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Verbatim You don’t own Makati City, Mayor Binay. . . You’re not special. Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas, on the refusal of Makati Mayor Junjun Binay to follow the suspension order of the Ombudsman against him and instead barricaded himself at City Hall
Fight corruption, fight corruption, fight corruption. Former Senator Panfilo Lacson, when asked which top three issues he would address should he become President
Life is more fun when you’re beautiful. Celebrity dermatologist Dr. Vicki Belo, underscoring the reality that in today’s society good looks trump brains and talent
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I can’t imagine life without Viagra. Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, extolling the wonders of the sex enhancement pill. The 70year-old tough-talking mayor is separated from his wife, with whom he has a daughter and a son. He has two other children by two different women.
Party-list Representative Lito Atienza, warning voters about the pitfalls of electing the neophyte senator who, he said, does not have enough experience to become president
We silence the guns today, and our voices will drown the songs of war; our voice will echo the calls for peace. Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Governor Mujiv Hataman, after the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) turned over 75 high-powered firearms to the Philippine government during the first phase of the decommissioning of weapons on June 16 in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao
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Filipino Socialite Steals Heart of Nobel Prize Winner
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ADRID—His relationship with Isabel Preysler “is going very well,” Peruvian novelist Mario Vargas Llosa said in comments to the weekly magazine Hola, confirming rumors of romance with the former wife of singer Julio Iglesias and mother of Enrique Iglesias.
But the 79-year-old Nobel Prize-winning author declined to give more details about his private life, although recent photos of the couple have appeared in several publications. Hola published photos of Vargas Llosa and Preysler walking hand-in-hand and dancing together during a recent trip to Lisbon, Portugal. The writer also recently announced he was separating from his wife Patricia Llosa after 50 years of marriage. Preysler, 64, a former model born in the Philippines, has been described as one who “exudes such low-key elegance and innocent charm that even the most jaded writer could not help but be enchanted.” A story was told of how Preysler caught the attention of photographers during the unveiling of national Filipino hero Jose Rizal’s monument in Madrid. In December 1996, photographers were milling around Madrid’s Plaza de Santander waiting for the unveiling of the monument and the arrival of Madrid Mayor Josemaria Alvarez del Manzano. When Preysler
Preysler and Julio Iglesias at the wedding of their youngest son Julio Jr. in 2014.
Vargas Llosa has been seen squiring Preysler at several high-society affairs in Spain, fueling rumors about a blooming romance.
Reports said Preysler and Vargas Llosa hooked up around April when the Peruvian writer began traveling to Spain. arrived with then husband, Miguel Boyer, the photographers made a 180-degree turn from the statue and scrambled toward La Preysler. “The statue is over here, not there,” a Filipino organizer called back, but the photographers had started snapping pictures of La China, a moniker for the almond-eyed Preysler. The third in a family of six children, Preysler was born in Manila in 1951 to Betty Arrastia and Carlos Preysler, and comes from the prominent Arrastia clan of Lubao, Pampanga.
Preysler and Iglesias tied the knot in 1971 and have three children. Preysler was already a popular beauty in high school at Assumption Convent in San Lorenzo, Makati. At 16, she started modeling for couturier Pitoy Moreno, a close friend of
her aunts, at a time when professional models were nonexistent. Moreno requested relatives of his well-heeled clients to present his collections. The fact that the models were from de buena familias lent prestige to his shows. Like many well-to-do women, Preysler was sent to a finishing school in Madrid, and dreamt of taking up philosophy and letters until she met singer Julio Iglesias at a dinner hosted by a common friend. The couple married on January 29, 1971 and have three children -Chabeli, Enrique and Julio Jr. After seven years of marriage, Preysler divorced Iglesias in the United States since divorce had yet to be legalized in Spain. She started modeling again and took on odd jobs until she married Carlos Falco, the Marques de Griñon, who was also a Grande de España, one of the titles given to a select few in the country. They have a daughter, Tamara, who was born in 1981. A few years after Preysler divorced Falco, she married Boyer, an economist and former finance minister of Spain, who died in September last year. They have a daughter, Ana. Vargas Llosa, whose popular novels include The Time of the Hero, The Greenhouse, and Conversation in the Cathedral has three grown children with Patricia, his second wife. (Reports from Associated Press and Philippine Daily Inquirer) n
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By niki yarte
K
ARA Lim is in her second year of teaching at the Nueve De Febrero Elementary School, the most densely attended public school in Mandaluyong City with a student population of roughly 4,000. She teaches third grade English, Edukasyon sa Pagpapakatao (Values), and MAPEH (Music, Arts, PE, Health) and also handles an advisory class. She starts her lessons at 6 a.m. and makes way at 10 a.m. for the next class. “The environment is hectic and fast-paced as we are right in the middle of Metro Manila. The tight space and schedule forces you to try and be efficient,” she shares of the experience. While her sentiment would surely resonate with many a public school teacher, the environment she describes was literally a world away from Kara, an International Development Studies graduate of Montreal’s McGill University. With such a worldly background, one would be inclined to wonder how Kara found herself in the under-staffed, under-funded, over-crowded, and over-worked Philippine public school system that, in her own words, “needs much more support.” Well, Kara is among 86 fellows of Teach for the Philippines (TFP), a non-profit social enterprise that “identifies, develops, and supports a community of leaders working to end educational inequity.” The organization was founded in August 2012 by the same leaders who guided the Sa Aklat Sisikat (SAS) Foundation, which had a similar advocacy, and is the 25th partner of the
Kara with her students
Homeroom Philippines Nueve De Febrero Elementary School in Mandaluyong City
globally recognized Teach for All Network that champions “educational reforms around the world.” Teach for the Philippines encourages young Filipinos in the country and abroad to contribute their time and talent for the betterment of their kababayan in the motherland. They believe that “education is everyone’s business and more people should work in education.” To that end, they recruit young leaders from around the world for a two-year commitment as education professionals in a public school. As preparation for their teaching responsibilities, fellows would have to undergo an intensive two-month training
