June 2015 'A' issue by MShare Limited

Marian Rivera not keen about FHMâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 100 Sexiest list anymore Story on page 24

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Chris Brown to perform in Manila in July Story on page 24

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DINGDONG, MARIAN ‘WILL BE GRATEFUL’ WHETHER FIRST BABY IS A BOY OR A GIRL KAGAYA ng lahat ng soon-to-be parents, excited narin sina Marian Rivera at Dingdong Dantes na malaman ang kasarian ng kanilang unang baby. Ayon sa ulat ni Nelson Canlas sa “24 Oras” nitong Martes, nagtungo na sa OB-gynecologist si Marian kasama ang kaniyang asawa nitong Lunes upang malaman kung boy o girl ba ang kanilang panganay. Gayunpaman, tila binibitin pa ng kanilang coming baby ang kniyang mga magulang dahil hindi pa raw makumpirma ang kasarian nito. Kuwento ng aktres, “Akala naming makikita

na namin. Kasi pag may nakikita, biglang magtatago siya. Ibubuka niya ulit, magtatago uli siya.” Madalas naman binibiro si Marian na dahil tila lalo siyang gumaganda, baka babae ang kaniyang dinadala. Natatawang sagot niya, “Iba ang pakiramdam ko! Pero baka mali ako. Tignan natin.” Sa kabila nito, magpapasalamat raw sila sa Panginoon at magiging masayang mga magulang sina Dingdong at Marian anuman ang maging kasarian ng kanilang panganay.

Continued on page 24

Another casino rising, right in the heart of gridlocked Manila FOR casino habitues from the Santa Cruz and Balintawak areas frustrated by the dailly gridlock from driving to Solaire and City of Dreams for their regular fix, a neighborhood solution is under way. Construction of a hotel-casino complex within the former San Lazaro racetrack is going full-blast, hopefully in time for its soft opening this December. The project is called Winford Leisure and

Entertainment Complex, and will be anchored on a 22-story, five-star hotel with 128 all-suite rooms whose chief draw will be its nearly a hectare casino floor. “The hotel’s entertainment hub will fill a critical need for luxury accommodations, meetings and event facilities as well as creative and innovative entertainment concepts targeted to the expanding and affluent Chinese and

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Filipinos more ready to part with money for new car or home than MANILA – Nine out of 10 Filipinos are prepared to buy a new car or property, or even invest in a business, but only six out of 10 are ready to finance a medical emergency involving a family member. This is according to a survey commissioned by Sun Life of Canada (Philippines) Inc, which also found that half of those polled are making

that big-ticket purchase or business investment in the next two years. Sun Life commissioned the Social Weather Station (SWS) to undertake the survey among 1,200 respondents, of which an equal number came from Metro Manila, Luzon (ex-Metro Manila), Visayas and Mindanao. “There seems to be a disconnect between the Filipinos’ priorities and

Sun Life commissioned the survey

concerns and the way they financially prepare for these. They are worried about their health and possible illness but they do not prepare financially,” RizaMantaring, Sun Life president, said. The survey showed that seven out of 10 respondents were concerned about the health of a family member – be it the death of a breadwinner (90 percent), a family member falling gravely ill (90 percent), or that family member’s emergency medical expenses (80 percent). “Most of them rely on their active income or on other people to fund their needs,” Mantaring said, adding that active income refers to income from spouse’s employment, own employment, business income, or financial support from relatives. MyleneLopa, Sun Life chief marketing officer, said 40 percent of the respondents rely on their spouse’s income as a source of funding for their emergency health needs, with another 26 percent depending on business income and another 18 percent on own employment. “While it’s good that they have active income, this is also the source for their daily needs,” Lopa said. She said 28 percent of respondents relied on Philhealth, 14 percent dip

into bank savings, five percent have accident and health insurance, while another five percent have an HMO plan. Another 28 percent rely on relatives, while 27 percent depended on their children. Thirteen percent took out loans to fund their health expenses. Citing another study, Lopa said medical expenses of a heart attack survivor can range from P1 million to P1.8 million, excluding expenses for rehabilitation, medication and therapy. “Many think that the cost just covers treatment, but expenses are made even before that, such as for laboratory tests, and then after that, there’s rehabilitation,” Lopa said. For stroke, the health cost can range from P1.8 million to P2.6 million, while for lung cancer, it costs P1.8 million to P2.6 million. “For (lung cancer patients) who don’t respond right away and need palliative care, an additional P1 million a year is needed, while the cost of pain management is P2 million a year,” Lopa said. But when asked if they can produce P50,000 for medical emergencies, five out of 10 respondents said it will be difficult to come up with that money. When the amount was raised to a range of P100,000-P500,000, seven

out of 10 said it will be tough to cough up that sum. At half-a-million, the proportion of those incapable of financing the health expense rose to 90 percent. “Since we never know when illness will strike us, we also need to take care of our health. If you don’t prepare for illnesses, the money for your children’s education and your retirement can just go to treatment,” Lopa said. “It is fortunate if the active income is enough. However, when that fund is not enough, it can be supported by passive income, or income obtained from an entity that a person is not actively involved in, such as investment income,” Valerie Pama, Sun Life Asset Management Company Inc, president said. Mantaring said that the insurance penetration in the Philippines stood at 1.2 percent of the population. “The Philippines still has a long way to go in terms of insurance penetration,” she said. “There’s a need to make sure that the future of Filipinos are protected. With so few holding life insurance and even fewer holding investments, you can see that there’s a need for Filipinos to learn more and do more for their future,” she added. n Rain Castro / InterAksyon. com / May 31, 2015/ 8:15 PM

Another casino rising, right in the heart of gridlocked Manila Continuation from page 1 Filipino-Chinese communities in central Mega Manila, where no new luxury hotel has opened in the past ten years,” said corporate lawyer Alfonso Reyno Jr., who holds a trifecta of titles as chairman, chief executive and president of project proponent MJC Investments. A former vice governor of Cagayan, thanks to his alliance to the region’s godfather Juan Ponce Enrile, Reyno is better known these days as the fatherin-law of newscaster Vicky Morales and counsel of TV host/comedian Willie Revillame, the latter potentially one of Winford’s chief customers and richest targets. The hotel-casino venture also includes a Malaysian group and the family of former Finance Secretary Edgardo Espiritu as partners. Pagcor, which approved the casino project with three months remaining in the Arroyo administration, will operate the gaming facilities, with Winford in return getting a 40 percent cut of the gross revenues after prizes, winnings and taxes. In a report to the shareholders, Reyno also said Winford was targeting players from China, South Korea, Malaysia and Singapore, but it was not clear how the new casino could entice

the foreign players to venture into the working-class district, given the absence of a mass-transit service or a dedicated expressway connecting it to the airport. The hotel-casino complex is estimated to cost P8 billion, and is being funded by equity and borrowings.

Lucio Tan’s US investor keeps distance. The Capital Group, the US fund management behemoth with assets of around $1.25 trillion spread worldwide, is apparently content on being a passive investor within the LT Group despite having acquired the equivalent of 5.01 percent stake in the holding company of taipan Lucio Tan. With a little help from fellow foreign funds and even local brokers, the US fund manager could easily seek a board representation in the 15-member LT Group board for the June 23 shareholders’ meeting had it wanted to Earlier, the Los Angeles-based investment management company disclosed that it purchased over 1.75 million shares of LT Group on March 31 for P16.30 a share. But the bulk of the over 542 million LT Group shares that it controls are actually being held by unnamed foreign mutual funds under the group’s discretionary management. The above-mentioned shares were purchased and are held solely for investment purposes in the ordinary

course of business and not with the purpose or effect of changing or influencing control,” said Capital Group compliance specialist Vivien Tan, who is not related to the taipan. The majority of the unnamed mutual funds are believed to have acquired their shareholdings during the 2013 privateplacement sale that raised P37.72 billion for the LT Group. The Capital Group was still absent from the first quarter 2015 and end-2014 shareholders’ lists provided by the LT Group to the regulatory authorities. Besides the LT Group, Capital Group was earlier reported to have also invested in two other locally listed companies, International Container Terminal Services (8.7 percent) and Puregold (5.4 percent), and, previously, the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. LT Group closed Thursday at P13.64, amid the sea of red ink that had been swamping the local bourse in the last few days.

Money-go-round • A daughter of ex-PCSO chairman Sergio Valencia and actress/TV host Tina Revilla, Jordana Valencia, has just finished the second year of her Master of Business Administration course from Harvard Business School with honors, with the Ivy League school holding the commencement exercises for the 2015

MBA class on Thursday. Earlier In her college years, “Jana” captivated the University of the Philippines community not only with her beauty but even with her brains, having not only graduated summa cum laude in BS Psychology but also besting other summas from the state university with the highest grade average of 1.08. • Philip Morris Philippines Manufacturing has a new country head and regional director in the person of Juerg Lehmann, a Swiss national whose previous position was director for operations for the cigarette manufacturer’s South East Europe region.

Heard through the grapevine. The former Long Island mansion of the

Marcoses, a 14-bedroom, 17-bathroom spread within an 8.2-acre wooded compound, will reopen as a bedand-breakfast facility in time for the summer season. Complete with a glass-and-marble pool house, the century-old estate overlooks the Moriches Bay, south of the Hamptons where a B&B room could cost up to $425 a night. The former and more modest Aquino home in the Boston suburb of Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, on the other hand, has also been transformed into a similar hospitality facility, but catering solely to four-legged feline guests in need of a temporary sitter. n Victor C. Agustin / May 29, 2015 / 2:22 PM

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Philippine economy slows sharply in Q1, but NEDA sees growth pick-up on back of infra spending MANILA - The Philipine economy slowed sharply in the first quarter of the year on the back of weak consumer spending and services. Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan sounded confident, though, that the economy could still grow faster the rest of the year, as he pointed to a pick-up in spending by the public sector. He said first-quarter growth could have been faster if not for delays in public infrastructure projects, which the government is already addressing. In a report, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said the country’s gross domestic product grew by 5.2 percent in the January to March period, slowing from 5.6 percent in the same three months of the previous year and the 6.6 percent in the fourth quarter of 2014. P is the amount of final goods and services produced in the country, and as such measures economic performance. Services, which comprised over half of GDP, slowed to 5.6 percent this year from 6.8 percent last year. Industry and agriculture grew faster year-on-year, but failed to offset the slack in services (see table 1). On the demand side, personal consumption expenditure, which

accounts for two-thirds of GDP, also slowed to 5.4 percent this year from 6.1 percent in 2014. Also contributing to the slowdown was the weak external trade. Government spending surprised on the upside, especially after last Monday’s fiscal report showing state expenditures falling below target (see table 2). The first-quarter P numbers were lower than initially thought, with analysts forecasting growth of at least 6 percent. Investors sold down the market, bringing the benchmark index to its lowest close in more than four months. Economic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said first-quarter growth could have been faster if not for delays in public infrastructure projects, which the government is already addressing. The higher growth figiure for government spending in the first quarter re ects only the impact of an increase in maintenance and operating expenditures, he said. “Despite this lower-than-expected growth, it is reasonable to believe that the economy will grow at a faster rate in the remaining quarters,” Balisacan, who is director-general of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), said. He cited “vibrant” private sector

Table 1. Source PSA

economic activity, as re ected in private construction and investment, as well as the positive outlook contained in the BangkoSentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) business and consumer confidence surveys. “But the missed opportunity to have a higher growth for the period is not totally foregone as we still expect public spending to pick up for the rest of the year,” Balisacan said, citing the Department of Budget and Management’s announcement yesterday that public spending was picking up. The government is aiming for growth of 7-8 percent for the entire 2015, but most private forecasts point to expansion of less than 7 percent. Separately, Department of Finance (DOF) Secretary Cesar V. Purisima said the first-quarter performance placed the Philippines’ growth rate behind China (7 percent), Vietnam (6 percent) and Malaysia (5.6 percent). “Numbers uctuate each quarter but they clearly show an unmistakable positive trajectory. We are less concerned about the quarterly numbers game than getting the foundations of our growth right,” Purisima said. “This kind of commitment pays off: we have been recognized by international experts and multilateral institutions as one of the most stable engines of growth in Asia with solid macroeconomic fundamentals. The deficit is contained and in ation is well-managed within target. These are crucial elements that feed into the virtuous cycle that drives our sustained growth,” he added. Not pleased. Presidential Communications Operations Secretary Sonny Coloma said President Benigno Aquino III was not so happy with the first-quarter economic performance, and has directed government agencies with infrastructure projects this year

Table 2. Source PSA

to fast-track their implementation. Among these are the Departments of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), of Transportation and Communications (DOTC), of Agriculture (DA) and of Education (DepEd). Of the four, the DPWH had the highest utilization rate for obligated funds, Coloma said. With three more quarters left in the year, Malacanang is confident that the government can still reverse the effects of underspending and thus boost the economy, enough for the country to meet targets, Coloma said. The domestic economy grew by 5.2 percent in the first quarter of 2015

from 5.6 percent the previous year. The main driver of GDP growth for the quarter was the Services Sector which grew by 5.6 percent from 6.8 percent. Industry, on the other hand, accelerated to 5.5 percent from 5.4 percent posted last year. Similarly, the Agriculture sector accelerated to 1.6 percent from 0.6 percent. Among the three major economic sectors, Services gave the highest contribution to the GDP growth in the first quarter of 2015 contributing .1 percentage points followed by Industry 1.9 percentage points, and the whole Agriculture sector 0.2 percentage point. n InterAksyon.com / With a report from Gerard dela Peña / News5 / May 28, 2015 / 10:34 AM

Focus on slow govt spending in dismal GDP data masks root causes of weak economy - think tank MANILA - The government focus on slower-than-programmed government spending to explain the factors behind the slowing overall growth of the economy diverts attention from the “lack of structural reforms and the persistent unsound fundamentals of the economy,” research group IBON said at the weekend. More than government spending, the slowdown in household spending and in exports explain the economic slowdown, according to IBON. The think tank issued its comment after the government reported that economic growth slowed down in the first quarter of 2015, with gross domestic product (GDP) growth slowing to 5.2% from 5.6% in the

same period last year. It was also much lower than the expected 6.6 percent. “Government spending is basically composed of public construction and government final consumption

expenditure (GFCE). Though public construction dropped by 25% in the first quarter of 2015 from 18% in the same period last year, it is only a small part of total gross value in construction—

for instance, it was barely 20% in 2014,” IBON explained. It said even private and public construction, combined, “account for less than 6% of GDP, while on the other hand, GFCE grew even faster at 4.8% growth in the first quarter of 2015 from 1.9% last year. GFCE accounts for a bigger 9% of GDP.” Meanwhile, household final consumption slowed to 5.4% in the first quarter from 6.1% last year while exports slowed to 1% from 13% growth last year. Household spending accounts for some 57% of GDP, while exports are equivalent to some 38% of GDP. “These slowdowns are then much more significant factors in the overall slowdown than the drop in public construction,” argued IBON.

It raised the possibility that the government os “exaggerating the impact of slower public construction spending to divert from the economy’s much more basic structural problems.” Thus, it can avoid reckoning “with the fundamental problems of inequitable wage policies, land monopolies, backward Filipino industry, and destructive free market policies,” added the research group. It could even be “part of a campaign to justify greater public-private partnerships (PPPs) in infrastructure and, indeed, to justify inviting greater foreign investment also in infrastructure,” the group said. n InterAksyon.com / May 31, 2015 / 6:56 PM

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Money supply growth picks upquadruple slightly as banks continue tooflendoreoutsales more Nickel Asia’s earnings on doubling MANILA – Nickel Asia Corporation’s (NAC) net income rose by more than fourfold last year on a doubling of its ores sales.

In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange, NAC said it earned P11.008 billion in 2014, or 325 percent more than the P2.586 billion the

previous year.- Money This as revenue more MANILA supply expanded than doubled to P24.745 billion from at a slightly faster pace at the start of P11.109 billion over the same period. the second quarter of the year. Thea more in In report,than the twofold Bangko increase Sentral ng revenue owed to sales or ore, which Pilipinas (BSP) said domestic liquidity comprised percent year-on-year of total revenue, (M3) rose 997percent last with the balance contributed sales month, up slightly from the 8.7by percent of services. last March. The growth companyin ascribed strong liquidity its stemmed performance last year to higher ore from the continued increase in bank prices and record shipments of ore. lending to the private sector, even as Nickel Asiasector shipped 28 percent the public borrowed less. more oreThe at banking 17.9 million wet metric tons system’s foreign assets (WMT) last year from 14 million in also outpaced their liabilities, leading 2013. Shipments to Japan and to one of two local processing plants which funds asAsia illegal, as well as partsfor of the the Nickel owns accounted Aquino administration’s Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP). Hans Sicat, president of the Philippine for truth continues, we reiterate our stand Stock Exchange, said the BIR’s aggressive that as the nation steadily moves forward campaign to boost tax collections has its from this tragedy, we must not allow downside. political manipulation to take advantage “The sad fact is that our tax authority of the legitimate grief and emotion has decided on its own to be doing illegal that continues to pervade the public’s moves by changing in midstream how it consciousness. Rather, sobriety, unity, and interprets various regulations,” Sicat said. reason must be cemented as the guides “A lot of institutions have filed cases that will steer efforts of government and against the Bureau of Internal Revenue. the private sector towards genuine peace This is not actually good policymaking and in preserving the noteworthy gains that on the side of the fiscal authority. That’s we have achieved in the last four-and-a-half not the way to run fiscal policy in this years. country,” he added. At this crucial juncture in the peace Besides government spending, Navarro

risegrowth in sales of ore amidassets a decline in to in net foreign position demand coming from China. by 8.8 percent year-on-year in April, Indonesia’s ban continued to faster than the ore 8.4 percent the month boost prices, with the average realized before. price oresaid exports at $45.10 per TheforBSP the decline in trust WMT, more than double the $21.28 entities’ placements in its special in 2013.accounts The price of nickel sold to deposit helped fuel liquidity two processing plants which Nickel growth. Asia partly owns also rose to In a separate report, the BSP$7.69 said per pound from $6.70 over the banks same lending by the country’s biggest period slightly to 15.4 percent last slowed “Thefrom much market month 16.1 improved percent in March. conditions and higher ore production This figure excludes reverse repurchase and sales resulted in record-breaking placements. earnings last year,” said Gerard H. Brimo, Nickel Asia president. “We are also delighted at the results of the first full year of operations of the

