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September 2015 / Fortnightly

Volume 6 - Number 18

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HPG: RUSH-HOUR TRAVEL TIME ON EDSA CUT BY 15-25 MINUTES THE Philippine National PoliceHighway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG) is claiming that five days after it took over traffic management on EDSA, travel time during rush hours on Metro Manila’s main artery has been cut by 15 to 25 minutes.

“Ang report ng HPG, ay isang linggong nakalapag siya diyan sa EDSA ay medyo bumibilis, nabawasan daw po (ang oras ng biyahe), at least during rush hour, between 15 and 25 minutes,” Valte said, citing a report from the HPG. She also reported the Department of Public Works and Highways and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority are implementing more measures this coming week to ease traffic on EDSA and other major roads in Metro Manila.

For the DPWH’s part, Valte said the agency continues to clear obstructions from secondary roads that are being used as alternate routes by motorists who are avoiding EDSA during rush hours.

She said the DPWH is coordinating with the local government units of Pasay, Makati, and Quezon cities for the clearing operations.

Valte also assured that the DPWH is working double time to finish its projects around Metro Manila.

“Hopefully these measures, when taken together will contribute to the lessening of heaviness of the traffic along EDSA,” she said.

No provincial buses on underpasses.

Valte said that based on a new resolution by the MMDA, provincial buses will no longer be allowed to use underpasses along EDSA. “Doon na lang po sila dapat sa yellow lane,” Valte said, adding that the new measure is “effective immediately.”

Provincial buses coming from Kamuning and Cubao areas are also not allowed to take EDSA, at least beyond P. Tuazon Avenue, from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. on weekdays. From P. Tuazon, the provincial buses will take C-5 Road.

Valte said that another MMDA resolution states that starting September 15, the total truck ban on EDSA will be from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. to 10 p.m..

The existing truck ban on EDSA is from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. except Sundays and holidays.

No-contact apprehension of buses. The Highway Patrol Group

will also implement a “no-contact apprehension” policy on buses that violate traffic rules.

According to a radio dzBB report

by JP Soriano on radio dzBB, said the policy is meant to avoid disrupting traffic on EDSA during apprehensions.

HPG chief Gunnacao said that under the policy, HPG personnel will take photos of the plate number of a passenger bus that will violate a traffic rule on EDSA.

The apprehension tickets will then be sent to the bus companies and coordinated with the Land Transportation Office and the Land Transportation, Franchising and Regulatory Board.

Gunnacao said they also get details, including names of the drivers, driver’s licenses and license plate number with the corresponding bus body numbers from the LTO and the LTFRB and bus companies.

Aside from avoiding disrupting the traffic, the policy will also eliminate the possibility of extortion and bribery.

HPG to relocate some U-turn slots, bus stops. HPG director Chief

Superintendent Arnold Gunnacao said earlier that they will close some misplaced U-turn slots along EDSA, including the slot in front of Trinoma in Quezon City.

Gunnacao had also said that the HPG is also planning to move some bus stops along the main thoroughfare.

He said that based on the HPG’s assessment, some U-turn slots and bus stops are contributing to EDSA’s traffic problem.

A report on “News To Go” on Thursday said that motorists

complained of heavy traffic even during non-rush hours on EDSA on Wednesday.

On Tuesday night, thousands of motorists got stuck in horrendous traffic on EDSA following a downpour in Metro Manila.

Even before the downpour, motorists complained of heavier traffic on EDSA since the HPG took over.

The HPG and the MMDA said that among the reasons for the heavy traffic on EDSA are the volume of vehicles, the discipline of motorists and the number of vehicular accidents. n ALG/JDS, GMA News / September 12, 2015 / 2:12 pm

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September 2015 / Fortnightly – No. 18 • UK & Europe Edition

Can a traffic czar solve the mess?

Expanded PNR trains, ferries also pushed MANILA – The business group Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) wants President Benigno Aquino to appoint a “traffic czar” who will be in charge of solving Metro Manila’s perennial traffic woes.

In an open letter to the president, MAP drew up a list of solutions to the traffic problem, which includes a traffic czar to be appointed via an Executive Order.

The list of MAP’s recommendations also include creating a highway patrol under the direct supervision of the traffic czar, beef up road engineering to facilitate traffic management, fast track upgrade of MRT3, upgrade of national roads into expressways and other additional civil and road works.

“The MAP believes that the severe traffic congestion and commuter transportation problems besetting our metropolis are behavioral and structural in nature,” the group said in its letter

Odd-even

a

‘radical

option’.

Meanwhile, the administration softpedalled Friday on an option to impose an “odd-even” scheme for vehicles to ease Metro Manila traffic, saying it was a “radical solution” and Cabinet Secretary Rene Almendras was still getting inputs from all relevant agencies.

Presidential Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. drew reporters’ attention to the verbatim remarks of President Benigno S. Aquino Jr. on Thursday, noting that the President himself had said the odd-even scheme is bound to be controversial.

In Zamboanga del Sur, meanwhile, Vice President Jejomar Binay said the horrible traffic situation can’t be untangled by simply focusing on the number of cars, as simple reduction is not the real solution. It is important to pour resources into other comprehensive, long-term solutions such as widening other transport means such as trains and ferry systems.

Roads clogged with cars? Expand trains, ferries - Binay. “Naku, maraming

solusyon. Alam mo, yung railroad dapat i-expand na iyon. Incidentally, ang train is equivalent to four road lanes. Four road lanes iyon, ah. Eh ngayon ang riles natin, hihinto muna sa may Makati, para magdaan yung sasalubong, eh dadagdagan mo nalang iyan para dire-direcho na. Itong sa Pasig [ay] tinigil din yo’n. Isa pang alternative yun, para magamit iyon na transport.

Sinasabi ko nga sa iyo, bakit limang taon kayo diyan? Hindi ninyo ba pinagaralan naman? Ano ba.. ngayon na lang kayo nagsasabi ng mga solusyon.

Ngayon lang?” said Binay, who was in Dipolog.

Simply pointing to increased cars sales as the main culprit in Metro Manila’s horrible traffic situation will not resolve the problem; long-term

solutions, including those begun by the Arroyo administration but abandoned by the current administration, must be given attention.

Binay, who noted the initiatives to expand the operations of the Philippine National Railways commuter train system and the ferry system allowing thousands to criss-cross the metropolis on river taxis, as among the feasible options for easing clogging on roads.

Mismanagement, said VP Binay, lies at the root of the traffic problem in Metro Manila, where millions of motorists and commuters have complained of a worsening situation - with travel time on short routes extending two to 10 times the usual period - since government simultaneously launched major infrastructure projects a few months ago.

According to VP Binay, the administration has been in office over five years, yet those officials in charge of the matter still have no clear, comprehensive plan in place to resolve the traffic problem. He said it is yet another proof that the officials are “manhid at palpak” [dense and incompetent].

Binay believes the officials in charge of the matter simply did not care enough to do their work and anticipate the worsening situation and prepared for it.

While car sales may have zoomed - and is often invoked as the main factor for the traffic woes - it is not the only key to the problem, said Binay, who was MMDA chairman during the Estrada administration.

According to Binay, the Arroyo administration had a comprehensive plan before for using the Pasig River network as an alternative to clogged roads, but the plan was abandoned, apparently because of politics.

Gridlock in Metro Manila has long been a problem costing the country millions of pesos in lost productivity as workers get stuck in traffic for hours on end.

Here’s the complete text of M.A.P.’s open letter and recommendations:

THE TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORTATION PROBLEMS OF METRO MANILA: A Holistic Approach. M.A.P.

Recommendations in Solving the Traffic and Transportation Problems in Metro Manila 26 August 2015

The MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION OF THE PHILIPPINES (M.A.P.):

• recognizing the severe traffic and commuter transportation situation in Metro Manila (MM) and the great detriment it is causing our people, the economy, and environment; • aware that a large segment of the metropolitan population, various sectors of society and the economy are reeling from the adverse effects of these urban problems; • believing that these twin

urban problems are not totally insurmountable; and • consistent with its advocacy to contribute to the attainment of good public governance for the public good; hereby respectfully urge President Benigno S. Aquino III, together with the bureaucracy at the national and local levels in MM governments, with great urgency and resolution to take the strongest possible measures to immediately and squarely address these twin urban problems.

NATURE OF THE PROBLEM. The M.A.P. believes that the severe traffic congestion and commuter transportation problems besetting our metropolis are BEHAVIORAL and STRUCTURAL in nature, and should be addressed accordingly.

These problems evolved over a long period of time, should be addressed through the three most basic elements of effective traffic management – road ENGINEERING, EDUCATION of all stakeholders and ENFORCEMENT (3 “E”s) of traffic rules.

Deficient road engineering prevents efficient traffic flow, essential to optimize limited road space. The deficiency allows drivers to wantonly switch or block lanes without regard for others on vital road arteries.

Regulatory weakness has allowed the proliferation of public utility vehicles (PUVs). Lack of education contributes to diminished civic consciousness and responsible driving behavior that, coupled with ineffective enforcement, have rendered traffic rules as mere “suggestions” to be ignored with impunity. Inadequate enforcement of anti-smoke belching regulations has resulted in an unacceptably high air pollution level that has made respiratory diseases prevalent in the metropolis that is raising public health cost, diminishing human productivity and quality of life.

Lack of the 3 “E”s is compounded by three other factors: SEVERE DEFICIENCY in MASS TRANSIT SYSTEMS, UNSUSTAINABLE URBAN DEVELOPMENT PRACTICES and an INEFFECTIVE GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE of the metropolis.

GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS. The M.A.P. recommends a comprehensive

and HOLISTIC approach consisting of immediate and long-term measures.

The immediate measures will yield the earliest relief for motorists and commuters.

Long-term “hard” infrastructure measures, some of which are already being rolled out by the current administration, will address the structural deficiency and, when completed, provide long- term sustainable improvement. The need for the immediate implementation and completion of these infrastructure projects cannot be overemphasized.

SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMMEDIATE ACTION. We respectfully

recommend the following measures to the President: 1. Appoint a Traffic Czar to act and show who is in charge. When gridlock grips the metropolis with no relief in sight, people ask “Who is in charge”?

A Traffic Czar, preferably the Secretary of the Cabinet, Sec. Jose Rene D. Almendras, be appointed through a presidential Executive Order (E.O.) and empowered to: 1.1 Take overall charge of all matters related to or affecting traffic and road management, including the implementation of necessary road engineering refinements, on all national roads in MM; 1.2 With respect to the traffic, environment and road systems, including those in the military base lands converted to mixed-used developments in MM, deputize, utilize, coordinate, avail and, when necessary, prevail over all the relevant national government agencies, including the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC), Land Transportation Office (LTO), Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and Fort Bonifacio Development Corporation (FBDC) under the Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA) with respect to the traffic and road system in base lands converted to mixed-use developments in MM.

1.3 Reduce the excessive number of illegally operated PUVs. These vehicles are choking national roads, including EDSA, and must be reduced to an appropriate and sustainable number.

It is better to have public conveyances that can more quickly bring passengers to their destinations rather than an excess that will only be stuck in traffic wasting fuel and spewing toxic emissions. Livelihood opportunities should be provided to displaced PUV owners and drivers, with the latter retrained for redeployment to other commercial and industrial purposes, such as the logistics, tourism, port, infrastructure construction, education and other sectors.

1.4 Institute an organized bus dispatch system for all remaining PUVs such that only an appropriate number of buses will be dispatched on the road as needed.

2. Highway Patrol Group. Assign and deputize a specially trained Highway Patrol Group within the Philippine National Police (PNP) under the direct supervision and control of the Traffic Czar to impose order on the chaotic traffic through strict enforcement of traffic rules and regulations.

3. Engineering Refinements. Direct the Traffic Czar to introduce road engineering refinements. Good road engineering is essential to effective traffic management and efficient traffic flow. Much common sense, quick and inexpensive road engineering fixes will help control traffic. Such measures must be quickly introduced in major national roads as they have proven to be effective in addressing the previously problematic traffic on Ayala Avenue in the Makati business district and other congested cities elsewhere.

These engineering solutions include concrete lane delineators to segregate bus lanes on national roads, including EDSA. These are currently being installed but in only two locations in EDSA, particularly in front of the Guadalupe Market and near Connecticut on the southbound lane.

Lane delineators efficiently channel traffic, while minimizing the need for human intervention, which on many occasions are unreliable or ineffective.

More extensive application of such devices are needed to achieve the desired result.

4. MRT3 – Fast track upgrade and capacity expansion. A train system is the most efficient, convenient and affordable people mover. MRT3 must be quickly and properly rehabilitated, and its passenger capacity greatly expanded. The MRT3 system, being in place, provides the fastest option for quickly addressing commuter capacity deficiency on EDSA. All efforts must be quickly taken to resolve any outstanding issues that stand in the way for such improvement.

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September 2015 / Fortnightly – No. 18 • UK & Europe Edition

El Niño to impact on 56 percent of Maynilad customers MANILA – El Niño, or reduced rainfall associated to warm oceans, will impact on 56 percent of Maynilad Water Services Inc.’s concession area, the west zone concessionaire said in a news release.

This, after the National Water

Resources Board (NWRB) reduced the Angat Dam supply allocation for Metro Manila from 41 cms (cubic meters per second) to 38 cms beginning this September, in an effort to preserve the water supply during El Niño season.

At 38 cms allocation, Maynilad said 56

Maynilad worker in Mabini, Manila, 10 August 2015. Photo by Dante Dennis Diosina Jr. ©InterAksyon.com

percent of its concession area constitutes about 900 barangays; residents will experience the impact of the raw water supply cutback.

Of this 56 percent, about 18 percent will be severely affected, with water available to these areas for less than 12 hours, the water company said.

Mitigating measures. Maynilad is thus mobilizing efforts to manage the effects of El Niño on its concession area’s water supply.

Among Maynilad’s mitigating measures of system adjustments to manage the reduced supply include: • prompt rep ir o pipe le • e tend oper ting hour o pumping station • deploy it our port ble ter treatment plants to hard-to-reach areas • re ti te e er l deep ell • in t ll t tion ry t n • end ter t n er to e erely affected areas To ensure that the limited supply

will be maximized and that all affected customers will have some water at least at certain times of the day, Maynilad said it will be implementing rotating service interruptions.

“We shall announce the date of the water service interruptions two days before implementation. This way, our affected customers will have enough time to store water,” said Engr. Ronaldo Padua, Head of Maynilad’s Water Supply Operations.

Since the last El Niño in 2010, Maynilad said it has significantly enhanced its operational efficiencies and made system and infrastructure improvements, making it better prepared for this latest El Niño episode.

For instance, it has increased water storage capacity from 281 million liters (ML) to 561 ML after it constructed 11 new reservoirs to add to its existing 14. The company has also added 15 new pumping stations to its existing 11.

In addition, Maynilad’s campaign to reduce water loss or Non-Revenue Water

(NRW) has brought NRW in the west zone down from 53 percent in 2010 to 32 percent by June 2015. This translates to over 400 MLD (million liters per day) of recovered water that the company can deliver to its customers.

“With these investments, Maynilad has improved capacity to manage the limited supply during El Niño,” Maynilad said.

Maynilad is an agent and contractor of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) for the west zone of the Greater Manila Area, which is composed of the cities of Manila (certain areas), Quezon City (certain areas), Makati (certain areas), Caloocan, Pasay, Parañaque, Las Piñas, Muntinlupa, Valenzuela, Navotas and Malabon—all in Metro Manila; the cities of Cavite, Bacoor and Imus, and the towns of Kawit, Noveleta and Rosario—all in Cavite Province. n InterAksyon.com / September 8,

2015 / 11:07 am

Can a traffic czar solve the mess? Expanded PNR trains, ferries also pushed Continuation from page 1 5. Upgrade existing major national roads into expressways. Urban expressways, being intersection-free, facilitate easy ingress to and egress from busy downtown districts, aside from providing fast circulation for urban traffic. Since the late 1 0s during the Cory Aquino administration, then Secretary Jose de Jesus of DPWH introduced engineering refinements, particularly grade separation, on EDSA and Roxas Blvd. to attain the efficiency of expressways. These refinements were initially effective, but over time, their efficiency was degraded due to lack of adequate follow-through improvements and proper road management practices.

Although some other major engineering improvements have been introduced to further improve EDSA, such as the Edsa-Ortigas overpass and Edsa-Ayala tunnel, other complementing measures are still needed to attain the full potential of efficient urban expressways.

Good examples of urban expressways can be found in densely populated Hong ong. The H Island Eastern Corridor stretches through the entire length of the eastern side from one end, going right through the congested downtown central financial and commercial district up to the other end of the island. The well-engineered road has no intersections, road lanes are well defined with international standard markings, signage and concrete delineator to segregate commuter buses from interrupting vehicles on the fast lanes. Other intersection-free thoroughfares are found in the island and congested Tsim Sha Tsui district in owloon.

6. Targets for Road Engineering. In MM, the following roads are prime candidates for reengineering as expressways – EDSA, C5, Roxas Blvd.,

Diosdado Macapagal Ave., atipunan, Commonwealth and, all intersecting radial roads, particularly the entire length of Buendia from EDSA up to the junction with Ayala Ave., Lawton Ave. in West Fort Bonifacio, alayaan Ave., Shaw Blvd., Ortigas Ave., E. Rodriguez, Ramon Magsaysay, Roosevelt, uezon Ave. and Bonifacio Road in C. 7. Flooding. Improve the resiliency of all national major and radial roads against floods.

7.1 Flood-prone road sections are known, but as flood control measures take time to complete, may be quickly addressed by raising the low portions above flood level using prefabricated steel perforated matting resting on steel supports, similarly used by the US Army Engineering Corps during the war.

7.2 Fast track construction of more underground cisterns to hold flashflood waters at low-lying areas.

7.3 Properly maintain flood pumps at all underpasses for standby use 2 .

8. Fast Construction Methods Direct the use of fast construction methods. Prefabricated steel or precast concrete bridging systems offer the fastest solution for grade separation, to quickly eliminate at-grade trafficclogging intersections along busy major national road.

Conventional construction methods take 2 years to complete, while sections of prefabricated steel or a precast concrete system can be quickly assembled onsite to drastically reduce construction time to just a matter of days while causing minimal disruption to traffic flow. Necessarily, radial roads that intersect these national roads must likewise be upgraded with grade separation and concrete median and PUV lane delineators to provide efficient traffic distribution to and from major national roads.

9. Direct a campaign for private vehicle high occupancy practices. All

large schools within the metropolis must be required to provide bus service to their students and adequate passenger loading and unloading spaces within school premises. Schools that allow vehicles to spill onto public streets must be sanctioned, including the drivers. Express lanes for high occupancy vehicles (HOV) and cargocarrying vehicles shall be provided on wide national roads, such as EDSA and Commonwealth.

SPECIFIC MEDIUM AND LONG-TERM RECOMMENDATIONS 1. Build new bridges across Pasig River. Presently, there is over-

convergence of vehicles during rush hours on the few bridges, particularly at EDSA and C5, to cross the Pasig River.

Again, using prefabricated steel bridges for fast completion, construction of the long missing C-3 bridge link from Makati to Mandaluyong and another to link Bonifacio Global City to an appropriate location in Capitolyo, will greatly disperse vehicular traffic to relief congestion.

2. Resolve issues and fast track

other mass transit systems

2.1 Resolve all issues related to the linking of MRT3 to LRT1 and the implementation of the LRT1 extension to Cavite; 2.2 Roll out the LRT2 extension line from Santolan, Marikina, to Masinag Market with an intermodal terminus station for convenient and safe interconnection with other modes of transport, and provide a park-andride facility to encourage commuters to take public transit instead of driving their cars into the city; 2.3 Quickly decide on and rollout an appropriate surface mass transit system to complement the MRT3 on EDSA. The government must choose

the most appropriate transit option among many, such as Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), long-bus train, large capacity articulated city commuter buses or rail tram. Whatever is the final choice, the criterion in the selection should include organized operation, propulsion that does not produce air-polluting exhaust emissions, user-friendly conveyances with ramp for wheelchair-bound persons and low floor for easier and safer boarding and disembarking that will enable quicker turnaround time.

2.4 Fast track implementation of the MM north and south commuter rail, including the provision of city intermodal terminals and at outlying towns and cities as a means to promote the development of satellite towns and cities to decongest MM. Include parkand-ride facility to encourage motorists to use public transit.

2.5 Connect major commercial and residential developments to mass transit systems – Require large malls and residential complexes adjacent to or within walking distance from the MRT LRT and future BRT stations to connect directly to these mass transit systems through covered elevated walkways, provide ticketing service within these developments to shorten the queue at the stations and reduce the number of people on the narrow sidewalks.

3. Require adherence to best practices

for mixed-use property development.

Large-scale developments can be disruptive to existing communities and impair their long-term sustainability, if generally accepted best practices in development are not observed. Many, if not most, mixed-use districts in MM suffer from traffic congestion. The Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board is the agency charged with reviewing and approving development plans and the BCDA has jurisdiction over military base lands being converted for

mixed-use developments. They must be directed to more strictly scrutinize and exercise oversight functions to ensure adherence to best practices for sustainable development, particularly building density, mass transit, road system design and provision of public amenities.

4. Issue an E. O. directing the

planning of a high-capacity subway system under the entire length of EDSA. The presence of numerous

large shopping malls, government institutions, business districts and massive residential housing complexes along EDSA will ultimately require a high-capacity heavy subway system.

Ideally, and at the very least, an E.O. of the President must be issued to reserve the first underground level as the right of way for a future EDSA subway to pre-empt all possible intersecting subway lines, such as the proposed Bonifacio Global City to MOA subway line that will necessarily traverse EDSA. The government must be ahead of the curve and anticipate the heavy future demand of commuters along the entire stretch of EDSA. 5. Direct the filing of a legislative

bill to restructure governance of MM.

An elected Governor who shall, by law rather than forbearance of the city mayors, be vested with authority over matters such as road and traffic management, flood control, urban planning and development, particularly large-scale mixed-use land developments.

The severe traffic and transportation problems are not without solutions but they will require immediate, firm and resolute action from the national leadership. The status quo is not acceptable. Inaction is not an option.

MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION OF THE PHILIPPINES (M.A.P.) n InterAksyon. com / JV Arcena, News5 / August 28, 2015 / 3:10 pm

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BUSINESS & FINANCE

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September 2015 / Fortnightly – No. 18 • UK & Europe Edition

Cignal TV posts 1-M subscribers goal as exec announces mobile streaming service MANILA – Pay-TV provider Cignal TV reached its 2015 target of one million subscribers in August, making it the first pay-TV provider to do so in the Philippines and overtaking its competitors, company executive announced Thursday.

“We’re very proud to have hit this milestone of one million. It’s a first for the country, and I think it’s a good sign of progress for this country,” Cignal vice president for marketing Guido Zaballero said in a roundtable discussion Thursday in Taguig City.

Prepaid subscribers make up 65 percent of the total, while postpaid subscribers account for 35 percent, he said.

Although Cignal has a market share of 34 percent in terms of subscribers, Zaballero acknowledged that it was not the leader in revenue.

But with a fast-growing subscriber base, Cignal president and chief executive officer Emmanuel Lorenzana expected their revenue to follow the same level of growth, and to head in the direction of leadership in this aspect, as well.

Their next target? The next million, which Cignal chief operating officer Oscar Reyes, Jr. targeted to acquire in two to three years.

He expects to reach 1.1 million subscribers by December.

Cignal was launched in 2009 with the aim of providing a “clearer payTV experience” to Filipino viewers. By 2010, it had 124,000 subscribers. Last year, it had 844,000 subscribers.

This figure was larger than the same year’s 760,000 subscribers of SkyCable and Destiny Cable, according to a Business World report. SkyCable acquired Destiny Cable in 2012.

Zaballero attributed their growth to Cignal’s HD channels.

“It plays a very big role for us,” he said.

Preferred provider. Last year, Nielsen Philippines surveyed subscribers of local and national cable pay-TV providers and found that Cignal was the preferred pay-TV provider among them in terms of “audio and video clarity,” at 67 percent of the respondents.

“So it’s very, very obvious that it’s become a driver for subscribers to choose us,” he said.

Reyes added that they were also able to reach remote areas in Visayas and Mindanao.

They planned to sustain their growth by taking advantage of the low penetration rate of pay-TV in the Philippines, at 40 percent.

“That’s something we’d like to give the Filipino people: a better viewing experience through Cignal,” he said.

Cignal vice president for marketing Guido Zaballero, Cignal president and chief executive officer Emmanuel Lorenzana, and Cignal chief operating officer Oscar Reyes, Jr. at a roundtable discussion.

Photo by Mikkel Bolante ©InterAksyon.com

With many Filipinos preferring to obtain services through prepaid, Cignal will continue to offer its prepaid packages.

But postpaid consumers were increasing as well, which was why Cignal launched a number of packages this year.

These had improved subscriber acquisition, reyes said. Low prices, with postpaid kits ranging from P2,990 and P1,990, have also given them an advantage. Plans range from P290 to P1,590 per month.

“It’s very affordable now to actually get a superior viewing experience,” Reyes said.

Cignal TV to-go. With Filipinos consuming content through mobile devices, Cignal was also going to launch a streaming service for its subscribers in the next few months.

Cignal TV to-go would allow subscribers to catch certain channels on their mobile phones or tablets, Reyes said.

The executives also promised to improve their service, with Lorenzana saying they were looking at new, more powerful satellites.

Some subscribers experienced signal interruptions during the muchawaited fight between boxers Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather in

May, due to to rainy weather.

“Weather is a perennial problem, not only in the Philippines but also in the US. These kinds of services are affected by the weather,” Lorenzana explained.

Benedict Galang, Cignal first vice president for network engineering and operations, added that it was the nature of satellite technology to be affected by rain.

“But it’s not nationwide. It’s only pockets,” he said. “(T)he service we provide is much better than cable. It’s only a few seconds or a few minutes that we have a downtime - not like cable or wire services, [where, if affected by] typhoon or bad weather, the downtime is between a day or a week.”

Reyes pointed out that other payTV providers had the same problem during the fight.

The executives noted that aside from the Earth Station facility established in 2013 in Porac, Pampanga, they were investing in another site.

