Metro Manila

will be isolated Prii is plural

by a magnitude of Prius
7.2 quake Page 3
Page 10

P20
February 28 - March 6 2011 Email:businessmatters@hotmail.ph Vol. IV No 0040

Mideast turmoil to hit PH hard

By Lito U. Gagni
The turmoil in the Middle East, with
the fallout from tottering regimes,
could affect remittances from the
OFWs (Overseas Filipino Workers)
of just less than five percent for now,
but it could rise to up to 20 percent
should the domino effect hit other
countries in the region.
Also, analysts say that the
economic costs could double or
even triple that of the effects of
less remittances as affected OFWs
struggle for a living in the country.
Remittances from the Middle
East region constitutes a tenth of
the total $1.8 billion that were sent
by the OFWs last year but what is
worrying is the economic costs for
the government which would have
to devise strategies to make the
dislocated OFWs go back into the
economic mainstream.
Analysts say that what could
prove to have a disastrous effects
on the economy would be a regime
change in Bahrain, number 10 in
the listing of Top Ten destinations
of OFWs. Bahrain, which hosts
15,001 OFWs as of the latest
Philippine Overseas Employment
Administration (POEA) statistics,
could ultimately affect Saudi Arabia,
should there be a domino effect.
Saudi Arabia is the top
destination of land-based workers
with 291,419 workers listed as
of end-2009. This compares with
169,011 in 2003 and 239,419 in
2007 and 275,933 in 2008.
Protesters in Bahrain want the
monarchy , headed by the ruling Al
Khalifa family,out and should this
happen, Saudi Arabia is seen to be
the next battleground. Already, there
are Facebook calls for a protest in the
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia next month.
Libya, where there is a continuing
battle between the forces of Muammar
Gaddhafi and the anti-government
protesters, is home to 10,383, almost
double the 2003 OFW listing of 5,083.
Egypt just had 483 OFW s .
Analysts are keenly watching
the developments in Bahrain as any
change in the regime there could have
disastrous consequences for Saudi
Arabia. Also being watched is the
United Arab Emirates which is the
second biggest host to OFWs with
196,815 Filipinos working in its new
hotels and other tourist and hospital
facilities.
The Middle East region is home
to almost half-a-million OFWs
including the undocumented Filipino
workers there and the remittances
could reach up to 20 percent of the
total dollar inflows from the OFWs
But the silver lining in the
horizon is that the bulk of the
remittances come from the United
States and Canada which contribute
about half of the total dollar inflows
coming from overseas Filipino
workers.
According to the Bangko
Sentral ng Pilipinas the stable
flow of remittances continued to
provide economic impetus by way
of driving domestic demand. The
$1.8 billion remittances recorded
last year accounted for 10 percent
of the gross domestic product
(GDP).
Domestic consumption ,
especially fueled by the families of
OFWs have resulted in economic
gains as in the rise in domestic
tourism, the surge in domestic
goods production and the beneficial
effects of an improved economy in
the provinces.
The government is expected
to devise deployment strategies to
other countries should the Middle
East region turn for the worse.
But its options are very limited
especially with the downturn in
the Japanese economy that used to
employ thousands of OFWs until
stricter processing of entertainers
were put in place.
Analysts said that the
government should invoke the Japan
Philippine Economic Partnership
Agreement as a way to increase
the number of OFWs in Japan. The
Asian country needs nurses but its
hiring protocol is disadvantageous
to Filipino nurses.
They also said that the
government has to fast track its
projects so that the displaced
workers in the Middle East can find
meaningful employment here.

PAGCOR earns P2359-B; Stradcom slams

savings rise to P182M
The Philippine Amusement and
Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) has
consistently posted a steady increase
in its gross earnings and continues to
record hefty savings since July 2010
under the leadership of Chairman
and CEO Cristino Naguiat, Jr.
The state-gaming firm posted
gross revenues of l2.759 billion in
January 2011, higher by 1136% or
p282 million compared to the p2.477
billion gross income it posted for the
same period last year.
The substantial increase,
according to PACOR Assistant
Vice President for Corporate
Communications Maricar Bautista,
was primarily brought about
by intensified marketing and
entertainment efforts in the different
Casino Filipino branches which
resulted in better gaming income for
the agency.
Winnings from PAGCOR’s
own gaming operations last
January yielded a 12.84% increase
compared to the total gaming
income it generated for the same
month in 2010, “PAGCOR’s
gaming revenues during the first
month of the year reached L948
billion, which was higher by P222
million compared to last year’s
p1.726 billion gaming income for
the same period,” Bautista said.
According to Bautista,
PAGCOR also generated
substantial earnings from its
other related services such as
traditional bingo, income share
from the operations of licensed
casinos, and poker operations. “Total
income from other related services
was 8.30% or 59 million higher
compared to January 2010 figures,”
she said.
Meantime, the state-gaming
firm’s total savings for the month
of January reached P182 million or
15.12% lower vis-à-vis allocated
(Turn to page 2)
complaint as ‘baseless’
Stradcom Corporation yesterday brushed aside as “utterly
baseless” the complaint raised against it by the so-called Road
Users Group, pertaining to its collection of interconnectivity fees
as the information technology provider of the Land Transportation
Office (LTO).
Stradcom spokesperson Margaux Salcedo pointed out that the
interconnectivity fees are for operations that are beyond the scope
of the primary contract entered into by the company and the LTO
for the computerization of the processing of drivers’ licenses and
motor vehicle registration.
“The operations covered by the interconnectivity fees were
only added to Stradcom’s services upon the directive of the LTO
and at a minimal cost to the public. The add-ons were designed to
further increase the efficiency of the LTO,” she said.
“Stradcom does not charge interconnectivity services from the
public, but from the private offices requiring interconnectivity like
insurance companies that are required to be connected to LTO. It is
the insurance companies that are billed, not the vehicle owners or
the motoring public.”
Salcedo stressed that the benefits of interconnectivity also far
outweigh the costs.
The Department of Transportation and Communications
(Turn to page 2)
 2   February 28 - March 6, 2011

Business sentiment strong in Q1 2011

BUSINESS optimism continued
to be strong in Q1 2011, with the
overall confidence index (CI)
at 47.5 percent. The confidence
index is computed as the
percentage of firms that answered
in the affirmative less the
percentage of firms that answered
in the negative with respect to
their views on a given indicator.
The current quarter’s CI was
slightly lower, however, compared
to the 50.6 percent CI recorded in
the Q4 2010 survey, as the number
of optimists relative to pessimists
declined. Respondents attributed
the less upbeat quarter-on-quarter
outlook to the following: (a) usual
slowdown in business activity
after the Christmas and harvest
seasons, (b) rising prices of oil
and other commodities, and (c)
abnormal weather conditions in
some parts of the country.
Respondents’ outlook for
Q2 2011 turned more buoyant
as the next quarter index rose to
an all-time high of 59.4 percent,
the highest reading since the
business expectations survey
started in Q2 2001. Sustained
business optimism indicates that
the growth momentum could
continue in 2011.
Respondents cited the
following factors for their upbeat
outlook: (a) the government’s
President Aquino leads other government and church officials in releasing doves after the unveiling of which improved
the monument of the late Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin at Rizal Park in Manila as part of the further
commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution. Among those with the levels in the
the President in photo are: Vice President Jejomar Binay, Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim, apostolic nuncio previous quarter
Archbishop Edward Joseph Adams, Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales, Lingayen-Dagupan and a year ago.
Archbishop Socrates Villegas, Novaliches Bishop Emeritus Teodoro Bacani and Antipolo Bishop Gabriel E m p l o y m e n t
Reyes. (PNA)
plans to undertake big-ticket
infrastructure projects under
the public-private partnerships
(PPP) program and to front-load
infrastructure and social spending,
(b) faster recovery in emerging and
developing economies, (c) steady
stream of overseas Filipinos’
(OFs) remittances and foreign
capital, (d) continued recovery
of merchandise exports, and (e)
continued strong confidence in
the new government.
Tracking the national trend,
the sentiment of businesses from
both the National Capital Region
(NCR) and Areas Outside the NCR
(AONCR) remained buoyant
for the current quarter albeit less
favorably so when compared to
the previous quarter’s survey
results. However, sentiment
turned considerably more upbeat
for the next quarter.
Except for importing firms
which registered a decline in
optimism quarter-on-quarter, the
outlook of businesses involved in
international commodity trading
(i.e., exporters and those engaged
in dual activities) continued
to improve in Q1 2011 as the
recovery of global trade and a
stable peso pumped up demand
for Philippine exports.
Importers cited the rising
costs of commodities as the
reason for their lower optimism.
wholesale and retail trade sectors
Looking ahead to the next quarter,
acknowledged the benefits
all types of businesses involved in
that could be realized from
international trade became more
the government’s initiatives to
bullish due to the expected rise in
promote broad-based growth.
volume of orders and number of
This, together with the revitalized
clients. demand for exports and rising
By employment size, all
commodity prices in the world
firms (small-, medium- and large-
market, strong domestic demand,
sized firms) posted positive but
improvement in operations,
less favorable outlook quarter-
a stable peso and the general
on-quarter in Q1 2011 but turned
perception of a better business
more bullish for Q2 2011. Large-
environment, were reasons cited
sized firms remained as the most
by the respondents for their
optimistic for Q1 and Q2 2011.
sustained sanguine outlook.
Consistent with the
The services sector was
sustained overall optimism
less optimistic on account of the
over macroeconomic prospects,
seasonal slack in demand for
business sentiment across sectors
hotels and restaurants, renting
continued to be favorable in
and business activities after the
Q1 2011. The construction and
holidays, as well as the rising
industry sectors registered a more
costs of operations and higher
buoyant outlook, while that of the
fuel prices (for the transportation
wholesale and retail trade sector
sub-sector).
was broadly stable. On the other
For the next quarter (Q2
hand, optimism in the services
2011), the outlook across all
sector declined compared to that
sectors turned more upbeat
in the previous quarter.
largely due to the anticipated
Respondents from the
implementation of government
construction sector attributed their
projects, particularly the PPP
bullish outlook to the planned
program and prospects of more
implementation of big-ticket
favorable business conditions
infrastructure projects under
(i.e., steady stream of OF
the PPP scheme, as well as the
remittances, foreign capital, and
increase in demand for residential
merchandise exports). Business
and commercial buildings.
confidence remained highest in
Firms in the industry and
the construction sector.
Led by the
construction
sector, businesses’
outlookabouttheir
own operations
improved quarter-
on-quarter across
all sectors, except
for the services
sector.
Although
f i n a n c i a l
conditions
remained tight,
more firms
reported easier
access to credit
relative
those that said
otherwise. This
suggested that
firms’ anticipated
needs for
liquidity could
be supported by
available credit.
Another
i n d i c a t o r
supporting
expectations of
sustained growth
in 2011 was the
employment
outlook index for
the next quarter,
from
indices of the
construction, services and
industry sectors went up quarter-
on-quarter and year-on-year.
Consistent with the more
positive outlook of the industry
sector about their own operations,
more firms (33.9 percent of
respondents) indicated expansion
plans for Q2 2011. Mining and
quarrying continued to record the
highest expansion plans, followed
by agriculture; electricity gas and
water; and manufacturing sub-
sectors. Meanwhile, average
capacity utilization in Q1 2011
rose to 75.3 percent, the highest
reading since Q3 2008.
Competition, weak demand
(leading to low sales volume),
and financial problems were
the factors that limited business
activity in Q1 2011. The top three
business constraints were the same
risks identified by respondents
since Q3 2009.
Respondent firms expected
inflation and interest rates
to go up in Q1 and Q2 2011.
Inflationary expectations are
likely to be stronger this year
compared to the previous
quarter’s level as respondents
having views of higher inflation
and interest rates increased in
both Q1 and Q2 of the year. These
expectations were due in part to
price pressures arising from the
increasing costs of fuel and other
commodities in the global market
and the strong performance of the
domestic economy. Meanwhile,
respondents were of the view
that the peso appreciation would
continue in Q1 and Q2 2011, but
the number that said so declined
from the previous quarter’s
survey.
The Q1 2011 BES was
conducted during the period
6 January–14 February 2011.
There were 1,630 firms surveyed
nationwide. Respondents were
drawn from the Securities and
Exchange Commission’s Top
to 7,000 Corporations, as follows:
603 companies in NCR (37.0
percent) and 1,027 firms in
AONCR (63.0 percent), covering
all 17 regions nationwide. The
survey response rate for this
quarter was higher at 78.2 percent
(from 75.4 percent in the previous
quarter). The response rates were
also higher for both the NCR and
AONCR. For NCR, the response
rate was 76.8 percent (from 73.3
percent in the previous quarter)
and for AONCR, the response
rate was 79.1 percent (from 76.7
percent in the previous quarter).
A breakdown of responses
by type of business showed that
14.2 percent were importers, 6.7
percent were exporters, and 14.0
percent were both importers and
exporters. About 65.1 percent
of the respondents were neither
importers nor exporters or did not
specify their firm type.

