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Verbatim This controversy has been engineered by the administration for only one purpose – to demolish the opposition, especially those who enjoy the popular support of our people.

Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr.’s initial reaction to revelations by whistleblowers linking him and other lawmakers to the pork barrel scam allegedly engineered by Janet LimNapoles.

It is not up to the senators to determine whether an NGO is bogus or not.

Senator Jinggoy Estrada, one of the five senators whose pork barrel allocation was allegedly funneled to bogus nongovernmental organizations (NGO), explaining how his pork barrel ended up in the NGOs set up by Janet Lim-Napoles

Senators Bong Revilla and Jinggoy Estrada with Janet Lim-Napoles at a party.

I am happy that there are a lot of people who think for my future.

That means I’m on their minds and I just thank them for thinking of me.

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Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas, brushing aside questions about his presidential ambitions in 2016

Alam mo, ayoko na siyang pag-usapan.

Hindi naman siya importanteng tao, at hindi rin siya sikat.

Claudine Barretto, when asked about her estranged husband, actor Raymart Santiago, against who she filed abuse charges

When I’m watching, I tell my household to buy me a vial of poison, prepare a necktie for me or piece of rope, or just [turn off ] the TV. I want to die.

Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago, castigating lawmakers linked to the pork barrel scandal, adding that her colleagues tagged in the multibillion-peso scam should “eat, ______ (blank) and die”

Excuse me, I’m not scared. Maybe they’re scared, that’s why they’re trying to scare me.

Ombudsman Conchita CarpioMorales, confirming receiving death threats, which, she said, could be related to the ongoing investigation on anomalies regarding pork barrel funds.

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A vendor prepares his merchandise of Christmas decorations at a shopping arcade in Manila a week after the onset of the “ber’ months.

snowmen, and reindeers dance around the tree and party goers belt out “I’m dreaming of a white Christmas, just like the one I used to know” with great gusto although they’ve never touched snow before.

Mall madness

A Ber-ry Merry Christmas By ana maria villanueva-lykes

D

O you know why Filipinos use plastic trees in the house for Christmas? That’s because no chopped-down live tree would last three months! That’s a joke of course, but Filipinos celebrate Christmas for three months, and it’s no laughing matter.

The first day of September signals the start of the “ber months” in the country, the world’s longest Christmas season that stretches from September, October, November, and all the way to December and past New Year Touted as one of the happiest people on earth, Filipinos will find every reason to celebrate, and celebrate for as long as they could. According to many surveys and studies (World Values Survey, Legatum Prosperity Index, and Happy Planet Index just to name a few), Pinoys are generally happy in spite of the many adversities they face. They will find joy in their circumstances and a reason to exalt life. The best proof of this is the fiesta when people open their doors to strangers to break bread with them even when in ordinary days they would find it hard to bring food to the table.

Signs of the times No Jack Frost nips on Pinoy noses when September rolls in, but the 9th month ushers in the “winter season” in the country, when temperatures go down a bit, making evenings more pleasant. By November, the typhoons trickle down to droplets, and dry streets are also a cause for celebration, especially when the country had suffered a number of devastating deluges in the past few years.

Aside from the cooler air, the jingle of the bells starts to echo along the halls. Soon the ringing builds up and Christmas carols go full blast in malls, elevators, and busses and kids with makeshift tambourines and drums sing for a peso by your door.

Christmas décors are up

by September and parol sales climb. Stars of Bethlehem (or representations of it) twinkle by the roadsides, beckoning

people to buy, buy, buy, guiding them not to the manger but to the malls.

The Philippine Christmas lantern is an iconic Christmas image that symbolizes the victory of light over darkness and the Pinoy’s hope that can never be extinguished. It is traditionally made of bamboo and colored paper but has since evolved into something more dazzling - an elaborate construction of capiz shells, plastic illuminate, or metal - that can rival the brilliance of the stars overhead.

If bought at the start of the “ber” months, you can get a parol at almost half the price.

By mid-season, the prices rise considerably, so Pinoys don’t hesitate to deck the halls as early as possible.

By September, most Christmas trees are already up, fully decked. It towers over the nativity scene supposedly the rightful star in a predominantly Catholic country. But the tree, a borrowed western tradition, reigns supreme even though it’s plastic.

Like the tree, many of our Yuletide staples are influenced by western traditions although their significance hardly means anything to us. The Santa Claus,

As the festive music gets louder, the frenetic energy builds up. People rush to the malls in anticipation of the exchanging of gifts, godchildren visiting for aguinaldo, and the big day itself. “70% off” and “big sale” signs lure revelers in like glittering lights. The 13th month and Christmas bonuses are spent before they are even handed out and establishments are not complaining.

“Ber” months are good for business. “Pwede i-capitalize ‘yung gaanong excitement ng Pinoy, so pino-prolong; kasi the more you prolong the celebration the more na mas kikita,” explains De La Salle University sociologist Alvaro Alcala to GMA news.

And while the malls fill up, the holiday traffic also gets merry. Main roads, especially around business and commercial districts, get congested as the shopping and party season peaks. Last year, in Metro Manila, 12 alternate routes or Christmas lanes were identified to avoid the rush.

Throughout the holidays, voice and text traffic also peak as Pinoys want to be reunited with their loved ones from near or far.

And the countdown begins Technically, Christmas doesn’t start until the 16th of December when the first Misa de Aguinaldo is held at dawn.

Before the rooster starts to crow, the devout ones head to church for Simbang Gabi and for some puto or bibingka on the way home, a practice that dates back three centuries.

December 16 may be the official start of Christmas in the country, but 3 months back, September 16, is when the media begins the traditional 100day countdown to the most wonderful time of the year. n

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ANY Filipinos both in urban and rural areas have frequently purchased a coffee brand more than any other fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) being sold in the country.

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Top 10 Brands Filipinos Buy

Health is wealth Likewise, Filipinos are becoming more health-conscious as evidenced by the growing popularity of fun runs, exercise and other physical activities in recent years.

In addition, Filipinos are now choosing the healthier lifestyle as shown in their food product choices. Over the past 5 years, there has been an increase in cereals (17%), yoghurt/cultured milk (9%), canned vegetables (6%) and biscuits (6%).

For beverages, purchase increases have been seen in soy milk (20%), bottled water (12%), energy/sports drink (10%), fruit/vegetable juices (7%) and powdered milk (6%).

Brand Footprint, a study by consumer knowledge and insights firm Kantar Worldpanel, showed that Nescafe ranks first among Filipinos’ brands of choice.

In a press briefing on Sept.

4, Kantar Worldpanel Philippine team commercial director Luz Barra said that they have consolidated actual shopper choices to come up with these top 10 brands in the Philippines: • Nescafe • Lucky Me • Surf • Milo • Ajinomoto • Bear Brand • Palmolive • Silver Swan • Oishi • Safeguard Four of these top brands in the country are also found in the Brand Footprint's global top 20: Nescafe, Surf, Ajinomoto and Palmolive.

Lifestyle on the go

hair conditioners and 6.3% in hand and body lotion from June 2009 to June 2013.

Three local brands Of the top 10 brands, three – Lucky Me, Silver Swan and Oishi – are local brands.

Lucky Me manufactures a variety of instant noodles popular among the lower socio-economic classes. Silver Swan is the country’s leading soy sauce maker. Oishi snack products comprise of 50 variants of salty snacks, cereals, popcorn, cookies, powdered juices, and sauces. Oishi is now a major brand in China.

Rounding off the top five local brands are Datu Puti and Champion. Datu Puti is best known for its vinegar, popularized by the “Mukhasim” advertising campaign.

Champion laundry detergent

tizers grew by 19% baby wipes/ wet tissues by 9% from June 2009 to June 2013.

In addition to germ-protection, Filipinos bought 54% more razors, 11% more panty liners and 10% more sanitary pads in the same period.

accounts for 20 percent of the market, battling giant multinational brands such as Tide and Breeze.

Factors in buying behaviour In the same briefing, Barra said there are four factors that determine the Filipino consumer’s buying behaviour: beauty, hygiene, health and convenience.

Filipino women care about their looks, Barra said, and 72% of them specifically like to improve their hair and change their complexion.

This is supported by the purchase growth of 12.6% in

What is beauty?

