Gunmen kill 9 police, villagers in Philippines

MANILA (AP) - Philippine officials say gunmen have ambushed a truck carrying policemen and village guards, killing nine in a mountainous central province. Police officer Gary Genelaso says a policeman and eight others, mostly village guards, were killed by the unidentified men, who raked the victims' truck with rifle fire before dawn Sunday in La Castellana town in Negros Occidental province. Two other policemen were wounded. Genelaso says the policemen and villagers were returning to a police station after helping secure a village festival when they came under attack in the foothills of Mount Kanlaon. Army and police officials suspect the attackers are either communist New People's Army guerrillas or members of an illegal logging syndicate. TO READ

China says Philippines' U.N. request on seas complicates issue

EIJING (Reuters) - China said on Wednesday that a request by the Philippines for a U.N. tribunal to intervene in its longstanding South China Sea territorial dispute with China would only complicate the issue, and denounced Manila's "illegal occupation" of islands there. Manila has asked the tribunal of the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) to order a halt to China's activities that the Philippines says violates the Southeast Asian nation's sovereignty. China's claims over islands, reefs and atolls in resource-rich waters off its south coast and to the east of mainland Southeast Asia set it directly against Vietnam and the Philippines, while Brunei, Taiwan and Malaysia also lay claim to parts. Asked about the Philippines' move, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said its southern neighbour was occupying some of China's islands in the South China Sea. "China has consistently opposed the Philippines' illegal occupation," he told a daily news briefing. China supports talks, but only on a bilateral basis with the countries directly involved, as previously agreed on by China and members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Hong added. "We hope that the relevant country honours its promises, and ... does not take any action to complicate or expand the problem," he said, without elaborating. It was not clear how the tribunal could help. While all its decisions are binding on countries concerned, it has no power to enforce them. (Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Ron Popeski)

Japanese brand to challenge San Miguel, grow PHL premium beer market

The second largest beer producer in the country is set to bring in a new brand to challenge the market dominance of San Miguel. Asia Brewery Inc. (ABI) has partnered with Japan's Asahi Breweries Ltd. to expand the premium beer market in the country by bringing another product. “The premium beer market is quite small. It's only 0.1 percent of the total beer market,” Hubert Tan, ABI vice president for marketing, told reporters at a briefing Friday, noting that the market share is considerably less than Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia’s 5 percent. “The only active player is actually San Miguel. None of the major international brands have gained a foothold here and we are attempting to do just that... grow the market," he added. Currently, the Philippine beer market totals 200 million cases in annual sales. Tan cited “lack of foreign brand and competition” as main hurdle for the growth of the premium beer market in the country. “So, as we enter we expect stronger growth for that segment,” he said. ABI is planning expand the premium beer’s share through its exclusive distribution of Japan’s number one premium beer, Asahi Super Dry. The brand will attempt to challenge San Miguel Brewery Inc.’s two premium beers sold locally – San Miguel Super Dry and Kirin, another Japanese brand by Kirin Holdings Co. Ltd. “Now, it’s (premium beer market) largely composed of San Miguel Super Dry. Based on aggressive sales volume that we have, we should be able to sell more than this,” Tan said. ABI eyes to corner the A and B segments, which comprise for the total 2 percent of the total beer market, through its distributorship of Asahi Super Dry. “It’s a foreign brand, so it’s a little pricier. But, of course, there’s opportunity to grow in other market segments. We’ll do it,” Tan said. “The focus for Asahi is to target the chains of hotels, restaurants and bars we have partnerships with throughout the country,” he added. At the same briefing, Asahi Group Holdings Ltd. International Business Section Manager Akira Tsuiki said they chose to partner with ABI “because of the scale of the distribution network it currently has, and product portfolio match.” Asahi Group’s public relations section manager Takayuki Tanaka said they sealed a distribution partnership with a Philippine company because of good economic prospects in the country. “We've seen the movement of the economy of the Philippines and it goes beyond,” he said. Tan also said that ABI is open to having a joint venture project with Asahi group. “We're always open to joint venture partners,” he said. Tan noted that “what happens after will all depend on how good results are for Asahi Super Dry. This is the first of bigger steps.” Sin tax Tan, meanwhile, brushed off concerns of a beer industry crunch because of the recently passed sin tax reform bill that raised excise taxes in alcoholic and tobacco products. “We're still quite bullish on the beer market,” he said. Tan explained that of the three “sin” product segment – distilled spirits, fermented liquor or beer and tobacco – beer has the lowest increase in excise taxes. A P15 per liter excise tax has been imposed on fermented liquor products, largely beer, with a net retail price per liter is 50.60 or less. The excise tax for such product -- a bottle of beer, for instance — will increase to P17 in 2014, P19 in 2015, P21 in 2016 and P23.50 in 2017. ABI currently corners 9 percent of the total beer market, with its rival San Miguel getting the bulk of the market share. ABI carries Beer na Beer, Colt 45, Manila Beer, Carlsberg and Lone Star brands. — KBK,

Over 4m tourists 'had fun' in Philippines in 2012

Manila (Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN) - A grand total of 4,272,811 tourists visited the Philippines in 2012, the first time the foreign visitor mark breached four million. Despite the all-time high, however, the number still fell short of the Department of Tourism's target of 4.6 million tourist arrivals for the year. "Some shortfalls were felt due to economic and political pressures (in the) traditional markets such as the United States, Europe and China," said the DOT in a statement. Missed target Although the target was missed, the DOT said the figure was a 9.07-per cent increase over the 3,917,454 visitors in 2011. "Crossing the four-million mark is a feat in itself and puts us well on track to achieve our ultimate goal of 10 million visitor arrivals by 2016," said Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez in a statement. "Despite a few bumps on the road, all key source markets still registered positive growth for the year," he added. Related story: Tourists who stay in the Philippines on the rise Jimenez though admitted it was going to become increasingly challenging to meet future targets. "But we know that Filipinos are the biggest believers of our slogan, 'It's more fun in the Philippines.' We remain confident and will continue to build on the positive energies in order to cross the five-million milestone in 2013," he said. Exploring market Jimenez said the DOT's thrust this year is market development, which entails expanding the potential market for new users and new uses. Related story: More fun to be Pinoy, immigration data show "We will look into segments that we have not thoroughly explored. We will explore more creative executions geared toward sustaining the fun we have started. We hope to have stronger representation and be part of the future of tourism in Asia," he said. South Korea remains our biggest source of tourists, with 1,031,155 visitors coming from that nation alone last year, the DOT said. They were followed by visitors from the United States at 625,626 and Japan with 412,474 tourists. Overseas Filipinos numbered 215,943 arrivals, or 5.05 per cent of the total tourist traffic, exhibiting a steady growth rate of 4.24 per cent.

Capitol’s left with P4.9M worth of expired checks, according to treasury records

..RECORDS at the Cebu Provincial Treasurer’s Office revealed that the Capitol has 147 checks worth P 4.9 million that are deemed “stale.” The payment dates of the checks were more than six months ago. Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia said the checks can be re-issued. She added that at the end of each year, Capitol always discovers old checks. Banks may refuse to accept a check that is more than six months old unless its drawer reconfirms payment by revising the date or issuing a new one. A staff of the vice governor’s office who asked not to be named said some of the recipients of the checks have obtained loans and used the checks as collateral. “Ang uban ana nangutang na ug nagbayad na og interest (some have borrowed money and are already paying interests),” said the staff. Assistance The checks were meant as financial assistance to projects in the barangays, such as water supply, infrastructure and day care centers. The amount on the checks ranged from P10,000 to P250,000. Eighty-five of the checks were issued to the office of vice governor, a position held by Agnes Magpale, who assumed as acting governor upon Garcia’s suspension. Garcia was ordered suspended for six months by Malacañang. The suspension order was posted at the Capitol on Dec. 19. Upon assumption of office, acting governor Magpale ordered an evaluation of the Capitol’s finances. Garcia said barangays can still get assistance from the Capitol if the Provincial Board approves a supplemental budget that will allot funds for projects that were meant to be funded by the old checks. She said the checks were not distributed for varied reasons. She said some checks may have been superseded by other payments. She admitted, though, that she had intended to distribute some of the checks. Other checks could have been claimed by the municipal or barangay treasurer, she said. “This is not the first time. It is a usual practice that at the end of the year, checks not released will be funded by another supplemental budget,” she said.

