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Verbatim Manila is really going to hell. That’s true.

Former President and Manila Mayor-elect Joseph Estrada, supporting American novelist Dan Brown’s reference to Manila as “the gates of hell” in his latest book Inferno

I have come to accept the real me.

I have come to love the real me.

International singing sensation Charice, after coming out to publicly declare that she is a lesbian

We have a clear message to the world: The Philippines is for Filipinos, and we have the capability to resist bullies entering our backyard.

President Aquino, announcing $1.8-billion military upgrade to help defend his country’s maritime territory amid an everworsening dispute with China over the West Philippine Sea, also known as South China Sea

If the Philippines continues to grow like this, it can help a lot of Filipinos Naghangad kasi ako here. It is good be back. na mahalin ng isang toMateo Ragonjan, the lalaki, mapakasalan. executive sous-chef Comedienne Ai Ai de las Alas, on her separation from husband Jed Salang – 20 years her junior - one month after their civil wedding in Las Vegas

of a seven-star luxury hotel in Abu Dhabi who packed his bags to take up a similar job at the Solaire Resort & Casino at the new Entertainment City in Parañaque City

You don’t need to go to the US. You need to stay here.

US Ambassador to the Philippines Harry Thomas Jr., exhorting the graduating class in a college in Baguio City to forego their dream of working in the United States because the Philippines needs them

Maganda rin pala ang maitim, maganda rin pala ako.

2013 Miss Bikini Philippines Janice Lubina, on her newfound appreciation for her appearance, that being brown-skinned is beautiful

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F Filipinos want to save and become financially sustainable in the future, they should start changing their culture of spending beyond their means, world-renowned personal finance guru Suze Orman said.

“Don’t spend money you don’t have to impress people you don’t know or even like,” she said in a media briefing in Makati City last May 16.

The finance icon is back in the Philippines for the second time to give advice on how to manage personal finances, something which heavy-spending Filipinos need.

The personal finance guru lauded the Filipinos’ love for their family and the innate nature of making everyone at home and comfortable but said that they should also be true to themselves in terms of spending money.

She cited, as an example, the kind of extravagance that Filipinos put in terms of celebrating events. Filipinos try to accommodate everyone to the point of spending money beyond their means, which in turn puts them in debt.

“I understand the Philippine culture. But if you continue to do something that you don’t have the money to do then you end up poor, you end up being dependent on others,” she said.

The goal of money, Orman said, is not for people to be slaves of it but to make them feel safe and secure, not only in the present, but especially in the future.

Learn to say no Another notable thing about Filipinos according to Orman is their inability to say no, especially to family members.

In a country kept afloat by consumer spending and remittances, Filipinos need to learn how to better manage their finances, according to Orman.

In 2012, Bangko Sentral ng

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Advice to OFWs:

Live Within Your Means

money for clothes or vacation expenses, learn how to say no.

Give them money for their needs but not luxuries. It is not hurting them because you denied what they wanted. You are actually helping them to become better managers of their finances.”

Spend money rationally Orman’s main piece of advice to the growing number of young earners that are suddenly finding themselves with a disposable income is to spend the money rationally and only on things that are needed.

“The greatest thing you can do for yourself rather than buy things is to just pay off your mortgage. Just because you make P15-20,000 a month don’t spend it. Only use it for your need, which then will generate incomes that you can invest which can then be re-invested in your future,” said Orman.

“Look at your closets and your jewelry. Look at the thing you’ve bought. Have you really got the value out of life by all this junk in your closets? I doubt it,” she added.

Importance of saving

Pilipinas (BSP) said personal remittances from overseas Filipino workers reached a record high $23.8 billion.

Consumer spending has been on an upward trend yet only 2 out of 10 Filipino families have bank accounts - an alarming figure, said the personal finance expert.

Orman narrated the generic story of how most OFWs tend to send all their money to their families in the Philippines while they suffer in poverty in the foreign country they are working in.

Don’t’ splurge on gifts, parties Instances when relatives tend to ask a lot of demands to things not really necessary in everyday life as well as OFWs being bound to the duty of

Orman: Save, cut unnecessary expenses bringing home a lot of souvenirs and throwing a grand party every time they come home.

This, she said, makes family members of OFWs heavily dependent on the remittances they send without actually trying to find work and stretch their muscles to earn money to help.

“Here is the truth. I understand the Philippine culture, but it needs to be rethought. It is not to disgrace the culture. You are not turning your back on your culture, but you should not turn back on the truth of yourself and your situation. Live within your means,” Orman said.

When your relatives ask you

In a country where 8 out of 10 Filipino households do not have deposit accounts, Orman has made it her mission on her visit to the Philippines to educate Filipinos on the importance of saving and cutting out what she terms “latte expenses,” or the small daily expenses which people make that can add up in the long run.

“I just want to be clear. I don’t want to come to the Philippines to change your culture and change the love you have with your families and with each other. I want to come here and give a voice to those who don’t have the voice, to people who tell me what they wish to tell their families but don’t have the courage to do so,” she said.

Orman is a New York Times best-selling author nine times over and is considered one of Forbes magazine’s 100 most powerful women in the world in 2010. (Rappler.com) n

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Dan Brown’s ‘Gates of Hell’ Must Be in These Places D

“Kalye Impyerno” in Barangay San Roque in Navotas City is a narrow alley cutting through a slum area with a history of crime and violence that gave it its hellish name.

AN Brown could be right: Metro Manila indeed has places with names that may lead the unwary to the “gates of hell.”

While many communities in this predominantly Catholic country invoke the names of saints and things holy, there are pockets with a shared history of darkness called “Kalye Impyerno” (Hell Street) in Navotas City, “Pasong Dyablo” (Devil’s Pass) in Muntinlupa City and “Pulong Dyablo” (Devil’s Island) in landlocked Antipolo City.

Their common past is not hard to guess. The more curious part is why residents, for many years, have accepted these names that can send chills down the spine as their (unofficial) addresses.

From the poet Dante to the novelist Dan Brown (whose latest book Inferno piqued Filipinos for describing Manila as the “gates of hell”), any writer looking for hellish, urban blight to write about could begin the search by walking through these portals.

Kalye Impyerno is an alley that cuts through a slum community in Barangay San Roque, Navotas City. To reach it, one may start from Judge A. Roldan Street, turn left to Everlasting Street, pass through a dimly-lit flea market and make a right

American author Dan Brown’s reference to Manila as the “gates of hell”stems from the abject poverty of millions of slum dwellers. leading to a gap between two nondescript houses.

The alley is so narrow that two men can barely pass through if they walk side by side, avoiding murky puddles along the way. Rusty roof sheets overlapping above block the path from sunlight.

