The realm of DONA VICTORINA

Mayweather to fight Cotto in May, Not Pacquiao

2012-02-02T07:25:00.006+08:00

Floyd Mayweather will step back up in weight to fight Miguel Cotto for his WBA light-middleweight title on 5 May at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

The fight ends speculation that Mayweather would fight Manny Pacquiao in a super-fight in May.

"It will be a challenge for me to compete with him at this weight, but this is the type of test I thrive on," said Mayweather, 34.

Cotto responded: "On 5 May I will convincingly beat Floyd Mayweather."

He added: "I am here to fight the biggest names in boxing. I've never ducked anyone or any challenge in front of me."

Mayweather is due to serve an 87-day prison sentence for a domestic violence conviction but the Las Vegas authorities have deferred his sentence until 1 June and granted him a one-fight licence to allow the Cotto fight to take place.

"Miguel Cotto is a world-class fighter who can never be taken for granted and continues to prove he is one of the best in boxing," added Mayweather.

"I have no doubt in my mind that my title belt collection will increase once again."

Cotto, 31, who has a 37-2 record, successfully defended his WBA super welterweight crown with a revenge stoppage win over Antonio Margarito in December.

Mayweather, meanwhile, scored a fourth round stoppage of Victor Ortiz last September.

The 34-year-old, who holds a 42-fight unbeaten record, last fought at light-middleweight when he outpointed Oscar De La Hoya in a disputed split decision in 2007.

Too Much Testosterone Linked to Inflated Ego: Study

2012-02-02T06:26:00.000+08:00

Testosterone makes people more self-centered and less cooperative, a finding that may explain why group decisions can be affected by dominant individuals, researchers report.

Their study included 34 females who had never met. The women were divided into 17 pairs and asked to complete a series of tasks designed to assess their levels of cooperation. The tests were conducted on two separate days. On one day both women received a testosterone supplement. On the other day, they were given a placebo.

As expected, cooperation helped the pairs perform much better on the tasks than when individuals worked alone. Cooperation was normal when the women received the placebo, but was much less common after the women received the testosterone supplement, the investigators found.

Increased levels of testosterone were associated with the women behaving egocentrically and deciding in favor of their own selection over their partner's, said the researchers at the Wellcome Trust Center for Neuroimaging at University College London in England.

The findings were published in the Jan. 31 issue of the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B.

"When we are making decisions in groups, we tread a fine line between cooperation and self-interest: too much cooperation and we may never get our way, but if we are too self-orientated, we are likely to ignore people who have real insight," study author Dr. Nick Wright said in a center news release.

"Our behavior seems to be moderated by our hormones -- we already know that oxytocin can make us more cooperative, but if this were the only hormone acting on our decision-making in groups, this would make our decisions very skewed," Wright explained.

"We have shown that in fact testosterone also affects our decisions, by making us more egotistical. Most of the time, this allows us to seek the best solution to a problem, but sometimes, too much testosterone can help blind us to other people's views," Wright noted. "This can be very significant when we are talking about a dominant individual trying to assert his or her opinion in, say, a jury."

Testosterone is naturally secreted in both men and women. Previous research suggests that testosterone influences a number of social behaviors. For example, female prisoners with higher levels of testosterone have been found to be more anti-social and more aggressive.

President Aquino confirms dating radio DJ Grace Lee

2012-02-02T06:24:00.008+08:00

President Benigno Aquino III on Wednesday admitted dating radio disc jockey and TV entertainment anchor Grace Lee.

“Well, we are seeing each other,” Aquino told reporters during the 25th anniversary of the Philippine Information Agency.

The President refused to entertain further questions asking the media to give him his right to privacy.

"I’ll leave it at that…. Our Constitution provides for the right to privacy. Maybe you could give me that right under Article 3," he said.

Aquino first saw the 29-year-old Korean host during the inauguration of a coal-fired power plant built by the Korean Electric Power Corp. (Kepco) in Naga City, Cebu in June last year.

“I thought she’s Pinay, but she is Korean. Even the Koreans here are beautiful,” Aquino said on Lee, who hosted the event.

Lee in return said that she was flattered by the President's comments.

Recently, the two were reportedly spotted dating.

The President earlier lamented that his love life had turned from regular to zero like a brand of cola.

His past relationships include Valenzuela City Councilor Shalani Soledad who recently married Pasig Representative Roman Romulo.

Aquino was also linked to several women such as teacher Bunny Calica, celebrity stylist Liz Uy, and stockbroker Len Lopez.

By Jill Beltran

Out-and-out STUPIDITY of the Prosecution

2012-02-01T10:50:00.007+08:00

“The testimony of a vice president of Megaworld Corp. proved not only how much the prosecution and some senators wanted to link Corona to a supposed illegal transaction ... It also showed that this supposed court of law has no qualms about destroying the reputation of a legitimate business like Megaworld in its desire to do so."

Taken from: Jojo Robles

Yesterday’s trial was scandalous not only because the ineptitude of the House-led prosecution was once again very much in prominent display. Yes, most people who watched the hearing may have noticed the senator-judges (even some of the most palace-oriented ones) gently and not-so-gently telling the prosecutors to confer with their own witnesses before presenting them—and to not impeach them when they testify inadvertently in favor of the defense.

But the ignorance and out-and-out stupidity of the prosecution is an old story in this trial, of course. The more execrable conclusion that many observers reached yesterday is that the prosecution and some pro-palace senator-judges will not hesitate to interfere in the policies, practices and even financial and marketing judgments of private business, just to get Corona convicted.

The testimony of a vice president of Megaworld Corp. proved not only how much the prosecution and some senators wanted to link Corona to a supposed illegal transaction like his purchase of a Taguig condo. It also showed that this supposed court of law has no qualms about destroying the reputation of a legitimate business like Megaworld in its desire to do so.

Why should the Senate, the House panel and the private prosecutors tell businessmen how to run their business by informing them about how much discounts to give, how to value their products and even who to sell to, if it is not these enterprises that are on trial? Why should a business that is not even accused of any wrongdoing (and which is making a profit in these unprofitable times) be forced to explain how it reacts to market forces, its pricing methods and marketing schemes?

The business community must protest this undue interference in its affairs, especially because it is now working under a government that seems to have no clear economic programs and which doesn’t even bother about helping business make a profit, create jobs and grow the economy. And senators like Serge Osmena and Jinggoy Estrada—who displayed how clueless they were about the judgment calls made by successful enterprises like Megaworld—should not use the trial as an opportunity to show just how little business acumen they have.

Special mention must be made, naturally, about the sanity injected into the grilling of the Megaworld executive by construction tycoon Senator Manuel Villar. Villar explained to his benighted colleagues that developers routinely give deep discounts to buyers for a variety of reasons—including the pursuit of market share like the SM Group, which announced 40 percent markdowns to everyone, including to people not in any way connected to the Supreme Court.

Soon enough, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, who is also in the real estate development trade, lost his patience with the private prosecutor who wanted to introduce Megaworld’s yearend financial statements to impeach his own witness and dismissed the Megaworld executive. And the attack on business by ignorant lawmakers and lawyers who just want to convict Corona abated, for now.

Pacquiao reminds boxers about the dangers of their profession

2012-02-01T07:26:00.005+08:00

There’s more to boxing than proper training, perseverance and hard work.

According to champion pugilist Manny Pacquiao, before everything else, one must first realize the dangers inherent to the sport and that they have to be ready for anything.

“Kung akala nila biro-biro lang ang boxing, no. Napakahirap ng boxing, puwede kang mamatay diyan,” said he in an interview with GMA News.

Pacquiao’s concern is highlighted with boxer Karlo Maquinto having fallen into a coma after his fight with an unheralded opponent Saturday.

Maquinto is still recuperating at the Far Eastern University Memorial Hospital as of this writing, with attending physicians still wait for further development.

This is not the first time that a local boxer has been put in such a quandary.

In 2009, rising boxer Z Gorres had to undergo surgery to remove a blood clot that formed in his head after winning in a 10-round bout held in Las Vegas.

Gorres was placed in an induced coma with no assurance of complete revitalization. He was able to come home only after three months of rehabilitation.

According to Gerardo Legaspi, a neurosurgeon, cases of patients gaining full recovery of their faculties under such circumstances are very low.

“Kapag umabot sa punto na ang utak ay ipit na ipit na at napunta sa coma [ang pasyente] ku-konti sa 10 % ang nakaka-recover dito,” said he in a separate interview with “24 Oras.”

Meanwhile, the Game and Amusement Board (GAB) claims that their hands are tied on getting indemnity for boxers, admitting that insurance companies are hesitant to cover them.

And there’s the question of “budget.”

“Ang games and amusement board walang budget diyan sa mga insurance ng boxers,” Monju Guanzon, GAB Chairman revealed in an earlier GMA report.

All that said, not a few brave young men from all over the archipelago face such conditions year in and year out in the hopes of surpassing, or at least equaling, the Pacquiao’s success.

But that said, Pacquiao only has one advice for wannabe boxers: “Mag-isip-isip sila.”

He added, “Hindi pupuwede sa isang boksingerong lumaban ng walang ensayo, na hindi handa sa kung anuman ang mangyari.”

The boxer went on to admit that at this point he is now mulling retiring his boxing gloves, eager as he is to concentrate on his political plans.

“Sinabi ko naman ng mag-go-gobernardor ako ng Saranggani. So, mag-focus tayo sa trabaho natin,” he quipped.

By NEIL RAMOS

Santiago says her critics are cretins, paid hacks

2012-02-01T06:52:00.005+08:00

Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago on Tuesday said critics of her behavior at the impeachment court last week are either courtroom cretins or are part of a smear campaign against her.

Santiago has been criticized for berating members of the House prosecution panel, notably Iloilo Representative Niel Tupas Jr., for apparently coming to the trial unprepared.

Private prosecutor Arthur Lim was also subjected to a tongue lashing from Santiago for a perceived challenge to her authority as a senator-judge.

During the trial Thursday, Lim was scolded for engaging Santiago in a colloquy, or discussion. When asked to confirm whether he specialized in maritime law, Lim answered he specialized in "everything," an answer that Santiago called impertinent.

House Majority Leader Neptali Gonzalez II said over dzBB Sunday that the members of the House should not be shamed on national television. "I hope they don't shout at us because we're not savages and we're also lawyers," he said.

Santiago, also on dzBB, said her critics were posturing in preparation for the 2013 elections.

In a press statement Tuesday, Santiago said she has been given "the TOYM (The Outstanding Young Men) Award from the Philippine Jaycees, and the TOWNS (The Outstanding Women in the Nation's Service) Award from the Philippine Lions, for excellence as a judge" and also taught at the UP College of Law "for some 10 years."

"By contrast, what is the record of actual courtroom experience of my enemies? If lawyers, most can only claim 'law experience,' but not 'trial experience.' Not every dimwit can claim 'trial practice,' which calls for the special rules on trial technique and procedure," Santiago said without naming a specific critic.

"I am aghast and postal that a party in litigation and the submental cretins who are my enemies have the gall to demand the power to control the personality of the judge. To educate the non-educable, it is the judge who controls the proceedings," she added.

Santiago also dismissed attacks on her mental health. "It always resurfaces when, in my crusade against corruption, I make enemies who are so filthy rich that they can hire an expensive PR firm specializing in dirty tricks," she said.

"On Sunday, while on the air, I was made to listen to an attack by a publicity-seeking senatorial candidate, and to malicious questions baiting me. On Monday, a columnist (known as a regular Malacañang apologist) used a fake letter trying to raise an issue about my mental health. And it goes on," she said.

She said she would no longer respond to questions on attacks against her, saying these might distract the public from the impeachment trial and might make her hypertension worse. She is currently on medical leave for hypertension. She attended the trial last week but was absent the week before that also due to hypertension.

"My enemies could deliberately provoke me with a personal attack that could lead me to further hypertension and a possible stroke, thus effectively removing me from the impeachment court," she said.

By Jonathan de Santos

Philippine Mayors urged to go online, help curb piracy

2012-01-29T08:47:00.008+08:00

Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo is urging towns and cities to allow online renewal of mayor’s permits.

At a news conference at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Pasig City, he called for a stepping up the department’s good housekeeping program to create a business-friendly climate and ensure the competitiveness of local government units.

“I hope that in time, we could renew a mayor’s permit through online application only, instead of going to the municipal or city hall,” he told reporters. “Anyway, all it takes in such transaction is just the assessment, plus the payment itself.”

Guillermo Luz of the National Competitiveness Council and acting country director Chiyo Kanda of World Bank have expressed support to make transactions more efficient.

Robredo expressed urgency to adopt best practices in governance.

“We want to help how to fast track the application process for business permits and other transactions. We need to catch up with other Asian countries, such as Malaysia, and even overtake them,” he said.

“Our competitors never sleep. They never stop. They always work harder.”

Meanwhile, Robredo told the Optical Media Bureau to tap mayors in a concerted crackdown on pirated video and other recorded materials.

He asked OMB Chairman Ronnie Ricketts to authorize the mayors nationwide to create their local OMBs and act against the rampant violation of intellectual property rights.

“Our fight against piracy must be a collective effort, and not just the sole responsibility of OMB,” he told reporters.

Roberto blamed the lack of adequate staff for OMB’s failure to fully stop the proliferation of contrabands.

“Government’s crackdown is not yet enough,” he said Ricketts must deputize the local governments as his enforcement arm.

“Nothing would really happen to our (anti-piracy) drive if OMB would not be capable of overseeing the illegal sale, distribution and manufacture of fake DVDs and VCds (in the countryside),” he said. “There must be local OMBs.”

by Rio A. Araja

'Bourne' Star Rachel Weisz's Heart Goes For Poor Pinoys

2012-01-29T08:31:00.005+08:00

Barely three weeks since landing on Philippine soil, “Bourne Legacy” lead actress Rachel Weisz already expressed her deep concern for one of the country’s main problems – poverty.

This was according to actor John Arcilla, who shot a scene with the Hollywood actress in the film.

The fourth of the “Bourne” franchise is currently shooting in several Metro Manila locations.

Weisz, who is married to “James Bond” star Daniel Craig (also a recent visitor to the country to spend time with his wife), saw for herself the number of informal settlers around the metro. The shoot has taken Weisz to Manila, Navotas Fish Port, Marikina City and Pasay-Taft.

“Every break, nagkukuwentuhan kami ni Rachel and she’s more concerned with the poverty in the Philippines. She’s asking if the people in the squatters area on the side are just numbers of poor people in the Philippines or are there more. Hindi na ako nahiya, sabi ko they’re a lot... and sabi niya, ‘are these the poorest?’ I said no, they’re not the poorest,” Arcilla said in an interview with ANC.

The theater veteran, who has acted in international productions like “Born on the Fourth of July” (with Tom Cruise) and “McBain” (with Christopher Walken), said, “There’s this kilig... but sometimes you have to control it a little because sometimes you have this feeling you don’t wanna look like a fan... I have to be there as an actor to work with these actors,” he said. In the film, Arcilla plays the role of head security.

“The Bourne Legacy” is the fourth novel in the Jason Bourne series, written and directed by Oscar-nominated Tony Gilroy. Its lead stars are Jeremy Renner, Weisz and Edward Norton.

The film is set for August, 2012 release in the Philippines.

By JECELYN V. MACAHINDOG

Palawan officially one of world's New 7 Wonders of Nature

2012-01-29T08:10:00.006+08:00

Malacañang expressed elation on Saturday over the official inclusion of the Puerto Princesa Underground River (PPUR) in the world’s New Seven Wonders of Nature.

"Confirmation that the Puerto Princesa Underground River is one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature is welcome news indeed. Throughout the competition, Filipinos from all walks of life have given time, energy, and resources to this campaign," Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said.

Department of Tourism spokesman and Assistant Secretary Benito Bengzon Jr. said the underground estuary made it into the world’s New Seven Wonders of Nature after the validation process conducted by the New7Wonders Foundation last year.

"Bernard Weber, president of the New 7 Wonders based in Zurich (Switzerland), announced in a press conference Saturday afternoon that PPUR has been validated, along with Jeju Island in South Korea, as two of the seven new wonders. The rest are still being tabulated and verified,” Bengzon said.

"This effort has raised awareness not only overseas, but nationally as well: visits to the PPUR have increased tremendously. This is proof positive of how effective a national effort of this sort can be -- to build awareness, express pride, and achieve results," Lacierda said.

The Aquino government issued Presidential Proclamation No. 182 in 2011 to initiate a promotional campaign for the PPUR, which has also been declared a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco).

Weber congratulated the Filipinos for supporting their national finalist in the global campaign.

“When your very own President (Benigno) Aquino came out in support of the PPUR campaign, I knew that this country was taking the New7Wonders of Nature seriously,” Weber said.

“Fans of PPUR all over the world responded to his call for action by voting in record numbers and today’s confirmation is the well-earned reward for this extraordinary display of enthusiasm,” Weber added.

The search began in 2007, drawing 440 entries from more than 220 countries.

Millions voted for the top 77, which was further narrowed down to 28 finalists for the final phase including the 17-kilometer underground river.

Still in the provisional list announced last November are the Amazon (South America), Halong Bay (Vietnam), Iguazu Falls (Argentina), Komodo (Indonesia), and Table Mountain (South Africa).

They are currently undergoing the three steps of the verification process, namely the national voting validation, the global voting calculation confirmation by an independent audit firm, and the preparation and implementation of the Official Inauguration ceremonies.

Puerto Princesa Underground River is located some 50 kilometers north of the city of Puerto Princesa in Palawan Island in the Philippines.

It consists of a limestone karst mountain landscape, several large chambers containing significant formations of stalactites and stalagmites, and an 8.2-kilometer navigable underground river that winds through a cave before flowing directly into the West Philippine Sea. At the exit, a flawless lagoon is framed by ancient trees growing right to the water’s edge.

By Virgil Lopez/PNA/Sunnex

American Superhero disappointing...

2012-01-28T10:04:00.007+08:00

We think Mayweather is chicken.

To date, Pacquaio has acceded to practically everything that Mayweather has demanded, and every time the PacMan agreed,
the American asked for something new.

We have had it.

If the Pacquaio-Mayweather fight does not push through,
then so be it.

Like most people, we cannot wait to see the boxing match between Manny “PacMan” Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather.

The fight, if it happens, promises to break all sorts of records for earnings. More than that, though, the fight between the two future Hall of Famers is guaranteed to make boxing history.

So we felt disappointed, if not put off, by reports saying that the fight was unlikely to happen in June 2012. On the face of the news, the issue seems to be about money. Pacquiao has offered a 50-50 split, but Mayweather apparently wants a bigger share.

The issue seems to be more than money, though. We think Mayweather is chicken. To date, Pacquaio has acceded to practically everything that Mayweather has demanded, and every time the PacMan agreed, the American asked for something new.

We have had it. If the Pacquaio-Mayweather fight does not push through, then so be it. In that case, Pacquaio is better off retiring than having a rematch with Miguel Cotto – or with whomever, even Juan Miguel Marquez. Sure, the “PacMan” could make more money if he fights again, even if it turns out to be boring. But we hope he realizes that there are other ways to make more money, such as landing new endorsement contracts and managing his earnings better.

Mayweather, for his part, disappoints us. Unless he puckers up the courage to fight, the last two things that people would likely remember about this great fighter is that he got into the Hall of Fame and that he went to jail.

Taken from: The Manila Times editorial

Women trump men in money management, says study

2012-01-23T04:50:00.007+08:00

Women have stronger money management skills than men in areas such as everyday financing and planning, but struggle around more complex financial concepts, according to results of the latest MasterCard survey on Consumer Purchasing Priorities - Money Management.

Respondents across seven Asia/Pacific markets were questioned on their ability to handle everyday budgeting, keeping track of expenses, paying bills on time, knowledge of compound interest, and whether paying minimum amounts on unstructured loans such as credit cards was a good idea.

The survey polled consumers on various aspects of financial literacy such as their basic money management skills, investment knowledge and financial planning. It was conducted from 15 March to 27 April 2011 and involved 4,359 consumers from the seven markets.

Data collection was via Internet surveys, personal, telephone and Computer Aided Telephone interviews, with the questionnaire translated to the local language wherever appropriate and necessary.

According to the survey, women scored better than men in most markets when it came to tracking expenses regularly, but trailed when it came to understanding investments and inflation compared to their male counterparts.

Chinese lead

Results showed that both men and women were adept at budgeting for their everyday finances—eight out of 10 respondents overall said they could handle budgeting. The survey also found that women believed it unwise to only pay the minimum amount for unsecured loan facilities such as credit cards, led by New Zealand (76 percent women vs. 73 percent men) and Hong Kong (76 percent women vs. 66 percent men).

Survey findings revealed a generally weak understanding of the concept of compound interest across most markets, with the exception of Chinese women who had the highest score (47 percent), followed by Chinese men (37 percent), and Japanese respondents (men, 33 percent; women, 30 percent). Women were found to be more money conscious and better at keeping track of their spending more regularly than men. Women in both Australia and New Zealand (76 percent of respondents) were especially systematic account keepers.

Women also edged ahead of men in their prudence, with Taiwanese women leading in regular savings (96 percent women vs. 92 percent men) and the belief in having three to six months’ emergency cash savings. In a majority of the markets surveyed, women also showed up as being more financially prepared in taking out insurance for anything unexpected, led by Taiwan (92 percent women vs. 89 percent men).

Men understand more complex concepts

Survey questions about more complex financial concepts—such as understanding inflation or investment—favored men, with a significant proportion of women unable to answer or answering incorrectly when questioned about the concept of inflation. In Japan, 65 percent of the women did not know the answer or answered incorrectly, compared with 49 percent of men, with Australia a close second from the bottom (63 percent women vs. 49 percent men).

Similarly, women did not have a clear understanding of whether single company stocks provide safer returns than a diversified stock portfolio. Across seven markets surveyed, on average 63 percent said they did not know or answer incorrectly on whether a single company stock portfolio was better than a diversified one compared to 57 percent for men.

Education programs

Georgette Tan, vice president, Communications, Asia/Pacific, Middle East and Africa, MasterCard Worldwide, says: “It is very encouraging to see that women have a good understanding of how to manage everyday finances, and are responsibly thinking about finances for the future. However, the fact that they still do not have a clear grasp of inflation or investments might affect how prepared they are for the future.”

Tan continues: “Given that women in many countries play a very important role in helping direct the flow of finances in their household, it is imperative that they better understand these concepts.

That is why MasterCard runs various consumer education programs targeted at women across Asia/Pacific, Middle East and Africa that aim to impart various aspects of financial literacy.”

The survey also revealed that while women are also more conscious about where their dollars go—and are better at keeping track of their spending regularly (63 percent of women versus 60 percent of men across all seven markets), more men regularly monitor their investments than women (62 percent of women vs. 69 percent of men across all seven markets).

Across the region men are also more cognizant of how much funds they will need at retirement (36 percent of women vs. 40 percent of men across all seven markets); though both genders are strongly in favor of having a financial plan (78 percent across all seven markets for both genders).

Happy Lunar New Year 2012 - Kung Hei Fat Choi!

2012-01-22T09:06:00.003+08:00

Dona Victorina would like to wish its readers a very Happy Lunar New Year! 2012 is the Year of the Water Dragon, a very auspicious mythical creature of the Chinese Zodiac.

Let's welcome a year of prosperity and success as well as the wisdom and courage to seek the truth and stamp out injustice wherever it may be found!

