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Verbatim I do not want to be an embarrassment to my grandchildren and children. I am so ashamed of myself that I have to do something to correct what I have done. Kaya po maging faithful po tayo . . . Humingi ako ng tawad sa girlfriend ko, sobra sobra.
TV host-comedian Vhong Navarro, expressing remorse for his fondness for going out at night and meting girls, and seeking forgiveness from his long-time non-showbiz girlfriend, after he was mauled inside the condo unit of the woman he was dating
Ruby Tuason, one of the accused in the pork barrel scam, on why she decided to come out of hiding and confess to being the bagman of Janet Lim-Napoles and to delivering kickbacks to Senators Juan Ponce Enrile and Jinggoy Estrada
PNoy’s term is okay. The democracy is healthy from the people’s standpoint. It just shows that the people are content and FULL PAGE AD satisfied.
Mahar Mangahas, president of the survey firm Social Weather Stations, on its latest poll of the people’s perception on the performance of the Aquino administration, adding that its satisfaction ratings were higher than those of past administrations
I know my priorities, siguro kaya na bi-blessed because I don’t have sex.
Kris Aquino, jokingly crediting her being celibate as the secret to her continued success, including the top-grossing movie My Little Bossings where she and youngest son Bimby appeared
Ay hindi po, ay hindi po. Sabi ko sa kanila huwag naman ta baka mapahiya tayo.
Nora Aunor, on being told that her friend Vilma Santos believes that she deserves the honor to be called a National Artist.
Everybody is aware that he’s got a lousy mouth.
Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, responding to Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte’s criticism that De Lima is opening her mouth first “for publicity” before taking any action against rice smugglers. De Lima took Duterte to task for threatening to kill rice smugglers operating in Davao City.
There’s no Plan B. We can do it.
Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Deles, expressing confidence that the peace agreement between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front will push through
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Philippines Thanks World for Typhoon Aid with Billboards, Tweets
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HE Philippines said “Thank you” on billboards around the world in gratitude for the massive outpouring of international help after a typhoon that killed about 8,000 people three months ago. Electronic billboards lit up with “Thank you” signs at New York’s Times Square, Galeries Lafayette in Paris, Tokyo’s Shibuya Crossing, London’s Piccadilly Circus and five other cities on Feb. 7, exactly three months after Super Typhoon Haiyan (local code name Yolanda) struck the central Philippines. “The number of lives lost and affected is unprecedented. But ever since then, the world has been one with the Philippines in helping rebuild the nation,” the tourism ministry behind the ad and social media campaign said on its website. “The Philippines wants to say a big thank you to everyone who are helping us rebuild after Typhoon Haiyan,” the ministry said on its official Twitter page, where it later posted the billboard pictures. Haiyan, one of the
At Picadilly Circus in London
At Gallerie Lafayette in Paris strongest typhoons ever to hit land, smashed across 171 towns and cities in the central islands with a combined land area the size of Portugal, wrecking the homes of more than four million people. The government is still collecting corpses and looking for nearly 2,000 missing people with 6,201 deaths already confirmed, many of them swept away by giant, tsunami-like waves unleashed by Haiyan on coastal communities. In the hard-hit central city of Tacloban, many shops
have reopened in a frenzy of rebuilding but tents and lean-to structures remain the norm in many ruined neighbourhoods, most of which are still without power. “We’re traumatised but there’s nowhere else to go,” Helen May Gabornes, a 27-yearold mother of two, said as she cooked a meal of tinned sardines at a muddy school yard near downtown. The fisherman’s wife and her extended family are among about 500 people living in blue tarpaulin tents and on re-
lief goods there. She told Agence France-Presse her family went to live with Manila relatives on November 12, but returned after Christmas because they could not find jobs and were becoming a burden at her sister’s home. “We came back because we heard the government is giving free housing, but so far, nothing.” Amid the continuing difficulties, the tourism ministry urged the world’s 100 million Filipinos to join its “#PHthankyou” campaign on social media. It suggested they download some of the ministry’s “The Philippines says thank you” notes from its website and adorned with pictures of the country’s top tourist draws, and post them on Facebook, Twitter, and other popular social networking sites. Russell Geekie, spokesman for the UN disaster agency in the Philippines, told AFP the government-led relief effort has addressed many of the survivors’ most acute emergency needs. It was shifting to an “early recovery” phase with a focus on restoring livelihoods for millions of people, he added. However, “shelter needs remain enormous”. “Obviously we talk about resilient people, but the scope of the disaster and destruction is such that it’s very hard. There are remaining psycho-social needs that need to be met,” he said. These include finding the hundreds missing to give their families “closure”. The United Nations launched an international aid appeal in December for $788 million to finance the humanitarian effort for this year. Geekie said the appeal was about 45 percent funded. (Agence France-Presse) n
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Young, Tech-Savvy Filipinos More Sexually Active
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N the age of social media, more young Filipinos are engaging in premarital sex. A recent study on the fertility and sexuality of Filipino youth and young adults showed the digitally-wired generation is exploring new forms of sexual behaviors and activities, too. The 2013 Young Adult Fertility and Sexuality Study (YAFS) conducted among 19,178 respondents showed 1 out of 3 Filipino youth had premarital sex, most of them young adults aged 20-24 (54%). “Increasing prevalence of premarital sex may mean greater acceptance of behavior among our youth than in the past,” Maria Marquez of the University of the Philippines Population Institute (UPPI) said. The increasing pattern in premarital sexual activity is expected, Marquez added. “We suspect new media has something to do with this. That is what defines this young generation now,” survey director Josefina Natividad told Agence France-Presse. “It is being connected to the outside world, via Internet, social media, cellphones that makes them more amenable to being affected (by more liberal sexual attitudes).” The nationwide survey by the Demographic Research & Development Foundation and the UPPI noted the shift of young people’s preference from traditional to new media, which is also evident in their sexual behaviors. Twenty-five per cent, or 1 in every 4 Filipino youth, has sent
One third of the respondents said they had premarital sex, up from 23.2% in 2002 and 17.8% in 1994. or received sex videos through cellphone or the Internet, while one in every 100 Filipino youth has recorded his/her own sex video. In addition, 4 in every 100 Filipino youth has had sex with someone they met online or through text messaging, while 6 in every 100 Filipi- Young Filipinos today are also more sexually no youth engaged in adventurous, largely due to the growing use of technology and new media. phone sex. Young Filipinos today are also more sexually showed a slight decline in the adventurous, the survey noted. number of young Filipinos who Of the 19.2 million young paid for or received payment people in the Philippines, the for sex. survey translates to 1.4 million But access to more informayouth who had engaged in ca- tion through new technology sual sex, 600,000 who had ex- did not mean safer sex choices. perienced having a FUBU (f*ck The study showed that even buddy), and 1 million young as young Filipinos explore more men who had sex with other forms of sexual activities, most men. of them do not use any form They are, however, only of contraception as protection adventurous to some extent. from pregnancy or sexuallyThe prevalence of commercial transmitted disease. sex remains low, as the study This includes 78% of those
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who engaged in premarital sex for the first time. Commission on Population executive director Juan Antonio Perez III, one of the reactors to the study, said the high number of unprotected first premarital sex encounters is something that should be studied further. Another point of concern is the increase in teenage fertility in the past decade. Since 2002, the number of female teenagers who reported being pregnant had more than doubled from 6.3% to 13.6% in 2013. Michael Tan, a reproductive health advocate and dean of the UP College of Social Sciences and Philosophy, said results of the YASF must be shown to the Supreme Court so teenage mothers could get more support from society. “The Supreme Court is going to meet very soon on the reproductive health law...We need to present these figures of YAFS to them to remind them the number of young mothers in the Philippines are also their fault. By depriving our youth of reproductive health services, of comprehensive sexuality and education, we are bringing this country down on its knees,” he said. President Benigno Aquino III signed the RH law in 2012 but a Supreme Court temporary restraining order stopped its implementation shortly after. The Philippines is widely regarded as a conservative Catholic country, with roughly 80% of the population followers of the faith. Due to the influence of the Church, the Philippines is the only country where divorce remains illegal, while abortion is also outlawed and contraceptives are not freely available for the poor. However, Natividad said the survey results showed the Church’s influence among the youth was waning. “The church has no strong effect anymore on how these young people behave,” she said. (Agence France-Presse and Rappler.com) n
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T is a question that has perplexed government policymakers and academics for years: where has the money been going? Since 2006, Alvin Ang, an economics professor at the University of Santo Tomas, has been conducting research into the Filipino migrant worker diaspora for aid agencies, the World Bank, the International Labor Organization and other institutions. “All these years we’ve been receiving a lot of money, but how come nothing is happening. In general, lots are happening in the economy. It has pushed everything up. It has encouraged a lot of investors to come in,” says Ang. “But for the ordinary person who has a family -- who is working abroad -- not much has changed in his life.” It is an all-too-familiar story line for generations of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs): a member of the family leaves for better pay abroad, hoping to build a better life for those left behind -- only to come home years later with little or no savings. An estimated 10 percent of the Philippines’ nearly 100 million population work abroad and they are often hailed by the country as heroes. Nearly every one has a family member or relative abroad. Over 3,000 leave daily for jobs overseas. In 2012, OFW remittances totaled over $21 billion -- forming 8.5 percent of the Philippines’ economic output -- according to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. That was expected to rise by at least six percent last year. To get a perspective of how much money Filipinos abroad have been sending home, imagine this: the 102,000-ton, 1,092foot long Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush cost $6.2 billion when it was completed in 2006. The Phil-
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Where Has the OFW’s Money Gone?
