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Manila Standard Today - April 11, 2012 Issue
Manila Standard Today - April 11, 2012 Issue
com
MINDANAO MAY GO
CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK
No vacancy for foreign nurses in US until 2020
Revilla twits veep for aside that Lakas a spent force
Comelec out to clear two
execs of poll fraudAbalos
Filipino gobs
die in rescue
ops off India
Region willing
to host Bataan
power plant or
build new one
CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK
On the stamps. A giant mosaic made out of documentary stamps to form the image of former Presi-
dent Corazon Aquino is unfurled at the facade of the Post Ofce Building in Manila over Tuesdays found-
ing anniversary of the Philippine Postal Corporation. EY ACASIO
www.manilastandardtoday.com mst@manilastandardtoday.com
Vol. XXVI No. 46 16 Pages, 3 Sections
P18.00 WEDNESDAY, April 11, 2012
TODAY
Standard
Manila
Ramon Floresta, president of the Kida-
pawan Chamber of Commerce and Indus-
try, and Agham Rep. Angelo Palmones said
NAVAL troops from the Philip-
pines and Vietnam will compete
in fun games of football and
basketball on the disputed Sprat-
ly islands in the West Philippines
Sea to ease the tensions in the
area, an ofcial said Tuesday.
Navy chief Vice Admiral
NUKE
20 ights
re-reouted
away from
rocket path
SEVERAL airlines will reroute ights over
the Philippines to avoid a rocket North
Korea is expected to launch between this
and next week, the Civil Aviation Author-
ity said Tuesday.
About 20 ights to and from the Phil-
ippines, including Philippine Airlines,
Cebu Pacics, All Nippon Airways, Ja-
pan Airlines, Korean Airlines, Garuda
Indonesias and Delta Airlines will be
rerouted between Thursday and Monday,
when North Korea says it will launch a
satellite. The exact timing will depend on
the weather.
TWO of the eight Filipino sea-
men whose ship was seized by
Somali pirates off the south-
western coast of India died
during a rescue by Iranian
commandos on April 2, an of-
cial said Tuesday.
Foreign Affairs spokesman
Raul Hernandez did not identi-
fy the fatalities, but he said the
Philippine Embassy in Tehran
welcomed the eight surviving
Filipino crew of the Cypriot-
agged and Iranian-owned
bulk carrier MV Eglantine as
they disembarked in Bandar
Abbas, Iran.
He said one of the Filipinos
died of a gunshot wound in the
By Rey E. Requejo
MANDALUYONG City Mayor
Benhur Abalos on Tuesday said
the Commission on Elections
planned to clear two former
poll ofcials who were accused
alongside his father, former
Comelec chairman Benjamin
Abalos, of sabotaging the 2007
elections in Mindanao.
Abalos told reporters a resolu-
tion was being circulated among
the commissioners of the poll
body to withdraw the charges
against former poll supervisors
Lilian Radam and Yogie Marti-
rizar, whose testimonies before a
joint panel from the Comelec and
the Justice Department led to his
fathers indictment last year.
The accusation was im-
mediately denied by Comelec
Commissioner Rene Sarmiento,
however.
There are is no resolution
whatsoever seeking the withdraw-
al of the cases against Radam and
Martirizar. We see no reason for
the withdrawal, he said.
The younger Abalos said the
Comelec was moving heaven
and earth to persecute his father.
He said the commissioners
were set to tackle the resolu-
tion in their summer session in
Baguio City tomorrow, citing a
highly placed source in the poll
body that he refused to identify.
Abalos said the move to clear
Radam and Martirizar showed
that the case against his father was
crumbling because prosecutors
Palace denies
energy summit
a moro-moro
By John Anthony
Concepcion
MALACANANG on Tues-
day denied it has approved
midnight deals to solve the
power shortage in Mindanao
and said it will let stakehold-
ers on the island decide on a
solution based on a consensus
that will be forged during the
Energy Summit in Davao City
on Friday.
Presidential spokesman
Edwin Lacierda also denied that the summit is just for
show and moro-moro and said the Aquino administra-
tion was sincere in addressing the shortage of power in
Mindanao.
He also denied that the Energy Department has closed
deals for more coal-red plants, saying this was the job
of the Energy Regulatory Commission.
He said the summit was being organized by the Min-
danao Development Authority, not the Energy Depart-
ment. Through the summit, he said, the people of Min-
danao would decide what solutions could be applied to
their power problems.
There are proposed solutions, but it is something that
they would have to decide as the President has always
stated everybody should be on the same page when it
comes to addressing the energy concerns in Mindanao,
Lacierda said.
Its up to them. I know for a fact that the Mindanao
people oppose privatization. Thats something that will
be addressed. These concerns will be addressed in the
summit.
By Vito Barcelo
THE Filipino nurses aspiring to
work in the United States may not
get what they wish as that country
now has an ample supply of local
nurses, a former labor leader said
Tuesday.
The shortage of nurses in
America ended in 2010. Right
now they have an ample supply of
US-educated nurses, Rep. Arnel
Ty said.
Ty, citing statistics from the
United States National Council
of State Boards of Nursing, says
the US produced close to a million
nurses from 2006 to 2011.
He says Americas demand for
Filipino and other foreign nurses
might start to recover only eight
years from now, or in 2020, when
a generation of US practitioners
retires.
American hospitals rst had a
shortage of nurses in 1998, but the
gap slowly was lled by the large
increase in the number of American
nurses and the deluge of foreigners.
Ty, citing a New England Jour-
nal of Medicine report, says there
is some chance that US hospitals
might step up the hiring of foreign
nurses when more Americans ob-
tain medical insurance coverage
PEOPLE shouldnt count the Lakas politi-
cal party out, party president Senator Ramon
Revilla Jr. said Tuesday as he brushed aside
Vice President Jejomar Binays claims that the
dominant minority party was a spent force.
The next election is still over a year away,
and while there are already feelers being sent
seeking the partys support, we do not want to
focus our efforts there this early, Revilla said
in a statement.
Instead of following what other political
parties are doing now, our party, through our
members who are incumbent ofcials, would
rather spend our energies on serving the con-
stituency and addressing their more immediate
concerns.
Binays PDP-Laban and former President
Joseph Estradas Partido ng Masang Pilipino
have forged an alliance called the United Na-
tionalist Alliance to prepare for next years
mid-term elections.
Revilla said the elections were still too far
away, so Lakas wasnt joining any political
gimmickry. Next page
Next page
Next page
Next page
Next page
Next page Next page
Fun games
in Spratlys
By Christine F. Herrera
KIDAPAWAN CITY
Businessmen and law-
makers on Tuesday said
they were willing to turn
to nuclear power to end
the intermittent blackouts
in Mindanao and to cut
the cost of electricity on
the island.
Mindanao would even be willing to host
the mothballed Bataan nuclear power plant,
which would not only remedy the 100-mega-
watt decit but also bring down the cost to
P2.50 a kilowatt hour as against the P14 a
kilowatt hour being charged by the power
barges now.
If the residents of Luzon have no problem
with blackouts and they can afford to say not
in our own backyard, we dont subscribe to
that, Foresta told the Manila Standard.
We agree to host the nuclear power
plant and be liberated from the six to eight
hours of daily blackouts that [are hurting]
our businesses.
But former Pangasinan Rep. Mark Co-
juangco, who has campaigned for a revival of
the Bataan plant, said it would be impractical
LACIERDA
Next page
MOTHBALLED BATAAN NUCLEAR POWER PLANT
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News
ManilaStandardToday mst.daydesk@gmail.com APRIL 11, 2012 WEDNESDAY
A2
WASHINGTON Cellphone
companies and the government are trying
to make it as difcult to use a stolen
cellphone as it is to sell a stolen car.
US Sen. Charles Schumer said in
a statement late Monday that ma-
jor cellphone carriers and the Fed-
eral Communications Commission
have agreed to set up a database
of identication numbers that are
unique to each phone.
Using the list, cellular carri-
ers will be able to permanently
disable a phone once its been
reported stolen. Until now, US
carriers have only been disabling
so-called SIM cards, which can
be swapped in and out. Thats en-
abled a black market to exist for
stolen phones.
Schumer said that the goal of the
agreement is to make a stolen cell-
phone as worthless as an empty
wallet.
He has said that unique ID num-
bers known as International Mobile
Equipment Identity numbers are al-
ready effectively used in Europe to
deter stealing.
Schumer also said he will intro-
duce legislation to make it a fed-
eral crime to alter or tamper with
a phones IMEI number.
Mobile carriers led by Verizon
Wireless and AT&T Inc. agreed
to help stem an increase in de-
Stolen phones to be disabled
vice thefts, a US regulator said.
The companies agreed to begin
blocking stolen devices within six
months, Federal Communications
Commission Chairman Julius
Genachowski said in an e-mailed
notice outlining a formal an-
nouncement in Washington.
There is a growing epidemic
of mobile phone theft, and more
than 40 percent of all robberies
in New York City involve smart-
phones and other wireless devices,
the FCC said in the e- mailed re-
lease that included Genachowskis
announcement.
The mobile providers taking part
in the initiative -- leading carrier
Verizon, No. 2 AT&T, Sprint Nex-
tel Corp. and T- Mobile USA Inc.
-- cover 90 percent of US subscrib-
ers, the FCC said.
The companies actions will
help to deter smartphone thefts
and protect the personal infor-
mation on them, Steve Lar-
gent, president of CTIA-The
Wireless Association, said in an
e-mailed statement.
The industry will work to edu-
cate consumers about using ap-
plications and passwords to help
safeguard personal data, said Lar-
gent, whose Washington-based
trade group represents wireless
carriers.
Nationwide there has been a
sharp increase in robberies of
communication devices includ-
ing phones, smartphones and
tablet computers, often through
violent attacks, the Major Cit-
ies Chiefs Association said in a
Feb. 12 resolution. The group
represents police chiefs in the 50
largest U.S. cities including New
York, Philadelphia, Chicago and
Los Angeles.
The chiefs association in its
resolution asked the FCC to re-
quire that telecommunications
companies have the capability to
track and disable stolen devices.
Police say tens of thousands
of smartphones are stolen each
year, Representative Eliot
Engel, a New York Democrat,
said in a March 22 statement
announcing his legislation to
prevent mobile-phone theft. If
service is cut off on a stolen
phone, it just becomes a useless
brick.The motivation to threat-
en, or commit violence, in order
to steal a phone goes away.
AP, Bloomberg
CHEAP beer.
For consumers in China, its
a fact of life. Brew in China, the
worlds biggest market, sells at
one-third the price in the US. Now
foreign brewers are wooing the
Chinese to pay more for brands
that are popular worldwide.
The idea is to get increas-
ingly afuent Chinese to switch
from local beers that sell for as
little as 1.87 yuan (30 cents)
for a 330-milliliter bottle to for-
eign lagers such as Budweiser,
which costs about 6.13 yuan. To
achieve that, overseas compa-
nies are acquiring or setting up
new breweries across the coun-
try to widen the reach for their
premium brands.
The four biggest players
China Resources Enterprise
Ltd., the partner of SABMiller
Plc Anheuser-Busch InBev NV,
Tsingtao Brewery Co. , which
partners Asahi Group Hold-
ings Ltd. and Beijing Yanjing
Brewery Co.already account
for 59 percent of the beer sold,
according to Euromonitor In-
ternational. They have gained
market share as they increased
scale. Now they want to boost
protability in the 360 billion
yuan market.
