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Verbatim He just copied it from me, even in terms This is very shocking of chicks. The difference between us is he doesn’t have the finesse. . . You have to respect … They (Duterte and those who support women.

Manila Mayor and former President Joseph Estrada, on his policy) seem to presidential aspirant Rodrigo Duterte’s posturing as a have been born too womanizer; the Davao City mayor admitted having two wives and two girlfriends and had been photographed hugging and late, the time of the kissing women in public barbarians is gone.

Day one, I probably will get up sometime in the late afternoon.

I will not read any newspaper. I will enjoy or I will try to enjoy feeling no pressure whatsoever on that day.

President Aquino, when asked how he would spend his time after leaving Malacañang

Ang konsepto ata ni Chiz sa demokrasya, nakukuha niya FULL PAGE AD lagi ang gusto niya.

Sobrang OK ang SET at SC ‘pag nasunod sila, tapos sobrang mali ‘pag hindi.

Archbishop Emeritus Oscar Cruz, on Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Dutere’s vow to hold public executions of convicted criminals as a way to fight the drug menace and criminality in the country

Akbayan Party-list Rep. Barry Gutierrez, slamming Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero for criticising the Comelec decision upholding the disqualification case against Sen. Grace Poe, describing the vice presidential candidate as “a spoiled brat”

People are saying na trying hard daw ako. Yeah, I try hard talaga. I try very hard. I try very hard because this is what I want.

Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach, after winning the Binibining Pilipinas title on her third attempt

Wala naman nasusulat sa batas, wala naman sa Ten Commandments na bawal ang malabinglabing na hindi kayo magka-edad di ba?

Pauleen Luna, the 27-year-old co-host of Eat Bulaga who will tie the knot with 61-year-old TV host-comedian Vic Sotto on January 30, when asked about their age difference

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Where Should

Anthony Bourdain

Eat in the Philippines?

Crispy pata at Judy Ann in Malabon.

By the lifestyle staff • Philippine Daily Inquirer

C

ELEBRITY chef, TV host and author Anthony Bourdain was in the Philippines shooting an episode of “Parts Unknown,” his CNN show that chronicles his culinary adventures around the world. (Editor’s note: Bourdain was in the country in the first week of December.)

Bourdain’s fans have been flooding social media with the things they think he should eat while he’s here. Here’s our unsolicited guide for him—a delicious mix of Filipino favorites and new discoveries.

Artsy in Maginhawa for the kare-kare; Judy Ann in Malabon for the crispy pata; Rosie’s pancit Malabon; Abe for gising-gising and adobo; Pamana which has most of the above. Pancit Pagulong in Marikina; Pancit Lucban in Buddy’s; Bulalo in Sto. Tomas Batangas and Tagaytay. Since Bourdain already went to Lucing by the railroad tracks in Angeles, he might as well try Sosing on Dian, Makati and Pares Point on Chino Roces to find out what the masses are eating. My Brother’s Mustache for really good sisig;

Pancit lucban at Buddy’s Restaurant in Lucban, Quezon.

Alimango in sotanghon at Seafood City in Cebu.

Sinigang na corned beef at Sentro 1771 Restaurant in Makati or Bonifacio Global City.

Trellis for spicy spareribs. The Seaside Market on Daang Hari in Alabang and Macapagal Blvd for what the Philippines is famous for: fresh fish. Yes the sigarilyas in Wooden Spoon! But I think pwedeng tapatan ng Elar’s ang lechon ng Cebu which Bourdain says is the best for him.

If Bourdain wants a sample of Manila nightlife, I’ll take him to Balete@Kamias QC for some big band jazz, drink up and listen to vinyl records at the Bank Bar in BGC which has a secret entrance in a corner of a 7-11 store, and have a nightcap at Finders Keepers which is in a warehouse in Makati. – Poch Concepcion

I would take him to Madeca for the sisig taco, and the pares place in Retiro and Excelente ham because it’s Christmas.

Chef Tatung’s homey restaurant is also a good place to take him, he has different regional takes on favorite Filipino dishes, like adobo. – Tatin Yang Kanin Club for crispy dinuguan; Bacolod Chicken in BF Parañaque for inasal, garlic rice, chicken chicharon, chicharon bulaklak; Pancake House for adobo sulipan; Seafood City in Cebu for anything seafood, especially alimango in sotanghon; Cafe Adriatico for spare

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ribs adobo; Goodah in BF for goto. – Thelma Sioson San Juan

Benavides street in Binondo.

I will take him to a hundredyear-old restaurant there called Ma Kong Mami/Masuki. It’s the place where all the Fookien Chinese eat during Sunday mornings for family breakfast.

That’s where our family usually eats during special events. – Jilson Tiu

Luyong Panciteria in Marikina for lechon pancit, Cafe Sweet Inspirations on Katipunan for Mongolian barbecue, Lugawan sa Tejeros for the Lugaw with lechon. – Ruel De Vera Trellis for sizzling sisig, Buddy’s for pansit lucban, Sentro for sinigang corned beef, Lamesa Grill for sigarilyas sa gata and adobo flakes, Quattro for bibingka and pork bits.

– Vangie Baga Reyes

Authentic chicken inasal at Aida’s Chicken, a carinderia in Manokan Country, Iloilo City.

Since he loves sisig, I will take Anthony Bourdain to Madeca so he can try the sisig tacos or sisig burrito and the chicken chicharon. For dessert, I’ll take him to Sebastian’s Ice Cream so he can try Ian Carandang’s fantastic creations—the mangga’t bagoong, sapin-sapin and champorado with dilis ice cream. – Pam Pastor

Pinakbet rice at Benny’s Cafe in Rustan’s Makati.

Anthony Bourdain visits a lot of holes-in-the-walls, eateries and pondahan. Here are my top al-fresco picks: Belito’s Vineyard, an offthe-road Filipino-Spanish restaurant on Bajada Road, Davao City, for paella negra with chorizo and calamansi, kinilaw na malasugue (blue marlin), spicy ribs, stir-fried shiitake with bokchoy, gambas, calamari in olive oil and lengua served tapas-style, plus homemade durian ice cream. All these with ice-cold Cerversa Negra.

Aida’s Chicken, a carinderia in Manokan Country, Iloilo City, for authentic chicken inasal.

Tony shall eat with his hands pechopak and paa dipped in a combination of sukang sinamak, soy sauce, calamansi and chopped labuyo. I’ll suggest he eat it with garlic rice drizzled with chicken oil or a siding of steamed fresh oysters and skewers of grilled isol and baticolon, perfect with San Miguel Beer.

Green Ats Bulalohan, a 24hour restaurant on Aguinaldo

Highway in Tagaytay overlooking Taal Lake, famous for special nilagang bulalo with utak, crispy fried tawilis and sizzling chopsuey, paired with fresh buko juice.

More lechon! He should try Pepita’s Kitchen’s lechon stuffed with truffle rice or sisig rice, by Chef Dedet de la Fuente, and Rico’s spicy lechon from Cebu. – Irene Perez Sincerity Fried Chicken in Binondo. – Cathy Yamsuan

Crispy liempo strips at Kanin Club

Binukadkad na PlaPla at Abe’s in Bonifacio Global City.

For down-home cooking, Wooden Spoon’s Sigarilyas sa Gata and Crispy Daing with a side of bagnet with KBL; Mamou’s Kurobota Sinigang; Pinakbet Rice at Benny’s Cafe in Rustan’s; Kulinarya’s Roast Beef Kare-kare, but only with Via Mare bagoong (coz all other resto bagoong is sweet and sticky and crap).

Puede rin sa Dampa – Bourdain likes to get down and dirty.

