MikeLigalig.com

Solacom Technologies, a leading provider of Next Generation 9-1-1 solutions for public safety, today announced two changes to its Board of Directors. The new appointments are Bruce Lazenby to Chairman of the Board, and Donna Ronayne as Board Member.

Mr. Lazenby, recently appointed to the Solacom Board of Directors, brings over 30 years of experience in leadership, senior management, and growth of technology companies. Before joining Solacom, Mr. Lazenby served as the Founding President and CEO of Invest Ottawa, where he designed and implemented job creation strategies, working with over 1000 technology start-ups to raise over $300m in venture capital and create over 4,700 jobs.

Prior to that he held senior technology executive positions including six years as CEO with FreeBalance Inc. an enterprise software company where he raised millions of dollars in venture capital and debt financing, and helped grow the company by 300 per cent while moving into new international markets.

"I am honored to take the reins of Board Chair from Major General (Retired) Skip Armstrong, who did such a great job for many years," said Lazenby. "Having Donna Ronayne join our Board is exciting given Donna's outstanding expertise in growing companies" added Lazenby.

Ms. Ronayne joins Solacom with a 30 year track record of helping high tech companies achieve market leadership and high growth. She has a passion for helping organizations set vision, build strategic and operational plans, modern revenue engines, business development and product marketing programs as well as building and leading high performing teams. Until July 2016 Donna was Chief Marketing Officer at Halogen Software, where she fuelled double digit growth for over 12 years helping to transform this SaaS company from a start up to a publicly traded market leader.

Prior to Halogen, Donna was Vice President of Business Development at BitFlash (Opentext), where she defined market strategy and secured and managed strategic/channel partnerships across the globe. She also led the marketing team at QNX Software (BlackBerry) for 7 years, establishing the company as an industry leader in the embedded space.

Pierre Plangger, CEO of Solacom, welcomes the appointments, stating that “Solacom has a strong focus on customer service, and on maintaining that commitment as we continue our profitable growth in the public safety market. The new board appointments strengthen our customer-focused values and provide the expertise to help us accelerate achievement of our goals.”

About Solacom
Solacom designs and manufactures communication systems utilized in critical and life-supporting operations that incorporate voice, video and data applications, as they are required for Public Safety. With a legacy of innovation in air traffic control and public safety communications, their engineers have pioneered many industry advances over the past 30 years. For more information visit http://www.solacom.com

AIM Solder, a leading global manufacturer of solder assembly materials for the electronics industry, is pleased to announce their participation at the SMTA Houston Expo & Tech Forum, scheduled to take place March 9th, 2017 at the Stafford Civic Center in Stafford, Texas. AIM will highlight their revolutionary REL61â,,¢ and REL22â,,¢ lead-free solder alloys, along with their full line of solder assembly materials.

Developed by AIM, the REL61 and REL22 lead-free solder alloys have been specifically engineered as exceptionally durable alloys for extreme service environments. REL61 and REL22 provide superior thermal cycling performance and lower voids versus other lead-free alloys. They have shown to reduce tin whisker formation and improved strength versus SAC alloys making them ideal for high reliability electronics applications.

Additionally, AIM will highlight its full line of advanced solder materials, including its solder pastes, liquid fluxes, tin/lead and lead-free alloys. To discover all of AIM’s products and services, visit the company at the SMTA Houston Expo & Tech Forum for more information.

About AIM
Headquartered in Montreal, Canada, AIM Solder is a leading global manufacturer of assembly materials for the electronics industry with manufacturing, distribution and support facilities located throughout the world. AIM produces advanced solder products such as solder paste, liquid flux, cored wire, bar solder, epoxies, lead-free and halogen-free solder products, preforms, and specialty alloys such as indium and gold for a broad range of industries. A recipient of many prestigious SMT industry awards, AIM is strongly committed to innovative research and development of product and process improvement as well as providing customers with superior technical support, service and training. For more information about AIM, visit http://www.aimsolder.com.

Upcoming Events:
March 14-16, 2017 â€" Productronica China - Shanghai, China
March 29, 2017 â€" SMTA Intermountain Boise â€" Boise, ID
April 19, 2017 â€" SMTA Atlanta â€" Duluth, GA

Halco USA and 3M have joined forces to offer self-gripping fasteners which can be customized to meet specific design requirements.

Realizing no roll of Hook & Loop stays in roll form, this strategic new partnership aims to take the burden of fastener customization off manufacturers, enabling them to run leaner inventories and streamline operations for greater efficiency.
Watch a snapshot of the process in this NEW VIDEO.

Guy Fussell, Sales Manager for Halco USA said: “Halco’s extraordinary expertise in the converting of recloseable fasteners has enabled us to build relationships with thousands of clients around the globe who regard us as an integral manufacturing partner.”
“For many years Halco has applied 3M Adhesives to our own Hook & Loop designs. Taking advantage of world-leading adhesive technologies we've developed hybrid fastening systems that bond powerfully to substrates across multiple applications. It made sense to join forces and expand on what we’re already doing,” Guy added.

Jill Nakamura of 3M’s Industrial Markets added: “We’re pleased to welcome Halco, a leader in innovative fastening solutions, as a Specialist 3M Converter for Recloseable Fasteners.”
With this new partnership clients can enjoy the convenience of having Halco convert 3M products such as 3Mâ,,¢ Dual Lockâ,,¢ and 3Mâ,,¢ Gripping Material to their precise requirements, including applications where 3M fasteners are specified by design.

About 3M:
3M has always challenged traditional fastening methods with creative alternatives. Recloseable fasteners provide clean, no mess, out-of-sight solutions. These are simple to apply, lightweight, flexible and often more cost-efficient than traditional fasteners such as screws, zippers, liquid adhesives, and more.
Products with unique mushroom heads that snap together or fasteners utilizing temperature and moisture-resistant adhesives have transformed many applications. 3M’s well-known brands such as VHBâ,,¢, Dual Lockâ,,¢, and Scotchmateâ,,¢ are recognized as leading solutions to modern fastening challenges, with proprietary adhesive technology that delivers outstanding holding power.
About Halco USA:
Over the last 15 years Halco has risen to global recognition as a resource for Hook & Loop expertise, with a progressive lineup of industry-certified fasteners from Military Spec to Flame Retardant and more. Our specialists partner closely with customers to solve complex manufacturing and assembly problems.
Halco USA’s consultants travel extensively within North America and worldwide to ensure that engineers have access to the latest fastening innovations, and that suitable products are specified.
Our partnership with 3M opens the door to an unprecedented range of self-gripping fastener options, all available in roll goods, cut lengths or die cut shapes. Halco’s dynamic team brings decades of experience to any project, and utilizing our state-of-the-art California converting facility your custom solution can be taken from design concept to production-ready prototypes and samples within weeks.
Please visit http://www.halcousa.com to learn more, or contact us at 877-532-1561 sales@halcousa.com
Source: Halco USA
Press Contact:
Roy Arnot
roy.arnot(at)halcousa(dot)com

Space has been the final frontier in the realm of science fiction, but continues to hold potential for real-life possibilities. Author John Amabile presents a comprehensive plan on how to colonize outer space with existing resources and technology in one human lifetime in the book “Changing the Worlds.”

The plan outlined in the book includes the process of terraforming Venus and Mars to make both planets habitable for human life. Amabile’s military background has provided him with knowledge of the equipment and technology that the United States government already has as its disposal that could be repurposed to colonize space, mine for precious metals, and offer other benefits to humanity.

“Most books on this subject do not address the contradiction of stone-age property laws imposed on outer space,” said Amabile. “Only by granting basic property rights can space be colonized.”
Amabile’s book proposes the creation of a “Space Corporation” comprised of democratic countries and their citizens willing to pool their resources and technology to colonize space and open new business opportunities to those who participate.

“Changing the Worlds” serves to open discussions on the practicalities and benefits of space colonization for continued growth and prosperity.

“Changing the Worlds”
By John Amabile
ISBN: 978-1-48080-717-4 (softcover); 978-1-48080-718-1 (eBook)
Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Archway Publishing
About the author
John Amabile, a West Point graduate, is a former Air Defense officer in the US Army who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. He is a captain in the Army Reserve and is attending graduate school in Florida.
###
Review Copies & Interview Requests:                     
LAVIDGE â€" Phoenix                         
Bryan Beach                     
480-998-2600 x 510                     
bbeach(at)lavidge(dot)com                 
General Inquiries:
LAVIDGE â€" Phoenix
Chris Pena
480-998-2600 x 519
cpena(at)lavidge(dot)com

Behlman Electronics Inc., is known for providing extra-value COTS power products for mission-critical shipboard applications, as well as for military and commercial airborne, land and mobile programs, and critical industrial power solutions. The design of their latest 3-output shipboard power supply, P/N 94039-1, has been specially enhanced to meet the shipboard input-power requirements of MIL-STD-1399, Section 300B. It also includes numerous other MIL-STD design factors for input power and environmental parameters for use on land and airborne, as well as shipboard.

The new DCS1000T-1, P/N 94039-1 is another example of what can be achieved via the Behlman COTS Reconfiguration Program, which specializes in modifying proven power supplies to meet new requirements, without the high cost of custom designs.

P/N 94039-1 input is Power Factor Corrected, and it accepts voltages from 85 to 265 VAC, and frequencies from 47 to 440 Hz. Three outputs provide two at 20 VDC @ 6.25 A; and one at 24 VDC @16.7 A. In addition to being deigned to meet both MIL-STD- 1399 and MIL-STD-704 input power requirements, it is also designed to meet MIL-STD-901 and MIL-STD-810 for shock; MIL-STD-167 and MIL-STD-810 for vibration and humidity, plus MIL-STD-461C/D and RE102 (with proper shielding) for EMI/EMC. Protection from short circuit, over current, over voltage, and over temperature are standard. At only 11.32” L x 5” W x 2.0” H, this compact unit is readily accommodated in tight spaces.

According to Behlman President, Ron Storm, “We are proud of our ability to turn the DCS1000T Series Power Supply into P/N 94039-1 to meet the special needs of the very latest USN shipboard gun control systems. Doing this eliminated the need for high-cost custom design and manufacturing, and helps control military spending. Doing this right here in the USA, supports local employment and the USA economy. In addition to shipboard applications, we expect that design engineers working on ground and airborne systems will also find P/N 94039-1 useful in their programs, as is, or with whatever special reconfigurations they may need.”

Behlman Electronics Inc., (http://www.behlman.com), a subsidiary of Orbit International Corp., manufactures and sells high-quality standard, modified-standard, custom and COTS power solutions, including AC power supplies, frequency converters, inverters, DC-DC, AC-DC, DC-AC, uninterruptible power supplies, the VPXtra® line of VPX/VME Power Supplies, and the IQCM Intelligent Chassis Manager.

Orbit International Corp., based in Hauppauge, New York, is involved in the manufacture of customized electronic components and subsystems for military and nonmilitary government applications. Other subsidiaries and divisions include Orbit Instrument, Tulip Development Laboratory, and Integrated Combat Systems, all of which are members of the Orbit Electronics Group.

For more information, contact Behlman Electronics Inc., 80 Cabot Court, Hauppauge, New York 11788 USA; TEL: +1 631 435-0410; FAX: +1 631 951-4341; sales(at)behlman(dot)com; http://www.behlman.com.

Olaeris, developer of next-generation unmanned aircraft technology announced today that it has been granted U.S. Patent #9577445, outlining proprietary technology and methodology for autonomous alignment, docking, recharging and/or refueling of unmanned aircraft. The patent also extends to water borne drones and zero-G vehicles such as spacecraft. The technology significantly reduces the most expensive part of UAS operation which is manpower.

To fly routine civilian missions and serve hundreds of commercial applications, UAVs or ‘drones’ need the ability to autonomously land and recharge or refuel quickly without human intervention. Otherwise, extra manpower is required to support operations. This patent is significant to Olaeris because its AEVA® unmanned VTOL aircraft is designed to automatically replenish itself between missions such as package delivery, emergency response, ENG news broadcasting, perimeter security, pipeline monitoring and power line inspection.

“No matter how long you fly or how much you carry, eventually you have to stop and recharge or refuel. For robotic aircraft, replenishment requires bringing the aircraft and power supply together with precision. That's not easy. But mastering it means you can fly from anywhere, to anywhere, with a steady chain of supply stations”, said Dr. Paul Pounds, Founding VP of Engineering.

AEVA® is the first unmanned aircraft undergoing FAA type class certification to fly beyond line of sight in controlled airspace, just like manned helicopters. Unlike drones or UAVs that operate under Part 107 exemptions with limitations and heavy restrictions, Olaeris designed AEVA® to fly unrestricted, even in and out of busy airports. The company has more than a dozen other industry defining patents pending that extend beyond aviation into transportation, logistics, last mile package delivery, obstacle avoidance and communications. Since unveiling AEVA® in 2016, helicopter fleet operators have signed Olaeris orders valued at $95 Million.

Synchrono®, a leader in modern demand-driven manufacturing software, today announced that Vice President of Product Strategy, John Maher, has been named a 2017 Pros to Know by Supply & Demand Chain Executive.

The Supply & Demand Chain Executive Pros to Know Awards recognize supply chain executives, and manufacturing and non-manufacturing enterprises, that are leading initiatives to help prepare their companies’ or client’s supply chains for the significant challenges of today’s business climate.

Maher was recognized for a career focused on working with manufacturers to develop technologies that create greater alignment between operations and the extended supply chain. “A synchronized supply chain maximizes flow throughout the extended supply chain in order to serve customers in ways they value,” notes Maher. "This is achieved by getting as close to demand as possible.” Synchrono systems operate in real-time and adaptively adjust to changes in demand as they occur. As a result, manufacturers have experienced increased capacity, improved production flow and greater rates of on time delivery.

Maher drove the vision and led the execution of an award-winning manufacturing technology platform by coupling a passion for technology with an in-depth knowledge of multiple manufacturing environments and an expert understanding of Lean Manufacturing, Constraints Management and Six Sigma principles. The resulting Synchrono Demand-Driven Manufacturing Platform connects the entire manufacturing operation and extended supply chain in real-time, enabling end-to-end visibility and generating intelligence for instant decision-making and a foundation for communication, collaboration and continuous improvement. This forward-thinking technology led Gartner research to designate Synchrono as a Cool Vendor.
“Thanks to Supply & Demand Chain Executive for this recognition. My greatest reward is in working with manufacturers and helping them to apply demand-driven methods to achieve true performance improvement,” Maher summarized. More information on Maher and the Synchrono Demand-Driven Manufacturing Platform is available at synchrono.com.

About Synchrono
Synchrono® LLC enables the modern, digital demand-driven visual factory of the future; synchronizing people, processes, machines, materials and data to drive production flow from order inception to delivery. The award winning Synchrono Demand-Driven Manufacturing Platform includes a production planning, scheduling and execution system; ekanban inventory replenishment and supply chain collaboration software; a data collection, historian and automated workflow engine; alert management and monitoring software; and a real-time visual factory information system. The Platform components may be implemented independently or collectively to enable the Internet of Things and an unprecedented foundation for communication, collaboration and continuous improvement. Synchrono helps clients manage constraints, improve flow and drive on-time delivery to maintain a competitive edge. Sync with us at http://www.synchrono.com and follow the Demand-Driven Matters blog at http://www.synchrono.com/blog.

About Supply & Demand Chain Executive
Supply & Demand Chain Executive is the executive's user manual for successful supply and demand chain transformation, utilizing hard-hitting analysis, viewpoints and unbiased case studies to steer executives and supply management professionals through the complicated, yet critical, world of supply and demand chain enablement to gain competitive advantage. Visit us on the web at http://www.sdcexec.com.

The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) is the Navy’s full-spectrum corporate laboratory, conducting a broad-based program of scientific research and development for maritime application related to oceanic, atmospheric, and space sciences. They have selected Concept Laser’s 3D metal printing technology for rapid prototyping and materials research. This is their first laser powder-bed metals machine.

“We require a wide range of Additive Manufacturing (AM) capabilities, ranging from quality monitoring to process parameter development, and need an architecture conducive to that research and development effort,” said Dr. Charles Rohde, NRL Acoustics Division.

NRL will be using Concept Laser’s M2 cusing machine to print in Stainless Steel. Along with the machine, they will be using QM Meltpool 3D to monitor the quality of their metal applications, inspecting the part as it grows. This will also help them identify any design defects and if an application is on the edge of acceptability. Additionally, they will be using CL WRX Parameter 2.0 to freely design and develop custom parameters.
“It is very exciting that the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory is bolstering their focus on metal additive manufacturing. There are so many advantages of 3D metal printing that our defense strategy could benefit from, including reduced lead time, less material waste, and printing complex geometries with no required assembly. NRL has a history of over 90 years of innovation in naval power and we look forward to hearing how they will use 3D metal printing to break boundaries,” states John Murray, President and CEO of Concept Laser Inc.

Additive manufacturing involves taking digital designs from computer aided design (CAD) software, and laying horizontal cross-sections to manufacture the part. Additive components are typically lighter and more durable than traditional forged parts because they require less welding and machining. Because additive parts are essentially “grown” from the ground up, they generate far less scrap material. Freed of traditional manufacturing restrictions, additive manufacturing dramatically expands the design possibilities for engineers
About the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory

The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory provides the advanced scientific capabilities required to bolster our country's position of global naval leadership. The Laboratory, with a total complement of approximately 2,500 personnel, is located in southwest Washington, D.C., with other major sites at the Stennis Space Center, Miss., and Monterey, Calif. NRL has served the Navy and the nation for over 90 years and continues to advance research further than you can imagine. For more information, visit the NRL website or join the conversation on Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube.

ABOUT CONCEPT LASER
Concept Laser GmbH is one of the world’s leading providers of machine and plant technology for the 3D printing of metal components. Founded by Frank Herzog in 2000, the patented LaserCUSING® process â€" powder-bed-based laser melting of metals â€" opens up new freedom to configuring components and also permits the tool-free, economic fabrication of highly complex parts in fairly small batch sizes.

Concept Laser serves various industries, ranging from medical, dental, aerospace, toolmaking and mold construction, automotive and jewelry. Concept Laser machines are compatible with a diverse set of powder materials, such as stainless steel and hot-work steels, aluminum and titanium alloys, as well as precious metals for jewelry and dental applications.
Concept Laser Inc. is headquartered in Grapevine, Texas and is a US-based wholly owned subsidiary of Concept Laser GmbH. For more information, visit our website at http://www.conceptlaserinc.com.

Draken International, operator of the largest privately-owned fleet of ex-military aircraft in the world, marked another milestone providing adversary “Red Air” support for the United States Marine Corps (USMC) in support of Agile Lightning and Wing Fury from 26 to 31 January 2017. The exercise demonstrated the F-35B’s ability to conduct expeditionary short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) operations. Agile Lightning integrated a complex training environment featuring distributed operations and Marine Air Ground Task Force (MAGTF) operations. The mission included nearly 2,000 Marines in air and ground roles, more than 16 aircraft from 7 squadrons across 3 Marine Air Wings, the U.S. Navy forces from the U.S.S. Bunker Hill, Navy Strike Fighter Squadron 97, and the Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center participated.

Draken operated from Marine Corps Air Station Miramar during the exercise and marked their USMC adversary support debut with their virtually brand-new L-159 Advance Light Combat Aircraft (ALCA). Draken is the only contract air services firm operating jets with Pulse-Doppler Radar and 4th generation capabilities. The L-159 ALCA are equipped with pulse Doppler GRIFO radar which simulated advanced threat aircraft and missiles alongside Draken’s A-4K Skyhawk aircraft, operating pulse Doppler APG-66 radar. The Draken aggressors in coordination with U.S. Navy aggressor FA-18E aircraft integrated with surface-to-air threats to present an anti-area access denial scenario for the MAGTF which utilized the 5th generation combat capabilities of the F-35B alongside FA-18 and AV-8B aircraft.

Lt. Col (Ret) Jeff Scott, Draken’s Director of Marine Corps Operations, and a former F-35B pilot, remarked, “The L-159 and its radar capability increased Draken’s already proven ability to replicate advanced threats to provide a realistic training environment. Draken aircraft provided a significant cost-savings to the government while reducing the consumption of hours on USMC and US Navy combat aircraft used in the role of a training aid.”
In addition to these exercises, Draken also supports the USMC as the current contract provider of live Close Air Support for Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC) Training. Draken is the only contract air services company deploying live ordnance and the only contract air services company with both a US Navy flight clearance and a US Air Force flight release. 

About Draken International

Draken International is the world’s largest operator of ex-military aircraft.  The company is based out of Lakeland Linder Regional Airport in Lakeland, FL. The organization sets a new standard in airborne adversary support, flight training, threat simulation, electronic warfare support, aerial refueling, research, testing, as well as other missions uniquely suited to their fleet of aircraft. With over 80 tactical fighter aircraft incorporating modern 4th generation capabilities, the company is uniquely positioned to answer the growing global demand for commercial air services. Draken employs world class, military trained fighter pilots including USAF Weapons School Instructors, Fighter Weapons School Graduates, TOP GUN Instructors, Air Liaison Officers and FAC-A Instructors. For additional information, visit http://www.drakenintl.com.

EDSA Spirit continues to inspire heroism

MANILA, Feb. 24 (PNA) -- "EDSA lives on and its spirit should continue to inspire heroism in all of us for the greater glory of God and country.”

This was the message of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, who was represented by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, on Friday, the last day of the four-day celebration of the EDSA People Power Anniversary.

The simple rite was held inside the headquarters of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in Camp Aguinaldo, where the historical event began.

"My administration has always believed in the power of the people to chart their own destiny, and establish a government that will put the people's interests, especially the welfare of the poor and underprivileged sectors, as its topmost priority," Medialdea said.

The EDSA People Power Commission, chaired by Executive Secretary Medialdea, chose the theme, "A Day of Reflection: Celebrating People Power for Nation Building," for this year’s celebration.

"More than a mere commemoration, now is the perfect time for all of us to reflect and objectively assess what we have lost and what we have gained as a nation since that historic event," Medialdea added.

The celebration was highlighted by an awarding ceremony by the Spirit of EDSA Foundation Inc. (SOEF). The SOEF awardees represent various groups --- the military, the religious, and the citizens at large -- that played a crucial role at EDSA in 1986.

"Indeed, the spirit of EDSA does not belong to one sector or one group of people, but to all the Filipinos who believe in freedom and a democratic way of life," Medialdea underscored.

This year’s SOEF awardees were the Army represented by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, the Navy represented by Rear Admiral Bayani Gaerlan and the Air Force represented by Gen. Antonio Sotelo. Rear Admiral Bayani Gaerlan came in place of Lt. Col. Balbas while Gen. Antonio Sotelo came in place of Gen. Hotchkiss. The other awardees were the religious represented by Sister Sarah Manapol, Aleem Said Akmar Bashir, and Bishop Jonel Milan; and the Filipino people represented by Bobby Aquino (son of Butz Aquino), Ching Montinola, and Uriel Borja.

On the other hand, this year’s SOEF Good Citizenship Movement awardees were Valiente Namion, a wheelchair attendant at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport who found and returned PHP100,000 to its owner, and Sabrina Artadi, a former beauty queen who devoted much of her life feeding street children.

