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LeBron James Live In Manila
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VOL. 27 w
NO. 28 w
NATIONAL EDITION w
NEW JERSEY w
NEW YORK w
JULY 19 - JULY 25, 2013 w
(201) 434-1114 w
$1.00
Global Protest Rallies Against China
On July 24
By Rodel E. Rodis
“Stop China's invasion of the
Philippines!” is both the plea and the
demand that Filipinos will be making
simultaneously in front of China's
embassies and consulates all over the
world from Washington DC to Makati on
Wednesday July 24 at 12 noon.
The call for the global mass action
was initiated by the US Pinoys for Good
Governance (USP4GG) in response to
last year's Chinese military occupation
of the Philippines' Panatag Shoal
(Scarborough Shoal) off Zambales and
its imminent threat this year to invade
Ayungin Reef, part of the Kalayaan
municipality of Palawan, a threat which
began on May 8 when three Chinese
warships appeared off Ayungin which is
defended by a contingent of Philippine
New York Organizing Meeting. Holding the poster "China
Stay Out of Philippine Soil" is Loida Nicolas Lewis.
4 Filipina maids of arrested
Saudi princess in US safe
By Jun Medina
SANTA ANA, California -Four Filipina domestic workers
who voluntarily went with U.S.
authorities during a raid early
morning on July 10 that led to
the arrest of their Saudi
princess-employer are safe,
a c c o rd i n g to t h e O ra n g e
Country district attorney.
Orange County District
Attorney Tony Rackauckas
identified 42-year-old Meshael
Alayban as a Saudi princess who
was charged with one count of
human trafficking. If convicted,
she faces up to 12 years in
prison.
The four Filipinas, whose
names were not released by
authorities pending
investigation, are co-workers of
a 30-year-old Kenyan national
who escaped Tuesday from a
plush condominium complex in
Irvine.
“They (the Filipinas) are
not in custody,” Orange County
District Attorney spokesperson
Farrah Emami told FilAm Star
on Thursday.
“They are in a safe place
and are doing well,” Emami said.
Authorities are
investigating if the four Pinays
were also exploited because
their employer confiscated their
passports, like their Kenyan
colleague.
Princess Meshael Alayban
Trafficked
The Kenyan, when brought
to the Irvine Police Department
(IPD) by a responding motorist,
said she was a victim of slavery
and forced to work against her
will. She identified her
employer as Alayban, a frequent
traveler to the U.S. and owner of
several plush properties in
California.
A fter hou rs of
investigation and verification,
t h e I P D a l e r te d t h e U. S .
Immigration and Customs
Enforcement (ICE) and
Homeland Security
Investigation (HSI). A joint
operation was then conducted
that led to the arrest of the 42
year-old princess.
All five are part of the
marines.
China has denounced the
Philippines for its "illegal occupation" of
what they call "Rena'i Reef" which is
only 105 miles from Palawan and 600
miles from China. Ayungin is considered
the "gateway" to the oil-rich Recto Bank
which is just 85 miles from Palawan.
The largest of the rallies is
expected to take place in front of the
China Consulate in Makati on July 24
where more than 5,000 people are
expected. Sponsored by the West
Philippine Sea Coalition (WPSC) and the
USP4GG, the Makati rally will feature
speakers including Sen. Grace Poe, Sen.
Alan Peter Cayetano and Education
Secretary Bro. Armin Luistro, former
president of De la Salle University. Other
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Former NJ Gov. McGreevey to head Jersey
City's Employment & Training Commission
JERSEY CITY, N.J. -- Mayor
Steven M. Fulop announced last
July 12 the appointment of James
McGreevey to serve as the
Executive Director of the Jersey
City Employment & Training
Commission.
The Commission is
charged with the responsibility
of overseeing workforce training
in the city, linking training with
job creation, and identifying job
opportunities for the
u n e m p l o y e d
a n d
underemployed. McGreevey will
also be responsible for working
with the business community,
local colleges and universities,
labor unions and non-profits to
identify potential job
opportunities and skilled
training.
“Governor McGreevey has
worked hands-on with the
inmate population and with reentry programs and will be a
valuable asset to us as we
develop a re-entry program for
Jersey City,” said Mayor Fulop.
“We are fortunate to have such a
distinguished and
knowledgeable individual to
lead what is one of the most
critical positions that of job
Observer.com photo
Former NJ Gov. James McGreevey
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Bongbong, Loren
linked to P10-B scam
By Edu Punay
MANILA --- Senators Loren
Legarda and Ferdinand Marcos
Jr. have been dragged into the
probe of the National Bureau of
Investigation (NBI) against a
businesswoman who reportedly
defrauded the government of
billions of pesos by establishing
ghost projects allegedly funded
by pork barrel.
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Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Senator Loren Legarda
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July 19 - July 25, 2013
Page 2
THE FILIPINO EXPRESS
Whistle-blower Luy now under gov't protection
DOJ bolsters
pork scam probe
By Christine O. Avendaño
Justice Secretary Leila de
Lima reinforced Thursday a
government team looking into an
alleged P10-billion pork barrel
scam linked to businesswoman
Janet Lim-Napoles, and said the
lawyer of whistle-blower Benhur
Luy had told her his client
wanted to be placed under state
protection.
The lawyers of
Napolespresident and CEO of the
trading firm JLN Corp.earlier
claimed that the affidavits
executed by Luy and another JLN
employee, Merlina Suñas, were
not backed by evidence.
The lawyers of the
businesswoman said to be
behind the scam involving
alleged misuse of pork barrel
funds also said the National
Bureau of Investigation might
have been unwittingly used by
Luy in his bid to destroy the
reputation of Napoles, who is a
relative of Luy's.
De Lima did not take that
statement kindly.
“They should be careful
with those kinds of statements,”
De Lima said of Napoles' lawyers,
noting she had read reports that
the businesswoman's camp
wanted the NBI to inhibit itself
from the investigation.
De Lima said she would not
dignify such statements because
this “might also be their strategy,
to destroy the NBI or to stir the
NBI into anger so that it will not
conduct the investigation
because it was impartial and
biased.”
Bongbong, Loren
linked to P10-B
scam
From page 1
The names of Legarda and
Marcos appeared in the affidavit of
Merlina Pablo Sunas one of the six
supposed whistle-blowers in the
scam that implicated Janet Lim
Napoles of JLN Group of
Companies submitted to the NBI.
Sunas, Napoles' trusted
employee of 12 years whom she
appointed president of the
allegedly bogus non-government
organization People's
Organization for Progress and
Development Foundation Inc.
(POPDFI), claimed that a certain
“Ma'am Maya” served as JLN's
“coordinator for Senators Legarda
and Marcos.”
Legarda and Marcos
yesterday expressed disbelief over
Probe should include
Aquino's P24-B pork
By Charlie V. Manalo
following the discovery of P10billion pork barrel scam by CoA.
Since suspicions are rife
that pork barrels of public
Fra n c e s a i d P S F i s a
officials are being misused amid
potential source of money which
the P10 billion pork barrel scam
the president and his allies can
that is being played up against the
use for corruption since this kind
political opponents of the
of pork barrel is free from public
administration, civic groups are
scrutiny and government audit.
now demanding a probe on
According to Pamalakaya,
President Aquino's bigger P25
the Office of the President's pork
billion discretionary funds.
barrel in 2012 included the
The activist fisherfolk
P2.695-billion in intelligence
alliance Pambansang Lakas ng
funds, of which, P666 million was
Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng
earmarked for National Security
Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) said the
Monitoring including
Commission on Audit (CoA)
requirements for the Presidential
should pursue a comprehensive
Anti-Organized and Syndicated
audit on the P24.8 billion-pork
Crime and Transnational Crime
barrel Congress had allotted for
Campaign as well as P600 million
Aquino last year.
for confidential and intelligence
expenses which are released on
Pamalakaya vice chairman
approval of the President.
Salvador France made the appeal
The group said in 2012, the Office
a day after Malacañang
of the President also sought
announced that the Office of the
P224.68 million budget for travel
President will keep his pork
expenses alone.
barrel amid mounting calls
demanding the abolition of pork
Pamalakaya said Aquino
Justice Secretary Leila de Lima. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
barrel given to lawmakers and the
exercises discretionary powers
Office of the President.
on the intelligence funds of the
Office of the President, contingent
France
said
his
group
is
“That's why my advice to could not gauge at this time the
funds, calamity funds and
supporting the demand for the
the NBI is to ignore and not “level of their strength” as
unprogrammed funds. About P1
abolition pork barrel currently
dignify those statements. They evidence.
billion pesos was given to
given to senators and
should just concentrate on their
President Aquino for contingent
“Because we really want it
congressmen, including the
work,” De Lima said.
funds.
to be as thorough and impartial
President's Social Fund (PSF).
Pamalakaya said the
At present, she said the NBI as possible, we have enhanced
“The Filipino taxpaying
contingent fund was
was building up its case against the team. I have reinforced the
public including the urban poor
administered by the Office of the
who pay P3.60 in expanded value
Napoles and that her instruction number of lawyer-investigators,
President and used exclusively to
added tax for every kilo of rice is
to investigators was that they with some coming from the
fund the requirements of new
entitled to an honest-to-goodness
disclose their findings “if the antifraud division,” De Lima told
and/or urgent projects and
audit of the pork barrel
evidence is solid and they are reporters.
activities that need to be
transferred to Aquino's
ready to file the appropriate
She said she had provided
implemented
during the year.
presidential
account
in
2012.
The
charges with an appropriate assistance to the NBI team
This fund may be used to augment
CoA
should
establish
how
the
forum or body.”
looking into the alleged scam so
the existing appropriations for
President spent his pork last year
Aquino's order
that the investigation could be
local and foreign travels of the
and present a honest accounting
President, but in no case shall it
of public funds spent by the ruling
F o l l o w i n g P r e s i d e n t done speedily and yield results
be used for the purchase of motor
that
are
“solid,
accurate
and
political
party
in
Malacañang,”
Aquino's order for an exhaustive
vehicles.”
France said.
and fair probe, De Lima also said thorough.”
The group said the Office of
The
Pamalakaya
leader
t h e N B I h a d g a t h e r e d No effect on case
the President also received P14.2
lambasted
Aquino
for
refusing
to
“subsequent” documents and
De Lima said that at this
billion for disaster management
heed the legitimate demands of
records as possible evidence point, she could not say if the
use, apart from entry from the
the people to have presidential
against Napoles.
calamity fund, which went up to
evidence in the hands of the NBI
pork abolished along with the
P7.5 billion in 2012 from P5
De Lima said she had not
Priority Development Assistance
billion in 2011. Daily Tribune
Fund (PDAF) of lawmakers
seen the documents and she
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Page 8
their alleged involvement in the
scam.
“I don't know anything about
it. My God,” Legarda told The STAR.
She said she was clueless
about how her name cropped up in
the NBI investigation and cannot
think of any motive behind the
story.
She also called for an
impartial probe on the allegation.
“I stand by the transparent
and wise utilization of my PDAF in
my one town, one classroom
project, rural livelihood, culture
and education health services,”
Legarda said, referring to the
Priority Development Assistance
Fund.
Marcos, on the other hand,
said he never had dealings with
Napoles.
“I don't know Ms. Napoles. I
have never spoken to her or even
met her and so I had no personal
dealings with her,” Marcos said in a
text message.
Sunas did not specify
whether the offices of the two
senators were aware of the
allegedly fraudulent transactions
by JLN.
She told investigators it was
a concealed deal with the
coordinator by Benhur Luy,
Napoles' personal assistant who
was rescued by agents last March
22, that angered the
businesswoman and led to the
filing of kidnapping charges.
Sunas said Napoles
discovered that “the reason why
the amount of PDAF given to her by
a certain senator was small
because Benhur had hidden
transactions.”
Napoles discovered Luy's
hidden transactions during a
meeting on Dec. 19, 2012 at their
office in Discovery Center in
Ortigas, Pasig City.
Sunas claimed that Napoles
put up their foundations to receive
government funds that were
allegedly remitted to her many
bank accounts.
For instance, she alleged that
their bogus NGOs benefited from
the P900-million Malampaya Fund
but “no deliveries of supplies were
ever made and that fake
liquidation papers were
submitted by the implementing
agencies.” The same modus was
applied in the P728-million
Fertilizer Fund.
Luy, Sunas and another
whistleblower further alleged that
JLN forged signatures of “fictitious
individuals” in organizing POPDFI
and other NGOs, including
Kaupdanan Para sa Magsasaka
Foundation, Social Foundation,
Pangkabuhayan Foundation and
Masaganang Ani Foundation, for
this racket.
Justice Secretary Leila de
Lima said the NBI probe on the
alleged scam is an offshoot of Luy's
kidnapping charges against
Napoles that was already
dismissed by the investigating
prosecutor.
She also said records of
earlier congressional inquiries
into the fertilizer fund scam were
already obtained by the NBI for
review. But she refused to give
more details.
“Given the gravity of the
allegations, we're keeping such
investigation under wraps until
NBI completes its evidence
gathering and evaluation,” De
Lima said.
Asked whether the NBI
would summon lawmakers and
officials mentioned in affidavits of
witnesses, De Lima said it would
still depend on results of the
investigators' evaluation of
evidence.
De Lima added that she
would also study the possible
issuance of lookout bulletin order
against Napoles and her brother,
Reynald Lim, who was also
implicated in the scam. The
Philippine Star
July 19 - July 25, 2013
Page 3
THE FILIPINO EXPRESS
Tightened policies on pork in Aquino Sona
By Michael Lim Ubac and
Norman Bordadora
He tossed back the
question of abolishing the pork
barrel to Congress.
Jumping the gun on the
lawmakers, Malacañang is
submitting to Congress next
week “policy recommendations”
to tighten up the rules on the
disbursement of funds from the
graft-tainted pork barrel.
“We wouldn't want to
wade into that debate because
that's primarily the call of [the
legislators],” he said.
The measures include
limiting the menu of projects that
can be funded by pork,
accreditation of the civil service
organizations by the Department
o f S o c i a l We l fa re a n d
Development (DSWD) and
limiting the number of
implementing agencies,
a c c o rd i n g to p re s i d e n t i a l
spokesman Edwin Lacierda and
Budget Secretary Florencio
Abad.
But if Sen. Franklin
Drilon, touted to be elected
Senate President in the 16th
Congress, would have his way,
the pork barrel could simply be
taken out of the national budget
instead of passing a new law that
would abolish the program, now
at the center of a scandal
involving P10 billion in
patronage funds allegedly
s i p h o n e d o f f by a
businesswoman, Janet LimNapoles, through bogus NGOs
Lacson, Arroyo did it
“(Former) Sen. (Panfilo)
Lacson did it. Is it something that
is worth emulating? That is the
call and discretion of each and
every legislator,” he said.
Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda PHOTO/INQUIRER
using her extensive connections
in Congress and in the
government.
Next Tuesday, a day after
his address to a joint session of
Congress, President Aquino will
submit to Congress the proposed
P2.268-trillion national budget
for 2014, which contains a
separate item worth P27-billion
for the Priority Development
Assistance Fund (PDAF), or pork
barrel.
No Aquino stand yet
The so-called Makabayan
bloc in the House of
Representatives and the Catholic
Bishops' Conference of the
Philippines have called for the
abolition of the PDAF following
the disclosure of a government
investigation of the racket that
involved the shares of the pork of
five senators and 23
representatives.
Lacierda told reporters
on Thursday that Aquino had not
yet taken a position on the
matter.
“We have not discussed it
with the President, so I am not in
a position to say what the
p o s i t i o n i s . H o we ve r, my
understanding (Wednesday) in
the press briefing of (Budget)
Secretary Butch Abad, (is) that
they have made some policy
recommendations … to the
Presiden t ,” La cierda sa id.
Former Senators Lacson
and Joker Arroyo did not collect
their share of pork during their
terms, from 2001 to 2013.
Drilon agreed that
abolishing the pork barrel is a
matter only for Congress to
decide.
“This is a decision of both
Houses. If one House does not
agree, then you cannot abolish
(the pork barrel), which is part of
the general appropriations act,”
Drilon told Senate reporters on
Thursday.
It is also unnecessary to
pass a new law to abolish the
PDAF, he said.
“We just have to delete
(the PDAF) from the (general
appropriations act) and it will be
gone,” he said.
Long shot
But that is a long shot,
Drilon said, as legislators,
especially the members of the
House, need funds to finance
projects for their constituencies.
“I think the only way is to
limit the use of the PDAF so we
can minimize the abuses and the
misuses of [the fund],” he said. “In
other words, be very strict with
the menu to minimize what are
perceived to be the abuses of the
PDAF.”
But Sen. Grace Poe wants
the introduction of regulations to
stop the abuses.
Speaking to reporters in
Mabalacat City after launching a
program for the families of
migrant workers, Poe said she
and Sen. Francis Escudero had
f i l e d a re s o l u t i o n fo r a n
investigation by the Senate blue
ribbon committee of the pork
scam allegedly orchestrated by
businesswoman Janet LimNapoles.
Poe said the National
Bureau of Investigation of the
Department of Justice should be
given a free hand in investigating
the racket. “If the allegations of a
scam are true, then [an
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July 19 - July 25, 2013
Page 4
THE FILIPINO EXPRESS
200 SWAT, police teams present during signing
Luisita farmers forced to sign notes at gunpoint
By Charlie V. Manalo
Two different versions of the
Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR)
marked the signing by the Hacienda
Luisita farm workers of the land
promissory notes.
The militant peasant group
Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas
(KMP) yesterday assailed the DAR for
forcing Hacienda Luisita farmworkers
to sign promissory notes allegedly at
gunpoint.
The KMP said that “more than
200 police and special weapons and
tactics (SWAT) teams, fully armed
whose presence was found intimidating
to hacienda beneficiaries, stayed
throughout the literal drawing of lots, or
the distribution of lots to farm worker
beneficiaries through a raffle drum or
tambiolo, that was conducted by DAR
Thursday in Barangay Cutcut.”
“The DAR, with the help of heavily
armed police, is forcing the Hacienda
Luisita farmworkers into the scheme
designed by the Cojuangco-Aquinos to
divide the ranks of the farmworkers and
evade land distribution,” said KMP
secretary general Antonio Flores.
“Guns and high powered rifles
have been a necessary component of the
DAR's maneuvers designed by the
Cojuangcos,” he said. “These maneuvers
by DAR clearly demonstrate that it is an
instrument by the Cojuangcos to deny
the farmworkers of their rights to the
lands. The DAR cannot be trusted,” the
peasant leader said.
The KMP earlier said that “the
DAR's “tambiolo” land reform shows
that the Aquino government is not
serious in distributing Hacienda Luisita
lands to farm workers.”
“The DAR and the Cojuangco-
Aquinos never run out of political
maneuvers to deceive the farm workers
and evade land distribution. This latest
maneuver is the most stupid way we
have seen so far in the DAR's sabotage
operations in the supposed distribution
of Hacienda Luisita,” said Flores. “It is an
insult to the life and death struggle of
Hacienda Luisita farm workers,” said
Flores. “This further proves that the
CARP is a sham.”
During the time of President Cory
Aquino, there was also the presence of
armed soldiers during a voting on
whether the farm workers wanted to
adopt the stock option that would have
the Cojuangco-Aquino management
take charge, and with the farmers
holding on to the shares, instead of land.
Recent reports quoted DAR
secretary Virgilio De Los Reyes saying
that the allocation of farmlands would
be conducted through a drawing of lots
using a “tambiolo,” or a lottery drum.
He said it would be a “crucial
step” in generating the Certificates of
Land Ownership Award (CLOAs) that
would be given to qualified farm
workers in Hacienda Luisita “possibly
between August and September.”
But KMP's Flores said that “aside
from the reason that the identification
of size and location of lands to be
distributed should be closely
coordinated to farm workers for
s m o o t h , o r d e r l y, a n d p r o p e r
distribution, this imposition by the DAR
must be opposed and defied because it
serves the Cojuangco-Aquino's interest
to divide the ranks of the farm workers.”
The KMP reiterated calls for the
“zero compensation of the CojuangcoAquinos and the free distribution” of
Hacienda Luisita insisting that “the farm
workers have long paid for the lands
and the Cojuangco-Aquinos have
enriched themselves for almost six
decades of illegal control and monopoly
of the hacienda.”
From the government side,
through its state-run Philippine News
Agency (PNA), a completely different
version surface. It had many farm
workers praising the DAR for giving
them the land. “Finally, we are an inch
closer to our long-cherished dream of
owning the lands we till.”
