metro express issue no. 1

xpress FREEFREEMMetroEExpresswww.metroexpressnews.yolasite.com Manila, PHILIPPINES May 6-12, 2011

The Philippines’ 1st...

BROADSHEETnewspaper!

SEXY actressCristine Reyeshas promisedto talk less thisyear so as toavoid contro-versies thathounded hershowbiz careerin the past.

NATION.............. Page 2

Blessed John Paul II

Wedding of the century

NATION................ Page 2

‘Moment of truth’TALK is cheap. Cut it.Now, both camps have to put aside

talks on early round stoppage and all thatjazz as our very own eight-world titlist inCong. Manny Pacquiao tangles withShane Mosley up the ring on Sunday inLas Vegas, Nevada.

Truly, it’s the moment of truth and thePhilippines’ eight-division world cham-pion Manny Pac is set to defend hisWorld Boxing Organization (WBO)welterweight belt against Sugar ShaneMosley on May 7 (May 8 in Manila) atthe MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas,Nevada.

Pacquiao, boxing's No. 1 pound-for-pound king, parades 52-3-2 record with38 knockouts while Mosley boasts of a46-6-1 card, with 39 wins coming by wayof knockout.

‘Iron Lady’resigns...Will Pichay,et al, do thesame tack?

Obviously, Ombudswoman Mercedi-tas Gutierrez succumbed to the politicalpressure heaped upon her by the AquinoAdministration but she beat them to thedraw by abruptly resigning.

Will the nature of political vindictiv-ism now stop and gear up to pro-peoplethrust? Or, will the other GMA remnantslike Prospero Pichay follow the lead?www.metroexpressnews.yolasite.com

For full story, log on towww.metroexpressnews.yolasite.comPACQUIAO

MOSLEY

See page 7 or log on towww.metroexpressnews.yolasite.com

LRT extension, MRT privatizationamong first batch of PPP program

See page 4 or log on to www.metroexpressnews.yolasite.com for full story...

VP Binay, big showbiz names guest of honor in 6th Puregold ‘Sari-Sari’ Convention Page 7VP Binay, big showbiz names to grace 6th Puregold ‘Sari-Sari’ Convention opening...

MAY 6-12,20112 METRO EXPRESSThe first free broadsheet in the Philippines!

NATION

Wild, Weird, World!

AN 11-year-old "werewolf" boy whodesperately seeks a cure for his condi-tion is baffling medical experts.

Pruthviraj Patil is one of 50 in theworld who suffers from hypertrichosis,a rare genetic condition known as Were-wolf Syndrome.

As a result his face and body is cov-ered in thick, matted hair.

But he is hoping doctors will one dayfind a cure for his ailment.

Born in the Indian district of Sangli,near Bombey, he hardly ever leaves hisvillage because of his fear of beingtraunted by strangers.

The only parts of his body that arenot covered with hair are the palms ofhis hands and soles of his feet.

‘Werewolf’ boy appeals for cure

The son of a well off farmer, hisparents have tried homeopathy, tradi-tional Ayurvedic remedies and lasersurgery.

But none of them have worked.

DENR to assist LGUs to level up solidwaste management in Metro Manila

Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Ramon J. P. Paje (right) hands out samples ofcompostable bags and styropor during the Metro Manila Council meeting at the Parañaque City Hall. Paje said the bagsand styropor, which are manufactured from potatoes and corn, have a shelf life of only eight months and are completelybiodegradable within two weeks when mixed with soil in disposal facilities. Holding the samples are Metropolitan ManilaDevelopment Authority Chairman Francis Tolentino (left) and Parañaque City Mayor Florencio Bernabe, Jr. Paje present-ed to the Metro Manila mayors updates on the DENR’s programs on clean air, urban greening, and solid waste manage-ment.

Nation Roundup

THE Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is set to pro-vide one million peso fund assistance to local government units to level up solidwaste management compliance in Metro Manila.

“The DENR is ready to provide as much as one million pesos to each localgovernment unit within Metro Manila to assist them in monitoring the compliance,particularly of subdivisions and condominiums, in the implementation of RepublicAct (RA) No. 9003,” DENR Secretary Ramon J. P. Paje said.

Republic Act 9003, also known as the Ecological Solid Waste Management(ESWM) Act of 2000, explicitly puts the responsibility of solid waste managementon local government. However, Paje explained that the fund support is an approachtaken by the DENR, being the chairman of the National Solid Waste ManagementCommission (NSWMC), to enhance compliance to the law at the local level, partic-ularly in the metropolis where the garbage problem remains a critical social as wellas an environmental issue.

AT LEAST 7,000 violators werecaught on the 60-kilometer speed limiton Commonwealth Avenue in QuezonCity which is being imposed by the Met-ropolitan Manila Development Authori-ty (MMDA).

MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino saidthe move aims to remind the public that theagency is serious in implementing the speedlimit on Commonwealth Avenue.

“Our campaign against speedsters willhave no let-up. We will continue goingafter violators for the protection and safe-ty of the public, specifically the pedestri-ans and commuters,” Tolentino said.

7,000 ‘speed demons’ run caught along Commonwealth

Million cheers as John Paul IIdeclared 'blessed'

VATICAN CITY -- Pope Benedict XVI bestowed the status of "blessed" on hispredecessor John Paul II in front of a million people in a ceremony that puts the latepope one step away from sainthood.

