Planet Philippines (Calgary Edition) March 1-15, 2012 Issue

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OFW families are advised not to rely on remittances and engage instead in small business for their long-term financial security.

ADVICE TO OFW FAMILIES:

GO INTO BUSINESS Some microfinance experts worry that returning OFWs who borrow loans from the government to start a business might think that the funds are doleouts which need not be repaid at all, which could lead to the collapse of the loan program.

AMILIES of overseas filipino workers (ofW) should enrol in entrepreneurship programs as a way to grow the dollar remittances they receive.

This was the advice of Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Director General Joel Villanueva as a way of building wealth and securing their future.

“We cannot afford to just rely on remittances. I have talked to many families of ofW and they complain about having difficulties in making ends meet because of inflation. I always advise them to invest their remittances into business and become entrepreneurs instead of just waiting for their monthly remittance. I encourage them to enrol in TESDA,” said Villanueva.

The TESDA chief said the country will benefit more if remittances are invested in productive endeavors, since this creates employment and additional income.

“Remittances from ofWs account for some 10 percent of the country’s gross domestic product. This 10 percent is already a significant economic contribution. It helps keep the economy afloat despite political

turmoil in countries where our ofWs work.

So you can just imagine the benefits to the people and to the country if this 10 percent is multiplied further,” he said. one of the programs offered is the TESDA Specialista Techopreneurship (TSTP), which aims to educate people on business administration and management. +27

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This is how the Entertainment City will look like from Manila Bay.

The new Entertainment City, expected to start operations in the last quarter of 2012, will serve as a springboard for tourists to discover the rest of the Philippines.

multi-billion-peso casino resort complex is rising not far from Sm mall of Asia in the reclaimed area along manila bay in Paranaque City.

Called the bagong nayong Pilipino Entertainment Complex, the development is a project of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor), the state-run company that operates lottery and casinos in the country. the project cost is estimated at $15 billion. the complex is a massive fullyintegrated entertainment and leisure complex that aims to attract tourists from Asian countries, notably China, taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea and malaysia. it is touted as the country’s answer to the gambling mecca of macau. it expects to generate some 400,000 jobs.

Among its major features are luxury hotels, casinos, restaurants, shopping centers, theatres, convention halls, museums, an amusement park, a sports stadium, a racetrack, and a residential complex for expatriates and retirees. there are four major investors

MULTI-BILLION ENTERTAINMENT COMPLEX TAKES SHAPE Artist’s conception of glass dome-covered indoor beach at Manila Bay Resorts. in the complex: Aruze Corp. of Japan, the Genting berhad Group of malaysia, bloombury investments limited of Australia, and Sm investments Corp. (SmiC) of retailing and banking taipan Henry Sy Sr. Each of the four partners is required to build at least 800 hotel rooms —for a total of 3,200 rooms— before they will be allowed to open

casino operations at the site. this requirement is meant to ensure that adequate hotel facilities would be available to accommodate the influx of tourists to the complex.

Collectively, the four proponents have committed to invest a minimum of $4 billion to build a world-class destination, which will serve as a springboard for tourists to discover

The $15-billion entertainment and leisure complex is touted as the country’s answer to the gambling mecca of Macau.

It aims to attract tourists from Asian countries and expects to generate some 400,000 jobs.

the rest of the Philippines. the new Entertainment City is expected to start operations in the last quarter of 2012. two of the four investors -- retail tycoon Henry Sy’s Sm Group, jointly with belle Corp.; and port magnate Enrique Razon’s bloomsbury investments – began work on their gaming havens last year. bloombury Resorts and Hotels inc. Held its first concrete pouring on its $1-billion project in February 2011. its complex features an integrated resort facility including a five-star, 500-room hotel, a state-ofthe-art meeting and convention and ballroom venues, restaurants, health and wellness facilities. it expects to start operations in the fourth quarter of 2012. last Jan. 26, it was the turn of Japanese gambling giant tiger Resorts, leisure and Entertainment inc., a subsidiary of Japan’s Aruze Corp., to break ground on a $2-billion casino resort development in the complex.

Dubbed manila bay Resorts, the project will have two luxury casino hotels with 1,100 rooms. Another 1,000-room budget hotel will be built. the project, to be completed in the third quarter of 2014, is intended as a family-oriented venue featuring an indoor man-made beach enclosed in a glass dome that will allow the use of natural lighting to replicate the authentic beach experience. it will also feature las Vegas-style water fountain shows. it has a casino which will be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week with 500 gaming tables and 3,000 slot machines. the site will also have 150 high-end stores and outlet malls to cater to shoppers. n

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KIM AND XIAN

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Kim and Xian are more than happy to supply the audience with moments that are all seemingly genuine, unique, and sincere.

‘KILIG’

BACK IN SHOWBIZ

Fans have noted that the KimXi love team is for everyone -- bridging the proverbial gap between the ages and the classes. The pair is wholesome enough to be adored by the younger fans but still relatable enough to be admired by the older audiences.

By CHERiE del rio

T was an unexpected chemistry. she’s recovering from a heartbreak and slowly reclaiming her place in the industry. He’s a multi-talented newcomer who was likewise seeking stable ground in show business. although they have worked together previously albeit with smaller roles, Kim Chiu and Xian Lim did not have an established love team until their hit primetime teleserye, My Binondo Girl. Kim was even paired with two other leading men in the show: Jolo Revilla and Matteo Guidicelli. But it was her pairing with Xian that had the series title trending in Twitter both in the Philippines and worldwide. as the series progressed, both the show’s producers and viewers were pleasantly shocked by the onscreen romance between Kim and Xian, how they got televiewers kilig with their scenes. It truly was a surprise -- and it is this very element that triggered the success of KimXi (Kim’s and Xian’s names put together to form a label for their love team). almost out of nowhere, KimXi garnered recognition and support not just from the local fan base but even from colleagues in showbiz as well. all of a sudden, KimXi is the

next big thing and everyone, regardless of their age, social class, or geographical location (thanks to TFC!), is feeling kilig over Team Jandy (another label that represents Jade + andy, characters in My Binondo Girl played by Kim and Xian, respectively).

Everyone was pleasantly shocked by the onscreen romance between Kim and Xian, how they got televiewers kilig with their scenes.

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Kilig factor Today’s leading newspapers, magazines, and even Kapamilya shows all share a bit of the limelight with KimXi. Everyone seems eager to feature the budding romance between the Filipino-Chinese pair. In an episode of KrisTV, Kris Aquino unabashedly pointed out that Kim and Xian looked really good together and more importantly, that Xian had her vote.

A lot of fans have noted that the KimXi love team is for everyone -bridging the proverbial gap between the ages and the classes. The pair is wholesome enough to be adored by the younger fans but still relatable enough to be admired by the older audiences. If Filipino TV had a poster couple for the exciting beginnings of young love, then KimXi would definitely be it.

