By Alexander Villafania, loQal.ph
PASIG CITY, METRO MANILA – Several government agencies are mounting a project that will build school furniture such as tables and chairs out of illegally cut logs.
The “P-Noy Bayanihan” project is joined by the Department of Education (DepEd), the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) will provide the P100 million in funding for the project.
All four agencies recently signed a memorandum of agreement for the project at the PAGCOR office. The DENR and DepEd had previous engagements on making school furniture out of confiscated logs.
In fact, the DENR has in its inventory over 17,608 cubic meters of confiscated logs. This is equivalent to 7.47 million board feet of wood and the DENR has already donated at least 790,000 board feet of wood.
While the P-Noy Bayanihan project is targeted primarily at solving the problem of furniture shortage in schools, it is also intended to establish livelihood opportunities for small operations that produce furniture.
Ten production sites managed by TESDA will make the furniture for DepEd.
The project is expected to generate several hundred employment opportunities in communities near these production sites. The demand for school furniture is such that the DepEd spends about P1 billion every year for such items.
DepEd Secretary Armin Luistro stressed that the involvement of PAGCOR, DENR, and TESDA should help resolve a huge portion of the school furniture shortage among public schools.
This would result in children performing better in school as they feel more comfortable sitting on classroom chairs.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Monday, April 11, 2011
News Update Aquino: US, Japan 'best allies' of PHL vs natl security threats
Amid the Philippines’ continuing dispute with China over the Spratly Islands, as well as long-standing Moro and communist-led insurgencies now the subject of peace talks, President Benigno Aquino III hinted Saturday at asking the United States and Japan to stand by the Philippines against threats to “security and sovereignty."
In his speech at the Araw ng Kagitingan rites in Bataan province, Aquino said the Philippines has had “no greater friends" than Japan and the US.
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“Time has proven that we can count on allies like them and I am confident they can stand by us should there be a threat again to our security and sovereignty," Aquino said, but made no mention of China in his speech.
Earlier this year, the Philippines asked China to explain an "encounter" between a Philippine exploration vessel and three Chinese Navy patrol boats in the Reed Bank area, west of Palawan, near the disputed Spratly Islands.
The incident prompted the Coast Guard to send three ships to the area to prevent a repeat of the encounter.
Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office secretary Ramon Carandang had insisted the area where the incident occurred was outside the disputed Spratly Islands.
In his Saturday speech, Aquino lauded the US and Japan for turning out to be the Philippines’ greatest allies after World War II.
“I know three generations ago, the three of us were in conflict but since then our country has had no greater friends than the US and Japan. Japan has been our partner towards economic progress, providing us the needed technology to cope with calamity. And the US has shared with us a long history of cooperation and mutual defense," he said.
Japan, US to maintain close ties
On the other hand, Ambassadors Makoto Katsura (Japan) and Harry Thomas Jr. reiterated their nations’ commitment to maintain close ties with the Philippines.
Katsura said Japan will continue to support the Philippine peace process, particularly efforts between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.
“We have made great strides in our relationship and our cooperation in the last 70 years. After the ravages of war so many years ago I cannot fathom anyone predicting the extraordinary relationship that exists today between our three nations. The Philippines and Japan are among the US’ most steadfast allies and I know that President Aquino and Ambassador Katsura will agree the relationship between Japan and the Philippines is stronger than ever before," Thomas said. — LBG/JV
In his speech at the Araw ng Kagitingan rites in Bataan province, Aquino said the Philippines has had “no greater friends" than Japan and the US.
This page requires a higher version browser
“Time has proven that we can count on allies like them and I am confident they can stand by us should there be a threat again to our security and sovereignty," Aquino said, but made no mention of China in his speech.
Earlier this year, the Philippines asked China to explain an "encounter" between a Philippine exploration vessel and three Chinese Navy patrol boats in the Reed Bank area, west of Palawan, near the disputed Spratly Islands.
The incident prompted the Coast Guard to send three ships to the area to prevent a repeat of the encounter.
Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office secretary Ramon Carandang had insisted the area where the incident occurred was outside the disputed Spratly Islands.
In his Saturday speech, Aquino lauded the US and Japan for turning out to be the Philippines’ greatest allies after World War II.
“I know three generations ago, the three of us were in conflict but since then our country has had no greater friends than the US and Japan. Japan has been our partner towards economic progress, providing us the needed technology to cope with calamity. And the US has shared with us a long history of cooperation and mutual defense," he said.
Japan, US to maintain close ties
On the other hand, Ambassadors Makoto Katsura (Japan) and Harry Thomas Jr. reiterated their nations’ commitment to maintain close ties with the Philippines.
Katsura said Japan will continue to support the Philippine peace process, particularly efforts between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.
“We have made great strides in our relationship and our cooperation in the last 70 years. After the ravages of war so many years ago I cannot fathom anyone predicting the extraordinary relationship that exists today between our three nations. The Philippines and Japan are among the US’ most steadfast allies and I know that President Aquino and Ambassador Katsura will agree the relationship between Japan and the Philippines is stronger than ever before," Thomas said. — LBG/JV
News Update Mikey?s firm sells Foster City home for $1.125M
A company partly owned by former First Son and current party-list Rep. Juan Miguel “Mikey” Arroyo recently sold for $1.125 million the controversial house in upscale Foster City, California that used to belong to him and his wife Angela, and transferred the deed of ownership just last month, according to real estate websites and the San Mateo County Assessor-Recorder’s Office.
The five-bedroom beachfront house at 1655 Beach Park Blvd. was sold by Beachway LLC, a company Arroyo admitted to being part owner, with the transaction reported to the San Mateo County Assessor’s office on March 16.
The property was transferred to Mary Grace Apolinario and Jerome Ngo who appear in the county’s database as “grantees” or buyers. The buyers are owners of the popular restaurant chain “Gerry’s Grill” who, sources said, are good friends of Mikey.
The San Mateo County Recorder’s Office also shows a transfer tax of $1,237.50 was paid, in the document listed as No. 2011-031097.
The real estate website Zillow reported the sale of the Foster City property at $1.125 million, but its own estimate showed the house was worth $1,003,500.
As of April 1, 2011, however, Beachway LLC’s address is still listed as “1655 Beach Park Blvd., Foster City” in the California Business Records database.
VERA Files sources in California also revealed that although Arroyo has claimed owning at most 40 percent of the company, and therefore was only part owner of the house, visitors to the Foster City property were left without a doubt as to its occupants’ identities.
These sources provided VERA Files a photo of the living room of the house at 1655 Beach Park Blvd. before it was sold. On a side table sat a picture of the young Arroyo couple, while on the wall above the couch hung a painting of former president Gloria Arroyo taking her oath of office on Jan. 20, 2001.
VERA Files texted Beachway LLC manager Antonio Mariano Almeda but received no replies. It also tried calling him, but his cell phone was out of reach.
The house forms part of the evidence listed by the Bureau of Internal Revenue, which is accusing Arroyo and his wife Angela of amassing millions of pesos worth of real estate and other property for the years 2004 to 2009, but failing to pay their taxes.
“Despite receipt of substantial amounts of income, as shown by their numerous properties… the Arroyo spouses repeatedly failed to file any Income Tax Return (ITR) and to pay the corresponding taxes due thereon,” the BIR said.
Mikey denied the allegations. In an interview with ABS-CBN News, he said, "I have been dutifully paying my taxes. Everything I own is in my SALN...If ever I haven’t been paying right taxes, I could easily pay penalty, which is under the Constitution. I have been paying right taxes."
The couple bought the property from a certain George Skyllas in 2006, and mortgaged it twice before finally redeeming it in April 2008.
The deed to the house was in Angela’s name, but the property did not appear in her husband’s Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net worth (SALN) for the years 2007 and 2008 when he was still representative of Pampanga’s second district.
Republic Act No. 6713, or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, requires government employees and officials to declare all property, including those in the names of their spouses. Penalties for violating the law range from a fine, suspension or removal from office, to imprisonment or disqualification from holding public office.
Shortly after VERA Files broke the story, Arroyo’s lawyers flew to San Francisco and quietly effected the transfer of ownership of their Foster City house from Angela’s name to that of Beachway LLC (Limited Liability Company).
A statement of information filed by Beachway with the California Secretary of State listed Almeda, Mikey’s former chief of staff, as a “managing member.”
The document did not mention the names of other members or managers. In an interview last year, Almeda declined to name them, saying only, “I’m representing the investors.”
The transfer from Angela to Beachway LLC was recorded in the Assessor’s office on Sept. 18, 2009, less than three weeks after the story came out.
Arroyo denied owning the house in an interview with Winnie Monsod and Arnold Clavio, hosts of the television program Unang Hirit, the day after the story broke on Aug. 31, 2009.
“Stop saying it is my house. It’s a house owned by the Beach Way Company,” Mikey told Monsod and Clavio. “I'm not the sole owner of that. I have friends who co-own it who are part of the corporation.”
He also said it was his “immediate family” that owned somewhere in the range of 20 to 40 percent of the company, but refused to divulge who the other shareholders were.
Arroyo also admitted the Foster City home wasn’t the only property they bought in California. In his 2005 SALN, he listed a house he bought on instalment basis for P49.5 million. Another property, presumably the Foster City property, appears in his 2006 SALN, this time with an acquisition cost of P63.7 million.
“This is a different house already. We sold the house after about five or six months (and we bought another house worth P63 million). Nabenta rin ito (This was also sold). It's not the Foster City residence,” he said in the same interview.
VERA Files found that the Arroyos bought in September 2005 a 160-square meter three-bedroom, three-bathroom condominium unit at 805 Mendocino Way or the Manors Condominiums in Redwood City, also in San Mateo County, for $900,000 and later sold this in December 2006 for $880,000.
In the TV interview, Arroyo did acknowledge that his net worth leapt from P5 million in 2002 when he was vice-governor of Pampanga, to P76 million by the time he was elected to Congress.
He attributed the increase to the gifts he and his wife received when they got married in 2002. It was also the campaign season, he said, and that he had good investments at the time.
“Siyempre unang una, kinasal tayo. Medyo nagkaroon tayo ng maraming regalo. Tapos pag kampanya, siyempre kahit paano maraming tumutulong sa atin (Of course, first I got married. We received a lot of gifts. Then during campaigns, somehow we get contributions),” Mikey explained.
A follow-up story by VERA Files found that Arroyo failed to declare any campaign contributions when he ran for representative of Pampanga’s second district in 2004 and 2007. He used to occupy the congressional seat that his mother now holds.
Arroyo corrected himself after the follow-up story came out, saying he did not use campaign contributions.
Arroyo’s lawyer Ruy Rondain also explained the rise in Arroyo’s networth by saying that Angela was a wealthy woman when Mikey married her. He further said Arroyo had declared his wife’s assets in his supplemental SALN in 2002, the year they wed.
But another follow-up story by VERA Files showed that neither the Office of the Ombudsman nor the Pampanga provincial capitol has a copy the supplemental SALN, raising questions of whether he ever filed it—Ellen Tordesillas, Avigail Olarte, Yvonne Chua and Luz Rimban
The five-bedroom beachfront house at 1655 Beach Park Blvd. was sold by Beachway LLC, a company Arroyo admitted to being part owner, with the transaction reported to the San Mateo County Assessor’s office on March 16.
The property was transferred to Mary Grace Apolinario and Jerome Ngo who appear in the county’s database as “grantees” or buyers. The buyers are owners of the popular restaurant chain “Gerry’s Grill” who, sources said, are good friends of Mikey.
The San Mateo County Recorder’s Office also shows a transfer tax of $1,237.50 was paid, in the document listed as No. 2011-031097.
The real estate website Zillow reported the sale of the Foster City property at $1.125 million, but its own estimate showed the house was worth $1,003,500.
As of April 1, 2011, however, Beachway LLC’s address is still listed as “1655 Beach Park Blvd., Foster City” in the California Business Records database.
VERA Files sources in California also revealed that although Arroyo has claimed owning at most 40 percent of the company, and therefore was only part owner of the house, visitors to the Foster City property were left without a doubt as to its occupants’ identities.
These sources provided VERA Files a photo of the living room of the house at 1655 Beach Park Blvd. before it was sold. On a side table sat a picture of the young Arroyo couple, while on the wall above the couch hung a painting of former president Gloria Arroyo taking her oath of office on Jan. 20, 2001.
VERA Files texted Beachway LLC manager Antonio Mariano Almeda but received no replies. It also tried calling him, but his cell phone was out of reach.
The house forms part of the evidence listed by the Bureau of Internal Revenue, which is accusing Arroyo and his wife Angela of amassing millions of pesos worth of real estate and other property for the years 2004 to 2009, but failing to pay their taxes.
“Despite receipt of substantial amounts of income, as shown by their numerous properties… the Arroyo spouses repeatedly failed to file any Income Tax Return (ITR) and to pay the corresponding taxes due thereon,” the BIR said.
Mikey denied the allegations. In an interview with ABS-CBN News, he said, "I have been dutifully paying my taxes. Everything I own is in my SALN...If ever I haven’t been paying right taxes, I could easily pay penalty, which is under the Constitution. I have been paying right taxes."
The couple bought the property from a certain George Skyllas in 2006, and mortgaged it twice before finally redeeming it in April 2008.
The deed to the house was in Angela’s name, but the property did not appear in her husband’s Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net worth (SALN) for the years 2007 and 2008 when he was still representative of Pampanga’s second district.
Republic Act No. 6713, or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, requires government employees and officials to declare all property, including those in the names of their spouses. Penalties for violating the law range from a fine, suspension or removal from office, to imprisonment or disqualification from holding public office.
Shortly after VERA Files broke the story, Arroyo’s lawyers flew to San Francisco and quietly effected the transfer of ownership of their Foster City house from Angela’s name to that of Beachway LLC (Limited Liability Company).
