Bagong Bayani eMagazine vol.2 #12

MICA (P) 199/01/2011

VOL. 2, NO. 12

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SINGAPORE EDITION Special Anniversary Issue

10 Promising Modern-Day Heroes Mas Masaya sa Pilipinas! Its more fun in the Philippines. Let’s spread the word.

More Than Just Tikoy and Ang Pao Greece: A Journey of Love, A Journey of Life The Impeachment of the Chief Justice San Miguel Beermen vs Singapore Slinger Charice: Live in Singapore (Infinity Tour)

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Best intention. Fertile imagination.

Burning passion. Positive vision. Fearless determination. Intelligent direction. Skillful execution. Divine intervention. Affirmative action. Strategic collaboration.Â

BAGONG BAYANI is ONE. Thank you all for the inspiration.

This is for you.

God bless us all, God bless the Philippines at Mabuhay po tayong lahat!

Contents

Publisher maryjane SALOMON (Singapore)

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

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

Cover story PG 24

Contributors

Diosdado Banatao From The Valley of Dreams to the Valley of Success

Cartoonist

features ...

Manny Francisco (Singapore)

6 The Impeachment of the Chief Justice

Art Director Low lay Hong (Smarties@work)

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12 Mas Masaya sa Pilipinas!

15 It’s more FUN! in the Philippines 18 Greece: A Journey of Love, A Journey of Life 22 More Than Just Tikoy and Ang Pao 30 10 Promising Modern-Day heros

Circulation Manager ANDEE BARCO (Singapore)

Photographers Alexander Constantino (Singapore) Pinoygraphers (Singapore) CGD (Singapore) Eric Parreno (Singapore) MBS (Singapore) 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

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45 GRAND OPENING OF GERRY’S GRILL RESTAURANT IN SINGAPORE 46 Winning by Losing

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) Mich Cruz Villar (Philippines) Dr. Clarita Carlos (Philippines)

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BAGONG BAYANI JANUARY January2012 2012

SENATE STARTS DAY 2 OF IMPEACHMENT TRIAL: Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, chair of the Senate Impeachment Trial, presides the Impeachment trial of Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona.

Article by Pamsy L. Tioseco

Congress Report

Photo by VOLTAIRE DOMINGO

Opening Statement of the Senate President

The Honorable Juan Ponce Enrile

At the commencement of the Impeachment Trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona, 16 January 2012

adies and Gentlemen of the Senate and our beloved countrymen, today, we begin to perform a solemn task that the sovereign people, through the Constitution they ordained, have reposed upon us, the Senators of the Republic. We convene as a body of jurors to try and render judgment on the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court under the Articles of Impeachment filed with the Senate by 188 members of the House of Representatives.

The task at hand is a constitutional mandate and duty which we have no discretion to postpone or evade. As jurors, it is our obligation and responsibility to closely and diligently examine the evidence and the facts to be presented before us, to determine whether such evidence and facts sufficiently and convincingly support the charges, and ultimately, to decide the fate of no less than the Chief Justice of the Highest Court of the land, and the head of a co-equal branch of our government.

The Constitution recognizes a distinct class of public officers, elected or appointed, that include the President, the Vice-President, the members of the Supreme Court, the members of Constitutional Commissions, and the Ombudsman, who, unlike the rest of the public officials in various positions in government, may only be removed from office through the process of impeachment. These men and women in the highest and most sensitive echelons of government may only be removed upon conviction for culpable violation of the Constitution, treason, bribery, graft and corruption, other high crimes and betrayal of public trust – no more, no less.

CAYETANO JUDGES: Senate Minority Floor Leader Alan Peter Cayetano and his sister, Sen. Pia Cayetano, share a light moment during a break at the 9th day of the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona.

Photo by VER NOVENO/SENATE POOL

Hence, by its very nature, the work we are about to do is unique. It is a rendition of justice outside our traditional judicial system and it carries with it a grave and serious responsibility. It deviates from our ordinary or normal functions and duties as legislators. The House of Representatives impeaches on the basis of its determination of the sufficiency of the charges both in form and in substance, and of the existence of probable cause, while the Senate bears the sole responsibility to try and decide whether to convict or to acquit the respondent in an impeachment case, that is, whether or not the respondent official deserves to be removed from the office he or she occupies, based on the grounds dictated in the Constitution.

While it has often been said that, by and large, the trial in an impeachment case is political in nature, nonetheless, such is neither an excuse nor a license for us to ignore and abandon our solemn and higher obligation and responsibility as a body of jurors to see to it that the Bill of Rights are observed and that justice is served, and to conduct the trial with impartiality and fairness, to hear the case with

MIRIAM CHATS WITH BIR COMMISSIONER: Sen. Miriam DefensorSantiago exchanges pleasantries with Internal Revenue Commissioner Kim Jacinto-Henares during a break in the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona Wednesday. Henares submitted Corona’s Income Tax Returns (ITRs) to the Senate, acting as an Impeachment Trial Court, which showed that the chief justice did not file his ITR from 2002 to 2005.

Photo by JOSEPH VIDAL/SENATE POOL (January 25, 2012).

ERAP VISITS SENATE: Former President Joseph “Erap” Estrada is escorted by Solar TV anchors Pia Hontiveros and Pal Marquez during a visit to the Senate Wednesday afternoon. Estrada served as a Solar TV commentator on its coverage of the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona. Estrada, then president, was himself a subject of an impeachment trial in 2000.

Photo by ROMEO BUGANTE/PRIB

BAGONG BAYANI january 2012

7

Congress Report

a clear and open mind, to weigh carefully in the scale the evidence against the respondent, and to render to him a just verdict based on no other consideration than our Constitution and laws, the facts presented to us, and our individual moral conviction.

I would like to remind the opposing sides, my colleagues, as well as the public and the media, that this trial will be governed by the Rules we have adopted. I therefore urge everyone to fully cooperate in the orderly conduct of these proceedings in accordance with the Rules, to demonstrate civility and to observe the decorum that is required for us to carry out our respective duties with dispatch, with honor and with dignity.

As I preside over this impeachment trial, allow me to assure one and all that I am committed and determined to see this process all the way to its completion. Let us finish the job, for our Oath demands no less from us.

Although the ostensible respondent in the trial before us is the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, we cannot escape the reality that, in a larger sense, the conduct of this trial and its outcome will necessarily have a serious impact on the entire nation. Its success or failure to achieve the purpose for which the Constitution has provided this mechanism as part of our system of checks and balances and of public accountability, may spell the success or failure of our democratic institutions, the strengthening or weakening of our sense of justice as a people, our stability or disintegration as a nation, and the triumph or demise of the rule of law in our land.

The people’s faith in the Senate of the Republic, the image and the very fabric of our nation and our democratic system are at stake. Let us all take heed of the seriousness of this challenge and invoke the divine guidance of the Almighty God to enlighten our minds and guide our conscience in discharging faithfully our sacred duty.

May God provide us with sufficient physical strength, intellectual keenness, and moral courage to render justice in the case before us on the basis of the law, our honest perception and understanding of the facts, and in accordance with the dictates of our individual conscience. Thank you.

DEFENSE STATES AN OBJECTION: Former Supreme Court Associate Justice Serafin R. Cuevas, head of the defense panel of Chief Justice Renato Corona, objects to allegations that Corona’s failure to declare all his properties in his statements of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) was an impeachable offense. According to Cuevas, a provision in the Civil Service Commission (CSC) states that no penalty is imposed on any government official who would be found to have filed an inaccurate or incomplete SALN, and is, in fact, allowed to make corrections to the document.

Photo by VER S. NOVENO/JOURNAL/SENATE POOL

SENATOR-JUDGES VOTE: Fourteen senators among them, Senators Francis Pangilinan, Bongbong Marcos and Ping Lacson vote to sustain Senate President Juan Ponce-Enrile’s ruling to deny a request by the prosecution to subpoena Corona’s family, while six voted in favor of Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano’s appeal to reconsider the ruling with regards to the Chief Justice’s wife and other family members.