ippine government’s defense budget for 2014 is $1.9 billion. Ang partly blames the failed attempts of Filipino migrant workers to escape poverty on their lack of financial literacy. “OFWs are entrepreneurs, in a way, because they are willing to take a risk much larger than a businessman would take. They are risking their families,” says Ang, who uses his spare time as president of the Philippine Economics Society to give lectures and enlighten OFWs and their families on the need to make intelligent decisions on money matters. “A businessman will take a risk if he knows the full valuation around him. But an OFW is willing to take a risk without any information at all,” says Ang. He tells of a trip that he made last year to Jordan, where he met with Filipinas working as maids for a mere $200 in salaries. “That is just 8,000 pesos and you are leaving your family
We tend to get frightened when it comes to money matters. for that,” relates Ang, shocked. He added that it may have been better for them to find work as maids here, where they are guaranteed rights and benefits by the Kasambahay Law, which was enacted last year to improve the lot of domestic helpers. “What do you lose by working abroad? The social cost is so huge. You may no longer have a spouse when you get back, or your child may no longer recognize you,” Ang says. The government relies on the money they send home to prop up the fragile economy. Countries that host Filipino migrant workers know that. Last year, Taiwan froze the hiring of Filipinos to force Manila to apologize over the May 9 shoot-
ing of a Taiwanese fisherman caught poaching by the Philippine Coast Guard. The sanction was lifted after three months. In early 2010, the Arroyo Administration offered socalled “OFW bonds” worth $500 million in an attempt to directly tap into the remittances. Much of the money Filipino migrant workers send home go to education, household expenses and consumer goods. Commission on Filipinos Overseas Chairperson Imelda Nicolas argues, however, that the economy can get a further boost if Filipino migrant workers plow some of their hardearned money into investments instead of just buying stuff. The agency has several programs teaching financial literacy, but very few take them up because of various reasons. “Our culture is that we tend to get frightened when it comes to money matters. That is why very few people put money in banks,” explains CFO program manager Nico Herrera. He emphasizes that there are people who do have money and they want to go into business, but they do not have the business acumen. “They don’t have anyone to advise them,” says Herrera. “Many think of what they are most familiar with, such as computer repair shops or sarisari stores. But these can only earn so much. They also don’t look around, so they don’t realize that there is plenty of competition.” Since the start of the Filipino exodus in the 1970s, the government has focused on protecting the rights and safeguarding the welfare of Filipino migrant workers following horror stories of abuse by employers and crimes by human traffickers. But clearly the numbers show that that is no longer enough. For Ang, he feels that it is his civic duty to teach financial literacy. He says, “Someone has to go there and talk to them and explain to them these things.” (Vera Files) n
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Manila now a top real estate investment market in Asia Emerging Trends’ City Investment Prospects ranking, 2014:
Manila ranks 4th in terms of real estate investment prospect in the Asia Pacific region.
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HE OUTLOOK for Manila’s property sector is rosy for the year. A new report by the Urban Land Institute (ULI) and PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) showed real estate in the capital region is one of the “best bets” for investors to get into this year. In the ULI and PwC report, called “Emerging Trends in Real Estate Asia Pacific 2014,” Manila ranked fourth out of 23 city clusters in Asia and the Pacific in terms of investment prospects. “The Philippines is a big mover in terms of sentiment this year, drawing a lot of mention in our surveys for the report and emerging as one of the most preferred among all emerging economies this year,” John Fitzgerald, chief executive for Asia Pacific at ULI, said at the report’s unveiling. For Manila, this ranking is a record eight-notch leap from its 2013 spot. In terms of real property, the report noted, there was “an ongoing willingness to look at emerging markets, Indonesia and the Philippines in particular, as alternatives to other more traditionally favored markets.” Tokyo topped the list, followed by Shanghai and Jakarta. Sydney rounded out the Top 5. Hong Kong ranked 18th, Ho Chi Minh City at 19th, Bangalore at 20th, New Delhi at 21st,
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Chennai at 22nd, and Mumbai at 23rd. “Indian cities remain in the doldrums this year as authorities there try to work out various economic and governance issues,” the report read. The is an annual outlook on Asia Pacific real estate investment and development trends, based on the opinion of over 250 market movers in the property sector. The demographic dividend The report tagged Manila as one of the respondents’ “best bet,” putting a “top buy” tag for the residential, office and retail segments. Tokyo holds the leading “buy” rating for the hotel segment, while secondary cities in China are still top buys for the industrial segment. “... Manila – with a young demographic, a growing economy, low vacancies, and large number of expatriates from multinational companies arriving to work there – was the top investment pick,” the report read. Alistair Meadows, head of international capital group at property consultancy firm Jones Lang LaSalle, noted that keen interest in Manila has resulted in demand outstripping supply. “There is clearly very strong interest into investing in Manila. But there should be a willing buyer and seller,” he said. CB Richard Ellis Philippines chairman and managing part-
ner Rick Santos noted the trend is evident in the Asia Pacific region. “I don’t think it’s a lack of capital to invest, but there is a lack of opportunity,” Santos said. with full news by SIEGFRID O. ALEGADO from GMA News
1. Tokyo 2. Shanghai 3. Jakarta 4. Manila 5. Sydney 6. Guangzhou 7. Singapore 8. Beijing 9. Osaka 10. Shenzhen 11. Bangkok 12. China’s secondary cities 13. Melbourne 14. Kuala Lumpur 15. Seoul
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Unemployment:
A Problem Runs Deep
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HERE is a pressing need for a road map towards improving the lag in agriculture and manufacturing to address a stubbornly high unemployment rate. Analysts interviewed by GMA News Online said a strong output alone – which grew by 7.4 percent in the first three quarters of 2013, the fastest phase in Southeast Asia – cannot address Philippine unemployment, especially by relying heavily on the services sector. The United Nations (UN) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have this to say about the Philippine economy: it will continue growing faster than peer economies in Southeast Asia. Despite the rosy predictions, and the latest performance of the economy, the Philippines has the highest unemployment rate in the region. “Translating economic growth into employment opportunities remains a significant challenge in the Philippines,” according to the UN World Economic Situation and Prospects 2014 report released recently. The National Statistics Office (NSO) has noted the population of working age Filipinos or those over 15 years old are more than 63.1 million. But employment in the services sector’s sunshine industry –business process out-
sourcing – account for less than a million jobs.
