Planet Philippines (Calgary Edition) April 1-15, 2012 issue

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APRIL 1-15, 2012

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CELEBRITYFILES

WILL AGA ENTER POLITICS? AGA Muhlach has reportedly registered as a voter in San Jose town in his native Camarines Sur preparatory to his candidacy in the 2013 congressional elections.

Speculations about his political plans were fueled by his recent visits to the province accompanied by Camarines Sur Governor L-Ray Villafuerte. Last March Aga stood as a sponsor during the mass wedding of 216 couples in San Jose town.

When contacted by entertainment columnist Ricky Lo about his rumored political ambition, Aga admitted that he has been “doing the rounds” and feeling his way around. Tingin-tingin muna,” he said.

Observers say the actor might be pitted against Wimpy Fuentebella, son of Congressman Arnulfo “Noli” Fuentebella in the province’s fourth district. The Fuentebellaa are a long-time political

MARICEL

MARICEL Soriano made peace with her two maids who last year accused the actress of beating them up.

In his column for the Philippine Star, entertainment editor Ricky Lo said, “Everything has been settled out of the court.”

AGA dynasty in the province.

The Muhlach clan hails from the town of Goa. The family migrated to Manila in the late 1950s.

MARICEL RECONCILES WITH MAIDS

A statement from the “aggrieved parties” sent to the newspaper through Maricel’s manager, Shirley Kuan, and Viva Entertainment Inc. boss Vic del Rosario said the incident was “a mere misunderstanding caused by emotional outburst.”

“The two parties have decided to make peace and put what happened behind them,” the statement read.

Last June last year, the actress’s two female household workers, Camille Acojedo, 18, and May Cachuela, 22, accused her of physically and verbally abusing them. The two filed charges of physical injuries and grave threats.

ROBIN ‘SHOCKED’ BY BROTHER’S APPEARANCE ACTION star Robin Padilla says things are not well between him and his brother Rustom Padilla, who is now known as BB Gandanghari.

Gandanghari, who has been based in New York for the past two years, returned to Manila last March for a three-month stay.

Without going into details, Robin said he is “shocked” with his brother’s appearance and new sexuality.

“Shocked ako eh,” he said. But he said he is not closing the door on his brother. “Darating tayo d’yan. Sa ngayon, hindi kami okey. . . Sa mga paniniwala medyo magkaiba kami ng tinatahak.”

According to rumors, Gandanghari has had a sex change operation, although he declined to discuss the issue in a TV interview.

“Whatever you’re seeing now is a manifestation of how I really feel deep inside,” Gandanghari said. “And I’ve made decisions in my life and I guess (they’re) the best decisions I’ve made. It made me surer, it

BB GANDANGHARI made me happier, more peaceful.”

Gandanghari said he worked as an androgynous or genderless model in New York.

“That’s the in thing now there. In fact, one of the top models there is a man who wears female clothes. Fashion in New York is leaning towards the genderless kind. I had to achieve the ideal form and weight for that. That’s why I have a different shape now.”

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By PEPPER marcelo

ARIAN RIveRA has solidified her reputation as one of the top leading ladies of the land both on the big and small screens. She is the undisputed Primetime Queen in her mother studio, GMA-7. Last year was another banner year for her, highlighted by a featured role in the sexy ensemble film Temptation Island and the lead role in the hit historical epicserye drama Amaya. Her last big project in 2011 was the Metro Manila Film Festival fantasy film Panday 2 opposite Bong Revilla.

It was their first team-up and already the action star-lawmaker is cooking up a second movie with the 27-year-old mestiza star under his production company, Imus Productions. Marian was naturally flattered by Bong’s plans

but says she would leave the decision to her manager and Regal Studios.

“Nag-usap na rin kami ni Kuya (Bong) at siyempre, may manager din naman ako. Pero siyempre, given a chance, bakit naman hindi kung meron

MARIAN MARIAN Marian and Dingdong: inseparable on and off-screen.

MAGICAL MAGICAL ‘MALDITA’ ‘MALDITA’

Marian shines through with her mestiza looks and porcelain complexion.

Marian admits to exerting extra effort in the PR game. She has had her dose of negative publicity, thanks to her maldita reputation and penchant for speaking out her mind. But she has weathered the intrigues and rumors and has emerged a stronger person and a highly bankable star.

N

L ’

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siyang magandang offer sa akin,” she said.

It was in 2007 when Marian, then a secondary talent in the Kapuso network, was catapulted to instant stardom when GMA-7’s biggest star Angel Locsin decided to pack up and bring her talents to rival ABS-CBN. After a rigorous audition to find a replacement for Angel to star in the remake of the Mexican telenovela Marimar, the bosses at GMA-7 took a huge gamble on the untested but promising Filipina-Spanish beauty. Marimar was doubly memorable for her because it was during the production phase that she and leading man Dingdong Dantes became close and later ended up as real-life sweethearts.

At that time Dingdong was in a relationship with another Kapuso talent, Karylle, who incidentally also auditioned for the lead role in Marimar. Marian and Dingdong have become inseparable on and off-screen since then.

Appearing confident and secure in their relationship, the two have no more qualms displaying their mutual affection in public.

The talk inevitably shifts to their marriage plans.“Laging natatanong sa amin yan. Pero siguro, mas maganda na i-enjoy na lang muna namin. Naniniwala naman ako na kahit hindi napapag-usapan, pero kung moment niyo na, darating rin yun,” she explains.

Dingdong echoes her sentiments. “Honestly, we try to avoid discussing it because it is so special and we do not want to ruin the right moment,” he says. “I mean, kung kailan siya dapat pag-usapan, dapat doon siya pag-usapan.”

The lovebirds found themselves in competition in the last Metro Manila film festival. Dingdong starred in the horror film Segunda Mano opposite good friend Kris Aquino.

He went on to bag the filmfest’s Best Actor trophy.

Marian was extremely happy for him. “Sabi ko sa kanya, galingan niya kasi ito na lang yung From action to sexcomedy to romance, Marian does it all.

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One of the keys to maintaining a strong relationship is building trust and understanding in one another, according to Marian. chance niya na ipakita yung ganitong klaseng acting. Kasi, first time niya mag-portray ng ganoong character. I’m sure naman na ginawa niya ang best niya. At sabi naman ng mga press at ni Ate Kris (Aquino), mahusay siya.”

Dingdong acknowledges that his relationship with Marian isn’t perfect.

“Wala namang perpekto [na relationship],” he says. “Hindi na-

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man all the time, sang-ayon ka sa lahat ng circumstances. Maaaring nangyayari talaga yun, pero ang importante, hindi siya nakakaapekto sa trabaho at nagiging maayos din ang lahat.”

Marian attributes their compatibility as a couple to their differing interests and views. “Kami ni Dong kasi, magkasalungat kami,” she says.

“Siguro kaya din kami compatible, alam mo ‘yon, kasi magkaiba kami ng hilig at gusto. So, kung ano ang gusto ko, suportahan niya. Kung ano ang gusto niya, susuportahan ko siya.

Yun ang maganda sa amin, hindi kami parehas ng gusto.”

What they have in common, she says, is their commitment to their craft and career. “Siguro parehas kami ano...mahal namin yung trabaho namin. At pinapahalagahan namin ke maliit na tao, ke malaki, pinapahalagahan namin ‘yan.”

