HOW CORRUPT ARE WE?

“Why are we so poor in fighting sleaze? One big reason: Filipinos’ tolerance of corruption is rated a stratospheric 9.21… In institutional corruption, the Philippines’ 8.5 grade was third-highest, with the military (9.25), the tax bureau (8.97), and the police (8.89) getting the worst marks.”

By: Rick Saludo

This week’s release of corruption survey results by the Hong Kong-based Political and Economic Risk Consultancy (PERC) brought back memories of this writer’s stint in Ma-lacañang. The annual poll prompted much downplaying by Palace officials, especially when the Philippines’ corruption score and ranking rose.

The survey asks foreign business people to “grade the extent that corruption detracts from the attractiveness of the overall business environment in the country” where he or she works. As deputy presidential spokesperson early last year, this writer questioned the PERC rating, which had worsened from 2009.

Social Weather Stations’ 2009 survey of enterprises, covering about the same period as the PERC 2010 report, showed significant declines in actual corruption on the ground, so why should the Hong Kong-tabulated rating get worse?

SWS reported that solici-tation of bribes fell markedly in tax assessment and payment, obtaining permits and licenses, processing importations, supplying goods and services to the public sector, collecting receivables from the government, and availing of business incentives. Clearly, this data from local firms showing declining graft seemed to contradict foreigners’ perceptions of worsening corruption reported by PERC.

Today, it is the turn of President Benigno Aquino 3rd’s spokespersons to respond to the 2011 PERC results. In it the country’s score got worse, hitting 8.9 in a scale of one to 10 (higher is worse), up from 8.23 last year and now the third-highest among the results for 16 countries surveyed.

The current regime is lucky that unlike other papers, the highest-circulation broadsheet kept off its front pages both the PERC survey and the SWS one in which PNoy’s net satisfaction rating fell, stories that the pro-Aquino daily always headlined during the past administration. Another break: the execution of three Filipinos in China dominated the domestic news.

For those who did see the PERC rating, many, including PNoy supporters, must be wondering why business people found corruption to be a much bigger problem under a leader who won the elections on a staunch anti-graft platform. Political corruption got a rating of 8.27, fourth highest in the poll. Local bureaucrats, local politicians, national civil servants, and national leaders were rated most to least corrupt in that order.

In institutional corruption, the Philippines’ 8.5 grade was third-highest, with the military (9.25), the tax bureau (8.97), and the police (8.89) getting the worst marks. For private sector corruption, the country was rated 8.5, sharing third-worst place with Cambodia. As for the prosecution and punishment of corrupt individuals, the country got a dismal 9.75 grade, just 0.25 above the worst level of 10. The government got a better but still deplorable 8.1 mark in penalizing graft.

Why are we so poor in fighting sleaze? One big reason: Filipinos’ tolerance of corruption is rated a stratospheric 9.21, despite the landslide victory the electorate gave to Noynoy Aquino, who ran on the slogan, “Kung walang corrupt, walang mahirap.”

We will leave the requisite explaining to this writer’s successors at the Palace or to PNoy himself. But one perspective deserves consideration: Corruption is a centuries-old bane that cannot be blamed or ascribed to any single regime; nor can it be solved if a leader does not make fighting corruption in his own government a top priority.

Rather, the war on graft demands sustained reforms and relentless vigilance year after year, administration after administration, with the whole nation joining hands to root out the scourge at all levels and sectors of society, not just government. And the No. 1 requisite is a no-compromise integrity campaign attacking sleaze in the incumbent administration, rather than being soft on one’s people while raging against the past.

Sadly, it is politically expedient for new leaders to make a big splash in running after previous administration, since such crusades make the crusaders look clean and upright. Corazon Aquino hounded the Marcos family and cronies, and Joseph Estrada had Fidel Ramos’s Centennial and Ama-ri projects investigated. Erap was prosecuted and jailed under Gloria Arroyo, and now PNoy has trained his gun-sights on her.

Yet each crusading regime had its own scandals, from Cory’s Kamag-anak Inc. to Estrada’s jueteng payola and Gloria Arroyo’s string of alleged anomalies. The lesson here is clear: Even as a new government seeks justice for past ills, it must institute deep reforms in its own house first of all, or else it may well reap its own harvest of sleaze.

Anti-drunk driving bill passes final reading in Congress

A bill against drunk driving has reached third and final reading in Congress. The Anti-Drunk Driving Bill (House Bill No. 4251) was co-authored by former President and now Pampanga 2nd District Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) will implement the law and is currently acquiring breath analyzers and desktop drug-testing kits. The bill states that the drivers can be charged with drunk driving when operating a motor vehicle if the driver's mental and motor skills are impaired or when the driver's blood alcohol concentration level measures 0.06 or higher.

A private motorist caught drunk-driving will pay sanctions of not more than P20,000 and one month suspension of his or her driver's license.

Public utility drivers who will be caught driving under the influence of alcohol and illegal substance will be facing heavier penalties such as automatic revocation of driver's license and imprisonment ranging from one month and a day to a year.

Party-list Representative Emmeline Aglipay who co-authored the bill said it will now be easier to identify and apprehend violators as drunk driving is defined clearly on the bill.

The Department of Health National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) revealed that there were 3,077 vehicular accident-related injuries out of the total 9,521 injury cases reported in 77 hospitals for the first quarter of 2010 alone.
The World Health Organization (WHO) showed that alcohol intake, depending on the level of intoxication, often increases the likelihood of accidents due to poor judgment and decreased reaction time, among other effects.