Philippines among Asian nations worst hit by disasters in 2012

he floods affected 19,840 families or 84,202 people in 84 villages in seven provinces in Regions 10, 11 and 12, the NDRRMC said. Of these, 8,542 families or 33,192 people are staying in 51 evacuation centers. At least eight houses were destroyed while 199 others were damaged in Kapalong in Davao del Norte and in Bagumbayan in Sultan Kudarat. Impassable to vehicles were: road in Barangay Sagayen in Asuncion, Davao del Norte (impassable to all) road in Brgy. Florida in Kapalong, Davao del Norte (impassable to light vehicles) road in Brgy. Camiling in Carmen, Davao del Norte (impassable to light vehicles) road in Brgy. Kinamayan, Carmen, Davao del Norte (impassable to light vehicles) San Jose Bridge in Caraga, Davao Oriental (not passable to all vehicles) Papag Bridge in Baganga, Davao Oriental (not passable to all vehicles) State of calamity, class suspension Cateel town in Davao Oriental was placed under a state of calamity, the Department of Education said in a Twitter post early Tuesday. The DepEd said classes were suspended in Cateel, Davao Oriental until Friday. Classes were also suspended in Compostela Valley for Tuesday, it added. The NDRRMC said classes were also suspended in parts of Davao del Norte, Tagum City, Davao Oriental, Compostela Valley and Davao City as schools there were flooded or submerged. Power in some areas restored Meanwhile, Davao Light and Power Company said it has started to restore power to main power lines of flood-affected areas. Still without power as of Monday afternoon were Jade Valley, Gem Village, Matina Gravahan, Juliville, Marfori, Madapo Hills and portion of El Rio, Bacaca and Tigatto. Davao Light said it deployed several crews to these affected areas to expedite the repairs of power lines and connections. "The inspection team will check the individual connections thoroughly should there be wet electrical outlets and meters," it said.

Airline Safety Ranking.

Flying was less deadly in 2012 than in any year since 1945, but that does not mean all airlines are equally safe. The Jet Airliner Crash Data Evaluation Centre (JACDEC), which collects information about aviation accidents and safety, has published its annual Airline Safety Ranking. The ratings take into account the number and deadliness of hull loss accidents and serious incidents in the last 30 years of operation in relation to passenger miles flown. The ratings also take into account international safety benchmarks such as the IOSA Audit and the USOAP country factor, along with a time factor which increases the effect of recent accidents. The results do not account for the cause of hull losses or whether the airline is at fault, so they are an imperfect measure of safety. Of 60 ranked airlines, here are the ten with the worst safety records, including the number of hull losses and passenger deaths in these accidents since 1983: #10 SkyWest Airlines: 3 hull losses; 22 dead #9 South African Airways: 1 hull loss; 159 dead #8 Thai Airways International: 5 hull losses; 309 dead #7 Turkish Airlines: 6 hull losses, 188 dead #6 Saudia: 4 hull losses; 310 dead #5 Korean Air: 9 hull losses; 687 dead #4 GOL Transportes Aéreos: 1 hull loss; 154 dead #3 Air India: 3 hull losses; 329 dead #2 TAM Airlines: 6 hull losses; 336 dead #1 China Airlines: 8 hull losses; 755 dead

Below zero temp reported in Mt. Pulag

..A temperature below zero was recorded at the summit of Mount Pulag in Benguet province over the weekend, a government official confirmed. Emerita Alba, who heads a park that has jurisdiction over the third highest mountain in the Philippines, said temperature in Mount Pulag dropped to negative 2 degrees Celsius. “We experienced a negative 2 temperature last Saturday,” Alba told Yahoo! Southeast Asia Thursday. But Alba clarified her office, Mt. Pulag Visitors Center, which hands out clearance to hikers before they can explore Mt. Pulag, does not have instruments to measure conditions in the area with precision. The parks superintendent said the information only came from the interviews she conducts with mountain climbers, who have actually reached the summit of Mt. Pulag. “We used to have a device but we lost it. And it is located four to five kilometers away from the mountain, the elevation is far from the summit,” Alba explained. “We just got the information as we interview the hikers. They have devices that can measure temperatures on the peak,” she added. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) cannot confirm whether such temperature actually occurred in Mt. Pulag. PAGASA weather forecaster Alvin Pura said they do not have an automatic weather station (AWS) near Mt. Pulag that can prove the extremely cold temperature reported in the area. “It is possible to have a temperature below 5 degrees Celsius in Mt. Pulag considering the altitude of its summit. But we are not sure if it can drop all the way to zero degrees,” Pura explained. In a separate interview, Pura said PAGASA was only able to record a 9.5 degrees Celsius temperature in their unmanned station in Banaue, which is the nearest to Mt. Pulag in Benguet, on Thursday morning. Citing records, Pura added that PAGASA also recorded a 10 degrees Celsius on the same day in Baguio City, which experienced the lowest temperature of 9.5 degrees Celsius on January 18 this season. The state weather bureau also recorded an 18.5 degrees Celsius in Tagaytay, which had the lowest drop in temperature to 17.6 degrees on January 15. “We are experiencing extreme cold weather because the snows are beginning to melt in Siberia and China and they are being blown towards our direction by the northeast monsoon,” Pura explained. But Oghie Dulay, who has been climbing for 17 years, said such low temperatures still do not lessen the dangers it can pose to hikers who usually climb Mt. Pulag. “Even if it does not reach zero degrees, it’s dangerous for us to climb in weathers like this because usually there is zero visibility,” Dulay explained. “It also makes the path damp and very slippery. It’s really freezing when we have to camp out over night,” he added. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Benguet has already issued a warning to mountain climbers about the dangers of going to Mt. Pulag. Fortunately, DENR Protective Area and Wildlife Sector regional technical director Reynald Yawan said there have been no reports of accidents related to the extreme weather conditions in Benguet province. “We do not recommend them going to Mount Pulag. But usually, the hikers go there for the cold experience,” Yawan explained. ...

Self-rated Poverty Up By 1.4M Families

.. MANILA, Philippines --- The number of Filipino families who consider themselves poor increased anew in the last quarter of 2012, based on the latest survey conducted by the Social Weather Stations (SWS). In the December 8-11, 2012, survey period, SWS found that 54 percent or about 10.9 million Filipino households rated themselves as poor, a rise from 47 percent or 9.5 million families in the third quarter of 2012. The nationwide survey used face-to-face interviews with 1,200 respondents. The poverty question was: "Where would you place your family in this card?" A card with words "not poor," "on the line," and "poor" were shown to the respondents. SWS said the latest poverty figure is still below the record 74 percent in July, 1985. Self-rated poverty increased nationwide except in the Visayas. It is highest in Mindanao with 72 percent (from 57 percent), followed by the Visayas (62 percent from 63 percent), rest of Luzon (43 percent to 38 percent), and Metro Manila (42 percent from 35 percent). For self-rated food poverty, the respondents were asked: "Based on the type of food eaten by your family, where would you place your family on this card? Not poor, on the line, or poor." Self-rated food poverty had worsened with 44 percent or 8.9 million families who said they are "food-poor" from 35 percent or 7.2 million households in the previous survey. SWS noted that the latest survey result differs from the improved SWS hunger rate released last week. It showed that the number of Filipino families who experienced hunger was at 16.3 percent of 3.3 million households, the lowest since June, 2011. It attributed the contrasting result on natural calamities that could have reinforced the respondents' perceptions of poverty. Self-rated food poverty worsened in all areas, from 45 percent to 63 percent in Mindanao, followed by the Visayas (from 47 percent to 54 percent), rest of Luzon (from 29 percent to 34 percent), and in Metro Manila (from 24 percent to 28 percent). Considering the present self-rated poverty threshold or the monthly budget that households need in order not to consider themselves poor, SWS pointed out that Filipino families continue to tighten their belts due to lower living standards. The median poverty threshold rose to P10,000 in Mindanao and rest of Luzon, and declined to P12,000 in Metro Manila and P8,000 in the Visayas. Meanwhile, the self-rated food poverty threshold rose to P5,000 in Mindanao and rest of Luzon, and declined to P6,000 in Metro Manila and P4,000 in the Visayas. ....More stories...SWS: 10.9-M Pinoy families view selves as poor in end-2012

Soldier, Cop Considered ‘POWs’ – NPA

KIDAPAWAN Philippines, Cotabato - The New Peoples' Army (NPA) admitted in a press statement issued on Friday that they are holding as "prisoners of war" (POWs) a policeman and a soldier they seized on Thursday on the highway in Compostela Valley province. Rigoberto Sanchez, spokesman for the NPA Merardo Arce Command, said that members of their Guerrilla Front 34 conducted the checkpoint in Barangay Mangloy, Laak town, where the two government men were "arrested." The two abducted uniformed personnel were earlier identified by the military as Private First Class Jezreel Colanggo of the 60th Infantry Battalion and Police Officer 1 Ruel Pasion of the San Isidro Municipal Police Station. Sanchez said both men are "being treated well." "Their safety is our primordial consideration as the NPA abides the tenets of the International Humanitarian Law," he said

