Opinyon423 pages 1 2 3 4 5 8 9 11 12

SinGapore Wants lpg jeepneys Page 6

Social Web in the mauling of Vhong Navarro Page P4

showbiz

business

health

Music therapy Page P3

Ricardo Z. Cuna

Entrepreneur of Designer Ice Cream We politicize economic issues & give an economic perspective to political issues FEBRUAry 3-9, 2014 • Vol.4 No.23

12

Php15.00

We Take A Stand Visit us at www.opinyon.com.ph

facebook.com/opinyon

now available at

National Bookstores PowerBooks Fully Booked Scan QR Code inside for additional content from OpinYon Digital Edition!

twitter.com/opinyon2010

By Herman Tiu-Laurel LIKE puppets on a string.

This, best describes the state of Philippine news media today.

From the proud advocates of truth and defenders of free expression, the image of the Filipino journalist has been reduced to that of patsies and paid hacks—the mouthpieces of big business and politicians.

Page 2

Puppet

media feature

Asian Countries Draft Rice Strategy 3

COVER STORY

Puppet

media

By Herman Tiu-Laurel

LIKE puppets on a string.

This best describes the state of Philippine news media today. From the proud advocates of truth and defenders of free expression, the image of the Filipino journalist has been reduced to that of patsies and paid hacks—the mouthpieces of big business and politicians.

With Philippine media in the hands of big business, matters of national import are easily downplayed if not kept from the public eye. News is no longer evaluated on its merit and value to the reading public, but on its impact to the business and political interest.

Meralco’s Bomb

Back in December, Meralco dropped a bomb with the announcement that it is jacking up power rates by PhP4.50/kWh. That was news enough to spoil everybody’s Christmas.

At first, Meralco blamed the increase on the shutdown of Malampaya--the natural gas facility that supplies cheap fuel to several power plants. At the time, the BS Aquino government said it could do nothing about the power rates running amuck and asked consumers to just accept the damage.

Meralco assuaged the public outrage promising to stagger the hiked charges into three months’ bills and used media in an effort to somewhat soften the blow on consumers.

Outrage

Outrage led to Senate and Lower House investigations, the Makabayan Coalition solons petitioned the Supreme Court for a price hike TRO, Senator Trillanes recalled how government took over power utilities in the past.

Under pressure Meralco blamed Independent Power Producers (IPP). Meralco power supplier Aboitiz Power felt alluded to and sent a letter to Rep. Carlos Zarate explaining that Meralco had long term power supply contracts with it at P 10/kWh but asked it to sell the supply to WESM (Wholesale Electricity Spot Market) from which Meralco bought at P 62/kWh to fill the shortfall from alleged Malampaya shortfall and charged to consumers.

Quicker Than The Eye

2

Meralco’s “Malampaya maintenance” story was a magician’s sleight-of-hand diverting attention away from the hand hiddden behind the cloak cloth of Epira (Electric Power Industry Reform Act) that conjured up the “elephant in the room”.

Within Epira is the WESM where the other hand of the power industry perform its “magic” known in market parlance as “market manipulation”. But this time Meralco pulled a trick too big and the incredulous public wouldn’t buy the trick, but for a month media kept the public entranced with the “Malampaya maintenance” story and made the “Aboitiz letter”, a key piece of evidence, the disappear from public view.

The Senate investigation became the public focus and the magicians went to work to hide the Aboitiz letter and the complicity of Meralco and WESM in the “magic”.

The quicker than the public eye could see magicians’ assistants went to work and turned attention from Meralco’s “magic” to the “failure of PSALM” to run it Malaya diesel power plants to fill the power supply gap. Senator Serg Osmeña worked hard to shift focus away from Meralco and WESM to PSALM, but the government run plant correctly claimed public debt would only

FEBRuary 3-9, 2014

OpinYon

increase if the expensive Malaya plants was run. Others pounded for resignation of ERC chair Zenaida Ducut–then Vhong Navarro inexplicably hit the headlines.

Media Magic

In media countless editorials and commentators kept a blind eye to the Aboitiz letter evidencing Meralco’s market-manipulation with the IPPs and WESM’s silent collusion. WESM is led by managing board PEMC (Philippine Electric Market Corporation) where the IPPs, distributors like Meralco and former corporate executives from the power companies themselves sit as “public” arbitrators. The PEMC board is paid a transaction fee for every kilowatt transacted through WESM and charged to consumers, amounting to almost P 1-Billion annually of which around 50% goes to “personnel” services - some whose salaries rival the Bangko Sentral “execu-thieves”.

The key magician in the scandal, the president and CEO of Meralco, a.k.a. “Mr. Pangil-inan” is never mentioned in mainstream or second tier media (except OpinYon). The reason is not easy to miss, although few in the public are aware, that the Meralco president and CEO is also the controlling stockholder not only of TV5 and InterAksyon, but also of BusinessWorld and Philippine Star, and a significant stockholder of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, as well as a media-dominating advertising octopus that stretches its tentacles practically over all media; this in alliance with other power utilities oligarchs who have their own media outlets – the power oligarchy’s control over media is almost total.

Acoustic Show

Another “now you see it now you don’t” passed before the public’s eye as the government staged an acoustics show in Mindanao. It is an attempt to divert attention from crucial questions about the government signing of the final annex to the Bangsamoro Framework Agreement involving resources sharing.

The AFP “attacked” the BIFF (BangsaMoro Islamic Freedom Fighter) only two days after the signing, with heavy howitzers and three battalions which requires weeks to position—raising suspicions that it is staged to divert attention from government’s nonrelease of details of the signed annex that gave away more than what the Filipino public is ready to swallow.

The driving force behind the peace initiative between the GOP (Government of the Philippines) and the minor rebel force MILF is the USIP (United States Institute for Peace) funded by the U.S. Congress and led by former U.S. top energy consulting firm PFC Energy (which services Shell, Chevron, BP and all major oil and gas supply giants) J. Robinson West; hence, global media hails the “peace pact”.

The MILF had become handmaiden of the U.S. in Mindanao since its late chairman Hashim Salamat wrote to President George Bush, Jr. for assistance in winning against the Philippine government. The MNLF rejects the framework agreement as a “sell out” for sacrificing the Sabah claim.

‘Alien Invaders’

Last January 15, the world was startled by news and commentaries of a supposed attack “within the year” by China on the Philippine island of Pag-asa, an island in the Kalayaan group. A columnist of the Philippine Star wrote on January 15 entitled “Filipino traitors thrives as China readies invasion” quoting a report from “Qian-

WE TAKE A STAND

zhan business and strategy site” that “the Chinese military has drawn up a plan of attack for this year….” InterAksyon news site picked this up from the China Daily Mail site, which it falsely claimed as “state owned”, a rehash of the Qianzhan report into “Chinese troops to seize Zhongye (Pagasa)… in 2014” posted by a certain “retired analyst” ChanKaiYee2.

The ChanKaiYee2 posting circled the globe. Western and Australian “experts”, news wires and sites, echoed the shrill news, even after the Philippines’ Dept. of Foreign Affairs spokesman Raul Hernandez himself squelched local and global media’s rumour mongering by denying any knowledge of any invasion. Malacañang itself said it would not “comment on articles that have unnamed and unofficial sources”. The “invasion” hype came after the “fishing regulations” story hyped by the media at the start of January 2014, and all these hyped China “aggression” came after Japan’s PR debacle after its PM Shinzo Abe visited the “class A war criminals” at the Yasukuni Shrine on December 25, 2013.

People vs. Media Control

The three are examples of how media magic is employed to manage public perception for the purposes of those who own and control media. It is a fundamental understanding the Filipino public must understand if it is to protect its interests and welfare.