Pacquiao, Mayweather discuss fight over the phone

2012-01-21T08:51:00.002+08:00

As their promoters continue to play hard-to-get, Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather took it upon themselves to try to remove the kinks that are keeping them from agreeing on a super fight in May or June.

Intent in landing a megabuck matchup with Pacquiao on May 5, Mayweather reached out to the Filipino ring icon on Thursday afternoon, urging him to agree to a fight at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Pacquiao said in a TV interview late Thursday that he is willing to face Mayweather provided they split the earnings 50-50.

Pacquiao’s Canadian adviser Mike Koncz said the conversation “lasted for about two minutes.”

The move by Mayweather was welcome news to a key member of Team Pacquiao, lawyer Franklin Gacal.

Gacal said the fact that the two talked to each other raises hope that the fight everyone is waiting for can still take place.

The past few days, Pacquiao’s promoter Top Rank and Mayweather’s camp have been trading accusations about the other’s reluctance to get into the ring.

Pacquiao did not make it clear if he is willing to fight Mayweather on May 5. Pacman’s camp wants the bout either in late May or early June so it can be staged in a bigger venue.

Promoter Bob Arum wants to put up a makeshift stadium that can seat 38,000, much bigger than the MGM Grand which can accommodate18,000.

“The date won’t be the deal-breaker in case this fight doesn’t take place,” said Gacal, who said there is a 50-50 chance that the fight will happen.

Mayweather said he is legally bound to fight on May 5 because his 90-day jail term for domestic battery that begins June 1 was specifically suspended by the judge so he can face Pacquiao on that date.

If the deal fizzles out, both camps have back-up plans: Mayweather takes on either Sergio Martinez of Argentina or Saul Alvarez of Mexico on May 5 and Pacquiao faces Miguel Cotto or Tim Bradley on June 9.

But Gacal said “the date is the least of our concerns.”

Some of the major roadblocks to the fight have been cleared after Pacquiao agreed to an Olympic-style drug testing and Mayweather has found a group – Golden Boy Promotions – to give his guaranteed purse.

Pacquiao, 54-3 with two drawn and 32 knockouts, has won his past 15 fights over a span of nearly seven years while Mayweather is 42-0 with 26 knockouts.

(By Nick Giongco with a report from AFP)

Death for carnappers pushed

2012-01-21T08:29:00.004+08:00

A measure has been filed in the House of Representatives proposing the death penalty for carnapping and carjacking.

House Bill 5664, which is up for debate at the House Committee on Revision of Laws, seeks to amend Republic Act 6539 or the Anti-Carnapping Act of 1972 to provide stiffer measures for the offense.

The bill’s explanatory note points out that the necessity for the state to put in place a law that will discourage criminal elements from doing the act, noting that for almost 40 years, carnapping in the country has not been considered as a non-bailable offense.

The police has noted that cases of carnapping result in physical injuries, rape, and even death of victims.

Criminals have taken advantage of the current state of our law, the bill’s author, House Deputy Majority Leader and Quezon City Rep. Jorge Banal, stated.

The bill cites Section 13 of Article III of the Constitution, which states that all persons shall, before conviction, be bailable, and the exception is in the case of those charged with offenses punishable by reclusion perpetua when evidence of guilt is strong, in invoking stiffer penalties for the crime.

It also proposes that any person who is found guilty of carnapping, irrespective of the value of the motor vehicle, shall be punished by imprisonment of at least 14 years when the carnapping and/ or carjacking is committed without violence against or intimidation of persons, or force upon things.

“We have seen how the current situation has emboldened criminal elements because they can easily post bail using the proceeds from their illegal activity and once out of jail, they simply continue with their modus operandi,” the bill’s note concluded.

By Maricel Cruz

Iloilo police now on full alert for Dinagyang festival

2012-01-21T08:09:00.002+08:00

By five in the afternoon on Friday, all police units in Iloilo city and Iloilo province will be placed on full alert to tighten security as part of the Dinagyang Festival on Sunday.

All Philippine National Police (PNP) unit commanders were instructed to secure camps, offices, vital installations, economic key points, and populated areas, a memo issued regional police head Chief Supt. Cipriano Querol, Jr. said.

Querol also directed all commanders to enhance the conduct of checkpoints/chokepoints and other police operations to support security for Dinagyang Festival.

"Since we are on full alert, no personnel will be allowed to go on leave and those who are on leave will be recalled," he said.

All personnel will also be required to report to duty on Saturday and Sunday, including those who are assigned at the Provincial and Regional Headquarters.

"We have to consolidate our forces to ensure that this celebration will be peaceful and orderly," Querol sad, adding that it is a big challenge for the police to ensure that no incident will disrupt the festivities.

Querol also said their Tactical Operations Center is closely monitoring the field operations.

From VR of Sunnex

Two remarkable things about Corona impeachment trial (2)

2012-01-20T04:58:00.003+08:00

By Tony Lopez (Vera-toons)

Re alleged non-accounting of judiciary funds and non-filing and disclosure of SALN, de los Angeles asserted “the documentary evidence will prove the contrary.” He added, “with respect to his SALN, the defense will establish that in accordance with law, the Chief Justice annually files his SALN with the Clerk of Court of the Supreme Court, who has legal custody of such documents. We shall show that the Clerk of Court is restricted from disclosing the SALNs by resolutions first issued during the term of Chief Justice Marcelo Fernan way back in 1989.”

As to the Supreme Court decisions, de los Angeles disputes Corona’s alleged bias. He explained:

“First, it is not fair to handpick decisions that supposedly favor the Arroyo administration; all the decisions of the Supreme Court must be considered. Second, there are several decisions against the former President and her administration. For example, in Islamic Da’wah Council of the Philippines v.
Office of the Executive Secretary, the Chief Justice himself penned the decision declaring former President Arroyo’s Executive Order No. 46 null and void. Third, in any decision, the Supreme Court always bases its judgment on sound legal grounds.”

As for the Truth Commission, de los Angeles assured “the defense will establish that the Supreme Court was not biased towards the Arroyo administration.” “We will show that the Supreme Court decision was right,” the defense lawyer said. Executive Order No. 1 (which created the Truth Commission) violated the Equal Protection Clause because the prosecution of Mrs. Arroyo was its sole purpose.”

Moreover, de los Angeles said, “The Supreme Court even suggested a cure for the defect by not limiting the probe to the Arroyo administration. But the Executive Department stubbornly refused to adopt such simple amendment.”

As to the TRO enjoining Secretary Leila de Lima from enforcing her Watchlist Order, “the Supreme Court acted in accordance with the Constitution and jurisprudence,” de los Angeles explained.

“Only a court can issue a hold order after a case has been filed,” the lawyer pointed out, in Pilipino.

At the time of the hold order, “there was no criminal case yet against Mrs. Arroyo although long before that hold order, the Akbayan party list had long ago filed a complaint for plunder (against Arroyo).

“Isn’t it clear that it was the Executive Department that was at fault in the case of Mrs. Arroyo?” de los Angeles asked.

The former law dean draw a parallel between the anti-corruption drive of then Justice Secretary Jose W. Diokno (against businessman Harry Stonehill) and the anti-corruption drive of President Aquino.

Delos Angeles recalled: “In both, there are crusading officials who want to eliminate corruption. In both, the public overwhelmingly support these officials. In both, the officials unfortunately transgressed the Constitution. And in both, the Supreme Court stepped in and issued adverse and unpopular decisions because its task is to always uphold the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.”

As to the complaint that Corona betrayed the public trust when the Supreme Court decided on the cityhood of 16 municipalities, the creation of a new district in Camarines Sur, and the conversion of the Dinagat Island into a province, de los Angeles reminded the congressman-prosecutors that it was Congress itself that enacted those laws and yet, it is Congress that is now mad with the Supreme Court for upholding the enacted laws.

“What kind of foolishness is this?” de los Angeles snorted.

He also reminded the prosecution that all Supreme Court decisions are “rendered by the Supreme Court, never by the Chief Justice alone.”

“The chief justice is only one vote. Each Justice votes according to his own opinion. Contrary to the claim of Congressman Tupas, there is no bloc voting bloc in the Supreme Court.”

Delos Angeles concluded:

“This impeachment sends a chilling threat to the Supreme Court to withhold the exercise of its judicial power and just let the President have his way.

“Unfortunately, his obsessive pursuit of his goal has, at times, resulted in the infringement of the law. It has also brought the branches of government into collision, and now it divides the nation.”

Two remarkable things about the Corona impeachment trial

2012-01-19T09:18:00.005+08:00

By: Tony Lopez

Two things have struck me about the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato C. Corona.

One, the eight articles of impeachment have frail legal legs to stand on and probably, without the politics, cannot convict Corona.

Two, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, as the presiding judge of the 24-member Senate acting as the impeachment tribunal, can make or break the case for Corona.

At 88 on February 14, Enrile is the most experienced public official of the land. He served for 14 years as defense secretary to Ferdinand Marcos whom he later ousted in a four-day People Power revolt. He has served four terms in the Senate.

Enrile was a victim of the political persecution by then President Corazon Cojuangco Aquino who ousted him as defense minister following a November 1986 coup attempt against the housewife-turned-president. He ran for senator in 1987 but was almost cheated of an election victory until his military colleagues raised alarums. Later, Cory Aquino charged him with rebellion and murder following the bloody December 1989 coup, had him arrested, and confined to a police camp in Quezon City. In June 1990, Enrile and 22 others were freed by the Supreme Court , voting 11-2.

Enrile knows only too well how it feels to be falsely accused and how it feels to be shamed before the bar of public opinion.

The trial of Chief Magistrate Corona began in earnest on Jan. 16, the first working day of the Senate, and of Congress, coming from an extended vacation marking the world’s longest Christmas celebration.

The first day was won by the prosecution headed by Iloilo Fifth District Congressman Niel Tupas, the chairman of the Houe Committee on Justice that garnered the signatures of 188 congressmen to impeach Corona.

The Senate impeachment tribunal upheld the validity of the impeachment complaint and hindered the defense panel’s attempt to delay the trial through technicalities like questioning the manner the Articles of Impeachment were endorsed by the House of Representatives.

But the second day was a big victory for the defense. Presiding Judge Enrile refused to issue subpoenas to the wife, children, and son-in-law of Chief Justice Corona on the ground of self-incrimination and the jurisprudence showing that a spouse cannot testify against her husband.

The prosecution also admitted it was not ready to present Case No. 1 or Article 1. It was ready to prosecute Case No. 2 (Article 2) but their witnesses were absent.

During the first day, Corona’s lead defense counsel, Serafin Cuevas, a former justice of the Supreme Court, pleaded not guilty on behalf of his client.

Co-defense counsel former law dean Eduardo de los Angeles refuted point by point the charges against Corona.

Delos Angeles classified the eight Articles of Impeachment into two categories: those involving Supreme Court decisions (Articles 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7); and those that pertain to the non-disclosure of the SALN of the Chief Justice, and his alleged refusal to account for the JDF. (Articles 2 and 8).

Article 1 alleges Corona’s partiality in cases involving the Arroyo administration.

Article 2 claims Corona failed to disclose statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN).

Article 3 claims Corona failed to observe stringent standards of competence, integrity, probity and independence.

Article 4 says Corona disregarded the principle of separation of powers by issuing a status quo ante order against the House of Representatives in the case concerning the impeachment of then Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez.

Article 5 alleges Corona’s arbitrariness and partiality in cases related to the creation of 16 new cities and promotion of Dinagat Island into a province.

Article 6 claims Corona arrogated unto himself the authority to investigate an erring member of the Supreme Court to exculpate him.

Article 7 alleges Corona’s partiality in granting a temporary restraining order in favor of the Arroyo couple.

Article 8 claims Corona failed and refuses to account for the Judiciary Development Fund and Special Allowance for the Judiciary collections.

Why we need Pia in the Senate: Her piece on the impeachment process

2012-01-18T05:18:00.006+08:00

“I confess I have been an admirer of this lady senator, but her latest piece has made me admire her more. Senator Pia, a lawyer from UP, said that impeachment is not a completely political process, otherwise the Constitution would not have included an impeachment trial with the Senate as the trial court… Senator Pia researched on the subject in both US and Philippine settings in coming to her conclusion.”

Why we need Pia in the Senate:

Her piece on the impeachment process

By Efren L. Danao

Sen. Pia Cayetano has issued a scholarly piece on the impeachment process designed to give everybody a clearer understanding of the procedure and the intent of the Constitution. I confess I have been an admirer of this lady senator, but her latest piece has made me admire her more.

Senator Pia, a lawyer from UP, said that impeachment is not a completely political process, otherwise the Constitution would not have included an impeachment trial with the Senate as the trial court.

“Because we sit as a trial court, we are not there to use our personal relations nor our political affiliations. What is required is that we go through the trial, calling witnesses, listening to their testimonies and the cross-examinations. We are even allowed to ask questions (Senate Rules on Impeachement, Sec. XVII). Then as trial judges we are required to weigh the evidence presented and make a decision,” she stressed.

Her comments hew closely to that enunciated earlier by Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile.

“If impeachment is merely political, then all the senators have to do is raise hands on who are for impeachment without conducting any trial,” JPE said, while maintaining that the aim of the trial should be “to provide justice by observing due process, both procedural and substantive.”

Their views run counter to that of Sen. Antonio Trillanes 4th who said that the impeachment trial of Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona should be treated as a political process where the parties are expected to battle for public opinion and political acceptability. Trillanes said he won’t decide based purely on the evidence that the prosecution and defense panels will present but on the basis of what would be best for the country.

Senator Pia researched on the subject in both US and Philippine settings in coming to her conclusion.

Curiously, Trillanes also claimed to have researched on the subject but came out with a different conclusion. She said it is political in some aspects but not in all aspects. He said it is completely political. His explanations revealed his belief that “political” is equivalent to “partisan,” which should not be the case.

Let’s hear again from Senator Pia. She said that a tribunal should be independent, wholly free, disinterested and impartial. She then cited jurisprudence describing impartial judgments as decisions “on the basis of facts and in accordance with the law, without any restrictions, improper influences, inducements, pressures, threats or interferences, direct or indirect, from any quarter or for any reason.”

She cited the opinion of a US lawyer who authored “Impeachment, A Handbook. ” In the book, author Charles Black, Jr., Sterling Professor Emeritus at Yale Law School and adjunct professor of law at Columbia Law School, wrote that the fact that the senators take a separate oath emphasizes that the Senate “whether for this occasion you call it a ‘judicial’ body or not- is taking on quite a different role from its normal legislative one.”

Black further stated: “The fact that the Senate is to ‘try’ all impeachments, not simply vote on them, implies that it takes on the nature of a judicial trial, because the word to ‘try’ is a word used almost invariably in regard to judicial trials.”

“Thus, there is no doubt that when the Senators sit as judges we do so separate from our function as lawmakers. We sit as judges in the impeachment trial and we are required to act with the cold neutrality of a judge, devoid of bias and partialities,” Senator Pia said.

If only a majority of the senator-judges possesses the “cold neutrality” she has mentioned, then there should be no questions about the decisions they would make. Their rulings would then be accepted by all, without need for a “Plan B” by supporters or opponents of the impeachment charges.

The senators and all prosecution and defense lawyers are prohibited from discussing the merits of the case. Beyond them, it is free-for-all. The anti-Corona camp is marshaling all available resources to demonize CJ Corona and add the pressure of “public opinion” to bear on the Senate. The camp of CJ Corona is expected to paint him as a martyr, all because he was appointed by former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

The impeachment trial of CJ Corona that started Monday still has a long way to go. We will all be besieged with claims and counter-claims on the issue. Senator Pia has this advice for citizens who’ll be following the proceedings:”If you expect fairness from your judges, then perhaps the same principle of political neutrality will go along way in helping each other understand the issues without being swayed by personal or political leanings. This will then elevate the discussion and would go a long way to help the Senators focus on the evidence on hand and not on public perception.”

Look good or else, Bartolome tells cops

2012-01-16T08:41:00.008+08:00

Philippine National Police Director General Nicanor Bartolome has issued a directive to all unit commanders to strictly implement the proper wearing of police uniforms with dignity and pride.

The PNP’s “PATROL Plan 2030” emphasized the projection of good image by wearing the proper uniform—and the uniform properly—while in the performance of their duty.

An officer with a proper appearance dignifies the police profession and gains public trust and admiration, Bartolome stated in his directive.

To ensure the strict compliance, Bartolome said base police personnel manning the entrances of PNP camps have been directed to deny entry to any policeman not in the proper uniform or who are improperly wearing one.

There will be on-the-spot inspections regularly on all PNP offices and units, as well as the strict enforcement of appropriate demerits to any violators of the “Tamang Bihis” provisions.

Violations of the PNP dress code also include unauthorized or improper wearing of insignias and accessories, unauthorized haircut, dirty shoes, dirty uniform, and unshaved moustaches.

The Directorate for Research and Development also released the list of authorized suppliers of police uniforms with DRD Certificate of Conformity to ensure that items of uniforms procured by PNP personnel conform to specifications.

By Florante S. Solmerin

ATTY.Argee Guevarra to expose IBP impeachment watch group head for SWINDLING

2012-01-15T22:08:00.004+08:00

Atty. Argee Guevarra to expose IBP impeachment watch

group head for SWINDLING activities

January 15, 2012

Ref: Argee Guevarra
Ref: 09175348830/09189028077

FORMER PARTNER TO EXPOSE IBP IMPEACHMENT WATCH GROUP HEAD
FOR SWINDLING ACTIVITIES

In a sidebar to the commencement of the impeachment of Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona, Atty. Argee Guevarra today reacted to news reports that Atty. Trixie Cruz-Angeles, Guevarra’s former law partner, will be heading the IBP Impeachment Watch Group.

Guevarra revealed that he has personal knowledge and is in possession of documents that will expose Atty. Trixie Cruz-Angeles as a swindler and is ready to present them upon request by any interested party.

Guevarra claims that he himself was a victim of Atty. Trixie Cruz-Angeles’ swindling activities particularly how he was conned into acting as a guarantor for the lady lawyer’s liposuction sometime in 2009. Guevarra also claims those victimized by Atty. Trixie Cruz-Angeles include Belo botched butt job victim and client Josefina Norcio and international painter Zhou Jun who fell prey to the lady lawyer’s fictitious rendering of alleged (P.R.) public relations services#30

Prosecuting is more fun in the Philippines

2012-01-15T10:12:00.004+08:00

It will be fun to watch Tupas and the other House “hot shots” start parading their legal knowledge or lack of it before the Senate. I have seen JPE correct the presentation of supposed “expert resource persons” in committee hearings, so woe to ill-prepared persons at the trial.

By Efren Danao

The Department of Tourism was probably not thinking of the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona when it coined that slogan about the Philippines’ being more fun to do things in. Nevertheless, it will not detract from the fact that the trial will provide fun and entertainment to Filipinos who are in dire need of diversion amid their economic travails.

I could hardly wait for the opening of the great entertainment at the Senate on Monday, January 16, at 2 p.m. Senators will be wearing judicial robes to show the solemnity of the proceedings but this will not deprive us of the expected fun and entertainment to ensue. I’m sure millions of Filipinos will be glued to their television sets to watch the unfolding of what promises to be the biggest blockbuster of the year, produced by Malacañang. The Executive may deny till they are blue in the face that they have nothing to do with this entertainment production but very few will believe them. After all, they have been speaking off both sides of their mouth on the issue.

The House “hot shots” were having fun presenting to media and the public their supposed evidence against Chief Justice Renato Corona when Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, the inveterate KJ that he is, asked them to keep their trap shut. JPE was later joined by Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano, and Senators Ping Lacson, Gringo Honasan, Pia Cayetano and Koko Pimentel in admonishing the House prosecution team from making public pronouncements about the impeachment trial of CJ Corona.

Rep. Niel Tupas Jr. of Iloilo, chief House prosecutor, immediately denied any wrongdoing. He and other prosecutors maintain that the House is not under the jurisdiction of the Senate sitting as an impeachment court because the trial has not yet started. He also argued that they were not even discussing the merits of the impeachment case. Huh? If he really believes so, then they should hold his ground and continue presenting their “evidence” to media and the public. They have today and tomorrow to show the world that they really know more about legal procedures than JPE. If Tupas and Co. will act as if they are the repository of all legal wisdom in the world, then watch real fireworks in the impeachment trial.

It will be fun to watch Tupas and the other House “hot shots” start parading their legal knowledge or lack of it before the Senate. I have seen JPE correct the presentation of supposed “expert resource persons” in committee hearings, so woe to ill-prepared persons at the trial. JPE might be joined by Senators Miriam Defensor Santiago, Edgardo J. Angara, Joker Arroyo and possibly Franklin Drilon in the intense questioning of the prosecutors and their prosecution witnesses. Some of the senators who are not lawyers might not join the fray but you can bet this will only add more color to the fun.

I don’t know if Tupas has had any experience in court litigation. I know that Rep. RodoIfo Farinas of Ilocos Norte topped the Bar exams. I also know that Deputy Speaker Raul Daza of Northern Samar is an accomplished lawyer. But he and Farinas are among those in the House panel that have remained silent so far. The other members of the House prosecution panel are Deputy Speaker Lorenzo Tañada 3rd of Quezon, Reynaldo Umali of Mindoro Oriental, Elpidio Barzaga Jr. and Joseph Emilio Abaya of Cavite, Neri Colmenares of Bayan Muna party-list, Kaka Bag-ao of Akbayan party-list; and Rep. Giorgidi Aggabao of Isabela province. Assistant Majority Leader Romero Quimbo of Marikina City is the panel spokesman. Quimbo will be assisted by Rep. Sonny Angara of Aurora, the son of Sen. Edgardo J. Angara.

The impeachment court will dispose of some preliminary issues on Monday before proceeding to the trial proper. These issues are whether it can subpoena officers and members of the House, a co-equal body. CJ Corona, who is evidently unconvinced that congressmen are speed readers, has asked the Senate to subpoena the congressmen to determine if they had read the voluminous Articles of Impeachment and their attachments before they signed them.

I covered the Batasan from 1983 to 1998 and I learned that it was easier then to get a voluminous bill signed by congressmen than to have a two-page simple bill approved on the floor. A bill setting up a supposed “One-Stop Shop” was signed by more than 100 congressmen, enough to assure its passage in plenary. Then, during the period of debates, it was shown that the bill would result in the abolition of the National Economic Development Authority. And the congressmen who signed it didn’t even read this provision abolishing the NEDA!

The other issue that should be resolved by the Senate is whether it should defer hearing the impeachment charges because of pending petitions before the Supreme Court seeking such deferment.

New Philippine tourism brand launched

2012-01-07T08:31:00.007+08:00

The Department of Tourism (DOT) unveiled Friday the country’s new promotional brand, “It’s more fun in the Philippines,” replacing the nine-year-old moniker “Wow Philippines.”

“Wow Philippines” was initiated by then Tourism Secretary Richard Gordon in 2002.

“We need a line that is easily understood. Competitive. More fun in the Philippines is true. Keri natin ito,” Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez said in a briefing.

Jimenez, a recognized advertising executive before joining the Aquino administration last September, said the new tourism brand is the best answer to the question “Why should I go to the Philippines?”

Poor infrastructure and sporadic terror threats saddled the country’s image for years, scaring off tourists and even potential investors.

The country posted a record 3.7 million foreign tourists last year. But Jimenez vowed to quadruple the number of foreigners coming over the country to 12 million by the end of Aquino’s term in 2016.

The government is expecting 4.2 million tourists this year but still good for sixth place among countries in Southeast Asia, a market lorded over by Thailand and Malaysia.

