PRESIDENT AQUINO MARKS HIS 51ST BIRTH ANNIVERSARY

Father Arnold Abelardo (left), chaplain of the Philippine Orthopedic Center, sister Bernadette ‘Kris’ Aquino (2nd from right), sister Victoria ‘Viel’ Aquino Dee (center) and husband Richard Dee (2nd from left) pray for President Aquino (right) during the Thanksgiving Mass on the occasion of his 51st birth anniversary at the Heroes Hall in Malacañang Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2011. Also in attendance were Vice President Jejomar Binay and other government officials.

ARROYO RUSHES TO Q.M.M.C.

Former President and now Pampanga 2nd District Representative Gloria Macapagal Arroyo arrives at the Quirino Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City where former Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes was taken shortly after he supposedly shot himself in the chest Tuesday morning, Feb. 8, 2011. Reyes served the Arroyo administration in multiple capacities from Armed Forces Chief of Staff to Cabinet Secretary.

5,000 FAMILIES HOMELESS

MANILA, Philippines – Eleven persons were hurt while some 4,000 families were rendered homeless during a fire that lasted for around eight hours until Tuesday morning and razed a neighborhood in Quezon City.

Investigator SFO3 Renato Delamidi said around 600 homes, mostly shanties, were burned in Barangay Central.

Delamidi said 11 residents in the area suffered injuries during the fire, including difficulty in breathing, lacerations and puncture wounds.

The fire also left some 4,000 families homeless in the area where an estimated P20 million worth of properties were destroyed.

It was found that the fire originated from the second floor of the two-story shanty of Antonio Dionido.

The fire was reported to have started at around 10:45 p.m. Monday.

Delamidi said the fire lasted for around eight hours. Firefighters had the fire under control at 4 a.m. Tuesday and put out the last flames at 7:02 a.m.

Meanwhile, a one-hour fire hit Monday afternoon a residential compound destroying some 40 houses in Malabon City.

Chief Insp. Rodrigo Reyes, Malabon City fire marshal, said the fire started at about 2 p.m. in a house along Palmario Street in Barangay Tonsuya which quickly spread to adjacent structures.

Probers said some residents suffered burns and bruises while trying to save their belongings from their houses.

The fire was the fourth to hit the Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela area in a span of one week including a fire in Navotas City which killed 12 persons.

The cause of the fire is still being determined while damage to properties is still being assessed by arson probers.

Reyes takes own life

MANILA, Philippines – With a single bullet to the chest that went through his back, embattled retired Armed Forces chief and former Cabinet Secretary Angelo T. Reyes died in an apparent suicide on the gravesite of his parents at the Garden of Prayer, Loyola Memorial Park, in Marikina Tuesday, the day President Benigno S. Aquino III was celebrating his 51st birthday.


He was 65.


Sources at the memorial park said Reyes came for a visit Monday and was again at the grave site of his parents Tuesday along with his two children, a driver, and an aide.


Reyes was having a moment at his parent’s grave as the rest of the group repaired back to their parked vehicle when a shot rang out.


When Reyes’ children and aide returned to the gravesite, the retired general was found slumped on the ground his blood splattered on the tombstone of his mother Purificacion.


Police found the slug of a .45 caliber, a .45 caliber pistol, and a book titled: “Trump: The Art of the Deal” at the gravesite.


Health Secretary Enrique Ona told newsmen that Reyes was taken to the Quirino Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City on board his car shortly after but no longer had vital signs. Despite this, Ona said hospital staff tried to revive him for 45 minutes to no avail.


“Malamig na siya. Wala nang blood pressure, wala ng pulso at hindi na humihinga. (He was already cold. He had no more blood pressure, he had no pulse, and he was no longer breathing),” said Ona of Reyes when he was taken to the QMMC.


Ona said Reyes sustained a gunshot wound in the left side of his chest, near the heart.


Reyes was married on September 21, 1969 at Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo, Quezon City to Teresita Pernia Reyes. They have five children, namely Pablo, Angelito, Marc, Carlo, and Judd.


Reyes' father, Pablo Reyes was a professor like his mother, who was born on June 26, 1898.


Chief Supt. Francisco Manalo, director of the Eastern Police District, said the first report he received was that Reyes shot himself at past 7 a.m. Tuesday.


Witnesses’ accounts


This suicide angle was bolstered by the accounts of 48-year-old Loyola Memorial Park caretaker Roberto Elicanal and the park maintenance man 43-year old Louie Abelong.


Elicanal told the investigators at the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in Camp Crame that he spotted five men alighting from a black Nissan Cefiro (WHD-757) before 7 a.m. Tuesday.


“I recognized that it was Reyes because I usually see him there (Loyola Memorial Park). Besides, he immediately proceeded to the area where the burial place of his parents is located,” said Elicanal, who said that he has been working at the Loyola Memorial Park for several years now.


“I think they stayed there for some 30 minutes before the incident happened. Before that incident, I saw him talking with sons near the tombstone,” he added.


The last time he saw Reyes alive, Elicanal said, was when the former appeared to be driving his two sons and two other companions away from him, one of them identified as bodyguard Cesar Abon.


“But he was not forcing them to leave him, apparently, he was just asking them to give him a little time alone,” Elicanal clarified.


He then proceeded cutting grasses at the Garden of Prayers portion of the Loyola Park (where Reyes’ parents are buried) and a few minutes of later, he said he heard a gunshot.


“It was loud, it was then that I saw Reyes’ companions rushing towards him. I saw him (Reyes) slumped near the tombstones,” said Elicanal, who said that he was some 25 meters away from Reyes.


“They immediately checked on him and it was that time that I saw blood oozing out of his chest,” he added.


Elicanal said he remembered Reyes wearing a white shirt, a black slack pants and a black leather shoes.


A few seconds later, he said that he saw Reyes being loaded inside the car before it sped off outside the Loyola Memorial Park.


“But before he was boarded to the car, I saw one of his companions, a bald man, taking what appears to be a .45 pistol. The gun is shiny,” said Elicanal.


Abelong, for his part, told the police that he was giving something to his companion when he heard a loud gunshot. When he checked, he said he spotted a man slumped near a tombstone.


Before the gunshot was heard, Abelong said he saw three of Reyes’ companions sitting on a bench located several meters away from the latter. He said the car was parked some 50 meters away from Reyes.


Both Elicanal and Abelong told the police that it was a case of suicide.


“I think he shot himself, he committed suicide,” Elicanal told the police.


“There was no one there near him, I believe he committed suicide,” said Abelong for his part.


But police officials would not comment on the case, saying they have to wait for the result of the investigation to determine whether or not Reyes committed suicide.


This was echoed by Director Nicanor Bartolome, director of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), who said that they will not initially talk about the incident as a form of respect to Reyes’ grieving family.


Reyes tour of duty as chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), from July 1999 to March 2001, is considered as an action-packed as it was during his term that the government, under President Joseph Estrada, declared an all-out war against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.


A member of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class 1966, Reyes became a Brigade commander, a Division commander, and commanding general of the Philippine Army before he was appointed in the top military post.


He also served in the Cabinet of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as secretary o the Department of National Defense, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Department of Energy.


Reyes, however, was placed in the firing line in the past days after he was implicated in the so-called pabaon system in the military.


A gentleman to ladies


The death of Reyes, embroiled in the military fund scandal after he was implicated by former Armed Forces budget officer Lt. Col. George Rabusa, caught many by surprise, including senators and congressmen who are investigating the military corruption.


Several employees of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), where Reyes once served as its secretary, expressed shock over his death.


“He treated people fairly,” one of the DILG officials told the Manila Bulletin. “With him, it was always business. We had no close contact, but the few times I talked to him, he was always mabait (nice).”


“Hindi siya matapang. Matapang siya sa mga boys, (He was not mean. He was mean only to the boys), but he was always a gentleman to the ladies,” she added.


Mom’s boy


One thing the employees of the DILG agreed on, however, was that Reyes was a veritable mother's boy.


“He loved his mother very much. No matter what he was doing, as soon as he got a call from his mother, he would drop everything and immediately go to her,” shared an employee of the DILG.


Reyes' mother, Purificacion Tomas Reyes, was a professor born on March 6, 1910. According to the DILG employees, Reyes put his mother on a high pedestal and she was described to be the love of his life.


“Pag tanungin mo ako, hindi ako naniniwala na corrupt siya. Mabait talaga siya, (If you ask me, I do not believe that he was corrupt. He was a really nice person),” he added.


The DILG family led by Secretary Jesse M. Robredo are saddened to hear the demise of Reyes.


Reyes was DILG Secretary from July 12, 2005 to February 15, 2006.


Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, a staunch critic of Reyes, expressed shock over the incident, saying he knew Reyes as a man with strong personality having been a graduate of the Philippine Military Academy and former AFP Chief.


“It is unfortunate this happened and I did not expect this because as we all know, Gen. Reyes was PMA graduate, former AFP Chief who went through all the pressures in his life, so we are not privy to what went on his mind that prompted him to take his own life,” Trillanes said.


Trillanes and Reyes, who had been at odds ever since the former was in jail for his involvement in Oakwood mutiny, had a face-to-face meeting for the first time during the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing two weeks ago where they engaged in a brief heated exchange of words.


Probe must continue


He said, however, that Reyes’ death does not mean that the Senate investigation on the corruption in the AFP will stop.


“Sorry, but it will not put closure to investigation and we will confer with other senators and very likely, it is going to proceed despite what happened, he stressed.


Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago said that Reyes’ death virtually extinguished both his criminal and civil liabilities. “In other words, his criminal liability was totally extinguished, both as to the personal and pecuniary penalties.”