Marian says one of the keys to maintaining a strong relationship is building trust and understanding in one another, especially in showbiz where intrigue, gossip and controversy are the norm.

Another element is making time for each other, notwithstanding their hectic and erratic work schedule.

“Naniniwala kasi ako na kung gusto mo, may paraan. Kahit na lumang tugtugin na yun. Gagawa siya ng paraan para makita ko siya, makita niya ako. Pumupunta siya sa set naming. Magugulat na lang ako nandoon siya.”

Unlike Dingdong who has successfully managed to maintain a good relationship with the press, Marian admits to exerting extra effort in the PR game. She has had her dose of negative publicity, thanks to her maldita reputation and penchant for speaking out her mind. But she has weathered the intrigues and rumors and has emerged a s t r o n ge r person and a highly bankable star.

The sweethearts are reunited for the fourth time on the small screen in the ongoing GMA-7 primetime teleserye, My Beloved. Their previous primetime shows together were Marimar, Dyesebel, Ang Babaeng Hinugot sa Aking Tadyang and Endless Love. n As Darna, she not only conquers evil but also mesmerizes men.

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By RAndy david

OMETHING Is about to happen in Philippine education that may have a deep and enduring impact not only on the intellectual development of Filipino children but on their relationship with their communities as well. The Department of Education announced recently that from June this year, when the new school year opens, any of 12 major local languages spoken in different regions of the country will be taught as a subject and used as a medium of instruction from kindergarten to Grade 3. This crucial shift, known as “Mother Tongue-Based Multi-Lingual Education” (MTB-MLE), is part of the K+12 basic education reform program. The new scheme has yielded positive results in 921 schools across the country where it has been piloted.

The DepEd says: “Local and international studies have shown that using the language used at home (mother tongue) inside the classroom during the learners’ early years of schooling produces better and faster learners who can easily adapt to learn a second (Filipino) and third (English) language.” This is an insight that has long been documented by teachers at the University of the Philippines Integrated school. But it has taken a while for it to gain traction in an educational system that remains bonded to the English language.

The 12 mother tongues that will soon be harnessed for classroom use are Tagalog, Kapampangan, Pangasinense, Iloko, Bikol, Cebuano, Hiligaynon, Waray, Tausug, Maguindanaoan, Maranao, and Chabacano. The mother tongue of a given region will be employed in all learning areas, except in the teaching of Filipino and English subjects. Filipino will be introduced during the first semester of Grade 1 to develop oral fluency, while English will be offered as a subject in the second semester of Grade 1. I am not familiar with the specifics of the program, but I expect that provisions have been made for

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MOTHER TONGUE Starting in June, any of the 12 major local languages will be used as medium of instruction from kindergarten to Grade 3.

Studies show that using the language used at home (mother tongue) inside the classroom during the learners’ early years of schooling produces better and faster learners. those schools in which most of the students come from migrant families whose mother tongue is different from that spoken in the region.

This fundamental change will require the production of new teaching materials and modules using local languages that have long been marginalized as formal tools of communication and education.

Those who were in grade school and high school in the 1950s will ic during classroom recitation were remember how local languages, routinely fined for the “offense.” I except Tagalog, were explicitly don’t think that experience necesbanned from school precincts. It sarily made us better speakers of was a crazy era when pupils who English. But it certainly develmade the mistake of shifting to the oped in us a wrong-headed skeptilocal “dialect” in a moment of pan- cism about the value of our own

Languages change unstoppably as people need to talk about new things or convey new attitudes.

By imposing English as a medium of instruction, our schools were, in a sense, producing a nation of immigrants— individuals with little or no attachment to the places in which they were born and raised.

languages and the ways of life in which they were embedded.

I have always believed that to speak a language is to be a member of a community; by speaking its language, we participate in the community’s evolving consciousness. The need to speak a language is proportional to our need to communicate with that community.

Looking back at those years, I now believe that, instead of strengthening the ties between school and community, English-based basic education had the effect of restricting our connection to our communities. This is the exact opposite of how John Dewey imagined the ideal relationship between the school and society. By imposing English as a medium of instruction, our schools were, in a sense, producing a nation of immigrants—individuals with little or no attachment to the places in which they were born and raised. The self-estrangement that many young Filipinos feel today may have stemmed largely from the institutional purging of mother tongues from the circuits of our national life.

Fortunately, one never really loses one’s mother tongue. All it takes to reactivate it as a faculty is

to listen to others speak it. These days, because of the Internet, physical distance is no longer a barrier to real-time communication. We can, without much effort, become instantly reconnected to e-groups around the world that are devoted to promoting the use of our mother tongues. It is a wonderful irony that globalization is reviving local languages.

But, the scars of neglect are typically borne by the language itself.

Mother tongues get stunted when they are not used, particularly when they are no longer written.

When people complain that some languages are not complex enough to communicate an intellectual culture, they forget that languages do not grow by themselves. “Every language,” says steven Pinker, “… is constantly under renovation.

Despite the lamentation of language lovers and the coercion of tongue troopers, languages change unstoppably as people need to talk about new things or convey new attitudes.”

As a native speaker of Kapampangan, I look forward to the literary resurgence that the return of the mother tongue to our schools may trigger. The writing of teaching materials using our indigenous languages will definitely spawn a renewed interest in local history and culture. It will instill pride in our beginnings, and hopefully lift our nation from the morass of demoralization in which it has long been stuck.

All this may or may not have been contemplated by the DepEd. Indeed, it is enough that the program has for its principal goal the liberation of our children from the double burden of acquiring basic concepts using a language they are learning for the first time. still, there is no doubt in my mind that the shift to a mother tongue in the early years of formal schooling will have revolutionary consequences not only for Philippine education, but also for the way we think of ourselves as a nation. (Philippine Daily Inquirer) n

APRIL 1-15, 2012

RONZE also glitters for the Philippine Azkals.

Making up for their failed attempt at a finals stint, the Azkals played with all their hearts to hold off Palestine, 4-3, and cop third-place honors in the AFC Challenge Cup at the Dashrath Stadium in Kathmandu, Nepal last March 19. .

The feat, unexpected from a heavy underdog, was the best achievement so far for the Philippine national football team that is rising inch-by-inch in the international scene.

With this, the Azkals surpassed their breakthrough semifinal appearance in the AFF Suzuki Cup in 2010, the feat that actually set off “Azkals-mania.” (For the uninitiated, “azkal” is a contraction of the words asong kalye or stray dog.)

The Philippine team (in white) battles Malysia in a friendly match last year at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.

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FOR AZKALS,

BRONZE IS GOLDEN The Philippine national football team made history by garnering third place in the recently concluded Asian Football Confederation Challenge Cup, the highest finish ever by the team in an international tournament.

“I think after this match, no one can say it went the way anyone wished ahead of the match. It was just like a thriller, a do-or-die fight and we’re a little bit lucky in the end,” said Azkals coach Michael Weiss after his crew capped their Cinderella run in the tourney with a bang.

The Azkals celebrated as if it were a title conquest. Players locked arms and jumped at centerfield singing “Ole, Ole, Ole.” Weiss gave sub goalkeeper Eduard Sacapano a bear hug for a good job filling in for suspended Neil Etheridge. Arms raised up as about 100 Filipino fans

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cheered their voices out.