Thailand, known for its huge amount of Buddhist temples and several World Heritage sites, attracted nearly 20 million tourists in 2011 despite the massive flooding in capital Bangkok.

The tourism brand introduced a new logo, which features a pixelized and colorful image of the Philippine map following the pattern of a banig (handwoven mat), commonly used for sleeping and sitting in Southeast Asian countries.

A website was also dedicated for the program (http://itsmorefuninthephilippines.com/) but still under construction.

“We will remain competitive. We'll encourage everyone to put together very competitive packages. Fun is not just excitement, but prices as well,” Jimenez said.

Leading budget carrier Cebu Pacific gave thumbs up for the new campaign as it summed up “the true Philippine experience.”

“The unique combination of fun destinations and the remarkable hospitality of Filipinos make the difference for tourists. DOT’s new campaign is an honest representation of the many things that the Philippines can offer the world,” Candice Iyog, Cebu Pacific vice president for marketing and distribution, told the media.

The Philippine Travel Agencies Association president Maria Paz Alberto said, however: “I can’t comment now. Let’s play it safe.”

Last November 2010, “Pilipinas Kay Ganda” drew the ire of several lawmakers, industry leaders and the public for lack of recall and alleged copying of the tourism logo of Poland.

President Benigno Aquino III eventually scrapped the controversial slogan after meeting with stakeholders that led to the resignation of Tourism Undersecretary Vicente “Enteng” Romano III, the brand’s proponent.

BBDO Guerrero/Proximity Philippines bested seven other advertising agencies for the branding campaign last December as it is expected to go full blast in early 2012.

The work will however cover all major media, both in the Philippines and overseas with special emphasis on digital communications like social media.

Malacañang was quick to throw its support for the new tourism slogan.

While some are saying that the slogan is “not catchy” and “hard to memorize,” the Palace believed that the new brand would still help boost the country's tourism.

“Well, on the contrary, I think its trending worldwide right now in social media so it has apparently caught on… We are in support of Secretary Mon Jimenez in this drive for the Philippine slogan,” presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said.

Malacañang is confident that the new campaign of DOT would translate into more tourists and the country would be able to reach its target of ten million tourists by 2016.

“I think we are going to reach that (target),” Lacierda said.

Aquino was briefed about the slogan and other brands the DOT will be releasing.

Aside from the new tourism logo, Malacañang also expects the shooting of the Hollywood movie “Bourne Legacy” to boost the country’s tourism.

“It will help our tourism, it will help our film industry, it will help employment in the country,” he said.

Reactions to the new tourism brand were mixed especially in micro-blogging site Twitter, where it became one of the most trending hashtags (#ItsMoreFunInThePhilippines), minutes after the campaign was launched.

For actress and host Bianca Gonzales, the new campaign pushed Filipinos abroad to miss the country even more, “because it’s more fun in the Philippines.”

Singer Jim Paredes, whose family has since migrated to Australia, tweeted: “I like it, honest, simple, straight to the point. It is abt who we are. Masaya tayo talaga kahit ano pa.”

Not amazed, however, is Bijoy Salunga as he saw the new campaign brand as “amateurish.” “This is it? so amateurish…my 12-year-old daughter could have done a better job than this.. WOW Philippines sound(s) so infinitely superior,” he said.

Facebook user Doods delos Reyes criticized the logo since it is allegedly not recognizable “for someone who doesn't know the Philippines on a map.”

“'Fun' isn't really for everyone. Some people look for relaxation, for the sights, for cuisine, for culture. WOW Philippines is still better, we should have gone back to it,” he noted.

Actress Maxene Magalona, meanwhile, asked Filipinos to just set aside differences and rally behind the slogan.

“Stop hating and start appreciating! All for Juan, Juan for fun!” she said.

By Virgil Lopez/Jill Beltran

Good Times with President Noynoy Aquino

2012-01-06T10:53:00.006+08:00

Dona Victorina is proud to publish the exclusive interview of Grace Lee with President Noynoy Aquino. Before the close of 2011, Good Times DJ Grace Lee together with Magic 89.9 station manager Andrew Santiago were granted an intimate interview with Pnoy at the Malacanang Palace.
The candid interview (which was originally aired on the Good Times morning radio program via Magic 89.9, their Killerbee provincial affiliates and Radio Boracay) has President Aquino give his personal insights regarding his administration and plans for the Filipino people.

From a New Year's message for 2012, concerns on increasing employment in the Philippines and saving the environment, President Noynoy also gives some personal information that will surely surprise our readers.

Who knew that Pnoy enjoys listening to the music of pop-star Katy Perry?!

President Noynoy Aquino with Grace Lee & Magic 89.9 station manager Andrew Santiago

Just click the links below to listen to President Aquino's Good Times interview:

Mo Twister is a 14-Year Old shrimp, errr Girl

2012-01-05T10:47:00.005+08:00

Mo Twister is a

14-Year Old shrimp,

errr Girl

Reposted from: tiyarosa.wordpress.com

Oh all these celebrities and their very important problems that we mere mortals cannot possibly begin to understand!

I thought all my energy has already been spent making a serious effort to care about Piolo and KC and the eventual coming out party that we all know will come. I was wrong, though.

Apparently, the self absorbed 14-year-old girl that calls itself Mo Twister is turning his back on Philippine showbiz and moving to New York to focus on his daughter who lives in LA. I have no idea how that will work, but I believe I’m underestimating the Apparating powers that this adolescent chick has.

The decision to leave the country came after some interesting tweets he made about abortion that pointed – unless you’re ridiculously stupid – to Rhian Ramos, the ex girlfriend.
Here are some of the tweets, courtesy of Entervrexworld:

Nov. 16: “I have a question about abortion. Should the girl ask the guy what his thoughts are and should he have a chance to stand up for the baby?”

Nov. 17: “Because no amount of inconvenience could ever justify treating the supreme creation of God with murderous contempt.”

Nov. 19: “young child, dont ever think you were never good enough. you just had no choice in the matter” and then DJ Mo replied to a friend: “@RVDOLF in a week. im nervous bud. but it has to be done. Deuteronomy 27:25/a los niños por nacer”

Nov. 20: “guy says don’t be bitter bout the overlap. She says sorry don’t be bitter too. Bitter? Tell that to the young souls killed for convenience.” – Apparently, DJ Mo found out that her ex is seeing someone else at this point. And then Another tweet on Nov. 20: “a heavy and healing dinner conversation by the poolside. Where I was taught a bit how to mourn. One of the best chats I’ve had in a while”

Nov. 22: “a pretty face doesnt mean a pretty heart” and after a few minutes he tweeted this: “you destroy the defenseless because fear is destroying your heart”
Nov. 24: “I will not protect you anymore”

When asked why he decided to leave, the DJ said he just wanted to “hibernate” since things have become so “traumatic”.

Okay, few things.

One, it’s nice to know that someone who has no problem dishing so much negative comments about any and all celebrities (and since he has an extensive vocab, his comments are much more painful) can still feel like a wittew baby when forced to accept what he’s been giving. He was a host at two celebrity talk shows where he bashed without restraint Pinoy celebrities from doing something as trivial as mispronouncing a high-class meal at a restaurant or having bad skin. Now that he’s at the end of the bashing stick, he’d like to leave please and be done with the business for a while. I bet he comes back at the end of the month when his period is over.

Second, I just hate the “murderous contempt” tweet. This asshole who probably hasn’t done anything resembling gentlemen-ly in his entire life has the gall to manipulate how people will feel about this issue by using God and murder when talking about abortion. Pregnancy and parenthood are very serious things with the former being – undeniably – more a woman’s job. While Mo Twister and Rhian Ramos should both be hit upside the head with a rolled up newspaper for being such children with their contraception (if the rumors are true), there’s no need to equate the woman’s choice on what to do with her body with murder, not to mention one done with contempt. Rhian probably regretted having slept with this asshole in the first place, and considering how hands-on he is with his own kid (not!), she probably had good reason to do what she did.

Third, why should all these be on Twitter, Mo? Have you no phone or friends? Are you ten?

Dammit.

I was going to post something funny and sarcastic, but it turned it I don’t find anything humorous about Mo and his hypocritical breakdown. And if you find the rant above too boring, the gist of it is this: Mo’s an asshole, he probably wouldn’t even look at the baby if they had one, and he should make his hibernation permanent.

Now, back to your normal programming.

Why Obama will (won’t) win in 2012

2012-01-04T09:43:00.002+08:00

Written by : ROBERT J. SAMUELSON

Could 2012 turn conventional wisdom on its head? Here’s the conventional wisdom: President Obama’s re-election is vulnerable to the weak economy and high joblessness. Here’s what might happen: The economy gradually improves, and although unemployment stays high (exceeding 8 percent), what counts politically is the palpable sense that things are moving in the right direction. This allows Obama to argue, as he already does, that his policies are slowly repairing the economic calamity he inherited from Republicans.

To which they respond: Obama’s anti-business rhetoric and policies have impeded recovery; the Affordable Care Act (“Obamacare”) and new regulations create uncertainties that deter hiring; and Obama hasn’t dealt with the explosion of federal debt.
Just which narrative triumphs may well determine the election. If Obama convinces Americans that he’s set a course for a strengthening recovery, then he wins. If the Republicans successfully cast his policies as producing prolonged stagnation, they win. Though the debate matters, the economy’s actual performance — for better or worse — will decide how many Americans feel. And this will depend on forces and events over which the candidates have little or no control.
What’s the 2012 outlook?

Many forecasts see modest growth. Here are some numbers from IHS Global Insight, a major consulting firm. The economy will expand 1.8 percent, almost the same as in 2011 (estimate: 1.7 percent). Payroll jobs will grow about 145,000 a month, rising gradually; that’s decent but probably wouldn’t cut the unemployment rate. Indeed, normal labor force growth and the prospect that some discouraged workers will start looking for jobs indicate the unemployment rate (8.6 percent in November) could average 8.7 percent, only slightly below the 9 percent of 2011.

This forecast depicts a plodding economy; should it materialize, it would favor the Republicans. “Consumers face too many negatives to allow a robust spending recovery — a weak labor market, high debt burdens, house prices that have not yet hit bottom, price increases that have outpaced wage growth, and a lack of confidence in the government’s ability to make things better,” says IHS.

But the mainstream forecast may be too glum. Starting with the 2008 financial crisis, economic predictions have routinely been wrong. At this time last year, they were too optimistic; now they might be too pessimistic. Many indicators are exceeding expectations. Weekly initial claims for unemployment insurance, which peaked at more than 600,000, are running under 400,000 — a level often associated with a low or declining unemployment rate. Housing construction was up 9.3 percent in November over October and 24.3 percent over November 2010.
For Obama, the economy holds two large potential pluses.

First, there’s huge pent-up demand for homes and vehicles, because both sectors collapsed in the recession. Car and light truck sales, which totaled about 17 million annually in 2004 and 2005, fell to 10.4 million in 2009. In 2011, they’re estimated at 12.7 million by IHS. The decline in housing construction was even deeper, from about 2 million units annually in 2004 and 2005 to an estimated 600,000 in 2011.

Second, the consumer debt burden is dropping rapidly, notes Timothy Taylor, managing editor of the Journal of Economic Perspectives, on his blog. Households have repaid some debts. Others have been written off; interest rates on many remaining loans have declined. On average, households paid 16.15 percent of their income toward loans, rents and leases in the third quarter of 2011, according to Federal Reserve data. That was the lowest since 1993 and down from a peak of 18.85 percent in the third quarter of 2007.

The upshot: More Americans may be in a position to borrow to buy a home or vehicle, relieving some pent-up demand. Home sales may already be reviving. In November, new contracts reached their highest level in 19 months.

By contrast, Europe and China pose big risks. In Europe, Italy and Spain have nearly 500 billion euros worth of maturing debt in 2012, reports the Institute of International Finance. If they can’t refinance — if bond markets won’t renew loans at acceptable interest rates — they would default or need to be rescued. Either way, Europe would face greater austerity and a deep recession. This would hurt U.S. exports and the profits of American multinational firms.
The danger from China is a collapsing real estate “bubble” that, if it occurred, would result in bankruptcies of developers, loan losses to banks and slower economic growth. The effects would spread beyond China, because construction fuels its demand for cement, steel, copper and other raw materials traded on world markets. Again, U.S. exports could suffer.

Given all the possibilities, handicapping the election based on the economy is nearly futile. It’s 2012’s political wild card that — when played — may prove decisive, if accidental.— (c) 2011, The Washington Post Writers Group.

“WE is IN and ME is OUT”: Top ten trends for 2012

2012-01-01T06:00:00.005+08:00

This is a ‘we’ vs. ‘me’ generation and they’ll lead the call for business to adopt this mindset too, benefiting the society and planet while also advancing corporate interests. These aims will come to be seen as synergistic, not mutually exclusive. “

“WE is IN and ME is OUT”:
Top ten trends for 2012

By: Thelma Murillo

With Christmas over, preparations now shift for the coming new year. I originally thought of featuring predictions from an astrologer for a peek at what may be in the Year of the Dragon but since the Chinese New Year doesn’t start until the 23rd of January 2012, incidentally declared a holiday by Malacañang, I decided to feature instead the top 10 trends for 2012 by JWT Intelligence, which was shared to me by a friend over the Internet.

(This is JWT’s seventh annual year-end forecast of trends for the near future and they say the continued economic uncertainty, new technology and the idea of shared responsibility are at the center of or driving many of their trends. JWT’s 10 Trends for 2012 report is the result of quantitative, qualitative and desk research conducted by JWT Intelligence throughout the year. For this report, they conducted quantitative surveys in the U.S. and the U.K. using SONAR, JWT’s proprietary online tool. They surveyed 531 Americans and 524 Britons age 18-plus from Oct. 31-Nov. 8; data are weighted by age, gender and income. They also received input from nearly 70 JWT planners across more than two dozen markets, and interviewed experts and influencers across sectors including technology, luxury, social responsibility and academia).

10 Top Trends of 2012

1. Navigating the new normal. As the middle market shrinks in the developed world, more brands and more categories will find more ways to make their products and services more accessible.

2. Live a little. Consumers, meanwhile, will tire of constantly watching their spending, their health, the planet. They’ll be looking to live a little without giving up a lot. Indulging, splurging and escaping from today’s many pressures.

3. Generation Go. Tough times will generate an unprecedented entrepreneurialism with the so called last generation of youth transforming into a uniquely resourceful group that creates its own opportunities.

4. The rise of shared value. This is a ‘we’ vs. ‘me’ generation and they’ll lead the call for business to adopt this mindset too, benefiting the society and planet while also advancing corporate interests. These aims will come to be seen as synergistic, not mutually exclusive.

5. Food as the new Eco-Issue. The green movement will add its focus on our impact of our food choices. We’ll see rising consumer awareness and companies rethinking what kind of food they sell or how it is made.

6. Marriage optional. From east to west, women are shifting their attitudes towards marriage as it becomes a life choice rather than a given. More women are redefining what ‘happily ever after’ means for them.

7. Reengineering randomness. Different points of view will become more important as our digital spheres get more personalized and niched. We’ll seek ways to reintroduce discovery and randomness into our world.

8. Screened interactions. Flat surfaces will come alive using our phones, hands or gestures. We’ll be interacting with outdoor ads, menus, walls and more as they evolve into interactive screens.

9. Celebrating aging. As we live longer, our attitudes toward aging are shifting in a more positive direction. Increasingly, we’ll be inclined to see the upside of getting old.

10. Objectifying objects. As everything gets digitized, a desire for physical objects will grow. Things to hold, touch, display or give to others will connect us to our more analog past.

From their website, “JWTIntelli-gence is a center for provocative thinking that is a part of \t “_blank” JWT, the world’s best-known marketing communications brand. We make sense of the chaos in a world of hyper-abundant information and constant innovation—finding quality amid the quantity.

“We focus on identifying changes in the global zeitgeist so as to convert shifts into compelling opportunities for brands. We have done this on behalf of multinational clients across several categories including pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, food, and home and personal care.”

Bear in mind that these are trends based on JWT’s research and do not necessarily reflect my own view. It may be helpful however, if you are planning to start a business next year.

A prosperous New Year to everyone!

God is Great!

THE ANNOYING SISTER

2011-12-30T04:26:00.003+08:00

“Annoying Sister has denied reports that she caused a delay in the distribution of relief goods to calamity-stricken residents of Cagayan de Oro City because she had to be photographed and videotaped while heading that mission of mercy herself.”

THE ANNOYING SISTER

taken from Jojo Robles

In the showbiz section of another newspaper, the Annoying Sister has denied reports that she caused a delay in the distribution of relief goods to calamity-stricken residents of Cagayan de Oro City because she had to be photographed and videotaped while heading that mission of mercy herself. In her own words, this is what Kris Aquino was actually reported to have said:

“Bakit sila magagalit sa akin? Baka paninira lang kasi. Ang ganda nang pagtanggap sa family namin. And I think we are doing everything humanly possible to help. My sisters and I of course defended P-noy sa accusation na matagal siyang pumunta sa CDO at inuna ang party. Dapat i-consider na end of the year at complete ang pondo at may pang-disaster relief.

“We went to two sightings and personally handed the relief goods. We had to leave before 10:30 pm., because [our] small plane can’t land in NAIA after midnight.

“I can’t please the world but I know the truth. Tao lang akong nasasaktan dahil grabe rin ang pagod ko.

“Sana sa mga naninira o sinumang nagkakalat ng maling balita, sana maski two percent man lang nang na-collect ko for Mindanao ay nagawa nila. Hindi election time ngayon, unlike Ondoy, they can’t accuse of palapad ng papel.

“After 2013, tapos na kami sa politics. Obvious na ang mga nagalit sa amin, takot sa 2013 o 2016 na tatakbo ako. Relax dapat sila, my career path is one day to run my own network.”

Now that’s something to look forward to: a media network owned and operated by Kris herself, where she can presumably talk all she wants day in and day out. We can hardly wait.

22-M Filipinos deprived of clean water

2011-12-28T08:34:00.004+08:00

Senator Edgardo J. Angara on Monday said that the country’s water sector is in need of structural reforms with a view to easing the plight of around 22 million Filipinos who have no access to sanitation facilities and sewerage systems.

Angara, chairman of the Senate Committee on Science and Technology, said the figure came from a joint monitoring program between the World Health Organization and the United Nations Children’s Fund released in 2008.

The longer these people are not unable to use proper toilet facilities and other waste disposal systems, the longer they get exposed to problems arising from poor sanitation, Angara said. “Our inaction in this regard comes at a very high cost.”

The World Bank estimated that the Philippines loses around $1.4 billion per year in terms of the economic cost of poor sanitation and hygiene.

The senator added that over the past 30 years, the Philippine water and sanitation industry has been highly fragmented with over 30 government agencies involved.

Currently, the setup is very inefficient with jurisdictions overlapping one another. A measure has to be passed to comprehensively restructure the way we manage our water and sanitation services, he said.

With this, Angara pushed for the passage of Senate Bill 2997 or the Water Sector Reform Act (WSRA) of 2011, which he authored.

He said this measure aims to put up a framework for efficiently managing the countrys water resources by adopting the Integrated Water Resources Management approach of the Global Water Partnership.

It also seeks to organize the country into Provincial Water Resource Zones, with certain portions structured into River Basin Clusters.

The measure also stipulates the creation of Local Water Supply and Sanitation Companies as government-owned and controlled corporations, mandated to construct, maintain and operate sanitation and sewerage systems for their corresponding PWRZs.

We crafted the bill to also enable LWSSC’s to go into PPP’s (Public-Private Partnerships) for large-scale projects, such as installing sewerage systems,” Angara explained.

“By streamlining our processes and opening the industry up to private investment, we can give more Filipinos access to improved sanitation faster. That’s why we need to urgently pass this measure.”

By John Concepcion

Q & A for the Aquino Administration

2011-12-28T05:11:00.004+08:00

Q & A for the Aquino Administration

"The President said “kung walang corrupt, walang mahirap.”

Surveys showed there are now more poor and hungry people than in the GMA administration.

Does this mean corruption has increased under the Aquino administration?"

Written By: Efren Danao

Q: What are the biggest achievements of the Aquino administration?

A: The detention of former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and the impeachment of Chief Justice Renato Corona.

Q: Explain the reason for such choice

A: The President had said that GMA would be in prison by December, and he is a man of his word. He has also relentlessly pursued the impeachment of CJ Corona and got the wholesale cooperation of 188 congressmen, most of whom signed the Articles of Impeachment without reading them. These two achievements are roundly approved by the people, based on surveys by the Social Weather Stations and so they enhanced the President’s popularity.

Q: How has the President progressed in his fight against corruption?

A: The President considers the arrest of GMA the crown jewel of his fight against corruption. He also deems CJ Corona the main stumbling block to his war against corruption. Once CJ Corona is found guilty by the Senate, you may expect the fight against corruption to gain much headway.

The administration has also ordered a slowdown in spending despite budget authorization to lessen corruption and budget deficit. Public works are among the main causes of corruption. The fewer the public works projects launched, the fewer the incidence of corruption.

Q: Jueteng and drugs are still rampant. Jueteng and drugs are said to be the root causes of corruption. Do GMA and CJ Corona have anything to do with these?

A: None, but the Aquino administration can focus only on one thing at a time. Once he is through with his two top enemies, he can concentrate on the lesser enemies like illegal numbers game and illegal drugs.

Q: During the campaign, the President correctly said that Filipinos should not be working abroad, and criticized the economy’s reliance on remittances from OFWs. What has he done to ensure the employment of OFWs who decide to return?

A: None. He said he wanted them to work here but did not say he would give them work. This might come later. In the meantime, the Philippine economy remains reliant on remittances of OFWs.

Q: The President showed he would not countenance incompetence among public servants when he fired the chief of PAG-ASA for not correctly predicting the path of a disastrous typhoon. Why hasn’t he fired PAG-ASA officials who also were off-mark in their predictions, and the bumbling DILG officials involved in the Luneta hostage fiasco?

A: Malacanang said the time for finger-pointing is over. What’s more, those DILG officials are his appointees. And why should he fire his appointees? They could not do wrong. And if they do something wrong, why, keep them off the public radar to keep the outcry for their heads from boiling over.

Q: The President said “kung walang corrupt, walang mahirap.” Surveys showed there are now more poor and hungry people than in the GMA administration. Does this mean corruption has increased under the Aquino administration?

A: No, not at all! Poverty has increased because of the worldwide recession and not because of mis-steps by the current administration in its drive against corruption. In fact, it has ordered the arrest of GMA and the impeachment of CJ Corona.

Q: What has the administration done to reduce poverty?

A: It has increased the number of recipients of its Conditional Cash Transfer program. This is the main cog of the administration’s strategy to minimize poverty. The more people receiving government dole-outs, the fewer remain poor.

Q: The Philippine economy is falling. In fact it did better under the much-maligned GMA administration. What has the Aquino administration done to improve the situation?

A: It has ordered the arrest of GMA and the impeachment of CJ Corona.

Q: Isn’t that begging the question?

A: Well, the administration has been trying to keep itself from discussing the economy. At the forum organized by Makati businessmen, President talked not about the economy but about the stumbling blocks posed by CJ Corona and the Supreme Court.

Q: Why should it be afraid to discuss the economy?

A: The people have not been complaining about the economy anyway. So, why should the administration talk about something where it would be placed on the defensive? What’s more, any discussion of the issue might make the people realize that they are now worse off despite the detention of GMA and the impeachment of CJ Corona.

Q: What will happen in the coming year?

