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Verbatim If the people are electing the Binays, then so be it. But what’s important here is, isa-isa o dalawa lang, hindi lima-lima na parang basketball team . . . Wala na bang ibang hanapbuhay o pagkakakitaan sa Pilipinas?
Administration presidential candidate Mar Roxas, on the 29year reign of the Binay family in Makati City
Pasensiya na lang po kung nakakapagsalita kami ng maaanghang dahil kami ay tao lamang at kami at nasasaktan dahil napakasakit talaga ang nangyari sa amin.
Tacloban Mayor Alfred Romualdez, apologizing for the hurtful words he uttered against the Aquino administration and expressing gratitude to the national government for the help extended to Tacloban in the aftermath of Supertyphoon Yolanda two years ago
I really do not know how to solve the problem of the Philippines. I cannot FULL PAGE AD savior of this be the republic. Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, rejecting persistent calls from his supporters to reconsider his decision not to run for president in 2016
The moral problem is not corruption, the moral problem is poverty. That is what I want to face, not the fight against all these allegations, but the fight to alleviate the life of every Filipino. Vice President Binay, telling businessmen in a forum that his priority as president is fighting poverty, not corruption
Siguro, yes. Binoboto kami eh.
Senator Bongbong Marcos, when asked if he feels the Marcos family has already been vindicated in the eyes of the Filipino people
Not all of us are lawyers. So some of us will vote for what we think is fair. It’s not purely legal. Senator Cynthia Villar, on how she would vote on the disqualification case against Sen. Grace Poe pending before the Senate Electoral Tribunal
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‘TANIM-BALA’ GUIDE
What You Should Know and Do
R
EPUBLIC Act 10591, also known as the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act, prosecutes those found guilty of violation regardless of intent. The last few months have found an alarming rise in cases of possession of bullets at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport by unlikely individuals who claim no knowledge of these bullets and allege that the ammunition was planted in their luggage, giving voice to the laglag or tanim-bala scam. This new issue has only served to reinforce NAIA’s status as one of the worst airports in the world. Here’s what you should know:
8. Modus Operandi The scam goes like this: You plan a trip out of town or out of the country, only to be stopped at the airport because the X-ray technician has found one or two bullets in your luggage. You have no idea where the bullets came from and have no desire to miss your flight and ruin your travel plans, but the penalty for possession of said bullets is incarceration. So you take the airport personnel’s offer when they tell you that you can pay an exorbitant amount of money just to make these magically appearing bullets disappear.
7. Victims Anyone can fall victim to this scam; Japanese tourists, foreign missionaries, 65-year old grandmothers and even our very own OFWs. Over 30 cases of unlawful possession of ammunition have been reported from January to early November of this year, a spike from last year’s low of only 12 cases. The scandal took off when the media picked up the story of a 56-year old OFW travelling back to Hong Kong being detained
for two days after being apprehended by airport authorities.
6. PNP Denial
International Airport Authority General Manager Jose Angel Honrado for allowing the scam to continue unabated, citing his “negligence and insensitivity” of the situation as a source of humiliation for the country. Honrado, as well as other airport executives, have denied allegations of their involvement, with Honrado refusing to resign unless his appointing authority requests him to step down.
PNP’s Aviation Security Group maintains that planting bullets into passenger bags would be impossible for their staff at NAIA. It further states that some passengers are bring- 2. How to Protect Yourself ing these bullets as lucky charms “Reliable sources” have since AD or agimat. A petition FULL has beenPAGE come forward with insight as to initiated, calling for President how victims are chosen, as well Aquino’s attention to the mat- as more details as to how the ter, who has since called for the scam works. Travelers have since Department of Transportation been encouraged to lock and seal and Communication to conduct their bags, refrain from using a thorough investigation. luggage with outer pockets, and
5. An “International Embarrassment” Time Magazine and BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) have both reported the scam, inciting outrage among netizens at the lack of action from authorities. Malacañang has since downplayed the scam, calling them “isolated incidents.” OFW rights advocates say the scam is creating a “climate of fear” among OFWs who have been looking forward to their trips home for the holidays.
4. Legal Action Davao Mayor Rody Duterte and Sarangani Representative Manny Pacquiao have offered their lawyers for free service to those victimized by the scam. The Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) has also vowed to assist victims of the alleged scam, saying that the perpetrators can face up to 40 years imprisonment for the deed.
3. Calls for Resignation Three senators have called for the resignation of Manila
to remain vigilant when passing through airport security.
1. Know Your Rights Remember that it is within your rights to request for a luggage inspector to be present when clearing your suitcases through security and that the CCTVs in your vicinity are functioning and can record you going through. Remember to only agree to a physical search with witnesses and authorities present, and that in case of apprehension, you are within your legal rights to remain silent until your lawyer is present and that arbitrary detention is tantamount to kidnapping. Only a judge is qualified to set bail or to fine you. (8list.ph) n
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Why We’re Attracted to Miriam and Digong By marites dañguilan vitug
F
IRST, a declaration. I am not a fan of Miriam Defensor Santiago and Rodrigo “Digong” Duterte, these two outsize characters with striking sound bites. Second, a confession. For a brief moment, I flirted with the idea of considering Duterte for president. It was because a businessman friend told me about Davao’s discipline and progress, the absence of red tape. Look, he said, NAIA will get fixed, the MRT will run on time, the expressways will be finished as scheduled. The thought settled on the fringes of my mind – only to banish when friends reminded me that he had blood in his hands. Now that that’s out of the way, what has stayed is a distant fascination with the incredible popularity of both politicians. I am amazed by their pull, as if each were a force of gravity. They generate social media adulation, with Santiago’s more than 3 million likes on Facebook and over 2 million followers on Twitter. Among the presidential candidates, she has the largest social media network. Duterte, the on-and-off presidential aspirant, is a newbie in this field but has already over a million likes on Facebook. He has yet to energize his Twitter account, though, since only a paltry 11,000 were following him (as of mid-October). It’s amazing that news stories about them are shared thousands of times over, as if the public’s appetite for the latest and the newest, the highs and lows, the kinks and quirks
Duterte appear to be avatars of protest against politics as usual. Santiago vows to crush corruption – but this is what other candidates promise as well. More than substance, it is style that differentiates Santiago: her fierce bursts of temper, oratorical theatrics, and wit. In reality, it is Duterte who represents a sharp break from today’s politics because he believes in a dictatorship. “It’s the police and the military who will be the backbone [if he decides to run and wins],” he told Rappler. But he has opted not to be part of the race.
A bit of Trump
of these politicians cum celebrities is insatiable. Santiago’s bid for the presidency came as a surprise but her announcement lit up a spark in social media, with the hashtag #Miriam 2016 rising to a Philippine trending topic on Twitter. For Duterte, what was so palpable was the undying speculation, reported non-stop and partly whipped up by the media, that he was going to file his candidacy for president, as if egging him on. This was after he had said that his final decision was not to seek the presidency, preceded by his cliffhanger statements. Even when Duterte’s representatives filed his candidacy for mayor of Davao, the reports persisted. When the deadline passed and Duterte was a no-show, the rumor took on a new form: that he was going to substitute for
the candidate of PDP-Laban, Martin Diño, who withdrew from the race.
