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Verbatim Di naman ako siguro failure sa love life. Tulad ng iba, ako ay nagmahal at minahal rin.

President Benigno Aquino III, when queried by reporters last month – for the nth time - about his love life

He’s not revolutionary in the doctrine aspect. He is quite conservative . . . He is a guy who is not changing the doctrine of the church. Argentinian Fr. Luciano Fellon, parish priest of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Caloocan City who knew Pope Francis when the latter was still a priest in Argentina, on Pope Francis’ unique style of approaching the Church doctrine

It’s not wrong to be born rich. What [Mar Roxas] needs to do is to show people that despite the fact that he’s rich, he will go out of his way to reach the poor. House Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales II’s advice to Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas to stop trying to look masa, which partly causes his low popularity FULL PAGE AD among the poor rating, particularly

Being a homosexual is not a sin. It is a state of a person.

I want to retire while I can still make love. Former President Joseph Estrada, on his future plans after his term as mayor of Manila ends in 2016

Archbishop Socrates Villegas, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, on whether Pope Francis condemned members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transexual (LGBT) community

The House [of Representatives] should consider suspending Pacquiao up to the end of his term as Kapag hindi ka magaling maghe treats House work as a hobby or English . . . feeling sideline. Former Senator Rene Saguisag, on nila bobo ka. Sarangani Congressman Manny Pacquiao’s habitual absence from the House because of his boxing career and his latest preoccupation as playing coach in the PBA basketball league

Actress Marian Rivera, lamenting the apparent mindset among Filipinos that those who speak English fluently are more intelligent

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By tim dahlberg

L Mayweather Must Fight Pacquiao Next AS VEGAS (AP) -- Floyd Mayweather Jr. built a career - and made a fortune - by using deception to confuse and outwit his opponents.

Playing the same game outside the ring has also paid off for Money May. Mayweather has, for the most part, been able to fight who he wants, where he wants and when he wants. He sells enough pay-perviews that he has been able to avoid a fight with Manny Pacquiao that should have taken place five years ago. But the game has gotten old, even if Mayweather’s many yes men haven’t had the courage to let him know. His latest attempt to twist the story line about a possible fight next year with Pacquiao was so dated and absurd that even the sycophants in his sizeable entourage had to be rolling their eyes. The wizard of defense has finally been boxed into a corner. The charade is over, whether Mayweather realizes it or not. He must fight Pacquiao next, if his career is to have any legitimacy. And he must to do it on terms that reflect he won’t be the only superstar in the ring. Mayweather didn’t seem to grasp that last Dec. 13 when he broke his silence and tried to make it seem as if he were challenging Pacquiao to a fight, not the other way around. In an “‘interview”’ with the Showtime network that employs him, Mayweather not only declared he wanted Pacquiao, but set a May 2 date for the fight. Lest long suffering boxing fans get too excited, though,

Now it’s time for Mayweather to walk the talk. the conditions quickly followed. Mayweather not only wants to pick the date but to set the purse to his liking and have Showtime be the broadcaster. He regurgitated old arguments about blood testing that didn’t make sense five years ago when he first started spouting them and make absolutely no sense now. Luckily, the interview ringside in San Antonio didn’t last long. If it had, Mayweather might have demanded Pacquiao be allowed to train only one week for the fight, have his blood taken in the locker room just before he goes into the ring and not be able to use his right hand for the first eight rounds. That may be laughable. But so, too, is this: “‘Manny Pacquiao, (promoter) Bob Arum, you guys have been ducking us for years,’” Mayweather said. ‘”We’re tired of you guys fooling the public, fooling the critics. Before we

tried to make the fight happen and you guys didn’t want to take random blood and urine testing. So that’s why the fight didn’t happen. Then I offered you $40 million and you didn’t want to make the fight happen. Then you lost twice and now you’re coming back begging for the same money. That’s not going to happen.’” Maybe Mayweather doesn’t read the papers. If he had, he would know Pacquiao had no problem with unannounced blood tests for his fight with Chris Algieri last November. He would know that Pacquiao and Arum would almost surely accept a smaller purse as long as the money split wasn’t lopsided. He would know that the free ride is over for the most part and Showtime won’t keep paying him $20 million to $30 million to fight the Marcos Maidanas of the world. The fact of the matter is pay-per-view buys are slowing

for both Pacquiao and Mayweather. Pacquiao’s fight last November with Algieri in Macau wasn’t a big seller, and both of Mayweather’s fights last year with Maidana underperformed. Both HBO and Showtime are charging premium rates, but not showing premium fights. Put Mayweather and Pacquiao in the ring together and that would change. Though both fighters have slowed some in recent years, the matchup is still one fans desperately want and are willing to pay for. It would be the richest fight in history, and it wouldn’t be close. Frankly, it’s hard to see why Mayweather hasn’t already signed on the dotted line. He would easily make $100 million, maybe more. Assuming he wins - and Vegas oddsmakers have already put up lines favoring him by as much as 3-1 - he would cement his legacy and bolster his claim to being one of the great fighters of all time. But if the fight has an expiration date, so do the negotiations. For a fight as big as this, they would likely need to be wrapped up by the end of the year to allow time for the promotion to begin. It’s taken five years to even get Mayweather to say he wants the fight. Now it’s time for him to step up and show he really means it. (Tim Dahlberg is a national sports columnist for The Associated Press.) n

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Majority of Filipinos

hopeful, positive in 2015

NATIONAL SURVEY has determined that nearly nine out of 10 Filipinos are facing the coming New Year with hope. Pollster Pulse Asia released the results of its Ulat ng Bayan (National Report) survey conducted in mid-November of 2014 which indicated that 88% of Filipinos across every socio-economic class and geographic area carry the predominantly hopeful sentiment. The 88 percent majority covers respondents from National

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We go beyond what is Filipino. Splash carries your brand across all across the migrant community network: With our readers now coming from other nationalities.

Capital Region/Metro Manila (86 %), Luzon (91 %), Visayas (89 %) and Mindanao (84 %). The hopeful disposition prevails amid socioeconomic classes with Class ABC at 90 percent, Class D at 89 percent and Class E at 84 percent. Respondents who said they were “without hope” comprised one percent in all areas except for Class ABC which registered zero percent. The national average for ambivalent responses registered at 11 percent. Pulse Asia conductedFULL face toPAGE

For advertising inquiries, call 0207 5818100 Email: splashpress@aol.com Additional drop points where it matters: Also in 3 major airport lounges and over 40 International English student lounges face interviews asking respondents the question, “Will you face the coming year – With Hope, Maybe With Hope/Maybe Without Hope, Without Hope?” The survey had 1,200 representative adults aged 18 years old and above. The results reg-

istered a ± 3% error margin at 95% confidence level. The academic pollster maintains its report is free from any partisan interest as it is not a commissioned research. (Good News Pilipinas)

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ENATOR Grace Poe used to respond to her rising survey numbers with a dismissive smile and her soft laughter. Not this time. In the wake of the release of a November Pulse Asia survey showing a surge in her poll numbers, Poe said she is scared but she’s not closing her doors to seeking higher office in 2016

Grace Poe Noncommittal to 2016 Run

What would persuade her to run?