A: The administration will continue to harp on the arrest of GMA and the impeachment of CJ Corona until year-end. It could even wage a “shame” campaign” to force CJ Corona to resign without undergoing impeachment trial. Then, it could put a cap to its glorious campaign against corruption in government and win big in the May 2013 election.

SISTER ACT

2011-12-22T08:24:00.003+08:00

"Kris (Aquino) explained, as if to an entire country made up of retarded children, that her brother could not have just hopped on a plane because a President “is not like you and me [who can just] hop on a plane… And because his spokesmen and apologists are really nincompoops often engaged in the Sisyphean defense of the indefensible, he will need better help in the propaganda department..."

Taken from Jojo Robles

The trucks bearing relief sent in by television network ABS-CBN had already arrived at mud slide-ravaged Consolacion village in Cagayan de Oro City. The flood-stricken residents, some of them still with mud on their bodies, had already lined up to receive the much-needed aid.
Suddenly, the trucks started up and began to move away. They had been ordered not to commence the distribution of relief goods and return to Balulang village instead.

There, they had to pick up a very important person—presidential sister Kris Aquino. The actress had told the network’s bosses that she wanted to be in Consolacion when the aid-giving (and the viedo recording of the event, naturally) started.

The assembled people didn’t know this, of course; all they saw were the trucks leaving. And they could only wait until the aid-bearing vehicles returned, with Kris in tow.

As Kris herself said, in defense of her brother’s partying right after the killer mudslides and floods hit, we can’t allow life to stop and just sulk in a corner. Of course, not: there remains the publicity to be had in the midst of the suffering of the people.

Had Ninoy and Cory Aquino been alive today, they would probably have been pressed into service, as well. Then again, if they were still living, we probably would have been spared the election to the presidency of their son.

The criticism lobbed by citizens aghast by reports of President Noynoy Aquino partying like a palace rock star the night after floods devastated Cagayan de Oro and Iligan cities must have really stung. That’s because Aquino did not only try to control the ensuing damage by employing the talents of his usual defenders in the form of his various palace propaganda offices, his apologists in media and his regular jukeboxes in Congress.

Aquino called in his sisters. Three of them—Ballsy Aquino-Cruz, Pinky Aquino Abellada and Kris—put on the defense on national television that Aquino could not possibly have postponed the Christmas party of the Presidential Security Group because it had been scheduled long in advance.

Life must go on, they said. And yes, the President could not have immediately flown to Cagayan de Oro because he did not want to hamper rescue and relief operations there.

Kris explained, as if to an entire country made up of retarded children, that her brother could not have just hopped on a plane because a President “is not like you and me [who can just] hop on a plane... there are a lot of national concerns.”

(Of course, Vice President Jejomar Binay, who went to the affected areas hours after they were first reported, apparently had no ability to hamper the rescue efforts and doesn’t have enough national concerns to keep him in Manila. Besides, Binay didn’t really have to be at a party that he could not reschedule or miss.)

But perhaps people shouldn’t really begrudge Aquino for asking his sibling to join the campaign to reverse the bad publicity the party-going President has been receiving since the flooding. His official spokesmen, after all, have been doing their best to make things worse for Aquino ever since the details of the party were disclosed by the imprudent tweets of actress Valerie Concepcion.

Since the Concepcion disclosures, Malacañang flacks have declared that the PSG party actually took place on Dec. 10 instead of just last Saturday, have given various durations, computed based on the average length of the songs Concepcion actually sung, that the President actually stayed at the party (anywhere from five minutes to 30 minutes) and have even sworn that Aquino did not take to the stage and sing his personal slacker’s anthem “Estudyante Blues.” You’d run to your sisters too, if this was all the help you could muster by way of damage control.

In the meantime, Aquino reversed an earlier announcement that he was planning to visit the devastated areas after Christmas and went directly to Cagayan de Oro yesterday. (While there, he could not resist the opportunity to tell people living in the hazardous Isla de Oro neighborhood that they should not have stayed there, if they didn’t want to suffer flooding.)

And, as if to prove that there was really no party that he did not have the power to cancel, despite what his sisters said, Aquino also said that his Cabinet will not be having its annual Christmas get-together this year. He also declared a state of national calamity—a full four days after disaster struck and even if the damage is confined only to a small area of Northern Mindanao.

And so, for those who watch the Aquino administration, some things have now apparently become clear: the President will skip parties, but only if he has been shamed into doing so because of a calamity. He can actually be convinced to visit a disaster area, not weeks after the fact like in Cotabato City and Central Luzon, but mere days afterwards.

And because his spokesmen and apologists are really nincompoops often engaged in the Sisyphean defense of the indefensible, he will need better help in the propaganda department. And if he has to ask his sisters to do that, then, that’s exactly what he will do…

Public warned of fake police group

2011-12-20T11:57:00.004+08:00

The National Police Commission warned the public against a pseudo law enforcement group which it said is engaged in illegal activities, particularly extortion.

Napolcom Chairman Jesse Robredo said they have received reports that members of the so-called International Police Commission have stepped up its illegal operations this Christmas season to victimize business establishments and individuals.

According to Robredo, Interpolcom claims it is affiliated with the International Criminal Police Organization based in Lyon, France to perpetrate illegal activities allegedly under the guise of peace and order.

“Interpolcom is engaged in organized illegal activities under disguise and with a scheme of assisting the duly-constituted authorities in the attainment of peace and order and enforcement of the law,“ Robredo said.

The organization is also reportedly presenting a letter from the Securities and Exchange Commission that it is accredited by the Philippine government and the United Nations.

In 1987, Interpolcom submitted a request to then Executive Secretary Catalino Macaraig for the Office of the President’s recognition of their organization and authority to be given to two of its members to negotiate with the UN for any possible financial or budgetary assistance.

The subject letter was referred to Napolcom, and upon investigation it was revealed that Interpolcom was a non-stock, non-profit organization that was recruiting members from various sectors of society and enticing them with salaries, benefits and privileges such as free transportation rides, issuance of badges, identification cards, and grant of military rank upon payment of P500 as membership fee, Robredo said.

Last September, six members of the group were arrested by the Philippine Center for Transnational Crime at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport when they group attempted to apply for temporary pass at the airport allegedly to assist airport authorities in gathering intelligence.

Confiscated from the suspects who were wearing police uniforms were five caliber .45 pistols, none of which were covered by authentic license to carry permits.

Napolcom Vice Chairman Eduardo Escueta said they have already informed their regional offices nationwide of the existence of the group and its nefarious activities.

He added that Napolcom regional directors were also enjoined from accrediting or endorsing any civilian force-multipliers or organizations without the proper recommendation by the Department of the Interior and Local Government or the Department of National Defense.

by Ferdinand Fabella

Egotistic black and white

2011-12-20T07:49:00.008+08:00

“Like the senator, my objection to the hard line posturing of the Black and White Movement and by extension, the rest of the people in this country who insist on foisting on the rest of the population their moral scruples, is philosophical…””

“In the first place, who determines what is good, and who determines what is evil?

That is the egotistic problem with black and white… who is to decide what is black and white?”” the senator asked.

Egotistic black and white
By: Bong Austero

That was quite a mouthful the irrepressible Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago unleashed last week during a confirmation hearing at the Commission on Appointments.

Of course we have come to expect the senator to constantly amaze, dumbfound and even amuse us with her trademark feistiness and distinct eloquence. But last week’s lecture on theology, Manichean philosophy and populist philosophy during the confirmation hearing of Social Welfare Secretary Dinky Soliman was classic.

We are truly going to miss Senator Santiago when she packs up and relocates to the Netherlands in March next year, when she assumes the highly coveted post as one of six judges of the International Criminal Court. Santiago is the first Asian woman from a developing state to get a seat in the ICC. The woman is in a class all her own, and no one has yet come close to duplicating her famous outbursts. We will just have to get used to seeing the dour faces and monotonous drawl of our other senators.

But to go back to her outburst last week, which was covered extensively by media, Senator Santiago put Soliman to task for being a convenor of the Black and White movement, the group that has abrogated for itself the identity as “civil society.” The BWM has on many occasions likewise positioned itself as some kind of the ultimate guardian of morality in this country, often issuing statements that they pass off as the authoritative and only viable position on many contentious issues.

“You know what is good and evil because God says so? Oh, yeah? Did God speak to you, members of the Black and White Movement?” the Senator asked Soliman.

I am very glad the Senator said what I have been saying in this space for many years now: The problem with some people in this country is that they impose their theology on everyone else. Worse, they claim to subscribe to a higher moral order and insist on a black-and-white categorization of issues but sadly, only when the situation suits them or is in their favor.
And this has been my beef with the BWM movement for many years now. They expect everybody to live up to a stringent moral order but they don’t necessarily apply the criteria to themselves. For example, they’ve always made a big deal that many of our leaders have lost any sense of delicadeza. Ironically, many among them have openly jockeyed for political appointments and are in fact using the BWM platform as launching pads for their own political agenda and candidacies. Where’s the morality in that?

Conversely, this, exactly, is what I find disturbing about what is happening in the country today. This administration is hell bent on making the former President accountable for various acts of corruption while in office—bribery, usurpation of authority, abuse of power, etc.,—under the guise of establishing a higher moral order. Ordinarily, I wouldn’t have problems with that. We should make our leaders accountable for wrongdoing while in office. But we must make sure that we take the higher moral ground when we do so – not by words and by empty posturing, but in deed and action. This means we must adhere to due process even when no one is looking, even when we can get away with it, and yes, even when we believe in our heart of hearts that the accused do not deserve the fair treatment. Only when we do so can we actually have the moral authority to move forward.

But what is happening is that at the same time that our leaders are lecturing us about morality and good governance, they indulge in exactly the same acts that they claim are immoral. They accused the Supreme Court of having short-circuited the process that led to the issuance of a temporary restraining order in favor of the former President, but did exactly the same thing to ensure that the impeachment of the Chief Justice would sail through Congress swiftly and without hitch. They insist that the former President should be made accountable for abuse of power and authority, shady deals, and other corrupt practices but used exactly the same modus operandi to ensure that lawmakers would sign the impeachment complaint.

“In the BWM, there is no such allowance for the so-called gray areas. You’re either good you’re either bad, you’re either light or you’re either dark. That is my basic concern with this nominee, to look at the world only in shades of dark and light and not make allowances for human failures or for human limitations,” Senator Santiago was quoted in various media reports. “In the first place, who determines what is good, and who determines what is evil? That is the egotistic problem with black and white… who is to decide what is black and white?” the senator asked.

Like the senator, my objection to the hard line posturing of the BWM and by extension, the rest of the people in this country who insist on foisting on the rest of the population their moral scruples, is philosophical. Excuse me, not everything is black and white in this country; there is a context to everything.

Case in point: Just because I advocate due process, respect for laws, and adherence to civility does not make me an apologist of the former President. Oh please, that kind of labeling is just so passé and so tawdry. Just because I am disaffected by the fact that this administration has held hostage progress and economic development at the altar of morality does not mean I am anti-government.

More to the point, just because I agree with Senator Santiago when she castigated Soliman’s affiliation with the BWM, this does not mean I agree with the senator’s filibustering of Soliman’s confirmation as Social Welfare secretary.

I happen to think that Soliman is one of the very few Cabinet secretaries who are actually doing a good job.

I honestly don’t understand why people balk at the huge amount of money that Soliman is entrusted with for the government’s conditional cash transfer program, known as four Ps. Surely everyone knows that we do have millions of people in this country who are living in abject poverty; when you divide the total amount allocated for the conditional cash transfer program by the number of family beneficiaries, the amount is actually not that staggering anymore.
The problem is not that the government is spending billions on poverty alleviation; the question is why only now and why only that amount? We all rile about the high incidence of poverty but we don’t match our rhetoric with political will and purposeful action.

Besides, when we put together all the piecemeal programs politicians supposedly pour into so-called poverty alleviation we’d probably come up with probably more than what Soliman is spending for the four P’s program. How many politicians spend tens of millions every year on substandard school supplies for schoolchildren and for Christmas baskets? The amount is better spent on poverty alleviation program that are better conceptualized and administered in a more organized way such as the four Ps program.

The four Ps program is investment in the future of human capital. It’s necessary and important. It would be sad if the conditional cash transfer program gets stopped just because of Soliman’s political baggage. It’s really shouldn’t be that black and white.

Sendong further delays delivery of goods to CDO

2011-12-20T07:35:00.009+08:00

Food and other consumer items meant for Cagayan de Oro and Iligan, cities hit by sudden floods over the weekend, will take longer to get there because of a shortage of container vans caused by the Christmas rush.

This will not mean higher prices, however, as the Department of Trade and Industry has already issued a freeze on price increases in calamity areas hit by Typhoon Sendong.

Corazon Curay, vice president and director of the Supply Chain Management Association of the Philippines (SCMAP), told Sun.Star that shipments to the Southern Philippines have been difficult because a peak season for cargo means less containerized vans to go around.

She said shippers have to wait for "two days or more" to get goods loaded in a twenty or forty-foot metal container and onto a ship.

Trucking fleets have been complaining of the delay, which already existed even before the typhoon hit Northern Mindanao and Central and Eastern Visayas.

"Of course, this is an opportunity cost for them," she said, adding that shippers were prompted to factor in extra days to book their shipments in advance.

Delays may be prolonged if relief goods headed for calamity-stricken areas in Northern Mindanao are given priority.

She said the shipping lines can do that, especially as support for relief and rescue operations in the region. She said the shortage may be resolved by January when container vans already dispatched to other ports return to Manila.

Right now, "the queue for container vans is really long," she said.

On Sunday, a military cargo flight brought 1,500 500-milliliter bottles of water to Northern Mindanao along with water treatment systems. Curay said, however, that airlifting is too expensive for regular goods.

Eduardo Sanchez, SCMAP executive director, said that although much of Cagayan de Oro was spared by the flooding, "definitely, the delivery of consumer goods will be affected."

He said the difficulties in delivering consumer goods will be felt more in Iligan. SCMAP president Dennis Llovido was in Cagayan de Oro when Sun.Star tried to reach him Monday. He updated Sanchez on the situation on the ground, however.

Sanchez said the decision to put the priority on delivering relief goods will have to come from the government, and not from the association since "each member is an independent company."

According to news reports on Sunday, stores in Cagayan de Oro had run out of water and other basic goods as was confirmed by local store chain Ororama.

Pamela Mendez, store manager for Ororama Supertore in Carmen, said it has been "very difficult" to get water delivered.

Part of the problem is the sheer number of stores and homes that have ordered bottled water.

"Even if we buy in volume, we will still have to pick up the water ourselves (if we do not want to wait)," she said.

She said smaller bottles of water are still available and they are "trying our best to restock five- and 10-liter bottles."

Mendez said, however, that goods will be sold at the same price despite the extra cost to Ororama of transporting the water themselves.

Supplies of noodles and the "cheapest kind" of noodles are also low after the Social Welfare department bought the store's stock to distribute to calamity victims, she said.

With the shortage of potable water, and with the taps shut off, many tenants have had to keep their businesses temporarily shuttered, she said.

Ororama has also taken to boiling water from a deep well so employees will have water to drink.

"It's really scary if you think about it," she said, adding fast food restaurants have even had to close or limit operations because of the shortage.

Lotta Lim, store manager of the Robinsons Supermarket in Cagayan de Oro, said their stock of bottled water is also running low but that they are working on a stock transfer deal with outlets in nearby towns and cities.

She said suppliers have been giving priority to stores and homes in "the city proper" and that supermarkets are having a hard time getting supplies. Aside from water, noodles and canned goods have also seen brisk sales, she said.

Steven Cua, president of the Philippine Amalgamated Supermarkets Association, said relief goods coming into the calamity areas will not affect prices.

"If there was an ample supply of these items there, then people would have (just) donated cash," he said in a text message.

Dorothy Salazar, manager for mall administration at Robinsons, told Sun.Star that the floods during the weekend have not dampened the spirits of most shoppers.

She said Monday has been a normal shopping day, "although people have been buying candles and other supplies too."

TO DONATE AND HELP THE VICTIMS OF SENDONG THROUGH THE PHILIPPINE RED CROSS CLICK HERE

From Sunnex

President Aquino signs 2012 national budget

2011-12-17T14:47:00.005+08:00

President Benigno Aquino III on Thursday signed into law the P1.816-trillion national budget for 2012. The budget, which is 10.4 percent higher than this year’s budget of P1.645 trillion, was the earliest approved since democracy was restored in 1986.

President Aquino described the budget as “results-focused budget” driven toward the delivery of direct and substantial benefits to the people, particularly the poorest and most marginalized.

He said the administration will ensure not just the immediate release of the funds but a transparent government spending.

The Department of Education (DepEd) continues to the biggest allocation this year with P238.8 billion – 15.2 percent higher than the 2011 budget of P207.3 billion.

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is the second with P125.7 billion, followed by the Department of National Defense (DND) with P108.1 billion, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) with P99.8 billion and the Department of Agriculture (DA) with P53.3 billion.

The DA will get the biggest budget increment (53.6 percent) to support various initiatives geared towards rice and food-self-sufficiency.

Also included in the top 10 agencies that will get the biggest bulk of the budget include: Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) with P48.9 billion, Department of Health (DOH) with P44.4 billion, Department of Transportation and Communications P34.7 billion, Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) P18.3 billion and the judiciary with P15.7 billion.

Budget Secretary Florencio Abad said to jump-start economic growth next year, the government will spend P140 billion for infrastructure projects starting January 2012.

“In contrast to 2011 when infrastructure spending was delayed, we intend to begin 2012 on a very strong note. Various infrastructure projects amounting to around P140 billion can be implemented by departments and agencies as early as the first working day of January 2012,” he said.

“We earlier directed agencies to disaggregate their 2012 budgets into specific projects before the budget was submitted to Congress in July; and to already bid them out short of award, so that notices to proceed can be issue in January,” he added.

Present during the budget signing were Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr, other lawmakers and Malacanang officials.

By Jill Beltran

Fil-Am midwife Robin Lim is 2011 CNN 'Hero of the Year'

2011-12-13T14:07:00.003+08:00

A Filipino-American midwife whose foundation built “birthing sanctuaries” for Indonesians was named the 2011 CNN Hero of the Year.

Anderson Cooper announced the name of Robin Lim in a star-studded ceremony last Sunday night at The Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California. Christy Turlington Burns introduced Lim as one of the Top 10 CNN Heroes.

Each of the CNN Heroes received $50,000, and Lim’s non-profit, Bumi Sehat Foundation, will receive an additional $250,000 grant.

Lim’s foundation helped Indonesians who need maternal and general health care.

She is the second CNN Hero of Year of Filipino descent.

In 2009, Filipino Efren Peñaflorida was named CNN Hero of the Year for his “Kariton” classroom project that aims to educate street children.

In Indonesia, women are 300 times more likely to die in childbirth or from pregnancy-related complications than women in developed countries. After Lim’s younger sister died from pregnancy complications, she became a professional midwife and dedicated her life to offering free pre-natal and birthing services to low-income Indonesian women. Since 2003, Lim’s“Yayasan Bumi Sehat” (Healthy Mother Earth) clinic has provided medical assistance to thousands of women in Bali and Aceh, Indonesia.

Malacanang on Monday expressed elation over the naming of Lim as the 2011 CNN Hero of the Year.

“We are very happy that the efforts of one of our Filipinos have again been recognized on the international stage,” Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said.

The star-studded ceremony included celebrity participants Jerry Seinfeld, Sofia Vergara, Mary-Louise Parker, Ice Cube, Laura Dern, J.R. Martinez, will.i.am, Christy Turlington Burns, George Lopez and Kurt Warner. Miley Cyrus, Chris Colfer, and Emma Roberts presented to youths who were recognized and honored by CNN as “Young Wonders.” Miley Cyrus also performed her triple platinum hit “The Climb”, while Kid Rock performed a powerful version of "Care" from his platinum selling album, “Born Free.”

Now in its fifth year, “CNN Heroes” is a multi-platform campaign that shines a spotlight on individuals who go to extraordinary lengths to serve others. This year, the campaign received over 10,000 submissions from more than 100 countries.

(Madel R. Sabater and www.cnn.com)

Lucio Tan, a.k.a. the Grinch

2011-12-12T09:27:00.003+08:00

“This Christmas break, don’t fly airlines owned by the Grinch,” FDC President Ricardo Reyes told reporters recently. “Because of his greed, Lucio Tan has stolen Christmas of retrenched PAL workers. He acts like the true Grinch.”

Lucio Tan, a.k.a. the Grinch

By: Dan Mariano

THE season will be less than bright for the 2,600 former regular employees of Philippine Airlines (PAL) who found themselves jobless when the Lucio Tan-owned carrier adopted its so-called outsourcing program last October.

The dismissed regular workers, members of the PAL Employees Association (PALEA), have been replaced by “contractuals” who do the work that PALEA members used to perform, but are hired by other companies contracted by PAL.

The airline owners claimed that they had to resort to outsourcing because PAL has been losing money, insisting that high labor costs were eating away at the airline’s revenue. Of course, they do not mention the fact that the airline management’s decision in 2008 to resort to “fuel hedging” was what really put PAL deep in the red.

In February 2009, PAL president Jaime Bautista was reported to have disclosed that PAL would post its first full-year loss since 2004 primarily because of a hedging program that had been meant to address volatile fuel prices.

In July 2008, crude oil prices skyrocketed to an all-time high of US$147 per barrel but by early 2009 they had dropped to just above US$40. Unfortunately for PAL, its management—which mistakenly assumed that fuel prices would remain high—had locked the carrier to contracts to buy fuel at much higher prices even long after crude costs had begun to drop.

Little information has leaked out of the PAL boardroom as to which company officials were responsible for this costly miscalculation—or if they were penalized at all for a decision that proved financially disastrous for the airline and ultimately its hapless employees.

But instead of owning up to their blunder, the owners and managers of PAL decided to take it out on the ground personnel of the airline—the 2,600 members of PALEA who thereafter began to be portrayed by PAL’s public relations machinery as the biggest financial burden to the company.

Unfortunately for PALEA members, they found no receptive ear in the Department of Labor and Employment and other government agencies as well as Lucio Tan’s “friends” in media. Rather than aggrieved workers, the PALEA members were portrayed as troublemakers who refused to see reason. Eventually, PAL resorted to calling them “terrorists.”

Nearly three months after PALEA members were forced out—literally—of the company’s premises, emotions are still raw. The outrage has not died down, not just among the displaced workers but also members of the general public that now wince every time PAL is described as “the flag carrier.”

Among the staunchest supporters of the victims of PAL’s outsourcing scheme are the Freedom from Debt Coalition (FDC) and other civil society groups. In a recent press statement, these groups called for a boycott of PAL and its bargain airline sister company AirPhil.

“This Christmas break, don’t fly airlines owned by the Grinch,” FDC President Ricardo Reyes told reporters recently. “Because of his greed, Lucio Tan has stolen Christmas of retrenched PAL workers. He acts like the true Grinch.”

Created by Dr. Seuss, the Grinch is a fictional character who first appeared as the main protagonist in the 1957 children’s book, How the Grinch Stole Christmas! Now, it is a term used to describe a person with a coarse and greedy attitude and opposed to Christmas time celebrations.

“It is almost Christmas time—our great Kapaskuhan, a time for families, friends, neighbors, and loved ones to gather, celebrate and share blessings with one another. But not for 2,600 of our kababayan PAL employees and their families who until now face the uncertainty of a prolonged deadlock due to Lucio Tan’s refusal to sit down with PALEA and address their just demands,” said Reyes.