Media manipulation by Big Business interests can cost the public and the nation dearly in economic terms, as well as in historical and geopolitical terms as wars are also initiated in media; as the UNESCO preamble states “… wars begin in the minds of men…” Steps must be taken for the public to restore independent and reliable media, broadcast, print and web.

The Philippines has allowed cross-ownership of Big Business and Media, following the U.S. trend, resulting in conflictof-interests in media ownership as well as in consolidation of media in the hands of fewer and fewer corporate powers. In the U.S. only seven corporations own all of U.S. media, which also dominates global media.

In the Philippines less than can be counted in one hand control mainstream media and its devastating effect has been witnessed in the recent Meralco-WESM predatory, market manipulation of power prices.

Even the social media is populated by paid “trolls” to direct Netizens’ views. The only real news we get comes from the whistleblowers.

And the news they bear are old—most of scandals and scams that have remained under the public radar for the last 10 years or so.

Democracy needs more genuine counterpropaganda media— more papers like OpinYon.

Politics

News from Where You Stand

Stop Bashing Rape Victims STUPEFIED! That describes the Filipinos’ reaction over the mauling of a TV celebrity accused of raping a popular endorser and model.

The furor amid the charge and countercharge over rape or mauling could not have come at a better time for big business furtively stealing the future of this country by bleeding the consumers dry. The people’s attention is deflected from the real economic issues.

Yes the networks, owned by owners of power generators and suppliers, made a big issue of a suspect love triangle quarrel turned violent not because they love the parties much but because the scandal keeps the public mind from the real issues of the stomach.

But while big money stokes the fire of crime from a love triangle, we get to learn the more important lesson of how society and big money treat rape and rape victim in this country.

Nothing could be more disturbing than the trend towards putting to doubt and public ridicule the victim of a rape, in this case a celebrity.

Ana Junia, a Harvard-trained Filipino psychiatrist, expressed her thoughts on the caper with friends in Facebook. Rape is never a joke, she says. So out of bounds have the media war gone and indeed the bashing of victim Deniece that Junia asks her Facebook friends: “Please do not re-post memes or jokes portraying the alleged rape victim as a femme fatale. They (victims) may seem clever or witty to some, but when I see them, I am reminded of the rape victims who were told that they were sluts who were “asking for it” because of how they dressed, or acted, or spoke. It hurts my heart to see them on my feed. Please stop.

Rape is never a joke.”

“For people who don’t believe the alleged victim’s story and say that she

justice of women’s rights!” And she deserves to be raped for making “Please do not re-post memes or jokes has an ally in the party list Gabriela this up, let me say that you are not which asserted that rape is “the worst standing up for rape victims. What portraying the alleged rape victim as a form of violence against women and you are doing is perpetuating victims suffer immense trauma, and the idea that rape is a legitimate femme fatale. They (victims) may seem the healing process takes a lifetime.” punishment for bad girls/women/ Because Vhong does projects for people.” clever or witty to some, but when I see them, ABS-CBN, while Deniece’s was imJunia commented further: “So I am reminded of the rape victims who were mediate kin was once a hotshot at many victims of sexual assault 7, that spawned a network war struggle with shame and guilt. told that they were sluts who were “asking GMA between the two TV giants. That reThey were told they were bad and that they deserved to be for it” because of how they dressed, or acted, sulted in their veering away from vital national issues such as the exorbitant raped.”The alleged rape vicor spoke. It hurts my heart to see them on my electricity rates. tim in this case (Deniece) will It used to be that rape victims and likely never read your threats. The feed. Please stop. Rape is never a joke.” their families would rather carry to people who will most likely see ­ their graves their rape stories than be and be hurt by them are the sexual assault victims who are silently —Ana Junia publicly chastised and humiliated even within the family. reading your posts, who will never Saving one’s face, the so-called see justice done. “ family honor, was always important. No charges.

Another reactor to Junia is Mitch Ong, one dared to be a traitor to a friends or On January 22 Navarro’s manager who expressed admiration for the former revealed that his ward was allegedly beaten a family who had perpetrated the rape for always writing “with sensitivity and by reporting him to authorities. No one black-and-blue by Cedric Lee and several respect, both for the people you’re protectother men on January 17 at a condominium would believe her in the first place and so ing and the people you’re trying to reason unit in Taguig City. Navarro was reportedly becomes a victims twice over. The idea of with. When you say you’re not into shamfurther victimization is affirmed by the mauled because he allegedly got caught in ing people you really mean it. I believe that denial that rape has ever occurred. “flagrante delicto” of raping the 22-year asking people to have some more respect Some people wonder: why is it that Deold Deniece Cornejo. for others works better when we show niece is not getting the kind of sympathy The allegations of Deniece puts her them respect, too. Cheers!” and empathy that are usually bestowed on among the almost 1,400 victims officially Republic Act 9262, or the law on the people like her? violence against women and their children, recorded by the governmental agency, NaDepartment of Justice has assigned a tional Commission on Women (NCW), as is frequently cited in barangay-level blotthree-woman committee of prosecutors to ters, according to the records of the Depart- of year 2012. The figures are only for cases analyze the charges against the parties. of rape, attempted rape and incestuous ment of Interior and Local Government.

It could be that the “refined” definition rape and excludes such related incidents as Barangay residents know each other of rape, under Republic Act 8353 is not acts of lasciviousness. face-to-face, so there is much more prestruly understood by the public, much less The number is increasing gradually sure not to rat on an offender or for rape by media personalities as seen in the crass year by year, PCW indicated. Statistically victims to humiliate themselves further by making the violation public. They also have speaking, Deniece is now one of 10 women rape joke of ABS-CBN’s Vice Ganda.

RA 8353 defines rape as not only the in the 15 to 49 age bracket who experienced less awareness of their rights. violation of virginity but also the indisexual violence. In America, 80 percent A corollary law, R.A.8353, or the antividual’s being. In fact, penetration is not of women under 20 is reportedly a rape rape law, considers rape a public crime the be-all of a rape, according to RA 8353. victim. which can be reported to authorities by Forced sexual behavior can be a cause for a Deniece has cried, “YOU WANT JUSanyone. Here, the suspect can be proscry of rape.

TICE? I WILL GIVE YOU JUSTICE—the ecuted even if the victim withdraws her

Do We Know What We Want?

V

ERY few persons will probably admit that politically, they know what they want. Sure, we can cite a thousand and one things that paint a rather sorry picture of where this nation is at this time in history.

But then, that can be said just about any nation on this earth.

Everything can always be better or improved upon and one should not allow present reality to gain such ascendancy that one becomes rooted in helplessness or bitchy inaction.

We can also debate endlessly and magnify the shortcomings of any set of leaders. Is one simply looking at things too cynically or narrowly? It has become such a socially desirable trait to have an “advocacy” a cause to stake one’s life on. It has become a favorite evidence of “involvement”, to be a champion of one cause or another. From the idealism of youth and wide spread school activism until those fires are somewhat cooled by the new tasks and responsibilities that usually accompany the start of a new family; the all consuming passions of love, marriage and family formation and the need to earn a living unless one is possessed of enough wealth not to have to take a job, then take precedence.

Later on, when the children are already grown, sometimes, the advocacies of youth are re-

kindled as leisure time begins to expand or because the existing reality creates such a sense of discontent that one finds purpose in the vocalization of that discontent wrapped in the language of a form of advocacy of this or that cause.

Of course there are a few exceptions to what has been described, those whose youthful passions have remained a powerful motivating force that even over time has not diminished, even strengthened maybe? Of course, the need to provide for a growing family, the complexities of relationships between husband and wife, children and other relatives do take a huge bite out of the emotional energies of many members of our society.