Reyes thanked the subscribers for their patronage and assured them they would work harder to give people a better experience, more HD, and more organic channels. n Tricia Aquino / InterAksyon.com / September 3, 2015

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BUSINESS & FINANCE

www.hello-philippines.com

September 2015 / Fortnightly – No. 18 • UK & Europe Edition

Philippine economy picks up in second quarter on infra spending MANILA – The Philippine economy picked up pace in the second quarter of this year.

Economic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan today announced that the Philippines’ gross domestic product (GDP) grew 5.6 percent in the April to June period, faster than the revised 5 percent in the previous threemonth period.

Balisacan, who is also directorgeneral of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), said government spending, particularly public construction, was largely responsible for the acceleration.

Government spending in the second quarter rose 3.9 percent from the previous quarter’s 1.7 percent (see table below).

Budget Secretary Florencio Abad said the 20-percent growth in public construction in the second-quarter was in contrast to the 24-percent contraction in the previous threemonth period.

“These are clear and compelling signs that government spending is back on track. Furthermore, the progress we’ve been making in public construction will help cement the success of our development strategy,” Abad said.

“When we build more roads, sturdier highways, and better public infrastructure for our citizens, we also prepare ourselves for the expansion of key sectors that will boost our economic prospects and create more jobs for Filipinos. That includes the

Source: Philippine Statistics Authority

manufacturing, agri-fishery, and tourism industries, among others,” he added.

The second-quarter performance brings the first-half GDP expansion to 5.3 percent, which however was below last year’s 6.2 percent and the government’s target of - percent for the entire 2015.

Full-year target likely to be cut.

Balisacan said the full-year growth target will be “challenging,” adding that a 6-6.5 percent full-year growth may be a more “realistic scenario.”

“To reach six percent for the full year, we need to grow by 6.6 percent on the second half. To hit 6.5 percent, the economy needs to grow by 7.7 percent in the second semester. This is the realistic scenario,” he said.

Balisacan said the full-year goal will likely be revised downwards, adding that the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) will discuss the matter.

“If we grow at six percent for the full year, it will still be one of the highest among major economies, and that’s quite a respectable growth for developing economies,” he said.

Abad said the challenge for the government is to “exceed ourselves in the coming quarters.”

“More than ever, it will be crucial for us to ramp up disbursements and clear more spending bottlenecks, so we can stimulate the economy towards further growth,” he said.

“Given the uncertainty and volatility of the global market, the country’s strong economic performance is itself an achievement,” he added.

The private sector welcomed the rebound in the second-quarter GDP. “The second quarter GDP growth of 5.6 percent is in the range of most economists’ projections. It was

NEDA chief Arsenio Balisacan (middle) during the 2nd quarterly report on Philippine economy at the Philippine Statistics Authority office in QC. Also in photo are national statistician Lisa Grace Bersales (left) and NEDA Deputy Director Emmanuel Esguerra. Photo by Bernard Testa ©InterAksyon.com

realized in spite of weak performance in agriculture and exports and was spurred by welcome investments in public spending,” said Makati Business Club (MBC) chairman Ramon del Rosario Jr. “It is hoped that continued healthy public spending, especially in the context of the coming 2016 elections and stronger holiday spending and OFW remittances, will give our economy enough of a boost to offset the effects of a severe El Niño and the economic weakness of major countries to still allow us to achieve a full year growth of 6 to 6.5 percent,” del Rosario said.

In a note, Metrobank Research said it cut its full-year GDP growth forecast to 6 percent following today’s release

of the second-quarter figures.

“Higher government spending in the second half is seen to cause a sustained growth in investment spending and will also further boost consumption spending,” said Metrobank Research analyst Pauline May Ann Revillas.

“The service and industry sectors are still expected to post solid growths in the coming quarters, while the agri sector is seen to remain weak amid soft food prices and the impact of the El Nino phenomenon,” she said.

“Risks to the domestic economy remain amid the effects of the El Nino phenomenon, uneven global economy, and impact of financial market volatilities,” she added. n Rain Castro / InterAksyon.com / August 27, 2015 / 10:06 am

LTO fields satellite offices to address backlog in driver’s licenses MANILA – The government opened more than two dozen satellite offices to address a backlog in the release of nearly a million driver’s licenses.

In a statement, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) said the 25 satellite offices are in Metro Manila, Central Luzon, Calabarzon and Eastern Visayas.

“We will print licenses during Saturdays and after office hours on weekdays, in order to erase the current backlog of around 900,000 licenses by the beginning of October this year,” LTO chief Alfonso Tan, Jr. said.

The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) has awarded the LTO License Cards Supply Project to Allcard Plastics, which offered to undertake the project for P336.87 million, or 25 percent below the P450 million budget.

Peso trades sideways at close of week

“Our effort to break a 30-year monopoly in driver’s license cards supply is finally about to bear fruit,” Transport Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya said.

“It is unfortunate that we had to resort to temporary licenses for several

months, but good governance principles demanded an open, fair, and transparent bid. We will now work double time to normalize this service,” he added. n Cassandra Lee / InterAksyon.com / August 25, 2015 / 12:48 am

MANILA - The Philippine peso closed the week sideways at 46.74 against a U.S. dollar.

The local currency was slashed by 0.06 from Thursday’s finish of 6.6 .

A trader said Asian currencies, particularly emerging markets which are oil importers, are weaker today with the strengthening of dollar against Asian economies.

The trader, however, noted that the Philippine peso remains better than most currencies in the region.

“It [peso] is still above average

compared to most other currencies in the region,” the trader said.

Peso opened the day stronger at 46.65 from yesterday’s opening of 46.75. It traded between 46.64 and 46.76 bringing the average level at 44.70.

Volume of trade on Friday registered a total of US$676.6 million. This is only a 2.3 percent decline from Thursday’s total volume of US$693.1 million.

Peso and dollar trading next week is expected at 46.60 to 46.90. n PNA / August

28, 2015 / 8:41 pm

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September 2015 / Fortnightly – No. 18 • UK & Europe Edition

Over P20,000 worth of items stolen from Pinoy couple’s balikbayan boxes A US-based Filipino couple who recently arrived in the Philippines for a vacation received a nasty surprise after discovering that more than P20,000 worth of goods were stolen from their balikbayan boxes.

Fe Lopez and Odiyl Glem Gutierrez told “24 Oras” in an exclusive report that about half of Gutierrez’s personal items were stolen along with Lopez’s ‘pasalubong.’

“Yung mga sapatos ko, ‘yung mga luma, ‘yun natira, ‘yung gamit. ‘Yung

mga bago [ang kinuha],” Gutierrez said. “’Di ko naman memorized ‘yung nakalagay sa box ko. Pero ‘yung sa loob lang, siguro mga chocolates tsaka ‘yung mga lotion, ‘di ko pa alam kung nakuha,” Lopez said.

Gutierrez’s box underwent random inspection by the US Transport Security Administration, while Lopez passed through customs untouched.

However, upon arriving in the Philippines, they found the tops and

sides of the balikbayan boxes ripped, despite the boxes leaving Los Angeles in pristine condition.

Manila International Airport Administration General Manager Jose Angel Honrado said all responsibilities for the missing packages lie with Philippine Airlines, which brought the couple back to the Philippines.

“Airlines have 100% accountability on luggages from check-in to retrieval at destination,” he said in a statement.

PAL spokesperson Cielo Villaluna stated that the airline already began an investigation into the couple’s complaint, which was filed soon after their arrival last September 5.

“PAL is looking into the complaint regarding the missing items. A determination has to be made on the circumstances which led to this. PAL is already in receipt of the complaint,” she said. n Rie Takumi / KBK, GMA News / September 9, 2015 / 9:04 pm

Pinoy caregivers urge Fil-Canadians to vote wisely in Canadian polls have resulted in a 90 per cent rejection punished because they need the LMIA to maintain the majority of their seats.

A group of Filipino caregivers in Canada has called on registered Filipino-Canadian voters there to choose Canada’s next leaders wisely, noting that new regulations in the caregiver program implemented by the current administration had made them more vulnerable to exploitation.

The call came a month before the Canadian federal election on October 19, 2015, where incumbent Prime Minister Stephen Harper and the Conservative party will try to

A report on Rabble said Caregiver Action Centre’s (CAC) Karina Francisco, in a press conference on August 30, slammed Harper and Immigration Minister Chris Alexander for “pretending to be the friends of immigrants” and for “repeatedly lying” to caregivers.

Francisco said the changes to the Live-in Caregiver Program, which started in November last year, have “worsened” conditions for immigrants as it “increased processing times, and

rate for new caregiver applications”.

CAC member Johnna Uchi told the Toronto Star that the changes implemented by the Conservative government made it difficult for caregivers to receive a positive Labour Market impact Assessment (LMIA), a certificate needed to justify their employment.

“There has been no improvement.

Our members can’t get the LMIA. If they leave an abusive employer, they will be

work,” she said.

“Voters in the Filipino community, and all voters, must vote wisely. Don’t just think of what is happening now to the program, but think of what’s going to happen to the community in the long run,” she added.

A Rabble report said only 10 percent of all LMIA applications for caregivers were accepted between January and March of 2015.

Because of the higher rejection rates, caregivers are, as Uchi speculated,

more reluctant to leave abusive employers due to the 3,900 work-hour requirement for caregivers to apply for permanent residence.

Teta Bayan of the CAC said, “Canada has a great need for caregivers for the elderly, for children, for people with disabilities and with high medical needs. It is through this program that Canadians can [meet] their caregiving needs. Therefore, caregivers should be given security of status.” n Rie Takumi / KBK, GMA News / September 4, 2015 / 3:36 pm

Meet Ela, Abu Dhabi’s all-Pinoy ‘heartcore’ band AL AIN, United Arab Emirates – The music of Abu Dhabi-based allPinoy band Ela covers a lot of genres — punk, alternative, heavy metal. But guitarist Bryan Uriarte has one word to describe their style: heartcore.

Uriarte, however, clarified that their playlist is not always about love songs as it is about songs with stories and different meanings.

“We are not saying that love is the only feeling in this world because every person has his or her own emotion,” said Uriarte via e-mail. “’Yun ang tugtugan namin. Although wala pa naman kaming composition, on every song na natugtog namin, ibaiba iyong kuwento and meaning.”

The band is composed of five OFWs Uriarte, 25, an office administrator in Mussafah Abu Dhabi; vocalist Ellalaine Villaflor, 30, a customer service staff in the Abu Dhabi

National Oil Company; bassist Jerome Andrada, 24, a system administrator in the Archirodon Construction Company SA; guitarist Gallahad Albano, 3 , an architectural designer in Giffin Traffics; and drummer Joe Louie Bacala, 30, an electrician.

Being far from their own families in the Philippines, each member of the band considers Ela to be their family.

“We consider the band as a family,” Uriarte said. “We decide as one, we share ideas and suggestions. ‘Pag merong mga decision-making, lahat pinapaalam and pinag-uusapan.

When we perform, we perform as one.”

No leader of the band. It is a family, however, that is without a leader.

“We don’t have a leader. Anyone can speak for the whole and that’s the best about Ela,” Uriarte said.

Ela formed in August , 201 to join an event organized by a Filipino studio owner who wanted to gather Filipino musicians, bands and performers all across UAE. “Tinipon niya iyong tumutugtog or nag-babanda na before hanggang sa ma-sort out kung sino ang magkakataste sa music and genre,” Uriarte said.

Uriarte said he was the band’s first vocalist. “But after nung 1st praktis, napag-desisyonang mag-gitara na lang ako dahil iyong isang guitarist ay hindi maka-relate sa napiling genre.”

The name Ela. “Then dun sumali si Ella as the vocalist and kung saan namin binase iyong name ng band,” he added.

Among themselves, the band members would joke around that Ela stands for “Extra Lang Ako.” Ellalaine used to play for another band, limiting her time for Ela.

Ela in action in Abu Dhabi

Since Ela started, it has graced charity events in cooperation with the KonekTado Productions.

It has performed during the “BrunchFor-A-Cause” on December 19, 2014, a fundraising event held in the Philippine Embassy in Dubai for the benefit of the victims of Typhoon Ruby; “Christmas Charity” on December 6, 2014 held in

a hotel in Abu Dhabi; and “Paskuhan Sa Abu Dhabi” on December 12, 2014, which was led by the Philippine Bayanihan Councils.

Their most recent gig was during the 14th season tournament of the Pinoy Ekspat Interfaith Basketball League (PEIBL), held last May 1. n Lucky Mae F. Quilao / KBK, GMA News / September 10, 2015 / 3:17 pm

Mary Jane Veloso’s mother accuses PHL consul of manipulating her daughter CELIA Veloso, mother of Mary Jane Veloso, the Filipina sentenced to death in Indonesia for drug smuggling, has accused Consul General Roberto Manalo of manipulating her daughter to go against her family and Filipino legal counsel.

Celia emotionally aired her grievances during a hearing at the House of Representatives earlier this week, according to a report on “Balitanghali” on Friday. Manalo was also present during the hearing.

“Nagalit po si Mary Jane sa akin sa amin. Bakit daw po namin kinakalaban ang gobyerno, bakit daw po ganun.

Nanay, nanay, pwede po ba, ngayon na lang ngayon, hayaan na lang natin yung nakaraan. Ayaw po talagang pumayag ni Mary Jane. Ang gusto po niyang mangyari kung anong sinabi ni Manalo,” Celia said.

The “Balitanghali” report also said Edre Olalia, Veloso’s Filipino lawyer, blamed Manalo for the Philippine Embassy’s alleged reluctance to let him confer with Mary Jane regarding her case.

“We were taken out of the loop. We were being isolated from our client. There were clandestine meetings without our knowledge. We were never linked to the Indonesian private lawyers. Tine-threaten pa niya yung pamilya na ‘pag kayo

magsasalita sa media, bibitayin daw ng tuluyan si Mary Jane,” Olalia said.

Manalo defended himself by explaining that only Veloso’s Indonesian lawyers can meet her in accordance with prison rules in Yogyakarta. He became emotional as he narrated his efforts to help Veloso, whose execution last April was suspended on the last minute.

“Wala po akong pagkukulang kay Mary Jane. Natulungan ko po siya sa lahat ng makakayanan ko po. Kung meron po akong nasabi, kung meron po akong nagawa na hindi po kinatuwa ng pamilya Veloso at ni Atty. Edre Olalia, buong puso po akong nagpapaumanhin,” Manalo, who

last visited Veloso in Indonesia on July 31, said.

The House committee on overseas workers affairs approved a motion asking Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario to recall Manalo from his post.

Veloso, a single mother, was slated for execution last April for bringing 2.6 kilograms of heroin from Malaysia to Indonesia in 2010. She was spared on the last minute following appeals from the Philippine government, which wants Veloso to testify against her alleged recruiter currently standing trial in Nueva Ecija. n Rie Takumi / KBK, GMA News / September 4, 2015 / 2:20 pm

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September 2015 / Fortnightly – No. 18 • UK & Europe Edition

OFW groups welcome Lina’s apology, but vow to remain ‘vigilant’ A coalition of pro-overseas Filipino worker (OFW) groups has welcomed the public apology of Commissioner Alberto Lina over the Bureau of Customs’ plan to manually inspect balikbayan boxes supposedly to address technical smuggling.

“We appreciate Commissioner Lina’s clarification before the Senate and the public at large that the OFWs were never a target, and that he would like to see more protection and benefits for our overseas workers in the proposed law,” said John Bertiz, spokesperson for the coalition, referring to the proposed Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA).

However, the coalition said it would remain “vigilant” to ensure that commitments the BoC offered during

Thursday’s hearing of the Senate committee on ways and means will be fulfilled.

Among these commitments were the establishment of an OFW help desk within the BOC, a streamlined process for balikbayan boxes, the passage of CMTA, and higher tax exemptions for OFW packages.

Susan Ople, president of the Blas F. Ople Policy Center, said they are also hoping that a special provision will be included in the proposed CMTA that will favor OFWs. “The OFW Coalition composed of various OFW groups and advocates welcome the public apology of Commissioner Alberto Lina, and look forward to contributing to the creation of a special provision in the proposed

Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA) in favor of our modern-day heroes,” she said.

Lina issued the apology during a Senate hearing on balikbayan box issue, saying the BoC’s campaign was aimed at unscrupulous individuals and syndicates that use balikbayan boxes to smuggle contraband.

President Benigno Aquino III ordered the BoC to abort its plan to manually inspect balikbayan boxes after it received widespread criticisms from OFWs around the world.

According to the Ople Center’s position paper submitted to the committee, the OFW sector was never consulted regarding the BoC’s “abrupt move” to undertake random checks on balikbayan boxes.

It also sought apology from the BoC after the bureau linked OFWs to the smuggling of drugs and firearms through balikbayan boxes.

During the hearing, Customs deputy commissioner Jessie Dellosa

admitted that they have no proof yet that balikbayan boxes are being used by unscrupulous individuals to smuggle illegal drugs and firearms into the country. n Rie Takumi / KBK, GMA News / September 3, 2015 / 7:13 pm

Weaker peso should not discourage OFWs from investing–analyst OVERSEAS Filipino workers (OFWs) should still consider investing their savings even as the peso hit a new five-year low on Tuesday, a financial analyst said Wednesday.

Astro del Castillo, managing director of First Glade Finance Inc., told GMA News Online in a phone interview that weaker peso did not impact the economy as much as it did before the price of oil stabilized.

“Iba na ngayon. Before, oil prices

in the domestic market tend to increase because weaker ang peso. When the peso is weaker, ang tendency is nagmamahal ang cost mo ng langis because oil is bought with dollars,” Castillo said.

“However, nowadays, dahil mababa ang presyo ng gasolina, hindi masyadong malaki ‘yung effect ng weaker peso. May impact, pero not as erratic as before,” he added.

Because of this, inflation is kept to a single digit and interest rates for loans

are kept at low levels.

“What is realistic is the inflation released by government is still low,

single digit pa rin. Because inflation is low, interest rates are still manageable,” Castillo said.

But before OFWs invest, he advised them to take care of the basics and educate themselves on the different ways of investing their hard-earned money.

“They have to make sure that they own their own house and car (first).

They have to set aside money for their children’s education and for healthrelated purposes. Saka na ‘yung

luxuries,” Castillo said.

Filipino workers can choose to build their own businesses or invest in real estate, though the latter is a long-term venture and prone to speculation.

They may also consult stock brokers or bankers to open an account in the Philippine Stock Exchange or invest in unit time investment trust funds (UITFs) or mutual funds. n Rie Takumi /

KBK, GMA News / September 9, 2015 / 8:24 pm

Nancy Binay scores admin for zero budget for OFW legal assistance SENATOR Nancy Binay on Thursday scored the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) for not alloting budget for the legal assistance to distressed overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the proposed 2016 national budget.

Binay, an opposition senator, said this showed the poor support that the administration has been giving to OFWs, especially in looking after their welfare in times of distress.

“Ganito ba tayo tumanaw sa mga sakripisyo at paghihirap ng ating mga OFWs? Zero budget para sa kanilang legal assistance fund samantalang bilyon ang nire-remit nila kada taon sa ating ekonomiya,” she said in a press statement.

Sought for comment, DBM

Secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad said they are validating Binay’s claim.

“I don’t think that it’s really zero, but we are validating that right now because I think there may be issues there about disbursement,” he said.

Dwindling budget. Binay said the OFW legal assistance fund has been dwindling since last year, when the

DBM proposed only P30 million for the fund.

Binay had pushed for increasing the fund to P100 million, which the Congress approved but President Benigno Aquino III conditionally vetoed when he signed the 2015 national budget, citing lack of income source to justify the creation of the fund.

Binay said Republic Act No. 10022 or the amended Migrant Workers Act provides for the government to set aside P100 million to aid OFWs in their legal concerns, which the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) handles.

The senator vowed to push for the inclusion of the legal assistance fund in the DFA’s 2016 budget.

“I will make it a point during the

ALMOST P47 TO THE DOLLAR

Bishop tells OFWs, families to save while exchange rate is high A prelate ministering to migrant workers has called on OFWs to save and spend wisely now that the exchange rate of the peso against the dollar is at almost P47.

Bataan Bishop Ruperto Santos, the chairman of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines-Episcopal Commission on Migrants and Itinerant People, said that the high exchange rate more spending power for the OFWs and their families.

“This is good for OFW’s since they could have more and can buy more with high exchange rate, yet we caution them especially those who receive remittances to spend wisely and save more,” Santos said in a text message.

Santos urged the OFWs and their families to spend only on the essentials.

“This high exchange is not forever, so budget everything, prioritize what is very necessary and beneficial things for the family,” Santos said.

The exchange rate on Friday closed at P46.92 to the dollar.

Santos also warned OFWs against scams which prey on unsuspected individuals.

“Don’t be attracted to ‘sales’ or to some promotions. And be cautious, be extra careful in investing,” Santos said.

“Check it first with Securities and Exchange Commission about credible, lawful and credited investment agencies,” he added. n NB, GMA News / September 11, 2015 / 8:50 pm

budget deliberations na mabigyan ng LAF ang ating mga OFWs. We cannot compromise the lives of these OFWs just because we don’t have the budget to provide them legal assistance,” Binay said.

“Napaghahalatang manhid ang pamahalaan sa mga hinaing ng mga OFW, isang example na lamang itong zero budget na ayaw nitong tulungan ang mga OFW,” she added.

Anti-OFW? Binay, daughter of Vice President Jejomar Binay, said this is just one of the Aquino administration’s “anti-OFW” policies similar to the automatic collection of the P550.00 terminal fee from plane passengers, including OFWs, at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

RA 10022 exempts OFWs from

paying terminal fee. Although OFWs can make a refund, they complained that the process was burdensome and time-consuming.

“The terminal fee is integrated into the airline ticket pero supposedly exempted sila sa pagbabayad. At bakit kung kailan lamang sila makakauwi ng Pilipinas [ay] saka lang sila makakapila para makolekta ito?” Binay said.

She also mentioned the plan of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) to open balikbayan boxes and tax personal items.

“Mabuti na lang at napigilan natin ang implementasyon ng policy na iyon, na isang panggigipit sa ating mga OFWs,” Binay said. n Amita O. Legaspi and Kathrina Charmaine Alvarez / KBK, GMA News / September 10, 2015 / 5:45pm

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2015 CALENDAR OF EVENTS – UK & EUROPE Saturday 19th September Community Challenge Volley Ball Tournament SPORTSDOCK University of East London University Way, E16 2RD Organiser: PIN-LON Volley Ball Club Aries 07412 869009

Saturday 3rd October 2015 Philippines Cutural Show 2 Baden-Powell House, 65-67 Queen’s Gate, London, SW7 5JS Organiser: Lahing Kayumanggi Dance Company 020 7584 7031

Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th September 2015 MINI OLYMPICS NEWCASTLE UNIVERSITY SPORTS CENTRE Organiser: FILIPINO BRITISH SERVICES OF NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, NE1 7RU SALLY SELLARS - 07886742417 / BONG BANGAYAN 07824338251 / RODGER MANINGDING - 07725892489 / MANNY DABUET - 07809713191 / CESAR ANTONIO 07469951568 / STAN PAGDILAO - 07917004773

Sunday 20th September 2015 Penafrancia Mass Carmelites Church Organiser: Bicol Association UK

Thursday, October 29 at 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm Present in Venice: Extensive Philippine Locality in the Contemporary SOAS, University of London Thornhaugh Street, Russell Square, WC1H 0XG London, United Kingdom Organiser: Batubalani: Developing Philippine Modern Art in the UK 020 7637 2388 study@soas.ac.uk

Saturday, December 5 at 6:00 pm - 11:30 pm UNITED KAPIZNON Christmas Party Vibast Community Centre 163 Old Street, EC1V 9NG London, United Kingdom 0845 474 1137 vibastbookings@redbrick.org.uk

Every Sunday 2:00 pm - 6:00 pm Saturday 12th December 2015 Every 2nd Sunday 2:00 pm Lahing Kayumanggi Rehearsals 6:00 pm - 1:00 am Filipino Family Mass at English Martyrs St. Andrew’s United Reformed Church Hall, Frognal FIL-MO Give Love on Catholic Church Lane (corner Finchley Road), London NW3 7DY. Christmas Day 2015 English Martyrs Catholic Church Nearest tube: Finchley Road.

Mazenod Community Hall, Manod Chalkhill Road, Wembley Park, HA9 9EW Organiser: LKDance Ave., Cor Quex Rd, Kilburn, NW6 4PS Hosted by: Alyssa Gonzales Con tact Lau rence at 07840 602 944 or Vannz Bio 07947160826 Becky at 07949857699 / Lina B at 07579418510 Avery at 07805 239 801 or email info@lkdance.org.u Dules Cabansag 0744597509 k FREE LISTING of your events in HELLO PHILIPPINES newspaper. If you know of any events please contact us via info@hello-philippines.com to submit your event.

DISCLAIMER: The Events Diary Listing does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favouring by Hello Philippines newspaper. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of Hello Philippines newspaper. This is merely an Events Diary Listing of what is happening within the Filipino Communities in Europe. This is for general information only.