A giant banner bearing a smiling portrait of the charismatic Polish pope wasunveiled over the facade of Saint Peter's Basilica Sunday after Benedict pronouncedthe formula of beatification just six years after John Paul's death.

Eighty-seven official delegations were also in attendance and pilgrims wavedflags from around the world in the sun-drenched square, reprising the chant of "SantoSubito!" (Sainthood Now!) that had been shouted at his funeral.

QUEZON City Mayor Herbert M.Bautista, Pag-ibig Fund Chairman Dar-lene Marie B. Berberabe, and Habitatfor Humanity director Ricardo N. Jacin-to have agreed pool resources for Que-zon City’s massive, socialized housingand resettlement program.

Mayor Bautista unveiled the city’s 1.58hectare eco village at Barangay Paya-tas, Quezon City, which will house from300 to almost 500 families.

QC Mayor Herbert Bautista displays the memorandum of agreement he signedwith PAG-IBIG Fund.

Seychelles honeymoon for newlyweds

Some of the “speed demons” caught overspeeding by MMDA cameras placedalong Commonwealth Avenue.

PRINCE William and his wife Kate will honeymoon at a luxury villa on an islandin the Seychelles, according to Monday's Daily Mail newspaper.

The newly-weds delayed their honeymoon, but will jet out later this month tospend ten days at a £4,000 ($6,700, 4,500 euros) a night retreat in the Indian Oceanarchipelago, the British paper reported.

The 28-year-old prince's protection officers reportedly visited the top-secret loca-tion to assess its suitability and were satisfied that the isolated resort would offer therequired privacy.

QC, Pag-Ibighousing project

AN AVIATION expert yesterdaywarned on a clear and present dangerhanging over the airline industry with thecontinuing brain drain of experiencedpilots and airline technicians that mayresult in a desperate shortage of aircraftcaptains worldwide.

“All major airlines are now competingagainst each other for services of goodaircraft captains and the Philippines aregreatly affected by it becauseour pilotsare lured by huge salaries being offered,”said Capt. Benhur Gomez, aformer safetyofficial of Philippine Airlines.

Capt. Gomez, founder of the country’sNo. 1 flying school Omni Aviation, saidsome international airlines are offeringsalaries of as much as $16,000 a month(P752,000) to Airbus A320 captains and$18,000 (P846,000) to $20,000(P940,000) for Boeing 747 captains.

“The shortage of aircraft captains isalso being worsened by the boomingairline industry in the country especially

For full story, log on towww.metroexpressnews.yolasite.com

Aviation expert airs concern over pilot crisis

One of 27 Omni Aviation Corp. trainer aircraft.

Capt. Ben Hur Gomez

now that there are emerging budgetairlines,” added Capt. Gomez.

Capt. Gomez said that to be an aircraftcaptain of an international airline, a pilotor first officer must have at least threeyears flying experience or equivalent to3,000 flying hours.

This shortage of captains, Capt.Gomez said, could result to delay inflights, and much worse, in scarcity offlights.

With this, Capt. Gomez is encouragingstudents and professionals who want tohave a career shift to look at thisopportunity to have a good-paying job.

“Mahal nga ang pag-aaral pero kapagnakapasok na sa airline industry, in twoyears time lang bawi na sa taas ngsuweldo,” he said.

At the same time, the founder of thecountry’s No. 1 aviation school has calledon the government to strengthen its effortto crack down on “fly by night” flyingschools so as not to compromise thesafety and quality of future Filipino pilotswho may be find jobs in other countries.

“There should be a renewed effortfrom the government’s regulatory bodyto go after fly by night flying schools

MAY 6-12, 2011 METRO EXPRESS 3The first free broadsheet in the Philippines!

METRO

PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III hasordered Metropolitan Manila Develop-ment Authority (MMDA) ChairmanFrancis Tolentino to implement the cen-tralized ticketing system and put up des-ignated passenger waiting areas in all busterminals to avoid chaotic situations dur-ing holiday seasons where thousands ofcommuters flock to the provinces.

The President issued the directives toTolentino when he visited the AranetaCenter bus terminal in Cubao, QuezonCity recently where he personally checkthe security preparations undertaken byconcerned authorities to ensure the safetyof passengers.

The President admitted that he felt dis-mayed upon seeing the disorganized flowof passengers in and out of the terminal,and lack of passenger terminals wherethe people can stay on while waiting fortheir buses.

He also tasked Tolentino to study thepossible construction of a passenger busterminal dedicated only for north plyingbuses and another for south direction.

P-Noy orders MMDA to improve public bus terminals system

President Benigno Simeon Aquino III is joined by UEM-MARA Philippines Cor-poration chairman Luis Juan Virata and DOTC Secretary Jose de Jesus for theceremonial drive-thru during the inauguration of the Php5.5-billion Radial Road1 (R1) Extension Project of the seven kilometer Manila-Cavite Toll ExpresswayProject in Kawit, Cavite. The construction of the Manila-Cavite Expressway orAguinaldo Boulevard, owned and operated by the Public Estates Authority Toll-way Corporation (PEATC), will provide a higher type of facility towards Cavite andalleviate traffic congestion along Aguinaldo Highway and Tirona Highway andwill extend the existing 6.45-km Coastal Road from Zapote in Las Piñas to TironaHighway in Kawit, Cavite.