So except for politically correct statements, what results are polarized people. Those limited by many other responsibilities from pursuing what they consider their political passions and end up being neither here or there or they retreat to a position of political dogmatism, somehow believing that their idealistic or ideological beliefs can or should be imposed on the rest of the nation no matter how inadequate or uninformed.

Then there are the realists, who do not so much as deal in political ideologies or principles as deal with what they view as “political” or economic realities

Ray of Hope Ramon Orosa and develop such a view of themselves and life that they either retreat from what is there wherever they might have been, or embark on a program of political demagoguery to gain a following that they can use to realistically climb the political or economic ladder. The methodologies in politics and economic activities are pretty much the same. It is centered on acquiring political positions of influence or economic accumulation that elevates them to what they see as the “big time”. There is little room for principles to live by except the principles that espouse greed, ambition and selfishness bathed in a generous dose of image building efforts.

This is why the saying that especially in politics, perception is what matters. And so, both economic and political” leaders” employ professional image creators to manipulate public perception. Political and economic fiction then is built around such people. And boy, is it vicious as

we have witnessed over many years, though some are more vicious than others!

But, whether we admit it or not, we all do have an inner compass that tells us we are wrong here and there, in the things we say and do every day. But that is quickly and quietly swept under the rug of practicality and if seen or heard publicly, employ the professional “damage controllers”. The unfortunate consequence is that our lives become a life of dualism, forcing one to be hypocritical about self and life and so we do other things to try to cover up or compensate, or if one is in public life, hire a good PR practitioner to paint what can only be a false image of one’s self. The sad part is that we then begin to paint a picture of truth and reality that accommodates most of the inner inconsistencies, so we develop sayings like “Just don’t get caught” or “When caught don’t admit!” One tends to develop conflicting elements in one’s paradigm.

Depending on one’s station is society, one can see that our problems are rooted in the conflicting principles we have adopted both in our political and economic lives. Our retreat to the creation of fantasies regarding people and leaders cause us to lose sight of both what is there and what can be done. Areas of our own lives that we do not wish to look at too WE TAKE A STAND

closely or might cause us, in our view, to be looked at lower than what we seek to be looked up to, causes us to seek honor not because our actions deserve such honor but because we have been expert at image manipulation.

In a sense the foregoing enables us to define what we seek in a President or any political leader.

This is why the “matuwid na daan” has become more of a political slogan because living by and acting from that lofty perch consistently and impartially conflicts with the “ realities of politics” that every other guy lives by, meaning enforcing the slogan will mean that they will have to live their lives differently both economically and politically. It also gets one to think, “Why me?” Let it start from the top or let others set the example first. So corruption, greed and other negative motivators either become more entrenched by going underground or one waits and bides time. After all PNoy’s term ends in 2016 although who might follow him is also cause for deep concern. Meantime one just hopes that the spotlight does not fall on them. So, caution and defensive measures are called for but the greed does not end, the corruption continues more hidden but unabated, and others who “belong” think now is their time. Kami naman. As someone said, “Panapanahon lang yan”! Tiis tayo muna.

OpinYon

FEBRuary 3-9, 2014

3

OPINION E

D

I

T

O

R

I

A

L

Media Circus FOR the first time in quite a spell, primetime news programs have beaten the telenovelas in the battle for television ratings.

Thanks to Mr. Rico Suave a.k.a. Vhong Navarro and the supposed beating he got from the hands of one Cedric Lee. Much like your classic soap, there is a lady involved in this picture--Deniece Cornejo.

While rape is a serious offense as with beating a person to within an inch of his death, there is a much more tragic reality here.

As journalists, we find it tragic that to win an audience or gain readership we need to allot serious air time and surrender the front page to the mishaps and misadventures of celebrities.

Sure, the Vhong Navarro incident deserves reporting, but not to the point of bumping off issues of national import.

Some years back, we remember the ‘Jose Pidal’ investigations hogging the news for months— the people intently following the news as it unraveled. And then, boom… the Philippine Daily Inquirer surrenders its banner to Kris Aquino who announced that she got STD and she got it from Joey Marquez.

It would be unethical to question the news evaluation of colleagues but suddenly, the plunder of billions of pesos from the government coffers lost all weight against Kris and her chlamydia infection—something that requires only a shot of antibiotics.

So, with the nation still reeling from Janet LimNapoles, Yolanda, Meralco and the rising costs of everything else, throwing Vhong Navarro into the news mix along with the escapades of Wally Bayola and Chito Miranda provides convenient distractions.

With television and print media run by big business and politicians—the news could easily lose its credibility and freedom. If a piece of news endangers the business or political interest it will get airtime or see print.

The case of Vhong Navarro is, by accident, also a network war--with Navarro being a talent of ABS-CBN 2 and Deniece Cornejo being the niece of former GMA 7 big boss Rod Cornejo.

Expect the automatic bias with the way GMA and ABS-CBN treats and handles this bit of news.

Tonight, we may find ourselves deeply engrossed in the Vhong Navarro case. Tomorrow we pay the bills.

HERMAN TIU-LAUREL Publisher TONYPET J. ROSALES Managing Editor

OpinYon is published by Digitek Publishing House, Inc., with editorial and business offices at No. 10 Pacita Avenue, Pacita Complex I, San Pedro, Laguna.

Telephone Number

San Pedro: 214-0766 Email: opinyon.2010@ gmail.com website: www.opinyon.com.ph ISSN 2094-7372

4

FEBRuary 3-9, 2014

DAVE DIWA Opinion Editor FREDERICK FABIAN Social Media Director CARLOS RAJAMIRA Creative Director

‘VoVhong’ Pinoy

I

RECEIVED this text from a young scholar, Angelyn, now graduating from accountancy in a Metro-Manila university. She’s a regular, decadelong listener and participant through texting of my radio broadcasts which is now aired over 1098AM, DWAD, Thursday to Friday 5 to 6pm.

It was sent on the day before Chinese New Year’s Day: “Kiong Hee Huat Chai (the Fookien greeting). This a.m. on my way to school while in a jeepney the driver and a passenger were talking about the Vhong issue. While on the LRT two students were c onversing on the same topic. I was saddened. This is the effect of the diversion play by media.”

At a birthday party in the plush Gloria Maris at the Greenhills commercial center a week ago I was seated beside a retired Philippine Air Force colonel. With had interesting small talk about the career of military officers and the plight of reel soldiers of the Oakwood era. The retired colonel is a nice, younger man than me and admitted to lacking appreciation of some Chinese culinary idiosyncrasies and requested some guidance on the slivers of roasted skin and meat that explained was Peking Duck that Muslim’s could enjoy without guilt. I explained that the “lumpia wrappers” beside the dish were to roll them in with leeks, strips of cucumber and spring onions.

At one point when the topics seemed to run out, the good retired colonel commented, “How terrible this case about Vhong Navarro. What do you think….”

I hurried to interrupt, a little dismayed that such a topic would be a subject of discussion. I explained that I didn’t know much about the story and didn’t follow it, making clear I didn’t think it was a topic worth my time. Like Angelyn I felt sad that such shallow topic would even be raised. To me it is clearly a diversionary news item. I thought I’d be sociable again and introduce a more serious topic, like the Meralco market manipulation in December or the contrived “China invasion” of Pagasa island, but changed my mind.

What’s the point, I thought.