"Our sectoral awardees today epitomize the transformative power of EDSA in creating a new breed of Filipinos dedicated to building a better and brighter future for our country," Medialdea said, referring to Namion and Artadi.

Presenting the SOEF awards were former President Fidel Ramos, Executive Secretary Salvador Medieldea, Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar, Presidential Consultant for Entrepreneurship and Vice Chairperson of EDSA People Power Commission Joey Concepcion III, and SOEF Founder Christopher Carrion.

“True heroes, after all, are found in every one of us who do, with each passing day, our quiet work of nation-building -- dutifully, joyfully, passionately -- in spite of our occasional differences," the Executive Secretary concluded. (PNA)

Estrada at Edsa
Editorial of the Philippine Daily Inquirer on February 25, 2000

TWO groups that were thrown together at Edsa by the common cause of toppling a dictatorship 14 years ago will gather today at opposite ends of the historic highway. One group, led by two of the principal players of the revolution, former President Corazon Aquino and Jaime Cardinal Sin, will be at the Edsa Shrine for the official celebration, hoping to rekindle the spirit of the Edsa Revolution. The other will march near Camp Crame, seeking to mount another revolution.

No theme has been announced for this year's celebration by the Edsa People Power Commission, which organized the annual celebration. But if the activities lined up for the day are anything to go by, then it must be national unity and reconciliation. President Estrada, who is the main guest at the official rites, will sign ''a pledge of unity'' that the commission has put together to recognize the ''unsung heroes'' of the Edsa Revolution. The commission has invited those who were at Edsa as well as those who could be there only in spirit to sign the pledge so that the nameless millions who took part in that proud and historic event ''won't remain nameless anymore.''

Quite ironically, Mr. Estrada's presence at the celebration is one of the causes of division. ''Mr. Estrada does not belong to any commemoration of the people's uprising … because up to the last moments of the Marcos dictatorship, he was loyal to the Marcos family,'' said Fr. Joe Dizon, spokesperson of the Sept. 21 Committee, one of the organizers of the alternative celebration. The Promotion of Church People's Response, an ecumenical organization of Catholic and Protestant bishops, priests, nuns and laypeople, has declared the day ''a day of judgment and protest'' against the Estrada administration and also called for Mr. Estrada's exclusion from the celebration. ''Celebrating the Edsa anniversary with the Estrada regime is like dancing with wolves in sheep's clothing,'' said the group's spokesperson.

Apparently even some priests and religious are not yet ready to forgive or forget Mr. Estrada for his past association with the Marcoses. Neither, it seems, is Mr. Estrada ready to say sorry for it. But he has extended his hand in conciliation to those who fought against the dictatorship at Edsa. For one thing it was he who established the Edsa People Power Commission to ''institutionalize'' the celebration. He has also done what his two immediate predecessors were reluctant to do: declare Feb. 25 as a national holiday. More than this, he is the President, and a president always has a place in the commemoration of great and proud moments in the nation's history. Indeed, Mr. Estrada has more right to be at the celebration than the fence-sitters of the leftist movement who folded their arms and watched the unfolding drama, hoping it would end with the state and the middle and upper classes they detested annihilating each other.

To deny the President the privilege of ''being one with the heroes of Edsa,'' as he put it, is to ignore the fact that the revolution was fought not only to throw off the yoke of one-man rule but also to restore democracy. For all his many faults and despite his dangerous flirtation with authoritarianism, such as when he tried to squeeze the life out of a critical segment of the press, Mr. Estrada is the democratically elected President and one whose electoral victory nobody can question. Only a few people other than his friends will say he has been a good chief executive, but the nation is stuck with him. And unless he commits more serious mistakes, he should be holding office for the next four years and four months, according to our Constitution. Until then, it would be mere wishful thinking to talk of impeachment or revolution.

Still Mr. Estrada should take to heart the one lesson Edsa taught rulers of this generation, which is that even the most patient people can only take so much abuse of power, corruption, cronyism and extravagance. Once their patience snaps, they will exercise their final option by mounting a revolution. That's one more reason Mr. Estrada should be present at the Edsa celebration.

Bohol traders of manta rays face charges
By Ric V. Obedencio

TAGBILARAN CITY, Feb. 25 (PNA) â€" The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) based here filed on Friday charges before the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office against five persons for trading at least two manta rays (Manta Alferdi and Manta Birostris), considered as endangered species.

PCG seized last week two manta rays (Sanga in Visayan) already chopped into pieces loaded in a yellow cargo truck with plate number 074807 owned by one Paterna Cero and one white motorized boat “MBCA The Original Double D” with no documents as to its operation or permit to transport the species.

The Coast Guard intercepted the banned cargo --- chopped manta rays --- from the aforesaid vehicle about to be transported to Pamilacan island by the said motorized boat.

The complainants SN1 Ralph Barajan and SN2 Gian Carl Buenaobra filed criminal charges docketed as NPS No. VII-02-INQ-17B-00114. The complaint is approved by LTJG Jimmy Berbo of PCG and subscribed to by provincial prosecutor Macario Delusa.

Named respondents in the case were Angel Talabok Pingkian, Virgilio Quimson Pingkian, Benjamin Penida Nisnisan, Jr., Milagros Pingkian Valeroso and Darwin Gamas Salazar for “deliberately, intentionally, and willfully, did there and then, have in their possession sliced manta rays allegedly for purposes of selling/purchasing, transporting etc. in violation of the above-stated law.”

PCG attached documents supporting their complaint such as: Joint affidavit of the complainant, inventory of seized species, request for scientific identification, BFAR certification, the impounded vehicle and boat and others, the complaint showed.

If found guilty, the respondents may be fined five times of the value of the manta rays, or Php 500,000 up to Php 5 million, whichever is higher or 12 to 20 years imprisonment and forfeiture of the seized manta rays as provided by fisheries code of the Philippines.

The motorized boat is owned by Cecilio Pingkian and skippered by one Angel Pingkian, all were residents of Pamilacan island, off Baclayon town, the report said.

Mr. Pedro R. Millana, Jr. of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), who conducted the inspection of the body parts of manta ray, confirmed that the species on board the vehicle and the motorized boat are all manta rays.

These species are protected under Fisheries Administrative Order No. 193 and Republic Act 9147, known as The Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act, BFAR said in the Coast Guard report.

Valeroso told BFAR and PCG that she bought the species from a certain Tita Orculit, a resident of Jagna, Bohol, where the copped rays came from. She also said that the banned manta rays were about to be transported to Pamilacan island via the said motorized boat “for trading.”

She said that the cargo cost them some Php20,000 but she refused how much they would gain if retailed or sold in dried form. She also said that they don’t know that the species they bought were all prohibited.

Dried “Sanga” now cost between Php 600 to Php 1,000 per kilo and trading still thrives in some towns in Bohol like Baclayon and Jagna.

The seized cargo disturb the surroundings of K of C, this city, due to its foul odor emitted from decaying rays the following day Feb. 24 after the CG brought them from Baclayon town where they were seized. On the same day, PCG and BFAR decided to bury the manta rays somewhere in Calape.

Manta rays or devil rays are listed in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora or CITES. “CITES is an international treaty to prevent species from becoming endangered or extinct because of international trade. Under this treaty, countries work together to regulate the international trade of animal and plant species and ensure that this trade is not detrimental to the survival of wild populations. Any trade in protected plant and animal species should be sustainable, based on sound biological understanding and principles.”

“So alarming” is how Lanelle Abueva Fernando’s fb post described the unabated hunting of manta rays in seas surrounding Bohol island.

The Marine Wildlife Watch of the Philippines (MWWP) recently reported that dolphins are believed to be hunted. It said in its fb, ““A Fraser's dolphin head was seen floating in a southerly direction from the public market in Guindulman, Bohol. Was this dolphin slaughtered?”

In recent years, dolphins also ended up stranded or beached in Bohol for being wounded and some ingested plastics, marine watch and rescue unit here said.

“A school of mobula rays fished out of the Bohol Sea and landed in Jagna, Bohol this morning. Only two species of manta rays are protected in the Philippines. The smaller devilrays, like in this picture, will only get full protection in April (under the Philippine Fisheries Code) after it had been successfully listed in CITES last October.” Holger Horn, who already married a Filipina and has already stayed here for quite sometime, said.

For marine Wildlife Watch of the Philippines, it should be that the BFAR and the local government unit concerned do their part, “monitor and enforce the law.” (PNA)
RMA/RVO/SSC

DFA reminds public that Express Processing Fee of passports during Saturdays is Php1,200

MANILA, Feb. 25 (PN) -- The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Saturday wishes to remind the public that all new passport applications and renewals processed on Saturdays and during consular outreach missions are subject to the Express Processing Fee of Php 1,200.

The DFA reminded all applicants that any Saturday transaction is considered a service requiring special consideration. Such transactions are therefore subject to the express processing fee of Php 250, which is added on top of the regular processing fee of the service.

This is applicable to all DFA Satellite Consular Offices and Regional Consular Offices that are open to serve the public on Saturdays. (PNA)

Manta Ray or Sting Ray?

Cebu lawyers elect new IBP officers

CEBU CITY, Feb 25 (PNA) -- A new set of officers was elected on Saturday to lead the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) Cebu City and Cebu Chapters for two years.

Lawyer Jose Glenn Capanas won unopposed as president of the IBP Cebu City Chapter.

Capanas, 44, was chosen to succeed incumbent president Hidelito Pascual.

Lawyer Mundlyn Misal-Martin won the race for presidency in the Cebu province chapter with 200 votes over Joel Seno’s 105 votes.

Martin, IBP Cebu province’s new president, will take over from lawyer Gonzalo Malig-on.

The new set of IBP officers will hold office starting April 1.

The other elected officers in the IBP Cebu City Chapter are Regal Oliva, vice president; Christine Marie Naranjo, secretary; Andrea Lou Garcia-Avila, treasurer; Bernardino Amago IV, auditor; and Georgia May Herrera, public relations officer.

Elected directors for IBP Cebu City Chapter were lawyers Jonathan Capanas, Dan Domingo delos Angeles Jr., Mark Anthony Gaviola, Elmer Mansanadez and Michelle Geraldine Mendez-Palmares.

For the Cebu Province Chapter, Ria Lidia Espina was elected vice president; Cheryl Condat, secretary; Rhenier Mora, treasurer; Ronnie Gocuan, auditor; and Winifredo Orcullo, public relations officer.

The officers for the IBP Cebu Chapter include Francis Pepito, Marvin Miralles, Candice Niña Marie Sy, Johannes Lawrence Riñen, and Manuel Elijah Sarausad.

The IBP elections was held from 8 a.m. to noon at the IBP building located within the Cebu Capitol compound. (PNA)

LOPEZ ASSURES TRADE AND INDUSTRY GROWTH TO PH EXECUTIVES. Department of Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon Lopez (top row, 4th from L) recently (21 February) urged the US-Philippines Society board members to continue contributing towards the development of Philippine business and economy. During the organization’s 5th Anniversary Meeting and Business Mission in Makati, Sec. Lopez shared the developments initiated by the government on trade, investment and industry, adding that the Philippines is experiencing a period of factory resurgence, where it is shifting from a service-driven economy to manufacturing. The technology-driven sectors, such as Information Technology (IT) and Business Processing Outsourcing (BPO) are also given importance as DTI is geared towards generating more jobs on programming, app development and information and technology. He also highlighted the government’s advocacy in empowering the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). “We want to raise an ecosystem where businesses would capitalize on their ideas. This way, they could create more value adding products that would differentiate ours to the rest of the world,” he said. The Philippines is also pushing for the conclusion of the Regional Comprehensive and Economic Partnership (RCEP), which will expand ASEAN’s market through its six Dialogue Partners. Also joining the secretary were Department of Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III (top row, 5th from L), Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia (top row, 3rd from R) and Department of Budget and Management Secretary Benjamin Diokno (top row, 2nd from R), with executives of the member organizations and companies of the US-Philippines Society, including Ambassador John Negroponte (top row, leftmost) and Manny V. Pangilinan (top row, 4th from R) and Honorary Chair Washington Sycip (bottom row, center). (END)

An Exchanged Life

I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. Galatians 2:20

The Christian life is an exchanged life. Jesus’ life for your life. When Christ takes control, your life takes on dimensions you would never have known apart from Him. When you are weak, then Christ demonstrates His strength in your life (2 Cor. 12:9-10). When you face situations that are beyond your comprehension, you have only to ask, and the infinite wisdom of God is available to you (James 1:5). When you are faced with humanly impossible situations, God does the impossible (Luke 18:27). When you encounter people whom you find difficult to love, God expresses His unconditional love through you (1 John 4:7). When you are at a loss as to what you should pray for someone, the Spirit will guide you in your prayer life (Rom. 8:16). When Christ takes up residence in the life of a believer, “all the fullness of God” is available to that person (Eph. 3:19).

It is marvelously freeing to know that God controls your life and knows what it can become. Rather than constantly worrying about what you will face, your great challenge is to continually release every area of your life to God’s control. The temptation will be to try to do by yourself what only God can do. Our assignment is to “abide in the vine” and to allow God to do in and through us what only He can do (John 15:5). Only God can be God. Allow Him to live out His divine life through you. He is the only One who can.  Henry and Richard Blackaby

Supreme Court grants Cebu lawyer's plea for voluntary delisting from roll of attorneys

CEBU CITY, Feb. 25 (PNA) -- The Supreme Court (SC) has granted a Cebuano lawyer’s petition to strip him off his title and functions to protest the alleged corruption in the profession, particularly in the prosecution service and the judiciary.

Lawyer Dionisio Cañete was elated upon receiving on Wednesday the notice from the SC informing him that his Petition for Voluntary Delisting in the Roll of Attorneys has been granted.

“I have no regrets whatsoever. I am happy that I am now out of the profession so that I will not be in the same association with corrupt prosecutors and judges,” he said.

Cañete, 78, expressed dismay over the “unspeakable injustices” he suffered while practicing the profession for 56 years.

He said he was extremely disappointed when nine of the 10 cases he filed before the prosecutors’ office from 2014 to 2016 were “maliciously dismissed” despite having presented strong evidence.

Three of the nine dismissed cases were overturned by the Regional State Prosecutor.

When he returned to the prosecutors’ office, Cañete said the case folders of these cases could no longer be found.

The actions of prosecutors and judges, he said, convinced him that the criminal justice system in the Philippines is “like a spider’s web, wherein only the mosquitoes and flies are caught, but the wealthy and government officials simply go through it.”

“With all those cruel and brutal injustices heaped on me, I feel that being a lawyer does not anymore deserve respect and courtesy from his own brothers in the legal profession; that there is no more logical and cogent reason for me to remain as a lawyer,” he said.

Cañete said he hoped his voluntary resignation from the Roll of Attorneys would lead to a meaningful reform and reorientation in the prosecution service and the judiciary” in order to minimize corruption.

Cañete, who passed the Bar Examinations in 1960, was elected vice president of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) Cebu Province chapter in 1981 and as president of the chapter in 1983.

He is the chairman emeritus of the World Eskrima Kali Arnis Federation. (PNA)

Northern Mindanao transport groups set region-wide strike

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Feb. 25 (PNA) -- A region-wide transport strike in Northern Mindanao is set on Feb. 27 to dramatize the protest against the impending phase out of all 15-year-old public utility jeepneys (PUJs) next year, a transport official said Saturday.

Joel Gabatan, Vice Chair of the National Confederation of Transport Workers Union (NCTU) for Mindanao, said that the planned transport strike would pushed through after negotiations with the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) in Manila failed.

He said that about 16 transport groups in Northern Mindanao decided to join the planned nationwide transport strike on Monday after the DOTC failed to reconsider the five-year moratorium asked by the transport group prior to the implementation of the phase out order.

An education official here also reminded parents to discern on the safety of their students during the transport strike, but reminded that all employees and teachers should report to their offices and classrooms.

Reynaldo Manuel, the Assistant School Division Superintendent, said that “if the parents believed that the safety of their student could be compromised because of the transport strike, then they should let their students stay at home.”

“The Department of Education (DepED) would devise a plan to make up the absences of the students during the transport strike,” Manuel said.

The DOTC and the transport groups conducted a week-long meeting last week to settle the transport group’s proposal to extend another five years in a bid to withhold the planned phase out of the PUJs in 2018.

Gabatan said that the extension of the phasing out for another five years could prepare the operators and drivers to find an alternative source of income.

He said that the transport groups had also asked for a possible government subsidy within the five year period.

The DOTC has reportedly issued a Memorandum to phase out the 15-year-old PUJs next year, while the operators with remaining PUJs would be required to put up a capital outlay of PHP 7 million, Gabatan said.

He said that the PHP 2 - million would be used for the maintenance of the PUJs while the remaining PHP 5 million would be used to acquire, at least, 10 additional new units.

“The DOTC memorandum is unrealistic,” Gabatan said.

According to Gabatan, 16 transport groups in Northern Mindanao would join the transport strike.

He said that about 500 wives of the members of the NCTU joined the transport strike to express support of their husbands.

“The wives would convince other drivers to sympathize with the transport strike. After all, the mass action was intended to benefit both the drivers and PUJ operators in the future,” Gabatan said.

He said that the passenger buses and taxicabs were not part of the region wide strike, but we hope that they would join us. (PNA)

Deposition of Mary Jane Veloso up on April 27

CABANATUAN CITY, Nueva Ecija, Feb. 25 (PNA) â€"  The deposition of Mary Jane Veloso, a Filipina who was believed to have been victim of drug trafficking syndicate, is expected to be taken within the first quarter of this year after the regional trial court in Sto. Domingo denied an Omnibus Motion to defer Action and to suspend period to file comment on the proposed questions.

The RTC Branch 88 also required accused  Ma. Cristina Sergio and Julius Lacanilao to submit their comment on the proposed deposition questions within 15 days from receipt of the order.

The court set the taking of the deposition of Veloso on April 27, 2017.

Veloso, who was convicted of drug trafficking after being caught with heroin in an Indonesian airport in 2010, has filed criminal charges of estafa and human trafficking against Sergio, Lacanilao and a certain “Ike.”

Lawyer Ephraim Cortez of the National Union of People’s Lawyers (NUPL), who represents Veloso, said they had 15 deposition questions for Veloso . He did not specify.

Celia, Veloso’s mother, said that no member of their family was scheduled to go with the lawyers during the taking of the deposition. She welcomed the latest decision though.

The deposition  was an alternative for Veloso’s  oral testimony against the accused. She cannot appear before the court as she is jail in Indonesia.

Judge Anarica Castillo-Reyes ruled in favor of the deposition last year but the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) which handles the defense filed a motion for reconsideration on Aug. 24 , saying that allowing it “may expose the entire judiciary into the mockery of justice and judicial processes.” (PNA)

Japanese investor puts up 14-stroy condo in north Cebu town for Japanese retirees

CEBU CITY, Feb. 25 (PNA) -- A Japanese investor is putting up a 14-storey condominium building in Liloan town in northern Cebu to serve as a retirement and leisure facility for Japanese nationals.

Kazunari Nakamura of NFKG Consultancy Inc. said the One Tectona tower will address the foreseen demand for retirement facilities in Japan.

“It’s impossible to keep all the 30 million Japanese elderly and retirees in Japan. The climate there hurts the elderly. Cebu is a warm place where they can comfortably retire,” Nakamura said.

One Tectona, consisting of 165 units with 21 duplex villas, is set to be the first high-rise condominium development in northern Cebu.

It forms part of the 10-hectare development of the Duros Group named The Woodlands in Barangay Yati, Liloan, some 18 kilometers north of Cebu City.

“Nakamura invested in the entire One Tectona building and several villas as he envisions them to be home to Japanese retirees, and a time-share property for business and leisure travelers who want to have a quick getaway in Cebu starting in the fourth quarter of 2018,” said the Duros Group.

The condominium is being marketed in Japan to retirees.

However they also welcome Filipino buyers.

Future homeowners will have golf playing rights at the exclusive Liloan Gold and Leisure Estate in Barangay San Roque, also owned by the Duros Group.

The 18-hole golf course is set for completion by the fourth quarter of 2018. (PNA)

Cebu-based developer launches Php 5-B resort in north Cebu

CEBU CITY, Feb. 25 (PNA) -- Cebu-based Duros Land Properties Inc. on Friday launched a Php 5-billion resort and officiated the groundbreaking of its condominium in Yati, Liloan town in northern Cebu.

The resort known as The Woodlands Resort Communities, or The Woodlands, is a 10-hectare development with five residential towers and several villas.

It has world-class amenities like a 180-hectare golf course called the Liloan Golf and Leisure Estate located in Barangay San Roque, Liloan.

“The Woodlands and the Liloan Golf will be added attractions for Cebu, as one of the best retirement destinations in the world,” said project director Lydwena Eco.

Duros Land will pour in about Php 5 billion into The Woodlands and Liloan Golf and Leisure Estate.

Inside The Woodlands is the One Tectona Condominium that will have 14 levels with 165 residential units and 21 duplex villas.

The One Tectona, the first high-rise condominium in northern Cebu, is envisioned to be a refreshing and vibrant home for Japanese retirees and a time-share property for business and leisure travelers who want a quick getaway.

Eco said The Woodlands and One Tectona would have special features because all units are bundled with golf rides.

The Woodlands is expected to be completed by the end of 2018. (PNA)

www.google.com.sa
www.haosou.com
www.google.co.th
www.whatsapp.com
www.amazon.co.uk
www.google.com.ar
www.bongacams.com
www.google.com.pk
www.youth.cn
www.bet365.com
www.nicovideo.jp
www.xvideos.com
www.bbc.co.uk
www.rakuten.co.jp
www.espn.com
www.dailymotion.com
www.zhihu.com
www.ebay.de
www.clicksgear.com
www.vimeo.com
www.salesforce.com
www.amazonaws.com
www.alipay.com
www.soundcloud.com
www.china.com.cn
www.thepiratebay.org
www.google.nl
www.ebay.co.uk
www.thewhizmarketing.com
www.daum.net
www.booking.com
www.slideshare.net
www.blastingnews.com
www.ettoday.net
www.google.co.ve
www.livejasmin.com
www.tudou.com
www.popcash.net
www.google.co.za
www.detik.com
www.flipkart.com
www.quora.com
www.dailymail.co.uk
www.avito.ru
www.uptodown.com
www.uol.com.br
www.mediafire.com
www.vice.com
www.tribunnews.com
www.globo.com
www.china.com
www.stackexchange.com
www.godaddy.com
www.huffingtonpost.com
www.theguardian.com
www.adexchangeprediction.com
www.deviantart.com
www.csdn.net
www.cnet.com
www.google.gr
www.indeed.com
www.steampowered.com
www.google.com.vn
www.indiatimes.com
www.onlinesbi.com
www.blogspot.co.id
www.force.com
www.chase.com
www.livedoor.jp
www.babytree.com
www.hclips.com
www.sogou.com
www.detail.tmall.com
www.google.com.ph
www.google.com.co
www.9gag.com
www.w3schools.com
www.outbrain.com
www.mama.cn
www.kinogo.club
www.google.be
www.terraclicks.com
www.google.com.ua
www.washingtonpost.com
www.redtube.com
www.chaturbate.com
www.foxnews.com
www.buzzfeed.com
www.upornia.com
www.etsy.com
www.walmart.com
www.google.ro
www.google.se
www.bp.blogspot.com
www.youm7.com
www.huanqiu.com
www.wikihow.com
www.onclickpredictiv.com
www.softonic.com
www.gfycat.com

How our flag lost its face
By Vincent Cabreza and Frank Cimatu
June 2, 1998 - Philippine Daily Inquirer


OUR FLAG has a face, but you wouldn't see it beaming down from the top of government flagpoles today.

