Planet Philippines (Calgary Edition) April 2011 Issue

Calgary Edition

PLANET

19 PHILIPPINES

APRIL 2011

PLANET

APRIL 2011

20 PHILIPPINES

Calgary Edition

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Calgary Edition

PLANET

21 PHILIPPINES

APRIL 2011

APRIL 2011

Yahoo! Winter is over….for now, so we think. Of course that is easy to say. Two days later and we get a ton of snow… every few days it will surprise us and change. That’s OK, snow is better than -25 degrees. Start thinking gardening, biking, camping…

I am excited that Planet Philippines is coming out twice a month starting in May! That means my salary will double.

Let’s see…$0 X twice a month equals… ummm…where’s my calculator…I get two times a month to voice my opinions, comments and blablabla. Our advertisers get double the exposure. Patronize them and thank them for us, for believing in Planet Philippines! We get to chop down twice as many trees to print Global news that keeps you up to date on events back home and Filipino news around the world. Percy the Publisher gets twice as much work to keep her out of trouble, assembling the articles, columns and ads. Lots of great things to look forward to!

And speaking of things to look forward to…Easter is a week away! An extra day to Praise our Lord for all He has Blessed us with. One less day to slave away for our employers. The Easter Bunny is coming.

An extra day to take pictures. Get out an enjoy it!

A couple weeks from now we will get to witness the greatest boxer of our time, Manny Pacquiao, pound Shane Mosley for a few rounds and take home another easy 400 million pesos. Catch the excitement at the Elbow River Casino on May 7 and join the Cream and Sugar Band after for great food and fun. Call Joy or Elbow River Casino today for tickets. You’ll be glad you did!

In less than 3 weeks we have another chance to once again tell the Liberals and their “temporary” friends to get lost and

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22 PHILIPPINES

we will choose the Conservative Party again, to continue to guide the best economy in the world to recovery. Let’s not mess with a good thing and on May 2, if you are in Calgary Northeast, send a message to Devinder Shory – we want you to keep up the great work on job creation and sensible spending!

Join us for coffee and let us know what you want to do and see for PhilippineFest 2012. Several more well known and well respected people have stepped up to join the party. Email me at tarzwels@telus.net for details on meetings and information and what you can offer for the greatest Filipino party Calgary has ever seen!

April 16 is our night to honor our many proud seniors as the Filipino Canadian Seniors Alliance of Calgary Foundation presents the Ms. Seniors Calgary 2011 Coronation Night. Taking place at the Polish Canadian Cultural Centre, you are invited to join us for another night of excellent food, fun and dancing! Call Pepe Siapno today for tickets.

My favorite show of the year, Kasayahan, is coming up on June 25. Always a blast, with top notch entertainment and laughs, the line up of performers reads as a list of who’s who in a city of many talented Filipinos. You will not be disappointed!

Call Ernie Miranda today before tickets run out! You’ll be glad you did!

In closing, the biggest celebration this month (for me) is my asawa Ludy’s Birthday on April 19th. I Love you Ludy, and praise our Father in Heaven for the past 50 years (approx.) and ask Him to give you another 50 years!

Remember to pay for your parking and have a great spring!

Oh, boy! It’s already mid-April and just a couple more weeks of endless phone calls, emails, appointments and maybe some sleepless nights, you’ll soon be seeing and reading more issues of Planet Philippines. Starting this May, PP (Calgary Edition) will be published on the 1st and 3rd week of each month. It’s weird that when I look at the calendar now, I get shivers as I realized that there’s just really a few days for me to finalize one issue and the cycle repeats itself again. And what was I thinking when I decided also to release the maiden issue of Planet Philippines - Edmonton Edition on May 15???

Hmmm, the next few weeks will surely be challenging but with your unceasing support and encouragement, this new phase of my “publishing career” should be fun as I establish stronger relationships with existing advertisers and create new ones with those who want to promote their businesses to the Filipino community here in Calgary, Edmonton and neighboring towns using Planet Philippines as their medium for advertising.

I know I’ve done my job each time we deliver the month’s issue to the different stores and business establishments when I don’t see any copy left of the previous month’s issue. That means one thing: PEOPLE DO READ PLANET PHILIPPINES! That’s good news for business owners who used us for their advertising needs. Do check out their ads and see what they’re currently offering. For our esteemed readers, you’ll now get the freshest news from back home every two weeks or so. Oh, while you’re grabbing a copy of PP from your favorite store, do buy something from the store, ok? That’s our way of showing our gratitude to them for allowing us to place copies on their premises.

So, I guess this is it for now. Shoot me an email at planetphilcalgary@yahoo.ca or give me a call at 403-667-2645 or 780-328-7006 if you need more info on our coming issues!

Calgary Edition

Ways to Maximize the Amount of Luggage You Could Bring Hello, dear readers of Planet Philippines Calgary Edition!