Consuming foreign pre-
mium beer has become more
and more popular, especially
among youngsters who have
higher education, higher income
and higher acceptance of exotic
goods, said Olive Xia, an ana-
lyst with Core Pacic-Yamaichi
International Ltd. in Shanghai.
In 2011, consumption of beer
rose 4.8 percent to 47.5 billion
liters in China. Thats estimat-
ed to reach 61.4 billion liters
in 2016, with sales growth of
premium and standard lagers
set to outpace economy brews,
according to London-based
Euromonitor.
Chinese drink about 35 liters of
beer a year. That is less than half the
consumption in the US and a third
of that in Germany. Bloomberg
Bud now
a luxury
in China
AS a correspondent for the
Manila Standard Today, I
published on June 15, 2007 in
the Regions page of this news-
paper, a story entitled Teach-
er hits sale of appointments.
It was based on a complaint
led before the Ombudsman
by an Olongapo City public
school teacher, a certain Ju-
dith Olayvar Pasustento, who
accused two local school of-
cials of soliciting payments
in exchange for teaching ap-
pointments. The story was
critical of retired Schools Di-
vision Supt. Ligaya Monato,
but I failed to include her side.
I did try to reach Mrs. Monato
to get her side through the
Communications Ofce of the
Education Department, but
the staff failed to contact her
that very day. The quotes were
based on actual interviews
with Pasustento. Mrs. Monato
was not actually named in the
complaint. I apologize to Ms.
Monato for the inconvenience
or damage the publication of
the report may have caused
her, although it was never my,
or the Manila Standard To-
days, intention to question
her integrity or besmirch her
reputation.
FLORANTE SOLMERIN
Correspondent
Manila Standard Today
Reporter
apologizes
for story
Fun...
Alexander Pama said the fun
games were part of an agree-
ment he signed with his Viet-
namese counterpart in October
last year as a condence-build-
ing step toward better coopera-
tion between the two countries.
The agreement also called
for information-sharing to al-
low the two countries to re-
spond to maritime accidents
in the disputed islands, Pama
said.
The Spratlys, a group of
about 100 low islands and
coral reefs intersecting busy
shipping lanes, is claimed by
China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Ma-
laysia and the Philippines. The
area is believed to be rich in
petroleum and gas deposits.
Vietnam and the Philippines
announced plans to hold war
games in the area early this
year, but China objected and
said such acts would under-
mine Chinese sovereignty.
Pama said no dates had been
set for the friendly games,
which would require Filipino
sailors to hop over to Vietnam-
ese-controlled areas and vice
versa to play football and bas-
ketball.
They would also exchange
information on many issues
and plan their response to ac-
cidents involving shermen.
Pama said the two countries
also agreed to set up a hot line
between their coast guards and
maritime police to strengthen
their capability to monitor
such incidents as piracy and
incursion into their territorial
waters.
Mayor Eugenio Bito-onon
of Pag-asa, a small Spratly is-
land occupied by Philippine
forces, said the new coopera-
tion between the Philippines
and Vietnam was a welcomed
development.
This will lessen the ten-
sion and apprehension about a
shooting war, he said.
Its good if theyll play
games and eat on the same
table.
Mindanao...
and too expensive to move the
facility to Mindanao, and rec-
ommended instead building
plants using small modular re-
actors.
Cojuangco said he met with
the governors, congressmen and
mayors of Pagadian in Zambo-
anga, Koronadal, General Santos
and Davao del Sur last week and
that all of them were agreeable to
hosting nuclear power plants in
Mindanao.
Floresta, Palmones and Co-
juangco on Tuesday said they
would attend the Mindanao
Power Summit to be hosted by
President Benigno Aquino III on
Friday at the Waterfront Insular
Hotel in Davao City.
Ahead of the summit, Co-
juangco said the country should
build plants using the small
modular reactors favored by the
US Nuclear Regulatory Com-
mission.
The Philippines, he said,
should start applying for the con-
struction of the plants so it could
add nuclear power to its energy
mix by 2018.
It takes time to build a
nuclear power plant, so the
Philippines, this early, should
already decide to secure per-
mits from international nuclear
commissions so that the earli-
est it could construct and go on
stream is by 2018, Cojuangco
said.
Cojuangcos wife, Pangasinan
Rep. Kimi Cojuangco, has led
a bill that would provide host
communities an assured supply
of power at a discounted rate for
as long as 60 years, the life span
of a nuclear power plant.
Palmones said Philippine
Nuclear Research Institute
Executive Director Alumanda
dela Rosa had assured him
that nuclear plants were safe in
Mindanao.
Mindanao is no different than
Bataan, but we have vast lands
here that can host the plant away
from the residents, Palmones
told the Manila Standard.
PNRI executive director Alu-
manda dela Rosa assured us that
nuclear plants are safe and will
not pose any risk to the residents
of Mindanao.
Floresta said Mindanao could
not afford to lose more economi-
cally because of the blackouts.
He said his 250-hectare banana
plantation and other businesses
were being threatened by the
daily eight-hour blackouts.
If the answer to the power
crisis is we need to go nuclear,
then so be it, Floresta said.
20...
Floramel Joy Songsong, spokes-
woman for the Civil Aviation Au-
thority, said the agency will tem-
porarily close three northeastern
air corridors, which will result in
an additional 20 minutes of travel
time for the airlines.
Japanese carriers JAL and
ANA will change the ight paths
on the routes connecting Tokyo
to Manila, Jakarta and Singa-
pore, while domestic ights will
not be affected.
JAL has four ights a day on
the expected rocket launch dates.
Airline ofcial Norio Higashi-
mine said each ight will carry
more fuel in case of an unexpect-
ed route change.
ANA is making similar route
changes on ve ights.
A PAL spokeswoman said the
rerouting would cause negligible
delays on the following ights:
PR 105, Guam-Manila; PR
105, San Francisco-Manila; PR
103, Los Angeles-Manila; PR
107, Vancouver-Manila; PR 431,
Narita-Manila; PR 407, Kansai-
Manila; PR 437, Nagoya-Ma-
nila; PR 465, Incheon-Manila,
PR 434, Cebu-Narita; PR 111,
Guam-Manila; and PR 425, Ma-
nila-Fukuoka.
Ships and shing boats, mean-
while, were also told to avoid the
northeastern territorial waters
where rocket debris may fall.
North Korea says the satellite
will observe crops and natural
resources and denies suspicions
that the launch is intended to test
long-range missile technology.
North Korea has said that it
chose the southerly ight path
from the rocket launch site so
debris wouldnt hurt neighboring
countries. The rst stage of the
rocket is expected to fall into the
Yellow Sea southwest of South
Korea, and the second into the
ocean about 140 kilometers east
of Luzon.
But there has been widespread
fear over falling debris from the
rocket. Japans defense minister
has ordered missile units to in-
tercept the rocket if it or its frag-
ments threaten to hit Japan.
Seoul has also warned it might
shoot down any parts of the
North Korean rocket heading
for South Korean territory. Seoul
also warned that the North Kore-
ans might test a nuclear weapon
after this months missile launch.
In Manila, the Akbayan group
has condemned the North Kore-
an missile launch, saying it will
unnecessarily put Filipinos at
risk. AP, with Eric E. Apolonio,
Vito Barcelo and Bloomberg
Comelec...
could not produce witnesses for
the next hearing.
We are calling on the com-
missioners of Comelec not to
allow themselves to be used for
this purpose. We hope they stand
by whats right under the law,
the mayor said.
He repeated his objection to
a Comelec plan to treat Radam
and Martirizar as state witnesses
in the poll fraud case against
Abalos and other former poll
ofcials. He said the two did
not qualify because an accused
could only become a state wit-
ness if he or she appeared to be
the least guilty of the crime com-
mitted.
How can they [Radam and
Martirizar] be the least guilty
when they are the principal ac-
tors in that fraud as established
in the Melo commission that
was afrmed by my father when
he conducted another investiga-
tion? Abalos said.
He said his father was chair-
man of the Comelec in the Cor-
dillera Autonomous Region in
2007 and did not handle Mind-
anao.
In December, the Comelec
led charges against Abalos Sr.
but rejected the recommenda-
tion of the joint panel of the
Comelec and the Justice De-
partment to exonerate Radam
and Martirizar.
The same panel earlier recom-
mended the ling of an electoral
sabotage case against former
President and now Pampanga
Rep. Gloria Macapagal -Arroyo.
Radam and Martirizar went
into hiding for four years until
September last year, when they
surfaced to testify on the alleged
cheating in 2007.
However, while they were in
hiding the Comelec led an elec-
toral sabotage case against Rad-
am before a Pasay City court,
while a case against Martirizar is
still pending with the poll body.
With Gigi Muoz-David and Joel
Zurbano
Filipino...
head while the other suffo-
cated in the engine room during
the rescue.
The Filipino seamen were
freed from their Somali pirate-
captors after a successful rescue
operation staged by the Iranian
Navy on April 2, Hernandez told
reporters in a text message.
That led to the capture of the
12 pirates who boarded the ves-
sel.
Hernandez said the eight surviv-
ing Filipinos will arrive on April 11
via Malaysia Airlines. The owners
of the MV Eglantine had promised
to compensate the families of the
two Filipinos, he said.
The pirates hijacked the MV
Eglantine, which had 23 crew
members of mixed nationalities,
on March 26.
John Anthony Concepcion
No vacancy...
under an expanded US health
care law that takes effect in
2014.
The oversupply of nurses
in the Philippines has moved
regulators to urge high-school
graduates to shun the nursing
course.
From 1995 to 2011 a total of
145,081 Filipino nurses sought
to practice their profession in
America by taking the US li-
censure exam for the rst time.
But from 2006 to 2011 alone,
938,552 US nursing graduates
also took that test for the rst
time.
Ty has been pushing for new
legislation that would establish
a jobs plan for idle Filipino
nurses, who now number more
than 300,000.
As he proposes it, the plan
would be an expanded ver-
sion of the Nurses Assigned in
Rural Service, the short-lived
Philippine government project
that enlisted nurses to improve
health care in the poverty-
stricken towns.
Palace...
Earlier, lawmakers and envi-
ronmentalists accused President
Aquino of approving midnight
deals to build more coal-red
plants in Mindanao days ahead
of the energy summit.
Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Ca-
sio said the Mindanao Energy
Summit was supposed to give
the stakeholders options for
short- and long-term solutions
to the power crisis, but no option
was being offered because the
contracts for coal were already
a done deal.
Revilla...
Lakas banks on the trust
and condence of voters who
they serve and not on public-
ity and political gimmickry,
he said.
He said it was clear that Lakas
was being underestimated, but
what many people didnt know
was that its real strength was
its grassroots membership, the
quality of its incumbent mem-
bers on the ground coupled with
the support of recognized lead-
ers and Senior Statesmen.
Ultimately, the party that has
the most number of performing
incumbent ofcials is the stron-
gest political party, Revilla
said.
Lakas is not CGMA [Con-
gresswoman Gloria Macapagal-
Arroyo] alone. There is more to
the party. We are a principled
political party with Christian-
Muslim Democratic ideals.
We enjoy the full support of
former President Fidel V. Ramos
and the partys founding mem-
bers, coupled with a substantial
number of congressmen, gover-
nors, board members, mayors
and councilors.
Revilla said the presidents
and ofcials of the League of
Municipalities of the Philip-
pines, the Vice Mayors League
of the Philippines, the Philip-
pine Councilors League, and
the Liga ng mga Barangay sa
Pilipinas were either members
of Lakas or were actively sup-
ported and campaigned for by
Lakas in their respective bids.