Not enough jobs Jobs are being generated, but not fast enough to make a dent in unemployment rate of 6.5 percent as of end-October 2013, said Emilio Neri Jr., Bank of the Philippine Islands lead economist. “Jobs growth is commendable, but it is not enough,” he said. The latest unemployment number actually dipped from 6.8 percent in October 2012, but a labor expert said this could be because more Filipinos have given up looking for jobs. Rene Ofreneo, professor at the University of the Philippines School of Labor and Industrial Relations (UP SOLAIR), noted the NSO definition of labor force refer to Filipinos 15 years old and above, employed or unemployed but actively looking for jobs. “A lot of people gave up looking for jobs,” he said. Workers in the services sector comprised the largest proportion of those who are em-
Job seekers flock to the SMS Mall of Asia in Pasay City for the Unlad Kabuhayn Job Fair. ployed or 53.4 percent of the total in October 2013, according to the NSO. But Ofreneo said much of the employment in the services sector consists largely of homebased work, or low-productivity jobs in microenterprises, and contractual work in the retail industry. Because of this reality, the absence of structural reforms will keep the unemployment rate swinging within 6 to 7 percent. “We have very weak jobs generation, especially good quality jobs which is obtained by an economy growing on its industrial feet,” the UP SOLAIR professor said. “Government should do bolder reforms.” Quality employment refers to jobs that espouse security of tenure and mandated benefits like health insurance and social security.
Playing catch up However, strengthening the agriculture and industrial sectors is not a walk in the park. This entails playing catch up in infrastructure development, which has been neglected for decades, said Ildemarc Bautista,
Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co. (Metrobank) research head. Addressing the infrastructure gap, which the World Economic Forum identified as a debilitating bottleneck that chokes investments, will help grow manufacturing and agriculture by easing the hurdles in the supply chain. The whole point mainly revolves on the “investment climate... improving the cost of doing business... infrastructure and logistics,” IMF resident representative Shanaka Jayanath Peiris told reporters in a briefing. “There are also other things that are important. A large part of the population is in agriculture, and it’s not only about manufacturing. Farm-to-market roads are also very important,” he added. Metrobank’s Bautista envisions a more synergistic approach to things, saying government may link manufacturing with agriculture as a means to creating quality employment. “Agro-industries, agribusinesses – there are a lot of opportunities in that area,” he said. (GMA News) n
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PH outsourcing sector to add 100,000 jobs in 2014
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HE PHILIPPINE business process outsourcing industry is expected to add 100,000 new jobs in 2014. The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said BPO employment is expected to reach 1 million by end of 2014. As of December 2013, there are 900,000 employed in the BPO sector. The DTI said it is not worried about US President Barrack Obama’s State of the Union address, where he urged US companies to bring back jobs from abroad. It noted that outsourcing is still a cheaper and more attractive alternative for most US companies. In his address, Obama once again urged US Congress to pass amendments to the Tax Code which provides incentives to companies that outsource jobs overseas. Business Processing Associa-
tion of the Philippines president Jose Mari Mercado said he isn’t too concerned about Obama’s statement as well. In fact, he said there are 140,000 job vacancies in the BPO sector this year. Mercado said outsourcing is always a business decision and the focus now should be how to supply the skills required by the industry. The BPO industry in the Philippines is still growing, Mercado said, because more and more companies from countries like Australia, New Zealand and European countries are starting to Metro Manila is the 2nd top business process outsourcing (BPO) destinations in the world. outsource services. The challenge for the Philip- troducing Service Management the top 10 outsourcing destiFULLitsPAGE AD in the curriculum of nations in the world, according pines now is to maintain Programs competitiveness in the BPO in5 colleges in order to prepare to services globalization and dustry, by providing the right students for the BPO industry investment advisory firm Thotraining for Filipino workers. requirements. There are cur- lons. Metro Manila ranked secMercado said the Philippines rently 1,400 students enrolled ond only to Bangalore, which should focus on improving the in the program. The goal is to remained the top outsourcing training of its workforce. increase the number of stu- city. BPAP has been coordinating dents to 10,000 this year. with full news from with CHED and succeeded in in- Manila and Cebu are among Good News Pilipinas
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By cherie del rio
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It happened so fast and it came out of nowhere. To say that it was unexpected would be an understatement. When the couple broke up four years ago, there were no clear signs that somewhere down the road, the two will eventually find their way back to each other. Sometime last year, both Angel and Luis broke up with their significant others (Angel with star athlete Phil Younghusband, and Luis with Kapuso actress Jennylyn Mercado). No one thought to associate the breakups with each other, despite them happening within the same timeline. As far as the industry was concerned, Angel and Luis were headed for separate paths --no one thought they’d ever cross again. Until last month when Angel shocked everyone with her admission that she is still in love with her ex Luis. During a press conference last month for her new soap, The Legal Wife, Angel confirmed her feelings for her former flame. “Oo mahal, mahal naman,” she said. “Ang love hindi naman nawala pero hindi naman ibig sabihin noon eh magiging kayo ulit o magkakabalikan kayo, di ba?” Angel admitted that she knew a lot of people will be re-
Angel & Luis:
The couple in a playful mood in Dubai.
Rekindling Romance
the
INOY showbiz is not exactly the home of happilyever-afters, much less of stories that subscribe to “love is sweeter the second time around”. Although there have been rumors of late about couples getting back together (Mark Herras and Jennylyn Mercado as well as Derek Ramsay and Cristine Reyes, for example), the real buzz is around the supposed reconciliation of Angel Locsin and Luis Manzano.
acting to what she said; nevertheless, she wanted to be honest. “Siguro gusto ko nang magalit sa akin ang mga tao kaysa lokohin ko, di ba? Mas konsensiya ko naman ‘yon. So pasensiya na. Gusto ko lang maging honest.” The actress stressed that it was important for her to be true to herself. It seemed only logical that critics would be relating Angel’s recent confession to her breakup with Phil, the Filipino-British soccer player. But the actress is quick to clarify that there was no third party involved in that breakup, let alone Luis. She explained that she and Luis have avoided each other for over three years: “So walang makakapagsabi na naglalandian kami kasi nag-iiwasan talaga kami ng napakahabang panahon.” Angel had to face a few detractors after her confession, but she stood her ground.
“I’m sorry kung nagkaroon ako ng medyo emotional episodes kanina, pasensya na po, hindi ko po intensyon na... Nagulat din naman ho ako sa sarili ko, at hindi ko po sinasadya ‘yon. Siguro ayoko lang po magpakaipokrita.” For his part, Luis seemed happy with Angel’s admission. It was a welcome confession, so to speak. But when asked if he would be courting Angel again, Luis recognizes the difficulty of ligaw since they already have a past to begin with. “So kumbaga we’re slowly talking again,” the Minute To Win It host explained. “So sana kung pupunta do’n sa patching things up and maybe rekindling.” Luis visited Angel in her dressing room after the controversial confession. “Hindi niya alam kung ano ‘yung lumabas,” Angel recounted. “Medyo feeling! Feeling-feeling siya! Kasi ‘yung mga bagay nga na hindi
namin napag-uusapan, or hindi ko nasasabi sa kanya, o kahit mga ‘I miss you,’ walang gano’n eh. So nagulat siya na narinig niya.” She added, however, that Luis was there to show support for her new TV show, The Legal Wife. But the story became even more interesting when rumors surfaced that the two will soon tie the knot. It all began when Kris Aquino shared a text message from Angel in one of the recent episodes of her show, Kris TV. “Tinext ako ni Angel,” Kris said. “Tapos sinabi sa akin ni Angel na, ‘Ate, nangangamusta lang sa future ninang naming.’” She added that she got Angel’s permission if she could share the news. “Sinabi ko kasi dati, ‘Oy kapag magkabalikan kayo magnininang ako dapat ha. Tapos ‘yun ang tinext sa akin. So ano kaya ang ibig sabihin noon? Kilig!” Although it was Angel who first admitted her feelings, Luis followed suit not long after. He admitted during the ASAP Live in Dubai show last month that he too was still in love with his former girlfriend. Angel was vocal about hoping to get back together with Luis, but is also candid to say that they are still fixing their differences and talking things out. Luis is equally open about the status of their relationship. “We’re very open about it, we’re very proud of it. Wala kaming itinatago. Pero hindi pa talaga kung sasabihin nang diretsahan. I can swear on it, hindi pa talaga kami nagkabalikan. Nandun na kami sa point na, yes, parang kami na, even how we act. Pero yung formality na, ‘Yes, we’re back together,’ wala pa. Siyempre, formality is needed. Hindi naman puwede na nasa grey area kayo palagi. Of course, yung formality is a form of ‘Yes, we’re back together, we’re in a relationship again.’ Yun na lang ang kulang. May mga bagay lang kami hinihintay before we actually talk about us being together officially.” n
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New bilateral deals, online systems for OFWs
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O IMPROVE the working conditions of overseas Filipino workers (OFW) abroad, the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) is set to forge new bilateral agreements with nine destination countries this year. In a statement, Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said six of these are Middle East countries, which include Bahrain, Iraq, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, and Oman. DoLE will also negotiate for a similar agreement with Italy, Canada, and Switzerland. “These will secure the commitments of governments of labor receiving countries for cooperative action and shared concerns in the field of labor cooperation and migration management, especially for the protection of OFWs,” Baldoz said. Baldoz said OFWs currently in the country could also soon look forward to better services as Philippine Overseas Employment Administration’s (POEA) launches it two online systems.