Hellish environment Deeper into the interior, the wet, uneven pavement turns into a wooden footbridge, through rows of shanties, until finally the space opens up, quite surprisingly, to a strip of coastline facing Manila Bay. On any given day, rain or shine, this “dead end” of Kalye Impyerno gathers residents idly playing cards or just killing time.

Delfin Prudencio, 56, the administrator of Barangay San Roque, said the alley was actually called Everlasting Extension on official records, but it became

Impyerno to locals sometime in the 1990s because of the brawls that often took place there.

“The younger residents started calling it by its new name whenever they were asked where they lived. Apparently, the name stuck,” said Prudencio. “The area now crossed by the alley was just a breakwater back in the 1960s.

But as years went by, squatters crowded the area.”

Wacqs Bautista, a barangay tanod (village watchman), recalled how the alley became the preferred escape route of gangs and criminals.

“They used to have their hideouts there. Back in the ’90s, whenever we had to go on patrol duty, we didn’t just bring along a policeman as backup. We had an escort from the Army,” he said.

‘Abu Sayyaf’ lair There was even a group called “Abu Sayyaf” that took

refuge in the area, though it was never known whether it was just a copycat or a local cell of the terrorist group based in Mindanao.

“Every day we would hear gunshots. Once, a teenager was killed when that group went target shooting. One of the shooters thought he was already out of bullets, but when he pulled the trigger, he hit a kid standing nearby,” said another resident, who declined to be identified for security reasons.

Kalye Impyerno finally turned relatively peaceful after the arrest of six robbery suspects who went into hiding in the area in 2011, Bautista said.

Barangay patrols occasionally spot teenagers taking drugs, “but there are no more organized crime groups here,” he said.

In Muntinlupa, Pasong Dyablo actually refers to a creek -- now polluted -- running through barangays Alabang, Ayala Alabang and Cupang, before merging with Alabang River, which in turn spills into Laguna de Bay.

‘Haven of criminality’ Before it was renamed Milagrosa (miraculous) a few years ago, a community in Antipolo City hardly inspired a sense of hope or salvation. Instead it evoked images of ruin and damnation.

“I remember how scared I was whenever the name came up in conversations,” said Paolo Rectra, 26. As a child, he was often warned by his parents not to stray into Pulong Dyablo.

Not even remotely resembling an island, Pulong Dyablo was actually a neighborhood that grew near Ynares Center in Barangay San Roque. Until the turn of the millennium, it was just another shantytown with dirt roads and a nasty reputation. n

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* Price is applicable to Manila, Clark and Cebu Flights *Subject to seat availablity

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The Clark gateway sits on what was once the sprawling US air base in Angeles City, Pampanga.

How Do You Solve a Problem Like NAIA?

J

UST like its infamous traffic gridlock, Manila’s airport woes have defied solution for the longest time. But if our officials are to be believed, there is a glimmer of hope, at least on the airport scene.

(Forget the monstrous traffic jams on EDSA, they’re hopeless.)

The Aquino administration is hell-bent on finding a longterm solution to Manila’s airport woes after numerous rehabilitation efforts at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) have failed to uplift the gateway’s reputation as one of the world’s worst airports.

Transportation and Communications Secretary Emilio Abaya said the government is studying several options on whether to rebuild NAIA into a modern facility or move the international airport somewhere else.

In a speech before the Makati Business Club last April, Abaya said his department has

Congestion and inadequate facilities greet travelers at NAIA. submitted three proposals on the airport system to President Aquino and the Cabinet.

The first option, Abaya said, involves a single airport system.

Under this proposal, the government will end operations at NAIA and sell the property, and develop the Clark International Airport in Pampanga.

The second option is the twin airport system, where the government will develop Clark while maximizing operations at NAIA through 2025. At the same time, the government will look at an alternative site for a new airport, preferably 25 kilometers or 30 minutes away from the NAIA.

The third option is also a twin system, where the government will develop both Clark and NAIA, while considering an alternative airport.

“Previously, the direction was to move all NAIA’s current operations to Clark International Airport within the next five to seven years. What is clear now is that we need Clark to absorb some of the traffic in NAIA. Even if initially, it seems more costefficient to have a single main gateway, there are dual airport systems existing around the world that actually perform well commercially,” Abaya said.

While the Palace has yet to decide, Abaya said he sensed

that there is ample support in the Cabinet in favor of the second option, wherein NAIA and Clark would be jointly developed while looking for a new site for an airport. Possible sites for the new airport include reclamation of Laguna de Bay or Manila Bay as well as the Sangley airport in Cavite.

The DOTC is still looking to increase the capacity of NAIA, but Abaya noted there is no available land to extend its runway or build a new terminal.

Since the planned move to Clark is not immediate, the government is spending P150 million to fix NAIA-1. Abaya said the ongoing improvement work at Terminal will be finished within the year, while the structural retrofit of Terminal 1 will continue through 2014.

Meanwhile, the expansion of Clark International Airport’s passenger terminal is expected to be completed by September, in time for the launch of new flights by a Middle East-based carrier, according to Victor Jose Luciano, president and chief executive officer at Clark International Airport Corp. (CIAC). ““The existing terminal can only accommodate two million passengers annually, while the new passenger terminal expansion will further boost its capacity to 4 to 5 million passengers annually,” Luciano said in a statement.

CIAC expects passenger volume at the airport to reach two million this year.

The option of operating both Clark and NAIA involves a strategy that sends international air traffic to both airports, as well as feeder flights from or to domestic routes for passengers arriving from or departing for destinations abroad.

The most crucial ingredient in pursuing this dual airport plan, however, is a train system that connects them.

A “bullet train” project connecting Clark and Manila – covering a distance of 113 kilometers - has a long way to go in terms of project approval and bidding. n

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Application for Nursing Positions in Germany Now Open

The recruits will work initially as assistant nurses and later as qualified nurses after recognition of the foreign qualification work.

employment contract can be extended after 12 months. It is possible to apply for a permanent residence permit in Germany after five years, POEA said.

The starting salary is €1,900 (gross), until recognition as a qualified nurse is obtained by the worker.

Following are the requirements: • Filipino citizen and permanent resident of the Philippines with Bachelor of Science in Nursing (four years professional education; (B.S.N.), active Philippine Nursing License, and at least two years of professional experience as nurse in hospitals, rehabilitation centers and care institutions.

• Knowledge of German language

- Minimum Level B1 in accordance with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, or - Willing to undergo German language training in the Philippines for up to six months (to be paid by the employer). The employer will assist the employee find a suitable accommodation and the expenses in full or in part will be borne by the employee. The employer will pay the travel expenses from the Philippines to Germany.

Required application documents: • Cover letter and curriculum vitae with colored passport-size picture (in English and in German, if possible • High School Diploma (notarized copy) • Diploma of nursing (notarized copy) • Board Certificate from the Professional Regulation Commission • Certificate/s of employment from former employers (notarized copy)

London Edition

SPLASH Philippines, London Edition, is published once a month by Splash Press.