PAGCOR (From page 1)

Stradcom (From page 1)

(DOTC) and the LTO itself required the LTO interconnectivity budget. According to Bautista,
projects to address past problems, such as the proliferation of fake most of the savings were generated
third-party liability insurance policies and bogus certificates of from marketing, supplies and
emission compliance, said Salcedo. materials, and Ads/PR/Promotions.
Through interconnectivity, Stradcom has successfully “Cost-saving measures continue
prevented the double or multiple sale of insurance policies by fixers to be implemented in line with
as computerization allows instant cross-checking of insurance our management’s campaign to
policies against registered vehicles, she added. implement austerity measures and
“Stradcom has done all of these even if it is a private and not a judicious spending of the agency’s
government corporation because of our commitment to the public, resources,” she said.
specifically to road users,” Salcedo said. “This campaign under the
“In fact, recognizing this commitment, Stradcom has refused leadership of Chairman Naguiat
to increase its fees annually though it can do that under its contract. has put PAGCOR in a much better
Stradcom had increased the fees only once in the past eight years.” fiscal position which enabled our
Salcedo revealed that Stradcom has also been operating without corporation to comply with its
payment since September 2010. She said the company has been mandate of raising the much-needed
advancing operating costs if only to ensure continuous services to revenues for the government,”
the public, in spite of LTO's failure to pay. Bautista added.
“Stradcom welcomes any inspection of the company's contract With the higher gaming
with LTO. Stradcom is very transparent. All of Stradcom's operations revenues and lower operating
are above board and within the parameters of our contracts, expenses, PAGCOR was able
otherwise we would not get the government permits necessary to to increase its remittances to its
operate.” mandated beneficiaries. “For the
month of January, we were able to
remit a total of 121.284 billion to the
mandated recipients of PAGCOR
funds. This is 13.73% or 12155
million higher than the 121.129
billion remittances for the same
period of 2010,” Bautista noted.
Comparing January 2011 and
2010 figures, remittances of PAGCOR
to the BIR in the form of franchise tax,
to the National Treasury in the form of
50% government share, and the PSC
share all rose by 12.84% for the month
under review. “The franchise tax paid
to BIR was higher by 1211 million
(total remittance of PAGCOR is 1297
million), the national government’s
share was higher by 12105 million
(total remittance of 12925 million),
and the PSC share was higher by more
than 125 million (total remittance of
1246 million),” she added.
PAGCOR’s remittances to the
Social Fund also rose by 29.89%
from 12115 million in January 2010
to 12150 million in January 2011.
Said Fund is being utilized for the
priority projects of the Office of the
President.
“We are happy to note that
under the new PACGOR leadership,
our corporation is beginning to be
more responsive and efficient in its
mandate of being an active partner of
our government in its nation-building
efforts,” Bautista said.
“PAGCOR was basically
created not only to regulate games
of chance or to raise revenues for our
government’s socio-civic projects.
It was also created to help boost the
country’s tourism industry. Efforts
are currently underway to study the
repositioning of our casinos not only
as mere gaming and entertainment
centers, but also as premium
destinations for foreign tourists and
travelers in the near future,” she
added.
 February 28 - March 6 2011 3

Metro Manila will be isolated

by a 7.2 magnitude quake
AT least 34,000 people will die and
communication lines and utilities
in Metro Manila will sustain
extensive damage if a shallow
earthquake with a magnitude of
7.2 were to hit the 30 kilometer-
long West Valley Fault which cuts
through the metropolis.
This was the worst-case
of the 18 scenarios generated
by the Earthquake Impact
Reduction Study for Metro
Manila (MMEIRS) conducted
in 2004 by the Metropolitan
Manila Development Authority
(MMDA), the Philippine Institute
of Volcanology and Seismology
(PHIVOLCS) and the Japan
International Cooperation
Agency (JICA).
The estimated 34,000 deaths
and 114,000 injuries within the
first hour of the earthquake strike
will be mostly from collapsed
houses and buildings and those
hit by debris falling from mid-rise
and high-rise buildings.
The report said,
“approximately 40% of the total
number of residential buildings
within Metropolitan Manila
will collapse or be affected.....
Moreover, additional 18,000
deaths are anticipated by the fire
spreading after the earthquake
event. This human loss, together
with properties and economy
losses of Metropolitan Manila will
be a national crisis.”
Because 90 percent of
deaths are expected to come from
collapsed buildings, the report said
the number of dead from squatters
areas will be small.
Fires are also expected to
breakout within the first three or
four hours after the earthquake
which will add to further loss of
lives because fire hydrants will be
not be functioning and some fire
engines have been destroyed by
debris. Those still running may not
be able to reach some of the areas
because of debris on the road.
The same report also said that
water, electricity and telephone
lines will because many of the
cables and pipes will be damaged
or destroyed by collapsing
buildings and falling debris.
At least 30 kilometers of
electric cables are expected to be
affected and 100 kilometers of should be developed to minimize scenario from earthquake
telephone cables will also be cut. the earthquake’s impact on the model no. 8 – a 7.2 magnitude
With landline service virtually functions of both the national and earthquake that would rupture
out, cellular service will become local governments. the West Valley Fault – follows
congested or will also be knocked The earthquake damage this report.
out depending on damage the
earthquake cause to antenna
towers.
In the hours after the
New Zealand earthquake,
authorities were asking
citizens to refrain from ujsing
their cellular telephones so it
could be used primarily by
rescue services to coordinate
their movements.
The study recommended
that Metro Manila’s
buildings be retrofitted to
make them more earthquake
resistant and that disaster
risk management teams be
setup in communities.
The community-based
teams will help minimize
the damage and casualties
that may result from
secondary outbreaks of fire
and earthquake aftershocks.
It was also recommended
that a national system

NZ earthquake toll at 102, more buildings may collapse

THE New Zealand police now put the death toll inside the Pyne Gould Corp Building in the authorities say. Minister for Economic Development and
from the Christchurch earthquake at 103 and central business area where rescue workers Civil Defence says all state highways and Hekia Parata will be the Acting Minister of
this figure is still expected to rise. The South have been redoubling their efforts. state highway bridge structures in and around Energy and Resources."
Island city of 340,000 was hit by a magnitude While some hospitals in Christchurch the city have been inspected, and while some "The government is going to do everything
6.3 earthquake on February 22, sustaining its are operational, approximately 1,145 injured have sustained minor damage all of the bridges it can to support the recovery and rebuilding of
second major quake in five months. people have been flown out to Wellington or are safe, and all other state highways in the Christchurch," said the Prime Minister.
The Environment News Service said the Auckland, according to Civil Defence. region are open. Finance Minister Bill English joined
list of people who are unaccounted for, and At least 36 aftershocks greater than Prime Minister Key today
where there is significant concern that they are magnitude 4 and four aftershocks above in a conference call with
in the central business area, remains around magnitude 5 have been felt as of Thursday, the chief executives of
200. Police say it is likely that many those who February 24. The national geological service Business New Zealand's
have died will be on that list but cross-matching GNS Science advises that there may be more major companies group,
can only be carried out once there have been magnitude 5 or greater aftershocks in the next representing most of
formal identifications. few days. New Zealand's largest
DNA and fingerprint samples are being Christchurch police are imposing tight businesses.
used to identify the victims. Some names of restrictions in central Christchurch from 6:30 "The government is
those who died in the quake are being released pm for public safety amidst fears of further already mounting a huge
but only after they have been positively building collapses. The area within the four rescue and recovery effort
identified and next-of-kin have been notified. avenues - Deans, Moorhouse, Fitzgerald and in Canterbury and we
Police are appealing for understanding Bealey - is cordoned off and anyone entering welcome the support and
from families as they work to identify bodies. the area will be arrested. constructive ideas from
"We know it's an agonizing wait for families Water supplies are still not restored to the business leaders," said
desperate to find out about English. "Many of their
their loved-ones, but there companies have offices
is a legal requirement for and staff in Christchurch
this work to be completed and they are already
to standards set by the But 18 providing considerable assistance to people
Coroner," police disaster bridges and 25 throughout the city."
victim identification distributor roads Officials are working on a range of options
commander Mike Wright are still impassable for a government business assistance package.
told TV New Zealand. due to flooding Australian Attorney-General Robert
An American Urban and structural or McClelland today said 300 Australian police
Search and Rescue Team surface damage. officers as well as Australian medical staff
has now arrived in New Eastern parts of and a field hospital are being deployed to
Zealand to join teams from the city are worst Christchurch to provide emergency assistance
New Zealand, Australia, affected. in response to a request from the New Zealand
Japan, Taiwan, Singapore Power has government.
and China. A team from been restored to "These police resources have been
the UK is also en route; about 60 percent requested by the New Zealand government
once they arrive there will of the city but the to support general duties police as part of the
be nearly 700 USAR teams power company disaster recovery," McClelland said. "Australia
and civil defense volunteers Orion says it is also supplying a 75 bed medical field hospital
working on the rescue could be weeks with 10 surgical, medical and support staff."
operation. before electricity President Barack Obama called Prime
Hundreds of rescuers is fully restored. Minister Key of New Zealand Wednesday to
dug through twisted "Progress is slow express deep condolences and offer whatever
and broken buildings because roads aid is needed.
for hours in a desperate The broken spire of the Christchurch Cathedral (above) and debris from are damaged Offers of international assistance have
search for survivors after buildings around the central business area (upper right). and much of also been made by Argentina, Canada, Chile,
the catastrophic quake. the damage to France, Germany, Greece, Korea, Malaysia,
Aftershocks are expected to the electricity Mexico, New Caledonia, Russia, Switzerland
continue, leading to further building damage about 50 percent of Christchurch residents. network is underground, making it difficult to and the United Nations.
or collapse, as well as continued disruption Water is being trucked in by tanker and locate and investigate faults," said Orion CEO To free up accommodation in Christchurch,
to power, telecommunications and essential water distribution sites are being established Roger Sutton. Civil Defence is giving visitors to the city the
services. throughout the city. Prime Minister Key today reallocated opportunity to relocate to Wellington. Visitors
Prime Minister John Key told reporters Civil Defence is reminding residents some Ministerial portfolio responsibilities, for who want to leave should go to the Burnside
the death toll could rise beyond 200 people. to continue boiling all water used, including the foreseeable future, to allow Canterbury High School welfare center, corner of Memorial
He confirmed that there are no survivors from rainwater and water collected from the tankers. Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee Avenue and Greers Road, or the welfare center
the collapsed Canterbury Television building in Assume tap water is contaminated and unsafe to focus solely on overseeing earthquake in Hagley Park.
central Christchurch and that overseas visitors to drink until advised otherwise, the agency recovery. Visitors are warned not to go to the airport.
are among those who died there. warns. "There is a very big job ahead of us and it's Visitors are being flown to Wellington by the
Police say the bodies of about 100 people Most of the city's main line sewers are important we have a senior minister dedicated Royal New ZealandAir Force and flights started
remain in the rubble of the CTV building, but damaged and sewage is flowing unchecked solely to it," Key said. leaving Christchurch early this morning.
activity there has been suspended due to the into rivers. For the foreseeable future, Key said, The airport has been open for domestic
instability of neighboring buildings. But food and petrol are not in short "Simon Power will be the Acting Leader of and international flights at revised schedules
More than 20 people may still be trapped supply and there is no need for panic buying, the House. David Carter will be the Acting since Wednesday afternoon.
 4   Environment February 28 - March 6, 2011