Philippines names new military chief

..Manila (Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN) - The son of a general who was killed by Moro rebels 35 years ago is the next chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). Lt. Gen. Emmanuel T. Bautista was a freshman cadet at the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) when his father was killed. Yesterday, President Benigno Aquino III named him AFP chief of staff. Bautista, the bemedalled commanding general of the Philippine Army, will take over as the 44th AFP chief of staff at the turnover of command on Thursday, three days ahead of the mandatory retirement of Gen. Jessie D. Dellosa, according to deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte. Bautista is the son of the late Brig. Gen. Teodulfo Bautista, who was killed along with 33 other military officers and men, by rebels of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), on Oct 10, 1977, in Patikul, Sulu province. The elder Bautista was lured by Usman Sali, an MNLF commander, into a meeting in Patikul with a promise to talk about a ceasefire. To show his goodwill, Teodulfo Bautista came to the meeting unarmed. Only one soldier survived the massacre. "I will only have closure on my father's death if we forge a lasting peace with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF)," Bautista said over dinner with Philippine Daily Inquirer reporters and editors last November. The Aquino administration had by then just signed a Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro with the MILF. Bautista had said that he continues to visit the site where his father and his men were killed, more than 30 years after their deaths. Class of 1981 Bautista is a graduate of the PMA. He belongs to the "Dimalupig" Class of 1981, just like Alan Purisima, the newly appointed director general of the Philippine National Police. Previously, Bautista was commander of the 3rd Infantry Division of the Philippine Army, deputy chief of staff for operations, a brigade commander (702nd Infantry Brigade, 7th Infantry Division), and assistant deputy chief of staff for plans and programme. Bautista, who completed his master's degree in public administration at the University of the Philippines, Diliman, has 26 Military Merit Medals, five Military Commendation Medals, two Distinguished Service Star Awards, two Gold Cross Medals, one Bronze Cross Medal, two Combat Commander "K" Badges, among many other awards and commendations. He was also a graduate of a war fighting course at the Joint Forces Staff College in Virginia, USA, and a tactics course in New Zealand. Thanks to Dellosa "We thank outgoing AFP Chief of Staff Dellosa for having served the country and our uniformed personnel with exemplary dedication and commitment," the Palace said in a statement. "We look forward to the stint of the incoming AFP chief of staff in continuing the reforms set in motion by the president and implemented by his predecessors in advancing the interests of our soldiers and the enhancement of the defence capabilities of our country," it said. Commissioned on March 15, 1981, Bautista will retire on July 20, 2014. He was born in Quezon City on July 20, 1958. He is married to Bernardita P. Bautista. Prior to his appointment as Army chief in November 2011, Bautista, who will turn 55 in July, had been assigned to various posts around the country, but never in Sulu. After graduating from the PMA in 1981 he readily asked to be assigned in Sulu with the 1st Infantry Division, the unit his father commanded before his death. His request was denied and, as a compromise, he was assigned to Lanao del Norte, another province in Mindanao. As a lieutenant, Bautista served in Mindanao as a platoon leader of the 26th Infantry Battalion from 1981 to 1983. He also saw action in the Visayas as the leader of the 7th Scout Ranger Company from 1987 to 1989. He was also the commander of the 702nd Infantry Brigade of the 7th Infantry Division, which cleared areas in Central Luzon of communist influence from 2008 to 2009. Appointment welcomed The military yesterday welcomed the appointment of Bautista. "We are confident that Lieutenant General Bautista would be able to continue the current programmes, initiatives and reforms being undertaken by the AFP for the fulfillment of the goals of Internal Peace and Security Plan Bayanihan and the accomplishment of its constitutional mandate," said military spokesperson Col. Arnulfo Burgos in a statement. It was Bautista himself who crafted IPSP Bayanihan, the current anti-insurgency campaign of the government anchored on a multi-sectoral effort of "winning the peace" instead of carrying out a bloody campaign to end the decades-long insurgency problem of the country. Bautista's focus on "winning the peace" takes root in the violent death of his father. Bautista is also focused on reforming the image of the Army, and now as military chief, expectedly the entire Armed Forces. He was very supportive of the Army Transformation Road Map, which he said aims to change the "tarnished" image of the Army because of allegations of human rights violations, among others. Burgos said Bautista's appointment as AFP chief of staff was "timely as the implementation of the IPSP Bayanihan shifts to high gear on its third year of implementation". "Being the chief architect of IPSP Bayanihan and now at the helm of the AFP, we are highly optimistic that he will be able to lead and enable the organisation to make vital progress and significant developments that will help the organisation and its partner agencies and stakeholders to achieve the shared goals of a just and lasting peace for our country," Burgos said. Moreover, the AFP is hopeful that under Bautista's leadership, the military's modernisation and capability upgrade programme will "further take a momentous step forward in our intent to achieve a minimum credible defence posture," Burgos said. With reports from Frances Mangosing

Capitol’s left with P4.9M worth of expired checks, according to treasury records

..RECORDS at the Cebu Provincial Treasurer’s Office revealed that the Capitol has 147 checks worth P 4.9 million that are deemed “stale.” The payment dates of the checks were more than six months ago. Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia said the checks can be re-issued. She added that at the end of each year, Capitol always discovers old checks. Banks may refuse to accept a check that is more than six months old unless its drawer reconfirms payment by revising the date or issuing a new one. A staff of the vice governor’s office who asked not to be named said some of the recipients of the checks have obtained loans and used the checks as collateral. “Ang uban ana nangutang na ug nagbayad na og interest (some have borrowed money and are already paying interests),” said the staff. Assistance The checks were meant as financial assistance to projects in the barangays, such as water supply, infrastructure and day care centers. The amount on the checks ranged from P10,000 to P250,000. Eighty-five of the checks were issued to the office of vice governor, a position held by Agnes Magpale, who assumed as acting governor upon Garcia’s suspension. Garcia was ordered suspended for six months by Malacañang. The suspension order was posted at the Capitol on Dec. 19. Upon assumption of office, acting governor Magpale ordered an evaluation of the Capitol’s finances. Garcia said barangays can still get assistance from the Capitol if the Provincial Board approves a supplemental budget that will allot funds for projects that were meant to be funded by the old checks. She said the checks were not distributed for varied reasons. She said some checks may have been superseded by other payments. She admitted, though, that she had intended to distribute some of the checks. Other checks could have been claimed by the municipal or barangay treasurer, she said. “This is not the first time. It is a usual practice that at the end of the year, checks not released will be funded by another supplemental budget,” she said. ..

Kopi Talk Another reason to love Cebu

Another reason to love CebuBy Gael Hilotin | Yahoo! Southeast Asia Newsroom – Thu, Jan 17, 2013

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  Salay cave (Photo by Gael Hilotin)

If you think you have seen much of Cebu, then try exploring beyond the city for a change.   One of the sleepy towns south of the province endowed with pristine beaches, enchanting falls and undiscovered caves is Alegria.  This 4th class municipality was baptized as Tuburan after the vibrant spring, locally called tubod.

Tubod spring

An important structure in Alegria is the St. Francis Xavier Parish Church built in 1857. It is dedicated to the patron saint of the town and is believed to be the last bastion of the Japanese forces during the World War II.

St. Francis Xavier Parish Church built in 1857 (Gael Hilotin)

Fronting the church is a heavily ruined watch tower, the Bantayan sa Hari, another historic landmark.  You may also visit the nearby Alegria Museum where artifacts unearthed from Kambulakan Cave in 1999 are on display.  The unassuming town center is dappled with rundown old colonial houses.

Old colonial house in Cebu (Gael Hilotin)

In recent years, Alegria has struggled to showcase its natural resources to visitors.  It prides itself with majestic caves mostly uncharted by tourists; one of them  is the enormous Salay Cave.  It is accredited by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) so it is generally safe for exploration.  The local government has organized a local caving group to facilitate spelunking for visitors.

The jump off point to Salay Cave can be reached by habal-habal (motorcycle) 30 minutes away from Alegria’s center.   The cave itself is roughly 20 minutes by foot from the jump-off point.  Hiring a guide is recommended since the entrance to the cave is barely noticeable.
 

Salay cave (Photo by Gael Hilotin)

Salay Cave is clad by fragile draws, stylish drapers and stalactites hanging down the ceiling.  Its floor is bursting with robust columns attached to slippery flowstones and majestic stalagmites.
For adventure-seekers, hike up Mt.Lanaya for a scenic view of Alegria town, Badian and Malabuyoc.  At the summit called Kalo-Kalo Peak, marvel at the view of Osmeña Peak from the north, and Mt.Kanlaon and Mt.Talinis of Negros.  Mt.Lanaya is clad by limestone hills and tropical jungles. 

In fact, the Black Shama a bird species of the Muscicapidae family is known to inhabit this mountain.  You can also plunge into the volcanic hot springs dotting the Lanaya-Kangbulagsing massif. Or go river trekking and see the pristine waterfalls of Alegria like the Cambais Falls and Kawa-Kawa Falls.

If you are looking forward to a luxurious vacation, Alegria also houses a posh resort - Costa de Leticia Resort and Spa.  And discover the magnificent dive sites or snorkeling spots hidden in the confines of Alegria.


Gael Hilotin traveled around the Philippines for 7 months. She blogs at The Pinay Solo Backpacker.