“Sa totoo lang, mas lalo ako nababahala. Ang trabahong ‘yan ay hindi biro. Hindi ‘yan para sa hindi handa. Hindi ko masasabi, pero marami kasi talagang hindi naman pinaplano ‘yan,” Poe said on Dec. 10. Poe added: “Ngayon lamang ay nag-iisip akong mabuti. Hindi para sabihin na oo kung hindi para siguraduhin na kung saka-sakali ay handa ako sa anumang bagay, kahit na manatili dito sa Senado na sa tingin ko ay karangalan na para sa akin.” She said she doesn’t think she’s ready for the big responsibility and she’s afraid of the experience of her father, the late Fernando Poe Jr, who ran in the 2004 presidential elections but was in the end betrayed by the same people who egged him on to run. What would persuade her to run? “Ayokong sabihin ang tipping point baka kasi gawin nila,” she said, laughing. The latest Pulse Asia survey on preferences in the presidential race shows Poe jumping from 10% in September to 18% in November 2014. This puts put her numbers closest to frontrunner Vice President Jejomar Binay, who suffered a decline from 31% to 26%. Poe has been eyed by some sectors to become the administration’s candidate in 2016.

Talk was further fueled after she was invited to the Liberal Party (LP) Christmas party. But for most LP members, Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas, who is on leave as LP president, remains the sentimental choice because of their personal knowledge of Roxas’ sacrifices and accomplishments as Mr. Aquino’s “troubleshooter.” Last month LP secretary general Samar Rep. Mel Senen Sarmiento floated the Mar-Roxas-Grace Poe tandem, saying it would “combine leadership, experience and expertise in governance with mass appeal, honesty and idealism.” “They can complement each other in terms of their strengths and weaknesses. Secretary Roxas has a deep experience in governance and has a proven track record as a public servant but he seems to lack the masa appeal of Senator Poe,” Sarmiento said. Poe finds herself in her father’s footsteps. She’s being eyed to beat a frontrunner candidate in the same way that FPJ was eyed to beat then President Gloria Arroyo, who benefited from the ouster of his friend President Joseph Estrada. In 2005, Newsbreak also reported break-ins at the Batasan Pambansa to switch election returns (ERs) with fake ones to Arroyo’s victory. It was meant to cover up the

massive – and messy – cheating done during the actual canvassing of votes. The ERs were the subject of an election protest filed by FPJ, who died in December 2004. “Siguro kakaiba lang kasi ay ang pinagdaanan ng tatay ko. ‘Yun ang unang-una. Sariwa pa sa isip ko ‘yun. Hindi naging madali. Maraming kaibigan sa umpisa, pero pagdating na sa pangangailangn, nawawala. Masakit ‘yun,” she said. She added: “Unang-una, hindi naman talaga niya pinangarap. May mga nagtulak sa kaniya. Sa bandang huli, sila pa mismo ang sumaksak sa kaniya sa likod. Pangalawa, wala naman akong makinarya. Katulad ng tatay ko, wala akong partido. Pangatlo, sy’empre katulad ng tatay ko, hindi naman ako ganoon katagal sa gobyerno. Ang tatay ko nga wala pang experience. Lahat ‘yan makukumpara natin,” she said. A Binay-Poe battle in 2016 could prove to be a major headache for their mutual friends and allies, particularly Estrada. Binay’s United Nationalist Alliance, of which Estrada is one of the founders, had warned Poe against the LP. UNA interim president Toby Tiangco reminded Poe that the Vice President was the true ally of FPJ. Tiangco is counting on Poe to instead run for vice presi-

dent, citing her statements that she may not be ready for the presidency. He also reminded Poe that LP was allied with Arroyo during the 2004 elections, and were therefore part of the conspiracy to cheat Poe. But Estrada finds himself in a deep bind. His shifting loyalties betray his deep predicament. In the weeks following the May 2013 elections which saw Poe topping the senatorial race, Estrada, said he would support Binay even if Poe made a bid for the presidency in 2016. “I’m 100 percent for Binay,” he told the Philippine Daily Inquirer. “It’s enough that we’ve had two women presidents,” he added, referring to the late President Corazon Aquino and former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. But when pressed by Inquirer columnist Neal Cruz last month who he would support if Poe eventually runs against Binay, Estrada said, “I will have a difficult time, but I will choose Grace.” Asked to explain his choice, Estrada said, “When it was his turn to run for president, I was not able to campaign for him because I was already imprisoned, although it was I who convinced him to run. Now that his daughter Grace may run for president, I have to help her. It’s the only way I can repay FPJ. My conscience will bother me if I don’t support her. Baka pag multuhan nya pa ako.” As for Binay, he quipped, “Eh, bahala na siya.” (Rappler.com) n

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A Brit’s Journey of Discovery Thomas and his father (right) during the latter’s visit to the country. By tricia aquino

Photos by Thomas Graham

OW does one deal with quarter-life crisis?

For one Thomas Graham, it involved leaving television work in the United Kingdom; teaching English in Argentina, Costa Rica, Spain, and Italy; writing for foreign publications in Botswana, South Africa, and the Philippines; then soul-searching in Indonesia and Thailand. The British Gawad Kalinga volunteer returned to the Philippines shortly after his trip to its neighboring countries in 2012, plagued by even more questions about what he wanted to do with his life. He was about to head back to the UK when Tony Meloto, the charismatic founder of the nongovernmental organization, asked him if he wanted to write a book together. It was to be the sequel to Builder of Dreams, Meloto’s book about the beginnings of the NGO dedicated to ending poverty by 2024. “I couldn’t say no,” Graham told InterAksyon.com in an interview. Last year. “It’s one of those (times) when you’re asked to do something (and) in some ways it would be easier to say no, but you can’t say no because there’s no way I can do something as interesting as that back in the UK: to write a book with one of the most respected people in the Philippines, and such an inspirational leader to so many

Thomas Graham with kids from Bantayan Island in Cebu where he spent his Christmas in 2013. people either through himself directly or the movement he’s created.” Fast forward to 2014. Graham has finished writing his book, The Genius of the Poor: A Journey with Gawad Kalinga, which isn’t exactly the sequel he planned to do, but is nevertheless dubbed as a “humorous” and “heartfelt” account of his year-long journey around more than a hundred GK communities all over the Philippines. He admitted that he knew very little about poverty alleviation in the Philippines when he first started tagging along with Meloto to meetings with government officials, business leaders, GK volunteers, and GK communities. He may have been familiar with development theories and research, but most of these had been learned in the west. “That’s why Tito Tony urged me, during our first meeting, to ‘ditch the shirt and tie, and instead go out and discover the genius of our poor.’ He believed that I would learn a lot more by coming alongside the poor, partnering with them and then seeing how we can find

solutions together,” Graham narrated. Throughout his journey, Graham said he saw informal settlements transform into peaceful and productive communities. Although not all at the same stage of development, many of these villages were home to people Graham called “heroes.” “I have become inspired by seeing how former gang leaders have turned into faith-driven family men, and how even city jails or areas of conflict have been given hope through the spirit of bayanihan (cooperation) and walang iwanan (nobody left behind),” he said in an online interview. He visited over a hundred communities “which have been built through the honesty, generosity, and endeavor of multiple partners coming from government, business, volunteers, and the beneficiaries themselves.” He met with countless volunteers “who have adopted members of the communities not just as objects of charity, but as extensions of their own family.” Graham was also introduced to the world of social entrepre-

neurship, where young graduates and professionals created businesses with GK villagers as their partners. He spent as much time as he could with Meloto on the visionary’s trips to the Enchanted Farm in Bulacan, a GK village and incubator for social enterprises. These encounters inspired him to set up his own social enterprise, MAD (Make A Difference) Travel, through which he plans to get tourists to experience “the magic of GK communities” while benefitting the members of these communities through livelihood opportunities. “Tito Tony will often say that the fight against poverty is not one for resources, but a battle to be won in the hearts and minds of our people,” Graham said. “Throughout my journey, I (witnessed) how the power of presence – wherein rich and poor Filipinos don’t just complain about the status quo but come together determined to do something about it – doesn’t fail. It simply changes lives, over and over again. And when the rich and poor come together, it is not only the poor who benefit.” The confusion that he felt when Meloto first instructed him to discover “the genius of the poor” faded. “If there really is genius in the poor, then why are they poor?” Graham wondered back then. “But by coming alongside the poor, I gradually wake up to the immense talent and potential that the poor have, so long as we come back for them and ensure that they are left behind no more.” (The Genius of the Poor: A Journey with Gawad Kalinga is available at Human Nature stores or online at http://humanheartnature.com/buy/ index.php/the-genius-of-thepoor.html.) n

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By joel guinto

RIME lord “Herbert C” was enjoying national fame and growing iTunes success after reinventing himself as a lovelorn balladeer from inside the Philippines’ biggest jail -- until police cut short his career.