The current issues that are genuinely vital that confronts the nation and impacts its national welfare are: the predatory electricity policies that has produced the highest electricity price in the World today {with the December 2013 Meralco increase of P 4.15/ kWh) and the still undisclosed terms of sharing in the last annex to the Bangsamoro Framework Agreement of the government and the MILF. The nation should be focused on these issues until resolution that is fair, just and

JOJO VALENCIA Layout Artist Editorial Consultants DIEGO CAGAHASTIAN LINGGOY ALCUAZ ERICK SAN JUAN Rodrigo Cornejo Ray L. Junia Board Chairman & President Atty. Salvador s. Panelo Ombudsman Atty. Ricky Ribo, Legal counsel JOACHIM JOSHUA P. MEDROSO V.P. Business Development

OpinYon

WE TAKE A STAND

Scan this QR Code with your mobile device to read OpinYon Digital Edition on the go.

PEOPLE’S STRUGGLE Mentong Laurel

ao – the creation of new conflicts there. This falls under Chomsky’s: “2. Create problems, then offer solutions … (stage an attack on the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighter, BIFF, and arrange for peace talks again)….” And in the Epira, “3. The gradual strategy… acceptance to an unacceptable degree, just apply it gradually, dropper, for consecutive years.

While it is essential for the citizenry to focus and follow specific issues consistently until solutions to such issues are found, the prevailing mainstream media in the Philippines attempts daily to prevent such focus and continuity. The reason for this is that present owners of major media instruments, print or broadcast, and even the Web’s social media, do not want the citizenry to focus on those crucial issues. To ensure this the media employs established strategies of manipulation. One of the classic icons of intellectual dissent against established, unjust authority, is Noam Chomsky (University of Pennsylvania, MIT, etc.) who drew up a list of “10 strategies of manipulation by media”. beneficial to this nation of 100 million citizens is achieved, but that national focus is impossible to attain while the media divides the attention span of the people with endless giddy issues.

While it is essential for the citizenry to focus and follow specific issues consistently until solutions to such issues are found, the prevailing mainstream media in the Philippines attempts daily to prevent such focus and continuity. The reason for this is that present owners of major media instruments, print or broadcast, and even the Web’s social media, do not want the citizenry to focus on those crucial issues. To ensure this the media employs established strategies of manipulation. One of the classic icons of intellectual dissent against established, unjust authority, is Noam Chomsky (University of Pennsylvania, MIT, etc.) who drew up a list of “10 strategies of manipulation by media”.

Here are a few to highlights from Chomsky shedding light on what Philippine dominant media is doing in the Vhong case: “1. The strategy of distraction … divert public attention from important issues and changes determined by the political and economic elites, by the technique of flood or flooding continuous distractions and insignificant information…. public attention diverted away from the real social problems, captivated by matters of no real importance.’…. 7. Keep the public in ignorance and mediocrity…

8. To encourage the public to be complacent with mediocrity…

Promote the public to believe that the fact is fashionable to be stupid, vulgar and uneducated…” by focusing on celebrities in entertainment and their proclivities.

The other strategies identified

by Chomsky are more apparent in another situations, as in Mindan-

That is how they radically new socioeconomic conditions (neoliberalism) were imposed during the 1980s and 1990s: the minimal state, privatization, precariousness, flexibility, massive unemployment,….changes that have brought about a revolution if they had been applied once.”

The Meralco’s December P4.15/kWh increase to be paid by consumers by three months instalment tried to employ Chomsky’s “3. The gradual strategy …. an unpopular decision is ….‘painful and necessary”’ gaining public acceptance, at the time for future application. … to accept …. future sacrifice of immediate slaughter. …. ‘everything will be better tomorrow’ …. This gives the public more time to get used to the idea of change and accept it with resignation when the time comes.”

There are several more strategies that we have run out of space to mention here, but readers can look up Noam Chomsky and his writing, especially “Manufacturing Consent: The Political Economy of the Mass Media”.

In the essay Chomsky argues that the mass media in the United States “are effective and powerful ideological institutions that carry out a system-supportive propaganda function by reliance on market forces, internalized assumptions, and self-censorship, and without overt coercion”.

That is also true of mass media, particularly mainstream mass media, in the Philippines which endlessly attempts to create more “VhoVhong Pinoys”.

(Watch GNN’s TNT with HTL, on Chn. 8 Destiny Cable and Chn. 213 SkyCable, Sat. 8pm and Sun. 8am; tune to 1098AM, DWAD, Tues. to Fri. 5-6pm “Sulo ng Pilipino”; e-mail at htlnow@fastmail. fm; login towww.newkatipunan. blogspot.com)

Opinion

The Viewpoints and outlook of the well-informed

Orchestrated Collapse

F

ROM prophecynewswatch.com which was sent to me through email stated that: Financial institutions the world over are sounding the alarm of the possibility of a massive default in China, come January 31, 2014.

If this should happen, it could lead to a cascading collapse of China’s entire banking system, which could potentially result in “sky-high interest rates” and “a precipitous plunge in credit”.

In other words, it could be a “Lehman Brothers moment” for Asia. And since the global financial system is more interconnected today than ever before, that would be very bad news for the United States and to the world as well.

Some may wonder why on January 31, the Chinese New Year?

From Tyler Durden’s article published at http://www.zerohedge.com – “CNY represents China’s official currency. It also stands for Chinese New Year, the biggest holiday for the country and the occasion for family reunions and celebration. But less familiar for many, however, the Year(?) itself actually stood for a beast which comes out every 365 days and eats everything along the way from bugs to humans.

The holiday tradition started as a way for people to fend off the beast by getting together and lighting up the firecrackers.

At the same time, Chinese custom dictated that people should also pay their due to avoid becoming the beast’s target. In particular, it has been a tradition to settle all debt before the New Year. From the perspective of such folk culture, the trust product Credit Equals Gold #1, referred as CEQ1 hereafter, by China Credit Trust planned poorly for having the maturing date on the New Year, leaving a 3bn CNY beast running wild.”

With a picture like this that will happen on the 31st of this month, some analysts see things based on study of history that 2014 (after a hundred years since the First World War), it seems that the same present scenario is heading the world to another war. Actually some economists too expressed their analysis as follows (from washington’s blog): “A continuation of bailouts in Europe could ultimately spark another world war,” says international investor Jim Rogers.

“Add debt, the situation gets worse, and eventually it just collapses. Then everybody is looking for scapegoats. Politicians

WHISTLE BLOWER Erick San Juan

“If the global economy doesn’t recover, usually people go to war.”

We’re in the middle of a global currency war – i.e. a situation where nations all compete to devalue their currencies the most in order to boost exports. And Brazilian president-elect Rousseff said in 2010:

“Add debt, the situation gets worse, and eventually it just collapses. Then everybody is looking for scapegoats.

Politicians blame foreigners, and we’re in World War II or World War whatever.” blame foreigners, and we’re in World War II or World War whatever.”

Marc Faber says that the American government will start new wars in response to the economic crisis: “The next thing the government will do to distract the attention of the people on bad economic conditions is they’ll start a war somewhere.”

‘The last time there was a series of competitive devaluations … it ended in world war two.’

Jim Rickards agrees: Currency wars lead to trade wars, which often lead to hot wars. In 2009, Rickards participated in the Pentagon’s firstever “financial” war games.

While expressing confidence in America’s ability to defeat any other nation-state in battle,

Rickards says the U.S. could get dragged into “asymmetric warfare,” if currency wars lead to rising inflation and global economic uncertainty.

As does Jim Rogers: ‘Trade wars always lead to wars.’

Even in YouTube, most popular analysts like Gerald Celente.

Glenn Beck, Jesse Ventura and others are all giving their self fulfilling prophesy. Even George Soros has predicted (orchestrated?) this possible impending collapse.

Forewarned is forearmed as the rest of the world may be preparing for the worst case scenario but sadly here in our country there is too much politicking already for the next election (if there is going to be one).

“The writing is on the wall” or the future is predetermined by the actions taken by men as much as people repeating history, well in this case – another World War One or a Great War in the offing.