These were the words that were
unanimously uttered by hundreds of
Hacienda Luisita farm workers who
were among the first to receive Lot
Allocation Certificate on Thursday
morning, PNA reported. “I am very
happy, this is something we waited for
so many years. Thank you to DAR and to
President Aquino,” said teary-eyed and
widowed 68-year farm worker Lucina
Donato Aquino as she received the
certificate indicating her name and lot
number 1282 as a beneficiary.
“I cannot ask for more. Finally,
our long-dream come true,” Rufino
Agustin, 63 year-old farm worker in
Hacienda Luisita said as he pin-pointed
his lot number 1282 indicated in the
certificate he received from DAR, went
the PNA report. The initial successful
Lot Allocation Certificate distribution
was led by DAR secretary De los Reyes
along with other DAR officials at the
basketball court in the barangay hall of
Cutcut, Tarlac at 8:00am.
According to Secretary De los
Reyes, the certificate were distributed
to individuals via “raffle” or drawing of
lots through “tambiolo” (raffle drum).
“We do the raffle to ensure that
there is orderly and fair distribution of
farm lots to qualified beneficiaries and
also to avoid any insinuations that some
beneficiaries can choose their lot
locations,” he explained in a press
conference at the Century Park Hotel in
Tarlac. Under the set-up, the name of
qualified beneficiaries are drawn from
the tambiolo while the corresponding
location of their individual farm lots are
digitally projected in real time in an
electronic subdivision map of Hacienda
Luisita.
The beneficiary whose name was
called then proceeded to a designated
personnel that issues the lot allocation
certificate, indicating the name and lot
number for the farm lot allocated upon
verification. “After receiving the
certificate, the ARBs are given
orientation and informed on their rights
and obligations with respect to his
CARP-awarded land like the
amortization that they will pay for a
period of 30 years at an affordable rate,”
said lawyer Anthony Parungao.
The beneficiary then read and
signed the Application to Purchase and
Farmer's Undertaking (APFU) and
sworn to the guidelines set therein. The
APFU is a mandatory requirement for
the generation and registration of the
beneficiary's Certificate of Land
Ownership Award (CLOA), the title to be
given to the beneficiary for his CARPawarded land.
“Only those who signed the APFU
will be given land,” de los Reyes stressed
as he cited that CLOAs will then be
forwarded to the Register of Deeds for
registration and eventual distribution
to beneficiaries by September of this
year. The drawing of lots in Barangay
Cutcut was the first in a series of
allocation activities that will be
conducted almost daily until all
barangays of Hacienda Luisita are
covered according to DAR. Hacienda
Luisita is composed of 10 barangays in
three municipalities in the province of
Tarlac. These are barangays Cutcut,
Bantog, Balete, Asturias, Lourdes, and
Mapalacsiao in Tarlac City; Parang,
Pando and Mabilog in the town of
Concepcion; and Motrico in La Paz town.
In barangay Cutcut alone, there are
about 645 qualified beneficiaries.
The drawing of lots in the said
barangay will be finished by Friday
according to the DAR secretary.
“All the qualified beneficiaries for the lot
allocation activity in this barangay will
be completed until Friday,” he said as he
expressed satisfaction for the ease in
the drawing of lots designated for every
beneficiary and seen how happy and
contented the farm workers as they
received their certificates. Around
6,000 farm workers are qualified ARBs
in Hacienda Luisita.
Each beneficiary is expected to
own farm lots with an area of 6,600
square meters, more or less, from the
total area of 4,099 hectares for
distribution. An additional 400.87
hectares will also be acquired under the
CARP but will not be distributed, as
these will be used as common areas,
such as firebreaks which will also serve
as access roads to the farm lots of the
beneficiaries, fishponds, canals, roads,
etc.
The lot allocation activities for
the qualified beneficiaries in other
barangays are scheduled as follows:
Lourdes (July 22 & 23); Bantog (Jly 25 &
26); Asturias (July 29 and 30); Motrico
(Aug. 1 and 2); Pando (Aug. 5 and 6);
Mabilog (Aug 8 and 9); Parang (Aug. 12
and 13); Balete (Aug. 15 and 16); and
Mapalacsiao (Aug. 19, 20 and 21). Daily
Tribune - With PNA
Global protest
rallies against
China on July 24
QYork, Roxee B and Teddy Corpus of
Rocksteddy.
They have called it the “F.U.
M ove m e n t ” w h i c h s t a n d s fo r
“Filipinos Unite”. The project was
spearheaded by USPGG's Vonz Santos,
an expat Fil-Am who has been actively
developing awareness of the China
invasion issue for many years.
From page 1
speakers include Rep. Walden Bello
and Rissa Hontiveros of Akbayan, Rep.
Roilo Golez, former Executive
Secretary Rafael Alunan III, General
Danilo Lim of the Guardians Society, as
well as Solita Monsod and Jarius
Bondoc.
Expressing the sentiments of
the rally's sponsors, Inquirer
columnist Conrado de Quiros wrote:
“The only way we can really deter
China…is not by bringing the fury of
our arms to halt the invader in its
tracks but by bringing the weight of
global condemnation to bear on it to
make it rethink the costs of
occupation.”
'FILIPINOS UNITE' ARTISTS'
COLLABORATION
The Makati protest rally will feature
the debut performance of an
unprecedented collaboration of
Filipino artists from around the world
who came together to produce a song
and video in response to the
escalating tensions with China in the
West Philippine Sea. They have
labeled the project “Operation:
Change the World” and their songs can
b e v i e w e d o n l i n e a t
www.filipinosunite.com.
Among the young artists who
have come together to express their
love of country are: Abra, Anne Curtis,
Billy Joe Crawford, Charice
Pempengco, Dcoy, Gian Magdangal,
Izz, Jamir of Slapshock, Janjay, Jay R,
Joshwa of Lion and The Scouts, Jugs of
Itchyworms, Julianne, Karyll, Kat
Agarado of Sinosikat, Kate Torralba,
Kitchi Nadal, Kris Lawrence, Loonie,
Mica Javier, Nimbus 9, Noel Cabangon,
NEW YORK RALLY AT THE UN
The New York July 24 rally will
be held in front of the United Nations
at Dag Hammersjold Plaza at First
Avenue and 43rd Street. A coalition of
Filipino community groups led by the
National Federation of Filipino
American Associations (NaFFAA) and
the Filipino American Legal Defense
Fund (FALDEF) will join members of
the Vietnamese American Community
of New York in protesting China's
imperialism in Southeast Asia.
At a New York planning meeting
hosted by Nicolas-Lewis on July 2, 50
Filipino leaders from the Northeast
promised to mobilize their
communities to attend the UN rally on
July 24. Among the attendees were
members of the Filipino
Intercollegiate Networking Dialogue
(FIND), the Knights of Rizal, the
N a t i o n a l F i l i p i n o Te a c h e r s
Association (NFTA), Philippine
Nurses Association (PNA) and other
civic groups.
SAN FRANCISCO PROTEST RALLY
At a packed Filipino community
meeting in San Francisco held at the
Philippine Center on July 12,
members of the Vietnamese American
community led by Judge Tue Phan
Quang and Atty. Tam Nguyen of the
Vietnamese American Voters League.
“I feel inspired and motivated
that the people of Philippines will all
stand up and wake up the world's
conscience on this important topic
which affects the entire region,” Atty.
u
Page 6
July 19 - July 25, 2013
Page 5
THE FILIPINO EXPRESS
Next on peace agenda: Power sharing, arms
By Delon Porcalla
MANILA -- After agreeing on
a wealth-sharing scheme last
Saturday, the government and the
Moro Islamic Liberation Front
(MILF) are aiming for a final deal
before the end of the year on the
l a s t t w o a n n e xe s i n t h e i r
framework agreement power
sharing and “normalization”or
laying down of arms.
“It's fair to assume that the
two annexes will be signed within
the year. It will happen sooner
than pessimists expect,” chief
government negotiator Miriam
Coronel-Ferrer told a news
briefing at Malacañang yesterday.
The last two annexes detail
the remaining issues that the
government and the MILF need to
resolve before a formal peace pact
can be signed, with
“normalization” seen as the most
contentious.
The wealth-sharing scheme
represented one of the approved
annexes while the creation of a
Transmission Commission signed
in February was the other.
President Aquino signed a
framework peace deal with the
MILF in October last year, allowing
the creation of a Bangsamoro
entity.
Malaysian Prime Minister
Najib Razak witnessed the signing
of the agreement along with some
members of the diplomatic
community.
Ferrer, who took over from
former law professor and now
Supreme Court Justice Marvic
Leonen, assured the public that
the approval of the wealth-sharing
annex was well thought of by the
two parties, and that it could
withstand legal scrutiny.
“We can guarantee you and
the rest of the country, as well as
the Bangsamoro people, that this
is a very good deal. It's too good to
let it pass to the next generation
again to take up, or even the next
administration to take up,” she
said.
Under the approved wealthsharing deal, the Bangsamoro
government gets 75 percent share
in revenues from oil and other
minerals extracted in the region
while the central government is
entitled to 25 percent.
“The time is now. This is
something that is viable. It is fair
and it is something that shares the
aspiration of the Bangsamoro
people,” Ferrer added, noting that
what is most important in peace
negotiations is for concerned
parties “to come to terms.”
“Everything is within the
parameters of the Constitution;
also within the flexibility of the
Constitution. We are confident
that it will stand the test of legality
a n d c o n s t i t u t i o n a l i t y,” s h e
stressed.
Compared to the current
Autonomous Region in Muslim
Mindanao (ARMM), the
Bangsamoro entity would be more
beneficial to Muslims in Mindanao
as it would empower them and
give them more independence in
managing their future, Ferrer said.
“We will have a far better
institution than what is being
enjoyed by ARMM,” she said.
She said the MILF had
promised “deliverables on their
part” regarding the disarming of
its armed fighters.
“This is the crunch time for
the MILF. Of course they are
c o m b a t a n t s a n d t h ey h ave
weapons. That's not going to be
easy. There are private armed and
criminal groups,” she said.
Ferrer admitted that the
matter is “still contentious as to
how it's going to be done.”
“There will be an
independent decommissioning
body that will take care of the
disposition of the weapons as well
as the inventory and programming
for the transition of former
combatants into ex-combatants,”
she added.
“The timeframe is provided
in the roadmap and the aim is to
finish the full transition within the
administration of President
Aquino,” Ferrer said.
Ferrer also denied
insinuations that the signing of the
wealth-sharing agreement more
favorable to the MILF was rushed
in time for Aquino's fourth State of
the Nation Address (SONA) on July
22, when the 16th Congress opens
session.
“The process was driven by
its own dynamics. SONA was not
the only force. That's something
that's very certain,” she told Palace
reporters in a briefing.
Greater scrutiny
Senior House leaders said
they were elated by the positive
developments in the peace
process but vowed to scrutinize
the agreements to make sure they
were advantageous to the people.
Quezon City Rep. Feliciano
Belmonte Jr., who is expected to be
reelected Speaker, said the
implementation of a final peace
agreement between the
government and the MILF is likely
to require new laws.
He said South Cotabato Rep.
Jesus Sacdalan, chairman of the
House committee on peace,
reconciliation and unity, briefed
him yesterday on the signing of the
wealth-sharing agreement.
Sacdalan, also a member of
the government negotiating panel,
fully backed the agreement, he
said.
“I'm sure this matter (wealth
sharing) will be discussed in the
House, the pros and cons of it,”
Belmonte said.
u
Page 7
July 19 - July 25, 2013
Page 6
THE FILIPINO EXPRESS
Tightened policies
on pork in Aquino
Sona
From page 3
investigation] in aid of legislation
is really needed to prevent [a
repeat of this scandal],” Poe said.
While President Aquino
has not taken a position on the
pork controversy, he appears to be
not keen on letting go of his own
pork barrel.
Deputy presidential
spokesperson Abigail Valte said
on Tuesday that Aquino had a lot
of uses for the President's Social
Fund, which channels assistance
to the families of soldiers,
policemen or government
workers killed in the line of duty.
New procedures
Lacierda told reporters
that the Department of Budget
and Management (DBM) headed
by Abad had made some
recommendations on the
procedure for the release of pork
barrel to the projects of senators
and members of the House.
“What's in the budget is
(the proposal for) accreditation,
but we are putting together some
more recommendationslimited
menu, limited implementing
agencies, etc.,” Abad said in a text
message.
Global protest
rallies against
China on July 24
From page 4
Tam said as he announced that his
group will send at least 50 members
to attend the July 24 protest rally in
front of the San Francisco Chinese
Consulate at 12 noon at Geary Blvd.
and Laguna Street.
Atty. Tam later emailed the San
Francisco sponsors of the protest rally
to inform them that Dr. Hoi Do from
Florida, chair of the VietnameseAmerican Federation in the US has
just announced his group's
endorsement of the July 24 global
protest against China.
A mass for peace in the West
Philippine Sea will be held on July 24
at 10:30 AM at the St. Mary's
Cathedral on Geary Blvd, just half a
block from the Chinese Consulate.
Concelebrating the mass will be Fr.
Abraham Alonzo, Fr. Mark Reburiano
and Fr. Ray Albano. All 81 Filipino
Catholic priests in the San Francisco
Archdiocese have been invited to
attend the mass and to bring along
their parishioners.
State Sen. Leland Yee (D-San
Francisco) reminded rally organizers
at a July 4 Filipino community
Independence Day picnic in San
Bruno that when he spoke at the
P h i l i p p i n e I n d e p e n d e n c e D ay
festivities at the Intercontinental
Hotel in San Francisco on June 12, he
said, speaking about the crisis in the
South China Sea, “when you examine
the situation objectively, when you
just look at the facts, you will have to
conclude the Philippines is right and
China is wrong.”
GLOBAL RALLIES SET
Rallies are also planned at the
The additional
recommendations will be
presented to Congress during
budget hearings, he said.
“There's a policy
recommendation of accrediting
the CSOs (civil service
organizations) with the DSWD,
subject to a standard to be
determined by the DBM and
DSWD,” Lacierda said.
Under the pork barrel
system, each senator is allotted
P200 million, while a House
member gets P70 million.
Lacierda said that the
matter of deleting the pork barrel
item from the budget bill is up to
Congress.
“Remember, the GAA
(General Appropriations Act) is a
law in itself. If it's passed, it
becomes a law. So Congress
decides …. We just submit our
budget,” he said.
“The budget goes through
a lengthy process by the House
and the Senate to review and
question the budget. So we will
have a budget season right after
[the State of the Nation Address],”
he said.
The matter of abolishing
PDAF, then, should be left to the
“discretion” of the legislators, he
said.
With a report from Tonette Orejas,
Inquirer Central Luzon (Philippine
Daily Inquirer)
Chinese Embassy in Washington DC
and at Chinese consulates in Los
Angeles, Chicago, Houston and
Saipan. Protest actions are also
planned in front of Chinese
government offices in Denver and
Atlanta.
In Rome, Merilla Murillo
reported that a meeting on July 11
attended by almost 50 Filipinos was
held to plan the protest rally in front of
the local Chinese Embassy on July 24.
Similar actions are planned in
London, Sydney and Copenhagen.
Even in China-dominated Cambodia, a
group of Filipinos plan to protest in
front of the Chinese Embassy in Pnom
Penh on July 24.
In a prayer to be delivered at the
July 24 protest rally, Fr. Abraham
Alonzo wrote: “We praise you Father,
for walking with us through our
journey to freedom from both foreign
domination as well as well as from our
Martial Law years… Today, more than
ever, our freedom is under a serious
attack by the invasion of the
Communist government of China,
whose godless ideology has no regard
for the basic human rights of its
neighbors much less of its own people.”
The New York Times op-ed
article of Loida Nicolas-Lewis ends
with this statement which reflects the
sentiments of the Filipinos protesting
on July 24:
“To the government of China, we
say, the will of a Filipino people that is
united is more powerful than your
threats and your armaments. To the
people of China, we declare, we have
no quarrel with you but with your
government, which has established a
Manchukuo-style regime in Sansha
City to lord over the South China Sea.
To the people of the world we say, we
are confident that you will support
our quest to ensure that justice, not
brute force, will prevail.”
For more information on the
global protest on July 24, please log on
to uspgg.org.
4 Filipina maids
of arrested Saudi
princess ...
From page 1
Princess' entourage of
helpers. Police say Alayban's
family traveled to the United
States in May with the victim
and the four Pinay domestic
workers.
The 30-year-old woman
was hired in Kenya in 2012
and her passport was taken
from her on arrival in Saudi
Arabia. She was forced to work
excessive hours and was paid
less than she was promised
and not allowed to leave,
authorities said.
“This is not a contract
dispute,” Rackauckas told the
court during a bail hearing on
Wednesday afternoon. “This is
holding someone captive
against their will.”
An Orange County judge
set bail at $5 million for
Alayban and required her to
submit to GPS monitoring. He
also banned her from leaving
the county without prior
authorization.
Alayban did not appear
in court. Her attorney, Paul
Meyer, said the case was a
contractual dispute and
argued his client should not be
assigned a ransom-like bail
solely because she was rich.
He said she had been traveling
to the United States since she
was a child, owned properties
here, and had given her word
s h e wo u l d a d d re s s t h e
allegations.
“This is a domestic work
hours dispute,” he said.
Bail denial requested
Rackauckas had asked
the judge to deny bail for
Alayban or set it at $20
million, saying it was unlikely
any amount would guarantee
a Saudi princess would show
up in court. He said the Saudi
consulate had already offered
to cover $1 million in bail
initially set after her arrest.
The victim was working
“around the clock” for the
family cooking, cleaning and
caring for children, said Irvine
police chief David Maggard Jr.
She had been promised wages
of $1,600 a month but was
paid only about $200 a month,
Rackauckas said.
Maggard said the
Filipina workers left the home
voluntarily with police once
authorities arrived. They told
police they were interested in
being free, Maggard said.
Meanwhile, probe
continues on the plight and
situation of the four Filipina
workers with no immediate
information as to whether all
four will also pursue charges
against their employer.
The princess' Thursday
arraignment was reset for July
29.
“The laws of our nation
and California do not tolerate
people who deprive or violate
the liberty of another and
obtain forced labor or
services,” said Rackauckas. ”If
any person is being enslaved,
he or she should contact law
enforcement. Any victim of
human trafficking will receive
the benefit and protection of
the laws of the United States
and California.”
HSI Special Agent-InCharge Claude Arnold
expressed similarly strong
sentiments.
“In this country, it is not
only unacceptable to hold
people against their will, it is
criminal. This case should
serve as an example to human
trafficking victims that they
can come to authorities
without fear, so we can
provide them with protection
and bring those responsible to
justice,” Arnold said.
Alayban is one of six wives of
Saudi Arabian Prince
Abdulrahman bin Nasser bin
Abdulaziz al Saud.
(Filamstar.net/INQUIRER.net
News Partner)
July 19 - July 25, 2013
Page 7
THE FILIPINO EXPRESS
Next on peace
agenda: Power ...
From page 5
“But I'm very confident that, as
long as they can show us that this is a
reasonable thing, that it would finally
end decades of conflict and promote
development, I think the House would
support it,” he said.
Senators also welcomed
yesterday the new developments in
the peace process.
Senators Franklin Drilon and
Teofisto Guingona III lauded the MILF
and the government for what the
lawmakers considered another
breakthrough in the country's long
quest for lasting peace in Mindanao.
Drilon said a lasting peace in
Mindanao is now within reach, but
warned parties against complacency.
“We've still got a long way to go
before we achieve our goals, more
annexes to discuss, but, with the
unyielding efforts being shown by
both sides and the tremendous
support this undertaking has been
receiving from the people, there is no
doubt this agreement is bound to be a
success,” Drilon said.
He said a just and lasting peace
in Mindanao is “key to a successful
implementation of socioeconomic
programs and to addressing the high
poverty incidence in the entire
region.”
Guingona said it was heartening
that the latest breakthrough in the
peace effort coincided with the
Ramadan.
“Mindanao has suffered enough
because of the conflict. Its people are
now more hopeful of lasting peace,” he
said.
Meanwhile, security officials in
Mindanao said members of the
troublesome Bangsamoro Islamic
Freedom Fighters (BIFF) behind the
series of attacks against military and
police targets over the past weeks in
Maguindanao stand to get isolated
and may even have to square off with
their former comrades-in-arms once a
final peace deal is reached.
“If they will continue launching
atrocities, soon they will find out that
they are not only up against the
government military and police forces
but also with their MILF brothers and
sisters,” a ranking military official,
who asked not to be named, said.
Another official said BIFF's
depredations were an exercise in
futility as such were unlikely to derail
the current peace effort.
