radyo Legazpi’s Kevin Arroco that many people are saddened by the nonpassage of the FOI bill that has been in the legislative mill for over a decade. He asked why the President did not certify FOI as urgent as he did with the Sin Tax Law and Reproductive Health Law. Aquino said the Constitution requires the existence of an emergency for the President to certify a bill as urgent. He insisted there was an emergency both in the case of the Sin Tax and RH laws. “Imagine this, huh, just two weeks ago there were already 100 million Filipinos. When the EDSA revolt happened (in 1986) were just 50 million.

EDSA was rougly about a generation ago. In one generation dumoble na ho tayo ng populasyon [our population doubled].”.

In the case of the sin taxes, he told the reporter, in Filipino, that “like me, you must have seen many people dying from this—I’ll admit it’s also my habit— smoking, and also drinking liquor.” He said there was a “health emergency” then, wherein the taxes these smokers

MANILA – The Sandiganbayan First Division on Thursday junked a motion filed by businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles to subpoena the bank records of pork barrel scam whistleblower Benhur Luy. “Wherefore, in light of all the foregoing, the court resolves to grant the prosecution’s Motion to Quash Subpoena Duces Tecum/Ad Testificandum, dated July 30, 2014 and the urgent Motion to Quash Subpoena Duces Tecum/Ad Testificandum, dated July 30, 2014, of Benhur Luy,” the resolution signed by Sandiganbayan First Division chairman Associate Justice Efren dela Cruz and Associate Justices Rodolfo Ponferrada and Rafael Lagos said.

The first division is trying the plunder and graft charges filed against Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. over the pork barrel scam, which Napoles is accused of engineering.

Two other accused senators—

Juan Ponce Enrile and Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada—are being tried in two other divisions.

Napoles is a co-accused in the charges against all three.

In contesting Napoles’ petition, Luy’s counsel, Martin Antero, earlier argued that his client is not the one accused of plunder.

State prosecutor Joefferson Torribio agreed and accused the defense of “just fishing for evidence.”

On July 24, executives of Banco De Oro, Metrobank, Bank of the Philippine Islands and United Coconut Planters Bank who were subpoenaed because of Napoles’ petition appeared and contended they could not release Luy’s bank records unless they knew “what these specific documents are, covering a certain period, that would be relevant to the case and they need a more particular description of the documents that Napoles’ camp wants to unearth.”

Napoles’ lawyer, Stephen David,

and drinkers paid was much less than the cost to the people of curing those who fall ill because of these vices.

The President then went into a long explanation of the nitty gritty of day-today problems where he wished he could share with the people all the information that gets to him.

He cited examples of problems and invited journalists to say if they wanted to know “all these things in their entirety.” He cited the considerations that went into deciding the protocols for dealing with suspected or at-risk Filipinos or inbound travellers when the Middle East Respiratory SyndromeCoronavirus (MERS-CoV) flared up several months ago.

Below is the transcript of the President’s full account of tht problemsolving episode, which he used to frame what he thinks people would learn about if they had an FOI: “Dumating ‘yung MERS na problema.

Merong… Umpisa niyan, may text sa akin ang DOH, merong mga na-expose na Pilipino raw sa MERS sa Middle East at binabantayan. Tapos ‘nung Holy Week ho, bigla na lang nakita ko nagkaroon sa isang TV station na tila merong isa na nag-test positive at nakarating na sa Pilipinas tapos naabisuhan tayo parang 12 hours na yata mula nang bumalik siya. Ngayon, siguro, ishoshort cut ko na lang ho, ano. Isipin niyo, ‘yung Wednesday po ng Holy Week, nagmeeting kami hanggang 3:30 ng umaga para masiguradong ‘yung number one, mahahanap ‘yung pasaherong ito.

“Bigyan ko kayo ng mga ibang detalye. Ilan bang pasahero ‘nung eroplano? Four hundred—hindi—418.

Mga ganoon. ‘Yung na-report 418.

Tinanong ko muna, paano ba nagkakahawaan diyan? Airborne ba? Eroplano sarado ‘yung hangin siyempre ‘dun nagre-recirculate. Sagot

Sandiganbayan junks Napoles bid to subpoena bank records of Luy

Janet Lim Napoles attending her bail hearing at the Sandiganbayan last month. ©InterAksyon.com file.

claimed Luy’s bank accounts should be opened after he admitted to being the financial officer of Napoles’ JLN Corporation and of some of the nongovernmental organizations she established, allegedly for diverting billions of pesos in the Priority Development Assistance Fund of lawmakers.

However, he failed to respond to the bank executives’ challenge to identify the bank records linked to pork barrel transactions. Philippine News Agency / August 28, 2014 / 5:06 PM

sa atin: ang studies nila hindi airborne.

Kailangan physical contact. Oh, sinong endanger? ‘Yung tatlong pasahero raw sa harap, tatlo sa bawat gilid, at sa likod. Sabi ko, ‘Sandali lang, e walong oras ‘yung eroplano mula ‘dun papunta dito. Hindi kaya nakipagkwentuhan sa likod, sa harap, sa gitna? ‘Hindi kaya gumalaw ‘yung eroplano, na off balance siya, may natanganan siyang ibang tao?’ Hindi kaya mas maganda tsiken na natin lahat ng pasahero?’ So hinanap ho namin lahat ‘yan.

“Ang masakit pa niyan ‘yung contact numbers. Umalis sila prepaid ‘yung iba o marami sa kanila. E mga anim na buwan, isang taon nang wala dito; ‘yung iba, dalawang taon, wala na ho ‘yung prepaid na ‘yon. ‘Nung pinagtatawagan niyo lumabas hindi kumpleto ang datos.

So paano natin hahanapin lahat?

Tapos tinap (tap) mo na—Holy Week pa naman—tinap mo lahat ng ahensiya.

Tinap ko ‘yung POEA, tinap mo ‘yung DFA, tinap mo ‘yung DOLE, pati ho yata DSWD kasama rin e. Basta ang dami— lahat ng paraan para mahanap.

“Habang pumasok ‘yan meron hong isang babae naman na nagkasa… ‘Yung sabi nila kasi, hindi pa nakakahawa kung hindi lumalabas ‘yung sintomas.

May dumating na babae, may trangkaso, may tila sintomas at parehong lugar ang pinanggalingan pero ibang eroplano.

Nakaabot ng Iloilo naman ‘yon.

Hahanapin mo ngayon lahat; tetestengin mo, tapos ‘yung test, twelve hours ang minimum niyan at isa lang ang testing facility natin, nasa Alabang.

“So kukunin muna ‘yung swab na tinatawag na sample, ita-transport, tapos pati na rin ‘yon sa transport e Holy Week, ano, medyo loaded lahat ng transportation. Siguro humupa ‘yung tensyon namin mga linggo na lang dahil nga lahat ng tinest, negative.

“So kasabay ‘nun, patapos ‘yung Holy Week, siyempre, nandoon na ‘yung nag-uumpisa na ‘yung—hindi, Ebola naman. Pareho. ‘Yung MERS, ‘yung Ebola, walang gamot. Pagkatapos niyan, ‘yung susunod na linggo, ‘yung medyo… Hindi pa naman… Ang sabi ang Ebola, ‘pag tinamaan ka doon ka na lang, ‘di ka na aabot dito. ‘Yung MERS, medyo, talagang mula ‘yung passive surveillance na tinatawag ginawa nating active surveillance. Ano bang ibig sabihin ‘nun? “‘Yung una kasing proseso nila, kunyari nanggaling ka sa lugar na ‘yon, baka na-expose ka; tatawagan ka ng DOH tapos sasabihin, ‘Huwag kang lalabas ng bahay. Kung may sintomas ka, tawagan mo kami.’

“Sabi ko, ‘Teka muna. ‘Yung tao, isang taon na nasa Middle East na bawal ‘yung good time, bawal uminom, et cetera. Kakarating dito, aawat sa sarili ‘pag niyaya ‘nung kabarkada?

‘Yung lahat ng kamag-anak niya naghihintay ng pasalubong, hindi muna siya haharapin? Mukhang malabo yata ‘yan.’ E kung talagang meron siya, na-

expose baka ngayon lumabas ‘yung sintomas, walang gamot ‘yan, delikado.

I-quarantine na natin nang buo.

“So swerte ko naman, nandiyan ‘yung Chief Presidential Legal Counsel at saka natanong ko rin yata sa ano kay Chief Justice, ano, na ‘yung power of the state. Kasi merong health emergency, na ‘pag ito, meron talagang sintomas, nabugahan ka, nahatsingan ka, o sa kamay niya nadapuan ka, baka nga may epidemic na walang gamot.

“So nandoon, tinulungan nila ako mahanap ‘yung batas; merong Quarantine Law of 2004 na siyang nagbigay sa atin ng karapatan at saka kakayahan para matigil ‘yung pagkalat nitong disease.

“Pero so far, ulitin ko lang, negative lahat. Pati ‘yung nag-positive ‘dun, pagdating dito tinest ulit, naging negative na.”

To this presidential exposition on the sort of information an FOI bill would enable people to know, Radyo Bombo anchor Acol remarked, “Swerte pa rin ang Pilipinas.”

Mr. Aquino continued with more examples of problems he dealt with, where the detailed information might not be the kind that people, or journalists, would be interested to know real time.

Aquino asked: “Ngayon, siguro ang tanong ko lang ho dito sa tanong na FOI: Gusto ba niyong malaman lahat ‘nung detalye habang nangyayari.

Kasi katulad niyan may bagong study sa MERS na baka airborne na dahil merong… Parang pinagmulan raw ho niyan camel, e [So now this is my question to those seeking the FOI: Do you want to know all the details as they happen? Like now, there’s a new study that MERS might be airborne because....and the source is the camel].”

And then he discussed at length the latest information reaching him from epidemiologists.

Finally, he concluded, “so I’ll repeat to those in your [media] industry who ask; they say an industrious reporter doesn’t need an FOI, but at the same time they’re the ones who ride the clamor for one.

I repeat: what did we ever hide? What did we fail to share? I always get this answer: “But it’s not for you, it’s for your successors.”

The President insisted, “we never blocked the FOI Bill” even though it languished in the House of Representatives dominated by his allies, in a committee of public information chaired by a rabid loyalist.

If there is an FOI issue, Aquino said, “maybe you guys should go to Congress, not to us, because what was submitted to them is something we can easily live with if they enact it.” ■ InterAksyon.com / August 28, 2014 / 6:36 PM

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September 2014 – No. 17 • UK & Europe Edition

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Please contact us to include you event on events@hello-philippines.com DISCLAIMER: The Events Diary ry uring by HELLO PHILIPPINES r listing does not constitute or imply lly its endorsement, recommendation or favo f newspaper. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily il state or refl ily f ect those of Hello Philippines newspaper fl and/or the Publisher. What’s On is a Filipino Events Diary ry r listing fo f r UK and Europe.

2014 CALENDAR OF EVENTS – UK & EUROPE DATE / TIME

EVENT

Sunday 17th August 2014 from 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Scotland Barrio Fiesta

Saturday 23rd August 2014 6:00 PM

Mr & Miss Bicolandia UK 2014 Barrio Fiesta Manchester

Saturday 30th August 2014 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM Friday 5th September, 2014 10:00 PM - 6:00 AM

Pinoy Spotlight

20 September 2014 Saturday 21 September 2014 Sunday

Mrs Philippines UK Penafrancia Mass

Friday 26th September 2014, 7:30 PM until late

Love and Hope charity Dinner Dance P FEST UK

27th - 28th September 2014 3:00 PM until 10:00 PM 29 November 2014 Saturday

Miss Pearl of Asia UK

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Hamilton Park Race Course Bothwell Road, Hamilton, Lanarkshire, ML3 ODW, UK Conway Hall, 25 Red Lion Square, Holborn, WC1R 4RL

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Heaton Park, Middleton Rd, Manchester M25 2SW, London Pacha London, Terminus Place, Victoria, SW1V 1JR, London, UK Live bands Back to Back Baden Powell House, 65 – 67 Queen’s Gate, London SW7 5JS Carmelites Church, Kensington 41 Kensington Church St London W8 4BB Willow Centre, 1-13 1 Willowcroft Way, Cringleford, Norwich, Norfolk NR4 7XF 27 Sept 2014 Leeds 02 Academy Leeds LS2 3AW Camden Centre Jude Street, King's Cross London WC1H 9JE

CONTACTS / REMARKS

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Aurora Robb 07748 252 530 Francis de Chavez 07877 727 007 Bien Evangelista 07920 067 756 www.pinoyspotlight.com

Aguman Kapampangan UK Zanie Del Mundo 07886 881 432 / zendel22@hotmail.co.uk Bicol Association UK LTD Rick 07900204428 Adel 07854114330 bauksecretariat@gmail.com camsur_uk@yahoo.co.uk Destiny Duo and Pinoy 01603 455 923/ 07723604584 London Olympic Volunteers Plus Pinoy Local Talents www.finestworkers.com or call in UK 07889171595 MPOAUK 07547 985 508 enquiries@misspearlofasia.com www.MissPearlOfAsia.com

FREE LISTING of your events on the HELLO PHILIPPINES newspaper and if you know of any ny n Events please contact us and submit your event via email to the following at INFO@HELLO-PHILIPPINES.COM DISCLAIMER: The Events Diary ry ly ly av r Listing does not necessarily l constitute or imply l its endorsement, recommendation, or ffa avouring

by Hello Philippines newspaper. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily l state or refl ly f ect those of fl Hello Philippines newspaper. This is merely ly l an Events Diary rry Listing of what is happening within the Filipino Communities in Europe. This is for general information only l . ly 1st Saturday 1st Sunday 1st Sunday 2nd Saturday 2nd Sunday 2nd Sunday 2nd Sunday 3rd Sunday 3rd Sunday Last Saturday Last Sunday Last Sunday Every Sunday First Wednesdays

MONTHLY FILIPINO COMMUNITY MASSES IN GREATER LONDON 5:00 PM Devotion in Honour of Our Lady of Fatima (Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament / Rosary / Benediction / Mass) St Pius X Catholic Church, 108 Orme Road, Kingston Upon Thames KT1 3SB – Oliver Abasolo – 07782 661 922 2:00 PM Five Precious Wounds Parish, Brentfield Road, Stonebridge Park, London NW10 8ER Mervic Monocillo – 07894 636 140 5:00 PM Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church, Friary Road, Peckham, London SE15 1RH Allen Abeleda – 07713 625 888 4:00 PM St Peter the Apostle Catholic Church, 103 Woolwich New Road, London SE18 6EF Moises Espanola – 07894 648 639 2:00 PM English Martyrs Church, Chalkhill Road, Wembley Park, Wembley HA9 9EW Becky Sarinas – 07949 857 699 / 07425 761 519 / Lina B – 07579 418 510 2:00 PM St Dominic Catholic Church, 243 Violet Lane, Waddon, Croydon CR0 4HN Merlie Mirto – 07722 216 462 4:00 PM St. Anselm and St. Cecilia, 70 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London WC2A 3JA Feliciano Ramirez – 07733 680 748 3:00 PM Sacred Heart of Jesus, New Priory, Quex Road, Kilburn, London NW6 4PS Sheidrick de Leon – 07738 210 202 3:00 PM Blessed Sacrament Parish, 157 Copenhagen Street, Islington N1 0SR Christy Sangalang – 07709 119 969 6:00 PM Our Lady of Dolours, Servite Parish Church, 264 Fulham Road, London SW10 4EL Fr Allan Satur – 020 7352 6965 / fulhamroad@rcdow.org.uk / Roland Adap – r_adap@hotmail.com 12:00 PM St Pius X Catholic Church, 108 Orme Road, Kingston Upon Thames KT1 3SB Oliver Abasolo – 07782 661 922 2:00 PM St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, 218 Roehampton Lane, London SW15 4LE Rafael Santiago – 07795 254 451 5:00 PM Holy Redeemer Catholic Church, 20 Brixton Road, Oval, London SW9 6BU Ben Ortiz – 07723 318 486 6:30 PM Filipino Mass and Novena to Our Mother of Perpetual Help, Farm Street Church of the Immaculate Conception (Jesuit House Chapel), access on 114 Mount Street, London W1K 3AY – Josie Ramos – 07723 024 591

20

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Back pain at work?

