Splash September 2014 by Splash 'Pinas

LONDON

SEPTEMBER 2014

Splash PHILIPPINES

2 16 32

Splash PHILIPPINES Splash PHILIPPINES

SEPTEMBER APRIL 2012 2014 SEPTEMBER 2014

LONDON LONDON

Verbatim

Magpahinga ka na. There are other good people. Constitutionalist Fr. Joaquin Bernas’ advice to President Benigno Aquino III amid proposals to lift the term limit of the president to allow Aquino to extend his six-year term

Ito ang problema: maraming gustong ipagawa ang mamamayan sa gobyerno. . . Very demanding lahat ng tao. Demanding, pero ayaw naman nila magbayad ng buwis. Saan tayo pupunta niyan?

Internal Revenue Commissioner Kim Henares, on why the government is having difficulty meeting its tax collection targets

Ayaw ko ng FULL PAGE AD pulitika. Rebolusyonaryo ako, hindi ako politician. Action star Robin Padilla, rejecting suggestions to join politics as many of his showbiz colleagues have done

Kung ang vice mayor nakinabang, siguro mas higit nakinabang ang mayor dito. . . Imposibleng hindi nakinabang ang aking mayor. ‘Yon po ang kalakaran.

Former Makati City Vice Mayor Nestor Mercado, admitting before a Senate hearing that he benefitted financially from the alleged overpriced Makati parking building which was constructed when Vice President Jejomar Binay was mayor of Makati City

Good boy naman ako, e. Kahit maraming girls, pa-smile-smile lang ako... All bark, no bite.

Richard Gomez, on why his wife, Leyte Congresswoman Lucy Torres-Gomez, trusts him and does not worry about his playboy image

That line is the refuge of the corrupt. Senator Antonio Trillanes, on Vice President Jejomar Binay’s retort that the charges of corruption against him and his family are “recycled”

SEPTEMBER 2014 APRIL 2012

LONDON

FULL PAGE AD

Splash PHILIPPINES

SEPTEMBER 2014

LONDON

Filipino Teacher Wins Asia’s Nobel Prize Halasan poses with the bust of the late President Ramon Magsaysay.

EACHER and Ramon Magsaysay awardee Randy Halasan not only taught lessons to the students of the Matigsalug tribe —he also helped mold the indigenous group into a community. But his first impressions upon arriving in Sitio Pegalongan, one of the remotest villages in the mountainous hinterland of Davao Del Sur were not entirely pleasant. “It was a nightmare for me when DepEd (Department of Education) assigned me to that school,” he said. “There’s no electricity, there’s no [cellphone] signal, there’s no television —wala talaga.” He stays in a makeshift house in Sitio Pegalongan during weekdays. It takes Halasan seven hours each week to reach Pegalongan Elementary School from his family’s home in Davao City: two hours by bus, an hour by habal-habal over 10 kilometers of extremely rough roads, and four hours of trekking Mt. Bangkilan and crossing two rivers. (Habal-habal is a modified motorcycle with an extended seat protruding over the back wheel to accommodate from 4 to 12 passengers.) In a forum entitled “The Power of a Teacher’s Leader-

Halasan among the Matigsalog indigenous group. ship: Harnessing the Development Potentials of a Community” last Aug. 28 at the Ramon Magsaysay Center in Manila, Halasan shared that he first doubted whether or not he could last more than a month in Pegalongan. “When I started to work in Matigsalug, sabi ko, I want to transfer kasi na-miss ko yung city life… but as I continued, I began to love them for living very simple lives.” Before, the indigenous group was very wary of the idea of education. “Education is a concept new to the tribe. As long as they can eat, that is their first priority,” he said. “But when I went there, I made sure to teach the value of education, because through education, we can overcome poverty.”

A ‘Superman’ in Pegalongan Pegalongan only had two classrooms and two teachers when Halasan first came in 2007. Now, the school has nine classrooms and nine teachers, with the addition of academic levels up to Grade 9.

For Halasan, the first graduation held by the school back in 2009 was one that he will never forget. The students and their families cried because of the joy of finally being able to see a toga. “They cried because it was their first time to see a toga… they cannot imagine that [their children] can finish elementary.” It was instances like these that triggered Halasan to do more for the community. He has taken on multiple roles in the school. “So I was the first teacher at the high school, and at the same time, I was the principal, grade school teacher, high school teacher, janitor —lahat.” In March 2015, Matigsalug will have its first college graduate. “He will be the first student to graduate in college -- at siya ang magmamana ng [aking mga] itinuro,” Halasan said with pride.

Growing with the community Aside from teaching, he also introduced new ideas such as planting crops as source of livelihood, proper documenta-

tion of ancestral domains, and the concept of equality. “We have already planted durable crops such as cacao, coffee, rubber. Kasi pag natanim na ‘yan, magkakaroon sila ng magandang kita… the ancestral domain is very wide but walang tanim na magaganda.” He added, “Sinasabi ko na huwag kalimutang i-preserve yung land, kasi marami na pong mayayaman na bumibili ng ancestral lands.” As the years passed, Halasan became integrated into the council of elders and other groups within the community. He has worked with the leaders of Matigsalug in deciding on community-wide changes and projects. Though he has the option of living an easier life in the city, he chose to grow with and help the community, which made his stay very fulfilling. “I could’ve chosen an easier life in the city [pero] ‘pag napamahal ka na sa tao, hindi ka mag-aatubili tungkol sa sweldo.” His words of wisdom for aspiring teachers: Eagerness to teach is the key to be an effective educator. “Hindi kailangang maging matalino, kasi sa pagtuturo, if you are eager, kayang itaguyod.” Halasan was conferred the Ramon Magsaysay Emerging Leaders award on Aug. 31. He continues to work with the indigenous Matigsalug tribe and is currently the school incharge of Pegalongan Elementary School in Davao. (ABS-CBNnews.com) n

SEPTEMBER 2014 APRIL 2012

LONDON

Splash PHILIPPINES

PHL is most improved country in global competitiveness

HE PHILIPPINES is the “most improved country overall” in terms of global competitiveness in the last four years, reflecting reforms that lifted the economy from the doldrums, the World Economic Forum (WEF) said. Philippine Ambassador to Switzerland Leslie J. Baja – who was present during the official release of the report in Geneva – said the Philippines ranked 52nd or seven notches up from 59th last year in terms of global competitiveness. It climbed 33 notches since 2010, “the largest over that period among all countries studied,” WEF said in the report. Baja said WEF officials noted the Philippines has consistently risen in the Global Competitiveness Index (GCI), going up 23 notches since 2010 during the start of the Aquino government. Good governance Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima said the Philippines’ leap in the competitive index is a clear

FULL PAGE AD

The Philippines is the most improved country in terms of global competitiveness overall.

indication of “good governance is good economics” platform of the Aquino administration. “The role of the Filipino people’s ingenuity and creativity in driving investors’ confidence is again showcased in this report as marked by the improvement

in our ‘innovation’ pillar ranking, up to 52nd this year from 69th last year,” he said. The country’s ranking was also largely influenced by governance and fiscal reforms set by the Aquino administration, Budget and Management Sec-

retary Florencio “Butch” Abad said. “The WEF has recognized the administration’s efforts to curb the very same corruption that has long stymied our progress. What we are now seeing is that our governance reforms are bearing fruit. We’re pleased that the world agrees,” Abad said. In Southeast Asia, the Philippines ranked fifth out of the 10 countries, following Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia. “The country has overtaken Brunei and placed ahead of Vietnam, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Cambodia and Myanmar,” Baja said. The Philippines is also among the Top 5 “Emerging and Developing” countries in Asia, next to Malaysia, China, Thailand and Indonesia, the ambassador noted. Switzerland was still the most competitive country followed by Singapore, the United States, and Finland, according to WEF. (GMA News)

Splash PHILIPPINES

SEPTEMBER 2014

LONDON

By patricio n. abinales

AM sure many Filipino immigrant families have faced this dilemma and still have to resolve it. They confront this quandary over raising children in a place they now call home. To what extent will a Filipino migrant family allow its kids to grow up American (or British, or Australian, or . . .), imbibing the values of individualism, a fierce defense of one’s freedoms of expression, religiosity but also secularism, and the association of happiness with wealth? In the main, Filipino families allow their offspring to be thoroughly perfused by these values. After all, the ultimate aim of “becoming American” is the latter’s total integration into the new society. Immigrant Pinoys never envision their children going back and living in the old country. One therefore understands why, when the balikbayan returns for a visit, there is this conscious attempt at distinguishing oneself from the former kababayan. This distance is evidenced by a thrasonical refusal to stop talking in English and switch to one’s argot of birth and the constant lament of the awful life in Filipinas when compared to urbane Midwest America. The message here is superiority and the gratification of having been able to escape the miseries of the Third World. In actuality, however, there is no escaping the influence of the old country. Old habits never go away despite the California twang or an exhibition of the latest fashion from Anne Taylor. You notice these slippages when parents set up boundaries when it comes to family ties and religion. Almost always, the first complaint about raising children is the difficulty in harmo-

In the old country, setting kids on the right path and making them appreciate the importance of respecting elders involves use of the rod.