The well-hyped replica of the original Philippine flag flown in from Hong Kong last May 24 does not even resemble the flag hoisted by Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo 100 years ago from his veranda in Kawit, Cavite.

The flag from Hong Kong, which the National Centennial Commission plans to unfurl on Centennial Day (June 12), bears the easily recognized sun and its symbolic eight rays, a darker blue field that pans down from the white triangle at the center, and a richer red from the opposite field.

But Aguinaldo's flag wields the features of a little-known mythological sun god that dominates the six-meter banner.

The blue and red fields are hued in deep tones. Golden threads line the two-layered banner, with the words Libertad, Justicia, Egualidad (Liberty, Justice, Equality) running down on one side, patterned after the battlecry of the French Revolution.

On the other side of the flag run the words ''Revolucionarios y revolucionarias del Norte de Luzon (Revolutionaries from the North of Luzon).''

The gaudiness of the Aguinaldo flag reflects the general's political moorings, a factor which should not draw questions about its authenticity.

''This is the original Philippine flag, there shouldn't be any doubt,'' said Prof. Lydia Arribas, dean of the University of the Philippines College of Home Economics.

Credibility
But historians are polarized. To this date, no official proclamations have been made to authenticate the flag which vanished mysteriously at the turn of the century, and which publicly surfaced under a pillow on Aguinaldo's deathbed in 1964.

That is the biggest frustration facing Emilio Aguinaldo Suntay III, great-grandson of General Aguinaldo and chief executive officer of the Emilio Aguinaldo Foundation Inc.

''The replica of the flag flown in from Hong Kong (was) rushed by the National Centennial Commission without consulting us but it's too late to make amends now,'' Suntay said.

The family had taken pains to obtain government recognition for the flag. But the relic had been kept out of sight in the Aguinaldo family-run museum in Baguio City for three decades.

Members of the Aguinaldo Foundation admitted that they had been ''hiding'' the relic from Malacañang since the death of General Aguinaldo, hounded by the specter of the flag being destroyed under ''inefficient government care.''

''Almost every June 12, we get demands from the Philippine government to release the flag under the government's custody. Nagtatago nga ang pamilya kapag ganoon na ang okasyon,'' a lawyer of the foundation said.

Suntay instead ''lent'' a replica of the Aguinaldo flag to President Ramos for the May 28 Centennial celebration of the flag's unveiling in Imus where the Battle of Alapan was staged.

That battle was a victory for the Filipino revolucionarios. Hipolito Sakilayan's troops defeated 270 Spanish Marines sent to intercept the weapons Aguinaldo was distributing from Hong Kong.

In his book ''The True Version of Philippine Revolution,'' Aguinaldo wrote: ''I hoisted our national flag in the presence of a great crowd who greeted it with tremendous applause and loud, spontaneous and prolonged cheers for the Philippines.''

But there was no crowd when a replica of the original flag was turned over last week by the University of the Philippines Bahay ng Alumni in Diliman, Quezon City. The foundation said only UP officially acknowledged the existence of the first flag.

Restore 'real' flag
Suntay implored Filipinos ''to rally once more behind this uniquely beautiful and inspiring flag and exhibit their patriotism much in the same way as our forefathers did 100 years ago.''

He said President Manuel Quezon, political rival of Aguinaldo, issued Executive Order 23 in 1936 which fixed the design and measurement of the Philippine flag used in public offices.

Quezon ordered that the Philippine flag follow a maximum length that is ''twice its width,'' and a minimum length that is ''twice the altitude of the equilateral triangle.''

Aguinaldo's mythic sun was also replaced by a sun with ''eight major rays with two minor beams for each ray.''

The light blue stripe was ''standardized to dark blue,'' while the white triangle was enlarged ''by making any side of it equal to the width of the flag at the hoist.''

Both the Constitution and the National Flag Law carry this instructions to the letter.

''The fact that the Centennial has chosen to recreate a flag in Hong Kong based on the Quezon flag clearly shows the need for a deeper and more accurate writing of history,'' Suntay said.

From 1907 to 1919, the Aguinaldo flag was actually banned from public display by the Americans who intended to expunge ''all memories associated with General Aguinaldo,'' he said.

It was during these days when the flag supposedly vanished. A foundation lawyer said the flag was presumed lost during a Nueva Ecija battle.

When the ban was lifted by the Philippine Legislature on Oct. 30, 1919, Philippine Flag Day, only the old veterans of the Philippine Revolution could recall the original flag, historian Emmanuel Baja said.

Over the years, historians debated about the flag's existence. In a 1960 portrait of Aguinaldo, he is shown holding the flag, which appeared so weighed and bulky that it could hardly stand on its own.

Witness
Last May 25, foundation lawyers finally met with historians from the De La Salle University, Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Naic Historical Committee and the Cavite Historical Commission.

A lawyer, who requested anonymity, said there was a consensus among historians that the flag kept by the family was authentic, ''and they promised to issue a resolution urging government to recognize our flag.''

But the Alapan celebration came and went with no declarations backing the relic.

She said the clincher was the testimony of Aguinaldo's personal secretary, Felisa Diokno, who witnessed the return of the missing flag to the general.

But the general had kept it hidden, even on his deathbed. The flag was actually under the general's pillow when he died, Suntay said.

Postscript
Marcela Agoncillo, wife of Filipino diplomat Felipe Agoncillo, sewed the flag in Hong Kong, together with her daughter Lorenzana and Delfina Natividad in 1898.

Last month, the NCC reenacted the sewing of the flag in Hong Kong with overseas Filipino workers Nermeline Andres, Susette Casilio and Eirene Busa. That flag was flown in last May 24 with much fanfare.

A more studied and detailed replica will be sewn together by UP, using the technology used in the 19th century to approximate the type of weave, and the proper color tone of the materials used for the first flag, Arribas said.

But the location of the original flag is being kept under tight security by the Aguinaldo foundation. The original flag had been kept in a low-key Baguio museum owned by the family since the early 1980s.

The relic is in a state of decay, with frayed edges tucked under two layers of colored silk weaves. The flag is wrapped in a metallic mesh fiber, and encased in a glass cage when displayed at the local museum.

Academicians said government and the Aguinaldo heirs must come to terms soon, in order to cooperate in restoring and protecting the only relic that symbolizes the country's inner soul.

''Our Constitution had been changed constantly, and we have been under so many regimes we can barely count the changes. This flag is the only stabilizing element representing the Filipino spirit. I don't think we all want to lose that,'' the Aguinaldo lawyer said. With a report from Rolando Fernandez

Australian market struggles despite high volumes

SYDNEY, Feb. 23 (PNA/Xinhua) -- The Australian market finished lower on Thursday despite higher than average volumes and some positive company reports.

At the close of trade, the S&P/ASX 200 index was down 20.40 basis points or 0.35 percent at 5,784.70, while the broader All Ordinaries index fell 17.6 basis points or 0.30 percent at 5,832.50.

"Plenty to keep investors busy today, judging by volumes there was plenty of participation, but investment is still a little bit hard to come by given that individual stock reports are doing most of the driving," CMC Markets chief market strategist, Michael McCarthy told Xinhua.

"There were a number a spectacular results today which drove some big market moves."

"Unfortunately from a technical point of view, it looks like the index is starting to roll over, so if we have another down day tomorrow we might see short term interest jumping in and adding to any downside momentum."

Banks and consumer discretionary stocks managed to pick up some of the slack as money moved out of the material and telecommunication sector.

The Commonwealth Bank slipped 0.28 percent, National Australia Bank fell 0.34 percent. Westpac lost 0.26 percent, while ANZ added 1.17 percent.

Rio Tinto plummeted 5.54 percent, BHP Billiton dropped 2.67 percent, Fortescue Metals slid 2.58 percent, and Newcrest gained 1.43 percent

Woodside Petroleum rose 0.89 percent, Santos lost 2.22 percent, and Oil Search finished lower at 0.28 percent.

Wesfarmers edged higher at 0.16 percent, while Woolworths slipped 0.49 percent.

Telstra was down 0.62 percent, Qantas surged 5.35 percent, and CSL slid 0.45 percent. (PNA/Xinhua)

4 killed, 19 hurt in Bicol collision
June 1, 1998 - Philippine Daily Inquirer

LEGAZPI CITY--Four persons died and 19 others were injured when two buses collided early yesterday along the Maharlika Highway in Barangay Bonifacio, San Fernando, Camarines Sur.

This is the second road accident along the Maharlika Highway in a week. Four persons died in the earlier accident.

Two of the dead victims were taken to Funeraria Imperial in Naga City. A funeral home employee contacted over the phone identified them as Josephine Septo Dolina, 25, and Mervin Villanueva, 2.

The two other fatalities were taken to St. Vincent funeral home in Milaor, Camarines Sur, the same employee told the Inquirer.

Fifteen of the injured were taken to the Bicol Medical Center in Naga City and four to St. John Hospital.

Among the injured are Santos Salvador, driver of the Philtranco bus with body number 827, and Rogelio Amisola, driver of the Peñafrancia Tours bus.

The other injured passengers are: Jocelyn Buere, Judith Soliman, Zenith Avila, Marcelina Avila, Marife Aringo, Jay-Ar Supiciercia, Endelita Fuliado, Severino de la Cruz, Bienvenido de la Cruz, Adelaida de la Cruz, Anthony de la Cruz, Roger Belmas, Romy Tayo, Eufelalia Peralta and Marilyn Marfil.

Most of the injured were passengers of the Philtranco bus.

Bombo Radyo in Naga City reported that the Philtranco bus had already reached Naga City when it returned to San Fernando to get a cargo shipment.

On its way there, it collided with a Peñafrancia Tours bus coming from Manila.

The Philtranco bus also smashed into the house of Barangay Bonifacio chair Evelyn Salazar. No one was reported hurt in the Salazar household.

In the first road accident, four persons died and six others were seriously injured when a BLTB bus rammed a big talisay tree in Barangay Sigamot, Libmanan, Camarines Sur, early Wednesday.

Police identified three of the fatalities as Lilibeth Villasis, her daughter Lisa Ruth, 5, and Luz Marquez, 50. Floreño G. Solmirano, PDI Southern Luzon Bureau

Nice Picture

Will whale sharks come back to Donsol?
By Natasha Vizcarra
June 1, 1998 - Philippine Daily Inquirer

IT'S time for the whale sharks to leave Donsol, Sorsogon. And it's probably just as well.

Last month saw a chaotic first season of whale shark-watching in the remote town. This may well discourage the giant fish from feeding in Donsol's waters in the years to come, said a marine biologist from the World Wildlife Fund-Philippines.

``Magulo (chaotic),'' was how Pet Digdigan assessed the recent boom in whale shark watching in the town--now known as a major feeding ground of the one of the largest schools of whale sharks (Rhincodon typus, locally known as butanding) ever to be observed.

``Too many boats go after the whale sharks. This startles them and disrupts their habitat,'' she said. ``In Australia, whale shark watchers follow a one shark-one boat policy to best observe a whale shark while it is feeding,'' she added.

Digdigan, the assistant project manager for whale sharks in WWF-Philippines, said that on May 1 she saw 20 boats full of snorkelers and tourists going after one whale shark.

Two of the boats even collided with each other. Fortunately, neither boat was damaged.

That same day, one boat almost ran over a snorkeler. ``We saw it,'' she said. ``We shouted `huy, huy, may naglalangoy (somebody is swimming)!''' Fortunately again, the boat missed the snorkeler.

But luck may not be there next whale shark-watching season (December-May), if boatmen and tourists keep on with their ways with the whale sharks.

Digdigan said she had monitored a lot of other no-nos:

Boatmen don't turn off their motors when they get near the whale sharks and they sometimes cut across a whale shark's path.
Snorkelers and divers jump and make a big splash instead of easing themselves into the water (Sound travels four times faster in water than in air and all this splashing startles the whale sharks).
Tourists scream their heads off when they get their first glimpse of the gentle giants of the sea.
This writer even encountered a so-called butanding interaction officer--also known as BIOman--who encouraged her to touch the whale shark, one of the don'ts in whale shark interaction.
A BIOman is the local tourism term for an experienced diver who is familiar enough with the whale sharks to guide snorkelers and divers when swimming with the whale shark.

Largest fish

The whale shark is the largest of living fish with adults from 30 feet long to about twice that size and weighing up to 11 tons.

Although it is technically a shark, this species is harmless and has tiny baleen teeth instead of razor sharp teeth. It feeds by sucking in plankton, krill and small fish. Donsol fishermen say whale sharks have been returning each year to feed in their waters.

Donsol's waters are rich in plankton and krill--the whale sharks' staple food--from the month of December to May and that's when these great big fish are sighted here.

Two months ago, several whale sharks were reported slaughtered in Donsol and nearby Pilar town. This drew President Ramos' attention. Agriculture Secretary Salvador Escudero later issued an administrative order making it unlawful to catch, sell, purchase, possess, transport and export whale sharks.

The Sangguniang Bayan of Donsol also declared its waters a whale sanctuary. Under the law, violators will be fined not less than P500 and not more than P5,000 and/or imprisonment from six months to four years.

Whale shark capital

``We could be known as the new capital of whale shark tours, but all trips have to be very organized,'' Digdigan said.

Boatmen, BIOmen and tour operators still need to be educated in whale shark biology. And they, in turn, need to educate the tourists.

All this preparation and orientation is crucial because we are dealing with one of the best things that has ever happened to the Philippines--no other country in the world can boast of whale shark sightings as numerous as in Donsol.

``We have to take care of the whale sharks and we have to respect them,'' Digdigan said.

Donsol's municipal tourism council has started to take whale shark conservation more seriously. Of all the boats offering whale shark watching tours in Sorsogon, only six boats are registered with the municipal tourism council's Butanding Interaction Group. These means their operators have been given an orientation on how to approach whale sharks.

``Our dream is for Donsol to develop the capacity to be a responsible whale shark capital of the world,'' Digdigan said.

There are six months more until the whale sharks come back.

Hopefully, they'll find Donsol a more peaceful place to dine by then.

(No whale shark has been sighted in Donsol since May 22 with the onset of the rainy season.

Estrada picks ex-judge as PCGG chairman
By Raymond Burgos, June 1, 1998 - Philippine Daily Inquirer

PRESIDENT-ELECT Joseph Estrada yesterday announced the appointment of a former judge of the Makati Regional Trial Court as chair of the Presidential Commission on Good Government.

Judge Felix de Guzman will take over the reins of the PCGG from outgoing Chair Magtanggol Gunigundo until the commission is eventually abolished, Estrada said.

Estrada earlier pledged to abolish the PCGG which, he said, had outlived its usefulness. In most cases, he had said, the commission had failed to recover the so-called ill-gotten wealth of the Marcoses and their cronies.

Yesterday, however, Estrada said the PCGG could not be abolished immediately because of an existing law which mandated its creation.

``I will allow the PCGG to wrap up all its unfinished work before it gets abolished and its functions transferred to the Department of Justice,'' he told the Inquirer.

Estrada also announced the appointment of Eduardo Escueta as chair of the Philippine Coconut Authority.

Escueta was lawyer of businessman Eduardo ``Danding'' Cojuangco, godfather of Estrada's Nationalist People's Coalition, during the canvassing of votes in the 1992 presidential contest.

He also served as chief of staff of Sen. Edgardo Angara, Estrada's defeated running mate in the May 11 polls.

Estrada said he was retaining Alice Reyes as chair of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp., one of the government's top revenue earners.

``I am fully satisfied with the performance of Pagcor under Ms Reyes, that's why I am retaining her to continue with her good work,'' Estrada said.

Ramos boys retained

Last week, Estrada announced the retention of Science and Technology Secretary William Padolina, Solicitor General Romeo de la Cruz and National Bureau of Investigation Director Santiago Toledo.

He is also bringing back Leonora Vasquez-de Jesus as chief of the Presidential Management Staff, a position which she held under the Aquino and Ramos administrations.

Estrada also announced the appointment of Carlos ``Butch'' Tuazon as chair of the Philippine Sports Commission.

Tuazon, a known gun enthusiast and practical shooter, is president of Squires Bingham Arms Inc. and the Philippine Shooters Association.

Nicolas Alonzo is being appointed chair of the Sugar Regulatory Commission.

AFP appointment

On the appointment of the next Armed Forces chief of staff, Vice Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Ismael Z. Villareal yesterday voiced optimism that Estrada would respect the military tradition of merit and seniority in making the choice.

``I would recommend that the presidency follow the system of promoting officers through merit and seniority. After all, the military has always been loyal to the presidency,'' said Villareal, the second highest in command of the AFP.

Villareal, the most senior in the AFP, was reacting to reports that Estrada favored Lt. Gen. Joselin Nazareno, chief of the Southern Command, as the successor of outgoing AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Clemente Mariano.

A top adviser of Estrada earlier said a number of military officers were objecting to the reported appointment of Nazareno on account of his having actively campaigned for Estrada.

This, the adviser said, was in violation of the law mandating the military and the police to be non-partisan during elections.

Villareal said he had not heard of such grumblings against Nazareno but said he had heard Chief Supt. Panfilo Lacson was ``actively moving'' for Nazareno.

Lacson himself was reportedly targeting the top post of the Philippine National Police. But Estrada ruled out the appointment of his former Task Force Habagat chief who, along with 97 other officers, were implicated in the Kuratong Baleleng rubout case.

Officers' pool

Villareal said aside from the military tradition of merit and seniority, the law allowed the President to choose from among the pool of senior military officers. There are 80 lieutenant, major and brigadier generals Estrada can choose from in the current roster of the AFP.

``If the President elects to exercise this executive preference, everybody (in the military) should respect that,'' Villareal said.

Villareal acknowledged he was interested in the position, saying he was the most senior.

``Since I am the number two in command, I think I'm qualified to handle the job without need for any transition,'' Villareal said.

Villareal, who chairs the AFP modernization program board, said the military's top priority should still be internal defense while also focusing on its social, political, administrative, developmental and tactical role.

``We have to go back to the mission of the military, which is to protect the people and its institutions,'' Villareal said.

MILF backs Nazareno

In Digos, Davao del Sur, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front threw its support behind Nazareno, saying his appointment would hasten the peace process which the government is undertaking with the rebel group.

``He was involved from the very beginning of the peace negotiations and now that he is to become the next AFP chief, the MILF believes that he could do a lot in speeding the resolution of the decades-old conflict in Mindanao,'' said Al Haj Murad, MILF vice chair for military affairs.

Murad said past AFP chiefs of staff were not able to deal successfully with his group, and this nearly resulted in the collapse of the talks.

``But with Lieutenant General Nazareno, we are confident that whatever probable conflict could be addressed in the most peaceful manner because he is one of the few military commanders who want to resolve the Mindanao conflict without the use of force and violence,'' Murad said.

Murad said under Nazareno's term as Southcom chief, the number of clashes between the military and MILF rebels was greatly reduced.

Nazareno was commander of the 203rd Brigade based in Maguindanao before he was named as Southcom chief. He is known as the only military commander who can go inside MILF territory without being harmed. With reports from Juliet Labog-Javellana and Allan A. Nawal, PDI Mindanao Bureau

Top 100 Websites
www.google.com
www.youtube.com
www.facebook.com
www.baidu.com
www.yahoo.com
www.wikipedia.org
www.google.co.in
www.qq.com
www.taobao.com
www.amazon.com
www.google.co.jp
www.live.com
www.vk.com
www.twitter.com
www.hao123.com
www.instagram.com
www.sohu.com
www.sina.com.cn
www.360.cn
www.linkedin.com
www.tmall.com
www.weibo.com
www.google.de
www.google.co.uk
www.google.fr
www.soso.com
www.yandex.ru
www.yahoo.co.jp
www.google.ru
www.google.com.br
www.reddit.com
www.onclickads.net
www.ebay.com
www.bing.com
www.google.it
www.t.co
www.aliexpress.com
www.msn.com
www.wordpress.com
www.blogspot.com
www.google.es
www.tumblr.com
www.gmw.cn
www.microsoft.com
www.google.com.mx
www.apple.com
www.ok.ru
www.google.ca
www.stackoverflow.com
www.pornhub.com
www.netflix.com
www.mail.ru
www.popads.net
www.naver.com
www.google.com.hk
www.amazon.co.jp
www.imgur.com
www.imdb.com
www.cnzz.com
www.pinterest.com
www.office.com
www.google.co.kr
www.paypal.com
www.google.com.tr
www.xinhuanet.com
www.github.com
www.google.co.id
www.google.com.au
www.google.com.tw
www.cnn.com
www.adobe.com
www.youku.com
www.xhamster.com
www.tianya.cn
www.fc2.com
www.microsoftonline.com
www.adf.ly
www.diply.com
www.dropbox.com
www.cctv.com
www.google.pl
www.pixnet.net
www.amazon.de
www.blogger.com
www.alibaba.com
www.coccoc.com
www.googleusercontent.com
www.wikia.com
www.twitch.tv
www.people.com.cn
www.amazon.in
www.txxx.com
www.so.com
www.nytimes.com
www.ask.com
www.bbc.com
www.google.com.eg
www.360.com
www.savefrom.net
www.craigslist.org

Sex best cure for impotence
By Thelma Sioson San Juan
Lifestyle Editor
(Fifth of seven parts) - June 1, 1998 - Philippine Daily Inquirer

THE BEST cure for impotence is sex.

It's true, the male organ, like any contraption, falters from less use--or non-use.

This is just among the interesting and rather hard facts we've gathered from urologists as erectile dysfunction--the politically correct and clinical term for impotence--suddenly becomes good lunch topic, and Viagra the juiciest buzz.

Or, hear this. Concerned about the six deaths allegedly from Viagra? How could a man die from it? One possible reason is, the man must have had no sex for years, then suddenly with Viagra, vroom!

The abrupt resumption of this strenuous activity, in an extreme situation, could have taxed an already ailing heart used to a sedentary lifestyle.

While the above scenarios reveal ``cures'' for impotence that may seem odd to people in general, they remain speculative, in the absence of a thorough medical investigation of each case of erectile dysfunction (ED).

For it must be noted that an ED case is a medical condition that must be handled by a medical specialist, usually and ideally by the urologist, and its diagnosis and cure must be related to other medical ailments the ED patient could be suffering from.

An ED condition doesn't exist in a vacuum; it is caused by other diseases or ailments.

Therefore, the approach to it by urologists is always integrated, from the physiological to the psychological.

To go back to sex being the best cure, urologist Benjamin Mendoza who, with 18 other urologists, worked on the Viagra clinical trial for the Philippines, explained:

``Studies say possibilities (of impotence) can be reversed by increasing the oxygenation in the smooth muscles of the penis (so that erection can be achieved). Thus having sex or erection--during which oxygen or blood goes into the penis--is more often the cure for impotence. When the penis is not used, there's the scarring of the smooth muscles which then prevents its dilatation. So in effect, the less it is used, the more the penis falters.''

Conversely, the more a man uses it, the less chance for impotence--that is, if other risk factors for impotence, such as diabetes or alcohol abuse, are not there--or, in the case of those already suffering from ED, the greater the chance of cure.

