“WE is IN and ME is OUT”: Top ten trends for 2012

This is a ‘we’ vs. ‘me’ generation and they’ll lead the call for business to adopt this mindset too, benefiting the society and planet while also advancing corporate interests. These aims will come to be seen as synergistic, not mutually exclusive. “

“WE is IN and ME is OUT”:
Top ten trends for 2012

By: Thelma Murillo

With Christmas over, preparations now shift for the coming new year. I originally thought of featuring predictions from an astrologer for a peek at what may be in the Year of the Dragon but since the Chinese New Year doesn’t start until the 23rd of January 2012, incidentally declared a holiday by Malacañang, I decided to feature instead the top 10 trends for 2012 by JWT Intelligence, which was shared to me by a friend over the Internet.

(This is JWT’s seventh annual year-end forecast of trends for the near future and they say the continued economic uncertainty, new technology and the idea of shared responsibility are at the center of or driving many of their trends. JWT’s 10 Trends for 2012 report is the result of quantitative, qualitative and desk research conducted by JWT Intelligence throughout the year. For this report, they conducted quantitative surveys in the U.S. and the U.K. using SONAR, JWT’s proprietary online tool. They surveyed 531 Americans and 524 Britons age 18-plus from Oct. 31-Nov. 8; data are weighted by age, gender and income. They also received input from nearly 70 JWT planners across more than two dozen markets, and interviewed experts and influencers across sectors including technology, luxury, social responsibility and academia).

10 Top Trends of 2012

1. Navigating the new normal. As the middle market shrinks in the developed world, more brands and more categories will find more ways to make their products and services more accessible.

2. Live a little. Consumers, meanwhile, will tire of constantly watching their spending, their health, the planet. They’ll be looking to live a little without giving up a lot. Indulging, splurging and escaping from today’s many pressures.

3. Generation Go. Tough times will generate an unprecedented entrepreneurialism with the so called last generation of youth transforming into a uniquely resourceful group that creates its own opportunities.

4. The rise of shared value. This is a ‘we’ vs. ‘me’ generation and they’ll lead the call for business to adopt this mindset too, benefiting the society and planet while also advancing corporate interests. These aims will come to be seen as synergistic, not mutually exclusive.

5. Food as the new Eco-Issue. The green movement will add its focus on our impact of our food choices. We’ll see rising consumer awareness and companies rethinking what kind of food they sell or how it is made.

6. Marriage optional. From east to west, women are shifting their attitudes towards marriage as it becomes a life choice rather than a given. More women are redefining what ‘happily ever after’ means for them.

7. Reengineering randomness. Different points of view will become more important as our digital spheres get more personalized and niched. We’ll seek ways to reintroduce discovery and randomness into our world.

8. Screened interactions. Flat surfaces will come alive using our phones, hands or gestures. We’ll be interacting with outdoor ads, menus, walls and more as they evolve into interactive screens.

9. Celebrating aging. As we live longer, our attitudes toward aging are shifting in a more positive direction. Increasingly, we’ll be inclined to see the upside of getting old.

10. Objectifying objects. As everything gets digitized, a desire for physical objects will grow. Things to hold, touch, display or give to others will connect us to our more analog past.

From their website, “JWTIntelli-gence is a center for provocative thinking that is a part of \t “_blank” JWT, the world’s best-known marketing communications brand. We make sense of the chaos in a world of hyper-abundant information and constant innovation—finding quality amid the quantity.

“We focus on identifying changes in the global zeitgeist so as to convert shifts into compelling opportunities for brands. We have done this on behalf of multinational clients across several categories including pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, food, and home and personal care.”

Bear in mind that these are trends based on JWT’s research and do not necessarily reflect my own view. It may be helpful however, if you are planning to start a business next year.

A prosperous New Year to everyone!

God is Great!

THE ANNOYING SISTER

“Annoying Sister has denied reports that she caused a delay in the distribution of relief goods to calamity-stricken residents of Cagayan de Oro City because she had to be photographed and videotaped while heading that mission of mercy herself.”

THE ANNOYING SISTER

taken from Jojo Robles

In the showbiz section of another newspaper, the Annoying Sister has denied reports that she caused a delay in the distribution of relief goods to calamity-stricken residents of Cagayan de Oro City because she had to be photographed and videotaped while heading that mission of mercy herself. In her own words, this is what Kris Aquino was actually reported to have said:

“Bakit sila magagalit sa akin? Baka paninira lang kasi. Ang ganda nang pagtanggap sa family namin. And I think we are doing everything humanly possible to help. My sisters and I of course defended P-noy sa accusation na matagal siyang pumunta sa CDO at inuna ang party. Dapat i-consider na end of the year at complete ang pondo at may pang-disaster relief.

“We went to two sightings and personally handed the relief goods. We had to leave before 10:30 pm., because [our] small plane can’t land in NAIA after midnight.

“I can’t please the world but I know the truth. Tao lang akong nasasaktan dahil grabe rin ang pagod ko.