And XO Heritage Bistro’s crispy pata and salpicao. – Cheche Moral

Via Mare’s halo-halo (still one of the best), and bibingka, staples such as Aristocrat’s Chicken Barbecue with extra peanut sauce. Gerry’s Grill karekare and binagoongan–simple, no frills and just like how my mother used to cooked ’em–to hell whether you live tomorrow or not as long as you’re happy today! Dekada’s twice-cooked adobo and lumpiang palabok, Kanin Club’s Crispy Dinuguan, Sentro’s Sinigang na Corned Beef. – Alex Vergara Sautéed fiddlehead fern and jicama at Ka Lui in Puerto Princesa is tasty and healthy. The crispy pata (pork trotters) at Livestock in QC is crisp outside, tender inside. Waiters “chop” it up with a saucer. Corn and cheese tempura at Wabi Sabi, QC is salty-sweet and strangely addicting. – Raoul Chee Kee Manukan Country, Bacolod City - Inasal and talaba. In Manila, the Kalabasa with Sitaw and Dilis at Sarsa, the Kamote Mash at Cafe Batwan, and the Binukadkad na PlaPla with Balo Balo and My Mom’s Puchero at Abe’s in Serendra. I’d also invite him to my house to eat my mother’s callos. Then I’d get him really drunk and take a ton of selfies, because he’s really funny. Take him to Batanes to get drunk on palek (rice wine)!

I suggest also, since he’s done Jollibee, serve him Max’s and ask him which is the better bird. – Alya Honasan Mesa’s appetizers of tinapa rolls and hito flakes; recipes’ gising-gising; Kanin Club’s crispy liempo strips, sinigang rice. – Gibbs Cadiz n

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This New Year’s resolution will pay for itself in years to come

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GREAT deal of flooding happened on social media during the first day of 2016—status flooding, that is—highlighting all the New Year’s resolutions made by people within our network. What’s noticeable in this stream of posts, though, is a lot of these resolutions, while generally positive and doable, are almost always short-sighted, generating results that may only have impact for a short period of time. Soon enough, right after the Christmas break we see people whipping themselves up into shape in order to get fit without really studying one’s physical needs, or improving some aspects of their lives which almost always ends up being more about aesthetics than personal growth.

Then they end up falling into this rut of struggling to keep up the resolve to follow their resolutions long after the fireworks display has ended. So if you have to choose just one resolution to stick to even long after the holiday revelry has wrapped up, make it the best one: this year, make a resolution to invest in something that pays for itself in years to come.

A great start would be investing in a property, like a condo unit in the middle of a busy business district.

2016 resolution: invest in good property For one, property investment is actually something that most of us could do. But just like any New Year’s resolution, it takes dedication and commitment and complete resolve to be able to see yourself through paying and finally owning your own asset—in this context, your own condo unit. So if your 2015 were spent mindlessly blowing your money on random stuff, then 2016 will have to see changes in your lifestyle.

Allow us to enumerate the lifestyle changes you can do to jumpstart your property investment project:

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Start your 2016 with a New Year’s resolution that would help you financially for years to come.

Make financial allocations When you’re young and wild and free, there will always be this tendency for you to be reckless with your finances.

Making financial allocations allows you to keep tab of your monthly paycheck. Non-negotiable expenses aside, your money should be allocated to padding the numbers on your life savings, and setting aside some of it for investing in your soon-to-own property. Did you know that a consistently allocated eight thousand pesos (Php8,000.00) a month can buy you a condo unit in 5 years?

Live simpler Notice how “non-negotiable expenses” is in bold in our statement on item number 1? Make a shortlist of the things that’s currently chewing on your finances, and then start crossing out things in the name of living simpler. Do you really need two phone lines? Do you still really need your cable subscription even if you hardly got the time to turn on your TV? You’ll be surprised to know there are some things you really don’t need in your life, thereby clearing you of liabilities.

Make a budget and stick to it This is something you should be championing now as an adult. Make a conscious effort to stick to a budget so that you don’t go overboard with your expenses. A simple search on Google Play Store or Apple App Store will yield a lot of results for free apps that could help you keep track of your financial situation, so that you still get to allocate Php8,000.00 or more intended for your property investment.

If in doubt, give yourself a four-way test Consider giving yourself a fourway test when you’re faced with deciding between buying/paying for something that’s way over your budget. Ask yourself the following questions: – Is it a need? If yes, go. If no, don’t.

– Will it make me really happy?

If yes, go. If no, don’t.

– Is it fair to your budget? If yes, go. If no, don’t.

– Will it make you a better person? If yes, go. If no, don’t.

If your answer to majority of the questions is no, then don’t

buy. Instead, funnel that cash into your investment.

Fight the monster inside all of us that is Impulse Buying Impulse Buying is basically buying something on a whim. No planning, no second guessing, nothing. We all have days when you just want to buy the first designer bag–or shoes–you see on display while navigating the mall for a different purpose.

You can circumvent this sometimes powerful monster inside you by avoiding the ways and means that lead you to impulse buying, such as grocery shopping while hungry, or making an unplanned trip to the mall.

Make that mental Q&A if it’s still worth paying for an expensive bag that would only occupy space in your room because there are already four other expensive bags in your possession. Anyway, you always have the four-way test mentioned above to help you justify these purchases. So imagine being able to stave off on mindless purchases and instead setting aside all the money saved to securing a property investment.

Now that’s smart.

(Inquirer)

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British Lawyer Going Dollars for Dave Bald to Raise Funds for Filipina Maid’s Son T

(Isabelle Claisse’s post on crowdfunding site Generosity.com)

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INGAPORE — Her maid, who has been with her for the past six years, is like family.

So, when corporate lawyer Isabelle Claisse found out last October that Mariza Cañete’s youngest son has been diagnosed with bone cancer and that his family could not afford the treatment to remove a tumor, she decided to help.

On January 13, she plans to shave her all her hair in a fund-raiser for the 10-year-old.

“It is a good way to raise awareness about cancer, even though it would be challenging to be bald at my workplace in a corporate environment. Mariza is very important to us,” said Claisse, 38, who moved to Singapore from London nearly nine years ago with her husband, a shipping lawyer. They are both British.

Cañete’s son, Dave Caba, has no health insurance.

Doctors in the Philippines, where Cañete is from, discovered a tumor in his left leg in October after Dave started complaining of a constant pain.

Claisse and her husband, 41-yearold Robert Driver, were forced to turn to the public for help as estimated surgery and hospitalization costs climbed to more than US$100,000 (P4,686,150).

Last December, they started a crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo’s charity platform, Generosity.com, where about US$6,500 (P304,599) has been raised so far.

They also hope to reach out to more people through a fund-raiser event on Jan 13 at Harry’s, a bar in Boat Quay.

Claisse, Cañete and a family friend, 49-year-old Adam Reynolds, who works in a bank, will be auctioning off the chance to shave their heads to guests at 10 p.m. The event is open to all, with a suggested minimum contribution and other activities like an auction.

They have not set a target for how much they hope to raise there, but Claisse said that they would be “very happy” if they manage to raise S$20,000

Lawyer Isabelle Claisse will be shaving her head on Jan 13 to raise funds for her Filipina maid’s son who has been diagnosed with a potentially fatal cancer.

(P664,217).

Claisse’s family of four met Dave in 2014, when he and his two siblings spent three weeks in Singapore to celebrate Christmas with the family and their mother.

She describes him as a cheerful and mischievous boy who loves sports. But he is now uses a wheelchair and has undergone three chemotherapy sessions and multiple blood transfusions.

The operation to remove the tumor in Dave’s left shin bone, and replace the bone with an implant, is scheduled to take place on Jan 26. The chances of success are over 80 per cent, but without the surgery, Dave could die.

Claisse is aware that it might be difficult to hit the target sum of US$100,000.

People have also told the couple that it was “crazy” to go to such lengths for their helper.

They are prepared to fork out the remaining sum if they cannot raise enough funds, even if it means taking on debt.

“But Mariza is family to us,” said Claisse. “I can’t imagine the alternative of saying, no, ‘I’m not going to give you money, your kid’s going to die.’

(The Straits Times/Asia News Network) n

HIS is Dave. Dave is the 10-year-old son of our helper, Mariza. Mariza has lived with us as part of our family for almost six years.

Dave has an aggressive osteosarcoma in his left leg. He lives in the Philippines and has no insurance or healthcare. Without our support this tumour would be fatal, but we have a chance to save not only his life but also his leg, and to give him the chance to grow up able to walk and run with his friends and his brother and sister, to beat this disease and leave it behind him, to walk on both legs into his future.

However, the cost of this surgery is beyond our means, which is why I am here, asking you to help me, and to help Dave and Mariza. I know there are children the world over who need that help, but this child, and this child’s mother, are important to me, and I want to do everything I can to help them in this, the worst experience of their lives. So to show how much this means to me, as well as my own financial contribution to the cost of Dave’s treatment, in return for your donation I - like Dave has done already - will be shaving my head.

