Edmonton Edition
PLANET
PHILIPPINES
APRIL 2012
APRIL 2012
PLANET
PHILIPPINES
Edmonton Edition
Edmonton Edition
PLANET
PHILIPPINES
APRIL 2012
PLANET
APRIL 2012
By LEAndRo milan
OUR mOnths after winning over P14 million in the Lotto 6/42 draw, Dionie C. Reyes was back in the betting line hoping for a second chance at the jackpot. the 47-year-old government employee had a short stab at a millionaire’s life, spending all his winnings in just three months. But he says he has no regrets over the loss of his millions on vices -- gambling, drinking sprees, womanizing – and on family and friends whom he showered generously with balato. he vows he would know how to handle money the next time around. Reyes hit the jackpot in the Lotto 6/42 draw on April 22, 2008. Of his P14 million bonanza, he bought a house and lot worth P4 million and a pricey sports utility vehicle. Over P2 million in balato went to relatives, friends, neighbors, acquaintances, and even strangers who came to him for help. he estimates squandering about P7 million for his daily spending spree, including regular trips to shopping malls and cockpits, in a span of three months until none was left. “If I do not know where my money went, maybe I would go crazy. But I know where it went. Sa kalokohan ko, pero nag-enjoy naman ako,” he says with only a bit of regret. Four years later, Reyes finds himself in debt for P500,000. Last september he underwent a heart surgery at the Philippine heart Center. he was fortunate that the Philippine Charity sweepstake Office came to his succor and shouldered the cost of the operation. he thanks his boss for advising him not to quit and just go on leave after he
PHILIPPINES
LOTTO WiNNER ENDS UP A BiG LOSER People at the cockpit he frequented in Las Piñas used to call him “Boss Dionie” after he won the lotto. “Every time they see me, until now they still call me that. But I tell them to just call me ‘Ubos Dionie’ now because I have no more money,” he shares, laughing
Dionie: Lahat naman tayo may pangarap .
EDMONTON EDiTiON For advertising inquiries, contact: Maria PercY JaveLosa (Publisher/advertising Manager) - tel. 780-328-7006 JasMin dicLas (Managing Partner) - tel. 780-710-6739 Published by Edmonton Pinoy News and Media Ltd. 16722-113 Ave., NW, Edmonton, AB T5M 2X3 Tel. 780-328-7006 / 780-710-6739 Fax : 403-474-9041 Email: planetphiledmonton@yahoo.ca
LOTTO MILLIONAIRES NOW REACH 1,700
T
HERE are now 1,700 members of the socalled “Instant Millionaires Club” composed of winners of online lottery draws with prizes ranging from P3 million to P741 million since 1995. Jose Ferdinand Rojas II, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) general manager, said that since the 6/42 Mega Lotto and 6/49 Super Lotto games were launched in 1995, some 1,700 lucky bettors have won the jackpot. Most of the winners are ordinary folks who religiously maintained certain combinations. A balikbayan from New York had won the biggest lotto jackpot worth more than P741 million in the 6/55 Grand Lotto in October 2010. The winner was on vacation in Subic where he bought the winning ticket. A 60-year-old carpenter from Las Piñas City won P341 million in the Grand Lotto draw last year, while a 49-year-old government employee from General Santos City won P106 million in the Super Lotto draw. According to Rojas, most of the winners maintained certain number combinations that represent important dates and events in their lives. won the jackpot. now he is back at his old job as a utility man. Reyes says he wants to share his story so that others who will hit the lotto jackpot may learn a lesson or two from his experience. “After all, I have nothing to fear,” he says in Filipino. “that was about four years ago already. I had
Dream weavers line up for the chance of a lifetime. PLANET PHILIPPINES is the leading Filipino newspaper in Edmonton. As the only Filipino publication that is truly based in the city, our focus is serving the Filipino community in the Edmonton area. This means that ALL our copies – 4,000 of them every issue as certified by our printer -- are distributed in Edmonton ONLY. Topnotch editorial content, attractive layout, long shelf life, wide circulation and affordable rates make us the top choice of readers and advertisers.
Edmonton Edition
PLANET PHILIPPINES, the global newsmagazine for overseas Filipinos, is published and circulated in various cities and countries around the world. Each edition of PLANET PHILIPPINES is published by authorized individuals and companies under an exclusive licensing arrangement. We welcome inquiries from anyone interested in becoming a publisher of PLANET PHILIPPINES in their territory. Contact us at planetphilippines@gmail.com or visit our website at www.planetphilippines.com.
PLANET PHILIPPINES Worldwide Leandro MiLan .............................................................................. PePPer MarceLo ........................................................................... arneL rivaL.................................................................................... roMY FLorante.............................................................................. diana PaMeLa triste ....................................................................
editor-in-chief assistant editor Layout artist Photographer editorial assistant
PLANET
Edmonton Edition
spent all my winnings. Nothing is left, except my house and the things I gave my relatives, office mates, friends, and acquaintances.” Reyes recalls that friends and acquaintances at the cockpit he frequented in Las Piñas used to call him “Boss Dionie” after he won the lotto. “Every time they see me, until now they still call me that. But I tell them to just call me ‘Ubos Dionie’ now because I have no more money,” he shares, laughing. But given another crack at the jackpot, he vows to change his wayward ways. “That is why I am saying that if God would bless me again and gives me a second chance, because I am betting every day, I will love my money. After all, I have experienced it already.” His determined pursuit of the lotto jackpot was shared passionately by his mother who died in 2004. “Anak, ipinagdarasal ko na manalo ka na ng lotto para makatikim naman tayo ng ginhawa,” he recalls his mother telling him. Four years later, on April 22, 2008, her prayers were answered. Dionie hit the jackpot using a Lucky Pick, System 7 bet worth P70. A System 7 bet has seven combinations. It was on a Tuesday when the draw was held but Dionie did not check his tickets until Friday. He had been on a drinking binge during those days and his tickets, safely ensconced in his wallet, were nearly damaged by urine smudges because there were times he would pee in his pants due to drunkenness. He still remembers the winning combination -- 09-15-18-2328-40 -- which carried the jackpot prize of P14,125,032. “At 1 p.m. Friday, accompanied by my boss, I had my winning ticket validated at the PCSO’s Internal Audit Department. The lotto machine did not accept it at first because of urine smudge. So, the validation was done manually, entering into the lotto machine the security numbers in the ticket,” recounts Dionie. An hour later he was at the bank to encash a
“If God would bless me again and gives me a second chance, I will love my money. After all, I have experienced it already.”