2015 MONTHLY FILIPINO COMMUNITY MASSES IN GREATER LONDON 1st Saturday 5:00pm Devotion in Honour of Our Lady of Fatima (Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament / Rosary / Benediction / Mass) St Pius X Catholic Church, 108 Orme Road, Kingston Upon Thames KT1 3SB Oliver Abasolo – 07782 661 922

1st Sunday 2:00pm Five Precious Wounds Parish, Brentfield Road, Stonebridge Park, London NW10 8ER MervicMonocillo – 07894 636 140

1st Sunday 5:00pm Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church, Friar y Road, Peckham, London SE15 1RH Allen Abeleda – 07713 625 888

2nd Saturday 4:00pm St Peter the Apostle Catholic Church, 103 Woolwich New Road, London SE18 6EF Moises Espanola – 07894 648 639

2nd Sunday 2:00pm English Martyrs Church, Chalkhill Road, Wembley Park, Wembley HA9 9EW Becky Sarinas – 07949 857 699 / 07425 761 519 Lina B – 07579 418 510

2nd Sunday 2:00pm St Dominic Catholic Church, 243 Violet Lane, Waddon, Croydon CR0 4HN Merlie Mirto – 07722 216 462

2nd Sunday 4:00pm St. Anselm and St. Cecilia, 70 Lincoln’s Inn Fields, London WC2A 3JA Feliciano Ramirez – 07733 680 748

3rd Sunday 3:00pm Sacred Heart of Jesus, New Prior y, Quex Road, Kilburn, London NW6 4PS Sheidrick de Leon – 07738 210 202

3rd Sunday 3:00pm Blessed Sacrament Parish, 157 Copenhagen Street, Islington N1 0SR Christy Sangalang – 07709 119 969

Last Saturday 6:00pm Our Lady of Dolours, Servite Parish Church, 264 Fulham Road, London SW10 4EL Fr Allan Satur – 020 7352 6965 / fulhamroad@rcdow.org.uk Roland Adap – r_adap@hotmail.com

Last Sunday 12:00pm St Pius X Catholic Church, 108 Orme Road, Kingston Upon Thames KT1 3SB Oliver Abasolo – 07782 661 922

Last Sunday 2:00pm St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, 218 Roehampton Lane, London SW15 4LE Rafael Santiago – 07795 254 451

Every Sunday 5:00pm Holy Redeemer Catholic Church, 20 Brixton Road, Oval, London SW9 6BU Ben Ortiz – 07723 318 486

First Wednesdays 6:30pm Filipino Mass and Novena to Our Mother of Perpetual Help, Farm Street Church of the Immaculate Conception (Jesuit House Chapel), access on 114 Mount Street, London W1K 3AY Josie Ramos – 07723 024 591

September 2015 / Fortnightly – No. 18 • UK & Europe Edition

IMMIGRATION / OFNEWS

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Pinoys in HK, Macau warned vs. job offers for domestic helpers in China THE government on Wednesday warned Filipino domestic helpers in Hong Kong and Macau against recruiters offering jobs in mainland China using tourist or business visas, noting China’s ban on foreign unskilled workers.

According to Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) Administrator Hans Leo Cacdac, China has not eased its policies on unskilled labor including household service workers, caregivers, and nannies.

“Most importantly, business and tourist visas cannot be converted to work visa, which is required of foreign workers before they can work legally in China,” Cacdac said in a statement.

Cacdac gave the warning after the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) reported the increasing number of undocumented Filipino workers in China, most of them domestic workers who transferred to there after finishing their employment

contracts in Macau and Hong Kong.

In the same statement, Cacdac also said teachers must also be wary of internet advertisements for English language teaching positions in China.

“Some Filipino teachers were able to work in China but most of them were eventually deported because they were not given work visas by the Chinese government,” he said.

In 2013, Philippine Ambassador Erlinda Basilio issued the same

warning to Filipino jobseekers after China passed a new law imposing strict rules on illegal foreign workers.

“Those who are found illegally working in China, for example, may be detained for up to 45 days and fined a maximum amount of RMB 20,000 (around US$3,333),” she said.

She added that only diplomats in China were allowed to hire foreigners as household service workers. n Rie Takumi / KBK, GMA News /

September 9, 2015 / 4:27 pm

PHL Embassy in US to implement new appointment system starting Sept. 14 THE consular section of the Philippine Embassy in Washington DC will implement a new appointment system for passport renewals, notarial services, and other consular services beginning on September 14.

In an announcement Friday, the embassy said the appointment system will allow applicants to avoid long queues and to complete their transactions within a predetermined period.

“Walk-ins will still be entertained on a first come-first serve basis,” it said.

According to the embassy, requests for appointment should be sent to consularapp@gmail.com.

Applicants are encouraged to indicate in the subject line his or her family name, type of transaction, and preferred date for processing.

“In case of multiple transactions, please provide details in the body of the email,” the embassy said.

Notarials will be processed on Monday afternoons, and Wednesday and Friday mornings, while civil

registrations will be entertained on Tuesday and Thursday mornings.

The embassy noted that applicants may receive their civil registration and notarial applications in the afternoon of the same day: 5 p.m. for Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday transactions and 3 p.m. for Wednesday and Friday transactions.

Meanwhile, passport renewals are scheduled on Monday mornings and afternoons on Wednesday and Friday. n Rie Takumi / KBK, GMA News / September 11, 2015 / 5:47 pm

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September 2015 / Fortnightly – No. 18 • UK & Europe Edition

Pinoy cooks and chefs take over the world’s kitchens IF you are holidaying on a Mediterranean cruise ship, celebrating your winnings at an Asian casino or dining with the president of the United States, the chances are a Filipino will be cooking your meal.

Since the 1970s, the Philippines has been known for its mass export of workers, particularly poorly paid maids and construction workers who choose an uncertain life abroad above deep poverty at home.

But in recent years there has been a trend towards higher-skilled and betterpaying jobs, and cooking schools in the Philippines are now churning out tens of thousands of chefs a year for kitchens around the world.

“I’ve always been interested in cooking, especially baking, even as a kid,” former bank clerk Rochelle Evaristo told AFP as she took a break from making sandwiches alongside other aspiring cooks at a Manila school.

“I also want to work abroad. My cousin is in Canada and he said they need a lot of cooks.”

In her late 20s, she is among the oldest of the class of 39 mostly teenaged students at her government-run school in Manila.

More than 10 million people from the Philippines work overseas and maids, sailors and laborers are still the most common jobs.

However cooks, bakers, and pastry chefs are becoming the most sought-

AWKWARD?

after professions, with ships, hotels, restaurants and casinos the main employers, the school’s deputy director for operations, Teodoro Pascua, told AFP. Nearly 180,000 Filipinos went to work in ship galleys abroad between 2010-2014, including nearly 72,000 head chefs, with the rest made up of kitchen assistants, waiters and waitresses, according to labour department data.

Over the same period, about 65,000 Filipinos went to work in similar catering jobs in hotels and restaurants in foreign countries.

Filipinos are big assets in the global catering industry because of their English proficiency, the ease with which they adapt to the host countries, and a resilience that belies their easygoing nature, according to Pascua.

“These are soft skills that we have

that make us a little more distinct than either our neighbours or other workers all over the world,” he said.

Pascua also said a graduate of the entry-level six-month course at his school, supervised by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) would be able to master the basics in any kitchen.

“Your employers will know that you won’t drown in the kitchen. You won’t make a mess of anything,” he said.

There are about 2,500 cooking schools—mostly private but also government-run—in the Philippines, according to Pascua.

Remarkable trailblazers.

The culinary trail was blazed by Pablo “Boy” Logro, a former dishwasher who rose to become the personal chef of the sultan of Oman.

Logro got his start helping prepare soft buns for a Chinese restaurant in

Manila, which gave him a ringside view of its chef’s Asian cooking.

He then got a job as a chef’s assistant at a Manila hotel, where he befriended an Arab guest who offered him a sous chef job in Oman in the early 1980s.

It turned out to be at the Al Bustan Palace, where guests of the sultan would stay.

In interviews with Philippine media, Logro said that during his decade-long career in Oman he regularly cooked lamb for the sultan and served visiting royalty and heads of state.

Returning to the Philippines, he became the first Filipino executive chef of a five-star hotel.

He eventually left the job to open his own culinary school and establish himself as a celebrity chef with his own successful television cooking show on GMA. A more recent success is Cristeta Comerford, who began as assistant chef in Bill Clinton’s White House in 1995 after working at five-star hotels in the United States.

She was then appointed executive chef in the presidential kitchen in 2005

by George W. Bush’s wife, Laura, a position she carried into the Barack Obama presidency.

Visiting the Philippines last year, Obama highlighted her introduction to the presidential family of two of the better known Filipino dishes.

“Thanks to her, we in the White

House enjoy the occasional lumpia and adobo,” he said in his toast at a state dinner.

Cooking creating dreams. Evaristo, the former bank clerk, has far more modest ambitions, hoping to earn more money than her previous career that paid just P14,000 ($300) a month.

After on-the-job training at a Philippine hotel or restaurant following her six-month schooling, she hopes to join a cousin in Canada who is the head chef at a Vancouver restaurant.

“My cousin doubled his salary from his previous job here [as head chef of a Manila restaurant chain],” Evaristo said.

While kitchen salaries vary greatly, virtually all pay more than domestic workers earn. Maids are typically paid about $400 a month in Saudi Arabia and $530 in Hong Kong, two of the most common destinations.

Even an entry-level job as a chef’s assistant on a cruise ship pays about $900, according to industry publications.

But while earning more money is the main aim for most students, it also allows them to dare to dream of emulating the likes of Logro and Comerford, according to Imeldaughter Vera, one of the trainers at the Manila school.

“One of my students has gone on to work in a Middle East palace, cooking for a princess,” Vera said. n AFP / September 8, 2015 / 6:28 pm

Two Pinoy restos operate side by side in NY

TITO Rad’s Grill has been lording it over that forked corner of Queens Boulevard and Roosevelt Avenue for nine years. And then about two months ago Kabayan restaurant opened next door, prompting some in the FilAm community to wonder how the two eateries are getting along. The situation has been described as “awkward!”

Kabayan owner Cherry Castellvi was quick to dispel any notion of a culinary competition.

“Oh no! Boyet and I are good friends,” she told The FilAm in an interview. “We’re very close; we’re OK.” She said Kabayan was initially conceived as Eat’s Showtime by her former husband Nel Castellvi, who comes from a family of actors and showbiz personalities in the Philippines.

But somewhere along way to setting up the karaoke bar, Nel fell ill.

“Eat’s Showtime never opened. I took over the lease. I decided to open a restaurant,” said Cherry, a physical therapist by profession.

She knew the restaurant business, she said. She and Nel, when they were still married, previously owned Perlas ng Silangan, which ran for 10 years in Woodside.

At Kabayan, now co-owned by Cherry and her brother Edwin Manuel, she decided to specialize in dishes from the province of Pampanga, where she comes from. She initially thought of naming her restaurant Kabalen, which means ‘friend’ in Kapampangan language. She said Kabayan boasts a variety of “Kapampangancertified” dishes, but would consider ‘kare kare,’ ‘sisig,’ and ‘kilawin’ among the best in its menu.

“We have ‘kilawin kambing’ and ‘sisig na puso ng saging,’” she said.

“We are Kapampangan and they are Visayan, and Tito Rad’s is very well known,” continued Cherry, maintaining that all’s well in their current close-quarters setup.

She pleasantly recalled a recent incident where Kabayan was full house and ran out of ‘lumpiang shanghai.’ They ran next door to Tito Rad’s to order three servings.

“We help each other out,” said Cherry.

“Boyet has a good heart.”

Tito Rad’s. Boyet is Mario Albenio, who owns and operates Tito Rad’s with his wife Susan. He founded Tito Rad’s because “it’s his dream to own a restaurant,” his sister Nenette told The FilAm. “He was a chef,” she said. “Our mother was also a good cook. We had a carinderia back home; it’s only her and one helper.”

The Albenios are from Davao and Sultan Kudarat in Cotabato. Boyet’s concept was a restaurant with one signature dish. At Tito Rad’s, that dish is none other than ‘inihaw na panga’ (grilled tuna belly or jaw), a Davao staple served burnt grilled with achara and paired with ice cold beer.

“We became famous because of this dish,” said Nenette.

When Tito Rad’s opened in 2006, she recalled how her brother had wanted to be as far away from other Filipino restaurants as possible. With its quick rise as a dining destination, Tito Rad’s — originally at a cramped 49-10 Queens Blvd.

location — expanded. It moved next door to 49-12 where it seats more people and can now accommodate large gatherings.

Oddly, it was Kabayan that took over its old storefront.

“Gusto niya mapalayo sana,” said Nenette of her brother’s plans. He is averse, she said, to being in a place where Filipino eateries are “sunud-sunod or dikit-dikit.”

The Abenios were surprised when Kabayan decided to open within spitting distance.

“A lot of our customers were asking us, I said I have no idea,” said Nenette

Kabayan; Tito Rad’s: Within spitting distance. The FilAm photo

smiling. “I guess it’s OK if it’s another kind of restaurant, like a karaoke bar… pero it’s like parang tinatabihan ka.”

Nenette said Tito Rad’s has remained unshaken by the presence of Kabayan.

“We are lucky, blessed,” she said.

“We have built a loyal following.”

Tito Rad’s has a reader rating of 10 out of 10 in New York magazine for ‘Highly Recommended’ By now, Filipinos have a choice without going too far: Kapampangan or Visayan cooking? ‘Inihaw na panga’ or ‘kilawin kambing’? 49-10 Queens Blvd. or 49-12? n September 7, 2015 / 12:38 pm

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INTERNATIONAL / GLOBAL NEWS

September 2015 / Fortnightly – No. 18 • UK & Europe Edition

Japan PM visits flood-hit Joso as rescuers search for missing

AFP - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Saturday visited a disaster-struck city north of Tokyo in the aftermath of massive flooding that killed at least four people, as rescuers raced against time to find more than a dozen still missing.

Parts of Joso, a community of 65,000 residents, were washed away Thursday when a levee on the inugawa river gave way, flooding an area that reportedly spans 32 square kilometres (12 square miles) after the worst rains in decades.

Dramatic aerial footage showed whole houses being swept away by raging torrents in scenes eerily reminiscent of the devastating tsunami that crushed Japan’s northeast coast four years ago.

“I felt more dead than alive,” said a man who was rescued Saturday morning after days trapped inside his home.

“I lived by drinking tea as there was no food. I’m so glad that they came to rescue me,” he told public broadcaster NH .

Akinori Nagaoka, 3 , returned home with his son to find the first floor of the house flooded with muddy brown water.

“I have never seen anything like this before. I wonder when we can come back and live like it was,” he told AFP. Later in the day, police found the body of a man in another river in Miyagi, northern Japan, a police spokesman said, bringing the death toll to four.

While police have yet to identify the man, he was was believed to be a 62-year-old missing in the prefecture where people also suffered floods, local media reported.

As the water receded, police officers wearing life vests shoved poles into thick muddy ground to locate possible victims.

“The city is completely destroyed - we need people’s help,” said -year-old Shinichi Ishizuka.

On Saturday morning, Abe visited the disaster-hit town, about 60 kilometres (37 miles) outside Tokyo, as some 2,000 troops, police and firefighters were deployed to rescue more than 100 people still trapped in water-logged buildings, the bulk of whom were patients and medical staff inside a flooded hospital, local media said.

Picking up the pieces. “We’re doing our best to make things safe by reconstructing the broken (river) bank as quickly as possible to prevent a repeat of this disaster,” Abe told reporters.

The Japanese leader reviewed the extensive damage from a military helicopter and met with evacuees at a shelter.

Some 4,500 people were forced to stay in more than 20 facilities such as schools, public halls, gymnasiums as the region was suffering a halt to water and power supply for the third night.

As the sky cleared, water levels began to return to normal at the river, after the heaviest rain in years pounded the country in the wake of Typhoon Etau, which smashed through Japan this week, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake.

“We are working hard to rescue people trapped in buildings and find those who still are unaccounted for, while pumping out water,” a local government official said.

“But water levels are still high in many areas so that has hampered our operation.”

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (centre) listens to rescue workers as he visits the flood-hit

The number of missing in Joso declined from 22 to 15 after police found more victims alive, including a pair of eight-year-old children. It was not immediately clear where the children were found, but some of those missing appeared to have been among those trapped in flooded buildings.

In Kanuma city, north of Joso, a 63-year-old woman was killed in a landslide, while a 48-year-old

woman was also found dead in Miyagi prefecture, officials said.

Police said the third victim was a 25-year-old man helping to clear clogged drains in the city of Nikko, which is known for its historic shrines.

Another river in Miyagi on Friday burst its banks and flooded a populated area but many residents had already been evacuated. n AFP / September 12, 2015

Singapore rows back to safe harbour in polls AFP - The unexpectedly large victory margin of Singapore’s longruling People’s Action Party (PAP) in a snap general election came from a swing vote triggered by fears of change and instability, analysts say.

Enthusiastic crowds of up to 30,000 attended campaign rallies of the opposition Workers’ party (WP), which was hoping to win up to 20 of 89 available seats, almost triple the seven it held in the previous parliament.

The PAP’s low-energy rallies were dwarfed by comparison and ridiculed in social media. And so the scale of the ruling party’s victory came as a surprise.

The PAP, in power for more than half a century, won 83 seats and scooped up 70 percent of all votes cast, reversing a setback in 2011 when its share of the popular vote fell to an all-time low of 60 percent.

The WP’s seats fell to six and it very nearly lost five of them.

“I think it is a flight to safety. The concern of the PAP being severely weakened has contributed to voters, particularly the middle ground or undecided voters, deciding to plump for the tried-and-tested plan,” said Eugene Tan, associate law professor at the Singapore Management University.

Under the PAP, Singapore grew into one of the world’s richest societies

with near universal home ownership, low crime and a per capita gross domestic product exceeding $50,000.

But the party has also been criticised for quashing protests, jailing dissidents, muzzling the media and driving political opponents to bankruptcy with costly defamation suits.

Yet political freedom was not even one of the hot topics during the campaign, which centred on immigration, the high cost of living, strained public services and the needs of the poor and elderly in a fast-ageing society.

Bridget Welsh, a senior research associate on Asian politics at the National Taiwan University, said the PAP benefited from a “pendulum swing” by the silent majority in the final phase of the nine-day campaign.

“As polling day approached, the opposition?s messages and prominence in the media gained traction. The prominent messages and large crowds provoked a counter-reaction that boosted the PAP performance, an opposition blowback,” she wrote in a post-election analysis.

“The stronger the opposition became, the stronger the response against the opposition, especially among the silent majority,” Welsh said.

In an emailed message to Singaporeans on Saturday, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said the results “show that you have rejected divisive politics, and supported rational

approaches to solving our problems.”

“Our rallies may have been less exciting than the opposition?s, but you understood what was at stake, and stood with us. I thank you for that.

Daniel Goh, a sociologist who ran unsuccessfully under the WP, wrote Saturday on Facebook that the people had spoken “and the collective wisdom is always right.”

“Analysts will fall over one another in the coming weeks to discern the

hearts of voters. For me, the meaning of the results is clear. It is a ringing endorsement of the PAP’s programme of going back to its centre-left roots and PM Lee’s leadership.”

WP chief Low Thia Khiang also acknowledged that there was a “massive swing” in favour of the PAP. “I believe all of us have to accept it,” he told journalists.

The PAP did not wage a totally benign campaign.

A supporter of the People’s Action Party carried a figurine of the late founding father of Singapore Lee Kuan Yew, as results came in for the general election on September 12, 2015

It attacked the character of some candidates and cast doubt on the divided opposition’s ability to govern, alleging that it mismanaged one district it wrested from the ruling party in 2011.

In densely populated Singapore, MPs also manage municipal services, not just create legislation.

Also working in the PAP’s favour were the afterglow from the 50th anniversary celebrations of Singapore’s independence in August, and the outpouring of grief when founding leader Lee Kuan Yew died in March.

“I think that has a significant contributory effect psychologically in favour of the PAP,” said Devadas Krishnadas, chief executive of consultancy Future-Moves Group.

The PAP also learned its lessons in 2011 and moved quickly to address the issues.

Lee’s government sharply reduced the intake of immigrants and foreign workers accused of stealing Singaporeans’ jobs and causing overcrowding.

It poured billions of dollars into improving public housing and mass transport. It expanded a “baby bonus” scheme to encourage parents to have more children. Benefits for the elderly and lower-income families were also unveiled in the run-up to the vote. n AFP / September 12, 2015

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September 2015 / Fortnightly – No. 18 • UK & Europe Edition

APEC hopes Cebu Action Plan as inspiring as Bogor Goals MACTAN, Cebu – Finance Ministers of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) have one fervent wish for the Cebu Action Plan (CAP): that it may end up like the Bogor Goals of 1994.

“It is our hope,” said Finance Secretary Cesar V. Purisima, “that the Cebu Action Plan is going to be referred to again and again in a similar way to how the trade ministers continually refer to the Bogor Goals of 1 in order to gauge progress in their discussions.”

Adopted by APEC leaders at a meeting in 1 in Bogor, Indonesia, Bogor Goals aim for free and open trade and investment in the AsiaPacific by 2010 for industrialized economies and by 2020 for developing economies. APEC members agreed to pursue this goal by further reducing barriers to trade and investment and by promoting the free flow of goods, services and capital. These targets are an ambitious manifestation of APEC’s

common belief that free and open trade and investment are essential to realize the growth potential of the region and enhance economic and social outcomes for all APEC economies.

Cebu Action Plan. The Cebu Action Plan, on the other hand, was launched last Friday here with the goal of building an APEC community that is more financially integrated, transparent, resilient, and connected.

It seeks to promote policies, rules and practices across APEC economies to support strong, sustainable, inclusive, and balanced growth throughout the region The Roadmap consists of four pillars: • Promoting Financial Integration; • Advancing Fiscal Reforms and Transparency; • Enhancing Financial Resiliency; and • Accelerating Infrastructure Development and Financing.

“This is a result of intensive

involvement of every stakeholder from member economies to the international financial institutions and private sector leaders we engaged from Clark to Cebu,” said Secretary Purisima in a joint press conference.

He said APEC Finance Ministers offered flexibility in the framework to make sure it can accommodate changes, additions and give enough room for adjustment to the next hosts of the APEC Summit. Peru will be hosting in 2016, followed by Viet Nam in 201 .

Living document. According to Purisima, the idea is to make the Cebu Action Plan “a living document that allows it to grow as the members see fit.”

“That is the key to making sure this framework will see its vision of free trade and free flow of investments in the region, good governance and sound fiscal position, deeper financial markets that allow for financial inclusion and resilience to global market volatility

and natural disasters, as well as more financing for infrastructure,” he pointed out. “I think in a sense making it more flexible allows it to address the needs of the region, especially with the flexibility it will give to the next host.”

Purisima noted that one of the reasons APEC engaged the private sector in the whole process of drafting the Cebu Action Plan is to ensure that member economies will be able to achieve short-term initiatives.

“A lot of reforms or proposals will require cooperation between the public and private sectors,” he explained. “We heard a lot of feedback which I think we can bring to our respective countries so we can be more responsive to the needs of businesses and bring to life the various pillars of the Cebu Action Plan.”

“This will be a work in progress,” the finance secretary added. “This will be a journey. The important thing is, we don’t lose sight of the vision and the

benefits to us of achieving that vision.”

On Saturday, Purisima said he is scheduled to meet with officials of Peru, the next APEC host, to turn over the framework agenda and “to make sure they will continue to give life to the Cebu Action Plan.”

“We will work closely with our colleagues from Peru to ensure there is proper turnoever of the Cebu Action Plan,” he disclosed.

So what is next for the Philippines after successfully overseeing the launching of the Cebu Action Plan?

“These four pillars apply to us also,” said Purisima. “We would like to implement them on our own as it refers to domestic issues.”

“We will also continue to work with our other colleagues so we can share our own best practices and we can learn from them their own best practices,” he added. n PNA / September 12, 2015 / 8:12 pm

Duterte’s camp labels cancer rumor as black propaganda

Mourners line up for a final view of the remains of Emerito Samarca, executive director of the ALCADEV school in Han-ayan, Lianga, Surigao del Sur, before his burial in Butuan City Saturday. Samarca and Manobo leaders Dionel Campos and Bello Sinzo were murdered in Han-ayan by the military-backed Magahat militia. Photo contributed by IEV

Emerito Samarca, murdered head of ALCADEV, laid to rest

MANILA – Emerito Samarca, the executive director of the Alternative Learning Center for Agricultural and Livelihood Development, who was murdered by the Magahat militia on September 1, will be buried Saturday morning in Butuan City.

Thousands of mourners from different regions of Mindanao staged a funeral march and staged an indignation program at the Guingona Park.

The Magahat, who Surigao del Sur Governor Johnny Pimentel said were organized, armed and trained for use in counterinsurgency operations by the Army, also killed Dionel Campos, chairman of the lumad organization Malahutayong Pakigbisog alang sa Sumusunod or MAPASU, and his cousin, Datu Juvillo Sinzo, who were executed in front of hundreds of

residents of Han-ayan, Diatagon in Lianga town.

Samarca was found in a room of the award-winning school, his hands and feet bound, his throat slit.

Campos will be buried on Sunday in lower Diatagon.

In the wake of the Lianga killings and earlier atrocities, close to 3,000 refugees are now staying at the sports stadium in Tandag City, Surigao del Sur’s capital.

But the Lianga killings also sparked widespread outrage and brought the long ignored plight of Mindanao’s lumad to the public’s attention.

On Friday, activist groups staged a rally and lit candles demanding justice for murdered lumad in front of Camp Aguinaldo, the headquarters of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. n

InterAksyon.com / September 12, 2015 / 7:58 am

THE camp of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte on Saturday denied rumors that the local executive has throat cancer.

“No he has none. That is black propaganda,” Lito Banayo, the mayor’s political adviser, told GMA News Online.

Banayo was reacting to a Facebook post of freelance journalist Philip Lustre Jr., which is already making rounds in social media.

Lustre wrote that Duterte’s real reason for deciding not to run for president in 2016 is that he has cancer of the throat.

“His family is strongly against any presidential run for him because the nationwide political campaign would exacerbate his throat cancer. His health condition could cascade to terminal stage. The info was given to me by a reliable source, who was not authorized to speak about his illness,” wrote Lustre.

Lustre also linked the rumor to Duterte’s earlier statement during an

interview with TV5.

“Duterte likewise indicated his current physical state in an open forum he had with ABC-5 very recently. Somebody in the audience asked Duterte why he was frequently holding the left side of his jaw and neck. Duterte made reference to his health situation cascading from Stage One to Stage Four without categorically saying that he has the Big C.” The journalist urged Duterte to “make a full disclosure” of his current health condition as his name is being repeatedly floated as a possible candidate for president in next year’s elections.

Banayo explained that what Duterte has is a “recurring back pain caused by a bad motorcycle accident some 6 years ago that caused a dislocation of his upper spine.”

He said to ease the pain, the mayor is using Lodicaine patch, which is also prescribed to cancer patients.

“Mayor Duterte keeps talking about his pain patch for the spinal problem,” he added.