He said the people of Mindanao
Muslims and Christians alike are now
looking forward to a peaceful end to
the decades-old conflict in the region.
“They know they can't win,” the official
said.
Last Saturday, five BIFF fighters
and two soldiers were killed in heavy
fighting following an ambush in
Guindulungan town in Maguindanao.
The BIFF, which broke away
from the MILF due to ideological and
political differences, was headed by
MILF 105h Base Command chief
Ameril Umbra Kato.
Kato has since relinquished his
command of the group after suffering
a stroke. But Kato remains BIFF's
spiritual adviser.
(The Philippine Star) With Paolo
Romero, Christina Mendez, Jaime
Laude
SC voids National Artist Award
on Alvarez, Caparas, 2 others
By Tetch Torres-Tupas
MANILA --- The
Supreme Court on
Tuesday declared invalid
the presidential order
giving the National Artist
award to Cecile GuidoteAlvarez, filmmaker Carlo
J. Caparas, architect
Francisco Mañosa and
fashion designer Jose
“Pitoy” Moreno.
SC information chief
Theodore Te said the
order in 2009 made by
then president Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo was
voided because it was
issued with “grave abuse
of discretion.”
The controversy
stemmed after musician
Ramon Santos had been
dropped from the list of
nominees short-listed for
that year by the selection
committee and four other
names had been added by
the President's
prerogative.
The names allegedly
came from Malacañang's
Honors Committee which
made its own screening.
After several protest, the
case eventually reached
the Supreme Court and
stopped Malacañang
from conferring the
honor to the four
individuals.
In its recent ruling,
the high court said “there
was a violation of the
equal protection clause of
the Constitution when
the former President
gave preferential
t r e a t m e n t
t o
respondents GuidoteAlvarez, Caparas, Mañosa
and Moreno.
T h e fo r m e r
P r e s i d e n t ' s
constitutional duty to
faithfully execute the
laws and observe the
rules, guidelines and
policies of the NCCA
(National Center for
Culture and Arts) and the
(Cultural Center of the
Philippines (CCP) as to
the selection of the
nominees for conferment
of the order of National
Artists proscribed her
from having a free and
uninhibited hand in the
conferment of the said
award.”
“The manifest
disregard of the rules,
guidelines and processes
of the NCCA and CCP was
an arbitrary act that
unduly favored
respondents GuidoteAlvarez, Caparas, Mañosa
and Moreno.
The conferment of
the Order of National
Artists to said
respondents was
therefore made with
grave abuse of discretion
and should be set aside,”
the high court further
stated. (Inquirer.net)
July 19 - July 25, 2013
Page 8
THE FILIPINO EXPRESS
DOJ bolsters pork
scam probe
From page 2
was strong enough because she
had not yet seen the documents.
She said the NBI team had
coordinated with “relevant”
agencies that could help it
evaluate the documents.
On the Napoles camp's
statement that Department of
Justice (DOJ) prosecutors had
dismissed the serious illegal
detention case filed by Luy against
Napoles, De Lima said that
“whatever is the truth in that case,
this will not affect the issue on the
allegations of the scams because
the documents and affidavits are
there.”
The justice secretary also
said the illegal detention case was
not yet over because the NBI and
Luy had filed a motion for
reconsideration of the ruling of
the prosecution panel that heard
the case.
“Whether or not the MR
(motion for reconsideration) is
granted or denied, there is still a
process. That case is not yet over,”
she said.
Ready to meet Luy
De Lima also said Luy's
l a w ye r, L e v i B a l i g o d , h a d
informed her that his client had
agreed to be placed under the
Former NJ Gov.
McGreevey to
head ...
From page 1
creation and workforce
development. I look forward to
working with Governor McGreevey
on providing more job
opportunities for all of our
residents.”
In addition, McGreevey will
work to design and implement a
Jersey City Re-Integration Program
for ex-offenders being released
from New Jersey State Prisons and
the Hudson County Correctional
Center. Working closely with the
Hudson County jail, County ReIntegration Services, and the
Hudson County Re-Integration
Task Force, Jersey City will develop
a case management system to
work with ex-offenders toward
identifying work, housing and
social services.
“Having a former governor
with ten years experience in this
field that he is an expert in is a
Witness Protection Program.
She said she would meet Luy
if he would go to the DOJ to be
placed under the WPP and if he
and his lawyer wanted to talk to
her.
She said she already spoke
and interviewed Luy after the NBI
rescued him from the home of
Napoles' brother Reynald Lim last
March following Luy's supposed
detention there and that this was
why there was an ongoing
investigation of Napoles.
Arrest Napoles, DOJ urged
Also on Thursday, members
of Partido Lakas ng Masa, a
national political party of the
marginalized sectors, picketed
the DOJ offices to demand the
arrest of Napoles and the filing of
plunder charges against the 28
lawmakers who allegedly
colluded with her in the pork
barrel scam.
The group also called for the
i nve s t i g a t i o n o f E xe c u t ive
Secretary Paquito Ochoa, whose
law firm represented Napoles as
well as the Liberal Party, which
purportedly got P100 million
from her during the May elections.
The group, which backs the
abolition of the pork barrel
system, also asked the
Commission on Audit and the
Department of Budget and
Management to open the records
of transactions made by Napoles
and those involved in the scam.
HCCC and NJCU Sign 'Reverse Transfer
Articulation Agreement'
JERSEY CITY / July 17, 2013
Officials from Hudson County
Community College (HCCC) and
New Jersey City University (NJCU)
gathered at the HCCC Culinary
Conference Center this afternoon to
sign a unique agreement called,
“Reverse Transfer Articulation
Agreement.”
Members of the HCCC and
NJCU administration, faculty and
staff looked on as HCCC President
Dr. Glen Gabert and Vice President
for Academic Affairs Dr. Eric
Friedman, as well as NJCU President
Dr. Sue Henderson and Vice
President for Academic Affairs Dr.
Joanne Bruno inked the agreement.
Under the terms of the
agreement , New Jersey City
University students who earned at
least 30 credits towards associate
degrees while enrolled at Hudson
County Community College, but did
not complete enough credits to earn
associate degrees, may transfer
credits earned at NJCU to HCCC to
complete the requirements for their
associate degrees. In order for NJCU
students to take advantage of the
“Reverse Transfer Articulation
Agreement” they must be in good
standing and have earned at least
15 semester hours at NJCU, and have
left HCCC in good standing.
“This agreement will provide
students with the opportunity to
add a credential to their résumés
while they are pursuing their
bachelor's degrees, and that can
very much improve their
HCCC and NJCU signed documents formalizing a Reverse Transfer Articulation Agreement
between the two colleges. Seated from left: HCCC President Dr. Glen Gabert and NJCU President
Dr. Sue Henderson. Standing from left: HCCC Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Eric
Friedman and NJCU Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Joanne Bruno.
employment prospects,” said Dr.
Gabert. He noted that Hudson
County Community College and
New Jersey City University share a
historic partnership, one that has
been important in contributing to
the success of many students.
Additional details on the new
articulation agreement may be
o b t a i n e d o n l i n e a t
w w w. h c c c . e d u / n j c u o r b y
contacting Hudson County
Community College Career and
Transfer Services at 201-360-4184
or cts@hccc.edu.
unique and exciting opportunity
for Jersey City,” said Mayor Fulop.
“With Governor McGreevey's
background and portfolio, we can
leverage private investment and
develop a prisoner re-entry
program that becomes a national
model.”
Currently McGreevey works
with the women of the Hudson
County Integrity Program under
the auspices of Director Oscar
Aviles of HCCC and Integrity, and
will continue to volunteer with the
women. Having pursued seminary
education and training, he served
with formerly incarcerated women
and men in Harlem, NYC. He also
works with the women upon
discharge to secure mentoring, a
continued commitment to
principles of recovery, and
reintegration into the Hudson
County workforce. The Hudson
County program has been
recognized by the U.S. Department
of Justice 'Second Chance
Program.' It is one of two re-entry
programs in the nation to be
funded through 2015.
u
Page 9
July 19 - July 25, 2013
Page 9
THE FILIPINO EXPRESS
Mayor Fulop Appoints NYPD Deputy Chief James Shea as Public Safety Director
Concludes National Search Headed by Former NYPD/FDNY Commissioner Howard Safir
JERSEY CITY, July 18, 2013 -Mayor Steven M. Fulop today
announced the appointment of
NYPD Deputy Chief James Shea as
the new Public Safety Director for
Jersey City overseeing the Police
and Fire Departments following
an extensive national search.
Shea, who will reside in
Jersey City, has most recently
served as Deputy Chief of the
NYPD responsible for the Youth
a n d G a n g C r i m e D iv i s i o n ,
focusing on the expansion and
enhancement of the division and
targeting a reduction in gang
violence.
Other recent assignments
have included commanding some
of the toughest areas, working on
issues such as robberies, street
crime and terrorism.
“Jersey City has been
dealing with serious public safety
issues for some time, which my
administration is committed to
addressing immediately,” said
Mayor Fulop. “James has both the
experience, knowledge, and
management skills to implement
real change as it relates to public
safety and I am confident he will
lead Jersey City on the right path
McGreevey to ...
From page 8
“It is a privilege to work for
and with Mayor Fulop in addressing
a critical need,” said McGreevey.
“Having been born in the Hague and
baptized at St. Patrick's, it is
wonderful to be coming 'home' to
the place where my grandparents
and parents raised a family. It is an
honor to serve people who need a
second chance, something I've
valued in my life.”
McGreevey previously served
as Governor, State of New Jersey,
State Senator State Assemblyman,
Mayor, Township of Woodbridge,
Merck and Company, Executive
Director, New Jersey State Parole
Board, Assembly Majority Office,
New Jersey State Legislature, and
Assistant Prosecutor for the
Middlesex County Prosecutor's
Office. McGreevey holds a B.A. from
Columbia University, a law degree
from Georgetown University, a
master's degree from Harvard
University Graduate School, and a
master's in Divinity from General
Theological Seminary.
toward reducing crime and
making our city one of the safest
mid-size cities in America.”
“Mayor Fulop has made an
excellent choice in Deputy Chief
James Shea as Director of Public
Safety,” said New York City Police
Commissioner Ray Kelly. “Over
the course of his 22-year career at
the NYPD, Chief Shea has proven
himself to be an innovative crimefighting strategist and a highly
effective leader. He has served the
public with great distinction as a
member of the NYPD and the
United States Marine Corps. I
know the residents of Jersey City
will benefit greatly from his vast
experience in law enforcement
and his commitment to their
security.”
For two years, Shea served
as Commanding Officer of the
NYPD Contingent for the
FBI/NYPD Joint Terrorist Task
Force, overseeing national
security investigations,
conducting briefings of threats
and investigations up to the
White House level, coordinating
the planning and deployment for
emergency management and
high level special events, as well
James Shea
as coordinating personnel from
more than 50 local, state and
federal law enforcement
agencies.
During his tenure with the
NYPD, Shea also served as the
Commanding Officer of the 49th
& 47th Precincts in the Bronx,
leading more than 300 uniformed
and civilian personnel and
overseeing all law enforcement
operations within two
communities each with more
than 100,000 residents. In the
Bronx, Shea designed, developed
and implemented crime control
and public safety functions
including supervision of
operations, investigations,
training, budgeting, and quality
control, as well as analyzing
criminal and demographic trends
and indicators for presentation to
community groups, elected
officials and the media.
Shea also served as
Commanding Officer of the
N Y P D' s C i t y w i d e Ro b b e r y
Division and the NYPD Police
Academy, and has worked in a
supervisory role in Manhattan's
Organized Crime Control Bureau
and in the NYPD's Patrol Services
Bureau for the 28th, 9th, and 46th
Precincts.
“Having led two busy
precincts in the Bronx, James has
the management experience to
oversee public safety operations
in a city as large and diverse as
Jersey City,” said Mayor Fulop.
“Additionally, with James' specific
experience in gang and youth
violence, as well as terrorism and
homeland security issues, he
stood out as an ideal candidate for
the position of Public Safety
Director.”
Shea, a former United States
Marine, is also a graduate of the
Police Management Institute at
Columbia University School of
Business and holds a BS in Police
Science from the City University
of New York.
“It is an honor to join the
Fulop Administration and to
work for the people of Jersey City,”
said James Shea. “I am excited to
have the opportunity to work
alongside the dedicated
professionals of Jersey City's
Police and Fire Departments to
enact Mayor Fulop's vision for
Jersey City.”
A search for candidates for
the position of Public Safety
Director was conducted by
Vigilant Resources International,
which is headed by former NYPD
Commissioner Howard Safir. The
search was not funded by
taxpayer dollars, but rather by
private donations. Mayor Fulop
has announced that his
administration is creating a new
Public Safety Department as part
of his restructuring and
streamlining of government.
Mayor Fulop Names Two Deputy Mayors
Thieroff to Oversee Economic Development; Brady-Phillips to Oversee Social Services
JERSEY CITY -- Mayor Steven M.
Fulop announced last July 16 the
appointment of two Deputy Mayors
who will be joining his administration.
John Thieroff will serve as the Deputy
Mayor of Economic Development and
Vivian Brady-Phillips will serve as
Deputy Mayor of Social Services.
“Unlike past administrations
were the Deputy Mayors were mostly
ceremonial roles filling in at ribbon
cuttings and other events, our two
Deputy Mayors will be key
participants in policy-making and
operations,” said Mayor Fulop. “Both
John and Vivian bring a wealth of
knowledge and experience and I am
extremely thrilled they are joining our
administration.”
Both deputy mayors will each
be earning a salary of $110,000.
Deputy Mayor Thieroff 's salary
replaces that of former HEDC Director
Carl Czaplicki who made $121,638
and is being replaced by Acting
Director Al Cameron at no additional
cost. Deputy Mayor Brady-Phillips'
salary replaces that of former DPW
Director Rodney Hadley who made
$133,113 and has retired.
With more than 20 years in
banking and financial services for
such companies as Chemical Bank now part of JP Morgan Chase,
Standard & Poor's, and GE Capital,
Deputy Mayor Thieroff's professional
experience has focused on corporate
credit and debt capital markets. Most
recently, Deputy Mayor Theiroff has
been consulting as an expert witness
in international tax disputes.
Deputy Mayor Thieroff holds a
Bachelor of Science from Central
Michigan University (Finance major)
and an MBA from the University of
Toledo.
“I am excited to be part of the
Fulop administration and to be
working with such a high-caliber
team,” said Deputy Mayor Thieroff.
“We have a great opportunity to do a
lot of good for the city and I look
forward to working hard every day
toward achieving that goal.”
As Executive Vice President of
External and Legal Affairs at the NYC
Leadership Academy, Deputy Mayor
Brady-Phillips oversaw the nonprofit
organization's community and
foundation relations,
communications and legal affairs.
Prior to that, she served as Chief of
Staff at the organization. Deputy
Mayor Brady-Phillips has significant
experience in both public education
and litigation, and has helped support
the creation of new small schools and
developed and implemented a grants
program to improve access to physical
education as a Program Officer at New
Visions for Public Schools. She has also
led advocacy work on behalf of
disabled and high-need students as a
project director and case advocate at
Advocates for Children of New York.
Deputy Mayor Brady-Phillips'
legal experience includes
representing unions and low-wage
workers as an associate attorney at
Gladstein, Reif and Meginniss and
general corporate litigation as an
associate attorney at the law firms of
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett and
Kramer Levin, where she was actively
involved in pro bono matters. She is a
graduate of New York University
School of Law, where she was an editor
of the Law Review and a Root Tilden
Scholar.
“It is an honor to serve as
Deputy Mayor in Jersey City and I am
excited about the potential to develop
policies and programs that benefit a
diverse community such as Jersey
City,” said Deputy Mayor BradyPhillips.
Editorial & opinion
July 19 - July 25, 2013
Page 10
THE FILIPINO EXPRESS
Cultivating a state
of the nation
Given the popularity of social media Web sites that allow an
internet user to voluntarily post photos and thoughts, or
whatever quality and quantity, experts have raised the question:
How different are we from the personas we cultivate on the
Internet?
These personas have pictures taken from the best angles,
dish out the wittiest quotes, ponder the most profound questions,
dine in the trendiest restaurants and generally lead interesting
lives.
But a site like Facebook, for instance, is hardly life. Life is the
mundane as well as the interesting, the silly as well as the smart,
and the unflattering as well as the pretty.
The distinction comes to fore as President Benigno Aquino
III is set to deliver his fourth State-of-the-Nation Address on
Monday. Theoretically, such an address is a snapshot of the
country at any given point, in this case, halfway through the
President's term.
Ideally, too, the SONA will be the President's report of the
progress of his programs and, in the spirit of candor, of the areas in
which his administration has fallen short of expectations.
Going by experience, however, we do not expect this kind of
speech.
This is, after all, a President who once castigated the media
for not being positive enough. Positive, all right, he will be, as he
rattles off the supposed gains made during his first three years in
power.
Mr. Aquino will likely invoke the much vaunted straight and
narrow path in claiming that government corruption has been
brought down. A former president is facing plunder charges and a
chief justice was ousted for not disclosing all his assets in his
mandatory statement.
But is this all? A recent survey by Transparency
International shows that a significant number of Filipinos
perceive corruption in the country to have remained the same, or
even worsened. One of the revenue-generating agencies of
government, the Bureau of Customs, has consistently failed to
meet its targets and to stem corruption within. The advocacy to
stem corruption should go beyond political affiliationsprosecute
the corrupt at whatever level regardless of the color of his or her
campaign shirt.
The wealth-sharing agreement with the Moro Islamic
Liberation Front, in pursuit of lasting peace in Mindanao, has also
been surprisingly hammered out in these last few days before the
SONA. We have no problem with the agreement if it were truly the
result of consultations with the numerous stakeholders. But if it
were hammered out just to make the deadline for the President's
SONA, we believe haste makes waste.
Mr. Aquino will also likely claim credit for the better-thanexpected GDP growth in the first quarter of the year. But he is not
inclined to mention that hunger and unemployment have
worsened, in absolute terms, and that growth in income is
skewed, felt more by the higher-income Filipinos than the lowerand middle-income ones. In fact, Palace spokespersons have
dismissed the findings of the government's own statistical agency
even as they acknowledged that inclusive growth cannot be
achieved overnight.
Great News for Spouse and
Children of Green Card Holders
The August 2013 Visa
bulletin shows that the Familybased 2A preference category
which refers to spouses and
children of lawful permanent
residents (LPR) is current for all
countries.
This means that starting
August 1, those who are in the U.S.
may file for adjustment of status
while those who are processing
their immigrant visa application
abroad may be scheduled for visa
interview.
In announcing the visa
n u m b e r a v a i l a b i l i t y, t h e
Department of State said that the
F2A preference category will be
expected to remain current for
several months. Although there is
a large number of F2A registrants,
the Department of State
explained that it had taken this
step to generate an increased
level of demand since not enough
applicants have been actively
pursuing final action on their
case. This will ensure that all of its
available visa numbers will be
fully utilized.
The Department of State
also said that at some point
during Fiscal Year 2014 which
covers October 1, 2013 through
September 30, 2014 the cutoff
date could be retrogressed as a
corrective action. Note that in July
2013, the cutoff date was October
8, 2011.
In light of this development,
beneficiaries of family-based 2A
petitions, regardless of their
priority date, should file their
adjustment applications. Those
who have no I-130 petition
should concurrently submit their
I-485 and I-130 petition.
A pending adjustment
application, will allow them to
remain in the U.S. and work until
their application is adjudicated.
They may also be allowed to
travel.
Eligible to file for
adjustment of status are those
lawfully present in the United
States or those who are
beneficiaries under Section
245(i) of the Immigration and
Nationality Act. To be covered
u
Page 12
NO OTHER WAY
Filipinos feel a special
International Eucharistic
visited here in 1981 and told a
poker-faced dictator Ferdinand
Marcos to his face: “Government
cannot claim to serve the common
good when human rights are not
safeguarded.” During the Marcos
years, there were 3,257
extrajudicial killings, 35,000
torture victims, and 70,000
imprisoned, historian Alfred
McCoy notes in a Yale University
study. That dark legacy hobbles
Ferdinand Jr.'s supposed bid to
seek the presidency in 2016.
team is here now to finalize
details. Filipinos will look beyond
t h e C h u rc h' s i n s t i t u t i o n a l
deadwood and identify with
Francis' concerns for the poor.
u
Page 14
affinity for John Paul II. He first Congress in Cebu City. An advance
Founded in 1986
Publisher/Editor-in-Chief: Lito A. Gajilan, Jr.