PHILIPPINES
The luck of the draw. portion of his winnings. “Lahat tayo may pangarap. Gusto ko talaga magkaroon ng kotse, magandang bahay, at makahawak ng malaking pera. Kaya sinabi ko sa bangko bigyan ako ng isang milyon na cash at tulungan ako makabili ng Toyota Fortuner na usong-uso noon,” he recalls. He was adamant he wanted to go home driving his new car, and a million-peso cash in hand. The bank made sure he got them. Dionie next bought a P4-mil-
lion house and lot at BF Homes in Las Piñas. He gave his six siblings P50,000 each; P500,000 to one of his nephews for a three-door apartment he wanted to build; and from P1,000 to P30,000 to some of his office mates; and
APRIL 2012
P100,000 to his boss. In addition, he gave away from P5,000 to P50,000 to friends and neighbors in his old house in Cavite. He also gifted a nephew of his wife with a car worth P850,000. Dionie now hitches a ride with him when he goes to work. “I spent all my money on gambling, especially cockfighting, drinking sprees, and womanizing. Almost every day, I lost a minimum of P100,000 in cockfighting. It was very quick, I had a special ATM card issued by my bank,” Dionie recalls. “Every time I came home, my wife just cried and cried. She asked me many times to stop. I did not listen. My siblings also asked me to change my ways and have a new life. I did not listen to any of them. It was my money, anyway. I won it fairly not at the expense of others.” In only over a year, he sold his car and then his house at BF Homes. He bought another house also in Las Piñas worth P1.7 million. He now wants to sell the house to pay off his debts. His boss feels deeply sorry for Dionie. “I feel bad for him kasi ilan lang ang nananalo ng jackpot?” n
PLANET
APRIL 2012
ALL tyc o o n Henry Sy and tobacco king Lucio tan remained the top billionaires in the Philippines, according to the Forbes magazine’s annual list of the world’s wealthiest released on March 7. Eduardo cojuangco Jr., described by Forbes as a former Marcos crony, and Roberto ongpin, former trade Minister under the Marcos regime, were new additions to the 2012 Forbes Billionaires list. Sy, the Philippines’ richest man, and his family ranked 116 in the list with a net worth of $8 billion. the Sy family controls SM Investments corp., which owns the country’s largest mall developer (SM) and bank (Banco De oro Unibank). His daughter teresita Sy-coson was recently named one of Forbes Asia’s Power Businesswomen. Lucio tan, 77, ranked 314 in the global billionaires list with a net worth of $3.5 billion. the tan family owns a third of Philip Morris-Fortune tobacco, which dominates the Philippine cigarette market. His other companies include the country’s second largest beer maker Asia Brewery, property firm Eton Properties and Philippine Airlines. Andrew tan, 59, has a net worth of $2.1 billion, landing him on number 601 on the Forbes list. tan’s holding company Alliance Global has interests in property (Megaworld corp.), food and beverage (Emperador Distillers Inc.) and fastfood (Golden Arches Development corp., which holds the master franchise for McDonald’s). It also has a joint venture with Genting Hong Kong for the development of Resorts World Manila. Ports operator Enrique Razon Jr. ranked 683 in the billionaires list with $1.9 billion. the 52-yearold businessman controls International container terminal Services Inc. (IctSI), whose stock gained more than 30% in the past year. cojuangco, whose net worth is estimated at $1.3 billion, ranked 960 in the Forbes list. He controls food and beverage conglomerate
PHILIPPINES
Edmonton Edition
6 FILIPINOS Henry Sy
IN FORBES WEALTHIEST LIST
It is interesting to note that of the six wealthiest Filipino tycoons listed in Forbes, five trace their ancestral roots to China. The lone exception is ports magnate Enrique Razon, who has Spanish ancestry.
Lucio Tan
Eduardo Cojuangco Jr.
Roberto Ongpin
Enrique Razon Jr.
Andrew Tan
San Miguel corp., which is now diversifying into power, infrastructure and heavy industry. ongpin, 75, has a net worth of $1 billion and is ranked 1153 in the Forbes list. the Harvard Business School graduate has investments in property, gaming, mining and telecommunications. (ABS-CBNnews.com) n
PLANET
Edmonton Edition
PHILIPPINES
APRIL 2012
Finding an escape from the hurlyburly of the city life. as their new home. “Of course, we welcome all Filipinos who have been living overseas to return to their homeland. There’s nothing like spending the prime of your life among your own people. Our customs and traditions, our food, our beautiful nature spots, even our religious faith -- these are things that our balikbayans miss and many of them look forward to coming back,” said PRA General Manager Veredigno Atienza. She continued: “Non-Filipinos are welcome to stay in the Philippines as well. We Filipinos are among the friendliest and happiest people on Earth. We treat our guests like good friends. We are fluent in English. Culturally, we are a blend of East and West, and our historical contacts w i t h other
LIFE BEGINS AT
RETIREMENT
There’s nothing like spending the prime of your life among your own people. Our customs and traditions, our food, our beautiful nature spots, even our religious faith -- these are things that our balikbayans miss and many of them look forward to coming back.
By joycE socao-alumno and RAmIL gulle
ETIREMENT is a new beginning. At that point in our lives, we stand at the threshold of a new phase-we may even consider it as the prime of our lives: we are free from the headstrong passions and exuberant inexperience of youth. Whereas young people struggle to find a direction in life, facing uncertainty and confusion along the way, retirees can look back on a life of achievement, well-spent on career, family and friends. Retirement then, is both a reward and a discovery: what comes next is whatever retirees wish to accomplish in a new start on life, filled once again with possibility. Part of that new beginning is finding a place to start over. With a retiree’s newfound freedom also
come new challenges. It’s only natural to wish for a peaceful place, perhaps one that is close to natural
beauty that affords an escape from the hurly-burly of the city life. Then, one has to consider living expenses. How does one maximize the benefits of one’s pension and savings? A place with excellent healthcare is a must. What about modern conveniences like the Internet and other communications tools? If one is eyeing a retirement haven overseas, then choosing a place where the locals are conversant in English is an obvious choice. It so happens that the Philippines has all these and more, and the Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA) is gladly fulfilling its mandate to be a “second family” to all retirees who choose the Philippines
PLANET
APRIL 2012
PHILIPPINES
10
Edmonton Edition
REAsons
WHY YOU SHOULD RETIRE IN THE PHILIPPINES BY joycE SOcaO-aLUmNO
A retirement community in Davao. races and other nations make us used to having people of other races in our shores,” Atienza said that among all the attributes of the Philippines that make it an ideal place to retire in, it’s really the Filipinos themselves that are the biggest advantage. “Retirement is a time when we want to enjoy the fruits of our labors. Some retirees also wish to start new ventures, new hobbies; they want to pursue their passions and enjoy life to the full. Being with Filipinos makes those plans easier and more fun to fulfill,” he said. Besides all the advantages of the Philippines as a retirement destination, Atienza emphasizes that the excellent services and assistance provided by the PRA to retirees is a huge plus. “When retirees come here, they are respected and valued guests. Soon enough, they feel part of the growing PRA family. The PRA is mandated by its charter and by law to assist all retirees in any way possible. Whenever a retiree has needs, from securing government documentation to availing of healthcare, to assistance in financial and business matters, the PRA is ready to serve them. We even have a 24/7 hotline number that retirees can call up for assistance,” said Atienza. Foreigners and overseas Filipinos who retire in the Philippines are considered special residents of the country. They are accorded multiple-entry privileges, plus the right to stay indefinitely in the Philippines, through the issuance of the Special Resident Retiree’s Visa (SSRV) by the Bureau of immigration. The SSRV facilitates convenient and quick entry and exit from the Philippines, whenever a retiree travels overseas and back. Filipinos who have taken residency overseas as well as foreign
“Retirement is a time when we want to enjoy the fruits of our labors,” says PRA’s Atienza. nationals (except those from countries without diplomatic relations with the Philippines and nationals classified as restricted by the Department of Foreign Affairs) of retirement age are eligible for the SSRV. There are certain conditions that apply to overseas Filipinos who wish to retire in the Philippines. They must be immigrants or under a visa category allowing them legal stay abroad and have resided therein continuously for at least seven (7) years (prior to their application for enrolment in the Philippine Retirement Authority Retirement Program). They should not have stayed a maximum total of sixty (60) days in a year in the Philippines. According to Atienza, there are more than 26,000 retirees enrolled in the Retirement Program of the PRA, with a net total of more than 18,000 as of March 2012. Most of these retirees have chosen to stay in the following places: Cebu, Angeles (Clark), Olongapo (Subic), Baguio, Davao City, and Metro Manila. In order to better serve these retirees, the PRA has set up offices in these areas, with its main office in Metro Manila. For more details on the process involved in registration and enrolment into the Philippine Retirement Authority Retirement Program, check out www.pra.gov.ph. (Philippine Daily Inquirer) n