“We are urging the riding public, particularly the students, government and private workers and [overseas Filipino workers (OFWs)] to support the members of PALEA in their struggle against the mass lay-off, contractualization, and their fight to protect their job security. PALEA’s fight is also our fight. As riding customers, we can best support PALEA by hitting Lucio Tan where he hurts most—by not flying PAL and AirPhil, until he sits down with PALEA and address their just demands,” he said.

Agnes Matienzo of Migrant Forum in Asia (MFA): “In support of the 2,600 PALEA members who are unilaterally locked out and terminated by PAL, MFA continues to call on our fellow OFWs and partners/affiliates in over 16 countries in Asia not to fly PAL this Christmas unless Lucio Tan sits with PALEA and address their demands. PALEA members’ fight is our fight. As migrants’ advocate, we demand host countries to respect the right of our workers overseas to unionize and demand for just wages and job security. How do we expect destination countries to respect and protect the rights of our workers, if the rights of our local workers are blatantly violated? We shall never accept that the rights of our local workers are violated. The interest of 10 million OFWs and the interest of 2,600 PALEA members are one and the same. Boycott PAL and stop corporate greed!”

Max de Mesa, chairman of Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (PAHRA), said: “PAL workers are co-creators of the wealth of the company. Thus, not only should the quality of life of workers rightfully and proportionately improve as the company develops and grows—this is a collective aspect of the right to development. More important, they should be integral to the company itself. The owner’s and management’s decision to outsource as part of its overall contractualization plan is to deceptively cut off its co-creators of corporate wealth under the false basis of ‘financial losses.’ This is corporate callousness. They have disjointed themselves from the same humanity as their workers so as to accrue profits primarily for themselves. The vaunted plan of separation benefits is no more than a ruse to distract from the truth of corporate greed and the deprivation of workers’ rights.”

Other groups have signed up to the “Don’t Fly PAL/AirPhil” campaign. Whether this boycott will cause Lucio Tan and his underlings to mend their ways—just like another fictional character Mr. Scrooge—by Christmas Day, we’ll find out soon enough.

Frankly, I doubt it.

Inspiring Pinoy Runner attempts Global Run

2011-12-10T07:57:00.013+08:00

To most runners, a marathon marks the very summit of achievement after months of hard training and blister plasters. To Cesar Guarin, it’s merely a light warm-up for the rigors to come.

The University of the Philippines alumnus, entrepreneur and father of 4 children is the first Filipino global runner: one of the few individuals who positively savor the thought of running around the world. With running experience covering some thirty years, spanning 6 presidencies, Cesar is poised to continue his toughest - ever run: The Global Run. This one-of-a-kind ultramarathon has been partitioned into 14 stages, with stage typically requiring Cesar to run 50 - 70 kilometers per day, for each of the 30 - 90 days per stage. The Global Run will continue this October 2011 and will end in 2016. The remaining Global Run stages will cover a total distance of approx. 17,993 kilometers!

Global Run is an endurance sport more than anything. He has been training his body to run for more than 8 hours a day for at least 1 to 3 months. He also trains to endure months of continuous running given unpredictable weather, no stopping, no looking back, no matter what happens.

Cesar didn't wake up one morning thinking "I am going to run around the world". He thought about it for a long time, carefully considering and planning every phase. Several runners had tried, but only three on official record have completed an ultramarathon of this magnitude. At first, he started running longer distance to get the frustration out of his system. And that’s how he found his obsession. He had no doubt that he can accomplish it. What started out as a way to cope with disappointment soon became one of his passions in life. By 1983, he ran the first Trans - Pilipinas ultramarathon running from Zamboanga up to Baguio City. After that, what's left? He asked himself. Well, how about running around the world? Over the past few years several runners had attempted to run around the world, but all of them either failed or were caught cheating, like the guy who took a train, thinking he could fool the public.

He was thrilled by the prospect of becoming the first Asian (and Filipino) to run around the world and he knew it was the right time for him to do it. He feels that now is the time to finish all the remaining stages of the Global Run. He said, “I don’t see myself stopping from running because I enjoy the meditative part of it. I do long distance running not only for physical fitness but also in order to meditate. So kahit may edad na tayo, I believe I will still run. Wala naman pinipiling edad ang pagtakbo.”

With 10 stages or phases left in his Global Run, he is more than eager and excited to run again starting with Global Run Australia this October to November 2011. Only three months after that, he will run a more challenging stage of the Global Run which is Middle East run this March to April 2012.

For Cesar Guarin, Global Run is more than just about fulfilling a deep passion for running. It is his way of honoring and thanking OFWs and migrants. In many ways, Cesar’s triumph over hardships, pains, and failures that he encounters in each Global Run is symbolic of overseas Filipino workers and migrants’ journey in life.

Each year, more than a million Filipinos leave to work abroad through overseas employment agencies and other programs, including government sponsored ones. Others emigrate and become permanent residents of other countries. These brave Filipinos leave loved ones behind, missing important events hoping to give their families a better future. As they embark on a pursuit of a better life with firm hope of “winning” the prize at the end of the finish line, their journey often becomes difficult, lonely, and at times, it would seem pointless or hopeless.

But despite of all these, many of our fellow Filipinos have risen above the challenges and had become successful in their own way. These are qualities that personify the Filipino character of being resilient, dedicated, passionate and selfless. Though they all come from different backgrounds, various professions and diverse beliefs, they all possess these traits that helped them endure hardships, homesickness, and even failures while being away from families and country that they deeply love.

Global Run also gives him the chance to personally thank them and share what connects them as one: We are Filipino and We are Proud of It. Just like Manny Pacquiao, Efren “Bata” Reyes, Paeng Nepumoceno, Lea Salonga, Charice Pempengco, just to name a few, Cesar Guarin will give honor to Filipinos all over the world. This is his way of showing the world what Filipinos can do.

In a recent study, there are about 16 million overseas Filipinos worldwide, equivalent to about 14% of the total population of the Philippines. The Global Run has a goal also of connecting and reaching out to most, if not all, of the Filipinos during and even after the Global Run has ended.

This is one of the reasons why Global Run is charted along countries with most number of Filipinos present. As Cesar runs in key cities in those countries, he and his team make it a point to contact local Filipino communities’ way ahead of time to inform them and encourage them to take part or support the Global Run effort. Hundreds, and sometimes thousands, gather to meet Cesar.

In every country he did his Global Run, a welcome party is always present. All major cities make it a point to welcome Cesar as he reaches each stop. His run begins with a send off often characterized with vigor and enthusiasm. Send off is organized with honorary ambassadors, representatives from consulate and local town officials present. He then gives a short talk before running. And for safety and luck, he is sent-off with 2 motorcycles accompanying him until he reaches 5 kilometers. During his run, he will have stopovers in each key city, where Filipinos working or residing in that region will gather to meet with him as a show of their support.

Around 5 kilometers away from the finish line, well wishers gather to witness Cesar as he completes one destination at a time, sometimes even preparing motorcade and small fellowship afterwards to socialize with each other. During which, he talks about his experiences throughout the run and at the same time, is honored and appreciated by the community, saying he is truly an inspiration. But to Cesar, it is them - our fellow Filipinos - who truly inspire him to run around the world.

Cesar said of his role in Global Run, “The Global Run is not all about achieving my personal dream of running around the world or about my personal triumph in being able to set a record and put myself in high esteem. Global Run is also about uniting our fellow Filipinos in countries where we will do Global Run to work together to fulfill its advocacy. As we meet with them in person during the run, we will communicate with them our desire to fulfill the mission of Global Run with their help: That is, to give hope and a chance for a better life to our poor children living in dire poverty by working together to raise funds for the “Batang Pangarap” sports development programs.

Santa Claus banned from Customs bureau premises

2011-12-10T07:27:00.006+08:00

The Customs bureau is implementing a no solicitation policy within its premises to protect its staff from annoying individuals asking for gifts, donations or raffle prizes for Christmas parties.

In a memorandum, Commissioner Ruffy Biazon said his order will be implemented starting Dec. 12 (Monday) and until the end of the Christmas season.

The Customs chief said he was also contemplating that violators of the memorandum might be “perpetually banned from entering bureau premises”.

Biazon said it was Customs employees and officials themselves who are burdened and shell out money. He added that personnel are often approached to give donations to Christmas raffles or give presents.

“The concept basically is we would prohibit the premises of the bureau, both airport and seaport, from solicitations of gifts and prizes and the like,” Biazon said.

He believes that the directive would be faithfully followed by the employees since they are the ones who complained about the solicitations inside the bureau. The memorandum would serve as the armor of the employees, to protect them from pesky individuals and organizations that might hound them for tokens and raffle prizes.

“It is the employees who asked (for the issuance of the memorandum) so I am sure they would embrace it… So if someone approaches them and ask for donations, they could show them that there is an existing order issued by the Commissioner,” Biazon said.

Biazon said since they would have no way of knowing if the person who is asking for donations from the employees are legitimate “inaanak” (Godchildren), it would be better if they settle this matter outside.

“We provide an environment in the bureau where gifts, in exchange for influence, is openly received…And this is the practice that we want to break…It would be difficult that if you allow one, how do you prevent the other. So might as well prevent everybody. If they want to exchange gifts, do it outside, that is personal,” he added.

The order would also aid the Aquino administration in its efforts to get rid of corruption.

“If they would approach and ask donations from the Customs employees, it would give them (employees) mortification and justification to earn on the side so that they would have money to buy gifts for their so-called inaanak. But if we could create an environment that they could reject these solicitations, then we would reduce corruption,” he added.

By Joel E. Zurbano

Why the Philippines is Poor, According to the IMF

2011-12-10T07:16:00.004+08:00

Weak government spending and political uncertainty are just some of the reasons why the Philippines has been outperformed by most of its Asian neighbors, a study sponsored by the International Monetary Fund showed.

The 25-page working paper, The Determinants of Economic Growth in the Philippines: A New Look, compared the Philippines to 23 emerging markets for the period 1965–2008 to analyze the factors behind per-capita GDP growth in the Philippines.

A previous study noted that in the 1950s, the Philippines had the second highest per capita GDP in Asia. Today, its Southeast Asian neighbors Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam are described as high performing economies that are targetting first world statuses, while the Philippines was operating on a low-growth trajectory.

“The Philippines’ mediocre performance in a number of indicators—particularly relative to its Asian couterparts—illuminates some of the existing pieces of the Philippine growth puzzle,” Willa Boots Tolo, author of the report and now a bank officer at the Philippines’ Bangko Sentral, said.

Among the factors blamed for the country’s weak economic performance were weak agricultural productivity, high government debt, low public, private, and foreign investment, weak research and development spending, low spending on education, lackluster tourism sector, relatively high income inequality, high corruption, strong population growth, more episodes of financial crisis, and political uncertainty.

It suggested that the Philippines lacked a sustained period of relatively strong economic reforms.

Tolo said that, in order to catch up with its East Asian counterparts, the Philippines would need to maintain macroeconomic stability, expand its fiscal space, and redirect public spending to agriculture, infrastructure, and research and development.

“Expansion of the fiscal space and thus scaling up spending on public investment requires raising tax revenue through both administrative and selective tax policy measures. This would include strengthening tax administration, reform in excise taxes, rationalization of fiscal incentives, and addressing exemptions in value-added taxation,” she said.

The study said better irrigation, access to fertilizers, farm-to-market roads, and storage facilities could support development in the agricultural sector.

The government’s focus on public-private partnerships for traditional and non-traditional infrastructure investments would also maximize the returns to development, while srengthening the focus of education on the sciences in all levels would encourage future researchers and scientists who would be instrumental in nation building.

By Roderick T. dela Cruz

Blowin the whistle on HIV/AIDS via Project Commit

2011-12-09T14:00:00.032+08:00

Four years ago, professional photographer Niccolo Cosme discovered that his friend had HIV. There and then, he realized the need to do more in raising awareness on the issue, but in a novel way.

Using his profession and Facebook as come-ons, Cosme held his first ever Project Headshot Clinic. Here, he took photos of participants for free so long as they use it as their profile pictures on their Facebook account. After the photo sessions, Cosme and his group gave a brief seminar to educate them about HIV and AIDS. In return, participants are required to spread the word to their friends.

TO COMMIT, NOT JUST TO BE AWARE

“With Project Headshot, we give importance to your profile pictures on Facebook. It works like an online billboard, its merging profile pictures with advertising and my advocacy. Imagine if you have a thousand friends on FB, and you can now track how many people are viewing you and liking your posts. I felt that that was the best way to promote the cause. In a way, it’s also making them little ambassadors of their communities,” explains Cosme, 31.

While anyone can join, not everyone can get in. Cosme says people must first fulfill some requirements.

“We screen them on their knowledge on the issue, ask them for their commitment and what they can do to help. They must also have a large number of friends on FB. We're also interested in the ideas that they have because at the end of the day, that’s what they’ll be talking about with their friends,” he points out.

Because of its success, Project Headshot Clinics have become an annual event. This year, he didn’t only manage to find sponsors for the Nov. 20 clinic but also attracted participants who were more dedicated to the advocacy.

“This year, the theme for Project Headshot was to commit because it’s not enough anymore to be aware. It’s a realization on our end that people are aware but lack commitment in all aspects. I know stories of the condom being just right in their closet but the commitment to use it isn’t there. It’s just all talk, it may be there in their minds and hearts but the commitment to do or practice it, is not there,” he stresses.

SOUNDING THE ALARM

In May, Cosme decided to take his advocacy to the next level as AIDS-related deaths have increased. What made matters worse is the fact that he knew most of these people who perished from AIDS. Some were friends, others were acquaintances.

Inspired by a friend’s red whistle which is being used in disaster preparedness campaigns, Cosme saw the need to create his own national response to the alarming cases of HIV and thus formed the The Red Whistle organization.

“The Red Whistle is not too different from disaster preparedness campaigns. There is a silent disaster happening. While it’s not like the typhoon disasters which we readily see, the battle against HIV is silent, an invisible disaster because people who are diagnosed with it, especially their families, keep it to themselves."

"Red Whistle is a good campaign to counter that silence because it's something that makes noise. Through this, we're hoping to ignite and empower more people to start their own causes on HIV and AIDS," shares Cosme.

BLOWING THE WHISTLE

The Red Whistle has partnered with various sectors and organizations, among them, the Take the Test organization. In September, Cosme linked up with fashion designer friends and held an auction of designer dresses to raise funds for Red Whistle. The proceeds will be used to fund their programs.

On Dec. 1, The Red Whistle`s first television commercial was also launched on Star World and Channel V in observance of World AIDS Day. Produced in cooperation with TBWA ad agency, the TVC will have celebrity advocates such as Boy Abunda, Gretchen Barreto, Rico Blanco, and Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago proudly wearing the red whistle and spreading the message.

Other activities in celebration of World AIDS Day include an exhibition of the latest Project Headshot Clinic photos at Greenbelt 5 in Makati which happened on Dec. 5, and a music festival at the Metro Walk, Ortigas on Dec. 9. The music fest which is in partnership with Channel V, will have 50 bands playing for free. Cosme says about 2,000 people are expected to come and blow the whistle altogether at the same time that day.

He adds that part of the activities is the giving away of safety and pleasure kits to the public. The kits, containing a red whistle, condom and a lubricant, carry the message that being safe can also be pleasurable.

"Some people are still in a denial stage that many are having sex now. That's why we see the need to enlighten them about things. We're hoping that through our campaign, we can have behavioral change. We want people to openly talk about sex because openly talking about it will lead to seeing the need for protection and hopefully getting tested," he says.

For Cosme, it's all about saving lives.

"Whenever people hear the facts, they get shocked. But we don’t want to scare people, we just want to inspire and empower them to do something. Because there is no cure for HIV, we believe that you can be the cure. It starts from you. If you protect yourself then it won't penetrate you. At the same time, the cure for stigma also starts with you. If you start showing care and respect, and not fear towards people living with HIV, then you are being part of the solution," ends Cosme.

By RACHEL C. BARAWID

Chiz, Loren lead pack of ’13 senatorial poll bets

2011-12-09T08:18:00.007+08:00

If senatorial elections were held today, Francis “Chiz” Escudero and Loren Legarda would be ahead of the pac, according to the latest Pulse Asia survey.

The survey released on Wednesday had Escudero garnering 65.6 percent to earn the top spot, followed by Legarda with 58.9 percent.

Transportation and Telecommunication Secretary Manuel Roxas II, a former senator, came in third with a 43 percent score, followed by another re-electionist Alan Peter Cayetano with 40.3 percent.

Former vice president Noli de Castro completed the top five with 34.8 percent.

Notably a new entry, Joseph Victor “JV” Estrada—a son of former president Joseph Estrada—came in 6th place with 30.4 percent, followed by Gregorio Honasan with 29.6 percent.

Another new entry is Juan Ponce “Jack” Enrile Jr., son of Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, who took the 8th place with 29.5 percent. He was followed by Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III with 29.4 percent.

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima made it to the top 10 by garnering 29.4 percent.

Incumbent Senator Antonio Trillanes IV and Juan Miguel Zubiri completed the top 12 with 28.7 percent and 26.8 percent, respectively.

Within striking distance of the top 12 were Aurora Rep. Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara, a son of Senator Edgardo Angara, followed by former senators Jamby Madrigal and Richard Gordon.

The survey was conducted from Nov. 10 to 23 and is based on a sample of 1,200 representative adults 18 years old and above.

During the survey period, the dominant news items included the Supreme Court’s issuance of a temporary restraining order on the watch list order against former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and husband Jose Miguel T. Arroyo.

By John Concepcion

House bill on National Teachers Day approved in 2nd reading

2011-12-09T07:59:00.009+08:00

A bill that seeks to declare October 5 of each year as “National Teachers Day” in the Philippines is now being readied for final approval at the House of Representatives.

This developed as congressmen approved in second reading House Bill 4097 that aims to recognize the role of teachers in the educational and moral advancement of the people, especially the youth, as well as to the development of society.

The bill was endorsed for plenary approval by the House Committee on Basic Education and Culture chaired by Sorsogon Representative Salvador Escudero III.

It substituted House Bill 3409 authored by Representatives Rufus Rodriguez of Cagayan de Oro City and Maximo Rodriguez, Jr. of Abante Mindanao party-list in consolidation with House Bill 4097 authored by Representative Antonio Tinio of Alliance of Concerned Teachers party-list.

Overworked and underpaid, Tinio said many teachers forced to work abroad for much better pay.

"Despite hardships attendant to their profession, such as low pay and meager benefits, difficult working conditions and minimal protection during election and census duties, our teachers still carry on, molding the minds and hearts of our country’s future," he said.

Rodriguez said teachers in the Philippines not only shoulder the task of providing better education to the country's students, they also endure hardships in the performance of their functions.

The measure mandates the Department of Education (DepEd), the Commission on Higher Education (Ched) and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) to initiate the appropriate activities to celebrate National Teachers' Day.

The bill directs all public and private educational institutions in the elementary, secondary and tertiary levels to provide their full support and assistance to events and activities to be conducted by teachers and students in recognition of National Teachers' Day.

By Virgil Lopez

President Noynoy Aquino travel shy for 2012

2011-12-09T07:45:00.003+08:00

President Benigno Aquino III said Wednesday he will fly to the United States, Russia, Laos and Cambodia next year and might include Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea in his 2012 travel plans.

But he said he had asked the Foreign Affairs Department to plan his foreign visits carefully.

“I told the Department of Foreign Affairs … the way you’re planning it out, I might be spending half of the year out of the country and I will not accept that,” Mr. Aquino said.

US President Barack Obama invited Mr. Aquino to visit Washington next year during their meeting in Bali last month.

Mr. Aquino said he would also be attending the two summit meetings of the Association of the Southeast Asian Nations in Cambodia, the Asia-Europe Meeting in Laos, and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation conference in Russia.

Mr. Aquino, who promised fewer trips abroad compared to those made by his predecessor Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo when he assumed office in 2010, has been out of the country 11 times in the last 10 months.

He traveled to Indonesia and Singapore in March, to Thailand in May, to Brunei in June, to Japan and China in August, to the United States in September, to Japan in September, and to the United States and Indonesia in November.

By Joyce Pangco Pañares

Your online presence: Facebook Etiquette

2011-12-09T07:35:00.000+08:00

In our technology and information-obsessed society, social networking sites like Facebook have become the new town herald, and airing your dirty laundry can be as easy as pressing “Share”.

Technology can be your best friend or your worst enemy. In the movie “He’s Just Not That Into You” there’s a scene where Drew Barrymore’s character talks about how exhausting it is to keep in touch with people these days. We have all these different portals to give and receive messages with email, Facebook, text messaging, Yahoo Messenger, etc., only to end up getting rejected by all these different technologies. And when it comes to the delicate art of Facebook etiquette, things can get a little slippery, here are few tips of navigating the cyberworld of social networking.

1. Relationship Status

One of the hardest things a person can go through is a bad breakup. So when you see your ex change their relationship status to “Single” barely a day after you two split it’s as if they’re rubbing salt on an open wound, then dousing it with gasoline and setting it on fire, for good measure. Some people say a month is enough, some say a couple of days, we recommend waiting a week.

2. “Like”-ing Questionable Things

If someone shares that their dog just died, it’s probably best not to “Like” it. Also, it’s in bad taste to “Like” relationship changes, particularly the ones that involve a break up. You can tell a lot about a person based on the things they “Like”.

3. Posting Unflattering and Incriminating Pictures of Yourself/Others

So you had a crazy weekend at the beach with your closest friends, got a little too drunk and passed out with your pants off, while you may think that was a hoot and a holler and don’t mind sharing the photographic evidence with the world, you should probably re-think it. The same goes for posting unflattering photos of your friends. The golden rule should be, if you wouldn’t want your friends seeing you like that, chances are, they wouldn’t either.

4. Ranting about work when your boss is on your friends list

Let’s say you hate your job and want everyone to know it, it’s probably best to make sure your boss isn’t on your friends list. After all, there’s nothing more pathetic and sadder than Facebook costing you your job. Facebook allows you to create custom friend groups, use it.

5. Drunk Facebooking

We’ve gone from drunk dialing to drunk texting, drunk emailing to drunk Facebooking. The evolution of self-perpetuated embarrassment has reached all-new heights. Thankfully, the good people at Firefox have given us some hope for retaining our dignity with the add-on “The Social Media Sobriety Test” which requires you take a series of tests before you’re allowed to log in to your Facebook (or Twitter and Myspace).

From EYP.ph

Mo and Rhian—should we care?

2011-12-08T22:42:00.003+08:00

Mo and Rhian—should we care?

“In any case, as I’ve said before, other people’s personal lives are none of our business. But since Mo (like KC) has made a private matter public, it is now fodder for all sorts of speculation and gossip.”

By: Jenny Ortuoste

With the populace still reeling from the revelations of actress/model KC Concepcion about her breakup from actor Piolo Pascual, now comes another teary scandal, this time from disc jockey Mo Twister.

A video of a crying Mo (his real name is Mohan Gumatay) was recently uploaded to Youtube. In it he alleges that his then-girlfriend, actress Rhian Ramos, had their child aborted last July 2010 in Singapore.

From his @djmotwister account, he Tweeted, “I have a question about abortion. Should the girl ask the guy what his thoughts are and should he have a chance to stand up for the baby?”

He followed this with other, more controversial Tweets: “Because no amount of inconvenience could ever justify treating the supreme creation of God with murderous contempt.” “…even the dictionary defines it, in its 2nd explanation, as monstrosity.” “Young child, don’t ever think you were never good enough. You just had no choice in the matter.”