Crime Lord Enjoys Jailhouse Rock Herbert Colangco lost his recording studio and other bribeinduced musical privileges after a raid on the secret prison villas kept by 20 of the nation’s most notorious robbery, kidnapping and drug kingpins. The Philippines’ prisons have long had a reputation for graft, but December 15’s raid shocked the nation with the justice secretary expressing outrage that Colangco and the others were “living like kings”. The raid at Manila’s Bilibid prison uncovered high-powered weapons, methamphetamines, blow-up sex dolls, a jacuzzi, a strip bar where prostitutes were brought in -- and Colangco’s fully equipped music studio. “We are very angry because they continue to live lives of luxury,” Dante Jimenez, chairman of the watchdog group Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption, told AFP. “It’s like they just transferred from one mansion to another.” Colangco entered Bilibid in 2009 after a near decade-long reign as the leader of a feared bank robbery gang. “His gang was so bold and daring that their presence alone literally swept the vaults of all banks in all urban areas nationwide,” former Bilibid prison head Venancio Tesoro said in a post on his blog. Police say one of his gang’s bank heists on the outskirts of Manila left 10 people dead, mak-

The cover of Colangco’s debut album Kinabukasan. ing it one of the country’s bloodiest robberies. Colangco was sentenced to 12 to 14 years in jail. Bilibid is infamous for overcrowding and the brutal conditions -- it was built to accommodate 8,900 inmates but currently houses more than 23,000. Colangco, though, was able to quickly buy his way into the privileged world of the prison’s top criminal kingpins, some of whom have previously even been caught leaving the jail for short periods of time.

A star is born With lots of time on his hands, Colangco decided to pursue his long-held ambition of becoming a music star, and rebranded himself “Herbert C”. He had a music studio built inside his prison villa and recorded a 10-song album of syrupy love songs called Kinabukasan.

Colangco, 40, was picked up by one of the Philippines’ big music labels, Ivory Music and Video, and his first album, released last year, was a chart success. In one of many clips about his career posted on YouTube and other social media, Colangco appears at a concert in the Bilibid gymnasium where he accepts an Ivory “platinum” record award for selling 15,000 albums. He also celebrates being voted “best new male recording artist” by a group of entertainment journalists last year, an accolade that garnered mainstream media coverage. “I’ve always dreamt of becoming a recording artist,” Colangco, who portrays himself on Facebook as a newly devout and repentant Catholic, told ABS-CBN in a recent jailhouse interview. “I was raised well. I am a victim who lost his way.” Colangco’s album can be bought for $3.99 from Apple’s iTunes store, and is also available on the streaming music service Spotify. In the album’s lead single, which like his other songs are posted on YouTube, Colangco sings in a raspy baritone of the pain of not being able to profess his love to a woman. The song’s music video was filmed in his prison studio, with him wearing lipstick and thick make-up that fails to hide acne scars. Colangco, in a long-sleeved Bart Simpson shirt and auburntinted shades, sits on a bar stool

Convicted bank robber Colangco and his band perform in a music video shot in his music studio inside the National Bilibid Prison. while singing, backed up by a full band like a lounge singer.

Special privileges Bureau of Corrections’ director Ferdinand Bucayu insisted he had not known about Colangco’s music career or special privileges, and pointed the finger at corrupt prison officials. “I have nothing to do with what was happening,” Bucayu told AFP in a phone interview. “We need more competent and trustworthy prison guards.” Jimenez, the head of the crime watchdog, scoffed at Bucayu’s professions of ignorance. “That’s crazy. And (if true) it only shows how rotten the system is, that the leadership can be compartmentalised and not know what is happening,” he said. “Everyone needs to be replaced and there should be a separate island to keep prisoners like these.” For the time being, Colangco and the other crime lords have been removed from Bilibid and taken to a high-security facility of the justice department’s investigation unit. Bucayu said Colangco’s studio would also be dismantled. But Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said that corruption in Bilibid was institutionalised and she could not immediately sack all the corrupt prison officials. Which leaves open the possibility of Herbert C or another crime lord doing the jailhouse rock once again. (Agence FrancePresse) n

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Young, Plentiful Labor Pool Attracts Japanese Manufacturers

ANILA -- Japanese manufacturers are paying increasingly keen attention to the Philippines’ rising workforce.

Seiko Epson said on Dec. 3 that it will invest 12.3 billion yen ($100 million) to build a printer and projector plant in the Lima Industrial Park, in the suburbs of Manila. The new plant will have 100,000 sq. meters of floor space, which will more than double the company’s factory space in the country. (The industrial estate straddles Lipa City and Malvar town in Batangas province, thus the name Lima.) The investment reflects the strength of the Philippine labor force, which neighboring countries cannot match. Epson, Japan’s leading printer maker, first expanded its local business in the Philippines in 2011 by building a second plant and doubling its total factory floor space to roughly 80,000 sq. meters. The company’s challenge this time is to increase its production capacity for printers with high-capacity ink tanks, its core products. Among its more than 20 production sites across the world, Epson sees the Philippines as one of its three key countries, along with Indonesia and China.

Growth potential This second expansion was going as planned, with the fac-

the country’s political unrest, have changed their tune. Major hairpiece makers Aderans and Artnature, for example, have set up the world’s largest hairpiece production sites there.

Cashing in on tourism

President Aquino tours the facilities of the EPSON Precision Philippines at the Lima Technology Center during the plant’s inauguration on Dec. 8, 2011. tory site in the Lima Industrial Park secured some time ago. But just before making up the final decision to carry out the plan, Epson learned the hard way that things do not always go as expected in emerging countries. In this case, the surprise came when the Manila city government unexpectedly put a daytime truck ban into place in February to deal with heavy traffic around Manila Bay. This ban led to packages piling up at the Port of Manila, the country’s primary gateway, causing a significant delay for Epson in importing goods and parts. This left the company no option but to ship in such items by air, which increased its transportation costs. But an Epson official familiar with the local operations said that, compared with other countries, the political situation and other conditions in the

Philippines are not so bad. The official added that the Philippines is a promising country with growth potential in the medium to long term.