TO THE RESCUE: Nacionalista President and Villar Foundation founding chair Sen. Manny Villar was happy to see the safe return of the 15 distressed overseasFilipino workers (OFWs) from Dubai through the efforts of the Villar Foundation's SAGIP-OFW Helpline program. The arriving OFWs suffered abuse, maltreatmentand low wages from their Arab employers. The safe homecoming of the 15 OFWs was the result of the consultation held by Villar with the OFWs during his recentvisit to Dubai.

SENATOR Manny Villar said the newly created crisis team for overseas Filipinoworkers should also include consultation with the OFW sector to make sure all basesare covered in the quest to handle situations affecting Filipinos abroad more effec-tively.

"To make this team more effective in the handling of future crisis situation, it would beideal for the body to consult respected migrant workers group like Migrante International,Blas Ople Foundation and others," Villar said.

Executive Order 34 sets up the Overseas Preparedness and Response Team (OPRT)under the Office of the President. This will replace the Middle East Preparedness Teamthat was formed to deal with the evacuation of Filipino workers in the Middle East duringthe 2002 Iraq crisis.

"The familiarity of OFW organizations with the problems, needs and require-ments of OFWs will be an advantage and will contribute largely to the success of thecrisis team," he said.

Villar wants OFW voice in new crisis team

THE government is fully committedto building 3,500 housing units every yearto address the 3.6 million housing short-age within the next 10 years.

Vice President and Housing and Ur-ban Development Coordinating CouncilChair Jejomar Binay expressed optimismthat with the help of civic organizationsand the private sector, this goal will beachieved.

But beyond building houses for thepeople, he stressed that providing homes,especially to the poor, is a commitmentto protect and strengthen the family asan institution.

“A house is more than a roof over ourheads. It is the physical foundation onwhich family life can be built,” the hous-ing czar said in his message at the firstGawad Kalinga (GK) Hope Ball in LasVegas, USA.

The event seeks to bring together Fil-ipinos and Filipino-Americans in the US.

Gov’t to closehousing gap in 10

years -- Binay

Some of the smuggled luxury cars that were ordered destroyed by the pastadministration.

Stiffer penalty for car smuggling soughtUNSCRUPULOUS individuals may soon face stiffer penalty once a bill that

addresses rampant smuggling of imported vehicles becomes a law.Tarlac Rep. Jeci Lapus said House Bill 4362 seeks to squarely address the prob-

lem of smuggling of imported vehicles and penalize individuals involved in theillegal activity.

"The occurrence of registration of imported vehicles without clearances from theBureau of Customs (BoC) and the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) remains un-abated despite existing laws," said Lapus, author of the bill.

He said perpetrators are able to register these vehicles with the Land Transporta-tion Office (LTO) without clearances or with clearances tainted with irregularities.

Osama confirmedkilled in Pakistan

-- Obama

WASHINGTON -- U.S. President Barack Obama announced Sunday nightthat a U.S. operation has killed al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden in Pakistan andput his body in U.S. custody.

He said earlier in the day, U.S. military personnel raided a compound where binLaden was hiding, and later confirmed that the terrorist leader was among thosekilled in a fire fight.


LRT NEWS

LRT, MRTfare hikedeferred

THE Light Rail Transit Authority(LRTA) and the DOTC- MRT-3 has an-nounced it will defer the implementationof its adjustments pending the submis-sion of its proposed rates to the LTFRB.

Lawyer Hernando T. Cabrera, LRTAand MRT-3 spokesperson, said they can-not give a definite time frame as to whenthe fare adjustment will finally be imple-

mented since they will have to complywith the process mandated by the LRTAcharter.

Uander Executive Order No. 603, theLRTA has to consult the LTFRB prior toany adjustment in its fare and complywith the publication requirements.

Read full story onwww.metroexpressnews.yolasite.com

EASE THE BURDEN: The burden of ordinary Filipinos who ride the MRTand the LRT is eased with the shelving of the planned fare increase; which,on the flipside of side of it, could also alleviate their burden if they wouldsupport modernization plans of the ageing coaches and its vital parts.

LRT aids mom for another special deliveryLIBERTAD STATION: Where it all happened

LRT seems to be preggy moms' favoritetransportation for delivery. Another preg-nant woman on board almost gave birth inone of the stations of the Light Rail Transit(LRT) Authority in Line 1 recently.

Mary Ann Opedra, 22 years old of E.

Rodriguez St. Baclaran, Pasay City de-livered her first child at Pasay GeneralHospital at around 8:44 am after beingrushed by LRT frontline personnel to thenearest hospital near Libertad Station.

Accompanied by her husband Renato,

On-duty Head Guard Arius Serioza said,the couple was on their way to DoroteoJose station for Opedra’s monthly check-up in Fabella Memorial Hospital.


LRT extension, MRTprivatization among firstbatch of PPP program

PRESIDENT Aquino has officiallylaunched the first batch of Public-PrivatePartnership (PPP) infrastructure projectsexpected to stimulate the economy andprovide thousands of employment oppor-tunities.

The first batch of five infra projectsare the following: LRT 1 extension/upgrading and privatization of Oper-ations and Maintenance (O&M) andprivatization of MRT 3 Operation andMaintenance (O&M), both up for pub-lic bidding this month (March); theDaang Hari Road - South Luzon Ex-pressway (SLEX) link road projectwhich is open for bidding on April;

the Ninoy Aquino International Air-port (NAIA) Expressway Phase 2 onMay; and the SLEX and North LuzonExpressway (NLEX) link project onJune.