A statement of information filed by Beachway with the California Secretary of State listed Almeda, Mikey’s former chief of staff, as a “managing member.”
The document did not mention the names of other members or managers. In an interview last year, Almeda declined to name them, saying only, “I’m representing the investors.”
The transfer from Angela to Beachway LLC was recorded in the Assessor’s office on Sept. 18, 2009, less than three weeks after the story came out.
Arroyo denied owning the house in an interview with Winnie Monsod and Arnold Clavio, hosts of the television program Unang Hirit, the day after the story broke on Aug. 31, 2009.
“Stop saying it is my house. It’s a house owned by the Beach Way Company,” Mikey told Monsod and Clavio. “I'm not the sole owner of that. I have friends who co-own it who are part of the corporation.”
He also said it was his “immediate family” that owned somewhere in the range of 20 to 40 percent of the company, but refused to divulge who the other shareholders were.
Arroyo also admitted the Foster City home wasn’t the only property they bought in California. In his 2005 SALN, he listed a house he bought on instalment basis for P49.5 million. Another property, presumably the Foster City property, appears in his 2006 SALN, this time with an acquisition cost of P63.7 million.
“This is a different house already. We sold the house after about five or six months (and we bought another house worth P63 million). Nabenta rin ito (This was also sold). It's not the Foster City residence,” he said in the same interview.
VERA Files found that the Arroyos bought in September 2005 a 160-square meter three-bedroom, three-bathroom condominium unit at 805 Mendocino Way or the Manors Condominiums in Redwood City, also in San Mateo County, for $900,000 and later sold this in December 2006 for $880,000.
In the TV interview, Arroyo did acknowledge that his net worth leapt from P5 million in 2002 when he was vice-governor of Pampanga, to P76 million by the time he was elected to Congress.
He attributed the increase to the gifts he and his wife received when they got married in 2002. It was also the campaign season, he said, and that he had good investments at the time.
“Siyempre unang una, kinasal tayo. Medyo nagkaroon tayo ng maraming regalo. Tapos pag kampanya, siyempre kahit paano maraming tumutulong sa atin (Of course, first I got married. We received a lot of gifts. Then during campaigns, somehow we get contributions),” Mikey explained.
A follow-up story by VERA Files found that Arroyo failed to declare any campaign contributions when he ran for representative of Pampanga’s second district in 2004 and 2007. He used to occupy the congressional seat that his mother now holds.
Arroyo corrected himself after the follow-up story came out, saying he did not use campaign contributions.
Arroyo’s lawyer Ruy Rondain also explained the rise in Arroyo’s networth by saying that Angela was a wealthy woman when Mikey married her. He further said Arroyo had declared his wife’s assets in his supplemental SALN in 2002, the year they wed.
But another follow-up story by VERA Files showed that neither the Office of the Ombudsman nor the Pampanga provincial capitol has a copy the supplemental SALN, raising questions of whether he ever filed it—Ellen Tordesillas, Avigail Olarte, Yvonne Chua and Luz Rimban
Saturday, April 9, 2011
News Update Brother of Philippine bus hostage taker arrested
MANILA - THE brother of a Philippine policeman who hijacked a busload of Hong Kong tourists has been arrested in connection with the incident in which eight hostages were killed, an official said on Saturday.
Policeman Gregorio Mendoza, brother of sacked officer Rolando Mendoza who killed the tourists, was arrested on Friday for allegedly conspiring with his brother in the hostage crisis on August 23.
He was freed by the justice department's bureau of investigation hours later after posting 100,000 pesos (S$2,932) bail, said an officer of the bureau. 'He surrendered voluntarily on Friday but he spent less than one day in jail,' said bureau investigator Matt Sampang.
'His case is still going on. The hearings are still continuing. We don't think he will try to run as he already surrendered earlier,' said Mr Sampang. If found guilty, Gregorio Mendoza could get as much as 12 years in jail, the official said.
Mendoza's brother Rolando had seized the busload of Hong Kong tourists in Manila in a bid to get reinstated in the police after being sacked for extortion. His brother arrived at the scene and supposedly tried to help authorities negotiate with him.
But during the stand-off, Gregorio Mendoza was allegedly overheard telling his brother via mobile phone not to free the hostages yet, prompting police officials to order his arrest. The sight of his brother being seized by police - aired on the tourist bus television - angered the hostage-taker, causing him to kill the eight tourists before he was finally shot dead after a bungled police rescue mission. -- AFP
Policeman Gregorio Mendoza, brother of sacked officer Rolando Mendoza who killed the tourists, was arrested on Friday for allegedly conspiring with his brother in the hostage crisis on August 23.
He was freed by the justice department's bureau of investigation hours later after posting 100,000 pesos (S$2,932) bail, said an officer of the bureau. 'He surrendered voluntarily on Friday but he spent less than one day in jail,' said bureau investigator Matt Sampang.
'His case is still going on. The hearings are still continuing. We don't think he will try to run as he already surrendered earlier,' said Mr Sampang. If found guilty, Gregorio Mendoza could get as much as 12 years in jail, the official said.
Mendoza's brother Rolando had seized the busload of Hong Kong tourists in Manila in a bid to get reinstated in the police after being sacked for extortion. His brother arrived at the scene and supposedly tried to help authorities negotiate with him.
But during the stand-off, Gregorio Mendoza was allegedly overheard telling his brother via mobile phone not to free the hostages yet, prompting police officials to order his arrest. The sight of his brother being seized by police - aired on the tourist bus television - angered the hostage-taker, causing him to kill the eight tourists before he was finally shot dead after a bungled police rescue mission. -- AFP
News Update Airport installs system to avoid bird strike
A BIRD audio system (BAS) was recently installed at the Daniel Z. Romualdez (DZR) Airport to avoid occurrence of bird strike.
While the BAS was installed last January, it is still on testing period, which will last until the end of the year, Alfredo Destura, area information officer of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (Caap), said.
“We are still in the process of determining the accuracy of the BAS in so far as the sounds of birds it produces with that of the species of the birds that are seen at the airport’s landing area,” Destura said.
Mars Macanda of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Eastern Visayas said they have furnished the Caap of the list of bird species that are often seen at the DZR Airport.
While the BAS was installed last January, it is still on testing period, which will last until the end of the year, Alfredo Destura, area information officer of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (Caap), said.
“We are still in the process of determining the accuracy of the BAS in so far as the sounds of birds it produces with that of the species of the birds that are seen at the airport’s landing area,” Destura said.
Mars Macanda of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Eastern Visayas said they have furnished the Caap of the list of bird species that are often seen at the DZR Airport.
News Update Philippine senator files bill vs cyber bullies
Manila (Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN) - How to deal with a juvenile offense that becomes a criminal matter but which involves minors on both sides?
No incident of cyber-bullying-or the use of the new digital technologies by a child or a teen to torment, threaten, harass or otherwise target another child or teen-has yet been reported in the Philippines.
But Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago isn’t taking any chances. She has filed a bill requiring schools to come up with concrete policies to address bullying, including incidents committed through the use of the Internet, interactive and digital technologies or mobile phones.
New form of bullying
“A new form of bullying is fast emerging with the advancements of technology," Santiago wrote in the explanatory note to her Senate Bill No. 2677, or the proposed Anti-Bullying School Policy Act.
The Santiago bill defines cyber-bullying as an offense committed “through electronic devices such as, but not limited to, texting, instant messaging, chatting, Internet and social networking websites."
In other countries, children have killed each other and committed suicide after having been involved in a cyber-bullying incident.
In the United States, a 13-year-old girl hanged herself after getting harassing e-mails, while a male student killed himself after a schoolmate posted online a footage of his liaison with another man.
Power imbalance
What Santiago wants is for schools to get involved by addressing cyber-bullying and disciplining the student for cyber-bullying actions.
“Cyber-bullying happens in a realm where state power is weak and where very few laws are passed for regulation," the senator said.
“When there is institutional recognition of this power imbalance among students, there will be more and better venues to address incidents of bullying," she added.
“A direct correlation with the reduction of bullying incidents is the increase in awareness and concern among school administrators of these incidents, and the positive action of providing venues for parents, faculty and school officials to report such incidents to authorities," Santiago said.
The proposed measure requires the creation of school policies that would provide a “process for addressing incidents of bullying," allow “anonymous reporting” and parents and guardians to file written complaints, and teachers and other school employees to report cases to the school administration.
Keep a record
The bill would also want schools to keep a record of “relevant information and statistics on acts of bullying” so long as the names of bullies would be made available only to school administrators, teachers and parents or guardians of victims.
Within six months after the enactment of the proposal, schools will be required to submit their proposed policies to the Department of Education, Commission on Higher Education or the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.
These three agencies will impose sanctions on schools that fail to comply with the anticyber-bullying measure.
“The quest for equality among persons and the advancement of human rights start from basic education, where children learn the values of cura personalis [the Jesuit principle of caring for the whole person] and being men and women for others from their teachers and apply what they’ve learned to their classmates and friends," Santiago said.
No incident of cyber-bullying-or the use of the new digital technologies by a child or a teen to torment, threaten, harass or otherwise target another child or teen-has yet been reported in the Philippines.
But Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago isn’t taking any chances. She has filed a bill requiring schools to come up with concrete policies to address bullying, including incidents committed through the use of the Internet, interactive and digital technologies or mobile phones.
New form of bullying
“A new form of bullying is fast emerging with the advancements of technology," Santiago wrote in the explanatory note to her Senate Bill No. 2677, or the proposed Anti-Bullying School Policy Act.
The Santiago bill defines cyber-bullying as an offense committed “through electronic devices such as, but not limited to, texting, instant messaging, chatting, Internet and social networking websites."
In other countries, children have killed each other and committed suicide after having been involved in a cyber-bullying incident.
In the United States, a 13-year-old girl hanged herself after getting harassing e-mails, while a male student killed himself after a schoolmate posted online a footage of his liaison with another man.
Power imbalance
What Santiago wants is for schools to get involved by addressing cyber-bullying and disciplining the student for cyber-bullying actions.
“Cyber-bullying happens in a realm where state power is weak and where very few laws are passed for regulation," the senator said.
“When there is institutional recognition of this power imbalance among students, there will be more and better venues to address incidents of bullying," she added.
“A direct correlation with the reduction of bullying incidents is the increase in awareness and concern among school administrators of these incidents, and the positive action of providing venues for parents, faculty and school officials to report such incidents to authorities," Santiago said.
The proposed measure requires the creation of school policies that would provide a “process for addressing incidents of bullying," allow “anonymous reporting” and parents and guardians to file written complaints, and teachers and other school employees to report cases to the school administration.
Keep a record
The bill would also want schools to keep a record of “relevant information and statistics on acts of bullying” so long as the names of bullies would be made available only to school administrators, teachers and parents or guardians of victims.
Within six months after the enactment of the proposal, schools will be required to submit their proposed policies to the Department of Education, Commission on Higher Education or the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.
These three agencies will impose sanctions on schools that fail to comply with the anticyber-bullying measure.
“The quest for equality among persons and the advancement of human rights start from basic education, where children learn the values of cura personalis [the Jesuit principle of caring for the whole person] and being men and women for others from their teachers and apply what they’ve learned to their classmates and friends," Santiago said.
News Update 4.1 M families hungry; Palace disagrees
MANILA, Philippines - The number of Filipino families who claimed they have experienced hunger due to lack of anything to eat in the past three months reached 4.1 million households, up by 700,000 families from the previous survey period, based on the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey results.
The survey showed that 51 percent or an estimated 10.4 million families consider themselves mahirap or poor, or two points higher than the 49 percent last November.
But President Aquino does not buy the survey results.
He said he could "not reconcile" the survey figures showing more Filipinos are supposedly poor and hungry with the many jobs generated from the influx of investments in the country.
In the nationwide survey conducted last March 4-7 by SWS-BusinessWorld showed that of the 1,200 respondents, 20.5 percent or an estimated 4.1 million families claimed they experienced hunger at least once in the last three months.
The measure of hunger refers to involuntary suffering because the respondents answer a survey question that specifies hunger due to lack of anything to eat.
Survey questions about household hunger are directed to the household head, using the phrase "experienced hunger, and did not have anything to eat (nakaranas ng gutom at wala kayong makain)."
SWS noted that the latest figure is higher by 700,000 families from the 3.4 million (18.1 percent) households last November. SWS said the increase in overall hunger resulted from the gain for both moderate and severe hunger rates.
Moderate hunger, which refers to those experiencing it only once or a few times, rose to 15.7 percent or an estimated 3.2 million families from 15 percent or 2.8 million families in the last survey period.
Severe hunger, which refers to those who experienced it often or always increased to 4.7 percent or 950,000 families from 3.1 percent or 588,000 families.
Concerning geographic area, overall hunger is at its all-time high with 25 percent or 2.2 million families in Balance Luzon from 18.3 percent or 1.5 million families.
Self-rated poverty rose in all areas except Metro Manila, where it fell 10 points to 34 percent from 44 percent.
An eight-point increase was recorded in the Visayas (61 percent from 53 percent), a five-point gain in Mindanao (49 percent from 44 percent), and by a three-point rise in Luzon (54 percent from 51 percent).
It also rose by four points to 59 percent in rural areas and by three points to 45 percent in urban areas.
Self-rated food poverty fell by four points to 24 percent in Metro Manila but increased in other areas, 51 percent in the Visayas, 42 percent in Balance Luzon, and 38 percent in Mindanao.
President Aquino questioned the manner by which SWS determined its survey respondents on the issue of poverty and hunger, saying the pollster did not consider the beneficiaries of the government's conditional cash transfer (CCT) program.