More attractive than ever The country’s population reached 100 million this year. Moreover, the average age of the population is 23, which ensures a plentiful workforce well into the future. In the suburb of Manila, daily wages of less than 400 pesos ($8.98) on average are attractive for foreign businesses. Though wages are rising quickly in Indonesia and Vietnam, significant inflation is unlikely to occur in the Philippines thanks to the country’s stable macroeconomy. Moreover, labor disputes are less likely and wages are rising only slowly. Japanese companies, which gave the Philippines the cold shoulder for many years due to

Meanwhile, the Japanese travel agency JTB will open its first office in the Philippines in March. The company will establish a local subsidiary in Taguig on the outskirts of Manila, an area that is home to a large concentration of information technology companies and financial institutions. Capitalized at some 470 million yen ($3.83 million), the subsidiary will have around 10 employees. The Philippine subsidiary will make travel arrangements for business trips from Japan and will help plan reward trips for local employees. It will also handle exhibitions and large conferences. In addition, it will work to attract tourists to the Philippines from Japan and surrounding Asian countries. In partnership with JTB’s Chinese location, it will set up tours of casinos and commercial establishments on the shores of Manila Bay that are increasingly popular with Chinese tourists. Sales of more than 2.5 billion yen are targeted by 2020. JTB also hopes to draw more visitors to Japan from the Philippines by offering unique tours, particularly targeting the affluent. (Nikkei) n

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Doing business: PH moves up in ranking

HE PHILIPPINES has become an easier place to do business, according to a World Bank report ranking 189 countries based on ease of doing business. In its Doing Business (DB) 2015 report, the World Bank Group ranked the Philippines 95th from the previous 86th. The ranking was an improvement based on a revised methodology adopted by the WB. The World Bank Group, which includes the International Finance Corp. (IFC), releases the much-anticipated report annually. WB Global Indicators Group director Augusto Lopez Claros explained that the new ranking FULL PAGE AD methodology includes new acAccording to a World Bank report, the Philippines has become an easier place to do business, ranking 95th. counting and computing standPHL’s doing business rank: Out of the 10 indicators set “We started from the bottom ards. by the World Bank, the Philip- 30 countries few years back, Claros said that even under pines got negative marks for the Philippines is now number the new ranking methodology, five. Indicators with negative five from number eight in the the Philippines still reflected marks were: protecting inves- region,” Luz said in a press growth. tors, dealing with construction briefing. (Philstar) “There is no ambiguity, the permits, getting credit, trading Philippines has improved its across borders and enforcing ranking, it is closer to the froncontracts. tier,” he said in a teleconferPositive marks were: starting ence press briefing yesterday. a business, getting electricity, The “frontier” he was referregistering property, paying ring to means “perfection and taxes and resolving insolvency. translated to 100 as the highIn the “starting a business” inest score.” dicator, the Philippines ranked The study covers 189 counworst with 16 procedures vertries, and based on the old sus Singapore with only three methodology, the Philippines procedures. was ranked 108th in 2014 from Claros said that improvements 133rd in 2013. In the old methin resolving insolvency, getting odology, the lower ranking or electricity, registering propnumber means better perforerty and paying taxes have enmance. hanced the Philippines’ ranking Based on the new methodolfrom 108 in 2014 to 95 in 2015. ogy, Singapore emerged as the “Measured against global best best performer. practice or distance The “Distance to the Frontier (DTF)” Improvements in to frontier in business regulations, methodology puts resolving insolthe country’s peremphasis on how formance (62.08) each country pervency, getting puts the Philippines formed as against how countries per- electricity, register- in the same range as Vietnam (64.42) and formed against their ing property and Indonesia (59.15),” neighbors. In Southeast Asia, paying taxes have the World Bank official said. Singapore ranked enhanced the Phil- National Competinumber one, followed by Malaysia, ippines’ ranking tive Council head Guillermo Luz said Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines, Bru- from 108 in 2014 to that they were quite happy with the DB nei, Indonesia, Cam95 in 2015. 2015 results. bodia and Laos.

2013 - 113rd 2014 - 108th 2015 - 95th

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HE Philippine retail industry is seeing new trends as both local and international brands continue to expand in the country, according to a research by CBRE Asia Pacific. According to CBRE, real estate developers are diversifying into the retail segment to accommodate consumer demand for shopping convenience where they are offered ease of access from their residences or office. The research and consultancy firm cited upcoming mixed-used projects such as the Solaire expansion and City of Dreams, which are predicted to boost the retail supply by at least 65,000 square meters. The new concept of “retailtainment” is also being used by more developers to give Filipino shoppers the “overall retail experience,” incorporating food courts, cinemas, iceskating rinks, bowling alleys, children’s playgrounds, and pet parks into shopping malls. “The retail market in the Philippines has, and still continues to mature. Filipinos are now after the overall retail experience, choosing malls and outlets that give them the power of choice--whether in food and beverage or clothing and the like. It also helps that developers allow the interests of the tenants and consumers to meet by giving them a convenient place to stay in, unwind and shop,” said Rick Santos, president, chairman, and chief executive of CBRE Philippines. CBRE cited as an example the SM Seaside City Cebu, which will include cinemas, an 18-lane bowling alley, a 1,020-seat theatre, and a 250,000 square feet roof garden. SM Seaside City will be completed in 2015. CBRE said the retail-tainment factor is expected to attract foot traffic as well as help landlords achieve higher returns in branding, image and

The SM Mall of Asia is spruced up for the Christmas season.

New Trends in the Philippine Retail Market media exposure, and revenue. The concept of retail-tainment, CBRE added, is a result of understanding the primary interests and needs of tenants and consumers. In its 2014 Asia Pacific Consumer Survey “How We Like to Shop,” CBRE said Asia Pacific consumers prioritize shopping experience and value, convenient travelling distance, price, cleanliness, and security. “The Philippines’ retail market has already entered a new age. It’s just a matter of sustaining this growth and developing it further to integrate and match with the consumers’ changing profiles and demands,” said Santos. There has also been an increase in food and beverage retailers, both local and international, in the Philippines, according to CBRE. “The presence of more restaurants, coffee shops, and even convenience stores, shows that more Filipinos have the capacity or purchasing power to

The newly opened City of Dreams Manila features a dazzling array of entertainment and attractions, including an upscale shopping mall. shop and dine,” said Santos. CBRE is also seeing a rise quick-service restaurants, primarily fast food outlets, which capitalizes on Southeast Asia’s relatively young market. A recent research by CBRE Asia Pacific, “The New Age of the Asia Pacific Real Estate Market,” also cited the Philippines as a key growth market along with Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh in Vietnam and major cities in Indonesia and Malaysia. It attributed the “wave” of retailer expansion on the ex-

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pansion of the middle class, bullish outlook on economic growth, and increase in tourism activities across the regions. “In the Philippine landscape, these factors look promising. The resilience of the economy has been tested and proven this year, bouncing back quarter per quarter. Likewise, the country’s tourist attractions and opportune business landscape has continuously been boosting investor interest,” said Santos. In the Philippines, 70 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) or economic output comes from consumer spending, supported by remittances from overseas Filipino workers. Meanwhile, the $1.3-billion City of Dreams Manila integrated casino-resort complex, the second of four integrated casinos in Entertainment City along Manila Bay, had its “soft opening” last Dec. 14. The complex’s grand opening is set before the Chinese New Year in February 2015. The project, located on a 6.2-hectare site, has a total of six hotel towers, including Crown Towers Hotel, Nobu Hotel and a hotel managed by the Hyatt Group. The casino would involve VIP and mass-market gaming facilities with up to 380 gaming tables, 1,700 slot machines and 1,700 electronic table games. City of Dreams Manila is the second integrated casino to open in Entertainment City after the opening in 2013 of Bloomberry Resorts Corp., which operates the Solaire Resort & Casino complex. The Entertainment City is positioning itself as the Philippines’ version of gambling hubs in Las Vegas and Macau. The state-run Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) is banking on the whole gaming complex to be the main contributor in the government’s goal to hit $7 billion in gaming revenue by 2019 against $2.2 billion in 2013. (ABS-CBN News) n

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NE thing that was notable in show business in 2014 was the number of celebrity couples who got engaged and tied the knot. Here’s a rundown of some of the notable celebrity engagements and weddings of 2014.