US House slashes funding for clean air, water

THE US House of Representatives
passed a funding bill that
environmentalists say amounts to
the biggest attack on clean air and
clean water in recent history.
HR 1, the continuing resolution
offered by House Republicans to
keep the government funded for the
rest of the fiscal year, passed by a
vote of 235-189.
The Environment News Service
reported that only three Republicans
joined all the Democrats in voting
no.
American Lung Association
President and CEO Charles Connor
called the bill "a severe assault on the
health of all Americans."
"The US House of
Representatives failed to protect
the public health of all Americans
by passing HR 1," said Connor.
"This bill ignores public health and
will have dire consequences for all
President Aquino scans a big piece of onion, a product of a smiling Kalasag farmer (right), during
the 5th PinoyME anniversary celebration at NBC Tent, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City. (PNA photo)
Americans, especially people with
lung diseases, including lung cancer,
asthma and emphysema."
"The American Lung
Association calls on the Senate to
recognize that, as passed by the
House, HR 1 is toxic to public
health," said Connor. "The Senate
must start from scratch and recognize
that tough fiscal choices can be made
without jeopardizing public health."
HR 1 slashes the budget of
the US Environmental Protection
Agency by one-third and prevents
the agency from acting to reduce
carbon dioxide and other global
warming pollutants from coal-fired
power plants and oil refineries,
a regulatory program that began
January 2.
The bill also blocks EPA from
restoring Clean Water Act protections
for many of the nation's most
vulnerable waterways, including those
that feed into drinking water supplies
for more than 117 million Americans.
"American families have a
fundamental right to clean air and clean
water, but this bill is the biggest assault
on both in recent history," said Anna
Aurilio, director of the Washington,
DC office for the advocacy group
Environment America. "Americans
may have voted for a lot of things
in November, but they surely didn't
vote for more asthma attacks, more
contaminated drinking water supplies
and more threats to our treasured
national parks."
Miranda Carter, Environment
Illinois field organizer, said, "In
economic times good or bad,
it's critical that our government
protect children's health and our
environment."
To the Republican House
leadership, the bill is all about
spending cuts. In a statement today
House Speaker John Boeher said,
"This week, for the first time in
many years, the People's House
was allowed to work its will - and
the result was one of the largest
spending cuts in American history.
For the good of our economy and our
democracy, I call on Senate Majority
Leader Reid to allow it to come to an
immediate vote."
"Cutting federal spending
is critical to reducing economic
uncertainty, encouraging private-
sector investment, and creating a
better environment for job creation
in our country," said Boehner. "We
will not stop here in our efforts to
cut spending, not when we're broke
and Washington's spending binge is
making it harder to create jobs."
The House Republicans have
threatened to shut down the federal
government if their bill is not enacted
into law, which would halt Social
Security payments to seniors, as
well as payments to members of
the armed forces, veterans, border
guards and other federal government
employees.
Now the bill goes to the Senate
for consideration. Senate Majority
Leader Harry Reid, a Nevada
Democrat, said, "Democrats believe
we should make smart cuts - cuts that
target waste and excess, not slashing
the programs that keep us safe and
keep our economy growing."
Senate Democrats have
announced their support for President
Barack Obama's five-year spending
freeze, which will save $400 billion
over the 10 years and bring domestic
discretionary spending to the lowest
levels since President Dwight
Eisenhower.
"While Republicans say 'so be it'
to the unemployed, Senate Democrats
are working to create jobs and make
America more competitive," Senator
Reid said. "That means making smart
choices about cutting waste and
excess, and living within our means.
As we reduce government spending
and cut the deficit, we will continue
to create jobs and strengthen our
future by becoming the world leader
in clean energy, reviving American
manufacturing and preparing our
workforce for the jobs of tomorrow."
Daniel Lashof, director of the
Natural Resources Defense Council's
EPAfrom collecting basic data on who
is pumping how much carbon dioxide
and other heat-trapping pollutants into
the air; and would prevent EPA from
setting any limits on emissions of the
greenhouse gases: carbon dioxide,
methane, nitrous oxide, sulfur
hexafluoride, hydrofluorocarbons, or
perfluorocarbons for any reason.
The continuing resolution would
also prevent the United States from
contributing to the Intergovernmental
Panel on Climate Change. The
IPCC, which won a Nobel Prize for
its work in 2007, was established
with the support of the George Bush
administration to provide authoritative
international assessments of climate
change.
"Apparently," said Lashoff,
"the House majority does not want
to see how pollution is affecting the
climate."
The Republican leadership
claims to have the support of the
American people for these measures,
but environmentalists who are also
Republicans expressed dismay today
at the extent of the cuts.
"House Republicans fell prey
to anti-environmental extremism on
February 19, passing a 2011 spending
plan loaded with attacks on public
health standards and conservation
that have little to do with reducing
the nation's debt," said Republicans
for Environmental Protection, a
national grassroots organization of
"stewardship-minded" Republicans.
"The continuing resolution that
the House passed fulfills many items
on the wish list of anti-environmental
radicalsm," said David Jenkins, REP
vice president for government and
political affairs. " The resolution
includes non-budgetary policy
mandates that would prevent EPA
from limiting carbon pollution and
protecting water quality, bar the
Interior Department from protecting
wilderness-quality lands, and decree,
without regard to scientific evidence,
that northern gray wolves are no
longer endangered."
"It is really hard to understand
why so many in our party seem so
hell-bent on wasting energy," said
Jim DiPeso, REP vice president
for policy and communications.
"The same conservative values that
compel us as conservatives to fiscally

Human contributions
climate center, said, "the House is deaf, live within our means also compel us
dumb and blind on climate change." to do the same when it comes to our
He notes that H.R. 1 would prevent energy resources."

increasing flood risk Growing lava dome

THE Philippine Disaster Science Management
Center (DSMC) and with the Congressional
Commission on Science Technology and
Engineering (COMSTE) reported that a new
study by three universities show that human
contributions to the environment can cause
more extreme rainfall and floods.
The study, with contributions from
Environment Canada, the University of
Edinburgh, and the university of Victoris
indicates that, "human-influenced global
warming may be partly responsible for
increases in heavy precipitation."
The researchers used elaborate computer
modeling to study the effects of natural
conditions on weather variability, but the
results show that under no normal natural
conditions could the extreme flooding and
rains come about. It is only when factoring in
human contributions like carbon emissions that
the extreme weather occurrences happen.
The DSMC and COMSTE have been
holding a series of lectures by renowned
scientists that present show the effects of climate
change and disasters in the local setting.
The latest in the series of lectures was given
by renowned control theorist Dr. Jose Cruz to
discuss utilizing system complexity in disaster
science. The lecture was entitled "Climate
Change, Climategate and Geoengineering".
The lecture brought to light data from
NASA indicating the rise in temperatures
and melting of perennial arctic ice cover. Dr.
Comiso said that melting ice has caused a sea-
level rise of 3.20 mm per year globally, and
if this continues then Metro Manila has the
potential to be drowned. Short term effects of
climate change also include stronger typhoons,
forest fires and drought.
Dr. Kelvin Rodolfo began the series of
lectures by giving a general overview of climate
change with a lecture entitled, "Reading climate
history from ice cores, how the world's glaciers
are melting, and what that has to do with us
Filipinos?"
The lecture explained how to extend the
history of climate change farther back in time,
first by examining the rates at which mountain
glaciers are losing length, then by seeing how
ice cores from deep within the Greenland
and Antarctic icecaps yield their secrets. The
lecture also discuss how future sea level might
be affected, how the process 'feeds back' on
itself, and how human water supplies will be
affected.
COMSTE Chairman Sen. Senator
Edgardo J. Angara said the ongoing lectures
will become more technical and build the
foundation of local disaster science, which will
tackle issues like how flooding and can affect ALL eyes on Japan’s Kyushu Island are on the growing lava dome of the
insurance companies and how to quickly adopt volcanic peak Shinmoedake, which has been erupting on and off since
Renewable Energy Systems to lessen local January 26 this year.
fossil fuel use. Both local and foreign scientists The image shows shows the lava nearly filling the 700-meter-wide crater.
and experts will be lecturing. Scientists are predicting that eruptions could grow stronger and go on for
The DSMC is a public-private initiative months.
that the scientific community can use to The University of Tokyo's Earthquake Research Institute is posting regular
better understand the mechanics of managing updates of its observations. Kagoshima Prefecture posts pictures from a
disasters with the cooperation of neighboring neighboring peak that are updated every minute. Ash from the volcano has
countries that have experienced similar storms disrupted flights and buried fields of winter vegetables. More than 1000
and natural calamities as the Philippines. residents evacuated the rural area.
 February 28 - March 6, 2011
Health & Wellness 5

Stroke patients getting younger

THE number of young people
-- including children and teens
-- who are being hospitalized for
acute ischemic stroke is rising,
researchers found.
From 1994 to 2007, the
prevalence of hospitalization
increased for both males and
females ages 5 to 44, according
to Mary George, MD, MSPH,
of the CDC's Division for Heart
Disease and Stroke Prevention
in Atlanta.
In contrast, the
hospitalization rate dropped for
individuals 45 and older, she
reported at the American Stroke
Association's International
Stroke Conference held recently
in Los Angeles, Calfornia.
George said the study does
not give any indication why
younger individuals would be
getting hospitalized for ischemic
stroke at a greater rate, noting
that she and her colleagues could
not determine whether it was
related to improved diagnostic
ability, increased referrals to
stroke neurologists, heightened
awareness of stroke in young
people, or increases in other risk
factors.
"This study really doesn't
address what might be
underlying these trends, and
I think that really needs to be
looked into," she said. "Whether
it's associated with increasing
trends in traditional risk factors
is unknown at this time."
George and her colleagues
evaluated trends in hospitalization
for acute ischemic stroke using
the the Nationwide Inpatient
Sample of the Healthcare Cost
and Utilization Project.
Using diagnostic codes,
the researchers tracked
hospitalizations from 1994 to
2007.
They divided the patients
into six age groups -- 0 to 4 years
old, 5 to 14, 15 to 34, 35 to 44,
45 to 64, and 65 and older.
The rate of ischemic stroke
hospitalization dropped during
the study period for females
ages 0 to 4 and for both men and
women 45 and older.
Among the groups from 5
to 44, the largest jump was a 51
percent increase from 9.8 to 14.8
per 10,000 hospitalizations for
males ages 15 to 34.
That was followed by a 47
increase increase from 36.0 to
52.9 per 10,000 hospitalizations
in males ages 35 to 44 and a 36
percent increase from 21.9 to
30.0 per 10,000 hospitalizations
in women in the same age
bracket.
Rising rates were also
observed in males ages 5 to 14
(36 percent), females ages 5 to
14 (31 percent), and females
ages 15 to 34 (17 percent).
In addition to changes in age
patterns of stroke burden, there
may be shifts among racial and
ethnic groups as well, according
to another study presented at
the meeting by Lynda Lisabeth,
PhD, MPH, of the University
of Michigan School of Public
Health in Ann Arbor.
She and her colleagues
looked to the future to estimate
stroke burden, which is expected
to increase because of the aging
population.
They estimated stroke
numbers in non-Hispanic whites
and in Mexican Americans, a
fast growing population with an
elevated stroke risk compared
with whites, using population
projections from the 2000 US
census and data from the Brain
Attack Surveillance in Corpus
Christi (BASIC) project for 2000
to 2008.
For the purposes of the
study, it was assumed that stroke
rates by age, ethnicity, and
gender will remain unchanged
for the next 40 years.
Although both ethnic groups
are expected to have large
increases in the total numbers
of ischemic and hemorrhagic
strokes, the burden is expected
to grow faster in Mexican
Americans.
For whites, the number of
strokes was estimated to rise
from about 300,000 in 2010 to
more than 500,000 in 2050 -- a
75 percent relative increase.
For Mexican Americans,
the number was estimated to
increase from about 26,000 in
2010 to more than 120,000 in
2050 -- a 350 percent relative
increase.
Lisabeth told MedPage
Today that the greater expected
increase in total strokes in
Mexican Americans is likely
the consequence of both the
growing size of the population
and the aging of the population,
which skews the stroke rate
higher.
"That has huge societal
impacts because stroke is very
expensive from a societal
perspective," she said, noting
that previous research has
shown that the overall cost of
stroke is higher in Hispanic and
black populations than in non-
Hispanic white populations.
"The reason for that is that
individuals in these race/ethnic
minority groups tend to have
their strokes at younger ages,"
she said, which affects their
ability to work or care for their
families to a greater degree.
She and her colleagues
acknowledged that the study was
limited because the assumptions
may not be realistic.

Study links Rural health units can use new nurses

Facebook use DESPITE the very low passing rate of the latest Philippine Nursing Licensure
Examinations, the Philippines has an oversupply of Registered Nurses (RN)
who are all concerned about the employment opportunities availabler for

to eating disorders
THE more time adolescent girls
spend on the social networking
website Facebook, the greater
their risk of developing a negative
body image and eating disorders
such as anorexia, bulimia and
exaggerated dieting, according
to a recent study by researchers
at the University of Haifa in
Israel.
EarthTimes.org said that a
group of 248 girls aged between
12 to 19 took part in the study
and they were asked to provide
information on their internet
and television viewing habits,
their attitudes towards eating,
slimming and bulimia, and their
degree of satisfaction with their
bodies and sense of personal
empowerment.
The results showed that
the more time girls spent
on Facebook, the more they
suffered from bulimia, anorexia,
a negative body image and
exaggerated dieting.
A correlation was
also found between eating
disorders and certain television
programming: Girls awho often
watched gossip- and leisure-
related programs, such as
"Gossip Girl," were more likely
to suffer from anorexia, the
study showed.
According to the researchers,
parents played a key role in the
girls' susceptibility to eating
disorders. Girls whose parents
were aware of their media
exposure, who watched or surfed
along with them and had critical
discussions with them about the
content, showed more personal
empowerment. This served as a
"protective shield" against eating
disorders.
Girls whose parents were not
aware of the media content they
were consuming, and who sought
to limit or prohibit exposure
instead of becoming familiar
with that content, showed a lower
sense of self-empowerment, a
more negative body image and
a greater likelihood of eating
disorders.
them.
A statement from Senator Edgardo J. Angara said that only 29,711 of the
84,287 nursing graduates who took the December 2010 exams passed.
The 35.35 percent passing rate for the December batch was even lower
tyhan the 41.4 percent passing rate for the July 2010 batch of examinees.
Beverly Hills arrives in QC
BEVERLY Hills 6750, one of the
premiere beauty facilities in the
country, is expanding to Quezon
City with a P30 million facility
that would cater to its growing
clientele.
Chief executive officer Suzette
Hahn-Lopez said this would be the
company’s first branch out of its
Ayala Avenue facility in Makati
City.
The bigger Timog Avenue
branch in Quezon City, which will
open next month, will have the same
comprehensive services that its Ayala
facility offers.
Lopez said the company has
been growing 20 percent annually
and has gained as much as 20
percent market share since it started
operating in 2006.
The company also posted a
60 percent gross margin in 2010,
Angara said that a possible
solution to the unemployment
woes of the country’s nurses
may be found in the Registered
Nurses for Health Enhancement
and Local Services (RN HEALS)
program from the Department
of Labor and Employment. The
program designates nurses to the local government units in rural areas.
"The RN HEALS project might just be able to address this issue--some
of the new nurses should be deployed to serve in the Rural Health Units
(RHU) throughout the country, which would perhaps nudge the numbers in
these areas closer to the optimum 1:10 nurse-to-patient ratio," he said.
Recently, Angara filed Senate Bill 2629 which seeks to establish a
Local Health Unit in each municipality and a RHU in each town in the
provinces to provide basic health services even to the far-flung corners of
the country. The bill would require a five-member health team in each unit,
with no less than two nurses.
"If passed, this bill might just provide a win-win solution to both
problems--the RN's difficulty in securing a job and the shortage of health
care workers in the provinces," said Angara.
outperforming the industry’s P100,000 in Beverly Hills.
average of 52 percent. It expects to The company has positioned
gain significant growth given its itself in the Class A and B market,
expansion, she said. which represents only about 15
Lopez said that despite its percent or 15 million of the entire
state-of-the-art facilities, crème de la Philippine population. Of that
crème medical doctors and first class number, only 10 to 15 percent
services, they are actually 30 percent are open to the idea of aesthetic
cheaper than their competitors. enhancement procedures or as
Balikbayans and Filipinos much as two million Filipinos.
working abroad account for 30 But this number is changing
percent of their clients while because more Filipinos are now
its foreign clients, mostly from open to having beauty enhancement
Australia, Guam and United procedures.
Kingdom have been growing In its website, Beverly Hills
substantially. 6750 points out that they are
These individuals prefer to dedicated to excellence in multi-
do their aesthetic services with specialty "aesthetics" that includes
Beverly Hills 6750 where they aesthetic plastic surgery, skin
can get as much as 50 percent care & rejuvenation, weight loss
cheaper for dental services and 60 management, cosmetic gynecology,
percent for cosmetic procedures. peripheral vascular laser surgery
An average Filipino spends about and cosmetic dentistry. (PNA)