Loans for production activities, which new Taganito HPAL plant, which has comprised 80 percentheof total bank met all expectations,” said. lending, percent month, Nickelrose Asia15.1 owns 22.5 last percent of slower than the 15.9 percent in March.as Taganito HPAL Nickel Corporation, Growth in bankoflending was due well as 10 percent Coral Bay Nickel to demand from the following sectors: Corporation. manufacturing, realbuys estate, Taganito HPAL ore trade, from utilities financial intermediation. TaganitoandMining Corporation, a Household borrowing in of contrast 65-percent owned subsidiary Nickel accelerated 20.1 percentore in April Asia. Coral toBay procures from from percent the mine. previous month. Nickel19.8 Asia’s Rio Tuba Credit autotoday, and salary loans In acard, meeting Nickel Asia’s accounted for the growthcash last month. n board approved a regular dividend InterAksyon.com / May share, 29, 2015 / 3:17 PM of P0.70 per a special

cash dividend of P0.30 per share, and a 100 percent stock dividend. The board also approved the appointment of Taganito Mining vice president Jose Anievas as Nickel Asia’s new chief operating officer following the retirement of ose Saret. The board also approved the conversion of a one-year P446 million loan to and P474 million investment in Emerging Power Inc. (EPI) into a 66 percent stake in the company, which is drilling two “slim holes” at the Montelago geothermal field, Mindoro Occidental, convertible to equity at Nickel Asia’s option. EPI has signed agreements to sell 40 megawatts to the electric cooperatives as lingering domestic infrastructure of Occidental and Oriental Mindoro. n bottlenecks. n Rain Castro / InterAksyon.com

Philippine think tank warns of fiscal constraints to economic growth

Philippine government’s contribution to economic growth this year could face headwinds. STATEMENT According to the Philippine Institute AS the nation commemorates the for Development Studies (PIDS), the first anniversary of the signing of the country’s gross domestic product Comprehensive Agreement on the (GDP) is likely to grow 6.8 percent this Bangsamoro (CAB), the Makati Business year, faster than last year’s 6.1 percent Club reaffirms its continuing and but lower than the government’s target unwavering support for the Mindanao of 7-8 percent for 2015. peace process, and we renew our call to The government is scheduled to the government to put the peace process announce first-quarter GDP numbers back on track at the soonest possible next week. GDP is the amount of opportunity. final goods and services produced in To enhance the prospects for peace in the country and as such measures Mindanao, we urge Congress to resume economic performance. discussions on the Bangsamoro Basic During the state-run think tank’s Law (BBL) at the earliest time. Consistent annual forum on the Philippines’

growth outlook on Tuesday, PIDS vice president Adoracion Navarro said the domestic economy faces several risks, foremost of which is fiscal constraints on with the position released by 14 esteemed government spending. framers of the Constitution last January “We expect a decline in revenues 9, 2015, MBC shares the belief that the in oil importation. There will also be a Constitutional principles of genuine human general decline in the Bureau of Internal development, social justice, and lasting Revenue’s (BIR) revenues because of the peace underlie the CAB and, ultimately, tax exemption on de minimis benefits the proposed BBL. In this context, we and higher tax exemption ceiling on 13th respectfully urge Congress to not allow month pay,” Adoracion said. revisions that would contravene these “These will have serious implications values nor run against the aspirations of the on government spending on infrastructure Filipino people to attain a just, harmonious, and social services,” she added. and progressive Philippines. To recall, government spending It has been more than two months since slowed last year after the Supreme the Mamasapano incident. While the search Court declared legislators’ pork barrel

Makati Business Club asks Congress to put peace process back on track

process, let us move forward with sobriety and courage as one united Filipino nation in search of justice and peace. n InterAksyon.

com / March 27, 2015 / 9:11 PM

File photo of tax filing deadline at BIR.

said the fate of the Philippine economy would also depend on global demand, the return of the El Nino dry spell, as well

InterAksyon.com / March 27, 2015 / 1:09 PM / May 20, 2015 / 10:28 AM

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After decades of neglect, 84-year old MET could get a facelift MANILA – The 84-year old Manila Metropolitan Theater (MET) will soon get a new owner, and possibly a facelift. After decades of neglect, the MET will be turned over to the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) by the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS). The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has released the P270 million NCCA for the purpose, an amount that will be taken from the National Endowment Fund for Culture and the Arts, set up from the 10 percent share of the travel tax raised by state-run Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority.

According to DBM, the initial amount released will enable the NCCA to “create an appropriate conservation program for the theater complex and ensure its future use in the development of the country’s performing arts.” Budget Secretary Florencio Abad said NCCA’s purchase of the MET is the first step in restoring the historical theater considered as one of the Philippines’ national cultural treasures. “The MET was once a testament to the richness of Philippine culture and artistry, but decades of neglect brought this beautiful landmark into serious disrepair. It will take some time, but we are confident that the NCCA has the

capacity to take on such a formidable task,” Abad said. “We cannot claim to pursue national development if we fail at preserving our culture and heritage,” he said. “Aside from supporting the arts, the restoration of the MET also serves the dual purpose of boosting our country’s tourism. That’s why the appropriate budgetary support for agencies like the NCCA or to local governments is important as this empowers them to act on their high-priority or urgent projects,” Abad said. Opened in 1931, the MET was designed by architect Juan Arellano, known for his Art Deco work, such as

the Manila Central Post Office Building and the National Museum. The MET was restored after incurring damage during World War

2, but had been neglected for want of a budget. The theater was shuttered altogether in 2012. n Rain Castro / InterAksyon. com / May 27, 2015 / 11:36 AM

Pepsi-Cola Philippines to start manufacturing Cheetos snack foods this year

PCPPI CEO Yeon-Suk No, chairman Oscar S. Reyes, president Furqan Ahmed Syed and independent director Rafael M. Alunan III during May 28, 2015 annual stockholders’ meeting.

MANILA – The Philippines will soon produce Cheetos snack foods, making it the second country to manufacture one of PepsiCo’s popular snack foods line. Pepsi-Cola Products Philippines Inc (PCPPI) announced its agreement with PepsiCo Inc during the local company’s annual stockholders’ meeting today. PCPPI, which is the global soda manufacturer’s exclusive beverage bottling unit in the Philippines, is a joint venture with South Korean food and retail conglomerate Lotte Group. Under the terms of the agreement, PCPPI will make and distribute a range of PepsiCo’s popular snack products and flavors, with manufacturing expected to start later this year.

“This development presents an exciting opportunity for PCPPI to further its vision of becoming a premier food and beverage company in the Philippines,” said Furqan Ahmed Syed, president of PCPPI. “Leveraging on PepsiCo’s established line of snacks is an exciting and strategic step in our first foray into the foods business,” he said. PCPPI will become the only other PepsiCo snack food franchise operation in the world, the first being Bangladesh, which began manufacturing earlier this year. “PepsiCo’s iconic brands like Cheetos will be another welcome addition to PCPPI’s portfolio of high quality food and beverage offerings - satisfying the need

of Filipino consumers for great tasting snacks while complementing our current roster of thirst-quenching beverages,” said JikaDalupan, PCPPI vice president for corporate affairs & communications. “We are very excited to embark on this new expansion of products in the Philippines. Lotte remains firmly optimistic in our partnership with PepsiCo and PCPPI in serving the food and beverage needs of the Filipino people,” said Yeon-Suk No, PCPPI chief executive officer. PCPPI earned P192 million in the first quarter of this year, a 41 percent year-onyear increase. n InterAksyon.com / May 28, 2015

/ 11:57 PM

DMCI, other IPPs face stiﬀ ﬁne for power deal breach with electric coop in Palawan PUERTO PRINCESA CITY -The Palawan Electric Cooperative (PALECO) will hold the DMCI Power Corporation (DPC) and other independent power producers (IPPs) responsible for the lingering rotational load shedding problem in this city and the province that violates the Power Supply Agreement (PSA). Lawyer Raymund Acosta, chairman of the board of directors of the PALECO, said during the 35th Annual General Membership Assembly Meeting (AGMAM) that their legal counsel is now reviewing the sharing agreements signed with the independent power producers, and will impose sanctions on them even in the absence of penalty clauses. Cynthia Sumagaysay-Del Rosario of the Palawan Alliance for Clean Energy (PACE) said member-consumers have the right to know about the PSAs. But PALECO hesitated in providing the copy due to the confidentiality clauses in the agreements with the IPPs as discussed in last year’s 34th AGMAM. The DPC is supposed to provide 25-megawatt of power to PALECO.

However, currently, it is only providing 15-megawatt, Del Rosario pointed out. “They have violated the contract a number of times,” she said, adding that the power shortage is not the wrongdoer of the prolonged outages that now seem regular but the distribution lines of PALECO that are not capable of handling heavy loads. “Hanggang hindi naaayos ang distribution lines hindi mareresolba

File photo by Bernard Testa

ang brownout (As long as the distribution lines problem is not resolved, the power outages will not also be resolved),” she said. According to PALECO General Manager Ric Zambales, the existing power supply of the city and province with all IPPs is 53.7 megawatts, and the total power requirement during peak load is 34 megawatts, which confirms that there is enough power

supply contrary to the clamor of many. Zambales also said that the team of PALECO engineers conducted a study through the Power Supply Reliability Committee (PSRC) which undertook a study or analysis of the distribution system, and recommended the transfer of the DPC plant near the load center to avoid systems loss. In all the power troubles that Puerto Princesa and Palawan are facing, the provincial government led by Governor Jose Alvarez wants to help and see nothing wrong with it. Speaking during the 35th AGMAM, the governor assured the city government that whatever help it needs, the provincial government is ready to assist especially on the power crisis. “Walang masama kung magtutulungan ang probinsya at syudad upang gumanda ang buhay ng mga mamamayan (There is nothing wrong if the city and provincial governments will help each other for the benefit of the people),”Alvarez said. Alvarez, who is known for his prodevelopment attitude urged Palaweños to unite to achieve progress by being

supportive of the programs and projects of the government that are focused on having reliable sources of energy. “Napag-iiwanan na ang Palawan ng northern Mindanao (Palawan is now behind northern Mindanao),” he said. As a No. 1 Island Destination in the World, Palawan is now among the provinces with an unprecedented in ux of tourists, and Alvarez and other local leaders do not want to risk the opportunity. They fear that without stable power supply, the result could be serious to the tourism industry and other businesses. Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Carlos Jericho Petilla, who was guest of honor during the AGMAM, said he wants the power problem in the province to be solved in three months’ time. Petilla is scheduled to meet key officers of the PAL CO to assess the problem. “Sa lalong madaling panahon (The soonest possible time), we will resolve the problem on electricity,” the state energy department secretary said. n

Jocelyn Y. Tabuada / Philippines News Agency / May 30, 2015 / 7:59 AM

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Mary Jane Veloso ready and eager to debunk recruiter’s aﬃdavit –lawyer MARY JANE VELOSO, whose execution in Indonesia for drug smuggling was put on hold a month ago, is eager to testify and debunk the claims of her alleged recruiter in the Philippines, her counsel said Thursday. Lawyer Edre Olalia of the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL) told GMA News Online that Mary Jane became more anxious to testify against Ma. Cristina Sergio after Sergio “twist[ed] the details of the incident” in the affidavit that she submitted to the Department of Justice (DOJ). “She said she is ready to stand by her word anytime and anywhere and that she is absolutely innocent and that her version of the events has changed not one whit since 2010,” Olalia said. Veloso’s role in the Philippine investigation on her alleged recruiters was cited as reason for the temporary reprieve granted to her by the Indonesian government. At present, the Indonesian and Philippine governments have yet to decide on how Veloso can testify against her recruiter, who is now detained in the Philippines.

The 30-year-old Veloso has accused Sergio of tricking her into bringing a bag with 2.6 grams of heroin to Indonesia from Malaysia in April 2010. Sergio has denied this in her affidavit, blaming instead two “African-looking men” who she said befriended them in Malaysia for what happened to veloso. The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) had earlier said Sergio and her live-in partner ulius Lacanilao — both facing illegal recruitment and human trafficking cases have been connected with a notorious West African drug syndicate since 2010. Asked on Veloso’s current condition in the Indonesian jail, Olalia said she is doing well and has the full support of Indonesian prison authorities, guards, and even cellmates. She is also in constant contact with her family through phone calls, Olalia added. “Family spoke to her after the last preliminary on May 25 at the DOJ (Department of Justice),” Olalia said. “I also spoke to her and updated her of the cases. She thanked everybody of

their support and trust.” He also said non-government organizations will take custody of Veloso’s ex-husband, who is now under protection by the NBI following suspicious visits by unidentified men in his residence in Talavera, Nueva Ecija. “What her ex-husband was subjected to was temporary protective custody by NBI because of the series of recent threats and harassment pending delivery to N Os and church groups who will provide him sanctuary which he and his family prefers,” Olalia said. n Rie Takumi / KBK, GMA News / May 28, 2015 / 2:28 PM

Fil-Am group hosts PHL butterfly exhibit in Cincinnati A United Arab Emirates court has affirmed a three-year jail term for an Asian driver for allegedly trying to rape three Filipina housemaids earlier this year. The Ras Al Khaimah Criminal Court presided by Chief Judge Hamdi Yassin also acquitted a Bangladeshi charged in the case, Khaleej Times reported Friday. It found the Asian driver guilty of kidnapping the three Filipinas and attempting to rape them. A lower court had

sentenced him to three years in jail. Court records showed the three Filipinas were waiting for a taxi at a shopping center in the Dheit area in RAK when they accepted an offer by the driver to drop them home. But the driver headed to a remote desert area, then asked the women to have sex with him. He allegedly tried to rape them, but they escaped and went to police. n Joel Locsin / RSJ, GMA News / May 29, 2015 / 9:28 AM

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PHL choir, Singapore orchestra wow audience in joint performance A Philippine choir and a Singapore orchestra made beautiful music together as they shared the stage in Singapore last weekend, the Philippine embassy there said Wednesday. The embassy said the Kabataang Silay Rondalla nsemble ( S ) and Marsiling Chinese Orchestra wowed a big audience at the “Love Across the Ocean II” at the Star Theatre in Singapore last May 22. The Philippine embassy said the performance was “well received” by an audience of more than 4,000 people including Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, the guest of honor. It added the joint performance “is very significant as it coincided with Singapore’s celebration of its golden anniversary this year.” The embassy said the joint performance is the brainchild of Singapore Member of Parliament (MP) Hawazi Daipi, Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Education and Ministry of Manpower, and MCO founder. Daipi proposed the idea to then Philippine Ambassador to Singapore Minda Cruz during the turnover of relief goods for victims of super

Typhoon olanda (Haiyan) in November 201 . Cruz’s successor and incumbent Philippine Ambassador to Singapore Antonio Morales then made efforts to realize the project. Repertoire. KSE performed Bahay Kubo; The Flight of the Bumblebee; Cuerdas II Visayan Medley – with dance interpretation by Kultura Performance Pte. Ltd. dancers led by Celia Defato; Let It o (theme from Frozen) Pirates of the Caribbean (sound track) and the theme of N P 1998, “Home” with vocals by Philippine soprano Stefanie Quintin. MCO’s repertoire included Singapore’s National Day Parade (N P) Medley, a compilation of N P songs from 1984 to 2014; La Reine de Saba (Orchestra) Liang Wen Fu Medley; and the popular Filipino song, “ ahil Sa o”, with vocal rendition by Nur Fateha Binte Muhamad. Both groups then rendered a joint rendition of the Spanish Medley (La Bamba, Sway and uizas) and Mother’s Love Medley (Anak, Ibu and Mama Hao) and encore pieces including “Mambo No. 5.” Before the concert, a pre-concert

Photo from the Philippine Embassy in Singapore

was held by Kultura Performance Arts Pte. Ltd. dances and Stefanie Quintin. A reception was also held for officials and representatives of the People’s Association, Marsiling Citizens Consultative Committee, the Philippine Embassy in Singapore, sponsors and the Prime Minister. Exhibit. Meanwhile, the embassy said an exhibit of instruments of KSE and the Philippine rondalla in general was displayed at the main entrance of the Star Performance Arts Centre. Also last May 20, KSE held an

initial pre-concert performance in front of teachers and students of the Woodlands Secondary School to introduce rondalla music to locals in Singapore. KSE left Singapore on May 23. Meanwhile, MCO will travel to the Philippines for a joint performance with the Philippine rondalla group possibly in March 2016. KSE and MCO. KSE was founded in 1993 with 36 primary school students. It has expanded repertoire from folk and traditional music to classical,

contemporary, pop and modern under conductor Jegger Anjao. It won regional and national musical competitions and has represented the Philippines in several international music festivals. MCO, initiated by MP Daipi, was inaugurated in 2004. It had 209 musicians under conductor Low Cher Yong. The MCO has delivered seven wellreceived concerts including the “Love Across the Ocean” series. n Joel Locsin / BM, GMA News / May 27, 2015 / 9:26 PM

Court cites intense personal conflict during death, disappearance of Pinoyson ‘death ship’ A court in Australia hinted on Thursday that there was a prevailing intense personal conflict and a “culture of silence” during the disappearance of one and the death of another crew member of the Japanese-owned coal carrier Sage Sagittarius.

The vessel, now called “death ship” due to the recent incidents of deaths and disappearance on board involving two Filipinos and a Japanese, is being skippered by Captain Venancio Salas. A report on The Sydney Morning Herald (SMH) quoted Philip Strickland,

the counsel assisting the inquest by NSW Coroner’s Court at Glebe, as saying: “At the very time of the disappearance and the death, there was intense personal conflict and mutual mistrust among the crew.” The court was also told that “Salas had been accused of physically assaulting crew members and pressuring them to buy guns from his contacts. Mr Strickland said there were competing versions of events among the crew, as well as a “culture of silence,” SMH said. Filipino cook Cesar Llanto, 42, disappeared about 8 a.m. on April 30, 2012 and two weeks later Hector Collado, a 57-year-old engineer (also a Filipino) died at about 8 a.m. on September 14 of that year. SMH wrote that forensic pathologist Fr.