Photo by VOLTAIRE DOMINGO

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BAGONG BAYANI JANUARY January 2012

e red perseveranc who appea ff for your of our bagong on a rs st pe ur t yo rs y fi ts sure to all ng the ver . I will always trea achievemen May you u MJ and for me bei la ne e. tions to yo enting the exemplary zi pa or la ob ga e gl on tu a h a ed e m gr t th pw on I ea “C parts of in docum lad ko ay It is a gr of BAGONG BAYAN er tu on l h a a ti t in them. ot k a on es ic ti in b a na ed er maid and d out the na intern pore and a ng ng ng ri b y si la m on the cov ng as I live. Ang ga to in s nd e ader kagalang e and se s lo bayani her all your re ilinan aganda at lt gratitud this for a to inspire Angel Pang magazine!” in putting ue sa isang m express my heartfe in ni rt nt er ya fo v a co b ef co Dancer ig ng b co go to en a m b er maging e h Fla nd lik ng r a er fo r us a I would Mabuhay the publish nding up fo magazine!!! tulations to her courage for sta ll the Filipinos in ra ng co t for a sinceres in just a admire e is doing tablished sh es ! agazine. I E t e m it a N h av I is h w Z th A up d of MAG gazine n of time, eles all be prou BAGONG BAYANI Bayani Ma n such a short spa os Abalos Ang in ng a go lip a lin Fi B ce ar of we should e er I M ng s or ap abuhay a MJ and h ing storie markable. ir ars in Sing M t re ye a . sp h y in re 23 W ul ld po r tr nd a fo or Sing lper e w ful a eration is Domestic He around th of meaning year of op distributed pacesetter usivity cl e ng in ei th b s e te r! w a a om no oc ye has bec re, and ul first that adv po sf a ts it at ne es ng zi se Si cc . ga su a re nd in a m in Singapo ference r Filipinos the only zine for a if fo d os ga has ng in a ig ei M lip b B Fi . ni a .

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Congratulatory Note

BAGONG BAYANI january JANUARY 2012

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BAGONG BAYANI JANUARY January2012 2012

Usapang Legal

Article by Atty. Hazel R. Riguera (Managing Partner, Riguera & Riguera Law Office)

THE IMPEACHMENT OF THE CH I E F

JUSTICE

mpeachment is a popular word among Filipinos these days. More and more Filipinos are watching the impeachment trial of Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona as it unfolds.

BAGONG BAYANI january 2012

The main charges against the Chief Justice are that he was biased in favor of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in the decisions he has written and the votes he has cast as a Supreme Court justice. He has also supposedly failed to disclose his statement of assets, liabilities, and net worth (SALN) and that he has amassed unexplained wealth manifestly disproportionate to his salary.

While impeachment has been characterized as a political exercise, this should not detract from the fact that impeachment is essentially of a judicial rather than a legislative nature. To his credit, Senator Juan Ponce Enrile, the presiding officer of the impeachment trial, has gone on record that the impeachment court will base its judgment on the facts and the law and not on public opinion. If the Senator-Judges were to consider public opinion in deciding the trial, this would have a chilling effect on judicial independence. Justices in deciding cases would have the Damocles sword of impeachment over their heads and would thus tend to decide cases on the basis of popularity and avoidance of legislative displeasure rather than on the merits.

Usapang Legal

What exactly is impeachment? It is an extraordinary means of removal exercised by the legislature over a selected number of officials, the purpose being to ensure the highest care in their indictment and conviction and the imposition of special penalties in case of a finding of guilt, taking into account the degree or nature of the offense committed and the high status of the wrongdoers. (ISAGANI CRUZ, PHILIPPINE POLITICAL LAW 313-14 [1989 ed.]).

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BAGONG BAYANI JANUARY January2012 2012

Special Report

Article by Sankie G. Simbulan (www.sankieblogger.wordpress.com)

Pilipinas!

Mas Masaya sa

It’s more fun in the Philippines.

Let’s spread the word.

he Philippine Department of Tourism just announced the country’s latest and mostawaited international marketing campaign slogan, “It’s More Fun in the Philippines”.

Official logo for the tourism campaign

“Our strategy is simple: while other countries invite you to observe, Filipinos can promise a more heartfelt and interesting experience.

Wherever you go, whatever you do in the country, it’s the Filipinos that will complete your vacation and will make your holiday unforgettable,” explains Sec. Jimenez, a top advertising executive before he was asked by President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino (PNoy) to serve as Secretary of Tourism.

Jimenez is regarded as a rock star in Philippine advertising, known for being behind many successful advertising campaigns, including the widely popular ‘Chickenjoy’ sales pitch for Jollibee, the Philippines’ leading fast food chain.

In an interview with InterAksyon.com, the online news portal of TV5, Sec. Jimenez said Filipinos have a “special gift for transforming what is already a beautiful place into an unforgettably special place.

You take two identical islands, put Filipinos in one, it’s going to be more fun there.”

We’re #1 for fun!

The new Philippine tourism campaign is set to be rolled out in international markets starting April this year, but as soon as it was publicly unveiled on Friday (January 6, 2011), The campaign’s official brand hashtag for social media.

#ItsMoreFunInThePhilippines already trended worldwide, at first place. Its related brand hashtag, #1forfun, also trended locally.

The Philippine Tourism Secretary recognizes the Filipino savvy when it comes to social media — the Philippines being the only Asian country that can cause a trend on Twitter — and counts on the Filipinos to be their campaign ambassadors in the internet, especially since the country has a relatively limited budget for tourism promotions compared with other countries.

Official Campaign Photographs The new tourism campaign was conceived with the help of top advertising agency BBDO Guerrero | Proximity Philippines.

Celebrated veteran travel photographer, and one of my personal favorites, George Tapan, has perfectly captured the essence of the campaign through his magic eye and expert camera lens.

Tapan’s photographs were used for the initial campaign launch of “It’s More Fun in the Philippines” (Photograph source: official campaign website: www.itsmorefuninthephilippines.com). Just last year, the multi-awarded Filipino photographer’s “Into the Green Zone” photo of Palawan was named first place winner in the Places category of the National Geographic photo contest, besting about 20,000 entries from 130 countries.

Through the years, Tapan has won numerous local and international awards for travel photography. His works have been published in various prestigious industry publications, both in the Philippines and abroad. The veteran travel photographer is the 1990 Gold Grand Award winner of the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA).

He is also the Department of Tourism, 1999 Kalakbay Award – Travel Photographer of the Year.

We “want the world not to watch but to participate” in the new campaign”.

Even English author Neil Gaiman, who has visited the Philippines thrice to promote his graphic novels, gave his own testimonial in support of the Philippine tourism slogan.

– Philippine Secretary of Tourism Ramon Jimenez

A word and image play on “commuting”, shown here as traveling by boat. Photo by George Tapan.

Photo shows “going upstairs” in the world renowned Banaue Rice Terraces of Ifugao, Philippines. Photo by George Tapan.

In his blog, respected Filipino lawyer, prominent legal academician and Ten Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) of the Philippines awardee for Human Rights/Legal Aid Atty. Theodore Te invites those of us who know and love the country, and who have the privileged firsthand experience of the unique joy of the Philippines to ‘Complete the Sentence’:

It is an open-ended invitation to complete the sentence and to take part in a conversation on something that I, and Filipinos everywhere else, know — that it IS more fun in the Philippines.

The understanding that one could complete this particular sentence starting or ending with ‘It’s more fun in the Philippines’ is an amazing exercise in citizenship, in identity, in optimism, in truth.

It is also, consistent with tourism campaigns everywhere else, a great opportunity for a people to come together and agree on something. That is why I choose to own and complete the sentence. It’s more fun in the Philippines. Indeed.

Man of the

H ur

The Department of Tourism Secretary Ramon R. Jimenez, Jr. proudly explained that the newly launched slogan, “Its more fun in the Philippines” is not just a slogan.

“It is actually a simple sentence and every Filipino believes it to be true because it is the truth”. He emphasized that, “The Philippines is not just a place to see, but a place to be”.