Shock and awe What makes Duterte and Santiago attractive? They bring color to our political canvas, a wild flash, and a rawness, all ingredients that make for good entertainment. Both are outspoken, candid, funny, provocative, and like to dish out outrageous remarks. They shock and awe. “The Chinese invented corruption,” Santiago once said, the racist undertone so thick you could slice it. As for Duterte, he openly said that his solution to criminality is murder: “If I have to kill you, I’ll kill you. Personally.” No ambivalence there. Unapologetic. These and other startling statements make Santiago and
The fascination with the likes of Santiago and Duterte is not unique to the Philippines. Donald Trump, one of the Republican aspirants for president, is the United States media’s flavor of the season. Pundits have pointed out how Trump has parlayed his fondness for professional wrestling into politics, making a spectacle of his performance in debates and press conferences. After all, Trump is a member of the World Wrestling Entertainment Hall of Fame. He has taken an extreme position against immigration and was offensive in his attacks against Mexicans and Latinos. Duterte and Santiago have a bit of Trump in them. In Guatemala, an outsider, a former comedian who played “dimwitted characters” recently won as president. He ran a campaign that had little substance, reports say, but he was regarded as “the least worst option.” His victory is seen as a clear message that voters are disgusted with corruption in their country, where an “anti-corruption citizens movement helped bring down a president.” In this context, we are different from Guatemala. Here, what we see in Duterte is the potential of forceful leadership and, in Santiago, simply the antidote to boredom. (Rappler.com) n
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By edilberto c. de jesus
“I
AM the luckiest person that I know and being a Marcos is part of that and I am very happy that I was born into the Marcos family,” said Bongbong Marcos. Obvious ba? Did Bongbong really have to rub this in? When he was born in 1957, his father, Ferdinand Marcos, was already completing a third term in Congress. Two years later, Ferdinand won a seat in the Senate, from where he launched two successful presidential campaigns. Faced with term limits, he then imposed a martial law regime that enabled
Ferdinand Marcos speaks from the Malacañang balcony in this Feb. 25, 1986, photo. With him are his wife, Imelda, and his son Bongbong in combat attire. Later in the night the Marcoses fled the palace.
The Luck of Bongbong Marcos
him to retain supreme power for another 14 years. There were few disadvantages for the only son of the Philippines’ most powerful politician. It was not Bongbong’s fault to be born to wealth and power, and it is an act of virtue to express gratitude for the benefits received from parents. But his filial piety becomes suspect when he suggests that the blessings he enjoyed also spread to the rest of the population. It becomes delusional when he asserts that Ferdinand was the best leader the country has ever had. Bongbong is aware of the issues raised in the past against the “conjugal dictatorship” of Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos. He argues that “history should be left to analysts,” but believes that the Marcos “legacy” would boost his bid in the 2016 vicepresidential race. Bongbong and his family refuse to recognize that the “analysts” have already rendered a verdict on the Marcos legacy. Take the myth of Maharlika, the guerrilla unit that
Ferdinand supposedly organized and led from 1942 to 1944 in operations all over Luzon, whose exploits earned for him 32 medals for heroism. There is adequate documentation for three medals, which we should commend. But the other awards, from Alfred W. McCoy’s archival research, were figments of Ferdinand’s imagination, invented to support a scam. Investigations conducted by the Pentagon concluded that his Maharlika unit roster was a fabrication to support claims for American back-pay benefits. Its proclaimed achievements were “fraudulent,” “preposterous,” and advancing them is a “malicious, criminal act.” On human rights violations during the Marcos regime, McCoy recorded a figure of 3,257 extrajudicial killings—compared to 2,115 under Pinochet in Chile and 266 under the military junta in Brazil—and over 2,500 “salvaged” victims. In September 1992, the US District Court in Honolulu found Ferdinand Marcos guilty of systematic torture and held his estate
liable for damages to all 9,541 victims, later awarding nearly $2 billion in damages—the biggest personal injury verdict then in legal history. Regarding plundered wealth, the 2004 Global Transparency Report listed Marcos second (behind Suharto of Indonesia) in its list of the World’s Most Corrupt Leaders. Lee Kuan Yew of Singapore, often cited as a model authoritarian ruler that Marcos could have emulated, distanced himself from Ferdinand: “Only in the Philippines could a leader like Ferdinand Marcos, who pillaged his country for over 20 years, still be considered for a national burial. Insignificant amounts of the loot have been recovered, yet his wife and children were allowed to return and engage in politics.” Bongbong would prefer to leave the past behind and to address today’s problems. He asks: “Why is the distribution of wealth not happening?” He should ask his mother. Speaking to the Inquirer in 1998, Imelda Marcos said: “We practically own everything in the
Philippines—from electricity, telecommunications, airline, banking, beer and tobacco, newspaper publishing, television stations, shipping, oil and mining, hotels and beach resorts, down to coconut milling, small farms, real estate and insurance.” She was then planning to sue the cronies holding the family’s properties. The Supreme Court estimated the total legal income of the Marcoses earned from 1965 to 1986 at over $304,000. The Presidential Commission on Good Government tasked to recover the Marcos plunder pegged what had been looted from the country at $10 billion, less than half of which has been recovered. Might kleptocracy help explain the inequitable wealth distribution that so concerns Bongbong? “Why is our education sector miserable?” Bongbong asks. Recent research has shown that from the Magsaysay administration (1954-57) to the two presidential terms of Ferdinand Marcos (1965-81), education received the biggest share of the national budget, maintaining close to 28 percent. During the rest of the Marcos regime (1972-1985), education’s share dropped to an average of 11.6 percent of the budget, even while basic education enrollment was growing at about 2.4 percent a year. During the period when Marcos could determine budget allocations, he chose to cut down support for education. An educated population, of course, poses a threat to dictators. The judgment on the Marcos record is clear, but we have not fully plumbed the depths of the damage inflicted by the Marcos regime on the country. How do we quantify the cost of leaders killed or suppressed during martial law? Bongbong’s gratuitous celebration of the Marcos legacy challenges us to pursue the research effort. (Philippine Daily Inquirer) (Edilberto C. de Jesus is professor emeritus at the Asian Institute of Management.) n
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Ties That Bind and Blind T
HE Maguindanao Massacre in November 2009 is the extreme example of why a family should not monopolize political power. With control firmly in place from the governorship down to the lowest posts that matter, free elections are an impossibility; with no checks and balances to oversee governance, corruption takes root and flourishes, one hand washing the other.