Aquino, speaking to reporters during in Pangasinan, said the bulk of the survey data came from the National Capital Region and the rest of Luzon, which had fewer recipients of the cash subsidy.
"The bulk of the beneficiaries of the CCT are in Visayas and Mindanao. The statistical sample used in the survey did not capture those who benefited from our CCT program," he said.
Despite his uncertainties on the survey method, Aquino still said he has asked Department of Labor and Employment and the Department of Social Welfare and Development to verify the hunger and poverty figures and make the necessary measures to uplift their conditions.
The survey showed that 51 percent or an estimated 10.4 million families consider themselves mahirap or poor, or two points higher than the 49 percent last November.
But President Aquino does not buy the survey results.
He said he could "not reconcile" the survey figures showing more Filipinos are supposedly poor and hungry with the many jobs generated from the influx of investments in the country.
In the nationwide survey conducted last March 4-7 by SWS-BusinessWorld showed that of the 1,200 respondents, 20.5 percent or an estimated 4.1 million families claimed they experienced hunger at least once in the last three months.
The measure of hunger refers to involuntary suffering because the respondents answer a survey question that specifies hunger due to lack of anything to eat.
Survey questions about household hunger are directed to the household head, using the phrase "experienced hunger, and did not have anything to eat (nakaranas ng gutom at wala kayong makain)."
SWS noted that the latest figure is higher by 700,000 families from the 3.4 million (18.1 percent) households last November. SWS said the increase in overall hunger resulted from the gain for both moderate and severe hunger rates.
Moderate hunger, which refers to those experiencing it only once or a few times, rose to 15.7 percent or an estimated 3.2 million families from 15 percent or 2.8 million families in the last survey period.
Severe hunger, which refers to those who experienced it often or always increased to 4.7 percent or 950,000 families from 3.1 percent or 588,000 families.
Concerning geographic area, overall hunger is at its all-time high with 25 percent or 2.2 million families in Balance Luzon from 18.3 percent or 1.5 million families.
Self-rated poverty rose in all areas except Metro Manila, where it fell 10 points to 34 percent from 44 percent.
An eight-point increase was recorded in the Visayas (61 percent from 53 percent), a five-point gain in Mindanao (49 percent from 44 percent), and by a three-point rise in Luzon (54 percent from 51 percent).
It also rose by four points to 59 percent in rural areas and by three points to 45 percent in urban areas.
Self-rated food poverty fell by four points to 24 percent in Metro Manila but increased in other areas, 51 percent in the Visayas, 42 percent in Balance Luzon, and 38 percent in Mindanao.
President Aquino questioned the manner by which SWS determined its survey respondents on the issue of poverty and hunger, saying the pollster did not consider the beneficiaries of the government's conditional cash transfer (CCT) program.
Aquino, speaking to reporters during in Pangasinan, said the bulk of the survey data came from the National Capital Region and the rest of Luzon, which had fewer recipients of the cash subsidy.
"The bulk of the beneficiaries of the CCT are in Visayas and Mindanao. The statistical sample used in the survey did not capture those who benefited from our CCT program," he said.
Despite his uncertainties on the survey method, Aquino still said he has asked Department of Labor and Employment and the Department of Social Welfare and Development to verify the hunger and poverty figures and make the necessary measures to uplift their conditions.
News Update Philippine president dares Arroyo's son to show proof he filed tax document
Urdaneta, Philippines (Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN) - Philippine President Benigno Aquino III has asked the son of ex-president Gloria Arroyo Juan Miguel "Mikey" Arroyo to show proof that he filed his income tax returns during the years that the Bureau of Internal Revenues alleged he failed to honor his tax obligations.
Aquino wouldn't address other issues raised by Arroyo, such as his claim that the tax case was filed in light of the President's falling satisfaction ratings and criticism over the President's Porsche sportscar and Lexus SUV.
"There is only one issue. The only issue is he earned income that can be clearly seen in the SAL (Statement of Assets and Liabilities) that has been increasing. If you earn income, you have an obligation to pay taxes," President Aquino told reporters during a visit to Pangasinan province on Friday.
"The accusation is you didn't even file (tax returns). Paying insufficient taxes is one thing but here, it is shown that he didn't file income tax returns. Let me just stress, before anything more is said, 'If you paid your taxes, show your income tax return'," he added. "Tapos ang isyu (Issue is over)."
Aquino wouldn't address other issues raised by Arroyo, such as his claim that the tax case was filed in light of the President's falling satisfaction ratings and criticism over the President's Porsche sportscar and Lexus SUV.
"There is only one issue. The only issue is he earned income that can be clearly seen in the SAL (Statement of Assets and Liabilities) that has been increasing. If you earn income, you have an obligation to pay taxes," President Aquino told reporters during a visit to Pangasinan province on Friday.
"The accusation is you didn't even file (tax returns). Paying insufficient taxes is one thing but here, it is shown that he didn't file income tax returns. Let me just stress, before anything more is said, 'If you paid your taxes, show your income tax return'," he added. "Tapos ang isyu (Issue is over)."
News Update Corn can be tapped for biomass as cheaper fuel to power small factories
MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines can tap corn for biomass as a cheaper fuel to electrify small factories or households as now used in Europe and the US to substitute expensive crude oil-based power.
Technologies that are available in developed countries may simply be adopted by the country with the threat of skyrocketing crude oil price in the market.
Since corn is not used ideally as ethanol in the Philippines due to a corn shortage, corn silage may nevertheless be used in the future to run bio-gas that can be deployed in rural and small community-based setting.
"At this stage when we import corn, it doesn't make sense to use it for fuel. (But) there is a technology in Italy in Europe, Germany where they use corn for biogas production. We may look at that model as soon as we're able to increase productivity," said corn technology leader Pioneer Hi Bred Philippines (PHBP) Country Manager Jet G. Parma.
Technologies like these may be brought in by PHBP here.
"Because of problems in the Middle East and nuclear (power) in Japan, they (countries) are looking at a lot of alternative sources of energy. Pioneer is committed to the farmer becoming more productive, giving him all the means possible for him to use technologies, even farming systems."
Once the Philippines becomes corn-sufficient and gets to have a surplus, "that's the time we can use corn" to produce energy, Parma said.
Ramon Abadilla, managing director of PHBP parent firm Du Pont, said cellulosic ethanol which uses different materials from fibers like bagasse from sugarcane or corn cobs, may in the future also be transferred in the country.
While this technology may take some time to develop, Abadilla said Du Pont is in the forefront of renewable energy development to be capable of seeing its benefit in the local economy.
A cellulose ethanol facility that produces ethanol from corncobs was opened early last year by Du Pont in Vonore, Tennessee. The process involves a fermentation nutrient that cuts raw material costs. Besides, the technology is able to further bring down costs as it can later use common waste fiber-based materials like switchgrass for this Tennessee plant and in other cases, wood and agricultural waste.
Companies have embarked on the development of renewable energy which is also a way to augment profitability.
Du Pont's own revenue is now accounted for by sustainable products, $5 billion out of $29 billion, such as from bio-PDO (propanediol), a fiber with corn-based material. Bio-PDO consumers 40 percent less energy than the production of its petroleum-based counterpart, according to the company.
This is why even the government, the US government in particular is supportive of development of these products as bio-PDO for preferential procurement under the US' Farm Bill, the company reported.
Governments have been supported of the development of renewable energy due to its contribution to fuel savings and also to the reduction of the adverse impact of climate change.
Technologies that are available in developed countries may simply be adopted by the country with the threat of skyrocketing crude oil price in the market.
Since corn is not used ideally as ethanol in the Philippines due to a corn shortage, corn silage may nevertheless be used in the future to run bio-gas that can be deployed in rural and small community-based setting.
"At this stage when we import corn, it doesn't make sense to use it for fuel. (But) there is a technology in Italy in Europe, Germany where they use corn for biogas production. We may look at that model as soon as we're able to increase productivity," said corn technology leader Pioneer Hi Bred Philippines (PHBP) Country Manager Jet G. Parma.
Technologies like these may be brought in by PHBP here.
"Because of problems in the Middle East and nuclear (power) in Japan, they (countries) are looking at a lot of alternative sources of energy. Pioneer is committed to the farmer becoming more productive, giving him all the means possible for him to use technologies, even farming systems."
Once the Philippines becomes corn-sufficient and gets to have a surplus, "that's the time we can use corn" to produce energy, Parma said.
Ramon Abadilla, managing director of PHBP parent firm Du Pont, said cellulosic ethanol which uses different materials from fibers like bagasse from sugarcane or corn cobs, may in the future also be transferred in the country.
While this technology may take some time to develop, Abadilla said Du Pont is in the forefront of renewable energy development to be capable of seeing its benefit in the local economy.
A cellulose ethanol facility that produces ethanol from corncobs was opened early last year by Du Pont in Vonore, Tennessee. The process involves a fermentation nutrient that cuts raw material costs. Besides, the technology is able to further bring down costs as it can later use common waste fiber-based materials like switchgrass for this Tennessee plant and in other cases, wood and agricultural waste.
Companies have embarked on the development of renewable energy which is also a way to augment profitability.
Du Pont's own revenue is now accounted for by sustainable products, $5 billion out of $29 billion, such as from bio-PDO (propanediol), a fiber with corn-based material. Bio-PDO consumers 40 percent less energy than the production of its petroleum-based counterpart, according to the company.
This is why even the government, the US government in particular is supportive of development of these products as bio-PDO for preferential procurement under the US' Farm Bill, the company reported.
Governments have been supported of the development of renewable energy due to its contribution to fuel savings and also to the reduction of the adverse impact of climate change.
Friday, April 8, 2011
News Update Davao turns 74!
Although the Araw ng Dabaw is not as spectacular as the Kadayawan Festival (touted to be the festivals of all festivals in Mindanao), it has its own charm to attract both foreign and local tourists.
People came in full force to witness the Parada Dabawenyo as the city celebrated its 74th year this week. Good weather prevailed and the parade that was too long (as all the government offices were represented) snaked its way through the city streets.
Also joining the parade were national government offices and agencies. For instance, the regional office of the Department of Tourism, headed by Art Boncato, joined in the celebration wearing sunny yellow shirts - as if proclaiming that summer is just around the corner.
The military, firemen, motorcycle riders, cowboys, and beauties (Mutya ng Dabaw and her entourage and the candidates of the Miss Earth Philippines Davao Region) graced the affair. The Muslim organizations and tribal groups likewise joined in the parade. There was also the drum and bugle corps which provided the color and sound to the celebration.
Davao has become the symbol of Mindanao. It is similar to what Manila is to Luzon and Cebu is to Visayas. Davao is three times that of the entire Metro Manila and approximately 7.8 times the size of Cebu. Davao occupies more than 2,400 square kilometers of land area.
"Over the last two decades, we have seen tremendous progress in infrastructure and linkages, trade and communications, and human resource development," said Mayor Sara Zimmerman Duterte-Carpio. "We continue to attract not only investors but people who have seen paradise in Davao."
Inday Sara, as her constituents called her, is the first elected lady mayor of Davao. She's only 32 years, a lawyer, and the daughter of former mayor Rodrigo Duterte (who is now the city's vice-mayor). Unlike her father, she trimmed the expenses by financing only the first three days of the celebration; the rest of the activities for the week were shouldered by the private sector.
"This year, in recognition of the invaluable contributions of our local industries in driving the engine of growth in our city, as a testament to our strong public-private partnership, we have given our private sector a more active role in this year's celebration of the Araw ng Dabaw," Duterte said.
With only a budget of P3.9 million, the city government hosted three major activities: the Datu Bago Awards (March 14), Mutya ng Dabaw beauty contest (March 15) and Parada Dabawenyo (March 16).
This year's Datu Bago awardees were cited "for having served as models of excellence and inspiration to the Dabawenyos and demonstrated exemplary competence and dedication to help achieve the city's development." They are Antonio B. Arellano, Bishop Fernando Capalla, Carmelina Vosotros-Francia, Mario Leofer Madrazo Lim, Rogelio Lomada Lizada (posthumous), and Guillermo Jr. Pilpil Torres. Inday Sara herself bestowed the award to the winners during a ceremony held at the Royal Mandaya Hotel.
On March 15, the busy streets of Rizal and San Pedro and some portions of Claveria were closed as high school students and elementary pupils participated in the Sayawan sa D'an (local term for street dancing).
"This is a competition of reinterpreted cheer and dance merriment that offers praise and gives approval to the Dabawenyo spirit of oneness and esteem as a people," explains councilor Al Ryan Alejandre. Ten contingents, mostly coming from schools in Davao City, participated in the contest.
Dabawenyos also flocked to the former Almendras Gym to witness the finals of the Mutya ng Dabaw. Irene Benn Bascuna emerged as the winner. The four other finalists were Glenn Camille Villanueva, Imari Haifa Mama, Carmen Smith, and Reemae Mozar.
Local historians claim that the name Davao was derived from the ancient Bagobo word daba-daba, which means "fire." On the other hand, the Tagabua tribe called the river bisecting the region Daba and the Guiangan tribe tagged it Davoh - thus the name Davao.
Davao was founded by a Spanish expedition led by Jose Oyanguren in 1848. He named the village Nueva Vergara after his hometown in Spain. In 1937, Davao became a chartered city when President Manuel L. Quezon of the Philippine Commonwealth signed into law a bill sponsored by then Davao Assemblyman Romualdo Quimpo.
Davao is known for its three icons: durian, waling-waling, and Philippine eagle.
The city is very accessible. It has regular air, sea, and land linkages to major points in the country. Davao City International Airport serves several flights everyday for passengers coming from and going to Manila (about one hour and 35 minutes away).