The NAIA Expressway Phase IIproject will link Skyway and Manila-Cavite Coastal Expressway, providingvital access to NAIA Terminals 1, 2,and 3. The P10.59 billion project willbenefit economic zones in Cavitethrough the quicker transportation ofproducts to NAIA as well as the ManilaPort.


THE two stations of the Light RailTransit (LRT) Line 1 that were closedafter a freak accident involving twotrains last February finally reopenedlast April 11.

Last Feb. 18, two LRT trains on the

LRT Balintawak, Roosevelt stations reopenway to Roosevelt station collided at thereversing track at the LRT-1 in QuezonCity. An investigation showed one of thedrivers was texting when the incident oc-curred.

The two stations are part of the North

Extension Project that will link LRT-1and MRT-3 through a common stationwhich is expected to be completed nextyear.


A RANKING official of an associ-ation of employers in the country wel-comes using the railway’s stored val-ue tickets as non-wage incentives toemployees.

Rene Cristobal, member of theBoard of Governors of the EmployersConfederation of the Philippines(ECOP), said the rails’ stored valuetickets could join the package of non-wage benefits from employers like freesacks of rice, uniforms and medicines.

ECOP official welcomesusing MRT, LRT tickets

as non-wage incentives workers Cristobal, who is also chairman

of ECOP’s corporate social respon-sibility committee and President ofTulay sa Pag-unlad, Inc. (TSPI),cited the contributions of the railtransit transport mode to employees’productivity in the workplace.ECOP, composed of 50 large com-panies, represents over one millionemployees around the country.


LRT’S ROOSEVELT STATION: Open again


OPINION

Cong. Peping lambasts LP

Desperate move?

E D I T O R I A L

Need to upgrade LRT is nowMachines and structures, for example: buildings, roads,

bridges, viaducts or flyovers do have expiration dates.Ever wonder why cracks on pavements, concrete walls

and what have you develop over time?These are the unavoidable wear and tear induced by time.

As the saying goes: Noth-ing in this world is perma-nent except change.

There may be exception tothis rule yes, but only a few

because nothing, indeed, lasts forever.The climate even, that we are used to is giving us a differ-

ent experience now.Mind you, it’s summertime, and some areas are taking it

otherwise: chilly mornings and late evenings.Only recently, the town of Rodriguez (formerly, Montal-

ban) in the province of Rizal even experienced a minute ofatmospheric phenomenon: a hailstorm in summer specifi-cally last Wednesday, April 27.

It rained small chunks of ice for a minute, which for somecomes as very odd when summer is upon us.

Maybe, this could be an ounce of miracle that’s actuallysending us a message that time, by some measure, haschanged or is in the process of changing.

Similarly, buses, jeepneys, and other public conveyancesmay be aglow today but whether we like it or not, tomor-rowtheir sparkling paints, joints, parts may no longer be asgood and reliable as yesterday.

Closer to home yet, your favorite fast and economicalmode of transpo, the Light Rail Transit (LRT), may alreadybe suffering malfunctions now and then in some areas that’ssubtly telling us or the management and even to some ex-tent, the government, that immediate attention and parts re-placement in crucial areas is badly needed before disasterclaim lives by the hundreds if not thousands.

But no, this may not be as easy as what we are implyinghere because it is but normal that in every process of changethere is and will always be flashes of resistance.

Reactionary or backward-looking are those resisting toembark into a newer and safer mode of transport but thiswe believe to be temporary especially in the absence of athorough information drive.

Indeed, who will go against the tide of a better change orwave of transformation?

The “new” South Luzon Expressway is now chargingmotorists a little more than double the previous toll fee butluckily it seems no one is complaining these days owingperhaps to the better service it has now.

From the previous P87 one way toll fee end to end, it ba-looned to P192 for Class A vehicles but no matter. Motor-ists learned to silently suffer and reap the benefits of changeand this, mind you, vis-a-vis the fluctuating prices of fuel!

Truly, quality never comes cheap.This also explains why 5-star hotels are a lot more expen-

sive than your standard motel. It’s about the service.And so, LRTizens must think about better change and that

better service never comes cheap but affordable enough. MANY people see President Aqui-no's visit to the Ninoy Aquino Interna-tional Airport and a provincial bus sta-tion in Cubao, Quezon City during theHoly Week break as a desperate moveto prop up his approval rating.

While it’s good to show the public thathe is a hands-on Chief Executive, some,including former President Fidel Ra-mos, are saying that he should let thePhilippine National Police (PNP) han-dle such situations.

FVR described P-Noy’s move as“bakya” or cheap, adding that the Pres-ident should focus on more importantthings and not intervene with the respon-sibility of the PNP.

I will not be surprised if P-Noy wouldmake a round of visits to the market-places and even malls just to stop thedownhill trend of his rating.

Ika nga sa Pilipino, ang taong nagi-gipit sa patalim kumakapit.

-000- I understand that P-Noy’s style of gov-

ernance is micro-managing, where heputs emphasis on little things, just likewhat he did with wang-wangs or sirens.

But P-Noy must not forget that theremore important things to focus on, likethe uncontrollable oil price hike and hightoll fees.

