planet philippines (calgary edition) - july 1-15, 2011 issue
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Pages 15-28 of the July 1-15, 2011 IssueTRANSCRIPT
JULY 1-15, 2011Calgary Edition PLANET PHILIPPINES15
JULY 1-15, 2011 Calgary EditionPLANET PHILIPPINES16
SUALLY, THE path of a would-be star in lo-cal TV or film goes like this: Join a network-sponsored talent group; get bit or cameo roles in soaps or movies; ingratiate yourself to net-work executives and the media; gradually get bigger and better parts; and, with the help of fate, get that one, unlikely lucky break and be anointed “the next big thing.”
The path to stardom for actor Coco Martin took a more non-traditional, circuitous route;
taking him everywhere – from down-and-dirty low-bud-get films, to glitzy red carpets and critical acclaim abroad,
COCO MARTINFROM INDIE TO MAINSTREAM STARCoco was recently awarded the prestigious Gawad Urian’s Dekada Award as Actor of the Decade for his extraordinary body of work in his young career. He says he’s willing to take on worthwhile projects even for free so long as they help improve his craft.
to eventually becoming a bonafide, popular leading man at home.
Although the 29-year-old Pam-panga native (born Rodel Nacian-ceno) was part of ABS-CBN’s Star Circle Batch 9 in 2001, and had a bit part in a minor Judy Ann San-tos film, he didn’t immediately climb the ladder to fame. Instead, he turned to commercial modeling and, impatient and uncertain with his career, contemplated quit-ting the business altogether. However, with the sudden explosion of the local inde-pendent film scene, Coco was able to get challeng-ing roles that showcased his dramatic skills and versatility.
Most nota-bly in the films of acclaimed director Bril-lante Men-doza, Coco starred or played sig-n i f i c a n t s u p p o r t -ing roles in highly-p r a i s e d w o r k s such as Masahista, Kaledo, Fos-ter Child, Tirador, Ser-bis, and the Cannes Film Festival-winning Kinatay. With ap-pearances in over
a dozen films by o t h e r
up-and-c o m i n g
d i r e c t o r s , Coco was bestowed the nickname “The Prince of Indie Cin-ema.”
Being a niche actor, however, had its share of setbacks. Coco felt he was oftentimes relegated to daring or
gay roles that explicitly, some might says exploitatively,
Coco holds the Gawad Urian trophy for Best Actor of the Decade.
BY PEPPER MARCELO
JULY 1-15, 2011Calgary Edition PLANET PHILIPPINES17
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JULY 1-15, 2011 Calgary EditionPLANET PHILIPPINES18
Place a number from 1-9 in each empty cell. Each row, column and 3x3 block bound-ed by bold line (9 blocks) contains all the numbers from 1-9
RULES:
SUDOKU
SOLUTION ON PAGE 25
Coco plays a dual role – one as a soldier and the other as a rebel – in the TV series Minsan Lang Kita Iibigin.
focused on his good looks and phy-sique, instead of acting ability.
Despite lingering doubts if he would be able to break into the mainstream, he persevered. “Ito na-man talaga ang gusto kong gawin, pero alam mo ‘yun, you get to that point na nagiging mainipin ka rin,” he says.
His persistence soon trans-lated to bigger and better parts in mainstream television, with beefi-er supporting roles in shows such as Ligaw Na Bulaklak, Maalaala Mo Kaya, Tayong Dalawa, and Kung Tayo’y Magkakalayo.
Coco’s dedication paid off when he was chosen for the lead role in the dramatic series Minsan Lang Kita Iibigin. He was happy to finally be the star of a major net-work project, believing that man-agement noticed his commitment as an actor.
“Nagkataon lang po siguro na kumbaga, nagampanan ko nang maayos ang mga role ko sa nakaraang soap opera na ginawa ko. At siguro nabigyan lang siguro ako ng opor-tunidad at nakitaan ako ng potential kaya nagkakataon na magaganda ang proyekto ko at nakakasama ko ang magagaling na artista,” he said.
In the show, Coco plays twin brothers: A soldier and an NPA rebel, who both fall in love with women on opposite sides of the ongoing conflict. His soldier char-acter romances a rebel girl (played by Maja Salvador), while his NPA rebel character becomes infatuated for a soldier (played by Andi Ei-genmann). Since its premiere last March, the show has been a consis-tent top-rater for the network.
Despite his newfound main-stream popularity, Coco says he has not left the independent scene entirely, saying he is willing to take on projects as long as the role and story pass his stringent standards. “If ever may magandang proyekto at alam kong maayos ang mga katrabaho ko, never kong hi-hindian ‘yan. Hangga’t makakakaya ko at maisisingit ko sa schedule ko, gagawin at gagawin ko,” he says.
Financially sufficient with his soap opera salary, he even says he’s willing to forgo money for a project he believes in. “May mga projects na pino-propose sa akin pero pinag-aara-lan ko pa nang maiigi. Kung maganda naman talaga, bakit hindi ko gagawin? Kahit hindi pa ako bayaran.”
Bottom-line, Coco under-stands the necessity of being in
independent projects, not just to better local films, but the chal-lenge they present to him as an actor, as well. “Kumbaga hindi mo ito ginagawa for the sake na kumita ka, ginagawa mo ito dahil gusto mo ang trabahong ito at nirerespeto mo ‘yung propesyon mo.”
Recently, he was awarded the prestigious Gawad Urian’s Deka-da Award as Actor of the Decade for his extraordinary body of work in his young career. “Walang kapantay po ang sayang nararamda-man ko ngayon,” Coco said.
There was talk that Mendoza, who initially gave Coco the op-portunity to shine not only locally but on the world stage, was not too happy that the young actor chose to do a television show over his new film, Prey, starring French star Isabelle Huppert.
According to Coco, he con-sulted Mendoza, whom he con-siders his mentor, on whether to do TV or film, and that he simply couldn’t let such a great opportu-nity pass him by, especially with many people depending on him. “Sinabi ko na sa kanya na ayoko na-mang mawalan ng trabaho ‘yung mga kasamahan ko sa teleserye dahil lang umaalis alis ako para gumawa ng ibang pelikula. Ayokong natitigil sila o naghihintay. Alam ko naman na mahirap ang buhay ngayon.”
He feels that there will be an-other opportunity for him and Mendoza to work together again in the future. “Siya na agad ‘yung nagsabi na ibang pelikula na lang ‘yung gawin namin.”
Coco has a major movie slated for later this year co-starring Judy
Appearing in over a dozen films by up-and-coming directors, Coco earned the nickname “The Prince of Indie Cinema.”
Ann Santos. In what seems like coming full circle, he will not be a minor supporting player but her leading man.
“Sana matuloy, mas sobrang ex-cited ako siyempre Ms. Judy Ann Santos yun,” he said. “Kumbaga dati noong di pa ako nag-a-artista, kumbaga isa ako sa mga tagahanga niya tapos ngayon makaka-trabaho ko na siya. Hindi ko alam kung anong preparasyon at kung anong mararamdaman ko if ever na mag-kaka-trabaho na kami.”
Despite his success, Coco has not been left unscathed by con-troversy and behind-the-scenes intrigue, and being romantically linked to his attractive co-stars. He says that gossip is just part of business, adding that, unlike oth-er people though, he does not look for intrigue as a way to boost his popularity or ego. “Kasama ‘yun. Pero kanya-kanya rin naman ng mga sitwasyong napapasukan. Hindi ko naman itinago ang mga nangyari sa personal na buhay ko, eh.”
For sure, Coco’s had to make certain adjustments from being a regular fixture in independent films to becoming a certified mainstream star, but he promises to continue working just as hard.
“Siguro para sa akin ito na ‘yung time para makapag-adjust kasi iba na-man ang indie at mainstream,” he said. “Ito ‘yung blessings at ayoko na-mang tanggihan. Basta lagi ko na lang iniisip na dapat pagbutihan ko kasi baka mamaya ito na ‘yung last ko eh.” n
MARIA PERCY JAVELOSA ............................................................ Publisher/Advertising ManagerCARMELA SARILE ...................................................................... Graphic ArtistSTEVE TARZWELL, JULIE PICOC, FERDIE GAYOS .......................... Contributors
CALGARY EDITION
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PLANET PHILIPPINES, the global newsmagazine for overseas Filipinos, is published and circulated in various cities and countries around the world. Each edition of PLANET PHILIPPINES is published by authorized individuals and companies under an exclusive licensing arrangement. We welcome inquiries from anyone interested in becoming a publisher of PLANET PHILIPPINES in their territory. Contact us at [email protected] or visit our website at www.planetphilippines.com.
