Planet Philippines (Calgary Edition) April 16-30, 2012 issue

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CELEBR TY

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KRIS IS QUEEN OF ALL CELEBRITY TAXPAYERS KRIS Aquino, dubbed Queen of All Media, is the country’s highest-paid showbiz personality and top celebrity taxpayer in 2010.

According to the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), the TV host-actress had a total taxable income of P101 million in 2010, for which she paid taxes of P32.3 million.

This put her at No. 17 on the list of top 500 individual taxpayers for 2010 – higher than some of the most high-profile businessmen like Ayala Corp.’s Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, mall tycoon Henry Sy and telecoms executive Manuel V. Pangilinan.

TV host Willie Revillame was in No. 21 spot, earning P82 million in 2010 and paying taxes of P26.5 million.

Actress-singer Sharon Cuneta (No. 58) paid P16.6 million in taxes after earning P52 million in 2010. Another actress and singer, Sarah Geronimo (No. 67), paid P14.8 million in taxes from her earnings of P46.4 mil-

lion in 2010.

Other top celebrity taxpayers in 2010 were: Piolo Pascual, No. 76 with P49.8 million in earnings and P13 million in taxes; Marian Rivera, No. 86, P37.2 million and P11.8 million; John Lloyd Cruz, No. 95, P34 million and P10.9 million; Claudine Barretto, No. 99, P33.4 million and P10.6 mil-

lion; Boy Abunda, No. 134, P29 million and P9.2 million; Judy Ann Santos, No. 211, P19.9 million and P6.3 million; KC Concepcion, No. 229, P18.9 million and P6 million; Jericho Rosales, No. 236, P18.77 million and P5.9 million; and Dingdong Dantes No. 237, P18.75 million and P5.9 million.

ROBIN HAPPY BEING KAPAMILYA ACTION star Robin Padilla admitted that he got an offer to transfer to TV5, but he said he chose to stay with ABS-CBN because he’s happy with the projects that he’s been working on for the Kapamilya network.

Asked if his wife Mariel Rodriguez being with TV5 was a factor in considering his transfer, Robin said they don’t have to be under the same network since they already spend enough time together at home.

“Okey na kami ni Ma, magkasama na kami gabi-gabi, okey na ‘yun,” he said. “Bakit ako aalis? Kahit sino naman sa atin, basta masaya tayo, walang dahilan, wala akong dahilan na umalis sa ABS.” He said he is particularly thankful for being part of a new

FEELING HOT, BIANCA GOES TOPLESS

TV host Bianca Gonzalez did what her fans thought she would never do – appear topless on the cover of a magazine.

Reactions ranged from shock and disbelief to admiration and approval from all corners of social networking over Bianca’s splash on the cover of April issue of the men’s magazine Esquire Philippines.

The television host, who is known for her wholesome and “smart and nice” image, wore

TV series of the Kapamilya network.

“Lalo na ngayon pinaramdam sa akin ng ABS ang pinakamalaki nilang [proyekto],” he said. “Hindi nga ako makapaniwala nung sinabi sa akin ‘yung teleserye na ‘yun.

Wow! Mabigat ‘yun ha, maraming salamat para pagkatiwalaan tayo ng ganung klaseng proyekto.”

Robin is part of the new teleserye Kailangan Ko’y Ikaw where he will co-star with Kris Aquino and Anne Curtis.

only a high-waisted bikini bottom, while her left arm covered her breasts.

“I’m scared but excited,” the 29-year-old Bianca posted on her official Twitter account.

“Thank you, Esquire Philippines for putting me on your April cover! It was an honor as well to write my own cover story! I’m nervous but happy,” she said in another tweet.

The daring cover received mostly positive notices from friends, fans and kibitzers alike. .

“OMG wow! You look great Bianca,” TV host Daphne Osena Paez said on Twitter.

“Check out our summer cover! Hot!” commented Raymond Gutierrez, a colleague from rival network GMA-7.

From Shirlene Villanueva Rada: “I can’t believe na kaya ni Bianca mag-ganyan.”

From Ameer Verango Pagalaman: “Ano na nangyayari sa mundo? Bakit ka nagganyan, teh?”

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CELEBRITYFILES

DEREK JUMPS SHIP TO TV5

FOR weeks there had been speculations that Derek Ramsay was considering jumping ship to TV5. For some unexplained reasons, there was no word from the actor about his final decision.

It was ABS-CBN’s Corporate Communications head Bong Osorio who put the issue to rest by confirming Derek was leaving ABS-CBN. “Nagdesisyon na si Derek Ramsay na lumipat sa TV5,” Osorio said in a statement last April 2. “Sa mga nakaraang buwan ay ginawa ng ABS-CBN ang kaya nitong gawin para makumbinsi siya na manatiling Kapamilya.

Nguni’t naging mahirap para kay Derek na tanggihan ang ini-alok na halaga ng TV5 sa kanya. Nais naming pasalamatan si Derek sa maraming taong inilagi niya sa ABSCBN.” Derek’s contract with ABS-CBN expired last February.

Derek said that before making his biggest career decision, he, his father and his manager, Jojie Dingcong, met with ABS-CBN bigwigs Gabby Lopez and Charo Santos to hear their counter offer.

While he insists that money will not be a factor in his decision, there were reports that ABS-CBN let go of Derek because it could not match the offer of TV5.

There is no word at this time whether Derek’s girlfriend, Angelica Panganiban, would follow him when her contract with ABS-CBN expires.

VILMA HAS NOTHING MORE TO ASK

WITH a life fulfilled from decades of stardom, a flourishing career in public service, and a strong family, Batangas Governor Vilma Santos has no more to ask from God, saying that at this point in her life, it is time for her to simply give thanks.

“Kung may natitira pa pong bagay na gusto kong hilingin sa Panginoon, dalawang bagay lang – gabayan ang pamilya ko, at gabayan ang pagiging ina ko ng lalawigan ng Batangas,” she said. “Sobra-sobra na ang

biyaya na binigay ng Panginoon, wala na akong hihilingin pa. Pasasalamat na lang, pasasalamat.”

As her way of thanking God, Vilma has committed herself to restoring the San Martin de Tours Minor Basilica in Taal, Batangas. “’Yung pagre-restore nito ay kahit paano personal na namin ‘yun,” she said. “Hindi pwedeng gumamit ng pondo ng gobyerno diyan, so kung anuman ‘yung, a little part of us ni Senador Ralph Recto (her husband) na naitutu-

long sa pagpapa-ayos ng simbahan, ‘yun ay more of personal na naming support kasi mga Katoliko din kami.”

ENCHONG CREDITS ‘PANATA’ FOR SUCCESS

EVERY Lenten season, Enchong Dee and his family go to Naga City for his yearly panata.

“It’s a place in Calabanga that we walk from the cathedral of Naga to Calabanga. Hinulid ang tawag. . . And then Stations of the Cross. Then after that we have to walk for three hours. Sometimes puwedeng may slippers, puwedeng wala.”

Enchong said he had been doing this Lenten practice for the past four years.

“I remember may winish ako sa Kanya na sabi ko, ‘Ahm… ready na po ako Lord mag-seryoso sa showbiz.’ And then binigay ni God, kaya sabi ko. . . Ano, minsan ang daming nagsasabing hindi totoo ‘yan, ganyan, ganyan. Pero minsan ‘yong kailangan mo lang ‘yong faith sa sarili for it to happen.”

He said his road to fame began after doing the Lenten penance. “Parang kasi ‘yon ‘yong start ng. . . after no’ng Holy Week na ‘yon nagsimula ‘yong ‘My Girl’ and people started recognizing me na after. It was 2007? 2008! Kasama [ko] sila Kim [Chiu] at Gerald [Anderson].”

TWITTER WAR: AMALIA VS ANABELLE

Exchanging ‘tweet nothings’

MORE than just a social networking tool, Twitter has become a new battleground for celebrity duels. The latest protagonists are former Movie Queen Amalia Fuentes and Anabelle Rama, exactress-turned-talent manager and wife of Eddie Gutierrez. Eddie and Amalia were perennial screen partners in the sixties.