BACK pain is the second most common cause of long-term sickness in the UK after stress.

About 7.6 million working days were lost due to work-related back pain and other musculoskeletal disorders from 2010 to 2011.

The most common causes of back pain are strained muscles or ligaments, wear and tear, bad posture and stress.

Most of us will have back pain at some point in our lives. Although painful, back pain isn’t serious in most cases. The pain generally lasts from a few days to a few weeks. It usually clears up after about six weeks.

Treating back pain. In general, the best treatment is to stay active and, if necessary, use over-the-counter painkillers. You may feel like going to bed, but this won’t help and could make it worse.

The longer you’re immobile, the weaker your back muscles will become, and the more they will hurt in the long term.

The best ways to deal with pain and help your back to recover are to maintain your mobility, based on your usual activities, and return to work as soon as possible.

Any exercise that strengthens your legs, back and stomach will help to keep your back healthy.

At your desk. Sitting badly in front of a computer for hours on end is storing up trouble. The body can tolerate being in one position for only a short period of time before you feel the need to adjust.

Workstation factors that can affect your back include: • seating posture • computer screen position • chair height • keyboard position • mouse position • desk equipment layout If you work in an office and use a computer, you can avoid injury by sitting in the right position and

Exercises for back pain THE best way to deal with back pain is to stay active and continue doing regular exercise.

“The advice 20 years ago was to rest, but research has shown that inactivity only makes things worse,” says Dries Hettinga of BackCare, a charity that offers support and information to people with back pain.

“When you’re in pain you may want to stay in bed and not move around, but that results in further loss of mobility and will only prolong the pain.”

Staying active means continuing with regular day-to-day activities to avoid becoming sedentary. Examples include walking to the shops rather than taking the car, getting off the bus one stop early, gardening and taking the dog for a walk.

If you experience mild pain, take painkillers available over the counter from your pharmacist or supermarket.

Your pharmacist or GP can advise you on using your medication effectively.

Yoga and other exercises. If the back pain is mild, try to exercise as well as maintaining an active lifestyle. You can do any activity that gives your body a good workout.

“It’s important to pick an exercise you enjoy,” says Hettinga. “If you do something you enjoy, you’re more likely

to stick with it. There’s no quick fix for back pain so you need to work at it.”

There’s some evidence that regular yoga practice is beneficial for people with high blood pressure, heart disease, aches and pains, including low back pain, depression and stress. Find out more ina guide to yoga There’s also some research to show that pilates can provide pain relief to people with non-specific low back pain. Find out more ina guide to pilates.

Some studies suggest that the Alexander technique, a method for improving posture, can help to relieve persistent and recurring low back pain.

However, the Alexander technique is not recommended by NICE as a treatment for back pain.

Ideally, your choice of activities should involve elements of endurance as well as strength and flexibility.

Examples include walking, running or jogging, cycling, dancing, swimming, hydrotherapy (exercising in water) and aquarobics.

For low-impact exercise ideas, read Easy exercises.

Hettinga says exercise programmes are most effective if performed regularly and over prolonged periods of time.

Aim for at least 150 minutes a

HEALTH and Lifestyle

arranging your desk correctly. Get tips on how to sit correctly.

If you’re not sure about your seating position and workstation, ask your manager to arrange a workplace assessment for you.

Good posture when sitting at a desk can help prevent repetitive strain injury (RSI), which is a cause of back

week. You may want to build up to this gradually over several weeks.

Hettinga says an individually designed exercise programme gives the best results. It is advisable to seek medical advice before starting an exercise routine for back pain.

Manual therapy. Hettinga suggests combining an exercise programme with a course of manual therapy, especially when the pain is persistent. Manual therapy is provided by chiropractors, osteopaths and physiotherapists.

“Evidence suggests manual therapies can be effective. Your back is examined to see if any joints need to be freed up.

“They can do it with a gentle massage, mobilisation or manipulation.

It’s especially helpful if your back is stiff and flexibility is an issue,” he says.

Manual therapists are also qualified to advise you on the type of exercises that will be most effective at dealing with your type of back pain.

“You should see improvements after a few weeks,” says Hettinga. “If the pain hasn’t disappeared after a few weeks of treatment, seek further medical advice to explore alternatives.

“There is always something that can be done about back pain, but it requires some work and dedication from you.” ■ NHS Choices

September 2014 – No. 17 • UK & Europe Edition

pain. Sit up straight and make sure that your lower back is supported.

Adjusting your chair. By law, workstation chairs must be stable. The standard office chair has five legs in a star shape.

The seat height must be adjustable, and the back rest must be adjustable in height and tilt. Ideally, the back rest should move independently of the seat to allow a comfortable position.

When you’re sitting, your thighs should be at right angles to your body or sloping slightly down.

If your chair is properly adjusted, your feet should be firmly on the floor, but if it’s more comfortable, use a footrest. The basic rule is to plant your feet on the floor and support your back.

Lifting safely. One of the biggest causes of back injury, especially at work, is lifting or handling objects incorrectly. Learning and following the correct method for lifting and handling objects can help to prevent back pain.

Key points for lifting safely: • Think before you lift.

• Start in a good position.

• Keep the load close to your waist.

• Keep your back as straight as possible.

• Avoid twisting your back or leaning sideways.

• Keep your head up.

• Know your limits.

• Push heavy objects, don’t pull them.

• Distribute the weight evenly.

For more information on correct lifting techniques and safe manual handling, read Safe lifting tips.

Take regular breaks. Don’t sit in the same position for long periods. Make sure you change your posture as often as is practicable.

Frequent short breaks are better for your back than fewer long ones. It gives the muscles a chance to relax while others take the strain. This can prevent you from becoming stiff and tense.

Most jobs provide opportunities to take a break from the screen, such as getting a drink, going for some fresh air, filing or photocopying. ■ NHS Choices

Top 10 back care tips TOP 10 tips for a healthy back, including lifting advice, how to sit properly and back-strengthening exercises.

1. Exercise your back regularly.

Walking, swimming (especially backstroke) and using exercise bikes are all excellent ways to strengthen your back muscles.

2. Always bend your knees and your hips, not your back.

3. Never twist and bend at the same time.

4. Always lift and carry objects close to your body.

5. Try to carry larger loads in a rucksack and avoid sling bags.

6. Maintain a good posture. Avoid

slumping in your chair, hunching over a desk or walking with your shoulders hunched.

7. Use a chair with a backrest. Sit with your feet flat on the floor or on a footrest. Change how you sit every few minutes.

8. Quit smoking. It is thought that smoking reduces the blood supply to the discs between the vertebrae and this may lead to degeneration of these discs.

9. Lose any excess weight. Use our Healthy weight calculator to find out if you’re a healthy weight for your height.

10. Choose a mattress suited to your height, weight, age and sleeping position. ■ NHS Choices

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HEALTH and Lifestyle food

Eating disorders explained FIND out the facts about eating disorders, including what they are, who’s affected by them and what to do if you need help and support.

What

is

an

eating

disorder?

There are several different types of eating disorder, the most common being anorexia, bulimia and binge eating. Eating disorders are mental health conditions that all involve an unhealthy relationship with food and eating, and often an intense fear of being overweight. If you have an eating disorder you may experience one or more of the following: • You have a preoccupation and concern about food and gaining weight.

• You would like to lose weight even though friends or family worry that you are underweight.

• You let people around you think you have eaten when you haven’t.

• You’re secretive about your eating

habits because you know they’re unhealthy.

• Eating makes you feel anxious, upset or guilty.

• You make yourself vomit or use laxatives in order to lose weight.

What causes eating disorders? It’s unlikely that an eating disorder will be the result of one single cause. It’s much more likely to be a combination of many factors, events, feelings or pressures that lead to you feeling unable to cope.

These can include low self-esteem, problems with friends or family relationships, the death of someone special, problems at school, college, university or work, lack of confidence, or sexual or emotional abuse. Many people talk about simply feeling too fat or not good enough. You might use food to help you cope with painful situations or feelings without even realising it.

In situations where there are high

academic expectations, family issues or social pressures, you may focus on food and eating as a way of coping.

Traumatic events can trigger an eating disorder. These might include bereavement, being bullied or abused, a divorce in the family or concerns about sexuality. Someone with a long-term illness or disability (such as diabetes, depression, blindness or deafness) may also have eating problems.

Some studies have also shown that there are biological factors involved. In other words, some people will be more likely to develop an eating disorder because of their genetic make-up.

Who is affected by eating disorders?

Anyone can develop an eating disorder, regardless of age, sex or cultural or racial background. The people most affected tend to be young women, particularly between the ages of 15 and 25, and around 10% of people with eating disorders are men.

Binge eating BINGE eating is an eating disorder where a person feels compelled to overeat on a regular basis.

People who binge eat consume very large quantities of food over a short period of time and they often eat even when they are not hungry. Binges are often planned and can involve the person buying “special” binge foods.

Episodes of binge eating often alternate with periods where the person severely cuts down on the amount of food they eat, which can make the problem worse.

Binge eating usually takes place in private, with the person feeling that they have no control over their eating. They will often have feelings of guilt or disgust after binge eating.

These feelings highlight underlying psychological issues, such as: • low self-esteem and lack of confidence • depression – feelings of extreme sadness that last for a long time • anxiety – a feeling of unease, such as worry or fear, that can range from mild to severe These feelings can be made worse over time while the person is still binge eating.

Who is affected by binge eating?

Anyone can be affected by binge eating.

Unlike anorexia, where more women than men are affected, binge eating affects men and women equally. The condition tends to be more common in older adults than in younger people.

Binge eating and bulimia. People who binge eat and those with bulimia (another type of eating disorder) often eat until they are uncomfortably full.

People with bulimia then purge (flush out) the food they have eaten by making themselves vomit or by taking laxatives (medicine to help empty the bowels).

Unlike those with bulimia, people who binge eat do not purge themselves to control their weight, and are more

September 2014 – No. 17 • UK & Europe Edition

What should I do if I think I have an eating disorder? People with eating disorders often say that the eating disorder is the only way they feel they can stay in control of their life. But, as time goes on, it is the eating disorder that starts to control you. You may also have the urge to harm yourself, or misuse alcohol or drugs.

If you think you have an eating disorder, talk to someone you trust.

You may have a close friend or family member you can talk to. There are also a number of organisations that you can talk to, such as the eating disorders charity beat (0845 634 1414) and the

Samaritans (08457 90 90 90).

Your GP can also give you advice and talk to you about getting a diagnosis and the possible treatment options, which will depend upon your individual circumstances and the type of eating disorder you have.

Worried that a friend or relative has an eating disorder? If you are concerned about a friend or family member, it can be difficult to know what to do. It is common for someone with an eating disorder to be secretive and defensive about their eating and their weight, and they are likely to deny being unwell. ■ NHS Choices

Causes of binge eating

likely to try to limit weight gain by having periods of eating very little.

However, this often leads to more binge eating and sometimes weight gain, which can lead to obesity (see below).

Binge eating and obesity. Binge eating is often associated with obesity, where someone is very overweight with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or over.

Obesity is a serious health problem that can lead to a number of serious chronic (long-term) health conditions, such as: • high blood pressure (hypertension) • high cholesterol • type 2 diabetes • heart disease Being obese can also shorten your life expectancy. For example, the life expectancy of obese adults who are over the age of 40 can be shortened by six or seven years.

Read more about the symptoms of binge eating for details of other health conditions related to obesity.

Seeing your GP. Visit your GP if you think that you have a binge eating problem. They will be able to diagnose the condition and refer you to a specialist, such as a psychiatrist or a psychologist. In some cases, you may also be referred to a dietitian.

In diagnosing binge eating, your GP will ask you about your eating habits and look for three or more of the following signs: • you eat much faster than normal during a binge

• you eat until you feel uncomfortably full • you eat a large amount of food when you are not hungry • you eat alone or secretly due to being embarrassed about the amount of food you are consuming • you have feelings of guilt, shame or disgust after binge eating People who regularly eat this way are likely to be diagnosed with a binge eating disorder.

Treating binge eating. Binge eating is a treatable condition and a number of different treatment options are available.