Columnists: Reuben S. Seguritan, Esq.,
Juan L. Mercado, Jonathan Suarez, Joel Baclit
Correspondent: Contessa Bourbon
The opinions expressed by columnists are their
own and do not reflect the opinion of the paper
nor that of the publisher
Contact us:
Email: filexpress@aol.com
Phone: 201-434-1114 Fax 201-434-0880
Popes John XXIII and John
Paul II may be canonized as saints
together, possibly on Dec. 8,
Rome's La Stampa newspaper
reported. That day is the feast of
the Immaculate Conception.
The Congregation for
Causes of Saints meets on
Tuesday, the Vatican Press Office
said. But it didn't comment on an
Associated Press report that
members had formalized their
recommendation to canonize
John Paul II. All proceedings in
sainthood causes are secret until
the Pope issues the relevant
decrees.
John Paul II presided over
World Youth Day at Rizal Park in
January 1995. Over four million
attended the closing Mass. That's
the current world record for the
largest papal gathering. Filipinos
will host Pope Francis in January
2016. He'll attend the 51st
The likelihood then is that of
a two-John canonization. That
fans an ongoing debate where
laymen and scholars compare the
man who'll be honored and the
pontiff who'll preside over the
ancient rites.
“From the moment of his
introduction to the world as Pope
Francis, Jorge Mario Bergoglio
resembled Angelo Giuseppe
Roncalli, or Pope John XXIII, more
than any other pontiff,” John
Borelli of Georgetown University
u
Page 14
Page 11
July 19 - July 25, 2013
THE FILIPINO EXPRESS
Noy's
first
3
years:
'Unclear
priorities,
OPINION
unfelt changes’
By Louis Bacani
The Philippine Star
After his first three years in
office, President Benigno Aquino
III remains to be perceived by the
public as a leader without clear
priorities while the changes in
the country are unfelt by all, a
political analyst said.
Dr. Clarita Carlos, a political
science professor from the
University of the Philippines
(UP), said Aquino had been
addressing the ills of the society
and scored some achievements
during the first half of his term.
However, ordinary citizens have
yet to see their effects, along with
the President's road map and
vision for the people.
Making
life worth
living
Ellen Tordesillas
Surviving traffic in Metro
Manila is a test of patience, an
exercise in anger management.
Here are some tips I'd like
t o s h a re w i t h my f e l l o w
sufferers:
1. Text and call.
It's the time to send text
messages or make calls that you
should have done earlier but
were not able to do because you
were attending to some other
things.
After an hour,you would
have accomplished a lot. Time
not wasted.
2. Count your blessings.
“Maybe from their
(government's) point of view
they have a strategy which they
call the National Development
Plan and this would have various
components eradicate poverty,
create employment, attract
direct investments,” Carlos said
in an interview with
Philstar.com.
The UP professor was
referring to the Philippine
Development Plan 2011-2016,
which serves as the blueprint of
the Aquino government in
solving the country's woes. But
despite having this thick
document, Carlos still wants to
see the administration to clearly
sort out its priorities and assure
that nobody is left behind.
“I think what everyone is
looking for would be for the
government to really identify for
us which are the priorities in
terms of where you will put the
money,” said Carlos.
“I now it's a tall order,
really. It's a very big thing… but
that one has to be very clear to
us. Ano 'yung nangungunang
concern natin, kasi ibig sabihin
doon mo ilalagay yung pera,” she
added.
She said the government,
which is “drowning in
problems,” needs to guarantee
the various sectors of that they
are included in these priorities.
For instance, while the problems
in the military are being
addressed, teachers on the other
hand should not be overlooked.
“What we need from the
government is a clearer
articulation of 'Okay, we are
paying attention to our defense
concerns, but at the same time,
we are not forgetting
education.'”
“Many times information is
very valuable… just for them
(teachers) to know that they are
next line [is a good step],” she
said.
Corruption on the Tuwid na
Daan?
A n d w h i l e t h e
government's priorities look
unclear to the public, the impact
of Aquino's “triumphs” also
seems to be unfelt by everyone.
After allegations of
corruption hounded the past
a d m i n i s t r a t i o n , A q u i n o' s
apparent main platform was
centered on transparency and
accountability, where the
government made some
accomplishments. Under his
term, a Supreme Court Chief
Justice was found guilty of nondisclosure of wealth while a new
leadership was also established
in the anti-graft court.
However, Carlos believes
that corruption remains even
under Aquino's term since the
problem has become
institutionalized. “Even while
the President himself is not
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Page 15
How to keep your sanity when stuck in
Metro Manila traffice
Think of worse situations that
you and your friends had been in
and survived.
told myself, the perwisyo that I
was going through was nothing
compared to the ordeal
experienced by my friend, Angie
Miranda, Fitness First personal
trainer, last June 13, when
thousands got stranded after a
heavy downpour turned Metro
Manila streets into a lake.
Last July 4, my colleagues in
VERA Files treated Mikha Flores,
who covered Comelec for us last
e l e c t i o n a n d wa s j o i n i n g
Businessworld.
I left Las Pinas before 5 p.m.
and got to Baclaran about 6 p.m. I
took a taxi hoping to be at
Greenhills, where we were
treating Mikha, in an hour.
That was not to be so
because from EDSA Magallanes,
vehicles were crawling. It took
me more than two hours to travel
the estimated eight- kilometer
distance.
Metro Manilans' daily calvary. Philippine Daily Inquirer for photo.
From MOA, it took Angie
more than one hour to get to the
Laguna bus terminal in Pasay, a
distance that would usually take
about 20 minutes on a normal
day with a flowing traffic. At the
terminal, Angie said there was a
long queue for the buses that
were not coming, probably stuck
in the traffic.
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Page 14
During that agonizing trip, I
SP Flip-flop
Yes, that's Senate President
Franklin “Flip-flop” Drilon. And
since it's not the first time that
Drilon is going to be elevated to
the third-highest position in the
land, it is only fitting that he
should also backtrack
shamelesslyand oh so quicklyon
an opinion that he was supposed
to have held with all the
conviction that he could muster.
Of course I'm talking about
Drilon's supposedly firm belief,
declared only last Monday, that
he is in favor of abolishing
Congress' pork barrel funds. And
the fact that, only a day later,
Drilonthe Palace suck-up who is
purportedly a shoo-in to become
the next Senate president upon
the opening of Congress later
this monthreversed himself,
saying basically that lawmakers
need their pork barrel funds to,
well, bring home pork to their
districts.
By flip-flopping on the pork
barrel controversy in the space
of 24 hours, Drilon must have set
a world record of sorts for
political self-reversal. After all,
even his public profession of love
for then President Gloria
Macapagal Arroyo the last time
he was Senate head and his
subsequent joining of the “Hyatt
10” group that later called on
Arroyo to resign took several
days to happen.
Only Drilon can explain
why he took back his own words
on the scandal of the misuse of
the Priority Development
Assistance Fund (as pork is
currently known) so fast. Or why
he could perform such a sudden
180-degree turn in public whose
degree of difficulty would have
scared an Olympic gymnast
without any apparent remorse
or even an admission of error.
All I know is, at the start of
the week, after one newspaper
broke the story on the supposed
malversation of up to P10 billion
in PDAF, Drilon got on his high
horse and declared that he will
move (presumably as Senate
chief) to abolish the fund. And
then, the day after, he was saying
that lawmakers needed pork to
provide medical benefits and
other goodies to their
constituents, which was why the
fund should stay.
On Monday, people were
admiring the presumptive
Senate president for his position
on pork, saying that perhaps
they could have misjudged the
often-abrasive and always
brown-nosing gentleman from
Iloilo. Then, the following day,
they were all let down again and
restarted their favorite pastime
of bashing Drilon, even making
hurtful remarks about the
senator's well-known girth and
connecting it with his strident
defense of pork.
But Drilon brought it all on
himself, of course. He probably
thought he'd “ride” on the issue
by taking the high moral ground
in favor of pork abolition, only to
realize that his own porkaddicted Congress peers might
think he was actually seriousand
so he had to backtrack.
I've said before that this
tendency of Drilon to flip-flop
should serve as a warning to his
current boss, President Noynoy
Aquino, about the transitory
nature of the senator's loyalty.
But if this doesn't bother Aquino,
then who am I to be bothered by
it?
I just hope that the
popularity of Aquino doesn't
wane during his term to the
point that Drilon would consider
junking him and calling for his
resignation. I guess we'll have to
wait until Drilon professes his
love for Aquino and asks the
President to take up residence in
Iloilo; then we'll know for sure
that Noynoy has lost Flip-flop
Frank.
All things considered,
that's not really such a bad thing.
I'm sure Aquino has his true
believers, even outside of his
circle of former classmates and
firing-range buddies, who will
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Page 14
July 19 - July 25, 2013
Page 12
THE FILIPINO EXPRESS
Philippines keeping vigilant over
China's intent in S. China Sea
By Dario Agnote
Kyodo
MANILA - The Philippines is
keeping vigilant in light of China's
“clear intent” to beef up its military
presence in the South China Sea,
particularly in a shoal located
inside the Philippines' 200nautical-mile exclusive economic
zone, according to classified
Philippine government papers
seen by Kyodo News.
“China has maintained a
constant presence of at least two or
three marine surveillance ships
and a frigate in the vicinity of the
shoal conducting surveillance
patrol and illegal fishing,” the
document said.
Pictures obtained by Kyodo
News show Chinese navy ships
operating in the area as well as
fishing vessels loaded with giant
clams and corals harvested from
the shoal.
“All these activities are being
done under the watchful eyes of
Chinese government vessels,” the
document said.
S i n c e F e b r u a r y, t h e
Philippine military has noted an
increase in sightings of Chinese
maritime law enforcement vessels
and Chinese navy ships in the
vicinity of Second Thomas Shoal,
about 105 nautical miles off the
coast of the Philippines'
westernmost island province of
Palawan.
The Philippine military says
Chinese navy and government
vessels have operated in the
disputed area on 24 occasions from
2010 to 2012, nearly a three-fold
increase from 1995-2009.
Philippine security officials
have vowed to protect the shoal at
any cost.
China's aggressive presence
in the area, the Philippine
government paper said, has
prompted Manila to draw up a
“contingency plan” for fear that
China might resort to a blockade or
even seizure of the shoal by force.
The contingency plan
includes an “urgent upgrading” of
the military's equipment, naval and
air assets that will boost the
military's capability in that part of
the disputed sea.
“We do not want a repeat of
Scarborough Shoal,” the document
said, referring to China's
occupation last year of the shoal, a
large coral reef located 124 nautical
miles off the coast of the Philippine
main Luzon Island.
C h i n a , Ta iwa n a n d t h e
Philippines claim ownership of the
Scarborough Shoal, north of the
disputed Spratly Islands.
The submerged Second
Thomas Shoal is part of a group of
islands, rocks, reefs and cays
known together as the Spratly
Islands, which are claimed in part
or in whole by China, Taiwan,
Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines
and Brunei.
Four claimant countries
China, the Philippines, Taiwan and
Vietnam have stationed troops in
the islands they control.
The Philippines has
garrisoned troops on nine pieces of
disputed territory, including
Second Thomas Shoal.
“The persistent sightings of
maritime law enforcement vessels
in the shoal have been continuing in
the past weeks,” the Philippine
government document said.
Beijing has demanded that
Manila remove a rusty, World War
II-vintage landing ship it grounded
on the shoal in 1999 that serves as
an outpost for Philippine troops.
Lt. Gen. Rustico Guerrero,
commander of the Philippines'
Western Command, said that while
China has not shown signs that it
will take over the shoal, the
Philippine military is on the alert
and closely monitoring the
situation.
“Rest assured that we will not
leave Ayungin,” he said, referring to
the local name of Second Thomas
Shoal. “We will maintain our
detachments and outposts.”
He said the Philippine
military “will take appropriate
measures” if warranted, such as an
overt Chinese move to stop
Philippine fishermen from
operating in the area.
“We're doing our best to
protect our territory. The outposts
are properly manned and we are
continuously monitoring the
activities of other nations in that
area,” he said.
Second Thomas Shoal is the
closest structure to Mischief Reef, a
submerged bank about 240
kilometers from Palawan Province
that China occupied in 1995.
Mischief Reef is now the
Chinese navy's “most active base”
in the South China Sea and it is often
used as a refuge for Chinese navy
ships and fishing vessels, according
to the Philippine government
document.
Aside from Second Thomas
Shoal, Kyodo News also learned
that the Philippine military is
keeping an eye on Sabina Shoal,
also a potential source of natural
gas. Maritime disputes at Reed
Bank have stalled plans to start
offshore oil and natural gas drilling
activities off Palawan Province.
China is also asserting sovereignty
over the bank, 85 km from the
province.
The Philippines says China is
“the most aggressive” among the
claimant countries in the South
China Sea.
According to the Philippine
government document, China's
naval forces deployed in the South
China Sea include destroyers,
frigates, landing ships, and Chinese
marine surveillance and fisheries
law enforcement ships.
China maintains a constant
presence of at least two frigates and
a Yuting-class landing ship in the
South China Sea, as well as at least
four maritime surveillance ships
and fishery control vessels, the
document said. (Kyodo)
Great news for ...
the Philippines (12/22/02).
F3 (married sons and
daughters of US citizens) will
advance by 2 months worldwide
(12/8/02) and 1 week for the
Philippines (12/1/92) while F4
(brothers and sisters of U.S.
citizens) will advance by 1 month
worldwide (6/22/01) and 3 weeks
for the Philippines (1/8/90).
There will be little or no
change in the employment-based
categories (EB) except for India's
EB2 category which will advance
from September 1, 2004 to June 1,
2008. EB1, EB2, EB4 and EB5 will
remain current. The EB3 for skilled
workers and unskilled workers will
have the same cutoff date of
(1/1/09) worldwide but will
advance by 3 weeks to 10/22/06
for the Philippines.
From page 10
under Section 245(i), an alien must
be the beneficiary of an immigrant
visa petition or labor certification
filed on or before April 30, 2001. If
the visa petition or labor
certification was filed between
January 14, 1998 and April 30,
2001, the alien must prove that
he/she was in the U.S. on December
21, 2000.
The other family-based
categories will not advance
significantly from the July 2013 visa
availability. F1 preference which
refers to unmarried sons and
daughters of U.S. citizens will
advance by 3 months worldwide
(9/1/06) and by 6 months for the
Philippines (1/1/01).
F2B (unmarried sons and
daughter 21 or older of LPRs) will
advance by only a month
worldwide (12/1/05) and none for
(Editor's Note: REUBEN S. SEGURITAN
has been practicing law for over 30
years. For more information, you may
log on to his website at
www.seguritan.com or call (212) 6955281.)
July 19 - July 25, 2013
Page 13
THE FILIPINO EXPRESS
Manila, Washington widen talks for military deal
By Manuel Mogato
MANILA (Reuters) Washington and Manila have
expanded talks on military
cooperation to include possible
U.S. funding to build facilities and
the storage of U.S. humanitarian
relief supplies, the Philippine
envoy to the United States said on
Tuesday. The wider scope of the
talks for joint use of civilian and
military facilities signals rapidly
warming security ties between
the allies as the Philippines looks
to the U.S. administration to help
counter a newly assertive China.
The Philippines has ruled
out granting permanent basing
rights to Washington,
Ambassador Jose Cuisia said, but
it would give U.S. warplanes and
warships wider access to
Philippine bases on a temporary
and rotational basis, helping the
A s i a n n a t i o n i m p rove i t s
minimum defence capability.
The increasing rotational
presence of U.S. forces in the
country is covered by the 1998
Visiting Forces Agreement, but a
new arrangement would be
needed if Washington built
facilities to support its
temporary deployment to the
Philippines. "We need to expand
(the 1998 pact) further because
we may have to build some
additional facilities," Cuisia told
reporters in the Philippine
capital. The two countries have
been in talks since 2011 for "joint
use" of civilian and military
facilities in the former U.S.
colony.
The informal talks had
reached ministerial level, Cuisia
said, with both sides hoping for a
deal before President Benigno
Aquino steps down from office in
June 2016. "There has to be some
a g re e m e n t t o s u p p o r t i t .
Especially if they spend money,
there will have to be some
agreement." Cuisia said a new
pact might involve a U.S. request
for the storage of equipment and
supplies in the Philippines to
prepare for humanitarian aid
and disaster relief efforts. That
would reduce delays in bringing
in equipment from elsewhere,
such as bases in Guam and
Honolulu, he said.
"Then whenever it's
needed it's so much easier to use
that equipment because it's
already here." But funding
construction activities could be a
problem for the United States
following huge cuts in its defense
spending, Cuisia said. Last
month, the Philippine military
told Reuters about plans to
revive air and naval bases at
Subic Bay, a former U.S. Navy
facility that American forces
could use to counter China's
c re e p i n g p re s e n c e i n t h e
disputed South China Sea.
Military and diplomatic sources
familiar with security talks
between the allies told Reuters
Washington had identified fewer
than a dozen civilian and military
facilities to which it wanted
greater access, most of them
facing the South China Sea.
In some civilian locations,
the military would need to build
facilities for security and storage
of supplies, spares and
equipment. These facilities could
later be offered for joint use with
the United States. Last December,
the two nations also started
informal talks on the prepositioning of materials and gear,
including that to be withdrawn
from Iraq and Afghanistan as
some U.S. forces return home, an
air force colonel familiar with the
talks said.
"The U.S. military would
like to keep tonnes of
humanitarian equipment, like
tents, generators and shelter
materials here," he told Reuters,
adding that the latest two-way
exercises on disaster response
focused on this type of operation.
(Reporting by Manuel Mogato;
Editing by Clarence Fernandez)
‘US access to AFP bases key to Phl defense’
WASHINGTON -- US access to
Philippine military bases would
enable the United States to better
help defend the country and assist
Filipinos in the event of large-scale
natural disasters, said Navy Admiral
Samuel Locklear, commander of US
Pacific Command.
He said both sides were
looking at potential access
agreements down the road that
would be mutually beneficial, adding
“we're making good progress.”
To the perennial question of
whether the US is going to reopen
Subic or Clark, Locklear said, “I say
the US isn't going to open any more
bases in the Asia-Pacific region.
We're not in that business.”
What the US is looking for is an
opportunity to be able to have access
to Philippine military bases to help
in the country's defense and help
them respond to a broad range of
contingencies, Locklear told a
Pentagon news briefing on
Navy Admiral Samuel Locklear
Thursday.
“The Filipinos are committed
to developing a minimum credible
defense and as a close ally we're
committed to assisting them where
we can,” Locklear said.
“The US presence in the AsiaPacific is not going anywhere,” he
said.
Referring to China, he said the
US-China military-to-military
relationship is deepening in a “quite
commendable” way that may help
i m p rove ove ra l l e n ga g e m e n t
between the two countries.
Locklear has been involved in
security, strategic and economic
dialogues with visiting Chinese
officials in Washington over the past
two days.
“We are having an ongoing
dialogue with the Chinese military
about … the rules of the road, of how
we manage our relationship as the
Chinese navy inevitably gets larger
and inevitably will come out further
from their territorial seas.
“The US presence in the AsiaPacific is not going anywhere. So we
have to manage our ability to operate
around each other. And I think that
it's a doable thing,” he said.
July 19 - July 25, 2013
Page 14
THE FILIPINO EXPRESS
How to keep
your sanity ...
From page 11
From MOA, it took
Angie more than one hour to
get to the Laguna bus
terminal in Pasay, a distance
that would usually take
about 20 minutes on a
normal day with a flowing
traffic. At the terminal, Angie
said there was a long queue
for the buses that were not
coming, probably stuck in
SP Flip-flop
From page 11
fight for him to the bitter
end, no matter if his daang
matuwid sends them all off
the edge of a cliff like
suicidal lemmings.
But Drilon is not one of
t h e m . H e wo u l d h ave
thrown his gear in full
reverse and headed off in
the opposite direction so
fast that he would qualify as
a stunt driver in the next
“The Fast and The Furious”
installment.
***
On a final note, let me
just say that Drilon's latterday defense of pork is
mistaken because it
the traffic.
Angie said she was able
to board in the fourth bus.
She was standing all the way
to Laguna throughout the
trip that took almost two
hours.
I had no reason to
complain, I told myself in the
middle of the gridlock. I'm in
an air-conditioned taxi,
getting the day's news via TV
Patrol, with the taxi driver
giving his pro-US views on
the plan of the government to
assumes that the current
system of allocating funds
for local projects is
necessary or even effective.
If pork were abolished
altogether, people would no
longer demand that
lawmakers bring home such
projectsand lawmakers will
be forced to concentrate on
the job of crafting laws and
investigating in aid of
legislation.