Let us pray that the Chinese New Year will bring better things but as always it is all up to us what life will bring us if we will all work harder and avoid the unnecessary war created by the greed and stupidity of the world’s elite.

Helping Each Other

F

URTHER to last week’s article regarding the raging issue of whether Pres.

Benigno S. Aquino lll unconstitutionally meddled in the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato C. Corona, the issue’s resolution remains critical to what should be everybody’s proper understanding of “democracy”, particularly in light of democracy’s essential feature: a theoretical balance of power within the constitutional tripartite system among the Judiciary, the Legislature, and the Executive Department.

Kindly note that my use of the word “theoretical” is intended to emphasize a disquieting disequilibrium among the three departments—a situation which now appears more real than apparent, given a growing controversy over the President’s seeming meddling. Frankly, I believe that P-Noy was unconstitutionally interfering in matters pertaining to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Legislature.

[The lower house impeaches; the senate tries then acquits or removes from office. Please read my previous article titled COMPASSION.] To buttress my point, kindly allow me to recall just one circumstance attendant to subject impeachment, and that is: the Filipinos’ widespread contempt in which they then held his predecessor, former Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. This sole factor, to my mind, was what triggered P-Noy’s succession of such impulsive un-presidential expressions of personal scorn at GMA that would later prove

detrimental to impeachment respondent Corona’s defense.

P-Noy knew the people reviled her, so he decided to empathize with them to further build a crushing public opinion calculated to ensure Corona’s conviction.

P-Noy must be credited with having correctly read the public mind against Gloria. I remember once musing that the new President could further boost his popularity by showing as much personal derision for her, and I did conclude then, judging on the basis of public approval of his unrestrained disrespect for her, that impeachment and conviction of Corona would only be a question of time.

I had figured then that P-Noy had nothing personal against Gloria, just as he had once reportedly publicly disclosed, and that here was an excellent chance for him to curry favor with all who disliked her, nay, with the citizenry, to whom no promise would be greater than punishing her.

Additionally, we all applauded his vow to stamp out poverty and corruption, as conveyed in his mantra walang mahirap kung walang korap (there is no poverty if there is no corruption)—a slogan which made naive people like me a PNoy-admirer overnight.

Truth to tell, I so despised GMA that I often ignored the President’s unstately behavior, and even once defended his uncouth deportment when he took snipes at his predecessor at a public forum. And I lustily cheered P-Noy each time he publicly embarrassed then

Musings Ronald Roy

edented popularity peaks registered for him by survey outfits in the aftermath of his administration’s constant nitpicking on the fallen Gloria. No, his political involvement in Corona’s impeachment was not an undue interference up to this point.

But it became one when he ordered his congressional minions to railroad a defective impeachment complaint. This,

P-Noy must be credited with having correctly read the public mind against Gloria. I remember once musing that the new President could further boost his popularity by showing as much personal derision for her, and I did conclude then, judging on the basis of public approval of his unrestrained disrespect for her, that impeachment and conviction of Corona would only be a question of time.

Chief Justice Renato Corona, a perceived GMA lackey who had accepted from her a manifestly unconstitutional “midnight appointment” as Chief Justice, and had subsequently obtained a ruling from the “GMA Supreme Court” that the said appointment was not unconstitutional.

Thus, P-Noy’s image-boosting strategy actually worked, as evidenced by those unprec-

dear Reader, was when P-Noy unmistakably crossed the line.

And this was what caused me to start keeping a critical eye on the President of the Republic.

Now comes the question of whether Pres. Aquino violated the constitution when, as claimed by Sen. Bong Revilla in his privilege speech, he was clandestinely sneaked into Malacañang as a passenger in

WE TAKE A STAND

a vehicle driven by no less than then DOTC Sec. Mar Roxas; was asked to join P-Noy, Roxas, and DBM Sec. Butch Abad for breakfast; was told by P-Noy “Pare, ibalato mo na sa akin ang impeachment ni Corona” (Pal, do me a favor by convicting Corona); and was told by Abad “Senator Revilla, magtulungan tayo dito.” (Senator Revilla, let’s help each other here.)

P-Noy is not at all convincing when he says he merely wanted to inform some senators there were outside pressures being applied to secure Corona’s acquittal, to which a terse reaction would be “Look who’s talking!” P-Noy was not unaware of the impropriety of convincing a senator to convict Corona, hence, his resort to cloak-and-dagger means to sneak him into the Palace.

Clearly, the circumstances indicate an undue employment of presidential influence. The fact alone that the president was the dispenser of pork barrel allocations earmarked for senators enlarged that influence. Come to think of it, I do recall that before the verdict came out, only Revilla got an advance portion of his pork of PhP200 million pesos, along with opposition senators Enrile, Sotto, Honasan and Estrada.

The other senators would wait for their turns.

Hmmm... obviously, this is what Abad meant when he told Revilla, “Senator Revilla, let’s help each other.”

http://musingsbyroy.wordpress. com | 09186449517 | @ ronald8roy | #musingsbyroy

OpinYon

FEBRuary 3-9, 2014

5

Environment

10 Things to Throw Out to Make Your Office Eco-Friendly

By Erick A. Fabian 1. CRT computer monitor — Cathode ray tube desktop monitors use a lot more power than liquid crystal display (LCD) monitors. It also has more parts and components made of hazardous substances such as lead and mercury.

LCD monitors are 66% energy-efficient, generates less heat, takes up less space and has low-intensity lighting that is easy on the eyes.

2. Old freon-based refrigerators and air conditioners — Aside from freon being phased out and banned in the manufacture of new refrigerators, emission of CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons) contribute to the depletion of the ozone layer. You may think that, by using an old refrigerator your office, you are saving money, but the long-term effects are critical and can cause dire consequences for your health and the environment. New refrigerators use tetrafluoroethane, a less harmful ingredient than freon, and are designed to use less energy than their old counterparts.

Boom Seen in PH

R

ENEWABLE energy received a boost as government issued the green light for several proposed power plants as part of larger efforts to become 100 percent powered by renewables within a decade.

Hydroelectric power remains the most attractive renewable energy investment in the Philippines as eight new mini hydro projects gain approval for construction this year.

Hydrotec Renewables, the developer of the eight projects, which champions the use of low-impact hydropower construction said this week the company is investing US$53 million to US$62 million on the combined 25-30-MW projects, eyed for completion by 2016.

The projects are located in nearby provinces outside Metro Manila, with three in Rodriguez City (Sitio Wawa, San Isidro and San Jose), one in San Mateo, two in Marikina City (Tumana and Nangka 4) and two in Antipolo City (Hinulugang Taktak and Nangka 1).

Legarda: More Investments

Last week, Senator Loren Legarda renewed her call for more investments in renewable energy as part of a long-term solution to the growing power needs of the country and to mitigate the effects of environmental degradation and climate change.

Legarda, the United Nations Champion for Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation for Asia-Pacific, made the call at the Clean Technology Congress 2014 organized by ThomasLloyd in Frankfurt am Main, Germany.

“The aftermath of Haiyan was an eye-opener for us Filipinos. The devastation it caused made us realize that we need to climate- and disaster-proof our energy sector,” Legarda said.

Typhoon Haiyan left more than 6,000 dead and nearly 2,000 missing.

Damages and losses are estimated at P571.1 billion (equivalent to USD 12.9 billion).

Legarda, co-author and co-sponsor of the Philippine Renewable Energy Law, noted that the Philippines has already established a legal framework that provides for necessary policy mechanisms for the development of the country’s renewable energy resources.

“It is about time that we take a consistent and deliberate effort to develop our own energy resources in ways that we can guarantee the future generations of Filipinos a legacy of clean, reliable and affordable energy,” Legarda added.

