Bagong Bayani eMagazine vol.1 #11

MICA (P) 199/01/2011

VOL. 1, NO. 11

FREE COPY

singapore edition

Loida nicolas lewis

Filipino Par Excellence

PIMENTEL CALLS FOR MORE EFFECTIVE DISASTEr MEASURES Legarda Calls for Cooperation between Gov’t and OFWs in Syria Learn-A-Thon 2011: Fundraising Event for the Flood victims of the Philippines, Cambodia and Thailand PsalmiDeo Chorale: Songs of Christmas and Home Top 11 Newsmakers of 2011 TOP 11 SPORTS STORIES of 2011

Note

Publisher

from the

In closing the year 2011, we cannot help but to look back and quietly ask ourselves this simple question, how did it happen?

We all have been through difficult and trying times—from the most devastating disaster in Japan early this year, to the senseless riots in some cities in Great Britain, to a group of discontented marchers in New York who called their project, Occupy Wall Street. Man-made or otherwise, the impact is not pleasant and rewarding.

On the other side of the fence, the quest for transparency and thirst for freedom helped to carry out the most well kept-secret operations which led to the killings of Al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden and Libya’s infamous dictator Muammar Gaddafi.

We are shocked and awed at the same time when protesters in Tunisia and Egypt resorted to the use of social media and successfully toppled the status quo, in a bloodless revolution reminiscent of that of our very own EDSA. The series of uprising that revitalized people’s quest to challenge rulers in the Middle East and North Africa is a sign of a changing world.

Back in Asia, we have witnessed the temporary end of a ruthless era in North Korea when their governmentcontrolled media announced the sudden death of Kim Jong-il, another dictator. We can only hope that the son will not be as ruthless as the father was.

But the rest of the world, including myself, mourned the death of the man who led the revolution that ended Communist rule over Czechoslovakia in 1989. He is fondly remembered as the playwright turned statesman who helped rebuild Eastern Europe. Vaclac Havel, may you rest in peace.

Back home in the Philippines, we have our own share of challenges to overcome and sacrifices to make.

From one calamity to the other, like the recent Typhoon Sendong, notwithstanding the government’s efforts to check and balance each branches and make sure it is acting in the interest and on behalf of the people and not merely on its own or its patrons, and so on and so forth, we are not spared.

We all know that things and events happen for a reason. They are there to remind us of our imperfections and limitations as people and individuals. It is unfortunate, but these things need to happen in order to expose vulnerabilities and give justice to discontents and frustrations. Hopefully, we learn in the process.

Nobody is perfect. No government is ideal. This is the truth of the matter.

Finding hope in adversity is the best ingredient to understand and rise above the challenges that we are facing at the moment. Positive thinking will give us the courage to face our tasks and working with determination and passion will seal the deal.

Christmas is about Jesus Christ and his birth. It is also about love and forgiveness. Let us find within ourselves the power to forgive. We can do it quietly and sincerely. Every time we show forgiveness, in whatever form, we show love, not just for others but also to ourselves.

Let us not forget that in the midst of the sufferings and tribulations around us, we all still have to be thankful to God Almighty for giving us a beautiful and wonderful world to live in. Our families and friends must also be cherished.

We are especially grateful to Atty. Loida Nicolas Lewis for her goodwill of gracing the cover of BBM and faith in our crusade. By her example, we hope that every Filipino in every part of the world will be inspired by her story and eventually discover that there is a ‘Loida’ in everyone of us. She showed us that the best gift we can give to others is time. Atty. Loida, thank you for your gift of time.

Lastly, it is worth sharing the words of Vaclac Havel and I quote, “The salvation of this human world lies nowhere else than in the human heart, in the human power to reflect, in human meekness and human responsibility”,end of quote.

So let us all welcome the year 2012 with faith in God, joy in our hearts and positive thoughts to do more, achieve more and help more.

God bless us all, God bless the Philippines and Mabuhay po tayong lahat.

Contents

Publisher

maryjane SALOMON (Singapore)

Editor

Estelle Piencenaves (Philippines)

Editorial Consultants

Detch P. Nonan-Mercado (Singapore) Sankie Simbulan (Philippines) Tala Maralit (Philippines)

Columnists

Cover story PG 24

Cristy Vicentina (Singapore) Atty. Hazel Riguera (Philippines) Pamsy L. Tioseco (Philippines) Dr. Mariglo Liwanag Vicente (Philippines) Mary Jane Aquino-Gourlay (singapore)

Contributors

Christie Tan (USA) Cashmer Dirampaten (Singapore) Anne Luisa Villarico (Singapore) Dr. Marilyn Surio (Philippines) Monica Guerra (Singapore) Justice Francisco-Schaffer (Singapore) Krista Monica Garcia (Philippines) Atty. Saniata Liwliwa V. Gonzales-Alzate (Philippines) Ferdinand Sahagun (singapore)

features ...

6 pimentel calls for more effective disaster meAsures

Proofreader

16

Cyprus Malinao (Singapore)

Art Director

Low lay Hong (Smarties@work)

Circulation Manager ANDEE BARCO (Singapore)

Photographers

8 Legarda Calls for Cooperation between Gov’t and OFWs in Syria

Robert De La Cruz (USA) Jo Bennett (Singapore) Pinoygraphers (Singapore) CGD (Singapore) Eric Parreno (Singapore) MBS (Singapore)

10 INSIDER TRADING 16 PINOYGRAPHERS@SG: Shoot For A Cause

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20 best 11 photos of 2011 30 Learn-A-Thon 2011: Fundraising event for Flood Victims of the Philippines, Cambodia and Thailand 34 Top 11 Newsmakers OF 2011

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Advertising Enquiries: Email: info@iambagongbayani.com Mobile: +65 9811 1755 | Office: +65 6235 8153 Published monthly by Salomon Publishing Singapore Pte Ltd. 304 Orchard Road, #04-65 Lucky Plaza, Singapore 238863 www.iambagongbayani.com The Publisher uses due care and diligence in the preparation of this magazine but is not liable for any mistake, misprint, omission or typographical error. The Publisher prints the advertisement provided by the advertisers but gives no warranty and makes no representations as to the truth, accuracy or sufficiency of any description, photograph or statement. The Publisher accepts no liability for any loss that may be suffered by any person who relies either in whole or in part upon any description, photograph or statement contained therein. The Publisher reserves the right to refuse any advertisement for any reason. No part of this publication may be copied either in whole or in part without prior permission from the Publisher.

MICA (P) 199/01/2011 Printing By: SUN RISE PRINTING & SUPPLIES PTE LTD

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BAGONG BAYANI december december2011 2011

Article by Pamsy L. Tioseco

Congress Report

PIMENTEL CALLS FOR MORE EFFECTIVE

DISASTER

MEASURES

AGAYAN DE ORO CITY - Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III called for stronger disaster preparedness and mitigation measures, in the wake of Typhoon Sendong and the calamity it visited on his home, saying that the country should do what it can to prevent these disasters from happening again.

As such Pimentel lauded President Aquino’s allocation of a Php14.2 billion disaster preparedness fund in addition to a Php7.5 billion calamity fund in the 2012 General Appropriations Act.

Citing that the country is prone to disasters caused by typhoons, Pimentel said that high priority should be given to disaster preparedness systems pertaining to this, stating that the Department of Natural Resources (DENR), the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB), the Department of Interior and Local Governments (DILG), and PAGASA should immediately develop geohazard maps.

“This should be done for all areas, and not just those traditionally prone to flooding,” the Senator from Mindanao said.

“This would increase the awareness and readiness of local governments for potential disasters.”

Part of disaster preparedness was the generation of disaster information, baseline scenarios culled from the experience of previous disasters that hit the country, to be cascaded to LGUs, said Pimentel.

He said that despite the “one or two calamities of various intensities” that hit the country annually, the country seems genuinely unprepared at the approach of a new typhoon. “I cannot believe that these scenarios over say, the past eight years, have not been done yet by PAGASA, DOST, and former National Disaster Councils. Why have they not been given to the LGUs?”

Pimentel said that experience and action is the key to effective disaster reduction, which often would take place as while the situation is happening. “I encourage our President to get those who have experience in disaster mitigation and deploy them in key positions in various agencies.

We need these men by whose decisions and actions lives are saved,” he said, adding that the worst thing is to have high level officials merely monitoring and reporting on the scenario.

“That’s the role of media,” he said.

The Senator meanwhile expressed his heartfelt thanks for those who responded quickly to the call for assistance. Notably, Ang Kasangga Partylist Representative Ted Haresco flew to Cagayan de Oro and Iligan last Sunday to survey the disaster firsthand and donate One Million Pesos (Php1,000,000.00) from his PDAF.

In line with this, Pimentel issued a call for sustained support, expressing concern that In light of the approaching Christmas and New Year holidays, relief efforts and support from various agencies and the public might slow down.

“Let us not forget. Over the holidays, remember that even a small sacrifice will help in sustaining relief efforts. We very much need any support that agencies and the public can give.” he said.