He then reiterated that “love of country above self will be the main motivation for every Filipino to go back home and invite foreigners to come and visit the Philippines”.

With Mary Jane Salomon, Publisher of BAGONG BAYANI magazine at the New World Hotel, Makati Philippines, 27 January 2012

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Posting status updates while diving? The Philippines has one of the world’s most beautiful dive spots, as it is among the world’s centers of marine biodiversity. Definitely just one of the gazillion things to post about on Twitter and Facebook.

Photo by George Tapan.

Filipino netizens are completing the sentence, punctuated by photographs that tell a thousand words, and posting these on Facebook. It’s their own take on the tourism campaign.

The following photos show Filipino photographer Mon Corpuz’s photo renditions of “It’s More Fun in the Philippines”, also widely shared on Facebook (Photo Credits:facebook.com/moncorpuz).

Photo taken in Banaue, Ifugao during the Imbayah Festival 2011.

Photo by Mon Corpuz (facebook.com/moncorpuz).

Photo taken during the National Geographic Channel Philippines Launch - Boracay Islands, Aklan, Philippines. Photo by Mon Corpuz (facebook.com/moncorpuz).

Photo taken at El Nido, Palawan. Photo by Mon Corpuz. (facebook.com/moncorpuz).

Special Report

BAGONG BAYANI january 2012

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BAGONG BAYANI JANUARY January2012 2012

Special Report

The happiest people in the world People define a place. Our smiles, our hospitality, our faith, our kindness, our creativity and even our craziness! Filipinos have time and again been counted as among the happiest people on the planet, based on the Happy Planet Index and other global happiness surveys.

We have the intrinsic ability not only to stay sane amid seemingly insurmountable challenges but to even laugh at our misfortunes and remain ever hopeful. We are resilient!

Here is my own take on the tourism slogan. It’s not exactly faithful to the visual identity of the campaign (I am no Photoshop expert), but this is the best I came up with. Tip on how to make your own “It’s More Fun in the Philippines” campaign photo: Get your best Philippine experience photo, add a good tagline, and append it to the slogan “It’s More Fun in the Philippines”. Use the Harabara font, which you can download for free!

Here’s my own Philippine tourism campaign photo:

No matter how much I love to travel abroad or aspire to experience working and living (temporarily) overseas, I know that my heart still belongs here.

Life is definitely much happier in the Philippines. There is no place like home! ~ Sankie S.

We make the difference Focusing on the country’s core strength, the new Philippine tourism campaign singles out what no other destination can offer – and that is the Filipino people. The Lonely Planet guidebook calls Filipinos ‘among the most easygoing and ebullient people anywhere.’

The Philippine Department of Tourism hopes to bring in 12 million visitors to the country by 2016, when President Aquino steps down from office. It’s about time people discover the shining beauty of the Philippines and its people. But it’s only more fun if we make it so. The slogan is only as true as we allow it to be. The campaign’s potency is reliant upon us Filipinos. Yes, our economy is still struggling to keep pace with other more progressive countries and we are still cleaning up our government of corrupt public officials, but the truth is, beauty and troubles are inextricably mixed not only in the Philippines but everywhere else in the world. Ultimately, it’s still the people who make the difference. At the end of the day, tourism is not just about marketing, but more so about love of country.

“The national line is a goal, a constant reminder to ourselves why we can tell travellers it’s more fun here than anywhere else. It needs everyone’s support for it to stay true—we need to make sure people’s experiences in our country are positive, enjoyable, and most of all, fun.” ~ Philippine Secretary of Tourism Ramon Jimenez

Asia’s longest dual cable zipline, Dahilayan Adventure Park, Bukidnon

It’s more

FUN! in the Philippines

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Snapshots

BAGONG BAYANI january JANUARY 2012

BAGONG BAYANI JANUARY January2012 2012

Snapshots

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Coron

By Sarah Michelle Cairo

Caramoan-Survivor 2010

By Sarah Michelle Cairo

Sagada, Mountain Province

By Rebecca Hayward

Press release

Airphil Express expects passenger growth to

double this year The country’s fastest-growing airline, Airphil Express (APX), is “sky-bound” this year as it expects passenger traffic to double to 8 million.

“It’s been a banner year for APX. In terms of passenger growth, we had 4 million in 2011, up from 1.8 million in 2010 or a huge 122% growth rate. This further cements our status as the number one budget airline in terms of growth,” beamed Alfredo Herrera, SVP for Marketing and Sales of Airphil Express.

As a low cost-carrier, APX has been a price leader in the market as its regular “Express Sale” promos have caught Filipino passengers by storm. “But although we offer lots of promos, we also offer other intangibles like giving customers what they want. We believe they choose APX because of our excellent customer service, which is now made much more efficient with our 24/7 customer support,” Herrera said.

APX was the first airline to offer the 24/7 customer support service which took advantage of the social media, such as Twitter and Facebook, to get the pulse of their customers and be quicker in responding to their needs.

“When we first started our Facebook account, we only had a fan base of about 6,000; today, by end of the year, we already have 175,000,” added Herrera.

APX’s “Adventours campaign” of promoting a local tourist site not just as a destination but as an experience was deemed spot on with the recently launched slogan of the Department of Tourism -- the “It’s more fun in the Philippines” campaign.

He cited, for example, APX’s marketing of its Boracay route which it peddled not just for its world-famous fine, white-sand beaches but also for the experience of savoring the island’s food, people and culture. “It’s an awarenessbuilding campaign to promote new routes in line which has generated a fresh flow traffic of Filipinos who were piqued to try these new sites out,” Herrera explained. He also noted that APX went beyond pricing in building up its market share since it was first re-launched in 2009 as the newest budget airline.

Airphil Express also sought more ways to improve its services while ensuring a higher level of customer satisfaction. “With our APX Rewards Program, flyers need not pile up on points or mileage; they just need to collect their rewards every time they fly. We have also invested in additional aircraft and added new routes. Our fleet now has a bigger capacity,” said Herrera.

Early this year, the country’s fastest growing budget carrier added three new Airbus 320s to its current fleet.

The acquisition is seen to enhance APX’s continuously expanding routes, which now totals to 30 regular flights to various points in the country plus two international flights.

aiming to increase its fleet size further to be able to beef up its operations and ensure convenient flights daily to more local destinations throughout the country.

Additional flights and routes will also be inaugurated this year to serve the Dumaguete, General Santos, Iloilo, Dipolog, Puerto Princesa and Butuan markets by way of Cebu (and v.v.) while additional daily services will also be included in the airline’s flights to Kalibo, Puerto Princesa, Tacloban and Cebu, all coming from Manila. Its CebuDavao, Cebu-Cagayan De Oro and Zamboanga-TawiTawi as well as its Cebu-Zamboanga routes will also see additional daily and weekly services, respectively.

Airphil Express currently has daily scheduled trips to 32 destinations, which includes international routes from Manila to Singapore and from Cebu to Hong Kong. For bookings and inquiries, guests can go through www. airphilexpress.com. They could also keep in touch and provide immediate feedback to Airphil Express’ 24/7 customer support team by following www.twitter.com/ airphilexpress and/or liking facebook.com/airphilexpressph.

“The additional units will not only back our growing operations in the country,” said Herrera. “With the new aircrafts, our flyers can also look forward to a more enjoyable yet budget-friendly travels in the comforts of these carriers.”

Aside from its much-anticipated Express Sale promo, Airphil Express also continues to excite and reward passengers with, the 20% discount for students as well as the APX rewards, a free flight program that allows a customer to exchange ten (10) used boarding passes bearing his name for a one-way, free ticket to any local destination of his choice.

The acquisition of three new Airbus 320s has since brought the total number of A320s to eleven. With three Q300s and five Q400s also in operation, Airphil Express’s current fleet has now reached nineteen, with the company

For bookings in Singapore, call TRAVELPLUS AVIATION at (65) 67350021 or visit them at Unit 02-44 Lucky Plaza, 304 Orchard Road, Singapore or email at reservation@ travelplusaviation.com.sg.