She said that technically, Reyes died with the presumption of innocence on his side, because he never went to trial.

It was a valiant act, aide says

MANILA, Philippines – Former Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff, Gen. Angelo Reyes felt that he was in such a hopeless situation that it was useless to explain his side on the alleged massive corruption in the military because of the public mind-set that he is already guilty as accused, a senior military officer said Tuesday.


Col. Edgard "Boogie" de Leon, who was the administrative officer of Reyes during his term as AFP chief, said he believes that the former AFP chief of staff and Defense secretary took his own life "to save the AFP."


He said Reyes did not want to see the armed forces collapse because of the allegations now being hurled against himself and other former armed forces officials, adding that the allegations are taking their toll on the soldiers and the military institution itself.


"Ganun kasi siya, he will do everything for the AFP kahit ibuwis ang buhay niya," said De Leon.


He said during the Second EDSA People’s Power Revolt, Reyes decided to withdraw his support from then President Joseph Estrada "because he does not want the AFP to collapse, which could have eventually resulted in the collapse of the government and the country."


De Leon is now assigned in Mindanao.


"So knowing him, maybe he does not want the AFP to collapse because of all the controversies, that's why he did that," said De Leon, who also said Reyes' heart was really for the armed forces.


"Even when he was no longer with the AFP, nung nasa civilian life na siya pag nagkikita kami he would always ask me, kumusta ang armed forces?" said De Leon.


He said Reyes felt very bad about the latest issues where he is accused of receiving "pabaon" from the AFP when he retired from the service, aside from other irregularities in the handling of AFP funds.


"Ang sama ng loob niya is parang kahit ano ang testimony niya may presumption of guilt na sa kanya, na whatever he says, it will not be taken as truth. Parang useless na, so ano pa ang saysay na pumunta siya sa Congress at magsalita kung sa public mind-set guilty na siya,” said De Leon.


Asked what he can say about Reyes as a person, a soldier, an officer, and a former boss, De Leon said: "He is a very honest person, especially honest to his mother, Purificacion."


Another personal friend of Reyes, retired Gen. Melchor Rosales, also expressed shock that Reyes committed suicide.


Reyes' friends and other AFP officers shared the same view that taking his own life was far from his personality, being tough and ready to face and hurdle all challenges that come his way.

Military honors for ex-AFP chief

MANILA, Philippines – Malacañang said Tuesday that former Armed Forces Chief of Staff Angelo Reyes will be given military honors despite allegations linking him to the ongoing investigations on military corruption, adding that his family should be given privacy following his death.

“The government wishes to express its condolences to the family of Secretary Angelo Reyes. We urge the public to allow his loved ones their grief and privacy,” Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda said Tuesday.

He said there will be military honors accorded to Reyes but could not say if he will be buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.

“I spoke to the leadership of the AFP and [Defense] Secretary [Voltaire] Gazmin… military honors would be accorded to Secretary Reyes,” Lacierda said.

“Remember that he is an innocent man for now. There’s presumption of innocence [until proven guilty] so there should be no accusation of guilt for now because he is an innocent man and he also served in the military. He was also the former AFP chief of staff,” he added.

“This is a very unfortunate incident. I know his family is grieving right now… Let’s allow Sec. Reyes some measure of respect and honor,” Lacierda said.

Senators comment on Palace move

MANILA, Philippines – Senators expressed dismay Tuesday over Malacañang’s decision to withdraw the Reproductive Health (RH) bill and the Freedom of Information (FOI) measure from its priority legislative agenda, saying it indicates a “leadership that is indecisive and vulnerable to pressure.”

Sen. Pilar Juliana “Pia” Cayetano said the Palace’s announcement is “very disappointing and disturbing.”

“In the last seven months, lawmakers from both chambers of Congress took the trouble of conducting exhaustive public hearings that involved experts from both sides of the RH debate,” Cayetano said.

“We did extensive research to ensure our respective versions are kept comprehensive, and yet sensitive to contending moral and religious views. We even took note of the President’s own pronouncements to guide us in crafting our versions,” she added.

Sen. Gregorio Honasan II also expressed disappointment over the Palace junking of the measure that would give the public access to pertinent government records.

Former Sec. Angelo Reyes commits Suicide

MANILA, Philippines - Former Energy Chief Angelo Reyes was reportedly shot in the chest. Reyes was rushed to the Quirino Hospital in Quezon City and reports have it that he died at around 8:30 a.m. He was 66. He is survived by his wife and 5 children.

UPDATE: Reyes was reported to have committed suicide. According to the Eastern Police District, Reyes visited his mother's grave at the Loyola Memorial Park in Marikina City where he shot himself on the spot.

A preliminary showed that Reyes had a bullet wound in the heart.

As per the Quirino Hospital sources, they tried to revive Reyes for 45 minutes before declaring him as expired.

JOLO WETLANDS

People wade through the flooded streets of downtown Jolo in Sulu on Friday, Feb. 4, 2011. Disaster officials said over the weekend that over 4,000 residents of the island municipality have been displaced and sheltered at evacuation centers.

Confiscated logs turned into chairs for use in schools

MANILA, Philippines – Almost 400 students from six public schools in the 2nd District of Quezon Province are now recipients of brand-new armchairs. This after school furniture made from confiscated logs was donated to the Department of Education (DepEd) by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

A total of 6,922 board feet of confiscated logs were donated to the DepEd last October for conversion into school chairs through a request made by Quezon Province 2nd district Rep. Irvin Alcala to the DENR.

According to Education Secretary Armin Luistro, the initiative was much appreciated by the DepEd because it will help resource gaps in school furniture particularly in chairs, cabinets and others. The DepEd chief also expressed his deep appreciation to local government executives who make education their priority.

“As part of our mandate to provide quality education for all Filipinos, we have received clear and emphatic marching orders from President Aquino to fast track the measures in addressing the learning resource gaps for almost 25 million children under our care,” he said.

“We recognize that the challenging task requires partnerships and engagement of the various stakeholders, hence we greatly appreciate this kind of initiative,” Luistro added.

Reports from the office of Alcala said of the total logs donated, only about 3,000 board feet were utilized because more than half of the logs could no longer be used. “From these, about 320 arm chairs were made and six schools within the congressional district were chosen as beneficiaries,” Luistro said.

A total of 50 armchairs were given to students of Talisay Elementary School (ES) in Tiaong, Mayapyap ES in Candelaria, Loob ES in San Antonio, San Mateo ES in Dolores, Bukal ES in Sariaya, and Ransohan ES in Lucena City.

“Getting everyone at the community setting engage in education initiatives will create a great impact in the education reforms the government is pushing for,” Luistro said. “The guiding principle is that educating our young is a responsibility not solely of DepEd, rather, it is a noble duty that must be shared by everyone in the community,” he added.

Since Luistro led the department, DepEd has already received a deluge of offers from various groups and individuals in support of the President’s education agenda. Just recently, the Leagues of Cities, Municipalities, and Provinces of the Philippines have each entered into a memorandum of agreement with DepEd to help in the building of classrooms under the counter-parting program.

GARBAGE BIN KIDS

Children play barefoot and with their stomachs barely full at a metal garbage bin at the Divisoria market in Manila on Friday, Feb. 4, 2011, the day when a government study was released that a third of Philippine school children are stunted because of poverty-driven malnutrition.

Bus fare hike looms

MANILA, Philippines – After approving the fare hike petitions for taxis and public utility jeeps, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) is set to deliberate on and resolve the petition for fare increases for passenger buses plying city and provincial routes.


LTFRB Board Member Manuel Iway said pending for their resolution are the petitions for fare increase filed by the Intercity Bus Operators Association (InterBOA) and the South Luzon Bus Operators Association (SOLUBOA).


After the toll hike on the South Luzon Expressway took effect last January 1, SOLUBOA filed its petition to increase ordinary provincial bus fare rates from P1.30 to P1.80 per kilometer and air-conditioned provincial bus fares from P1.60 to P2.10 per kilometer.


InterBOA followed suit when it asked government permission to hike ordinary city bus fares from P9 to P14 for the first five kilometers and from P1.85 to P2.55 per succeeding kilometer and air-conditioned city bus fares from P11 to P17 for the first 26 kilometers and from P2.20 to P2.90 per succeeding kilometer.


While SOLUBOA’s primary reason for its petition is the 300 percent toll hike at SLEx, the InterBOA justified its petition by saying that price increases of spare parts and oil products have led to profit losses on the part of bus operators.


But Iway said that both SOLUBOA and InterBOA failed to present financial documents and other evidences to prove their claims of profit loss during the separate hearings held last January 27 and February 3, respectively.


“We have both given them 10 days to submit the documentary evidences to back up their petition and another 10 days to submit position papers to the LTFRB and the oppositors. Only after then can we resolve the petitions at hand,” he said.


Iway said it is possible that the LTFRB will decide on the fare hike petitions for provincial and city buses within the month or early in March.


“But so far, we find their fare hike petition as too exorbitant, especially the InterBOA. Based on historical figures, ordinary city bus fare was pegged at P9 when a liter of diesel costs P42.05 in May 2008. Currently, diesel is at P41 a liter,” he added.


Iway said SOLUBOA and InterBOA have to also “prove with hard evidence” their need for provisional fare increase.


SOLUBOA reportedly asked for a provisional increase of P0.30 per kilometer for provincial buses while Inter BOA wants to hike ordinary city bus fares from P9 to P11.50 and from P1.85 to P2.35 per succeeding kilometer, and air-conditioned city bus fares from P11 to P15 and from P2.20 to P2.70 per succeeding kilometer.