I am sure that this month’s topic of luggage allowance and ways to possibly increase it is near and dear to many a Pinoy traveler’s heart.

Was I ever successful in receiving additional luggage allowance without paying extra? Of course! Let me share with you my own experiences and expert tips which I gathered from interviewing two travel professionals: Riz Marcon of Airline Ticket Centre and Mahmood Tejpar of Marlin Travel. They both agree that it is now very strict with the airlines, and it be “next to impossible” to be granted an extra piece. Generally, you will just be allowed two pieces of 50 lb checked-in luggage for international travel, and one piece for domestic.

FROM RIZ: Some destinations served by KLM and Lufthansa only allow one checked-in luggage. The same holds true for all-inclusive vacation packages (a 7-day trip to Mexico, for example).

Most airlines are more tolerant of a family traveling with little kids. A stroller doesn’t count as luggage, and smart moms, stack up the underside with clothes and baby stuff (within reason). The same holds true if you are traveling with someone who is on a wheelchair.

Most US destinations (and London) only allow one piece of hand carry. If this catches you by surprise, you could always try to fit your purse or camera bag into the bigger-piece hand-carry bag.

Related to the topic: declare what you are bringing in across the border: dried mango, fresh mango, canned corned beef, dried fish. If you didn’t declare, the officer who found you out would tend to be more punitive – ordering destruction of the undeclared items, and even subjecting you to hefty fines. Do not even try to bring in chicharon, balut, longganisa and fresh corned beef.

FROM MAHMOOD: If you were booking trips separately to take advantage of sale fares (example CalgaryVancouver via Air Canada or West Jet and Vancouver to Manila via PAL), please confirm with the travel professional what extra luggage fees if any, will you incur for the domestic leg of your itinerary. He cautions that in most cases, the most restrictive rule might apply.

Generally, two pieces of checked baggage are allowed per passenger, each piece weighing no more than 23 kilos (50 lb) and measuring no more than 158 cm (62 in) adding the dimensions: height + width + length. Cabin or hand-carry baggage should have maximum length of 22 in (56 cm), width of 18 in (45 cm) and depth of 10 in (25 cm). These dimensions include wheels, handles, side pockets, etc.

Carry-on items must remain with the passenger at all times and are the responsibility of the passenger.

Please do not forget that with proper planning, luggage that you send through the freight forwarders could be timed to arrive at the same time (or within a few days) of you arrival in Manila. Send the really heavy items through the “padalahan” businesses since the freight forwarded box is based on volume, not on weight.

Another way to being allowed extra luggage involves more planning and preparation. You could plan your travels so that in one calendar year, you would have two and a half to three round trips to Europe or Asia. Use only one airline to maximize your points. Depending on your itinerary, this would be enough for you to reach Elite status (35,000 status miles flown in a year) on Air Canada, for example. This translates to many perks and privileges, among them an allowance of 3 pieces of 70 lb luggage for any leg of your flight (even domestic). You could avail of this benefit and more in the following year of your status qualification.

The last example is more straightforward, but more costly. Acquire a business class ticket, and you’ll generally be allowed 3 pieces of 70 lb luggage. Mind you, (if you are paying for it,) the least expensive business seat I’ve seen is about $5,000 to Manila. There might be better deals, but I’m sure you know by now that I cannot afford that anyway. The way to business seats for us regular folks is to use our hard-earned accumulated airline points. Last December I was faced with the choice of using 75,000 points to get economy seats to Hong Kong, or 100,000 point on business. I thought, why not, “feel special” for once, and get the feeling of more ‘dollar value’ out of the points. From Hong Kong, for example, you could book any sale fare from Cathay or PAL to Manila, and as long as you are flying within 24 hours, Air Canada (in my example) in Calgary would tag you luggage directly to Manila. (Hey, why not enjoy a free stopover, as in my last month’s article.) You just have to check-in with your carry-on luggage in HK. Thanks again to Marlin Travel’s Mahmood (he may be reached at 403.273.5132) and Airline Ticket Centre’s Riz (she may be reached at 403.262.0861). Please call either of them for your travel needs.

For the next issue, we will chat about ways of earning a lot of airline frequent flyer points.

What programs are you a member of? Do you have a favourite program? Please email any questions, tips or suggestions to PinoyTravelChat@pinoyinfo.com. Look up this email address and add me in Facebook.

DEADLINES FOR MAY 6, 2011 ISSUE: Booking of ad space: April 25, 2011 Submission of ad material: April 29, 2011 DEADLINES FOR MAY 20, 2011 ISSUE: Booking of ad space: May 10, 2011 Submission of ad material: May 13, 2011

Calgary Edition

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APRIL 2011

APRIL 2011

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24 PHILIPPINES

Calgary Edition

Fair government and freedom for immigrants and their children

By Josipa Petrunic

What the provincial budget means to you As you may know, the Government of Alberta released the 2011/2012 provincial budget on February 24. I would like to explain what this budget means for immigrants to Alberta.