Banayo also said that Lustre might have “invented” the cancer story or “his source did.”

Duterte had repeatedly said that he will not run for president.

Last Monday, Duterte said that he is retiring from politics after his term as mayor.

“I would like to categorically state now... na di ako tatakbong president,” Duterte said. “Wala akong ambisyon mag-presidente.” n ALG, GMA News / September 12, 2015 / 5:06 pm

Comelec on voters’ registration: #walangforever THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Saturday tweeted walangforever as it reminded voters that the registration for the 2016 elections will end by next month.

The Comelec said there are only days left for the voters to registration and have their biometrics validated.

The registration of voters will end on Oct. 31, 2015. The registration started last May 6.

Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista had said that the poll body will not extend the deadline for the

voters’ registration.

Bautista explained that the Comelec has to focus on its other tasks, particularly the automated machines that will be used for next year’s elections.

“The deadline is fast approaching.

Filipinos love to wait for the last minute. But we are reminding them to register or have their biometrics taken as early as now,” Bautista said in an interview with GMA News last Monday. n ALG, GMA News / September 12, 2015

/ 11:50 am

NEWS

September 2015 / Fortnightly – No. 18 • UK & Europe Edition

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Karapatan asks UN Human Rights Council to probe Lumad killings HUMAN rights group Karapatan has written the United Nations Human Rights Council to call attention to the killing of Lumad leaders to ask for an investigation into the deaths, which the group blames on the military.

According to a Karapatan press release, the group has sent letters to Dr. Chaloka Beyani, special rapporteur on the Promotion of the Human Rights of Internally Displaced Persons; Christof Heyns, special rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions; Michel Forst, special rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights Defenders; and Victoria Lucia Tauli-Corpuz, special rapporteur on Rights of the Indigenous Peoples.

“We are asking the UN HRC to investigate and recommend actions to the Philippine government on these

issues,” Karapatan secretary general Cristina Palabay said.

The deaths of Dionel Campos and Datu Juvello Sinzo, and ALCADEV school director Emerito Samarca in Lianga, Surigao del Sur earlier this month has been blamed on a paramilitary group that Surigao del Sur Gov. Johnny Pimentel said was organized by the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

The AFP EastMinCom has said the Magahat/Bagani Force, the paramilitary group blamed for the deaths, is not under its control.

Lt.Gen. Aurelio Baladad, EastMinCom commander, said that the paramilitary group “is not part of our command and control” because it is not a Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit.

“This is not a Cafgu… This [group] is not sanctioned, this not under any law,” he said.

But Palabay said: “There is no way the government can deny this as long as it implements counter-insurgency programs like Oplan Bayanihan. The paramilitary groups is one way of tackling this dirty war against the Filipino people. It is no wonder why the AFP has not disbanded these groups—because they work together.”

Col. Restituto Padilla, AFP spokesperson, said the move to involve the UN is an “attempt to internationalize the issue and demonize government and the AFP in regard to the matter”, adding the move was expected.

“The AFP was not involved in the incident and is working and

cooperating fully with the Philippine National Police to ascertain the facts regarding this disturbance,” he said.

He added the AFP is also conducting an internal investigation into the deaths.

“We assure the public that the interests of the Lumads and our respect for their cultural ways is foremost in our minds,” he said. n JDS, GMA News / September 12, 2015 / 6:12 pm

BCDA goes to SC to appeal adverse CA ruling in John Hay row MANILA - The state-run Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) has filed an appeal before the Supreme Court to appeal a ruling penned by Court of Appeals Associate Justice Noel Tijam concerning a dispute at John Hay Special Economic Zone in Baguio City.

The CA ruling had turned back a decision handed down by the Arbitral Tribunal of the Philippine Dispute Resolution Center to evict the private CJH Development Corporation (CJHDevCo) from John Hay for accumulating delinquent payments due.

The CA’s 67-page ruling modified the arbiter’s final award, declaring CJHDevCo’s obligation to vacate and deliver certain leased properties back to BCDA but dependent on BCDA’s payment of P1.4 billion, which effectively rendered the arbitral award empty.

The BCDA, which was supposed to recover all new construction and permanent improvements as stated in the original award, in effect, will get nothing.

“It’s highly irregular. We filed for Certiorari in the Supreme Court,” Arnel

Paciano Casanova, president and chief executive of BCDA said in a statement.

Tijam also ruled that sub-lessees should not be evicted, contrary to the admission of Camp John Hay that its contractual relationship with the so-called

Foggy estate at John Hay in Baguio City. Photo by Tricia Aquino

“third parties” was in the form of a sublease.

Casanova said Tijam’s decision was “grossly disadvantageous to the government.”

BCDA head for legal services lawyer Peter Paul Andrew Flores said that, based on the merits of the case, BCDA is confident that the patently erroneous CA decision will not succeed in the high court.

“Public interest will eventually prevail,” Flores said, elaborating that, should the CA decision be enforced, the government will not benefit because the sublessees have already paid their lease to CJHDevCo until 2046.

The structures will be worthless by the time these are turned over to the BCDA in 2046, as the useable life of a building is typically only about 50 years, he said.

Earlier, the Baguio Regional Trial Court issued a decision for the final award to

make the tribunal decision binding, executory and non-appealable and a writ of execution.

However, CJHDevCo was able to secure a TRO from the CA and the CA eventually issued a decision not only stopping the implementation of the final award but even modifying it.

BCDA said CJHDevCo may have misled its sub-lessees into believing that they were not affected by the final award.

The BCDA underscored that, since the start of the lease of the government property to CJHDevCo, from 1998 to 2000, CJHDevCo had paid out more than P1.274 billion as dividends and advances to its stockholders, affiliates, yet informed BCDA that it was financially incapacitated to defer rental payments worth at least P1.275 billion for that same period. n Clara Masinag / InterAksyon. com / September 12, 2015 / 6:51 PM

SC to govt: pay PIATCO $510M for building NAIA 3 MANILA - In a ruling that set the yardstick for State compensation of property owners, the Supreme Court ordered the government to pay the Philippine International Air Terminals Company Inc. (PIATCO) US$510 million as just compensation for building the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3, which it later expropriated.

The SC’s ruling partially reversed the 2013 Court of Appeals decision setting the amount at $371,426,688.24 as of July 2013, with interest rate per annum at 6 percent; and with those set by the Board of Commissioners created to help a Pasay City court that first heard the expropriation case; and the sum pegged by PIATCO itself.

The SC voted 10-0, with five justices-Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno and Associate Justices Antonio Carpio, Francis Jardeleza and Mariano

del Castillo and Bienvenido Reyes not taking part in the voting.

Reyes was on leave.

“The principal amount of just compensation is fixed at $326,932,221.26 as of December 21, 2004. Thereafter, the amount of $267,493,617.26, which is the difference between $326,932,221.26 and the proffered value of $59,438,604.00, shall earn a straight interest of 12 percent per annum from September 11, 2006 until June 30, 2013, and a straight interest of 6 percent per annum from July 1, 2013 until full payment,” said the ponencia

by Associate Justice Arturo Brion.

The high court pegged the total amount due to PIATCO at $510 million as of end 2014, which the government must pay directly to PIATCO. The SC said it reached the amount for just compensation on the basis of

the depreciated value of the facility.

“The use of depreciated replacement cost method is consistent with the principle that the property owner shall be compensated for his actual loss. The government should not compensate Piatco based on the value of a modern equivalent asset that has the full functional utility of a brand new asset,” the court explained.

The SC ruling partially reversed the 2013 CA decision setting the just compensation at $371,426,688.24 as of July 2013 and an interest rate per annum at 6 percent.

The Board of Commissioners (BOC) created to help the Pasay City Regional Trial Court (RTC) which first heard the expropriation case set the amount, meanwhile, at $376,149,742.56, with a 12-percent interest rate per annum.

PIATCO itself pegged the cost of construction at $842 million. The

Check-in counters at NAIA 3. InterAksyon.com file photo

government said that amount should be just at $149,448,037.

The expropriation proceedings began in the term of then president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, on the allegation that the contract to build the

terminal was anomalous.

In 2005, the SC also voided the agreement between the government and PIATCO, saying it was contrary to law and public policy. n Brian Maglungsod / InterAksyon.com / September 9, 2015 / 5:52 pm

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HEALTH and Lifestyle

Sunlight and vitamin D VITAMIN D is essential for healthy bones, and we get most of our vitamin D from exposure to sunlight. Find out how to make sure you get enough without risking sun damage.

Everyone needs vitamin D to absorb calcium and phosphorus from their diet. These minerals are important for healthy bones. A lack of vitamin D (known as vitamin D deficiency) can cause softening and weakening of bones and lead to bone deformities. In children, for example, lack of vitamin D can lead to rickets. In adults, lack of vitamin D can lead to osteomalacia, which causes bone pain and tenderness.

How do we get vitamin D? Our body creates most of our vitamin D from direct sunlight on our skin.

We also get vitamin D from some foods, such as oily fish (for example salmon, mackerel and sardines), eggs and meat.

Vitamin D is also added to all margarine and infant formula milk, and to some breakfast cereals, soya products, dairy products, powdered milks and low-fat spreads.

How long should we spend in the sun? There isn’t one recommendation

to suit everybody. This is because the amount of time you need to spend in the sun for your skin to make enough vitamin D depends on a number of things.

These include your skin type (for example, how dark your skin is or how easily you get sunburnt), the time of year and what time of day it is.

Short daily periods of sun exposure without sunscreen during the summer months (April to October) are enough for most people to make enough vitamin D. Evidence suggests that the most effective time of day for vitamin D production is between 11am and 3pm.

A short period in the sun means a matter of minutes – about 10 to 15 minutes for most people – and is less than the time it takes you to start going red or to burn. The larger the area of your skin that is exposed to sunlight, the more chance there is of making enough vitamin D before you start to burn.

People with darker skin will need to spend longer in the sun to produce the same amount of vitamin D. In the UK, our skin isn’t able to make vitamin D from winter sunlight (November to March) as the sunlight hasn’t got enough UVB (ultraviolet B) radiation. During the winter, we get vitamin D from our body’s stores and from food sources.

The longer you stay in the sun, especially for prolonged periods without sun protection, the greater the risk of skin cancer. So remember

September 2015 / Fortnightly – No. 18 • UK & Europe Edition

to cover up or protect your skin before the amount of time it takes you to start to turn red or burn later on. For most of the time you spend outside, stay covered up and use sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15. Find out more about keeping skin safe in the sun.

Who is at risk of vitamin D deficiency?

Some groups of the population are at risk of vitamin D deficiency, and the Department of Health advises that they take daily vitamin D supplements.

These groups are: • all pregnant and breastfeeding women • all babies and young children from six months to five years old • older people aged 65 years and over • people who are not exposed to much sun, for example those who cover their skin, or who are housebound or confined indoors for long periods • people who have darker skin, for example those of African Caribbean and South Asian origin It is important that pregnant and breastfeeding women take a vitamin D supplement to make sure their own needs for vitamin D are met, and so that their baby is born with enough stores of vitamin D for the first few months of its life.

People with darker skin will need to spend longer in the sun to produce the same amount of vitamin D.” Pregnant women and children aged five or under,who qualify for the Healthy Start scheme can get free supplements containing vitamin D.

Can you have too much vitamin D? People who take supplements are

advised not to take more than 25 micrograms of vitamin D a day, as intakes from supplements above this amount could be harmful.

The amount of vitamin D contained in supplements is sometimes expressed in International Units (IU), where 0 IU equals one microgram of vitamin D. Your body doesn’t make too much vitamin D from sun exposure, but always remember to cover up or protect your skin before the time it takes you to start turning red or to burn later on.

Further

information.

The Department of Health’s recommendations on taking vitamin D supplements are based on advice from the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN).

SACN produced a report in 2007 that summarised the scientific evidence on vitamin D and health.

SACN is now reviewing the latest evidence on vitamin D and health and will report on this when it is complete.

Watch an animation on Cancer Research UK’s SunSmart website to see how sunburn damages your skin.

In 2010, seven British health organisations produced a joint statement of their views of vitamin D. n NHS Choices

Heatwave: be prepared S o u el ome hot e ther but when it’s too hot for too long there are health risks. If a heatwave hits this summer, make sure the hot weather doesn’t harm you or anyone you know.

The very young, the elderly and the seriously ill are the groups who are particularly at risk of health problems when the weather is very hot. In particular, very hot weather can make heart and breathing problems worse.

“There is considerable evidence that heatwaves are dangerous and can kill,” says Graham Bickler of the e lth rote tion gen y. n ugu t 2003, temperatures hit 38C (101F) during a nine-day heatwave, the highest re orded in the UK. “In the 2003 heatwave there were 2,000 to 3,000 excess deaths (more than u u l in Engl nd. ro Europe there were round 30,000 excess deaths.”

The Public Health England’s heatwave plan 2013 has advice on how to ope during he t e. Kno ing how to keep cool during long periods of hot weather can help save lives.

“Most of the information is common sense,” says Bickler. “It’s not rocket science but it can have a dramatic effect.”

When heat becomes a problem. n er ge temper ture o 0 by d y nd 15 o ernight ould trigger health alert (this figure varies slightly round the UK . he e temper ture can have a significant effect on people’s

health if they last for at least two days and the night in between.

The Meterological Office has a warning system that issues alerts if a heatwave is likely. Level one is the minimum alert and i in pl e rom une 1 until September 15 (which is the period that heatwave alerts are likely to be raised).

• he minimum lert imply me n that people should be aware of what to do if the alert level is raised.

• le el t o lert i i ued there i a high chance that a heatwave will occur within the next few days.

• he le el three lert i hen heatwave is happening.

• he le el our lert i hen heatwave is severe.

Why is a heatwave a problem? The main risks posed by a heatwave are: • dehydr tion not h ing enough water) • o erhe ting hi h n m e symptoms worse for people who already have problems with their heart or breathing • he t e h u tion • he t tro e Who is most at risk? he t e n affect anyone, but the most vulnerable people in extreme heat are: • older people e pe i lly tho e o er 5 • b bie nd young hildren • people ith eriou hroni condition, especially heart or breathing problems • people ith mobility problem or

Shut windows and pull down the shades when it is hotter outside. If it’s safe, open them for ventilation when it is cooler.” example people with Parkinson’s disease or who have had a stroke • people ith eriou ment l he lth problems • people on ert in medi tion including those that affect sweating and temperature control • people ho mi u e l ohol or drug • people ho re phy i lly ti e or example labourers or those doing sports

Tips for coping in hot weather. The following advice applies to everybody when it comes to keeping cool and comfortable and reducing health risks: • Shut indo nd pull do n the shades when it is hotter outside. If it’s safe, open them for ventilation when it is cooler.

• oid the he t t y out o the un and don’t go out between 11am and 3pm (the hottest part of the day) if you’re vulnerable to the effects of heat.

• Keep room ool by u ing h de or reflective material outside the windows.

If this isn’t possible, use light-coloured curtains and keep them closed (metallic blindsand dark curtains can make the room hotter).

• e ool b th or ho er nd splash yourself with cool water.

• rin old drin regul rly u h ter nd ruit ui e. oid te o ee nd alcohol.

• St y tuned to the e ther ore t on the radio or TV, or at the Met Office website.

• l n he d to m e ure you h e enough supplies, such as food, water and any medications you need.

• denti y the oole t room in the house so you know where to go to keep cool.

• e r loo e ool lothing nd hat if you go outdoors.

• he up on riend rel ti e nd neighbours who may be less able to look after themselves.

How do I know if someone needs help? If someone feels unwell, get them somewhere cool to rest. Give them plenty of fluids to drink.

If symptoms such as breathlessness, chest pain, confusion, weakness, dizziness or cramps get worse or don’t go away, seek medical help. n NHS Choices

September 2015 / Fortnightly – No. 18 • UK & Europe Edition

HEALTH and Lifestyle food

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Are sweets ‘good for kids’?

“SWEETS are ‘good for children and may stop them getting fat in later life’,” reported the Daily Mail.

This news story is based on a US study that assessed the diet of more than 11,000 children and adolescents over 24 hours. Researchers looked at how their confectionery consumption was related to their total energy consumption, body fat and other measures of heart health, such as blood pressure and blood fats. Those who ate sweets or chocolate were found to have higher total energy and added sugar intake, but were also less likely to be overweight or obese.

The study has numerous limitations which seriously limit the conclusions that can be drawn. In particular, the study took only a one-off measurement of the children’s sweet and chocolate eating habits at a single point in time, which means it cannot show how eating them affects weight or other factors over time. Also, as it only looked at the children’s diet for 24 hours, it tells us little about their longer-term eating habits. The children’s activity levels were not clearly reported, and may have been higher in the confectionery eaters.

Most importantly, no assumptions should be made about longer-term heart health or body weight, and it should not be concluded that children and adolescents who eat sweets or chocolate will be at lower risk of getting fat in later life or at lower risk of heart disease. The numerous health benefits of a balanced diet and regular exercise are well established.

Where did the story come from? The study was carried out by researchers from Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, Nutrition Impact, and Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, USA. Funding was provided by the USDA Agricultural Research Service, with partial support from the US Department of Agriculture, and the National Confectioners Association.

The funders were reported to have no role in the study’s design or analysis, or in writing the paper. The study was published in the peer-reviewed journal Food & Nutrition Research.

The Daily Mail did not mention the main limitations of this study, which mean that few conclusions can be made from it. Most importantly, there is no evidence from this study to support the statement that “sweets may stop [children] from getting fat in later life”.

What kind of research was this? This study aimed to determine the effect of eating confectionery on children’s health. The researchers looked at the relationship between chocolate or sweet consumption in children and adolescents and their dietary intake of calories, fat and added sugar, their overall dietary quality, their body weight and fat measures, and their risk factors for cardiovascular disease.

This was a cross-sectional study,

in which a “snapshot” of data is taken at one point in time. The results, therefore, cannot show whether sweet or chocolate consumption affects weight or other factors over time.

Current confectionery intake at one point in time can also tell us nothing about longer-term confectioneryeating patterns. Most importantly, no assumptions can be made about future body weight or cardiovascular disease from the current study.

What did the research involve? This study included 11,182 children and adolescents (aged 2-18 years old) who took part in the 1999-2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES).

Automated interviews were used to assess dietary intake over the past 24 hours (parents recalled food intake for children aged five and under, children and parents recalled intake for children aged 6-11, and adolescents aged 12 and over contributed data themselves). The different food types were allocated codes from The Survey Nutrient Databases.

Consumers of sweets and chocolate were defined as those who consume any amounts of confectionery (except gum) and were placed in one of three categories: those eating any type of confectionery, those eating chocolate bars, and those eating sweets. The data were also used to assess the children’s total energy intake, total fat and saturated fatty acid intake. The Healthy Eating Index-2005 (HEI-2005) was used to determine overall quality of the diet. The researchers also collected measures of waist circumference,

The study did not assess sweet-eating habits over time

out the questionnaire, children aged 2-13 years old consumed an average of 11.4g of confectionery, of which 4.8g were chocolate and 6.6g were sweets.

In the same period, adolescents aged 14-18 years old consumed an average of 13g confectionery overall, including 7g of chocolate bars and 5.9g of sweets.

Those who ate confectionery had higher total energy intake (2,249kcal) than those who did not eat any confectionery (1,993kcal), and also had higher total added sugar intake (28g and 23g respectively).

The researchers found that the average HEI-2005 score of dietary quality was no different between those who ate confectionery and those who did not, or in those who ate sweets and those who did not. However, dietary quality was significantly lower in those who ate chocolate bars compared to those who did not.

This study included 11,182 children and adolescents (aged 2-18 years old) who took part in the 19992004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES).” weight, height, blood pressure, and blood fat levels from the participants.

The researchers then looked at body weight measures, dietary quality and cardiovascular risk factors for each confectionery intake group compared to children who did not eat confectionery. The analyses took into account various factors that could affect results, including sex, age, ethnicity and energy intake. Some analyses also took into account children’s reported physical activity.

What were the basic results? The researchers assessed 7,049 children aged 2-13 years old and 4,132 adolescents aged 14-18. About a third of children and adolescents ate sweets and chocolate on the day that they filled out the questionnaire and consumption was more common among girls than boys.

In the 2 hours before they filled

Body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference were lower in those who ate confectionery (BMI 19.5) compared to those who didn’t (BMI 20.1). This result remained significant after the researchers took into account age, gender, ethnic group and overall energy intake. The researchers reported that if they took into account the children’s self-reported moderate or moderate-to-vigorous activity levels, the results did not change, but the fully adjusted results were not provided in the research paper.

After the researchers took into account the same factors, the odds of being overweight or obese were lower among those who ate confectionery than among non-consumers.

Compared to non-consumers, the odds of being overweight were 22% lower in consumers of confectionery (odds ratio OR] 0. , 5 confidence interval CI]

0.68 to 0.90), and the odds of being obese were 26% lower in consumers (OR 0.74, 95% CI 0.66 to 0.82). The effects on these results of taking into account a child’s physical activity were not reported in the research paper.

There was no difference in cardiovascular risk factors (such as blood pressure and blood fat levels) between confectionery consumers and non-consumers.

How did the researchers interpret the results? According to the researchers,

their results suggest that eating sweets and chocolate does not adversely affect health-risk markers in children and adolescents.

Conclusion. This study assessed a large sample of 11,182 children and adolescents in the US. They were asked to recall their diet in the past 24 hours, which the researches then looked at in relation to factors such as body weight and measures of cardiovascular health, including blood pressure and blood fat levels. However, despite the study’s large size, only limited conclusions can be drawn from the results.

Overall, the researchers found that, as expected, children who ate confectionery in the previous 24 hours had higher total energy and higher added sugar intake compared to those who ate no confectionery.

Unexpectedly, they found that overall dietary quality was no different between those who ate confectionery and those who did not. Also, confectionery eaters were less likely to be overweight or obese. However, the reasons for these unexpected results, particularly why children who ate sweets and chocolate had lower weight, cannot be determined. It should not be assumed that children will be healthier or weigh less if they eat confectionery.

There are some important limitations to be considered: • This cross-sectional analysis used a one-off assessment of dietary intake in a single 24-hour period, then related this to current measures of body health. Such an analysis cannot prove cause and effect, as it cannot show how sweet and chocolate consumption over time affects weight

According to the researchers, their results suggest that eating sweets and chocolate does not adversely affect healthrisk markers in children and adolescents.” or cardiovascular risk in the future.

• Intake of confectionery in the past 2 hours may not reflect longer-term dietary patterns. For example, while the study found that children who reported eating confectionery were less likely to be overweight, it is not known whether a child who ate no confectionery in the past 24 hours normally doesn’t eat any, or whether they eat it regularly but didn’t on the previous day.

• A child or parent who knows the child is overweight may underestimate or deny the child’s confectionery consumption because they don’t want people to think that the child has unhealthy eating habits. Also, children who are overweight or obese may be on diets that restrict their sweet and chocolate consumption.

• Although the study assessed the children’s self-reported physical activity levels and took these into account in the analyses of BMI, it was not clear exactly how the researchers did this. The balance between total energy intake and physical activity is a key factor that can affect a person’s weight.

• Finally, the researchers took into account children’s total energy intake in their analyses of the relationship between overweight and obesity and confectionery intake. Making these sorts of adjustments usually helps remove the effects of other factors that may influence results.

However, if eating sweets affects the risk of being overweight or obese by increasing children’s total calorie intake, removing the effect of total calorie intake in this way is likely to lead to an underestimation of the effect of eating confectionery on overweight and obesity.

Most importantly, no assumptions should be made about the longer-term cardiovascular health or body weight of children who eat confectionery. It should not be concluded that children and adolescents who eat sweets or chocolate will be at lower risk of getting fat in later life or at lower risk of cardiovascular disease. The numerous health benefits of a healthy balanced diet and regular exercise are well established. n NHS Choices

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NEWS

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September 2015 / Fortnightly – No. 18 • UK & Europe Edition

Deaf, dumb, and blind to lumads EDITORIAL

AT a roundtable with the Philippine Daily Inquirer on September 8, when asked about the plight of the lumad, about a surge of deaths and murders in indigenous communities in Mindanao, President Aquio said: “There is no campaign to kill anybody.”

Not that he knows (or would acknowledge) at least.

The President’s answer was not only curt, it was pointless. The truth is he was never asked to confirm the crisis.

The assassination of lumad leaders is confirmed and undisputed. The real question was intended to prompt some hint of action. As in: What’s your plan?

In case you haven’t heard: There is fear spreading like a forest fire among communities of lumad - indigenous peoples - in Mindanao.

Recently, tribal leaders Dionel Campos and Bello Sinzo were executed in front of hundreds, including children, in Han-ayan, Lianga, Surigao del Sur, while in a room of the Alternative Learning Center for Agricultural and Livelihood Development (Alcadev), the school to which he had dedicated his life and which had reaped many awards - including from the Department of Education - for its pioneering work with Manobo youth, the beloved educator Emerito Samarca was found with his throat slit from ear to ear.

The gruesome deaths triggered the mass evacuation of close to 3,000 stunned Manobo to Tandag City, where they remain to this day.

Samarca, Campos, and Sinzo were all killed on September 1. Months before then, however, indigenous communities were already sounding the alarm on systematic harassment by a military that had set an arbitrary deadline for ending the communist insurgency. Soldiers, the lumad cried, were recklessly disrupting and chasing away entire lumad villages and closing down schools, all for their alleged sympathies for the New People’s Army.

At the UCCP Haran Mission House in Davao City, hundreds of Manobo

from the hinterlands of Davao del Norte and Bukidnon had already been sheltered for months after soldiers and militias occupied their schools and entire villages.

To the dismay of the lumad, the very person to whom they ran - fellow Manobo Nancy Catamco, a Liberal Party representative from North Cotabato and chair of the House of Representatives committee on indigenous cultural communities and indigenous peoples - parroted the military’s accusations to their faces, and reported them as “manipulated” victims of “trafficking”. Catamco’s recommendation: “Rescue” the lumad by returning them, forcibly if need be, to their militarized communities.

For their part, military leaders twisted a statement by Chaloka Beyani, the United Nations’ special rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons to bolster their claims about the Haran lumad as rebel sympathizers. Beyani called the military’s version a “gross distortion” of what he had attempted to convey.