26 Filipinos arrive from Egypt

MANILA, Philippines (PNA) - The first batch of 26 Filipinos, including 10 children, who availed themselves of voluntary repatriation from Egypt through the Department of Foreign Affairs’ Crisis Management Committee, planed in Sunday afternoon at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Pasay City.

The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) said the repatriates -- 14 women, two men, and 10 minors, some of them students -- arrived on board Emirates Air flight EK-332 at around 4:12 p.m.

OWWA Administrator Carmelita Dimzon said her agency has placed on standby an emergency fund for the repatriations of Filipinos fleeing the upheaval in Egypt.

“Welfare officers in the nearby posts have been instructed to be on alert for any relocation or evacuation move of the government,” Dimzon said in a statement.

She further said that Labor Secretary Rosalinda S. Baldoz instructed them to assist and bring home Filipino nationals from Egypt.

The Filipinos, she said, will undergo post-trauma debriefings and counseling on the reintegration package of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

The female repatriates are: Rizalina Ramos, 55; Anida G. Dimalanes, 27; Charlene R. del Rosario, 26; Miriam L. dela Paz, 30; Annalyn S. Valondo, 31; Joanne Balansag, 35; Fatima A. Sumato, 50; Jeenifer M. dela Cruz, 26; Amor M. Zablan, 43; Sherlyn Mesina, 41; Noraisah I. Brohan, 39; Diana Cristy Tan, 26; Vistoria Roasales, 54; and Jona Dao Magangat,35.

The two male companions are Abdulrahim Hassan Sangkua, 25, and Ebrahim Hasan, 50.

OWWA also identified the 10 minors as Kevin Dave dela Paz Marquez, 6; Joergina dela Paz Marquez, 7; Kenneth Jake dela Paz Marquez, 12; Kiona Marie Balansag Balondo, 3; Nihal Hasan, 10; Nadin Hasan, 6; Fatima Dumato Hasan, 2; Nada Ibrahim Borhan, 3; Maha Ibrahim Borhan, 11; and Hanafi Pangolina, 7.

Boracay from Above!

Rainy season can be a letdown for those who want to soak in the brilliant sun, powdery white sand, blue skies and sea of this famous landmark in the Philippines. But it doesn’t have to be peak season to enjoy the uniqueness of Boracay Island.


I stayed in Bora for five straight days of rainfall. It gives an otherwise new perspective of life in the most popular party place. It allows you to creatively explore beyond sun basking and sailing. So I set out to do something new in Bora other than the usual snorkeling, food binge, parasailing, massage-craving, island hopping, partying, celebrity watching and fire dancing.


It was raining heavily as we landed in Caticlan, where only small aircrafts courageously touch down, but not before dropping into thick, white mist of heavy clouds to land on one of the trickiest, shortest runways of the country. They spotted me right away at the arrival area — a bedraggled, shivering lone woman grasping an umbrella, luggage and camera bag, with an expression on the face that said, “Why am I here at this time of year?”


First off, the best way to enjoy Boracay at a 360-degree vista is not to stay in familiar coastal resorts but to aim for higher grounds. Hotel Soffia Boracay (www.hotelsoffia.com) was the perfect host to my exploration, situated in the elevated Barangay Yapak.


Fetched by the hotel’s amiable manager, Tony, I was whisked off to a ferryboat, to a vehicle going uphill, where a white-washed set of casitas and Mediterranean-inspired hotel stood in dreamy splendor, overlooking the island. I felt like singing on a set of “Mama Mia”, transported in Greece. Hotel Soffia’s quiet beauty took my breath away immediately; the seascape view of White Beach from my balcony; the cool breeze that earned its moniker, “Tagaytay of Boracay”; to the glorious infinity pool that offers golden sky, sunset and blue horizon while sipping on sweet, lemongrass drink. F&B Manager Art sweetly fusses over you from breakfast to dinner, so be assured of fresh garden salad on your plate, thanks to a vegetable garden in the backyard. At twilight, fruit bats and endangered flying foxes come out of caves in Barangay Yapak, soar overhead in thousands, covering crimson skies. A free 10-minute shuttle service to the beach is offered every hour, but party noises down the stations don’t reach the hilltop. It was exquisite silence, as wifi allowed me to blog and write stories from the porch, even when it was raining.


What made up for my wet vacation, however, topped my list of exciting adventures. Hotel Soffia’s owner, Archie Po (a pilot who owns Boracay Helicopter Adventures) and sister Millet Po Artillaga (recently retired banker), treated me to a one-of-a-kind experience, an aerial view of the island. (Sir Archie and I first met during the maiden flight of Asian Spirit from Davao to Palau back in 2006. This cool, low-keyed guy used to own Asian Spirit, and now LionAir, owning a huge number of choppers and jets).


A young pilot in his 30s, Captain Dennis Figueroa (a Mindanaoan too), was the best air guide a photographer could ever ask for. Given the circumstances (gray skies, drizzle, windy atmosphere), he was cheerful and accommodating and made sure I was able to capture shots I was looking for. If not, he would head back to the same angle so I wouldn’t miss a great composition. He would go lower for me to shoot the famed Willy’s Rock, or catch the sailboats, and even landed on the quieter Puka Beach with fewer guests around. The 4-seaterRobinson 44 Raven II was like a purring cat in his skilled hands.


In the next few days, sunrise or sunset didn’t show up, as the downpour never let up. Navigating the streets of Bora with good friend Rubi de Vera was like invading flooded alleys of any rain-soaked city, except that you don’t really expect torrents in a world-class tourist destination. It was seeing the other side of Bora for the first time — stormy, dark, uncooperative. Yet, when I headed for a seaside diner down Station 2, the shoreline teemed with perspiring Asians, Americans, Europeans and Pinoys, determined to enjoy wet climate in the tropics. Make sure you head for the remote Tree House Resort at the far quiet end of Station 3 for after dinner drinks and round of delicious pizza and sisig!


Unfazed by the weather, Dennis and I scaled heights over Bora, having fun identifying landmarks from above (check out other fine islets beside Bora). I have discovered amazing scenes otherwise unnoticed on land. Boracay Helicopter Adventures (owned by Lionair in Pasay City) is situated in Sitio Cagban Helipad, Barangay Manoc-Manoc. They offer varied tours from airport transfers, beach and island tours, VIP/Sunset tours to charter flights. The rates vary but to give you an idea, a beach tour for 10-minutes cost Php3,500.00 per person for 2-3 in a flight.


I still hope to fly the skies for a good aerial sunset. Hotel Soffia remains a winner in my undiscovered hideaway list, as I have already missed the warm staff I have grown fond of in my stay. Imagine having slept so soundly alone, even while knowing that I was the only guest in the 59 rooms the first night I came in! In my last day, I was boarding the small plane flying out to Manila, when Capt. Dennis texted: “The sun is finally out!” I vowed to come back for it soon.

The 36th International Bamboo Organ Festival

The International Bamboo Organ Festival of Las Piñas is no ordinary music festival; it may well be the only festival that has for its centerpiece a unique music instrument that has been officially named a national treasure.

Crafted by Spanish priest Diego Cera, the Bamboo Organ of Las Piñas had purely religious beginnings. It was used exclusively for liturgical purposes, but the residents were eventually inspired to turn it into the focus of a full-fledged festival of sacred music. Now on its 36th season, the Bamboo Organ Festival has earned for itself a reputation both nationally and internationally, and is the source of great pride among all Filipinos, not just those from Las Piñas itself.

This festival has sparked interest and brought Philippine music, culture and tradition to the international stage. It has opened avenues for international artists to showcase their talents and gifts.

There is a rich history attached to this festival that goes beyond deep faith and tradition among the people. The festival is a source of a deep sense of pride among Filipinos. From its creation, the Bamboo Organ has brought together parishioners, townsfolk and artists in a celebration of life. National Artists Alejandro Roces, after an extensive study on the different fiestas of the Philippines, has included the Bamboo Organ Festival in his upcoming book about Philippine fiestas – truly a testimony of the value festivals hold in Philippine history and culture.

The annual International Bamboo Organ Festival recently unveiled its plans for the 36th edition of the event, to be held on February 17 to 23, 2011.

Excerpts from some of Johann Sebastian Bach’s more celebrated cantatas will be featured in the opening concert entitled Back to BACH, making use of the recently acquired complete collection of scores of the more than 250 cantatas of the composer. To be heard are well-known choruses, sinfonias and organ concertos which will illustrate why JS Bach is the most beloved of all composers of the Baroque period.

Subsequent concerts will have several choirs as performers: The Las Piñas Boys Choir, champion of the 2008 World Choir Games in Graz, Austria, the Hail Mary the Queen Children’s Choir, the University of the East Chorale, and the Imusicapella Chamber Choir. Two noted Filipino conductors will also take center stage — Joel Navarro and EudenicePalarauan; along with visiting artists Luc Ponet (Belgium), organ; Guido Segers (Belgium), trumpet; and Raphael Leone (Austria), flute. Filipino soloists will be Armando Salarza, organ; Gina Medina, violin; Rey Casey Concepcion, viola; and Renato Lucas, cello.

This year will also mark the premiere of a commissioned choral work Jubilate! Composed by Alejandro Consolacion II, who also arranged a cycle of popular Philippine Folk Songs.

For ticket inquiries, please call the Foundation Secretariat at tel. nos. 820 0795 or 825 7190, Mobile no. 0999 5087838, email at bambooorganfoundation@gmail.com or log to our website www.bambooorgan.org.