Besieged by off-field controversies and hardly given a chance, the Azkals emerged as the “surprise package” of the meet, going all the way to the semifinals for the very first time. They narrowly missed a milestone championship appearance with 1-2 heartbreaker to Turkmenistan on March 16.

“I think overall, we deserved to be on third place. Props to my team for never giving up, for showing the fighting spirit and setting up fantastic goals,” said Weiss.

“It was a tightrope but we pulled through,” team manager Dan Palami said. “It’s a happy occasion for us. I hope our fellow Filipinos are equally happy with the win. Coming in we were fighting different battlefronts. Credit goes to the guys for pulling through setting aside other issues and focusing on the game.”

He described this campaign as a “testament to Filipino pride.”

“Coming in, it was our target to be in the semifinals now we’ve reached it and could have done more so I’m just glad. It’s a testament to what Filipino pride is,” said Palami.

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Victorious Azkals return to Manila from their historic third-place finish at the AFC Cup Challenge in Nepal. At extreme left is Phil Younhusband holding his Golden Boot trophy.

“What makes it special is without my teammates, I wouldn’t be able to do this. We made history again and it’s an amazing feeling,” said Phil Younghusband.

Offensively, the Azkals drew huge lifts from Phil Younghusband and the Guirado brothers Angel and Juani.

Younghusband brought home the Golden Boot award after leading the competition in goals scored, booting in a total of six goals over five games. The British-Filipino player scored two goals in the Azkal’s 4-2 victory over Palestine. It is the third Golden Boot trophy for the Azkals in international tournaments over the past three years. Ian Araneta and Chieffy Caligdong led to the Long Teng Cup in scoring in 2010 and 2011, respectively.

“It’s one of the strongest tournaments we entered,” said Younghusband, the boyfriend of actress Angel Locsin. “What makes it special is without my teammates, I wouldn’t be able to do this. We just clicked. The ball was in the right place and the right time. We made it hard for ourselves, especially when the match ends, it was more of relief than happiness. We made history again and it’s an amazing feeling.”

Back in Manila, two Azkals are facing an investigation by the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) on the sexual harassment charge filed by match commissioner Cristy Ramos, daughter of former President Fidel Ramos.

Ramos accused Lexton Moy and Angel Guirado of “disrespecting” her during a pregame check before the team’s match against Malaysia last Feb. 29 at the Rizal Memorial Stadium prior to the Nepal tournament.

She alleged that Moy “stood by my right

It is hoped that the Azkals’ rise would inspire the youth to take up football as a sport. side and said in a loud voice, ‘Must be a B Cup,’ to which the players laughed loudly.”

Ramos surmised Moy was referring to her bra size. She also cited Guirado for “[standing] in front of me purposely just wearing his briefs and made no attempts to wear shorts or cover his underwear.”

Reacting Ramos’s complaint, deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said foreign-born members of the Philippine national football team may benefit from a “continuous orientation” on Filipino culture.

“Considering many members of the team did not grow up here, it will not be harmful to have a continuing orientation on Philippine culture, especially on how we conduct ourselves when there are women around,” Valte said in a radio interview.

Guirado is half Spanish and grew up in Spain.

Moy was born and raised in New York City.

Valte’s suggestion echoes a familiar criticism of the Azkals’ team composition. Since more than 10 members of the team were born and raised overseas, they have belatedly learned the Philippine national anthem, and most don’t know any local languages.

In the Azkals’ matches against Kuwait last year, the Kuwaiti press harped on the Philippines’ need to import “Europeans.”

The Azkals’ best players were born and raised in Europe, including brothers Phil and James Younghusband and goalkeeper Neil Etheridge, who all hail from Britain. n

APRIL 1-15, 2012

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K TO 12 PROGRAM

EDUCATION AS A MEANS TO SOLVING POVERTY The K to 12 program aims to raise the quality of basic education by providing students with the skills and emotional maturity to take on better and more lucrative jobs or entrepreneurial opportunities even without a college degree.

By CARLA yaBot-yBañez

ATIONAL Artist F. Sionil Jose once said Filipinos can tackle poverty in two very distinct ways—the first is through a nationalist revolution and the second, perhaps a longer and more complex process, is through education.

Poverty alleviation is the rationale behind the Department of Education’s (DepEd) K to 12 Basic Education Program.

“After the complete implementation of K to 12, I see the rate of unemployment decreasing, the mismatch in jobs and demand will be lessened, the quality of basic education will improve and there will be more entrepreneurs,” according to DepEd Asst.

Secretary for Programs and Projects Elena R. Ruiz.

DepEd believes quality education is the long-term solution to poverty and enhancing the quality of basic education in the country is both urgent and critical as reflected in the low achievement scores of Filipino students in local and international achievement tests.

Ruiz adds, “With K to 12, we aim to produce graduates who are globally competitive—critical thinkers and problem solvers who are ready for higher education,

employment or entrepreneurial activities.”

The K to 12 program aims to raise the quality of basic education by providing students with the skills and emotional maturity to take on better and more lucrative jobs or entrepreneurial opportunities even without a college degree.

K to 12 means Kindergarten and the 12 years of elementary and secondary education. The Kindergarten Law has recently been signed and all public and private schools are now mandated to include Kindergarten in their basic education program.

Still pending in Congress is the enhanced 12-year basic education program which refers to six years of primary school (Grades 1-6), four years of junior high school (Grades 7-10 or HS Year 1-4) and two years

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The new program seeks to produce graduates who are globally competitive— critical thinkers and problem solvers who are ready for higher education, employment or entrepreneurial activities. of senior high school (Grades 1112 or HS Year 5-6). Once passed into law, a full 12 years of basic education plus Kindergarten will be required for entry into tertiary level or college education.

Last year, the DepEd started implementing the Kindergarten curriculum in all public schools.

This coming June, curriculum changes for Grades 1 and 7 will be applied in public schools in preparation for the full implemen-

tation of the K to 12 program.

“The curriculum needs to be responsive to the needs of the time. Legislation is not needed for that. It is mandatory for public schools now but private schools are invited to start implementing with us.” Ruiz tells Planet Philippines in an interview.

A study conducted by SEAMEO-Innotech compared the country’s basic education curriculum with that of fellow SEA

countries Brunei, Malaysia and Singapore. According to the study, the Philippine elementary education is found to be more congested especially in Math, Languages and Sciences as a 12-year curriculum is crammed into a 10-year cycle.

Globally, the Philippines is one out of only three that still maintain a 10-year pre-university education program, the other two being Angola and Djibouti in Africa.

The 10-year basic education cycle also hinders the recognition of Filipino professionals abroad.

For instance, the Washington Accord prescribes 12-years of basic education as an entry to the recognition of engineering professionals. The Bologna Process also requires 12 years of education to be admitted in universities or to work in European countries.

With the K to 12 basic education program, the new curriculum will use a spiral or progressive type of approach in skills training as opposed to discipline-based. For example, for high school Math, students presently learn about basic and advanced Algebra in first and second year, Geometry in third year and Trigonometry in fourth year. Once the K to 12 curriculum takes effect, all Math

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The government believes that improving basic education is a long-term solution to poverty.

principles will now be touched in all years with the skills and lessons becoming more complex as the student advances.