LEANDRO MILAN .................................................................................. Editor-in-ChiefPEPPER MARCELO ............................................................................... Assistant EditorARNEL RIVAL ........................................................................................ Art DirectorROMY FLORANTE .................................................................................. PhotographerDIANA PAMELA TRISTE ........................................................................ Editorial Assistant
PLANET PHILIPPINES Worldwide
JULY 1-15, 2011Calgary Edition PLANET PHILIPPINES19
CELEBR TYAWARD-WINNING dramatic ac-tress Jaclyn Jose has confirmed rumors that her daughter Andi Eigenmann is almost five months pregnant.
“I just want to tell everyone that yes, it’s true, my daughter’s preg-nant,” Jaclyn said in an interview on June 29 on TV Patrol.
Jaclyn, tears falling on her cheeks, said, “Hindi madali, pero kailangan kong tanggapin. Kasi mahal ko siya at anak ko siya. Wala namang ibang tutulong sa kanya kundi ako at ang kanyang
MARIAN Rivera said she is con-fused and shocked to learn that her GMA-7 colleague Heart Evan-gelista harbors ill feelings to-ward her.
“Akala ko maayos kami, yun pala, para sa kanya hindi,” Mar-ian told reporters when asked about her reported rift with Heart, her co-star in the movie Temptation Island.
She said the cast, staff and crew of the movie were close and had fun shooting the movie. She stressed that she and Heart were okay the whole time when they shooting the movie.
“Lahat ng cast, staff and crew, pati yung direktor—maayos kaming lahat. Sobrang nag-usap kami, naging okay kaming la-hat... Nag-usap kami, wala na-man kaming pinag-awayan. . . Yun na nga lang, pagdating doon sa airport, nagulat ako…parang
AN official of the American Im-migration Lawyers Association (AILA) thinks it is highly unli-kely that Filipino Pulitzer Prize winner Jose Antonio Vargas will be deported.
In an interview on TFC’s Ba-litang America, AILA immediate past president David Leopold said, “Jose Vargas is the kind of person that we want in America.”
Vargas, who earned a Pulit-zer Prize as part of a team that covered the Virginia Tech shoo-tings, earlier exposed himself as an illegal immigrant in the United States.
Vargas had revealed in a New York Times essay that he has been living as an illegal immigrant in the US for almost two decades.
It seems, however, that the US will not just let go of Vargas.
“He has worked hard, he’s adding to the social fabric and culture,” Leopold added. “He’s become an excellent writer and he’s had a promising career.”
Leopold said that Vargas may be subject to some ci-vil penalties, but doubts that criminal charges can be filed against the journalist.
PIOLO Pascual disclosed that he and girlfriend KC Concep-cion are set to do a project to-gether – a concert in the United States.
This will be their first project together since doing the TV se-ries Lovers in Paris where they became close and eventually became a couple.
“Yes, there’s a plan to do a concert in the US. I think we are doing one in California. Hindi ko lang alam kung sa San Francis-co o sa LA,” Piolo said in a TV interview. “We will be doing that this October, this year.”
He also announced that he is set to do a reunion project with Angel Locsin, his leading lady in the hit teleserye Lobo.
MOM CONFIRMS ANDI IS PREGNANTpamilya.”
She said the father of Andi’s child is her former boyfriend whom she did not name. She said the two have since split.
“First boyfriend, wala na sila no’n. Iniwanan siya nung nabuntis siya,” said Jaclyn.
She said her family is fully sup-portive of Andi. “She decided to keep the baby, na naging proud na-man ako sa anak ko. Mahal namin ‘yan, e. Mahal ng lahat ng pamilya ko si Andi.“
Andi had been linked to another
Star Magic talent, Albie Casiño, who was in the cast of Mara Clara. After their breakup, Albie accused Andi of being a “cheater.”
Andi is the daughter of multi-awarded actors Mark Gil and Jaclyn Jose. She was introduced in the TV series Prinsesa ng Banyera in 2007 and was later promoted to leading role in Agua Bandita in 2010. She is currently appearing in the ABS-CBN primetime series Minsan Lang Kita Iibigin. She is being groomed to star in a new project, Galema, Ang Anak ni Zuma.
PULITZER-WINNING PINOY ‘TNT’ MAY REMAIN IN U.S.
MARIAN REVEALS RIFT WITH HEART
na-shock ako na. . . Alam n’yo na ‘yon kung ano ang nangyari,” Mar-ian narrated.
The airport incident Marian re-ferred to, as reported in a tabloid, went this way: Upon arrival of the cast and crew at the Manila do-mestic airport on June 13 from Ilo-
cos Norte, Marian reportedly ap-proached Heart to bid goodbye but was accosted by Heart’s mother, who, aided by five bodyguards, al-legedly told Marian, “Stay away from my daughter!”
Some reports said the conflict stemmed from Marian’s alleged adverse reaction to Heart’s ex-cited pronouncement of her im-minent team-up with Dingdong Dantes, Marian’s boyfriend.
Reports said Marian didn’t like it and she made it known to Heart in no uncertain terms. Heart probably told her mom about it and that’s why the inci-dent at the airport happened.
Heart and her boyfriend, Brazilian-Japanese model-actor Daniel Matsunaga, are currently vacationing in Brazil.
Heart and her mother have not commented on the issue as of press time.
CHARICE says she is a victim of cy-ber-bullying.
In an interview with Celebuzz.com, Charice said she is getting a lot of negative comments on social networking site Facebook and mi-croblogging site Twitter.
“Oh, I mean, boy, oh my God. I’ve experienced that a lot, especially now. I get a lot of negative messages on Twitter and Facebook, stuff like that. It is just part of [using social media],” said Charice in reply to the question, “What kind of message do you have for young girls who might be the victims of cyber-bullying through Twitter, etc.?”
She added: “Sometimes the worst part is that some people can’t take [the negativity]. They are too weak to handle that kind of stuff. You just have to be strong about it. It’s just words coming out of other people. If they say ‘You’re ugly,’ it’s just a word – it’s never gonna kill you.”
Charice said that her only ad-vice to victims of cyber-bullying is to look at the situation in another way.
“I just want to tell other girls that if you hear a person telling you negative stuff, just remember that they’re not talking about you, they’re talking about themselves,” she said.
Charice, obviously hurt by the harsh comments of some people, decided to delete her personal ac-count on Facebook.
In May, after performing an original song on the season finale of the hit TV show Glee, Charice received negative comments about her weight.
She said she would love to be part again of Glee Season 3.
CHARICE ADMITS BEING VICTIM OF CYBER-BULLYING
PIOLO BARES PROJECTS WITH KC, ANGEL
“There is a project and hope-fully sometime soon ay magawa na namin,” he said. “She’s also doing some project with another leading man pero even while we were do-ing ‘Lobo’ mayroon nang project na
gagawin namin together. I hope it will happen soon.”
Piolo is currently preparing for a still undisclosed movie, while Angel is in the cast of Maalaala Mo Kaya: The Movie.
JOSE MARIAN
ANDI
CHARICE
PIOLO ANGEL
JULY 1-15, 2011 Calgary EditionPLANET PHILIPPINES20
ROVINCIAL hustle and bustle are redefined in a space that takes pride in its religiosity. In the province of Cebu, on an otherwise regu-lar weekend, there was nothing special to celebrate. Other than stillness, the kind that’s about being anchored in faith that you might not practice a whole lot of, but which in this space is a ride you’re in by default.
After all, where religion is part of history and hysteria, rhyme and reason, the irratio-
nal and rational, it feels almost all-encompassing, on the one hand about hopelessness, on the other about the bright light of possibility, both in the face of prayer. And icon upon icon upon icon: there’s one for your every need.