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DOLE will set to forge agreements to 9 countries this year to improve OFW work conditions.
For new hires, POEA will begin its interactive online Pre-Employment Orientation Seminar (PEOS), which will allow overseas job seekers to access its modules via the internet, particularly its anti-illegal recruit-
ment materials. Baldoz said they initially plan to reach out to half a million OFW beneficiaries nationwide. “The priority areas are the provinces with high incidence of illegal recruitment and ma-
jor sources of household service workers,” Baldoz said. POEA in partnership with the Bureau of Immigration will also begin the operation of its One –Stop overseas employment certificate (OEC) validation system at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA). Baldoz said the joint database system will allow an OFW to go to the immigration counter in NAIA without having to visit POEA’s Labor Assistance Center. The system will be expanded to other international airports by April. Lastly, Baldoz said the National Reintegration Center (NRCO) will also begin its OFW-M3 program (Mag-impok! Magnegosyo! Movement) this first quarter to cater to retiring OFWs. She said the entrepreneurship advocacy project aims to transform OFWs into investors and businessmen. An initial 7,500 OFWs and their families have been selected for the program. (Manila Bulletin)
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Gok Wan to Host PHL Typhoon Benefit Gala
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WARD-WINNING TV personality, fashion guru, author and all round National Treasure Gok Wan will host the special one-night-only concert You’ll Never Walk Alone at the Queen’s Theatre on Sunday 2 March 2014 at 7.30pm in aid of the Philippines Typhoon Appeal. Gok said: “I’m absolutely thrilled to be hosting You’ll Never Walk Alone, the West End’s response to the recent disaster in the Philippines. The atmosphere is going to be electric, the cast are phenomenal and this event is going to be a fantastic way to reignite awareness of this beautiful country where so much has been completely devastated. The work the DEC are doing to provide much needed aid to the areas affected is vital, the reconstruction process is far from over and people of the Philippines still need our help.” Gok will be joined on by an array of stars from the Philippines, the London stage and beyond. Names already confirmed include Danielle Hope, Strictly’s Pasha and Katya, Cynthia Erivo, Cassidy Janson, Britain’s Got Talent’s Francine Lewis, Joanna Riding, Hannah Waddingham, Joseph Apostol, Hugh Maynard, Michael Xavier, Emmanuel Vass and Avenue Q original London cast members Julie Atherton, Jon Robyns, Simon Lipkin and Giles Terera. On 7 November 2013 Typhoon Haiyan, one of the most intense tropical storms ever to make landfall anywhere in the world, struck the Philippines. Millions were affected by torrential rain, winds of over 140mph and flooding of up to 15 feet, devastating coastal areas. Over 14 million people have had their lives torn apart, with approximately 590,000 homes completely destroyed and well over 4 million people forcibly displaced due to the destruction. You’ll Never Walk Alone - The West End Unites for the Philippines is a one night only gala concert in support of the Philippines Typhoon Appeal by the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC). Bringing together 14 of the UK’s leading aid charities, the
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money raised will contribute to the ongoing need for emergency shelter, clean water and food as well as helping survivors rebuild their lives. Promising an unforgettable evening of music and comedy led by a cast of Britain’s brightest stars of the West End and
beyond, this will be an uplifting reminder of the importance of collaboration and the fact that theatre really can make a difference. The concert will also feature an ensemble of Filipino performers and a magnificent on stage band. Don’t miss this chance to see
your favourite stars of the stage and screen for a special one night only gala concert and support the Philippines Typhoon Appeal. Tickets are now on sale from £32.50, with all proceeds going directly to the Disasters Emergency Committee.
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Showbuzz Vhong learns his lesson: Be faithful
IF there’s one major lesson that actor-TV host-comedian Vhong Navarro learned of the mauling incident involving him and businessman Cedric Lee and seven others, it’s fidelity to one’s partner. “Kaya po maging faithful po tayo,” Vhong said in an interview with Korina Sanchez on TV Patrol on Feb. 6 after he was discharged from the hospital. “Humingi ako ng tawad sa girlfriend ko, sobra sobra.” Based on earlier reports, Vhong’s non-showbiz girlfriend for five years is Tanya Bautista. The actor admitted since his younger years, he has been fond of going out at night and meeting girls. Vhong stressed that if there was anything he did wrong, it was only to his girlfriend. “Wala po akong kasalanan kay Deniece [Cornejo], ang may kasalanan po ako sa girlfriend ko po. Doon po ako nagkasala, sa kanya po. Wala po akong kasalanan kay Deniece.” Vhong was referring to 22-year-old model Deniece Cornejo, who accused him of attempting to rape her. The actor has a long-time non-showbiz girlfriend. Vhong said that he initially did not want to go public with his story. “Bukod sa ayaw ko pong magsalita, ayaw ko pong magpaospital sa sobrang takot po…kasi po iniisip ko po hindi na lang po sarili ko, pati po ‘yung mga anak ko, ‘yung pamilya ko po na, e may gagawin po silang hindi maganda, at balak po nilang patayin.” Vhong was discharged from St Luke’s Medical Center on Feb. 6. He immediately headed to the Department of Justice to give his sworn statement on the incident. He filed charges of serious illegal
“That was when we really had the chance to go out. We also got to spend a lot of time together when we went to Dubai recently for ‘ASAP,’” he said, adding that another project with Shaina was in the offing. “She’s young, but already very professional. She can still accomplish a lot of things as an artist; that’s why I don’t want to rush her.”
Vhong gives sworn statement at DOJ. detention, serious physical injuries, grave threats and coercion against Deniece, Cedric and six of their companions.
Shaina and Piolo at a concert.
Piolo: I’m happy being with Shaina
“WHAT we have is special,” he says. But he doesn’t want to rush her. “I don’t want to preempt [love],” said Piolo Pascual of the reason he refused to discuss the real score between him and fellow Kapamilya artist Shaina Magdayao. Piolo claimed Shaina was the girl “closest” to him at the moment. However, he added, “We have both decided to keep quiet about what’s re-
ally happening. Sa amin na lang muna ’yon.” Shaina split up with John Lloyd Cruz in October 2011. Piolo and KC Concepcion ended their relationship a month later. “Shaina and I click,” Piolo shared with reporters during a media gathering for his latest film, Starting Over Again. “I’m happy when I’m with her. We have something special right now. We’ve been friends for many years. If there’s any girl I’m closest to right now, it’s Shaina.” Piolo said their relationship “grew deeper” when they worked on Erik Matti’s actionthrill- er, On the Job, last year.
Toni calls love scene with Piolo a ‘masterpiece’
“MARAMI akong first na ginawa sa pelikulang ito na kaya ko ginawa dahil kay Inang [Direk Olivia Lamasan]. Hindi ko ginawa dahil kaya kong gawin kung hindi dahil sa kanya,” says Toni Gonzaga about the many firsts she did for the Valentine movie, Starting Over Again. Piolo Pascual serves as Toni’s leading man in the romantic movie directed by Olivia Lamasan. Toni has always been very vocal about being uncomfortable doing an intimate scene in any movie or TV project. She explains, “Hindi lang talaga ako sanay kasi hindi naman ako nag-teleserye na gumawa ng mga love scene or kissing scene. Hindi naman ako dumaan sa mga ganun. . . Ang mga ginawa ko, ‘D’ Anothers’, binaboy pa ako. Ha,ha! . . . Magpapakita lang ako ng katawan kung nagpapatawa. Pero kung love scene, parang di ko ma-take.” However, her movie with Piolo seems to be an exception to this. The TV host-actress said
Piolo and Toni in their first movie together.