Being fair is a Filipino consumer’s definition of beauty.

Proof is the 10% purchase increase in whitening products versus just 1% in non-whitening products from 2011 to 2013.

The purchase of whitening body lotion grew 8% compared to non-whitening lotion’s 5%.

The beauty trend is also being driven by young households (those with children 12 years old and below) and adult homes (those whose members are 19 and up).

To illustrate the Filipinos’ penchant for hygiene, Barra noted that sales of hand sani-

Last but not least, Barra said the fastpaced lifestyle, particularly in urban areas, has impacted the Filipinos’ buying behavior. Consumers want food, beverage and cooking choices to be fast, easy and convenient.

Over the 5 past years, growth of purchase in readyto-drink choco drinks (21%), ready-to-drink coffee (17%) and ready-to-drink energy/sports drinks (11%) have increased.

Quick and easy meal purchases have also increased including those of instant noodles (9%), instant pasta (7%) and canned meat (7%).

There has also been purchase growth among products that make cooking easy, including meal flavorings (17%), liquid seasoning (11%), breading (7%) and bouillon (5%). (Rappler.com) n

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SANDUGO FESTIVAL – Tagbilaran, Bohol “Sandugo” is a Visayan word which literally means One-Blood.

The annual celebration commemorates the blood compact between Miguel Lopez de Legaspi and Datu Sikatuna in 1565.

It signifies the friendship between the conservative Filipinos and the liberal Spaniards.

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Gadgets, Cars Top Priorities of ‘Selfie’ Gen

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HEY come from the so-called “selfie” generation -- a new breed of young adults without financial dependents who form a growing consumer powerhouse in this country.

Their typical two-year priority is to splurge on lifestyle-related consumer items like gadgets and cars.

Setting aside money to acquire real property, open a business and health insurance also figure in their priorities, according to Sun Life Financial Philippines’ study of lifestyles, attitudes and relationships focusing on Filipinos aged 23 to 35.

While regarded as the “me, me, me” generation, the Sun Life study suggested that these selfies also aspired to be financially independent by having a business and properties while waiting to start their own families.

Rising disposable income among young people amid the country’s higher growth trajectory and the rise of business process outsourcing industry is seen supporting such a trend.

The top five priorities of selfies, according to the nationwide survey, are: • Acquiring gadgets – 57 percent • Owning a car - 49 percent • Buying a lot – 47 per cent • Starting a business – 45 per cent • Buying health insurance – 40 per cent On a monthly basis, the typical selfie’s budget would cover basic necessities like food (99 percent) and house rental/ mortgage and utilities (82 percent) -- just like the broader Filipino consumer base.

Unlike older or same-age peers who are married or who have financial dependents, the selfies tend to allot more of their recurring cash flow to support their lifestyle. The re-

search showed that 86 percent of them considered spending on communication as a priority while 66 percent cited clothes, shoes and bags while 34 percent prioritized dining out.

Of the selfies’ monthly budget, 7.22 percent is allotted for savings, 1.22 percent for insurance and 0.91 percent for in-

vestment.

On how they prepare for their priorities for the next two years, 83 percent cited bank savings, 31 percent putting up a business, 22 percent getting a life insurance and 10 percent making an investment.

When asked about financial worries, 24 percent of respondents cited family’s health, 21 percent cited food while 20 percent cited no financial worry at all.

In contrast, 35 percent of

same-age peers with dependents considered children’s education as a financial worry while 20 percent cited family’s wealth and 16 percent cited food.

For personal worries, the selfie generation is most concerned about their parents’ health (83 percent), their own health (82 percent), personal safety (80 percent), security of income (79 percent) and job security (73 percent For the longer haul -- and beyond the allure of gadgets and cars -- the selfies’ typical aspirations would be to own a business, have a stable job, own a house, have own family. A minority (7 percent) cited having no aspirations at all. (Philippine Daily Inquirer) n

Economists See Tough Times Ahead for PH Peso

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HE Philippine peso is expected to remain weak the rest of the year as regional currencies reel from the winding down of the United States Federal Reserve’s massive bond-buying program that will likely start in September as the US economy improves, economists said.

“The peso is very resilient. But even the peso with its good story will be under pressure,” Prakriti Sofat, Singapore-based economist at Barclays Plc, said during the Bloomberg Summit in Makati City on Aug. 29.

Financial volatility that followed uncertainty over the US Federal Reserve’s winding down of stimulus has weakened regional currencies, with the Indian rupee, Indonesian rupiah and Turkish lira leading a free fall.

Further weakening In an interview with GMA News Online, Bloomberg LP senior economist in Singapore Tamara Mast Henderson said there remains “some scope” for the peso to further

weaken.

“One concern if you look at Asia.... the Philippine currency on a REER (Real Effective Exchange Rate) basis is one of the strongest,” she said, referring to the peso’s strength relative to the basket of regional currencies.

As the US economy improves and yields go higher, speculations over the Fed’s possible moves prompted speculative funds — also called hot money — to move out of emerging markets, pushing the peso near three-year lows.

“When we were talking about how much of the correction has happened, on average, maybe 80 percent. But for the Philippines, there might be more,” Henderson noted.

PH better positioned Economists at the forum, however, said the Philippines and its currency are still better positioned to face external headwinds than other countries wracked with current account deficits in the region.

“The current accounts have been a key issue, with the cost of funding having been

strained,” Dominic Bunning, associate for Foreign Exchange Strategy at HSBC Holdings Plc (Hong Kong) noted. Such is not the Philippine case, Bunning said.

The Philippines still has nearly $83 billion in reserves, enough to cover a year’s worth of imports.

“You still have a very strong current account surplus and the credibility of policy makers here is strong,” said Barclay’s Sofat.

But Bloomberg’s Henderson said, “The fundamentals are very strong in the Philippines. But the market is not focused on that... it’s focused on fear.”

Ready to face volatility Philippine officials at the forum assured that the country is ready to face volatility.

“Our macroeconomic program has accounted for that and has flexibility,” said Gil Beltran, chief economist and Undersecretary at the Finance Department, noting that officials “have long put the Fed’s easing in the macroeconomic background.” n

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By carmela g. lapeña

A

S children are taught in school, Andres Bonifacio is the Father of the Philippine Revolution.

Still, there are those who believe he had another role in Philippine history — as the country’s first president.

Bonifacio, often portrayed with a bolo in hand, is most known for leading the Katipuneros’ revolt against the Spanish colonizers.

However, he died not in battle but under orders from another Katipunero, Emilio Aguinaldo, who is currently recognized as the first Philippine president.

Aguinaldo won in a snap election during the Tejeros Convention between the Magdiwang and Magdalo — two rival factions of the Katipunan.

The belief that Bonifacio should be recognized as the first President of the Philippines is based on his position as Supremo of the Katipunan revolutionary government from 1896 to 1897.

“From that point on, the Katipunan ceased to be a mere revolutionary organization [and transformed] into a revolutionary government. Ang unang pambansang pamahalaan sa Pilipinas,” historian Xiao Chua said.

On August 24, 1896, Bonifacio convened the Kataastaasang Kapulungan (Supreme Council), declaring an armed revolution against Spain.

It was in the same meeting that they established the Katipunan as a national government, and held an election of officials to lead the army and the nation.

“The Katipunan was more than a secret revolutionary society; it was, withal, a Government. It was the intention of Bonifacio to have the Katipunan govern the whole Philippines after the overthrow of Spanish

The Andres Bonifacio Memorial Shrine on EDSA

adopt the election results of the convention.

On May 10, 1897, Bonifacio and his brother Procopio were killed under orders from Aguinaldo, who issued a statement 50 years later saying he had authorized the death sentence as advised by members of the Council of War. Aguinaldo ordered the commutation of the death sentence, but was convinced otherwise.

The brothers were killed in the mountain of Maragondon, Cavite.

Unsurprisingly, the descendants of the two men hold different opinions on the matter.

“Kaya yan ang kinikilala naming hero ng pamilya sapagkat siya ay nakipaglaban sa Kastila at naproklama niya ang

The Case for Bonifacio as First Philippine President

rule,” Gregorio F. Zaide, who wrote a history of the Katipunan, was quoted in an article by historians Milagros C. Guerrero, Emmanuel N. Encarnacion, and Ramon N. Villegas.