 

72 US sailors leave ship stuck in Philippine reef

..Manila (Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN) - The US Navy minesweeper that ran aground on a coral reef remained stuck at the Philippines' Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park for the second day yesterday but most of the US sailors had left the ship for safety reasons after initial efforts to free the vessel failed, the US Navy's 7th Fleet said in a statement. It said 72 of the 79 crew of the USS Guardian were transferred to a military support vessel by small boat. A small team, including the commanding and executive officers, would remain on board to try to extricate the ship with as little damage to environment as possible, the statement said. How the US warship managed to enter the marine sanctuary puzzles the Philippine Navy. Commodore Joseph Peña of the Naval Forces West said there are designated sea-lanes where ships could sail, which was outside and "far" from the Tubbataha Reef. "We're asking the same question, too. How did the US ship get in there?" Peña said. The US Navy also said that initial efforts to free the Guardian during high tide were not successful. Philippine officials said the weather yesterday was choppy with strong winds and rough seas. The ship ran aground Thursday while in transit through the marine park, a coral sanctuary in the Sulu Sea, 640 kilometres southwest of Manila. There were no injuries or oil leaks, and Philippine authorities were trying to evaluate damage to the protected coral reef, designated by Unesco as a World Heritage Site in 1992. The USS Guardian, a 68-metre-long minesweeper, reportedly hit the upper side of the South Atoll, one of the two main atolls comprising the Tubbataha Reefs, at dawn of Thursday. Park rangers ignored The World Wide Fund for Nature Philippines (WWF) said that according to an initial visual inspection, the 68-metre-long, 1,300-tonne Guardian damaged at least 10 metres of the reef. Aerial photographs provided by the Philippine military showed the ship's bow sitting atop corals in shallow turquoise waters. The stern was floating in the deep blue waters. The US Navy said the cause of the grounding, which took place around 2am on Thursday, was under investigation. The US 7th Fleet claimed it had formally notified the Philippine government of the accident but has apparently bypassed the small detachment of park rangers guarding the marine park. "They (US authorities) have not communicated with us so far," said Angelique Songco, head of the government's Protected Area Management Board that supervises the marine park. Tubbataha to file protest Songco said the marine park's management would file a formal protest with the US government over the behaviour of the Guardian's commander who prevented park rangers from approaching the vessel. She said that park rangers were not allowed to board the ship for inspection and were told to contact the US Embassy in Manila. Their radio calls to the ship were ignored, she said. "The ship's commander ordered a general alert and deployed personnel into battle position when our rangers tried to approach their ship to assess the situation, forcing them to back off," she said in a phone interview. "They were well inside the marine park, stuck in the North Atoll of Tubbataha, and we were being prevented from coming close," she said. She said it was unclear how much of the reef was damaged. She said the government imposes a fine of about US$300 per square meter (yard) of damaged coral. In 2005, the environmental group Greenpeace was fined almost $7,000 after its flagship struck a reef in the same area. Songco said they could not yet estimate the extent of the coral damage done by the US vessel but expressed concern that the area that got hit was abundant with marine life. "We don't know yet how much damage has been done. We can only wait till they leave before we take a look at the area," she said. Maj. Oliver Banaria, spokesperson for the Armed Forces of the Philippines, said the US Navy did not request assistance from the Philippines. The Philippine Navy has deployed a ship to the area to "provide assistance" to the stricken vessel but it said it would be mainly the US Navy that would pull the Guardian out of the reef. "It will need a special ship to pull it out," said Peña. A second US vessel, identified by park authorities as the USS Champion, arrived early yesterday, apparently to help get the USS Guardian off the reef. "We don't want to speculate what it's going to do there ... It was probably commissioned by the US," Banaria said. "Our (Navy) would be on standby because these are still our territorial waters and we would be providing information to our higher headquarters. We would be there for monitoring and to provide any help or assistance if they (US) ask for it," he said. US Navy ships have stepped up visits to Philippine ports for refeuelling, rest and recreation, plus joint military exercises as a result of a redeployment of US forces in the Asia-Pacific region. The Philippines, a US defence treaty ally, has been entangled in a territorial dispute with China in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea). Raul Hernandez, spokesperson of the Department of Foreign Affairs, said in a statement: "Relevant agencies of the Philippine government will conduct their own investigation, assess the impact of the incident on the reef, and recommend any and all actions that must be taken." He said Gen. Edilberto Adan, executive director of the commission on the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) was "in touch with the Tubbataha Management Office as well as the US Embassy." "We do not want to rely on the information [of the US Embassy) alone, we would need to conduct our own research and our investigation to find out what really happened. [Philippine officials] will determine the legal violation connected with the incident," he said. Palace weighs words The Philippine palace yesterday confirmed that the US minesweeper had come from Subic Bay for a "regular port call," but declined to be drawn into a discussion this early on the subject of seeking damages from Washington. "We don't want to make any speculations yet at this point. We want to proceed where everything has been thoroughly established before we make any further comment on this matter," said deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte. Valte stressed that the government was concerned about the possible damage to the reef by the US ship. "But for now our concern is to make sure that there is very minimal damage. The Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of National Defence and other agencies are coordinating with the US embassy here in Manila just to make sure that it (ship) is extracted the soonest possible time ... to avoid further injury to one of our national treasures," she said. She also tried to discourage the media from treating the incident as an offshoot of the increased US presence in the country following the new US "pivot policy" to the Asian region. "Perhaps at this point (it is) not healthy to speculate," she said. "The ship was en route from Subic for a regular port call. We imagine that the other agencies will be launching their own investigation on how and why the ship ended up running aground," she said. Peña said the Navy had patrolled the area of the Tubbataha Reef last week to make sure that no ship would be crossing the waters of the marine sanctuary. But just as the Philippine ship returned to shore to replenish its supplies, the USS Guardian had struck the coral reef. Explanation demanded Sen. Francis Pangilinan, a member of President Aquino's Liberal Party, called on the DFA to demand a satisfactory explanation from the US government over the reported incursions into Philippine territory of US military forces over the past couple of weeks. "First, it was a US drone. Now, it's a minesweeper," Pangilinan said in a statement. "Friends and allies must exercise good faith by coming clean," he added. Pangilinan finds the US government "sketchy in providing answers in both incidents." Sen. Loren Legarda, chair of the Senate committee on foreign relations, expressed "extreme concern" over the damage to the Tubbataha Reef. She said those who caused the incident should be made accountable. With reports from AP. ..

Soil Rejuvenation Program Gets P100M

The Department of Agriculture (DA) has committed to allot P100 million for a 45,000-hectare soil rejuvenation program that will maximize farm productivity in three towns using drought-resistant crop varieties and fertilization. The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (Icrisat) is partnering with the DA and its funding agency Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR) in a program that will adopt in the Philippines a similar successful program in Karnataka, India. DA Asst. Secretary Dante Delima agreed to support the program, according to Icrisat Director General William D. Dar. "In a review on rain-fed agriculture, Assistant Secretary Delima committed P100 million for this program. It will be under a BAR proposal with (director) Nick Eleazar. We decided why don't we upscale what we did in Karnataka?" Dar told a press briefing. "We discussed let's identify one whole province as a pilot area, not only 100 hectares. It should be at least a town of 15,000 hectares. It hasn't been done in a big way. It's been done piecemeal, but we can do it much better." Eyed as a pilot area is an entire town in each of the three islands of the Philippines. It should cover an area of around 15,000 hectares per town or a total of 45,000 hectares for three islands (Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao). The objective is to achieve a minimum yield increase of 20 percent for any existing crops in the pilot area. Actual average increase in yield over an expansive three million hectares in Karnataka was 40 to 50 percent despite only a 20 percent target. "Even with a 20 percent increase in production, we won't have to import food staples," he said. To achieve an increase in yield, a primary step is to analyze soil and apply appropriate fertilization using both micronutrients and macronutrients. DA should upgrade its soil analysis equipment to keep up with global technology. For one, a state-of-the-art technology involving a high throughput analyzer can give results just within one day. Such equipment costs $120,000 and is imported from the United States or Australia. "If there is one investment DA should do this year, it's in this (equipment). In the Philippines, it takes one month to get the result of soil analysis. In some regions, it takes even three to four months. We've already been doing these (soil analysis and fertilization), but on a piecemeal basis. We should conduct soil analysis and mapping at least once in five years," he said. Because of the success of the Karnataka project, the governments Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu are now asking Icrisat to conduct a similar soil rejuvenation project there. "They're asking us to do it there to in a big way. Last year (2011-2012) the net benefit that accrued to Karnataka was $130 million. This year, Karnataka is adding two million hectares more, so we'll have a total of five million hectares," he said. DA and BAR are putting this under its climate change program since the Philippines is projected to become one of the most vulnerable countries in the impact of climate change. Simulation models showed rice yield could be reduced by 30 to 40 percent under Philippine setting and at an even rate of up to 50 percent in drylands-those that are not irrigated or are rainfed, thus receiving seasonal water supply. Farmers' organization is also a key success factor in this program. DA's regional offices will also play an active role in its success. "We also identified (in Karnataka) what we call farm facilitators coming from farmers themselves because we only have a limited number of technicians." The program has to be stretched over at least five years so that any experimental success can be repeated many times over. While the only known fertilizers for most farmers in the country are the NPK (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium), many other micronutrients are needed by crops to grow well, according to Dar. And with these, it easy to raise yield by at least 30 percent even in open pollinated rice varieties from the average yield of three tons per hectare. Icrisat's technical assistance will be worth around P20 million, or 20 percent of the P100 million budget, but this is apparently being extended as a grant. In Karnataka, its government spent around $8 million for Icrisat's expertise. Icrisat is sending its team in February this year to meet with DA and BAR.