The word war erupted on March 31 when Anabelle Rama took to the Twitter to vent her anger over an incident at a restaurant involving Amalia and her friend, former Miss Universe Gloria Diaz. According to

Anabelle’s account, Gloria approached their table and handed over a cell phone to Eddie, saying Amalia wanted to talk to him. Anabelle alleged that Amalia, a former girlfriend of Eddie, badmouthed her.

On April 2, Amalia created a Twitter account purposely to counter what she called the “attacks on her persona” by Anabelle. The feud turned nastier on April 3 at the wake of Stevens when Amalia confronted her nemesis at a church in Makati and asked her to leave.

The bad blood between the two

dates back to 2004 when Amalia accused Anabelle of spreading rumors about her husband Joey Stevens during the presidential campaign of the late Fernando Poe Jr. As result of the Twitter war, Annabelle revealed that her children are now upset with her.

“Dahil sa tweet ko kahapon magkagalit na naman kami. Kumampi s’ya sa nanay n’ya sa movie nila,” Annabelle said, referring to her children Raymond and Ruffa, who is doing a movie with working title Dead na Dead Sa ‘Yo with Gloria.

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By ChERIE del rio

Gerald says he is thankful to Sarah for “… the inspiration that she gives me.

And for making me happy every day.”

HE first quarter of the dragon year is off to a romantic start for two of the Kapamilya network’s biggest stars, sarah Geronimo and Gerald Anderson. for quite some time now, there’s been a lot of buzz surrounding the stellar pair. the success of their back-to-back movies, Catch Me I’m In Love and I Won’t Last A Day Without You, has established a solid foundation for the burgeoning fan group supporting the love team. their fans have taken to calling themselves “Ashralds”, which is a fusion of sarah and Gerald’s first names.

GERALD WON’T LAST A DAY WITHOUT SARAH Gerald has been very vocal about Sarah being a source of inspiration, adding that he’s very thankful to the Pop Princess star for “… the inspiration that she gives me.

And for making me happy every day.”

The pair titillates the Ashralds in I Won’t Last A Day Without You.

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Some Kimeralds can’t get over the fact that Gerald is now with Sarah.

there have been sightings of the pair here and there albeit in group outings, including a rumored Valentine’s date. Late last year, sarah related in an i n t e r v i ew that Gerald had given her a tiffany necklace as a Christmas gift. And when Gerald celebrated his birthday in early March, sarah gave him an iPad. the exchange of gifts between the couple was fodder for speculation on the true nature of the “sasaGege” pair.

But the team-up’s hype escalated with the pilot episode of the sunday variety show Sarah G Live! where a recorded segment featured Gerald surprising sarah in the yacht. the highlight of the segment was when sarah accidentally addressed Gerald as “Babe”, much to the joy and excitement of Ashralds everywhere. this has led to a lot of rumors that sarah and Gerald might already be in a relationship considering their term of endearment. the “babe” incident was later reaffirmed by sarah in the next episode of her sunday show where Gerald once again guest-starred. from Gerald’s camp, there’s been no denial of the young heartthrob’s attraction towards the Pop star Princess.

“Yes, she is my inspiration,” says Gerald. in a recent interview on The Buzz, Gerald has gone as far as admitting that he has found the qualities of an ideal wife in sarah. He said that on the last shooting day of their movie, I Won’t Last A Day Without You, he realized that, “Wow, she’s beautiful!” it seems that it was that defining moment which sparked Gerald’s attraction for sarah. in a birthday

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greeting aired during an interview on The Buzz, his younger brother dished out that, recently, Gerald has been happily talking to a girl often. Gerald sheepishly admitted that the girl his brother was referring to is actually Sarah. He later admitted in the same interview that yes, he really is courting Sarah.

Gerald has been very vocal about Sarah being a source of inspiration, adding that he’s very thankful to the Pop Princess star for “… the inspiration that she gives me. And for making me happy every day.”

From the time that he admitted that he is courting Sarah, Gerald has been seen hanging around and watching her during her rehearsals and movie shoots. Sarah is currently shooting her third movie with another Kapamilya heartthrob, John Lloyd Cruz.

Although the Fil-Am actor indulges occasional interviews with answers concerning his blossoming relationship with Sarah, both of them have still taken to keeping some things private. In the world of showbiz, privacy – especially concerning relationships - is a luxury that many of the stars find difficulty keeping. Their love affairs become public property and while the same can contribute to

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Talking about the courtship makes Sarah uncomfortable, but she admits that she’s happy about it. their popularity, it usually costs them the relationship itself. Fortunately for most love teams, fan groups seem to understand this and they become content with a few photos and quotes thrown out there by their idols. This goes for a lot of love team fans, not just the Ashralds. What some Kimeralds - fans of the erstwhile love team of Gerald and Kim Chiu – find it hard to accept is the new development itself: Sarah and Gerald together, with Kim no longer in the picture as she seems to be very happy with the company of her My Binondo Girl leading man, Xian Lim. But now that Kim and Gerald have parted ways, there are still some solid Kimerald fans who con-

The new love team was born in the movie Catch Me I’m In Love.

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tinue to support the pair. There is, however, some Kimeralds who are unwilling to accept that their idols have moved on with their new love teams. The more fanatical Kimeralds have been reported to be sending hate mails to anyone who is rumored to be the object of Gerald’s affections. First, there was Bea Alonzo and now, there’s Sarah.

Sarah says that talking about Gerald’s courtship makes her uncomfortable. But she admits that she’s happy about it and that, of course, Gerald is one of the reasons for such happiness. When reporters prodded Sarah for a message for Gerald, the songstress laughed and said she will just send Gerald a text message.

Apart from guesting on Sarah G Live! as well as a few sightings when they go out on dates, there aren’t any other news as to upcoming projects that will put Sarah and Gerald together. But this doesn’t seem to deter neither Gerald nor Sarah in spending time together and getting to know each other.

Well, since it seems that Gerald has professed that he won’t last a day without Sarah, the Ashrald republic stays tuned as to whether Sarah will catch Gerald now that he’s fallen. n

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‘Steamy’ photos land students in hot water

Hooray, we’re at the bottom of the list!

FILIPINOS find themselves again at the bottom of another global survey. But this time they are patting themselves on the back. The list happens to be world’s most disrespectful countries for travelers.

The travel search site Skyscanner.com surveyed its users about where the locals never smile and people are particularly

unfriendly, and the nation with the most votes for rudest locals was France, followed by Russia.

The survey received over 1,200 responses, 65 percent from the UK and Ireland, plus elsewhere in Europe, North America and Australia.

Rounding out the top five rudest countries were the UK, Germany

1 in 4 Filipinos has Facebook account MUCH has been said about the Philippines being among the top social media countries in the world.

And all of that is richly deserved. It is indeed a social and hyperconnected world and the statistics bear this out.

The latest data from SocialBakers, a global social media and digital analytics company, show that almost one out of every four Filipinos has a Facebook account. As of last month, there were 27,720,300 Facebook users in the Philippines, making it No. 8 in the world among Facebook countries.

Of the Philippine Facebook population, 39% of users are 18-24 years old and 24% are 25-34 years old. Combined, this accounts for 63% of the total Facebook population. Fifty-two percent of all Filipino Facebook users are female which is consistent with the global profile of Facebook.

and “Other.” China and the United States placed sixth and seventh, respectively.

Of the 33 countries listed in the survey, the Philippines with 0.17 percent of the votes and the Carribean and Brazil, each with 0.08 percent of the votes, are considered by travelers as the places with the least rude locals.

MEMO to graduating students: Behave, at least until after you receive your diploma.

Eight senior high students in two Catholic schools in the country learned this lesson belatedly when they were barred from joining the graduation ceremonies after they posed photos on Facebook that were deemed inappropriate and distasteful by school officials.