A
BY KATRINA STUART SANTIAGO
STILL CEBUQUIETAND
It is quiet inside the Basilica del Santo Niño despite the grandeur. It is filled with people without a mass to attend.
As you leave the Basilica del Santo Niño, the old colonial plaza comes to life, the quiet within the church seamlessly
working with the small-scale local commerce of guitars and balloons and Sto. Niño replicas of every size outside.
The Candle Ladies dance the sinulog, a prayer-chant to the Sto. Nino, and promise devotees that their wishes will come true.
You arrive at the church com-plex of the Basilica del Santo Niño in the center of town, enter the small chapel for Magellan’s Cross, and buy into the idea of candles: a color for your every need, all ten of them not to be lit but to be offered. Leave it at the Cross, bring it to the icons of your choice inside the church, but only after the manang has chanted your name with the rest of her prayer, only after she has promised that your wishes will come true, her prayers will do all the work for you.
It is a performance to be sure: she prays with a dance, hands filled with candles gesturing up to the cross, a trance were it not distracted by the rest of the women like her, doing exactly the same thing, only inserting a different name where appro-priate. You realize soon enough that many others in the tiny cha-pel aren’t like you who’s tourist and stranger: they’re in work outfits and school uniforms, their prayers more solemn than the pageantry in yours.
You walk through the church and find the same kind of solem-nity: it is quiet despite the gran-deur, it is filled with people with-out a mass to attend. The Basilica del Santo Niño’s statuary has icons aplenty, and like the candles in your hand there is an icon for every need. You get lost in the layers of offerings and requests, and realize quickly enough that this is no superficial act of prayer, no easy task of choosing whom to pray to.
People’s heads are bowed, hands reaching out to the icons, personal prayer done in such a public space. You leave a candle and say a prayer at the Black Madonna, and do the same at the beautiful Virgin Mary stand-ing to one end of the room. You reach out to the more popular icons here: St. Rita and St. Jude.
The former is the patron saint of impossible cases, the lat-ter the patron saint of desperate and lost causes. You leave can-dles at both. The last time you were here things seemed to be in
place. Today you find comfort in a spiral of change.
But you are close enough to hope here, and you fall in line for the Santo Niño, the one that’s claimed to have arrived first on Philippine shores, the one that has survived. To your critical mind it is but a vestige of colonized Philippines, and you
expect nothing but an overly decorated icon. Which after 30 minutes in line isn’t at all what’s in the tiny room at the center of which the Sto. Niño’s altar stands. Which after another five minutes or so of utter quiet in the room, meant you in solemn prayer, the kind that happens in front of about 30 other people in the room, waiting their turn or lingering after their chance at prayer.
You leave the Basilica del San-to Niño with a strange stillness, one that could only be borne of prayer, a calm that you carry as you step out to the church com-plex and face a Sunday fiesta
of sorts, the old colonial plaza coming to life, the quiet within the church seamlessly working with the small-scale local com-merce of guitars and balloons and Sto. Niño replicas of every size outside.
This quiet resonates as you walk the ruins of Fuerza de San Pedro, where a wishing well stands beside the Virgin of Rem-edies. Where candles are once again lit, as coins are dropped down the dark dank well. As wishes and prayers, offerings and requests, must live in those high concrete walls, must be about the tall steps that lead to the watch-towers, must hold fort here with a history of struggle.
You find comfortable serenity in conversations with Cebuano artists, who listen to each other talk at length about their art, about creativity, about local cul-ture, without the need to outdo each other’s stories, with seniority becoming the louder voice. It cuts across the roads you travel to get to Alegre Guitars, the zipline you hung from in the middle of no-where, the brightly colored Taoist Temple in a private subdivision, the cat naps you took in the rent-ed car traveling to everywhere.
There is an amount of stabil-ity in this silence, in the stories that it tells of history and religion -- of belief. Where Lapu Lapu is said to have slain Magellan, you believe the silences to be true. As you walk through the rooms and halls of the Museo Sugbo, you trust it all to be possible: this idea of Cebu as center, with a history as big as the national narrative, its insistence on difference finally making sense. You don’t take of-fense.
There is stability in this sense of identity, intertwined as his-tory and religion are within it, silenced as the contradictions in it are. History is highly subjec-tive, or so we’ve been taught: in a space bound to religion, all you really know is the calm that belief brings. Stable identities are pos-sible. Questions are for non-be-lievers.
You talk about the trip to Cebu now, you look at photos and re-member places and people and moments, but mostly you remem-ber yourself in that context: where you were certain about who you were, what you were doing, when the noise was too much, why you were quiet. You listened to your-self in the midst of the contradic-tions made silent, the beliefs sud-denly possible. You listened to the quiet and found that shadow of yourself that knows of its value.
There is you, and Cebu, still. (GMA News) n
Colored candles for every need are offered unlit to the icons of your choice inside the chapel for Magellan’s Cross.
JULY 1-15, 2011Calgary Edition PLANET PHILIPPINES21
Richard “Rick” D. Orman was born in Calgary, Alberta on June 9, 1948 as a fourth genera-tion Albertan. He studied at the University of Calgary before graduating with honours from Eastern Washington University in 1971. Orman served as a member of the Legislative Assem-bly of Alberta from 1986 to 1993. Since 1993, he has been active within the business community, both provincially and internationally. Orman first became a member of the Canadian Asso-ciation of Petroleum Landmen in 1975 and has provided provincial and federal political com-mentary on the CKUA Radio Network since 1994. Following the formation of the first Peter Lougheed Progressive Conservative govern-ment in 1971, Orman served as executive as-sistant to two successive Alberta energy and resources ministers from 1972 to 1975. Early career: 1975-1983In 1975, Orman co-founded Orman & Benini Land Services (subsequently Canadian Land-masters Resource Services). In 1978, he joined Signalta Resources Ltd., a joint venture partner-ship where he served as Manager of Land and Contracts until 1982. In 1982 he founded Nexus Resources Ltd., a private Calgary based explora-tion company. From 1980 to 1985, Orman was non-operating partner of the Board for CorpSport International Inc., an Edmonton based sports management firm.