Brian Beer found a head injury unrelated to those Hector Collado sustained from an 11-meter fall on the ship on September 14, 2012. Llanto disappeared as Sagittarius moved north of Quensland, Australia in 2012. The court was also told that the disappearance of Llanto “deeply distressed” Collado, who allegedly visited Salas days before he fell from one deck of the ship to another to tell him of possible threats to his life. Meanwhile, Dean Summers of the International Transport Workers Federation told ABC News that the incident will hopefully increase accountability in the marine industry and shed light on the flag of convenience system. The International Transport Worker’s

Federation describes the “flag of convenience system” as a system where workers are subjected to poor on-board conditions for very low wages by flying the flag of a country other than the country of ownership. Sage Sagittarius flies a Panama flag despite being owned by a Japanese company. Sunshine Coast Daily reported in 2014 that authorities took the death of a third man, Japanese superintendent Kosaku Monji, into consideration for the inquest in Australia. It added that the ship was run down, lacking proper emergency life rafts and having rusty emergency stop switches which were deemed “completely inoperable.” n Rie Takumi / LBG, GMA News /

May 29, 2015 / 3:15 PM

Pinay in UAE toy-gun rob try sentenced to 7 years in jail A Filipina who tried to rob a money exchange facility in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates was sentenced to seven years in prison for the botched crime. The Criminal Court in Abu Dhabi also ordered the 33-year-old Filipina deported after she serves her sentence, UAE news site Gulf News reported late Monday. It noted that while the Filipina used a plastic toy gun, her act was still considered coercion and disturbing public security. On the other hand, the court also

ordered an added two months’ jail time for her for overstaying her visa. Court records also showed the Filipina had revealed only a part of the toy gun to disguise its true nature. But the robbery attempt was foiled when an employee grabbed the Filipina from behind and made her drop the toy. Records also showed the Filipina wore the Emirati national dress, including a niqab (face cover) and gloves, to hide her identity. The Filipina admitted to the charges against her, saying she had no job and

her debts were racking up at the time. Police found she had some Dh140,000 in debts. A separate report on Khaleej Times said the court decreed that the use of a fake gun did not relieve the Filipina of the crime since what matters is the intent of robbery. Khaleej Times noted that in a previous hearing where the judge asked the Filipina why she entered and left the exchange many times before the robbery bid, she said she got cold feet. n Joel Locsin / KBK, GMA News / May 26, 2015 / 12:34 PM

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Australia to allow autistic Filipino boy to stay

SYDNEY - An autistic Filipino boy whose fight against deportation from Australia prompted tens of thousands to petition the government on his behalf will be allowed to stay,

Immigration Minister Peter Dutton said Monday. Tyrone Sevilla arrived in Australia as a two-year-old with his nurse mother Maria Sevilla.

But after eight years in the country, the pair were denied continuing visas due to the probable cost of providing for Tyrone’s care, with Maria Sevilla saying they had been labeled a “burden” to taxpayers. Dutton said he had overturned the decision. “I looked at the case and I have determined we will provide these people with a permanent arrangement and permanent outcome in Australia and I think that’s good for them,” he said. “I’m very pleased we can provide the assistance to a young boy who is in need of medical and educational support and as a generous country that’s what we do.” The case made headlines after

one of Tyrone’s young friends raised a question about the case on a live national television program. “If he can get along with us and we can get along with him, why does he have to leave?” the child, who went to after school care with Tyrone, asked. More than 120,000 people subsequently signed a petition addressed to utton to keep Tyrone and his mother, a registered nurse at Townsville Hospital, in Australia. The Queensland Nurses’ Union, which helped campaign on their behalf, said the pair were yet to be officially notified of the decision but were thrilled with the news. “A formal and final sign-off from Minister utton’s office in coming weeks will bring to an end many

months of uncertainty and stress,” union secretary Beth Mohle said. “We all appreciate the minister’s compassion on this issue and look forward to celebrating the final approval of Maria and Tyrone’s permanent visas.” Australia takes a hard line against asylum-seekers arriving by boat, refusing them resettlement in the country even if found to be refugees and sending them instead to Pacific states. Australia generally requires applicants seeking a visa to meet certain health criteria designed to protect the community’s standard of public health and safety, health expenditure and access to services. n Agence France-Presse / May 25, 2015 / 9:41 PM

Suspicious visitors prompt Veloso kin to seek security help from DOJ THE family of Mary Jane Veloso, the Filipina sentenced to death in Indonesia for drug smuggling, has requested the government to provide security assistance in their neighborhood in Nueva Ecija after suspicious-looking men supposedly visited them the other night. Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said she has sent a National Bureau of Investigation team to Nueva Ecija on Monday night to check the premises of

the Velosos’ residence in Talavera town. She said authorities are still trying to identify the three men who visited the Velosos to determine their motive for the visit. “If there is something na fishy or sinister about that visit, then iimbestigahan yan. Then, puwede nang magbigay ng protection,” she said. De Lima said the men dropped by the house of the Velosos and spoke with one of Mary Jane’s sisters. The man allegedly told

the sister that he finds the progress of the case related to Veloso “slow.” “When they say ‘nababalagan sa kaso,’ what does that mean? Anoiyong message nun if they’re trying to impart something?” De Lima said. “Hindi naman mawawala iyong... talagang natatakot angmga family nila.” De Lima said the Velosos have so far requested a police checkpoint at their neighborhood and not necessarily security detail at their house.

“Angnire-request nila ay lagyan ng parang checkpoint ng Philippine National Police doon. I think iyong lugar nila ay saloob, parang papasok, interior. So iyong papunta doon, kung puwedeng lagyan daw ng checkpoint ng PNP,” she said. “Hindi pa naman sila nagre-request na... lagyan ng bantay iyong bahay nila. Not yet,” De Lima added. Veloso was supposed to be executed by firing squad in Indonesia on April 29 after she was convicted of smuggling drugs from

Malaysia in 2010. The execution, however, was postponed at the last minute so she could testify against her alleged recruiters in the Philippines. Ma. Cristina Sergio and Julius Lacanilao, Veloso’s supposed recruiters, are currently facing large-scale illegal recruitment charges for tricking three other victims. A separate case against them related to Veloso is currently under preliminary investigation by the DOJ. n Mark Meruenas / KBK, GMA News / May 26, 2015 / 4:33 PM

IOM, PNG delegates exchange anti-traﬃcking notes with Cebu vice gov MEMBERS of an international group and a delegation from Papua New Guinea met with Cebu Vice Governor Agnes Magpale to exchange notes in fighting human trafficking. Representatives from the International Organization for Migration and Papua New Guinea discussed ways to curb the problem, the provincial government said Friday. “Basically, it was more of an exchange of information and ideas, our best practices, the programs and services that we have and they were amazed (at) our setup,” Provincial Social Welfare and evelopment Office (PSW O) consultant Rose ao said. The discussion involved the efforts of the Cebu Provincial Women’s Commission (PWC) and Provincial

Council for the Welfare of Children (PCWC) to fight human trafficking. The provincial government noted Papua New Guinea is considered as a source, destination, and transit country for people mostly from Asia. It said these people, including children, are trafficked for commercial sexual exploitation and forced labor. “Women and children are trafficked within the country for the purposes of commercial sexual exploitation and domestic servitude while men are trafficked to logging and mining camps for the purpose of forced labor,” the provincial government said. The US State Department’s 2014 Trafficking in Persons Report described Papua New Guinea as “a source and destination country for

men, women, and children subjected to sex trafficking and forced labor.” “Foreign and Papua New Guinean women and children are subjected to sex trafficking and domestic servitude, and foreign and Papua New Guinean men are subjected to forced labor in logging and mining camps,” it said. By comparison, the 2014 Trafficking in Persons report noted the Philippines is a “source country and, to a much lesser extent, a destination and transit country for men, women, and children subjected to sex trafficking and forced labor.” The State Department report placed Papua New Guinea at Tier 3 (Countries whose governments do not fully comply with the minimum standards and are not making significant efforts

to do so) and the Philippines at Tier 2 (Countries whose governments do not fully comply with the Trafficking Victims Protection Act’s minimum

standards, but are making significant efforts to bring themselves into compliance with those standards). n Joel Locsin / KBK, GMA News / May 25, 2015 / 2:14 PM

2 Pinoys face UAE court for allegedly molesting schoolboy TWO Filipino cleaners faced a United Arab Emirates court Sunday over charges they allegedly molested a seven-year-old schoolboy last March, a UAE news site reported Monday. One of the two pleaded guilty to charges of aiding his fellow Filipino before the Dubai Court of First Instance, Gulf News reported. Prosecutors charged the two, aged 25 and 21, of luring the Kenyan boy to their house and showing him pornographic images on a mobile phone.

The boy was allegedly playing in front of his house when the two brought him to their house and showed him indecent images on a mobile phone. One of them then molested him, prosecutors claimed. One was charged for molesting the boy while the other was accused of aiding and abetting him. The 25-year-old was charged with possessing pornographic material with the intent to show it to others. “I did not molest the boy ... I am not guilty,” said the 21-year-old. But his 25-year-

old companion admitted he “showed the pornographic images to the boy.” Presiding judge Urfan Omar is expected to issue a ruling on June 17. The report said the boy told prosecutors one of the cleaners showed him indecent images while the other groped him. For her part, the boy’s mother told prosecutors she went out of the house to look for her child at 8 p.m., as he had not returned home. She said their maid called her at 9:15 p.m.

and said the boy had returned home. “When I asked him why he was late, he remained silent. Then he cried … when I insisted on him speaking, he claimed to me to that the cleaners molested him. He alleged to me that the suspects took him to a room where they showed him images of naked women and one of them touched him indecently,” she said. Police arrested the two shortly after the mother reported the incident. n Joel

Locsin / KBK, GMA News / May 25, 2015 / 12:43 PM

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NBI: Mary Jane Veloso’s husband, kids to be placed under WPP THE family of Mary Jane Veloso will be placed under the government’s Witness Protection Program, following reports of “visits” from “unidentified

armed men” in their residence in Nueva Ecija, National Bureau of Investigation Dir. Virgilio Mendez said Wednesday. At a hearing at the House of

Representatives on Wednesday, Director Virgilio Mendez of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said Mary Jane’s husband and two children “will be turned over to the NBI and will be covered by the Witness Protection Program to ensure their safety.” The turnover is expected within the day, he said. Mary Jane has been sentenced to death in Indonesia for drug smuggling, but her execution was put on hold last month after the Philippine government said it wants her as witness in the case against her recruiters in the Philippines, who are facing illegal recruitment and human trafficking cases. In her affidavit, Mary ane claimed

she was tricked into bringing 2.6 kilograms of heroin to Indonesia in April 2010 by her recruiter, Ma. Cristina Sergio, who is now detained in the Philippines together with her livein partner Julius Lacanilao. Mendez said Veloso’s family reported to them that “there were men trying to approach them.” “There were unidentified armed men who visited the residence,” he said. “Wala naman pong nangyari. We’re still verifying who they are.” On Tuesday, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said she has sent an NBI team to Nueva cija to check the premises of the Velosos’ residence in Talavera town. She said authorities are still trying

to identify the three men who visited the Velosos to determine their motive for the visit. Mary Jane could have been the sixth Filipino executed in Asia on drugrelated charges since 2011. A total of five convicted Filipino drug couriers were killed through lethal injection in China – four in 2011 and one in 201 . Unfazed by the executions, many Filipinos continue to engage in drug trafficking. In exchange for huge payments, Filipino women and even men are reportedly being hired by West African drug syndicates to transport drugs mainly in Asia and South America. n

Rose-An Jessica Dioquino / KBK, GMA News / May 27, 2015 / 1:20 PM

2 Pinoys win big at Hamdan International Photography Award TWO Filipino photographers won big at the Hamdan bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum International Photography Award 2015 in separate categories for their unique and thoughtful shots, GMA News TV’s “News To Go” reported Friday. Former domestic helper Xyza Cruz Bacani won fifth place for the competition’s “Faces (Black and White)” Category with a photograph of a Hong Kongese child

pressed against a sheet of glass. Meanwhile, civil engineer Jaime Singlador from Antipolo City won fifth place in the general category for a topdown photograph of children from Western Visayas bathing in a kawa fed with water by a bamboo tube and littered with fresh green leaves. Both won $6,000 or P260,000 from the international photo contest for enthusiasts and professionals.

The competition is open to all photographers, including previous winners. Meanwhile, the contest for 2015-2016 is currently ongoing and is based on the theme of “Happiness.” It will run until December. All entries must not have been used for any commercial purposes and photo descriptions must be in English or Arabic. n Rie Takumi / KG, GMA News / May 29, 2015 / 3:42 PM

Pinay sues Philippine Airlines for $10M over ordeal after ﬂight from NYC gets cancelled A woman has filed a 10-million class action suit against ag carrier Philippine Air Lines (PAL) at a United States superior court after her ight to the Philippines from John F. Kennedy International Airport in New ork was abruptly cancelled due to mechanical problems on May 17. According to California-based news service Courthouse News, Cherilyn arilag filed the case on Tuesday, saying she was bounced around various hotels and was never rebooked by PAL after the ight cancellation. In her complaint, Darilag said she initially waited three hours inside the

plane before being asked to get off because of the mechanical problem. Darilag claimed PAL told passengers another ight would be available the next morning and that they would be booked at a hotel in the meantime. But Darilag said no PAL representative met with her or the other passengers at the hotel they were told to go to. Darilag also said in her complaint that morning and afternoon ights from PAL were unavailable despite the airline’s promise. She added that PAL issued ight

transfers to other airlines but that these were not accepted by the airlines since the forms allegedly lacked proper validation stamps from PAL. Darilag said PAL has not contacted her since the incident. PAL, through its spokesperson, said it has yet to receive a legal notice on the suit. “PAL has not received official notice from the court about the case reportedly filed. Our legal department continues to monitor the matter,” Ma. Cielo Villaluna told GMA News Online in a text message. n Andrei Medina / JDS, GMA

News / May 28, 2015 / 10:27 PM

PHL Embassy in Baghdad urges Pinoys in Iraq to return home CAR bomb attacks outside two Baghdad hotels kill 10. Smoke rises near a hotel after a car bomb attack in Baghdad late Thursday night, May 29. Car bombs exploded in the parking lots of two heavily fortified five-star hotels, killing at least 10 people. A further 30 people were wounded in the blasts, which were around seven minutes apart. The first bomb targeted the Babylon hotel, where government officials often hold meetings and news conferences, and the second hit the Meridian. While no Filipinos were injured in the car bombing incident in Iraq on Friday, the Philippine Embassy in Baghdad urged Filipinos to return home due to worsening conditions in the Iraqi capital.

“We urge our kababayans to seriously consider leaving for the Philippines in view of the latest wave of violence in Baghdad,” charge d’affaires Elmer G. Cato said in a statement on Friday. Cato said as many as 21 Filipinos worked at one of the two hotels targeted by the car bomb explosions. An earlier report indicated that at least 10 people died while 30 were injured after the bombs exploded minutes apart in the car park of the Babylon Hotel and the Meridian Hotel. Cato asked Filipinos to report to the embassy for the Mandatory Repatriation Program, which may only assist Filipinos with their consent. “We are encouraging our kababayans

in Iraq to register and update their contact details with the Embassy. This is especially important given the fluid security environment in Iraq,” he said. Families with Filipino workers in Iraq were also urged to convince their loved ones to register with the embassy in order for authorities to repatriate them and monitor their conditions with their employers. OFWs may register for repatriation through the OFW Online Registration System. They may also go to the embassy at House No. 4 Zukak No. 22, Mahalat 915 Hay Al-Jamia, Al-Jadriyah, Baghdad and can be contacted through these numbers: (+964) 7817046564, (+964) 7714709842, (+964) 7706464769, and (+964) 7828811037. n Rie Takumi / NB, GMA News / May 29, 2015 / 5:26 PM

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China rejects US criticism of sea reclamations CHINA on Sunday rejected US demands to stop reclamation works in the South China Sea, saying it was exercising its sovereignty and using the controversial outposts to fulfil international responsibilities. Admiral Sun Jianguo, deputy chief of the general staff department in the People’s Liberation Army, told a security summit in Singapore that “the situation in the South China Sea is on the whole peaceful and stable, and there has never been an issue with the freedom of navigation.” “China has carried out construction on some islands and reefs in the South China Sea mainly for the purpose of improving the functions of the relevant islands and reefs, and the working and living conditions of personnel stationed there. “Apart from meeting the necessary defence needs, it is more geared to better perform China’s international responsibilities and obligations regarding maritime search and rescue, disaster prevention and relief, maritime scientific research, meteorological observation, environmental

protection, safety of navigation, fishery production, services,” he added. China insists it has sovereignty over nearly all of the South China Sea, a major global shipping route believed to be home to oil and gas reserves, but rival claimants accuse it of expansionism. “When dealing with maritime disputes with relevant neighbouring countries, China has always kept in mind the larger interest of maritime security,” Sun told the annual meeting known as the Shangri-La Dialogue. “In spite of the sufficient historical and legal evidence and its indisputable claims, rights and interests, China has exercised enormous restraint, making positive contributions to peace and stability of the region and the world at large.” Beijing ‘out of step’. Sun was speaking a day after US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter demanded an immediate end to all reclamation works by claimants and said Beijing was “out of step” with international norms with its behaviour in disputed waters. Carter said “there should be an

immediate and lasting halt to land reclamation by all claimants,” adding that “we also oppose any further militarisation of disputed features.” He acknowledged that other claimants have developed outposts of differing scope and degree, including Vietnam with 48, the Philippines with eight, Malaysia with five and Taiwan with one. “Yet, one country has gone much farther and much faster than any other. “China has reclaimed over 2,000 acres, more than all other claimants combined and more than in the entire history of the region. And China did so in only the last 18 months,” Carter said. Beijing has accused Washington of carrying out provocative moves in the South China Sea. The Chinese military this month ordered a US Navy P-8 Poseidon surveillance aircraft to leave an area above the heavily-disputed Spratly Islands. But the American plane ignored the demand. Carter said Saturday that US planes and warships will continue patrolling what Washington considers

Admiral Sun Jianguo, deputy chief of the general staff department in the People’s Liberation Army, seen during the plenary session at the 14th Asia-Pacific Security Summit, in Singapore

international navigation zones in the South China Sea. Australia’s Defence Minister Kevin Andrews told the Wall Street Journal in an interview on the sidelines of the meeting that Canberra would also do the same. “We’ve been doing it for decades, we’re doing it currently...and we’ll continue to do it into the future,” he said. Representatives from claimant countries as well others from Southeast Asia and Europe urged restraint on all parties in handling the dispute.