People came in full force to witness the Parada Dabawenyo as the city celebrated its 74th year this week. Good weather prevailed and the parade that was too long (as all the government offices were represented) snaked its way through the city streets.
Also joining the parade were national government offices and agencies. For instance, the regional office of the Department of Tourism, headed by Art Boncato, joined in the celebration wearing sunny yellow shirts - as if proclaiming that summer is just around the corner.
The military, firemen, motorcycle riders, cowboys, and beauties (Mutya ng Dabaw and her entourage and the candidates of the Miss Earth Philippines Davao Region) graced the affair. The Muslim organizations and tribal groups likewise joined in the parade. There was also the drum and bugle corps which provided the color and sound to the celebration.
Davao has become the symbol of Mindanao. It is similar to what Manila is to Luzon and Cebu is to Visayas. Davao is three times that of the entire Metro Manila and approximately 7.8 times the size of Cebu. Davao occupies more than 2,400 square kilometers of land area.
"Over the last two decades, we have seen tremendous progress in infrastructure and linkages, trade and communications, and human resource development," said Mayor Sara Zimmerman Duterte-Carpio. "We continue to attract not only investors but people who have seen paradise in Davao."
Inday Sara, as her constituents called her, is the first elected lady mayor of Davao. She's only 32 years, a lawyer, and the daughter of former mayor Rodrigo Duterte (who is now the city's vice-mayor). Unlike her father, she trimmed the expenses by financing only the first three days of the celebration; the rest of the activities for the week were shouldered by the private sector.
"This year, in recognition of the invaluable contributions of our local industries in driving the engine of growth in our city, as a testament to our strong public-private partnership, we have given our private sector a more active role in this year's celebration of the Araw ng Dabaw," Duterte said.
With only a budget of P3.9 million, the city government hosted three major activities: the Datu Bago Awards (March 14), Mutya ng Dabaw beauty contest (March 15) and Parada Dabawenyo (March 16).
This year's Datu Bago awardees were cited "for having served as models of excellence and inspiration to the Dabawenyos and demonstrated exemplary competence and dedication to help achieve the city's development." They are Antonio B. Arellano, Bishop Fernando Capalla, Carmelina Vosotros-Francia, Mario Leofer Madrazo Lim, Rogelio Lomada Lizada (posthumous), and Guillermo Jr. Pilpil Torres. Inday Sara herself bestowed the award to the winners during a ceremony held at the Royal Mandaya Hotel.
On March 15, the busy streets of Rizal and San Pedro and some portions of Claveria were closed as high school students and elementary pupils participated in the Sayawan sa D'an (local term for street dancing).
"This is a competition of reinterpreted cheer and dance merriment that offers praise and gives approval to the Dabawenyo spirit of oneness and esteem as a people," explains councilor Al Ryan Alejandre. Ten contingents, mostly coming from schools in Davao City, participated in the contest.
Dabawenyos also flocked to the former Almendras Gym to witness the finals of the Mutya ng Dabaw. Irene Benn Bascuna emerged as the winner. The four other finalists were Glenn Camille Villanueva, Imari Haifa Mama, Carmen Smith, and Reemae Mozar.
Local historians claim that the name Davao was derived from the ancient Bagobo word daba-daba, which means "fire." On the other hand, the Tagabua tribe called the river bisecting the region Daba and the Guiangan tribe tagged it Davoh - thus the name Davao.
Davao was founded by a Spanish expedition led by Jose Oyanguren in 1848. He named the village Nueva Vergara after his hometown in Spain. In 1937, Davao became a chartered city when President Manuel L. Quezon of the Philippine Commonwealth signed into law a bill sponsored by then Davao Assemblyman Romualdo Quimpo.
Davao is known for its three icons: durian, waling-waling, and Philippine eagle.
The city is very accessible. It has regular air, sea, and land linkages to major points in the country. Davao City International Airport serves several flights everyday for passengers coming from and going to Manila (about one hour and 35 minutes away).
News Update DepEd acts to curb corruption in gov't projects
MANILA, Philippines - To minimize corruption and improve effectiveness in the delivery of government services by strengthening project monitoring and evaluation systems of government projects, particularly in school building program (SBP), the Department of Education (DepEd), together with other stakeholders, forged a partnership with the Government Watch (G-Watch) of the Ateneo School of Government (ASoG).
According to Education Secretary Armin Luistro, DepEd, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Office of the Ombudsman (OMB), Girl Scouts of the Philippines (GSP), and Boy Scouts of the Philippines (BSP) will institutionalize Bayanihang Eskwela (BayEsk) being spearheaded by G-Watch of ASoG through a memorandum of agreement. BayEsk is a recognized community-based public-private monitoring of school building projects.
"As we address the essential learning resources in the education system, we should always uphold our integrity as an organization," said Luistro. "We should set good examples to the people and to other government agencies, specifically in terms of the utilization of public funds," he added.
Luistro stressed that department should observe transparency and accountability all the more because the DepEd has the biggest budget allocation from the national budget and it is the largest bureaucracy in Philippine government.
The DepEd chief issued DepEd Order No. 21, series 2011 to set the guidelines on the institutionalization of BayEsk as a community-based public-private monitoring of projects under the CY 2011 Regular School Building Program (RSBP) and in areas experiencing acute classroom shortage.
"BayEsk is a way for civil society organizations (CSOs) to help the government reduce corruption and raise the quality of governance in the country," Luistro noted.
The first and second rounds of BayEsk enabled the testing of tools that allowed certain communities in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao to participate in the monitoring of school-building projects. "The third run aims to institutionalize the gains of BayEsk by providing a mechanism for civil society participation in the monitoring of the implementation of projects under the regular SBP and the areas experiencing acute classroom shortage," he added.
According to Education Secretary Armin Luistro, DepEd, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Office of the Ombudsman (OMB), Girl Scouts of the Philippines (GSP), and Boy Scouts of the Philippines (BSP) will institutionalize Bayanihang Eskwela (BayEsk) being spearheaded by G-Watch of ASoG through a memorandum of agreement. BayEsk is a recognized community-based public-private monitoring of school building projects.
"As we address the essential learning resources in the education system, we should always uphold our integrity as an organization," said Luistro. "We should set good examples to the people and to other government agencies, specifically in terms of the utilization of public funds," he added.
Luistro stressed that department should observe transparency and accountability all the more because the DepEd has the biggest budget allocation from the national budget and it is the largest bureaucracy in Philippine government.
The DepEd chief issued DepEd Order No. 21, series 2011 to set the guidelines on the institutionalization of BayEsk as a community-based public-private monitoring of projects under the CY 2011 Regular School Building Program (RSBP) and in areas experiencing acute classroom shortage.
"BayEsk is a way for civil society organizations (CSOs) to help the government reduce corruption and raise the quality of governance in the country," Luistro noted.
The first and second rounds of BayEsk enabled the testing of tools that allowed certain communities in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao to participate in the monitoring of school-building projects. "The third run aims to institutionalize the gains of BayEsk by providing a mechanism for civil society participation in the monitoring of the implementation of projects under the regular SBP and the areas experiencing acute classroom shortage," he added.
News Update Provincial leaders vow to protect Visayan Sea resources
MACTAN, Cebu, Philippines - Governors of provinces surrounding the Visayan Marine Triangle met in Cebu Tuesday for the historic Visayan Sea Summit to discuss various ways in protecting the rich coastal and marine resources in the region.
Governors Gwendolyn Garcia of Cebu, Arthur Defensor of Iloilo, Alfredo Marañon Jr. of Negros Occidental and Rizalina Seachon-Leanete of Masbate, along with mayors, other local officials and authorities in charge of guarding the marine resources in the region tackled such subjects and other related matters in said summit held at the Shangri-la Hotel in Mactan.
''We are willing to set aside territorial boundaries that define our islands as we recognize the fact that the Visayan sea separating us could eventually unite us in our collective efforts to protect our rich coastal and marine resources,'' Garcia said in her opening message, even as she stressed that the Summit should be seen as a call to provincial governments in the Visayas to muster all-out support in the campaign against illegal fishing.
Garcia said the effective protection of the Visayan Sea also depends on the cooperation of all local chief executives of the various cities and municipalities situated along the coast in the area.
Former Cebu board member Jose Maria Gastardo, who is the current project officer of the Provincial Anti-illegal Fishing Task Force clarified that the Summit was only limited to the four provinces surrounding the Visayan Seas.
Leanete called on leaders of the Visayan provinces to help Masbate succeed in its fight against illegal fishing and to clear Masbate's waters of pollutants. She acknowledged that some of the illegal fishers in the Visayan Marine Triangle come from Masbate, and vowed to do all she could to eradicate them through the help of other leaders in the Visayas. Masbate is actually a part of Bicol, on the western side of Luzon although a section of its land mass is part of the Visayan Marine Triangle.
For his part, Defensor said Iloilo province is slowly succeeding in quashing illegal fishing and efforts to protect the Visayan Sea and the province is fast realizing its dream of effectively protecting its seas.
''We come here to Cebu not only to dream but to commit, to plan, and to execute because we have realized that before we lose the marine resources of the Visayan Sea, before it gets too late, we must act,'' said Defensor.
Governors Gwendolyn Garcia of Cebu, Arthur Defensor of Iloilo, Alfredo Marañon Jr. of Negros Occidental and Rizalina Seachon-Leanete of Masbate, along with mayors, other local officials and authorities in charge of guarding the marine resources in the region tackled such subjects and other related matters in said summit held at the Shangri-la Hotel in Mactan.
''We are willing to set aside territorial boundaries that define our islands as we recognize the fact that the Visayan sea separating us could eventually unite us in our collective efforts to protect our rich coastal and marine resources,'' Garcia said in her opening message, even as she stressed that the Summit should be seen as a call to provincial governments in the Visayas to muster all-out support in the campaign against illegal fishing.
Garcia said the effective protection of the Visayan Sea also depends on the cooperation of all local chief executives of the various cities and municipalities situated along the coast in the area.
Former Cebu board member Jose Maria Gastardo, who is the current project officer of the Provincial Anti-illegal Fishing Task Force clarified that the Summit was only limited to the four provinces surrounding the Visayan Seas.
Leanete called on leaders of the Visayan provinces to help Masbate succeed in its fight against illegal fishing and to clear Masbate's waters of pollutants. She acknowledged that some of the illegal fishers in the Visayan Marine Triangle come from Masbate, and vowed to do all she could to eradicate them through the help of other leaders in the Visayas. Masbate is actually a part of Bicol, on the western side of Luzon although a section of its land mass is part of the Visayan Marine Triangle.
For his part, Defensor said Iloilo province is slowly succeeding in quashing illegal fishing and efforts to protect the Visayan Sea and the province is fast realizing its dream of effectively protecting its seas.
''We come here to Cebu not only to dream but to commit, to plan, and to execute because we have realized that before we lose the marine resources of the Visayan Sea, before it gets too late, we must act,'' said Defensor.
News Update ERC prescribes cap for grid market share
MANILA, Philippines - With growing demand and capacity additions, the ceiling for the installed capacity that can be owned by a power generator has been adjusted upwards for Luzon and Visayas grids; but it has been downscaled in the case of the Mindanao grid.
In the 30-percent grid market share limitation set for power generation companies, the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has prescribed the cap for Luzon grid at 3,350.242 megawatts (MW) for this year from 3,251.703MW previously.
The market cap for Visayas has been adjusted higher to 615.586MW from last year's 586.432 MW, chiefly due to capacity additions from the commercial operations of new power projects in the area.
It is a reverse scenario in Mindanao's case though because the capacity limitation was pulled lower to 526.974 megawatts from the year-ago level of 539.925 megawatts.
The installed generating capacity references for the three grids are as follows: 11,167.476MW for Luzon; 2,051.956MW for Visayas; and 1,756.583MW for Mindanao.
On the mandated 25-percent limit on national installed capacity, the market cap was set notches higher to 3,744.003MW from last year's 3,648.384MW. The reference installed capacity has been at 14,976.015MW.
The prescribed installed generating capacity per grid and on a national scale, the ERC has emphasized, "shall be strictly enforced and implemented until the next adjustment" which may be put in force on or before March 15, 2012.
If gleaned from the previous year's prescribed capacity limits, the regulator declared that "no generation company nor any other entity has violated the market share limitations."
The imposition of capacity ceilings was instituted Section 45 (a) of the Electric Power Industry Reform Act and Section 4(a) Rule 11 of its implementing rules and regulations to prevent dominance of any single generator in the deregulated power industry.
Currently, the biggest capacity owners in the generation segment of the business are San Miguel conglomerate; First Gen of the Lopezes and Aboitiz Power group.
It is anticipated that as demand grows and new power projects come on stream, the capacity ceilings may also climb higher - especially for the periods from 2013 to 2015.
In the 30-percent grid market share limitation set for power generation companies, the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has prescribed the cap for Luzon grid at 3,350.242 megawatts (MW) for this year from 3,251.703MW previously.
The market cap for Visayas has been adjusted higher to 615.586MW from last year's 586.432 MW, chiefly due to capacity additions from the commercial operations of new power projects in the area.
It is a reverse scenario in Mindanao's case though because the capacity limitation was pulled lower to 526.974 megawatts from the year-ago level of 539.925 megawatts.
The installed generating capacity references for the three grids are as follows: 11,167.476MW for Luzon; 2,051.956MW for Visayas; and 1,756.583MW for Mindanao.
On the mandated 25-percent limit on national installed capacity, the market cap was set notches higher to 3,744.003MW from last year's 3,648.384MW. The reference installed capacity has been at 14,976.015MW.
The prescribed installed generating capacity per grid and on a national scale, the ERC has emphasized, "shall be strictly enforced and implemented until the next adjustment" which may be put in force on or before March 15, 2012.