• Affordable cost of living — The monthly expenses for housing, food, transportation and even labor costs anywhere in the Philippines are quite reasonable and affordable for most retirees that allow them to stretch their pensions and savings. Balikbayans and foreign retirees enjoy not only the lower cost of living but also a favorable currency exchange rate. On an average, a retiree can live very comfortably in the Philippines at US$2,000 per month in a fully furnished home complete with a household helper. • Filipino hospitality — Filipinos are among the most hospitable races on Earth. Filipino hospitality is renowned all over the world. Filipinos’ friendliness, cheerfulness and compassion are qualities that will make retiring in the Philippines truly feel like one has found a second home. They are a happy people, and have consistently rated among the top in every happiness index conducted. • Medical and health services — Retirees are naturally concerned about their health -- keeping healthy will help them enjoy their retirement to the fullest. The Philippines’ medical and healthcare facilities are comparable, sometimes even better by comparison to that of the retirees’ place of residence overseas, depending on his or her country of origin. Filipino doctors are trained in Western medicine and most of them are trained abroad and affiliated with international medical associations. The Filipino nurses’ natural friendliness and competence are sought all over the world and would be comforting to every retiree who needs compassionate care. • Modern conveniences — The Philippines provides retirees with all the basic necessities and conveniences of modern living. From large malls to modern transportation, to the Internet and other high-tech telecommunications network, to contemporary forms of entertainment like Hollywood movies to cable TV channels that include programs from around the world-the retiree would never feel cut-off from the rest of the world and modern life. • Eco-tourism destinations — The Philippines, being an archipelago, is known for its beaches, diving spots and beautiful scenery. It is rich in biodiversity and natural wonders. From the white beaches of world-class Boracay island, to the beautiful hills of
Tagaytay, the Philippines has thousands of islands that all offer a piece of tropical paradise.
• Wellness choices — Wellness centers and spas abound, offering massage therapy, acupuncture and other natural and alternative treatments and practices-all designed to restore vitality and promote relaxation and good health. Most of these wellness facilities are run and/or staffed by medical doctors who are experts in Western medicine. Other wellness centers offer treatments based on both Western and Oriental medicine. • World cuisine — The Philippines offers diverse cuisine. Filipino food has mainly Spanish and Chinese influences but over the centuries has also acquired styles and flavors of the cultures that have come in contact with Filipinos, including American, Chinese, Japanese, Indian, Arabic and Southeast Asian culinary styles. Besides the local cuisine, the Philippines also has restaurants offering authentic dishes that foreign palates have learned to adopt with. • Freedom in religion — While more than 80 percent of Filipinos are Catholics because of the 300 years of Spanish colonization, other variants of Christianity thrive in the Philippines. Some 5 percent of Filipinos are Muslims, while the rest belong to Protestant and Evangelical Churches. Recently, there has been a rise in secularization, led by a group of Filipino freethinkers. Bhuddhist and Hindu temples are also seen in some places. Overall, all religions are respected and freely practiced in every part of the country. • Climate — The Philippines is a tropical country with two seasons: rainy and dry. The weather is generally fair throughout the year. This is particularly important for retiring people who can no longer tolerate the cold season and avoid winter depression. • Language — English is one of two official languages in the Philippines. The other one is Filipino. English is widely used and most Filipinos are conversant in English. Language interpreters also abound and are available through the Department of Tourism. (Philippine Daily Inquirer) n
PLANET
Edmonton Edition
MORE FUN FOR CAREER WOMEN IN PH
Teresita Sy-Coson, daughter of tycoon Henry Sy, was recently named one of Forbes Asia’s Power Businesswomen. By dORIs c. dumlao
T’S more fun for women climbing the corporate ladder in the Philippines than in most other places in the world: more Filipino women are taking on leadership positions in business and more of them enjoy flexible work arrangements. This, according to the Grant Thornton’s International Business report (IBr) released last march 9 by its local member firm Punongbayan & Araullo (P&A). From 35 percent in 2011, the ratio of Filipino women in top corporate positions rose to 39 percent, making the Philippines second only to russia, along with Thailand and Botswana, on the list of countries with a growing number of women joining the “C-suite.” The “C-suite” refers to executives belonging to a corporation’s senior management team and is so called because these people usually have a “C” in their official titles, such as chief executive officer, chief operating officer, chief finance officer, chief investment officer or chief information officer.
Equal access “The result of the study shows that top posts in the country are accessible to men and women equally,” said marivic españo, P&A managing partner and Ceo. The survey looked into the roles women play in senior management and found that as in most Philippine households, women leaders end up with responsibilities involving finance. This year, 64 percent of
PHILIPPINES
Filipino women in senior management were either chief finance officers or were in senior finance positions, up from last year’s 54 percent, the study said. The Grant Thornton International Business report provides insight into the views and expectations of 12,000 businesses across 40 economies. This unique annual survey draws upon 20 years of trend data for most european participants and nine years for many non-european economies. The latest data were drawn from interviews with 6,000 businesses across the globe conducted between November 2011 and February 2012. The target respondents were chief executive officers, managing directors, chair or other senior executives primarily across five sectors: manufacturing
A study found that as in most Philippine households, women leaders end up with responsibilities involving finance. This year, 64 percent of Filipino women in senior management were either chief finance officers or were in senior finance positions. (25 percent), services (25 percent), retail (15 percent) and construction (10 percent), with the remaining 25 percent spread across all sectors.
Charo Santos-Concio is president and chief operating officer of ABS-CBN, the country’s biggest broadcasting network.
Balancing home and career For the first time, the IBr asked respondents if they offered flexible work arrangements. Sixty-six percent of Philippine businesses polled answered yes, above the global average of 52 percent and the Southeast Asian average of 53 percent. “This is one way of encouraging
APRIL 2012
women to aim for the top, especially those who have to balance their career with motherhood,” españo said. But the global picture isn’t looking very rosy as the same study showed that the proportion of women holding senior management posts has been on a steady decline in all major regions of the world except europe since 2009. results from 2011 and 2012 in the Southeast Asian region showed that although the number of women in top management positions remained above the global average, only the Philippines and Vietnam recorded an uptick in numbers from the past year.
Declining trend “When we started tracking women in leadership posts in emerging markets such as BrIC (referring to the fast-growing emerging market bloc Brazil-russia-India-China) and the ones in Southeast Asia, it was very encouraging to see that these dynamic economies were leading the pack in terms of welcoming women in the boardroom,” españo said. “So it is a point of concern to see the proportion of women business leaders shrinking in these countries. Hopefully this doesn’t signal a further drop in the coming years to the point where women are underrepresented globally.” Added españo: “The falling numbers globally should alert business leaders and get them to start asking why women aren’t at present at the top of the ladder and what can be done about it. Hopefully, we can find more ways to open up those Csuite posts to women and continue to be a good example of gender equality here in the Asean (Association of Southeast Asian) region.” (Philippine Daily Inquirer) n
Many Philippine businesses offer flexible working arrangements to women, enabling them to balance career and marriage.