Other delegates, including Singapore’s defence chief Ng Eng Hen, his British counterpart Michael Fallon, and the European Union’s foreign relations chief Federica Mogherini repeated calls by Carter for China and the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (AS AN) to adopt a “code of conduct” in the disputed waters as soon as possible. The Singapore summit, which ended on Sunday afternoon, was earlier in the day marred by a brief security lockdown after police shot dead a local motorist who tried to ee a checkpoint near the event venue in a car later found to contain drugs. After the shooting, police officers initially told people attending the summit that the hotel was on complete lockdown, with no entry allowed. Roads and pathways leading up to the hotel, located in Singapore’s leafy diplomatic quarter, were shut off with barricade tape. But access to the venue was gradually eased on Sunday morning. The conference proceeded normally until it ended at midday. n AFP / May 31, 2015

Rain brings relief as India heatwave death toll tops 2,200

India declares a heatwave when the maximum temperature hits 45 degrees Celsius, or five degrees higher than the average for the area in previous years

SCATTERED rain on Sunday brought much-needed but only temporary relief to parts of India hit by a long heatwave as the death toll from the blistering temperatures crossed 2,200, officials said. Thunderstorms struck sections of southern states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, which have borne the brunt of the deadliest heatwave in more than two decades, as well as the capital New Delhi. But the toll continued to climb and the weather bureau warned that temperatures in swathes of southern, western and northern India would hover around 45 degrees Celsius (113 degrees Fahrenheit) in coming days. “1,636 people have now died in the Andhra state,” P. Tulsi Rani, a top disaster management official, told AFP. Another 541 people have died in

neighbouring Telangana from the heatwave, an official said. Hospitals are struggling to cope with the number of patients suffering from severe heatstroke. Hundreds of mainly poor people die at the height of summer every year in India, but this year’s figures are already the highest since 1995 when official Indian data showed 1,677 people succumbed to the heat. Experts point to record high temperatures this year over a longer period than usual. In his monthly radio address on Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged everyone “to take care of yourselves in this heat” as India waits for the monsoon rains to hit. In the eastern state of Orissa, 21 deaths have now been recorded from the heat, with

at least another nine deaths reported elsewhere in the country, the Press Trust of India news agency reported. A brief spell of rain on Sunday brought slight relief in the Delhi region but the temperature again touched 43 degrees Celsius (109 Fahrenheit) in the afternoon. India declares a heatwave when the maximum temperature hits 45 degrees Celsius, or five degrees higher than the average for the area in previous years. The annual monsoon, which had been forecast to make landfall in the southern state of Kerala on May 30, has slowed in the Bay of Bengal, according to forecasters. It is now predicted to arrive on Monday before sweeping across the country’s arid plains in the weeks ahead. n AFP / May 31, 2015

Asia security summit under guard after police shoot man outside AN Asia-Pacific security summit was brie y put on lockdown Sunday after police shot dead a local motorist who tried to ee a checkpoint in a car later found to contain drugs, officials said. The three-day Shangri-La ialogue attended by US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter and counterparts from around the world along with top military officials ended at midday Sunday. But before dawn, police opened fire at a car with three Singaporean men after they tried to crash through a barricade outside the annual summit’s venue, the Shangri-La Hotel. The 4-year-old driver was killed and one passenger was wounded and hospitalised. Both passengers are now under arrest.

“Substances believed to be controlled drugs and an item believed to be a drug-taking utensil were found on the men arrested,” the police said in a statement. “The driver and one of the passengers are wanted by authorities for various offences,” the statement said, adding that no weapons or explosives were found in the vehicle. Shootings are extremely rare in Singapore, which boasts one of the world’s lowest crime rates, but the city-state considers itself a potential terrorist target. The city-state’s drug laws are among the toughest in the world, with courts allowed to impose the death penalty for people convicted of trafficking large amounts of certain drugs like heroin. “Preliminary investigations indicate

that this is an isolated incident. Police investigations are ongoing,” the statement added. After the shooting, police officers initially told people attending the summit that the hotel was on complete lockdown, with no entry allowed. Roads and pathways leading up to the hotel, located in Singapore’s leafy diplomatic quarter, were shut off with barricade tape. But access to the venue was gradually eased on Sunday morning. The conference resumed at 9 00 am (0100 MT) with no signs of alarm in the main lobby. An AFP photographer said a bullet hole could be seen on the front windscreen of the vehicle as it was towed away at noon. A resident at a nearby condominium

Armed policemen with Singapore’s special operation command unit patrol near the Shangri-La hotel where the 14th Asia Security Summit takes place, on May 29, 2015

told the Straits Times newspaper that she heard two gunshots just after 4 00 am local time. Security had been heightened for the summit with roadblocks and checkpoints

set up in the vicinity of the venue. Some were manned by members of the Gurkha Contingent -- elite Nepalese fighters who are part of the local police force. n AFP / May 31, 2015

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Devotion in Honour of Our Lady of Fatima (Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament / Rosary / F R E E L I S T I N G o f y o u r e v e n t s i n HBenediction E L L O P H I L/I P P I N ESt S n e w sXpCatholic a p e r . I fChurch, y o u k n108 o w Orme of any e v e nKingston t s p l e a sUpon e c o nThames t a c t u sKT1 v i a3SB – Mass) Pius Road, i n f o @ h e l l o - p h i l i p p i n e s . c o m Oliver t o s u bAbasolo mit you e v e n t661 . – r07782 922 Five Precious Wounds Parish, Brentfield Road, Stonebridge Park, London NW10 8ER 1st Sunday D I S C L A I M E R : T h e E v2:00pm ents Diary Listing does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, Mervic Monocillo – 07894 636 140 o rst f a v o u r i n g b y H e l l o P h i l i p p i n e s n e w s p a p e r . T h e v i e w s a n d o p i n i o n s o f a u t h o r s e x p r e s s e d h e r e i n d o n o t n e c e s s a r i l y s t a t e o r Sunday 5:00pm Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church, Friary Road, Peckham, London SE15 1RH 1 reflect those of Hello Philippines newspaper. This is merely an Events Diary Listing of what is happening within the Filipino Allen Abeleda – 07713 625 888 Co mmunities in Europe. This is for general information only. 4:00pm St Peter the Apostle Catholic Church, 103 Woolwich New Road, London SE18 6EF 2nd Saturday 201 M O N T H Moises LY FIL I P I N O –C07894 O M M648 U N639 ITY MASSES IN GREATER LONDON Espanola st 1 5:00pm Devotion in Honour of Our Lady ofRoad, Fatima (Exposition the Blessed Sacrament / Rosary / Sunday 2:00pm English Martyrs Church, Chalkhill Wembley Park,ofWembley HA9 9EW 2ndSaturday Benediction / Mass) St Pius X Catholic Church, 108 Orme Road, Kingston Upon Thames KT1 3SB – Becky Sarinas – 07949 857 699 / 07425 761 519 / Lina B – 07579 418 510 Oliver Abasolo – 07782 661 922 nd Sunday 2:00pm St Dominic Catholic Church, 243 Violet Lane, Waddon, Croydon CR0 4HN 2 st 2:00pm Five Precious Wounds Parish, Brentfield Road, Stonebridge Park, London NW10 8ER 1 Sunday Merlie Mirto – 07722 216 462 Mervic Monocillo – 07894 636 140 nd st 2 Sunday 4:00pm St. Anselm and St. Cecilia, 70 Church, Lincoln'sFriary Inn Fields, WC2A 3JA SE15 1RH 5:00pm Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Road,London Peckham, London 1 Sunday Feliciano Ramirez – 07733 Allen Abeleda – 07713 625 680 888 748 rd Sunday 3:00pm Sacred of Jesus, New Priory, Quex Kilburn, NW6 4PS 3nd Saturday 4:00pm St PeterHeart the Apostle Catholic Church, 103Road, Woolwich NewLondon Road, London SE18 6EF 2 Moises Espanola –– 07894 648 639 Sheidrick de Leon 07738 210 202 rd 2:00pm English Church, Chalkhill Road, Wembley Wembley HA9 9EW 2 3nd Sunday 3:00pm Blessed Martyrs Sacrament Parish, 157 Copenhagen Street,Park, Islington N1 0SR Becky Sarinas – 07949 857 699 07425 761 519 / Lina B – 07579 418 510 Christy Sangalang – 07709 119 / 969 nd Sunday 2:00pm St Dominic Violet Lane,264 Waddon, Croydon CR0 4HN 2 Last Saturday 6:00pm Our Lady ofCatholic Dolours,Church, Servite 243 Parish Church, Fulham Road, London SW10 4EL Merlie Mirto –– 07722 216 462 Fr Allan Satur 020 7352 6965 / fulhamroad@rcdow.org.uk / Roland Adap – r_adap@hotmail.com nd 2 Sunday 4:00pm St. Anselm and St. Cecilia, 70 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London WC2A 3JA Last Sunday 12:00pm St Pius X Catholic Church, 108 Orme Road, Kingston Upon Thames KT1 3SB Feliciano Ramirez – 07733 680 748 Oliver 07782 661 rd FRE E L I S T I N G o f y o3:00pm ur events in H E L L OAbasolo P H I L Iof P–P I N E S New n e wPriory, s922 p a p e rQuex . I f yRoad, o u k nKilburn, o w o f aLondon ny even t s p4PS lease contact us via Sunday Sacred Heart Jesus, NW6 3 Last St. Church, 218 Roehampton Lane, London SW15 4LE 07738 202 i n f oSunday @ h e l l o - p h i l i 2:00pm p p i n e s . c o m Sheidrick t o Joseph’s s u b m ide t Catholic yLeon our – ev e n t . 210 Rafael Santiago – 07795 3rd Sunday 3:00pm Blessed Sacrament Parish,254 157451 Copenhagen Street, Islington N1 0SR D I S C LSunday A I M E R : T h e E v5:00pm e n t s D i a r y L i s tHoly ing d o e s n o t nCatholic e c e s s a r iChurch, l y c o n s t20 itute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, Every Redeemer Christy Sangalang – 07709 119 969 Brixton Road, Oval, London SW9 6BU or favouring by Hello Philippines newspaper. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or Ben Ortiz – 07723 318 486 Last Saturday 6:00pm Our Lady of Dolours, Servite Parish 264 SW10 r e f l e c t t h o s e o f H e l l o P h i l i p p i n e s n e w s p a p e r . T h i s i s m e r e l y a n E v e nChurch, ts Diary L i sFulham t i n g o f Road, w h a t London is happe n i n g 4EL within the Filipino First Wednesdays Filipino and to Mother of Perpetual Help, Farm Street Church of the Immaculate Satur –m020 / fulhamroad@rcdow.org.uk / Roland Adap – r_adap@hotmail.com C omm u n i t i e s i n E u r o6:30pm p e . T h i s i s f o r Fr g eAllan n e r a lMass infor a tNovena i o7352 n o n l6965 y . Our Last Sunday 12:00pm St Pius X Catholic Church, Chapel), 108 Orme Road,on Kingston Upon Thames KT1 3SB 114 Mount W1K 201 M O N T HConception L Y F I L I P I(Jesuit N O CHouse O M M U N I T Y access MASSES IN G R EStreet, A T E RLondon LOND O N 3AY – Josie Ramos – Oliver 661 st 07723 024 F E E L I S T I N G o f y o 5:00pm ur events in H E L L OAbasolo PH I591 LHonour I P– P 07782 I N Eof S Our n e wLady s922 p a pof e rFatima . If you know of a n the y ev e n t s pSacrament lease cont ct us v 1R Saturday Devotion in (Exposition of Blessed /aRosary /i a Last Church, Roehampton London SW15 4LE Benediction /oMass) X218 Catholic Church, Lane, 108 Orme Road, Kingston Upon Thames KT1 3SB – i n f oSunday @ h e l l o - p h i l i 2:00pm p p i n e s . c o m St. t o Joseph’s s u b m i t Catholic y u r e vSt e nPius t. RafaelAbasolo Santiago 07795 254 451 Oliver –– 07782 661 922 D I S C L A I M E R : T h e E v e n t s D i a r y L i s t i n g d o e s n o t n e c e s s a r i l y c o n s t i t u t e o r i m p l y i t s e n d o r s e m e n t , r e c o m m e n 8ER dation, st Every Sunday 5:00pm Holy Redeemer Catholic Church, 20 Brixton Road, Oval, London 6BUNW10 2:00pm Five Precious Wounds Parish, Brentfield Road, Stonebridge Park,SW9 London 1 Sunday o r f a v o u r i n g b y H e l l o P h i l i p p i n e s n Mervic e w s p a p Monocillo er. The vie s a n d 636 opin ions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or –w 07894 140 Ben Ortiz – 07723 318 486 r lect those of Hello P h i l i p p i n e s n Our ewsp a p e rof . TSorrows h i s i s mCatholic e r e l y a nChurch, E v e n t s Friary D i a r y Road, L i s t i nPeckham, g o f w h a tLondon is happ e n i n1RH g within the Filipino 5:00pm Lady SE15 1estf Sunday First Wednesdays and C omm u n i t i e s i n E u r o6:30pm p e . T h i s i s f o r Filipino gener a lMass infor m07713 a tNovena i o n 625 o n lto y888 . Our Mother of Perpetual Help, Farm Street Church of the Immaculate Allen Abeleda – on 114 Mount W1K – Josie Ramos – 20 1 M O N T HConception L YPeter F I L the I P I(Jesuit N O CHouse O M MChapel), UN I T Y access M103 ASS ES IN G R EStreet, A T E RLondon LOND O N 3AY 4:00pm St Apostle Catholic Church, Woolwich New Road, London SE18 6EF 2nd Saturday 07723 1st Saturday 5:00pm Devotion in591 Honour of Our Lady of Fatima (Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament / Rosary / Moises024 Espanola – 07894 648 639 2nd Sunday

2:00pm

Benediction / Mass) St Pius X Catholic Church, 108Park, Orme Road, Kingston Upon Thames KT1 3SB – English Martyrs Church, Chalkhill Road, Wembley Wembley HA9 9EW Oliver Abasolo––07949 07782857 661699 922/ 07425 761 519 / Lina B – 07579 418 510 Becky Sarinas

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Aquino marking Independence Day in Iloilo to celebrate fruits of ‘Daang Matuwid,’ says Drilon

MANILA – In a departure from tradition, President Benigno Aquino III will commemorate Independence Day rites in Iloilo, not in Manila’s Rizal Park or the Cavite house where the ag was raised 117 years ago, because he wants to showcase the successes of good governance initiatives under “Tuwid na Daan,” Senate President Franklin Drilon said on Sunday. “President Aquino will lead the 117th Independence Day celebration in Sta. Barbara, Iloilo on June 12. Afterwards, the traditional “vin d honneur” will be held at the old Iloilo capitol,” Drilon said in a statement at the weekend. Having the 117th Independence Day in Iloilo gives the whole nation an opportunity, Drilon said, to witness how the “daang matuwid” of President Aquino was implemented in the province and yielded positive results. “Iloilo is an affirmation that the ‘daang matuwid’ leadership of President Aquino has worked well, and should therefore be continued,” Drilon said. “It has resulted in positive changes we thought were impossible to achieve. It is therefore important that there be continuity in policies that caused these developments and changes to happen,” Drilon added.

Iloilo’s rise as a progressive and developing center in the Visayas was primarily due to the effective and honest implementation of projects under the present administration, Drilon claimed. For instance, he noted, the rehabilitation of the Iloilo River would not have been successful without national government support. He said President Aquino approved funds for the construction of a resettlement area for 1,000 families living along riverbanks, an splanade, a modernized fish port complex, a slaughterhouse and a ferry terminal, among others. “In Iloilo, projects are executed without corruption. People actively and earnestly backed them because they knew that every peso of their money is properly accounted for, and that it’s a peso well spent, as seen in the quality of roads and bridges we built in Iloilo,” Drilon said. “We do not let bureaucratic processes slow down our efforts to uplift the condition of our province,” he added. Drilon also pointed to a number of projects which only became possible under the present administration, topped by: the P11.2-billion Jalaur River MultiPurpose Project (JRMP) and the P740million Iloilo Convention Center (ICC).

The alaur Multipurpose was first conceptualized in 1960, but was only realized during the term of President Aquino. The JRMP, Drilon noted, will address irrigation problem in Western Visayas, which is primarily an agricultural region. It will provide yearround irrigation to 32,000 hectares, benefit more than 78 ,000 farmers, and increase rice production from 142,000 tons to 300,000 tons annually. Convention center controversy. The convention center became the subject of a Blue Ribbon hearing amid allegations of overpricing, but Senate probers cleared Drilon and the project after only one hearing. That fact was cited by United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) leader Rep. Toby Tiangco as an indication of what he called the “double standard” that the Liberal Party has adopted with respect to its claimed advocacy of good governance. The contractor in the Iloilo convention center is Hilmarc’s, the same contractor in the Makati City Hall Building 2, where a Blue Ribbon subcommittee of three members has so far conducted 21 hearings. The subcommittee panel chair, Sen. Koko Pimentel, confirmed Sunday the draft

Senate President Drilon is seen in file photo at the hard-hat ceremony for the Iloilo Convention Center.

report he is routing for signatures of the mother committee recommends the filing of plunder against several people led by Vice President Jejomar Binay. The latter is the political rival of Interior Secretary Mar Roxas II, the LP stalwart Drilon openly roots for as party nominee for 2016. According to Drilon, the Iloilo Convention Center that is being constructed will position Iloilo as a prime convention destination in the Visayas. Recently, the Ombudsman junked the plunder and graft cases filed against Drilon, Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson and Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez in connection with the construction of the ICC. Drilon said all projects in Iloilo

followed international standards, citing, for instance, the three-lined, 10-lane Benigno Aquino Avenue complete with red-tiled bicycle and pedestrian lanes; and the four-lane, 14-kilometer Iloilo Circumferential Road. Drilon said, “We are eager to show to the Filipino people how Iloilo has recaptured its position as the ‘Queen City of the South’ chie y because of the effective implementation of good governance policies of President Aquino.” “With leaders following the ‘daang matuwid’ form of governance where the old ways of corruption, red tape and patronage have no place, change is indeed possible,” he added. n Ernie Reyes / InterAksyon.com / May 31, 2015 / 4:16 PM

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Health claims about vitamin D examined “STEM cell researchers are heralding a major scientific discovery’,” BBC News reports. Japanese scientists have created pluripotent stem cells (stem cells than can form all parts of the body) essentially by dipping mouse blood cells in acid, and then growing the cells in the presence of specific chemicals. If this could work in humans then it could have a range of intriguing applications. There are currently only four established ways to obtain stem cells which can form all parts of the body: from embryos from unfertilised eggs from embryo stem cells which have undergone modification in the laboratory from a mature cell such as a skin cell, by reprogramming it with genes using a virus in the laboratory These current techniques are lengthy and complex and using embryonic stem cells also raises ethical concerns. This new technique may offer a much quicker, simpler and less ethically fraught method. The researchers found that after exposing blood cells from mice to a weak acid solution for 30 minutes, the cells were able to form different types of cells (they became pluripotent). By growing these cells in the presence of specific chemicals, the researchers could also get the cells to self-renew’ (divide and renew themselves for long periods). The ability to self-renew and to form different types of cells means that the cells had become stem cells. It is not known why exposure to low pH should cause mature cells to gain the ability to form different types of cell under laboratory conditions. And so far the research has only been performed on cells from mice. It should be noted that results were not as good when blood cells were taken from adult mice. This is exciting research but it is likely to be some time before the technique can be developed for use in humans.