Kopi Talk LESSONS FROM THE WISE MEN

DID you know that there were originally 6 Kings, not 3? Only three reached Bethlehem. The 4th went to the USA, the 5th to China, and 6th to the Philippines. They were: BURGER KING, CHOWKING, and TAPA KING, respectively. * * * Joking aside, tomorrow we celebrate the feast of the Magi or Epiphany. It is called epiphany because Jesus revealed Himself not only to the Jews, the chosen people, but also to pagan visitors. Epiphany - from the Greek term "epiphanein" - means "manifestation." * * * The gospel writer teaches that Christ's salvation is universal or for ALL peoples. Hence, the teaching of certain Christian denominations that they, and only they, will be saved contradicts the message of the Bible, particularly Epiphany. * * * Another thing to correct is the misconception that the mysterious personages that came to pay homage to the Christ Child were kings as popularly known. Matthew, the only evangelist who recounts the episode of these personages, wrote: "When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea... behold, MAGI came from the East to Jerusalem..." (Mt 2:2). * * * Magi were wise men or enlightened astrologers. That they were transformed into "kings" by common belief is due to the corrupt interpretation of a messianic prophecy in the Old Testament, thus: "The Kings of Tharsis and the islands shall offer gifts, the Kings of Arabia and Saba shall pay tribute" (Ps 72). * * * One principal message we can learn from the Magi is faithfulness and perseverance. It takes conviction to be faithful to one's religious and moral principles. To cite an example. A taxi driver, PRIMITIVO SALO, was among the 2009 Goodyear "Bayani ng Kalsada" (Highway Heroes) awardees after returning R80,000 cash to a passenger who had left it in his cab. * * * "I have been a taxi driver for the longest time and I haven't heard one single customer complain," Salo said proudly. "In fact, I have gotten loyal customers who would call me to bring them home when it's late at night because they trust me enough. I hope there are more taxi drivers who can just do the same," he said. * * * In married life, it takes moral courage and perseverance to remain a faithful husband or wife in a milieu where infidelity and broken marriages abound. To paraphrase the British statesman Thomas B. Macaulay: "The test of a person's real character is what he/she would do if he/she knew nobody is watching." * * * In a society characterized by perennial new beginnings, enthusiastic outbursts, and ningas cogon implementation, for instance, of the anti-littering, -jaywalking or -smoke belching ordinances, we need perseverance and consistency so people may get to learn a good habit. * * * The great philosopher Aristotle once said that goodness and virtue come through habit and practice. It means DOING THE RIGHT THINGS CONSISTENTLY day in and day out, in private and in public so they become good habits. Let us learn from the perseverance of the Magi. * * *

Philippines anger at logging ban murder

The Philippine government has voiced outrage at "ruthless" illegal loggers intent on defying a nationwide ban on destroying forests, following the New Year's Day murder of an environment officer. Two unidentified men armed with M-16 rifles shot environment department officer Alfredo Almueda in the head as he waited at a forest checkpoint to intercept a truck carrying logs on Tuesday, the government said in a statement. "We condemn in the strongest possible terms the killing of yet another environment officer. We are angered and outraged by the attack," Environment Secretary Ramon Paje said in the statement issued late Wednesday. Paje said Almueda, 59, was the victim of persistent efforts by illegal loggers to silence "environmental defenders". "This attack clearly demonstrates the ruthlessness of those responsible for the rape and destruction of our forests," Paje said. Almueda's killing brings to 21 the number of environment department personnel, deputised workers and volunteers who have been killed since a nationwide logging ban was imposed two years ago, according to government data. The Philippines, a tropical Southeast Asian archipelago, has lost more than half its forest cover over the past century with only about 7.6 million hectares (18.8 million acres) left, Paje told reporters last year. These forests are guarded by underfunded, outnumbered and poorly armed government personnel who often face resistance from illegal loggers often linked to powerful businessmen and corrupt officials. Clemente Bautista, national coordinator for the non-government environmental group Kalikasan (Nature), said illegal loggers felt they could operate with impunity. "Initially, they will be intimidated and if that does not work, (the loggers) file a case against the officials or have them removed from their post. If the officials are hard-headed they will even kill them," he said. Out of all the 21 murders since the start of 2011, only one suspect for one of the cases has been caught, environment department assistant secretary Danny Nicer told AFP on Thursday.

Stricter Gun Control

MANILA, Philippines --- As the senseless death of seven-year-old Stephanie Nicole Ella from a stray bullet sparked public outrage, senators yesterday backed calls for a stronger regulation of firearms in the country. The public outrage escalated yesterday after a man ran amuck in Kawit, Cavite, gunning down at least five persons, including two children, wounding at least 10 others, before being shot dead by responding police officers. The amok, identified as Ronald Bae, and his five victims died at the Kalayaan Hospital. The policemen shot Bae when he refused to surrender during the incident. Bae started shooting his neighbors at 9:30 a.m. yesterday, said Senior Supt. Alexander D.G. Rafael, officer-in-charge (OIC) of Cavite Police Provincial Office (PPO). Supt. Romeo B. Desiderio, PPO information officer, identified four of the fatalities as Alberto Fernandez, 55; Mikaela Andrea, 7; Boyet Toledo; and Irene Funelas, 38; all neighbors of Bae. The name of the fifth fatality was not immediately known. Among the injured were Mikaela Andrea's two siblings namely Daisy, 3; and Rachel. Daisy was reportedly a goddaughter of Bae. Desiderio said they remained clueless as to why Bae ran amuck. Sources, however, said Bae appeared to be high on drugs during the incident. A report said suspected shabu sachet was recovered from Bae's body. Bae was also seen drinking in the area prior to the attack. Chief Inspector Joel Saliba, Kawit Municipal Police Station OIC, said Bae, who hailed from Tabon I, was a candidate for barangay chairman who lost in the last election. Saliba was among those who responded to the scene. Cavite Governor Juanito Victor Remulla said two of the victims, aged 3 and 6, were declared dead on arrival at the Divine Grace Hospital. A DzBB report said Remulla has offered a P100,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the caretaker of the house, identified only as John Paul, where the suspect stayed after the shooting spree. Remulla assured the families of the victims that the provincial government will pay their hospital and funeral expenses. During the radio interview, Remulla also said he is looking into complaints that the local police had already received complaints about Bae firing his gun as early as Wednesday but did not act on them. "January 2 pa lang, may complaint na sa pulis nagpapaputok na (pero) walang nag-aksyon ng pulis," he said. Meanwhile, Sen. Loren Legarda said the death of Nicole could have been averted if the government has stringent policies against loose weapons. Nicole was a victim of indiscriminate firing of a handgun during the New Year's Eve revelry in Caloocan City. "I express my deepest condolences to the family of Stephanie Nicole, a very young girl who was a victim of irresponsible gun firing," Legarda said. "This tragic incident may not have happened if the use of firearms in the country were more strictly regulated, ensuring that there are no loose firearms," she stressed. Based on initial reports by the Philippine National Police (PNP), Legarda noted that Nicole was only one of 40 people hit by stray bullets during the New Year. "Our military and police officers have a greater responsibility of ensuring that they use firearms only in the line of duty," she said. "Licensed gun owners should be responsible in using their guns solely for self-protection. These weapons should be strictly used only for peace and order and keep our people safe from crime. They should never be used for reckless merry-making," Legarda said. Sen. Gregorio Honasan II, who chairs the Senate Committee on Public Order, said he is finalizing a bill that would give teeth to existing firearms regulation law. "We are only waiting for additional information from the Philippine National Police (PNP)," Honasan said in a phone interview. "We will conduct the public hearing simultaneously with the proposals for a total ban on firecrackers and fireworks regulations, because of this indiscriminate firing," Honasan said. "We are preparing a firearms regulation law that is more current and responsive version," he added. Honasan said this would be consolidated with bills proposed by other senators, including that of Sen. Franklin Drilon who prepared Senate Bill No. 129 or the Firearms Regulation Act of 2010. He said the measure on firearms regulation was overtaken by the priority agenda of the Senate which included the passage of priority bills such as the Sin Tax Reform Bill, the national budget, amendments to the Anti-Money Laundering Act (AMLA) and the Reproductive health bill last year. "Natabunan ito ng priority issues, but by Jan. 21, we plan to conduct a hearing on this issue," Honasan said. The Senate is expected to resume sessions on Jan. 21 after a long Christmas holiday. Meanwhile, Malacanang said yesterday President Aquino's keen interest in target shooting will not be an impediment for a possible gun ban or stricter gun control in the country. Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said the President is also a smoker but has pushed for the sin tax reform bill, which has been signed into law in December last year. Some had speculated that a gun ban may not be favorable to the Chief Executive because of the fact that he is a gun enthusiast. "I think that is an unwarranted assumption," Valte said in a press briefing yesterday. She said the proposal to have a gun ban during holidays as well as the implementation for a stricter gun control would still have to be discussed with the President. Former chairman of the Victims Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) Dante Jimenez had called for a total gun ban during the holidays following the death of Stephanie. A four-year-old boy was also killed by a stray bullet on New Year's Eve in Mandaluyong City while watching a fireworks display outside his home while at least 20 others were injured because of indiscriminate firing in various areas of the country in welcoming the New Year. (With a report from Madel Sabater-Namit)