Their My Binondo Girl co-star, Cherry Pie Picache, admits to feeling butterflies whenever she looks at the pair. It has been reported that Xian is quite old fashioned when it comes to his courtship ways.

Lumang tao is how Kim described him in a recent interview with the Philippine Entertainment Portal.

Xian, as part of his Christmas gift to Kim, hired a choir to serenade the young actress after the latter commented that she can’t quite feel the spirit of Christmas. Earlier, Xian overheard Kim talking about wanting a life-sized teddy bear. He then surprised her with one: a dark brown, fluffy, giant stuffed bear.

Apart from these grand gestures, Kim admits to receiving flowers from the actor-singer. She says that guys like Xian are a rarity nowadays. This all the more enflames the passion of KimXians (fans of their love team).

Everyone seems to be guessing, trying to determine whether there is something more to the onscreen pair of Jade and Andy. And of course, all these guessing and excitement contribute to the overwhelming kilig that now envelopes the Pinoy TV fandom. Kim and Xian, on the other hand, are more than happy to supply the audience with moments that are all seemingly genuine, unique, and sincere. They are careful with interviews, though -- always being clear on what their relationship status is so far and how things are being taken in stride.

From Kimerald to KimXi Perhaps one of the strongest fan organizations that will define Filipino showbiz history is the Kimeralds (fans of Kim and Gerald Anderson). And when the

Xian is quite old fashioned when it comes to his courtship ways, prompting Kim to describe him as lumang tao.

Armed with simple flowers, hired choirs and teddy bears, Kim says that guys like Xian are a rarity nowadays.

pair split up, the Kimerald hype died as well. Now that both Kim and Gerald have separate career paths, one cannot help but wonder how the fan group is thriving in all the changes.

A lot of Kimeralds have been supportive of the KimXi love team, adding force to its growing popularity today. Everywhere on the inter-

net, you will find KimXi-devoted websites. From Facebook fan pages to Tumblr to Twitter, the KimXi tag is visible and dominant.

Upon closer inspection of these sites, however, you will find that there are still a lot of fans that compare Kimerald to KimXi even though they are supportive of both pairings. It is as though they approve

of the KimXi pair but, just like any other hardcore fan, Kimeralds will always advocate the Kim-Gerald pair, hoping for a reconciliation in the future may it be on or off cam.

Rivalry between the Kimerald and KimXi camps is rare if not altogether nonexistent on major websites. And all this positivity boosts KimXi’s promising direction in the tough industry.

Looking ahead After My Binondo Girl ended on January 20, fans started clamoring for more KimXi appearances - emails to the ABS-CBN network,

posts and comments on public websites, twitter pleas, etc. With the success of their pairing, though, Kim and Xian would most likely show up on another teleserye or in a movie in the very near future. Kris Aquino, also in another episode of her morning talk show, hinted that Kim is presently working on a movie with one of the major stars of the network and Xian will be joining her. Online discussion boards have guessed that Xian and Kim’s first movie together will be with the Star for All Seasons herself, Ms. Vilma Santos.

Xian has gained a lot of fans and admirers for how special he has been treating Kim. He already wrote a song for her entitled Ako’y Sayo Lamang, which is part of the soundtrack of their soap. After the choir serenade, the life-sized teddy bear, and the song, one can’t help but wonder how Xian will possibly outdo himself. Whatever magic he still has up on his sleeve, the entire Pinoy fandom will definitely be keeping watch and feeling kilig. n

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CELEBR TY

NORA IS BACK SANS THROAT SURGERY NORA Aunor returned to the country last Feb 24 after spending nearly two months in the United States to have her singing voice treated. Her close friend, John Rendez, accompanied her back from Los Angeles.

She told reporters who met her at the airport that her throat surgery in Boston did not push through because there were therapy sessions and preparations that needed to be done before the surgery.

NORA

RUFFA

RUFFA Gutierrez is ecstatic upon learning that her marriage to estranged Turkish husband Yilmaz Bektas has been annulled by a local court. Ruffa and her two daughters were in Biacay when she learned about the “bittersweet” news.

“She is now officially single,” Ruffa’s lawyer declared.

The Taguig Regional Trial cited “psychological incapacity” on the part of for its decision to annul the couple’s marriage last March 25, 2003 at The Fort in Taguig.

The court awarded Ruffa custody

NEW MAN IN MS. D’S LIFE

Melai told another PBB housemate that she and Jason are no longer together. “Parang ganoon nga (hiwalay na),” she said, quickly adding, “Pero hindi na naman ako galit sa kanya ngayon.”

Jason said that he and Melai have a misunderstanding.

According to Jason, their rift arose when he forgot to invite Melai to join him in a party hosted by a PBB ex-housemate.

“In-explain ko naman sa kanya na minsan ay gusto ko ding mag-isa kasi may iniisip ako para sa amin. So na-feel niya yata nanlalamig ako sa kanya o wala na akong feelings... Ayoko namang mag-sorry kasi wala naman akong kasalanan.”

As a result of their quarrel, Jason decided to leave the sitcom Banana Split, where he and Melai appear.

Mendoza and in a teleserye for TV5. Nora’s first comeback project last year was TV5’s mini TV series Sa Ngalan Ng Ina. She said she plans to return to the US for her surgery after finishing these two projects.

Nora confirmed that she will resume shooting the unfinished biopic of Emilio Aguinaldo, El Presidente, opposite Laguna Governor Jorge “ER” Ejercito.

She said she is hopeful that she could recover her singing voice soon so she could appear in a planned concert on her birthday on May 21.

RUFFA IS NOW ‘OFFICIALLY SINGLE’

MELAI CONFIRMS BREAKUP WITH JASON

MELAI Cantiveros has finally admitted that she broke up with Jason Francisco.

“Hindi, oo, hindi,” the comedienne told a Pinoy Big Brother (PBB) housemate when asked if Jason is her real-life boyfriend.

Melai and Jason, who were both discovered on Pinoy Big Brother, entered the PBB house on Feb. 19 to help Big Brother in giving tasks and challenges to the remaining housemates.

“Kailangan daw akong magkaroon ng voice therapy, pero pagkatapos no’n... Kinakailangan kong bumalik talaga [sa US] dahil yung doktor doon, masyadong busy at kailangan lang talagang i-schedule pa. Pero nakita na nila kung anong problema. Hindi pa [natuloy] yung operation, dahil may mga prosesong ginawa pa. Pagkatapos ng operation, ‘tsaka naman magbuvoice therapy... sa New York,” Nora explained.