Political careerIn 1983 Orman ran unsuccessfully for the Feder-al Progressive Conservative nomination in Cal-gary Centre, finishing second to Harvie Andre. At the time it was one of the biggest nomina-tions in PC party history with more than 3,200 ballots cast.In 1985 Orman was a senior Calgary organizer for the successful Don Getty provin-cial leadership campaign. In 1992 Orman ran for the Progressive Conservative leadership and placed a distant third to future Liberal leader Nancy Betkowski and eventual winner Ralph Klein. Orman received 7,649 votes on the first ballot. Orman withdrew from the race prior to the final ballot and endorsed Betkowski, who lost to Klein in the final ballot. Legislative career: 1986-1993Elected to the Alberta Legislature in May 1986, Orman held three Cabinet portfolios before his resignation from Cabinet in November 1992 to run in the provincial leadership campaign where he finished in third place. A lifetime Progressive Conservative, Orman served the constituency of Calgary Montrose from 1986 to 1993. Minister of Career Development and Employment: 1986-1988Following his election in 1986, Orman was ap-pointed the Minister of Career Development and Employment, where he served until Sep-tember 1988. He was also responsible for Lot-teries, Exhibitions and Fairs, and served as a member on the Economic Planning Cabinet Committee. As Career Development and Em-ployment Minister, Orman developed and implemented the Labour Market Strategy and the Employment Alternatives Program which aided social assistance recipients in entering the job market. He also established the Immigration and Settlement Services Advisory Council and opened a Business Immigration Office in Hong Kong where he led two investment missions to Southeast Asia. Minister of Labour: 1988-1989In September 1988, Orman was appointed Min
ister of Labour, a position he held until March 1989. As Labour Minister, he was responsible for the Department of Labour, Human Rights Commission, the Alberta Labour Relations Board and the Personnel Administration Of-fice. During his tenure, Orman was responsible for the Human Rights Commission and imple-mented major changes to the Labour Relations Code. He served as Vice-Chairman of the La-bour Relations Committee and also served on the Priorities, Finance and Coordination Com-mittee of Cabinet. Minister of Energy: 1989-1992From 1989 to 1992, Orman served as Minister of Energy where he was responsible for the Department of Energy, Energy Resources Con-servation Board, Alberta Oil Sands Equity, Al-berta Petroleum Marketing Commission, Public Utilities Board, and Alberta Oil Sands Technol-ogy and Research Authority. During this time, Orman was appointed Chairman of Energy Committee and Chairman of Economic Plan-ning Committee of Cabinet, and continued to serve on the Priorities, Finance and Coordina-tion Committee of Cabinet. Additionally, Or-man was instrumental in the establishment of the National Resources Conservation Board and served as a Member of the Treasury Board. As Chairman of Economic Planning Committee, Orman played a lead role in planning and or-ganizing Towards 2000 Together – a province-wide consultative initiative that sought public input into how Alberta could prepare for, and prosper in, the decade ahead. Orman led many of Alberta’s energy negotiations and took part in frequent speaking engagements on both na-tional and international stages. During his ten-ure, natural gas pipeline expansion to the Unit-ed States was a primary focus. As Minister of Energy he was actively involved in the natural gas contract dispute between Alberta producers and California. He also played a leading role in organizing and co-chairing the first federal-pro-vincial energy and environment ministers joint meeting on climate change held in Kananaskis,
Alberta. In 1991, he was awarded the presti-gious Crossborder Award as the person who played the most significant role in enhancing natural gas trade between Canada and the Unit-ed States. As Minister of Energy, Orman served as a delegate to the Organization of the Petro-leum Exporting Countries (OPEC), the United States Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commis-sion, and the South West Energy Council. Addi-tionally, Orman was a founding member of the Clean Air Strategic Alliance – a group dedicated to managing a clean air environment. He also led energy related trade missions to Asia, the Middle East and Europe.Career following political service: 1993-presentSince Orman’s return to the private sector, he has remained active as an officer and board member in a number of publicly traded com-panies. From 1994 to 1998, Orman founded and served as Chairman and CEO of Kappa Energy Company Inc., an international energy explo-ration company. In 1999, Kappa merged with Vanguard Oil Corporation, where Orman sat on the Board of Directors until 2000. In April 2003, he co-founded Exceed Energy Inc. and served as Vice-Chairman until September 2005. He was also a Board Director of Novatel Inc. (NASDAQ) until its takeover in 2007. Orman is currently a Board Director and former Lead Director of Daylight Energy Ltd. (TSX) and is a Founder, Director and Chief Executive of NOR Energy AS. Community involvementOrman has been deeply involved in the Alberta volunteer community working with inner city children as a teen. Since then, he has been in-volved with the Calgary Chamber of Commerce, the Calgary Exhibition and Stampede, Citizen Advocacy for the Disabled and the Chrysalis Foundation for the Mentally and Physically Handicapped. Additionally, Orman has been a Honourary Chairman for the Aga Khan Partner-ship Walk (Calgary, 1990 and 1991), Philippine Earthquake Disaster Relief Fund (Alberta, 1990), and the African Famine Relief (Alberta, 1991). (From Wikipedia)
RICK ORMAN
JULY 1-15, 2011 Calgary EditionPLANET PHILIPPINES22
We climbed walls and trees (to get aratiles and catch salagubang & tutubi - tied them on the neck or buntot with a string), fell out of trees, got cut or bukol, broke bones and teeth and there were no stupid lawsuits from these accidents.
TO ALL PINOYS WHO WERE BORN IN THE 50s, 60s, 70s AND EARLY 80s
IRST, SOME of us survived being born to mothers who did not have an OB-Gyne, who smoked and/or drank San Miguel Beer or Syoktong, while
they carried us. The manghi-hilot was the cheapest way to deliver babies. Dinala ka ba ng nanay mo sa pediatrician for DPT? While pregnant, they took cold or cough medicine, Cortal or Medicol, ate isaw, and didn’t worry about dia-betes or cervical cancer.
Then after all that trauma, our baby cribs were made of hard wood covered with lead-based paints, pati na yung walker (anda-dor) natin, matigas na kahoy or rat-tan at wala pang gulong.
We had no soft cushy cribs that play music, no disposable diapers (lampin lang), (noon cloth or rattan duyan lang tied to the posts or ceil-ing, babies would fall asleep sa sobrang hilo) and when we rode our bikes, we had no helmets, no kneepads, sometimes wala pang preno yung bisikleta.
Take-out food was limited to Ongpin’s pansit or Aling Toyang’s pre-cooked ulam in kalderos. No pizza shops, McDonalds, KFC, Subway, Jollibee; and, coffee was just kape hindi ga-mahal as in Star-bucks.
As children, we would ride in jeepneys, libre pag kandong, hot un-airconditioned buses with wood-en seats (yung JD bus na pula), or cars with no air-conditioning and no seat belts (ngayon lahat may air-con na).
Riding on the back of a cara-bao on a breezy summer day was considered a treat (ngayon hindi na nakakakita ng kalabaw ang mga bata). Did you make your own sa-ranggola and pasted bubog on the strings?
We drank water from the gar-den hose and not from a bottle purchased from 7-11 (min-san straight from the faucet or poso) walang7-11 noon, sari-sari store ni Mang Akong to buy Sarsi, Sun-tan, RC Cola or Choco-Vim.
We shared one soft-drink bottle with four of our friends, and no one actually died from this or contracted hepatitis.
We ate rice with Star marga-rine, pampatangkad daw, took raw eggs straight from the shell, and drank softdrinks with real sugar in it (hindi Diet Coke), but we weren’t sick or overweight kasi nga. . .
WE WERE ALWAYS OUT-SIDE PLAYING!!
We would leave home in the morning and play all day, and get back when the streetlights came on. Sarap mag-patintero, tumbang preso, habulan at taguan. Hindi uso ang kidnap-kidnap na yan, safe maglaro sa labas. Tanda mo ba ang piko, step-no-step-yes, trumpo, garter & mala-ahas sa haba na goma? Kung naulan, jackstones, pick-up sticks or sungka, bahay-bahayan, tinda-tinda-han, titser-teacher-an or swimming sa baha or kangkungan.
No one was able to reach us all day (di uso ang cellphone, walang beepers). And yes, we were O.K. Sipol lang ni tatay ang meron noon!
We would spend hours build-ing our wooden trolleys (yung bearing ang gulong) or plywood slides out of scraps and then ride down the street, only to find out we forgot the brakes! After hit-ting the sidewalk or fall-ing into a canal (sewage channel) a few times, we learned to solve the problem ourselves with our bare & dirty hands.
We did not have Playstation, Nintendo, X-box, no video games at all, no 100 channels on cable, no DVD movies, no surround stereo, no iPod, no cellphones, no computers, no Internet, no chat rooms, and no Friendsters, Face-book, MSN etc. . . .
WE HAD REAL FRIENDS and we went outside to actually talk and play with them! TV viewing was a treat, kilala mo ba si Popeye, Gumby, Betty Boop & followed the bouncing ball in Melody Tunes? That was karaoke then, LOL!
We climbed walls and trees (to get aratiles and catch salagubang & tutubi - tied them on the neck or buntot with a string), fell out of trees, got cut or bukol, broke bones and teeth and there were no stu-pid lawsuits from these accidents. The only rubbing we get is from
our friends with the words... Masakit ba? Pero pag galit
yung kalaro mo, ang sasabihin sa iyo
ay, Beh, buti nga!We played marbles
(jolens) in the dirt, washed our
hands just a little and ate dirty ice cream, fish balls & inihaw sa baga. We were not afraid of getting sick or getting germs in our stomach.
We had to live with homemade guns, gawa sa kahoy, tinali ng rub-berband, sumpit, tirador at kung ano ano pa na puedeng makasakitan, pero masaya pa rin ang lahat. We made up games with sticks (siato), and cans (tumbang preso) and although we were told they were danger-ous, wala naman tayong binulag o napatay, paminsan minsan may nabubukulan lang.
We walked a lot, rode bikes, or took tricycles to a friend’s house and knocked on the door or rang the bell, or just yelled for them to jump out the window!
Mini basketball teams had tryouts and not everyone made it to the team. Those who didn’t pass had to learn to deal with the disappointment. Wala iyang mga childhood depression at damaged self-esteem ek-ek na yan. Ang pikon, talo.