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BAGONG BAYANI JANUARY January2012 2012

Travel

Article by Mich Cruz Villar

Greece

A Journey of Love, A Journey of Life

hortly after my husband and I exchanged our “I do’s” last October, we packed our bags and headed to the beautiful country of Greece. Not minding the travel warnings during that time, we were determined to have the most romantic time of our lives in the land of the gods, and no financial crisis or political unrest would stop us.

Mike (my husband) and I chose Greece as our honeymoon destination because, for one, we’re both history buffs. Relics from ancient civilizations excite us. Second, we love Greek food. Our first date was in a Greek restaurant called Cyma in Greenbelt, which we would visit every anniversary. Finally, we’re just in awe of the picturesque landscape of sparkling beaches surrounded by blue-domed white-washed houses in the Greek islands that we would only see in movies like ‘Mamma Mia’, ‘Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants’, and yes, even that KC ConcepcionRichard Gutierrez film. All our friends were excited for us, and we were compelled to bring home that one postcard-perfect photo at Santorini to make them proud.

It was a fourteen-hour flight from Manila to Athens, with a lay-over at Doha. We lost our concept of time during the long haul flight, until we peeked out the window to see a glorious streak of orange sunlight sandwiched by blue skies and green earth that greeted us “good morning”. The moment was so simple and yet so joyful. I couldn’t help but thank God for allowing us to experience the beauty of His creation.

The next day, we set sail onboard MV Louis Cristal for a cruise around the Aegean Sea. We belonged to a tour group of giggly twenty-somethings who were eager to avail the unlimited cocktails package on the ship, while Mike and I couldn’t wait to explore a distant land. As we were registering, we heard familiar words we haven’t heard since we got to Athens –some members of the staff were speaking in Filipino! It was so comforting to find kababayans on the ship, and as it turns out,

about 20% of the 300+ ship crew were Filipinos. There were Filipinos assigned from the ship’s engine to housekeeping to the dining areas, all who, despite their demanding tasks, would always greet tourists with a friendly smile and genuine service.

For the next four days, we hopped from one island to another. First stop was Mykonos, famous for its party culture and maze of tiny streets. We also went around the medieval town in Rhodes, and Crete, the centre of Minoan civilization. Each place had its own charm, and a rich history behind it.

As Catholics, the most significant segment of our tour was ancient Ephesus in Turkey to visit the house of the Virgin Mary and afterwards to the island of Patmos where St. John wrote the Book of Revelations. It was a privilege and a blessing to actually be in the same ground where the roots of my faith were formed.

With all the beautiful sights, it’s a pity not to have your picture in it. When you’re travelling as a pair, taking photos can be even more challenging. Thanks to Mike, the professional photographer, we were prepared with our tripod, so that all our pictures came out beautifully with both of us in it. When we saw other travelers having difficulty, Mike started to approach them and offered to take their group pictures.

There was the family from Chicago, Steven and the delegation from the Singapore Bible Society, fellow honeymooners Eric and Sarah from Louisiana, and so on. By simply offering our service, we were able to make new friends.

BAGONG BAYANI january 2012

In our exchanges with our new acquaintances, many of them have never been to the Philippines; some do not even have an idea where the Philippines is found. It became an opportunity for us to tell how beautiful our country is, and that they should consider it for their next vacation. However, for those who’ve had direct experiences with Filipinos, they only have good words to say. Gwen, a nurse from Houston, shared how hardworking and trustworthy her Filipino colleagues were, and were considered the best in their hospital.

Mike and I ourselves have been recipients of the outstanding service of the Filipinos. The Pinoy crew in the dining area, led by Head Waiter Mark, would immediately offer us rice as soon as we arrived for meals.

They would find us a table when it gets crowded, or seat us with fellow Filipino tourists. They would also refill our bottles with water, which saved us 3 Euros a day. When the crowd thins out, they would sit with us, eager to hear stories from home – showbiz, politics, and basketball.

I could sense how much they miss the Philippines, their families and friends, and that made me admire their sacrifice all the more.

Finally, the last stop of the cruise was the much-awaited Santorini, said to be the most beautiful island in the world. Hollywood actors Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie even have their house there. Mike and I readied our camera for our postcard photo that we would brag to our friends from home. The travel entailed another boat and bus ride to the capital, Oia. It was already

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so dark by the time we got there. Even the so-called spot with the best view of Santorini was so pitch black, you could hardly see the scenery. We could hear our fellow travelers grumbling already, feeling that they were duped. Just as Mike and I were about to lose hope in getting our photo, a Singaporean offered to give us light from his tablet.

We were so happy we returned the favor and took his photo using the light from his tablet. It was such a humbling experience. Our picture didn’t look like the posters of Santorini that we had hoped for, but it was good enough. More importantly, it was a reminder that there are still modern day angels, who will help you just when you need it.

When we arrived back in Athens from the cruise, we capped our Greek odyssey with a visit to the Acropolis, and a photo by the Parthenon in all its grandeur.

My husband and I had aimed to bring home a perfect photo to remind us of our honeymoon in Greece, but we went home with memories that are much more vivid. Beyond the beautiful sights and ancient structures, we took with us the richer experience of appreciating simple joys, making new friends, and most importantly, realizing what it truly means to be a Filipino.

Mich Cruz-Villar is the Shell Spokesperson for Asia-Pacific, based in Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corporation in the Philippines. Prior to her current role, she has had experience in both media and government in the Philippines, having worked as a news reporter in GMA Network and a legislative staff in the office of Senator Loren Legarda. She graduated Magna cum Laude in Broadcast Communication from the University of the Philippines Diliman. Recently, she married TV director/producer Michael Villar. Both of them are now actively serving in Ang Ligaya ng Panginoon community, a family-based transparochial covenant community.

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BAGONG BAYANI JANUARY January2012 2012

Psyche Me Up

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

Winner

-Take-ALL

arpe diem!

Winning is everything, especially in the corporate world. Whoever said that how you play the game and not the outcome of the game itself that matters is completely off the line. It only shows how one is incapable of understanding what being result-oriented means.

According to Mr. Samuel Sanchez, executive director of Manilabased Beyond Four Walls – Great Concepts Center (B4W-GCC), it is important that one has a positive outlook of things and is willing to always find a better way of doing things. “Positive outlooks open new avenues and possibilities despite the prevailing situation,” Sanchez stressed.

This was supported by Author Dr. Stephen R. Covey in his framework for personal effectiveness, which was highlighted in his Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. According to Covey, most people would evolve from dependence to independence to eventually interdependence.

Being a winner entails a lot of responsibility more than the privileges that come with it. In his Personality Ethics, Covey pointed out that success is “based on personality traits, skills, techniques, maintaining a positive attitude” and a lot of other things. In the end, it boils down to having that kind of character an individual has covering all aspects of being that may be spiritual, psychological, emotional, intellectual, and other areas of the holistic self. The winner mindset is an idea that in itself can propel even the most humble and meek of character to deny the conformist tendencies of many so they can be among the few who have left their mark on their chosen field.

Having that winner attitude goes beyond gaining titles, being given accolades, or being infamous because of controversies for some who has reached stardom and the downside of it. It means being a winner in thought, word, and action.

In cognitive theory which is utilized both in learning and in personality, Kohler emphasized that learning can occur through insight by sudden comprehension in contrast with gradual understanding. Leon Festinger, who is known for his proposed idea of cognitive dissonance, would say that a person must be able to diminish the tension (which in this case would be about wanting to win) so as to make the dissonant cognitive areas compatible with what he has in mind. In addition, George Kelly, who made use of corollaries (models of internal reality to understand and anticipate events) highlights the same idea in choice corollary. In this case, we choose whether we will end up winning or losing in the end. It’s what and how we think.

Winning entails risks. Nothing is instantaneous. Everything is a product of long arduous tasks. Being a winner is knowing when to act and when not to act. It is a point of being to be or not to be. It is a winner-take-all world. Only those who understand losing can comprehend winning.

How to have a winning attitude this year 2012? You need to know how to LOVE: Love yourself, love what you do, love other people and love God. Jai Ho!