By Marjorie Gorospe

VERY WILLING VICTIMS

VERY WILLING VICTIMS

On Twitter and Facebook, people have posted a clip of a weeping boy named Jan-Jan egged on by Willy to dance. Willy Revillame, to this day remains unrepentant and feels there’s nothing wrong with his actions.“What was even more shocking was the Revillame didn’t see anything wrong with the whole thing and even egged the little boy to repeat his performance over and over again! They even closed the segment by putting the little boy on a makeshift riser to gyrate while they all doubled over in laughter.” Bong Austero further opines in his column:

While we are on the subject of character flaws and people who seem not to have qualms about exploiting other people’s tragedies for some personal gain, we might as well talk about how Willie Revillame and his staff indulged in the most blatant kind of exploitation recently. They showcased in their show a little boy with a most “unusual” talent: Gyrating like a macho dancer. Videos of the particular Willing Willie episode has been immortalized in YouTube so in case you haven’t seen the grotesque incident, you can easily access it.

The whole thing reminds one of that little girl who did a strip tease act in Little Miss Sunshine, the movie that was shortlisted in the Oscars for best picture a couple of years back. The difference is that this little boy was crying while performing and was obviously confused about the appropriateness of what he was doing. For some strange reason, quite a number of people—including those in the audience that night that lapped up the performance like it was an act from cirque de soleil—found the video of the little boy gyrating like his whole life depended on it cute and endearing.

What was even more shocking was the Revillame didn’t see anything wrong with the whole thing and even egged the little boy to repeat his performance over and over again! They even closed the segment by putting the little boy on a makeshift riser to gyrate while they all doubled over in laughter.

So this is what we have become as a people, we have been desensitized enough that many among us don’t see anything wrong with a little boy performing a very adult act on public television.

Celebs tweet on Filipinos executed in China

Several local celebrities offered their condolences for Filipinos Sally Ordinario-Villanueva, Ramon Credo and Elizabeth Batain, who were executed via lethal injection in China on March 30 for drug trafficking.

Actress Angel Locsin, singer Zsa Zsa Padilla and showbiz talk show host Bianca Gonzales shared their thoughts and called for prayers via Twitter on Wednesday.

“my heart is breaking listening to their families' stories. may God bless sally, elizabeth, and ramon."

“whether you believe they are guilty or not, whether you condemn death penalty or not, they still deserve prayers. our faith is like that,” read some of Gonzales’ posts.

Part of Padilla message was, "May God bless your souls..."

Locsin tweeted, "Let's pray for the souls of the 3 Pinoys executed in China."

Locsin’s fellow actress, Agot Isidro, deemed March 30 a “Sad day for all Filipinos :-(“

“Showtime” hosts Kim Atienza, Teddy Corpuz and Vice Ganda also took a moment to commiserate over what happened.

“Ang hirap magsaya nang may kababayang may hinaharap na kapahamakan,” said Ganda.
“nakikisama ang showtime sa mga kababayan natin at sa ating pinagdadaanan bilang bansa. tuloy ang show na may dasal sa aming mga puso,” Kapamilya resident weatherman Atienza posted.

Corpuz, meanwhile, believes that, “Here on Earth people and even the Law may condemn us but we know that in Christ Jesus there is no condemnation!”
Comedienne Kakai Bautista hopes that the execution of the three Filipinos will serve as an important lesson for everyone.
"Maging aral na para sa ating Lahat ang sumunod sa BATAS sa ibang Bansa. MINSAN, ganahan din naman talaga sana tayong SUMUNOD," she tweeted.
Musician Jim Paredes acknowledged that “we cannot change China.” He, however, said, “we can change ourselves. There are consequences to actions. It's as simple as that.”

“Grieve, cry tears, process experience, wake up, learn, resolve to move on to a higher knowledge and consciousness and change,” he also tweeted.

According to Philippine officials, Ordinario-Villanueva, Batain and Credo are the first Filipinos executed in China for drug trafficking.

By ROWENA JOY A. SANCHEZ

Anti-spanking bill passes first reading

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) lauded the passing of a bill that penalizes spanking or hitting children as a form of discipline.

The Positive Discipline Act of 2011 passed the first reading at the House committee on the welfare of children. The bill is co-authored by Tarlac Representative Susan Yap and Bagong Henerasyon Rep. Bernadette Herrera-Dy.

The said bill promotes positive and non-violent forms of disciplining children.

High profile cases of child violence and beatings prompted Congress to act with a proposed legislation to assist parents in fulfilling their parental authority while upholding children's rights.

Once approved into law, the bill mandates a comprehensive program to protect children from all forms of physical or mental (psychological) violence, injury and neglect.

"At most the punishment would be an aresto major, which includes one to 60 days of imprisonment but for cases like this, usually the DSWD (Department of Social Work and Welfare) intervenes to reorient the parents on how to handle their children," said Herrera-Dy.

A study by Plan International, the United Nations Children's Education Fund (UNICEF) and Australian Aid (Ausaid) showed high incidence of school children being subjected to physical punishment to discourage misbehavior.

As defined under the bill, positive and non-violent discipline refers to "an approach to correct the behavior of a child and to teach a lesson that would build self-discipline and emotional control while nurturing a good relationship with the child by understanding his or her needs and capabilities at various ages".