It’s a scary prospect for a 38 year old corporate lawyer, but it’s a lot less scary than cancer. And at the risk of sounding melodramatic, I would not be able to forgive myself if I didn’t do everything I could to try and get Dave the treatment he needs to beat this disease.

So please, even if it’s only what you consider to be a small amount, do contribute to this cause. Every donation will make a difference. You will have my eternal gratitude, as well as that of Mariza and Dave. And on a date to be confirmed (most likely early January) you will also have pictures of me with a bald head. And that’s got to be worth paying for.

Thanks so much for your support.

Isabelle xxx

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Typhoon

in December By boo chanco

T

YPHOONS in December are considered a rarity.

But these typhoons seem to be happening more and more in recent years. There was a time when by October or November we can be more or less certain of good weather. Not anymore.

This is something we can blame on climate change. We are supposed to be on ground zero for climate change calamities. The seasonal typhoons will be stronger and we have to be prepared to deal with the devastating consequences in this new normal.

There are many skeptics about the science of climate change, but whatever one might think, it makes a lot of sense to take care of the environment we live in. For example, it is horrible how we treat the air we breathe and the land that supplies our food as trash bins.

We are even now, breathing lethal garbage into our lungs causing many chronic and deadly illnesses. And the poison we throw to the ground end up polluting the food we eat.

The observation had been made that our country might have committed too much in the Paris Climate Change Treaty by pledging to reduce our pollution levels 70 percent by 2030, even if we only contribute 0.3 percent of the global CO2 emissions.

Well, our government may have promised too much and maybe that could impact on

Typhoon Nona last December brought flooding and strong winds, causing massive destruction in many areas in Luzon. els.

We have 832 municipalities and 25 cities classified as coastal areas, which are at great risk during a typhoon. our economic growth prospects. It is true that outside of Metro Manila, Metro Cebu and other highly urbanized cities, the Philippines is rather clean.

We aren’t developed enough to abuse the environment with extreme volumes of carbon emissions.

Maybe, having made the commitment, our government will be forced to cut our CO2 emissions where these are most problematic – Metro Manila and Metro Cebu. Maybe, we will get LTO and the PNP to more seriously implement anti-smoke belching laws with no exceptions.

Maybe, government officials will have the political balls to more quickly phase out transport vehicles powered by old diesel engines that are responsible for a big part of our emission problem.

Our big problem is power generation. Coal is the fuel of choice by private sector power generators because of its economic advantage over other power sources. At present, coal dominates the country‘s energy mix and accounts for 42.5 per-

cent of power generated.

A study by US consultancy firm IHS projects a rise to 56 percent by 2020 in light of the 23 new coal-fired power plants lined up for commercial operations in the next five years. Barring any intervention, this will further increase to 75 percent by 2030 – the highest share of coal among countries in Asia.

If we are doomed to this reality at risk of suffering the consequences of inadequate power, government must make sure the coal power plants put in enough of today’s cutting edge technology to clean the emissions of coal plants. The private sector power companies must invest in these mitigation technologies or government must force them to.

In any case, the Paris accord signals the end of fossil fuels and it is best that we recognize this fact early and actively prepare for it. Luckily, the technology for alternative and renewable energy has also advanced significantly, bringing down cost to power consumers at or near grid parity with fossil fu-

Our Department of Energy has realized all these developments and recently unveiled its targeted 30-30-30 rule for the country‘s energy mix. This means, natural gas, coal and renewables will have the same 30 percent share in our energy mix with the remaining 10 percent going towards alternative technologies. A Shell study shows a 30-30-30 mix will not cost more to consumers.

It is difficult to break old habits or to veer away from quick short term profits using fossil fuels. But in the end, there is a price to pay in terms of our health, our safety and eventually our survival in this planet.

Typhoons in December may be seen as a warning of sorts from Mother Nature that things can only get worse, if we continue with our environmentally damaging ways. The Paris accord on Climate Change may seem too ambitious or not ambitious enough. The important thing is it got approved at all to serve as a measuring stick in our attempt to modify our behavior for our sake.

Being responsible for only 0.3 percent of the global CO2 emissions is not a good excuse to be complacent and do nothing. Let us think EDSA… we must clean up the air in Metro Manila starting at EDSA… (The Philippine Star) n

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Showbuzz Pia would find it ‘difficult’ to share crown Toni, Paul admit time a challenge in married life NOW that they’re married, Toni Gonzaga and Paul Soriano admit that time is a major issue in their relationship.

In an interview with ABSCBN morning show Kris TV on January 4, Toni said she and her director-husband have had major arguments about their time for each other.

“The major ones are always (about) time,” Toni said when asked if she and Paul have had arguments during the six months they have spent as husband and wife.

“Kasi there was a time, I would get home late na, mga 10 p.m., and she’s not home yet,” explained Paul.

“She’s taping... Me, now being a husband, I don’t want her on the road at 2 a.m. I get a little bit weary. [I ask her], ‘Where are you?’ And she keeps texting, ‘Stop texting, I’m working!’”

But Toni and Paul said they also continuously work on their time issues. Toni also said she aims to be better wife for her husband this year.

Toni added: “Lagi niyang sinasabi, ‘I don’t want to be your free-time husband, kung kailangan ka lang may free time. I want you to be my wife when I need you’.”

“So sabi ko, ‘Okay, okay, this 2016, the goal is to be the best wife for Paul,’” she said.

WEEKS after pageant host Steve Harvey’s colossal mistake crowning the wrong Miss Universe, winner Pia Wurtzbach balked at the idea of sharing the crown with her former opponent, Miss Colombia.

“I think it would be a little bit difficult for two girls to share a crown, but I have high hopes that this will give great opportunities for me and Miss Colombia and the rest of the contestants,” Pia told Good Morning America co-anchor Lara Spencer in her first sit-down interview as Miss Universe.

The 26-year-old Filipina beauty said she “has her theories” on why Harvey accidentally named runner-up Miss Colombia as the winner.

“Maybe the way it was writ-

Miss Philippines 2015, Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach, and Miss Colombia 2015, Ariadna Gutierrez Arevalo, react after being named top five finalists during the pageant. ten, it was a little confusing,” she said. “I understand. It was his first time to judge a pageant, but it’s OK. He’s human.

People make mistakes.”

“It’s live television,” she said. “People make mistakes

and Steve Harvey was very gracious to apologize. I accept his apology and I think it speaks a lot about his character.”

And despite Harvey’s mishap, Pia said she believes he should return to host the show.

Vic, Pauleen reveal wedding entourage THE names for Vic Sotto and Pauleen Luna’s wedding entourage have been revealed.

But the couple declined to release the date and location of the wedding, although it has been reported that they will wed by the end of the month.

Here is the wedding entourage: Principal sponsors: Senator Vicente “Tito” Sotto III and Carmencita Garcia; Tony Tuviera and wife Madeleine Tuviera; Joey de Leon and Dr. Salvacion Gatchalian Matron of Honor: Ruby Rodriguez Maid of Honor: Franchesca Que Best Man: Vico Sotto Groomsmen: Val Sotto,

It’s gonna be an intimate and private affair for Pauleen and Vic. Maru Sotto, Anjo Yllana, Wally Bayola, Jose Manalo and Paolo Ballesteros Bridesmaids: Pia Wurtzbach, Anne Margaret Luna, Leah Camille Agcaoili and Mara Isabel Sotto Secondary sponsors: Danica Sotto and Marc Pingris (veil); Oyo Sotto and Kristine Hermosa (cord)

Ring Bearer: Jean Michel Pingris Coin Bearer: Kristian Daniel Sotto Bible Bearer: Alessandro Jose Sotto Rosary Bearer: Marciano Dominico Antonio Flower Girls: Ryzza Mae Dizon, Anielle Micaela Pingris and Ondrea Bliss Sotto Pauleen said in an earlier interview that the wedding will be intimate and private, with only family and close friends present at the ceremony.

Their relationship has been a buzzed-about topic due to their age difference. Vic is turning 62 in April this year, while Pauleen is 27 years old.