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BAGONG BAYANI JANUARY January2012 2012

Arts & Entertainment

Article by Monica Guerra

More Than Just

Tikoy and

here were you during the week-long Chinese New Year (CNY) celebration?

Some of us booked flights back to the Philippines, taking advantage of the official pubic holidays, while the others went wandering to other neighboring countries like Malaysia and Indonesia. There were some who just stayed in the comforts of their bed and welcomed the CNY in pajamas, and the rest trooped down to Chinatown to welcome the year of the water dragon.

Indeed, there are a lot of ways to celebrate CNY for Filipinos in Singapore. Much of the celebration happened because everyone is in the festive mood to do so; it is just the status quo. But, do we really know why CNY is celebrated and what is the real story behind it?

Since President Benigno Aquino Jr. recently declared CNY as an official public holiday in the Philippines starting this year, it is very timely for us to get acquainted with the real reason why CNY is given that much of importance.

The Myth It has been said from tales and legends that the celebration of CNY was brought about by a fight against a mythical beast called Nian.

Nian would come during the first day of the New Year to spread fear amongst villagers by devouring their livestock, crops, and even children. To protect their selves, villagers would prepare food for Nian at their front doorstep and this would spare them from Nian’s wrath. One time, villagers saw how Nian got scared away by a child wearing red clothing. From then on, villagers would hang red lanterns and red spring scrolls in front of their houses as they’ve understood that Nian was afraid of red, hence the prevalence of the color during the CNY celebration. They would also use fire crackers to drive away the said beast forever.

BAGONG BAYANI january JANUARY 2012

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The Significance Chinese New Year is the longest and most important festivity in the Chinese calendar. For Filipinos, CNY is all about tikoy, ang pao, hopia, dragon dance, fireworks and the likes. There are a lot of things that we are aware of about this season, but beyond these usual things is an even deeper meaning.

CNY is a season of families coming together, to reconcile, forget all grudges and sincerely wish peace and happiness for everyone.

Much like how Christmas means for us.

“This Chinese New Year, I went home to my family after two years of not speaking to them. I just felt that it is the right time to ask for forgiveness and finally end the rift between us,” says Gino*, a Filipino-Chinese working in Singapore.

On the eve of CNY, families will have that traditional annual dinner or festive feast. The next morning, children will then wish their parents a happy new year before receiving money in ang pao or red paper envelopes.

“I will buy lots of toys,” says Matt*, a 7-year old boy when asked what he will do with all the ang paos he received during CNY.

Arts & Entertainment

Ang Pao

In holiday economics, CNY is a great opportunity to attract more tourists in the Philippines, as all stores are closed during the CNY celebration in countries that are predominantly Chinese like Singapore.

CNY for Pinoys in SG For Filipinos who decided to stay in Singapore, the highlight of their CNY celebration was to spend it with friends who eventually became their family as well. Some usually clean their homes thoroughly, prepare lucky money in red envelopes, serve sweet foods and display various food and fruits on a table, all of which are believed to invite good fortune. These only prove how Filipinos can very well adapt to different cultures.

“We prepared traditional Chinese dishes, invited some friends over, and even did some traditional Chinese activities,” says Joan*, a permanent resident working in Singapore for 5 years.

Undeniably, CNY is fast becoming an important celebration for non-Chinese as well. No matter how we decide to celebrate such season, let us bear in mind the real reason behind those festive lanterns and vibrant dragon dances.

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BAGONG BAYANI JANUARY January2012 2012

Cover Story

Article by Christie Tan

Diosdado Banatao From The Valley of Dreams to the Valley of Success

Dado with his parents and siblings.

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Cover Story

BAGONG BAYANI january JANUARY 2012

Dado at the age of 21 working as a teacher at Philippine Maritime Institute, with his co-teacher and students

ilicon Valley.

The epicenter of high-technology innovation, manufacturing and development. Home to thousands of companies like Apple, Google, eBay, Intel, Hewlett-Packard, Yahoo!, and Adobe. Home base of a third of venture capitalists in the United States.

It is the mecca of technology and dreams. And right in the middle of the pack is a Filipino engineer, visionary, and entrepreneur by the name of Diosdado Banatao.

He is not used to being Sir or Mr. Banatao. Instead, everyone calls him “Dado.”

Dado as a college student at Mapua Institute of Technology, outing with friends.

Today, Dado serves as Chairman in various corporations, such as InPhi Corporation (IPHI), Quintic Corporation, and Ikanos (IKAN). He is on the board of directors of Alphion Corporation, Pixim Inc., Wave Semiconductor and Wilocity. He also served as Chairman and led investments in SiRF Technology, Marvell Technology Group (MRVL), Acclaim Communications, Newport Communications, Cyras Systems, and Stream Machine.

World Class Talent Dado is currently the managing partner of Tallwood Venture Capital. Tallwood invests in unique and hard-todo semiconductor technology solutions for computing, communication, and consumer platforms.

Prior to that, Dado co-founded three technology startups: S3 (SBLU), Chips & Tecnhologies (INTC) and Mostron.

He was also a venture partner at Mayfield Fund and held positions in engineering and general management at National Semiconductor, Seeq Technologies, Intersil and Commodore International.

Dado worked on several technologies and is perhaps best known for developing the first system logic chip that helped the PC work faster, be more compact and affordable. He also helped create the first Microsoft Windows graphics accelerator chip, enabled by a high speed local interconnect and graphics applications using operating system API..

Dado smiling while receiving an award from Former President Fidel V. Ramos at Malacanang Palace in 1991.

His numerous distinguished honors include being a part of Forbes Magazine’s Midas List several times.

Dado also received the prestigious Ellis Island Medal of Honor, Distinguished Asian Leadership Award from the Asian Business League of San Francisco and Master Entrepreneur of the Year

8 out of 10 computers today make use of the chips and technologies that Dato helped develop.

Award by Ernst & Young, Inc. Magazine and Merrill Lynch Business Financial Services.

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BAGONG BAYANI January 2012

Cover Story

From Cagayan Valley To Silicon Valley Despite having achieved the global success that most people only dream of, Dado remains grounded. He recounts his humble

beginnings in Cagayan Valley where he was raised by his parents, a farmer and a housewife. They lived in a home without water or electricity. He fondly remembers joining his dad in the fields where he would play around in their little hut in the farm. He remembers walking barefoot to school because his parents could not afford to buy him shoes. “

My parents did not go to college, but made a lot of sacrifices to send us to school. In my elementary class, only two of us, out of 30 students, went to high school,” recalls Dado. This motivated him all the more to work hard and excel in his studies. “Ever since I could remember, I was already inclined towards science and mathematics, but I supplemented this talent with sheer hard work,” he continued.

These simple and unforgettable moments are some of his most cherished childhood memories. It is this rural and firmly grounded upbringing that helps Dado to remember who he is and where he came from.

His is the classic hardworking immigrant story.

After graduating Cum Laude from the Mapua Institute of Technology, the usual engineering job offers came to him, but he wanted to do something more exciting and different. He started his career as a pilot trainee for Philippine Airlines for a year. In 1968, he moved to the United States after being recruited by Boeing as a design engineer. He was based in Seattle for three years and then went on to do his M.S. in Electrical Engineering in Stanford University, near Silicon Valley. He stayed on after graduation and remains comfortably settled in the Valley until today.

“If you are in Silicon Valley, that means you are among the top in the technology sector,” Dado discloses. “Unless one resolves to compete and be with the best, it will be a difficult place to succeed.”

And succeed he did.

Dado and Maria with their children and grandchildren (Rey, Gabby, Isabel, Ben, Chloe, Desi, Jinah, Nathan, Kayla, Tala, Thomas and Lucas)

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American Fund to assist Northern California high school students of Filipino descent to pursue Engineering in the top universities in the United States.

He came full circle when he went back to his grade school to build a computer center in his Cagayan Valley hometown. To date, it is the only public school in the country with a modern computer network.

He is also a supporter of UC Berkeley, especially the College of Engineering. He and Maria helped launch the Center of Information Technology Research in the Interest of Society (CITRIS).