T

HE Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) has announced the guidelines for the hiring of Filipino nurses for deployment in Germany.

This followed the signing last March of the Agreement on Triple Win Migration by POEA and the German Federal Employment Agency (BA/ZAV) calling for the placement of 500 Filipino health professionals in Germany.

An initial batch of 500 nursing staff will be hired by BA/ ZAV until the end of 2014.

The recruits will work initially as assistant nurses at hospitals and as qualified nurses after recognition of the foreign qualification work, the POEA said.

The recognition of the foreign qualification is mandatory and it has to be approved within the first year of employ by the relevant German authorities.

Based on the recognition of the foreign qualification, the

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Benison Chua - Publisher Pamela Banson – Advertising & Business Development Manager Carlo Tolentino – Production Manager London Distributor: PSC for Splash

• Certificate of German language skills, if available • Copy of valid NBI clearance • Copy of valid passport The documents listed above should be submitted to POEA under the following heading “Triple Win”.

Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Candidates who are shortlisted will be informed about the location and time of their interview with representatives of the Federal Employment Agency (BA/ZAV). Preferably, the interview will be in German language.

For further information candidates can contact triplewin. poea@yahoo.com.

Submit applications at Counter Triple Win, Employment Branch, Manpower Registry Division, Ground Floor, POEA, Blas F. Ople Building, Ortigas Avenue corner EDSA, Mandaluyong City.

Deadline for submission of applications is on June 30. n

First Floor, 216 Earls Court Rd London SW5 9QB Tel. 0203 371 7882 Email: Splashpress@aol.com or Splash@magloid.net

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Richest Filipino is Also Biggest Philanthropist

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ALL magnate Henry Sy Sr., the Philippines’ richest person with a net worth of some $13.2 billion, is also one of the country’s notable donors, according to Forbes Asia’s latest list of “Heroes of Philanthropy.”

The list is a rundown of 48 leaders in the Asia-Pacific region who share their material success with society.

On its seventh annual list, Forbes Asia handpicked four philanthropists from each of the 12 countries in the region for “boosting society in creative ways.”

Sy, 88, founding chairman of the SM group, is joined by perfume manufacturer Joel Cruz, tycoon John Gokongwei Jr. and renowned architect Felino “Jun” Palafox Jr. to represent the Philippines.

“The selections are subjective,” Forbes staff member John Koppisch wrote in introducing the 48 leaders in the prestigious business magazine’s June 10 issue.

“We aim for a mix of people and causes. . . And we pick only true philanthropists -- people who are giving their own money, not their company’s (unless they own most of the company), because donating shareholder funds isn’t charity,” Koppisch said.

The list includes personalities from Australia, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan and Thailand.

Sy leads the way “The Philippines’ richest person continues to disburse chunks of his fortune,” Forbes Asia wrote. Sy was also on the magazine’s list in 2009.

Forbes Asia noted Sy’s $112-million donation to an un-

$1-billion donation

Henry Sy Sr.: Richest and biggest giver. named foundation in December last year, as well as his $7-million contribution to De La Salle University (DLSU) last year, to help construct an eco-friendly building named after him.

Cruz, 48, is the founder and CEO of Central Affirmative Co., which makes Aficionado Germany. Forbes Asia cited Cruz for making donations to help abandoned children, as well as elderly and disabled. ““Each year his company — the manufacturer of Aficionado Germany, the country’s leading mass market perfume brand — celebrates its anniversary by giving cash to charities and paying employees to volunteer for a day. Nicknamed the “Lord of Scents,” he plans to launch the Joel S. Cruz Aficionado Foundation in the next year,” Forbes Asia said.

Gokongwei, 85, who founded conglomerate JG Summit, is chairman of one of the Philippines’ most endowed foundations - the Gokongwei Brothers Foundation. He started the foundation with his three brothers in 1992. In 2006, he gifted the foundation with half of his shares in JG Summit, a donation which is now worth more than $1 billion.

“The foundation is the conglomerate’s largest shareholder, with a 29.4% stake worth $2.3 billion. Disbursements are funded out of company dividends and are focused on education,” Forbes Asia said.

He also made it to the list in 2008.

Palafox, 63, founder and managing partner of Palafox and Associates, was cited by Forbes Asia for donating the firm’s services for the design of low-income housing developments. This includes a 12hectare project for the Smokey Mountain dumpsite community in Tondo, Manila.

“A former Catholic seminary student, [Palafox] gives money to a program helping needy churches and in the last five years, his firm has done pro bono architectural and interior design or master planning for six church-related projects,” Forbes Asia said. n

3 Pinays Vie for Miss Universe Crown

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HREE Filipinas will be competing for the Miss Universe 2013 crown later this year.

The Philippines’ official bet isBinibiningPilinas-Universe 2013 Ariella Arida. Standing at 5’8”, Ariella is a Chemistry graduate of the University of the Philippines at Los Baños.

The representatives from Canada and Gabon to the beauty pageant both have Filipino ancestry.

The Canadian bet is a familiar face to Filipino audiences.

Riza Santos -- a former Pinoy Big Brother housemate and FHM Philippines cover girl --

was born to Filipino parents in the Philippines but grew up in Calgary, Alberta in Canada.

Santos already had two national beauty titles tucked under her belt -- Miss Earth Canada 2006 and Miss World Canada 2011 -- before she won the Miss Universe 2013 crown under unusual circumstances.

In an embarrassing gaffe, organizers crowned the wrong winner, Denise Garrido, on May 25 but discovered later that a typographical error had caused a mistake in the tabulation of the scores.

The corrected tally sheets revealed that Garrido was only

Riza Santos, Ariella Arida, and Ruth Jennifer OndoMouchita good enough for a third runner-up finish and Santos was the rightful winner.

Ruth Jennifer OndoMouchita-- the representative from the

Western African state of Gabon -- is half-Filipina, born to a fullblooded Filipino mother. Her Wikipedia entry says she stands half an inch shy of six feet. n

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HARICE Pempengco proved herself to be an even bigger star when she came out in public as a lesbian and admitted having a girlfriend.

Although there have been rumors prior to her coming out – fueled by her change in hairdo and fashion style - they remained mere speculations until the international singing sensation appeared on The Buzz last June 2 and proudly declared, “Yes, I am a tomboy.

I don’t know what’s the problem with that because for me there isn’t a problem with that.” In the interview, Charice expressed her elation over the newfound freedom: “Sobrang masaya, naeexcite ako na hindi ko maintindihan.

Basta ang alam ko ay na-feel ko na ‘yung freedom na hinahanap ko.” (See related story on Page 19) Freedom is quite an expensive commodity, a luxury almost impossible to grasp, considering the prevailing culture on homosexuality in Philippine showbiz. Other than Charice, the only other Pinoy celebrity who has openly declared that she’s a lesbian is singer and former child star Aiza Seguerra.