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BAGONG BAYANI december december2011 2011

Congress Report

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Legarda Calls for Cooperation between

Syria

Gov’t and OFWs in

for Safe Repatriation and Swift Aid to Returning Filipinos

S

enator Loren Legarda today called on the government to ensure the safe repatriation of all Filipinos in Syria as she asked Filipinos in that country to cooperate withofficials.

The Chair of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations made the statement after the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) raised the crisis alert level in Syria to level 4.

“While the DFA and the Philippine Embassy in Damascus have already laid out their plans for there patriation and other necessary assistance to Filipinos in Syria, the bigger challenge rests on convincing our countrymen to take advantage of the government’s offer to repatriate them,” Legarda stressed.

In issuing this appeal, Legarda recalled the earlier offers of repatriation issued by the Philippine government.

Since August of this year, the government has offered repatriation assistance to Filipinos in Syria but as of December 16, only 383 of the estimated 17,000 Filipinos have agreed to be repatriated.

“The decision by an overwhelming majority to risk their lives, not withstanding the clear and present danger to their safety stresses the need for government to create jobs in our country that can feed families and educate children,” Legarda said.

“I also appeal to our fellow Filipinos in Syria to heed the government’s call for mandatory repatriation” she added.

In issuing this statement, she also called on the DFA to determine how government may effectively cover undocumented Filipinos under its crisis management and security arrangements.

“As early as August of this year, the DFA has offered voluntary repatriation.

What happened between August and now needs tobe assessed to ensure that offers for repatriation translate to greater security and safety to our migrant Filipinos,” Legarda added.

The Senator said that in times of crisis, open communication lines and cooperation between the people in the government are crucial.

“Apart from informing Filipinos in Syria of the repatriation plans and procedure, they must also be informed of the options they have in the country when they get back.”

“In this light, I call on the Department of Labor and Employment to start the process of job matching, while the skills training programs of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) must also be fully utilized. Funds from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) must be used for these programs. The unified effort of concerned government agencies is most vital in this situation,” Legarda concluded.

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Usapang Legal

Article by Atty. Hazel E. Rebadulla Riguera

INSIDER TRADING

he first securities law passed in the Philippines in 1916 was Act No. 2581, popularly known as the Blue Sky Law. The name of the law is a play on the stocks term “blue chips”, used originally in reference to high-priced stocks and more commonly used today to refer to high-quality stocks.

One of the main purposes of this securities law is the protection of the public against fraudulent and unscrupulous practices with respect to the sale and purchase of securities.

The Securities Act (C.A. No. 83) took effect in 1937.

It was patterned after the 1933 Securities Act and the 1934 Securities Exchange Act of the U.S.A. Thus, American jurisprudence and securities practice are important in the understanding our own securities laws.

B.P. Blg. 178 or the Revised Securities Act (RSA) took effect in 1982. This was then superseded by R.A. No. 8799 or the Securities Regulation Code in August 8, 2000. The purpose of the law is for the protection of the investing public primarily through a system of disclosure and the punishment of fraudulent practices, as well as for the development of the capital and securities market.

Insider Trading The provisions of the Securities Regulation Code punishing insider trading seek to prevent unfairness to the investing public since the insider is profiting from material information about the security or the issuer, which is not available to the public.

Information is material if it will affect the price of the security or would influence a person in deciding whether to buy, sell, or hold a security. The following are considered Insider: • The issuer.

• A director or officer of the issuer or a person controlling the issuer.

• A person whose relationship or former relationship to the issuer gives or gave him access to the material non-public information.

• A government employee, director or officer of an exchange, clearing agency, and/or self-regulatory organization who has access to the material nonpublic information.

• A person who learns such information by a communication from any of the foregoing insiders. In securities parlance this person is called a “tippee.” The tippee must know that the tipper is an insider.

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The general rule is that the Insider cannot buy or sell a security while in possession of material nonpublic information regarding the security or issuer. The exceptions, as provided for in Section 27 of the Securities Regulation Code are: • Insider proves that the information was not gained by virtue of being an insider or from an insider. For instance he may prove that he obtained the information from security analysts who follow the company’s stock; or •

The counterparty is identified and the insider proves that he disclosed the information to the counterparty or that he has good reason to believe that the counterparty is in possession of the information.

In the case of SEC vs. Texas Gas Sulphur Co., 401 F.2d. 833, Texas Gas, a publicly listed company, discovered after extensive drilling a rich deposit of natural gas. For five months, the company did not disclose the discovery so that it could quietly and cheaply acquire neighboring land and secure mining rights to the land.

Between the discovery and the disclosure of the information to the Securities and Exchange Commission, all the directors and key officers of the company bought shares in the company at very low prices. After the disclosure, the price of the shares went up. The directors and officers sold their shares at huge profits.

Usapang Legal

BAGONG BAYANI DECEmber 2011

Usapang Legal

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The Supreme Court held that the directors and officers violated the Securities Regulation Code provisions on insider trading.

Under the Securities Regulation Code, directors and officers who trade shares of their corporation while in possession of material nonpublic information are liable for insider trading.

Here the directors and officers were in possession of material nonpublic information that Texas Gas had discovered a rich natural gas deposit and such information was material since it would boost the share price of Texas Gas. Hence the directors and officers are liable for insider trading.

It is unlawful for an insider to disclose material nonpublic information to another person who by virtue of the communication becomes an insider if the insider knows that the other person will likely buy or sell a security of the issuer while in possession of such information. (27.3, SRC). It is immaterial whether that other person actually buys or sells the shares.

There is a presumption that there is insider trading when the purchase or sale by an insider or the insider’s spouse or relative in the second degree (legitimate or common-law) was effected while in possession of material nonpublic information if transacted after such information came into existence but before public dissemination and the lapse of a reasonable time for the market to absorb (digest) such information.

Under the Securities Regulation Code, the standard is “knowing possession” of material nonpublic information, not the use thereof. If a corporate officer gets to possess material nonpublic information regarding his company’s shares, he cannot buy the shares even if he already had been following a predetermined plan of purchasing 100 shares of the company every month.

What he should do is to refrain from trading or to disclose the material nonpublic information to the counterparty.

Tender Offers A tender offer is an offer by a person or group of persons to the stockholders of a corporation to tender their shares for purchase by the offeror. Usually, the tender offer is subject to a minimum or maximum that will be purchased. The aim is to get a sizable block of shares in order to get control of a company. It is usually employed as a takeover device where the controlling shareholders refuse to sell out in a friendly negotiated sale.

Tender offers or intended tender offers usually result in the increase of price of shares of the target corporation.

It is unlawful for a person other than the tender offeror, who has material nonpublic information relating to such tender offer, to buy or sell securities of the target corporation if he knows or has reason to believe that the info is non-public and has been acquired directly or indirectly from the tender offeror, those acting on its behalf, the target corporation or an insider of such target corporation. (S27.4[a][I,), SRC). The person need not be an insider just so long has he knows or has reason to believe that the information is non-public and has been acquired from the tender offeror. Hence, if a tender offeror mistakenly sends the tender-offer documents to its printer, then the printer will

be liable if he buys shares of the target corporation. The tender offeror, the issuer, and an insider cannot communicate material non-public information to other persons if the communication is likely to result in such person buying or selling the securities of the target corporation.

Section 27.4(a)(i) of the SRC provides that it shall be unlawful where a tender offer has commenced or is about to commence for any person (other than the tender offeror) who is in possession of material non-public information relating to such tender offer, to buy or sell securities of the target corporation if such person knows or has reason to believe that the information is non-public and has been acquired directly or indirectly from the tender offeror, those acting on its behalf, the issuer of the securities sought or to be sought, or any insider of such issuer. Under this section, it is not required the person trading the securities of the target corporation be an insider.

In the news recently were accusations of insider trading against Mr. Roberto Ongpin regarding his sale of Philex shares to Mr. Manuel Pangilinan at P21 per share. The thrust of the accusations is that Mr. Ongpin, in knowing that Mr. Pangilinan would buy the Philex shares at P21, was in possession of material nonpublic information.

This seems highly debatable as it appears more reasonable to consider the information regarding the buying price as one not relating to the issuer or the security but simply a matter between any buyer and seller.

The resolution of this highly-charged issue by the SEC or possibly later on by the commercial courts is one that is eagerly awaited by investors and securities laws experts.

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Community Service

Article by Obhet Cristobal

PINOYGRAPHERS@SG Shoot For A Cause

To help the flood victims of typhoon sendong

n a most unlikely time, a disaster struck the southern part of the Philippines and ravaged the provinces of Cagayan de Oro, Iligan and Dumaguete.

Tropical storm Sendong (international name Washi) caused the swelling of rivers and massive floods that took more than a thousand lives, leaving hundreds more families devastated and homeless this Christmas.

Graphic images of pain and suffering posted on the Internet quickly moved Filipinos communities around the world into action. In true bayanihan fashion, Pinoys reached out and showed overflowing support. One of the groups that quickly responded was Singapore’s prime Filipino photography group, the PinoyGraphers@SG (PGSG).

On the 20th of December 2011, more than 20 photographers gathered along Orchard Road for a simple night photography session, which aimed to raise funds to donate for the affected families in the Philippines.