Where did the story come from? The study was carried out by

researchers from the RIKEN centre for Developmental biology, Kobe, Japan; Tokyo Women’s Medical School

Harvard Medical School, Boston and Irwin Army Community Hospital, Kansas. It was funded by the Intramural RI N Research Budget, a Scientific Research in Priority Areas, the Network Project for Realization of Regenerative Medicine, and the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. The study was published in the peer-reviewed medical journal Nature. Generally the media reporting of this study was accurate, although The Times incorrectly assumed that any weak acid would do – such as citric acid (lemon juice). The researchers used a specific acid called “Hank’s balanced salt solution” (which was described as having a similar acidic (pH) level as CocaCola) in addition to numerous other chemicals under strict environmental conditions in the laboratory.

What kind of research was this?

This was a laboratory study which aimed to see if a mature cell (such as a white blood cell, or lymphocyte) could acquire the ability to produce many different types of cell after being exposed to a stress factor. Cells with the ability to produce many different types of cell are called “pluripotent”. A similar process is known to occur in plants after they are exposed to drastic environmental changes. As this was a laboratory study and carried out in mice, it is not known whether the findings would be directly reproducible in humans.

What did the research involve?

The researchers took blood cells from the spleens of week old mice. They put them in a weak acid solution (pH 5.7) for 30 minutes at 37°C, and then put them into petri dishes and grew them at normal pH. The researchers repeated this process with blood cells from adult mice, and with cells from different parts of the body of week old mice (brain, skin, muscle, fat, bone marrow, lung and liver tissues). The researchers called the cells they obtained from exposure to low pH “stimulus-triggered acquisition of pluripotency” or STAP cells. The researchers did a number of experiments to characterise the

STAP cells. They grew the cells in the laboratory and observed whether they had the ability to form different types of cell, and injected them into mice to see what would happen. They injected STAP cells into mice embryos and then implanted them back into female mice. These cells were labelled so that the researchers could find out if they produced any cells in the growing embryo. What were the basic results? The researchers found that after the low pH treatment, blood cells lost features characteristic of blood cells and gained features characteristic of pluripotent cells. These STAP cells could be obtained from adult blood cells (but fewer survived) and from other types of cell (collected from the brain, skin, muscle, fat, bone marrow, lung and liver tissues). The STAP cells could form many types of tissue, both when grown in the laboratory and when injected into mice.

After being injected into early stage embryos, it was found that STAP cells could form all parts of baby mice, and could make the whole embryo. Mice made from a mixture of normal and STAP cells appeared to develop normally, and the STAP cells were also present in the offspring of these mice. The researchers found that in addition to being able to make all the parts of the embryo, the STAP cells could also form the placenta. The ability to form all parts of an embryo means that STAP cells are similar to embryonic stem cells. Embryonic stem cells make all cells in the body and can self-renew, which means that when they divide they form another copy of themselves. STAP cells were different to embryonic stem cells in two key respects: they could not divide that many times, but they could form the placenta (which could be useful), whilst embryonic stem cells cannot. The researchers carried out further experiments and found that by growing the cells in the presence of different chemicals they could get the STAP cells to self-renew, or in other words become STAP stem-cells.

How did the researchers interpret the results? The researchers say, “This

study has revealed that somatic cells latently possess a surprising plasticity. This dynamic plasticity – the ability to become pluripotent cells – emerges when cells are transiently exposed to strong stimuli that they would not normally experience in their living environments.” They go on to say, “a remaining question is whether cellular reprogramming is initiated specifically by the low-pH treatment or also by some other types of sublethal stress such as physical damage, plasma membrane perforation, osmotic pressure shock, growth-factor deprivation, heat shock

or high calcium exposure.” Conclusion. This research has shown a new, simpler technique produced a type of stem cell from mature cells, though they have some differences from embryonic pluripotent stem cells. The differences include that STAP cells are not able to self-renew unless they are grown in the presence of specific chemicals, and they are able to form the placenta in addition to all the different cell types making up the body. The implication of both differences is as yet unclear. It is possible that in the future, stem cells created using this technique could be used to treat a wide range of illnesses. An example cited by BBC News is age-related macular degeneration, an eye condition caused by damage to specialised cells inside the eyes. The technique could potentially be developed to generate cells to replace the damaged cells. A limitation of the research, so far, seems to be the timing of when the cells can be collected. The results were best when blood cells were taken from one week old mice, but not very good when the samples were taken from adult mice. Hopefully this can be addressed through future research. Longer studies will also need to be completed to find out if the cells act differently in the long run – for example, producing too many or too few cells and producing the right types of cells. The researchers point out that they do not yet have the answer as to why the weak acid causes the cells to change but they are continuing their investigations. Overall, this is an exciting piece of research that may have long-lasting implications on how stem cell research and therapy is carried out in the future. n NHS Choices

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HEALTH and Lifestyle food

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Indigestion INDIGESTION, also known as dyspepsia, is pain or discomfort in your chest or stomach. This usually comes on soon after eating or drinking. You may also have other symptoms, such as: feeling full or bloated heartburn nausea (feeling sick) belching Indigestion is a common problem that affects many people, but in most cases it is mild and only occurs occasionally. Why it happens. Indigestion is caused by stomach acid coming into contact with the sensitive, protective lining of the digestive system. The stomach acid breaks down the lining, leading to irritation and in ammation (soreness and swelling). This causes the symptoms of indigestion. In most cases indigestion is related to eating, although it can be caused by other factors such as smoking, drinking, alcohol, pregnancy or taking certain medications.

Treating indigestion at home.

ou may be able to treat your indigestion with changes to your diet and lifestyle, or with a number of different medications, such as antacids. If an underlying health condition is the cause of indigestion, further investigation such as an endoscopy may be required (see below).

When to see your doctor.

Most people will not need to seek medical advice for their indigestion. However, it is important to see your GP if you have recurring indigestion and you: are 55 years old or over have lost a lot of weight without meaning to have increasing difficulty swallowing (dysphagia) have persistent vomiting have iron deficiency anaemia have a lump in your stomach have blood in your vomit or blood in your stools This is because your symptoms can be a sign of an underlying

health condition that affects the digestive system, such as gastrooesophageal re ux disease ( OR ). If this is the case, you may need to be referred for anendoscopy. An endoscopy is a procedure where the inside of the body is examined using an endoscope (a thin, exible tube that has a light and camera on one end). Severe indigestion can cause long-term problems with parts of your digestive tract, such as scarring of the oesophagus or the passage from your stomach. n NHS Choices

Indigestion is a common problem that affects many people, but in most cases it is mild and only occurs occasionally.”

Indigestion - Symptoms THE main symptom of indigestion (dyspepsia) is pain or a feeling of discomfort in your chest or stomach. This usually comes on soon after eating or drinking, although there can sometimes be a delay between eating a meal and experiencing indigestion. The symptoms of indigestion are often described as heartburn’, which you may experience as a burning pain behind your breastbone. Heartburn is caused by acid that passes from your

stomach into your oesophagus (gullet). If you have indigestion, you may also have symptoms such as: feeling uncomfortably full or heavy belching bringing food back up from your stomach bloating nausea (feeling sick) vomiting

When you should see a doctor.

In some cases, indigestion symptoms can indicate a more

serious underlying health problem, such as stomach cancer. Seek immediate medical attention if you have recurring indigestion and you: are 55 years old or over have lost a lot of weight without meaning to have increasing difficulty swallowing (dysphagia) have persistent vomiting have iron deficiency anaemia have a lump in your stomach have blood in your vomit or blood in your stools n NHS Choices

Indigestion - Causes

INDIGESTION (dyspepsia) occurs when acid from your stomach irritates the lining of your stomach, oesophagus (gullet) and top part of your bowel. In most cases, there is no underlying medical reason for indigestion. It is usually caused by a process known as acid reflux, where acid from your stomach escapes and is forced back up into your oesophagus. However, indigestion can also be caused in other ways, and it can sometimes be a symptom of an underlying medical condition, particularly if you experience recurrent bouts. Some possible causes are explained below. Medications. You may have indigestion if you take certain types of medication. Some medicines, such as nitrates (taken to widen your blood vessels) relax the oesophageal sphincter (ring of muscle between your oesophagus and your stomach), which allows acid to leak back up. Other medicines, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), can affect your digestive tract and cause indigestion. Do not take NSAIDs, such as aspirin and ibuprofen, if you have stomach problems such as a peptic ulcer or have had this in the past. Children under 16 years of age should not take aspirin. Never stop taking a prescribed medication unless you are told to do so by your GP or another qualified healthcare professional who is responsible for your care. Obesity. If you are very overweight, you are more likely to experience indigestion because of increased pressure inside your abdomen (tummy). This can force open your oesophageal sphincter after a large meal, causing acid reflux. Hiatus hernia. A hernia occurs when an internal part of the body, such as an organ, pushes through a weakness in the surrounding muscle or tissue wall. A hiatus hernia occurs when part of your stomach pushes up into your diaphragm (the

sheet of muscle under your lungs), preventing your oesophageal sphincter from closing. This can allow stomach acid to travel back up into your oesophagus, leading to heartburn. Helicobacter pylori infection. You may have recurring bouts of indigestion if you have an infection with Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) bacteria. H pylori infections are common, and it is possible to become infected without realising because the infection does not usually cause any symptoms. However, in some cases an H pylori infection can damage your stomach lining and increase the amount of acid in your stomach. It is also possible for your duodenum (the top of your small intestine) to be irritated by excess stomach acid if you have an H pylori infection.

Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD). Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) is a common condition and one of the main causes of recurring indigestion. It is caused by acid reflux. This occurs when the oesophageal sphincter fails to prevent stomach acid from moving back up into your oesophagus. Acid reflux becomes GORD when the sensitive lining of your oesophagus is damaged by repeated irritation from stomach acid. Peptic ulcers. A peptic ulcer is an open sore that develops on the inside lining of your stomach (a gastric ulcer) or small intestine (a duodenal ulcer). If you have a peptic ulcer, you may have indigestion as a symptom. Peptic ulcers form when stomach acid damages the lining in your stomach or duodenum wall. In most peptic ulcer cases, the lining is damaged as a result of an H pylori infection (see above). Stomach cancer. In rare cases, recurrent bouts of indigestion can be a symptom of stomach cancer. Cancer cells in your stomach break down the protective lining, allowing acid to come into contact with your stomach wall. n NHS Choices

Scoop & Chris Brown to perform in Manila in July 24

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AMERICAN recording artist and performer Chris Brown is set to hit the stage on July 21 at the Mall of Asia Arena as part of his promotional tour for his sixth album entitled “X,” which was released on September 2014 by RCA Records. The Grammy-nominated singer is expected to perform his Billboard chart-toppers and songs from his albums such as “Loyal” featuring Lil Wayne and Tyga, “New Flame” featuring Usher and Rick Ross, “Fine China,” “Don’t Think They Know,” “Love More” featuring Nicki Minaj,

among many other collaborations and new singles. Despite negative publicity due to several issues, such as the well-known domestic violence case filed against him by RnB pop singer Rihanna, his drug rehabilitation, and his jail time for involvement in brawls, Brown has maintained a following among his fans which started way back when he first stepped on the music scene at the young age of 16. He became known for hit singles such as “GimmeThat,” “International Love” with Pitbull, “‘Yo (Excuse Me

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Miss),” “Turn Up The Music,” and more. Brown recently gained the attention of Filipinos when he suddenly pulled out of a New Year’s Eve concert on Dec. 31, 2014 at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan hours before his scheduled performance. He then took to Twitter to apologize to his dismayed fans and asked them to stay tuned for an upcoming performance in Manila come springtime. Tickets for the “Chris Brown: Live in Manila” will go on sale starting June 4, 2015 at all SM Ticket outlets. n Bianca

Rose Dabu / KG, GMA News / May 28, 2015 / 10:25 AM

Marian Rivera not keen about FHM’s 100 Sexiest list anymore EARLY this month, FHM Philippines clarified that Marian Rivera is not disqualified from the magazine’s annual poll of 100 Sexiest Women even after she announced last April that she’s expecting her first child with husband Dingdong Dantes. In an interview with Interaksyon and other media following her recent launch as brand ambassador for 555 Tuna, the 30-year old actress said that if she does land in the list again this year or even top it for an unprecedented fourth time, she is not too keen on attending its annual victory party. “I don’t think so. Okay na ako dun sa tatlong pagkakataon na ibinigaysa akin. Lagi ko ngang sinasabi na kahit anong ganda mo at kahit anong sexy mo, kung hindi naman dahil sa bumuboto sa iyo, wala rin naman. Siguro, enough na yung tatlong beses,” she declared. Earlier, Sam Pinto who was FHM’s 100 Sexiest Woman on two occasions, also expressed her reservations about being part of the victory party, let alone making the coveted list. In Marian’s case, it’s not just about giving chance to others as Sam puts it. Being a married woman now and out of respect for Dingdong, Marian said she just wants to push herself

to where she belongs and doesn’t think it’s still appropriate for her to ramp it up in the widely-anticipated event. She doesn’t mind if fans still vote her in, though. “Thankful pa rin ako kung isasama nila ako sa list pero I cannot promise na rarampa pa rin ako. Sa kundisyon ko ngayon, mahirap magsabi ng oo. Pero happy na ako talaga sa tatlong beses.” While Marian’s pregnancy has yet to physically manifest itself, she continues to appear in public like in the recent Belo Essentials 25th anniversary celebration and her launch as celebrity endorser of Mario D’ boro shoes, Marian has expressed reservations about being photographed in her full pregnant state. “Sana ay ibalato nyo na lang sa akin ito at sa asawa ko. Ang pagbubuntis ay napaka-sagrado at kami lang naman ng asawa ko ang artista, hindi ang anak ko. So sana po ay maintinidihan niyo,” she appealed to the media and her fans. The way she talks about Dingdong, Marian is obviously showing a lot of love for her husband. Following his recent announcement that he has no plans to run for any public office in 2016, Marian has also been very vocal about her support and admiration for his personal advocacies which she believes does not necessitate being elected. “Ang gusto lang naman niya

Marian Rivera. Photo by Kathy Kenny Ngo

ay makatulong at maitulak ang kanyang mga adbokasiya para sa mga kabataan. Naniniwala ako na maganda siyang ehemplo dahil itinutulak niya ang mga bata na magaral mabuti at ang edukasyon talaga ang susi sa lahat.” Asked if she ever gets jealous of Dingdong’s leading ladies especially now that she’s pregnant, Marian just brushed aside the issue that time and again has dogged their relationship long before they tied the knot. “Artista po kami, nagtatrabaho po kami, higit lalo siya dahil siya ang padre de pamilya at magtataguyod ng pamilya namin so alam naman ng tao na may asawa siya,” she pointed out. “Ako din may leading man din ako pero ang trabaho ay trabaho at iba sa personal nabuhay. Basta after the taping, umuuwi siya sa bahay at inaalagaan niya ako at mahal ako ng asawa ko.” n Edwin P. Sallan / Interaksyon.com / May 30, 2015 / 12:14 PM

Dingdong, Marian ‘wil be grateful’ whether ﬁrst baby is a boy or a girl Continuation from page 1 “Ang mahalaga eh healthy siya at lumaking mabuti. So, sa ngayon wala muna kaming hinihiling. Kung ano ibigay ng Panginoon, we will be very grateful,” ayon sa “Pari ‘Koy” star sa naunang pahayag. Samantala, masaya naman ang mag-asawa na maayos ang pagbubuntis ni Marian. Kwentoni Dingdong, hindi raw nakararanas ng morning sickness ang kaniyang misis at hindi rin daw delikado ang pagbubuntis nito kaya pinayagan siya ng doctor na mag-swimming,

aerobics, at iba pang exercise. Positibo rin ang aura na makikita sa Primetime Queen, na nagpapasalamat sa patuloy na projects at endorsements kahit na pansamatala niya munang itinigil ang paggawa ng teleserye. Aniya, “Very sensitive talaga ang buntis. Konting arte lang, may mapanood ka lang sa TV... Kaya ako pinipili ko ‘yung mga pinapanood ko, pinapakinggan ko at mga kasama ko. So, lahat lang talaga ng makakapagpasaya sa akin.” n Bianca

Rose Dabu / JST, GMA News / May 27, 2015 / 5:03 PM

Andre Paras gets starstruck meeting Aiai delas Alas for the first time KAPUSO teen star Andre Paras may have been a household name because of the phenomenal ratings success of The Half Sisters but he still gets starstruck by other celebrities. Andre revealed that he got overwhelmed meeting the Philippine Comedy Queen Aiai delas Alas for the first time. This happened during the taping for the special “crossover” of the character of Andre as Bradley in the The Half Sisters and the character

of Aiai as DJ Jeni in the primetime series Let the Love Begin. “I wanted to say “how I are you, I can’t wait to work with you (Aiai).” Pero, the thing that came out to my mouth is “Hi.” Na-strastruck po ako. I can say na I’m honored to be working with her po,” Andre said in an interview. Kapuso viewers will witness this exciting “crossover” of Bradley as he visits the radio show of DJ Jeni to declare his love for Diana played by Barbie Forteza. Along with Buboy Villar as Marlon, Bradley seeks for Diana’s forgiveness and asks her to give him a second chance. Aiai, on the other hand, expressed her excitement for this special episode of the two shows, “Ang cute nga eh kasi ngayon ko lang naexperience na may crossover yung mga shows.” Will Bradley succeed in his plan? What will be DJ Jeni’s advice to Bradley? Will Diana change her mind and forgive Bradley? Under the direction of Mark Reyes, catch this crossover episode of Bradley and DJ Jeni in The Half Sisters on June 3 on GMA Pinoy TV. n

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Scoop

ENTERTAINMENT CELEBRITY

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GMAnewsfeed, the First Facebook-only Newscast in the Philippines WHAT happens when traditional newscast merges with today’s technology? The result will be a very convenient news program for people on the go. Enter GMA News’ MAnewsfeed the firstever Facebook-only newscast in the Philippines. Anchored by broadcast journalist Ivan Mayrina, #GMAnewsfeed is a two-minute newscast that offers a quick recap of the day’s most important news

and trending stories. #GMAnewsfeed was launched last May 11, at 9 p.m. on the GMA News Facebook page (facebook.com/gmanews). Produced by GMA News, the same team that created original Facebook contents like Ask Away and Sparring Session during the PacquiaoMayweather fight, MAnewsfeed is designed specifically for the country’s more than 32 million mobile Facebook users.