According to her, she is set to star in an indie movie to be directed by multi-awarded Brillante

DINA Bonnevie says she has never been happier now that she has a new man in her life— “I feel so loved,” she beams. “And I also love him in return. He really makes time for me. Minsan nagugulat ako kahit ang layo ng location ng taping ko, he goes out of his way to visit me.”

The lucky guy is Ilocos Sur Vice Governor DV Savellano.

In a text message to a friend, Dina said, “DV and I have been dating since last year and this year, we became officially BFGF (boyfriend-girlfriend).”

Queried if she would be willing to get hitched the third time around, she blurted, “Why not?”

The 51-year-old actress has had two failed marriages – to Vic Sotto, with whom he has two children; and businessman Dick Pengson.

Turning to Vic, who has been linked to younger women, Ms. D said, “Like everyone else, he has a right to be happy. Let’s not deprive him of the joy of being in love.”

Commenting on their son Oyo’s tweet alluding to “material girls” around Vic, Dina explained, “That’s just his way of showing concern. He knows how generous Vic is.

Nakikita niya siguro na naibibigay ni Vic ang mga luho ng girls—which I didn’t get to enjoy before.

Natural reaction ’yun of a son who loves his dad. Siguro mas okey kay Oyo kung hindi taga- ‘Eat Bulaga’ ang ma-link sa dad niya.”

of their daughters, Lorin and Venice.

The couple had been estranged since May 2007 when Ruffa and her children returned to Manila. She filed for annulment in 2009.

Since then Ruffa had been linked to at least two men – John Lloyd Cruz, with whom she had a brief affair, and a South American businessman. The actressTV host claims she is loveless at the moment.

DINA

LUIS

LUIS: MARRIAGE ONLY A MATTER OF TIME ACTOR-TV host Luis Manzano is floating on Cloud 9 these days.

He has a thriving career and a happy love life with current girlfriend Jennylyn Mercado.

Asked if people could expect the wedding bells to ring out soon, Luis replied, “Well, I’m very, very happy and it’s only a matter of time. Time can prove me right.

Time can prove me wrong. But hopefully.”

He added: “At the end of the day, kung sino man ang mamahalin talaga ng puso ko nang buongbuo, na ihaharap ko talaga sa Diyos at sa pamilya ko, long way to go. Alam ko na... of course, she [Jennylyn] has a family too, kaya ayoko namang biglain na, ‘Yes, pakakasalan kita!’”

But he said he feels he is now ready to settle down. “I’m not getting any younger. And siguro... yes! When everything has been said and done, siguro it’s safe to say I have lived my life and there’s always a new chapter waiting to be explored.”

Luis had been busy lately preparing for the re-launch of the game show, Deal Or No Deal, last Feb. 25. He takes over from previous host Kris Aquino. He is also co-host of Sarah Geronimo in the new musical program, Sarah G. Live.

Luis is also shooting the movie Moron 5 and the Crying Lady with Marvin Agustin, Billy Crawford, Martin Escudero, DJ Durano, at John “Sweet” Lapus.

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MARCH 1-15, 2012

CELEBRITYFILES

THE VICKI-HAYDEN MELODRAMA RAGES

THE lovers’ quarrel between celebrity cosmetic surgeon Vicki Belo and her estranged lover, Hayden Kho, is far from over. In fact, the melodrama is getting nastier.

It will be recalled that on Feb. 10 the 56-year-old Vicki said she was ending her affair with the 32-yearold former doctor after reports surfaced that the latter had been seeing actress-singer Nancy Castiglione, also known as Nancy Jane. Afterward Vicki hurriedly flew to the US for a few days rest and returned to Manila on Feb. 20.

Upon her return, Vicki sent out his tweet: “...To all those who care I’m doing ok. I’m still sad of course but it would be weird if I wasn’t since in 3 months we would have been together 7 years. Im trying [to] figure out what lesson I’m supposed to learn from this…

People are saying I was stupid for getting involved with a much younger man. Do you tweeps think an older woman younger man thing wont work?”

On the night of Feb. 20, Hayden, seemingly furious over the turn of events, posted two messages on his Twitter account accusing Vicki of having an affair with a certain Al Galang. He posted a photo of the guy, who was identified as a yoga instructor and model, and a supposed letter from him to Vicki.

But a few minutes later, Hayden he took back his accusation, saying he made it “in the height of my anger.” He tweeted, “Vicki DID NOT have an affair with that guy.” Although Al’s letter was true, he said, “Vicki and I spoke about it already and I believe her.” He sent a second tweet: “Vicki NEVER cheated on me.”

At the same time, Hayden denied he had an affair with Nancy, claiming they were just friends. “And about Nancy, it is also not true that we were dating or were having an affair. I hope that clears her name and my name as well,” he tweeted.

MARK, PIOLO STILL FRIENDS SINGER-ACTOR Mark Bautista has already put behind him the malicious rumors that dragged him in the middle of the high-profile breakup of his good friend Piolo Pascual and KC Concepcion last year.

He said he has remained friends with Piolo despite having been alleged to have caused the split of the so-called “fairytale” couple.

“Nagkakausap naman kami…

Okey naman kami, wala namang…

Tsaka ayoko nang i-elaborate pa ngayon ah, kasi tapos na at nakamove on na lahat, at naka-move on na ako,” said Mark.

He said speculations on his true sexuality—an issue that came out in his early days in showbiz—has made him immune to such nasty intrigues. “At first,

HAYDEN & VICKI He added he was cancelling his Twitter account and would not pursue his plans to return to showbiz.

This was not the first time that the couple had been engaged in a public spat. The first and worst quarrel was in 2009 when a sex video of Hayden and actress Katrina Halili was circulated on the Internet. Hayden lost his medical license as a result of the scandal.

But Vicki and Hayden eventually reconciled and had even discussed getting married.

PIOLO

ADVICE TO OFW FAMILIES: GO INTO BUSINESS From page 20

There is also the P2-billion Reintegration Fund which provides loans ranging from P200,000 to P2 million to returning OFWs. The Fund is a new program of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) and the National Reintegration Center for OFWs (NRCO).

Previous livelihood programs handled by OWWA, whether handled alone or in collaboration with financial institutions, were saddled by high non-repayment rates by OFW borrowers. And the new Reintegration Fund might encounter the same problem, according to a microfinance specialist.

Jun Perez, managing director of the microfinance network Seed Finance Corp, is worried that the documents required from borrowers might prove to be the undoing of the program’s success. OFW borrowers are asked to show documents related to their enterprises, such as purchase orders and titles to equipment purchased. There’s

“Remittances from OFWs account for some 10 percent of the country’s gross domestic product. This 10 percent is already a significant economic contribution,” said Villanueva

no collateral required for the loans.