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PHL expected to remain among East Asia’s fastest-growing economies

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HE PHILIPPINES will remain among the fastest-growing economies in East Asia and the Pacific this year, the World Bank said in its latest flagship report, citing an improvement in what had weighed on the country’s output: government spending.

In its January Global Economic Prospects report, titled: “Spillovers amid Weak Growth,” the multilateral lender affirmed its growth forecast for the Philippines this year at 6.4%.

The projection places the Philippines behind China’s 6.7% and Vietnam’s 6.6%.

The Philippines will also fare marginally better than East Asia and the Pacific’s (EAP) 6.3%, developing countries’ (excluding China) 4.8% and the world’s 2.9%.

“The Philippines and Vietnam are among the countries with the strongest growth prospects,” the report read, noting that “[g]rowth in the Philippines is expected to accelerate to 6.4% in 2016 from 5.8% in 2015 as public-private partnerships and government spending spur activity.”

In its June 2015 Global Economic Prospects report, the World Bank projected a 6.5% growth for the Philippines in 2016, but in October revised this down to 6.4%.

The World Bank’s latest 2015 growth estimate for the Philippines is similarly down from June 2015’s 6.5% but a retention of the downgraded October estimate.

Philippine gross domestic product (GDP) grew 5.6% in the first nine months of 2015 against an official 7-8% fullyear target, making a 6% fullyear pace more feasible, the National Economic and Development Authority had said as the government reported thirdquarter data in November.

The economic planner had then cited “significant improvements in government spending and household consumption”, particularly noting that average government final

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The Philippines will remain among the fastest-growing economies in East Asia for 2016. consumption expenditure grew 7.2% in the first nine months against a 0.2% contraction in 2014’s comparable period and a 1.7% increment for the entire 2014.

At the same time, however, the World Bank’s report noted that foreign direct investment (FDI) “inflows to other large EAP economies remained generally robust in the first half of the year, rising in all large countries except the Philippines in year-on-year terms”.

“In the Philippines, FDI has lagged, partly owing to regulatory restrictions,” the report noted.

Latest available central bank data show net inflow of FDI -a key source of jobs and capital for the local economy -- fell 5.5% to $4.537 billion as of September from the $4.802 billion logged in 2014’s comparable nine months.

But Philippine inflows have constantly paled in comparison to those of most of its Southeast Asian peers.

“Slowing growth in China is expected to offset a modest pickup in growth among members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations this year,” the

World Bank said in its latest report.

“The region is expected to benefit from the strengthening recovery in advanced economies, low energy prices, improved political stability, and continued favorable conditions in global financial markets, despite anticipated monetary policy tightening in the United States,” the multilateral lender added.

“A faster-than-expected slowdown in China” was tagged as a key risk to East Asia and the Pacific’s growth outlook.

“The possibility of greater financial market volatility and restricted credit are also risks to growth,” the report added.

“A steep appreciation of the value of the US dollar and a slower-than-expected acceleration of high-income economies would also dent growth prospects in the region.”

‘OPTIMISTIC, BUT GUARDED’ First Metro Investment Corp., meanwhile, expects Philippine GDP to expand 6-6.5% amid uncertainties in the local financial markets and global economic weaknesses.

“We remain optimistic [about

the economy], but guarded,” First Metro Chairman Francisco C. Sebastian said in an annual economic and capital markets briefing yesterday in Makati City.

The forecast, according to FMIC, reflects international developments such as the slowdown in China and local issues like government underspending.

“The faster implementation of public infrastructure projects, continuing private construction, strong domestic consumer demand, heightened election-related spending, an better exports will provide boost,” FMIC President Rabboni Francis B. Arjonillo said.

Victor A. Abola, an economist at the University of Asia and the Pacific, shared the outlook, noting: “There are a number of important factors, election spending is one of them. Secondly, the continuing low oil prices is really giving more purchasing power to the consumers.”

FMIC also expects the main index of the Philippine Stock Exchange to peak at 7,500 this year, and corporate earnings growing 13.8%. (Inquirer)

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Showbuzz Derek, girlfriend mark anniversary

Derek and Joanne lapping it up in Palawan.

FOR the first time, Derek Ramsay introduced his girlfriend, model Joanne Villablanca, to his followers on Instagram.

On New Year’s Day, the 39-

year-old actor posted a photo so fast. It wasn’t the best year of him with Joanne while on for us, yes. But I think the honvacation in Palawan. The capeymoon stage is overrated anytion read: “Thank you for evway. 2016 will be our year. Love erything. I hope you enjoyed as you,” she added. much as I did. Love you.”

In an earlier interview with For her part, Joanne rethe Philippine Daily Inquirer, vealed that January 1 was their Derek, who previously dated anniversary as a couple. She actresses Angelica Panganiban, FULL PAGE ADReyes and Solenn Heuwrote as the accompanying Cristine caption to a photo of her with saff, said that he wants his relaDerek: “Happy New Year and Happy Anniversary Love!”

“Can’t believe 2015 went by

‘Master Showman’ German Moreno dies

Sharon’s ‘happy place’ in LA

Sharon selling LA mansion for $2.2M SHARON Cuneta may have talked about retiring in California, but that may not be for some time.

A report from Fox News on December 28 said Sharon is selling her mansion in Calabasas, Los Angeles County for $2.2 million, or more than P103 million.

The mansion was built in 1997 and was purchased by the actress six years ago for $2 million.

Fox News described the property as “6,610-square-foot estate hits a high note with a grand marble entry, custom library, chef’s kitchen with a breakfast room, formal living room with fireplace, family room, and numerous bedrooms.

tionship with Joanne to last.

“We enjoy each other’s company and we’re very much intrigued by each other —we want to know each other more,” Derek shared. “She supports the things I do and seems genuinely interested in them. There’s no pressure. And I love it.”

Joanne, 26, has an eightyear-old daughter.

“Entertainment options abound. Step outside to an expansive lawn, relax under a covered patio, cook up a meal on the grill, or take a dip in the pool and spa, which include a waterfall.”

In 2014, Sharon said the mansion was her home away from home, and her “happy place.” She had once entertained the prospect of and retiring in the US. But that was before the Megastar, who turned 50 last January 6, re-signed with the Kapamilya network, and was given a spot as a celebrity judge for the last two seasons of Your Face Sounds Familiar.

VETERAN television host German Moreno died of cardiac arrest early morning on January 8. He was 82.

Moreno died at around 3:20 a.m. while confined in a hospital in Quezon City. He was rushed to the hospital past 7 p.m. on January 7.

In January 2015, he was rushed to the acute stroke unit of the St. Luke’s Medical Center in Quezon City after suffering a mild stroke.

A popular host, actor, comedian and talent manager, Moreno, or more popularly known as “Kuya Germs,” began his career in show business in the 1960s.

Before becoming an actor, Moreno worked as a janitor and a curtain raiser at the Clover Theater. He later went on to pursue a career on the bodabil stage as a comedian.

Moreno’s biggest break came when he hosted GMA Supershow in the 1980s.

His name was immortalized in Philippine

showbiz as host and producer of the then long-running youthoriented show That’s Entertainment. Many of the show’s “graduates” became popular artists including Lea Salonga, Manilyn Reynes, Gladys Reyes, Judy Ann Santos, Janno Gibbs, Billy Crawford, Donna Cruz, Ramon Christopher, and Lotlot de Leon.

He also initiated the “Walk of Fame” in Eastwood, Quezon City, which is the local counterpart of Hollywood’s “Walk of Fame” to recognize performers who made significant contributions to the local showbiz industry.

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LBC Foundation Scholarship Program announces its first college graduate

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E ARE bursting with pride for our very first college graduate from LBCF’s Scholarship program for qualified and deserving employees’ children.

Ralph Chito Picardal, known as “Rap-rap” to his family and peers. is a Godfearing young man who possesses confidence and a positive disposition in life. He was a LBCF scholar since 2011and took up Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Illigan Medical Center College in Iligan City He held a position as President in their Highschool Student Body Organization and continuous his

leadership skills to his College years. He was part of the Debate Team in College, received Academic Awards, graduated with Top Rank in his department and garnered the First Honorable Mention in their Secondary Graduation.

“Being one of the scholars to this prestigious institution I will never forget how this made my life at ease at my college years for I never have to worry about the cost of my education nor PAGE AD the expense of myFULL learning tools. And this I believe have been a great factor in my success as I rose as top of my batch ranked 1 in my department during my commencement exercises.