The mother tongue will be used as medium of instruction for Grades 1 to 3 and will include it as a subject. Filipino will continue to be taught as a subject from Grades 1 to 6. The new curriculum will also be decongested and the additional two years of senior high school will focus on mastery of acquired and existing skills.

“The student has a choice on what skill to focus on. At the end of the third year, they will be assessed to determine their strength.

The assessment test will see if the student is more inclined in the academics, technical or entrepreneurial fields,” says Ruiz.

The curriculum for Grades 11 and 12 vary on the school’s location. Specializations will be adjusted according to the resources in the community. Niche mini academies such as a Coffee Academy in Davao, an Agriculture Academy in Cabanatuan or a Mining Academy

in Baguio are not far-fetched.

“If a student chooses to be an engineer, he will be trained in more Math and Science subjects and English will be English for Engineers upon entering Grade 11,” adds Ruiz.

According to her, a Grade 11 ‘modeling’ will also start this coming school year. “We’re not waiting for 2017. There are public and private schools who have agreed to start implementing Grades 11 and 12 which is good for us so that we can anticipate potential problems and challenges.”

Ruiz anticipates all gains for the students as the program is rolled out. A graduate of K to 12 will be prepared to go into

higher education while universities can now use the full four years for specialization subjects instead of the first two years on general review subjects. K to 12 graduates will also receive certifications from TESDA as possessing skills for certain types of jobs.

She says the program encourages students to be entrepreneurial. “I envision graduates of K to 12 grouping themselves together, going into business and building their own company.”

Some parents complain about the cost of an additional two years of schooling. Critics also challenge the timeliness of such efforts considering the looming shortage in teachers and classrooms confronting the department.

Many students are so focused on getting a college diploma, forgetting that it is acquiring relevant and marketable skills that matter in the real world.

But Ruiz tells critics to look at the program as an investment.

“Most parents look at this as an expense at a glance but if a student is more prepared, they get a better chance to work immediately. The gains will outweigh the expenses… the little resource gap we have in teachers has been addressed. We are doing massive training of teachers for Kindergarten, Grades 1 and 7 now and the curriculum for Grades 11 and 12 will be finalized soon. In terms of classroom requirements, we have ongoing Public-Private Part-

OUR FIRST STEP TO RECOVERY

By bR. ARmIn a. luISTRo, FSc Secretary of Education

F

ILIPINOS often reminisce about the era until the 1950s when the Philippine economy was second only to Japan in Asia.

In the decades that followed, the Philippines watched itself being overtaken by countries that rebuilt themselves from war, instability and poverty, as our own continued to sink into the quagmire of disunity, destructive politics and corruption.

Correlated to the country’s economic decline is the neglect and deterioration of its educational sector.

Is it any wonder that today, our coun-

try has fallen from its former prestige to the bottom of most global rankings of progress and development?

The Department of Education’s K to 12 Program is one concrete response to reverse this steady decline and to move toward its goal of longterm educational reform and sustainable economic growth.

The central feature of the K to 12 Program is the upgrading of the basic education curriculum to ensure that learners acquire the relevant knowledge and skills they will need to become productive members of society.

It seeks to introduce relevant skills development courses and special interest subjects that will suit the per-

sonality, strengths and career direction of each learner.

With the participation of the Commission on Higher Education and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, the program has the capability of offering professionally designed classes and apprenticeships in sports, the arts, middle-level skills, entrepreneurship, and applied math and sciences.

Whereas the old system overemphasized the value of a college degree before employment, the new program is designed to equip every learner who graduates after senior high school (Grade 12) with the opportunity for improved employment and entrepreneurship while ensuring

that the high-school graduate has the necessary competencies to pursue a college degree thereafter.

With an upgraded and betterequipped pool of human resource, industries will be able to find better and more qualified matches in their labor requirements.

For graduates proceeding to tertiary education, the K to 12 Program puts them at par with their international counterparts and makes them more competitive in colleges and universities both here and abroad.

Higher education institutions will gain the flexibility to offer more enriched and specialized courses in every degree program since a number of its

nerships. Everybody now thinks education is not just the responsibility of the government alone,” Ruiz points out.

One example of a partnership that addresses the classroom shortage is TEN Moves!—a campaign to raise enough resources to build 10,000 classrooms in public schools all over the country.

“Money is always the contention. But if we wait for the money or the budget, when will we start?

Political will is needed. We have to start somewhere,” Ruiz maintains. n

general education courses would have already been completed in high school. This greatly advances the graduates’ chances of landing 21st-century careers and acquiring self-employment skill sets.

As in any worthwhile investment, returns are reaped only after enough time and effort.

The K to 12 Program is just the beginning of what we hope to be the answer to the Philippines’ comeback to the global stage, and a sustained path toward progress and development for its people. If we want to see our country back on the right track, we must dare take that first bold step today.

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An open pit mining operation by a Canadian firm in RapuRapu, Albay.

PHILIPPINES SITS ON $840-B MINERALS ITH unTapped mineral wealth worth more than $840 billion, the philippines is “one of the world’s most highly mineralized countries,” according to a uS department of State report on the philippine economy. despite its rich gold, copper and chromate deposits, however, “the philippine mining industry is just a fraction of what it was in the 1970s and 1980s when the country ranked among the 10 leading gold and copper producers worldwide,” the Washington-based agency said.

“Low metal prices, high production costs and lack of investment in infrastructure contributed to the industry’s overall decline,” the State department said in the report, which was posted in the website of the uS embassy in Manila.

It noted that “a december 2004 Supreme Court decision upheld the constitutionality of the 1986 Mining act, thereby allowing up to 100 percent foreign-owned companies to invest in large-scale exploration, development and utilization of minerals, oil and gas” in the country.

Local mining bans “Some local government units have enacted mining bans in their territories, citing concerns over environmental degradation, unequal distribution of tax revenues, unemployment caused by displacement of smallscale miners, and marginalization of indigenous people,” the agency said. according to the uS State department report, “philippine copper, gold and chromate deposits are among the largest in the world.”

With mineral resources estimated at over $840 billion, the Philippines has not moved to fully tap its rich natural resources. President Aquino wants a bigger share for the government of the mining revenues which currently stands at a measly 2 percent.

low the national poverty line increased from 24.9 percent to 26.5 percent between 2003 and 2009, equivalent to an additional 3.3 million Filipinos.”

The agency also reported that the philippines’ business process outsourcing (BpO) industry “currently accounts for about 15 percent of the global outsourcing market and has been the fastest-growing segment of the philippine economy.”

Review of mining policy Meanwhile, president Benigno aquino III said a review of the country’s mining policies was close to being finished, and the government would likely require all mining companies to start paying the government a “hefty” percentage of revenues. aquino said the government currently only received a two-percent excise tax.

“We are now reviewing what is fair... we get two percent of the profit and 100 percent of the risks. That doesn’t seem fair,” he said. aquino said the government was looking at efforts by the australian government to generate more money from the mining sector, where a 30-percent tax on extraordinary profits of coal and ore producers will start in July.

50-50 sharing eyed

Townsfolk protest damage to environment by large-scale mining.