For example, treatments include: • a self-help programme – this may be individually with a book or online course, or as part of a self-help support group • psychological therapy, such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) • a type of antidepressant known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) that are usually prescribed in combination with therapy If you are overweight, a healthcare professional may draw up a weight loss plan once any psychological issues have been dealt with. This is to help you lose weight in a safe and effective way.

People can recover from binge eating if they can understand the psychological issues causing their condition, adopt regular eating patterns and receive realistic advice about food. ■ NHS Choices

THERE is no single cause for binge eating. However, like most eating disorders, it is seen as a way of coping with feelings of unhappiness and low self-esteem.

The binge eating cycle. People who binge eat often display a particular pattern of behaviour known as the binge eating cycle. The binge eating cycle (described below) is difficult to break.

• binge eating leads to a surge in blood sugar that causes the pancreas to produce insulin (a hormone that helps to break down fat and carbohydrate in the body) • the insulin causes blood sugar levels to fall rapidly, resulting in a false message being sent to the brain that more food is needed to top up glucose levels • this results in cravings for sugary foods to provide a quick glucose fi x, so the person eats large quantities of food even when they are not hungry • eating large amounts of sugary foods leads to a rapid increase in blood sugar levels and the production of insulin, causing the cycle to begin again Depression. It is estimated that about 50% of people who binge eat have been depressed at some point in their life. However, it is not clear whether depression causes binge eating or whether binge eating causes depression.

Stress and anxiety. Stress is another common trigger of eating disorders. Stressful events, such as moving house, job or school, or the death of a friend or relative, can sometimes cause someone to binge eat.

People with eating disorders usually experience difficulties in their personal life. Those who binge eat are often ashamed at the amount

of food that they consume. They may also feel that their lack of control around food mirrors the lack of control they have over their personal lives.

Research has suggested that there are other factors or emotions that may bring on an episode of binge eating, including: • anger • boredom • worry or anxiety • sadness • low self-esteem There are also specific behaviours that are more common in people with a binge eating disorder. These include: • impulsive behaviour – acting quickly without thinking about the consequences • alcohol misuse – regularly drinking more than the recommended daily amount of alcohol • avoiding discussing feelings and emotions openly • not feeling responsible for yourself or your actions Trying to lose weight. The social pressure of trying to achieve a slim body shape can sometimes cause a person to binge eat.

People who binge eat may be unable to achieve their desired body shape. This can result in a sense of inadequacy, causing them to overeat and feel guilty afterwards.

It is not known whether dieting and binge eating are related. However, some people binge eat after: • skipping meals • not consuming enough food each day • avoiding certain foods These are unhealthy methods of trying to lose weight and alter body shape, and these methods increase a person’s risk of binge eating. ■ NHS Choices

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NEWS

‘What headway?’ : NUJP shoots down PNP claims on solving media killings MANILA – A media organization belittled the Philippine National Police’s claims of “significant headway” in solving media killings in the country, saying it was “really all but admitting failure.”

At the same time, the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines said PNP spokesman Chief Superintendent Reuben Theodore Sindac, “like President Benigno Aquino III, engages in the sickening charade of blaming the victims for their fates, by citing motives such as ‘personal grudge, double-cross, land dispute, and business rivalry’ for the killings.”

“These are clear attempts to downplay the continued assaults on journalists and freedom of the press in the country,” the group said.

On Tuesday, Sindac released a statement saying the PNP had been “implementing more tangible actions to fulfill its crucial role in complementing national government efforts to resolve media killings and other threats to press freedom.”

In the statement, Sindac claimed that Task Force Usig, the special unit of the Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management responsible

for probing media killings and other extrajudicial murders, has investigated 42 cases leading to the “successful prosecution” of the killings of Marlene Garcia-Esperat (three convicted), Edgar Damalerio (one convicted), Klein Cantoneros (one convicted), Armando Pace (one convicted), Rowel Endrinal (one convicted), Gerardo “Doc Gerry” Ortega (one convicted) and Arecio Padrigao Sr. (one convicted).

However, the NUJP said these “convictions pale if seen against the 171 media murders in the country since 1986.”

“And, may we point out, all these convictions are of those who pulled the triggers or served as lookouts. None of these are of masterminds,” it added.

The media organization also pointed out that, “in the case of Esperat, the accused brains continue to report for work at the Department of Agriculture while, in the case of Ortega, they remain at large, allowed to slip out of the country by hirelings in government.”

DA regional officials Osmeña Montañer and Estrella Sabay are accused of ordering Esperat’s 2005 murder after she exposed what would

eventually be known as the fertilizer fund scam.

Former Palawan governor Joel Reyes and his brother Mario allegedly ordered the killing of Ortega, who was gunned down in Puerto Princese City in January 2011.

“And may we also point out that the reason most of these cases even reached conviction is because of the relentless efforts of media organizations and the victims’ families,” the NUJP said.

The media organization also said the PNP’s claim of an intensified campaign against organized crime groups, “particularly gun-for-hire syndicates who may also be involved in media killings,” would “be welcome news not only for media but for all citizens of this republic.”

“However,” it added, “news report after news report will bear out the fact that syndicates that hire out their expertise in assassinations continue to thrive.”

It cited the recent Human Rights Watch report on the so-called “Digos death squad,” which has been linked to the murder of broadcaster Rogelio Butalid last year.

“And lest we forget, close to a

September 2014 – No. 17 • UK & Europe Edition

Journalists and other protesters bear mock coffins to commemorate the third anniversary of the November 23, 2009 Ampatuan massacre. Since then, many more journalists have been murdered in the country, bringing the total since 1986 to 171, according to the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines. ©InterAksyon.com file photo.

hundred suspects in the Ampatuan massacre remain at large, most of them members of a private army that, at its height, boasted more firepower than the government’s security forces in Maguindanao,” it added, referring to the armed followers of the Ampatuan clan, key members of whom are accused of the November 23, 2009 mass murder of 58 persons, including 32 media workers.

The NUJP acknowledged Sindac was right in saying there is “no pattern” to the media killings but said this was true “only insofar as there is no official program to murder journalists unlike the targeted killings of activists and other dissenters.”

“However,” it added, “as we have pointed out again and again, there IS one pattern, not only behind media murders

but, come to think of it, of the myriad of other social problems plaguing our country. And that pattern is the continued system of governance that not only tolerates but actually nurtures corrupt warlord politicians, who are the primary suspects in ordering the deaths of so many of our colleagues, but whose loyalty is indispensable to the national government.”

The NUJP acknowledged that “questions of ethics may have played a role” in a number of the media killings but stressed, “this is still no justification for murder.”

“For if, as Sindac and Aquino seem to imply, corruption justifies murder, it should be food for thought why those most guilty of it continue to thrive in the corridors of power,” it added. ■ InterAksyon.com / August 5, 2014 / 7:44 PM

Better working conditions for local seamen seen with Maritime Labor Convention 2006 CLAVER, Surigao del Norte – The contrast is staggering: International shipping companies compete for the services of Filipino seamen, but domestic shipowners’ neglect of them reflects in regular collisions and sinkings that are sometimes fatal.

But world-class labor standards have come to the Philippines after the Maritime Labor Convention 2006 took effect last year.

And the Department of Labor and Employment is urging all Philippineregistered ships plying domestic waters to voluntarily comply with these standards to improve the working

conditions of Filipino seamen in the country.

“Ensuring compliance with all labor laws, including with safety and health standards, are pursuant to our obligations under the Maritime Labor Convention 2006 and national issuances,” said DOLE Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz during a dialogue with officials of officials of Taganito Mining Corporation (TMC).

TMC is a nickel mining company that owns three cargo vessels and contracts several other ships to transport its mine production from the shore to the ships for export. It engages a crewing agency,

Sulpicio Express was one of two ships in the Cebu ferry tragedy of August 2013.

Lacerta Shipping Agencies Philippines Inc., to man its three vessels.

Baldoz, together with Undersecretary Rebecca Chato, head of the DOLE’s internal and labor relations cluster, and DOLE Caraga Regional Director Johnson Canete, visited the Caraga Region to join in the conduct of a joint assessment of TMC’s cargo vessels at the Claver Port, in a bid to emphasize the seriousness of the DOLE in accelerating implementation of the new Labor Laws Compliance System (LLCS).

DOLE has also issued DO 129, or the Rules and Regulations Governing the

Employment and Working Conditions of Seafarers Onboard Ships.

“Voluntary compliance fosters harmonious workplace relations and is generally good for business. It leads to productivity and profitability,” Baldoz said before boarding one of TMC’s cargo ships, the LCT TMC II, for the joint assessment.

Joint assessment. The joint assessment is one of the mechanisms that the DOLE uses under the LLCS. During the process, management and worker representatives sit down with DOLE to assess compliance, with the latter informing the former about the various labor laws, including the safety and health standard regulations that the company ought to comply.

If deficiencies or gaps in compliance are discovered during the assessment, a plan of action is formulated to correct the gaps or deficiencies. DOLE teaches the company and the workers how to comply. After the gaps or deficiencies are resolved, DOLE issues a certificate of compliance to the company.

Results for TMC. Engr. Eric Igual, together with the TMC management representative and the TMC union, informed Secretary Baldoz of the result of the joint assessment.

The gaps or deficiencies were: lack of organized safety and health committee, lack of occupational safety and health reportorial requirements, lack of on-board and on-shore

complaint procedure, no weekly rest period, lump-sum salary structure, and no written program and policy on prevention of HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis B, TB, and sexual harassment.

Also, the employment agreement of the 19 crew of the ship is not coterminus with the service agreement of the manning agency with the principal, and the manning agency is not registered with DOLE under DO 18-A. Pledge from TMC. In the presence of Secretary Baldoz, the TMC management submitted an undertaking and pledged to correct these gaps/deficiencies in 20 days under the agreed action plan.

On this note, DOLE Caraga Regional Director Johnson Canete issued a certificate of compliance to the mining company.

Baldoz instructed ConciliatorMediator Ericson Igual, head of the joint assessment team, to restructure the salary scale of the seafarers manning the ship, and also directed Director Canete to continue monitoring the company’s compliance, particularly with its undertaking.

“DOLE is here to help you comply.

All our technical assistance services are free. You should not anymore fear the DOLE because our new labor law compliance system is designed as a mix of developmental and regulatory approaches that encourages voluntary compliance,” Baldoz said. ■ InterAksyon.com

/ August 27, 2014 / 1:22 PM

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NEWS

September 2014 – No. 17 • UK & Europe Edition

81 PHL troops trapped, 43 UN peacekeepers seized in Golan Heights “The Philippine peacekeepers held their ground and demonstrated their resolve to defend their positions.

They did not surrender their firearms as they may, in turn, be held hostage themselves,” the AFP said.

“The Philippine government and the United Nations are in close coordination and are working together to ensure the safety and security of our troops,” the military also said.

The Philippines, which has 331 troops serving in UNDOF, announced on Saturday that it will pull out of the peace force, citing security concerns.

Philippine defense officials said no fresh troops would be sent to serve in UNDOF once the current soldiers return from duty in October.

Six countries contribute troops to 1,200-strong UNDOF: Fiji, India, Ireland, Nepal, Netherlands and the Philippines.

Last year the Philippines also considered pulling its Golan peacekeepers out after 25 of them were kidnapped but later freed by Syrian Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin and Armed Forces Chief Gen. Gregorio Pio Punzalan Catapang rebels in two separate incidents. A meet with Defense department and military officials on how to manage a crisis faced by Philippine Filipino soldier was also wounded by a peacekeepers in the Golan Heights early Friday morning. Armed Forces of the Philippines wayward shell last year.

PHILIPPINE peacekeepers in the Golan Heights refused to lay down arms in the face of demands by Syrian militants and are in a standoff that the United Nations is trying to resolve, the Armed Forces of the Philippines said early Friday morning.

In a press statement, the AFP said Syrian anti-government armed elements occupied positions held by Fijian peacekeepers and demanded they surrender their firearms. The 43 Fijian peacekeepers have been taken hostage.

Quneitra plateau. Syrian rebels, including fighters from the Al-Qaeda affiliate Al-Nusra front, stormed the crossing at Quneitra on Wednesday, sparking an exchange of gunfire with Israeli troops.

“Forty-three peacekeepers from the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) were detained early this morning by an armed group in the vicinity of Quneitra,” a UN statement said.

An additional 81 peacekeepers were “currently being restricted to their positions in the vicinity of Ar Ruwayhinah and Burayqah,” it added.

UN officials noted that the peacekeepers monitoring the armistice line between Israel and Syria were detained twice last year and released safely.

“The United Nations is making every effort to secure the release of the detained peacekeepers and to restore the full freedom of movement of the force throughout its area of operation,” it added.

In June 2013, there was a similar takeover of the crossing by rebel

forces, but the Syrian army managed to regain control.

On the Israeli-occupied side of the Golan, an AFP correspondent saw six white UN vehicles crossing the ceasefire line into Syrian territory through a gate in the fence some 25 kilometers south of the Quneitra crossing.

Quneitra is the only crossing between the Syrian and the Israelicontrolled side of the strategic plateau.

Since the Syrian conflict erupted in 2011, the plateau has been tense, with a growing number of rockets and mortar rounds hitting the Israeli side, mostly stray, prompting occasional armed responses.

During fighting on Wednesday, several mortars landed in or near UN positions, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.

Israel, which has yet to sign a peace deal with Syria, seized 1,200 square kilometers of the Golan Heights during the 1967 Six-Day War and later annexed it in a move never recognized by the international community. ■ Jonathan de

Santos with a report from Agence France-Presse, GMA News / August 29, 2014 / 12:20 AM

Attention Pinoy nurses, midwives: UK implements new registration process MANILA - Starting September 2014, the United Kingdom Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) will implement a new application process for the registration of nurses and midwives bound for the UK who were educated outside the European Union (EU) and the European Economic Area (EEA), Labor Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz said in a news release Thursday.

The new process would cover Filipino nurses and midwives.

Citing a report of Labor Attaché to the UK Joan Lourdes Lavilla, Baldoz said the process includes the “conduct of a test of competence, which will replace the overseas nursing programs (ONP), and adaption to midwifery programs (AMP).”

The test of competence consists of two parts: a computer-based

multiple-choice examination and a practical objective-structured clinical examination (OSCE). The costs of the tests are yet to be determined.