Borrowers running small and medium-scale enterprises have to title their properties in order to secure their loans. Titling the borrowers’ properties is a way of training them to adopt traditional business methods and practices like issuing purchase orders. The idea is that small enterprises will grow only if the business owners learn and practice the rudiments of doing busi-

Borrowers attend a seminar to learn the terms of the loan program and their responsibilities as entrepreneurs.

The loan will make up to 80 perness correctly. cent of the total capital needed by Perez worries that the uneasithe enterprise.

But there’s a catch: ness that comes with the running the businesses to be financed “must of the business, producing the titles be earning.”

This is the assurance and business-related documents, that the program is mutually benefiand repaying the loans, might be too much for the borrower, which cial to the OFW and to the lender might lead to non-repayment of the bank. Officials of the lending banks explain that while there’s no colloan.

MARK medyo taranta ako… Shocks, bakit ganito? Bakit ganyan? Pero ngayon, okey [na ‹ko]…

He continued: “Of course tao lang din naman ako… Sabi ko, tahimik naman lahat so ang pangit pa kung magsalita pa ko›t may sasabihin pa ko... Buti na lang hindi ako nadi-depress ng mga ganung bagay. Buti na lang pinapalagpas ko lahat sa tenga ko…

Kasi kung iisipin ko pa ‹yon, baka kung sa›n ako hanapin ngayon.”

He said he also realized that in the industry he›s in, “hindi mo maiiwasan so tanggapin mo na lang na ‹yun talaga ‹yung puwedeng sabihin sa›yo... As long as you’re confident about yourself… your sexuality, there’s no need for you to worry.”

lateral, loan applicants must “guarantee the business enterprise… is viable and profitable —or earning, say, like P10,000 a month”.

But Perez and another development finance expert, Hector de Pedro of the nonprofit Mandato Inc., say that the lending institutions – the Land Bank and the Development Bank of the Philippines - being seen as part of the government, might lead some borrowers to think that the loans are doleouts and to not take seriously their obligation to repay the loans.

Perez says the Reintegration Fund’s implementation “must maintain the discipline and conviction that it must be sustainable, thus must support clearly-viable or potentially viable (enterprises) with community impact”.

The issue of repayment has haunted previous livelihood programs of OWWA, the most recent of which were the loans OWWA and the NRCO issued to OFWs displaced by the global economic crisis in 2009. n

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MARCH 1-15, 2012

28 PHILIPPINES

By ARiEs rufo

AN FerNANdo City, Pampanga - The Catholic Church of Pampanga may take a valuable lesson from the reproductive Health bill. Men of the cloth here have been siring kids, with some keeping affairs.

The Church of Pampanga has been grappling with problems concerning its randy priests, and Church officials have been trying to contain a potentially damaging case, which if it drags on, could grow into a scandal.

For the first time, a priest has been hailed to court for having an affair with a married woman, although such extracurricular affairs are not uncommon in Pampanga.

PAMPANGA’S PRIESTS DEFY CELIBACY

Church officials have suspended the priest, Jeffrey Louie Maghirang, but the complainant, a security manager for a chain of malls, fears that he might just be reassigned to another parish after the scandal has subsided. (He has asked not to be identified to protect the privacy of his three-year-old child.)

This priest’s illicit affair could lead to a family breakup.

When the complainant first brought the matter to Fr. Maghi-

rang’s superiors last May, he was told that they would conduct their own investigation. He initially talked with Pampanga Auxiliary Bishop Pablo david.

The husband confirmed that his wife and Fr. Maghirang were hav-

Clergymen have their limitations, including weakness of the flesh.

A retired archbishop says more than a dozen clergymen in Pampanga are known to maintain lovers. According to a former lawmaker from Pampanga, who has extensive contacts with the Church, of the more than 100 priests there, more than half are having affairs.

San Fernando Archbishop Paciano Aniceto prays over former President Gloria Arroyo.

ing an affair last April after he spied on his wife’s “chat discussion” with the priest. He put an electronic gadget on the family’s computer to trace the conversation.

In July, Bishop david assured the complainant that “we will take action.” But the complainant was not satisfied with the Church’s response.

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Frustrated with the Church’s slow action, the complaining husband filed in october an adultery and unjust vexation case against Fr. Maghirang.

He has asked Church officials to defrock the offending priest in exchange for withdrawing the case.

The situation in Pampanga is like a ticking time bomb. With dozens of abandoned children sired by priests, it could provide a major financial headache for the Church, if ever a class suit seeking compensation is filed.

Among the 86 dioceses in the country, the bishopric of Pampanga boasts a singular honor: it has the highest incidence of priests engaged in extra-curricular affairs.

Consider this: five priests have sought for dispensation—those granted dispensation are freed from their priestly duties and assume the life of an ordinary layman—while two have been suspended, which underscores the gravity of the situation.

A retired archbishop said in an interview that more than a dozen clergymen in Pampanga are known to maintain lovers. A former lawmaker from Pampanga, who has extensive contacts with the Church, however said that of the more than 100 priests there, more than half are having affairs.

In 2004, Newsbreak wrote about the twin “demons” facing the Church in Pampanga—fornication and gambling. We wrote that Pampanga priests indulge in sex and maintain families and children—a violation of their priestly vow. With lovers and children to support, they fall prey to the temptation of jueteng.

At that time, we reported that 35 priests were having affairs, with 21 siring children. And they seemed not to practice any form of family planning as some had two or more kids.

The situation in Pampanga is best illustrated by resigned Bishop Crisostomo Yalung who kept a long relationship with his lover and sired two kids while stationed in Makati.

Another perfect example is Fr. ed Panlilio who went on to become a oneterm Pampanga governor. Panlilio, who ran on a platform of moral reform, and considered running for the presidency, won despite the apparent contradiction with his priestly vow and secular life.

Panlilio was re-

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ported to have at least been involved with five women. San Fernando Archbishop Paciano Aniceto said Panlilio was stripped of his sacerdotal duties for violating the provisions of the Canon Law which prohibit men of the cloth from seeking elective posts.

His suspension, however, did not mean he could violate his priestly vows.

Whenever confronted by the media and his critics with having violated his vow of celibacy, Panlilio evaded giving a definite reply.

His alleged affair with a provincial capitol employee hounded his office. Pampanga local media would

insinuate there was a conjugal partnership in the capitol.

In Pampanga, being a priest is a privilege and a social status.

This can be traced to the intense religiosity and strong Catholic faith of the Pampanga laity. Families send their children to the seminary to become priests and if no one in the family wants, they support poor boys by shouldering their tuition.

Kapampangans revere their priests to the point of spoiling them. “They are treated like gods,” a former Pampanga House representative pointed out.