If gleaned from the previous year's prescribed capacity limits, the regulator declared that "no generation company nor any other entity has violated the market share limitations."
The imposition of capacity ceilings was instituted Section 45 (a) of the Electric Power Industry Reform Act and Section 4(a) Rule 11 of its implementing rules and regulations to prevent dominance of any single generator in the deregulated power industry.
Currently, the biggest capacity owners in the generation segment of the business are San Miguel conglomerate; First Gen of the Lopezes and Aboitiz Power group.
It is anticipated that as demand grows and new power projects come on stream, the capacity ceilings may also climb higher - especially for the periods from 2013 to 2015.
News Update Philippine leader shocked by rising poverty
MANILA, April 8, 2011 (AFP) - Philippine President Benigno Aquino expressed disbelief on Friday after a survey found that a growing number of people were experiencing hunger and poverty under his administration.
Aquino said the nationwide survey, conducted from March 4-7 by the respected Social Weather Stations research group, did not reflect the reports he was getting from government agencies and the business community.
"Why is it like this when the labour department says more people are getting jobs and the business community is reporting that they are hiring more people?" Aquino said to reporters.
"I cannot reconcile this," he added.
The survey found that 20.5 percent of respondents experienced hunger in the past three months while 51 percent considered themselves to be poor, according to the Social Weather Stations website.
This was a sharp reversal from the 15.9 percent who reported hunger and the 48 percent who rated themselves as poor in a similar survey conducted in September, 2010 -- the first since Aquino took office in June.
The Social Weather Stations, which surveyed 1,200 adults, did not say why the number of people who considered themselves poor and hungry was rising.
Aquino said the survey may have been "skewed" as it did not fully capture those who had benefited from a Brazilian-style government "conditional cash transfer" programme for the poor instituted earlier this year.
The cash transfers went to the 400,000 poorest families in less-developed areas of the central and southern Philippines but the survey relied mostly on respondents from Manila and surrounding areas, he said.
Aquino said an additional 1.3 million families would be added to the cash transfer programme in the coming weeks.
Shortly after Aquino took office, his government said he hoped to cut the number of people living on a dollar a day or less to 16 percent of the population by 2015.
Just over 23 million Filipinos -- or 26.5 percent of the population -- survived on 46.14 pesos (1.04 dollars) a day or less, according to a government survey in 2009.
Aquino said the nationwide survey, conducted from March 4-7 by the respected Social Weather Stations research group, did not reflect the reports he was getting from government agencies and the business community.
"Why is it like this when the labour department says more people are getting jobs and the business community is reporting that they are hiring more people?" Aquino said to reporters.
"I cannot reconcile this," he added.
The survey found that 20.5 percent of respondents experienced hunger in the past three months while 51 percent considered themselves to be poor, according to the Social Weather Stations website.
This was a sharp reversal from the 15.9 percent who reported hunger and the 48 percent who rated themselves as poor in a similar survey conducted in September, 2010 -- the first since Aquino took office in June.
The Social Weather Stations, which surveyed 1,200 adults, did not say why the number of people who considered themselves poor and hungry was rising.
Aquino said the survey may have been "skewed" as it did not fully capture those who had benefited from a Brazilian-style government "conditional cash transfer" programme for the poor instituted earlier this year.
The cash transfers went to the 400,000 poorest families in less-developed areas of the central and southern Philippines but the survey relied mostly on respondents from Manila and surrounding areas, he said.
Aquino said an additional 1.3 million families would be added to the cash transfer programme in the coming weeks.
Shortly after Aquino took office, his government said he hoped to cut the number of people living on a dollar a day or less to 16 percent of the population by 2015.
Just over 23 million Filipinos -- or 26.5 percent of the population -- survived on 46.14 pesos (1.04 dollars) a day or less, according to a government survey in 2009.
News Update Philippine president dares Arroyo's son to show proof he filed tax document
Urdaneta, Philippines (Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN) - Philippine President Benigno Aquino III has asked the son of ex-president Gloria Arroyo Juan Miguel "Mikey" Arroyo to show proof that he filed his income tax returns during the years that the Bureau of Internal Revenues alleged he failed to honor his tax obligations.
Aquino wouldn't address other issues raised by Arroyo, such as his claim that the tax case was filed in light of the President's falling satisfaction ratings and criticism over the President's Porsche sportscar and Lexus SUV.
"There is only one issue. The only issue is he earned income that can be clearly seen in the SAL (Statement of Assets and Liabilities) that has been increasing. If you earn income, you have an obligation to pay taxes," President Aquino told reporters during a visit to Pangasinan province on Friday.
"The accusation is you didn't even file (tax returns). Paying insufficient taxes is one thing but here, it is shown that he didn't file income tax returns. Let me just stress, before anything more is said, 'If you paid your taxes, show your income tax return'," he added. "Tapos ang isyu (Issue is over)
Aquino wouldn't address other issues raised by Arroyo, such as his claim that the tax case was filed in light of the President's falling satisfaction ratings and criticism over the President's Porsche sportscar and Lexus SUV.
"There is only one issue. The only issue is he earned income that can be clearly seen in the SAL (Statement of Assets and Liabilities) that has been increasing. If you earn income, you have an obligation to pay taxes," President Aquino told reporters during a visit to Pangasinan province on Friday.
"The accusation is you didn't even file (tax returns). Paying insufficient taxes is one thing but here, it is shown that he didn't file income tax returns. Let me just stress, before anything more is said, 'If you paid your taxes, show your income tax return'," he added. "Tapos ang isyu (Issue is over)
News Update Unilever pulls out ads from all game shows, Cebuana Lhuillier suspends segment sponsorship on Willing Willie, CDO reportedly ends Willing Willie sponsorship
After multinational firm Procter & Gamble and Jollibee Foods Corporation's Mang Inasal suspended their ad placements on Willing Willie, pawnshop chain Cebuana Lhuillier has suspended its segment sponsorship on the TV5 show, reports PEP.ph. The news comes after the controversial March 12 episode of Willing Willie where six-year-old contestant Jan-Jan Estrada cried while gyrating, prompting allegations of child abuse.
According to a statement by Cebuana Lhuillier, the suspension will take effect on April 11 "while resolution on the matter is pending." The statement reads: "We expect our business partners to promote good values, protect children's rights and exercise prudence in communicating to the general public. We have taken note of the TV5 management's official statement and the corrective measures they have taken. We trust that they will ensure that a similar incident will not happen again."
Unilever Philippines also announced today that it will suspend its participation in all reality-based live game shows starting April 11. According to their statement posted on the Facebook page of Entrepreneur Philippines, "this measure will be in place until (they) observe stricter and objective self-regulatory guidelines across networks and proper enforcement by the relevant government agencies of existing content regulations."
Unilever Philippines also said they will ask the Philippine Association of National Advertisers to "help the networks develop a strict and consistent self-regulatory framework" that the company expects to be in place "no later than one month."
CDO, another advertiser on Willing Willie, posted this message on their official website: "True to our statement dated March 31, 2011, this is to announce that our sponsorship in Willing Willie will already end on April 9, 2011."
The announcement is linked to their March 31 statement stating that the Jan-Jan incident "jolted (them) out of (their) comfort zone as an advertiser in the top-rating show" because they are against abuse and exploitation. However, the statement also said that at the time, they decided to continue their Willing Willie sponsorship until the end of their prior advertising commitment with the show. "Not withdrawing does not mean CDO will tolerate the show or its host to go against the values we stand for."
For more on this story, log on to PEP.ph, the Facebook page of Entrepreneur Philippines and CDO's official website.
According to a statement by Cebuana Lhuillier, the suspension will take effect on April 11 "while resolution on the matter is pending." The statement reads: "We expect our business partners to promote good values, protect children's rights and exercise prudence in communicating to the general public. We have taken note of the TV5 management's official statement and the corrective measures they have taken. We trust that they will ensure that a similar incident will not happen again."
Unilever Philippines also announced today that it will suspend its participation in all reality-based live game shows starting April 11. According to their statement posted on the Facebook page of Entrepreneur Philippines, "this measure will be in place until (they) observe stricter and objective self-regulatory guidelines across networks and proper enforcement by the relevant government agencies of existing content regulations."
Unilever Philippines also said they will ask the Philippine Association of National Advertisers to "help the networks develop a strict and consistent self-regulatory framework" that the company expects to be in place "no later than one month."
CDO, another advertiser on Willing Willie, posted this message on their official website: "True to our statement dated March 31, 2011, this is to announce that our sponsorship in Willing Willie will already end on April 9, 2011."
The announcement is linked to their March 31 statement stating that the Jan-Jan incident "jolted (them) out of (their) comfort zone as an advertiser in the top-rating show" because they are against abuse and exploitation. However, the statement also said that at the time, they decided to continue their Willing Willie sponsorship until the end of their prior advertising commitment with the show. "Not withdrawing does not mean CDO will tolerate the show or its host to go against the values we stand for."
For more on this story, log on to PEP.ph, the Facebook page of Entrepreneur Philippines and CDO's official website.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
DID YOU KNOW THAT ? Learning the Trees that Places were Named after town in Philippiine
I bet most of you have heard of places like Cabuyao and Lumban in Laguna, Lucban, Sampalok and Mauban in Quezon, Anilao in Batangas, Apalit, Dao, Betis and Mabalacat in Pampanga. What some of you might not know is that these towns (and a few more others around the Philippines) are named after trees. In most cases the certain town was named after a particular tree because it is abundant in that particular place. let us have a run down of some of these town and give you an idea of what plant it was named after:
Antipolo in Rizal Province was actually named after a common plant related to the langka, the tipolo tree or Artocarpus blancoi. It was said that the tipolo tree, now known as the antipolo tree was abundant in the area (maybe upto the time that Rizal hunted in the woods of the province now named after him). A quick survey of Antipolo might not give a good idea what the tipolo tree would look like. It is not as abundant as it was before but you could still find the tree in some wooded spots or flanking the developed subdivisions. If you are eager to find an antipolo tree you could find a few trees labelled in the Antipolo church compound.
Cabuyao in Laguna was named after the Kabuyaw tree or Citrus hystrix (very similar to the Thai's makrut or cooking kaffir lime). The town was formerly named Tabuko. But when a Spanish friar crossed the Bai lake (which is now Laguna de Bay), he landed in the town and immediately asked some women on the shore what the name of the place was. The women misunderstood the Spanish visitor and thought he was asking the name of the trees abundant near the shore, and they said kabuyaw. From then on the town of Tabuko became Cabuyao. But today, there are no full grown trees of kabuyaw in Cabuyao. I went on a field trip to find kabuyaw and saw only a lone tree in the town of Calauan but i heard that some could still be found in Mts. Makiling and Banahaw.
Lumban town, embroidery capital of the Philippines which is famous for pina cloth and the Caliraya lake, is also named after a tree - the lumbang or Aleurites moluccana. The lumbang or candlenut tree is actually widespread in Asia and has a lot of uses. Oil could be extracted from the plant and used similar to linseed. The seed has medicinal properties, used as a mild purgative. Though when i got to go caliraya lake, I did not spot a lumbang tree along the way. But I heard that lumbang is still quite common in parts of Calabarzon.
Lucban town of Pahiyas and longganisa fame was named after another citrus tree, the lucban or suha, a variety of Citrus grandis. The tree was prehistorically introduced to the Philippines but is now widespread in the Mt. Banahaw area, particularly the stretch from Majayjay in Laguna to Lucban town. The area is also famous for the lucban fruit, but the variety is inferior in sweetness compared to the Davao suha.
I found this tree leading to the Taytay falls in the municipality of Majayjay in Laguna. It is called malauban. I had the hard time looking for its botanical name but eventually I learned that it is also called lamog or Planchonia spectabilis. www.discoverquezon.com states that Mauban town was named after this malauban tree. Story goes that a church located in the area had an image of St. Buenaventure which always disappeared, but the town folks kept on finding the lost statue perched on a malauban tree.
The old town of Betis in Pampanga is now a district in the town of Guagua. This place is upto now known for its woodworks. what is less known is that the town was named after a lumber tree namesake, which was said to be abundant in the area - Madhuca betis. But today, no betis tree could be found in Betis. But its legacy remains in the old furnitures once carved by the local craftsmen. I spotted a very big betis tree in the UPLB botanic garden but was surprised that the Bantay Kalikasan was rearing good sized saplings in their La Mesa nursery. Betis is a very attractive tree with the 2 toned colored leaves but folks say becomes undesirable come flowering season (I heard from Prof. Ed Gomez that the flower has a certain stink).
When I was small (hard as it is to imagine), my parents used to bring us to Dau in Mabalacat, Pampanga to buy px goods. This is where the military surplus coming from Clark Field were sold. It was much later that I discovered that the px haven has a tree namesake, dao - Dracontomelon dao. The dao is a large tree still could be found in UPLB and recently introduced to the UP campus (by Professor Ed Gomez). The native tree is widespread, also could be found in other Asian countries.
Incidentally Mabalacat, Pampanga was named after another tree once abundant in the area, Ziziphus talanai, or the balakat tree. The place was said to have a lot, hence ma-balakat, now spelled Mabalacat. The balakat is a nice big tree with the spines common in Ziziphus species (but not as spiny as its cousins - FYI, it is said that Jesus Christ was crowned with the branches of another Ziziphus species, Z. jujube or the jujube tree). I am not sure if balakat could still be found in Mabalakat. A big balakat tree could be seen behind the new Ayala Techno Hub in UP Diliman.
Another Pampanga town named after a tree is Apalit. What is les known even to Apalit residents is that the town got its name from our national tree, the narra or Pterocarpus indicus. Apalit is old Kapampangan for the narra tree. When I went to Apalit, Pampanga a year ago, narra trees could still be seen flanking the streets and the river.