By Maricel Cruz
TWO lawmakers are protesting
Budget Secretary Florencio Abads
recent order to tighten the release
of pork barrel to legislators to avoid
any misuse of the funds for the 2013
midterm elections.
Navotas City Rep. Tobias Tiang-
co accused Abad of abuse of au-
thority over the funds that had been
legally appropriated.
It is Butch Abad who is abusing
his authority for election purposes,
Tiangco told the Manila Standard.
That is a too righteous and holi-
er-than-thou attitude.
Tiangco, who became a critic of
the Aquino administration after he
exposed the railroading of the im-
peachment process against Chief
Justice Renato Corona, dared Abad
to name the legislators who are us-
ing their priority development assis-
tance funds for other purposes and
le charges against them.
That is unfair for those members
of Congress who are using their
pork funds properly.
House Speaker Feliciano Bel-
monte Jr. said he saw no reason
for the Budget Department to be
too strict about the release of pork
barrel, especially if the lawmakers
requests met the standards and re-
quirements of the department.
As long as the request falls
within the guidelines, [the depart-
ment] should release it as soon as
possible, Belmonte told the Ma-
nila Standard.
House Deputy Minority Leader
and Zambales Rep. Milagros Mag-
saysay said Abads pronouncement
Monday to ne-tune the applica-
tion for the list of eligible projects
and the release of such funds to leg-
islators showed paranoia, and that
the Aquino administration did not
trust its allies.
He apparently distrusts their
own allies to make such state-
ments, Magsaysay said.
Magsaysay said the timing and in-
tention of the supposed new policy of
the Budget department on the release
of pork barrel were suspicious and
were aimed at harassing the adminis-
trations critics and crippling the polit-
ical opposition in the 2013 elections.
Tiangco said that the Palaces
changing guidelines on the release
of pork barrel funds was not sur-
prising.
Lawmakers criticize Abads order on pork barrel
APRIL 11, 2012 WEDNESDAY
A3 News
ManilaStandardToday mst.daydesk@gmail.com
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Comelec stands pat on PCOS deal
IN BRIEF
Group warns
of cigarette
butt waste
PNP chief Director General Nicanor Bartolome inspects an assault rie during the PNP Crisis Action Force Evaluation
Exercises held in Camp Crame on Tuesday. Bartolome sacked two ranking police ofcials in Zamboanga del Sur over the
raid on a police station by members of the New Peoples Army. MANNY PALMERO
Former Vice President Teosto Guingona Jr. [left] has asked the Supreme Court to stop the Commission on Elections from purchasing Precinct
Count Optical Scan machines from Smartmatic International which the poll body plans to use for the 2013 mid-term elections. DANNY PATA
Commissioner Rene Sarmiento said that aside from the familiarity
of the voters with the machines, they also considered the limited
budget of the Commission on Elections.
We decided to buy the machines for practical reasons. It is much
cheaper [and] PCOS was proven effective, Sarmiento said.
Voting 5-2, the Comelec en banc, decided to take the option to pur-
chase the PCOS machines along with the software for the Automated
Election System technology and a new consolidation and canvassing
system for a discounted price of P1.8 billion.
The machines from Smartmatic International will be used in the
2013 mid-term elections.
Sarmiento said they approved the decision to acquire the machines
since they were satised with the action taken by Smartmatic in correct-
ing the problems they encountered in the 2010 national and local polls.
Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes said getting the machines at a huge
discount also removed the headache of sourcing funds for the 2013 elections.
The Comelec had proposed a budget of P10 billion for next years
political exercise, but Congress only approved P7 billion.
Brillantes said buying the PCOS units would be the most prudent
and practical alternative for the poll body because it would only cost
P1.8 billion, or a third of its total value, to buy them.
The remaining P5 billion of the P7 billion budget will be used to bid
out the services for the 2013 polls including warehousing, technician
personnel hiring, ballot papers, and ballot printing, among others.
Sarmiento and Commissioner Armando Velasco said they are not in
favor of the open election system where counting will be done manu-
ally while the transmission of results is automated.
They said full automation minimizes human intervention and cheating.
There could be ballot switching and other irregularities [if we go
back to] manual voting, said Sarmiento.
This developed as non-government organizations criticized the
Comelecs decision to buy the machines.
They said the Comelecs purchase of the machines shuts the door
for Filipino IT professionals to help in next years polls.
The group AES Watch said the poll body purchased the machines de-
spite various system aws and technical glitches in the 2010 election.
22 soldiers wounded by hidden bombs
By Florante S. Solmerin
TWENTY-two Army Rangers
were wounded, five of them se-
riously, when they hit a trip wire
planted by Muslim militants
Tuesday morning in Sitio Abong-
Abong Peak, Barangay Mahata-
lang, Sumisip, Basilan.
The wounded soldiers belonged
to the Armys 13th Scout Ranger
Company.
Philippine Army spokesman Maj.
Harold Cabunoc said the incident
happened at around 8 a..m. while
the soldiers were conducting assault
preparations against a suspected
lair of the Abu Sayyaf Group led
by sub-leaders Furuji Indama and
Khair Mundos.
He said the exploded bombs were
part of planted improvised explo-
sive devices made of mortar am-
munitions that served as perimeter
defense of the bandits.
104th Infantry Brigade head
Col. Ricardo Visaya said the sol-
diers guide on foot patrol acci-
dentally stepped on the bombs
trip wire.
Several hundred Abu Sayyaf
ghters in the southern Philippines
have been blamed for bomb attacks
and ransom kidnappings despite
battleeld setbacks dealt by US-
trained Philippine forces.
Visaya said at least three bombs
were set off.
The guerrillas operate from jun-
gle camps and hold several foreign-
ers hostage.
Meanwhile, about 40 heavily
armed members of the New Peo-
ples Army raided a police station in
Tigbao, Zamboanga del Sur Mon-
day night and abducted a police-
man, PO2 Juhali Faisal, aside from
carting away an M-16 rie and two
9mm pistols.
Lt. Col. Randolph Cabang-
bang, spokesman of the Western
Mindanao Command, said the
raid happened at around 7 p.m.
against the Tigbao Municipal Po-
lice Station.
The police station personnel did
not put up resistance.
Philippine National Police chief
Director General Nicanor Barto-
lome ordered the relief of provincial
police director Senior Supt. Jose
Bayani Gucela and the police chief
of the Tigbao police station.
By Macon Ramos-Araneta
AN environmental watchdog called on the
government, particularly the Environment
and Health departments, to craft urgent reg-
ulatory policies to ensure the proper man-
agement of cigarette butts or lters as toxic
waste.
The EcoWaste Coalition, a member group
of the Framework Convention on Tobacco
Control Alliance, Philippines, stressed that
such a policy was warranted due to the
known toxicity of cigarette lters and the
huge number of butts generated and discard-
ed in the environment.
EcoWaste Coalition president Roy Alva-
rez claimed ciigarette butt waste is the most
visible toxic garbage found.
He said smokers litter butts on the streets,
storm drains and even on beaches and parks,
oblivious to the fact that each butt poses a
toxic threat to human and animal health and
the environment.
He said such policy on cigarette butt
waste should embrace the precautionary
principle that environmental harm does
not have to be proven to justify prevent-
ing potential exposures, and extended
producer responsibility which calls for
those who produce a toxic waste prod-
uct should be held accountable for its
cleanup.
The EcoWaste Coalition emphasized that
cigarette butts contain numerous hazard-
ous chemicals, including cancer-causing
substances, justifying their categorization
as toxic waste requiring environmentally-
sound management and disposal.
Citing a paper from Tobacco Con-
trol, an international peer-reviewed
journal for health professionals and oth-
ers in tobacco control, the group reiter-
ated that filters degrade very slowly
and thus become an accumulating mass
of potentially toxic waste.
House passes amendments to Passport Act of 1996
THE House of Representatives
approved on third and nal read-
ing a bill simplifying the passport
documentation requirements and
processes of the Ofce Consular
Affairs of the Department of For-
eign Affairs.
House Bill 5854, to be
known as the Revised Phil-
ippine Passport Act of 2012,
seeks to amend Republic Act
8239 and provide an option
for applicants to acquire a
Philippine passport with ve
or 10-year validity.
The bill aims to protect the
constitutional right of peo-
ple to travel and resolve the
continuing cases of offenses
relating to the issuance, pos-
session, use, suspension and
revocation of passports.
Under the bill, former Sen-
ate Presidents, former Speak-
ers of the House of Represen-
tatives, Associate Justices of
the Supreme Court and the
Presiding Justice of the Court
of Appeals, the Secretary of
the Senate and the Secretary
General of the House of Rep-
resentatives are added to the
short list of those entitled to
diplomatic passports.
Diplomatic passports are is-
sued to persons with diplomatic
status or who are on diplomatic
mission, such as the Philippines
President and former Presidents,
the Vice President and former
Vice-Presidents, the Senate
President and the Speaker of the
House of Representatives and
the Chief Justice of the Supreme
Court, among others.
Ofcial delegates to in-
ternational, regional confer-
ences or on ofcial mission
abroad may be issued dip-
lomatic passports with full
powers by the President of
the Philippines or the Secre-
tary of Foreign Affairs.
Ofcial passports are issued to
all government ofcials and em-
ployees on ofcial trips abroad
but who are not on diplomatic
missions or have not been ac-
corded diplomatic status.
The will create a Special
Board of Inquiry that will han-
dle and adjudicate complaints
for cancellations of passports
and impose stiffer penalties
against perpetrators of fraudu-
lent and fake passports.
Offenses relating to issu-
ances of passport or to false
statements in any application
shall be punished by a ne of
not more than P60,000 and
imprisonment or not more
than 12 years and perpetual
disqualication from hold-
ing public ofce to offending
government ofcials.
The bill imposes punish-
ment on offenses relating to
forgery, mutilation, or alter-
ing any passport or travel
document or department
stamps shall be punished by a
ne of not less than P75,000
but not more than P150,000.
Maricel Cruz
Education to hire science
scholars as teachers
THE Department of Education will
hire science scholars to teach in pub-
lic high schools to directly address the
critical need for science and mathemat-
ics teachers.
In Memorandum 55, series of 2012,
DepEd mandated the priority of hir-
ing teachers who graduated as science
scholars.
Education Secretary Armin Luistro
said Department of Science and Tech-
nology-Science Education Institute
scholars should be in the priority list
of DepEd Regional Directors when hir-
ing new teachers in public secondary
schools.
Our eyes are set on them because
they have the proper training and are bet-
ter equipped to teach the sciences, a very
critical input for our students, Luistro
said.
There are currently around 143 gradu-
ate scholars of DOST-SEI who are avail-
able for hiring for school year 2012-2013.
These 2011-2012 graduates majored in
physics, physical science, chemistry,
mathematics from state colleges and uni-
versities nationwide. Gigi Muoz-David
By Joel E. Zurbano
POLL ofcials stood by their decision
to purchase about 82,000 Precinct Count
Optical Scan machines used in the May
2010 election, saying it is the more
practical thing to do.
Trade, farm deals
signed with Qatar
S
I
N
S
I
D
E
BOXES OF
AWESOMENESS
How would you feel if
someone sent you four
boxes of Oishi goodies?
SINGAPORE FOOD
EVENT
Savour held its inaugural
staging in downtown
Singapore.
Easter
Kaleidoscope
HAPPY Easter! May our risen Lord
continue to cuddle us all in His Fatherly
embrace!
The next best thing about Easter
is the wide spectrum of colors that
dominate the social horizon. This
is the time of the year that the metro
bursts into fascinating hues emanating
from fun-lled activities that sprout all
overspring is, indeed, busting out all over! Here
are some of the colorful events I was privileged to
have been a part of lately.