period called the Summer Institute before being placed in one of 23 partner schools among eight locations around the country: Quezon City; Marikina; Mandaluyong; Navotas; Santa Rosa, Laguna; Binan, Laguna; Cagayan de Oro, Misamis Oriental; and Siargao, Surigao del Norte. TFP reiterates that the fellows are not volunteers but professionals. As such, they will receive compensation comparable to a Level 1 teacher in the Philippine public school system (around US$400 monthly). TFP also provides balikbayans with recommendations for living arrangements and other services to help with the transition. While the pay may be mini-
mal, fellows like Kara see something greater than monetary gain in teaching children back home. She says that what drew her to the program was “the opportunity to be placed in a public school setting where I could learn about my country. This is something I missed out on growing up elsewhere. TFP is such a professional and wellrun organization that provides quality support for young leaders like myself who want to help.” She says one of her most memorable and rewarding experiences as a teacher involved a demotivated student who could barely read and keep up with the class. “Reading remedials with her were challenging. She once ran off as I looked in another direction. Another time, she cried so much that I had to let her go home,” she recounts. “Over time, she developed more patience for me and, together, we got her reading on her own. She became more participative, raising her hand all the time to give correct answers, and asked her mom to read books at home. She is now in Grade Four.” It is heartening to know that even with their worldly background, young leaders like Kara would elect to spend a significant amount of time back home to provide the support that their fellow Filipinos need. And she’s not the only one. TFP says that Boston University graduate Kilo Chuidian from their first batch of fellows to finish their two-year teaching stint has decided to remain in the country. Young Filipinos who are inspired by Kara and Kilo’s examples would be glad to know that TFP is looking to bolster their roster of fellows for the upcoming 2016 school year. Interested parties may visit their website for more information regarding qualifications, the selection process, and application: www.teachforthephilippines.org. (Photos provided by Teach for the Philippines) n
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Land of Political Dynasts
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HE 1987 Constitution actually prohibits political dynasties—but a staggering 75 percent of the Philippines’ political elite come from politically entrenched families. To the question of whether she would support the longmoribund antipolitical dynasty bill now being pushed in the Senate, Sen. Nancy Binay had a quick response: No, she would not, she said, because if doctors and lawyers are allowed to take after their parents in the choice of professions, why not the offspring of politicians? And besides, she argued, why limit the choices of voters? They get to make the final decision in an election, anyway, even if candidates are dying to get into public office. (“Eh kami, kahit gustong-gusto naming maging public official, for as long as the people don’t vote you into office, eh hindi ka magkakaroon ng posisyon.”) It didn’t take long for an actual physician to respond to the senator’s analogy. As Dr. Toto Carandang of the Philippine General Hospital wrote in an open letter on social media, “we do not earn our degrees by popularity or democratic voting. We earn it.” Indeed. Medical personnel, along with those in most other professions, endure arduous years of study and preparation before they are given the license to practice, and only if they hurdle the qualifying examinations in their field. No such examinations are required of politicians, only the capacity to present a facsimile of sincerity before the voting throng, the capacity to charm and say the right words before an expectant audience. To be fair, a number of politicians have recognized the need to
The Binay dynasty (L-R): Congresswoman Abby, Mayor Junjun, VP Binay and Senator Nancy. prepare for public service, and thus take up courses in public administration, say, to better understand the legal and structural underpinnings of government, or kick off their political careers from the bottom rungs, to better get a handle on the gut-level grind of public governance. Senator Binay, along with others like her in Congress, did neither. For many years she toiled in obscurity as a “personal assistant” to her parents as they took turns as mayor of Makati, before her father vaulted to the vice presidency on the strength of his trumpeted achievements as chief executive of the Philippines’ wealthiest city. She held no elective or appointive position in government that would have somehow prepared her for work as a pub-
Former President and now Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada flanked by sons Jinggoy Estrada and JV Ejercito, both senators. lic servant, let alone a senator of the realm. She had no known positions on any public policy, she articulated no argument on any of the burning social and political issues of the day. In short, she, along with others like her, sallied forth solely on the strength of who she was. And in Philippine politics, who she was was in fact her ticket to the Senate, on her very first electoral try. Would she
have picked up votes outside Makati had not her father been the VP, and had not his formidable, well-oiled war machinery heaved into action? Would people have taken so much as a second look at this virtual unknown, had it not been for her surname and all that came with it? Many others more wellknown to the populace and who have accrued substantial political gravitas to their names— Risa Hontiveros, Teddy Casiño, among others—all floundered at the polls; Nancy Binay triumphed because of her being her father’s daughter. Her argument that the choice should be left to voters, as in her case, neglects to mention that, with political dynasties, voters are left with hardly any choice. With power and influence concentrated in dynastic families for years, even decades, the electoral system is eventually skewed to favor them and their scions every time, their wealth and reach giving them undue advantage to harness the public will by feudal patronage, by votebuying, or, if necessary, in certain areas of the country, by violence and harassment. The “equal access to opportunities for public service” mandated by the Constitution has gone out the window, and the country is left with more of the same— the same surnames, the same faces, the same vested interests, the same historic ills. Take it from how the members of the House reacted to the idea of the antipolitical dynasty bill being given a second reading: They threatened to walk out of the plenary, and so got the planned vote scuttled. It’s the nation’s turn to walk out for good from this corrupt and corrupting setup. Congress must pass the antipolitical dynasty bill, or let it die trying. (Philippine Daily Inquirer, Editorial of June 17, 2015) n
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ORRUPTION in the Philippines has shot as high as $94 million per case. It has snared people as senior as former presidents Joseph Estrada and Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. The Philippines is no clean country. But nine graft cases on a top-10 list published last year by local news website Rappler.com broke out before 2010. Large-scale corruption is declining now in the Philippines, a boost to the Southeast Asian country stifled partly by foreign investor fears of political instability and hidden costs of doing business.