“Other important minerals include nickel, silver, coal, gypsum and sulfur. The philippines also has significant deposits of clay, limestone, marble, silica, and phosphate. natural gas reserves discovered off palawan have been brought on line to generate electricity,” it said.

In the same report, the agency said the philippine economy “proved comparatively well-equipped to weather the recent global financial crisis, partly as a result of the efforts to control the fiscal deficit, bring down debt ratios and adopt internationally accepted banking sector capital adequacy standards.”

An abandoned gold panning site is transformed into a wasteland.

Slow growth “after slowing to 3.8 percent growth in 2008 and sputtering to 1.1 percent in 2009, real year-on-year Gdp growth rebounded to 7.6 percent in 2010, a 34-year high fueled in part by election-related spending, optimism over the peaceful transition to a new government, and an accommodating monetary policy,” the report said.

However, “growth slowed in 2011 and is likely to be in the 3.5 percent to 4 percent range,” it said. according to the uS State department, “the portion of the population living be-

He said a 50-50 revenue sharing agreement was even being considered, although he emphasized the policy had not been finalized and refused to signal what percentage the government was hoping for other than a “fair share.” aquino said the new mining policy would aim to regulate the industry much more closely and give certainty to investors.

But he signalled the government was not desperate to cash in on the global commodities boom, pointing out the mining sector played only a small role in the nation’s economy and created many environmental risks.

“They (miners) claim they contribute quite a big amount to the national economy but at the end of the day it’s really just two percent,” he said. (Philippine Daily Inquirer and Agence France Presse) n

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BEAUTIFUL P

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By CARmELA g. LaPEĂąa

ITH ITs peaceful scenery and laid-back vibe, Antique in Panay is an ideal destination for exhausted city dwellers. Facing the sulu sea to the west and Iloilo to the east, this Western Visayan province gets its rugged charm from being isolated from the rest of Panay island. Its view of the mountain range and calming water is perfect for those who wish to get away from it all.

Antique gets its name from the large red ants called hantik, but this place has plenty more than ants to offer. This low-profile vacation spot actually has several activities to choose from -- for adventure-seekers and beach bums alike.

Only a couple of hours by land from Kalibo, Antique has a breathtaking view of mountains and rivers. You could enjoy simple pleasures, like a cool drink of freshly-

River rafting in Tibiao River.

made sugarcane juice, or try out a different kind of therapy at a fish spa.

But if your goal is to do as much as you can in a couple of days, you

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EXPLORING THE RUGGED CHARM OF ANTIQUE After conquering the rapids, sitting in a giant wok of hot water may seem like a strange way to cool down, but it’s surely unforgettable. How often does one get the chance to be cooked?

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PHILIPPINESthe BEAUTIFUL

‘Thera-fish’, Antique’s own foot therapy.

After shooting the rapids at Tibiao River, sit in a giant “wok” for a hot bath.

An exhilarating hot spa in a giant kawa. can follow the footsteps of Weekend Warriors Kris Luego and Mel Bueno featured recently on GMA News TV’s “Weekend Getaway.”

The couple bonded as they worked up an appetite while kayaking, then ate to their hearts’ content as they sampled the fresh local dishes. Despite not being able to complete all the challenges, they were still able to see and do a lot in Antique.

Kayaking adventure The trip began with a kayaking adventure down the Tibiao River.

Bugtong Bato Falls is one of Tibiao’s 17 waterfalls, and its waters rush down to the river, making it perfect for kayaking.

“Hindi ako natatakot doon sa tubig. �atatakot ako doon sa bato-bato. Kahit mababaw siya, puro bato-bato. �atatakot lang na bumangga, ganyan,” says Mel. Fortunately, the confident Kris easily got the hang of kayaking, and even Mel found herself enjoying at the end. “�akita ko na sasabay ka sa agos tapos kaunting paddle lang, and then ‘yun na, makakapunta ka na sa baba,” says Kris.

As the couple experienced, kayaking isn’t so hard, even for first-timers.

But for those who really aren’t up to the challenge, simply wading in the natural pool is an option.

After kayaking, the Weekend Warriors were treated to an unusual Antiqueño practice—the kawa hot bath at the Tibiao river.

After shooting the rapids at Tibiao River, sit in a giant “wok” for a hot bath.

According to Antiqueño folktales, captured aswangs are cooked in a kawa (“big wok” in Hiligaynon).

The practice is now a tourist attraction for kayakers. After conquering the rapids, sitting in a giant wok of hot water may seem like a strange

way to cool down, but it’s surely unforgettable. How often does one get the chance to be cooked?

After being “cooked,” the Weekend Warriors tried being eaten—by tiny fish. After making sure their feet were chemical-free, Kris and Mel dipped their feet into a basin of “thera-fish,” which eat the dead skin cells from your feet.

Although the idea of having fish nibble at your feet may not appeal to you, you might be surprised. Although it was ticklish at first, Mel

Trying out the checkered patadyong.

says the fish spa turned out to be enjoyable. “�aging excited din kami tapos ano, ayun, masarap siya. �ung una, nakakakiliti siya. Sobrang nakakakiliti pero habang tumatagal masarap na siya,” says Mel.

Checkered patadyong A trip to Antique won’t be complete without a visit to the weavers in Bugasong, where they make the checkered patadyong, a signature product of Panay Island. Kris and Mel not only saw the process but

tried it themselves, and realized how much time and effort it takes to make a single piece. “�asubukan namin tapos hindi pala ganun kadali iyon. Ang tagal i-proseso. Sa isang araw, apat na scarf lang ang magagawa nila so isipin mo, isang araw, proseso ka ng proseso ng scarf tapos ang hirap nun!” says Kris.

On the other hand, Mel observes that it’s not that difficult—it just takes a lot of time. “Kung gaano katagal mo uulit-ulitin ang paghabi ng sinulid ... So ‘yun kaya naman siya eh. Pero bago ka makagawa ng isang shawl, sobrang tagal nga lang,“ says Mel. Before leaving, they paid a visit to one of Antique›s historical sites, where the first Malay settlers arrived in the 13th century. The landing is commemorated in the annual Binirayan Festival in April, but the spot is worth visiting even on a regular day.

“Wow parang napaka-historical na place iyon. Dapat puntahan ng mga kapwa nating Pilipino. Kung wala ang barangay na iyon, hindi mabubuo ang Pilipinas,” says Kris.

Of course, no vacation is complete without sampling local delicacies, and the couple feasted on Antiqueño favorites like subingan. “‘Yung sangkap nila, puro natural eh,” says Mel. The Weekend Warriors also tried their hand in the sangyasangya, a local bayanihan method where twelve men help each other pull a 15-meter net in order to catch fish which they distribute among their families. If they are able to catch more than enough, they can sell the extra fish. “�aa-amaze ako sa kanila kasi alam mo iyon, hindi tayo sanay sa ganung hanapbuhay araw-araw pero sila parang kinakaya nila araw-araw,” says Mel. (GMA �ews) n

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PNOY SAYS HE’S FIRMLY IN CONTROL P

RESIDENT BENIgNo Aquino III admits he needed weekend escapes from the job’s pressures when he started as the Philippines’ president, but nearly two years on he exudes passion and says he is firmly in control.

During an in-depth interview with the news agency Agence Frace-Presse at the presidential palace, Aquino pointed to a host of economic indicators to justify his enthusiasm, while displaying a relish for bare-knuckled political fights against his opponents.