Dado Banatao graciously welcomed Mary Jane Salomon, Publisher of BAGONG BAYANI magazine at his Tallwood Venture Capital office in Menlo Park, California, USA. (December 2011)

Today, Dado has cut down his work schedule to 12-14 hours a day. Despite his hard work, Dado looks much younger than his 65 years. He attributes this to indulging in a healthy diet that consists mainly of fish and vegetables, running marathons, and loving what he does.

The Woman Behind A Man’s Success While he was in Seattle, he met a woman who would forever change his life. Maria Banatao was finishing her master’s degree in Educational Psychology at the University of Washington when they met. They married after they both finished their graduate studies.

Dado considers his marriage to Maria as his biggest success in life. He credits her for their close-knit family and sees her as the glue that holds their family together.

He is extremely proud of having a successful personal life and an intact family. He and his wife make it a priority to do things together despite their busy schedules. Maria is also a successful career woman and balanced her career with raising their children. She designed and managed employment and training programs for the Foothill De Anza Community College District’s Occupational Training Institute. She is also a member of the University of California at Berkeley Foundation Board of Trustees, Lucille Packard Children’s Hospital Foundation Board and The Ayala Foundation USA. Dado and Maria have three children, all successful professionals in their respective fields. Rey holds a Ph.D. in Bioinformatics from UC San Francisco. Desi got his M.S. in Engineering in UC Berkeley and Tala graduated from UC Berkeley with degrees in Mass Communications and Political Science.

Remembering His Roots Dado is committed to several philanthropic projects aimed at giving back to his community. He put up the Banatao Filipino

He believes that a developing country like the Philippines can improve itself and become a developed country if it can be a part of the global market and be a supplier of goods and services.

He reasons that the global market is infinitely large compared to that of a local economy, thus offering more opportunities for profit. “The world’s most advanced economies have

gone beyond agriculture by developing and employing the best technologies,” Dado said. “For the Philippines to advance economically, the country must be capable of creating a lot of globally competitive technologies and products.”

Dado thinks that the key to technological innovation is producing scientists and engineers in the country. And right now, the Philippine government is putting in billions of pesos to a program that he proposed to produce these results. He was able to persuade legislators that the beginning point is to educate and train experts in science and engineering and produce scientists, engineers, and entrepreneurs. “Poverty need not be

a hindrance to success but it is only through education that we can truly change lives,” Dado said.

He also advocates supporting entrepreneurs and funding the companies they start. From there, it is then possible to create high value industries that produce high tech content products like PCs.

Lasting Legacy Dado aims to help talented young people transform their lives.

“Practice what you have learned and avoid doing shortcuts. Take risks and do not be afraid to make mistakes,” Dado stressed.

When asked how he wants to be remembered, he says that he wants to be remembered as a good person.

He believes that good things happen to good people.

He teaches by example by being committed to doing exemplary work and giving back to the community.

Dado Banatao. Visionary, engineer, husband, father, grandfather, entrepreneur, venture capitalist. A Bagong Bayani in the truest sense of the word.

Cover Story

BAGONG BAYANI january 2012

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BAGONG BAYANI JANUARY January2012 2012

Opinion

Article by Dr. Clarita R. Carlos (Recently Retired Professor of Political Science of the University of the Philippines and First Civilian and Female President of National Defense College of the Philippines)

Musings

of a Retired Professor here is just so much inequality in our midst , so much sense of powerlessness and meaninglessness, so much of the negation of the self as a result of abject poverty so, people lose hope and resort to heinous means to survive...It is difficult to discern just what composite of factors and forces bring about this social situation that we have now.

But our leadership has to pay attention to these: to the 2million filipinos who are born every year to our 100M present population, to the lack of opportunities for employment of our young graduates, to the many out of school youth who had little opportunity, in the first instance, to even hope for the good life.

As I watch the impeachment proceedings and as I see around me so many people who have enriched themselves not thru hard work and perseverance, I cannot fathom how we, as a society, can continue with this blatant violation of the principle of what is right and just. Having taught here in the UP for many years, how we in the UP plod on with our measly salary, hanging for dear life on the bus to Makati to do a lecture for P100/hour, borrowing from our GSIS, credit union, informal paluwagan, etc, just to keep body and soul together and live a fairly decent life.

About 2 years ago, my salary as the highest ranked full professor here in the UP was P30,000 a month. From this, UP deducts 30% for tax, 9% for GSIS and the rest goes to my various IOUs all around. You can imagine what the bottom of my pay slip looks like after all these deductions. Then, when we serve as thesis advisers to our MA students, we get P5,000 for the effort, that is if the student graduates and usually this, after 2-3 years of working on the thesis. From the P5,000 gross, UP deducts again 30% so I get a net of P3,500 or about P1,000+ per year if the student takes 3 years to finish. Then, too, how many of us retire with a small check in hand which is not enough to even buy a small piece of property to wait to die? And, I can go on and on with these horror stories...

But such is our lot in the UP until two years ago when, mercifully, our salaries were upgraded, but not quite yet up to what the private universities are paying. And so, we ask ourselves how we, as academics, never get to the level of wealth of some legislators or some friends in the Customs and the BIR who have mansions, drive huge cars and send their children to schools abroad. What are we telegraphing to our children when

they see that hard work and perseverance are not rewarded adequately by society? What do we telegraph to our youth when they see that the best route to not to have the good life is to teach and do research?

But why do we continue to teach given these less than adequate conditions? It is because we love the life of the mind...it is because there is no peso sign to the elation we feel after we have given a great lecture in our classes. There is no peso sign when we see our brilliant students like Chiz Escudero, Sonny Coloma, Rafael Baylosis, Ricardo Reyes, Rommel Banlaoi continue to challenge us in class and later become professionals themselves in various fields from the ideological left to right and to remember that once upon a time, I was part of their growth as scholars...

What is to be done? (with apologies to Lenin...) The short term, medium term and long term is education, education, education...

Let’s educate the girl child who will be an educated woman who will choose an equally competent partner and who will decide to bring to this world only the number of children that they can nurture and support to become yet again a skilled, knowledgeable, competent citizen. We do not even need a population management bill a la RH. We only need to educate the girl child...Yes, sounds simplistic but yes, the empirical evidence suggests it works...among other strategies, of course...

And so, to go back to the impeachment proceedings happening right now... What as I see as a student of politics is that we are trying our best to break away from the past, to have a rupture from the past ,the distant past, not just the recent past, which were replete with corruption, with impunity to commit crime, with patronage...What I see is an administration led by one who is seen as not corrupt and who has vowed to take the straight path and we are telling him that yes, the road to our redemption as a people and as a nation is torturous, long and arduous, but each of us, in our small way shall help rise from all these things that ail our society and make our nation great again, as it was in the 60’s...touche..

ANG KWENTO NG BUHAY KO

(THE STORY OF MY LIFE)

The Pocket Book that will be made available soon!!! It will tell your own stories. It will empower the powerless. It will inspire the hopeless. Send us your stories and get a chance to be featured in your own pocket book.

Prizes will be given to lucky ones! info@iambagongbayani.com +65 9811 1755 (Mobile) +65 6235 8153 (Office)

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BAGONG BAYANI January 2012

10 Promising Heroes News

Modern-Day

On Starting Out I first came to Singapore back in 2000 when I was working in Microsoft Philippines. An opening for a Technical Consultant position in Microsoft Singapore came up and I took it through an internal transfer. Later on, I also worked in other companies such as Hewlett-Packard and SuccessFactors. Quite recently, I co-founded the CoRRECT™ Movement (www.correctphilippines. org) which actively pushes for the kind of Constitutional Reform that can help enable the Philippines to become a First World country in the same way that Singapore did.

On Earning and Learning for The Country Technically, we OFW’s are just ordinary people working abroad in order to make ends meet or build-up some savings. But because many OFW’s have to suffer being away from their families and loved ones and because OFW remittances are helping to keep the Philippine Economy afloat, I guess that on the one hand, you could say that being an OFW makes one a “Bagong Bayani.”