We have budgeted $54 million for immigration programs this year. This is 14 per cent less than last year. The reduction was necessary due in part to a $70 million decrease in funding from the federal government for labour market programming this year and we had to make some tough decisions.

One area that saw some reductions in this year’s budget was English language training for adult newcomers. There was a $3.4 million reduction - or 27 per cent less - in the amount of money for language training programs. This means that 2,025 adult students will receive English language training this year, which is 625 fewer students than last year. Also, the Education department is continuing to fund English language training for child students. Along with their funding provided to child students, Education will continue to provide $1,155 per child student who requires additional English language training.

We are also working with a number of partners, such as schools, post-secondary institutions and immigrant-serving agencies, to find new ways to bring English language training to Albertans. One example of this collaboration is the work being done with Norquest on its Roots and Connections Program.

Another example is the new Break the Wall website at www.breakthewall.alberta. ca. This site highlights a number of language training services in Alberta, including our new “Learning English with CBC” program. Our ongoing work with recognizing foreign earned qualifications will continue, so newcomers can start working in their field of education as quickly as possible.

We expect labour shortages in the not too distant future and recognized that we need to focus on occupational training. This will include academic upgrading, part-time training grants and supports for apprentices. Immigrants will be able to access this training and better prepare themselves to join the labour force.

Despite the reductions, the supports currently in place for English language training will still be able to help immigrants looking for help learning the language. Our investment in occupational training will be the key to not only our immigrants’ success in the province, but the success of the entire province.

Your comments or concerns related to this article, or any future article, are always welcome. You can contact me by calling 780-415-4800 in Edmonton and area or 310-0000 and then 780-415-4800 for elsewhere in Alberta, or through email at EI.minister@ gov.ab.ca.

ATE JENN’S DEBT SOLUTIONS CORNER Dear Ate Jenn, I have been reading your past columns and I hope you can help me. Before the recession I was making decent money and I was working sometimes up to 3 jobs because I send most of my income to my family back home in Pinas to support my elderly parents and send my brothers and sisters to school. But when the recession came I lost so much money because of my hours at work got cut off but my family back home depended so much on my income that I used my line of credit and my credit card in order to keep sending them money.

I have been working so hard to help my parents apply to come to Canada but now the problem is I have too much debt that I can’t even keep up with the payments. Nalulunod

na ako at hindi ko na matiis! The collectors are calling me and they are super bastos! They are threatening to garnish my wages, I can’t sleep at night, all I do is cry because I feel like I am losing my mind. I can’t function properly at work because all I do is think about my debts and my responsibility to my family. I can’t go bankrupt because it will affect the process of sponsoring my parents to come here. I’m so lost and confused. Please SAVE me before I go into a deep depression!!!

Hopeless Pinay Hello Hopeless Pinay, First of all, I’m going to change your name from hopeless Pinay to BIG hearted Pinay. I admire you for your selflessness

My parents immigrated to Canada from Yugoslavia in the 1970s. They were democrats who opposed the Communist government that had made life in Yugoslavia unsafe and unbearable. At the time, they left behind their families, their educational qualifications and their homelands. They arrived to Canada and flourished under Liberal governments that recognized the importance of immigrants, their families and their devoted work ethic.

I have always been a Liberal because I know the Liberal party supports • equal rights for women • educational opportunities • peacekeeping abroad • strong business principles I completed my PhD in the history and philosophy of mathematics while studying on a scholarship in the United Kingdom. I speak Croatian, French and intermediate Italian and German. The Liberal Party respects this. It recognizes the importance of education and language competencies.

But in this federal election, there are other reasons to vote Liberal as well. My parents left a dictatorial country that threatened the safety and security of family members who had opposed the regime and its state power. In Canada, my parents expected their children would have access to free, fair and open government.

The Conservative government, under Stephen Harper (and with Deepak Obhrai in Calgary East as a Conservative member) has worked to build up a culture of fear – an unhealthy sense that being “other” or “different” is bad and disrespectful.

Never before has the Canadian government been so closed, so undemocratic or so contemptuous of the citizen’s parliament.

The world’s biggest and greatest nations are democratic. The Liberals want to make sure that our democratic institutions stay democratic. Stephen Harper’s Conservatives, on the other hand, are working to make the country authoritarian, dictatorial and closed-off to Canadians.

The word “Liberal” means “freedom”. Freedom from terror. Freedom from state dominance. Freedom from impoverishment. We are all Liberals – we who believe that all Canadian citizens are equal before the law. The most important Liberal issues in this election work towards building that equality and freedom. They include: • a focus on educational opportunities for Canadians, young and old • a focus on elder care and senior care • a focus on healthy environmental policies • a focus on strong economics to create business opportunities for small- and mid-sized businesses There are many great things about being a Liberal. Being free is just one of them.