Finally, Mo posted a photo of what presumably was his own shoulder, tattooed with the words “to the wounds that will never heal, 08/07/10.” The skin was still reddened; the ink looked fresh. (Check out www.spot.ph.)

Rhian Ramos has filed a harrassment case against Mo. She claims that his insinuation that she had an abortion violates Republic Act 9262 (Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act). She has also asked for a temporary protection order to prevent Mo from making any more such statements.

We are merely spectators in all this and have no idea, at this point, what the truth is. Did she or didn’t she? Because he certainly did.

In any case, as I’ve said before, other people’s personal lives are none of our business. But since Mo (like KC) has made a private matter public, it is now fodder for all sorts of speculation and gossip.

Is Mo’s revelation vengeance, narcissism, or simply a man in pain lashing out like a wounded tiger, regardless of whom he hurts in his turmoil?

Can any good come out of this kind of exposure of private pain?

Rather than schadenfreudenly feeding off the suffering and misery inherent in the drama, let us deconstruct the concepts that arise and allow it to flow into the river of societal discourse: in this case, the topic of abortion.

Mo raises a good question—does the father of the child have a say in an abortion? The woman usually makes the decision to have an abortion, although it also happens often that it is instigated by the man. There are many reasons why the woman would have an abortion—youth, career, lack of finances, fear of disapproval and anger of parents and family, an unwillingness or unreadiness to be a parent, and the knowledge (or assumption) that the man will not be a good father and she’ll be raising the child on her own are just some of them.

In the end, what happens is that the woman makes the choice because it is her body, and it is her right to decide what to do or not to do with that body.
But why even have an abortion when contraception would have prevented the situation in the first place?

Given that the majority of Filipinos are Roman Catholics, and that the Church wields a strong influence in politics, and that the dominant ideology embedded in this culture is based upon Roman Catholic doctrine (sorry, other kinds of Christians, Muslims, atheists, Buddhists, and those of other, little, or no faith), prevailing attitudes toward abortion and contraception consider them abhorrent and sins against God.

In fact, so inflexible are the attitudes of some sectors of society that back-door influence has been brought heavily to bear against lawmakers passing the proposed reproductive health bill, which in no way condones nor encourages promiscuity, homosexuality, teen—even child—pregnancies, or any of the other “abominations” ascribed to it by the paranoid.

Yet the behavior of teenagers—as opposed to attitudes—tells a different story. As of 2009, based on data from birth certificates, the number of teenage pregnancies in the Philippines was at 195,662, a 70 percent increase from the 114,205 in 1999. Of the 1.75 million live births in 2009, over 11 percent of those babies were born to teenage mothers.

According to the United Nations Population Fund’s 2011 annual report, the teenage pregnancy rate in the Philippines is at 53 births per 1,000 women aged between 15 to 19 - the highest among the six Asean countries.

A 2008 news article says the Philippines (where abortion is illegal) has a higher abortion rate than the United States (where abortion is legal), at 25 per 1,000 women compared to the latter’s 23 per 1,000 women. Consider also that the US has a much higher population—around 250 million in 2011; the Philippines has less than half at around 95 million.

The main drivers of the escalating teen pregnancy rate are poverty and ignorance. The RH bill would try to minimize that, through certain of its measures that would provide sex education in schools.

The discussion of sex is still taboo in many sectors of Philippine society, even if as an activity it is frequently and enthusiastically practiced (see: Philippine population, number of offspring sired by Ramon Revilla Sr.).

But these are pressing issues that people face every day. Birth control, sex, abortion—they need to be discussed, they need to be faced, because people live and die over these matters.
We have a long, long way to go. We don’t even have divorce in this country —the only one left on the planet that refuses to let people start over.

So, should we care?

Mo Twister opened up a can of squirmy things living in the dark.

We need to drag this all into the light and let clarity, logic, and reason illuminate the important life issues we have long kept on the dark side of our collective soul.

PNoy is a spoiled brat..?

2011-12-08T11:20:00.004+08:00

The in-house coverage team, which had its microphones on, clearly caught Aquino’s response: “Anak ng puta”… The “siga” was a man worthy of respect who had nothing more to prove; the “siga-sigaan” was a fake, outwardly feared but cursed behind his back.

Taken from: Jojo Robles

“The lighting of the Christmas decorations at Malacañang Palace last weekend was no big deal. The President didn’t really have to be there, even if he must have decided that he should be present anyway, for some reason.

But during the small ceremony, which was dutifully covered by the Radio Television Malacañang or RTVM group, a subordinate approached President Noynoy Aquino and whispered something in his ear. The in-house coverage team, which had its microphones on, clearly caught Aquino’s response: “Anak ng p---!”

Quick-thinking Aquino aides promptly confiscated the tape from the crew that was covering the event. It’s safe to say that no one will ever get to see the video of the cussing President.

But what did the flunky say that enraged the President so? That will probably be harder to discover than the recording of Aquino impersonating a street thug one more time.

…In the hardscrabble neighborhood where I grew up, a couple of kilometers —and dozens of economic levels—away from Aquino’s upscale Times Street home, we learned early on how to deal with bully-cowards: You showed up with superior force.

Since force is the only language bully-cowards understood, superiority (or at least parity) took the form of more numbers, armaments or protection from those with more numbers or armaments. Bully-cowards (who were called “siga-sigaan” as opposed to the real tough guys, who were simply “siga”) always backed away at even the illusion of retaliatory capabilities.

The real “siga,” by the way, never advertised their toughness. They were often quiet people who minded their own business and who didn’t go around with posses; but they were never to be trifled with, especially by the fake tough guys, because of their reputation for being real fighters or even killers.

The “siga-sigaan” were foul-mouthed braggarts who always travelled with entourages, appeared perpetually ready for a fight (often with people who wouldn’t) and whose exploits were often apocryphal. They made a lot of noise but quieted down in a hurry whenever a real “siga” appeared.

The “siga” was a man worthy of respect who had nothing more to prove; the “siga-sigaan” was a fake, outwardly feared but cursed behind his back.

Sometimes, the “siga-sigaan” became a real “siga”; Most of the time, he just remained a fake, a bully and a yellow-bellied coward.”

LGBTs want DOH's Ona to resign for anti-gay AIDS remarks

2011-12-07T21:55:00.005+08:00

Human rights activists recoiled in horror at homophobic remarks made by Department of Health Secretary Enrique Ona before an AIDS convention and demanded his resignation from office for discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender populations who are part of the country's priority populations for HIV prevention.

Speaking before the Plenary Meeting of the Philippine National AIDS Council (PNAC) at the Manila Grand Opera Hotel, Ona suggested the gathered AIDS prevention workers that parents should reign their homosexual children and get them tested.

He was immediately met with angry hoots and whistles from AIDS activists.

"We want Ona ousted. Bigots do not deserve high government posts, and more so he should not serve as a chair of PNAC if we do not want his unscientific biases to taint the good work of our unsung AIDS preventions heroes nationwide," said Marlon Lacsamana, the founder of the Philippines LGBT Hate Crime Watch, a human rights watchdog.

"We're wasting our hard-earned taxpayers' money on homophobes as he is undoing decades of evidence-based prevention practices that aim to encourage homosexuals and transgenders to voluntarily seek testing, counseling, and treatment. Ona's words will drive LGBTs away from HIV programs and make us so vulnerable to infections," Lacsamana said.

Oscar Atadero, human rights officer of the Progressive Organization of Gays in the Philippines (ProGay) stated that it was very regrettable that Ona uttered his remarks when the World AIDS Day theme this year is about “Getting to Zero.” The global call by the United Nations for Zero New HIV Infections is designed to ensure that most at risk populations (MARPs) get much improved access to treatment for all.

"Instead of achieving zero deaths, suggesting that gays, bisexuals and transgenders get tested en masse will achieve zero access, zero treatment and zero saved lives. It feels like gays, bisexuals and transgender being given a marching order to file into gas ovens in Europe during the time of Hitler," Atadero said.

The Philippines remain one the countries with punitive anti-gay laws, such as the Anti-Vagrancy Law, and rampant violence against LGBTs inflicted by police and village security forces. The UN point out that these anti-LGBT policies prevent homosexuals, transgenders, and their partners from accessing life-saving information and treatment.

By PROGAY Philippines

Gay or not, get over it

2011-12-07T08:17:00.005+08:00

What’s also odd is that members of the gay community can be the harshest critics of other gay people... A case in point is Supreme Court spokesman Midas Marquez whose reaction to a microphone bumped off the podium went viral in the Internet.

Gay or not, get over it

Johnna Villaviray-Giolagon

Bakit dumadami ang bading, hindi naman sila nanganganak? [They don’t give birth but why are gays increasing?]

That’s a remark I often hear from a colleague whenever a gay man happens to ride with us in the elevator.

I don’t believe he meant any real animosity against them. But the lack of hostility apparently doesn’t stop him, or other men and women, from cracking jokes at the expense of the homosexual community.

Of course, the only other group of people pelted with more taunts than members of the gay community are those who are suspected of being part of it.

A case in point is Supreme Court spokesman Midas Marquez whose reaction to a microphone bumped off the podium went viral in the Internet. His masculinity came under doubt because his reaction was one we normally see in openly gay men.

And then there’s heartthrob Piolo Pascual whose sexual orientation came under question, for the umpteenth time, after his breakup with KC Concepcion.

Men suspected of being gay might not be gay at all but that doesn’t stop other people from watching and salivating until the day the truth comes out of the closet. A denial only fuels suspicion.

Won’t you agree that the curiosity over one’s sexual orientation is odd considering that even our largely conservative society has come to accept gay people as useful members of the community? Old prejudices remain, true, but hostility is not at the level of our lolo’s time.

What’s also odd is that members of the gay community can be the harshest critics of other gay people. A gay man who doesn’t act feminine enough is scoffed at as pa-mihn or in denial.

Perhaps that’s because we—members of the gay community included—have gotten too used to putting people in the boxes society assigned.

Women act like women.
Men act like men.
Gay people act like gay people.
Digress at the risk of turning yourself into a curiosity.

Many of us are reluctant to accept that some gay people—I use the term ‘gay’ only because ‘lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender’ or even the initials LGBT is a mouthful—do not see the need to announce to the world their sexual orientation.

Maybe they do not think it is any more liberating to confirm their non-conformity than to keeping their
preferences to themselves. Perhaps it is a personal choice as much as heterosexuals do not feel the need to emphasize that they are.

Which ever, won’t you agree that the choice to come out of or stay in the closet rests on the individual concerned? We can hardly bully anyone into confirming his or her sexual orientation simply to satisfy our curiosity.

Children develop a consciousness of gender as early as two or three years old.

The sense of gender identity is reinforced as they grow into preschoolers. They also begin to assume gender roles as they see it played out in their immediate community, meaning the family.

By the time children are in elementary, they already have a good sense of the roles assigned to each gender.

To a few, this is the age when they realize they are different from other kids of the same gender. (A friend intimated that he was around 7 or 8 when he began delighting in going to the loo with his
friends just to smell the other boy’s piss.)

This would also be the age that children start teasing a playmate deviating from assigned gender roles.

How much malice that accusation carries and how much it affects the target varies. But because children are children—with raw emotions and ideas lacking in the normal adult—these gibes tend to come off more intense.

Supposedly as we grow up and mature, and as society polishes our manners and sensitivities, we develop deeper tolerance of the differences common to the human race.

Obviously, that isn’t the case. Adults still relish in the natural desire to call attention to that which we think is out of the ordinary.

But while that is so, there’s no real impediment to try to mature as individuals. We don’t have to act like children with little tolerance for what we deem to be nonstandard.

If we allow ourselves to be more broadminded, we will come to accept that homos are homogenous only as much as heteros are homogenous.

We’re all different. Get over it.

Walang Corrupt, Maraming Mahirap...

2011-12-06T10:03:00.002+08:00

“Eighteen months into his presidency, the people still look at Aquino with a jaundiced eye…

After a year and half of his presidency, indeed, there is no scandal that has tainted Aquino’s reputation—

… Remarkably, the Philippines is now the slowest growing among the major member countries of the Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) all of which are subjected to the same external vagaries the country is subjected to—like the debt crisis in Europe, the economic stall in the United States and Japan, the slowdown in China and all major markets.”

Walang Corrupt, Maraming Mahirap...

BY: Tony Lopez

When Benigno Simeon Cojuangco Aquino 3rd became president on June 30, 2010, he promised no corruption and to run after his predecessor, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. But he promised little on the economy, which at that time was, well, booming.

Eighteen months into his presidency, the people still look at Aquino with a jaundiced eye.

The President remains hugely po-pular—despite a dramatic slowdown in the economy (caused in large part by massive underspending by the administration), rising poverty, rising hunger incidence, rising inflation and rising unemployment.

In the third quarter Social Weather Stations survey, 68 percent said they were satisfied with the Aquino administration’s performance.

In the August to September 2011 Pulse Asia survey, Aquino chalked up a 77 percent approval rating and 75 percent trust rating. Surveys indicate Noynoy is the most popular of all post-EDSA 1986 presidents, an amazing finding considering the lack of substantial track record as a congressman for nine years and senator for three years.

“If no one is corrupt, no one will be poor. (Kung walang corrupt, walang mahirap), is the defining principle that will serve as the foundation of our administration,” the Pre-sident said at his inaugural 18 months ago.

After a year and half of his presidency, indeed, there is no scandal that has tainted Aquino’s reputation—except for acts of omission or incompetence of his Cabinet and sub-cabinet people.

And the President has been able to put Mrs. Arroyo under arrest, guarded 24/7 by the police, collaring for once, the principal symbol of corruption and abuse —Aquino believes—in the previous administration.

Two weeks after her hospital arrest at upscale St. Luke’s in Taguig, a local judge has ordered Arroyo’s transfer to a government hospital.

Economy doing poorly
Meanwhile, on the economy, Aquino has done very poorly. Growth rate has halved while hunger, poverty, inflation and unemployment are up.

Inflation rose to 4.5 percent in the ten months to October 2011 from 4.0 percent last year.

Majority or 52 percent of the population say they are poor. Hunger stalks 23 percent of the population, up from 13 percent in June 2011 and 20.7 percent in March 2011, per Social Weather Stations survey.

At 3.6 percent, economic growth in the first nine months of 2011 is less than half the 8.2 percent rate scored during January-September 2010.

Unemployment was 7.4 percent in January 2011, up from 7.3 percent in January 2010. But that hides the impact of recent adverse developments. Failure of government to spend in the first nine months this year meant job losses of more than 300,000.

“Economic growth has been disappointing,” winces Harvard-trained economist Dr. Bernardo Villegas. “I thought the economy would grow by 4 percent in the third quarter (actual growth was 3.2 percent) because the government had started releasing (infra) funds,” he says in an interview.

Many economists and think tanks now believe growth during 2011 will be below 4 percent, and 4 percent is even lower than the low end of the government’s own projections for 2011.

“There is now no way we can expect to meet the revised annual growth rate of between 4.5 percent and 5.5 percent. That now unreach-able target was already revised downwards from 6.5 percent and 7.5 percent,” asserts political scientist Alex Magno writing in the Star Dec. 1.

Magno sneered: “The administration says it is not alarmed by the disappointing growth rate, but the local market surely is.”

“The stock exchange continued its downward path even as stock prices for the rest of the world spiked after encouraging sales numbers from the onset of the US shopping season.”

“The diffidence shown by the ad-ministration is itself unsettling. Our growth rate is now below the inflation rate and only slightly above our population growth rate. Our exports are falling dramatically while our imports are rising fast, creating a balance of trade deficit that is now reflecting on the peso-dollar exchange rate. The deterioration of the peso will soon magnify the costs consumers need to pay for vital imports like oil, rice, flour and milk. Consequently, poverty will deepen.”

PH slowest growing in ASEAN

Remarkably, the Philippines is now the slowest growing among the major member countries of the Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) all of which are subjected to the same external vagaries the country is subjected to—like the debt crisis in Europe, the economic stall in the United States and Japan, the slowdown in China and all major markets. Indonesia grew 6.5 percent, Vietnam and Singapore 6.1 percent, and Malaysia 5.8 percent.

“We are again at the bottom of the Asia list,” grimaces former Senator Ernesto Maceda, now a columnist. “The bottom line: ineffective economic programs, slow government action, misguided cancellation of awarded contracts.”

The Philippines’ economic slump has been partly self-inflicted. The administration has refused to spend more than P140 billion in infra funds that should have been released for vital public works projects early part of 2011. Public construction spending declined a substantial 21.3 percent in the third quarter. The freeze, in my estimate, meant more than 300,000 jobs that should have been created.

The people have not made President Aquino account for the slow progress on the economic front. Next year, when the full impact of the Philippine economic slowdown, the sovereign debt crisis in Europe, the stalemate in the US economy, the deceleration in both Japan and China is felt in full force, the people should begin asking the President the question: Are we better off today than 18 months ago?

Rizal hosts festival reviving ancient Filipino writing system of Baybayin

2011-12-02T08:14:00.008+08:00

This province, named after national hero Dr. Jose P. Rizal, hosted the country’s first conference and symposium on our ancient writing system the other day as part of the commemoration of the birth anniversary of another hero, Andres Bonifacio.

This came as the province successfully held the Baybayin Festival 2011, in two venues, first at the Angono-Binangonan Petroglyphs site and second, at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.

Pangasinan 2nd District Representative Leopoldo N. Bataoil, principal author of House Bill 4395, An Act Providing the Protection and Conservation of Baybayin and declaring Baybayin as the National Script of the Philippines also known as the National Script Act of 2011 was one of the guest speakers in the activities.

Rizal Governor Casimiro “Junjun” Ynares III; Rizal Mayors League members; Department of Education officials in the province as well as principals and officials of various public and private schools in the province joined in the 1st Philippine Baybayin Conference in Angono-Binangonan Petroglyphs, which was part of the Baybayin Festival 2011, a collaborative project of Baybayin Buhayin, Taklobo Baybayin and Teachers @ Work Journey Group International and Soul Venture Rizal.

Jaime “Jay” Enage, founding chairman of the Baybayin advocacy group said the Rizal provincial government, Department of Education, and the National Museum were also instrumental in the holding of the historic Baybayin Festival in two separate venues in this province during the birth anniversary of Bonifacio, who was later found out to have used Baybayin text in the Katipunan organization.

The conference aims to create awareness among Filipinos on the historical and importance of our language, particularly on our ancient writing system, which is the Baybayin; provide a forum for stakeholders among the academe and other related agencies regarding the relevance of the theory by Dr. Bonifacio Comandante Jr. on the Baybayin Artifacts for educational purposes; and to help boost the tourism not only educational trips but for local guests and foreigners as well.

By NEL B. ANDRADE

46% of Moms Don't Let Their Children See Their Full Facebook Profile

2011-12-02T08:05:00.007+08:00

The oft-discussed dilemma of whether to share your Facebook profile with your mom often overlooks an important factor: Does she want to share hers with you?

A recent study suggests that about half of the time, the answer is no -- at least not the whole profile.

The survey, which was conducted by the publisher of publisher of Parenting and Babytalk magazines, found that 46% of mothers who responded don't give their children full access to their profiles.

This reluctance to overshare doesn't necessarily stop them from friending their children, or even their children's friends. A staggering 90% of respondents said that they are friends with their children on Facebook, and 77% said they are also friends with their children's friends on the social network.

It might be less than scientific study -- the data was collected from 1,146 participants via an email blast from a PR firm, and it doesn't break out data by age of child -- but it does hint that the younger half of the mother-child relationship isn't the only one that can be protective of its social media activity.

If you're mother doesn't let you see her whole page, don't take it personally; she's in good company. If you're really curious, however, you might borrow an idea from the 73% of study respondents who said they were not friends with their children on Facebook, but viewed their profiles through somebody else's account.

By Sarah Kessler

House pushes bill against cybercrimes

2011-12-02T07:38:00.006+08:00

The House Committee on Appropriations has approved the budget provision of the consolidated bill that seeks to penalize cybercrimes, including hacking and cybersex.

Headed by Cavite Rep. Joseph Emilio Abaya, the House panel nodded to the budgetary requirements of the substitute bill, which is a consolidation of nine measures.

“The Committee approved the appropriation provision of the substitute bill with amendments,” according to the House panel report. However, the committee report did not divulge the amendments made by the Abaya panel.

“I’m not aware what specific amendments are, but certainly hurdling the appropriations committee is a positive step forward,” said Aurora Rep. Juan Edgardo Angara, one of the principal authors of the bill.

Under the bill, those who engage in cyber defamation, reckless damaging or deletion of data, unauthorized transmission of electronic messages or spamming and computer fraud will be slapped with a penalty of imprisonment and a fine of up to P1 million. Even the corporations that violate the provisions of the measure will be fined up to P10 million.

The bill defines cyber defamation as an act of maligning a person through social media such as Facebook and Twitter, among others.

The Commission on Information and Communications Technology (CICT) has recognized the measure as a cyber security blanket that would protect firms and individuals from being threatened and from being exploited, as it lamented that the country has “inadequate” measure against cybercrimes.

Under the Republic Act 8792 or the Electronic Commerce Act, only software theft, hacking and development and deployment of computer virus are penalized.

The consolidated cybercrime bill, which mandates the CICT to formulate a national cyber security plan, also penalizes those who engage in cyberthreats by threatening the life, security or property of another person with the aid of a computer system, whether using one's real name or assumed name. Cybersex, which includes any form of interactive prostitution or performing sexual acts in front of the webcam, is also punishable under the proposed Act.

The bill’s implementing arms are the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Philippine National Police (PNP). The measure also tasks the Department of Justice (DoJ) to extend assistance for the investigation of the cyber criminals.

By CHARISSA M. LUCI

World AIDS Day 2011: Getting to Zero

2011-12-02T07:03:00.004+08:00

World AIDS Day this year is about “Getting to Zero.” Zero New HIV Infections. Zero Discrimination and Zero AIDS Related Deaths.

Backed by the United Nations the “Getting to Zero” campaign runs until 2015 and builds on last year’s successful World AIDS Day “Light for Rights” initiative encompassing a range of vital issues identified by key affected populations.”The potential for creative, connected and meaningful campaigning is really exciting,” says World AIDS Campaign Africa Director, Linda Mafu. “Our organization will focus on Zero AIDS Related Deaths, but the choice is there for others to pick a different zero or all three.

”The World AIDS Campaign focus on “Zero AIDS Related Deaths” signifies a push towards greater access to treatment for all; a call for governments to act now. A demand they honor promises like the Abuja declaration and that African Governments at very least hit agreed targets for domestic spending on health and HIV in support of the human right to the best attainable level of health care for all.It’s a global campaign that spotlights how our fundamental right to health is intrinsically and inextricably linked to other basic rights – The right to food, to shelter, to freedom, to clean water and safety. Crucial too is access to affordable life saving quality medicines free from the crippling effects of excessive profit taking.

In the coming months the World AIDS Campaign will be spotlighting a range of Getting to Zero initiatives to help see an end to AIDS related deaths.“It’s going to be amazing decision makers need to understand that people living with HIV , the marginalized, the dispossessed – all of us – want our rights.” Linda Mafu adds. “I can see all sort of events on World AIDS Day - For example, marches that end in Light for Rights type actions outside Finance Ministries where beams of torchlight shine on buildings where under spending on HIV and health cost thousands of lives. It’s time to use our imaginations and let everyone know Getting to Zero is a must.”