And that would
certainly lead to the election
of a better class of
legislators. Not the current
crop that gets elected to do
nothing but rely on pork and
which is under the Palace's
thumb all the time because
of this addiction.
If Congress is to have
allow access to American
troops to the country's
military facilities.
3. Pray the rosary.
By the time I completed
the whole Sorrowful
M y s t e r y, t r a f f i c a f t e r
Guadalupe somewhat eased
up. I don't know if it was
God's answer to my prayers. I
got to Greenhills past 8 pm.
Dinner was good.
If you have your own
tips on surviving Metro
Manila traffic, please share.
any role in identifying
projects to benefit their
constituents at all, let this be
done by allocating funds for
that purpose in the national
budget as line items, like the
US Congress does. The
current practice of
Malacañang giving senators
P200 million and
congressmen P70 million in
pork annually and then
giving them the discretion to
choose where to spend it is
what is really wrong with
the current PDAF
systemand the true source
of corruption.
No, Drilon got it right
the first time. He just didn't
have the guts and the good
sense, as usual, to stick to his
guns.
No other way
From page 10
wrote in the international
Catholic weekly The Tablet.
Both men were 76 when
elected. Roncalli's electors
figured on a short-term
caretaker54 months, it turned
out. But John XXIII stunned
everyone by convening the
Second Vatican Council. Only 20
such general councils have been
held in the last 2,000 years.
Pope Francis turns 77 in
December. Barely less than 200
days on the chair of St. Peter, he is
correcting the Church's
immediate past, as did John XXIII.
He is setting directions for the
future, notably implementing
stalled Vatican II reforms…
Pope Benedict was 78 when
elected, recalls Eugene Cullen
Kennedy, professor of psychology
at Loyola University in Chicago.
“Benedict XVI spent eight longand
I mean longyears as our Holy
Father. Francis entered our lives
only a season ago.” So why does
Francis seem like someone we've
known a long time? Of Benedict,
we fall back on the Irish saying
that “we hardly knew ye.”
John and Francis resemble
each other most in their being
anything but themselves. By its
very nature, that quality cannot
be faked. As they did about John,
people sense there is no pretense
that keeps them from an easy
relationship with Francis.
Almost overnight, Francis
began to restore the credibility of
his Church just by being himself.
He washed the feet of prisoners,
including a Muslim woman, at the
Holy Thursday liturgy. Thus, “he
panicked far-right Catholics but
spoke of true religion to the
world.”
The act “spoke more of
Francis' understanding of Islam
than the learned (but often
misunderstood) theologically
dense addresses of Benedict XVI.
That, alas, was not Benedict's
strong suit,” Kennedy adds. He
was determined to diminish the
influence of a Vatican council that
he insisted had been
misinterpreted.
Cultivating a
state of the
nation
From page 10
It's hardly overnight it
has been three years, and
Filipinos are waiting to hear
m o re t h a n f i e r y, s e l f righteous rhetoric. If this
administration had a social
media persona, then that
would be itit's the epitome of
good governance, it can do
no wrong, and all the
p ro b l e m s b e i n g
encountered are the fault of
In contrast, Francis seems
to be defined by the “spirit” of
Vatican II. “That is why we feel
we have known Francis a long
time. And despite his catalogue
of virtues, Benedict fades into
the past he loves a little more
every day.”
Roncalli chose the name
“John.” That broke a 175-year
pattern of usual names: Pius,
Leo, Gregory and Benedict.
Bergoglio broke two even larger
traditions. He is the first Jesuit to
be elected pope. No one before
felt brave enough to choose the
name of the universally beloved
13th-century saint: Francis of
Assisi. By 1964, the council
fathers had adopted
interreligious dialogue,
especially with Muslims.
Nine days into his papacy,
F r a n c i s t o l d t h e Va t i c a n
diplomatic corps that he hoped
to intensify dialogue among
various religions, especially with
Islam. That reminded Borelli of
St. Francis of Assisi crossing
military lines to dialogue with
Sultan Malik al-Kamil.
As cardinal in Buenos
Aires, Bergoglio coauthored
“Sobre el Cielo y la Tierra (On
H e ave n a n d E a r t h ) ” w i t h
Abraham Skorka, a scientist and
Jewish rabbi. “I think he's going
to change everything that he
believes needs to be changed,”
Skorka told the Tablet.
In this book with Rabbi
Skorka, the then future pope
remembers being five or six
years old and accompanying his
grandmother. Two Salvation
Army ladies passed by and he
asked her if they were nuns. “No,”
she replied, “they are
Protestants, but they are good.”
Bergoglio reflected back on the
incident as archbishop and
praised his grandmother's
“wisdom of true religion.”
“A theoretical poverty is no
use to us,” Francis told a May 8
worldwide assembly of women
religious. And this Friday, he
stressed in his morning homily:
“Reaching out to our wounded
brothers in works of mercy is
touching the Crucified's own
wounds… There is no other way.”
E-mail: juan_mercado77@yahoo.com
its evil predecessor.
Sometimes the
penchant of this
administration to paint the
rosiest picture is amusing
but not so when it comes at
the expense of being able
to squarely identify the
problems that need sober,
serious solutions. When
we listen to the President's
speech on Monday, let us
be discerning: Is this the
real state of our nation,
based on our own
observations, or is this a
stage-managed feel-good
story that only serves to
elicit mindless “likes”?
(Manila Standard)
July 19 - July 25, 2013
Page 15
THE FILIPINO EXPRESS
Noy’s first 3
years: ‘Unclear ...
From page 11
corrupt and perceived as not
corrupt, still other things are
happening around him,” she said.
Also, attempts to weed out
corruption have yet to happen in
the lowest parts of the government,
according to Carlos.
“ Wa l a p a r i n t a l a g a n g
nangyayari on the ground,” she said.
“I'm sure you've had your horror
stories of applying for clearances
[and other government
documents].”
According to the the latest
Global Corruption Barometer of the
anti-corruption watchdog
Transparency International, 35
percent of 1,000 Filipino
respondents said corruption in the
country had gone down a little in
the past two years during Aquino's
term. About 31 percent believed it
had stayed the same.
Nineteen percent said
corruption had increased a lot,
while 12 percent thought it had
increased a little. However, only two
percent thought corruption in the
country had decreased a lot.
Some survey respondents
also admitted to paying bribes in
the last 12 months. Nineteen
percent admitted to bribing the
police while 14 percent did the
same for registry and permit
services.
Malacañang said last week
the survey showed that Filipinos
believe that the issue of corruption
is being addressed by the Aquino
administration.
“Our fight against corruption
has been recognized from six
percent (in 2010) to 38 percent and
we continue to fight corruption in
all levels,” presidential spokesman
Edwin Lacierda said. “We recognize
that there are still some levels of
corruption but the people have
seen that there is a consistent fight
against corruption under this
government.”
Economic inequality
At the same time, every
Filipino has yet to experience the
effects of the economic gains that
the Aquino administration has been
trumpeting, Carlos said.
She praised the government
for these accomplishments, which
include the recent credit upgrades
for the Philippines and the 7.8
percent growth rate in the first
quarter of 2013.
“Bigay natin where
commendation is due. Yes, our
economy really grew but the
growth is unequal,” she said. “'Yung
mga nasa baba, hindi talaga
naabutan nung growth na 'yun.”
Although the UP professor
admitted that these gains take time
to trickle down, she said
“immediate” effects should already
be felt. For one, taxpayers should
now see better public roads, which
can be perceived as signs of an
improving economy.
“Even in a small scale,
kailangan ma-feel ng greater many
na merong pagbabago,” she said.
“Just pay close attention on how to
reduce inequality. Give everybody a
chance to be rich, to raise the
quality of his life.”
C a r l o s a l s o re a c t e d t o
Aquino's apparent excuse that the
problems under his leadership,
including corruption and economic
inequality, were just handed down
by the previous administration.
“Hindi naman rason 'yun [na
minana mo 'yung problema]…
Dapat sabihin mo minana ninyo
pero sundan mo ito ng 'ang
ginagawa natin ay…'” she said.
“Gusto nating malaman yung
quantitative and qualitative effect
ng ginagawa ninyong reporma,” she
also said.
Earlier this year, the National
Statistical Coordination Board
(NSCB) revealed that poverty
incidence in the country practically
remained the same with almost
three out of 10 FIlipinos living
below the poverty line in the first
half of 2012.
NSCB Secretary General Jose
Ramon Albert reported that
poverty incidence was estimated at
27.9 percent during the first
semester of 2012.
“Comparing this with the
2006 and 2009 first semester
figures estimated at 28.8 percent
and 28.6 percent, respectively,
poverty remained unchanged as the
computed differences are not
statistically significant,” the NSCB
said.
The NSCB said 22 out of 100
families were estimated to be poor
in the first six months of 2012 while
13 in 100 Filipinos lived in extreme
poverty in the same period.
The agency said both of these
figures remained unchanged from
similar periods in 2006 and 2009.
Aquino had been assuring
that his administration is working
to spur inclusive growth and that
nobody will be left behind.
Next 3 years: Reforms needed
with public's help
To e n s u r e g o ve r n m e n t
accountability and effectiveness,
Carlos said one of the biggest
challenges for Aquino in his
remaining years in office is to
reform the bureaucracy one way is
to change the leadership in
inefficient offices.
Carlos said the President,
who has been scoring high approval
ratings, must take advantage of his
p o l i t i c a l c a p i t a l t o re m ove
ineffective officials and
demonstrate the power of the rule
of law.
“Because of the strength of
friendships and utang na loob,
Aquino, despite the fact that he uses
the iron hand once in a while, is less
likely to change leaderships in
organizations that really are not
working well,” she said.
“Bureaucratic reform and
boldness and courage to dismiss
people who are not performing
'yan ang hinihingi natin sa kanya,”
Carlos said. “Let the axe fall where it
should fall.”
She said Aquino should
diagnose government offices to
determine those non-performing
and to see which need to be
abolished or merged.
But while the President tries
to reform the government, Carlos
said the public should also do its
part.
“I think there is a genuine
effort to reform and to address
mainly the economic concerns but
it means tremendous cooperation
from everyone to make it happen.
Having a president who is not
corrupt is not enough. We need
more from the local executives'
cooperation. We need more from
the non-government
organizations,” she concluded.
July 19 - July 25, 2013
Page 16
THE FILIPINO EXPRESS
These unique natural springs are natural wonders of the Philippines worth visiting
Unique Natural Springs in the Philippines
Tangub Hot Spring:
Camiguin
Salinas Salt Springs:
Nueva Vizcaya
The province of Nueva
Vizcaya never touches the
ocean but actually deep
under, the pressure of the
Pacific Ocean pumps out salt
through the Salinas Salt
Spring, one of the wonders of
nature. Located near the
boundary of Benguet with
Nueva Vizcaya, the Salinas
Salt Springs were a source of
amazement for the
Americans when they arrived
at the turn of the century. It
was also the source of the
salt needs of our forefathers
from far and wide.
www.wonermondo.com
It is a volcanic hot spring not
fully developed a little
beneath sea level where a
pool is formed by sea stones
and corals. Water
temperature shifts from cold
to lukewarm to warm then to
hot as tide changes.
Submerge in the warm water
inside the pool at low tide and
enjoy the cold sea water
merging with the hot spring.
This rare spring is situated at
Naasag, Mambajao - about 12
kilometers west of the capital
town; 10-20 meters offshore
is ideal for scuba diving.
Hidden Valley Spring:
Laguna
Malumpati Cold Springs:
Antique
An ecological tour to a unique
place called Hidden Valley. It's
well preserved and protected
vegetation flourishes in a 300
feet deep crater covering an
area of 110 hectares, believed
to have been formed by
volcanic upheaval thousands
of years ago. A private resort
that boast of a virgin forest,
century old trees, giant ferns,
wild orchids, a hidden
waterfall, and several natural
spring pools consummates
the exhilarating ambiance.
Malumpati Cold Spring is one
of the nice places in Pandan.
Tourists would frequent this
place especially if it's hot just
for a nice swim in its natural
pool of cold spring water.
www.travelpod.com
July 19 - July 25, 2013
Page 17
THE FILIPINO EXPRESS
Timoga Cold Spring:
Iligan City
Asin Hot Springs:
Benguet
Timoga Cold Spring is
known for its pristine, cool
and crystal clear waters
freely flowing downstream
towards several swimming
pools. This is another good
destination when you stop
by in Iligan City.
Baguio City has the coolest
temperature in the country.
Asin Hot Spring is a place
where you can escape the
cold weather of the city
and enjoy the water of hot
spring.
Ardent Hot Spring:
Camiguin
Tiwi Hot Springs: Albay
In the heart of the island
bubbles this mineral pool
with water around 40ºC.
Vapor rises from the
heated waters that run
down the vents of the
dormant Hibok-Hibok
volcano. The springs are
ideal to bathe in at night
surrounded by cool
mountain air. It has
therapeutic effects. Picnic
huts and tables are
available in the beautifully
landscaped gardens and
there is a restaurant on
site. It is 6 kilometers
southwest of Mambajao.
A highly active thermal
area, Tiwi has long been a
popular place to "take the
medicinal waters" and
bathhouses abound. The
waters are hottest in
Naglagbong Lake, a boiling
sulfur pool.
When you visit the Philippines, don't forget
to take a plunge in these beautiful springs.
EXPRESSWEEK
July 19 - July 25, 2013
Page 18
THE FILIPINO EXPRESS
CELINE T, PASCUAL
KAY S. HABANA
AGNES B. DE GUZMAN
NNEKA JANE BAHIAN
DESIREE B. WISOTSKY
Miss Teen Performing Arts 2013
Miss Performing Arts 2013
Mrs. Performing Arts 2013
Miss Debutante Performing Arts 2013
Miss Young Performing Arts 2013
PERFORMING ARTS PHILIPPINES, INC.
th
TO HOLD ITS 19 CORONATION BALL
Performing Arts
Philippines, Inc. (P.A.P.I.) is all
set to celebrate its 19th year of
existence on August 11, 2013
with a Gala Coronation Ball at
the Grand Ballroom of the
Renaissance Hotel in Elizabeth,
New Jersey. Proceeds from the
affair will go into funding the
o r g a n i z a t i o n' s t w o m a i n
objectives: cultural (free
teaching of Philippine
folkdances) and educational
(granting of scholarship to its
deserving junior members).
To be crowned “Mrs.
Performing Arts 2013” is Agnes
Balatucan de Guzman, daughter
of the late Ignacio Balatucan, a
politician, and Elena Danao, a
retired teacher. Agnes holds a
BSBA degree, major in
Accounting, from the Philippine
School of Business
Administration in Manila, and a
Master's degree in Business
Administration (MBA) from the
Philippine Women's University,
in Quezon City, Philippines. To
conform with her late father's
legacy on charity, Agnes' goal is
to involve her entire family in
charitable causes, to enable
them to help the needy, -especially the less-fortunate
children. Agnes is blessed with
3 children and 5 grandchildren.
Walter Rivas, the husband of her
daughter Arriane, will be her
Escort for the event aand will
re c e ive t h e t i t l e o f “ M r.
Performing Arts 2013”.
Multi-talented Kay
Habana, daughter of Dan and
Cecile Habana, will be crowned
“Miss Performing Arts 2013”. A
g ra d u a te o f M a s s
Communications (major in
Journalism and minor in Italian
Language), this lovely Soprano
has received various awards
here in America and in Canada
for her singing prowess. She
currently works as MB2 NY's
Associate Artistic Director to
Mr. Miguel Braganza II and has
produced an album entitled
“Sacred” -- featuring her Tenor
colleague Rogelio Penaverde, Jr.
and herself. She's now working
on her first solo album, set to be
released before the year-end.
She has no formal vocal
training, but given the
opportunity, she aspires to
study Music (Voice) at the
famed music school Julliard.
For the event, Kay will be
escorted by handsome Chris
Randhel G. de Guzman with the
title of “Prince Charming 2013”.
Charming Nneka Jane N.
Bahian will be crowned “Miss
Debutante Performing Arts
2013”, the daughter of Rudy
and Elena Bahian of Elizabeth,
New Jersey. Nneka is 18 and an
11th Grade student at the John E.
Dwyer Tech Academy. In
school, she is a member of the
Ileap Center Staff and the Tech
Group. She sings, plays the
ukulele, and performs Filipino
folk dances as member of the
FICA Dance Troupe under the
choreography of her Mom
Elena. She will be escorted by
Seth Yap, the son of Milagros
Yap, with the title of “Debonaire
P.A.P.I. 3013”.
Beauty and Brains Celine T.
Pascual, daughter of Cezar and
Lyn Pascual, will be crowned
“Miss Teen Performing Arts
2013”. She is in Grade 11 at the
Bayonne High School, where
she has been recipient of
various academic and athletic
awards, such as: Student of the
Month Awards, Math Plus
Member, Reading Achievement
Award, District Art Show
Pa r t i c i p a n t , O u t s t a n d i n g
Cheerleader Award, and most
distinctively -- Member of the
National Honor Society. Aside
from cheerleading, she is also
into gymnastics, basketball,
softball, and tract. Her equally
brainy and talented brother Neil
Pascual will escort her as “Mr.
Teen Performing Arts 2013”.
Neil also attends the Bayonne
High School and is a Member of
the National Honor Society and
the World Language Honor
Society.
To be crowned as “Miss
Young Performing Arts 2013” is
12-year old Desiree Wisotsky,
the talented daughter of Daniel,
a Security Supervisor, and
Margie, an active community
leader in New York. Dessy, as
she is fondly called, is in 7th
Grade at the St. Pancras, who
started singing and dancing at a
very early age and is frequently
requested to perform at various
big events in New Jersey and
New York. In school, she is into
gymnastics and plays volleyball
and basketball, Her brother
Paul Thomas Wisotsky will be
her escort with the title of “Mr.
Young Performing Arts 2013”. A
student at Christ the King, Paul
excels academically, having
received Best in Math and Best
in Science Awards.
Managing the event are
Over-all Chair Norma C. Rabara,
Coronation Chairlady Tudy N.
Basilio, and Coronation CoChair Rose Javier. Well-known
designer Elvira Reyes is Pageant
Director, while Rolly Pastadan is
Pageant Choreographer, with
Merilyn H. Narciso as Pageant
Coordinator. A tandem of
popular community volunteers
Linda Arellano, Sonny Austria,
and Ria Serrano will emcee the
occasion.
FFACT Golf Tourney 2013 tournament results
The Men’s Champion
trophy was awarded to July
Afable and the Ladies’
Champion was awarded to
Erica Terencio.
Division Champions
trophies were captured by Eric
Bagos, Tony Chua, Nick Parial
and Yoly Fadrigalan.
The Federation of Filipino
Associations in Connecticut
announces the results of its
Golf Tourney 2013 that took
place on Saturday, July 13,
2013 at the River Ridge Golf
Course in Griswold,
Connecticut.
Longest Drive award
went to Leo Eqipto and the
most accurate drive went to
Lito Santos. Closest to the pin
awards were won by Doug
Walters and Joe Pangilinan.
Albis Quintero won the
putting contest and Michelle
Abad received the special
ladies award.
The tournament director,
Tony Abad, extends his
appreciation to the 47 golfers
who participated in the
tournament, coming all the
way from Connecticut,
Massachusetts, New
Hampshire and New Jersey.
Proceeds benefit the
Federation of Filipino
Associations in Connecticut, a
non-profit organization of
about 25 Filipino-American
associations in Connecticut.
Founded in 1989, the group
assists its component
associations in their cultural,
economic, socials, civic and
educational endeavors.
Dr. Ben Guanco, past FFACT president, shown with the Men’s champion, July
Afable and Ms. Tess Flynn, current FFACT president, shown handing the Ladies’
Champion trophy to Erica Terencio.
July 19 - July 25, 2013
Page 19
THE FILIPINO EXPRESS
HERMINIO R. POBLETE,
Chicago Fil Am leader, dies
CAM Icon Passes Away
MARINA M. BAISAS
1926-2013
By JOSEPH G. LARIOSA
(© 2013 Fil Am Extra Exchange)
DARIEN, Illinois
(FAXX/jGLi) — Herminio “Ka
Miniong” Rillo Poblete, who is
credited for inviting prominent
Filipino and Filipino American
government celebrities to grace
the Kasarinlan, the
Independence celebration once
sponsored by the Filipino
American Community of
Greater Chicago (FACC), died of
lung cancer last July 12. He is
79.
Mr. Poblete, president of
FACC from 2000 to 2006, was
responsible for inviting Sen.