And now that I am at the finish line of my college life. I want to look back to those people behind me in this success. And truly LBC foundation is one of my guiding pillars in this victory. And for that I want to tell the people behind LBC foundation my unending gratitude for a once in a lifetime opportunity.

I give my thanks to the management and the people behind it for giving me the chance in making my dreams a reality. LBC will not only be known as

king of courier companies.

I believe it will become an advocate for youth in nurturing them to become rightful citizens in the future!” - Ralph Picardal Ralph is currently doing his reviews in preparation for the Board Licensure Examination on Nov 29 and 30.

Congratulations, Ralph!!

Keep up the great work and continue to make us, your LBC family, proud!

We wish you all the best for the coming board.

(LBC Foundation)

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Miss Universe:

Western Mom or Dad Needed By philip bowring

P

URE Asians need not apply, especially if short

The 2015 Miss Universe contest in Hollywood hit the headlines because of the bizarre manner in which the host, because of an apparent mix-up in the cue cards, gave the crown to the runner-up, Miss Colombia, before realizing that the winner was Miss Philippines, Pia Alonzo Wurzbach.

However, Asian viewers cheering yet another victory for a Southeast Asian contestant in the rival Miss Universe and Miss World contests might do well to ponder who is chosen to represent their countries and why. Even a cursory analysis of the chosen ones indicates characteristics which are atypical of their nations. The first is a preference for semi-Caucasian features, notably of eyes and nose.

The second, a preference for skins much lighter than the national norms. Third, they must conform to the notion that tall is beautiful. In practice 170 cm appears to be the minimum.

By comparison the Southeast Asian average for women is 153 cm. Even in the Netherlands, which has the world’s tallest people the female average is only 169 cm.

Bias toward the west The question that must be asked is whether these preferences reflect a cultural cringe to towards the west, a kowtow to the Chinese obsession with white skin, or a calculated attempt to appeal what the national judges deem to be the prejudices of the international

Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach has a German father.

Miss World 2013 Megan Young was born in the US to an American father. judges. Or, most likely, a combination.

In this latest case the new Miss Philippines, who is now Miss Universe, has a German father –now deceased – and a Filipino mother. The Philippine Miss World 2013 was born in the US to an American father.

The 2014 Miss Universe Philippines had a Saudi father while the 2012 winner had an Austrian father.

Things are not much different in Thailand, where last year Miss Universe Thailand was born in the US of an American father and a Thai mother and raised in the US, Pimbomgkod Chankaew, aka Alison Samson.

Her predecessor two years earlier was half Austrian.

Singapore has a higher proportion of mixed-blood people in its population but even so they seem to have been overrepresented in the beauty business over the past decade of Miss Universe contestants. The 2015 holder of the Singapore crown is described as Malay but Lisa Marie White’s name as well

Our bet to the Miss Universe 2014 contest, Mary Jean Lastimosa, has an Arab father from Saudi Arabia. as appearance suggest a mixed parentage.

Indonesia’s Miss Universe candidates come from across the archipelago but even so the Euro-mix seems to make particular impact on the judges.

Whoah!!

The most notable Asian selection this year was Miss

Universe Japan, a woman with an African-American father.

Some in Japan had objected that she was not representative of a Japan with few – though now growing – mixed ethnicity people. Others saw it as a real breakthrough for a nation long hostile to racial mixing, and with blacks in particular. Cynics saw it as an attempt to show Japan as much more tolerant than may be the case and appeal to the judges.

It was anyway a reminder that despite Japan’s traditional attitudes on racial issues, advertisements in its fashion and women’s magazines have long appeared to features models with part Caucasian characteristics. At least in that world hafu – people of mixed parentage – are in demand.

In much of Southeast Asia meanwhile, it is not just mixed-race people who also feature highly in advertising.

One almost never sees an average brown skin, let alone the darker hues. If models don’t look part western, they look sufficiently white to be Chinese or Japanese. In the Philippines this may be explained by the long hold that mestizo groups, Chinese or western, have long had on power, not to mention social trends. Elsewhere it may be more the result of Chinese attitudes and commercial influence.

The bottom line of all this is that however well formed, beguiling, charming and intelligent, you are, if you have a brown skin and are only 160 cm tall or less (well above average for the region) you have zero chance of winning a national Miss contest in Asia, let alone one run by western organizations, however hard they try to appear inclusive.

Of course one could laugh this all off just as one could laugh off Donald Trump, who until recently owned the Miss Universe organization. But like Trump’s prejudices it tells of things nations need to know, uncomfortable though they may be. (Asia Sentinel) n

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By niki yarte

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HILE we watched fireworks welcome the New Year, we most likely found something to change about ourselves and make resolutions.

Showbiz stars probably did the same but with the only exception that we can also make resolutions for them. So for a more prosperous 2016, here are some resolutions that we hope some celebrities will adapt.

Maine Mendoza - Be selective with endorsements Her face has been plastered all over billboards and print ads, not to

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New Year’s Resolutions for Celebrities mention virtually every commercial that airs on Eat Bulaga.

Does this girl ever sleep? Where does she even find the time?

Of course, one can say that she should also savor the moment and milk the AlDub phenomenon as much she can. After all, who knows how far her Cinderella story can go. Still, it’s not advisable to put all her eggs in one basket.

Enrique Gil - Respect limits Young men will have their vices. Fine, that’s understood.

Unfortunately, Enrique’s just happens to also be half of one of the most sought-after love teams at the

at it again, leaving cryptic messages on his Instagram account to go with pictures of himself in an unkempt state. Fans and industry insiders are bothered, even disturbed, by the unstable personality of the troubled actor, so while he finds the time to sober up, maybe the best thing for him to do right now is to put his phone down and not draw unwarranted attention to himself.

Enrique moment. So unless he intends to risk his bankability, it would be in his best interest to always be at his best behavior, especially in public! Nobody’s telling him to quit drinking but he has to learn when to say no and when he’s had enough.

JM De Guzman Go offline

Maine

Speaking of boys with vices, JM has received a lot of flak for his addiction to recreational drugs. And just when we all thought he had cleaned up his act, he’s

Luis Manzano and Angel Locsin – Stay the course Look up the definition of an on-again/off-again relationship and Luis and Angel’s name would probably be there along with a picture. The couple had gotten together and split and gotten together again all in a span of barely a couple of years. It’s good that they’re back in each other’s arms for the past year or so and they seem great together, so hopefully 2016 won’t be a return to their old cycle. Hopefully, they can figure out by then whether they want to stay together or drift apart for good.

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especially for the “women and children” causes that she intends to fight for.

Kris

Heart Evangelista - Return to herself It wasn’t too long ago that the young actress was known simply as that: The talented starlet with a bright future ahead of her. Fast forward to today and what we hear of her, in addition to her steady but forgettable stream of work, is not so much about her as what she means to other people. She’s been the prodigal child of the Ongpaucos. The rival to Marian Rivera, whose fans have also grown to scorn her. And now she’s wife to a vice

JM

Kris Aquino - Say less It’s incredibly telling that in a country teeming with gossip, the reigning Queen of Talk just happens to be tactless and out of touch with the daily realities of the regular folk. That’s fine if you’re a starlet or a gossip columnist but that she’s also from a prominent political clan is just unbecoming.

Still, she’s not the most reviled of popular celebrities who let their mouths run too far. That honor still belongs to the likes of Willie Revillame. To her credit, Kris has never really said anything disparaging directly to anyone, but she has said enough drivel that people actually rejoiced when her doctor recently put her on vocal rest for an extended period of time. Now, that’s saying something.

Alma Moreno – Read pa more While not exactly a resolution, rescinding her candidacy

Manny presidential candidate, which is sure to boost her profile but she didn’t really need that to begin with. She’s an infectious and classy performer with legions of fans behind her. What she needs to focus on in 2016 is finding a fulfilling, challenging, and memorable acting role and be more than an arm candy come campaign election time.