“There are so many things that have transpired that none of us could even have imagined when we were campaigning,” Aquino said reflecting on his first 21 months in office that followed a landslide election win.

He referred mostly to the state of the nation’s economy, which after decades of under-performing has showed signs of steady, if incremen-

tal, improvement under his leadership and mantra of clean-governance.

Aquino, 52, insists the economy is on the right track, citing a series of international credit ratings upgrades and the rise of the Philippine stock market to record highs in recent weeks as evidence.

Among his proudest achievements are luring foreign manufacturers and other investors to the Philippines, extending health cover, cutting government waste and expanding an incentive scheme to keep millions of poor children at school.

Critics accuse him of lacking urgency on the economic front, point-

ing out GDP growth was just 3.7 percent last year partly because he cut government spending when they say pump-priming was needed.

But Aquino’s policies, which have an overarching theme of tackling the corruption infecting all sectors of the nation’s economy, have won endorsement from a wide range of sources.

World Bank country director Motoo Konishi said last week the economy was in good shape with inflation stable at around 2.7 percent, manageable government finances and a well-focused social protection system.

“Besides having strong macroeconomic fundamentals, the country is benefiting from political stability and a popular government seen by many as strongly committed to improving

47% OF PINOYS THINK CORONA IS GUILTY NEARLY half of Filipinos believe Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona is guilty of the charges filed against him in the Senate impeachment court.

“Almost half of the Filipino population (47%) is of the view that Supreme Court Chief Justice Corona is guilty, with 33% saying he is probably guilty and 15% being certain about his guilt,” Pulse Asia said in its March 2012 Ulat ng Bayan national survey.

However, 43% of the Filipinos cannot say whether Corona is guilty or not. Only 5% say he is innocent.

Corona is facing three Articles of Impeachment, including Article 2 that accuses him of failing to disclose to the public his statement of assets, liabilities, and net worth as required under the constitution.

Pulse Asia conducted the survey of 1,200 Filipinos from February 26 to March 9.

The survey revealed that while 8 in 10 Filipinos (84%) say they follow the impeachment trial, only a small majority (56%) said they know “only a little” about the issue. Some 11% of Filipinos said they “almost have no knowledge at all about the issue,” while 8% said they know “a great deal” about it. Another 24% said they know enough about the issue.

The opinions of Filipinos on whether Corona is innocent or guilty were formed as the impeachment trial unfolded. A majority (64%) of those who believe Corona is inno-

cent formed their opinion on the matter during the conduct of the impeachment trial. Nearly the same percentage (66%) of those who believe the Chief Justice is guilty also formed their opinion during the trial.

Filipinos appear to be divided on whether or not the House of Representatives fast-tracked the impeachment process. The survey showed 38% of Filipinos do not think the House members fast-tracked the impeachment case, but 32% said they believe it was fast-tracked. Another 29% said they were undecided on the matter.

When it comes to the Senatorjudges in the trial, 7 out of 10 Filipinos (69%) said they expect them to be fair and impartial in deciding the case.

But whatever the outcome of the impeachment trial, a small majority (58%) believes their countrymen will accept and respect the Senate’s decision. Pulse Asia said this was the majority sentiment in every socioeconomic class (53% to 63%) and almost all geographic areas (53% to 68%).

Sixty-nine percent of Filipinos, meanwhile believe the members of the Senate, sitting as senator-judges in the impeachment trial, “will be fair and will not favor anyone when they finally decide on the impeachment case…”

About 84 percent said they were following the impeachment, which the survey noted as an “an act re-

governance and reducing poverty,” he said.

A survey released by one of the nation’s most reputable polling groups also found Aquino was holding onto the support that carried him to the biggest election win in modern Philippine politics.

The Pulse Asia survey showed his popularity ratings at 70 percent, with just nine percent disapproving.

Meanwhile, business leaders are showing their support by opening up their wallets. one of the country’s biggest conglomerates, Ayala Corp, announced last week that its real estate arm would invest $1.4 billion over the next five years on projects within the country’s financial district of Makati.

Aquino said holding the reins of the country felt much more comfortable than the initial period after taking over from gloria Arroyo, who ruled the Philippines for nearly 10 years

before him.

Aquino has repeatedly accused Arroyo and her allies of running down the country through massive corruption, and he referred again in the interview to her time in power as a “lost decade”.

Aquino has mounted an at-times controversial campaign to prosecute Arroyo and her allies, who include Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona.

Arroyo is now awaiting trial and could spend life in jail after being charged with election fraud. Corona is facing an impeachment trial in the Senate and will lose his job if found guilty of corruption.

Critics accuse Aquino of persecuting his opponents. But he made no apologies, and insisted there would be no let-up in the anti-graft campaign.

“We are trying to get the kingpins of corruption,” he said. n

PINOYS 2ND LARGEST ASIAN GROUP IN U.S.

Chief Justice Corona ported by overwhelming majorities in every geographic area (75 percent to 91 percent) and socio-economic class (76 percent to 90 percent)”.

Meanwhile, 11 percent of Filipinos said “they have almost no or no knowledge at all about the issue.”

In the same Plse Asia survey, it was found that 60% of Filipinos do not trust Corona while 29% remain undecided.

Trust in Corona eroded from 29% last November 2011 to only 11% this month. Trust in Corona dropped by 18-percentage points in Mindanao, 23-percentage points in the Visayas, 17-percentage points in Luzon and 17-percentage points in National Capital Region.

His trust rating also dropped 19-percentage points for Class E respondents, 17-percentage points for Class D and 24-percentage points for Class ABC respondents.

Corona is now the least trustworthy among the leaders of the 3 branches of government. Vice-President Jejomar Binay is the most trusted official in the executive branch, with 8 out of 10 Filipinos (80%) saying they trust Binay. He is followed

by President Benigno Aquino with 69% and Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile with 63%. n

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 is believed to be much higher than the census count. There are an estimated one million undocumented Filipinos in the United States.

Chinese-Americans make up the largest Asian group, with more than 4 million. Those from the Indian subcontinent are the third largest, with 3.2 million. Other significantly large Asian groups include the Vietnamese, with 1.7 million; Koreans, with 1.7 million, and the Japanese, with 1.3 million.

This statistical profile was based on the 2010 census of major racial and ethnic groups in the United States. Released on March 22, the statistical portrait of the AsianAmerican and Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander populations was produced for Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, which is celebrated annually in May. The report also showed that Asians were the fastest growing population, increasing nearly 46 percent over the last decade. Their number

increased to more than 17 million from 2000 to 2010. A close second was the Latino population, which rose by 43 percent. By comparison, the African American and white populations grew by only 15 percent and 7 percent, respectively.

Census officials attributed the fast growth of the Asian population to immigration.

California, known as the gateway for Asian immigrants, had the largest population of Asian Americans, with close to 6 million, or nearly a third of the total nationwide. It was followed by New York, with 1.6 million. Hawaii had the highest percentage of Asians, who make up 57 percent of the island state’s population.

The report showed that the Asian population grew dramatically in other states, such as Nevada, where the number rose by 116 percent, and Arizona, by 95 percent.