Across the Pampanga River to Bulacan is the town of Calumpit, again baptized after a tree. The kalumpit or Terminalia microcarpa is a large tree with a layered growth similar to its close relative - the talisay tree ( another tree which places were named after,the towns of Talisay in Batangas and Cebu) or Terminalia catappa. Kalumpit has very attractive medium sized leaves and bears edible fruits (sometimes called the batangas cherry - looking like a siniguelas).
Talisay or Terminalia catappa is a very widespread tree used particularly in coastal towns as the tree is abundant in beaches and coastlines (hence a lot of places were named after it including the towns in Cebu and Batangas). It has attractive large leaves turning to bright warm colors when nearing its shedding off stage. The fruit nut is edible, hence its name of sea almond. Edvin Santiago of Velvet blooms gardens said that the nut is sought after in Middle Eastern countries where it is considered a delicacy.
The Batangas coastal municipality of Anilao is well known as a haven for dive sites and resorts. But not a bit as popular as its name sake is the anilao tree or Colona serratifolia. I yet have to confirm if there are indeed anilao trees in Anilao
Article contributed by Patrick Gozon and who is a plant enthusiast. He did his graduate thesis on the use of Philippine native trees and shrubs in landscape architecture. he hope to share with the interesting facts what he had learned and collected about Philippine native flora.
Antipolo in Rizal Province was actually named after a common plant related to the langka, the tipolo tree or Artocarpus blancoi. It was said that the tipolo tree, now known as the antipolo tree was abundant in the area (maybe upto the time that Rizal hunted in the woods of the province now named after him). A quick survey of Antipolo might not give a good idea what the tipolo tree would look like. It is not as abundant as it was before but you could still find the tree in some wooded spots or flanking the developed subdivisions. If you are eager to find an antipolo tree you could find a few trees labelled in the Antipolo church compound.
Cabuyao in Laguna was named after the Kabuyaw tree or Citrus hystrix (very similar to the Thai's makrut or cooking kaffir lime). The town was formerly named Tabuko. But when a Spanish friar crossed the Bai lake (which is now Laguna de Bay), he landed in the town and immediately asked some women on the shore what the name of the place was. The women misunderstood the Spanish visitor and thought he was asking the name of the trees abundant near the shore, and they said kabuyaw. From then on the town of Tabuko became Cabuyao. But today, there are no full grown trees of kabuyaw in Cabuyao. I went on a field trip to find kabuyaw and saw only a lone tree in the town of Calauan but i heard that some could still be found in Mts. Makiling and Banahaw.
Lumban town, embroidery capital of the Philippines which is famous for pina cloth and the Caliraya lake, is also named after a tree - the lumbang or Aleurites moluccana. The lumbang or candlenut tree is actually widespread in Asia and has a lot of uses. Oil could be extracted from the plant and used similar to linseed. The seed has medicinal properties, used as a mild purgative. Though when i got to go caliraya lake, I did not spot a lumbang tree along the way. But I heard that lumbang is still quite common in parts of Calabarzon.
Lucban town of Pahiyas and longganisa fame was named after another citrus tree, the lucban or suha, a variety of Citrus grandis. The tree was prehistorically introduced to the Philippines but is now widespread in the Mt. Banahaw area, particularly the stretch from Majayjay in Laguna to Lucban town. The area is also famous for the lucban fruit, but the variety is inferior in sweetness compared to the Davao suha.
I found this tree leading to the Taytay falls in the municipality of Majayjay in Laguna. It is called malauban. I had the hard time looking for its botanical name but eventually I learned that it is also called lamog or Planchonia spectabilis. www.discoverquezon.com states that Mauban town was named after this malauban tree. Story goes that a church located in the area had an image of St. Buenaventure which always disappeared, but the town folks kept on finding the lost statue perched on a malauban tree.
The old town of Betis in Pampanga is now a district in the town of Guagua. This place is upto now known for its woodworks. what is less known is that the town was named after a lumber tree namesake, which was said to be abundant in the area - Madhuca betis. But today, no betis tree could be found in Betis. But its legacy remains in the old furnitures once carved by the local craftsmen. I spotted a very big betis tree in the UPLB botanic garden but was surprised that the Bantay Kalikasan was rearing good sized saplings in their La Mesa nursery. Betis is a very attractive tree with the 2 toned colored leaves but folks say becomes undesirable come flowering season (I heard from Prof. Ed Gomez that the flower has a certain stink).
When I was small (hard as it is to imagine), my parents used to bring us to Dau in Mabalacat, Pampanga to buy px goods. This is where the military surplus coming from Clark Field were sold. It was much later that I discovered that the px haven has a tree namesake, dao - Dracontomelon dao. The dao is a large tree still could be found in UPLB and recently introduced to the UP campus (by Professor Ed Gomez). The native tree is widespread, also could be found in other Asian countries.
Incidentally Mabalacat, Pampanga was named after another tree once abundant in the area, Ziziphus talanai, or the balakat tree. The place was said to have a lot, hence ma-balakat, now spelled Mabalacat. The balakat is a nice big tree with the spines common in Ziziphus species (but not as spiny as its cousins - FYI, it is said that Jesus Christ was crowned with the branches of another Ziziphus species, Z. jujube or the jujube tree). I am not sure if balakat could still be found in Mabalakat. A big balakat tree could be seen behind the new Ayala Techno Hub in UP Diliman.
Another Pampanga town named after a tree is Apalit. What is les known even to Apalit residents is that the town got its name from our national tree, the narra or Pterocarpus indicus. Apalit is old Kapampangan for the narra tree. When I went to Apalit, Pampanga a year ago, narra trees could still be seen flanking the streets and the river.
Across the Pampanga River to Bulacan is the town of Calumpit, again baptized after a tree. The kalumpit or Terminalia microcarpa is a large tree with a layered growth similar to its close relative - the talisay tree ( another tree which places were named after,the towns of Talisay in Batangas and Cebu) or Terminalia catappa. Kalumpit has very attractive medium sized leaves and bears edible fruits (sometimes called the batangas cherry - looking like a siniguelas).
Talisay or Terminalia catappa is a very widespread tree used particularly in coastal towns as the tree is abundant in beaches and coastlines (hence a lot of places were named after it including the towns in Cebu and Batangas). It has attractive large leaves turning to bright warm colors when nearing its shedding off stage. The fruit nut is edible, hence its name of sea almond. Edvin Santiago of Velvet blooms gardens said that the nut is sought after in Middle Eastern countries where it is considered a delicacy.
The Batangas coastal municipality of Anilao is well known as a haven for dive sites and resorts. But not a bit as popular as its name sake is the anilao tree or Colona serratifolia. I yet have to confirm if there are indeed anilao trees in Anilao
Article contributed by Patrick Gozon and who is a plant enthusiast. He did his graduate thesis on the use of Philippine native trees and shrubs in landscape architecture. he hope to share with the interesting facts what he had learned and collected about Philippine native flora.
News Update PEP EXCLUSIVE: Fil-Am Hollywood actor Michael Copon is impressed by Sarah Geronimo
Bruno Mars isn't the only artist to watch on his two-day concert this April 6 in Cebu and April 7 in Manila.
Doing Bruno's front act is half-Filipino Hollywood actor Michael Copon.
Michael's paternal roots are in Rosario, Salinas, in Cavite. He grew up in North Virginia where his grandfather was part of the US Air force Navy. He moved to California in 2002 when he turned 20.
HOLLYWOOD CAREER. "I was in my truck for about five and a half months before I booked my first job," Michael said yesterday, April 5, in his press conference at The Establishment in The Fort, Taguig City.
That first job was playing the role of Lucas Kendall a.k.a Blue Ranger in the famous action-fantasy TV series Power Rangers.
"That was my first audition. And then I walked in... I didn't have any shoot list, no resumé. And I did the auditions. They were looking for a Caucasian like James Dean type. So when I walked in, they didn't know what I was.
"So, [they asked me], 'What are you?' They say, 'Ethnic?' 'cause they don't know what my nationality is. So I said, 'I'm a Filipino.' And they are like, 'What is that?' I wanted to tell them, 'It's there on the map! You went to school?" Michael recounted laughing.
The 28-year-old Hollywood actor continued, "But instead I told them, 'Filipinos are from the Philippines.' And then they told me, 'Oh, my god, cool.' So, I'm the Filipino James-Dean type and they hired me right there and then."
Michael thought having a Hollywood career would be easy.
"And then after that, I kept on auditioning and auditioning and auditioning until three years. And then, I got One Tree Hill," Michael said.
He plays the role of Felix in the American TV series. He entered the show on its 2nd season in 2004. This brought about many big opportunities for Michael: interviews, magazine features, and other mainstream television series.
"After that I got featured in People magazine as one of the Hottest Bachelors and got to do CSI Miami and the CBS remake of Hawaii 5-0," Michael said, smiling.
However, he had his own list of frustrations. The biggest was his failing to land the role of Jacob in the world-famous Twilight.
He was originally cast to play the role of Jacob in Twilight sequel, New Moon.
What happened was, according to Michael, "Originally, the first director was fired, and then the one who replaced him wanted to keep the original cast."
He said the original director offered him the role.
"You won't know if it's [movie] gonna big or not. They just say, 'Hey! It's gonna be about vampires and werewolves. But when I first read the script, I loved it, so I said yes! I never had a movie about vampires. And in the book, Taylor grew up around eight inches, so it kind of made sense. I was excited to play that part," he said.
"Well, things like that happen," Michael shrugged in resignation.
Aside from that, he was also an-inch close to getting the role of Troy, played by Zac Efron in High School Musical.
"That we did audition for," Michael narrated. "After they have narrowed it down to like five or ten people, it was just me, Zac, and this other white guy.
"I was the only one who wasn't white. After we did the singing and the dancing, the director narrowed it down to the last two or three.
"And then the other guy got kicked out!" Michael blurted out.
Continuing with his story, "And so it was just me and Zac. And so in the finals, it was just me, Zac, Vanessa [Hudgens], and Diana Degarmo—she was the other option for the role of Gabrielle.
"So they put us in pairs. And I looked so tall beside Vanessa! Zac is like around five feet and I don't look 15 or 16!"
Amidst all these frustrations, he tries to take things positively.
"Everyone does [have frustrations]. Each has their own time and you just need persistence and perseverance, and you gotta continue to strengthen your tools as an actor, as a singer," he asserted.
ON SINGING. In 2005, Michael bested eight other celebrity contestants in the VH1 reality TV show, But Can They Sing?
After which, he went on to writing and producing his own music.
How does he start with his writing process?
"I pretty much start with... like in the song "Hey Yo!" I was walking in the street and then I went home and did the melody and then made the lyrics around the melody.
"I produce the beat first and then I'm working on the piano.
"And then, for the dance music, I kind of focus on the melody because people don't really listen to the words," he chided.
Asked where he might have gotten his musical talents, Michael immediately zeroed in on his "dad's karaoke machines."
"I can say that I got my talent from my dad only because we always have karaoke machines. No one from my family sings. I am the only one. I didn't do anything to develop my voice. But basically because my dad has karaoke machines that I got to play with them," he said.
PROUD TO BE FILIPINO. Michael is proud of his Filipino roots.
"Basically, the good thing with Filipinos is their being polite and having respect," he said with much pride.
He added, "That means a lot and we have managed to stay humble and stay down-to- earth and I think that is the greatest things that we have. We know how to stay grounded and we know that family comes first."
He recounted an incident where he showed how much he values his family.
"One time, I had to spend 50,000 dollars to go home for my brother's graduation because that is more important to me than to make money. For me, family is the most important thing," he declared.
FILIPINOS IN HOLLYWOOD. Michael's mood visibly changed when PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) asked about conditions surrounding Filipinos working in Hollywood.
He confirms the existing discrimination in the roles made available to Filipinos and, as he puts it, to "ethnic groups."
"I feel there is discrimination, but not just for Filipinos, but for any ethnic group.
"It's tough to look for roles there, especially for Filipinos.
"If they are looking for Asian, they go for more like Chinese, someone looking Asian Asian," he said.
With much conviction, he said, "Being a Filipino in Hollywood is very hard. It is not that easy."
"Some don't even promote that they are Filipino. It's not that easy getting a role if you are a Filipino. You get roles like a Spanish guy... So most Filipinos don't understand that.
"But I'm proud to be Filipino and this is my way to show that I am," he said.
IMPRESSED WITH SARAH GERONIMO. Michael also noted how he is impressed with the talents of Filipinos he has met here.
He singled out Pop Princess Sarah Geronimo as someone he would want to work with someday.
"I want to be paired with Sarah Geronimo. I think she is really talented," the Hollywood actor said.
And added, "Or someone like Anne Curtis."
Michael has gone out with Anne, Vice Ganda, and Solenn Heussaff for a night-out recently along with some of his friends.
As for Sarah, Michael said he hasn't really met the Pop Princess personally.
"Actually, I've seen a lot of her pictures around. And I saw her a lot of times in TV.
"She stands out a lot to me.
"She is very endearing on screen.
"I feel like she is so successful and that women wanna be like her and me wanna be with her. And I feel like she has a winning element," Michael said of Sarah.
He dreams of producing a film which would cast Sarah and other Filipino actors.
"My goal is, basically, when I come here—as part of the Young Entrepreneurs in Hollywood, being an actor, singer, and producer—my goal is to bridge Hollywood with the Philippines. So that more artists here in the Philippines would be able to be in Hollywood.
"My goal is do like a Slumdog Millionaire for Hollywood but with Filipinos in it. Like Sarah Geronimo and Jericho [Rosales]. I like Jericho, he is good. And Anne Curtis. And then me and Dante Basco, and then do a big-budget film.