In Cebu City, two female students of St. Theresa’s College, an exclusive all-girl school, where prevented from attending the commencement exercises over a Facebook posting of pictures showing the girls in bikinis.

School officials said that by posing in bikinis and posting the pictures on the Internet was a violation of school policy. The case reached the courts but in the end the school prevailed when the students were not allowed to join the graduation rites.

In Marikina City, six graduating high school boys from the Infant Jesus Academy met the same fate after they simulated a kiss in public and posted photos of their naughty prank on Facebook.

School officials said the students violated a guideline of the institution, and the photos were “damaging” to the reputation of the school.

Make it Makati IN a few years, Makati City will look and feel different, and will be at par with modern cities that are walkable and liveable.

Ayala Land has announced a plan that would involve investing a hefty P60 billion to transform and revitalize Makati City.

While Makati City still reigns as host to the most number of corporate headquarters and workplace of choice among office-bound work-

ers, it has to stay relevant amid the sprouting new business and commercial districts in the metro.

Ayala Land will reshape their Makati properties into 6 districts: • Elevated walkways and pedestrian underpasses will be extended and updated.

• Glorietta 1 and 2 will open 200 new stores by October. All the malls should be fully open by Christmas.

• A new public transport friendly district called Makati South will become a nexus for commuters.

• The Ayala Triangle will host more events to foster a community feel as people gather together for public activities.

• Ayala hopes to appeal to the budding creative crowd by housing a pocket art park by the rising Kroma and Solaris residential towers.

• In Sta. Ana district, an abandoned racetrack will be transformed into a 22-hectare " “integrated township” and entertainment district.

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Good enough to work but not good enough to stay HONG Kong’s court of appeals on March 28 overturned a landmark ruling on a case filed by a Filipina worker that opened the door for thousands of foreign maids to claim residency in the southern Chinese city.

In accepting the government’s appeal, the judge ruled that it is the inherent right of any government to choose who to accept as residents and citizens.

The High Court ruled on September 30 last year that Filipina domestic worker Evangeline Banao Vallejos had the right to request permanent residency status, something that had been denied to for-

eign maids until then.

However, the Hong Kong government appealed the ruling. It argued that the authorities had discretionary power to decide who was eligible for residency, rejecting arguments that restrictions on maids were unconstitutional and discriminatory.

The vast majority of the city’s 292,000 foreign domestic helpers - most of whom are women -- are from the Philippines or Indonesia, but some also come from Thailand, Nepal, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Filipino maids in Hong Kong number some 120,000.

Boracay, Panglao wow world travelers TWO of the country’s premier beach resorts recently earned the nod of prestigious international travel experts.

Boracay Island in Aklan was adjudged the top beach in Asia and the sixth best beach destination in the world by the popular travel website Tripadvisor.com.

Panglao Island in Bohol, meanwhile, has been named one of the world’s best secret beaches by the US travel magazine Travel+Leisure.

Boracay’s 4.5-mile-long beachfront topped the lineup for Asia, ahead of eight beaches from Thailand as well as one beach each from India and Indonesia.

In the worldwide list, Boracay ranked higher than several known beach destinations in Mexico (including Cancun), Rio de Janeiro, Miami, and Hawaii.

In its March 2012 issue, Travel+Leisure cited Panglao as one of 15 beach hideaways that it said are “understated, unexpected, and -- at least for now -- under the radar.”

Surviving in Caramoan THE reality TV show Survivor can’t seem to grow tired of the Caramonan Islands in Camarines Sur. Several of the show’s global editions have been filmed in the pristine, isolated tropical hideaway.

Now shooting for Seasons 25 and 26 of the US version is in full swing in the reality show’s exclusive playground in the Bicol region. Full production work on the US edition began in March and will wrap up in August. A Hollywood movie will be shot in the islands within the year.

This is not the first time that

From white elephant to posh hotel A FOREIGN group is in talks with the Philippine government to transform the historic Manila Central Post Office into a first-class hotel.

Sino Land (Hongkong) Co. Ltd., the group that converted Singapore’s old post office building into a luxury hotel, wants to do the same for the 86-year-old neo-classical building on Liwasang Bonifacio (formerly Plaza Lawton) in Manila.

The proposal gained support from various quarters who say that with a reputable developer behind the project, the architecture and structure of the heritage building will be properly maintained.

Many are concerned that the postal building will slowly distintegrate through the years if it continues to house a losing government agency like the Philippine Post that has no funds for its maintenance.

A committee has been formed to look into the possibility of creating an integrated tourism complex in the Intramuros area to include the historical sites of the Walled City, Manila Cathedral, San Agustin Church, Fort Santiago and Manila Metropolitan Theater. The conversion of the Manila Central Post Office into a posh hotel will be part of the tourism plan.

Caramoan had been chosen as shooting location for Survivor.

Beginning in 2007, the following countries have filmed their Survivor series in the islands: France (March 2007), Israel (April 2009), Bulgaria (July 2009), Serbia (September 2009), Sweden (July 2010), Denmark (May 2011), Norway (June 2011), Belgium and India (2011).

The cast and crew are housed in Gota Village Resort, located in one of the islands, during the filming. The islands used for shooting are closed to tourists for the duration of the shooting.

‘Sex strike’ halts fighting in the south WOMEN in Muslim Mindanao brought peace to their strife-torn village by threatening to withhold sex if their men kept fighting.

The “sex strike” in July 2011 in Barangay Dado, Datu Piang town in Maguindanao helped ease tensions and restored normalcy for 102 families living there.

The idea of a sex strike was conceived by a group

of women who had set up a sewing business but found that they could not deliver their products because the village road was closed by the threat of violence. The group’s leader, Hasna Kandatu, said they warned their husbands they would be cut off from sex if they continued causing trouble.

“If you go there (to fight), you won’t be able to come back. I won’t accept you,” Kandatu recalled telling her husband.

“If you do bad things, you will be cut off, here,” mo-

tioning below her waist.

For her effort, Kandatu was named among the “World’s 150 Fearless Women” in a list compiled

by Newsweek magazine and its partner news organization The Daily Beast.

Among those in the list are US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, pop star Lady Gaga, Hollywood stars Angelina Jolie and Meryl Streep, Grammy award winner Adele, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

For Pinoys, US is still land of milk and honey FILIPINOS are now the second largest Asian group in the United States, according to the latest census bureau report.

The number of Americans who have identified themselves as Filipino, either alone or in combination with another race, totaled 3.4 million, the report showed.

The total number of Filipinos in the US is believed to be much higher than the census count as there are an estimated one million undocumented Filipinos, jokingly referred to as TNT or tago nang tago.

Chinese-Americans make up the largest Asian group, with more than 4 million.

California had the largest population of Asian Americans, with close to 6 million, followed by New York, with 1.6 million.

Filipinos are the largest Asian group in the states of Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Washington, Wyoming and South Dakota.

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The most significant impact of the deal is that the national flag carrier will remain in Filipino hands.

SAN MIGUEL BETS $500M ON AIR TRAVEL, TOURISM GROWTH

San Miguel is majority-owned by Top Frontier investments Holdings led by businessman Roberto Ongpin, a former cabinet official under Ferdinand Marcos. Other significant shareholders include chairman eduardo Cojuangco, who because of illness has handed the reins to San Miguel president Ramon Ang.

AN Miguel Corp, the Philippines’ most diverse conglomerate, bought minority stakes worth a total $500 million in flag-carrier Philippine Airlines and a sister airline, extending its business reach as it seeks to out-grow the local economy.

The deal is the first partnership between San Miguel and its main brewing rival, billionaire lucio Tan, who owns Asia Brewery and Tanduay Holdings. Tan is the country’s second-richest man, with Forbes magazine estimating his family’s net worth at $3.5 billion. under the deal with Tan’s Trustmark Holdings, San Miguel will take indirect stakes of 40 percent in Philippine Airlines Corp (PAl) and 49 percent in its low-cost partner Air Philippines Corp, also known as Air Phil. San Miguel, valued at $6.4 billion, will gain management control of PAl, the country’s biggest airline.