The Department of Education has affirmed its support to the bill and has likewise initiated some actions together with UNICEF that would address violence against children not just in school but at home.

"Evidence stress that violence against children is harmful as it impedes their development and has negative impact on their childhood," noted Child Rights Network (CRN) co-convenor Selena Fortich. "This is an opportunity for the Philippines to be in the forefront of the advocacy to institutionalize and promote positive and non-violent ways of discipline for children."

* * *

By Anna Valmero, loQal.ph -- loQal.ph is a website owned and operated by Filquest Media Concepts, Inc. It works under the principle of giving voice to the voiceless, empowering Filipinos and uplifting the image of the Philippines by highlighting its unique culture. To do this, the loQal.ph team produces stories, video, photos and other multimedia content types to inspire and celebrate Filipino achievements, ideas, products and places.

Sex can be heart attack trigger for couch potatoes

Sex and exercise can trigger heart attacks in older people who don't get much of either, a new analysis finds. The risk is low, but it's a good reminder that slackers should change their exercise habits gradually, especially in middle age.

People who exercise regularly have a much smaller risk of having a heart attack immediately after sexual or physical activity, said lead author Dr. Issa Dahabreh of Tufts Medical Center in Boston.

"It would be really bad if someone thought our paper means people should not exercise," Dahabreh said. "If anything, it's the opposite."

The analysis, appearing in Wednesday's Journal of the American Medical Association, combined results from 14 studies involving more than 6,000 patients.

The studies involved only people who'd had heart attacks or had died suddenly from a heart problem. The studies looked at what the people were doing during the hour or two before their heart attacks and compared that to the same people's activity on normal days with no major heart problems.

That study design is used to try to answer the question, "Why did the heart attack occur now?"

Physical activity and sex increased the risk of heart attack by a factor of about three, according to the analysis of the pooled results. Exercise increased the risk of sudden cardiac death by nearly five times. The researchers didn't find a triggering relationship between sex and sudden cardiac death, that is, a sudden death from a heart problem.

The risk for any one person is extremely low.

"If you were to follow 10,000 people for a year and if they all decided to increase their physical activity by an hour a week, you could expect to see two to three more heart attacks," Dahabreh said.

That risk is offset for most people by the benefits of exercise. The more frequently people exercise, in general, the less risk they have of exercise or sex triggering a heart attack.

Most of the patients in the studies were in their late 50s and early 60s, but the findings are a cautionary tale for people in any age group who are slowing down.

Exercise might even be considered cross-training for sex, said Mercedes Carnethon, a heart disease researcher at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine, who wasn't involved in the research.

"Engaging in regular physical activity is a requirement for maintaining a long, safe, healthy sex life," Carnethon said.

"If this isn't more motivation for people to maintain some degree of physical activity, I'm not sure what is," Carnethon said. "Get out and walk. Do something."

Philippines is the 3rd most-disaster prone country

The Philippines placed third among countries in the world most frequently pummeled by natural calamities last year, a report from a non-government disaster monitoring agency said Tuesday.

Citing records of the US-based Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters, the Citizens' Citizens' Disaster Response Center said the Philippines was hit 14 times by natural disasters last year, behind India and China.

However, this number was down by as much as 46 percent compared to the 2009 data -- from 26 (year 2009) to 14 (year 2010). The Philippines used to top the list in 2009, when the country was visited by disastrous storms Ondoy and Pepeng.

By Virgil Lopez

Marriage annulment cases rising – CBCP

Marriage annulment cases in the Philippines rising, a report received by the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) from the Office of the Solicitor General has revealed.

Based on the document received by CBCPNews, annulment of marriages in the Philippines rose by more than 40 percent over the past 10 years -- from 4,520 cases in 2001 to 8,282 in 2010. On the average, at least 22 cases are being filed every day according to the document signed by Solicitor General Jose Anselmo I. Cadiz, the Assistant Solicitor General Karl B. Miranda and one Attorney Christer James Ray A. Gudiano.

One of the common grounds for legal separation or declaration of nullity is psychological incapacity, which can be found in Article 36 of the Family Code and can be cited as a ground for legal separation or nullity of marriage. Other grounds include lack of authority of the solemnizing officer, bigamous or polygamous marriages and marriages where one or both parties were below the marrying age allowed by law.

It was learned that among those who filed for annulment, 61 percent were women with only 39 percent men.

"The study noted the longer the parties are married, the lesser chances of them seeking annulment of their marriage," the OSG document said.

Meanwhile, the head of the CBCP National Appellate Matrimonial Tribunal (NAMT) explained that annulment and nullity are not the same. He said nullity is about ab initio void marriages while annulment is regarding ab initio valid but invalidated marriages.

The 76-year-old prelate noted that OSG is said to intervene before the respective trial and appellate courts to "ensure that the interest of the State in the sanctity of marriage is protected" but the intervention is, however, not mandatory because the OSG is simply "authorized to intervene" and is even allowed to signify not only its "opposition" but also its "agreement" to a nullity/annulment decision.

He sadly noted the OSG is not even mandated to appeal the decision.

"That the fact remains that as a matter of fact, nullity/annulment decisions are not contested by the Office of the Solicitor General while collusion therein by the parties in causa is practically the norm," Cruz said.