Fashion with a vision
Charming professional models and members of
the Friends for Cultural Concerns of the Philippines
(FCCP) recently graced the fashion ramp as part of a
fund-raising activity for the organizations scholarship
program and its other projects. The models wore
designs of indigenous bers by Dita Sandico Ong,
Patis Tesoro and Malu Veloso. Talented designers
from the University of the Philippines BS Clothing
Technology Batch 2012 also took part in the event.
FCCPs Core Group, responsible for staging this
highly successful undertaking, was headed by its
president Nene Leonor, director-in-charge Rose
Marie Lazaro, chairpersons Karen Macasaet
and Tessie Rodrigo, with co-chairpersons Lulu
Castaneda, Letty Hahn, Rosita Lesaca, Chloe
Romulo-Periquet and Glecy Morales.
The generous sponsors who
helped make the event possible
were Golden Lion Films,
Cats Motors, Vibal Publishing
House, Asia Textile Mills and
F.E.Zuellig.
Josie Natoris Spring/Summer
Collection
Rustans and Josie Natori
recently launched her younger and playful line, JOSI,
during a chic event at a private home where the
metros beautiful people trooped to for a fun evening
lled with music, great food, electrifying colors,
spirited prints and free-owing fabrics from JOSIEs
Spring/Summer Collection.
Bold stripes and sweet oral prints looked very
attractive on Natoris chosen musesKatrina
Tantoco-Lobregat, Stephanie Zubiri, Rosanna
Ocampo Rodriguez and Stephanie Kienle
Gonzales.
The JOSIE boutique is at the 2nd Floor of Rustans
Makati and on the 4th Floor of Rustans Shangri-La
Plaza.
Bulletin Board
Culinary Canada. The Caf Marco of Marco Polo
Plaza Cebu recently featured a plethora of seafood avors
with a Canadian twist, reason for it being packed with
diners every day. Foodies enjoyed the Canadian oyster,
crab, sh and other enticing specialties served during the
BOB
ZOZOBRADO
For Party
Animals Only
home work relationship WEDNESDAY
C1
APRIL 11, 2012
WHO needs a best friend, when
you have the new Samsung LED
ES8000 TV?
Its smart, its intuitive, it does things
for you without you having to lift a nger
(most of the time). You can play with
it, surf the internet with it, even learn a
lesson or two from it. It can also stand
in for a nanny slash babysitter. We can
imagine even Paris Hilton would drool
over it and call it her new BFF were she
to get a-hold of it.
It is, in a word, amazing.
A star is bor n
The Samsung LED ES8000 is the star
of Samsung Electronics 2012 home
entertainment showcase. Unveiled to
Asian media and dealers last month at
the Samsung Southeast Asia, Oceania
and Taiwan Regional Forum held at the
Bangkok Convention Center, this Smart
TV is denitely a game changer.
While it still remains the standard in
delivering the highest picture quality
and clarity, whether 2D or 3D, Samsung
Smart TVs pushes the envelope further
with features like the Micro Dimming
Ultimate (on the ES8000), which
optimizes the LED backlight and video
signal for each piece in real time,
resulting in richer, brighter images with
higher contrast ratios.
Premium models showcase the
0.2 inch ultra-slim bezel design, rst
introduced in 2011while the rest of the
By Gianna G. Maniego
Meet your new
food festival. Charming resident manager Julie Najar
led the customary ribbon-cutting ceremonies, assisted
by Robert Lee, Canadas honorary consul. The lavish
spread of the nest seafood dishes was put together
by executive chef Luke Gagnon and senior sous chef
Juanito Abangan, Jr.
----------O----------
YOUR WEEKEND CHUCKLE:
There was this blonde who went out for a walk.
She came to a river and saw another blonde on the
opposite bank. Yoo-hoo! she shouts, How can I
get to the other side? The second blonde looks up
the river, then down the river, and shouts back, You
ARE on the other side!
----------O----------
For feedback, Im at bobzozobrado@gmail.com
Nene Leonor (center) FCCP president, with her grandchildren (l-r): Adriel Ocampo
Leonor, Jorja and Hana Leonor-Villasor, Angela Puyat Leonor, Anika Ocampo Leonor
and Monila Puyat Leonor
Baby Ortiz Luis, Aleli Sevilla, Anna Tirol, Rep. Linabelle
Villarica and Mabel Abao
Justice Lolong and Rose Lazaro, Dra. Ellen Binay, Karen
Macasaet and Tessie Rodrigo
Carrie Bautista Lili Adina and Mars
Lambino
Aissa dela Cruz, MPPC resident manager Julie Najar,
Embassy of Canada-Manila senior trade commissioner
Alex George, honorary consul of Canada Robert Lee
and wife Anna with Angel Cashuela
Jigs Arquiza, MPPC executive chef Luke
Gagnon and Caf Laguna corporate
chef Raki Urbina
Marco Polo
Plaza Cebu
g e n e r a l
ma n a g e r
Hans Hauri
Rustans executive vice president
Anton Huang with Josie Natori
and Joe Ciccio
Joseph Calata
Rima Ostwani and Leif-Erik
Hannikainen
Josie Natori and her JOSIE muses Rosanna Ocampo
Rodriguez, Stephanie Zubiri, Stephanie Kienle Gonzales
and Katrina Tantoco Lobregat
LED line features a 0.5-inch slim bezel,
allowing viewers to enjoy a larger screen
size without having to deal with a bigger
TV.
Its like Minority Report, says
Ar iel Ar ias, Samsung Business Unit
head for Audio-Visual, Samsung
Electronics Philippines Corporation, who
presented the eagerly anticipated AV line
at the convention.
The power of three
As the market leader for 3D Smart
TV in Asia, with a 47 percent market
share, Samsung aims to stay ahead of the
pack with a strategy that hinges on three
perspectivesSmart Interaction, Smart
Content and Smart Evolution.
Smart Interaction is an intuitive
platform that uses Motion Control,
Voice Control and Face Recognition
commands. Users can turn the TV on or
off by speaking in any of the languages
recognized by the technology. Simply
say Hi TV to activate the commands
Volume up if you want it loud, for
instance without touching the remote
(the remarkable thing about it is that it
recognizes Asian accents very well.)
From there, one can browse through
selected apps or search for content in the
web browser. Now if youre old school
and more comfortable with a keyboard
and mouse, Samsungs 2012 range of
Smart LED and Plasma TVs also support
connectivity using these.
You can also use browse content and
surf the web with a wave of your hand.
A built-in camera recognizes movement
in the foreground, and two unidirectional
array microphones recognize voice
at an incredibly accurate rate. Noise
cancellation technology helps separate
any background noise from the users
commands.
Smart Interaction is available on the
LED ES8000 series, the LED ES750
series and the Plasma E8000 series.
More than an idiot box
Samsung Smart TVs bring a lot more
to the table than just TV viewing. With
the way technology has been shaping
consumer habits, it is no longer enough
for audiences to sit in front of their sets
and watch.
According to Hyunsuk Kim, Samsung
Electronics executive vice president
and head of visual display business,
consumers expect not only greater
accessibility but greater, more compelling
content.
Powered by a dual core processor that
allows for faster browsing and more
efcient multitasking, Samsung Smart
TVs provide access to the widest variety
of premium content available, with over
1,500 apps offered worldwide.
The ES8000, for example, allows users
to download applications while, say,
enjoying the latest Korean drama on Vikii.
One of its neatest hat tricks is the
AllShare Play feature, which allows
users to push or pull multimedia content
from compatible devices (whether its
from a Tab, notebook or a mobile device)
or the cloud, resulting in endless hours of
shared entertainment.
Other services exclusive to the
Samsung system include such features
as Family Story, which helps users
organize photos and enjoy slideshows
on the big screen. These photos, as
well as memos and reminders, can
be accessed and shared anywhere via
phone, tablet, PC or TV. Theres also
Fitness, which allows users to connect
their Smart TV to a Fitness app through
their mobile phone.
Grow old along with it
With its Smart Evolution Kit, Samsung
has ensured that its AV lineup does not
become overtaken by the latest technology.
Through proprietary system-on-chip
technology and a simple slot in the back of
select Smart TV models, users are able to
update their AV system without having to
buy a new TV set every year.
Next week:
Samsung rolls out its amazing new
gadget line.
BEST
FRIEND
Samsung Smart TVs push the envelope in viewing experience with its
new intuitive features
Ariel Arias presents
the future of Smart
TV at the Bangkok
Convention Center
C
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A
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B
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A
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CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK
CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK
CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK
CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK
CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK
ANSWER TOMORROW
62 Sampl e
63 Sampl e
Down
1 Langl ey and Travi s:
Abbr.
2 Botani cal ski n
treatment i ngredi ent
3 Jul i us Caesar
setti ng
4 Gl obes
5 Bad guys
6 Fl ag throwers
7 Many a Lord of the
Ri ngs character
8 Dogpatch gal
9 Li on, for one
10 I cel andi c poeti c
work
11 Real l y l ong ti me
12 Star fol l owers
14 Begat
17 I t s darker than
royal bl ue
18 Di j on deni al s
22 I s compel l ed to
23 __ wave
24 Of practi cal val ue
25 Domai n
26 Canadi an rd.
ANSWER
TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE
Across
1 Basebal l s
Hammeri n Hank
6 Bad col or for i nk?
9 Sunl i ght uni t
13 Vegetati on
14 Ward of Si sters
15 Noti on
16 Ai rpor t securi ty
cani ne
19 React to a whack
20 You re not the
LOS ANGELES
TIMES
CROSSWORD
onl y one!
21 Endi ng for mass or
pass
22 Tal ki ng bi rd
23 Thanksgi vi ng servi ng
31 Agenda detai l s
32 Cool -cucumber l i nk
33 Lake Mi ch. ci ty
34 Semana septet
35 Divine Comedy poet
37 Phl ebotomi st s
target
38 Wi th 48-Across,
shout at the stati on
39 Byrnes of Grease
40 Quake si te
41 Frothy ci trus desser t
46 Pothol e s pl ace
47 Ji mmy s successor
48 See 38-Across
51 Type of brandy
whose name means
water of l i fe
56 Women s swi msui t
si ze factor
58 Capri , for one
59 Puppy bi tes
60 Mascara probl em
61 Ri ng deci si ons,
bri efl y
di stances
27 Amazi ng
paranormal debunker
28 Freeze over
29 Spi cy bean di sh
30 Kunta __: Burtons
Roots role
35 Moral l y
degenerate
36 Condi ti on treated
wi th Ri tal i n, bri efl y
37 Car for a l arge
fami l y
40 Most doti ng
42 Takes the podi um
43 Standard
44 Muni ch matrons
45 Typi cal barbershop
compl ement
48 Sl i ghtl y
49 Per form on
si dewal ks, i n London
50 Scandi navi an
capi tal
51 Gl i mpse
52 Austen heroi ne
53 Vi ctory si gns
54 __ the fi ni sh
55 To be, i n Bri ttany
57 Bal l oon contents
standardlifestyle@gmail.com
home work relationships
APRIL 11, 2012 WEDNESDAY
C3
WEDNESDAY
C2
sha.re/
APRIL 11, 2012
Gianna Maniego, Editor
Dinna Chan Vasquez, Assistant Editor
ManilaStandardToday
A NEW annual food and beverage event is
in the offing as Savour, a most recent food
festival made its inaugural staging last
March 30 to April 1 at the F1 Paddock and
Pit City in downtown Singapore. Savour
2012, with a catchy slogan `Come Celebrate
The Delicious is a new gourmet event open
to the public.
