L

VOL. 517 No. 10

http://www.mb.com.ph

SUNday, JANUARY 10, 2016 9 SECTIONS P20.00 IN METRO MANILA

Unwavering
faith
LIFESTYLE

36C below zero

Braving the freezing cold arctic circle with the
nenets reindeer herders of Siberia

G-1

THREAD OF FAITH Protectors of the Black Nazarene called hijos prepare to secure the rope that pulls the float bearing the revered image of Jesus Christ at the start of
the Traslacion or transferring of the image from Quirino Grandstand back to Quiapo Church in Manila. During the procession, thousands will attempt to reach and touch
the Black Nazarene or, at least, grab this rope to express their devotion to the image many believe to be miraculous. (Kevin dela Cruz)

business
MGB greenlights $2-B
King-King gold project

WEATHER

ADB to cooperate with AIIB

in project financing

partly cloudy to cloudy w/ isolated

rainshowers and/or thunderstorms
Luzon

partly cloudy to cloudy w/ isolated

rainshowers and/or thunderstorms
Visayas

partly cloudy to cloudy w/ isolated

rainshowers
and/or thunderstorms
Mindanao

partly cloudy to cloudy w/ isolated

rainshowers
Manila and/or thunderstorms

Temperature Range:
20.8C-30.7C

Sunrise: 6:23 a.m.

Sunset: 5:42 p.m.

Millions of Black Nazarene devotees join procession, pray for miracles

By AFP, ARGYLL B. GEDUCOS, and JENNY F. MANONGDO

PH remains brightest
growth story in Asia HSBC

B-1

entertainment
Fil-Am Finding
Dory artist finds
his own glory
He has just wrapped up
about a year and a halfs
work on Finding Dory, the
much-anticipated and long
overdue sequel
to the hugely
successful Finding
Nemo (2003).

H-4

arefoot men and women, in

a display of unwavering faith
in God, hurled themselves
above huge crowds to touch
a centuries-old icon of Jesus Christ

as they prayed for miracles during

yesterdays annual Black Nazarene
procession, one of the worlds largest
Catholic festivals.
While the practice has been

13

Aquino seeks ASEAN pressure

on Code of Conduct in disputed sea
By REUTERS

President Aquino has urged Southeast Asian neighbors to put pressure

on China to agree on a binding Code of

Conduct to ease tension in South China

Sea following Chinese test flights to an
island it has built.
Since 2010, China and the 10 members of the Association of South

13

Come clean on $1.5-M MRT

deal, Chiz urges Vitangcol

Pias love life

can wait
By ROBERT R. REQUINTINA

By MARIO B. CASAYURAN

It would be best for Miss Universe

2015 Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach to focus on
her duties and responsibilities for the
rest of her reign rather than entertaining suitors and sparking her love life,
Binibining Pilipinas Charities, Inc. head
Stella Marquez Araneta recently bared
during a one-on-one interview with the
Manila Bulletin.
If I were her I wouldnt! I mean Im
having a fantastic year as Miss Universe. After that, she can pursue other
plans. Thats my opinion.
The Miss Universe Organization
(MUO) said that titleholders can have
a boyfriend as long as they dont neglect
their duties for the MUO.
Araneta told Wurtzbach to enjoy her
journey as Miss Universe.
Dont change. Enjoy your

Embattled former Metro Rail Transit 3 (MRT-3) general manager Al Vitangcol was urged yesterday to reveal

3 years after, still

no justice for victim
of stray bullet

the details of the $1.5-million contract

awarded for the commuter trains maintenance in October, 2012, to save himself
from being made a sacrificial lamb of
the powerful administration.

watch Storys online video

Instructions: 1. Turn on your data or WI-FI network
and connect to the Internet. 2. Scan the QR code.

http://www.facebook.com/manilabullletin

13

SSS pension hike law needs

thorough study Malacaang
By MADEL SABATER NAMIT

By JAIMIE ROSE R. ABERIA

Three years ago, on New Years

Eve, a celebration suddenly turned into
grief when a stray bullet fired by an irresponsible reveler found its mark on
7-year-old Stephanie Nicole Ella.
The bullet changed every-

VIVA! SEOR NAZARENO! The statue of the Black Nazarene is nearly obliterated
from sight as a multitude of devotees jostle for every available space to get near
the Andas, or the carriage, bearing the iconic image as it inches its way through
Padre Burgos Street fronting the Manila City Hall during the Traslacion that was
expected to last well into the night yesterday. (Kevin dela Cruz)

Important reminder: Your mobile phone should have an Internet access

and an installed QR code reader.

@manilabulletin

Despite calls for President Aquino

to sign the Social Security System (SSS)
pension hike bill into law, Malacaang
said yesterday the measure is still being
thoroughly reviewed, particularly its
possible implications on SSS future.
The SSS pension bill mandates a
P2,000 monthly pension increase for
its retired members. It is just awaiting

the signature of the President for it to

become a law.
Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office Undersecretary Manuel Quezon
III said the President still has time to
thoroughly study the bill.
Kailangan din natin isipin yung
down the road so pinag-aaralan ito [We
also need to think down the road so this
is being studied], Quezon said in

twitter.com/manila_bulletin

Yellow Magenta Cyan

Black
ymv

News

Sunday, January 10, 2016

Cebu solon seeks

amendment to
component city law
By CHARISSA M. LUCI
Congress has been urged to take a second look at
the country's Local Government Code to change the
basis or computation of the average annual income
requirement for a municipality or cluster of barangays
to be converted into a component city.
Cebu Rep. Gwendolyn Garcia said Section 450
of Republic Act 7160, otherwise known as the Local
Government Code of 1991 should be amended to make
it relevant.
The average annual income requirement for a
municipality or cluster of barangays to be converted
into a component city should be based on "current
year consumer price index (CPI)" as certified by the
Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) and not from 2000
constant prices, she stressed.
Section 450 of RA 7160 requires that the average
annual income requirement for a municipality or
cluster of barangays to be converted into a component city
should be at least P100 million
for the last two consecutive
years based on 2000 constant
prices.
"Adopting the 2000 constant prices as static base
in determining the average
annual requirement would
unduly confine the parameters
and conditions to the base
year, Garcia said.
It will ignore the dynam-

IN GOOD HANDS A Black Nazarene devotee who braved yesterdays traditionally

frenzied procession faints at noontime yesterday but is fortunately attended to promptly
by Philippine Red Cross medics and volunteers near the corner of P. Burgos Street and
Roxas Boulevard. (Manny Llanes)

ics of the present economic contexts

especially the factors influencing the
price indices and purchasing power
that have materially and irreversibly
changed over time. It will also restrict
the law from evolving and keeping attuned to the changes of times," Garcia
added in filing HB 6027.
Constant prices refer to the value of
the current money expressed in its buying power in a particular year and are
often referred to as inflation-corrected,
she explained.
The CPI, on the other hand is an
indicator of the change in the average
retail prices of a fixed basket of goods
and services commonly purchased by
households relative to a base year and
widely used in the calculation of the
inflation rate and purchasing power of
the peso, she added.
"Using a static base year as the
determinant of compliance with the
income requirement gradually ren-

ders the parameters unrealistic and

obliterates the relevance of the law
over the years. In the end, the law
becomes handicap for change rather
than a vehicle for greater local autonomy and economic advancement,"
Garcia said.
"This is the anomaly sought to be
corrected. Employing the current CPI
as criteria for satisfying the income requirement depicts a financial condition
that is measured on current prices and
reflective of the inflationary impact on
purchasing power,"she pointed out.
She said the current CPI as determined by the PSA should be the
parameter used in determining compliance with the average annual income
requirement.
" The PSA is after all, the major statistical agency responsible for collecting, compiling, classifying, producing,
publishing and disseminating general
purpose statistics," Garcia said.

Binay, Palace swap tirades on

post-Yolanda recovery efforts
By Ellson A. Quismorio

Palace official basically asked for more

time before it could
present an updated
data on the government's rehabilitation efforts on earthquake

and super-typhoon Yolanda-hit provinces after opposition chieftain Vice

President Jejomar C. Binay chided
the Aquino administration for its
snail-paced delivery of projects and
assistance to Bohol.
In particular, the United Nationalist
Alliance (UNA) party standard-bearer
cited a Commission on Audit (COA) report indicating that only 138 out of the
323 projects under the Rehabilitation
Assistance for Yolanda Victims (RAY)
program have been completed as of
December 31, 2014.
"Well, I think the Vice President
himself would know from the time that
he was in the Cabinet there has been
significant progress, both in Bohol
and in other areas that were affected
by typhoons," Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO)
Undersecretary Manuel Quezon III
said in an interview Saturday over
radio DZRB.
Quezon was obviously referring to
the time that Binay was still Housing
and Urban Development Coordinating
Council (HUDCC) chairman.
Both the earthquake and super-typhoon Yolanda struck Bohol in 2013.

Binay wondered what happened to

the rest of the rehabilitation projects
despite the full release of the RAY fund
allocationaround P1.78 billion.
"There have been some concerns
about issues where, for example,
while the funds were ready for the
building of houses and other facilities, the lands that were required for
this, which would come from the local
governments were not yet ready. This
was particularly the case, I believe, in
Tacloban," Quezon said.
According to the Palace official, the
COA report being waved around by Binay simply isn't relevant anymore.
"So we have to bear in mind that the
particular reports of COA would have
been for a particular point in time and
not necessarily related to the actual
progress since then."
As such, Quezon said that
Malacaang could provide updated
details on the rehabilitation efforts as
early as next week.
"I believe that in the coming days
we will be able to put out more details
in terms of what has been achieved and
well be happy to start giving that to you
starting next week," he said.

Metro water allocation to

be reviewed amid El Nio
By ELLALYN B. DE VERA

The Department of Environment and

Natural Resources (DENR) will be reviewing
the water allocation for Metro Manila's domestic requirements to effectively conserve
water until after the impact of El Nio eases
by mid-year.
DENR Secretary Ramon Paje said he will
order the National Water Resources Board
(NWRB), an attached agency of the DENR,
to immediately do a thorough review of water
allocation.
Paje, who is also chairman of the NWRB,
explained that the Board's protocol is to allot 43-45 cubic meters of water to the water
concessionaires Maynilad and Manila Water,
once the elevation at Angat Dam in Bulacan
reaches 212 meters.
Currently, the water level in Angat Dam
is at 213.5 meters, or 1.5 meters above its 212meter maximum operating level.
But the water allocation for Metro Manila
remains at 40 cms, which is three to five meters below its normal share.
"We are confident that with the Angat
Dam reaching 212 meters, our water supply
will be enough until next rainy season. But at
this point, PAGASA (Philippine Atmospheric,
Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration) is telling us that there's still not
enough rain in July due to the prevailing El
Nio," Paje said.
"We have to make sure that there will be

enough water, especially from May to July,"

he added.
"We have to start discussing conservation
measures with the NWRB Board this month,
not during the critical months," he also said.
From January to June, PAGASA said
the country could expect two to six tropical
cyclones within this period, as compared to
six to eight tropical cyclones during a non-El
Nio year.
PAGASA noted that during the strong El
Nio years 1972, 1982, 1997 and 2009, no tropical cyclone was recorded during the months
of January and February.
The current El Nio is expected to end
by May but PAGASA pointed out that its
impact could be felt up until the second half
of the year.
The adverse impact of the continuing El
Nio event includes below normal rainfall and
warmer than normal temperatures.
PAGASA Administrator Dr. Vicente
Malano earlier said the water level at Angat
Dam in January 2015 was the same as this
year, but last year "Angat Dam's level went
down to 168 meters in July-August."
"We are not discounting the possibility that
Angat Dam's level could also reach this level
by the second half of the year," Malano said.
Lucero said rainfall over the Angat Watershed is expected to be near normal this
month, way below normal by February and
March, below normal by April, and near
normal by May.

Yellow Magenta Cyan

Black
ymv

L
R

Yellow Magenta Cyan

Black
ymv

National News

Sunday, January 10, 2016

A
CONNECTION
TO THE
BLACK
NAZARENE
Thousands
of devotees
joining the
traslacion
(passage)
of the Black
Nazarene
in Manila
yesterday
keep
themselves
at arms
length for
safety and
orderliness
during
the event.
(Kevin dela
Cruz)

Newsbits
Baptism of Jesus
The long Christmas season
liturgically ends today with the
Catholic Churchs observance of
the Feast of the Baptism of the
Lord, which commemorates the
baptism of Jesus in the Jordan
River by Saint John the Baptist,
at a time when all those living
in Jerusalem, Judea, and the
whole region around Jordan were
having themselves baptized.
In Rome, Italy, it has become
customary for the Pontiff to hold
mass and baptize babies in the
Sistine Chapel, a tradition that
was initiated by Saint John Paul
II. Pope Francis will lead the mass
and baptismal rites today. The
Church encourages the faithful to
remember the date of their own
baptism when the spiritual gifts of
faith, hope, and love as children
of God partaking in His divine plan
were bestowed upon them and
the mission to spread the Word of
God begun. Church officials said,
Jesus baptism celebrates His
second manifestation as the Son
of God (Epiphany), as well as the
manifestation of the Holy Trinity:
the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit
(Theophany). (Christina I. Hermoso)

DAR not holding

2nd raffle on Luisita
The Department of Agrarian Reform
(DAR) said it is not in the process
of conducting another raffle in
Hacienda Luisita. Some farmer
groups may have been confused
when the DAR Provincial Office
of Tarlac posted in December 29
the preliminary list of agrarian
reform beneficiaries of the 358
hectare Tarlac Development
Corporation (TADECO) landholding.
There was no raffle conducted in
that landholding, DAR Assistant
Secretary Justin Vincent La Chica
clarified. The 358-hectare Tarlac
Development Corporation (TADECO)
landholding is a portion of Hacienda
Luisita located in Barangays Balete
and Cut-Cut, Tarlac City, was not
part of the Supreme Court (SC)
decision issued in the middle of
2011. On December 17, 2013,
the DAR Provincial Office of Tarlac
issued a notice of coverage (NOC) to
TADECO indicating the start of the
process of coverage over the said
landholding. TADECO filed a protest
against the said coverage. On the
strength of the NOC, DAR started its
agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs)
identification process and came out
on Dec. 29, 2015 with a preliminary
list of 1,717 potential ARBs. The
preliminary list, as the name
suggests, is merely preliminary.
The public is given until February
4, 2016 to inform us if we missed
anyone or if we included someone
in the list which is not qualified, La
Chica said. (Ellalyn B. de Vera)

Aquino slammed for

supporting coal plants
By CHARISSA M. LUCI

rogressive solons lambasted

yesterday President Aquino
for allegedly pushing for
climate change mitigation
programs on the one hand, and then
supporting coal-fired power plants in
the country on the other.
Aquino drew flak from his critics
after inaugurating a 300-megawatt
coal-fired power plant in Davao City
last Friday.
Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Neri
Colmenares and Carlos Isagani Zarate
who sought cancellation of all coal
plant contracts and plantation and
mining permits said Aquino has allegedly exposed his hypocrisy to reduce

carbon emissions to put a stopper on

climate change by inaugurating a coalfired power plant, which was built by
Aboitiz Power Corp. aimed at addressing power shortage in Mindanao.
A few weeks after he has stood
up, forehead up high, in front of world
leaders demanding climate justice, he
is now cutting the ribbon to a top contributor to global warming coal-fired
power plants, Colmenares, a Senior
Deputy Minority Leader, said.
He said the government should
impose a moratorium on coal fired
power plant construction and expansion, explaining that the energy
resource accounts for a third of the
worlds greenhouse gas emissions
(GHGs) and considered one of the larg-

est contributors to climate change and

global warming.
Coal, besides being the dirtiest
energy resource, causes irreparable
damage to health and environment,
Colmenares said.
Bayan Muna filed House Resolution No. 692 seeking a moratorium on
coal fired power plant construction and
expansion, which is still pending in the
Committee on Energy at the House of
Representatives.
For his part, Zarate said, His
(Aquinos) criminal negligence at
the wake of these climate change
induced calamities is now topped by
this unabashed support to coal-fired
power plants, mining, and monocrop
plantations.

Beware of fake rate cards shown

by airport taxi drivers at NAIA

TAXI CONTROVERSY Accredited airport taxicabs line up at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, yesterday. Some complaints
have surfaced that drivers have overcharged passengers by showing them fake US dollar rate cards. (Ariel Fernandez)

A new modus-operandi to cheat arriving passengers at the Ninoy Aquino

International Airport (NAIA) has been
complained and, this time, it involves
airport taxi service providers presenting fake US dollar rate cards to their
clients in order to overcharge them.

But Airport Transport Concessionaires Association, Inc. (ATCAI) officer,

Romeo Sayaman, was quick to deny
that there is such a practice by his fellow transport drivers.
Based on complaints reaching news
media covering NAIA, some airport taxi

drivers show a fake US dollar rate card to

foreigners arriving at the airport in order
to jack up the payment of the fare.
The Manila International Airport
Authority (MIAA) said it will look into
this supposed racket happening at
NAIA. (Ariel Fernandez)

Palace frowns
at R1-B cut on
contraceptives
By MADEL SABATER-NAMIT

Malacaang on Saturday said the budget

cut on the implementation of the Reproductive
Health (RH) law in the 2016 national budget
is unfortunate but said the Department of
Health (DOH) is looking for ways to get more
funding from outside sources.
Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office (PCDSPO) Undersecretary Manuel Quezon, III
said that the scrapping of the P1-billion
budget for the implementation of the RH
law was unfortunate but it would have been
more unfair if the deletion of one item in the
budget placed the passage of the national
budget in peril.
Perhaps after the election, pwede namang i-propose na ibalik ang budget na ito
ngunit nakakalungkot (they can propose to
return the budget but this is unfortunate),
Quezon said.
It will be recalled that President Aquino
signed the 2016 General Appropriations Act
(GAA) into law on December 22, 2015, making
it the sixth time that the national budget was
passed on time.
Reports revealed that pro-RH senators
were blaming Sen. Vicente Sotto III for the
huge budget cut, making the budget for the
RH law only at P157 million.
Pagdating sa bicam(eral conference
committee), medyo mahirap na talagang
i-appeal yun. Dahil isipin niyo, kunwari tutol
tayo sa pagtanggal ng isang item tulad nun,
ang choice na maiiwan sa Senate at Congress
ay huwag nalang ipasa ang budget (When it
comes to the bicameral conference committee, it is really not easy to appeal. Because if
we are against the scrapping of one item such
as this, then the Senate and Congress will not
pass the budget on time), Quezon said.
In a sense, yun ang tactical approach na
ginamit ni Sen. Sotto dahil alam niya na last
two minutes na lang sa deliberations sa budget sa loob ng bicameral conference committee (In a sense, that was the tactical approach
used by Sen. Sotto because he knows that they
were in the final minutes of the deliberation
on the national budget within the bicameral
conference committee), he said.
At mas lalong unfair siguro kahit malungkot tayo na tinanggal yung budget na yun,
baka naman mapeligro yung buong budget
(It would have been more unfair, that while
we are sad that the budget for RH law was
scrapped, the national budget could have been
in peril), he added.

Need to talk
with NDF gets
urgent, say solons
Militant women lawmakers asked yesterday the House leadership to prioritize the
adoption of resolutions seeking the immediate
resumption of peace talks between the Philippine government and the National Democratic
Front (NDF), following the untimely death of
ailing political prisoner Eduardo Serrano.
Gabriela party-list Reps. Luz Ilagan and
Emmi de Jesus said the death of the 62-yearold Serrano, a consultant in the stalled peace
negotiations should prod the government
to jumpstart the talks with the communist
rebels.
With many ageing and sick political
prisoners suffering unjust detentions and patently spurious court cases, the cause of just
peace is lost as days go by. We hope that in the
remaining months of this Congress, Speaker
Belmonte should show leadership not only to
restore confidence in the peace process but
to address the humanitarian needs of many
prisoners who are persecuted for their cause
to end injustice, said Ilagan.
She lamented that Serrano was arrested
in 2004 on alleged trumped-up charges and
was kept in jail by the military and the administrations of Aquino and Gloria Arroyo despite
successive dismissals of charges brought
against him until he suffered from heart ailments. (Charissa M. Luci)

Yellow Magenta Cyan

Black
ymv

National News

Sunday, January 10, 2016

DOST, UP open
TBIs to encourage
techno startups
By EDD K. USMAN

hether you are a

student techno preneur or a
professional with
an eye to changing the world
through technology or a new
business idea, you have support
from the Department of Science
and Technology (DOST) and the
University of the Philippines
(UP).
The assistance is through
DOST and UP Enterprise Center
for Technopreneurship, which
is being supported by the Philippine Council for Industry,
Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development
(DOST-PCIEERD).
They are doing this through
their project: Outreach with a
P21-million budget from DOST.
It is now ongoing and helping
State Universities and Colleges
(SUCs) establish their own technology business incubators
(TBIs).
DOST assistance covers
initial operations and equipment
cost for the TBIs of the partner
institutions.
A statement from the Enterprise Center pointed out
that Project: Outreach aims
to increase inter-university collaboration, accelerate the formation of a critical mass of
innovators, and provide a bigger
pool from which future ventures
can form.
On Wikipedia, a business
incubator is defined as a company that helps new and startup
companies, on the other hand,
a startup is an entrepreneurial
venture or a new business in the
form of a company looking for
a repeatable and scalable business model.
DOST-PCIEERD and UP
Enterprise introduced Project:
Outreach to the media on Friday at UP's Balay Kalinaw, with
representatives of their partner
SUCs.
Dr. Carlos Primo David,
PCIEERD executive director,

cited the importance of the project as he revealed that through

PCIEERD there are already a
number of innovative products
in the market.
He described Project: Outreach as a mentoring initiative
backed by UPs experience.
Dr. Luis Sison, program leader
of the Enterprise Center, emphasized the need to harness
technological innovations by
Filipinos.
There is a need to cultivate
a culture of technological innovation in the country, especially
through our higher education
institutions. The presence of
TBIs in schools will serve as a
springboard for new technologybased products and services
that can be made available to the
public, he said.
Sison said technopreneneurship is any business enterprise that has technology in
it, hence, technopreneurs.
The Enterprise Center is
currently assisting three SUCs,
such as Batangas State University (BSU), Mindanao State
University-Iligan Institute of
Technology (MSU-IIT), and
Bataan Peninsula State University (BPSU).
He said they selected the
educational institutions based
on four criteria, such as having clear technology transfer
and intellectual property policy
to facilitate the formation of a
startup; ability to provide access
to laboratory, incubator rooms,
etc.; offering technopreneurship
class or equivalent; and can provide venue and faculty facilitator
for the class.
Sison that the target of Project: Outreach includes students,
professionals, and alumni.
The assistance covers operations planning; program for
venture development; technical
and administrative support and
training; participation in an
established technopreneurship
course, and others.

Bacolod mayor seeks

permission to travel abroad
By JEFFREY G. DAMICOG

Suspended Bacolod City

Mayor Monico Puentevella has
asked the Sandiganbayan to
allow him to travel to Hong
Kong to attend the wedding of
a friend.
Accused Puentevella agreed
to be a principal sponsor for the
couple's wedding, read the
motion filed by his lawyer Redemptor Peig before the Sandiganbayan Fourth Division.
With this, Peig prayed that
the court permit Puentevella to
travel to Hong Kong from January 21 to 25.
Peig noted that Puentevella
was invited to the wedding by the
bride, Catherine Sofia Francisco
Herrera, whom the accused has
known since 2001 and have been
good friends since then.
While in Hong Kong, Peig

said that Puentevella will be

billeted at the Prince Hotel,
Marco Polo.
He is not a flight risk and
he has all the intention to stay
in the country to protect the interests of the (Bacolod) City and
the people he swore to serve,
the lawyer assured.
In the meantime, the counsel said that the mayor has
requested from the Department
of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) for authority to
travel and will present it before
the court as soon as it becomes
available.
Puentevella has been
charged with graft over the alleged overpriced purchase of
computers amounting to P26
million using his Priority Development Assistance Fund from
2002 to 2006 when he was still a
congressman.

Yellow Magenta Cyan

Black
ymv

News

Sunday, January 10, 2016

Metro film fest earns P1.02 billion

By ANNA LIZA VILLAS-ALAVAREN

DEVOTED TO CLEANLINESS Rubbish left behind by the throng of Black Nazarene devotees
along P. Burgos Street in Manila are collected for proper disposal by equally devoted
street sweepers and volunteers yesterday afternoon. (Manny Llanes)

he 41st Metro Manila Film

Festival (MMFF) has broken all its previous records
after hitting P1-billion mark
in overall gross receipts for its eight
official entries in 14 days.
Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman
Emerson Carlos, also concurrent
head of the MMFF executive committee, said the ticket sales of the
2015 film festival totaled P1.02 billion,
posting a 3.55 percent increase higher
compared to 2014s P985-million
earnings.
The festival ran from December
25 and ended on January 7.
The earnings may even increase
with the extension of top four entries
in cinemas all over the metropolis:

romantic comedy films My Bebe

Love, Beauty and the Bestie,
#Walang Forever, and horror flick
Haunted Mansion.
Other entries this year are All
You Need is Pag-ibig, Honor Thy
Father, Buy Now, Die Later, and
Nilalang.
The MMFF is an annual event
organized primarily to help promote and enhance the preservation,
growth and development of the local
film industry.
The proceeds from the amusement tax from the local government
units of Metro Manila during the
festival run will be given to its beneficiaries from the movie industry,
including Movie Workers Welfare
Fund, the Film Academy of the Philippines, the Motion Picture Anti-Film
Piracy Council, the Film Develop-

ment Council of the Philippines, and Optical

Media Board.
Controversy
But even if the festival has concluded,
the unsettled issues linger.
The House of Representatives is set to
hear on January 11, Monday the alleged
irregularities during the festival, including
the disqualification of Reality Entertainment Productions entry film Honor Thy
Father from the Best Picture category.
I will attend the hearing for the public
and concerned people to be enlightened
by the MMFFs side of the story, said
Carlos.
He reiterated that the Honor Thy Fathers disqualification was because it was
already shown in other film festivals, which
is in violation of the MMFF rules.
We are ready to face any investigation, said Carlos, concurrent head of the
MMFF executive committee.
The decision was made after the producer reportedly failed to disclose that the
movie was the opening film for the Cinema
One Originals Festival 2015.
Laguna First District Rep. and actor
Danilo Fernandez, who also appeared in
the controversial film, filed House Resolution 2581, asked Congress to investigate the
MMFF executive committees decision to
disqualify the film.

Stiffer
penalties
sought for
abortion
By Charissa M. Luci

A veteran lawmaker is seeking the

passage of a bill seeking to increase the
penalties for cases of abortion.
Manila Rep. Amado S. Bagatsing
lamented that fetuses have been found
in garbage cans, thrown and abandoned
by their mothers only to be discovered
by unknown and concerned citizens and
reported by the media.
"Some never got to be discovered at
all and left in the confines of anonymity. These fetuses are the unwanted and
uncared or unborn babies who have been
wantonly murdered to, among other reasons, hide the shame of their mothers,
he said.
Bagatsing filed HB 567 to amend
Articles 256, 257, 268, and 259 of the Revised Penal Code to increase the penalties against abortion, stressing that the
State "shall equally protect the life of the
mother and the life of the unborn from
conception."
The proposed statute seeks to give
life to said constitutional right of the
unborn to protection, to recognize the
unborn childs basic right to life, to the
protection of his or her welfare and
against acts which place the unborn child
in danger of being harmed, injured or
killed, bearing in mind that the unborn
child is totally incapable of protecting
itself, Bagatsing said.
HB 567 provides a clear and workable
definition of abortion and abortifacients,
and classify certain medicinal formulations of abortifacients as dangerous
drugs, declaring them illegal, prohibiting
their use, possession, manufacture, importation, trade, promotion, dispensing,
and prescription of the same, he said.
Under the bill, abortion refers to any
act or practice, whether done intentionally or unintentionally, that causes the
premature exit of the products of conception (e.g. fetus, fetal membrane, placenta)
from the uterus of a woman.
While, abortive acts refer to abortion
practiced by the woman herself or by her
parents; abortion practiced by a physician or midwife dispensing of abortives;
any pharmacist who, without the proper
prescription from a physician, dispenses
abortives, as it is illegal in the Philippines
and is penalized as a crime under the
Revised Penal Code.
HB 567 provides that any person who
shall intentionally cause an abortion shall
suffer the penalty of reclusion perpetua, if
he shall use any violence upon the person
of the pregnant woman; penalty of reclusion temporal, if without using violence,
he shall act without the consent of the
woman; and penalty of prision mayor, if
the woman shall have consented.
The bill slaps a penalty of prision mayor in its minimum and medium periods
against unintentional abortion. While, an
abortion practiced by the woman herself
or by her parents shall be meted with
prision mayor.
Any woman who shall commit this offense to conceal her dishonor shall suffer
the penalty of prision mayor in its minimum
and medium periods," it said.

Yellow Magenta Cyan

Black
ymv

News

Sunday, January 10, 2016

Proposed Comprehensive Nursing Law advances

By CHARISSA M. LUCI

he House Committee on Appropriations has passed the

proposed "Comprehensive
Nursing Law geared towards
competent and relevant nursing practice for the health and safety of the
public.
The panel, chaired by Davao Rep.
Isidro T. Ungab approved the still un-

numbered bill, which seeks to repeal

Republic Act 9173, otherwise known as
the Philippine Nursing Act of 2002.
"It is the State policy to uphold
the dignity of the nurses and assume
responsibility for the protection, respect, and improvement of the nursing
profession by instituting measures
towards competent and relevant nursing practice for the health and safety of
the public, just and humane conditions

of work, and promotion of professional

growth," Deputy Speaker and Nueva
Vizcaya Rep. Carlos M. Padilla, one of
the principal authors of the bill said.
He said the State should recognize
nurses as prime movers of national development and contributors to international cooperation and understanding.
Padilla said an adequate and competent Nursing Personnel System (NPS)
should be implemented throughout

the country to guarantee the delivery

of accessible, affordable, and available
quality health care to all the people.
The bill mandates the creation of
a seven-man Professional Regulatory Board of Nursing to supervise and
regulate the practice of the nursing
profession.
The Board is mandated to ensure
the proper conduct of the Philippine
Nurse Licensure Exam (PNLE); issue,

suspend, revoke or reissue certificates

of registration for the practice of Nursing and ensure the widest publication
through electronic and written media;
and enforce and monitor safe and quality standard of nursing practice.
It shall be headed by a chairperson
to serve for one year without re-election
and shall be under the administrative
supervision of the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC).

Yellow Magenta Cyan

Black
ymv

News

CROSS ROADS
Jones Bridge
is packed by
devotees, with
more situated
along Riverside
Drive which cuts
across under
it, in this aerial
view shot that
shows the throng
that attended
yesterdays
procession
of the Black
Nazarene, or
the Traslacion,
forming a cross
as they escort
the Nazareno
back to the
Minor Basilica in
Quiapo, Manila.
Photo also
shows units from
the MMDA and
Philippine Coast
Guard guarding
the waters of
Pasig River,
ready to rescue
anyone who
might fall off the
bridge. (Kevin
dela Cruz)

Sunday, January 10, 2016

Pias love life can wait

reign whatever you have for the whole year.
I know its gonna be work but Im sure you
can manage.
Wurtzbach has said that she is unattached
at the moment.
She was, however, earlier linked to President Aquino. The 26-year-old Filipina-German
admitted that she and the President have
been communicating but maintained that they
are mere friends.
Netizens have also tried to pair her with a
news personality who hosts a morning television program.
Reaching out to fellow Colombian
Araneta also said that she is ready to
reach out to the family of Miss Colombia Ariadna Gutierrez who was mistakenly named
by pageant host Steve Harvey as the new
Miss Universe.
I have a brother who knows the family
of Miss Colombia. I have to do it and I want
to do it. I have already sent a message that I
feel bad about what happened. I will do that

in the couple of days. Its just that I am busy

here right now with the homecoming of Pia,
said Araneta, who was also born and raised
in Colombia.
Araneta, who attended the pageant night
at Planet Hollywood, described the pageants
debacle as horrible.
I thought that was unbelievable. Ive
never seen anything like that. Removing the
crown and sash was horrible.
Im 100 percent Colombian and I love my
country. But my heart is in the Philippines,
said Mrs. Araneta, who is married to Araneta
Center, Inc. chairman, CEO and president
Jorge L. Araneta.
In 1960, Araneta joined the Miss Universe
pageant and placed in the Top 15. A month
later, she represented Colombia in the first
Miss International pageant and took home
the title.
Jumping for joy
After Wurtzbach was finally crowned winner, the third Miss Universe after 42 years from
the Philippines, Araneta jumped for joy. I didnt
cry... I just shouted with joy. I was happy!
Araneta said that she knew Wurtzbach
would win after she watched the preliminary
show for swimsuit and evening gown.
I knew she was going to be up there. After
the prelims, I never had a doubt that she was
in the running.
Hardwork and determination proved to be
major factors for the victory of Wurtzbach in
the prestigious pageant, she said.
Hardwork pays off
Pia has been with Binibining Pilipinas
for three years and I think she learned a lot
because I found out from her and the people
who are close to her that she has three books
for 2013, 2014 and 2015. So she has her history
in those books and that she will review that
everyday. She was able to see her weaknesses
and forte and was able to come up with a perfect performance, Araneta added.
Before she became Miss Universe, Wurtzbach competed in Bb. Pilipinas three times.
She was first runner-up in 2013, semifinalist in
2014 and Bb. Pilipinas-Universe last year.
When I arrived in Las Vegas, I also noticed
the candidates, they were only talking about
Miss Colombia and Miss Philippines. Nobody
else. The big community of Filipinos there
surely helped her a lot, Araneta said.
With the victory of Wurtzbach, expect more
winners in future pageants abroad, she said.
We will have more winners because the girls
are different now. Not every country can prepare for pageants like the Philippines.
In a contest, there are so many details and
if you dont take care of that, then you may take
away the things that can make her a winner.
Excellent speaker
Mrs. Araneta stressed that Miss Universe
candidates should speak well.
Pia was terrific in her final speech. A
good speech is very important. You have to
speak well in Miss Universe. If not, you are
completely out. Shes gonna work for the
Miss Universe the whole year and shes the
spokesperson.
Araneta also believes that changes in the
future Miss Universe shows would not be
drastic. All I can say is that the new owners
of the Miss Universe Organization have a good
company.
Jan. 23 homecoming
Wurtzbach will arrive in the country on
Jan. 23 and her schedule would be very tight,
Araneta said.
We already have quite a schedule but it
has changed a little bit and it will change again
in the coming days. What we are doing is that
were just preparing for something. They will
tell us what to do because there are many
things that are coming up, she added.
Some of her activities include a courtesy
call in Malacaang, the House of Representatives, the Senate, attend the wedding of Vic
Sotto-Pauleen Luna, and a motorcade, among
others.
Organizers of the homecoming said that
they will also invite the past Miss Universe winners from the Philippines Gloria Diaz (1969)
and Margie Moran (1973) to join the grand
show for Wurtzbach at the Smart Araneta
Coliseum on January 28.
Hollywood actor surprises Miss U
Meanwhile, Miss Universe got the surprise of her life when Hollywood actor James
Franco greeted her on Instagram yesterday.
Franco, 37, posted a photo of him and
Wurtzbach in collage with the caption: I the
Philippines!!! 2 @missuniverse!!!
An hour later, Wurtzbach, replied to
Francos post: I LOVE YOU MORE!!!
@jamesfrancotv.
Recently, the Filipino-German beauty
queen revealed in her interviews that she
has a crush on Franco, who is well-known
for his role in Spiderman movies opposite
Tobey Maguire.
Franco is also a filmmaker who initially
wanted to become a marine zoologist. In 2010,
Franco was nominated for an Academy Award
for Best Actor in the movie 127 Hours.
In 2011, Franco and Anne Hathaway
hosted the 83rd Academy Awards or The Oscars in a move to attract younger audience.
In 2014, he debuted in Broadway in Of Mice
and Men.
Two years ago, Franco became controversial after he was busted for allegedly trying
to pick up a 17-year-old Scottish schoolgirl on
Instagram.

Yellow Magenta Cyan

Black
ymv

News

Devotion to
Black Nazarene
brings miracles
By BETHEENA KAE UNITE

here is a story behind every

devotion may it be due to a
sickness that has yet to be cured,
a wish for the familys safety, or
an inherited devotion.
And this years traslacion has once
again displayed the great devotion of
Filipinos to the Black Nazarene.
As millions of devotees joined the
historic procession of the image of the
Nazarene yesterday, 80-year-old Shenen
Bondoc chose to just stand in front of the
Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene,
clad with a simple maroon shirt and
faded jeans, to hear mass even under the
scorching heat of the sun.
He was carrying not just his own devotion but also his mothers. His devotion to
the Black Nazarene was passed on to him
by her mother.
It was like an inheritance from my
mother. She was a devotee of the Nazarene and she always brought me along
with her when I was a little kid, Bondoc
said.
Before she died, she told me to
always find time for Him (Nazarene),
Bondoc recalled.
So Bondoc carries on with the faith
that he learned from his mother. He never
missed the traslacion until he was too
weak for it. He would always say on his
mothers tomb that, Im doing my best
(to continue your devotion).
My wife even suspected me of having
an affair with another woman because of
my devotion, Bondoc shared in between
laughs. Bondoc said that during the
early years of his marriage, his wife would
suspect him of having another woman
because he was travelling from Caloocan
to Manila every Friday to attend mass.

niya ang mga anak niya katulad

ng pagyakap sa akin ng Nazareno
(My only wish is for her to embrace
her children like how the Nazarene
embraced me), Alipio expressed in
between sobs.
Sana magbago na ang anak ko,
sana may himala (I hope my daughter would change, I hope there will
be a miracle), she said.
Strong faith and body
Another devotee Renato Ignacio, 49 believes that his 34-year
devotion to the Black Nazarene
cured his wifes illness.
All the way from Dasmarias,
Cavite, Ignacio once again joined
the procession yesterday and once
again felt the indescribable feeling
of seeing and touching the Black
Nazarene.
He said that to be able to get
near and climb the andas, the carriage bearing the Black Nazarene,
one has to have a strong faith and
a strong body.
Natural na yung masugatan
ka, mabalian ka, masaktan ka
pero kapag nandoon ka na parang
ang gaan gaan ng loob mo. Kapag
nakababa ka na at nakalayo ka na
doon mo lang mararamdaman yung
sakit (Its natural to be wounded, to
get fractured, to get hurt but when
youre already there it suddenly
feels lighter. When youre already
away from it, thats the time you feel
the pain,) Ignacio said.

Sunday, January 10, 2016

Come clean on $1.5-M...

Vice-presidential candidate Sen.
Francis Chiz Escudero issued the call
after Vitangcol finally broke his silence
on the issue last Wednesday by claiming
that it was the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC)
that awarded the 10-month maintenance
contract.
This contract awarded to Philippine
Trams Rail Management (PH Trams)
became the basis of the graft case filed
against Vitangcol. One of the corporation
directors is Vitangcols uncle-in-law.
Barely a month after the Sandiganbayan affirmed his indictment for graft,
Vitangcol openly lamented what he
regarded as apparent haste in resolving
the case against him.
The DOTC-PH Trams maintenance
contract was perfected at a time
when the DOTC was headed by Liberal
Party (LP) presidential candidate Manuel
Mar A. Roxas II.
The Office of the Ombudsman has
cleared incumbent DOTC Secretary Joseph Emilio Aguinaldo Abaya of any liability in connection with the deal as he was
appointed just two days earlier when he
signed the contract, to the consternation
of presidential candidate Sen. Grace Poe,
Senate Public Services sub-committee
chairwoman.
Escudero said Vitangcol should now
reveal the extent of the culpability of
other DOTC officials in the anomalous
contract that they have left Vitangcol high
and dry to claim responsibility for deal.
Mr. Vitangcol should not be afraid
to speak up. Why sacrifice yourself, your
career, your life, your family name when
you know that there were others behind
this questionable deal? He should come
clean and reveal everything he knows,
Escudero said.
Sacrificial lamb
Vitangcol had earlier said that he was
being made a sacrificial lamb and was
being made to answer for the anomalies
in the MRT 3 maintenance contract that

was awarded to PH Trams.

The Ombudsman had originally
named 20 DOTC officials involved in the
deal but eventually charged only Vitangcol for the anomaly, exonerating, among
others, Abaya.
Vitangcol cried foul and said that he
was just being singled out. He also said
that an emissary had promised to help
him with the graft case but he has now
been dropped like a hot potato.
The emissary, he said, had gone to
his lawyer and gave the assurance that
he would be getting help from the latters
principals. If you wanted help, were
just here. Dont worry because the case
would eventually be dismissed in a matter
of time, Vitangcols lawyer quoted the
emissary as
saying.
There
could be
no one else
who could
wield such
power and
influence
a b o v e Vi tangcol
with possible links to
the maintenance contract than
Roxas and
Abaya,
Escudero
said.
Vitangcols revelation came
on the same
day that
P resident
Aquino renewed his
confidence
on Abaya
whom he
said will

stay on as DOTC secretary till the end of

his term in June.
Whoever his benefactors were,
theyre now long gone. And the longer that Mr. Vitangcol decides that he
should pin them down, the longer the
time and chance he gives them to cover
their tracks. Mr. Vitangcol should blow
the whistle on them now, Escudero
explained.
He also reminded Vitangcol how whistleblowers were effective in uncovering
ugly truths about the previous administration and even led to the impeachment
of a Supreme Court Chief Justice.
Thats why Vitangcol has nothing
to worry about or fear for. The whistleblower system is now well-entrenched,
recognized, and protected so he can
be assured of his and his familys wellbeing, he pointed out.

The Nazarene
embraced me
Another story was shared by a 43year-old mother who has been a devotee
of the Black Nazarene for 15 years now.
Wearing a maroon shirt printed with
the face of the Nazarene, Liza Alipio,
barefooted while carrying a small image
of the Nazarene, happily held her digital
camera to capture every moment of her
experience on this years traslacion.
She had one wish to the Father rehabilitation for her daughter who constantly uses illegal drugs. She said her
daughters addiction to drugs has caused
her to be an irresponsible mother to her
children.
Ang tanging hiling ko lang ay yakapin

SSS pension
hike law needs
thorough... 1
a radio interview over governments Radyo
ng Bayan yesterday.
We can all hope that some sort of
compromise will be reached but at this
point, wala pang information kung ano ang
magaganap [there is still no information
on what will happen] on the part of the
President, he said.
Quezon said the Palace is studying the
future implications of the pension bill if it
is passed into law.
Kung biglaang itataas ito, iiksi ang
buhay ng SSS [If we increase the pension,
there is a possibility that there will be
implications on the future of the SSS],
he said.
Ang nakataya dito, yung future life
expectancy kumbaga ng SSS [The future,
the life expectancy of the SSS is at stake
here], he added.
The SSS pension hike bill was transmitted to Malacaang in December.
Quezon said that the President has
three options: (1) to sign; (2) to veto; or (3)
to leave it unsigned, which will be deemed
approved after 30 days.
Lets wait. Hindi pa naman ubos yung
oras, talagang kailangan seryosong pagisipan ito dahil babalansehin ang interes ng
ating mga kababayan ngayon at sa darating
pa [The time is not yet up and we need to
seriously review it to balance the interest of
our citizens and also the future citizens],
Quezon said.
The SSS pension hike bill was passed in
Congress on June 9, 2015, and was passed
by the Senate on November 9, 2015. It seeks
to amend the Social Security Act of 1997.
Once enacted into law, the minimum
monthly pension shall be P3,200 from the
current P1,200 for the members with at
least 10 credited years of service.
While those with 20 credited years
of service shall receive P4,400 instead of
P2,400.

Yellow Magenta Cyan

Black
ymv

Editorial

LL
Sunday, January 10, 2016

115 YEARS
YEARS OF
OF SERVICE
SERVICE TO
TO THE
THE NATION
NATION
114
MANILA BULLETIN PUBLISHING CORPORATION
P. O. B O X 7 6 9
MANILA BULLETIN BUILDING
MURALLA CORNER RECOLETOS, INTRAMUROS MANILA
CABLE Bulletin Telefax 40240 Fax 5277510 Tel. No. 527-8121
DR. CRIS J. ICBAN, JR.
CRIS
J. ICBAN, JR.
Editor-in-Chief
Editor-in-Chief
JULLIE
Y. DAZA
JULLIE
Y. Editor
DAZA
Associate
Associate
Editor
DEEDEE
M. SIYTANGCO
DEEDEE
M. SIYTANGCO
Associate
Editor
Associate
Editor
LORETO
D. CABAES
LORETO
D.
CABAES
Business Editor
Business
Editor
ARNEL
A. PATAWARAN
ARNEL
A.
PATAWARAN
Lifestyle Editor
Lifestyle
Editor
DING
T. MARCELO
DING
T.
MARCELO
Sports Editor

VICENTE EDGARDO C. BARTILAD

VICENTEAsst.
EDGARDO
C. BARTILAD
Editor-in-Chief
Asst.C.
Editor-in-Chief
CECILIA
COLMENARES
CECILIA
C. COLMENARES
Executive
Editor
Executive
DR. BETH
DAYEditor
ROMULO
DR. BETH
DAYEditor
ROMULO
Executive
Executive
Editor
FIL
C. SIONIL
FIL C. SIONIL
Managing
Editor
Managing
Editor
JOJO
P. PANALIGAN
JOJO
P.
PANALIGAN
Entertainment Editor
Entertainment
Editor
ZAC B. SARIAN
ISABEL
C.
DE
LEON
Agriculture Editor
News Editor

Sports Editor

ATTY. HERMOGENES P. POBRE

& Publisher
ATTY. President
HERMOGENES
P. POBRE
DR.
EMILIO& C.
YAP III
President
Publisher
Vice
Board
DR.Chairman
EMILIOofC.the
YAP
III

BASILIO C. YAP

Chairman
of the
Board
BASILIO
C. YAP
CHIEF JUSTICE
HILARIO
G. DAVIDE,
Chairman
of the
Board JR., RET.
Vice Chairman
Board JR., RET.
CHIEF JUSTICE
HILARIOofG.the
DAVIDE,
RET.
Executive
President-Advertising
ViceVice
Chairman
of the Board Dept. SECRETARY
Vice ALBERTO
Chairman ofG.
theROMULO,
Board
Vice Chairman
of G.
theROMULO,
Board
PACIENCIA
M. PINEDA Dept. SECRETARY
Executive
Vice President-Advertising
ALBERTO
RET.
ATTY.
MIGUEL of
B.the
VARELA
Executive
Vice President-Finance
PACIENCIA
M. PINEDADept.
Vice Chairman
Board
Director Y. GAW
DR. ENRIQUE
Y. YAP, JR.Dept.
Executive
Vice President-Finance
ATTY.
FRANCIS
SECURITIES
&
EXCHANGE
COMMISSION, RET.
Vice President-Business
Development
Dept.
DR. ENRIQUE Y. YAP, JR.
Director

ATTY. FE B. BARIN
LYNE A. ABANILLA
ARSENIO
EMMANUEL
O. CABRERA
ATTY. FE B.C.BARIN
AFP GEN. HERMOGENES
ESPERON, JR., RET.
MELITO
S. SALAZAR,
JR.

Vice President-Business Development Dept. SECURITIES & EXCHANGE COMMISSION, RET.

Vice President-Classied Advertising Dept. Executive Vice President and Compliance Ofcer
VP-Advertising Department
Vice President-Advertising
Department

MELITO
S. SALAZAR,
CARMEN
S. SUVA JR.

Vice
and Compliance
Ofcer
Vice President
President-Public
Relations Dept.

CARMEN
S. SUVATAN
AURORA
CAPELLAN

Executive
Vice President
Executive Vice
President-Security
Department

AFP GEN.
HERMOGENES
C.I.ESPERON,
DR.
ESPERANZA
CABRALJR., RET.
Executive Vice
President-Security
Independent
Director Department

DR. ESPERANZA
I. CABRAL
JOHNNY L. LUGAY

VicePresident-Executive
President-Public Relations
Dept.
Vice
Department

Director
AVP-InformationIndependent
& Communication
Technology Dept.

Vice President-Executive
Department
VP-Circulation Department

AVP-Information
AVP-Accounting
& Communication
Department
Technology Dept.

VP-Circulation Department
Department
VP-Circulation

AVP-Engineering
AVP-Accounting Department

AVP-MetroManila
ManilaBranches
BranchesDepartment
Department
AVP-Metro

AVP- Advertising
Department
AVP-Credit
& Collection
Department

AVP-Product Distribution Dept.

Manager-Circulation, Credit & Collection Dept.

AURORA
CAPELLAN
JESUS H.
MALLARETAN
DANTEM.
M.SIMANGAN
SIMANGAN
DANTE

JOHNNY T.
L.MORALES
LUGAY
ELIZABETH

ALVIN P. MENDIGORIA
ELIZABETH
T. MORALES
KATHERENE
S. CHUA
SANDY U. COTOCO

RAMONC.
C.TING
TING
RAMON

MARTIN V. ISIDRO, JR.

SANDY U. COTOCO

http://www.mb.com.ph
http://www.mb.com.ph
ADDRESS:
bulletin@mb.com.ph

E-MAIL
E-MAIL ADDRESS: bulletin@mb.com.ph
PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION
OF THE PHILIPPINES, INC.