Mr. Bhong Odal, the group’s founder and adviser, was present to lead the pack of enthusiasts to a meaningful evening. The senior and junior members were also present to support the event.

The PinoyGraphers walked and took photos along the busy and well-lit street of Orchard road. It was also a time for camaraderie and catching up between old and new friends.

During the short stint the group was able to accumulate $1,450 Singapore dollars or (Php48,430) worth of donations from those who were present at the night shoot and those who were not able to attend also extended their financial help. Requiem, an events organizing group based in Singapore, was one of the major donors.

This fundraiser was in collaboration with a Philippine-based NGO, PinkBlood99. PGSG’s Joseph Sebastian and Rowena Dichoso coordinated with PinkBlood99’s Rona Lipke.

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BAGONG BAYANI december december2011 2011

Article by Dr. Mariglo L. Vicente, RGC,CCI,DAAETS

Dreaming of a

Psyche Me Up

White

The season also brings relentless carolers who go from house to house singing traditional Christmas songs for some coins and a few more pesos if they chance upon a generous host. But more than anything else, Christmas in the Philippines has always been a time for merrymaking and reunions.

It will never be complete without the Noche Buena (Christmas dinner) and exchanging of gifts among family members.

It is always unthinkable that one would be away in another place while the whole family gathers around the living room to celebrate this festive moment.

This is the customary Filipino Christmas. But what if one or two members are working on Christmas eve in a call center in Makati or somewhere in Manila or abroad? These realities are also part of Filipino life today.

It is said that happy thoughts create happy dreams. Anything white symbolizes peace, tranquility, cleanliness and the purity of heart and mind. Anything that is happy is what we all try to strive for.

We long for happy thoughts and happy memories.

But to be away from your loved ones on special occasions like Christmas and New Year can definitely make one feel homesick while others sink deeper into loneliness especially with the “goosebumpy” weather during Christmas. Our longing for companionship makes the emptiness unbearable most of the time.

In Positive Psychology by Dr. Martin Seligman, happiness is presented as a mindset that a person can always have. Happiness is what we feel based on what we think. It is a conscious decision on our part to put out negative thoughts and focus on positive ones.

We have mixed emotions about Christmas and the holiday season, especially when we are away from our very own homes and families or other significant people we have left behind in the Philippines.

It’s neither surprising nor even shocking to say that we feel sad and anxious during the holiday season because of the “blue spirit” that the weather brings to us. It could be caused by Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD)—a feeling that we usually encounter when we feel so conscious or worried about what and how others see us; and it may also be due to Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) that is brought about by the notion that there are shorter days and longer nights during the month of December or January, which may have effects on a person’s overall psychological makeup.

In addition, the pressure of gift giving is so immense that it leads people to think lowly of themselves and their financial resources.

Some are even forced to pretend that they’ve got more than what they have and this is also true for an OFW. The Christmas songs that express sadness or loneliness during the yuletide season, especially if you’re an OFW who is away from loved ones, can also make a person feel blue.

So what do we do?

As previously mentioned, it is all about mind setting and dealing with our emotions in a positive way. Deal with feelings of loneliness through a process called the Three Blessing Exercise. It is an exercise on counting blessings, which can be done at the beginning of the day (to motivate and inspire you to achieve your to-do-list for the day) or at the end of the day as a way to give thanks. This may be the most basic of the things that you can do to feel better, but it is not the only way to be happy this Christmas.

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Christmas

“I’m dreaming of a white Christmas. With every Christmas card I write.

May your days be merry and bright. And may all your Christmases be white.”

Christmas carols, Christmas trees, Christmas lanterns, midnight masses, and Christmas delicacies such as puto bumbong, bibingka, and suman are just among the few traditions that typify the Filipino celebration of Christmas.

Here are more ways to bridge the distance between you and your loved ones abroad and celebrate Christmas together.

• Use technology to communicate with loved ones.

Oftentimes, it is in our childlike manner of reaching out that brings about that feeling of intimacy despite being physically apart.

• Record a VTR message from family members. It brings about positive wishful thinking. The thoughts of cherished memories and the good things that the future holds give them hope that things are not as bad as they feel it is.

Before you know it, they will actually feel elated and proud for their sacrifices.

• Make a long distance call. Believe it, the smile that you have in your voice will make them feel the warmth of your love and know that you care for them.

• Write a personal letter and send photos of the family during special occasions. Thank them for all the hard work and tell them that if not for their perseverance, these happy moments captured in the pictures won’t even be possible. Appreciate, and try not to ask for something more, for a change.

• And for those who can, why not be the one to visit them abroad? Enough said, your presence beats all the odds. It is togetherness more than the gifts, the good food, the wonderful music and the nice place that will count more.

Companionship, love, care, appreciation and gratitude are still the best gifts during Christmas because unlike material things, those would last more than a lifetime.

Christmas is always the best time to share the blessings of the past year before we welcome another year. The celebration may be different from what we’re used to, but we can still make it memorable and merry by doing these simple tips.

As you go on “dreaming of a white Christmas just like the ones (you) used to know,” look at where ‘the treetops glisten, and children listen…” so you can make this Christmas one that you and your (far) loved ones would always cherish.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Psyche Me Up

BAGONG BAYANI DECEmber DECEmber2011 2011

Snapshots

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BAGONG BAYANI december december2011 2011

Best

photos of

by Pinoygraphers@SG

inoygrphers@SG is a group of Filipino photography enthusiasts based in Singapore.

Pinoygraphers@SG started its humble beginnings as a group composed of hobbyists and few experienced photographers back in April 2007. They were friends who enjoyed capturing moments with their digital cameras as a past time. Through the years, Pinoygraphers@SG has evolved into a legitimate organization and today, some of its members are now stationed in other countries such as China, Australia, Hong Kong, US, and Saudi Arabia and back in the Philippines. For more information, please visit: http://pinoygraphersg.org/

2011

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Snapshots

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Snapshots

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Cover Story

Article by Christie Tan (With Reports from Mary Jane Salomon) Photographs by Robert De La Cruz

Loida Nicolas Filipino Par Lewis Excellence

Cover Story

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BAGONG BAYANI december 2011

A

Bea

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utiful World oida Nicolas Lewis is a woman on a mission. Sipping her favorite tea high above her beautiful sun-drenched Manhattan residence with its stunning views of Central Park and the Reservoir, she talks to me about her latest project.

These days she is busy raising money for the release of Rodelio “Dondon” Lanuza, a Filipino Overseas Foreign Worker (OFW) sentenced to death by beheading in Saudia Arabia. For more information on Dondon Lanuza and his cause, please visit www.helpdondon.com

In February, the victim’s family agreed to give Lanuza clemency in exchange for diyah in the amount of P35 million (more than $800,000). Diyah or “blood money” is the payment given to a murder victim’s family in exchange for the accused’s life. The February 2012 deadline looms close.

As of this writing, the Lanuza family has raised P570,000 ($30,000) of the total amount. Nicolas Lewis has agreed to match, dollar-for-dollar, the contributions that the public will shell out.

Championing Lanuza’s cause is just one of the many hats that she has worn over the years. Nicolas Lewis is also a businesswoman, lawyer, writer, community organizer, civic leader, motivational speaker, wife, mother and grandmother.

She became a grandmother for the third time this year. She shows me pictures of her beautiful family and despite the impressive long list of personal and professional accomplishments, she considers her two daughters, Leslie and Christina, to be her greatest achievements.

Loida Nicolas Lewis with Mary Jane Salomon, publisher of BAGONG BAYANI (Modern-Day Hero) magazine during the interview at her fifth avenue apartment in New York.

The former is an actor and the latter a writer, both cum laude A.B. Graduates of Harvard University. She beams with pride when she talks about them and is grateful that “they have their feet firmly planted on the ground, their heads on their shoulders and their hearts in the right places.” Her expanding family inspires her to continue her late husband’s philanthropy, community building and political involvement.

Cover Story

BAGONG BAYANI DECEmber 2011

BAGONG BAYANI december 2011

Cover Story

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Mr. And Mrs. Reginald Lewis

The The Lewis Lewis women women (L-R) (L-R) Christina Christina Lewis-Halpern, Lewis-Halpern, Loida Loida Nicolas Nicolas Lewis Lewis and and Leslie Leslie Lewis-Sword Lewis-Sword with with Reginald Reginald Lewis Lewis

Finding her true love

A woman at the helm

While in New York on the first leg of a round-the-world trip in 1968, Nicolas Lewis met trailblazing African-American entrepreneur Reginald Lewis on a blind date.

As Chair and CEO of a huge business empire, Nicolas Lewis led the business conglomerate with focus, determination and a prayer before every meeting starts, Pinoy style.

The two were well-matched from the get go, the ‘reserved and unassuming Loida’ was the perfect partner for the ‘ambitious and ultra-achiever Reggie’.

Their love story culminated in a whirlwind wedding in the Philippines in August of 1969. He would often declare his love and admiration by paying tribute to Loida whenever there is an opportunity. He would refer to her as “the least materialistic person that I know”, and Loida would return the compliment by saying that Reggie, is and was “masterful”.