Raising An American:

A Filipino Parent’s Dilemma nizing some valued practices back home with those of the new place. Many a family I’ve met whine about how American norms constrict the ability to chasten one’s children. In the old country, setting kids on the right path and making them appreciate the importance of respecting elders includes the use of the rod. You insult Auntie, you get a whack on the head; you shout back at Grandma, the belt comes off Father’s pants and you get whipped until you apologize. Alas, in America (and elsewhere in the western world) these actions are illegal: their brutality endangers the child and makes the parent liable for prosecution and jail time. Many Filipino migrant families see these less as mechanisms to protect the young but instruments that turn youngsters

Celebration of Flores de Mayo in Austin, Texas into spoiled brats. To them, the American preference for verbal admonition to chastise kids – “Go to your room! You are grounded for one week!” – is a feeble counter-measure; it only emboldens juveniles to break family rules or probe parental weaknesses. So, almost always, conversations turn into grumblings over the inability to influence the next generation’s mindset. These chit-chat often ends in a despon-

dent note, a morose surrender to the reality that there is nothing Filipino in them, saved perhaps their physical attributes. So you want your child to become completely American, yet you also like some of Filipino values passed on to them. Every parent wants to brag that the little girl is truly American now, but she still possesses a Filipino soul. One can easily call this attitude as hypocritical, suggestive of the belief that we Pinoys are seguristas. But I think there is something more profound that is in play here, and this is the migrant parents’ fear of having no control over their offspring’s fate and the prospect of the next generations increasingly having nothing in common with them. This is one of the painful ironies of raising children in this place. The individualist aspiration to do good and be happy also means that our sons and daughters cannot look back (for what is there to look back to?) but “move on” as individuals – the most basic of all American pilgrimages. Filipino parents, however, grow up in a society that values family attachments across and within generations. Individual identity is seamlessly fused with the family name. Personal ambitions are also clan goals and to go to it alone without concern for family is courting risk to be ostracized from the tribe. The clash of how life should be is thus inevitable, and lacking a knowledge of American family and social life, the parents almost always lose. They are left with this odd feeling that in helping their children attain success they have achieved the “American dream.” But the accomplishment comes with the painful admission that their progenies are not, and will never be, Filipinos. (Rappler.com) (The author works in the middle of nowhere to send money back home to Ozamiz City. A single parent, he is raising a 10-year-old daughter.) n

SEPTEMBER 2014 APRIL 2012

LONDON

FULL PAGE AD

Splash PHILIPPINES

753

Splash PHILIPPINES

SEPTEMBER 2014

LONDON

Skilled, Educated

Filipino Maids Becoming Scarce

F it had been 10 years earlier, Rosalyn Camcaman would have grabbed at the chance to work as a maid in Singapore. But things have changed, and Camcaman would rather stay in Laguna, a largely agricultural province south of Manila, and run her Internet cafe. “The salary in Singapore is not worth what I will have to give up,” she said. She has a two-year-old daughter. Camcaman would have been a shoo-in as a maid. She is 28, has a degree in education, has a good command of English, and has been apprenticed through most of her teenage life in the ways of domesticity by her mother, an excellent cook and homemaker. But the likes of her are no longer enticed by what two decades ago had been the Singapore dream: a job that paid six times what most Filipinos at the time made, an escape from an impoverished nation that offered few opportunities, even to the educated. Camcaman said she earns about 10,000 pesos (US$228.99) to 15,000 pesos (US$343.39) a month from her internet shop, about the same as what a maid in Singapore gets. It isn’t much, but it’s just extra income, she said. Her husband works as a machine operator in Dubai. He provides most of the family’s income. “Even if I had opted to teach, I’d still make more than I would have in Singapore,” she said. Filipinas began arriving in Singapore as maids in 1984, beginning with just 5,800 that year but with numbers ballooning to 60,000 by 1994.

Filipino maids in Hong Kong gather outside a mall during their rest day.

Foreign maids in Hong Kong protest inhuman treatment and hard working conditions. Labour department data for 1994 showed that four in five came from the more developed island of Luzon and three in 10 had lived in metropolitan Manila, the capital region. Sixty-six per cent of the women were married, and most were between 20 and 29 years old. Over half had a college or university degree or had at least some undergraduate education. One in three had some years of high school education, and only 12 per cent did not progress past primary school. In the years after 1995, the demographics largely remained the same, except that the median age shifted to the 30-40 range. But growing prosperity, better job opportunities and

rising wages in the Philippines have changed things. Its economy has averaged 6.3 per cent growth in the last four years while the minimum daily wage has nearly tripled from 165 pesos in 1996 to 466 pesos as of last year. Teachers now earn over 18,500 pesos (US$423.63). A booming business process outsourcing sector is also providing job opportunities to new graduates, with an average salary of 57,000 pesos (US$1305.24). Now, most of the maids going to Singapore come from the poorest regions in the south, like Maguindanao province, where three in five live below the poverty line, said recruitment industry consultant Emmanuel Geslani.

The new recruits are also younger – 18 to 29 years old – as the pool now comprises women who have dropped out of school and are unable to secure even part-time jobs. By and large, said Geslani, Singaporeans, have had to lower the bar, with skilled, educated maids becoming scarce. “Now, as long as the maids can speak and write English, it’s okay with Singaporeans,” he said. Better paying factory jobs in Taiwan, South Korea, and Japan are also hiring Filipino women that might have once worked as domestic helpers in Hong Kong, employment agencies said. Now potential employers in Hong Kong who previously had several candidates to choose from when recruiting a new maid are now down to only one. After growing rapidly in recent years, the overall number of Filipinos employed in Hong Kong, which is mostly domestic helpers, declined slightly last year. And the overall number of Filipinos working in Singapore has virtually plateaued after years of fast growth. The shift comes as President Benigno Aquino is championing billions of dollars in infrastructure and development projects designed to build up the country’s provincial towns, a push that is drawing migrants back to once-sleepy towns. There’s no evidence yet that fewer Filipinos overall are actually heading overseas for work, and overall domestic unemployment remains high. But given the country’s strong economic growth forecast, Filipino workers from around the world may be coming home in larger numbers in years to come. (The Straits Times) n

SEPTEMBER 2014 APRIL 2012

LONDON

FULL PAGE AD

Splash PHILIPPINES

953

Splash PHILIPPINES

SEPTEMBER 2014

LONDON

By jessica zafra

RAFFIC has been a fact of life in Metro Manila for as long as we can remember. We could say that it circumscribes our lives. When you choose where to buy a house, where to shop, where to watch movies, where to dine out, or which school to send your children to, you factor in the time you will spend in traffic getting from point A to point B. We’re so accustomed to gridlock that when someone arrives late for an appointment, it’s cliché to cite it as an excuse. As lifelong veterans of traffic, we formulate explanations as to why it is so bad. These explanations are not thorough or accurate; in many cases, they’re not even right. They are increasingly desperate attempts to make sense of the black hole that swallows us up every time we go out on the street. They constitute a mantra of urban life. The traffic is heavy because it is raining. Because it is rush hour. Because it is Friday. Because it is payday. Because there’s been a vehicular accident. Because the highway is being repaired. Because there are shopping malls right along the main thoroughfares. Because the skyway is being constructed. Because the truck ban has been lifted. Because the trains aren’t running. Because there are too many colorum buses. Because there is no urban planning.