While they hold their priests in high esteem, the Pampanga la-

29 PHILIPPINES

ity also realizes that their beloved clergymen have their limitations, including weakness of the flesh. .In our interview five years ago, Aniceto said he did not know about the extra-curricular affairs of Fr. Cris Cadiang, a respected priest until, in a TV interview, he admitted siring two kids.

Unlike Panlilio, Cadiang sought dispensation from his priestly vow but Aniceto refused to let him go. He wrote a second letter submitting his irrevocable resignation from the priesthood.

But it appears his dispensation has not been formally approved.

Cadiang, like Panlilio, sought political office in the May 2010 polls.

He lost the vice mayoralty race in Angeles City.

Interviews with his superiors show that he has remained a priest, although he has opted to get married.

A priest who had secured dispensation remains a priest in the eyes of the Church, although he could no longer exercise his priestly duties.

Fr. Maghirang case could end up like Cadiang’s, which has remained hanging.

Aniceto told us that five priests have asked dispensation from the priesthood for violating their vow of celibacy and maintaining families. But this number pales in comparison with those who have

MARCH 1-15, 2012

opted to maintain two lives. These priests want to get out of priesthood and concentrate on their families.

Aniceto said that as a rule, the Church does not provide support to the children of priests. Doing otherwise would be tantamount to encouraging other priests to do the same, he said.

What the Church can do is to ask the laity to help support the children.

In the case of Bishop Yalung, for instance, his two kids cannot reunite with their father. Yalung’s lover, Christine, has sought financial support which was declined by the Church. (Rappler.com) n

MARCH 1-15, 2012

HISTORY AND NATURE CONVERGE IN CAGAYAN

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Calgary Edition

As a pilgrimage destination, tourist influx in Cagayan always spikes up during Holy Week and the feast of the province’s revered patroness, Our Lady of Piat.

The Callao Cave is one of the top tourist attractions in the province.

By jACky lynnE oiga

WITH over 18 Spanish architectural churches along the tourism highway, Cagayan province has always been known as one of the major pilgrimage tourism destinations in the country.

However, what others seem to forget is that Cagayan also boasts of adventure tourism spots for caving, river boating, fishing, bird watching, wind surfing and diving.

The history and culture rich province offers a lot for the adventurous soul. The journey may be quite long, 14 hours when traveled by land, but the trip is definitely worth it. In fact, thrill seekers would find daring activities in this part of the north. Cagayan has mountains and caves for trekkers and mountain climbers. However, the real adventure in Cagayan is not for the weak of heart.

White water rafting is the premiere activity for all thrill seekers and local tourists visiting Cagayan.

The Chico river white water rafting is dubbed as a world class experience. The struggle against the tides and the fight to get through the rapids will leave a lasting impression on any adventurer. White water rafting lets you live out a scene from your favorite outdoor film. Yes, Cagayan offers the same adventure and even has a much better scenic background.

As a pilgrimage destination, tourist influx in Cagayan always spikes up during Holy Week and the feast of the province’s revered patroness, our Lady of Piat.

originally from Macau, the Holy Image has been a religious fulcrum of people wanting favors of any kind. The pilgrimage to the Shrine of our Lady of Piat remains to be a significant event in the lives of the people of Cagayan valley and devotees from all over the globe.

The feast is annually celebrated on the

2nd of July in the capital town of Tuguegarao to honor Cagayan’s patroness, the our Lady of Piat. The highlight of the event is the procession of the miraculous image of virgin Mary.

Places of Interest Cagayan offers a number of interesting places for visitors. Among them: • Callao Cave – This natural wonder features a seven-chambered, white rock cave that houses massive limestone and rock formations and a small chapel for devotees; • Pinacanauan river – A cruise along the breathtaking Pinacanauan river in Peñablanca is a must for every visitor.

Cagayan has mountains and caves for trekkers and mountain climbers seeking daring activities in the north.

The river is also perfect for kayaking; • The Calvary Hills – The main attraction here is a life-size diorama of the Stations of the Cross with

the mighty Cagayan river as its backdrop; • The Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral - The biggest cathedral in the North, built in 1724, it’s the only church in the province that is elevated from the ground; • Camalaniugan Bell – Forged in 1595, the Camalanuigan Bell is one of the oldest bells in the Philippines; • Sta. Praxedes – This is a quaint picturesque town where the Portabaga Falls and a long stretch of beach can be found; • Palaui Island - A paradise for water sports and mountaineering activities, this pristine island has beautiful beaches, rugged terrain and lush vegetation. (Manila Bulletin) n

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FIGHT NOT YET FINISHED - AQUINO T

WENTY-SIX years after millions flocked to Edsa to overthrow a dictator, President Benigno Aquino III on Feb. 25 rallied Filipinos to take action against the judiciary that, he said, like martial law was one of the “wrongs committed in the past” that needed to be corrected.

Apparently continuing on a recent favorite theme, the condemnation of impeached Chief Justice Renato Corona, Mr. Aquino urged “immediate action,” saying martial law happened because people decades ago chose to keep silent until they could no longer bear the sufferings it brought the country.

“Now, after 26 years, it is clear that our fight is not yet finished,” Mr. Aquino said in a speech during the Edsa anniversary ceremonies at the People Power Monument.

“As we link our arms in the straight path, I trust that we can reach a society that is free from a judiciary with two faces—one with a partial justice system and another with balanced scales,” he said.

As in previous speeches attacking Corona, the President urged the people to participate and act as the Chief Justice’s trial at the Senate impeachment court enters its seventh week.

“If you want to remain in the old system, go ahead and pretend to be deaf. Pretend to be blind. Don’t speak. Don’t participate,” he said.

“But if you believe that there’s something wrong in the system and that this has to be corrected, let’s go and push back (Tara, pumalag tayo).

Let’s participate. Let’s make it right,” he added.

The President made these remarks in the presence of three senator-judges who were sitting onstage with him— Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile,

Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III and Sen. Gregorio Honasan.

Enrile made one of his rare appearances at an Edsa anniversary celebration.

Enrile and Honasan were among the military and defense leaders who went against the dictator Ferdinand Marcos in the first Edsa People Power Revolution in February 1986. Enrile was the then defense minister and Honasan was his chief security aide and leader of the Reform the Armed Forces Movement, or RAM. “Our country is now facing a crossroad. In one direction is the weedy path, where the influential holds the scales of justice and those who manipulate the law benefit,” Mr. Aquino said.

“In the other is the straight path where the rules are clear, justice favors no one and those who are at fault are made answerable. Let’s remember: Martial law happened because Filipinos kept silent for too long,” he said.

In another speech earlier in the day following wreath-laying rites at the monuments in Manila of his parents—the late former President Corazon Aquino and martyred opposition leader Benigno Aquino Jr.—and the late Jaime Cardinal Sin, the President pressed on with his anti-Corona theme.