The Bamboo Organ is one of the Philippines’ national treasures. It was built between 1816 and 1824 for the Parish Church of Las Piñas, a village nine miles from the center of Manila, which now has achieved its own cityhood. Every year it receives countless visits from Filipino and foreign visitors alike.

Far from being an oddity, the Bamboo Organ is a serious instrument in the classic Spanish style, and a number of the world’s best-known organists have enjoyed its charm and color. Fr. Diego Cera de la Virgen del Carmen was responsible for the construction of both the organ and the church. An Augustinian Recollect, he was parish priest of Las Piñas and the son of a family of organ builders in his native Spain. Records show that he also was an unusually gifted natural scientist, chemist, architect, community leader and organist.

The choice of bamboo for the majority of the pipes was made both for practical and aesthetic reasons. Bamboo was abundant, in wide use as a building material, and when treated correctly, resistant to insects and rot. Fr. Cera had long been experimenting with this material; in the end only the horizontal reed pipes had to be made of metal, but not for lack of trying, as suggested by the number of mute bamboo pipes mounted in the rear façade of the case.

The final result conforms very closely to the Mediterranean model: Divided keyboard and registers, a basic choir with few mutations, horizontal trumpets in the façade, and a short pull-down pedal-board. In addition, there are a few favorite effects: Pajaritos (seven pipes tuned to imitate bird song), Tambor (two pipes tuned to beat in imitation of a drum), and one register tuned to vibrate slightly. The original wind supply was provided by hand-operated trouble bellows. Placed in a small, not very resonant stone church, the essentially wooden instrument sounds quite brilliant, with fine contrast between the real flute registers, the main choir with mutations and the metal reeds. All Mediterranean repertory sound well on the instrument, as do northern compositions that do not require independent pedal registers.

Earthquakes and typhoons — and the damage they bring — being facts of Philippine life, Fr. Cera himself became the first restorer of the Bamboo Organ. Others following him were less successful, and several partial and approximate attempts made in the early part of this century just to keep it playing ultimately failed. In 1973, the entire instrument was shipped to the Johannes Klais organ factory in Bonn for complete restoration work. Replacements for the bamboo pipes passed first through Japan for treatment; a special room was set up in Bonn to maintain tropical humidity for the duration of the work.

In 1975, the fully restored instrument was remounted in its original position, where it has now become the centerpiece of an important international music festival, as well as the stimulus for the rebirth of an unusual and very active parish life.

Janet Jackson concert a hit among celebs

MANILA, Philippines — American singing star Janet Jackson’s Feb. 4 concert at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) Plenary Hall was a resounding success inasmuch as thousands of Filipinos—including a number of local celebrities—braved the traffic, the slight drizzle and, more so, the steep ticket charge just to be able to watch the show.

Jackson's triumph was a seeming rebuff to a suggestion that singer Kuh Ledesma made only a few weeks ago, calling for the “regulation” of foreign concerts around these parts, insisting that such shows allow for iniquitous competition detrimental to local artists.

Though Ledesma has since rescinded on the petition—this, after a number of people including a few local musicians voiced their disagreement—she said she still hopes lawmakers would seriously look into the matter and soon.

An idea she offered was that of prohibiting foreign acts from staging concerts during the Valentine’s season, similar to the banning of foreign movies during the Christmas holidays for the annual Metro Manila Film Festival.

Apparently not with Ledesma on this is singer Karylle, actress Angelica Panganiban, actor Marvin Agustin, fashion model Bubbles Paraiso, actress-TV host Iza Calzado, designer Mich Dulce, journalists Jessica Soho and Rhea Santos, designer-socialite Tessa Prieto-Valdez, husband and wife TV hosts Paolo Abrera and Suzi Entrata, Lander Vera Perez and Regine Tolentino, Jinkee Pacquiao and Mr. Fu—who were among those seen enjoying the Jackson show.

Most of those in attendance shelled big bucks to watch the performance, the ticket to which were priced from as low as P3,100 to as high as P15,500.

In a short interview with GMA news after the concert, Calzado claimed that the ticket cost was well worth it.

“Sulit na sulit, she was fantastic,” said she of the deceased pop star Michael Jackson’s younger sister’s act.

The concert form part of Jackson’s “Number Ones: Up Close and Personal World Tour,” which the singer said is the biggest yet in her career.

Some of the songs she sang at the show were the hits, "Doesn't Really Matter," "Black Cat," "Rhythm Nation," "All For You," "Let's Wait a While," "Again," and "Go Deep" which she dedicates to the Philippines.

Take a bow Olsen: It was 18 good years

MANILA, Philippines - Olsen Racela made only a single free throw in his farewell performance Friday, but would be remembered as one of the greatest guards the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) has produced.

Just No. 12 in the rookie draft in 1993, Racela rose to become a five-time All-Star, an owner of nine championship rings and a pillar of the league’s most successful franchise.

It would have been a storybook ending for the 40-year old San Miguel Beer point guard, but Jimmy Alapag and the rest of the Talk n’ Text Tropang Texters had other plans.

Still, Racela walked out of the Araneta Coliseum with his head up high, taking with him 18 memorable seasons in the PBA.

His biggest fan, ironically, is Alapag himself.

Right after receiving his award as Rain or Shine Most Valuable Player of the Finals he shared with teammate Jason Castro, Alapag paid tribute to Racela.

“He is one of the guys I look up to and it’s a privilege to have played against him,” he said.

Racela’s retirement had been announced prior to the Finals series and had wished to finish his career with another crown.

In Game 4 of the series, Racela grabbed the loose ball in the last seconds to secure a series-tying win for the Beermen.

During SMB’s semifinal series with Barangay Ginebra, Racela sank two buzzer-beating shots in separate matches that swung the tide of battle for the Beermen.

As the newly-appointed coach of the Philippines Under-16 team gearing up for the FIBA-Asia championship late this year, Racela assumes another challenge apart from being a member of the coaching staff of San Miguel.

In a tribute given to him before the start of Game 3, SMB team manager Hector Calma and coach Ato Agustin presented him a laminated set of his No. 17 jersey.

Speaking to the crowd, Racela said: “Salamat po sa 18 taon na pag-suporta ninyo sa akin. It was all worth it.”

Racela reached two PBA milestones last year, becoming only the fifth player in league history to suit up for 900 games and the sixth to see action at the age of 40 years old.

The former Ateneo Blue Eagles won two crowns as back-up to Dindo Pumaren during his Purefoods days.

Then Ron Jacobs tapped him as a starter for San Miguel, winning seven titles along the way.

GRAPHIC REACTION

Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago (left) reacts during the Senate hearing on the case of former Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) comptroller Gen. Carlos Garcia Thursday, Feb. 3, 2011, while Lt. Col. George Rabusa (center), a former budget officer of the AFP, embraces another witness, Lt. Col. Antonio Ramon Lim (right) also in the same inquiry Thursday.

Maguindanao massacre victims died of heart attack?

MANILA, Philippines – Some of the Maguindanao massacre victims died of a heart attack?

Or did they kill each other? These possibilities were raised by one of the lawyers of the Ampatuan clan drew an outburst from the victims’ relatives Thursday.

At the resumption of the hearing Thursday at the Quezon City Regional Trial Court, the proceedings was briefly interrupted when the wife of one of the murdered journalists went berserk outside the courtroom over the statements issued by one of the Ampatuan counsels.

Myrna Reblando, wife of the late Manila Bulletin reporter Bong Reblando, screamed and lashed out at the Ampatuan lawyers while National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) medico legal officer Dr. Reynaldo Romero was on the witness stand presenting his autopsy report.

At the height of her tantrums, the relatives of the other victims and private lawyer Nena Santos tried to calm her down as she cried profusely during her outburst.

In Wednesday’s cross-examination of Philippine National Police (PNP) medico legal officer, Dr. Dean Cabrera, Ampatuan counsel Andres Manuel insinuated that some of the victims might have died of other causes like heart attack.

Edith Tiamzon, another victim's relative, said the other claim of Manuel that the victims killed each other is ridiculous.

On Thursday, Senior Deputy State Prosecutor Richard Anthony Fadullon requested Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes to order the victims' relatives out of the courtroom as they “they can't handle the testimony of the doctor”.

At the resumption of hearing, Romero continued his presentation of the autopsy results on the relatives of Maguindanao Governor Esmael Mangudadatu.

On Nov. 23, 2009, 57 people, including 32 journalists, were shot to death by gunmen, allegedly led by former Datu Unsay Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr. at a hilly portion of Barangay Salman, Sitio Malatin, Maguindanao.

National Arts Month and Philippine International Arts Festival 2011

MANILA, Philippines – Pursuant to Presidential Proclamation No. 683 issued on January 28, 1991, February every year is celebrated as National Arts Month (NAM) in the Philippines. From its humble beginnings in Metro Manila in the ’90s with a limited number of fields in the arts, NAM has expanded to include the active participation of the seven arts as flagship projects of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA).


In 2009, the Commission raised the event to international status with the launching of the Philippine International Arts Festival (PIAF). This year, the PIAF aims to "recharge the Filipino consciousness and regard for local culture and arts" by gathering thousands of arts and artists all over the country for the unveiling of the 2011 "Ani ng Sining." Artists from ASEAN-member countries such as Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Cambodia, Brunei, and Vietnam, as well as Lithuania, Japan, Taiwan, and Fujaira of the United Arab Emirates will join the celebration.