Traffic Has Eaten Our Lives

Because the motorists don’t follow basic road rules. Because this and that. Viewed individually, these explanations are absurd. Why should it take an hour to get from Edsa-Ayala to Edsa-Guadalupe because it is raining? Well, because everyone takes their car because they expect all the buses and trains to be crowded. Why will all the buses and trains be crowded? Because it’s raining. Obviously, logic is not the guiding principle here. We just want any kind of sense, because we have to deal with the truth that several hours of our lives have disappeared, and we’ll never get them back. By now we should be used to the traffic. We survived the construction of the LRT, the Edsa-Ortigas flyover, the MRT—projects that were supposed to make travel across this expanding metropolis more convenient. Did they? We

The traffic is heavy because it is raining, it is rush hour, it is Friday. . . don’t remember. All we know is that these days, we think twice before leaving the house. Is it worth the aggravation? Commuting is like being abducted and trapped in a cramped steel box with no idea what is going on. It’s like the daily bartolina (Not to make light of the actual bartolina, but we needed a strong image). Time that should’ve been spent on work, family, hobbies; private time for a little peace and quiet—swallowed up in the din of car horns and curses and radio reports that all say the same thing: Heavy traffic. One need not be a statistician to know that millions of pesos in productivity are wasted each day on our clogged streets. Traffic is supposed to be an effect of progress and development. It is to be expected. Then why has there been no preparation for this inevitability? All the half-assed traffic management measures merely react to the worsening situation instead of anticipating these problems. Our traffic management may actually be making traffic worse. Our friend notes that

the stop-go timing of our traffic lights is longer than that in other countries. This results in longer queues of vehicles. Motorists usually react—shift gears—only when the cars in front of them move. There is a reaction time per vehicle. Multiply this reaction time by the number of cars in the queue, and you can see how much time is wasted. In other countries, the cycle is shorter and the traffic lights are often connected to sensors that adjust the timing of the light changes. When traffic aides take over from the traffic lights, the situation often becomes worse. Traffic aides usually have the vehicles stop and go in five to ten minutes. They try to empty the road of cars before allowing the cars in the perpendicular road to go. Add the long wait to amplified reaction times, plus inertia from long idling, and traffic gets even worse. What is being done to alleviate the traffic problem other than admonitions to the public to be patient, and vague assurances that “something” is being done? When do we get actual results? We want our lives back! Politicians have been taking the trains to experience the mass transit situation firsthand. There’s an idea. Let’s require the people in charge of transportation, mass transit and traffic management to take public transportation to and from work every day. How else will they know what they must do? How can they do their jobs properly if they do not understand the soulsucking horror of Metro Manila traffic? The people you’re supposed to serve are stuck on the road. Go and join them. (InterAksyon.com) n

SEPTEMBER 2014 APRIL 2012

LONDON

FULL PAGE AD

Splash PHILIPPINES 1153

Splash PHILIPPINES

Gretchen Barretto and Richard Gomez

SEPTEMBER 2014

Heart Evangelista and Sen. Chiz Escudero

LONDON

Iza Calzado and Piolo Pascual

Kim Chiu and Xian Lim

Angelica Panganiban and John Lloyd Cruz

Maja Salvador and Gerald Anderson

Best-Dressed Celebrities at 8th Annual Star Magic Ball 2014

HE best and the brightest people in the entertainment industry gathered in the most star-studded event this year – the 8th Star Magic Ball. As per usual, over 300 personalities walked down the red carpet on a Saturday night (September 6) at the Makati Shangri-La Hotel, with the theme “Hollywood Glam,” with black, white and silver as motif.

Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla

Bea Alonzo and Zanjoe Marudo

SEPTEMBER 2014 APRIL 2012

LONDON

Splash PHILIPPINES 1353

A 1st for PHL: Pinoy justice elected to Int’l Commission of Jurists in Geneva

DOLFO AZCUNA, former associate justice of the Supreme Court has been elected as one of the new commissioners of the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ), an eminent international human rights non-governmental organization. Azcuna is the first Filipino who will sit in the ICJ. He is currently the chancellor of the Philippine Judicial Academy, which he has been leading since 2009. Azcuna was recommended by the regional director after taking part in several activities in Myanmar, Cambodia and Thailand. “I have to take part in their activities in the region and represent the ICJ in certain for a and attend the annual meeting in Geneva,” he explained. The ICJ is composed of 60 eminent judges and lawyers from all regions of the world. It “promotes and protects human rights through the Rule of Law, by using its unique legal expertise to develop and strengthen national and international justice systems.” It is based in Geneva, Switzerland, composed of lawyers dedicated to ensuring respect for international human rights standards through the law. Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said Azcuna is “a shining example of Filipino excellence in the field of law.” “We are confident that ICJ will benefit from his long years as a jurist and as a trainor of judges. The first Filipino to be appointed to the ICJ, Justice

FULL PAGE AD

Adolfo Azcuna, former SC judge, is the first Filipino to be elected to the International Commission of Jurists in Geneva. Azcuna will serve a 5-year term as Commissioner commencing from August 12, 2014, and while the ICJ’s headquarters are in Geneva, he will continue to work from Manila.” Azcuna also served as presidential legal counsel during the Cory Aquino administration. He was one of the 48 members of the Constitutional Commission to draft the charter that would build a stronger foundation for democracy following the People Power revolt at EDSA in February 1986. Years later, as a magistrate of the high court, he would introduce another concept that highlights the protection of

human rights. He is the father of the “writ of Amparo” – which determines, among others, “the responsibility, or at least accountability for the enforced disappearance for purposes of imposing the appropriate remedies to address the disappearance.” “This is a recognition of the work of Philja in placing human rights and the rule of law at the heart of our training of judges here and occasionally abroad, and assures the support and cooperation of that body in our continuing work,” Azcuna said. “I thank Philja and the Supreme Court and assure them that I endeavor to continue

serving our people as a servant-leader Philja chancellor, strengthened by the ICJ support and network,” he said. Azcuna, currently the Philja chancellor, was one of the five new commissioners announced last week by the ICJ. Azcuna, 75, served as a Supreme Court justice from 2002 to 2009, after which he was appointed Philja chancellor. He previously served as Philippine National Bank chair, government press secretary, presidential legal counsel and member of the 1971 Constitutional Convention and the 1986 Constitutional Commission.

Splash PHILIPPINES

SEPTEMBER 2014

LONDON

By nestor torre

Lyca is the most promising candidate to date for the “new Nora” crown.

FOR many years now, TV-film producers have been eagerly searching for “the new Nora Aunor,” a child singer-actress from the “wrong” side of the tracks, whose golden voice and dusky Pinay looks would captivate the fiercely empathetic masses and propel her to genuine superstardom. Many eager aspirants have tried to do exactly that, with varying levels of success.

Is Lyca Gairanod the New Nora Aunor? The most effective aspirant was wee Aiza Seguerra, who was as spontaneously quotable as Niño Muhlach before her and was, like Nora, “very Pinay”— but wasn’t at the time known for her singing (as she is now). So Aiza did become a big star in her own right, but a “new Nora,” she wasn’t. What about Janice de Belen? She was very popular as a child star, but didn’t have a powerful singing voice and was obviously middle class, rather than impoverished. Julie Vega? Again, very popular, but too tisay. So for a very long time, Nora wasn’t “succeeded” by anybody else—not even her adoptive daughters, Lotlot and Matet de Leon—because like Julie, they were tisay. Well, don’t look now, but a lively prospect as the “new Nora” has just entered the show biz scene by way of The Voice Kids, the first winner of

Like the juvenile Nora before her, Lyca is “vulnerably” tiny, looks duskily Pinay, has a powerful singing voice and comes from an impoverished background. which, 9-year-old Lyca Gairanod, is, like the juvenile Nora before her, “vulnerably” tiny, looks duskily Pinay, has a powerful singing voice, comes from an impoverished background, has become her large family’s breadwinner—and has won the hearts of the multitude.

Nora Aunor was Tawag ng Tanghalan champion at age 14. Wee superstar A perfect fit? Could be. Will she actually emerge as a wee superstar in her own right, become a major musical-drama draw even in adulthood, win a ton of acting awards, make a humongous pile of money, lose

most of it, become famously or infamously controversial, almost become a National Artist, and marry Christopher de Leon in groovy wedding rites at the beach? Ah, maybe not Christopher de Leon? We’re being facetious, of course, but our point is that, while Lyca is our most promising candidate to date for the “new Nora” crown, the actual outcome of her ascendancy depends on many different factors, and how each of them plays out in the next few months and years. Mainly, it depends on how she’s handled by her parents and new managers, handlers and mentors.