UNITED PRINT MEDIA GROUP

SHARING IDEAS, INSPIRING CHANGE.

MANILA BULLETIN HEAD OFFICE

ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT

CLASSIFIED ADS SECTION

DISPLAY ADS SECTION
Tel. 527-7523; 527-7530
Tel. 527-7515; 527-7517; 527-7520; 527-7524
Fax 527-1627; 527-7534
Fax 338-4564; 527-7533
CIRCULATION DEPARTMENT

Tel. 527-7522 Fax 527-7526

CEBU BRANCH

CEBU
BRANCH
Manila
Bulletin
Building
Manila Bulletin
BuildingStreets,
D. Jakosalem
corner Zamora
D. Jakosalem
corner
Zamora
Pari-an, Cebu City Streets,
Cebu256-0127;
City 6000256-0128
Tel. (032)Pari-an,
256-0125;
Tel. (032) 256-0125;
256-0127; 256-0128
DAVAO BRANCH
Manila
Bulletin
Building
DAVAO
BRANCH
C. Bangoy
Streets,
Manila corner
BulletinRizal
Building
City Davao City 8000
C. Bangoy corner J.P. Davao
Rizal Streets,
Tel. (082)
(082) 225-0660;
225-0660; 225-0661;
225-0661; 225-0662
225-0662
Tel.
ILOILO BRANCH

ILOILO
BRANCH
Manila
Bulletin
Building
ManilaDelgado
Bulletin Streets,
Building Iloilo City
Quezon corner
Quezon Tel.
corner
Delgado
Streets,
Iloilo City 5000
(033) 336-9450; 336-9658
Tel. (033) 336-9450; 336-9658
CAGAYAN DE ORO BRANCH
CAGAYAN
ORO
BRANCH
ManilaDE
Bulletin
Building

CUBAO BRANCH

CUBAO
BRANCH
Manila
Bulletin
Building
Manila
Bulletin
Building
904 Aurora
Boulevard
904 Aurora
corner Harvard
Street, Boulevard
Cubao, Quezon City
corner
Harvard
Street,
Cubao, Quezon
City 1109
Tel.
352-4390;
352-4396;
352-4397
Tel. 352-4390;
Fax No.352-4396;
352-5974352-4397
No. 352-5974
WESTFax
AVENUE
BRANCH
Manila
Bulletin Building
WEST
AVENUE
BRANCH
G/F Delta Building, West Avenue
G/F Delta
Building,
West
Avenue
corner
Quezon
Avenue,
Quezon
City
corner Quezon
Avenue,
Quezon City
Tel. 373-3910;
373-3911;
373-3912
Fax 1104
373-3913
Tel. 373-3910; 373-3911; 373-3912 Fax 373-3913
AYALA AVENUE BRANCH

G/F ALABANG
National Life Insurance
Bldg.,
BRANCH
6762
Ayala
MakatiTower,
City
Unit
104
G/FAvenue,
South Center
Tel. 813-2142;
813-7476
Fax
813-5826
2206 Market,
Madrigal
Business
Park ALABANG
Alabang, Muntinlupa
City 1770
BRANCH
Tel.Unit
772-1901;
Fax Tower,
772-1903
104 G/F772-1902
South Center
2206 Market, Madrigal Business
MAKATI
BRANCH
Park Alabang, Muntinlupa City
Ground Floor,
Atrium of
Tel. 772-1901;
772-1902
FaxMakati
772-1903
Makati
Avenue,
Makati
City 1200
MALL
OF
ASIA
BRANCH
Tel. 813-7476;
892-1985;
813-4453
Fax 812-3962
Unit811-4391;
No. 112-113
SP Mall
of Asia
Central Business
ParkBRANCH
Bay City, Pasay City
ORTIGAS
Tel. 556-1441;
556-0081
G/F East of556-0033;
Galleria Building,
MAKATI
BRANCH
Topaz Road,
Ortigas Center,
Pasig City 1605
Ground
Floor, Atrium
of Makati
Tel. 631-0193;
631-0208;
631-0346
Fax 631-0176
Makati Avenue, Makati City
Tel. 811-4357;
811-4453;CITY
811-4391
Fax 812-3962
DUMAGUETE
BRANCH
Manila Bulletin
Building,
Silliman Avenue
ORTIGAS
BRANCH
cornerG/F
Real
Street,
Dumaguete
City 6200
East
of Galleria
Building,
Tel. (035)
522-1068;
(035) 522-1069
Topaz
Road,
Ortigas Center,
Pasig City
Tel. 631-0193; 631-0208; 631-0346 Fax 631-0176

Manila
Bulletin
BuildingStreets,
S. Osmea
corner
J. Ramonal
Cogon,corner
Cagayan
de Oro City
S. Osmea
J. Ramonal
Streets,
(088)de
857-1764
Cogon, Tel.
Cagayan
Oro City 9000
Tel. (088)
857-1764
GRACE
PARK
BRANCH
ManilaPARK
BulletinBRANCH
Building
GRACE
Rizal
Avenue
Extension
corner
Manila
Bulletin
Building
10thRizal
Avenue
Grace
Park, Kalookan
City
Avenue
Extension
corner
Tel. 363-2216;
363-1333
Fax
363-1333
10th Avenue Grace Park, Kalookan City 1400
NAGA
BRANCH
Tel. 363-2216;
363-1333
Fax 363-1333
Manila Bulletin Building
NAGA
BRANCH
Peafrancia Avenue
Bulletin
Building
cornerManila
Dimasalang
Streets,
Naga City
Peafrancia
Avenue
Tel. (054) 473-7522;
473-7526
corner Dimasalang
Street,
Naga
City 4400
SANTIAGO BRANCH
Tel. (054)
473-7526
Manila473-7522;
Bulletin Building
Maharlika
HighwayCITY
cornerBRANCH
Abauag Street,
SANTIAGO
Poblacion,
Santiago
City
BAGUIO CITY BRANCH
Manila
Bulletin
Building
BRANCH
Unit DUMAGUETE
102 EGI Albergo diCITY
Ferroca
Condominium
BAGUIO
CITY
BRANCH
Maharlika
Highway
corner
Abauag Street,
Unit 4 Paya
Building,
Bypass Baguio
Road, Looc,
Unit 102Poblacion,
EGI Albergo
di Ferroca
#1 Villamor
Drive,
Brgy. Lualhati,
City 2600
Santiago
City Condominium
3311
Dumaguete
City
#1 Tel.
Villamor
Brgy. Lualhati,
Baguio City
Tel. (074) 422-6324
; 422-6204
Fax (074) 422-6070
(078)Drive,
305-3339;
(078) 305-3378
Tel. (035) 522-1068; (035) 522-1069
Tel. (074) 422-6070 ; 422-6204 Fax (074) 422-6324

reflections today

The proclamation
of John the Baptist
Luke 3:15-16, 21-22

he people were filled with expectation, and all were asking in their
hearts whether John might be the
Messiah. John answered them
all, saying, I am baptizing you with water,
but one mightier than I is coming. I am not
worthy to loosen the thongs of his sandals.
He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and
fire. After all the people had been baptized
and Jesus also had been baptized and was
praying, heaven was opened and the Holy
Spirit descended upon him in bodily form
like a dove. And a voice came from heaven,
You are my beloved Son; with you I am well
pleased.
REFLECTION
GOING THROUGH ORDINARY TIME
WITH EXTRAORDINARY GRACES All
the three Synoptic Gospels (Mark, Matthew,
Luke synopsis in Greek means sideby-side) narrate that the ministry of Jesus
commenced with his baptism at the River
Jordan. In this event, the heavens open and
proclaim Jesus as the awaited Son of the
Father. The baptism of Jesus is still part
of his epiphany or manifestation. Jesus
epiphany is completed by three major events:

Black

he Senate has decided to reopen its

investigation into the Mamasapano
incident in which 44 Special Action
Force (SAF) commandos of the Philippine National Police (PNP) were killed along
with 18 men of the Moro Islamic Liberation
Front (MILF), five men of the Bangsamoro
Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), and several
civilians.
Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile asked for the reopening
of the probe, saying he had new matters and new
perspectives he wanted to raise. He had not been
able to participate in the Senate hearings held during the year, he said, as he was under detention.
It is indeed generally believed that after all the
Senate and House hearings and the investigations
by the PNP and the National Bureau of Investigation, the Mamasapano incident has never achieved
closure. To this day, the families of the 44 SAF men
not only continue to mourn their deaths, but also
believe the whole truth has not come out.
On the basis of the NBI findings, the Department of Justice filed charges against some of the

armed men who fought the SAF commandos,

but beyond the actual events in the combat zone,
there are questions on the planning of the entire
operation by unauthorized officials and a lack of
coordination with the military in both the assault
and in the botched rescue.
The Senate committee led by Sen. Grace Poe
issued a report which held President Aquino ultimately responsible for the deaths of the SAF
44, but the Senate as a body never acted on the
committee report. Thus, Senator Poe said, the committee has leeway to allow new evidence and she
proceeded to schedule the new hearings sought by
Senator Enrile for January 25, precisely the first
anniversary of the Mamasapano killings.
Do Senator Enriles new matters and new
perspectives include new evidence on the case?
Whatever is introduced at the reopening of the Senate hearing, we hope it will not be a mere repetition
or a rehash of already reported events or declared
statements. It is not only the families of the SAF
44 hoping for closure to the tragic Mamasapano
incident, but the entire nation.

CATHOLIC FAITH

Feast of the Baptism of Jesus

ODAY is the Feast of the Baptism of Jesus.

Today also, in the liturgical calendar of the
Roman Catholic Church, is the culmination
of the Christmas season and the beginning of
the Ordinary Time, when all are invited to reflect on the
teachings and proclamations of Jesus in the gospels.
Luke, in todays gospel reading recounts Jesus
baptism by John in the River Jordan. We are told that
the heavens opened and the Spirit descended like a
dove and a voice was heard saying: You are my beloved
Son; with you I am well pleased. This mystery of the
baptism of Jesus is linked to the great feasts of Christs
birth and the Epiphany that we celebrated last Sunday.
On Christmas day and in the days following that great
celebration, we reflected on Christs among into our
midst as a human being, born of the Blessed Mary, to
become one like us. On the feast of the Epiphany, we
recall Christs manifestation to all peoples as the true
light of the world, the one who came to bring salvation.
Today, the feast of the baptism of the Lord is the second
Epiphany, the manifestation of Christs mission on earth.
His baptism in the river Jordan signaled the beginning
of the fulfillment of his mission among us.
The Fathers voice from heaven and the coming
down of the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove shows the
unity of Jesus with the Father and the Holy Spirit and
that moment revealed to us the Trinitarian nature of the
Christian God. This mystery shows how much God loves

and cares for his people and all his creation. In Christ
and with Him, we are all united to the Father and the
Spirit. In the person of Jesus Christ, we experience the
mercy of God.
Today in an opportune time to reflect on our own
baptism experience. In baptism, we are incorporated
into the one family of Christ on earth. We become sharers of Christs mission as priest, prophet, and king. As
Christ began his earthly mission when he was baptized
by John the Baptist, we, too, are given a mission to fulfill
in our baptism. It is a mission to proclaim the good news
of the Lord through our daily witnessing.
The Catholic Church considers baptism a vital
sacrament because it is basis of the whole Christian
life, the gateway to life in the Spirit, and the door which
gives access to the other sacraments. (Catechism of
the Catholic Church, 1213). Our baptismal promises
to follow Christ and reject the evil one are made firm
through the sacrament of Confirmation and nourished
in the sacrament of the Eucharist.
Today, as we partake of the celebration of the Holy
Eucharist, let us thank God for the grace of our baptism.
Let us be grateful for the gift of a new life in Christ. Let us
also ask for the strength to carry out our baptismal commitment. As we have received the gift of faith, we also
have received the mandate to proclaim the good news to
others. May this occasion make us joyful proclaimers of
the light that is Christ who came to be one like us.

Spirit descend in bodily form like a dove. This makes

us realize the essence of Christian prayerfree access to
the Father through Jesus, with its greatest fruit being the
descent of the Holy Spirit. True it is that the Ordinary Time
of the Church does not celebrate any specific mystery of
Jesus. However, we are reminded: big feast or no festival
at all, we, the baptized, should continue to journey each
day with our focus on Jesus who is our All, and with our

hearts forever in prayer. In this manner, we live in Jesus

whom we have just celebrated anew through Advent and
Christmas as our IMMANUEL (God-with-us).

SOURCE: 366 Days with the Lord 2016, ST.

PAULS Philippines, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati
City (Phils.); Tel.: 895-9701; Fax 895-7328; E-mail:
books@stpauls.ph; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.

Yellow Magenta Cyan

(1) the visit of the Magi, that reveals Jesus as

Savior of all; (2) the baptism at the Jordan,
that reveals Jesus as the beloved Son of
the Father; (3) the miracle at Cana, that first
manifests Jesus signs and wonders. Year
Cthe liturgical cycle we are infeatures
Sunday Gospels that come mostly from
Luke. Jesus baptism, in the account of the
third Gospel, has many details parallel to the
baptism stories of Mark and Matthew. There
are, however, two significant points that make
Lukes narration unique: 1. Lukes story
dramatically highlights Jesus only Jesus!
While Jesus makes his initial appearance
in the story as one who lines up for water
baptism like the rest, his baptism is poetically
referred to as the climax and the last act in
the ministry of John the Baptist. Jesus is baptized by John after all the people had been
baptized. Jesus is the one described by Luke
as the real baptizer who will baptize with
the Holy Spirit and fire. 2. Luke presents the
theophany as a divine answer to the prayer
of Jesus. Only Luke speaks about Jesus at
prayer during his baptism, and Luke will
feature Jesus praying 11 more times during
crucial moments of his three-year ministry
(cf Lk 5:16; 6:12; 9:18, 28-29; 10:21; 11:1; 22:32,
41, 44; 23:34, 46). The prayer of Jesus makes
the heavens open, and it makes the Holy

Nation seeks closure

to the tragedy
of Mamasapano

RR

10

ymv

ymv

ymv

Views Features

Sunday, January 10, 2016

on emPowerinG tHe filiPino PeoPle

THROUGH UNTRUE

Like tap secrets,

nation-building is virtuous

Do you still talk

with each other?

By FIDEL V. RAMOS
FORMER PHILIPPINE PRESIDENT

(Last of Two Parts)

lmost ever y day, the

President has to be like a
juggler, balancing in the air
and keeping aloft at least
ten balls, which represent national
and regional/global problems (hot
potatoes). But, as Chief Executive
and AFP/PNP Commander-in-Chief,
he/she must perform with greater
agility, endurance, and skill than the
ordinary circus-juggler whose feet
are on the ground.

No, it is as if the Pangulo (President) must juggle the sizzling potatoes while walking along a slim
tightwire 100 meters up in the air
handling, catching, and managing
the balls (which are really impactful/comprehensive problems) in a
calm, harmonious manner and
not drop any in the process. Otherwise, the whole country surely will
fall down and suffer with him/her.
More importantly, the President
himself must never fall off because
of possible faulty knowledge, uncoordinated movements, lack of
focus, or sheer incompetence otherwise, the whole nation will also
crash down with him/her.
During a violent crisis situation,
the President while still on the
highwire may be likened to an acrobat riding a bicycle up in the air
while balancing the critical issues
whose variety and intensity may
be on the increase because of the
pressure of external forces.
THATS HOW DIFFICULT AND
COMPLEX IT IS TO BE IN THE HOT
SEAT-CUM-PRESSURE COOKER
CALLED MALACAANG.
Nation-Building
an Upward Process
FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF
ORDINARY FILIPINOS WHOSE
HOPES FOR A BETTER FUTURE
RIDE ON THE PRESIDENT THE
HIGHWIRE WE SPEAK OF REPRESENTS OUR PEOPLES ASPIRATIONS FOR A HIGHER QUALITY
OF LIFE.
The highwire is seldom at a
level or horizontal position, but is
either inclined upward or downward. Its endpoint marks the
turnover of the presidency after six
years, at which time the legacy
is passed on to the next president.
The incoming president would
have to work doubly hard if his
predecessor had failed to bring our
country up in the rankings of the
member-nations of the UN (In 2014,
the Philippines declined to 117th
out of 195 countries or well into
the lower half. More than a decade
ago, our country ranked among the
upper 50%).
After a succession of presidencies, perhaps covering one generation later (25 years or more),
the penultimate stage of nationbuilding may indeed come within
reach. The final target or ultimate
vision, however, is actually a moving horizon that may never be fully
attained because UTOPIA does not
really exist on Earth.
CHALLENGING, ISNT IT? OF
COURSE, IT IS. EXTREMELY ARDUOUS TOO, BECAUSE OF PEOPLES RISING EXPECTATIONS
FOR A BETTER FUTURE, WHICH
ARE ALL ABOUT ENJOYING A
HIGHER LEVEL OF COMFORT,
COMPETITIVENESS, PROSPERITY, JUSTICE, INTEGRITY, MODERNIZATION, AND NATIONAL
REPUTATION.
The National Water
Crisis Act (NWCA)
In 1995, through the efforts of the
Ramos Administration and with the
commitment of the 9th Congress, the
NWCA of 1995 (RA 8041) was enacted.
It provided the legal framework for
Public-Private Partnership (PPP)
reform that addressed the looming water crisis. The Government,
through the MWSS, was empowered
to adopt measures that would improve efficiency of water services, as
well as expand customer coverage.
The PPP was declared a state
policy through RA 6957 (09 July
1990) by adopting the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) and BuildTransfer (BT) schemes. The policy
was expanded by RA 7718 (05 May

1994) by adding the Build-Own-Operate (BOO), Build-Lease-Transfer

(BLT), Build-Transfer- Operate
(BTO), Contract-Add- Operate
(CAO), Develop-Operate-Transfer
(DOT), Rehabilitate- OperateTransfer (ROT), and RehabilitateOwn-Operate (ROO) schemes.
The NWCA gave the president
the authority to negotiate contracts
for the improvement of the water
sector. Another important feature
of the NWCA was to criminalize
water theft. Specifically, the act
declared unlawful for any person
to Tap, make, or cause to be made
any connection with water lines
without prior authority or consent
from the water utility concerned;
tamper, install, or use tampered
water meters, sticks, magnets, reversing water meters, shortening
of vane wheels and other devices
to steal water or interfere with
accurate registry or metering of
water usage, or otherwise result in
its diversion in a manner whereby
water is stolen or wasted; use or
receive the direct benefit of water
service with knowledge that diversion, tampering, or illegal connection existed at the time of that use,
or that the use or receipt was otherwise without the authorization
of the water utility; steal water for
profit or sale.
THE PASSAGE OF THE NWCA
WAS TIMELY AS IT WAS ABLE
TO CURB WHAT WAS BECOMING
A RAMPANT PROBLEM WHERE
MANY MWSS CUSTOMERS MADE
EASY MONEY BY ILLEGAL VENDING. IT ALSO SPEEDED UP REFORMS TO BETTER SATISFY
PEOPLES NEEDS.
Successful Tap Secrets
T H R O U G H C O R P O R AT E
TRANSFORMATION AND INSTITUTING THE BUILDING BLOCKS
OF REFORM, THE MWC WAS ABLE
TO HARVEST THE FRUITS OF
CHANGE. BY SHARING ITS TAP
SECRETS, MWC HOPED TO:
.Share its experience in implementing one of the largest water
concessions in the world.
.Identify the key corporate
challenges faced and milestones
achieved.
.Define the key risk mitigation
strategies adopted by the company
and the public.
.Determine the impact of key
unforeseen factors and supply
shocks, and how MWC responded
to these factors.
.Identify emerging issues and
challenges in order to deliver and
provide better customer service.
TAP SECRET 1: ENABLE
ENABLING MWCS WORKERS
TO ACCOMPLISH WHAT THEY
HAVE TARGETED TO DO AND
PROVIDING THEM THE TOOLS TO
DO SO WERE THE FIRST ORDER
OF THE DAY.
AS THE EMPLOYEES WERE
THE KEY DRIVING FORCE, IT WAS
EVIDENT THAT MWC NEEDED
TO START ITS TRANSFORMATION
INTERNALLY WITHIN THE COMPANYS WORK. THEIR PROFILE
WAS CHARACTERIZED BY (A)
LOW PRODUCTIVITY, (B) HIGHLYEDUCATED MANAGERIAL POOL
BUT POORLY COMPENSATED,
(C) WITH LIMITED CAPACITY TO
MANAGE OPERATIONS LIKE A
BUSINESS, AND (D) WERE CONCERNED ABOUT JOB SECURITY
MORE THAN PUBLIC SERVICE.
CLEARLY, THERE WAS A NEED
TO INTRODUCE A NEW MINDSET WHERE THERE IS SHARED
RESPONSIBILITY FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT ACROSS
ALL LEVELS OF THE ORGANIZATION.
TAP SECRET 2: EMPOWER
EMPLOYEE EMPOWERMENT
BECAME REAL WITH THE ADOPTION OF DECENTRALIZED OPERATIONS. REINVENTING ITS CORE
ASSET HUMAN RESOURCES
HAS BECOME INTRINSIC TO
MWC.
SETTING CLEAR GOALS DEFINED WHAT MWC INTENDED
TO ACCOMPLISH AND HOW TO
GET THERE. GOAL -SETTING
BECAME STRONGLY LINKED
WITH CLEARLY DEFINED ROLES,
DELIVERABLES, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND REWARDS. EVERYONE
BECAME RESPONSIBLE FOR THE
MISSION A STRONG CUSTOM-

ER-FOCUSED MISSION WHERE

THERE IS HIGH CUSTOMER SATISFACTION.
TAP SECRET 3: EXCEL
FROM A VICIOUS CYCLE
CHARACTERIZED BY POOR
SERVICE AND LOW COVERAGE,
GOVERNMENT WA S UNABLE
TO INCREASE WATER TARIFFS
BECAUSE OF CUSTOMERS UNWILLINGNESS TO PAY. HENCE,
THERE WAS POOR COLLECTION
AND LOW CASH FLOWS, WITH
DECADES OF UNDER-INVESTMENT.
MWC WAS ABLE TO TRANSFORM INTO A VIRTUOUS CYCLE
OUTFIT A MAJOR FEAT THAT
WAS ACCOMPLISHED DUE TO
THE PPP REFORMS. IT WAS ALSO
ABLE TO EXPAND AND PROVIDE
B E T T E R Q UA L I T Y S E RV I C E ,
WHICH RESULTED IN SATISFIED
CUSTOMERS WILLING TO CONNECT AND PAY AT FULL COST,
THEREBY PROMOTING FULL
COST RECOVERY WITH HIGH
COLLECTION EFFICIENCY AND
INCREASED INVESTMENTS.
Global Awards and Recognitions
BECAUSE OF ITS PERFORMANCE, MWC RECEIVED A BIG
NUMBER OF AWARDS AND WAS
RECOGNIZED NOT ONLY HERE
IN THE PHILIPPINES, BUT ALSO
INTERNATIONALLY.
In 2010, MWC was recognized as
the Water Efficiency Project of the
Year through the U.K.-based publication, Global Water Intelligence.
The company was recognized for
its multi-pronged approach to
NRW management, making MWC
the worlds best in water efficiency
as unanimously voted by global
water industry experts.
In the same year, the International Water Associations (IWA)
Global Project Innovation Awards
also recognized MWC for its NRW
achievement. When MWC instituted its Corporate Governance Policy
as a means to achieve the highest
standards of corporate governance,
the International Finance Corporation (IFC) presented MWC with the
Client Leadership Award.
In June 2011, MWC was cited
in the Harvard Business Review,
highlighting the companys initiatives to significantly improving
its access to clean, less expensive
water, in the process gaining
the consumers trust through a
much-applauded partnership with
Government and local communities where the poorest of the poor
reside.
Another major award was the
G20 Challenge on Inclusive Business Innovation for demonstrating
MWCs ability to provide economic
opportunities and water services
for the marginalized sector. The
award was given by the IFC at the
G20 Leaders Summit in Los Cabos,
Mexico in June 2012.
In 2011, MWC was conferred
the distinction as Best Philippine
Employer and grand recipient of
the Asian Human Capital Award.
Bestowed by the Singapore Ministry of Manpower, MWC was praised
for outstanding practices in human
resource development and management. This was the first time a
Philippine company received this
prestigious recognition.
In accordance with ISO standards and guidelines, MWCs
facilities have been certified
quality management (ISO 9001),
environmental management (ISO
14001), and occupational health
and safety (OHSAS 18001). MWC
bagged the award of New Sustainability Champion for the Most
Environmentally Aware category
during the World Economic Forum
in September 2011. The company
was also the only Philippine company and one of just eight in Asia
to have been cited in the WEFs
Top 16 Most Environmentally
Aware companies in the developing world.
LESSON TO BE LEARNED:
TOPNOTCH PEOPLES ORGANIZATIONS AND TOPNOTCH
PRIVATE CORPORATIONS (LIKE
MWC) DESERVE A TOPNOTCH
GOVERNMENT AND VICE-VERSA.

KAYA NATIN ITO!!!

Please send any comments to
fvr@rpdev.org. Copies of articles
are available at www.rpdev.org.

By FR. ROLANDO V. DELA ROSA, O.P.

O W is c o n v e r s a t i o n i n
your family? When was
the last time you huddled
with your children or had
pillow talk with your spouse? Do you
make an effort to elevate family conversation beyond petty gossips and
trivialities?
It is a fact that work, television,
mobile phones, and the social media
have hastened the decline of family
conversation. We have become too
focused on the instant, too dataoverdosed, obsessed with speed
rather than depth.
I once heard a wife complain: I
barely see my husband because of his
work, and when he comes home, he
is too tired, sleepy, or too distracted
to listen. He is always texting or calling someone with his mobile phone. I
feel he is no longer interested in me.
Many women can relate with her. Seeing your husband spend more time on
his mobile phone than on you can be
really devastating.
A husband may also feel the same
way when, everytime he talks with his
wife, he gets a dismissive monosyllabic reply, making him feel that she
prefers to be left alone to watch her
favorite telenovelas, or engage in texting and social networking. If he succeeds in having adecent conversation
with her, it quickly deteriorates into a
grievance outlet, a verbal squabble,
or a furious debate.
Children are the helpless victims
of the demise of family conversation.
Parents usually expose their children
early to television so as not to be
bothered by the latters constant demands for attention. Eventually, children learn to regard television not
only as their babysitter but as their

11

surrogate parent. As they grow older,

they are initiated to mobile phones,
tablet computers, and other gadgets
which condition them to think that
texting, surfing the Internet, playing
video games and social networking
are better than conversing with their
parents.
Face-to-face conversation with
another person is the bedrock of a
persons intellectual, emotional, and
social development. Always communicating with digital friends and
strangers even when they are in
the presence of their parents gives
the impression that children are not
interested in the latter.
This points to the most lethal
cause of the death of family conversation: our growing lack of interest in
what goes on in the family.
It is a common observation that
the youth know more about the life,
whereabouts, and activities of their
favorite celebrities, but are clueless
when asked where their parents are.
On the other hand, parents are wellinformed about the latest in politics,
business, beauty contests, scandals,
and controversies, but seldom know
whats happening to their children.
Pope Francis reminds families:
The great challenge facing us today
is to learn once again how to talk with
one another, not simply how to generate and consume information.
Meaningful conversation is an
indispensable element in family life
because it assures parents and children that they are genuinely loved
and cared for. Sincerely talking with
each other builds beautiful memories that refresh us in times of trials
and difficulties.When conversation
runs out, love rushes away, never to
return.

word alive

Christmas spirit
should be every day
By Fr. Bel San Luis, SVD

hristmas, the happiest

season of the year, liturgically ends today, the feast of the
Baptism of Jesus Christ.

***
The question is: Will the spirit of
Christmas die down? Meaning, will
the spirit of generosity like reaching
out to the less fortunate, the spirit of
forgiveness, reconciliation, and peace
end today?
***
As we would say, Christmas
is every day. But someone would
counter, That would be expensive.
We would be buying gifts and throwing parties.
By no means. Whats meant is the
SPIRIT of sharing, of being kind to
one and all.
***
Why should we reach out to the
indigents only on Christmas? Why
have peace and ceasefire between the
government and rebels only during
the Christmas season? By the way,
ceasefire applies also to warring
couples and family members. Why not
a permanent ceasefire?
***
Why be an active Christian only
during the Christmas season? Reminds me of the priest celebrating
midnight Mass before a jampacked
congregation who included numerous new faces. He greeted them, saying: Merry Christmas and a Happy
Easter!
The people wondered why he
included Easter. After the Mass, the
priest explained, Its because the
next time they will show up in church
again will be on Easter.
***
It does not cost much to live the
Christmas spirit. It can be expressed
in many non-material ways like saying a compliment or appreciation to
someone whos doing well, being more
patient and understanding of others
failings and weaknesses.
Moreover, it doesnt cost anything
to get rid of a bad habit or vice, like

excessive drinking, smoking, or

gambling. In fact, doing this can save
hard-earned money or yes, save or
lengthen ones life.
***
Think about it. The spirit of Christmas is actually the spirit of a true
Christian.
And being a true Christian should
not be seasonal but a whole-yearround practice, and more--a lifetime
quest.
***
THE LIGHTER SIDE. Af ter
the Christmas holidays, a man said:
First my assets were frozen, then
liquidated, and now they have evaporated.
***
On New Year, a man made a resolution to come straight home after
work instead of having a good time till
the wee hours of the morning. Elated,
the wife said: Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son...!
***
But after a month, he slipped
back to his old habit. One time as he
returned home past midnight, the wife
sighed: Glory be to the Father....AS
IT WAS IN THE BEGINNING...
Persevere in keeping your resolution. Avoid a ningas cogon habit.
Remember the Lords remark: This
man began to build but could not
finish?
***
GOD BLESS our latest donors
to Adopt-A-Seminarian scholarship
program: Carol Ynares, Antonio
Princesa, Emma Ramos, Tony-Sophie
Sevilla, Janice Tantoco.
***
Others, who want to chip in or
sponsor a seminarians schooling,
may e-mail me at: belsvd@gmail.
com.
***
Theres a shortage of priests and
missionaries in the Church today.
Lets support our seminarians. We
cannot have priests, missionaries,
bishops, and popes if we dont help
seminarians now.

Yellow Magenta Cyan

Black
ymv

Views Features

12

more vital tHan ever

Our Daily journey

Philanthropy
in Asia
By EDGARDO J. ANGARA
FORMER SENATOR

or generations, giving was

traditionally done through
endowments to foundations,
created by their founders. In
the US, Rockefeller, Ford, and Carnegie
were the exemplars.
In recent times, giving has evolved
into various ways. The norm is giving
while living. The philanthropy of the
new economy now involves billionaires
doing system-wide and strategic goal
giving that addresses challenges such
as climate change, education reform,
and endemic disease eradication.
In Asia, the story is different.
Throughout the region, charity is a
culturally rooted age-old tradition exercised mostly through various forms
of almsgiving and checkbook writing.
Institutional and strategic philanthropy
similar to the scale and structure
seen in the West is still developing.
A 2010 Barclays Wealth survey
found only 16 percent and 23 percent of
the rich in Hong Kong and Singapore,
respectively, counted philanthropy in
their top three spending priorities, compared to 41 percent in the US. A 2010
ranking of giving across 153 countries
by UK-based Charities Aid Foundation
shows Asia in general lagging behind
the rest of the world.
One explanation is said because
wealth in Asia concentrated mostly
in family-run or state-affiliated corporations has been around for only two to
three generations; while the wealth of
such families as the Rockefellers, Carnegies and the Fords has been around for

For the long run

much longer. And as Dien Yuen, chief
philanthropy officer of Give2Asia, said,
many of the rich in the region are still
coming to terms with their wealth.
A 2014 Singapore Management
University study on philanthropy in
selected Southeast Asian countries
found that most philanthropic giving
remains informal, and particularly tied
to religion, personal preference, and
social connection rather than evidence
of need or a desire to address systemic
change. That appears to be the most
logical reason.
The fact is, there are more becoming billionaires in Asia than in the US.
And a much greater reason for giving
is that the poorest people of the world
live in Asia.
There are some hopeful signs. A few
of Asias wealthy have already started
giving big. In 2014, Jack Ma, founder of
Alibaba, donated US$2.9 billion in share
options to various social welfare causes
and schools, including the Hangzhou
Teachers University where he graduated. Azim Premji, chairman of Indian
IT firm Wipro, pledged his shares worth
US$8.5 billion to charity.
On the whole, the Asian philanthropy sector can still develop and learn
more from its Western counterpart,
especially in making sustained philanthropy towards solving broad societal
challenges. Clearly, there is more room
for the sector to grow given the 2015
World Wealth Report noted that the
biggest growth in the number of high
net worth individuals (HNWI) was in
Asia-Pacific.

E-mail: angara.ed@gmail.com

THE VIEW FROM RIZAL

Devotion to
mother and son
By Dr. Jun Ynares, M.D.

here are two objects of popular devotion among Catholics

in our country.
The first is the Black Nazarene of Quiapo. The second is the Our
Lady of Peace and Good Voyage, the
patroness of Antipolo City where she
is enshrined.
Like true Mother and Son, the two
icons of faith are linked together by their
looks and history.
Here are some interesting facts
about the two.
Both were carved by Mexican sculptors. Both sailed to the Philippines in
Mexican galleons. Both came into being
in the 17th century.
The Mother stepped into Philippine
shores ahead of the Son. She first arrived in the country in 1626. According
to available historical accounts, the Son
came to the country in the mid-1600s,
perhaps one or two decades after the
Mothers first visit to the islands.
Both originated from the Mexican
port city of Acapulco, the originating
point of the Galleon trade which flourished in the 17th century and which
established Spain as a maritime leader
of that era.
Both are black.
The Sons black color was at first
believed to have been caused by a fire
which damaged the original statue while
it was on board the galleon. Research by
a priest-scholar, however, revealed that
the Sons statue is black to the core
because it was carved out of a black
piece of wood cut out of the Mexican
mesquite tree.
There has not been much explanation which can be found as to why the
Mother is black.
There are, however, several other
Marian images in the Philippines which
belong to the category Black Madonna: Our Lady of Piat (Piat, Cagayan),
Our Lady of Peafrancia (Naga City),
Our Lady of Guidance (Ermita, Manila),
and Our Lady of the Rule (Lapu-lapu
City).
Both attract millions of pilgrims.
The shrine of the Son in Quiapo is
crowded especially on Fridays. The
Mothers shrine receives hundreds
of visitors daily. The size swells a
thousand-fold during the pilgrimage
month of May.
Both are deemed miraculous.
Countless stories of healing, answered prayers, peace in the home,
and safe voyages have been attributed
to them.
Both are objects of ardent Filipino
devotion.
During the past three days, the
world witnessed once more the fiery
piety of the Sons millions of highly committed devotees. The devotion to the Son

Sunday, January 10, 2016

remains a puzzle to many and has been

the subject of many controversial views.
Despite that, the number of people attending the annual ritual appears to
continue to grow.
The devotion to the Mother is more
sober, more calm, but no less committed.
Both journeyed thousands of miles
to find a home among our countrymen.
Of both Mother and Son, it can be
said they are Mexican in origin but are
Filipinos by choice.
It was meant for Antipolo and Quiapo to be their respective permanent
homes.
It is interesting to note that during the Second World War, the Mother
was, for a time, a refugee in Quiapo,
the home of the Son. This is why there
continues to be an annual celebration
of the Mothers return to Antipolo from
her Quiapo refuge.
It can be said that when the Mother
faced serious risks from bombing by war
planes, the Son invited her to find safety
in his home.
To our readers who are devotees
of the Black Nazarene, we join you in
your prayers and wish you well as you
express your ardent faith in a manner
that has awed the rest of the world.
Meanwhile, let me share with you
this letter from one of our readers. Her
name is Prosy Badiola Montesines of
Antipolo City and Taytay, Rizal.
She wrote:
It is a privilege for me to tell you
about this inspirational book for senior
citizens, entitled When Life Begins at
Sunset.
A senior citizen myself, I wrote the
book to help in encouraging men and
women, especially those who are over
50, to embrace the realities of growing
old with faith, grace, and serenity.
The true stories, personal accounts,
vignettes, and Biblical messages that
it contains show that we can use this
gift of extended time called retirement,
the golden years, or the sunset of life to
gain greater wisdom and use it to fulfill
our dreams or life missions and be of
greater help to others.
Another reason for the publication of
the book is my familys desire to extend
help to poor and ailing elderly persons,
especially those who live in Taytay,
Rizal, and Antipolo City. Part of the
proceeds from the sale of copies of the
book will be used for this mission.
Our readers who are interested in
getting hold of Prosys book may email
antipolocitygov@gmail.com for more
information.

*For feedback, please email it to

antipolocitygov@gmail.com or send
it to #4 Horse Shoe Drive, Beverly
Hills Subdivision, Bgy. Beverly Hills,
Antipolo City, Rizal.

READ: JAMES 5:7-11

Therefore be patient, brethren,
until the coming of the Lord. V.7

2006 survey of more than

1,000 adults discovered that
most people take an average of 17 minutes to lose
their patience while waiting in line.
Also, most people lose their patience
in only 9 minutes while on hold on
the phone. Impatience is a common
trait.
James wrote to a group of believers who were struggling with being
patient for Jesus return (JAMES 5:7).
They were living under exploitation
and distressing times, and James
encouraged them to set the timer of

their temper for the long run. Challenging these believers to persevere
under suffering, he tried to stimulate
them to stand firm and to live sacrificially until the Lord returned to right
every wrong. He wrote: Establish
your hearts, for the coming of the
Lord is at hand. (v. 8).
James called them to be like the
farmer who waits patiently for the
rian and the harvest (v. 7) and like
the prophets and the patriarch Job
who demonstrated perseverance in
difficulties (vv.10-11). The finish line
was just ahead and James encouraged the believers not to give up.
When we are being tried in a
crucible of distress, God desires
to help us continue living by faith

and trusting in His compassion and

mercy. (v. 11)
FOR FURTHER THOUGHT
What is most difficult about
being patient during stressful times?
Ask God for the grace to help you live
by faith and to live for the long run.

The way to great patience

is through great trials.
2015 ODB Ministries, 3000,
Kraf t Ave SE, Grand Rapids,
Michigan 49555-0001, USA. Used
by permission. For this and other
materials contact ODB Ministries
at 322 P. Guevarra, San Juan City
(Phils.); Tel.: 722-2010.

Never on a Sunday

Citizenship and domicile

By Atty. Rene Espina
Former Senator

he cases of Senator Grace

Poe Llamanzares pending
before the Supreme Court
will indeed become the leading cases regarding the subjects covered by this title. Without appearing
in any manner as counsel for any of
the parties, let me briefly discuss
in general terms the topics based
on law, the Constitution, and cases
decided by the Supreme Court.
Under our Constitution, natural
-born Filipino citizens are those who
are born of Filipino parents or where
either the mother or the father is a
Filipino citizen. The country where
the baby is born is irrelevant. What
is important is that one of the parents
is a Filipino citizen. This principle is
called in Latin Jus Sanguinis (right
of blood). On the other hand, the
United States considers babies born
in the US, even if both parents are
foreigners, as American citizens.
This principle in Latin is called Jus
Soli (right of the soil). One born even
outside of US territory as long as
one of the parents is an American
citizen is considered a natural-born
American citizen. So is the case of a
Filipino born abroad who is considered a natural-born citizen.
When I was still studying law

at the University of San Carlos, we

had a very good professor who was
teaching us Persons and Family Relations. He was the late Atty. Jesus
Garci, a bar topnotcher. His brother,
another bar topnotcher is former
Cebu governor and congressman
Atty. Pabling Garcia, Prof. Jesus
Garcia used to crack jokes to make it
easier for us to learn the subject matter. For example, he used to say that
maternity is a fact and paternity is
a matter of faith.
In the case of Sen. Grace Poe,
an adopted daughter of the Poes, I
wonder why the real mother has not
revealed herself to the public? Is she
still alive? What about the maternal
close relatives? In our Philippine
society, almost every family member
knows their closest and even their
distant relatives. I really wonder
whether her real mother, if alive, is
ashamed to admit the fact because of
legal or social constraints?
With the new science, a DNA test
which is 99% certain would easily
prove the relation of one person to
another. Once the DNA of mother and
daughter is established, the other
issues of citizenship will be clearly
established without any doubt.
Another leading case that is
about to be established by the SC is
the question of whether the Senate
Electoral Tribunal (SET) decision

finding that Poe is a natural-born

Filipino citizen is correct or not. The
matter is now on appeal by certiorari
in the Supreme Court.
Another issue pending in the SC is
about the residence/domicile of Poe.
The classic definition of domicile is
that it is the place where you intend
to stay and go back. In Latin, the
principle involved is animus manendi
et revertendi.
During our time, the leading case
was the Pelaez case that sustained
the principle. The qualification of
newly elected Congressman Emmanuel Pelaez (later Senator and
vice president) was questioned due
to lack of residence in his district of
Misamis Oriental since he resided
in Manila where he was practicing
law. The Supreme Court decided the
case in favor of Pelaez because he
intended to return and live in Medina,
Misamis Oriental.
In the case of Bengzon versus
Cruz GR#14284, May 7, 2001, the Supreme Court declared that a former
natural-born Filipino who reacquires
his citizenship by repatriation regains his natural-born status.
Indeed if certain vital facts are
established, any case no matter how
complicated can be resolved with
justice and fairness for all.

rene.g.espina@gmail.com...

Gentle Breeze

Letting go of the past (2)

By Nelly Favis Villafuerte

orgiving others is a divine

mandate. Forgiveness is not
optional. The Holy Bible is
very clear in its message:
For if you forgive men when they sin
against you, your heavenly Father
will also forgive you. But if you do not
forgive men in their sins, your Father
will not forgive your sins (Matthew
6:14-15).
There are 62 references in the New
Testament about forgiveness. Twentytwo of these 62 references refer to
forgiving others.

***
King David of Israels attitude
when his first baby with Bathsheba
died (as prophesied to him by the
prophet Nathan) is a perfect example
of how we should handle crisis. In 2
Samuel Chapter 12, we see that when
the child died, David washed, put on
lotions, and changed his clothes and
went into the house of the Lord and
worshipped. Then he went to his own
house and at his request, they served
him food, and he ate. His servants
asked him, Why are you acting this
way? While the child was alive, you
fasted and wept, but now, you get up
and eat! He answered, While the
child was still alive, I fasted and wept.
I thought, Who knows? The Lord
may be gracious to me and let the
child live. But now that he is dead,
why should I fast? Can I bring him
back again. I will go to him, but he will
not return to me, (2 Samuel 20:23).
In the Book of Samuel, David and
Bathsheba had another son named
Solomon who later succeeded David
as King of Israel. We also see King
David in Psalm 39:23, saying Search
me, O God, and know my heart; test

me and know my thoughts. Like

David, we need to search our hearts
and make sure we have not let any
roots of bitterness, hatred, anger,
and unforgiveness take hold of our
thoughts.
***
Let me share with you another
story on bitterness written by Harold
Sala, an American Bible teacher:
It was one of those strange coincidences of life which took place near
the old River Kwai in Thailand. During
World War II, the Japanese occupation
army used slave labor to build a ThaiBurmese jungle railway there. Executions, starvation, cruelty, and tropical
diseases took the lives of more than
100,000 people mostly Asians along
with Americans, Australians, Dutch,
and some 16,000 British soldiers.
A half-century later, fate brought
some of the Japanese and the British
former soldiers together. A group of
Japanese veterans returned to the old
River Kwai to pray for forgiveness and
to make peace with themselves before
they went across the bridge that leads
to eternity. That same day, a group of
British war vets just happened to visit
the same place.
Both groups scheduled lunch at
a nearby caf. According to a press
dispatch, each group knew that the
other was a couple of tables away but
made no attempt to recognize the
others presence.
Then Takashi Nagase, a 76-yearold Japanese veteran who was spent
decades striving to bring reconciliation
and healing to people following the war,
requested a reporter to ask the head
of the British delegation if they might
speak to each other.
Arthur Lange, 73, the leader of
the British party, responded, What

the Japanese did was unforgivable. If I

came over, I would split in his face. It is
better for his own safety if I dont.
Within minutes the Japanese
group quietly left the restaurant.
The British, once prisoners of the
Japanese, also left the River Kwai.
No longer prisoners of the Japanese,
nevertheless they were still prisoners
prisoners of their own hatred and
bitterness.
How long should you carry bitterness and anger in your hearts for
injustice done to you? How long is
enough? Some opportunities present
themselves only once. For those who
happened to meet at the River Kwai,
there is no going back, no second
chance. Before death silences the one
whom you need to forgive, better learn
to say it, to ask for it, and to give it.
When you live with bitterness and
anger you become your own worst
enemy, imprisoned by emotions more
deadly than a snipers bullet or a
jungle disease. The one who dies with
bitterness carries that cancer with
him into eternity, but he who forgives
finds the forgiveness or our heavenly
Father. Remember, some opportunities come
***
This column continues to give
out copies of the Holy Bible for
free to those who cannot afford to
buy their own copies. If interested,
please send your letter-request to
Ms. Nelly Favis Villafuerte, 5233
Fahrenheit St., Palanan, Makati City.
Kindly mention if it is the Tagalog,
English, Cebuano, or Ilocano Bible
that is preferred.
Be joyful and forgiving! (Comments may be sent to Ms. Villafuertes email: villafuerte_nelly@
yahoo.com.)

Yellow Magenta Cyan

Black
ymv

News

Unwavering faith
deemed idolatry by critics, Church authorities say it is a vibrant expression of
the devotees faith.
Some of the most fervent scenes of
devotion played out through the narrow
streets of Manila as the life-sized Black
Nazarene statue was carried through a
gauntlet of worshippers.
The Nazarene our Lord gave meaning to my life, Nio Barbo, a 30-year-old
high school dropout with an upper arm
tattoo and a metal earring, told AFP.
The construction worker said he
gave up a days pay for the sixth year
in a row by skipping work to touch the
statue, which many Filipinos believe can
heal the sick and bring good luck.
Risking life and limb, shoeless men
and women like Barbo clambered over
each other yesterday to touch the icon
with white handkerchiefs or towels as
others pulled on a rope to haul the metal
float bearing the statue forward.
The pilgrims wore yellow or maroon
shirts and walked barefoot, playing the
role of supplicants.
By noon, police said 1.5 million
people were taking part in the sevenkilometer procession.
The crowd estimate could not be
independently confirmed.
Casualties
Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Secretary-General Gwendolyn Pang said a
27-year-old devotee died after suffering
seizure along Padre Burgos Street during
the traslacion procession.
Pang said Alex Fulledo from Sampaloc, Manila was resting while taking
part of the procession when he suffered
a seizure at around 11:30 a.m. She said
Fulledo no longer had a pulse when he
was taken to the Red Cross Station at the
Round Table area.
The PRC medical team tried to revive
Fulledo by performing cardiopulmonary
resuscitation (CPR) but failed. He was
later taken to the Ospital ng Maynila
but was pronounced dead on arrival at
11:40 a.m.
Pang said that according to his companion, Fulledo was suffering from a liver
ailment.
Another devotee 48-year-old Mauro

Personal relationship with God

Police say the slow-moving procession
from the Rizal Park was expected to reach
the Nazarenes traditional home inside
Quiapo Church at midnight.
This years Traslacion (Spanish word
for transfer) procession started early and
moved relatively faster.
According to Chief Superintendent
Rolando Nana, Manila Police District
director, at least 1 million devotees were
at the Quirino Grandstand when the procession started at 5:43 a.m.
According to the official Twitter account of the Minor Basilica of the Black
Nazarene (@quiapochurch), the procession was going at a rate of 318.57 meters
per hour and while 1,303,000 devotees are
in the procession.
At the Rizal Park, Dang Villacorta sat
on the grass between her
sleeping son and a blue
beach tent packed with
other relatives and told
AFP she planned to wave

thing, especially the way the Ella family

has met the New Year after that incident
in 2013. From a family gathering to sing,
dance and watch fireworks in their house
in Caloocan City, New Years Eve has become a time to stay indoors and wait for
the fireworks to stop. And if one of those
fireworks fell on the roof of this family,
anxiety quickly spreads around.
We welcome the New Year inside
our house, we do not go out anymore,
said Aquilino Ella Sr, the grandfather of
Stephanie. Kapag may gumagalaw sa
bubong namin, mga kwitis, talagang nagugulat at kinakabahan na kami (Whenever
sky rockets fall on our roof, we would get
shocked and nervous.
The parents and sibling of Stephanie,
though, have moved to Taguig where they
now spend New Years Eve.
Stephanies grandfather said that
New Years Eves following the death
of his granddaughter were not as jolly
anymore.
Hindi na kasi mawawala na tuwing
putukan na ay matakot sila, (It could not
be avoided that they would be afraid when
fireworks begin,) Aquilino told Manila
Bulletin in an interview at his home in
Malaria last Wednesday.
No justice, stray bullets continue
Three years later, not only has Stephanies case remained unsolved, but incidents of stray bullets continue. As of
Jan. 2, 2016, victims of stray bullets from
indiscriminate firing during the New
Years Eve revelry has reached 36.
As to the case of Stephanie, , the gun
which fired the bullet has to be found first
in order for the case to proceed, the family
was told. Aquilino said they lost contact
with the National Bureau of Investigation
in 2014.
Kumbaga, naka-pending lang na
kung merong tatayong testigo, kung
ano man ang [update] dun sa baril na
nawawala, siguro [aandar ang kaso], (The
case is still pending. If there will be a witness that will talk about the whereabouts
of the gun, then the case will proceed),
he said.
Recounting the tragedy
And so the Ella family has moved on.
But they still vividly remember the night
it happened, ironically on New Years
Eve when the whole world greets the
coming year with much celebration and
hopes for new beginnings.
When the fireworks display began,
Stephanie and her friends were dancing outside, having fun. I was surprised
when my son told me that Stephanie got
hit. I asked him, What do you mean she
got hit? And I saw that she was indeed
hit by a stray bullet, the grandfather
narrated in Tagalog.
The family found a vehicle to bring

13

It was believed to have acquired its

color after being partially burnt when
the galleon carrying it caught fire on a
voyage from Mexico, another Spanish
colony at the time.