In his final State of the Nation Address, President Aquino linked his anticorruption drive to this phenomenon, saying: “There is something inherently wrong in giving a corrupt family or individual the chance at an indefinite monopoly in public office… I believe it is now time to pass the antidynasty bill.” That proposed legislation seeks to limit the political power exerted by political families by prohibiting relatives up to the second degree of consanguinity to hold or run for national and local posts in successive, simultaneous, or overlapping terms. But, alas, Senate President Franklin Drilon has all but given up on it. “There was no more time to consider and approve it,” he said recently of the measure that has been languishing in Congress for close to 20 years now. But then again, can the Senate (currently peopled by a pair of siblings and assorted official kin) or the House of Representatives (truly a den of dynasts) be expected to vote for the diminution, let alone the demise, of political dynasties? A startling, but by no means rare, example of dynastic enti-
The Binays of Makati (L-R): Congresswoman Abigail Binay, recently dismissed Mayor Junjun Binay, Vice President Binay and Senator Nancy Binay. tlement is Makati Rep. Abigail Binay’s declaration that if her brother, the suspended mayor of Makati, would be barred from seeking reelection, she would run in his stead. Meanwhile it has apparently been arranged that the three-term congresswoman’s husband, who has no political experience to speak of, would run for her soon-to-bevacated post. The implication being that Makati can only be Binay turf, never mind that her sister is in the Senate and their father, the Vice President, is in the running for the presidency. (Once upon a time their mother warmed the mayor’s seat while their father waited out the period of prohibition.) But that’s just one of the more visible families in the Philippine political landscape that, according to the Asian
Institute of Management Policy Center, is dominated by dynasties. As many as 70 percent of elected officials in the Philippines belong to dynasties, the study said, among them the Ampatuans of Maguindanao who are charged with the murder of 58 people including media workers escorting members of another clan who had dared challenge their stranglehold on power. Indeed, with powerful families controlling the resources and political capital in their areas, citizens are discouraged, often intimidated, from challenging their rule. Using patronage and bloodline politics, dynasties thwart the best, the brightest and most qualified for public office, and perpetuate themselves in power through the vicious cycle of using their
office to siphon government resources through preferential agreements, special concessions and contracts. “Evidence points to a direct association between the presence of political dynasties and higher levels of poverty,” argues economist and Inquirer columnist Cielito Habito. Dynasties also endow their members with the delusion that they are above the law and can ignore even the basic decency expected of public officials. Again, examples of this are legion, with criminal and administrative charges proving to be no obstacle for dynasts to maintain their fiefdom by bequeathing, like a family heirloom, their political posts to assorted kin and in-laws. Think of the Marcoses, Estradas, Revillas… How to begin to break the dynasts’ lock on political (and therefore economic) power? An antidynasty law will allow more Filipinos to participate in politics and governance, says the Philippine Institute for Development Studies. “Greater access by the people … regulates political dynasties [and] will further strengthen our democracy and promote inclusiveness,” it says. Voters have to educate themselves on the candidates who presume to be their leaders. Seek out the service records and the platforms of governance. Look beyond the name recall, the burnished images, the photogenic progeny cynically mouthing “serbisyo” and “taumbayan” along with fluff. Go for serious debate and substantive platforms, not the old song and dance that traditional politicians are only too happy to provide. It’s time to cut the ties that bind and blind. (Editorial, Philippine Daily Inquirer, October 15, 2015) n
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Mai-Mai’s T
World
HE story of the island girl using Internet.org to help her write her thesis and complete her college degree is delightful. Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg thought so, too, which is why the story of Riza Mae Tachado, or Mai-Mai, now serves to inspire others like her who dream of a star and reach out to touch it. The message that she delivers is simple yet powerful: that neither financial limitations nor geographical isolation should get in the way when one means to get somewhere. This story begins with a wonderfully ambitious creation. After conquering the world, Zuckerberg set out to bring the Web to the world through the Internet.org app. The Philippines was one of six countries in which the app was launched earlier this year. Zuckerberg said then in a Facebook post: “We’re one step closer to connecting the world as we launched Internet.org in the Philippines today. Now everyone in the country can have free access to Internet services for health, education, jobs and communication on the Smart [Communications] network.” Internet.org proved to be positively game-changing for Mai-Mai, 24, who lives on tiny Mararison island (population: 700) in Culasi, Antique. With her husband (a fisherman named Romnick) and child (a 3-
year-old daughter named Shecainah), she moved to the island in 2013 from Barangay Jalandoni in Culasi. She had been out of school for the past three years, but she decided to complete her studies and enrolled at the University of Antique in the town of Tibiao. On Mararison, most of the women made a living gathering and selling seashells. “But I wanted something greater for myself. So I decided to study computer science in town. I travelled by boat every day just to go to school,” Mai-Mai said in a video produced by the folks at Internet.org. The app not only provided Mai-Mai with access to useful sites, it also helped her stay in touch with her classmates when a powerful typhoon left her and the Mararison community stranded on the island
for weeks. “My phone became a classroom to communicate with my group mates,” she said in the video. Mai-Mai and her colleagues focused their thesis on Culasi’s automated billing system, according to a report by the Inquirer’s Nestor P. Burgos Jr. She graduated last April with a degree in computer science, now equipped for bigger things and thankful for having achieved something she once doubted she could pull off. In May, Mai-Mai received a call informing her of Internet. org’s interest in filming a video. “I thought it was a prank call, but I was surprised when they finally arrived here,” she told the Inquirer’s Burgos. In the video, she recounted how she used the app in her studies, leading to the completion of her degree.
She waited for the video to be posted but had no idea how big the posting would be. Last October 13, the video was posted by Zuckerberg himself on his Facebook page, with a message praising her determination. “Being connected means having opportunity. We’re going to connect the whole world so one day everyone can achieve their full human potential—just like Riza,” he said. The video became a hit, soon racking up more than 5 million views and turning Mai-Mai into an instant sensation. “They tell me that I’m already a celebrity and they want to ask for my autograph,” she told Burgos with a laugh. “I’m having goose bumps. I still cannot believe it. I’m just an islander. It feels like graduating again.” It’s indeed a delightful story of a young woman who was able to translate a newfound connectivity into an opportunity for a better life. “It feels like graduating again.” This is the promise of the Internet democratized, empowering people around the world who would otherwise not have access to this life-changing development and lighting up their lives. Imagine the limitless possibilities for other young women like Mai-Mai, and more. Think of the children poring by candlelight over their borrowed books, and the universe of information just waiting to be unlocked in this swiftly connecting world. (Philippine Daily Inquirer) n
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By imelda magbutay
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ACLOBAN - After losing her husband and six children to the fury of Typhoon Haiyan, Juvelyn Luana has found fresh hope among the misery and crushing poverty as she rebuilds her life with a new family. Two years after the monster storm devastated the coastal city of Tacloban, killing thousands, Luana has a new partner, a new son and a shack far from the deadly shore. “Having a husband and a baby gave my life direction,” the 32-year-old told Agence FrancePresse as she scooped water into four grey drums to take to their brick and tin shanty that lacks tap water and electricity. She fetches water from a distant swamp at night because her partner Joel Aradana, also widowed by Haiyan, works during the day and there is no one else to look after their fivemonth-old baby Jacob. Built just 500 meters (yards) from a landfill, the shanty bakes under the tropical sun by day and the stench is overpowering. “It smells like raw fish mixed with rotten food. I’m
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Couple Find Love, Hope Among Typhoon Misery worried that my baby might get sick,” Luana told AFP during one recent humid evening. A few plastic chairs, a gas stove and a tiny solar-powered television set that works only in daytime are the sum of the couple’s possessions. Unable to afford even a bed, they sleep on a straw mat laid out on the floor. Pictures of their former spouses and children who perished in the storm hang from the wall, beside a picture of the new couple being interviewed on local television that featured their unconventional love story. Outside, children played noisily with their pet dogs and elderly women traded gossip on their doorways.
‘Life is very difficult’ But the couple can consider themselves among the lucky ones.
Juvelyn Luana and her partner Joel pose with their baby Jacob in front of their new house at a resettlement site in Tacloban City. They were among the first 929 families to get new homes from the government, which is still struggling to shelter more than a million people displaced by the deadliest known typhoon to have struck the Philippines. Haiyan smashed already impoverished fishing and farming communities in the central islands on November 8, 2013, leaving 7,350 people dead or missing. A 150-billion-peso ($3.2-billion) government plan to build 205,128 new homes by 2017 in devastated areas, along with roads, bridges and classrooms has crawled under the weight of a cumbersome bureaucracy. Thousands of the less for-
‘Yolanda’ survivors are all smiles after receiving their new motorized banca from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.
tunate survivors still live in cramped palmthatch and wooden temporary shelters. Though opportunities are scarce, Luana’s partner gets occasional carpentry work that pays 350 pesos ($7) a day. “We are OK, rebuilding our lives slowly,” she said. “One look at Jacob every night and all my body aches disappear.”