“Sana sa mga naninira o sinumang nagkakalat ng maling balita, sana maski two percent man lang nang na-collect ko for Mindanao ay nagawa nila. Hindi election time ngayon, unlike Ondoy, they can’t accuse of palapad ng papel.

“After 2013, tapos na kami sa politics. Obvious na ang mga nagalit sa amin, takot sa 2013 o 2016 na tatakbo ako. Relax dapat sila, my career path is one day to run my own network.”

Now that’s something to look forward to: a media network owned and operated by Kris herself, where she can presumably talk all she wants day in and day out. We can hardly wait.

22-M Filipinos deprived of clean water

Senator Edgardo J. Angara on Monday said that the country’s water sector is in need of structural reforms with a view to easing the plight of around 22 million Filipinos who have no access to sanitation facilities and sewerage systems.

Angara, chairman of the Senate Committee on Science and Technology, said the figure came from a joint monitoring program between the World Health Organization and the United Nations Children’s Fund released in 2008.

The longer these people are not unable to use proper toilet facilities and other waste disposal systems, the longer they get exposed to problems arising from poor sanitation, Angara said. “Our inaction in this regard comes at a very high cost.”

The World Bank estimated that the Philippines loses around $1.4 billion per year in terms of the economic cost of poor sanitation and hygiene.

The senator added that over the past 30 years, the Philippine water and sanitation industry has been highly fragmented with over 30 government agencies involved.

Currently, the setup is very inefficient with jurisdictions overlapping one another. A measure has to be passed to comprehensively restructure the way we manage our water and sanitation services, he said.

With this, Angara pushed for the passage of Senate Bill 2997 or the Water Sector Reform Act (WSRA) of 2011, which he authored.

He said this measure aims to put up a framework for efficiently managing the countrys water resources by adopting the Integrated Water Resources Management approach of the Global Water Partnership.

It also seeks to organize the country into Provincial Water Resource Zones, with certain portions structured into River Basin Clusters.

The measure also stipulates the creation of Local Water Supply and Sanitation Companies as government-owned and controlled corporations, mandated to construct, maintain and operate sanitation and sewerage systems for their corresponding PWRZs.

We crafted the bill to also enable LWSSC’s to go into PPP’s (Public-Private Partnerships) for large-scale projects, such as installing sewerage systems,” Angara explained.

“By streamlining our processes and opening the industry up to private investment, we can give more Filipinos access to improved sanitation faster. That’s why we need to urgently pass this measure.”

By John Concepcion

Q & A for the Aquino Administration

Q & A for the Aquino Administration

"The President said “kung walang corrupt, walang mahirap.”

Surveys showed there are now more poor and hungry people than in the GMA administration.

Does this mean corruption has increased under the Aquino administration?"




Written By: Efren Danao

Q: What are the biggest achievements of the Aquino administration?

A: The detention of former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and the impeachment of Chief Justice Renato Corona.

Q: Explain the reason for such choice

A: The President had said that GMA would be in prison by December, and he is a man of his word. He has also relentlessly pursued the impeachment of CJ Corona and got the wholesale cooperation of 188 congressmen, most of whom signed the Articles of Impeachment without reading them. These two achievements are roundly approved by the people, based on surveys by the Social Weather Stations and so they enhanced the President’s popularity.

Q: How has the President progressed in his fight against corruption?

A: The President considers the arrest of GMA the crown jewel of his fight against corruption. He also deems CJ Corona the main stumbling block to his war against corruption. Once CJ Corona is found guilty by the Senate, you may expect the fight against corruption to gain much headway.

The administration has also ordered a slowdown in spending despite budget authorization to lessen corruption and budget deficit. Public works are among the main causes of corruption. The fewer the public works projects launched, the fewer the incidence of corruption.

Q: Jueteng and drugs are still rampant. Jueteng and drugs are said to be the root causes of corruption. Do GMA and CJ Corona have anything to do with these?

A: None, but the Aquino administration can focus only on one thing at a time. Once he is through with his two top enemies, he can concentrate on the lesser enemies like illegal numbers game and illegal drugs.

Q: During the campaign, the President correctly said that Filipinos should not be working abroad, and criticized the economy’s reliance on remittances from OFWs. What has he done to ensure the employment of OFWs who decide to return?

A: None. He said he wanted them to work here but did not say he would give them work. This might come later. In the meantime, the Philippine economy remains reliant on remittances of OFWs.

Q: The President showed he would not countenance incompetence among public servants when he fired the chief of PAG-ASA for not correctly predicting the path of a disastrous typhoon. Why hasn’t he fired PAG-ASA officials who also were off-mark in their predictions, and the bumbling DILG officials involved in the Luneta hostage fiasco?

A: Malacanang said the time for finger-pointing is over. What’s more, those DILG officials are his appointees. And why should he fire his appointees? They could not do wrong. And if they do something wrong, why, keep them off the public radar to keep the outcry for their heads from boiling over.

Q: The President said “kung walang corrupt, walang mahirap.” Surveys showed there are now more poor and hungry people than in the GMA administration. Does this mean corruption has increased under the Aquino administration?