In 1987, Lewis acquired Beatrice International Food Company in a $985 million leverage buyout, which was the largest AfricanAmerican owned company in the U.S. at that time. He was listed in Forbes Magazine as one of the top 400 wealthiest Americans in 1992. The company operated 64 companies in 31 countries all over the world.

Her simple and no nonsense brand of leadership did not go unnoticed. In 1995, Nicolas Lewis made it to the cover

of Working Woman magazine. She was named Top Business Woman in America after posting revenues in the amount $2-billion. She was able to increase the value

of the company with a net profit of a million dollars on the first year, 9 million on the second year, and 40 million on the third year.

On the fourth year, she decided to liquidate the company and sold the last business in 2000, resulting in a 35% internal rate of return on investment to the delight of the shareholders of TLC Beatrice.

Their beautiful love story was cut short when Reginald Lewis succumbed to brain cancer in 1993. The following year, Nicolas Lewis took over as Chair and CEO of TLC Beatrice, LLC and stayed on until the company’s liquidation.

Lewis’ death was both an end and a beginning for Nicolas Lewis.

In her eulogy, she said: “True love never gives up. Its faith, its hope, its patience endures. So my darling, you had it in your early life, and I tried to give it to you in our marriage. I have loved you without conditions, without reservations. My love for you will never end.”

Eighteen years later, that love continues to live on. It lives on in the several philanthropic projects that she started in her late husband’s memory and it lives on in the legacy to the AfricanAmerican community that she and her daughters have sought out to continue on his behalf. Nicolas Lewis is the chair of the Reginald F. Lewis Foundation, which has donated to Harvard law School, Museum of Maryland African-American History and Culture and Virginia State University.

Eighteen (18) years after her husband’s death, Loida Nicolas Lewis still uses the white table napkin with an initial LLR (Loida-Lewis-Reginald) at her residence.

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She has rubbed elbows with some of the most important political figures of our time such as US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, Nobel Peace Prize winner and former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, Former First Lady Nancy Reagan, and US President Barack Obama. Yet when one meets her, one cannot help but be struck by her simplicity, humility, and generosity. Her innate grace is accentuated by her interest in listening to every person she meets.

Feathers on her cap A lawyer by profession, Nicolas Lewis holds the distinction of being the first Asian woman and the first Filipino woman to pass the New York State bar without having studied law in the U.S. She worked as an attorney for Manhattan Legal Services from 1970-73 and later on, as an attorney for the Immigration and Naturalization Services (INS) from 1979-90. She remains active in the Filipino American Legal Defense and Education Fund (FALDEF) that provides pro bono legal services for Filipinos Americans in need of legal aid in the United States.

True to her roots, she made a mark when she won her discrimination case against INS in 1987 and was awarded three years back pay.

Loida Nicolas Lewis graciously spent her afternoon talking about her life, family, and advocacies to Christie Tan, New York based publicist and Mary Jane Salomon, Singapore based publisher of BAGONG BAYANI (Modern-Day Hero) magazine.

She then co-authored the best selling How to Get A Green Card, now on its 8th edition.

Nicolas Lewis is the recent recipient of the Eleanor’s Legacy Organization’s Trailblazer for Democracy Award. Eleanor’s Legacy, an organization inspired by the vanguard leadership of Eleanor Roosevelt, aims to increase women’s participation in New York Democratic politics.

Judith Hope, the founder of The Eleanor Roosevelt Legacy summed up the decision to give the prestigious award to Loida Lewis when she declared, “We honor Loida Lewis today because she is

an inspiration to so many of us. She is an outstanding woman of great accomplishment and great compassion.

She is a wonderful example for women.”

Politics and promoting Filipino consciousness Nicolas Lewis supported US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s campaign for the Democratic Party nomination in the 2008 US Presidential elections. When asked if her late husband would have allowed her to actively campaign for the nomination of Hillary Rodham Clinton, the first American woman who ran for a presidential nomination, Nicolas Lewis immediately nodded and said yes. “Reggie would definitely have campaigned for

the nomination of Barack Obama, being an AfricanAmerican himself. But, If I would have insisted on campaigning for Hillary, I have no doubt that he will allow me,” she stated.

She is also active in Philippine politics, having supported and campaigned for President Benigno Aquino III’s candidacy in 2010.

Political activism is nothing new to her. She started Ningas Cogon, an anti-Marcos magazine based in New York during the start of Martial Law with a circulation of 2,000. The magazine had a successful run until 1980. At present, she is active in supporting the Philippine’s claim to Spratly Islands.

Cover Story

Loida Nicolas Lewis leads a charmed life. Her stunning pre-war New York apartment is situated in the Museum Mile, one of the most coveted neighborhoods in Manhattan, and just steps away from the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Guggenheim Museum.

The late Jackie Kennedy Onassis lived a block away from Nicolas Lewis’ current residence. Before that, Nicolas Lewis lived in another 5th Avenue apartment with her late husband and children. News Corporation founder and CEO Rupert Murdoch made headlines in 2005 when he paid a then-record $44 million for a triplex apartment in the same building as the Lewises’ former duplex apartment.

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In September of this year, Nicolas Lewis led the discussion and was chosen as ad hoc Chairperson of the Global Filipino Diaspora Council (GFDC) at the organizational meeting of the Global Summit of Filipinos in the Diaspora. The Summit brought together outstanding Filipino professionals from more than 30 countries with the purpose of working together for political action and priority development projects for the Filipinos overseas and in the Philippines.

The Council aims to establish regional chapters in North America, Asia, Europe, Australia, and the Middle East. Europe will be the first region to be organized with a summit in Rome in the second quarter of 2012, wherein they will elect their officers. The Commission on Filipino Overseas organized the Summit in conjunction with two advocacy groups that Nicolas Lewis co-founded: the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) and US Pinoys for Good Governance (USP4GG).

NaFFAA is the largest Filipino national advocacy group in the United States. Among the issues they lobbied for was the Filipino Veterans Act, which enables all Filipino Word War II veterans to receive the same benefits as that of U.S. veterans. They also lobbied for the Citizenship Retention and Re-Acquisition Act or the Dual Citizenship Act. Currently, the USP4GG is working on the eradication of a clause in the Overseas Absentee Voting (OAV) Law that requires registered overseas FIlipino voters to execute an affidavit declaring their intent to resume permanent residence in the Philippines within 3 years after registering as an overseas voter. Those who fail to do so run the risk of a year of imprisonment and a lifetime ban from voting. Nicolas Lewis strongly feels that this could attribute to the poor voter turnout in the last elections.

Giving back to her hometown Also close to Nicolas Lewis’ heart is The Lewis College, a school that she built in her hometown of Sorsogon in honor of her late husband. The Lewis

family’s house manager and butler of 22 years, Lucien Stoutt, considers Loida as a simple yet strong woman and considers the 10-year old Lewis College as her biggest contribution to society.

The Lewis College (Sorsogon City, Phillippines)

The school currently has 1000 students from pre-kindergarten to college and is the cheapest private school in the province. Moreover, 40% of the students are in full scholarship in the college level made possible, in part, by donations from Loida’s friends, which include among others, Curtis S. Chin, Lee Bruner, Jr., Gavin Sword, and the family of Dr. Sofia Garcia-Buder.

Also in Sorsogon, she funded the microfinance People’s Alternative Livelihood Foundation of Sorsogon, Inc. (PALFSI), which has helped more than 20,000 families since its inception. She points out: “God has been so good to me. He has given me so many advantages so we have to give back, we have to share and that’s what I am doing.”

Loida Nicolas Lewis is flanked by Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney and US Senator for New York Charles Schumer as she received the Trailblazer of Democracy Award by The Eleonor’s Legacy organization on Oct 24, 2011 in New York City. She is the first FilipinoAmerican to get the award.

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Loida Nicolas Lewis with Former US President Bill Clinton

Loida Nicolas Lewis with US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton

Loida Nicolas Lewis with US President Barack Obama

Despite having lived most of her life in the U.S., Nicolas Lewis remains very much a Filipina who values her roots with pride. She credits her parents for the person she has become today. She looks wistful as she speaks of her father and recalls that he taught her, by example, to have compassion for those who have less in life.

She speaks lovingly of her mother and credits her for demonstrating that nothing is impossible in life. She also talks about how her mother rediscovered her spirituality after the death of her father.

Years later, Nicolas Lewis would refer back to her mother’s experience to help in her own healing from her husband’s loss.

She is also grateful to the Benedictine and Belgian sisters for her Catholic upbringing as well as the lifelong influence of her grandmother who always stressed the importance of the ethics of reciprocity.

Lastly, Nicolas Lewis derives inspiration from her late husband, Reginald Lewis, who taught her to dream big dreams. He showed her that combining vision with hard work and tenacity is a full proof formula for achieving success.

An Inspiration to OFWs Loida Nicolas Lewis is a proud Filipina and a proud Bagong Bayani.