Arabit of Binangonan, Rizal, died of heart

attack at 2 a.m. yesterday on Evangelista
Street in Quiapo.
Chief Inspector John Guiagui, chief
of Plaza Miranda Police Community
Precinct, said Arabit, was waiting for the
mass to begin in Quiapo Church when he
suffered heart attack before the break of
dawn. He was taken to the Jose Reyes
Memorial Medical Center where he was
declared dead on arrival.
Manila Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (MDRRO) Johnny Yu said
Arabits death is an isolated case and is
not considered related to the Traslacion.
As of 3 p.m., PRC volunteers had
already assisted 851 patients who joined
the Traslacion.
As early as 7 a.m., there were already
several people hurt. At the Quirino Grandstand, eight patients, including a pregnant
woman, passed out.
PRC volunteers also attended to a
devotee whose arm was injured and had
to be stitched, a devotee was transferred
to Ospital ng Maynila due to fractured
shoulder, and a 10-year-old boy whose
right foot was ran over by a carriage of a
replica of the Black Nazarene.

3 years after, still...

Sunday, January 10, 2016

HOLY MASS Manila Archbishop Luis Cardinal Tagle led the mass for the feast of the
Black Nazarene yesterday at the Quirino Grandstand in Luneta, yesterday. Thousands
of devotees had waited in the area overnight just to hear mass and participate in the
procession that would bring the statue, which is believed to be miraculous, home to
Quiapo Church. (Jun Ryan R. Aranas)

a white handkerchief when the procession

crawled past.
If family members get sick we would
give them sponge baths with it. That way
we wouldnt spend money on doctors, the
36-year-old said.
More than 80 million of the Asian nations 100 million people consider themselves Catholics.
The people reach out to it because
they have a personal relationship with
God, said Monsignor Hernando Coronel,
the parish priest of Quiapo Church.
They come to me and say the Lord

has performed miracles for them. To the

devotees he is for real, he told reporters
earlier in the week.
Coronel said a male member of his
parish told him his son regained his full
sight after being accidentally shot in one
eye with a shotgun pellet. A woman also
told him her granddaughter miraculously
revived after drowning.
Cloaked in a maroon robe, crowned
with thorns and bearing a cross, the
Nazarene statue was brought to Manila by
Augustinian priests in 1607, decades after
the start of Spains colonial rule.

Aquino seeks ASEAN...

East Asian Nations (ASEAN) have been discussing a set of rules for rival claimants in the
South China Sea aimed at avoiding conflict.
Can we put a little more pressure on
China to sit down and agree on a binding
Code of Conduct? Aquino said to reporters in
southern Davao City, referring to ASEAN.
China claims almost the whole of the
South China Sea, through which more
than $5 trillion of world trade passes every
year, and has been increasingly assertive
in staking its claim.
Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam, Taiwan,
and the Philippines have rival claims to
parts of the sea, which is believed to have
rich deposits of oil and gas.

Aquino said the Philippines had

done everything it could to push forward
discussions on the code a set of rules
setting out how claimant states should
behave, and imposing sanctions on countries that violate it, aimed at preventing
provocative action, the raising of tension
and conflict.
Aquino said China and ASEAN were
due to meet next month to draw up elements of the code.
China, which has long said it was ready
to discuss rival claims bilaterally, has said
it will agree on a code of conduct when
the time is ripe.
Analysts say it might be waiting for the

Jesus touched you first

Meanwhile, Manila Archbishop
Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle reminded
devotees, who were expected to wrestle
their way to touch the ropes of the carriage of the Black Nazarene, during his
homily at the midnight mass prior to
the traslacion that it was Jesus who
touched you first.
When you feel you are all alone and
there is no one to hold you up, trust in
Jesus. He is always there for you. Trust
in the Black Nazarene. He is holding you
up. He is carrying you. You are never a
burden to Him. With your ardent desire
to touch Him, to get near Him, remember
that He touched you first, Tagle said.
The prelate said that this years
feast of the Traslacion is particularly
meaningful as it falls within the Year of
Mercy as declared by Pope Francis and
the local Churchs observance of the
Year of the Eucharist and the Family.
(With reports from Carlo Suerte Felipe,
Christina I. Hermoso, and Leslie Anne
G. Aquino)
completion of its work on artificial islands
it is building in the South China Sea before
sitting down with ASEAN.
China landed two test flights on one
of the islands on Wednesday, four days
after its first landing on the 3,000 meter
(10,000 feet) runway on a reef in the
Spratly Islands.
The Philippines denounced the
flights.
In 2013, the Philippines filed an arbitration case in The Hague to force China
to negotiate a peaceful settlement of their
territorial dispute.
China has ignored the case but Aquino
said China, as a responsible member of
the international community, could not
ignore a ruling from the court, expected
in May or June.

Stephanie to a nearby
hospital, but she did
not get medical attention there and had to be
transferred to another
hospital.
That incident really hurt us, because
Stephanie was not given
immediate attention at
the hospital; she was
just outside. Only those
injured by firecrackers
were being treated. And
then a person from media noticed us and that
was the only time she
was given attention,
Ella said.
Stray bullet cases
continue
The Palace, through
Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda, had
condemned Stephanies
death, saying that the
tragedy is a sobering
reminder of how a reprehensible act from a
thoughtless individual
can rob our people, particularly our children, of
their futures.
For such a promising life to be lost in
such a senseless way
puts the burden on all
of us to make certain
that this tragedy is not
repeated. We continue to
call on all Filipinos: Let
us consider the welfare
of our countrymen by
engaging in celebrations
in a responsible and safe
manner, the statement
continued.
Life goes on
Despite not having
fully moved on yet, Aquilino said that life has to
go on for the family.
We are really just
leaving it to the Lord.
Its but normal that we
continue with our lives
even if something is now
missing. If this reaches
PNoy, I hope he can do
something for the strict
implementation of gun
ban especially during
that time of the year in
order to get rid of stray
bullet incidents, because
it is the innocent who suffers, Ella said.

Yellow Magenta Cyan

Black
ymv

World News

14

Sunday, January 10, 2016

El Chapo recaptured
Newsbits
Cholera outbreak in
Somali refugee camp
NAIROBI (AFP) At least 10 people
have died and over 1,000 fallen
sick with cholera in an outbreak
among Somali refugees in the
worlds largest refugee camp in
Kenya, UN officials said Saturday.
The outbreak began in November
in the Dadaab camp complex in
northeastern Kenya, home to some
350,000 Somali refugees, said
Osman Yussuf Ahmed, from the
UN refugee agency, UNHCR. Aid
workers say they are working to stop
the outbreak spreading. The most
important thing is hygiene, Ahmed
said, describing how aid workers
were spraying chlorine across the
camp and distributing soap. We
are not leaving anything to chance.
Cholera is transmitted through
contaminated drinking water and
causes acute diarrhoea, and the
outbreak has been exacerbated by
weeks of heavy rains in Kenya.

Shooting of cop
caught on CCTV
NEW YORK (AFP) A man claiming
allegiance to the Islamic State
extremist group shot and seriously
wounded a police officer in
Philadelphia, opening fire multiple
times at point-blank range with a
stolen police gun before he was
arrested, officials said Friday.
Policeman Jesse Hartnett, 33, was
shot three times in his left arm as
he sat in his patrol car late Thursday
in the northeastern city. Im shot.
Im bleeding heavily, he yelled in
a dispatch call. Authorities said
they were astonished he survived.
Philadelphia police commissioner
Richard Ross called the attack
absolutely chilling and described
the officers injuries as very, very
serious. Stills captured from video
surveillance and released to the
press show the suspect - named by
police as Edward Archer, 30, a local
man - opening fire as he walked
towards the patrol car, extending
his arm into the vehicle and then
continuing to fire as he flees on foot.

Trump could also be

banned in Germany
MOSCOW (PNA/Sputnik) Dieter
Janecek of Germanys Green
Party has urged a ban on US
Republican presidential candidate
Donald Trump from entering
the European country following
Donalds recent tweets in which he
blamed migrants from the Middle
East for a series of attacks in the
German city of Cologne on New
Years Eve. Trumps anti-Muslim
and anti-refugee rhetoric has
already provoked heated debate
in the international community.
Politicians and citizens from
across the globe have criticized
the billionaire for suggesting a ban
on Muslims from entering the US.
In response, 500,000 UK citizens
signed a petition to ban Trump
from entering their country. The
petition is scheduled for debate in
parliament later this month. And it
seems now that Germany has taken
up the cause. Janecek told the
online version of Spiegel magazine
that Trumps rants of hate against
minorities and refugees could
constitute the criminal offence of
incitement of hatred, citing the
moguls recent tweets on the series
of sexual assaults in Cologne on
New Years Eve.

Nobel prize for Greek

Islands inhabitants
ATHENS (PNA/Xinhua) Global
online activism network Avaaz
had received more than 218,000
signatures as of Friday for its
petition launched mid-November on
social media calling for the Nobel
Peace Prize to be awarded to the
people of the Greek Islands for
their role in the refugee crisis over
the past year. We request that
the Nobel Peace Prize be awarded
to the people of Lesvos and the
volunteers in the islands of the
Aegean Sea who embraced the
refugees and sent a message of
humanity and solidarity that moved
the entire planet, read the short
letter posted on Avaaz website. In
the letter, which is addressed to the
Nobel awards committee and Greek
Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, the
organization stressed that despite
the severe economic crisis that
has hit Greece since 2009, the
locals have done and continue to
do everything possible to save the
lives of desperate people fleeing
war zones.

EXICO CITY (AP) The

world's most-wanted drug
lord was recaptured in a
daring raid by Mexican
marines Friday, six months after he
fled through a tunnel from a maximum
security prison in a made-for-Hollywood
escape that deeply embarrassed the
government and strained ties with the
United States.
Apparently Joaquin El Chapo''
Guzman, head of the powerful Sinaloa
Cartel, also thought his escape was
worthy of Hollywood. Part of the reason
authorities tracked him down to a house
in an upscale neighborhood in a coastal
city was because he wanted to film a
biopic and his people were communicating with actors and producers, Attorney
General Arely Gomez said late Friday.
She said he was being sent back to
the maximum-security prison known as
Altiplano, from where he escaped last
July 11 through an elaborate tunnel that
was dug to shower stall.
Mexican authorities said nothing
about extraditing the drug boss to the
United States.
Guzman was presented late Friday in dark blue athletic clothing. He
was frog-marched to a helicopter by
marines, who stopped mid-transit and
turned his expressionless face toward
the media for a clear view.
Mexican President Enrique Pena
Nieto announced the capture of Guzman
using his Twitter account: Mission accomplished: we have him.''
Few had thought Guzman would be
taken alive, and few now believe Mexico

ON THE RUN FOR 6 MONTHS Joaquin El Chapo Guzman is made to face the press as
he is escorted in handcuffs to a helicopter by Mexican soldiers and marines at a federal
hangar in Mexico City Friday. (AP)

will want to try to hold him a third time

in Mexican prisons. He escaped from
maximum-security facilities in 2001 and
on July 11, 2015, the second breakout
especially humiliating for the Pena Nieto
administration, which only held him for
less than 18 months.
The capture had top Mexican officials
at a Foreign Ministry event gleefully embracing and breaking into a spontaneous
rendition of the national anthem after
Interior Secretary Miguel Osorio Chong
delivered the news.
No sooner than Guzman was apprehended, calls started for his immediate
extradition to the US, including from

a Republican presidential candidate,

Florida Sen. Marco Rubio.
Given that `El Chapo' has already
escaped from Mexican prison twice, this
third opportunity to bring him to justice
cannot be squandered,'' Rubio said.
The United States filed requests
for extradition for Guzman on June
25, before he escaped from prison. In
September, a judge issued a second provisional arrest warrant on US charges
of organized crime, money laundering
drug trafficking, homicide and others.
But Guzman's lawyers already filed appeals and received injunctions that could
substantially delay the process.

Iran accuses
Saudi Arabia
of sectarian
hate-mongering
UNITED NATIONS, United States
(AFP) Iran told the United Nations on
Friday that it does not want to escalate
tensions in the Middle East, even as it
took a swipe at Saudi Arabia for ''sectarian hate-mongering.''
Saudi Arabia was ''spreading delusional hype about Iran'' after failing to
derail the nuclear deal reached with
world powers, Tehran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said in
a letter to UN Secretary-General Ban
Ki-moon.
''We have no desire or interest in
escalation of tension in our neighborhood,'' Zarif said in the letter, obtained
by AFP.
Saudi Arabia cut off diplomatic ties
with Iran on Sunday after angry protesters ransacked and set fire to the Saudi
Embassy in Tehran over the execution
of Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr.
The tensions between the Sunni and
Shiite powers have reverberated across
the Middle East and the Muslim world,
complicating efforts to resolve conflicts
in Syria and Yemen.
''Iran has called for Islamic unity
in the face of Saudi sectarian hatemongering,'' Zarif wrote.
The foreign minister called for unity
to confront extremists and said Riyadh
must make a ''crucial choice'' to either
''continue supporting extremist terrorists'' or ''play a constructive role in
promoting regional stability.''

Koreas slide into Cold War standoff

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) North
Korea trumpets a hydrogen bomb test.
South Korea responds by cranking up
blasts of harsh propaganda from giant
green speakers aimed across the world's
most dangerous border. Now Pyongyang
warns of war.
As the world looked Saturday for
ways to punish the North over a nuclear
test that pushes Pyongyang closer to
its goal of a nuclear armed missile that
can reach the US mainland, the two
Koreas have quickly slid into the kind of
Cold War-era standoff that has defined
their relationship over the past seven
decades.
A top North Korean ruling party
official's warning that the South's broadcasts have pushed the Korean Peninsula
toward the brink of war'' is typical of
Pyongyang's over-top-rhetoric. But it
is also indicative of the real fury that
the broadcasts, which criticize the
country's revered dictatorship, cause
in the North.
Seoul resumed the cross-border
broadcasts Friday for the first time
in the nearly five months. Pyongyang
says the broadcasts are tantamount to
an act of war. When Seoul Korea briefly
resumed propaganda broadcasts in
August after an 11-year break, Seoul
says the two Koreas exchanged artillery fire.
Besides the brink of war'' comment,
Workers' Party Secretary Kim Ki Nam
said in comments broadcasts on state
TV Friday that Pyongyang's rivals are
jealous'' of the North's successful
hydrogen bomb test. Many outside
governments and experts question
whether the blast was a powerful hydrogen test.

STONES THROW AWAY These South Korean (front) and North Korean (above) sentry posts are located just meters from each other,
running across the inter-Korean border in the city of Paju in Gyeonggi-do, South Korea in this photo taken January 8. Highly sensitive
propaganda have resumed on the border as world powers pushed for sanctions against North Korea for its nuclear test earlier this
week. (EPA)

South Korean troops, near about 10

sites where loudspeakers started blaring
propaganda Friday, were on the highest
alert, but have not detected any unusual
movement from North Korea along the
border, an official from Seoul's Defense
Ministry, who refused to be named, citing
office rules, said.
The South's Yonhap news agency
said Seoul had deployed missiles, artillery and other weapons systems near

Chinese hospital demolished

with doctors, patient still inside
BEIJING (AFP) Workers partially demolished a Chinese hospital
with several doctors and a patient
still inside, media reported Saturday,
burying bodies stored in its morgue
under rubble and prompting an investigation.
Around 20 people dressed in military fatigues on Thursday destroyed
part of Fourth Affiliated Hospital of
Zhengzhou University, Huiji district,
in the capital of central Henan province, according to the public television channel CCTV.
"I was operating...(an X-ray) machine. The noise (of the demolition)
was terrifying," Liu Chunguang, the
hospital's director of radiology, told
the channel.
"My patient was sitting beside
me, shouting that there was an
earthquake. The patient ran away,
terrified," he said, adding that only a
few doctors and one patient were in
the hospital at the time.
Images published by Chinese
media apparently taken at the site
show several rooms with collapsing
ceilings, holes through brick walls,
swinging lights as well as masses of

loose cables and debris.

The hospital's morgue was "razed",
according to local newspaper Dahebao, and six of the bodies stored
there covered in rubble, while medical equipment worth 4 million yuan
($600,000) was damaged.
Three hospital employees were
injured during a confrontation with
the demolition workers, CCTV reported.
Authorities in Huiji district told
AFP Saturday that they were currently investigating the incident
but results would not be announced
before Monday.
On Friday they said they had not
yet identified the people who carried
out the demolition. The buried bodies
had also yet to be recovered.
"It must be the business which is
carrying out roadworks (near the hospital) which ordered this!" one person
said in an online forum. Forced demolitions are frequent in China.
Other internet users criticised local media for not sufficiently covering
the demolition, which only received
widespread attention when it was
picked up by CCTV.

the border to swiftly deal with any possible North Korean provocation. The
ministry did not confirm the report.
Officials say broadcasts from the
South's loudspeakers can travel about
10 kilometers (6 miles) during the night
and 24 kilometers (15 miles) at night.
That reaches many of the huge force
of North Korean soldiers stationed near
the border and also residents in border
towns such as Kaesong, where the Koreas jointly operate an industrial park
that has been a valuable cash source
for the impoverished North.
Seoul also planned to use mobile

speakers to broadcast from a small

South Korean island just a few kilometers (miles) from North Korean shores.
While the South's broadcasts also
include news and pop music, much of the
programming challenges North Korea's
government more directly.
`We hope that our fellow Koreans in
the North will be able to live in (a) society
that doesn't invade individual lives as
soon as possible,'' a female presenter
said in parts of the broadcast that officials revealed to South Korean media.
Countries run by dictatorships even try
to control human instincts.''

US jackpot soars
to record $800 M
NEW YORK (AFP) The largest jackpot in US lottery history has
soared to a whopping $800 million,
driven by feverish excitement among
players dreaming of becoming millionaires in the drawing Saturday.
The Powerball prize skyrocketed
from $675 million in 24 hours as a
staggering number of people bought
tickets. No winner claimed Wednesday's jackpot draw, which was worth
a mere half-billion dollars.
With the jackpot, and excitement,
mounting, long lines formed at stores
selling lottery tickets, so the prize
continued to grow.
In the Powerball lottery, which
takes place each Wednesday and
Saturday at 10:59 pm (0359 GMT), five
white balls are drawn from a drum
containing 69 balls, and one red one
is pulled from a drum with 26.
To win the jackpot, a ticket holder
has to match all the numbers on the six
balls selected. The winner can choose

to be paid the full jackpot in annual

installments over 29 years -- or take a
lower one-off payment in cash.
The lump sum in Saturday's prize
would be $496 million before federal
taxes, the Multi-State Lottery Association said.
The previous jackpot record of $656
million, in March 30, 2012, was scooped
by three winners from North Carolina,
Puerto Rico and Texas.
Gloria Mackenzie, 84, from Florida
holds the record for winning the largest single Powerball jackpot, $590.5
million, on May 18, 2013.
The world's richest lottery is
Spain's annual Christmas "El Gordo,"
which in 2015 handed out 2.2 billion
euros ($2.4 billion) but which capped
individual wins at 400,000 euros and
handed out thousands of smaller
prizes.
Powerball is played in 44 states, the
District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and
the US Virgin Islands.

Yellow Magenta Cyan

Black
ymv

News

Marikina bikers tragic demise

fuels calls for bike-safe roads
even have honorable burials due to
the financial strain that their families
are subjected to. And the pain of losing
breadwinners continues to haunt the
families of road victims and survivors,
the petition stated.
The president of Families of Road
Victims & Survivors told the Manila
Bulletin that according to reports from
the Metropolitan Manila Development
Authority (MMDA), 196 cyclists have
been killed in Metro Manila in the previous years.
The tragedy of a biker like Lorelies
continues to go viral in social media,
with many friends expressing sorrow.

By CHARINA CLARISSE L. ECHALUCE

orelie Melevo, a biker and

single-mother of two, was too
young to die. Only 30 years
old, with a 9-year-old daughter
and 5-year-old son to look after, Loreli
tragically lost her life on Jan. 5, while
crossing the street, bike in tow.
Witnesses said she had been walking on the bike lane in San Roque,
Marikina City, then raised her hand to
the truck driver to signal that she was
about to cross the street.
Friends presume she must have
beamed a smile she is well-known for.
But that failed to prevent the truck driver from stopping. She was eventually
crushed by the mammoth vehicle, her
beautiful face almost unrecognizable.
Insp. Sanny Cortez, head of Marikina
polices traffic division, has confirmed
that truck driver Jonathan Silverio is
already detained at the Marikina City
Police Station and has been charged
with a criminal complaint of reckless
imprudence resulting in homicide and
damage to property.
Friends and relatives we talked to
bewail the heartbreaking story of Loreli
and the fact that they cant even gaze at
her face to say goodbye.
Her sister, Beverly, who had rushed
to the spot of the accident, said: "Problema lang hindi na namin siya makikita
kasi hindi na namin makilala iyong
mukha niya dahil nawasak ho talaga
iyong mukha ng kapatid ko (It's hard
that we won't be able to see her again.
We could hardly recognize her as her
face was severely damaged).
Meanwhile, a video of Beverly which
has generated almost 12,000 Facebook
reactions and over 9,000 shares as of
press time, showed her holding a pic-

Lorelie Melevo

ture of her sister.

Lorelis father, Bernardo, was also
in tears recalling the accident. Hindi
ko alam kung anong gagawin ko kasi
mahal na mahal ko iyong anak kong
iyon (I don't know what to do. I really
love my child)." He said.
Road safety for bikers
Claudine Cruz, the victims friend
for ten years, hopes that people who
know about what happened can help
Lorelis children. In fact, many bikers
are not only asking for donations for the
family but also are raising awareness on
safe road conditions for bikers.
Lorelie is just one of the many bikers
who have been killed in road accidents
for the past 10 years. The We Want Bike
Lanes in R.P. Movement Facebook
page has filed a petition on change.org;
urging the President to certify urgent
law for cyclist road safety.
Some of our fellow cyclists, who
are killed, even remain unclaimed for
weeks from funeral homes and dont

Unusual day
Claudine related to Manila Bulletin
how unusual the day was when Loreli
was killed.
Claudine said that it is usually Bernardo, who takes Lorelies children to
school on the same bike that Loreli
used that day.
But on that fateful day, Loreli opted
to take her 5-year-old child to school,
despite her father telling her not to.
"Her dad doesn't want her to go but
she insisted to take her youngest child
to school while riding her bike. Noong
pauwi na siya bumaba na siya ng bike
para tatawid sana but she's still in the
bike lane nagsesenyas na daw si Lorz
na parang nagwawave na tatawid sya
but unfortunately isang rumaragasang
truck nasagasaan siya (On her way
home, she alighted from her bike to
cross the street. They said she waved
at the driver, a signal that she's going
to cross the street. But that didn't save
her, she was ran over by the truck),"
said Claudine.
Sadness to joy
Claudine said that Loreli had been

Sunday, January 10, 2016

her comedienne for 10 years. There is
no reason to frown when she is around.
And more than being funny, she also has
a contagious smile, Claudine said.
"No dull moment kapag kasama
namin siya, napakakuwela niya at
bungisngis. Personally, marami akong
mamimiss sa kanya lalo iyong pagkajolly niya (There is no dull moment
with her. She's really funny and easily
laughs. I will miss her, especially her
being jolly)," Claudine said.
Although Lorelie was always smiling and making people laugh, she was
also going through many struggles,
Claudine said.
Claudine shared that during their
decade-long friendship, she had

15

watched her friend inspire others to

stay happy even amid trials. She used
laughter as a powerful weapon to turn
sadness into joy, Claudine said.
Hands-on mother
At home, Lorelie was a hands-on
mother. She cooked and prepared her
childrens things for school, helped with
their homework and played with them,
said Claudine.
"I pity her eldest child who is only
nine. Shes been crying a lot after being
told about her mother. I know she's going to miss her so much, she said. But
Lorelie's five-year-old boy does not have
an idea what happened after his mother
brought him to school, she added.

UNWAVERING DEVOTION A huge crowd of devotees, oblivious to the heat and cramped
conditions, gather around the miraculous image of the Black Nazarene as the procession inched
its way through the streets of downtown Manila yesterday morning. (Clarizza Jan C. Racquion)

Yellow Magenta Cyan

Black
ymv

Luzon News

16

Sunday, January 10, 2016

Ynares opens
2nd hospital
promised to
Antipolo folk

Newsbits
Pastor slain
in La Union

By NEL B. ANDRADE

CAMP DIEGO SILANG, La Union

Police investigators are digging
deep into the case of a 54-yearold pastor of the Bible Baptist
Church who was shot dead by a
still unidentified assailant around
9 p.m. Thursday at his house
in Barangay Ambalite, Pugo,
this province. Chief Inspector
Artemio Infante, La Union polices
information officer, said Pastor
Rosendo Bula-oy, a family man, was
shot three times by the gunman in
front of his 10-year-old son. The
gunman appeared from nowhere
and then shot my father repeatedly
inside our house, the boy was
quoted by police in Filipino. After
shooting the pastor, the gunman
boarded a black pick-up truck
parked near the victims house and
sped off in the direction of Rosario
town. (Erwin G. Beleo and Freddie
G. Lazaro)

TEFI to aid in
mangrove upkeep
PAGBILAO, Quezon The Team
Energy Foundation Inc.(TEFI) and
the Department of Environment
and Natural Resources (DENR)
Regional Office 4-A have entered
into an agreement for the repair
and restoration of the 780meter boardwalk at the Pagbilao
Mangrove Experimental Forest
(PMEF) in Barangay Palsabangon,
this town. Signatories to the
agreement were TEFI Officer-inCharge Toshiro Kume and DENR
Region 4-A Director Reynulfo
Juan. The pledge is for the
improvement of the 145-hectare
mangrove forest, considered to
have the most diverse species
composition in the Philippines, and
the second in Southeast Asia. It
serves as a demonstration area for
mangroves forest enhancement
and rehabilitation. Juan expressed
appreciation for the TEFIs support
in the upgrade and repair of
infrastructure in the research
facility and for its sharing in the
mission of sustaining the health of
the ecosystems in the areas where
team Energy operates. (Danny J.
Estacio)

Apolinario suits up
as head of PRO4-B
CAMP EFIGENIO NAVARRO, Calapan
City Chief Superintendent Ramon
C. Apolinario formally assumed his
post as the new regional director
(officer-in-charge) of the Police
Regional Office 4-B, replacing Chief
Supt. Dennis J. Pea, who had just
retired. Apolinario, 53, a member
of Philippine Military Academy
(PMA) Class 1985, traces his roots
in Pangasinan and Abra. His last
assignment was as deputy director
for operations of the National
Capital Regional Police Office
(NCRPO). Apolinario has vowed to
advocate for an open door policy
welcoming all ideas to improve
their services to the public. (Jerry J.
Alcayde)

Cash for scholars

in Pampanga
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO,
Pampanga The Capitol has
announced that it has released
some P134 million in educational
financial assistance to 5,226
student beneficiaries in the last
five years. In 2010, at least 3,000
students were given educational
financial assistance with the
amount of P30-million, according
to Bessie Macabali, head of the
Provincial Library and concurrent
Education Program focal person.
She said part of the Educational
Financial Assistance Program
(E.F.A.P), an amount of P10,000
was given to each of the 822
Valedictorian, Salutatorian & First
Hon. Mention. Some 522 who
graduated 2nd and 3rd Honorable
Mention from public high school
received P5,000. A total of
1,522 students who graduated
4th -8th Honorable Mention
and others who graduated with
distinction coming from different
districts of Pampanga were given
P2,500 each. As of Jan. 4, 2015,
Governors Honor Students List of
2015-2016, 2nd Semester of the
Academic Year were given a total
of P14.6 million. The provincial
government assured to continue
to deliver financial assistance in
attempts to create potential leaders
in the future. (Franco G. Regala)

PANGASINAN VETERANS DAY Pangasinan Governor Amado T. Espino Jr. (third from right) views the miniature replicas of World War
II Battleships involved in the Lingayen Gulf Landing of the Allied Forces at the Pangasinan Veterans Park during the commemoration
of the 71st Lingayen Gulf Landing and the 9th Pangasinan Veterans Day, yesterday. He is joined by Philippine Veterans Affairs Office
Administrator Ernesto G. Carolina, Defense Undersecretary Jesus Millan, and Vice Gov. Ferdinand Calimlim Jr. (Jojo Rioza)

PNP, AFP assure poll

period security in CL
By MAR T. SUPNAD
and FREDDIE C. VELEZ

AMP OLIVAS, Pampanga

The military and police in
Central Luzon have mapped
out security measures and
procedures for the duration of the
election period, which starts today, and
officials are confident that their coordinated efforts will ensure a peaceful
conduct of the polls in May.
The security preparations and proactive measures that Central Luzon
police and the Armed Forces of the
Philippines (AFP) are undertaking from
Day One to D-Day (May 9), the goal for
a safe and fair election will be attained,
Chief Superintendent Rudy G. Lacadin, Police Regional Office-3 (PRO-3)
director, said at the 1st Regional Joint
Security Coordinating Center (RJSCC)
meeting held here last Friday.

Convened by Atty. Temie P. Lambino, regional election director (RED)

in Central Luzon of the Commission
on Elections (Comelec), the RJSCC
meeting gathered Lacadin; Lieutenant Colonels Arnold Bernardo and
Inocencio Pasaporte, representing
of the Philippine Armys 7th Infantry
Division (7ID) Intelligence and Operations, respectively; provincial director
of the PRO-3; senior field commanders of the 7ID; and provincial election
supervisors.
This (meeting) aims to have unified
efforts among members of the security
forces hand-in-hand with counterparts
in other government agencies so that
the forthcoming elections will be secured and fair, Lacadin said.
Lambino said the RJSCC is a composite organization in the region responsible for the coordinated and
systematic utilization of all resources

dedicated in the successful conduct of

election; implementation of the ban on
the bearing, carrying or transporting
of firearms; and the employment and
deployment of security personnel in
the region.
For Bulacan, Senior Superintendent Ferdinand O. Divina assured that
manuever platoons of the Provincial
Public Safety Company (PPSC) as well
as Army troopers and local police units
had their final debriefing on the security
plans and implementation of the total
gun ban.
They are now well prepared and
ready for deployment as part of Complan: Safe 2016, Divina said.
Lacadin also said the police leadership is monitoring closely the activities
of the remnants of the New Peoples
Army (NPA), who usually impose
permits to campaign fees on local
candidates.

ANTIPOLO CITY, Rizal True to

Mayor Casimiro Junjun Ynares, IIIs
desire to deliver efficient and more
accessible health services to his constituents, the second of four hospitals
targeted under his healthcare program
has already opened to the public at the
heart of this city.
Ynares, a professional physician, led
city hall officials in unveiling the new
Antipolo City Hospital System-Annex
II (ACHS-Annex II) in Barangay Dalig,
here, last Friday.
The three-story hospital is located
at the defunct Regalado Hospital, which
became a garment factory for many
years.
It is now a 2,500-square-meter
health facility that has a 75-bed capacity and equipped with X-ray, ultrasound
laboratories, and a pharmacy.
Sa laki po ng Antipolo City, hindi
lamang po isa kung hindi apat na ospital ang nararapat sa atin para lubusang
matulungan at matugunan ang mga
medikal na pangangailangan ng ating
mamamayan (Owing to the size of
Antipolo City, we need not just one but
four hospitals to address the medical
needs of our citizens), Ynares said at
the inauguration.
The ACHS Annex II has specialists
in OB-Gyne, General Surgery, Orthopedic Surgery, Pediatrics, Internal Medicine, ENT, Ophthalmology, Anesthesiology, Radiology, Pathology, Pulmonology,
among others, said the mayor.
The ACHS-Annex II has served
more than 4,000 out-patient beneficiaries since its emergency and out-patient
departments opened last August. The
hospitals formal opening came as it
recently acquired its License to Operate from the Department of Health
(DOH).
He said the ACHS-Annex II is a testament to the city governments vision
of constructing four hospitals during his
first term and he remains optimistic it
will all happen.
Targeted to open in March is the
citys third hospital in Sitio Cabading
that will cater to the health needs of
the residents of Boso-Boso, Pinugay,
Calawis, Apia, San Jose, San Ysiro, Sta.
Ines and nearby sitios of the upland
portion of the city.
The city-government managed
fourth hospital is also set to open soon
on Sumulong Highway, Ynares said.

50 barangays in San Fernando City now drug-free; 9 to go

By ERWIN G. BELEO

SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union

Eight more barangays in this city have
been declared free from illegal drugs, as
certified by the Dangerous Drugs Board
(DDB), making 50 out of the 59 villages
here now drugs-free.
Mayor Pablo Ortega, who chairs the
City Anti-Drug Abuse Council (CADAC),
announced last Thursday the newlycleared barangays as San Agustin,
Madayegdeg, Pagdalagan, Biday, San
Vicente, Barangay II, Ilocanos Sur, and
Cadaclan.
Now that your barangays are already
drug-free, I hope that you will maintain
the situation. You should monitor further
the activities in your barangay to sustain
its being free from illegal drugs, Ortega
told officials of the eight barangays after
signing their certification at city hall.
Ortega said he hoped to clear all the

barangays of drugs before the end of his

term on June 30, this year.
I hope that after six months this year,
we will be the first city to be declared a
drug-free city in entire the country, he
said.
Superintendent Julius C. Suriben, city
police chief, reported that 12 illegal drug
traders from these eight barangays were
already neutralized and most of them are
now in jail.
Suriben vowed to intensify anti-drug
operations in the nine remaining villages out of the 33 barangays initially
found to be affected by the proliferation
of addictive substances like shabu or
metamphetamine hydrochloride and
marijuana.
The drug-free assessment of the
villages are conducted by the DDB, the
Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency
(PDEA), the city police, and barangay
officials.

CLEARED OF DRUGS Mayor Pablo C. Ortega of San Fernando City, La Union, and Supt.
Julius Suriben, city police chief, lead the signing of the clearance certificate declaring eight
barangays drugs-free in a ceremony at the city hall, last Thursday. (Erwin G. Beleo)

Black Nazarene replica in Laoag also believed to be miraculous

BLACK NAZARENE IN ILOCOS While the traslacion of the Black Nazarene takes place
in Manila, Ilocano devotees prepare to parade their replica of the revered image of Jesus
Christ from the house of Minda Jacinto in Barangay 2, Laoag City, Ilocos Norte, yesterday.
Many believe the image to be miraculous. (Freddie G. Lazaro)
By FREDDIE G. LAZARO

LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte Hundreds of devotees participated in the

vigil and adoration to the image of the

Black Nazarene in Barangay 2, here,
which many believe to be a miraculous
replica of the original one in Quiapo,

Manila.
A concelebrated mass was offered
at the house of Minda Jacinto, who
owns the replica last Friday evening,
gathering devotees from this province.
It was followed by a procession and
the vigil.
Jacinto, a survivor of a severe illnesses and a long-time devotee of the
Black Nazarene, said the feast of Black
Nazarene has become a celebration
at her own residence because of her
replica of the revered image of Jesus
Christ.
We have a lot of visitors from Cagayan and Ilocos provinces and even
from Manila during the time of the
annual feast of the Black Nazarene,
she said. They join us in our vigil,
adoration and procession activities at
my residence.
She said many of those who come
have found solace in the replica she
owns and there are some who say they
were healed of their sickness.
Jacinto said the celebration of the

feast of the Black Nazarene is one of

her vocation as she claims to have
already experienced Gods miracle
through her devotion to the original
image in Quiapo Church.
Garments from Taytay
Meanwhile in Rizal province, residents of Taytay also took part in the
yesterdays feast.
Hundreds of members of the local
chapter of the organizations of the devotees of the Black Nazarene trooped to
Quiapo since the other day.
Probably unknown to most of the
residents here, the designer of the garb
and vestments of the Black Nazarene
of Quiapo, is a resident of the so-called
Garments Capital of the Country.
Richard Gappi, editor of the Angono
Rizal News Online, a social media page,
in his recent article revealed that the
designer and maker of the vestments for
this years translacion of the Black Nazarene is a certain Doc Ricky Sto. Domingo,
of Barangay Muzon, Taytay.

Yellow Magenta Cyan

Black
ymv

Visayas News

Sunday, January 10, 2016

17

Sinulog fever grips Cebu; patience with traffic urged

By MARS W. MOSQUEDA JR.

EBU CITY Motorists and

commuters are being asked
to be patient in the likelihood
that they would get stuck in
traffic as rerouting, which started
yesterday, Saturday, continues today,
with various Sinulog festival-related
activities going on in the city.
"I urge the public to cooperate
with our traffic personnel and follow
traffic signs to minimize traffic congestion," said Cebu City Traffic Office
(CCTO) head, Jonathan Tumulak.
Traffic in the main roads of Cebu
City was rerouted yesterday for the
Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Lalawigan
(province) parade and street dance
competition. The rerouting will be
implemented again today for the Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Dakbayan (city).
The top five winners of the two
events will automatically become
contingents in the 2016 Grand Sinulog Mardi Gras on Januar y 17,
when main Cebu City roads will be
closed.

For yesterday's Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Lalawigan 2016, the parade route started from the Capitol
Building to Osmea Boulevard and
on to the Cebu City Sports Center.
To accommodate the street performance participants and the huge
number of watchers, the lane along
Osmea Boulevard closest to the
sports center was closed starting
noon in preparation for the parade
that started at one oclock in the
afternoon.
Meanwhile, the Theft and Robbery Section of the Cebu City Police
office is also urging the public to
be very vigilant when attending
crowded activities to avoid becoming
victims of criminals.
TRS chief Senior Inspector Rolito
Supatan said they received reports
about pickpockets from Davao who
come here just to take advantage of
the huge crowds.
The public has been urged to
avoid bringing too much cash or
valuables when attending Sinulogrelated activities.

AGOG WITH THE SINULOG A father (left photo) carries on his shoulder his kid daughter who holds a Sto. Nio statuette
while watching dancers (right photo) perform on the main streets of Cebu City for the Sinulog 2016 festivals opening
parade yesterday. Fourteen dance contingents from various schools in Cebu joined to perform through their dance
interpretation of the festivals theme, Sinulog Goes Global. (Juan Carlo de Vela)

Archdiocese urged to investigate rude Iloilo priest P25-M ice plant opens
in Kabankalan City
By TARA YAP

ILOILO The Archiocese of Jaro

is being asked to investigate the alleged rudeness of the parish priest of
Santa Barbara town, Iloilo province.
Last December 3, the Santa Barbara Town Council passed a resolution
urging Jaro Archbishop Angel Lagdameo to conduct an "honest and fair
investigation" into the rude attitude
of Monsignor Juanito Tuvilla which
allegedly happened during the ceremonial installation by the National
Museum of the National Cultural

Treasure marker at the Santa Barbara

Church and Convent.
In his resolution, Santa Barbara
Town Council Larry Deatras claimed
that Tuvillas rude actuation was
directed at Dr. Maria Serena Diokno,
Chairperson of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines
(NHCP).
It was alleged that Tuvilla refused to sign a document during the
ceremony as the NHCP has yet to
complete the restoration of the church
and convent. Monsignor Tuvilla allegedly shouted at one of the NHCPs

architects.
The NHCP is at the forefront of
the P50-million restoration project of
Santa Barbara Church and Convent,
which served as the backdrop of the
117th Independence Day celebration
led by President Benigno S. Aquino III
last June 12, 2015.
Tuvilla also faced a complaint last
July 2015 when he berated a family
after a burial mass for allegedly using
up the church's electricity.
The Sta. Barbara parish priest
could not be reached for his side of
the story.

BACOLOD CITY, Negros Occ.

(PNA) A P25-million ice plant owned
by former Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri
was recently opened in Kabankalan City,
Negros Occidental.
Z-Ice Purified Ice will produce 35
tons of ice daily, including 15 tons of
tube ice, and 20 tons of block ice for the
fishing industry.
After resigning from the Senate in
2011, I focused on being an entrepreneur
and opened Z-Ice Purified Ice with
branches in Malaybalay City, Bukidnon

and Cagayan de Oro City, said Zubiri,

whose paternal side of the family hails
from Kabankalan.
The plant in Kabankalan is the first
expansion of his business outside Mindanao, Zubiri said, adding that putting up
the facility in southern Negros is timely
because (Kabankalan) will be the capital
of the Negros Island Region (NIR).
We plan to expand in two or three
more areas in the province especially
those with large fishing industries,
he said.

Yellow Magenta Cyan

Black
ymv

Mindanao News

18

Sunday, January 10, 2016

Aboitiz Power assures new plant

to adhere to environmental standards
By ALEXANDER D. LOPEZ

AVAO CITY The Aboitiz

Power Corporations (AboitizPower), through its Chief
Executive Officer (CEO)
Erramon Aboitiz, has assured all the
stakeholders in the Davao region and
other parts of Mindanao that the 300MW
coal-fired power plant in Binugao, Toril,
here will have the most modern facilities and will operate under the strictest
environmental standards.
The days of highly polluting coal
plants were a thing of the past and
would definitely not be tolerated under
Aboitiz Powers watch. After all, the
Aboitiz Group has been a part of Davao
and its growth for many decades, and
we would not do anything that was
not good for Davao, Aboitiz told the
hundreds of visitors who gathered last
Friday for the formal opening and inauguration of the plant.

The inauguration was graced by

President Aquino, together with Energy
Secretary Zenaida Monzada, Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA)
chairperson Secretary Luwalhati Antonino and Defense Secretary Voltaire
Gazmin.
The event was also witnessed by top
officials of Davao City, led by Councilor
Carlo Bello who represented OIC Mayor
Paolo Duterte, and from the province of
Davao del Sur led by Mayor Joel Ray
Lopez of Sta. Cruz town.
Aboitiz emphasized that it was their
responsibility to provide ample and reliable power when needed, at a fair and
competitive price, and to do so with the
least adverse effect on the environment
and the community.
In designing the 300-MW coal-fired
power plant, Aboitiz said they made
sure that it would be consistent (with
environmental standards) and with
their (attending) responsibilities.

You can all bear witness to not only

to the countrys first coal dome but
South East Asias first (coal-powered
plant that is) coupled with fully covered
conveyors to ensure coal dust does not
affect our neighbors and host community. We wanted to make sure TSI
(Thermal South, Incorporated) would
be a showcase and an example of what
a coal plant can and should be like,
he said.
TSI is the a wholly-owned subsidiary of AboitizPower that will operate
and manage the said coal-fired power
plant.
Militant groups staged a rally that
coincided with the inauguration to air
their concern, particularly on the effect
of the plant to environment.
But the group failed to reach the
front gate of the power plant because
they were barred from proceeding any
closer by the Task Force Davao checkpoint in Binugao area.

Land claims, zonal problems delay

repairs at NGCP towers PNoy
DAVAO CITY (PNA) President
Aquino on Friday acknowledged that
unsolved land claims and zonal problem were reasons behind the delay
in the restoration of steel towers by
the National Grid Corporation of the
Philippines (NGCP).
At the press conference after the
inauguration of the 300 megawatt
coal-fired power plant of the Therma
South, Inc. in Binugao, Toril here,
Aquino said the government will ad-

dress these problems to allow NGCP to

repair the towers and prevent further
problems on the distribution of power
supply from the state-owned hydropower plants of the National Power
Corporation.
The President said he was set to
call for a meeting with stakeholders
next week to discuss how to address
the zonal valuation and right of way
issues.
In a follow-up interview, Depart-

ment of Energy (DOE) Secretary

Zenaida Monsada also disclosed that
NGCP was not allowed to enter the
areas to repair toppled towers last year
because landowners where the towers
are situated have demanded payment
for rental of the land.
After negotiations, NGCP was allowed entry but only within limited
parameters.
According to Monsada, despite this,
the problem has continued.

KAHIMUNAN FESTIVAL Devotees put the final touches on the image of the
Sto. Nio before it is taken on a fluvial parade on the Agusan River Friday
that kicks off weeklong festivities for this years Kahimunan Festival in
Butuan City. The Festival, which is the regions own version of Cebus
Sinulog Festival, is also dedicated to the Sto. Nio or the Baby Jesus Christ
and will be highlighted by a grand street dancing competition on January
17 at the Sports Complex located beside the Sto. Nio Shrine in Barangay
Libertad. (Mike U. Crismundo)

Bombs, firearms hidden by NPA

seized in Surigao del Sur town
By MIKE U. CRISMUNDO

BUTUAN CITY Government forces

recently seized high powered bombs and
firearms which were allegedly hidden by
the New Peoples Army (NPA) in a farmland village of San Isidro, in Lianga town,
Surigao del Sur, field Army commanders
of the Armed Forces of the Philippines
(AFP) reported yesterday.
First Lt. Karl Jan S.
Devaras, commander of
the 41st Civil Military Operations (Magkahiusa)
Company, said composite
troops belonging to the
Seventh Special Forces
Company, Special Operations Command and the
Bayanihan Team of the
Alpha Company of the
Seventh Infantry (Marauder) Battalion seized
several anti-tank cylindrical-shaped improvised
explosive devices (IEDs),
clay more mines with deto-

nating cords and other bomb materials,

a Springfield Garand rifle and 12 Gauge
Shot gun rifles and other war materials
on Wednesday.
These bomb materials and other war
materiel were discovered after an NPA
fighter who surrendered to our operating
troops reported that his comrades-inarms were planning to stage atrocities
in targeted areas including government
troops in the province using the seized
bombs, claimed Devaras.
He also charged that the NPA, armed
wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), was set to harass politicians who will refuse to give extortion
money in the form of permits to campaign
(PTCs) to the local rebel group.
Meanwhile, Lt. Col. Rey Pasco,
commanding officer of the Fourth Civil
Military Operations Battalion based at
Camp Bancasi here, said the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human
Rights and International Humanitarian
Law (CARHRIHL) considered the use of
landmines and other bomb materials as a
serious human rights violation.

Sandigan acquits ex-Sarangani

governor in malversation case
By JEFFREY G. DAMICOG

Former Sarangani Governor

Miguel Escobar has been acquitted by the Sandiganbayan in a
malversation case involving the
disbursement of P300,000 to a
bogus request of assistance made
by a local cooperative.
In a 38-page decision, the
Sandiganbayan Second Division
found Escobar and four of his coaccused not guilty for the crime of
malversation through falsification
of public documents.
Acquitted with Escobar were
former provincial administrator
Perla Maglinte, former assistant
provincial treasurer Rosario
Concon, former assistant provincial agriculturist Patricio Sol and
former provincial council clerk
Renante Dialawe.
"In the case of accused Escobar, Maglinte, Concon and Sol, the
Court finds that they did not take

advantage of their official positions," read the decision penned

by Second Division Chairperson
Teresita Diaz-Baldos and concurred by Associate Justices
Napoleon Inoturan and Maria
Cristina Cornejo.
Under the case, Escobar and
co-defendants were accused of
having paid in 2002 P300,000 as
financial assistance sought by a
Mohammad Mudi, the alleged
chairman of the Kanalo Multi-Purpose Cooperative, even though no
request was made and that the
amount was never received.
On the other hand, the court
found Dialawe guilty of falsification of public documents and
sentences him to imprisonment
ranging from four years and two
months up to eight years and one
day as well as a fined of P5,000.
"The case of accused Dialawe,
however, paints a different picture," the court said.