Sustainable Approach

Hydrotec Renewables applies a ‘sustainable small hydro approach’, where it incorporates data gathered from hydrological, topological and metrological research in the construction process, including project site attributes to avoid the need to cut trees and inflict environmental disruption to the flora and fauna and existing communities, its website said.

The company, owned by Filipino and German investors, said it is also looking to install power plants in Leyte and other areas devastated by Yolanda.

According to Department of Energy (DOE) data, hydropower—with a total capacity of 5,468MW—will contribute the most amount of renewable energy in the country. Out of this, 2,950MW are still in the pipeline.

Wind Breaks

Separately, four wind energy projects in Luzon were awarded the certificates of commerciality last month which means developers can

3. Aerosol sprays — the use of CFCs in aerosol spray may have been phased out, but hydrocarbons in spray cans are still an environmental and health hazard, as these may not damage the ozone layer but still contributes to air pollution.

You can replace them with refillable spray bottles made from 25% recyclable plastic.

proceed with the construction of the projects and that upon operations, these projects would supply to the grid under the feed-in-tariff (FIT) system.

The government has approved FIT rates for renewable energy last year for wind, solar, hydroelectric and biomass energy at a rate lower than those asked for by renewable energy developers.

The FIT per kilowatt hour for solar power is set at PhP9.68 (US$0.223); wind, PhP8.53 (US$0.197); run-ofriver hydroelectric power, PhP5.90 (US$0.136) and biomass PhP6.63 (US$0.153). Under the system, electricity sold to consumers is fixed for a period of 20 years.

The projects are: Energy Logics Philippines for a 48MW in the municipality of Pasuquin; Energy Development Corp’s 63MW expansion of its existing project in the municipality of Burgos; AC energy Holdings’s 45MW in Pagudpud; Ilocos Norte through its joint venture with Northern Luzon UPC Asia Corp, and an 18MW expansion of its 33MW wind farm in Bangui.

Wind power is third among proposed renewable energy projects in the country after hydroelectric and geothermal, aiming to supply 417MW to the grid.The 33MW Bangui Bay Wind Power Project in Ilocos Norte is so far the only wind project that is supplying the grid.

The DOE further announced last month that in 2014, some 633.5MW of electricity coming from wind and solar projects will be added to the grid and can power 126,700 households.

Geothermal and hydropower plants each account for about 14 per cent of the country’s total energy mix, while other renewable sources such as wind, solar and biomass are still comparatively undeveloped.

Guimaras Braces for Fish Kill Caused by Sunken Ship

8

LOCAL officials in Guimaras province are readying measures to prevent an “algal bloom” that could cause a fish kill caused by the oil spill from a sunken vessel loaded with bunker fuel and fertilizer off the Iloilo-Guimaras area in early January.

The Guimaras provincial government has demanded the owner of the sunken MV Sportivo to immediately refloat the vessel, local papers reported over the weekend.

Guimaras Task Force Sportivo head Engineer Raymund Moderes voiced concern the 28,000 sacks of fertilizer inside the ship could cause an algal bloom—or a sudden increase in algae in a body of water—and produce toxins that could deplete the oxygen supply in the

FEBRuary 3-9, 2014

OpinYon

water which, in turn, may lead to fish kills.

The task force and representatives of the sunken vessel’s owners are set to lead a coastal cleanup at Barangay Hoskyn in Jordan town in Guimaras. Hoskyn is one of the areas affected by oil spill from the vessel.

Reports said local authorities also confirmed an oil spill in Sawang village in Buenavista town.

Last Jan. 19, the MV Sportivo sank off Iloilo-Guimaras Strait after a strong current caused it to collide with another vessel, the MV Jehan 5.

So far, Moderes said five companies have offered their services to Seen Sam, owner of the sunken vessel, to refloat the MV Sportivo.

WE TAKE A STAND

4. Incandescent light bulbs — It is a proven fact that compact fluorescent lamps and LED-based lighting consume significantly less electricity than traditional incandescents. CFLs and LED lights may cost more, but you don’t just save energy and money, you lessen the environmental impact that energy consumption causes. A 6W LED lamp can give as much light as a 60W incandescent without the energy expense.

5. Disposable styrofoam cups — The polystyrene material in the disposable cups we use in the office water cooler may be easy to recycle, but it presents both health and environmental hazards as it can release hydrocarbons, which contributes to air pollution. Encourage office staff to bring their own drinking mugs to work and create group awareness about how seemingly small actions can produce ecological concerns.

6. Non-recyclable printer ink and toner cartridges — These items tend to contribute massively to landfill waste, not to mention that manufacturing them releases greenhouse gases. Petroleum-based printer products are also toxic. Use refillable cartridges and vegetable oil-based printer ink.

7. Toxic cleaning products — Items like disinfectants and antiseptics may be useful in eliminating germs and disease in the office, but these cleaning products are also harmful to you and the environment. Their residues can be ingested or inhaled, cause skin irritation and poisoning, and when washed down the drain into the town sewage system, can easily pollute the water and soil. Replace them with plantbased and water-based cleaning agents.

8. Unhealthy office food items — Vending machines and the office pantry are often filled with junk food, candies and other items contained in non-biodegradable wrappers and packaging. Not only is it a source of excessive amounts of trash and is cause for health concerns, consumption of junk food also puts a strain on Mother Earth. Junk food manufacturers acquire cheap bulk ingredients from factory farming industries that use huge amounts of pesticides, fertilizers and petroleum, both for making plastic wrappers and fuel used for shipping these items. Do a petition and ask your office managers to have healthy options during meetings, office parties and potlucks. Order more organic food and, if possible, vegetarian items at least twice a week.

Not only are you helping officemates to be healthy, you’ll be contributing less to the human carbon footprint.

9. Plastic-based office supplies — Instead of using plastic folders, binders, envelopes, mousepads, and table mats, why not opt for recycled paper products? Plastic office items tend to mostly end up in the trash bin and are difficult to recycle. Manufacturing plastic items also uses massive amounts of petroleum-based materials and can contribute to pollution during factory production and excessive energy consumption when shipping.

10. Bottled water — Instead of keeping bottled water in the office pantry or having them on vending machines, install a water dispenser and ask everyone to bring their own drinking mugs. Not only do you save money, you also prevent accumulation of office trash due to empty plastic bottles.

Less plastic bottles to manufacture, the better for the environment.

Agriculture Asia-Pacific Countries to Formulate Regional Rice Strategy

S

ENIOR government officials and development partners from Asia-Pacific countries met last week to finalize a regional rice strategy.

Convened by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the “Consultative Meeting on Rice Strategy for Asia and the Pacific,” saw the attendance of over 40 participants from some 17 countries of the region and representatives from development partners.

The participants are considering the contents of a draft “Rice strategy for sustainable food security in Asia and the Pacific region,” that once adopted, would have an impact on the prospects for food security for future generations.

The delegates are drawn from major

HIROYUKI Konuma

tegic options for future rice sector development toward 2030.

“Hence, our work and efforts will not end by the formulation of a regional strategy, but they will contribute to the betterment of people in this region, especially smallholders, the majority of whom depend upon rice for their livelihoods - economically, socially and environmentally,” Konuma added.

Across Asia, especially in the wake of the 2008 rice price crisis, coordination and sustainability of such a vital crop has been the centre of much debate. The issues range from productivity to resource use efficiency, to trade, cultural heritage and the effects of climate change.

“For the people in this region, rice is a crop of life, culture, stability and sustainable development,” Konuma added.

The regional rice strategy will be presented for consideration in March at the FAO’s 32nd Regional Conference for Asia and the Pacific, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

rice exporting and consuming countries including India, Thailand, Viet Nam, Indonesia and Philippines.