Manny Pacquiao – Get priorities straight

Alma - for the Senate, no less - would be the best thing that Loveliness could ever do in 2016. It would be a kind gesture to show how much she respects the Filipino voters, who were aghast at her performance or lack of it - in TV interview. And while that’s not likely to happen, the least that she can do is to prove herself a worthy candidate and read up and understand the issues,

– a

Not that we expected him to contribute anything substantial to Congress deliberations but the Gentleman from Sarangani should realize attending sessions is his principal duty.

Pacman attended sessions of the Lower Chamber for a grand total of only FOUR days in the past year! Was it really too much to ask for the Honorable Congressman Pacquiao to actually represent Sarangani in the House during deliberations of important measures, like budget hearings, for example? We understand that he’s got more important and profitable commitments (like earning millions for trading blows in the ring for 36 minutes), but given that Congress only has 70 session days, his frequent absenteeism is just unacceptable. And now he’s eyeing a Senate seat! n

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HRONIC absenteeism is a valid ground for dismissal from work, according to the Philippine Labor Code. The Supreme Court has upheld this law by stating that habitual neglect of duties, which includes frequent absences without duly approved leaves, is a just cause for terminating employment. “[H]abitual neglect implies repeated failure to perform one’s duties for a period of time… and repeated acts of absences without leave… reflect [petitioner’s] indifferent attitude to and lack of motivation in his work,” says the Court. Hence, “habitual absenteeism without leave constitutes gross negligence and is sufficient to justify termination of an employee.”

Loud and clear. By that standard, Manny Pacquiao should have been dismissed by now from his supposed work as the

The gentleman from Sarangani, who showed up at the sessions last year for a grand total of four days, wants to be promoted to the Senate.

Kick Out

Lazy Congressmen elected representative of Sarangani province to Congress. According to the official records posted on the House of Representatives’ website in January last year, Pacquiao showed up at the sessions in 2014 for a grand total of four days. The records actually reflect seven days, but in three of those he was physically absent though deemed excused from showing up for work.

Another habitual absentee was Negros Occidental Rep. Julio Ledesma IV, with a record of having showed up at the House only seven times. His is actually a grosser record, since, already on his third term, Ledesma has apparently not reformed from the delinquency that had marked his previous stints in Congress. House attendance records in August 2010 showed he only reported for work once in the 15th Congress. In 2014, he improved a bit, if barely; on top of having been physically present in the House for seven days, he was said to have done constituency work for 14 days—but was listed as absent without leave for 13 other days, an equation that pretty much cancels each other out.

How many times are our legislators expected to show up for work in Congress? In 2014, there were 70 session days, but the roll was called—meaning, the attendance was checked— in only half of that time to supposedly waive the need for a quorum. This is done on presumably less important days when the legislators’ presence could be dispensed with. So, from Jan. 20 to Dec. 17, 2014, there were, in effect, only 34 session days.

Thirty-four. To an ordinary employee or worker the number would amount to about a month or so of official working days.

Legislators like to say that much of the rest of their time is used for “constituency work”— tending to their bailiwicks, in short, to ensure that their presence and at least a semblance of the basic services they had promised to deliver are felt by the people somehow. But congressmen are not elected to be social workers; they are required to be lawmakers, first and foremost. Which means they have to spend physical time debating, crafting and refining laws on the floor of Congress.

Negros Occidental Rep. Julio Ledesma IV, now on his third term, is a consistent topnotcher in the absenteeism list.

You’d think any conscientious, self-respecting salaryman receiving pay—taxpayer money at that—would be conscious about diligently showing up for work and doing even just the bare minimum of his job requirements. But, in 2014, out of 290 lawmakers who were required to attend a measly 34 session days, only 65 managed to achieve perfect attendance.

At the very least, the chronic absence of the majority of the legislators threw a monkey wrench at the speedy enactment of pri-

ority measures such as the national budget for 2015.

This is an outrageous, unacceptable state of affairs. The current petition by some 27 civil society groups for the Office of the Ombudsman to look into the habitual absenteeism of House members deserves public support, because this gross and blatant neglect of duty appears to be something the House leadership itself is unable to correct. Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. himself was present in all 34 session days in 2014, but his leadership apparently does not extend to forcing his fellow legislators to attend the required sessions, if only to justify their generous emoluments as the so-called representatives of the people.

If Belmonte can’t do it, perhaps Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales can. The no-nonsense Morales has dismissed a slew of government officials in the last few months for offenses ranging from corruption and abuse of power to gross neglect of duty. Surely, the spectacle of elected public officials barely showing up for work while still receiving their salaries constitutes a violation of the legal standard for fair and acceptable work behavior.

Rank-and-file employees have been given the boot for similar offenses. Lazy congressmen deserve no less.

(Editorial, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Dec. 8, 2015) n

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OFW remittances are expected to increase to $25.6 billion in 2015 from $24.35 billion in 2014.

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Prolonged cheap oil prices can trigger a wave of retrenchment that will surely affect OFWs in the Middle East.

Still Unsung Heroes

HE 10 million overseas Filipino workers have always been credited for a big part of the economic-growth story under President Aquino. The fact is that the billions of dollars they send home each month have been a growth driver of the economy long before this administration, or since the 1970s when the oil boom lured tens of thousands of Filipino construction workers to the Middle East.

Last October, OFWs sent home cash worth $2.23 billion—the second highest monthly amount on record, exceeded only by the $2.32 billion remitted in December 2014. From January to October, cash remittances totaled $20.64 billion, up 3.7 percent from $19.91 billion a year ago.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas expects remittances to increase to $25.6 billion in 2015 from $24.35 billion in 2014.

Remittances are the biggest source of foreign exchange income for the economy, insulating the Philippines from external shocks by ensuring the steady supply of dollars needed to pay for imports and service foreign debt. These cash transfers also fuel domestic consumption, which last year accounted for about two-thirds of the economy as measured by the gross domestic product.

This is the good side of the OFW phenomenon. The other

side is that despite government efforts and promises to protect their welfare, many Filipinos working abroad continue to suffer physically, emotionally, mentally and even financially thousands of kilometers away from home.

As early as 2010, a group from Ateneo de Manila University’s Department of Psychology running a counseling website for OFWs noted that family and marital issues topped the list of concerns commonly consulted online by Filipinos abroad. Among the problems raised were related to marital conflict, lack of communication with children left behind in the Philippines, and concerns about “long-distance parenting” and “the guilt in missing out on important events in their family’s lives.” There were also questions about work-related problems, including issues with coworkers and bosses, racial discrimination and prejudice

at work, homesickness, adjustment concerns and financial issues.

Illegal recruitment has also remained a huge problem to this day despite efforts by the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency (POEA) to clean up the recruitment sector. The Commission for Filipinos Overseas estimated that there were some 1.34 million undocumented OFWs as of 2013—an issue that the government should really address. The tedious process required to legally work abroad has been blamed for the continued proliferation of illegal recruiters who offer speed of deployment at little initial expense through such schemes as the fly-now-pay-later program.

Illegal recruitment has serious implications particularly when the migrants involved are maltreated or abused by their employers: There is no way for them to hold anyone liable for their misfortune.

A more immediate risk today even for the legally employed is the potential negative impact of falling crude oil prices. While this seems a relief to Filipino consumers in terms of lower gasoline prices, the big number of OFWs in the Middle East are at risk of losing their jobs. The economic health of Middle Eastern countries is

greatly tied to their ability to profit from oil. Bigger income from oil exports means more migrants to be hired for projects in the Middle East. The reverse can happen: Prolonged cheap oil prices can trigger a wave of retrenchment that will surely affect OFWs in the oilproducing region. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are two major host countries for OFWs, accounting for 17.4 percent of all remittances last year.

It is hard to quantify if the economic benefits of having millions of Filipinos working abroad truly outweigh the social costs of this phenomenon.

But given the sad plight of a number of these migrants, the government should always strive to reduce the attractiveness of overseas jobs. As it is, thousands of Filipinos continue to leave the country daily for jobs abroad; many of them are uncertain of what lies ahead.

Making economic growth inclusive is the answer if the government is to reduce the country’s dependence on foreign jobs. Meaningful local employment programs should eventually help make migration a choice, not a necessity. (Editorial, Philippine Daily Inquirer, December 21, 2015) n

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015 has been a good year for tourism in the Philippines. In the first eight months of 2015, tourist arrivals increased by almost 10 per cent.