The furor over Charice’s admission demonstrates how Filipinos view the issue of homosexuality. Homosexuality in the Philippines has two faces: the bakla is hilarious and harmless, while the tomboy seems awkward and detestable, somewhat taboo.

This two-dimensional view

‘I’m a tomboy and there’s nothing wrong with that.’

Truth Sets Charice Free of homosexuality is apparent in film and TV shows where countless gay characters dominate the screen, notably Dolphy as Facifica Falayfay. A lesbian character, on the other hand, is usually portrayed as a transformed princess: starting out as tomboyish, she meets her Prince Charming, and magically transitions into the pretty girl she was “destined” to be.

The phenomenal success of Vice Ganda is prime example of how Filipino audiences simply love the bakla character. What propelled Vice to stardom was not his jokes but his overall packaging as an unkabogable gay personality. Filipinos adore his gay lingo, his continuously evolving hairstyle and his outlandish clothes.

Lesbian characters, on the other hand, do not cut an amusing figure among Filipino audiences. Despite the recent survey showing the Philippines as one of the most gay-friendly countries in the world, it is apparent that Filipinos prefer the bakla over the tomboy. The popularity of Vice demonstrates how

the showbiz industry treats the issue of homosexuality.

After she came out in the open, Charice cited her critics for giving her the courage to finally admit her sexual preferences. “Isa pa doon ‘yung mga haters na rin,” she said, explaining what prompted her to come out of the closet. “Pinalakas nila ang loob ko at sila ‘yung nag-push sa akin na gawin ito.

I owe it to my fans, ayaw ko silang lokohin at masaktan pa.

The more niloloko ko sarili ko, the more na niloloko ko sila.”

One of those who strongly opposed Charice’s coming out was her own mother, Raquel Pempengco. Although she vehemently denies allegations that she has not accepted Charice as a lesbian, one can quickly surmise from her words that she was not too eager nor welcoming of Charice’s choice either.

“Ang pinakiusap ko lang sa kanya, ‘Alam ko ang nararamdaman mo. Kung pwede sana itago mo, dahil may pangalan kang iniingatan. Hindi mo naman kailangan ipakita sa buong mundo ang katayuan mo

ngayon sa pamamagitan ng pag-iiba ng anyo,” Mrs. Pempengco said in a press conference. “Napakaraming lesbians diyan na hindi nagbabago. Kailangan pa bang ilahad mo na ito ako, lalaki na ako ngayon, iba na ang itsura ko ngayon?

Na lalaki na ako dahil marami na akong tattoo?’”

It is apparent from Mrs. Pempengco’s pronouncement that she was deeply concerned how Charice’s fans would react – and by inference, how her showbiz career would suffer – after she admitted her true sexuality. She is worried that the change in her daughter’s looks – her boy’s hairdo, male get-up and tattoos -- would throw off her fans. On the other hand, no one seems a bit scandalized by Vice’s frivolous makeup and outlandish fashion style.

Clearly, Charice is a victim of our society’s two-dimensional view of homosexuality.

What is doubly troubling is that her talent as a singer – which should be the primary yardstick of one’s mettle in showbiz -- has been completely set aside while her bashers focus on her looks and sexual orientation.

To her credit, Charice chose to risk her career just to be true to herself. By coming out, she set herself free from society’s pettiness and hypocrisy. “Kung may kukunin sila sa pagka-come out ko, gusto ko lang ‘yung lakas ng loob,” she said. “Dahil sa akin, sobrang risky ng ginawa ko, kasi it’s either tatanggapin ako, o wala na talaga.”

It takes raw courage to defy society’s standards and people’s expectations, and for someone with a stature to protect, like Charice, it can be a career-altering move. To be sure, not everyone was bashing her.

Many of Charice’s colleagues in the industry and enlightened fans and observers alike applauded her open declaration of her true identity. But whether it will compel other Filipina celebrities to follow her lead or change the Filipino’s view of tomboys is another story. n

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The Accidental Love Team of Kim and Xian

OOKING at the roster of ABS-CBN love teams today, one pair that stands out is Xian Lim and Kim Chiu.

Born out of experiment from the teleserye My Binondo Girl, the KimXi love team definitely has a unique brand of kilig that has viewers hooked and wanting more.

Coming from the success of Kim’s team-up with Gerald Anderson, it became a challenge for the network to re-establish the actress with a new love team partner.

Enter the primetime series My Binondo Girl, where Kim starred with three leading men -- Jolo Revilla, Matteo Guidicelli, and Xian -- perhaps to see which combination would click best.

In the beginning, fans seemed to favor a Matteo-Kim love team because of their Cebuano connection and onscreen chemistry.

Soon, however, the glow of their impending partnership dimmed as the public got to know about Matteo’s relationship with Maja Salvador. Maja was Kim’s friend, which made it a little awkward for the latter’s followers to see their idol canoodling with her friend’s boyfriend onscreen.

Switching partners (The real-life scenario was repeated later but the roles were reversed. After Kim and Gerald ended their off-screen relationship and the Kimerald pairing was dissolved, Gerald and Maja found their way into each other’s arms. Kim did not hide her disappointment over what she considered a “betray-

lavish gifts, and their going on fancy dates -- also made this love story more interesting.

Since then, the KimXi love team has become a bankable pair for the Kapamilya network; and after My Binondo Girl ended its run, Ina Kapatid Anak soon aired as a follow-up project for the duo.

Taking things slow

Xian proves he is steadfast and committed to his love team partner by being a patient suitor. al” by Maja, to whom she confided details of her romance with Gerald. Gerald and Maja have admitted in separate interviews that they are officially an item.)

This gave Jolo a window of opportunity to step forward and make his presence felt in Kim’s circle.

They appeared to hit it off right away, with Jolo winning Kim’s attention by bringing her favorite food, siomai, every day on the set.

Many thought that it would all lead to courtship, but Jolo admitted that while he admired Kim, he wasn’t keen on making a move to formally court her.

The birth of KimXi As the show My Binondo Girl progressed, fans became drawn to the chemistry of Jade and Andy, played by Kim and Xian, respectively.

The plot of contrasting personalities falling in love with each other appealed to fans.

And seeing that Kim and Xian too have a good, friendly relationship off-screen -- plus, they are both single -- made things even more exciting. (Perhaps it helped too that both have Chinese ancestry.)

Xian’s grand gestures in showing affection for Kim - composing a love song, serenading her on the set, giving

Learning well from her previous experience, Kim is one to take extra caution now, particularly in matters of the heart.

She has learned well not to cave in to the hype of her successful love team.