Four grand openings at the Concert at the Park in Metro Manila, the Davao People's Park in Mindanao, the Bacolod Provincial Capitol in the Visayas, and Baguio's Burnham Park in Luzon will launch the festival. There will be performances, exhibitions, lectures, and conferences that will showcase the richness of Philippine tradition and culture. They will also serve as a venue for discovering and developing new talents. Among the major events of the 2011 PIAF are the First Conference of the Philippine International Lighting Associations of the World (ILAW) and the Taboan Philippines International Writers Festival 2011. ILAW will bring together engineers, architects, artists, environmental planners, and leaders in the lighting design industry to discuss the latest developments in light and illumination. The Taboan festival will gather Filipino artists and award-winning writers from Hong Kong, Australia, and Singapore for panel discussions, lectures, outreach and school visits, book fairs, literary readings and performances, and the Taboan awards.


With the roster of local and international artists invited to the festivities, our country will forge deeper understanding and strong socio-cultural ties through the arts through collaborative performances and outreach projects to be held in various parts of the country.


The Philippine International Arts Festival once again affirms that the Philippines truly deserves the distinction of being the first country in the ASEAN to be named the "cultural capital" in the region for 2010 and 2011.

Kris Aquino wishes RP would be promoted like Bali

MANILA, Philippines - Kris Aquino was so beguiled by the beauty of Bali, Indonesia that she wishes for the Philippines to be promoted, too, as one of the finest tourist destinations in Asia.

Together with her closest friends Liz Uy, Lucy Torres and Zsa Zsa Padilla, Kris went on a relaxing trip to Bali as part of her "Eat, Pray, Love" exercise recently.

“All of us came home with the same sentiment,” Kris said on “Showbiz News Ngayon,” Feb. 2. “Sana kung ano man ang marketing at kung ano man ang pagpu-push at PR na ginagawa for Bali, sana magawa ‘yan for us kasi kung ano ang meron sila, meron din naman tayo.”

Describing the respite as “excellent female bonding,” Kris said they enjoyed "bantering galore" while in Bali.

“Chikahan lang kami nang chikahan,” she enthused, adding, “I learned a lot from them, most especially kay Lucy kasi she’s so madasalin. So parang na-inspire ako na mag-pray nang mag-pray na mag-pray talaga."

She shared that “Zsa Zsa has to leave a day early. Umuwi siya para alagaan si Tito Dolphy.”

Kris has also made public her friendship with her “Dalaw” leading man Diether Ocampo. She admitted that they “made a pact” to see each other once a month to bond.

“Tutal he’s not in a relationsip, I’m not in a relationship... walang magagalit, walang magseselos as of now. Parang sabi ko i-maintain naman natin ‘to.”

Now that she’s back in town, Kris has buckled down to work beginning with putting the final touches to her new inspirational album.

“Ni-record ko na. Mas madali kasing magpakatotoo ngayon. So I could say everything and I could allow the songs to speak for me. Kahit hindi ako kumakanta, you'll feel that you get to know my life and you get to know my feeling.”

The TV host said it’s the last of an inspirational series that have earned Gold and Platinum awards in the past.

To Azkals fans: Wear white shirts

MANILA, Philippines — Stand up, wear white and be counted as a Philippine Azkals fan.

To gather strong support for the Azkals who will be battling the Mongolians in the AFC Challenge Cup qualifying match on Feb. 9, the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) is enjoining the fans to wear white shirts.

PFF president Mariano “Nonong” Araneta said white will be the theme since the Azkals, beefed up by Fil-foreigners, will be donning white uniforms in the first of the home-and-away duel set at the 15,500-seater Panaad Stadium in Bacolod City.

Araneta, also the Iloilo Football Association head, said the unity in colors will play a great factor in the match just like when
Brazilian fans wear yellow or Japanese fans wear blue in World Cup matches.

“Seeing a sea of fans in white will certainly fire up our players,” said Araneta, a former national player from University of the Philippines Iloilo.

Following the Azkals’ amazing semifinal finish in the AFF Suzuki Cup last Dec., the popularity of the sport and the team zoomed to unprecedented heights, making next week’s match a sure-fire blockbuster.

“It (the match) could be our biggest crowd in the history of Philippine football,” said Araneta, adding that the tickets, 10,000 of which are free of charge, will be available for distribution today.

Meanwhile, Philippine Sports Commission chairman Richie Garcia said preparations are on track for the match, saying locker rooms and shower stalls have already been repaired, and the field is ready and currently being used for training.

At presstime, around 1,200 lights are being transferred from the Paglaum Stadium to Panaad Stadium to make the venue fit for international standards.

People in Bacolod are also in festive mood for the upcoming match, with students swarming the Azkals even inside the hotels after practice, Azkals asst. coach Edzel Bracamonte said.

The Mongolians are set to arrive on Monday.

DRAGON DANCE

A dragon dance is performed along Ongpin Street in Manila as part of traditional festivities leading up to the Chinese New Year.

Web of corruption in AFP

MANILA, Philippines – Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez promised lawmakers in the House of Representatives that her office will review the P303-million plunder case against former Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) comptroller ex-Maj. Gen. Carlos Garcia following more allegations on the web of corruption in the military.

In a committee hearing, Gutierrez said she will evaluate the evidence presented by former AFP budget officer Lt. Col. George Rabusa and former government auditor Heidi Mendoza to see if supporting documents could reverse their position on Garcia’s plea bargain.

“The bribery as alleged in the information that my predecessor passed on to me did not include these things. We will have to look not just into the testimony (of Mendoza) but the documents that Colonel Rabusa has in his possession (as well),” Gutierrez told House Committee on Justice.

The chief ombudsman informed committee chair and Iloilo Rep. Niel Tupas Jr. that her office already formed a special panel to investigate the corruption claims of Mendoza and Rabusa, who both revealed various corruption strategies in handling military funds.

She also swore to consider the testimony of Mendoza as well as all the documentary evidence that the House Committee on Justice would turn over to the Office of the Ombudsman before she can decide on what the Office of the Ombudsman should do about the case against the retired major general.

Gutierrez issued the statement in reaction to the pressure made by lawmakers for her to abandon the plea bargaining agreement with Garcia following the recent testimonies of Mendoza and Rabusa, who detailed the web of alleged large-scale corruption in AFP.

Parañaque Rep. Roilo Golez, who earlier delivered a privilege speech that triggered the House Committee on Justice hearing on the plea bargaining agreement of Garcia, said the testimonies are sufficient to push the P303-million plunder case against Garcia.

“They should abandon the plea bargain agreement. Otherwise, they could be accused of ignoring the new evidences and favoring Garcia,” said Golez.

Citizens Battle Against Corruption (CIBAC) party-list Rep. Sherwin Tugna urged Gutierrez to revert the charges back plunder.

Mendoza Wednesday got the nod from several lawmakers in the House of Representatives for her courage in exposing anomalies in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) with Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Neri Colmenares saying that she is a very credible and competent witness.

Colmenares said that even without Rabusa’s confession, government prosecutors would be able to pin down Garcia using the documents that Mendoza claimed she unearthed from the disorganized piles of records about the system of handling funds within the AFP.

Chinese, Filipino communities welcome Year of the Metal Rabbit

MANILA, Philippines – Chinese communities across the country and in many parts of the world welcomed the Year of the Metal or Golden Rabbit at midnight with festive and time-tested traditions meant to attract good health, prosperity, closer family ties, and peace in every household, as well as good fortune in business.

Based on the Chinese Almanac, the Year of the Metal Rabbit begins on Feb. 3, 2011 and ends on Jan. 22, 2012.

Days of colorful festivals, intense preparations, parades, dragon and lion dances, fireworks display, family gatherings, visits to friends and relatives, and the largest human migration around the world to travel home to attend reunions culminated Wednesday with the onset of the Chinese New Year, also known as Spring Festival, the most important of the traditional Chinese holidays.

Age-old Chinese New Year’s Eve traditions were observed including the thorough cleaning of homes, wearing of new clothes and shoes, opening of doors, windows, and lights, getting a new haircut, cleaning and repainting of altars, preparation of fruits believed to invite good fortune on tables, and the repainting of doors and window panes. The color red, which is believed to scare away evil spirits and bad fortune, was liberally used in painting and decorating.

Lucky money in red envelopes were given to children, sweets were served, while some bathed in boiled pomelo leaves for good health.

There was also an abundance of food like fish, chicken, dumplings, nuts, noodles, and sweets like the popular glutinous rice flour (tikoy) to symbolize prosperity, abundance, and good fortune as well as in thanksgiving for the blessings of the past year.

The celebration of the Chinese New Year traditionally begins on the first day of the first lunar month in the Chinese calendar and ends 15 days later with the observance of the Lantern Festival.

Often mistaken to mean Happy New Year, “Kung Hei Fat Choi!” is Cantonese for the greeting, “Congratulations and be prosperous.”

The first two words were linked to the legend of Nian, the story of a man-devouring predator beast. According to a legend, greetings of “congratulations” were exchanged in ancient China during the first New Year celebration after the people survived the ravaging beast. The beast was said to be afraid of loud noises and the color red that the ancient Chinese drove and scared the creature away through firecrackers and the liberal use of the color red in homes.

Meanwhile, a bishop is not happy with Catholics who also observe the trappings and practices of the Chinese New Year.

Msgr. Pedro Quitorio III, Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines Media Office director, said some Filipino homes display images of the Sto. Nino while at the same time display lucky charms associated with the Chinese calendar and Feng Shui.

“If you want to be a Christian, then be a Christian. Don’t be the kind of Catholic with a segurista mentality because it means you don’t believe in Christ because if you do, you don’t need to have a sort of back-up religion,” he said.

Quitorio said this kind of approach to religion is called syncretism or the combination of different beliefs, which is very evident especially during Chinese New Year.