P2.2-B ConVERGE project to be

launched in 3 Mindanao regions
BUTUAN CITY The government is set to launch a P2.2billion six-year Convergence on
Value Chain Enhancement for
Rural Growth and Empowerment (ConVERGE) project in
three regions in Mindanao.
ConVERGE aims to reduce
poverty through the promotion
of sustainable livelihood activities based on key commodities
such as rice, rubber, coffee,
cassava, and coco sugar that
are deemed competitive in the
three regions, government officials said.
Under the International
Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the project will
be implemented in Northeastern Mindanao (Caraga region),
Northern Mindanao (Region

10) and Zamboanga Peninsula

(Region 9).
The Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Trade
and Industry (DTI), Department of Science and Technology
(DOST) and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) will assist the
Department of Agrarian Reform
(DAR) in the implementation of
the ConVERGE project, DAR
13 Regional Director Julita A.
Ragandang said.
ConVERGE will surely
boost the economic development
in far-flung communities, especially to our big number of farmers in three Mindanao regions,
the regions top DAR official told
Manila Bulletin yesterday. (Mike
U. Crismundo)

Yellow Magenta Cyan

Black
ymv

LLWATCH

Sunday, January 10, 2016

19

Marcos twits Palace for implying bad faith on Msapano probe

By Mario b. casayuran

ndependent vice presidential

candidate Sen. Ferdinand R.
Marcos Jr. rued yesterday efforts
of Malacaang to discredit the
re-opening of the Senate probe by the
Senate public order and illegal drugs
committee of the tragic January 25,
2015 Mamasapano massacre even
before it started.
President Aquino said Friday he
sees politics behind the re-opening of
the investigation into the Mamasapano
incident which resulted in the massacre
of 44 Philippine National Police-Special
Action Force (PNP-SAF) elite troopers.
Marcos said that it is unfortunate
that instead of waiting the outcome of
the investigation Malacaang insinuates bad faith in the re-opening of the
Mamasapano probe.
He noted that the President did
admit it could be the opportunity to
provide answers to the lingering questions of what really happened in Mamasapano, Maguindanao a year ago.
So if Malacaang really has nothing to hide it should welcome the
re- opening of the investigation. I
believe majority of the Filipino people
sincerely want answers and would be
discerning enough to recognize any
attempt at grandstanding merely to
score political points, he explained.
Cry for justice
Marcos is supporting moves to reopen the Mamasapano investigation
initiated by Senate Minority Leader
Juan Ponce Enrile.
After posting bail on plunder charg-

roxas

es, Enrile requested to reopen the

Senate probe saying some family
members of the SAF44 had sought his
support in asking hard questions on
the incident.
Enrile claimed to have new information on the incident.
Independent presidential candidate Sen. Grace Poe-Llamanzares,
chair of the public order committee
will preside over the inquiry at 10 a.m.
on January 25, exactly a year after the
tragic incident.
Among others, Marcos said he
wants to find out why almost a year
after the incident no criminal charges
have been filed in court against those
responsible.
The families of the policemen slain
in the Mamasapano massacre do not
ask for anything from the government
save for justice, he said.

Chain of command failed

Mamasapano still stings for former
SAF commander Getulio Napeas
who has since retired. Napeas who
is running for senator under the banner of the United Nationalist Alliance
(UNA) still has a lot of things to say
from his chest.
He maintains that the mission to
neutralize Malaysian terrorist bomb
maker Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan on
January 25, 2015 wasnt poorly planned
and executed.
Ang hindi ko lang ma-agree doon
yung sinabi nila na poorly-planned at
poorly-executed yung operation (What
I cant agree to what they are saying
is the operation being poorly-planned
and poorly executed), he told reporters during an UNA sortie in Bulacan.
Napeas was referring to the
Senate probe on the botched siege,

which took place

at a time when the
government and
the Moro Islamic
Liberation Front
(MILF) were negotiating peace.
Mar wan was
neutralized inside
MILF territory.
Hindi ako
magsasang-ayon
na hindi maayos
yung plano at hindi
maayos yung execution dahil kung
hindi maayos yung
plano, hindi makumarcos
kuha si Marwan.
Kung hindi maayos
ang execution hindi makukuha si
Marwan (I dont agree because if the
planning wasnt done well, we wouldnt
have neutralized Marwan. If the execution wasnt done well, we wouldnt
have neutralized Marwan), Napenas
stressed.
If anything failed during the operation, its the chain of command,
Napeas insisted.
The chain of command ang nagfail kung bakit hindi kami tinulungan
nung umaga para sana naisalba ang
mga buhay ng mga kasamahan ko sa
SAF (The chain of command failed,
thats why we didnt receive help that
morning. My SAF comrades wouldve
been saved), he said.
Napeas welcomed the reopening
of the probe if only to be given the opportunity to speak again.
Kita niyo naman kina-cut ako kung

may direksyon na ang sinasabi ko (You

saw how I was being cut when I was
beginning to get to my point), he said,
recalling his experience as resource
person during the initial probe.
The ex-SAF chief has his main
motivation for attempting to join
politics was to give justice to his fallen
comrades.
Ready
If summoned, Liberal Party standard-bearer Mar Roxas said he is willing to attend the Senate probe.
I will not back out from any investigation. A lot of investigations have
already been conducted including the
one done by the PNP (Philippine National Police) itself but if there are still
questions that remain unanswered, I
am ready to help. If they summon me, I
am willing to answer all the questions,
said Roxas who is in Romblon as guest
speaker of the convention of the Association of Barangay Captains (ABC).
Roxas was the secretary of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)
at the time of the tragic incident that
did not only kill 44 elite SAF troopers
but more than a dozen MILF rebels
and civilians.
Roxas and PNP Officer-in-Charge
Leonardo Espina claimed to have been
kept out of the loop of Oplan Exodus
in Mamasapano which operation was
placed under the direct supervision
of then suspended PNP chief Alan
Purisima.
We have nothing to hide. I have no
problem with whatever questions that
they want to ask, said Roxas. (With
reports from Aaron B. Recuenco and
Ellson A. Quismorio)

Maintain multi-level ties with China Chiz

Independent vice presidential candidate Sen. Francis Chiz Escudero
strongly urged that the Aquino government maintain diplomatic ties with
China on a multi-bilateral basis.
Escudero said this could be done
while the Philippine government
pushes through with its territorial
claims over islets, atolls, and islands in
the West Philippine Sea (WPS) before
an international arbitration court.
Western leaders have commended
the Philippines for opting for a peaceful
resolution of the territorial dispute by
bringing it before an arbitral tribunal
in The Hague.
While the country also maintains
its current economic and cultural ties
with China, Escudero said there is a
pressing need for the Philippines to
modernize its armed forces, particularly the Philippine Coast Guard which
needs to help Filipino fishermen who
are being harassed by Chinese boats
at fishing grounds within Philippine
territory.
The Philippines and Vietnam have
protested the reclamation by China of
islets and atolls in the Spratly island
chain for its military use. Recently,
China landed two commercial planes
to test its stability.
The United States and its allies
have protested that China has time
and again violated rights of navigation
in the South China Sea, a $5-trillion a
year shipping route that the US has
patrolled largely unchallenged since
World War II.
China, an economic and military
power, had protested that US planes
flew over its territory in the South

escudero

China sea between these illegally reclaimed territory in the Spratlys and
the most eastern land mass of China
mainland.
Most powerful
Hindi naman puwedeng dahil napakalakas ng China huwag na tayong
kumilos at huwag na tayong gumalaw.
Hindi naman tayo basta tinutulak-tulak
na lamang. Matuto tayo dito. Habang
kinakausap natin sila diplomatically,
palakasin natin ang ating sarili. Kasi
tignan mo, size is not necessarily
whats important (Not because China
is powerful that we allow ourselves to
be pushed around. We should learn.
While we are dealing with China,
we should make our armed forces
strong), he said.
He cited other equally smaller
Southeast Asian countries such as
Singapore, Malaysia, and Taiwan that
have strong military defenses.
Earlier, Senate Minority Leader
Juan Ponce Enrile, a former Defense
Minister of the late President Ferdi-

nand E. Marcos, conceded that the

Philippines has no external defense
preparedness.
Despite this reality, still we are
engaged in blaming each otherCongress does not provide the money..if the
Executive did not ask for the money for
modernization, Enrile said.
Asked whether the Philippines
should rely on the US, Enrile shot
back: Do we have anybody to rely on?
We cannot rely on North Korea, can
you rely on anybody? In this century,
America will still be the most powerful
country in this world. There is no more
Soviet Russia. It has the Atlantic on the
east side of the America and the Pacific
on the West side (there is) Mexico and
Canada. There is no threat to it. It can
bomb any part of the planet. Its currency will be the strongest currency
in this century.
Asked what the Philippines can
do to force China out of the contested
WPS territories if the international
arbitration court rules in favor of the
country, Enrile said internal law is
not like a law passed by the Philippine
Congress (but) you have no policeman
to enforce it.
We are operating in a Hobsian
world where the rule of force is the
governing law, he noted.
The Aquino position to involve
its allies is correct but it should have
used a diplomatic language. You cannot engage them in bric brac. There is
something that should not do against
China is for them to lose face. Once
you do that, you cannot get their cooperation, he explained. (Mario B.
Casayuran)

Seven new airports in three years

By Hannah L. Torregoza

This is what independent presidential aspirant Senator Grace PoeLlamanzares hopes to accomplish in
the first three years of her term should
she win the presidency.
Poe is eyeing the complete construction and improvement of seven
old and new international and domestic
airports under the Public-Private Partnership with priority on the airports
in Bohol, Iloilo and Bacolod in Negros
Occidental.
Better airports will help drum up
the Department of Tourisms (DOT)
new promotional campaign called
Visit the Philippines Again, which
seeks to entice returning visitors
through privileges and discounts, Poe
explained.
The completion and upgrade of the
gateways is a must if the Philippines
targets 10 million foreign visitor arrivals this year, she said.
The first impressions of a country

are decided on airports, and if we want

to truly impress tourists, basic infrastructures such as airports need to be
prioritized, Poe said.
Tourists gauge the progress and
efficiency of a country from what they
see and experience at airports, which
serve as gateways to a country, according to Poe.
Substandard
Before tourists marvel at the gorgeous Philippine beaches, they experience our miserable airports, which
could leave a bad taste, especially for
first-time travelers, she said.
Out of 144 countries, the Philippines
ranked 108th in terms of air transport
infrastructures according to the 2014
Global Competitiveness Index of the
World Economic Forum.
The countrys main international
airport is frequently criticized for its
poor facilities and lately plagued by allegations of harboring scammers that
prey on passengers.

The 23 domestic airports identified and evaluated by www.worldairportcodes.com were all classified as
substandard.
There is no doubt that the country
has the most pristine beaches, friendliest locals and an incredibly fascinating
history. The Philippines is a travelers
dream," Poe noted.
"However, we still fail to attract as
many visitors as our ASEAN neighbors. Our airports, notorious for their
substandard facilities, need a major
lift, lamented the chair of the Senate
subcommittee on transportation.
Citing a report of the United Nations World Tourism Organization
(UNWTO), Poe noted that the Philippines lags behind its neighbors in total
international tourism receipts, despite
a new high of 4.8 million international
tourist arrivals
The country also trails Malaysia with
27.4 million tourist arrivals, Singapore
with 11.8 million, Indonesia with 9.4 million and Vietnam with 7.9 million.

DEPLOYMENT BAN OFW Advocate Susan Ople shows photos of a missile shell (left) and
a damaged house (right) being occupied by some OFWs after it was hit by a missile. Ople
is asking the Department of Labor and Employment to ban the deployment of workers
to Najran in Saudi Arabia because of the Saudi-Yemen conflict. Ople is also asking the
Department of Foreign Affairs to send a team to Najran to assess the situation in light
of reports from the Filipino community about sporadic gunfight and powerful explosions
in the area. (Kevin dela Cruz)

Plan ahead for 2.5M OFWs

in the Mideast Romualdez
By CHARISSA M. LUCI

Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez

is urging the Department of Labor
and Employment (DOLE) to start
looking for sources of funding to
provide alternative livelihood for
overseas Filipino workers in the
volatile Middle East.
Romualdez who is running for
the Senate said government should
keep an eye on the safety and job security of more than 2.5 million OFWs
in Middle East should tensions continue to escalate after Saudi severed
ties with Iran.
We need to plan ahead and effect
the swift and free mass repatriation
of OFWs in Saudi Arabia and Iran.
We dont want to sound alarmist, but
we should work on ensuring their
safety, Romualdez said.
President Aquino, relying on the
assurance of the labor department
said the government has the capacity to provide jobs to OFWs in the
event they are repatriated.
The government has a template
for repatriation that it used in wartorn countries before. The DOLE
should also map out plans on possible alternative sources of income
for OFWs who might be affected,"
he added.
At the same time, Romualdez
counseled the OFWs in the Middle
East against joining any political
activity.
They should just work there and

avoid political activities that may

jeopardize their safety and jobs,
he said.
Evac plan
AKO BICOL party-list Rep. Rodel
Batocabe is also confident that the
DFA has contingency measures set
in place should tension escalate in
the Middle East.
"The real problem lies on how our
local economy will be able to absorb
our OFWs who will be displaced
should conflict arise. But then, the
world will always work towards a
peaceful settlement since war between two oil-producing Middle East
superpowers will have disastrous
effects on the global economy, he
said.
Deputy Speaker and Isabela Rep.
Giorgidi Gigi Aggabao agreed with
Romualdez that contigency measures should be put in place.
I don't think Saudi and Iran
would engage in a shooting war that
would put in harms way our OFWs.
A war between the regional powers
would be catastrophic," he said.
"We may need to put in place an
evacuation plan in the event the unthinkable happens. For that, we may
need to draw from our experiences
in Libya, Iraq and even Syria and
Lebanon. We have evacuated our
OFWs before, I am sure our government may already have a template
to address a similar contingency,"
he said.

Yellow Magenta Cyan

Black
ymv

Rain or Shine Sports

slams SMBeer
pba

20 Sunday, January 10, 2016

By WAYLON GALVEZ
Game Today (Smart Araneta)
5 p.m. Alaska vs Globalport (Game 4)
* Alaska leads best-of-7 series 2-1

t was Rain or Shines turn to score

a comeback win.
Showing the type of resolve
that carried the team to the semifinals despite not having one of its top
players, a depleted ROS squad downed
San Miguel Beer in Game 3, 111-106, in
their Final Four duel in the Smart Bro
PBA Philippine Cup last night at the
Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Veteran forward Gabe Norwood
scored 11 of his 13 points in the final
frame, including a three-point play off
a foul by June Mar Fajardo with under
two minutes left that gave the Beermen a 107-101 lead.
SMB trimmed the lead to a single
point, 106-107, after Marcio Lassiter

buried a triple and Fajardo converted

a jumper and after Jeff Chan and Jericho Cruz missed their trey attempts,
the Beermen had the chance to steal
the game.
Lassiter, however, muffed a tear
drop shot in the next play, and Cruz got
the rebound. As he tried to run a fast
break play, Cruz was bumped by Lassiter and twisted his left knee.
The Elasto Painters sophomore
guard crashed to the sideline in pain
while holding on to his knee.
The 6-foot-1 Cruz was carried on
a stretcher and was later brought to
Cardinal Santos Hospital where he will
undergo MRI (magnetic resonance
imaging) test, a team personnel said.
Lassiter was assessed with a Flagrant Foul 1, and Chris Tiu shooting
for the injured Cruz made two free
throws to make it 109-106 with five seconds left to play.

Editor: DING T. MARCELO

Asst. Editor: REY C. LACHICA
E-mail: sports@mb.com.ph

Josan Nimes of Rain or

Shine tries to contain
June Mar Fajardo of
San Miguel in their
semifinal game last
night. The Elasto
Painters won, 111-106.
(Ernie Sarmiento)

Fajardo then missed on its possession and Tiu converted anew on his free throws to settle the issue.
The win was the second straight for Rain or Shine
in the best-of-seven semifinal series, which gave the
Painters a 2-1 lead on the defending champion Beer-

men after their 105-97 win in

Game 2 last Thursday.
Rain or Shine will try to take
a 3-1 lead with tomorrows Game
4 set anew at the Big Dome.
Fajardo, the reigning MVP,
finished with 40 points, although he missed a couple of
shots down the stretch as he
went 17-of-25 from the field and
6-of-9 from the foul line. He also
collared 20 rebounds.
Unlike its victory in the
previous encounter where it
weathered SMBs comeback
from a 25-point deficit, ROS had
to fight toe-to-toe with SMB to
fashion out its own comeback
victory after falling behind by
eight points, 84-76, late in the
third quarter.
Norwood then took over
in the fourth period when he
scored eight points as the
Painters unleashed an 20-9 run
that gave them a 96-93 advantage with six minutes left.
The last time San Miguel
had the lead was when Lassiter

made a triple, 98-96, but Beau

Belga and Cruz answered with
their own three-pointers. A
layup by Belga put ROS up, 10498, 2:32 to play.
We lost Paul Lee, we won
games, we lost Raymond we
won this game. This is another opportunity for the
other guys to step up. Were
just trying to wear them out,
added Guiao.
Lee, who only played in the
semifinals after missing the
eliminations and quarterfinals
due to a left knee injury, led
Rain or Shines balanced attack
with 18 points off the bench.
Belga had a double-double 14
points and 14 rebounds, Chan
added 13 points.
Rain or Shine 111 Lee 18, Belga
14, Chan 13, Norwood 13, Ponferada 12,
Tiu 12, Ahanmisi 10, Quinahan 8, Cruz
6, Nimes 5, Trollano 0.
San Miguel 106 Fajardo 40,
Lassiter 22, Santos 12, Tubid 11,
Cabagnot 8, Lutz 6, Espinas 5, Reyes
2, Araa 0, Ross 0.
Quarters: 26-27, 58-50, 78-86,
111-106.

Romero blows top

over poor showing
By WAYLON GALVEZ

Globalport team owner Mikee Romero didnt mince words

in ripping his Batang Pier as he
took to social media to express
his disgust over the teams loss
Friday night to Alaska in Game
Three of the Smart Bro PBA
Philippine Cup semifinal playoffs.
Romero didnt hold back on
his feelings with his Globalport
team, which took the series opener but has dropped the last two
matches to trail 1-2 in the best-ofseven affair versus Alaska.
Romero posted on his Facebook account: To our globalport
batang pier fans: no excuses, the
team is just choking period. Our
team is playing like a bunch of
girls in a mens league.
Romero added his post with
a hash tag #nopridetofight as the

Batang Pier were outplayed by

the Aces in Game 2, 76-100, and
were outsmarted in the fourth
quarter in Game 3, 69-82.
The post of Romero on FB
was totally different from his
previous ones where he encouraged the team to play hard and
be a David against a Goliath
team in Alaska in terms of its experience as compared to them
being a first time semifinalist in
the pro league.
It was 53-all entering the final
frame, and Globalport was still
ahead, 57-54, with 11 minutes to
play.
Alaska, however, used a 19-3
run that gave them a 73-60 advantage with 5:24 remaining in
the game behind veteran shooter
Dondon Hontiveros, Vic Manuel
and RJ Jazul.

tennis

Jarata, Carlos boost bids

for national team inclusion
PROMISING netters Marc
Andrei Jarata and Macie Carlos
strengthened their bids for national team inclusion after they
reigned in the boys and girls 12under categories respectively
in the 27th Andrada Cup agegroup tennis championships at
Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.
Fourth-seeded Jarata ruled
the division marked with stunning upsets after he trounced
Samuel Nuguit, 6-4, 6-2, in the
finals. The top two seeds in the
age-group dropped in the first
round.

The No. 1 pick Carlos took

a different route as she dominated second seed Kryshana
Brazal, 6-1, 6-1, in the event
held in honor of Salvador Buddy Andrada, former Philippine
Tennis Association president
and currently commissioner of
the Philippine Sports Commission.
We are very impressed with
the performance of our young
players, with this generation of
athletes, we are confident of an
even stronger national team in
the future, said Andrada.

Harmie Constantino (second from left) and Jobim Carlos (second from
right) hold their trophies after dominating their respective divisions in
the 2016 Philippine Amateur Open (Stroke Play) Golf Championship at
the Eagle Ridge Golf and Country Clubs Aoki Course last Friday. With
them are Eagle Ridge GCC director Vince Santos (left) and National Golf
Association of the Philippines president Caloy Coscolluela.

Yellow Magenta Cyan

Black
ymv

Sports

Sunday, January

nba

Spurs stay unscathed

S

AN ANTONIO (AP) San Antonio extended its unbeaten

home record to 22 games by
edging the New York Knicks,
100-99, on Friday.
The Spurs improved to 32-6, equaling the franchises best-ever record
after 38 games, but had to sweat on a
missed 3-point attempt by New York at
the dearth which could have snatched
victory.
Even at this relatively early stage
of the season, the three division winners in the Western Conference seem
set, with the Spurs, Oklahoma City
and Golden State all holding doubledigit game leads in their respective
divisions.
Golden State continued on its winning way with a comfortable victory at
Portland and Oklahoma City won narrowly at a Lou Williams-inspired Los
Angeles Lakers, while the Easts division leaders Toronto, Cleveland and
Miami also won.
San Antonios Kawhi Leonard
had 19 points and 12 rebounds for the
Spurs, who just withstood their most
searching test on their home court
this season.
New Yorks Kristaps Porzingis had
28 points and 11 rebounds but was on
the bench when the Knicks started a
14-4 run to pull within two points with
1:27 remaining.

Spieth fires 64,

surges ahead
LOS ANGELES (AFP) World
number one Jordan Spieth chipped in
for an eagle and grabbed seven birdies in a nine-under par 64 on Friday
to surge four strokes clear of the field
after two rounds of the US PGA Tournament of Champions.
After another lovely day on the par73 Plantation Course at Kapalua, Hawaii, Masters and US Open champion
Spieth had a 16-under par total of 130
and a four-shot lead over first-round
leader Patrick Reed, Kevin Kisner
and Argentinian Fabian Gomez.
Reed had four birdies in a four-under 69 for 134, while Kisner climbed up
the leaderboard with an eight-under
65 that included an eagle and six birdies and Gomez carded a bogey-free 66
that featured seven birdies.
New Zealands Danny Lee was
alone in fifth after a 68 for 135.
Spieth said before the tournament
that he hoped 2016 would prove a continuation of a stellar 2015 campaign
that saw him grab two major titles
among his five wins and add a runnerup finish at the PGA Championship.

Jose Calderon missed a contested

3-pointer from the left corner for New
York that would have won it.
Golden States Klay Thompson scored 36 points, making seven
3-pointers, to lead the Warriors to
a 128-108 win at Portland and a fifth
straight victory.
COMPLETE RESULTS
Toronto 97, Washington 88
Orlando 83, Brooklyn 77
Memphis 91, Denver 84
Indiana 91, New Orleans 86
Milwaukee 96, Dallas 95
San Antonio 100, New York 99
Miami 103, Phoenix 95
Golden State 128, Portland 108
Oklahoma 117, LA Lakers 113

Reigning league MVP Stephen

Curry added 26 points and nine assists in three quarters for the Warriors (34-2), who made 18 3-pointers.
Curry started despite continued
soreness from a bruised left shin that
kept him out of a pair of games late
last month, and which he aggravated
on Tuesday against the Lakers.
Damian Lillard had a season-high
40 points and 10 assists for Portland.
Torontos DeMar DeRozan scored
21 of his season-high 35 points in the
second half to steer the Raptors to a
97-88 win against Washington.
Kyle Lowry had 21 points and 10

assists for the Raptors, who overcame a season-high 23 turnovers, taking control with an 18-4 run that put
them 10 points ahead late in the third
quarter.
John Wall scored 21 points as
Washington (15-19) lost for the fifth
time in six games. The Wizards swept
a four-game playoff series between
the two teams last spring but has lost
six consecutive regular-season meetings to the Raptors.
Cleveland stretched its winning
streak to six with a 125-99 victory at
Minnesota.
J.R. Smith scored a season-high 27
points and Kevin Love had 20 points,
nine rebounds and four assists in his
return to Minnesota.
The Cavaliers outscored the Timberwolves 22-5 in transition. Smith
made 5 of 6 3-pointers in just 19 minutes and Cleveland was 13 of 27 from
long range to cruise to the win.
Andrew Wiggins scored 35 points
for the Timberwolves, who have lost
nine of their past 10.
Milwaukees Khris Middleton sank
a driving layup with less than 10 seconds to play to give the Bucks a 96-95
win against Dallas.
Middleton scored 27 points and
John Henson added 16 as Milwaukee
ended a run of six straight losses to
the Mavericks.

10, 2016

21

Kevin Durant of
Oklahoma City blocks
the dunk attempt of
Jordan Clarkson of
Los Angeles Lakers in
their game Friday at
the Staples Center. The
Thunder won, 117-113.
(AP)

golf

CIE entries wallop SHS-Ateneo de Cebu

Siblings Wei Wei and Weiyu Gao
joined hands with Ryo Haga and LK
Go in leading Centre for International
Education (IE) to an overpowering
victory in the juniors division in the
recent Visayas qualifier of the ICTSIJGFP Inter-School at the Cebu Country Club.
Wei Wei tallied 102 as the teams
top scorer while Go added 100, Weiyu
made 98 and Haga chalked up 94 in two
rounds for a two-day team total of 304
and a 37-point win over SHS-Ateneo de
Cebu in the event backed by the Inter-

national Container Terminal Services,

Inc. Foundation.
Cebu International School topped
both the Aspirants 1 and Girls 2 categories to join CIE as Visayas qualifiers
in the forthcoming national finals on
Jan. 18-19 at the Player course of the
Orchard Golf and Country Club in Dasmarias, Cavite.
The tourney also supported by the
Philippine Golf Foundation and Philippine Airlines featured the best jungolfers in the Visayas representing CIE,
SHS-Ateneo de Cebu, Cebu Internation-

al School, British International School,

Pajo National High School, PAREF
Springdale, St. Anthony Montesorri,
Singapore School Cebu, University of
San Carlos, SHS Hijas De Jesus, Cebu
Learning Center, St. Paul Learning
Center, Mery Help Christian School,
Blessed Trinity Achievers Academy,
Cebu Eastern College, Cebu Doctors
University, Asian School of Technology,
Abbas Orchard, Bright Academy, The
Masters Academy and St. Theresas
College Cebu. Making up CIS Aspirants
squad were Yuhi Oga, John Lee, Har-

vey Bell, Kim Sung-hoon and Yoshiki

Hirasawa while the Girls trio was made
up of Misaki Imai, Vivian Lee and Riko
Nagai.
The individual champions in the
various divisions including Keisuke
Tatara of Velez College (senior), Wei
Wei Gao (juniors), Joaquin Velez of CIE
(Aspirants 1), Ren Moramasa of CIE
(Aspirants 2), Erica Lim of Cebu Doctors University (Girls 1), Junia Gabasa
of Bright Academy (Girls 2) and Jordan
Page Quano of Singapore School Cebu
(Girls 3) also earned finals slots.

tennis

Djokovic, Nadal to meet for 47th time, play 24th final

DOHA (AFP) Novak Djokovic
and Rafael Nadal will meet for the
47th time and play their 24th final
against each other after both won
their Qatar Open semi-finals on Friday.
World number one Djokovic progressed through to Saturdays final
after overcoming Tomas Berdych in

a bruising encounter, 6-3, 7-6 (7/3).

Earlier Nadal also won in two sets
but in a more straightforward fashion, beating Ukraines Illya Marchenko 6-3, 6-4 in little over an hour.
I guess its a pretty important
match tomorrow, lets see what happens, said Djokovic.
Its a final so you fight for the

trophy, he added.
And knowing that across the net
you have the player that you played
against the most ever in your career
adds more importance to that final.
Saturdays final will reignite one
of the greatest rivalries of modern
tennis.
Of the 23 finals they have con-

tested so far, Djokovic has a slight

advantage winning 13. They have
faced each other in the final of all
four Grand Slams.
Saturdays final will also be the
99th of Nadals career and Djokovics
16th consecutive ATP final.
Head-to-head in all matches, the
pair have each won 23.

Yellow Magenta Cyan

Black
ymv

L
R

Yellow Magenta Cyan

Black
ymv

Where To Stay
BSP Reference Rates
Editor: LORETO D. CABAES
Asst. Editor: BERNIE CAHILES-MAGKILAT
B1 Sunday, January 10, 2016

E-mail: business@mb.com.ph

In Pantukan, Compostela Valley

MGB greenlights $2-B King-King gold project

By JAMES A. LOYOLA

he $2-billion King-King coppergold mine project in Pantukan,

Compostela Valley has been
approved by the Mines and
Geosciences Bureau (MGB).
Construction and mine development
can start after the developer, Nationwide
Development Corporation (Nadecor),
has complied with certain conditions,
said MGB Director Leo Jasareno.
King-King is an open-pit mine that
could have an annual output of 138
million pounds of copper, about half a
million ounces of silver, and more than
236,000 ounces of gold over a period of
22 years.

News In Brief
P/$ rate stands
at P47.165/$1
The peso exchange rate
stands at
P47.165 last Friday at the Philippine Dealing & Exchange Corp. (PDEx).
The weighted average rate stands at
P47.019.

PH can ride out

market volatility
The Philippines relatively low dependence on China as a trading partner,
and on commodity exports, means the
Southeast Asian country is well-placed
to ride out the latest bout of market
volatility stemming from Chinas slowdown, ANZ believes. The Philippine
economy is heavily reliant on domestic
consumption, which remains buoyant, while its economic slant towards
services rather than manufacturing is
also beneficial in the current climate,
said ANZ Research economist Eugenia
Victorino. It is becoming more apparent that the recovery in the US is more
services-oriented, she said. As such,
the Philippines higher sensitivity to
the US and the services sector should
buttress the economy from issues
emanating from China. (WSJ)

PH vulnerable
to ME tension
The Philippines has been held as an
emerging markets safe haven because
its stock market has few commodities
plays and its economy is fairly insulated from China. But the escalating
tension between Saudi Arabia and
Iran may well put a dent to the Philippine economic growth engine, worries
J.P. Morgan. We think 2016 will be
challenging year for finding a positive
absolute return from the PH equity
market, noted analyst Jeanette Yutan.
Specifically, overseas Filipino workers
remit about 9% of the GDP back to
their homeland. The Middle East (ME)
is home to about 2.4 million overseas
workers, or a quarter of the total, and
accounts for 22% of annual remittances, with Saudi Arabia and UAE
constituting 10% and 8% respectively.
(Dow Jones)

One of a few mining projects approved under the administration of

President Benigno Aquino, the KingKing mine is not covered by a local ban
on new mineral agreements, which has
been in place since 2011 pending the
legislation of a new revenue sharing
agreement between the government
and miners.
Toronto-listed St. Augustine Gold
& Copper Ltd also has a stake in the
project.
Nationwide Development Corporation (Nadecor) and its joint venture
partner St. Augustine Gold and Copper
Limited had announced that the results
of the preliminary feasibility (PFS)
study on the project show that it has

favorable economic potential.

It is expected to generate an estimated pre-tax net present value of
$2.0 billion. The project also has an
estimated pre-tax internal rate of return
(IRR) of 24.8 percent.
The results of this advanced Preliminary Feasibility Study confirm
that King-King is an attractive project
with robust economics that will bring
significant value to our shareholders,
our partner and the Philippines, said
St. Augustine.
"We are pleased that the millions of
dollars and years of intensive technical
work that St. Augustine has invested in
the PFS have paid off and confirmed
that this flagship mining project has the

potential to generate great value and

thousands of jobs for the Philippines,"
said Nadecor.
The Declaration of Mine Project
Feasibility (DMPF) was submitted to
the Philippine Government in May,
2012.
St. Augustine said the ore delivery
and processing rate of the project will
be a designed throughput of 100,000 tons
per day (tpd) split between 40,000 tpd to
an on-off heap leach and 60,000 tpd to a
flotation mill with agitated tails leach.
The mining rate will be approximately 178,000 tons per day for the
22-year mine plan. Production from
the heap leach process is expected to
start one year prior to commencing mill

operations.
It added that robust project economics are driven in large part by an initial
five-year higher grade operation with a
low strip ratio and tidewater proximity.
Average annual production during
the first five years of full production
(both heap leach and mill in operation)
is 270 million pounds of copper (122,487
MT), 360,143 ounces gold (11,202 kg) and
568,958 ounces silver (17,697 kg) with
an average gold equivalent total cost of
$454 per ounce.
The estimated initial capital cost
is $2.04 billion including the mine, the
mill, on-off leach pad, power plant, port
facility and $240 million in contingency
costs.

ADB to cooperate with AIIB in project financing

The US-backed Asian Development
Bank (ADB) will cooperate with a major
new Chinese-led multilateral lending
institution and they plan to co-finance
projects this year, the ADB's president
said Friday.
The Beijing-based Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) has been
viewed by some as a rival to the World
Bank and the Philippines-based ADB,
which was founded in 1966.
But ADB President Takehiko Nakao
said he did not believe the AIIB, which
will launch next week with starting
capital of $20 billion, will diminish his
institution and they were happy to work
together.
''We agreed we can cooperate,'' Nakao, told reporters in Manila, adding
he already had two meetings with AIIB
president-designate Jin Liqun since
last year to set parameters for the two
institutions' working relationship.
''(Jin's) ideas about operations are
different, but because of these different
ideas, we can complement each other
even more.''
Nakao said the two men agreed to
co-finance certain projects in the region
to address transport and renewable energy needs, and expected to announce
specific projects by about the middle
of the year.
China's official Xinhua News Agency
earlier reported the AIIB, which will
launch next week in Beijing, expected
to offer its first batch of project loans

Takehiko Nakao
by mid-2016.
Nakao would not say how much
money the ADB would put into AIIB
co-financing.
The United States and Japan
the world's largest and third-largest
economies, respectively have notably
declined to join the AIIB.
However many other major economies, including Germany, Britain, South
Korea, and Russia, have signed up.
The Philippine government has
declared its intention to join AIIB as a
shareholder.
''There are many reasons to do it

(join) because Asian developing nation

countries need money for financing
infrastructure needs,'' Nakao said.
Nakao estimated Asia would need
US$8 trillion to close its 2010-2020 infrastructure financing gap, a principal
thrust of past ADB lending.
''We welcome any support to us in
terms of financing infrastructure,'' he
said.
Nakao downplayed suggestions the
AIIB would erode the ADB's role in the
region.
Nakao said the ADB was helping the
AIIB ''prepare its safeguard processes

for environmental and social protection,

and also procurement systems.''
He declined to comment when
asked about fears China would use the
AIIB as a tool to advance its agenda in
the region.
Nakao also said Asia isn't facing
a currency war triggered by China.
He said the recent decline in the yuan
reflected the market and was not due
to "artificial intervention".
"They don't intervene, that's why
there's more depreciation," he told foreign correspondents in Manila.
Nakao also ruled out a significant
slowdown in China, saying the world's
second largest economy's strong fiscal
position and subdued inflation give it
room to stimulate growth.
A sustained depreciation in the yuan
puts pressure on other Asian countries
to weaken their currencies to stay competitive with China's export machine.
"If there is very rapid depreciation, it
might cause some volatility in the market and other countries might follow
the case and already some countries
have a depreciation of currencies. But
I don't think this is a currency war,"
Nakao said.
Nakao reaffirmed ADB's 6.9 percent
growth forecast for China in 2015, and
6.7 percent this year.
"There is a room for stimulus if
growth is coming down because fiscal
position is strong and the inflation is
subdued," he said. (AFP, Reuters)

PH remains brightest growth story in Asia HSBC

By CHINO S. LEYCO

The Philippines remains one of Asias

brightest growth stories this year despite
global economic weakness, UK-based
banking giant HSBC said.
In its latest report, HSBC said the
countrys economy is relatively less
vulnerable to the weak external factors,
pointing private consumption, government spending, and private investment
are shrugging off a drag from exports.
Amid optimism in the Philippines,
HSBC has slightly raised its gross domestic product (GDP) forecasts for the
country in 2015 and this year.
From a 5.5 percent forecast, HSBC
estimated that the economy grew 5.6

percent last year, while annual output

this year is projected to be at 5.7 percent,
a touch higher than an earlier 5.6 percent
projection.
However, the banks growth forecasts
are lower compared with governments
target of seven percent to eight percent
for 2015 and 2016.
The domestic economy is firing on
several cylinders, Joseph Incalcaterra,
HSBC economist said.
In 2016, HSBC said consumer spending, which accounts for over 70 percent
of nominal GDP, will be supported by
remittance inflows, which continue to
grow at robust levels in peso terms despite some recent volatility in headline
US dollar growth.

Moreover, HSBC said private consumption is buttressed by better employment opportunities, partly on the back
of government spending, particularly in
infrastructure.
We see infrastructure spending as
the bedrock of the Philippines growth
outlook over the next decade, Incalcaterra said.
Meanwhile, HSBC believes that weak
global demand will not severely affect the
local economy given the countrys less
reliance to exports, while the surge in imports in recent months indicates entry of
capital goods needed for infrastructure.
Meanwhile, the services sectors
particularly business processing and
outsourcing would provide sustain-

able foreign exchange earnings for the

Philippines.
For the government to reach its
seven percent to eight percent growth
target, infrastructure spending needs
to be sustained for longer, Incalcaterra
said.
Moreover, public-private partnership projects should be accelerated,
and the government needs to do more
to attract foreign direct investments,
he added.
In the first three-quarters last year,
the countrys economy grew 5.6 percent,
but the governments economic managers were optimistic that the nations annual output in 2015 expanded by at least
six percent.

World could face months of Chinese market aftershocks

By JOE McDONALD

BEIJING (AP) The latest trigger

was currency jitters, but Thursday's
plunge in Chinese stocks was just one
in a series of aftershocks from last
year's boom and bust that could shake
markets for months to come.
Investor anxiety over economic
weakness and a possible glut of unwanted shares flooding the market
have complicated Beijing's efforts
to withdraw emergency controls
imposed after Chinese stock prices
collapsed in June.
On Thursday, trading halted for
the day after a stock index fell 7 percent a half-hour into the trading day.
It was this week's second day-long
suspension after a plunge in prices

Monday tripped the same circuit breakers that were introduced Jan. 1.
Regulators suspended use of the
circuit breaker effective Friday after
economists warned it might be adding
to volatility. They said trading was halted
to often and the mechanism accelerated
declines by encouraging investors to
sell quickly before they were locked out.
According to IHS, the mechanism would
have been tripped 20 times if it had been
in place in the final quarter of 2015.
The benchmark Shanghai Composite
Index more than doubled between late
2014 and June, then dived 30 percent.
Supported by a multibillion-dollar government intervention, the market rose
almost 25 percent in the final months
of 2015, only to collapse in the new year.
That left the main index down 15 percent

from its December peak.

Wild price swings could continue
through the first half of this year, according to financial analysts. Even after the
latest declines, the Shanghai index is up
36 percent from October, 2014.
The turmoil in China triggered a selloff in Asian and Western stocks. Beijing
keeps its markets sealed off from global
capital flows, but due to the vast size of
China's economy, foreign investors watch
them closely and react to volatility.
The market still is trying to find a
bottom, and that takes time, said Chen
Yong, a strategist at Lianxun Securities.
The key is to be able to resume normal
daily trading, and during that time volatility is inevitable.
The upheaval disrupted the ruling
Communist Party's plans to use the stock

markets as a tool to make China's statedominated economy more competitive

and productive.
Economic growth fell to a six-year
low of 6.9 percent in the July-September
quarter and is forecast by the International Monetary Fund to decline further
to 6.3 percent this year. Monday's stock
price plunged was triggered by surveys
that showed manufacturing in December was weaker than expected.
The latest bout of selling was fueled
by concern Beijing is letting China's yuan
weaken too fast against the dollar.
The yuan, also known as the renminbi, has drifted down by 6 percent against
the US currency since the central bank
adopted a mechanism in August it said
would make the state-set exchange rate
more market-oriented.

The yuan's link to the dollar meant

it soared as the US currency climbed
over the past year, making it overvalued by 10 to 15 percent against those
of other developing countries. But the
prospect Beijing would close such a
large gap fueled fears it might lead
to an outflow of capital, weakening
China's economy and reducing the
supply of money to support share
prices.
Thursday's exchange rate of 6.5646
yuan to the dollar was the lowest since
March, 2011.
The government hopes to see
the yuan depreciate to stimulate exports and the economy, but the speed
of depreciation went too fast, said
analyst Zhang Gang of Central China
Securities.

Yellow Magenta Cyan

Black
ymv

Business News

B-2

Sunday, January 10, 2016

What to do with agriculture

in 2016 and beyond

WHY NOT?
DR. EMIL Q.
JAVIER

(Part 1)

There are those who look

at things the way they are,
and ask why... I dream
of things that never were,
and ask why not?
Robert Kennedy

he start of the year is always

an opportune time to pause,
to take stock where we are;
recall the things that have
turned out well; contemplate on the
others where we could have done
better, and resolve what to do moving
forward.
During the past year, a group of
well-meaning Filipinos, most of whom
are senior citizens and alumni of UP
Los Baos (UPLB) plus a few others
similarly motivated, got together and
organized ourselves into the Coalition
for Agriculture Modernization in the
Philippines (CAMP, for short). As the
name suggests, we are keenly aware
and very concerned with how the country is faring and recognize that many
of the ills that bother our nation have
to do with lack of progress in the rural
sector. We have to modernize agriculture to make it more productive, competitive, equitable and sustainable.
It is a matter of record that among
our neighbors in Southeast Asia we
are making the least progress in
making a better life for our people.
Poverty among Filipinos has persisted
at a painfully embarrassing rate of 26
percent notwithstanding the relatively
high economic growth we have been
enjoying lately under the Aquino administration. And most of the poverty
is found in the countryside, among
farmers and fisher folk.
Poverty has many roots but clearly
a big part of the problem can be traced
to the anemic growth of agriculture
which during the past decades averaged 23 percent, barely matching
population growth.
With our individual specializations,
having served in various capacities in
the public and private sectors, both in
our country and abroad, we are dismayed but not fazed by the proverbial
emptiness in the glass. As our inspiring
leader President Fidel V. Ramos keeps
on exhorting us: KAYA NATIN ITO!
What to do with agriculture in 2016
and beyond to get it moving forward?

Beyond generalities what specifically

do we want to see done by government
and those with stake in agriculture
to help farmers and fisher folk attain
a better standard of living for themselves, and ultimately for all of us, now
and in the future?
Our concerns in agriculture and
how to move it forward can be captured
under four major headings namely:
Reform of the bureaucracy of the
Department of Agriculture (DA),
Meaningful participation of stakeholders in the governance of agriculture,
Continuing investments in rural
institutions and infrastructure, and
Closure on a few important but
contentious issues.
I will try to elaborate on them in the
coming weeks.
Reform of the Bureaucracy of the
Department of Agriculture
Actually except for a few important but contentious policy issues for
which we need closure, the legislation, policies, institutions and public
appropriations to get agriculture
moving forward are largely in place.
As far as legislation and policies are
concerned, Congress had done its part
with the comprehensive Agriculture
and Fisheries Modernization Act of
1997 (AFMA) and the fairly detailed
Fisheries Code of 1998 (FC) both of
which were enacted at the end of the
FVR administration.
However, the enabling appropriations did not materialize until a decade
later (2008) near the tail of the GMA
administration when government finances received a healthy boost from
VAT. Since 2010 when President BS
Aquino took over, the general appropriations of the DA ballooned from the
historical P1820 billion level to close
to P90 billion.
By this time the lack of funds has
ceased to be an excuse. The immediate
challenge is re-empowering and honing the competence of the DA and its
agencies to imaginatively and systematically plan, program and execute.
The most glaring but largely overlooked shortcoming is the institutional
capacity of DA to provide central leadership, direction, implementation,
coordination, monitoring and evaluationto the totality of efforts in the
sector. Structural changes post EDSA
have weakened instead of strengthened the organizational capacity of
DA to deliver. The staff ranks of DA
and its agencies have been decimated
by the protracted rationalization plan
which took the better of ten years to
implement. In the meantime, human

resources planning and development

were on hold. With an uncertain future ahead, the better qualified staff
sought greener pastures elsewhere
and DA had difficulty recruiting new
graduates.
The rationalization plan had for
one of its real objectives the reduction of staff. That objective has been
overtaken by the massive infusion of
resources into DA and its agencies.
The staffing requirements of the present DA with operating funds of P90 billion are obviously much more than the
old DA with a previously programmed
budget of P20 billion.
At the highest level of organization,
the spin-off of four major agencies
from DA to the Office of the Presidential Assistant on Food Security and
Modernization was a temporary expedient which should be undone. The
crops, poultry and livestock subsectors
should be re-unified and consolidated
under the DA.
However, it is time to devote dedicated leadership and additional resources to the fisheries and aquatic
resources sector. Fisheries had always
been a poor cousin in the dispensation
of DA. With robust scientific stock
assessment, enforcement of marine
protected areas and closed fishing
seasons, our vast fisheries resources
can assure us of sustainable catch
well into the future. The aquaculture
subsector which includes bangus,
tilapia, prawns, crabs, mollusks, other
valuable finfishes and seaweeds have
tremendous upside potential because
of our very long coastline and inland
waters.
We support the creation of a separate Department of Fisheries and
Aquatic Resources (DFAR).
One of the glaring organizational
lapses in the DA structure is the absence of an apex agency to provide
central oversight, direction and coordination of agricultural extension.
The Local Government Code of 1991
(RA 7160) devolved the provision of
direct extension services to farmers
and fisher folk to the local government units (LGUs). DA erroneously
interpreted the devolution, gave up its
strategic coordinating role and limited
itself to training of extension technicians under the Agricultural Training
Institute (ATI).
The extension direction setting
and coordination function should be
restored to ATI. Ironically this means
resurrecting the old Bureau of Agricultural Extension (BAEx).
In fairness to DA, the Department
has two organizational successes

to brag about the Philippine Rice Research Institute

(PhilRice) and the Philippine
Carabao Center (PCC). These
two are among the best-led,
most adequately equipped and
funded R&D organizations in
the country today.
To the credit of DA Secretaries, present and past, they
largely insulated PhilRice and PCC
from undue political interference and
encouraged merit and professionalism
to pervade in the two units.
The existing bureaus of plant
industry, animal industry and soils
and water management (BPUI, BAI
amd BSWM) have dedicated, hardworking scientists and professionals
in their ranks. They should be given
the opportunity to prove themselves.
The Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI),
Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) and
the Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM) should be reconfigured
from regular bureaus into research
and development (R&D), sciencebased agencies like PhilRice and PCC,
and treated accordingly.
Similarly, the supporting innovation
and technology dissemination functions for coconut, sugar and tobacco
have languished under the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), Sugar
Regulatory Administration (SRA) and
the National Tobacco Administration
(NTA). R&D which ought to be the
major deliverables of these parastatal
agencies are largely ignored and very
much in the backburner.
The R&D budget of PCA is only five
percent of its total appropriations. The
bulk of R&D for sugar is performed not
by SRA but by the Philippine Sugar Research Institute, Inc. (PHILSURIN), a
private industry initiative. We do not
hear much about tobacco research.
We used to have outstanding scientific research institutions for these
crops Philippine Coconut Research
Institute (PHILCORIN) for coconut;
PHILSURIN for sugar, and the Philip-

pine Tobacco Research and Training

Center (PTRTC) until they were
folded into the larger industry regulatory agencies.
The formula has not worked. We
urge that we decouple R&D from regulation and finance and reconstitute the
technology innovation and dissemination function into semi-autonomous
commodity R&D institutes under the
DA alongside PhilRice and PCC.
And finally, DA should launch a
massive staff recruitment and training program with masteral, doctorate
and continuing education nondegree programs. The UP System
with its Diliman, Los Baos, Visayas
and Mindanao campuses; the key
regional state colleges and universities (SCUs) like the Marcos Mariano
State University (MMSU), Benguet
State University (BSU), Isabela State
University (ISU), Central Luzon State
University (CLSU), Visayas State
University (VSU), Central Mindanao
University (CMU), University of Southern Mindanao (USM), Mindanao State
University (MSU) and University of
Southeastern Philippines (USEP) are
ready to receive them.
To be continued . . . Meaningful
participation of stakeholders in the
governance of agriculture (Part 2)
***
Dr. Emil Q. Javier is a Member of
the National Academy of Science and
Technology (NAST) and also Chair of
the Coalition for Agriculture Modernization in the Philippines (CAMP).
For any feedback , email eqjavier@
yahoo.com.

ABS-CBN, GMA Network

dispute leadership in 2015
By JAMES A. LOYOLA

Rival media giants ABS- CBN

Corporation and GMA Network are
both claiming the nationwide lead in
audience share for the whole of 2015
based on data from their respective
ratings service providers.
ABS-CBN ended 2015 on a high
note after the network ruled nationwide ratings from January to December last year (excluding Holy Week)
with an average national audience
share of 43 percent versus GMA 7s
36 percent, said ABS-CBN citing data
from Kantar Media.
For its part, GMA said it cemented
its status as the countrys leading
broadcast company last year, according to Nielsen TV Audience
Measurements full year 2015 NUTAM
(National Urban Television Audience
Measurement) household shares
(with the dates of December 27 to 31
based on overnight data).
It showed that GMA was ahead of
other networks in total day ratings
with 35.4 percent, higher than ABSCBNs 34.9 percent and TV5s 9.2 percent. GMA said it overtook its closest
rival in NUTAM in September, 2015,
and has since sustained nationwide
ratings leadership.
Aside from contesting the nationwide ratings lead, both networks also
continued to dominate in their respective bailiwicks.
ABS-CBN said it kept a stronghold of the primetime block whole
year round as it scored an average
national audience share of 50 percent
compared to GMAs 31 percent.
This means half of the Filipino
viewing population in combined urban
and rural homes tuned in to the topcaliber programs offered by ABS-CBN
on primetime.
The primetime block is the most
important part of the day when most
Filipinos watch TV and advertisers
put a larger chunk of their investment in to reach more consumers
effectively.
Meanwhile, GMA said it remained
the undisputed number one TV network in viewer-rich Urban Luzon and
Mega Manila, and reigned supreme
across all dayparts, including primetime.