Six half day affair s
Savor 2012 took three days, March 30
to April 1, but each day was divided into
two, an afternoon and an evening session.
The afternoon session started from 11:30
a.m. and ended at 4 p.m, while the evening
session started from 6 p.m. and ended at
11:30 p.m. Entrance fees charged were
Sin $40.00 (around P1,400.00) for the
afternoon session, and Sin$60.00 (around
P2,100.00) for the evening session. Half
of the amount paid were given back to
you in Savour dollars, the only currency
accepted in the venue. Each Savour dollar
was equivalent to a Singapore dollar. The
half day sessions per day were really a bit
peculiar, as this is the only event I know
where paying customers were driven to the
exit by 4 p.m., and needed to pay another
entrance fee if they were to enter again the
same evening. The Savour dollars were
also only valid in the venue, so obviously
by near closing time, either it be 3:30 p.m.
for the afternoon session or 11 p.m. for the
evening session, customers with unused
Savour dollars scamper to buy things while
the Savour currencies were still valid.
Consumer event
Savour was purely a consumer event.
The exhibitors, around 80 of them, were
composed of importers, distributors, retailers,
restaurateurs, food and beverage service and
solution providers and event sponsors. The
Savour Gourmet Village was staged in the
open air area, with makeshift tents, well-
ornamented booths, and dining setup in al
fresco style. 16 top ne dining restaurants,
including seven international names from
food festival
Another
in food-savvy Singapore
Aprils full!
Summers in full swing and
the April issue of Cosmopolitan is
packed with tips to help you milk these
white-hot days.
Speaking of white-hot, frank, funny, and
erce Mar ian River a looks fresh on the
cover in a sexy white monokini.
Cosmo editorial director Myr za Sison
encourages all Pinays to explore, dream, and
discover as she asks, So where are you going
this summer? in her Editors Letter.
Whats summer without a little (or a lot) of romance?
If youre single and ready to mingle, read Cosmos man-meeting
game plan to get you prepped for a fun and steamy holiday affair. In a
relationship? LQs may be inevitable, but Cosmo gives you the lowdown
on xing things with your guy so youll feel closer after a ght.
Cosmopolitan is available in newsstands, bookstores, and
supermarkets nationwide. For more of Cosmo online, visit www.
cosmo.ph, become a fan on Facebook (Facebook.com/cosmopolitan.
ph), and follow them on Twitter (Twitter.com/cosmo_ph).
on the racks
Get summer-ready recipes from Yummy
SUMMERTIME cooking means preparing easy, no-fuss meals
for the family. Yummy gives you ve grilled meal ideas perfect
for beach trips. Take grilling in the backyard a notch higher with
Yummy delicious, out of the ordinary recipes to follow for every
day of the week.
Plus, Yummys around the world
special lets you experience the culture
and cuisine of other countries without
having to step out of your own doorstep!
Get a glimpse of the eats and treats
of Spain, Japan, Morocco, the United
States, Vietnam, and Italy in this months
issue. Now that school is out, keep your
kids busy all summer long with fun, DIY
activities they can do in the kitchen!
Yummy has you all set for summer!
Grab a copy of the April of Yummy,
available in newsstands, bookstores
and supermarkets nationwide. For more of Yummy online, visit
www.YUMMY.ph. Become a fan on Facebook via facebook.com/
yummymagazine, and follow them on Twitter via twitter.com/yummyph.
Fuel your passion, says Candy
Take inspiration from Candys Fuel your Passion issue and do things
that you really love. Whether you love to write, appreciate art or in for
an adventure, seize that moment and start making that dream happen.
Enroll in a handful of fun classes and activities cited by Candy! Who
knows, you might even discover a hidden talent of yours!
Get creative and unleash the DIY queen
in you! Candy will keep you busy all
summer long with its fun and easy DIY
projects.
Candy girls can collect the second
collectible charm in this months issue.
Plus, get an ultimate Hunger Games
primer from Candy! The April issue
also comes with free pin-ups of Hunger
Games stars Liam Hemswor th and
Josh Hutcher son.
Grab a copy of the April issue of
Candy featuring Jennifer Lawrence on
the cover, available in bookstores, newsstands,
and supermarkets nationwide. For more of Candy online, visit www.
candymag.com, become a fan on Facebook via facebook.com/
candymag, and follow us on Twitter via twitter.com/candymagdotcom.
The rst Savour event in Singapore
outside of Singapore were present at the
Gourmet Village. The Gourmet Market on the
other hand was in the adjacent three-storey
building, and housed the other exhibitors,
including the wine and spirits. An abundance
of seminars on both Gourmet Village and
Gourmet Market spiced up the event. There
were at least 40 activities happening per
session, covering various food & beverage
topics from culinary demonstrations to
wine & spirits tasting seminars. I attended a
vodka tasting seminar conducted by Younes
Mazaache, of premium Russian vodka,
Beluga. And I myself conducted a seminar
on Spanish Rioja wines. From a commercial
point of view too, there was quite a bit of
purchasing happening as almost all the
gourmet products from fresh produce to
processed items were available, something
not possible in any single store. There were
also enticing promotions. Select wines were
sold at 5+1 deals, while some of the cheeses
SOUTHEAST Asia leads in
willingness to pay more for
ethical products; Japan among
countries to record a rise of
charity donations in 2011
Conscience shopping across
Southeast Asia remains strong
with a number of countries leading
the region in purchasing products
that are environmentally friendly
and observe fair trade principles,
according to the latest MasterCard
survey on ethical spending.
The survey was conducted
via online interviews between 5
December 2011 and 6 January
2012 and i nvol ved 12, 500
consumers from 25 markets
across Asia/Pacic, Middle East
and Africa.
According to the survey
Thai l and, t he Phi l i ppi nes,
Vietnam, Indonesia and China
have a greater willingness to
pay more for items that are
environmentally friendly, observe
fair trade principles, or where a
percentage of the item is donated
to a good cause, as compared to
their counterparts in New Zealand,
Australia and Japan. However,
between 2009 and 2011 the only
increase in consumers willing
to pay for a percentage of sale
donated to a good cause was
South Korea (7 percent), while
drops were recorded in China (-25
percent), Taiwan (-19 percent),
Japan (-18 percent), Hong Kong
(-15 percent) and Singapore (-11
percent).
Through initiatives such as
MasterCard Purchase with
Purpose, MasterCards social
responsibility and citizenship
efforts across the Asia/Pacic,
Middle East and Africa region,
we are actively encouraging
shoppers to think before they
buy. Through Purchase with
Purpose consumers can give
back to communities when they
use their MasterCard cards;
this is at the heart of a drive
by MasterCard to encourage
responsible spending and to
make a difference to someone
elses life, says Georgette Tan,
group head for communications,
Asia-Pacic, Middle East and
Africa, MasterCard Worldwide.
Shoppers were also less
willing to pay for environmentally
friendly products in 2011 when
compared with 2009, with Japan
(-26 percent), China (-23 percent)
and Hong Kong (-19 percent)
all showing less inclination
towards eco-shopping. Taiwan in
particular went from 71 percent of
respondents in 2009 saying they
would purchase items because
they are environmentally friendly
to 40 percent in 2011.
Amongst those surveyed,
a f f i n i t y t o wa r d s s o c i a l
organizations that deal with
childrens health and education
appeared to be the strongest for
respondents across Asia Pacic,
and environmental organizations
have risen in importance in many
of the markets in the region.
In emerging markets, affinity
towards social organizations
that deal with poverty/starvation
remain highly important.
The Beluga Vodka seminar
Drinkdings: Mobile bar solution
One, made from our own Philippine coconut
juice debuts at Savour
Shots: A prepackaged cocktail mix
Ethical shopping across
Asia-Pacic remains strong
PMFTC launches feeding program in Cebu
CITIBANK and Rustans are welcoming their new
cardholders with a fragrant and delightful gift.
Those who apply for their rst Citibank Credit
Card from Feb. 3 to April 30 at participating
Rustans Department Stores branches will receive
a complimentary Inno Sotto Eau de Extreme with
their new Rustans Citibank Card.
New Citibank cardholders who submitted their
applications and are approved for a Rustans
Citibank Card within the promotion period are
entitled to a free 100 ml bottle of the renowned
fashion designers signature fragrance, which
retails at P2,950.
To be qualified for the gift, the new cardholders
should spend at least P1,000 using the card within
60 days from receipt. They will then get an
electronic stub via SMS within 20 days after the
promotion period that they need to present at Inno
Sotto counters located in Rustans Department
Store branches to claim the complimentary Inno
Sotto Eau de Extreme.
Rustans Citibank Card, the rst luxury shopping
card in town, offers exclusive lifestyle privileges
as well as the most rebates and the best perks. Get
up to 10 percent rebate at Rustans, Shopwise and
Store Specialists, Inc. for a minimum of P20,000
accumulated outstore spend per monthly billing
and normal grocery food items were retailed
less than normal retail prices. The Savour
dollar booths where you need to purchase
your Savour currency to purchase products
were all strategically located so shopping
would not stop at the event.
Int er est ing Boot hs
While the venue and the number of
exhibitors were not in the magnitude of those
held at the Singapore Expo, the quality of
exhibitors was pretty good. The following
were some of the booths that caught my
attention:
Shots a conveniently prepackaged
cocktail shot made in New Zealand; this
single serve shot, with a very literal and
smart brand name comes in 7 cocktail
concoctions: 1. B52 (coffee cream and
orange liqueur), 2. QF (melon and Irish
cream liqueur), 3. Rattlesnake (tequila
and l i me) , 4. Vodi Shot ( vodka and
orange), 5. On The Beach (melon and
raspberry cream liqueur), 6. Texas Ranger
(butterscotch and cream liqueur), and
7. Zambuca (red and black sambuca).
sadly I kind of know only B52
Drinkdings a mobile bar solution
company whi ch does cockt ai l s and
mocktails (sans alcohol) for different
events and occasions; this company claims
to be the first and pioneer among the
handful of mobile bar solution companies
existing now in Singapore; I heard from
a good friend here that there are already
Philippine companies doing this now,
but I just wonder how the local mobile
bars compare to the wealth of cocktail
and mocktail concoctions that come from
Drinkdings
Le Cordon Bleu this Paris based
culinary institute (made more famous by
the late Julia Child) is now in Malaysia,
and their booth at Savour offers diploma
and certificate courses to local as well
as regional students who can afford their
tuition fees; three months certificate
courses st art at around P250, 000. 00
(converted from Malaysian Ringgit), while
nine months diploma courses go to around
P750,000.00
On display are the Inno Sotto Eau de Extreme
complimentary gift for new Rustans Citibank
cardholders, showcased by fashion icon and renowned
designer Inno Sotto with Citibank Credit Payment
Products head Bea Tan
A fragrance treat
for new Rustans
Citibank Cardholders
statement. Outstore spend are dinners, gas, travel,
utilities payments and other everyday expenses
charged to the card, which also earn 0.5 percent
rebate. Meanwhile, all purchases at Rustans
Supermarket and Shopwise throughout the year
get a 5 percent rebate.
To know more about the Rustans Citibank
Card and to apply, visit www.citibank.com.ph
or call the Citibank Sales Hotline at 423 3000.
A happy business equals a happy home.
F o r mi c r o - e n t r e p r e n e u r s o r
minigosyantes, PLDT KaAsenso can help
you achieve both.