Slow gov’t aid The couple hopes to marry as soon as Aradana secures a death certificate for his wife, whose body was among hundreds that have not been found. Luana said she gets no sleep at night fanning her son while Aradana rests his aching body after long hours at work. Like many other Haiyan survivors, Luana said aid has not come fast enough. A promised government loan she had been counting on to start a small business selling rice from her home has not been given. A third of Aradana’s pay is spent on the 18-kilometre (11-mile) commute to the city where he works, leaving them with barely enough to buy rice and sardines. “I want to help my husband. He doesn’t always have construction jobs so we need a steady source of income,” said Luana, a high school graduate, who used to give manicures and massages to her neighbors. “I also want to buy a television set. My neighbors are crazy about soap operas but I want to know when the next typhoon is coming so I can prepare.” (Agence France-Presse) n
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What’s in a Balikbayan Box? T
HE BALIKBAYAN box is a modern manifestation of the general Philippine practice of pasalubong, where travellers within or outside the country are culturally expected to bring home gifts to family, friends and colleagues. An estimated 5.5 million balikbayan boxes are sent to the Philippines annually as of 2014. This equates to more than 15,000 boxes entering the country’s ports on a daily basis. About 40% of the boxes arrive during the “ber” months approaching Christmas. Filipinos are particularly fond of imported items, knowing these to be of good quality compared to locally made products. The box generally measures 2 feet x 3 feet x 3 feet. Senders cram the items inside then send one or more boxes a few weeks before Christmas. Here are the basic things you’ll discover inside.
1. Candies and chocolates. Imported chocolates and candies are almost always included in a balikbayan box. There are packs of assorted chocolates made by famous makers in the United States, Switzerland and Germany. There are also gummy bears, candy canes and other goodies placed in plastic packs
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Around 5.5 million balikbayan boxes are sent to the PH annually, equating to more than 15,000 a day. each weighing at least one pound. 2. Imported food. Many balikbayan boxes also contain imported food and snacks like biscuits, cookies, coffee bags, teas, cereals and other goodies that cannot be found in the Philippines. People like to compare the usual food that foreigners eat abroad with their own local fare. 3. Shoes. Family members and friends generally ask for new pairs of shoes and these are sent usually without the original boxes to save space
and cram inside the gift box. Running shoes, basketball shoes, casual shoes and even aqua shoes are sent by overseas Filipino workers for their loved ones back home. 4. Perfumes. In some countries, perfumes and colognes are a lot cheaper and come in packages that include bath scents and oils. These are favorite gift items among Filipinos. Particularly, well-known brands are highly preferred by receivers. They usually boast about their new scent come New Year. 5. Clothes. Together with shoes, balikbayan boxes also contain a lot of clothes, usually branded ones. These generally feature brands that are not available in the provinces or may be too expensive to purchase locally. Jeans, coats and accessories are also common items sent back home. 6. Cosmetics. For women, they order lipstick, makeup and other cosmetic products. Balikbayan boxes usually
contain cosmetic items made by the top makers in the world. There are also bath soaps, body wash products, creams and facial cleansers included. These are small in size so senders like to get more to keep the box full. 7. Alcohol. Wines and whiskies from abroad are particularly common contents of a balikbayan box. Men like to hand these out as gifts to their friends and in-laws. Some wines are also good and recommended for people with high cholesterol and blood pressure so these are given as presents for the old folks. 8. Books and DVDs. Filipinos like to collect books and movies so they ask relatives to bring them DVDs that they can watch again and again. Children and teenagers also like to request for book compilations or a series of famous titles by world-renowned authors.
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Showbuzz Jessy confirms breakup with JM JESSY Mendiola confirmed that she and JM de Guzman have broken up. The actress told the press that they ended their relationship because they wanted to focus on different priorities. Jessy and JM were together for two years before breaking up previously. They got back together again in April. “It’s better siguro na we focus on our respective priorities. Yun lang naman. I just want to focus on myself first. And that’s the same with him,” Jessy explained. Although Jessy was accepting of the breakup, she was also visibly tearing up when she said, “Wala naman din ako magagawa. If it’s not good for the both of us I’d rather be not in his life for him to be okay.” She added: “Siguro ngayon mas mabuti nga – it’s God’s way of saying, ‘You have to prioritize other things more than this.’ So nandun ako, sumusu-
‘Hindi ako ever magtwo-two piece.’
Sarah: Darna role doesn’t suit me Jessy says they want to focus on different priorities. nod lang talaga ako sa daloy ng kung anong nangyayari sa amin, may mga bagay talaga na, di ba, pag sinasabi mong hindi talaga para sa ‘yo, wag mong ipilit.” Jessy doesn’t blame JM for the end of their relationship. She had nothing but praise for JM when she spoke to the press. “Sobrang bait niyang tao, he has a good heart, so wala ta-
laga akong masasabi sa kanya . . . He’s an amazing person. He’s very amazing. He’s very talented, he’s very loving and passionate. And I think why I fell in love with him. He’s a very passionate person.”
No replacement yet for Angel in ‘Darna’ DIRECTOR Erik Matti says there is no actress chosen yet to replace Angel Locsin for the upcoming Darna movie. Asked who will now portray the Pinoy komiks superheroine after Angel backed out due to spinal problems, Direk Erik said, “Wala pa. Mahirap siyang desisyunan kaagad.” This contradicts previous reports that there is already an actress who will bring life anew to the iconic character. “We would like to open it sana sa auditions,” Direk Erik shared about the coveted Darna role. He said they are still in
the process of adjusting to the unfortunate development. “Ang hirap na biglang nawala si Angel at ang hirap na bigla na lang nag-isip na ganun lang. Then ang tagal naming magkasama ni Angel sa project na ‘yan.” What was Direk Erik’s reaction when he learned about the disc bulge in Angel’s spine? “Ang takot ko kasi kung anong mangyayari sa kanya [Angel] sa shooting. We were supposed to shoot na.” Angel gave up the role after suffering from spinal injury due to the strenuous calisthenics she did in previous
movie and TV projects. She is now undergoing therapy. It will be recalled that back in 2014, it was announced that Angel was chosen to portray the movie remake of Mars Ravelo komiks character. Angel had previously played Darna in the GMA-7 telefantasya in 2005. The Star Cinema film is scheduled to be released next year.
SARAH Geronimo said she was surprised when she was also considered by fans to portray the Filipina superhero Darna. The singer-actress said she believes that the role of Darna does not suit her. “Nagulat nga ako . . . ‘Ding, ang body suit!’ ‘Yun na lang ang sasabihin ko. Pero hindi, hindi po para sa akin ang Darna,” she said. “Kasi for you to accept a role, play a role na superhero, kailangan malakas ka talaga -- mentally, emotionally, physically. ‘Di mo madadaya ang mga tao, hindi eh. Wala pa ako doon,” she added. Sarah went on to say that she is not suited for the Darna role because she cannot wear the superhero’s two-piece costume. “At magiging honest ako. Hindi ako ever magtwo-two piece. Sa bahay lang, sa banyo lang. Walang choice ‘yung banyo,” she said in jest. Fans continue to guess who will star in the upcoming Darna movie after Angel Locsin confirmed that she can no longer take on the role due to a spine problem.