The APEC summit hosted by the country in November also boosted the figure considerably. Tourist numbers during the APEC week reached more than 11,000, exceeding the Government’s target of 10,000 visitors.

The integration of ASEAN nations into a single economy is also projected to boost tourism in the region, as travel restrictions among member states will be eased. Figures from the Department of Tourism show that the Philippines now ranks fifth among ASEAN’s ten member states - coming in behind Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore.

In order not to play catch up, plans are underway to boost the country’s reputation as a favoured destination, and part of it includes improving opensky policies.

“We’re still getting some of the signatories for some of the open sky policy for the border control uniformity of the border control,” said Aileen Clemente, President Philippine Travel Agencies Association.

“The whole idea is to ensure a seamless way to travel across ASEAN and the advantage is that we would be able to attract more tourists who see ASEAN and its different countries as one destination.”

A major issue holding back development of tourism in the Philippines is infrastructure.

The capital’s main Ninoy Aquino International Airport held the title of the world’s worst airport from 2011 to 2013. It lost its title only after major renovation was carried out, but the airport is still ranked eighth worst in Asia.

Tourism officials are also pushing through plans to upgrade the country’s provincial airports, the gateways to islands such as Palawan and Boracay.

Adventure tourism for activities such as diving are being looked into.

Undersecretary of Tourism

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TRAVEL

DOT had successful 2015, marks 5-M tourist arrival milestone

Development, Benito Bengzon, also be receiving a package tour said the Department of Tour- with hotel accommodation as a ism has been studying the prize for being the 5 millionth country’s marine sanctuaries visitor in the Philippines.

FULL PAGE AD to help it find ways to preserve Grantham, born to a Filipino dive sites and promote ecomother and American father, tourism. flew via Philippine Airlines “Specifically we continue to fo- flight PR103 and landed in Macus on the diving market and nila at 3:48 a.m. She planned to we feel that the Philippines, visit her grandparents in Cebu because of its 7000 islands, can and explore Palawan in her twobe very competitive in this par- week stay in the country. ticular segment as the entire Bengzon described welcoming country is practically within the so called coral triangle,” said Mr Bengzon.

The Department of Tourism projects that by year’s end, around 5.2 million foreign visitors will visit the Philippines in 2015. The figure is considerably lower than the target of 10 million foreign visitors the Department aims to attract in 2016.

It admits that having to boost tourist numbers by almost five million people within a year will take some doing, but it is looking forward to the boost that ASEAN integration will bring.

Meanwhile, on 21 December, DOT surprised the 5 millionth person to visit the Philippines for 2015.

Tourism Assistant Secretary Alan Canizal and Undersecretary Bengzon warmly welcomed and greeted the lucky Filipino-American female tourist at the Ninoy Aquino International Terminal 2.

The lucky visitor, 23-year old New York-based Gabby Grantham, received a bouquet of flowers from the DOT officials which caught her by surprise.

Canizal said that Grantham will

the 5 millionth visitor as a very significant event.

“This milestone is a result of the collaborative and sustained efforts of all partners in tourism industry,” Bengzon said.

He said that motivation to push harder is better than the headcount.

“The fact that we have crossed the 5 million mark is that we are already in the big league,” Bengzon said.

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JANUARY 2016

LONDON

Let There Be Light

A

N encouraging and enduring image from the recent Apec meetings in Manila was that of Filipino engineer Aisa Mijeno holding her own in a lively panel with US President Barack Obama and Alibaba founder Jack Ma, as they discussed SMEs (small and medium enterprises) and the private sector’s role in mitigatthe sea by coastal ing climate change.

More than the motherhood statements parroted in many global forums, the discussion centered on green innovations and inventions that address realities on the ground.

Mijeno’s salt-powered lamp (called SALt, for Sustainable Alternative Lighting) made up a great takeaway from the Apec event: the real meaning of “inclusive growth,” that buzz phrase used so profligately during the meetings.

SALt shows how technology can be used to serve the needs of the poor so that they, too, will benefit from the Philippines’ touted economic growth.

It addresses an urgent need for electric power in remote areas: Some 16 million families are off-grid, according to a 2013 study by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies.

Mijeno’s lamp uses saltwater—which can be easily sourced from

communities—making it a cheap, sustainable, clean and safe alternative to kerosene, the default fuel in marginalized areas. Essentially, the saltwater facilitates the disintegration of a piece of metal (called an “anode”) immersed in the solution. The disintegration of this anode produces electricity that can provide up to eight hours of light equivalent to that provided by seven candles. The lamp also has a USB port that allows users to charge their phones when the light is turned off.

Users can replenish the saltwater solution by dissolving two tablespoons of salt in a glass of water, but the anode needs to be replaced every six months.

The lamp costs about $20, plus $3 every six months for a replacement anode. (Residents of a Kalinga

Mijeno’s lamp uses saltwater, making it a cheap, sustainable, clean and safe alternative to kerosene.

Filipino engineer Aisa Mijeno village had to shell out P40 every two days for kerosene.)

With a more accessible light source, people in remote communities now have a chance to pursue other activities that the onset of darkness had made near-impossible: farm chores, tending of livestock, reading and studying, even just enjoying the night breeze without fear. They can become more active partners in the national economy and be able to share in the dividends of growth.

With the yearly typhoons and power outages, salt lamps literally provide a lifeline.

SALt also shows that it is imperative to know a problem intimately in order to solve it.

Mijeno, a former Greenpeace campaigner and faculty member of De La Salle-Lipa, stayed with the Butbut tribe in Buscalan, Kalinga, for some time, and learned that the villagers depended mainly on moonlight for evening chores and trekked six hours to Bontoc for their kerosene supply. It’s an abiding lesson that government officials and functionaries must take to heart. (Let them immerse themselves in those MRT-LRT queues so they’d understand

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how urgent it is to solve the public transport problem with which ordinary wage-earners grapple daily.)

Described by Obama as an “innovator,” Mijeno is also a role model for women everywhere, one who embodies the promise of youth as a dynamic force. More than just skills, she imbues the male-dominated engineering field with heart, showing how knowledge can be harnessed for maximum good.

But Mijeno’s narrative also reveals the government’s disheartening and passive stance despite its rhetoric on green initiatives. Even with her local and international awards, Mijeno could not find enough funding support to mass-produce her invention in order to make it more affordable to poor communities. In fact, she and brother Ralph had to crowdsource the funds needed to meet their goal of providing salt lamps to the Hanunuo Mangyan tribe of Bulalacao, Oriental Mindoro; the Barangay Gabi families of Carles, Iloilo; and the Buscalan tribe of Kalinga.

It was in fact Obama’s staff who found Mijeno online and pushed her to center stage, where she met world-famous entrepreneur Jack Ma. The richest man in China promptly offered her a scholarship to an entrepreneur school in his country.

So where’s that vaunted government support for local SMEs? What are local officials doing to solve the energy problem in their communities?

Why must it take outsiders—in the case of Mijeno in Kalinga, and Obama and Ma during the Apec—to find solutions to a domestic crisis? How long before they see the light?

Hopefully, Mijeno’s SALt would nudge the Aquino administration into demonstrating its commitment to inclusive growth, while finding a way to meet a most pressing need: clean and sustainable power supply. (Philippine Daily Inquirer) n

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Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts’ third hotel in Manila is opening soon in Bonifacio Global City.

LONDON

Philippine Hotels Boom Leaves Glut of Beds

M

ANILA—New hotels are sprouting across the Philippines to help fulfill the government’s ambitions to make the archipelago a match for Thailand or Malaysia as a top Asian holiday destination. Now the challenge is to fill them.

The hotel boom—including upscale foreign brands like Shangri-La and Hyatt—is designed to address a perennial shortage of accommodation that, along with poor transport links, officials say has long stunted tourism in the country.

But hoteliers may have been overzealous as tourist arrivals are falling short of official targets. In 2014, 4.8 million foreign travelers visited the Southeast Asian country, up from 3.5 million in 2010, but well off the pace to reach the government’s target of 10 million tourists in 2016. The tropical country will manage only half that next year and reach just eight million by 2025, the World Travel & Tourism Council forecasts.

“Hotel developers have been too bullish about the Philippines,” said Claro Cordero, associate director at property consultancy Jones Lang LaSalle Philippines. The outcome is an “overheated supply situation,” he said—meaning empty beds.