Divorce bill battle starts in Philippines

Manila (Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN) - Lawmakers appear to be on a collision course over efforts to introduce a divorce law in the Philippines, with two completely opposite bills pending in the House of Representatives. Marikina Representative Marcelino Teodoro has filed an "Anti-Divorce and Unlawful Dissolution of Marriage Act" seeking a "guarantee that no legislation encouraging or facilitating the dissolution of marriage and recognising divorce shall be passed." Another pending bill coauthored by Gabriela Representatives Luzviminda Ilagan and Emerenciana de Jesus seeks to amend the Family Code to introduce a divorce provision, a move floated and supported by no less than Speaker Feliciano Belmonte soon after the House passed the reproductive health bill on third reading. The Teodoro proposal "ensures that absolute divorce remains unacceptable in the Philippine legal system, and maintains that legal separation can be availed of by spouses in (a) troubled marriage". In the explanatory note to House Bill No. 2768, Teodoro acknowledged that "initiatives" and "legislative proposals" to introduce a divorce law in the country had a "worthy objective". Value of marriage But he said these still "undermine the value of marriage by encouraging couples to put an end to their relationship instead of allowing them to reconcile immediately or fix the same over time." The bill imposes a penalty of imprisonment of up to six months, including a fine of up to 50,000 pesos (US$1,200), on a number of "prohibited acts". They include the issuance of a "decree of legal separation without the court taking necessary steps toward the reconcilliation of spouses and without determining beforehand that reconcilliation is highly improbable". Also prohibited is the "deliberate intent of any person and/or the prosecuting attorney assigned in a case to induce collusion between the parties, as well as encourage fabrication or suppression of evidence". In their bill, Ilagan and De Jesus argued that there are "many failed, unhappy marriages across all Filipino classes". 5 grounds of divorce "Many couples, especially from the marginalised sectors who have no access to the courts, simply end up separating without the benefit of legal processes," they said in the explanatory note. Their bill covers a total of five grounds for divorce, including "irreconcilable differences that have caused the irreparable breakdown of the marriage." A separate bill by Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares does not advocate divorce, but seeks to make annulment proceedings more "accessible and less costly" for the poor. His proposal recognises "spousal violence, infidelity and abandonment as presumptive psychological incapacity constituting ground for the annulment of marriage". "The bill aims to address the inequality and inaccessibility that have resulted from the remedy granted by the Family Code to be free from a void marriage with a spouse who has committed abusive acts of violence or infidelity or abandonment (of) his or her family," he said in the explanatory note

Travellers out of Philippine airport in 25 minutes flat: official

Manila (Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN) - It has been branded over and over as one of the world's worst airports. But the Philippines' Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) has a little known advantage that even top-rated airports in the West don't offer. And a local tourism official hopes to spread the word around-and abroad. According to Assistant Tourism Secretary Benito Bengzon Jr., it takes only 25 minutes for passengers arriving at Naia to complete the airport process-from disembarkation to clearing immigration and customs to getting a cab or meeting welcomers outside the airport. Related story: Rare metals in PH? That advantage, if effectively marketed, could attract more tourists to the Philippines. Preliminary figures show international traffic at Naia reached 14.2 million travellers last year, up 8.78 per cent from 13.07 million in 2011. But the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA), Naia's operator, has yet to analyse the figures to separate tourist arrivals from returning migrant workers and visiting overseas Filipinos. "The advantage of Naia is that in about three to four minutes, from the time the plane touches down, it is already at the bridge or tube ... taxi time is shorter at Naia compared with bigger international airports abroad," Bengzon told reporters before Christmas. "You try to check your watch when you travel to a large airport. Taxiing after landing really takes time and sometimes you have to go through a bus gate so you will still have to be shuttled to the terminal," he said. Joint effort Bengzon attributed the faster process at Naia, which many travellers may have taken for granted, to the improved system at the immigration section. "This is a joint effort of various agencies ... so even if our airport is old and small, there are still advantages ... and I hope you can spread the word around," Bengzon said. But flights arriving or leaving on time are another thing. According to Bengzon, however, travellers can expect more punctual flights at Naia within the year, especially after the installation of night landing equipment in 14 major domestic airports across the country. Last year, the travel guide Frommer's ranked Naia as the second worst airport in the world, behind New York's John F. Kennedy Airport. Naia, particularly its Terminal 1, used to be the world's worst airport. That ranking was based on surveys of travellers, whose complaints included "safety concerns, lack of comfortable seats, rude staff, hostile security, poor facilities, no or few services to pass the time" and "bribery." Last month, the Department of Budget and Management said it released P933.8 million for the acquisition of night landing equipment for the airports of Tuguegarao, San Jose in Mindoro, Busuanga, Naga, Legazpi, Roxas, Tagbilaran, Dumaguete, Dipolog, Pagadian, Ozamis, Cotabato, Butuan and Surigao. The airports will be equipped for air traffic services, airfield lighting, communications and power supply, among other things. The improvements will allow flights to land and depart after sunset and before sunrise, easing the congestion at Naia, Bengzon said. With congestion eased and, it is hoped, eliminated, airlines can mount additional flights to Manila, boosting tourist traffic to the Philippines. Departures, arrivals Preliminary figures from the MIAA showed overseas arrivals and departures at Naia increased by 1.14 million last year. The MIAA reported that 14,218,374 passengers took international flights at Terminals 1, 2 and 3. The total traffic represents an increase of 8.78 per cent from 13,070,447 for the three terminals in 2011. Terminal 3, which has yet to be opened for full operation, posted a more than one-third increase in international passenger volume. The terminal served 2,396,393 international passengers in 2012 compared to 1,738,411 in 2011-an increase of 37.8 per cent. In contrast, international passenger volume at Terminals 1 and 2 rose by only 4.5 per cent and 3.9 per cent, respectively. The MIAA has yet to release a detailed analysis of the passenger increase. The previous year saw several foreign and domestic airlines, mostly operating out of Terminal 3, offering low-cost overseas trips or launching new direct services to Southeast Asian and East Asian destinations. Cebu Pacific, for instance, launched direct flights to Bali, Indonesia and Siem Reap, Cambodia. Tourism promotion Related story: PH better than Maldives? The increase in international flights may also be attributed to the government's aggressive tourism promotion to attract more foreigners and overseas Filipinos to visit the Philippines. But the international passenger volume also includes the thousands of overseas Filipino workers displaced by the Arab Spring in the Middle East and North Africa or who lost their jobs because of the recession in developed countries. These arrivals are not supposed to be counted as tourists or visitors.

Kopi talk Relaxation, nightlife both more fun in Boracay

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  Willy's Rock is a volcanic rock formation, that is one of Boracay's most photographed landmarks. A shrine to the Virgin Mary is at the top of the rock. (Yen Baet)

A famous beach in the Philippines can be "more fun" both for travelers seeking "relaxation and tranquility" as well those up for an exciting nightlife, results of new polls showed.

The island of Boracay has been named as the number one Asian destination for relaxation and spa treatments in a list released by international hotel booking website Agoda.

It also ranked third in a global list of tourism sites for "best nightlife excitement" in a separate poll by the same website.

Related story: The Travel Diary: Things to do in Boracay

"The idyllic tropical island in the middle of the Philippine archipelago offers everything one would expect in a tropical paradise," Agoda said in its website.

Boracay topped Bali, Indonesia, Koh Samui and Chiang Mai in Thailand; as well as Cameron Highlands in Malaysia in the list based on a survey of 130,000 respondents.

Rounding out the list of 10 Asian relaxation sites are Krabi, Thailand; Langkawi, Malaysia; Hua Hin and Phuket, Thailand; and Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Also read: Sail into Samal

Boracay, which Agoda said is "famous for its white sand beaches and swaying palm trees," as well as neighboring Caticlan was also rated as a top nightlife spot.

Bangkok, Thailand sat on top of the list based on 113,000 respondents in the website's nightlife poll. It was followed by Dubai, UAE.

Ranked lower the the Philippines are Pattaya, Thailand; Tokyo, Japan; Phuket, Thailand; Hong Kong; Macau; Taipei, Taiwan; and Bali, Indonesia.

In Yahoo! Travel: Get stoked in Sorsogon
Boracay Island has also earlier been named as the world's "best island destination" for 2012 by Travel+Leisure Magazine.

It bested several famous beaches in this year's list, including Galapagos in Ecuador, Maui in Hawaii and the Great Barrier Reef Island in Australia.

The island in the Visayas also emerged as 2012's top beach destination in Asia according to international travel website TripAdvisor, beating beaches in Thailand, Indonesia and India.

Related story: Come visit Camiguin
Also reaffirming Boracay's fame is the continuous rise of five-star developments by international hotel lines.

Meanwhile, featuring one hotel each in the Asia relaxation destinations, Agoda has chosen Discovery Shores Hotel in Boracay.

"From the pick up at the airport in Caticlan all the way to the foot bath in the room, this was the beginning of a great getaway weekend,"Agoda quoted U.S.-based respondent as saying.

"The hotel's Mandala Spa made the trip!" the user named Elijah further said.