#GMAnewsfeed is part of GMA Network’s efforts to adapt to the constantly changing media landscape. It aims to reach not only the millenials and yuppies, but also viewers across age groups. GMA News, which inspired Filipino netizens to “Think Before You Click” and be #IMReady, remains a social media leader in the Philippines. It is the country’s most-followed news organization on

Twitter(twitter.com/gmanews) with 2.93 million followers. Its Facebook page, with 4.8 million likes, is also among the top pages in the country. With 120 thousand users following GMA News’ public chat, it is also the top Philippine news organization on Viber. GMA News is also on Instagram (instagram.com/ gmanews) and FireChat (firech.at gmanews). n

Christian Bautista records duet with fan LAST March, Asia’s Romantic Balladeer Christian Bautista held a contest for his fans where they were asked to send a YouTube video or Soundcloud recording of them singing any duet song from his ‘Soundtrack’ album. The top five finalists were chosen via online voting. The winner, who will be picked by Christian, gets to record ‘A Thousand Years’ with no less than the My Mother’s Secret star himself. In an exclusive interview, Christian told GMANetwork.com why he decided to organize the contest.

“The goal of the #XtianBDuet is to engage the fans more, to showcase their talent to each other, and to connect them. It’s also to promote the ‘Soundtrack’ album and the song ‘A Thousand Years.’ We had so much fun creating that singing contest project.” A total of 28 entries were sent and more than four million fan votes were cast, and on May 3, the Kapuso singer-actor was in a recording studio with the contest winner Julian Sean. When asked how it felt to sing with a multi-awarded recording artist, Julian says it’s a dream come true. “Singing with him is a dream come true because I grew up with

his music and he is one of my musical in uences. I hope this won’t be the last time that I will be singing with him. I am looking forward for more opportunities.” The internationally renowned singer, who is currently in Vancouver with other Kapuso stars for a series of GMA Pinoy TV concerts, was also impressed with Julian’s voice. “Julian’s voice has a special quality. He really loves to sing, and he also follows instructions well in accordance to what’s needed in the song. He was a bit nervous at first because it is his first recording, but he did well.” n Michelle Caligan / GMANetwork.com / May 28, 2015 / 4:39 PM

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‘Taklub’ to have Manila premiere, open 20th French Film Festival FRESH from its triumphant world premiere at the 68th Cannes International Film Festival where it was honored with a special commendation from the Ecumenical Jury, Brillante Mendoza’s “Taklub” is all set for its much-awaited homecoming. As Mendoza promised in earlier interviews, his Yolanda-inspired drama topbilled by Superstar Nora Aunor will be seen by Filipino audiences. The film will have its Philippine premiere night on June 1, Monday at the SM Aura Premier. It will then have another red carpet premiere as one of two opening films for the 20th French Film Festival on June 3 at Greenbelt 5. The other opening film at the upcoming festival is the heartwarming French comedy-drama, “La Famille Bélier (The Bélier Family)” which focuses on a provincial deaf-mute family that must deal with the desire of their daughter to study music in Paris. “Taklub”, on the other hand follows the lives of the survivors of Typhoon Yolanda and contains

themes on disaster risk reduction and climate change. Mendoza’s latest is produced by Senator Loren Legarda with the support of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Philippine Information Agency In a communiqué furnished to Interaksyon, the Embassy of France in the Philippines noted that the film comes at a very crucial period before 195 countries come together this ecember in Paris for the 21st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 21) to conclude an ambitious, universal, and legally binding agreement to limit greenhouse gas emissions. Climate change was a major focus of the state visit of French President François Hollande last February, where he launched, together with President Aquino, the Manila Call to Action on Climate Change. French actresses Marion Cotillard and Mélanie Laurent were also in town to accompany President Hollande in his visit to

Guiuan, Eastern Samar. Now on its 20th year of bringing critically-acclaimed films and blockbusters to local audiences, the French Film Festival not only aims to promote French culture in the Philippines but as shown by its selection of “Taklub”, support the local film industry by screening and paying tribute to classic and contemporary Philippine films. The festival has also assisted local filmmakers in bringing their films to France and has supported initiatives to preserve Philippine film heritage, as in the case of Pepe Diokno’s “Above The Clouds”, a joint French and Filipino coproductions. iokno’s upcoming film starring Pinoy Rock icon Joey “Pepe” Smith is the first recipient of the World Cinema Fund granted by the France’s Ministry of Culture and Communication, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Development, and InstitutFrançais. The Centre National du Cinémaet de l’Image Animée (CNC) has also

‘Taklub’ star Nora Aunor flanked by producer Senator Loren Legarda and director Brillante Mendoza. Photo by Enie Reyes

signed a cooperation agreement with the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) to facilitate the establishment of a National Film Archives for the conservation of

Philippine film heritage. Watch the official trailer of “Above The Clouds” as uploaded by Film Police Reviews. n Edwin P. Sallan / Interaksyon.com / May 30, 2015 / 5:54 PM

OgieAlcasid, Janno Gibbs reunite for TV5’s new Sunday variety game show LONG time fans of both Ogie Alcasid and Janno Gibbs are well aware that the friendship of the two singers slash comedians slash actors slash TV hosts dates back to “Small Brothers”, the

popular ABS-CBN weekly variety show they headlined following the EDSA Revolution in the late 1980s. But it wasn’t until they became cohosts of three long-running Sunday

OgieAlcasid and Janno Gibbs. Photos by Aaron Abuel/InterAksyon

noontime variety shows (“SOP,” “Party Pilipinas” and “Sunday All-Stars”) on GMA Network dating back to 1997 that the bond between the two was cemented. So when Ogie left GMA to sign with TV5 in 2013 and Janno decided to stay on, it was not easy for many fans to imagine one without the other, as both had their respective shares of individual success even while working together on the same shows. Last month, it was reported that Janno was leaving GMA to transfer to TV5. Many fans believed that even if it’s not because he and Ogie will again star on the same show, it will only be a matter of time before the two start to work again with each other since that they’re now under one network. This Wednesday, TV5 officially launched its upcoming new Sunday noontime variety game show, “Happy Truck ng Bayan”, which will be headlined by Derek Ramsay, Jasmine Curtis-Smith, Mariel Rodriguez, Gelli De Belen, Tuesday Vargas, Empoy,

Kim Idol and, yes, Ogie and Janno. Although Ogie was quick to clarify that he has nothing to do with Janno’s decision to transfer to TV5 and was just as surprised as everyone else when he first heard about it, he admits that he is very happy to be reunited with his old bosom buddy. Since “Happy Truck ng Bayan” will air from 11AM to 1PM every Sunday, it will not only compete with ABS-CBN’s long-running musical variety show “ASAP”, but also with “Sunday All-Stars”, the show he and Janno used to co-host and whose current hosts also include Ogie’s wife, Regine Velasquez. Being the professionals that they are, Ogie said being pitted with each other is not an issue with him and his wife. He also denies trying to convince Regine to move to TV5. But now that he and Janno are on the same show together, Ogie told News5 in an earlier interview that he was now looking forward to do some of the things they used to do together in their previous shows.

Andrea Torres is ready for sexier, more daring roles KAPUSO leading lady Andrea Torres recently celebrated her 25th birthday and she admitted that there’s not much else she could ask for. According to Cata Tibayan’s report in 24 Oras, Andrea is satisfied and even overjoyed with how her career is going. She’s especially thankful that she and love team partner Mikael Daez will lead the cast of a movie in Cambodia titled Blood In Dispute, which will be aired in the Philippines on GMA Network as a mini TV series.

She admits, however, that shooting Blood In Dispute for three weeks in Cambodia last month wasn’t easy, mostly because of the heat. “Apat na beses halos [ako hinimatay]. Siguro hindi pa sanay ‘yung katawan ko sa ganung init so panay water lang talaga,” she shared. Despite that and other challenges, her most dominant feeling was gratefulness for the opportunity. Canadian director Ken Simpson even described Andrea as ‘annoyingly talented.’

Now that Andrea just finished shooting for Blood In Dispute, she’s focused on keeping fit and working out. “[Pinagtutuunan ko ng pansin ‘yung] pagiging active lang talaga. Every day nag-gy-gym ako,” she shared. With that, she’s ready to take on sexier roles. Given the opportunity, she’d like to portray a superhero role like Darna. n Mary Louise Ligunas / GMANetwork. com / May 29, 2015 / 3:30 PM

Photo by Bochic Estrada, GMANetwork.com

‘Yung gagawin naming sa show (‘Happy Truck’), yun pa ring mga dating ginagawa naming nung magkasama pa kami, kumakanta at puro kasiyahan,” he revealed. For Janno, being in a new home is still something he’s trying to get accustomed to, even as like Ogie, he is adept at hosting and performing with several variety and even game shows to his credit. “This is still new to me. I’ve been with GMA for the longest time so first time ko ito sa labas ng bakuran nila. Pero excited ako na makasama ko yung mga artista ng TV5,” Janno also told InterAksyon. Adding that “Happy Truck ng Bayan” is a “fiesta” that he and the other hosts of the show will be personally bringing to the viewers every Sunday starting June 14, Janno said he is likewise excited about this new phase of his career. n Edwin P. Sallan / InterAksyon.com / May 28, 2015 / 5:31 PM

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K to 12 BOOST No turning back,

says PNoy as he belittles protests MANILA - President Benigno Aquino III turned the tables Friday on critics of the K to 12 program, insisting the education system was prepared for the reform that he said is key to longterm economic progress and human development. If the country hesitates to take the challenge now, it will be a great disservice to future generations who will continue to be under-rated, Aquino said in a speech at the K to 12 Summit. He added the Philippines is the only one now, outside of a couple of others in Africa, that has a 10-year basic education program. This basically makes them “hinog sa pilit [products of forced ripening]” because so much non-focused teaching is being crammed into 10 years, in contrast to the 12-year program of K to 12 where a student is prepared for the job market even before earning a college degree. Contrary to the claims of critics, Aquino said the country was well prepared for it, apparently drawing on assurances given earlier by Education Secretary Armin Luistro, in response to the filing of the third and fourth anti-K to 12 petitions in the Supreme Court on Thursday and Friday (today). “Minsan ho talaga yung mga kritiko natin sila lang talaga ang anak ng Diyos at sila lang ang magaling. Kaya bahala na ang Diyos sa kanila [Sometimes critics behave like they’re the only children of God, like they’re the only ones who know best. Let God take care of them].” He told the K-12 Summit at the PICC that

before K-12 was enacted into law, there were only three countries left that implemented a 10-year basic education program: one is the Philippines and the two others are in Africa. Noting the rapid developments in economies and job markets worldwide, he said the Filipino youth must be helped to prepare for the new challenges. Key to this is a 12-year basic education program that provides them, not so much with a surfeit of irrelevant skills and knowledge, but with the ones they will really need as competitive, productive people. He deplored that “despite all the initiatives we put in place for this, there are those who insist we are not prepared to roll out this huge reform. To them I say, we are.” He said that while he understood the concerns of those who said K to 12 is nothing but an additional burden to ordinary Filipino families, he is certain they will someday reap the fruits of a longer but better-focused basic education program. He urged people to consider it as an investment in human resource. Critics file 4th petition vs to 12 PNoy chides ‘few’ protesters Luistro: It’s now or never. Still at the K to 12 Summit, Education Secretary Luistro also lashed out at critics of the K-12 program. “Marami pa pong bosesangnagsasabi, hindi daw sanay, hindi daw handaangmga Pilipino.Ang sagot ko po

President Aquino keynotes the K to 12 Summit on Friday, insisting the country was prepared for the major reform extending the basic education program from 10 to 12 years. Malacanang Photo Bureau

dyan, wala namang reporma na pangmalawakan, pangmatagalan na walang oposisyon. Ang mas nakakatakot, magsusulong tayo ng reporma at walang boses na maririnig [Many say the Filipinos are not ready, that the skills are not there. My reply to that: there’s no far-reaching reform that has not encountered opposition. It’s a bigger cause of concern to me if we pursue such a huge reform yet no voices are heard in reaction either way].” He said they accept the opposition as part of a functioning democracy, and this is integral to the life of a teacher. “We have listened to all voices thus far. But we must move forward, for the sake of the young,” added Luistro. He said he could live with the calls discouraging them, or asking for the K to 12’s suspension. But he found it hard to accept that “fellow Filipinos will tell me the Filipino can’t manage this.” Aquino said the government had carefully planned the program to train teachers who will be affected - effectively displaced - in the two-year

transition period for K to 12. These college teachers who will be affected have the option to teach in senior high school, where 30,000 teachers will be needed. The teachers in state colleges and universities may use the two years to earn their masters or doctorate degrees, he added. He appealed to all to make a stake in such a game-changing reform, saying it didn’t feel right to forego the opportunity to change things for the better, and then just throw the challenge to the next generation. Under K to 12, all schoolchildren must go through kindergarten, six years of primary education, four year of junior high school, and two years of senior high school. According to TESDA director general Joel Villanueva, besides a high school diploma, students can earn a national certificate because technical and vocational skills are among those to be taught in the last two years. n Gerard dela Peña / News5 / InterAksyon.com / May 29, 2015 / 3:26 PM

Classroom safety concerns await pupils in parts of Pangasinan WHEN they start school June 1, many pupils may face safety concerns ranging from dilapidated classrooms to aging – or even condemned – school buildings. In Pangasinan, such concerns were raised over some school buildings in Binalonan town that are near 40 years old, GMA Dagupan reported. These include the school structures being weakened by termites, but still have to be used as there are not enough classrooms. The Department of Education is trying to address this by having schools built under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) program.

Citing figures from the Department of Education Pangasinan II division, the report said some 60 out of 600 schools have classroom-related problems. Some buildings have been deemed condemned by the DepEd and are scheduled for demolition. For now, heads of these schools had to make decisions on how to maximize the space available in the schools. “May dalawa kaming ide-demolish na classroom, kaya ang gagamitin muna nila yung social hall,” said San Nicolas National High School principal Lolit Luzano. n Joel Locsin / LBG, GMA News /

May 31, 2015 / 5:41 PM

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Protests, weather woes, higher tuition and costlier supplies mark June 1 opening SCHOOL BLUES

MANILA - Classes open Monday (June 1) in most schools across the country, but besides the usual shortages in the public schools, a different kind of ferment is marking the day: protests are set against K to 12 and tuition hikes, while people groan from costlier supplies and even quirky weather, i.e., hot and humid weather, punctuated by rains later in the day. Militant groups have scheduled

protests against K to 12 at three of the biggest public high schools: Batasan National High School, Ramon Magsaysay High School and Manila Science High Schools in the morning; and at noontime, at Caloocan High School and Manila High School A multi-sectoral gathering is set at 2 p.m. in front of the University of Santo Tomas Gate 2 on Espana Street, with protesters marching at 3 p.m for the

POEA warns PHL seafarers vs. ‘Samoa Intl Maritime Authority’ FILIPINO seafarers were warned Friday against a “fraudulent” entity engaged in the registration of international vessels and seafarers, using an official-sounding name. The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration said the entity, “Samoa International Maritime Authority (SIMA),” is not connected with the Samoan government. POEA Administrator Hans Leo Cacdac said Samoa’s Embassy in Tokyo already issued a note verbale saying SIMA’s operations “are fraudulent, illegal, and do not in any way represent its government.” Cacdac cited information indicating SIMA is operating through the website

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www.maritimesamoa.com out of Thailand and the United Kingdom using the name, flag and crest of the Independent State of Samoa. He added the Ministry for Transport of Samoa has also declared that SIMA is “engaged in illicit activities and has misrepresented the sovereignty” of Samoa. n Joel Locsin / LBG, GMA News / May 29, 2015 / 9:54 AM

culminating program at Mendiola Last Friday, President Benigno Aquino III, keynoting the K to 12 Summit, had signalled his administration’s full determination to pursue the addition of two years to the Basic Education program under K to 12, saying his most important education reform should be treated as an investment in human development and progress, and not a burden. He pooh-poohed the protests, despite the filing on Friday of the fourth petition in the Supreme Court seeking to strike down K to 12. At the same summit, Education Secretary Armin Luistro conceded there were still kinks that had to be resolved, but stressed that overall, the entire school system was ready to embrace K to 12. Meanwhile, education authorities have also come under fire over the tuition hikes this year in hundreds of private schools, and even some state universities and colleges. This, as parents groaned under the rising cost of basic school supplies this year, even in traditional bargain centers in Divisoria and Cubao, where thousands trooped till Sunday for lastminute purchases. The only relief that came the

Parents do last-minute shopping for supplies in Cubao on Sunday, the day before the opening of school year 2015-2016. Krisken Jones, Interaksyon.com

parent’s way was the last-minute reprieve given by regulators to school bus operators last Friday (May 29). The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board(LTFRB) suspended its earlier order for them to phase out all units 15 years and older. According to official data, if the LTFRB did not reconsider its order, that would have meant putting one-third of all units out of commission, creating a shortage in school bus service without giving hapless parents enough time to look for quick, still reasonably-priced alternatives for bringing children to school.