Speaking during the 2nd day of the
PinoyMEs ME Naman Convention, PLDT
vice president for HOME Marketing Voice
and Micro-business, Patrick Tang, introduced
ME Naman attendees to the companys own
program for minigosyantes, PLDT KaAsenso.
Tang detailed PLDT KaAsensos enabling
five-pillar ecosystem, which provides
minigosyantes access to technology, micro-
nancing, free business training, networking,
and extra income opportunities. All of which
were designed to help them become more
efcient and ultimately achieve well-balanced
success both in business and home life.
As pa r t of PLDT Ka As e ns os
networking thrust, Tang opened the
virtual doors of PLDT@home which is
the companys latest digital offering for
its business subscribers.With PLDT@
home, minigosyantes get to create a free
online store through which they can make
their products and services known to over
a million PLDT subscribers and the entire
Internet community. They can post photos
and product catalogues, announce promos
and event s, advert i se (t hru Medi a5
Marketing Corporation), get customer
feedback, and even allow consumers to
conveniently purchase their products with
flexible payment and delivery options.
Held at the LBP Plaza in Malate, Manila,
the ME Naman convention gathered about
100 micro-entrepreneurs from all over the
country for a three-day convention featuring
speakers who shared expert and professional
tips as well as inspiring stories on how to
manage and grow a edgling business.
PinoyME is a consortium of leaders from
various sectors working together to help
reduce poverty in the Philippines through
microenterprise development. Currently on
its sixth year, it is inspired by the advocacy
of the late former president Corazon Aquino
who is also the organizations chair emeritus.
Get to know about PLDT KaAsensos
programs and services --- including its best
plan yet KaAsenso Package 2168, which
bundles a landline, wireless Call All service,
and high-speed Internet at up to 1mbps! Call
875-5050 now or visit pldtkaasenso.com.ph.
From left to right: Product Specialist for PLDT@home, Mabie Encarnacion;
PLDT KaAsenso head Jonathan De Quiroz; PLDT vice president for home
marketing voice & microbusiness Patrick Tang; PinoyME president Dan Songco
and PLDT KaAsenso Project Specialist Katherine Jose.
PLDT unveils new online tool for minigosyantes
Then the towers started arriving at the office. At
first, we thought that they were "nuisance" gifts, those
things that are packaged perfectly but we have no use
for. But these six-foot boxes are different, it turned
out. Each one was filled with what we like to call junk
food. Four boxes arrived in a short span of seven days.
We were in chichirya heaven! Inside the first box, we
found Oishi and Kirei, brands which we have loved
since we were kids.
Liwayway Marketing Corp., which started in 1946,
is the company behind the Oishi brands of snacks and
drinks. Oh yes, Liwayway Gawgaw is still available
in stores.
The company went into snack foods in 1974 with
Oishi Prawn Crackers and Kirei Shrimp Flakes. They
were made with Japanese technology and recipes,
hence, their Japanese brand names. Oishi (or oishii)
means delicious, while kirei means beautiful.
The next box contained Oishi snacks in the popular
P1 packs that kids can easily buy from the neighborhood
sari-sari stores. Each Piso pack receives the same
care and attention as the bigger packs.
Many Oishi products were such huge hits that
groceries and stores would ght over the available supply.
Some supermarkets even limited how much each buyer
can get, so that more shoppers can buy. One store sign
said Bread Pan, 10 pcs. only per person. And several
stores had signs saying, Walang Pillows ngayong
araw or a similar message. Lucky for us, the third box
contained Bread Pan and the elusive Pillows.
BOXES OF
The fourth box was everyone's favorite. It contained
super-sized individually-wrapped wafer sticks (called
Wafu), gourmet-flavored potato chips cooked in
sunflower oil (the Kimchi flavored ones are quite
pungent but really tasty), and vegetarian chicharon
made out of green peas (these are known as Marty's).
Not content with transforming this deadly yet popular
Pinoy snack favorite, Oishi then reworks real chicharon
using imported lean pork skin and baking it with hot
air (not fried!).
Each of the boxes had "O, Wow!" written on it and
that's really what we said when we opened each one.
The boxes had an opening somewhere in the middle so
it was like a chichirya vending machine. Oh, eventually
we took out all the contents of the boxes to choose our
favorites to take home. It was like being a kid again
with no worries about salt and sugar intake. Of course,
most of us in the office couoldn't indulge every day
but it was good while it lasted. Dinna Chan Vasquez
IT ALL started with a big pack of Liwayway Gawgaw, the starch that
was used on skirts and trousers when we were kids, that was sent to the
lifestyle editor. I asked her,"Why would anyone send you gawgaw? Does
anyone still use this?"
Gourmet Picks
Oishi Products
AWESOMENESS
PMFTC Inc. president Chr is Nelson hands out chicken porridge
fortied with Vitamin A to children of Zone 4, Barangay Buaya,
Lapu-lapu City on March 29, 2012 as part of the barangays weekly
feeding program. At least 300 village kids participated and received
Vitamin C syrups. The project is in partnership with American Chamber
Foundation Philippines Inc.
C
Y
A
N
M
A
G
E
N
T
A
Y
E
L
L
O
W
B
L
A
C
K
CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK
CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK
CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK
CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK
CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK
ANSWER TOMORROW
62 Sampl e
63 Sampl e
Down
1 Langl ey and Travi s:
Abbr.
2 Botani cal ski n
treatment i ngredi ent
3 Jul i us Caesar
setti ng
4 Gl obes
5 Bad guys
6 Fl ag throwers
7 Many a Lord of the
Ri ngs character
8 Dogpatch gal
9 Li on, for one
10 I cel andi c poeti c
work
11 Real l y l ong ti me
12 Star fol l owers
14 Begat
17 I t s darker than
royal bl ue
18 Di j on deni al s
22 I s compel l ed to
23 __ wave
24 Of practi cal val ue
25 Domai n
26 Canadi an rd.
ANSWER
TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE
Across
1 Basebal l s
Hammeri n Hank
6 Bad col or for i nk?
9 Sunl i ght uni t
13 Vegetati on
14 Ward of Si sters
15 Noti on
16 Ai rpor t securi ty
cani ne
19 React to a whack
20 You re not the
LOS ANGELES
TIMES
CROSSWORD
onl y one!
21 Endi ng for mass or
pass
22 Tal ki ng bi rd
23 Thanksgi vi ng servi ng
31 Agenda detai l s
32 Cool -cucumber l i nk
33 Lake Mi ch. ci ty
34 Semana septet
35 Divine Comedy poet
37 Phl ebotomi st s
target
38 Wi th 48-Across,
shout at the stati on
39 Byrnes of Grease
40 Quake si te
41 Frothy ci trus desser t
46 Pothol e s pl ace
47 Ji mmy s successor
48 See 38-Across
51 Type of brandy
whose name means
water of l i fe
56 Women s swi msui t
si ze factor
58 Capri , for one
59 Puppy bi tes
60 Mascara probl em
61 Ri ng deci si ons,
bri efl y
di stances
27 Amazi ng
paranormal debunker
28 Freeze over
29 Spi cy bean di sh
30 Kunta __: Burtons
Roots role
35 Moral l y
degenerate
36 Condi ti on treated
wi th Ri tal i n, bri efl y
37 Car for a l arge
fami l y
40 Most doti ng
42 Takes the podi um
43 Standard
44 Muni ch matrons
45 Typi cal barbershop
compl ement
48 Sl i ghtl y
49 Per form on
si dewal ks, i n London
50 Scandi navi an
capi tal
51 Gl i mpse
52 Austen heroi ne
53 Vi ctory si gns
54 __ the fi ni sh
55 To be, i n Bri ttany
57 Bal l oon contents
standardlifestyle@gmail.com
home work relationships
APRIL 11, 2012 WEDNESDAY
C3
WEDNESDAY
C2
sha.re/
APRIL 11, 2012
Gianna Maniego, Editor
Dinna Chan Vasquez, Assistant Editor
ManilaStandardToday
A NEW annual food and beverage event is
in the offing as Savour, a most recent food
festival made its inaugural staging last
March 30 to April 1 at the F1 Paddock and
Pit City in downtown Singapore. Savour
2012, with a catchy slogan `Come Celebrate
The Delicious is a new gourmet event open
to the public.
Six half day affair s
Savor 2012 took three days, March 30
to April 1, but each day was divided into
two, an afternoon and an evening session.
The afternoon session started from 11:30
a.m. and ended at 4 p.m, while the evening
session started from 6 p.m. and ended at
11:30 p.m. Entrance fees charged were
Sin $40.00 (around P1,400.00) for the
afternoon session, and Sin$60.00 (around
P2,100.00) for the evening session. Half
of the amount paid were given back to
you in Savour dollars, the only currency
accepted in the venue. Each Savour dollar
was equivalent to a Singapore dollar. The
half day sessions per day were really a bit
peculiar, as this is the only event I know
where paying customers were driven to the
exit by 4 p.m., and needed to pay another
entrance fee if they were to enter again the
same evening. The Savour dollars were
also only valid in the venue, so obviously
by near closing time, either it be 3:30 p.m.
for the afternoon session or 11 p.m. for the
evening session, customers with unused
Savour dollars scamper to buy things while
the Savour currencies were still valid.
Consumer event
Savour was purely a consumer event.
The exhibitors, around 80 of them, were
composed of importers, distributors, retailers,
restaurateurs, food and beverage service and
solution providers and event sponsors. The
Savour Gourmet Village was staged in the
open air area, with makeshift tents, well-
ornamented booths, and dining setup in al
fresco style. 16 top ne dining restaurants,
including seven international names from
food festival
Another
in food-savvy Singapore
Aprils full!
Summers in full swing and
the April issue of Cosmopolitan is
packed with tips to help you milk these
white-hot days.
Speaking of white-hot, frank, funny, and
erce Mar ian River a looks fresh on the
cover in a sexy white monokini.
Cosmo editorial director Myr za Sison
encourages all Pinays to explore, dream, and
discover as she asks, So where are you going
this summer? in her Editors Letter.
Whats summer without a little (or a lot) of romance?
If youre single and ready to mingle, read Cosmos man-meeting
game plan to get you prepped for a fun and steamy holiday affair. In a
relationship? LQs may be inevitable, but Cosmo gives you the lowdown
on xing things with your guy so youll feel closer after a ght.
Cosmopolitan is available in newsstands, bookstores, and
supermarkets nationwide. For more of Cosmo online, visit www.
cosmo.ph, become a fan on Facebook (Facebook.com/cosmopolitan.
ph), and follow them on Twitter (Twitter.com/cosmo_ph).
on the racks
Get summer-ready recipes from Yummy
SUMMERTIME cooking means preparing easy, no-fuss meals
for the family. Yummy gives you ve grilled meal ideas perfect
for beach trips. Take grilling in the backyard a notch higher with
Yummy delicious, out of the ordinary recipes to follow for every
day of the week.
Plus, Yummys around the world
special lets you experience the culture
and cuisine of other countries without
having to step out of your own doorstep!
Get a glimpse of the eats and treats
of Spain, Japan, Morocco, the United
States, Vietnam, and Italy in this months
issue. Now that school is out, keep your
kids busy all summer long with fun, DIY
activities they can do in the kitchen!
Yummy has you all set for summer!
Grab a copy of the April of Yummy,
available in newsstands, bookstores
and supermarkets nationwide. For more of Yummy online, visit
www.YUMMY.ph. Become a fan on Facebook via facebook.com/
yummymagazine, and follow them on Twitter via twitter.com/yummyph.