According to Lavilla’s report, the computer-based multiple examination will be accessible in many countries.

“These countries, including those where significant numbers of non-EU/ EAA educated nurses and midwives are recruited to the UK, will be announced later,” she said.

The practical exam, or the OSCE, on the other hand, will be held in the UK, initially at a test center at the University of Northampton, to be subsequently broadened out to encompass more centers.

Lavilla further reported that the new application process will enable applicants to prepare for the test of competence in their own country

before relocating to the UK. “The computer-based examination is the first part of the test of competence and must be successfully completed before nurses and midwives can undertake the OSCE in the UK,” Lavilla explained.

“With this, applicants can plan and save for the cost of coming to the UK to complete the OSCE,” she added.

The design and structure of the test of competence will be publicly available to help the candidates to prepare for the test. This information will indicate which competencies will be assessed in the computer-based test and those which may be assessed by the OSCE. For non-EU/EEA-educated applicants who have already joined the NMC register, the transition

arrangements are as follows: • Applications processed before October 2014 will continue to be processed using the current arrangements and applicants will receive a decision letter requiring them to complete the ONP or AMP within two years from the date of the decision letter.

• In October 2014, non-EU/EAAeducated applicants who have been issued with a decision letter prior to September 2014 will be informed of the new test of competence and offered a choice of accessing the current program or the test of competence.

For applications received from October 2014, the test of competence will be the only route to UK registration for non-EU/EEA-educated nurses and midwives. ■ InterAksyon.com / August 28, 2014 /

10:37 AM

Brillantes promises ‘semi-perfect’ automated 2016 polls MANILA – Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. on Thursday promised what he describes as semi-perfect automated 2016 presidential elections even as the poll body’s P16.9-billion budget sailed through deliberations by a Senate panel.

This was the assurance given by Brillantes during the hearing of the Congressional Oversight Committee on Automated Elections chaired by Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III. Brillantes said that since some of the glitches and technical problems on Precinct Counting Optical Scan (PCOS) machines were resolved from the 2010 and 2013 elections, the 2016 polls are expected to be “semi-perfect”.

“This is the third automated election.

In 2010 there were glitches, in the 2013 senatorial elections, we solved some

of the glitches and other technical problems, and in 2016, we hope that these would substantially be resolved,” Brillantes said.

But, he said, the 2019 senatorial and local elections should be perfected as residual glitches and other technical problems on PCOS machines will be eliminated substantially in 2016.

Additional precincts. Meanwhile, Brillantes said that the poll body will establish additional precincts to solve the problem of long queuing during elections by adding 41,000 new PCOS machines.

“We want to solve the queuing problem by adding more PCOS machines and reducing the number of voters in every precinct. So, for every precinct, we foresee trimming down the voters from 1,000 to around 600 to

800,” Brillantes disclosed.

“Currently, for every clustered precinct, there are 5 established precinct with 200 voters each.

“By reducing the component pricincts to just 3, instead of 5, we will manage to bring down the number to 600 voters,” he explained.

For the additional precincts, the poll body foresees 41,000 additional PCOS machines to be bidded out in 2015, in preparation for the 2016 presidential derby.

“With these additional PCOS machines, the number of precincts will increase from 80,000 to 121,000, since for every precinct there is one PCOS machine. Our approved budget is P16.9 billion,” Brillantes said, adding that the old PCOS machines will not undergo re-configuration since they have their

Photo by Joseph Vidal, Senate PRIB

own operating software, source code and other technical requirements that were used in 2013.

“No one can assure that there would be no glitches and other technical

problems in the 2016 presidential elections, but definitely the glitches will be reduced to a minimum,” Brillantes stressed. ■ Ernie Reyes / InterAksyon.com / August 28, 2014 / 5:01 PM

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ENTERTAINMENT & CELEBRITY SCOOP

Eraserheads lead Top 10 most streamed OPM acts on Spotify TWELVE years after they officially called it quits, the Eraserheads remain popular in the consciousness of Filipino music fans.

The quartet of Ely Buendia, Raimund Marasigan, Buddy Zabala and Marcus Adoro have not released any new original material since their last album “Carbon Stereoxide” in 2001, but their timeless songs are still among the most covered, most listened to, most downloaded (legally, of course), and now, most streamed in the country.

Between April to July, the E-Heads held the number one spot in Spotify’s Top 10 Streamed OPM Artists, followed

by Sarah Geronimo, MYMP, Up Dharma Down, Rivermaya, Regine Velasquez, Toni Gonzaga, Gary Valenciano, Juris and Lani Misalucha.

Spotify managing director Sunita Kaur.

During that period, three classic hits of the band, namely “Pare Ko”, “Ang Huling El Bimbo” and “Ligaya”, were also among Spotify’s Top 10 most streamed OPM tracks. Popstar Princess Sarah Geronimo also had two songs in the chart, “Maybe This Time” and “Ikot-Ikot”, while genre-busting electronic pop group Up Dharma Down also scored two hits of their own with “Tadhana” and “Indak”. Rounding out the OPM Top 10 were “Dahan-Dahan”

by Maja Salvador, “Starting Over Again”

by Lani Misalucha and “Diwata” by hip-hop rap sensation, Abra.

In addition to the availability of the E-Heads’ entire back catalogue, their 2008 live release “Eraserheads: The Reunion Concert” is also accessible on Spotify. The band’s enduring popularity is also in part further sustained by the numerous reunion concerts outside the country that they’ve headlined since that first 2008 reunion.

Five months after Spotify officially launched in the Philippines, the Sweden-based streaming music service has attracted a large number of Pinoy users who have created over one million playlists.

“We are pleased to reveal that the Philippines is one of our fastestgrowing markets in the region. Our latest data confirms that Pinoys take pride in their homegrown artists,” Sunita Kaur, managing director of Spotify Asia told InterAksyon in a recent interview.

Kaur, who was in town for the weekend for Globe Telecom’s 1st Digital Lifestyle Expo event held at SM Megamall, added that Spotify’s extensive, free and mobile music library has paved the way for OPM artists to reach out to more music fans.

As for foreign artists, the 10 most popular among Filipino users of Spotify are Boyce Avenue, Katy Perry, Coldplay, Jason Derulo, Taylor Swift, John Legend, Ed Sheeran, OneRepublic, One Direction and Maroon 5.

Asked why Spotify has become so popular with Filipino listeners after only five months, Kaur points to the 78 percent of their Pinoy user base (the Asian average is only 46 percent) ages 24 years and younger who stream music using their smartphones.

“That’s where majority of Filipinos listen to their music now. For OPM artists, Spotify is a very attractive

FIVE years ago, Hayden Kho was a promising young cosmetic surgeon who was was known to be in a relationship with celebrity doctor Vicki Belo and was employed by her clinic, the Belo Medical Group.

Then, sex videos of him surfaced, with three different partners, including a Brazilian model and actresses Katrina Halili and Maricar Reyes. And just like that, Hayden’s world turned upside down. Even his alleged drug use, which he would later admit in succeeding interviews, was exposed.

He lost everything — his medical license, his practice, even his friends.

“Tinalikuran ako ng mga kaibigan ko. I think that time, ayaw nilang maassociate sa akin,” he said on “Face The People” where he finds himself seated in the show’s famous “Silya de

Konsensiya”, to air this Friday, August 29.

Hayden revealed that throughout his ordeal, it was ironically Dr. Vicki Belo, the one person who was hurt the most in the scandal, who stood by him.

After their initial falling out, Hayden and Vicki were on and off again as a couple before breaking up again apparently for good last year.

“Bihira kang makakita ng ganung tao. Siya na yung nasaktan, siya pa yung tumutulong sa ‘yo. Hindi niya ako binitawan bilang kaibigan,” he said.

Even though Hayden described the current state of their relationship as “very good friends”, he said he reserves a special place in his heart for Belo.

When asked by “Face The People” host Gelli de Belen who among the past women in his life he truly loved, he did

not hesitate in saying her name.

It was in fact Belo who happily announced that Hayden finally got his medical license back last month.

Asked after the show what it was like to be a doctor again, Hayden said there were no words to describe the feeling.

“It’s totally unexpected pero masarap yung feeling na nirerespeto ka ulit ng tao. Masaya ako ngayon,” he told InterAksyon and News5 in an interview following the show’s taping.

“I didn’t expect that I would get it (license) back so soon. But since ibinalik na sa akin, kailangang gamitin ko. I’m contemplating on going on training again but I won’t tell you right now what kind of training. But it’s something that I took before and something I want to pursue again,” he revealed.

Hayden admits that aside from Belo, the other person that helped him get back on his feet was CanadianAmerican evangelist Dr. Ravi Zacarias who was not only instrumental in renewing his Christian faith but has since become a big influence on his spiritual outlook.

Although he shuns the labels “pastor” and “preacher” and insists that he is still a normal, regular guy, Hayden said he was more than willing to lend a helping hand to those who are “struggling in life”, including those who find themselves in situations that are similar to what he went through.

“If I can share and give advice, bakit ko naman ipagkakait na tulungan sila?

I don’t know if I’m the best person to deliver the message. I’m not the best

September 2014 – No. 17 • UK & Europe Edition

The Eraserheads promoting their London concert earlier this year. Screenshot from promo video posted on YouTube by finest workers uk.

proposition in the sense that users around the world have access to our OPM catalogue. That means that they as artists can build up their fan base across the globe quicker than ever before,” she pointed out.

Spotify is indeed living up to the game-changer status that it promised to be. For free users, there’s the ability to search and play any song they know from within the Spotify mobile app and just press play. Those who’d rather play music continuously can browse any playlist already available (i.e. New Music Tuesday, Today’s Top Hits, HipHop Monsters) or just create their own.

Those who like to take their Spotify experience to the next level can also subscribe to the premium service and enjoy on-demand listening, offline and uninterrupted listening without internet and ads and high quality audio.

Recently, Spotify also introduced a new equalizer feature that further enhances the songs whether they are streamed or downloaded in normal or high quality.

“And you get all of that for only P129 a month which is less than the price of a CD. This is also why 20 to 25 percent of our free users have upgraded to our Premium service. But whether free or premium, our Filipino users have access to over 30 million songs in our growing music selection,” she noted.

Spotify is currently bundled for free with Globe’s consumable data plan GoSURF, allowing Globe, TM and Tattoo Prepaid customers to enjoy mobile data for as low as P15 and access Spotify’s music catalogue without using up their GoSURF mobile internet allowance. ■ Edwin P. Sallan / InterAksyon.com / August 25, 2014 / 1:35 PM

Hayden Kho talks about his long road to redemption on ‘Face The People’

Hayden Kho poses with News5 reporter MJ Marfori and ‘Face The People’ hosts Gelli de Belen and Tintin Bersola-Babao.

Hayden Kho contemplates the mistakes he has made in his young life on ‘Face the People’.

messenger but if the message is right, I’m not going to think twice,” he noted.

He said that although he had lately been traveling around the country to do just that, it was only because he had been invited to do so.

“I don’t want people to think that I’m too spiritual because I’m not perfect, I still make mistakes. Even though I’m now advocating something, I don’t see myself as a pastor or a preacher. That’s not the kind of life I see for myself,” he qualified.

“I’ve been given an opportunity to influence people in a positive way. But I just give a message whenever people asked me for it. Pero hindi naman ako yung tao na lalapit sa yo para sabihin, uy, may problema ka, eto ang solusyon.

Kung may gusto ang taong i-share ko, yun ang ginagawa ko.”

Moving forward, Doc Hayden — as he is now often referred to once again — said he still has not solidified his plans, although he has not ruled out being in a new relationship again.

“Secret” was his smiling reply when asked about the current state of his lovelife.

He insisted that there’s no truth to what Vicki Belo was quoted as saying in a recent press conference that there were several women who had been trying to get his attention as of late.

“Hindi totoo yun,” he vehemently denied before acknowledging, “Siguro hindi ko lang nakikita o napapansin.”

Hosted by Gelli de Belen, Tintin Bersola-Babao and Edu Manzano, “Face The People” airs on TV5 from Monday to Friday at 10:15AM. ■ Edwin P. Sallan / InterAksyon.com / August 27, 2014 / 9:37 AM

September 2014 – No. 17 • UK & Europe Edition

ENTERTAINMENT & CELEBRITY SCOOP

www.hello-philippines.com

29

Marissa Sanchez hopes to leave lasting musical ‘legacy’ with ‘serious’ album ALTHOUGH most people know her as a comedienne, not too many are aware that Marissa Sanchez started as a dancer, a theater actress, and a singer.

In fact, her singing talent was first showcased in an album produced by rapper Andrew E. back in 2000.

Unfortunately, Marissa was already a comic sensation back then so the record was intended to make people laugh than establish her as a recording artist to reckon with.

With tracks like “Fax Me,” “Dakota Note”, “Ibaon Mo” and the carrier single “Magbati na Tayo”, Marissa concedes that her first record was all about songs with double meaning since “green jokes” were standard fare in her comedy shows.

“It’s not that I’m not grateful to Andrew E. for producing my first album but when the carrier single ‘Magbati na Tayo’ flopped, I said to myself, I got traumatized and said to myself will never have an album again,” she told InterAksyon and other media during the launch of “Slowing It Down”, her first album in 14 years.

Not that she totally gave up singing as she continued to incorporate music in her live shows over the years. But after seeing the acclaimed performance of Pinky Amador as legendary French singer Edith Piaf in Atlantis Productions’ staging of the musical “Piaf” last year, Marissa knew that she just had to give recording another shot.

“I didn’t consider myself to be fan of Pinky then I heard her sing, ‘If You Love Me (Really Love Me)’ tapos habang kinakanta niya, pumapatak ang luha niya pero hindi nanginginig ang boses

niya. I said to myself, one can be a good singer even if she’s not yelling or shouting at the top of her lungs. So I thought, why can’t I do something like this?” she confessed.

That was when Marissa decided that she wanted to record an album. “I told my husband, I want to do this because I want to leave a legacy. A legacy for who?

For my daughter, for all the people who believe in me.”

It almost did not happen. After Marissa canvassed the costs of recording a full-length album, she discovered that she needed at least P1 million to make it happen.