Carlos Jalandoni, vice president at BPi Asset Management, which has $15.6 billion of assets under management, said the deal gives San Miguel new distribution channels for its food and drinks business. Previously, Tan didn’t allow his rival’s drinks on Philippine Airlines’ flights.

“Obviously there are synergies: food, airlines, consumer, but a minor-

ity stake is unusual,” Jalandoni said.

“Now the question will be: is this an initial step to something bigger?”

For stock broker ismael Cruz, president of igC Securities, the most significant impact of this deal is that the national flag carrier would remain in Filipino hands.

“SMC has said it will not break up the company. PAl being the first airline in Asia that means being Filipino, we will keep it as one airline company that will remain in Filipino hands,” Cruz said.

Expansion San Miguel has spent at least $3 billion since 2007 when it embarked on an aggressive plan to diversify from its food and drinks businesses into almost every capital intensive

San Miguel’s entry into the airline business is likely to have been triggered by the growth potential of the Philippines’ tourism industry. The government is targeting 10 million visitor arrivals by 2016, up from nearly 4 million last year.

San Miguel’s buy-in into PAL signals the food and beverage conglomerate’s entry into the high-growth tourism industry. sector - from power and telecoms to mining, banking and infrastructure.

The expansion, aimed at accelerating profit growth, has failed to stir fund managers, with institutions holding less than 2 percent of the company.

“it certainly has very good assets ...

And i know there are people who like these assets,” said Jalandoni. “i think people are cautious about San Miguel because they don’t really understand the company as it’s gone through so many changes so quickly.”

Taking wing San Miguel’s investment will be used to help upgrade PAl’s fleet and expand operations to better compete with budget operators such as Cebu Air inc.

PAl has been hit by rising fuel costs and labor problems, and lost $33.5 million in October-December. Cebu Air posted net income last year of $84.3 million, though that was down by almost a half from 2010.

San Miguel’s entry into the airline business is likely to have been triggered by the growth potential of the Philippines’ tourism industry. The government is targeting 10 million visitor arrivals by 2016, up from nearly 4 million last year.

“They’re banking on tourism ... on making the airline more efficient the same way Cebu has done,” said Fitz Aclan, senior assistant vice president at BDO Trust in Manila. it wasn’t immediately clear how San Miguel will fund its airline ticket. The group has sought a loan equivalent to $800 million to complete the $577 million acquisition of a majority stake in esso Malaysia Bhd and of both exxonMobil Malaysia Sdn Bhd and exxonMobil Borneo Sdn Bhd. (Reuters) n

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By AmInA aranaz-alunan

OCIAL enterprIse, sustainable fashion, green movement, nationalism—these are concepts and ideologies that were once seen as extreme and exclusive to tree-hugging movements. social enterprises were once misunderstood as equivalent to nGOs (non-government organizations). sustainable fashion was seen as conceptual, not wearable.

Organic produce was scarce and not easily available. Wearing Filipino brands used to be deemed as baduy or not stylish.

In recent years, there has been a stark shift in mindset. All of these have now become popular advocacies, if not the gold standards of many, particularly among the youth.

Groups have made marks and contri-

GK founder Tony Meloto gives a short talk at the launch of GKonomics first showroom in Taguig City.

GAWAD KALINGA GOES INTO FASHION

butions toward these issues.

Internationally acclaimed social enterprise rags2riches, known for working with payatas (Quezon City) communities to transform floor rugs to practical pieces, has made upcycling and women empowerment a strong driver in their company’s growth. Charity empowers when covetable, stylish products made of recycled woven fabrics are produced. the echostore at serendra is also notable for providing a venue for homegrown products such as coffee, soaps, to be made easily acces-

From building communities, Gawad Kalinga has branched out into social enterprise to provide livelihood for the poor. Recently it opened the GKonomics Design Lab and Showroom, which serves as home and selling space for the various products made by GK villages.

sible to a wider market.

A group of young “nationalista fashionistas” recently launched the

postura project (www.posturaproject.com). A movement aimed at encouraging all to wear something Filipino each day.

A leading organization that has had a strong history in community building is Gawad Kalinga (GK). popular for creating villages, it is also known for producing bags made of Zesto wrappers. recently, it opened the GKonomics Design Lab and showroom, part of its mission to grow the number of social enterprises in the country. +31 Bags, clutches and coin purses made from colored plastic bags.

Baskets, totes and hats made from “Bankuan”, a local material sourced by a GK community in Camarines Sur.

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Being Healthy is Being Happy!!!

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MORE THAN JUST TALK With China, Latin America and other Asian markets such as Malaysia also making strides in outsourcing, the Philippines must ensure it has a steady supply of professionals and highly skilled workers to offer the more complex, added-value services to meet clients’ changing and increasing demands.

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By kAREn lema

HE PHiliPPinEs is the world’s call-center capital, but will need more graduates and better trained professionals if it’s to be a major force in the broader outsourcing market, where growth is in providing research and analytics for the legal, healthcare and financial industries. in little more than a decade, the Philippines has overtaken india in running call-centers, helped by an affinity for the language, culture and work ethic of the United states, its former colonial master.

The number of Filipinos offering a cheery “Have a nice day” while working the graveyard shift to answer calls on behalf of multinational clients such as Citigroup and JPMorgan Chase now far exceeds india’s 350,000, and the government wants to double the market to $25 billion by 2016, employing 1.3 million workers.

But to do that the southeast Asian nation must convince investors it has more to offer than just a huge pool of talent speaking English with an American accent.

Research firm Everest Group has forecast the global business process outsourcing (BPO) industry could be worth $220-$280 billion this year, with 90 percent of that in non-voice work - providing more complex skills and services in

research and analytics for lawyers, doctors and bankers.

Non-voice potential in the Philippines, non-voice work

The government wants to double the call center market to $25 billion by 2016, employing 1.3 million workers.

last year accounted for just over a fifth of total BPO revenues of $10.9 billion, but employed a third of the BPO workforce, or around 220,000 people.

“The goal is aggressive but achievable as long as we know one

thing: that what got us here won’t get us to where we need to be,” said Maulik Parekh, president and CEO of outsourcing services provider sPi Global, part of Philippine long Distance Telephone Co (PlDT), the country’s most valuable listed

company.

“A lot of the focus of the tripartite relationship between the government, educational institutions and the private sector has been about English language skills. We need to start to focus on how we can have a thriving healthcare, publishing, finance, human resource, procurement, iT-related BPO,” Parekh said. india is expected to continue to dominate in outsourcing, with its first-mover advantage and skills in software development, but the Philippines has its eye on the non-voice market’s potential.

“While some providers are leveraging the Philippines for nonvoice functions, the scale of work Industry leaders want to focus on how we can have a thriving healthcare, publishing, finance, human resource, procurement, IT-related BPO.

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31 PHILIPPINES

APRIL 16-30, 2012

GAWAD KALINGA...

Products made from indigenous fabrics and weaves made in partnership with Randy Ortiz and GK Sulu.

From page 29

In Manila and other major cities, demand for outsourcing is growing at 20 percent a year, but the number of university graduates is growing at only 3 percent. is relatively low. However, tremendous market potential exists if service providers can successfully manage talent-related constraints,” Nikhil Rajpal, partner at Everest, wrote in a study.

With China, Latin America and other Asian markets such as Malaysia also making strides in outsourcing, the Philippines must ensure it has a steady supply of professionals and highly skilled workers to offer the more complex, added-value services to meet clients’ changing and increasing demands.

Growing demand In Manila, Cebu and beyond, demand for outsourcing is growing at around 20 percent a year, but the number of local university graduates is growing at only 3 percent, and only 5-8 percent of them are hire-able, based on government data, highlighting a need to re-engineer the country’s educational system.