PLANET
APRIL 2012
10
PHILIPPINES
Edmonton Edition
K TO 12 PROGRAM
EDUCATION AS A MEANS TO SOLVING POVERTY 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. 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 of senior high school (Grades 11-12 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 implementation of the K to 12 program. “The curricu-
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. lum 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 12year curriculum is crammed into a 10-year cycle. Globally, the Philippines is one out of only three that still maintain a 10-year preuniversity 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 educaMany students are so focused on getting a college diploma, forgetting that it is acquiring relevant and marketable skills that matter in the real world.
PLANET
Edmonton Edition
11
PHILIPPINES
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
tion 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 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
that today our country 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 long-term 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 personality,
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 ensur-
the government believes that improving basic education is a long-term solution to poverty. more Math and Science subjects their own company. I see them and English will be English for taking advantage of the governEngineers upon entering Grade ment’s capital programs for small 11,” adds Ruiz. entrepreneurs.” According to her, a Grade 11 Some parents complain about ‘modeling’ will also start this com- the cost of an additional two years ing school year. “We’re not wait- of schooling. Critics also chaling 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 Place a number education while universities can from 1-9 in each now use the full four years for speempty cell. Each cialization subjects instead of the row, column and first two years on general review 3x3 block boundsubjects. K to 12 graduates will ed by bold line (9 also receive certifications from blocks) contains TESDA as possessing skills for all the numbers certain types of jobs. from 1-9 She says the program encourages students to be entrepreneurial. “I envision graduates of K to Solution on page 26 12 grouping themselves together, going into business and building
SUDOKU RULES:
APRIL 2012
ing that the high-school graduate has the necessary competencies to pursue a college degree either immediately or at some later stage. 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 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. n
Everybody now thinks education is not just the responsibility of the government alone,” Ruiz points out.
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 Partnerships. 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. It aims to get two million people to donate P10 per day for 10 months. “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
lenge the timeliness of such efforts considering the looming shortage in teachers and classrooms confronting the department. 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
APRIL 2012
PLANET
12
PHILIPPINES
Edmonton Edition
TTAWA - Canada plans to eliminate a backlog of stale immigration applications by skilled workers, in a potentially controversial move designed to enable immigrants whose skills are in greater current demand to enter the country faster. Some Canadian employers have complained that backlogs have hobbled the immigration system and made it unable to respond nimbly to demand for foreign workers in higher growth sectors like video-gaming and the oil patch.
CANADA SCRAPS 300,000 IMMIGRANT APPLICATIONS There are two compelling reasons for the decision to return nearly 300,000 applications from skilled workers: to eliminate a huge backlog of stale applications and to speed up the intake of immigrants needed by today’s economy.
Finance Minister Jim Flaherty said on March 29 that Canada now plans to return almost all of the 300,000 foreign skilled worker applications that were filed before February 27, 2008, along with their C$130 million ($130 million)
in fees. Some have been waiting for a decade or more. Flaherty made the announcement in his annual budget, saying the reforms would make the system faster and more efficient. “We will ensure it is designed
Edmonton Edition
above all to strengthen Canada’s economy. As a result we will be better able to fill gaps in our labor force,� Flaherty told the House of Commons in his budget speech. It is an irony that national unemployment is running at more than 7 percent while certain industries face labor shortages, but such employers may be looking for people with certain skills not found among most of the unemployed. But someone who applied in 2001 may not have the skills needed in 2012, and if she or he was 42 when they applied would now be 53 and have fewer working years. Canada has traditionally welcomed high numbers of immigrants. The country lets in 250,000 people a year and because of its below-replacement birth rate it will eventually rely on immigrants for any growth in its labor force. It has a total backlog of one million would-be immigrants, about 460,000 of whom are skilled workers. Also in the backlog are applications by family members of recent immigrants, as well as investors and entrepreneurs. The government allows 75,000 skilled workers to immigrate each year. In 2008, Ottawa started fast-tracking new applications by skilled workers but it quickly had to put a cap on those in order to be able to work through those still in the queue. As a result of the measures announced on March 29, it will be able to raise the number of applications it fast-tracks, with
PLANET
13
Canada’s Immigration Minister Jason Kenney (middle) trumpets the Canadian Experience Class program designed for those who have already worked or studied in Canada. a planned eventual turn-around time of six months. It had already told those in the backlog that they were welcome to withdraw their applications and reapply under the new rules. But if their skills are now in less demand, their chances of acceptance will also be lower. The budget also announced somewhat less developed plans to revamp the rules under which investors can immigrate. Previously, they were required to invest large sums of money with Canadian governments. But the intention now is to require them to invest directly in the economy. n
PHILIPPINES
APRIL 2012
APRIL 2012
PLANET
14
PHILIPPINES
Edmonton Edition
Edmonton Edition
PLANET
15 PHILIPPINES
APRIL 2012
APRIL 2012
PLANET
16
PHILIPPINES
Edmonton Edition
Cecile, Lisa and Lea share the stage —and the limelight.
FILIPINA ‘LEGENDS’ STAGE RARE COLLABORATION The Legends and the Classics was a celebration of the beauty of art in words and wordlessness, of the individual and collective genius of three Filipinas skilled in their respective artistic disciplines. By gAynA kumar
HE crowd is silent as a dazzling Lea Salonga appears on stage. A few lines into ryan cayabyab’s Nais Ko, cecile Licad accompanies Salonga’s voice on piano. Lisa Macuja takes center stage and dances to Licad’s rhythm, this time with the FILharmoniKA orchestra in full force. For a moment, one is overwhelmed by the grandeur, the coming together of three icons, each with their own style and charisma. And that was just the beginning. After months of anticipation, viewers finally witnessed a rare event in Philippine performing arts history: Three of the most talented Filipina artists together on one stage for only two consecutive nights. Everyone knew The Legends and the Classics at the ccP Main Theater would be an unforgettable show when the demand for tickets was so high that the organizers had to produce two shows instead of the planned ‘one
Lea, like all her much-beloved dramatis personae, seems larger than life. night only’ concert. And what does one get from putting Broadway singer and actress-slash-disney princess Lea Salonga, prima ballerina Lisa Macuja and renowned pianist cecile Licad together in one production? A performance worthy of four standing ovations from a packed theater and applause at the end that wouldn’t have stopped if the red curtain hadn’t come down.
PLANET
Edmonton Edition
17 PHILIPPINES
Lissome, catlike Lisa leaves the audience breathless after the nth number of pirouettes. Cecile lets her heart —and fingers— fly.