A: No, not at all! Poverty has increased because of the worldwide recession and not because of mis-steps by the current administration in its drive against corruption. In fact, it has ordered the arrest of GMA and the impeachment of CJ Corona.

Q: What has the administration done to reduce poverty?

A: It has increased the number of recipients of its Conditional Cash Transfer program. This is the main cog of the administration’s strategy to minimize poverty. The more people receiving government dole-outs, the fewer remain poor.

Q: The Philippine economy is falling. In fact it did better under the much-maligned GMA administration. What has the Aquino administration done to improve the situation?

A: It has ordered the arrest of GMA and the impeachment of CJ Corona.

Q: Isn’t that begging the question?

A: Well, the administration has been trying to keep itself from discussing the economy. At the forum organized by Makati businessmen, President talked not about the economy but about the stumbling blocks posed by CJ Corona and the Supreme Court.

Q: Why should it be afraid to discuss the economy?

A: The people have not been complaining about the economy anyway. So, why should the administration talk about something where it would be placed on the defensive? What’s more, any discussion of the issue might make the people realize that they are now worse off despite the detention of GMA and the impeachment of CJ Corona.

Q: What will happen in the coming year?

A: The administration will continue to harp on the arrest of GMA and the impeachment of CJ Corona until year-end. It could even wage a “shame” campaign” to force CJ Corona to resign without undergoing impeachment trial. Then, it could put a cap to its glorious campaign against corruption in government and win big in the May 2013 election.

SISTER ACT

"Kris (Aquino) explained, as if to an entire country made up of retarded children, that her brother could not have just hopped on a plane because a President “is not like you and me [who can just] hop on a plane… And because his spokesmen and apologists are really nincompoops often engaged in the Sisyphean defense of the indefensible, he will need better help in the propaganda department..."

Taken from Jojo Robles

The trucks bearing relief sent in by television network ABS-CBN had already arrived at mud slide-ravaged Consolacion village in Cagayan de Oro City. The flood-stricken residents, some of them still with mud on their bodies, had already lined up to receive the much-needed aid.
Suddenly, the trucks started up and began to move away. They had been ordered not to commence the distribution of relief goods and return to Balulang village instead.

There, they had to pick up a very important person—presidential sister Kris Aquino. The actress had told the network’s bosses that she wanted to be in Consolacion when the aid-giving (and the viedo recording of the event, naturally) started.

The assembled people didn’t know this, of course; all they saw were the trucks leaving. And they could only wait until the aid-bearing vehicles returned, with Kris in tow.

As Kris herself said, in defense of her brother’s partying right after the killer mudslides and floods hit, we can’t allow life to stop and just sulk in a corner. Of course, not: there remains the publicity to be had in the midst of the suffering of the people.

Had Ninoy and Cory Aquino been alive today, they would probably have been pressed into service, as well. Then again, if they were still living, we probably would have been spared the election to the presidency of their son.

The criticism lobbed by citizens aghast by reports of President Noynoy Aquino partying like a palace rock star the night after floods devastated Cagayan de Oro and Iligan cities must have really stung. That’s because Aquino did not only try to control the ensuing damage by employing the talents of his usual defenders in the form of his various palace propaganda offices, his apologists in media and his regular jukeboxes in Congress.

Aquino called in his sisters. Three of them—Ballsy Aquino-Cruz, Pinky Aquino Abellada and Kris—put on the defense on national television that Aquino could not possibly have postponed the Christmas party of the Presidential Security Group because it had been scheduled long in advance.

Life must go on, they said. And yes, the President could not have immediately flown to Cagayan de Oro because he did not want to hamper rescue and relief operations there.

Kris explained, as if to an entire country made up of retarded children, that her brother could not have just hopped on a plane because a President “is not like you and me [who can just] hop on a plane... there are a lot of national concerns.”

(Of course, Vice President Jejomar Binay, who went to the affected areas hours after they were first reported, apparently had no ability to hamper the rescue efforts and doesn’t have enough national concerns to keep him in Manila. Besides, Binay didn’t really have to be at a party that he could not reschedule or miss.)

But perhaps people shouldn’t really begrudge Aquino for asking his sibling to join the campaign to reverse the bad publicity the party-going President has been receiving since the flooding. His official spokesmen, after all, have been doing their best to make things worse for Aquino ever since the details of the party were disclosed by the imprudent tweets of actress Valerie Concepcion.

Since the Concepcion disclosures, Malacañang flacks have declared that the PSG party actually took place on Dec. 10 instead of just last Saturday, have given various durations, computed based on the average length of the songs Concepcion actually sung, that the President actually stayed at the party (anywhere from five minutes to 30 minutes) and have even sworn that Aquino did not take to the stage and sing his personal slacker’s anthem “Estudyante Blues.” You’d run to your sisters too, if this was all the help you could muster by way of damage control.

In the meantime, Aquino reversed an earlier announcement that he was planning to visit the devastated areas after Christmas and went directly to Cagayan de Oro yesterday. (While there, he could not resist the opportunity to tell people living in the hazardous Isla de Oro neighborhood that they should not have stayed there, if they didn’t want to suffer flooding.)