The Philippines has a 10-year basic education system, which the government is looking to extend by two years, by adding a pre-school kindergarten programme, to match its Asian rivals.

“The challenge is to be able to supply the human resources to support the industry both from the entry level to middle managers and executives,” said Trade Secretary Gregorio Domingo.

The country turns out 470,000 accountants, lawyers, nurses and engineers each year, but that figure is dwarfed by the four million col-

“Don’t expect offshoring to end. The global services industry’s full potential is ready to be tapped.” lege graduates in India and two million in China.

US is biggest client The Americas remain the biggest clients for the Philippine outsourcing industry, accounting for nearly three-quarters of the domestic BPO market, but Europe, Australia and Japan are increasingly knocking at the door for business.

Some local BPO operators worry about the possible impact of U.S. President Barack Obama’s election-year pledge to close tax breaks for companies that move U.S. jobs overseas and offer incentives to firms bringing those jobs back home.

But Jose Cuisia, Manila’s ambassador to Washington, has sought to allay those fears, saying a pending bill in the U.S. Congress to end job exports lacks support from the Republicans that dominate the House of Representatives.

In its 2011 Global Services Location Index, consultancy firm A.T. Kearney ranked the Philippines 9th out of 50 outsourcing destinations, saying: “Politicians are using global

services offshoring as an easy scapegoat for current economic woes and high unemployment levels in their home countries, stoking resentment against globalized firms and their host countries.”

“Although signs of a slowdown in the growth of global services are evident in this environment, don’t expect offshoring to end. In fact, the global services industry’s full potential is ready to be tapped,” it added.

Job creator The growth in the Philippine outsourcing sector has made it indispensable to the economy and to employment, with local officials citing it as one of the reasons the country escaped recession in the wake of the 2008 global financial crisis.

In 2009, when much of the world was reeling from the crisis, the United States invested $1.4 billion in the Philippine BPO sector, up from $986 million a year earlier, central bank data showed.

“The BPO industry is one that takes advantage of the strength of the Philippines, which is its people,” Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima said.

“It’s an industry that not only offers direct employment (but) also supports the real estate industry and the service industry, and, together with remittances from Filipinos working abroad and tourism, will form part of the three strong legs that will be the platform for growth of the Philippines in the next years,” he said. (Reuters) n

It serves as home and selling space for the various products made by GK villages from all over, as well as venue for research and product development. The Design Lab and Showroom is in a four-story multipurpose building in Taguig, in the vicinity of at least five GK villages.

The lab taps the skills of workers in these communities and provides a source of livelihood for them. The space was designed pro bono by accomplished interior designer Ivy Almario.

“It is hoped that this gathering place will inspire designers, social entrepreneurs and partners to conceive business ideas which include the poor and the environment in their plans,” shares GKonomics product development director Marivic Pineda.

“Most GK villages have basic artisan skills in weaving, sewing, woodworking and sculpting,” says Marivic. “They hope to develop market-driven products with quality and design standards, ensuring that they espouse our Filipino identity.

“GK residents have proven to be highly trainable so there are no limits to what can be done,” she adds. “Most often, you will find the use of sustainable materials like bamboo, pandan, water lily, packaging materials, tarpaulin, seagrass, driftwood, recycled sando bags, etc. The challenge we are addressing is to elevate them to forms higher than handicrafts.

We have complete faith in Filipino workmanship, and always strive to give it a stage.”

GKonomics products offer an alternative to machine-made, mass-produced, price-centric

consumer goods. They believe in the “committed customer” who spends hard-earned money on products of beauty and functionality, and gives equal importance to how they are made. They can appreciate the life that their purchase can give others. They ask: does it solve a problem, whether societal or environmental?

GKonomics aims to grow its staple of fashion products. It believes in the growth potential of the fashion market, both local and international. Collaborations with fashion designers are under way.

Vibrant crocheted handbags and clutches of plastic materials made by the Invisible Women have become standouts for summer.

GKonomics has also teamed up with the Fashion and Design Council of the Philippines (FDCP) in the Atelyer Project, which endeavors to make Philippine fashion wearable.

FDCP president JC Buendia and Randy Ortiz have begun this experimental project by designing pieces utilizing the Tausug weave, Piz Syabit.

Products such as these make sustainability and nationalism accessible, relevant and within reach of the stylish set.

(The GKonomics Design Lab and Showroom is at 3/F, GK Multipurpose Bldg., Brgy. Pinagsama, Taguig City, inside green gate, near Petron and BCDA office.

GKonomics products are also available at the following stores: Echo Store at Serendra in Bonifacio Global City; SM Kultura stores at Megamall, North Edsa, Mall of Asia, and Makati; and Mananzan Handicrafts in Intramuros.) - Philippine Daily Inquirer n

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AQUINO DEFERS ACTION ON COCO LEVY FUNDS

Public service or electioneering?

CLOSER EYE ON USE OF ‘PORK BARREL’ FOR 2013 POLLS

T

HE Aquino administration has tightened the release of “pork barrel” to senators and representatives to stem its misuse especially in the run-up to the campaign in next year’s midterm elections, according to the Department of Budget.

The “pork barrel”, called the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF), provides funding for the pet projects of congressmen and senators. it has been known to be a source of enrichment for certain legislators who receive kickbacks from private contractors handling their projects.

Budget Secretary Florencio Abad Jr. said the administration had “fine-tuned” the list of eligible projects for the P24.89-billion PDAF allocation this year and the release process as part of efforts to prevent abuses in the use of the pork barrel.

“The House of Representatives and the Department of Budget and Management have agreed that only one realignment will be allowed. We foresee a lot of requests for changes as we approach [the] 2013 elections with expected political alignments and realignments taking place,” said Abad. A PADF al-

location is realigned when its use is changed.

The release of the pork barrel has been delayed because of requests by senators and representatives to change the projects they had submitted for funding “sometimes even after the special allotment release order (Saro) has already been issued,” Abad said.

A Saro is released by the DBM to advise lawmakers that funds have been allocated for their PDAF and public works funds.

A senator is entitled to P200 million and a congressman is allocated P70 million in PDAF yearly. in a DBM order issued early this year, the secretaries of education, health, social welfare, interior and local government, environment and natural resources, energy, and public works and highways have been allowed to approve the realignment as long as infrastructure projects fall under the same implementing

unit and category as the original purpose.

The DBM has even deleted the provision allowing lawmakers to use up to 10 percent of their PDAF as quick-response fund (qRF) for relief operations in calamity areas.

Lawmakers were previously allowed to realign the unused balance of the qRF at the end of each year for other projects.

Abad said another major cause of delay in the processing of the PDAF was the “failure of processed projects to stay within the menu of eligible projects listed in the GAA (General Appropriations Act).”

To ensure strict compliance, especially by the House, the budget secretary said he had asked the committee on appropriations, chaired by Cavite Representative Joseph E.A. Abaya, to “pre-screen” all submissions before the DBM started the approval process.

“The DBM wants us to give more details, not only what projects are to be funded and who the beneficiaries are, but also a specific program with objectives,” said iloilo Representative Janette Garin. n

THE Aquino administration has ruled out urgent use of frozen funds arising from sequestered shares of San Miguel Corp. (SMC) worth at least P85 billion to rehabilitate the troubled coconut industry pending a final decision of the Supreme Court on the issue.

Budget Secretary Florencio Abad and Administrator Euclides G. Forbes of the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) said Malacañang could not act on demands by militant farmer groups that President Benigno Aquino iii issue an executive order directing the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) to free up interests and dividends from the SMC shares.

The Supreme Court in January ruled that a 24-percent bloc of SMC shares acquired with funds from a coconut levy imposed during the martial law years and sequestered upon the ouster in 1986 of the dictator Ferdinand Marcos belonged to the government and should now be used to ease the lives of 3.5 million farmers and their families comprising a quarter of the country’s population regarded as the “poorest of the poor.”

The Philippine Coconut Producers Federation, or Cocofed, has filed a motion for reconsideration, claiming the portfolio in behalf of some 1 million unnamed coconut farmers.