She is dedicated to promoting and championing the plight and talents of Filipinos everywhere. She cites the Filipino’s

work ethic, humility, professionalism, sense of camaraderie, and eagerness to do one’s work well as key characteristics that give Filipinos the edge in the international stage.

Loida Nicolas Lewis with Former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger

She believes in the indomitable spirit of the modern day heroes: the overseas Filipino workers and talents.

She has this to say to Filipinos everywhere who are inspired by her story: “Set your goals. Keep order in your life. Have a strong set of ethics. Be determined and you will get there.”

She sums up her mantra as: Goal, Order and Determination or GOD. She waxes poetic on the topic of spirituality. She says: “There is a plan for all of us and for as long as we are aware of God’s plan and we try to remain in His current, we can evolve into the kind of human beings that He wants us to be.”

She credits her spirituality for her inner strength that helped her weather the trials that have come her way. She quotes Proverbs 3: 5-6 “Trust in the Lord God with all your heart. Do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do and he will show you which path to take.”

Our meeting concludes just as she was headed out to attend the anticipated Sunday mass. “God loves us and despite some

challenges in life, everything will be alright in the end. It is a wonderful world,” she says.

Watching her serene and content disposition, listening to her calm voice, and relishing the last rays of sunset in the awe-inspiring views of New York from her apartment windows, I would have to agree. It is a beautiful world, indeed.

Cover Story

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Article by Syahida Othman

Events

Southeast District Mayor and Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Defence and National Development, Dr. Mohamad Maliki Osman participated in setting up a national record by attaching currency notes onto a 9-square metre canvas.

Learn-A-Thon 2011 Fundraising Event

for Flood Victims of the Philippines, Cambodia and Thailand SR International Realtors (HSR) spearheaded a fundraising event for flood victims in Southeast Asia. The event entitled, The Learn-A-Thon 2011 is a complimentary wealth creation and motivational seminar participated in by 14 established global speakers.

(From left) Ms. Bernadette Albrecht, Mr. Patrick Liew, CEO of HSR Realtors, H.E. Minda Cruz, Philippine Ambassador to Singapore, Dr. Mohamad Maliki Osman, Southeast

District Mayor and Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Defence and National Development, Ms. Mary Jane (MJ) Salomon, Publisher of Bagong Bayani (Modern-Day Hero) Magazine, Ms. MaryJane Aquino-Gourlay and Mr. Hassan Ahmad, CEO of Mercy Relief

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Events

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Dr. Mohamad Maliki Osman delivered a speech to the 1,500 attendees, commending the commitment and benevolence of Singaporeans who have come together to support the charitable cause

Dr. Mohamad Maliki Osman expressed his well-wishes for the Southeast Asian flood victims through writing on the ‘love banner’.

(From left) Minister Counsellor of the Royal Thai Embassy in Singapore Nipon Petchpornprapas, Mrs Patrick Liew, representatives of the Cambodian community in Singapore and Ambassador from the Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines in Singapore H.E. Minda Calaguian-Cruz representing each of the countries involved in the SEA floods crisis.

(From left) Minister Counsellor of the Royal Thai Embassy in Singapore Nipon Petchpornprapas, Mrs Patrick Liew, G.O.H Dr Mohammad Maliki Osman, Ambassador from the Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines in Singapore H.E. Minda Calaguian-Cruz, MR CE Hassan Ahmad and CEO of HSR Patrick Liew graced the fundraising event held at Kallang Theatre.

About 1,500 people attended the event which took place at the Kallang Theatre on 28 November 2011. Part of the activities during the fundraiser is forming a collage where participants attached currency notes onto a nine square-metre canvas, which incidentally qualified into the Singapore Book of Records. Participants also expressed their sympathies and well-wishes in writing, on three large banners called ‘the love banners.’ In addition, donation cans were circulated amongst the participants to encourage them to contribute more.

Proceeds from the auction sales and the collected donations were channelled to Singapore-born humanitarian outfit, Mercy Relief, to continue its ongoing aid efforts in Thailand, Cambodia and the Philippines.

The fundraising efforts raised a total amount of S$135,900, exceeding its initial target of S$100,000. The event was pulled together by a committee of 17 like-minded philanthropic individuals within just a period of two weeks.

Southeast District Mayor and Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Defence and National Development, Dr. Mohamad Maliki Osman, graced the event as the Guest-ofHonour. Philippine Ambassador to Singapore Minda Calaguian Cruz and diplomatic representatives from the embassies of Thailand, Cambodia and the Philippines were also present at the event.

CEO of HSR and main organizer of Learn-A-Thon 2011, Patrick Liew said, “The organising committee of Learn-A-Thon felt strongly that we wanted to try to do something practical to alleviate the sufferings of our regional neighbours in these times of crisis, so a wealth creation seminar seemed like an initiative we could quickly stage since we are mostly all involved in the motivational seminar industry already.”

Mercy Relief Chief Executive Hassan Ahmad said, “One of the key elements of effective aid is swiftness in response. The Seminar organiser’s ability to put together this large fundraising event and bring in about 1,500 people together within a fortnight is highly commendable. The members of the organising committee displayed great amount of zeal and passion as they strive to support the ongoing relief efforts. Mercy Relief can only serve as much as the support it receives.”

Arts & Entertainment

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PsalmiDeo Chorale:

Songs

of Christmas and Home salmiDeo Chorale, an all-Filipino vocal choir of professionals in the Lion City, wows the crowd at The Esplanade in a rousing two-day concert. Going on their third year, PsalmiDeo Chorale, an all-Filipino vocal choir composed of professionals from the Lion City, sang their hearts out at Singapore’s premier art venue, The Esplanade— Theatres by the Bay.

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PsalmiDeo Chorale wowed a very enthusiastic audience of kababayans, local Singaporeans and camera wielding-tourists in a two-day concert on December 17 and 18 as part of the Esplanade’s “Celebrate December” concert series.

PsalmiDeo Chorale sang international Christmas songs such as “Angels We Have Heard on High”, “Carol of the Bells” and “A Christmas Carol”, as well as Filipino favorites such as Ryan Cayabyab’s “Kumukutikutitap” and the late national artist Lucio San Pedro’s “Simbang Gabi”.

The choir also indulged the audience with popular pieces from their major concerts—2010’s “Manila, ManiLAH” and 2011’s “Behind the Scenes”—such as “Manila”, “My Heart Will Go On”, “I Don’t Wanna Miss a Thing,” and “Circle of Life”.

PsalmiDeo Chorale members came together in 2002 because of their shared passion for singing and love for choral music.

What began as a church choir has since evolved into a dynamic performance choir with a broad repertoire of classical, folk and contemporary songs. The group’s 40-strong members are currently under the musical direction of Kiko Dimalanta.

Last November, the choir performed with the world-famous Loboc Children’s Choir for their thanksgiving concert in Singapore. PsalmiDeo’s October concert featured songs from

international and Filipino movies and they were also featured in the 41st Japanese Cultural Festival “Genki! Japan,” organised by the Japanese Cultural Society Singapore.

The group is set to open their 10th season in April 2012, with a performance at the Marina Bay Sands, at the Art and Artifact Exhibit commemorating the 100th anniversary of the sinking of Titanic in 1912.

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News

Article by Atty. Saniata Liwliwa V. Gonzales-Alzate

Here are this year’s top 11 personalities who made the news, who in one way or the other influenced public opinion, and whose stories affected the lives of Filipinos.

MIRIAM DEFENSOR SANTIAGO

LEILA MAGISTRADO DE LIMA

was elected to a nine-year tenure as Judge of the International Criminal Court (ICC) on December 12, 2011.

She is the first Filipino and the first Asian from a developing country to win a seat in the ICC. The overwhelming vote of 79 for Senator Santiago in the election in the ongoing 10th Session of the Assembly of State Parties in New York, United States of America, gives the Philippines great pride. She will assume her position as one of six ICC judges on March, 2012.

Senator Santiago has shown competence and commitment in defense of the rule of law.

She has demonstrated her intelligence and legal expertise through her decisions that have been cited by the Philippine Supreme Court. She has shown independence and integrity in her actions. Senator Santiago has an impressive academic and political background but it is her humor, charisma and wit that made her popular and a favorite personality among Filipinos. She triumphed over two disbarment complaints for her fearless declarations as a lawyer and public servant. She is known for saying, in public, what others could not do to thwart wrongdoings in the government.

HEIDI MENDOZA

She was the Chairperson of the Philippine Commission on Human Rights until President-elect Benigno Aquino III asked her to be part of his cabinet for the position of Justice Secretary.

On July 2, 2010, De Lima officially stood at the helm of the Philippine Department of Justice. The justice secretary would henceforth be known as the one-woman barrier that prevented the Arroyos from

SHAMCEY GURREA SUPSUP

leaving the country and allegedly defying the Supreme Court. Her role in the Aquino administration is to run after people who violated the law and prosecute them, to see that justice is served no matter what. She manifested this by overhauling the Justice Department and pursuing cases that have already turned cold. She is a hard working, determined and focused lady, a bar topnotcher and a mother of two.