Urban Luzon accounts for 77

percent of all urban TV households
in the country, while Mega Manila
represents 59 percent.
Urban Luzon continued to be a
strong area for GMA as it registered
39.7 percent, surpassing ABSCBNs 30.6 percent by 9.1 points and
TV5s 8.2 percent by 31.5 points.
GMA also further secured its
dominant position in Mega Manila
with 41.7 percent, up 14.7 points
from ABS-CBNs 27 percent and up
33.2 points from TV5s 8.5 percent.
ABS-CBN said it fared better
than its competition in other territories such as Balance Luzon (areas
in Luzon outside Mega Manila),
where it scored a national average
audience share of 45 percent versus
GMAs 36 percent; in Visayas with
55 percent versus rivals 27 percent;
and in Mindanao with 54 percent
versus GMAs 28 percent.
For December, 2015, GMA posted a stronger total day lead with
38.9 percent in NUTAM, outscoring ABS-CBNs 33.6 percent by 5.3
points, and TV5s 7.8 percent by
31.1 points.
Moreover, more viewers across
the country tuned in to GMA during
the Christmas holiday break (covering December 24 to 31) as revealed
by its 38.4 percent audience share,
higher than ABS-CBNs 32.5 percent by 5.9 points. In particular,
GMAs countdown to 2016 was the
most viewed New Year countdown
by urban viewers.
The Nielsen sample of TV
households is robust and representative of the TV viewing audience,
says Nielsen Philippines Managing
Director Stuart Jamieson on the accuracy of its TAM or TV Audience
Measurement service.
He added that its household
panel selection is anchored on an
Establishment Survey whose sampling design captures the geographic complexities of the Philippines
and ensures fair representation of
Mega Manila, cities outside Mega
Manila and other provincial areas.
Rigid data quality controls put in
place further provide assurance of
a superior and reliable TV audience
measurement service.

Yellow Magenta Cyan

Black
ymv

L
R

Yellow Magenta Cyan

Black
ymv

A HISTORICAL LANDMARK BUILT IN 1912

A

PLACE

LIKE

NO

OTHER

IN

THE

WORLD

OVERLOOKING RIZ AL NATIONAL PARK AND MANIL A BAY

BESIDE INTRAMUROS GOLF COURSE, OPEN DAY AND NIGHT TO ALL GOLFERS,
BEHIND SOUTH HARBOR, INTERNATIONAL PASSENGER AND CARGO TERMINALS.

One Rizal Park, Manila, Philippines

Tel.: (632) 527-0011 Connecting all departments
Fax: (632) 527-0022 to 24

Where to stay in

etro
anila

at the following hotel subscribers of the Manila Bulletin:

Manila Hotel

527-0011

Acacia Hotel Manila

Alabang, Muntinlupa

Century Park Hotel

Crowne Plaza
Manila Galleria
Ortigas Center

633-7222

Edsa Shangri-La

633-8888

Mandarin Oriental
Manila
Makati
Shangri-La

Marriott
Hotel Manila

New World Makati Hotel

Makati City
Oakwood Premier
Joy Nostalg Center
Manila Ortigas Center

633-7111
750-8888

811- 6888
811- 6777

771-7777

Abra Valley

Abra Valley Grand Hotel

Bangued Abra

Grand Hotel

Acacia Tree Garden Hotel

Puerto Princesa, Palawan

Avenue Plaza Hotel

Magsaysay Avenue, Naga City

Bayfront Hotel
Zambales

Canyon Cove Residential

Beach Resort
Nasugbu, Batangas
Baguio Holiday Villas
Baguio City
C Boutique Hotel Baguio
Baguio City
Camayan Beach Resort & Hotel
Subic Bay
Canyon Woods Resort Club
Batangas

CBD Plaza Hotel

Naga City
Casablanca Hotel
Legaspi City
Casablanca Suites
Legazpi City
Crystal Waves
Hotel and Resort
Talavera, Nueva Ecija
Deep Forest Garden Hotel
Puerto Princesa City, Palawan

(052) 480-8334 to 35

Badian Island Beach Resort

Badian, Cebu

ALBA UNO HOTEL

Apas, Cebu City
Alta Cebu Village Resort
Cordova, Cebu

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Pearanda St.,Legazpi City 4500 Philippines Tel No.(052)480-8334 to 35 Fax No.(052)480-8338 e-mail: info@casablancahotel.ph / http://www.casablancahotel.ph

Ananyana Beach
Resort
Panglao Island

Be Resorts
Mactan Island

Bellavista Hotel
Mactan, Cebu
Bohol Beach Club
Bohol

Bohol La Roca Hotel

Tagbilaran City

Bohol Tropics Resort

Tagbilaran City
Bethel Guest House
Dumaguete City
C & L Bay View Inn
G. Teves Street,
Dumaguete City

Castle Peak Hotel

Cebu City
Citi Park Hotel
Cebu City
City Corporate Inn
Iloilo City
Coco Grove Beach Resort
San Juan, Siquijor

Dumaluan Beach Resort

Panglao Island
The Marco Polo-Davao
Davao City
Apo View Hotel
Davao City
1st Avenue Apartel / Inn
Sumpong, Malaybalay

2nd Avenue Hotel

Quirante Ii, Tagum City

Almont Hotel's
Inland Resort
Butuan City
ALU Hotel Davao
corner Padre Faura
Street, Davao City
Amandari Cove
General Santos City
Arnaldo's
Hotel and Restaurant
Digos City
Anisabel Suites
Davao City
Ariano's Inn
And Restaurant
Butuan City
Azienda Meo
Apartelle
Davao City
Bahay-Bakasyunan
Sa Camiguin
Misamis Oriental
Balanghai Hotel / Mazaua Island Resort
Butuan City

ALM NT

BELDENT STAR HOTEL

Beldent Star Hotel

Tacurong City
Big Apple Hotel
Davao City
Bluejaz Beach Resort
and Water Park
Island Garden City Of
Samal, Davao

Blue Velvet
Hotel and Caf
BlueVelvet Hotel and Caf
Davao City
Bonhomie Leisure and Resort
Davao Oriental

PENSION HOUSE

Cabua-An Beach Resort

Mambajao, Camiguin
Camp Anatolia
Kimagango, Midsayap
North Cotabato
Casa De Rosario
Residence Inn
Davao City
Casa Ruby
Pension House
Davao City

Azucena
Casa

Casa Azucena

Cagayan De Oro City

Chali Beach Resort

Zone -3, Cugman,
Cagayan De Oro
Chateau Del Mar
Resort Hotel

Lizada Beach, Davao City

City View Pension Hauz

General Santos City
Cotabato Diamond Hotel
Cotabato City
Country Village Hotel
Cagayan De Oro City

Great Eastern
Hotel-Makati

(632)
318-0788

Vivere Hotel & Resorts

Alabang, Muntinlupa City

Hotel Stotsenberg
Pampanga
Macagang Hotel & Resort
Nabua, Camarines Sur
Venus Parkview
Resort Hotel Baguio City

Garden
Plaza Hotel

637-7888

551-5555

Discovery
Suites
Great Eastern
Hotel

Fersal Hotel
Malakas, Diliman

Greenhills lan
Hotel Modern
Makati Palace
Hotel

771-8181
854-8888

Hotel
Rembrandt
Hotel Kimberly
Manila
Lancaster Hotels
Lido De Paris Hotel
Sta. Cruz
Lotus Garden
Hotel

526-1555
719-8888
371-8282

Fontana Hot Spring

Leisure Parks
Pampanga

(045)
499-0777
(054)
288-3091

EGI Albergo Hotel

Baguio City

(074)
442-5597
442-6452

El Masfino
Resort and Hotel
San Rafael Bulacan
Elegant Star Apartelle
Tagaytay City

(074)
752-8933

(048)
433-0123
(054)
473-9999
(047)
252-1948

Eurotel
Baguio City

Eurotel
Naga City
Camsur
Farmhouse Hotel & Cafe
San Jose City, Nueva Ecija

Naga City

(02)
908-1111

(02) 750-2507
889-7827
(074)442-6679
(074)
619-0158
(02) 945-7777

Filipiniana Hotel
Or. Mindoro
Go Hotels
Puerto Princesa

(047)
252-8000

Grandview Tower Hotel

Angeles City

(632)
521-7878
Fax: 664-6169

Hotel Fleuris Palawan

Puerto Princesa City

Hotel Gregorio
Batangas

(054) 472-0318
(02) 359-7007

Hotel
Gregorio
Batangas

(052)
480-8334
480-8335

Hotel Kimberly
Tagaytay
Hotel La Corona
De Lipa Batangas

(044)
411-0834
09237194074
09204599148
(048) 434-1702
433-3877
09052823129

Hotel Lorita Tuguegarao

(032)
401-3303
to 05

F & C GUEST HOUSE

Canlaon City

(032)
520-5000
505-2111
0917 3205 005

Go Hotels Bacolod

(032)
496-7399
(038)
502-8101

Go Hotels Dumaguete
Go Hotels Iloilo

(6332)
236-8888

Go Hotels Tacloban

(032)
340-7821
(038)
411-5222

Goldberry Suites & Hotel

Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu

Grand Dame Hotel

Iloilo City

(038)
411-3798
411-3179

Grand Regal Hotel

Bacolod City

(038)
411-3510

GT Hotel - Bacolod City

Harbor Town Hotel

Iloilo City

(035)
422-8000
225-2000
422 8011
09176339575

Honeycomb Tourist Inn

Dumaguete City

Hotel Cesario
Mactan, Cebu

(032)
233-1811
(033)
335-0166

09173251292
09399155123
(035)422-9820

Hotel De Mercedes
Cebu City

Hotel Del Rio

Iloilo City

TelNo.:(033)335.1171to74FaxNo.:(033)337.0736

Hotel Essencia
Dumaguete City

(038)
502-9092

Iloilo Grand Hotel

Iloilo City

(082)
221-0888

Cresta Del Rio Splash Resort

Koronadal City

(082)
221-6431to 40
221-2281
(088)
221-3224
09177229850

D'Counter Executive
Davao City
D'leonor Hotel
J. P Laurel
Avenue, Davao City
D'leonor Inland Resort
Buhangin,
Davao City

655-6238

(085)
342-7414

(63 82)
227-5232
226-3756

(083)
554-2654
826-1074
826-1070
(082)
553-3314
553-3411
0999 993 9060

(+6382)
225-8114
(085)
342-7462
225-9431
(082)
284-6689
227-4119
(088)
387-0131
09177212798
(085)
342-3064
345-5864
(064)
200-3698
200-4734
(082) 234-1399
234-1339 Fax:
(082) 234-8459
09199101281
(082)
304-650
Fa x ( 0 8 2 )
300-6327
(082)
300-2000
300-8800
305-2888
09331123067
(082)
284-1847

(088)
387 2103
09197257402
09399168034
09129496400

(043)
757-3178

Hotel Ivory
Tuguegarao City

481-0788
481-0789

(032)
422-8833
422-3388

Eurotel
Angeles City

Angeles City

Dmorvie Suites
Yacapin Branch Cagayan De Oro City
Dmorvie Suites
Capistrano Branch Cagayan De Oro City

Dmorvie Suites
Lapasan Branch Cagayan De Oro City

Dmorvie Suites
C.M. Recto Davao City
Dmorvie Suites
San Pedro Extension, Davao City
Dmorvie Suites Iligan Branch
Iligan City

Davao Fortune Inn

Davao City
Duka Bay Resort
Misamis Oriental
Duka Bay Resort

Medina, Misamis Oriental

(088) 857-5488
09198239094

Driggs Pension House

General Santos City
Eagle's View Hotel
Dalisay Road, Tagum City

Gingoog Mountain Air Hotel & Eastland Restaurant

Gingoog City
(088) 861-1359
8842-7999

Eagles View Hotel

ct
ma Vi orias In
n
Em

El Bajada Hotel
Bajada, Davao City
Embassy
Hotel and Restaurant
Butuan City

Emma Victoria's Inn

Davao City
Enricos Inn and Apartelles
Davao City

Executive Hotel
Ozamis City
Executive Pension
Cagayan de Oro City

(082)
Family Country Hotel
295-9155
Convention Centre
282-4822
FCH
General Santos City
282-4771
(082)
Florotel Gensan
Duka Bay Resort
226-2335
Medina, Misamis Oriental
General Santos City
(088) 857-5488
09189425442
09198239094
(088)
Frances Inn
856-3402
Ecoland, Davao City
09236593973
(088)
Gingoog Mountain Air Hotel
855-2108
& Eastland Restaurant
855-5941
Gingoog City
to 42
(082)
Goat 2 Geder
Hotel & Eastland Restaurant
234-3472 Gingoog Mountain Air
Hotel and Restaurant
Gingoog City
305-8998
(088) 861-1359
Butuan City
8842-7999
235-2516
(083) 552-7337
Grand Men Seng
301-6096
Hotel
303-1588
Davao City
0923 2327 120
GOAT 2

(064)
421 6170
421 5118

858-3004
858-3006

GEDER

Greenstate Suites
Koronadal City
Hannie's Inn
Davao City

The Oasis Paco Park

Royal Bellagio
Hotel
Sir William`s
Hotel
Stone House
Bed & Breakfast

638-7777

526-8088

Copacabana
Apartment Hotel

Best Western Oxford Suites

Makati City

400-0088

Aloha Hotel

813-8888

Manila Manor
Hotel

+632
588-6688
354-4151

526-1212

Citystate
Tower Hotel

988-9999

(02)
312-9999

Manila Pavilion
Hotel

B Hotel
Muntinlupa City
City Garden
Hotel Makati
City Garden Suites

(632)
928-9888
908-7888

Pan Pacific Manila

The Bellevue
Manila
The Heritage
Hotel Manila
Sofitel
Philippine Plaza
Bayview
Park Hotel

The Pearl
Manila Hotel
The Richmonde
Hotel

528-8888

238-8888

Holiday Inn
Manila Galleria
Ortigas Center

Ramada
Manila Central
Binondo

720-2000

Dusit Thani
Manila

F1 Hotel
Global City Taguig

The Exchange Regency

Residence Hotel
Pasig City

Timog, Q.C.

828-8181
828-8585
828-8383

The Sul Riviera

The Copa
Businessmans Hotel
Tri-place
Hotel & Apartelle
24h Apartment
Hotel, Makati City

899-1111
536-1451

708-9600
to 09

Armada
Hotel Manila
Malate, Manila

851-8888

Azotea Suites
Bel Air Makati

426-7308

Best Western Plus

Antel Hotel
Makati City
Brentwoods Suites
Quezon City

522-4835
898-2888

Broadway Court
Apartelle

744-7979

Cocoon Boutique Hotel

Quezon City
Eastwood
Richmonde Hotel
Quezon City
Eurotel
Las Pias
Branch
Eurotel
Araneta
Branch
Eurotel
North EDSA

899-0344
373-3333
521-1888
532-1818
(02) 708-8888
to 91
498-8888 to 91

L uzon

Eurotel
Pedro Gil

522-1515

Hotel Luna
Vigan City, Ilocos Sur

(02)
576-6463/9526
(045) 599-5000

Hotel Supreme
Baguio

(074)
424-2620

(02) 5 4 2 - 9 5 3 7
542-9150
924-2443
924-2456
(046)
483-0491
0916 2209934
0928 6844186

Hotel Veniz - Baguio City

Inn Rocio - Baguio City

355 - 0000
(045)
624 - 0229
355-0000
(074)
444-3876

Java Hotel - Laoag City

Kartini Hotel - Kawit, Cavite
La Maja Rica Hotel & Restaurant
Ligtasan, Tarlac City

355-0000

(044)
806-1167
09175367250

Laoag Renzo Hotel

Laoag City

(043)
286-2624
(048)
4340001-03

Lee Boutique Hotel

Tagaytay
Le Monet Hotel
Baguio City
Lendes Tourist Inn - Naga
Almeda Highway, Naga City

(045)
304-1015
892-8555
(048)
434-4338
434-4339

Lendes Tourist Inn - Banasi

Bula, Camarines Sur
Lendes Tourist Inn - Baao
Baao, Camarines Sur
Lendes Tourist Inn - Pili
Pili, Camarines Sur

(043)
757-3178
(078)
844-1275
846-1722

(046)
483-8888
(043)
756-1223

Magallanes Square Hotel

Sta. Rita Road Tagaytay

Moonbay Marina
Villas Zambales

MAGALLANESSQUAREHOTEL,INC.
MagallanesSquareComplex
MagallanesDrive,TagaytayCity
Tel.No:0465440062
FaxNo:0464133918
EmailAdd:magallanessquarehotel@yahoo.com
SunNo:09228043129/09228043125
GlobeNo:09175047820

(078)
844-1390
846-2565

Mountain Lodge
Hotel & Restaurant Baguio City

(035) 4003 368

09175597919
09999953440

Injap Tower Hotel Iloilo

Iloilo City

(035)
522-1100
or 02

Kapis Mansions
Roxas City
Kings Hotel
Bacolod City

(033)
335-0375
335-0249
335-0486

(053)
5230391-93

Lawaan Garden Inn

Roxas City, Capiz

Mango Park Hotel

Cebu City

+63 32
239-0000
+63 32
239-0619

(033)
320-5252
320-5353
(034)
708-5888
432-0888
(034)
432-1888
to 89

Manhattan Suites Inn

Dumaguete City
Maribago BlueWater
Beach Resort
Mactan, Cebu

Montebello Villa Hotel

Banilad, Cebu City

(033)
337-2384

Movenpick Hotel
Mactan Island , Cebu
MVW
Restaurant & Tourist Inn
Roxas, Capiz
Rm Guest House
Dumaguete City

(035)
225-1181
422-3184
09228393435

(032)
340-0211
(032)
253-1105

(033)335-1171
to 74
337-0736
(035)
422 1137
09177007735
09088202123

O Hotel
Bacolod City

Pension Bacolod
Bacolod City
Plantation Bay
Mactan, Cebu

M indanao

(033)
335-1801
to 04
(083)
228 8998
228 7160
(082)
226-2045
221-8651

Radisson Blu
Hotel & Resort
Cebu City

Hill Park Inn

and Restaurant
Midsayap, Cotabato

Hillsview Inn & Inland Resort

Trento, Agus and Del Sur

Hotel Angelo
and Restaurant
Midsayap, Cotabato

(082)
221-1160
(082)
302-6158
302-6152

(088)
856-9080
(082)
852-2015
(082)
856-7197

Hotel De Crisbelle
Davao Del Sur
Hotel De Susana & Restaurant
Valencia City, Bukidnon

Hotel Elena
Davao City
Hotel Esse
Davao City

(082)
221-0075
09425918521

Hotel San Marco

General Santos City
Hotel Sogo
Cagayan De Oro City

(082)
285-3756
(063)
223-3255

(081)
221-0819

(088)
331-2288
0917-483268
(083)
553-0088
09179089731
(084) 655-6115
0929-979-4919
Fax: (084)
655 6114

(082) 221 2729

+63 927 9795179
+63 920 2473002
+63 923 8063887

(085)
342-5883
225-9560

(082)
297-5523

(082)
297-7692
321-1042
09189003792

(088)
521-0360
09177220360
(088)
856-4360
09177004360
(083)
552-8895
to 97
301-0774

(083)
554-0880
(082)
295-6463
301-8549
(088)
861-1359
8842-7999
(085)
341-7871
341-1657

(082)
221-9040
(083)
228-5409
520-1816

(082)
297-3315 to17
297-3485

Hotel Uno
Davao City
H

TAVERN

Eurotel
Makati

Fersal Hotel
Annapolis, Cubao

521-2371

Fersal Hotel
Kalayaan, Diliman

899-5555

Fersal Hotel
Manila

371-4333

Fersal Hotel
P. Tuazon Cubao

Fersal Hotel
Makati
Go Hotels
Mandaluyong

724-7551

924-5051

844-8811

Go Hotel Otis-Manila

(632)
410-4111
410-8658
410-6981

Holiday Inn & Suites Makati

Ayala Center, Makati City

(02)
899-2424

Hostel 1632

355-0000
844-8645

+63(2)812-7477

912-5852
912-2691

Oyster Plaza Hotel

Paraaque City

Paragon Tower
Hotel Manila

924-2689
912-2691
742-7292
912-2691

Raffles and Fairmont

Makati
Makati City

Riviera Mansion
Malate, Manila

912-8000
912-2691
897-9123
912-2691

Robbinsdale Hotel

0922-4646835

San Carlos Mansion

+63 (2)
354-1053

Seda BGC Bonifacio Global City,

Taguig City

Sogo Regency
Hotel, Manila

(632)
909-0888

Southhomes Apartelle
Timog-Q.C.

522-8888

St Giles Hotel
Makati City

(02)
829-1925
826-9610
526-5541
to
526-5547

555-9888

523-4511

716-1262
523-8110
(632)
945-8888

522-7646
928-4647
410-4461
988-9888
988-9883

238-6100

The Bayleaf
Intramuros, Manila

(632)
318-5000

(63 2) 403-0888
403-0808
Fax No. 403-0854
403-7572

Hotel Celeste
Makati City
Hotel H20
Luneta, Manila
Icon Hotel
North Edsa

415-9385

The Contemporary
Hotel

716-8266

927-8888

Jade Vine Executive Inn

Ermita Manila

524-8601
to 05

526 0888
338-0983
898-3695

Apartelle
San Juan City

722-7411
726-2931
(02)
921-2706
to 08

Apartelle
Mandaluyong City

Luxent Hotel

(02)
570-7777

Timog Ave., Q.C.

355-0000
806-7646
355-0000
995-8452
355-0000
376-7096
355-0000
523-5256

Manila Airport Hotel

Paraaque City
Millenia Suites
Pasig City
The Orange Place
San Juan City
The Orange Place
Quezon City

+63 2
373-3333
376-5059

Matabungkay
Beach Hotel Batangas

(074)
443-2016

Nagaland Hotel
Naga City, Camarines Sur

(074)
446-0700

Palawan Uno Hotel

Puerto Princesa, Palawan

887-8080
Be central

531-0173
to
531-0177

Tune Hotel
Aseana City

(02)
922-8888

Tune Hotel
Ermita

(632)
708-9888

Tune Hotel
Makati City

(632)
817-0888

Tune Hotel
Ortigas City

(632)
656-0888

Tune Hotel
Quezon City

(632)
426-0567

Y2 Residence Hotel

(02)
224-3000

854-7549
to 50

(02)
7528552
09088870596

(077)
770-4898
(632)
781-3632

Radiant Star Apartelle

Tagaytay City

(046) 413-2456
544-0050
0926 6977948
09174091514

(054)
228-0018
(054)
066-3239

(054)
477-7644
228-0008

(046)
544-0062

(047) 252-9718
252-1663
250-2099
252-8518

(074)
442-4544

Subic Bay Peninsular Hotel

Subic

Subic Bay Yacht Club

Zambales

THEEXQUISITEHOTELANDBUSINESSMANAGEMENTGROUPCORP.
Bldg.675CanalRoad,SubicBayFreeportZone,2222Philippines

TelephoneNumber:(047)2521888or09178363942Facsimile:(047)2528404Email:customer_service@subicbayveneziahotel.com

Sunlight Guest Hotel, Inc.

Puerto Princesa City,
Palawan

Summer Place Hotel

Baguio City

(054)
473-2111
09177000040
(048)
433-9999
433-0455

Paseo Premiere Hotel

Santa Rosa Laguna
Princesa Garden Island
Resort and Spa
Puerto Princesa Palawan
Queen Margarette Hotel
Lucena City
RK Hotel
Subic Bay Gateway Park

Star Plaza Hotel

Dagupan City
Starview Hotel
Naga City
Subic Bay Hotel Venezia
Zambales
Subic International
Hotel Zambales

Torre Venezia Suites

Quezon City

(632)
4702306-08
Fax: 4702314
(632)
726-6712
726-6713
(632)
926-8985
421-1398

(049)
502-8123 to 27
(02)3105603
to 04
(048)723-1356 to 59
09989753768
(02)744-7979 to 82
0917-8739974

(074) 611-0202
(02)376-5059
09175267049
(054) 472-257
4228-065 7
09258020706

828-4774
(02)
332-1658
to 60
(632)
866-0888

726-2911
726-2916

(02)372-0311
(074)
442-4028
(077)
770-5996
(02)246-1010
(046)
489-8581
489-8582
(045)
611-2053 to
611-2055

SKYLIGHT HOTEL
Puerto Princesa
Palawan
Skyrise Hotel
Apartelle & Restaurant
Baguio City

The Picasso Boutique

Serviced Residences
Makati City

Taal Vista Hotel

Tagaytay City

Tam-awan Village
Baguio City
Terrace Hotel
Subic Bay

(042)
373-7171 to 73
373-4889
Fax: 373-7604
373-6218

The ADC Hotel

Naga City

The Lake Hotel

Tagaytay

(047)
252-9996 to
252-9998

The Lighthouse Marina Resort

Moonbay Marina Complex

(048)
434-7172
to 76
(074)
445-6834 to
445-6836

The Montevista Villas, Academy Lane,

Mimosa Leisure Estate
Pampanga, Philippines

The Starmark Hotel

Peafrancia Ave., Naga City

(075)
523-4888
515-2276
523-4111

Tune Hotel
Angeles City

Villa Caceres Hotel

Naga City

(054)
472-6892
(047)
252-1888
(047)
252-2222
(047)
250-2630
250-7274

Vista Marina
Hotel & Resort
Zambales

(6348) 434-2334

Fax (6348) 434-2003

(632) 242-6638
loc. 175
(02)783-8355
788-8350
(074)
446-5400 to 01
(632) 917-8225
(6346) 413-1000
(63)9178091254

(074)
446-2949
442-5551

(047)
250-2730
to 32

(054)
472-2328 or 26
09052019225
09493617784
(02)584-4470
(046)
413-4680 to 81

(047)
252-5000
(6345)
599-7000
(632) 584-4047
584-4007

(054)
205-0051
(045)
459-0888

(054)
473-6530

(047)
252-3373

(02) 844-5777
(047) 252-5211

Subic Grand Seas Resort

Olongapo

(047)
222-8541
09178447327

Rajah Park Hotel

Cebu City

(032)
412-3337

isayas

Iloilo Midtown Hotel

Iloilo City

+63(34)
441-0506
+63(932)
852-9362

525-9065
899-7888
798-0798

Hotel Tavern
Surigao City

Ice Castle
Experience Hotel
General Santos City
Infinity Suites
Bo. Obrero, Davao City
Innside Room Hotel
Tagum City,
Davao Del Norte
Isla Jardin Del Mar
Gumasa,
Sarangani Province
Iyle Londoners Inn
Province of Davao Oriental
Jade Dragon's Suites
Aurora Jacinto Street,
Davao City
Jovinaj
Traveler's Inn
General Santos City
Jazzy James Country Hotel
Davao City
Jienos Garden Beach Resort
Pantukan, Compostela
Valley
Magnaga Waters
Beach Resort
Compostela Valley
Mallberry Suites
Business Hotel
Cagayan de Oro

Marco Hotel
Cagayan De Oro City
Mergrande Ocean Resort
Davao City
Microtel Inn and
Suites Davao
Davao City

Molave Hotel
Tagum City
My Hotel
Davao City
Maxze Bed & Breakfast
Davao City

(033)
336-6888
(0928)
985-0999

Salamangka Beach and Dive Resort

San Juan, Siquijor

(033)
330-7100

(036)
621-7718
(034)
434-4500

The Bellevue Resort

Panglao Island, Bohol
The Orchard Cebu
Hotel, Cebu City

(036)
621-6255
0917-3121-720
0998-9753-612

Tune Hotel - Cebu City

(032)
233-5695

Yoyongs Travellers Inn

Negros Occidental

(035)
422-8200
(032)
231-3681

(082)
224-1390
224-1391
(083)
303-5314

0923717 0389

(082)
227-0788
305-1847

(0929)
969-0806
(084)2166379
(0917)7191956
(0923)2802018

(088)
855-7999

855-5959
09177027002
(+63-82)
298-4100
(+63-82)
298-4101

(082)
233-2333
(084)
655-6938
655-6939
655-9379

(082)
300-4040
222-2021
(082)
233 0071
09998863306

Boracay
Beach Club

BoracayRegencyBeach
Boracay
Island

(036)2886111/2886777

Boracay Haven Resort

Boracay Island

BoracayHills Hills
Boracay
(036)2883315
Boracay
(036)2883764
Island

Boracay Mandarin
Island Hotel
RedCoconut

Malay,
Aklan
BeachResort
TheBoracayBeachResort

Sitio Bolabog, Boracay Island

Boracay Tropics
Boracay Island
WillysBeachClubHotel
Villas
Cohiba

Boracay Island

(036)2883208
(036)2884288

(036)2883794to97

http://www.cohibavillas.com
sales@cohibaboracay.com
cohiba.villas-boracay
skype:
Tel. Fax: +63 36 288 4792
Mobile No.:+63 9177230649

RegencyLagoonResort
(036)2882828

New Dawn
Pensionne

Cagayan De Oro City

Le Grand Suites
City Heights, General
Santos City

Le Reve Resort
North Cotabato
Marex Beach Resort
Island Garden City Of Samal

(082)
553-5473
553-5970

(087)
388-4615

09267921478
(088)
828 4482

09156189085

(036) 288-3507
Boracay(036)
Ocean
288-3758 Bay Resort
Boracay Island

(064) 229-9436
521-4090
09461911409
09205555049

(083)
893 0032
09197687544
09067652174

BeachHotel

0999 880 4526

0948 788 4255

(084)
216 4553
09228625339

Red Coconut

(064)
229 8550
229 6018
0917721 2813

(082)
285-0001
285-0002
285-0005

(032)
402-9900

(083)
554-4423
826-9026

(63)32
505-9800

(086)
826-3280
(0922)
849-6443

7 Stones Boracay Suites

Malay Aklan
Vista de Boracay
Alta

BoracayGardenResort

(036)2886633
Boracay
Island
ResortandConventionCenter

433-3377
(034)
434-7065

(083)
301-1818
09228217332
(088 )
852-0383
(02) 401-9285
(082)
282-1111
09255111011

(036)
621-2956
621-1216
(035)
422-4000
(034)
433-7401
708-8889

(082)

227-3773
295-3485
09227152573

+63 32
492-7777
+63 02
799-1111

(082)
233-1941

Boracay

(632) 417-5751
(6332)
492-0100

Marianne Suites

A. Luna Streets,
Cagayan De Oro City

NEW ESTRELLA TOWNHOUSE

JulioPacanaSt.Licoan,CagayandeOroCity

Mis.Or.Philippines

New Estrella
Townhouse
Cagayan De Oro City

Orchard Hotel
Bajada, Davao City

Tel.#(08822)745126/(088)8521441

Limketkai Luxe Hotel

Cagayan De Oro City
Palm Residence Inn
Davao City
Paras Beach Resort
Yumbing, Camiguin
Paseo De San Francisco Suites
Agusan Del Sur
Paradise Island
Park & Beach Resort
Samal Island Davao
Park Inn
By Radisson Davao
Davao City
Parkway Hotel
Surigao City
Paulas Hotel
Misamis Oriental
Pearl Farm Beach Resort
Davao City

Pearl Suites
Davao City
Pearlmont Inn
Cagayan de Oro City
Ponce Suites Hotel
Bajada, Davao City
Pryce Plaza Hotel
Cagayan De Oro City
Precious Garden Of Samal

www.precious-garden-samal.com

PTCHostel
Agusan Del Sur
Rhapsody Suites
Cagayan De Oro City

Roadhaus Hotel
Dadiangas City Heights,
General Santos City
Secret Cove Beach Resort
Camiguin Island

Sequoia Inn
Davao City

Seda Abreeza
Davao City
Sonreir Apartelle
Calinan, Davao City

Jony's Beach Resort

Malay, Aklan
La Esperanza Hotel
Kalibo, Aklan

09175886873
(632) 771-8181
(6338)
422-2222
422-2202

(032)
344-1322
(032)
232-0888

(034)
729-3835
09273032166

(036)
288-9888
(036)
288-4853
(036)
288-5729
(036)
288-3315
288-3764

(036)
288-3444
(02)567-1672

(036)
288-1759

(02)
887-0581
812-5821

(036)2883457
(036)2885190

(036)288372830

(02)634358183

(036)2885222

BoracayGardenResort
Lingganay
Boracay
Hotel

(036)2886633
Resort
Malay, Aklan

Nigi-Nigi
Too
Beach Resort
BoracayRegencyBeach
Boracay Island

BoracayGardenResort
ResortandConventionCenter

(036)2886633
One
Boracay Resort
OneMGMBoracayResort
MGM

(036)2886111/2886777
andConventionCenter
and Convention Center

Boracay Island
ResortandConventionCenter
BoracayRegencyBeach

Marzon
Hotel

(036)2886111/2886777

BoracayHills
Aklan
TonglenBeachResort
Kalibo,
(036)2883315

(036)
288-1601

Eurotel
Boracay Island

Boracay Island

(036)2883764
Marzon
Beach
Resort
BoracayHills
(036)2883315
Malay,
Aklan

(036)2883764
Red
Coconut
Beach

Red Coconut
RedCoconut

Resort
BoracayGardenResort
Boracay
Island
Red CoconutBeachHotel RedCoconut
BeachResort
(036) 288-3507
BeachHotel
BeachResort
288-3758
Sea(036)
Wind
Boracay
TheBoracayBeachResort

(036)2886633

BoracayRegencyBeach
(036) 288-3507
ResortandConventionCenter

(036)
(036)2886111/2886777

288-3758

The
TheBoracayBeachResort

(036)2883208

BoracayHills
Boracay
(036)2883208 Beach Resort
(036)2884288

(036)2884288
(036)2883315
Boracay
Island
(036)2883764

Red
Coconut
WillysBeachClubHotel
RedCoconut

WillysBeachClubHotel
BeachHotel
BeachResort
(036)2883794to97
(036) 288-3507
(036)
(036)2883794to97
288-3758

Water Colors Boracay

TheBoracayBeachResort
(036)2883208Dive Resorts

(036)2884288

Boracay Island,

The District Boracay

Malay, Aklan

WillysBeachClubHotel
RegencyLagoonResort
(036)2883794to97
Willy's
Beach Club Hotel

(036)2882828

Boracay Island

RegencyLagoonResort

(036)2882828

RegencyLagoonResort

355-0000
861-8658
(63) 36 2886119
/ 2886274-75
Fax No
(63) 36 2883119

(036)
262-3989
268-9254

(036)
288-5734
(036)
351-4017
994-1145

(036)
288-3728 to 30
(02)634-3581
to 83
(036)
268-2188
268-2184
to 86
(036)
288-3131
09218104433
09159367222

(036)
288-3507
288-3758

416-4010
415-1285

(036)
288-3208
288-4288
(63 36)
288-2324 - 27
288-1448
(063)
288 -6745
to 6746
(036)
288-3794
to 97

(036)2882828

(036)
288-4792

857-1776
09229192806
(083)
301-2289
09173313800
09399062218
09399052343
(0928)
732-1893
302-1460
(088)
880-2123
(08822)
745-126
(088) 852-1441

(082)
300-8855
(88) 880-0000
(02) 779-5240
(082)
305-0505
222-5225
09175684720

(088)
387-9117
09177152285
(+6385)
343-8048
(+63999)
309-1065

(082)
233-0251

(082)
272-7600
272-7601
(086) 231
5116 / 231
5141 to 46
567-1135
09174308131

(082)
221-9970

(082)
282-1294
09301269185
(088)
856-2653
to 55
(082)
227-8161
227-9070
(08822)
726-464
(088) 858-3131

(082)
303-2818
09176347037
09179111252
(088)
857-1101
09328469358
(083) 553-8888
553-5335
Telefax No.
553-1771

(088)
387 9084
387 9184

(082)
300-3636

Southern Tourist Inn

Davao City
Sunflower Hotel
Davao City

Sydney Hotel
General Santos City
Square Suites
General Santos City
T'boli Hotel
and Restaurant
General Santos City

TCC Condo Hostel

Toril, Davao City

The Dynasty Court

Hotel
Cagayan de Oro City
The Farm @ Carpenter Hill
Koronadal City, South
Cotabato

(082)
221-7431
(082)
221-5011
305-3531

(083)
552-5479
552-5480
552-5481

(083) 552-5127
09228362516
09126007323
(083)
302-2648
553-7586
302-6652

(082)
291-3800
(08822)
72-4516
72-7825

(083)
228 1888
228 9010
09189210425

The Manor Hotel

Davao City

(063) (82)
221-2511
to 13

The Metropolis Suites

Davao City

(082)
282-8000
321-2874

The Margarette
Business Hotel
Maramag, Bukidnon

The Old Barracks Suites

Kidapawan City
The Peridot Suites
Davao City
The Pinnacle
Hotel And Suites
Davao City
The Ritz Hotel
at Garden Oases
Davao City
The Vip Hotel
Cagayan De Oro City
Tierra Montana Hotel
General Santos City
Tune Hotel
Cagayan De Oro
Tune Hotel - Davao City
Uptown Condotel
Xavier Estates, Cagayan
De Oro City

Victoria Suites Hotel

Cagayan De Oro

Villa Paraiso Resort

and Apartelle
Mambajao, Camiguin

Uno Business Hotel & Cafe

Hagkol, Valencia City

We R Inn Hotel
City Center, Davao City

Willshire Inn / Will's Place

Cagayan De Oro City
Woodland Tourist Inn
Alunan Highway,
Tacurong City

(088) 238-5236
09066437648
09175498841
09268446952

(064)
288-1299
(082)
305-6530
305-3812

(+6382)
300-1881
300-5885
221-3025

(082)
228-6885
to 87
(0882)
727-360
726-080
(083)
554-7733
553-0553

(088)
880-0888

09178514308
(082)
224-0577 to 78
0916 550 8863

(088)
851-1800
09088881800
(088)
857-4447
(08822)
72-2222
(088) 387-0419
387-0420
09173089293
09999906543

(088)
828-3544

09175395678
(082)
227-9328
09199252808
09228418102

09176320635
09176320650
(064)
477-0488
09429243041

(6382)
322-8888
09477910147
09233327698

Yellow Magenta Cyan

Black
ymv

CLASSIFIED LINE ADS RATE

Weekdays - P 92.00 per line
Sundays - P 104.00 per line

(All quoted rates are subject to VAT)

C1

CLASSIFIED BOX ADS RATE

Weekdays - P 315.00 per col./cm.
Sundays - P 370.00 per col./cm.

(All quoted rates are subject to VAT)

January 10 - 16, 2016

Come & Join the Manila Bulletin JOB FAIR on

FEBRUARY 23 & 24, 2016 at the TRINOMA &
discover the JOB thats right for you!!!

Yellow Magenta Cyan

Black
ymv

Classified Ads

C-2

January 10 - 16, 2016

Yellow Magenta Cyan

Black
ymv

Classified Ads

January 10 - 16, 2016

C-3

Come & Join the Manila Bulletin JOB FAIR on FEBRUARY 23 & 24, 2016
at the TRINOMA & discover the JOB thats right for you!!!

Yellow Magenta Cyan

Black
ymv

Classified Ads

C-4

January 10 - 16, 2016

Yellow Magenta Cyan

Black
ymv

Classified Ads

January 10 - 16, 2016

C-5

Come & Join the Manila Bulletin JOB FAIR on FEBRUARY 23 & 24, 2016
at the TRINOMA & discover the JOB thats right for you!!!

Yellow Magenta Cyan

Black
ymv

Classified Ads

C-6

January 10 - 16, 2016

Yellow Magenta Cyan

Black
ymv

Classified Ads

January 10 - 16, 2016

C-7

Come & Join the Manila Bulletin JOB FAIR on FEBRUARY 23 & 24, 2016
at the TRINOMA & discover the JOB thats right for you!!!

Yellow Magenta Cyan

Black
ymv

Classified Ads

C-8

January 10 - 16, 2016

Yellow Magenta Cyan

Black
ymv

Classified Ads

January 10 - 16, 2016

C-9

Come & Join the Manila Bulletin JOB FAIR on FEBRUARY 23 & 24, 2016
at the TRINOMA & discover the JOB thats right for you!!!

Yellow Magenta Cyan

Black
ymv

Classifieds/Careers

C-10

Sunday, January 10, 2016

mbclassifiedwed@gmail.com

Editor: LORETO D. CABAES

How to prepare your

business for the New Year
T

he first few weeks of January are always the hardest

for most businesses because
everyone is out of cash from
the Christmastime shopping and
gifting spree. Everyones hoping that
the Noche Buena leftovers will last
them at least the first 14 days of the
New Year before they spoil. For most
businesses, sales are scarce. Some are
conducting clearance sales at waistdeep prices to clear out inventory and
make whatever bit of sale they can still
rummage. Receptionists are starting
to blend with the walls because there
are just no clients coming in or calling.
January is admittedly for almost every
business, a problem month.
So, is it really all that bad for businesses? Should we just move the first
day of work to the second week of
January? Of course not! We have a
lot of things to do this New Year, and
the work starts as early as the last
firework pops. Here is a list of things
you might want to consider doing
while the clients are out:
Maintenance and Repair. What
is the color of the office walls when
you first painted it and what is that
disfigured stain now? Despite all the
care possible, facilities inevitably deteriorate due to wear and tear. If there
was not any time available last year
for you to conduct major repairs, now
is the time to do so. Repaint scraped
walls, vacuum the carpets, make your
windows clear again, replace broken
lightbulbs, and most of all, remove
the Christmas decorations. New
Year, new you is not just a tag line
for kids sharing a resolution they will

never even bother to do, but a requirement for businesses. Make your office
shine and look like its the first day it
opened. Make it smell fresh and make
it safe and sanitary. Make it look like
a modern office again. File all the
documents that you have printed and
scattered on your desk. You can even
buy new cabinets. Replenish your
inventory if you havent been keeping
up with it last month.
Restructure. Remember that
peoples interest over something they

do or experience repetitively lessens

overtime, and you might have seen
this last December. Its supposed to be
festive, but some of your people seem
to have decreased their productivity.
This year, you might want to consider
a bit of restructuring the office, even
in tiny ways like assigning your people
to take new roles and try new things
for the year. If you plan to do so, then
the downtime you have this January
is perfect for training and adjustments
for employees. You have all the time to

teach them how to perform their new

tasks effectively and let them get the
feel of the new process. Who knows,
a small job rotation might turn out to
be the key to keep your competitive
advantage in the market. If youre bold
and sure your old process was barely
keeping up with the demands, then
try out a new process; install new machines to hit your forecasted demand
for this year.
Recover. Hopefully, before you
closed for the Christmas vacation,

With blind hiring, its not who you are, its what you know
By RACHEL FEINTZEIG

ompose Inc. asks a lot of job

applicants. Anyone who wants
to be hired at the San Mateo,
Calif., cloud-storage firm must
write a short story about data, spend
a day working on a mock project, and
complete an assignment.
There is one thing the company
doesn't ask for: A resum.
Compose is among a handful of companies trying to judge potential hires
by their abilities, not their resumes.
So-called "blind hiring" redacts information like a person's name or alma mater,
so that hiring managers form opinions
based only on that person's work.
In other cases, companies invite job
candidates to perform a challenge
writing a software program, say and
bring the top performers in for interviews or, eventually, job offers.
Bosses say blind hiring reveals true
talents and results in more diverse
hires. And the notion that career success could stem from what you know,
and not who you know, is a tantalizing
one. But it can be tough to conceal a
person's identity for long.
Kurt Mackey, Compose's chief executive, realized his managers tended
to pick hires based on whom they connected with personally, or those with
name-brand employers like Google
Inc. on their resums factors that
had little bearing on job performance,
he says.
"We were hiring people who were
more fun for us to talk to," says Mackey.

Trouble was, they were often a poor fit

for the job, according to the CEO.
So the company, which was acquired
by International Business Machines
Corp. last year, added an anonymous
sample project to the hiring process.
Prospective hires spend about four to
six hours performing a task similar to
what they would do at Composewriting a marketing blog post for a technical
product, for example.
There have been some hiccups.
Candidates couldn't resist writing their
names on their work, so employees had to
program the test's software to strip them
out. And the samples are time-consuming
for both applicants and employees. Some
candidates have refused to apply, saying
they are unwilling to work for free. People
still send over resums, but Mackey says
he doesn't look at them.
The sample projects have unearthed
hires who have turned out to be top performers, says Mackey. An IBM spokesman says its managers are also experimenting with similar approaches.
Rising interest in anonymous hiring reflects the growing awareness of
unconscious bias, attitudes or stereotypes that affect decisions. Research on
unconscious bias has shown that information like a person's name can affect
how they're viewed and subtly prompt
managers to make unfair decisions.
A 2012 study in the Proceedings of
the National Academy of Sciences found
that faculty members rating lab manager applications deemed a male candidate more worthy of being hired than a
woman with identical credentials.

Many kinds of biases can derail

careers. During her years as a techindustry recruiter, Aline Lerner found
firms ignored talented technologists if
they lacked degrees from elite schools
or experience with tech giants like Facebook Inc. She struggled to persuade
startups to consider candidates who
had gained skills through alternative
routes, like online courses.
"The fact that they had these doors
closed in their faces before they could
show what they could do was extremely
frustrating," says Lerner. She quit recruiting to build Interviewing.io Inc.,
a website that pairs interviewers and
interviewees in chat rooms where they
are encouraged to talk but not share
names. She is considering adding a
voice-masking feature for an extra layer
of anonymity. So far, some startups and
individuals at large companies are using the program, she says.
Paul McEnany, the chief product
officer at Dallas-based advertising
firm Levenson Group, worked with the
company GapJumpers, Inc. to design a
blind audition process for hiring a junior
copywriter last summer.
Levenson asked candidates to create an Instagram campaign for a Texas
vodka brand. Out of some 50 applicants,
the company found Kendall Madden, a
recent college graduate who had neither studied marketing nor interned
at major ad agencies. Her campaign,
which featured hands stretched out
toward drinks and took some 12 to 16
hours to create, stood out.
Had the company just looked at her

resum, "I'm not even certain we would

have interviewed her in the first place,"
McEnany says.
To be sure, personal connections
remain a powerful force in hiring.
Referrals comprise the single largest
source of hires for lots of companies,
many of which offer cash or perks for
employees who refer friends.
Deloitte LLP's UK arm recently
started redacting applicants' schools
for about 1,500 entry-level hires.
Instead, applicants take a battery
of tests to measure skills like numerical reasoning and critical thinking,
says Emma Codd, managing partner
for talent there. Deloitte does review
applicants' school exam results, but
those results are put into context by a
company called Rare Recruitment Ltd.
that can show, for example, whether a
student with an average score overall
outshone peers at her school.
"We're making sure the playing field
is truly level," says Codd.
Later this year, Deloitte, along
with other organizations in the UK like
HSBC Bank PLC, KPMG UK LLP, and
the British Broadcasting Corp., will
remove candidates' names from some
job applications, though Deloitte hasn't
yet figured out how it will work.
"It's going to be very difficult," Codd
says, acknowledging that a person's
gender and ethnicity will become obvious after initial interviews and screens.
"I can't imagine how you're going to
do the interview without referring to
someone's name." (The Wall Street
Journal)

Family-leave plans improve, but still a long way to go

By RACHEL EMMA SILVERMAN

ig changes at blue-chip companies last year changed life for

a lot of new parents, but there
is still a long way to go.
Amazon.com, Inc., Microsoft Corp.,
Accenture, Netflix Inc., Blackstone Group
LP, Nestle SA, and others have expanded
paid leave for new parents and added
benefits such as shipping breast milk and
paying for family nannies to travel with
employees on business trips.
At Netflix, employees can take up to
a year of paid leave to care for a child,
while Amazon also increased time off
for fathers and adoptive parents, in addition to birth mothers.
Benefits experts say that trend will
continue in 2016, as companies court
millennial employees who are beginning to start families and seeking roles
that allow greater flexibility.
Experts also expect to see more work-

ers thinking beyond leave, figuring out

ways employees can balance the demands
of work and family after they return to the
job. Accenture allows new parents to cut
back on business travel during that first
year, and private-equity firm KKR &
Co. and investment bank Credit Suisse
Group AG now pay for infants and child
care providers to travel with new parents
who have to be on the road.
The big question in 2016 will be
whether new parents will take those
extended leaves and what happens
when they return to the office.
Its one thing to offer a benefit, but
if employees feel like they cant take
advantage of it, its not doing them any
good, says Karen Rubin, managing
director, North America, of Talking
Talent, which provides coaching to
firms such as Deutsche Bank, Bank of
America and McKinsey & Co. on
family leave transitions.
Some firms, such as Credit Suisse

are using data analytics to carefully

track whether changes to its leave policy
have an impact when it comes to retaining and hiring women. Returning from
a maternity leave is a turning point that
often results in attrition for female employees, human resources leaders say.
To ease workers qualms about taking long leaves, KKR, Credit Suisse, and
others are introducing parental-leave
coaching to train both parents and
managers as to how to handle monthslong leaves.
Company executives and bosses
must set the tone by applauding or promoting employees who take leaves, or
by taking significant leaves themselves,
say work-and-family experts and HR
consultants.
Facebook Inc. founder and chief
executive Mark Zuckerberg won plaudits after announcing he would take a
two-month paternity leave following
the birth of his daughter late last year,

a long time for a chief executive but less

than the four months of paid leave the
company offers to all employees.
Yahoo Inc. chief Marissa Mayer said
she would take only a limited time
away following the birth of her twins
in December. Her decision has been
criticized by some, but she may have
had little choice as Yahoo goes through
a critical period where it is considering
a sale of its core businesses.
Under Mayer, however, the company expanded paid leave to as much
as 16 weeks.
As of now, most companies pumping
up parental benefits are in fields such as
technology and finance, where the fight
for talent is fierce and where women
are underrepresented. Less progress is
being made in companies with a more
diversified workforce.
Only about 13 percent of workers
have access to paid family leave, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics

you were able to get to speed with

what has happened in the company
throughout last year the overall
sales, trends that occurred, total generated awareness of your marketing
efforts, and most of all, the summary
of brick walls that your company hit
last year. This is the time when you
plan out and orient your people on
how the company can recover from
those blunders. This is the New Year,
and virtually every company out there
is surely bringing out brand new guns.
Orient your people about the new
strategies that will be implemented.
Talk with the problem employees
and give suggestions on how they
can improve their performance in
the company. If things went bad last
year, this is the time to start your
recovery plan.
Hopefully, these tips can help you
prepare yourselves for the coming
months during this downtime in January. There will be a lot of changes in
people, your target market last year
has matured now (somehow), and
trends might not be the same as last
year. You must consider this downtime as the calm before the storm,
and ready yourselves!
Business and management
consultant Ruben Anlacan Jr.
is the president of BusinessCoach,
Inc. He discusses overviews and
tips for business from the point of
view of a small- or medium-scale
entrepreneur who has started
several successful enterprises.
Those who wish to ask questions
or to make comments may visit
http://entrepcoach.blogspot.
com or e-mail entrepcoach@
gmail.com

Gambia orders
female civil
servants to cover
their hair at work
BANJUL, Gambia (AFP) Female
civil servants in the west African
country of Gambia, recently declared
''an Islamic state'' by its president,
have been ordered to cover their hair
at work, a leaked government memo
showed.
According to a copy of the memorandum obtained by AFP, ''all female
staff within the government ministries,
departments, and agencies are no
longer allowed to expose their hair
during official working hours effective
December 31, 2015.
''Female staff are urged to use head
tie and neatly wrap their hair.''
A senior official in the education
ministry confirmed that the note had
been circulated among government
departments.
The new rule comes hot on the
heels of President Yahya Jammeh's
categorization of the small predominantly Muslim country in mid-December as ''an Islamic state.''
''Gambia's destiny is in the hands of
the Almighty Allah...We will be an Islamic state that will respect the rights
of the citizens,'' he said.
At the time he warned against
trying to impose a dress code on
women.
''I have not appointed anyone as an
Islamic policeman. The way women
dress is not your business,'' he said.
An impoverished former British colony famed for its white-sand
beaches, the Gambia has a population
of nearly two million, 90 percent of
whom are Muslim.
Of the remainder, eight percent are
Christian and two percent are defined
as having indigenous beliefs.
Jammeh, 50, a military officer and
former wrestler has ruled the country
with an iron fist since he seized power
in a coup in 1994.
data and the US remains one of few
countries not to mandate paid leave
for mothers.
Washington, D.C. is weighing one of
the most generous family-leave measures in the country, which would require employers to offer 16 weeks of paid
leave to care for a newborn or sick family
member. The bill, however, faces opposition from some businesses that contend
a mandate would be burdensome.
Paid-leave laws are floating around
Congress and the issue is a centerpiece
of Democratic presidential candidates
platforms. (The Wall Street Journal)

Yellow Magenta Cyan

Black
ymv

LL

Classified Ads
Classified
Ads

Sunday,January
January10
10- -16,
16,2016
2016

C-11

R
R

Yellow Magenta Cyan

Yellow Magenta Cyan

Black
Black
ymv
ymv

Classified Ads

C-12

January 10 - 16, 2016

Yellow Magenta Cyan

Black
ymv

Classified Ads

January 10 - 16, 2016

C-13

Come & Join the Manila Bulletin JOB FAIR on FEBRUARY 23 & 24, 2016
at the TRINOMA & discover the JOB thats right for you!!!