President Aquino’s matuwid na daan program is bearing fruit.
Why Graft Is Declining in the Notoriously Corrupt Philippines
“I’d agree that corruption has come down,” says Rahul Bajoria, a regional economist with Barclays in Singapore. “Systems and processes have become more transparent, and it’s largely reflected in government projects.” It’s tempting to elevate President Benigno Aquino III, since he took office in 2010 on a platform to cut corruption in a country fatigued by it. Corruption has “decreased dramatically” because of Aquino’s tighter rules on transparency and government transactions, says Benedict Uy, a Philippine trade representative based now in Taipei. The decline in dirty deals began after he took office, analysts in Manila say.
Investors happy
Detained Senators Estrada, Revilla and Enrile: One for all, all for one.
Role of media Not to discredit Aquino, but more credit goes to social media. The democratic country is rich in competing interests and free speech. Now with the surge in smartphone cameras and mobile devices, an opponent who sees someone in office take money or drive a blingy new car can send a tweet or post the dirt to Facebook. “Right now everyone in gov-
proceeds, but the court is still chasing him for money it says he owes the government. The country’s chief corruption case since 2010 involves three senators charged with graft and plunder from the Disbursement Acceleration Program, a four-year-old government stimulus fund. Total amounts taken illegally could reach $40 million if all three are convicted, according to local media. But most of what remains is the small stuff, matters of little social media interest such as donating a cake or suckling pig to helpful local officials, or bribes of a few hundred Philippine pesos to agencies that fast-track building permits.
Foreign investors take a second look at the Philippines. ernment and outside government is monitoring each other,” Manila-based Banco de Oro UniBank chief market strategist Jonathan Ravelas says. “Social media are there to ring the bells, so people try to be very careful in how they do things.”
Graft remains, he says, but “it has gone down significantly.” The government itself hardly rules out the role of media. “Media are doing a very good job or a more aggressive job in exposing all these things,” Uy says. “Now the politicians, all their dirty laundry is exposed, so everyone will know.”
High-stakes cases The highest-stakes case to reach the country’s anti-graft court was filed in 2001 against Estrada after he was forced out of office. He received a presidential pardon in 2007 for crimes related to a secret bank account and accepting lottery
The overall decline should inspire foreign investors as they weigh Manila against cities in India for call centers or consider the government’s recently stepped-up campaign to lure multinational factory projects that normally land in China and Vietnam. The Philippines is actively recruiting factory investment to create jobs, easing chronic poverty. Foreign direct investment rose from $3.92 billion to $6.22 billion in 2013, government statistics show. “What we have seen is that it hasn’t happened for this administration, the large-scale corruption,” says Jose Mari Lacson, head of research at Campos Lanuza & Co., a Manila stock brokerage. “The foreign investors are happy. It’s much cheaper.” (Forbes) n
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Filipino Words Halo-halo, Balikbayan, Barangay Make It to Oxford Dictionary By thea alberto-masakayan
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O tell your barkada that you’ve been waiting for that “gimmick”; and don’t get surprised if “carnap” is now grammatically acceptable.
This, as several English-Filipino words have been included in the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) as part of the organization’s move to record words “from all varieties of English”, including words categorized as “Philippine English.” OED said “barangay,” “balikbayan,” and even “high-blood” are now recognized as a variation of the English language. OED also emphasized that the term “presidentiable” (‘a person who is a likely or confirmed candidate for president’)” is not just used in the Philippines “but also in parts of the United States that have large Filipino populations.”
New senses of common words “There are new senses of common English words like “gimmick” to mean ‘a night out with friends’; loanwords from Spanish (like “estafa” ‘fraud’) and Tagalog like “barkada” (‘group of friends’); and formations in English that are only used in Philippine English, like “carnap” (‘to steal a car’),” OED
also said in a statement. Interjections such as “KKB” (kaniya-kaniyang bayad; used as an adjective), nouns like “halo-halo,” and terms such as “batchmate (‘a member of the same graduation class as another’)” and “topper” (meaning a high-achieving student), are also included in the OED list, along with 500 other new words from around the world. OED claims of leading the world’s largest and longestrunning language research projects, with at least 900 newly revised words included in the June 2015 update.
Filipino words The following is a selection of new words included in
the OED list, reposted from the statement: (for full definitions, see OED Online): • barangay (noun): In the Philippines: a village, suburb, or other demarcated neighborhood; a small territorial and administrative district forming the most local level of government. [First recorded 1840] • balikbayan (noun): A Filipino visiting or returning to the Philippines after a period of living in another country. [1976] • KKB (interjection): ‘Kaniya-kaniyang bayad’, literally ‘each one pays their own’, used especially to indicate that the cost of a meal is to be shared. It can also be used as an adjective. [1987]
• high blood: (a) n. colloq. hypertension; (b) adj. Philippine English angry, agitated. • despedida (noun): More fully despedida party. A social event honoring someone who is about to depart on a journey or leave an organization; a goingaway party. [1929] • halo-halo (noun): A dessert made of mixed fruits, sweet beans, milk, and shaved ice, typically topped with purple yam, crème caramel, and ice cream. [1922] • sari-sari store (noun): A small neighborhood store selling a variety of goods. [1925] • utang na loob (noun): A sense of obligation to return a favor owed to someone. [1906] (ABS-CBNnews.com) n
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Marian Rivera
PRETTY AND PREGGY By ching m. alano
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HOWBIZ town is aglow with excitement over the news that Marian Rivera and Dingdong Dantes are expecting their first baby this November. “My last checkup was just yesterday,” says a beaming and blooming five months pregnant Marian who doesn’t look pregnant at all. “It’s all good. The baby’s development is okay.” Is it a boy or is it a girl, we press Marian for an answer. “Dingdong and I already know the baby’s sex, but we’re revealing it at the proper time,” comes the instant reply. “Dingdong was supposed to reveal it last Father’s Day, but he wanted to accompany the announcement with a photo of my bulging stomach and he couldn’t find any.” What stomach? From where I’m seated, a whisper away from this three-time FHM’s Sexiest Woman, I couldn’t see even a hint of a bulge. “You’ll see it when I wear something loose,” says Marian who’s wearing a sleeveless figure-hugging dress. Much to the envy of the girls in the room, the 30-year-old mom-to-be shares, “I didn’t really have to change my wardrobe when I got pregnant. If there was a change, I just went from extra small or small to medium.” Marian says she didn’t have to make any adjustments at all
Marian takes doubly good care of herself now that she’s five months pregnant. when she became Mrs. Dingdong Dantes. “That’s because we’ve known each other for a long time — five years, to be exact,” she explains.