JANUARY 2015

The DongYan ‘royal wedding’ tops them all.

1. Marian Rivera and Dingdong Dantes It was in August last year when Dingdong proposed to Marian in her primetime dance show Marian, where he was a guest for the actress’ birthday special.

Top 10

Showbiz Weddings and Engagements

in 2014

LONDON in cahoots with the friends, had something else in mind. At dinner time on Aug. 23, the two became engaged. Their two-year relationship had its own share of controversies, particularly after Heart’s parents expressed their disapproval of Chiz. But the couple held on and will tie the knot on Feb. 15 at Balesin Island Resort in Polilio, Quezon.

3. Karylle Tatlonghari and Yael Yuzon Reports of Karylle’s engagement to Spongecola lead vocalist Yael Yuzon first surfaced in December 2013. Karylle, however, confirmed it only in February 2014. The two had been together for more than two years before they got married on March 21, 2014 at the San Antonio de Padua church in Tagaytay.

4. Jericho Rosales and Kim Jones The Jericho-Kim romance was short by showbiz standards. They were together only for a year before getting engaged in August 2013. The couple tied the knot last May 1 in Boracay. The beach wedding was a fitting ceremony for the couple known for their

The two have been together for almost seven years and went through a lot of ups and downs. Despite all the controversies, Marian and Dingdong’s relationship remained strong, leading to their wedding last Dec. 30 at the Immaculate Concepcion Church in Cubao, Quezon City.

2. Heart Evangelista and Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero invited Heart and some close friends to his hometown in Sorsogon ostensibly to unwind. Unknown to Heart, Chiz,

Beach wedding for Jericho and Kim

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Private ceremony in El Nido for Bianca and JC

Chiz to Heart: Will you be my wife? love of surfing.

5. Chito Miranda and Neri Naig Relationships of lesser mettle would have easily crumbled under the weight and shame of a leaked sex video. But not that of Parokya ni Edgar lead singer Chito Miranda and Neri Naig. When the scandal broke in July 2013, the couple faced it head on. Chito took ownership of the sex video and asked for forgiveness and understanding from friends and family. Last May, with the help of friends, Chito arranged a surprise proposal to Neri in Tagaytay. The couple tied the knot last Dec. 13 not once but twice – first a civil ceremony, followed by a garden wedding.

6. Aiza Seguerra and Liza Dino Not everyone may be openminded about the relationship of Aiza Seguerra and Liza Diño, but they proved that love conquers all. Bucking legal and religious impediments, the

lovebirds flew to the US and legalized their union on Dec. 8 in California where same sex marriage is allowed. They promised their families and friends that another ceremony will follow in Manila this year.

7. Bianca Gonzalez and JC Intal It took four years for pro basketball player JC Intal to propose to Bianca Gonzalez. Perhaps to make up for the delay, the former Ateneo cager made a dramatic scene at the NAIA to profess his love to the TV host who was then on her way to London. Nine months of preparations led to their private wedding on Dec. 4 in El Nido, Palawan. The intimate ceremony was followed six days later by a wedding celebration for their friends and families at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

8. Iya Villana and Drew Arellano Whenever they were asked

John’s showbizzy act for Isabel when they would settle down, Iya Villania and Drew Arellano had a ready reply: “We’re not in a hurry.” But fate eventually caught up with the sweethearts after nine long years of togetherness. Iya and Drew formalized their union in a beach wedding in Batangas in January 2014.

9. Yeng Constantino and Victor Asuncion In the case of singer Yeng Constantino and former band member and now Christian worship director Victor Asuncion, one year is enough time to decide if they’re meant for each other. They announced their engagement last March and set their wedding on Feb. 14 this year in Tagaytay. They will head to Maldives

for their honeymoon, courtesy of a generous ninang.

10. Isabel Oli and John Prats John Prats is one of the more active members of the showbiz dating club, having been linked to Heart Evangelista, Nancy Jane, Shaina Magdayao, Rachelle Ann Go, Bianca Manalo and finally Isabel Oli. In this case, the last finished first. John must have found the dating game tiresome and boring so he decided to propose to Isabel last September at an elaborately planned proposal scene at Eastwood City complete with a flash mob dance by family members and friends. Their garden wedding is set in May 2015 at the Prats’ family farm in Batangas. (Philippine Star) n

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Showbuzz DongYan wedding cake creates stir

HAT a wedding! There’s Dingdong Dantes arriving in church in his Ducati, Marian Rivera in a bridal gown worth P2 million... and the giant wedding cake towering over everybody else! The 12-foot 5-tiered cake had to be carried by 10 people to the reception venue, the Mall of Asia Arena. It created quite a stir, even with the foreign press. US show ABC News’ Good Morning America cited it may be the “world’s largest cake.” It also mentioned that the current record-holder for the world’s largest wedding cake in the Guinness World Records weighed six tons or 15,032 pounds. It was made by the chefs of Mohegan Sun Hotel and Casino in Connecticut for the New England bridal showcase in 2004. Meanwhile, the UK daily Mirror headlined, “Is this the world’s biggest wedding cake?” It noted, “It’s the size of a fully grown human... Their cake could be the biggest ever to be made into a wedding.” Pinky Yee of Goldilock, which created the masterpiece and is being endorsed by Dingdong, said one month was allotted to finish it. It was reportedly worth P7 million.

The towering wedding cake dwarfs the couple

No second chance for Raymart, Claudine RAYMART Santiago may not see himself getting back with estranged wife Claudine Barretto but he is open to the idea of them becoming friends. He even hopes they would be able to sort out their troubles this year. Although disheartened that he could not give their children Sabina and Santino the happiness that comes with having a complete family at this point, or be with them during special occasions, Raymart is determined to move on with his life. The actor shared he and Claudine are working on their annulment. The couple was embroiled

All’s well that ends well

Kris, Ai Ai bury hatchet Can they be friends again? in a widely publicized spat last year, with Claudine eventually filing in court a temporary protection order (TPO) against her husband, whom she alleged to have violated the Violence Against Women and Children Act. Raymart, for his part, filed a habeas corpus to gain custody of their children.

A YEAR after their reported misunderstanding, Kris Aquino and Ai Ai Delas Alas have finally reconciled. The two met again at the wedding of Marian Rivera and Dingdong Dantes on Dec. 30 at Immaculate Concepcion Cathedral in Cubao, Quezon City. Kris attended as one of the principal sponsors while Ai-Ai is one of the secondary sponsors. According to reports, it was Kris who first approached Ai Ai. After embracing each other, Kris

told Ai Ai, “May dala ako sa ‘yo. May peace offering ako sa ‘yo,” In a separate interview, Ai Ai said, “Hindi kami galit. Huwag niyo nang tanungin about si Kris. Kasi lumalaki lang nang wala namang kwenta. Manahimik na lang kami.” The misunderstanding reportedly started when the former was not able to attend the wake of the comedienne’s biological mother in December 2013. Kris and her sons were on a holiday in United Kingdom at that time.

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Showbuzz It’s complicated for KC and Paulo

Social media darling

Anne is one of Twitter’s top celebs ANNE Curtis’ social media influence has been recognized in a book by social media platform Twitter. The actress-TV host is included in the book Tweets from the Top. On her Twitter, Anne posted a photo of the book and letter from Patminder Singh, managing director of Twitter in Southeast Asia informing her of her inclusion in the book with other personalities in the region. Anne is part of the Celebrate Culture section of the book. The tweet included in the book is from the teleserye Dyesebel, which she played the title role. The showed aired last March. Last July, Anne was included in the list of Time magazine’s top 50 “Smartest Stars” on Twitter. Anne is a highly influential in the social media world as well, with 7.56 million followers on Twitter and 2.3 million followers on Instagram.