Bonifacio referred to the country as Haring Bayang Katagalugan (“Sovereign Tagalog Nation”), Guerrero wrote in Reform and Revolution, Kasaysayan: The History of the Filipino People 5.

In letters addressed to Emilio Jacinto in 1897, Bonifacio’s titles and designations included Ang Kataastaasang Pangulo and Pangulo ng Haring Bayang Katalugan—his concept of the Philippine nation.

Bonifacio defined “Tagalog” as the term for all Filipinos, and not only those who spoke the language. In referring to the nation as Katalugan, Bonifacio went against the colonial “Filipinas.”

Should the Katipunan revolutionary government be recognized, this would predate the Tejeros Convention on March

22, 1897.

Bonifacio arrived at the meeting, which was intended to resolve the issues between the two groups. However, Aguinaldo wanted to dissolve the Katipunan and establish a revolutionary government.

“Iyon ay isang masasabi mong maneobra para matanggal na si Bonifacio sa puwesto.

Habang andoon ang Katipunan hindi siya matatanggal. So pinalitan nila ang agenda,” UP Manila professor Danilo Aragon said in Case Unclosed: Ang Lihim ng 1897.

Snap elections were held, and Aguinaldo was voted president. Meanwhile, Bonifacio was voted as Director of Interior.

Daniel Tirona, a Magdalo, protested Bonifacio’s election, claiming he was not qualified for the job. Insulted, Bonifacio, who presided over the election, declared the assembly dissolved. The next day, Bonifacio and other Magdiwang members created the Acta de Tejeros, a document stating they did not

ating kasarinlan,” said former Prime Minister Cesar Virata, Aguinaldo’s descendant.

“Yung pagpatay sa kanya, state-sponsored killing ‘yan eh.

Kasi para maging legitimate yung pagpatay sa tao kailangan idaan sa isang due process,” said attorney Gregorio Bonifacio, Procopio’s greatgreat-grandson.

But Aguinaldo’s kin believe Bonifacio’s actions were a crime against the country.

“Mayroon din kaming mga storya at mga history books at sources na magsasabi na nararapat lang ang naging desisyon ni Emilio Aguinaldo noon, considering yun ay panahon ng digmaan,” said Transportation and Communication Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya, great-great-grandson of Emilio Aguinaldo.

Apart from historians, others have pushed for Bonifacio’s recognition as the first president, including Sentro ng mga Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa (SENTRO) and Bonifacio’s own kin.

“But while the National Historical Council of the Philippines is open to such petitions, they maintain that Bonifacio was not the first President.

(GMA News) n

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‘Not a Real Filipino’

By ryan songalia

I

’M not an easy guy to offend. Born and raised in New Jersey, I come from a culture of casual ribbing, where teasing someone with the most vulgar, personal remark is done in jest as part of male bonding.

About a year and a half ago, I relocated to Bonifacio Global City (BGC) in Taguig, in part because I needed a break from the rat race that defines life as a journalist in New York City.

I also felt this genuine desire to strengthen my bonds with my heritage. It’s a sad reality that Filipino-Americans are not taught much about their ancestral culture. Even Tagalog is spoken more out of novelty than necessity in the US. While living within the plush, gated community of Serendra, I can see several barangays from my balcony. My curiosity and desire for adventure eventually led me to explore those areas, which are far removed from the sterilized, almost neutered, environs of BGC. A five-minute walk past SM Aura, over a bridge that leads to C5, brought me to Barangay Pembo.

It’s everything that BGC isn’t; it has sari-sari stores, tricycles and even the occasional rooster. In essence, it “feels” like a more authentic Filipino experience.

Wearing cargo shorts, a striped button-down shirt with the sleeves rolled up, a Yankees hat and all-white Nike Air Force Ones, I could feel that all eyes seemed to be fastened on me as I walked by. As I approached a sari-sari store, I figured I’d use the opportunity to practice my rudimentary Tagalog and purchase a pack of Skyflakes Tso-

The author in Manila: ‘I had options and I chose to live in the motherland.’ kolate.

“Magkano ba ito?” I asked, in an accent that gives away my Northern Jersey roots. “Anim lang,” said the young woman behind the counter, giggling a bit.

As I stood there mapping my route out, I could hear an orchestra of giggles coming from behind the counter. All three of the ladies behind the counter were now visibly laughing.

Amused as well, I asked them in English, “What’s so funny?”

The youngest, who seemed to be the most proficient in English responded, “Because you’re not a Filipino.”

There was no vulgarity, nor was my mother’s honor besmirched. Still, that simple, innocuous phrase cut me to my core. “Not a Filipino?” I digested that notion for a while as I walked along the road, dodging tricycles and cars. “Not a Filipino?”

I’ve heard statements like that before. An acquaintance recently asked if street children frequently bother me for peso

bills. “Why?” I asked. “Because you’re white,” she responded.

Which isn’t untrue, since my mother is Italian-American, and I have more of her facial features than my dad’s. My complexion could be described as fair, though no one would mistake me for being of Spanish descent.

Growing up as one of the shorter kids in my elementary school, I was often bullied by kids much larger than me. They made fun of my slanted eyes, my Asian features and ethnic surname. It underlines my quagmire: I’m too white to be Filipino, and too Filipino to be white.

So, if I’m “not a Filipino,” then what is a Filipino? Is it only someone who is a native born to the Philippines? Is it someone who is fluent in Tagalog, and is able to carry on a conversation about the dramas that play on local networks?

Filipinos are a global people, with a significant presence in many countries throughout Asia, Europe and the Americas.

When I look up at billboards as I ride the jeepneys along Edsa, or when I watch the television programs here, I see a lot of faces that look like mine.

The issue of cultural identity was one that I often examined as a child growing up with family members who were of European, Chinese and African-American descent. My father, who was born in Leyte but hadn’t been back until I was already grown up, never spoke much about the Philippines, My mother is fond of saying that I’m not one thing, but a mixture of the many influences I was surrounded by in my melting pot of a family and community.

Make no mistake about it: New York City, where I had lived most recently in America, is a great place to grow up in, as a writer. But I left the familiar, comfortable surroundings in New York for the Philippines, where nothing was guaranteed for me. I had options, and I chose to live in the motherland.

I’ve carried the Philippine flag in New York, shouting through a bullhorn as FilipinoAmericans protested China’s incursions into the Spratly Islands. I never miss a Philippine Independence Day parade, have sat through P300-an-hour Tagalog lessons, frustratingly trying to get a grasp on a second language. I’ve helped build homes for typhoon victims in Navotas and specialized in bringing Filipino boxers to the international spotlight through my work with The Ring magazine.

I’ve paid my dues. I’ve earned my birthright.

So the next time someone brings into question the authenticity of my Filipino roots, I’ll give them the same message that the smell of freshly baked bibingka screams out to me: Bite me. (Philippine Daily Inquirer) n

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Aquino Legacy in Peril By marites dañguilan vitug

H

ALFWAY into his term, President Aquino faces the worst corruption scandal in his administration, a “land mine” left by his predecessor, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, but the roots of which lie deep in Philippine political culture.

The Aquino administration has also been rocked by the biggest indignation rally which, while it was against the pork barrel, called on the President to fix the mess.

The wholesale theft of multibillion pesos in taxpayers’ money by Janet Napoles, her partners—legislators and officials in the various government agencies—and other Napoles-like syndicates shows that fighting corruption goes beyond fierce rhetoric, shaming and naming the thick-faced rascals, and leading by example. It requires structural reforms that will make the working environment hostile to graft and grease.

Ironically, this pork barrel crisis presents a big opportunity for the President to change the country’s political landscape and leave a lasting mark as a true reformist. “PNoy’s own credibility in trekking a straight path is at stake,” an academic and political analyst told me.

Justice and transparency But 4 things should happen under his watch.

First, the guilty, no matter how high and mighty, should be jailed. The government should go after their assets and retrieve as much of what has been stolen. As many like

to invoke, “Let justice be done though the heavens fall!”

Second, wean the legislators away from pork—fat, meat, skin and all.