Doubly happy How has her life changed since she got married? “Mas masaya, mas gusto ko,” she replies with a cherubic smile. Marian is doubly happy that she now has a bigger family. “I’m an only child and Dingdong has such a big family, 10 times bigger than mine!” Marriage has visibly mellowed the Taray Queen who asserts, “Of course now, I don’t make decisions on my own anymore. Dingdong and I have to decide together.” Marian and Dingdong have yet to build their dream home (“We don’t want anything modern; just something nice and
cozy”). Meanwhile, they’re pretty settled in a place they call home — Sa banda dyan lang, says Marian. Playing the perfect housewife, Marian cooks for Dingdong his favorite sinigang (any kind of sinigang, he’ll love). Marian also has another role to play now: “I’m my husband’s alarm clock. I wake him up because sometimes, he comes home at 5 a.m. from a taping and he has a meeting after lunch.” Now that her career is on hold — though she still does guestings, hostings, and TV commercials — she has all the time for herself and for the little one on the way. “I usually wake up at 7 a.m. to take breakfast because my baby is hungry — my baby has this routine,” she relates. Breakfast consists of cereals or bread, milk, and fruits. “I’ve always been a milk drinker — I’d drink milk twice a day, in the morning and in the evening. But now that I’m pregnant, I’d only take milk once a day, yung gatas na pambuntis.” She describes her eating regimen, “I really don’t diet, I eat everything. But I’ve always been a healthy eater.” Marian is even more beautiful now. “I sleep early and I drink a lot of water,” she begins to reveal her beauty secrets. “Hydration is important especially for pregnant women.”
Caring husband But how does Dingdong take care of Marian? “Care na care,” says Marian with a bedimpled smile. “He
Playing the perfect housewife, Marian cooks for Dingdong his favorite sinigang.
texts/checks up on me every hour. He asks what I’m doing, how I’m doing, how I’m feeling. He even asks about my feet kasi lampa ako. Maalaga siya talaga. And I’m happy that he’s a very supportive husband.” For now, Marian has to let her four-to-five-inch stilettos rest while she contents herself with one-inch flat shoes. For her part, Marian tries to keep fit by exercising three times a week. “I do Pilates, aerobics, brisk walking. Sometimes, you’ll see me in the mall just walking. I also swim.” Are the soon-to-be-parents already buying stuff for the baby? “No, not yet,” says Marian. “The folks in the provinces (she’s from Cavite) say it’s not good to buy ahead. But I have been looking around. If I see something that I like, I tell the saleslady to save it for me. I will start buying either end of September or first week of October.” Of course, Marian will not tell you — not yet — the color of the infant layette or the nursery. “But you’re more beautiful now, so it’s probably a girl,” observes a member of the showbiz press. To which, Marian quickly retorts, “But if you know me, the reverse always happens to me. Like, I did not lose my hair or gain weight with pregnancy.” (Editor’s note: Last June 27 Dingdong revealed the baby’s gender on Instagram by way of a photo of two pink-colored bibs with the inscription “Daddy’s lil’ lady” and “Pretty like Mommy.”) - The Philippine Star n
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Manila eclipses Mumbai as outsourcing magnet
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HE PHILIPPINES has gone from regional laggard to become one of the fastest-growing economies in Southeast Asia over the past few years. The Philippines has overtaken India in the ranking of outsourcing destinations, measured by revenues and headcount, and Manila has nudged ahead of Mumbai as the call-centre capital of the world, according to consultancy, Tholons. One advantage that the Philippines enjoys over other BPO outsourcing centres is cheaper office rents. Prime office space in Manila can be rented for just over two-thirds of the cost of space in Mumbai, while it is also cheaper than Delhi, Bangkok, Guangzhou, Taipei and Seoul, according to global property agency Colliers. But the country’s chief selling point is a large young and educated population that speaks English with a
The Philippines has overtaken India in the ranking of outsourcing destinations by revenues. neutral accent and has a cultural affinity with the west. It is just what North American customers on the
other end of the phone want. The drawback of global time zones — which require many Filipino
phone operators to work antisocial hours — is compensated for by comparatively high wages. These higher incomes have created a new socio-economic class — the “BPO consumer” — who earn, spend and borrow more than their Filipino peers. More than a quarter of BPO employees’ post-tax income is spent on shopping, dining out and other leisure activities, according to Asean Confidential surveys. The BPO industry’s rapid growth — it now makes up 6 per cent of GDP — has had a knock-on effect on the overall economy, buoying other sectors and creating millions of indirect jobs. BPO now rivals remittances from overseas workers as the Philippines’ largest revenue generator, and its rapid emergence has encouraged large numbers of workers that might have sought opportunities abroad to stay at home. (Good News Pilipinas)
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OVE pairs, rivals, buddies, sisters, best friends – the duo trope is certainly one of the most enduring fixtures in visual pop culture, particularly in Pinoy shows and movies.