Xerox copy If they too cynically and cleverly copy “the Nora formula for super-success,” that would definitely be a problem, because Lyca would consequently be dismissed as a “Xerox copy” of the original Superstar, and thus end up as second-best. No, Lyca’s handlers now have the infinitely more difficult task of figuring out what makes her click as Lyca—and then focus on how to further enhance that X factor, not “the Nora effect,” which can never be duplicated without coming off as hokey and exploitative. The question now is, do Lyca’s new handlers have what it takes to insightfully take this next big step? Their new initiatives in the next few months will provide the answer to that crucial question. Yes, it’s all about this little girl, but the viewing and listening public’s perception of her will be heavily influenced by how she’s “projected” in the media—and that’s not her decision. We suppose her handlers will be well-compensated, so it’s their job to see that she succeeds to a financially profitable, “super” extent—without their losing firm focus on “this little girl,” Lyca, who’s on her way to stupendous success— hopefully her way! (Philippine Daily Inquirer) n

SEPTEMBER 2014 APRIL 2012

LONDON

Splash PHILIPPINES 1553

5 THINGS OFWs should consider before buying real estate in PH

tions,” she said.

HAT ARE the most important things that an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) should consider when buying real estate property, like a house or a condominium, in the Philippines? International real estate services firm KMC MAG Group Inc. gave several factors that Filipinos should consider. Ironically, money isn’t the most important consideration. 1. What is the purpose for buying a property? According to Angela Manese, Residential Division Manager of KMC MAG Group Inc., OFWs should first think about what they intend to do with the property once they have bought it. “Are they buying it so they can eventually live in it or are they buying it to eventually use it as an investment opportunity which means to rent it out or to sell it,” Manese said in an interview after a round table discussion with reporters Thursday. “Generally among our Southeast Asian neighbors, acquiring a property in Manila is more affordable per square meter than buying [in other countries],” she said. When they know what their ultimate goal with the property is, then another set of factors will have to be considered. 2. Does the developer have a proven track record? “The factors they need to consider if they intend to live in it is, who the developer is and does that developer really deliver what they promise to deliver,” Manese said. The usual practice when it comes to residential units is they are sold through preselling which means the buyer does not really see yet what they are buying. This makes it important to consider the track record of the developer. “If they intend to live in it, it’s all a matter of personal preference. What matters to them, like do they want to be close to a mall or is that too noisy, do they want it more private, do they want to be near hospitals, do they want to be near a

FULL PAGE AD

The Philippines is the most improved country in terms of global competitiveness overall.

school? It’s more of a lifestyle choice,” she said. 3. Will the property be offered for rent? How and for whom? “It’s a different story altogether if they’re buying to eventually have it rented out,” Menase said. A crucial factor that many OFWs forget is who will take care of the property while the OFW is still out of the country. “Their families are in the province and the property is in BGC or in Makati so when a tenant wants to have a look at the unit, where is the key?” she said. “It’s very crucial who looks after the property while they are away. The logistics is one thing that they forget and it’s sad because some agents are only looking to make a profit. They inform a buyer that they will take care of renting it out but after the property has been sold, the agent disappears,” Menase added. 4. Buy low and sell high is not as easy as it sounds in the real estate market. For some OFWs looking to buy real estate in order to sell it again a couple of years later when the market price has appreciated, Manese warned that it’s not as simple as it sounds. The simplicity of the transaction is overstated because properties are not as easy to sell as most people expect, Ma-

nese said. “Our suggestion about that is, you buy, but your timeline has to be expanded a little. It’s not like tomorrow you will be able to sell it immediately. It’s a matter of managing expecta-

5. What do foreigners think about the Philippine real estate industry? Many foreigners have bought residential units in the country because they like it here, Manese said. “In general, some Singaporeans invest in the country because they like it. A lot of them enjoy the Philippines,” she said. “They think ‘I enjoy the country and I visit it a lot. Why not buy a property [in the Philippines] instead of buying [in Singapore].’ It’s like a win-win situation for them,” Manese added. Many foreigners also come in to buy property which they either rent-out or wait a few years then sell it. “If not for investment purposes, it’s their personal preference. They just like the country that much, or they have a family here and plan to settle down. It just makes sense to invest in property here,” Manese said. (Inquirer)

16 32

Splash PHILIPPINES

SEPTEMBER APRIL 2012 2014

LONDON

FULL PAGE AD

SEPTEMBER 2014 APRIL 2012

LONDON

FULL PAGE AD

Splash PHILIPPINES 1753

Splash PHILIPPINES

SEPTEMBER 2014

LONDON

Showbuzz Pnoy is Best Man in Chiz-Heart wedding

Toni: If Paul proposes, I will say yes TONI Gonzaga is ready to become Mrs. Soriano. The 30-year-old TV hostactress-singer said that while her boyfriend of over 8 years, film director Paul Soriano, has yet to propose, she would readily agree to getting married when the time comes. “Sabi ko, ngayon, kung darating ‘yong proposal, yayakapin ko ito ng buo at tatanggapin ko. Ngayon wala pa talaga. Akala ng iba oo, pero wala pa,” Toni said in a TV interview. Noting that her ideal age to get married is 30, Toni said she is not discounting the possibility of getting married to Paul before the year ends. “I already turned 30, but the year is not yet over. Maybe at the end of 2014, who knows? I’m ready for the next chapter of my life,” she said. Paul has similarly been

PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III will stand as best man for Sen. Chiz Escudero when the senator weds Heart Evangelista in an exclusive resort on Balesin Island in Quezon province on February 15, 2015, a day after Heart turns 30. “The President has agreed to be best man at my wedding, not a [principal] sponsor,” the 44-year-old Escudero said. “Ayaw na magninong sa kasal, kasi may pamahiin na hindi makakasal kapag nagninong ang binata,” Escudero added in jest. He said he asked the President to be his best man at least two months ago, even before he proposed marriage to the 29year-old actress last Aug. 23.

Escudero said PNoy is one of his closest friends for over 15 years now. Escudero described the President, who is also godfather to his two children from a previous marriage, as the “most honest President the country has ever had.” The news of the celebrity couple’s wedding plans was mired in controversy when TV personality Cesca Litton and her fiancé claimed that as far back as May they had reserved February 14 as their wedding date in Balesin but their reservation was “bumped off” by the resort management in favor of Chiz and Heart. Litton said the mix-up was all the fault of the resort.

Daniel wants to be a Filipino vocal of his hopes to marry Toni. The 32-year-old directorproducer, in an interview in June, said he plans to propose to Toni “very soon,” once their respective schedules allow them to have a break. “I know there are a couple of things that she wants to do some more before we can really sit down and plan the rest of our lives,” he said at the time. “But that’s definitely somewhere out there real soon.”

BRAZILIAN-Japanese model and Pinoy Big Brother All In winner Daniel Matsunaga wants to obtain Filipino citizenship through naturalization. Daniel also intends to convince his family in Brazil to live in the Philippines. “I’m planning to bring my whole family here. I want to stay here for the rest of my life,” Daniel says. “I’m just waiting for my father to retire from his job. He said maybe after two years,” he

said in a TV interview. The model, who is also a professional football player, says he wants to join Azkals to play for the Philippines. “I’ll try to enroll in Azkals. I really want to be part of it. Every opportunity that God has given me in the Philippines is amazing. I never had this in my entire life so I really love this country,” Daniel says. Amid criticisms that he did not deserve to win the hit reality show Pinoy Big Brother because of his citizenship, Daniel reiterates that he considers himself a true Filipino. Daniel is an ex-boyfriend of Heart Evangelista.