‘IV bar’ in Nagoya offering after work refreshment

PEOPLE in Nagoya, Japan, are going to an
‘‘IV bar’’ set up at a medical institution near
JR Nagoya Station for quick refreshment
after work, receiving supplements via
intravenous drip while seated in comfy
chairs.
At the bar inside the Nagoya Station
Clinic, customers can receive ‘‘cocktail’’
solutions of their choice, with prices ranging
from 3,000 yen for a single supplement
to 16,000 yen for a combination of eight
different kinds, with magazines and drinks
by their side.
JapanToday.com reported in their
website that the chairs face the outside
on the eighth floor of the building so that
customers can view the city lights at night.
According to Mizunobu Kinoshita, the
41-year-old head of the clinic, most of the
customers are office workers.
‘‘Some of them continue to work with
their computers during the IV treatment,’’
which takes roughly 10 minutes, Kinoshita
said.
The most popular cocktail, a
combination of vitamin C, amino acids and
five other supplements, is priced at 12,000
yen.
Customers can order the cocktails
intended to help boost their energy or
improve their health and beauty.
Naomi Okuyama, a 38-year-old eatery
worker from Yokkaichi in the neighboring
prefecture of Mie, ordered a cocktail
concocted to get rid of shoulder stiffness
and improve skin condition at the same
time.
‘‘I’m looking forward to seeing the
effects of the cocktail,’’ she said.
Kinoshita said he hopes the bar will be
used by people who cannot take days off
easily even when they are suffering from
poor health as ‘‘an alternative sickbay’’ to
the ones in their offices.
 6   February 28 - March 6, 2011
Global food prices continue to
rise. The World Bank’s food price
index increased by 15% between
October 2010 and January 2011
and is only 3% below its 2008
peak. The last six months have
seen sharp increases in the global
prices of wheat, maize, sugar
and edible oils, with a relatively
smaller increase in rice prices.
Higher global wheat prices have
fed into significant increases
in local wheat prices in many
countries. Higher maize, sugar,
and oil prices have contributed
to increase the costs of various
types of food, though local maize
prices have largely been stable in
Sub-Saharan Africa. Local rice
prices have increased in line with
global prices in some large rice-
consuming Asian countries.
These food price rises create
macro vulnerabilities, particularly
for countries with a high share of
food imports and limited fiscal
space, as well as increases in
poverty. Estimates of those who
fall into, and move out of, poverty
as a result of price rises since June
2010 show there is a net increase
in extreme poverty of about
44 million people in low- and
middle-income countries. In the
immediate term, it is important
to ensure that further increases
in poverty are curtailed by taking
measures that calm jittery markets
and by scaling up safety net and
nutritional programs.
Investments in raising
environmentally sustainable
agricultural productivity, better
risk-management tools, less food-
intensive biofuel technologies,
and climate change adaptation
measures are all necessary over
the medium term to mitigate the
impact of expected food price
volatility on the most vulnerable.
Global food prices continue
to rise, though not uniformly for
all grains. The World Bank’s food
price
index rose by 15% between
October 2010 and January 2011, is
29% above its level a year earlier,
and only 3% below its June 2008
peak (figure 1). A breakdown of
the index shows that the grain price
index remains 16% below its peak
mainly due to relatively stable
rice prices, which are significantly
lower than in 2008. The increase
over the last quarter is driven
largely by increases in the price of
sugar (20%), fats and oils (22%),
wheat (20%), and maize (12%).
Among grains, global wheat
prices have increased the most in
recent months. A confluence of
weather shocks to various large
producing countries, followed in
some cases by export restrictions,
curtailed supply and caused wheat
prices to more than
double between the
lows of June 2010 and
January 2011 (figure 2).
Currently two factors
are keeping wheat prices
high. On the supply
side, there is uncertainty
about the size and the
quality of wheat exports
from Australia—where
crops were damaged
by excessive rains and
floods—as well as
concerns about China’s
winter wheat crop.
Demand drivers center
around the possibility of
large wheat-importing
countries, particularly
in the Middle East and
North Africa, coming
to the market with large
orders. These are related
to assuring the public
that adequate domestic
food stocks exist during
uncertain political times
in some countries.
Another reason is that Wheat
countries like Saudi
Arabia are progressively reducing
domestic production of wheat to
conserve valuable water resources
and relying more on imports.
Higher global wheat prices
have fed into sharp increases in
domestic wheat prices in many
countries. The transmission rate of
global wheat price increases to the
domestic price of wheat-related
products has been high in many
countries. For instance, between
June 2010 and December 2010, the
price of wheat increased by large
amounts in Kyrgyzstan (54%),
Bangladesh (45%), Tajikistan
(37%), Mongolia (33%), Sri
Lanka (31%), Azerbaijan (24%),
Afghanistan (19%), Sudan (16%),
and Pakistan (16%). Several of
these countries have a large share
of calories consumed from wheat-
based products, particularly for
the poor (table 1).
In several other countries,
the adjustment to higher global
wheat prices has been shared by
the government and consumers. In
India,higherdomesticprocurement
prices for wheat have contributed
to record domestic grain stocks,
which have been released to curb
prices. In parallel, the subsidized
wheat program has been scaled
up. In Egypt, the bread subsidy is
estimated to reach around 85% of
the population. Nevertheless, even
in these countries, consumers are
not fully exempted from the impact
of global price rises as prices of
nonsubsidized wheat products, as
well as other basic staples, have
increased. Local practices have
also shielded consumers from
higher global wheat prices—for
instance in
Cambodia bread prices have
remained stable as consumers use
flour made from locally produced
cassava.
Maize prices have increased
sharply and are affected by
complex linkages with other
markets. In January
2011, maize prices were
about 73% higher than June
2010. These increases are due to
a series of downward revisions of
crop forecasts, low stocks (U.S.
stocks-to-use ratio for 2010/11
is projected to be 5%, the
lowest since 1995), the positive
relationship between maize and
wheat prices, and the use of corn
for biofuels. Ethanol production
demand for corn increases as
oil prices go up, with sugar-
based ethanol less competitive
at current sugar prices. Recent
United States Department of
Agriculture (USDA) estimates
show the share of ethanol for
fuel rising from 31% of U.S.
corn output in 2008/9
to a projected 40% in
2010/11. Increased demand for
high fructose corn syrup from
countries such as Mexico, as they
substitute away from higher priced
sugar, also contributes to higher
demand for corn. Prospects of
easing in this market depend partly
on the size of the crops in Latin
Food Pri
America, particularly
Argentina, which
has been affected by
unusually dry weather
due to the La Nina effect,
and the extent of import
demand from China in
2011 as well as oil and
sugar price trajectories.
The transmission
of higher global maize
prices is varied and has
depended significantly
on domestic
harvest conditions.
Countries in Sub-
Saharan Africa have
benefitted from excellent
maize harvests, which
have led to a sharp fall
in prices. The declines
from June–December
2010 shown in table
1 come on the heels of even
sharper price falls in the early
part of the year—on average,
maize prices were lower in 2010
in comparison to 2009 in Uganda
(52%), Rwanda (37%), Kenya
(33%), Malawi (30%), Ethiopia
(22%), and Tanzania (19%).1
However, these prices also exhibit
considerable volatility, which has
adverse impacts on both producers
and consumers. For instance, after
a sharp decline in the early part
of 2010, maize prices in Rwanda
have rebounded by 19% since
June 2010.Several Latin American
FEBRUA
countries saw the price of maize
rise dramatically in the last half
of 2010 as dry weather lowered
yields—the largest increases were
witnessed in Brazil (56%) and
Argentina (40%). Higher global
maize prices are also passed
through to consumers indirectly
by raising animal feed prices,
meat prices, and the price of many
processed food categories.
Global rice prices have
increased at a slower rate than
other grains and the outlook
remains stable. The export price
for Thai rice has increased by
8% (Thai 5%) between
October and January 2011,
and 17% since June 2010.
They remain about 70%
below the peak reached
during the 2008 food crisis.
Following good harvests in
large exporting countries,
the decision by the
Philippines to limit imports,
and the release of large
stocks onto the market by
Thailand, prices appear to
be leveling off. One factor
limiting the downward
pressure on rice prices are
recent announcements by
large importers such as
Bangladesh and Indonesia
to significantly increase
domestic stocks.
Domestic rice prices
have risen sharply in some
countries and remained
steady in others. The
domestic price of rice
was significantly higher
in Vietnam (46%) and
Burundi (41%) between
June–December 2010.
Indonesia (19%), Bangladesh
(19%), and Pakistan (19%) have
 February 28 - March 6 2011 7
ice Watch
ARY 2011
increased in line with global
prices. These Asian countries are
large rice consumers, especially
among the poor. Rice prices have
increased in Vietnam despite
good domestic harvests. This is
primarily due to the depreciation
of the currency, which has fuelled
overall inflation and expectations
of higher demand from large
importers and led to the minimum
rice export price being raised
by the Vietnamese government.
Rice price increases in Sri Lanka
(12%) and China (9%) have been
relatively moderate in the second
half of 2010, while in Cambodia
and the Philippines the retail
price of rice remained largely
unchanged during this period.
Rice prices outside Asia remained
stable in many countries, such as
Cameroon, Guatemala, Mexico,
Panama, and Somalia, during this
period.
Sugar and edible oil prices
have increased sharply in recent
months. Sugar prices have risen
by 73% since June due to supply
shortfalls from Brazil, the largest
exporter, and weather shocks in
Australia. Similarly, edible oil
prices were up on account of a
number of weather-related shocks.
Prolonged dry weather related to
La Nina lowered expectations of
yields in Brazil and Argentina,
which together account for
roughly 45% of soybean exports.
On the other hand, floods in
southern Malaysia and Indonesia
have hindered palm oil harvests.
These higher prices feed
through to domestic prices
quickly in many countries—for
instance, sugar prices doubled
in Cambodia between June and
December 2010 and edible oil
prices increased by 15% because it term, investments in raising
between September and was the main environmentally sustainable
December in Afghanistan. source of the agricultural productivity, climate
Several countries have contagion change adaptation measures, and
intervened to temper this t h a t finding less food intensive biofuel
pass through. In Algeria, precipitated technologies are all necessary to
taxes and import duties on the 2008 mitigate the impact of food price
sugar and edible oil were crisis when volatility on the most vulnerable.
sharply reduced in January many large Finally, these spikes underscore
2011 due to double-digit exporters the importance of efforts to raise
prices rises. In Indonesia, banned its incomes of the poor so that they
the government has reduced export. spend a lower share of their
taxes on sugar and increased There budgets on food and are less
subsidies to local cooking are several vulnerable to such shocks.
oil producers. short- and Box 1. Estimating the Poverty
Prices of other food medium- Impact of Recent Food Price
items essential for dietary term policy Rises
diversity have risen in many implications To quantify the poverty
countries. In India, food of this impacts of the recent rise in food
inflation stood at recent round prices, we use a global computable
18.3% in December partly of food price model (Global Trade Analysis
due to the higher prices of rises. Project [GTAP]) with a sample
fruits and vegetables, milk, There of 28 household surveys with
meat, and fish. In China, a r e data on individual households’
similarly, food inflation was from more expensive, nutritious certain key expenditures and income sources.
driven largely by vegetables food and into cheaper staples. commodity markets, such as rice, These national surveys are drawn
(see figure 3). In the second These nutritional setbacks are where informational uncertainty from low- and middle-income
half of 2010, beans prices particularly severe for infants (for example, of stocks held regions from around the world and
increased dramatically in between the ages of zero and two by large exporters) and ‘panic represent 41% of the population
Burundi (48%), Cameroon as well as pregnant women. The buying’ may keep prices from living in these countries (see
(43%), Kenya (38%), complex linkages across food falling to the levels expected by table 1).We use local food price
and Uganda (22%). In markets also affect obesity— the good harvests. The publication changes for the commodities
Mongolia, an outbreak of for instance, the increased of regular, accessible data on where we have data for the June–
the foot and mouth disease, demand for high fructose corn stocks as well as commitments December 2010 period. For the
coupled with a severe winter syrup, as a substitute for more by larger exporters not to impose commodities where the local
experienced in 2010, price data do not exist, we work
led to a sharp increase out the pass through of global
in meat prices. Average commodity price changes on
mutton meat prices were local prices using the share of
32% higher in 2010 that commodity’s import in total
compared to 2009. consumption. In the second
These food price stage of our calculations, we
rises create a range of apply the expected domestic
macro vulnerabilities. price changes to determine the
One aspect is the impact increase in the cost of living for
on domestic net consumers and the increased
food inflation and profits of net producers.
overall inflation. More Combining these two impacts,
than one-third of the we calculate the net impact on
countries in Eastern each household and determine
Europe and Central whether it has been thrown
Asia had more than into or lifted from poverty,
10% food inflation in defined at the expenditure level
2010. Countries with a high of $1.25 per person per day.
share of net food and energy The results show that in half
imports face current account of our sample, we observe an
vulnerabilities. These include increase in poverty greater than
Tajikistan, the Kyrgyz Republic, 0.5 percentage points, and in
Georgia, and Albania in Eastern eight countries an increase of
Europe and Central Asia, a more than 1 percentage point,
region where limiting current Sorghum including Tajikistan, where
account deficits is particularly poverty is expected to have risen
important following the 2009 by more than 3.6 percentage
financial crisis. The fiscal impact expensive sugar, has public policy export restrictions would help points, and Pakistan, where the
of these price rises depends on the implications in a country like maintain stability, which is crucial 1.9 percentage point increase in
extent to which food tax revenues Mexico, where obesity is a serious to prevent further increases in poverty is mostly due to higher
increase and expenditures on public health concern. poverty. At the same time, safety wheat prices, with the impact on
mitigating measures—such as for There are two factors limiting net and nutritional programs need consumers far outweighing the
social protection programs—are the poverty impact of the current to be scaled up in vulnerable beneficial impact on medium
increased. global price spike. In many countries— and the international and large farmers. In contrast,
Our estimates suggest that an countries in Africa, good harvests community may need to focus in Vietnam, poverty is expected
additional 44 million people may of domestic crops—like maize, on countries like Afghanistan, to have declined because a large
have fallen into poverty in low- sorghum, millet and cassava— Burundi, the Democratic Republic portion of poor households are
and middle-income countries due have limited the pass through of of Congo, the Kyrgyz Republic, net producers of rice and benefit
to the rise in food prices since global staple prices and allowed and Mongolia, to name a few, from their high price. Applying
June 2010. In order to assess the for substitution away from that are facing large price spikes. the population-weighted average
impact on poverty of the change imported wheat and rice in some Countries that are large net increase in poverty to the total
in food prices in the second half of the most vulnerable countries. commodity importers with low population in low- and middle-
of 2010, we extend a model used Second, in sharp contrast to 2008 reserve cover and limited fiscal income countries, we infer that
to estimate the impact of the 2008 and buoyed by good harvests in space will need to be monitored the recent rise in food prices may
food price crisis (see box 1 for the Vietnam and Thailand, to assess their external have put 44 million people into
details). Net producers of food the fundamentals in the supply financing needs. The frequency poverty in these countries. This
benefit from higher prices while situation in the rice market remain of extreme weather-related events reflects 68 million people who fell
net consumers suffer. Our results strong. Rice is an important over the past year and their impact below the $1.25 poverty line and
show that extreme poverty in low- commodity not only because it on food prices underscores the the 24 million net food producers
and middle-income countries is the primary staple for many vulnerability of the poor to who were able to escape extreme
may have increased by 44 million developing countries, but also climate change. Over the medium poverty.
people in net terms as a result of
the food price increases between
June and December 2010. This
reflects 68 million people who
fell below the $1.25 poverty
line and the 24 million net food
producers who were able to
escape extreme poverty.
There are nutritional
implications related to higher
food prices. Higher poverty
is associated with increased
malnutrition as poorer people
eat less and substitute away
 8  
Opinion February 28 - March 6, 2011