Meanwhile, the forecast weather for the first week of classes is also not helping ease the misery of parents and students. The forecast from June 1 to 5 is of days that are hot and humid, yet capped by rains and thunderstorms later in the day as students come home. That kind of weather is expected for Metro Manila, with similar forecasts from Cebu and Davao. For Metro Manila, the temperature for Monday and Tuesday is seen at a maximum 3435 degrees Celsius, but the body heat index is a high 39-40.1 n InterAksyon.com / May 31, 2015 / 5:42 PM

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DFA Hosts Philippine Commemoration of International Day of UN Peacekeepers THE Department of Foreign Affairs, in coordination with the National Council for United Nations Peace Operations (NCUNPO) and the United Nations Information Center, hosted the 2015 Philippine Commemoration of the International Day of UN Peacekeepers today at the DFA Building in Roxas Boulevard. Acting Secretary of Foreign Affairs Evan Garcia, United Nations Resident Coordinator ad interim Terence Jones, and high-ranking officials of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology led the inauguration of an exhibit featuring the history of Philippine involvement in UN peacekeeping from 1964 up to the present day. They were later joined by members of the diplomatic corps, government, military and law enforcement officials at the opening ceremonies in Bulwagang Apolinario Mabini, where Acting Secretary Garcia delivered the keynote speech and Mr. Jones conveyed the message of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon. Both officials hailed the sacrifices made by the valiant blue helmets, and called for action in helping face the new realities and challenges of modern UN peacekeeping. The event was highlighted by awarding ceremonies for military, police, corrections and civilian personnel for their exemplary service to the cause of peacekeeping. National Council for UN Peace Operations (NCUNPO) Awards were handed out to Col. Roberto Ancan (Chief of the AFP Peacekeeping Operations Center), PSupt. Cesar Hawthorne Binag (Former Deputy Police Commissioner, United Nations Mission in Liberia),

Col. Reno Tolentino (Secretariat Head, AFP Screening Board Bravo), Lt. Col. Arnel Bautista (Chief of AFPP OC Mission Support Office), PSupt. avid Vinluan (Former Police Officer 4, UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations, New York), PSupt. Edward Quijano (Assistant Chief, PNP UN Peace Operations Center), JSInsp. Ma.Teresa Colopano (Chief of Monitoring and Evaluation Division, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology), PCInsp. AlgenTaba (Fleet Adviser and Team Leader, United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti), Mr. Raphael Hermoso (Former Executive Director, NCUNPO Secretariat), Mr. Robert Eric Borje (Former Fourth Committee Officer, Philippine Mission to the N in New York) and Mr. Christian Louie Belleza ( esk Officer for Peacekeeping and Crisis Operations, NCUNPO). Service and bravery awards were also handed out to outstanding peacekeeping personnel, including all returning Filipino peacekeepers and members of the Philippine contingent in the Golan Heights who were involved in the standoff with Syrian rebels last year. Later in the afternoon, the Foreign Service Institute co-hosted a Mangrove Forum on Philippine Participation in UN Peacekeeping Operations. Distinguished speakers at the Forum included Assistant Secretary Jesus R. S. Domingo of FA-Office of the nited Nations and International Organizations (UNIO), and pioneering leaders Defense Undersecretary Natalio Ecarma III (M en. Ret.), the first Filipino Head of Mission and Force Commander of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) in the Golan Heights, and Police Director Wilfredo

go ern ent,

Shown in the photo above are Secretary Soliman and MCC CEO Dana Hyde.

illenniu

Franco, Former Senior Team Leader of the Standing Police Capacity of the UN Logistics Base (UNLB) in Brindisi, Italy. The International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers is celebrated

around the world every 29th day of May in memory of the UN peacekeepers who have lost their lives in the cause of peace, as well as a tribute to all the men and women who have served and continue to serve in UN Peacekeeping

challenge corporation reaf r WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a meeting at the Headquarters of the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) in Washington D.C. on 14 May 2015, MCC Chief Executive Officer Dana Hyde and Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman of the Philippine Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) reaffirmed the strong partnership between the Philippine Government and MCC. Secretary Soliman noted that the partnership contributes to and strengthens the country’s democratization process. She cited MCC’s support for the Philippine Government’s community drivendevelopment (CDD) approach in order to empower ordinary citizens to actively and directly participate in local governance. She lauded MCC’s support for the KALAHI-CIDDS (Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services) -

operations for their high level of professionalism, dedication and courage. The Philippine observance of the event was made official by Proclamation No. 1755, series of 2009. n Philippine Embassy Philippines / May 26, 2015

strong partnership

one of the three core social protection programs of DSWD in alleviating poverty. Ms. Hyde, in turn, affirmed that MCC is “proud of the partnership” and acknowledged the hard work that the DSWD is doing to sustain the MCC projects through the Millennium Challenge Account-Philippine Compact. She also expressed interest to visit the Philippines before the end of the year. Signed on 23 September 2010 in New York City and entered into force on 25 May 2011, the US$434 million First Philippine Compact is intended to allow poor communities to develop small-scale projects and manage assets in a sustainable way, facilitate increased commerce by reducing transportation costs, and increase the efficiency and sustainability of revenue collection through the redesign and computerization of business processes. The Compact symbolizes the strong

bilateral ties between with the Philippines and the United States. The current five-year compact is due to end soon and the Philippines is now working with MCC in preparing for a second compact. The MCC approved the selection of the Philippines as a country eligible for a second compact last December 2014. Secretary Soliman also had several meetings with other MCC officials to discuss the implementation of the KALAHI-CIDSS. Her meetings with MCC officials came at the end of her four-day visit to Washington, DC from May 11 to 14, which included activities/ meetings with World Bank officials led by President Jim Yong Kim and her participation in the Global Partnership for Social Accountability (GPSA) Forum in which she received the GPSA Award for Leadership in Social Accountability. n Philippine

Embassy USA / May 18, 2015

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Former PHL President Dialogues with Filipino Community in New York over Breakfast Forum THE Philippine Consulate General New York and the Philippine American Chamber of Commerce New York (PACC) jointly hosted a Breakfast Forum with former President Fidel V. Ramos (FVR) at the Kalayaan Hall Annex of the New York Philippine Center on May 21. After attending the reunion celebrations of his graduating class from U.S. Military Academy in West Point, President Ramos took the time to update the Filipino-American community on recent political, economic and social developments in the Philippines. In his opening remarks, PACC President Michael Nierva recalled that it was the economic initiatives of President Ramos that inspired the Chamber to assert itself as an organization to help enhance and expand Philippines-US business ties in the Tri-State region. In his introduction of President Ramos, Philippine Consul General Mario L. de Leon, Jr. expressed gratitude to him for his frequent postpresidency activities of educating the Filipino public on current issues which are of pertinence to the Philippines

and the Filipino community in the Northeast U.S. region. The Consul General also congratulated President Ramos on a recognition he received from his alma mater, the US Military Academy in West Point. The Thayer Hotel in West Point, NY recently inducted the new Fidel V Ramos Room named in his honor, the first recognition the institution dedicated to a foreigner. Consul General De Leon further expressed his confidence in the former president’s wisdom and experience for insights to solutions and answers to the issues being faced by the Philippines. He mentioned the territorial dispute in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) with China, and cited the Mischief Reef incident during President Ramos’ term in 1995. He also raised the subject of the Bangsamoro Basic Law, and brought up the previous visit of the former president in New York where he presented a video documentary on the Special Action Force, the same group that handled the Mamasapano operation in January. In his usual charismatic demeanor, President Ramos greeted the community and presented to the

(Left photo) Former President Fidel V. Ramos (seated, 5th from left) indulge the communty, led by Consul General De Leon (seated, 4th from left), for a photo opportunity while signing autographs after the forum. (Right photos) President Ramos states he prefers being called Ex-President Ramos or Ex-Pres-Phil Ramos; Ms. Loida Nicolas-Lewis, Chairperson of US Pinoys for Good Governance addresses the President on the WPS case; Former President Ramos hands over some of his own published books on politics and governance to the Consul General; A light moment shared between the former president and Fil-Am Press Club member Crien Pastor. Photos by Jake Tolentino

audience the accomplishments and legacies of his stewardship of the Philippines from 1992 to 1998. He noted such measures undertaken during his presidential administration, such as the Peace Agreement with the Moro National Liberation Front, the economic liberalization and globalization efforts, and the growing foreign investment opportunities in the country. He further explained to the audience on what he felt were examples of his administration’s policies which can find relevance to the nation today.

During the question-and-answer portion moderated by Consul Felipe Cariño, Director of the Political/ Economic Section, President Ramos candidly addressed queries from the attendees concerning the ongoing Peace Process in Mindanao, the West Philippine Sea Arbitration case between the Philippines and China, the upcoming 2016 presidential elections, and the programs of the government for historical preservation matters such as the Battle of Sibuyan Sea during the Second World War.

Over 60 community members were present at the Forum, representing such diverse organizations as the National Federation of Filipino American Associations Region I (NaFFAA), the Filipino American Legal Defense Fund (FALDEF), the Philippine American Chamber of Commerce in Pennsylvania and Southern New Jersey (PACCPSNJ), Metrobank New York, the Philippine Nurses Association in New York, and the Filipino-American Press Club of New York (FAPCNY). n Philippine Embassy Philippines / May 29, 2015

Information and Communications Technology for Inclusive Growth in Agriculture Highlighted at APEC 2015 Symposium on Internet Economy THE Philippines as Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) 2015 host economy, in partnership with the Pacific Economic Cooperation Council (PECC) held a Symposium on the Internet Economy on May 18 at the margins of the APEC Second Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM 2) at the Crown Regency Resort, Boracay, Aklan, Philippines. In her presentation, Ms. Bettina Quimson, Deputy Executive Director of the e-Society Office of the Department of Science and Technology – Information and Communications Office (DOSTICTO) of the Philippines, focused on the

benefits of improving internet connectivity nationwide. This would enable government services to be delivered directly to the people and contribute to better disaster mitigation and response management. In a social context, this could lead to the strengthening of family values through better communication. Ms. Quimson discussed the different programs and steps the Philippine Government has taken to use ICT-enabled applications in the delivery of services in areas such as education and employment among others. The Philippines is pushing for free wifi access in the rural areas to

address the knowledge and digital divide, and to open new markets beyond the local communities. She further implied that this thrust is also brought about by the tendency of telecommunications companies to shy-away from rural areas because of the improbability of profit and return of investment. According to Ms. Quimson, only 8% of Filipinos from rural areas who enter school at the elementary level go on to finish their studies and acquire university degrees. Because of the state of agriculture in the countryside and its labor-intensive nature,

parents would rather have their children work in the fields with them, causing the children to be unable to attend some school days. Eventually, they may opt out of school altogether. To address this fundamental concern, ICT-enabled applications will be central elements under different programs to improve the delivery of education to students, alternative learning systems, upgrading the skills of teachers, and online distance learning. They will also be the main platform for skills development and specialized training leading to industry specific careers and high-income jobs,

and to allow SMEs to improve their operations and use the internet as a tool for expansion. Promotion of entrepreneurship in agriculture will also be aided by ICTenabled applications through a database of relevant and useful information ranging from soil profiles and crop information, to pest information and harvest forecasting. This is part of the overall strategy being undertaken to promote inclusive growth and through the Internet Economy. n Philippine Embassy Philippines / May 19, 2015

PHL Embassy in Mexico Participates in Annual Cultural Festival in San Miguel de Allende THE Philippine Embassy in Mexico, led by Ambassador Catalino R. Dilem, Jr., participated in the XVI Encuentro Internacional de

Convivencia y Hermandad Universal (16th International Encounter for Coexistence and Universal Brotherhood), held in San Miguel de

(Clockwise from top left) Philppine Ambassador to Mexico Catalino R. Dilem, Jr. and members of the Philippine Embassy and Filipino community in Mexico are recognized by the event organizers at the conclusion of the performance; The Philippine delegation presents the traditional subli dance; Members of the Philippine Embassy and Filipino community recreate the Masskara Festival of Bacolod; Vice Consul Mikhail de Dios and Consular Attaché Fernando Carillo demonstrate the Filipino martial arts of arnis de mano.

Allende, Guanajuato, Mexico on May 22 to 23. The International Encounter is an annual week-long cultural festival which sees the regular participation of dozens of countries and foreign embassies. The inaugural ceremony on May 22 was attended by Ambassador Dilem, along with several other foreign ambassadors accredited to Mexico. On May 23, the staff of the Philippine Embassy, along with their families and members of the Filipino community in Mexico, staged a 45-minute presentation showcasing a variety of Filipino cultural performances taken from local traditions across the country. These included a recreation of the Masskara Festival of Bacolod, the binasuan folk dance of Pampanga, the Kalinga banga dance, and the subli dance from

the Tagalog region, choreographed by Filipino community member Ms. Opalyn Ceron de la Cruz. The traditional dances were interspersed with other performances: Consular Attaché Fernando Carillo delivered a rendition of “Dahil Sa Iyo”, while Embassy receptionist Bernadeth Ablay had the audience singing along to her performance of “Baila Esta Cumbia” by Mexican-American pop star Selena. In addition, Vice Consul Mikhal de Dios and Mr. Carillo put on a demonstration of the Philippines’ national martial art, arnis de mano. The event finale was a fashion show of Philippine formal wear, with displays of the barong tagalog, terno, traje de mestiza, Maria Clara, and other traditional dress. The ladies’ and men’s wear modelled by the Embassy staff showed how native Philippine ingenuity and artistry

had combined with the colonial-era aesthetic to in uence the designs of today. Overall coordinator of the International Encounter Luis Ferro de la Sota presented Ambassador Dilem with a certificate of recognition upon the conclusion of the performance and praised the Embassy and the members of the Philippine community for their energy and artistry, saying it was an honor to receive the Philippines every year. San Miguel de Allende is a colonial town famed for its well-preserved historic character and numerous cultural attractions, and is now one of the most popular cities for artists and retired expatriates. It has been named a world heritage site by the United Nations ducational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). n

Philippine Embassy Philippines / May 29, 2015

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Rice terraces can turn into a ‘urban jungles,’ face other modern threats MAYOYAO, Ifugao - It is fiesta time in the famed rice terraces of the northern Philippines, and young men in colorful tribal clothing pound ancient rhythms on brass gongs as wild boars squeal ahead of slaughter. The annual festivals, held in remote mountain communities after the planting of the rice that is at the core of their existence, are a vital way of passing centuries-old customs to the new generation. Those traditions are the soul of the Cordillera ranges, one of the Philippines’ most spectacular regions where Ifugao tribes people are custodians of World Heritage-listed rice terraces. But the stepped paddy fields, built 2,000 years ago and the highest in Asia, as well as the Ifugao’s traditional lifestyles, are facing unprecedented threats amid the relentless forces of modernity. “There is a danger of these beautiful areas turning into urban jungles,” Edison Molanida, World Heritage sites manager for the national government’s culture commission, told AFP. “One of the main threats is the rapid pace of development in the area. And by rapid pace, we mean unmanaged development.” In its description justifying World Heritage status, the United Nations ducational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) describes the region as “a living cultural landscape of unparalleled beauty.” On misty mornings, when the first rays of pale orange sunshine fall across the stone walls that follow the mountains’ contours, the terraces look like giant staircases climbing to the heavens. N SCO also praises the Ifugao

people for having remained in harmony with nature for so long, such as by using herbs instead of pesticides, eschewing fertilizers and generally showing great care for limited natural resources. The irrigation system, which taps water from mountaintop forests and shares it equitably throughout the communities, is hailed as a “mastery of engineering.” A generation or two ago, many of the Ifugao villages and the lifestyles of the people who lived in them largely resembled those of centuries ago. Large areas of the five listed districts, home to roughly 100,000 people and a day’s drive from the capital Manila, today retain many of the aspects celebrated by UNESCO. Change afoot. But radical change is underway. Once picturesque villages are acquiring the chaotic trappings of typical poor Philippine towns, including ugly multi-story buildings made of cheap concrete, polluting diesel vehicles, and ramshackle tinroofed shanties. Introduced pests, including giant Indonesian earthworms, are causing major damage to the structures of the terraces, causing some to collapse. In Mayoyao, one of the region’s most scenic villages, local officials say the worms, as well as snails originally brought in as a food for protein, are the biggest dangers to the terraces. Television and the Internet are similarly eroding traditional work ethics, which are vital to maintaining the labor-intensive terraces. “When our parents told us to go and work, we’d obey,” Margaret Licnachan, 38, a rice farmer and mother-offour, told AFP as she sat in the stone

Banaue Rice Terraces. File photo by Bernard Testa

courtyard of her Mayoyao home. “But today, our children refuse to go and work in the terraces. They are lazy.” Molanida, the World Heritage sites manager, described the “abandonment of the rice growing culture” by significant numbers of Ifugao as one of the biggest dangers for the region. “If the younger generation are no longer interested in the rice culture and move to cities, or adopt modern lifestyles, who will be left to tend to the terraces?” Locals optimistic. In a lengthy interview from his mountaintop office overlooking the terraces, Mayoyao vice mayor Jimmy Padchanan insisted local elders were working hard and successfully to control the march of modernity. “We cannot deny the effects of modernization on our culture,” Padchanan said. “But it is not all bad. We are blending old societies with the new, while maintaining many of our values.”

Padchanan said he was confident the rice terraces and ancient traditions could survive the onslaught of the 21st century. “The Mayoyao rice terraces will continue to be handed down from generation to generation. The rice terraces shall endure for as long as the Mayoyao are here,” he said. Locals also pointed out they had a right to develop and enjoy modern society, and should not have to live in fossilized communities. Standing in traditional tribal clothes during a recent festival, Mayoyao elder and rice farmer Mario Lachaona spoke passionately about preserving customs but cautioned against overromanticizing the old days. “Life before was so hard,” said Lachaona, 68, a wiry father of six and grandfather of 18. “Education was not good. There were no roads here so we had to walk long distances to buy foods. We could not survive on just the rice we grew.” Lachaona said his grandchildren

had much better nutrition and education than his generation, while their opportunities to find work other than subsistence farming were much greater. “Life is a lot easier now,” Lachaona said. The expected paving in the next few years of the only road to Mayoyao will make life easier again in many ways. Padchanan, the vice mayor, said there were plans to sell vegetables in faraway towns, providing a welcome source of extra income for rice farmers. Only a few hundred foreign tourists visit a year, and the paved road would hopefully bring a lot more. However Molanida said he feared those sorts of developments would not be managed well. “It is up to the Ifugao people to decide if they want to fight harder to conserve their culture and prevent chaotic development,” he said. “Otherwise the rice terraces may become grass terraces.” n AFP / May 31, 2015 1:27 PM

In wake of PNR derailment, Miriam seeks tougher penalties on thieves of railway parts MANILA – Following last week’s busting of a ring trafficking in stolen railroad ties and a train derailment that injured 50 people, Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago has filed a measure seeking to impose stringent

penalties on persons who steal public transportation vehicles or related fixtures including rails. In a statement, Santiago said she filed the Public Transport Preservation Bill (SB 2771) which seeks to amend

TV5 screenshot of the PNR commuter train that derailed in April, after vital parts were stolen. Fifty people were injured in that accident, and Sen. Miriam Santiago is seeking tougher penalties on those who steal and trade in parts of public utilities.