Call me if you have any questions about the Liberal Party platform in this election. On May 2nd, make sure to come and support the party that supports you – the Liberal Party of Canada.

Josipa Petrunic, Liberal Party candidate (Calgary East) info@josipapetrunic.ca 403-719-6253 and generosity towards your family even when times are tough. I’m so sorry to hear about your situation. I wish this was a unique circumstance but unfortunately, it isn’t. It is really tough to get ahead back home. We all want to help them financially and have dreams of being reunited again by bringing our loved ones here to Canada.

As for your debt, the KEY part here is that I can help you by providing you with the best options to avoid bankruptcy so it will not interfere with your ability to sponsor your parents to Canada. Due to the lack of financial information you’ve provided, as a general rule I work to get you on a SINGLE low monthly payment

for ALL your debts, with absolutely NO interest, over a 60 month term, The best thing is that I CAN HELP YOU REDUCE YOUR DEBT UP TO 70%. On average, my clients have $60,000 of unsecured debt averaging a minimum payment of $900 per month towards their debt. I am able to reduce their debt to $14,000 with a monthly payment as low as $225. That’s a savings of $45,000 of debt and a reduced monthly payment of $675. With saying that I can help someone with as little debt as $10,000 and there is no maximum.

Please call me at 403.668.6493 as soon as you are able so that we can turn you into a HOPEFUL and SMILING Pinay from now on! I look forward to your call. Ate Jenn

Calgary Edition

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25 PHILIPPINES

APRIL 2011

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APRIL 2011

Dingdong with girlfriend Marian Rivera.

26 PHILIPPINES

BY PEPPER MARCELO

ILL WEDDING bells be ringing soon for one of the country’s top leading men, Dingdong Dantes? One of the most eligible bachelors in showbiz, Dingdong laughs off speculations that he will soon tie the knot with his girlfriend, actress Marian Rivera.

The latest buzz was that the couple would get married possibly next year. The rumor cropped up after Marian was seen sporting a diamond ring. But the 26-year-old actress says it’s not an engagement ring and that it was she who bought it.

Dingdong and Marian stress that they are not playing a guessing game with the media and their fans, assuring them that they will announce their nuptials if and when they decide to do so.

“Hindi ko naman masisisi kung may ganung mga speculations. Actually it’s not a bad thing,” says Dingdong. “Masasabi ko lang eh manggagaling sa akin yung mga importanteng bagay na yan.”

NO WEDDING BELLS FOR DINGDONG, For now, the 30-yearold heartthrob says an impending marriage is not in the cards. “Right now we have a lot of things we need to settle first but I know that time will come and we’ll be ready for it.”

For now, the 30-year-old heartthrob says an impending marriage is not in the cards. “Right now we have a lot of things we need to settle first but I know that time will come and we’ll be ready for it.”

He adds: “At the end of the day, a marriage proposal is what a guy wants to give his girlfriend. Definitely I’m looking forward to such a wonderful moment, but not at this time yet.”

His focus now is on his latest project, a dramedy teleserye, I ♥ You Pare, opposite singer-actress Regine Velasquez. Although the two have worked in the past, including a TV special, a brief concert tour in the US and Canada, as well as the 2003 feature movie Pangarap Ko Ang Ibigin Ka, I ♥ You Pare is the first prime-time television project for Dingdong and Regine. For

Calgary Edition

PLANET

Calgary Edition

Dingdong, working with “Asia’s Songbird” was fun and comfortable. “Wala akong kahirap-hirap sa pag-adjust dahil siguro malaking bagay na magkasama kami, kahit hindi man sa telebisyon, acting-wise, dati sa SOP, sa Party Pilipinas. We were together in concerts,” he said during a recent taping of the show.

He also adds that their easy relationship can be attributed to knowing one another for a long time. “And the fact na matagal na rin kaming magkakilala, e, talagang it’s a very big help. Siyempre, yung comfort level nandoon, plus the fact na talagang, you know, I trust her capability as an actress.”

In the off-beat soap, Regine plays Tonya, a funeral parlor director who gets involved in an accident. She goes into hiding, disguising herself as a male crossdresser in a gay bar that Dingdong’s character, Kenneth, manages. In a not-so-surprising twist, she falls for him. The question is: will she risk her life by revealing her true identity and feelings?

Dingdong admits feeling some pressure appearing in a project with slightly risky subject matter, that of homosexuality. “Dahil kung mapapansin n’yo, ang plot nito ay hindi normal na nakikita sa telebisyon. It tackles mainly homosexuality. It’s very risky and at the same time, very exciting.”

Asked how it was working with Regine, he replied: “Masaya! At na-

27 PHILIPPINES

Though playing straight in a gaythemed show, Dingdong said he wouldn’t be averse to playing a gay role in the future.