In 2012, the FAO’s member states called upon the Organization to help them formulate a regional strategy that would benefit both net exporters and importers of rice – a staple food source across the Asia-Pacific region.

“Having such a strategy in place will considerably facilitate the formulation of national rice strategies, policies and investment plans to address emerging challenges and benefit from new opportunities,” said Hiroyuki Konuma, FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Asia and the Pacific. “Thus, the formulation of an Asia-Pacific regional rice strategy is (our) direct response to the call by the member states.”

While it is recognized that each country must have its own strategy – a single regional policy cannot provide a one-size-fits-all solution – there is a need for guiding stra-

DA Sees Modest Growth in Farming THE Department of Agriculture (DA) expects the farm sector to post a growth of three percent this year on expectations of sustained good performance of the livestock, poultry and fisheries sector.

Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala said the country would continue to take advantage of the animal-disease-free status of the poultry and livestock industries.

“The livestock and poultry sectors continue to grow. Korea is opening its doors to us for chicken exports and we have begun shipping peking duck to Japan,” said Alcala.

With the extended access give to the Philippines to tuna-rich Pocket 1 of the Pacific Ocean and the sustained exportation of vannamei shrimp, Alcala said the fisheries subsector is expected to be one of the best performing agriculture subsector this year.

“Fisheries subsector has the best potential this year,” said Alcala.

The agriculture sector posted a growth of 1.15 percent in 2013, driven by gains in the livestock, poultry and fisheries subsectors.

Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 Production in the livestock subsector in 2013 rose 1.75 percent, accounting for 16.23 percent of the total farm output for

Chicken production was the major source of growth for the subsector during the period, growing 5.01 percent. The poultry subsector grossed P174.2 billion, up 4.31 percent from a year ago.

2013. Growth was lead by hog and cattle production.

The subsector grossed P233.2 billion, up 8.2 percent year-on-year.

Production in the poultry sector rose 4.20 percent in 2013, contributing 14.76 percent to total farm production for the year.

Chicken production was the major source of growth for the subsector during the period, growing 5.01 percent. The poultry subsector grossed P174.2 billion, up 4.31 percent from a year ago.

The fisheries subsector recovered from negative growth in 2012, with production expanding 1.23 percent in 2013.

At current prices, the subsector grossed P239.1 billion, up 2.78 percent year-on-year.

The livestock and poultry sectors remain free from bird flu and foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) that have affected neighboring Asian countries.

Last year, the Philippines was granted extended fishing access to tuna-rich high seas pocket 1 of the Pacific Ocean until 2017 by the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC). The Philippines would be allowed to operate 36 catcher vessels with a capacity not exceeding 250 metric ton in the high seas pocket for the duration of the extended access.

Last year, the Philippines resumed the exporation of vannamei (white shrimp) after recovering from diseases that plagued the industry more than 15 years ago closed opportunities to growers.

Shrimp growers have been shipping vannamei to Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, US and China amid strong demand.

In the crops subsector, palay production is expected to reach between 19.5 million metric tons (MT) to 20 million MT this year.

Corn production this year would also be increased to support the feed requirements of the growing livestock subsector. Corn production in 2013 reached 7.4 million MT.

Alcala Eyes Corn Exports to South Asia THE Department of Agriculture (DA) is now open to the idea of allowing the exportation of corn grits to enable farmers to gain a foothold in foreign markets ahead of the economic integration of Southeast Asia by 2015.

Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala said the DA would propose to the National Food Authority (NFA) Council that farmers be allowed to export corn to enable them to develop markets in neighboring countries before the full implementation of the ASEAN Free Trade Agreement (AFTA) in 2015.

Allowing the exportation of corn grains would also protect farmers from possible domestic supply glut as a result of anticipated surplus.

“We will be advising the (NFA) Council to allow the export of corn grains so that farmers will have elbow room in trade before the AFTA is fully enforced,” Alcala said. “If we do not allow farmers to export, they may be discouraged from planting if there is a glut and prices fall.”

Alcala said an inter-agency WE TAKE A STAND

committee is now preparing a report for submission to the NFA Council by February.

Corn production in 2013 reached 7.40 million metric tons (MT), slightly down from the 2012 production of 7.41 million MT. The Philippines remains self-sufficient in corn, but production targets are still being reviewed to meet the rising feed demand of livestock raisers especially now that new foreign markets have opened.

South Korea has opened its doors to Philippine chicken export while Japan has begun accepting peking duck shipments.

Despite good production, the government was hesitant to allow corn producers to export to keep domestic supply stable. Corn growers, however, have been allowed to ship silage to South Korea.

Alcala wants the local corn sector to be competitive in time for the economic integration of Southeast Asian economies by 2015 so the Philippines gets a piece of the export market dominated by the United States.

OpinYon

FEBRuary 3-9, 2014

9

OPINION Entrepreneur...

From page 12

Cuna said unlike the regular ice cream which is just a mere flavoring, the gelato is a healthier type because it has less fats and sugar but is better-tasting. Aside from capitalizing on the Italian ice cream craze, the company gained another niche by also capturing the coffee drinkers when it introduced the Fior Cafe‚ in 2000.

We are the only company that mixed gelato and coffee in one store which is the original Italian setup. We also make our own gelato with 80 percent of the ingredients coming from Italy and other countries,” Cuna said in a magazine interview.

Responsible Franchiser

A former president of the Association of Filipino Franchisers, Inc., Cuna opened Fiorgelato to Milkin Corp., true franchising in 1999. With to its vision to advocate good over 17 years of experiquality food & services, created a ence in franchising, Cuna new company... Fiorgelato Café. says it is important to exConceptualized as a gourmet café, ercise caution and careful combining the best Coffee, Pastries planning in getting new & Ice Cream all in one. At present, franchises than to go for the company has stores strategithe rapid expansion of a cally located at SM SuperMalls. company.

“We screen franchise Milkin Corp. through its applicants to ascertain subsidiary, FIORGELATO INC. venif they are really ready tured into a medium- sized Gelatoto do the business. The Kiosk type of scooping stations and company has also added the introduction of the GELATERIA extra steps in the evaluCAFE fine Dine-in. A concept that ation process of the prowill showcase all the finest products spective location to deof FIORGELATO... all in one roof. termine if the area has what it takes to deliver Milkin Corporation the sales, particularly if began to capture the market outit has a high foot traffic, side Metro Manila hence opening and if it is the right maroutlets Nationwide from Luzon, ket for a high-end brand Visayas and Mindanao. like Fiorgelato,” Cuna explained.

The opening of outlets Cuna reasons that continued with branches at Bacolod while franchising is a / Iloilo provinces and other in the good vehicle to expand a Visayas region till 2005 . business, it is not proper 2005. Fiorgelato is registered and for a responsible franMilkin Corporation is certified as chiser to just sell the Intellectual Property Owner. franchise without the legal and moral obligaPaved the way to the tions attached to it. birth of co-branding concept, “Offering a franchise combining the two concepts of program doesn’t only FIORGELATO and FIOR CAFÉ in one pertain to the product outlet. After tapping the domestic or service but the whole market nationwide, the company franchise system that envisions to capture the foreign guides the operation of market in partnership with Island the franchise business.

Tropical Gelato and other interested It includes the good reinvestor. lationship between us, the franchisors, and our International Outlet franchisees,” he said.

FiorCafé also has been registered For a cart type store, and certified Intellectual Property franchisees need to Owner. Milkin Corporation’s Plant shell out PhP275,000and Products was granted Halal PhP500,000 while a Certification. full-blown franchise for a dine-in store costs PhP1.5 to PhP2 million “all-in”.

In return, Cuna proudly says that aside from the usual franchise package inclusions of inventory, equipment and training his company includes support units and includes franchisees in mapping out innovations and the future plans of the franchise program.