Fuel your passion, says Candy
Take inspiration from Candys Fuel your Passion issue and do things
that you really love. Whether you love to write, appreciate art or in for
an adventure, seize that moment and start making that dream happen.
Enroll in a handful of fun classes and activities cited by Candy! Who
knows, you might even discover a hidden talent of yours!
Get creative and unleash the DIY queen
in you! Candy will keep you busy all
summer long with its fun and easy DIY
projects.
Candy girls can collect the second
collectible charm in this months issue.
Plus, get an ultimate Hunger Games
primer from Candy! The April issue
also comes with free pin-ups of Hunger
Games stars Liam Hemswor th and
Josh Hutcher son.
Grab a copy of the April issue of
Candy featuring Jennifer Lawrence on
the cover, available in bookstores, newsstands,
and supermarkets nationwide. For more of Candy online, visit www.
candymag.com, become a fan on Facebook via facebook.com/
candymag, and follow us on Twitter via twitter.com/candymagdotcom.
The rst Savour event in Singapore
outside of Singapore were present at the
Gourmet Village. The Gourmet Market on the
other hand was in the adjacent three-storey
building, and housed the other exhibitors,
including the wine and spirits. An abundance
of seminars on both Gourmet Village and
Gourmet Market spiced up the event. There
were at least 40 activities happening per
session, covering various food & beverage
topics from culinary demonstrations to
wine & spirits tasting seminars. I attended a
vodka tasting seminar conducted by Younes
Mazaache, of premium Russian vodka,
Beluga. And I myself conducted a seminar
on Spanish Rioja wines. From a commercial
point of view too, there was quite a bit of
purchasing happening as almost all the
gourmet products from fresh produce to
processed items were available, something
not possible in any single store. There were
also enticing promotions. Select wines were
sold at 5+1 deals, while some of the cheeses
SOUTHEAST Asia leads in
willingness to pay more for
ethical products; Japan among
countries to record a rise of
charity donations in 2011
Conscience shopping across
Southeast Asia remains strong
with a number of countries leading
the region in purchasing products
that are environmentally friendly
and observe fair trade principles,
according to the latest MasterCard
survey on ethical spending.
The survey was conducted
via online interviews between 5
December 2011 and 6 January
2012 and i nvol ved 12, 500
consumers from 25 markets
across Asia/Pacic, Middle East
and Africa.
According to the survey
Thai l and, t he Phi l i ppi nes,
Vietnam, Indonesia and China
have a greater willingness to
pay more for items that are
environmentally friendly, observe
fair trade principles, or where a
percentage of the item is donated
to a good cause, as compared to
their counterparts in New Zealand,
Australia and Japan. However,
between 2009 and 2011 the only
increase in consumers willing
to pay for a percentage of sale
donated to a good cause was
South Korea (7 percent), while
drops were recorded in China (-25
percent), Taiwan (-19 percent),
Japan (-18 percent), Hong Kong
(-15 percent) and Singapore (-11
percent).
Through initiatives such as
MasterCard Purchase with
Purpose, MasterCards social
responsibility and citizenship
efforts across the Asia/Pacic,
Middle East and Africa region,
we are actively encouraging
shoppers to think before they
buy. Through Purchase with
Purpose consumers can give
back to communities when they
use their MasterCard cards;
this is at the heart of a drive
by MasterCard to encourage
responsible spending and to
make a difference to someone
elses life, says Georgette Tan,
group head for communications,
Asia-Pacic, Middle East and
Africa, MasterCard Worldwide.
Shoppers were also less
willing to pay for environmentally
friendly products in 2011 when
compared with 2009, with Japan
(-26 percent), China (-23 percent)
and Hong Kong (-19 percent)
all showing less inclination
towards eco-shopping. Taiwan in
particular went from 71 percent of
respondents in 2009 saying they
would purchase items because
they are environmentally friendly
to 40 percent in 2011.
Amongst those surveyed,
a f f i n i t y t o wa r d s s o c i a l
organizations that deal with
childrens health and education
appeared to be the strongest for
respondents across Asia Pacic,
and environmental organizations
have risen in importance in many
of the markets in the region.
In emerging markets, affinity
towards social organizations
that deal with poverty/starvation
remain highly important.
The Beluga Vodka seminar
Drinkdings: Mobile bar solution
One, made from our own Philippine coconut
juice debuts at Savour
Shots: A prepackaged cocktail mix
Ethical shopping across
Asia-Pacic remains strong
PMFTC launches feeding program in Cebu
CITIBANK and Rustans are welcoming their new
cardholders with a fragrant and delightful gift.
Those who apply for their rst Citibank Credit
Card from Feb. 3 to April 30 at participating
Rustans Department Stores branches will receive
a complimentary Inno Sotto Eau de Extreme with
their new Rustans Citibank Card.
New Citibank cardholders who submitted their
applications and are approved for a Rustans
Citibank Card within the promotion period are
entitled to a free 100 ml bottle of the renowned
fashion designers signature fragrance, which
retails at P2,950.
To be qualified for the gift, the new cardholders
should spend at least P1,000 using the card within
60 days from receipt. They will then get an
electronic stub via SMS within 20 days after the
promotion period that they need to present at Inno
Sotto counters located in Rustans Department
Store branches to claim the complimentary Inno
Sotto Eau de Extreme.
Rustans Citibank Card, the rst luxury shopping
card in town, offers exclusive lifestyle privileges
as well as the most rebates and the best perks. Get
up to 10 percent rebate at Rustans, Shopwise and
Store Specialists, Inc. for a minimum of P20,000
accumulated outstore spend per monthly billing
and normal grocery food items were retailed
less than normal retail prices. The Savour
dollar booths where you need to purchase
your Savour currency to purchase products
were all strategically located so shopping
would not stop at the event.
Int er est ing Boot hs
While the venue and the number of
exhibitors were not in the magnitude of those
held at the Singapore Expo, the quality of
exhibitors was pretty good. The following
were some of the booths that caught my
attention:
Shots a conveniently prepackaged
cocktail shot made in New Zealand; this
single serve shot, with a very literal and
smart brand name comes in 7 cocktail
concoctions: 1. B52 (coffee cream and
orange liqueur), 2. QF (melon and Irish
cream liqueur), 3. Rattlesnake (tequila
and l i me) , 4. Vodi Shot ( vodka and
orange), 5. On The Beach (melon and
raspberry cream liqueur), 6. Texas Ranger
(butterscotch and cream liqueur), and
7. Zambuca (red and black sambuca).
sadly I kind of know only B52
Drinkdings a mobile bar solution
company whi ch does cockt ai l s and
mocktails (sans alcohol) for different
events and occasions; this company claims
to be the first and pioneer among the
handful of mobile bar solution companies
existing now in Singapore; I heard from
a good friend here that there are already
Philippine companies doing this now,
but I just wonder how the local mobile
bars compare to the wealth of cocktail
and mocktail concoctions that come from
Drinkdings
Le Cordon Bleu this Paris based
culinary institute (made more famous by
the late Julia Child) is now in Malaysia,
and their booth at Savour offers diploma
and certificate courses to local as well
as regional students who can afford their
tuition fees; three months certificate
courses st art at around P250, 000. 00
(converted from Malaysian Ringgit), while
nine months diploma courses go to around
P750,000.00
On display are the Inno Sotto Eau de Extreme
complimentary gift for new Rustans Citibank
cardholders, showcased by fashion icon and renowned
designer Inno Sotto with Citibank Credit Payment
Products head Bea Tan
A fragrance treat
for new Rustans
Citibank Cardholders
statement. Outstore spend are dinners, gas, travel,
utilities payments and other everyday expenses
charged to the card, which also earn 0.5 percent
rebate. Meanwhile, all purchases at Rustans
Supermarket and Shopwise throughout the year
get a 5 percent rebate.
To know more about the Rustans Citibank
Card and to apply, visit www.citibank.com.ph
or call the Citibank Sales Hotline at 423 3000.
A happy business equals a happy home.
F o r mi c r o - e n t r e p r e n e u r s o r
minigosyantes, PLDT KaAsenso can help
you achieve both.
Speaking during the 2nd day of the
PinoyMEs ME Naman Convention, PLDT
vice president for HOME Marketing Voice
and Micro-business, Patrick Tang, introduced
ME Naman attendees to the companys own
program for minigosyantes, PLDT KaAsenso.
Tang detailed PLDT KaAsensos enabling
five-pillar ecosystem, which provides
minigosyantes access to technology, micro-
nancing, free business training, networking,
and extra income opportunities. All of which
were designed to help them become more
efcient and ultimately achieve well-balanced
success both in business and home life.
As pa r t of PLDT Ka As e ns os
networking thrust, Tang opened the
virtual doors of PLDT@home which is
the companys latest digital offering for
its business subscribers.With PLDT@
home, minigosyantes get to create a free
online store through which they can make
their products and services known to over
a million PLDT subscribers and the entire
Internet community. They can post photos
and product catalogues, announce promos
and event s, advert i se (t hru Medi a5
Marketing Corporation), get customer
feedback, and even allow consumers to
conveniently purchase their products with
flexible payment and delivery options.
Held at the LBP Plaza in Malate, Manila,
the ME Naman convention gathered about
100 micro-entrepreneurs from all over the
country for a three-day convention featuring
speakers who shared expert and professional
tips as well as inspiring stories on how to
manage and grow a edgling business.
PinoyME is a consortium of leaders from
various sectors working together to help
reduce poverty in the Philippines through
microenterprise development. Currently on
its sixth year, it is inspired by the advocacy
of the late former president Corazon Aquino
who is also the organizations chair emeritus.
Get to know about PLDT KaAsensos
programs and services --- including its best
plan yet KaAsenso Package 2168, which
bundles a landline, wireless Call All service,
and high-speed Internet at up to 1mbps! Call
875-5050 now or visit pldtkaasenso.com.ph.
From left to right: Product Specialist for PLDT@home, Mabie Encarnacion;
PLDT KaAsenso head Jonathan De Quiroz; PLDT vice president for home
marketing voice & microbusiness Patrick Tang; PinoyME president Dan Songco
and PLDT KaAsenso Project Specialist Katherine Jose.
PLDT unveils new online tool for minigosyantes
Then the towers started arriving at the office. At
first, we thought that they were "nuisance" gifts, those
things that are packaged perfectly but we have no use
for. But these six-foot boxes are different, it turned
out. Each one was filled with what we like to call junk
food. Four boxes arrived in a short span of seven days.
We were in chichirya heaven! Inside the first box, we
found Oishi and Kirei, brands which we have loved
since we were kids.
Liwayway Marketing Corp., which started in 1946,
is the company behind the Oishi brands of snacks and
drinks. Oh yes, Liwayway Gawgaw is still available
in stores.
The company went into snack foods in 1974 with
Oishi Prawn Crackers and Kirei Shrimp Flakes. They
were made with Japanese technology and recipes,
hence, their Japanese brand names. Oishi (or oishii)
means delicious, while kirei means beautiful.
The next box contained Oishi snacks in the popular
P1 packs that kids can easily buy from the neighborhood
sari-sari stores. Each Piso pack receives the same
care and attention as the bigger packs.
Many Oishi products were such huge hits that
groceries and stores would ght over the available supply.
Some supermarkets even limited how much each buyer
can get, so that more shoppers can buy. One store sign
said Bread Pan, 10 pcs. only per person. And several
stores had signs saying, Walang Pillows ngayong
araw or a similar message. Lucky for us, the third box
contained Bread Pan and the elusive Pillows.