Xian understands this very well, too, and despite pursuing Kim -- he started sometime late last year -- he remains patient and steadfast even in the midst of issues that call him a “user.”

He told Philippine Entertainment Portal (PEP) in a previous interview, “Basta pararamdam ko kay Kim na espesyal siyang tao all the time. . . Basta nandiyan kami sa isa’t isa. Yun yung promise namin.”

Bonding moments For her part, Kim reiterates that Xian is a “good friend” whom she can confide in and constantly spend time with.

They sure share a lot of bonding moments together even outside work, including that time when Kim met up with her estranged father in Cebu last April.

But will this closeness ever lead to a serious relationship?

That may be something to look forward to, for now.

In the meantime, fans would have to do with the growing love story of Kim and Xian as Celyn and Liam in Ina Kapatid Anak, where they are now officially a couple. (PEP) n

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Showbuzz brother and are forced to face problems among their family.

Ai Ai files raps vs husband

Charice (hiding behind a pillow) and Alyssa

Charice: Yes, I’m a tomboy!

THE morning after she came out on national television, the international singing sensation whom Oprah Winfrey famously called “the most talented girl in the world” was on cloud nine, no longer weighed down by years of hiding her true identity and months of negative speculation.

“Alam mo, para akong batang gusto ko agad lumabas tapos magtatalon tapos sige halika party party na tayo! As in bumalik ako sa pagkabata.

As in malaya ako na walang problema,” Charice said about her public admission on The Buzz last June 2 that she is a lesbian.

The 21-year-old singer faced the media together with her rumored girlfriend Alyssa Quijano, whom she considers not only as her girlfriend but also as sister and best friend.

“She’s like my everything,” she said. Alyssa was a finalist while Charice was a judge in the talent search X Factor Philippine.

Angel, Bea, Toni, Shaina in 1 movie

FOUR of the most soughtafter leading ladies of ABS-CBN come together for the first time in a “dramedy” (drama-comedy)

marking the celebration of the 20th anniversary of Star Cinema, the network’s film outfit.

Angel Locsin, Bea Alonzo, Toni Gonzaga, and Shaina Magdayao portray sisters in the Cathy Garcia-Molina-directed film, Four Sisters and a Wedding, which will be released in theaters nationwide on June 26.

The four sisters -- Teddie (Toni), Bobbie (Bea), Alex (Angel) and Gabbie (Shania) gather home for a big event – the wedding of their youngest brother (Enchong Dee). They ended up blocking the event to save their

AI AI delas Alas has filed a formal complaint against her husband of one month, Jed Salang, for violation of Republic Act 9262, or the Act Defining Violence Against Women and Children.

She also asked the Quezon City Regional Trial Court for a protection order that would prevent Jed from getting near her, her family and staff by at least 100

meters and from communicating with her by any means.

The comedienne’s complaint followed her admission that he had separated from Jed after he had allegedly physically abused her several times.

The two were married in civil rites in Las Vegas last April 3.

James can see son, but not Kris

Romance made in Vegas

THE Makati Regional Trial Court has granted the appeal of television host Kris Aquino for a permanent protection order (PPO) against her estranged husband, basketball star James Yap, but has allowed the latter to see his son, Bimby.

This means James can visit his son but he has to stay away from Kris -- not within 100 meters of her. Per court order, James can visit his son from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesdays and 4 p.m. on Fridays up to Saturdays.

Kris filed for a permanent protection order against James for allegedly “overstepping his boundaries and of attempting to seduce her while visiting her home, and of inflicting psychological harm on their son Bimby.”

Four sisters and a brother

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Showbuzz Love worth fighting for

Maja on Gerald: ‘He is worth fighting for’

From performer to businessman

MAJA Salvador was at a loss for words when asked about for her reaction to her boyfriend, Gerald Anderson, going public with their relationship. The Fil-Am actor admitted the real score between him and Maja in a magazine interview “for everybody’s peace of mind,” amid endless speculations about their relationship.

“Marami ang nagsasabi na ang ganda ko raw, ang suwerte ko raw. ‘Di ko alam paano sasagutin ‘yun, e. Siguro sobrang blessed ko lang na ganun ako ka-importante sa buhay niya talaga,” Maja said, referring to Gerald.

Gerald had said, “This is a love worth fighting for.” To which Maja replied, “He is worth fighting for.”

of TV5’s noontime program Wowowillie said he plans to rest for about three months and focus on his various businesses.

Willie runs Wire, an umbrella company that owns Wil Productions and Wil Tower Mall, the commercial component of Wil Tower. He also owns WilFly, which rents out a 30-seater jet at $5,000 per hour.

The TV host is also investing in a 35-40-room boutique hotel with villas in Tagaytay that will open in late 2014.

Jolo and Jodi with sons from former partners

Dishing out bad joke is bad vice

Vice rapped for rape joke

TV host and comedian Vice Ganda drew flak and received a flurry of angry reaction from the media and netizens across the globe for making fun of GMA Network news executive Jessica Soho during his recent concert at the Araneta Coliseum.

Vice apologized for his “cruel” joke and acknowledged that he went overboard when he said that it would take a gang to rape the multi-awarded TV personality, a thinly veiled allusion to Soho’s stocky physique.

Vice promised to be more responsible and careful next time. “Maging maingat, magkaroon ka ng humility sa sarili, and learn from each and every experience that you have,” he vowed.

Willie to focus on business

WILLIE Revillame is looking beyond his career as a TV show host, as he plans to focus on his various businesses when his contract with TV5 ends this October. The controversial host

Jodi says annulment underway

JODI Sta. Maria said she and former partner Pampi Lacson have made steps to legally end their eight-year marriage. Jodi denied that she is seeking the annulment of her marriage so she can marry her current boyfriend, actor and incoming Cavite Vice Governor Jolo Revilla.

“Like I’ve said before, I’ve never lost faith in love, but marriage is a different thing.

It’s a different story. Right now, hindi pa ako ready,” she said.

Jodi and Pampi were married in March 2005 and separated six years later. They have one son. Pampi is now in a relationship with actress Iwa Moto, with whom he is expecting a baby. Jolo has a son too with his former partner. n

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O many teleseryes are being produced these days that they have pretty much taken over the local programming scene, with multiple drama series being telecast throughout the day.

They have radically altered the entire complexion and makeup of local television, to the great prejudice of other program types, which should be adequately represented on the TV spectrum for the industry to live up to its promise to provide the viewer with balanced programming that positively impinges on his entire person.

Local TV’s New ‘Teleserye’ Culture So, why do our TV networks do it? Because it enables them to make a lot of money and to trounce or at least keep up with the competition?

Even more relevant is the question: Why are they allowed to get away with it? Because industry and government overseers do a poor job of upholding viewers’ rights.

So, why do viewers take it with nary a peep of protest?