Loren Legarda and her husband
former Batangas Gov. J. Antonio
Leviste to attend the Kasarinlan
Gala Night in 2003; Filipino
American U.S. Representative
Jeff Unson Coleman of
Pennsylvania (60 th District,
Republican) in 2004 and
Herman M. Montenegro, who
came as a stand-in for his sonin-law and “First Son”
Congressman Juan Miguel
“Mikey” Macapagal Arroyo
(Pampanga, Second District),
who was not able to make it in
2005 as his presence was
needed to testify before the
Philippine Senate where he was
accused of receiving “600,000
Herminio “Ka Miniong” Rillo Poblete with wife, Minda Poblete. (FAXX/jGLi Photo)
pesos (US$14,285) a month as
jueteng payola.”
Poblete, a graduate of business
administration (commerce)
degree from Manila's Far
Eastern University, was a native
of Naic, Cavite in the
Philippines. He told this
reporter that he once worked in
Philippine Congress as an aide
in the office Cavite
Congressman Montano before
immigrating to United States in
1985.
But he first worked as
property custodian at Andres
Bonifacio Memorial Hospital in
Trece Martires, Cavite, where
h e m e t h i s f u t u re w i fe ,
Luzviminda Flores, a
Registered Nurse, who survived
him. Other survivors include
their two children Cristina
(Rowel Plata) and Cecilia
(Ramon) Almendralo and five
grandchildren, Zach, Cassie,
Jacob, Jayden and Isabel; and
his siblings Leticia, Mely, Tony
and Emmanuel.
In Chicago, Mr. Poblete worked
as an office manager of a
doctor's clinic until his
retirement in 2006. It was also
that year that he cut short his
hold-over presidency of the
FACC following an election
protest of the 2004 disputed
p re s i d e n t i a l q u a d re n n i a l
election whose winner was to
hold office until 2008.
Although he had retired
from FACC politics, Mr. Poblete
still took the time to visit the
Rizal Center, the home of the
FACC, in the north side of
Chicago, Illinois from time to
time.
Marina Martinez Baisas was
born on July 7, 1926 in Pangil,
Laguna. She was married to the late
Dr. Wilifrido Baisas of Paete, Laguna.
They have two children - Perry,
deceased and married to Consuelo
Tadeo and Lourdes, married to
Deacon Cesar Sarmiento. Marina
was a pharmacist and taught at the
Biochemistry Lab of the College of
Medicine at the Manila Central
University. She migrated to the
United States in 1969. She worked at
Cornell University then at Willner
Chemists until her retirement. She
lived with her family in Brooklyn, NY
until she moved to Jersey City, NJ in
1977.
Marina served as a Eucharistic
Minister and also as a Trustee at the
Parish of the Resurrection. She was
one of the founders, the first
Secretary and one of the Advisers of
the Catholic Action of Mary. She was
a recipient of the Jubilee Medal pro
Meritis for service to the
Archdiocese of Newark.
Marina entered eternal life on
July 16, 2013. She is survived by her
daughter Lourdes, son-in-law Cesar,
daughter-in-law Consuelo,
grandchildren Portia, Abigail,
Francis, Christine, Catherine and
Corinne and great grandchildren
Marina Martinez Baisas
Colin, Eloise and Anthony Joseph.
The wake will be held at
Michalski Funeral Home, 463
Monmouth St., Jersey City on
Thursday and Friday, July 18th and
19th from 5PM until 9PM. The funeral
mass will be held at St. Mary's
Church, 254 Second St., Jersey City.
Interment will be at Holy Name
Cemetery, West Side Aveue, Jersey
City.
BUSINESS & ECONOMY
July 19 - July 25, 2013
Page 20
THE FILIPINO EXPRESS
Aquino pressed on economic reforms; Group
cites high power rates, smuggling infra lack
By Amy R. Remo
The Aquino administration
must institute key economic
reforms that will enable the
country to sustain its robust
economic performance,
according to the country's
biggest business organization.
The Philippine Chamber of
Commerce and Industry (PCCI)
issued the statement as the
country's economic managers
begin to identify priorities for a
growth agenda for the last half of
President Aquino's term. These
reforms are expected to tap the
“full potential of a competitive
private sector to create more
jobs, generate more incomes and
lift more Filipinos out of poverty.”
“The Philippines has been
one of the, if not the best,
performing economy in Asia
under President Aquino's helm
as reflected in unparalleled
economic growth rates,
investment upgrades, improved
President Benigno Aquino III. PDI photo
national competitiveness and an
all-time trust rating in our
institutions. The challenge now is
to institute economic reforms to
sustain this growth,” said PCCI
president Miguel B. Varela.
According to Varela, the
Aquino administration must
a d d re s s t h e h i g h c o s t o f
electricity by crafting a roadmap
for the power sector premised on
achieving reliable and
sustainable supply and
competitive rates; address the
high cost of logistics and lack of
quality transportation
infrastructure by accelerating
the implementation of PPP
(public-private partnership)
projects and the adoption of a
national transportation plan, and
reform the Bureau of Customs to
reduce smuggling and make the
necessary laws for the country to
comply with the Revised Kyoto
Convention.
Other economic reforms
should address conflict between
national laws and local laws to
ensure the consistency of local
government issuances to
national policies in mining
activities, valuation process in
property assessments, and
granting of business permits,
among others, and tackle the
weak competition culture and
regulatory capture by adopting a
sound and coherent competition
policy and passage of a
competition law.
The PCCI further called on
the government to adopt an
industrial roadmap for
Philippine industries to be able to
compete after the Asean
integration in 2015; review
existing incentive-giving laws to
assess, reconsider and
harmonize these to be more
efficient and effective, and work
with the judiciary to reform
procedures and practices that
w i l l e n s u r e c o n s i s t e n c y,
objectivity and sustainability of
decisions that impact on
business and the economy.
Varela pointed out that the
proposed reforms were urgent to
enable the private sector to fully
avail itself of the market and
employment opportunities
promised under the Asean
economic integration.
“In the run-up to 2015, the
Philippines and the other Asean
countries are filling up voids for
c o m p e t i t i o n
a n d
complementation. Asean
members have been readying
their own support systems to
i m p rove e n e r g y s u p p l i e s ,
transportation and logistics
facilities, telecommunications,
fair competition rules,
administrative clearances,
legislative and judiciary support
and infrastructures,” Varela
explained.
“ We h o p e t h a t t h e s e
economic reforms will be
included in the President's
priorities as he works to leave
behind his economic legacy for
the country,” Varela said. “We
look forward to work with him to
implement these measures that
will sustain the country's
economic gains, and at the same
time, ensure that such gains will
redound to the benefits of more
Filipinos.” (Philippine Daily
Inquirer)
Gov't accelerates 2014 DA working on
Infrastructure spending 3 PPP projects
By Chino S. Leyco
T h e n a t i o n a l
government plans to
accelerate its infrastructure
spending by 40 percent next
year to P213.5 billion from
P152.4-billion budget this
year in an effort to further
boost the country's economic
growth, a cabinet official said
over the weekend.
Budget and Management
Secretary Florencio B. Abad
said that for 2014, the
government is pushing for a
P213.5-billion allocation for
the development,
construction, and
rehabilitation of national
roads and bridges next year.
The proposed budget for
next year is higher by 40
percent or P61.1 billion more
compared with the P152.4
billion allocation for 2013.
The bulk of the budget or
P152 billion will be handled
by the Department of Public
Wo r k s a n d H i g h w a y s
(DPWH), the government's
main implementing agency
for most of its infrastructure
programs.
The Department of
Transportation and
Communications will also
receive P48.7 billion
allocation for 2014, up by 31.4
percent year-on-year from
P37.11 billion for the
implementation of its
transport infrastructure
projects, including those for
a i r, m a r i t i m e , a n d ra i l
transport.
Other economic services
crucial to driving inclusive
growth will also receive
broader expenditure support
in 2014. These include
agricultural development
initiatives like irrigation
network services and the
construction of farm-tomarket roads, which will be
supported with a proposed
P24.6 billion and P12 billion,
respectively.
For 2014, the Aquino
administration is set to
propose a P2.268-trillion
expenditure program for
2014, 13.1 percent or P262.1
billion higher than this year's
national budget.
“When the Aquino
administration started, we
had to lay down a sound
foundation for reform on
which we could build our
development efforts,” Abad
said.
“Now, however, our focus
MANILA -- The Department
of Agriculture, through its PublicPrivate Partnership Unit (DAPPP), is currently working on
three major projects aimed at
supporting the country's
agriculture and fisheries sector.
DA Project Development
Service Director Zenaida M.
Villegas said the projects for
consideration under the PPP
scheme include the construction
of a multi-purpose reservoir dam
in Iloilo, the improvement of
existing postharvest processing
and trading centers, and the
establishment of a cold chain
system.
Secretary Florencio B. Abad
is to optimize these reform
initiatives and the successes
we've tracked so
farparticularly in fiscal
management to make growth
more far-ranging and
inclusive for Filipinos,” he
added.
The inter-agency
Development Budget
Coordination Committee
(DBCC) is targeting a 6.5
p e rc e n t to 7 . 5 p e rc e n t
economic growth, as
measured by the country's
gross domestic product
(GDP), in 2014.
Villegas, who also heads the
DA-PPP Coordinating staff, said
the multi-billion Jalaur River
Muti-Purpose Project Stage II
(JRMP II) that will be
implemented by the National
Irrigation Administration (NIA)
will soon take-off to provide
year-round irrigation to
agricultural areas in the province
of Iloilo.
The project fund amounting
to P11.212 billion will be sourced
from the Economic Development
C o o p e ra t i o n Fu n d ( E D C F )
through the Export-Import Bank
of Korea (Korea Eximbank).
The KEXIM-EDCF has
already signified its intention to
finance the conduct of a study to
determine the feasibility of
implementing JRMP II.
“The Korean agency has
indicated during a mission
earlier this year that it shall
consider such technical
assistance once the detailed
engineering design for the
irrigation component is
completed. A draft Terms of
Reference for the conduct of said
feasibility study has been
p r e p a r e d b y t h e DA a n d
subsequently endorsed by the
National Economic Development
Authority (NEDA) to the KEXIMEDCF,” Villegas said.
NIA Region VI Division
Manager and concurrent acting
project manager of JRMP II Engr.
Jesus Dato-on said that
construction of access roads to
the site is already on- going.
“NIA targets to finish the
JRMP II before the term of
President Benigno S. Aquino III
ends in 2016. The project will
serve an estimated 21,227
farmer beneficiaries -- 14,893
from the new area and 6,334
from the rehabilitated area,”
Dato-on said.
Aside from irrigation,
KEXIM-EDCF will also finance
two other components of the
JRMP II: hydro-power generation
and domestic water supply.
u
Page 22
July 19 - July 25, 2013
Page 21
THE FILIPINO EXPRESS
New investments in
Subic expand by 1,215%
Filipino domestic helpers line up to send money at a remittance center in the central district of
Hong Kong in this 2008 file photo. Remittances reached a five-month high in May 2013 as
overseas Filipino workers continued to send more money home to their families, data from the
Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas showed. AFP/TED ALJIBE
OFWs sent record-high
P1.86 Billion in May
By Paolo G. Montecillo
MANILA – Cash
remittances reached a fivemonth high in May as
overseas Filipino workers
(OFWs) continued to send
more money home to their
families, data from the
Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas
(BSP) showed.
The BSP on Monday
said cash remittances
reached P1.867 billion in
May, up 5.3 percent over the
same month last year. This
was the highest level since
December 2012 when OFWs
sent home $1.975 billion in
cash to the Philippines.
The increase in
remittances in May was in
line with the government's
full-year growth forecast of 5
percent. Remittances are the
economy's largest source of
foreign exchange income
which, apart from fueling
domestic demand, ensure the
country has enough dollars to
cover import needs.
Personal remittances,
which include gifts and other
products sent home, rose to
$2.07 billion, up 6.2 percent
from last year.
“Remittances remained
robust due to sustained
strong demand for skilled
Filipino manpower
overseas,” BSP Governor
Amando M. Tetangco Jr. said
in a statement.
The BSP cited the latest
reports from the Philippine
Overseas Employment
Administration, which
showed that one-third of the
431,394 approved job orders
since the start of the year had
already been processed.
These processed job
orders for services,
production, professional,
technical and related
workers were mainly
intended for the manpower
re q u i re m e n t s o f S a u d i
Arabia, the United Arab
Emirates, Kuwait, Hong Kong
and Qatar.
Tetangco also cited
efforts of banks and nonbank
remittance service providers
to expand their international
and domestic market
coverage, which has
supported the growth of
inflows.
Remittances in May
brought the five-month total
to P8.78 billion, or a growth
of 5.6 percent over the same
period last year. (Philippine
Daily Inquirer)
SUBIC BAY FREEPORT -- The
Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority
(SBMA) has reported a hefty
increase of 1,215 percent in the
amount of committed investments
that came into this free port for the
first half of the current year.
From US$ 43.86 million
posted for the same period in 2012,
committed investments from new
approved investments rose steeply
to US$ 575.33 million from January
to June this year.
“Despite a drop of 55 percent
in the number of new investment
projects in the Freeport for the first
half of the year, compared to (the
first half of) last year, bigger
investments have been signed up
this year,” SBMA chairman and
administrator Roberto Garcia said.
According to the agency's
business group, the top five
investments for the period were
Resom Resort Philippines, Inc.'s
expansion project, FFC Subic
Seafood Corporation, JohannaSubic Seafood Corporation, Simon
and Stanley International Trading
and Development Corporation, Inc.,
and Subic Bayview Development
Corporation.
The combined committed
investments of these projects alone
added up to US$ 554 million, or 96
percent of the total amount of
committed investments from
January to June.
Projected employment from
new investment projects also
climbed by 60 percent from 1,790
in 2012 to 2,868 this year.
The increase largely came
from the same top five investment
projects, which made up 73 percent
of the projected employment for
the period.
Garcia attributed the agency's
latest performance to the favorable
economic trends in the country.
He noted that with the
country enjoying one of the fastest
growth rates in the world and its
recent investment rate grading
upgrade by prestigious ratings
agencies, “the Philippines today is
definitely a big conspicuous blink in
the radar screen of investors
worldwide”.
“Encouraged by this scenario,
we hope to sustain the positive
inflow of investments into the
Freeport for the rest of the year,
especially in light of SBMA's
improved finances, which now
allows us to plow back part of our
earnings into upgrading our
s u p p o r t i n f ra s t r u c t u re a n d
equipment for better business and
investment services,” he added.
Ayala invests $220M
for wind project
By James A. Loyola
Ayala Corporation's
power generation unit AC
Energy Holdings, Inc.
(ACEHI) is taking a majority
stake in a joint venture that
will develop wind power
projects in Ilocos Norte with
an initial investment of $220
million.
In a statement, Ayala
said ACEHI has signed an
I nve s t m e n t Fra m e wo r k
A g r e e m e n t
a n d
Shareholders' Agreement
with UPC Philippines Wind
H o l d c o I B . V. a n d t h e
Philippine Investment
Alliance for Infrastructure
(PINAI) fund.
UPC Philippines is a
wholly owned company of
UPC Renewables Partners
(UPC) while the PINAI is a
P26- billion fund comprised
of the Government Service
Insurance System, Dutch
pension fund asset manager
APG, Asian Development
Bank and Macquarie
Infrastructure Holdings
(Philippines) Pte. Limited.
Under the agreements,
the firms will jointly develop
wind power projects in Ilocos
Norte through Northern
Luzon UPC Asia Corporation
(NLUPC) as their joint
venture company.
u
Page 22
July 19 - July 25, 2013
Page 22
THE FILIPINO EXPRESS
Plant to produce, export optical lenses
SEA shows concern
on China slowdown Fujifilm's new facility
By Eric Bellman and Nopparat
Chaichalearmmongkol, The Wall
Street Journal
As China's economic
expansion continued to slow in the
second quarter, executives and
economists in Southeast Asia are
bracing for impact especially in raw
materials.
China announced Monday
that its gross domestic product
growth slowed to 7.5% in the three
months ended in June. That's
healthy growth but way down from
more than 12% six years ago. If
China's growth rate sticks at 7.5%
or less this year, 2013 will be its
weakest year since 1990 when
China started to redraw the world's
economic map .
While the changes in the
Chinese economy are
reverberating across the globe,
Southeast Asia is particularly
vulnerable as it has seen its trade
with China skyrocket in the last 15
years. The growth has been
powered not only by China's
expansion but also by a free-trade
agreement between China and the
Association of Southeast Asian
Nations (ASEAN) which lowered
trade barriers in 2010.
Total trade between China
and the 10 members of ASEAN has
grown more than 30-fold in the last
15 years. That compares to the notquite tripling of trade between
Asean and the Japan or the US over
the same period. China is now
ASEAN's largest trading partner.
Ten years ago, it was fourth-largest,
well behind the United States,
Japan and the European Union.
China's until recently
seemingly insatiable demand for
commodities had been a big boost
for Southeast Asia's largest
economy, Indonesia, which exports
much of its natural resources,
including coal, tin, rubber, cocoa
and palm oil, to China.
As Chinese demand
underpinned prices Indonesia has
seen its economy expand more
than 6% in five of the last six years
with much of that growth coming
from the far-flung islands of the
archipelago which are the source of
DA working on 3 ...
From page 20
Another ongoing project is the
Grains Central Project which seeks to
rehabilitate, expand, and enhance
existing corn trading and processing
centers nationwide.
The Philippine Center for
Postharvest Development and
Mechanization (PhilMech) is the
project proponent while the National
Agribusiness Corporation (NABCOR)
will serve as the project's
implementing agency.
For this project, Villegas said
the DA has engaged the assistance of
the Land Bank of the Philippines
(LBP) and the International Financial
Corporation (IFC) as transaction
advisors.
“The PPP Grains Central Project
will be presented to Agriculture
Secretary Proceso Alcala Monday
(July 15), while the complete project
documents will be submitted to the
NEDA Investment Coordination
Committee within the third quarter of
this year,” Villegas said.
There are eleven Corn
the country's commodities.
As demand from China has
slowed, commodity prices notably
coal and palm oil have lost ground
in the last year. Indonesia's coal
companies, rubber tappers and oil
palm plantation workers are now
worried that the good times may be
ending.
Indonesian coal company PT
Lumbung Energi & Metal says
it has cut its expansion plans in half
this year as demand from China and
coal prices have tapered off.
Around half of its exports go to
China.
"We're still monitoring the
China situation to see whether
they're stabilizing or will they slow
further," Borneo chief executive
Alexander Ramlie told the Wall
Street Journal.
Palm oil plantation owner
Nasir Sihotang, 55, says his income
has dropped 30% in the last year as
the price he can get for the palm
fruit grown on his 10-hectare farm
in eastern Sumatra has fallen.
Demand from China has waned just
as production capacity in the region
has been increasing from all the
new plantations that sprouted up
when prices were higher.
"There's the China factor
because demand is slowing there
and we are also now dealing with
excess production," he said. "We've
have been forced to cut down on
our household spending, including
food. Some of my fellow farmers
have even been forced to stop
sending their children to school."
Indonesia's gross domestic
product expansion in the first
quarter was the lowest it has been
in more than two years. Some
economists expect Indonesia's
growth to dip below 6% for the first
time since the 2008.
Singapore, a regional
financial center where trade flows
dwarf the small domestic economy,
has also benefitted greatly from
China's economic boom. It has
supplied significant inflows of
Chinese cash from tourists and
investors who frequent the citystate's attractions and buy up its
properties.
Postharvest Processing and Trading
Centers (PHPTC) proposed to be
included in the said project.
Meanwhile, PhilMech has
presented a proposal for a cold chain
system project which aims to reduce
postharvest losses, maintain the
quality of perishable goods, and
promote direct marketing/online
auctions.
The agency has identified five
routes that will be included in the
project: Cagayan-Manila, VisayasInter-Island Connections, ManilaCebu, Cebu-Manila, and BenguetManila which will be the pilot route.
The DA-PPP Unit has likewise
conducted ocular inspections on
potential sites in La Trinidad, Benguet
for the Fruits and Vegetable Cold
Chain Center and in Guiguinto,
Bulacan for the AAA abattoir project.
Consultative meetings had
already been undertaken with the
local government units of the
provinces of Benguet and Bulacan in
order to confirm the availability of
sites being eyed for the
aforementioned projects.
starts operations
By Amy R. Remo
CANLUBANG, Laguna -Fujifilm Corp. on Tuesday began
full-scale operations at its P990
million (2.3 billion Yen) facility
here, which is expected to address
the growing demand for optical
lenses worldwide.