Lea: Defying gravity Lea took us on a journey from Broadway to Disney. Her powerful vocals evoked a different persona in each song. She “dreamed a dream in time gone by” (Les Miserables) even if she was “all alone in the moonlight” (Cats). She faced sadness and despair: “On my own pretending he’s beside me” (Les Miserables). Though she assures us that she had “been changed for good” (Wicked). In the first few moments of this medley, Lea’s microphone received faint feedback. Just when the audience started minding the sound that dared compete with one Lea, it went away. As a Disney legend, Lea embodied Pocahontas, Jasmine and Mulan on stage, even intermeshing and overlapping the song lyrics of World Colors of the Wind, A Whole New and Reflection from the respective Disney movies. Lea sings her characters to life; one must hang on to her every note to truly see the life behind the lyrics. On this night and stage, she defied gravity. This night was also “incredibly special” for Lea as she recalled learning and singing her audition piece for Miss Saigon at 17 on that very stage at the CCP. “After 24 years, it hasn’t gotten old and it never will,” she says, and sings I’d Give My Life for You, the song that got Lea her big break on Broadway.
Lisa: Powering the pointe A dance that is unforgiving as it is beautiful, if it were not for dreams, there would not be such a thing as ballet.” In a previous interview, Lisa had said that Juliet in Romeo and Juliet is one of her favorite roles to dance, and that dancer Augustus F. Damian III choreographed it especially for her. The theatricality of her performance that night was endearing as she, together with Ballet Manila’s Rudy De Dios as Romeo, conveyed the star-crossed lovers’ tragedy with flawless movement. In her performance with the Ballet Manila dancers for Paquita Grande Divertissement, one can see how her grace and fluidity still stands strong even after nearly three decades and how these characteristics are embodied in the dancers that she has mentored. The piece was visually stunning and lively against the bare stage -- the audience clapped to the beat as the prima ballerina did countless pirouettes, surrounded by the other dancers. They all made it look so effortless.
Cecile: Rendering the piano electric When Cecile entered the stage for her rendition of the classics, she looked meek and reserved. She sat on the chair of the grand piano, depressed some keys… and then she got animated. Throughout her piano solos of Pasquinade, Caprice Op. 59 and Souvenirs d’ Andalousie, Caprice de Concert Sur La Caña, Op. 22, Cecile showed her musical prowess, hummed “pa-pa-pam-pam” as if singing to her dancing fingers, and let the music surge through her whole body. Her performance was playful, free flowing, even innocent. Andante Spianato et Grande Polonaise Brillante, Op. 22 showed Cecile’s range and the brilliance of FILharmoniKA and conductor Gerard Salonga, who also arranged his sister Lea’s Broadway and Disney medley.
Of flight and farewell One highlight of the night was the performance of Le Carnaval des Animaux (Dying Swan). Lisa’s portrayal of this character was bold yet wistful and it brought to mind the first Filipino Prima Ballerina’s own legacy as a dancer and her announced retirement from the stage in 2014 at age 50. Distinguished cellist Wilfredo Pasamba came all the way from the US to perform this extraordinary number alongside Cecile on piano. When Lea was singing A Piece of Sky from the Michel Legrand Medley, Lisa once again graced the stage. As Lea sang the final verse that goes “Papa watch me fly” with such gusto, Lisa pirouetted across the stage and finished her routine, her hands raised as if she was the one flying. And in our minds, we knew: she flew! By the time Lea sang Sana’y Wala nang Wakas in the finale with Cecile, Lisa, Ballet Manila and FILharmoniKA, one can’t help but agree with the song title and wish the night would not end. The Legends and the Classics was a celebration of the beauty of art in words and wordlessness, of the individual and collective genius of three Filipinas skilled in their respective artistic disciplines. “We’re part of history, anak,” a woman said to her daughter after the show. Truly, there might not be another concert like this for a long time. (GMA News) n “The Legends and the Classics” ran from March 17 to 18, 2012 at the main theater of the Cultural Center of the Philippines.
APRIL 2012
APRIL 2012
PLANET
18
PHILIPPINES
Edmonton Edition
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 ’
Edmonton Edition
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.
PLANET
19
PHILIPPINES
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-
APRIL 2012
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.
PLANET
APRIL 2012
20
PHILIPPINES
Edmonton Edition
CELEBR TY
KIM READY TO FALL IN LOVE AGAIN
SHARON HITS BACK AT TWITTER BASHERS SHARON Cuneta is on a warpath against her and daughter KC Concepcion’s bashers on the microblogging site Twitter. The Megastar suspects the people behind the spate of negative tweets against her and KC could either be avid viewers of her former studio, ABS-CBN, or die-hard fans of KC’s former boyfriend, Piolo Pascual. “Kung hindi Kapamilya diehard, maka-Piolo lang. Wala namang galit sa amin na ibang tao,” says Sharon. She was particularly ticked off by negative comments about KC’s controversial breakup with Piolo and accusations that she and her daughter are “abortionists.” “Akusahan kayo ng anak mong abortionista tapos huwag ko patulan? Ano hahayaan ko pang ikalat nila? Sobra mga ‘yan. Mga bastos at walang modo. Dudumi ng bibig at pagkatao. Gawain siguro nila,” Sharon tweeted. KC disclosed that she has been receiving “attacks” from Piolo’s camp since her controversial interview on The Buzz
KIM
SHARON last November where she confirmed their breakup. She says some of her detractors have accused her of using Piolo and that she was being ungrateful to her ex-boyfriend. In her series of tweets, Sharon responded with fury. “Since you won›t stop bashing me and my daughter and it›s all the same to you -maybe it›s time I talk and tell the whole REAL story. Okay? Tutal pareho lang eh. Tahimik kami bash kayo ng bash. Eh di kami naman kaya!” she tweeted.
TWO years after she and Gerald Anderson parted ways, Kim Chiu says she is ready to enter into another relationship. “Hindi naman ano... yung kailangang-kailangan ko. Parang puwede na,” she replied when asked if she was ready to fall in love again. “Kasi siyempre, two years na rin ang nakalipas. Kaya ayun, kailangan na rin ng inspirasyon.” She was referring to her split from her former on and off-screen partner, Gerald. Now the Fil-Chinese teenage star is being linked to Xian Lim, her co-star in her last teleserye My Binondo Girl. Pressed by reporters if Xian could be her next boyfriend, she giggled and said, “Ay, ayoko namang sabihin kasi nakakahiya. Basta! ”
EDU APOLOGIZES FOR ‘TSISMIS’ TV host-actor Edu Manzano apologized for sending a tweet about President Benigno Aquino III and Korean TV-radio personality Grace Lee allegedly dating in the middle of the day at The Promenade in Greenhills, San Juan, last March 22. Well, the two have publicly admitted that they are dating. Problem is Edu’s tweet was way off the mark as it turned out the President was in Malacañang the whole day presiding over the board meeting of the National Economic and Development Authority. And his supposed date said she was in Makati at that time. At 2 p.m. Edu tweeted: “PNoy and Grace Lee spotted at Promenade Greenhills today. In the middle of the day. To be fair, it IS a nice day for a leisurely stroll.” Presidential spokesperson
Edwin Lacierda replied a half hour later, saying, “Your tweet is tsismis. The President is presiding over a NEDA meeting. It started at 10, the meeting is still ongoing.” At 4:40 p.m., Edu took back his tweet. “PNoy was NOT in Promenade with Grace Lee today. It was unconfirmed gossip, and I was overeager. I deserve all the backlash. Lesson learned.” He posted a follow-up message:
“Sorry for the confusion, everyone. In local parlance, nakuryente’ ako, and I was foolish to tweet unconfirmed chismis.” Asked to comment on the false tweet, the President said, “Meron talagang walang magawa. ‘Yun ‘yung kailangan natin ihanap ng trabaho. Dahil nag-iimbento ng kwento kung ano-ano. Pero tumawa na lang tayo. Ganun ho talaga siguro, parte na ng ating lipunan.”