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Showbuzz Daniel’s ‘subtle’ endorsement for Mar Roxas IS Daniel Padilla endorsing Liberal Party standard-bearer Manuel “Mar” Roxas II? For hard-nosed observers, there is no mistaking that the popular young actor is endorsing the administration presidential bet, although in a “subtle” and “indirect” way.
In a YouTube video posted on his Twitter account on Nov. 6, Daniel appeared to be supporting Roxas’ presidential ambition after the actor was seen interviewing the former interior secretary. Titled Traffic Episode, the first installment in a series
Ballsy, Pinky, Viel, Kris fill role of PNoy’s first lady The Aquino sisters (from left) Viel, Pinky, Kris and Ballsy AGAIN, it’s going to be one of those days when a first lady would be needed. But there being none, President Aquino’s sisters would be around to quickly fill the role. Presidential sisters Ballsy Aquino-Cruz, Pinky AquinoAbelleda, Viel Aquino-Dee and Kris Aquino will be on hand to make sure the wives of the leaders of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) forum will have a memorable stay in the Philippines. Ambassador Marciano Paynor Jr., director general of the Apec National Organizing Council, said President Aquino being a bachelor, “his sisters are hosting all of the spouses of the leaders who are coming here.” “The Presidential sisters are planning and making sug-
gestions as to how they’d like to host the spouses who are coming,” Paynor told a media briefing. In all likelihood, all eyes would be on the youngest of the Aquino sisters—the gregarious Kris, who is even a bigger celebrity than her brother. Kris, even as a celebrity, and her sisters have all managed to keep a low profile when it comes to being part of the first family. They are hardly seen at the Palace, except for official functions, when the presence of a first lady, or in their case, a “first sister,” is required. Paynor said the President’s sisters would host a lunch and a tour of Intramuros, the historic place “being part of our heritage,” for the leaders’ spouses.
Daniel and Mar on YouTube video dubbed Tanong ni Daniel Padilla Para sa Kabataan, the video showed Daniel asking Roxas about Metro Manila’s traffic situation, which he described as one of the concerns of the youth. The more than three-minute video ended with the hashtag #DanielMarPaMore. The video is different from the usual political endorsements where celebrities openly ask the audience to support
their candidates. In this case, the actor interviews the candidate, who then expounds on his platform. Daniel’s video pitch is the first of such endorsement by any celebrity during the precampaign season for the May 2016 elections. Roxas’ camp admits it tapped the drawing power of Daniel in an attempt to capture a younger segment of the electorate in 2016.
Regine’s voice back to old form SLOWLY but surely, Regine Velasquez-Alcasid said, her voice was starting to get back into the shape it was in before the onset of her acid reflux, which had been giving her troubles for the past two years. But, perhaps more importantly, the singer feels that she’s now regaining much of the confidence she has lost. “Thank God, my voice is returning to normal. I still have a tough time every so often, but it’s something I just have to manage. I’ve been singing more often these days, too, so my voice gets used to the grind again,” she told reporters at a press conference for her concert series, Regine at the Theatre. Regine’s acid reflux, which worsened after giving birth to her son, Nate, irritates her throat. When she tries to sing through it, her voice sometimes cracks— something that very rarely happens to the singer, who, at the
Asia’s Songbird is back. peak of her powers, made hitting stratospheric notes look as easy as breathing. This frustrates the 45-yearold singer. And frustration inevitably led to self-doubt. Eventually, Regine realized that the more guarded she was, the more likely she was to flub a note. So, nowadays, when onstage, Regine simply throws caution to the wind and attacks the song as fiercely as she typically does.
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By irish christianne dizon
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OR Jessy Mendiola’s first Supreme cover shoot, I was preparing myself for the inevitable talk with her Star Magic companion. I was ready to defend why all of the questions had to be asked — but from Danilyn (Jessy’s road manager), no off-limits warning came. It’s strange, considering the 22-year-old I’m interviewing today is one of local show business’ most controversial young stars. While other celebrities her age meticulously uphold a squeaky-clean image, Jessy is on the frontline, firing shots at the many nasty bashers lurking in the comments section of her Instagram page. While other pretty young things have a lot of restrictions regarding necklines and hemlines, this one is casually uploading a beach photo in which she’s wearing little else but a smokin’ red bikini. Just recently, she was a hot topic because of that infamous airplane incident involving actor Enrique Gil, plus her alleged breakup with JM de Guzman, after a sweet reconciliation many people supported. Her handler asks her if she’s ready to be grilled. “Gooo.” I begin asking her my intact questions beginning with easy (“What have you been up to since your last TV project?”) building up to hard (“Break na ba kayo ni JM? Yung totoo.”) Because she’s been relatively quiet since Maria Mercedes ended in early 2014, her haters — who fester in gossip blogs — enjoy calling her “frozen delight.” She’s aware that the general impression is she’s been tengga for a while, but Jessy is too selfaware to sweat it. “After I did the movie The Trial with John Lloyd Cruz, I started working on You’re My Home in October 2014,” she
, y l e r e c n Si explains. “Tapos, I worked on a special presentation film . . . called Salvage.” She also worked on the StarFlix mobile movie series Must Date the Playboy alongside Kim Chiu and Xian Lim. In between there were endorsement shoots, magazine cover shoots, TV guestings, and all the other artista things a girl like her has to do. “Frozen delight” is maliit na bagay compared to the other bizarre things said about her online. “Kaya daw kami nag break ni JM kasi nabuntis daw ako ni sir Gabby [Lopez, ABS CBN’s big boss], pinalaglag ko daw,” she says flatly. “Galing,” her voice dripping with sarcasm, as she slow claps for the person who came up with that teleseryeworthy rumor. The old Jessy believed in the merits of keeping quiet amid ruthless online bashing, but that meek girl is dead.