Even with the Supreme Court’s order to temporarily stop the use of the 2013 Priority Development Assistance Fund or PDAF, Aquino can call on his allies in Congress to delete whatever remains of the P24.7-billion lump-sum PDAF, channel it to select agencies, and take away the legislators’ discretion to identify projects.

Several congressmen have already agreed to do this and, more importantly, public support is at a high for this move.

The same has already been done for the 2014 PDAF worth P25.2 billion, as Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. has announced.

The 2015 national budget is expected to no longer reflect any pork-barrel fund. The next president, most likely, will find it hard to return the PDAF in whatever form.

Third, shine the light on all government agencies by making the FOI bill a priority. We’re not seeing the President’s resolve here, the kind he showed when he pushed for the controversial RH bill and the unprecedented impeachment of a chief justice.

Darkness has allowed the

vampires to suck our blood.

Out with discretionary funds Fourth, lump-sum amounts in the national budget, which allow lots of discretion, should be done away with. These are red flags, open invitations to corruption.

Fortunately, this has already started, along with putting order in unwieldy bureaucracies. For example, the Department of Agriculture (DA), where pork-barrel syndicates thrived, has a treasure trove of lump-sum funds. Insiders in the budget department tell me that these cover regular programs for rice, corn, irrigation and farm-to-market roads, and are managed in a highly centralized way, with the Office of the Secretary.

The DBM has been dispersing the implementation of these programs and, consequently, the use of these funds.

The public works and highways department is now in charge of DA infrastructure. By next year, the rationalization process will be completed.

Accidents of history I would like to address this

last point to President Aquino.

Mr. President, you became our leader by a tragic twist of fate. The death of your mother, democracy icon Cory Aquino, thrust you into the highest office in the land. In a way, this makes you an accidental president. You’ve always said that you never sought this position; you were called to do your share in building our nation and you rose to the occasion.

Today, you find yourself face to face with another accident.

Greed and infighting in a criminal syndicate has led to a whistleblower’s shocking revelations of corruption in very high places.

But you are in a position to make this accident a game-changer.

You always say that you are shaking other people’s rice bowls in your anti-corruption campaign. It’s time to shake the legislators’ rice bowls. By this single act, you will remove that P word (patronage) in Congress and pave the way for politicians who have the public interest, more than anything else, in mind.

Mr. President, don’t let the shine come off your daang matuwid. Don’t let this be the dead end. (Rappler.com) n

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N the ongoing saga of Janet Lim-Napoles, the first to be dubbed “Imeldific” was in fact not Napoles but her daughter Jeane.

While the stories that have come out speak of bags of cold cash stashed in the bathtubs, closets and rooms of Napoles’ unit at Discovery Center, those enormous amounts of money found their immediate, most outrageous embodiment in the daughter’s Instagram chronicles of her glitzy shopping sprees, her champagne-addled rides aboard her Porsche, her all-stopsout birthday party in Hollywood. “Mom, sissy and I wiped out the Celine store,” she crowed at one time, referring to the international fashion house whose luxury bags alone are worth some $2,000-$5,000 a pop.

Then again, those price tags are peanuts when we’re talking of some P10 billion in funds, or about $224 million, that Napoles’ operation allegedly siphoned off government coffers for over a decade. To be clear, not all that money went to her. A big chunk had to be kicked back to congressmen and senators who clandestinely subscribed to her enterprise of gaming the pork barrel system by funneling the money to nonexistent NGOs, or ones controlled by the politicians themselves and thus easier to loot.

Millions of pesos more went to grease the hands of certain bureaucrats and underlings in various government agencies tasked with releasing the money or keeping track of its use. It was

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Janet Lim-Napoles’ US-based daughter, Jeane, is shown here wallowing in a bathtub full of cash in one of the photos she posted on social media sites chronicling her lavish lifestyle.

Dizzying Extravagance

a vast operation; how it could have gone undetected for so long raises the most vexing questions about the culpability of personages up and down the political pecking order—including, it now appears, many prominent members of the country’s ruling class—and, more to the point, the government’s competence to hold the people’s money and spend it on their behalf.

Of course, spending money not one’s own is quite easy, as Imelda Marcos showed in her heyday. Using the national treasury as one’s personal ATM account—especially when so many demands a cut—is a license to ditch the less-is-more mantra and go for broke, the tackier, the better. If the whistle-blowers are to be believed, it wasn’t just the Napoles daughter who loved the high life. The mother did, too—indulging herself in milk baths, for instance, or so said the housemaid that she had sent to jail for allegedly stealing some of her pricey lingerie.

More, she is said to own some 50 properties here and abroad,

and not just 28, as was first alleged. Apart from her listed addresses in exclusive Dasmariñas Village and Forbes Park in Makati, she has properties scattered across the country—in the cities of Makati, Muntinlupa, Taguig, Pasig, and Antipolo in Metro Manila, and Kidapawan in North Cotabato, and in the provinces of Laguna, Cavite, Batangas, Bulacan, and Davao.

Also in the list provided by the whistle-blowers are five apartments in Primea on Ayala Avenue, each costing from P65 million to P72 million; Discovery Center units 2501, 2504 and 2506, at P18 million each; seven apartments in Dakota in Malate, Manila, estimated to be worth P40 million; two apartments in Empire Eastland in Makati worth P11 million; a unit in Eton Residences, also in Makati, worth P20 million; two properties in Beaufort Filinvest in Bonifacio Global City, worth P36 million; two properties in Mayamot Village in Antipolo, acquired from a Stanly Sy for P77 million; seven lots in the

Armed Forces of the Philippines Officers Village in Taguig; a 106-square-meter apartment in Serendra in Bonifacio Global City, and another in Eastwood City worth P2.2 million.

Dizzy? The family is also said to own 30 cars even if it has only five members and one, Jeane, is not even in Manila but in Los Angeles, living in one of the swankiest high-rise addresses in the city.

How to account for this astounding, outrageous embarrassment of extravagance?

Perhaps this: Because literally no sweat was expended to earn the wherewithal to acquire it.

Taxpayers paid their due every month, apparently only for the likes of Napoles and her scoundrel partners in government to do what they wanted with the money. That, more than the gluttony on display, is what’s truly Imeldific about this abuse of the public purse. If the real McCoy appears to have given the law the slip, they should not get away this time. (Editorial, Philippine Daily Inquirer) n

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BBC featured daily life of Bacolod teacher

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HE BBC has recently featured a daily life of Reneliza Llavore, 47, a teacher at a public high school in Bacolod, Philippines.

The news article shows her daily life routine, the realities of being a school teacher in the Philippines, and the current situation of education and the Filipino youth in the developing nation.

Llavore was interviewed by the BBC’s Amee Enriquez in Bacolod.

Since she was in primary school, she was never late for class. She usually arrives at school an hour before her 07:30 class. She listens to the radio, to some music and news, and then finally prepare herself for the day ahead.

Her class is usually between 45 and 50 students. She teaches them maths - she used to teach physics too but not anymore.

Mathematics is 10% theory and 90% practice. That’s why she prepare worksheets for the students to do every day.

Most students hate maths. If they cannot pass the exams, she tries to design different activities and if their answers are wrong, she lets them make collages to help them understand the lesson.

She makes them relate maths to their daily lives, so it has practical applications for them. Sometimes she tells them, just practice on your way to school - count the number of leaves, the number of dogs, then add them.

Student dropouts She teaches for five hours a day, but this year it might go up to seven. There are 20 classes of second years with a total of between 800 and 1,000 students, and 32 teachers.

Not all students show up during enrolment in May. Some of them only come when classes start in June, because they need to finish their part-time or summer jobs for financial reasons. Some attend classes

The BBC has recently featured a daily life of Reneliza Llavore, a school teacher in Bacolod.

FULL PAGE AD until September only and drop out of school.

Llavore, who used to work as an investment consultant, Tries to motivate her students, most of whom are from poor backgrounds, to stay in school. She decided to change jobs because of my conviction that all things are transitory. She wanted to invest in eternal things, like teaching students values.

In the Philippines, public schools are free. They have improved under a current government programme - now there are financial subsidies given to students for their expenses if they meet certain criteria.

Her students, usually between the ages of 14 to 15, come from different backgrounds, but most of them are poor.