Shigehiro Nakajima,
president of Fujifilm, said the first
factory of Fujifilm Optics
Philippines Inc. in the country
would offer an integrated
production processfrom polishing,
coating and other processing
procedures to the assembly of
optical lenses. These lenses are
used for, among others, digital
cameras, projectors and
surveillance cameras.
According to Nakajima, the
facility, with its 100 employees, can
produce 2 million lenses. Of the
total, 30 percent will be “exported”
to the company's customers, which
are locators in various economic
zones in the country, while the
remaining 70 percent will be
shipped to Japan and China.
Fujifilm is planning to
expand operations in its plant at
the Carmelray Industrial Park as it
targets to ramp up production to
12 million lenses. This expansion
plan will increase the company's
workforce to 300 by 2014.
By 2015, production is
expected to reach 18 million lenses
a n d t h e wo r k fo rc e t o 6 0 0
employees.
Nakajima explained that the
company decided to put up a
facility in the Philippines mainly
due to the country's young and
highly skilled workforce.
“The resignation or turnover rate here is very low. You have
good infrastructure and in this
ecozone, the government is
offering very good tax incentives,”
Nakajima added.
Further expansion projects
are in the pipeline including the
setting up in the country of a
factory that would assemble some
of the company's final products
like cameras. These projects can be
accommodated in the 5.3-hectare
site since the optical lens factory is
occupying only less than a hectare
of the property.
The timetable, however, has
yet to be confirmed since the
decision on whether to push
through with the expansion
projects will depend on the global
demand situation, according to
Nakajima.
The construction of
Fujifilm's facility started in
November 2012 and was
completed after seven months.
Fujifilm positions the optical
device and electronic imaging
business field handling digital
cameras and optical lenses as one
of its priority areas. (Philippine
Daily Inquirer)
Philippines finds Okada may
have violated laws over land
By Norman P. Aquino
Philippine investigators
found evidence that Japanese
billionaire Kazuo Okada used
companies that aren't qualified to
develop a casino in Manila.
A fact-finding panel
recommended criminal charges
against Okada and other parties
for possible violations of a law
against using front companies to
own land, according to a justice
department statement yesterday.
Separately, the panel didn't find
sufficient evidence to recommend
charges on bribery, it said. Claro
Arellano, prosecutor general, said
there will be a further
investigation.
“We built the current landowning scheme based on advice
from the Philippines' prominent
lawyers, so our understanding is
that it's legal,” Nobuyuki Horiuchi,
a spokesman for Universal
Entertainment, said over the
phone yesterday. The company is
working with the government to
resolve the land issue and it will
continue to pursue the casino
project, it said in a stock exchange
Ayala invests
$220M ...
From page 21
An initial equity investment
has been agreed for the first 81MW
project with an investment value of
approximately $220 million with
ACEHI funding 64 percent of equity,
PINAI 32 percent and UPC 4 percent.
The 81MW project received a
declaration of commerciality on
June 17, 2013 from the Department
of Energy. Accordingly, NLUPC has
statement today.
Universal Entertainment
said it is in the final stages of
negotiations to secure potential
local partners and “finding a
conclusion to the ownership of
land.”
The panel of investigators
recommended criminal charges
against Okada, eight Japanese
nationals and 17 Filipinos,
according to the statement. Some
of the individuals involved are
lawyers, it said.
“Okada's trouble will end
up delaying his project and this
will definitely benefit the other
players,” Astro del Castillo,
managing director at First Grade
Finance Inc., Said by telephone
today.
Tourist Traffic
Universal shares fell 4.95
percent to 1,901 yen in Tokyo
trading today. The Topix Index
gained 0.7 percent.
The Philippines is counting
on Okada's project and three
other gambling developments,
collectively known as Pagcor
Entertainment City, to boost
tourist traffic that lags regional
s i g n e d t h e Tu r b i n e S u p p ly,
Installation and Service Availability
Agreements with Siemens Wind
Power A/S and Siemens Inc. and has
issued the Notice to Proceed.
The project's initial phase is
expected to be connected to the grid
by June, 2014. The joint venture
c o m p a ny h a s a p o rt fo li o o f
additional wind energy projects of
over 200MW under development.
The project will grow ACEHI's
wind farm portfolio in the
Philippines, building on its current
50 percent ownership of NorthWind
Power Development Corporation
neighbors including Indonesia
and Thailand. Universal is
targeting 150 billion yen ($1.5
billion) in sales from the casino in
the first year of operations, Okada
said in an interview in September
2011. At that time, he said the
company would spend $2.3
billion on the project.
The panel looked into
claims of bribery involving $40
million allegedly paid in 2010 to a
consultant for Philippine casino
regulators and said it found
insufficient evidence to justify
charges. The government may
cancel Okada's license if bribery is
proven, Edwin Lacierda, Aquino's
spokesman, said on Nov. 19.
Okada, who amassed a
fortune selling machines for
Japanese pachinko parlors, won
one of four provisional gaming
licenses awarded for the Manila
casino hub in 2008. He has sought
to expand in the Southeast Asian
nation, where the government is
setting up a casino center that
would compete with Macau, the
world's biggest gaming hub, to
draw gamblers and tourists from
China.
which already operates a 33 MW
wind farm in Bangui, Ilocos Norte.
Over the past two years,
ACEHI has established a robust
pipeline of power assets and has
committed over US$300 million of
e q u i t y i n c o nve n t i o n a l a n d
renewable energy technologies.
UPC has nearly 20 years of
experience in developing, financing,
constructing, owning and operating
wind farms in Europe, USA and Asia
with gross generating capacities of
approximately 2,000MW. (Manila
Bulletin)
ENTERTAINMENT
July 19 - July 25, 2013
Page 23
THE FILIPINO EXPRESS
Vice Ganda takes break
to avoid vocal cord surgery
MANILA -- Comedian Vice
Ganda is taking a short break
from ABS-CBN's noontime
show "It's Showtime" as per the
advice of his doctors.
BB Gandanghari f/k/a actor Rustom Padilla
BB Gandanghari
denies he has AIDS
MANILA – BB Gandanghari,
who is formerly known as actor
Rustom Padilla, admitted he was
hurt when he learned about the
speculations that have swirled
when he was recently
hospitalized.
Various rumors arose after
his brother, action-star Robin
Padilla, posted a picture of him at a
hospital bed saying Gandanghari
has a “very serious infection.”
Gandanghari set the record
straight that had a urinary tract
infection (UTI) and not HIV/AIDS.
“Hindi kasi ako nagbabasa.
Nakakarating na lang sa akin. Sabi
kasi may AIDS daw. But the thing
is, I'm not even promiscuous. Ang
masakit doon, parang nire-relate
na porket I came out as gay, parang
kailangan may AIDS na,” he said.
Gandanghari said it hurts
him that some people relate being
gay to promiscuity. “Hindi ho sakit
ng gays or transsexuals or
trangenders ang AIDS because
sakit iyan ng promiscuous na tao,
whether gay or straight,” he said.
According to Gandanghari,
he was suffering from a serious
case of UTI possibly brought by his
extreme workouts in the past few
weeks.
“I think it was because of the
dehydration. Before that, I was
really working out too much kasi I
would do zumba, yoga, running
because I want to maintain (my
weight) and then hindi ako
umiinom ng tubig,” he said.
Gandanghari said he does
not regret getting ill as it paved the
way for him and Robin to patch
things up.
Gandanghari related it was
Robin who first visited him at the
hospital among his siblings.
He said it also made him feel
better since, for the first time,
Robin addressed him as "BB,"
which he considers a turning point
in their renewed ties as siblings.
Julia Barretto is
now 'Mira Bella’
MANILA -- After it was
initially announced that she will be
playing the title role in "Cofradia," it
seems young actress Julia Barretto
has been given a new series for her
teleserye debut entitled "Mira
Bella."
The news came months after
she confirmed that she will be
doing "Cofradia," which is based on
the Dominador Ad Castillo novel of
the same title and the 1953 movie
starring Gloria Romero. Another
movie based on "Cofradia" was
made in 1973 with Gina Alajar.
Meanwhile, Barretto is
grateful to ABS-CBN for getting her
career off to a good start with the
top-rating “Wansapanataym"
s p e c i a l , wh i c h s h e to p b i l l s
alongside child actors Zaijian
Jaranilla and Xyriel Manabat.
“I'm very thankful to ABSCBN for giving me this opportunity
to be a part of another
'Wansapanataym' special. Aside
from being my training ground in
acting, it also gives us the chance to
teach and impart kiddie TV viewers
with good values,” said Barretto,
Julia Barretto
who admittedly enjoys working
with her two young co-stars. “I
enjoy spending time with them on
the set because they are like my
younger siblings. They are fun to be
with, kind and very professional,”
she said. “Wansapanataym” airs
every Saturday, 6:45 p.m., after
“Kapamilya: Deal or No Deal” on
ABS-CBN.
In his official Twitter
account, Ganda said he has been
advised not to talk after his
doctors found that he has
polyps on his vocal cords.
The comedian said he has
to rest his voice to avoid further
damage and surgery.
"GANDAng tanghali
Unkabogables. Just woke up to
take my meds. Its my second
day of steroids and strictly no
talk therapy," Vice Ganda
tweeted on Monday.
"Sorry guys u wont see me
muna in Showtime. The doc
found polyps in my vocal
chords. Di na nagsasara yung
upper part coz its seriously
damaged. The blood vessels are
swollen and might collapse. I
have also acid reflux na lalong
nagpalala. Were trying steroids
now and strictly no talk for the
next days. Pag di gumaling i will
have to undergo surgery. Ilang
araw nkong papel at ballpen
ang katapat ko dahil kailangan
kong isulat kung anung
sasabihin ko. It will take a few
days but im sure ill be fine. The
Lord loves me. I'm not even
bothered," he explained.
On "It's Showtime," his cohost expressed concern and
love for their colleague.
Vice Ganda
"'Sis pagaling ka' tulad ng
sinabi mo kanina ay
kakantahan kita para gumaling
ka," said Anne Curtis, who is
back on the show weeks after
taking a break to fulfill other
commitments abroad.
song "I'm Missing You" for the
comedian. "Sana makatulong
'yan girl para gumaling ka na, as
per doctor's advise namamaga
pa daw 'yung throat niya, bakit
kaya namamaga? Pero get well
soon," she said.
Curtis even performed the
Gretchen Barretto
returns to primetime TV
MANILA -- Socialiteactress Gretchen Barretto
will soon be joining the cast
of the top-rating primetime
series “Huwag Ka Lang
Mawawala.”
In her official
Instagram account, Barretto
posted several photos where
she is seen sharing scenes
with the show's lead actress
Judy Ann Santos.
Barretto will
reportedly play the role of
Atty. Eva Custodio. No other
details have been disclosed
about her character.
"Huwag Ka Lang
Mawawala," which aired its
pilot episode last June 17,
has already made its mark
on primetime television.
Based on the data from
m u l t i - n a t i o n a l m a r ke t
research group Kantar
media last July 5, the drama
series placed second among
the most watched programs
nationwide.
Gretchen Barretto
It garnered an average
audience share of 31.4%, or
nine points ahead of “Mundo
Mo'y Akin” (22%), its rival
show from the GMA
network.
Since it began airing in
June, the nationwide ratings
of "Huwag Ka Lang
Mawawala" steadily
increased.
The Santos-starred
series airs from Monday to
Friday at 9:15:pm, after
"Muling Buksan Ang Puso"
on ABS-CBN Primetime
Bida.
July 19 - July 25, 2013
Page 24
THE FILIPINO EXPRESS
MiG Ayesa relishes being a bad boy
By Allan Policarpio
Stacee Jaxx, one of the main
characters in the musical “Rock of
Ages” is the type of rock star MiG
Ayesa has always been afraid of
becoming.
A rock god past his prime,
Stacee, who is playing his last gig
for the band Arsenal, is not the
nicest person, says Ayesa, a
Filipino-Australian.
Fame has gotten to Stacee's
head. He uses and abuses people.
He is incredibly vainthe
archetypal narcissistic rock star.
“A spoiled brat, he lives in his
own world and has no sense of
reality. Stacee leaves his band to
go solo, thinking that everything
is all about him. And then he
unravels. I never want that to
happen to me,” Ayesa tells the
Inquirer.
“Rock of Ages,” set in the
1980s, features the music of Bon
Jovi, Poison, Journey, Styx and
other prominent bands of that
era. The lighthearted, “selfdeprecating” production debuted
on Broadway in 2009. It went on
its first national tour of the United
States the next year, with Ayesa
initially playing the role of Stacee.
Ayesa says Stacee's flaws
make playing the role such a blast
because he gets to do things he
will not get away with in real life.
He can play the bad boy onstage
and be his usual self afterwards.
Basically, Ayesa jokes, “I don't
have to pay the price for being a
jerk.”
But at times, he gets so much
into Stacee's character, that he
goes out of control. In an earlier
US show, for instance, Ayesa
grabbed an unsuspecting
woman's face and licked it. The
lady was stunned, needless to say.
But, eventually, she started
laughing like the rest of the
audience.
“I was shocked as well. Then
I realized that Stacee would have
totally done something like that,”
says Ayesa, who got international
exposure as a finalist in the 2005
reality talent search “Rock Star:
INXS.”
Fresh from playing the lead
role in the recently concluded
10th anniversary world tour of
the musical “We Will Rock You,”
Ayesa is in the country for a repeat
of last year's successful local
staging of “Rock of Ages.”
Produced by Atlantis
Productions and directed by
Chari Arespacochaga, the musical
also features local stars Vina
Morales, Nyoy Volante, Jett
Pangan, Rachel Alejandro, Calvin
Millado and Aiza Seguerra.
“Rock of Ages” opened July
12 at the Carlos P. Romulo
Vina Morales and MiG Ayesa in “Rock of Ages”
Auditorium, RCBC Plaza, Makati.
It runs Fridays to Sundays until
July 28.
Excerpts from our
interview:
What convinced you to do the
show in the Philippines for the
second time?
I'm used to doing long runs.
Last year, we only did about four
weekends. It was over just when I
was starting to get into it.
How did you find the local
cast?
They're phenomenal. And
they work hard. They never
complain. They have fun and
laugh a lot. Half the time I don't
know what they're joking about,
but I find it endearing.
What was your impression of
the Filipino audience when you
first performed here?
Music is like the second
language of Filipinos! They all
sang along with me.
How did you prepare for the
role of Stacee?
I did a lot of research on
1980s rock stars; I watched
concerts. I spend a lot of time
without my shirt on in the show,
so I also have to keep fit by
training regularly.
Is Stacee inspired by any
particular rock star?
My main inspiration is Axl
Rose. But Stacee is an amalgam of
many artists Bon Jovi, David Lee
Roth, Bret Michaels, Sebastian
Bach… maybe a bit of Austin
Powers.
Do you enjoy dressing up like
a 1980s rock star?
I love the fashion; it's crazy!
Big hair, makeup, pants so tight
you can barely move!
Do you make an effort to do
something new in each show?
Every show is different… I
enjoy it when little things go
wrong, just to see how everyone
will improvise. The audience
easily detects fear. So, if you must
make a mistake, make it bigger
and make it work!
What's to learn from Stacee?
We're all human. We all fail
and fall from grace. If you believe
in your own hype, and that you
will stay on top forever, then
you're mistaken. You have to keep
working, you have to stay humble
and grounded. Otherwise you'll
lose yourself and, ultimately,
everything. ( Philippine Daily
Inquirer)
Daniel Padilla and Kathryn Bernardo
ABS-CBN postpones
Kathryn-Daniel soap
MANILA -- ABS-CBN has
postponed the airing of the newest
soap of Kathryn Bernardo and
Daniel Padilla, but not because it is
disappointed with the program.
Bong Osorio, head of ABSCBN's integrated corporate
communications division, said the
Kapamilya network has decided to
delay the airing of "Got to Believe"
until enough episodes are canned.
He maintained that ABS-CBN
"is just as excited as the viewing
public for the airing of 'Got to
Believe.'"
B e l ow i s O s o r i o' s f u l l
statement released on Friday:
"The management of ABSCBN is just as excited as the
viewing public for the airing of
'Got To Believe.' There is no truth
to speculations that the airing was
postponed because management
was disappointed with the
program. In fact, the TV series
starring Daniel Padilla and
Kathryn Bernado thrilled and
impressed the management. In as
much as management wants to air
it, it has decided to postpone the
airing until enough episodes are
canned. ABS-CBN firmly believes
that "Got To Believe" will offer a
new experience to TV viewers and
looks forward to airing it soon."
Initially set for a July
premiere, "Got to Believe" is the
second primetime soap of
Bernardo and Padilla, with the
first being the top-rating "Princess
and I."
July 19 - July 25, 2013
Page 25
THE FILIPINO EXPRESS
Sarah Lahbati sues
GMA-7 executive
for perjury
By Niña P. Calleja
MANILA --- Actress Sarah
Lahbati on Monday filed a
perjury complaint against an
executive of GMA Network Inc.
at the Makati prosecutor's
office.
Accompanied by her
lawyer, Lahbati executed an
affidavit at the prosecutor's
office saying Anna Teresa
Gozon-Abrogar, one of the
directors of GMA Network Inc.,
H e r e m p l o y e r, i s s u e d
“untruthful allegations” in the
libel complaint against her.
In a six-page complaintaffidavit, Lahbati, 19, a talent of
GMA, said Gozon-Abrogar, the
daughter of the CEO of the TV
network, made a false
statement when she said the
actress and her mother were
the “ones who insisted that she
be given more endorsements
and more assistance in
branding and imaging.”
“This is not true! I never
knew Icons until she and
Arsenio Baltazar II, the head of
t h e T D M D ( Ta l e n t ,
Development Management
Department) told me about it in
a meeting they called for in
Friday's restaurant in Tomas
Morato, Quezon City sometime
in late December 2011 or first
week of January of 2012,”
Lahbati said.
Last week, Lahbati came
back to the Philippines after a
six-month hiatus in Geneva,
Switzerland, to face the charges
leveled against her, including
the libel suit filed at the Makati
Regional Trial Court Branch 59,
which later issued an arrest
warrant.
By Michael Joe T. Delizo
Sarah Lahbati
The young actress on
Friday posted a P10,000 bail.
The libel complaint
against Lahbati stemmed from
her supposed defamatory
statements in the microblogging site Twitter.
If the court rules favorably
to Lahbati in the perjury case,
the libel complaint filed against
her by Gozon-Abrogar is
expected to weaken.
The actress' legal counsel
Marie Glenda Abraham said
their camp has been preparing
to file a motion to quash the
libel complaint before the
arraignment set on August 22.
Abraham argued that the
Republic Act 10175, otherwise
known as Cybercrime
Prevention Act of 2012, which
penalizes Internet libel, has
been suspended through the
Temporary Restraining Order
issued by the Supreme Court.
(Philippine Daily Inquirer)
Paul Jake Castillo confirms
breakup with Melissa Ricks
MANILA -- Former “Pinoy
Big Brother” housemate Paul
Jake Castillo confirmed reports
that he and actress Melissa
Ricks have already called it
quits.
Castillo, however, in an
interview that they have
separated amicably.
“Yes, we are perfectly fine.
Yes, we are friends. There's no
bad breakup, no bad blood,” he
said.
After the breakup, Castillo
said he would rather focus on
his business.
“Siguro wala muna," he
said when asked if he is looking
for a new love. "I'd rather
concentrate on something else,
business particularly.”
Earlier this year, Ricks
became emotional as she
shared her happiness to finally
found real love with Castillo.
Sunshine Cruz
finds new love?
Melissa Ricks and Paul Jake Castillo
“Siyempre when I go into a
relationship, I want it to last
talaga. Hindi naman ako yung
type na I will entertain
someone just for the sake of
entertaining them 'ay gusto
kong magpaligaw, ay gusto
kong maraming nanliligaw sa
a k i n .' ( G u s t o k o y u n g
pagmatagalan), hindi
pangsandalian lang. After all
that I'd been through, sobrang
hulog ng langit (si Paul)," a
crying Ricks said at the time.
Months after her
controversial issue with husband
Cesar Montano, actress Sunshine
Cruz is alleged to have “a new
boyfriend.”
Cesar, himself, made the
revelation on Instagram while
speaking to journalist Ding
Cervantes.
“@dingcervantes No WE're
NOT PO. THATS AN OLD PHOTO.
SHINE AND I ARE JUST FRIENDS
NOW. SORRY TO DISSAPOINT
YOU DING. WE'RE NOT GETTING
B A C K
T O G E T H E R
PO.APPARENTLY SHE HAS A
NEW BOYFRIEND. YOU CAN ASK
HER,” read his comment posted
w i t h a p h o to t h a t s h ows
Sunshine sleeping.