In all the above-mentioned places and instances, the lumad have been consistent in their despair: they are running from security forces of the state, and from the various tribal militias they arm and command.

Immediately implicated in the killings was the dreaded Magahat Bagani Force (MBF) which the Armed Forces had been using as a “force multiplier”, but which an Army general has now disowned. No, the military says, the MBF does not belong to the list of Citizens Armed Forces Geographical Units (Cafgus) and Civilian Armed Auxiliaries (CAAs) that the AFP maintains. But what’s a list? Surigao del Sur Governor Johnny Pimentel points out that MBF members can be found in military camps toting high-powered rifles like M-16s and Bushmasters.

Aquino’s anointed, Mar Roxas, was last week captured by an independent media outfit, odao Productions,

attempting to strike up a cheerful conversation with some of the 3,000 Manobo refugeesin Tandag. The Manobos literally wiped a clueless grin from the presidential aspirant’s face.

Roxas’ smile turned to bewilderment as the lumad told him why they could not possibly return to their homes.

A surprised Roxas wondered aloud, “but aren’t the soldiers protecting the people?” The lumad would have laughed if they weren’t still suffering from trauma. As he was told about the death of educator Samarca, Roxas’ confusion turned to anger, and instinctively PNoy’s successor had media cameras - until that moment welcome, if not in fact invited - turned off and away. Please, he said, “this is a briefing.”

And thus was Roxas finally briefed.

As if for the first time.

It was not. What it was, most likely, was the closest he got to being shaken by the collar. Thank God for early campaigning funded by your taxes.

It simply cannot be true - we are telling you that we do not believe it - that the President and his most trusted men like Roxas were unaware of the horror that has descended on Mindanao’s indigenous people. Did we mention that Surigao del Sur Governor Johnny Pimentel - like Commission on Human Rights chairman Chito Gascon - is a Liberal Party member?

Pimentel himself has made no bones about whom he blames. He has had the balls to speak not only about how and by whom all of this nightmare started, he has a pretty good idea how it can all be put to a just and satisfying end. Pimentel says the militias and their military handlers should be prosecuted - even killed if necessary.

Hope everybody gets the sense of urgency.

Filipinos know this administration can act with immediacy and doggedness, even stubbornness, when it puts its mind to something.

Just last September 8, the Palace released Memorandum Circular

No. 83, mandating the creation of a National Task Force, chaired by DILG secretary Mar, for the disbandment of private armed groups (PAGs) “in the areas of the Bangsamoro and adjacent regions IX to XII.” Supposedly, such disbandment of PAGS in proposed Bangsamoro core territory is part of government’s commitment under the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro, and to ensure the Bangsamoro enjoy peace in their villages. And yet, while PAGs are to be disbanded ASAP for Moro territory, no such concern for the well-being of the lumad communities is shown. Instead, there is a nagging feeling that private armed groups have been left a loophole to exist because - well who knows why? What is clear is that MC83, citing the Constitution, only targets private armies and other armed groups “not recognized by duly constituted authorities”. Which suggests that maybe there’s some benefit to private armies in certain contexts. Remind us to ask the Ampatuans.

Meanwhile, just the day before Roxas’ awkward encounter with the lumad, he and his boss were in Samal Island and Davao, and at the same time completely in some other vortex where all thought and matter become incomprehensibly dense. All they could discuss was the tourism potential of Samal Island, impressed particularly by local officials’ pitch that the area is ideal for eco-tourism, especially given its being home to lumad - 700 of whom were a stone’s throw away at the Haran compound.

To be sure, more than a century since Igorots were put on display at the World’s Fair in St. Louis, tourism

is still a key context by which the economic value of indigenous peoples are framed in these islands. That, and their inconvenience to other economic activities.

Educated lumad like Samarca are looked upon as dangerous. They are tagged as rebel coddlers just because of the accident of birthrights and geography, (i.e., rebel camps are near their villages) - if not as communists themselves because, you know, they demand rights, schooling, support, concern for their environment, good governance and responsible practices from extractive industries.

Even Education Secretary Bro. Armin Luistro has kept a stony silence on Samarca’s death and the closure of several lumad schools that had for many years, according to DepEd, provided indigenous families a credible, useful alternative schooling stream. Worse, Luistro and DepEd have not even responded to calls to scuttle a department circular allowing military and militiamen to set up camps within public schools in lumad areas.

It is unfathomable that Malacanang is unaware of what is going on. It is unconscionable that no national leader has spoken out on a humanitarian crisis right within our borders.

Lumad are Filipino citizens, marginalized and largely unrepresented. The experience with Catamco only underscores that they have no one speaking for them, even in the most desperate of times.

Well, no, that’s probably not true.

More accurate to put it this way: There is very little evidence that anybody is listening. n InterAksyon.com / September 12, 2015 / 3:55 pm

PNoy to PECC delegates: big-ticket infra projects artl bla ed for traffic oes are vital MANILA - Delegates to the 23rd bus terminals and the commuter rail

President Aquino signs the Philippine Competition Act or RA 10667 in this July 21, 2015 file photo.

The President personally assured delegates to the PECC meeting that an interagency task force is working to mitigate the traffic problems, even as he explained that the infrastructure projects partly blamed for these are also vital to honing the country’s competitiveness. Malacanang Photo Bureau

Pacific Economic Cooperation Council general meeting got an assurance from President Benigno Aquino III himself that an interagency task force is working to solve the traffic problems in Metro Manila, even as he explained that the big-ticket infrastructure projects partly causing these are vital to growth.

Addressing the PECC meeting at the Sofitel-Manila, Aquino said the traffic jams that have become most Metro Manilans’ daily complaint partly arise from the upgrading of key transport infrastructure likeseaports, airports,

system. These are on top of the bigticket projects lined up for the so-called transformation systems.

Such infrastructure is key, Aquino explained, to boosting the country’s competitiveness and boosting the flow of commerce.

Mr. Aquino also touted the economic programs to attain inclusive growth such as infrastructure projects, fiscal management and conditional cash transfer, among others.

Investing in people and human development is a central focus of his

administration, Aquino stressed.

Because of these reforms, Aquino said he is confident it is the people themselves who will henceforth demand integrity, accountabily and sustainable, inclusive growth from the country’s next leaders.

It is the first time Manila is hosting the PECC meeting.

Among those in attendance were business leaders, government officials and civil society leaders from the Asia Pacific. n Roices Naguit /

Radyo5 / InterAksyon.com / September 12, 2015 / 12:33 am

September 2015 / Fortnightly – No. 18 • UK & Europe Edition

NEWS

www.hello-philippines.com

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What penalty payment? LRMC puzzled

by P7.5-B DOTC ‘request’ to DBM MANILA – The group which won the bidding for the LRT1 Cavite Extension Project insists that there is no basis for an alleged claim of P7.5 billion implied in a supposed draft letter from Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya to Budget Secretary Florencio Abad, asking for the amount in “penalty payments” to the Light Rail Manila Corporation (LRMC).

It is absurd for a private partner to make “claims” on the government even before the turnover, LRMC pointed out.

Bagong Alyansang Makabayan leaked the alleged draft letter dated August 7, 2015 last week, with its secretary general Renato Reyes, Jr. saying the penalty payments were “the result of an onerous contract entered into by the Aquino government and the winning bidders.”

In a press release, Reyes called it “a form of sovereign guarantee” that taxpayers would have to shoulder.

But interviewed after the launch of TV5’s elections coverage on Tuesday, Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC) chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan said he had no idea where the alleged claims came from, especially since the LRMC was being pointed to as the claimant.

MPIC, through Metro Pacific Light Rail Corporation, owns 55 percent of the LRMC. Ayala Corporation’s AC Infrastructure Holdings Corporation holds a 35 percent stake, while Australia’s Macquarie Infrastructure Holdings (Philippines) Inc. owns 10 percent.

No turnover, no full assessment, no claim. The concession agreement

between the government and the LRMC provides for claims, but LRMC president Jesus Francisco explained that making any claim even before the turnover was premature because they had not yet been able to see the full condition of the 30-year-old LRT1 system.

“We’re being made to appear that even before we take over the system, we’re already asking money from the

government,” Pangilinan said. “Our right to claim has not yet ripened until we take over the system. And the basis for making any claim has got to be with some fundamental knowledge of the state of the system. Because how can we claim it’s only X number of LRVs (light rail vehicles) if we’re not there inside, right? It’s nonsense.”

The LRT1 will be turned over by the government to the LRMC on Saturday (Sept. 12).

“How can a claim ripen if we’re not in the system, right? We don’t know what’s really going on in the system as we speak. I think we have an idea, but for us to lodge a claim at this stage, there’s no basis. There’s no basis for a number or a basis for a claim,” he said.

Pangilinan also stressed that there was no sovereign guarantee made by the government to the LRMC. No guaranteed return. “There’s no fixed guarantee, for example, 12 percent. No, this is not a guaranteed return. The government is not saying ‘I will guarantee you every year 12 percent no matter what, even if you don’t perform, even if your ridership is low.’ There’s nothing like that. The Republic did not say, ‘Come hell or high water, I will give you 12 percent.’

There’s no such thing,” he said.

Both the government and the private sector had deliverables as stated in their contract, but according to Pangilinan, the LRMC was still taking a risk on the system.

According to Francisco, the LRMC’s source of revenue was a “fare box” from the passengers.

“So the objective is to run our system as best as we can, and that will ensure that there will be ridership, and so we will have a continuous flow of fare box,” he said. “On the other hand we will have to spend a lot of money to keep the trains running, improve the trains.”

The LRMC has to fix the existing trains, as the new trains are expected to arrive either next year or in 2017, he added.

Pangilinan said that they would protect their investment by

LRT1 coach at the central station, file photo. ©InterAksyon.com

“performing under the concessionaire agreement.”

Among their deliverables were the modernization of existing platforms, the construction of eight new platforms and three intermodal facilities, and the replacement of train tracks. Safety and ridership experience were their top concern, Pangilinan said.

On the part of the DOTC, it was expected to have monitored and maintained the LRT1 before the turnover, to acquire right-of-way, and to buy 120 LRVs.

2 phases: takeover of old system. construction of extension. The

partnership has two phases: the taking over of the old system by the LRMC, and the construction of the extension to Cavite. There is no date yet for the start of the construction, as this depends on the government’s delivery of right-of-way.

LRT1 passengers can expect to feel changes in the coming days or weeks after the turnover, but other improvements will take longer, Francisco said.

He added that even before the turnover the LRMC was allowed to make improvements such as putting proper signs and clearing exits.

“We’ll do our best, we’ll do our fastest to improve the safety. I think that’s our principal concern when we do take over, and of course, to improve the ridership experience of the passengers. But that will involve a whole mix of improvements that we need to undertake as quickly as we can,” Pangilinan said.

Meanwhile, Pangilinan said there would be no fare increase immediately after the turnover, as it had already been “substantially implemented by the government.” However, there was a “shortfall of 10 percent.”

“It’s already there, the public is already paying the fares that have been increased by the government. We will follow that,” he said.

However, he said they would request for fare increases over time because the extension would take a lot of money to construct.

Francisco said that all fare increases would have to be approved by a government body first, and that during the bidding period, the government told them that there would be “an orderly manner of getting some rate adjustments.”

“And I think they said every two years there will be an adjustment of X

percent. That’s part of the concession agreement, the deliverables by the grantors. So if in the first increase they did not quite bring it up to the level that they put in the concession agreement, it’s a deficiency that they will make up for. That’s I think well covered in the concession agreement,” he said.

Pangilinan stressed that they would only be staying within the terms of the concession agreement.

“It’s a bilateral agreement. You have something you have to do, and we have something we have to do. If you don’t do it, it could give rise to a claim later on. If we do not do what we have to do, it could give rise to a claim from the government on us,” he said.

The adherence of both parties to the concession agreement spelled the difference between a successful public-private partnership and an unsuccessful one, Francisco added.

For Pangilinan, the PPP needed to succeed because of the terrible traffic conditions in the country.

Asked if he was interested in other LRT lines, he said they would take a look at them, although this did not mean that they would make a bid. n Tricia Aquino / InterAksyon.com / September 9, 2015 / 4:10 pm

At APEC meet, World Bank VP lauds PH for ‘good job’ in 5 areas LAPU-LAPU City, Cebu – A top World Bank official on Friday gave the Philippines a pat on the back saying it has done a “good job” in five areas.

At a press briefing on the AsiaPacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Finance Ministers’ Meeting held in Cebu, Axel van Trotsenburg, World Bank Vice President for East Asia and the Pacific Region, on Friday said the areas are: u Management of people’s money. “In the APEC context, best practices include fiscal transparency.

The Philippines has been a leader in this,” van Trotsenburg said. v Getting more private

companies in public infrastructure development. “In many economies, public sector dominates infrastructure.

And they struggle to get the private sector to participate,” said van Trotsenburg.

But, for him, the Philippines is a model economy for successfully implementing private business ventures.

“They can look at the Philippines’ public-private partnerships,” he noted.

“In East Asia, the Philippines has more private sector participation.” w Disaster-risk reduction and management. Due to experiences such as the super typhoon Yolanda (international name Haiyan) in 2013, the Philippines was able to find new ways to “build back better.” x Support for the poor. In terms

Axel van Trotsenburg, World Bank Vice President for East Asia and the Pacific Region.

of providing support for the poor, van Trotsenburg said the Philippines benefited from the experience of Mexico, Peru, and Colombia on the conditional cash transfer (CCT) program.

“Programs (such as the CCT) have shown...how to ease the situation of inequality,” he said. “To fight exclusion, you have to ensure that kids in disadvantaged situations have a fighting chance to succeed.”

In the Philippines and other Latin American economies, CCT had been scaled up quickly, van Trotsenburg said.

“There is a lot of transparency on this and active empowerment at the local level,” he said. “Conditional cash transfer programs have proven more successful in this.” y Overall economic management.

On the Philippines’ overall economic management, van Trotsenburg said “authorities have done a good job.”

“The Philippines allowed for prudent macroeconomic policies that have lowered

the inflation rate,” he pointed out.

“World economy has varying factors that influence economies positively or negatively. The Philippines has done relatively well.”

East Asia. But the Philippines was not the only economy doing a good job addressing the “growth agenda.”

East Asia has been a world leader of economic growth.

Van Trotsenburg however said that simple growth, although an important precondition, was still not enough because it also had to be inclusive and sustainable.

“While poverty reduction in the region has been unprecedented, a lot of challenges remain,” he said.

With 100 million people in East Asia still living in extreme poverty, he said the real challenge was to make sure that these people also benefited from the growth.

“The World Bank has emphasized that growth benefits all, and in that context has emphasized that policy matters,” van Trotsenburg said.

According to him, it was very important for World Bank to join the APEC meetings hosted by the Philippines this year.

“The APEC setting is unique because it unites East Asia with key countries in the West,” he said. “As it unites Asia and the West, APEC allows for powerful exchange of knowledge and experiences across hemispheres.” n PNA / September 12, 2015 / 12:31 am

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www.hello-philippines.com

AN OPEN LETTER

NEWS

September 2015 / Fortnightly – No. 18 • UK & Europe Edition

They’re killing teachers and children, Mr. President (EDITOR’S note: This piece appeared in Inday Espina-Varona’s blog on the ongoing attacks against the indigenous people of Mindanao and she gave InterAksyon.com permission to repost it.)

Dear President Aquino, Malacanang is a long way off from Mindanao’s verdant, rugged mountains. So maybe the news hasn’t reached you yet. I’m presuming it hasn’t. It’s hard to believe a man who still regularly shares the pain of his father’s murder can be silent in the face of our lumad children’s nightmare.

You felt horror and rage on the assassination of your father, Ninoy.

I am sure you can empathize with a 15-year-old Manobo boy from Sitio Mando, Barangay Mendis, Pangantucan, Bukidnon.

He didn’t just hear of the murders of his kin, Mr. President. He actually begged soldiers to spare their lives, appealing that his father, brothers and cousins be jailed if, indeed, they had done anything wrong.

His father was 70 and blind; his brothers 20 and 19 years old. One of his cousins was 13 years old; the other was 17.

He begged the soldiers, Mr. President. And they shot father, brothers, and cousins, one by one.

Maybe you were told soldiers had slain New People’s Army rebels in an encounter.

Well, here are the identities of the slain “rebels”: Herminio Samia, 70; sons Joebert, 20, and Emir, 19; and relatives Norman, 13, and Elmer, 17—a blind senior citizen, two children, two very young adults.

Your father was a mature opposition politician when jailed. He was tempered by decades of struggle when he was murdered.

What were you doing when you were 13, Mr. President? Can you imagine what Norman felt as soldiers pointed their guns at him, as he saw the others fall? Can you imagine what a 13-yearold boy feels watching the horror and knowing it is coming for him?

The NPA is engaged in guerrilla warfare. How can a blind 70-year-old man be a guerrilla?

They were all kin, Mr. President.

Please scour intelligence reports. It’s rare—possibly unheard of—to have an entire family in one guerrilla unit. You see, villagers say the actual encounter with rebels happened kilometers away.

As the years of dictatorship under your father’s tormentor show, soldiers like punishing civilians to deter others from supporting rebels. Yet I am sure your father told you—since he spoke publicly so many times on this—that this strategy only fueled the rebellion in the countryside.

The Bukidnon Five were killed August 17.

On September 1, in Diatagon, Lianga, Surigao Sur, the head teacher of a lumad alternative school was found murdered.

Emerito Samarca’s students at the Alternative Learning Center for Agricultural and Livelihood Development (Alcadev) discovered his body inside the school. They had rushed to inform him of soldiers and lumad paramilitary herding people out of their homes.

Their nightmare started the day before, when armed men torched a cooperative beside Alcadev. They had also gone around homes looking for several men, including a datu. As they went house to house, they accused residents of being NPA supporters and the school, a training ground for guerrillas.

You went to one of the country’s best schools, Mr. President. The folk at Diatagon had no access to education until private efforts established Alcadev for Manobo, Banwaon, Higanon, Talaandig, and Mamanwa youth.

The military calls it a school for rebels. Ask your researchers, Mr. President, to scour the global Web for any rebel school that has received an award.

Alcadev was conferred the National Literacy Award twice, in 2001 and 2005. The award goes to “nongovernment organizations or academic institutions involved in delivering the Department of Education’s alternative learning system program and which have developed and implemented literacy programs that have made a positive impact on learners and the community.”

The award is given to credit those that step in and fill the vacuum in governance.

Alcadev was also a finalist last year regional winner, fifth place nationwide. I don’t know how many guerrilla training centers are visited by national education officials. Please check this Facebook page, showing officials from the DepEd’s Literacy coordinating council and regional and provincial offices, the Lianga mayor’s executive secretary, the barangay council, and even the municipal police.

You tout government’s anti-poverty program, Mr. President. Here is what an Alcadev student has to say: Amalyn: We can see how our community has changed since Alcadev started. If before most of the households could only eat rice once a day, now almost all of the households can eat three times a day. Where can you see a school whose curriculum is

Lumad leaders. Photo from Davao Today

designed not just for the improvement of individual students but the community at large?

The school won despite its teachers and students having to periodically evacuate when soldiers take over their school or demand that the community give up key lumad leaders.

You should have met with some of Alcadev’s students when they were in town late last year to protest the militarization of their schools. These children of the Manobo stood tall.

They spoke in fluent Tagalog and were equally fluent in English.

These same children saw Dionel Campos and his cousin Belio Sinzo shot dead by the armed men on September 1. Campos was chair of the Malahutayong Pakigbisog alang sa Sumusunod (MaPaSu). The organization, Mr. President, was instrumental in in putting up Alcadev.

The military says the Bagani does not exist. The communities even have names for this phantom group, depending on the location. In Lianga it is called Magahat/Bagani.

The military says it knows nothing about the Bagani. It vows to go after the criminals who murdered the three men in Lianga. But, Mr. President, Imelda Belandres, who was disturbed at her father’s wake, says the soldiers were there on the eve of the massacre.

She says they were with the Magahat/ Bagani when the pre-dawn roundup occurred.

What is happening, Mr. President?

In Davao, Bukidnon, and Surigao,

soldiers have been ordering folk not to patronize the alternative schools.

Do your soldiers think education is a dangerous thing? It probably is to those who thrive on exploiting the country’s socio-economic margins.

You see, Mr. President, the Surigao, Bukidnon communities, and the ones now huddled at the Haran Mission in Davao City, share one common trait.

All their communities have been engaged—some for decades—in a fierce struggle to protect their ancestral lands from big-ticket “development” projects. And education is a valuable lesson against those seeking to grab their lands.

It’s a resistance also to be found in the areas around the Tampakan Mine project, Mr. President, where 10 lumad, including a mother and her child, have been killed.

You do remember, Tampakan, Mr. President? It’s the mining concern gifted with national approval despite the South Cotabato provincial council’s ban on open-pit mining.

Please revisit your father’s speeches and writings, Mr. President. Read what he says about scorched earth tactics, about how oppression only strengthens rebellion. And then think about the children of Diatagon and Sitio Mando and Talaingod.

Revisit your rage as a young man, Mr. President. Revisit your past.

Perhaps you might find the will to stop the murders of children and their teachers and their parents. n Inday EspinaVarona / September 7, 2015 / 12:27 pm

Church circulates Oratio Imperata for El Niño

File photograph of Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle by Lester Lopez, InterAksyon.com

MANILA - Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle on Friday called on the faithful in Metro Manila to offer an Oratio Imperata, or obligatory prayer, for provinces that are affected by the impending drought due to the El Niño weather phenomenon.

An oratio imperata is a mandatory prayer ordered by a bishop in his diocese for a special intention.

The circular was addressed to all “clergy, superiors of religious communities, and heads of secular institutes in the Archdiocese of Manila” to offer an obligatory prayer during Sunday masses for divine intervention to shorten the period of El Niño and bring more rain to help avert the crisis.

“This impending situation brings

us to the brink of helplessness, but not hopelessness, as we turn to God our Father, to turn His mercy on us and shorten the life of El Niño,” Tagle stated.

The state weather bureau, Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), has forecast that El Niño this season could intensify to a new record high.

“This means prolonged drought in about 46 provinces, causing damage to agricultural lands and critical water supply situation for human consumption,” Tagle lamented.

Likewise, Tagle also sought forgiveness for the people’s neglect and abuse of the country’s natural resources and environment.

“In praying to Him for His compassion and benevolence, we also seek His forgiveness for our ecological sins, our neglect and abuse of the environment, our ‘throw-away’ culture, and our failures as stewards of His creation,” the Cardinal said.

Tagle said the first two parts of the prayer will be recited during the daily and Sunday Prayer of the Faithful of the Mass, while the rest of the entire prayer must be continued after Communion and before the Post Communion Prayer, where people are kneeling down.

“Let us together storm the heavens with our supplications, that God’s mercy be upon us,” he said. n Anne Fernandez / InterAksyon.com / September 11, 2015 / 4:43 pm

September 2015 / Fortnightly – No. 18 • UK & Europe Edition

&

E N T E R T A IN M E N T C E L E B R IT Y

Scoop

www.hello-philippines.com

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Pinay sisters lauded in ‘X-Factor UK’ are drafted professionals—report THE all-Filipina girl group who recently made a splash on talent show “X-Factor UK” may find themselves at the center of controversy following claims that they are seasoned professionals who have TV appearances and record releases in the Philippines and other Asian countries.

4th Power, a group of four sisters hailing from Isabela province, dazzled the ‘X-Factor UK’ audience on the first week of the talent show’s 12th season by belting out the hit song ‘Bang Bang’

by Jessie J., Ariana Grande, and Nicki Minaj, complete with an energetic dance number.

Their performance not only impressed the audience but also won a standing ovation from judges Simon Cowell, Cheryl Fernandez-Versini, Rita Ora, and Nick Grimshaw.

Prior to their performance, a home video that showed their trip from the Philippines to the United Kingdom to

audition was played, capturing how anxious and excited the sisters — Mylene, Celina, Irene and Almira — were to perform in front of the judges.

Drafted? Citing an unnamed source, an article on Mirror, a UK tabloid, said show producers drafted the girl group with full knowledge of their professional background, and have had several meetings and deliberations before inviting them to be a part of the show’s latest season.

“Executives looked at everything they had done before and discussed them at length before making the decision to invite them back and make them a big part of the launch show.

Obviously they were exactly what had been expected. But the judges had not been told what was coming, to ensure their reaction was as strong and completely natural as it could be,” the article quoted the source as saying.

The group has competed in several

talent shows in the Philippines, including “Pinoy Idol,” “It’s Showtime” and “Talentadong Pinoy.”

The Pinay sister act has been known by names such as The Gollayan Sisters and The Cercados and have also joined the biggest talent show in South Korea, “Superstar K6,” as M.I.C.A., where they reached the competition’s final round.

They reportedly debuted as 4th Power in the “X-Factor UK” auditions this week, and got four ‘Yes’ votes after they won the hearts of the judges.

Foreigners welcome. Simon Cowell showed full support for the Pinay girl group, despite being foreigners.

“It felt their time was right and if they have been on something before we could do a better job with them, make a better record than anyone else.

They got a bigger reaction than any British act. They could give Little Mix a run for their money,” he said.

Cowell added, “Part of me welcomes foreign talent in case we may not find enough at home. Another part of me

thinks it is a badge of honour if you do well on the UK show. We sell it all around the world. That’s the one they all want to audition for and I’m competitive against the other versions of the show. So I like it if foreign talent comes to the UK and not to their home country.”

The issue of whether professionals should be allowed on the show has yet to be settled.

However, this is not the first time that the show was attacked for “scouting” talents, like former finalists Jahmene Douglas and Stevi Ritchie, who admitted to being drafted by the show’s bosses.

According to the rules of the show, “Acts may be invited to audition for the programme by researchers acting on behalf of the producer. Such acts will be required to go through the audition process.” n Bianca Rose Dabu / KBK, GMA News / August 31, 2015 / 8:08 pm

Katrina Halili, ‘tinatakasan’ daw ang anak upang makapunta sa taping IPAGDIRIWANG ng anak ni Katrina Halili na si Katrence o Katie ang ikalawang kaarawan nito sa susunod na linggo, at gaya ng sinumang magulang, hindi makapaniwala ang “Destiny Rose” star sa bilis ng panahon.