I am worried that P-Noy putting pre-mium on small things might sidetrackedhis vision on more important issueshounding the country.

Mr. President, please put your priori-ties straight and not waste your strengthon “pa-pogi” moves that may greatlyaffect your popularity rating.

Huwag mong isipin ang popularidad,

LIFE’S INSPIRATIONS: “… with-out faith it is impossible to please God,because anyone who comes to him mustbelieve that he exists and that he rewardsthose who earnestly seek him….” (He-brews 11:6, the Holy Bible).

-ooo-CONG. PEPING LAMBASTS LP:

Calling news reports and opinion columnsnaming him as the leader of an oppositiongroup against President Aquino as “mis-erably misleading”, former Tarlac Rep.Jose “Peping” Cojuangco Jr. said Sundayhe is not involved in any way with anyopposition force against the President.

In a press statement, the presidential un-cle also lambasted the Liberal Party head-ed by its President Mar Roxas for puttingthe blame on ex-Rep. Cojuangco for theirloss in the May 2010 elections, saying itwas the Filipino people who “emphaticallyrejected LP’s unacceptable candidates, in-cluding Mar Roxas for vice president.”

We are reproducing the entire pressstatement here, and here is the first part:“I used to be more widely known as thebayaw of Ninoy. Then as the husband ofTingting. Then as the brother of PresidentCory. Then as the Dad of Mikee. And nowcourse, as the uncle of President Aquino.

The Metro Express is published weekly by SANZIBAR INC. with office address at Unit 2410Cityland 10 Tower 1 Condominium, H.V. Dela Costa St., Salcedo Village, Makati City with tel. no.470-3762. For press and photo releases as well as adverttising inquiries, text or call AdvertisingManager Eugene Labadan tru mobiles 0908-9874708 and 09175437729 or Hotlines Globe 0915-5517486 and Smart 0919-5794784. Email: [email protected].

Ismael ‘El’ AmigoEditor-in-Chief

Fitzgerald CecilioExecutive Editor

Racquel MendozaAdvertising Manager

Eugene LabadanPR, Marketing & Circulation Manager

EDITOR’S NOTE All commentaries and or opinions submitted by our columnists andherein published shall remain as personal opinion of any of Metro Express’ column writers. Assuch, these cannot and never be construed nor considered as similar to that of this publication(Metro Express)’s stand on issues discussed. Be that as it may, Metro Express shall not be heldliable to any legal issues related to, or any column/commentaries that may appear herein.

isipin mo ang mga bagay na makaka-ganda sa bansa.

-000- If he wants to be known as a great

leader and not just a shadow of her latemother Cory Aquino, P-Noy should takethe criticism of Maguindanao Rep.Simeon Datumanong seriously.

Datumanong earlier criticized Aqui-no lack of political will to eradicate cor-ruption in government.

The lawmaker said the people willwork with the government to fight cor-ruption and any evil of society as longas government rules with justice, fair-ness and established rights.

Datumanong’s reaction came afterP-Noy said that the country would beable to overcome its current political andeconomic woes if the government getsthe support of the people.

-000-1st-APLUMA is on for a better

change, wider political thrust and scope.Its acronym translation now reads:Unang Alyansang Pambansa at Lokal naUgnayang Mamamahayag-Manggaga-wa.

-ooo-CONG. PEPING’S PRESS STATE-

MENT, PART I: “I also know that myname is one of those inevitably men-tioned whenever critics of our familybring up their well worn smear word astheir all-purpose demolition device -Kamaganak, Inc.

“The notion of a Kamaganak Inc is asrevolting and repulsive to me as it is to ev-eryone, and even more so to all of our fam-ily members who have had to bear thisunfair and unfounded burden that has comewith the territory of having a President inthe family. And now, two Presidents.

“The fact is that we Pilipinos over-whelmingly elected Cory's only son be-cause we want her courage and honestyto continue guiding our leaders in gov-erning the country, regardless of the qual-ifications, experience, or abilities of hersenator child…” More of this next time.Watch out for it.

George M. BalagtasPublisher

OSAMA Bin Laden is dead. For theAmericans and its allies he was as ‘ter-rorist’ a cold-blooded assassin. To theoppressed Muslims around the world BinLaden was a hero, a martyr for theircause.

Now that Bin Laden is ‘terminated’will the American soldiers leave Afghan-istan at once?

To those who followed Bin Laden, hewas the symbol of al Qaeda. The UnitedStates can claim a great victory. Al Qae-da can proclaim his martyrdom.

According to STRATFOR, an Ameri-can Think Tank, “it is difficult to under-stand what this means at this moment,but it permits the Obama administrationto claim victory, at least partially, over alQaeda. It also opens the door for the be-ginning of a withdrawal from Afghani-stan, regardless of the practical impact

ISMAEL ‘EL’ AMIGO

Better LateThan Never

ATTY. BATAS MAURICIO

Kakampi MoAng Batas

BENJIE ALEJANDRO

Voice of the News

End of line for Osama

of bin Laden’s death. The mission in Af-ghanistan was to defeat al Qaeda, andwith his death, a plausible claim can bemade that the mission is complete. Againspeculatively, it will be interesting to seehow this affects U.S. strategy there.” ‘Atthis early hour, the only thing possible is

speculation on the consequences of binLaden’s death, and that speculation isinherently flawed. Still, the importanceof his death has its consequences. Cer-tainly one consequence will be a senseof triumph in the United States. For oth-ers it will be a call to war. “

In my interview with Prof. RommelBanloi, Executive Director, PhilippineInstitute for Peace, Violence and Terror-ism Research, the possibility of sympa-thy attack is always there considering thatthe local terror group the Abu Sayyaf isrecipient of funding from Bin Laden thrulocal Al Qaeda group.