Contrary to the notion that the hype on Viagra and other anti-impotence remedies must have created, the cure for impotence is no one-bang affair.

Good health

``Primarily, the man must be in a state of good sexual health,'' said Dr. Mendoza, whose ED patients range in age from 24 to 83.

This means one must be fit, with the right exercise, right food, right lifestyle. ``This means less cholesterol, less fat, for cholesterol can block the blood going to the penis,'' he said.

Leading the anti-impotence foods are vegetables. Dr. Mendoza cited okra, even malunggay or sili.

``One must also have the right mind--meaning when we try to cure a patient, we count out marital problems, stress or depression,'' he said.

Apart from his physical health, an ED patient who sees a urologist is drawn his psychological profile, and subjected to laboratory studies (e.g., urinalysis, blood, sugar count).

The urologist first attends to the patient's underlying diseases, such as diabetes, hypertension or heart ailment--in tandem, of course, with other specialists. A patient's erectile dysfunction is cured alongside his other ailments.

From this, it is not hard to see why the abuse of anti-impotence medications, such as Viagra, could lead to serious or even fatal results. Viagra, for instance, cannot be taken when one has a serious heart ailment or is on nitrate.

If a man must take Viagra, it must be only with medical supervision, especially if he has ailments other than impotence.

Goal-oriented

Now, after going through the above steps and still the patient remains impotent, the urologist resorts to what Dr. Mendoza euphemistically called the ``goal-oriented approach'' to treatment.

Simply put, this means the goal is to get it up for the sex act. This is when the urologist prescribes a therapy, or the various means available to achieve erection.

Available to Filipino men now are various aids, namely: the injectible, where one injects this muscle dilator into the penis in mid-shaft and the erection occurs within 5-15 minutes and can be sustained for about 45 minutes; the pump, where air created in a cylinder sucks the penis erect; the Medicated Urethral Suppository for Erection (MUSE), where pellets, with the use of syringe, are shot into the penis tip, then they melt and get absorbed in about five minutes.

Curiously, there are ED patients who agree to these therapies, no matter how contrived, inconvenient or painful they seem. When told that the mere sight of such contraptions is enough to snuff romance out of both the man and his partner, Mendoza said, rather detachedly, ``On the contrary, I generally suggest that it's the man's partner who should administer these. For sex is supposed to be a mutual act. Let's remember that for every man with ED, there's a woman suffering from anxieties.''

How can one argue against that, especially when Dr. Mendoza pointed out that often, it's the women who come to him and his colleagues to help find a cure for their partner's ED.

Now comes Viagra, the first oral anti-impotence pill which undoubtedly seems so convenient when put alongside the existing contraptions on the market.

Growing concern

However, the emergence of Viagra goes beyond the convenience or novelty of it. A bigger issue here is that, worldwide, not only is there a greater awareness of ED as a growing health concern. More important also, the understanding of ED is changing.

Before, ED was automatically classified as a solely psychological problem. ``Before, I'd readily refer to a psychiatrist an ED patient. But after the injectibles and other similar therapies came, we started to understand ED as an organic problem--related to a disease or physiology,'' explained Dr. Mendoza.

Even the approach and understanding of the cure for ED are evolving with the new millennium.

In other words, if you have ED, you are not necessarily a nut, although you could be going nuts. (Tomorrow: Testimonials from Filipino men on Viagra)

PAL gets OK to replace 600 pilots
By Armand Nocum
Published June 10, 1998 - Philippine Daily Inquirer

ABOUT 600 striking Philippine Airlines pilots defied a new government deadline to return to work Tuesday despite a warning by the labor secretary he would authorize the troubled airline to hire replacements.

''Nobody has walked in,'' an airline spokesman said nearly an hour after the 6 p.m. deadline set by the labor department lapsed.

Labor Secretary Cresenciano Trajano said the strikers ''were now deemed to have abandoned their jobs, thus allowing management to hire replacements.''

Officials of the Airlines Pilots Association of the Philippines (Alpap), who had vowed to continue their strike to the bitter end, were meeting Tuesday evening. They could not be contacted for comment.

Capt. Florencio Umali, Alpap spokesperson, earlier said the union received Trajano's return-to-work order only yesterday morning.

PAL president Jose Antonio Garcia said the cash-strapped airline had agreed to take the strikers back if they complied with the Tuesday deadline. On Sunday it had fired all the striking pilots, calling their action illegal.

Garcia said the 4-day-old strike had caused several potential foreign buyers of the airline, including Northwest Airlines, to break off talks and could force the airline to shut down. (Related story at the Business section)

''Closing PAL is an option. If there are no pilots and operations, what work can we do?'' Garcia said to reporters after attending an emergency meeting of the PAL board of directors called to discuss the strike.

The union began the strike Friday night to protest a new management policy of ordering pilots to retire who have reached 20 years of service or flown 20,000 hours, regardless of age. The policy puts about 200 pilots in danger of forced retirement, the union said.

PAL, however, said it was not a unilateral management policy but a provision in a collective bargaining agreement signed by airline and union officials.

The airline earlier announced plans to reduce staff, slash costs and cut flights to survive a financial crisis.

Brink of insolvency
The strike, which has forced the cancellations of most international and domestic flights, has caused daily losses of P150 million to P200 million in lost revenue, pushing PAL ''closer to the brink of insolvency,'' airline officials said.

PAL said Monday it had lost P8 billion pesos in the last fiscal year--three times more than the previous year. PAL tried to recover from its spiralling losses with an ambitious $4-billion modernization program in 1996, ordering 36 new aircraft.

But Asia's currency crisis sharply reduced passenger numbers and bloated the airline's debt in local currency terms, forcing it to delay many of the orders.

Garcia said PAL had notified its creditor banks of the strike, but added the airline was not yet seeking debt relief.

Ramos appeal
Earlier Tuesday, President Ramos urged the striking pilots to return to work, saying the disruption of PAL operations was an embarrassment to the government.

''It is the hardening of the positions which I deplore,'' Mr. Ramos told reporters.

He warned the dispute, which had stranded thousands of passengers here and abroad, ''could go on forever unless they (sit) down at the negotiating table.''

''But first, everybody must comply with the return to work order'' issued by the labor department, he added.

Mr. Ramos said the strike ''has negative implications on our international image,'' while also working to erode the value of the government's minority 33 percent stake in the airline, now controlled by tobacco and beer tycoon Lucio Tan.

Mr. Ramos said he sucessfully mediated a similar dispute involving the PAL ground crew during a 1996 strike because both sides were then willing to accommodate each other and ''therefore there was a chance of doing this by just persuasion and cooperation.''

''But now it appears that the issues have been put forth in such a very difficult situation so that it will now need an agency mandated by the law which is the (labor department) plus its subsidiaries to work out a solution.''

Labor Secretary Trajano was forced to delay his departure for an International Labor Organization conference in Geneva on Monday so he could give ''priority to this very important mission'' of resolving the PAL dispute, Ramos said.

PAL, Asia's first airline, had been completely owned by the Philippine government from 1941 until it was partly sold in 1992. Reports by Nelson Flores, Lynda T. Jumilla, and Inquirer wires

Biological pollution threatens RP flora and fauna
June 10, 1998 - Philippine Daily Inquirer

Air and water pollution are not the only threats to the environment. There is such a thing as biological pollution, which has become a major concern for the government in its biodiversity conservation program.

Biological pollution refers to the introduction of alien species to the Philippines' natural environment, thereby threatening the existence of local endemic and indigenous species, particularly in the marine and agricultural ecosystems. It is identified in the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources as a concern that needs immediate attention.

In assessing the current biodiversity status in the country, the DENR cited exotic species that were introduced at various times in Philippine waters: the giant catfish, black bass, white goby, marine toad, American bullfrog, leopard frog, golden apple snail, water hyacinth and water fern.

Environment secretary Victor Ramos said that except for the white goby, whose introduction was accidental, all of these species were intentionally introduced into the country.

The effects have radically changed the local fishery scene, and have led to the extinction of some of the indigenous species. The introduction of the giant catfish could lead to the displacement of the native hito. The black bass has caused the disappearance of the original fish population oof Caliraya lake.

The white goby, inadvertently included in the milkfish Chanos chanos in the seeding of Lake Lanao in Mindanao is now the dominant fish species in the lake. It has caused the extinction of most of the 15 species of cyprinids from Lake Lanao.

The marine toad has caused the depletion of several species of native frogs from Dumaguete City. The American bullfrog and the leopard frog could displace native frogs, while the golden apple snail could displace the native kuhol. The water hyacinth and water fern could modify the native ecosystem.

Ramos likewise cited the intentional and accidental introduction of many plant speicies, 475 of which are found in Metro Manila and 225 are found in cultivation. These include species yielding food, cereals, most fruit trees, condiments, medicinal plants and most of the commonly cultivated ornamentals.

The environment secretary said many of these plants were introduced in pre-historic times primarily from the Malayan region. A high percentage entered the country in the past 400 years, including those of American origin.

"The exotic species have been successfully introduced at the expense of the native wildlife," he added. "The species were directly introduced through predation, competition and hybridization. They were indirectly introduced through parasites and habitat alteration." Environment News Network

Vietnam reports some 50 Million internet users

HANOI - Vietnam has an estimated 50 million internet users, accounting for more than 53 percent of the country's population, higher than the world's average rate of 46.64 percent, according to Vietnam's Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC) on Thursday.

Nguyen Thanh Hai, director of the MIC's Authority of Information Security, was quoted by local Ha Noi Moi (New Hanoi) newspaper as saying that the country targeted to increase the proportion of internet users to 80 percent to 90 percent of its population, the same as that of developed countries.

Speaking at a recent seminar on Digital Citizenship and Safer Internet Day 2017, Vu Hoang Lien, chairman of the Vietnam Internet Association, said Vietnam ranks 16th among top 20 countries with most internet users in Asia.

However, the country is facing numerous challenges and difficulties, including those in information technology and internet infrastructure, human resource development, information security, cyber security, and cyber war among others. (PNA/Xinhua)

Do Not Forbid Him!

Now John answered Him, saying, "Teacher, we saw someone who does not follow us casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow us." Mark 9:38

At first glance, it appears a noble thing that Jesus’ disciples kept such careful guard over the orthodoxy of Jesus’ ministry. They found someone casting out demons in Jesus’ name who was not a part of their group and not under their control, and they demanded that he stop. Yet Jesus saw through His disciples’ hypocrisy. The disciples themselves had been given the power to drive out demons as well (Matt. 10:, yet they had failed miserably (Mark 9:28).

How it must have embarrassed the disciples to have publicly failed to cast out a demon from a young boy. Yet, here was someone successfully exorcising demons who was not even regularly with Jesus as they were. They should have been concerned with their own lack of spiritual power and vitality. They should have felt convicted by their Lord’s stinging rebuke at their lack of faith (Matt. 17:20). Instead, they focused on others. Rather than repenting of their sin and grieving over their spiritual impotence, the disciples attempted to hinder someone who was enjoying spiritual success.

At times, it is easier to diminish others’ spiritual victories than to honestly confront our own failures. Jesus’ response to His disciples must have surprised them as He said, “Do not forbid him” (Mark 9:39). He assured them that “he who is not against us is on our side” (v. 40). Have you learned this vital lesson? Are you able to genuinely rejoice in the spiritual victories of others? Are you encouraging those who serve the Lord in a different way or who belong to a different group than you do?      Henry and Richard Blackaby

Globe Telecom tops Asiamoney’s Best Managed Companies in PHL

MANILA, Feb. 23 (PNA) -- Globe Telecom has emerged on top of Asiamoney’s Best Managed Companies poll for large-cap companies in the Philippines.

Companies were nominated on the basis of product/service innovation; rising market share; leadership in its industry; financial performance; consistency of performance; executive leadership and corporate governance. The poll covers the markets of Australia, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines.

“This recognition affirms the company’s excellent execution of its strategy of providing customers not only with the most innovative products and services but also the best possible experience in terms of network speed and reliability,” Globe Senior Vice President for Corporate Communications Yoly Crisanto said in a statement.

Globe delivered a record performance in 2015, surpassing its record performance the previous year, posting new highs in service revenues, EBITDA, and earnings. Amid intense industry competition, the company registered broad-based data-driven growth across its key services.

The company has solidified its leadership in the digital space by focusing on improving customer experience and by riding with the shift toward greater data consumption across all segments.

In 2016, Globe sustained the top line growth momentum as consolidated service revenues reached a fresh record of PHP120 billion, up by 6 percent from the PHP113.7 billion recorded in 2015. The company’s efforts in providing market-relevant data offers that cater to the evolving needs of its customers, backed by significant improvements in its wireless and wired data networks, have paved the way for its continued success.

It also spent PHP36.7 billion in capital expenditures (capex) in 2016 to support the growing subscriber base and its aggressive data network expansion. Of the total capex, 65 percent was spent for data-related initiatives. This also includes spending on the deployment for LTE on 700 MHz.

Last year, Globe was conferred the Frost & Sullivan Philippines Telecom Service Provider of the Year Award and Mobile Service Provider of the Year Award for having demonstrated exemplary growth and performance in 2015. Both awards were evaluated based on the number of subscribers, subscriber growth, revenue growth, EBITDA margin and net margin.

The company was also named by Frost & Sullivan Asia Pacific as Telecom Service Provider of the Year award for 2016, also in recognition of the company’s impressive business performance the previous year.

Frost & Sullivan Best Practices Awards recognize companies in a variety of regional and global markets for demonstrating outstanding achievement and superior performance in areas such as leadership, technological innovation, customer service, and strategic product development.

Globe Business receives PCI DSS certification, assures enterprise clients of data security

MANILA, Feb. 24 (PNA) -- Globe Business, the information and communications technology arm of Globe Telecom, has received the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) compliance certification version 3.2 which assures its enterprise clients of the company’s commitment to maintain confidentiality of all information that it stores, processes, and transmits.

PCI DSS was founded by top global credit card brands such as MasterCard, Visa, American Express, JCB International, and Discover Financial Services to reduce credit card fraud. All companies which handle cardholder data need to be PCI DSS compliant as proof that their network is secured. Compliance is validated annually by an external Qualified Security Assessor (QSA) such as the US-based Crimson Security, Inc. which conducted the assessment of Globe Business.

“We are happy to note that we were able to pass the stringent requirements to get this certificate. It gives assurance to our customers that we did all we can to comply with the most stringent standards in protecting customer data. What is very clear in Globe is we take security very seriously. This shows the emphasis we have on security awareness among our customers and among our staff. We take a lot of audits on our own to ensure that we are compliant internally before we do the external audit,” said Robert Tan, Globe Chief Technical Advisor.

Mike Frausing, Senior Advisor for Globe Business said, “The Data Privacy Act imposes very tough rules and severe penalties. Thus, it is incumbent on us to actually educate both our clients and our employees on security awareness. Fraud is increasing everyday so we must have the right processes in place to allow data to traverse into our network securely. We need to keep up with industry best practices to do service to ourselves and to our customers.”

Critical computer systems of private and government entities are often targeted by professional hackers who exploit vulnerabilities in the system by sending malicious codes to disrupt operations, expose confidential information, and steal money, among others. This can, therefore, result in substantial financial loss and damage to reputation.

Realizing the huge risks that security breach may entail, Globe Business continuously develops ways to prevent its clients from becoming victims of the rising number of cybersecurity threats especially those coming from abroad.

At present, Globe Business offers managed security solutions that allow enterprises to migrate security threats before they happen.

The solutions allow seamless communication between enterprises and their customers by keeping servers up and running with Distributed Denial of Service (DDos) protection, maintain efficiency of operations by stopping malicious traffic from reaching the network using managed firewall, and provide comprehensive protection against emerging and current threats at the network and application level before they inflict any damage through Intrusion Detection and Prevention (IDP). (PNA)

Php1.5-B SM mall puts Legazpi City in map as Bicol’s trading hub -- mayor

LEGAZPI CITY, Feb. 23 (PNA) â€"- Legazpi City Mayor Noel E. Rosal welcomed the start of civil works construction for the P1.5-billion SM-Legazpi, a public-private partnership between Henry Sy’s SM Prime Holdings and the city government, which Rosal said puts Legazpi in the map as a trading hub not just in the Bicol region but possibly in Southern Luzon, and which also promises to generate employment for thousands of people in the provinces.

The groundbreaking ceremony was held on Wednesday for the SM supermall complex at the 5.8-hectare land adjacent to the City Grand Terminal and Ibalong Centrum for Recreation which is at the heart of the city’s central business district in Barangay Bitano.

Bishop Joel Baylon of the diocese of Legazpi blessed the time capsules during the groundbreaking for the three-story complex that will occupy 84,000 square meters of land area.

Rosal said the entry of giant business groups in Legazpi signifies the city as a center of investment in Bicol with the city’s neighboring municipalities and provinces expected to be a strong market for these groups.

He said the city has become a center of trade in Bicol because Legazpi is strategically located, with four million people from the provinces of Sorsogon, Catanduanes, Masbate-â€"all in Bicol, and the Samar and Leyte provinces in the Visayas, doing their shopping in the city.

“Huwag tayong matakot (let us not be afraid) if we want to be known. We have to be aggressive if we want opportunities to come that would be for everyone,” he said.

He added that “we just don’t see things happen but rather we make thing happen.”

Annie Garcia, president of the SM Super Mall in Legazpi, said the mall is expected to be opened by the second quarter of 2018. She said it will be a typhoon-resilient structure that can withstand strong howlers.

To jump start the project, Garcia said the company would bring in thousands of local and national jobs aside from the other workers that the firm would be bringing in to construct the mall.

She said the company will follow the local ordinance in the hiring of local personnel and will “strive to be the best employers of choice in nurturing the community and serve as a catalyst for growth.”

Rosal said the SM joint venture is a way of decongesting Manila and of providing opportunities for employment in the provinces. “The mall is expected to provide around 4,000 jobs to Legazpeňos and residents from neighboring cities and municipalities.”

He added he will wait for completion of the construction of the Bicol International Airport (BIA) in Barangay Alobo, Daraga, groundbreaking for which was started in December last year, so that he could establish an economic zone in the current Legazpi airport area that would be vacated.

Rosal said the economic zone could be offered as one whole package to other giant investors from Metro Manila like the Ayala Group of companies, Mega World and other big corporations.

He said the city would remain a top tourism destination in the country’s tourism road map owing to the majestic Mayon Volcano, its resorts, hotels and restaurants.

Rosal said these businesses will create more employment opportunities for the community and contribute to the city’s local coffers by way of business taxes that the city can use for health and social services, infrastructure and environmental projects.

Garcia said the SM mall offers hundreds of stalls that would feature local and high-end merchandises such as shoes, bags, clothing apparels and appliances. There will be hardwares, bookstores, restaurants and coffee shops, she added.

Aside from the stores, the complex would house six state-of-the-art cinema houses and will have a multi-level parking area that can accommodate at least 800 cars.

Including the upcoming SM Mall, Legazpi City would have at least eight major malls. These are the LCC-Ayala Mall, LCC Mall, Metro Pacific Gaisano Mall, Embarcadero, Yashano, 101 Mall and Gregorian Mall.

The LCC (Liberty Commercial Center)-Ayala twin mall is being managed by the Tan Family with the Ayala Group of Companies as its partner while the Gaisano Mall is owned by the Cebu City-based Gaisano family’s group of corporations.

Yashano Mall is owned by the Hong Family while 101 Mall is owned by a local businessman.

The Gregorian Mall, a public-private partnership of the city government and WholeGrain Land Inc. is located at Old Albay District across the City hall building and Albay Cathedral Church while Embarcadero shopping complex, located in the harbor area in the southern part of the city's business district, is owned by businessman Rizaldy Co.

Rosal said the Gokongwei Group of Companies is also planning to construct in the city the Robinson’s Galleria de Legazpi which is patterned after Robinsons Galleria de Cebu.

He said it will also be located at the adjacent area where the SM Super Mall is being built-- in Barangay Bitano.

The four-level shopping mall, which will have a multi-level parking area will house the Summit Hotel, Go Hotel and a Business Process Outsourcing center.

SM-Legazpi is the second SM supermall to be built in the Bicol region after the one in Naga City in Camarines Sur. (PNA)

PSBank 2016 net income up 4.26%

MANILA, Feb. 24 (PNA) -- Strong growth of core income boosted Philippine Savings Bank's (PSBank) 2016 net income by 4.25 percent to Php 2.45 billion from the previous year's Php 2.35 billion.

In a disclosure with the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) Friday, the thrift banking arm of the Metrobank Group said core income, which covers net interest margin and fees and commissions, last year rose by 11.6 percent from 2015's Php 9.68 billion to Php 10.80 billion.

This brought the return-on-average equity, which measures a company's ability to generate profit, to 12.5 percent, it said.

Total loan portfolio registered a double-digit jump of 11.4 percent to Php 129.2 billion from year-ago's Php 116 billion "mainly driven by the significant increase in auto and mortgage loans."

Amid the rise in loans, the bank said net non-performing loans (NPL) ratio remained low at 1.1 percent and the NPL coverage ratio was still high at 88.6 percent.

Low-cost deposits rose by 19.1 percent, enabling the total deposits to increase by 17.9 percent year-on-year to Php 158.39 billion.

Data shows total resources rose by 16.3 percent to Php 196.9 billion; capital adequacy ratio (CAR), a guage of a bank's financial health, stood at 14.1 percent; and tier 1 ratio ended at 11.1 percent.

PSBank president Vicente R. Cuna Jr. said "2016 was a good year for PSBank."

"Aside from strengthening our core business, the Bank was also conferred with several new and back-to-back recognition from local and international award-giving bodies, acknowledging our ability to come up with innovative product offerings and provide exceptional end-to-end customer experience," he said.

"Such recognition drive us to continue to provide the best banking experience to our clients with products and services that are simple and reliable," he added. (PNA)
RMA/JSV/RSM

ePLDT partners with Dell EMC to strengthen enterprise services

MANILA, Feb. 24 (PNA) -- PLDT Group digital enterprise arm ePLDT Inc. has partnered with Dell EMC to align their strengths and technical expertise in offering transformational business value to clients in the country.

Both companies are pursuing to simply business processes for customers through innovative solutions from a single vendor consortium with a single point of contact.

ePLDT Group Chief Operating Officer Nerisse Ramos said that digital transformation helped enterprises to stay ahead of the competition.

For ePLDT to accelerate the delivery of these solutions, engaging in a partnership with like-minded IT innovators such as Dell EMC is “more important than ever.”

“As one of the premier system integrators in the country, ePLDT leverages on continuous product and service innovation to give customers a competitive advantage in the market,” Ramos said in a statement.

“This is why the partnership with Dell EMC is a strategic fit. Together, we will deliver solutions that are relevant and meaningful to enterprises and empower businesses with best practices that are at par with international standards,” he added.

For his part, Chris Papa, Dell EMC Channels General Manager, emphasized both the companies’ commitment in drawing up unique IT solutions geared towards helping customers achieve their business objectives and more.

He said, “Dell EMC is passionate about providing our customers with a comprehensive IT ecosystem â€" from edge to core to cloud. Our partnership with ePLDT, an industry leader in digital innovation and one of the premier system integrators in the country, further expands our leadership in navigating Philippine IT landscape, identifying the right solution to address customers’ needs, and help them innovate and move idea or concept to a robust deployment.”