Because they don’t know their rights -- or don’t care enough to uphold them. A pretty odoriferous kettle of fish all around!

Like other sub-cultures, it has evolved its own rules, conventions and preferences, which have radically altered the practice and very nature of dramatic entertainment in these parts.

What are some of its key innovations? For one thing, real drama generally no longer exists on the tube, it’s almost totally been replaced by melodrama, which upholds the excessive display of emotion for emotion’s sake, not to develop an organic plot, character or theme.

Melodrama rules

Shallow nature

The teleserye glut has become so pervasive and overwhelming that it’s created a new pop-cultural phenomenon, which we’re dubbing our very own PinoyTeleserye Culture -- the first in the world, how about that?

Due to the shallow and overthe-top nature of the new “teleserye culture,” characterizations have become so obvious and high-strung that even our best actors can no longer come up with a truly deep and moving portrayal. Since everything

is for show and for effect, they are limited to depicting lurid types instead of real people.

Worse, hit teleseryes are extended for months, way beyond their original story arc’s intentions, so new and even more high-strung conflicts have to be thought up to keep viewers interested.

As a result, characters are made to do contradictory things, never mind the established rules of logic and believable development and motivation!

Faced with the impossible task of making sense out of a senseless situation, even our best talents end up simply going through the overwrought motions -- and crying all the way to the bank!

Scandalous characters Worse, teleserye culture has made negative motives and

hidden agendas “interesting” instead of reprehensible. Decent, “ordinary” people are now regarded as boring, and viewers are much more strongly attracted to scandalous characters and outrageous conflicts -- siblings versus siblings, children against parents, rich vs poor, and villains and viragos having the run of the place!

Good still triumphs over evil at the very end, but only nominally, so -- and floridly nasty characters are conveniently made to repent -- after having the time of their lives!

If the teleserye situation is so dire, what does the future hold for us? We pray that viewers will soon get tired of all those lurid clichés, and ask for real drama and believable characters, so that genuine sense and sensibility will finally return to our fractured and fractious screens -- and other program types can once more be given their due! (Philippine Daily Inquirer) n

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VERY year, thousands of tourists flock to the historic town of Lucban in Quezon province for various reasons. Aside from its cool and invigorating climate, people visit the town because of its religious and historic tourist destinations.

The town is the jump-off point for a trekking expedition to Mt. Banahaw. Once an active volcano, the majestic conical “Mountain of Rain” towers at 7,382 feet above sea level. A spring of crystal clear water flows from the mid-slope down Lucban and outlying municipalities.

Some go to Lucban for a pilgrimage to Kalbaryo Hill. Every May 3, a procession known as “Pag-akyat sa Kalbaryo” is held.

During the procession, a large wooden cross is carried up the hill through the concrete winding steps. From the hilltop, one can see the panoramic view of the town, with Mt. Banahaw in the background.

Another pilgrimage site is the Kamay ni Hesus Healing Church, home to the 50-foot high statue of the Ascending Christ which is dubbed the third biggest in the world.

There is also the Roman Catholic Church, featuring a Baroque and Castillian architectural style. But probably the main reason why people brave the four-hour-long drive from Manila to the quaint town is the Lucban San Isidro Pahiyas Festival. Held every May 15, the Pahiyas has become part of the Lucban heritage and has contributed immensely to the tourism industry and economic progress of the town.

The Pahiyas Festival began as a thanksgiving ritual of the indigenous people who lived at the foot of Mt. Banahaw. They would express their gratitude to the anito for the good harvest of agricultural produce.

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‘Kiping’ Faith in Lucban

Huge, multi-coloured kiping adorn a house in Lucban.

Two women proudly display their bountiful harvest.

The farmers would gather their harvest inside the tuklong (chaplet) and later converge and consume a sumptuous meal cooked using their harvest.

Later, they would drink tuba which was made from coconut, buri or cabo negro (kaong). The natives believed that if they do this, the anito would give them another bountiful harvest the following year.

But when the Spaniards came, the ritual changed. In 1595, the Franciscans selected Saint Isidore as the saint of the farmers, while Saint Louis Bish-

op became the patron saint of Lucban. During harvest season, the natives would bring their farm produce inside the church where the parish priest would bless the fruits of their land and thank the patron saints for a bountiful harvest.

As the years passed, the church could no longer accommodate the burgeoning harvest. So, instead of bringing the vegetables and fruits to the church, the people displayed them right at their doorstep where the priest could bestow blessings as the procession

would go around the town.

And when people got the chance, they couldn’t resist showing off a bit. Year after year, the townspeople went on and tried to outdo each other.

They started designing their houses with colorful decorations such as kiping (rice wafer), arangya (chandelier) and anok (scarecrow).

Pahiyas is never complete without the kiping. The colorful rice wafers are arranged to create artistic designs such as beautiful giant flowers and arangya where they are arranged in cascading layers. The kiping decorations are complemented by the local products of the town such as palay and vegetables, and longganisa. Some also create anok (scarecrow) using rice stalks, with reference to the major source of livelihood of the town which is farming.

Sambalilo and other handwoven products such as bags and mats are also used for decorations. Paglalala or buntal weaving is one of the traditions in Lucban and one of the cottage industries striving in the area.

The Pahiyas Festival is more than just a feast. It is a way of preserving traditions, while drawing tourists for economic growth. (Manila Bulletin) n

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The white-sand beaches of Camaguin can rival those of the more popular tourist destinations.

AY “Camiguin,” and at once, it conjures up images of the round, luscious, fleshy fruit called lanzones.

The volcanic soil on this island off Misamis Oriental has made it possible for the lanzones as well as other fruits and vegetables to thrive lushly in Camiguin. Lanzones-growing is a major source of livelihood for most Camiguingnons.

As such, every third week of October, the island erupts into a four-day festival celebrating the small pale-brown balls of golden sweetness, with a street dancing contest, a parade, a trade fair and a beauty pageant.

Just a little under 30,000 hectares, the pear-shaped island has seven volcanoes including Mount Hibok-Hibok (also known as Catarman Volcano), still considered active with the last rumblings and eruptions occurring between 1948 and 1951. With such volcanic activities, it’s no wonder Camiguin has often been described as an “island born of fire.”

Camiguin Island has beaches including a white sandbar, hot springs, waterfalls and deep diving spots filled with corals and colorful marine life. It is also rich in religious history and is known for the annual Holy Week pilgrimage called Panaad Festival. Locals and visitors, as part of their religious vow (saad in Cebuano), walk the main circumferential road hugging the island’s coastline, and praying the Stations of the Cross while trekking up the walkway of Mount Vulcan.

The friendly and helpful locals speak Cebuano, although indigenous tribes possibly of the original Manobo settlers, still speak their own Kinamiguin dialect.

The best time of the year to visit Camiguin is from April to July, during the dry season.