Act No. 3815, also known as the Penal Code, and is set to file the Anti-Fencing of Government Property Bill, which will amend Presidential Decree No. 1612, also known as the Anti-Fencing Law. Last week, authorities reported having broken up a group engaged in stealing railroad ties and other key parts - items that fetch a good price in the black market for good metal. The theft of vital parts was earlier cited as among the causes of the derailment of a PNR train near Taguig a month ago, forcing the shutdown of the commuter service that hundreds of thousands of workers rely on. Citing government data, the senator said that more than one million Filipinos use train lines in Metro Manila every day. All four railways—the PNR, the Metro Rail Transit, and the Light Rail Transit— have in recent years been plagued by complaints from the riding public.

Santiago’s bills come amid the arrest of three persons suspected of stealing rail joints, angle bars, and rail clips of the PNR track near Taguig City. The missing parts were blamed for a recent derailment that hurt some 50 passengers. The PNR said the service will resume in June. In filing her bill, senator Santiago said: “The perennial issues of congestion, unreliability, and deterioration of our train systems must be addressed, but we must also ensure that any solution presented will not be for naught because of thieves who saw off train tracks and sell them for cheap.” Under the Public Transport Preservation Bill, penalties for robbery will be one degree higher than that prescribed in the present law if the crime involves pilferage of public transportation vehicles, spare parts,

safety devices, fixtures, or equipment. If enacted, the Anti-Fencing of Government Property Bill will also increase penalties one degree higher than that prescribed in the present law for any person found guilty of buying or selling public transportrelated items obtained through theft or robbery. “When you steal anything related to public transport, you are not only committing the crime of theft or robbery but also exposing to danger hundreds of thousands of commuters who rely on public transport on a daily basis,” the senator said. The senator remains on medical leave due to lung cancer, but performs what she deems her priorities in her legislative functions on a priority basis. n Ernie Reyes / InterAksyon.com / May

31, 2015 / 2:51 PM

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The Philippines must save its mangroves, and Sri Lanka offers some vital lessons MANILA - When Yolanda lashed Samar and Leyte in November 2013, feet tripped on feet to contain the damage. The statistics that surfaced five months after were terrifying 6,300 dead, 4.1 million displaced, and 1.1 million houses damaged or destroyed. To this day the effects are still being felt by the villagers, mostly in the form of shortages of basic necessities such as potable water, dwellings, and electricity. In the municipality of Tolosa in Leyte, for example, which was hit in Yolanda’s second landfall, 90 percent of the coconut trees were felled, 80 percent of rice paddies were ooded, all banana trees wiped out, and nearly all of their livestock killed. Even after the rehabilitation of the Leyte Water District, supply is still not reaching areas that are some distance from the main pipe running through the highway such as Barangays Burak, San Vicente, Capangihan, and Tanghas. The residents get water from shallow wells that are contaminated with coliform, and most, especially the children, are af icted with gastrointestinal diseases. Hindsight, as usual, highlights mostly regrets than lessons that should be learned. If only the mangroves were still there to act as a natural buffer, the

devastation would not have been so utter. Efforts to rehabilitate the mangroves post-Yolanda are encountering issues too, especially among some scientists who insist that only mangrove species endemic to an area should be planted, otherwise it’s all a waste. Defense against typhoons. The importance of mangroves as a defense against scourges like Yolanda was illustrated in the cases of two barangays, Parina and Bacjao, in the Municipality of Giporlos in Leyte. Both were battered by olanda but were affected differently. Only 25 damaged houses were left standing in Bacjao, while Parina, which is nestled between two large mangrove forests, escaped with little damage. Apart from serving as buffer against storm surges and tsunamis, the mangroves’ root systems serve as nurseries for many species of fish that go on to populate coral reefs. They also sequester three to five times more carbon per equivalent area than other types of forests, and thus play an important role in ameliorating climate change. Worldwide, mangrove destruction is rampant, with depletion going at a rate of about one percent per year. A pivot point to arrest this trend is needed, and Sri Lanka may have just provided it.

1 MONTH AFTER REPRIEVE MANILA - A month after Indonesian President Joko Widodo granted overseas Filipino worker Mary Jane Veloso a reprieve from being killed by firing squad, more than 366,000 people have signed a petition asking him to grant her clemency and pardon. According to the Church Task Force to Save the Life of Mary Jane Veloso, the online petition appealing for President Widodo to grant clemency and pardon at www. change.org/savemary currently has more than 366,000 petitioners and continues to grow. The petition of the Church Task Force has already been translated into many languages, including Bahasa Indonesia, Thai, French, German, and Italian, task force

In a recent media briefing in Colombo, .S.-based N O Seacology Sri Lanka-based N O Sudeesa (formerly known as Small Fishers Federation of Lanka) and the government of Sri Lanka announced a joint program that will make the country the first in the world to comprehensively protect all of its mangrove forests. The project which will cost S .4 million over the next five years will protect all 21,782 acres (8,815 ha) of Sri Lanka’s existing mangrove forests by providing alternative job training and microloans to 15,000 impoverished women who live in 1,500 small communities adjacent to this nation’s mangrove forests. The project will also replant 9,600 acres ( ,885 ha) of mangrove forests that have been cut down. In exchange for receiving these microloans to start up small businesses, all 1,500 communities will be responsible for protecting an average of 21 acres of mangrove forest. A first-of-its kind mangrove museum to educate the public about the importance of preserving this resource will also be constructed as part of this project. Sri Lanka President Maithripala Sirisena stated, “It is the responsibility and the necessity of all government institutions, private institutions, non-government organizations, researchers, intelligentsia, and civil

The mangroves of San Vicente, Maribojoc, Bohol. VERA Files

community to be united to protect the mangrove ecosystem.” “I highly appreciate and admire the joint effort made by the international non-governmental organizations Seacology and the Small Fishers Federation of Lanka to conserve the mangrove ecosystem of Sri Lanka,” he said. Vanishing mangroves. Philippine mangroves have a painful story. In a 2000 study, of the 400,000 hectares of mangroves recorded in 1918, scarcely one fourth was found to remain. Mangroves are still a favored source of building materials and charcoal, but aquaculture remains the major reason for depletion. Although there are still significant mangrove areas left, some provinces like Iloilo have up to 95 percent of what were once mangrove areas converted to ponds. Still, there are silver linings. In a 2011 paper, rs. Chandra iri and Jordan Long said the greatest mangrove forest areas are located in Palawan and Sulu provinces, and the largest continuous strand of mangrove

in the country, roughly 4,947 hectares, is located on the northwest coast of Siargao Island in Surigao del Norte. However, from 1990 to 2000, total mangrove area decreased 10.5 percent, equivalent to 28,172 hectares, at an annual rate of 0.52 percent. The greatest decreases occurred in the provinces of Zamboanga Sibugay, Palawan, amboanga del Sur, Bohol, and Negros Occidental. It is not easy. Successfully saving and rehabilitating Philippine mangroves will take an unwavering political will and enlightened community participation, tempered by inputs from scientists and academic institutions. olanda was a very loud wake-up call, and it would be naive to think that another one would not be forthcoming. It may be a good time to take a page out of Sri Lanka’s playbook. n Ferdie C. Marcelo is the Field Representative for the Philippines of Seacology, a nonprofit based in Berkeley, California whose mission is to work with islanders around the world to protect threatened ecosystems / VERA Files / InterAksyon.com / The online news portal of TV5 / May 31, 2015 / 10:35 PM

366,000 ask Indonesia’s Jokowi: Spare Mary Jane’s life

spokesman NardySabino said in a news release. “People from all over the world have signed the petition for Mary Jane. There is a strong global clamor for Mary Jane Veloso to be acknowledged as a victim of human trafficking. Mary Jane was duped into unknowingly carrying drugs to Jogjakarta, Indonesia. Many victims of human trafficking end up trapped in places that they never wanted or deserved to be. We must find these victims and help them return home,” he said. On Friday, April 29, a thanksgiving mass for Veloso was also held at the Parish of Holy Sacrifice inside the University of the Philippines in Diliman. “Many people around the world are praying for Mary Jane’s freedom. Today marks one month since our prayers

were answered that Mary Jane be given a reprieve. We give thanks to God. Our work for Mary Jane is not done, we Church people continue to partner with human rights and migrant advocates in the campaign to #SaveMaryJane,” Sabino said. “We pray for Mary Jane to be able to hold her two sons in her arms, home in the Philippines. Mary Jane went looking for employment as a domestic worker in a foreign country, so that she could take care of her children. We pray that President Joko Widodo will show mercy to Mary Jane, so that her nightmare can end. We appeal to President Widodo to #SaveMaryJane,” he added. Sabino pointed out that the fastest way for Mary Jane to be removed from death row is through further action by Indonesian President Joko Widodo.

Save Mary Jane poster. Church task force to save mary Jane

“President Widodo gave Mary Jane the temporary reprieve, which spared her from execution on April 29, 2015. We

are praying that he will grant Mary Jane clemency and pardon,” he said. n InterAksyon.com / May 31, 2015 / 12:11 PM

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PBA commissioner Chito Salud says referees’ attention called after shoe incident

Sports5/Paul Ryan Tan

OUTGOING PBA commissioner Chito Salud revealed that he has spoken to the referees that officiated the game between Barako Bull and San Miguel, where they missed a call after Rico Maierhofer illegally used his shoe while defending Gabby Espinas. Maierhofer was fined P20,000 and his act was deemed a technical foul after the game and the officials were not left off the hook. “The referees’ attention has been called as to their broad powers relative to maintaining proper conduct of the games and reminded to use them accordingly in the future,” wrote Salud

in a text message to InterAksyon.com. Questions were raised following the game as to how things should have been handled. San Miguel coach Leo Austria told sportswriters after the game that Maierhofer should have been whistled for a technical foul. “Dapat technical foul yun kasi kung pwede palayun eh di pwede palang maghubad ng damit ang isang player para palpalin yung kalaban,” he said. PBA operations manager Rickie Santos said in an earlier interview that Maierhofer’s action was indeed illegal, but they needed a review of the league

rules to determine what the appropriate sanction was for the incident. “Para kang kumuha ng stick tapos pinang-palpal mo. efinitely, it’s not legal,” Santos said. A board representative of a PBA team who requested for anonymity said the referees should have done a better job as they could have easily made a call during the play. “Wala namang masyadong maapektuhan kung pumito yung referee nung time nahawak na ni Maierhofer yung sapatos para ipangpalpal,” added the executive. n Rey Joble /

InterAksyon.com / May 31, 2015 / 10:12 AM

BASKETBALL

Barako Bull’s RR Garcia to prepare for matchup with old teammate Terrence Romeo, GlobalPort backcourt BARAKO BULL guard RR Garcia had a breakout performance on Sunday, scoring a career-high 26 points to help the Energy continue its best start in franchise history at 5-1. The former UAAP MVP’s best pro performance came at a great time, with his team about to take on GlobalPort, which is led by his old college teammate, Terrence Romeo. He said that Romeo, who has blossomed into one of the most dangerous scorers in the PBA, and the rest of GlobalPort’s guards – No. 1 pick Stanley Pringle and Asian import Omar Krayem – are setting the standard for other backcourts in the league so far.

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Breakout game. Garcia played a key role in Barako Bull’s victory over Rain or Shine. He scored 17 points in the second and third periods, where the Energy scored a combined total of 62 points to turn the tables on the Elasto Painters. He said that head coach Koy Banal had trust and confidence in him and he was glad to live up to it in this game. “Yun ang sinasabi ni Coach na baka ako ang susunod na magi-step up sa team. Kailangan ko lang tulungan sila. Kailangan ko ring magpakita, nagkataon na maganda ipinakita ngayon,” he said. Banal praised Garcia’s play in the win against the Elasto Painters. “RR was fantastic. Nag-si-switch

Sports5/Paul Ryan Tan

yung Rain or Shine. Kapag walang close out, he’ll take it from the three. Kapag nag-clsoe out na sa kanya, he would penetrate. It was a character game for

him and he did that nung humahabol yung Rain or Shine,” the coach said. n Rey Joble / InterAksyon.com / May 31, 2015 /

8:16 PM

SMB out to help ‘hungry’ AZ Reid in quest for PBA championship, says Chris Ross

SAN MIGUEL import Arizona Reid has enjoyed plenty of success in the PBA, both individual and team, and all he’s really missing now is a championship. With his Beermen rattling off five consecutive wins and moving swiftly up the PBA Governors’ Cup standings, Reid just may be in position to change that. “AZ is proven, he’s won Best Import, he’s been to the finals and he’s hungry. I’ve talked to him everyday, he really wanted to win a championship,” San Miguel guard Chris Ross told InterAksyon.com on Sunday. “We work hard everyday in

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“Pamantayan naming sila. Kailangan naming silang i-stop,” Garcia told InterAksyon.com after the game. “Maganda ipinapakita (ni Terrence) pati na yung ibang guards ng GlobalPort si Stanley, yung Asian import nila. Kailangan naming paghandaan yun. Kailangan kaming mga guards kailangan naming silang i-stop,” he added. Garcia is happy to see his old FEU Tamaraws running mate develop into a star but once they face off on the hardwood, he admits that friendships will be set aside for on-court rivalries. “Sa labas magkaibigan kami, pero sa loob siyempre ibang usapan na yun,” Garcia added.

practice to do that. We know it’s just the beginning, but we will continue to work hard to achieve our goal.”

Reid, a two-time Best Import awardee, was put in a difficult situation when he came in as an undersized

Sports5/Pranz Kaeno Billones

replacement for Ronald Roberts midway through the Commissioner’s Cup. Though he brought an all-out attitude to the conference, it wasn’t enough for the Beermen, which felt the effects of injuries and fatigue following a championship run in the season-opening Philippine Cup. Now, Reid and his teammates have developed better chemistry and are beginning to reap some great results, especially with the winning streak they are currently on. Ross, one of the San Miguel players determined to help Reid win a title, is putting in some strong performances, particularly in their latest win, where he finished with 19 points, nine

rebounds and nine assists in a near triple-double. He was quick to downplay his individual play as a product of team play, though. “The assists is all about my teammates. I can make any pass, but they have to make the shot. I have confidence in him and they have confidence in me. We’re just going out there together and get some wins,” Ross said. “We’re playing team ball. When the ball is moving, there’s equal opportunity for everyone. We’re all professionals and we know what we’re capable of. It’s all about the team.” n Rey

Joble / InterAksyon.com / May 31, 2015 / 11:18 PM

Triathlon head predicts 2 golds for Filipino bets in SEA Games

AFTER a lengthy absence from the Southeast Asian Games, the sport of triathlon will be making its return to the multi-discipline event this year and that should give the Philippines plenty of reason to be upbeat in the upcoming biennial meet to be held in Singapore beginning June 5. “I think as far as our chances are concerned, we’re llamado,” Tom Carrasco, head of the Triathlon Association of the Philippines, told InterAksyon.com in a

telephone interview. “If we deliver a gold medal, this will be big for the triathlon community. We didn’t have participation in the 2009, 2011, and 2013 SEA Games and this will be our comeback.” The last time Filipino triathletes saw action in the SEA Games, the bets produced one gold, two silvers and four bronzes across four categories in Thailand. TRAP is only sending four athletes to represent the country in the

triathlon event – Maria Claire Adorna, Kim Mangrobang, Nico Huelgas and Jonard Saim – but Carrasco is upbeat this year’s batch can surpass that feat. “I think we can win two gold medals,” predicted Carrasco. “As far as training is concerned, I think we’re ahead of our SEA Games rivals. These are the most well-prepared athletes we’re sending for triathlon in the SEA Games.” Carrasco likes the chances of Mangrobang and Huelgas, who

underwent high-performance training in Portugal in preparation for the games. Adorna, cited as one of the bets swimmers by the Philippine Sportswriters Association last year, will be trying her hand in the discipline as well. She placed a strong third in the Asian Triathlon event last year. After the SEA Games, the triathletes will go straight to Taipei to participate in the Asian Triathlon. n Rey Joble /

InterAksyon.com /, May 30, 2015 / 8:56 AM

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PBA commissioner Barako Bull’s RR Garcia Chito Salud says to prepare for matchup referees’ attention with old teammate Terrence Romeo, called after shoe GlobalPort backcourt incident Story on page 38

Story on page 38

SMB out to help ‘hungry’ AZ Reid in quest for PBA championship, says Chris Ross Story on page 38

BOXING

Floyd Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao top ESPN’s list of best-paid athletes FOLLOWING their megafight, Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao raked in the most money any athlete could have this year, and it’s not even close, according to an annual list recently published by the ESPN The Magazine. Mayweather cashed in an estimated $250 million while Pacquiao earned $150 million after their bout on May 2, making them the best-paid athletes of this year. The undefeated American won that fight that is seen as the richest in boxing history. Following them on the list trailed hundreds of millions of dollars from what Mayweather and Pacquiao made. Football superstars Lionel Messi ($56.3 million) and Cristiano Ronaldo ($50.2 million) came in third and fourth, respectively.

Rounding out the top 10 are Formula One racers Sebastian Vettel ($50 million) and Fernando Alonso ($40M), football star Zlatan Ibrahimovic ($35.1 million), star racer Lewis Hamilton ($31 million), and Major League Baseball players Clayton Kershaw ($31 million) and Justin Verlander ($28 million). Other notable athletes on the list were NBA star Kobe Bryant ($23.5 million), who shared the 20th place MLB’s Cole Hamels, Amar’e Stoudemire ($23.4 million) and Joe Johnson ($23.2 million) who placed 22nd and 23rd on the list. ESPN The Magazine’s list was based on the athletes’ gross salaries for their most recent seasons or prize money for this year. Endorsements were not included in the computation. n InterAksyon.com / May 23, 2015 / 11:25 AM

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Triathlon head predicts 2 golds for Filipino bets in SEA Games Story on page 38