“That includes promotion and royalties of songwriters. So I almost decided not to push through with it.

Then my friends encouraged me to go through with it. Fortunately, these friends are not poor so they helped me.”

One of these friends is bosom buddy Jessa Zaragoza who was generous enough to lend a helping hand to Marissa when she almost ran out of funds when the album was almost halfway through.

Titled “Slowing It Down” the finished album which was subsequently picked up for distribution by Universal Records represented a big departure for Marissa in terms of the singing style people are more familiar with.

“The title pertains more to my choice of songs and my persona. I used to be very loud, and my songs were throatsmashing (birit) songs,” she explained.

With a torchy, lounge vibe, “Slowing It Down” features English and Tagalog revivals and three original compositions by Elmer Blancaflor, an

ABSENT man si Alessandra de Rossi sa Basta Every Day Happy, hindi naman siya nagpahuli sa pagkuwento ng naganap na proposal ni Sen. Chiz Escudero kay Heart Evangelista.

Personal na nasaksihan ni Alex ang naturang engagement bilang isa sa mga matatalik na kaibigan ng Startalk host.

Pagbunyag ni Alex tungkol sa senador, “Matagal na niyang plano ‘yan, ilang buwan na. Tapos ‘yun tinawagan niya kaming mga kaibigan niya, ako, si Lovi, si Cat. Although ‘yung bakasyon na ‘yon sa Sorsogon with friends, matagal na ygun nakaplano.”

“Siyempre lumipad kami dun tapos

underrated songwriter whose overall musical genius Marissa compares with the likes of Jimmy Antiporda, Mel Villena and Louie Ocampo.

Blancaflor wrote the carrier single “Panghabang Buhay”, which was originally a duet by Jessa Zaragoza and Dingdong Avanzado, and “Pag-Ibig Ko’y Pansinin”, originally a hit for Faith Cuneta.

He also composed the melody to “Eighteen” whose lyrics Marissa herself penned in collaboration with singer Thor Dulay. The other tracks are “You and Me Against the World,” “Kailan Sasabihing Mahal Kita,” “Help Me Forget,” “It Takes Too Long,” “Dindi,” “Sunlight” and “Sometimes.”

In keeping with the album’s mellow and relaxed vibe, the nicely packaged CD resembles a coffee table booklet where she shares tidbits about random acquaintances, friends, colleagues and supporters that she encountered over the years.

Proud of her first “serious” musical foray after that regrettable novelty album, Marissa does not expect the album to achieve an overnight success similar to that of, say, Daniel Padilla’s recording.

“What I do hope is that sales will be good enough for people to tell me, ‘Uy, Marissa, ang ganda ng mga songs. Somehow, through my songs, through my music, through my album, I managed to touch people’s lives. That you can sleep better after hearing my songs. That you’re no longer insomniac.

That I made an impact.”

Still, despite the album’s somber and relaxing tone, Marissa does not

mind if people still see her as more of a comedienne rather than a serious artist.

“I don’t mind if people still see me as a comedienne because that’s what I still am. I’m not really evolving into someone serious. The only thing I am giving up is green jokes partly because of my Christian faith and also because I’m now a mom. But mostly, it’s because I want to grow as a person and I want to leave a mark,” she pointed out.

With “Slowing It Down”, Marissa Sanchez hopes to do just that—leave her mark.

In line with the promotion of “Slowing It Down”, Marissa will have a pre-launching event on August 28 at Centerstage in Tomas Morato Avenue, Quezon City. A grand launch show at the Area 05 Events Place is also scheduled on October 29. ■ Edwin P. Sallan / InterAksyon. com / August 28, 2014 / 10:21 PM

Alessandra de Rossi recalls Heart-Chiz engagement Heart Evangelista’s engagement ring tinago niya kami sa isang hotel na sosyal.

Kasi normally doon, ‘pag gabi may dinner naman talaga palagi, maraming tao. So hindi naman niya iisipin na may something na kakaiba,” aniya.

“Nakatago kami sa coaster, tapos kumanta na si Nyoy Volante. Tapos isaisa na kaming lumabas na mga friends.

So parang na-gets na niya, umiiyak na siya. Nung nakita niya si Lovi, iyak siya. Nung nakita niya ako, iyak siya.

After ko, lumabas si Chiz kasama ‘yung mommy niya,” dugtong ni Alex.

“Nanay ni Chiz ang nandun, siya ang may dala ng singsing,” dagdag niya.

Kinumpirma rin niya na nagkaayos na si Heart at ang mga magulang nito.

Aniya, “Of course, yes! Actually ‘yung proposal ni Chiz, hindi siya masyado nagsalita eh. Pinabasa lang niya kay Heart ‘yung cellphone niya na nandun ‘yung message nung daddy ni Heart.”

Kinilig at na-touch si Alex para sa kanyang best friend. Isa sa mga ‘di niya malilimutang nangyari ay kung gaano kasigurado si Heart sa pagpapakasal kay Sen. Chiz.

“Sabi ni Chiz, ‘Will you marry me?’

Sabi niyang ganun, ‘Yes!’. Hindi pa tapos ‘yung will you marry me, yes agad,” kuwento niya. ■ Cherry Sun / GMANetwork.com / August 28, 2014 / 9:29 PM

HEART Evangelista sent social media abuzz on Saturday night after getting engaged to boyfriend Chiz Escudero. The senator made his proposal on his knee as Heart tearfully said yes.

But apart from the surprise proposal, what caught the eye of fans online was the engagement ring that the senator gave to the actress. ■ JST, GMA News / August 23, 2014 / 10:45 PM

Later, Alessandra De Rossi, a close friend of Heart, posted a closer look at Heart’s new bling.

A photo of Heart posted by her manager Arnold Mendoza drew a lot of attention online for showing how big the rock was on her engagement ring.

Another look, from Instagram user Rexi Depositar.

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ENTERTAINMENT & CELEBRITY SCOOP

September 2014 – No. 17 • UK & Europe Edition

Rachelle Ann Go at Mark Bautista, nag-bonding na sa London NAGKITA na at nag-bonding sa London ang mga Kapuso stars na sina Rachelle Ann Go at Mark Bautista, na kapwa abala sa pagganap sa musical play sa nabanggit na bansa.

Sa “Chika Minute” report ni Lhar Santiago sa GMA news “24 Oras” nitong Lunes, ipinakita ang kuha ng magkaibigang Mark at Rachelle Ann na masayang nagba-bonding sa London.

Kasalukuyang nagtatanghal si Rachelle bilang si Gigi sa West End musical na “Miss Saigon.”

Habang si Mark, nagsasanay na para naman sa pagbibidahan niyang musical play na “Here Lies Love.”

“Napakaganda. Nakaka-proud si Shin bilang kaibigan, bilang Pinoy,” ayon kay Mark.

Masaya rin si Rachelle para sa kaibigan dahil sa gagawin nitong pagganap sa “Here Lies Love,” na tungkol sa buhay ni dating Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Sr. Mananatili si Mark sa London sa loob ng anim na buwan para sa naturang pagtatanghal.

Isang linggo pa lamang doon ang batikang singer at agad siyang napasabak sa matinding rehearsal sa National Theater.

Paghuhusayan daw ni Mark ang pag-

eensayo dahil umani ng papuri ang New York production ng nasabing musical.

“Recently lang talaga parang nagsink in sa akin na parang, okay, I’m performing at the National Theater. Si Ms. Lea Salonga nga nag-Facebook sa akin, sabi niya, ‘Wow, ang daming gustong mag-perform diyan,’” kwento ng singer-actor.

Ilan sa mga aawitin niya sa pagganap bilang si Marcos ay ang mga kantang nilikha ng European musicians na sina Fatboy Slim at David Byrne ng bandang “Talking Heads.” ■

Bianca Rose Dabu / FRJ, GMA News / August 26, 2014 / 5:07 PM

GMA Network records P5.766 billion recurring revenues in H1 2014 BROADCAST giant GMA Network (GMA) reported first semester revenues of P5.766 billion from recurring advertisements, a 4 percent decrease over the same period last year.

Election-related placements from the midterm elections, which boosted earnings in 2013, continued to play a factor as the Network’s consolidated revenues for the first half of 2014 fell 14 percent.

GMA News TV, the country’s number one news channel, and GMA International, which manages and operates the global distribution of the Network’s three overseas channels – GMA Pinoy TV, GMA Life TV and GMA

News TV International – lessened the drop in revenues as both platforms posted positive growth trends.

Total operating expenses went down 4 percent to P4.907 billion, mostly from the reduction in production costs equivalent to 5 percent in between periods.

EBITDA settled at P1.566 billion, down 32 percent versus 2013, while net income reached P580 million or P555 million less than last year.

Despite lower revenues in the first six months, GMA management remains confident that the Company will still hit its yearend target. “We have regained momentum as far as both our

nationwide TV ratings and financials are concerned. We are optimistic that the third quarter will be a turning point for the company,” said GMA Network Chairman and CEO Felipe L. Gozon.

Business Developments. GMA International posted positive growth over the previous year.

By the end of first half of 2014, flagship international channel GMA Pinoy TV grew its subscriber base by 8 percent. GMA Life TV also increased its reach by 20 percent, while GMA News TV International remains the top performer in terms of subscriber growth, posting an increase of 894 percent over the same period in 2013.

Wholly-owned subsidiary GMA Worldwide, meanwhile, has sold P37.5 million worth of locally made programs amounting to 1,930 hours to various countries such as Brunei, Cambodia, Malaysia, Myanmar, South Korea, Vietnam, the US, Nigeria, and Uganda.

Meanwhile, the Kapuso teleserye My Husband’s Lover, which tackled homosexuality on primetime TV, continued to make waves with the increasing sales of its lead actors Tom Rodriguez and Dennis Trillo’s album dubbed TomDen under GMA Records.

The album scored a Platinum Record

With ‘hipon’ episode behind them, Ramon Bautista, Davao City Mayor Duterte make peace IS this a sign that comedian Ramon Bautista could soon be forgiven by the people of Davao City?

Bautista on Wednesday evening posted a photo of a handwritten note from Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, with the message “Mabuhay ka!”

He also posted on his Instagram account a photo of the mayor signing the note.

“Ramon, si Rodrigo ito,” Bautista recalled the mayor telling him.

“Tapos nag-usap kami... and there was peace <3” he added.

Bautista then ended his post with hashtags #MabuhayKaRinMayor, # R e s p e c t F o rT h i s C o o l G u y, #LoveFriendshipAndGoodwill, and #WorldPeace.

The comedian thanked RockEd

founder Gang Badoy, a friend of his, “for making it happen.” She had recently been on a visit to Davao City, where she paid a courtesy call on Duterte.

Persona non grata. Last August 19, the Davao City council passed a resolution declaring Bautista persona non grata following a joke he made about women in the city.

The comedian got into hot water when he made a joke at the Kadayawan Festival that called women of Davao City “hipon,” a Filipino pejorative referring to women with beautiful bodies but unattractive faces.

Bautista apologized both on stage after the incident and on his Twitter account. But that wasn’t enough to stop the Davao City council from making the declaration.

But even before the resolution, Duterte said that he had moved on from the issue, adding that Bautista was “always welcome” in his turf.

“Para sa akin tapos na. Ang taong naghingi ng patawad has humbled himself to admit that it was wrong, that’s the end of it,” he said last week.

■ Joel Locsin / JST/KG, GMA News / August 27, 2014

/ 10:27 PM

Award from its sales of over 16,000 units from October 12, 2013 to May 21, 2014.

The IM Ready mobile app, an offshoot of the IM Ready public safety portal, was likewise well received by the public as it became the number one app among (free) News applications in both Apple App Store and Google Play in July. The app is a product of the collaborative efforts between GMA New Media and GMA News and Public Affairs.

TV Ratings. GMA sustained its TV ratings leadership in Urban Luzon and Mega Manila based on data from Nielsen TV Audience Measurement in the second quarter.

GMA led in Urban Luzon, which accounts for 77 percent of the total urban TV households in the country, with a 35.5 percent total day household audience share, up 2.8 points from ABS-CBN’s 32.7 percent and up 24.2 points from TV5’s 11.3 percent.

The Network also continued to score top ratings in its bailiwick Mega

Manila, which represents 60 percent of the country’s urban TV household population, with a 37 percent total day household audience share. ABS-CBN trailed GMA by 6.8 points with 30.2 percent while TV5 was behind GMA by 24.7 points with 12.3 percent.

Partial 3Q ratings (July 1 to August 9, 2014 with the dates of August 3 to 9 based on overnight readings) showed GMA closing in on ABS-CBN in nationwide ratings, reducing the latter’s lead to a mere 0.2 percent.

Awards and Recognition. In July, GMA was recognized as one of the topperforming listed companies in the country based on the ASEAN Corporate Governance Scorecard (ACGS) country reports and assessments for 2013 to 2014. This is the second year in a row that GMA was included in the list.

GMA also continued to add to its string of awards, bagging top honors from various award-giving bodies such as the US International Film and Video Festival, Communicator Awards, Asia Rainbow TV Awards, among others. ■

Vic Sotto, suportado ang Dingdong-Marian wedding; nagpo-propose na rin kaya kay Pauleen?

ILANG araw bago ang kasal nina Dingdong Dantes at Marian Rivera sa December 30, ipapalabas muna sa Metro Manila Film Festival ang pelikulang pagtatambalan nina Marian at Vic Sotto na “My Big Bossing’s Adventure.”

Sa “Chika Minute” report ni Lhar Santiago sa GMA news 24 Oras nitong Miyerkules, sinabing abala na sa shooting ng MMFF entry na “My Big Bossing’s Adventure” si Vic, maliban pa sa kanilang noontime show na Eat Bulaga!.

May tatlong yugto ang pelikula at ang kinukunan ngayon na mga eksena ay ang pangalawang kuwento na, “Bad Ang Sinungaling.” Sa episode na ito, kasama ni Vic sina Ryzza Mae Dizon, Jose Manalo, ang bagong child star na si Chlaui Malayo, at ang Kapuso Primetime Queen na si Marian.

Si Chlaui, makikilala pa lang sa upcoming Kapuso drama series na Yagit pero napabilang na kaagad sa pelikula nina Vic at Ryzza.