However, National Security AdviserCesar Garcia, downplayed the possibili-ty.

So be it.Read full article on

www.metroexpressnews.yolasite.com

MATUTO NA TAYO! The message is clear: “Bawal umihi dito!”Our small contribution may lead to bigger, better changes.


BUSINESSP17-B earmarked for ManilaNorth Harbor modernization

PRESIDENT Aquino was given a first-hand look on theP17-billion Manila North Harbor Modernization Project(MNHMP) recently.

Richard Barclay, chief executive officer of the ManilaNorth Harbor Port, Inc. gave the President a briefing on thesaid modernization project. The MNHMP is a radical planto change the face of the existing harbor to make it at parwith other commercial harbors.

Rehabilitation plans include dredging, upgrading of pas-senger terminal facilities and the procurement of quay con-tainer cranes, among others. The MNHMP will take 25 yearsto complete.

Japan disasters’ effect on exports only short-term -- NEDADESTROYED: Hundreds of brand-new Toyotacars litter in the wake of the powerful tsunamifrom the magnitude 9.0 quake that devastatedJapan last month.

THE National Economic and Devel-opment Authority (NEDA) said that theJapan disasters’ effect on electronics de-mand may affect the Philippines’ exportperformance, but only in the short-term.

“There are indications that the soften-ing demand will be compounded in thecoming months by shortages of certainelectronic components due to disasters inJapan that have started to negatively af-fect the electronics industry,” said NEDADirector-General Cayetano W. Paderan-ga, Jr, who made this statement after theNational Statistics Office (NSO) releasedthe February 2011 export earnings thatamounted to US$3.864 billion, or a mod-est growth of 8.2 percent from the samemonth last year. This brought total exportreceipts in the first two months of 2011 torise by 10.0 percent to US$7.9 billion.

The Development Budget Coordina-tion Committee (DBCC) expects full yearexports growth to decelerate this year to13 percent partly due to base effect andthe softening of the demand in some seg-ments of the electronics industry.


Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala (2nd from right) receives vegetables from La Paz Barangay Kagawad EdgardoSerna transported through the newly-installed agricultural tramline system at Sta. Rita, La Paz , Zamboanga City.

DA completes 53 agricultural tramline systemIN AREAS where there are no roads nor would be too costly to

construct one, farmers are now literally “clinging on” agriculturaltramlines. Made of steel cable, pulleys and steel cage as “cablecar” or carriage, a tramline has become a cheaper, more efficientand faster mode of transporting farm products from isolated areasto the nearest road onto trading posts or public markets.

Thanks to the ingenuity of Department of Agriculture (DA)engineers, particularly at the Philippine Center for Post harvest

Development and Mechanization (PhilMech), formerly knownas the Bureau of Postharvest Research and Extension (BPRE).

“Agricultural tramlines are indeed more cost-efficient than construct-ing farm-to-market roads (FMRs),” said Agriculture Secretary Proceso J.Alcala, who led the recent inauguration of the 53rd DA-PhilMech tram-line at Sitio Bawek, Barangay Twin Peaks, in the town of Tuba, Benguet.


THE Bureau of Customs has filed a P1.1 billion smuggling case against meatprocessing firm Foodsphere, Inc. for undervaluing its buffalo meat importationsfrom India by more than 32 percent.

Charged were Rolando Juan Cruz, Assistant Vice-President for Finance of CDO-Foodsphere Inc. and Romeo Lerit, a customs broker based in Escolta, Manila. Alsoincluded in the charge sheet were several John Doe/s and Jane Doe/s who participat-ed directly or indirectly in the release of subject shipments.

Customs Commissioner Angelito Alvarez accused Foodsphere Inc. located at 560West Service Road, Paseo de Blas, Valenzuela City of declaring a per kilo value ofonly US$1.50 (P66.00) for the 8,964,600 kilograms of buffalo meat it brought inbetween October 2009 and March this year. Foodsphere , the company behind suchpopular processed and canned brands as CDO Karne Norte and Samba CornedBeef is a leading supplier of meat toppings to nearly all quick service restaurants inthe country.

Read full story on www.metroexpressnews.yolasite.com

CDO faces P1.1B smuggling case

Customs plugs revenue leaksCUSTOMS Commissioner Angelito Alvarez has ordered the adoption of world-

wide freight rate reference for containerized cargoes to deny tax cheats one of theirage-old tricks for duties and taxes avoidance.

Alvarez said the Bureau of Customs was losing more than P1.3 billion a year fromfreight undervaluation due to absence of a reliable reference rate which the agen-cy’s assessment personnel could use to check under-declarations in freight charges.

Until recently, mere photocopies of the bill of lading submitted by the importer/broker were accepted by customs assessment personnel as valid supporting docu-ments in import entry declarations. “More often than not”, disclosed Alvarez, “thephotocopies of bills of lading being received by customs personnel did not reflect theactual transportation costs paid for the importation, thereby resulting in revenue loss.”