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Showbuzz she fully trusted Direk Olivia so she agreed to do a love scene with the hunk actor. “Marami akong first na ginawa sa pelikulang ito na kaya ko ginawa dahil kay Inang [Direk Lamasan],” said Toni. “Kapag kay Inang, parang masterpiece ‘yan.” When asked about the outcome of her love scene with Piolo, Toni said with a laugh, “It’s very nice! It’s very naughty but very, very nice. Talagang masterpiece. I’m very proud!” Lamasan described the love scene as “animalistic” and scandalous.” “I think this is the most scandalous love scene [I’ve done],” the director said.
Guy and Pip love team returns
SUPERSTAR Nora Aunor and Tirso Cruz III, who comprise the Guy and Pip love team that peaked during the 70s, are paired anew in the romanticfamily drama, When I Fall In Love. Directed by Joel Lamangan, When I Fall In Love is part of Studio5 Original Movies, a collection of made-for-TV movies set to air on TV5 this February. The Guy-Pip onscreen reunion comes two decades after their last film, Bilangin ang mga Bituin sa Langit. At the premiere of When I Fall in Love recently, the 61year-old actress admitted that some things between her and her co-actor have changed. “Alam mo, marami nang nangyari sa buhay namin, lalo na sa akin,” said Nora. “Siguro yung nakaraan, kumbaga sa nobela, tapos na yung nobela. Closed na yun. Panibagong nobela naman yung paggawa namin ngayon.” Nora, who made a comeback in showbiz in 2011, also
said that she and Tirso have both matured as actors and that what matters is that their love team still brings joy to audiences, especially their loyal fans. When I Fall In Love stars Nora and Pip as the Buenaventura couple, Fely and Armando, whose touching love story is told as the narration shifts to and fro past and present events of their lives.
Aiza, girlfriend now engaged
AIZA Seguerra and girlfriend Liza Diño are now engaged. “I’m so happy, I’m still floating,” said Liza. She revealed that Aiza proposed to her last Feb. 7 in Quezon City. She related that Aiza had set up the whole scenario.
Karylle, Yael to wed in March AFTER Drew Arellano and Iya Villania married on Jan. 31 and after Aiza Seguerra proposed to girlfriend Liza Diño on Feb. 7, another celebrity couple is set to tie the knot. “Next month, we wed, and the new chapter begins,” said actress and singer Karylle, confirming her engagement to Spongecola vocalist Yael Yuzon. Karylle announced the engagement on the noontime show, It’s Showtime, on Feb. 8. She thanked her Showtime co-hosts Vice Ganda, Anne Curtis, Vhong Navarro, Jhong Hilario, Billy Crawford, Coleen Garcia, among others. But most importantly, she thanked Kim Atienza for pointing out her tendency to be a “high-maintenance girlfriend,” which she said helped her become a better girlfriend as well as a better person.
“I thought we were only acting together in a fund-raising play, ‘Kung Paano Maghiwalay,’ at the Teatro Hermogenes Ylagan in UP Diliman. We had
rehearsals and all.” Toward the end of one-night performance, Aiza brought out a diamondstudded sapphire ring. Liza was ecstatic. “It still hasn’t sunk in. We haven’t made plans yet regarding the wedding details.” A former line cook at Spago in Hollywood and beauty titlist, Liza won best actress at the International Film Festival Manhattan for her work in Will Fredo’s indie film “Compound” in 2012. Aiza, who had her start in showbiz as a child star in the noontime show Eat Bulaga, is one of the few openly gay women in local entertainment industry. n
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ORGET about misused public funds, relief efforts in Visayas, and even the latest chance for everlasting peace in Mindanao. In the wake of Vhong Navarro’s beating and the subsequent rape/ blackmail accusations, local news publications are pushing out important stories with headlines like “Why oral sex is not rape,” “Senate probe on Vhong? We’ll see, says ‘best friend’ Jinggoy,” and “Are Vina Morales’ Instagram posts about Vhong Navarro case?”
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Boy Abunda of ABS-CBN interviews fellow Kapamilya Vhong Navarro at the hospital.
3. Talking about celebrities gains politicians free exposure
8 Reasons Why Celebrities Dominate Philippine News
In broadcast news, an episode of TV Patrol (on ABS-CBN) focused 65 percent of its airtime on Vhong Navarro-related topics, while 24 Oras (on GMA7) on the same day devoted 43 percent to the cause célèbre. Clearly, the alleged deeds of showbiz personalities take precedence over “less pressing” issues such as institutional corruption, making life normal again for thousands of disaster survivors, and avoiding further bloodshed for future generations. This also isn’t the first time the news has been dominated by celebrities. Just what is it about them? Well…
8. Celebrity news makes us feel better about ourselves, Part 1 Celebrities represent the best of us, at least in terms appearance, charisma, success, or a combination of the three. It’s natural that we want to know more about these so-called “high-status individuals” and what they’re doing. We want to wear what they wear, eat where they eat, have what they have, so that we can
feel like we’re one of them, enjoying the same kind of social status and attention.
7. Celebrity news makes us feel better about ourselves, Part 2 The flip side of our adoration: we also love it when celebrities fail or suffer. For instance, a celebrity caught cheating on his girlfriend or spouse would make many of us think: “Of course he cheated! All he does is appear on TV shows and movies, and he has nothing better to do with his millions. Serves him right that he got caught!” This makes us feel better about our own ordinary lives. We use the misfortune as gossip fodder, telling each other how thankful we all are that we don’t have to live the carefree yet corrupt celebrity lifestyle. It’s just too much hassle!
6. We all love conflict, especially when it’s public Nothing attracts our attention more than conflict. And yes, conflict isn’t limited to physical activity. In fact, for many a war of words is even more exciting and compelling, especially if it involves notable personalities like celebrities and politicians. Whenever there’s a public
conflict, we all want to know who will win the latest round, or at the very least cheer for the perceived underdog.
5. We have no royal family to pay attention to Without a royal family to obsess over and gossip about, TV and movie celebrities fill the void. We even go gaga when a foreign celebrity pays attention to the Philippines, even if said celebrity was censured by our own Congress (!) for mocking a national icon.
4. Celebrity worship is quite intense in the Philippines According to a 2008 study, Filipino voting decisions are strongly influenced by celebrities. The reason is that, ironically, celebrities are seen as independent of our corrupt political processes. Therefore when they make a recommendation on who to vote for or run for office themselves, the celebrities’ supporters believe the endorsement or candidacy represents a valuable opportunity for real change. So in the Philippines, celebrities don’t just influence how we act or what we buy. They’ve even affected who we’ve voted for in elections for the past 75 or so years.
Local politicians (many of whom, as mentioned above, are celebrities in their own right) have long understood that involving themselves in celebrity matters results in free publicity. Convening Senate hearings for a leaked sex video scandal helps get these politicians’ names out there, through news organizations who are supposed to cover political developments (and personalities) anyway. These officials’ names will remain the topic of public discussion whenever celebrities are involved, ensuring “brand recall” for the next election.
2. Two of the country’s biggest news sources are also the biggest studios/ talent managers Both ABS-CBN and GMA Network are media conglomerates. Which is why, aside from their respective news-gathering organizations, they both maintain a stable of celebrities for their steady supply of TV shows and movies. So perhaps it’s in both companies’ interest to insert their own stars into the news. The coverage may be negative, but it still gets the celebrities’ names out there (similar to what politicians do as described above).