Ibinahagi ni Katrina na lumalaki man ang kaniyang anak, nananatili itong sweet at malapit sa kaniya, kaya naman nahihirapan umano siyang iwan ito sa mga pagkakataong mayroon siyang showbiz commitments na dapat puntahan.

“Ayaw niya [humiwalay]. Sobrang sweet. Minsan tumatakas talaga ako.

Sabi nila huwag daw tatakas, dapat magpaalam para alam nila na babalik ka. Minsan nagpapaalam ako pero minsan tumatakas ako kasi umiiyak nang matagal. Kawawa naman ‘yung bata, so tinatakasan ko na lang. Okay naman din,” kwento ni Katrina sa press conference ng “Destiny Rose” noong Martes.

Upang makabawi sa ginagawa niyang pagtakas paminsan-minsan, sinisiguro ng Kapuso actress na nagkakasama pa rin sila, lalo na kung walang pasok sa ekswelahan si Katie.

Minsan raw ay sinasama niya ang anak sa taping, o nananatili siya sa bahay sa

mga araw na walang trabaho.

Ayon kay Katrina, “Kahapon, kasama ko siya sa taping. Ang call time ko 7 a.m.

Umalis ako ng 5 a.m., kasama ko na siya ng 5 a.m. Napack-up ako ng mga 2:30 a.m. At least whole day magkasama kami.

Happy naman. Pagoda siya.”

“Kapag wala akong taping, nasa bahay naman ako. After taping, diretso agad ako sa bahay. Kasi every time na wala akong trabaho, nandoon lang ako sa bahay, nandoon naman si Katie,” dagdag pa niya.

Matapos ang pagganap niya sa GMA Primetime series na “The Rich Man’s

Daughter,” kabilang naman ngayon si Katrina sa star-studded cast ng transgender series na “Destiny Rose,” na pagbibidahan ng Kapuso actor na si Ken Chan.

Bibida rin sa naturang teleserye sina Manilyn Reynes, Jackie Lou Blanco, Michael de Mesa, Joko Diaz, Sheena Halili, Katrina Halili, Fabio Ide, Ken Alfonso, Jeric Gonzales, JC Tiuseco, at marami pang iba.

Mapapanood na ang “Destiny Rose” sa GMA Afternoon Prime simula September 14. n Bianca Rose Dabu / RSJ,

GMA News / September 10, 2015 / 1:26 pm

Enrique Gil reported ‘drunk and disorderly’ during plane ride ACTOR Enrique Gil is in hot water after he was reported to be involved in a commotion with several of his fellow ABS-CBN stars inside a passenger plane bound for London last Friday.

“Showbiz Konek na Konek” host IC Mendoza first posted a blind item on his Instagram account Wednesday about a drunk young actor who allegedly created a scene on the plane after a young actress he was trying to fool around with got mad at him when he hit her a little too hard.

That was when the actor got even more rowdy as a popular TV host tried to pacify him but to little avail. Another actress, the other half of their popular love team, also tried to intervene but ended up being cursed by the actor, whom she reportedly slapped in return.

Gossip blog Fashion Pulis reported about the incident on Thursday and identified the rowdy young actor as Enrique Gil, the offended actress as Jessy Mendiola, the TV host as Luis Manzano, and the other actress as Liza Soberano, Gil’s onscreen partner and rumored girlfriend.

The report also named two other actors, Paulo Avelino and Jake Cuenca, as those who egged Gil to drink Johnnie Walker Black Label, the liquor that caused his erratic behavior.

IC himself reported on the incident in “Showbiz Konek na Konek” and interviewed an eyewitness who was on the same flight and relayed that Gil’s unruly behavior continued all the way to the immigration area at the London airport where a companion tried to cover his mouth to avoid being noticed by the authorities there.

“Nag-iingay siya at makulit… may nabasag siyang baso tapos nambabastos ng babae.

Alam mo yung iniidolo ka ng tao tapos nambabastos ka ng babae na hindi ka naman pinapansin,” the unidentified eyewitness narrated.

In a cryptic Instagram post believed to be directed at Enrique, Jessy posted a quote attributed to Buddha that said, “Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon and the truth.”

Jessy captioned the post with this message: “The truth will always

come out no matter how you lie about it. You know what you did, so don’t try to squeeze yourself out by fabricating stories. Even trying to ruin other people’s relationship with your twisted mind. Someone heard and saw what you did. What goes around comes back around brother.”

For his part, Enrique posted a series of quotes to his Instagram feed that alluded to his faith in God, the most intriguing of which is the mathematic equation, “1 cross + 3 nails = 4 given”.

His most recent post on Thursday was a photo of himself and Liza Soberano which curiously shows her holding his fist and pointing it in his face in a punching position.

Jake Cuenca, on the other hand, was quoted in reports as denying any involvement in the issue and claimed that he was asleep for the entire duration of the flight. None of the other stars named in the incident have directly addressed the issue in their social media accounts even as IC called on Enrique to air his side. n Edwin P. Sallan /

InterAksyon.com / September 10, 2015 / 7:20 pm

Liza Soberano and Enrique Gil. Photo posted by Enrique Gil to his Instagram feed

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Scoop The Jets to perform in Manila and Cebu for 30th anniversary tour 28

www.hello-philippines.com

RETURNING to the Philippines to perform for the third time, the Minnesota-based family act The Jets will headline two shows this November in Manila and Cebu as part of their “30th Anniversary Greatest Hits Live Tour.”

Best known for dance pop and R&B hits like “Crush On You,” “You Got It All,” “Cross My Broken Heart,” “Rocket 2 U,” and “Make It Real” during an impressive chart run from the mid-to-late 1980s, The Jets consist of Wolfgramm siblings Liz, Moana, Haini, Leroy, Rudy, Eddie, Natalia and Donnie, who originally hail from the South Pacific island of Tonga.

E N T E R T A IN M E N T C E L E B R IT Y

The group cites Earth, Wind and Fire as not only their main influence not only in terms of music but also when it came to their stage presence which included those glittering costumes.

In a 2014 interview posted on their website, Liz and Moana revealed that their original name was actually Quasar, which was taken from a then popular but now defunct brand of television sets.

They eventually settled for the The Jets taken from the classic Elton John song, “Bennie and The Jets”. Although known for dance-oriented tunes and R & B ballads, The Jets also tried

other musical genres over the years, including country and pop.

Although their popularity did not carry over through the 90s and beyond, The Jets still managed to leave behind a lasting musical legacy as many contemporary artists have recorded their songs, including Britney Spears who covered “You Got It All” in 1997 and Aaron Carter who reworked “Crush On You” also in 1997.

More recently, British electronic dance music trio Nero also sampled “Crush On You” for their 2011 album while Lawnchair Generals, another EDM act, also sampled “Rocket 2 U” for their song, “One Thing.”

September 2015 / Fortnightly – No. 18 • UK & Europe Edition

Produced by Random Minds Inc. and CTK Inc., “The Jets Live! 30th Anniversary Greatest Hits Tour” is happening on November 6, Friday, 7PM at the newly renovated The Kia Theatre (formerly New Frontier

Theater), and on November 8, Sunday, 7PM at the Waterfront Cebu Hotel and Casino.

Tickets are available at all SM Tickets and Ticketnet outlets. n Edwin P. Sallan / InterAksyon.com / September 8, 2015 / 6:23 pm

Barbie Forteza downplays any competition with Kathryn Bernardo HINDI maiwasang masangkot sa kaliwa’t kanang isyu ang “The Half Sisters” star na si Barbie Forteza at Kapamilya actress Kathryn Bernardo dahil bukod sa dalawa sila sa mga itinuturing na magagaling na teen stars sa industriya ngayon, parehas din silang binabansagang “Teen Queen.”

Nilinaw naman ni Barbie na

imposibleng magkaaway sila ni Kathryn.

Aniya sa ulat ng GMANetwork.com, “Ito ang totoo ha. Hindi naman po kami magkaaway ni Kathryn kasi hindi naman po kami nagkikita. So there’s no chance na magkaaway kami.”

Sinabi rin niya na wala siyang ideya kung saan nanggagaling ang mga isyung

ibinabato sa kanila ng kapwa artista.

“Wala naman pong kaso sa ‘kin ‘yon dahil I have nothing against Kathryn.

Nasa inyo na lang po ‘yan kung sa tingin niyo ay ‘yung pamba-bash niyo sa ‘kin ay ikagaganda ng image ng idol niyo, ng inyong teen queen,” paliwanag ng Kapuso teen star.

Umiiwas na lamang raw si Barbie sa

pagpatol sa bashers dahil kampante siya na walang problema sa pagitan nila ni Kathryn.

Ayon sa kaniya, “Actually, dinededma ko lang. Pero okay kami ni Kathryn. Hindi ko nga lang alam kung natatandaan niya pa ako.” n Bianca Rose Dabu / KG/JST, GMA News /

September 10, 2015 / 1:23 pm

Jasmine Curtis-Smith happy with career but mum on lovelife

AMID all the talk that she’s being wooed by Brian Poe Llamanzares and will be working again with ex-boyfriend Sam Concepcion in a restaging of her recently well-reviewed play, Jasmine Curtis-Smith is keeping her focus on what is the most important thing to her at this point: her career.

“I’m just happy that I’m working. I can definitely feel that I’m busier this year so I guess that’s a sign that my career is doing well,” she happily told InterAksyon and other media during the press launch for the restaging of The Sandbox Collective’s “No Filter”, now re-titled “No Filter 2.0.”

Just a week earlier, Jasmine also

met with members of the media at the press conference for her new TV5 teleserye, “My Fair Lady”, based on the hit Koreanovela where she also admitted to having a very hectic work schedule.

“My workflow since 2013 after I did ‘Undercover’ is really busy so I’m really surprised how tiring it can be. I can say this is like a 9 to 5 but in our case as actors, we have extensive hours. I guess it also has something to do where I’ve been placing my priorities and what I want to do in terms of work,” she earlier said.

With regards to the much-publicized surprise appearance of Brian in that

Combination photo shows Jasmine Curtis-Smith talking to Brian Llamanzares during the press launch of TV5’s ‘My Fair Lady’ and (below) speaking to reporters while seated beside ex-boyfriend Sam Concepcion during the press conference for ‘No Filter 2.0’. Photos by Edwin P. Sallan ©/InterAksyon

earlier press conference, Jasmine has decided to keep mum about the subject in her recent interview.

“I don’t really want to answer questions about it. I don’t want people to judge whatever is happening and maybe I’m also not the best person to ask about it,” she remarked when asked about the trending hashtag #JasPoe that followed after her first meeting with Brian.

She did admit that she was surprised by Brian’s appearance at the press conference. Brian — son of Sen. Grace Poe, and a reporter (on leave) for CNN Philippines who has also acted in “Maalaala Mo Kaya” and the indie film “Filemon Mamon” — was quoted as saying that he thought the event was the best opportunity for him to finally meet Jasmine whom he admitted to have been fond of for quite sometime.

Brian also made no bones about his intention to court Jasmine and subsequently visited her on the set of the show.

But just when talks about #JasPoe are beginning to heat up, along came another surprise when it was announced at the “No Filter 2.0” event that no less than Sam Concepcion would be Jasmine’s alternate for the restaging. Sam is one of three new cast members for the show, along with Carla Humphries and Paolo Valenciano.

Unlike the original “No Filter” where Jasmine did all the shows, she said her current schedule simply would

not allow her to do it again this time so she and the play’s director, Toff de Venecia considered an alternate. After going over a list with de Venecia, she ultimately decided on Sam. “We’ve had a discussion and we had to scale down the list of alternates to people we can trust with such an amazing material. I chose Sam because I know his talent and I trust him,” she noted.

Going into the play’s press launch, Jasmine said she anticipated that she and Sam would be asked a lot of personal questions including on a possible reconciliation. Her replies, however, stressed the professional side of their relationship and downplayed any romantic angle.

“There never really was any wall between us. Yan lang naman ang iniisip ng tao. We’re both here to work on our craft and we’re prioritizing that over any other drama that some people might try to initiate,” she said.

She also pointed out that being alternates, she and Sam will not be together in the same shows with the possible exception of a press preview night where all cast members will perform. Also they had yet to rehearse together, although it would be essential for them to eventually exchange notes.

“Professionally, you have to exchange notes and you have to ask each other for feedback because that’s what your roles are as alternates,” she added.

Jasmine Curtis-Smith. Photo by Edwin P. Sallan ©InterAksyon

Just as excited as Jasmine is for “No Filter 2.0”, which will run during weekends from October 3 to October 25 at the Power Mac Center Spotlight at Circuit, Makati, she is equally stoked for “My Fair Lady” which will premiere on TV5 on Monday, September 14, at :30PM. “I was told not to watch the entire series so I can give it my own twist. I’m playing a spoiled heiress here so it’s a lot different from who I really am. But there are things about her that I can relate to like I’m not a brat but I can also have my nasal attitude, mood swings. I can also understand where she hides her sensitivity. She hides behind the yelling and the bitching and being a brat but deep down, it all comes from a soft spot,” she concluded. n Edwin P. Sallan / InterAksyon.com / September 11, 2015 / 2:38 pm

September 2015 / Fortnightly – No. 18 • UK & Europe Edition

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A tale of love and family in GMA’s Afternoon Prime series Destiny Rose BEGINNING September 15, GMA Pinoy TV offers a game-changing character-driven story in Destiny Rose.

A heart-warming tale of love and family, Destiny Rose will beautifully demonstrate that in one’s ability to love also lies great power to become the person one dreams to be.

Multi-talented actor Ken Chan will delight viewers as he takes on the challenge of portraying a transsexual woman who pursues her dreams of

becoming an influential writer. en participated in a series of auditions and delivered a string of thrilling and convincing performances all throughout, making him the perfect choice for the role of Joey Flores Vergara.

Joey is a woman trapped in a man’s body. All his life, he only dreamt and hoped to be the best for his parents.

Despite the fact that everyone around him was against his personal desires

Ken Chan, Fabio Ide and Katrina Halili

and wishes, he remained a loving and obedient child.

A passionate student and a loving son to his family, Joey will go through different setbacks in life but will continue to be patient and understanding.

All these positive qualities will outweigh life’s challenges and Joey will become a stronger person in her new life as Destiny Rose.

As time passes, Joey faces more challenges in his journey towards becoming a renowned writer and a full-fledged woman. Joey is now known as Destiny Rose.

Now that Destiny Rose has fulfilled her dreams, all she wants is to be with the love of her life and for her family to be complete once again. But what if her family, especially her estranged father, refuses to accept her? And what if the love of her life finds out that she only had sex reassignment surgery to become a woman? Will Destiny Rose still find happiness?

Playing opposite Ken is Fabio Ide as Gabriele Antonioni, Joey’s Fil-Italian penpal. He will make Joey/Destiny

Rose’s life more colourful as he becomes her one true love.

Completing the cast are esteemed TV and movie actors and actress: Manilyn Reynes as Daisy Flores Vergara, Joey’s loving mother; Michael de Mesa as Rosauro Armani Vitto, a rich philanthropist who will be instrumental in Joey’s transition to becoming a woman; Jackielou Blanco as Dahlia, Jasmine’s mother who will make Joey and Daisy’s life difficult; ; Katrina Halili as Jasmine Flores, Joey’s ambitious cousin; Sheena Halili as April Rose Vergara, Joey’s kind-hearted sister; Jeric Gonzales as Vince, Joey’s first love; Joko Diaz as Joselito Vergara Sr., Joey’s strict father; Irma Adlawan as Bethilda, Armani’s sister who will make Joey’s life a living hell; JC Tiuseco as Lance, Jasmine’s boyfriend and accomplice in deceiving Gabriele; Ken Alfonso as Aris, Bethilda’s son who will eventually fall in love with Destiny Rose.

Directed by Don Michael Perez, Destiny Rose begins airing this September 15 on GMA Pinoy TV. n Edwin

P. Sallan / InterAksyon.com / August 12, 2015 / 5:06 PM

Willie Revillame signs a record deal with GMA Records KAPUSO noontime show host Willie Revillame inked a record deal with GMA Records last September 4.

The contract signing was attended

by GMA Records Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Felipe S. Yalong, GMA Records Managing Director Rene A. Salta, album producer and award-winning composer Vehnee Saturno.

Willie feels grateful for the opportunity to share his music with his supporters all over the world.

“Matagal na ito eh, almost two years ago noong gumawa kami ng mga songs at nakatago lang. Hinihintay lang namin ang tamang panahon.

Now, it’s the right time at ito na nga

ang tamang panahon sa GMA Records.

Right time, right songs, with the right people. Ire-release na po ito malapit na, ang carrier single ay Nando’n Ako.” The Kapuso host reveals that the carrier single is about how love conquers all, “It’s a beautiful song para sa mga nakahiwalay sa mga mahal niya sa buhay pero ang spirit nito, lahat ng pagmamahal ay nandoon. Kahit anong mangyari, kahit may unos o bagyo, nandoon siya .” He will be singing the song on Wowowin this Sunday. Willie says this is one way of showing his gratitude towards the people who continue to support him and his program which consistently wins over competition in nationwide ratings.

From August 9 to 30 (with the date of August 30 based on overnight data), Wowowin marked an average household TV rating of 18.0% and ruled over its counterpart programs ASAP 20 and Kapamilya Mega Blockbusters, which both garnered 14% in National Urban TV Audience Measurement (NUTAM) ratings. This is according to the more widely recognized TV ratings supplier, Nielsen TV Audience Measurement.

Moreover, the undisputed program Wowowin was also consistently ahead of its competitors in the viewer-rich areas of Mega Manila and Urban Luzon.

Wowowin airs worldwide on GMA’s flagship international channel, GMA Pinoy TV. n

Mocha Girls arrested in Malaysia for performing without permit MEMBERS of the all-girl pop group Mocha Girls were arrested in Malaysia on Friday last week for performing without the necessary permit, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Friday.

“They were held in the immigration but the latest report of the embassy in Kuala Lumpur yesterday [said] the [Malaysian] immigration has decided not to file charges but to fine them,” said DFA spokesperson Charles Jose.

He said the embassy did not say how much the fine was.

In an official statement posted on their Facebook account, the group

said they were on their second song last Friday when Malaysian immigration authorities raided the hotel where they were performing and asked for their passports and permit.

“As our producer failed to produce the work permit that his contractual commitment with us mandated him, we were taken into custody and detained in the Malaysian Immigration prison for 5 days,” the group said.

They added that they were “treated as ordinary criminals” until the Malaysian immigration authorities learned that they were legitimate

artists from the Philippines.

“We were not detained for sexy performances as some would speculate,” the group stressed in their statement.

They added that their lawyers are already mulling taking legal action against the producer of the gig for alleged breach in contractual agreement to arrange for the issuance of the permit.

The group said their performance in Malaysia was the last stop of their Asian tour before returning to the Philippines. Before that, they performed in Thailand. n KBK, GMA

News / September 11, 2015 / 6:50 pm

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September 2015 / Fortnightly – No. 18 • UK & Europe Edition

SET drops residency issue vs Poe, to tackle citizenship - lawyer MANILA – As the petitioners and respondents agreed on the documents submitted, the Senate Electoral Tribunal (SET) on Friday dropped the question of Senator Grace Poe’s residency status, and instead deceded to tackle only her citizenship question, her lawyer said.

Atty. George Garcia said it took only 30 minutes for the SET to decide to drop the issue of Poe’s residency after she and Rizalito David, the petitioner for her disqualification case, agreed on the authenticity of the documents submitted, according to a transcript of a radio interview furnished the Senate media.

“At the preliminary hearing, the issues have been simplified. Sa 10 issue natin pwede bang isa na lang ang issue natin? Ano iyong mga dokumento, iyong mga dokumentong ito tinatanggap mo bang petitioner? Ikaw bang respondent tinatanggap mo ba iyan? O kung wala na pala tayong pagdedebatehan sa dokumento, wala na palang ibang issue dito kung hindi legal issue na lamang,” Garcia recalled of how the proceedings went.

“Therefore, wala nang presentation of evidence kumbaga ganoon po. Ang na-settle po kanina ang issue na lang pong natitira ay issue ng citizenship.

Wala na pong issue ng residency,” he added.

Garcia said there is no more issue of Poe’s residency, she had met the

requirements of the law before she filed her Certificate of Candidacy for the 2013 senatorial elections.

“Wala pong duda na sa issue ng residency, kasi naman po iyong nakalagay sa Saligang Batas po ay dalawang taon bago maging senador, iyon po sa dati niyang Certificate of Candidacy anim na taon, anim na buwan ay sobra-sobra pa po iyon sa dalawang taon,” Garcia said.

Garcia said that both parties agreed to settle the issue on Poe’s residency because the documents submitted by David and Poe were the same; hence, there would be no more presentation of evidence.

“Technically iyon na po iyon, wala na pong presentation kasi nga po iyong mga ebidensya or iyong mga papeles na iprinisinta ng respondent ng kampo po natin. Iyon na rin po ang mga ebidensya, mga dokumentong iprinisinta po noong nagpepetisyon,” Garcia further explained.

For the oral arguments set by the Tribunal on September 21 for the deliberations on Poe’s citizenship, there would no more presentation of evidence since both parties had submitted the same documents.

“Ang issue ng ‘ano ba talaga ang citizenship ng ating mabuting senador?’

Ano ba talaga, natural born ba iyan, foreigner ba iyan? At yung ibang dokumento po ay practically po ay nagkasundo na po ang parehas na panig

na iyon po ang mga dokumento na iyon at basis na po ng lahat so wala na pong debate tungkol sa mga documents na iyan,” Garcia said.

Poe: am here to defend myself.

Senator Poe oattended the initial hearing of the disqualification case being heard by the Senate Electoral Tribunal (SET) led by Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, saying that she came not to defend her presumed run for higher office in 2016 but to protect her person.

“Ito pong pagpunta ko dito ay hindi depensa dahil ako ay tatakbo; ito’y .... depensa sa aking pagkatao na sinasabi ng iba na hindi ako naging makatotohanan kaya ako halos bukas na aklat na po ang aking buhay [My coming here today is not meant to defend my running...this is a defense of my person because some people are saying I have not been truthful even though my life is an open book],” a teary-eyed Poe said after the hearing.

“I personally came here to defend myself against the allegations against me. To tell them bravely and directly that I am a true Filipino,” Poe added, speaking in Filipino.

Poe said that every time she came across her adoption documents, something pains her heart knowing that she was a foundling, and yet, she said, those papers should be submitted to prove her citizenship.

She said unlike others who assign

Sen. Grace Poe arrives at the Supreme Court compound in Manila on Friday morning. Handout photo from Sen. Poe’s Office

spokesmen or lawyers to speak in their behalf, she would rather do the talking herself.

Still, she added, “ako’y nagpapasalamat sa mga tumutulong sa akin na mga abugado ngunit ako po’y kumpiyansa rin sa aking sarili sa pagsagot nito dahil mali po ang kanilang ginagawa,” Poe said.

Poe said the next hearing - for the oral arguments - was set on September 21, the anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law. “We have not received an official notice but we understand the oral arguments are in the coming days,” said Atty. Alex Poblador, Poe’s counsel.

No alterations on birth certificate.

Meanwhile, Poe clarified that there was no alteration in her birth certificate submitted to SET, and the notes placed there by civil authorities were meant to formalize her adoption by the late actor-producer Fernando Poe Jr., and Susan Roces.

“They were not alterations. There were additions there to reflect formal adoption in 1974. So in fact, a new certificate, birth certificate was issued to reflect the formal adoption, that]

changes have been made. Well, the decision was in 1 . It was reflected and registered in the Civil Registry of Iloilo in 1980,” Poe explained.

Poblador also denied that Poe’s birth certificate was registered in 2006 for the very first time.

“That is false. It was registered in 1 0, long before 2006. And there was a delay in the issuance of the new birth certificate. That was beyond our control,” Poblador explained.

Nonetheless, Poe expressed hope that the SET will be fair and just in deliberating on and eventually ruling on the disqualification case filed by losing senatorial candidate Rizalito David.

She said she was confident about the competence of the SET members and “I pray their conscience can’t be influenced by anyone.”

She characterized her legal battle as the struggle of many others similarly situated. “Like children whose true, original parentage can’t be determined, but were nonetheless brought up well and decently by people who loved them.” n Ernie Reyes / InterAksyon.com / September 11, 2015 / 4:19 pm

UN asked to probe Lianga killings, Surigao evacuations MANILA – The human rights group Karapatan has asked the United Nations to investigate the recent murders by a military-backed militia of the head of a tribal school and two Manobo leaders in Surigao del Sur, and the subsequent evacuation of close to 3,000 lumad in the wake of the atrocities.

“We are asking the (UN Human Rights Council) to investigate and recommend actions of the Philippine government on these issues,” Karapatan secretary general Cristina Palabay

said Saturday, referring to the murders of Emerito Samarca, executive director of the Alternative Learning Center for Agricultural and Livelihood Development or ALCADEV, Dionel Campos, chairman of the Malahutayong Pakigbisog alang sa Sumusunod or MAPASU, and Datu Bello Sinzo, in Han-ayan, Diatagon, Lianga town.

Samarca was found inside a room of the school he ran, his throat slit and shot in the chest, while Campos and Sinzo were executed in front of hundreds of residents, including children and ALCADEV students,

Lumad women talk with each other at the sport stadium in Tandag City, Surigao del Sur where close to 3,000 refugees have sought shelter after atrocities committed by military-backed militias.

Photo by Erwin Mascarinas, InterAksyon.com

the militia had rounded up. Residents later said Army troops who had occupied their village before the Magahat came were on a nearby ridge and could see the killings clearly but did nothing.

Warned that they had two days to leave or meet the same fate, some 2,000 Han-ayan residents took the dead with them and fled to the sports stadium in provincial capital, Tandag City, where their number was swelled by lumad who feared their communities would be targeted next.

Palabay said they had also written letters to four UN special rapporteurs: Michel Forst, on the situation of human rights defenders; Christof Heyns, on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions; Victoria Lucia Tauli-Corpuz, on rights of the indigenous peoples; and Chaloka Beyani, on the human rights of internally displaced persons.