SEPTEMBER 2014

LONDON

Splash PHILIPPINES

Showbuzz Billy goes berserk at police precinct SINGER and TV host Billy Crawford was arrested on Sept. 7 after authorities said he went berserk in a police station in Taguig City, at one point causing a glass door of the station to break into pieces. Charges of malicious mischief and disobedience to a person in authority have been filed against the It’s Showtime host. Police said Billy arrived in the police station at around 4:30 a.m. and asked the two policewomen on duty that he be put in a detention cell. But when he was being restrained,

he allegedly resisted, forcing the two policewomen to call for reinforcement. Billy was handcuffed and jailed when the additional policemen helped. In an interview with reporters at the Taguig police headquarters Billy apologized for the incident. He said he “did not see anything wrong with what (he) did.” He said when he was angry, he was not “plastic.” “If there’s someone that speaks derogatorily to me or anything, reresbak ako (I get even). It’s my protection. That’s one of the reasons why I went to the prison and said, ‘Just please arrest me.’ Kasi I do not want to be drunk roaming around or making a fool out of myself

which I am right now. That was it,” he explained. He said he calmed down when he was handcuffed. “It was my fault pero wala akong nasaktan, wala akong itinulak, wala akong tinamaan kundi yung salamin.” “When I sat down, I just… I don’t know. This was the rest I was saying I wanted,” he said, adding he couldn’t “contain myself if I’m under the influence of alcohol.” “I was going to say that was the only thing that was wrong for me. I just really apologized,” he said. He said one lesson he learnt was to “maybe lessen the alcohol and act like a grown up.” “It’s really immature and it’s a shame for me,” he said.

Vice rebuked for ‘offensive’ antics COMEDIAN and TV host Vice Ganda was summoned by the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) after it received complaints about an “offensive scene” and the “use of sexual overtones” on his two shows, It’s Showtime and Gandang Gabi Vice. Vice, It’s Showtime co-host Billy Crawford and ABS-CBN representatives attended a mandatory conference with the MTRCB on Aug. 26. The first complaint pertains to a July 28 episode of It’s Showtime where Vice wiped his sweaty armpits with a towel and used that on the face of one of the show’s male dancers. MTRCB said the scene may have

an impact on children watching the show. ABS-CBN apologized to those who may have been offended by Vice’s action on the show. Vice’s attention was also called to the Gandang Gabi Vice episode of Aug. 3 where there

were instances the comedian used words that were either inappropriate or had double meaning and were not fit for children. Vice had actor Piolo Pascual and his assistant Moi Bien as guests during the episode.

Mark succumbs to liver cancer MARK Gil was diagnosed with liver cancer in 2012, his family said in a statement on his passing on Sept. 1. Born Raphael John de Mesa Eigenmann, Mark Gil had wanted to keep his condition a secret, even as he found out in June this year that his cancer was terminal. “It was Ralph’s request that this should not be revealed, and we did not question his decision,” the statement read. The Eigenmann family added: “Ralph spent his last days in comfort and in no pain. In fact, he was in good spirits and humor, and enjoying the presence of his entire family.” The veteran actor, who would have been 53 on September 25, is survived by his wife, Maricar, and their daughter Stephanie Cheri, and five other children from three previous relationships. Among his children are actors Sid Lucero and Andi Eigenmann. Mark was among the clan of Eigenmann celebrities in local showbiz. The second child of singer Eddie Mesa and actress Rosemarie Gil, he was a sibling to Michael de Mesa and Cherie Gil.

Splash PHILIPPINES

SEPTEMBER 2014

LONDON

Manila City Hall

By ted tuvera

Learning

HAVE not tried to go and survey the holy streets of Manila through Carlos Celdran’s witty tour, but ever since I’ve been (and always am) in the capital city, a sincere reverence for the city is due. Manila, from a somewhat naïve promdi (from the province) kid, it is a totally different world: the tall buildings, the awesome universities, the streets, the people. In a word, Manila. Manila is a witness to many significant moments in the country’s long history: from Lakandula to Bonifacio to Asiong Salonga and a lot more. I dare say that Manila is the plain reflection of the Filipino nation as it is a home for the Filipino spirit. The smell of smoke, the noise and pollution from jeepneys, the beautiful women, and the shadows of the urban jungle – Manila is a melting-pot of many, many thoughts of cultural significance past, present or future. It is an ocean (thanks to frequent España floods) of mysticism (the amulets and ascetics of Quiapo) in a merged mixture of the past, modernity, and even the future.

from Manila Quiapo Church I don’t know really if this disenchanted view of mine when I pass through Quiapo and Recto while transporting a jeep (that National Artist Nick Joaquin called as Manila’s baroque) before reaching the antique university where I study is shared by young contemporaries and even by old inhabiting folks, because I see the lack of value, from Manila’s own children, towards this far eastern Rome of sorts. Or maybe I’m just too naïve enough to have such an ambiguous outlook, because I’m just, you know, another baroque pilgrim. Okay, my Manila orientation actually is the usual: it’s a goddamned, dangerous place. I’ve witnessed how petty crimes are done while boarding the king of the road (with drivers of monarchic attitude): how expensive

Manila Chinatown gadgets are snatched through Taft Avenue; how youngsters pick pockets and amaze passersby as they muster they way out of the Quiapo maze; how rugbyboys (and gals) dance to the beat of their dissonant consciousness amidst traffic and rain (which makes you wonder how their parents assemble them); and how to be fooled (not hypnotized) myself by a cheesy-speaking guy to simply surrender my cellphone to him, leaving me sobbing like a little child. But like a hopeless romantic, I still have this obscure hobby of walking alone like a forsaken hobo – with no agenda whatsoever at all. And my usual venue is, obviously, the city of Manila. It’s quite cynical – like Jose Rizal’s Placido Penitente in El Filibusterismo – I know, yet I proudly say that what I bring

with me in the classrooms of real life is learned through this peculiar pilgrimage through the ancient, often stinky streets of Manila: from Mendiola to Legarda to España to Quiapo to Lawton to Intramuros to Taft to Ermita to Paco to Sta Ana and back again to Quiapo, then Sta Cruz, then Binondo, then Divisoria and finally Tondo. What did I have in return? A social spirituality, I suppose, which made me inhale the life of the masses where students can derive nuggets of wisdom not taught by social media, textbooks, or terror-professors. Walking through the city, after all, is a school itself for spirituality, politics, history and the humanities. Manila is now but a forgotten footnote in the urban cycle dominated by Quezon City and Makati: Avenida is now for the social climbers, while BGC is for the bourgeois and that Luneta and Paco Park (except that the former is emerging as a new protest center) are just troubled lyrics from Rico J. Puno’s vintage hit. But hesitantly still, I still say that no matter what the social ruins say about the filthy side of the city, Manila was and is still a glorious city that is rather deprived of such distinction, thanks to that photo-bombing structure over Rizal’s monument in Luneta and to a certainly bigoted czar who threatens the order of pedicabs and vendors with grammatically incorrect marquees on waiting sheds. Again, I repeat: Manila is a glorious city. I admire a Facebook friend’s collection of vintage Manila pictures (from the 1920s to the early 1990s) and a recent University of Santo Tomas (UST) student article entitled “A Glimpse of Old Manila” – and so do I frequently open Nick Joaquin’s Almanac for Manileños. It’s, I guess, a cynical practice to my personal belief that Manila is a vintage universe revolving through the inconsistency of progress. (Rappler. com) n

SEPTEMBER 2014 APRIL 2012

LONDON

2014 MAM AWARDS: Now accepting nominations

OMINATIONS TO the Migration Advocacy and Media (MAM) Awards 2014 are now formally open. Conceived in 2011 by the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) for the Celebration of the Month of Overseas Filipinos and International Migrants Day in the Philippines (December and December 18, respect i v e l y e v e r y year), Migration Advocacy and Media (MAM) Awards aim to recognize the significant role of the media in information dissemination and advocacy of news and concerns related to migration and development. Eligible for the Awards are works by any individual, government and private media outlets, institutions and practitioners in the fields of print, radio, movie and television, advertising and internet based in the Philippines and abroad. Entries must have raised public awareness on issues on Filipino migration, advocated the cause of Filipinos overseas, or/and

Splash PHILIPPINES 2153

We go beyond what is Filipino. Splash carries your brand across all across the migrant community network: With our readers now coming from other nationalities.