Dell EMC is a subsidiary of Dell Inc., which offers a trusted foundation for businesses to transform IT through the creation of hybrid cloud and transform business through the creation of cloud-native applications, and big data solutions. (PNA)

Century Pacific named ‘Best Managed Company’

MANILA, Feb. 24 (PNA) -- Listed Century Pacific Food Inc. (CNPF), the Philippines’ largest canned food company, has been awarded by Asiamoney as the country's Best Managed Company in 2016, under the Small Cap category.

Asiamoney is one of the leading financial publications in Asia Pacific, providing news, opinion and data service for people and institutions in the international capital markets.

It gave recognition to Century Pacific for its “clarity of strategy and adept use of marketing”.

The company “emphasizes the health advantages of its products, appealing to young consumers that value a recognizable brand and clean living”, Asiamoney said.

In a recently concluded annual poll, over 180 chief investment officers, portfolio managers and research analysts were surveyed across Asia to select the region’s best firms and executives.

The winners were cited for a combination of factors, including financial performance, innovation and strategic execution.

Century Pacific’s Chief Finance Officer Oscar Pobre said, “We are honored to be recognized as one of the best managed companies in the country. We remain committed to excellence in our performance, even as we face a more challenging environment this year.”

Pobre received the award on behalf of the company in a recognition ceremony in Hong Kong, last Feb. 22.

Century Pacific is engaged in the development, marketing and distribution of processed fish, meat, dairy, and coconut under its own brands, as well as the brands of others.

The company is behind household names Century Tuna, Argentina Corned Beef, 555 Sardines, Angel Milk and Birch Tree.

It maintains market leadership in the canned fish and canned meat segments, while actively growing its presence in canned and powdered milk. (PNA)

Premium Leisure's profit up 419% to Php 1.2B in 2016
By Leslie D. Venzon

MANILA, Feb. 24 (PNA) -- Premium Leisure Corp. (PLC), the gaming and investment arm of SM Group, booked a 419-percent surge in profit in 2016 mainly driven by higher gaming share revenues from its integrated resort and casino City of Dreams Manila.

PLC told the local bourse its consolidated net income reached Php `1.2 billion in 2016 from Php 223.2 million the previous year.

It attributed the significant growth also to the full-year consolidation of Pacific Online Systems Corp. (POSC) in 2016.

PLC, formerly known as Sinophil Corp., has ownership stakes in Premium Leisure and Amusement, Inc. (PLAI) and POSC.

PLAI is a co-licensee in City of Dreams Manila located within Pagcor’s landmark Entertainment City and has a share in the gaming revenues of this project.

City of Dreams Manila is built in partnership with MCE Leisure, a wholly-owned indirect subsidiary of Melco Crown Philippines.

The integrated resort and casino commenced operation on Dec. 14, 2014 and had its grand opening in February 2015.

POSC, a 50.7 percent-owned subsidiary of PLC, is engaged in the development, design, and management of lottery software and terminals for its principal client, state-run Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO). (PNA)

IMF mission team cites PHL economic growth-supportive monetary policy, importance of tax reforms

MANILA, Feb. 24 (PNA) -- An International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission team that visited the Philippines from Feb. 20-24, 2017 found the country's monetary policy supportive of domestic expansion, with the latter forecasts to average at 6.8 percent for 2017.

In a statement Friday, the IMF said the mission team, led by Luis E. Breuer, found that the Interest Rate Corridor (IRC), which the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) implemented since June 2016, "has strengthened monetary transmission."

The auction- and information technology-based IRC is aimed at further strengthening the relationship between the central bank’s policy rates and money market interest rates as well as better manage inflation and promote long-term sustainable expansion of the economy.

With its implementation, the policy-making Monetary Board (MB) cut the BSP's overnight lending or repurchase (RP) rate to 3.5 percent from six percent and the overnight borrowing or reverse repurchase (RRP) rate to three percent from four percent.

The 2.5 percent rate of the special deposit account (SDA) facility was kept.

The RRP serves as the IRC's key rate, the RP rate is the ceiling rate and the SDA is the floor rate.

The IMF mission team also said the central bank had appropriately allowed the exemptions on the single borrower's limit to lapse, which reduces concentration risks in the banking sector."

The single borrower's limit (SBL) was approved for a three-year implementation starting in 2010 but was extended for another three years to ensure fund sources for projects included in the public-private partnership (PPP) initiative.

However, the BSP's MB decided to let the extension lapse by Dec. 28, 2016 after noting that "there are sufficient feasible funding alternatives already available to PPP project proponents" such as entry of more foreign banks.

The IMF team also supported the approval of the first package of the Duterte government's proposed comprehensive tax reform program (CTRP), noting that this is "critical to sustain the rise in expenditures targeted in the medium term fiscal framework, which is anchored on a three percent GDP (gross domestic product) deficit."

"Fiscal policy is appropriately focused on the medium term objectives of addressing the infrastructure gap and inequalities and should be supported by public financial management reforms," it said.

It pointed out that "over the medium term, a continuation of sound macroeconomic policies and structural reforms would be important to sustain investor confidence and make growth more inclusive."

"Key reforms include those aimed at raising productive investment, opening up the economy to greater competition and foreign investments, and reducing poverty such as by removing the quantitative restrictions on rice imports," it said.

The next IMF team is expected to visit the Philippines by midyear for the Article IV consultation. (PNA)

Fortune General Insurance posts 7.14% gross premium growth in 2016
By Joann Santiago

MANILA, Feb. 24 (PNA) -- Fortune General Insurance (FGen) posted a record high of Php 600 million gross premiums in 2016, up 7.14 percent from Php 566 million the previous year.

"We dedicate this performance to the memory of our late founder and former chairman, Ambassador Antonio Cabangon Chua, who never failed to inspire our people to expand our reach and continue improving," FGen President and COO Michael F. Rellosa said.

Last year, FGen shareholders increased the company's capital through the issuance of Php 60 million-worth of fresh equity, allowing the entity to surpass the new minimum capital requirement of Php 550 million.

Cabangon Chua died in March 2016 and Rellosa said FGen's new leaders continued the goals set by the company's founder.

"Our present Chairman, Mr. Jesus Antonio Cabangon Jr., is continuing our founder's legacy and is pushing us to innovate, embrace disruption and make our systems customer-centric," Rellosa said.

Rellosa said they were set to launch a campaign dubbed "FGEn4NxtGen" targeted for millenials who account for majority of the country's population.

"We would like to help these young people manage their risks and protect their hard-earned assets through insurance," he added. (PNA)

Gerry’s Grill opens 3rd US branch in Honolulu

MANILA, Feb. 25 (PNA) -- Popular homegrown Filipino restaurant Gerry’s Restaurant and Bar opened its third branch in the US in the Kalihi neighborhood in Honolulu, Hawaii recently, the Department of Foreign Affairs has announced in a news release.

Gerry’s Restaurant and Bar, formerly known as Gerry’s Grill, is famous for its signature Filipino dishes, such as sizzling 'sisig', grilled seafood, pork barbecue, and crispy 'pata'.

The other two US branches are located in Orange County and Union City, both in California. Gerry’s is set to open another branch in Houston, Texas.

Gerry’s has more than 90 branches worldwide, mostly in the Philippines, three in the US, two in Singapore, and one in Qatar.

Gerry’s Restaurant and Bar founder Gerry Apolinario, Joe Quibuyen, franchise owners of the Hawaii branch, and Consul Joyleen Santos of the Philippine Consulate General in Honolulu led the ribbon-cutting ceremony, following a blessing of the 150-seater restaurant and its crew by Fr. Danny Laeda, a Filipino parish priest in Honolulu. (PNA)
CVL/SFM-PR

China overtakes US as Germany's main trade partner: German data

BERLIN, Feb. 25 (PNA/Xinhua) -- China has overtaken the United States to become Germany's most important trading partner last year, according to data from the Federal Statistics Office (Destatis) released on Friday.

Data showed that goods with a value of 170 billion euros (about USD180.3 billion) were traded between China and Germany in 2016.

France was the second most important trade partner, with total trade with Germany valued at 167 billion euros in the same year. The US was relegated to third place, with total trade volume with Germany amounting to 165 billion euros.

Nevertheless, the US remained the most important export destination for German goods, with 107 billion euros "made in Germany" products making the transatlantic journey.

The US only held the crown of Germany's most lucrative trade relationship in 2015. Before that, France had been the most important partner for every year since 1975. (PNA/Xinhua)
CVL/RCG

MMDA suspends road reblocking projects

MANILA, Feb. 25 (PNA) -- The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has suspended road reblocking projects until further notice and asked the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to have their construction works completed by Monday.

It has also required all DPWH contractors to submit the schedule of completion of their projects, warning that charges will be filed against them if they fail to comply.

These initiatives came as the MMDA advised motorists to brace for heavy traffic along EDSA southbound due to the unfinished drainage works after the Magallanes interchange.

"As a temporary measure and to make it passable to motorists, we have put steel plates on the area. But this still causes the motorists to slow down, which results in traffic build-up," MMDA General Manager Thomas Orbos said in a statement.

The DPWH drainage improvement project was granted a permit by the MMDA last year but was temporarily stopped during the moratorium on all road repairs and diggings for the Christmas season.

C&F Construction, the contractor of the project, resumed its works on Thursday morning without prior coordination with MMDA. The agency is contemplating on filing the appropriate charges against C&F Construction.

"If we were informed that they will resume construction, we would have prepared a traffic management plan on the area and at least augment the number of enforcers there," Orbos pointed out.

The construction along EDSA-Cabrera resulted in heavy traffic on the southbound direction up to Balintawak on Thursday. (PNA)

Gov't, Coca-Cola tie up to provide clean water to water-scarce communities

MANILA, Feb. 22 (PNA) -- A subsidiary of beverage firm Coca-Cola Company has committed technical and funding support for the installation of water access technology to water-scarce communities in the country over the next four years.

Coca-Cola Far East, Ltd (CCFEL) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Department of Agriculture (DA) wherein the former would provide water-poor communities access to clean water under its Coca-Cola Agos project.

“(This) will serve as the means to help achieve CCFEL’s water replenishment commitments and the DA’s promotion of small farmers’ development,” said Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol.

Under the MOU, the DA will identify the beneficiaries through the Special Areas for Agricultural Development (SAAD), a project intended to increase food production and alleviate poverty in the 10 provinces.

The CCFEL, for its part, will assist the DA in the social preparation and capacity-building of the community in terms of maintaining the water facility, proper caring for the natural water resource environment, and organizing water association.

The community beneficiaries will come from the country’s 10 marginalized provinces that have existing natural sources of water that are difficult to access for agricultural use.

“We need to have good farmers who are willing to organize a water association; willing to undergo various capacity-building and trainings; and willing to participate in any post-project evaluation and documentation activities,” Piñol said.

The agriculture chief said a team from the DA will work closely with CCFEL to provide technical expertise all throughout the project implementation. (PNA)

Volvo eyes long haul transportation segment in India

NEW DELHI, Feb. 24 (PNA/PTI) -- Swedish commercial vehicles major Volvo is eyeing long haul transportation segment in India with GST rollout expected to spur growth of the category.

The company, which makes premium trucks for specialised sectors like mining, buses and construction equipment, also aims to cut logistics cost by achieving greater efficiency and minimising wastage.

"With GST coming in and changes in taxation, there will be positive changes in the transport sector and we would like to play a role, for instance in the long haulage transport, which would be more effective now with cross-border traffic between various states," Volvo Group Chief Sustainability Officer and Chairman of the Board of Volvo India, Niklas Gustafsson told PTI.

Currently, he said, due to the long wait for commercial vehicles at state borders for paying entry taxes, it is not economically viable to operate such large long haul trucks.

The company believes it can be part of the solution for transporting goods over long distances, he added.

The GST would replace a plethora of cascading central, state, inter-state and local taxes with a single, nation-wide, value-added tax on goods and services.

The government now expects to roll out GST by July 1 after revising its April 1, 2016, target.

Elaborating further on the company's roadmap, Volvo India Managing Director Kamal Bali said that so far, it only had presence in mining segment as far as its trucks were concerned.

"In mining sector, value proposition of Volvo trucks is very strong. Our efficiency and productivity was 30 per cent more than competition but when it came to long haul transportation due to interstate borders, the advantage disappeared because of the long wait at the borders."

With GST roll out round the corner promising seamless movement of trucks across state borders, Volvo trucks would be able to cover a lot of distance.

"Today, trucks in India do an average of around 250 km daily and that can go up to as high as 800 kms. That is where Volvo technology will come into play," Bali said.

The company already has the trucks which can do long distance haulage of goods in the country, he added.

"Besides, the next possible step in India is to check wastage..logistics cost in India is 13 per cent of the GDP which is very high. The global average is around 7-8 per cent so, I think efficiency will play a vital role," Gustafsson said.

Bali said the company is doing a lot of work in IT and technology area and big part of its vehicle engineering and design is happening at Bengaluru.

"Also, Volvo group is sprucing up Eicher range in the heavy duty trucks segment..it's happening both ways -- the synergies between Eicher and Volvo group," he added.

Volvo Group has a joint venture with Eicher Motors in India -- VE Commercial Vehicles.

When asked about the impact of demonetisation on the company, Bali said: "There was a temporary impact for 1-2 months but the trucking segment bounced back in January. (PNA/PTI)
LOR/RSM

Antoni Zygmund
born Dec. 26, 1900, Warsaw, Russian Empire [now in Poland]

died May 30, 1992, Chicago, Ill., U.S.

Polish-born mathematician who exerted a major influence on 20th-century mathematics, particularly in harmonic analysis, a field utilized in science and technology for the formulation of descriptions of periodic phenomena such as waves, vibrations, and regularly repeating structures.

Zygmund graduated from the University of Warsaw (Ph.D. 1923) and taught there (1926â€"29) and at the Polytechnical School in Warsaw (1922â€"29). After a year in England on a Rockefeller fellowship, he became professor of mathematics at the University of Wilno (later Vilnius, Lithuania). In 1940, following a period of service in the Polish army, he fled his war-scarred homeland to the United States. After successive posts at Mount Holyoke College and the University of Pennsylvania, Zygmund joined the faculty of the University of Chicago, where he remained until his retirement in 1980.

Zygmund's legacy for nearly six decades of teaching included more than 80 Ph.D. students and hundreds of second-generation mathematical descendants. In 1986 he received the U.S. National Medal of Science for creating the so-called Chicago School of Analysis, which focused on Fourier analysis and its applications to partial differential equations. He wrote Trigonometric Series (1935 and later editions), Analytic Functions (1938, with Stanislaw Saks), and Measure and Integral (1977, with R.L. Wheeden). Zygmund held membership in the national academies of science of the United States, Poland, Argentina, and Spain.

Cayetano lauds Trump's support for independent foreign policy
Sees better RP-US relations

“We will seek friendship and goodwill with the nations of the world - but we do so with the understanding that it is the right of all nations to put their own interests first. We do not seek to impose our way of life on anyone, but rather to let it shine as an example for everyone to follow.” â€" President Donald Trump

We welcome the pronouncement of newly inaugurated United States President Donald Trump to seek friendship with other nations while respecting each country's own national interests.

We can see how, much like President Rodrigo Duterte, President Trump is driven by a strong fervor of patriotism and nationalism. They both focus on having an independent foreign policy that benefits their respective people and nations.

For our part, a truly independent foreign policy allows the Philippines to craft its own destiny with our national interest and the immediate improvement of the lives of our people as the paramount consideration.

We look forward to a stronger relationship with the US, a kind that will be based on mutual trust and respect.

We expect all agencies and instrumentalities of the United States of America to stand by and pursue this policy of mutual respect, cooperation, and non-interference.

We congratulate President Trump and his family and pray for his and America's success.

Senator Cayetano: ‘comprehensive approach’ needed to end usurious 5-6 scheme

Senator Alan Peter Cayetano stressed the need to enact a ‘comprehensive approach’ to end the problem of poor Filipinos falling prey to usurious money lending schemes just to get enough capital for their livelihood.

When asked about his stand on President Rodrigo Duterte’s policy on microfinance, the senator said the administration, with the help of Congress and other government and private institutions, has come up with a plan to finally put an end to the practice of the ‘5-6' money lending scheme.

Cayetano said he had discussed with Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), the Land Bank of the Philippines, and five non-government organizations (NGOs), the President's directive to provide the poor with capital.

“Kaya this year, through the efforts of myself, the senators, Secretary Lopez, and (Budget) Secretary (Benjamin) Diokno, nagkaroon ng P1 billion fund ang DTI para sa anti-5-6,” he said in a press conference last Friday (January 20).

Congress recently approved Department of Trade & Industry (DTI)’s P1-billion worth of “Pondo para sa Pagbabago at Pag-asenso” or P3, which will be used to grant loans to small businesses with minimal interest.

As for Duterte’s earlier directive to arrest Indian nationals in the country who are involved in 5-6, Cayetano said the ones whom the President actually wants arrested are illegal money lenders who evade tax payments and charge usurious interests.

“There’s no conflict. Ang sinasabi lang ng Pangulo, follow the law. Kung Pilipino ka o foreigner, kung nagpapautang ka, make sure registered ka. Make sure nagbabayad ka ng tax. (Otherwise,) subject ka to arrest because you are violating the law,” he said.

The senator had expressed support for Duterte’s commitment to promoting the growth of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the country. He also lauded the President’s directive to arrest loan sharks who impose illegal money lending schemes.

Cayetano has been a staunch advocate of MSME growth since his successful reelection campaign in 2013, during which he launched his PTK (Presyo, Trabaho, Kita) platform.

“Noong 2012-2013, sa pag-iikot ko sa buong Pilipinas, nakita ko, mula sa pinakamataas na bundok hanggang sa pinakamababang valley at pinaka-isolated na isla sa bansa, may 5-6,” he said.

The PTK program has so far provided assistance in the form of low-interest loans to over 190 organizations of farmers, fishers, market vendors, PUV drivers, and small-scale workers nationwide.

Senator Cayetano urges Committee on Rules to study referral of Lascañas probe
 
Senator Alan Peter Cayetano asserts that the Committee on Rules needs to further study the proposed reopening of the investigations on the Davao Death Squad to look into the new statements of retired policeman Arthur Lascañas.

During the plenary deliberations, the Senator manifested that the proper procedure is to give it back to the Committee on Justice and Human Rights since it handled the original investigation. 

Cayetano stressed this, noting that the substance and topic of the investigation are the same. Senator Panfilo Lacson agreed with the observation of Cayetano.

“I’m not making a decision now but throwing it to the Committee,” Cayetano said.

“What I meant is that it seems obvious to me and I thought it was obvious to everyone that it’s the same. But we have to defer to each other and decide collectively... Let’s give it to the Committee on Rules to decide,” he added.

Cayetano cited that the accusations of Lascañas involve the alleged existence of the DDS, an issue that was already probed by the Justice Committee.

Cayetano backed Justice Committee Chair Sen. Richard Gordon’s refusal to reopen investigations into the testimonies of Lascañas.

Gordon delivered a privilege speech questioning why the Senate should still give the witness a second chance when he already testified under oath during the previous hearing but is now retracting his statements.

Cayetano lamented that the current situation is an insult to the committee system of the Senate, a disregard of the Rules of the Senate, and a disrespect to the institution's current tradition.

“Alam natin na kapag sinabing reopen, ang committee na may original jurisdiction, ‘yun ang magre-reopen. That has been the Senate tradition. Never nating ginagawa sa Senado na alisin ang jurisdiction sa committee. And never natin pinagbobotohan ‘yun. Do we have to throw the rule book to the wastebasket?” Cayetano noted.

PHLPost releases Cosmos Lodge Masonic stamps

The Philippine Postal Corporation (PHLPost) has released postage stamps to commemorate the 100 years of Cosmos Lodge No. 8 of the Free and Accepted Masons of the Philippines.

The commemorative stamp features a model mason, the centennial logo of Cosmos Lodge No. 8F and A.M. carrying the slogan “celebrating 100 years of making good men better”.

On February 12, 1917 at a special meeting of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of the Philippine Islands, held at the Masonic Temple, the announcement was made by the Most Worship Grand Master, William H. Taylor, on the granting of the charter to Cosmos Lodge, to be known hereafter as Cosmos Lodge No. 8.

The launching of the commemorative stamps was held at the Diamond Hotel in Roxas Boulevard Manila which was attended by PHLPost Postmaster General Joel Otarra, PHLPost Chairman of the Board Norman Fulgencio, Cosmos Senior Warden lawyer Richard Nethercott and Cosmos Worshipful Master Waja, Ahmad Galwash Sakaluran and other officials.  Earlier, a memorandum of agreement was signed paving the way for the issuance of the stamp.

“Cosmos” was the chosen name by the Masonic lodge which means an orderly world or system. A world opposed to chaos of war affirmation signed by the worshipful Grand Master William H. Taylor and Most Worshipful Brother Manuel Camus.

Throughout the years, the Cosmos Lodge No. 8 labored and sown the seeds of friendship and Masonic good-fellowship.

Designed by in-house graphic artist Rodine Teodoro, PHLPost has printed 101,000 copies of the stamps to be sold at P12 each.

The stamps and official first day will be available starting February 13, 2017 at the Post Shop, Central Post Office, Door 203, Liwasang Bonifacio, Manila and area post offices nationwide. For inquiries, please call 527-01-08 or 527-01-32.

This Is My Beloved Son . . . Hear Him!

While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!" Matthew 17:5

Peter and the other disciples were continually disoriented to God. While Jesus was concerned about one thing, it seems that the disciples were always distracted by something else. In order to help his three closest_disciples better focus on His imminent sacrifice on the cross, Jesus took them up to the Mount of Transfiguration. There, Jesus was transfigured into a glorious state and was joined by Moses and Elijah, two of history’s mightiest men of God. The disciples, however, were asleep! At one of the most profound moments in history, the disciples were more interested in sleep than they were in praying with the Son of God.

When the disciples awakened, they became distracted again. This time, Peter announced his plans to build three tabernacles. The disciples were more concerned with what they could do for God than the incredible work of redemption God was about to accomplish through His Son. Finally, God removed everything from the disciples’ sight but Jesus. “This is My Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!”

It is so easy to become spiritually distracted. Do you find yourself focusing on everything else but Christ and the work He is doing around you? Are you so eager to “get to the work” that you have not yet clearly heard what is on God’s heart? Does the Father need to remove from your life those things that are proving to be a distraction to you? Do you need to refocus on Jesus?    Henry and Richard Blackaby

WOMEN’S MONTH CELEBRATION.