The 700 million SMC shares, along with interest and dividends, were officially valued at P84.3 billion in January. quarterly dividends alone from the stocks over the last two years had reached P8.8 billion, which farmer groups are demanding that Aquino unfreeze to ease conditions in the coconut industry wracked by falling harvests as a result of senile trees, fertilization problems and the adverse impact of climate change.

“The government cannot proceed with the disposition of the shares as Cocofed filed a motion for reconsideration and no deci-

sion has so far been made,” Abad said. “We hope that the Supreme Court doesn’t take much longer in declaring as final its decision on the case.”

“President Aquino has no control of the P9-billion fund mentioned because it is held in escrow upon orders of the Supreme Court … Even as this deci-

Eduardo ‘Danding Cojuangco sion is unanimous, its finality is delayed by the motion for reconsideration of the losing parties,” added Frobes.

The funds are deposited in state-owned united Coconut Planters Bank (uCPB). uCPB, then under the control of Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco, Aquino’s uncle and a major contributor to his presidential campaign in May 2010, provided the funds used to acquire the 24percent SMC package in 1983. in recent years, uCPB has been accused of extending questionable loans worth billions of pesos to SMC, of which Cojuangco is chair. The government extended a P30-billion rehabilitation loan to the tottering bank in 2008. in April 2001, the court gave another bloc of contested SMC shares, comprising 20 percent of the highly diversified conglomerate, to Cojuangco. His critics said Cojuangco, in violation of his fiduciary trust, had borrowed uCPB funds to acquire his SMC shares. n

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ENRILE: CONSUMERS MUST LIVE EX-MNLF REBEL CHARGED WITH RISING FUEL, POWER COSTS FOR PALAWAN BLASTS FILIPINO consumers will just have to live with rising fuel and electricity prices, according to Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile.

“Juan de la Cruz and no one else” should be paying more for their electric consumption and petroleum purchases, Enrile said in a radio interview on April 8.

“There’s nothing you can do about it. Who will pay (for higher power rates), the Lord? We should experience hardships to learn,” the senator said.

Enrile lashed out at those peddling “theories” and warning of an impending revolt, taking unnamed critics to task for spreading “speculations” and “blabbering, engaging in debates and finger-pointing.”

“We should face the problem head-on, shunning useless talk. We should do our job… All of us should sacrifice for the country, and not just think of ourselves,” he said.

Malacañang should not be blamed for its inability to forestall the power crisis in Mindanao, the senator said.

“It is too late to blame anyone in and outside of government for the rotating brown-outs in Mindanao.”

He even branded as “foolishness” the bills now pending in Congress seeking to grant emergency powers to President Benigno Aquino III, or reducing the value-added tax on fuel.

“We don’t need that—that’s foolishness. They talk of emergency powers, what can the President do (with them)? He has too many powers. He’s the Chief Executive of the country. He can borrow money, negotiate contracts, he can deal with other countries to solve

Enrile: Tap other energy sources. (the power problems),” said Enrile.

Enrile believes the Philippines erred in refusing to tap nuclear power as an alternative source of electricity.

“We don’t want nuclear power, we are afraid to die (from nuclear accidents). We thought we will live forever—that’s not the case. Other countries are prospering because they took a chance at using nuclear power, we (aren’t) because we have (this) backward thinking,” he said.

To remedy the situation in Mindanao, Enrile said he supported the government decision to deploy mobile power barges while the Agus and Napindan dams, the main sources of hydroelectric power in the island, are being fixed. n

PUERTO Princesa City -- The police has filed 4 counts of frustrated murder charges against Hiya Hassan, principal suspect in the April 5 bombing in this city that wounded 2 residents. Five unnamed accomplices were also charged.

The 63-year-old Hassan, a former member of the Moro National Liberation Front, was arrested on April 8 based on technical surveillance that traced warning text messages to the mobile phone of his daughter, a minor.

Hassan is a former rebel who had undergone specialized military training such as bomb making.

Investigators linked his daughter to a mobile phone that was used in sending warning and scare text messages to the bus company where one of the bombs had exploded last April 5.

On the same day, a bomb also exploded near a cottage in El Nido resort town, Palawan.

Investigators are looking at political motives behind the blasts.

Mayor Edward S. Hagedorn said he has asked the police to look into leads indicating the blasts “may be instigated by certain political personalities.”

The blasts, Hagedorn said, were not intended by the perpetrators to create widespread damage as it was mostly explosive powder without accompanying shrapnel associated with terrorist-style attacks.

The observation was shared by Western Command commander Maj. Gen. Juancho Sabban who told reporters the blasts were not characteristic of attacks made by terror groups such as the Abu Sayyaf.

The blast in El Nido was triggered by a cellular phone, based on evidence collected by investigators from the scene. n

APRIL 16-30, 2012

AQUINO EYES SPRATLY SUMMIT IN MANILA

THE Philippines is renewing its offer to host a meeting among neighboring countries – including China – involved in territorial disputes in Southeast Asia, particularly over the Spratly Islands.

President Aquino relayed the message to his counterparts in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) during the 20th summit of the regional bloc in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

“I would like to reiterate, however, our earlier proposal for the Philippines to host a meeting among claimant states, including China, under the guidance of ASEAN, in the hope that this will constitute an important step in the peaceful and diplomatic resolution of the disputes in the West Philippine Sea,” Aquino said.

“I believe that this multilateral approach will be the most effective way of ensuring continued stability in the region,” Presidential Political Adviser Ronald Llamas said. Llamas said it was important for the Philippines to get a consensus on the need to resolve the issue multilaterally.

China claims the entire South China Sea. Taiwan and four ASEAN members – the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Vietnam – also have overlapping claims to the territory.

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Two more persons for every 100 people per year.

CENSUS TALLY: 92.33 MILLION FILIPINOS Map of disputed Spratly Islands.

“This earlier proposal remains valid. Both proposals are complementary and can be pursued on a parallel track,” he said.

The President said the country wants a peaceful resolution of the disputes in the West Philippine Sea through relevant disputesettlement mechanisms of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

The Philippines, he said, is pleased that the ASEAN is now working to make the Code of Conduct a legally binding instrument.

“We believe that the COC must be a real ‘move forward’ in terms of substance, that it should contain not only provisions on cooperative activities but, more importantly, provisions on dispute settlement and the clarification and segregation of disputed and non-disputed areas,” he said.

He urged ASEAN member-states to arrive at a common position on the COC before discussing the issue with China.

“It is important that we maintain ASEAN centrality,” Aquino said. “On the COC, it is important for ASEAN to first agree among themselves on the draft text of the COC before meeting with China,” Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario said earlier. n

THE country’s population has reached 92,337,852 as of 2010, data released by the National Statistics Office (NSO) showed.

The total population count as of May 1, 2010 was based on the 2010 Census of Population and Housing conducted from May to June 2010.

The 2010 population was higher by 15.83 million compared to the 2000 population of 76.51 million. It is nearly three times Canada’s population of 34 million.

It is only a little below the projected population of 94.01 million for 2010.

The population grew at the rate of 1.9 percent annually from 2000 to 2010.

In August 2007, the population stood at 88.57 million.

“This means that there were two persons added per year for every 100 persons in the population,” NSO said.

Calabarzon, National Capital Region (NCR), and Central Luzon are the most populous areas in the country, composing 37.47 percent of the total population.

Among the 17 regions, Calabarzon (Region IVA comprising the provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) had the largest population with 12.61 million, followed by NCR with 11.86 million and Central Luzon (Region III) with 10.14 million.

Among the provinces, Cavite had the largest population with 3.09 million. Bulacan had the second largest with 2.92 million while Pangasinan had the third largest with 2.78 million.

Six other provinces surpassed the two million mark: Laguna (2.67 million); Cebu, excluding its three highly urbanized cities Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu City, and Mandaue (2.62 million); Rizal (2.48 million); Negros Occidental, excluding Bacolod City (2.40 million); Batangas (2.38 million) and Pampanga, excluding Angeles City (2.01 million).