ARE they on or what? Their relationship is complicated and they themselves could not put a label on what’s going on between them. One thing is sure, though. Both KC Concepcion and Paulo Avelino admit they are attracted to each other, In a TV interview to promote their Christmas special Exchange Gift. KC admitted the she felt butterflies in her stomach while working with her crush. “Minsan lang ako magkacrush,” she blushed. “Ang baduy po talaga pero ‘yun nga crush ko siya before. Siyempre for a girl maganda din na makawork mo ‘yung (crush mo).” “Totoo naman talaga na ‘yung mata niya (maganda). Parang totoo nga ‘yung sinasabi nila na para lang silang nanonood ng reality show,” added KC.

Aiza and Liza enjoying the moment

Mutual attraction For his part, Paulo said he also felt awkward working with KC because he would sometimes forget his lines because of her beauty. “Parang like KC, crush ko din si KC. So parang nakakatuwa na ‘yung ka-eksena mo ay crush mo, sobrang ganda. Minsan nakakalimutan mo na ‘yung linya mo,” he said.

Nikki’s still a virgin, swears friend

Nikki and Billy in good times NIKKI is still a virgin, swears TV host Iya Villania as she came to the defense of her close friend, actress-singer Nikki Gil, amid criticisms questioning her virginity. “She is still a virgin. And the only time she traveled abroad with Billy [Crawford] was for work. It was not a vacation,” Iya said, referring to Nikki’s past boyfriend of five years. Iya’s statement was in re-

sponse to an Instagram user’s comment on one of Nikki’s photos, telling the actress to stop denying any sexual relations she had with Billy. Nikki’s vow to not have sex until marriage became public in the months following her split from Billy in July 2013. “O, sige, ‘yan na ang kapintasan ko!,” Nikki said about her vow. “Peope have said, ‘Eh, kasi, lalaki. May pangangailangan.’ My point exactly! See? Kung ‘yan lang pala ang issue, [he didn’t really deserve me],” she told Cosmopolitan in an interview in December 2013. “Nobody told me to stay a virgin, or because I’m a stuckup prude na holy-holy. It’s my choice. I’ve always been mapride. If sex is something I value, [gano’n talaga]!”

Aiza, Liza wed a second time AIZA Seguerra and Liza Diño were married a second time in “a symbolic ceremony” in San Juan, Batangas, last Jan. 8. The couple was first married on Dec. 8 in San Francisco, California, where same-sex marriage is legal. “We’re doing this because we didn’t get to celebrate with our family,” Liza said. She added, “I wanted to experience being walked down the aisle by my parents. Some people recommended the Metropolitan Church, but we never intended to make a statement out of this. We’re doing this just to express love for each other.” The Metropolitan Community Church in Makati is reputed to be the “spiritual home” for lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgenders (LGBT) in the country. At sundown on Jan. 8, Liza got her wish. Flanked by her parents, she marched to the “altar” on the beach, where Aiza was waiting. Their long-time friend Carelle Mangliag was “wedding officiant.”

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MANILA

ON THE RISE By isobel diamond

HE Philippines’ capital has been battered by typhoons and bombings. It is an Asian megacity with a medieval Spanish walled town at its heart; it is chaotic and seedy in parts - with strip joints and dwarfwrestling clubs - but steeped in old-world glamour.

Luneta Hotel

Fringe Manila Festival built in belle-époque style during the pre-World War II boom, had closed after decades in decline. Now, following restoration, it’s an exquisite hark back to 1918. The Amélie (doubles from about £60) fuses modern and Art Deco-inspired interiors designed by Anton Barretto. Plans are afoot to bring music and artwork by local creatives to the public spaces.

The Culture The arts scene is thriving and captured in the new Fringe Manila Festival, which will run from 12 February to 1 March and showcase events including poetry and dance in pop-up venues across the city. Inside a restored colonial townhouse, 1335Mabini is the newest art space, hosting exhibitions by emerging local and international contemporary artists.

The Bars The backstreets of Makati conceal a handful of speakeasystyle bars. Try Finders Keepers, if you can locate it. Hidden behind Joe’s Meat Shack diner in Warehouse 5, its entrance doesn’t have a light, or even a sign. Head through the rusting steel door flanked by two inconspicuous bouncers for expertly crafted cocktails, DJ sets and a dressed-down crowd. The Curator is a coffee shop by day and cocktail den by night, where mixologists whip up the likes of the New Black: a heady combo of Hennessy Cognac, espresso and grapefruit juice. And behind a secret door at the Bugsy

The Tour Bambike Eco Tour Restaurant in Salcedo, Red Rabbit is a glamorous drinking haven with 1920s decor.

it has opened a sister restaurant in the owner’s ancestral Malate home.

The Restaurant

The Hotels

Brooklyn diner Purple Yam puts a modern twist on Filipino classics, such as lechon kawali (deep-fried pork belly served with pickled papaya). And now

Malate’s faded architecture and boho spirit were the inspiration for two just-opened hotels in the neighbourhood. The Luneta (doubles from about £60),

Heima Store in Cubao

Explore the old walled city of Intramuros at wind-in-yourhair speed on a Bambike Eco Tour. The stylish and sustainable bamboo bicycles are handmade by craftsmen working with a community charity.

The Shops Quezon City’s vintage arcade, Cubao Expo, is a hotbed for home-grown designers. Coast Thru Life has everything an urbanite needs to escape to the waves for surf weekends (boardies, boards and branded T-shirts). The Four Strings is a musicians’ hangout that sells hand-painted ukuleles, and over at Makati’s LRI Design Plaza there’s a cluster of chic design stores. Heima is the creation of leading Manila interior designer Rossy Yabut-Rojales and sells international brands alongside her own brightly coloured range. Stock up on the art books and vinyl records too. (Condé Nast Traveller, January 2015) n

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Protection, job opportunities

for OFWs this 2015

VIBRANT LABOR Undersecretary Reydeluz Conferido was who we visited in the hospital even though he had just undergone an operation. Just like the old times, Conferido never gets tired of explaining the programs of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE). He cannot be stopped even though we kept telling him to forget his work for a while. Looks like, the term public service is already on his system wherever he is. He said that DOLE under the supervision of Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz is pushing through its program in preparing job opportunities for our kababayan to return like our teachers. That is why the Aquino administration is focused on giving protection to our overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and is no longer promoting or enhancing the skills of our OFWs that might be needed overseas. After all, Filipino workers are preferred by most foreign employers. Like our teachers, Secretary Baldoz mentioned that there are vacant positions waiting to be filled in by our teachers until the year 2016. That’s why DOLE is encouraging them to complete the requirements needed and even though they are in another country they can complete their documents and their desire to return home will be attained. Edgar Gustilo, a teacher in

FULL PAGE AD This 2015, DOLE hopes for more protection and job opportunities for OFWs abroad.