Just like food, clothes, and certain libations, some character pairs become instant classics because of a tandem that’s so convincing, we wish we could find our own version of it (or at least be their third wheel). Our favorite Pinoy pairs are not only fun to watch – through the years, they’ve also taught us some lessons worth applying in real life. On their own, these characters are great. But together, they became phenomenal. Here’s our humble (and very truncated) list of some lessons from the best fictional pairs we’ve known.
Popoy and Basha: “Time makes things better”
JULY 2015
LONDON
5 Lessons
From Some of Our Favourite Pinoy Pairs
Popoy and Basha, played by John Lloyd Cruz and Bea Alonzo, prove that time makes things better.
We can create an entire separate article on how much we love Popoy and Basha from the 2007 film One More Chance. But the thing that we love most about P&B is not just that they end up together, but that they allowed time to prove that point. Apart, they flourished, grew wiser and learned new things about themselves. In the end, they realized that they couldn’t imagine their lives with anyone else. When they were ready for their second chance, they were better for their own sakes, and for each other.
Mara and Clara: “Rivals can be friends” Mara was the ultimate bida and Clara was the definitive kontrabida. Unless you’ve been living under a rock since 1992, you’d know their backstory: they were switched at birth, and when Mara comes into Clara’s life, Clara makes life very hard for Mara. Eventually, they discover that their identities were switched. Their lives turn upside down. But eventually, these two decide to overcome their differences and even found it in their hearts to forgive the people around them. Despite their young age, Mara and Clara showed us that the most intense rivalries could give rise to the best kind of friendships.
Kimmy and Dora “Women can be on top”
John en Marsha: “Love trumps all” For almost 20 years, John Puruntong and Marsha Jones painted a weekly portrait of the quintessential Filipino couple in the sitcom John en Marsha (1973 to 1990). Money was scarce, but their household was always filled with love (just like this couple). John, as the head of the family, staunchly refused any financial assistance from his rich mother-in-law. Marsha,
crets, and even the possibility that they might be half-siblings. Still, despite all the challenges that this pair encountered, the couple (along with the older pairs in this drama) was able to find the happy ending they deserved, once all the secrets and lies were cleared. All that honesty wouldn’t have been possible if Amor, Claudia, Eduardo, et al, didn’t find it in their heart to forgive and let love reign.
The cast of John en Marsha led by Dolphy and Nida Blanca (sitting second and third from left). as his wife, kept the household running tight. Together, they strived to pass on values, rather than valuable things, to their sons and daughters. The Puruntongs inspired generations by proving that a tight-knit family can always make it through the toughest times.
Yna and Angelo: “Love is the only truth you need” You’ve got to hand it to Pangako Sa ‘Yo (the original version aired in 2002) - that teleserye managed to throw every possible curveball into Yna and Angelo’s relationship: status differences, revenge, family se-
Here is another sister-pair that we love. Kimmy and Dora Godonghae are identical from head to toe, but their similarities end with their physical likeness. Kimmy is a tough, wisecrack alpha-female who is next in line to take over their father’s company; Dora is sweet, subservient, and childlike. Fans of this sister duo loved the film franchise for its funny moments; but more than that, we think they rocked because they broke some female stereotypes. They proved to us that women can be leaders and that they don’t need males to look after them. When it comes to taking over a corporation, dealing with the bad guys, and rescuing your beloved twin, these girls got each other’s back. (Rappler.com) n
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Gov’t dismisses possible effect of Greek crisis
A
PALACE OFFICIAL assured that the country’s economy is strong enough to withstand the effects of the Greek financial crisis. “According to Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, the Philippines is in a much stronger position now to face the volatility that may result from Grexit,” Communication Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said. “Grexit” is the short term used for the possible exit of Greece from the European Union (EU). “Our reserves are at historic highs; our external debt are long-dated and now down to 15 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP),” Coloma said. He said the Philippine current account has been in a surplus for 13 straight years and local banks are better capitalized and the economy is more diversified than ever. “Sa madaling salita, mas malakas ang ating ekonomiya at makakayanan nitong ma-absorb ‘yung possible shocks da-
The government has assured that the PH economy is strong enough to withstand the Greek crisis.
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hil sa katatagan ng ating macroeconomic fundamentals,” he added. The Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) expressed confidence that overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Greece will not be affected by the debt
crisis. “I believe they will not be affected,” said Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz, adding Greek employers prefer Filipinos because of their professionalism and hard work. For its part, the Overseas Work-
ers Welfare Administration (OWWA) said they are ready to provide assistance in the event that the OFWs will be displaced. “OWWA stands ready to provide assistance in the event of OFW repatriation,” said OWWA Administrator Rebecca Calzado. The assistance includes welfare, employment facilitation, legal, and livelihood assistance being provided to displaced workers. As of December 2013, there is an estimated 60,000 OFWs working and living in the European nation. Greece, which might default from its debts, has announced that it would carry out capital controls to protect its banking sector. Greek banks were deprived of additional emergency financing by EU creditors and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Greece said it would restrict bank withdrawals in the coming days to prevent a collapse of cash-strapped Greek banks. (Sun Star)
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Expats Cite Benefits of Retiring in Philippines
Beautiful beaches and warm climate year round. By charles frost
I
F you are considering retiring in another country, I am no doubt biased, but I believe it’s hard to beat the Philippines.