She says she is not sure if Xian is courting her although she admits they are regularly communicating with each other. “Ayoko namang sabihin na ano. . . ayoko namang magsabi na ganoon!” Kim said, laughing. “Pero ano... lagi niya akong kinukumusta, then text, ‹tapos nagtatawagan kami. . . Kung minsan nagkikita kami. . . Minsan nagdidinner kami kasama yung mga friends ko.“ Commenting on the expressed desire of some of the Kimeralds –
the avid fans of the Kim-Gerald love team – she said, “Siguro sa mga fans, siyempre natural lang naman sa kanila yun bilang Kimeralds sila. Siyempre may hope pa rin sila. Pero ganun naman talaga yung mga fans, e. Nagpapasalamat kami kasi kahit iba na yung partners namin ni Gerald, e, nandiyan pa rin sila para sa amin.” Kim is currently busy shooting the horror film The Healing, where she portrays thje role of the daughter of Vilma Santos.
ALESSANDRA’S LOVE LIFE: ZERO
CONFESSING that her love life at the moment is zero, Alessandra de Rossi wonders why guys are seemingly intimidated by her. “Para raw akong isang mahal na mansiyon na titingnan mo lang, pero hindi mo kayang bilhin!” she joked. “Wala namang guy na nakakapansin sa beauty ko!” she added, laughing. “At iyon na lang ang isyu sa akin! Kasi walang isyu sa akin ngayon. Hindi ko alam kung bakit walang sinumang lalake na nakakapansin sa akin. Tuloy, wala pa rin akong dyowa until now!” She told reporters she is not an interesting subject for an interview because she has nothing interesting to share with them “Kaya nga ang point ko, ano pang sense na iinterbyuhin ako kung wala naman akong dyowa?! Alam n›yo naman ang artista, ‹pag walang lovelife, parang wala ring career!” she said. She shared her personal life is boring. “Kasi nga, katulad ng ilang taon ko nang sinasabi—bahay-taping, bahay-taping lang ako. E, wala naman [puwedeng maging dyowa] sa taping.” Alessandra is in the cast of the GMA-7 primetime series Legacy, together with Lovi Poe and Heart Evangelista.
PLANET
Edmonton Edition
21 PHILIPPINES
APRIL 2012
CELEBRITYFILES
KATRINA: YES, I’M PREGNANT! KATRINA Halili has confirmed reports that she is three months pregnant. “I’m giving birth in September,” said Katrina disclosed in an interview on the gossip show Startalk. She said the father is his Fil-Am singer boyfriend Kris Lawrence. “My pregnancy was confirmed in February,” Katrina continued. “Masayang-masaya si Kris when I told him about it. Then, I told Kris’ parents and Tatay Rommel (Gacho, her manager).” The news came as a surprise to many who thought that Katrina and Kris broke up two years ago when Katrina got enmeshed in the infamous sex video controversy with Hayden Kho . “Kris was with me throughout my ordeal but we did break up for a while,” revealed Katrina. “No, there was no third party. I was the problem. I was confused; magulo ang utak ko because of what was happening at that time.” Based in California, Kris
VENUS HOOKS UP WITH JEN’S EX ang lahat. Wala nang ligawan. Basta nagkakaintindihan na lang kami. Siguro October or November when we became really close, nagtatawagan, nagkukumustahan lagi. No more courtship kasi maayos na ang naging pagkakakilala namin sa isa’t isa since we’re together every day.” Venus says she has had two non-showbiz boyfriends before. “I’m
KATRINA came to Manila a few years ago to compete in the ABS-CBN talent search Star in a Million, where he emerged winner. Kris’s manager said the singer, who is now in the US, will talk about the issue “in due time.” Katrina, who is in the cast of the ongoing GMA-7 soap My Beloved, has asked to be dropped from the soap. “Kasi siempre my tummy is growing so I can’t wear sexy clothes na,” said Katrina. “And also, hindi na ako puwedeng magpuyat because I have to take care of myself. But they asked me to stay.”
VENUS SO how’s life Venus Raj after being a Miss Universe runner-up? Well, she’s obviously enjoying showbiz so much. She now even has a BF from showbiz, DJ Andrei Felix who was once linked to Jennylyn Mercado. “Four months na kami and so far so good,” she says. “We met on the set of ‘Umagang Kay Ganda’ where we’re both regulars in the same segment. Doon na-develop
AIZA BREAKS UP WITH GIRLFRIEND AIZA & CHEN
AIZA Seguerra and her girlfriend of seven years, Chen Sarte, have split. Aiza has reportedly a new girlfriend. Chen, a talent manager, says she has already moved on and appealed to the public to stop speculating on the cause of their breakup. “We remain friends and I have a lot to be thankful to Aiza in the more than seven years we were together,” Chen said. “She opened my mind to music and showbiz.” She says she hopes to establish her own identity, not as the ex-girlfriend of Aiza, but as a champion of original Pilipino music or OPM. Chen is co-managing the upcoming rock singer Cathy Go with folk artist Bayang Barrios.
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 threemonth 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
BB GANDANGHARI decisions in my life and I guess (they’re) the best decisions I’ve made. It made me surer, it 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.”
WILL AGA ENTER POLITICS?
MARICEL RECONCILES WITH MAIDS 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.” A statement from the “aggrieved parties” sent to the newspaper through Maricel’s manager, Shirley Kuan, and Viva Entertainment Inc. boss Vic del
more mature now and Andrei is six years older than me. He has told me about his past relationships, pati yung sa kanilya ni Jennylyn. Tanggap ko naman yun and we don’t hide anything from each other.” Venus has signed up with Regal and she’s all set to do her first movie, Super Mao, a comedy with about supermodels.
AGA
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. Tingintingin 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 longtime political dynasty in the province. The Muhlach clan hails from the town of Goa. The family migrated to Manila in the late 1950s.
LIFE+ STYLE PLANET
APRIL 2012
22 PHILIPPINES
Internet is No.2 source of news of urbanites
The notoriously unhealthy Pinoy lechon.
3 of 5 Pinoys die from unhealthy lifestyle SIXTY-THREE percent of Filipinos die from non-infectious diseases like heart attack, stroke, cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases and diabetes. These ailments, he said, are mostly acquired from an unhealthy lifestyle. An unhealthy lifestyle is a main contributor to the growing incidence of non-communicable diseases, or NCD, in the country, Dr. Tony Leachon, an official of the Philippine College of Physicians (PCD). “For every five Filipinos [who die], three die yearly from NDC. Or we could put it this way, for every
500,000 deaths, 300,000 Filipinos die from NDC” Leachon said. Doctors cite tobacco use, unhealthy diet, lack of physical activity and excessive alcohol consumption as the major causes of ill health. The doctors’ group is calling on Congress to pass legislation that would discourage people from smoking and drinking by charging higher taxes on tobacco and liquor products. A proposed “sin tax reform” by Malacañang could generate P60 billion in additional revenue, which could be used to expand the government’s universal healthcare program.