Papua New Guinea immediately responded to this campaign. He was glad when he read in the Philippine Daily Inquirer the article of Bantay OCW entitled “In the Philippines, you’re the Boss” which Secretary Baldoz stated in our interview with her on Radyo Inquirer. This is an open campaign of our government to our OFWs to try to return in the country wherein there are job opportunities they can grab in the Philippines. When Secretary Baldoz heard about it, she was excited to hear about the statement of our kababayan and immediately requested us to send to her office the e-mail. Her office immediately took action on the request of our OFW and according to Conferido, we’ll wait for the result of this request. Foreign workers are increasing There are some industries here in the Philippines that are hiring foreign workers rather than Filipinos. This is just right if Pinoys don’t have the ability and capability to do the work that

these foreign workers are being hired into, but according to our source, this is not true. According to the complaint,

they can do the job that are being given to foreign workers, while many of them are jobless at present. Before, it was reported that workers on this field are scarce, that’s why many of our male kababayan took this course up. But now it is a different story. The job opportunites that should have been filled by the Filipinos have been given to foreign workers instead. Let us not name the industry that I am pertaining to, but we are sure that the DOLE is preparing to investigate this matter. We hope that these big companies will prioritize our capable locals first. To prioritize hiring Filipinos instead of other nationalites, especially that their companies are here in the Philippines. (Inquirer)

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3 money-savvy tips for OFWs

VERSEAS FILIPINO Workers (OFWs) pump in an enormous amount of money into the Philippine economy. But how are these remittances being put to use? “We should make sure they are spent wisely,” said bestselling author, motivational speaker, and finance coach Randell Tiongson. Tiongson, an advocate of financial literacy for OFWs 2004, said OFWs are in a difficult situation because they have to provide financial support to family members in the Philippines. OFWs also lack job security. “An OFW can easily lose an employment contract just as fast as he gets one,” Tiongson said. They are not also savvy enough to handle their finances. If OFWs become smarter about their money, they will save more, and this increase in savings will inevitably benefit the Philippine economy, Tiongson said. He shares the following moneysavvy tips for OFWs and their loved ones:

Avail of auto-debit programs Because Filipinos earn more abroad than they would in the Philippines, there is the temptation to spend a lot more. This is problematic given that the cost of living is also generally higher in countries where there are high OFW populations. To counter this, Tiongson said OFWs should commit to save

If OFWs become smarter about their money, they will save more, and this will inevitably benefit the economy.

part of their earnings through pletely eliminate ‘wants’ from their bank. “For those who the equation. don’t have the discipline to Yet, a budget is only as good as save, go to the bank and enroll how much you remain commitFULL your accounts for auto-debit ar-PAGE ted toAD it. “For instance, spendrangements to help force you ing on non-essentials can only into saving,” he said. be made once money has been The advice is also applicable allocated and spent for necessiwhen investing in mutual funds ties,” he said. or Unit Investment Trust Funds Start investing, no matter how (UITFs). small. When Tiongson gives inSet a realistic budget for the vestment advice to an OFW, he whole family. Most of the time, first carefully considers their an OFW sends remittances back to the Philippines in the hopes that the money will be put to good use. A realistic budget set for the whole family, according to Tiongson, would take much of the guesswork out of sending remittances. “A good budget identifies needs and wants and emphasizing priorities on needs over wants is critical in their ability to save,” Tiongson said. Tiongson also emphasized that it would be impractical to com-

investment objectives, risk tolerance, and time frame. Only then does he make appropriate recommendations, he said. Still, Tiongson is not without broader recommendations, the first of which is that OFWs should begin investing, even if the initial amounts are small. “Offhand, pooled funds like mutual funds and UITFs are good investment programs for the OFWs as they are simple to start with and fairly easy to understand,” he said. Later on, OFWs can get into more complex investments like real estate, a good option for Filipinos looking for a passive income. They can rent out the property, even from abroad, since there are brokers who are always available and some condominiums even have an in-house property management for rentals. Tiongson also encouraged entrepreneurship among OFWs, only when they have the knowledge base to compete in the particular industry. (Inquirer)

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Flash Hail to the Pope

Hands high and in a cross formation, the dancing inmates of the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center perform to the tune of We Are All God’s Children in dedication to Pope Francis who will be visiting the country January 15 to 19.

Sea of Devotees

This year’s traslacion or procession of the image of the Black Nazarene drew some five million devotees. The annual religious event began early morning of January 9 and ended 22 hours later at Quiapo Church.

s Novena Mass

Thousands attend the fourth novena Mass at the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño de Cebu on January 11, as part of Sinulog Festival 2015 in Cebu City.

Papal Guards

Garbed in replicas of the official dress uniforms of the Pontifical Swiss Guards, but with a touch of local flavor as the colors have been changed to match that of the Philippine flag, these students from Our Lady of La Sallete in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan, line up during a dress rehearsal for Pope Francis’ mass to be held at the Manila Cathedral on January 16.

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Flash

New Year’s Eve Party Poppers

Sale of pyrotechnic devices is prohibited, but who cares? New Year’s Eve in Manila wouldn’t be as raucous and fun without the fireworks and firecrackers that go by such colourful names as Super Lolo, Big Bawang, Goodbye Philippines and Atomic Bomb.

s Plea to Pontiff

Migrant workers march to Mendiola near Malacañang to read an open letter to Pope Francis asking him to help end human trafficking. Pope Francis is visiting the Philippines January 15 to 19.

Lunch Break

Scout Rangers partake of a simple Christmas meal on Christmas day in the jungles of Patikul, Sulu, during a break in their pursuit of the Abu Sayyaf terrorist group.

s Lechon for Christmas

A vendor checks roasted pigs for sale in La Loma, Quezon City a day before Christmas Eve. The lechon is a favorite fare for the traditional Noche Buena.

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WHAT’S ON

TRAVEL

ISITOR ARRIVALS in 2014 totaled about 5 million, according to a preliminary government estimate, well short of the target and calling into question some of the more ambitious goals set for “Visit the Philippines Year” in 2015 and beyond. Nevertheless, Domingo Ramon C. Enerio III, Chief Operating Officer of the Tourism Promotions Board, said visitor targets will be maintained at aggressive levels because potential demand for visits to the Philippines is increasing, though actual travel is hampered by “access problems” relating to airports, infrastructure and internal travel. Mr. Enerio said the 10 millionvisitor target for 2016 would be “difficult to achieve” but will not be lowered “to inspire us to work for that particular target.” “Point-blank, it will be difficult for us to hit that [number] unless we double our numbers (from 2014),” he said. For Visit the Philippines Year in 2015 the target is 8.6 million visitors. The 2014 visitor total estimate missed the Department of Tourism (DoT) target of 6.5 million. The official visitor numbers will be released in February. Arrivals are one of only three key metrics being tracked by the Department, Mr. Enerio said. “One is the arrivals in which we are lagging behind and the other one is in terms of revenue of which we are able to generate in excess of some $4.7 billion last year [which] is above target [$4.6 billion] and the third is job generation” related to tourism, which he said was above target, though he provided no details. The tourism receipts target for 2015 is $5.7 billion. South Korea remains the Philippines’ biggest visitor market with an estimated 1.1 million arrivals in 2014 followed by

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the United States with about 700,000 and China (which has overtaken Japan) with between 450,000 and 500,000 thousand, exceeding Japan’s total, according to Mr. Enerio. Mr. Enerio said that in terms of potential demand, those interested in a visit to the Philippines are “in excess of 10 million already” based on DoT research. “People would really love to come to the Philippines but they are really unable to come to the country because of the issue... of access,” he said. He said the problems with access and entry points such as the country’s airports are “temporary setbacks” and in a few years’ time the Philippines will have the “best airport in the region.” He cited the P1.64-billion structural rehabilitation and retrofitting of Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 which started January 2014 is set to be completed by the first quarter of 2015 in time for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit to be hosted by the Philippines in November. Mr. Enerio said that airport de-

velopment in Cebu, Davao, and Subic, among others will generate new opportunities. “We have done it before but this is the time when the government has pooled its resources as a result of the Tour-

ism Act enacted in 2009... more and more resources have been given to support tourism promotions both locally and internationally,” Mr. Enerio added. (Business World