The provinces with a population of less than 100,000 were Batanes (16,604), Camiguin (83,807), and Siquijor (91,066). Of the 33 highly urbanized cities (HUC), four surpassed the one million mark, three of which are in NCR: Quezon City (2.76 million), Manila (1.65 million), and Caloocan (1.49 million).

The 2010 Census of Population and Housing (2010 CPH) was undertaken by the NSO from May to June 2010. n

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Erap: Politics is addition.

ERAP WILLING TO TAKE IN ARROYO ALLIES FORMER President Joseph Estrada is open to accepting allies of his successor and now Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in a new political coalition formed for the 2013 mid-term elections and to jumpstart Vice President Jejomar Binay’s presidential run three years later.

But Estrada said applicants to the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) should have “no connection to whatever anomalies” during the nine-year rule of Arroyo as president.

Arroyo is now detained on electoral sabotage charges. She is also faces graft charges.

Zambales Representative Milagros “Mitos” Magsaysay, an ally of Arroyo, earlier claimed that Binay had asked her to join the coalition. Estrada said he was open to winning Magsaysay over.

“She’s okay,” Estrada said of Magsaysay, a harsh critic of President Benigno Aquino III. Estrada said admission of Arroyo allies into the coalition would “depend on whether they have a good record as public officials.”

“It will also depend on how connected they were to GMA. If they were involved in any anomaly, I would be the one to the block their entry,” he added.

Estrada said he was also willing to include former representative Juan Miguel Zubiri in UNA’s senatorial ticket next year despite objections from Senator Aquilino Pimentel III. Pimentel won his election protest against Zubiri, who was declared winner of the 12th and final slot in the 2007

senatorial elections.

Pimentel missed four years of his sixyear term and was able to assume office only in August last year after Zubiri stepped down.

“As they say, there is such a thing as politics of addition but we have to make sure that those that we will be adding will not be a liability,” he said.

Pimentel earlier questioned why Zubiri was being considered in the UNA lineup when he was neither a member of Estrada’s Partido ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) nor Binay’s Partido Demokratiko PilipinoLakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban).

Both parties have signed a coalition agreement and registered UNA for the 2013 elections.

Binay’s formation of a senatorial slate under UNA banner shouldn’t affect the Aquino administration’s working relationship with the vice president, Malacañang said.

“It is a widely known fact that President Aquino and Vice President Binay belong to different political parties,” deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said. “It should not get in the way of governance,” she added.

A member of the Aquino administration despite belonging to another party, Binay is the chair of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council. He is also the Presidential Adviser on Overseas Filipino Workers’ Affairs.

Apart from forming a senatorial slate, Binay has also made known his presidential ambition and is expected to run for the presidency in 2016. n

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IT-BPO REVENUES HIT $10.1 BILLION IN 2010

Parents, students told: Shun nursing.

TIGHT U.S. MARKET FOR NURSES SEEN TILL 2020 FILIPINO nurses may have difficulty entering the US labor market until 2020.

Citing statistics from America’s National Council of State Boards of Nursing, party-list Representative Arnel Ty said there is ample supply of US-educated nurses.

Data show that the US produced close to a million nurses from 2006 to 2011.

Ty said the US demand for Filipino and other foreign nurses may start to recover in 8 years when thousands of US-based nurses would have retired.

The US first encountered a shortage of nurses in 1998, sparking a surge in the number of Filipino nursing graduates hoping to get a career in the US. The shortage has since been filled by the large increase in the number of American nurses, plus a deluge of foreign-educated practitioners.

The loss of the US market created a huge oversupply of nurses in the Philippines, which now numbers 300,000, prompting government authorities to advise parents and high school graduates to shun nursing.

Ty blamed regulators for their late response to labor market conditions.

“They should be more aggressive in researching and projecting future labor market conditions, both here and abroad, to help guide young Filipinos as to potential career paths,” he said. “Regulators are just reacting to what is already happening, such as the apparent glut of nursing graduates. Their late advisories would be more valuable once these are predictive and instructive, rather than merely reactive.”

From 1995 to 2011, Ty said a

total of 145,081 Filipino nurses sought to practice their profession in America by taking for the first time (excluding repeaters) the US licensure exam, or NCLEX. However, from 2006 to 2011 alone, a total of 938,552 US nursing graduates also took the NCLEX for the first time.

To create jobs for the unemployed nursing graduates, the government launched the Nurses Assigned in Rural Service, or NARS, which deployed nurses to the rural areas. Ty now wants to expand NARS and mobilize 10,000 nurses every year. n

HARSHER PENALTIES FOR RECKLESS DRIVING EYED

THE Department of Justice (DOJ) has supported proposed bills in Congress seeking to impose harsher penalties on the crime of reckless driving.

In a letter to the Senate committee on justice and human rights, Secretary Leila de Lima said the DOJ sees no legal impediment and has no objection to the passage of Senate Bills 169, 484, 956, 1307, 1339, 1988, 2078, 2215 and 2683, or the “AntiDriving Under the Influence of Alcohol and/or Dangerous Drugs” bills.

De Lima, in response to request for legal opinion by committee chair Sen. Francis Escudero, said she agrees with the proponents that such measure would address “a pressing concern plaguing our roads and highways” and make the country’s roads safer for motorists.

“We find no legal objection or constitutional objection to the proposed legislations which aim gener-

ally, to minimize, if not eliminate, the incidents of continuously increasing alcohol-related vehicular accidents often resulting in death and injury to innocent victims,” the DOJ chief said.

“We concur that driving under the influence of alcohol and/or prohibited drugs is a matter of great concern, which must be addressed and combated through stiffer penalties to effectively and efficiently eliminate the problem,” she added.

The bills seek to define as crime the act of driving under the influence of alcohol and dangerous drugs and impose stricter penalties against violators.

The bills aim to address the problem of drunk driving through a comprehensive systems approach, which includes driver education, mandatory alcohol and drug testing of drivers involved in motor accidents, the establishment of drunk driving prevention fund for the purpose of funding

Bill seeks to criminalize drunk driving. the implementation of the proposed legislation, and the conduct of public information campaigns by alcohol beverage manufacturers about drunk driving and its ill effects.

Senate Bill 241 seeks to define reckless driving as a criminal offense and to provide still penalties for its commission. It also makes the owner or operator of the vehicle driven by the offender as directly and principally liable, together with the offender,

for the damage and injury resulting from the incident, as well as for the fines and the award against the offender for civil damages.

The DOJ also endorsed the passage into law of SB 2298, which seeks increased penalties for drivers and operators of common carriers such as bus lines, taxicab companies, trains and other motor carriers operating under the influence of alcohol or drugs. n

THE information technology and business process outsourcing (IT-BPO) industry continued to grow in 2010, despite uncertainties in the global economy, according to a survey conducted by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

The BPO industry recorded $10.1 billion in revenues in 2010, 21.8% more than the $8.3 billion in revenues in 2009. However, the pace of growth was slower than the 30.6% expansion in 2009.

The survey showed strong growth across sub-sectors: contact center, transcription, animation, software development and other BPOs. Contact centers, which accounts for more than half of the industry revenues, remains the key driver of growth.

In 2010, the Philippines overtook India as the contact center capital of the world.

IT-BPO exports remained strong in 2010, reaching $9.5 billion, 22.7% higher than the previous year. “The continued rise of IT-BPO exports reflected the strengthening of global demand for shared services and business process outsourcing.

A marked improvement in the export-to-revenue ratio of contact centers was observed, from 93.6% in 2009 to 97.4% in 2010,” the BSP said.

Equity investments in the industry reached $4.4 billion as of end-2010, of which 97.6% represented foreign equity.

Employment in the industry reached 536,128 in 2010.

More than 60% were employed by contact centers.