Some of them grew up in slum areas and come from broken families. If their parents have jobs, they work as pedicab drivers or as porters at the nearby wharf.

Some students have to fend for themselves - their parents abandoned them and they have to work to go to school.

There are students who come without eating their breakfast.

There are students who come without sleep. It’s because they work at night, usually selling fish.

Teaching values.

She worked as a music co-ordinator in a church for eight years, but then decided to quit because people in church already have values. So she became a teacher of this school for 10 years. Since she started,

she has taught almost 3,000 students.

Sometimes she has to motivate students to stay in school or help the ones who cannot afford to stay. While she can sometimes lose patience with students, she does not get mad. and will either just laugh it off or leave the room.

Sadly, only about 30% of my students will end up in professional careers. Most of them will end up getting married or pregnant. But she really wants them to finish high school.

She finishes teaching at 15:00 and then do paperwork. Sometimes, students come to consult her - they tell me how hard maths is. Once she leaves, she drops by the mall to unwind and have a snack before going to church.

She likes it when students approach her in public - it makes her feel like she’s part of their growth. Seeing her students become better people motivates her. As for her future plans, she has no plans to quit teaching until she retires.

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No turning back?

Claudine files abuse charges vs Raymart

ASKED if there is any chance she and Raymart Santiago will get back together, Claudine Barretto responded, “Hindi na, okey na ‘yon, huwag na.”

The 34-year-old actress added that their two children have gotten used to Raymart’s absence. Raymart left their conjugal home months ago.

The celebrity couple’s separation early this year, Claudine claimed, stems from the alleged “physical, sexual, psychological and economic” she suffered from Raymart since 2002 even before they were married.

Claudine has accused Raymart of violating Republic Act 9262 or Violence Against Women and their Children.

“Hindi lang pambubugbog ang pinagdaanan ko. Pati mental torturing,” a tearful Claudine told media after she filed the complaint. “Ayoko pagdaanan ito ng mga anak ko.”

She also accused him of marital rape, echoing a similar charge hurled by actress Sunshine Cruz against her estranged husband, Cesar Montano.

Claudine showed pictures of herself with bruises on her leg and face, and a series of photos which appear to show her being dragged out of a ve-

hicle by Santiago.

Raymart shrugged off the new case, saying he had expected this from Claudine after she alluded to abuse when she filed her petition for a permanent protection order against him last month.

He also threatened to retaliate in kind in due time. “Yun ang gusto niya, yun ang ibibigay ko sa kanya,”

motivated the petition.

Lobaton and Pimentel were married in 2000 and separated in 2011. They have two children, both boys, aged 8 and 2.

Lobaton said she hesitated at fist to seek an annulment because of the children. “I feel sad and helpless, because I’m thinking of the children. Atsaka natatakot po ako,” she told ABS-CBN News. “It took me sometime because I really want to give it a try, a chance. I don’t want to harm...,” she said, before breaking down and ending the interview.

Lobaton’s lawyer said they are set to file a petition for a temporary protection order against the senator.

Pimentel declined to comment at the moment.

salita, ‘I’ll never date showbiz...

I could never see myself end up with this woman.’”

Recalling the days before they decided to become a couple, the actor said, “In a week and a half, we met up and then again, same scenario na nagbivent lang ng stress sa trabaho . . . I just want to hang out with somebody I can trust and talk to.

Pag may problema lang, tawagan, kulitan, pero wala . . . Then heto, nagsama kami ng one week and a half, tapos ayun na.”

“We skipped the whole part na ligawan, we skipped the whole part na putting your best foot forward. Kasi kilala na namin ang isa’t isa, ang tagal na naming magkaibigan. Problema niya, problema ko, we confide to each other,” added Derek.

For her part, Cristine said, “Pareho kaming baliw. Pareho kaming outgoing. Tapos family man siya, iyon yung pinakagusto ko sa kanya.”

Kim, Xian ‘exclusively dating’

Koko’s jewel no more.

Solon’s wife files for annulment

BB. Pilipinas-Universe for 1998 Jewel Lobaton, the estranged wife of Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, has filed a petition seeking the annulment of her 13-year marriage to the lawmaker.

“We have cited several instances that show that there have been abuses from Day 1 of the wedding up to the day of the separation, and continuing up to the present,” Lobaton’s lawyer said, explaining what

Derek and Cristine: From friends to lovers

“YEAH, we confirmed it yesterday, it’s one day pa lang.”

This was the revelation of Derek Ramsay on Aug. 29, confirming reports that Cristine Reyes is now his girlfriend.

“We’re both in shock, we both find it really awkward,” said Derek. “Magkaibigan kami and the last two weeks, the last week and a half, something different happened, and we decided that it’s worth taking the risk . . . It’s just weird and awkward that it turned out this way. For me, nagbitaw ako ng

KIM Chiu admits that screen partner Xian Lim is making her happy. Asked if they are “exclusively dating,” Kim said, “Siguro... yun din ang sinabi namin sa ‘Kris TV’, ganun. Yeah, parang ganun na rin siguro.”

Pressed by reporters if this status will soon formalize their relationship, she said, “Ano, darating tayo diyan. Hindi naman kailangang sapilitan. Kusa ninyo rin pong malalaman kung sino yung nagpapatibok ng puso ko.”

Kim said she misses being in a romantic relationship,

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Showbuzz explaining that it makes her happy when a guy treats him in a special way. “Siyempre iba rin ‘yung pakiramdam ng babae kapag nililigawan. Nakakahaba ng hair,” she said.

The 23-year-old actress, however, said she does not want to rush into a new relationship because she wants her next boyfriend to be the right one for her.

Willie: I will relax and enjoy life

AFTER his TV5 noontime show Wowowillie folds up on Oct. 12, host-producer Willie Revillame says he will relax and simply “enjoy life” and take things easy.

“I’ve been working non-stop for nine years, so I deserve it.”

“I will go around the country and see how I can help my fans and other people who are in need,” adds Willie. “It’s payback time.”

But before that, Willie will undergo an executive check-up to make sure that he’s hale and healthy.

“I will relax in my yacht,” he said.

Asked what will happen to the Wowowillie studio (at the former Delta Theater) into which he sank more than P35 million of his own money for major renovation, Willie said, “Hindi ko pa alam.”

And his co-hosts including Mariel Rodriguez and Grace Lee? “It’s their call,” said Willie. “If they receive offers from other networks. It’s up to them to decide.”

One thing is sure, “Hindi ko

pababayaan ang aking staff, numbering almost one hundred.”

Will he resurface, maybe somewhere else?

“What did General MacArthur say? ‘I shall return’,” Willie answered cryptically. “Ako naman, ang masasabi ko lang, ‘I will return!’”

‘Miss Saigon’ revival hasn’t found new Kim yet

WITH less than a year before the opening of the revival of Miss Saigon in London’s West End, it seems the producers of the well-loved musical have yet to settle on who will take on the lead role of Kim, as one more round of auditions is set in New York later this month.

No casting reports have been announced since, although several names came up in a report

Rachelle Ann Go detailing the female hopefuls who made it to the final round of the Manila auditions.

Among them were singer Rachelle Ann Go, theater actresses Tanya Manalang and Apple Chiu, singer-actress Frencheska Farr, Emerald Bañares and Mary Jane Solomon.

Auditions for Miss Saigon were earlier held in London last July after the Manila casting call in November 2012. Late last year, a group led by executive producer Trevor Jackson and director Laurence Connor

went to the Philippines and held a casting search for the musical’s revival.

The casting search in the Philippines came 23 years after Miss Saigon producer Cameron Mackintosh recruited talents from the country to star in the original West End production, led by Lea Salonga, then 17 years old; Monique Wilson; and Isay Alvarez.

The estranged couple and their children after a court hearing.

Sunshine, Cesar share custody of kids

ESTRANGED couple Cesar Montano and Sunshine Cruz have agreed to share custody of their three daughters - Angeline Isabelle, Samantha Angeline and Angel Francheska.

Through their lawyers, the couple agreed to the arrangement during a hearing at the Quezon City Regional Trial Court on the permanent protection order (PPO) filed by Sunshine.

The lawyers said they are all trying to reach a peaceful formula for the couple.

Under the court order, Cesar will have the three girls from Monday to Wednesday, and Sunshine will have them from Thursday to Sunday.