1. Ultimately, the news just gives people what they want Take all of that, and you’ll realize that it’s quite possible that local news outlets are just giving people what they want. Experience has shown that celebrity controversy coverage will always attract an audience. It’s simple economics: with little or no readers or viewers, you won’t be able to attract advertisers’ pesos and stay in the black. Without these easy-yet compelling stories that bring in the money at relatively low cost, who will fund coverage of the real and complex issues? (8List.ph) n
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PH leaps 8 places in global economic freedom index
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HE PHILIPPINES jumped by eight notches in the Heritage Foundation’s 2014 Index of Economic Freedom released. The country, which made strides in seven out of ten indicators of economic freedom, leaped from 97th in 2013 to 89th in 2014, considered moderately free among the 186 countries included in the global ranking. The economies were ranked according to rule of law (property rights, freedom from corruption), limited government (fiscal freedom, government spending), regulatory efficiency (business freedom, labor freedom, monetary freedom) and open markets (trade freedom, investment freedom, financial freedom). The countries were scored from 0 to 100, the average score of 10 indicators. Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia, Switzerland, New Zealand and Canada led the list as free economies, while Eritrea, Venezuela, Zimbabwe, Cuba and
The Philippines ranks 89th (moderately free) in the economic freedom index.
North Korea placed at the bottom as repressed economies. Among countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the Philippines was ahead of Indonesia (100th), Cambodia (108th), Laos (144th), Vietnam (147th) and Burma (162nd) and
behind Singapore (2nd), Malay-sia (37th), Brunei Darussalam (40th) and Thailand (72nd). “It is worth noting that the data used in the 2014 Index were based mostly on 2012 statis-
tics. We believe that there have been significant improvements since then despite the challenges we had to overcome as one nation. The positive results of this evaluation only strengthen our administration’s resolve to continue implementing reforms founded on good governance and true public service, which are necessary prerequisites to fostering lasting and inclusive growth in the Philippines,” the government said in response to the country’s rank. Washington-based Heritage Foundation also commended dethe country’s “high de gree of resilience” reand legislative re forms that were put in place “to enhance the eninvestment en vironment and incentivize broader-based private-sector job growth.” with full news by Jovan Cerda from Philstar
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Flash Flowers Are for Lovers
A woman tends to her flower shop in Quezon City in preparation of the mad rush of love-struck Filipinos who shower their loved ones with colourful flowers on Valentine’s Day.
t Proudly Pinoy Seventeen-year-old Michael Christian Martinez carries the Philippine colors at the opening of the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia. Martinez will compete in figure skating, marking the Philippines’ return to the Winter Olympics after 22 years.
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Enter the Dragon
Chinese New Year celebration won’t be complete without the ubiquitous dragon dance. The advent of the Year of the Horse was observed in traditional ways in Manila’s Chinatown.
s On the Offensive
Government troops launch a major offensive against a splinter Muslim rebel group late last month in Maguindanao. The two-day operation, which left more than 50 insurgents killed, began two days after peace talks with the country’s main Muslim rebel group successfully ended.
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Flash t New Kings
of the Road
Groups of bikers block a road in Quezon City to protest government plans to ban “riding-in-tandem”, or two people on a motorcycle, after a spate of crimes involving “riding-in-tandem” motorcyclists.
s Sinulog Festival
Thousands of participants in colourful costumes join the annual Sinulog Festival in Cebu City to observe the Feast of the Infant Jesus. Considered as one of the grandest festivals in the country, the festive procession is held every third Sunday of January.
t We Will Rock You
A slum dweller throws a rock at a phalanx of riot policemen during a clearing operation in a squatters’ colony in Quezon City. The slum area is being cleared to give way to a development project.
s Can’t Have Enough of It
Workers unload rice imported from Vietnam from a ship docked at a port in Manila. Authorities are looking into big-time syndicates engaged in largescale rice smuggling in the country.
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By matikas santos
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HE reason why Filipinos love social media so much or why Filipinos invite others to eat with them is also the same reason why Filipinos have been constantly making waves in the international singing stage. “The number one value of the Filipino is connectivity, we like to connect people,” National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) Chairman, Felipe De Leon Jr. said during a promotional event for the 2014 Philippine Arts Festival in February. “We like to do things that bring people together, because all over the world we are the most highly relational people, no doubt about it,” De Leon said. “In the Philippines, hardly anybody eats alone, when someone is eating alone, we feel pity for them ask them if we can join them.” He also cited a Gallup poll in 2012 that found The Philippines as the most emotional country in the world. Being emotional or expressive helps Filipinos connect with each other. “What does it mean when you are expressive, the more expressive you are, the more open you are, the more you can attract people,” De Leon said.
Best way to connect “Being expressive is one of the best ways to connect, and the most expressive of the arts are the performing arts. That’s why Filipinos really excel in performing arts,” he said, citing the University of the Philippines (UP) Madrigal Singers which has won multiple competitions worldwide. The group is the first choir in the world to have won the European Grand Prix for Choral Singing twice, first in 1997 and the second in 2007. It is also the first choir in the world to
The UP Madrigal Singers exemplify our expressive nature as a people.
Other examples of the Filipinos love for multiplicity are the galinera bench which has compartments underneath used as a cage for chickens and the shopping malls that contain almost all things Filipinos want or need. “All over the world we have the most multipurpose mall. Go to Europe, their malls are just the department store of ours, no hardware store or cinema houses,” De Leon said. “Where else can you find a mall where you can pay your bills, renew your licenses, apply for passports, go to church, get medical service, [and] go ice skating. There is no other place like that in the world. Why? Because we love to make things that bring people together,” he said.
Selflessness We go to malls not only to shop but also to connect with people.
The ‘Multiplicity’ of Filipinos and the Art of Bringing People Together be awarded The Brand Laureate Premier Award from the Asia Pacific Brands Foundation. International organizations such as UNESCO and Concorso Polifonico Guido d’ Arezzo Foundation have also honored the group for its contributions to the world. De Leon also cited Filipina caregiver Rose Fostanes who recently won the top prize in the reality television singing competition X-Factor Israel. “[She won] through singing because that is expression, it brings people together,” De Leon said. Famous singers in the international stage are Lea Salonga, Charice Pempengco, Arnel Pineda, Allan Pineda (apl.de.ap), among others.
Beyond singing The Filipinos’ love to connect go far beyond just singing, De Leon said. In the visual arts, Filipinos love using multiple mediums because when they use only one, such as painting, it only attracts those who are painters. “What the Filipino wants is for all media to be there so it can become an instrument for bringing people together,” De Leon said. “Filipinos don’t like just one song, they like medleys because all their favorites are there. Anything multiple, like halo-halo or sinigang, brings people together,” he said. In Western cultures, these foods would be served as separate dishes, he noted.
The most attractive trait for Filipinos is selflessness, De Leon noted. “The most powerful in bringing people together is selflessness. Anything selfless is the most attractive to the Filipino, because everybody identifies with selflessness,” he said. “In order to unite this country we have to have a selfless leader,” De Leon citing Philippine national hero Dr. Jose Rizal who was the inspiration for the Katipunan Revolution and former Senator Benigno Aquino Jr. who chose to return to the Philippines despite threats to his life. The recent Feast of the Black Nazarene was also cited as unmatched in the world because of the amount of Filipinos that it attracts to it. De Leon said it was a symbol of selflessness. “The phenomenon that cannot be matched anywhere in the world is the [Feast of the Black] Nazareno, because the Black Nazarene is a symbol of selflessness. Can’t you see how many people are attracted to that?” De Leon said. “Anything multiple, anything that brings people together, especially the sacred, is what attracts Filipinos to one another,” he said. (Philippine Daily Inquirer) n
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‘OFW maturity’ helps propel growth in real estate sector
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O SAY that overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) have contributed to the real estate sector’s growth is incomplete, as it is important to emphasize “OFW maturity” in the assertion, said an official. Anthony Leuterio, president of the Philippine Allied Chamber of Real Estate Brokers and Licensed Salesmen, Inc. (PhilAcre), defined maturity as the period when OFWs have already reached their 20th year or more or working in other countries. He said this maturity has pushed OFWs either return to the Philippines and find a place to stay or continue working for a few more years and invest in real estate. “OFWs who have worked for a very long time already have the money to buy (properties),” he said. Leuterio, who is also the founder and president of Leuterio Realty and Brokerage, said that apart from local activities, he and his team also focus on international road shows to attract OFWs. The team has flown to the US and some parts of Asia and Europe. Asia accounts for the biggest number of OFWs. 30% for real estate Leuterio said they have gone to these areas since many OFWs working there have shown interest in purchasing properties like condominiums and housing units, either for investment or personal use. Developers have also shown support to the firm’s road shows. Leuterio said that a homegrown developer recently poured out P3 million in support of the team’s international road shows. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas reported that 30 percent of OFW remittances are targeted to be invested in real estate investments. BSP encourages overseas Filipinos and their families to increase savings and investment. It further urges commercial banks to offer them specialized investment products and services like real estate with direct payment schemes. BSP Gov. Amando M. Tetangco Jr. reported last Jan. 15 that
OFW maturity has pushed workers to return to the Philippines and find a place to stay and invest in real estate.