"My goal is bring the big-budget films here and then pay the actors more. More of like a big-budget film here in the Philippines. I wanna be one of the pioneers to do that," a smiling Michael said.
HE IS SINGLE. On another note, Michael is not only talented, he is undeniably good-looking.
Asked about him and Kim Kardashian, his co-star in the TV series Kourtney and Kim Take New York, Michael said that they are "just friends."
He also clarified rumors that he and former sexy star Juliana Palermo were an item.
"No, I never dated Julian. She was a very good friend. I didn't see Julian for almost two or three years. We went out for some time, but nothing serious," he said.
He says he is currently single.
"I am very much single," the 28-year-old Fil-Am stressed.
Would he consider dating a Filipina?
He smiled again before answering, "I love Filipinas!
Doing Bruno's front act is half-Filipino Hollywood actor Michael Copon.
Michael's paternal roots are in Rosario, Salinas, in Cavite. He grew up in North Virginia where his grandfather was part of the US Air force Navy. He moved to California in 2002 when he turned 20.
HOLLYWOOD CAREER. "I was in my truck for about five and a half months before I booked my first job," Michael said yesterday, April 5, in his press conference at The Establishment in The Fort, Taguig City.
That first job was playing the role of Lucas Kendall a.k.a Blue Ranger in the famous action-fantasy TV series Power Rangers.
"That was my first audition. And then I walked in... I didn't have any shoot list, no resumé. And I did the auditions. They were looking for a Caucasian like James Dean type. So when I walked in, they didn't know what I was.
"So, [they asked me], 'What are you?' They say, 'Ethnic?' 'cause they don't know what my nationality is. So I said, 'I'm a Filipino.' And they are like, 'What is that?' I wanted to tell them, 'It's there on the map! You went to school?" Michael recounted laughing.
The 28-year-old Hollywood actor continued, "But instead I told them, 'Filipinos are from the Philippines.' And then they told me, 'Oh, my god, cool.' So, I'm the Filipino James-Dean type and they hired me right there and then."
Michael thought having a Hollywood career would be easy.
"And then after that, I kept on auditioning and auditioning and auditioning until three years. And then, I got One Tree Hill," Michael said.
He plays the role of Felix in the American TV series. He entered the show on its 2nd season in 2004. This brought about many big opportunities for Michael: interviews, magazine features, and other mainstream television series.
"After that I got featured in People magazine as one of the Hottest Bachelors and got to do CSI Miami and the CBS remake of Hawaii 5-0," Michael said, smiling.
However, he had his own list of frustrations. The biggest was his failing to land the role of Jacob in the world-famous Twilight.
He was originally cast to play the role of Jacob in Twilight sequel, New Moon.
What happened was, according to Michael, "Originally, the first director was fired, and then the one who replaced him wanted to keep the original cast."
He said the original director offered him the role.
"You won't know if it's [movie] gonna big or not. They just say, 'Hey! It's gonna be about vampires and werewolves. But when I first read the script, I loved it, so I said yes! I never had a movie about vampires. And in the book, Taylor grew up around eight inches, so it kind of made sense. I was excited to play that part," he said.
"Well, things like that happen," Michael shrugged in resignation.
Aside from that, he was also an-inch close to getting the role of Troy, played by Zac Efron in High School Musical.
"That we did audition for," Michael narrated. "After they have narrowed it down to like five or ten people, it was just me, Zac, and this other white guy.
"I was the only one who wasn't white. After we did the singing and the dancing, the director narrowed it down to the last two or three.
"And then the other guy got kicked out!" Michael blurted out.
Continuing with his story, "And so it was just me and Zac. And so in the finals, it was just me, Zac, Vanessa [Hudgens], and Diana Degarmo—she was the other option for the role of Gabrielle.
"So they put us in pairs. And I looked so tall beside Vanessa! Zac is like around five feet and I don't look 15 or 16!"
Amidst all these frustrations, he tries to take things positively.
"Everyone does [have frustrations]. Each has their own time and you just need persistence and perseverance, and you gotta continue to strengthen your tools as an actor, as a singer," he asserted.
ON SINGING. In 2005, Michael bested eight other celebrity contestants in the VH1 reality TV show, But Can They Sing?
After which, he went on to writing and producing his own music.
How does he start with his writing process?
"I pretty much start with... like in the song "Hey Yo!" I was walking in the street and then I went home and did the melody and then made the lyrics around the melody.
"I produce the beat first and then I'm working on the piano.
"And then, for the dance music, I kind of focus on the melody because people don't really listen to the words," he chided.
Asked where he might have gotten his musical talents, Michael immediately zeroed in on his "dad's karaoke machines."
"I can say that I got my talent from my dad only because we always have karaoke machines. No one from my family sings. I am the only one. I didn't do anything to develop my voice. But basically because my dad has karaoke machines that I got to play with them," he said.
PROUD TO BE FILIPINO. Michael is proud of his Filipino roots.
"Basically, the good thing with Filipinos is their being polite and having respect," he said with much pride.
He added, "That means a lot and we have managed to stay humble and stay down-to- earth and I think that is the greatest things that we have. We know how to stay grounded and we know that family comes first."
He recounted an incident where he showed how much he values his family.
"One time, I had to spend 50,000 dollars to go home for my brother's graduation because that is more important to me than to make money. For me, family is the most important thing," he declared.
FILIPINOS IN HOLLYWOOD. Michael's mood visibly changed when PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) asked about conditions surrounding Filipinos working in Hollywood.
He confirms the existing discrimination in the roles made available to Filipinos and, as he puts it, to "ethnic groups."
"I feel there is discrimination, but not just for Filipinos, but for any ethnic group.
"It's tough to look for roles there, especially for Filipinos.
"If they are looking for Asian, they go for more like Chinese, someone looking Asian Asian," he said.
With much conviction, he said, "Being a Filipino in Hollywood is very hard. It is not that easy."
"Some don't even promote that they are Filipino. It's not that easy getting a role if you are a Filipino. You get roles like a Spanish guy... So most Filipinos don't understand that.
"But I'm proud to be Filipino and this is my way to show that I am," he said.
IMPRESSED WITH SARAH GERONIMO. Michael also noted how he is impressed with the talents of Filipinos he has met here.
He singled out Pop Princess Sarah Geronimo as someone he would want to work with someday.
"I want to be paired with Sarah Geronimo. I think she is really talented," the Hollywood actor said.
And added, "Or someone like Anne Curtis."
Michael has gone out with Anne, Vice Ganda, and Solenn Heussaff for a night-out recently along with some of his friends.
As for Sarah, Michael said he hasn't really met the Pop Princess personally.
"Actually, I've seen a lot of her pictures around. And I saw her a lot of times in TV.
"She stands out a lot to me.
"She is very endearing on screen.
"I feel like she is so successful and that women wanna be like her and me wanna be with her. And I feel like she has a winning element," Michael said of Sarah.
He dreams of producing a film which would cast Sarah and other Filipino actors.
"My goal is, basically, when I come here—as part of the Young Entrepreneurs in Hollywood, being an actor, singer, and producer—my goal is to bridge Hollywood with the Philippines. So that more artists here in the Philippines would be able to be in Hollywood.
"My goal is do like a Slumdog Millionaire for Hollywood but with Filipinos in it. Like Sarah Geronimo and Jericho [Rosales]. I like Jericho, he is good. And Anne Curtis. And then me and Dante Basco, and then do a big-budget film.
"My goal is bring the big-budget films here and then pay the actors more. More of like a big-budget film here in the Philippines. I wanna be one of the pioneers to do that," a smiling Michael said.
HE IS SINGLE. On another note, Michael is not only talented, he is undeniably good-looking.
Asked about him and Kim Kardashian, his co-star in the TV series Kourtney and Kim Take New York, Michael said that they are "just friends."
He also clarified rumors that he and former sexy star Juliana Palermo were an item.
"No, I never dated Julian. She was a very good friend. I didn't see Julian for almost two or three years. We went out for some time, but nothing serious," he said.
He says he is currently single.
"I am very much single," the 28-year-old Fil-Am stressed.
Would he consider dating a Filipina?
He smiled again before answering, "I love Filipinas!
News Update An innovative local solution to environmental crisis
MANILA, Philippines - In a churchyard in Mabalacat, Pampanga, along the McArthur Highway, stands a gnarled, spiny tree, one of the few remaining balacat trees (Ziziphus talanai) that gave the town its name.
"Ma-balacat" in the native Kapampangan dialect means "full of balacat" trees. According to historical records, when this erstwhile Pampanga settlement of Negrito tribe became a town in 1712, it was a virtual forest of balacat trees. Today, however, less than half a dozen of these trees can be found in the town.
This sad scenario is replicated in most Philippine towns that, like Mabalacat, were named after endemic trees.
Patrick Gozon, a self-confessed plant enthusiast who writes a very interesting and highly informative blog (pinoytrees.blogspot.com), lists a few of these towns, with the sad commentary that their tree namesakes have become rare - if they could even be found at all - in these places. Gozon's roster includes the Laguna towns of Cabuyao, which was named after the kabuyaw tree (Citrus hystrix), and Lumban, picked up from the lumbang (Aleurites moluccana), the Bulacan town of Calumpit, christened after the kalumpit (Terminalia microcarpa) and the Batangas seaside town of Anilao, in Batangas named after the anilao tree (Colona serratifolia).
While these trees are already endangered in certain places, they are being felled at an even more alarming rate in the country's forests. According to figures from the Forest Management Bureau, the country's remaining forested lands has dwindled to only seven million hectares (covering about 24 percent of the country's total land area), with old-growth forests comprising less than a million hectares (roughly percent of the total land area).
In fact, Philippine forests are declining at a fast rate that the country is now considered a "biodiversity hotspot." This dismal situation has been cited as a major reason why the country has, of late, become very vulnerable to disasters brought about by climate change.
There is a ray of hope, however, as both the Philippine government and the private sector are now aggressively implementing programs and projects designed to arrest the decline of the virgin forests and mitigate its many adverse ecological effects. Reforestation and tree-planting have become regular activities in large companies' corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives.
Among such notable CSR program is BINHI, an ongoing reforestation program of the Lopez Group of Companies being spearheaded by one of its subsidiaries, Energy Development Corporation (EDC).
Launched in 2008 using EDC's three decades of experience in integrated social forestry as platform, BINHI has become a model for corporate-led reforestation programs among Philippine businesses. It infuses a new dimension to reforestation with its holistic, scientific and multi-pronged approach in reviving the country's forests. The program was one of the country's Commitments to Action made by Oscar M. Lopez, EDC chairman emeritus, during the Clinton Global Initiative Meet held in December 2008.
At the program's launch, Lopez said: "BINHI will show that there is always a new, innovative and more audacious way of providing a truly Filipino solution to the environmental crisis. But most importantly, BINHI will share in the collective effort and in the responsibility to protect the environment and to safeguard this land for the Filipinos yet unborn."
The program also capitalizes on the public-private partnership (PPP) thrust of the Aquino administration as it mobilizes support in the form of material resources, manpower and expertise from other private companies, business associations, government instrumentalities, academic institutions, socio-civic groups, and even private individuals. This year, to help drum up broad-based support for its activities, BINHI highlights the United Nations General Assembly's declaration of 2011 as the "International Year of Forests" to raise awareness on sustainable management, conservation and sustainable development of all types of forests.
"Ma-balacat" in the native Kapampangan dialect means "full of balacat" trees. According to historical records, when this erstwhile Pampanga settlement of Negrito tribe became a town in 1712, it was a virtual forest of balacat trees. Today, however, less than half a dozen of these trees can be found in the town.
This sad scenario is replicated in most Philippine towns that, like Mabalacat, were named after endemic trees.
Patrick Gozon, a self-confessed plant enthusiast who writes a very interesting and highly informative blog (pinoytrees.blogspot.com), lists a few of these towns, with the sad commentary that their tree namesakes have become rare - if they could even be found at all - in these places. Gozon's roster includes the Laguna towns of Cabuyao, which was named after the kabuyaw tree (Citrus hystrix), and Lumban, picked up from the lumbang (Aleurites moluccana), the Bulacan town of Calumpit, christened after the kalumpit (Terminalia microcarpa) and the Batangas seaside town of Anilao, in Batangas named after the anilao tree (Colona serratifolia).
While these trees are already endangered in certain places, they are being felled at an even more alarming rate in the country's forests. According to figures from the Forest Management Bureau, the country's remaining forested lands has dwindled to only seven million hectares (covering about 24 percent of the country's total land area), with old-growth forests comprising less than a million hectares (roughly percent of the total land area).
In fact, Philippine forests are declining at a fast rate that the country is now considered a "biodiversity hotspot." This dismal situation has been cited as a major reason why the country has, of late, become very vulnerable to disasters brought about by climate change.
There is a ray of hope, however, as both the Philippine government and the private sector are now aggressively implementing programs and projects designed to arrest the decline of the virgin forests and mitigate its many adverse ecological effects. Reforestation and tree-planting have become regular activities in large companies' corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives.
Among such notable CSR program is BINHI, an ongoing reforestation program of the Lopez Group of Companies being spearheaded by one of its subsidiaries, Energy Development Corporation (EDC).
Launched in 2008 using EDC's three decades of experience in integrated social forestry as platform, BINHI has become a model for corporate-led reforestation programs among Philippine businesses. It infuses a new dimension to reforestation with its holistic, scientific and multi-pronged approach in reviving the country's forests. The program was one of the country's Commitments to Action made by Oscar M. Lopez, EDC chairman emeritus, during the Clinton Global Initiative Meet held in December 2008.