Ang magulang ay nandoon lang para tingnan
kung ayos lang ang
mga bata, hindi para makialam at makipag-away sa ibang parents.
That generation of ours had produced some of the best risk-takers, problem-solvers, creative thinkers and successful profes-sionals ever! They are the CEO’s, Engineers, Doctors and Military Generals of today.
The past 50 years have been an explosion of innovation and new ideas.
We had failure, success, and responsibility. We learned from our mistakes the hard way.
You might want to share this with others who’ve had the luck to grow up as real kids. We were lucky indeed.
And if you like, forward it to your kids too, so they will know how brave their parents were. (Posted on the Internet, author anon-ymous.) n
JULY 1-15, 2011Calgary Edition PLANET PHILIPPINES23
DOJ: WEBB HERE DURING KILLINGSA PILE of micro reel tapes uncovered for the first time during
the reinvestigation of the gruesome Vizconde massacre “shatters” Hubert Webb’s claim that he was in the United
States at the time of the murders 20 years ago.
In a news conference on June 28 announcing the result of the six-month inquiry, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima and officials of the National Bureau of Investigation said transcripts of the tapes from the Bureau of Immigration did not show that Webb left the country in 1991.
However, De Lima said that in spite of the testimony of seven new witnesses, the investigators found no new evidence that put the son of former Sen. Freddie Webb or any of his co-accused at the scene of the crime.
The reinvestigation by an in-teragency task force headed by the Department of Justice was or-dered by President Benigno Aqui-no III in December following the acquittal of the 42-year-old Webb and his co-accused after 15 years imprisonment.
June 30 marked the 20th year that Estrellita Vizconde, 47, and her daughters Carmela, 18, and Jenni-fer, 7, were stabbed dead in their house in an upscale subdivision in Parañaque City. Carmela also was raped.
De Lima admitted that there was nothing the authorities could do with the new evidence, pointing out that the Supreme Court had af-firmed with finality its ruling on Dec. 14 acquitting Webb et al. of rape with homicide, saying the prosecu-tion had failed to probe their guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
The Constitution, under its dou-ble jeopardy provision, prohibited a retrial of the case. Moreover, the 20-year prescription period for the capital offense also lapsed on June 30, preventing the state from going after the suspects.
The prescription period also does not apply, according to De Lima, to Joey Filart and Artemio Ventura, who are still at large.
“We believe that the evidence there is now rebut, or negate, or de-stroy or even shatter that defense of alibi (of Webb)… That is all it has es-tablished so far, the defense of alibi
was in fact false. But … we have no credible and confirmed evidence, whether testimonial or otherwise, that would place Hubert Webb and company at the scene of the crime,” De Lima said.
“We are pursuing the truth. This may not be the whole truth, the whole picture, yet because of the gaps,” she said. But she stressed the findings were “significant enough to cast such a doubt” on Webb’s alibi.
Webb has claimed he was in the United States at the time the Vizcondes were killed, presenting documents—from his passport to the certifications from US authori-ties—to prove his alibi.
But Romulo Asis, head of the NBI Death Investigation Division, said the inquiry showed that there were inconsistencies in Webb’s signature in his passport com-pared to his signatures in US doc-uments such as the customs dec-laration and his California driver’s license.
Asis also said there were four witnesses who said they had seen Webb between April to July 1991 in Parañaque City. Webb had claimed to have left on March 9, 1991 for the United States.
But more than these, data from magnetic reel tapes used by the Bu-reau of Immigration in the 1990s to record passenger arrivals and de-partures showed that Webb never left the country. They showed Fred-die Webb left in March 1991, and several Webbs arrived in the Phil-ippines, including Hubert Webb, in October 1992.
Asked why the evidence shown in the reinvestigation was not dis-covered by the original investiga-tors, De Lima said prosecutors were concentrating on Jessica Alfaro. “They felt that she as star witness was enough. It turned out the Su-preme Court did not believe Jessica and upheld (Webb’s) defense of alibi,” De Lima said.
A certain Pitong, one of the new witnesses interviewed, claimed that
he had known the Webb family since October 1982, and had seen their laundry women washing a bloodied shirt on June 30, 1991.
Pitong claimed he then heard Hubert shouting in Filipino, “I would not have ended up like this if you had not neglected me.” Three days after that, he was allegedly approached by Mrs. Webb who reportedly told him, “You did not see anything.” A week after, Sen. Freddie Webb al-legedly told him, “You did not see anything. You will regret it.”
A certain George, another wit-ness, claimed that he was intro-duced to Webb by former SPO1 Ge-rardo Biong sometime in April 1991 where the young Webb allegedly purchased from him 10 grams of shabu worth P10,000. He alleged that Webb bought illegal drugs from him on two other occasions in May 1991. He alleged that he could not forget Webb because Biong had allegedly threatened him, “Do not cheat him. I will kill you,” brandish-ing a shiny revolver.
Witnesses Rey, Mario, Jerry and Jack (not their real names), claimed that they had from April to July 1991, seen Webb playing basket-ball in BF Homes.
Freddie Webb questioned the reliability of the immigration tapes and the NBI investigation, pointing out that while there was a record of his son’s arrival, there was no record of his departure. “How was that possible?” he asked. He also demanded that the NBI reveal the identity of the new witnesses so that his lawyers could question them.
Demetrio Custodio, Webb’s counsel, dismissed the results of the reinvestigation and said the Webb camp may resort to legal ac-tion. n
“HELLO? We don’t live in the same neighborhood.’’
Budget Secretary Florencio Abad issued this retort as he joined the fray over former Presi-dent Macapagal-Arroyo’s scath-ing criticism of what she called President Aquino’s “nobody home’’ style of leadership.
Abad said it was “amusing’’ and “galling’’ for the now Pam-panga lawmaker to lecture Mr. Aquino about building the gains of her administration.
“The first question that comes to mind is what gains? The peo-ple’s gains, or her gains?” he said in a statement. “Prudent expendi-ture took a back seat to political survival and political patronage during the previous administra-tion,” he said.
Abad cited the case of the National Food Authority, whose loans skyrocketed to a staggering P176.8 billion when she left in June 2010 from P18 billion when she assumed the presidency in 2001.
“P123 billion of that was incurred in just two and a half years, from 2008 to 2010. In those years, we overbought way beyond what we needed and at prices way above world prices,’’ he said.
Arroyo had warned of a dan-ger for the economy because of the kind of leadership displayed by Mr. Aquino which she said had been characterized by a colum-nist as “nobody home.’’
She said the Aquino adminis-tration should build on the gains of the previous administration as she had done with the gains left to her by previous administra-tions.
To stop the hemorrhage in the NFA, Mr. Aquino has introduced a food self-sufficiency program, posted a bumper rice harvest in the first quarter and substantially cut rice imports to 860,000 met-ric tons, Abad said.
Responding to Arroyo’s claim of economic sustainability, Abad said that by the time Mr. Aquino took over the presidency in July last year, more than 60 percent of the P1.541-trillion national budget had been disbursed by the Arroyo administration.
“The previous administration
PALACE HITS BACK AT GMA: WHAT GAINS?
left us with our largest projected fiscal deficit to date of P325-bil-lion or 3.9 percent of gross do-mestic product. Is she saying that is sustainable?” he said.
On top of this, the Arroyo ad-ministration consumed more than 70 percent of the P2-billion calamity fund in the first half. Of this, P105 million was allotted for Arroyo’s second district, he said.
“With prudent spending the Aquino administration reduced the deficit to 3.5 percent of GDP at the end of 2010, even register-ing surpluses in August and No-vember, while able to adequately provide for basic services like increasing the conditional cash transfer beneficiaries to a mil-lion and augmenting the calamity fund by P1.75 billion,” he said.
“Nobody home? Of course! We’ve left the old neighborhood. We live in a new neighboRhood now—where decency, transpar-ency and accountability reign,” Abad said.
Communications Secretary Ramon Carandang said Mr. Aqui-no was not “annoyed’’ by Arroyo’s criticism.