And, as if to prove that there was really no party that he did not have the power to cancel, despite what his sisters said, Aquino also said that his Cabinet will not be having its annual Christmas get-together this year. He also declared a state of national calamity—a full four days after disaster struck and even if the damage is confined only to a small area of Northern Mindanao.

And so, for those who watch the Aquino administration, some things have now apparently become clear: the President will skip parties, but only if he has been shamed into doing so because of a calamity. He can actually be convinced to visit a disaster area, not weeks after the fact like in Cotabato City and Central Luzon, but mere days afterwards.

And because his spokesmen and apologists are really nincompoops often engaged in the Sisyphean defense of the indefensible, he will need better help in the propaganda department. And if he has to ask his sisters to do that, then, that’s exactly what he will do…

Public warned of fake police group

The National Police Commission warned the public against a pseudo law enforcement group which it said is engaged in illegal activities, particularly extortion.

Napolcom Chairman Jesse Robredo said they have received reports that members of the so-called International Police Commission have stepped up its illegal operations this Christmas season to victimize business establishments and individuals.

According to Robredo, Interpolcom claims it is affiliated with the International Criminal Police Organization based in Lyon, France to perpetrate illegal activities allegedly under the guise of peace and order.

“Interpolcom is engaged in organized illegal activities under disguise and with a scheme of assisting the duly-constituted authorities in the attainment of peace and order and enforcement of the law,“ Robredo said.

The organization is also reportedly presenting a letter from the Securities and Exchange Commission that it is accredited by the Philippine government and the United Nations.

In 1987, Interpolcom submitted a request to then Executive Secretary Catalino Macaraig for the Office of the President’s recognition of their organization and authority to be given to two of its members to negotiate with the UN for any possible financial or budgetary assistance.

The subject letter was referred to Napolcom, and upon investigation it was revealed that Interpolcom was a non-stock, non-profit organization that was recruiting members from various sectors of society and enticing them with salaries, benefits and privileges such as free transportation rides, issuance of badges, identification cards, and grant of military rank upon payment of P500 as membership fee, Robredo said.

Last September, six members of the group were arrested by the Philippine Center for Transnational Crime at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport when they group attempted to apply for temporary pass at the airport allegedly to assist airport authorities in gathering intelligence.

Confiscated from the suspects who were wearing police uniforms were five caliber .45 pistols, none of which were covered by authentic license to carry permits.

Napolcom Vice Chairman Eduardo Escueta said they have already informed their regional offices nationwide of the existence of the group and its nefarious activities.

He added that Napolcom regional directors were also enjoined from accrediting or endorsing any civilian force-multipliers or organizations without the proper recommendation by the Department of the Interior and Local Government or the Department of National Defense.

by Ferdinand Fabella

Egotistic black and white

“Like the senator, my objection to the hard line posturing of the Black and White Movement and by extension, the rest of the people in this country who insist on foisting on the rest of the population their moral scruples, is philosophical…””

“In the first place, who determines what is good, and who determines what is evil?

That is the egotistic problem with black and white… who is to decide what is black and white?”” the senator asked.

Egotistic black and white
By: Bong Austero

That was quite a mouthful the irrepressible Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago unleashed last week during a confirmation hearing at the Commission on Appointments.

Of course we have come to expect the senator to constantly amaze, dumbfound and even amuse us with her trademark feistiness and distinct eloquence. But last week’s lecture on theology, Manichean philosophy and populist philosophy during the confirmation hearing of Social Welfare Secretary Dinky Soliman was classic.

We are truly going to miss Senator Santiago when she packs up and relocates to the Netherlands in March next year, when she assumes the highly coveted post as one of six judges of the International Criminal Court. Santiago is the first Asian woman from a developing state to get a seat in the ICC. The woman is in a class all her own, and no one has yet come close to duplicating her famous outbursts. We will just have to get used to seeing the dour faces and monotonous drawl of our other senators.

But to go back to her outburst last week, which was covered extensively by media, Senator Santiago put Soliman to task for being a convenor of the Black and White movement, the group that has abrogated for itself the identity as “civil society.” The BWM has on many occasions likewise positioned itself as some kind of the ultimate guardian of morality in this country, often issuing statements that they pass off as the authoritative and only viable position on many contentious issues.

“You know what is good and evil because God says so? Oh, yeah? Did God speak to you, members of the Black and White Movement?” the Senator asked Soliman.

I am very glad the Senator said what I have been saying in this space for many years now: The problem with some people in this country is that they impose their theology on everyone else. Worse, they claim to subscribe to a higher moral order and insist on a black-and-white categorization of issues but sadly, only when the situation suits them or is in their favor.
And this has been my beef with the BWM movement for many years now. They expect everybody to live up to a stringent moral order but they don’t necessarily apply the criteria to themselves. For example, they’ve always made a big deal that many of our leaders have lost any sense of delicadeza. Ironically, many among them have openly jockeyed for political appointments and are in fact using the BWM platform as launching pads for their own political agenda and candidacies. Where’s the morality in that?