EDITORIAL

The President’s optimism

When pessimism appeared to start taking the better of most Filipinos
in the case of the three Filipino drug mules sentenced to death in China,
President Aquino surprised many with his optimism, akin to the famous
words uttered during the American Civil War: “Damn the torpedoes, full
speed ahead.”
“I am trying to set up a phone conversation with President Hu Jintao
to make an appeal for the commutation” of the death sentences, he told
reporters last week. “As of now [February 16], they [Beijing] have not
signified willingness to accept the phone call. But we think our request
is very, very reasonable. It is time for them [China] to demonstrate their
pronounced statements of improved closer bilateral ties. This will be a test
[of that].”
Like Adm. David Glasgow Farragut who ordered his boat full steam
ahead in spite of the tethered mines (then known as torpedoes) that proved
to be a crucial point in the American Civil War, the President’s optimism did
the day for the reprieve won for the three Filipinos headed for execution.
That stay of the execution, won through the efforts of Vice President Jejomar

View from the East

Binay, at least, warmed the hearts of the families of the convicted drug
mules. Every Filipino hopes for a happy ending to this drama, of course,
but whatever happens, what should stand out is that the two top officials of
the country did everything they could to help. By Jesus T. TAnchanco SR.
On February 18 the President also spearheaded a nationwide call for
prayer: “The entire Filipino nation is united in appealing for leniency before
the top officials of the People’s Republic of China, so that our countrymen
who were meted out the death penalty may be granted clemency. We are
doing every possible effort—the latest of which was my letter of appeal to
the President of China, plus the trip of Vice President Jejomar Binay to the
same country where our three kababayan await a most desired action: Stay
Protect watersheds
the execution. Five decades ago, Antipolo’s Hinulugang should even provide incentives to those
“We have been told several times that there is no more hope, but I Taktak was a destination of choice of weary who would embark on a greening program
believe that while there is still time, hope springs eternal in the nation’s residents in the metropolis. For the place that will protect the watersheds all over the
breast—and we will sustain our efforts to get clemency or reprieve for Sally teems with big trees and a waterfall that country. The watersheds are an important cog
Villanueva, Ramon Credo and Elizabeth Batain. Our hope stems from our cascades to a pond of water that serves as in ensuring food security. The events in the
earlier success when our incessant appeal to the leadership of China had a “swimming pool.” Hinulugang Taktak Middle East where despots become targets
resulted in the government granting a reprieve to Myrna San Pedro and teemed with people and there is a lush of protests should serve to remind us that we
Estela Capunong. We publicly thank China’s leaders for tempering justice greenery all around. should provide for our own food security.
with mercy. We believe we have found a soft spot in the hearts of China’s Now this watershed is all gone and the We cannot, for so long, continue to depend
ranking officials. deadly floods that visit Antipolo is a testament on the rice farmers of Thailand, Vietnam and
The President’s optimism also shows in the way he dispatched as to the loss of the big trees that provided China.
emissary to Taiwan his vice-presidential teammate, Mar Roxas, to try to not just shade to the wandering folks but a The government should reach out to
placate the Taiwanese authorities on the faux pas committed regarding the protection of sort to the water reservoir there. business associations, local government
deportation of 14 Taiwanese to China. The fact remains that in the face of Blame it on unbridled greed that spawned units and non-government organizations, the
seeming hopelessness, the President tried to do his utmost to ensure that the deadly cutting of the trees for the illegal academe and plain folks so that a master plan
everything would turn out well. loggers. After 50 years, Antipolo and the rest and strategy can be crafted for the protection
This full-steam-ahead kind of statecraft is also what is at play when the of the towns underneath it such as Morong of the watersheds. The government can
President stated that he has ordered that the corruption probe in the military and Binangonan are now inundated with even offer incentives that will ensure the
continue. There are those who may fault the President for his seeming flash floods when the rains come. protection of the watersheds.
lack of visible activity in terms of the economy, his pronouncements and And yet, we were taught to love trees We have to do this NOW. For the
other matters of the state. The fact remains, though, that it is possible that whose roots become waterlogged when the ferment in the Middle East and the climatic
the President simply wants to move under the radar, refusing to telegraph rains come thereby preventing the onset of change all around us signify the importance
his moves beyond what he had set forth as a key foundation: the “daang flash floods. Aside from this, the huge roots of food security. With watersheds we can be
matuwid.” Anyway, as long as state agencies deliver on their assigned of these trees provide a buffer to the topsoil pretty sure that our own irrigation facilities
tasks, that is all that matters. so that they are not carried away by the are on hand to let our farmers double their
PHL ATMs at risk rainwater. As the trees were felled one by one harvests. The watersheds also protect our
Many of the country’s ATMs (automated teller machines) are vulnerable by the greedy illegal loggers, the watershed water sources that could counter severe
to skimming and other cyber frauds that could result in huge money losses was lost and with it the storied Hinulugang droughts.
for legitimate ATM users. Security experts say some of the ATMs of big Taktak. It is my contention that food security
banks are susceptible to hacking and other criminal activities simply This should not be the case. The should be of paramount concern for the
because the cards inserted in these money machines are still considered government should initiate an aggressive government.
low-tech. The experts raised the alarm with the economic uncertainties now stance towards preserving the watersheds. And the watershed is a step towards this
gripping the globe that could result in more criminal activities. The Angat watershed, for instance, should goal.
According to the experts, some of the ATMs in the country still use the be protected lest the rampaging waters bring Let us then join hands, unite and protect
so-called magnetic stripes, which is very vulnerable to hacking. Aside from destruction to the communities within the watersheds.
this, these mag-stripes still use the so-called Data Encryption Standard area. The watershed, after
(DES) which has been found to be open to skimming and other hacking all, provides a kind of
frauds. protection to the “water-
What banks now need is the Triple DES, which, although slower than preserving” characteristics
the DES, is a billion times safer and secure. The warning on the need to of the big trees.
migrate to Triple DES has been aired in several web-site fora. There should be
Security experts said, the new norm now is the use of embedded chips a way by which the
that are now the standard in European countries. These are meant to curtail government can draw
the efforts of cyber criminals who victimize the ATM users. private sector support LITO U. GAGNI
Triple DES, though, the experts said, is still allowed, and there is a for the preservation of Editor
need for the big banks in the country to retool their ATMs to conform with the watersheds. After CEFERINO M. ACOSTA III
the new security features needed in these money machines. all, these watersheds News
Under the Triple DES, the procedure for encryption is much the same are part of an ecological JAMES U. GAGNI
as that of the DES but it is repeated three times to forestall any hacking balance that assures food
Researcher
activity. This is the reason for the Triple DES name. RAMIL T. SARMIENTO
security. The Angat dam, Layout
With it, the data are encrypted with the first key, decrypted with the for instance, provide the
second key and finally encrypted again with the third key. Thus, the security RAUL S. GONZALEZ, BERNARDO PACHECO,
farming communities ALFRED SANTIAGO JR., GEORGE T. SIY
norm runs three times slower than that of the standard DES but is much more it serve in Bulacan, the Contributing Editors
secure. This is a mighty problem for the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) needed irrigation when
since the deployment of ATMs with the secure keys mean additional costs the drought comes. The Business Matters is published every Monday by Grandbooks Publishing
for the banks. But the BSP should insist on the safe and secure ATM modes irrigation capability of Inc. with editorial and business address at 50 M.R. Flores St. Ext.,
since the failure of the banks to migrate to these safer variations may hit the Angat dam is very much
Sto. Rosario Kanluran, Pateros, M.M.
Philippines hard in terms of a downgrade from foreign banking institutions. Telephones: (632) 628-43-48 Fax: (632) 628-38-82
important in assuring food E-mail: businessmatters@hotmail.ph
That could hit hard the Philippine banking system making it a financial security.
pariah, something unthinkable for the country’s economic managers. In fact, the government
Bangko Sentral should go full steam ahead.
 February 28 - March 6, 2011
China Bank 2010 profits up 22% to P5.0 B
China Banking Corporation
(China Bank, stock symbol CHIB),
reported robust gains in 2010. The
Bank’s audited net income from
January to December improved by
22.0% to P5.0 billion. This strong
income performance was driven
by revenues from continued loans
growth and improved trading gains.
Fee-based businesses such as banc
assurance, private banking, cash
management and remittances also
contributed to the earnings growth.
China Bank’s 2010 financial
ratios underscore its sustained
profitability in 2010: return on equity
of 16.69% from 15.36%, return on
assets of 2.15% from 1.90%.
“2010 was a year of dynamic
growth for China Bank. We
continued to pursue our aggressive
expansion program – branch
openings, ATMs – and even
exceeded our
income target of P4.4 billion,”
said China Bank President & CEO,
Peter S. Dee.
Filinvest Land’s Capex
budget hits P12 billion
Filinvest Land, Inc. (FLI)
announced that it is more than
doubling its capital expenditure
(capex) budget for 2011 to Php 12
billion in order to meet the demands
of its fast growing businesses.
The biggest portion of
the capex budget will be for
the residential projects of the
Company, which grew by 42% in
2010.
Construction works for
MRB projects are going on full
blast. At One Oasis Ortigas, the
last of the thirteen (13) buildings
began construction in January
of this year. Five buildings have
already been completed and two
more are nearing completion,
ahead of schedule. At Bali Oasis,
two buildings have already been
completed and the third targeted to
be finished in July this year, with
construction on the fourth and
last building commencing within
the year. Down south, One Oasis
Davao’s first three buildings have
been completed and construction
of the fourth building will
commence within the first half of
this year. Building construction in
Sorrento Oasis, Capri Oasis, Maui