Yellow Magenta Cyan

Black
ymv

Classified Ads

C-14

January 10 - 16, 2016

Come & Join the Manila Bulletin JOB FAIR on FEBRUARY 23 & 24, 2016
at the TRINOMA & discover the JOB thats right for you!!!

Yellow Magenta Cyan

Black
ymv

Classified Ads
Ads
Classified

January
16, 2016
Sunday, January
10 -10
16,- 2016

C-15
cc-7

Yellow
Yellow Magenta
Magenta Cyan
Cyan

Black
Black
ymv
ymv

Classified Ads

C-16

January 10 - 16, 2016

Come & Join the Manila Bulletin JOB FAIR on FEBRUARY 23 & 24, 2016
at the TRINOMA & discover the JOB thats right for you!!!

Yellow Magenta Cyan

Black
ymv

CLASSIFIED BOX ADS RATE

Weekdays - P 315.00 per col./cm.
Sundays - P 370.00 per col./cm.

(All quoted rates are subject to VAT)

CLASSIFIED LINE ADS RATE

Weekdays - P 92.00 per line
Sundays - P 104.00 per line

(All quoted rates are subject to VAT)

January 10 - 16, 2016

D1

Yellow Magenta Cyan

Black

ymv

Classified Ads

D-2

January 10 - 16, 2016

Yellow Magenta Cyan

Black

ymv

Classified Ads

January 10 - 16, 2016

D-3

Yellow Magenta Cyan

Black

ymv

Classified Ads

D-4

January 10 - 16, 2016

Yellow Magenta Cyan

Black

ymv

Classified Ads

January 10 - 16, 2016

D-5

Yellow Magenta Cyan

Black

ymv

Classified Ads

D-6

January 10 - 16, 2016

Yellow Magenta Cyan

Black

ymv

Classified Ads

January 10 - 16, 2016

D-7

Yellow Magenta Cyan

Black

ymv

Classified Ads

D-8

January 10 - 16, 2016

Yellow Magenta Cyan

Black

ymv

Classified Ads

January 10 - 16, 2016

D-9

Yellow Magenta Cyan

Black

ymv

Classified Ads

D-10

January 10 - 16, 2016

Yellow Magenta Cyan

Black

ymv

Classified Ads

January 10 - 16, 2016

D-11

Yellow Magenta Cyan

Black

ymv

Classified Ads

D-12

January 10 - 16, 2016

Yellow Magenta Cyan

Black
ymv

Classified Ads

January 10 - 16, 2016

D-13

Yellow Magenta Cyan

Black
ymv

Classified Ads

D-14

January 10 - 16, 2016

Yellow Magenta Cyan

Black
ymv

Classified Ads

January 10 - 16, 2016

D-15

Yellow Magenta Cyan

Black
ymv

Classified Ads

D-16

January 10 - 16, 2016

Yellow Magenta Cyan

Black
ymv

Classified Ads

January 10 - 16, 2016

D-17

Yellow Magenta Cyan

Black
ymv

Classified Ads

D-18

January 10 - 16, 2016

Yellow Magenta Cyan

Black
ymv

Classified Ads

By CHARISSA M. LUCI

Release report to public

ike his colleagues, Speaker

Feliciano Belmonte Jr. is also
waiting for the chairmen of the
House Committees on Public
Order and Safety and on Peace, Unity,
and Reconciliation to submit their joint
report on the Mamasapano probe.
The House chief said he is counting on the House panels, chaired by
Negros Occidental Rep. Jeffrey Ferrer
and Basilan Rep. Jim Hataman, respectively, to submit its findings since
it has been nine months since they
terminated the probe.
I am waiting for the chairmen to
submit the report, he said.

AKO Bicol Party-list Rep. Rodel

Batocabe, spokesman of the House
party-list bloc urged the Ferrer and
Hataman panels to submit its joint
report not only to the House leadership, but also to the public.
Definitely, the House panel should
submit and make public its findings.
I am particularly interested in the
identities of the murderers of SAF
44 and the panels recommendation
on how to bring these criminals to
justice, he said.
We should never learn to forget
Mamasapano as this is an important
lesson for all of us wanting to achieve
peace in Mindanao, he said.

apl.de.ap

Forum (ATF) which will be held in

Manila.
The campaign will welcome the
second edition of Madrid Fusion Manila, the biggest culinary event in the
Philippines and Southeast Asia, the
second edition of MTV Music Evolution, a concert to bring to life the
evolution of a music genre, among
other events.
The full promo video can be viewed
on https://www.youtube.com/watch
?v=Qpc2mvg3X14&feature=youtu.
be&a= (PNA)

Nepal to begin much-delayed

earthquake reconstruction
KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) Nepal
this month will begin much-delayed
reconstruction of about 1 million homes
and buildings damaged by last years
earthquake and will also begin to collect
the billions of dollars pledged by foreign
donors, the head of the reconstruction
agency said Saturday.
Sushil Gyewali, who was recently
appointed to head the National Reconstruction Authority, said reconstruction
work will formally begin on Jan. 16.
Officials will send 1,500 engineers to
villages in all of the 40 affected districts
to take detailed damage surveys. They
will train technicians to build safer
houses, coordinate between the government offices and also collect money
from donors.
Nepal has been criticized for delaying reconstruction work because of
disagreements among political parties,
the countrys new constitution, ethnic
protests and severe fuel shortages
while people are still living in tents in
cold mountain villages.
Nearly 9,000 people were killed

D-19

House committees joint

report on Mamasapano
clash still in limbo

Apl.de.ap
helps promote
PH tourism
MANILA As part of the promotion for the event-centric campaign
Visit the Philippines Again 2016 (VPA
2016), the Department of Tourism
(DOT) has released a new promotional video featuring the countrys
best sites, food and talent.
The 3:38-minute promo video features international hip-hop artist and
co-founder of Grammy award-winning
group Black Eyed Peas, apl.de.ap
singing about the Philippines being a
special place to him.
He also encouraged tourists to go
somewhere and hop into a jeepney
as far as the lyrics to the song which
had a touch of reggae fusion.
The promo video has so far been
shared in various social media platforms like YouTube, Facebook and
Twitter and has garnered thousands
of likes, shares and retweets.
DOT Assistant Secretary Arturo
Boncato Jr. confirmed that the promo
video was first shown to attendees
present during the launch of its VPA
2016 campaign late last year.
VPA will have similar events to
Visit the Philippines 2015 (VPY 2015)
and many new additions. Among the
major big-ticket events which will fall
under VPA is the ASEAN Tourism

Sunday, January 10, 2016

in the April 25 earthquake and aftershocks. Nearly a million houses and

buildings were damaged.
Foreign donors have pledged $4.1
billion for earthquake reconstruction,
but only a small amount of that money
has reached Nepal because it took
months to set up the new agency to deal
with the task.
Nepals main political parties were
able to finally reach agreement last
month and new laws were approved in
parliament to allow the government to
form the agency and appoint Gyewali
as the chief executive officer.
The hundreds of thousands still
homeless because of the quake are
facing harsh winter weather in Nepals
mountain villages. Many are still living
in tents and huts built with tin sheets
that will be little match for the snow and
below-freezing temperatures.
Aid groups have warned of a crisis
unfolding in Nepal during the winter,
especially for many of the estimated
400,000 people who live at elevations of
1,500 meters (4,920 feet) or higher.

Aquino exonerated?
When asked for confirmation if
the Lower Chambers draft report on
Mamasapano investigation did not
find President Aquino liable for the
bungled anti-terror raid operation in
Mamasapano, Maguindanao that led
to the deaths of 44 members of the
Philippine National Police-Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) on Jan. 25, 2015,
Belmonte said, I havent seen it. Is
there one? Who said?.
Earlier reports said the Lower
Chambers draft Mamasapano report
supposedly acquitted the Chief Executive over the death of the police
commandos.
Nevertheless, Belmonte reassured
that the Lower Chamber will prioritize
the adoption of a committee report on
the Mamasapano probe.
In April last year, the Ferrer and
Hataman panels wrapped up its joint
probe on the Mamasapano incident
which killed 44 elite police commandos, three civilians and members of
the Moro Islamic Liberation Front
(MILF).

Put issue to rest

For his part, MAGDALO Party-list
Rep. Francisco Ashley Acedillo said
they expect that the report that will
be submitted by the Hataman and Ferrer panels will be comprehensive
and would fill in the gaps left by the
Senate and the PNP- Board of Inquiry
(BOI) reports.
We will make sure that the report
will be released because we will miss
the opportunity to put the issue to
rest, he said.
Reopening Senate inquiry
The Senate recently decided to
reopen its probe on the Mamasapano
debacle on Jan. 25 marking the anniversary of the bloody incident to
discuss possibly new evidence as
requested by Minority Leader Juan
Ponce Enrile.
Sen. Grace Poe, chairman of the
Senate Committee on Public Order
assured that she wont allow grandstanding and will immediately exam-

QC scavenger yields hand grenade

A hand grenade was seized from a
scavenger in Quezon City Friday morning, police reported yesterday.
The Explosive Ordnance Division of
the Quezon City Police District (QCPDEOD) said an M67 fragmentation hand
grenade was seized from a scavenger
identified as George Guevarra in Brgy.

Greater Lagro, QC.

Investigation said that barangay
tanod Regalado Gaspar was on routine
patrol when he spotted Guevarra possessing the grenade.
He immediately approached the
man and asked the scavenger to hand
him the explosive.

ine the supposed new information on

the incident.
On March 17,2015, the Poe panel
publicly released its 120-page draft
committee report, making President
Aquino ultimately responsible for
the bloody anti-terror raid.
Massacre, not misencounter
Signed by 20 senators, the Senate
committee report, drafted by Senate Committees on Public Order, of
Finance, and of Peace, Unification,
and Reconciliation consider the Mamasapano incident a massacre and
not merely a misencounter.
Because of the gruesome killing of
the elite police commandos during the
anti-terror mission, the Senate report
said the MILF leadership does not
have absolute control over its members, raising doubts as to the sincerity of the MILF as the governments
partner in the peace process.
In the report, the three Senate
panels also agreed as questionable
the acts of Presidential Adviser on
the Peace Process Secretary Teresita
Deles and government peace panel
negotiator Miriam Coronel Ferrer in
defending the MILF.
The Senate report also said the
Office of the Presidential Adviser on
the Peace Process OPAPP and the
rest of the governments peace panel
are suffering from a wanton excess of
optimism for the MILF which proved
to be insincere in its peace talks with
the government.
But, the Senate report recognized
and commended President Aquinos
efforts to pursue peace in Mindanao
which is part of his 16-point social
contract with the Filipino people,
Poe said it is imperative that the
government pursue peace based on
justice.
Guevarra, who said he only found
it among his collection surrendered
the grenade.
The barangay officer then sought
police assistance who then reported
about the discovery to the QCPD-EOP
office.
The hand grenade is now under
custody of the QCPD-EOD for proper
disposition. (Vanne Elaine P. Terrazola)

Yellow Magenta Cyan

Black
ymv

Sunday, January 10, 2016

D-20

Minor driving
motorcycle
dies after being
hit by a truck

C
Minor killed in Cavite SUV
accident involving a doctor
AMADEO, Cavite A 12year-old schoolboy, on his way
to school, died last Thursday
when he was accidentally hit
by a sports utility vehicle (SUV)
driven by a doctor on C.M. de
los Reyes Avenue in Barangay
Poblacion I, this upland municipality, police reported Friday.
PO1 Glenford Dolor Alcaraz,
case investigator, identified the
victim as Mark Brian Sumagui Digman, 12, a student at
Amadeo Central Elementary
School of Barangay Poblacion
IV, Amadeo.
Authorities found the body of
Digman in a pool of blood on the
roadside at past 7 a.m. Thursday.
The boy was declared dead by
responding Amadeo Municipal
Health Officer Melinda A. Villanueva.
Police arrested one Dr. Ed-

mond Encarnacion Declaro, 50,

of Mabini, Lemery, Barangas,
and held his silver-gray Mitsubishi Montero car (VEX 452)
which they found at the parking
area of Jollibee branch in Barangay Manggahan in neighboring
General Trias City at 1 p.m. in a
pursuit operation.
Investigator Alcaraz said
that the suspect drove off with
the car shortly after the accident.
The car was traced at the area
through the license plate numbers jotted down by a witness,
one Fernando Survan Ostal, 50,
and the detached cars black
left front fender flare which was
found at the accident site.
Alcaraz reported that the
car hit the boy as the service tricycle (WX 4903) he was riding in
swerved on the road. (Anthony
Giron)

AMP JUAN, Ilocos Norte Ron Kervy

Cayaban Pasion, 13, of Barangay Sta.
Cecilia, San Nicolas died Friday after the
motorcycle he was driving was hit by a
truck along the Ilocos Norte-Apayao road.
Police said the victim died on the spot after
the truck driven by one Ryan Tiberio Trabasillas,
23, an employee of St. Nicolas Steel Trading of
Barangay Nagbacalan, Paoay town accidentally
hit him.
The truck driver was immediately arrested after the accident and was charged by the prosecutor with homicide through reckless imprudence
and damage to property. (Freddie G. Lazaro)

Motorcycles crashes
onto a tree, 1 dead, 1 hurt
TUGUEGARAO, Cagayan A man died while
another one was injured after the motorcycle they
were riding accidentally crashed onto a tree while
negotiating a sharp curve of the road in Barangay
Marabulig, Cauayan City, Isabela last Wednesday,
a belated report said here.
Police said that motorcycle driver Alvin Fernandez, 18, of Barangay Marabulig, Cauayan City
was declared dead on arrival upon reaching the
hospital from serious wounds in different parts of
his body from the accident.
Fernandezs tandem- rider identified as Alzon
Ramos, of Barangay San Fermin, Cauayan City,
was slightly hurt during the accident.
It was reported that the accident occurred
when the driver lost control of the motorcycle
while negotiating a sharp curve of the road. (Freddie G. Lazaro)

Yellow Magenta Cyan

Black
ymv

Editor: AA PATAWARAN

@mblifestyle
MB Lifestyle
@manilabulletinlifestyle

Life & Leisure

E1 Sunday, January 10, 2016

mblifestyle@gmail.com

One Last
Applause for
Kuya Germs
It was more than a good show,
Master Showman. Thank you!
By Sara Grace C. Fojas
Illustration by Oteph Antipolo

he Master Showman, an
icon in the Philippine entertainment industry, a talent manager, a father, a
lolo, a great friend, and a role model
to many, German Molina Moreno,
popularly known as Kuya Germs,
spent 82 years of his life and more
than 50 years in
the industry, not as
just as a host but
a happy pill to the
people surrounding
him and to his viewers. All he wanted
to do was to make
people happy, and
thats exactly what
he did in his every
hosting session.
Gusto
kong
magpaligaya
ng
tao, ayokong magpalungkot (I want
everyone to be
happy, I dont want
them sad), he said
in an interview with
Asian Journal and
One Philippines.
He died 20 minutes past 3 a.m. on
a Friday, Jan. 8 due to cardiac arrest.
The last public event he hosted before he was hospitalized was GMAs
New Years Day Countdown where
he was wearing his glittery, sparkly
green suit, styled hair, and his warm
smile that everybody loved.

His hard work and humble beginnings have always been an inspiration to many. Born on Oct. 4, 1933 in
Sta. Cruz, Manila to Jose Moreno
and Aurora Molina, he literally
worked his way up, starting as a utility worker and curtain opener in the
1950s at the Clover Theater in Manila. 1n 1963, he became a comedian
at Sampaguita Pictures as part of the
Sampaguita-Vera-Perez All Stars.
He starred in the
film Susan, Susay,
Susie, and DanceO-Rama, both with
veteran actress Susan Roces. The last
film he made was
Paupahan
(2008)
where he bagged
the Star Awards
Best
Supporting
Actor, and Walang
Kawala (2009).
His first stint as
a host was in 1978 on
GMA Supershow,
where he introduced the careers
of Filipina beauties
such us Maricel
Laxa, Dawn Zulueta, Sunshine Cruz,
Giselle Tongi, and Vina Morales.
He was also the host of the shows
Superstar and Negosyete and a radio
program on DZBB. He continued discovering Filipino stars in Thats Entertainment from 1986 to 1996.
He was the man behind the stardom of Lea Salonga, Judy Ann San-

He lived a full
life, touched so
many hearts
through the years,
and helped make
dreams come true
for most of the
biggest stars in
the Philippine
entertainment
industry.

E2

Yellow Magenta Cyan

Black
ymv

Lifestyle

Sunday, January 10, 2016 E-2

Farewell, Kuya Germs

erman Moreno is an entertainment icon, mentor,

legendary star-maker, Master Showman but in show
business circles hes fondly called Tatay, Tay, Pa,
Ninong by all the people whose lives he has touched
and ultimately changed for the better. Across the social media,
everybody who has been privileged to work with the Master
Showman expressed their condolences, gratitude, and abundant
love to the one and only Kuya Germs.

Salamat po Kuya Germs sa lahat!!

Hanggang sa huli ipinaramdam
mo ang iyong pagmamahal sa
industriya.
- Gladys Reyes Sommereux
(Twitter/@iamgladysreyes)

Its not how much we give

but how much love we put into
giving, thats Kuya Germs. Rest
in peace Tay.
- Alden Richards
(Twitter/@aldenrichards02)

Today is a sad day for the

entertainment
industry.
His
legacy will live on. You will be
missed. Paalam, Kuya Germs.
- Anne Curtis-Smith
(Twitter/@annecurtissmith)

Kuya Germs, your warm smiles

and forever happy disposition will be
missed...
- Bela Padilla
(Twitter/@padillabela)

To a dear friend, mentor, father

figure, Ninong who genuinely cared for
others. We will surely miss you. Thank
you, Kuya Germs. Rest in peace.
Dingdong Avanzado
(Twitter/@iamdingdong_A)

Salamat
po
Kuya
Germs sa yakap at words
of encouragement na lagi
nyong binigay sa akin
pag nagkikita tayo! We
will miss you! #kuyagerms
#germanmoreno
Amy Perez Castillo
(Instagram/@amypcastillo)

Its okay to sleep, Kuya

Germs. We all will someday.
Jim Paredes
(Twitter/@Jimparedes)

Bye Kuya Germs. Salamat po sa

mga palo, kurot, at yakap mo. Thanks
for the LOVE. God bless your soul.
- Jose Marie Viceral
(Twitter/@vicegandako)

Maraming salamat sa
magagandang alaala at
saya, Kuya Germs. You will
always be remembered. May
you rest in peace.
- Maine Mendoza
(Twitter/@mainedcm)

Maraming
salamat
Kuya
Germs. Marami kaming binigyan
mo ng pagkakataon sa industriyang
minahal mo. Paalam po Master
Showman.
Judy Ann Santos-Agoncillo
(Instagram/@officialjuday)

Pa, I dont know where to begin. Youve always been there when I needed
you the most. You are the most generous, selfless, genuine, caring father/
mentor anyone could ever ask for. Youre one of the reasons why Im still in this
industry you love oh so much. Im sad that Im not there next to you to say my
goodbyes. You will be missed tremendously. We fought, we laughed, we cried, we
sang, we danced, and we shared the same stage for so many years! And I want
to just thank you for teaching me and guiding me through everything. It hurts
to see you leave us, but God is right there to make you rest and enjoy eternity
with Him. I also pray for your family to be strong and to carry a smile like you
always did. You will always be our MASTER SHOWMAN! Most importantly you
will always be my father and I will always be your makulit na adopted son! RIP,
Pa. I love you.
Billy Crawford (Instagram/@billyjoecrawford)

ast Friday, Jan. 8, was a sad

day for the entertainment industry. Manila Bulletin Lifestyle asked celebrities about their
fondest memories of Kuya Germs.
I v e
worked with
him in the
teleserye
Adik
Sayo
and
Diva.
Tawang tawa
ako sa role
niya sa Diva.
He was the manager of singer
Melody (the beautiful version of
the character of Ms. Regine Velasquez). Kuya Germs played a gay
role there. It would take us over 15
takes when were doing a scene with
Kuya Germs because hes so funny,
he makes us all happy. No wonder
hes extraordinary when it comes
to discovering and molding artists.
Hes an artist himself and brilliant
one at that. Chariz Solomon

Tatay Germs is not only a manager to

me, hes really a second father. He treats
me like his own son. Ill always remember
him reminding me to be professional and to
be nice to all people. Ill miss having dinner
with Tatay and my family. Thats what we
usually do during free time. He will always
be my inspiration. Prince Villanueva of
Walang Tulugan

Kuya Germs is a very approachable person.

Some of us would even call him tatay. I remember every Sunday All Stars, he would always sit
at the pantry and we would have lunch with him
before the show starts. He would share his stories
and would always remind us to keep our feet on the
ground. Ill definitely miss him. Gabbi Garcia
I lost my wallet four years ago during work. Kuya
Germs found out from one of the staff what happened
and he was the first one to ask me if I was okay
and if I needed money for emergency. I will always
remember that day because it showed me how
selfless and loving Kuya Germs was. He was a father
to us all in the Showbiz industry. Enzo Pineda

My fondest memory of Kuya Germs was GMAs New Year countdown to 2016. Ako po ang naatasan na alalayan si Kuya Germs sa stage. He was very gracious and thankful for the help. He has always been like that.I
could really feel his willingness to practice for the event even though hes already having a hard time walking.
Hes proven to everybody that the Show must go on. Betong Sumaya

Master Showman, until the very end you were the epitome of the famous showbiz line, the
show must go on. It amazed me to see you doing radio work and still host for your show after your
health scare last year. Your passion for this business is unmatched. Growing up, I would hear you
and dad talk about the good and the bad things about show business. Now, its time to take your
final bow, Kuya Germs. You will be terribly missed by the people in the industry that you loved so
much and loved and respected you in return. Maraming salamat sa pag gabay at pagmamahal.
Im sure you and Tatay are already preparing for your first Master Showman episode in heaven.
Wag niyo muna ako i-guest ha. Thank you for everything.
Love you Kuya Germs. Paalam.
Iza Calzado (Instagram/missizacalzado)

ONE LAST APPLAUSE FOR

Kuya Germs E1
tos, Gladys Reyes, Janno Gibbs,
Ramon Christopher, Lotlot de
Leon, Manilyn Reynes, Billy Crawford, Jake Vargas, Sharon Cuneta,
Gretchen Barretto, Ken Chan and
perhaps many more. Before he finally
bid his goodbye, he was in the long
running Saturday late-night variety
show Walang Tulugan with the Master Showman where he was never
tired of entertaining everybody with
his jokes and funny lines. Up to his last
episode, he made everybody smile.
Kuya Germs wanted more than
just movies and features for the stars
in the industry. In 2005, he initiated
the Walk of Fame at Eastwood, Quezon City. Patterned from the Hollywood Walk of Fame in United States,
the event aims to recognize artists,
broadcasters, singers, and others
who made significant contributions
to the showbiz industry.
He lived a full life, touched so
many hearts through the years, and
helped make dreams come true for
most of the biggest stars in the Philippine entertainment industry. We
are deeply saddened by his passing
but we are comforted by the thought
that his legacy will live on, says his
nephew John Nite.

He won numerous awards such as

the Master Builder
award at the 25th
Philippine
Movie
Press Club (PMPC)
Star Awards for
Televison (2011), an
Icon Award from
the Gawad Amerika
Foundation (2013),
and Gawad Dolphy
Lifetime Achievement Award at the
5th Golden Screen
TV awards (2014).
In one of his interviews, he said
Hanggat kailangan ako ng showbiz,
mananatili
ako dito. Hanggat
may naniniwala sa
isang Kuya Germs, walang dahilan para magretiro
ako sa showbiz. (I wont retire from showbiz as long
as there is somebody who believes in someone like
Kuya Germs.)
Many are saddened, Kuya Germs, by your passing,
but the happy memories you left with us will always
paint a smile on our faces. Good night Kuya Germs
and may you sleep with a happy and peaceful heart.
(With reports from Manila Bulletin Research)

Yellow Magenta Cyan

Black
ymv

Lifestyle

Sunday, January 10, 2016 E-3

Fire Horse Batch 66 Of Upsilon

And Sigma Delta Celebrates
Golden Year

he passionate influence of the Fire Element makes the Fire

Horse the most unconventional, freedom-loving, and
adventurous of the Horse types. For
the Fire Horse, there is little enjoyment to be found in a slow-paced life.
Instead, members of the sign prefer
excitement at every turn. The passionate nature of the Fire Horse is
often found to be appealing to others
and is quite at ease in leadership roles
and actively seeks the opportunity to
do so. When the members of this sign
embrace their passions, there is truly
no limit to what they can achieve.
And so were some of the members
of Batch66 of Upsilon Sigma Phi Fraternity and Sigma Delta Phi Sorority
who joined these two prestigious student organizations at the University of
the Philippines way back in 1966, and
became successful in various fields.
They belonged to the year of the Fire
Horse, so to speak.

Batch66 boasts among it members diplomats, chairmen of corporations, top bankers, lawmakers, big
time lawyers, writers, and educators.
If there is anything that can be said of
these Upsilonians and Sigma Deltans,
they continued to pursue excellence in
whatever they set out to do.
On Feb. 6, Batch66 will mark its
50th anniversary at the Wack Wack
Country Club in Mandaluyong City
starting at 6 p.m. onwards.
Called A Celebration of Life, the
event is a renewal of old ties with brods
and sisters from here and abroad. Upsilonians and Sigma Deltans from all
batches are cordially invited.
Swinging 60s and The Big Band
will provide the music.
For
additional
information,
please contact committee chairpersons Mon Abad (63 917 534 5340) for
Upsilon Sigma Phi and Mian Gancayco(63 917 833 1216) for Sigma Delta Phi sorority.

Guess What Fell

from Television
Heaven!
T

V ratings in the US are not

the same as before. Thanks
to on-demand video services
like Netflix that feed Millennials instant waiting-for-the-marshmallow-is-stupid culture. Now, audiences can watch whatever, whenever,
and wherever they want.
But then again, the content is not
exactly shabby. Aside from TV show
episodes available on the boobtube,
there are a couple of goodmake
that excellentall-original shows
that you wouldnt be able to watch
anywhere else. Shows like Marvels
Daredevil, Bloodline, Unbreakable
Kimmy Schmidt, Bojack Horseman,
Grace and Frankie, Sense8, and Marvels Jessica Jones, which, along with
Daredevil, will usher in the much-

awaited Defenders.
Well, Filipinos will finally be able
to enjoy content like those series with
Netflix coming to the Philippines this
year via Globe Telecom. Customers
on a Home Broadband Plan 1299 and
up can access Netflix with Chromecast, a thumb-sized media streaming
device that plugs into the High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI)
port of ones television set at home.
With Chromecast, customers can cast
their smartphone, tablet, or laptop to
a bigger screen for a better and more
inclusive viewing experience. Platinum Broadband customers can also
avail of Chromecast for free starting
at Plan 2499 to Plan 9499. Globe Store,
any authorized Globe agent, 02 730
1010, www.tattoo.globe.com.ph

ALWAYS STREAMING Some of Netflix's best shows (clockwise from top left)
Daredevil, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Jessica Jones, and Bojack Horseman

Yellow Magenta Cyan

Black
ymv

E-4
Sunday, January 10, 2016

Embrace
Your
'Diversity'

Jessica Biel wears Flossy Corella navy

striped plimsoll

hat do stylist-to-the-stars Bea

Constantino, rising athlete
and model Jessey de Leon,
up-and-coming model Yanna
Cowper, burgeoning photographer Jelito
De Leon, and veteran DJ Nina Saputil
have in common? They are all putting their
own unique, all-original marks in their respective industries.
The five influencers, who all led Flossy
footwears aspirational Live on Your Own
Terms campaign, believe that being yourself and developing your own voice and
style are important to success. Thus, they
are encouraging the youth to express themselves and fearlessly pursue their passions,
however and whenever they want.
With its wide array of prints, patterns,
and styles, Flossy is a footwear brand that
imbibes the quintessential vibe of carefree Ibiza. Jessica Biel, Rihanna, Kristen
Stewart, and Jessica Alba are fans of the
comfy plimsolls.
Available at Flossy boutiques, Bratpack, and ResToeRun stores as well as at
www.zalora.com.ph, Instagram/@flossyfootwearph, Facebook/flossyfootwearPH,
#IamFlossy

LIFE ON THEIR OWN TERMS Clockwise from

top left: Bea Constantino, Nina Saputil,
Jelito De Leon, and Yanna Cowper

Yellow Magenta Cyan

Black
ymv

Editor: AA PATAWARAN
@mblifestyle
MB Lifestyle
@manilabulletinlifestyle

Life & Leisure

F1 Sunday, January 10, 2016

mblifestyle@gmail.com

Cebu gears up forthe

51stInternational
Eucharistic Congress
Its bigger than the APEC meetingsand the
biggest Catholic event onthe island
since Pope John Paul IIs visit

By Mars W. Mosqueda, Jr.

51st IEC Congress, for free. The total

cost of thepavilion, which is now ready
to host the gathering, is more than
R550 million.
Rafaelito Barino, president of Dulos Land Properties Inc, said he decided to construct the building for free
following a meeting with Palma.If not

he Queen City of the Southis

rolling out its red carpet for
the more than 15,000 local
and international delegates
to the 51st International Eucharistic
Congress (IEC), which will run from
Jan.24 to 31.
It will be the second time that the
Philippines will hold the IEC,an international gathering aimed at promoting
an awareness of the central place of
the Eucharist in the life and mission
of the Catholic Church. In 1952, Manila
hosted the event.
Cebus hosting of the 51st IEC is
both timely and historic, considering
that January is also the month when
the city celebrates the feast of the miraculous Holy Child, Sto. Nio, and
Cebu has long been considered as
Asias Cradle of Christianity.
The Archdiocese of Cebu, which
plays host to the gathering,considers
the IEC as an ecclesial event of the
Church focused on stimulating the
faith of the Catholics in the real presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist
and on promoting an increased zeal
for and devotion to the Eucharist outside of Mass.
Cebu has long prepared for the
51st IEC congress, with organizers

main forever.
Organizers also lauded the participation of the public and private
sector in the preparations. The Cebu
City Traffic Office (CCTO) has already launched traffic dry-runs
to ensure that traffic situation during the event will be seamless and
manageable. The event organizers,
including church officials and city
government, are concerned about
the traffic problem foreseen at the
IEC venues.
CCTO is now prepared but we are
still refining the traffic plan. We are
coordinating our plans with IEC (organizers). We still have to hold aseries
of meetings with representatives of
church officials for IEC, said CCTO
operations head Jonathan Tumulak.Several roads will be totally closed
while others will be opened only for
public vehicles.
Catholic schools and selected public schools in Cebu have also declared
suspension of classes during the IEC
week. These include the University of
San Jose-Recoletos, University of San
Carlos, St. Theresas College, Colegio
de la Immaculada Concepcin,and the
Don Bosco Technology Center. Palma
was thankful that some schools have
voluntarily suspended classes and
asked the public for understanding
and patience during the IEC.
For its part, the Police Regional
Office 7 is also finalizing its security preparations for the gathering
as police officials admitted that securing the IEC Congress is even
more challenging that securing the
Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Meetings because of
the number of delegates and the
different venues involved.
Senior Supt. Rey Lyndon Lawas,
the Police Regional Office (PRO) 7
directorial staff chief, said the ad hoc

Cebus hosting of the 51st IEC is both timely and

historic considering that January is also the month
when the city celebrates the feast of the miraculous
Holy Child, Sto. Nio, and Cebu has long been
considered as Asias Cradle of Christianity.
HOLY PREP From top: The blessing of the Monstrance at the Archdiocesan Solemn
Opening of the Holy Door at the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral last Dec. 13, 2015; There
will be a presentation of the Sinulog during the IEC proper (Image by Juan Carlo de
Vega); The Committee for International Eucharistic Congresses in Cebu to oversee
preparations

mapping out security, crowd control,

traffic, and other details as early as
2014. Msgr. Dennis Villarojo, secretary general of the IEC 2016 local
committee, said early preparations
mean no important details will be
missed to ensure a successful and
orderly congress.
When Cebu was chosen to host

the international gathering, Cebu

Archbishop Jose Palma wondered where the event will be hosted, considering the enormous crowd
that is expected to come to Cebu and
join the congress.
One Cebuano, however, approached
Palma and said he would build a
newpavilionthat couldbe used for the

for Duros, we would not be able to cope

with the entire Eucharistic Congress,
Archbishop Palma said.
For his part, Archbishop Emeritus Ricardo Cardinal Vidal said he
believes that the IEC Pavillion, which
can accommodate about 15,000 people,
is a miracle from God.
I could hardly believe that this
would happen, that we have a pavilion as huge as this, as beautiful as
this. God has given this and made
this a reality. Lord, thank you for
giving us this building, Cardinal
Vidal said. I hope that it will re-

task group on IEC and Sinulog had

requested Camp Crame for additional
support from special units, including
the militarys Explosives Ordnance
Division (EOD) and bomb-sniffing
dogs squad.
The 51stIEC Congress will culminate with a Holy Mass at the South
Road Properties with an expected
crowd of about amillion.The said Mass
will be celebrated by CardinalCharles
Maung Bo from the Archdiocese of
Yangon, Myanmar. Cardinal Bo has
been appointed by Pope Francis the
Papal Legate to the 51st IEC.

Yellow Magenta Cyan

Black
ymv

Bulletin Board

F-2

Sunday, January 10, 2016

2016 TAIWAN MOE SCHOLARSHIPS

ARE NOW OPEN FOR FILIPINO STUDENTS

MAKING HISTORY PLDT Home and Smart make history yet again

as it give the gift of entertainment in partnership with leading Internet TV service iflix.
The multimedia and digital services leaders recently announced all its subscribers
can now access iflix at no extra cost. Iflix also launched the worlds first frictionless
feature which grants PLDT Home and Smart subscribers seamless access to iflix
with no sign in requirement alongside with the power to download their favorite
movies and TV shows and watch them later. In photo during the announcement
are: (from left) iflix Chief Business Development Officer Andreas van Maltzahn, iflix
Country Manager Sherwin dela Cruz, iflix Chairman and CEO Patrick Grove, PLDT/
Smart Chairman Manny V. Pangilinan, PLDT/Smart EVP and Head of Consumer
Business Ariel P. Fermin, and iflix Technical Advisor Tim Parsons.

WORLD VISION AND ZONROX GENTLE

CLEANS WHITE EVENT BRINGS HOPE
TO MALABON STUDENTS

International child-focused organization, World Vision, in a tie-up with Zonrox Gentle

Clean, launched the White Event, an online celebrity auction for a cause. The
campaign gathered different celebrities and influencers who donated their white
personal belongings for auction at the www.whiteevent.ph website. All proceeds
from this one-of-a-kind fund-raiser was donated for the rehabilitation of classrooms
in Catmon Integrated School, a public school where over 4,500 children share less
than 30 classrooms. Recently, Zonrox executives turned over the donation worth
R150,000 to World Vision Executive Director Josaias dela Cruz. We are very honored
to have partnered with a very trusted Filipino brand in bringing comfort and hope to our
students. The concept was very beautiful, too. It only shows that celebrities, corporate
organizations, and the general public can get together and make a difference in the
lives of children, says Dela Cruz. The White Event auction gave celebrities and
anyone a chance to share their comfort for the benefit of others. This was a unique
way of bringing hope and inspiration to the youth of Catmon. Zonrox Gentle Clean fully
supports this partnership with World Vision, shares Nicole Postrado, Zonrox Brand
Manager. Rosalie Cabanilla, principal at Catmon Integrated School said that, We
cant be thankful enough to the organizers of the White Event. The school is inspired
more than ever in making everyones learning experience worthwhile. Celebrities
who participated in the online auction include Julie Anne San Jose, Miriam Quiambao,
Tessie Tomas, Celeste Legaspi, Tessa Prieto-Valdes, Eula Valdez, Ely Buendia, Nikki
Gil, Marc Nelson, Tweetie De Leon, Aljur Abrenica, Tippy Dos Santos, Say Alonzo,
Chris Tiu, Jasmine Curtis-Smith, Jing Castaneda, Lynda Jumilla, Cat Arambulo, Kryz
Uy, and many others. In photo: Green Cross, Inc.s Mariz Luis, and Nicole Postrado,
(Zonrox Gentle Clean category and brand managers, respectively), symbolically hand
over White Event proceeds to Josaias dela Cruz, executive director at World Vision
Philippines for the benefit of Catmon Integrated School.

GOOD BREAD,
GOOD LIFE
WITH
JULIES
BAKESHOP
Many Filipinos get their morning off to a good
start with enlivening rolls of bread dipped in a
proper cup of coffee, especially when theres
fresh, hot, and delicious Julies Bakeshop
pandesal and Julies Kape. With a healthy
and tasty habit of starting their day with Julies
pandesal and other bread items, Filipinos can be
said to have a good life with Julies Bakeshop. In
the local language, this translates as Magandang
Buhay sa Tinapay. For 35 years, Julies Bakeshop
has been providing people with Magandang
Buhay sa Tinapay, not just with the eating of
yummy pandesal and other bread products
but also with the franchising of the bakery
itself. In celebration of 35 years of the good
life with good bread, Julies Bakeshop gives
back to the community by declaring its anniversary, January 6, as National
Pandesal Day. On that day, Filipinos were able to buy a pack of 10 pieces of
Julies pandesal for only P3.50 for a maximum of 2 packs per transaction
from 6-7 a.m. at participating Julies Bakeshop branches nationwide.

In line with the policy of Taiwan to strengthen its academic linkages with its neighboring and friendly
countries, the 2016 Taiwan Ministry of Education (MOE) Scholarship programs are now open for Filipino
students to apply. The MOE Scholarship is offered specifically to qualified international students who
wish to pursue their higher education in Taiwan. The applications should be submitted through Taipei
Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in the Philippines for initial assessment and processing. Since
1995, more than 100 outstanding Filipino students have received the above-mentioned scholarship and
successfully functioned as a bridge to enhance cultural understanding and cultivate genuine friendship
between Taiwan and the Philippines. The Taiwan Scholarship program is widely accepted by Filipinos
as this not only enables them to pursue higher education but also offers an opportunity for them to
experience cross-cultural journey and experience Taiwans vibrant culture first hand. Two recipients of
the Taiwan MOE Scholarships will be selected this year to pursue their post-graduate studies (Master
Degree or Doctoral Degree) in Taiwan universities of their choice. The program duration is 2 years for
students of the Master Program and 4 years for Doctoral Program. The MOE awards each recipient
NTD 40,000 per semester to cover the tuition fee. Recipients will receive an extra monthly subsistence
allowance of NTD 20,000 to cover other expenses. Applicants must meet all of the criteria as stated in the
scholarship guidelines posted in the Taiwan MOEs website as follows:https://taiwanscholarship.moe.gov.
tw. Application form and list of requirements are also available at the MOE website. Application period is
open from February 1 to March 31, 2016. Applicants must send completed application form and relevant
documents to Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in the Philippines before the said due date. For
more information regarding the requirements and the application process, prospective applicants may
call 887-6688 ext. 141 or visit TECOs website at http://www.roc-taiwan.org/ph.

UP-SURP CONFERENCE ON RURAL COMMUNITIES

The UP School of Urban and Regional Planning (SURP) recently concluded an international conference
on climate change, with special focus on rural communities, dubbed Developing Sustainable and
Resilient Rural Communities in the Midst of Climate
Change: A Challenge to Disaster Preparedness and
Mitigation Strategies. Held in December 2015, the
conference was presented by the University of the
Philippines, UP SURP, UP Planning and Research
Development Foundation, Inc. (PLANADES), with
co-convenors Asia Center Japan Foundation and the
Department of Environment and Natural Resources
(DENR). Ayala Land, Inc. co-presented the event, while
Globe Telecom was major sponsor. Media partners for
the conference included The Philippine Star, The Manila
Bulletin, Philippine Daily Inquirer, WhenInManila,
rappler.com, and ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp. In his
keynote address, Professor Mamoru Kanzaki noted
that sustainability under the changing climate can be
achieved by continuous adaptation to the changing
environmental
and
socio-economic
conditions.
He suggests diversity in land use, for long-term
sustainability, noting that a land-use or a landscape
designed to maximize its productivity frequently loses
the capability to adapt to changing conditions. At the
conference, more than 25 experts from several Asian
nations and the Philippines shared their knowledge
and experiences, with the goal of providing insight
on how to best respond to the continuing changes in
our environment. The confab is envisioned to be a
staging ground for more of these interchanges, with
special focus on our rural areas, which have unique
development needs, and are a primary source of food, water and shelter materials for our cities. A
continuation conference is planned in mid 2016. Shown presenting the Certificate of Appreciation to
keynote speaker Mamoru Kanzaki, Kyoto University-Graduate School of Agriculture Professor, Japan,
is Mario R. delos Reyes, UP SURP Dean.

SM BILLS
PAYMENT
COUNTERS
NOW ACCEPT
AFPMBAI
LOAN &
INSURANCE
PREMIUM
PAYMENTS
In addition to its many government
services payment acceptance for SSS
contributions, PhilHealth social health
insurance & Pag-IBIG housing loans,
among others the SM Bills Payment
counters now accept insurance premium
and loan payments for the Armed Forces
and Police Mutual Benefit Association,
Inc. (AFPMBAI) products. With that,
AFPMBAI members can now make
payment transactions seven days a week
at over 200 branches of SM Bills Payment
counters located in SM malls, the SM
Store, SM Supermarket, SM Hypermarket
and Savemore nationwide. This will
make transactions more convenient for
members, saving them time from having
to visit the AFPMBAI regional offices. The
Armed Forces and Police Mutual Benefit
Association, Inc. (AFPMBAI) is the life
insurance arm of the Armed Forces of
the Philippines (AFP), the Philippine
National Police (PNP), the Bureau of
Fire Protection (BFP), the Bureau of Jail
Management and Penology (BJMP),
and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).
It is a non-stock, non-profit corporation,
licensed by the Insurance Commission
as a mutual benefit association that
extends benefits and services, such as
life insurance, housing, educational,
salary and calamity financial products
for the welfare and financial security of
its members. Membership has likewise
broadened to include the dependents
of regular members, the civilian or nonuniformed personnel of the different
branches of service, and other persons
performing activities related to national
security and preservation of peace and
order. To formalize the partnership, SM
Mart, Inc. recently signed a Memorandum
of Agreement with the Armed Forces
and Police Mutual Benefit Association,
Inc. at the AFPMBAI Bldg. in Quezon
City. In photo during the MOA-signing
are AFPMBAI President & CEO MGEN
Edgardo Rene Samonte AFP (Ret.) (right)
and SM Mart, Inc. SAVP for Business
Center Operations Dennis Yaw.

CELEBRATE
SINULOG
TA BAI
WITH METRO

Metro Department Store has everything you need for the

Sinulog Festival. Colorful and festive Sinulog shirts are
available in all sizes, for kids, teens, ladies, and mens. Shorts
and pants are also available to pair up with your tees. Complete
your ensemble with fashionable shades, bracelets, necklaces,
caps/sunvisors, tote and sling bags. Pair them with Manjaru
espadrilles and Sandugo footwear. Protect your skin from the
sun by using Nivea SPF50 Sun Protect and Refresh Cooling
Mist. Different colored hairsprays are also available. Preparing
the feast for Sinulog will not be a hassle as Metro Supermarket
has product bundles. With a minimum purchase, shoppers can
also get free Sinulog items like T-shirt, miniature sleeping Sto.
Nio or a miniature Sto. Nio. Feel the festive vibe. Come to
your nearest Metro Store and shop.