“GMA naman was kind enough

to, para mapagbigyan kami sa mga schedule. Kasi maganda rin ang role ni Chlaui dito, anak ko siya na nawala na, na bumabalik,” kuwento ni Vic. Ito rin ang huling pelikula ni Marian bilang dalaga dahil pagkatapos magsimula ng pagpapalabas ng MMFF sa December 25, ikakasal na siya sa nobyong Primetime King na si Dingdong.

Sabi ni Vic, boto siya sa gagawing pagpapakasal nina Marian at Dingdong.

“It doesn’t matter naman kung single siya o double na. Ang pinapanood naman kay Marian, [ay] galing niya sa pag-arte, hindi lang sa drama. Tulad nito medyo may pagka-dramedy ito,” ayon kay Vic. May plano na rin kaya si Vic na mag-propose sa nobyang si Pauleen?

“Una-una lang ‘yan,” nakangiting pahayag ng komedyante. “Kung mayroon mang gano’n hindi ko naman itatago. Siyempre ise-share natin sa mga fans.” ■ FRJimenez / GMA News / August 27, 2014 / 9:39 PM

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PHILIPPINE EMBASSY NEWS AROUND THE WORLD

September 2014 – No. 17 • UK & Europe Edition

FilAms urged: Help promote the Philippines as tourist destination WASHINGTON, D.C. – FilipinoAmericans are being encouraged to help promote the Philippines as one of the top tourist destinations in the world.

The invitation to explore and promote the Philippines came from Ambassador Jose L. Cuisia, Jr. following the recently-concluded concluded Ambassadors, Consul Generals, and Tourism Directors Tour (ACGTDT) through which close to 300 FilipinoAmericans got to reconnect with their roots and deepen their appreciation of their motherland.

Now on its 9th year, the ACGTDT is a tourism program aimed at experiencing the Philippines’ top destinations and exploring business opportunities.

The tour, organized by the Philippine Embassy and Consulates General in the United States in cooperation with the Department of Tourism (DOT) and Rajah Tours Philippines, took place from 28 to 31 July 2014.

Ambassador Cuisia thanked the participants and encouraged them to help promote Philippine tourism by sharing their experiences during the ACGTDT. “Thank you for choosing to travel to the Philippines. It is because of your continued faith and confidence in the Philippines that our country continues to experience positive growth.

Promoting the Philippines is not just

the responsibility of the government.

You, too, can do your part by spreading the word,” said Ambassador Cuisia.

The Ambassador added the Philippines is working on improving its tourism facilities to cater to the growing interest among tourists to the visit the country.

“Americans and Filipino-Americans have shown a growing interest in traveling to the Philippines. Aside from the natural beauty the country has to offer, balikbayans want to see the ‘new Philippines’ or the growth the country has experienced in the last few years,” said Ambassador Cuisia.

“This should serve as motivation to further improve tourism facilities in the country to promote the Philippines as a top tourist destination in the world,” he added.

The four-day tour kicked off with a welcome dinner at the posh Makati Shangri-la Hotel sponsored by the Tourism Promotions Board of the Department of Tourism. During the dinner, participants were treated to a display of dance and musical performances.

Participants traveled to the Pico de Loro, Hamilo Coast in Nasugbu, Batangas where they were welcomed

by Nasugbu Mayor Rosario Apacible and her husband, former Rep. Tom Apacible.

In the SM-developed Pico de Loro, participants were entertained by a marching band and a show by the town’s young artists. They were also able to enjoy the resort’s world-class facilities including swimming pools and spa treatments.

“I was amazed with the first class treatment that I received during the entire trip, beginning immediately when I landed in Manila where I was warmly greeted and brought to a 5-star hotel,” said Audie de Castro, Philippine Honorary Consul in San Diego.

“The convenient tours allowed me to see beautiful sights, learn more about Filipino history, and, most importantly, meet new friends and have a great time. It was just an amazing lifetime experience that I will never forget,” he added.

Another highlight of the tour was the visit to Malacañang Palace where participants were welcomed by Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario and Presidential Communications

Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma. Participants were also given the privilege of touring the Malacañang Museum and Library.

The tour of Malacañang ended with a buffet spread at the Heroes’ Hall catered by Via Mare. Participants were all praise and compliments when it came to the Filipino dishes prepared by Via Mare.

The ACGTDT was capped off with a lavish farewell dinner sponsored

by Western Union at the Dusit Thani Hotel. Several lucky guests went home with raffle prizes from Western Union that included videoke machines and Apple iPads. Philippine Airlines also provided roundtrip tickets for two from the US to the Philippines. To end the evening and a successful tour, participants took on the dance floor and enjoyed the music until midnight.

“This was the first time for my wife, Marj, and I to join the ACGTDT. To say the least, we were thoroughly impressed with the detailed

arrangements and itinerary. An ocular view of the Philippine islands was very well presented. The shows, tours and dinners were spectacular and we returned well-informed from of the day’s activities,” said Rumy Mohta of Richmond, Virginia.

“Truly in four days, they proved that ‘It’s More Fun in the Philippines.’ Marj and I have already signed up for next year and promise to spread the word in the US and bring our friends in the next trip,” he said.

The ACGTDT was initiated in 2005 by then Ambassador Albert del Rosario, who now serves as Secretary of Foreign Affairs. The flagship tourism project has become an annual event that also involves Philippine Airlines and Rajah Tours Philippines. It has also become a venue for members of the FilipinoAmerican community to see firsthand the recent positive growth of the Philippines. ■ Philippine Embassy Philippines / August 12, 2014

FilAms celebrate Pinoy Festival in Richmond WASHINGTON, D.C.—The FilipinoAmerican Community got a taste of home through delicious food, entertainment, and Philippine hospitality at the Filipino Festival in Richmond, the seat of government of the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Families and friends gathered at Richmond to participate in a celebration of Filipino culture from 8 to 9 August at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Richmond. Guests were treated to dishes such as empanada, lumpia, turon, lechon, and chicken adobo. Traditional dances were performed, and guests were given a chance to try out tinikling.

Ambassador Jose L. Cuisia, Jr. congratulated the Filipino community in Richmond for the Filipino Festival which not only reconnected the Filipino diaspora to their roots but also allowed Americans to experience Philippine culture.

“It is important that we continue to

hold these cultural activities, especially for the second and third generation of Filipinos, so we can instill in them our unique identity and so they can appreciate our diverse culture,” said Ambassador Cuisia.

“For many of the younger generations of Filipino-Americans who have not yet been to the Philippines, our culture will be their undeniable link to our country. It lets us all experience the best of the Philippine islands without leaving Virginia,” he added.

The festival was also a celebration of Filipino-American culture and the achievements of the Filipino community in the United States.

The Ambassador cited contributions of the Filipino American community to the development of the United States and the role of the Embassy in making these known. Among these contributions are the recentlyconcluded Filipino American Youth

FilAm Fest. Ambassador Jose L. Cuisia Jr. and wife Ma. Victoria Cuisia Richmond Fil-AM Leaders (L-R) Mr. Rudy Bolipata, Mayette Wilder, Dr. Maria Cielo Sinsioco, Eleanor Macalma, Amante “JJ” Macalma, Sue Berinato, and Rosario Igharas at the 9th Filipino Festival in Richmond, Virginia.

Photos by Eric Macalma, ©Philippine Embassy Philippines.

Leadership Program (FYLPro) and the Ambassadors, Consul Generals, and Tourism Directors’ Tour (ACGTDT).

Richmond, Virginia is also home to Filipino-American Rep. Bobby Scott, co-chair of the US-Philippines Friendship Caucus in the House of Representatives. Congressman Scott has consistently worked with the Embassy in raising the profile of the Philippines in the US. Now on its 9th year, the Filipino Festival in Richmond Virginia is an annual weekend event that brings together members of the FilipinoAmerican Community to celebrate Filipino and Filipino-American culture.

This year’s festival was led by its chair, Rosario Igharas, with the support and cooperation of the Our Lady of Lourdes Parish Community under the leadership of Pastor Jim Begley, and Dr. Cielo Sincioco. ■ Philippine Embassy Philippines

/ August 12, 2014

Reconnecting to our roots. Philippine Ambassador Jose L. Cuisia, Jr. congratulated the organizers of the 9th Filipino Festival in Richmond, Virginia, an event he describes as a way for the Filipino diaspora to reconnect to their roots and for the American community to experience Philippine culture.

Milan PCG launches Filipino Film Festival FOR this summer season, the Philippine Consulate General in Milan, in partnership with the Film Development Council of the Philippines, organized a Filipino Film Festival for the Filipino Community in Milan. Three Filipino films directed by internationallyrenowned directors, Chito Roño, Jose Javier Reyes and Peque Gallaga are scheduled to be shown during the month of August at the San Lorenzo Theater in Milan.

The festival started off on 7 August 2014 with Chito Roño’s “Badil”, a film that won Indie Movie of the Year at the Star Awards for Movies 2014 which also won him the Indie Movie Director

of the Year. It has also received praise from Filipino fil enthusiasts for its beautiful cinematography, artistic depth and national significance.

The movie, whose title means dynamite-fishing, portrayed the story of a local barrio during election period focusing on how flawed the political right of voting has become. The protagonist in the story, Nonoy, played

by Jhong Hilario, reveals the duties of being an election guardian to prevent vote buyers on the eve of election.

The succeeding films, “Ano ang Kulay ng mga Nakalimutang Pangarap?” and “Sonata” will be shown on August 14 and 20 respectively. ■

Philippine Embassy Italy / August 2014

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NEWS

September 2014 – No. 17 • UK & Europe Edition

Don’t use Senate for demolition derby, we’ve more urgent tasks to do - Atienza’s appeal MANILA - A Senate blue ribbon subcommittee conducts a second hearing Tuesday on the Makati City Hall Building 2, but BUHAY Partylist Representative Lito Atienza has cautioned some senators against using the Senate as a boxing arena for demolishing the frontrunner in the 2016 presidential race. He said it sets a bad precedent, wastes resources and distracts attention from pressing tasks of lawmakers.

“This is not an investigation in aid of legislation. This is pure and simple browbeating of a leading candidate who happens to be Vice President Jejomar Binay. Stop using the Senate as a forum or boxing arena for their presidential ambitions,” Atienza said in a statement late Monday, apparently referring to Senators Alan Peter Cayetano and Antonio Trillanes IV, who both are known eyeing top Executive positions in 2016.

The two senators played high-profile

roles in initiating, and conducting, a Senate Blue Ribbon inquiry last week into the allegedly overpriced Makati City Hall Building 2, summoning Vice President Binay, his son the Makati Mayor Junjun Binay, among others.

Atienza stressed that as a legislator himself - now as a partylist representative and before, as opposition MP in the Marcos-era Batasan in 1984 - he respects “the right, nay, the duty, of lawmakers to investigate pressing issues impinging on public interest in aid of legislation.”

However, he stressed, the Blue Ribbon inquiry sought by Trillanes and propelled by him and Cayetano is a “needless waste of resources, since the matter is already pending with the Office of the Ombudsman.”

This investigation, Atienza said, also sends a chilling effect to all LGUs, especially officials who don’t happen to be in the same camp as powerful lawmakers. There is a process for dealing with allegations of wrongdoing by officials, he added.

“Local autonomy is an enshrined principle in the Constitution to allow LGU’s to plan and implement their own local development projects. This building project was a locally approved project funded by local funds and duly cleared by the COA,” Atienza said.

Atienza likewise pointed out that all laws covering local government transactions are in place and local chief executives are bound to follow this.

FilAms celebrate Pinoy Festival in Richmond MEMBERS of the Yazidi sect, among the worst-hit by the rampaging members of the Islamic State, flee the Mount Sinjar area in this Aug. 4, 2014 file photo.

MANILA - The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines has issued an urgent appeal to Filipinos to help - with prayers and material support - the Christians and ethnic groups being persecuted by the extremists under the group Islamic State in Iraq, as well as the refugees in Syria.

In a statement issued Thursday titled, “ Prayer and Plea for Peace and Charity,” the CBCP asked the Filipino bishops to “take up a collection for the needs of the suffering Christians in Iraq and Syria.” These collections will be sent to the CBCP “that will see to their remittance to the ecclesiastical jurisdictions of Syria and Iraq,” said the statement issued by Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas, CBCP President.

While the Catholic church has its own projects in the Philippines, “we cannot put these ahead of the suffering of Christians in that troubled part of our world. They have not only been

evicted from their homes. Their places of worship—many of them, thousands of years old—have been razed to the ground by a godless rage with which no genuine religion can ever identify!” said Villegas.

“For many, the food and drink that sustain life are daily issues. They rise from sleep each day to struggle just to keep themselves alive. We must be generous, and the fact that we have our own needs here in the Philippines does not excuse us from the Christian obligation of sharing with our suffering brothers and sisters from our own need,” Villegas added.

The past few weeks, numerous reports by human rights groups, media outlets and concerned parties have highlighted how hundreds of thousands have been forced to flee their communities owing to the rampage of the Islamic State fanatics, who were known to have massacred entire villages of Yazidis because they refused to convert to Islam.

Even other Islamic nations have roundly condemned the IS, and are cracking down on the jihadists seeking to spread their ways in other countries.

The CBCP appeal actually began

by drawing attention to the plight of American journalist James Foley, whom “militants, without compunction and in utter mercilessness, beheaded.”

Villegas said that while Foley may not have died for the faith, “he certainly died, a person of faith, we are told by those who were with him in his last days. “ Foley, noted the CBCP head, is but one of the thousands who now suffer “because of the ruthlessness of ISIS (The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) and militant groups of like persuasion and brutality.”

The CBCP was appalled that children have not been spared. “Among the bodies that the rampaging onslaught has left in its wake are those of hapless infants and children—they who are not deserving of any punishment or suffering at all! Thousands have been displaced and must now live as refugees in often squalid conditions because of those who take it upon themselves to kill and to terrorize in the name of God. “Not only then are helpless and defenseless persons the victims of the brutal imposition of a rigid and unforgiving version of faith. Religion

Congress should do its job, period.

The Ombudsman is an independent constitutional body, he added, and conducting a parallel investigation with “all the attendant name-calling and scandalizing to boot” - sends a signal that senators don’t trust the investigative skills of the Ombudsman or are keen to interfere with its work, he added.