He said marriage cases did not prosper when contested before the Supreme Court specifically under the nullity ground of "psychological incapacity" because the said Court observed Church jurisprudence in its decisions in marriage cases. The senior prelate called on well-meaning individuals to "check how much money goes into the hands of public officials concerned in the nullity/annulment of marriages, for affirmative reasons."

Meanwhile, President Aquino will continue to support modern family planning amid calls by the anti-Responsible Health (RH) Bill against its passage.

"The position of the President has not changed as far as I'm aware and I don't expect it to change," Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office (PCDSPO) Secretary Ramon Carandang said Saturday in an interview with reporters following the graduation rites at the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) in Silang, Cavite.

"The President's position has never changed on Reproductive Health. Again, I'm not talking specifically about the RH Bill but the President's position on modern family planning has not changed. The reason why we've been in dialogue with all the stakeholders is to try to explain these to them and the position remains the same," he said.

Carandang said that though there were thousands who have attended the anti- RH Bill rally Friday, he said a big number prefer to have access to modern family planning.

"I don't know the exact figure-but something close to 70 percent of people surveyed consistently say they want access to modern family planning," he said.

He, however, said they respect the right of those who attended the rally to voice out their opinion against the RH Bill.

Madel R. Sabater

Pacquiao to begin sparring today

On road to Baguio City after spending the weekend in Manila, trainer Freddie Roach said he’s looking forward to the first day of Manny Pacquiao’s sparring with Shawn Porter and David Rodela on Tuesday afternoon.

“He better be ready,” said Roach, the man at the helm of preparing Pacquiao for the May 7 clash with Shane Mosley.

Roach and Pacquiao were scheduled to train Saturday afternoon at the Elorde Sports Center in Sucat, Parañaque, but the pound-for-pound king didn’t make it to workout.

Congressman Pacquiao with Magic 89.9's DJ Angelicopter and John Cruz

“He overslept,” said Roach, citing that they both didn’t make it to bed early the night before because they had to be present during the annual Elorde Boxing Awards at the Sofitel Hotel.

Pacquiao and Roach were still at the event around midnight of Friday since they were requested by the Elorde family to stay for a while and watch some fights.

Pacquiao and Roach are staying in Baguio until Friday as they are scheduled to leave for the US this Saturday for the most crucial phase of the training.

Another batch of sparmates await Pacquiao at the Wild Card in Hollywood, according to Roach, who is also tapping prospect Omar Henry.

By Nick Giongco

Senator seeks to investigate prevalence of child porn

Reports of child pornography in Cebu has prompted a senator to call on her colleagues to investigate the matter.

Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago has filed a resolution asking the Senate to look into the prevalence of online child pornography in the Philippines, citing a certain media report that said Cordova town in Cebu has "the highest incidence of sex trafficking of minors."

She added child pornography is "always done with the cooperation of local residents who get the victims."

Under the Anti-Child Pornography Act, it is illegal to make and distribute videos and photographs of naked children.

The senator noted that the town has already issued an ordinance requiring Internet cafes to install firewalls to prevent access to online pornography. The town also makes customers at these Internet cafes register before going online.

Cordova town has also announced a curfew to keep minors off the streets at night and has required recruiters to register with barangays before offering jobs to residents.

"It is imperative for the State and the local government to be proactive in the enforcement of these laws and ordinances in order to curb and ultimately eliminate online child pornography," Santiago's resolution read.

The Cebu Provincial Women’s Commission (CPWC) held a forum in Cordova earlier this month over reports of cyber-sex in the town.

At that forum, Provincial Board Member Agnes Magpale, head of the CPWC, appealed to local governments to enforce laws against cyber-sex and child pornograpy.

She also called on the Cordova community to be more vigilant against human traffickers and cyber-sex recruiters.

“Every neighbor should be aware of what’s happening around them,” Magpale said.

By Jonathan de Santos

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Palace welcomes Azkals’ victory

While no grand welcome for the Philippine Azkals has been organized by the government yet, the Palace invited the football team following their victory against Bangladesh in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Challenge Cup qualifying match Friday.

“Tayo po ang buong bansang Pilipino ay nakikiisa sa panalong ito ng mga Azkals. Hindi po natin alam kung kelan sila parating at kung meron ng nahandang welcoming sa Guest House pero they are more welcome to visit the Guest House,” Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said Saturday over government-run dzRB radio.

The Azkals destroyed Bangladesh with a 3-0 win from Ian Araneta and Filipino-Spanish player Angel Guirado. Guirado replaced Phil Younghusband who suffered an injury in the team’s previous game against Myanmar.

The Azkals and Palestine are the top two teams in Group A of the challenge cup, earning them a spot in the eight-team finals.

By Kathrina Alvarez

Earth Hour is Tonight

Tonight is Earth Hour. And while turning the power off will buy this piece of earth more resources—you can also extend your earth-friendly choices to your habit of shopping.

Eco Chick -- A lot has been written about Eairth, a Filipino brand developed by New York designer, Melissa Dizon. The story goes of how the well-educated designer came home to surf and how she eventually found inspiration from things indigenous in our parts.

Eairth began weaving its way into the hearts of some fashionable people who were starting to look at alternative styles of clothing that were crafted with considerations for earthly sustainability. In 2007, Eairth’s first collection wowed most of the industry insiders. Eairth did so by conflating organic materials harvested by indigenous tribes, pigments from natural ingredients like coconut husk, talisay leaves and indigo, hand-woven fabrics done in old style looms, organic fibers such as pina, abaca, silk, cotton and wool reworked in a gamut of beautifully imperfect pieces.