The global HIV response is at a pivotal moment, where huge strides forward are at serious risk and current approaches are reaching their limits. Only one third of the 15 million people living with HIV in need of life long treatment are receiving it. New infections continue to outpace the number of people starting treatment, while the upward trend in resources suffered a serious downturn this year.

“Zero New HIV Infections” and “Zero Discrimination” are equally as likely to spark high impact events from small scale community vigils to nation wide events using the universally recognized shape of zeros and the power of light to get life and death issues the attention they deserve.

For December 1st 2011 right up until 2015 it’s envisioned that different regions and groups will each year chose one or all of the Zeros that best addresses their situation.

The decision to go with the millennium development related goal of “Getting to Zero” comes after extensive discussions among people living with HIV, health activists, broader civil society and many others – more than a hundred organizations in all.

The vision for this year’s World AIDS Day and beyond may be aspirational but the journey towards its attainment is laid with concrete milestones.

* 10 goals for 2015 *

Sexual transmission of HIV reduced by half, including among young
people,men who have sex with men and transmission in the context of
sex work;

Vertical transmission of HIV eliminated and AIDS-related maternal
deaths reduced by half;

All new HIV infections prevented among people who use drugs.

Universal access to antiretroviral therapy for people living with HIV
who are eligible for treatment;

TB deaths among people living with HIV reduced by half;

All people living with HIV and households affected by HIV are
addressed in all national social protection strategies and have
access to essential care and support.

Countries with punitive laws and practices around HIV transmission,
sex work, drug use or homosexuality that block effective responses
reduced by half ;

HIV-related restrictions on entry, stay and residence eliminated in
half of the countries that have such restrictions;

HIV-specific needs of women and girls are addressed in at least half
of all national HIV responses;

Zero tolerance for gender-based violence.

Pacquiao itching to fight Mayweather

2011-12-01T08:00:00.001+08:00

"Losing is in Pacquiao’s mind because he lost just last week. He lost to Marquez three times. May 5 is the date, sign the contract, I’m waiting. I can’t be sitting waiting all day, you want to fight, let’s make it happen. I’m here, I’m waiting, what’s going on? I can sign today. If I sign today you better sign tomorrow,” said Mayweayther, who earlier scored a lopsided shutout win over Marquez."

by Ronnie Nathanielsz

Ring Magazine’s pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao said a fight against undefeated Floyd Mayweather Jr., possibly on May 5 next year, will be a good one – if it pushes through.
Pacquiao, who represents the lone congressional district of Sarangani, spoke to members of Congress and friends, who gathered at the Resorts World Hotel and Casino, which hosted a dinner party in honor of the Filipino ring icon.
“Hopefully, the next fight, Mayweather na,” said Pacquiao, who however, quickly added “hindi ko pa sinasabing tuloy na. I am not saying it will push through.”
Pacquiao, though, expressed confidence it would be a good fight and even invited his fellow congressmen to watch.
At the same time, he predicted that he will win that fight decisively, even though he was coming off a close majority decision win against Mexican legend Juan Manuel Marquez.
The eight-division champion and Fighter of the Decade admitted that fight fans were disappointed that the Marquez fight was close since they expected him to win handily.

Pacquiao’s adviser Michael Koncz, who met with Mayweather at his Las Vegas Gym, was visibly angry that stories on his visit came out. He appeared particularly upset with Top Rank promoter Bob Arum, who confirmed the meeting in an overseas telephone conversation with Manila Standard.

Mayweather’s adviser Leonard Ellerbe was quoted as saying the undefeated fighter and Koncz didn’t talk about the fight during the latter’s Las Vegas visit. Mayweather himself asked Team Pacquiao to begin negotiations and sign a contract for a May 5 megabuck fight, expected to be the biggest fight ever..

“I’ve been told May 5 is open. Losing is in Pacquiao’s mind because he lost just last week. He lost to Marquez three times. May 5 is the date, sign the contract, I’m waiting. I can’t be sitting waiting all day, you want to fight, let’s make it happen. I’m here, I’m waiting, what’s going on? I can sign today. If I sign today you better sign tomorrow,” said Mayweayther, who earlier scored a lopsided shutout win over Marquez.

Pushing his demand for blood testing, Mayweather went on: “You said you’re a clean athlete and you said you’d take the test, so let’s do it. I can’t be sitting waiting all day. You want to fight, let’s make it happen. If I sign today you better sign tomorrow.”

Following Pacquiao’s points victory over Marquez, trainer Freddie Roach was quoted by CNN as saying he hoped a clash with Mayweather would happen.

“I think it would be the best fight in the world and I would love to see it,” said Roach.

PSC Chairman Richie Garcia - KAPAL MUKS

2011-11-28T09:09:00.005+08:00

Like many aspects of national life, it’s not the people who are to blame, it’s our so-called leaders, who have pulled us down into the depths of mediocrity... PSC Chairman Richie Garcia in explaining the SEA Games debacle, claimed that our preparations were not good, since we found it difficult to gather our best athletes in some regions, because of the limited communication facilities… We wonder what Mr. Manny Pangilinan of PLDT-Smart thinks about Garcia’s statement.

PSC Chairman Richie Garcia - KAPAL MUKS

By: Ronnie Nathanielsz

IF our sports leaders, not just the heads of the non-performing National Sports Associations, but the top dogs at the Philippine Sports Commission and the Philippine Olympic Committee, have any sense of propriety left in them, they should all resign following the country’s disastrous performance in the 26th Southeast Asian Games.

PSC Chairman Richie Garcia, whose infamous quip that if our world Dragon Boat champions didn’t wish to be under the Canoe-Kayak Federation, they could go back to eating “tahong” harvested from Manila Bay, once again demonstrated his unworthiness to head the PSC with a ridiculous statement in Indonesia.

Garcia in explaining the SEA Games debacle, claimed that our preparations were not good, since we found it difficult to gather our best athletes in some regions, because of the limited communication facilities such as Internet and telephone.

We wonder what Mr. Manny Pangilinan of PLDT-Smart thinks about Garcia’s statement. Blaming a giant corporation that has moved our communications facilities into the modern age for the dismal failure of the PSC and the POC among others, is the height of both folly and ingratitude. Mr. Manny Pangilinan has been the most committed and passionate supporter of Philippine sports, allotting millions of pesos into helping our athletes in various disciplines.

All Garcia has to do is to look at the 4 gold, 1 silver and 1 bronze medal produced in boxing to realize that our respected friends Ricky Vargas, president of the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines, executive director Ed Picson and secretary general Pato Gregorio had no communications problems, neither did the coaches have trouble communicating with our boxers.
What clearly is a curse in Philippine sports that has seen us retrogress through the recent years is the mindless internal strife and the politically motivated actions of our sports leaders.

How will Garcia and POC president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco defend the miserable performance of our swimmers under Mark Joseph, who received some P30 million directly from Pagcor’s former head Ephraim Genuino in flagrant violation of rules and regulations but flopped big time? Shouldn’t Joseph, who has acted like a small-time dictator at the Philippine Aquatic Sports Association, resign?

In stark and welcome contrast, the ABAP quietly and efficiently pursued a training program using much of the resources of Mr. Pangilinan and PLDT-Smart and came home with 4 gold medals, 1 silver and 1 bronze with clear indications that we were at the receiving end of unfair decisions in the fights of Nesthy Petecio and Mark Anthony Barriga. Yet, ABAP won six medals from 10 boxers. Now that’s a performance worth commending.

Even in athletics, while we won only 2 gold medals and a fistful of silvers and bronzes and didn’t win as many golds as expected, part of the blame must surely be shared by the POC officials, including Cojuangco, Steve Hontiveros, Joseph and their clique, who violated every tenet of due process and the rule of law in their relentless campaign to oust Go Teng Kok, who has headed athletics for 21 years and gave us the biggest medal haul in the 2009 SEA Games in Laos.

While Go and his lawyer, chess player Sammy Estimo, were battling in court to get an injunction to stop the POC, which they succeeded in doing, our athletes were in limbo, bothered by the absence of their president, who has looked after them well through the years. Their training disrupted and their minds bothered, but our athletes performed quite well, given the circumstances.

The Philippines has a population of an estimated 94 million, while Singapore has only 3.8 million yet we were humiliated by this small island state and shoved into sixth place, our worst finish imaginable with Malaysia finishing fourth, banking on a population of just over 28 million.

Like many aspects of national life, it’s not the people who are to blame, it’s our so-called leaders, who have pulled us down into the depths of mediocrity. Once way ahead of our neighbors, including Taiwan and South Korea, the Philippines now struggles to regain some measure of success. Given the disastrous showing in Indonesia, common decency demands that our sports leaders resign

MEDIA, not JOURNALISM

2011-11-27T09:42:00.009+08:00

“…Television and related media have been the greatest purveyors and conveyors of corporate and political propaganda in society… Anybody—and any idea—can be sold with a bright ribbon and a catchy jingle.”

MEDIA, not JOURNALISM

Written by : BENJAMIN G. DEFENSOR

“Particularly on radio and television, every item—from, a major disaster to a minor pronouncement by a politician—receives roughly the same attention and emphasis. It would not be surprising some day to hear an announcer begin the hourly news this way: ‘The world ends tomorrow, details after this message.

This is an observation made 40 years ago by Robert Stein, then editor of McCall’s magazine in his book, Media Power: Who is Shaping Your Picture of the World?

Stein reports that, a decade before, in 1959, in a symposium on “Mass Culture and Mass Media” sponsored by the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, Ernest van den Haag warned: ‘Of course we have more communication and mobility than ever before. But isn’t it possible that less is communicated? We have all the opportunities in the world to see, hear and read more than ever before. Is there any independent indication to show that we experience and understand more? Does not the constant slick assault on our senses and minds produce monotony and indifference and prevent experience? Does not the discontinuity of most people’s live unsettle and some undo them?’

“Discontinuity is enhanced, if not caused, by the arbitrary amount of news we receive. What we get, which is determined not by what we need to know, but by the size of newspapers and magazines and the length of television and radio news programs, damages our sense of proportion…”

This was a complaint before the advent of the Internet, Twitter, Facebook, what we now know as social media. To protect their hold on shaping the picture of the world, mainstream media, particularly electronic media, now also carry the content of social media.

So today, Jeffrey D. Sachs, an economist and director of the Earth Institute at Columbia University, warns against the electronic media overkill. In a recent column in BusinessWorld, Sachs said, “the past half century has been the age of electronic mass media. Television has reshaped society in every corner of the world. Now an explosion of new media devices is joining the TV set: DVDs, computers, game boxes, smart phones, and more. A growing body of evidence suggests that this media proliferation has countless ill effects.

“…Television and related media have been the greatest purveyors and conveyors of corporate and political propaganda in society.

“America’s TV ownership is almost entirely in private hands, and owners make much of their money through relentless advertising. Effective advertising campaigns, appealing to unconscious urges—typically related to food, sex and status—create cravings for products and purchases that have little real value for consumers or society.

“The same, of course, has happened to politics. American politicians are now brand names, packaged like breakfast cereal. Anybody—and any idea—can be sold with a bright ribbon and a catchy jingle.”

Sachs may well be making his observations also on Philippine mass media.

Last week, at the 22nd Philippine Ad Congress, the biennial gathering of advertisers, the Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of the country’s three rival television networks—Filipe L. Gozon of GMA-7, Eugenio Lopez III of ABS-CBN, and Manuel V. Pangilinan of TV5 (in alphabetical order) agreed that there is room for all three of them in the Philippine media scene. For the first time, print media reported the three top honchos stood side-by-side to share their thoughts on the future of television and media. Like all businesses the burden of their song was revenue.

The Inquirer, one of the leading, if not the leading, print media of the nation reported the light exchange among the three.

Lopez said that a third TV network would not shrink the advertising pie as his company’s revenues has not fallen despite the entry of TV5.

Pangilinan said ABS-CBN and GMA 7 “should worry about us because we are the certified No. 3. He said he did not know who between ABS-CBN and GMA-7 is No. 2.

Gozon said TV is still the cheapest form of entertainment to some 94 percent of TV-owning Filipino households. It will remain the “medium to beat for many years to come if it continues to provide superior entertainment and remains the medium of the vast majority of Filipinos.”

It is true that entertainment was the first rationale for the expansion of radio, the first of the electronic media. Radio sets were sold to provide music and radio broadcasting stations were set up to broadcast music so radio sets could be sold. This was the major business plan of Roy
Thompson of Fleet Street when he started out in Canada. News and advertising came later and took over the medium.

The mass media audience first brought together by news was “sold” to advertisers. Then entertainment took over from news as the main electronic media enticement. What the mass media audience get is what the media owners think will attract them so they can be sold to the advertisers.

In the US, “all roads to power … lead through TV, and all access to TV depends on big money. This simple logic has put American politics in the hands of the rich as never before,” says Sachs.

Sachs suggests a solution: “…Successful approaches around the world include limits on TV
advertising, especially to young children; non-commercial publicly owned TV networks like the BBC; and free (but limited) TV time for political campaigns.”

This could be horrifying for TV and other giant media outfits who would be expected to cry for freedom of media.

Media, not journalism.

Does a Gene Make People Seem Kinder?

2011-11-27T08:38:00.007+08:00

New research suggests that a variation in a single human gene affects how other people see you at first glance in terms of your compassion, kindness and trustworthiness.

The variation might directly influence your personality, especially in terms of empathy. Or it's possible that it's connected to something else that affects the way you act. On the other hand, the research is based on only a few subjects, so much more study is needed, experts say.

Still, the findings may "speak to the power of little genetic differences to predict tangible differences in the way we behave," said study author Aleksandr Kogan, a postdoctoral fellow in psychology at the University of Toronto.

Over the past five to seven years, researchers have been exploring how genetics affect emotions, Kogan said. "What we're learning is that, to a certain extent, we have a genetic basis that supports a lot of the processes that make us nice."

In particular, researchers have focused on a hormone called oxytocin, which has been linked to emotions like love and trust and is found in a variety of animals. Higher levels of oxytocin have been linked to higher levels of trustworthiness, empathy and willingness to sacrifice, Kogan said.

In the new study, Kogan and colleagues focused on a gene linked to the brain's oxytocin receptor, which is a kind of catcher's glove that receives the hormone. They wanted to see if they could link variations in the gene to the way that people are perceived by others.

The researchers compiled 20-second, silent videos of people listening as their romantic partners told a story about a moment of suffering in the partner's life. Then they showed the videos to 116 subjects and asked them to gauge the compassion, kindness and trustworthiness of the people in the videos, Kogan said.

The researchers then tried to see if patterns in the genetic makeup of the people in the videos predicted how the subjects viewed them.

Those who were considered to be most trustworthy were similar genetically in terms of the single gene. The same was true for those who were deemed least trustworthy -- they were similar to one another, but in a different way.

People with the "kindness" gene showed more empathetic behaviors, like nodding their heads, smiling and making eye contact than people with the other type of gene.

The question now is: If these links aren't a coincidence, how are genes affecting how empathetic people appear to be to others? Could it affect their behavior? The way their faces look? Something else?

In the big picture, the research could lead to better understanding of why some people are kind and others aren't, Kogan said. It could even lead to insight into why some people are psychopaths.

Paul Zak, a brain researcher and founding director of the Center for Neuroeconomics Studies at Claremont Graduate University, in California, said the research is interesting but not yet world-changing.

"Some people would say there is now a gene for being nice to other people. That's not true at all," he said. Many other genes matter, too, he said, as do more important factors like your current physical state and your personal history.

In other words, if you're a jerk or a saint, your genes shouldn't get all the credit -- or blame.

The study appears online in this week's issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

By Randy Dotinga

On the Brink: Banaue Rice Terraces are in Danger

2011-11-27T07:45:00.005+08:00

Saving the Banaue Rice Terraces from the damages brought about by the successive typhoons and abandonment of locals has become an uphill climb for the locals, maybe even tougher than the trail charted by tourists who go on trekking here to see its beauty.

Recent typhoons Pedring and Quiel have aggravated the damages in the Terraces, hiking the cost of repair and rehabilitation or rice fields in 13 barangays to P66 million. The amount, however, would reach to P122 million if it would include the cost for repairing the irrigation systems—an amount greater than the P102 million proposed budget for the National Anti-Poverty Commission for 2012.

Rep. Teddy Brawner Baguilat of Ifugao noted that the farmers are used to repairing the damages in the Terraces on their own in the past thru bayanihan, but the destruction has recently took its toll on the people.

“We can’t do bayanihan to repair it anymore because the damage is so huge. This should not last long because it would deprive the community of food,” Baguilat told reporters.

The Terraces in brgy. Batad, Banaue—a top tourist destination among other Terraces areas because of its steepness which mimics steps to heaven—badly needs funding for the repair of the damaged 32 Terraces and the two irrigation systems as well as the construction of a retaining wall which would hold the soil until the repairs on the 32 Terraces are done.

A farmer can raise one bundle of rice per 1.5 square meters of the Terraces in Batad.

For brgy. Hapao in Hungduan, the destroyed Common Irrigation System (CIS) is the main dilemma since the damaged CIS irrigates 50 percent of the Hapao Rice Terraces which wider and is more gradual than Batad’s.

Unlike The Terraces in Banaue wherein only those in Batad and Bangaan are declared World Heritage Sites, all the Terraces areas in Hungduan are inscribed in the World Heritage Site record. At least 320 farmers in Brgy. Bulunan are affected by the damaged CIS in Hungduan.

“This CIS should be fixed soon because we need to plant rice. Otherwise, we’ll go hungry,” Captain Rodolfo Dong-E of Brgy. Bulunan, Hungduan said.

“We need immediate solutions because we need to prepare these rice fields before we plant on them. Maybe a few plastic pipes would do for the meantime to facilitate water supply in rice fields,” Hungduan Mayor Hilario Bumangabang added.

The lack of manpower is also threatening the Philippine entry to the World Heritage Site with more and more people migrating to nearby provinces such as Mountain Province, Quirino and Nueva Vizcaya because taking care of the Terraces does not earn them enough money to make ends meet.

Marlon Martin of non-government organization Save the Ifugao Rice Terraces Movement (SITMO) disclosed that threats of poverty have prompted the younger population to opt to finish college so that they can work in the city rather than farm the Rice Terraces.

The farmers of the families, on the other hand, go to nearby provinces wherein they can still farm the land and do other jobs for extra income such as woodcarving and doing handicrafts.

“We need people to take care of the terraces because more than a World Heritage, this is our culture. The Terraces is highly dependent on human knowledge, but we don’t have enough employment opportunities here. We also need economic development,” Martin lamented.

Councilor Froebel Gumbatan of brgy. Nagadacan in Kiangan backed up Martin by disclosing that 25 percent of the Rice Terraces in their area are already abandoned. The recent storms have affected at least 160 Nagadacan farmers.

BY LLANESCA T. PANTI

“Kapal Muks” Government Officials

2011-11-26T08:37:00.006+08:00

As a retired military man—albeit one who got into trouble for acting rebelliously against his superiors—Sen. Trillanes should be a strict champion of correctness and discipline and an enemy of ungentlemanly behavior, like credit-grabbing... Because of this fear, Mr. Trillanes would rather console himself—and us, the public—with the hope that one day the practice of shameless credit-grabbing would go away without anybody being punished for it.

“Kapal Muks” Government Officials

IT’s not only the Senate’s Honorable Miriam Defensor Santiago but also three congressmen who should be hailed and supported for being champions of the cause to rid our country of the Garapal Monsters. These “kapal muks” government officials shamelessly put up signs and posters to make us, the public, think we owe streets, highways, bridges, schoolhouses and other government projects to them. They are credit-grabbers who are most likely also crooks who have driven up the cost of these projects by demanding huge commissions from contractors.

Senator Santiago is actually fighting a more successful battle than her House counterparts to get her colleagues to pass her Senate Bill No. 1967, “An Act Prohibiting Public Officers from Claiming Credit through Signage Announcing a Public Works Project.” Last Tuesday, the senators began formally discussing her “anti-epal” bill. Commendably, the senators reached an agreement to expand the coverage of the proposed law beyond public works projects and include public officials who have their names and faces painted on police cars, ambulances and fire trucks donated by private foundations and government institutions like the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office and the PAGCOR.

Sen. Trillanes wants penal provisions out

Unfortunately, an objection to the penal provisions of Sen. Santiago’s bill came from an unexpected source, Sen. Antonio Trillanes, chairman of the civil service committee. As a retired military man—albeit one who got into trouble for acting rebelliously against his superiors—Sen. Trillanes should be a strict champion of correctness and discipline and an enemy of ungentlemanly behavior, like credit-grabbing. Instead, Sen. Trillanes came across in last Tuesday’s deliberations as someone too lenient on the Garapal Monsters. He proposed to remove the penal provisions of Madam Santiago’s bill.

If the bill becomes a law, which we pray it does, a jail term of between six months and one year would be meted out to a public official found guilty of having had his or her name or image printed on an item of “signage announcing a proposed or ongoing public works project.”

Mr. Trillanes was concerned that a political opponent of an incumbent official could have a piece of incriminating signage made, mounted and used to have the official charged, found guilty and punished. That fear may look rather pusillanimous and simplistic. For the incumbent official would ordinarily have men and followers who would easily thwart such a bold attempt by an opponent to put him in trouble. But our country is a place where strange things happen every day.

Because of this fear, Mr. Trillanes would rather console himself—and us, the public—with the hope that one day the practice of shameless credit-grabbing would go away without anybody being punished for it.

Another former military-man, Senator Panfilo Lacson opposed Mr. Trillanes position. He discounted fears that it would be difficult to implement the law and ascertain who really put up a credit-grabbing sign. Mr. Lacson ought to know. As a former police officer, he knows how quickly the police, if they really want to, could find out the true facts about anything.

Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. raised another issue about implementation. He was in favor of passing the Santiago bill but wanted a provision added that would give protection to local law enforcement officers tasked with carrying out their duty to tear down signs and posters put up by their own superiors — the mayor or governor or congressman.

Protection for underlings of violators

That issue must be addressed. Some protective mechanism must be devised to embolden the underlings of local officials who feel and behave like feudal lords, datu, whom local policemen and other law enforcers fear because they still have the ancient mentality of the alipin.

This inability to do what is right is a universal problem involving duly-assigned law-enforcers and auditors who fear to do what is morally and legally right against powerful officials who have broken the law.

Frustrations of Reps. Romulo, Casino and Colmenares

In the House of Representatives, Deputy Majority Leader Roman Romulo filed his bill in January against credit-grabbing officials and politicians long before Sen. Santiago filed her bill in the Senate.

Congressman Romulo’s House Bill 3943 if enacted would make it “unlawful to place on any government property or project, any name, logo, picture, any identified alias, initial, character, symbol, or letter pertaining to a public official who is still in active service, has retired, or is already deceased.”

But the Romulo bill exempts signboards on government property that are “culturally and historically significant.” Following guidelines of the National Historical Commission, signage may be installed in these historical landmarks to honor deceased officials renowned for their heroism or special service to the nation.

Rep. Romulo’s proposed bill — “Public Works Title, Signboard and Marker Standardization Act” — has yet to be acted on by the House public works committee,

Besides Deputy Majority Leader Romulo, two opposition members of the House also feel bad that their anti-epal bill has been ignored by the chamber’s leadership.

The Left’s Bayan Muna Rep. Teodoro Casiño and Rep. Neri Colmenares co-authored a bill that they actually filed in 2010. Their House Bill 2309 has the title “Prohibiting the naming of public properties and government services after incumbent elected public officials, their kin, spouses and relatives of up to fourth civil degree of consanguinity and providing penalties thereof and for other purposes.”