“Unity, concern and love for country.

Let us use these for the legacy of Edsa to be fruitful. Let us not waste this opportunity. This is our time. This is our time. Let’s go, Filipino,” he said.

He said working for reforms is

the duty of every Filipino, “not just of Ninoy and Cory Aquino.”

In his speech, the President also said investor confidence in the Philippines was at a record high during his 19-month administration, as shown

by P439 billion worth of investments that have poured into the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (Peza).

The amount already represents 22 percent of the P2.003 trillion worth of investments that went into the Peza since 1995, he said.

Mr. Aquino made the remarks amid criticism that the economy slowed down during his administration because of his alleged preoccupation with politics and going after perceived political foes, including former President Gloria MacapagalArroyo and Chief Justice Corona.

“After one and a half years of the straight path, let us ask ourselves: Is there a difference between our system now and the system that we came upon before when for almost a decade Filipinos were affected by graft and corruption?” Mr. Aquino said.

“The correct answer: It’s a huge difference,” he said.

The President said the international financial community has placed much confidence in the country because of the reforms his administration has been carrying out.

“We are not one to brag but when the country has registered all-time highs in the stock index 16 times and when Moody’s, Standard and Poor’s and Fitch credit-rating raised our grade several times, this is no longer called bragging,” he said.

“This is called reforms and results,” he said. n

MARCH 1-15, 2012

PROSECUTORS WANT JUSTICE TO TESTIFY AT CORONA TRIAL

WILL Supreme Court Associate Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno testify against Chief Justice Renato Corona?

If the prosecution would have their way, they prefer her to testify - either in person or through a written response to questions.

Prosecutor Rep. Neri Colmenares told the impeachment court on February 23 that the prosecution panel will ask the senator-judges’ permission to invite Sereno to appear before the impeachment court. He said they will file a motion on February 27.

Prior to Colmenares’s statement, however, Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV already proposed that the court issue “written interrogatories” to Sereno, or a set of questions in relation to the allegations against Corona in Article 7 of the impeachment complaint.

The prosecution has apparently not made a final decision on whether to invite Sereno or to just follow Trillanes’ tack.

Prosecutor Rep. Joseph Emilio Abaya said that they were inclined to just request for written interrogatories, similar to what Trillanes had proposed.

Colmenares however said that while he appreciated Trillanes’s call, “we will try” to invite the justice so Filipinos could hear it straight from her.

It all depends on the Senate, conceded Colmenares.

The prosecution intends to wrap up Article 7, after which they will decide on whether to drop the remaining 5 articles in the complaint and rest their case.

Based on this scenario, Sereno’s testimony would be crucial for

a Corona conviction in Article 7.

The Senate has already decided against issuing subpoenas to the SC justices. On February 14, the High Court also issued a resolution barring SC justices and employees from testifying before the impeachment court on matters related to its decisions, among others.

Assuming Sereno accepts the invitation, she would still have to get a waiver from the Court, according to a resolution issued last week by the High Tribunal.

It was Sereno who, in November and December 2011, wrote 2 strongly-worded opinions against the majority decision allowing former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to seek medical treatment abroad.

Appearing at the witness stand twice, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima cited Sereno’s dissenting opinion as basis for her assertion that Corona exerted undue influence to push for the decision favorable to Mrs Arroyo.

Sereno pointed out that majority of the justices agreed, after they had issued the temporary restraining order that favored Arroyo, that the latter had not complied with all the conditions of the order. This pertained to her failure to formally appoint a counsel to receive legal notices on her behalf.

Because she failed to comply, it was understood that the TRO would not take effect, Sereno said in her dissent, citing a consensus among majority of the justices.

Sereno, however, said Corona, using his powers as chief justice, maneuvered to have his own version issued in the form an SC resolution, which eventually the majority of the justices agreed to. n

HOUSE PANEL SUBMITS DEL CASTILLO IMPEACH RAPS FOR VOTING

VOTING 38-10, the House of Representatives committee on justice on Feb. 21 approved for plenary vote the impeachment complaint against Supreme Court Associate Justice Mariano del Castillo for betrayal of public trust when he supposedly plagiarized the works of foreign authors in a decision on the case of World War II sexual slavery victims or “comfort women.”

The House panel’s vote came just two months after the lower chamber impeached Chief Justice Renato Corona for betrayal of public trust, culpable violation of the Constitution and graft and corruption. Corona’s impeachment trial is currently ongo-

ing at the Senate.

Once forwarded to the House plenary, the impeachment complaint against Del Castillo will have to get the approval of one-third of all House members—in this case, 95 out of the 286 lawmakers—for it to be transmitted to the Senate for trial.

Lawyer Harry Roque, legal counsel for the petitioners in the case, said his clients were “euphoric over the news.”

“They feel that though they may have failed to obtain justice in the Supreme Court, they obtained it from the representatives of the people through this decision,” Roque said.

He said even if his clients have been denied justice for the last 50 years, “history is now recognizing that they have been victims of injustice in the hands of the Japanese and in the hands of del Castillo.”

Roque said the “Lolas” are hoping that Del Castillo’s “conduct” would be the “first and last in the annals of legal history.”

During the hearing, Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman, who voted to junk the Del Castillo impeachment complaint, echoed the argument of the SC justice’s lawyers that plagiarism does not violate any law in the country.

“This act is not an impeachable

offense. Plagiarism per se is not even a crime. The severity of this is not as grave as the other impeachable offense,” he said.

Deputy Minority Leader Milagros Magsaysay, meanwhile, said that Del Castillo cannot be held liable for betrayal of public trust because his judicial works are “exempted” from plagiarism as provided for under Section 184(k) of Republic Act (RA) 8293 or the Intellectual Property Code.

This provision in the law states that “any use made of a work for the purpose of any judicial proceedings or for the giving of professional advice by a legal practitioner” shall “not consti-

tute infringement of copyright.”

AKO-BICOL party-list Rep. Rodel Batocabe, however, said that high ethical standards are expected of a member of the high court.

“Hindi kailangan maging krimen para mag-constitute ng pagtataksil sa taumbayan… In all sectors of society, kapag nag-commit ka ng intellectual dishonesty, inaalis ka. What more if you are a Supreme Court justice?” he said.

Meanwhile, Iloilo Rep. Niel Tupas Jr. said Del Castillo’s act of “twisting” the works of foreign authors “might also constitute obstruction of justice.” n

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GMA PLEADS NOT GUILTY ON ELECTORAL SABOTAGE RAPS FORMER President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo entered a plea of not guilty to charges of electoral sabotage.

Arroyo, now Pampanga representative who is under hospital arrest, personally entered the not guilty plea during the arraignment at Branch 112 of the Pasay Regional Trial Court last Feb. 23.