Total compensation paid by the industry amounted to $4.5 billion, 31.7% higher than the previous year.

BPO employees received an average compensation of $8,398 (P378,824) in 2010, a 9.3% jump from $7,686 (P366,122) in 2009.

The survey covered 811 ITBPO companies in 2010. n

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CANADA PREFERS SKILLED TRADES PEOPLE OTTAWA has announced a new immigration program that it says will make it easier for Canadian business to hire the workers most urgently needed — skilled tradespeople.

The new stream for workers in fields such as construction and manufacturing should be set up later this year, Immigration Minister Jason Kenney said last April 10 in Calgary, the financial heart of Canada’s oil and gas industry and a city all too familiar with skilled labour shortages.

“In Canada we’ve been welcoming historic high numbers of immigrants, partly to help us fuel our prosperity in the future and fill growing labour shortages,” Kenney said at the construction site of The Bow, a 58-storey downtown skyscraper that’s close to completion.

“But, to be honest, our immigration programs haven’t been effective in addressing a lot of those shortages. Our immigration programs have become rigid and slow and passive.”

There are some avenues for newcomers to become permanent residents, like the Provincial Nominee Program and the Canadian Experience Class. Kenney said those have been helpful, but insufficient.

“There are still huge gaps. We’re talking about tens if not hundreds of thousands of shortages in the skilled trades predicted in the next decade alone.”

Skilled tradespeople make up a small percentage of immigrants coming to Canada under the current program, even though the resource and construction sectors are clamouring for welders, pipefitters, electricians and other workers.

Criteria required to enter Canada under the existing program put tradespeople at a disadvantage because the rules are geared toward professionals, said Kenney.

“Let’s be honest — we don’t need more people coming to Canada with advanced degrees that end up driv-

P1-B CLASS SUIT EYED VS AIR POLLUTERS A group of physicians, together with other groups and citizens, is set to file a P1-billion class suit against the owners of motor vehicles proven to emit toxic substances as well as the transportation secretary.

In a statement, the Philippine Medical Association (PMA) said it will include the transportation secretary in the class suit against polluters in Manila because his agency is mandated by the Clean Air Act to ensure that motor vehicles that are registered do not spew toxic substance into the air.

The PMA is in the forefront of a multisectoral initiative to file the class suit against documented air polluters in Metro Manila.

These include negligent private companies and government regulatory agencies tasked to safeguard air quality in the National Capital Region (NCR).

“The current state of air in the metropolis poses a clear and present danger to the lives of the people residing in the area. It does not only bring respiratory illnesses to Metro Manilans but can also result in cardiovascular problems like heart attack, stroke and sudden death. Eighty percent of the air pollutants in Metro Manila come from the more than 3.2 million motor vehicles plying the streets of the metropolis daily.”

Oscar Tinio, PMA president, said.

“We would like to exhaust all possible solutions including legal actions against those who directly

Enforce Clean Air Act now! or indirectly contribute to the lifethreatening state of the air in the metropolis,” Tinio said.

“The provisions of Republic Act 8749, or the Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999, confirm our individual right to breathe clean air. It also provides the legal basis for the filing of a citizen’s suit against those who violate the clean air law,” said PMA Manila Governor Leo Olarte.

He explained that Section 4(g) of the same law confirms an individual’s “right to bring action in court or quasi-judicial bodies to enjoin all activities in violation of environmental laws and regulations, to compel the rehabilitation and cleanup of affected area, and to seek the imposition of penal sanctions against violators of environmental laws.”

Olarte added that Section 4(h) of the said Clean Air Act provides for a person’s “right to bring action in court for compensation of personal damages resulting from the adverse environmental and public health impact of a project or activity.” n

Wanted: skilled tradespeople. ing taxi cabs and end up working in convenience stores. That’s a waste of human capital,” he said.

“Businesses know better than the government what sorts of skills are needed and should have the flexibility to head hunt workers overseas or even just south of the border where unemployment is high and the skill-

sets are a good fit for Canada.

“Frankly, we’ve been selecting a lot of people through our skilled worker program who end up unemployed and underemployed while businesses have skill shortages,” Kenney said.

The changes are part of a broader set of immigration reforms laid out in last month’s federal budget. n

BINAY DARED TO CHOOSE: AQUINO OR ARROYO? LEADERS of the ruling Liberal Party dared Vice President Jejomar Binay to lay down his cards to let the public know whether he was supporting the administration’s anticorruption reforms, specifically the prosecution of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and the trial of impeached Chief Justice Renato Corona.

Budget Secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad Jr. and Cavite Representative Joseph E.A. Abaya issued the challenge after Binay’s coalition for the 2013 midterm elections, the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA), invited allies of Arroyo and critics of the administration to join its senatorial ticket.

UNA is a coalition between Binay’s Partido Demokratiko PilipinoLakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) and former President Joseph Estrada’s Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino.

“Should UNA proceed to put up its own slate, it will have to define itself in relation to the administration. Will it be pro, anti or otherwise? That’s for UNA to determine, especially on key issues of the day, such as the prosecution of former President Arroyo, the impeachment of the Chief Justice, the RH (reproductive health) bill and sin taxes indexing,” said Abad in a text message.

In his first 20 months in office, President Benigno Aquino III filed charges against Arroyo, members of her family and her allies, and impeached her appointees in the judiciary, Ombudsman Merceditas

Gutierrez (who resigned) and Corona, while pushing for legislative reforms like population control and adjusting taxes on alcohol and cigarettes.

“It is better that battle lines are clearly drawn so the people won’t be confused. It should be as clear as black and white,” said Abaya, the manager of the House prosecution team in the Senate impeachment trial of Corona.

Abaya is the LP secretary general, while Abad was Mr. Aquino’s campaign manager in the 2010 presidential election; his wife is the party vice president for policy.

Binay beat the LP’s vice presidential candidate, now Transportation Secretary Manuel Roxas II, but the latter’s electoral protest remains pending in the Presidential Electoral Tribunal chaired by Corona.

Corona has accused Roxas of engineering his impeachment to pave the way for his replacement by Associate Justice Antonio Carpio. Carpio is a founding member of Villaraza Cruz Marcelo & Angangco, which was one of Roxas’ legal consultants.

Abad questioned Binay’s decision to invite to the UNA senatorial slate former Senator Ernesto Maceda and Zambales Representative Milagros Magsaysay of LakasKampi who, he said, “have been openly and consistently critical of the administration.” Also being considered for the UNA lineup is former Bukidnon Representative Juan Miguel Zubiri, who ran for senator in 2007 under Arroyo’s Team Unity. n

3 SECURITY MEN OF BF OWNER SHOT DEAD THREE escort-bodyguards of Banco Filipino owner Albert “Bobby” Aguirre were shot dead by about 10 armed men who barged into his house in BF Homes, Las Piñas City shortly before midnight on April 8.

The Southern Police District identified the fatalities as security guard David Manguera, retired Senior Police Officer 2 Melvin Padaca and PO3 Luisito Macatunao.

Padaca and Macatunao were both from the Philippine National Police (PNP) Police Security and Protection Group (PSPG).

Las Piñas City police chief Senior Superintendent Romulo Sapitula said Manguera allowed the assassins into Aguirre’s compound in BF Homes International along Tropical Avenue at about 11:15 p.m.

The gunmen got out of several vehicles, rushed to Padaca and shot him in the head. The others rushed to the security barracks and shot Macatunao also in the head.

Aguirre, who was on the second floor, was unharmed. He told investigators that he did not witness anything because he was inside his room.

Sapitula said that based on the testimony of Aguirre’s personal driver Fernando Aribon, Manguera opened the gate after the attackers, on board a Rusi motorcycle, taxi and two sedan cars, blew their horn.

Video of footage of nearby surveillance cameras shows that the assassins were armed with “short caliber pistols” and were clad in civilian clothes, Sapitula said.

“It seems like Bobby Aguirre wasn’t the target because after hitting the three the suspects immediately left,” said an investigator. n

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