“If they (Trillanes and Cayetano) really believe and have evidence then they should file their own case to support the one in the Ombudsman and not use the Senate as a forum for their political plans. This is clearly a prosecution and persecution effort to pull down the political stock of the Vice President,” Atienza added.

These are two presidential contenders bashing Binay and using the Senate as their takeoff point, he said. Judging from their remarks in and out of the hearing, neither of the two senators hid their political agenda at last week’s hearing, he recalled.

Atienza said it’s bad enough that Congress has little time left to do so many urgent tasks, and is even under pressure to restore public confidence after the pork barrel and DAP scandals; to “waste its time - and people’s money - further with a needless inquiry into a subject already lodged with the proper investigating entities is the height of arrogance and insensitivity,” he said.

He appealed to all lawmakers to buckle down to work. “Let us give our people a more efficient mass transport system. The PNR is still in need of a lot of improvement, the MRT shuts down almost everyday, the prices of basic commodities continue to go up, peace and order is breaking down; we still need to completely resolve the pier impasse, and there is an impending electicity and water shortage. Wait till 2016, then you can campaign to your heart’s delight.

The nation needs unity in work, not politicking,” Atienza stressed. ■ InterAksyon. com / August 26, 2014 / 9:27 AM

Filipino bishops urge faithful to help victims of persecution in Iraq, Syria.

is as much a victim, for those who kill and slaughter, wound and maim, destroy and burn in the name of God send the world the awful message that religion divides, that faith is oppressive, that belief can engender so much unkindness!”

In the Philippines, the CBCP will do its part, “first of all, to counter the defacement of religion. We will live as our Lord and Master has asked us to live: with love for each other, bearing each other’s burdens, ever forgiving and humbly asking to be forgiven, respecting the freedoms of all, particularly the right to religious belief.”

Second, said Villegas, the church will take up a second collection to provide even the humble material needs of the victims of IS’ persecution.

“Finally, let us be ceaseless in prayer, uniting ourselves with our suffering brothers and sisters, commending to the God who offers himself to us as our future their pains, their shattered lives and dreams, their bereavement and their loss. We pray that even as many of them now see no way out of the misery that has been visited on them, the God who opens paths through the sea and ways in the desert, may make a way for them to the future that can only be His gift!” ■ InterAksyon.com / August 28, 2014 / 3:50 PM

Chief Justice says judiciary will do duty, as PNoy repeats lament over meddling MANILA – Chief Justice Ma. Lourde Sereno on Thursday said the judiciary, particularly the high tribunal, would stand by its constitutional mandate and duty even if it would cause inconvenience to others, including the executive branch.

Sereno made the statement during her second annual meet with press held at the Bayleaf Hotel in Intramuros, Manila where she said the high court would not relent in the performance of its duty.

“The SC should not shirk from its constitutional duty even if it may result

in inconvenience,” she told the members of the media adding that mending ties with whatever party inconvenienced by the high court’s decision is not part of the constitutionally-sworn duty of the justices of the tribunal.

At the same time, the chief magistrate said that any repercussions or reactions to the high court’s rulings were beyond the control of the judiciary.

She said this was the design set by the Constitution.

Earlier, President Benigno Aquino III criticized the high court for its July 1 ruling that held that the

Disbursement Acceleration Program was unconstutitional.

He followed it up with other verbal attacks that culminated in an interview with TV5, saying that the judiciary had overreached its power of judicial review.

He said this had led him to change his mind on his position on Charter change, saying that it is now needed to clip the powers of the judiciary.

The chief executive reiterated his stand in his latest interview with Bombo Radyo. Asked to comment by the media on Aquino’s criticism of the judiciary, Sereno said, “The chief justice does not

respond to political questions.”

Sereno said she mantains her “enormous respect” for the President and that she is also confident that the President also has the same respect for the chief justice.

Sereno is among Aquino’s appointees to the high court. The others are Marvic Leonen, Estela Perlas-Bernabe, and Bienvenido Reyes. the President’s latest appointee is Francis Jardeleza, who was named to the post last week after his nomination was opposed by Sereno. ■ Brian Maglungsod / InterAksyon.com / August 28, 2014 / 6:54 PM

Chief Justice Sereno in file photo at her swearing in at Malacanang Palace.

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September 2014 – No. 17 • UK & Europe Edition

Senate ‘Palengke’:Blue Ribbon hearing degenerates into Cayetanos vs Binays war MANILA - The Senate, already wallowing in the survey pits over the pork barrel scam and allegations that certain senator-judges were bribed in the 2012 Renato Corona trial, descended further Wednesday when its Blue-Ribbon panel hearing became a grudge match between two political clans.

It seemed a one-sided catfight, however, because a sitting senator in the Blue Ribbon began his line of questioning by haranguing Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin “Junjun” Binay, whose family he blamed for the filing of plunder charges that same morning against him, his wife and several Taguig city officials. The mayor kept quiet and simply listened as the senator ranted.

The Blue Ribbon hearing was called at the behest of two Nacionalistas in the Senate, Cayetano and Antonio Trillanes IV, for the purpose of investigating the alleged overprice of the Makati City Hall Building 2, even though a plunder case had already been filed at the Office of the Ombudsman.

The Binay siblings - another senator, Nancy, and the mayor - had

expected Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano to use the Blue Ribbon committee hearing on the allegedly overpriced Makati City Building 2 as a venue to clear his name on the graft charges filed against him and Taguig City Mayor Lani Cayetano.

During the hearing, Cayetano openly accused Binay Jr., of orchestrating the graft charges filed against him and his wife in the alleged overpricing of multi-cab vehicles bought by Taguig City from Senator Cayetano’s pork barrel.

“This morning, the classmates of your sister [Rep. Abigail BinayCampos], and lawyers closely associated with Congresswoman Abby Binay filed graft charges against us, allegedly stemming from your statement on TV that we bought overpriced multicab,” Cayetano told Mayor Binay.

“But for your information,” Cayetano said, the ambulances bought from his pork barrel were brand new, adding this can be proven by the present market value from leading car distributors in the country.

“Unfortunately, [you are asking

people to make apples-to-apples comparisons only] in the hearing of your building, pero ibinabaon mo sa tingin ng mga kalaban mo, which was anticipated here na kami ang nag-over price,” Cayetano said.

Cayetano then accused Binay of approving the procurement of reconditioned multi-cabs in Makati used as emergency vehicles, saying these could jeopardize the health of patients being rushed to hospitals. The Makati multi-cabs are not part of the Senate resolution for an investigation.

“Tawagin mo ako sa Makati City Hall, tawagin namin ang mga suppliers ng ambulansiya willing kami humarap kasi kung sa Makati bumili kayo ng second hand na multi-cab, kami hindi.

Kasi ambulansiya iyon at fire truck,” Cayetano said.

Cayetano also accused Binay of collaborating with their political rivals in Taguig in lodging the graft complaint against him and wife Lani.

He then asked the complainant in the plunder case against the Binays, Atty. (Rene) Bondal, to clarify his association with the lawmaker.“Atty Bondal, I did not meet you ever before,”

Cayetano asked Bondal, who answered in the negative.

Cayetano said that the Binay’s allies in Taguig, the Tingas, distributed all the emergency vehicles to barangay units, which prompted him to allot P9 million in pork barrel funds to buy new vehicles.

“Eh kung bibilhin namin ang tigP1.5-M or P2-M, hindi nabibigyan lahat at kung reconditioned naman, titirik,” he said.

He added that the door of Taguig City is open to everyone who wants to scrutinize the documents on the multicabs’ procurement to enlighten them on the allegation of corruption.

“Okey naman sa akin dahil anuman ang ibato nyo sa amin na hindi naman totoo, bumabalik din. And I think ganoon din naman sa inyo despite [the fact] we treated you all fairly, di ba Mayor,” Cayetano.

During the entire stretch of Cayetano’s questioning, Mayor Binay did not say a single word to the accusation, simply listening to the lawmakers’ tirade.

Nancy Binay: pleased by calm, dignity of brother. Meanwhile, Senator

Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano: vented on Mayor Junjun Binay during hearing on Makati City Hall Building 2.

Nancy Binay denied knowing the group of lawyers who filed charges against the Cayetanos in relation to the procurement of multi-cabs for Taguig.

‘Ako unang-una, dapat siguro sister ko suamgot, hindi ko kilala ang lahat ng classmates nya, eh. But as far as I know, hindi familiar ang mga pangalan na iyon,” Sen. Binay said.

However, Binay praised the “calmness and dignity” with which her younger brother the mayor fielded questions during the hearing. ■ InterAksyon.com / With a report by Ernie Reyes / August 20, 2014 / 7:06 PM

Fiscal agencies back bill lowering income tax bracket – Angara MANILA – Fiscal agencies led by the Department of Finance (DOF) have expressed support to a proposed measure aiming to lower personal income tax rates from 32% to 25% including tax exemptions on 13th month pay and bonuses.

In an interview after the hearing on tax reforms by the Senate Ways and Means Committee, Angara said that fiscal managers have now recognized the need to lower the old tax bracket for individual income tax amid rising inflation.

“The point of view of DOF has really changed, substantially, and it appreciates

that there’s a need to revisit the tax code. That’s the big take-away from this hearing,” Senator Angara said.

He said that the objective of his tax reform bill is to simplify taxation by bringing down the tax bracket from 32% to 25%, which will be comparable to the standard taxation regime in the Asean Region upon the enforcement of Asean Economic Integration in 2015.

“Updating, not necessarily expanding, but simplifying, that’s our goal. We’re working to rationalize the levels,” Angara said.

Angara said that early passage of a separate bill intended to exclude the

13th month pay, Christmas bonuses and other fringe monetary benefits to workers will only depend on how fast the fiscal agencies can submit their proposals and studies.

He expressed confidence that the committee can come out with its version either by the end of the year or early next year.

He also assured that the panel is coordinating with his counterpart in the House of the Representatives, Marikina Rep. Miro Quimbo, for early passage of all tax reforms referred to his committee. ■ Ernie Reyes / InterAksyon.com / August 28, 2014 / 7:18 PM

MILF vows to combat Islamic State ‘virus’ in PH MANILA – The Moro Islamic Liberation Front has condemned extremist jihadists in Iraq and Syria, and vowed to stop the spread of their “virus” into the Philippines.

After decades of armed rebellion that claimed tens of thousands of lives, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front signed a peace agreement in March that commits it and the government to share power in a new autonomous region to be created as part of the pact.

The MILF portrayed its moderate leadership as vital to stopping the savage ideology of Islamic State infecting the southern Muslim regions.

“The MILF condemns barbarism and savagery whether done by other groups including the ISIS or even by its (MILF’s) own members,” the organization said in an editorial posted on its website, www. luwaran.com, this week.

“Frankly, it is the power, moderating line, and influence of the MILF that hinders the birth of a truly strong radical group,” the editorial said.

The MILF also said the planned Bangsamoro autonomous region that is the centerpiece of the peace deal would be a bulwark against the ideology of the Islamic State, which is also known as ISIS. The MILF urged President Benigno Aquino III to approve the draft Bangsamoro Basic Law, which was submitted to him last week by a joint committee of rebel and government negotiators.

The peace agreement called for Aquino to submit the BBL to Congress earlier this year so the autonomous region would be in place by the time he leaves office in mid-2016.

But he rejected an earlier draft

and had the joint committee prepare a revised version.

“It is this ... fear (of) not being able to realize it (Bangsamoro Law) for whatever reason that the ISIS’ virus is much to be feared,” the MILF warned.

Two other groups, the Abu Sayyaf and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, have recently vowed allegiance to the IS in video clips uploaded on the Internet.

Some politicians have expressed concern both groups may be sending recruits abroad to fight alongside the IS, though the military said there was no evidence of this.

The Abu Sayyaf is a loosely organized Al-Qaeda-linked group of several hundred militants blamed for the country’s deadliest terrorist attacks.

The BIFF, which has about 200

File photo shows MILF officers graduating from a training course in Camp Darapanan, Maguindanao. Photo by Bernard Testa.

fighters, split from the MILF after rejecting the peace talks and has vowed to continue pursuing an independent Islamic state.

“For us, the threat is not in the two groups’ joining the ISIS. Their

number(s) (are) too tiny to be felt and make a difference,” the MILF said.

“The threat really comes from the extremism espouse(d) by the ISIS. Ideas are contagious and infectious.”

■ Agence France-Presse / August 28, 2014 / 2:01 PM

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September 2014 – No. 17 • UK & Europe Edition

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Kontra SONA: Jobless growth, poverty haunting Filipinos - House minority MANILA - Minority Leader Ronaldo Zamora on Monday said the positive economic growth and fiscal situation reported by President Benigno Aquino III in his State of the Nation Address (SONA) were not being felt by Filipinos, who have remained poor and without stable jobs.

“We have rapid economic growth co-existing with a high rate of unemployment and continuing,

persistent and widespread poverty,” Zamora said in his Kontra SONA delivered at the House of Representatives.

“Poverty remains at high levels at 19.7 percent, a miniscule improvement compared to the 21 percent by the National Statistical Coordination Board in 2006. In eight years, we have reduced poverty by only a little more than one percent. Unemployment is 7.5 percent, with underemployment at 19.5 percent,” he said.

Zamora said economic growth has been better reflected “in the personal wealth of the few,” including the country’s top corporations and the richest Filipinos, whose wealth has grown multiple times through the years.

Growth did not make a dent on the poor, 70 percent of which are in the agriculture sector, he stressed.

“There is now a need to overhaul the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Agrarian Reform in the light if the disappointing agriculture program,” Zamora said.

The agencies, he said, have been hounded by corruption issues within the National Food Administration, rice smuggling, and corruption issues involving Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) that went to the Napoles foundations instead of benefiting the farmers and fisherfolk.

The minority leader also called for the termination of the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) program, saying

it did not bring real progress to the beneficiaries.

“From what should have been a smooth transitional program five years ago, it is now a gargantuan 64-billion peso program, and in the 2015 budget proposal, it will be a P75-billion program that provides temporary relief to millions of families, but does not provide what they really need—jobs, real jobs, not doles, not handouts,” he said.

On the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP), Zamora said that the President should be able to answer questions raised before him in the impeachment complaint.