To recognize women for their contributions to the Philippines, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) will step up efforts to assist women entrepreneurs throughout the country through the GREAT Women Project. The GREAT Women Project, through DTI, its bureaus and attached agencies, harmonize programs and services in support of women micro-entrepreneurs in the local project sites and develop Gender-Responsive Value Chain Analysis (GR-VCA) to determine women and men’s roles, profits, opportunities and constraints in the value chain of subsector enterprises. In photo are DTI-Regional Operations Group (DTI-ROG) Undersecretary Zenaida Maglaya (center), and (from L-R) GREAT Project Management Office Officer Pamela Susara, Global Affairs of Canada Consultant Mary Lynch, and GREAT Project Management Office Officer Patrick Asiñero, Embassy of Canada Officer Myrna Jarillas, GREAT Women National Project Coordinator and DTI-Region 4A Assistant Regional Director Marcelina Alcantara and DTI Resource Generation and Management Service (RGMS) Director Lydia Guevara. (END)

Philippine-Japan ties bearing fruitâ€"Lopez

MAKATI â€" Following the successful state visits of President Duterte in Japan and Prime Minister Abe in the Philippines, Japanese bank Ogaki Kyoritsu Bank (OKB) initiated an investment forum in the Philippines recently (22, February) OKB is the first Japanese regional bank in the Philippines to successfully secure a license to operate as representative bank from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) during their anniversary celebration.

According to Lopez, the forum gathered 140 Japanese companies, 30 percent of which are SMEs, the largest mission to date from Japan this year. Following the visit of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to the Philippines, there have been five missions to the country both from Kanto and Kansai regions. “With all these missions to the Philippines at the first two months of the year alone, DTI is confident that the Philippines is getting a growing and larger share of the migration of Japanese SMEs to other countries. This is important as Japanese SMEs with decades of specialized technology under their belts can contribute to value added manufacturing, tourism, agribusiness, deepening and expanding our invetories of products and services, closing gaps and completing loops in our supply chain”.

“We hope Ogaki Bank remains partners with the Philippine government in pushing the country’s growth agenda of sustaining the momentum of development for inclusive growth and shared prosperity for all Filipinos,” said Sec. Lopez.

OKB is headquartered in the Tokai region where most sizeable investors to the Philippines such as Ibiden, Toyota Motor Corporation, and Brother Industries Limited are also from.

“The Philippines traversed different prefectures across Japan promoting trade and investment opportunities,” said Sec. Lopez, highlighting initial touchpoints in Tokai, a region with the highest concentration of Filipinos, as well as the base of major Japanese companies with sizeable investments in the Philippines.

With both the Kanto and Kansai sides of the Japanese peninsula deploying organized business delegations in the Philippines, DTI efforts in Japan are bearing fruit, according to the trade chief.

Prior to this forum, Secretary Lopez also delivered his keynote speech at the Bank of Tokyo MUFJ and Security Bank‘s first business matching forum which concluded over 200 business matching meetings.

It will be the Philippines turn to conduct an investment mission to Tokyo on February 28 as economic officials from DTI, Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), ASEAN Japan Centre (AJC) and Philippine Society Japan Inc., and Philippines-Japan Economic Cooperation Committee, Inc. (PHILJECC) â€" Japan-Philippines Economic Cooperation Committee (JPECC) brief more Japanese investors.

DENR Sec. Lopez urges First Philec to help the poor, MSMEs Calls for innovation, nation-building

BATANGASâ€"Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez urged top manufacturing company First Philec to include in its objective different ways to help the country’s marginalized sectors, as well as the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

Speaking at the inauguration of the First Philec Factory at the First Philippine Industrial Park in Batangas, Sec. Lopez said that the company’s thrust towards nation-building complements DTI’s objective in promoting entrepreneurship, as well as in encouraging business excellence among industry stakeholders by infusing the core values of innovation, inclusivity, integrity and nationalism.

“I encourage your company to think of products that will help the marginalized and the poor, including the MSMEs. I believe that empowering the MSME sector is like empowering the nation,” said Sec. Lopez.

The trade chief also said that DTI is committed to advance competitive, job-generating and inclusive industries, where the Philippines has comparative advantage and should be known for.

“Let us find the most efficient, innovative ways to create products made from the Philippines and for the Filipinosâ€"later onâ€"for the world,” he said. As chair of ASEAN 2017 Economic Ministers, Lopez is pushing for the conclusion of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement.

Concluding RCEP will link ASEAN, an economic powerhouse with a market of 600 million people including the Philippines, to its six Dialogue Partners, creating an even bigger market of 3.5 billion people. With strategic opportunities, the Philippines can be the investors’ gateway to ASEAN, according to Sec. Lopez.

The trade chief also said that today is the perfect timing for companies to invest more in the country “as the economy is experiencing a breakout,” citing sound macro-economic fundamentals, strong investors’ confidence and good governance, with lowered unemployment rate and a relatively young, character-driven and qualified work force.

First Philec, currently the largest manufacturer of transformers in Southeast Asia, vows to significantly reduce line and systems losses through its so-called amorphous transformers, which are high-performance transformer units shown to DTI officials in a site visit on the same day.

The company hoped to minimize the power industry’s impact on the environment, as it mitigates the effects of the twin forces of global warming and exponential technology.

“Innovation is not just about using technology; but on how to better serve the needs of the market in ways they (people) have yet to imagine,” said First Philec chairman and CEO Federico Lopez. (END)

SEC. LOPEZ TOASTS FOR THE BIGGEST BUSINESS MATCHING EVENT IN PHILIPPINES

Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez (4th from L) shared the toast with President of Security Bank Corporation Alfonso L. Salcedo (4th from R) and MUFG Corporate Finance & Strategic Advisory Division Mr. Makoto Kobayashi (3rd from L) yesterday (22 February) for the successful business matching event organized by Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc. (MUFG). In celebration of the securing its full banking license in the Philippines, MUFG gathered more than 85 MSMEs for the largest, and first of its kind business matching event in the country which resulted to 200 meetings overall. “In line with the president’s advocacy, the government will continue to promote investments and protect investments.” said Secretary Lopez. Participating companies in the event  are from the distribution and manufacturing industry, healthcare and medical equipment, real estate and development, and agricultural and seafood products. Joining the event are 53 Japanese, 31 Philippine, two Thai and one Vietnamese company, which aims to increase the opportunity to promote cross-border trade. Joining the Secretary were Economic Minister of the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines Mr. Makoto Iyori (3rd from R) and senior officials from MUFG and Security Bank Corporation (END).

Central bank drains 40-B yuan from market

BEIJING, Feb. 23 (PNA/Xinhua) -- China's central bank drained 40 billion yuan (about USD5.82 billion) from the market on Thursday.

This marks the first day that the People's Bank of China drains liquidity from the market after it injected money into the market for five consecutive days.

On Thursday, the central bank conducted 20 billion yuan in seven-day reverse repos, 20 billion yuan in 14-day reverse repos and 10 billion yuan in 28-day reverse repos.

A reverse repo is a process by which central banks purchase securities from banks with an agreement to sell them back in the future.

With 90 billion yuan worth of reverse repos maturing on Thursday, the central bank effectively withdrew 40 billion yuan from the market.

The central bank said in a statement on Tuesday that it will extend a favorable policy that allows banks with big lending to small and agricultural firms to enjoy a lower cash reserve ratio.

The statement also showed a falling bad loan ratio and better profits for banks last year.

Chinese lenders saw the ratio of their non-performing loans fall to 1.74 percent at the end of 2016, slightly down from 1.76 percent a quarter ago.

Banks reported faster profit growth thanks to a firming economy. Net profits of commercial lenders increased 3.54 percent year on year, up 1.11 percentage points from a year ago. (PNA/Xinhua)
CVL/EBP

TUBAGBOHOL.com can now be accessed with your smartphones via Tapatalk App both in Android and Apple OS.

You Are Light

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:16

There is no mistaking the effect of light upon a darkened place. Light boldly and unabashedly announces its presence and vigorously dispels darkness. God’s desire is to fill you with His light. He wants you to shine as a brilliant testimony of His presence and power in your life, so that the darkness in the lives of those around you will be displaced by the light of God’s glory.

If, however, you notice the world around you becoming darker and darker, don’t blame the darkness! It is simply doing what darkness does. The only remedy for darkness is light. If the world is becoming darker, the problem is not with the darkness. The problem is with the light. Jesus said His disciples should be the “light of the world” (Matt. 5:14). What an awesome responsibilityâ€"to be the ones through whom God would shine His divine light and dispel the darkness from around others! In announcing His own coming, Jesus said, “The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light,/ And upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death. / Light has dawned” (Matt. 4:16).

There was no ignoring Jesus’ arrival upon earth! Darkness was dispelled! Everywhere Jesus went, God’s truth was boldly proclaimed, people were healed, hypocrisy was exposed, and sinners found forgiveness. The world was never the same once the Father introduced His light through His Son. Can that be said of you as well? Do your coworkers recognize the light that is within you? Does the presence of Christ radiate from your home into your community? When God’s light is allowed to shine unhindered through your life, the darkness around you will be dispelled.    Henry and Richard Blackaby

Infosys' hiring drops for the first time in 33 years

Analysts are concerned to know what's going on inside Infosys after the company recorded negative growth in hiring in 2016 for the first time in the company's 33 year history. Infosys hired around 26,000 people in the second quarter and saw 20,000 of them either leave for greener pastures, or were let go. GQG Partners fund manager Rajiv Jain attributed the hiring drop at Infosys to increased automation. With the drop in hiring, Infosys shares also went down 1.1% this year.

FPT opens software outsourcing center in Hanoi

Vietnamese IT and software outsourcing firm FPT opened its software outsourcing center in Hanoi, its second working campus. F-Ville 2, a 28,000 sq. meter campus, is located in the Hoa Lac hi-tech park in Hanoi is aimed at Japanese clients in particular. The USD16m site enhances FPT's ability to offer software outsourcing services to the international market. In 2013 FPT software launched the USD12m F-Ville 1 site also in Hoa Lac hi-tech park. F-Ville 1 now has around 2,000 staff working for the overseas software outsourcing market. In the Philippines, FPT operates an outsourcing center in Cebu City.

CGI wins contract from Sweden’s Alecta

CGI, an independent IT and business process services company, has won an outsourcing contract from Alecta, a Swedish insurer. The contract calls for CGI to modernize Alecta's IT environment, including its infrastructure services. The estimated value of the five-year agreement is SEK315m (USD35m) and carries an option to renew for another two years. The agreement also covers management, IT support, and a number of communications, security and logistics services. CGI said it will deliver new technology including a cloud-based self-service portal, and improved service-level agreement management. CGI has three offices in the Philippines.

Cognizant wins CGT Reader's Choice Awards

For the 11th year in a row, global business process outsourcing firm Cognizant receives again the Consumer Goods Technology (CGT) Readers' Choice Award for 2017. The 2017 Readers' Choice Survey recognized Cognizant as a best-in-class provider in Consulting and Outsourcing. For this year, CGT’s readers recorded their votes for the consumer goods industry’s preferred technology solution and service providers across 15 different categories. The winners for each category showcased the companies that received the best overall scores for the solutions and / or services that they offer to consumer goods organizations. CGI is an authority on information technology for the consumer packaged goods industry.

SM's four-building condo project in Davao to include BPO component

SM Development Corporation (SMDC), the residential developer of SM City, said its planned four-building condominium project in Davao City will include provision for business process outsourcing (BPO) locators. SM Shopping Center Management Corp. vice president for Mindanao Operations Oliver John Tiu said the four-building condo project will be built within SM City Davao property. One of the buildings will be a five-storey car park that will house BPO locators and food tenants to maximize the area and give residents more convenience, said SM City Davao Assistant Mall Manager Nick Santos. The car park will accommodate around 1,500 to 1,900 vehicles.

Planned BPO facility in Davao gets endorsement as IT economic zone

The Davao City council has endorsed Robinson Land Corp (RLC)'s planned second business process outsourcing (BPO) facility in Davao as a special IT Park with the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA). The endorsement from the city council is a requirement for a PEZA application. Robinsons Cyberpark would be the company’s second BPO facility in the city after Robinsons Cybergate, which hosts VXI Global Holdings BV Philippines. There are eight operating ecozones in the Davao Region: Robinsons Cybergate, Damosa IT Park, Filandia IT Park, Luisa Avenue Square IT Center, Matina IT Park, NCCC Davao IT Center, SM Lanang Premier IT Center, and The Annex-SM City Davao IT Center. These occupy a combined area of about 30 hectares and provide around 113,364 square meters of office space.

HfS Research positions Accenture as leader in digital marketing operations

Global outsourcing giant Accenture has once again been positioned as overall market leader in digital marketing operations by HfS Research. The report, 2016 Blueprint Report for Digital Marketing Operations, praises Accenture for its track record of acquisitions that demonstrate its commitment to its vision for the evolution of digital marketing services. Melissa O’Brien, director, Digital Marketing Operations and OneOffice Customer Experiences at HfS Research â€" The Services Research Company, said Accenture has a complete vision for digital marketing operations bolstered by smart acquisitions and complemented by automation.

Capgemini acquires TCube Solutions in the US

Capgemini, a global consulting, technology and outsourcing services firm, has acquired TCube Solutions an insurance IT services firm in the US. With the acquisition, TCube Solutions president and CEO Sam McGuckin will join Capgemini. Thierry Delaporte, Group Executive Board Member, responsible for Financial Services at Capgemini, said TCube Solutions' growth trajectory and commitment to delivery makes it a natural fit for Capgemini. TCube Solutions specializes in Property and Casualty insurance software and services while Capgemini creates and delivers business, technology and digital solutions that fit the needs of clients.

Integreon appoints Rachita Maker as LPO head

Integreon, a provider of outsourced legal, document, business and research support solutions, has announced the appointment of Rachita Maker as head of the company's growing legal process outsourcing (LPO) operations in India. Maker, an LPO industry veteran, will oversee LPO solution design, service delivery, and process improvement and automation, based in Mumbai. She will report to Mark Gross, Integreon's LPO Global Head. Previously Maker served as a member of the founding management team at Pangea3, from 2005 through 2013, where she worked closely with the company's co-CEOs to set up and manage their LPO operations.

Megaworld continues to see bright prospect in Iloilo's BPO industry

Megaworld, the Philippines' largest office developer and lessor continues to see bright prospect in Iloilo City's business process outsourcing (BPO) sector. The bullish outlook has prompted Megaworld to open two new office towers in Iloilo City to cater to demands from companies coming into the city, including BPO locators. The company expects to reach 100,000 square meters of office spaces in Iloilo Business Park by 2020. The available space will cater to around 40,000 workers, mostly in the BPO sector. At present, Iloilo Business Park hosts around 15,000 office workers from the seven BPO companies that are currently based in the 72-hectare township in Mandurriao, which has been positioned to be Iloilo City’s central business district.

Accenture to hire 15,000 workers in the US

In response to President Donald Trump's protectionist policies, global IT outsourcing giant Accenture announced it would create 15,000 jobs in the US. The Dublin, Ireland headquartered firm said it would invest USD1.4bn to train its employees and would open 10 innovation centers in some cities in the US. Accenture currently has over 394,000 employees, with a large chunk situated in India. The 15,000 jobs that Accenture will create will raise the company's total US workforce by 30% to more than 65,000 by the end of 2020. IT services and outsourcing firms are under the spotlight after Trump said his administration will focus on creating more jobs for US workers.

Cognizant opens Digital Business Collaboratory in Australia

Global consultancy and outsourcing firm Cognizant has recently opened its Digital Business Collaboratory in Melbourne, Australia. In a statement, Cognizant said the facility provides a dedicated space, technology, managed innovation process, among others, for clients to effectively work with Cognizant and partners in designing, protyping and building innovative solutions for the digital economy. The Melbourne Collaboratory will connect into Cognizant’s global network of digital solution facilities, allowing business leaders to gain from shared perspectives, prototypes and experiences.

Israel traders push for Digitize Philippines project

The Israel Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ICCP) is pushing for the Digitize Philippines project that seeks to allow Filipino enterprises to tak advantage of technology in tranches. ICCP president Itamar Gero discussed the project with Monchito Ibrahim of the Department of Information and Communications Technology at a recent ICT Innovation Forum in Makati City. Gero said the initiative aims to bring free, actionable, bite-sized training to help Filipino businesses quickly adapt to the digital trends, and to drive traffic to their business through search, mobile and social media.

BPO growth to provide ample liquidity to bond market

The growth in the country's business process outsourcing (BPO) sector, growing remittances from overseas Filipinos, and higher government spending will ensure ample liquidity in the Philippine bond market, a San Miguel Corp (SMC) spokesman said. Reports said Philippine companies are expected to issue more local bonds to retail investors to reduce dollar debt and trim currency risk. One of them is SMC, one of the largest conglomerates in the country, which is eyeing more peso bonds to reduce its dependence on dollar borrowings. SMC is targeting proceeds of P15bn (USD300m) from the sale of fixed-rate peso bonds with tenors of five, seven and 10 years, with an oversubscription option of P5bn.

Regus achieves 80% occupancy rate in Davao

Work space provider Regus said its first facility in Mindanao has already achieved 80% occupancy rate, ahead of its two-year target. Regus opened its first Mindanao office in Davao City in September 2016 and was not expecting 80% occupancy rate until September 2018. Regus has partnered with homegrown Damosa Land Inc (DLI) to manage the operations and sales of a 1,600-square meter facility in Damosa IT Park. DLI Vice-President Ricardo F. Lagdameo said the occupancy target was reached in less than six months. The customer base includes business process outsourcing firms, software developers, shipping lines, local brokers, and even some agricultural firms.

BPOs not among industries Trump wants back - Megaworld

The business process outsourcing (BPO) industry is not among the industries that US President Donald Trump wants jobs to go back to the United States. This was the pronouncement of Jericho Go, senior vice president of Megaworld Corp. Go said US BPO firms will continue to see the Philippines as an attractive investment destination despite Trump's protectionist stance. Go told reporters that Philippine BPO jobs complement jobs done in the US and the industry does not steal jobs from Americans. He said the principle of the local BPO industry has always been "if you don't want to do certain types of jobs, let us do it". Additionally, American BPO firms setting up offices in the Philippines are able to save as much as 80% of costs, he said.

BPO to continue pushing demand for office space

Leechiu Property Consultants (LPC) said demand from business process outsourcing (BPO) companies is expected to push take-up of new supply this year despite the US risk to the BPO industry. LPC CEO David T. Leechiu said a total of 1.3 million square meters of office space will be completed this year. With demand from BPO firms hitting as much as 750,000 sq. m., topping last year's 630,000 sq. m. record. Leechiu said the figures are a very powerful indicator. Property firms are also putting on a brave face amid uncertainty. For instance, property giant Ayala Land, Inc is keeping its target to double its office footprint to 1.5 million sq.m. by 2020, as BPO demand continues to be bullish.

ePLDT invests in earthquake-proof data hub in Clark

IT-BPO and finances firms will soon find doing business in Central Luzon a safer strategic choice after ePLDT launched its disaster-proof data center in Clark. This was according to Nerisse Ramos, ePLDT Group Chief Operating Officer. Ramos made the pronouncement following the inauguration of Vitro Clark, ePLDT's ninth data center that can withstand any disaster. ePLDT's initial investment in the facility is about P1.3bn. It was designed and built based on seismic zone 4 standards, enabling the center to withstand earthquakes up to magnitude 8 on the Richter scale. Ramos said Vitro Clark can help companies in various sectors that have been expanding their operations north of Manila.

Two US senators file anti-outsourcing bills

US senators Gary Peters and Debbie Stabenow have filed bills that seek to reduce the outsourcing of American jobs and force firms to disclose when they send jobs overseas. Peters and Stabenow, both democrats, expressed hope that the legislation will gain traction in the Republican-led Congress partly because of President Donald Trump's anti-outsourcing stance. The bill filed by Peters requires listed firms to disclose their outsourcing activities with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Stabenow's bill also requires companies to report the total number of employees and the percentage change in employment numbers for each state and country in which they operate.

Survey notes slowdown in salary increases

A survey conducted by consulting firm Willis Towers Watson showed that salary increases in the private sector are slowing down as employers now use merit-based reward systems. According to the survey, employers hold off on adjusting salaries to make sure top performers are rewarded. For 2016, the average increase was only 5%, a notch lower than the 6% increase budgeted by companies. The 1% difference is due to the companies' merit-based system, where only high performing employees are rewarded. In terms of bonuses, business process outsourcing (BPO) firms were among those that gave the lowest last year, giving a mere 0.9 month worth of bonus.

"The Only One in a Dozen"
By Loy Palapos - Published on April 9, 2007 - Bohol Sunday Post

Appropriately gowned for the occasion, befitting a smart lady that she is, she marched down the aisle, not for a wedding, but to take her oath-of-office, as the only female Councilor who won the nod of the thousands of Tagbilaranons in the May election. On stage, she was joined by her husband, Col. Louie Oppus, and their three children. In front of the stage were more of her relatives and friends, led by Dr. Quintin Derikito. He was on a wheel-chair, and coming up on stage was not advisable, but he was beaming with pride as he witnessed his daughter, Honorable Anne Mariquit Derikito Oppus, as she accepted her new role as a legislator in the Sangguniang Panlungsod.

Mayor Dan Neri Lim, Vice Mayor Jose Antonio Salera Veloso, and nine other Kagawads (all of them clad in exquisite Barong Tagalog), made Mrs. Kit Derikito Oppus (KDO) a stand-out as the only rose among eleven machos. The only one in a dozen.

It was a drizzling Sunday morning and the newly renovated and air-conditioned Bohol Cultural Center was jampacked. This was climaxed by a sumptuous lunch at the Grand Ballroom of the Metro Center Hotel. As Master of ceremonies on both settings, I offered a toast, joined by hundreds of guests, for the 12 newly elected officials. The mood was merry and contagious, enhanced by the individual speeches of the political victors. When it was her turn to address the audience, she positioned herself in front of the lectern. On her hand was a piece of paper, which turned out to be an outline of her extemporaneous speech, including names of those she heartfully thanked for sending her to the Sangguniang Panlungsod.

If some of those called to speak came to the stage not knowing what to say, she was prepared. A solid anchor to predict that when she attends the SP sessions every Wednesday for the next three years she would have done her homework, and ready to air her side on any issue.

This interview took place in her office at the second floor of the new City Hall. It was her first day of work, and the eager-beaver nuance was prevalent, which is expected of anybody who turns over a new leaf.

LMP: How does it feel being here in the office for the first time?
KDO: Honestly, I feel so lonely, because when I arrived this morning and when I got to the parking space, somebody approached me and gave me flowers from my VGO (Vice Governor's Office) family. I've been with them for almost 7 years.

LMP: How about the reaction of your children? Of your husband?
KDO: My husband called me at lunch time. He knows that I can manage, even in the new situation. Everything is normal. I think I can do it more now, because I have my own time. I can always adjust.

LMP: You speak about adjustment, especially that you are in the Sangguniang Panlalawigan. You can really agree with the people who were with you in the campaign. How about those of the opposite side?
KDO: I realized yesterday that I'm very idealistic up to now, I'm very opinionated, but everything has to bow down to what is best to our City.

LMP: Can you hope that the same thing will also happen with your colleagues?
KDO: I've always been this person who has no doubt with other people, but if I'm very doubtful myself with the people I'm with, they might have the same feeling, and I don't want that. I have to start with myself, I have to trust other people.

LMP: What about the comments of your children? Do they understand the change of job?
KDO: Actually, no. They don't because I always make it a point that I don't make them feel that my work is negative for them. I still attend to whatever need they want. Up to now I'm still the tutor of my two little children. I always believe that to be able to achieve at the professional level, you have to achieve in the home.

LMP: The last time I interviewed you along that line, you mentioned about success in the home could also be brought up in the office. If you are a success in the home, you could be a success in the office.
KDO: I always believe that I have to be at my best between work and home. My personality will always manifest wherever I go.