Pinoys content with little luxuries MANNY Pacquiao and Willie Revillame can indulge in their multimillion mansions, luxury yachts, and flashy cars. For most Filipinos, small pleasures like hair and nail treatments or drinking sessions with friends can make their day. A study on consumer trends in the Philippines by international marketing communications company JWT showed that more Filipinos are content with little luxuries and will continue to look for ways to “let loose” once in a while by indulging in “sinful things.” The report said lower-income women may find contentment in the form of an in-home beauty treatment, while men from the same social class may find pleasure in cigarettes or alcohol. Children, meanwhile, may get satisfaction from a scoop of ice cream, a slice of cake or any other sweet treat.
Other little indulgences of those from the lower-income class include a weekend movie with a discounted DVD, home-cooked snacks, and a street drinking session among neighbors. For those in the middle class, small indulgences may mean discounted travel packages, new eats at food bazaars, wireless Internet, and small gadgets such as mobile phones and tablet computers.
TELEVISION remains the dominant medium of news and information of Filipinos in urban areas. But the Internet is in second spot, besting radio and newspapers which have been the traditional sources of news. A study by TNS, a global research company, showed that 89 percent of Filipino respondents said television is their major source of news and information. Forty-five percent of the respondents get their news from the Internet, 36 percent rely on radio, 12 percent read newspapers, and 4 percent prefer magazines, The study, conducted among 1,000 Filipinos from the ABCD socio-economic classes in urban areas from November 2011 to January 2012, showed that the majority of Filipinos accessing the Internet were teens and young adults. Up to 81 percent of families of OFWs in the Philippines used the Internet as the primary communication medium. Seventy-seven percent of OFW families relied on mobile phones, and 24 percent on landline telephones. Facebook is the primary social networking site used by 90 percent of families of OFWs to keep in contact with their relatives abroad, the study showed.
A group of friends enjoying a meal in a cozy joint.
Edmonton Edition
Why marry, be happy THERE is a growing number of Filipinos who consider marriage as an option rather than a requirement, a study showed. International marketing communications company JWT said there is a “growing acceptance of happily single mothers or single by choice professional women in their workplaces” among low- to middle-income segments. “They loathe to publicly declare it being in a predominantly Catholic country. But it has been a long accepted reality that... women have been thinking of deferring marriage to avoid a potentially emotionally traumatizing mistake. They turn to their professional development which is something more under their control,” said the report. The report also cited 2004 figures from the National Statistics Office, which showed that the number of Filipino marriages is declining and more marriages are being annulled. The Philippines is the only country in Asia that does not acknowledge legal divorce.
A mound of garbage primarily out of plastic.
Metrowide plastic ban in place by 2013 ALL local government units (LGUs) in Metro Manila have less than a year to comply fully with a metrowide ban on the use of plastics and Styrofoam in the packaging and handling of items and food products in all establishments, markets and sari-sari stores. “I expect next year all the 17 LGUs (16 cities and the lone municipality of Pateros) would implement a similar ban. Right now, after Muntinlupa, Las Pinas followed suit in imposing the ban on plastics. Makati made a similar announcement, though the city’s total ban takes effect next
year yet. Similar moves are under way in Taguig and Quezon City,” Metro Manila Development Authority chairman Francis Tolentino said. Outside Metro Manila, similar bans against plastic and Styrofoam wrappers and bags are in effect in Antipolo, Rizal, Los Banos and Binan in Laguna, Carmona and Imus in Cavite, Lucban and Infanta in Quezon, Sta. Barbara in Iloilo, Batangas City and Burgos, Pangasinan. Besides reducing the garbage volume, the ban could ease flooding because plastics clog drainage systems and waterways.
PLANET
Edmonton Edition
23 PHILIPPINES
APRIL 2012
LIFE+STYLE
Monitoring metro traffic on Blackberry TRAFFIC in Metro Manila is still bad. But at least motorists can now monitor the traffic situation in selected parts of the metropolis using their Blackberry smart phones. The navigation app for Blackberry smart phones developed for Metro Manila Development Authority is now available at the Blackberry App World free of charge.
Congested Metro Manila during rush hour.
Not all politicians are crooks - solon A congressman has complained that the media, particularly the movies, are unfairly projecting a negative image of politicians resulting in the people’s lack of respect for their elected leaders. Pampanga Representative Aurelio Gonzales, Jr. has filed a resolution in the House of Representatives appealing to the film industry to stop portraying politicians as villainous characters in movies and TV shows. “We are portrayed as drug lords, murderers, warlords, bakit ganoon?” he lamented in a TV interview. “Kaya ‘nung may mga nakausap akong mga bata sabi sa akin, ganyan pala ‘yang mga congressmen, masasama.” Coincidentally, not long after Gonzales’ lament, a photo of Ilocos Sur Governor Luis “Chavit” Singson partying with a bevy of beautiful women in his private jet circulated on the Internet. Last year, the governor’s son, Ronald, was stripped of his congressional post after he was arrested in Hong Kong for drug possession. He was released in January after spending nearly a year in a Hong Kong jail.
With the MMDA application, users can view the traffic situation along EDSA, C5, South Luzon Express Way, Roxas Boulevard, Ortigas, Commonwealth, Marcos Highway, Katipunan, España, and Quezon Avenue in Map or Line View. Traffic bottlenecks can also be viewed as well as the MMDA directory for any traffic concerns.
Transgender heads UP student body
2nd Filipino saint proclaimed in October BLESSED Pedro Calungsod, a Cebuano missionary who was martyred in Guam in 1672, will be proclaimed as saint ion Oct. 21 at the Vatican. Calungsod, who was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 2000, will be the second Filipino saint after St. Lorenzo Ruiz, who was canonized on Oct. 18, 1987 Last October, the Filipino martyr passed the third and final stage towards sainthood after the Vatican verified a second miracle attributed to him—the healing of a businesswoman from the Visayas who fell into a coma in 2003. Born in Visayas in 1654, Calungsod accompanied Blessed Diego Luis de San Vitores to Guam, then the Mariana Islands, and led a number of locals to convert to the Catholic faith.
A tale of 2 airlines: flying high, lying low BUDGET carrier Cebu Pacific Air set to conquer the skies of Australia, Middle East, and parts of Europe and the US by mid-2013. “Our primary beneficiary will be the OFWs. With cheaper fares they will be able to come home more often,” Cebu Pacific Air president
and CEO Lance Gokongwei said. Gokongwei said Cebu Pacific plans to offer fares 35% lower than those currently offered by other airlines, and as much as 80% lower for its promo fares. He said Cebu Pacific will charge an average fare of $350 for a one-way ticket to any
UPSC’s HEART DIÑO
SOON-TO-BE-SAINT PEDRO CALUNGSOD
long-haul destination, compared to $500 that other airlines are charging. Meanwhile, the nation’s flag carrier, Philippine Airlines, is encountering financial turbulence on the ground. PAL is reportedly in negotiations for San Miguel Corporation to infuse money and take over management of the ailing airline. Reports say the food and beverage giant will acquire a 49% stake in PAL for $500 million. The deal will give San Miguel management control of the airline, the reports added.