(born on May 16, 1986) is a Filipino beauty title holder who represented the Philippines in the Miss Universe 2011 pageant in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

The young lady, who hails from General Santos City in Mindanao, charmed the audience and finished third runner-up, much to the delight of Filipinos worldwide. Supsup graduated magna cum laude from the University of the Philippines and was a topnotcher in the Philippine Architecture Licensure Examination in July 2009. With her wit, beauty, simplicity and God-fearing traits, she captured the attention of the country and inspired Filipino women to excel in their fields of endeavor.

AQUILINO MARTIN DE LA LLANA PIMENTEL III commonly known as Koko Pimentel, is the son of the former senator Aquilino Pimentel, Jr. After four years of going back and forth to the Supreme Court to pursue his protest against the victory of Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri, his close rival for the 12th senatorial seat, on August 11, 2011, Pimentel was proclaimed as the real 12th winning senator in the 2007 election. The Senate Electoral Tribunal (SET) resolved to proceed with the protest after finding grounds for a recount. Pimentel won the protest and was proclaimed senator days after Zubiri resigned.

He never gave up the fight for what he believed in—that he won the 2007 elections as senator and his proclamation as the true winner affirmed it all.

RENATO C. CORONA

is the incumbent Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines.

He was appointed to the Court on April 9, 2002 by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. On

is a former Commission on Audit accountant and has also worked at the Asian Development Bank.

Her name headlined the news after she revealed that her former boss, former COA chairman Guillermo Carague, told her to go easy on the investigation being done on the corruption case filed against former military comptroller Carlos Garcia.

Heidi Mendoza was assigned at the Office of the Presidential Chief of Staff in Malacañang as head of the financial investigation and transparency group that was

May 12, 2010, two days after the 2010 elections and a month before Arroyo‘s term expired, Corona was appointed the 23rd Chief Justice of the Philippines.

On December 12, 2011, members of the House of Representatives signed an impeachment complaint against Corona. Despite the alleged railroaded impeachment

conducting a lifestyle check on government officials before she was assigned to lead an 11-member team from the Commission on Audit. She was assigned to look into military deals including the soldiers’ pension fund, Balikatan fund, United Nations fund, and the Armed Forces of the Philippines Modernization Fund. She later testified on allegedly suspicious transactions, which involves Garcia and his family, who were charged with a P303-million plunder case.

She has uncovered irregularities

proceedings against him, he manifested an indubitable preservation of the independence of the Judiciary and is able to withstand his critics by not succumbing to the pressures of the Aquino administration to resign from his post.

that included missing funds in millions of pesos and US dollars.

She said that P50 million were taken from the P200-million United Nations (UN) fund representing reimbursement for peacekeeping operation expenses, and another USD5 million representing UN reimbursement for equipment. She displayed an unrelenting woman, despite the threats to her life and her family, by coming out in the open to tell the truth and expose corruption in the government.

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ANGELO TOMAS REYES (March 17, 1945 – February 8, 2011) was the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Chief of Staff from 2000 to 2001 under President Joseph Estrada. At the height of the 2001 EDSA Revolution, Reyes’ withdrawal of support for Estrada led to the installation of Vice President Arroyo as president, under whom he served as cabinet secretary until 2010, including the portfolios of National Defense.

Reyes ran for Congress under the United Transport Coalition (1-UTAK), a party representing workers in the public transportation sector, during the 2010 party-list election but was dropped by his party without his consent. The incident led to a litigation and a week after being accused of corruption while he was AFP Chief of Staff, Reyes committed suicide and died from a gunshot wound to his chest. Reyes was

accused of receiving P50 million in “send-off” money when he retired from the Armed Forces, as part of a decades-old military tradition.

On the morning of February 8, 2011, Reyes, together with two of his sons and a bodyguard, visited his mother’s grave at the Loyola Memorial Park in Marikina City. He asked his children and bodyguard to go ahead and wait for him in the car, then shot himself on the left side of the chest near the heart.

Reyes was buried on February 13, 2011 with full military honors at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Taguig City.

JUAN MIGUEL “MIGZ” ZUBIRI (born April 13, 1968) is a Filipino politician who served as a Congressman representing the third district of Bukidnon for three consecutive terms, and became the Senate of the Philippines Majority Leader, replacing Senator Francis

Pangilinan on November 17, 2008. Zubiri announced his resignation on August 3, 2011 following allegations of poll fraud during the 2007 senatorial elections . He is the first senator to do so, since all historical resignations from the senate prior to his resignation involved senators leaving to assume other positions in government.

GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO (born April 5, 1947) is a Filipino politician who served as the 14th President of the Philippines from 2001 to 2010, as the 12th Vice President of the Philippines from 1998 to 2001, and currently, as a member of the House of Representatives representing the 2nd District of Pampanga. She was the country’s second female president (after Corazón Aquino), and is the daughter of former President Diosdado Macapagal.

She was a former professor of economics at Ateneo De Manila University and President Noynoy Aquino was one of her students. She entered government in 1987, serving as assistant secretary and undersecretary of the Department of Trade and Industry upon the invitation of President Corazón Aquino. After serving as a senator she was elected vice president under President Joseph Estrada, despite being with the opposing ticket. After Estrada was accused of corruption, she resigned from her cabinet position as Secretary of Social Welfare and

Development and joined the growing opposition to the president, who faced impeachment. Estrada was soon forced out of office by the 2001 EDSA Revolution.

Vice-president Arroyo was sworn into the presidency

by Chief Justice Hilario Davide, Jr. on January 20, 2001. She was elected to a full six-year presidential term in the controversial May 2004 Philippine elections, and was sworn in on June 30, 2004.

Following her presidency she was elected to the House of Representatives, making her the second Philippine president—after Jose P. Laurel—to pursue a lower office after their presidency. On November 18, 2011, she was arrested following the filing of criminal charges against her for electoral sabotage.

BENIGNO SIMEON C. AQUINO III Benigno Simeón Cojuangco Aquino III (born February 8, 1960) is the 15th President of the Philippines. He is the son of Benigno Aquino Jr., a former senator and critic of President Ferdinand Marcos, and Corazon Aquino, a former Philippine president. A senator in the 14th Congress of the Philippines, he also served as former Representative of the 2nd District of the province of Tarlac for the 11th, 12th, and 13th Congress of the Philippines (1998-2007). According to the latest Pulse Asia survey, President Benigno C. Aquino III still enjoys high approval and trust rating. During the survey period, the headlines were dominated by dramatic events like the issuance of a temporary

restraining order (TRO) by the Supreme Court on the watch list order against former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and former First Gentleman Jose Miguel T. Arroyo, which proved ineffective as immigration officials, on orders of Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, prevented the former first couple from leaving the country. The arrest of former President Arroyo on November 18, 2011 on charges of electoral fraud also falls in the survey period. The Aquino administration, however, gets majority approval in the areas of equally enforcing the law on all citizens, fighting criminality and eradicating corruption in government. Areas that the administration gets plurality approval include its current efforts to control population growth increase the pay of workers , create more jobs, protect the environment and promote peace.

SIXTO S. BRILLANTES, JR

is the current chairman of the Philippine Commission on Elections (Comelec).

He was appointed by Philippine president Benigno Aquino III on January 16, 2011 to serve the unexpired term of Chairman Jose Melo. He is, without doubt, one of the most visible election lawyers before his appointment. He started his practice on election laws in 1984 and has since gained clients from all over the country.

Brillantes was the lead lawyer of deposed President Joseph Estrada. He also exposed the alleged cheating maneuvers of former President Gloria MacapagalArroyo to win the 2004 elections.

Arroyo’s rival, actor Fernando Poe Jr., was a former client of Brillantes. He also served as defense counsel for Andal Ampatuan Sr., purported mastermind of the Maguindanao massacre. Among the cases he won at the Supreme Court was the disqualification case filed by Raul Lee against Juan Frivaldo, whom Brillantes represented, for the 1995 Sorsogon gubernatorial race. In 1990, Brillantes also won a case against Haydee Yorac, who was then designated as acting Comelec chief. The High Court ruled in favor of Brillantes and said Yorac’s assumption of the post was unconstitutional. Brillantes — a son of former Ilocos Sur Governor and Comelec Commissioner Sixto Brillantes Sr. — obtained his bachelor’s degree in law at San Beda College of Law and graduated class valedictorian. He ranked 7th in the 1965 bar examinations. From 1978 to 1986, he served as a legal counsel of the Eduardo Cojuangco Jr. Group of Companies. Cojuangco ran during the 1992 presidential elections but lost. In 1986, Brillantes, Jr. became the managing director at the Brillantes, Nachura, Navarro, Jumamil & Arcilla Law Offices and went on to become a senior partner in his law firm. Brillantes served as the general counsel of the political party Nationalist People’s Coalition, which Cojuangco heads as chairman emeritus, from 2001 to 2006.

Since 2006, he has been a legal consultant of the United Opposition, which was created by Vice President Jejomar Binay to unite all politicians against then-President Arroyo. Weighing in on criticisms that Brillantes might not be able to resist political pressure from his former clients, election critics commented that he can decide to be either a hero or a villain.