Franchisees should have their heart in the business, Cuna said.

“They have to be emotionally, mentally and physically ready to handle the tasks of the franchise business. They should be financially ready to acquire a franchise business. I always advise a prospective applicant to acquire franchise business within their means or budget.”

2000

2002

2003

2004

2006

2007

Village Empowerment for Economic Development

I

T’S A common story always told, about national economies that are growing, and yet the benefits of economic growth do not trickle down to the village level. The truth is, the economic approach of trickling down has become unpopular, and the whole world is looking for new ideas that could replace it. Some economists are suggesting “bottom to top” development, and that is the approach that I prefer. For my part however, I would rather call it “level up” development, a term that is more akin to information and communications technology (ICT).

For the most part, it would not be practical to blame the national governments for the failure of economic growth to trickle down to the village level, especially in countries where many villages are separated by seas and deserts. Rather than wait for the fruits of economic growth to trickle down to where they are, the villages should just make their own economies grow, and that way, they would not only be self-supporting, they would also be self-sustaining.

In theory, there is no village anywhere in the world that could not be reached by a signal, given the full mix of signals that are now available everywhere.

At the extreme, there are always satellite signals that could be used for internet connectivity, assuming that the usual broadband sources are not available.

Some might argue that satellite connectivity could be very expensive, but as far as I am concerned, there should be no price to the benefits of economic development that could happen as an outcome of village empowerment.

As it is now, it is already possible to deliver healthcare and education anywhere and everywhere, where there is a signal.

Using these same signals, it is a l s o possible for the local people to get access to justice, livelihood and employment services from where they are, regardless of where they are. With the use of signals and computers, it really does not matter where the villages are, because the people there could get the services that they would need.

SCIENCE WORKS Ike Señeres For all intents and purposes, ICT is a product of science & technology (S&T), no matter how much further it has developed on its own. In the context of village empowerment however, it would be very practical to include ICT as a major component of whatever bundles of technologies that should be delivered to the village level. The other major components should be energy and environment, among others. Without energy, there is no way for the villages to develop. In this context, the environment component should include solid waste management, rainwater collection climate change adaptation (CCA) and disaster risk reduction (DRR), among others.

The style and manner of village level governance varies from one country to another.

Here in the Philippines, village level governance is done through the Barangay Councils, an elected body headed by a Chairman. In theory however, the barangay community is actually a public corporation wherein every voter is a stockholder, and wherein the Barangay Council serves as the Board of Directors. Just like any corporation however, the Barangay Assembly functions like a Corporate Stockholder’s meeting wherein the majority could overrule the Board.

Just a few years back, it was very difficult for Barangay Councils to computerize their operations, considering how expensive it is to maintain their own data centers and local area networks (LANs). Nowadays however, cloud computing and server virtualization is already commonplace, and it is already possible for them to computerize quickly and economically. To top it all, software applications for human resources, financial accounting and revenue generation are already available on a fee based, per transaction bill-

ing only, meaning that no actual front end costs will be charged.

As it is now, every village is already in a position to computerize their operations if they want it, when they want it. In that sense, every village is already empowered, at least as far as ICT is concerned. Other than ICT however, all villages would still need more S&T in order to move forward, but that is not really a problem.

That said, the only remaining question is whether or not the people in these villages would want to move forward, with or without the help of the government.

It could not be denied that for the most part, the people in the villages would tend to be dependent on the mayors of the cities or municipalities that have jurisdiction over them.

This could probably be due to the dole out mentality that is very prevalent in our culture.

It is either that, or it could be due to the culture of patronage politics that is also prevalent.

What is really needed is for the people in the villages to break out of this dependency syndrome, regardless of whether their village officials would want to do so or not.

It is very clear that what is lacking is the political will among the people in the villages to take their own destiny in their own hands. The fact is, they own their own destiny, and it is really up to them where to take it. Some might say that many of the people in the villages are just too busy in just trying to survive, and they are probably more concerned about their present needs, meaning that they would not care so much about their future.

Despite the apparent lack of political will at the village level, a group of concerned citizens who belong to the Gising Barangay Movement (GBM) are still trying to wake up people at the village level so that they would participate in their own governance, in accordance with the Local Government Code (LGC). For my part, I am going to support them with ICT resources, because that is what I do best. As they are not giving up, I will also not give up.

For feedback, email iseneres@ yahoo.com or text+639083159262

20th Anniversary

Marking its 20th year in September last year, Cuna set his sights on opening 20 new stores in the next 12 months—which he said is part of his 25-year program.

“We’re very happy because we have been hitting our targets.

We may have encountered challenges in the past 20 years but we were not distracted from our mission and vision,” Cuna emphasized.

Cuna said he is enthusiastic about future prospects for the company particularly since Milkin now has the right people who are capable of steering the company towards achieving its goals.

“We have laid the necessary foundation for the company.

That is why I am positive that by the time we celebrate our 25th year anniversary, Milkin Corp. would have become one of the top companies in the Philippines,” Cuna said.

REMBRANDT BALITAAN. RJ Javellana of WARM, Val Vibal of Sanlakas, Dean Judd Roy and Dr. Rolando Quintos were guests at the recent Balitaan sa Hotel Rembrandt. Topics at the roundtable included political gimmickry, rice smuggling, impeachment and the revamp of the education and economic system. Erick San Juan served as forum host.

WE TAKE A STAND

OpinYon

FEBRuary 3-9, 2014

11

fEBRUARY 3-9, 2014 • Vol.4 No.23

Visit us at www.opinyon.com.ph

Millionaires Club

SECTIONS POLITICS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 OPINION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 BUSINESS.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 AGRICULTURE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 FOREIGN. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P1 LIFESTYLE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P4

Ricardo Z. Cuna

Entrepreneur of Designer Ice Cream

B

ORN and raised in Manila, Ricardo Z. Cuna grew up exposed to business with his grandfather running Golden Taxi—the biggest taxi company during the time of the Marcos administration.

But it was only after he completed his undergraduate and graduate studies—and after working in the banking industry— that he decided to set up his company, acquiring Milkin Corporation in 1993.

Designer Ice Cream

Established under a Filipino-Italian business venture in 1989, Milkin Corporation started as a designer ice cream manufacturing company that formulated tailored ice cream products. This specially prepared ice cream catered well-known restaurants, hotels and food chains under a “private labeling” arrangement.

Within the same year, the company was also granted exclusive rights from Italy to manufacture, sell and distribute FIORGELATO “The Pure Italian Ice Cream” for the Philippine market.

It created a big following from the AB market, which made FIORGELATO “The Ice Cream of the Elite”.

With Cuna at the helm came the rebirth of Fiorgelato as the brand brought back the original authentic Italian Ice Cream flavors it became famous for—the gelato (Fiorgelato prides itself as the only ice cream made from 100% pure fresh milk and with the highest quality of imported ingredients from Italy).

Turn to page 11

12

FEBRuary 3-9, 2014

OpinYon

WE TAKE A STAND

COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS

Sept. 1994 Paved the way

for the rebirth of FIORGELATO, under a new management, thus bringing back the Original Authentic Italian Ice Cream, which is famous for being the only ice cream made from 100% pure fresh milk and the highest quality of imported ingredients from Italy.

1995 The company, in its efforts to expand its line of products & market share, took over Maynila Ice Cream, the company famous for its authentic Filipino & All Natural Ice Cream. At present, traditional Sorbetero Carts are still very active in catering parties, fairs & special occasions.

1999 The company launched its

Franchise Program, geared towards strengthening its presence in the market through the network of scooping outlets & carts, serving ice cream in cones & cups. At present, the company has (50) outlets all over Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

Turn to page 11