Among metropolitan areas, New York City had the largest Asian population, with more than 1 million, followed by Los Angeles, with 484,000, and San Jose, with 347,000.

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

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NEWSROUND-UP

SPEED UP REFORMS, WORLD BANK TELLS PH

HIGH power rates and limited access to financing for small enterprises are among the structural problems that the Philippine government should address so that economic growth can translate into poverty reduction, the World Bank said.

In its latest quarterly report on the Philippines, the World Bank said the country had achieved low inflation, a sustained economic growth, a declining debt burden, a stable banking sector and a comfortable level of foreign exchange reserves.

But the country should work on graduating from merely achieving and sustaining macroeconomic stability to spreading prosperity to most Filipinos, the multilateral agency said.

“The government has done a really good job in achieving macroeconomic stability. But there are structural impediments that have to be addressed … to achieve a more inclusive growth and to reduce poverty at a faster pace,” Karl Kendrick Chua, World Bank country economist for the Philippines, said at a press conference.

Besides high power rates and lack of financing for small enterprises, Chua enumerated other impediments to poverty reduction—unpredictable regulations, uneven playing field for businesses in terms of taxation, high cost of and a tedious process in starting a business, and limited access to education and skills training.

Chua said the high cost of electricity in the Philippines was one of the reasons it was losing out in the competition to attract foreign investments.

Awash in cash, the banking system should help in efforts to reduce poverty by extending more loans designed for the poor, Chua said.

“Policies to ensure affordable access to finance

AQUINO WELCOMES U.S. TROOPS PRESIDENT President Benigno Aquino III said more US troops would be welcome to rotate through the Southeast Asian nation, but ruled out permanent bases.

Aquino said talks were under way for the long-time allies to hold more military training exercises in the Philippines, as well as increase the number of times that US navy ships visited.

“We are talking with them. We will have more of the same, is what I am trying to say,” Aquino said, referring to a longstanding partnership that sees regular joint exercises and US port calls in the Philippines.

“Their ships can come and call on us, can be replenished, but our constitution will not allow any permanent berthing here in any form.

There might be increases in terms of personnel, but it will have to be very clear on when they come in and go out. They cannot be here permanently.”

The negotiations come while the United States is expanding its military presence in the Asia Pacific as a counterweight to rising China, having brokered a deal last year with Australia to place more troops there.

It is also expecting to station several combat ships in Singapore and step up deployments in Thailand, the chief of US naval op-

micro and small enterprises are needed to spur job creation,” the World Bank said in the report.

Problems related to credit access involve the high value of collateral required by banks and interest rates that micro enterprises cannot afford to pay.

The World Bank suggested that the government invest more in strengthening the capacity of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority so that it can better achieve its mandate of helping increase employment through skills training.

The bank also cited the need for the government to partner with the private sector in improving the quality of graduates. The partnership can help narrow the gap between what employers need and what the skills of graduates are.

The World Bank stressed the importance of ensuring that the government successfully implement the K-12 program, aimed at improving the country’s labor force.

The multilateral agency said the K-12 program, which extends the length of primary and secondary education from 10 to 12 years and requires kindergarten education, would help make the Philippine education system comparable with global standards.

He said the government was also advised to rationalize the tax system by withdrawing incentives enjoyed by some enterprises and by reducing the 30-percent income tax rate to align it with much lower rates in other countries.He said a level playing field in taxation was needed to avoid turning off businesses.

The World Bank economist said starting up a business was much more tedious in the Philippines compared with other emerging economies, putting the country at a disadvantage in attracting job-generating foreign investments. n

PH IN DRUG MONEY-LAUNDERING LIST

PH-US Balikatan military exercise erations, Admiral Jonathan Greenert, wrote in December.

Aquino said the Philippines was also looking to the United States for help in building up its defence capabilities, amid a maritime territorial dispute with China that flared last year and a host of other security issues.

The Philippines had asked the United States for F-16 fighter jets, as well as patrol vessels, transport aircraft and radar systems, according to Aquino.

“They are still studying the request for the excess F-16s. We are hoping they will look at it favourably,” he said.

Aquino emphasized there were many reasons the Philippines needed to increase its military capabilities, including combating terrorism, helping deal with natural disasters and

evacuating Filipinos from crises overseas.

But he also talked in depth about the Philippines needing to protect its rights to parts of the South China Sea that are within its 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone and are believed to sit atop vast oil and gas deposits.

China and Taiwan also claim those areas as theirs, even though the contested waters are much closer to Philippine landmass than Chinese.

Diplomatic tensions escalated last year when the Philippines accused China of harassing a Philippine-chartered oil exploration vessel in one of the disputed areas called Reed Bank, and of other bullying tactics. n

THE Philippines has been named by the US Department of State as one of the 66 major drug moneylaundering countries in the world.

In its 2012 International Narcotics Strategy Report, the State Department’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (BINLEA) points out that although the country is “not a regional financial center,” it “continues to experience an increase in foreign organized criminal activity from China, Hong Kong and Taiwan.

The report also called the Philippines one of the agency’s “jurisdictions of primary concern.”

The same report, posted on the website of the US Embassy in Manila, also disclosed that “insurgency groups operating in the Philippines partially fund their activities through local crime, kidnapping for ransom and the trafficking of narcotics and arms, and engage in money laundering through ties to organized crime.”

“The proceeds of corruption are also a source of laundered funds,” the report also said.

Besides the Philippines, other members of the Association of

Southeast Asian Nations on the list of drug money-laundering nations are Thailand, Indonesia, Cambodia, Singapore, and Myanmar (formerly Burma).

Also on the list are the following countries: Afghanistan, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, India, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Lebanon, Macau, the Netherlands, Pakistan, Russia, Somalia, Spain, Taiwan, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, the US and Venezuela, among others.

According to the US agency, the primary threat faced by the country “continues to be the importation, manufacture and abuse of methamphetamine hydrochloride, also known as shabu.”

It also reported that “numerous arrests in Asia and South America showed an increasing trend of Philippine citizens acting as drug couriers employed by international drug syndicates.

Filipino drug mules “typically carried drugs from South America to Asia although the drugs were generally not destined for the Philippines.” n

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ARROYO WAIVES PRESENCE IN TRIAL HEARINGS in the trial of the electoralsabotage case against former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will go on with or without her in court.

Arroyo, through her lawyers, has filed with Pasay City Regional Trial Court Branch 112 a waiver of appearance, stating that she is “waiving her right to appear and be present at the pretrial and trial stages” of the case.

Arroyo also stated that every time her name is mentioned in the course of the trial, she agrees that the name pertains to her and that she will not dispute her identity with that name.

She told the court that she will appear before it whenever her presence

is required, but, if she fails to show up, despite notice and without proper justification, the trial may proceed in her absence.

She also promised that she will be present when a final judgment has been reached in the case, and that she will not leave the country without the court’s permission.

The Sandiganbayan Fourth Division allowed Arroyo to undergo fingerprinting and other procedures related to her bail petition in her graft cases at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) instead of at the court.

The graft cases stemmed from Ar-

royo’s approval of the canceled $329 million National Broadband Network deal with China’s ZTE Corp., allegedly overpriced and disadvantageous to the government. The Fourth Division ordered Arroyo and her co-accused arrested on March 13.