THE country’s premier university made history with the election of the first openly transgender chairperson to head the student council. Heart Diño bested three other candidates for the chairmanship of the University of the Philippines Student Council. Diño, 22, recently completed a bachelor of science degree in mathematics, magna cum laude, and is currently an MS Applied Mathematics major. Alex Castro, a bisexual woman, was elected vice chair while another openly transgender student, film major Pat Bringas, won a council seat. Born Gabriel Paolo Diño, Heart said that as a five-yearold, she already knew she was “a girl trapped in a boy’s body.” In the end, acceptance of her transgender nature came. “I tried (being masculine), but it’s not who I am.” Diño has always identified herself as female. She was often seen wearing jeans and a blouse to class. She was always known as Heart, no one called her Gabriel Paolo.
Remittances hit record high in 2011 OVERSEAS Filipino keep ‘em coming and the cash register just keeps ringing. Remittances from overseas Filipinos – OFWs and immigrants -- reached a new record $20.117 billion last year, up $1.254 billion from $18.763 billion in 2010. It represents an increase of 7.2
percent, eclipsing the 7 percent growth target. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said money transfers from Filipinos abroad accounted for about 9 percent of gross domestic product. With more money inflow, the recipients in the country have more funds to
spend for goods and services, resulting in increased economic activity and creating more jobs in the country. The leading sources of remittances are the US, Canada, Saudi Arabia, United Kingdom, Japan, United Arab Emirates, Singapore, Italy, Germany and Norway.
APRIL 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.
PLANET
24 PHILIPPINES
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 cheered their voices out. Besieged by off-field
Edmonton Edition
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. Offensively, the Azkals drew huge lifts from Phil Younghusband +26
PLANET
Edmonton Edition
25 PHILIPPINES
APRIL 2012
BEAUTIFUL P
H
I
l
I
P
P
I
N
E
S
T
H
E
WHAT YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS IN BAGUIO THIS SUMMER
On Harrrison Road, you can ukay all night.
More than just an art haven, Tamawan is also a place where people can experience living like a traditional Cordilleran. The owners have purchased the last few remaining huts from the Kalinga and Ifugao tribespeople, and are renting them out for P500/night.
By AmAndA lago
Of course there are the usual haunts that everyone knows about: Mines View Park, Burnham Park, Camp John Hay, the Pink Sisters’ Convent, and then Good Shepherd for pasalubong. But there are other places as well, places that are perhaps out of the way and are easily missed, but are sure to make the summer vacation as memorable and enjoyable as one spent on the beach.
ITH THe proliferation of cheap airfare offers and free publicity from celebrities and other beautiful people who frequent the islands, the seduction of the sultry white sand beaches of the South has become much harder to resist, dimming the popularity of other vacation destinations, particularly those in the hard-to-reach North. But there’s still nothing like the icy cool kiss of Baguio City to cool one down in the summer heat, and those who are tired of unwittingly bringing home bags of sand at summer’s end would do well to pay the city a visit.
even with the more-or-less eight-hour bus ride and the complaints that the highlands are no longer what it used to be, there is still enough to see, smell, and taste in Baguio to make the tedious journey worth it.
Ukay all night
At Tam-awan, you can live like the Cordillerans of old even just for a night.
The Baguio ukay-ukay (used clothing stores) is nothing new. The ukay experience in the city has become the stuff of legend, with shoppers claiming to have bought an original Louis Vuitton
PLANET
APRIL 2012
26 PHILIPPINES
Edmonton Edition
PHILIPPINESthe BEAUTIFUL Speedy for P20, or a P50-Givenchy dress, or authentic Doc Martens in mint condition for only P100. These ukay success stories have never been proved, but have fed the legend anyway, so much so that many ukays have now popped up along shopping hubs like Session Road and the Baguio City Market. But the best (and cheapest) ones are those that have no permanent address, those ukays set up on the streets that you have no chance of finding again once you pass up on them. Now one can even try their luck at finding dirt-cheap designer goods well into the night, as ukay vendors have taken to occupying Harrison Road in the evenings and even up to the wee hours of the morning—some vendors proudly claim that they don’t pack up until the last shopper leaves.
Everything fresh at Mother’s Garden Of course, there is more to Baguio than the ukay-ukays. More than anything, the city is known for its general freshness—fresh air, fresh flowers, fresh produce. For sure, this freshness can be had almost anywhere in Baguio, but they come in generous amounts at Mother’s Garden, a restaurant/garden/farm/crafts workshop along
the city’s Upper Fairview Road. The mother in question is Therese Jison, who says that the place is her “tribute to the city, to prove people wrong that Baguio has become ugly.” In that respect, Jison succeeds phenomenally because if there’s anything Mother’s Garden is, it’s beautiful. Beautiful, not only because of the garden’s rustic charm, but also because of the garden’s sweeping view of Baguio City, lovely by day and breathtaking by night. It can be tiring to go up and down the steep slope of the garden so those who are more inclined to lounge around all day might want to stay at the al fresco dining area, or try their hand at pottery and woodcarving at the workshop, but to do so would be to miss out on the bulk of the fun. Further down, there is a lot to make the descent and subsequent tiring ascent worth it: a replica of a traditional Cordillera village, a hands-on planting garden where guests can try their hand at cultivating their own organic herbs, a garden filled with a rainbow of flowers, strawberry fields, and lots of charming animals that love to pose for the camera. And anyway, when you come back up, you can feast on the freshest food: salad, pizza, sandwiches,
Mother’s Garden offers a sweeping view of Baguio City. and even hearty meals like Sicilian Chicken, all made with ingredients right out of the garden and all costing less than they appear.
Art adventure at Tam-awan Not far from Mother’s Garden is Tam-awan Artists’ Village. You’ll
FOR AZKALS, BRONZE IS GOLDEN From page 24
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
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. feeling.” and Angel Guirado of “disrespectBack in Manila, two Azkals are ing” her during a pre-game check facing an investigation by the Phil- before the team’s match against ippine Football Federation (PFF) Malaysia last Feb. 29 at the Rizal on the sexual harassment charge Memorial Stadium prior to the Nefiled by match commissioner Cristy pal tournament. Ramos, daughter of former PresiShe alleged that Moy “stood dent Fidel Ramos. by my right side and said in a loud Ramos accused Lexton Moy voice, ‘Must be a B Cup,’ to which
know when you’ve reached it because you’ll see a big wall painted with colorful doodles—the kind of wall you’ll only see where a group of artists are gathered. Obviously, there is a lot of artwork to be seen at Tam-awan. Aside from a gallery that hosts exhibits
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
from the village artists, and a café that displays wall-to-wall artwork, the village artists are also around to do live sketches for the guests who want their portraits done. Even the signs on their restroom doors are paintings. But more than just an art haven, Tam-awan is also a place where people can experience living like a traditional Cordilleran. Aside from the eco-trails that compel you to hike farther and farther up the mountainside for the best view of the city, the owners have also purchased the last few remaining huts from the Kalinga and Ifugao tribespeople, and are renting them out for P500/night. The Dukligan or fertility hut is particularly popular, and is even said to work for barren couples who wish to conceive. The Kalinga hut, on the other hand, can house a sizable group of people, and even has provisions so you can light a bonfire inside the hut, just like the tribespeople used to do. The very same hut is said to still house the spirits of its former inhabitants. Haunted or not, a night at the huts is an adventure waiting to happen, because really, how many people can say they’ve slept in the last remaining authentic Cordillera huts in the world? (GMA News) n
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
SUDOKU ANSWER FROM PAGE 11
Edmonton Edition
PLANET
27
PHILIPPINES
APRIL 2012
APRIL 2012
PLANET
28
PHILIPPINES
Edmonton Edition