Philippine birth control law faces first challenge

A Catholic couple has asked the Philippines' top court to stop a historic birth control law, their lawyer said Thursday, in the first of many legal challenges church leaders have vowed against the measure. The petition was filed Wednesday at the Supreme Court by lawyer James Imbong and his wife, who claim the law signed by President Benigno Aquino two weeks ago was unconstitutional. Imbong's mother Jo, who is representing the couple in the case and is the lawyer for the influential Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, told AFP that "the state has no business entering the bedroom". "This law corrupts Philippine culture, mainly the emphasis we put on family values and marriage, taking care of children and parenting," she said, having earlier warned that lay Catholics would challenge the law in court. The Philippine constitution guaranteed the protection of the family and in passing the law "the government overstepped its powers", Jo Imbong said. "This is just the first salvo," she added. "We are paving the way for other similar suits from many faith-based groups." Imbong said big "prayer rallies" were also being planned across the country in the weeks to come. The law will take effect on January 17, unless the Supreme Court issues an injunction. Court officials have not indicated if they will hear legal challenges to the law before then. The law requires government health centres hand out free condoms and birth-control pills, benefiting tens of millions of the country's poor who would not otherwise be able to afford or have access to them. It also mandates that sex education be taught in schools and public health workers receive family-planning training. Proponents have said the law will slow the country's rapid population growth, cut poverty and reduce the number of mothers dying at child birth. The Catholic Church had managed to stall the legislation for more than a decade, cowing legislators and presidents by threatening to turn the public against them. Eighty percent of the country's roughly 100 million people are Catholic, and the church helped lead "people power" revolutions that toppled two corrupt presidents over the past 27 years. Nevertheless, public opinion surveys have consistently shown a majority of Filipinos support the "Responsible Parenthood Act".

Chinese tourists returning to Philippines

..Manila (Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN) - More and more Chinese are coming to the Philippines again following a slowdown arising from the deepening of the territorial dispute between Manila and Beijing over the Scarborough Shoal early this year. Tourism Assistant Secretary Benito Bengzon Jr. said the Department of Tourism (DoT) observed a dip in the number of visitors from mainland China between May and October this year but they have been seeing an uptick in arrivals lately. "There was a slowdown but the good news is, the charters are coming back," said Bengzon in an interview with reporters. Records showed that charter flights between Shanghai and Kalibo, suspended following the heightening of the dispute, resumed on Nov. 30 and the number of charter planes flying from various parts of China to main destinations in the Philippines have begun to pick up, Bengzon said. He said that he expected charter flights from Beijing, Chengdu, Guangzhou, Hangzhou and Nanjing to Kalibo, Aklan, the gateway to the country's famous beach getaway, Boracay Island, and to Cebu would become more regular in the first quarter of 2013. Each charter flight would bring Chinese tourists to the country by the hundreds, Bengzon said. He said that while the number of Chinese visitors dropped in the middle of the year, the running total as of October remained "positive." "That's because we have a very huge growth rate from January to April, which was close to 80 percent," he noted. Arrivals from China, the country's fourth-largest tourist market, numbered 150,479 from January to June this year. At the height of tensions in May, many bookings to resorts and hotels on Boracay from China were cancelled, prompting Air Philippines to suspend the thrice-weekly charter flights between Kalibo and Shanghai. Although no official travel ban has been imposed by China, it was believed that government officials verbally directed travel agents to suspend bookings to the Philippines, Bengzon said. Next year, he added, the DoT would continue to be aggressive in its marketing efforts in China by organizing more familiarization tours for Chinese travel agents and the media. "We will also continue participating in major travel fairs in China and we will also continue to support the charter operators," he said. ..

Travellers out of Philippine airport in 25 minutes flat: official

..Manila (Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN) - It has been branded over and over as one of the world's worst airports. But the Philippines' Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) has a little known advantage that even top-rated airports in the West don't offer. And a local tourism official hopes to spread the word around-and abroad. According to Assistant Tourism Secretary Benito Bengzon Jr., it takes only 25 minutes for passengers arriving at Naia to complete the airport process-from disembarkation to clearing immigration and customs to getting a cab or meeting welcomers outside the airport. That advantage, if effectively marketed, could attract more tourists to the Philippines. Preliminary figures show international traffic at Naia reached 14.2 million travellers last year, up 8.78 per cent from 13.07 million in 2011. But the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA), Naia's operator, has yet to analyse the figures to separate tourist arrivals from returning migrant workers and visiting overseas Filipinos. "The advantage of Naia is that in about three to four minutes, from the time the plane touches down, it is already at the bridge or tube ... taxi time is shorter at Naia compared with bigger international airports abroad," Bengzon told reporters before Christmas. "You try to check your watch when you travel to a large airport. Taxiing after landing really takes time and sometimes you have to go through a bus gate so you will still have to be shuttled to the terminal," he said. Joint effort Bengzon attributed the faster process at Naia, which many travellers may have taken for granted, to the improved system at the immigration section. "This is a joint effort of various agencies ... so even if our airport is old and small, there are still advantages ... and I hope you can spread the word around," Bengzon said. But flights arriving or leaving on time are another thing. According to Bengzon, however, travellers can expect more punctual flights at Naia within the year, especially after the installation of night landing equipment in 14 major domestic airports across the country. Last year, the travel guide Frommer's ranked Naia as the second worst airport in the world, behind New York's John F. Kennedy Airport. Naia, particularly its Terminal 1, used to be the world's worst airport. That ranking was based on surveys of travellers, whose complaints included "safety concerns, lack of comfortable seats, rude staff, hostile security, poor facilities, no or few services to pass the time" and "bribery." Last month, the Department of Budget and Management said it released P933.8 million for the acquisition of night landing equipment for the airports of Tuguegarao, San Jose in Mindoro, Busuanga, Naga, Legazpi, Roxas, Tagbilaran, Dumaguete, Dipolog, Pagadian, Ozamis, Cotabato, Butuan and Surigao. The airports will be equipped for air traffic services, airfield lighting, communications and power supply, among other things. The improvements will allow flights to land and depart after sunset and before sunrise, easing the congestion at Naia, Bengzon said. With congestion eased and, it is hoped, eliminated, airlines can mount additional flights to Manila, boosting tourist traffic to the Philippines. Departures, arrivals Preliminary figures from the MIAA showed overseas arrivals and departures at Naia increased by 1.14 million last year. The MIAA reported that 14,218,374 passengers took international flights at Terminals 1, 2 and 3. The total traffic represents an increase of 8.78 per cent from 13,070,447 for the three terminals in 2011. Terminal 3, which has yet to be opened for full operation, posted a more than one-third increase in international passenger volume. The terminal served 2,396,393 international passengers in 2012 compared to 1,738,411 in 2011-an increase of 37.8 per cent. In contrast, international passenger volume at Terminals 1 and 2 rose by only 4.5 per cent and 3.9 per cent, respectively. The MIAA has yet to release a detailed analysis of the passenger increase. The previous year saw several foreign and domestic airlines, mostly operating out of Terminal 3, offering low-cost overseas trips or launching new direct services to Southeast Asian and East Asian destinations. Cebu Pacific, for instance, launched direct flights to Bali, Indonesia and Siem Reap, Cambodia. Tourism promotion The increase in international flights may also be attributed to the government's aggressive tourism promotion to attract more foreigners and overseas Filipinos to visit the Philippines. But the international passenger volume also includes the thousands of overseas Filipino workers displaced by the Arab Spring in the Middle East and North Africa or who lost their jobs because of the recession in developed countries. These arrivals are not supposed to be counted as tourists or visitors. ..

Rights victims angry at end to Marcos wealth hunt

The proposal, now under consideration by President Benigno Aquino, would give the signal that people in power can commit crimes with impunity, said the group which calls itself Selda, the local word for a prison cell. "We cannot just forgive and forget what the Marcoses did to us, nor must the Aquino government stop pursuing justice for martial law victims and the rest of the Filipinos," the group said in a statement. The Presidential Commission on Good Government, the agency tasked with recovering the Marcos wealth, said last month that it would soon wind down its operations after almost 30 years. Its head Andres Bautista told AFP he had recommended to Aquino that the agency's work be transferred to the justice department. He said pursuing all of the Marcos wealth on a limited budget had become difficult with Marcos's widow, Imelda, and her three children back in positions of power. Both Aquino spokesman Edwin Lacierda and the justice department confirmed Wednesday that the proposal had been sent to Aquino, and that it was under study. Marcos was toppled by a popular revolt in 1986 and replaced by Corazon Aquino, the incumbent's late mother. Her first act was to create the commission to try to recover the plundered assets. Bautista said the commission has recovered 164 billion pesos ($4 billion at the prevailing exchange rate), or less than half of the estimated 10 billion dollars in wealth believed plundered by the Marcos family. Selda groups anti-Marcos activists who were jailed and abused during martial law. A US court in 2011 awarded some 7,500 rights victims 7.5 million dollars in compensation for their suffering, in what was seen largely as a token victory. The funds came from assets held in the US by a crony of Marcos