BOXES OF
The fourth box was everyone's favorite. It contained
super-sized individually-wrapped wafer sticks (called
Wafu), gourmet-flavored potato chips cooked in
sunflower oil (the Kimchi flavored ones are quite
pungent but really tasty), and vegetarian chicharon
made out of green peas (these are known as Marty's).
Not content with transforming this deadly yet popular
Pinoy snack favorite, Oishi then reworks real chicharon
using imported lean pork skin and baking it with hot
air (not fried!).
Each of the boxes had "O, Wow!" written on it and
that's really what we said when we opened each one.
The boxes had an opening somewhere in the middle so
it was like a chichirya vending machine. Oh, eventually
we took out all the contents of the boxes to choose our
favorites to take home. It was like being a kid again
with no worries about salt and sugar intake. Of course,
most of us in the office couoldn't indulge every day
but it was good while it lasted. Dinna Chan Vasquez
IT ALL started with a big pack of Liwayway Gawgaw, the starch that
was used on skirts and trousers when we were kids, that was sent to the
lifestyle editor. I asked her,"Why would anyone send you gawgaw? Does
anyone still use this?"
Gourmet Picks
Oishi Products
AWESOMENESS
PMFTC Inc. president Chr is Nelson hands out chicken porridge
fortied with Vitamin A to children of Zone 4, Barangay Buaya,
Lapu-lapu City on March 29, 2012 as part of the barangays weekly
feeding program. At least 300 village kids participated and received
Vitamin C syrups. The project is in partnership with American Chamber
Foundation Philippines Inc.
CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK
CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK
C4
APRIL 11, 2012 WEDNESDAY
showbitz
Manila Standard TODAY
Isah V. Red, Editor standard.showbiz@gmail.com
ISAH V.
RED
SIMPLY RED
NICKIE
WANG
WITHOUT WANG
2
Moroccan-
Filipino
actress
Sarah
Lahbati
And Sarah says she is now ready to
take on the next big challenge in her
careerto play leading lady to Richard
Gutierrez in a soap opera.
Sarahs role as Kara in Kokak was the
the big break in her career. Many have
noticed her potential as a leading lady
after that.
And now her dreams are slowly be-
ing fullled.
From afternoon soap princess to the
next primetime soap queen, Sarah takes
everything in stride and does not let any-
thing get in her head.
She says, I fell so blessed to be part
of this show and to be paired with some-
one as big a star as Richard Gutierrez.
Its very exciting. I am a little nervous
but I am looking forward to it. I am sure
I will be learning so much again, said
Sarah.
Apart from her acting career, sing-
ing is also one of Sarahs passions that
she truly wants to focus and work on.
She recently had a concert at her home-
town in Switzerland together with Enzo
Pineda and Derrick Monasterio in
February. It became a working vacation
for the young lady who was ecstatic to
have the chance to see her father after
many months.
When asked about the concert, Sarah
said, Its really fun and crazy. I still
cant believe I had a concert where I was
born and raised. Masaya!
Sarah has not stopped with her train-
ing. She is currently in an intensive
acting workshop to prepare her for the
role and ultimately hone her craft. The
attitude of the young girl is always re-
freshing. Honestly it feels weird when
people tell me I can be the next this or
that. Basta in my mind, I am just really
so grateful to be doing what I have been
dreaming of as a childto act. Not ev-
eryone gets to be whom they want to be.
This early I am already thanking God
for making things happen for me. I just
pray that I can live up to everyones ex-
pectations, she said.
Double birthday bash
Two of GMA Artist Centers prized
talents Bianca King and Rocco Na-
cino celebrated their birthday last
month at Chef Bea Munozs Forque
Restaurant in Makati on March 23.
On March 18, Rocco also cel-
ebrated his birthday with the pa-
tients at the Philippine Childrens
Medical Center. Roccos love
for the kids started when the hos-
pital a few years back. He must
have been touched by what he
saw and thought how a simple
gesture of care and love would
make them feel a little better.
The event was attended by his
family and the ever-supportive
RoccofellasRoccos fan
base.
The day was simple yet very
happy and special. Masarap sa feel-
ing na nakakatulong ka sa kanila ka-
hit sa maliit na paraan lang, said Rocco.
The previous year had really been
good to me so I think its just right
to give back, he also said.
True to his word, Roccos
blessings during the past year
that has been carried on through
this year has given the young
actor so much opportunities.
From his role in the high-
rated danserye Time of My
Life to being the bad-boy at
his current show The Good
Daughter opposite Kylie
Padilla, to the lead role
in the legendary epic
movie Lam-Ang which
will be showing soon.
Everything has really
turned out well for
the actor and he thinks
thats just the perfect
gift for his birthday.
Meanwhile, Bi-
anca King is
becoming a
royalty in
show business gradually. From supporting
to lead roles, Bianca is surely taking every
step slowly but surely. Her previous show
Sinner or Saint has unquestionably placed
her in the afternoon prime princess spot.
And her present show Broken Vow is a
consistent top-rater.
Even top-caliber directors Gil Tejada
and Don Michael Perez commended
Biancas acting. They said that Bianca
now has more depth, hence the charac-
ter she plays has more empathy.
Like Rocco, Bianca also celebrat-
ed her birthday with the children. Last
March 21, Bianca enjoyed and spent
time with the kids at DSWD as her
birthday celebration. Sixty kids were
present during the event and they all
happily and excitedly participated
in the fun and games. They even
prepared a song and dance presen-
tation as a gift for Bianca.
Its really an overwhelm-
ing feeling that you get to
help others kahit na sa
little ways lang, you re-
ally make them genu-
inely happy and with
all the blessings na
we receive every
day, parang its
right lang to
give back to
them.
With
t h e
right attitude, pure passion and love
for their work, Rocco and Bianca will
surely have a lot of chances to give
back.
BY the time you nish reading this
article, Isaac, Taylor and Zac, or
collectively known as Hanson, have
just wrapped up another concert in
Canada. Maybe theyre on their
way back in the US to prepare for
another tour.
The band that popularized the
catchy bubblegum MMMBop
visited the country last week for a two-
night concert in Manila and Cebu. The
Philippine visit is part of the Shout
It Out World Tour that kicked off
sometime in 2010 and was resumed
in September 2011. The main goal of
the tour is to promote Shout It Out,
Hansons 8
th
studio album, originally
released in June 2010.
For the Manila concert at the
Smart Araneta Coliseum, Hanson
failed to ll up the venue. By
estimate, the crowd occupied just 30
to 40 percent of the venue.
Hanson is still a good act, great
act if you will. Its only awkward for
the audience to hear MMMbop,
the bands most popular and most
successful single to date, sang a
pitch or two lower. That is because
Isaac, Zac, and more particularly
Taylor (the bands main vocalist)
have all grown up and developed
deeper voices.
Shout It Out tour is aimed to woe
more fans but it seems unlikely in
the Philippines.
Flop
Its a gamble for concert
promoters to bring foreign acts in
the country most especially if the
artists were popular in the past
decades.
Case in point, 58-year-old Cyndi
Lauper, who was at the Big Dome
on March 17. The show was a big
disappointment. But we believe
the feeling was mutual because
Cyndis entourage was expecting a
big crowd but they were surprised
to see Araneta Coliseum looking
like a velodrome.
One good thing about it, Cyndi
performed like she used to do when
she was younger. She jumped up and
down the stage and even went down
reach out to her loyal followers.
Cyndi is a great artist. Although
we can only count her hits with the
ngers in one hand, poor publicity
did the concert in. The concert
producer focused more on radio
advertising to promote Cyndis
concert when in fact aggressive
television, print and new media
promotion can make a big difference
to reach a target audience.
ITS GOING to be starry, starry month
at Albays Magayon Festival from now
until May 10.
It is the longest celebration in the Bi-
col region with a wide array of cultural,
musical, sporting and entertainments
events lined up daily to promote the
province as an adventure, natural and
cultural destination.
Albay governor Joey Salceda said
the festival feature the provinces local
culture and showcase its natural bounty,
as well as the innate skills of its people.
Kicking off the star-studded festivi-
ties last night was Concierto sa Magay-
on with Jhong Hilario and the Street-
boys, FHM Philippines; Sexiest Woman
in the World Sam Pinto, Mike Tan and
rising pop band Kiss Jane.
Lovi Poe graces the Ginoong Magay-
on Festival Pageant Night, followed by
a powerhouse ABS-CBN Variety Show
with Kapamilya artists.
Dimples Romana will lighten up
the Pretty Preggy Pageant on April 18,
while child actor Jairus Aquino will
serenade the candidates to the Munting
Prinsesa ng Magayon Pageant April 19.
The dance oor sizzles on April 27
with the Magayon Dancesports Open
Ballroom Competition featuring Aiko
Climaco of ABS-CBN show Banana
Split.
On April 28, Screen hunks Derek
Ramsey and Mattero Guidicelli take
center stage as they host Mutya ng
Magayon Pageant Night, one of Bicol
regions most-awaited beauty contests.
Celebrations draw to a close on May
10 with the Conciertong Pasasalamat
(Closing Concert) with Asap Sessionist
Juris and Dax Martin.
Magayon, which literally means
beautiful, is a festival that looks back
to the origins of Mayon, the worlds
most-perfect cone volcano.
Salceda said that this years celebration
will be different because of the expanded
version of the legend which will cover a
prequel to the myth covering the origins
of the neighboring mountains of Malinao
and Masaraga, the sisters of Magayon.
Aside from the iconic volcano, Al-
bay also boasts of its colonial baroque
churches, majestic mountains, cascad-
ing falls, breath-taking viewpoints, idyl-
lic islands and ne sand beaches.
Gary V at
Music Museum
A SERIES of eight concerts at the
Music Museum marks Gary Vs 29
th
anniversary in the industry coinciding
with the 25
th
year Manila Genesis
Entertainment and Management, Inc.
For his concert series at Music
Museum, fans can look forward
to witnessing Gary V in his best
element as he performs his greatest
hits as well as some of todays hottest
chart-toppers, party anthems, and
homegrown favorites. Fans can also
expect groundbreaking and pioneering
technology and excellent audio-visuals
through their corporate partners
Videosonic and Soundcheck.
Im very excited and at the same
time a bit nervous because we have
come up with new routines and a lot
of surprises for this series, says Gary.
I am particularly excited about our
opening production number. It will
be awesome. I really hope it works
the way I envisioned it. Gary V
will be performing with two world-
class musicians, Awit Awards 2008
Best Female/Best New Female Singer
Julianne and Juan Miguel Salvador,
formerly of Rage Band and now the
musical director of Authority, which
represented the country in the 2005
Global Battle of the Bands in London.
Gary V: On Higher Ground
happens at Music Museum on April
12, 13, 19, 20, 26, and 27; and May
9 and 10. The show will be for the
benet of UNICEF and Shining
Light Foundation.
Gary and son Paolo Valenciano
direct the show with Mon Faustino
as musical director.
Tickets are at P 3,500, 2,500, 1,500,
1,000, and 500.
Call Ticketworld (891-9999),
Music Museum (721-6726; 721-
0635), and Manila Genesis (706-
2170 to 71; 0915-4975225; 0908-
8871397) for ticket information.
Can Hanson
still MMMBop?
Seeing stars at Albays Magayon Fest
Is Sarah Lahbati
the next big
star of GMA-7?
SHE is touted as GMA-7s next primetime
soap queen. Sarah Lahbatis string of shows
in the network and the workshops given to her
by her management team GMA Artist Center
(GMAAC) prepared her for this moniker.
Rocco Nacino
Bianca King (3
rd
from left) with DSWD parents
and kids
Sam Pinto