FULL PAGE AD personal remittances from OFWs “rose by 9.5 percent yearon-year in November 2013 to reach the highest level to date of US$2.286 billion.” The figure marked the eighth consecutive month in 2013 that personal remittances breached the US$2billion mark. Aside from OFW maturity, Leuterio also cited other key drivers of the real estate sector which include the growth of the business process Outsourcing sector, tourism, housing backlog, good governance, migration, and population growth. Manila and Cebu were previously hailed by investment advisory firm Tholons as two of the top ten best outsourcing destinations for this year, with Manila ranked second and Cebu in the eighth spot. Leuterio also cited the tourism scene in the Philippines, especially Cebu, as furthering the demand for apartments and condominiums, with tourists looking for a temporary place to stay. Tourist arrivals in Central Visayas between January and October last year increased by 12.50 percent over the same period in 2012, reported the Department of Tourism 7. The official also commended the Aquino administration’s “good governance.” The housing backlog nationwide is at 4.5 million, reported Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board regional Director
Alixes Roy Lopez. Population, meanwhile, has already reached 100 million. Leuterio observed that migration from other provinces affected by armed conflicts and natural calamities has also created an added demand for
housing and condominium projects in Cebu. Over the last 12 months, about 170 condominium projects were being constructed in different areas in Cebu, he added. with full news by Jeandie O. Galolo from Sun Star
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Native Pinoy Snacks Reveal How Chinese We Are W By sol vanzi
HEN US President Bill Clinton attended the 1996 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit hosted by the Philippines, he stayed at the MacArthur Suite of the Manila Hotel and immediately fell in love with pancit bihon, which he had as a light evening snack.
Upon their return to the White House, both the US president and his wife, Hillary, started requesting the Filipinos in his staff to prepare what is known around the world as a truly native Filipino dish. This insider tidbit was revealed by Lito Bautista, a US Navy steward who served several American presidents starting with President Richard Nixon. Bihon, the Filipinized term for thin rice noodles, comes from the Chinese mifun or mifan, meaning rice (fan) noodle (mi or mei). The recipe is basically a stir-fry of vegetables, various meats and seafood (just like chop suey) atop fried rice noodles. In short, almost identical to the popular American-Chinese dish chow (fried) mien (noodles). What distinguishes our original pancit bihon from US Chinatown chow mien is a Cavite culinary secret which Clinton’s aide Bautista, a native of Silang, would have shared with the White House kitchen staff. The magic ingredient is pakot, the strained juice of fresh shrimp and crab shells and heads which Cavitenos consider absolutely necessary when cooking pancit, chop suey, and vegetable sautés.
Lumpia conquers all Always present at sit down dinners, meriendas and buffets is the ubiquitous Lumpiang
The color, taste and cooking method are all similar to Chinese Char Siu, ever-present in every dimsum restaurant around the world. The only difference is the size of the meat pieces; Filipinos slice the pork before grilling, while the Chinese broil or roast chunks of meat to be sliced shortly before serving.
Arroz caldo, goto Lumpiang prito
Goto
Shanghai, which is totally unknown in the historic Chinese city. Lumpia is so identified with Filipinos that wheat spring roll wrappers sold at supermarkets around the world are generically labeled lumpia wrappers. Lumpia, the perfect showcase of Filipino culinary ingenuity, has three popular variations: small fried Lumpiang Shanghai containing ground meat, fat Lumpiang Prito filled with sauteed vegetables, and unfried Lumpiang Sariwa featuring coconut heart of palm cooked with shrimps meat and flavored with pakot. Each lumpia type has a specific dip or sawsawan: thick sweet-sour sauce for Lumpiang Shanghai, chili-spiced vinegar for
Lumpiang Prito, and sweet-salty brown sauce livened with fresh garlic for Lumpiang Sariwa. Lumpia is one dish that demonstrates the geographical extent of Chinese trade all over Asia before Europeans came to “discover” and colonize our shores. Every country in Southeast Asia has at least one version, often localized to incorporate ingredients readily available in each locale.
Pinoy Pork BBQ When western food critics review Filipino-owned restaurants in the Unites States, many zero in on pork barbecue skewered on bamboo sticks. All love the orangey sticky-sweet marinade and crusty bits of scorched pork fat which accentuate, rather than overwhelm, the tender meat pieces.
Thick rice soups, known nationwide as chicken-flavored arroz caldo and tripe-enriched goto, are served at fast-food joints or ladled from ambulant street carts. One of the best versions is available at the iconic Aristocrat Restaurant where arroz caldo contains tripe while pospas has chicken pieces. Like lumpia and pancit, arroz caldo originated from China. Hong Kong dimsum eateries (tea houses) list the dish as congee. In Manila, the fish congee most closely resembling Hong Kong’s specialty can be ordered from Hap Chan Tea House branches and at the Golden Bay Restaurant on Macapagal Avenue, Baclaran, almost next door to S&R. True to Chinese tea house tradition, both eateries offer congee with a wide selection of ingredients: freshwater fish, pork, beef, chicken, century egg, raw chicken egg, organ meats, pork floss, etc. Finishing touches atop the steaming bowls of congee are sesame oil and chopped green onions. Filipinos, too, top goto and arroz caldo with green onions, but substitute fried garlic and garlic oil for the imported sesame oil. Seasoning the rice soup like pancit, Pinoys seem unable to down rice soup without calamansi and patis, sometimes spicing the dish with very hot green or red chili peppers. (Manila Bulletin) n
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Tourism dept declares 2015 ‘Visit Philippines Year’
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HE Department of Tourism (DOT) has declared 2015 as the “Visit Philippines Year” to coincide with the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) Ministerial Meetings and Leaders Summit that year. Tourism Secretary Ramon R. Jimenez Jr. made this announcement at the close of the 17th Meeting of Asean Tourism Ministers in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia. “Visit Philippines Year [VPY 2015] will feature a calendar of events and activities that are an exciting mix of all the outstanding work of the Filipino people in painting and the graphic arts, cinema, performance art to include music, dance and theater arts, as well as the unveiling of many more historic treasures, natural wonders and unforgettable adventures,” he said. “Visit Philippines Year is an
The Department of Tourism has announced 2015 as Visit Philippines Year.