During Chinese New Year, lucky charms and gems sell like hotcakes because people believe that having one would attract good fortune in the coming year.

Such mentality is not only common to Filipino Catholics but to other faiths as well.

“There are non-Catholics who also keep an image of the Sto. Niño because they hear of its power to help,” he said.

Quitorio said there is a need to purify the people’s faith.

“That faith should be purified because for a real Christian, Christ should be enough,” said Quitorio.

Meanwhile, some Filipino-Chinese communities gathered in front of the Philam Life building in Quintin Paredes in Binondo, Manila to witness the revelry of dances on the dawning of a new decade as they ushered in the 2011 Chinese Lunar Year.

They began with a traditional eye-dotting ceremony involving painting the eyes of “sleeping” lions and dragons with red ink to symbolize the awakening of these creatures. These mythical creatures are believed to be very auspicious and can ward off bad elements and attract good fortune.

In his speech during the celebration of Chinese New Year of Philam Life, Trevor Bull, president of Philam Life, said he valued the importance of family ties from generation to the next most especially in a certain Filipino-Chinese home.

“Filipino-Chinese are frugal, family-oriented, and business savvy. That is why we need to create innovative solutions to fit the unique needs and traditions of Chinese families,” he said.

He added that as the country enters a new decade and was started off with the year of the Rabbit, he expressed confidence on the future it will bring to the people. “The year of the Rabbit symbolizes energy, movement, rebirth and establishment. These qualities must be taken advantage of as we face the year,” Bull said.

With this, the over 60-year-old life insurer has launched three of its products which include Bright Future Plus, an education and life insurance plan-in-one for Chinese language studies, foreign studies or post-graduate studies of policyholder’s children or designated beneficiaries; Bounty, a savings and life insurance plan-in-one to build policyholders’ or their children’s capital for future business ventures; and Longevity, a savings and insurance plan-in-one to fund a daughter’s wedding dowry or a son’s engagement or wedding.

Bomb Scare Near U.S. Embassy

MANILA, Philippines - An unidentified black bag believed to be a bomb along Plaza Ferguson near the U.S. Embassy has alerted the passersby this morning.

Upon prompt inspection by the Manila Police District Bomb Squad, it was confirmed that said bag contained only personal stuff and clothes presumed to have been left by a vagrant.

"As always,the Manila's Finest is in full alert to give the public ample protection", said MPD Deputy Director for Operation Police Sr. Supt. Fidel Posadas in an interview by MB Online.

Chinese New Year: The Year of the Golden Rabbit

MANILA, Philippines – Countries around the world with significant Chinese populations celebrate on Thursday the oldest and most important event in China, the Spring Festival, more popularly known as Chinese New Year. Chinese New Year is a celebration of the Earth coming to life. It ushers in the beginning of the plowing and planting season. It begins on the first day of the first month of the lunar calendar and ends with the Lantern Festival on the 15th day of the first month. This year, Chinese New Year commences on February 3 and culminates in the Lantern Festival, on the Full Moon 15 days later, which falls on the 18th of February.


Beyond the trimmings associated with the festival such as dragon or lion dances and the use of firecrackers, which are integral elements of the celebration, the essence of Chinese New Year is spending more time with the family, giving gifts, holding food festivals. The Chinese believe that the New Year is an opportune time for a fresh start, and so they prepare for it way ahead of time by cleaning their homes and getting rid of junk, repaying debts, having a hair cut, buying new clothes, paying respect for their departed ancestors, and offering prayers to the gods for a good and prosperous year. Houses are decorated with red lanterns and symbols that wish peace and prosperity for the coming year. Homes are brightly lighted, all windows and doors are open to let bad luck out and allow good fortune to come in, as families gather for dinner with special dishes. Lucky money in small red envelopes called ang pao are given out, especially to children. Adults and children stay up late, and firecrackers are set off to drive away bad luck and evil spirits. Manila’s Chinatown, like the Chinatowns in other parts of the country and the world, will have colorful parades featuring dragon and lion dancers performing to the energetic beat of drums.


According to astrologers, people born in the year of the Rabbit are generally calm, gentle, and loving. While they may sometimes be perceived as timid, people born under this sign view themselves as wise and cautious. They are rarely known to act or jump into situation without first carefully considering all their options. At work, they are noted to excel by remaining cool and collected. They can be relied upon for extreme tact in delicate business dealings. Chinese tradition has it that the Rabbit ushers in a year in which we can all “catch our breath and calm our nerves.” It is a time for negotiation and diplomacy.


As we welcome the Year of the Golden Rabbit, we join our Chinese brothers and sisters in striving to gain the greatest benefits and goods that the year promises. May we be as wise, calm, and gentle as the Rabbit in addressing the many challenges that we continue to be confronted with as we strive to achieve our goals for 2011, as individuals and as a nation.


Kung Hei Fat Choi!

Noodles and more for a long, prosperous life

When it comes to celebrating the Chinese New Year, eating noodles is a great way to welcome the future. “Eating noodles is believed to ensure people a longer life span,” North Park marketing consultant Germaine Salvador says, further reiterating the rich Chinese culinary culture which has now become a part of the Pinoy lifestyle.

There is a wider selection that people can choose from to elicit some good fortune, considering that noodles (especially the long ones) attract luck. In North Park alone, Salvador says that diners can also choose their own pasta preference to complement the noodle dishes they will order, namely: Flat Shanghai Noodles (flat, white, made of flour), Hong Kong Noodles (fine, yellow), Empress Hair Noodles (light and yellow egg noodles), Canton Noodles (a chewier variant), Whole Wheat Noodles (high fiber), and Herb Noodles (flat, green, made of onions along with kutchay, spring, and wansuy).

For the Chinese New Year, Salvador recommends the restaurant’s North Park Special Toasted Noodles, a nest of crispy noodles topped with a thick mushroom sauce along with a medley of toppings such as shrimp, fish, sausage, and vegetables.

Meanwhile, there is the Fresh Prawn Dumpling, a bowl of noodles served with a hot soup and peppered with generous servings of steamed prawn dumplings and pechay. On the other hand, meat lovers may go for the Szechwan Tan Tan Mien (Spicy Pork in Bean Sauce). Served on an oblong-shaped plate, a rich, spicy bean sauce with pork chunks rests on a bed of herbed noodles, coupled with a small bowl of hot, clear soup.

While noodle dishes supposedly gives one a longer life, Salvador says that having fried spring rolls on the table brings wealth. Cooked in a perfect shade of golden brown, the spring rolls represent gold bars.

Salvador also explains that red is an auspicious color, and foods that are colored in its hues are considered as lucky. The Chinese consider the color red as a symbol of integrity, an emblem of joy which also symbolizes virtue, truth, and sincerity. For example, the restaurant’s BBQ Pork Asado comes from a pig whose meat is red – believed to bring prosperity. Upon cooking, it is usually served with a dark red, sweet sauce. Further, pork, when consumed, signifies wealth and prosperity because of its rich fat content.

Pacquiao is hittable, says Mosley

MANILA, Philippines — If there’s one thing that never leaves a fighter, it is his punching power, American fighter Shane Mosley said.

Mosley took a shot at those criticizing his advanced age of 39 years, boasting that he still has power on both hands and that he is much, much quicker than the Mexican mauler that Manny Pacquiao beat up late last year.

Describing the Filipino as “very hittable,” Mosley told fighthype that he has genuine chances of scoring an upset on May 7 when the two welterweights wage a war at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Mosley said Pacquiao is easy to hit “and that’s the problem he has with me because I can put your lights out,” Mosley, who turns 40 in September, said.

“I mean, whether says I’m old or this and that, my punching power ain’t going nowhere. I’m not as slow as (Antonio) Margarito. I’m three times faster than Margarito, so if Margarito can touch him, I can touch him, too.”

Mosley was referring to Margarito’s relative success in inflicting damage on Pacquiao when they fought and his ability to evade punishment as evidenced by his masterful win over the same guy in January 2009.

Mosley never had trouble disposing of Margarito in nine rounds when they went at it, while Pacquiao had to endure Margarito’s vicious body shots en route to a lopsided decision victory.

Pacquiao, 32, is the huge betting favorite owing to his string of huge wins over the best fighters campaigning from super-featherweight (130 lbs) up to super-welter (154) the past few years.

Manila Bulletin celebrates its 111 Years of Service to the Nation

MANILA, Philippines – The Manila Bulletin was founded on February 2, 1900, as the Philippines was about to cross into the twentieth century. From a newspaper publishing local shipping and commercial news, it is now one of the few centenarian publications in the world recognized as the leading newspaper in this country and one of the leading English dailies in Asia.


The Manila Bulletin lived through the eras of colonial governance, the peaceful struggle for political freedom, the wartime occupation, the responsibilities of independence, and the demands of a democratic republic. It continuously served the country as it went through a major war, armed rebellions, and economic upheavals.


On the political front, the country was governed under five successive Constitutions and the administrations of 15 Presidents. The nation’s population has grown from 6 million in 1901, when the first national census was taken, to over 94 million in 2010.


Responding to the consequent societal demands, the Manila Bulletin has been transformed into a comprehensive newspaper with a weekly magazine Philippine Panorama, and Style Weekend, a second daily Tempo, a third daily Balita, special interest magazines Agriculture, Cruising, Animal Scene, Sports Digest, and Sense & Style, and magazines in the vernacular Liwayway, Bannawag, Bisaya, and Hiligaynon, for a total of 14 daily, weekly, and monthly publications which all lead in circulation.


It also publishes the Manila Bulletin Yearbook which provides valuable information on government officials, civic organizations, and notable institutions in the country.