While organic materials is what mostly sustains Eairth’s eco-chic character, the brand’s minimalist look and trend-dodging quality is what completes their self-defined goal of being a piece of “sustainable luxury.”

Bench Goes Green -- Doing their bit for the Earth Hour plan—Bench stores all over the Philippines are offering a 10% discount to all customers who will be bringing in their own shopping bag when they make purchases of any of the following: Bench Green Tee, Bench Organics Whitening Soap or Lotion, Envi Line Bamboo Cotton products and environmental bags. The “Bench Green Incentive Sale” is applicable exclusively to cash purchases and extends up to April 3, 2011.

US ships disrupt pirate attack on Philippine vessel

Two Virginia-based ships are being credited with thwarting a pirate attack on a Philippines-flagged merchant vessel in the Arabian Sea.

The Pentagon said the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise and the guided missile cruiser USS Leyte Gulf responded Thursday to the Falcon Trader II after the ship reported pirates in a skiff were attempting to board the vessel.

The ships dispatched two helicopters to the Philippines vessel, and they fired warning shots. Men were seen jumping from the ship and speeding away in their skiff.

The Pentagon said the pirates also returned fire when they reached their mother ship.

The 20 Filipino crew members emerged from the adventure without injury.

(AP)

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UP, Ateneo professors support reproductive health bill

Academicians called on lawmakers not to be swayed by groups using "outdated studies and disproven data" to support their arguments against the much debated reproductive health bill.

"One example that is particularly dangerous is the lie that condoms do not protect against sexually transmitted infections including HIV/Aids. There have also been those who misrepresent extremist positions as the prevailing consensus of the scientific community," the professors from the University of the Philippines and Ateneo de Manila University said in a statement.

They also hit teachers who offer incentives, such as bonus points, for students to make anti-RH statements or engage in anti-RH activities.

"We believe that it is an abuse of our role as value formators to dictate the political actions of our students in this way. We denounce this, regardless of whether the teacher is for or against the RH bill," the professors said.

Last month, a certain teacher from Catholic Church-run University of Santo Tomas reportedly admitted of encouraging students to post hate messages against the bill, some of which were documented by Akbayan Youth.

Debates on the House Bill 4244 or the RH bill were deferred to May to give way for pressing matters, such as the plenary vote on the articles of impeachment against Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez and the postponement of elections at the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

By Virgil Lopez

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Manny Pacquiao bows out of Twitterverse

Can't we just let Manny be?! Too many Pacman haters on Twitter it seems...

Sarangani representative and boxing giant Manny Pacquiao seems to have thrown in the towel on Twitter, deleting his account in the wake of criticism of his online behavior and absence from Congress.

Pacquiao shook up the Twitterverse on the morning of March 22, at the height of the House voting on the impeachment of Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez. One of Pacquio's last tweets was his "no" vote. He earlier tweeted that he will soon delete his Twitter account, but this tweet was deleted shortly after.

At around 4:20pm on March 22, Pacquiao deleted his Twitter account @congMP, less than 24 hours after he was called out for reacting harshly to online criticism.

On the evening of March 21, Pacquiao was in Baguio training for his May bout against Shane Moseley. Despite his absence from Congressional proceedings, he managed to air his opposition to the impeachment of Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez via his Twitter account.

"I vote NO! and I can give my explanation thanks," he said emphatically just a few minutes before midnight.

Tweets, taunts, tirades --- Earlier, Pacquiao tweeted that he was following the impeachment proceedings on television. "I'm watching impeachment trial very interesting topic good night everyone thanks," the absentee solon said in his unpunctuated statement.

"Why are you not at the plenary?" asked blogger Noemi Dado via Twitter, under the username @momblogger.

Pacquiao shot back: "@momblogger e di mag reklamo ka doon sa lolo mo hahahaha thanks" (Go tell it to your grandpa!)

Dado responded calmly: "bitaw kinsang lolo? I want to see you in Congress. keep missing you for interview" (Really, whose grandpa?)

But not all Twitter users were as composed.

"to h*ll with @congmp. Why the f**k did you run for congress when you know you’d barely be present?" said @RAndRat.

To which a piqued Pacquiao responded by reiterating his earlier comment: "e di mag reklamo ka sa lolo mong panot hahahaha" (Go tell it to your balding grandpa!)

Other Twitter users pulled no punches with Pacquiao, hitting him for his absence from the House proceedings on the articles of impeachment which ended in the wee hours of Tuesday morning.

"@momblogger foul ata yung reply ni manny. Ang linaw ng tanong eh," noted @armanzz.
"he shouldn't tweet that way. he is, after all, a billionaire congressman," said @emvisi.
"You may be trying to folksy and humorous, @CongMP, but the matter at hand is too serious to be flippant about," opined @jesterinexile. "because @CongMP is absent, saranggani province has no say in a national issue. that is irresponsible beyond belief," he added.

Tirades from netizens hitting him on his tweets finally pushed Pacquiao to throw in his towel: “Sorry everyone but hanggang dito nalang delete ko na account ko thank you very much to all your support." (sic)

Account closed --- Pacquiao made good on his word just a few hours later, in the afternoon of March 22. The deletion of @congMP ended Pacquiao's brief foray into social media.