Dingdong stars in I ♥ You Pare, opposite singer-actress Regine Velasquez.

The hunky hearthrob wants to find projects that will challenge his skills as an actor. kikita ko ang mga nagagawa niya, how successful they are. So, masaya na we are together in this project.”

He also complimented her talents as an actress. “Bilib ako sa kanya sa mga rom-com (romantic comedy) na ginagampanan niya. I admire her spontaneity, yung pag-

ka-spontaneous niyang tao, na nakakaaliw. Kahit ako, namamangha sa mga pagbibitiw niya ng dialogue.”

The two had shot an intimate scene, which Dingdong said was executed nicely. “My kissing scene with Regine wasn’t that intense naman, it was done tastefully. I was just being true to my role.”

His main concern is keeping a straight face during their takes together. “Natatakot ako. Baka matawa ako kapag nagpa-punchline siya!”

Usually typecast as the serious, brooding or romantic leading man in shows such as Sana’y Ikaw Na Nga, Marimar, Stairway To Heaven, and Endless Love, he says his current role, playing a cocky and arrogant character, is a departure from what audiences are used to. “Sobrang layo sa mga character na ginagampanan ko from the past. And kakaiba yung atmosphere at, siyempre, lahat ng mga co-actors ay sobrang into it,

APRIL 2011

into the character.”

For him, the main challenge was making sure his comic skills were up to par with those of Regine and the rest of the cast.

“Kahit nga hindi comedian, masasabi mong magagaling sila na artista.

Kasi, I think, mas mahirap pa nga ang comedy more than anything.”

Though playing straight in a gay-themed show, Dingdong said he wouldn’t be averse to playing a gay role in the future. “Siguro kung magampanan ko nang tama, tatanggapin ko.”

He adds, however, that now might not be the best time to tackle such a role. “Sa ngayon, tingin ko, hindi ko siya magagampanan nang tama. Hindi naman sa hindi kumportable, pero I think it needs months of practice para magawa ko yun at kailangang mapaghandaan ko kung sakali.

At sa ngayon, kung sakaling ipagawa sa akin bukas, hindi ko siya magagawa nang tama.”

He says GMA-7 is coming up with a project that will pair him with Kris Aquino, a mainstay at rival ABS-CBN, sometime late next year.

He has also tried his hand at directing on a section of the 2007 movie trilogy Angels starring Marvin Agustin and Valerie Concepcion. “Puwede pa naman ‘yon,” he says, “Mas maganda, marami ka munang experiences as an actor bago ka maging direktor.” n

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28

PHILIPPINES

CELEBR TY

KC DENIES ‘LQ’ WITH PIOLO

DEFIANT WILLIE GOES OFF AIR FOR 2 WEEKS WILLIE REVILLAME announced on April 8 on his primetime game show Willing Willie on TV5 that it will go off air for two weeks starting April 11.

He clarified that the show was not suspended by the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board.

He said that he would only take a vacation to think if he would still continue doing the show. He added that if he decided to do so, he would do it “even without advertisers.”

Willie expressed disappointment over companies that pulled out their ad placements from Willing Willie.

He maintained that he did not commit child abuse in the March 12 episode that showed a 6-year-old boy simulating a striptease while crying.

“Wala akong ginawang masama sa batang iyon,” he said.

Willie also vented his anger on some

Calgary Edition

WILLIE celebrities who “attacked” him on the social networking site Twitter. Among the names he mentioned were Jim Paredes, Lea Salonga, Aiza Seguerra, Leah Navarro, Bianca Gonzalez, K Brosas, Agot Isidro, Mylene Dizon and Tuesday Vargas.

Various companies pulled out their ad placements from Willie’s show following criticisms coming from different sectors including the Commission on Human Rights and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines. Among them were Jollibee Foods Corp., Procter & Gamble Philippines, Unilever Philippines, Cebuana Lhuillier, Del Monte Pacific Ltd., and CDO Foodsphere Inc.

KC THERE is no ongoing lover’s quarrel between couple KC Concepcion and Piolo Pascual.

Birthday girl KC shot down speculations that she is holding a grudge against her boyfriend for being absent on her special day. The hunk actor could not be with her on her birthday on April 7 because he is still in the United States fulfilling his showbiz commitments.

When celebrity talk show The Buzz threw an advance birthday celebration for its 26-year-old host last April 3, KC frankly

said that she wished she received a birthday greeting from her boyfriend too.

This prompted talk that the two were having a fight. But KC quickly denied this, saying she fully understands why Piolo did not give her a birthday message.

“Siguro he doesn’t want din na for people to think na he is doing this for showbiz. Kasi alam naman namin na may speculations sa showbiz na career move, hindi ba? Whatever people have to say, I understand. Siyempre at that time… nagpapakato-totoo lang,” KC explained.