“[He was] just surprised at the nerve of GMA. She’s clearly scared that she may be made ac-countable and is trying to muddle the issues,’’ Carandang told re-porters in a text message.
Arroyo said the lack of leader-ship in government became evi-dent as early as the Manila hos-tage crisis last August 23, 2010.
“Yung characterization of nobody home, that’s the main source, that there maybe danger lurking ahead for economy...Itong pagkukulang lumutang (noong) hostage crisis sa Luneta,” she told reporters.
In her conversation with re-porters, Arroyo noted how the government seems to have failed on building on her gains. This has led to a deceleration of the economy.
“A year later, the economy is still benefiting but this is not to say there are no danger signs. There are danger signs. Yung eko-nomiya na iniwan ko very strong at a time when there was global crisis. Now, when the rest of Asia is recovering ours is decelerat-ing,” she said. n
WEBB
JULY 1-15, 2011 Calgary EditionPLANET PHILIPPINES24NEWSROUND-UP
FORMER President Gloria Macapa-gal-Arroyo was charged with anoth-er plunder case before the Depart-ment of Justice (DOJ).
Former solicitor general Francis-co Chavez accused Arroyo of divert-ing over P2 billion in fertilizer funds to her campaign kitty when she ran for president in 2004.
At the same time, the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) is preparing to charge Arroyo and former PCSO general manager Ro-sario Uriarte with plunder for the alleged diversion of some P150 million from the PR funds to “intelli-gence operations” a few months be-fore the May 10 elections last year.
Lawyer Aleta Tolentino, PCSO director, said they have uncovered a document bearing Arroyo’s signa-ture that approved the release of the P150-million intelligence fund of the agency.
“We are just gathering other documents prior to the filing of graft charges against Uriarte and pos-sibly former President Arroyo,” she said.
Earlier, Chavez pulled out from the Office of the Ombudsman the complaint for plunder, malversation of public funds, violation of the Con-stitution and election laws against
ARROYO FACES NEW PLUNDER CASEFORMER Police Officer Michael Ray Aquino cleared former Presi-dent Joseph Estrada and Sena-tor Panfilo Lacson on the deaths of publicist Salvador “Bubby” Dacer, and driver, Emmanuel Corbito.
“Gusto ko pong malaman ng sambayanang Pilipino na wala pong utos sa akin si President Jo-seph Ejercito Estrada o si Sena-tor Panfilo M. Lacson to kidnap, harm and/or murder anyone spe-cifically Mr. Salvador Dacer and Mr. Emmanuel Corbito,” Aquino said in a statement after he ar-rived in Manila last June 26.
Lacson has been tagged as the one who orchestrated the death of Dacer while Estrada has been implicated to the killings based on the testimony of an-other former police officer Cezar Mancao who mentioned a cer-tain “Bigote” as the mastermind.
Aquino said he is ready to face his accusers and ready to prove his innocence.
“I sincerely believe that this is
FORMER PNP OFFICER CLEARS ESTRADA, LACSON
my opportunity to clear my name, prove my innocence and finally put to rest all speculations about me,” Aquino said.
Aquino was brought to the NBI headquarters where he is now detained.
The former senior superinten-dent of the defunct Presidential Anti Organized Crime Task Force, who is facing charges for the Dac-er-Corbito killings, was extradited to the Philippines after staying in the US for 10 years to avoid the murder charges.
Meanwhile, the lawyer of the Dacer family said the statements of Aquino are “difficult” to believe, accusing him of stonewalling to curtail the truth in the murders of Dacer and Corbito in November 2009.
Lawyer Demetrio Custodio said the family is “very, very dis-appointed” with Aquino’s denial of any involvement in the double murder case, much less his de-nial of the involvement of Estrada and Lacson. n
Arroyo.Chavez said Arroyo had autho-
rized the Department of Agriculture to release P728 million and P1.59 billion from the fertilizer fund pro-gram for poor farmers in separate orders in February 2004, as the campaign period was starting.
Chavez said Arroyo cannot pon-tificate on good governance. “She should not have the temerity to do that because look at her trail – it’s a trail of unmitigated corruption, pil-lage and plunder,” he said.
“(Respondent Arroyo) caused the release of no less than P728 million and P1.59 billion, or an ag-gregate amount of P2.318 billion, of public funds of the Department of Agriculture to specific members of the House of Representatives, provincial governors, and city and municipal mayors,” read the com-plaint.
Chavez submitted almost 200 pages of documentary evidence, including the Department of Bud-get and Management’s special allotment release orders, Senate Blue Ribbon committee’s reports in 2006 and 2009, and Commission on Audit report, among others.
Chavez included in the list of respondents former agriculture
secretary Luis Lorenzo Jr., former undersecretary Jocelyn Bolante, former assistant secretary Ibarra Poliquit, Budget Undersecretary Mario Relampagos, Budget direc-tor Nora Oliveros, and so-called runners Jaime Paule, Rose Lin-gan-Florendo, Leni Aquino and Jane Fabian.
A case involving the P728-million fertilizer fund scam is now pending before the Sandiganbayan.
However, it does not include Arroyo because the Office of the Ombudsman investigated the case when she was still president enjoy-ing immunity from suit.
Mrs. Arroyo and her allies used the PCSO as their milking cow, leav-ing the agency P4 billion in debt, or close to a year’s worth of doles for the poor and the sick.
“They ran it to the ground,” said PCSO Chair Margarita Juico, who re-cently met with Inquirer editors and reporters.
Juico said the directors appoint-ed by Arroyo to the PCSO board “comingled” the funds for operat-ing expenses with those for charity work, thus allowing the agency to spend more than its budget, espe-cially in the last two years in office of the appointees.n
MINIMUM WAGE If you work in Alberta and make minimum wage, your hourly pay will increase this Sep-tember 1. As Minister of Employment and Immigra-tion, I was happy to announce that minimum wage in our province would increase from $8.80 per hour to a new general minimum wage of $9.40 per hour. At the same time a new minimum wage of $9.05 per hour will be established for employees who serve liquor as a regular part of their job. Minimum wage is lower for those who serve alcohol because alcohol servers make more money with tips or gratuities as part of their job. When it comes to two different rates of minimum wage, Alberta is not the first to try this. Ontario and Quebec have had different minimum wage rates for years, and British Columbia has recently introduced two differ-ent rates that will start later this year. A lot of consideration went into this de-cision to raise minimum wage, and I think it is fair for employers, workers and Albertans. Some employers have said that a large wage increase could mean Albertans paying more for daily goods and services. On the other hand, minimum wage has not increased in our province since 2009, and I believe now is the time. We need to stay competitive with the rest of Canada, but we also need to keep in mind that businesses need to stay competi-tive too. The government will also change how
we decide on future increases to minimum wage in our province. Currently, increases to minimum wage are determined by changes in Alberta’s average weekly earnings only. But starting September, increases to minimum wage will be the average of changes to Al-berta’s average weekly earnings and changes to the Consumer Price Index in Alberta. The Consumer Price Index shows price changes to certain products that Canadians buy. This is also known as the rate of inflation. For example, if the average weekly earn-ings of Albertans have risen four per cent in the last year, and the Consumer Price Index in Alberta has risen two per cent, the provin-cial minimum wage will increase by three per cent. If needed, changes to the minimum wage will happen on September 1 of each year. The wage for alcohol servers will remain at $9.05 per hour until the general minimum wage reaches $10.05 per hour. From then on, both wage rates will increase together, with a $1 difference between the two of them. To find out more information about mini-mum wage and other employment standards, visit our website at www.employment.alber-ta.ca/ES or call our contact centre at 780-427-3731 or toll-free at 1-877-427-3731. Your comments or concerns related to this article, or any future article, are always wel-come. You can contact me by calling 780-415-4800 in Edmonton and area or 310-0000 and then 780-415-4800 for elsewhere in Alberta, or through email at [email protected].
JULY 1-15, 2011Calgary Edition PLANET PHILIPPINES25NEWSROUND-UP
SUDOKUANSWER FROM PAGE 18
ANOTHER state agency mandated to help poor Filipinos is claiming to have uncovered lavish and irregular expenditures of Arroyo administra-tion officials.