The account was created just a month earlier, on February 23, in the wake of a spurious but verified Twitter account impersonating Pacquiao.

Half Sepia

Pacquiao vs. Mayweather court battle

“Mayweather Jr. and the others set out on a course designed to destroy Pacquiao’s career, reputation, honor and legacy and jeopardize his ability to earn the highest levels of compensation,” the lawsuit said.”

Pacquiao vs. Mayweather court battle

A Nevada federal judge on Monday threw out a motion to dismiss the defamation charges filed by boxing icon Manny Pacquiao against arch-rival Floyd Mayweather Jr. and others, paving the way for litigation of the high-profile lawsuit involving the top boxers in the world.

Pacquiao sued Mayweather his father, Floyd Sr., his uncle, Roger and Golden Boy Promotions top executives Oscar De La Hoya and Richard Schaefer of falsely accusing him of taking performance enhancing drugs (PEDs).

In rejecting the defendant’s motion to dismiss, US District Judge Larry Hicks said in a court order that there was basis in Pacquiao’s lawsuit and the case would now move forward.

“Moving defendants argue that Pacquiao has failed to sufficiently allege malice because moving defendants could not have known one way or the other whether Pacquiao had actually taken PEDs when they made the alleged defamatory statements,” Hicks’ order said.

“However, the court finds that Pacquiao has sufficiently pled malice in the amended complaint,” he added.

Pacquiao’s lawyer Daniel Petrocelli of the Los Angeles-based O’Melveny & Myers law office welcomed the court order and said that it gives the boxing star “his day in court.”

“We are extremely pleased with the Court’s decision. Manny is looking forward to his day in court and to put an end to these irresponsible accusations,” Petrocelli said.

Petrocelli said that the unfounded allegations against his clients have undermined the Filipino boxer’s reputation as well as cast a cloud of doubt on his achievements as the only fighter to win eight world titles in different weight classes.

A lawyer for Mayweather said that the lawsuit was without merit and that they would continue to fight for its dismissal.

Las Vegas lawyer Mark Tratos told the Associated Press that the defendants merely questioned Pacquiao’s reluctance to submit to random drug testing, but stop short of declaring Pacquiao a drug user.

Tratos said that Pacquiao would also have trouble proving the defendants acted with malice, which was required because the famous Filipino boxer was a public figure.

Pacquiao’s suit mentioned various interviews given by the defendants in which they suggested that Pacquiao’s strength and power were not natural.

Pacquiao claimed these comments by the defendants were part of a defamation campaign against him.

“Mayweather Jr. and the others set out on a course designed to destroy Pacquiao’s career, reputation, honor and legacy and jeopardize his ability to earn the highest levels of compensation,” the lawsuit said. BY JUN MEDINA

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The Marikina Valley Fault

“That earthquake will come from the so-called Valley Fault System or the Marikina Valley Fault. This fault runs diagonally east to west for more than 22 kms., from the eastern boundary of the Novaliches Watershed in Quezon City. It passes through Commonwealth Avenue where the Batasan is, down to the beginning of the Marikina River, on to Camp Aguinaldo, where the Armed Forces is based, and White Plains, straight into the middle of Pasig City and Mandaluyong City, right on Pateros and the eastern rim of Makati City, right towards Taguig City, some 2 kms west of the Laguna de Bay shoreline.”

The Marikina Valley Fault

By: Tony Lopez

From August 2002 to March 2004, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) conducted a study on the impact of an earthquake on the national capital region.

That earthquake will come from the so-called Valley Fault System or the Marikina Valley Fault.

This fault runs diagonally east to west for more than 22 kms., from the eastern boundary of the Novaliches Watershed in Quezon City. It passes through Commonwealth Avenue where the Batasan is, down to the beginning of the Marikina River, on to Camp Aguinaldo, where the Armed Forces is based, and White Plains, straight into the middle of Pasig City and Mandaluyong City, right on Pateros and the eastern rim of Makati City, right towards Taguig City, some 2 kms west of the Laguna de Bay shoreline.

Then the fault continues sporadically toward Tagaytay where it ends, happily. The fault spares New Manila and San Juan.

You can download Valley Fault System from the Phivolcs website, then Google the Metro Manila map with Google Earth. Superimpose the red fault line and you will get exactly where this earthquake source runs through, down to the last house and building and corner, using the fault map’s coordinates.

Marikina is unfairly used to label the fault when in fact, the anomaly should be named after Pasig and Mandaluyong because it cuts the two emerging cities exactly by half, into west and east. It should be called the Marikina-Pasig-Mandaluyong (MPM) fault, not just the Marikina Fault. A young UP geologist then, a certain Dr. Arcilla, named the fault the Marikina Fault and the name has stuck since nobody complained at that time. The fault is now named the Valley Fault System. Still the word “valley” is there and it clearly refers to the Marikina Valley.

Ask Phivolcs what cities, towns, infrastructure, buildings and landmarks are hit by the fault and they won’t tell you. I asked the late Phivolcs Director Dr. Ray Punungbayan to give me the list and he politely declined, for political reasons.

However, earthquakes know no politics, unlike a guided missile.

Anyway the 2004 JICA study was disturbing. An earthquake of 7 magnitude can be expected anytime because the Valley Fault System had moved four times in 1400 years. The fault has not moved since the 17th century. We are now in the 21st century. The fault is overdue to move and that means it could move anytime today or tomorrow or days after, at a magnitude of 7.