“I would never lie about it, na hindi complete. Kahit naman sino ang maghappy birthday sa iyo kung ang mga importante sa buhay mo [wala]…. But I know ‘The Buzz’ did everything they could to get in touch with him. In fairness sa ‘The Buzz’ family ko, they really tried but I think he really wouldn’t want people to think na it’s a showbiz thing. That’s honestly what I think,” she added.

KC admitted that she misses Piolo. She also said he texted her to thank her for being so understanding and patient.

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APRIL 2011

CELEBRITYFILES

IS REGINE PREGNANT? RUMORS that Regine VelasquezAlcasid is five weeks pregnant are getting louder. But neither the Asia’s Songbird nor her husband, Ogie Alcasid, has commented on the report.

Reports of Regine’s pregnancy first appeared in tabloid papers on April 3. These were followed by a report on the showbiz show Paparazzi.

It was also reported that Regine missed a taping of her teleserye I ♥ You Pare allegedly due to a mi-

FIL-BRIT SOCCER PLAYER FALLS FOR ANGEL

graine. She also did not appear on GMA-7’s Sunday show Party Pilipinas on April 3 although she was in the studio at the time.

Entertainment columnist Ricky Lo reported on April 6 that Regine is ‘delayed’ and is reported to be five weeks pregnant.

Quoting someone close to the couple, Lo said Regine has been suffering from morning sickness.

The singer-actress is turning 41 on April 22. She and Ogie tied the knot last December.

REGINE and OGIE

KRIS: NEVER AGAIN TO MARRIAGE, FOR NOW SARAH

SARAH HAS A NEW ADMIRER SARAH Geronimo has a new admirer in Miguel Villafuerte, son of Camarines Sur Governor Luis Raymund Villafuerte.

The young Villafuerte sent Sarah a bouquet of flowers last March 22 during the premiere night of Catch Me... I’m In Love, her latest movie opposite Gerald Anderson.

In a TV interview, the singer-actress thanked Miguel for his gesture. But she disclosed she has not yet met Miguel in person. Miguel is in New York pursuing studies in political science.

The Pop Princess appeared in a tourism plug last year for Camarines Sur. After her aborted “secret personal relationship” with Rayver Cruz, Sarah said she prefers a non-showbiz personality for a boyfriend.

But observers say it’s Sarah’s overly strict mother who will ultimately have a large say on the 23year-old star’s romantic affairs.

NEVER again to love and marriage, for now, vows Kris Aquino.

“Kaya ko nasasabi na never again dahil hawak mo naman, e, kung sasabihin mo sa sarili mo to get another relationship or not, di ba? At this point in my life, sinasabi ko talaga sa sarili ko na hindi talaga ako handa, ayaw ko,” she explained.

She continued: “I don’t think na merong tao na darating sa buhay ko now na mapapabago ang pag-iisip ko. Yun lang talaga at wala akong bine-blame na anybody except myself.”

Kris said she is happy with her personal life now.

“Hindi, happy naman ako,“ she replied when asked whether she is punishing herself by veering away from any relationship. “Hindi naman complicated ang buhay. Relax. So, okey na yun, kasi parang ayaw ko nang guluhin pa. Maayos na. . . Hindi naman pain. Walang regrets kasi nabigyan naman

KRIS ako ng James Aquino Yap—that’s Bimby. Walang ganoon, pero ayaw ko na talaga.”

Meanwhile, Kris revealed that she and estranged husband James Yap are not on speaking terms at the moment.

“Pero as long na okey sila ni Bimby, labas na ako sa equation na ‘yan,” she said. “At ‘wag n’yo na akong tanungin ng tungkol sa kanya, kasi susumbatan na naman niya ako kung bakit nagkocomment ako sa buhay niya, na siya naman ay hindi nagko-comment sa buhay ko.”

JENNYLYN & DENNIS SPLIT UP JENNYLYN Mercado and Dennis Trillo have split up after one year of togetherness.

Popoy Caritativo, Dennis’s manager, confirmed the news.

“Sa mga mag-boyfriend at maggirlfriend, maaari namang mangyari talaga na maghiwalay, di ba? he said.

But he refused to elaborate,

saying, “Hindi magsasalita yun si Dennis. Kahit noon naman, di ba?

Napaka-ungentleman naman kasi sa guy na magkwento, di ba?” Popoy said, referring to Dennis’s past controversial romances with beauty queen Carlene Aguilar (with whom he has a son) and sexy star Cristine Reyes.

The breakup was also confirmed

CALGARY EDITION MARIA PERCY JAVELOSA ............................................................ Publisher/Advertising Manager CARMELA SARILE ...................................................................... Graphic Artist STEVE TARZWELL, JULIE PICOC, FERDIE GAYOS .......................... Contributors

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FILIPINO-BRITISH Phil Younghusband of the Philippine football team Azkals admits he is smitten by the charm of Angel Locsin.