I first visited this island nation (about 7,000 islands in all) 24 years ago when I was 52 years old. At that time I was a college professor doing research, and friends introduced me to a lovely young lady who over time became my wife. I am now 76 and retired, and my wife and I plan on spending much of the rest of our lives in the Philippines. The benefits are numerous: a warm climate year round (average low temperatures are in the mid-70s); endless beaches and water activities; easy access to destinations across Asia; excellent medical care; a relatively low cost of living; and abundant opportunities to help those less fortunate. Of course, the Philippines isn’t for everyone. The country doesn’t have the rich culture or superior infrastructure of Europe. Poverty is widespread. Power outages are a nuisance,
and getting back and forth to the US is expensive. Put another way, houseguests tend to be rare. That said, I have traveled widely in Asia, Europe and Mexico and have lived all over the US. In my experience, few places are as welcoming. At various times, my wife and I have lived in different parts of the Philippines. We first bought a beach lot and built a home in Bubog, a village outside the city of San Jose on the island of Mindoro. We then bought a condo in Manila, the capital. Today, we live in the city of Lapu Lapu on Mactan Island. Most of the streets on the island are crowded with pedestrians, goats, bikes, motorcycles, taxi cabs, private cars, trucks and small van-like buses. You weave your way through the tangle and, unless you are in a big hurry, it all flows along. We
own a car, but other forms of transportation are readily available and cheap. For less than a dollar, you can hop on the back of a motorcycle-taxi, if you are comfortable with such thrills. Our four-bedroom home sits in a beachfront resort. The weather played an important part in choosing this area: Our particular island is sheltered by other, larger islands, which tend to take the brunt of the periodic typhoons that hit the Philippines. Daily life is relaxing, for the most part. I like to read, study (Internet and cable services here are excellent), do some writing and, perhaps most important, take a morning and afternoon swim. My wife and I enjoy dining out, but food shopping is simple. A nearby market offers a wide variety of locally grown or caught food. (We have fresh seafood delivered directly to our door.) There is also a version of a Sam’s Club—called S&R—where we can buy milk and butter from New Zealand, apple juice from Australia and wines from throughout the world.
We have made good friends here, and one of the best ways to do that is to join a local Rotary Club. My fellow Rotarians in Lapu Lapu include local business owners and managers, lawyers, politicians, doctors and other professionals. You get to meet other expats and build ties to the community. (It helps—considerably—that English is spoken widely.) I mentioned the poverty. That certainly can dissuade outsiders from settling here. But the opportunity to help others, and the fact that even small acts of charity can have a profound impact, has enriched our lives immeasurably. For example, I am putting a couple of students through college here for roughly $100 a month each. What a joyful way to make a difference! And speaking of the cost of things…many goods and services are a bargain compared with the US. Need a plumber? Most visits and repairs will cost about 400 pesos, or less than $10. A nice dinner for two? About 1,000 pesos, or less than $25. Our home in a similar resort in the States would easily cost $500,000 or more; here, the price is about half that. (And my property taxes are about $30 a month.) Medical care, in particular, is very affordable. The typical charge to see a very competent English-speaking doctor is 300 pesos, or about $7. Recently, I had some X-rays. The cost to take and read the images: 800 pesos, or less than $20. I bring this up because I’m already thinking about the cost of long-term care, if needed. In the US, such care can exhaust your resources; here, I could probably live at home and afford private care. Let me repeat: The Philippines isn’t paradise. But then… paradise, I believe, is primarily a state of mind. If you are adaptive, if you have a positive attitude toward change and challenges, then you should do well as an expat. (The Wall Street Journal) n
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By paterno esmaquel II
T
HE Philippines cautioned an arbitral tribunal at The Hague, The Netherlands, that China’s expansive claim over disputed waters threatens the law of the sea, and endangers small countries like the Philippines. In the Philippines’ opening salvo in its case at The Hague, Philippine Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario said the South China Sea dispute “goes to the very heart” of the so-called Constitution for the Oceans, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). “In the Philippines’ view, it is not just the Philippines’ claims against China that rest in your capable hands. Mr. President, it is the spirit of UNCLOS itself,” Del Rosario said on July 7, addressing the five-member tribunal’s president. “That is why, we submit, these proceedings have attracted so much interest and attention. We call on the tribunal to kindly uphold the convention and enable the rule of law to prevail,” he said. He also hailed the provisions of UNCLOS on settling sea disputes. “It is these dispute resolution provisions that allow the weak to challenge the powerful on an equal footing, confident in the conviction that principles trump power; that law triumphs over force; and that right prevails over might.” The Philippines’ top diplomat delivered this statement on the first day of oral hearings at The Hague. Before him, Philippine Solicitor General Florin Hilbay introduced the Philippines’ case. Later, the Philippines’ chief counsel, Paul Reichler, and Professor Philippe Sands argued why the tribunal has the right to hear the arbitration proceedings. This is the first time a country brought China to court over
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‘China Violated International Law’
Philippine Army photograph showing construction at Gaven Reef in the disputed Spratly Islands in the South China Sea last February.
the South China Sea dispute. China refuses to join the proceedings. Instead it pushes for bilateral or one-on-one talks with the countries involved.
Violation ‘in both word and deed’ In his speech, Del Rosario explained that China violates UNCLOS by asserting its “historic rights” established by its 9-dash line. The 9-dash line is China’s demarcation to claim virtually the entire South China Sea. The Philippines pointed out that UNCLOS “does not recognize” China’s so-called historic rights through the 9-dash line. What UNCLOS upholds is a 200-nautical mile exclusive eco-
nomic zone (EEZ). The EEZ is the area 200 nautical miles within a coastal state’s baselines or edges, within which it has the exclusive rights to fish and to exploit other resources. The Philippines says a huge part of the South China Sea, which it calls the West Philippine Sea, falls within its EEZ. “Sadly, China disputes this, Mr. President, in both word and deed,” Del Rosario said. “It has therefore, in the Philippines’ view, breached the convention by violating Philippine sovereign rights and jurisdiction. China has pursued its activities in these disputed maritime areas with overwhelming force. The Philippines can only counter by invoking international law,” he said.