By 2018, Manila’s hotel supply will have doubled in the space of six years to 32,860

rooms, according to Jones Lang LaSalle, with many top hotel brands opening lavish facilities.

There is also growth in provincial cities led by Philippine developers.

But a government marketing blitz trumpeting the Philippines’ beaches and world-class dive sites world-wide has fallen short of expectations, according to participants in the tourism sector.

In 2014, revenue from tourism in the Philippines was $12 billion, or 4.2% of national gross domestic product, according to the World Travel & Tourism Council—though the government estimates it was $21 billion. In contrast, Malaysia and Thailand each topped 25 million visitors in 2014, with tourism representing 5.7% and 8.6% of those economies respectively, according to WTTC figures.

An uptick in Chinese tourists that the government had been hoping for has yet to materialize. In 2014 South Korea and the U.S. sent by far the most tourists to the Philippines, with China and Japan roughly tied for third.

China’s corruption crackdown and economic slowdown is spelling weak demand for the new casino hotels in Entertainment City.

As hotel growth outstrips tourism growth, Manila hotel occupancy rates are now 62% and falling, according to Colliers, another real-estate consultancy.

In Manila’s new central business district of Bonifacio Global City, Hong Kong-based ShangriLa Hotels & Resorts, a unit of Shangri-La Asia Ltd., is completing its third Manila hotel; in Southeast Asia, only Singapore has as many. In September, 3,000 workers were pushing to complete the sprawling development in time for an early 2016 opening.

“In Manila we saw a lot of potential,” said general manager John Rice. “But you can’t just open your doors and expect people to come in,” he said, noting increasingly stiff competition.

Mr. Rice said Shangri-La chose to expand here because of its confidence in the fastgrowing Philippine economy, not the hype surrounding tour-

ist numbers. “You can’t just rely on governments to meet their visitor targets,” he said.

With hopes tied to attracting high-paying business and conference guests, the flaccid state of the regional economy, stemming mainly from the slowdown in China, is a concern for hoteliers. Even so, ShangriLa should recoup the cost of building the new hotel within five years, Mr. Rice said.

Hotels in Entertainment City face the toughest challenges of all, said Julius Guevara, Colliers’ director of research and advisory services in the Philippines.

The country’s gambling regulator requires the hub’s four casino-resorts—two of which have opened so far—to build at least 5,000 high-end hotel rooms between them. But China’s corruption crackdown and economic slowdown is spelling weak demand for these new casino hotels, Mr. Guevara said.

The hotel-building spurt is continuing regardless, driven mainly by the country’s top three real-estate companies, which have all recently branched out from developing homes and offices into building and operating hotels.

A short-term room surplus is ultimately a price you have to pay to build tourism, according to Mr. Rice of Shangri-La. “It’s a chicken-and-egg situation,” he said. “You can’t generate the new demand if you don’t have the supply.” (The Wall Street Journal) n

JANUARY 2016 APRIL 2012

LONDON

WHAT’S ON

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NEW GUIDELINES FOR CONTRIBUTORS Pag-IBIG OFW Member TO THE FILCOM CALENDAR OF EVENTS Dagdag Ipon Raffle Promo FULL PAGE AD GUIDELINES FOR CONTRIBUTORS TO THE FILCOM CALENDAR

The Philippine Embassy advises Pag-IBIG OFW members that they can now join the Pag-IBIG ‘Dagdag Ipon Raffle Promo’ until 31 December 2015.

This promo is open to all qualified Pag-IBIG OFW members who will remit a minimum of Php600.00 Pag-IBIG I membership savings (MS) in a single transaction within the raffle promo duration.

Visit https://www.pagibigfundservices.com/jointheraffle/ for the promo mechanics and other related information.

OF EVENTS 1. The publication of the FILCOM calendar of events is a public service provided by the Philippine Embassy to help promote and encourage Filipino community events in the UK. The public events are published upon the request of Philippine Embassyaccredited community organizations.

2. Unless stated otherwise, the Embassy is NOT involved in the organization of these events. Nor does inclusion of an event necessarily suggest that the Embassy will be represented in that event.

3. Philippine Embassy-accredited community organizations may submit announcements by sending an email to embassy@ philemb.co.uk with the following details: • • • • • •

Name and address of organization Title of event Date, time and venue (including postcode) Brief description of activity/event (including website, if any) Name and contact details of focal point Flyer or banner (optional)

4. Inclusion of the events in this list is subject to the approval of the Embassy.

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Good or Bad? Most Filipino Children Glued to Teleseryes A recent study reveals most children watch television during prime time (5 pm to 10 pm) and prefer watching teleseryes.

By jee y. geronimo

A

RECENT study shows most Filipino children still prefer watching television when they get home after a long day of school, and they like watching teleseryes (television series) or adult-oriented shows.

Most Filipino children watch television for close to 3 hours during weekdays, and 6 hours during weekends, the same study showed. Both are beyond the internationally-prescribed daily exposure to television which is only 1 to 2 hours.

The study, conducted by the National Council for Children’s Television (NCCT) late February to March 2015, surveyed 4,395 children below 18 years old from Grades 3 to 10 enrolled in 209 public and private elementary and high schools all over the country.

It revealed that during weekdays, many children watch television from 5 pm to 10 pm – considered the prime time of Philippine television replete with teleserye programming.

“Several studies pointed out how television programs, which are not specifically created for children, may not be beneficial toward their growth, even without the existence of vulgarity and violence in its content,” the study read.

“Any concept that is improperly interpreted by children could mean a shift in their perspective, and any incorrect inferences to what is ‘real’ and ‘socially acceptable or correct’ could lead to possible conflicts

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Top 15 most favorite local shows 1. Forevermore 2. It’s Showtime 3. Dream Dad 4. Once Upon A Kiss 5. TV Patrol 6. Matanglawin 7. Eat Bulaga 8. Wansapanataym 9. Inday Bote 10. Bagito 11. Got to Believe 12. ABS-CBN shows 13. Gandang Gabi Vice 14. Oh My G! 15. PBA

Top 15 most favorite foreign shows in a child’s development.”

When it comes to genre, more children watch shows categorized as comedy and children’s television, followed by news, education, drama, and music.

“Majority of children prefer watching teleseryes or adultoriented television shows like comedy, drama, news, and foreign television series dubbed in Filipino,” the report read.

But the study could not determine whether this trend is because of “the lack of childoriented shows, marred by the inability of television networks to follow the 15% child-friendly programs policy under the provision of the Republic Act 8370.”

RA 8370 or the Children’s Television Act of 1997 requires every broadcast network to allot 15% of their daily total airtime for education and childfriendly shows.

For the most favorite foreign television program, the top choice was the Korean drama My Love From The Star which aired in GMA Network.

Most of the respondents (48.7%) have access to only one television in their household, but a significant number has access to more than one unit: • 2 television units - 30.9% • 3 television units - 11.2% • 4 television units - 3.9% • 5 or more television units - 2.6% On why they like watching television, many children cited the following reasons: • to gather information for their homework/academic requirement or just to learn new and interesting things • to tune in to the programs that they like • to serve as a pass–time activity • to do school or academic requirements

Favorite teleserye

Role of parents

Since the study was conducted early 2015, the ABSCBN teleserye Forevermore, starring the popular love team of Enrique Gil and Liza Soberano, topped the list of Filipino children’s most favorite local television show. The show was still airing then.

The study also stressed the role of parents in curbing the negative effects of television on children.

While most of the children watch television with their parents most of the time, a significant number still watch without guidance from adults.

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My Love From The Star Fated to Love You NBA The Heirs Empress Ki Meteor Garden Discovery Channel shows Spongebob Star Movies shows Phineas and Ferb The Voice Sofia the First Hunger Games Cartoon Network shows Masterchef

“The intervention of adults in television-viewing habits creates the difference between learning something valuable or picking up a negative attitude from the programs that a child is exposed to,” the study read.

The NCCT urged media companies to produce more television programs that are “sensitive to the developmental needs of a child.”

The study also advised television networks to “create a more child-friendly viewing experience” during the 5 pm to 10 pm time slot, since many children are tuned in.

Results of this study will be used by the council in drafting a new children’s television standards. (Rappler.com) n

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