Oasis and One Oasis Cebu are also
being fast tracked.
FLI will also start constructing
the first buildings in two resort
town communities within the 40-
hectare residential section of Citta
de Mare, called Amalfi Oasis and
San Remo Oasis.
Amalfi Oasis and San Remo
Oasis are the latest additions to
FLI’s mid-rise building (MRB)
projects. FLI currently has nine
(9) MRB projects that have
been announced or are under
construction. All of FLI’s MRBs
are under the “Oasis” series, with
One Oasis Ortigas, Bali Oasis
Marcos Highway, Maui Oasis Sta.
Mesa, Sorrento Oasis Pasig and
Capri Oasis Pasig in Metro Manila,
three (3) in Metro Cebu (One
Oasis Cebu, Amalfi Oasis and San
Remo Oasis), as well as One Oasis
Davao. This year, it plans to start
development on two additions
to the “Oasis” series, namely
Shang Properties, Inc. (SHNG)
Cash Dividends
The declaration of P0.03852 per share cash dividend to all shareholders of record as of 15, March 2011,
to be taken from the unrestricted retained earnings as reflected in the audited financial statements of the Issuer
as of December 2010, to be paid on or before 31, March 2011
CASH DIVIDEND:
CASH - P0.03852 per share
EX-DATE - March 10, 2011
RECORD DATE - March 15, 2011
PAYMENT DATE - On or before March 31, 2011
The Bank’s total revenues
grew to P17.89 billion. Net interest
income improved by 4.8% to P8.63
billion as interest expense decreased
by 11.5% due to lower borrowing
rates. Fee-based income increased
by 14.0% to P4.68 billion, boosted
by higher trading gains, which grew
47.4% to P1.75 billion.
Even as its branch expansion
program was in full swing,
prudent expense management kept
operating expense growth to 2.48%.
China Bank continued to be one of
the most cost-efficient banks in the
industry with a cost efficiency ratio
of 53.5% from 56.3%.
Total assets grew 10.0% to
P257.47 billion. Gross loan portfolio
from customers
expanded by 10.6% to P113.7
billion due to higher corporate
borrowings, bringing the
ratio of net loans to total assets
to a healthy 40.9% in 2010 from
40.4% in 2009. With adequate
provisions for probable losses
Bali Oasis 2,
and Belize Oasis
within Metro
Manila.
FLI will
also commence
construction of
The Linear, its
two tower high-
rise residential
project located
at the corner of
Malugay, Yakal
and Mayapis
Streets in Makati City. The Linear
is FLI’s first high-rise residential
project in Metro Manila.
FLI President and CEO Joseph
M. Yap disclosed that this year,
FLI will also start the expansion of
the Festival Supermall in Filinvest
Corporate City, Alabang, the
development of Il Corso, the retail
component of Citta de Mare in the
South Road Properties in Cebu, as
well as the construction of more
BPO office buildings. Currently,
FLI is completing the construction
of Vector 2 which will bring to
twelve the number of FLI’s BPO
office buildings within Northgate
Cyberzone in Filinvest Corporate
City.
Il Corso is the 10.6 hectare
waterfront lifestyle strip of Citta
de Mare that will offer a wide
range of retail, food, entertainment
and seaside leisure activities.
Phase 1 of the development
covers 4 hectares and will include
a boardwalk, beachfront retail
spaces, restaurants, a 2,500 square
meter exhibition tent and a 4,500
square meter sandbox that may
be used for sports like beach
volleyball.
“Our capex budget for 2011
will support the project launches
that we are targeting this year,
as well as projects we launched
previously. We want to grow
both the residential development
business and the leasing portfolio
of the Company, and this entails a
significant investment”, added Mr.
Yap. “Our capex will be financed
by internally generated funds, as
well as additional borrowings, if
Stocks 9
already in the books, China
Bank reduced its
loan-loss provisions by
37.4% to P496 million. Still,
the Bank’s loan loss coverage
ratio
remains to be among the
highest at 128.7%
Low cost funding improved stock exchange in 1947 and acquired the 30-stock PSE index (PSEi).
by 22.5% as checking and savings its universal banking license in As a result of China Bank’s solid
accounts (CASA) deposit continued 1991. In 2009, China Bank was financial performance, Fitch
to build up in 2010, reaching P71.82 among 11 Philippine companies Ratings once again affirmed our
billion. Total deposits grew 10.2% to (one of only two Philippine banks) financial strength rating of “AA-
P213.04 billion. The share of CASA in top 100 ASEAN companies in ”on the National credit rating scale,
to total peso deposits improved to the Stern Stewart Relative Wealth one of the highest such ratings in
44.8% from 41.6%. Index -- which outperformed their the country. China Bank provides
China Bank’s financial position peers of publicly- listed companies a wide range of banking services
remains solid with total capital in creating wealth for shareholders through its 269 branches and 440
funds of P35.45 billion, up by P5.09 for the period 2002-2008. Starting ATMs nationwide to date (including
billion. This translates to a capital May 11, 2010, China Bank joins China Bank Savings).
adequacy ratio of 16.26%, still one
of the strongest in the industry.
China Bank, which celebrated
its 90th anniversary in August, Empire East to launch
4,700 homes worth
2010, is the first privately-owned
commercial bank in the Philippines.
China Bank was listed on the local
P12 B for 1H 2011
Middle-income
developer Empire East Land
property
Holdings Inc. will roll out a
total of 4,700 residential units,
boasts white beach sand, and
features a multipurpose hall at the
very center. Other play amenities
include a beach volleyball court,
worth P12 billion, for the first six basketball court, tennis court,
months of 2011. sunken bar and gym.
Empire East, the developer Aside from offering prime
of the successful Laguna BelAir leisure attractions, the family-
township in the Southand several friendly project makessafety a
residential condominium and priority. Designated vehicular
transit-oriented communities in drop-off areas are located before
Metro Manila, is making a foray the entrance tothe carpark building
into urban residential resort to minimize the risk of accidents.
development with its new project, Empire East is also launching
Kasara Resort Towers. new phases in its ongoing
The project, located near C-5 projects across MetroManila:
Road in Bagong Ugong, Pasig Green Club Towers in Little
City, showcases close to 2,000 Baguio Terraces, Maple Heights
necessary. FLI is in a very strong
financial position. Our debt-to- residential units in a nature-filled in PioneerWoodlands, Madison
setting with landscaped greenery, Plaza Towers in San Lorenzo
equity ratio was only at 0.31:1 and
net debt-to-equity ratio at 0.25:1 various water features and wide, Place and Central Park in
open spaces. Cambridge Village. Empire
as of the end of September 2010.
There is a lot of room to gear up “Kasara Resort Towers will East's other new projects include
offer a modern and relaxing The Rochester in Pasig City
and we can draw on our available
bank credit lines.” resort lifestyle to middle- and The Sonoma in Sta. Rosa,
income Filipino families,” said Laguna.
FLI earlier announced that
it is targeting to launch around Empire East President Anthony “Our confidence level in the
Charlemagne Yu. real estate sector is very high,”
Php13 billion worth of projects in
2011, from 17 new projects and The project's recreational said Yu. “Our new projects will
deck is fully landscaped with enable Filipino families to own
24 additional phases of existing
projects. This is 25% more than the palm trees and tropical plants. quality, budget-friendly homes
The swimming pool complex in the very best locations.”
value of projects launched in 2010.
Targeted launches for 2011 include
four (4) new socialized housing
projects, six (6) new affordable
housing projects and two (2) new
mid-rise building (MRB) projects.
The projects targeted for launch
this year are equivalent to over
14,000 units, almost double the
close to 7,300 units launched in
2010.
FLI is also planning new
offerings within FLI’s existing
township developments. New
socialized and affordable housing
projects are planned within Ciudad
de Calamba in Calamba, Laguna,
as well as new residential clusters
within Timberland Heights in
San Mateo, Rizal and Havila in
Antipolo and Taytay, Rizal.
FLI has also launched
Philex mining corporation
two residential projects within
Filinvest Corporate City. Studio
City is mainly targeted for those
working in the BPOs within
Northgate Cyberzone while The Gentlemen:
Please be informed that the meeting of the Board of Directors of
Levels is a middle-income project
located at one of the highest points PHILEX MINING CORPORATION held on Wednesday, February
23, 2011, the Board approved the following
of Filinvest Corporate City.
1. Declaration of cash dividends as follows:
Amount: Sixteen Centavos(P0.16) per share
Record Date: March 10, 20111
Payment Date: April 5, 2011
2. The schedule for the 2011 annual stockholders’ meeting, as
follows:
Date:Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Time:2:30 PM
Venue:Dusit Thani Hotel, Ayala Center, Makati City
CASH DIVIDEND:
CASH - P0.16 per share
EX-DATE - March 7, 2011
RECORD DATE - March 10, 2011
PAYMENT DATE - April 5, 2011
 10   Motoring February 28 - March 6, 2011

Bahrain withdraws F1 2011 season opener

THE Bahrain International Circuit
(BIC) announced that the Kingdom
of Bahrain would withdraw from
hosting the opening round of the
2011 FIA Formula One World
Championship so that the country
can focus on its process of national
dialogue.
Bahrain’s Crown Prince -
HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad
Al-Khalifa - initiated a new national
dialogue involving all sections of
Bahraini society in order to resolve
the current political situation in
the Kingdom. Earlier, the Crown
Prince informed Formula One’s
Bernie Ecclestone of the BIC’s
decision by telephone, Formula1.
com said.
HRH Prince Salman said:
“At the present time the
country’s entire attention is focused
on building a new national dialogue
for Bahrain.
“Although Bernie Ecclestone
had graciously made clear that a
decision on the race was entirely
Bahrain’s to make and was not yet
required, we felt it was important for
the country to focus on immediate
issues of national interest and leave
the hosting of Bahrain’s Formula 1
race to a later date.
“I would like to extend my
personal gratitude to Bernie
Ecclestone for his support and
understanding.
“After the events of the past
week, our nation’s priority is
on overcoming tragedy, healing
divisions and rediscovering the
fabric that draws this country
together; reminding the world
of the very best that Bahrain is
capable of as a nation once again
united.”
Chairman of the Bahrain
International Circuit, Zayed R.
Alzayani said:
“Bahrain’s Grand Prix is a
time of celebration and hosting
the race is a source of great pride
for Bahrain and Bahrainis. It is a
showcase to the world and we look
forward to welcoming the teams
and drivers and everyone involved
in Formula One back to Bahrain in
the very near future.
“I hope that F1 and our friends
around the world will understand
our decision at this difficult time.”
Following the Crown Prince’s
decision, Bernie Ecclestone said: begin to heal their country. anyone who has been at a Bahrain No decision has been made
“It is sad that Bahrain has had “The hospitality and warmth Grand Prix will testify. We look on a new date for the rescheduling
to withdraw from the race, we of the people of Bahrain is a forward to being back in Bahrain of the race, which was due to take
wish the whole nation well as they hallmark of the race there, as soon.” place from March 11th to 13th.