Atty. Bonifacio Alentajan, the lawyer of Sunshine, who is also a godfather to the couple, said he feels sad that the marriage has reached this point, adding that no one can say if there is a chance to fix the marriage.

Sunshine has accused Cesar of having an affair with starlet Krista Miller.

Melai confirms pregnancy, will marry Jason

MELAI Cantiveros and Jason Francisco have admitted that they are planning to tie the knot soon after confirming the comedienne’s pregnancy.

In an interview with The Buzz on Sept. 8, the former Pinoy Big Brother housemates said they were neither shocked nor saddened when they learned about the news that Melai is pregnant.

“Positive na positive. I’m very happy. Nung nalaman ko, hindi ako kinabahan kasi gusto naman talaga namin ni Jason.

Nung nagbalikan kasi kami, gusto na talaga namin i-level up ‘yung relationship,” Melai said.

After informing their families about the matter, Jason said he immediately thought of a plan on how to propose to Melai.

Relating how the proposal happened, Melai said: “Paggising ko, pinamumog niya ako.

Pagtingin ko doon sa salamin sa CR, nakalagay, ‘I love you. Will you marry me?’”

“Tinabihan ko siya sa kama tapos tumalikod siya. Binigay niya sa akin ‘yung kahon ng singsing. Pagbukas ko walang singsing. Sabi niya, ‘Iyan na lang muna kasi wala tayong pera.’

Pero maya-maya, kinuha niya tapos sinoot niya. Umiyak ako, doon ako na-touch,” she added.

Asked if they are worried about the future, Melai said: “Siyempre sa katagalan na namin sa showbiz, mayroon naman kaming savings pero hindi siya ganun kalaki.” n

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Alessandra de Rossi

An Actress, Not a Star By cherie del rio

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LESSANDRA de Rossi is not your typical Filipina movie star. In fact, she may not shine as bright as most of her contemporaries in show business. She doesn’t have a huge following on social media as compared to Anne Curtis, Marian Rivera, Angel Locsin, and Bea Alonzo. She’s not as popular and in-demand as those big names either. She’s not mestiza in the mold of those whom the industry dubs as “hottest”. Her skin is brown and her face reflects the true Filipina beauty, as opposed to the Western appearance that the masses normally root for.

Alessandra, or Alex, de Rossi cannot really be considered a star.

But her acting prowess cannot be taken lightly.

Alessandra has proven her worth in the industry several times that she cannot easily be brushed aside. Sure, she may not be on FHM’s sexiest list, but she is definitely up there among today’s showbiz celebrities who have achieved international recognition and garnered several acting awards.

She was cast in the South Korean movie Mango Tree which starred Seo Ji-seok of Pure in Heart and Mr. Goodbye fame. This is a major accomplishment for anyone in Alessandra’s age and stature. But that’s not her first international movie. In 2005, she appeared in The Maid, a Singaporean thriller by Kelvin Tong. In 2009, she appeared in the Taiwanese comedy film Pinoy Sunday.

Alessandra is definitely an underrated actress. She deserves more recognition by way of more projects considering her profes-

sional achievements. Just this year, she won Best Actress award for her performance in Sta. Niña in the 1st ASEAN International Film Festival and Awards.

Winning an international trophy is big deal for any actress, and Alessandra is understandably elated by the recognition.

“Every time I’m nominated,” she says, “I don’t expect to win. Local awards were elusive. I forgot it was possible to win abroad. This was a big surprise.”

Last June Alessandra bagged the Best Supporting trophy at the 2013 Urian Awards for her performance in Sta. Niña. Her first acting award dates back to 1998 when she won the Best Supporting Actress award at Metro Manila Film Festival for Hubog. She bagged the same award at the FAMAS in 2001 for her role in the movie Azucena.

In 2003, she won the German Moreno Youth Achievement Award. She also won the Guillermo Mendoza “Most

Promising Actress” Award in 2001. In addition, she has been nominated several times for Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress awards by various award-giving bodies such as Gawad Urian and Star Awards.

Her TV performances were also accorded due recognition. The Star Awards for TV gave her the citation “Best Single Performance by an Actress” twice -- in Maala-ala Mo Kaya: Pedicab in 2009 and in Magpakailanman: Pag-ahon sa Lusak in 2006.

Alessandra is indeed exemplary. Tired of being typecast as a villain, she has explored roles that are unique and different. “I just want to inspire viewers with my projects,” she explains.

Apart from her acting talent, Alessandra also dabbles in painting. She joined an art class this year and she has produced a number of admirable works.

Using colours and canvass, she is now able to express ideas that she is unable to do in films.

She looks to her own feelings for inspiration: whenever she’s happy or sad, she produces art.

And, oh yes, she also sings, and she has an album – the recently released Adrift – to show for it.

She can act, she can paint, she can sing. Now, how many in show business can claim to have that many talents? And a load of acting awards to boot?

But let’s not forget the impressive humor this serious actress has. She’s been known in showbiz circles as someone who

Alessandra receives the Best Supporting Actress trophy at the 36th URIAN Awards. always speaks her mind with conviction. But she’s also quite funny. On Twitter, she writes “i’m the last unicorn. i’m alive” And on her Tumblr account, she describes herself as “I am ALESS in WONDERLAND. I am a frustrated mermaid.” She adds for good measure: “Welcome to the De Rossi Code.” At present, Alessandra (@msderossi) has some 840,000 followers on Twitter -- she’s getting her name out there, and she also has a photoblog under Tumblr: http://misisdef.tumblr.com.

Alessandra is a regular fixture in indie movies where acting, not popularity, is what counts, as her filmography attests. Her latest indie project is in the upcoming movie The Liars, an official entry to this year’s Cinemalaya Directors’ Showcase category. The film is directed by Gil Portes, the same director of Mga Munting Tinig where Alessandra won the Best Actress award in the 2002 Urian Awards.

In spite of her numerous acting citations, the 29-yearold Fil-Italian actress remains a “supporting” name to the industry’s big-name stars: the pretty faces, the sexy and controversial nymphets, the fairskinned mestizas. Alessandra is an accomplished actress but admittedly she is not a star. It says a lot about local showbiz in particular and our culture in general where beauty (or how our western values define it) comes first before talent. n

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Pinoy store and Karinderia opens in Nottingham

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ILIPINOS IN Nottingham need not to go to Birmingham or Derby to buy their missed delicacies back home.

The city now has its own Filipino store and carinderia.

A&J Philippines Asian Products and A&J Karinderia are situated next to each other in the Victoria Market within shopping mall, the Victoria Centre.

They are owned by Ofelia Hutchinson, who named the ventures after her daughters Alejandra and Juliana.

The store, which has already been open for eight months, sells a range of popular Asian and Pinoy cooking products, snacks and condiments.

It not only is frequented by Filipinos, but it also attracts a variety of customers including Cameroonian Alan Job, who runs a store in the market that serves African cuisine.

“I am always here,” Job said. “I come here to find something new and to bring more flavors to my cooking.

“At the moment it is the central place or shop where you can get almost all Southeast Asian products. We used to go miles before you could find some of these products but today we have them in the market. I’ve never been that happy,” he added.

The karinderia serves dishes like afritada, dinuguan, kilawin, kare-kare, and even breakfast, such as tapsilog and longsilog.

For Filipina Nelia Mile, an 8-mile trip to the karinderia just to eat there is all worth it.

“Masarap. Mapagmamalaki ang luto natin,” Mile commented.

“I don’t have to cook. It’s the same money you will spend, when you cook, you buy [ingredients] yourself. But when you come here, somebody will serve you and you eat as much as you can. It’s like we are at home,” she added.

And it’s not just Pinoys dining there. Hutchinson says other ethnicities love pancit, lumpiang Shanghai and kare-kare.

“Meron din ng mga puti na tumitikim ng pakbet. Yes, it’s really amazing na kinakain yung produkto natin,” Hutchinson said.

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The newly opened A&J Philippines Asian Products shop and Karinderia is frequented by locals in Nottingham.

Before A&J opened, Filipinos in the area could only purchase Pinoy products locally from Chinese grocery stores, or from kababayans that were selling them secretly from their own homes.