Conversely, this, exactly, is what I find disturbing about what is happening in the country today. This administration is hell bent on making the former President accountable for various acts of corruption while in office—bribery, usurpation of authority, abuse of power, etc.,—under the guise of establishing a higher moral order. Ordinarily, I wouldn’t have problems with that. We should make our leaders accountable for wrongdoing while in office. But we must make sure that we take the higher moral ground when we do so – not by words and by empty posturing, but in deed and action. This means we must adhere to due process even when no one is looking, even when we can get away with it, and yes, even when we believe in our heart of hearts that the accused do not deserve the fair treatment. Only when we do so can we actually have the moral authority to move forward.

But what is happening is that at the same time that our leaders are lecturing us about morality and good governance, they indulge in exactly the same acts that they claim are immoral. They accused the Supreme Court of having short-circuited the process that led to the issuance of a temporary restraining order in favor of the former President, but did exactly the same thing to ensure that the impeachment of the Chief Justice would sail through Congress swiftly and without hitch. They insist that the former President should be made accountable for abuse of power and authority, shady deals, and other corrupt practices but used exactly the same modus operandi to ensure that lawmakers would sign the impeachment complaint.

“In the BWM, there is no such allowance for the so-called gray areas. You’re either good you’re either bad, you’re either light or you’re either dark. That is my basic concern with this nominee, to look at the world only in shades of dark and light and not make allowances for human failures or for human limitations,” Senator Santiago was quoted in various media reports. “In the first place, who determines what is good, and who determines what is evil? That is the egotistic problem with black and white… who is to decide what is black and white?” the senator asked.

Like the senator, my objection to the hard line posturing of the BWM and by extension, the rest of the people in this country who insist on foisting on the rest of the population their moral scruples, is philosophical. Excuse me, not everything is black and white in this country; there is a context to everything.

Case in point: Just because I advocate due process, respect for laws, and adherence to civility does not make me an apologist of the former President. Oh please, that kind of labeling is just so passé and so tawdry. Just because I am disaffected by the fact that this administration has held hostage progress and economic development at the altar of morality does not mean I am anti-government.

More to the point, just because I agree with Senator Santiago when she castigated Soliman’s affiliation with the BWM, this does not mean I agree with the senator’s filibustering of Soliman’s confirmation as Social Welfare secretary.

I happen to think that Soliman is one of the very few Cabinet secretaries who are actually doing a good job.

I honestly don’t understand why people balk at the huge amount of money that Soliman is entrusted with for the government’s conditional cash transfer program, known as four Ps. Surely everyone knows that we do have millions of people in this country who are living in abject poverty; when you divide the total amount allocated for the conditional cash transfer program by the number of family beneficiaries, the amount is actually not that staggering anymore.
The problem is not that the government is spending billions on poverty alleviation; the question is why only now and why only that amount? We all rile about the high incidence of poverty but we don’t match our rhetoric with political will and purposeful action.

Besides, when we put together all the piecemeal programs politicians supposedly pour into so-called poverty alleviation we’d probably come up with probably more than what Soliman is spending for the four P’s program. How many politicians spend tens of millions every year on substandard school supplies for schoolchildren and for Christmas baskets? The amount is better spent on poverty alleviation program that are better conceptualized and administered in a more organized way such as the four Ps program.

The four Ps program is investment in the future of human capital. It’s necessary and important. It would be sad if the conditional cash transfer program gets stopped just because of Soliman’s political baggage. It’s really shouldn’t be that black and white.

Sendong further delays delivery of goods to CDO

Food and other consumer items meant for Cagayan de Oro and Iligan, cities hit by sudden floods over the weekend, will take longer to get there because of a shortage of container vans caused by the Christmas rush.

This will not mean higher prices, however, as the Department of Trade and Industry has already issued a freeze on price increases in calamity areas hit by Typhoon Sendong.

Corazon Curay, vice president and director of the Supply Chain Management Association of the Philippines (SCMAP), told Sun.Star that shipments to the Southern Philippines have been difficult because a peak season for cargo means less containerized vans to go around.

She said shippers have to wait for "two days or more" to get goods loaded in a twenty or forty-foot metal container and onto a ship.

Trucking fleets have been complaining of the delay, which already existed even before the typhoon hit Northern Mindanao and Central and Eastern Visayas.

"Of course, this is an opportunity cost for them," she said, adding that shippers were prompted to factor in extra days to book their shipments in advance.

Delays may be prolonged if relief goods headed for calamity-stricken areas in Northern Mindanao are given priority.

She said the shipping lines can do that, especially as support for relief and rescue operations in the region. She said the shortage may be resolved by January when container vans already dispatched to other ports return to Manila.

Right now, "the queue for container vans is really long," she said.

On Sunday, a military cargo flight brought 1,500 500-milliliter bottles of water to Northern Mindanao along with water treatment systems. Curay said, however, that airlifting is too expensive for regular goods.