Yellow Magenta Cyan

Black
ymv

Lifestyle

Sunday, January 10, 2016

F-3

Glamour and Dance

A

Dean of the Consular Corps of the

Philippines, Monaco Consul General
Fortune Aleta Ledesma with past dean,
minister and deputy chief of mission,
Japan Consul General Tetsuro Amano

USA deputy chief of mission

Michael Klecheski and Gambia
Consul Agnes Huibonhoa

Becky Garcia and

Anjana Hasper

celebration of its
ruby jubilee, the
Consular Corps
of the Philippines
40th annual Consular Ball,
held recently at the Makati
Shangri-las Rizal Ballroom, was a night filled
with beauty, glamour, and
dance.
Event chairperson Monaco Honorary Consul General Fortune Ledesma said
in her speech: The ball
has lived up to its longtime
tradition of being the annual highlight
of the Philippine international communitys diplomatic-consular calendar.
Seated at the deans table are guests of
honor Foreign Affairs secretary Albert
del Rosario and wife, Gretchen; Felix
and Grace Ang of CATS Motors; Dr.
Francis Chua, Philippine Chamber of
Commerce and Industry (PCCI) chairman emeritus, and Peru Honorary
Consul General and his wife Tanzania
Honorary Consul Betty Ang. Betty is
the balls co-chair and corps auditor,
among others.
Celebrity host Johnny Litton
introduced outgoing dean Tetsuro
Amano, minister, deputy chief of mis-

Babes Romualdez and Arthur Lopez

Kathya Guevara of Panama,

Mme. Irene Reeder of
Canada, and Mme. Toni
Pachett of Chile

Ukraine Consul General

Oscar de Venecia and
Connie Beltran

Tina Carlos and Ivory

Coast Consul General
Vince Carlos

Mme. Lizia Lu
of Israel and
Mme. Ana Maria
Villaseor

sion, and Consul General

of Japan. In his speech,
Amano thanked the executive and advisory boards as
well as all committee chairmen and members for their
support for core activities
during the year. Fortune
then gave her acceptance
speech as incoming 2016
dean of the Corps and for
having chaired the annual
Consular Ball for 32 years.
Acknowledgment of the
ball committee, the Award of
Merit, went to Dr. Juan Pena, Consul
General a.h. Estonia.
Thirteen pairs from the consular
and diplomatic corps waltzed in a
dance presentation. Major raffle prizes
from sponsors included airline tickets,
cruise ship vacation, resorts packages. Among the major raffle sponsors
were Philippine Airlines, Etihad Airways, Royal Caribbean International,
Cebu Pacific, Thai Airways, Palawans
Huma Resort and Spa, to name a few.
The dance floor was packed as revelers enjoyed the Paparazzi and Highway 54 bands.
www.facebook.com/tinahidalgojacinto www.tinajacinto.com

Gretchen del Rosario

Aurora Sagaz and

Thelma Gana

Maurice Lim and Lulu

Castaeda

Baby Luat and

Nena Casimiro

Sec. Albert del

Rosario

Ping Valencia, Mme. Ziki Ralte,

and Amb. LA Ralte of India

Ambassador
Roberto Bosch and
Mme. Julia Bosch

Amb. Neil Reeder

of Canada and
Mme. Irene
Reeder

The author, Consul Louie Ablaza, and

Consul Mellie Ablaza

Johnny Litton, Grace Ang, and

Felix Ang

Monthip Upatising and

Thai Ambassador Thanatip
Upatising

Olga Martel

Tessie Rodrigo and

Rose Lazaro

Rico Garcia and Maribel Calma

Tanzania
Consul Betty
Chua

Amb.
Effie Ben
Matityau
of Israel

Ambassador Victor Garcia and

Connie Garcia

Gilda Antonio and

Ambassador Joey Antonio

Mariana
Mayorga

Connie Toledo and Mike

Toledo

Susie Bayot, Fanny Blanco,

and Georgette Wilson

Conchitina
Bernardo and
Amb. Lani
Delano-Bernardo

Eritrea Consul General George

Yang and Pabling Calma

Laila on My Mind
ANGEL THOUGHTS
Gods promises:
I will give you rest.
I will strengthen you.
I believe in you.
I will bless you.
I am for you.
I will not fail you.
I will provide for you.
I will be with you.
I love you.
Sent by Vicki
Tanjuatco

fice, she focused on election law, and then was appointed chairman of the
Human Rights Commission. PNoy drafted her
into his cabinet where
she was one of the performing assets we all
admired.
A bicolana from Iriga
DEEDEE M.
City, Camarinas Sur, this
SIYTANGCO
is the first time Laila will
run for a political office,
as Senator. Her performance in the
At our recent Bulong Pulungan
DOJ has been spectacular, to say
session at Sofitel, we had feisty
the least.
Laila de Lima, (in Arabic, her name
Elsewhere...GMR-Megawide
means nocturnal beauty) the forCebu Airport Corp. (GMCAC) has
mer secretary of Justice as guest.
announced that after several months
She did not disappoint us with her
of discussions with Emirates Airline,
witty and straight answers.
there will be daily Cebu-Clark-Dubai
Laila is both a La Sallite and a
circular services starting March 30
Bedan, having gotten her AB Histhis year with a wide-bodied Boetory and Political Science degrees
ing 777-300ER. Passengers perks
from La Salle University and her
include enjoying the airlines awardlaw degree from San Beda. She took
winning ice entertainment system
the bar in 1985 and was in the top
with more than 500 channels of oneight. Laila worked in the Supreme
demand entertainment to choose
Court under Justice Isagani Cruz
from, including Filipino movies and
and then became the secretary of
music. Srinivas Bommidala, chairthe House of Representatives Elecman of the GMCAC board noted that
toral Tribunal. She also joined Raul
the new and diverse routes for Cebu
Rocos law office and taught at her
were supported by careful economic
alma mater.
studies to ensure its long-term susWhen she established her law oftainability as well as the economic

Senatoriable Laila de Lima [Image by Valeria Sorrenti]

and social benefits for passengers

and businesses. Emirates operates
multiple daily frequencies at GMRs
airports in Delhi and Hyderabad
(India). The routes offer convenient
and viable alternatives to travelers
departing from and going to Visayas

and Mindanao.
Louie Ferrer, GMCAC president, confirmed that the routes
form the basis of GMCACs strategic vision of connecting Cebu
to key global destinations and the
routes are the first of many new

ones to be launched.
Filipinos living in Visayas and
Mindanao who go to the Middle East
and Europe will benefit from this.
Now, they can fly directly from Cebu
and save hard-earned money that
they would usually spend on board,
lodging, and transportation when
departing from Manila, Ferrer
said.
A large number of OFWs
reside in central and southern Philippines but they still have to make
their way to Manila for their flights.
If we can give ourkababayansthe
opportunity to spend even one extra
day with their loved ones by allowing
them to fly out directly from Cebu,
then weve done our job, he said.
The Emirates route connects to
39 cities in Europe, 16 in the Middle
East as well as a number of destinations across its extensive network.
Andrew Harrison, GMCAC chief
executive advisor, noted that the improvements of facilities at MCIA play
a big part in attracting airlines with
multiple products such as economy
and business class, offering travelers more choices.
MCIA is the second busiest airport in the Philippines with the capacity to handle 4.5 million passengers a year and will surge to 12.5
million when the new terminal is
unveiled by June 2018.

Yellow Magenta Cyan

Black
ymv

Lifestyle

F-4

Sunday, January 10, 2016

HOPE

IN A

DRESS

MBxLM launches a one-of-a-kind

collection for a special auction
Images by Noel B. pabalate

n Jan. 18, at the Mayuree

ballroom of the Dusit Thani,
a merging of high and wearable art and fashion, rendered in 40 breathtaking, one-of-a-kind
couture creations, will be sold at a silent auction to benefit two charities.
The first ever collaboration of Love
Marie Ongpauco-Escudero and designer Mark Bumgarner, produced
in a span of nine months, features 40
dresses, 15 of which was painted on by
Love Marie (a.k.a. Heart Evangelista), a prolific actress who is now well
on her way to becoming an equally
prolific painter and whose works of

by handwhich accentuates the female form, like the white corset tea
dress that accentuates the waistline.
This dress is dedicated to the
power woman, Heart says. This is
actually especially made with a doctor in mind who works at a hospital
that treats patients with thalassemia,
a blood disorder that can be likened to
leukemia, and that requires chelation
as part of the therapyan expensive
treatment. The cost for each patient
averages R20,000 a month.
Each dress is earmarked for a special charity organization, with Corridors of Hope, a foundation for cancer-

The first ever collaboration of Love Marie Ongpauco

Escudero and designer Mark Bumgarner, produced
in a span of nine months, features 40 dresses, 15 of
which was painted on by Love Marie.
art, exhibited both here and abroad,
can easily fetch six figures (on the
high end).
Drawn from varied inspirations
and ideas,
the dainty dresses
timeless and edgy, but wearable and
basic, says Hearttakes its cue from
the designers and painters love for
the feminine, both culled from nature
and their own artistic sensibilities.
Says Mark, [Our ideas] came from
art, gardens, flowers, and vines. Bumgarners aesthetic have always veered
toward womanly silhouettes, and each
creation is handdraped, handtopped,
handembellishedeach piece made

stricken children, being the other chosen beneficiary.

Mark adds, I didnt design with
a specific woman in mind, but each
dress is designed to make the wearerwhoever she isfeel beautiful.
Heart smiles, And when a woman
feels beautiful, she can do anything,
and everything else follows.
The best thing is, because each
dress is a work of art, 10 years down
the line, when its made its appearance
in every important event (or if youve
gone up or down a few dress sizes),
you can always follow Hearts cheeky
advice: Cut it up and frame it.

DESIGNED TO HELP
Mark Bumgarner and
Heart Evangelista
collaborate on a 40piece collection to be
auctioned off for the
benefit of two charities.

Yellow Magenta Cyan

Black
ymv

Editor: AA PATAWARAN
@mblifestyle
MB Lifestyle
@manilabulletinlifestyle

Travel
Section Editor: KRIZETTE CHU
G1 Sunday, January 10, 2016

mblifestyle@gmail.com

36C
BELOW
ZERO
Braving the Freezing Cold
ArcticCircle with the
NenetsReindeerHerders ofSiberia
By CHRISTINE AMOUR LEVAR

lthough their world now also

incorporates some modernitemssuch as phones,generators, and snowmobiles,
their way of life remains pure and in
many ways far richer,moremeaningful than ours.
Its head facing east, the animals eyes bulge out and its tongue
hangs limply to one side as the rope
around its neck, pulled by three broadshouldered herders, squeezes the remaininglife out of it.Slowlyitsresistance
weakens, its eyes are fixed on a point
in the gray Arctic sky above, then suddenly, complete stillness. For centuries,theNenetsofSiberiahave beenliving off reindeer meat and blood, utilizingevery inch of the animalfrom hide to
heart, to bone and antlers evennothing iseverwasted.Every so often, when
the tribe needs meat, this sacred
ritual as old as time begins anew.

A reindeer is carefully selected from

the herdand strangled inthis traditionalmanner, itsheadalways facing east.
EPIC MIGRATIONS AND
AGE-OLD RITUALS
As soon as the animal is dead,
the hide is meticulously removed
and kept in one piece to be used
for clothing. Then the feasting begins and everyone starts to tear out
pieces of kidney, liver, heart, or whatever parts they most enjoy, occasionally dipping and swirling the bits in
the open carcass,which still holdsthe
reindeers warm blood. A small
saucepan containing blood is passed
around, and each one takes a turn to
have a drink. Reindeer blood is rich
in minerals andvitamins,believedessentialto stayinghealthyin the harsh
environment of the Arctictundra.
When its my turnto have a drink,
Ihesitate justforamoment.I grabthe
dripping saucepan, take a couple of
small gulps, andswirl thewarm blood
around my mouthtoshow that Iappreciatethe full flavor. It tastessalty,not
at all unpleasant. Pretty good, I
manage to blurt out, grinning with

EPIC MIGRATION Today, more than

10,000 nomads herd 300,000
domestic reindeers on the pastures of
the Arctic Tundra

red teeth shining.Next,I willinglytrya

piece of raw reindeer kidney, which
I enjoy a little less because of its gelatinous texture, and finally a bite of
rawliver,considered a real delicacyby
the Nenets, which I find quite tasty
andastenderasfreshbutter.
Im certain my eagerness to try
these newfound treats is fueled by
the fact that my Women On A Mission teammates and I feel extremely privileged to accompany these exceptional people during a portion of
their epic yearly migration across the
frozen gulf of Ob, in northern Russia.

TheNenetsof theYamalPeninsulaare among

the worldsoldest survivingtrue nomads. They
areguardians of a style of reindeer herding that
is the very last of its kind.
We are a team of nine women from
Singapore, Dubai, London, and Kuala
Lumpur and ultimately, weve embarked on thisadventure toraise awareness andfundsforwomen survivors of
war.By trekking undersuchhashcon-

ditions, we hope to inspire women to

leave their comfort zone, their families
and homes for a certain period of time,
while pushing their limits in an effort to
rally support for a worthy cause.Even
if we could never claim totruly understandthe suffering survivors of wargo
through, bydoing somethingchallenging,so alien to our own way of life,and
dedicating it to these
brave women, we believe we are standing
in solidarity with them,
and it givesus strength
a s
we face the howling arctic
winds and debilitating temperatures
ofSiberia.
TheNenetsof theYamalPeninsulaare among the worldsoldest survivingtrue nomads. They areguardians of a style of reindeer herding
that is the very last of its kind. Every year, as part of their migration,
they travel 2,000 kilometers seeking
fresh pastures for their herds. In
their language, Yamal means the
end of the worldand indeed,as we
journey with them in this vast Arctic desert, along with their gigantic
reindeer herds, we feelas if wearepioneers, standing at the very edge of
humanitysfirstsettlement.

DANGERS ON THE TUNDRA

The Nenets ancestors came from
the Altai-Sayan region near Mongolia and intermarried with a shortstatured aboriginal Arctic tribe.Today,
thereare around 40,000nomadic reindeer herders throughout Russia, of
whom 10,000 live in Yamal. In the
1930s,the Soviet government enforced
schooling for all Nenets children. As
a result, the majority of Nenets living in Siberia today have been educated at boarding schools, away
from their camps. Despite this drastic change in their upbringing, however,asmanyas 50percent of themreturn to the tundra, taking what they
want from mainstream society without
letting it affect their cultural identity. Yuri, the head of our tribe, tells
us those who choose life as nomads
do so because they want to, not because they have to. And even if
the Russian government has built
a massive gas pipeline across
theirland,whichincidentallyholdsalmost a quarter of the worlds known gas
reserves,theirway of lifeendures.
On migration days we are up at 4
a.m. helping the women dismantle the
camp and load their belongings on
thesledges,while themengo off tolasso the specially trained transport reindeers from the main herd. Once the
reindeersareharnessed to each of the
sleighs,the tribe is ready to go. Then begins thejourney that spans20 to25 kilometersto the nextencampment,with
the sleighs forming a two-kilometerlong convoy snaking its way

G2

Yellow Magenta Cyan

Black
ymv

Lifestyle

G-2

Sunday, January 10, 2016

G1 36C BELOW ZERO

across the frozen landscape. We wont
eat or drink all day,or at least until the
new camp is set up.Its overcastand so
dreadfully cold. When the wind picks
up and the snow begins to swirlviolently around us, the temperatures plummet to minus 36 degrees Celsius. We
are grateful for the reindeer fur coats
and thigh-high boots the Nenets have
lent us. In these extreme conditions,
however, despite the many layers we
wear,our extremities begin to feel dangerously numb.The biggest risk,as we
spend close to 10 hours without shelter, is frostbite and hypothermia. We
are aware that if our bodys core temperature drops by just one or two degrees,hypothermia can set in, which is
usually accompanied by mental confusion and, in extreme cases, with paradoxical undressing(wherea person removes their clothing)and evencardiac
arrest. Thus we keep a watchful eye
on each other throughout the day for
anyearly warningsigns.
When the nomads find a suitable
place to set up camp, usually near
alargeflat area where the herd caneasilyberounded up,Yuristicks hiskhorei(herding stick)into the ground at the
place where he wants the centerof his
chum(traditional conical tentmade of
reindeer hides) to be. Everyone then
starts unloading sledges, unharnessing reindeer, and setting up chums,
withYurischum always on the far right
as viewed from behind and the entrances of all chums facing the same way.
THE MYSTICAL WOMEN IN
NENETS CULTURE
Once the camp is finally set up,
itstime forwarmtea and a feast of
frozen fish and bread laid out in front
of us as we all pile eagerly into the
chumstowarm up.Antonina, Yuris
mother, brings out the vodka, while
the familys nine dogs curl up on
the furs around us watching expectantly for any scraps. She then
begins to tell us about the rules.
InNenetsculture women have a lot
of mystical powers, she begins. We
are elated to hear this, then quickly realize theres more to it. Anything to do with thebirth-givingarea
of a womans body can be harmful
and is considered somewhat of a
taboo, she explains. We soon discover the laws of the tribe, as it relates to women: We are not allowed
to show or flaunt our bodies or any
of our feminine undergarments.
Those are to be kept hidden in our
bags at all time. We are not allowed
to step over men or any of their
tools, a rule unfortunately many
of us fail miserably to remember over the next few days, given
therestricted space in the chums. If
wecomeacross one of themenslassos or tools on the ground while
walkingthrough the camp, we must
alwayswalk around itand never over
it,lest we incur horrible bad luck for

RETURN TO THE TUNDRA

At present, despite drastic changes
in their upbringing, 50 percent of
Nenets return to the tundra without
letting mainstream life affect their
cultural identity.

the whole tribe.Additionally, wecannotcrossor put our hand through the

invisible line, which goes from the
center of each chum all the way to
the back of the tentand extendsanother 100 meters outside. Toileting activities have to be carefully
conducted out of sight of any of the
men, which in itself is a real challenge given the Nenets men are in
constant motion, checking on their
herdor doingchores,comingin and
out of the campfrom any side andat
any time. Additionally, the landscapearound the camp,althoughincredibly stunning, is for the most
part completely flat, thus our trips
to the toilet turn into real treks
of 200 to 300 meters or more, sometimesinknee-high snow.
Furthermore, despite carefully planning our toileting expeditions
with great precision and strategy,
wediscover,to our horror,that the reindeercravethe salt in our urine! Thus
they constantly shadow us like ninjas
andpounce on us when weareat our
most vulnerable, with pants down,
clinging without any success to the
lastshredof our dignity.
Other camp activities include chopping wood, in order to keep the stoves
in the chums burning, drawing water
through a manmade hole and pulling it back to camp on a sleigh, as well
as weaving traditional belts and otherarticles.The work is constant and yet
when we look up on occasion and take in
the magnificent scenery around us, we
are reminded of the extraordinary journey we are experiencing and drink in
thisotherworldly landscape, whichkeeps
usquite literally spellbound.

A LIFE PURE AND SIMPLE

Living with the Nenets is truly
an unprecedented honor. As of today,
just a handful of people have ever
experienced traveling with them.
Wearein fact the largest group theyve
ever hosted and certainly the first all-

female team to journey with them

during a migration. As we completely
immerse ourselves into their rich and
well-preserved culture, sharing their
meals, dressing like them, and doing
our share of chores, it givesus an incredible glimpse of their ancient traditions and sacred rituals.
As the days go by, we falldeeperin
love with the majestic Arctic scenery and the remarkable way of life
of the nomads. We learn to appreciate the tranquillity of the boundless
empty spaces, while the deafening silence of the frozen tundra keepsus suspended in time.Thedramaticsunrises
and sunsets are unforgettable, even
if we often confuse the two given the
days are so short. The temperatures
dip toclose tominus40degrees Celsius
while we are there, butthe Nenetstell
us it will get much colder and reach
minus 50 degrees Celsius during the
late winter months.
Despite the harshness of the environment, weadapt surprisingly wellto
our new way of life, but its also because the Nenets are so hospitable,
treating us like their daughters, making sure we are warm and well fed
at all times. Yuris pregnant wife Elenaseesthat Iam about tostepoutof
the chum to goherding with the men,
who have made an exception by inviting our womens team to see how
they move 10,000 reindeer across the
tundra. I cant find my balaclava, essential to avoid frostbite when riding on the snowmobiles to reach the
herd. Elena quickly pulls off her own
embroidered scarf and ties it tightly
across my face to make sure theskin
is protected, while whispering words
ofmotherlyconcern intheNenetslanguage,as I run out.
Undoubtedly the proud Nenets peo-

ple have cast a beautiful spell on us.The

contrast with our comfortable, materialistic lives could not be more extreme. Although their world now also
incorporates some modern items such
as phones,generators,and snowmobiles,
their way of liferemainspure andin many
ways far richer, more meaningful than
ours. By sharing the simplicity of their
existence, the Nenets remind us of the
real importance of communityandfamily
values for survival.Most important, they
show us that living simply and one with
nature isenough. Needless to say, as a result,thishumblingexperiencewill count
as one of the highlights of our lives.ThenobleNenetspeopleofSiberiawill remainin
our hearts, unforgettable.
--------Women On A Mission(WOAM),nonprofit organization headquartered in
Singapore, combines challengingselffunded expeditionary travel to remote locations around the worldwith
the
support
of
humanitarian
causes.ThisSiberiaexpeditionaimed
to raise funds for Women for Women
International, an independent humanitarian organization, which provides women survivors of war, civil
strife, and other conflicts with tools
and resources to move from crisis and
poverty to stability and self-sufficiency.Photo credit:WOAM
Expedition partners:Secret Compass

GETTING THERE
We flew from Singapore to Moscow on Singapore Airlines and
spent one night in Moscow. The
next day we flew three hours northeastonYamalAirlines toSalekhard.
Salekhard is the only city in the
world located right on the Arctic
Circle and today it is mostly known
as the Russian oil and gas industrys main entry point into Siberia. In Salekhard we climbed into
a monster amphibious ATV (allterrain vehicle) with chest-high
wheels. Two hours into the journey
as we were driving over the frozen
river Ob, the ice cracked under our
wheels and we remained stranded
in the icy water for a couple hours
until, luckily,we were towedout and
rescued by another passing ATV
carrying a group of Moldavians.
Sevenhours later,we arrivedin the
town ofYarSalewhere we spent the
nightin a small inn.Thenext day,we
traveled by snowmobiles and box
sleighsto meet ourNenetshosts in
the tundra.
The author, who has been on other Women on a Mission expeditions,
including a climb to Mt. Everest base
camp some years ago, is a FrenchFilipino health and fitness advocate
and mother of four. She now lives
in Singapore with her husband and
four children.

TRUE NOMADS The Nenets have retained an extraordinarily rich and well-preserved culture.

Yellow Magenta Cyan

Black
ymv

Lifestyle

Sunday, January 10, 2016

G-3

THE

JET
SET
Fly VVIP on a commercial flight
to your dream destination
By JACKY LYNNE A. OIGA
Portrait by NOEL B. PABALATE

lying with Skyjet, the first

boutique airline in the Philippines, has some major inflight perksfree check-in
baggage, roomier legroom, comfortable seats, complimentary drinks
and snacks, a nice glass of sparkling
wine, in-flight magazines as souvenirs
(read: no need to take photos of pages
or, eeep, nick the plane reading implements), you can even pick your seat
all for free. The 80-seater jet plane
practically feels like a private jet cabin
at a smart, commercial price. Its British Aerospace 146 fleet is the same jet
model that flies the British Royal Family. Its literally flying in style.
But thats not Skyjets unique
selling point. Those are just little
perks A-list celebrities like Kris
Aquino and Solenn Heussaf totes
love. Those are not the real and only
reasons people are lining up (and, rumor has it, fighting over) the airlines
promo flights.
Its the comfort, convenience, and
the choicesthe holy trinity of air
travelthat made Skyjets relaunch
a refreshing success. Long before
that Coco Martin-Toni Gonzaga
rom-com hit the theaters.
We fly our guests to island destinations like Batanes, Boracay,
Coron, and Balesin faster than any
other airlines. Were a relatively new
player and people think were flying small prop planes when, in fact,
were the biggest airline that flies to
our destination. Our fourengine jets are especially
made to land in short
runways like the Basco
Airport, Caticlan International Airport, Busuanga
Airport, and Balesin,
says Dino Reyes Chua,
Skyjet president.
Think Manila-Caticlan
in 35 minutes, ManilaBusuanga in 30, ManilaBalesin in 25, and ManilaBasco in an hour, tops.
The flights are so fast dozing off is not an option. The idea of
rebranding Skyjet as a boutique airline was Chuas brainchild. An entrepreneur-politician, Chua is also the
chairman and president of Greenbelt
Hotels International that operates a
boutique hotel in Makati and a boutique resort in Cavite. I thought of

this concept to serve a niche market.

I believe there are many passengers
who are willing to pay extra for comfort and convenience, Chua says.
Following the idea of boutique
hotels, Skyjet is a leisure airline that
has only a handful of planes and offers passengers a high-quality prod-

Following the idea of boutique

hotels, Skyjet is a leisure airline
that has only a handful of
planes and offers passengers a
high-quality product with a
lot of attention to detail which
huge airlines usually have not.
uct with a lot of attention to detail
which huge airlines usually have not.
Chua wants Skyjet to become the
choice of the current generation of
leisure travelers who demand something more from airlines.
Most important, an airline that
will link Manila to small island desti-

nations like El Nido, Camiguin, and

Siargao, that are not easily accessible to tourists now, Chua says. We
want to bring the thrill back in flying. We want to bring more tourists
to the Philippines.
And all these wants are not wishful thinking, this year Skyjet is ordering more planes, lobbying to increase
its flight frequency, continuously
training its pilots and cabin crew, and
working on reviving its chartered international direct flights to its four
destinations. The main goal is to
serve better destinations with high
tourist traffic while helping promote
our other islands as well. Why land
in Kalibo where you have to take a
two-hour bus ride to get to Caticlan
when you can fly direct to Caticlan?
Why travel six hours from Puerto
Princesa to Coron if you can land
in Busuanga where Coron is only
44 minutes away? Its these little
details that make a huge difference
when traveling. And its not like our
tickets are so much more expensive
than low-cost carriers.
Boasting the countrys tourism

potential, according to Chua, is crucial to bring in more tourists. But

that wont be possible if tourism infrastructures are not in place. Imagine if we can replicate the tourism
growth of Boracayminus the environmental issues, of courseto even
just a fourth of our 7,107 islands, the
Philippines will be a massive tourism
hub unlike anywhere in the world.
Chua has been at the helm of the
airline for the past three years and
while its been a smooth flight so far,

his Skyjets greatest strength is also

its biggest challenge. Were going
against giants so its really hard to
penetrate the market. We have to stay
different. We cant compete with their
frequency and prices so we compete
with their service, in-flight and destination-wise. Skyjet is the first airline
to open Batanes up to tourism. I can
proudly say that the airline greatly
contributed to its tourism boom, and
that will always be our motivation: to
look for our next Batanes.

FLIGHTS OF FANCY Skyjet President Dino Reyes Chua is making it his lifes
mission to fly Filipinos and foreign tourists to top destinations in the country (like
Boracay, Coron, and Batanes) in the most convenient, stylish, and enjoyable way.

Yellow Magenta Cyan

Black
ymv

Lifestyle

G-4

Sunday, January 10, 2016

EVERY TRAVELER
SHOULD KEEP
HOW TO MAKE EVERY
MOMENT COUNT

By SAMANTHA CORONADO

eforewe line up the destinations we promise to

visit this year, let usmakeresolutionsto improve
ourselvesas travelers.
Here are nineways to enrich yourtravelsthat
have nothing to do with bucketlisting places:

#9 Discover the kind of traveler you are

Often, we begin our journeys trying to live up to expectations. We follow itineraries, take
photos from the exact same angle, and go on a frantic rush to tick recommended boxes.
At some point, we have forced ourselves to be more adventurous, when all we want is to see
the city skyline. Or we are compelled to go where all the tourists go, when all we wanted are fresh
air and forests.This year, follow your intuition. Discover howyouwould like totravel.

#8Knowthat your experience wont always go smoothly

When weretraveling, its easy to see our destination as a commodity. If the train doesnt arrive
on time, if the fee was pricier than whats written on a blog, if the weather made it impossible to
see golden sunsets, we feel as if we are cheated the UltimateTravelExperience.
Truth is, circumstances wont always be favorable. Accept that you may end up with less than
perfect and incomplete experiences. No need to penalize the place for it.

#7 Be kind tostrangers
Foreign lands bring us an understandable amount of fear. In fact, we have
learned to sport a resting bitch face, as if we are about to be tricked to a
scam any time.
Still, we can bevigilantwithout perpetually suspicious. The world often
turns out exactly the way we view it, so inject more kindness into it.

Accept that you may end up

with less than perfect and
incomplete experiences. No
need to penalize the place for it.
#4 Immerse yourself, and give back
Travelcan be a very one-sided activity. We go to
places, consume its culture and beauty at face-value, and
then leave. We hardly have the time to give back or get
involved with its problems and issues. After all, it was
only a daytrip!
This year, take up the challenge to go on a less
popular destination, and watch your prejudices
disappear. Get out, immerse yourself,and lend your
skills to good causes.

#6 Find the balance between

preparation and serendipity
If we stay on a place for a mere 24 hours, we tend to pack
our schedules for every possible check-ins we can make.
But sometimes, exhausting the TripAdvisor top five can be
exchanged to picking just a few and slowing down.
It pays to plan trips and do research to maximize our
sojourn. But make time for itinerary-free wandering and
surprise yourself. Stories of serendipitous meetings and fateful
detours will enrich yourtravel.

#5 Put your gadgetsaway

Just like life,travelentails alot of waiting. But while
on a five-hour bus ride, try to avoid scrolling through
Facebook at a five minute interval. And while we filter our
way to an Instagrammable photo, know that some views
are best enjoyed off-screen.
It helps to put our gadgets away and behold a sight
withthe only two lenses we haveour eyesand just
be present.

#3Make yourtravelas shared as possible

#2Accepttraveloff-seasons

Almost everything can be shared nowadays. AirBNB

or Couchsurfing can substitute for hotel rents; Uber, for
booking tour vans; and local Facebook communities instead
oftravelagency packages.
Thesetravelhacks allow us not to just save money, but also to get
to widen our knowledge of our destination. Take advantage of them.

The harsh reality is that work gets piled

up and responsibilities get in the way of
ourtravelplans. It may take us several
weeks or months to finally accomplish
our duties and resumetraveling. But
even if that happens, lets stop pushing
ourselves too hard for not going on trips
for so long.Travelis not an imperative.
Undertake it at your own pace.

#1 Appreciate both the

faraway and the nearby
Its time to correct our greater regard
for the more exotic, the more remote,and
farther destinations. Not everyone has the
time and resources to book plane flights
halfway across the globe, or can afford
to quit their jobs to go on a cross-country
roadtrip for a year.
Our idea oftravelisnt for everyone. And it
doesnt make them, or you, less of a traveler.
Learn to appreciate where you are at any
given time.
Those are nine of my cents. Its your turn.
Whats the 10th travelersresolutionon
your list?

Yellow Magenta Cyan

Black
ymv

Editor: JOJO PANALIGAN

@Bulletin_Ent
Manila Bulletin Entertainment Online
Disyembre 16, 2015

KARON, AVAILABLE
NA SA NATIONAL
BOOKSTORES UG
MERRIAM & WEBSTER
BOOKSTORES
NATIONWIDE!

MGA SUGILANON:
Liboag Usa
Ka Hugunhugon
Kabahin Sa Tagolilong
Ni Januar Yap

No Left Turn
Ni Javier Yntig Tapulado

BALAK:

LPoe

Kauswagan

Ni Seth Salcedo

ovi

ARTIKULO:
Hatchery Ang
Gikinahanglan sa King Crab
Aron Mousbaw Ang Produksiyon
Ni Zac B. Sarian

P25

H-1 Sunday, January 10, 2016

entertainment.mlabulletin@gmail.com

Madonna:Theearlyyears
andasiconforgenerations
I

By NR RAMOS

ts hard to believe Madonna is 57.

It seems only yesterday when she
was this pretty young thing being
all seductive on TV, particularly
in the video for her 1984 hit Like A
Virgin. It was the time she skyrocketed to fame. Impressionable girls
memorized her songs by heart and
tried to copy her look (rag on hair, big
dangling crucifix, attitude on sleeves),
while boys were only too happy to see
them in short skirts and lace tank tops.
Do you remember?
N o t e ve r yo n e w a s h a p py w i t h
Madonnas success. Critics deemed
the artist a flash-in the-pan even after
she has had a string of hits. Madonna,
even at that point, didnt seem to have
the formula for staying power. Some
thought her success was mainly hinged
on her image, a trashy one, some
thought. It didnt help that she fed that
notion, even brandishing such slogans
as Boy Toy.
Few realized it was all part of a
huge plan.

M a d o n n a wa s a m b i t i o u s. Ear ly
on, she made clear she would stop at
nothing to achieve world domination.
She said so in an early appearance on
American Bandstand right to the face
of host Dick Clark.
Note that Madonna didnt start as a
musician. She was more of a dancer, a
good one at that. She received a dance
scholarship to the University of Michigan School of Music where she stayed
for a couple of years before dropping
out in 1978.
Apparently, the artist got inspired
to dabble in music upon working with
Patrick Hernandez, who had a big
hit with Born To Be Alive in 1979.
Hernandez told her she can do more

than dance that she could become a

recording artist. It wasnt false hopes
but prophecy.
Tak ing the cue, Madonna tried
joining several bands in New York,
eventually becoming the drummer
for the funk-pop outfit The Breakfast
Club. Many believe Madonna only got
the break because the bands singer,
Dan Gilroy, had the hots for her. Well,

Madonna tours:
The Virgin Tour (1985)
Whos That Girl World Tour (1987)
Blond Ambition World Tour (1990)
The Girlie Show World Tour (1993)
Drowned World Tour (2001)
Re-Invention World Tour (2004)
Confessions Tour (2006)
Sticky & Sweet Tour (2008)
The MDNA Tour (2012)
Rebel Heart Tour (2015)

the two became an item.

It was Gilroy who is said to have
taught Madonna how to play drums.
Later, on Gilroys insistence, Madonna
became the bands second lead singer.
But even then, Madonna believed she
could be bigger than that.
So limited musical abilities notwithstanding, Madonna formed her own
outfit named Emmy And The Emmys
(with drummer Stephen Bray, who
was actually her replacement in The
Breakfast Club). The Emmys wrote
punk and new wave songs, which many
(including Madonna) thought didnt
suit her. She convinced Bray, who by
then had become her boyfriend, to
help her write and arrange a couple of
dance tunes. Among these would be
her first dance hits, Everybody and
Burning Up.

Madonna (All concert photos: AP/Christian Palma)

Madonna pushed these songs to

anyone she believes would let her
through the door of a mainstream career. She eventually met Mark Kamins,
a DJ from a New York club she used
to frequent. Kamins, who had connections in Sire Records, gave her songs
a shot.
They entered into a relationship
when her debut single, Everybody,
released in 1982, and Burning Up
released in 1983, became minor hits.
Soon, and to no ones surprise,
Madonna dropped K amins. Before
long, she hooked up with producer
John Jellybean Benitez, who would
help her achieve the next step: Crack
the upper heights of the Billboard
charts with the songs Holiday and
Borderline.
The one-two punch prompted Sire
Records to let her cut an eponymous
debut album, which peaked at number
eight on the Billboard 200.
Still, it was just the start.

Sensing she was onto something

big, Madonnaw moved to solidify her
future as pop artist, getting the best
of the best to work on her follow-up
album, Like A Virgin.
For producer, she picked Nile Rodgers of Chic fame. She tapped more
seasoned songwriters including Billy
Steinberg, who previously wrote the
hit Precious Time for Pat Benatar;
and Pete Brown, who charted several
disco hits, including Do You Wanna
Get Funky With Me.
The gamble paid off big time. Like
A Virgin reached number one on the
Billboard 200 on strength of the title
track co-written by Steinberg; and
Browns Material Girl, which became
one of Madonnas signature songs.
Like A Virgin signalled Madonnas arrival. The album
has been cer tified 10times platinum (Diamond) by the Recording
Industry Association of
America (RIAA).

A big par t of M adonnas success is tied

to her music videos and
MTV.
The music channel, which only played
music videos back then,
cemented her status as
pops ultimate vixen. It
aired her often sensual
videos almost roundthe-clock.
Indeed, prior to
Madonna, most female
pop stars only hinted
at their inner sensualit y, nothing
more. The likes H-3

Yellow Magenta Cyan

Black
ymv

Sunday, January 10

# WALANG FOREVER
BEAUTY AND THE BESTIE
MY BEBE LOVE #KllIGPAMORE

1
2

EXTRACTION
AU YOU NEED IS PAGIBIG I PEANUTS MOVIE 30

STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS

Power Plant Mall, Rockwell Center, Makati Cily

SNOOPY AND CHARLIE 8ROWN: THE PEANUTS MOVIE

8
9

STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS

LEGEND

10 HONOR THY FATHER

IIWALANG FOREVER

All YOU NEED IS PAG-IBIG ILEGEND

5 BEAUTY AND THE BESTIE

EXTRACTION
MY BEBE LOVE IIKILlGPAMORE
BEAUTY AND THE BESTIE
IIWALANG FOREVER

STAR WARS:THE FORCE AWAKENS

STAR WARS:THE FORCE AWAKENS

4 LEGEND

STAR WARSVII

STAR WARS:THE FORCE AWAKENS

7 EXTRACTION
SNOOPY AND CHARLIE BROWN:
THE PEANUTS MOVIE

1
2
3

Cinema

iVr:

Movie Schedule
1

1_LE_GEN_D_-R,_16

Cinerna 3 SlAR WARS: lHElGRCE AWAKENS (DOLBY AlMOS)- PG

Cinema

4IWALANGFOREVER-PG

Cinema

5..::EX::.::TRA:::CTI:::O:.:...N-R::.,:,13:....-

Cinema 6 lHE PEANUlS MOVlE-G

1 STAR WARS:THE FORCE AWAKENS

2 IIWALANG FOREVER

STAR WARS:THE FORCE AWAKENS

BEAUTY AND THE BESTIE

SNOOPY .ND ctfAIU.tllMJWN: TM( PfMU'lS MOV~E

4 IIWALANG FOREVER I
EXTRACTION

anYFiliPinos
have friends
or family
members
abroad that's why movies about Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs)
made through the
years resonate with
us. Among these are
"Katas Ng Saudi,"
"Anak," "Batang
Westside," ''American Adobo,"
"Bagong Bayani"
"Balikbayan Box"
and "Purok 7" the list is indeed
far longer.
Still, if Susan
"Toots" Ople, the
youngest

SHOOP'' ANO (HARUE IRO'WN~ TH PUHOTS MOYIE

4 BEAUTY AND THE BESTIE I

EXTRACTION

tion
OF
fam
now
S
OFW
succ
resp
and
por
hi
f

BEAUTY AND THE BESTIE I

1 #WALANG FOREVER
2 SNOOPY AND CHARUE BROWN
3 MY 8E8E lOVE IIKlllGPAMORE

STAR WARS:THE FORCE AWAKENS

BEAUTY AND THE BESTIE

PEANUTS MOVIE I EXTRACTION

4 STAR WARS:THE FORCE

AWAKENSI EXTRACTION

IIWALANG FOREVER

STAR WARS:THE FORCE AWAKENS

BEAUTY AND THE BESTIE

PEANUTS MOVIE I EXTRACTION

#WALANG FORVER

2 BEAUTY AND THE BESTIE

STAR WARS:THE FORCE AWAKENS

BEAUTY AND THE BEsnE

3
4

PEANUTS MOVIE I EXTRACTION

daughterof
former senator,
BIas F. Ople,
would have it
her way, she
wants more
future films
on the subject to highlight
the successes of
OWFs instead of just
their problems.
In an interview,
the fan of the OFWinspired films "Caregiver," "In My Life,"
"Milan" and "The Flor
Contemplacion Story"
said, "Ang daming
magagandang stories

MY BEBE LOVE IIKlllGPAMORE

5 RESERVED

MY BEBE lOVE I STAR WARS VII

PEANUTS MOVIE I EXTRACTION

4 IIWALANG FOREVER

By ROWENA TAN

,A

Cinema 2 SlAR WARS: lHElGRCE AWAKENS (DOLBY AlMOS)- PG

1 #WALANG FOREVER
2 BEAUTY AND THE BESTlE
3 PEANUTS MOVIE I EXTRACTION
4 STAR WARS:THE FORCE AWAKENS

EXTRACTION
IIWALANG FOREVER
STAR WARS:THE FORCE
AWAKENS

fN

Tel.: 8981440-41; Fax: 8911437

SHOOPY AND CHARLIE tROWN' THE PEANUTS MOIllE

3
4
5
6

MY BEBE LOVE !HONOR THY FATHER

SNOOPY AND OfAAUE BROWN: THE PEANUTS MOVIE

0 FW

POSITIVE

PC>VVER r':~ANT

CALL FOR MO

STAR WARS VIII EXTRACTION

2
3
4
5

BEAUTY AND THE BESTIE

PEANUTS MOVIE I LEGEND
IIWAlANG FOREVER
HAUNTED MANSION

MY BE BE lOVE IIKllIGPAMORE

NooIlItIl: 1IMCoIn,..'U... tt II..l< ......

RESERVED CINEMA
C~4

RESERVED CINEMA
CDTEIIA5

AND
BEAUTY
WAlANG FOREVER THEBESTIE
e

pa (tungkol sa) mga

OFWs na hindi pa
nagagawa."

RESERVED CINEMA
Cl!lIXA8

All YOU NEED

IS PAGIBIG

HAUNTED MANSION

RESERVED CINEMA
COfXMI\l

,.'

JlC-19

CINIlKIlB

MY BEBE lOVE
#KllIG PA MORE

CINEMA 10

HONOR THY FATHER

NOTE,'AD'lIlE SCIlEOULrs AFf: St)RJ(CTTO CHANGE

HOUT PIlIOll NOT1C

Susan knows this

well because she's
been involved with
OFW advocacies for a
long time now. She has
been head of the BIas
F. Ople Policy Center
and Training Institute,
a non-profit organiza-

mg
pag n
sobrang sip
mahal nila ang tra

na-a-appreciate
employers."
Citing data fro
Overseas Employ
istration, Susan sa
1.6 million Filipino
ippines in 2015 to
countries including
UAE, States, Kuwa
Australia.
"Ang mga conc
(that prompted t
abroad) ay (magka
cial and physical

kanilang pamilya
education ng mg

and (having) long

ments." (With rep
P. Panaligan)

.......

((:;;11; r....elJl
~
...........

~ateway

. .

/)

NOV(;TEL

4MALL

f .._....ua

f=,~

~. THE~STORE SH~ISE

PEANUTS MOVIE I STAR WARS VII

2 MY 8E8E lOVE IIKlllGPAMORE
3 IIWALANG FOREVER

4 BEAUTY AND THE BESTIE

STAR WARS:THE FORCE AWAKENS

ATMOS CINEMA

PLATINUM CINEMA

STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS

STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS

03:10106:20109:30

02:40105:50109:00

SNOOPY AND CHARLIE BROWN

THE PEANUTS MOVIE

01:55104:30107:05109:40

12:00102:20104:50107:10109:30

HONOR THY FATHER

THE PEANUTS MOVIE I EKTRACTION

4 IIWALANG FOREVER

BEAUTY AND THE BESTIE

01:50104:30107:10 109:50
MY BEBE LOVE #KILlGPAMORE

STAR WARS:THE FORCE AWAKENS

2 BEAUTY AND THE BESTIE

THE PEANUTS MOVIE! EXTRACTION

4 IIWALANG FOREVER

MY BEBEH lOVE I HAUNTED

MANSION

1
2
3

STAR WARS:THE FORCE AWAKENS

BEAUTY AND THE BESTIE
SNOOPY AND CHARLIE BROWN

4 EXTRACTION

.WALANG FOREVER! MY BEBE LOVE

HAUNTED MANSION I LEGEND

1 STAR WARS:THE FORCE AWAKENS

2 BEAUTY AND THE BESTIE

3 THE PEANUTS MOVIE

4 HAUNTED MANSIONI
EXTRACTION

1 RESERVED
2 HAUNTED MANSION
3 BEAUTY AND THE BESTIE
4 THE PEANUTS MOVIE I STAR
WARS VII

Magenta Cyan

Black

#WALANG FOREVER

2 BEAUTY AND THE BESTIE

.. ..

02:00104:30107:00 I09:30
EXTRACTION

12:45103:00105:15107:30109:45

SNOOPY AND CHARLIE BROWN

THE PEANUTS MOVIE

02:00104:20106:40109:00
STAR WARS THE FORCE
AWAKENS

02:40 I05:50 I09:00

BEAUTY AND THE BESTIE

01:30104:00106:30 I09:00

All YOU NEED IS PAG-IBIG

02:40105:00107:20 I09:40

04:25109:25

MY BEBE lOVE

lEGEND

HAUNTED MANSION

01:40104:10106:40109:00

01:10 04:00 06:50 09:40

Entertainment News

H-3

Sunday, January 10, 2016

Madonna:Theearly...
of Linda Ronstadt, Carly Simon, Donna Summer, Barbra Streisand, Joan Baez,
Diana Ross, Marie Osmond,
Olivia Newton-John, heck,
even the girls of ABBA,
wouldnt dare. Well, Debbie
Harry braved
the waters
but she was
avante garde;
too punk, as
some put it.
With Madonna, what
was considered taboo
became mainstream. Girls
who adored her
some as young
as 12 seemed
to have been emboldened by it all.
They were wannabes, as in, We
wanna be like Madonna.

her first.
Success came with a price. In July,
Penthouse and Playboy magazines
published a number of nude photos
of Madonna, taken in New York circa
1978. Apparently, she used to pose
nude for photographers to make

H-1

artist of the 20th century.

She has been honored with 20 MTV
Video Music Awards the most for any
artist including the lifetime achievement Video Vanguard Award in 1986.
Madonna holds the record for the
most number-ones on all combined

Madonna through the years

(Photos from Madonnas Facebook page)

Theres no denying Madonna,

at that point,
had grown
in leaps and
bounds as
musician.
She may not
have been as
good a drummer as John
Bonham or a
great guitarist as Jimmy
Page, but she
was getting
good at songcraft. In 1985,
Madonna was
the third biggest act in the
world, next
only to Michael Jackson
and Prince.
Not one to
waste opportunity, Madonna ventured
into acting in
mainstream
films. She had
appeared in
a low-budget
indie A Certain Sacrifice
in 1979 and,
with her newfo u n d f a m e,
she wanted
more.
A brief appearance as
a c l u b s i n g e r i n Vi s i o n
Quest, which featured her
hit singles Crazy for You
and Gambler, proved ins p i r i n g. S h e we nt o n to
co-star in the comedy Desp e rate l y S e e k i n g S u s a n
a few months later, which
also introduced her new
song Into the Groove that
went straight to number
one in the United Kingdom

ends meet, among other

odd jobs.
The publication of
the photos caused a media uproar, but Madonna
was unapologetic. She
hael Jackson and Madonna
deemed it all a parcel of
GLOBAL SUPERSTARS Mic
who she was and what
shes become.
It was the start of a long line of conBillboard charts, including 12 No. 1
troversies constant in her career.
songs on the Billboard Hot 100 and
eight No. 1 albums on the Billboard

200.
To d a y, M a d o n n a t h e
She has also scored 38 Top Ten
brand still means huge
singles on the Hot 100, more than any
business. She is now acother artist in history.
Madonna discography:
k
nowledged
by
many
as
Slow clap due right here.
Madonna (1983)
Queen Of Pop, and rightly
Like A Virgin (1984)

so.
True Blue (1986)
Many believe Madonna has done
The artist has sold more
Like A Prayer (1989)
more than enough to ensure her legacy.
than 300 million records
Erotica (1992)
That she could should? retire. But
worldwide. The Guinness
Bedtime Stories (1994)
how do you do that when you remain a
World Records acknowledgRay Of Light (1998)
huge draw?
es her as the best-selling
Music (2000)
In May 2014, Billboard listed her as
female recording ar tist
American Life (2003)
the fourth highest-grossing touring act
and the fourth best-selling
Confessions On A Dance Floor (2005)
since 1990, with total earned revenue
act of all time, behind The
Hard Candy (2008)
of $1.14 billion. By that accord alone,
Beatles, Elvis Presley, and
MDNA (2012)
younger counterparts including Taylor
Jackson.
Rebel Heart (2015)
Swift, Rihanna and Beyonc are yet to
Th e R I A A n a m e d h e r
trump her.
the best-selling female rock
Madonna continues to defy the odds
with her new album Rebel Hear t,
which peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard
200 chart last year. Here, she continues
to reinvent herself a big part of her
enduring appeal but as usual, the
pundits are divided.
Some praise Madonna for keeping
at it given her age and stature, while
some consider it all rather unbecoming, even embarrassing. Several critics
went as far as to deride Rebel Heart
as an ageing divas silly attempt to
remain relevant. But isnt that the
point? That despite success, Madonna
still has enough fire in her to give fans
something new?
Would it have been right if she
went on to become a fat, lazy caricature
of herself?
Whichever train you are on, were
sure Madonna wont let you or me or
anybody else dictate how and when she
will end her run.
As she herself would tell you, B*tch,
Im Madonna.

Yellow Magenta Cyan

Black
ymv

Entertainment News
l

le

tin

te

bu

H-4

rtain

Sunday, January 10, 2016

Fil-AmFindingDoryartistfindshisownglory

By ANNIE S. ALEJO

e has just wrapped up about

a year and a half s work on
Finding Dory, the muchanticipated and long overdue sequel to the hugely successful
Fi n d i n g N e m o ( 2 0 0 3 ) . H owe ve r,
Paul Abadilla still cant share anything
specific about the animated film that
comes out June in the US, and July in
the Philippines so we ended up talking
anecdotes on the first one.
Of course, most of us still remember
that nipa hut in the aquarium scene in
Finding Nemo, with the little tidbit
that it was designed by Filipino artist
Nelson Bohol. I call him Tito Nelson,
Paul says. Hes a friend; hes one of top
designers there at Pixar.
Paul is among the several Pinoy
artists working in the storied Californiabased animation studio. Apart from
Nelson (who had designed the library
in Monsters University that was actually named after him Bohol Hall), the
most prominent of late is Inside Out
co-director Ronnie Del Carmen.
Paul had also done work for Inside
Out. He shares, I was called on to help
design the set for Abstract Thought,
the building (inside the mind of 11year-old Riley). And also the Boyfriend
Maker, that machine where imaginary
boyfriends would come out of that
whole set piece. Those are the two biggest things. I was only there for three
weeks and so I didnt receive the credit
(for them). But, yeah, those were my
contributions to Inside Out.
Paul was born in Manila and, at age

PixarsketchartisPaul
t AbadilaonhisPinoychildhood,
thevalueofvacationphotosandthemagicofanimation
seven, moved to the U.S. with
his parents. He recalled attending several schools here as a
youngster Benedictine Abbey
School (now San Beda College)
in Alabang, Jose Abad Santos
Memorial School (JASMS), and
Adamson Universit y among
them.
I remember growing up in
the Philippines and my mom
would yell at me for drawing on
walls and, you know, wasting
my school supplies on drawing
DORY AND Nemo with a school of fish in the trailer for Finding Dory
and scribbling everywhere, he
says. So yes, I was
that kid.
Raised in
Milpitas and San
Jose once his
family has settled in California,
Paul later graduated Summa
Cum Laude from
the San Jose State
University with a
Bachelor of Fine
Arts in Animation
and Illustration
a
the Abstract Thought are
JOY AND Sadness reach
degree.
t
in Inside Ou
inside the mind of Riley
I knew at a
young age that I
want a job or be involved in art in any capacity... I watched
Disneys Tarzan and Lilo & Stitch and

(Illustration by Rod Caalita)

Scary to take selfie with star

FASHION PULIS
mike lim

hen Prett y Per former

(PP) was introduced
to one of the suppliers
(OS) of her show, the
latter was visibly elated, expecting
PP to be warm and accommodating.
So, imagine OS surprise at PP s
nonchalant attitude as if he wasnt
there at all! No smile, no eye contact,
nothing. PP just nodded at him and
moved along.
Seeing OS disappointment, A
Worker (AW) on the set who saw what
happened told the former that PP has
always been snobbish off camera. It
seems PP moves in a world where
ordinary people dont deserve her
smile. Though worthy for photo opportunity given her achievements,
few dare ask to have a selfie with
PP lest they get reprimanded.
Perhaps PP should take a re fresher course on attitude and manners. When PP was starting out, she
did not have any known connection
with any bigwig in her network. Back
then, she had to be nice to people
around her knowing they are responsible for making her look good in front
of the cameras.
But after accomplishing much
and making a name for herself...well,
heres whats become of her now.
I f youre put on a pedestal,
youre supposed to behave yourself
like a pedestal type of person. Pedestals actually have a limited circumference. Not much room to move
around. Margaret Atwood

Soon closer to one another?