promoted a positive image of Filipinos overseas. Entries to the Awards must be submitted on or before October 15, 2014 to MAM Awards Secretariat, Commission on Filipinos Overseas, Citigold Center, 1345 Pres. Quirino Avenue cor. Osme単a Highway (South Superhighway) Manila, Philippines 1007. The Migration A d v o cacy and M e d i a (MAM) Awards consist of six cFULL a t e g o -PAGE AD ries. The Print Journalism Award is conferred on best print media. The Radio Journalism Award is conferred on best radio program. The Television Journal Award Additional drop points where it matters: Also in 3 major airport is conferred on best television lounges and over 40 International English student lounges program (talk show, investigative journalism, TV special or been conferred on 31 awardees please call the MAM Awards documentary). The Film Media and serves to highlight Secretariat at (632) Award is conferred on best the role of media 552-4761 (632) 561films and videos (full length in tackling migra8291 (telefax), or or documentary). The Interacemail at mamative Media Award is conferred tion concerns in celebration of the wards@cfo.gov. on web-based publications. The Month of Overph. To download Advertisement Award is conseas Filipinos in the primer and ferred on best print, radio or nomination form, TV commercial/advertisements December. For more informaplease check www. on issues concerning migration. tion on the Awards, cfo.gov.ph. Since 2011, this recognition has

For advertising inquiries, call 0207 5818100 Email: splashpress@aol.com

Splash PHILIPPINES

SEPTEMBER 2014

LONDON

Flash s

Traffic Gridlock

The North Luzon Expressway looks more like a giant parking lot as thousands of motorists and commuters were trapped in a monster traffic jam last September 5. The gridlock lasted for hours, causing students and workers from Bulacan to be late for school and work.

s Cold Water Splash

Celebrities had their day. Now ordinary people have joined the ALS Bucket Challenge. Some 200 Filipinos from all walks of life douse themselves with cold water at the Quezon City Circle after the Philippines accepted a challenge from Qatar in the ALS Bucket Challenge. The Philippines, in turn, posed the same challenge to India, Japan and Russia.

New Kings of the Road

Move over gas-fueled and smoke-belching tricyles, the E-trikes (electric tricycles) are coming! Here, E-trikes parade in Bacoor, Cavite, during the inauguration of the second charging station for E-trikes in the city, boosting the shift to environmentally-friendly modes of transport.

s Cruisinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; in the City

An overloaded jeepney cruises along busy Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (Edsa) oblivious to the danger it poses to its passengers and other motorists. How it managed to escape the attention of traffic enforcers is another story.

SEPTEMBER 2014

LONDON

Splash PHILIPPINES

Flash If You Can’t Lick ‘Em, Clean ‘Em

Time and again Metro Manila residents have been warned, advised, cajoled and reminded not to throw trash in waterways and drainage systems. But to no avail, as the debris in Manila Bay attests. Here, government workers and student volunteers lead a massive cleanup of Manila Bay along Roxas Boulevard.

Remembering Ninoy

President Benigno Aquino III sprinkles holy water on the tomb of his parents during a Mass to commemorate the 31st death anniversary of his father, former Senator Benigno ‘Ninoy’ Aquino Jr., at the Manila Memorial Park in Parañaque on August 21.

s On Bended Knees

A woman draped in plastic sheets to protect herself from the rain prays outside the closed doors of the Our Lady of Remedies Parish Church in Malate in Manila.

Floating Scavengers

Children paddle across the water using discarded styrofoam as makeshift boats as they roam around Manila Bay to collect floating plastic that can be recycled. The children sell what they collect to junk shops in Navotas City for P10 per kilogram.

Splash PHILIPPINES

SEPTEMBER 2014

LONDON

Why Visiting Guimaras Is Sweeter Than Its Mangoes G

Guisi Lighthouse

place to leave all your worries behind, and taking photos with the cute turtle will do that for you as well. If you are feeling a bit more adventurous, there is a small cave on Turtle Island you can explore.

By joshua berida

UIMARAS is a small island province of the Philippines located in the Western Visayas region, between the islands of Panay and Negros. Nicknamed the “Mango Country,” Guimaras is known for producing delicious mangoes. So delicious in fact that up until earlier this year, the only mangoes from the Philippines that the United States allowed for import were from Guimaras.

But there is definitely more to this province aside from their delectable mangoes. From beautiful beaches to waterfalls to historical structures, Guimaras is easily one of the many underrated destinations in the Philippines. There are two popular ways to explore what Guimaras has to offer, you rent a tricycle for the day or go island hopping. Guimaras has fixed rates when it comes to island day tours, renting a tricycle for the land tour costs P1,200 for an entire day. Island hopping costs P500 for the first hour and an additional P150 for every hour after. As with most tours, you can have the trip customized depending on your interests.

Ave Maria Islet

Unspoiled beauty

Breathtaking view

Baras Beach is on a cozy little island where you can relax and get a stunning view of the other islets along the sea. For adrenaline junkies, Baras Beach Resort has a cliff diving site where visitors can jump off a cliff and into the waters. Cliff diving is not recommended during the monsoon season (June – October) because of the strong waves that put cliff divers in danger of slamming into the jagged rocks near the site. There is a P15 entrance fee to stay on the beach. Ave Maria Islet is a small beach right in front of Turtle Island. With its fine white sand beach and clear waters, it’s also a perfect place for beach bumming and enjoying the view. With no cottages or huts in sight, it’s easy to appreciate the island’s unspoiled beauty. Natago Island is a privately owned beach off the coast of mainland Guimaras. The beach has powdery sand and a mini sandbar that connects one small island to another. The island has stunning rock formations and azure waters perfect for a day out. Note that because it’s a privately owned island, the owner often does not allow visitors to stay long. (Looloo.com) n

Guisi Beach has everything a beach lover could wish for. Not only is it secluded, it also has fine sand good enough to lounge in. Plus it has a stunning view of the land and sea scape of Guimaras. Guisi Beach sits next to a cliff that offers an overlooking view of the island. There are also rock formations that line the beach. The raw appeal and seclusion of Guisi is the perfect place to either contemplate life or think about nothing at all. Guisi Lighthouse is one of the oldest lighthouses in the Philippines. The lighthouse was built in the 18th century to guide ships that pass through the Iloilo-Guimaras Strait. The old and creaky structure stands eerily over Guisi. Oddly enough, there is something romantic about structures in a ruinous state. Perhaps a sense of nostalgia as you imagine the structure in its former glory. Climb up the creaky stairs to get a breathtaking view of Guisi beach and the surrounding areas. Sad-Sad Falls is another noteworthy destination in Guimaras. The waterfall towers high above the jungle and its plunging waters refresh the vegetation sit-

Sad-Sad Falls ting at its feet. The strong current of Sad-Sad falls may not be ideal for weak swimmers, but you can just take the view in if swimming in brownish waters is not your thing.

A life of work and prayer The Trappist Monastery was founded and run by the monks of the Cistercian Order of the Strict Observance. The monks in the monastery are guided by the principles of St. Benedict, regarded as the father of Western monasticism. Practicing a life of both work and prayer, the monks earn a living by selling items such as jams, candies, jellies, and other souvenir items. The ingredients used for the products sold are all grown from the monastery grounds. Turtle Island got its moniker from the old turtle living on it. The island also has a good beach to lounge and swim in. The short stretch of brown, powdery sand is the perfect

SEPTEMBER 2014 APRIL 2012

LONDON

WHAT’S ON

Splash PHILIPPINES 2553

TRAVEL

HERE IS a moment when John Silva adjusts his glasses and wipes his eyes with a thumb and forefin-

ger. It could be the Manila heat, a stifling humidity that squeezes the sweat from you like a sponge. It could be the lateflowering mahoganies, whose fragrant petals take flight and dance among the countless white crosses. But when the 68-year-old’s voice wavers a second time, there is no mistaking the emotion. Silently etched in the travertine stone walls around him are the names of 36,286 American, Filipino and Allied soldiers – including Australians – who paid the ultimate sacrifice in the Pacific during World War II but whose bodies were never found. Stretching out in 11 concentric circles around the memorial walls lie a further 17,206 marble headstones marking those whose bodies were interned – almost 2000 more than Normandy. Silva grew up flying model planes in the sprawling 62ha manicured grounds of the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial during its post-war construction. His father, Tony, served as a US Lieutenant Colonel, his uncle Jose – a sergeant with the Philippines’ 26th Mounted Cavalry – never came home. The writer, historian and former National Museum director has forgotten more about WWII than most will ever learn. But here, amid the names of the fallen, like the loss of five Sullivan brothers – whose real life Saving Private Ryan deaths prompted US President Roosevelt to pass a law making siblings exempt from service – he is briefly overcome. The Philippines may be still reeling from last year’s deadly Typhoon Yolanda, but its resilience is only matched by the compassion and geniality of its people whose indomitable spirit are seeing it renewed. Outside the gated solitude of the memorial lies a thriving me-