“Damned if you do and damned if you don’t,” she says, clearly exasperated. “If you don’t answer, people will think you’re weak. Or totoo yung issue kaya hindi ka nagsasalita. Kung pumatol ka naman, sasabihin patola ka. So might as well just say what you want to say.” In September, Jessy’s haters were more active than usual, following that infamous airplane incident involving her and Enrique Gil. Jessy never told the press what exactly happened, but she says it was nothing short of “traumatic.” So traumatic she’s now seeing a psychiatrist on the regular to help her cope. “I chose not to talk about it because I don’t want to ruin anyone’s name,” she says evenly. “Kung magsasalita pa ako ng magsasalita, alam mo naman ang bashers, ang mga fantards. Kahit pa mali ang ginawa ng idol nila, titirahin at titirahin pa rin nila yung naar-
gabyado ng idol nila.” A self-confessed introvert, Jessy admits she has considered quitting showbiz many times, especially when things like this happen. But her bosses believe in her — everyone’s beloved tita Charo Santos Concio has talked sense into Jessy several times, reminding her how lucky she is to be in that spot. “That’s what’s really nice about them. Whenever you doubt yourself, they remind you that they believe in you.” Aside from her supportive management team, Jessy draws strength from her family and friends. You’ll hardly see anyone from showbiz in her core group. “It’s hard to find true friends in showbiz,” she says, reiterating every artista’s sentiment. “Mas gusto kong people behind the cameras or nonshowbiz yung friends ko. They pull me back to where I came from. I think that’s important.” The topic is strength and inspiration, but oddly, she hasn’t mentioned JM de Guzman at all. “Break na ba kayo?” An enigmatic smile. “There are all kinds of love in this world, but never the same love twice,” she says, going Fitzgerald on me. (See related story in this paper’s ‘Showbuzz’ section.) That icy beauty coupled with her defiant refusal to put on a ma-chika front makes her an anomaly in this industry. “I’ve always been an introvert and I’m not afraid to say that kasi iba-iba naman tayong mga tao eh,” she ruminates. “I’m sure kapag nabasa nila ‘to, a lot of people would relate kasi hindi naman lahat ng tao loud. Hindi naman lahat ng tao friendly. Hindi naman lahat ng tao, lahat ng madaanan nila eh ngingitian.” “Diyos ko, ngayon pa lang hirap na ‘ko, ano kaya kung sobrang sikat ‘ko,” she says unironically. (FYI, someone called her “starlet” on an IG post. Her reply? “Sinabi ko bang sikat ako?”) “I mean I have dream roles, I have dream projects, but I never really wanted to be that super, super superstar.” (The Philippine Star) n
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British firms to invest in PH telecom, media
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HE COUNTRY’s telecommunications market – which is controlled by a virtual duopoly of Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT) and Globe Telecom, Incorporated – seems to be an oasis for some British firms, with 11 of them exploring projects and partnerships in the sector. “There are 11 British companies that are now here to invest in the Philippines’ telecoms and media sector. These companies can provide telecommunication technologies and solutions that would DECEMBER 2013 SPOTon 19 SPL www.planetphilippines.uk.com help address the growing needs of the Philippine market, including IT (Information Technology)-enabled inFULL PAGE AD dustries and service sectors,” United Kingdom Trade and Investment (UKTI) Director Iain Mansfield told reporters on the sidelines of a trade The UK gov’t is committed to lead the development of 5G mobile technology, British Embassy Manila says. mission in Makati City on Internet Service Provider netaround 7% to the UK’s gross in the Philippines. Thursday, October 15. For Kurian Manjakkal, vice- works.” value added (GVA) in 2013. of Cambridge “Particularly, we are looking Global spending on telecoms president These firms are: service, according to British Broadband Networks, “[the] at providing infrastructure - Argosy Broadcast Asia Embassy Manila, is projected Philippines is a good invest- for the telecom sector at a - Brandwatch - British Telecoms Global Ser- to reach £1.64 trillion ($2.54 ment destination because of much lower rate – mainly its geographical location and linking offices, cell towers trillion) by the end of 2015. vices through microwave technol- Cambridge Broadband Net- The UK government is com- population.” mitted to leading the devel- “Look at how it’s scattered ogy,” the Cambridge Broadwork Limited opment of 5G mobile technol- in multiple islands. And look band Networks said. - Case Communications - Electronic Media Services ogy, British Embassy Manila at your large population and For managed network IT sersaid in a document given to the massive use of mobile vices provider BT Global SerLimited phones. We can make the vices, the company plans to reporters. - Infobip “This will double the contri- most of the situation because secure deals with multi-na- Television Systems Limited - Television Versioning & bution to the UK economy of linking fiber cables across the tional corporations, business spectrum (the airwaves over country becomes a big chal- process outsourcing firms Translation (TVT) Limited and partner with local telcos. which all wireless commu- lenge,” Manjakkal explained. - The Bridge 8 Limited - TSL Professional Products nications devices communi- Cambridge Broadband Net- “We’re already engaged in cate) to £100 billion ($154.90 works’ services include “mo- conversations with the local Limited billion) by 2025,” the docu- bile backhaul, small cell back- telcos for different services. haul, enterprise access, and UK is the second-leading ment read. destination in the world for foreign direct investments in Seeking partnerships the Information and Commu- Two of the British firms visThis page is brought to you by nications Technology (ICT) — iting the country hope to secure partnerships the telonly next to the US. Its ICT sector contributed ecommunication companies
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The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and adjudged one of the ‘New 7 Wonders of Nature’.
Treasured Islands A
S though we needed convincing, Conde Nast Traveler has declared our Palawan the best island in the world, and also included our other beauties, Boracay and Cebu, in the “best” list. Filipinos are quite accustomed to having our islands gushed over, natural beauty being one of the country’s plus factors—and, sadly, one of the things easily taken for granted.
Palawan’s latest distinction is its second straight from the esteemed travel magazine’s Reader’s Choice Awards, topping the Best Islands in the World Awards with an overall rating of 85.937. “This small island—one of the Philippines’ 7,107—shot to the top of our list again this year with a recent claim to fame: It’s now home to one of the new seven natural wonders of the world, Puerto Princesa Subterranean River,” Conde Nast Traveler wrote. This honor is particularly impressive as Palawan beat out perennial
An artist’s rendering of the Boracay Newcoast, a 140-hectare integrated tourism estate in Boracay. travel destinations Bora Bora (second), the Great Barrier Reef (sixth) and Bali (eighth). Boracay, with its “gentle coastlines” and “transporting sunsets,” is 15th, and Cebu, “famous for its beaches,” is 19th in the awards list. The Conde Nast Traveler poll, with 128,000 respondents worldwide, reflects the global love for pristine areas surrounded by deep water and lush marine life. The irony is that blight threatens our best destinations: a planned coalpowered plant on the world’s best island; sewage and overdevelopment issues on world-famous Boracay; and a danger of a sinking water table on Cebu. In July, party-list lawmakers pressed for an inquiry into the planned construction of a
15-megawatt coal-fired plant in the town of Narra in Palawan. In particular, the probe is poised to look into the issuance of an operating permit by the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development despite loud protests from the local folk who had earlier rejected the plant’s construction in two other areas on the island. The permit was issued “without considering the issues of social acceptability and environmental, health and safety risks to Palawan’s communities and ecosystem,” said Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate, who correctly added: “Coal is considered one of the dirtiest sources of fossil fuel energy and is identified as a major source of global carbon emissions.” The government of Puerto Princesa, capital city
and home of that new world wonder, the underground river, has joined the protest against the plant’s construction. Over in Boracay, its whitesand beaches are suffering from overdevelopment. “It’s so dense. It is now, you know, too commercial,” then Tourism Secretary Alberto Lim lamented as early as 2010. “It’s become Phuket,” he said, referring to the popular and now crowded beach destination in Thailand. Indeed, Boracay has outstripped its ability to support a population swelled by unfettered tourism growth. Years ago, the warning was raised by then Inquirer columnist Juan L. Mercado that Cebu City was “sinking due to the overextraction of groundwater.” The Department of Public Services has called for a stop to drilling for artesian wells, with more than 5,000 wells—simply an unsustainable number—having been dug up. Surely Conde Nast Traveler readers voted for Palawan, Boracay and Cebu because of their natural beauty and not because of the promise of even more commercial development. The local folk had lived within sustainable parameters for decades. Only with the onset of tourism and development, resulting in the crying need for conservation and protection measures, have the relative vulnerabilities of the islands been exposed. This is the tricky arithmetic of nature tourism. Which takes priority: the protection of the attraction or the provision of modern amenities for those who come in droves to experience it? Should the future be mortgaged for the present? How to effectively preserve these treasured islands for generations to come? And as the tourism and other sectors exult in this latest award from Conde Nast Traveler, let’s spare a thought for the provinces damaged by Typhoon “Lando” and pull together to help them get back on their feet. (Editorial, Philippine Daily Inquirer, October 25, 2015) n
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WHAT’S ON
TRAVEL DOT notes growing popularity of PHL in London travel fair
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HE ANNUAL World Travel Market (WTM) opened with a bigger, bolder and more colourful Philippine exhibit booth, underscoring the country’s growing popularity among the fair participants and foreign tourists. Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) COO Domingo Ramon Enerio III said: “The Philippines has been participating in the World Travel Market since its inception [in 1980] and has never been absent from this annual event.” The TPB is the marketing arm of the Department of Tourism (DOT). He added that the country’s booth “has grown from as small as 18 square meters [sq m] to our present size of 366 sq m. This indicates the increasing popularity of the Philippines in
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Crystal Travel awarded as UK’s #1 travel agent CRYSTAL TRAVEL was awarded by Philippine Airlines (PAL) as the Number One Travel Agent for the Philippines in the whole of the United Kingdom, marking another milestone for the leading Pan-European flagship travel company of Moresand Group of Companies. In an awarding ceremony held last 9 October 2015 at the Century Park Hotel in Manila, the top officials of the company, Messrs. P.S. Kang and John Kalia, received the trophy from high-ranking officials of PAL. The company topped all other travel agencies in terms of the volume of production of visitors to the Philippines. Prior to this prestigious award to Crystal Travel, Moresand Group’s years of loyal service, success and acclamation have recently earned for the company a place among the “100 Most Inspiring Small and MediumSized Companies” by the London Stock Exchange. “With almost thirty (30) years in the travel business, Crystal Travel has gained the trust and confidence of the Filipinos, the British travelling public, as well as people from all walks of life,” according to Mr. Kang. Mr. Kang invited Ms. Afuang to join Crystal Travel when her tour of duty at the Philippine tourism office ended, after rendering dedicated service for many productive years. “With Chit Afuang joining Crystal Travel, we combine her knowledge and experiences with ours, not to mention her vast contacts, for a stronger and even more credible agency in the world of travel and tourism,” commented Mr. Kang with enthusiasm. “Our promise and commitment will continue—unparalleled quality service and unmatched value for all-inclusive and tailor-made packages,” Mr. Kang concluded during his speech at the awarding ceremonies.