Eduardo Sanchez, SCMAP executive director, said that although much of Cagayan de Oro was spared by the flooding, "definitely, the delivery of consumer goods will be affected."

He said the difficulties in delivering consumer goods will be felt more in Iligan. SCMAP president Dennis Llovido was in Cagayan de Oro when Sun.Star tried to reach him Monday. He updated Sanchez on the situation on the ground, however.

Sanchez said the decision to put the priority on delivering relief goods will have to come from the government, and not from the association since "each member is an independent company."

According to news reports on Sunday, stores in Cagayan de Oro had run out of water and other basic goods as was confirmed by local store chain Ororama.

Pamela Mendez, store manager for Ororama Supertore in Carmen, said it has been "very difficult" to get water delivered.

Part of the problem is the sheer number of stores and homes that have ordered bottled water.

"Even if we buy in volume, we will still have to pick up the water ourselves (if we do not want to wait)," she said.

She said smaller bottles of water are still available and they are "trying our best to restock five- and 10-liter bottles."

Mendez said, however, that goods will be sold at the same price despite the extra cost to Ororama of transporting the water themselves.

Supplies of noodles and the "cheapest kind" of noodles are also low after the Social Welfare department bought the store's stock to distribute to calamity victims, she said.

With the shortage of potable water, and with the taps shut off, many tenants have had to keep their businesses temporarily shuttered, she said.

Ororama has also taken to boiling water from a deep well so employees will have water to drink.

"It's really scary if you think about it," she said, adding fast food restaurants have even had to close or limit operations because of the shortage.

Lotta Lim, store manager of the Robinsons Supermarket in Cagayan de Oro, said their stock of bottled water is also running low but that they are working on a stock transfer deal with outlets in nearby towns and cities.

She said suppliers have been giving priority to stores and homes in "the city proper" and that supermarkets are having a hard time getting supplies. Aside from water, noodles and canned goods have also seen brisk sales, she said.

Steven Cua, president of the Philippine Amalgamated Supermarkets Association, said relief goods coming into the calamity areas will not affect prices.

"If there was an ample supply of these items there, then people would have (just) donated cash," he said in a text message.

Dorothy Salazar, manager for mall administration at Robinsons, told Sun.Star that the floods during the weekend have not dampened the spirits of most shoppers.

She said Monday has been a normal shopping day, "although people have been buying candles and other supplies too."

TO DONATE AND HELP THE VICTIMS OF SENDONG THROUGH THE PHILIPPINE RED CROSS CLICK HERE

From Sunnex

President Aquino signs 2012 national budget

President Benigno Aquino III on Thursday signed into law the P1.816-trillion national budget for 2012. The budget, which is 10.4 percent higher than this year’s budget of P1.645 trillion, was the earliest approved since democracy was restored in 1986.

President Aquino described the budget as “results-focused budget” driven toward the delivery of direct and substantial benefits to the people, particularly the poorest and most marginalized.

He said the administration will ensure not just the immediate release of the funds but a transparent government spending.

The Department of Education (DepEd) continues to the biggest allocation this year with P238.8 billion – 15.2 percent higher than the 2011 budget of P207.3 billion.

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is the second with P125.7 billion, followed by the Department of National Defense (DND) with P108.1 billion, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) with P99.8 billion and the Department of Agriculture (DA) with P53.3 billion.

The DA will get the biggest budget increment (53.6 percent) to support various initiatives geared towards rice and food-self-sufficiency.

Also included in the top 10 agencies that will get the biggest bulk of the budget include: Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) with P48.9 billion, Department of Health (DOH) with P44.4 billion, Department of Transportation and Communications P34.7 billion, Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) P18.3 billion and the judiciary with P15.7 billion.

Budget Secretary Florencio Abad said to jump-start economic growth next year, the government will spend P140 billion for infrastructure projects starting January 2012.

“In contrast to 2011 when infrastructure spending was delayed, we intend to begin 2012 on a very strong note. Various infrastructure projects amounting to around P140 billion can be implemented by departments and agencies as early as the first working day of January 2012,” he said.

“We earlier directed agencies to disaggregate their 2012 budgets into specific projects before the budget was submitted to Congress in July; and to already bid them out short of award, so that notices to proceed can be issue in January,” he added.

Present during the budget signing were Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr, other lawmakers and Malacanang officials.

By Jill Beltran

Fil-Am midwife Robin Lim is 2011 CNN 'Hero of the Year'

A Filipino-American midwife whose foundation built “birthing sanctuaries” for Indonesians was named the 2011 CNN Hero of the Year.

Anderson Cooper announced the name of Robin Lim in a star-studded ceremony last Sunday night at The Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California. Christy Turlington Burns introduced Lim as one of the Top 10 CNN Heroes.

Each of the CNN Heroes received $50,000, and Lim’s non-profit, Bumi Sehat Foundation, will receive an additional $250,000 grant.

Lim’s foundation helped Indonesians who need maternal and general health care.

She is the second CNN Hero of Year of Filipino descent.

In 2009, Filipino Efren Peñaflorida was named CNN Hero of the Year for his “Kariton” classroom project that aims to educate street children.