Adventures in Manila: perfect for explorers FULL PAGE AD

tropolis; a skyline dotted with cranes over the least Asian of Asian cities. Manila was once the second-most bombed city outside Warsaw, today it is the “selfie” capital of the world. And the best place to explore this vibrant city is from the “Jewel in the Capital’s Crown”, the Peninsula Manila Hotel. Opened in 1976, the hotel’s majestic fountain and waterfalls on the corner of Ayala and Makati avenues is a landmark of the central business district. Boasting almost 500 rooms across two wings the five-star hotel, like Manila itself, is no stranger to conflict, with its palatial lobby the scene of a dramatic bloodless coup in 2007. The then detained Senator Antonio Trillanes – on trial for an earlier failed coup at a military base – marched out of court into the streets with his supporters before seizing the hotel’s second storey and demanding the resignation of President Gloria MacapagalArroyo. The siege ended in a hail of bullets as the military stormed the lobby. Remarkably no one was hurt. With its floor-to-ceiling granite, towering palms and twin sweeping staircases to a mezzanine level complete with string quartet, the lobby is eve-

ry bit the hotel’s heartbeat. The 225-seat lobby offers 24hour dining and is the place to be seen among Manila’s social set.

Steeped in history, awash in culture and boasting a strong culinary scene, Manila is the ideal portal to explore the Philippines’ riches. (Richard Noone)

Splash PHILIPPINES

SEPTEMBER 2014

LONDON

The Philippines is Worth 12 Different Countries A

TRIP to the Philippines is like going to 12 different countries when it comes to travel destinations, said Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr. as he encouraged both locals and foreigners to explore the archipelago.

Jimenez made the statement after noting that it is quite a challenge to create a “travel bucket list” for the Philippines given its many varied offerings. He said that while some countries are usually known for one particular attraction – shopping, beaches or old structures, for instance – the Philippines has all of these and a lot more. “The Philippines is worth 12 different countries, so we will want to develop 12 different entry points. That’s how varied our country is. It’s more costly to develop but it’s quite promising,” he said. “If you’re planning to make a bucket list for the Philippines, it must be divided into activities,” he added. Jimenez shared what he thinks are the priority destinations in the Philippines, with considerations to a person’s interests. He was quick to stress, however, that these places barely scratch the surface given the Philippines’ many unexplored places.

Shopping The Philippines has often

Spanish-era houses in Manila’s Walled City 2012, is also located in the Bicol region. “If you’re talking about nature, then you have to seriously consider the Bicol region,” Jimenez said.

Beaches

Bargain hunting at tiangge in Greenhills been hailed by many as a shopping mecca with its huge collection of malls, bazaars, outlet stores, boutiques and markets offering quality products at very reasonable prices. Jimenez said travelers who want to visit the Philippines just to shop should drop by the country’s three main retail hubs – Manila, Cebu and Davao – to get a complete experience. “If you’re talking about shopping, you must not miss Manila, Cebu and Davao. There are very specific offerings in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao as far as shopping is concerned,” he said, adding that these places particularly attract tourists from China and Japan.

Culture Jimenez said history and culture buffs should definitely add these Philippine destinations to their bucket list – Intramuros, Cebu, Iloilo, Vigan, Zamboanga and Negros. Located in Manila, the walled city of Intramuros used to be the seat of government during the Spanish colonial period, and is a popular destination

Encounter with butanding in Donsol among tourists. Iloilo, Vigan, Negros, Cebu and Zamboanga are also known for their preserved Spanish era structures. Vigan, in particular, is a UNESCO World Heritage site that was dubbed as the “best preserved example of a planned Spanish colonial town in Asia.” “There’s nothing like it in all of Asia,” Jimenez said.

Nature The Philippines offers plenty of options for nature travelers, but Jimenez said the Bicol region should be on top of anyone’s list. Located at the southernmost tip of Luzon island, Bicol is home to the “perfect cone” Mayon Volcano, the whale sharks of Donsol, bird watching areas, beaches and surf spots, and underground rivers and caves, among many others. Caramoan, which was used as a location for the TV reality show Survivor: Philippines in

Jimenez said the Philippines’ biggest strength when it comes to tourism is its many beaches, which deserve its own travel bucket list. He said visitors can expect to find almost any type of beach that they can think of in the Philippines. “When it comes to beaches, it’s quite difficult to form a bucket list. A tourist can literally just describe a place and we can find an island for them,” he said. The Philippines is home to many types of beaches given its more than 7,000 islands. Jimenez said those who want a “very rich, soft coral beach” should visit Anilao in Batangas or Malapascua in Cebu. The beaches at Zamboanga and Bantayan island are ideal for quiet beach lovers, while those who want a little bit of everything can go to the tourist favorite Boracay. “Boracay is a little bit of everything. There’s a beach and the party feeling and shopping, all in one island. It’s probably one of the youngest party islands in the world,” Jimenez said. Travelers who are more into “hard-edged and aquamarine spots” may want to head to Palawan. Siargao in Surigao del Norte, Baler in Aurora and the unexplored areas of Zambales and Romblon should be in any adventurer’s bucket list, he added. (ABS-CBNnews.com) n

SEPTEMBER 2014 APRIL 2012

LONDON

WHAT’S ON

ll t of a ppor In su events in d o it go un y omm the c

24-25 Sept. 2014

uller 6XA

COMMUNITY

24-28 Sept. 2014 Enchanted Bird Play

REX NAVARRETE LIVE - BACK IN LONDON! Venue: Bar Rumba 36 Shaftesbury Ave W1D 7EP London

Venue: Chelsea Theatre, 7 World’s End Place, King’s Road, London SW10 0DR

Contact: rexnavarreteuk. eventbrite.co.uk

Contact: Bobby 07760961532

15-19 Oct. 2014

Date: TBC

CbY Mcib[ Kcf`X 8iV`]b =fY`UbX %) Ã %- CWhcVYf &$%(

One World Summit 2014 Venue: Dublin, TBA

Splash PHILIPPINES 2753

26-28 Sept. 2014

P Festival 2014

Starring: Sandwich, The Diegos, Yano, Pedicab, and Squid 9 26 Sept: Manchester Venue: TBA, at 6pm 28 Sept: London Venue: TBA, at 1pm

Contact: Marvin Guzman 07889171595

Joey G of Side A UK tour

FULL PAGE AD

Counselors: Kofi Annan, Jamie Oliver, Sir Richard Branson, Sir Bob Geldof, etc.

Contact: Matthew 02071996184 07450206318

Date: TBC

Contact: Bong 07766057000 Winnie 07833912742

Hunt for UK’s Best Oriental Young Chef is Back for 2015

41689_OYW_Sales_Brochure_2014.indd 1

23/01/2014 16:08

EADING ORIENTAL grocer Wing Yip has launched its annual search for the UK’s top Oriental Cookery Young Chef. Now in its third year, Wing Yip’s Oriental Cookery Young Chef of the Year competition offers the country’s finest culinary talent the opportunity to showcase their skills before a renowned panel of judges. As part of the prize the chefs will battle it out to win an exclusive trip to Hong Kong where they will sample the region’s culinary delights, work in Michelin-starred restaurants and explore the vibrant street food scene. Last year’s competition attracted an array of talent from across the country, with House of Commons chef Robert Hall taking the title after battling against contestants from Eton College, University College Birmingham, City of Liverpool College and Bentley Motors. The competition is open to ap-

plicants across the UK, aged between 18 and 25 years, who have a flair for Oriental cuisine and are studying or employed in the catering and hospitality industry. The first stage requires contestants to design

and submit an Oriental inspired menu using ingredients of their choice. The most mouth watering menus will be shortlisted and successful applicants will be invited to a Masterchef-style

Colcook-off at the University Col lege Birmingham on Monday 16th February 2015. Finalists will execute their dishes before the panel who will award marks presfor technique, creativity, pres entation and most importantly the use of authentic Oriental ingredients and cooking styles. Mr Wing Yip, Chairman of Wing Yip, said: “The number of top quality UK restaurants serving conOriental cuisine in the UK con tinues to grow. “Each year I am impressed with demonstratthe level of talent demonstrat ed by the contestants and we are extremely proud to support young chefs and encourage them to experiment with the ingrediwonderful variety of ingredi ents and cooking styles found across Oriental cuisine.” The winners will be announced at an official awards dinner at the University College Birmingham following the competitive cook-off. For further information and to download an entry form please go to www.wingyip.com.