Must-see’s The White Island is actually a sandbar that takes on different

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An Island Born of Fire

about 20-minute ride from the Mambajao town proper.

Tuasan Falls in Barangay Mainit, Catarman, cascades from a height of 25 meters. It’s not exactly the easiest spot to go to as this involves some hiking along a cliff to reach a river to the falls. But visitors are rewarded with its pristine beauty and natural rock formations.

Being a volcanic island, Camiguin is also rich in hot and cool sulfur springs. There is the Ardent Hot Spring in Barangay Esperanza in Tagdo, about 2 km away from the Mambajao town proper. There are several pools fed by Mount Hibok Hibok but one is just truly hot, making a swim there truly rejuvenating. Food and picnic tables are available onsite.

The Macaw Cold Spring in Barangay Tupsan Pequeno, Mahinog town, has a deep smokyblue color supposedly because it is rich in minerals. You can take a dip—entrance is free—or hike around the area, which has lush vegetation. It’s about 12 kilometers south of Mambajao.

Must-do’s

Camiguin is lanzones country. Lanzones-growing is a major source of livelihood for many Camiguingnons. shapes depending on the tides, but most often it is splayed out under the sun, much like the beachgoers who are there to swim, snorkel or sunbathe. (It disappears during high tide.)

There are also a number of gray to black-sand beaches along the island’s coastline, though the most popular, such as the Yumbing Beach (where one can admire the golden setting sun) and Camiguin Beach, are in the main municipality of Mambajao. Toward the south in Barangay Cantaan, 30 minutes away from Mambajao, is the Kabila White Beach, a secluded cove that has a giant clam nursery. (Donations to the foundation operating the nursery are encouraged.)

In 1871, a massive volcanic eruption occurred in Camiguin, wiping out a 175-year-old Spanish settlement in the municipality of Catarman. What remain are the adobe walls and belfry of Catarman Church (Guiob Church). Inside the ruins is a tiny chapel. Aside from the Catarman Church Ruins, there is also a cross nearby marking the community cemetery, which sank during the 1871 eruption. The area is also a popular dive site.

Aside from the beaches, there are also breathtaking waterfalls such as the Katibawasan Falls, which drops from a height of some 80 meters into an icy-cold pool below. The area is also teeming with orchids, ferns and other vegetation. It is

Do snorkel or dive in Camiguin as it has a number of rich diverse dive sites, with an abundant marine life. Recommended dive sites are the Jicduf Shoal, Burias Shoal and Kantaan Dive Site (for advanced divers), Mantigue Island, Cabuan Point, to name a few.

Do feast on the local cuisine and delicacies. It has grilled chicken; pastel, a soft bun filled with yema (Vjandep Bakeshop, 57 Plaridel Street, Mambajao/088-387-0049); kiping, which is made from sweet potato and served deep-fried with latik (coconut sauce); and an assortment of seafood. There are respectable Italian and Mexican restaurants on the island as well.

If you’re an avid mountaineer, do climb the challenging Mount Hibok Hibok. Once you reach its peak, you are rewarded with stunning views of Bohol, Cebu and Negros provinces. (Business Mirror) n

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Flash t

Elusive Peace

Guerrillas of the New People’s Army, armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines, form an assault line during a visit by journalists to their camp in the Cordilleras. The communist rebels said the prospect of forging a peace agreement with the Aquino administration is bleak.

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Back to School

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Students of Batasan Hills National High School in Quezon City gather for morning assembly on the first day of the new school year. The school is the second-most populated secondary school in the country with 13,000 students. Close to 21 million students began a new school year on June 3.

Exchanging Notes

President Benigno S. Aquino III converses with Myanmar opposition leader and democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi during their bilateral meeting in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar. President Aquino attended the World Economic Forum on East Asia held in Myanmar on June 7.

Fallen Marine

Soldiers carry the flagdraped coffin of a Philippine Marine. Sixteen combatants - seven Marines and nine Abu Sayyaf members – were killed in a clash in Jolo, Sulu, on May 25 between the terrorist group and the Marines who were on a test mission.

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Flash Bayanihan Spirit

A group of men helps carry a nipa hut, ‘bayanihanstyle,’ to its new location one kilometer away in Barangay Imelda, Mondragon, Northern Samar. According to one of the men, they are relocating the house a kilometer away from its former location. The bayanihan spirit endures in the countryside where everybody knows everyone in the community.

t Pahiyas Festival One of the most colourful and extravagant festivals in the country, the Pahiyas Festival is simultaneously celebrated in the towns of Lucban and Sariaya in Quezon province every May 15. Residents display their harvests in front of their homes – from vegetables and fruits to handicraft and kiping, a traditional wafer used both as decoration and snack.

Lighting Up the Sky

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Thousands of Filipinos flew 15,185 sky lanterns, setting a new Guinness record for the most number of sky lanterns flown simultaneously.

The participants gathered at the grounds of the University of the Philippines Visayas in Miag-ao, Iloilo for the Inaugural Light of Peace Event held on May 24.

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Election Day

Voters crowd outside a precinct at an elementary school in Quezon City. Scenes such as this were common across the country as over 52 million registered voters cast their ballots last May 13 for over 18,000 local and national positions.

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Euronews: In Donsol’s underwater world

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HE SAME WEIGHT as three elephants, and the same size as a citybus, the whale shark is the largest fish in the world. In Donsol, the south of Luzon Island, in search of these gentle giants.

World Wildlife Foundation (WWF) expert, David N. David, has the lucky job of interacting with the butanding, as the whale sharks are known here, on a daily basis. For him, every interaction is FULL PAGE AD a unique, almost healing, experience: “They Despite their colossal size, whale sharks, which can be found in Donsol, are harmless and just eat plankton.

are gentle and when you swim with them you can forget the outside world.”

Despite their colossal size, whale sharks are fish, not mammals. And whilst their enormous frames may give the impression they eat anything and everything, in actuality, they like nothing more than a platter of fine plankton.

The discovery of whale sharks here has drastically altered life for locals in the region. A decade ago, the WWF and local authorities implemented a policy of communitybased eco-friendly tourism. For butanding spotter, Joey Aquino, the change has been a welcome one: “The whale sharks changed Donsol in a way that they provided a livelihood to unemployed people, especially those fishermen who had previously only relied on fishing.”

Given relatively little is known about the whale shark as a species, protecting this endangered fish is a difficult process. David goes out to sea almost every day to take pictures, uploading them onto a database in order to track their movements. Each whale shark is clearly identifiable thanks to their unique patterns. Because their skin resembles a starry sky, scientists use an adapted version of the software developed for the Hubble Space Telescope to determine who’s who underwater. As David explains: “The main activity here for the WWF is the whaleshark photo ID. It’s about estimating how many whale-sharks are aggregating in Donsol every season. Every individual whaleshark has his own unique pattern. So it’s just like fingerprints for human.” Nearly 400 whale sharks have been identified in Donsol in the past six years.