the WTM, as well as the growing support of our different tourism stakeholders with specific interest in the European market.” Foreign visitor arrivals in the Philippines’s increased by close FULL PAGE to 10 percent to 3.6 million from January to August this year, boosted by double-digit spikes in the country’s traditional source markets, such as Taiwan, Malaysia, South Korea, the United Kingdom and Hong Kong.
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The author argues that in promoting our country we should not rely purely on God-made wonders like white sand beaches and crystal clear waters.
Is It Still More Fun in the Philippines? By wilfrido v.E. arcilla
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HE Department of Tourism’s campaign “It’s more fun in the Philippines!” is admittedly catchy. But I honestly believe and humbly confess, in all sincerity and with 20/20 hindsight, that the slogan may have been an overpromise. If it were true, then we should have had 10 million overseas Filipino workers scrambling to return home, or the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration should have been closed by now. Therefore, I believe it’s NOT MORE FUN in the Philippines at all. But having said that, let me also state unequivocally, it’s not NOT LESS FUN either. What’s the point? From the words of a seasoned traveler: “We travel to other places not because they are better, but because they are different.” Come to think of it, did any of the countries ranked as the top tourist destinations in the world ever find the compulsion for an advertising campaign that promised their country was better or more fun than another? Not even France, which is the world’s perennial top-ranked destination with 80 million tourists annually. What did the French do? They built manmade landmarks for peo-
ple around the world to come and marvel at, and relied on the best form of marketing—“word of mouth”—not ad campaigns with overpromises or comparative claims. Tourism advertising is different from marketing shampoo or detergents where companies can compare their brands versus competition through side-by-side demonstrations or consumer testimonials, to get prospective users to switch brands. In tourism, one cannot do that for the simple reason that “your competitor is your customer.”
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ger and poverty and, yes, even toilets and toilet paper. Then word will spread spontaneously with or without a multimillion-dollar tourism advertising campaign. As successful entrepreneurs advise, “Think big. Start small.” Let us start with our domestic tourism, improve as we go along, and build something for the whole world to marvel at, instead of relying purely on God-made wonders like white sand beaches and crystal clear waters, which we also tend to despoil. What we have is God’s gift to us, but what we build is our gift to God and to the rest of humanity. Sadly, we have not built any world-class structure—monuments or memorials, shrines or towers, landmarks or attractions, museums or theme parks, other than shopping malls and gambling casinos.
Bring out the best
The author suggests that we simply bring out the best in our country and in our people. Fix what is broken Imagine a Filipino tourist in Kuala Lumpur telling a Malaysian host: “Come visit us because it’s more fun in the Philippines than your country.” What do tourists all over the world invariably tell their gracious hosts at farewell? “We hope you can visit us some day.” Furthermore, there is a truism in advertising, “The best way to kill a bad product is to advertise it.” Shall we start by fixing what is broken with the product before any global announcement? Our airports and airlines, traffic, roads and RoRos, hygiene and sanitation, safety and security, peace and order, crime and violence, hun-
A final word, for the DOT’s next tourism campaign: May I suggest that we simply bring out the best in our country and in our people; avoid comparisons and overpromises, while upholding truth in advertising: There is no place like home; there is no place like the Philippines. To our balikbayan: “Welcome home.” To returning tourists: “Welcome back.” To retirees: “Welcome to your new home.” To Fil-foreigners: “Welcome to your hometown.” And for first-timers to the Philippines: “Welcome. Feel at home.” An idea that speaks the truth as much to 100 million Filipinos, as it does to 1 billion tourists— the trademark hospitality of all Filipinos whether rich or poor, and whether here or around the world. The Philippines is a land as beautiful as its people; and the Filipinos are as warm as their country’s climate. Tuloy po kayo. Palamig po kayo. Kain po tayo. (Philippine Daily Inquirer) n
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From Saving to Investing:
5 Tips for OFWs SAVING VS. INVESTING
Saving
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OST overseas Filipino workers (OFW) leave their homeland and loved ones to work abroad in pursuit of financial prosperity. If you are now working abroad, it is not enough to simply save up your money. Instead, you should invest these savings so that your money can grow faster. For OFWs, the need to invest smartly is particularly urgent since your opportunity to raise funds is linked to the length of your contract. Once your contract of work is over, it is possible that you would find yourself without having a source of income, until you find a contract again. For this reason, you need to come up with the right investment choices that match your circumstances and make your money work harder for you. Essentially, OFWs should be guided by the same investment principles as Filipinos who are working and based at home, save for a few considerations to reflect your circumstances, in particular not being in the country. Here’s a simple five-step guide to help you in making your investment decisions:
1. Consider liquid and professionally managed investments. Shop for investment products that are easy to purchase
• Provides money for short-term goals and emergencies
Investing • Accumulates money for long-term goals
• “Parking place”
• Higher average return that cash assets historically
• Principal is “safe”
• Can lose principal
• Low risk
• Volatility of account value
• Low reward
• Potential for capital appreciation (stock)
and dispose off even if you are not in the Philippines. The nice thing with today’s technology is you can scan online, start by looking at the individual websites of financial institutions. Your choices include the following: • Mutual funds – These are pooled funds invested in different types of assets to match your desired time frame and level of risk. Some may have the potential for high gains but will also come with higher risk. These are available to retail investors for a beginning account of as low as P5,000. • Unitary investment trust funds – These are also pooled funds invested in various assets to match your risk profile and investment horizon. These are available to retail investors for a beginning account of as low as P5,000. • Insurance-linked investments – This is an insurance product combined with an investment fund, fulfilling your need for protection and capital gains. Your monthly payment would depend on the amount of coverage you purchased, as well as the type of asset you chose to invest in. • Equities – These shares represent shareholdings in a
company. You profit from the trading of these shares in the stock market. Online brokerages can facilitate your trades, with some of them requiring an opening balance beginning at P10,000. • Bonds – These represent debt taken by either the Philippine government or companies. They usually have a fixed return and are therefore safer. They may be purchased through most banks for as low as P5,000.