‘Of utmost importance’ to all Del Rosario added: “In fact, China has done much more, Mr. President, than to simply claim these alleged ‘historic rights.’ It has acted forcefully to assert them, by exploiting the living
and non-living resources in the areas beyond the UNCLOS limits.” China, for instance, has buried 311 hectares of coral reefs through its island building activities, according to the Philippines. At the same time, China has “forcibly” prevented other coastal states, including the Philippines, “from exploiting the resources in the same areas.” Filipino fishermen, for one, have complained that China is blocking them from fishing in the South China Sea. Del Rosario said: “The question raised by the conflicting positions of the Philippines and China boils down to this: Are maritime entitlements to be governed strictly by UNCLOS, thus precluding claims of maritime entitlements based on ‘historic rights’? Or does the UNCLOS allow a state to claim entitlements based on ‘historic’ or other rights even beyond those provided for in the Convention itself?” Because of this, Del Rosario said the Philippines’ case “is of the utmost importance to the Philippines, to the region, and to the world.” After all, China’s claim has “created significant uncertainty and instability in our relations with China and in the broader region.” Referring to UNCLOS, Del Rosario told the tribunal: “If China can defy the limits placed by the convention on its maritime entitlements in the South China Sea, and disregard the entitlements of the Philippines under the convention, then what value is there in the convention for small states parties as regards their bigger, more powerful, and better armed neighbors?” (Rappler.com) n
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Flash Waterworld
Many areas in Metro Manila were submerged in flood last July 6 due to incessant rains brought by Typhoon Egay, prompting officials to suspend classes and work in the metropolis.
Homeward Bound
s
White caskets bearing the bodies of passengers who drowned during the sinking of the passenger boat MB Nirvana off Ormoc City last July 2 are loaded onto a Philippine Nayy ship for the trip back to their families and homes on Camotes Island east of Cebu.
s Ticket to Ride
Farmers, students and housewives pack a rickety jeepney in Maguindanao province in Mindanao. Who cares about overloading and safety issues when people have no better options?
s Biggest Human Smiley
The Philippines set a new Guinness world record for the biggest human smiley when 8,018 participants gathered on May 30 at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila during an event organized by the Alliance In Motion (AIM) Global Inc.
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TRAVEL WHAT’S ON Mayon Park in UNESCO’s shortM list of World Heritage Sites AYON VOLCANO Natural Park (MVNP) in Legaspi City, Albay is now in the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) tentative list of World Heritage Sites. UNESCO published the listing of Mayon Park following the submission by the Philippine National Commission for UNESCO in March. The listing shortlists the volcano park for inscription by the World Heritage Committee in the next 5-10 years. The UNESCO list cites Mayon Volcano Natural Park for its aesthetic value as a perfect cone-shaped volcano, and for its wildlife preservation which encompasses a large number of flora and fauna habitat types which are unique, diverse and extremely important in the Philippines and in Asia. The Mayon Volcano Natural Park (MVNP) covers a total area of 5,775.70 hectares, with six towns and three cities of Albay province within 10 to 19 kilometers of its crater. Declared as a protected area in June 2000 by Presidential Proclamation No. 413, Mayon Park has since addressed and controlled and instituted protective measures against identified threats to the protected core area and buffer zone such as urbanization, habitat loss, invasive species, pollution, eruption, occasional forest fire and unsustainable harvesting of species and forest area management.ayon Volcano is known as the most active volcano in the Philippines and one of the most active volcanoes in the world which has a record of 51 eruptions in the last four centuries.
Despite or because ofFULL its vola-PAGE racesAD of the Philippine Cordilltility Mayon Volcano is consid- eras, Historic Town of Vigan, ered one of the most featured Puerto-Prinsesa Subterranean land forms in the country, earn- River National Park, and Mount ing countless published stories Hamiguitan Range Wildlife and photographs revealing its Sanctuary in the south-eastern famed peak and grandeur in all part of Eastern Mindanao. weather conditions. (Good News Pilipinas) The next step being undertaken by the Philippines after the World Heritage Sites tentative listing is the submission of the nomination documents which are evaluated annually by the World Heritage Centre for inclusion in the official list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Albay Governor Joey Salceda leads the team working on the nomination documents that would serve as records to prove the efforts of the Mayon Park in supporting the wildlife conservation and protection. Thus far, Philippines already has six cultural and natural properties inscribed in the official list of World Heritage Sites namely, the Baroque Churches of the Philippines, Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park, Rice Ter-
The UNESCO list cites Mayon Volcano Natural Park for its aesthetic value as a perfect cone-shaped volcano...”
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For kiteboarding enthusiasts, Seco has the right wind velocity and other conditions that are ideal for the water sport.
Off the beaten path, uninhabited Seco Island attracts tourists who look for raw beauty.
Island in Antique: Not for the Faint-Hearted
By nestor p. burgos jr.
Lonely stretch of beach
S
Except for the Bantay Dagat team of volunteer environmental watchmen and fishermen stopping by to rest, no one lives on the island. Six Bantay Dagat volunteers guard the island from illegal fishing, receiving only token remuneration from the municipal government. There are no structures except for a makeshift sleeping quarters for the watchmen. A makeshift toilet was constructed last year for visitors. There is no crowd of tourists, vendors and businesses, nor hotels or resorts or blaring music, perfect for those wanting to bask in the sun and take in the rawness of the island. For them there is only the long stretch of uninhabited powdery white sand beach and fish life practically by the shoreline. Tourists on a day trip have to leave the island by noon as the sea can get rough in the afternoon.