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WHAT’S ON

ll t of a ppor In su events in d o it o n g u y omm the c

1 Feb. 2015

COMMUNITY

14 Feb. 2015

15 Feb. 2015

Contact: Mr. Kim Nievas Tel: 07980557467

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Valentine Show w/ Lloyd Umali & Ima Castro Venue: As Asia, 277 High Street Slough SL1 1BN Price: £24.50 Contact: 07428677870 07747632673

Feb-Mar 2015 (TBA)

7 Mar. 2015

2 May 2015

Zumba Party

“Manliligaw” Lloyd Umali ft. Ima Castro

Venue: Green Side Community Center, Marylebone, London NW8 8SR

Joey Albert Live in the UK! Venue: TBA

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2 Worlds in Harmony Time: 6pm Venue: Conway Hall, 25 Red Lion Sq., FULL PAGE AD London WC1R 4RL

Contact: richard_mercado123 @yahoo.co.uk

Price: £10 - £20 Contact: Jhermy 07825509624 www.fwuk.com

Mutya ng Pilipinas 2015 Venue: TBA Contact: Jassin Fuentes jassin@mutyaunitedkingdom.com Tel: 07557551624 Website: mutyaunitedkingdom.com/

Pilgrimage to Holy Land and Jordan Date: Monday, 16 to Tuesday, 24 November 2015 Pilgrimage Chaplain: FR. EDGAR DIZON PLACES TO VISIT: CHUCH OF BEATITUDES – Where Jesus preached the Sermon on the Mount. TAGBHA – Site of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes. SEA OF GALILEE- Enjoy a boat ride on the SEA of GALILEE CAPERNAUM – Home of St. Peter and the ancient synagogue. MOUNT TABOR – the site of the Transfiguration. Experience to float in Dead Sea! CANA – Site of Jesus first Miracle. NAZARETH – Church the Annunciation, where Angel Gabriel Apr. 25 - Turner Sim, Southampton, SO17 1BJ; Apr. 26 - 229 The Venue, London W1W 5PN; May 1 - Athena Theatre, Leicester LE1 1QD; May 2 - The Village Urban Resort, Leeds LS16 5PR; May 3 - Holiday Inn, Newcastle-upon-Tyne NE13 6BP Ticket - £30, Door - £45. Seats are limited !!!

announced to Mary that she would be the Mother of God. JORDAN RIVER – Worlds most sacred river. Other places available! Price: £1395 You can pay on installment basis and price includes return flights, all taxes, all coaching, breakfast and dinner accommodation based on shared rooms BENEFICIARY OF THE PILGRIMAGE: Christian Community in the Holy Land. Any interested Friends, please contact Betilda on 07919380513 or Merla on 07939684558 or Mario on 07818021874.

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JANUARY APRIL 20122015

EMBASSY NEWS

LONDON

WHAT’S ON

Notice of Hearing: Application for Registration for Overseas Voting Please be notified that the Resident Election Registration Board (RERB) of the Philippine Embassy in London, UK, will convene on 28 January 2015, at 10:00 a.m., Conference Room, Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines, No. 10 Suffolk St., London, SW1Y 4HG, to conduct a hearing on the applications for registration/certification for overseas voting for the period July 2014. Any interested party who objects to the application contained in the following lists (link below) may file their opposition in writing addressed to the RERB. The last day to file opposition(s) to individual applications for registration or certification shall be on 21 January 2015. SENEN T. MANGALILE, Chairman

IMPLEMENTATION OF TERMINAL FEE INTEGRATION PROGRAM

FULL Effective 01 November (deferred from 1 October) 2014, the Philippine Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) will be implementing the International Passenger Service Charge Integration Program, i.e., the IPSC – commonly known as the airport terminal fee - shall be incorporated into the cost of airline tickets at point of sale. The aim of the integration scheme is to address congestion in all Ninoy Aquino International (NAIA) terminals caused by the increasing volume of passengers, through the adoption of measures that reduce processing times.

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JANUARY 2015

LONDON

HEN you think of Manila, you probably think of Fort Santiago, its world-renowned churches, or the famous Intramuros. But what you probably don’t associate Manila with is an 83year old building that has largely been neglected in the past 20 years. Tragically, many are not aware that it even exists. Tucked in a quieter area, almost hidden across the Walled City, is the forlorn-looking Metropolitan Theatre. Painted light pink, the now dusty, dirty, and dilapidated theatre stands across Liwasang Bonifacio in the outskirts of Mehan Garden, in an area called Plaza Lawton. With its current state, it is surprising to learn that this building was actually declared a National Cultural Treasure just four years ago. The Manila Metropolitan Theatre or simply called Met, has seen better days. It was designed by Juan M. Arellano, the genius behind other Manila architectural gems like the Central Post Office Building and the Legislative Building (now the National Museum). The theatre is a great example of an Art Deco (a design style popular in the 1920s up to the 40s) building and was inaugurated on December 10, 1931. Performances like zarzuelas, bodabil (vaudeville) and operas once called the Metropolitan Theatre their home at the time when going to these shows was second nature to those who can afford it. Philippine National Artists like the Queen of Kundiman, Honorata ‘Atang’ dela Rama used to perform here. But due to internal conflicts and the seemingly growing uninterest of different sectors in the world of art, the theatre had been the sad victim of neglect in recent years. Badly damaged, the Met still managed to survive the Second World War. After that, it be-

Splash PHILIPPINES

The Metropolitan Theater:

Manila’s Forgotten National Treasure The Met as it stands today.

Inside The Met, photos taken in 2014. came an assortment of establishments – from an ice cream parlor to a boxing arena to even a gay bar. This cycle of multiple functions for the theater only ended after it was reconstructed by former First Lady Imelda Marcos in 1978. The Metropolitan Theater was revived and eventually became the location for celebrity performances and awarding ceremonies. But this positive attention seemed short-lived. In 1996, the theatre closed after a dispute took place about the Met’s ownership and maintenance.

The dispute was between the local government of Manila and the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS). It is very disheartening to see the theatre, once Manila’s crown jewel of theatres, in a state of despair and ruins. The building itself is a great reminder of Manila’s prosperous times, days when our country was finding its own identity in the midst of cultural progress and influence from the west. In 2004, eight years after the theater closed down, the National Commission on the Culture and the Arts (NCCA) re-

ceived a P50-million grant from former the national government for the restoration of the theatre. Three years later, then Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim created a six-man committee to work on the Met’s restoration and to also determine what happened to the P50 million allocated for its restoration in 2004. It was in 2010 when it was announced that The Met would reopen after restoration efforts costing P90 million. But it wasn’t until the following year when Filipino rock band, Wolfgang, held its concert, that the old grand dame of Philippine theater once again saw visitors. The performance coincided with the celebration of Manila’s 440th founding anniversary. Nowadays it seems people only visit the Met to experience its reported paranormal environment. Not everyone has forgotten about its existence though. Just this year, a petition was created via Change.org for the restoration of the Manila Metropolitan Theater. It was addressed to current Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada. With a goal of 7,500 signatures, it has gathered 5,084 signatures as of January 11, 2015. A non-governmental organization, the Filipinas Stamp Collectors Club (FSCC), used to occasionally hold a free tour of the landmarks of Manila, including the Metropolitan Theatre. However, the Met is currently not included in their guided tours (unless you have a permit from the city government). This is because finally, the Metropolitan Theater of Manila is said to undergo its much-needed restoration. (Looloo.com) n

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JANUARY APRIL 20122015

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