His Instagram account
cesar77montano is not visible to
the public anymore, but a screen
grab of his statement was
published Tuesday on gossip
blog site Fashion Pulis.
This statement fueled
reactions on Twitter, to which
Sunshine replied: “im
speechless!:0”
She added a separate tweet,
saying that she would rather
choose to be in “good vibes.”
Sunshine Cruz
“Good vibes nalang.:)
Magandang umaga sa lahat.
Don't forget #dugongbuhay
later at 3:30pm po. ♥♡♥” she
posted.
Prior to Cesar's allegation,
he was linked to former “Wil
T i m e B i g t i m e ” m a r ke t i n g
director Loven Canon Bautista.
The actress, for her part,
insisted “it's none of my
business,” adding that she
maintained friends with Cesar
for the sake of their children. Any
plans of reuniting with her
estranged husband, however, are
not in the cards as of the moment.
Their failed marriage
stemmed from an alleged affair
that Cesar had with a movie costar.
Ynna, Mark end romance
MANILA -- Ynna Asistio
has decided to call it quits
with actor Mark Herras.
The actress said that
contrary to rumors
spreading around show biz
circle, money was not
involved in the break-up.
She said all is well
between her and Mark but
it's difficult to put into words
the reason why they decided
to end the relationship. The
couple dated for five years.
"I know a lot of people
are waiting for our
explanation but maybe it's
better if sa amin dalawa na
lang and whatever I say I'm
sure some will misinterpret
or won't believe so di na lang
a k o m a g s a s a l i t a ," t h e
statement read.
She also clarified that
h e r m o t h e r, N a d i a
Montenegro, has nothing to
do with the separation.
Despite the split, Ynna
said she will continue to
support her ex-boyfriend
Ynna Asistio and Mark Herras
and hoped that Mark will
focus on his show biz career.
"Basta suportado ko pa
din si Mark sa lahat ng
ginagawa niya and maybe
this time he will be able to
concentrate on his career. I
have no bad words or bad
things to say about Mark,"
she said.
Yn n a s a i d s h e i s
thankful for the constant
support and love of her fans.
u
Page 27
July 19 - July 25, 2013
Page 26
THE FILIPINO EXPRESS
Choice of singer crucial
to making a hit song
By Allan Policarpio
What makes a hit song?
Apart from well-written lyrics
and a catchy melody that the
listeners can latch on to, having the
right interpreter is crucial, according
to Ryan Cayabyab: “After all, a song is
not a song until it's performed.”
Thus, choosing the
interpreters for the 12 final entries to
this year's Philippine Popular Music
Festival (Philpop) songwriting tilt
was a painstaking process that
involved discussions and some
haggling between the contestants
and the sponsor label, Universal
Records.
“The finalists came up with
their own wish lists of interpreters,”
Philpop executive director Cayabyab
told the Inquirer. “The label
presented its own list. They tried
their best to meet halfway.”
He continued: “It was quite
hard to convince some contestants to
reconsider their choices. But after
the recording sessions, most of them
were pleasantly surprised at how
well their songs turned out.”
Final 12
The final roster of interpreters
is a mixture of established and
upstart artists and bands,
encompassing various genres:
Christian Bautista for Marlon
Barnuevo's “Araw, Ulap, Langit”; Jose
Manalo and Wally Bayola for Danny
Brown's “Askal”; Sam Concepcion,
Tippy dos Santos and Quest for Thyro
Alfaro and Yumi Lacsamana's “Dati”;
Ney Dimaculangan for Johnoy
Danao's “Kung 'Di Man”; Sitti Navarro
and Julianne Tarroja for Jungee
Marcelo's “Pansamantagal”; Kimpoy
Feliciano for Myrus Apacible's “Sana
Pinatay Mo Na Lang Ako”;
Yael Yuzon for Paul Armesin's
“Segundo”; Karylle for Lara Maigue's
“Sa 'Yo Na Lang Ako”; Ace Libre of
Never the Strangers for Adriennne
Sarmiento-Buenaventura's
“Sometimes That Happens”; Banda
ni Kleggy and Kean Cipriano for Raffy
Calicdan's “Space”; and Six Part
Invention for Kennard Faraon's
“Time Machine.”
Ryan Cayabyab. Inquirer file photo
Joey Ayala will perform his
own entry “Papel,” together with
Gloc-9 and Denise Barbacena.
“A contestant interpreting his
song may or may not work,”
Cayabyab said. “And it was good that
all of them were open to suggestions
and other ideas.”
Process
Cayabyab stressed that
selecting the interpreters was not so
much about securing the biggest
names in the industry as finding
singers who could best express and
convey the stories and messages of
the 12 entries.
“We wouldn't pick Lea Salonga,
for example, just for the sake of
having her on the show; or ask Julie
Anne San Jose to perform something
as mature as 'Tukso.' We want
performers who would truly embody
the songs,” Cayabyab said. “If the
singer is not right for the material,
there won't be any connection.”
Come finals night on Saturday
at the Meralco Theater, it will be up to
the singers to make the songs soar
even higher.
The winner will take home P1
million, while the second and third
placers will receive P500,000 and
P250,000, respectively.
Cayabyab obviously can't play
favorites. “But I'll be happy
regardless of the result because all
the entries are good and have great
potential,” he said. “Our goal is to
produce a hit song. I admit we didn't
achieve that with last year's contest.
But I'm hopeful that we'll produce
one this year.” (Philippine Daily
Inquirer)
Jolina Magdangal
is pregnant
MANILA -- Singer-actress
Jolina Magdangal announced
happily on Tuesday that she is two
months pregnant with her first
baby with husband Mark Escueta.
"Yes, I am pregnant," the 34year-old former Kapamilya star
said.
Only nine weeks into her
pregnancy, Magdangal said she is
preparing as early as now for
duties as a first-time mom.
"Hindi ko pa masyadong
nararamdaman [ang pagiging ina],
pero gusto ko nang namnamin.
Nagbabasa na ako ng mga books.
May mga application ang binasa ko
na nae-excite ako. May mga videos
doon na nae-excite ako kaya
nagugustuhan ko ang 'work' na
ito," she said.
Asked whether they want a
girl or a boy for their "panganay,"
Jolina Magdangal
Magdangal said she would prefer
having the latter, while Escueta,
the former.
But the couple also quipped,
"Kahit ano, basta healthy!"
A-List Actors Team Up With PETA and Pose for 'Mug Shots'
to Push for Lonely, Ailing Elephant's Transfer to a Sanctuary Now
Marian Rivera, Dingdong Dantes turn
up the volume on call to free Mali
Manila -- People for the
Ethical Treatment of Animals
(PETA) Asia's campaign to
transfer Mali, a solitary
elephant constantly suffering
in pain from potentially fatal
foot ailments and held captive
in a barren enclosure at the
Manila Zoo, to a lush
sanctuary has enlisted
support from some of the
biggest names in
entertainment in the
Philippines as well as other
celebrities and notables
around the world. Nowthanks
to the support of actors
Marian Rivera and Dingdong
Dantes, who was named the
third-sexiest man in the world
by E! Newsthe call for Mali's
freedom is reaching a fever
pitch. Rivera and Dantes join a
fast-growing number of
Philippine celebrities who
have posed for "mug shots"
holding cards that bear their
name followed by the words
"Wants Mali Freed." Rivera's
and Dantes' just-released
photos are attached. They join
other stars, including Kim
Chiu, Ely Buendia, and Gerald
Anderson, who have also
posed in mug shots for Mali.
"Being alone is
emotional torture to
elephants," Dantes says in his
public service announcement
for PETA, which can be
viewed here.
"Mali has been
sentenced to a miserable life
of solitary confinement with
absolutely nothing to do day
after day, year after year," says
PETA Asia Campaign Manager
Rochelle Regodon. "How long
will the deafening call for her
freedomcoming from
scientists, politicians,
religious leaders, and
celebritiesbe ignored by her
cruel captors at the Manila
Zoo?"
The most recent expert
to speak out in support of
Mali's transfer is Blair Csuti,
u
Page 29
July 19 - July 25, 2013
Page 27
THE FILIPINO EXPRESS
Eugene hopes 'Tuhog' will
be shown in int'l festivals
MANILA – Comedienne
Eugene Domingo is hoping
that her upcoming movie
“Tuhog” will also be tapped to
participate in various
international film festivals.
because people might not
understand. But let us not
underestimate our viewers.
Black comedy is a comedy
because you see things you
know are painful, but how
come I'm laughing? It's a
feeling of cynicism,” she said.
Domingo said she is
proud to be part of “Tuhog”
which has a story that local
moviegoers don't usually see.
“We are very thankful to
Skylight and to Star Cinema
kasi binigyan nila ng chance
ang ganitong klaseng
material na magawa. This is
not the usual film na ino-offer
ng Star Cinema. But then
again, because it is Star
Cinema's 20th anniversary,
through Skylight, they are
offering new fresh stories na
medyo may pagka-edgy. I
hope people will welcome it
because this is not the usual
story na napapanood mo
lang,” she said.
Saying this movie is
something Filipinos can be
proud of, Domingo said: “We
really hope [to venture into
festivals] because universal
naman ang theme.”
“Tuhog” is about three
strangers whose lives hang in
the balance -- a middle-aged
woman, a retired man and a
young man in his 20s fighting
for a chance to continue
living.
Eugene Domingo
According to Domingo,
“Tuhog” will offer a different
kind of comedy that will
interest the viewers.
“This is not really a
drama drama. This is actually
a black comedy though
pinagbabawalan nila ako
sabihin 'yung black comedy
In the movie, the
characters portrayed by
Domingo, Leo Martinez and
Enchong Dee are seen in a
road mishap involving the
bus driven by Jake Cuenca.
With separate lives and
unresolved problems of their
own, Fiesta (Domingo), Tonio
(Martinez) and Caloy (Dee)
are seen as passengers of a
bus that figures in an
accident.Directed by
Veronica Velasco, "Tuhog"
will be released nationwide
by Star Cinema on July 17.
Angel Locsin and Phil Younghusband
Phil on Angel's
sexiest ranking:
She's No. 1
MANILA -- Phil
Yo u n g h u s b a n d i s n' t t o o
concerned with the slip in
ranking of his girlfriend Angel
Locsin in a men's magazine list
of the "sexiest women in the
Philippines."
Asked about Locsin's
third-place finish in the recent
FHM polls, the 25-year-old
football player brought up his
girlfriend's recognition as an
actress.
"Well, for me Angel's
winning the acting awards,
which I think for her, is
something... For me, I think
excelling and success in your
o w n c ra f t , i n yo u r o w n
profession is one of the best
things to be proud of," the
Azkals striker said.
From placing second in
2012, Locsin moved down a
spot to place third in this year's
edition of the survey. The "Four
Sisters and a Wedding" star
won the same poll twice, in
2005 and 2010.
Actress Marian Rivera
ranked No. 1 in the 2013 survey,
with 16 million votes cast via
online, text, and print ballots.
Re fe r r i n g to L o c s i n ,
Younghusband said, "For me,
she's No. 1, no matter what
happens. I think the acting
awards are the best thing for
her."
Asked whether he would
allow Locsin to once again pose
for the men's magazine,
Younghusband said he is
always supportive of the 28ye a r - o l d a c t re s s ' c a re e r
decisions.
"It's up to her. She's
p ro fe s s i o n a l . S h e k n ows
herself, what she's comfortable
with. I will support her no
matter what decision she
makes. If she's comfortable
with it, that's up to her," he said.
Younghusband and Locsin
officially became a couple on
May 27 last year, after a yearlong romance that started with
a tweet from the Azkals striker
asking the actress out for
Valentine's Day.
"We're happy. We get
stronger and stronger
everyday. We're more and more
in love. As time goes by,
everything gets easier," he said.
Paul Jake ...
From page 25
Castillo, for his part, said in a previous interview that he is
enjoying every moment he spends with Ricks. Castillo also
shared that Ricks has become close to his family, adding that he
often brings the actress to his hometown of Cebu.
Ricks and Castillo became a couple in 2012.
SPORTS
Two-time NBA champion LeBron James
LeBron James
to visit the
Philippines
Written by Amber Bogins
Nike Philippines has
recently announced that twotime NBA champion LeBron
James will be visiting Manila,
Philippines on July 23, 2013.
James will visit the country
for just one day, and will
speak to young Filipino
athletes, encouraging them
"to strive for greatness and
keep working hard as he did
to win two consecutive
championship titles."
The Philippines is full of
die-hard basketball fans, as
basketball is the country's
most popular sport. Filipinos
are super excited to hear that
Lebron will be making an
appearance. Free tickets for
the event will be given away
starting July 17th at the Nike
Park in Bonifacio Global City,
Metro Manila. Only two
tickets will be given per
person on a first-come, firstserved basis.
This is Lebron's first
time to visit the Philippines,
but not his first visit to Asia.
Last year, he did a 4-day Nike
tour in Beijing, China where
he spoke with thousands of
fans, and even coached a local
basketball game.
The Philippine Tourism
Board is also excited about
the news of his arrival, as
they have recently launched a
campaign encouraging more
African Americans to take
vacations in the country. A
recent press release released
by the Board asked, "Did you
know that the Philippines has
more than 7,100 islands, and
that the average room at a
beachfront resort is only
about $55 a night?" So far, the
campaign is working
favorably well.
July 19 - July 25, 2013
Page 28
THE FILIPINO EXPRESS
Pacquiao will retire if he
gets KO'd by Rios - Roach
By Mark Giongco
MANILA — For Hall of
Fame trainer Freddie Roach, a
knockout loss by Filipino ring
icon Manny Pacquiao at the
hands of Brandon Rios in their
November bout in Macau would
mean it's time to hang up his
gloves.
Roach told renowned
boxing writer Kevin Iole in a
story on Yahoo! Sports that he
would “recommend” to call it a
career if the former pound-forpound fighter in the world
suffers what would be his third
consecutive defeat after
d ro p p i n g a c o n t rove r s i a l
decision to Timothy Bradley Jr.
and getting knocked out cold by
Mexican rival Juan Manuel
Marquez in their fourth
encounter in December last
year.
“It's over, 100 percent [if
Pacquiao is knocked out by
Rios],” Roach told Iole. “We have
a deal. When I tell him it's over,
he'll say it's over and that's it.
He's pretty loyal with his words
and if that happens, it will be the
end.”
Roach also said that
despite absorbing two losses in
his last couple of fights,
Pacquiao still has not “shown
Freddie Roach. PDI file photo
signs of decline.”
“None whatsoever and I'd
tell you if I did,” Roach said. “The
thing is, people look at the losses
and they think the reason is that
he's getting old. That's not the
case, not from what I see. Look,
we all thought he beat Bradley,
so throw that out. And in the
Marquez fight, I thought he was
doing well and was looking like
he was going to win by knockout
when he made a mistake and ran
into a shot.”
“That happens. That's
boxing. It didn't happen because
his skills aren't the same as they
used to be. It happened because
he made a mistake. It doesn't
matter what age you are, you can
make a mistake.”
Pacquiao (54-5-2, 38 KOs)
will be close to turning 35 when
he returns to the ring against the
27-year-old Rios (31-1-1, 23
Kos), who is coming off a loss in a
rematch with Mike Alvarado via
unanimous decision last March.
Talks of a mega-fight
between Pacquiao and unbeaten
Floyd Mayweather Jr. have died
down since Pacquiao's shocking
sixth round defeat to Marquez
but Roach thinks dominating
Rios in their welterweight bout
would open it once more.
“I think the gap is
widening, I don't agree with
that,” Roach said. “But that being
said, I've told Manny, 'Knock this
guy [Rios] out in good fashion
and the Mayweather fight comes
back real quick.”
“Manny still wants the
fight. We know that Mayweather
turned it down, but the truth is
this: Mayweather has four fights
left after this next one [on Sept.
14 against Canelo Alvarez] and
I'm not sure there are four guys
in the world left for him to fight
without Manny Pacquiao being
one of them.” (INQUIRER.net )
July 19 - July 25, 2013
Page 29
THE FILIPINO EXPRESS
Manila to improve zoo, acquire two more elephants
By Erika Sauler
MANILA --- Coming soon: A
bigger, better and modern Manila
Zoo and possibly two more
elephants to keep Mali, its most
popular resident, company.
This was confirmed by Manila
Mayor Joseph Estrada who told the
Philippine Daily Inquirer, on
Tuesday, that talks were ongoing
for a public-private partnership
program with investors from
Singapore who would spend P2
billion for the project. “We will
modernize the Manila Zoo,” Estrada
said as he also announced that the
city government had asked the Sri
Lankan government for two more
elephants.
Estrada said the city
government had requested two
more elephants from Sri Lanka to
serve as Mali's companions.
“ S h e' s ve r y s m a r t a n d
playful,” said volunteer caretaker
John Chua, a veteran photographer
who had taken care of the elephant
for 12 years now.
Mali was seen filling up her
trunk as she was being sprayed
with water by a caretaker. Then the
38-year-old elephant would drink
the water or squirt it to her body,
much to the delight of the visitors of
Manila Zoo.
If the water was trained to
one of her feet, Mali would lift that
foot and let you wash the underside.
Chua said rumors have
reached him that Manila Zoo would
be bid out and that Mali has been
“sold.”
“Mali is Manila's property. I
am not talking about a deed of sale.
It means that whatever campaign a
group makes about Mali, you will
not object,” Chua said.
He said a person from Manila
City Hall had said, “Bakit may iba pa
sa Peta na gustong bumili?”
Peta (People for the Ethical
Treatment of Animals) has been
calling for Mali's transfer to an
elephant sanctuary, saying that she
is sick and lonely at the zoo. Mali
was brought to the Philippines in
1977 as a gift to then First Lady
Imelda Marcos.
Reached for comment, Manila
Mayor Joseph Estrada denied the
rumored plan to bid out Manila Zoo
and transfer Mali to a sanctuary.
“The direct order from the
mayor is to clean up and beautify
the zoo to serve Manilans better,”
said Albert Dichaves, the newly
appointed director of the Manila
Parks and Recreation Bureau, after
feeding Mali with bananas upon
Chua's directions.
Mali would take a banana
using her trunk and when you say
“Up!” and raise your arm, she would
let you put another banana in her
mouth.
“We have plans to renovate
and upgrade, to have better
enclosures and more wildlife. But
as far as privatization is concerned,
I don't think the government will
a l l o w t h a t ,” D i c h ave s s a i d .
Dichaves said a blood test has
shown Mali in good health, “but
EXPRESS SUDOKU
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“Where were you when she
needed you? Have you put even a
single banana to feed her?” Chua
said, referring to Peta.
He added, “Are you really for
the welfare of Mali? Then let's work
together.” Chua said a Sri Lankan
diplomat visited Manila Zoo early
this year and promised to donate
two more elephants if
Mali
she's old, she is beyond the usual
life span and a transfer might stress
her out.” He added that Mali's
transfer depended on the mayor's
decision.
Peta has disputed the findings
of Thai elephant expert Dr. Nikorn
Thongtip who said Mali was in the
pink of health and reiterated its call
for the elephant's transfer.
“You will send a person to
take pictures when Mali is resting
then claim she is lonely. Why not
take pictures when she's
interacting? She's lovable and
friendly because she has grown
comfortable with humans,” Chua
said.
He said Peta has been raising
the issue every July, because it's the
end of their fiscal year. He said Mali
was being used as a fundraiser,
which was denied by Peta, saying
only the zoo has been making
money off Mali.
Marian, Dingdong
turn up the
volume on call to
free Mali
From page 26
Ph.D., senior editor of the
book The Elephant's Foot:
Prevention and Care of
Foot Conditions in Captive
Asian and African
Elephants. Of Mali's
current environment,
Csuti says that "these
conditions are clearly suboptimal for elephants and
can lead to serious
infections, particularly of
the foot bones and
c o n n e c t ive t i s s u e , a
improvements were made on the
enclosure. He added that in
America, three elephants would be
the minimum requirement for a zoo
to maintain an elephant enclosure.
Peta, however, blocked the
donation of two more elephants by
writing to the Sri Lankan
government, Chua said. (Philippine
Daily Inquirer)
leading cause of mortality
in captive elephants." He's
just one of many elephant
experts who have spoken
out in support of Mali.
Mali's veterinary care
has b een essentia lly
ignored for more than 36
years, causing her to
endure constant pain.
Elephants are highly
social animals who live
naturally in herds and
suffer greatly in the
absence of other
elephants. Mali is all
alonemaking her transfer
even more urgent.
F o r
m o r e
information, please visit
P E TA A s i a' s we b s i te
FreeMali.com.
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