ECO Island, Antique -- Local officials themselves will tell you that visiting this uninhabited island off Antique, the province that forms the west coast of Panay Island, is not for the regular tourist. The crossing to Seco, 38.8 kilometers off the coastal town of Tibiao, takes two and a half hours and can be especially difficult during the southwest monsoon. And because of its isolation, the island offers virtually no amenities for the visiting tourist. Moreover, local authorities are not especially keen to promote commercial tourism, wishing to focus on preserving the island’s rich variety of marine life. Seco has been declared a marine protected area (MPA) by a municipal ordinance passed in February 2014. But for the intrepid, a visit to Seco, whose name derives from the Hiligaynon word siko (elbow) because of its bent-arm shape, is off-the-beaten-track travel at its best. The four-kilometer island offers white, powdery sand beaches surrounded by clear waters and a profusion of underwater life. For kiteboarding enthusiasts, Seco has the right wind velocity and other conditions that are ideal for the water sport. For these reasons, local and foreign tourists have been coming to the island despite the lack of facilities and the distance.
Kiteboarding spot “It has become one of the top kiteboarding spots in the country,” said Karmila Rose Dimamay, who chairs the Tibiao municipal council’s tourism committee. Tourists typically stay for a few days, said Dimamay, who is also vice chair of Seco Island Development Council (SIDC) composed of elected officials, people’s organizations, nongovernment organizations and representatives of the Municipal Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council (MFARMC). The trip by motor banca to the island starts at 4 a.m. when the sea is calm, hence visitors should be in Tibiao the night before. For those seeking to escape the urban jungle, starting out of Tibiao at dawn and seeing the coast illuminated by the moon and stars, is already a delight. As the boat goes farther out to sea, one looks back to shore to be treated to the sight of the rising sun lighting up the Madja-as mountain range. After two hours of sailing, Seco Island emerges as a white strip of land in the middle of blue-green waters.
Limited activities Authorities generally discourage sleeping on the island and visitors wishing to do so have to secure a special permit from the municipality, according to Dimamay. They will have to bring tents, sleeping bags, food, potable water, flashlights and other basic necessities. Tourists should also protect themselves with widebrimmed hats and sunblock, especially if traveling on the small motor bancas without
overhead covers. As the crossing can be rough, visitors should expect to get wet. Electronic gadgets and other belongings should be secured in waterproof cases. Authorities allow only limited activities on the island because of the absence of amenities and the local government’s desire to focus on rehabilitating and protecting its marine resources, said Dimamay. While promoting the island as a tourist destination, SIDC is also focusing on rehabilitation and preservation of Seco because the island and its rich marine resources play a significant role in the fishery industry of Tibiao and the other towns of northern Antique.
How to get there A visit to Seco starts in Tibiao in northern Antique, about 172 kilometers from Iloilo City and 93 kilometers from Caticlan in Aklan province, the jump-off point for Boracay Island. Tibiao is about four hours by bus from Iloilo City and about two hours from Caticlan. From Iloilo City, the bus fare to Tibiao is about P180 and from Caticlan, about P80. Basic sleeping accommodations are available at University of Antique hometel in the town proper and Kasa Raya Traveller’s Inn along the national highway. Rates range from P800 to P1,000 per night for a room for two. (Philippine Daily Inquirer) n
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ll t of a ppor In su events in d o it o n g u y omm the c
31 July 2015
COMMUNITY 1-2 Aug 2015
1 Aug. 2015
FCIC Santacruzan 2015 Time: 6pm
Barrio Fiesta Colchester 2015
Milton Keynes Barrio Fiesta 2015
Venue: Lower Castle Park in Roman Castle Park Free Entry!
Venue: Heath Sports and Social Club, University Hospital of Wales, Heath Park, CF14 4XW Cardiff, Wales
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8 Aug. 2015
8-9 Aug 2015
OFBA 6th Barrio Fiesta 2015 Time: 10am to 5pm
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Venue: Campbell Park, Avebury Blvd, Milton Keynes, MK9 2AD 2AD
More information at: events@fbsmk.org.uk
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8-9 Aug 2015
Fun Familia - Mini Olympic 2015 Venue: The Parks Sports Centre, Howdon Road, North Shields NE29 6TL Contact: 07886742417 07824338251 07725892489
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Newcastle Barrio Fiesta Date: 6 June 2015
Yorkshire Barrio Fiesta Date: 7 June 2015
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Philscot Barrio Fiesta Date: 13 June 2015
Bradford Barrio Fiesta Date: 14 June 2015
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EMBASSY NEWS
LONDON
EMBASSY OUTREACH - BOURNEMOUTH The Philippine Embassy is pleased to announce that appointment slots are still available for the Consular Outreach Mission in Bournemouth on: Date: 18 July 2015 (Saturday) Time : 10:00 am – 6:00 pm Venue : St. Edmund Campion Hall, 481 Castle Lane West Bournemouth BH8 9TN Contact Person : (For details on the venue/on-site arrangements) Cary San Juan 07533340646 Les San Juan 07825557331 Peter Bacalso 07891550428 Elda Claveria 07795093907 Due to audit regulations, only cash payments may be accepted. We do not accept personal cheques or debit cards.
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WHAT’S ON
Philippine passports may not be used as collateral The Philippine Embassy in London advises the Filipino community that Philippine passports reported held as guarantee or collateral for loans/obligations are automatically cancelled upon notice by the passport holders as per Foreign Service Circular No. 214-99. The cancellation of said passports therefore renders the documents invalid for purposes of guaranteeing payment of loans/obligations. The Philippine Embassy reminds the Filipino Community that all Philippine passports are property of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and shall not be used as collateral for any loans/obligations.
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IMPLEMENTATION OF TERMINAL FEE INTEGRATION PROGRAM 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.
PUBLIC ADVISORY The Philippine Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has advised that there is NO APPROVED JOB ORDER for UKbound nurses in MALTA as of this date. Filipino nurses who wish to work in the UK should apply through appropriate channels for recruitment of nurses into the UK. BEWARE OF ILLEGAL RECRUITERS!
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UK6930P_1d_Planet Philppines newspaper ad_259x318mm_14-05-15.indd 1
14/05/2015 17:40