The newspaper continues to expand, with its modern and sophisticated printing equipment in the country. It was the first newspaper company to go public on April 18, 1990, and had 2,851 stockholders as of December 31, 2010.


Most important is the fact that the Manila Bulletin has remained faithful to its mission of providing honest, factual, and impartial news service to the citizenry. Its priority is information and its hallmark is objectivity. Ethical accuracy, and not sensational journalism, is its editorial policy, which is appreciated by an enlightened people as shown by the increasing readership of its publications.


On the occasion of its 111th Anniversary on Wednesday, the Manila Bulletin rededicates itself to its mission of service to the Filipino public and pledges its commitment to be a vehicle of fidelity and impartiality in meeting the information needs of the people and democratic institutions.


The Manila Bulletin Chairman Dr. Emilio T. Yap, Directors, Officers, and Editors, once again extend their sincere appreciation and heartfelt gratitude to our Readers, Advertisers, Dealers, Friends, and Supporters for their continued support and patronage.

Migrant workers' group seeks Binay aid on OFW concerns

MANILA, Philippines – A migrant workers' welfare group has called on Vice President Jejomar C. Binay, who is concurrently Presidential Adviser on Overseas Filipino Workers Concerns to “dig deeper into the issues and concerns of OFWs.”

In a statement, Migrante International Chairperson Garry Martinez said his group conducted a dialogue with Binay recently and discussed with him various issues affecting OFWs, among them the 50 percent decrease in OFW funds in the 2011 national budget, erring and negligent officials, as well as other rights and welfare cases that need immediate action and attention from the government.

“We appreciate VP Binay’s initial efforts to consult with OFWs and we urge him to not only to address tactical concerns but also the chronic problems that perennially confront our OFWs and their families,” Martinez said.

Martinez said they presented to Binay a “five-point migrant agenda” which they have earlier also presented to President Benigno S. Aquino III at the start of his term.

“However, we have not heard President Aquino’s position nor seen any actions with regard to the issues we raised. Instead, after his inaugural speech and first SONA (State of the Nation Address) stating that OFWs are one of his administration’s topmost priorities, what we now have in store is the OFW budget cuts and numerous cases of government neglect,” he related.

Martinez said that presented the same five-point migrant agenda to Binay.

“We await his official position as Presidential Adviser on OFW concerns on the issues we raised.”

The five-point migrant agenda the group wants the government to address are as follows:

•Stop forced migration by generating jobs at home;
•Investigate, prosecute and punish corrupt and negligent government officials;
•Protect OFWs from unfair labor practices, discrimination, stringent immigration policies and other occupational hazards;
•Provide assistance for OFWs in distress;
•Scrap anti-migrant laws and push for genuine migrant representation in policy-making institutions in government."

Martinez said they are ready and open to coordinate and cooperate with Binay on OFW concerns.

“In turn, we are expecting his office to be more transparent and accessible to the sector and more open to criticisms and proposals from OFWs and families,” he said.

Carnappers strike anew in Makati

MANILA, Philippines – Suspected members of a carnapping syndicate struck again in the metropolis Tuesday, driving away with a Montero car in Makati City.

Police Inspector Jenny Tecson, chief of the Public Information Office (PIO) of the Southern Police District (SPD) said the incident happened at about 6:30 a.m. in front of a house at Hilario corner Kalatagan St. in Barangay Palanan, Makati City.

Tecson said that investigation showed that three to four male suspects wearing bonnets and armed with guns of unknown caliber took the red Mitsubishi Montero car, with license plate (PJI-328) from its driver, identified as Jonathan Decena, 41, of Tramo St., Pasay City.

Tecson said the armed men then sped off towards an unknown direction on board the vehicle which was owned by Gerard Pacis, 36.

Tecson said hot pursuit operations are now being conducted by members of the Makati City Police Anti-Carnapping unit in efforts to recover the vehicle and to arrest the thieves.

She added that other police units in Metro Manila were also told to be on the lookout for the stolen vehicle.

Tickets for Pacquiao’s fight selling briskly

MANILA, Philippines — The moment tickets for the May 7 welterweight fight between Manny Pacquiao and Shane Mosley went on sale in the US on Monday, fight fans immediately gobbled up the tickets that in less than three hours from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. (West Coast time), all but 1,000 seats of the 16,000 had been sold.

Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum, usually accustomed to even the most outrageous hyperbole, was ecstatic when told about the ticket sales.

“Incredible. Simply incredible,” said Arum, who is bringing Pacquiao back to Sin City after an absence of one year.

The MGM Grand, the frontrunner in hosting big-time boxing in Las Vegas, is expected to be filled to capacity by fight night.

Tickets are priced at $1,000, $750, $500, $300 and $150 but only the premium $1,000, $750 and $300 are available to the paying public after the initial sales onslaught that Arum said he hadn’t seen in his 45 years of promoting boxing.

While Arum was totally blown away by it, Pacquiao’s Canadian adviser Mike Koncz was not as pumped, stressing he had expected that to happen.

“Vegas missed Manny a lot since the last time he fought there was in November 2009 (against Miguel Cotto),” Koncz said.

Koncz said ticket brokers might have something to do with the huge opening day sales but it goes without saying that Pacquiao fever remains at its peak.

The strong showing in the gates is a sign that the fight is going to have an impact on pay-per-view sales.

Arum is upbeat that Pacquiao-Mosley would register monster numbers in PPV under the CBS-Showtime banner.

GDP up by 7.3% in 2010

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine economy, as measured by the gross domestic product (GDP), expanded by 7.3 percent in 2010, the highest in 24 years. The growth was achieved on the back of a strong foreign trade performance and election spending.

The last time the domestic economy grew at this pace was in 1986 following the restoration of democracy in the country after a bloodless People Power revolution that catapulted President Benigno S. Aquino III’s mother, Corazon C. Aquino to power.

The strong economic growth came during a period of peaceful political transition for the Philippines as Aquino easily won the presidential elections in May last year to succeed former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo as the nation's leader.

Year-on-year comparison showed that GDP for 2010 grew by leaps and bounds as against the dismal 0.9 percent GDP performance in 2009, the country’s lowest in 11 years as the Philippines struggled amid the global financial crisis.

“From a low base in 2009, significant economic developments both from the supply and demand sides characterized output expansion in 2010. For instance, economic activities were geared toward higher value-added activities as industry outpaced the services and agriculture sectors,” Socio-economic Planning Secretary and National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Director General Cayetano Paderanga said.

Market players, on the other hand, traced the good economic performance to the trust and confidence in the new leadership. “This is an extension of the optimism that has followed the new government,” Radhika Rao, an economist at Forecast Pte in Singapore, said.

Aside from the optimism, Rao said the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) managed to maintain benign inflation that has contributed to better spending trends and positive consumption.

BSP Governor Amando M. Tetangco Jr., so far, kept inflation below 5 percent in the past 21 months while holding the benchmark rate at a record low since July 2009.

“We had already incorporated a higher Q4 2010 growth rate than the official government target in our forecast exercise. So for purposes of our forecast path, the higher than market expectation GDP growth would not necessarily throw this off. Inflation remains manageable," Tetangco said.

"There is sufficient liquidity in the system to fund further growth. As long as the unwinding of funds kept with the BSP is orderly and such funds are channeled to productive uses, this should not necessarily be inflationary," Tetangco added.

Paderanga said the robust economic performance for 2010, which is well within the forecast of 7 to 7.4 percent, implies that the domestic economy could be on its way to a higher growth trajectory.

“We are happy to note that the 2010 economic performance bolsters confidence that the economy is on a path of strong recovery,” said Paderanga.

Malacañang is confident that the country’s quick economic growth will be sustained in the coming years due to the government’s ongoing social programs, overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) remittances, and foreign direct investments.

“First, the conditional cash transfers (CCT) and our social services, we’re banking on that to help keep our consumption buoyant; second, we continue to expect remittances from abroad; and third, we continue to expect to have more direct investments from investors outside of the country,” Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said in a press briefing.

“All these three things taken together, we expect to help keep a healthy economy,” she added.

Paderanga noted that from a strong start of 7.8 percent in the first quarter, GDP growth sustained its momentum during the next three quarters of 2010 – 8.2 percent in the second quarter, 6.3 percent in the third quarter and 7.1 percent in the fourth quarter.

A broader measure, the country’s gross national product (GNP) in 2010 grew by 7.2 percent on account of the 6 percent growth in net factor income from abroad otherwise known as dollar remittances from overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). Compensation income from abroad grew relatively slower as the peso strengthened in 2010.

It was noted that OFW remittances overseas have not taken a hit after the global financial crisis and these things contribute to strong domestic demand.

The National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) cited the global economic recovery as a major contributor in the strong performance by helping to boost exports and revive key industries.

“The global economic recovery which resulted in record growth rates of foreign trade... contributed to an economic performance in 2010 that well surpassed the government's target of 5.0 percent to 6.0 percent,” NSCB, in a statement, said.

Renewed global demand for Philippine exports allowed industrial growth to accelerate to 8.3 percent in the final quarter of 2010, up from 3.8 percent during the same period the previous year, NSCB said.

Better weather towards the end of the year helped the struggling farming sector, pulling up the agriculture sector to a growth of 5.4 percent in the final three months of the year after storms and drought led to negative growth in the previous four consecutive quarters, NSCB said.

Only two typhoons hit the country compared to seven in the last quarter of 2009. The full-year agriculture, fishery and forestry (AFF) production remained subdued due to the lingering effects of the El Nino weather phenomenon in the first half of 2010 and contributed a negative 0.1 percentage point to GDP.