Beyani was in the country on a 10-day visit in late July that became controversial after the Armed Forces’ Eastern Mindanao Command misrepresented an exit brief he gave to security officials to bolster its claims that hundreds of Manobo who sought shelter at a church compound in Davao City after their communities and tribal schools were occupied by soldiers and militias were not refugees but “victims of trafficking” who had been “manipulated.”

The UN expert rebuked the military for what he called its “gross distortion” of his views.

Palabay said the military, which has denied anything to do with the militias, “can lie through their teeth about their involvement on the killings and all other atrocities of its paramilitary groups, (but) the motives are crystal clear: eliminate those who are perceived as enemies of

the state, including those who fight for their land and their rights.”

She said similar militias were also responsible for other killings, including that of Italian missionary Fausto Tentorio.

Palabay noted that as early as 2012, Heyns and Margaret Sekaggya, then the special rapporteur on human rights defenders, “already sounded the alarm bells on the role of the paramilitary groups in the killings” and issued a statement on this.

Beyani, at the end of his Philippines visit on July 31, also issued a statement in which he noted, among others, that the evacuations of lumad communities stemmed from unease over the presence of military and paramilitary groups in their villages.

Palabay also noted that during the UN’s Universal Periodic Review on the Philippines, also in 2012, members of the UNHRC had recommended the disbanding of militias.

However, she said, the Aquino government “has rejected this and even continued to multiply and allowed the proliferation of these groups as force multipliers” of the military. n InterAksyon. com / September 12, 2015 / 1:26 pm

September 2015 / Fortnightly – No. 18 • UK & Europe Edition

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Govt PowerPoint proves lumad ‘targets’ of counterinsurgency program—Bayan MANILA – A government PowerPoint presentation purportedly proves that lumad communities in Mindanao seen by authorities as breeding grounds for communist rebels, are targets of the state’s counterinsurgency program through a strategy that involves both military and civilian agencies, the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan said.

Bayan secretary general Renato Reyes Jr. said the presentation, apparently prepared by the Department of Science of Technology based on the logo on the cover slide, details the socalled “Whole Nation Initiative” or WNI, which has the following aims: That the lumad are, indeed, a target is apparently shown in a slide that describes the program as “IP Centric” and describes the New People’s Army in Eastern Mindanao as predominantly lumad and based in indigenous peoples’ ancestral domains.

The statistics, Reyes said, echo the claims made by the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Eastern Mindanao Command, thus “the thrusts of the counterinsurgency program … has to be ‘IP-centric’.”

The slide also notes that lumad make up roughly half the population in Regions 10, 11, 12 and 13.

Incidentally, it is in these regions where a spike in atrocities against lumad communities by state forces and the militias they maintain have been recorded in the past few months.

Surigao del Sur, where close to 3,000 Manobo have fled their communities following atrocities blamed on military-backed militias, including the September 1 murders in Han-ayan, Lianga town of Emerito Samarca, executive director of the ward-winning Alternative Learning Center for Agricultural and Livelihood Development, and lumad leaders Dionel Campos and Bello Sinzo, belongs to Caraga or Region 13.

Bukidnon, where five Manobo kinsmen, including a blind 72-year old and two minors, were killed in Panngantucan town in what the military claimed was a “legitimate encounter” with communist rebels but a surviving witness described as a massacre, belongs to Region 10. In a village of Kitao-tao town in the same province, 14 lumad, including women and a minor, were arrested and flown out by helicopter during an operation involving around 200 Army soldiers.

And in Davao del Norte, from where some 00 Manobo fled their

communities in Talaingod town after these were occupied by soldiers and militiamen, is in Region 11.

Part of the WIN strategy is the deployment of so-called “serbisyo (service) caravans” involving line agencies to deliver services.

It was during one such caravan to Talaingod in June that Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman blasted the presence of children at a protest in Davao City against attempts to close down tribal schools in lumad communities, saying: “They should be in school. It is not right to bring these children to rallies.”

The children at the Davao City protest were students of these schools.

Later, the Manobo, who had sought refuge at a Davao City church compound became the targets of a violent attempt to evict them and force them to return to their communities after the military and North Cotabato Representative Nancy Catamco, who chairs the committee on indigenous people in the House of Representatives,

claimed they were being held against their will and were victims of “trafficking.”

It also identifies the “priority corridors” for WNI implementation, which stretch all the way from Eastern Visayas down to Northern Mindanao and then to Eastern Mindanao.

In a post on his blog, Reyes said the identified thrusts of WIN “are consistent” with those of the counterinsurgency Oplan Bayanihan belie President Benigno Aquino III’s protestation that there is no government campaign targeting the lumad or even the military’s assertion that the slain lumad may have been “caught in the crossfire.”

He cited reports from human rights groups in the Caraga region that a week before the Lianga murders, “simultaneous ‘peace / serbisyo caravans’ were launched in Surigao del Sur and Surigao del Norte” by the AFP and the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process. Among the groups invited was MAPASU but

the lumad organization led by Campos declined because they were busy preparing to celebrate ALCADEV’s foundation day.

During an interview to drumbeat the caravan, said Reyes, 4th Infantry Division spokesman Captain Joe Patrick Martinez, spoke over a local radio station challenging ALCADEV, the Tribal Filipino Program in Surigao Sur, which also operates tribal schools, and other progressive groups, all of which the military openly tags as “communist fronts,” to join them “if you are really for peace.”

A week later, Samarca, Campos and Sinzo were dead.

Reyes also noted that “human rights groups in Caraga report that military combat and clearing operations have been concentrated in the WNI priority areas in Caraga (Surigao del Sur and Agusan del Sur mostly) starting June this year, confirming the priority areas and timetable in the PowerPoint presentation.” n InterAksyon.com / September 12,

2015 / 12:04 pm

Candles with signs demanding justice for lumad murdered in Mindanao are placed by protesting teachers in front of Camp Aguinaldo, headquarters of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Photo by Bernard Testa ©InterAksyon.com

Asia-Pacific finance ministers vow to shun competitive devaluation MANILA - Twenty-one Pacific rim economies including the United States, China and Japan pledged Friday to avoid “competitive devaluation” of their currencies amid stuttering global growth, a joint statement said.

Finance ministers from the AsiaPacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) made the commitment at the end of their two-day meeting in the central Philippine city of Cebu.

The meeting was overshadowed by fears of an economic slowdown in China, the world’s second largest economy, which last month suddenly devalued

its yuan currency by nearly two percent, triggering turmoil in the global financial markets.

“We will refrain from competitive devaluation and resist all forms of protectionism,” said the ministers’ statement.

It made no mention of the currency devaluation of China, which has said the decision was aimed at moving towards a more flexible exchange rate.

Chinese Finance Minister Lou Jiwei did not attend the Cebu meeting, with Beijing citing “domestic” issues, according to the hosts.

Like Lou, US Treasury Secretary Jack

Lew and Japanese Finance Minister Taro Aso were represented at the meeting by lower-level officials.

The 21-member APEC, which also includes Australia, South Korea, Indonesia and Canada among others, together accounts for 57 percent of the world’s economic output and nearly half of global trade.

“Disruptions in the financial markets and raising long-term potential growth are key challenges,” the ministers said Friday.

“We maintain our commitment to strengthen economic growth and promote financial stability in the APEC region.” n AFP

/ September 11, 2015 / 7:31 pm

32

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PHILIPPINE EMBASSY AROUND THE WORLD

September 2015 / Fortnightly – No. 18 • UK & Europe Edition

Cebu conference of services coalitions urges APEC action AT the Regional Conference of Services Coalitions held in the margins of the APEC Senior Officials’ Meeting and APEC Structural Reform Ministerial Meeting in Cebu City, representatives of the public and private sectors urged APEC to take action to realize the transformative benefits of the services sector.

At the culminating event in a series of APEC dialogues in 2015, services coalitions from across the Asia-Pacific and representatives from business said the services sector was a game changer in domestic and regional development, but structural reform in APEC economies was essential to making the sector competitive.

An uncompetitive services

sector means an uncompetitive manufacturing sector, which led to lower exports and higher prices for consumers, said Mr. Anthony Nightingale, APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) Member for Hong ong, China. Competitive services help to create jobs, produce quality goods, widen choices for consumers, harness opportunities for businesses, improve living standards, and spur economic growth.

ABAC and other private-sector representatives said that it was important to focus on meaningful domestic reforms by engaging the business community. Government policies needed to “embrace the new global worker”, said Mr. Guillermo Luz, Lead Coordinator for Private Sector,

APEC National Organizing Council.

The benefits in opening the services sector and facilitating trade and investments, had significant benefits for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) seeking to enter global markets. Addressing behindthe-border barriers was essential, and could not be addressed through international trade negotiations alone – governments needed to take unilateral action to encourage competitive services industries.

Public and private sector representatives alike welcomed the development of an APEC Services Cooperation Framework, for consideration by APEC Leaders at its annual summit scheduled for Manila on November 1 to 1 . The framework

would signal the importance of services to APEC member-economies and introduce an action plan for the next ten years to improve services competitiveness.

The important role of services reform will be discussed at the APEC Structural Reform Ministerial Meeting from September 0 to 0 in Cebu City. n Philippine Embassy Philippines / September 7, 2015

Philippines, Mongolia Co-chair ASEAN regional forum workshop on Mongolia’s nuclear weapon free status THE Philippines, represented

by Department of Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Jesus Domingo, co-chaired the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Workshop on Mongolia’s Nuclear Weapon Free Status, with

Mongolia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs State Secretary Damba Gankhuyag on September 03 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

The two-day workshop, initiated

by Mongolia and supported by the Philippines in the framework of the ASEAN

Regional Forum, highlights Mongolia’s unique experience in establishing a Nuclear Weapon Free Status and its continuing efforts to promote its status.

Officials of the Mongolian government shared the history of Mongolia’s

Participants to the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Workshop on Promoting the Nuclear Weapon Free Status of Mongolia during the opening session on September 3, 2015 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

initiative to declare itself a nuclear weapons free country arising from the imperative of its peculiar geographical location between two nuclear powers, Russia and China, and the status of its pursuit of international recognition of this initiative. Other participants exchanged ideas on reinforcing existing Nuclear Weapons Free Zones (NFWZs), news ways of promoting nuclear nonproliferation in non-traditional cases, and examined the current practice of NWFZs like that of the Southeast Asian Nuclear Weapons Free Zone (SEANWFZ). In examining the next steps, both strategic and operational issues that can advance NWFZs in the wider context of non-proliferation were discussed.

In his closing remarks, Assistant Secretary Domingo said the Philippines looks forward to continue working with Mongolia on issues on non-proliferation under the framework of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF).

Speakers from government, civil

society and the academe participated in the three panel sessions of the Workshop, including Assistant Secretary Jesus Domingo, Dr. Jargalsaikhan Enkhsaikhan of Blue Banner, Mr. Yuriy Kryvonos of the United Nations Regional Center for Peace and Development (UNRCPD), Deputy Director Dashdorj Bayarkhuu of Mongolia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Col. Dorjjugder Munkh-Ochir of Mongolia’s Ministry of Defense, Mr. Jamiyandagva Adiyasuren of the Institute of Strategies Studies of Mongolia, and Ms. Usana Berananda of the Thailand Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Thirty-nine (39) participants from 14 ARF member states namely, the Philippines, Mongolia, Thailand, Japan, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Australia, Lao PDR, Canada, Russia, Korea, Viet Nam, and the United States took part in the workshop. n Philippine Embassy Philippines / September 5, 2015

Philippine Ambassador presents credentials to Armenian President AFTER holding productive meetings with the Asia-Pacific and Africa Department and other officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs the previous day, Ambassador Sorreta proceeded to the Presidential Palace in Yerevan on September 09 to personally present his letter of credentials signed

by President Benigno S. Aquino III to President Serzh Sargsyan of the Republic of Armenia.

President Sargsyan congratulated Ambassador Sorreta on his appointment as the Philippines’ top diplomatic representative to Armenia. He expressed his optimism that Ambassador Sorreta will exert every effort to advance the relations between the Philippines and Armenia during his tenure.

After the formal ceremony, President Sargsyan invited Ambassador Sorreta to the Green Room of the Palace to exchange views on the direction of Philippines-Armenia relations.

During their meeting, President Sargsyan expressed his strong desire to see the relationship between the two countries intensify, particularly in the field of economic exchange.

He emphasized that Armenia, as a member of the single-market Eurasian Economic Union (together with Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan) presents huge commercial prospects for the Philippines. President Sargsyan added that this would be facilitated by the conclusion of several proposed agreements, high-level political discussions, as well as interparliamentary cooperation between the two countries.

Ambassador Sorreta conveyed the warm greetings of President Aquino and briefed President Sargsyan on the existing cooperation between the Philippines and Armenia as well as recent developments in the Philippines, including the strong

economic performance of the country under President Aquino’s leadership.

He agreed with President Sargsyan that the bilateral relationship is ready for constructive high-level dialogue and assured the President that the Embassy will work hard to make this happen in the near future.

President Sargsyan and Ambassador Sorreta proceeded to have a lengthy discussion on national and regional issues affecting the two countries. President Sargsyan also conveyed his appreciation over the Philippines’ cooperation in multinational fora such as the United Nations.

Ambassador Carlos D. Sorreta is the Philippine Ambassador to the Russian Federation. The Philippine Embassy in Moscow also covers diplomatic relations with Armenia, Belarus and Ukraine. n Philippine Embassy

Philippines / September 11, 2015

Philippine Ambassador Carlos D. Sorreta (right) presents his letter of credentials to President Serzh Sargsyan of the Republic of Armenia at the main hall of the Presidential Palace in Yerevan. Photo ©Office of the President of the Republic of Armenia.

Ambassador Sorreta (left) during a meeting with President Serzh Sargsyan of Armenia in the Green Room of the Presidential Palace in Yerevan.

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MANNY PACQUIAO: ‘I THOUGHT I WON THE FIGHT’

AFTER 12-round war with undefeated American boxer Floyd Mayweather, Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao admitted that he was surprised at the outcome as he expected to win the megafight between two of this generation’s greatest fighters.

“It’s a good fight. I thought I won the fight. He didn’t do nothing,” Pacquiao said as he was interviewed in the ring.

“He always moved outside. I got him many times with solid punches. I believe I won the fight.”

Pacquiao was pressed during the interview on why he wasn’t able to fight his usual way in the contest.

The official Compubox stats showed

him connecting on only 81 of his 429 punches (19%) while Mayweather landed 1 of his 35 (3 ).

“He’s moving around. It’s not easy to throw a lot of punches if he’s moving around. But if he stayed, I can throw a lot of punches.”

He added, though, that he was not bothered by Mayweather’s size and strength in this one.

“I can handle his power. He’s not strong like (Antonio) Margarito or other opponents like (Miguel) Cotto, like that.”

“He’s not bigger than me. It’s not the size. Size doesn’t matter. I’ve been fighting bigger than him. No problem.”

MANILA - Manny Pacquiao’s life story, with its inspiring triumph over adversity after each fall, has been mirrored yet again in his fight with Floyd Mayweather, despite his loss by unanimous decision. Thus ran the common thread of officials reacting to the outcome of the fight.

Malacanang Palace, in a statement released by Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. on behalf of President

Aquino, said: “Filipinos can hold their heads up high: our national pride, Congressman Manny Pacquiao, did us all proud when he stood his ground against one of the best boxers of our time, Floyd Mayweather.

“President Aquino reiterates his thanks to Manny for serving as an inspiration to every Filipino in overcoming the daily challenges in the pursuit of a better life and future.”

n InterAksyon.com / May 3, 2015 / 1:31 PM

Pacquiao’s good fight inspires Filipinos, say Philippine officials

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And then, reiterating his pre-fight unsolicited advice for the Filipino boxing icon to devote more time to his family while he is still healthy,, Mr. Aquino expressed hope that “Manny may now be able to devote more time with his family and that he is able to maintain good health that

will serve him in good stead in all his future endeavors.”

Other officials’ reactions had similar themes of thanking Pacquiao for inspiring Filipinos: “Sa araw na ito, ipinakita ni Manny na tayong mga Pilipino ay handang humarap at bumangon sa anumang pagsubok.

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Mabuhay ka Manny. Lagi kang ipagmamalaki ng bawat Pilipino [Today, Manny showed that we Filipinos are ready to face whatever challenge. Manny, every Filipino is proud of you],” came the cheeron statement from Vice President Jejomar Binay.

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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.

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PHILIPPINE EMBASSY AROUND THE WORLD

September 2015 / Fortnightly – No. 18 • UK & Europe Edition

DFA Recognizes outstanding contributions of foreign service personnel FOLLOWING meticulous deliberation by the Technical Working Group (TWG) and the Committee on Program on Rewards, Awards and Incentive for Service Excellence (PRAISE), the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) held today, September 04, the Conferment of the Departmental Level Awards for Calendar Year 2015.

The ceremony, held at the

Bulwagang Apolinario Mabini at the DFA main building, recognized, among other things, the individual and collective contributions of its personnel who pursued and demonstrated excellence in the field of Foreign Service, manifested in their unwavering commitment and response to the call of duty and to their respective mandates.

As recommended by the TWG

and Committee on PRAISE, over 400 personnel received awards such as the Felipe Agoncillo Distinguished Service Award (for career Chiefs of Mission), the Outstanding Employee Award, the Assistance-to-Nationals Award (individual and group categories), and the Loyalty Award (for length of service). Awardees were given certificates, medals, plaques and pins.

The Felipe Agoncillo Distinguished Service Award is given to retiring or retired Heads of Missions who have significantly advanced the interests of the Philippines overseas.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert F. del Rosario and Undersecretary for Administration Linglingay F. Lacanlale led the conferment ceremonies. On this momentous occasion, 5 career Chiefs of Mission received the Felipe Agoncillo Distinguished Service Award, 56 personnel for Outstanding Employee Award who were selected from various Foreign Service Posts, the Home Office and the Regional Consular Offices, 16 personnel for the Assistance-to-Nationals Award (individual category) 1 Foreign Service Post (group category), and 359 personnel for the Loyalty Award.

During the selection process, the TWG and Committee on PRAISE took into consideration different criteria before the nominees were considered for the conferment of

these awards, such as, but not limited to, work performance, exemplary contributions, work ethics, attendance, length of service and other relevant documentary requirements.

The PRAISE Committee is composed of selected Offices in the Department, namely the Undersecretary for Administration (OUA) as Chair, Undersecretary for Policy (OUP) as Vice Chair, Legal Affairs (OLA), Personnel and Administrative Services (OPAS), Financial Management

Service (OFMS), Protocol (OP), Heads of DFA Personnel Association (DFAPA) and DFA Rank and File Association (DFARFA), as members. These Offices are represented by their respective Heads of Offices. On the other hand, the PRAISE TWG is composed of representatives from the Offices of United Nations and International Organizations (UNIO) as Chair, OLA as Vice Chair, OPAS, OFMS, and OP, as members. n Philippine Embassy Philippines / September 4, 2015

Swiss Ambassador to the Philippines bids farewell after five years

AFTER serving for five years, Swiss Ambassador to the Philippines Ivo Sieber made his farewell call on Secretary of Foreign Affairs Albert F. del Rosario on September 02. During his call, Ambassador Sieber expressed immense satisfaction for his fruitful stay in the country. He cited great economic and political gains made by the Philippines under the present administration, and recalled the excellent cooperation between the Philippine and Switzerland, particularly in the areas of asset recovery, human rights, and disaster risk reduction and management.

Secretary Del Rosario thanked

Ambassador Sieber for a great job in improving relations between the Philippines and Switzerland which saw bilateral trade rise to US$577 million and Switzerland taking a prominent role in the Bangsamoro Peace Process through its chairmanship of the Transitional Justice and Reconciliation Commission. He conveyed optimism on the prospects of Philippines – Switzerland bilateral trade, which could be further augmented by the conclusion of the Philippines – EFTA negotiations and the re-negotiation of the Philippines – Switzerland Agreement on the Avoidance of Double Taxation.

Secretary Del Rosario added that the

strengthening of the bilateral relations between the Philippines and Switzerland is partly due to the distinctive diplomatic style of Ambassador Sieber.

The two countries will celebrate the 60th anniversary of the establishment of official relations soon, although Swiss presence in the country has been continuous since the 19th century.

A lawyer by profession, Ambassador Sieber is married to a Filipina, Ms. Gracita Tolentino. He will depart the Philippines on September 11 to assume his post as the Swiss Ambassador to the Kingdom of Thailand. n Philippine Embassy Philippines /

September 7, 2015

Incoming USAID Mission Director reaffirms strong partnership with the Philippines

Ambassador Jose L. Cuisia, Jr. and Dr. Susan K. Brems met on September 1, 2015 at the Philippine Embassy.

WASHINGTON, DC — In a meeting at the Philippine Embassy in Washington D.C. on 01 September, Dr. Susan K. Brems— the incoming Mission Director of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) for the Philippines, Pacific Islands and Mongolia reaffirmed the strong development partnership between the Philippine Government and USAID. Dr. Brems is a career member of the Senior US Foreign Service with the rank of Minister-Counselor,

who brings to Manila twentythree (23) years of experience as a development diplomat for USAID. She previously served as Mission Director in Zambia (2011-2015), Deputy Assistant Administrator in the Bureau for Global Health (20092011), and Mission Director for Angola (2007-2009).

During the meeting, Ambassador Jose L. Cuisia, Jr. expressed appreciation for the technical and financial support that the United States, through the USAID, provides to the Philippines. He also briefed

Dr. Brems on the recent economic developments, including the good governance efforts under the Aquino administration, particularly with respect to transparency and public accountability.

“It was a great opportunity to discuss with Dr. Brems our government’s commitment to improving the lives of average Filipinos, as well as the social development objectives under the President’s leadership. We also exchanged views on the conditional cash transfer program of the

government,” Ambassador Cuisia said.

Ambassador Cuisia also encouraged USAID’s continued support in the following areas: judicial reforms, rule of law, innovation and technology, economic development, educational cooperation, and public health.

Dr. Brems expressed her commitment to continuing the strong program and cooperation activities of USAID in the Philippines. n Philippine Embassy USA /

September 2, 2015

NEWS

September 2015 / Fortnightly – No. 18 • UK & Europe Edition

www.hello-philippines.com

35

OPEN LETTER TO SEN. BONGBONG Accounting of your parents’ crimes not yet complete A law was enacted by Congress in 2012 offering reparation to these victims. As of the latest, 5,000 individuals have applied (and thousands more did not, or failed to, file) for claims. Compensation would be taken from assets recovered from Swiss banks, described by the Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario and Swiss Foreign Affairs Minister Didier Burkhalter as “looted from the state” by a “corrupt dictator.” The law was an effort by the Philippine and Swiss governments to “right the wrongs committed by the Marcos regime,” said the Swiss ambassador.

We who are writing this letter represent a foundation that launched a book just last month, containing over 100 accounts of the lives of those heroic individuals who fought your father’s regime because they saw it as undemocratic, cruel, and corrupt. We have accounts of unarmed activists shot dead in San Rafael, Bulacan; or who were abducted and later found barely alive or dead in Angeles City, Pampanga, or who were mowed down with gunfire while joining rallies in Escalante in Negros Occidental and in Daet in Camarines Norte. The book was published by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines.

It is time for honesty, Mr. Senator.

TRUSTEES. Bantayog Bayani Foundation

mga

Board of Trustees

• Sec. Alfonso T. Yuchengco, Chairman • Sen. Jovito R. Salonga, Chairman Emeritus • Mr. Jose P. de Jesus, Vice-Chairman • Ma. Cristina V. Rodriguez, Corporate Secretary, Executive Director • Atty. Felipe L. Gozon, Treasurer

Members

Senator Bongbong Marcos. InterAksyon file photo

You owe it to the country that let you go free unharmed when in February 1986, the Filipino people finally drove your family out. It was through a democratic uprising called in song “Handog ng Pilipino sa Mundo,” a gift to the world, because Filipinos managed to cut the Marcos stranglehold with very little violence in the society. It was a gift to you also -- a gift of your second lives.

You owe it to the victims of your parents’ regime, but you also owe it to your own sons. How do you teach them the selflessness of true public

15 Pinoys rescued in typhoon-devastated Japan

FIFTEEN Filipinos have asked to be evacuated as torrential rains and flooding hit several parts of Japan.

Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said that according to Philippine Ambassador to Japan Manuel Lopez, the 15 Filipinos have been rescued by Philippines’ embassy people.

“I think, kung tama po ang naalala ko, 15 Filipinos asked to be evacuated, and they were,” Valte said in an interview over state-run radio dzRB. She said that the 15 Filipinos will remain under the care of the Philippine embassy until the situation in their areas in Japan normalizes.

ng

Three people have been confirmed killed and 15 others remained missing due massive flooding in Tokyo.

Parts of Joso, a community of 65,000 residents, were washed away Thursday when a levee on the inugawa river gave way, flooding an area that reportedly spans 32 square kilometers (12 square miles) after the worst rains in decades.

Dramatic aerial footage showed whole houses being swept away by raging torrents in scenes eerily reminiscent of the devastating tsunami that crushed Japan’s northeast coast four years ago.

The massive flooding was caused by Typhoon Etau, which smashed through Japan this week. n ALG, GMA News / September 12, 2015 / 12:56 pm

service and the value of honesty and of righting of wrongs if you lack the courage to admit the truth? How do you spare your sons the scorn that certainly faces them if your family continues to feel no remorse or regret over the years of dictatorship?

You are nearing your 60s, a senator, and possessed of normal intelligence.

You know what it is exactly that you and your family have to be sorry for.

History will judge, you say? That is why you must now stop the lies – because precisely, history, and the people you have aggrieved, will judge.