LMP: You cannot hide yourself?
KDO: I don't like plastic nga tawo. I'd rather let somebody tell me I don't like you than tell me ok ka pero dili diay.

LMP: In the celebration that we had yesterday, especially the one at the Metro Center Hotel, as far as communication is concerned, you have an edge over the others. Do you believe this is something that you can use in a very positive way?
KDO: In my speech I said it's different when you talk than when you do. If people are impressed with what I say or how I say it, I'd like to impress them even more with how to do it. I was very much influenced by my grandmother who spoke very well, and did things right.

LMP: How about your parents, what kind of influence do they give you, especially Doctor Derikito?
KDO: Despite what he has accomplished, ang akong makit-an niya is, despite what he has been through (he started as a working student), he really shows to me what integrity is all about.

LMP: In the activity yesterday, starting from the Bohol Cultural Center to the Metro Center Hotel, something was very obvious. You were the only girl among the twelve officials. Would you like to comment on this?
KDO: My family told me it is good I am the only woman in the group. I did not intentionally wear that gown, but it came out nga mura ko ug rosas. I've started working with men for some time. One thing I want to tell them is that I don't want to be given special attention

LMP: That's for the man's point of view. Did you feel any discrimination since the very beginning, not necessarily here, could be in your student days?
KDO: No, I don't think gender as a barrier; it even challenges me more.

LMP: But then, did you feel that you have been discriminated by men.
KDO: Not at all. Except, it's not a being a woman. It's not discrimination. I even feel it's a complement. But some people think I am dumb.

LMP: Because with the thought of the generalization that women are dumb?
KDO: Probably, because I attended one seminar miingon gyud siya nako nga "Kama-o diay pud ka?" I don't really come out nga diritso, I'm a very observant person at the beginning, especially when I'm new. I don't want to say anything, unless I'm sure of what I'm saying. I keep silent until the time when I know I can speak.

LMP: Would that be the same thing that you will do in the Sangguniang Panlungsod, listen first before talking?
KDO: Yes. I believe it is the best thing, especially for a new comer. Don't pretend that you know everything.

LMP: Does it follow that, as far as your observation is concerned, there are some members of the group who cannot talk sense?
KDO: Obviously. The more now nga nag-katiguwang ko, I read more, because it helps you a lot, and then it tells you that you're not alone.

LMP: What do you expect from your colleagues in the first session?
KDO: I expect them to do their part well.

LMP: The way you do it?
KDO: I hope. I hope they take me seriously. But like I said, I hope that they will expect not too much also. I just realized that I'm very hard on myself, I have a very high standard on myself.

LMP: Do you also expect that from other people?
KDO: Probably. Indirectly, I am tougher on myself. I realized that when I had a seminar last December, I had to evaluate my boss and myself. My staff would tell me if they have evaluated me I would have been rated higher than my boss. But, when I rated myself I rated my boss higher than myself.

LMP: Would this be to your advantage when you are already legislating?
KDO: I think so.

LMP: In your case, what committee would probably be given to you?
KDO: Sa akong campaign, I wanted to concentrate on family and education. Fortunately, the committee includes social services, women, men and family. There is one good thing I planned out, I asked my husband about it and he said: the committee he really loves me to chair is peace and order.

LMP: So, that's the committee you're interested in?
KDO: Yes.

LMP: How about other committees?
KDO: Probably, tourism and health.

LMP: In the arrangements that you have, how many committees are you entitled to be a member or a Chairman?
KDO: I checked with the files, some of them handled three chairmanships, some only one, some only two.

LMP: Who makes the decision?
KDO: It's arranged among the members, so aron patas lang pud and fair, I would really like to request nga tagorha.

LMP: You have not started with your session, and I understand that you still would like to listen, now if in case the time comes when you were be able to legislate, what would be your priority?
KDO: It should be about women.

LMP: The Chairmanship that you are aspiring for?
KDO: Yes.

LMP: What about women?
KDO: I'd like to see kay sa akong nahibaw-an nga duna nay gender code, I'd like to see if we need implementing rules on this?

LMP: Who made that?
KDO: The previous administration.

LMP: Let's go to tourism. How would you comment on the issue that there are some establishments which have these rates that are so high? One suggestion was the possibility of regulating the rates. In your case if that eventuality happens can you do something about it?
KDO: Compared to Cebu, we have lesser rates, but considering that Bohol ni we expect that it needs to be lower, but if we have to maintain our rate, if business is what we really want, let's see what facilities we have. Actually, foreigners or tourists really don't complain much about the rates, they want to get benefits out of facilities and services. If our hotels cannot adjust their rates down, they have to provide better services.

LMP: It is not a question of the rate; it's a question of whether it's commensurate.
KDO: Yes, and also reasonable.

LMP: Let's go to education, there's a mention about this multiple intelligences theory being implemented.
KDO: As far as I know maayo ang sistema, I don't have a personal knowledge on the program.

LMP: You believe it's doable?
KDO: Of course. In fact, when I heard the Mayor yesterday, miingon siya nga murag i-extend. So, probably iapil ang high school. Nothing wrong with it. One thing with education, we really need not really change the teachers, but the system.

LMP: But when you make a sudden change, it's not that easy.
KDO: It's not that easy, and you really have to reach the people or the teachers implementing the program. It's insane to do one and the same thing but expect a different result. A lot of people now are complaining about education, and I will be doing something about it. You have to make changes if you're not satisfied with what is happening.

LMP: So, you're now ready to work?
KDO: We have to. I told myself if there is one thing I really want to achieve in the short time, but I have to make the best out of anything I do.

LMP: What's your message to your readers now that you are a Councilor?
KDO: I'd like to thank them for the confidence, and I hope they will thank me after three years.

LMP: The winning is not the most important.
KDO: Yes, it's what you do after winning. And, how I wish I can rally all those people with me. One thing, no special treatment for a woman like me. Let's respect each other. I'm a keen player, people know that from me, because I really believe that there is more force with many people, so let's just help each other.

When I interviewed Anne Mariquit D. Oppus for the first time at D Buzz of ICM, she had just decided to enter the political arena. There were hints of uncertainties, which could be construed as offshoots of intimidation. For after all, she was entering a new phase in her life. In this interview, there was no hint of anxiety, no trance of indecision. I was facing a woman convinced of her role as a wife, mother, and lawmaker. Articulate and spontaneous, she embodies what a Councilor should be.

The Boholano Today
ANTONIO ALVIN JAYAG UY: THE ANSWER TO THE CLAMOR FOR A CHANGE
By Loy Palapos - Published July 8, 2007 in the Bohol Sunday Post

Quiet, humble, unassuming…that you will never even know he is in the group. This describes Atty. Antonio Alvin Jayag Uy, the newly elected Mayor of the Municipality of Baclayon. Small children consider him a big brother, the youth see him as a friend, someone who understands, while the aged trust him and call him "son." He is perceived to be more of a doer than a talker, but never as a politician; and after the May 14 election, the Baclayanons consider and accept him as the answer to their clamor for a change.

Born on December 19, 1968, he is the second among the four children of the late Judge Antonio Oppus Uy and Mrs. Gardenia Jayag Uy, a retired public elementary school principal. The strong personality of the late Judge can be felt in the influence he has left among his siblings. All of them, except the youngest who is still in College, are in the legal profession. Adrian Antonio, the eldest, is the Clerk of Court in the City's Multiple Salas. Next to Alvin is Denva Garcia, a Jurist Doctor, the Chief Staff of Senator Pia Cayetano. The youngest, Gwendolyn Toni, is a fourth year nursing student of Holy Name University, and is contemplating to take up law or medicine after her graduation from nursing school.

Excellence in academic and co-curricular pursuits was Alvin's mark even at an early age. Conscientious and persevering, he showed an acumen not found in many of his peers. It was not a surprise that many predicted he would be an achiever. Alvin spent his elementary education at Baclayon Central Elementary School. Due to his outstanding performance while in Grade II, he was given a battery of tests by the Department of Education, which he passed, and qualified him to be promoted to Grade III at the end of the first semester. He finished the elementary grades within 5 years. Even while still in the elementary grade, he showed his leadership potentials. The youngest among the grade VI pupils, he was elected as the Mayor of his class, governor of the graduating class, and at the same time the President of the 1980 Pupil Government of Baclayon Central Elementary School.

For Alvin's secondary education, he studied at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary in Taloto District, Tagbilaran City and graduated in March 1984. After graduation from high school, he enrolled at the University of San Carlos College of Engineering and graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Science in Electronics and Communications Engineering (ECE) on March 19, 1989. He took the November 1989 Board Examination and was one of those who successfully hurdled it. Alvin became an Engineer at the age of 21. He also took the Career Service Professional exam on June 30, 1989, and passed it.

He became an Instructor at the Bohol Institute of Technology, Tagbilaran City, which further honed his interpersonal relations and enhanced his communication skill. At the same time he helped manage the family's transportation business. In June 1991, he realized some more innate but untapped potentials he possessed. He gave up his teaching position at BIT to enroll at Divine Word College (now Holy Name University). He took up Law and graduated in March 1995. Together with 3 of his classmates in law school, he attended the review classes at Ateneo de Manila University for 6 months and then took the 1995 BAR Examinations. Alvin passed the 1995 BAR Examinations and was admitted to the BAR on April 11, 1996.

A new dimension was accorded to him, a bigger opportunity for advancement. He opened his Law Office at the First Floor of LTS Lodge, 28 CPG Avenue, Tagbilaran City.

Aside from his private practice, Alvin became the President of Saint Jude Transportation Company, Inc. and the FJA Corporation. These two responsibilities, plus his law practice, consume much of his time; but being an achiever right from his student days, he has become superb in time management. He is gifted with the knack of defining his priorities, so nothing is remiss. Still he finds time to help in some environmental concerns, aware that everybody should have a role to play in protecting nature. Thus, he affiliated with ELAC (Environmental Legal Assistance Center), and until today he is one of the prime-movers of the group.

Atty. Uy became a member of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, Bohol Chapter, in December 1996, and during its election, Alvin was elected as No. 1 among the Board of Directors, ahead of seasoned practitioners. However, he was not able to hold this position, being an incumbent Punong Barangay of Poblacion, Baclayon, which he held for two terms. As the Punong Barangay, many changes and improvements were introduced by him. It was during his term that a barangay hall was constructed on a lot donated by Mr. and Mrs. Primo Javier.

His stint as a Barangay Captain brought him closer to the people. He felt what his constituents felt. He became aware of their plight. He realized that they wanted change. But this dream can only be achieved with a leadership committed and dedicated to the welfare of the masses. The clamor for change went deeper than what was perceivable to the eyes. Somebody must take the risks in order to gear the townsfolk's efforts to achievable goals that spell development; not just palliatives ending with photo-sessions and press releases.

Thus, his decision to offer himself to the people of Baclayon, to be at the helm of the Municipal governance, disregarding the sacrifices he and his family would undergo. His relatives, his colleagues, his friends, and the citizenry were on his side. They inspired him and fortified his inner strength so he could serve them more. As a young and idealistic leader, his political stand is "no to the use of money and gun to win votes." According to him, the use of money is an insult to the voters' intelligence. Alvin wanted to prove to the people, especially the youth that even the poor can still win in an election, if he has the potentials, the moral, the integrity, and the honest and earnest desire to help and serve the people. He was able to prove this even to those overcome by skepticism. His campaign slogan was "Try me! If I can't or won't be able to deliver what I promised, then drive me out of office." Convinced of his noble intentions, the people of Baclayon found in their new Mayor a shining hope for progress.

In 1998, when he was still a bachelor, Alvin constructed a house on a hilltop, a few blocks from his parents' home. Two years after its completion, he transferred to his own pad, but used it only as his sleeping quarter, since his parents insisted he take his meals with the family. Thereafter, a small basketball court, playground and a swing were provided for A.C. Thadd and the other kids in the neighborhood to freely use the same. Using the income from his private practice, he was able to expand his abode by adding several structures. Now that he has settled down, it has become a real home. A medical clinic and legal clinic were added features that earned the admiration of the community.

June 5, 2005 would have been the Ruby Wedding Anniversary of Alvins' parents, but due to the passing away of Alvin's father, Judge Antonio Oppus Uy, a few months earlier, the three elder Uy siblings decided to continue what their parents started by celebrating an unprecedented triple wedding. Adrian, Alvin and Denva Gracia tied the knot with their respective partners in a very well attended wedding ceremony at the Immaculate Conception church of Baclayon, which is known to be the oldest stone church in the Philippines. The wedding reception for everybody attending the triple treat was held in the home of Alvin.

Alvin is married to his girlfriend of 3 years, Dr. Fruserma Mary Cempron Aparicio, a Physician, daughter of Dr. Aurora C. Aparicio, a retired Medical Health Officer, and the late Magdaleno Aparicio, from Inabanga, Bohol. Dr. Em-em, as she is fondly called, is a Medical Officer III in the Provincial Health Office.

With Atty. Antonio Alvin Jayag Uy at the helm of Baclayon's Local Government Unit, the people of Baclayon can be assured of a great change, a change for a better Baclayon in all aspects. Guided by his father's last word, "I have no wealth to leave you, but a clean and untarnished name. Protect this name for I worked for it during my whole lifetime."

Statement of Atty. Vic Rodriguez, spokesman of former Senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" R. Marcos Jr.

We are not surprised by the pronouncement of Leni Robredo’s counsel that they will appeal the recent PET decision which found former Senator Bongbong Marcos’ election protest to be sufficient in form and substance.  Despite the Tribunal's ruling that this issue was already "beyond dispute”, Robredo’s legal team is still looking for ways to delay the proceedings.  Their actuations on the protest have been consistent: they are afraid of the truth because it would reveal how much they tarnished and debased the true will of the Filipino people in the Vice-Presidential race.

If Robredo has nothing to hide, why resort to all these delaying tactics?  It's not enough that her camp cheated their way to the Vice-Presidency.  Now they want to cheat again by depriving Sen. Marcos of his day in Court.  We want the truth to come out.  That’s all.

By Manuel Ferdinand Ramirez de Erio
Published on April 9, 2006 - Bohol Sunday Post

OUTSTANDING, they are! Yet, amidst the accolades and achievements that painted their young lives as thriving individuals, these young Boholanos have maintained humility and idealism to fuel their enthusiasm and optimism as they continue to aspire for and envision a greater Philippines. From the 24 deserving finalists in the search for the Ten Outstanding Students of the Philippines â€" Central Visayas (TOSP Region VII), three of the ten winners were Boholano students. They are epitome of sterling academic performance, admirable community service and exemplary values.

Meet Bohol's fantastic three: Metodio “John” Maraguinot Jr. of the Holy Name University (HNU) who just graduated with a degree of Bachelor of Arts in Political Science; Narsheen Artiaga of Talibon town who shall graduate this April 26 in the University of the Philippines â€" Cebu College with the degree on Bachelor of Science in Mass Commu-

nications;and, Lord B. Salas of the University of Bohol (UB) who had just recently finished Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering. At first glance, Metodio “John” Maraguinot Jr. may appear timid and shy. But watch out when this handsome young man is given the floor and the chance to speak his mind. He definitely exudes power and strength to hold the crowd and share his wisdom.
John emphasized that the finalists and the winners of the TOSP Region VII were merely simple young people who shared a common visionâ€"to serve and further seek for greater service not for personal gains but for the betterment of the people and the glory of God. The only lady of the three Boholano winners, Narsheen “Jin-jin” Artiaga is a definite charmer. Her pleasing personality and superb academic performance and community service strongly affirmed that the women of today are competent partners and stakeholders in significant social activities in nation-building.

Jin-jin is greatly elated for being among the ten students to vie for the national level of the TOSP. She believes and understands that this opportunity would mean greater and bigger responsibility and challenges. While preparing for her graduation this April 26, Jin-jin confessed that she look forward to spending a fun and enjoyable summer as she plans to take summer classes on dancing. Silent and reserved type of guy, Lord B. Salas of University of Bohol this city, completes the Bohol 's fantastic three. He is the shy and conservative type with an exceptional gift in mathematics and sciences. Lord believes that everyone is evenly given enough talents and skills, it only differs on how one harnessed and developed these in order to cause greater developments and achieve for greater things.

Governor Erico B. Aumentado who supported the TOSP Region VII encouraged the finalists of the TOSP Region VII with the words of wisdom of the Philippine national hero, Dr. Jose P. Rizal. “Do not just be future leaders, be at the forefront. Involve yourselves in pushing the country forward, to neutralize those who are in politics only for personal ambition and seeking to destroy the fundamental democracy of the land,” Governor Aumentado further encouraged. Indeed, the youth is the fair hopes of this thriving nation. These three young Boholanos have incessantly made ripples in society. Enliv wishes for these three youths and the rest of the youths of Bohol to continue the blazing idealism and wisely utilize the overflowing energy to further the development of this country.

Asia, Middle East drive demand for record New Zealand apple, pear crop

WELLINGTON, Feb. 17 - New Zealand is set to produce its largest ever crop of apples and pears this year, with about half of its exports going to growing Asian and Middle Eastern markets, the industry body said Friday.

Crop estimates showed the 2017 forecast of 584,000 tons would eclipse the previous record of 560,000 tons in 2004, Pipfruit New Zealand chief executive Alan Pollard said.

The 2017 crop, produced from 9,500 hectares, showed huge productivity gains compared with the 2004 crop, which was grown on 13,500 hectares.

"In 2004, 84 percent of apples went to North America and the European Union and only 13 percent to Asia and the Middle East. Today that ratio is approaching 50-50," said Pollard.

In 2012, the industry set a goal of exports reaching 1 billion NZ dollars (USD719.7 million) by 2022.

Exports had more than doubled from 341 million NZ dollars (USD245.42 million) in 2012 to about 720 million NZ dollars (USD518.18 million) last year.

The industry expected to achieve its export target much earlier than forecast, and was already looking towards setting a goal of 2 billion NZ dollars (USD1.44 billion), said Pollard. (PNA/Xinhua)

Philippine Coast Guard to beef up sea, air assets

MANILA, January 28 (PIA) -- More sea and air assets will soon be seen in stations of the Philippine Coast Guard as P1.6 billion will be earmarked for the acquisitions of equipment to boost the maritime agency’s search and rescue capabilities.

Transportation and Communications Secretary Mar Roxas said the additional fund, which was directed by President Benigno S. Aquino III, will help reinforce Coast Guard’s P3billion funds aimed at building a more mobile and flexible search and rescue resources.

During the recent turnover of command at the Coast Guard headquarters in Manila, President Aquino said his administration is responding to the needs of law enforcement agencies through continuous equipment upgrading and enhancement of skills of personnel through education and training.

The said fund will be used to acquire additional aircrafts and ships, enhance control and communications equipment, upgrade firepower for ships, train personnel, maintain Coast Guard district and stations, and support Presidential security duties.

However, Roxas clarified that the acquisition of new equipment will undergo a strict bidding process, as per World Bank specifications, to ensure the best value.

The DOTC chief added that among the assets they eye to purchase are two helicopters costing around P200 million to P300 million a pair, needed for search and rescue missions.

“These helicopters are important because of their loitering capability whenever they are looking for survivors,” explained Roxas.

Coast Guard chief Admiral Edmund Tan also revealed that they are also planning to buy five more additional helicopters with two Islander planes.

Tan also said that two of the seven helicopters will be delivered by this year, while the rest will be delivered in three years time.

Meanwhile, aside from the purchase of new equipment, the DOTC is also planning to repair some of coast guard’s ships from the additional funds. (DOTC/RJB/JEG-PIA-NCR)

Marikina to host 3rd leg of Philippine Water Runs

MARIKINA CITY -- The city government of Marikina will host the third leg of the Philippine Water Runs on Sunday, January 29, 2012 at 6 a.m.

The event dubbed ‘Water is Life’ is a program of the Philippine Water Runs that aims to help Filipinos to have clean and safe drinking water as part of the United Nations Millennium Development Goal. Expressing his support, Marikina Mayor Del De Guzman is elated to host the event.

“We are giving our full support to this project to provide safe and clean drinking water to Filipinos. We are happy that our city will be a part of this kind of project. This also brings hope for bodies of water like the Marikina River,” said De Guzman.

The race will start at SM Marikina then along the banks of Marikina River. The advocacy run was first held in Vigan and Naga and will be held soon in Quezon City, Laguna Lake, Cebu and Davao.
Entry forms are available in SM Marikina and at the Marikina Sports Park. Registration fee is P350 for the 3K run and P500 for the 5K and 10K run. Registrants will receive a collectible race singlet and a race bib.

Meanwhile, discounts will be given to interested students of Marikina. Registration fee is at P20 and will also be given a race bib. Students must bring their identification cards upon registration.

Winners from each category will have a chance to take home cash prizes and gift checks. Likewise, the city government will also give out some Life Straws, or a filtration device. The straws remove waterborne bacteria, viruses, and parasites which makes the water clean and safe to drink. It is currently being used in Pakistan, Haiti, and Thailand. (Marikina-PIO/RJB/JEG-PIA-NCR)

DSWD's KALAHI-CIDSS to add 129 new areas in 2012
by Jerome Carlo R. Paunan

MANILA - At least 129 new areas will be added in the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)'s community-driven development (CDD) strategy to reduce poverty in 2012.

The Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS) will cover 348 municipalities including old areas in 48 provinces.

These include the newly identified provinces of Apayao, Palawan, Antique, Aklan, Guimaras, and Negros Oriental based on the 2006 National Statistical Coordination Board’s “Ranking of Poorest Provinces Based on Poverty Incidence among Families.”

“We want to vigorously involve our people in alleviating poverty in their respective communities through the tested CDD approach of Kalahi-CIDSS which champions participatory governance leading to improved lives,” DSWD Secretary Corazon Soliman said.

The expansion is funded by an additional loan of $59.12 million from the World Bank, $120-million grant from the Millennium Challenge Corporation, and complementary grants from the Australian Agency for International Development and the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process.

The project’s CDD approach, which has been tested and proven effective in easing poverty in the poorest provinces, seeks to empower ordinary citizens to directly participate in local governance by identifying their own community needs, planning, implementing and monitoring projects together to address local poverty issues.

CDD’s participatory planning process ensures that community members, especially the poor, are involved in the situational analyses leading to the preparation of a barangay action plan which serves as input to the municipal government’s local poverty reduction action plan.
The major projects prioritized by communities include water systems, roads, school buildings, barangay health stations, and day-care centers, among others.

External economic analysis reveals that community participation lowers cost and improves construction quality of projects.

Kalahi-CIDSS-funded community infrastructure expenditure is significantly lower than those involving non-CDD projects, with differences ranging from eight percent for school building to 30 percent for water supply.

The process also allows communities to identify their needs, plan, develop, implement, manage, and sustain their development initiatives.

Kalahi-CIDSS’ counterpart funding requirement sourced from the 20 percent development fund of the municipal government also ensures that a significant proportion of such fund is earmarked for the basic needs of poor communities.(DSWD/RJB/JCP-PIA NCR)

VIEW FROM THE TOP
By: Joe Sprite (Espiritu)
Published on April 9, 2006 (Bohol Sunday Post)

It was once called Kampaningaw. Now they call it Mutong Baray. It is a wind swept ridge along the boundary of Kinagabaan and Bunga Mar that runs from Sambag to the Cantagay boundary. The hilltops are bare except for a rare wood pigeon or two there is practically no wild life. During the early days of World War II these hills were the stamping grounds of the scions of prominent Jagna families one of them was Gen. Buenaventura Caseñas, whose family lived near Kapajang spring at the foot of Kampaningaw.