News

T op 1 1 P h ilippine newsma k ers in 2 0 1 1

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Article by Sankie G. Simbulan

Travel

Exploring the

Island of Bohol here are just so many beautiful places to see in the Philippines, with a lot that has yet to be discovered in the archipelago’s 7,107 islands.

The island province of Bohol in the Central Visayas region is one of the most visited tourist destinations in the country. Both foreign and local tourists are fascinated by Bohol’s many wonders, which include its beaches and resorts, heritage sites, the Chocolate Hills, Loboc River cruise, Philippine tarsier and peanut kisses!

Our island exploration begins with a tribute to the historical site of the "Sandugo (one blood)" or Blood Compact Monument in Tagbilaran City, Bohol, where the Spanish explorer and great colonizer, Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, and the chieftain of Bohol, Datu Sikatuna, sealed their friendship as part of the tribal tradition, through a blood compact, on March 16, 1565. The Sandugo is depicted in both the provincial flag and the official seal of the government in Bohol.

The Legazpi-Sikatuna Blood Compact Monument commemorates the friendship between the Spanish Conquistador Miguel Lopez de Legazpi and the Bohol Chieftain Rajah Sikatuna in March 1565. The figures are lifelike and with the ocean in the background. This is an important place to visit for followers of Philippine history.

How This Natural Marvel Came To Be: The Chocolate Hills’ limestone cones are said to be coral deposits that rose up from the sea during a major geologic shift, and molded by winds and erosion over hundreds of years. But just like most of nature’s masterpieces, the Chocolate Hills have legends passed on by the locals, from generation to generation. The most popular one tells of two rival giants who threw rocks and boulders at each other for days. Exhausted, the giants forgot about their meaningless conflict, became friends and left the island without cleaning up the mess they made. The hills are testimony of their great battle. Another myth tells the story of Arogo, a young, powerful giant who fell in love with Aloya, a mortal girl. When she died, Arogo shed thousands of tears and when they dried up, they formed the Chocolate Hills.

A unique marvel of nature The famed Chocolate Hills of Bohol consists of 1,776 coneshaped hills (they actually counted each one!) mostly between 30 and 50 meters high and spread over an area of more than 50 square kilometers. When people first see pictures of this landscape, they can hardly believe that these hills are not a man-made artifact but are pure wonders of nature.

These one-of-a-kind geological formations located in the town of Carmen have baffled geologists. It is said that the hills are weathered formations of a kind of marine limestone on top of an impermeable layer of clay. A bronze plaque at the top of the 214-step observation hill on this world-famous tourist spot bears this explanation.

Can’t get enough of Bohol’s Peanut Kisses! These tasty little replicas of the famous Chocolate Hills make for a perfect pasalubong.

The name Chocolate Hills was derived from its chocolate-like color during the dry season, when the grass withers and turns into brown, resembling giant peanut kisses that look good enough to eat! Peanut kisses are, of course, Bohol’s famous delicacy made of high-quality peanuts and egg whites. Inspired by the famous American chocolate, Hershey’s Kisses, these tasty miniature replicas of the famed Chocolate Hills are perfect pasalubongs (presents from a trip) for both young and old alike.

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Not your typical river cruise The entire Bohol island expedition won’t be complete without experiencing the Loboc River Cruise. After spending the day touring around the island, it’s time to relax and fill your stomach with good food. Since the Loboc River Cruise’s vessels are floating restaurants, tourists get to enjoy a sumptuous buffet lunch of local Philippine cuisine while being serenaded by guitarists, singers and sometimes even a choir; all this while taking in the scenic view of the surrounding’s lush tropical vegetation, with the river banks lined with nipa palms, coconut trees and banana groves.

Fun Shots! Enterprising locals have set up a photo wall of the Chocolate Hills, where tourists can do a variety of jump shots using props such as broomsticks, bow and arrows, and butterfly wings. The photos are printed on site and can be purchased at the tourist shop where one can buy all sorts of Bohol souvenir items.

Wonder creature Our next stop was at the Tarsier Conservation Area. The Philippine Tarsier is a famous attraction in the island. While this nocturnal creature is one of the world's smallest primates, in the mammal kingdom it owns the biggest eyes in proportion to its body.

Like the koalas of Australia or pandas of China, the Philippine tarsier is a national icon, endemic to the Philippine archipelago. An endangered species, there is an ongoing effort to preserve this unique animal in provinces where they live, including Bohol.

Just some of the creative Bohol souvenir items you can buy – a penholder featuring a life-size Philippine Tarsier and miniature Chocolate Hills.

While cruising along the river, the floating restaurant stops by a little pier along the riverbank, where a group of about 30 young and old folk singers, dancers and guitar players entertain tourists for a minimal donation. The group’s floating stage comes to life with their lively cultural presentation, topped by the popular Filipino folk dance “tinikling”, where the dancers skillfully dance around rapidly opening and closing bamboo poles. Tourists are often invited to join the dance or to buy the locals’ products such as small guitars and rattan baskets.

Loving your own

The endangered Philippine Tarsier is considered among the Philippine’s tourism icons. This unique creature is endemic to the Philippines and is reflective of the country’s rich biodiversity.

We visited these wonder creatures in the town of Loboc, at the Upper Bonbon area. The wooded sanctuary allowed viewing the tarsiers in what resembled their natural habitat, with pebbled pathways for visiting tourists.

It was amazing to see up close these tiny, wide eyed tarsiers cling to the tree branch with their four legs.

As the popular saying goes, huwag maging dayuhan sa sariling bayan (don't be a stranger to your own country). Tourism surveys reveal that for every 100 tourists going around the country, 80% are domestic tourists. In a sense, patronizing our country's tourist spots signifies our nationalism. Traveling around the Philippines helps generate local jobs, especially in remote areas where these natural tourism wonders are located. Both foreign and local tourists are main ingredients in promoting the Philippine tourism industry, which, in turn, propels the entire country’s economy.

In a one-on-one interview with talk show host Boy Abunda on ABS-CBN’s public affairs program “The Bottomline”, current Philippine Department of Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez had this to say when asked why anyone should come to the Philippines: “My answer is very simple. In spite of all our troubles, (the Philippines) is probably not only the most beautiful place in the world, it’s also one of the happiest places in the world.”

At the end of the day, he adds, tourism is not just about marketing, but also about love of country.

The scenic Loboc River Cruise with its famous floating restaurants where tourists can enjoy local Filipino cuisine and local entertainment.

Travel

The Tarsier Conservation Area also had virtually all kinds of tarsier souvenirs, including shirts, ref magnets, key chains, wallets, bags, wrist straps, pen holders and headbands.

People

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BAGONG BAYANI december december2011 2011

Bi

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Happy Birthd ay, Ma e Din!! !

“’I just wanted to thank all my friends for all the birthday wishes. It means the world to me that they did not forget my special day. I had a blast and it was one of the best birthdays I have ever had. Thank you to everyone who came. I love you all .”

People

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BAGONG BAYANI december december2011 2011

! ! ! l o r a C , y a d h t r i B y p Hap

py a hap e v a till to h will s sh is i d w o G y that n .” irthda “My b and I pray y childre m y famil my life for extend

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BAGONG BAYANI december 2011

Announcement

UPDATES ON CONSULAR SERVICES As of 25 DECEMBER 2011

Public Holidays The Embassy will be closed to the public on 2 January 2012 (in lieu of Sunday, 01 Jan), 3-4 February (Chinese New Year).

A complete list of Philippine and Singapore public holidays observed by the Embassy may be accessed at http://www.philippine-embassy.org.sg/pages/holidays/.

E-Passport Appointment System (E-PAS) Effective 8 November 2011, walk-in applicants for passport appointments will be accommodated from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. only. Applicants for passport renewal may also submit their applications via email to passportappointment@ philippine.embassy.org.sg.

E-mailed applications received during working hours and on working days will be processed within three working days. Applications received after working hours and on weekends and public holidays may take up to four working days to process.

For more details, please visit http://www.philippineembassy.org.sg/news/2011/10/revised-schedule-for-epassportappointment-system-e-pas/.

Passport Collection All delayed passport releases whose applications were filed from March to August 2011 are now ready for release at the Embassy.

All applicants whose passports were filed within this period are advised to proceed to the Embassy as soon as possible to collect their passports. Passports left uncollected for six months after the issue date will be voided and returned to Manila.

The Embassy is open for collection of delayed passports on Mondays to Thursdays, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Sundays, 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. only.

Embassy of the Philippines (Singapore) 20 Nassim Road, Singapore 258395 Trunkline: +65.6737.3977 Fax: +65.6733.9544 Email: php@pacific.net.sg

BAGONG BAYANI DECEmber 2011

Announcement from the National Crime Prevention Council and Singapore Police Force

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BAGONG BAYANI december december2011 2011

Sports

Article by Ferdinand Sahagun

TOP 11 SPORTS

STORIES of 2011

s the year draws to a close, we remember the top sporting events of the year. Here are the top 11 events in Filipino sports that made everybody proud. Enjoy!