And why is Donsol Bay such a hot-spot for whale sharks? The answer is Mount Mayon, one of the Philippines’ many active volcanoes. Come monsoon season, rich minerals flow down the volcano via the Donsol river, into the ocean. They feed the mangroves, which feed the plankton, which leads to an ‘All-you-can-eat’ buffet for sea creatures, who flock to the surrounding area.

To add to the diversity, this is an area which sits at the epi-centre of the ‘The Coral Triangle’ – a highly complex ecosystem, located in the Indo-Pacific Ocean. The corals attract both the little and the large, creating a colourful nursery of different species with full news from Euronews

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EMBASSY NEWS

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Results of the 2013 Canvass of Absentee Votes for the UK and for Ireland THE PHILIPPINE Embassy in London is pleased to announce the results of the canvass of the Overseas Absentee Votes from the United Kingdom and from Ireland for the 2013 Philippine National Elections.

The Overseas Absentee Voting period was from 13 April 2013 to 13 May 2013. Counting of votes and canvassing of election returns were done from 13 to 14 May 2013.

The Certificate of Canvass with the statement of votes per precinct and the summary of statement of votes are posted at the consular section of the Embassy.

Maraming salamant sa lahat ng nakilahok. MABUHAY! UNITED KINGDOM TOTAL NUMBER OF REGISTERED VOTERS - 11,911 BALLOTS RECEIVED BY EMBASSY - 2,468 NUMBER OF ELECTORAL PRE-

CINCTS (SBEIs) - 5 CANVASS RESULTS FOR SENATORS (top 20): LEGARDA, LOREN - 1,587 CAYETANO, ALLAN PETER1,514 ESCUDERO, CHIZ - 1,482 MAGSAYSAY, RAMON - 1,452 POE, GRACE - 1,443 PIMENTEL, KOKO - 1,395 AQUINO, BAM - 1,392 ANGARA, EDGARDO - 1,370 GORDON, DICK - 1,124 HONTIVEROS, RISA - 1,110 TRILLANES, ANTONIO - 983 HONASAN, GRINGO - 880 ENRILE, JUAN PONCE - 790 ZUBIRI, MIGS - 782 MADRIGAL, JAMBY - 776 BINAY, NANCY - 726 EJERCITO, JV - 711 MACEDA, ERNIE - 699 HAGEDORN, ED - 699 VILLANUEVA, BRO EDDIE - 614

OFW FAMILY - 393 MIGRANTE - 132 ANG NARS - 110 CIBAC - 108 SENIOR CITIZENS - 102 IRELAND TOTAL NUMBER OF REGISTERED VOTERS - 1,109 BALLOTS RECEIVED BY EMBASSY - 213 NUMBER OF ELECTORAL PRECINCTS (SBEIs) - 1 CANVASS RESULTS FOR SENATORS (top 20): CAYETANO, ALLAN PETER -155 ESCUDERO, CHIZ - 150 POE, GRACE - 149 MAGSAYSAY, RAMON - 133 PIMENTEL, KOKO - 133 HONTIVEROS, RISA - 130 ANGARA, EDGARDO - 129 GORDON, DICK - 129 AQUINO, BENIGNO BAM - 127 LEGARDA, LOREN - 125 TRILLANES, ANTONIO - 104 HAGEDORN, ED - 86 CASINO, TEDDY - 76

HONASAN, GRINGO - 76 ZUBIRI, MIGS - 56 MADRIGAL, JAMBY - 52 ENRILE, JUAN PONCE - 50 MACEDA, ERNIE - 50 VILLANUEVA, BRO. EDDIE - 49 EJERCITO, JV - 41 CANVASS RESULTS FOR PARTY LIST (top five; please refer to COC for full listing) OFW FAMILY - 37 ANG NARS - 21 MIGRANTE - 11 CIBAC - 8 SENIOR CITIZENS - 8

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CANVASS RESULTS FOR PARTY LIST (top five; please refer to COC for full listing)

Exhibition special: Antonio Gorordo - Digital Abstraction

DIGITAL

Opening Reception : Monday , 03 June 2013, 6:30 pm Exhibition : 04 - 09 June 2013, 9:30am-5:00pm

at The Embassy of the Repub lic of the Philippines, London 6-8 Suffolk Street, SW1Y 4HG

gs by ANTONIO GORORDO An exhibition of digital paintin

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ANTONIO GORORDO:DIG ITAL ABST

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ntonio Artist 60C Heathfield Road London, W38EJ Phone: 0208 3544585, 077 69074837 E-mail: angordz@yahoo.com Links: https://www.facebook.c om/antoniogorordo :https://www.facebook.com/ToniG ordzGorordo

NTONIO GORORDO’s interest in structure and order had initially led him to pursue university studies in Civil Engineering.

While studying Gordz as he is fondly called would dabble in such work as sketching, drawing and painting.

Very soon, Gordz passion for the arts outpaced his desire to pursue an engineering career.

He turned into the arts as the best means for self expression and as a means to channel his boundless energy.

In January 2010, Gordz started to take his talents to another level by shifting from the conventional means of painting to digitalizing his works, an emerging art form in which traditional painting techniques such as watercolor, oils, impasto, etc. are applied using digital tools by means of a computer and software, a graphics program offering a virtual canvas and painting box with a large amount of brushes, colors and

other supplies. This new discovery has earned him a new set of audience – the techie crowd in Facebook and other internet-based social networks.

Last September 2012, with this new art style, he participated in the International Art Show (PaletaFest) in Verazdin, Croatia, consisting of 100 top Artists from 42 countries.

Gordz’s work can take on a variety of meanings. No one idea can absolutely explain them.

Indeed his works, due to the abstract form that they take, remain the conundrum that will forever intrigue anyone who views them.

Although his master works somehow reflect the artistic styles of his favourite Filipino artists as Kiukok, Ocampo and Joya, Gordz is proud to say that his works are the fruits of his own deep and boundless imagination, his experienced execution and a clear inspiration from God. The exhibition ran from 4-9 June at the Philippine Embassy.

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29 June 2013

Tacloban Fiesta in London 12nn - 10 pm Venue: St Francis Of Assisi Hall, Grove Crescent Road, Stratford, London E15 1NS Contact: ericjaryn@ aol.com

30 Aug-1 Sept 2013 AEGIS: Rakrakan sa Europa 2013 Birmingham: 30 Aug (The Conference Hall) London: 1 Sept (Hammersmith Town Hall) Contact (for B’ham): 07877617011, 07917116926 (for London) 07846184767, 07786837879

e: bobatchison@btinternet.com

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04/07/2012 15:17