Both are aggrieved that the leaders of the House Committee on the Revision of Laws have not given their bill the time of day.

The bills filed by Sen. Defensor Santiago, Congressmen Romulo, Casiño and Colmenares must be consolidated and enacted. For, as Sen. Santiago has said, the penchant for credit-grabbing billboards and posters “promotes a culture of political patronage and corruption.”

It perpetuates our ancient feudal culture where datu rule to please themselves and the alipin timorously grin and bear it.

(taken from MANILA TIMES)

Muslim New Year Observed Today

2011-11-26T06:37:00.003+08:00

President Benigno S. Aquino III exhorted the local Islamic community to remain resilient towards the goal of “lasting harmony and genuine, positive change” on the occasion of the Islamic New Year, Amun Jadid.

Muharram 1, 1433, of the Hijrah lunar calendar coincides with Nov. 26, 2011, according to the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF).

Muharram is the first of Hijrah's 12 months, reckoning from the migration of the Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu Allaihi Wassalam to Madinah, then Yathrib, in what is now the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

From there Islam took root and is now a religion of an estimated 1.6 billion people across the world.

“My warmest greetings to the Muslim community as you welcome the Amun Jadid 1433 Hijrah,” said the President in traditional message made through the NCMF.

By EDD K. USMAN

Gene Shortage Might Lead to Shorter Height, says Study

2011-11-26T06:29:00.000+08:00

Tall or short, it's long been known that genes account for much of a person's height. Now, scientists have found that short people actually might be missing copies of certain genes, which can leave them significantly smaller than average.

Studying DNA from more than 11,000 children and adults, an international team of researchers learned that those of short stature -- defined roughly as falling into the shortest 2.5 percent of their peer group -- had an excess number of rare deletions, or missing copies, of specific genes. Thus far, most research into genes and height has centered on identifying variations in common genes instead of an absence of others, study author Dr. Joel Hirschhorn said.

"We were a little bit surprised, since we didn't really know what we would find going in [to the study] and whether we would see enough of an effect," said Hirschhorn, a professor of genetics at Children's Hospital Boston. "We were trying to figure out what's the underlying genetics of height and things like it, and this is a class of variation less well studied."

The study is published in the December issue of the American Journal of Human Genetics.

Common gene variants linked to height explain only about 10 percent of the variation in adult height, Hirschhorn said, but perhaps half of such variation might eventually be explained by some of the differences his team studied.

First analyzing the DNA of more than 4,400 children whose genetic material was collected for other purposes, the researchers observed that many more CNVs or "copy-number variants" -- in this case, fewer copies of a gene -- were present in those of short stature.

Extending the findings to a larger, population-based group of nearly 6,900 African Americans, the scientists again found that shorter participants had an excess of such missing gene copies. These deletions would typically be inherited from one's parents, but not always, Hirschhorn said.

"Usually [researchers] look at variants one at a time, but this is a cumulative-effect type of variation," said Hirschhorn, also a senior associate at the Broad Institute, a biomedical research organization in Cambridge, Mass.

Several limitations might affect the validity of the study results, the authors acknowledged. One is the fact that children whose DNA was evaluated had initially undergone genetic analysis for other reasons such as developmental delays, autism spectrum disorders and multiple birth defects. So it's possible that those with many missing gene copies are likelier to have conditions leading to poor growth, the study said, but the replication of results in a more representative population suggests the findings can be generalized to others.

By Maureen Salamon

Lawmakers oppose bill to rename Edsa after Cory

2011-11-25T10:01:00.003+08:00

Opposition lawmakers on Wednesday criticized a bill seeking to rename Edsa to President Corazon Aquino Avenue as a distortion of history and held it up as an example of politicians using public works projects to grab credit.

The bill, filed by Bohol Rep. Rene Relampagos, would rename Metro Manila’s main highway in honor of the late President and mother of President Benigno Aquino III.

Relampagos, a Liberal Party member like the President, said in his bill that Mrs. Aquino should be recognized as the country’s first woman President and an icon of democracy after she led the 1986 People Power Revolution.

“She gained the respect and certainly the admiration not only of the citizens of our country, but also of the world. She earned certain citations, and was recognized internationally as a woman who helped pave the way for the restoration of democracy,” the bill says.

“Indeed, one cannot think of the 1986 Edsa Revolution without thinking of Corazon Aquino. Even after her term as President of the republic, she lived her life fighting for democracy.”

Edsa, the main circumferential road and highway of Metro Manila stretching from Caloocan to Pasay City, was formerly known as Highway 54. In 1959 Congress renamed the thoroughfare to honor the noted Filipino historian, scholar, journalist, painter and public servant Epifanio de los Santos.

De los Santos was considered one of the best Filipino writers in Spanish of his time and regarded as a literary genius. He served as an associate editor of the revolutionary paper La Independencia and co-founded other newspapers like La Libertad, El Renaciemento, and La Democracia.

House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. and Eastern Samar Rep. Ben Evardone said they supported the renaming of Edsa, and that the late President deserved the recognition.

“It is only fitting to give full meaning to the Edsa Revolution,” Evardone said.

“The rallying point of the Edsa Revolution was Cory.”

But Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casiño, who has drafted a bill to stop politicians from grabbing credit for projects that were built using the people’s money, said the renaming of Edsa would be a major test case for his measure.

He and Zambales Rep. Milagros Magsaysay said renaming Edsa to Cory Aquino Avenue would be historically problematic.

“The Edsa uprising was not about Cory. It was about our people’s struggle against tyranny,” Casiño said.

“The name Edsa has already been enshrined in our history and collective memory due to the Edsa People Power Revolution. It’s better left that way.”

By Maricel Cruz

Leptospirosis cases increase in Metro Manila

2011-11-25T09:26:00.007+08:00

The Department of Health said that the number of leptospirosis cases in the National Capital Region has doubled. According to the Regional Epidemiology Surveillance Unit’s data a total of 583 leptospirosis cases with 48 deaths were recorded from January 1 to November 12.

It also showed that the current cases were 247 percent higher compared to the same period last year, when the department recorded 168 cases with 13 deaths.

The records said that majority of the cases were male and belonged to the age group from 15 years old to 30 years old.

The Quezon City and Manila remained the top cities with the most number of leptospirosis cases with 103 and 137, respectively, the data showed.

Preventive measure - Dr. Eduardo Janairo, Department of Health regional director for Metro Manila, said that the agency is advising the public to control and suppress rodent infestations to prevent the spread of leptospirosis at home.

“Everyone should avoid contact with rodents, remove their food sources, water, and items that could provide them shelter. Seal holes inside and outside our homes in order to prevent their entry. Keep them outside our homes so that they will not multiply within the household. Let us also clean up potential rodent food sources outside and destroy their nesting sites,” said Janairo.

Leptospirosis is an infection commonly transmitted to humans from water that has been contaminated by animal urine—usually rats—and comes in contact with lesion in the skin, eyes, or with the mucous membranes. It appear four to 14 days after exposure to contaminated flood waters or even mud.

The leptosporosis’ signs and symptoms include fever, chills, and intense headache. In extreme cases, complications like meningitis, renal failure, respiratory distress, may arise and lead to death.

“Rodents such as rats and mice are the primary carriers of the leptospirosis virus. It is important to identify the signs of rodent’s infestation at home. If you regularly see rodent droppings around food packages, in drawers or cupboards, and/or under the sink then your house is infested,” Janairo said.

The health agency also advised the use of traps or rodenticides to remove and eliminate rodents at home. A tracking powder may also be used.

“As a precautionary measure, always place traps, baits and rodent tracking powder in places where children and pets cannot reach them. Use rodenticide products according to label directions and precautions. And also be sure to select traps that are appropriate to the type and size of rodent, such as rat or mouse. Always endeavour to keep our home safe from diseases. Prevention is still the best solution,” Janairo said.

By Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz

Miss Earth 2011 Pageant happens in Manila on December 3

2011-11-25T09:15:00.005+08:00

The 89 candidates for Miss Earth 2011 arrived in the Philippines on Tuesday for the beauty pageant slated to take place on December 3. But before these beauties compete for the coveted crown, they will first embark on a mission to help, protect and save the environment.

Five of them visited the Manila Times office on Wednesday—Miss Panama Marelissa Him Betancourt, Miss Dominican Republic Sarah Feliz, Miss Northern Ireland Alixandra Halliday, Miss Hungary Dora Szabo and Miss Guatemala Ana Luisa Montufar.

According to the beauty queens, they and the other 84 contestants will go on a nationwide tour to plant trees during their two-week stay in the country.

They will be divided and sent into small groups of five or six so that they will cover as many areas in the country as they could, one of the contestants explained.

Aside from the tree-planting activities, the candidates will also visit different schools and teach children the value of Mother Earth.

The five beauties, in particular, believe in the importance of educating children on this issue and although each is involved in different environmental advocacies in their respective countries, all agreed that children are the Earth’s “future.”

Miss Panama, for one, has led a nonprofit organization in her country to find young local leaders in schools or communities. She said that they taught them sustainable ideas and plans that they would, in turn, teach to their communities.

For her part, Miss Dominican Republic said, “I go to schools to talk to children. Unlike adults who don’t listen because they already have their bad habits, it’s easier talking to children because you only need to tell them that it’s bad [for the environment] and they won’t do it.”

Miss Guatemala agreed. “We should start with the education of our children because they are the future,” she said.

The five beauties believe that climate change is the biggest threat that Mother Earth is facing. They said that simple, everyday activities like walking to work instead of driving and segregating and recycling garbage could help address this threat.

The Miss Earth 2011 grand coronation night will take place on December 3 at 7 p.m. at the University of the Philippines Theater. It was originally scheduled to be held in Bangkok, Thailand, but the worsening floods there forced Carousel Productions to move the venue again to the Philippines.

By Euden Valdez

Fire Richie Garcia, Peping Cojuanco et al...

2011-11-24T10:43:00.007+08:00

“This poor outcome once more calls attention to the sorry state of Philippine sports… Led by Jose “Peping” Cojuangco, the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC), is apparently more preoccupied with politics within its ranks than ensuring that only the best Filipino athletes be supported and allowed to represent the Philippines… It is known that many of the best Filipino athletes are not in the POC accredited associations.”

The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) failed to meet its 70-gold medals target or at least a third-place finish for the Philippines in the recently concluded 26th Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) in Indonesia. Far below PSC Chairman Richie Garcia’s prediction, the Philippines won only 36 golds (7.4 percent of the total gold medals) and finished sixth in the biennial meet.

Philippine performance this year is even worse than our shameful fifth place finish in the 2009 Games held in Laos.

Our country’s performance in the SEAG this year is worst in the last 10 years.

The SEAG is the lowest of the international sports festivals. SEAG involves only the 10 Asean members plus East Timor. One must realize that we have also been performing dismally in the Asian Games and of course in the Olympics.

This poor outcome once more calls attention to the sorry state of Philippine sports. Reforms are long overdue in the way the stewards are managing our sports.

The problems besieging Philippine sports—disunity caused by politics and turf wars, the lack of an effective and pragmatic sports development program and corruption, among others—are so glaring and well known to athletes and the national sports association leaders.

Why are they not doing anything to reform the situation?

Philippine Olympic Committee

Led by Jose “Peping” Cojuangco, the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC), the mother organization of all National Sports Associations (NSAs) in the country, is apparently more preoccupied with politics within its ranks than ensuring that only the best Filipino athletes be supported and allowed to represent the Philippines in international competitions. Those in the know say that only sports associations headed and tightly controlled by people loyal to Mr. Cojuangco and will continue to vote for him in every election for POC boss get POC accreditation.

As a result, there are two or more associations in each sport discipline. The POC-accredited one is that which is loyal to Mr. Cojuangco. Because their leaders became critical of Mr. Cojuangco, some associations in the outs were POC-accredited once but lost their accreditation to a newly formed group.

The damaging consequence of this is that excellent athletes belonging to associations led by persons outside Mr. Cojuangco’s sphere of influence end up being veritably non-existent in official POC-sanctioned domestic contests. Only POC-accredited associations receive support from the government’s Philippine Sports Commission. And in all the sports, only the results of events held under the auspices of the POC-accredited PSA are recognized by regional and international sports bodies which have mostly come to be governed by the International Olympic Sports Federations (IFs).

It is known that many of the best Filipino athletes are not in the POC accredited associations. The athletes in many POC-accredited sport associations are less than capable of excelling in regional and international competitions—as proved by the recent SEAG. Our country has therefore been sending many athletes to international meets who would not win against other Filipinos belonging to non-POC-accredited PSAs.

The majority of Filipino sports officials appear to be more focused on acquiring and preserving their influence than on bringing sporting glory to our country. There is a lot of money in being the chief of a sports association. Not only does a PSA get funds from the Philippine Sports Commission, it also can campaign for donations from the private sector—and from the PAGCOR.

Most PSA officials are not doing for the athletes what must be done to make them champions—and they ignore athletes who are better championship material than they ones in their turf.

Sports development

Aside from training our best athletes to become gold medallists in regional and international competitions, the Philippine Sports Commission and the Philippine Olympic Committee have a moral duty to make sports development a vehicle for the improvement of Filipinos as human beings.

Fitness through sports is not being attended to in our country. In most of our fellow members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) this is a rigorously managed concern.

Philippine Sports Commission

In the light of our pitiful performance in the last SEAG, PSC boss Ritchie Garcia should keep his promise that his agency would evaluate the performance of all NSAs. He said that those who did well in the latest SEAG would receive more funding and those that performed poorly would face severe budget cuts and possible termination of support from the PSC.

We also urge the PSC to demand an honest and mandatory accounting of every centavo spent by each NSA on its programs. The PSC disburses taxpayers’ money and funds from government corporations, like PAGCOR. Those funds should benefit the athletes not fatten some sport officials’ pockets.

While sports officials repeatedly insist that there is a sports development program in the country, the Philippines’ performance in the regional and international sports competitions indicate that the program is not working.

The Palarong Pambansa and other national sports competition badly need a shot in the arm. Grassroots programs aiming to discover new talents should be initiated and sustained. And those who emerge as the best should be given support—never mind if their coaches are affiliated with organizations that have been rejected by Mr. Cojuangco’s POC.

Let us not forget, however, that reforming Philippine sports demands collective effort. While corrupt and self-serving officials are largely to blame for our sports woes, the athletes and the media too have their share of the blame in burying Philippine sports in guano. The athletes must remember that they owe their allegiance first and foremost to their country not to any sports official or politician. They must stand for what is right and not be carried away by the frequent shifting of loyalties within the ranks of Philippine sports associations.

The sports media must not be swayed by patronage and bullying by sports officials. They must perform their role as vanguards of the truth.

(MANILA TIMES)

MOBOCRACY

2011-11-22T11:36:00.005+08:00

“Boy Brillantes and Leila de Lima did not get their law diplomas from a department store, but earned them in the finest law school in the entire Mendiola complex... We have developed such a hatred for former president GMA that many of them have turned into a mob—not unlike the French Revolution’s “public” that wildly cheered the decapitation by guillotine of royals and aristocrats during the Reign of Terror..”

MOBOCRACY

It appears that what the Aquino administration has done to former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has the approval of the majority of Filipinos who append comments to news stories and columns published online, who anchor radio and TV news and public service programs and who are radio and newspaper commentators.

The Inquirer’s Amando Doronila, however, thinks “P-Noy’s double kill of GMA sends chills down public’s spine.”

We think Doronila is wrong—if “public” means the majority of ordinary people. We think the majority of the Filipinos, those who consistently give President Benigno Aquino 3rd very high ratings on his performance and his trustworthiness, have developed such a hatred for former president GMA that many of them have turned into a mob—not unlike the French Revolution’s “public” that wildly cheered the decapitation by guillotine of royals and aristocrats during the Reign of Terror

But he is right that many Filipinos worry that Secretary Leila de Lima—supported by the President and egged on by people in the Palace whom Senator Miriam Santiago has called “the movement”—could be, knowingly or not, leading our country to an uncertain and dangerous future.

One of the potential outcomes of these last few days’ events is the total demolition of the Supreme Court in the eyes of those more numerous Filipinos who might want Sec. de Lima to be the Filipino Robespierre.

It is unfortunate that there have been abridgements of due process in dealing with former president Arroyo. And it is even more unfortunate that if the Supreme Court censures Sec. de Lima, the SC Justices will surely reap the ire of that public whose howls for blood might force President Aquino—with his legal eagles’ encouragement—to take extraordinary steps. These steps could include the removal of Chief Justice Corona and the other justices being vilified as members of the “Coronarroyo court.”

If the majority of the members of the House of Representatives continue to be as steadfast in their loyalty to President Aquino as they have been so far, it will not be far-fetched to think that—emboldened by the Robespierrean public high on hatred for GMA—the House would swiftly impeach the entire “Coronaarroyo court.”

Despite the views of Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, who has, obviously tempering his opinion, called Sec. de Lima’s treatment of Mrs. Arroyo “unusual,” the Senate could also be swayed by “respect” for the Robespierrean public to hold a quick trial and find the High Court justices guilty.

Then the President would be able to appoint Supremes who would be happy to support him in his campaign to rid the government—and why not also the private sector? — of undesirable officials and smart operators.

Fair trial a must

When the time comes for Mrs. Arroyo, and the others charged with sabotaging the 2007 election, to be tried, the President and Sec. de Lima must ensure that they get a truly fair trial in which due process is genuinely followed.

The state can, of course, use all the heavy but legal means to defeat Mrs. Arroyo’s defense. This should be done transparently. As a bloc of congressmen have suggested, the trial should be televised.

A fair and transparent trial will boost the President’s credibility. The prosecutors must do an excellent job of proving GMA guilty—or there will be hell from the Robespierrean mob.

Saguisag: RTC has jurisdiction re GMA

Perhaps the following opinion of widely respected lawyer Rene V. Saguisag (a Manila Times columnist) will calm the anxious Filipinos who have come to believe one of the most key points made by the lawyers of Mrs. Arroyo. This point is that the Pasay Regional Trial Court that issued the arrest warrant against the former president had no jurisdiction.

Writes former senator and now San Beda professor Saguisag:

“Sec. 268 of the Omnibus Election Code, or Batas Pambansa Blg. 881, vests in RTCs exlusive and original jurisdiction over election offenses. Nothing in R.A. No. 8369 adding electoral sabotage to election offenses says that jurisdiction over such an election offense is to be heard by any other court. It would have made no sense.

“Judicial and administrative economy and symmetry argue against such bifurcation.

“The general law may invest the Sandiganbayan such jurisdiction over high officials. But here, the special law says RTCs [are] for election saboteurs.

“That the special prevails over the general is something we teach in freshman law in San Beda but strange things happen in our Supreme Court.

“Spokesman Midas Marquez should not speak for the SC in cases where opinions are divided, without clearing a priori a written statement agreed on by all Justices concerned. Else, he may just exhibit bias for a certain Justice or opinion, generating heat, not light.

“Boy Brillantes and Leila de Lima did not get their law diplomas from a department store, but earned them in the finest law school in the entire Mendiola complex.”

Meanwhile, the ruling of the Supreme Court on various facets of the GMA case is expected to be made today.

With due respect to the sensibilities of our Muslim fellow Filipinos (who also revere Jesus Christ as one of the four principal prophets and see him as the holy son of the Blessed Virgin Mary but do not believe he is God, the second person of the Holy Trinity), let us pray that Christ the King (whose feast was celebrated last Sunday) rule over the minds and hearts of our officials and our justices so that they always think and act for the common good.

(MANILA TIMES)

Arroyo’s and Estrada’s arrests

2011-11-20T10:19:00.008+08:00

“Wasn’t Erap ousted by the elite precisely because he was supposed to be a plunderer, an ineffective president who spent his days and night pleasing himself, never mind the affairs of state that a president of the republic should be attending to?.. Why then should we think that putting former president Gloria Arroyo behind bars (when she gets better) will make the Philippines begin to tread the matuwid na daan?”

Why should the arrest of former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo result in improvements in our society when the arrest, conviction for plunder and imprisonment of then president Joseph Estrada did not?

Most expert observers see that the reason our country is so disorderly, the reason Filipinos in general do not respect the rule of law, is that no wrongdoer gets punished.

That is also why a culture of impunity prevails in our society. Everybody who belongs to the middle class and the elite knows that he or she can escape punishment whatever he does.

The only ones who do not esape punishment—who are even punished for in fact doing good things—are the poor and ignorant.

The state is unable to enforce the rule of law. Or the law enforcers are so corrupt that they would rather not enforce the law and receive bribes for looking the other way.

So a sign that at last doing something wrong is causing someone big to suffer punishment should make everybody take notice and resolve to behave better.

Well, somebody big—the president of the Philippines named Joseph Estrada, a popular movie icon, beloved of the masses—was deposed, then tried and jailed (with some comforts, yes).

But our society did not improve. In fact, if her critics are to be believed, our society became worse after Erap Estrada was kicked out of Malacañang and Gloria Macapagal Arroyo became president.

Wasn’t Erap ousted by the elite precisely because he was supposed to be a plunderer, an ineffective president who spent his days and night pleasing himself, never mind the affairs of state that a president of the republic should be attending to?

Then why did the elite continue being just as corrupt as Erap’s cronies were supposed to be?
The simple answer is that until now our society is not much different from the one that existed in the villages—the barangay—of our ancestors. Our culure is still that of the datu and the alipin.

This culture is incompatible to democracy. That is why that poor 50 percent segment of the population sell their votes and are willing to be mobilized as flying voters by the datu. But it’s not just in Mindanao where there are datus. In every modern building in Makati and Taguig, in the chaos of Cubao, datu rule and the rest are their alipin.

Why then should we think that putting former president Gloria Arroyo behind bars (when she gets better) will make the Philippines begin to tread the matuwid na daan?

Culture of impunity

It’s the inability of the state of enforce the laws fosters the culture of impunity.

The culture of impunity makes the Philippines the country with the most number of extrajudicial executions and disappeared. That makes elections a farce. That makes basic education and college schooling in most higher education buildings the equivalent of second-year high school.

President Aquino’s spokesmen are right. This move against Mrs. Arroyo—and the many other moves made before to investigate and then build cases against her and her partners—must be made.

Because that is what he promised to do during the campaign and what he and the 79 percent of survey respondents who trust him (and think he is performing well) believe must be done to make ours better society.

But he must do many other things.

And these other things have to do with making ours a more disciplined society.

He has to make moves to make people believe—as the late Ferdinand Marcos, Senate President Enrile et al. did in 1973—that “Sa ika-uunlad ng bayan, disiplina ang kailangan!” (Our nation’s progress calls for discipline.)

He also has to restore patriotism in the guts of the Filipinos. Patriotism—okay some writers would rather use the term “nationalism”—as Rizal wished his fellow Filipinos would have in their souls has been ignored by successions of presidents and educators. Instead what we have from many a nationalist book is anti-foreign and anti-American anger.

Most of all, he has to restore the virtues in the school system.

Otherwise such events as the arrest of former president Arroyo will not produce the behavioral motivation results that similar events caused in South Korea, Taiwan, the early years of Singapore and in the first years of countries that are now the First World.

Basic needs of the masses must be met

Meanwhile, the President must also—as we have been saying in this space over and over again—pay attention to creating more jobs, encouraging businesses to start and flourish.

For the fight against poverty must be waged. And this not done by wasting time and effort on pushing the Reproductive Health Bill. But by releasing more funds for infrastructure, for example. (Manila Times)