In Indonesia, women are 300 times more likely to die in childbirth or from pregnancy-related complications than women in developed countries. After Lim’s younger sister died from pregnancy complications, she became a professional midwife and dedicated her life to offering free pre-natal and birthing services to low-income Indonesian women. Since 2003, Lim’s“Yayasan Bumi Sehat” (Healthy Mother Earth) clinic has provided medical assistance to thousands of women in Bali and Aceh, Indonesia.

Malacanang on Monday expressed elation over the naming of Lim as the 2011 CNN Hero of the Year.

“We are very happy that the efforts of one of our Filipinos have again been recognized on the international stage,” Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said.

The star-studded ceremony included celebrity participants Jerry Seinfeld, Sofia Vergara, Mary-Louise Parker, Ice Cube, Laura Dern, J.R. Martinez, will.i.am, Christy Turlington Burns, George Lopez and Kurt Warner. Miley Cyrus, Chris Colfer, and Emma Roberts presented to youths who were recognized and honored by CNN as “Young Wonders.” Miley Cyrus also performed her triple platinum hit “The Climb”, while Kid Rock performed a powerful version of "Care" from his platinum selling album, “Born Free.”

Now in its fifth year, “CNN Heroes” is a multi-platform campaign that shines a spotlight on individuals who go to extraordinary lengths to serve others. This year, the campaign received over 10,000 submissions from more than 100 countries.

(Madel R. Sabater and www.cnn.com)

Lucio Tan, a.k.a. the Grinch

“This Christmas break, don’t fly airlines owned by the Grinch,” FDC President Ricardo Reyes told reporters recently. “Because of his greed, Lucio Tan has stolen Christmas of retrenched PAL workers. He acts like the true Grinch.”

Lucio Tan, a.k.a. the Grinch

By: Dan Mariano

THE season will be less than bright for the 2,600 former regular employees of Philippine Airlines (PAL) who found themselves jobless when the Lucio Tan-owned carrier adopted its so-called outsourcing program last October.

The dismissed regular workers, members of the PAL Employees Association (PALEA), have been replaced by “contractuals” who do the work that PALEA members used to perform, but are hired by other companies contracted by PAL.

The airline owners claimed that they had to resort to outsourcing because PAL has been losing money, insisting that high labor costs were eating away at the airline’s revenue. Of course, they do not mention the fact that the airline management’s decision in 2008 to resort to “fuel hedging” was what really put PAL deep in the red.

In February 2009, PAL president Jaime Bautista was reported to have disclosed that PAL would post its first full-year loss since 2004 primarily because of a hedging program that had been meant to address volatile fuel prices.

In July 2008, crude oil prices skyrocketed to an all-time high of US$147 per barrel but by early 2009 they had dropped to just above US$40. Unfortunately for PAL, its management—which mistakenly assumed that fuel prices would remain high—had locked the carrier to contracts to buy fuel at much higher prices even long after crude costs had begun to drop.

Little information has leaked out of the PAL boardroom as to which company officials were responsible for this costly miscalculation—or if they were penalized at all for a decision that proved financially disastrous for the airline and ultimately its hapless employees.

But instead of owning up to their blunder, the owners and managers of PAL decided to take it out on the ground personnel of the airline—the 2,600 members of PALEA who thereafter began to be portrayed by PAL’s public relations machinery as the biggest financial burden to the company.

Unfortunately for PALEA members, they found no receptive ear in the Department of Labor and Employment and other government agencies as well as Lucio Tan’s “friends” in media. Rather than aggrieved workers, the PALEA members were portrayed as troublemakers who refused to see reason. Eventually, PAL resorted to calling them “terrorists.”

Nearly three months after PALEA members were forced out—literally—of the company’s premises, emotions are still raw. The outrage has not died down, not just among the displaced workers but also members of the general public that now wince every time PAL is described as “the flag carrier.”

Among the staunchest supporters of the victims of PAL’s outsourcing scheme are the Freedom from Debt Coalition (FDC) and other civil society groups. In a recent press statement, these groups called for a boycott of PAL and its bargain airline sister company AirPhil.

“This Christmas break, don’t fly airlines owned by the Grinch,” FDC President Ricardo Reyes told reporters recently. “Because of his greed, Lucio Tan has stolen Christmas of retrenched PAL workers. He acts like the true Grinch.”

Created by Dr. Seuss, the Grinch is a fictional character who first appeared as the main protagonist in the 1957 children’s book, How the Grinch Stole Christmas! Now, it is a term used to describe a person with a coarse and greedy attitude and opposed to Christmas time celebrations.

“It is almost Christmas time—our great Kapaskuhan, a time for families, friends, neighbors, and loved ones to gather, celebrate and share blessings with one another. But not for 2,600 of our kababayan PAL employees and their families who until now face the uncertainty of a prolonged deadlock due to Lucio Tan’s refusal to sit down with PALEA and address their just demands,” said Reyes.