The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) has sought the help of the Depart-ment of Justice (DoJ) to look into the possible criminal liability of its former officials who allegedly facilitated the release of billions of pesos for ques-tionable transactions.
Tesda Director General Joel Vil-lanueva personally submitted to Justice Secretary Leila de Lima doc-uments covering various projects under his predecessor, Iloilo Rep. Augusto Syjuco.
In a closed-door meeting, Vil-lanueva asked De Lima to assist Tesda in examining the documents and ascertaining the accountability of Syjuco and Tesda personnel in-volved in the allegedly anomalous projects.
“Tesda could be the next [to ex-pose corruption] after PCSO,” De Lima said, referring to the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).
Villanueva said among the Tes-da expenditures that he wanted scrutinized was the P2.4 billion earmarked for the Pangulong Glo-ria Scholarship which, he said, was awarded to fly-by-night and nonexis-tent schools.
“I was really stunned when I found out that there were scholar-ship vouchers covered by bouncing checks that were issued by the previ-ous administration,” Villanueva said.
He said a previous report from the Commission on Audit had un-covered irregularities in the way Tesda had allocated funds to voca-tional schools and awarded schol-arships.
Of the P2.4 billion, he said only P880 million were backed by re-ceipts and other pertinent docu-ments. n
PROBE OF FORMER TESDA EXECS SOUGHT
AQUINO THANKS U.S. FOR SPRATLYS AID COMMITMENTPRESIDENT Aquino thanked the United States for its promise of military assistance in the event of a shooting war in the Spratlys, and ex-pressed relief at China’s assurance that it had no plans to invade the Philippines.
“We are grateful to the US for their offer of help,” Aquino told re-porters in at the launching of the 200-megawatt power plant of Ko-rean Electric Power Co. in Barangay Colon, Naga City in Cebu.
“We’re of course glad that the Mutual Defense Treaty has been re-iterated,” Aquino said, referring to as-surances from US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Ambassador Harry Thomas Jr. among others.
But while he is thankful for Chi-na’s “no invasion” assurance, Aqui-no said he is deeply worried about the large presence of Chinese troops as well as permanent struc-tures in the disputed territories.
But he stressed this should not get in the way of diplomatic discussions.
“Although in fairness we have been talking to them (Chinese). I think the only right solution, direc-tion will be to continue talking with all the claimant-countries as far as the Spratlys are concerned,” he said.
“The focus here should be on how to maintain stability and in-crease trade. That will increase the standards of living for all the people concerned,” he told reporters.
“So we maintain the direction towards improving the standards of living, rather than going into a con-flict situation,” he said.
But Aquino said the Philippines, although a small nation, is ready to deal squarely with aggression.
Tensions in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) have escalat-ed in recent weeks, with Vietnam and the Philippines protesting what they see as China’s increasingly aggres-sive stance in the strategic region.
After introducing a resolution condemning China’s reported bully-ing in Southeast Asia, US Sen. Jim Webb (Virginia) said it’s now time for his country to “back (its) policy with action.”
The resolution calls for “a peaceful and multilateral resolution to maritime territorial disputes in Southeast Asia.”
Earlier, China warned its neigh-bors to stop searching for oil in the contested region without its permission.
The warning came amid a re-port from Hanoi that China, for the second time in two weeks, on June 23 harassed a Vietnamese vessel conducting seismic surveys within Vietnam’s continental shelf.
Vietnam’s prime minister said Hanoi was determined to protect its “incontestable” sovereignty over areas it claims in the South China Sea in an intensifying war of words with Beijing.
Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, smarting at Beijing’s stepped-up criticism of the Philip-pines, scoffed at China’s demands.
“For heaven’s sake, don’t lec-ture to us. We can equally lecture to you even if you are a giant,” Enrile told reporters.
A day after Beijing warned Manila to refrain from unilateral actions that could damage Chinese sovereignty, Chinese Ambassador Liu Jianchao is-sued another warning.
“We’re calling on all parties to stop searching the possibility of ex-ploiting resources in the area where China has claims. At the same time, if the countries want to do so, you can talk to China about the possi-bility of having a joint cooperation
BRISTISH banking giant Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corp. (HSBC) is forecasting local interest rates to increase by at least 50 basis points this year and the peso to end at P41 to the dollar.
In a media presentation, HSBC investment managers said the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) may increase interest rates by an-other 25 bps, most likely in Octo-ber.
Inflation, which currently hovers at the 4.5-percent level, is seen to peak at seven percent in October and level off between five to six per-cent towards the end of 2011, the HSBC executives said.
The bank said the BSP needs to hike rates more to narrow the nega-tive real interest rate gap.
“That’s the due to base effect and the volatility of world food pric-es,” said Arjuna Mehandran, HSBC managing director and head of in-vestment strategy for Asia.
He said the Philippine Stock Ex-change (PSE) is expected to resume bullish activities to start the second semester in anticipation of peaking
HSBC SEES RATE HIKE, PESO AT 41 TO $1
inflation and rising interest rates. The Philippine bourse has been per-forming much better than emerging markets, helped even more by good rating from credit agencies.
The market, it added, is expect-ed to start accumulating strength in the next few months to take ad-vantage of the surge in the fourth quarter.
Meanwhile, the peso is seen to settle at the 41 to the dollar level, uniformly bullish in emerging mar-kets currencies, Mehandran add-ed.
The economic growth forecast remained at five percent this year, as private consumption will con-tinue to be the key engine for the country’s overall growth.
On the other hand, he said remit-tances had weakened compared to last year although growth continues on the positive side.
Remittances from overseas Filipinos grew 5.9 percent to $4.6 billion in the first three months of 2011, but the outlook for the year would be lower at about six percent. n
DAVAO City – Up to 25 people were killed and up to 15 others were missing as a flashflood trig-gered by heavy rains devastated a riverside community in the Philip-pines, rescuers said on June 29.
The downpour drenched large parts of Davao city on the south-ern island of Mindanao on Tues-day night, causing the Matina River to rise and flood its banks, officials said.
Mayor Sarah Duterte told the Philippine Daily Inquirer that 15 people died and were identified as Lydia Balderosa, 66; Rowena Balderosa, 7; Alexander Baricu-atro, 4; Alexandrea Baricuatro, 7; Jame Bawo, 6; Conchita Bawo, 7; Alora Baricuatro, 8; Jason Sa-turos, 7; Kenneth Tan Paches, 4; Angelita Paches, 65; Chen Sorinio, 2; Tito Servidad, 53; Beth Amatus, 7; John Alvarez, 3; and an unidentified victim.
Earlier in the day, Artemio Ji-menez, village chairman of Bang-kal, said based on reports, most of the fatalities were from his village.
Jimenez said at least 10 more remained missing as of June 29.
At least 15,000 families
AT LEAST 25 PEOPLE KILLED IN DAVAO FLOOD
fled their homes when floods, spawned by heavy rains, swept everything in its path.
One resident of Talomo district said they had to climb the roofs of their house just to escape the rampaging water.
Vice Mayor Rodrigo Duterte described the floods that hit the vil-lages of Bangkal, Matina Crossing, Matina Aplaya and Matina Pangi as the worst disaster to hit the city in decades.
“Davao City experienced the highest level of floodwaters to date, reaching up to 10 feet [three me-tres],” the government’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Man-agement Council said in a state-ment.
Military rescuers have so far recovered 25 corpses after most of the floodwaters subsided Wednesday, said Major Jacob Obligado, commander of a local army battalion taking part in the search and rescue effort.
Earlier in the week, Tropical Storm “Falcon” also caused flood-ing and forced the evacuation of 90,000 people in the capital Ma-nila and in nearby provinces. n
development and exploitation of natural resources,” Liu said.
Asked about reports of oil ex-ploration in the disputed region, Liu said: “China hasn’t started drilling oil wells in this region. Personally, I don’t know anything about what was reported. China has a large maritime area, for example in East China Sea.”
Recently, Manila lodged a pro-test in the United Nations over the harassment by a Chinese vessel of a Department of Energy vessel.
“It’s not harassment. It’s a nor-mal practice and exercise of juris-diction, and the rumor was the Chi-nese vessels made an ammunition assault, which is not true,” Liu said.