This is the first time that Arroyo has been arraigned in court amidst a string of criminal complaints filed against her over various allegations of graft and corruption.

Her co-accused former Maguindanao Governor Andal Ampatuan Sr. and former election official Lintang Bedol will be arraigned on March 19.

Former Commission on Elections Chairman Bejamin Abalos has been charged separately for the same offense. He will be arraigned on March 26.

Arroyo, looking well in a beige coat and a neck brace, smiled and waved to the media as she alighted from a coaster along with her son, Camarines Sur Representative Diosdado “Dato” Arroyo.

Police formed a security cordon preventing the throng of journalists from getting near her as she walked towards the building elevator.

Arroyo’s husband Jose Miguel “Mike” Arroyo and their eldest son Rep. Juan Miguel “Mikey” Arroyo were also present.

The former first gentleman said his wife thought the case of electoral sabotage was an “injustice to her.”

“There is no case against her. She is frustrated,” Mike Arroyo said.

Pasay Regional Trial Court Branch 112 Judge Jesus Mupas granted Arroyo’s plea to be arraigned earlier than her co-accused. n

AQUINO TELLS CABINET: FIGHT CORRUPTION PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III gave his marching orders to his Cabinet on the administration’s anti-corruption fight: Fight harder than the opponents, and spare no one.

During a recent Cabinet workshop on anti-corruption strategies, Aquino said the enemies of reform who want to preserve the old status quo of corruption “may be down, but they are not out.”

“They will not go away quietly. They will try to blur the issues. They will attempt to roll back reform,” the President said, adding that there is a need for the administration to refine its “tactical efforts” to fight corruption.

“And they will continue using the vast resources that they have accumulated through the years to resist the people’s efforts to hold them accountable,” he said.

Aquino justified his campaign to have Chief Justice Renato Corona removed from office as being a key part in the fight to restore integrity in the judiciary.

“No one should doubt that our justice system is a major battleground for reform…We cannot sustainably fight corruption unless we reintroduce a sense of accountability -- a sense that if you commit a crime, you will be

punished,” he said.

“If certain elements are still able to prevent Gloria Arroyo, for example, from being held accountable, then it makes a mockery of our anti-corruption efforts.”

“We want to send a stern yet simple message: justice evades no one. There are no exceptions in our campaign against corruption,” the President added.

Earlier, Aquino said he will not be prevented from discussing facts on the impeachment proceedings, and that he would make another public presentation on Corona’s case, “if there is a need.”

“I think I am within my rights to express my opinion. I speak for a sizeable number of our people and that is the essence of a democracy,” he said.

“Contending ideas should be threshed out in a market place of ideas and those who can convince -- sorry, let me rephrase that -- a democracy is the majority deciding for everybody and you cannot decide properly if there is no discourse within the contending sides in any issue. So to keep quiet about the whole thing is, I think, wrong,” the President added. n

SWIFT PROBE ON NBI EXEC’S AMBUSH ORDERED PRESIDENT Aquino wants to see a “swift investigation” of the Feb. 21 ambush on National Bureau of Investigation Deputy Director Reynaldo Esmeralda, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said as she reported “significant leads” in the hunt for the gunmen.

In a press conference following a closeddoor meeting at the NBI, De Lima said she had “emphasized to the investigating team that this is something that we really need to do speedily.

There should be a swift investigation. The President wants to know immediately information about the ambush and who could be responsible.”

The secretary stressed this a day after coming under fire from the camp of former NBI chief Magtanggol Gatdula for linking the ambush to the Noriyo Ohara kidnapping case that led to Gatdula’s dismissal last month.

“Why should I apologize? I never pointed fingers to the former director,” De Lima said, referring to the demand made by Gatdula’s lawyer, Abraham Espejo.

She clarified that, in media interviews following the ambush, she merely cited the security threats against her and other NBI officials involved in the Ohara investigation.

Esmeralda, meanwhile, said he would rather ignore Espejo’s earlier remarks that the ambush looked “staged.”

“It is very clear who is telling a lie and who is telling the truth,” Esmeralda said. In fact, he said, he still had “metal fragments on my temple but these cannot be removed until the swelling subsides.”

This appeared to be inconsistent with earlier police reports which said he mainly suffered cuts from “glass fragments” when the motorcycle-riding gunmen trained an M-16 rifle on his Land Cruiser.

The NBI official also said PO3 Nilo Esmeralda, his younger brother who was with him in the vehicle during the attack, underwent surgery on his right eye on Wednesday and would again go under the knife on Monday to remove metal fragments from his eye. n

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NEWSROUND-UP

HK FIGHTS MAIDS’ RESIDENCY RULING

HONG KONG - Hong Kong’s government on Feb. 21 launched an appeal against a landmark court ruling which grants thousands of foreign maids the right to seek permanent residency in the southern banking hub.

Government counsel David Pannick told the Court of Appeal the original ruling was mistaken as it restricted the authorities’ ability to determine who can permanently reside in Hong Kong and who cannot.

The High Court ruling on Septem-

ber 30 gave Filipina domestic worker Evangeline Banao Vallejos the right to request permanent residency status, something that had been denied to foreign maids until then.

He said the city authorities should be given some discretionary power to decide who was eligible for residency, rejecting arguments that restrictions on maids were unconstitutional and discriminatory.

“There is no undermining of the rule of law if the legislature enjoys a

certain margin of discretion,” he told the court.

Most foreigners can apply to stay in Hong Kong after seven years of uninterrupted residency, gaining access to voting rights, benefits such as public housing and the right to live in the Chinese city without a work visa.

But that right had been denied to the city’s 292,000 foreign maids, mostly from the Philippines and Indonesia, until Vallejos won her challenge last year.

6 KILLED IN ZAMBO ATTACK

AT least 6 people were killed, including two children, after heavily-armed men attacked a coastal community in Lapuyan, Zamboanga del Sur on Feb. 22. Some 20 others were injured.

Zamboanga del Sur police director Sr Supt Jose Bayani Gucela described the incident as “an act of retaliation.”

According to police reports, more or less 10 unidentified men carrying high-powered firearms that included “RPGs (Rocket Propeller Grenade) and M16 rifles” opened fire at residents of Sitio Bahing, Barangay Tininghalang around 4 p.m.

Based on initial police investigation, the attack in Sitio Bahing, which is a predinomantly Subanen community, was led by Ami and Pahad Andi, both are brothers

of a suspected lawless group leader who was recently neutralized by local authorities.

“Apparently, the gunmen suspected that the residents of the community as the ones who helped in the neutralization of Samang Andi,” Gucela said. “They retaliated by shooting indiscriminately at the victims.” Andi was killed in an encounter with government authorities last February 11.