28 16 32

Splash PHILIPPINES

SEPTEMBER APRIL 2012 2014

EMBASSY NEWS

LONDON

WHAT’S ON

EMBASSY OUTREACH - GLASGOW The Embassy will hold its next Consular Outreach Mission for 2014 in: Date/Time: 20 Sept. 2014 (Saturday), 9:30am to 6:00pm Venue: The Albany Centre (GCVS), Ashley Street, Glasgow, Lanarkshire G3 6DS Contact Persons: Alex and Marjorie Chong 07913947388 Services Offered: - e-PASSPORT APPLICATIONS - CIVIL REGISTRATION (Reports of Birth, Marriage or Death) - NOTARIZATION and LEGALIZATION SERVICES (Affidavits, SPAs, etc) - NBI CLEARANCE FORM SERVICING (Fingerprinting) - ACCEPTANCE OF APPLICATION FOR VISA TO THE PHILIPPINES - PHILIPPINE CITIZENSHIP RETENTION/RE-ACQUISTION - ASSISTANCE-TO-NATIONALS and ADVICE ON PHILIPPINE LAWS FULL - PAG-IBIG MEMBERSHIP AND INQUIRIES - SSS MEMBERSHIP - OVERSEAS VOTERS’ REGISTRATION

PAGE AD

Payment at the Outreach Mission shall be in cash or with postal money order made out to the Philippine Embassy. Personal cheques are not accepted. For more info please go to http://philembassy-uk.org/

EMBASSY OUTREACH - DUBLIN The Embassy will hold its next Consular Outreach Mission for 2014 in Dublin (date, venue and time to be announced). The Embassy has now reached the maximum capacity for passport applications for the Consular Outreach Mission in Dublin, Ireland in October 2014. As such, the Embassy will no longer accept Passport Service Requests for this particular Outreach. Applicants for civil registration and other consular services are not affected by this limit. Applicants who have submitted their Passport Service Request Forms will shortly be advised by e-mail of their respective schedules. Only applicants with complete requirements will be served.

DELAY OF ISSUANCE OF PH PASSPORTS There is an ongoing delay in the issuance of Philippine passports from Manila. New passports may only be available at the Embassy about 12-15 weeks after filing the application. Philippine passport holders should take this into account in timing their passport applications and/or making travel plans. Applicants in May and June who have yet to receive their passports may wish to direct

their queries to the Office of Consular Affairs (OCA) at the Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila through the following numbers: Telephone+63-2 556 0000 Fax +63-2 836 7746 +63-2 836 7749 +63-2 836 7759 Email/Website www.dfa.gov.ph Please be guided accordingly.

UK NATIONAL THREAT LEVEL The Filipino Community in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is reminded that, on 29 August 2014, authorities in the United Kingdom raised the threat level from international terrorism from “Substantial” to “Severe”. Per UK classification, this threat level means that a terrorist attack is highly likely. Authorities, however, also note that while an attack is likely, there is no specific intelligence that an attack is imminent. In view of the foregoing, the Embassy would like to remind the Community to: - Heed the official Government warning/s -

Monitor Government information channels and the general media for further developments / updates on the situation - Be vigilant and take general precautions for personal safety Information on the UK national security situation is available on the main government website https://www. gov.uk/terrorism-nationalemergency and that of the Security Service (MI5) www. mi5.gov.uk. Should there be need to, the Embassy may be contacted through our 24hour emergency hotline on 07802790695. Please be guided accordingly.

SEPTEMBER 2014 APRIL 2012

LONDON

Splash PHILIPPINES 2953

FULL PAGE AD

at your doorstep! Just for an annual subscription fee of ÂŁ 10 (12 issues), please contact us at: T: 0203 371 7882 or email: splashpress@aol.com Start your subscription immediately!

We have clients in London, throughout the UK and overseas who are currently seeking

LONDON

APRIL AP IL 2012 2013

Splash PHILIPPINES 215

LONDON

MAY 2014

FULL PAGE AD

THE GRAHAM AGENCY

Splash PHILIPPI

NES

Housekeepers, Nannies, Couples, Carers, Companions, Cooks, Housemen and Chauffeurs

Live in and Iive 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

Splash PHILIPPINES

SEPTEMBER 2014

LONDON

TARTING September 2014, the United Kingdom Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) will implement a new application process for the registration of nurses and midwives bound for the UK who were educated outside the European Union (EU) and the European Economic Area (EEA), Labor Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz said in a news release. The new process would cover Filipino nurses and midwives. Citing a report of Labor Attaché to the UK Joan Lourdes Lavilla, Baldoz said the process includes the “conduct of a test of competence, which will replace the overseas nursing programs (ONP), and adaption to midwifery programs (AMP).” The test of competence consists of two parts: a computerbased multiple-choice examination and a practical objectivestructured clinical examination (OSCE). The costs of the tests are yet to be determined. According to Lavilla’s report, the computer-based multiple examination will be accessible in many countries. “These countries, including those where significant numbers of non-EU/EAA educated nurses and midwives are recruited to the UK, will be announced later,” she said.

Practical exam in UK The practical exam, or the OSCE, on the other hand, will be held in the UK, initially at a test center at the University of Northampton, to be subsequently broadened out to encompass more centers. Lavilla further reported that the new application process will enable applicants to prepare for the test of competence in their own country before re-

Induction ceremonies of new certified health workers at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City.

UK Implements New Registration Process for Nurses, Midwives locating to the UK. “The computer-based examination is the first part of the test of competence and must be successfully completed before nurses and midwives can undertake the OSCE in the UK,” Lavilla explained. “With this, applicants can plan and save for the cost of coming to the UK to complete the OSCE.” The design and structure of the test of competence will be publicly available to help the candidates to prepare for the test. This information will indicate which competencies will be assessed in the computerbased test and those which may be assessed by the OSCE.

Transition arrangements

For non-EU/EEA-educated applicants who have already joined the NMC register, the transition arrangements are as follows: • Applications processed before October 2014 will continue to be processed using the current arrangements and applicants will receive a decision letter requiring them to complete the ONP or AMP within two years from the date of the decision letter. • In October 2014, non-EU/ EAA-educated applicants who have been issued with a decision letter prior to September 2014 will be informed of the

new test of competence and offered a choice of accessing the current program or the test of competence. • For applications received from October 2014, the test of competence will be the only route to UK registration for non-EU/EEA-educated nurses and midwives. Finally, Lavilla said interested applicants can access additional information regarding the application process at the following link: http://www.nmc-uk.org/ Documents/Registration/Inf ormation%20for%20applican ts%20-%20overseas%202014. pdf n

SEPTEMBER 2014 APRIL 2012

LONDON

FULL PAGE AD

Splash PHILIPPINES 3153

16 32

Splash PHILIPPINES

SEPTEMBER APRIL 2012 2014

LONDON

£10

Call Philippines

5p from

FULL PAGE AD

a minute

with

UK PLUS 500

includes • 500 any UK network minutes • 1GB Mobile Data • Unlimited UK SMS • Unlimited Lebara to Lebara calls and SMS

Get your Free SIM at lebara.co.uk/FreeSIM or top up and text UK500 to 38885

Always by your side

lebara.co.uk

The Lebara UK Plus 500 pass includes unlimited calls and SMS to other Lebara numbers in the UK plus 500 UK minutes, 1GB Mobile Data and unlimited UK SMS, valid for 30 days from activation. Also offers discounted rates to other international call destinations the full details of which can be found at www.lebara.co.uk/passes/ukplus. Subject to auto-renewal. Lebara reserves the right to amend or withdraw this offer.

UK5557P_1a_Planet Philippines Ad_259mmW x 318mmH_180714.indd 1

21/07/2014 11:44