According to the JICA study, an earthquake of that magnitude will affect about 40 percent of residential buildings in Metro Manila (170,000 homes will collapse and 340,000 will be damaged) and kill 34,000 people. An additional 18,000 people will die from fires that will spread after the earthquake, for a total casualty of 52,000.

“This human loss, together with properties and economy losses of Metropolitan Manila, will be a national crisis,” the study says.

The study says “active phases of the Valley Faults is [sic: are] approaching. Many research studies indicate that the estimated magnitude will be around 7.0 or more.”

The study notes that the rapid urbanization of Metro Manila has resulted in unsatisfactory infrastructure construction, poor housing condition, highly dense areas and areas characterized by mixed land use and other inappropriate conditions.

“Thus, the potential for natural disaster in Metro Manila is high and the reduction of its vulnerability is a pressing issue for the safety of residents,” the study stresses.

According to the study, Metropolitan Manila will possibly be separated into four regions by the earthquake impact.

The western part of Metropolitan will be isolated from other part of Metro Manila by fire and building collapse.

The northern and southern parts of Metro Manila will be separated by the building collapse and the geographical condition. The intersecting area between Mandaluyong and Makati has a high possibility of building collapse; moreover, Pasig River is running through east-west, which is naturally disadvantageous in terms of separation.

All road networks running east-west that are on the fault will be broken due to the movement. Other roads running north-south in fault areas will be difficult to use, due to the high number of collapsed buildings.

The study proposes 105 measures to develop a national system resistant to earthquake impact, particularly in Metro Manila.

The study also calls for more research and technology development for earthquake impact reduction measures.

Architect Jun Palafox submitted an update of the study to President Aquino in July last year when he took over Malacañang. Last week, Noynoy’s spokesman dismissed Palafox as an “alarmist.”

Pacquiao is like Rubik's Cube for Shane Mosley

Up in snowy Big Bear, a resort town nestled in the San Bernardino mountain range in Southern California, a former world champion clearly on the twilight of an illustrious career has been training like a madman the past couple of weeks.

Since checking into his luxurious home close to 8,000 feet above sea level and some 100 miles away from the hustle and bustle of downtown Los Angeles, Shane Mosley has been eating and breathing Manny Pacquiao, the Filipino hotshot who he will share the ring with on May 7 in Las Vegas.

“Shane has been there in Big Bear the last two weeks and in high spirits,” said ace publicist Lee Samuels of Top Rank, the promotional outfit owned by Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum that is staging the Pacquiao-Mosley welterweight war at the MGM Grand.

“His camp is very confident about winning the fight,” added Samuels.

Samuels said the entire team of Mosley is very focused in camp and that chief trainer Naazim Richardson, who never runs out of peppery quotes, is in the process of coming up with the strategy aimed at negating all the strong points of Pacquiao.

Richardson said recently that Pacquiao is like a Rubik’s Cube and that they are all determined to solve the puzzle that is Pacquiao come fight night.

“I think we have the athlete that can do it,” expressed Richardson, referring to the 39-year-old Mosley.

Meanwhile, Arum is heading to Baguio City on Monday as soon as he steps out of the Philippine Airlines flight from Las Vegas.

“I am very excited to get there and do the media day,” said Arum who will make his third trip to Pacquiao’s high-altitude training camp after visits in 2009 and 2010.

Arum will stay in the City of Pines until Thursday morning and will head back to the US later in the evening.

By NICK GIONGCO

pealed and cracked face attempt 1

Wood Inlay Text

Research shows higher quality of life among families with OFWs

Filipino families with overseas Filipino worker (OFW) relatives are observed to have more leisure activities and own more gadgets compared to those without, according to a market research conducted by market research consulting firm Synergy Business Consultancy. OFW families are more inclined to eat out, socialize, travel, go to the mall, purchase gadgets, and do recreational activities, as well as allot budget for charitable acts.

"Because they have higher purchase capacity, more of those with OFW families engage in certain leisure activities compared with those without. For example, 43% of respondents with OFW relatives go malling while only 32% of respondents without OFW relative had this as one of their leisure activities. The only similar behavior observed is media consumption," said Synergy managing director Germaine Reyes. The research noted that both groups like to watch TV, listen to the radio, and read newspapers.

OFW families are fond of eating out whether in fast foods or fine dining restaurants, comprising 54% and 19% of respondents, respectively. The malling activities engaged in by OFW families are shopping or window shopping (43%) and watching movies (31%). Social activities are also in the list, which include social drinking (29%), videoke (26%), going to parties or social gatherings (17%), bar hopping (8%), and going dancing in discos or clubs (5%).

Travelling is more common to OFW families (16%), as only 7% of respondents without OFW relatives noted this as one of their leisure activities. Moreover, recreational activities such as going to the gym, playing musical instruments, playing board games, going to the salon or spa, playing video games, or engaging in sports are popular with OFW families. OFW families also allot budget for charitable acts such as participating in the parish and community civic activities, as well as other religious activities.

Gadget ownership with OFW families is prevalent compared with those without, particularly with owning computers or laptops. Thirty-five percent of OFW families have a computer or laptop while only 11% of families without OFW relatives own this gadget at home. "There is a higher incidence of gadget ownership among OFW families, including mobile phones, computers, and digital cameras, among others. It may be that since computers are communication tools, they are used more readily by the families of OFWs to stay in touch. Thus, ownership of computer peripherals seem to be higher as well," expounded Synergy managing director Germaine Reyes.