2. Keep your papers in order. Ensure that you have proper documentation to open and maintain these accounts, either while you are visiting the Philippines, or from abroad. Download their online forms, then mail a clear copy of your required IDs. Before sending these documents over, it may be helpful to personally contact the financial institution through their emails so that they can review your signed forms and requirements before you send these. This will save you a lot of time and effort.
3. Use safe and direct channels for sending money. Find a secure and cost-effective way to put money into your
investment from where you are. Online banking services, which are now available to those with accounts in local banks, are among the safest channels you can use. You can also use bankto-bank transfers. If you wish to go through remittance channels, consider companies with long track records and recommended for customer service if something should go wrong. Unsafe ways of sending money are physically through people, no matter how much you trust them; through other people’s bank accounts; or by sending the money in the mail.
4. Make your payments or remittances regularly. If you send money to the Philippines, it would be good to do so following a schedule, so that you and your loved ones back home can plan your cash flows better. Have the discipline to send money on schedule so that your loved ones can make payments on time, letting you avoid penalties in the process. Luckily, major financial institutions all allow you to make payments or transfers online.
5. Ensure the legality and integrity of your planned investment. OFWs are often the target of investment scams. Check out the site of the Commission of Filipinos at http://www.cfo. gov.ph/ to read the latest news and updates on legitimate and illegitimate business deals. You may also have relatives luring you into get-rich-schemes that offer nothing but false promises. While you may trust your loved ones, it is but prudent to check out everything about the proposed investment deal before you turn over your hard-earned money. (ABS-CBNnews.com) n
NOVEMBER 2015 APRIL 2012
LONDON
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LycaHealth launches in Canary Wharf The Lyca G r o u p takes great pleasure in announcing the launch of Lycahealth, C a n a r y Wharf’s first comprehensive multi-specialty consultative, diagnostic healthcare and wellness centre. Lycafly was launched on 5th November. There was a champagne reception and the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson delivered the inaugural speech and declare LycaHealth. LycaHealth’s mission is to combine their expert knowledge with technological innovation, to deliver an exceptional and highly personal experience to all their Clients. By capitalising on their wealth of expertise and listening carefully to their Clients needs, they devise healthcare solutions that exceed all expectations. Their goal is to extend their reach, to offer Clients all around the
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LONDON
Pag-IBIG OFW Member Dagdag Ipon Raffle Promo The Philippine Embassy advises Pag-IBIG OFW members that they can now join the Pag-IBIG ‘Dagdag Ipon Raffle Promo’ until 31 December 2015. This promo is open to all qualified Pag-IBIG OFW members who will remit a minimum of Php600.00 Pag-IBIG I membership savings (MS) in a single transaction within the raffle promo duration. Visit https://www.pagibigfundservices.com/jointheraffle/ for the promo mechanics and other related information.
Embassy Closures for NOVEMBER 2015 The public is advised that the Philippine Embassy will be closed on the following date: Monday, 30 NOVEMBER – Bonifacio Day (PH Holiday) Regular office hours will resume on Tuesday, 01 December 2015. In case of death or detention of a Filipino citizen in the United Kingdom, please contact the Embassy’s emergency mobile phone at 07802790695.
world advanced healthcare expertise, consultation and diagnostic services, within the local community, as they seek to deliver the highest levels of advanced and ethical healthcare. Lycahealth makes use of the all the latest technology, from start to finish. Their diagnostic suite is second to none, comprising of MRI scanners that deliver premium image quality with digital clarity and speed, the highestresolution CT scanners available today and DuraDiagnost digital X-ray technology. As per their website, one can be sure that their hands you will be getting the best care and advice possible.
NOVEMBER 2015 APRIL 2012
LONDON
WHAT’S ON
ll t of a ppor In su events in good mmunity o the c
COMMUNITY 21-29 Nov. 2015
21 Nov. 2015
A Night with Joey G... UK and Ireland Tour 21 Nov - Furge Fach Community Resource Centre, Swansea SA6 5EJ 22 Nov - 229 The Venue, Great Portland Street, London W1W 5PN 27 Nov - Waterside Sports and Social Club, Southampton SO45 2PA 28 Nov - Blackfriars at the Ouseburn, Newbridge Street, Newcastle NE1 2TQ 29 Nov - Red Cow Moran Hotel, Naas Road, Dublin 22 Contact: 07886742417, 07766057340, 07717030035, +353863815026
Defend Our Nurses Venue: Unison Centre, 130 Euston St, NW1 2AY Time: 12:30pm Contact: jamimafagta@ kanlungan.org.uk; s.cueva@unison.co.uk
28 Nov. 2015
Miss Pearl of Asia UK 2015 Venue: Bernie Grant Arts Center, Town Hall Approach Road, Tottenham Green, London, N15 4RX Tickets: £20 - £35 Contact: enquiries@misspearl ofasia.com 07833 455 612
12 Dec. 2015
Fil-Mo Give Love on Xmas Day 2015 Venue: Mazenod Community Hall, Manod Ave, Kilburn NW6 4PS Tickets from £10 Contact: Vannz Bio 07947160826
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5 Dec. 2015
28th Foundation & Anniversary - SAFILCA (Dinner & Dance Party)
5 Dec. 2015
Venue: Crowne Plaza London Docklands Hotel, Western Gateway, London E16 1AL
A Xmas Show with Gabby Concepcion Time: 7pm Tickets: £30 Venue: Baden Powell House Centre 65-67 Queen’s Gate SW7 5JS
Contact: info@safilca.co.uk 07738718932
Contact: Mark 07463758258 Jhun 07824166460
19 December 2015 Simbang Gabi 2015
13 Dec. 2015
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St Michael St Martin Church, 94 Bath Road, Hounslow TW3 3EH Contact: philippinecentre@ yahoo.co.uk
FWA Uk Christmas Party Venue: St Mary Abbots Centre Vicarage Gate, Kensington, London W8 4HN Contact: http://www.fwa-uk. com/contact/
Professional service delivered personally We have clients in London, throughout the UK and overseas who are currently seeking
Housekeepers, Couples, Nannies, Cooks, Companions, Carers and all types of domestic staff Live in and live out positions with excellent salaries and benefits We are available 7 days per week at any time on 020 8348 1767 or please send your cv to diana@thegrahamagency.co.uk You will find our current vacancies online at
www.thegrahamagency.co.uk
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NOVEMBER APRIL 2012 2015
LONDON
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Includes Unlimited Lebara to Lebara UK Calls and SMS To opt-in SMS BEST to 38885 From 15th September the new Lebara Best Rates Promotion is available to all Lebara UK customers except those on UK Plus/Flexi passes who (1) top up and (2) SMS BEST to 38885 as detailed on http://www.lebara.co.uk/prepay/rates. To continue enjoying our Best rates after the expiry of the relevant validity period you need to top up and opt in again as per the process described on http://www.lebara.co.uk/prepay/rates. Rates include VAT. Calls are charged per minute (60/60). Best Rates Offer valid only for calls to selected countries, for full list of countries and tariff visit www.lebara.co.uk /rates/best. For full terms and conditions visit www.lebara.com
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