“I’m very proud because it’s the first shop in Nottingham. I’m in the market,” explained Hutchinson, who has been in the UK for 13 years.

Being the first to officially own a Pinoy store and eatery in the city made famous by Robin Hood makes Hutchinson extremely happy.

“Natutulungan ko ang kapwa kong Pilipino na madaling makabili ng produkto, unlike before na pumapunta ako ng London para mabili ang produkto natin.

Ngayon may sarili na tayo shop,” she said.

Her store also gained recognition when it was featured by BBC1 Radio and local newspaper, the Nottingham Post.

It was also visited a few months ago by the Lord Mayor of Nottingham, who was reportedly amazed to see banana catsup for sale.

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Flash This isn’t Syria

Government soldiers move with armored personnel carriers to reinforce forces battling the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) rebels in Zamboanga City on Sept. 11. Sporadic gunfire erupted between soldiers and Muslim rebels occupying five districts of the city.

t Man vs Machine A foot-powered trolley races alongside a PNR train in Sta. Mesa, Manila. Although banned, these trolleys continue to thrive in both urban and rural areas, providing cheap, fast and convenient transportation to the poor.

s Paying Homage US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel visits the graves of US soldiers who fought and died during World War II at the American Cemetery in Taguig, Metro Manila, last month. Hagel was in Manila for a one-day visit last Aug. 30, the fourth and last leg of his Southeast Asia trip.

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People Against Pork

Threat of rain and muddy grounds fails to deter people from all walks of life from flocking to the Luneta Park on August 26 for the Million People March to protest the misuse of the congressional pork barrel funds.

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s

Flash Water Damage Sale

Usable pairs of flood-damaged ladies’ footwear go on sale for ten pesos a pair at a slum area in Manila. The heavy monsoon rains and floods last month affected close to two million people in many parts of Luzon.

t Washing the Blues Away A total of 2,132 women gathered at the University of Makati last August 17 to break the Guinness World Record for the “Most Number of People Handwashing Fabric Simultaneously.” The labanderasgamely handwashed a 1,200-meter long single piece of fabric stained with grape juice, blue ink and chocolate. The previous world record was set in Vietnam by 1,968 people.

s Raft to the Rescue Residents ride a bamboo raft to safety in Noveleta, Cavite, as torrential rains pounded large parts of Luzon, including Metro Manila, for three continuous days, from August 18 to 20. Metro Manila was practically shut down as work and classes were suspended.

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Damaged But Unbowed

Coast Guard rescuers ride a rubber boat past the damaged bow of the Sulpicio Express 7 cargo vessel, which collided with a ferry last month in Talisay, Cebu, killing 108 people. The ferry sank.

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By bernard l. supetran

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HEN Gen. Paulino Santos landed in the fishing village of Buayan in the southern portion of the Empire Province of Cotabato, little did he know that, decades later, this will be a bustling metropolis to be named after him.

Then the head of the National Land Settlement Administration, the Tarlac military man started a resettlement project for the landless upon the directive of Commonwealth President Manuel Quezon.

Situated in Sarangani Bay, which abounds with tuna, General Santos City has been acknowledged as the country’s “tuna capital” since the 1970s because of its rich catch, which can surpass the aggregate tuna yield of all local fish ports.

So, when GenSan, as it is affectionately called, created a festivity in 1999 to flex its economic and tourism muscle, it can be no other than its trademark aquatic resource—the tuna.

This lush waterworld sizzles to life once more as the city holds the 15th Tuna Festival to mark its 45th charter anniversary. Formerly known as the municipality of Dadiangas in South Cotabato, the master planned city was named after the general and administrator whose vision gave rise to a new urban growth center in the south.

Carnival-themed festival The carnival-themed festival kicked off on September 5 with the colorful Tuna Float Parade, an opening variety show showcasing homegrown entertainment talents and a magnificent fireworks display.

Spicing up the five-day feast is a wide array of special events, culinary activities and sports

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Tuna and More Fun in GenSan

tournaments, such as the duathlon, Jet Ski race, mountain biking and skimboarding, geared at promoting the city as a sports destination.

Mayor Ronnel Rivera said this year’s festivity will continue to focus on the city as a prime destination for conventions, business meetings, culinary tours, nature- and fisheries-based alternative tourism.

He noted that in addition to being a global tuna hub, the city is developing its ecotourism potentials due to its natural getaways, which are unknown to even the most seasoned travelers.

Ecotourism attractions These are the Sansapan Cave Falls; Nopol Hills which offer a breathtaking panorama of Mount Matutum; and the Kalajah Karst, which is being jointly being developed by the Department of Tourism and the city to be one of the country’s best ecoparks.

A scenic zipline at the 5th Mountain Adventure Park in Baragay Olympog provides an adrenaline rush to fun-loving guests as they are transported from one peak to the next.

General Santos City also has

cozy hilltop resorts and restaurants—Mount Sabrina and Sarangani Highlands—in its fringes, overlooking serene Sarangani Bay, which is being explored for touristboat cruises.

Festivities culminated on September 9 with the muchawaited street parade and dance competition with participants clad in ornate fisheriesthemed carnival regalia depicting the bounty of the sea.

The parade also showcased the cultural diversity of the city’s tri-people—the Muslim tribes, lumad indigenous people and Christian populace— who live in harmony in General Santos City which they have called their home.

Tuna powerhouse The local tuna industry employs more than 5,000 workers, hosts the most modern fishport in the country and serves as the backbone of the city’s economy, which also impacts on the neighboring provinces in Region 12.

To harness this booming sector, the country’s leading tuna players came together in the 15th National Tuna Congress and Trade Exhibition on September 6 and 7 at the SM City General Santos to discuss current issues and concerns in the industry.

Led by the Soccsksargen Federation of Fisheries and Allied Industries one of the country’s biggest fisheries’ associations, the gathering will draw vital resolutions to make the tuna industry more resilient and sustainable in the face of global competition and the dwindling resources of the sea.

Joaquin Lu, chairman of the Tuna Congress, said that fore-

most among the resolutions is the call for the creation of the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources from its status of a bureau, to more effectively address national fisheries concerns and provide the country greater leverage in international ministerial conferences and agreements.

The conference also called for congressional action for the rationalization of the Cabotage Law and the formulation of the implementing rules and regulations of the Handline Fishing Law.

Convention City General Santos City is seeing unprecedented growth in the tourism sector with the opening of new hotels, such as Green Leaf, Microtel, San Marco and Roadhouse Inn and a host of boutique hotels which will boost the city’s room inventory in keeping with its thrust of being a convention center in Mindanao.

The recent opening of the SM Trade Hall has provided event organizers ideal venues for exhibitions, meetings and big gatherings, both in the national level and the Brunei-Indonesia Malaysia-PhilippinesEast Asean Growth Area.

New specialty restaurants, coffee shops, bars and entertainment spots are coming up in the city’s recreational colonies, as well as in the big malls—Robinsons Place, KCC and SM City.

With an ever-growing tuna industry and a promising tourism sector, General Santos City has indeed come of age.

Visit www.gensantos.gov. ph for more information on the city. (Business Mirror) n

SEPTEMBER 2013

LONDON

Sun, Sand, Sea in Cebu I

F you still haven’t had enough of the sun, sand, and sea, why don’t you pack your swimwear, take a trip to Cebu, and explore its many pristine white beaches and other wonders?

While Cebu continues to be one of the top tourism brands of the country, even surpassing some of the most popular destinations, there are other places in the belle city of the south that most people are oblivious to or have no knowledge that such clandestine spots exist.

So, why don’t you start your aquatic journey in Pinamungajan? Located between the towns of Aloguinsan and Toledo, it is about two hours drive away from Cebu City via the NagaUling Road or the Carcar-Barili route.

A traveler’s treasure trove, Pinamungajan conceals nature’s riches that are only waiting to be uncovered by adventurous souls. If you’re looking for stunning waterfalls and dark crevices to explore, then this is the place for you.

One of the most visited caves in the town is the Kamangon Cave. The name of the cave came from the Cebuano word kamang which means to crawl. Plunging into the dark crevices of this cave is no joke. One needs to creep on the ground and move at a snail’s

pace to get inside.