“We need critics, we need skeptics who can challenge the government to recognize its own fallibility,” he said.

fact they were already very transparent.

“Ano pa bang impormasyon ang kailangan nila na maipapakita namin para patunayan na wala kaming itinatago? Hindi ko po mainitindihan kung ano ang dahilan nila [What other information do they need for us to prove that we are not hiding anything?

I cannot understand their reason],” Sereno told members of the media, adding that SALNs of justices contain details and not just summaries of their net worth.

Sereno also defended the guidelines

on the release of SALNs issued by the high court in June 2012 under then acting Chief Justice Antonio Carpio.

The guidelines were issued following the impeachment of Chief Justice Renato Corona, who was accused of not listing in his SALNs all the earnings and assets he made while serving the government.

“Malaki pong improvement ito kumpara sa nakaraan na halos ipinagbabawal ang pagre-release ng SALNs [This is a big improvement compared to the previous ones that

almost prohibited the release of SALNs],” the chief magistrate said even as she said calls to subject justices to a lifestyle check should not be done in a hasty manner.

There is a need for a consensus and continuing dialogue on the issue, according to Sereno.

Earlier, the high tribunal dismissed with finality the BIR’s request for copies of the SALNs of the justices.

BIR Commissioner Kim Jacinto Henares said her agency made the request as the bureau needed the

‘P75-B CCT didn’t bring real progress’.

Impeachment to make PNoy liable for DAP. In a separate speech, deputy

minority leader Neri Colmenares said the President should be made answerable for the DAP mess through the impeachment process.

“The next months will be a test for all of us in the House of Representatives on how steadfast we will be in upholding our sworn duty to represent and be the voice of the people amidst the violation of the constitution, betrayal of public trust and continuing hardships and difficulties of the poor majority,” he said.

Colmenares was one of the endorsers of the impeachment complaint against the President. ■ Lira Dalangin-Fernandez / InterAksyon.com / August 4, 2014 / 6:52 PM

Sereno on SALN request: SC justices not hiding anything, what else do they need to know?

MANILA - Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno on Thursday said magistrates of the high tribunal were not hiding anything when they ruled against the request of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) for the copies of their Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALNs).

Sereno made the remark during her second annual meet with the press at the Bayleaf Hotel in Intramuros, Manila. The chief justice said she was suprised by calls to make the magistrates’ SALNs public despite the

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File photo of Chief Justice Lourdes Sereno.

documents for tax investigations in connection with reports of influencepeddling and corruption at the judiciary. ■ Brian Maglungsod / InterAksyon.com / August 28, 2014 / 11:20 PM

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SPORTS

BASKETBALL

Gilas Pilipinas wraps up tune-up tour with close loss to Dominican Republic THE Philippine national men’s basketball team gave Dominican Republic a tough battle, 86-79, on Monday in its final tune-up game before the 2014 FIBA World Cup in Spain.

Gilas Pilipinas competed with the 26th ranked Dominican Republic despite playing without star guard Jayson Castro, who continues to nurse an injury with under the a week remaining until the tournament.

Gabe Norwood led the Filipinos with 17 points, four rebounds and four assists while naturalized NBA player Andray Blatche finished with 16. LA Tenorio added 10 points.

The game was close for much of the game with the teams dueling to a 21-all deadlock in the first and the Philippines trailing by just four, 4844, at the half.

The Dominicans led by as much as 10, 56-46, in the third after scoring eight unanswered points. But the Filipinos charged back behind PBA MVP June Mar Fajardo to come to within three, 57-54, before the fourth period.

A dunk from Norwood and a threepointer from Tenorio highlighted the

early goings of the fourth as Gilas hung tough until Jeff Chan hit another Philippine trey to take a 68-67 lead.

But the Houston Rockets’ Francisco Garcia scored two points to swing the lead back the Domincans way.

Norwood hit a couple of threes to keep the Philippine within two, 80-78, with under two minutes remaining.

But Dominican Republic closed the game on a 6-1 run to seal the win.

The South American side was led

by James Feldeine with 15 points.

The FIBA World Cup opens on August 30.

The scores: Dominican Republic (86) – Feldeine 15, Martinez 14. Vargas 12, Liz 11, Garcia 10, Sosa 8, Coronado 5, Sueno 4, Santana 4, Sanchez 2, Ramon 0.

Gilas Pilipinas (79) – Norwood 17, Blatche 16, Tenorio 10, Chan 8, David 7, Lee 7, Fajardo 6, Pingris 4, Aguilar 3, Alapag 1, De Ocampo 0.

Quarterscores: 21-21, 48-44, 5754, 86-79. ■ InterAksyon.com / August 26, 2014

September 2014 – No. 17 • UK & Europe Edition

FOOTBALL

Chieffy Caligdong, Aly Borromeo among notable absentees from Azkals’ Peace Cup lineup A host of players will not be making see if it works for him. the Philippine national men’s football team lineup for the Peace Cup next week for different reasons, according to coach Thomas Dooley.

Aly Borromeo, Chieffy Caligdong, Jerry Lucena, Mike Ott, Martin Steuble and Jeffrey Christiaens were all left off the Azkals roster for the annual tournament with Myanmar, Palestine, Chinese Taipei and the Philippines comprising this years’ teams.

Former captain Aly Borromeo was part of the initial pool of the Azkals training camp last week, but was told he would not be part of the Peace Cup. “I told him he is in a situation where maybe he and I hope not, but it looks like the national team level is not for him anymore”, Dooley said.

“So I think with all the injuries he’s had, the ACL and he was out for two years, coming back, and then you could see the speed of play.”

“It’s normal when you’re out that long in that age, he’s not 20 anymore, he’s 30, so it makes it a bit more difficult for him.”

However, Dooley is still open to the possibility of Borromeo making a return to the national team.

“If he gets enough playing time in the UFL, then maybe who knows what’s going to happen in a year,” Dooley said.

“But at the moment, where he is right now and where the team is right now, and the teams he plays against, I think it is a little bit too high for him.”

Caligdong was also part of the training camp but an injury forced him out of the Peace Cup as well.

“I wanted to see Chieffy another week. He did good things, he was like very quick, he was fit, and he had some great moves,” Dooley said.

“I wanted to see him playing with this group here, so this week I wanted to see him in this bigger field, esp. the game on Wednesday versus Global to

Photo by Mikkel Bolante, ©InterAksyon.com

BASKETBALL

Batang Gilas refuses to give up, pulls off huge rally in OT win against Japan to finish fifth in FIBA Asia U-18 THE Philippine national youth basketball team showed its big fighting heart as it pulled off a major comeback to down Japan, 113-105, in overtime to end its campaign in the FIBA Asia Under-18 Championships at the AlGharafa Stadium in Doha, Qatar.

Kobe Paras had his best game of the tournament with 27 points and 10 rebounds, while Radge Tongco sank the match’s biggest basket with a triple to force overtime where the Filipinos eventually broke away with the win.

The result gave Batang Gilas a fifth-placed finish in the tournament.

Before carving out the come-frombehind win, Batang Gilas needed to

erase a 12-point deficit early in the fourth quarter and make a buzzerbeating triple in the endgame to force overtime.

The Filipinos were staring at a 7967 deficit with 7:48 remaining left as the Japanese seemed to cruise to the victory.

But Batang Gilas mounted a comeback, cutting their deficit to three points, 91-88, with two minutes remaining.

The Japanese looked to pull away after hitting two free throws that gave them a 93-88 lead with 14 seconds left.

But Kobe Paras made a basket, then

the Japanese failed to convert two free throws with eight seconds left to open the door for the Filipinos.

Batang Gilas obliged, as Tongco buried a buzzer-beating triple to knot the game at 93-all and force overtime.

The Filipinos then launched a 13-5 run to open the extra period that put them comfortably ahead, 106-98, with under two minutes remaining which kept Japan at bay.

Jolo Go added 24 points, while Tongco scored 14 markers. Mark Dyke also had 18 points, while Paul Desiderio finished with 17 points to lead the Batang Gilas attack. ■ InterAksyon. com / August 28, 2014 / 8:05 PM

Photo by Markku Seguerra ©InterAKTV file photo

“Unlucky that he was injured. Talked to him yesterday, shouldn’t give up.

There will be other tournaments and then when he’s healthy he can come back and can train with us and we can see how far he can go.”

Injury also prevented Jerry Lucena and Jeffrey Christiaens from participation in the Peace Cup but things are a bit different for Mike Ott and Martin Steuble, as both asked permission to stay with their club teams.

“Mike Ott didn’t want to come. He’s close to the team in Nuremberg. I think it could have been better for him to come with us and get some experience instead of playing for the Under-23 team, but it is OK,” Dooley said.

“But in the end he makes the decision that maybe in the Suzuki Cup he is available for us and it is great.”

Steuble also opted to concentrate to his club duties with his new Major League Soccer club Sporting Kansas City.

“Martin Steuble is in a similar situation, with the MLS team he’s getting playing time -– a couple of minutes here and a couple of minutes there, and with the national team players going away, he has a great chance to prove that he is a part of it and he asked if he could stay and we said it’s OK,” Dooley said.

It’s not all bad news for the Azkals however, as Roland Mueller, Paul Mulders, Rob Gier and defender Alvaro Silva have confirmed their participation in the tournament.

The Azkals will face Chinese Taipei, Myanmar and Palestine in the third edition of the Philippine Football Peace Cup from September 3 to September 9 at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium.

■ Ryan Fenix, special to InterAksyon.com / August 26,

2014 / 3:00 PM

SPORTS

September 2014 – No. 17 • UK & Europe Edition

www.hello-philippines.com

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MORE SPORTS

Andray Blatche’s participation in Asian Games in peril due to citizenship issue

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BOXING

Filipino champ Manny Pacquiao to build first boxing academy…

Continuation from page 1 He said he had held talks with the Chinese authorities in the past two days for the “inauguration” of a company to undertake the project.

“They (Chinese government) will put up the facilities, and if I have the time, I will visit them like once a month or once in three months to supervise them,” Pacquiao said.

Pacquiao did not reveal the project’s timetable or costs but added he believed the partnership could help thaw frosty ties between the Philippines and China, who are engaged in a tense territorial maritime dispute in the South China Sea. Pacquiao defended his decision to open boxing academies in China

instead of his own country, and laughed off suggestions his project would deprive the Philippines of more world champions.

“In the Philippines we don’t have a problem (with producing good boxers).

What our boxers need is more support,” he said.

“I am already helping a few of them,” he added.

Pacquiao, an elected member of congress who enjoys iconic status in the Philippines, is also an actor and a Christian preacher.

On Sunday Pacquiao was drafted as player-coach by an expansion team in the professional Philippine Basketball Association. ■ Agence France-Presse / August 27, 2014 / 7:03 PM

MANILA – The Philippines said Thursday their hopes of winning their first Asian Games basketball medal in 16 years have been put in doubt over the eligibility of their NBA star Andray Blatche.

Incheon Asian Games organizers on Monday demanded proof of citizenship for some of the 149-member Filipino contingent including US-born Blatche, and two other male basketball players, the Philippine Olympic Committee said.

“All these players are eligible as far as we are concerned,” committee spokesman Joey Romasanta told AFP. Losing Blatche, a 6-foot, 11-inch (2.11-metre) Brooklyn Nets center, would be a blow for the local basketball federation, which had vowed to bring home the gold medal, Romasanta

Andray Blatche (left) and senator Sonny Angara.

admitted.

The Philippines is bidding for their first podium finish in basketball since winning the bronze medal at the 1998 Bangkok Games.

Romasanta said it had become more “difficult” for the Filipinos to win a medal since the entry of Middle Eastern countries such as Iran in Asian Games as they field taller teams.

Blatche was granted Filipino citizenship under a special law that was signed and rushed through by President Benigno Aquino in June.

He was specifically recruited and naturalized to boost the team, ahead of this year’s FIBA World Cup. Blatche, who averaged 11.2 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.5 assists a game for the Nets in the past season, was also named on the Philippines’ 12-man

roster for the September 19-October 4 Incheon Games.

Romasanta said the issue was over the interpretation of the Asian Games’ residency requirements for athletes, which was not an issue at the World Cup. Incheon organizers also asked for documentation on Gabe Norwood and Jared Dillinger, who were also both born in the US and played for US collegiate teams before coming to the Philippines in 2008 to be drafted in the local professional league.

Romasanta said the Philippines did not expect the two to be disqualified, since both have Filipina mothers and under Philippine law and its constitution both can ask to obtain Filipino citizenship.

The Filipino basketball federation replied to the organizers ahead of Thursday’s deadline, but asked to be allowed to name replacements should any of the three be disqualified, he added.

Romasanta said disqualification for any of the three would also throw a shadow into the player rosters of other countries not only in basketball but also in other disciplines.

“Other teams would face a challenge as well,” he added, since the Philippines is not the only country to grant citizenship to foreigners in a bid improve their teams performance. ■ Agence France-Presse / August 28, 2014 / 8:25 PM

sport

Gilas Pilipinas wraps Chieffy Caligdong, up tune-up tour Aly Borromeo among with close loss to notable absentees from Dominican Republic Azkals’ Peace Cup lineup Story on page 38

Story on page 38

©GMA News Online file photo

BOXING

Filipino champ Manny Pacquiao to build first boxing academy… in China

Andray Blatche’s participation in Asian Games in peril due to citizenship issue Story on page 39

MANILA – Philippines sports legend Manny Pacquiao said Wednesday he is to open a Chinese government-backed chain of boxing academies across China to train potential future world champions.

The Chinese government will embark on the first “Manny Pacquiao Boxing Education Institute” in Beijing, with others to be built elsewhere in China later, Pacquiao announced on Manila’s ABS-CBN television in a telephone call from Shanghai.

“The plan is to share with them my boxing knowledge,” said the 35-yearold World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight champion, who has held world titles in eight weight divisions.

“With a population of 1.4 billion, they have so many boxers. So I think they would be able to produce good fighters, like world champions,” he added.

“The important thing is to teach them the basics.”

Pacquiao was in China this week as part of a global promotional tour ahead of his November 23 WBO welterweight title defence in Macau against unbeaten American challenger Chris Algieri.

Continue to page 38