The place is almost inaccessible. The Sambag route along which Marcial Oclarit once lived offers a route but the grade is steep. Not recommended for those with weak ambulatory equipment. There is a way, which passes the Tajong fields â€" why is it that Jagnaaonons convert the y in Tayong to z or j so it will be pronounced Tajong or Tazong? This is a popular route to the top.

Though remote, far away from amenities but the place is one of the most beautiful spots in Jagna. It overlooks the downtown area from the harbor to Poblacion. Open to elements the northeast trade winds and the southwest monsoon sweeps the place and in the moments of calm the temperature is still pleasant compared to the lower areas. Exposed to direct sunlight during summer months, the climate is comfortable after sundown.

Who started staying on the place during Holy Week, no one is sure. It may have started with two or three persons looking at the downtown lights during hot summer nights. Perhaps to prolong their stay they brought along with them provisions and decided to stay the night. They went home refreshed and decided to repeat the stay during the Holy Week when household chores were at the minimum. At present most Bunga Mar manhood literally take to the hills at Holy Week.

There are other places where people take their nightly vigil for the season. It could be in Ilihan Shrine or at the latest in Mount Palingkod. The Mount Palingkod and Ilihan Shrine pilgrimage if one can call it that has religious overtones. The Kampanigaw - or Mutong Baray if you like â€" sojourn is not a religious affair nor can it be called social. no one is compelled to come and stay the sojourn is purely voluntary.

If Napi â€" whose name could be Napoleon â€" Carin and Iki who is Danilo Auditor could be a prototype the Bunga Mar fisherman the they would deny that the Kampaningaw vigil if it is so, religious. They are good men, fiercely independent; they rely upon their capabilities to provide for their wants. They would be the last to ask for help should things go beyond their capabilities. We could say therefore that their religion is like that of the fire truck or fire extinguisher â€" to be used only in emergency.

But that does not mean that their spiritual needs are not there though they would be the last ones to admit its existence. No matter what you are and no matter what you are and no matter what is your upbringing, there is the spiritual hunger to commune with nature and with fellowmen. Although it is considered a weakness to some it is there and one cannot be human without it. The Kampanigaw stay is some sort of spiritual retreat. No ceremonies are observed no lessons are expounded.

To convert the Kampaningaw stay into a religious affair may ruin the whole thing if not handled delicately. People who go there may be of different religious persuasions. They are there because they want to be there. Perhaps rules of decorum may be imposed. If they are more receptive to other rules particularly those with religious impact, they should be gently implemented. As we have said, those people are fiercely independent and self-reliant. It would be hard to persuade them to follow a path, which they do not understand The Kamapningaw Holy Week affair is there to stay. Bunga Mar and the neighboring barrios are richer for it. May it last.

unsa diay tangil kung maayo mokagud?

PhilHealth all case rates search mobile App now on Google Play Store

PASIG CITY, Feb. 18 - Nowadays, people want instant access to information using their smartphones and other mobile devices. According to research firm Strategy Analytics, 1.7 billion or 42 percent of the global workforce will be mobile by 2020. The very reason why most companies have been developing applications among their marketing strategies is to easily satisfy and connect with their customers with mobile applications related to travel, banking, fashion, games, among others.

In order to keep up with this mobile app trend and be able to provide its clientele with easy benefit information access anytime and anywhere, the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) has created its own application called PhilHealth ACR (All Case Rates) Search mobile application.

“With the majority of people using mobile devices like smartphones and tablets, we saw an opportunity to create and develop an app to provide our members with easy access to information on their PhilHealth benefits,” said PhilHealth Acting President and CEO Ramon F. Aristoza Jr.

The new mobile app is currently available to all android platform users and can be downloaded through Play Store for free.  This application provides a facility to search for PhiHealth’s compensable illnesses and procedures, along with its benefit rates under the All Case Rates mechanism.

Downloading the application is as easy as 1-2-3 or by applying the rule of three’s.  First, connect the device to the internet and open the Play Store; second, search for “PhilHealth ACR” mobile application; and third, tap to download and install.  Users can use the said application even in offline mode.

PhilHealth members, non-members, and even medical practitioners or coders may now utilize the mobile app to ensure accurate and appropriate benefits to facilitate proper processing of claims and to make sure that the member knows the benefits.

Non-android users can search for PhilHealth benefit rates for every compensable medical and surgical case at www.philhealth.gov.phusing the ACR Search Engine located on the right-hand side of the website’s homepage. (PhilHealth)

PEZA eyes Dagupan as economic zone
By Leonardo V. Micua

DAGUPAN CITY, Feb. 17 (PNA) -- The city of Dagupan is being eyed as a potential economic zone to host foreign investors, which can help boost the economy and the 10-point agenda of President Rodrigo Duterte.

This was bared by Emmanuel SD Lopez, consultant of the Philippine Economic Cooperation Agency (PEZA) who came to Dagupan on Thursday and held talks with city officials led by City Administrator Farah Decano.

"I've taken as a personal initiative to get Dagupan as one of the priorities. We are hoping that if you have something on the line, we would like to include you already in the ecozone as we are embarking on local marketing so Dagupan would be highlighted as possible area for economic zone," he said.

He sees possible development of aqua culture and processing industry, and said because of the city's huge population (171,000 plus based on the last census), it can also explore the possibility of putting up a Business Processing Outsourcing-Information Technology park.

An agro-industrial park, Lopez said, needs at least 25 hectares of space which may not be on the same site while at BPO-IT park needs at least one hectare or a building with 10,000 square meters as 1,000 call center agents could easily be absorbed by just one company.

He said a BPO-IT park is ideal in Dagupan given the fact that the city has three universities and 12 colleges where students speak good English that is considered as the language of business all over the world.

"Here in Dagupan, we can probably, with the support of Local Government Unit, build an ecozone and PEZA will collaborate to develop it, build up its strength, together with its competitive pattern with other ecozones in other parts of the country," Lopez said.

The other ecozones in the country are in Cebu, Cavite, Laguna, Baguio and other parts of the country.

With an ecozone in Dagupan, the graduates and qualified unemployed need not go abroad any more to work as jobs will soon be made readily available to them.

Lopez also told city officials that the process of applying for an area to become an Export Processing Zone Authority-registered economic zone has been made simpler.

Upon submission of all the pertinent documents, a city resolution must be passed by the local legislative body authorizing the city mayor to apply for an economic zone.

If all the documents are in, "we can guarantee that in 21 days, we will approve it," Lopez said.

The city can then have an area that is credited by the PEZA, and locators can be provided with both the fiscal and non fiscal incentives.

Fiscal incentives include the grant to locators of income tax holiday, land taxes holiday for four to six years, extendable to eight years, and tax-free importation of all the capital equipment and the exemption from paying Value Added Tax (VAT).

The non-fiscal incentives include the expedited processing of visas of foreign executives and the guarantee for industrial peace which means labor strikes are banned as they could set back productivity.

"Once you are able to identify a piece of land, property owned by the city or by public and private enterprises, we can accredit all these as PEZA-accredited zone," Lopez said.

He said he was informed by City Administrator Decano that Dagupan has a Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP) which identified three additional growth areas and these are privately owned and classified as agricultural, thus need to be converted into commercial and industrial areas.

Lopez noted that PEZA has an existing memorandum of agreement with both the Department of Agrarian Reform and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources that gives leeway to conversion, provided that the land is proven to be no longer productive.

"I will not brag about it but definitely, it could be done," he said. (PNA)

HemoSep hits Bohol; situation under control says provincial veterinarian
By: June S. Blanco
Published: April 9, 2006 - Bohol Sunday Post

ONLY three months into 2006, yet 20 cows and carabaos in Bohol have been confirmed dead due to hemorrhagic septicemia (hemosep). Dr. Stella Marie Lapiz, provincial veterinarian, reported to Gov. Erico Aumentado that for January, February and March, the barangay livestock aides (Balas), livestock technicians (LTs) and municipal agricultural officers (MAOs) of 25 towns have reported a total of 549 suspected hemosep cases. As a result, Aumentado sought assistance from the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) by way of providing vaccines and medicines to supplement the meager resources sourced out from the local government units. Although Lapiz said the situation is already under control, Aumentado indorsed to Dr. Davinio Catbagan, director of the BAI based in Quezon City the Lapiz report prepared by Dr. Meydallyn Dagandan, of the Animal Health Division of the Office of the Provincial Veterinarian (OPV).

The governor said while therapeutic measures, avoidance of stress and regulation of animal movement have been implemented to contain the problem, vaccination has not started as of Wednesday as the province and the concerned towns are still in the process of procuring vaccines and medicines. He urged the bureau to extend its usual support, as “this would make possible the immediate conduct of massive vaccination.”

The affected large cattle had manifested sudden fever, lack of appetite that developed into loss of appetite, profuse salivation, diarrhea but constipation in some cases, nasal discharges, bloating, staggering gait and reluctance to move as well as staring gaze. Lapiz said the predisposing factor to the bacterial disease is the causative agent Pasteurella multocida. The disease often hits livestock following extreme changes in temperature that causes stress in them, she explained.

The 529 cattle-survivors recovered after receiving immediate treatment with commercially prepared broad-spectrum antibiotics costing an average of P500 per animal. Other treatment given included the use of herbal medicines like tamarind and ginger. Mineral oil was prescribed to alleviate bloat. The reported deaths were from San Miguel, six; Alicia, five and Dagohoy, three. Sikatuna and Catigbian had two each while Antequera and Sierra Bullones had one each. Topping the list of morbid cases reported were103 from San Miguel with 97 recovered; 66 from Calape that all recovered; 65 from Alicia of which 60 recovered and 50 from Loon that all recovered.

Lapiz said she had called an emergency meeting of the LTs to assess the situation and prepare contingency plans. Vaccination is ongoing in 16 towns. Ring vaccination â€" or the immediate vaccination of all carabaos and cows surrounding the barangay or municipality where deaths or infection were reported will follow, she said. The vaccination schedule has been arranged, she assured. Following up on the governor's request addressed to BAI, she said 20,000 doses are expected to arrive tomorrow. The regional office is also sending vaccines and medicines tomorrow. The provincial government, she added, is procuring additional vaccines, drugs and vitamins that they will distribute starting tomorrow.

Take up Your Cross

Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me." Matthew 16:24

Your “cross” is God’s will for you, regardless of the cost. Taking up your cross is a choice; it is not beyond your control. You may have health problems or a rebellious child or financial pressures, but do not mistake these as your “cross to bear.” Neither circumstances you face nor consequences of your own actions are your cross. Your cross will be to voluntarily participate in Christ’s sufferings as He carries out His redemptive purposes (Phil. 3:10). Paul said he rejoiced in his sufferings because he knew that by them he was able to participate in the suffering required to bring others into Christian maturity (Col. 1:24).

We tend to want to go immediately from “denying ourselves” to “following Jesus.” But you can never follow Jesus unless you have first taken up your cross. There are aspects of God’s redemptive work that can be accomplished only through suffering. Just as Christ had to suffer in order to bring salvation, there will be hardships you may have to endure in order for God to bring salvation to those around you. Jesus did not talk with His disciples about the cross until they had come to know He was the Christ (Matt. 16:21). You will never be able to endure the suffering of the cross unless you have first been convinced that Jesus is the Christ. Once you have settled your relationship with Christ, He will introduce you to your cross.

There is no Christianity without a cross. If you are waiting for a relationship with God that never requires suffering or inconvenience, then you cannot use Christ as your model. God’s will for you involves a cross. First, take up your cross, then you can follow Him.Henry and Richard Blackaby

DTI â€" ASEAN Civil Society Organizations dialogue on ASEAN economic integration yields positive results

DTI receives the Statement of the Philippine National Organizing Committee (PH NOC) on the eve of the 31st Meeting of the High-Level Task Force (HLTF) on ASEAN Economic Integration. The statement calls for ASEAN Governments to “Place people’s rights and needs over corporate profits.”

The DTI recently held a dialogue with Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to address their concerns regarding the deepening integration process of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC). These include environment and climate change, protection of workers, women, indigenous peoples, and social inequality, among others. The ASEAN CSOs hoped that these will be discussed during the 31st Meeting of the High-Level Task Force on ASEAN Economic Integration (HLTF-EI) scheduled on 15-16 February in Metro Manila.

During the dialogue, Trade and Industry Undersecretary for Industry Development Dr. Ceferino S. Rodolfo explained the role of HLTF-EI in providing overall guidance to the AEC process and assured the group that “the concerns expressed here today will be proposed by the Philippines for discussion with the trade vice ministers of ASEAN during the HLTF-EI Meeting.” Undersecretary Rodolfo is the Philippine HLTF-EI Lead.

“The Philippines’ agenda priorities focus on inclusiveness and innovation. Consultations with our stakeholders ensure that these priorities are aligned with the domestic agenda. Hosting ASEAN this year gives us the opportunity to advance our country’s interests and provide the way forward in ensuring that regional economic integration guarantees inclusive and sustainable growth of the region’s citizens.” He emphasized that as Chair of ASEAN 2017, the country is advancing matters on social disparities which include issues ranging from energy, environmental protection and climate change mitigation, women empowerment, education, decent employment and labor standards, and safeguards against race-to-the-bottom policies.

Freedom from Debt Coalition (FDC) President Dr. Eduardo Tadem noted that the Philippine Chairmanship of ASEAN for 2017 provides an avenue to articulate observations, views and insights on the country’s participation in ASEAN and in FTAs but reminded government to safeguard the rights of those affected in the ongoing integration process. “Kaya po kami nandito upang ipahayag na hindi kami tutol sa integrasyon, ngunit ang integrasyon na aming hangad ay ang tumutugon sa pangangailangan ng mga mamamayan, kumakalinga sa kalikasan, at pumuprotekta sa karapatang pantao, said Mr. Joseph Purugganan, coordinator of the Focus on the Global South â€" Philippines. (We are here to state that we are not opposed to integration, but the integration we desire should address the needs of the people, nurtures the environment, and protects human rights).

Chang Jordan from the Women’s Legal Bureau, highlighting the weakness of market conditions to provide equal opportunities to women, particularly in poorer countries, cautioned that ASEAN integration may not succeed if it fails to take into consideration the systemic and intersectional dimension of discrimination, oppression, and exclusion.

The dialogue ended on a high note with a strong commitment for continued and sustained consultations between the government and civil society to strengthen collaboration among the CSOs, the government, and working groups under the Philippine ASEAN 2017 Chairmanship.

The CSOs in attendance were Aksyon para sa Kahandaan sa Kalamidad at Klima, Buhay na may Dignidad para sa Lahat, Focus on the Global South â€" Philippines, Foundation for Media Alternatives, Freedom from Debt Coalition, Piglas Kababaihan, Philippine Movement for Climate Justice, PhilWomen on ASEAN Network, Sustainability and Participation through Education and Lifelong Learning, and Women’s Legal and Human Rights Bureau.

Philippine exports yield growth in December 2016

The Department of Trade and Industry sees sustained growth for exports in 2017 as Philippine exported goods yielded a 4.5% growth in December 2016 with a total of $4.71 billion in export revenues from $4.660 billion in the same period in 2015.

"As we implement new strategies in diversifying our markets and upscaling our products and services amidst the slowdown in global trade, we hope that our exports will continue to improve in the next quarters” said DTI Industry Promotion Group Undersecretary Nora K. Terrado.

In a report released by Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), increase in the top five (5) major export commodities contributed to the growth which include coconut oil (crude and refined; 146.5%), other mineral products (104.5%), metal components (66.4%), chemicals (42.1%), and other manufactures (35.8%).

While electronic products experienced a 2.8% decrease in total receipts as compared to 2015 data, these remained to be the top export product of the country with total receipts of $2.451 billion, accounting for 50.3% of the total exports revenue in December 2016. Other Manufactures ranked second with 7.2% share to the total export receipts. It recorded an increase of 35.8% from December 2015 value of $257.32 million. It is followed by Machinery and Transport Equipment with export revenue of $227.05 million, Woodcrafts and Furniture with total sales of $202.14 million, and Ignition Wiring Set and Other Wiring Sets Used in Vehicles, Aircraft and Ships with $153.72 million export sales.

“Notable 67.5% increase in the exports of our Agro-Based Products in December 2016 is a good indication that our agrisector will be up in the coming months. We hope to see more of this trend to fully boost our exports,” added DTI Export Marketing Bureau Director Senen M. Perlada.

Agro-based products shared 7.7 % of the total exports in December 2016 which amounted to $377.30 million.

Total exported goods to East Asia increased compared to other top Philippine exports destination such as ASEAN member countries, USA, and European Union member countries.  Merchandise exports to East Asia increased by 9.4% with total revenue of $2.556 billion million from $2.337 billion recorded in the same month in 2015. Japan remained to be the country’s top export destination, with revenue amounting to $946.28 million, comprising 19.4 percent share of the total exports.

Learning to Love

And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you. . .But concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another. 1 Thessalonians 3:12; 4:9

God is love (1 John 4:16). His very nature is perfect love, but because of sin love does not always come freely and naturally to His children. You may have been raised in a home where love was not expressed. Perhaps you were hurt by someone you loved, and your heart became hardened as a defense against further pain. You may love others but not know how to express your love in words or actions. You may feel frustrated because you have been called by God to love, yet you do not understand how to love others. Paul wrote to the Christians in Thessalonica to encourage them not to become disheartened as they learned to love each other (1 Thess. 3:7). They did not need Paul to explain to them how to love, for God Himself would teach them how to love one another. God would give them His love, and as they followed Him, He would cause that love to multiply. If they found someone who was difficult to love, God would enable them to love through His Holy Spirit. God in His grace has made provision for our human weakness, and He is prepared to teach us how to love one another. There are no exceptions. God can teach us to love even that especially difficult person. Are you struggling to love someone? God will help you. He will enable you to love your parents, your spouse, your children, your friends, or your enemy in a deeper way than you could ever love them on your own. If you do not know how to express your love in a meaningful way, God will teach you how to do this. God is the authority on love. As you relate to others, ask God to make His love overflow to them through your life.    Henry and Richard Blackaby

Marcos’ camp welcomes resolution affirming his protest as being sufficient in form and substance

The camp of former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. today welcomed the recent resolution of the Supreme Court, acting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal, affirming its earlier resolution finding his election protest to be sufficient in form and substance.

In a statement, lawyer Victor Rodriguez, spokesman of Marcos, said the former Senator was pleased that the Tribunal denied the motion of former Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo to conduct a preliminary hearing on his election protest and eventually dismiss the same for lack of jurisdiction.

“We are hoping that with this resolution, there will be an end to all these delays and we can finally move forward.  There is a need to ferret out the truth as to what really transpired during the vice presidential race last May,” Rodriguez said.

In an 8-page Resolution dated January 24, 2017, the PET ruled that the sufficiency in form and substance of Marcos’ election protest is beyond question with the issuance of the Summons.  “On the matter of the sufficiency of the protest, the same [is] already beyond dispute.  With the issuance of the Summons, the Tribunal has found the Protest to be sufficient in form and substance.  The Protest contained narrations of ultimate facts on the alleged irregularities and anomalies in the contested clustered precincts, which the protestant needs to prove in due time,” the PET ruled.

The Tribunal also rebuked Robredo’s claim that by virtue of the ruling in the case of Pimentel vs. COMELEC, Marcos improperly raised the authenticity and due execution of Certificates of Canvass (COCs) which she said should have been raised in a pre-proclamation case filed before Congress acting as the National Board of Canvassers (NBOC).

In ruling that Robredo was mistaken in her assertions, the Tribunal explained that the Pimentel ruling did not deprive the Tribunal of its jurisdiction.

“Section 4, Article VII of the 1987 Constitution, in relation to Rule 13 of the 2010 PET Rules, provides that the Tribunal shall be the sole judge of all elections contests relating to the election, returns, and disqualifications of the President or Vice President of the Philippines.  The phrase “election, returns and qualifications” refers to all matters affecting the validity of the contestee’s title, which includes questions on the validity, authenticity and correctness of the COCs,” the Tribunal said.

“We just want the truth to come out.  Its that simple.” Rodriguez said.

Pres. Duterte admin's fight vs corruption remains steadfast

There will be no let up in the Duterte administration’s drive against corruption, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano assured on Thursday (Feb. 16).

The senator said this on the sidelines of the Senate committee hearing on the alleged bribery in the Bureau of Immigration (BI) involving casino mogul Jack Lam, and also amid recent news of the Solicitor General’s recommendation to acquit pork barrel queen Janet Lim-Napoles.

Cayetano stressed that while he wants to hear an explanation regarding the SolGen’s decision, and while the truth behind the bribery issue at the BI is yet to be revealed, he remains confident that the Duterte administration will never allow corrupt officials and their cohorts to evade justice.

“Dito kay Napoles, like you, I’m also asking for an explanation… Like you, I also want the SolGen to answer. But I guarantee you that the President will not allow any corruption to happen during the administration. And he will not absolve those who were corrupt in past administrations,” the senator said.

In his interpellation during the BI hearing, Cayetano also countered claims that the scandal is an evidence of corruption under the Duterte administration. He said while it is clear that there are proofs of extortion and bribery in the BI, it would be unfair to say that the President had condoned it or was even aware of it.

“May nagpapalabas kasi na this hearing is an evidence of corruption of the Duterte administration, while I think it is the reverse. [DOJ] Secretary [Vitaliano] Aguirre exposed the corruption precisely para lumabas ito. Senator [Richard] Gordon and our colleagues called this hearing para lumabas ang katotohanan,” Cayetano said.

“Maging mga committee natin sa Senado are functioning. Itong Jack Lam hearing, nakita niyo, walang tinatago. If the Secretary of Justice was merely keeping quiet, wala sana ito. Kaya nga binulgar as a lesson to all, na kahit gaano kalaki, gaano kataas, hindi papayag ang Pangulo.”

He reiterated that, contrary to what critics like Senator Antonio Trillanes IV are claiming, it is not a Duterte policy to condone corruption or promote a “padrino culture” in government.

“A while ago, [Sen. Trillanes] was implying that when you say kapatid ng President… as if involved ang presidente… Mere insinuation that someone is saying, ‘malapit ako kay Presidente,’ I can say that now. But that doesn’t mean that it is true o pababayaan ‘yan ng Presidente,” Cayetano claimed. 

“If [critics]... are linking these issues with corruption and saying that President Duterte believes in corruption, his 30-year record in Davao speaks for itself… The President, hundred percent, walang interes sa pera… So why would he allow people around him to make money? It doesn’t make sense,” he added.

Cayetano also pointed out that if it weren’t for the shortcomings of the past administration, the cases built against those involved in corruption controversies could have been much stronger.

“Kami mismo ay lumaban sa Arroyo administration. Bakit yung finile noong Aquino administration, mahihina ang kaso? We foresaw that at that time dahil yung malalaking kaso katulad ng Hello Garci… nakita namin yung malalakas na kaso, pinabayaan… Dito kay Napoles… maraming kasama sa kaso na hindi sinama in the last administration,” he noted.#