South East Asian Games Recap The recent SEA Games has been labeled by critics as our worst performance in history. It may be, but we cannot deny that our delegation of athletes gave their best for the glory of the country. We give recognition for their achievements.

Composed of the best collegiate basketball players, Team Pilipinas won the gold with dominant form against Thailand 85-57. In sporst climbing, Ina Flores won Gold, trouncing Thai Watchareewan Torres who settled for silver and Singaporean Chung Sue Ann with the bronze.

Marestella Torres broke another long jump record and the former was actually her own too! Breaking her 2009 Laos SEA games, she won the gold with a phenomenal 6.71-meter long jump. Her rival, Maria Londa of Indonesia was relegated to silver with a best-effort 6.47m.

The Blu Boys also won big time. The team struggled with funding woes and management problems long before the actual competition. But, they overcame these adversities and beat the host country Indonesia.

Not to be outdone, their counterpart the Blu Girls also won the Gold medal for the country beating Thailand 5-0.

To prop up our meager medal tally, the Philippine delegation made a final push to win gold and they did, 9 golds in total.

• John Renee Mier - cycling • Treat Huey and Denise Dy - Mixed Doubles Tennis • Diego Lorenzo - equestrian • Danielle Faith Torres - Fin swimming. He’s the youngest at 15.

• Charly Suarez - boxing (lightweight) • Dennis Galvan- boxing (welterweight)

Taekwondo Jins shine This year our taekwondo jins did well not only in the SEA games but also in the western hemisphere. Baguio Philippine Taekwondo Team bagged 15 medals in the International Taekwondo Festival. 2011 in Los Angeles, California. Powered by current Philippine team member Jonathan Rilloraza and former national pool army Lieutenant Gerard

Gregorio, the 17 delegates from the Summer Capital bested other participants from all corners of the world to come home with several golds and silvers at the close of the two-day competition.

In the SEA games, taekwondo team closed the games with with the highest medal tally garnered for the Philippines with 4 golds, 3 silvers and 5 bronzes. Higher than boxing, which was being counted on by many of us. Thanks to Maria Camille Manalo, Camille Alarilla, Janice Lagman and Rani Ann Ortega, to name a few from our team.

Football has arrived!

The sport was played in the Philippines before the Americans overshadowed it with basketball a century ago. In fact, a legendary player by the name of Paulino Alcantara ((Iloilo, Philippines, 1896 – Barcelona, 1964) played not only in the Philippines but for FC Barcelona. Today, the sport of football gets a boost courtesy of Team “Azkals.” However, unlike in 2010, the Azkals didn’t have enough games to put them in the limelight this year but there were still games that should be recognized.

On July 3, 2011, the Philippines recorded their first ever victory in FIFA World Cup qualification, beating Sri Lanka 4–0 Last October 12, 2011, Azkals dominated Nepal Tigers 4-0 in a friendly game.

Start them young (Badminton)

Very recently, Filipino ace Malvinne Ann Alcala won the Under 17 Singles title in the Li Ning Singapore International Series beating Indonesian Florensia Setyana Daniella. Her little brother Markie also joined in the fray and came out winning a gold for himself in the U-13 category. He overwhelmed his Malaysian opponent Sim Fong Hau with the score of 21-11, 21-17.

The Philippine Badminton Association is gearing up to continue the progress made by these kids by lining up both national and international competitions to further hone their skills and sustain the growth of this sport. Fans of the sport can expect a lot of badminton competitions, and hopefully Filipino victories, in 2012.

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Juvic Pagunsan was recently awarded the Players’ Player of the Year to go with the coveted Order of Merit crown. He is only the second Filipino to ever get the OOM title, the first was given 21 years ago to Frankie Minoza. Last November, he finished second in the Barclays Open held in Singapore earning him $666,660 US dollars. He also registered three other top-10 finishes at the ISPS Handa Singapore Classic, Mercuries Taiwan Masters and UBS Hong Kong Open to end the year with $788,298. He is currently rank 156th in the world’s top professional golfers around the world.

Dragon Boat In this year’s successful run, the Philippine Dragon Boat team won the prestigious 10th International Dragon Boat Federation World Championships in Tampa Bay, Florida last August, bagging five golds in different events. They even managed to set a new world record in the 1000m-category, clocking an impressive 4:57 run.

After a successful race in Florida, they topped another successful run in Prague, Czech Republic. They brought home two golds and silver in the prestigious 9th World Championship Dragon Boat Racing beating powerhouse China in the process.

What sport again? Rugby!

Did you know that we actually have a Philippine Rugby Team? The Philippine Volcanoes won a silver medal in the 2011 Asian Men’s Rugby 7s Championships in Borneo. The Philippines ranked No. 7 in Asia, besting Southeast Asian rival Malaysia, 28-14. This team also beat the powerhouse Chinese team on that tourney. So whenever you see a football field with players huddling or tackling and ripping each other apart, they’re not actually fighting but just playing rugby!

Seriously fun!

And More Billiards!

Filipino billiard players continue to gather recognition not only in the SEA games, but around the world. Iris Ranola shined in the last SEA games garnering 3 Golds in the 8-ball and 9-ball competition. Dennis Orcollo dethroned former 9-ball champ Wu Jia Qing of China. Orcollo’s win gave the Philippines its 3rd straight Predator International Title.

Orcollo won in 2009 while Efren “Bata” Reyes won in 2010. Speaking of Efren “Bata” Reyes, he and his partner Rubilen Amit, won the TaoBao World Mixed Doubles in Hangzhou China. Not only did they win the championship but they also beat the US team composed of Johnny Archer and Jeanette Lee.

Basketball Being the most holy of sports in the Philippines, this 2011 sports recap won’t be complete without an item on basketball. Earlier, I mentioned Team Pilipinas winning one gold in the SEA games. That is pretty much it in the international basketball scene. The Philippines won 3rd place in the recently concluded FIBA Asian championship last September, losing to South Korea. That ultimately ended our dream for a place in the 2012 Olympic qualifying play-offs. But hey, it was a challenging journey to reach that far.

Still, a win and any win beckons recognition and we should be proud of it.

Boxing 2011 is a big year for boxing. This year, Filipino boxers garnered fame and glory and not to mention big prize moneys. To name a few: • Reynaldo Bautista aka “Boom Boom Bautista” Last January 29, Boom Boom won against Mexican fighter Alejandro Barrera via a technical knockout. He followed up with another rematch win against Heriberto ‘Cuate’ Ruiz of Mexico via technical decision last June 13. His Christmas present to the nation was a Technical Knockout against another Mexican fighter named Miguel Angel Mendoza. His scorecard as of this writing stands at 32 wins 2 losses.

• Jason Pagara He started boxing in 2006 at the age of 14. This year, at 19, he made Juan Carlos Gallego kiss the canvas. He lost to Rosbel Montoya another Mexican fighter via unanimous decision last September.

• Nonito Donaire Jr. We heard a lot of good things about this guy and he was even vaunted the next Manny Pacquiao. He may be as long as he keeps focused on what he does best. The “Filipino Flash,” started the year with a bang by flooring Fernando Montiel of Mexico last February.

That was two months after he decided to bring down Ukraninian born Wladimir Sidorenko. Fast forward to October, he also defeated Argentina’s Omar Narvaez • Brian Villoria Another Fil-Am boxer who’s very proud of his heritage brought down Julio Cesar “Pingo” Miranda of Mexico by a unanimous decision. He followed up this month (December) with another win against Giovani Segura of the same country as “Pingo”.

• Manny Pacquiao Enough said. I urge you to read Bagong Bayani (Modern-day Hero) Magazine’s November issue.

Chess This year is very fruitful for our chess contingents in both national and international events. Young champion chess player Marie Antoinette San Diego of Dasmarinas Cavite won the gold in the Girls Individual Standard and silver medal in the Girls Individual Rapid Event. To cap her winning streak, she also got another silver in the Girls Individual Blitz. On the other hand Daryl Unix Samantilla won silver in the Boys Individual Blitz.

Among our Grand Masters, Wesley So is considered as a chess prodigy.

He got his Grand Masters title at the age of 14! Here are some of his tournaments this past year: International

National

• World Cup 2011 • Battle of GM’s 2011 • AAI International Grandmasters Chess Tournament • Sigeman & Co Chess Tournament • Asian Individual Open Chess Championship • Aeroflot Open • SEA Games 2011 • Tata Steel Chess • Cebu Charter Day Open

Did I mention that he has overtaken Eugene Torre’s FIDE score? He is now the number one GM of the Philippines and he is currently 18 years old. So update your Chess digest, Wesley So is the “It” chess player of today.

Sports

Golf

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MICA (P) 199/01/2011

VOL. 1, NO. 11

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Filipino Par Excellence

PIMENTEL CALLS FOR MORE EFFECTIVE DISASTEr MEASURES Legarda Calls for Cooperation between Gov’t and OFWs in Syria Learn-A-Thon 2011: Fundraising Event for the Flood victims of the Philippines, Cambodia and Thailand PsalmiDeo Chorale: Songs of Christmas and Home Top 11 Newsmakers of 2011 TOP 11 SPORTS STORIES of 2011