Prii is the plural of Prius ChangestoFormula

TOYOTA Motor Sales (TMS), USA, Inc. announced that
the general public has selected 'Prii' as the preferred plural
term for Prius.
The Prius Goes Plural voting campaign was launched
on January 10 at the North American International Auto
Show in Detroit and challenged the public to help the
automaker determine the plural nomenclature of Prius.
The campaign coincided with the world premiere of
the Toyota Prius family of vehicles. With 25 percent of
the votes, Prii becomes the word not only endorsed by
the public who chose it, but also as the term recognized
by Toyota.
As such, Dictionary.com has updated its entry for the
word 'Prius' to reflect this.
Toyota unveiled the winning word at the recently
held Chicago Auto Show. Jay Schwartz, head of content
for Dictionary.com, was on hand to inform the public that,
as the plural of Prius has now been determined,
the term 'Prii' will be reflected in Dictionary.com.
After the more than 1.8 million votes were
cast during the course of the six-week campaign,
Prii beat out its four competitors: Prius, Priuses,
Prium and Prien.
Prius came in at a close second with 24
percent of the votes.
"Community has always been a big part of
the Prius brand, so it was only fitting that we invite
the online communities to participate in the plural
discussion," said Colin Morisako, advertising
manager for Toyota. "The people have spoken—
Prii will be the accepted term used to describe
multiple Prius vehicles going forward."
The plural of Prius has sparked debates
since the launch of the vehicle 10 years ago. Now
that the Prius family has grown, Toyota asked
its customers and fans to help the company decide Prius
on a term to describe the plural of Prius vehicles, thus
answering the decade-long question—what do you call
more than one Prius?
Online voting modules enabled the public to vote for
their preferred plural of Prius as well as view real-time
polling data.
The campaign also featured an animated video, print
ads and a web series hosted by James Lipton, host of
Inside the Actors Studio and author of An Exaltation of
Larks.
With the expansion of the Prius family to include the
Prius Plug-in Hybrid vehicle (PHV), Prius v and Prius c
concept, Toyota hopes to further increase acceptance of
the Prius brand by offering a wider selection of vehicles
that each maintain Prius' core values of high fuel economy,
low emissions, proven gas-electric hybrid technology and
environmental stewardship.
1 tech rules in 2011
THE Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) has issued
technical changes for 2011 that are being introduced to increase the
amount of overtaking during a race.
The FIA has acknowledged that regulations concerning some of
the new components may have to be revised later – such as when they
will be available electronically to a driver – to ensure that it maintains
its objective of making the race as exciting to fans and viewers as
possible.
One of the primary changes to to increase the amount of overtaking
is the removal of the driver-adjustable front wing of 2010, replaced by
a driver-adjustable - but FIA regulated - rear wing.
The rear wing will just have two setting that will increase the gap
between the main plane and the flap from 10-15mm to 50mm.
The gap increase will reduce drag significantly and improve top
speed.
It use during the race is restricted and a driver will know its
available for his use through a dashboard light. The system deactivates
when he releases the button that will turn it on or when he hits the
brake pedal.
Another change initiated by the FIA is the removal of the
controversial F-duct found inside the drivers cockpit. This means
there will be no more holes in the conduct which a driver can block
to influence how air flows over portion of the vehicle and alter irs
aerodynamic characteristic.
Brawn GP had pioneered the concept of using double diffusers in
2009 which paved the way for the team and its driver – then Jenson
Button – to win the driver and team championships.
In 2010, everybody had them and the 2011 rules make it clear that
there must be no gap between reference plane, step plane and diffuser,
so no more big holes in the underbody.
Single, blown diffusers are still allowed, but regardless, the
proportion of downforce generated by the diffuser will be far lower.

Customs losing billions Gov't to replace trafffic lights with LED

to undervalued imports
THE government will replace power capacity addition and Energy Secretary Jose Rene
traffic lights in Metro Manila with additional earnings due to trading Almendras said they expect
light emitting diode (LED), a more of carbon reduction emissions. to spend around P124
efficient energy lighting under Government million for
THE House Committee on Ways and Means will probe the alleged funding of the Asian Development resources can very the CFL
connivance of officials of the Bureau of Customs, and manufacturers Bank. well be allocated to replacement
and distributors of imported vehicles in undervaluing of taxes and duties "We are set to replace traffic other priority programs project but this
assessed on imported vehicles since 2007 which means billions of pesos lights of Metro Manila to LED, of government," the DoE would redound to
in lost revenues for the government. around 159 intersections," Energy official said. a P22 million
Rep. Hermilando Mandanas (2nd District, Batangas), Committee Undersecretary Loreta Ayson told Ayson said the a year savings
Chairman, said the probe will be undertaken by the Subcommittee reporters. LED bulb supply is on electricity.
on Customs based House resolution 709 filed by Rep. Milagros The traffic light LED project now "up for bidding." T h e
Magsaysay. will be under the Philippine Energy The LED bulbs will be department
Magsaysay earlier called for the submission of payment records of Efficiency Project (PEEP) which given to the local said lighting
the BOC and car distributors for comparison to check the undervaluation aims to provide direct economic government units for accounts for
charges and determine what the BOC has done to address the issue. benefits to the country by reducing free. more than 50
“The BOC Commissioner cannot be absent during the probe energy demand and displacing LED traffic percent of the
because we want to know if the BOC has plugged the loopholes already imported fuel. signals have several evening peak
otherwise heads will roll at the BOC,” Magsaysay said. Among the components that advantages over load in the rural
In HR 709, Magsaysay said she received reports that sometime form part of the PEEP project are traditional incandescent type Philippines and the
in late 2006 and up to the present time, vehicles imported by Toyota, government retrofitting, public of traffic lights because it enjoys a use of proven technology in efficient
Mitsubishi, Nissan and the other members of the Chamber of lighting retrofit, expansion of longer lifespan with low wattage. lighting can reduce this demand by
Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines, Inc. (CAMPI) were not energy efficiency labeling, lamp The Quezon City government is 40 to 80 percent.
properly assessed by the BOC of their taxes and duties when released waste facility, super ESCO (Energy looking at replacing its street lamps Thereplacementofincandescent
from the customs zone, hence their payments of taxes and duties were Service Company), green building with LED this year which would cut bulbs with CFLs will reduce
undervalued. initiatives and communication, and their electricity consumption by half. peak demand by 400 megawatts,
She also received reports that distributors of vehicles such as social mobilization. The department is also reduce oil imports by0 million each
Mercedes Benz, Jaguar, BMW and other luxury vehicles of the same "The PEEP is a project that will undertaking a compact fluorescent year, generate clean development
categories did not pay the proper taxes and duties that should have been pay for itself through savings in terms lamps (CLF) retrofitting project with mechanism revenues of about
slapped on their imported vehicles thereby resulting in the undervaluation of reduced energy consumption, the ADB that would benefit at least 35 million for 2010 to 2012 and create
of taxes and duties. reduced fuel importation, deferred government-owned buildings. an energy efficient market. (PNA)
 February 28 - March 6, 2011 Technology
11

iPad propels Apple to top mobile PC

SURGING iPad shipments have
propelled Apple to a 17.2 percent
share of worldwide mobile PC
shipments in the last quarter of
2010.
Preliminary results of the
DisplaySearch Quarterly Mobile PC
Shipment and Forecast Report, Apple
shipped more than 10.2 million
notebook and tablet PCs combined,
nearly a million more units than HP
for the same quarter.
While Apple’s iPad is benefiting
from a first-mover advantage,
particularly in mature markets, its
notebook PC shipment growth rate
continues to exceed the industry
average.
“While we anticipate increased
competition in the tablet PC market
later this year with the introduction
of Android Honeycomb-based
tablets, Apple’s iPad business is
complementing a notebook line
whose shipments widely exceed the
industry average growth rate,” said
Richard Shim, Senior Analyst at
DisplaySearch.
“Apple is currently benefiting
from significant and comprehensive
growth from both sectors of the mobile
PC spectrum, notebooks and tablet
PCs. Cannibalization seems limited at
this point,” Shim said.
Among the top five brands in the
mobile PC market, Toshiba was the
only other company to exhibit year-on-
year shipment growth.
Toshiba’s shipments increased
15 percent year-on-year, to over 5.1
million units in the last quarter of 2010,
as it maintained its number 5 position
in market share.
HP, Acer Group (including Founder
shipments), and Dell took the second,
third and fourth positions, respectively.
The top five brands accounted for 65.4
percent of the total mobile PC market.
In Q42010, worldwide mobile
PC shipments (including tablet PCs)
reached 59.6 million, up by eight
percent for the quarter-on-quarter
and 17 percent for the year-on-year
comparison.
The growth of notebook PC
shipments, excluding tablets, was
weak in the last quarter but went up
four percent on a quarter-on-quarter
comparison and one percent for the
year-on-year.
The DisplaySearch Quarterly
Mobile PC Shipment and Forecast
Report covers the entire range of
mobile PC products shipped worldwide
and regionally. Covering global and
regional brands, the Quarterly Mobile
PC Shipment and Forecast Report
provides an objective, expert view of
the market with insight into historical
shipments, revenues, forecasts and
more.
Since 1996, DisplaySearch has
been recognized as a leading global
market research and consulting firm
specializing in the display supply chain,
as well as the emerging photovoltaic/
solar cell industries. DisplaySearch
provides trend information, forecasts
and analyses developed by a global
team of experienced analysts with
extensive industry knowledge.

GPS is a gift from above

WHILE driving in an unfamiliar city, most people
take the instructions from their Global Positioning
System (GPS) device for granted — never pausing
to wonder how the disembodied voice knows their
destination is just two left turns away.
But GPS, in fact, is a marvel of space-based
technology as space.com reported recently. The
GPS receivers in cars and smartphones calculate
locations, velocities and directions based on signals
pinged out by a constellation of 24 satellites orbiting
thousands of miles above Earth.
GPS began its life as a strictly military
technology, and to this day the United States Air
Force operates and maintains the satellites. But GPS
has now flooded into the everyday lives of billions
of people around the world, letting them know where
they are at any moment — and how to get to a better
place.
The Air Force maintains a constellation of at
least 24 working GPS satellites, each orbiting about
12,500 miles (20,117 kilometers) above the Earth's
surface. These satellites, which circle the planet
every 12 hours, emit continuous navigation signals.
Receivers on the ground snag these signals out
of the air, using them to calculate time, location and
velocity with high accuracy. The technology has
also found its way into many spheres of modern life,
helping scientists mark their field sites and assisting
delivery companies in tracking packages.
The roots of GPS technology date back to World
War II, when the US and British navies deployed
navigation systems that used ground-based radio
signals. But the idea really got off the ground when
the Soviet Union launched Sputnik — the world's
first artifical satellite — in 1957.
Just days after Sputnik's launch, American
scientists noticed that they could pinpoint the
satellite's location based on the Doppler shift of its
radio signals — a measure of how the wavelengths
seemed to stretch out or contract depending on the
satellite's movements.
This got the researchers thinking about
creating a space-based navigation system. In the
late 1950s, they began developing and testing
satellite navigation technology, and the US Navy
deployed the operational Transit satellite system in
the 1960s.
Then, in 1973, a group of Pentagon officials
decided to create a "defense navigation satellite
system," laying the groundwork for a system called
Navstar-GPS — what we now know simply as
GPS.
The US Air Force sent the first GPS satellite
into orbit in 1978, and many other launches followed
over the years.
By the early 1990s, the system was functioning,
and its capabilities were demonstrated during the
first Gulf War. Allied troops relied heavily on GPS
to navigate the featureless Arabian desert, Air Force
officials have said. By 1995, the 24th GPS satellite
was in position, marking the system's arrival at full
operational capacity.
GPS satellites send out two signals — one for GPS in a smartphone mounted on a bicycle.
military use and one for civilian applications. In
the early years, the civilian signal was intentionally
degraded for national security purposes. But that
changed in 2000, when President Bill Clinton
Standby, hibernate mode
ordered the degradation turned off, making civilian
GPS much more accurate. The decision has helped
GPS become a more reliable tool for private citizens
can save on energy
all over the world. COMPUTER users can save energy and money with the right computer
The capabilities of GPS are constantly settings for standby and hibernate.
improving, as the Air Force launches newer, more Computers should be configured to automatically switch off their
accurate GPS satellites on a regular basis. The US display after 15 minutes of idle time, according to the Saxony Consumer
federal government is committed to providing a Agency in Leipzig, Germany.
minimum of 24 operational GPS satellites on orbit, No longer than 20 minutes later, they should change into standby
95 percent of the time. There are currently more than mode, followed by hibernate mode after 40 minutes, which saves even
30 satellites up, providing some margin for error. more energy.
While GPS is the most widely used system Notebooks in battery operation should be configured to turn off the
around the world, it's not the only space-based display after just 5 minutes, change into standby mode after 10 minutes,
navigation network out there. Russia has its Glonass and hibernate after 20 minutes. Under Windows, the settings are made
system, for example, which the Soviet Union began in the Power Options menu, which is located at Start, Control Panel.
to devise back in the 1970s. Even cutting down on search engine use can help save some energy
The European Union is planning a navigation and protect the environment. A single Google search is said to consume
system called Galileo, and China has already about as much energy as a four-watt low-energy light bulb in an hour.
launched multiple satellites for its Beidou Given this information, surfers should bookmark frequently used
("Compass") system, which it hopes to have webpages and access them this way rather than calling them up via a
operational by 2012. search engine.