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invitation to all, especially our brothers and sisters in Asean [Association of Southeast Asian Nations], to come and partake of the enduring promise of ‘more fun’ in the Philippines.” The DOT has yet to announce a visitor arrivals target for 2015,
but it is aiming for 10 million foreign tourists by 2016. The Asean tourism ministers meeting is among the activities being held in Kuching as part of the ongoing Asean Tourism Forum (ATF), which began on January 16 and concluded on January 23. The ATF in 2015 will be held in Myanmar, while the Philippines will host the annual tourism meet in 2016. Jimenez said the Philippines will immensely benefit from the Asean integration in 2015. “One of the global travel trends is toward more and more travel to and within Southeast Asia. Asean’s gain will be the Philippines’s gain. Simple as that.” Data from the DOT show that the Asean market accounts for only 6 percent of visitor arrivals in the Philippines, mainly from Singapore and Malaysia. At the tourism ministers meet, Jimenez underscored the leadership of President Aquino, who he said has focused on tourism as one of the pillars of growth and inclusiveness. “To this end, the Philippine tourism industry has received levels of support from the national government, from local governments and the private sector on an unprecedented scale.” In 2014 tourism projects will
be receiving a P30-billion budget from the national government. The budget will target 10 strategic tourism areas in the country dubbed as “international tourism gateway clusters.” In their joint press statement, the Asean tourism ministers said the region continues to remain “an attractive destination for both regional and international tourists,” registering 90.2 million visitors in 2013, up 12 percent from 2012. They noted that “75 percent of the measures for 2013” under the Asean Tourism Strategic Plan “have been duly completed,” with the rest of the measures to be monitored to ensure implementation. The ministers also expressed a message of support to the Philippines in the aftermath of the earthquake that hit Cebu and Bohol, and Supertyphoon Yolanda (international code name Haiyan) that barreled through central Philippines, both of which hit the country in the last quarter of 2013. “We acknowledge the swift action and measures undertaken by the Philippine government to bring back normalcy and commencement of the rehabilitation process. Toward this end, the ministers endorsed the implementation of the Asean Tourism Framework in responding to climate change to ensure the sustainable development of tourism in the region,” the ministers added. The ministers noted the improvement in air connectivity within Asean with the implementation of an open-skies agreement, and commended the progress in the air services negotiations between the region and China, the European Union, Japan and South Korea. They also pointed to continuing work in the development of an Asean common visa for nonAsean travelers. (Business Mirror)
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2nd Manila Wear Goes to the International Fashion Showcase London 2014
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ASHION PHILIPPINES will once again bring Manila Wear to the upcoming International Fashion Showcase (IFS) London from 13-23 February 2014. The Philippine exhibition is organized by the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM) and the Garments and Textile Industry Development Office (GTIDO) of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), in cooperation with the Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC), the Philippine Embassy in London, and the British Fashion Council. As the Philippines’ premier fashion brand, Manila Wear embodies the country’s vibrant culture, fun and carefree lifestyle, translated into comfortably unstructured and richly embellished tropical and resort fashion pieces. The IFS, which runs as a complimentary event to the highly anticipated London Fashion Week, is an initiative of the British Council, the
UK’s international organization for educational and cultural relations; and the British Fashion Council, an ad hoc group that aims to showcase upcoming designers from the participating countries and develop the UK’s fashion design industry. The British Fashion Council organizes London Fashion Week, as well as the prestigious British Fashion Awards. The second Manila Wear exhibition will feature tropical and resort wear, including bags, jewelry, and fashion accessories that evoke the Philippine traditional and modern culture. “The strength of the Philippine fashion industry lies with the designers’ ingenious use of homegrown materials, creating truly innovative designs that have an international appeal. The works of this year’s exhibitors perfectly encapsulates all that, producing distinctive tropical and resort wear.” With these words, CITEM Executive Director Rosvi C. Gaetos is positive that Manila
Wear’s second foray into the International Fashion Showcase will be as successful as the previous year. The exhibition will run from 13-23 February 2014 at the 180 Strand, London WC2R 1EA, from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm daily. (Philippine Embassy)
EMBASSY OUTREACH The Embassy held its first Consular Outreach Mission for 2014 in Manchester on 15 February at St. Augustine’s Church.
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NEXT OUTREACH: BELFAST (15 MARCH) ISLE OF MAN (26-27 APRIL) DUBLIN (17-18 MAY) Further information, including venue and opening times, will be announced later. For more info please go to http:// philembassy-uk.org/
UK GlobeTel enters UK telecoms landscape
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K GlobeTel Limited, a subsidiary of Globe Telecom, Inc. was launched in July 2013. Globe UK introduced Globe UK sim - a prepaid service that allows subscribers to call and text UK & Philippines with affordable deals, and Globe DUO UK - a service that assigns a virtual UK number to a Globe and TM mobile number. Callers from the UK can call the virtual number, giving them a ‘local’ calling experience.
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By norma chikiamco
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FTER many years of cooking for my family, I’ve accumulated a few adobo recipes which I’d cook every now and then.
There’s Adobong Malabon, for instance, as well as adobo with liver sauce and adobo with gata. The type of adobo I’d cook on any given day would depend on the moods and preferences of the people I’m cooking the dish for. However, sometimes I’m discouraged from cooking adobo because of having to brown the meat after it has been simmered in vinegar. As anyone who has done this knows, browning adobo meat in oil not only requires another pan, it also means oil and fat spattering all over the stove as the meat starts to brown. This creates quite a mess, not to mention the risk of scorching your hand as you bravely try to coax some color into the meat. Recently, while in the US, I resigned myself to such risks in order to cook adobo for my daughter. Until I noticed that, after almost all the liquid had evaporated from the simmering meat, there emerged a pool of liquid fat on the bottom of the casserole. With the joy of Archimedes discovering his now famous fluid displacement principle, I decided to just brown the meat in the residual oil. Why use two pans if one will do, I told myself. To my delight, I found that the meat browned nicely in the very same pot where the pork had been simmered. Moreover the meat didn’t spatter, thereby saving me from potential oil burns. After the meat had browned, I made a simple sauce of vinegar, soy sauce and water, which I poured into the same pot as the browned meat. Never mind that it didn’t have pounded
My One-Pot Adobo
chicken liver as a thickener, as one of my recipes required. The liquid nevertheless reinforced the tangy acidity of this vinegar stew -- and became the foundation sauce which, as we Filipinos love to do, would be perfect for spooning into hot rice. I call this dish my One-Pot Adobo. Once you’ve marinated the meat early in the day, you’ll find that cooking it for dinner is actually easy—and you only have to wash one pot afterwards. Just make sure to allot about 45 minutes to one hour for simmering the meat to tenderness.
One-Pot Adobo
• 1 1/2 k boneless pork shoulder (kasim or pigue or a combination of both. See tips) • 2 whole bulbs of garlic, chopped • 3 cups vinegar, divided • Coarse salt • 1 cup water • 2 bay leaves
• Cooked rice For the sauce: • 1/2 cup soy sauce • 3/4 cup vinegar • 1 1/4 cup water Cut the pork into large cubes around 11/2” x 11/2” in size (or have the butcher cut it for you when you buy the meat). In a nonreactive pan (not aluminum), marinate the pork cubes in the garlic and two cups of the vinegar. Cover the pan and keep in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours (8 to 10 hours will do). When ready to cook, sprinkle coarse salt all over the pork cubes. Transfer the pork to a nonreactive (stainless-steel or enamel) cooking pot or pan. Pour in the remaining one cup vinegar and one cup water. Add bay leaves. Bring to a boil, without stirring. Lower the heat to a simmer. At this point you can already stir the pork. Let the pork simmer until tender and almost
all the liquid has evaporated, about 45 minutes to one hour. By this time, there should be some oil on the bottom of the pot (from the fat in the pork). Using the same pot, brown the pork cubes in the residual oil, stirring the pork around the bottom of the pot so all the pork cubes get evenly browned. Make the sauce: In a bowl, combine 1/2 cup soy sauce, 3/4 cup vinegar and 11/2 cups water. Pour into the pork cubes. Simmer for about 10 minutes. Remove the bay leaves. Serve with cooked rice. Recommended sides: • Chopped fresh tomatoes • Wansuy leaves • Coarse salt • Ripe bananas (optional) Combine the tomatoes and wansuy leaves and season to taste with coarse salt. Serve with the adobo. If desired, serve also some ripe bananas on the side.
Cook’s tips Do not use an aluminum pan and pot for marinating and cooking the pork cubes as aluminum reacts with the vinegar. For marinating, use a stainlesssteel, glass or enamel bowl. Similarly, for cooking the pork, use a stainless steel or enamel pot or casserole pan. Aside from pigue or kasim (pork shoulder), another cut of pork you can use is liempo (pork belly). However, since liempo is very fatty, it’s best to use only about 1/4 kilo of it. A good combination of pork cuts for adobo would be 11/4 kilos of pork pigue and kasim and 1/4 kilo liempo. Some supermarkets sell a combination of pork pigue and kasim as pork cubes. You can marinate the pork up to 24 hours ahead. But if in a hurry, even a few hours will do. Best is to marinate the pork early in the day then cook it in the evening. To prevent spoilage, make sure to store the marinated pork in a tightly covered pan in the refrigerator until you’re ready to cook. (Philippine Daily Inquirer) n
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