The survey involved 1,000 households in Metro Manila and the interviews were done from September to October 2010.

In Metro Manila, two in every five households have an OFW immediate household member or relative, which is represented by 929,000 households or 4.7 million household members. In terms of socio-economic profile, 54% or majority of OFW families interviewed belong to the D class. Meanwhile, only 9% of families with OFW relatives are in the ABC class, compared with 4% of families without an OFW immediate household member or relative. According to Reyes, this is a higher-than-usual representation of the ABC households of OFW families compared with those without, and may indicate that having OFW relatives can potentially improve their ability to go up the socio-economic ladder.

Ging-GO-na should go!

Ging-GO-na should go!

“In my almost three decades of covering the legislature, I could not remember a single instance of a committee still conducting hearings after coming out with a report… Since all findings and recommendations are already mentioned in the report, what is the use of conducting further hearings on an issue that is already resolved insofar as the committee is concerned? For publicity?”

By Efren L. Danao

Just when everybody thought Sen. Teofisto Guingona 3rd is through with the blue-ribbon inquiry into the alleged corruption in the military and the plea bargaining agreement, here he comes announcing that his panel will conduct another public hearing on the same issue.

Guingona’s 2010 campaign jingle was a carry-over of that of his father Tito—Let’s Go Na, Guingona. Perhaps, I could have joined him if only I know the direction he is heading.

As it is, I don’t know whether he is coming or going.

Take that public hearing I mentioned above. Normally, a committee stops all public hearings after it already has a report. Guingona has routed out a 65-page report on the committee’s findings and recommendations based on its six public hearings. The report has already been signed by regular and some ex-officio members. Since all findings and recommendations are already mentioned in the report, what is the use of conducting further hearings on an issue that is already resolved insofar as the committee is concerned?

For publicity?

In my almost three decades of covering the legislature, I could not remember a single instance of a committee still conducting hearings after coming out with a report.

Findings of legislative inquiries are not a case of “pass your papers, finished or not finished.” Senate Majority Leader Vicente “Tito Sen” Sotto agreed with me on this observation—he also could not remember such an instance. In this sense, Guingona is setting another dubious “first” in the Senate—if he pushes through with the public hearing scheduled on Monday.

Previously, Guingona did a “first” in volunteering to submit a copy of the committee report to Malacañang. Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and Tito Sen said they were never aware of any other senator giving Malacañang a copy of a committee report even before the Senate could tackle the same in plenary. They are right. That runs counter to the republican concept of separation of powers.

Guingona later said Malacañang did not receive any copy of the report although earlier in the day, a Malacañang spokesperson said it was received.

Going back to the hearing this Monday, that hearing might be a tacit admission by Guingona that the issuance of a committee report was precipitate. In that case, expect the committee to come out with a new report. How will this affect the credibility of the panel that is meant to investigate venalities in government? That the blue ribbon has been coming out with reports even before all the facts are in? That it is too hasty to condemn, predisposed to prejudgment?

I wonder, however, if Guin-gona is most willing to amend his report, especially that declaring Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez had committed “the height of betrayal of public trust.” He is an acolyte of the Liberal Party whose party stand is for the impeachment of Gutierrez. As an acolyte, he has to sing hossanas to the administration and to the party, and cry “amen” to their pronouncements.

Thus, I find it no surprising that he publicly rejected JPE’s suggestion that he remove all references to the culpability of Gutierrez. Guingona said that while he believed in the wisdom of JPE, he had more confidence in the wisdom of the committee report. Ouch!

Here’s my fearless prediction: The Senate will junk the blue ribbon report unless it is amended. If Guingona refuses and the report is lost in the plenary, then the only honorable thing left for him to do is to resign as blue ribbon chairman.

Senator calls for laws to control janitor fish

Janitor fish species, which are kept to keep aquariums clean, have reportedly threatened the survival of Philippine fishes, prompting a senator to take action regarding the matter.

Senator Manuel Villar Jr. has filed a resolution directing the Senate committee on the environment to look into the detrimental effects brought by invasive fish species on local fish.

Foreign fish pose a major ecological threat to local freshwater species, he said, blaming irresponsible pet owners who buy imported fish and throw them away when their interest wanes. Considered as a hardy breed of fish, janitor fish are kept because of their ability to clean algae in aquariums.

He said this has caused "the speedy spread and reproduction of alien species, turning them into primary predators."

Among these invasive species is the suckermouth catfish or janitor fish, which Agence France-Presse reported last week, have multiplied faster than local fish and have altered the ecosystem.

An Asean Regional Centre for Biodiversity Conservation report in 2002 also cited the white goby and hypseleotries agilis, which killed most of 15 local fish species in Lanao Lake in Mindanao.

The black bass has also caused the disappearance of the endemic fish population of Caliraya Lake in Laguna province, the report said.

Villar said the Philippines, as a signatory to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity, must come up with measures to protect local wildlife.

"Biological diversity is a key issue in the Philippines because it is known as one of the 17 mega-biodiversity countries of the world with more than 52,177 described species, of which, more than half are found only in this country," he said.

If left unchecked, he said, the invasive fish will wipe out local species and destroy the diversity of the ecosystem.

(Sunnex)