I do think, however, that in order for OFW’s to really live up to the label “Bagong Bayani”, instead of being abroad solely to earn, we should also use our being abroad in order to learn. If we can learn more about how our host countries (in my case –Singapore) turned into a very successful society, we OFW’s can actually spread the word to our friends and relatives back home about what our country needs to do to succeed based on these insights we gain. I sincerely believe that if and only if we do that and thus help to improve the Philippines as opposed to simply propping up its economy with our remittances, then and only then can we truly deserve to be called “Bagong Bayani” in the same context as Rizal and his friends.

Full Name: Orion Perez Dumdum Education: BS Computer Science & BS Management Information Systems (Double Degree) at Ateneo De Manila University Occupation: IT Infrastructure Systems Administrator at MyHealth Sentinel Years in Singapore: 11 years. Also spent a year in China, did a 7 month project in Malaysia, and also went back to Manila before coming back to Singapore

BAGONG BAYANI january 2012

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10 Promising Heroes News

Modern-Day

On Being In the Dream Arena I decided to work in Singapore because I am a person who loves challenges. Singapore is a little bit like the ‘Theatre of Dreams,’ the home stadium of football team Manchester United.

It is the perfect arena to showcase your talents.

It is diverse and multicultural. The competition here is on an international level. It is a country driven by meritocracy & excellence.

On Going Beyond Dreams I am glad and honored to be called a Bagong Bayani. I am a proud Filipino. I encourage my kababayans to go after their dreams. You are a Filipino. You are world class. You have a place in the international arena.

Full Name: Michael Patrick S.D. De Leon Education: Political Science at De La Salle University Occupation: Vice President, Group Training Division Years in Singapore: Has been going back in forth SG for the past 3 and a half years; officially based in SG since May 2011.

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BAGONG BAYANI January 2012

10 Promising Heroes News

Modern-Day

On Doing It for Love I decided to stay here in Singapore last 2010 to be with my wife, as I never wanted to be separated with her, and I believe that as a Filipino we value family first. I work in a Semicon Waferfab company in the Pasir Ris area. My job is basically monitoring the operations of the machines and equipment at the Waferfab. Beyond work, I’ve been involved with some Filipino Organizations such as a choral group (PsalmiDeo Choral) and a young entrepreneur organization (Eagle’s Eye Asia).

On Being a Born Leader I am proud to be a BAGONG BAYANI. I believe that as a Filipino I was born to lead. Since I am unique and strong-willed, I will keep reaching for my dreams and looking forward to a better and prosperous future! So my dear Filipinos, be positive, and be ONE.

Full Name: Jenner Mallari Education: Bachelor of Science in Electronics and Communications Engineering Occupation: Assistant Operation Manager Years in Singapore: One and a half

BAGONG BAYANI january 2012

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10 Promising Heroes News

Modern-Day

Full Name: Dexter June O. Dioquino Occupation: Marketing Executive of Metrobank Singapore Years in Singapore: 2 years

On What I Do I do hosting, emceeing and promoting my company’s products and services.

On What It’s Worth I am proud to be called a Bagong Bayani.

I know that the Bagong Bayani are the people who sacrifice a lot, including being away from their family & loved ones, in order give them a better life.

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BAGONG BAYANI January 2012

10 Promising Heroes News

Modern-Day

Full Name: Mark Vinson F. Vallarta Education: Doctor of Veterinary Medicine at De La Salle Araneta University College of Veterinary Medicine Occupation: Compliance Veterinarian at NUS and President of Beterinaryo SG (2010-2012) Years in Singapore: 7 years 4 months

On Getting To Where I Am Now I came to Singapore to work at Mount Pleasant Animal Hospital. Two years later, I joined the National University of Singapore as a Compliance Veterinarian. In 2009, with several Filipino Veterinarians working in Singapore, we formed Beterinaryo SG.

On The Formula Do what you can and do it now.

BAGONG BAYANI january 2012

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10 Promising Heroes News

Modern-Day

On Empowering Migrant Workers I am working for ASKI Global Limited, a nonprofit organization which assists migrant workers in Singapore. We intend to change the mindset and remittance behaviour of migrant workers by enhancing their potentials through entrepreneurship training and financial education. We are a strong advocate of social entrepreneurship. We believe that we, migrant workers should not workers forever, that we OFWs can be the boss of our own businesses, and later on, we can generate jobs for the communities in the Philippines.

On Looking Out For My Kababayans I am a Bagong Bayani because I am an Overseas Filipino Worker working for the welfare of my fellow OFWs.

Full Name: Jade C. Lactao Education: BS Tourism (Cum Laude) at The University of Santo Tomas Occupation: Communications and Marketing Manager (ASKI Global Limited) Year in Singapore: 1 year

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BAGONG BAYANI January 2012

10 Promising Heroes News

Modern-Day

On Serving Filipinos Anywhere Working in this diversified country made me realize my purpose in life. I’m looking forward to fulfilling my passion, which is to serve my fellow countrymen. For the past 5 years that I’ve been here, I’m grateful to God for what I’ve achieved and for what I’ve become. It’s such a big blessing not just for me but for my family. The knowledge I gained and all the wonderful experiences I went through here has helped me become the best Optometrist/ Optician that I can be.

On Being Inspired To be considered as one of the promising modern-day heroes is a great honor and privilege for me. I hope that our kababayans will continue to work hard, fulfill their dreams and inspire other Filipinos globally. Let us all be proud of being a FILIPINO: Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!

Full Name: Rheza Marisse S. Badon Education: Doctor of Optometry at Cebu Doctors’ University Occupation: Optician Years in Singapore: Five

BAGONG BAYANI january 2012

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10 Promising Heroes News

Modern-Day

On Shifting Gears I am the family’s breadwinner, so I accepted the job offer in Singapore as an Engineer in search for greener pastures. Then in 2009, I shifted career fields and became a Financial Service Consultant. Currently I help & advise my co-Filipinos how to plan for their wealth / income protection & accumulation.

On My Purpose Indeed, I am a BAGONG BAYANI! I’m living my life with purpose. I work hard for my family. I work hard for my clients. It’s a tough journey but a truly rewarding one. It is my dream that all Pinoys will have a well-planned & secured financial future for themselves & their family. That is my vision; and I just know that it will happen.

Full Name: Rochelle Deanna RDM Education: BS Chemical Engineering at The Mapua Institute of Technology Occuaption: Financial Service Consultant Years in Singapore: Six

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BAGONG BAYANI January 2012

10 Promising Heroes News

Modern-Day

On Being All-Around I came here because I was enticed with the personal and professional growth that was offered to me. At my age it was an opportunity that I couldn’t resist and also a great chance to be able to help my family. Basically I teach Kindergarten 1 children for subjects like Maths, Science, English, and the like. But at the same time I am a jack of all trades – I act as the mother, sister, friend, psychologist, engineer, nurse and many more, just to provide the development and a meaningful and holistic growth for each child.

On My Privilege I am speechless, haha! No words can express how honored I am to be considered as a Bagong Bayani. I feel privileged to be part of this selfless circle of beings, and to be called a Bagong Bayani for my generation.

Full Name: Jean Marie Dao-ines Bumidang Education: A double degree holder: Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education specializing in Special Education and Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education specializing in Pre-school Education at Saint Louis University Occupation: Child care teacher at Our Lady Star of the Sea Childcare Centre in Yishun, Singapore.

Years in Singapore: 6 months

BAGONG BAYANI january 2012

39

10 Promising Heroes News

Modern-Day

On Doing What I Love I am an interior designer in a Swedish furniture company. However my line of work has a little twist: I design not for a specific client but for many people with different tastes, backgrounds and wallets. What I love most about my job is not just designing spaces for the home, but the part of getting my hands dirty by doing the implementation of the design itself, such as securing of furniture, sewing of fabrics and fixing of lamps. It is in this job that a power drill, a spirit level and a test pen have become my new best friends.

On Being A World-Class Hero I believe that all Filipinos should or could call ourselves BAGONG BAYANI in one way or another. If we do our best to make a living in a foreign country, while keeping our best Filipino traditions and values, then we truly are modern-day heroes.