At the program's launch, Lopez said: "BINHI will show that there is always a new, innovative and more audacious way of providing a truly Filipino solution to the environmental crisis. But most importantly, BINHI will share in the collective effort and in the responsibility to protect the environment and to safeguard this land for the Filipinos yet unborn."
The program also capitalizes on the public-private partnership (PPP) thrust of the Aquino administration as it mobilizes support in the form of material resources, manpower and expertise from other private companies, business associations, government instrumentalities, academic institutions, socio-civic groups, and even private individuals. This year, to help drum up broad-based support for its activities, BINHI highlights the United Nations General Assembly's declaration of 2011 as the "International Year of Forests" to raise awareness on sustainable management, conservation and sustainable development of all types of forests.
News Update A sampling of Vietnam fruits
VIETNAM -- One major interest of ours during our recent trip to Vietnam was to sample their fruits in season. The trip was part of our prize for winning in the Bright Leaf Journalism Award under the auspices of Philip Morris Fortune Tobacco Corporation.
Many of the fruits in season are quite familiar but they are much more expensive compared to the prices in Thailand. The mangosteen in the sidewalk fruit stalls in Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon) is truly unaffordable to ordinary people. Imagine, a kilo of mangosteen was selling at 300,000 dong which is equivalent to US$15.
The only cheap fruit we saw at the Ben Than market is the dragon fruit. One kilo was selling at only the equivalent of P65 in our Philippine money. The fruits are big, about 400 to 500 grams per piece but this is the white variety. We were not able to locate the purple-fleshed variety which is much sweeter.
What we enjoyed sampling most was their atis which is very fleshy and very sweet. One kilo cost us 50,000 dong or the equivalent of US$2.50. Not really bad for the quality that we got. The Vietnam atis looks very much like the Philippine atis although there is a difference. You can't just break open the ripe fruit the way we do with our Philippine atis. The skin is peeled off, and you have to bite the skinless fruit whole. While there are many seeds, these are much smaller than those of our native variety. We counted 65 seeds from one big fruit.
Of course, we have already planted the seeds and we will find out a couple of years from now how they will fare in the country. We are sure, of course, there should be no problem growing the Vietnam atis in the Philippines.
Vietnam is a major producer of longan. We find trees growing in every yard in homes in the South such as My Tho and Can Tho. This is not, however, the season although there are a few fruits that are available. The variety that we bought was much bigger than the longan we usually import from Thailand. One kilo that cost us US$4.50 consisted of about 30 fruits.
The longan we bought tasted very good. Although the seeds were rather big, there was ample flesh that was juicy and with a refreshing flavor.
Durian is also available in the markets of Ho Chi Minh at this time of the year although it is not the peak season. The fruits are of the good kind, fleshy and taste somewhat like the Golden Pillow from Thailand. The fruits are quite expensive, however. One kilo, unshelled, sells for the equivalent of US$5.
The Vietnamese pink guava has very distinct pleasant aroma. It is smaller than the variety we call "guapple" in the Philippines but it is also very nice to eat. The fruit is fine-textured and with not so many seeds. We counted less than 30 very small seeds from one fruit. One kilo of this variety costs the equivalent of US$2.
The improved varieties of makopa are also produced commercially in Vietnam. One of the varieties now available in the market is the Star Ruby variety developed in Thailand. This has red shiny fruits that are fleshy and sweet.
This variety was introduced in the Philippines about four or five years ago and some of the trees are now bearing fruits. It is being propagated in big numbers at the Teresa Orchard and Nursery in Teresa, Rizal.
At a fine-dining restaurant we sampled their Nam Roi variety of pummelo. This is a white variety that is very juicy and sweet. One good thing about this is that its flesh readily separates from its covering. The other superior pummelo variety is called Da Xanh which has light red flesh. Both varieties are now being propagated in Teresa, Rizal.
Many of the fruits in season are quite familiar but they are much more expensive compared to the prices in Thailand. The mangosteen in the sidewalk fruit stalls in Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon) is truly unaffordable to ordinary people. Imagine, a kilo of mangosteen was selling at 300,000 dong which is equivalent to US$15.
The only cheap fruit we saw at the Ben Than market is the dragon fruit. One kilo was selling at only the equivalent of P65 in our Philippine money. The fruits are big, about 400 to 500 grams per piece but this is the white variety. We were not able to locate the purple-fleshed variety which is much sweeter.
What we enjoyed sampling most was their atis which is very fleshy and very sweet. One kilo cost us 50,000 dong or the equivalent of US$2.50. Not really bad for the quality that we got. The Vietnam atis looks very much like the Philippine atis although there is a difference. You can't just break open the ripe fruit the way we do with our Philippine atis. The skin is peeled off, and you have to bite the skinless fruit whole. While there are many seeds, these are much smaller than those of our native variety. We counted 65 seeds from one big fruit.
Of course, we have already planted the seeds and we will find out a couple of years from now how they will fare in the country. We are sure, of course, there should be no problem growing the Vietnam atis in the Philippines.
Vietnam is a major producer of longan. We find trees growing in every yard in homes in the South such as My Tho and Can Tho. This is not, however, the season although there are a few fruits that are available. The variety that we bought was much bigger than the longan we usually import from Thailand. One kilo that cost us US$4.50 consisted of about 30 fruits.
The longan we bought tasted very good. Although the seeds were rather big, there was ample flesh that was juicy and with a refreshing flavor.
Durian is also available in the markets of Ho Chi Minh at this time of the year although it is not the peak season. The fruits are of the good kind, fleshy and taste somewhat like the Golden Pillow from Thailand. The fruits are quite expensive, however. One kilo, unshelled, sells for the equivalent of US$5.
The Vietnamese pink guava has very distinct pleasant aroma. It is smaller than the variety we call "guapple" in the Philippines but it is also very nice to eat. The fruit is fine-textured and with not so many seeds. We counted less than 30 very small seeds from one fruit. One kilo of this variety costs the equivalent of US$2.
The improved varieties of makopa are also produced commercially in Vietnam. One of the varieties now available in the market is the Star Ruby variety developed in Thailand. This has red shiny fruits that are fleshy and sweet.
This variety was introduced in the Philippines about four or five years ago and some of the trees are now bearing fruits. It is being propagated in big numbers at the Teresa Orchard and Nursery in Teresa, Rizal.
At a fine-dining restaurant we sampled their Nam Roi variety of pummelo. This is a white variety that is very juicy and sweet. One good thing about this is that its flesh readily separates from its covering. The other superior pummelo variety is called Da Xanh which has light red flesh. Both varieties are now being propagated in Teresa, Rizal.
News Update Welcome to the Maid Café
MANILA, Philippines - In this little coffee shop in Cainta, everyday is a cosplay convention.
It is not unusual to see everyday people dressed in anime-inspired French maid costumes, or garbed with long tresses, cat ears, or colorful hairpieces in this hang-out place. No, they are not competing in some cosplay tilt. They are actually servers at Meidolls Café, the very first maid café in the Philippines.
"As an otaku (or an anime/J-Pop enthusiast), I've always been familiar with the maid café concept. In toy and comic conventions, there are maid cafés that are set up. So I thought why not put up something permanent so that otakus like me can have a tambayan," says owner Reia Ayunan, a cosplayer since 2003, and a J-Pop fan all her life.
The maid café trend has been around in Japan for over a decade now. In these places, waitresses treat their customers as masters, much like the traditional geisha would regard their customers. Waitresses are required to engage with their customers, making sure they feel at home. But customers are not allowed to ask personal information from the staff.
"In Japan, karamihan sa mga otaku are very shy so they go to maid cafés where they feel at home and welcome," Reia explains. "After a busy day at work or in school, the Japanese just want to lay back and be served by their own servants."
With Filipinos being naturally hospitable to guests, the idea of a maid café fits perfectly well in the local setting.
Everyday is a new experience
Meidolls Café has so far done well with the help of the growing Filipino cosplay community.
"All of the waitresses are cosplayers, but it is not necessarily a requirement. The foremost requirement is they should have a background in food or customer service. It is a plus if you are a cosplayer that is known in the cosplay community. Our target market is cosplayers, so 'yung staff can entice their cosplayer friends to come here," Reia explains.
The food is simple fare, a mix of Italian and Japanese. Some of the staple favorites include curry carbonara, fishkatsu, lasagna, fried sushi rolls, cupcakes and the Meidoll Ramen.
"I try to keep them as inexpensive as possible because cosplayers are mostly students. The food has to be affordable to them," Reia says.
Occasionally, the waitresses entertain customers by singing and dancing to Japanese songs. They also gamely pose for photos.
Ivy, a Tourism graduate, used to work as a ticketing agent for an airline company prior to working as a server at the Meidolls.
"It was my mom who told me about Meidolls Café because she knows I'm a big anime fan. I was already out of work for one year so she suggested that I should try applying at Meidolls Café. I'm enjoying it here now. Nakakakwentuhan mo 'yung regular costumers. I also studied intro to Japanese in school so nagagamit ko 'yung Japanese ko kasi minsan may Japanese customers kami," relates Ivy, whose favorite character is Misa of Death Note.
On the other hand, Tenshin, an incoming HRM sophomore student works at the café to save up money for school. "Masaya dito. Kakaiba siya sa mga ibang fastfood chain. It's always a new experience everyday. It doesn't feel like work because I enjoy cosplaying. At the same time, natutulungan ko pa ang parents ko," shares Tenshin.
Dream come true
Ever since getting into cosplay, it has always been Reia's dream to put up a café. And to raise enough capital, she worked as a librarian for two-and-a-half years at the American International School in Riyahd, Saudi Arabia.
"That was difficult for me. But every time na nahihirapan ako, I just visualize this dream so that when I got back here, I would have enough money to put up the café. I did research, I went to Batangas and to different places to learn how a coffeeshop business works. There were a lot of difficulties along the way. But we were still able to manage to open last January. Kaya umiyak ako noong opening day kasi natupad 'yung dream ko," she relates.
Reia believes that passion and uniqueness are the keys to have a successful business.
"I could have just put up a takoyaki cart business but then I wanted something that has never been done or seen here. And I feel so passionate about the maid café concept so I pursued it. You don't open a business just for the sake of opening one. It has to be something unique. Or kung hindi man siya bago, you give it your own twist and make it more interesting."
It is not unusual to see everyday people dressed in anime-inspired French maid costumes, or garbed with long tresses, cat ears, or colorful hairpieces in this hang-out place. No, they are not competing in some cosplay tilt. They are actually servers at Meidolls Café, the very first maid café in the Philippines.
"As an otaku (or an anime/J-Pop enthusiast), I've always been familiar with the maid café concept. In toy and comic conventions, there are maid cafés that are set up. So I thought why not put up something permanent so that otakus like me can have a tambayan," says owner Reia Ayunan, a cosplayer since 2003, and a J-Pop fan all her life.
The maid café trend has been around in Japan for over a decade now. In these places, waitresses treat their customers as masters, much like the traditional geisha would regard their customers. Waitresses are required to engage with their customers, making sure they feel at home. But customers are not allowed to ask personal information from the staff.
"In Japan, karamihan sa mga otaku are very shy so they go to maid cafés where they feel at home and welcome," Reia explains. "After a busy day at work or in school, the Japanese just want to lay back and be served by their own servants."
With Filipinos being naturally hospitable to guests, the idea of a maid café fits perfectly well in the local setting.
Everyday is a new experience
Meidolls Café has so far done well with the help of the growing Filipino cosplay community.
"All of the waitresses are cosplayers, but it is not necessarily a requirement. The foremost requirement is they should have a background in food or customer service. It is a plus if you are a cosplayer that is known in the cosplay community. Our target market is cosplayers, so 'yung staff can entice their cosplayer friends to come here," Reia explains.
The food is simple fare, a mix of Italian and Japanese. Some of the staple favorites include curry carbonara, fishkatsu, lasagna, fried sushi rolls, cupcakes and the Meidoll Ramen.
"I try to keep them as inexpensive as possible because cosplayers are mostly students. The food has to be affordable to them," Reia says.
Occasionally, the waitresses entertain customers by singing and dancing to Japanese songs. They also gamely pose for photos.
Ivy, a Tourism graduate, used to work as a ticketing agent for an airline company prior to working as a server at the Meidolls.
"It was my mom who told me about Meidolls Café because she knows I'm a big anime fan. I was already out of work for one year so she suggested that I should try applying at Meidolls Café. I'm enjoying it here now. Nakakakwentuhan mo 'yung regular costumers. I also studied intro to Japanese in school so nagagamit ko 'yung Japanese ko kasi minsan may Japanese customers kami," relates Ivy, whose favorite character is Misa of Death Note.
On the other hand, Tenshin, an incoming HRM sophomore student works at the café to save up money for school. "Masaya dito. Kakaiba siya sa mga ibang fastfood chain. It's always a new experience everyday. It doesn't feel like work because I enjoy cosplaying. At the same time, natutulungan ko pa ang parents ko," shares Tenshin.
Dream come true
Ever since getting into cosplay, it has always been Reia's dream to put up a café. And to raise enough capital, she worked as a librarian for two-and-a-half years at the American International School in Riyahd, Saudi Arabia.
"That was difficult for me. But every time na nahihirapan ako, I just visualize this dream so that when I got back here, I would have enough money to put up the café. I did research, I went to Batangas and to different places to learn how a coffeeshop business works. There were a lot of difficulties along the way. But we were still able to manage to open last January. Kaya umiyak ako noong opening day kasi natupad 'yung dream ko," she relates.
Reia believes that passion and uniqueness are the keys to have a successful business.
"I could have just put up a takoyaki cart business but then I wanted something that has never been done or seen here. And I feel so passionate about the maid café concept so I pursued it. You don't open a business just for the sake of opening one. It has to be something unique. Or kung hindi man siya bago, you give it your own twist and make it more interesting."
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