Meanwhile in Numancia, Aklan, a man believed to be mentally disturbed killed five of his relatives and wounded another in a hacking frenzy last Feb. 25.

Errol Roldan, 27, entered two neighboring houses and attacked the victims with an ax and a knife around 5:30 a.m. in the village of Buswang in Numancia, about five kilometers from the provincial capital

of Kalibo, police said.

Roldan did not resist when policemen arrested him still holding a 19-inch bolo (machete) believed to be one of the weapons he used in attacking the victims.

The victims were identified as Luciano Rivas, 94; his wife Anunsacion, 92; and their daughter Felicidad. Also killed were Salvacion Rivas, 84, and her son Baltazar, 52.

Another victim, Salvacion’s daughter Rosa, was in critical condition at the hospital.

The victims were most likely killed while they were sleeping, police said.

Initial police investigation showed that Roldan was admitted for three months at the mental health hospital in Pototan in Iloilo after he burned down his house in August last year. n

AQUINO ORDERS PROBE ON BRIBERY CLAIM VS PAGCOR CHIEF PRESIDENT Benigno S. Aquino III has ordered an investigation on the alleged involvement of Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) Chairman Cristino Naguiat Jr. in a bribery incident with a Japanese gaming investor.

The President assured that Naguiat, a known close friend, will get a “fair hearing,” but may face sanctions if the Palace probe finds him guilty of the offense.

Naguiat condemned the bribery allegations against him, saying they are “uninformed and reckless” accusations.

He stressed that his name was merely dragged by internal dispute in Wynn Resorts between Steve Wynn and Japanese partner Kazuo Okada.

“It is a business dispute into which I have been dragged into,” he said.

Naguiat, however, admitted free accommodations at Wynn Resorts in Macau in a meeting with its executives.

“The facts are that I and a group of Pagcor officials, with approval of Pagcor’s board, visited Macau in September, 2010 to meet with key gaming industry players and examine their operations. The then Vice Chairman

of Wynn Resorts, Mr. Okada, invited the group to meet with executives of Wynn Macau and stay at their resort in VIP quarters, compliments of Wynn Macau,” Naguiat said.

Aquino directed Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. to investigate Naguiat for allegedly accepting lavish perks from Okada in exchange for obtaining contracts in the country.

He also asked Naguiat to explain his side.

But in a press statement, Naguiat said: “At the time of our visit, Mr. Okada’s Philippine gaming license had already been approved by the prior Pagcor management. Any insinuation that the complimentary accommodations extended to me and my family, who subsequently joined me for the weekend, were a bribe is untrue and just plain wrong.”

“There is a formal process where he will be asked to explain. We will first determine the specific accusations, and we will ask him to explain himself on the specific accusations,” the President said in a press conference after launching a housing site for soldiers and policemen in Cavite.

The President asserted that Na-

High Court Judge Johnson Lam ruled the law unconstitutional in a decision that sharply divided opinion in the city of seven million people.

Officials warned it could open the floodgates to hundreds of thousands of residency requests from maids, some of whom have lived in the city for decades without access to residency status.

Vallejos’ lawyer, Mark Daly, said the 59-year-old mother-of-five has yet to be granted permanent residency

due to the ongoing legal dispute. She has lived in Hong Kong since 1986.

Filipino Migrant Workers’ Union vice-chairman Eman Villanueva said the government was entitled to appeal but accused it of wanting to discriminate against foreign domestic workers.

“On our part, it’s disappointing not because the government is appealing but from the beginning they expressively said that foreign domestic helpers should not be given the same right,” he told AFP outside the court. n

30,000 NEW CLASSROOMS TO BE BUILT BY 2013

TO plug the country’s classroom shortage, the Department of Education is launching an aggressive public-private partnership (PPP) program aimed at constructing 30,000 new classrooms by January 2013.

As of 2011, the Department of Education estimated that the country lacked at least twice that many classrooms. The country has a booming population (projected at over 94 million and heavily skewed towards the youth) and hasn’t been able to supply the space needed to teach the growing mass of school children.

Now the Department of Education is pouring in money to fill the gap. The Public-Private Partnership for School Infrastructure Project (PSIP) has an estimated price tag of P10.4 billion. Education Secretary Bro. Armin Luistro expressed hope that the project would help fill the country’s need for 10,000 new classrooms every year.

The first phase of the project will bring around 9,332 classrooms to Regions I, III and IV-A or Calabarzon.

“The project will be done through 3 contract packages which will be implemented simultaneous-

ly,” he sai, adding that the winning bidder will be chosen among the firms with the lowest cost.

Luistro said the bidding would be transparent and upfront. He said parties, dinner invitations and other unnecessary favors presented to him or any official in the Department of Education would be counted as a point against the interested bidder. He even encouraged investors to name DepEd employees who asked for bribes in exchange for a favorable decision.

According to DepEd Undersecretary Francisco Varela, nearly 15 firms have already purchased the bid documents.

For potential investors, Luistro had a clear message. “I will be very direct in saying that it would be important for me, as we initiate this project that you remove from the cost, in your budget, anything related to representation, anything related to gifts, whether this is prior to, during, or after the construction because I think that would be bad business.”

Not only upright but also efficient firms are needed so that Filipino children can get to the business of studying as soon as possible. n

AQUINO guiat, like Chief Justice Renato C. Corona who faces an impeachment trial, enjoys the “presumption of innocence until proven guilty.”

Naguiat and former Pagcor chairman Efraim Genuino, including their families, were implicated in a US case filed by Wynn Resorts, accusing its former partner, Okada, of bribery to gain gambling licenses in the Philippines.

The President tried to defend Naguiat, saying the Pagcor chief was caught in the middle of a dispute between a US-based casino operator and its former Japanese investor.

He said these foreigners apparently thought “we would not fight back even if their allegations are untrue.”

Aquino also noticed that there was “malice” involved when a US investigation did not highlight the fact that a luxury Chanel bag given to Naguiat was actually returned. n

LABOR CHEIF WARNS AGAINST MORE HOLIDAYS LABOR Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz called for a balanced approach on the crafting of bills providing for additional nonworking holidays.

In a statement, Baldoz said that lawmakers, in cooperation with all stakeholders, should take into “wise and careful” consideration the effects of additional nonworking holidays in the overall productivity and competitiveness of the country’s economy.

She also warned all local executives against declaring additional nonworking local holidays.

“Holidays have both economic and sociological effects. They promote or stimulate domestic consumption because people undertake recreational and cultural activities, thereby, scoring high in management and work-life balance practices,” Baldoz explained.

“However, variability in the number

and scheduling of holidays may also affect the capability of companies to coordinate a mutually desired equilibrium of wages and labor hours,” Baldoz added. n

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