Full Name: Maria Christel E. Bongco Education: Bachelor of Fine Arts at The University of Santo Tomas Occupation: Interior Designer Years in Singapore: Four

People

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BAGONG BAYANI JANUARY January2012 2012

Maraming Salamat Po Sa Iny

ong Suporta at Pagtitiwala

41

People

BAGONG BAYANI january JANUARY 2012

Community Service

42

BAGONG BAYANI January 2012

OVERSEAS ABSENTEE VOTING (OAV) REGISTRATION AT THE EMBASSY

Registration for Overseas Absentee Voting (OAV) is ongoing at the Philippine Embassy.

All citizens of the Philippines who intend to vote in Singapore during the 2013 National Elections, born on or before 13 May 1995, and are otherwise not disqualified by law may register. Those who are already registered in the Philippines must register as overseas absentee voters at the Embassy in order to vote in Singapore in 2013.

In order to register, applicants must personally appear at the Embassy and present their valid passport, employment permit (work permit, S-Pass, E-Pass) and/or identification card.

Seafarers must also present their Seaman’s Book, and dual citizens must present the Order of Approval or Oath of Allegiance issued by a Philippine Embassy or Consulate or the Bureau of Immigration.

Singapore Permanent Residents may register upon executing an affidavit that he shall resume actual physical permanent residence in the Philippines not later than three (3) years from registration, and that he has not applied for citizenship in another country.

Filipinos who voted in Singapore during the 2007 or 2010 national elections and whose biometrics had already been captured need not register, unless they will be changing their voter records, such as their surname or address.

The Embassy shall be open for OAV Registration from Sunday to Thursday, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and from 1:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., except during Philippine and other holidays which shall be announced by the Embassy on its website.

Registration shall run until 31 October 2012.

For further queries, interested applicants may e-mail php@pacific.net.sg and indicate “OAV Registration” in the subject line.

Announcement from the National Crime Prevention Council and Singapore Police Force

Untitled-2 1

10/24/11 10:19 PM

Food INGREDIENTS: • 2 cups heavy cream • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract • 5 egg yolks • 1/2 cup light brown sugar (or as needed) • 1/2 cup sugar PREPARATION: 1. Preheat oven to 275 degrees F. 2. Whisk the cream, egg yolks, sugar, and vanilla extract together in a bowl. Mix it all up until it gets nice and creamy.

3. Pour this mixture into 7 ounce-sized ramekins (those little ceramic dishes).

I suppose you could pour it all into one smallish casserole dish too.

4. Place the ramekins in a baking pan.

5. Fill the baking pan with hot water, about halfway up the sides of the ramekins.

6. Place the pan with the ramekins in the oven for 45 minutes to an hour or so.

7. After 45 minutes or so, check the crème brulee every ten minutes. You’ll know they’re done when you can stick a knife into one and it comes out clean.

8. Remove the ramekins from the baking pan, set them on the counter, and let them cool for 15 minutes or so.

9. Put the crème brulee in the refrigerator and let them chill overnight.

BEFORE SERVING: 1. Sprinkle a thin layer of the light brown sugar on the top of each. Make sure it’s a THIN layer, but also make sure it completely covers the custard.

2. Now torch it! If you don’t have a torch, you can also put them under the broiler for a minute or so, or until the sugar is caramelized.

BAGONG BAYANI january 2012

45

BAYANIHAN CENTRE

Bayanihan Centre is a Skills Training Centre located at #43 Pasir Panjang Road Sg, just a four-minute walk from the Labrador Park Mrt Station.

The concept of Bayanihan Centre was primarily to bring in one roof the Filipino Organizations, with 28 Rooms perfect for skills training and social gathering for the Filipino workers in Singapore.

In an active effort to beautify the Centre on his first year as Philippine Bayanihan Society Honorary President, Mr. Joseph Abuan, together with Philippine Merchant Marine Sg Chapter President Mr. Rodolfo Santos III organized the Facade Painting. Initially done 11 February 2012, the painting will continue on 25 February 2012.

Volunteers from PAMET Sg and Beterinaryo Sg also came in to lend extra help.

Events

FACADE PAINTING PROJECT (L-R) Mr. Gilbert Garcia and Son (PMMASg), Bayanihan Centre Admin Executive Marivi Santiago, Mr. Neejay Sotelo (PMMASg), Mr. Joven Riñon(PMMASg), Ms.Rose Canonizado (FOWS President), Ms. Monette Ramirez (volunteer), Ms. Zharlyn Banaña(PAMET SG president), Mr Joseph Abuan (Philippine Bayanihan Centre Honorary President), Mr. Rodolfo Santos III (PMMASg President), Ms. Ann Alejo (Bayanihan Centre Manager), Mr. Jun Conde (PMMASg), Doc Arman Agustin (Beterinaryo Sg)

Mary Jane Salomon, Publisher of BAGONG BAYANI magazine getting basic wall painting lesson from Philippine Merchant Marine Sg Chapter President Mr. Rodolfo Santos III during the first day of the Facade Painting project which was organized by the Bayanihan Centre last 11 February 2012.

Photos by Alexander Constantino

GRAND OPENING

(L-R) Mr. Tony Miranda (General Manager), Mr. Constantine Pile (Business Partner), Mr. Christian Calvin Cheng (Business Partner), Mr. Jerome Ngo (Director and Treasurer), Vice Consul Jed Llona, Ms. Natasha Cruz, Ambassador Minda Calaguian-Cruz, Mr. Gerry Apolinario (President and CEO of Prime Pacific Grill Inc.), Consul General Neal Imperial, Consul Catherine Torres and Vice Consul Rei Quinonez, during the opening of Gerry’s Grill Restaurant at Starhub Centre at Cuppage Road, 25 January 2012.

OF GERRY’S GRILL RESTAURANT IN SINGAPORE

Mary Jane Salomon, Publisher of BAGONG BAYANI magazine with Mr.Gerry Apolinario, President and CEO of Prime Pacific Grill Inc. posing in front of the famous Gerry’s Grill Restaurant signage on the occasion of its opening night event lasy 25 January 2012 in Singapore

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BAGONG BAYANI JANUARY January2012 2012

Sports

Article by Monica Guerra Photos by Eric Parreno

Winning by

Losing

at Riley, widely regarded as one of the greatest NBA coaches of all time, once said, “A champion needs a motivation above and beyond winning.”

Such is true for our San Miguel Beermen who battled it out against Singapore Slingers in the much anticipated basketball game last 01 February at the Singapore Indoor Stadium in support of a very good and worthy cause - Cancer Awareness.

As much as Game 16 is part of the AirAsia ASEAN Basketball League, the region’s first professional league of any sport and was established to grow and develop basketball in South East Asia, the game primarily highlights the importance of knowing about the disease and what we can do to ease the pain amongst cancer patients.

“It’s a great idea. Cancer is a universal problem; it goes beyond the boundaries and limits of our countries. Everybody has to be concerned about it. It’s a great movement for the AirAsia ABL, so everyone can help to fight this problem.”

Mr. Noli Eala, Director of Sport for the San Miguel Corporation (http://www.aseanbasketballleague.com/ news/detail/6851/game-16-slingers-extend-winningstreak-against-beermen-in-cancer-awareness-game) Our Beermen may have not been able to bring home the glory that night, but they have exerted their greatest efforts and fought hard to the end in support of cancer awareness.

That noble motivation is already enough to make our country proud.

Good job team.

FILIPINOS from both sides: No.11 Don Dulay of the Singapore Slingers vs.

No. 17 Froilan Baguion of the San Miguel Beermen

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VOL. 2, NO. 12

FREE COPY

SINGAPORE EDITION Special Anniversary Issue

10 Promising Modern-Day Heroes Mas Masaya sa Pilipinas! Its more fun in the Philippines. Let’s spread the word.

More Than Just Tikoy and Ang Pao Greece: A Journey of Love, A Journey of Life The Impeachment of the Chief Justice San Miguel Beermen vs Singapore Slinger Charice: Live in Singapore (Infinity Tour)

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Visionary. Inventor. Innovator.

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