“I’ve had girlfriends before but I think this is the first time I’ve felt strongly for someone,” he told PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) in an interview. “As I’ve said before, I really care for Angel, I really like her. First of all there’s the attraction, she’s very attractive, once you meet her, she’s very down to earth considering what she is. She’s very polite, wellmannered, she’s kind, she’s generous, she’s funny, nakakatawa siya. I enjoy her company, Angel’s very special to me.”

He said he has gone out on dates with Angel. Their last outing was on April 3 when he invited her to attend Christian church services at Victory Church and later for lunch at a restaurant in Makati.

“I invited her, I’m Catholic but I do go to Christian churches. Maganda kasi ang music.

There’s more interaction sa Christian church. Nagutom kami, we were very hungry so we needed to eat,” said Phil.

He added: “Before I expressed my admiration for Angel, [pero] ngayon gusto ko tahimik... Everyone wants to know what time we ate, where we met but I thought that should be kept quiet and secret.”

In her tweets, Angel reportedly admitted that she’s singing love songs now in the bathroom.

later by Jennylyn’s manager, Becky Aguila, who said the actress is heartbroken but is coping well.

Multiple sources say the couple had a fight that started as “small and mababaw” that got out of hand.

The fight reportedly had to do with Dennis being “may pagka-seloso” and Jennlyn being “may pagkaimmature.” According to the PEP, Dennis seemed to have had a long-

PHIL Informed about this, the handsome soccer player said, “Talaga? Di ko alam. If she’s doing that because of me, then...

Yeah, I want to. Right now, we’re getting to know each other pa rin pero sana may future kami... Sana... Sobrang privileged ako, it’s Angel Locsin. For someone like Angel to give me that attention, it’s a good feeling. Kung may manligaw sa kanya, she’s probably one of the most sought-after actresses in the Philippines. There’s always gonna be interest in her, the only thing I can do is to concentrate on my relationship with Angel.”

Phil insists he is not using Angel’s popularity. “One thing, I’m not using Angel for publicity. It hurts that people think that I’m using her for publicity because I’m not. The Azkals right now are doing so well but I really, really like Angel. I really care for her.”

standing issue with Patrick Garcia, the father of Jen’s only son, still being a presence in Jen’s life.

The two exchanged hurtful words at each other before angrily stomping out of each other’s lives. The words Dennis let loose on Jernnylyn were such “that anyone hearing it would have crumbled, sakit sobra,” reported PEP, quoting a source.

PLANET PHILIPPINES, the global newsmagazine for overseas Filipinos, is published and circulated in various cities and countries around the world. Each edition of PLANET PHILIPPINES is published by authorized individuals and companies under an exclusive licensing arrangement. We welcome inquiries from anyone interested in becoming a publisher of PLANET PHILIPPINES in their territory. Contact us at planetphilippines@gmail. com or visit our website at www.planetphilippines.com.

PLANET PHILIPPINES Worldwide LEANDRO MILAN ..................................................................................

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APRIL 2011

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BEAUTIFUL P

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BY HENRYLITO D. TACIO

HAVE been to various parts of South Cotabato several times, but it was only during a recent visit that I found its stunning beauty.

The fruitful province is located in the southern part of Mindanao. It is enclosed on the north and west portion by the province of Sultan Kudarat, on the south by Sarangani and Sarangani Bay, and on the eastern side by Davao del Sur. If there is a province that has many distinct physiographic features, then South Cotabato is it. Wonder at a series of relatively high mountains, upland lakes, and inactive volcanoes in the Daguma Range that extends from the provinces of Maguindanao and Sultan Kudarat, all the way to the southern extreme of the land that forms the boundary between the province and Sarangani.

The T’nalak Festival of Koronadal is one of three famous festivals in South Cotabato. The two others are the Tuna Festival in General Santos City, and LemLunay Festival in Lake Sebu.

South Cotabato is part of Region 12, with Koronadal as its capital. General Santos City is also a member of the province, along with 10 towns: Banga, Lake Sebu, Norala, Polomok, Santo Niño, Surallah, Tampakan, Tantangan, T’boli, and Tupi.

The province is considered a melting pot of various religions and cultures. Panay inhabitants mainly populate the land. Its native tongue is composed of both Hiligaynon and Cebuano.

Around Lake Sebu, you will meet the T’bolis, who are known for their beaded personal ornaments, embroidered dresses, bangles, bracelets, chokers, and brass mail belts. They are also noted for

REDISCOVERING STUNNING

SOUTH COTABATO The province is blessed with a majestic and exotic wilderness which added to its one-of-a-kind cultural heritage that boosts the local tourism industry. Several mountain ranges, natural caves, mountain lakes, forests and springs abound in the land.

One of the province’s main tourist attractions, Lake Sebu, is surrounded by rolling hills and forested mountains and is famous for its seven waterfalls, a series of rivers drop along the lush mountain forests.