2012 is mix of good, bad news for biz sector

..EACH passing month of the year 2012 has relevant stories to tell, good or bad, they all convey significant facts that either brought people with great delight or dismay, as some facets of the business sector were pulled down the slope. As the year comes to a close, let’s take a look back what the business community has been going through in this year. For instance, highlighting those industries which experience a great run-over like the real estate, business process outsourcing (BPO), and tourism while looking back to the agriculture which has been traversing a bumpy road as of yet. Tourism First is the opening of Davao-Clark connecting flights by the country’s budget airline Phillippine Air Asia early this year. The Air Asia has been servicing Dabawenyos and the tourists in Clark since its inaugural flight on March 28, 2012. The airline initially poured out P468 million for the acquisition of two brand new aircrafts - the Airbus320 - flying back and forth from Davao City to Clark, Pampanga for months now. Right after the inaugural flight, the signing of sister-airport pact agreement at the Marco Polo Hotel Davao followed later on. With this, tourism officials in Davao City, as they went a notch higher in promoting city as a premiere tourism destination and as gateway to Mindanao, are expecting an influx of tourists. But there’s still more to tourism promotion. The initiative of the three firms, two of which are Davao City-based, to carry the official tourism slogan of the country; “It’s more fun in the Philippines” was also a boon to the city. The South East Asian Airlines (Seair), Mabuhay Taxi and Blugre Coffee took the initiative of bearing the DOT slogan to help the department promote Davao and the country in general as a tourism haven in Asia. Seair launched its airbus 320 carrying the Department of Tourism (DOT) slogan on its fuselage during the inaugural flight of Davao City-Metro Manila connecting flight last August 19, 2012. The airline bared support for the country’s tourism thrust in order to promote the must-see destinations of the country here and abroad. Another is the DOT-bearing slogan high-end Black Taxi. There’s no one in Davao who has not heard of it yet. Of course, it created the most buzz in the third quarter of this year, its inception to the public. These Black Taxi units are equipped with the so-called swiper or the point-of-sale (POS) device, which allows any passenger to make use of the debit card to pay for the fare. Mabuhay Taxi, the company who spearheaded this initiative, initially emblazoned DOT slogan on each of the 25 Black Taxi units. Next is another homegrown coffee shop Blugre Coffee, which carries the DOT slogan on the coffee cups. Launched on the same day when Black Taxi units were inaugurated with no less than Tourism Secretary Ramong Jimenez Jr. Business process outsourcing The BPO has also been taking great strides in 2012, with the arrival of new and prospect foreign investors eyeing Davao as the primary next wave city for information and communications technology (ICT) hub where to house their facilities, given the available of pool of talents and infrastructures. In the ON3 Pitching Competition this year, Segworks, a local developer and a system development firm, emerged as winner with its product; “Tracer;” in the regional leg of the competition. It can be recalled that two of Davao’s local developers, Ric Dayot of Radgreen Solutions and Eric Su of Piclyf, emerged champions of ON3 Pitching Competition in 2011. Property Development Who would ever forget the opening of SM Lanang Premier, an upscale and the first of its kind mall in Mindanao, last September 28? Indeed, its opening had drawn much attention from Dabawenyos. Apart from this good news, SMX Convention Center Davao, the second in the country next to SM Mall of Asia in Pasig City, also opened its doors. Several events have been held there since its opening, including the 14th Davao Trade Expo (Date), spearheaded by the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry Incorporated (DCCCII) for the small entrepreneurs, highlighting mostly poultry and hog raisers on October 25 to 27, this year. This year also Avida Land, a fully-owned subsidiary of Ayala Land Inc. (ALI), also launched a latest infrastructure project in the city Avida, a high-rise twin tower condominium that will sit along C.M. Recto St. The first tower will be comprised of 23 floors, housing a total of 431 residential units. The second tower will be much taller with 28 floors with a total of 621 units. ALI is earmarking some P1 billion for the condominium project. Another homegrown real estate developer broke ground last September 19, for its new venture of a mall and BPO hub, Felcris Centrale, sitting in a 5.9 hectare land along Quimpo Boulevard, Barangay Bucana, this city. Felcris Hotels and Resorts is earmarking some P1 billion for this project. 2013 Ad Congress The latest of those good news is the victory of Davao City over the hosting rights for the AD Congress 2013. With convention facilities -- enough hotel rooms and a big convention center -- now in place, the city finally made it to host the biggest gathering of advertising stakeholders. Agriculture There's good news and bad news in agriculture industry in the previous month. The good news is the reawakening of initiatives to revive the cacao industry in not only in the city but also in the region. Cacao Industry Development Association of Mindanao Incorporated (Cidami) was formed with the help of United States Department of Agriculture (Usda) and ACDI/VOCA. In fact, early next year Davao cacao farmers will start exporting roasted cacao to Singapore. This is apart from the demand of the world leader in chocolate making Mars of about 100,000 metric tons of roasted cocoa annually by year 2020. The bad news, however, is the temporary ban on the entry of Philippine bananas due to the stricter sanitary measures imposed by China on the agricultural products from the country in May 2012 that resulted to about millions of losses every week in banana sector. Economic pressure was initially seen behind the banning because of the long-standing dispute over the mineral-rich Scarborough Shoal between Philippines and China. It can be recalled that least 41 exporters were severely affected from Mindanao had their cargoes held in China’s major ports - Dalian, Tianjin, Beijing, and Qingdao - after finding insects in the boxes of bananas. There’s some truth indeed that; in every cloud there’s a silver lining;” as major players of the banana sector have each learned their lesson from the ban and are now raising the standards of the packing facilities with the support of the Department of Agriculture (DA) and local governments. But fresh from China’s recovery, farmers' hope was then again steeped to the lowest level with the aftermath of Typhoon “Pablo;” that hit Mindanao early December, this year. In a report of Philippine Banana Growers and Exporters Association (PBGEA) recently, a total of 36,755 hectares of agricultural land planted to bananas were devastated by the typhoon. This translates to about $350 million in losses from export revenues. Banana is one of the export winners of the Philippines’s agricultural products. ..

40 buses to have special trips for New Year

..THE Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) have issued special permits to more than 40 passenger buses for their extra trips to various routes in Cebu Province. LTFRB 7 Director Ahmed Cuizon said the issuance of special permits to the bus companies started last Dec. 28 and is in line with Oplan Ligtas Biyahe program spearheaded by the Department of Transportation and Communication. Cuizon said the extra trips have made travel easier for the Christmas holiday vacationers to reach their destinations. Included in the list of tourist destinations these holidays are the towns of Santander, Daanbantayan and Oslob, Toledo City and Bogo City. These areas have connecting sea travel to Negros Oriental, Negros Occidental, Camotes Islands and Bantayan Islands. “This Oplan Ligtas Biyahe will continue until Jan. 2 when people who spent Christmas in Cebu are going back to their provinces, and those who are vacationing in other provinces and are coming home to Cebu,” Cuizon said. Like what they did during the observance of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day and All last November, DOTC and its line offices, the LTFRB, Land Transportation Office, Cebu Ports Authority, Philippine Ports Authority, Maritime Industry Authority, Mactan Cebu International Airport Authority and Philippine Coast Guard put up help desks at sea ports, airport and bus terminals. Cuizon said, there was no report of any untoward incident since Dec. 28. ..

Air traffic between Philippines, Europe seen rising

..Manila (Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN) - Airlines from European countries are taking a second look at Asian destinations, including points in the Philippines, to take advantage of the region's bright economic prospects. The Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) said it already had several bilateral negotiations lined up for the first quarter of 2013 to secure additional air rights between the Philippines and European countries. This was despite the standing ban on all Philippine carriers from flying to points in Europe, or even over the continent's air space due to concerns over the enforcement of safety rules by regulators on local airlines. "We are already scheduled to meet with a lot of countries, including European countries. The others are China, Japan, Taiwan and even Brazil," said CAB Executive Director Carmelo Arcilla, who sits on the Philippine air panel that negotiates for air rights with its foreign counterparts. "The interest is coming from both ways. Several European countries have expressed new interest in the Philippines," Arcilla said in an interview, noting that local companies, too, were exploring the possibility of mounting European flights. "PAL (Philippine Airlines) wants to return to Europe and of course Cebu Pacific plans to start long-haul flights in 2013," he said. Flag carrier PAL earlier said it wanted to mount flights to popular destinations like the United Kingdom, Spain and France, as it adds more planes to its fleet and diversifies its route network. In December, the airline asked the CAB for rights to be able to mount flights to Turkey. The main reason for demand for flights in the Philippines was the country's solid economic performance, Arcilla said. "There's renewed interest in the Philippines because of the growing economy, especially the tourism sector," he said. Tourism department data showed that 3.83 million foreign tourists came to the Philippines from January to November of 2012, up by 8.73 percent over the same period a year earlier. The government wants to attract 4.6 million tourists to the Philippines for the entire year. Another reason was the expected scrapping of the common carriers tax (CCT) and gross Philippine billings (GBP) taxes imposed by the government on foreign airlines. This year, Air France-KLM halted non-stop flights between Manila and Amsterdam, the last remaining direct link between the Philippines and Europe. Air France-KLM's Manila-Amsterdam flights now have stops in Hong Kong. Air France-KLM said the CCT and GBP taxes made non-stop flights to the Philippines unprofitable for the company.