Other growth drivers include the services sector, which contributed 3.5 percentage points to GDP growth, boosted by the strong performance of trade and private services. This was complemented by flourishing domestic investment, strong growth of business process outsourcing, hotels and restaurants, wholesale and retail trade, and import and export trade.

Palace: Noy keeps lifestyle simple

MANILA, Philippines – President Benigno S. Aquino III has kept his simple lifestyle despite having some luxury vehicles in his garage, a Palace official said Monday.

Secretary Herminio Coloma of the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) insisted that nothing has changed about the modest leader since he assumed the presidency last year.

Coloma issued the statement after the President admitted having an armored Lexus LX 570 sports utility vehicle apart from his recently purchased 2007 Porsche. The white security vehicle was supposedly leased by his brother-in-law for the President.

“There has been no change in the lifestyle of our President,” Coloma said in a radio interview, adding the Chief Executive remains a simple person. Apart from having Lexus 570 and Porsche, the petrol-head President owns a Toyota Land Cruiser and a Ford Everest.

Coloma insisted that the Lexus sports vehicle, which the President was seen riding in recent days, was not purchased by the Chief Executive.

“One of the President's brothers-in-law helped him lease the vehicle, which is used for official functions. There is no truth that the Lexus is one of his toys,” he said.

When asked if the Office of the President was paying for the lease of new security vehicle, Coloma said in Filipino: “It could be that way.”

But when sought for clarification, Coloma claimed there was nothing illegal if the OP pays for the lease of vehicles used for official purposes.

“The context of my statement is that it is okay for (the) Office of President to pay for the lease of vehicles that are being used for official functions,” he said in a text message.

He said the Lexus has ample security features to ensure the safety of the President when on the road. The old presidential limousine, a Mercedez Benz, was no longer reliable since it was damaged during the onslaught of typhoon Ondoy in 2009.

Birth dates used by many lotto winners

MANILA, Philippines – As far as the month of January 2011 is concerned, many winners of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) on-line lotto games said they used their dates of birth in coming up with the winning combination which turned them into instant millionaires.

From Jan. 2 to 30, the PCSO headed by Chairperson Margarita P. Juico has produced 17 jackpot winners starting with Super Lotto 6/49's draw on Jan. 4 with a lone winner grabbing the P61.31 million.

Of the 17 winners, 11 joined the millionaires' club, with the least prize going into three lucky bettors who shared the P4.79 million bonanza in the Mega Lotto 6/45 draw on Jan. 14.

Figures provided to the Manila Bulletin by lawyer Jose Malang and Manuel "Manny" Garcia, managers of the PCSO's Internal Audit Department (PCSO-IAD) and Publicity and Public Relations Department (PCSO-PPRD), respectively, showed that nine of the winners used number combination from their birth dates.

Winners of the draws on Jan. 4 and 25 have not claimed their prizes yet.

The winners who used their birth dates included a retired government employee (Jan. 5), a Small Town Lottery (STL) collector in Laguna on Jan. 7, a building administrator (Jan. 7), a housewife (Jan. 7), a student (Jan. 14), another housewife (Jan. 14), a former security guard (Jan. 14), and two who (Jan. 7 and Jan. 21) did not mention their kind of work.

Based from the profiles of the January lucky lotto patrons, majority of them were from the ranks of the poor.

Baguio mulls construction of first-ever EDSA-like underpasses

BAGUIO CITY — The country’s summer capital will be having its first multi-million underpass similar to that on the famous Epifanio delos Santos Avenue (EDSA) to help ease the worsening traffic congestion along the junction of Bokawkan and Naguilian Roads at the heart of the city’s central business district.

The proposal to build an underpass that at the junction of the aforesaid roads came after experts from the central office of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) assessed the earlier plan to put up a third flyover in the said area which will help ease the daily nightmare of motorists who are always being caught in heavy traffic.

Rep. Bernardo M. Vergara explained the agency’s technical people are quite apprehensive to put up a flyover at the junction of Naguilian and Bokawkan roads because it will greatly affect the scenic beauty of the area as well as it will entail serious road-right-of-way problems that could early the realization of the noble infrastructure project.

Vergara said the planned underpasses, which will have a length of between 500 and 1,000 meters, will be constructed on the said roadlines and subjected to the required consultations with the affected sectors.

These consultations are aimed at giving stakeholders the opportunity to raise issues and concerns against the project so that they may be satisfactorily addressed by the concerned agency prior to its implementation.

The congressman likened the expected opposition to the underpass to that which delayed the construction of the flyover at the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center (BGHMC).

Can coffee prevent diabetes?

Q: I recently read a newspaper article that says coffee can prevent diabetes? Is there scientific evidence that shows this is true? I’m very interested on this matter because we have a strong family history of diabetes and it would be nice if all I need to do to prevent getting the disease is drink coffee.

Willie O., Davao City

A: The results of several studies conducted in the last 10 years on the relationship between coffee drinking and diabetes mellitus indeed suggest that coffee may have some preventive effect on diabetes mellitus.

The first of these studies—which triggered many subsequent ones—employed more than 17,000 Dutch men and women between 30 to 60 years old as subjects and was conducted by a group of Dutch scientists from Vrije University in Amsterdam. The results of the study were discussed in the article entitled “Coffee Consumption and the Risk of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus,” which was published in the November 2002 issue of Lancet (a reputable British medical journal). In brief, the study showed that “coffee consumption was associated with substantially lower risk of clinical type 2 diabetes.” What’s more, the more coffee one drinks the better, because those subjects who drank seven or more cups of coffee a day were 50 percent less likely to develop diabetes than those who drank less.

Several succeeding studies conducted in Europe, Japan and the United States have essentially confirmed the Dutch group’s findings that habitual coffee consumption is associated with a substantially lower risk of type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, the type of diabetes that accounts for about 90% of all diabetes cases. One American study has also apparently uncovered the reason for this association. They found out that coffee raises the amount of sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) in the blood, and higher levels of SHBG are known to lower the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.

However, before you start drinking coffee by the gallons, let me tell you that the existing evidence on the preventive benefit of coffee on diabetes is still very inconclusive. Besides, it seems that a person has to be a habitual heavy coffee drinker (i.e., seven cups or more a day) to benefit from the preventive effect of the beverage coffee on diabetes. And drinking seven cups of coffee per day may just be enough to create other health problems.

Regular heavy consumption of coffee can raise blood cholesterol levels and increase the risk of osteoporosis or brittle bone disease. It also raises one’s stress level. It, likewise, stains teeth and contributes to bad breath. It can also lead to gastrointestinal problems like heartburn and hyperacidity.

Coffee also increases the heart rate and blood pressure although these effects are more likely transient in nature and cause no permanent damage to the cardiovascular system.

Incidentally, heavy coffee drinking may prevent type 2 diabetes, but for those who already have diabetes, the habit may aggravate the condition. Several studies have shown that in habitual coffee drinkers with type 2 diabetes mellitus, caffeine has adverse effects on glucose metabolism, producing higher average day-time glucose concentrations.

Coffee is one of the most popular forms of beverage worldwide. About 10 billion pounds of the substance are consumed yearly throughout the world. It will certainly be nice if in the future, albeit very unlikely, it is proven that it can prevent diabetes even at low doses. In any case, enjoy the drink, but don’t abuse it.

Families grieve

MANILA, Philippines – As the investigation over the tragic incident at a construction site in Makati City continues, the victims’ families are mourning the death of their loved ones, saying that despite the long working hours and low pay, they worked hard for a living.

Grief-stricken families, while waiting at Funeraria Filipinas in Makati City Friday, could not help but cry and share stories about their loved ones - the 10 construction workers who met their untimely death when the service gondola they were using in the construction site collapsed.

Vicente Pinon, father of victim Edward Pinon, 22, single, was devastated upon learning of the death of his son on television.

"I was shocked when I watched the TV news yesterday and learned that my son was included in the tragedy," said Pinon, a brother of Edward Pinon, head of Pinon Contractors, the sub-contractor that employed the workers.

Pinon said his son wanted to help in providing for the family, allowing him to work when he turned 18.

"He was working for four years as construction worker, and helped in the family," he added.

Edward supported, despite demanding workload, the education of his two siblings, with his P260 daily wage.

Edward's mother nearly collapsed after hearing that her son had been killed.

Meanwhile, the family of another victim Joel Avecilla chose not to disclose the bad news to his mother.

Jojo Avecilla, brother of Joel, said the news of their brother's death was not told to their ailing mother, who is scheduled to undergo an operation at a hospital in Quezon City. "We don't want her to have problems. We fear that her condition may worsen if she learns about the demise of our brother," said Jojo, adding that they will let their mother know after the operation.

"Joel was beside our mother the other day and went home at 3 am to change clothes and went to work," he added. He said their family is not interested in filing charges against the company or even the contractors, adding that "we believe that it was an accident. No one wants it to happen."

"We just want that Jojo will be laid to rest peacefully," he said.

Jojo left his family, including a pregnant wife and one-year-old baby in Mindoro.

Joel said the officials from Arlou Contractors and Pinon Contractors vowed to pay for the interment and burial expenses. "They also vowed to give financial assistance for each and every affected families. But it still has to undergo a series of discussions. It is a big help for the surviving families," said Joel.

Malou Santos, sister of fatality Celso Mabuting, said it was painful to learn of their brother's death. "He is the sole provider of his family," said Santos, adding that Mabuting sent money in Quezon province monthly.

"We want that his remains be transferred to Quezon province but until now we have not talked to officials yet," said Santos.