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PHILIPPINESthe BEAUTIFUL their t’nalak, a sacred cloth made from abaca which is exchanged during marriages and used as a cover during births.

“The T’boli t’nalak is distinctive for its overall tie-dyed design patterns laid on the entire surface of the cloth,” according to the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCAA). “The highly stylized repetitive patterns depicting amphibious forms and plant elements pulsate in rhythmic cadence in definite hues of rust red, deep brown, and satin black against the light sepia hue of the abaca fiber.”

Aside from T’bolis, Lake Sebu is also the home of the Tasadays, the cave-dwelling and primitive, stone-age tribe that lived in isolation in high caves of the primary rain forest area. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources has recognized the claim of both tribes that the lake and its surroundings are under their ancestral domain.

South Cotabato is an agricultural haven. The rich and fertile lands of Koronadal and Allah contain fields that produce rice and corn.

An immense plantation of pineapples and bananas located in the town of Polomolok are one of their main sources of income. The vast water that surrounds the island particularly, Sarangani Bay catered to a massive fishing industry.

Not only that. The province is blessed with a majestic and exotic wilderness which added to its one-of-a-kind cultural heritage that boosts the local tourism industry.

Several mountain ranges, natural caves, mountain lakes, forests and springs abound in the land.

One of the province’s main tourist attractions is the town of Lake Sebu, which is touted to be the summer capital of South Cotabato. As one foreigner, who visited the place, puts it: “Lake Sebu is a beautiful inland sea on the island of Mindanao and is nestled into

Mount Matutum, a cone-shaped mountain, is the province’s most imposing landmark. Around its base is a 12,000hectare pineapple plantation. the southern highlands at an altitude of almost 300 meters (984 feet). Lake Sebu is surrounded by rolling hills and forested mountains.”

Lake Sebu is also famous for its seven waterfalls, a series of river drops along the lush mountain forests. The second waterfall, a plunge type, is truly majestic with a height of more than 100 feet.

Even from a distance, the fall is magnificent! The very small tributary is almost inconspicuous but the rapids and the falling water from heights is just too astounding.

Its location is also mind boggling. It looks like it was actually etched like

The rich and fertile lands of Koronadal and Allah contain fields that produce rice and corn.

a crater in a mountain side with different layers of rock representing geological times clearly lined up in the overhang.

Speaking of waterfalls, Koronadal also has several of them, namely: Lumakot Waterfalls, Matamos Falls, Lambusong Falls, Narcon/Lucirene Falls, and San Jose and Badtasan Falls. Only five kilometers of good road from the heart of Koronadal is Mambucal Hot Spring, where hot sulfuric water flows aplenty from the spring.

In the town of T’boli, you get a glimpse of another dazzling water body – Lake Maughan. It is the source of five big rivers, including the famous Allah River. Actually, the lake is a part of approximately 50,000-hectare area proposed to be the provincial park and wildlife sanctuary. After all, the lake abounds with wild fauna and flora endemic to the province. The rare species of butterfly Graphium decolor tigris is found in Mogocayo and Lem-el-law.

T’boli is also home to two famous mountains: Mount Parker

and Mount Matutum. Among the two, the latter is a unique challenge to mountaineers. A coneshaped mountain, it looms over the province at 2,286 meters high.

It is perhaps the province’s most imposing landmark. Natural hot and cold springs abound at its foot. Around its base is a 12,000hectare pineapple plantation.

Opposite Mount Matutum on the southeast is Mount Magalo.

Native B’laans unspoiled in their native fineries hold barter and trade with lowlanders. The full view of Mount Matutum is best enjoyed at this peak situated in the town of Tampakan.

When passing Polomolok, don’t miss going to Durian Garden, Atbp. in Barangay Awas Sulit. It is a three-hectare farm planted with durian intercropped with other fruits like lanzones. Colorful ornamentals are grown along the sides. During fruiting season, you can select durian fruits to be eaten taken from trees. Don’t forget to eat the tinolang manok and native chicken barbecues it offers.

General Santos City is considered the tuna capital of the country.

About 300 to 400 tons of tuna are unloaded each day at its fish port complex. The city is known for the powerful swimmer yellow fin tuna, which rarely ventures into dirty and murky water, making it one of the safest fishes to eat. This species has a bright red flesh with meaty flavor. It is so versatile that you can grill, bake, broil, or sauté it.

But there’s more to Gensan than just tuna. Beaches and swimming areas abound. In Barangay Tambler, for instance, there are four beach resorts you can select form: Dupalco, Family, Rajah, and Maharlika. While in Barangay Baluan, you can swim at the Cebbans Garden Resort. When in Barangay Apopong, you can choose any of these spring resorts: Lagare and Olaer.

At the heart of the city is an ancestral home that was built from the remnants of the house in Batangas. As Warren Manilay and his family are now living in Gensan, they decided to rebuild the house of their forefathers. n

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