• Ms. Mary Rose G. Bautista • Mr. Edicio E. dela Torre • Ms. Melanie Grace G. Doromal • Ms. Marie Jopson Plopinio • Ms. Carolina S. Malay • Dr. Alan T. Ortiz • Mr. Rafael M. Paredes • Ms. Rebecca N. Ta ada • Ms. Bernadette Aquino • Mr. Solomon Y. Yuyitung • Atty. Jose Manuel Diokno Committee Chairpersons • Sec. Alfonso T. Yuchengco, Executive Committee • Mrs. Thelma M. Arceo, Research &Documentation • Dr. Alan T. Ortiz, Buildings Grounds • Ms. Carolina S. Malay, Museum • Justice Delilah V. Magtolis, Legal • Mr. Solomon Y. Yuyitung and Mr. Edicio dela Torre, Publicity Printing n Bantayog ng mga Bayani Foundation / September 8, 2015 / 1:55 pm

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(ON Aug. 26, Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was asked during an interview with ANC’s Headstart whether, as a potential candidate for the country’s top positions, he would apologize for the corruption and abuses perpetrated by his father’s brutal regime. The meat of his response was, “What am I to say sorry about?”

This is a response to Senator Marcos’s answer. For clarifications, please contact Bantayog at Sen. Jovito R. Salonga Building, Bantayog Memorial Center (BMC), uezon Avenue near cor. EDSA, Diliman, uezon City, Telefax No. 3 - 3 3 06- 05, Email Address: bantayogbayani@ gmail.com.)

Dear Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr., The extent of your parents’ crimes during the Marcos dictatorship is so extensive its accounting has yet to be completed.

Ferdinand Marcos wrecked Congress, the courts, and the bureaucracy. He prostituted the military. He shackled the country with debts. Your parents stole billions of the people’s money and from their political opponents. He had a nuclear plant built that never operated but which the country has to pay for in loans.

He had thousands jailed, abducted, tortured, or killed. Many activists are still missing to this day.

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JUSTICE FOR JOYCE MANILA - Buried in the news reports about the homicidal background of 50-year-old Jose Maria Abaya, who recently riddled a commuter van with bullets vefore horrified spectators in uezon City, is the touching story of the simple young woman who was first killed in the mayhem.

Bank manager Joyce Velayo Santos, 41, had spent all her life being good and loving to her family, and doing her best in her studies and career. The last 13 years she had, through sheer faith and determination, battled a kidney disease that doctors first told her would leave her with at most only six years left. That she did everything possible to live longer - extending it to 13, until she was cruelly cut down by Abaya’s bullets - is testament to how much she loved her family. Till the end, relatives said after her burial, she was a dutiful daughter.

The lone female victim in the shooting incident in Katipunan Avenue Extension, White Plains, uezon City, was laid to rest Tuesday in her hometown in San Miguel, Bulacan.

Her funeral rites held at the Salacot Chapel in the town of San Miguel was attended by her grieving family, relatives and friends, as well as members of the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC).

She was buried at the Balite Memorial Park in the said town.

She was survived by her parents and three siblings, all of whom describe her as the quintessential good woman - the ever-dutiful daughter caring for her family.

A good child. Mang Boy Santos, Joyce’s father, is a former teacher.

September 2015 / Fortnightly – No. 18 • UK & Europe Edition

A dutiful daughter is dead, so what happens to her killer?

He said his daughter, who had been suffering from a kidney ailment over the last 13 years of her life, said that she was actually told that she would live for seven years only after the diagnosis of her ailment. But with her discipline in following her doctor’s prescriptions and orders, she was able to prolong her life.

“Napakabait at masunurin ng aming anak. Wala s’yang kaaway. Gusto n’yang mabuhay sa kabila ng kanyang karamdaman. Mahal na mahal namin siya at sampu ng aiming mga kaanak at mga kaibigan. Mahirap tanggapin na sa baril pa siya namatay (My daughter is very kind and obedient. She has no enemies. We all love her very much. It’s hard to accept the way she died),” said Mang Boy in an interview during his daughter’s wake.

Her mother Nenita Santos recounted how Joyce had a premonition of her death: “Gusto raw n’ya na magkaruon ng all-in reunion kasama kami na kanyang pamilya, mga kamag-anak, mga officemates at mga kaibigan niya. Nangyari nga ito, ngunit sa kaparaanang hindi namin inaasahan. Pinapanalangin namin ang hustisya sa kanyang pagkamatay (She was telling us she wanted to have an all-in reunion with us her family, her relatives, her friends, officemates and classmates. And it really happened, although in a setting that we had never imagined. We really pray for justice for our daughter’s death).”

Justice for Joyce. Santos was gunned down while aboard a white passenger van that had parked along White Plains Kamuning due to mechanical problems. Witnesses told police that a man, later identified as Jose Maria Abaya, 50, came near and suddenly

opened fire on the van. He later told TV reporters he had glimpsed a child and three “armed men” inside the van, and was certain these people were out to kill him. He said he opened fire because it was “either me or them.”

Abaya, the son of a former police general, surrendered to the police and underwent inquest proceedings for two counts of murder, and one count of frustrated murder, and illegal possession of firearms.

Abaya claimed self defense, saying that he only fired at the van after seeing that there were armed men inside the vehicle and that they were about to get him. There were, however, no firearms found inside the van or from the passengers.

The driver succumbed to gunshot wounds two days after the shooting, while another wounded passenger is still recuperating.

VACC calls Abaya a “recidivist” killer, as he has been involved in other shooting incidents, including one that killed a security guard of the rehabilitation facility where he was previously being treated. He also had cases before involving illegal possession of firearms and drugs, among other cases. n InterAksyon.com with Maricar Manuzon / Justice for Joyce Santos Movement / September 10, 2015 4:30 pm

Photos of her final moments are from the Justice For Joyce Santos Facebook Page

STATEMENT On the killing of voiceless and defenseless Lumads TODAY, Saturday, September 12, 2015, Emerito Samarca, executive director of the Alternative Learning Center for Agricultural and Livelihood Development, will be laid to rest.

Tomorrow, Dionel Campos, chairman of the lumad organization Malahutayong Pakigbisog alang sa Sumusunod, will be buried. They, along with Datu Juvillo “Bello” Sinzo, were murdered by the military-backed Magahat-Bagani militia

on September 1, triggering a flood of evacuees, close to 3,000 are staying at the sports stadium in Tandag City. Through all this, the national government has remained silent, particularly on the clamor to disband the militias. We are reposting in full the statement of Archbishop Socrates Villegas, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines on the continuing plight of Mindanao’s indigenous people.

Army soldiers at a waiting shed in front of ALCADEV in Han-ayan, Lianga, Surigao del Sur on August 31, a day before the military-backed Magahat militia murdered the school’s executive director, Emerito Samarca, and two Manobo leaders, Dionel Campos and Datu Bello Sinzo.

THE prophets of the Old Testament repeatedly excoriated God’s people for worship that failed the test of authenticity.

Ritual and ceremony are empty unless God is worshipped by hearkening to cries for justice and the lamentation of the oppressed.

Recently, Lumads in Surigao del Sur were cut down, witnesses claim, by an armed militia group. The Association of Major Religious Superiors has named the Magahat-Bagani Force, a militia group.

In behalf of the voiceless and the defenseless, the CBCP endeavors to worship the Living God in Spirit and in Truth by taking up the cudgels for the fallen, and for their grieving families and bereaved communities. The CBCP asks the government for an honest, thorough, impartial and speedy investigation so that the guilty may be held to account for their wrong-doing.

Indigenous peoples and cultural communities are already disadvantaged in a number of ways. They are, in our day and age, the ‘anawim Yahweh, the poor of the Lord who have no avenger and none to stand for their rights. That their leaders and members should suffer yet the tragedy that

has recently been visited upon them only underscores their plight as marginalized and underserved, apparently outside the pall of protection even of the law. This cannot be just. This cannot be the will of God. That a militia group has been named is likewise troubling. Militia groups, by their very nature, do not fall under a clear, established and accessible chain of command. Government makes use of such groups for counter-insurgency, counterrebellion maneuvers. It is their association with government that can be pernicious, for while they act with the tacit consent, if not authority of state agents, they cannot be held to account for their actions by the regular channels of accountability and attribution that exist in the regular armed forces and police.

We are disturbed profoundly by reports that national leaders have been quick to exonerate the militia group of wrong-doing.

This alarming eagerness to deny culpability does not augur well for truth and for justice.

Such declarations inspire credence only after a reliable and trustworthy investigation by impartial and competent persons shall have taken place. If made before any such investigation, they disturbingly suggest

a refusal to hold accountable those to whom the Administration so eagerly extends its mantle of protection.

We call on all who have direct and competent proof of facts to contribute to the just resolution of this tragedy visited on indigenous Filipinos. We respectfully invite the attention of the State to the fact that under accepted principles of international law, state responsibility lies where persons acting in behalf of the State commit some actionable wrong, and the State hesitates about acting or, worse, refuses to act. If militia groups cannot fit within a structure of clear authority and command by legitimate state authority, they should not be tolerated, much less employed as mercenaries by the State.

We ask our indigenous Filipino brothers and sisters to keep their faith in the ways of peace and to abide by the law, even as they rightly press for the vindication of their rights.

From the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, September 11, 2015 + SOCRATES B. VILLEGAS, Archbishop of Lingayen-Dagupan, President, CBCP n Archbishop Socrates Villegas (President, CBCP) / September 12, 2015 / 7:38 am

ORIGINAL CREATION & COPYRIGHT RESERVED BY © HELLO PHILIPPINES 2015

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September 2015 / Fortnightly – No. 18 • UK & Europe Edition

House IP panel chair wants to legalize bagani MANILA – The controversial chairwoman of the House of Representatives’ committee on indigenous people says she will work for legislation to legalize the “bagani” in the same way as private security agencies or the Citizens Armed Forces Geographical Unit or CAFGU. North Cotabato Representative Nancy Catamco, in a statement released this week, described the bagani as indigenous community defense systems that are a “living tradition amongst these peoples for the preservation and protection of their communities, their land and territory and all that is left of their cultural possession as peoples.”

Bagani means warrior in Bisaya.

However, recently, the term has been used by several paramilitary groups composed of lumad that human rights organizations and even a number of local government officials say have been organized, trained and armed by the military to act as “force multipliers” in the government’s campaign against communist rebels in Mindanao.

These militias, such as the Alamara of Davao del Norte and the MagahatBagani of Surigao del Sur, have been linked to atrocities against lumad

communities and even tribal schools that the military has openly accused of sympathizing with the rebels.

In Surigao del Sur, the number of Manobo who have sought refuge from abuses by bagani militias at the sports center in the provincial capital Tandag City swelled from a few hundred last month to almost 3,000 at present following the September 1 murders by the Magahat of Emerito Samarca, executive director of the Alternative Learning Center for Agricultural and Livelihood Development, and tribal leaders Dionel Campos and Bello Sinzo in Han-ayan, Lianga town.

Catamco herself became embroiled in controversy when she parroted military claims some 700 Manobo who had fled after the military and Alamara occupied their villages and tribal schools in Davao del Norte and sought refuge in a church compound in Davao City of having been “manipulated” and victims of “trafficking,” and insisted that the evacuees be returned to their communities.

She also defended the existence of the Alamara and the presence of the military in lumad villages.

This later led to a violent attempt to evict the Davao evacuees, necessitating the intervention of Vice Mayor Paolo

Duterte. However, when Duterte ordered the gates of the church compound to be opened so the lumad who Catamco claimed wanted to go home but were being prevented from leaving could freely walk out, no one did.

In her statement, Catamco claimed legalizing the tribal “self defense systems” would bring about full compliance of the Indigenous People’s Rights Act, invoking the law’s provisions giving indigenous people “the right to regulate entry of migrants and other entities into their ancestral domains” and “exercise powers to prevent, apprehend and prosecute all persons violating environmental and natural resources laws within ancestral domains.”

Claiming the existence of the traditional defense systems was a clamor of the lumad, she said ignoring this “is to give the IPRA less than half of the measure of the law that it deserves.”

Catamco urged the National Commission on Indigenous People “to put in place the necessary guidelines for the recognition of traditional indigenous community defense systems” and vowed to “exert all effort to compliment the same by way of

Lumad children at the sports stadium in Tandag City, Surigao where close to 3,000 refugees fled to escape atrocities by military-backed militias. Photo by Erwin Mascariñas ©InterAksyon.com

legislative action to accord it with the full recognition of the law.”

However, Catamco’s notion drew a sharp reaction from Gabriela Representative Luzviminda Ilagan, a native of Davao City, who called it an “outrage” as she accused the North Cotabato lawmaker of “defending murders and human rights violators.”

Ilagan said despite the military’s recent denials, “the bagani are CAFGUs recruited and armed by the AFP … they have gone berserk in the counterinsurgency campaign.”

She cited the witnesses to the Lianga killings as well as Surigao del Sur Governor Johnny Pimentel who maintains the Army organized, trained and armed the Magahat and other militias in his province and has demanded that the military “disarm, disband or kill them” because of their atrocities.

“Now Catamco wants to legalize them?” Ilagan said. “It means legalizing harassment, abuses, killings in the countryside.” n InterAksyon.com / September 11, 2015 / 2:05 pm

Duterte: Crime, drugs should be next admin’s priority MANILA - Fighting crime should be the top priority of the national leadership that will succeed the Aquino administration, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte told “Happy Hour”, a televised roundtable discussion Thursday with News5, InterAksyon.com, BusinessWorld, Philippine Star, and Bloomberg Philippines at the TV5 Media Center in Mandaluyong City.

“I’ll put myself in the place of [Vice President Jejomar] Binay or [Interior Secretary] Mar [Roxas]. If I were Mar or Binay, I would place priority on crime,” Duterte said when asked what problem

he would solve if he were president.

Photograph below is by Bernard Testa, InterAksyon.com.

Duterte, who has not yet declared that he will run for president in the coming 2016 national elections, did not close the door on the possibility, either.

Along with criminality, drugs should also be the main focus of attention of the country’s next president.

Duterte said these were the ills that every city in the Philippines is facing.

“The enormity of the problem does not just discourage me. It scares me,” he said.

With the country being “flooded” with

drugs, evils that were unheard of in the past were now surfacing. A person under the influence could hold his or her family hostage, or go raping minors.

According to Duterte, there was even one case in Davao City where a 24-monthold child was raped.

Just five or seven weeks ago, he disclosed that police told him there was a new “buy and sell” network in Davao City. Duterte said authorities were monitoring developments based on the fluctuation in the price of drugs. “If it has become cheaper, that means supply had increased.”

Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte. Photos by Bernard Testa, ©InterAksyon.com

Duterte underscored that more kids becoming hooked on drugs (“nabuang”) made the situation “unbearable”. He then ordered the police and the military to conduct a city-wide raid, which left seven dead.

Drug lords were just enjoying themselves in their mansions within gated subdivisions, he observed.

If he were Binay or Roxas, he said, he would have the drug lords killed.

“They will corrupt everybody. They will have you killed, so better be the one to do it first,” Duterte said, bluntly. “If you do not do that, there is no solution in sight.

They will fight back.”

He said he refused to allow children who were being sent to school to fall victim to drug addicts and be killed.

Duterte said this was the reason he warned drug lords: “Do not do it in my city ... because I will kill you.”

He added that he does not care about the “bleeding hearts”, human rights groups, or even the United Nations.

“I am responsible only to my constituents,” he declared.

11 San Fernando villages join 2015 giant lantern tilt CITY of San Fernando – At least 11 villages in this city will be participating in this year’s Giant Lantern making competition to be held at Robinsons Starmills mall on December 19, the organizers disclosed during the launching of the event here.

The villages that would be competing for the colorful event are San Jose, Dolores, Santo Niño, San Nicolas, San Juan, Telabastagan, Del

Pilar, Santa Lucia, Calulut, Sindalan and Pandaras.

Except for Barangays Sindalan and Pandaras, both first timers in the competition, all the rest have participated yearly in the crowddrawing Christmas lantern festivities, said Ching Pangilinan, head of the City Tourism Office.

Now on its 8th year with Robinson Starmills Pampanga] as official venue,

the Giant Lantern Festival, Pangilinan added, will for the first time see more participants than expected.

Those taking part in the competition would be subsidized by the city government.

Some P2 million have been allocated for the project.

Pangilinan said the fund will be divided equally among each of the 11 participating barangays.

Robinsons Land Corporation has allotted P3.04 million worth of sponsorship for this year. The participating lanterns will be displayed for 15 days at Robinsons Starmills from December 20 to January 6, 2016.

Exhibitions of giant lanterns would also be held at different places in this city including Essel Park, Greenfields, Marquee Mall and downtown. n Jess Malabanan / InterAksyon.com / September 12, 2015 / 5:50 pm

Duterte stressed that he would never kill a minor or a woman, however.

He added that he established a P12million facility for drug rehabilitation for juvenile drug addicts.

Fighting corruption and fixing the government would also be on his agenda if he were president.

The country’s traffic woes, on the other hand, could not be solved in one term only, he underscored. “The only way to do that is really to have effective mass transportation. But you cannot plan and you cannot implement it within six years. You are asking of the next president something impossible.

He will fail,” Duterte said.

Adding to the problem, he stressed, were the new vehicles being sold daily, as well as the “ramshackle” vehicles that were not being taken off the streets.

“This color coding scheme is idiotic,” he added. “It only gives the wealthy a reason to buy more cars as reserves.” n Tricia Aquino / InterAksyon.com / September 11, 2015 / 5:18 pm

SPORTS

September 2015 / Fortnightly – No. 18 • UK & Europe Edition

BOXING

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Continuation from page 40

Manny Pacquiao demands Mayweather punishment, rematch over anti-doping row But a USADA source told AFP that because Mayweather obtained a therapeutic use exemption, no offense had been committed under WADA rules.

‘I want a rematch’. Pacquiao also said he was treated unfairly because the Nevada body refused to let him use a USADA-approved painkiller for the fight, when he was carrying a shoulder injury.

“That is why I want a rematch. One without any injury and with fair play.

No favouritism. Not one where the Mayweather camp gets to dictate all the terms and conditions,” he said.

Doping allegations have been at the heart of the fighters’ long-running feud, which has not abated since Mayweather won their only meeting for the World Boxing Organization welterweight title.

The richest fight in boxing history took years to become reality, partly because of Mayweather’s insistence that Pacquiao comply with a strict drug-testing regime.

Mayweather later accused Pacquiao of using performance-enhancing drugs, prompting a lawsuit which was settled out of court.

After Mayweather’s victory on points, he branded Pacquiao a “sore

loser” for revealing his injured torn rotator cuff injury, which later needed surgery.

“Truth finally came out and I was vindicated,” Pacquiao said in a brief statement earlier. “(The) Mayweather camp accused me of using PEDs (performanceenhancing drugs). Now look what happened.”

Mayweather, who is looking to

extend his unblemished 49-0 record against Andre Berto on Saturday, has insisted he is a “clean athlete”.

“I follow and have always followed the rules of Nevada and USADA, the gold standard of drug testing,” Mayweather said in a statement.

“I am very proud to be a clean athlete and will continue to champion the cause,” he added. n AFP / September 11,

2015 / 5:42 pm

Floyd Mayweather reportedly took banned IV shots prior to Manny Pacquiao bout BOXING

POUND-FOR-POUND king Floyd Mayweather Jr. reportedly took illegal intravenous (IV) shots before fighting Filipino ring icon Manny Pacquiao in their megafight last May. According to an in-depth piece by renowned boxing investigative reporter Thomas Hauser, Mayweather received the illegal IV to help cope up with dehydration. While the substance isn’t

totally banned, its administration as an IV is prohibited by the World AntiDoping Agency.

Hauser wrote that Mayweather only received an exemption from the United States Anti-Doping Agency 18 days after the fight. The USADA also did not inform the Nevada State Athletic Commission about it.

After the fight, it can be recalled that Pacquiao wasn’t allowed by the NSAC to

take anti-inflammatory shots to ease the pain on his right shoulder a few hours before the bout. He has since underwent successful surgery on his injury.

Mayweather edged Pacquiao via unanimous decision on May 2 that raked in record revenues that made it the richest fight in boxing history. n InterAksyon.com / September 10, 2015 / 5:18 pm

Azkals star Stephan Schrock says sorry to Filipinos over huge loss to Uzbekistan FOOTBALL

PHILIPPINE national men’s football team star Stephan Schrock felt the need to apologize to Filipino fans after the Azkals suffered a 5-1 beatdown at the hands of Uzbekistan in the FIFA World Cup qualifiers on Tuesday.

“Sorry po we failed last night, but we are not going to quit until we see the fruit of what God has placed for us Thank you guys for the great

BASKETBALL

support during my stay, it’s such a blessing to represent all of you ” Schrock wrote on Facebook page.

Coming in as a sub, Schrock scored the lone goal for the Azkals in style. At the 68th minute, he launched a magnificent curling shot off a free kick that caught the Uzbekistan goalkeeper off-guard.

However, that wasn’t enough to spark an Azkals comeback against

September 9, 2015 / 9:28 pm

Photo by Ver Marquez ©InterAksyon.com

Talk N Text coach Jong Uichico not surprised by solid outings from rookies Moala Tautuaa, Troy Rosario

TALK ‘N TEXT was one of the teams that started training early in this offseason so it’s no surprise that the PBA club played sharp, cohesive basketball

as they came out victorious against the Chinese Taipei national team on Saturday.

But what has been encouraging was the way blue-chip rookies Moala Tautuaa

Photo by Ver Marquez ©InterAksyon.com

MORE SPORT

Uzbekistan, the highest-ranked team at 76th in Group H of the competition.

It was the first loss of the Azkals in the qualifiers after earlier clinching two straight wins. They will resume their campaign on October when they make an interesting trip to North Korea to face its national team in Pyongyang. n InterAksyon.com /

and Troy Rosario have seamless fit with the rest of the team despite spending most of the offseason with the Gilas Pilipinas national team and not with Talk ‘N Text.

The two have played major roles for the Tropang Texters in this 2015 Master Game Face MVP Cup and especially so in the team’s rousing win over a national team.

Tautuaa posted a double-double with 20 points and 13 rebounds against Chinese Taipei while Rosario added 19 and nine.

They both shot impeccably from the field as well, with Tautuaa going 8-for-12 and Rosario 9-for-13.

“Dalawang araw pa lang silang nagpapractice,” Talk ‘N Text head coach Jong Uichico admitted after the game.

“But simple lang naman kasi yung itinatakbo namin. Hindi naman

complicated yung sistema namin and hoping they could adapt.”

The rookie duo have been training with the Gilas national team and suited up for the 37th William Jones Cup as well.

The 6-foot-7 Fil-Tongan Tautuaa is playing the role as backup to Andray Blatche due to him being ineligible to play for the national team if not in place of a naturalized player. With Blatche committed to playing in the FIBA Asia Championship, though, Tautuaa will need to wait his turn before donning the national colors again.

Rosario, also a 6-foot-7 forward, was part of the cadet team that won the gold medal in the Southeast Asian Games last June. His impressive showing has earned him a spot in the training pool and he was

FOR $2 MILLION: Mayweather willing to face Pacquiao again... in basketball

FLOYD Mayweather is willing to face Manny Pacquiao again.

Instead of another battle in the ring, however, the unbeaten poundfor-pound champ reportedly wants to take on the Filipino fight icon in the hardcourt.

The story comes courtesy of model Rissa Mananquil-Trillo, who related

the experience of her husband, Meralco Bolts team manager Paolo Trillo, on her Instagram account.

Paolo is currently in Las Vegas with the Bolts for training camp.

Mayweather reportedly showed up at the same gym where Meralco was training, and struck up a conversation with Paolo, asking the team manager if

Pacquiao played with them.

When told that Pacquiao played and coached for another team, Mayweather reportedly replied: “I’ll play PAC oneon-one anytime for $2M!” Asked how he thinks he’ll fare against Pacquiao on the court, Mayweather said he started out on the streets playing basketball.

Mayweather defeated Pacquiao last May in a record-breaking fight touted to be the richest in boxing history.

But the American champion has been under fire recently amid a report that he violated anti-doping guidelines on the eve of their match.

Pacquiao has called for a rematch.

nJST, GMA News / September 12, 2015 / 6:23 pm

listed by Gilas coach Tab Baldwin on the reserve list.

Uichico believes their involvement in Gilas had somehow prepared them for the bigger battles ahead of them.

They’re showing in the MVP Cup and their coach is hoping that they can prove that in the coming PBA season as well.

“But they need to play more to understand the game,” Uichico said.

“Like Troy, he’s too fast. He doesn’t wait for things to develop, but maturity, we’ll get him there. Mo, medyo nawawala pa siya kasi sa ABL and D-League, more plays and he gets the ball more. Dito, medyo kailangan ng adjustment. He’s still adjusting to the quicker pace.” n Rey Joble / InterAksyon.com / September 12, 2015

/ 7:57 pm

sport ©AFP

BOXING

Talk ‘N Text coach Jong Azkals star Stephan Floyd Mayweather reportedly took banned Schrock says sorry to Uichico not surprised by solid IV shots prior to Manny Filipinos over huge loss outings from rookies Moala Tautuaa, Troy Rosario to Uzbekistan Pacquiao bout Story on page 39

Story on page 39

Story on page 39

Manny Pacquiao demands Mayweather punishment, rematch over anti-doping row PHILIPPINE boxer Manny Pacquiao called for punishment and a rematch on Friday after his fierce rival Floyd Mayweather was accused of violating anti-doping rules in the build-up to their mega-fight in May. The eight-division world champion, who lost a unanimous decision to Mayweather in Las Vegas, urged Nevada sports officials to “impose the appropriate sanction” on the unbeaten American.

Mayweather and the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) have both insisted the boxer’s actions were legal after it emerged he was injected with vitamins and minerals before the fight.

But Pacquiao questioned why USADA only informed the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) about the infusion three weeks after the bout, by which time Mayweather had already received a USADA exemption.

“Are they hiding something? For the sake of fairness and for the good of the sport, NSAC must be consistent,” he told reporters at his home in the southern Philippines.

“If needed, the NSAC should impose the appropriate sanction to sustain its credibility and to show the world they did not give preferential treatment to the Mayweather camp,” he added.

A report on the SB Nation sports news website said Mayweather had broken World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) regulations by having an IV infusion at his home in Las Vegas on May 1, the day before the fight.

WADA guidelines say IV infusions are prohibited because they can be used to mask performance-enhancing drugs, increase plasma volume levels and distort the values of an athlete’s biological passport.

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