While it is quite a challenge to enter this cave, the wonders inside are definitely worth it. The huge stalactite and stalagmite formations are a sight to behold.

Its gleaming ceiling and walls are nature’s gifts to humankind.

Be forewarned: While these wonders are enticing to touch, keep your hands to yourself. The oil and dirt from your hands can damage the formations which took thousands of years to form.

Just one touch of the finger and these formations will die.

Other caves worth exploring are Pangi, Limod, Udlom, Kabyaw, Sinungkulan, Nagkawa, and Naglapus.

After exploring the dark underworld, head to the Tajao Wharf and take a 20-minute boat ride to the Campalabo Islet, a one-hectare pristine sand bar surrounded by diverse marine flora and fauna. During low tide, the white-sand strip is visible from the shores of Pinamungajan.

Another paradise is the Camotes Island, which lies in the northeast of Cebu City.

The island is composed of four small islets namely, Pacijan, Poro, Ponson, and Tulang.

According to local tales, Camotes got its name when some Spaniards asked the native islanders what the island was called. Thinking that the foreign invaders were asking what they were putting in their basket, they answered camotes; hence, the name of the island.

Most travelers who have discovered the charm of Camotes often come here to marvel at the stunning beaches and lake as well as to experience the rich culture and history of the town celebrated through songs and stories by the warm and friendly town folks.

Visit the Pacijan Island and discover the freshwater lake inside the islet, Lake Danao. The 700-hectare fresh body of water is the biggest and only natural lake in Cebu. A bird sanctuary, it is home to the purple heron and the Philippine wild duck.

During the month of March, the locals celebrate the Soli-soli Festival. The soli-soli is a lake grass that grows along Lake Danao which the residents use for weaving baskets and other products.

Can’t get enough of these aquatic wonders? Head on to

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Sumilon Island.

The island has a natural lagoon teeming with high mangroves and natural caves which are often used by fishermen as a refuge during stormy weather; hence the name of the island which means to take refuge.

Surrounded by crystal blue water with a magnificent underwater view of thriving marine ecosystem rich in flora and fauna, the Sumilon Island is a popular dive site in the Visayas. In fact, it has four major dive spots: Garden Eel Plaza, Nikki’s Wall, Coral Landscape, and Julie’s Rock. The different spots provide a panoramic view of the aquatic world, including stunning coral reefs and tropical marine animal species, with occasional sightings of blacktip sharks.

But what sets the island apart is its shifting sandbar. The sandbar changes its shape and shifts locations around the island depending on the season.

On the southern part of the island are the lighthouse, a historical watchtower built in the 19th century to warn the townspeople about the coming slavers and marauders, and the Baluarte.

A few kilometers away from the busy district of Bogo City is a small, enchanting island that is fast becoming a favorite dive site because of its stunning aquatic garden.

A secluded coralline islet situated between Cebu and Leyte, the Capitancillo Island was named after an American navy captain, named Captain Cillo, whose ship was anchored on its shores during the war.

The island remains uninhabited, but some fishermen use the island as a haven. They usually head to this island to have their lunch, take a break from fishing, to fix their nets, and sometimes to dry their catch. The only structure that can be found in the island is the solar-powered lighthouse, sitting amidst the remains of an old structure which was built in the 1950s. (Manila Bulletin) n

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SEPTEMBER APRIL 2012 2013

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OFW Dependents to take scholarship qualifying exam

S

OME 501 In the region, the dependents examination will be of Overseas conducted in two Filipino batches – in the Workers in Western morning and in the Visayas passed the afternoon - in desinitial evaluation and ignated test venues will take the qualifyin the six provinces. ing examination for However, the test will the Education for be given only in the Development Scholmorning in the provarship Program for ince of Guimaras. school year 2014 of For Iloilo, the test will the Overseas Workbe conducted at the ers Welfare AdminisCentral Philippine tration.

University College Conie Dinarao, of Engineering with Overseas Workers 249 examinees and Welfare Officer II of in Negros Occicental OWWA 6, said the at the Technological EDSP qualifying exUniversity of the Philamination will deterippines, Talisay City mine the top 100 exwith 130 examinees.

FULL PAGE AD aminees who will be The program has included in the new helped 39 qualified set of the agency’s OFW dependents in Dependents of OFWs will take the scholarship qualifying exam this month for school year 2014.

EDSP scholars for the region to pursue 2014. their college educaEDSP scholars have tion since 2009 until versity in the country with a ing examination will be adminthe opportunity to pursue a March 2013. maximum of P60,000 grant per istered by the Department of four-to-five year bacclaurate school year.

Science and Technology natiocourse in any college or uniwith full news from PIA Dinarao said the EDSP qualify- wide on September 22, 2013.

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EMBASSY NEWS WHAT’S ON 2013 Migration Advocacy and Media (MAM) Awards LONDON

LONDON

I

n recogniernment and private metion of the dia organizations in the significant Philippines and abroad, role of in raising public awarethe meness on issues on Filidia in information pino migration (i.e., hudissemination and man trafficking, illegal advocacy of migrarecruitment, brain drain tion and developand brain circulation, rement, the Migration mittance flows, political Advocacy and Media crisis, families left be(MAM) Awards was hind by migrants, etc.) conceived in 2011 by advocating the cause of the Commission on Filipinos overseas, and Filipinos Overseas promoting a positive im(CFO) for the Celeage of Filipinos overseas. bration of the Month More details and inforof Overseas Filipinos mation on the awards, and International including the NominaMigrants Day in the tion Form, may be downPhilippines in Deloaded here: cember every year. http://philembassy-uk.

Established in 2007 org/2013-migration-adby virtue of Admin- Foriegn nationals can now stay visa-free for 30 days in the Philippines from the previous period of 21 days. vocacy-and-media-mamistrative Order 202, awards. the IAC is chaired by the Philseas. institutions and practitioners ippine Migrants Rights Watch The MAM Awards recognize in the fields of print, radio, (PMRW) and co-chaired by the with full news from the PH the positive and significant movie and television, advertisCommission on Filipinos OverEmbassy in London contributions of media outlets, ing and internet from the gov-

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WHAT’S ON

COMMUNITY 13 Oct. 2013

13 Jul - 12 Oct ‘13

12 Oct. 2013

Pinoy In Norwich Aksyong Samahan Basketball League 2013

Filipino Food Festival

Venue: The Centrepiece Church’s Hall, Bank Street, Ashford, Kent Contact: Laurie Sheppard 01233 629428, 07752 274592 enquiries@filipinofoodfestival.co.uk

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Basketball League 2013 13 July — 12 October every Sat. except 14 Sept.

31 Oct. 2013 Sounds and Sights of the 1st Halloween Mardi Gras

Filipino Basketball League (Sunderland) Venue: Sandhill Sports Complex, Grindon Lane, Sunderland, Tyne and Wear SR3 4EN

Venue: City Academy Norwich (CAN), Bluebell Road, Norwich NR4 7LP. Contact: Fred Venzon (fmvenzon@ yahoo.com)

Contact: Mr Ric Macalalad 07450523900

30 Nov. 2013

1 November 2013

Annual Dance Competition - Philippine Folkdance, Pride of Culture Venue: Sion-Manning RC Catholic Girls’ School, London, W10 6EL

A Night of Laughter and Halloween Comedy Show

FULL PAGE AD Venue: Penarth

Venue: TBA Contact: Lorrie Fordan (BFAB Vice Chairman) bfab0359@yahoo. co.uk

Conservative Club, Penarth, Vale of Glamorgan CF64 2EZ

Camarines Sur Filipino Community UK Annual Dance Competition

Contact: 07947344422 07908581062 07980557467

Contact: Hugh 07445301468 / Linda 07572418398

E: camsur_uk@ yahoo.co.uk

9-18 Nov. 2013

“Dear teeh!!” K Brosas UK Tour 2013 Venue: Bristol (8 Nov) Newcastle (9 Nov) Leeds (10 Nov) Cheltenham (13 Nov) Swindon (15 Nov) Belfast (16 Nov) London (17 Nov) Peterborough (18 Nov)

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FR MARCH 2012

P H I L I P P I N E S VOLUME 1 NO. 1 n ISSUE NO. 1

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Palawan’s Underground River Sparks Tourism Boom

Contact: www.stardragon-

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