Network Personality (NP) is allegedly eyeing Controversial Talent
(CT). It is said that he is so smitten by
her that he has been publicly trying
to make a good impression on her
despite their age gap. Whats more
creepy about it all is that NP practically watched CT grow up in front of
the cameras.

While CTs contemporaries are

making their marks in various T V
shows, she has a project that increases the chance of her working closer
with NP. If, in public, they become
too chummy with each other, you can
bet that eyes will not be blind, ears
will never be deaf, and tongues will
continue to speak.
Some people have a difficult
time facing truth and reality. They
prefer to live in a make -believe
wo r l d, p re t e n d i n g t h a t c e r t a i n
things arent happening. Joyce
Meyer

Walang forever
While the arrival of a baby is always considered a happy occasion,
sometimes the before and after are
not ideal to some people.
Awarded Actor (AA), who is rumored to be the father of The Womans
(TW) child, has convinced her to go
abroad in order to keep her from prying eyes. But after making sure TW
was settled in another country, AA
left her on her own until the baby was
born. After all, AA has a reputation to
protect, and as much as possible, he
has to remain single to the public.
While TW understands AAs situation, she did not expect to be abandoned especially since shes been
hoping she could make him settle
down with her.
Then again, AA has been known to
be a heartbreaker. He is said to have
had children with other women but
he only acknowledges and suppoprts
them never even thinking of tying
the knot with any of the mothers.
With this in mind, perhaps WT
should reconsider her dream of a
forever with him. If he was not there
for her during her pregnancy, how can
she guarantee he will be around as
their child grows up?
Eventually we all have to accept full and total responsibility for
our actions, ever ything we have
done, and have not done. Hubert
Selby Jr.
Follow @FashionPulis on Twitter
and @fashionpulis on Instagram.
Please continue to send your comments and juicy stories to michaelsylim@gmail.com. Thank you very
much for loving www.fashionpulis.
com. Till next Sunday...

PAUL ABADILLA (photo courtesy of Pixar)

I realized that someone goes to

work every day to make those
movies... It was right at that
moment where I realized thats
the career path that I wanted
to pursue. And so it just made
sense that, being somebody
who is interested in art and
drawing and animation, it was
the way to go.
LAVA boasts not only of amazing char
acter designs but also some truly stun
At college, Paul already
ning set designs
had a clear vision of how he
wanted to cut his path in the field he
also do surface or shading design as
Our number
wanted to pursue. Pixar was always
well as color and lighting design. So we
one goal really is to tell our story as best
my number one studio to work for, he
provide a design to the technical departas we can. And so while were making
admits. After watching Toy Story it
ment those who create a model for our
these movies were always constantly
was such a new medium in filmmaking
film, as well as those who digitally light
getting feedback from everyone at the
and the way they told the story was
our movie, he explains.
studio just so we can make our movies
just so inspiring to me that I wanted to
He has worked on short films like
better, Paul says, noting they have a
be a part of that effort. He lucked out
The Blue Umbrella; Pixars first teleseries of screenings along the way so
with an internship at Pixar that led to
vision special, Toy story of Terror!;
that we can give the best version poswhere he is now. I consider myself very
and Sanjay s Super Team. He also
sible when its time to release.
lucky, he says.
worked on Lava, a short film that had
But it can get personal as well. They
Like Ronnie, who shared with Bulits theatrical release along with Inside
use no set formula, no one-size-fits-all
letin Entertainment in an interview
Out in June last year.
type of blueprint to make something
last year that his fondest memories
I designed the color script for that
that tugs at heartstrings. And this is
of growing up in the Philippines were
film, the color and lighting design. I
where the magic comes in and opens a
thunderstorms and of him and his
really drew from a lot of a photo referworld of imagination for all.
friends playing in the rain, Paul also
ences on how some scenes, particularly
The thing about animation or what
makes it special is what you can do in
holds on to his childhood experiences
sunsets, would look like in Hawaii, and
animation that you cant do in live achere in hopes of eventually turning
how the lighting and the weather
tion. So thats always one thing that
them into a story someday.
changes and behaves in that particular
catches my attention if an animated
I do remember taking a long comlocation, he shares.
movie would be able to take me to a
mute from where I live in Pandacan
In fact, I had to draw art from some
world that I never imagined or been to
and going to school with my grandma.
of my own photographs when I visited
before. (For instane, in) Inside Out,
I remember waiting for her to pick
the islands in Hawaii. Yeah, I would
whats life like inside someones head
me up from school and there was an
never have thought that my vacation
or mind? So thats always intriguing.
earthquake that came about from the
photos could be used for work. Its very
Its a whole new world, Paul relates.
Mount Pinatubo eruption, he recalls.
convenient, he adds, laughing.
But other than that, for me the story is
I have been thinking about creating a
Disney and Pixar are both known
number one. So if its a good story then it
short story or some sort of story from
the world over for not just their stundoesnt matter what medium it is.
those memories... those two things that
ning animation work, but also for weavAt 32, Paul has no kids yet but is
I definitely remember.
ing stories that resonate with people of
engaged. However, he is slowly building
For now, though, his work as a
all ages. Their animated masterpieces
his own legacy, finding his own glory
sketch artist in Pixar lets him do set
are not just for kids; even adults laugh
in work that is timeless and heartfelt.
designs and charac ter designs for
and cry over stories that they hold dear
Films his kids and kids as well as
various animated film projects, among
to their hearts. The process to make
adults all over the world will enjoy
them for Monsters University and the
films that touch the hearts of viewers
for years to come. (Animation photos
Academy Award-winning Brave.
across continents and cultures can get
screengrabbed from YouTube)
I do art for the environment and
technical and practical.

Koreanfilmindustryrecords215millionadmissionsin2015

By JONATHAN M. HICAP

he Korean film industr y

managed a small increase
in the total number of
viewers who trooped to
theaters in 2015.
According to the Korean
Film Council (KOFIC ), the number of viewers last year totalled
215,212,288, which was 144,528
more than in 2014.
2015 was the third straight year
the industr y breached the 200million mark.
The first half of 2015 was affected by the lack of big movies and
the outbreak of the Middle East
R e s p i r a t o r y Sy n d ro m e ( M E R S ) ,
which began in May. The Korean

Scene from Assassination

government officially declared the

country MERS-free last December.
The 10 top-grossing films in South
Korea in 2015 consisted of six Korean
films and four Hollywood movies.
Topping the list is the Korean
film Veteran, which posted 13.41
million in admissions and revenue
of $87.65 million (about P4.12 billion).
The movie starred Hwang Jung Min
and Yoo Ah-in and was released in
August 2015.
It is followed by the Korean film
A s s a s s i n a t i o n , s t a r r i n g J u n J i hyun, Lee Jung-jae and Ha Jung-woo,
which earned $82 million (P3.85 billion) at the box office with 12.7 million
tickets sold.
The Hollywood film The Avengers: The Age of Ultron placed third
with 10.49 million in admissions and gross
of $73.83 million,
followed by the
Korean movie
Ode to My Father with 8.91
million admissions and sales
of $58.21 million;
and Koreas Inside Men with

7 million in admissions and $47

million in revenues.
Lee Min Hos movie Gangnam
1970 placed 30th with 2.19 million
in admissions and gross of $14.76
million.
The fifth to tenth places are
occupied by (in descending order):
The Throne (South Korea) - admissions - 6.24 million / Gross - $40.7
million; K ingsman: The S ecret
Service (US/UK) - 6.12 million /
$41.98 million; Mission Impossible:
Rogue Nation (US) - 6.12 million
/ $40.46 million; Northern Limit
Line (South Korea) - 6.04 million /
$37.97 million; and Jurassic World
(US) - 5.54 million / $39.84 million (Photos cour tesy of KOFIC
website)

The Avengers: The Age of Ultron

Yellow Magenta Cyan

Black
ymv

Editor: JOJO PANALIGAN

@Bulletin_Ent
Manila Bulletin Entertainment Online

KYLIE
PADILLA
LIZA
SOBERANO

ENERO 13, 2016

sa
ahon
Balasbisay-an kag
Ka ndan
tu
NakaMindanao

NOBELITA

NOBELITA

Himaya sa
paraiso

Ambahanon sang
tagipusuon

NARCISA DALGUNTAS-ROULLO

Kon langit na
ang magbuot

ANICETO D. FORTALEZA

Igpat sa kabuhi
ERNESTO L. LASAFIN

TONY AGUILAR, JR.

MGA SUGILANON

Para kay BFF

APRIL GUILLANO-VASQUEZ

JULIA MONTES

I-1 Sunday, January 10, 2016

entertainment.mlabulletin@gmail.com

YayaDubasDisneyPrincess
M
C
any people consider
Maine Yaya Dub Mendoza's rise to stardom
fairytale-like and in 2016,
she truly becomes a princess.
Maine has been tapped by international entertainment conglomerate
Disney to represent Frozen's Elsa in
their 2016 calendar.
Disney Channel Asia made the
announcement via Facebook, posting
a behind-the-scenes video of Mendoza
wearing a blue and white dress.
The caption read: YEAR 2016
is off to a great start with the very
first Disney collaboration with Maine
Mendoza. Her Disney side is looking
worthy of a snow queen! Who wouldn't
want to build a snowman with her?
In the video, Maine talked about
the whole experience.

The shoot
was so much
fun because its
my first time...
it's ver y new
t o m e. I l o v e
i t , s h e s a i d .
Watch out for
the calendar.
Mendoza
gained fame
last year as
one-half of the
MAINE MENDOZA at the photo shoot for Disney calendar (YouTube)
AlDub love
team along with
while the latter channeled the title
Alden Richards. She is the latest Pinoy
character from the animated feature
celeb to portray a Disney Princess for
Mulan.
the company's calendar after Sarah
Frozen, released in 2013, won the
Geronimo and Kim Chiu in 2015. ReOscar for Best Animated Film at the
call that the former was tapped to
por tray R apunzel from Tangled 86th Academy Awards. (NR Ramos)

Kuya Germs: A timeline

erman Kuya Germs Moreno, known in the showbiz industry as The Master Showman, succumbed to cardiac
arrest at 3:20 a.m. on Jan. 8. He was 82
years old.
A successful T V host, radio commentator, actor and talent manager,
Kuya Germs has come a long way
from being errand boy at the old Clover
Theater.
Indeed, Kuya Germs led a full life.
Here are some highlights:
1933: He was born to Jose Moreno y Calvo (Pepe), a Filipino-Spanish,
and Aurora Molina.
1950: He began
working as stagehand
at the Clover Theater in
Manila. It was there that
he star ted to pursue a
career as per former on
the Bodabil stage.
1962: Because of his
connection with comics
writer Pablo Gomez, he
had the oppor tunity to
do some films. His first
was Susan, Susay, Su sie. This was followed by
Dance -O-Rama, where
he showcased his dancing talent.
1963: Fur thered acting career with Sampaguita Pictures.
1969: Kuya Germs
b e c a m e E d d i e I l a r d es
sidekick in the radio prog r a m N g ayo n N a m a n
on CBN. Then he transferred to dzTR as a pinchh i t t e r f o r H e l e n Ve l a ,

Bingo Lacson and Ben David.

1970: He created the storyline for
Sampaguita Pictures Young Love, a
film that secured celebrity status for
the greatest love teams in Philippine
cinema Nora Aunor and Tirso Cruz
III; Vilma Santos and Edgar Mortiz.
1971: Kuya Germs star ted working for GMA Network.
1978: Kuya Germs star ted hosting GMA-7s noontime variety show
Supershow.
1986: He eventually became the
producer of youth-oriented variety
s h o w T h a t s E n t e r t a i n m e n t . T h e
show polished and launched new

KUYA GERMS

ALBUM cover Off the Wall, by Michael

Jackson (MJJ Productions, Inc. via AP)

OS ANGELES Michael
Jacksons Off the Wall is
being reissued with a new
Spike Lee documentar y
about the hallmark 1979 album.
Jacksons estate and publisher
Sony Music are rereleasing the 36year-old album with a DVD of the
f i l m M i c h a e l J a c k s o ns J o u r n e y
from Motown to Off the Wall on
Feb. 26.
The documentary will premiere
Jan. 24 at the Sundance Film Festival and will be broadcast Feb. 5 on
Showtime.
Off the Wall featured the hits
Dont Stop Til You Get Enough
and Rock with You.
Lee previously directed a docu-

PIO A. APIL

KIM CHIU
Agod makatrabaho ukon makabakal sang bisan ano, basaha - Manila Bulletin Advertisements & Classied Ads

KathNiel, JaDine and Alden

show love for overseas fans
By rowena tan

elebs make it a point to

connect with fans even if it
means travelling hundreds
of miles and overseas. Recently, the countrys most popular
young actors did just that.
E s p i e d i n Vi e t n a m a re D a n i e l
Padilla and Kathryn Bernardo who
made time to grace the 2015 Face of
the Year Awards. Spearheaded annually by Today TV, one of Vietnams
l a rg e s t T V n e t wo r k s, D a n i e l a n d
Kathr yn were named Best Foreign
Ac t o r a n d B e s t Fo re i g n Ac t re s s,
respectively, for their performance
on the now-defunct T V series Got
To Believe.
More, in an online
poll, Daniel topped
the most liked foreign actor category.
He earned a total of
395,672 votes, beating
Thai heartthrob Pong
Nawat Kulrattanarak
who got 365,301 votes.
Kathryn, on
the other hand,
ear ned 91,109
votes against
her closest
rival,Indian
actress
Pratyusha Ban e r j e es
23,744
votes.

Meanwhile, Alden Richards visited Dubai on Jan. 7 to perform for

fans. A day before the concert, Alden met with excited followers who
brought with them various AlDub
merchandise including copies of his
latest album Wish I May.
The heartthrob was featured in
the Middle East online news site, Gulf
News. In the article titled #AlDub
hottie Alden Richards in Dubai by
Florence Pia G. Yu, he shared how he
enjoys being with his fans.
Alden is set to fly to Doha, Qatar
for another concert.
As for James Reid and Nadine
Lustre, they are holding a fans day
at the Sacramento Memorial Auditorium, California today. In an interview
on T V Patrol, James shared it will
be their first US show and they are
excited to see their fans.
James and Nadine, who play the
roles of Clark and Leah on On The
Wings Of Love, just finished a series
of mall shows across the Philippines
dubbed OT WOL Spread the Love
Tour.
ALDEN RICHARDS

JAMES REID and Nadine Lustre; Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla

The 14-day gross of the 2015 Metro Manila Film Festival from Dec. 25, 2015
to Jan. 7, 2016. The top films in no particular order are My Bebe Love: #KiligPaMore, Beauty and the Bestie, Haunted Mansion, and Walang Forever.
The 2015 figure exceeded that of 2014, which was tallied at P1.014 B. The
other movies in the most recent MMFF: Nilalang, Honor Thy Father, All You
Need Is Pag-ibig, and Buy Now, Die Later.

Golden Globes to offer a

galaxy of stars, if not the Force

JacksonsOfftheWalltobe
rereleasedwithSpikeLeedoc

SPIKE LEE (Photo by Charles

Sykes/Invision/AP, File)

y o u n g s t a r s . M a ny o f t h e s h o w s
g r a d u a t e s b e c a m e p o p u l a r a r t ists including Lea Salonga, Manilyn
Reynes, Gladys Reyes, Judy Ann
Santos, Janno Gibbs, Billy Crawford,
Donna Cruz, Ramon Christopher, and
Lotlot de Leon, among others.
1 9 9 6 : Th e Fi l i p i n o Ac a d e my o f
Movie Ar ts and Sciences (FAMAS),
the countrys oldest and most prestigious award- giving body star ted
giving out award in his honor: The
German Moreno Youth Achievement
Award.
1997: Kuya Germs star ted hosting Walang Tulugan With The Master Showman, a late -night musical
variety show.
2005: Kuya Germs started the
Pinoy-version of Hollywoods Walk of
Fame at Eastwood City.
2013: Kuya Germs celebrated his
50th year in the showbiz industry.
2 0 1 4 : Wh at s e e m e d to b e
just a dream for Kuya G er ms
before finally became a reality
with the launch of another Walk of
Fame at the GMA Network Center.
2015: In Januar y, he was hospitalized after suffering from a stroke.
He returned to host Walang Tulugan
in June 2015.

Tubtob buhi nga

alubaybay

m e n t a r y a b o u t J a c k s o ns B a d
album for its 25th anniversar y in
2012.
Katherine, Joe, Marlon and
Jackie Jackson are among the family members who were interviewed
for the new film.
J a c k s o ns e s t ate h a s re l e a s e d
several albums, reissues and soundtracks since his death in 2009 at age
50. His music has remained popular
in recent years.
The R ecording I ndustr y Asso ciation of America and Jacksons
estate announced last month that
Jacksons Thriller sold 30 million
copies in the United States, making
him the first artist to attain 30-time
platinum status. (AP)

he 73rd annual Golden Globes

will hope its assemblage of
Hollywood stars, from Jennifer Lawrence to Leonardo
DiCaprio, will be enough to offset the
absence of a different kind of star.
Though Star Wars is again packing movie theaters and smashing box
office records, J.J. Abrams The Force
Awakens will be a conspicuous outsider
at Sunday nights Globes, which announced nominations a few days before
the film was screened in mid-December.
That, surely, will be one of the things
host Ricky Gervais needles the Hollywood Foreign Press Association about
at the Beverly Hills, Calif., ceremony,
which kicks off at 8 p.m. EST, telecast
live on NBC.
Gervais will host for the fourth time,
returning after a much-lauded threeyear stint by Tina Fey and Amy Poehler.
After a 10-year ratings high three years
ago, viewership has dipped slightly
since, with an audience of 19.3 million
tuning in last year.
That, though, is still very strong for
the Golden Globes, which have worked

FINALE.

HBO Asias eight-episode

original series, Halfworlds, concludes
with a riveting two episode finale today
at 10 p.m. Viewers can catch the complete season of the entire dark fantasy
series via the internet and on mobile devices on HBO GO from 11 p.m. or on HBO
from Jan. 26 to 29, where two episodes
will air back to back every night. Boasting an entirely Asian cast, Halfworlds
stars Bront Palarae (Terbaik Dari
Langit), newcomer Salvita Decorte as
Sarah, Arifin Putra (The Raid 2), Reza
Rahadian (Habibie & Ainun), Ario Bayu
(HBO Asias Serangoon Road), among
others. The series was shot in Batam
and Jakarta, Indonesia.

to shed an image of eccentric selections

made by a group of little-known international journalists. The Globes have
instead grown into one of the most popular award show broadcasts
of the year, thanks to
increasingly credible nominees,
JENNIFER LAWRENCE
its trademark
laid-back atmosphere and
Big Short tops the
its unique
comedy side with four
position as a
nominations, including
major awards
best picture (comedy)
show that honand nods for Steve Carell
ors both film and
and Christian Bale. The
television.
categorys favorite, though,
LEONARDO DICAPRIO
Going into
may be Ridley Scotts sci-fi
Sunday night, Todd
adventure The Martian. The
Haynes 1950s romance
two films are nominated alongside
Carol leads all nominees with five
Joy, Spy and Trainwreck.
nods, including best picture (drama)
The Golden Globes have little corand best actress for both of its leads,
relation with the Academy Awards,
Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara. In
which will announce their nominees
the best picture category, it will comnext Thursday. But momentum is a
pete with Spotlight, The Revenant,
cherished commodity during awards
Room and Mad Max: Fury Road.
season especially this year, when
Adam McKays finance farce The
the Oscar field is seen by many as wide
open, without a runaway favorite.
Netflix earned a leading eight nods
on the TV side, where nominations were
scattered across streaming services,
broadcast and cable. Six shows come
in tied for the most nominations with
three: Fargo, Mr. Robot, Outlander, Transparent, American Crime
and Wolf Hall.
Presenters at Sunday nights Globes
will include Jim Carrey, Amy Adams,
Helen Mirren, Kurt Russell, Jamie Foxx,
Eddie Redmayne, Channing Tatum and
Mel Gibson, who is returning to the
Hollywood spotlight after keeping a low
profile for almost a decade, following an
explosive drunken-driving arrest and
public custody dispute. (AP/ Photo from
ARIFIN PUTRA in Halfbloods
Twentieth Century Fox via AP)

Yellow Magenta Cyan

Black
ymv

Entertainment News

I-2

Sunday, January 10, 2016

BALTIC & CO.

by Roni Santiago

TOK & MOL

PUPUNG

by Tonton Young

IPENUTS

CALLOUS

WORKAHOLIC

by Carlo Jose San Juan MD

COPY-PASTE

KOOLOKOYS

by Stanley Chi

by William Contreras

by Felipe dela Cruz

by Ishamar Mangaser

by Allan L. Piamonte

IMBOY

by Nio Balita

NATHAN, FALLEN DEVIL

by Vip Malixi

BOKSWAGON

KOKOY

POTPOURRI

by P'Casis

by Bok Hong

by Rommel J. Estanislao

ANSWER TO SUPER CROSSWORD

Yellow Magenta Cyan

Black
ymv

Entertainment News
ANIMAL CRACKERS

im bentor

by Fred Wagner

by William Contreras

Sunday, January 10, 2016

HI and LOIS

by Brian and Greg Walker

TABA N CHOI

BURUNTONG

by Aldrin Gulapa

AHA HULE

SISIW

by Mike de Leon

BOTCHOG

NORMANS ISLAND

by Norman Isaac

LIFE IN PROGRESS

I-3

by Felipe dela Cruz

by GrecoM

by Eugene Cubillo

by Julius Villanueva

Yellow Magenta Cyan

Black
ymv

TVGuide

Sunday, January 10, 2016

your everyday guide to local television and cable TV.

Local Channels
ABS-CBN 2
5:00 am O
Shopping
6:00 The Healing
Eucharist
7:00 Kabuhayang
Swak Na Swak
7:30 Salamat Dok
8:30 Kurokos
Basketball
9:00 Superbook
Reimagined
9:30 Matanglawin
10:30 Kapamilya
Kiddie Blockbusters
12:00 pm ASAP
2:00 Banana
Sundae
3:00 Kapamilya
Mega Blockbusters
4:30 Luv U
5:30 TV Patrol
Lingo
6:00 Goin Bulilit
6:45 Dance Kids
7:30
Wansapanataym
8:15 Rated K
10:15 Gandang
Gabi Vice
11:15 Sundays
Best
GMA 7
5:00 Jesus The

Healer
6:00 Kapuso Sine
Klasika
7:25 Kamen Rider
000
7:50 Detective
Conan
8:15 Aha!
9:00 Born To Be
Wild
9:35 iBilib:
Wonders Of Horus
10:05 Kapuso
Movie Festival
12:00 pm Sunday
PinaSaya
2:00 Wowowin
3:15 GMA
Blockbusters
4:45 Juan Tamad
5:45 24 Oras
Weekend Edition
6:15 Vampire Ang
Daddy Ko
7:00 Ismol Family
7:45 Kapuso Mo,
Jessica Soho
9:55 Sunday Night
Box Office
ABS-CBN Sports
and Action
5:00 am The Word
Exposed
6:00 Friends Again

7:00 J- League HL
7:00 Football Asia
7:30 Agri TV
8:00 Ultimate Rush
S2
8:30 Top Rank
Boxing
10:30 Game
Changers
11:00 NBA 2015
- 2016
1:30 pm NBA
Action
2:00 UAAP Season
78 Mens Basketball
Replay
6:00 Sports U
6:30 NBA Action
7:00 NBA 2015 2016
9:00 UAAP Season
78 Mens Basketball
Replay
TV 5
5:00 am Shop
Japan
6:00 Sunday TV
Mass
7:00 Power To
Unite
7:30 Healing
Galing Sa TV
8:30 HigglyTown
Heroes

8:45 Doc
Mcstuffins
9:00 Stitch!
9:30 Hi-5
10:00 Tom & Jerry
11:00 ScoobyDoo! Mystery
Incorporated
11:30 Happy Truck
Ng Bayan
1:30 pm Alagang
Kapatid
3:00 PBA
5:00 PBA
7:00 Barangay
Utakan
8:00 Master Chef
Asia
10:00 Cool Guys,
Hot Ramen
11:00 Sports 360
PTV
5:00 a.m.
Panahon.TV
5:30 Upon this
Rock
6:30 The Key of
David
7:00 The Word
Exposed
8:00 Talitha Kum
Healing Mass
9:00 Power to
Unite with Evira

Still unrivaled

M A N e t w o r k g ra b b e d
supremacy in nationwide
T V ra t i n g s f o r 2 0 1 5 ,
based on full year ratings data
from Nielsen TV Audience
Measurement.
According to Nielsens full
year 2015 NUTAM (National
U r b a n Te l e v i s i o n Au d i e n c e
Measurement), GMA was ahead
of other networks in total day
ratings with 35.4 percent.
Full year 2015 data also
showed that GMA remained

the undisputed number one

TV network in Urban Luzon
and Mega Manila, and reigned
supreme across all day parts,
including prime time.
GMA registered 39.7 percent
in Urban Luzon, even as it also
garnered 41.7 percent in Mega
Manila.
The list of top programs for
full year 2015 in Urban Luzon and
Mega Manila was dominated by
the Kapuso Network with Kapuso
Mo, Jessica Soho (KMJS) leading

9:30 Oras ng
Katotohanan
10:30 Tele-Aralan
ng Kakayahan
11:00 Kusina Atbp.
11:30 CHInoyTV
12:30 p.m.
Asenso Pinoy
1:00 Ating Alamin
2:00 UAAP
4:00 ABL
6:00 The Weekend
News
7:00 In This
Corner
8:00 K-Pop Idol
Search Pinoy
Edition 9:00
Philippine Lotto
Draw
9:15 NewsLife
Weekend
10:00 Business
Examiner with
Andrew Masigan
10:30 Primetime
Specials
ETC ON SBN21
6:30 a.m. Insider
Weekend
7:00 The Flash
8:00 Project
Runway Philippines
9:00 Glee

10:00 The
Millionaire
Matchmaker
11:00 Extra
11:30 Insider
2:00 pm Stalker
5:00 Insider
Weekend
5:30 New Girl
6:00 2 Broke Girls
6:30 Americas
Next Top Model
8:00 Project
Runway
9:00 American Idol
(Season 14)
11:00 I Zombie
12:00 a.m. Glee
1:00 A to Z
1:30 2 Broke Girls
2:00 Project
Runway
3:00 Reign
4:00 The Flash
5:00 Stalker
2nd AVENUE ON
RJTV 29
12:00 a.m. The
Millers
12:30 Married
1:00 Top Chef
2:00 Marcos
Kitchen Burnout
3:00 Mysteries Of

the list of GMA shows in both

areas. The multi-awarded news
magazine program was also the
top Kapuso program in NUTAM.
Other top performing
programs of GMA last year include
Magpakailanman, Eat Bulaga,
Marimar, Little Nanay, Sunday
Pinasaya, Pepito Manaloto and
Strawberry Lane.
Rounding out the list are 24
Oras, Ismol Family, Because
of You, Pari Koy, Once Upon
A Kiss, Empress Ki, Beautiful
Strangers, Celebrity Bluff, Hiram
na Alaala, The Half Sisters,
More Than Words, Let the Love

Laura
4:00 Restaurant
Man
5:00 Before Sunset
7:00 Parenthood
8:00 Modern
Family
8:30 Playing House
9:00 RJ Sunday
Jam
12:00 p.m. The
Ellen Degeneres
Show 1:00 Top
Chef
2:00 Before Sunset
4:00 Suburgatory
4:30 The Millers
5:00 Married
5:30 Modern
Family
6:00 Playing House
6:30 Inside Edition
7:00 ET Weekend
8:00 Marcos
Kitchen Burnout
9:00 Restaurant
Man
10:00 Now Eat
This! With Rocco
Dispirito
10:30 Knife Fight
11:00 ET Weekend
CNN
PHILIPPINES

HBO
6:00 am The
Princess Diaries
7:55 Treasure
Planet
9:30 Looney
Tunes: Back In
Action
11:00 American
Gangster
1:30 pm Ex
Machina
3:15 10,000 B.C.
5:05 The Curious
Case Of Benjamin
Button
07:45 Fury
10:00 Halfworlds
S107
10:30 Halfworlds
S108
11:05 Neighbors
12:35 am
Halfworlds S107
1:05 Halfworlds
S108
1:40 Vantage Point
3:10 Outlaw
Prophet: Warren
Jeffs
4:35 Zoom:
Academy For
Superheroes
MAX
6:00 am Hollywood
On Set
6:25 Dirty
7:55 Isa
9:20 Necessary
Evil: Villains Of DC
Comics
11:00 Morlocks
12:25 pm Mad
Max
1:55 The
Expendables 3
4:00 King
Solomons Mines
5:40 Twins
7:25 Hollywood
On Set
7:50 Iron Man 3
10:00 2 Guns
11:45 Death Wish
3
1:15 am Brothers
In Arms
2:40 Suspect Zero
4:20 The Big Chill
STAR MOVIES
12:35 am Sorority
Surrogate
2:05 Wall Street:
Money Never
Sleeps

4:20 The Book

Of Eli
6:15 Life Of Crime
7:55 Chained
09:40 Northmen: A
Viking Saga
11:20 I Am
Number Four
1:15 pm The
Transporter
2:55 Lets Be Cops
4:45 The Smurfs
6:30 Mission:
Impossible Ghost
Protocol
9:00 Everly
10:45 Harbinger
Down
STAR CHINESE
MOVIES
12:40 am Three of
a Kind
2:25 God of
Gamblers 3: The
Early Stage
4:10 Color Me Love
5:55 Aberdeen
7:30 Twilight
Online
9:05 The Three
Lustketeers
10:40 To Be
Number One
12:55 pm Driving
Miss Wealthy
2:40 The Brave
Has No Fears
4:15 The Wedding
Diary
5:55 Farewell
China
Farewell China
7:45 My Lucky Star
9:30 Twilight
Online
11:05 Ninth
Happiness
DIVA UNIVERSAL
6:00 am Law &
Order
7:55 Hot in
Cleveland
8:20 Cloudy With A
Chance Of Love
10:00 Candid
Camera
10:50 The Good
Witch
11:45 When
Sparks Fly
1:25 pm
Honeymoon for One
3:05 Undergrads
4:50 Law & Order
7:35 Merlin
8:30 Million Dollar
Critic
9:25 Hottest Home
Baker
10:20 Hot in
Cleveland
10:50 Suits
11:45 Rookie Blue
12:40 am Baby
Bootcamp
2:25 Sweet
Surrender
4:10 Perfect On
Paper
CINEMA ONE
1:00 am Sumayaw
Ka Salome
2:30 Ex-Marine
4:30 Puerto
Prinsesa
06:00 Guwapings
Dos
8:00 Mahal Na

12:00 am
Weekend Express
4:00 Nancy Grace
5:00 Dr. Drew
IBC 13
6:30 am APEC
WPS Docu 1 /
Filipino Excellence
7:00 Family Tv
Mass
8:00 Kerygma TV
9:00 Oras Ng
Katotohanan
10:00 Chinatown
11:00 Sabong TV
12:00 pm Ez
Shop
1:00 Value Vision
2:00 Kawaii Intl
3:00 Ez Shop
4:00 Value Vision
7:00 2015
CESAFI Basketball
9:00 Value Vision
10:00 Chinatown
Tv
11:00 APEC WPS
Docu 2 /Filipino
Excellence
12:00 am El
Shaddai
GMA NEWS TV
6:00 am Diyos At

Bayan
7:00 Tiny Kitchen
7:30 Adyenda
8:00 Pinoy Meets
World
9:00 I Juander
10:00 Sarap With
Family
10:15 News Tv All
Sports
12:00 pm
Balitanghali
1:00 Inves Docu
2:00 Pop Talk
3:00 Sunday
Screening
5:00
Powerhouses
5:30 Sarap With
Family
5:45 Pinay
Beauty Queen
Academy
6:15 Imbestigador
6:30 Ang
Pinaka...
7:15 Idol Sa
Kusina
8:00 Reel Time
9:00 Pawnstars
9:30 Kings Of
Restoration
11:00 I-Witness
12:00mn Jesus
The Healer

Begin, Mundo ni Juan Sa

Japan, Second Chances,
and Karelasyon.
Noted also was more
viewers across the country
tuned in to GMA during the
Christmas holiday break
(covering December 24
to 31) as revealed
by its 38.4 percent
audience share. In
particular, GMAs
countdown to 2016
was the most
viewed New Year
countdown by
urban viewers.
ALDEN RICHARDS and Michael V.

Cable Channels
AXN
6:00 am American
Ninja Warrior
8:20 EBuzz
8:50 Cash Cab
Philippines
9:50 Exit
10:40 Asias Got
Talent
3:25 pm The
Blacklist
4:20 Exit
6:05 Asias Got
Talent
9:55 Cash Cab
Philippines
10:25 Exit
12:15 am The
Blacklist
1:10 Asias Got
Talent
3:05 American
Ninja Warrior

6:00 a.m. 60
Minutes
7:00 Weekend
Express
9:00 TV Healing
Mass
10:00 Drive
11:00 Bogart
Case Files
12:00 pm CNN
Daily Share
1:00 Legal Help
Desk
1:30 News.Ph
2:00 Nancy Grace
3:00 Dr. Drew
4:00 CNNGo
4:30 Business
Traveller
5:00 Hollywood
Express
5:30 Talk Asia
6:00 The Best Of
Current Affairs
6:30 Global
Conversations
7:00 Good
Company
7:30 Profiles
8:00 Stories
9:00 Undercover
Boss
10:00 Drive
11:00 Weekend
Express

Kung Mahal
10:00 Spirit
Warriors
12:00 pm Kalibre
45
2:00 Para Sa
Hopeless Romantic
4:00 Talk Back and
Youre Dead
6:00 My Amnesia
Girl
8:00 Saka Saka
10:00 David F.
CINEMAWORLD
6:00 am Little One
7:35 Pack of
Queens: Queen of
Trumps
9:25 Trapped
11:00 I Killed For
You
12:35 pm The
Ignorance of Blood
2:30 Borning
4:00 Echoes From
The Dead
5:45 Revenge
7:25 Breathing
Under Water
9:00 Hui Buh - The
Goofy Ghost
10:45 I Am Dating
You Not
12:10 am The
Return Of The
Dancing Masters
3:10 Glass Dolls
4:55 I Killed For
You
STAR SPORTS
12:00 a.m. Abu
Dhabi Dessert
Challenge
12:30 Inside Grand
Prix
1:00 FIA F1 World
Cship
2:30 Liga Bbva
5:00 Football Asia
5:30 Rebel TV 21
6:00 Swatch
Freeride Tour
7:00 Hot Water
8:00 GS Caltex
Maekyung Open
9:00 Inside Grand
Prix
10:00 Bbva La Liga
Matches
12:00 p.m. Deep
Water
12:30 European
Rally Cship
1:00 FIA F1 World
Cship
4:00 Inside Grand
Prix
4:25 Formula
Friday
4:55 FIA F1 World
Cship
6:00 MotoGP World
Cship
7:00 Planet Speed
7:20 Formula
Friday
7:50 FIA F1 World
Cship
SOLAR SPORTS
12:00 am X
Games Vault
1:00 PGA Tour
Hero World
Challenge
6:00 PGA Tour
Hero World
Challenge
10:00 World Class

Boxing
2:00 pm 2015
FIBA Asia
Championship
4:00 Motoring
Today
5:00 Triathlon
6:00 2015 Tiree
Wave
6:30 Mobil 1 The
Grid
7:00 PGA Tour
Hero World
Challenge
10:00 World Class
Boxing
LIFESTYLE
NETWORK
12:00 a.m.
Foodprints
1:00 Made In
Chelsea
2:00 LNP
3:00 Giuliana & Bill
4:00 Hot Listings
Miami
5:00 Video Fashion
News
5:30 Video Fashion
Designers
6:00 Dance Off The
Inches
7:00 Bollyblast
7:30 Yoga For Life
8:30 Restaurant
Start Up
9:30 Rhodes
Across Italy
10:30 Tripping with
Allie & Georgia
11:00 Party On
11:30 Rich Kids Of
Beverly Hills
12:00 pm
Video Fashion Style
12:30 Video
Fashion News
1:00 LNP
3:00 Dance Off The
Inches
4:00 Julian &
Camillas World
Odyssey
5:00 LNP
6:00 Cousins
Undercover
7:00 Cutthroat
Kitchen S5
8:00 Foodprints
9:00 Celebrity
Apprentice
10:00 Video
Fashion Style
10:30 Listed
11:00 Made In
Chelsea
BASKETBALL TV
12:00 am 2015
FIBA Asia Cship
2:00 2015 FIBA
Americas Cship
4:00 2015 FIBA
Eurobasket
6:00 The Premier
12 WBSC
10:00 World Class
Boxing
2:00 pm
WTA Tour
4:00 Motoring
Today
5:00 Triathlon
Ironman
6:00 The Season
6:30 NCC 2016
7:00 World Class
Boxing
10:00 D1 Pro Drift
Grand Prix

11:00 Weber Cup

MTV
PHILIPPINES
12:00 am The
Playlist
1:00 After Hours
6:00 The Playlist
3:00 pm Gimme
10
4:00 The Playlist
7:00 Teen Cribs
7:30 Nitro Circus
8:00 Pranked
8:30 The Playlist
MYX
12:00mn MYX
Olympics
1:00 Radio MYX
1:30 Star MYX
2:00 Pinoy MYX
2:30 Rock MYX
3:00 MYX Live!
Rewind
4:00 MYX Mobile
Top Picks
5:00 Take 5
5:30 MYX Backtrax
6:00 MYX Presents
7:00 MYX News
7:30 My MYX
8:00 Pinoy MYX
Countdown
10:00 Pop MYX
10:30 Mellow MYX
11:00 M.I.T 20
1:00 pm My MYX
1:30 Pinoy MYX
2:00 Pop MYX
2:30 Mellow MYX
3:00 MYXellaneous
3:30 Club MYX
4:00 MYX Mobile
Top Picks
5:00 Take 5
5:30 MYX Movie
Date
6:00 Pop MYX
6:30 MYX
Ambushed
7:00 MYX Live!
8:00 MYX Hit Chart
10:00 MYX
Presents
11:00 MYX
Back2Back
11:30 Wer U At?
DISCOVERY
CHANNEL
12:00 am Belief
1:10 Deadliest
Catch
2:00 Swamp
Loggers
3:00 Body Bizarre
4:00 Big Fish Man
5:00 Man, Woman,
Wild
6:00 Pacific
Warriors
7:00 Revealed
8:00 Desert Car
Kings
8:50 Swamp
Loggers
9:40 Big Fish Man
10:30 Deadliest
Catch
11:20 Extreme
Smuggling
12:10 pm Body
Bizarre
1:00 Swamp
Loggers
2:00 Yukon Men
3:00 Big Fish Man
4:00 Worlds
Biggest Ship
4:50 Desert Car

Kings
5:40 Belief
6:30 Deadliest
Catch
7:20 Pacific
Warriors
8:10 Big Fish Man
9:00 Mythbusters
9:50 Taiwans
Military Elite
NATIONAL
GEOGRAPHIC
CHANNEL
12:00 am The
Border
1:00 Brain Games
1:50 Breakthrough
2:40 Innovation
Nation
3:30 The Border
4:20 Car SOS
5:10 Brain Games
6:00 Breakthrough
7:00 Innovation
Nation
7:55 The Border
8:50 Time
Scanners
9:45 Breakthrough
10:40 Yukon Gold
11:35 Survive the
Tribe
12:30 pm
Megastructures
1:25 Car SOS
2:20 Brain Games
3:15 Breakthrough
4:10 Innovation
Nation
5:05 Wild Case
Files
6:00 Dog
Whisperer
8:00 Yukon Gold
9:00 Catching
Giants
10:00 Ultimate
Airport Dubai
11:00
Megastructures
ANIMAL PLANET
12:00 a.m.
Treehouse Masters
6:00 Big Cat Diary
7:00 Dogs 101
8:00 Americas
Cutest Pets
9:00 Dogs 101
11:00 Bad Dog!
1:00 p.m. Tanked
3:00 Too Cute!
4:00 Pit Bulls &
Parolees
8:00 Too Cute!
9:00 Pit Bulls &
Parolees
CARTOON
NETWORK
12:00 am The
Grim Adventures Of
Billy & Mandy
1:00 Ben 10: Alien
Force
2:00 Courage The
Cowardly Dog
3:00 Chowder
4:00 The Amazing
World Of Gumball
5:00 Fosters Home
For Imaginary
Friends
5:30 Chowder
6:30 Monk The
Little Dog
7:00 Gon
7:30 Jimmy TwoShoes
8:00 Oggy And The

Cockroaches S4
9:00 Courage The
Cowardly Dog
9:30 Rat-a-tat
10:00 Clarathon
12:00 pm
Oggy And The
Cockroaches S4
12:15 The Amazing
World Of Gumball
2:00 Adventure
Time
3:00 Uncle
Grandpa
3:30 Total Drama
Action
4:00 Oggy And The
Cockroaches S4
6:00 Transformers:
Robots In Disguise
6:30 Gundam Build
Fighters
8:30 Oggy And The
Cockroaches S4
9:30 Courage The
Cowardly Dog
10:00 Bugged aka
Gnark
10:30 Ben 10:
Omniverse
11:30 Xiaolin
Chronicles
NICKELODEON
12:00 a.m. The
Mighty B!
2:00 Wara Store
4:00 Lucky Fred
5:00 Little Spirou
6:00 The Fairly
Odd Parents
7:00 SpongeBob
SquarePants
8:00 Kid vs. Kat
9:00 Breadwinners
9:30 SpongeBob
SquarePants
10:00 Rabbids
Invasion
10:30 Oggy And
The Cockroaches
11:00
Breadwinners
11:30 Buddy Fight
12:00 p.m.
Teenage Mutant
Ninja Turtles
12:30 The Fairly
Odd Parents
1:30 Monsters Vs.
Aliens
2:00 SpongeBob
SquarePants
2:30 iCarly
3:00 Henry Danger
3:30 Sam & Cat
4:00 Buddy Fight
4:30 SpongeBob
SquarePants
5:30 Oggy And The
Cockroaches
6:30 The Fairly
Odd Parents
7:30 Teenage
Mutant Ninja
Turtles
8:30 Kid vs. Kat
9:30 SpongeBob
SquarePants
11:00 Kung Fu
Panda
DISNEY CHANNEL
12:00 am Zig &
Sharko
1:00 The
Replacements
2:00 Stitch!
3:00 Perman
4:00 Fiszh Hooks
5:00 Phineas &

Ferb
6:00 Sheriff Callies
Wild West
6:30 Doc
Mcstuffins
7:00 Mickey Mouse
Clubhouse
7:30 Art Attack
8:00 Sofia The
First
8:30 The 7D
9:00 The
Incredibles
10:55 Jack-Jack
Attack
11:00 The 7D
11:30 Gravity Falls
12:00 pm Art
Attack
12:30 Phineas &
Ferb
1:00 Boyster
1:30 Zig & Sharko
2:00 The Black
Cauldron
3:30 Sofia The
First
4:00 The 7D
4:30 Art Attack
5:00 Fish Hooks
5:30 The Pink
Panther Show
6:00 Phineas &
Ferb
7:00 Gravity Falls
7:30 Art Attack
8:00 The
Incredibles
9:55 Jack-Jack
Attack
10:00 Phineas &
Ferb
10:30 Ninja Hattori
11:00 The Pink
Panther Show
11:30 Perman
ANIMAX
12:00 am
Charlotte
1:00 Maoyu
3:00 Place to Place
4:00 Little Busters!
6:00 Animax Musix
6:30 Maoyu
8:30 Cardfight!!
Vanguard Asia
Circuit
11:00 Little
Busters!
1:00 pm Place to
Place
2:00 Yu Yu
Hakusho
4:30 Chihayafuru
5:30 The World
God Only Knows
7:30 Guilty Crown
9:45 Animax Musix
10:00 Charlotte
10:30 Maoyu
HERO
12:00 a.m.
Gintama
2:00 Legend Of
The Legendary
Heroes
2:30 Ran The
Samurai Girl
3:00 Trigun
5:30 New Attacker
You
6:00 Gakuen
Utopia Manabi
Straight
6:30 Ran The
Samurai Girl
7:00 Legend Of
The Legendary
Heroes

7:30 Skullman
9:30 New Attacker
You
10:00 Hetalia Axis
Power
10:30 Gakuen
Utopia Manabi
Straight
11:00 Legend
Of The Legendary
Heroes
11:30 My Hero
Nation
12:00 p.m.
Gintama
2:00 Trigun
4:30 New Attacker
You
5:00 Skullman
7:00 Hetalia Axis
Power
7:30 Ran The
Samurai Girl
8:00 Legend Of
The Legendary
Heroes
8:30 My Hero
Nation
9:00 Gintama
11:00 Gakuen
Utopia Manabi
Straight
11:30 Ran The
Samurai Girl
STAR WORLD
12:00 am Gallery
Girls
12:45 Sex and The
City
1:10 Private
Practice
1:55 Gallery Girls
2:40 Sex and The
City
3:05 Private
Practice
3:50 Gallery Girls
4:35 Sex and The
City
5:00 Private
Practice
5:45 Gallery Girls
6:30 Suburgatory
7:30 Masterchef
US
10:15 Crazy ExGirlfriend
11:15 The Great
Food Truck Race
12:15 pm
Americas Next Top
Model
1:15 Amazing
Wedding Cakes
4:10 Masterchef US
7:00 Crazy ExGirlfriend
8:00 Crazy ExGirlfriend
10:00 Scandal
11:00 Sex and The
City
JACKTV
12:10 a.m. The
Flash
1:00 Arrow
1:50 Suits
2:40 The Big Bang
Theory
3:05 Two And A Half
Men
3:30 The 100
4:20 Saturday Night
Live
5:10 The 100
6:40 Paid
Programming
7:30 The Big Bang
Theory

8:20 Saturday Night

Live
12:30 pm American
Horror Story: Freak
Show
1:20 Empire
2:10 Glee
3:50 Bobs Burgers
4:15 American Dad
4:40 The Simpsons
5:05 Family Guy
5:30 The Big Bang
Theory
5:55 Two And A Half
Men
6:20 Empire
7:10 Glee
8:50 Grimm 9:40
Suits 10:30 The Big
Bang Theory 10:55
Two And A Half Men
11:20 Bobs Burgers
PBO
1:30 am Selda
3:30 Pick-Up Girl
5:30 Miss Gabi Na
7:30 Cross My
Heart
10:00 Anong
Ganap?
10:30 The Main
Event
11:30 Bangers
1:30 pm Ikaw Lang
3:30 Antipolo
Massacre
5:30 Di Na Natuto
Sorry Na Pwede Ba?
7:30 Diary Ng
Panget
9:30 Palabra de
Honor
11:30 Walang
Matigas Na Pulis Sa
Matinik Na Misis
VIVA CHANNEL
12:00 am Petras
Panniest
12:30 Chillin with
Chicser
1:00 Dobol or
Samting
1:30 Pantaxa
2:30 Popstar Diaries
Rewind
3:00 Annebishowsa
3:30 Dobol or
Samting
4:00 Especially For
You
5:00 Exercise
6:00 Pantaxa
6:30 Wapak
7:30 Chillin with
8:00 Popstar Diaries
8:30 Pinoy Star
Stories
9:30 Star Yayey
10:00 Starbiz
11:00 Especially
For You
12:00 pm The Jon
Santos Show
1:00 #JaDine
1:30 Rap Sessions
2:00 Popstar Diaries
2:30 Annebishowsa
3:00 pm
Dobol or Samting
4:30 KaraOkray
6:30 Especially For
7:30 Chillin with
Chicser
8:00 Front Row
10:00 Pantaxa
11:00 Rap
Sessions
11:30
Annebishowsa

Yellow Magenta Cyan

Black
ymv