The court said Arroyo, through her lawyers or representative, must first post P70,000 bail for her three cases, after which it would issue the orders for court personnel to proceed to the VMMC to process all the legal requirements related to her posting bail.

Arroyo had asked the court to allow her to undergo bail processing at the VMMC, where she is detained on

80 NURSING SCHOOLS FACE CLOSURE

EIGHTY more nursing schools are facing possible closure of their degree programs after obtaining low passing rates in the licensure examinations administered by the Professional Regulatory Commission (PRC), a Commission on Higher Education (CHED) official said.

“These 80 schools are in danger of having their degree programs closed because their passing rate in licensure exams is really quite low,” CHED Executive Director Julito Vitriolo said.

The schools in question failed to improve their passing rate for three consecutive years now in the PRCadministered examinations, Vitriolo said, but he refused to divulge the names of the schools, located in Metro Manila and the provinces.

Besides low passing rates, the schools also failed to meet government regulations on the quality of their faculty and facilities.

Vitriolo also disclosed that 20 nursing schools have already voluntarily phased out their degree programs for the same offense, but they will be allowed to reopen their courses if they comply with government regulations.

Education experts earlier blamed the glut in nursing schools in the country for the low passing rates. The Commission said nursing schools now number 491 from just 128 in 1991; and many of them do not have the required base hospitals, laboratories, libraries and qualified faculty members.

The CHED and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) have repeatedly urged incoming college students to enrol in courses other than nursing. The others are Teacher Education, Information Technology, Business Administration and Hotel and Restaurant Management. n

The former First Couple orders of the Pasay court handling her electoral-sabotage case. She said in her petition that going to the San-

diganbayan would entail additional security and expenses for the government.

The prosecution did not oppose Arroyo’s petition for humanitarian considerations.

Arroyo is charged with graft and violating the code of conduct and ethical standards for public officials and employees.

Also accused in one of the graft cases were her husband Jose Miguel “Mike” Arroyo, former elections chief Benjamin Abalos, and former transportation and communication secretary Leandro Mendoza. Mike Arroyo and Mendoza posted bail earlier. n

LOCATORS AT ENTERTAINMENT CITY TO FUND EXPRESSWAY TO NAIA

LRT goes to Bacoor, Cavite

P133-B PROJECTS, LRT 1 EXTENSION APPROVED THE National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) Board, in its first meeting for the year, approved a total of 12 projects worth P133 billion.

Neda Director General Cayetano W. Paderanga Jr. said the projects include the Light Rail Transit (LRT) Line 1 South Extension, which is being eyed as one of the public-private partnership (PPP) projects to be bid out this year.

Earlier, the PPP Center said it is scheduled to roll out P154.47 billion worth of projects in 2012. The amount covers 16 projects to be undertaken by various implementing agencies (IAs).

The complete list of the projects approved by the board was not immediately available from the Neda.

“Inaasahan natin na i-extend natin itong light-rail system natin, ‘yung LRT 1, will go up to Bacoor,” President Aquino said in a statement issued after the Neda Board meeting at Malacanang.

Bacoor is a town in Cavite province, south of Manila.

The LRT 1 project will extend the existing 15-km LRT Line 1 system southward by an additional 11.7 kilometers, of which approximately 10.5 km will be elevated and 1.2 km will be at-grade.

The extension will start from the existing line’s last station at Baclaran in Parañaque City and will traverse Parañaque and Las Piñas City in Metro Manila and reach Bacoor.

The biggest of the PPP projects is the P25-billion Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) new water supply; the smallest will be the P900-million Vaccine Self-Sufficiency Program of the Department of Health (DOH).

The list of 16 projects includes the P20.18-billion Nlex-Slex Connector Road; P20-billion Balara Water Hub; P19.69-billion Cala Expressway (Cavite and Laguna side); P11.3-billion LRT 2 East Extension; P10.4-billion PPP for School Infrastructure Project (Batch 1); P10.15billion Mactan Terminal 2 Airport Development; and P8-billion New Bohol Airport.

Other projects are the P7.8-billion Laguindingan Airport Operations and Maintenance; P5.3-billion Cold Chain Systems Project; P5-billion Modernization of the Philippine Orthopedic Center; P4.2-billion Puerto Princesa Airport; P1.8 billion-Common Fare Collection System; P1.5-billion Rehabilitate-Operate-Transfer of Angat Hydro Electric Power Plant Turbines 4 and 5; and P1.25-billion Grains Central Project. n

LOCATORS at Bagong Nayong Pilipino Entertainment City are willing to invest in a skyway that would link the complex to Metro Manila’s international gateways, according to the head of the Philippines’ state-run gambling monopoly.

Cristino Naguiat,chairman and president of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor), said the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) had approached him to determine if locators at Entertainment City were interested in co-financing the P12 billion elevated four-lane Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Expressway 2.

“I talked to all the proponents and I told them to invest at least a billion pesos each. They would fund the project. They requested that their investment would be part of their investment commitment,” Naguiat told reporters.

These locators include port operator Enrique Razon Jr.’s Bloom-

berry Investments Holdings Inc., the consortium of Malaysia’s Genting Group and Andrew Tan’s Alliance Global Group Inc., SM Investment Corp., and Japan’s Universal Entertainment Corp.

“I think the total investment that was being requested if I’m not mistaken is about P6 billion then DPWH will bid it out,” Naguiat said.

The DPWH said the plan for the NAIA Expressway 2 had to be revised so it ends up at the Entertainment City instead of terminating at Roxas Boulevard.

“We would like to fast track it and the proponents are ready to fund the project. Hopefully, we will have the bidding next month,” he added.

The DPWH is awaiting the National Economic Development Authority’s clearance to proceed with the bidding.

Upon project award, the highway is expected to be finished after two to three years. n

DEFICIENCIES IN PH AVIATION TO HURT TOURISM

THE deficiencies that continue to hound the Philippine aviation industry, as spelled out by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in a technical review, can derail its tourism goals, a Malacañang official said.

The FAA noted in a summary report — cited in an article on Bloomberg Businessweek online — aircraft and airport facilities inspectors lack qualifications to do their job and they even get free rides on airlines they are inspecting, while airlines that fail to meet regulatory requirements are certified.

In the technical review last Jan. 23 to 27, the regulator cited 23 “critical elements” the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines must address before raising its aviation status back to Category 1.

Category 2 “prevents us from promoting fully our tourism industry,” presidential spokesperson Edwin

Lacierda told reporters at a briefing in Malacañang.

“We are always concerned, especially [because] we are promoting tourism as one of our growth sectors.

And so, we would like to harness also the markets in Europe. We are concerned about accelerating the efforts to remove us out of Category 2 status,” the Palace official said.

Category 2 does not mean Philippine carriers are banned from flying to the US, but they cannot add new US routes until all issues are resolved, according to the CAAP. President Benigno Aquino III said his administration is working double time to secure Category 1 status anew and remove the country from the European aviation blacklist.

Once the stumbling-blocks are removed, Aquino said he expects the number of tourists to increase. n

APRIL 1-15, 2012

PLANET

38

PHILIPPINES

Calgary Edition

Calgary Edition

PLANET

39 PHILIPPINES

APRIL 1-15, 2012

APRIL 1-15, 2012

PLANET

40 PHILIPPINES

Calgary Edition