US Navy makes first electronic launch

THE United States Navy made
history on December last year when
it launched the first aircraft using the
Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch
System (EMALS).
This technology will replace the
steam catapult system relied on for
more than 50 years to launch aircraft
from carriers. Newer, heavier and
faster aircraft will result in launch
energy requirements approaching
the steam system's limits.
EMALS is a complete carrier-
based launch system designed
for all future Ford-class, nuclear-
powered carriers that are replacing
the Nimitz-class carrier in use since
1975. The first ship of this new class,
the Gerald R. Ford, is currently
under construction and slated for
completion in 2015.
The Aircraft Launch and
Recovery Equipment (ALRE)
program launched an F/A-18E Super
Hornet Dec. 18 from a New Jersey
test site using the EMALS
technology.
"This is a tremendous
achievement not just for the
ALRE team, but for the entire
Navy," said Capt. James
Donnelly, ALRE program
manager. "(The) EMALS
launch demonstrates an
evolution in carrier flight deck
operations using advanced
computer control, system
monitoring and automation for
tomorrow's carrier air wings."
"I thought the launch went
great," said Lt. Daniel Radocaj,
the test pilot who made the first
EMALS manned launch. "I
got excited once I was on the
catapult, but I went through the
same procedures as on a steam
catapult. The catapult stroke
felt similar to a steam catapult
and EMALS met all of the
The steam catapult on the USS Hornet. expectations I had."
The mission and function
of EMALS remains the same
as the steam catapult; however,
EMALS employs entirely different
technologies. EMALS will deliver
the necessary higher launch energy
capacity as well as substantial
improvements in system weight,
maintenance, increased efficiency
and more accurate end-speed
control.
The system's technology
allows for a smooth acceleration
at both high and low speeds,
increasing the carrier's ability to
launch aircraft in support of the
warfighter. EMALS will provide
the capability for launching all
current and future carrier air wing
platforms – lightweight unmanned
to heavy strike fighters.
Engineers will continue system
functional demonstration testing on
EMALS and will expand aircraft
launches next year.
 12   February 28 - March 6, 2011

Coke’s recipe revealed Komukai in PH,

THE public radio program This American Life has revealed
what it believes is the original recipe for Coca-Cola.
A statement claimed that the show found what
appeared to be a copy of the famously guarded trade secret
in a newspaper column published in the Atlanta Journal
and Constitution on February 18, 1979.
Then they spoke with historian Mark Pendergrast,
who had discovered what he believed was a version of
Coca-Cola's original formula decades before while doing
research in the company's own archives. (He published
that version of the recipe in his 1993 book on Coke.)
The two recipes were essentially identical.
"This was an amazing discovery," said host Ira Glass
when he revealed the recipe on the weekly radio broadcast,
"I got into this wondering if it might be possible that this
super-secret recipe had been hiding in plain sight, in an
old newspaper clipping, but once I learned it matched this
recipe in Coke's own archives, written by the creator of
Coke – it was hard not to get very excited."
Glass read the full recipe on This American Life's
radio broadcast which is heard by more than 1.8 million
people on over 500 public radio stations across the country
– as well as on the show's podcast, which most weeks is the
most popular in the nation with an audience of 600,000.
The program is produced by Chicago Public Media
and distributed by Public Radio International.
As for the most famous ingredient of Coca-Cola, the
first item listed in the recipe is "F.E. Coca," which stands for
fluid extract of coca, which contains cocaine.
Cocaine was in the soda until 1903, and coca extract
denies drug raps
is still an ingredient in Coca-Cola. It's decocainized under
federal supervision at a company called Stepan in New
Jersey.
Since the only way to be sure if the recipe really was for
Coca-Cola would be to make a batch, This American Life
asked with Seattle-based Jones Soda, to do just that. They
collaborated with California-based Sovereign Flavors.
The recipe has several known differences with Coca-
Cola's current formula. It uses sugar instead of the current
sweetener, high fructose corn syrup.
It uses citric acid, where current Coca-Cola – like most
modern sodas – is known to use phosphoric acid.
It uses lime juice; the current recipe is believed to use
lime oil.
Ultimately, however, the team was able to make a
version of the recipe that fooled one expert – and to their
surprise, was preferred 6-to-4 in an informal taste test in a
Brooklyn supermarket.
In keeping with it's past statements about the formula,
the company denies the recipe's authenticity. The company's
archivist, Phil Mooney, said he did not believe the recipe
was beverage's original formula – but he sidestepped when
asked if the company had checked it against its copy of the
original.

Before 'Oscar Night,' there are the

'Pawscars'
EVEN before the Oscar winners are
announced, several Academy Award-
nominated films have already earned
an important and respected honor:
the "No Animals Were Harmed"
certification from American Humane
Association, the nation's voice for the
protection of children and animals.
American Humane Association's
CertifiedAnimalSafetyRepresentatives
monitor the treatment of animals on
about 2,000 productions each year.
This year, Oscar-nominated
productions that did the right thing by
keeping their animal actors safe include
"True Grit," "Harry Potter and the
Deathly Hallows Part 1" and "Salt."
In addition to commending
those films on their treatment of
animals and their nomination by the
Academy of Motion Picture Arts
and Sciences, American Humane
Association recognizes
each of the following
films with a "Pawscar"
— an unofficial, animal-
centric spin on the
Oscars:
Best Villain – "Cats
& Dogs: Revenge of
Kitty Galore"
Forget Hannibal
Lecter and Darth Vader.
Best Surfing Scene Ever –
"Marmaduke"
So, you didn't buy Keanu Reeves
playing an FBI agent going undercover
as a surfer in "Point Break"? Then
maybe a surfing dog will be easier to
swallow.
And our boy Marmaduke doesn't
even have to lazily spout off lines like,
"I am an FBI agent!" He only has to
bark, give us a "hang ten" and ride that
pipeline to your heart.
Of course, the only way to
get Marmaduke and the other pups
catching any waves is by having
American Humane Association animal
safety reps monitoring their every
move to ensure no wipeouts and "No
Animals Were Harmed."
Best Human-Animal Bond –
"Secretariat"
You thought the only purpose of
Horses don't really have wings.
Which also means "Clash of the Titans"
is not a documentary.
Still, the fact remains — horses
with wings rock! And the reality
throughout this mythological remake is
that an American Humane Association
animal safety rep in the UK tirelessly
monitored all of the animal action,
including the majestic Friesian stallions
playing Pegasus. Thanks to motion-
capture technology, these beauties
appear to have wings, thus assisting
in a big way with Perseus' eventual
triumph.
Best Supporting Arachnids –
"Salt"
Unlike arachnid actors from
such gems as "Them," "Earth vs. the
Spider" and "Tarantula," the little fella
in "Salt" was a little more subtle in his
performance.
It wasn't just the way
he crawled around that jar
Angelina Jolie had him in,
but the important role he
played in the film. Angelina
had to carefully interact with
her eight-legged co-star
with the help of American
Humane Association safety
reps, who instructed her
on how to gently hold and
FUGITIVE Japanese TV personality, actress and stripper Minako Komukai,
25, who is accused of buying stimulants, spoke with Japanese media for the
first time after the allegations were announced earlier this month.
“I’m not a fugitive or a criminal,” Komukai told a Shukan Post journalist,
who flew to Manila and succeeded in arranging an interview with her.
Komukai also revealed that she is not afraid of getting arrested and
announced her intention to return to Japan from Manila shortly, JapanToday.
com reported in its website. She also denied reports that she was pregnant,
that had been rumored by several media sources.
Tokyo Metropolitan Police issued a warrant for Komukai’s arrest after
a group of Iranian drug dealers were arrested in Tokyo and Komukai’s name
was found in their customers’ list.
Komukai was found guilty of amphetamine possession in February
2009 and given an 18-month prison term, suspended for three years. She
only worked periodically last year, mainly as a stripper and in a bondage
film.
Despite active cooperation from the Philippines Bureau of Immigration,
Japanese police have failed to arrest Komukai and are also urging cooperation
from the Japanese Foreign Ministry to issue a passport confiscation warrant
that would presumably increase pressure on Komukai.
Police say that Komukai’s expulsion from the Philippines is only a
matter of time.
Komukai was spotted in public by TV Asahi reporters in the Makati
area of Manila on February 11, accompanied by an unidentified male.
Expectations for her return to Japan fell after she canceled her flight to Narita
on February 16. No one has heard or seen her since.
The Komukai interview occupies four pages of the Shukan Post which
went on sale last week.

TV5 looking at 300%

For a portrait of pure touch the spider. Now that's
evil, look no further than method acting!
the diabolical villain Best Perception vs.

revenue growth in 2011

Kitty Galore.
Although Kitty Galore herself
was a computer-generated imagery,
props and special effects, she was real
enough to give you nightmares for
weeks after seeing the movie. Don't
be fooled though — this project was
a mixture of CGI and live action and,
therefore, called for American Humane
Association's Certified Animal Safety
Representatives to ensure the safety
and well-being of all the animals
involved.
Best Chase Scene in a Movie –
"Tooth Fairy"
In our humble opinion, the cat
chase scene in "Tooth Fairy" surpasses
every Michael Bay/Jerry Bruckheimer
production.
But instead of cars, we get a
fearless feline who will stop at nothing
to have The Rock for an afternoon
snack. Picture the scene and feel the
suspense, as our hero tiptoes past the
cat to attend his dental duties.
Of course, the cat awakens from
its slumber, teeth bared, ready to
pounce on our hero.
But like any good tooth fairy,
Derek blows a loud horn which
frightens the cat. You'll be glad to
hear that this kitty cat had top-notch
supervision and care, thanks to the
watchful eyes of American Humane
Association animal safety reps on set
monitoring this edge-of-your-seat, nail-
biting chase and all the other scenes
featuring animals.
a racehorse was to run in circles while
sweating the last 50 bucks in your
savings account? Well, try giving one
of them (a horse, that is) a hug for a
change.
In one of our favorite films of
the year, "Secretariat," Diane Lane
exemplifies the beauty of the bond
between people and animals in this
true story about Penny Chenery,
who fought to keep and protect one
of the fastest racehorses in history,
despite all the odds. To top off this
feel-good movie, American Humane
Association's Guidelines for the Safe
Use of Animals in Filmed Media was
strictly implemented and abided by at
all times.
Best Effort to Protect an Animal –
"Shutter Island"
Everyone thinks it's fun to be
Leonardo DiCaprio — all those Lakers'
games and supermodels. But nobody
seems to mention rats!
During the filming of Martin
Scorsese's "Shutter Island," American
Humane Association safety
representatives and the trainers took
extra steps to make sure that all that
foot-'n-rat action was on the up and
up with no one, and no rat, ever in
any danger. Not everyone is attracted
to Leo, or his cheesy feet — the rats
never took one bite, and, of course,
were protected from any harm.Best
Mythological Animal in a Film –
"Clash of the Titans"
Reality – "True Grit"
So you think it'd be tough to play
Rooster Cogburn? As Jeff Bridges
played the infamous character in the
Coen Brothers' Western "True Grit," he's
a cantankerous one-eyed lawman. Well,
imagine being the horse he rides! In a
scene that's beyond heart-wrenching,
Cogburn rides Little Blackie to the
nearest town in an attempt to save a
snakebitten Mattie from near death.
Basically, the perception is that he rides
Little Blackie until she can ride no
more. The scene was enough to make
you cry — until you see the reality in
the American Humane Association
certification that "No Animals Were
Harmed" in the making of this movie.
Best Recurring Character – "Harry
Potter" Series
The beloved owl in the world-
famous money machine "Harry Potter"
pops up more than Newman from
"Seinfeld." Hedwig is more than just
a magical creature who has protected
Harry through his many trials. She
has also been a friend to young Harry,
having seen him through childhood,
over the rough terrain of puberty and
into adulthood.
And all that time, someone was
watching over Hedwig as well —
American Humane Association's
CertifiedAnimal Safety Representative
Jan Caputo. For the past 10 years, she
has been committed to protecting all
the animals in the "Harry Potter" series.
Fabulosum, Jan!
ABC Development Corp.,
the owner of TV5, expects its
revenue to grow more than 300
percent this year mostly because
of higher program ratings and
the launch of its news channel.
Roberto Barreiro,
executive vice-president and
chief operating officer of TV5,
told reporters that his company
posted a 300 percent increase in
revenues in 2010 and expects
"more than 300 percent" this year.
Barriero said TV5 posted about
P1 billion in total sales last year.
He said TV5's ratings and
advertisers have been growing since
the company took over the operation
last year.
Barriero added that its advertising
rates is "cheaper" compared with
ABS-CBN Corp. and GMA Network
Inc.
The TV5 executive said TV ad
spending in the country is growing
by as much as P30 billion a year and
they hope "to get at least 10 percent
this year."
Ray Espinosa, president of TV5,
said that beginning February 21, its
non-stop news and sport channel on
free TV, Aksyon TV UHF Channel
41 will be aired that will boost the
company's revenues.
For Davao
and Cebu, the
Aksyon TV is
on Channel 29.
TV5's 24-
hour news and
sports channel
gives Filipinos
the latest national
and international
news even
without cable
subscription.
Espinosa said that TV5 expects
to hire more staff to deliver non-stop
news and sports coverage.
"We are very serious," he added.
TV5's news anchors include
Paolo Bediones, Cheryl Cosim,
Erwin Tulfo, Luchi Cruz-Valdez,
Raffy Tulfo, and Martin Andanar.
In 2009, MediaQuest Holdings
Inc. bought TV5 from the Cojuangco
family for P4 billion, and acquired
MPB Primedia of Malaysia, a TV5
major block-timer, for $16 million.
MediaQuest is the media arm of
Philippine Long Distance Telephone
Co.
Media Quest is also a majority
shareholder of National Broadcasting
Corp. and operates 360 media, which
offers direct-to-home TV service.
(PNA)