SHOWBIZ

Across1 "___ La Douce"5 Flower part10 Wound reminder14 Blessing15 "Zorba the Greek" setting16 Italian man17 Overstate19 Actor Kristofferson20 Former place for executions inLondon21 Fortifications23 Mother of Apollo25 "The Mask" star26 Ore analysis29 Game with tiles31 Look sullen32 Agent, for short33 Woodwind player36 Boston Bruins legend

37 Official reprimand39 Opus ___40 Verb-turned-noun42 "No ___, ands or buts!"43 Fido's reward44 Sherry type46 Encloses47 Assemble, as troops48 Self-pleased50 Italian noblewoman52 Wild parties56 Mineral deposit57 Outline59 Junkie60 All done61 Bristle62 Resting places63 Portals64 Eliot Ness, e.g.

Down

1 "A likely story!"2 Classic theater name3 Biblical land4 Not curved5 Bloodhound's trail6 "To ___ is human ..."7 Juicy fruit8 Tack on9 "Six Million Dollar Man" star10 Indonesia's first president11 Island in the Philippines12 Friendship13 One of TV's Friends18 Western writer Zane22 Deep-space mission24 Portent26 Sleep like ___27 Achy28 Encircled30 Orbital point32 Set right34 Dispatch35 Binds37 $100 bill38 Alien craft41 Heavy coats43 Largest45 "Twelfth Night" duke46 Esteemed teacher47 Elk49 States of mind50 Cudgel51 Ray of films53 Account entry54 Blues singer James55 Actor Connery58 That woman

ANSWER NEXT ISSUE

Less talk, less controversySEXY actress Cristine Reyes has

promised to talk less this year so as toavoid controversies that hounded her

I want to moveon fromYilmaz

-- Ruffa G.TELEVISION host/actress Ruffa

Gutierrez revealed that estranged hus-band Yilmaz Bektas wants to nullify theirmarriage as soon as possible.

Ruffa filed for annulment last 2009after her marriage did not work out withthe Turkish businessman "Nagmamad-ali na din siya. Hiwalay na kami since2007 and four years na eh."

According to Ruffa, she's just waitingfor the annulment because they've movedon with their separate lives.RUFFA GUTIERREZ

CROSSWORD

BURJ Al Arab Hotel, Dubai, which wasopened in 1999, is unofficially billed as a 7-star hotel and is the world's most luxuriousand tallest hotel.

Designed to resemble a billowing sail, thehotel soars to a height of 321 metres, domi-nating the Dubai coastline.

With your chauffeur driven RollsRoyce, discreet in-suite check in, privatereception desk on every floor and a bri-gade of highly trained butlers who pro-vide around-the-clock attention, this ho-tel promises the finest the world has tooffer.

It’s the world’s 1st 7-star hotel

METRO HAPPENINGSIFEX Philippines 2011 -- The largest and the most outstanding food exposition in Philip-

pines. May 12, 2011 to May 14, 2011, SMX Convention Center Metro ManilaCelebrations 2011 -- An important bridal accessories and special events fair in Philippines.

May 21, 2011 to May 22, 2011, SMX Convention Center Metro ManilaTrans Sport Show -- The longest running exposition in Philippines devoted to automotive

industry. May 25, 2011 to May 29, 2011, SMX Convention Center, Manila.KENNY G IN CONCERT -- May 23, 2011 8:00pm, PICC Plenary HallKENNY LOGGINS IN CONCERT -- May 22, 2011 8:00PM, SMX Convention CenterMAROON 5 LIVE IN MANILA 2011 -- May 23, 2011 8:00PM Monday. SMX Convention CenterJUSTIN BIEBER IN MANILA -- May 10, 2011 (8:00PM) SM Mall of Asia Concert GroundsIntramuros Heritage Run -- May 15, 2011 @ 5AM, Sta. Lucia St. cor. Anda St., IntramurosBEAULDER (Bouldering Competition) -- May 28-29, 2011, Bonifacio High Street, Bonifacio

Global CityThe Wedding & Debut Expo 2011, May 7-8, 2011, PICC Forum CCP Complex, Pasay CityBefore I Do 9th Weddings & Debut Fair, May 14-15, 2011, Megatrade Hall 1, SM Megamall

Vice President and Presidential Adviser on Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs)Jejomar Binay has been invited guest of honor and speaker during the openingceremony of the 6th Puregold Sari-Sari Convention slated May 18-21, 2011 at theWorld Trade Center, Pasay City.

Big names in business as well as celebrities and Puregold endorsers in Boy Abunda,Vic Sotto and Joey de Leon are also expected to grace the occassion.

And as testament of its commitment to help OFWs, Puregold will put up a specialbooth during the 6th edition of its highly-successful “Tindahan ni Aling Puring Sari-Sari Store Convention” solely allocated for “modern-day heroes” who may wish toput up a sari-sari store or small scale business.

The move is part of Puregold’s active partnership with different governmentagencies to help OFWs start their own small business.

The convention, considered as the biggest small- and medium-entrepreneurgathering in the country, carries the theme “SIKAP - Sari-sari Store, Itaguyod Kasamaang Puregold”.

The event’s mission is to bring out the entrepreneur in every Filipino by encouragingthem to engage in small-scale business like the sari-sari store.

Expected to join the event are 150,000 active members of Puregold’s Tindahan niAling Puring club, composed mainly of small-scale entrepreneurs such as sari-saristore owners, canteen and restaurant operators and resellers.