He added that the Reed Bank—which the Philippines calls Kalay-aan—was “totally within China’s ter-ritorial claims.”
The ambassador urged all par-ties to set aside differences and en-gage in joint cooperation.
“Peaceful means is the only op-tion for China and we’re determined to carry on with peaceful consulta-tions with our partners, our neigh-bors who are also claiming the Nan-sha (Spratly) Islands. So I hope that all countries will face it with reality and consider overall peace and sta-bility in the region,” Liu said. n
AQUINO
JULY 1-15, 2011 Calgary EditionPLANET PHILIPPINES26
JULY 1-15, 2011Calgary Edition PLANET PHILIPPINES27*
Alberta, Saskatchewan,
Manitoba, Ontario, New Brunswick,
Nova Scotia
Now With 20 Locations Across Canada In:
NEW EXTENDED STORE HOURS TO SERVE YOU BETTERMonday - Friday 10am-8pm
Sat. 10am-6pm • Sun. 12pm-5pmNEW
HOURS
We Accept: Cash, Cheques, Visa,
MasterCard, American Express,
Interac and FREE Layaway!
Tables, fabrics and colours may vary by store location. *5-Piece Packages include a 2Pc Sofa Set (or a 2Pc Sectional) and 3-Piece Table Set. FREE 3-Piece Table Sets consist of: (#2221, #3612, #3811, #7841, #7842, #7843, #7600 or #7900). Limit of one 3-Piece table set for every 2-piece living room set purchased. † Same day delivery on in-stock merchandise only. **O.A.C. See Store for details. §Premium Mattress Sets include: Sunrise, Nordic Rest, Supreme Comfort, Majestic, Elite Pillowtop, Platinum Comfort and Hampton Pocket Coil. Advertised Mattresses Are Sold in Sets only. See Store for Individual Mattresses at Factory Direct Prices. King Sets Consist of 3 Pieces. All advertised offers can not be used with any other promotion. Promotional items are limited to one per customer, per purchase.
Calgary North
Red Deer
Calgary South
7419 50th Ave. Unit 1,2 Edmonton6408 Gateway Blvd.
3420 - 12th St. NE 121 - 58th AVE SW (403) 686-6855
(403) 314-0100(780) 437-0808
(403) 219-8886
$3485-PieceBedroom Set!#0125
Comes In: Natural or
Cappuccino
Chest also available separately.
5-Piece Set Includes: Dresser,Mirror, Headboard & 2 Nightstands!
$298#2182
$$5-Piece $$Dinette!
Quality Mattresses Starting From
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Royal Comfort Queen ea. pc.
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$56Royal Comfort Queen ea. pc.Royal Comfort Queen ea. pc.
$214
FREEFREEFREEFREEBED FRAME
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WITH PURCHASE OF ANY PREMIUM MATTRESS SET!WITH PURCHASE OF ANY PREMIUM MATTRESS SET! §PILLOWS
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$748#0300
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SOFA ONLY $398! SOFA ONLY $498!
#6550
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THIS SET COMES IN 3 COLOURS!
$#0177 #7800
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be used with any other promotion. Promotional items are limited to one per customer, per purchase. Offer valid until July 25, 2011.
Storage Ottoman!Storage Ottoman!With ANY Purchase Over $100!*
FREE LAYAWAY!SAME-DAY DELIVERY!† 12 MONTHS!
**
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JULY 1-15, 2011 Calgary EditionPLANET PHILIPPINES28
cdn currency
Pick-up / box
$70
$105$110
Pinoy Sari-sari Store - 3607 17 Ave SE Calgary, AB (403) 248-3230Makabayan Filipino Store - 416 Erinwoods Dr SE Calgary, AB (403) 452-6143Filipino Market - 3803 26 Ave SW Calgary, AB (403) 984-8100Melly's Bakery - 112 6800 Memorial Dr NE Calgary, AB (403) 569-1517Loriz 1 - 13 8330 Macleod Tr SE Calgary, AB (403) 256-8604Loriz 2 - 25 2525 Bridle Crest Way SE Calgary, AB (403) 256-8604Asian Palate - 519 3208 8 Ave NE Calgary, AB (403) 272-2098Tindahang Pinoy - 1093 Falconridge Dr NE Calgary, AB (403) 285-1875Iremit Calgary - 636-999 36 St NE Calgary, AB (403) 569-8887Rolymie Bakery - 5-5008 Whitehorn Dr. NE Calgary, AB (403)590-0099MacEwan Sisters - 12-16 MacEwan Dr NW Calgary, AB (403)275-8023Tondar Computer - 999 36 St NE #525 Calgary, AB (403)248-7126Lanhel Oriental Store - 4734 49B Ave Lacombe AB (403) 782-0056Big J & C Express -Bay 3 5020 50 St. Rockey Mountain House,AB (403)846-9797Rossil Pinoy & Asian Grocery Store-953 S. Railway St SE Medicine Hat, AB (403) 526-6111
$80
Our balikbayan boxes are bigger
& better!
WE ACCEPT COMPETITOR'S BOXES &
we will replace it with ours.
NOW WITH OUR FILIPINO STORE AFFILIATES IN CALGARY & SURROUNDING AREAS, YOU CAN DROP OFF OR BUY MANILA FORWARDER BOXES:
All of Mindanao
Quirino Province, Abra, Benguet)
Nueva Vizcaya, Isabela, Ifugao, Kailnga-Apayao,
(Aparri, Cagayan, Batanes, Bayombong,
North & South Metro Manila
Metro Manila
$100
All of Visayas and Palawan
Do you want us to prove how big and stable we are as a company? Compare our prices to our competitors.
DROP OFF LESS $12
(all same destination)
(Marila, Meycauayan, Plaridel, Bocaue, San Pedro,
of Calamba), Batangas
Bataan, Zambales, North of Malolos, Laguna (South
(Pampanga, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Pangasinan,
Antipolo, Tanay, Morong, Kawit, Bacoor, Imus)
Binan, Cabauyao, Santa Rosam Taytay, Binangonan,
18 X 18 X 31 with 61 ECT (edge crust test) and with water and moisture resistant
adhesive.
it has more space and can handle more weight.
(all same destination)
Sorsogon, Camarines Norte / Sur, Masbate)
(Albay, Catanduanes, Marinduque, Mindoro,
Cagayan Valley
Bicol Region
North and South Luzon
Central Luzon
4 box at the same time = 1 half price
7 box at the same time = 1 Free
10 box in 1 year = 1 Free(La union, Baguio, Ilocos Sur, Quezon)
$100
$100
$90
BETT
ER A
CCES
S, B
ETTE
R CO
NVEN
IENC
E
FOR
YOU
BE SMART PINOY
Manila Forwarder Calgary & Surrounding Areas: 3544 Fonda Way SE Calgary, AB T2A6E8
(403) 890-7975 c/o Richard Panuelos
Manila Forwarder Edmonton & Surrounding Areas: 9818 163 St Edmonton, AB T5P3M8
(780) 818-6684 c/o Sonny Suarez
We are a very Straight Forward & Licensed Company. No hassles, no gimmicks. We operate for the good of all Filipinos since 1998. We have branches all over the world however this ad is only focusing in AB, Canada. Check us online for our other branches.
Nag-aral. Nag sikap. Ngayon nga nasa Canada ka na.Hahayaan mo nanaman bang hindi makarating ang pinahahalagahan mong Balikbayan box? Pinagpawisan at pinagpaguran? Maraming cargo companies dyan na kung ano-ano ang ipinapangako sainyo. Nakarating nga, may butas at kulang naman ang Balikbayan box mo. Worst, paano kung iniwan ka na sa ere tulad ng nangyari sa F at A cargo? hindi karapat-dapat kang tratuhin ng ganon sapagkat ang Balikbayan box mo ay iyong pinaghirapan at pinahahalagahan. Sa Manila Forwarder, kung gaano kahalaga sayo ang Balikbayan box mo, ganun din namin pahahalagahan ang mga ito. You know better than becoming a victim.
Kung magpapadala ka,
Toll Free:Direct: (403) 890-7975
Check us online to see how big and stable we
are as a company:
Free strap & no pick up charge at ang box mo,
siguradong naka insured!