Non-members who are interested to put up a business can join the event on May20 to 21 where they can get expert advice on what kind of small-scale enterprise toput up with the help of Puregold.

This years’ convention will be participated in by over 200 Puregold trade partnersand will showcase over 350 booths.

Aside from this, lectures and seminars for small-scale entrepreneurs will be givenby motivational and professional speakers, including Francisco Colayco, ChinkeeTan, Francis Kong, Lloyd Luna and Jojo Baldo.

Colayco will tackle the topic “Pisobilities - Pera Ko Palaguin Ko” while Tan willtalk about “Good credit = Good business, Ang mabuting utang ay magandangpuhunan”.

Kong will expound on the topic “ Be the best you can be ; Ako at ang Sari-saristore ko – D’Best!”, Luna will speak about “Ang sikreto ng tagumpay SIKAP angkasagutan” and Baldo will discuss “Bro! Ang sandalan ko sa negosyo”.

Attendees are also in for a lot of surprises like free items, sampling, excitingraffle prizes and big discounts on products.

VP Binay, big showbiz names to grace6th Puregold ‘Sari-Sari’ Convention opening

Cristine Reyes


showbiz career in the past."Yung emotions ko, pagiging impulsive

ko, eh kailangan kong kontrolin kasi hindina ako bata," said Cristine, who was linkedto numerous issues in the entertainment in-dustry, one of which was her Twitter out-

burst on Pop Princess Sarah Geronimo."Feeling ko kasi dati, eh bata pa kasi ako,eh. Akala kasi ng iba, eh matanda na akodahil nga sa image ko."


SPORTS

Arianny Celeste

Fans of the Ultimate Fighting Cham-pionship (UFC) are not only drawn byoutstanding fights inside the Octagon, butalso by beautiful round-girls like AriannyCeleste.

The 5-foot, 5-inch Celeste was voted"2009 Ring Girl of the Year" in 2010 by

PHILIPPINE Basketball Association (PBA) Commissioner Chito Salud expectsthe D-League could ably fill in the void left by the now-defunct Philippine BasketballLeague (PBL).

“The competition is very fierce. You can see everyone, from the players and eventhe coaches and owners, giving their all in every game," said Salud, referring to the13 teams that have joined the D-League.

Read full story on www.metroexpressnews.yolasite.com

D-League to fill PBL void

1st-Apluma1st-Aplumahttp://[email protected]

Unang Alyansang Pambansa’t Lokal na Ugnayang Mamamahayag

TANONG: Manalo o matalo, pabor ba kayongtumigil na si Manny Pacquiao sa pagboboksing?

SURVEYSAYS...

Pabor HindiLet your opinion be heard! Send them [email protected]

0100 1001

End of an eraOVER the last 14 years, the San Antonio Spurs have been the

model of success in the NBA.No mega superstars, no egos, no blockbuster signings, and

no off-the-court problems.The Spurs built their franchise by investing heavily in the

draft and signing players who silently contributed over the years.San Antonio could run-and-gun with the likes of Dallas andPhoenix or trade blow-for-blow with the top contenders in the

IS IT OVER? Spurs superstar Tim Duncan walks into the sunset unsure of his future.

Top-seeded Spurs fall to lowly Grizzlies

leagues.They could play to any situation at any time that it called for,

until this year.The Spurs weren't just older, slower, and smaller, they were

also outplayed, out-rebounded, out-muscled, and out-hustledby the eighth-seeded Memphis Grizzlies. If not for two amaz-ing last second shots in Game 5, San Antonio would have lostfour games to one.

A FORMER promoter of “Sugar”Shane Mosley is confident that his formerward will beat Manny Pacquiao.

Cedric Kushner said in anExaminer.com report that “absolutely,

Ex-promoter expects Mosley to beat PacquiaoShane has a chance to win” in the 2 box-ers’ welterweight clash, which will be heldon May 7 (May 8 in Manila) at the MGMGrand Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

"I don't wish to speak in riddles so I'll

make it plain. I am picking Shane to winthis fight over Pacman," the head ofCedric Kushner Promotions Ltd. said.

The fight will put Pacquiao’s World Box-ing Organization welterweight belt at stake.

THE uncle of undefeated boxer FloydMayweather Jr. believes the bigger fightbetween his nephew and superstar Man-ny Pacquiao will push through if the Fil-ipino dynamo succeeds in knocking out“Sugar” Shane Mosley.

Jeff Mayweather, a retired boxer-turned-boxing coach, toldFightHype.com that Pacquiao knockingout Mosley means more interest for thepossible super fight between the Filipinochampion and Floyd Jr.

“If he does knock him out, that's goodbecause it's good business for the fight be-cause the fight becomes even bigger be-tween Manny and Floyd,” said Mayweath-er, who fought as a boxing pro in the 1990s.

Pacman vs Floyd to get bigger ifPacquiao knocks out Mosley

MAYWEATHER

www.metroexpressnews.yolasite.com

Fighter's Only Magazine, an award shewon the previous year as well. Maximvoted her "The Hottest UFC OctagonGirl" in the May 2010 issue where shewas featured as the cover model.Ariannyalso appears in Maxim's Hot 100 list for2010; she placed No. 23 on the list.

Major attraction for UFC

metro express issue no. 1

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