“We are urging the riding public, particularly the students, government and private workers and [overseas Filipino workers (OFWs)] to support the members of PALEA in their struggle against the mass lay-off, contractualization, and their fight to protect their job security. PALEA’s fight is also our fight. As riding customers, we can best support PALEA by hitting Lucio Tan where he hurts most—by not flying PAL and AirPhil, until he sits down with PALEA and address their just demands,” he said.

Agnes Matienzo of Migrant Forum in Asia (MFA): “In support of the 2,600 PALEA members who are unilaterally locked out and terminated by PAL, MFA continues to call on our fellow OFWs and partners/affiliates in over 16 countries in Asia not to fly PAL this Christmas unless Lucio Tan sits with PALEA and address their demands. PALEA members’ fight is our fight. As migrants’ advocate, we demand host countries to respect the right of our workers overseas to unionize and demand for just wages and job security. How do we expect destination countries to respect and protect the rights of our workers, if the rights of our local workers are blatantly violated? We shall never accept that the rights of our local workers are violated. The interest of 10 million OFWs and the interest of 2,600 PALEA members are one and the same. Boycott PAL and stop corporate greed!”

Max de Mesa, chairman of Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (PAHRA), said: “PAL workers are co-creators of the wealth of the company. Thus, not only should the quality of life of workers rightfully and proportionately improve as the company develops and grows—this is a collective aspect of the right to development. More important, they should be integral to the company itself. The owner’s and management’s decision to outsource as part of its overall contractualization plan is to deceptively cut off its co-creators of corporate wealth under the false basis of ‘financial losses.’ This is corporate callousness. They have disjointed themselves from the same humanity as their workers so as to accrue profits primarily for themselves. The vaunted plan of separation benefits is no more than a ruse to distract from the truth of corporate greed and the deprivation of workers’ rights.”

Other groups have signed up to the “Don’t Fly PAL/AirPhil” campaign. Whether this boycott will cause Lucio Tan and his underlings to mend their ways—just like another fictional character Mr. Scrooge—by Christmas Day, we’ll find out soon enough.

Frankly, I doubt it.

Inspiring Pinoy Runner attempts Global Run

To most runners, a marathon marks the very summit of achievement after months of hard training and blister plasters. To Cesar Guarin, it’s merely a light warm-up for the rigors to come.

The University of the Philippines alumnus, entrepreneur and father of 4 children is the first Filipino global runner: one of the few individuals who positively savor the thought of running around the world. With running experience covering some thirty years, spanning 6 presidencies, Cesar is poised to continue his toughest - ever run: The Global Run. This one-of-a-kind ultramarathon has been partitioned into 14 stages, with stage typically requiring Cesar to run 50 - 70 kilometers per day, for each of the 30 - 90 days per stage. The Global Run will continue this October 2011 and will end in 2016. The remaining Global Run stages will cover a total distance of approx. 17,993 kilometers!

Global Run is an endurance sport more than anything. He has been training his body to run for more than 8 hours a day for at least 1 to 3 months. He also trains to endure months of continuous running given unpredictable weather, no stopping, no looking back, no matter what happens.

Cesar didn't wake up one morning thinking "I am going to run around the world". He thought about it for a long time, carefully considering and planning every phase. Several runners had tried, but only three on official record have completed an ultramarathon of this magnitude. At first, he started running longer distance to get the frustration out of his system. And that’s how he found his obsession. He had no doubt that he can accomplish it. What started out as a way to cope with disappointment soon became one of his passions in life. By 1983, he ran the first Trans - Pilipinas ultramarathon running from Zamboanga up to Baguio City. After that, what's left? He asked himself. Well, how about running around the world? Over the past few years several runners had attempted to run around the world, but all of them either failed or were caught cheating, like the guy who took a train, thinking he could fool the public.

He was thrilled by the prospect of becoming the first Asian (and Filipino) to run around the world and he knew it was the right time for him to do it. He feels that now is the time to finish all the remaining stages of the Global Run. He said, “I don’t see myself stopping from running because I enjoy the meditative part of it. I do long distance running not only for physical fitness but also in order to meditate. So kahit may edad na tayo, I believe I will still run. Wala naman pinipiling edad ang pagtakbo.”

With 10 stages or phases left in his Global Run, he is more than eager and excited to run again starting with Global Run Australia this October to November 2011. Only three months after that, he will run a more challenging stage of the Global Run which is Middle East run this March to April 2012.

For Cesar Guarin, Global Run is more than just about fulfilling a deep passion for running. It is his way of honoring and thanking OFWs and migrants. In many ways, Cesar’s triumph over hardships, pains, and failures that he encounters in each Global Run is symbolic of overseas Filipino workers and migrants’ journey in life.

Each year, more than a million Filipinos leave to work abroad through overseas employment agencies and other programs, including government sponsored ones. Others emigrate and become permanent residents of other countries. These brave Filipinos leave loved ones behind, missing important events hoping to give their families a better future. As they embark on a pursuit of a better life with firm hope of “winning” the prize at the end of the finish line, their journey often becomes difficult, lonely, and at times, it would seem pointless or hopeless.

But despite of all these, many of our fellow Filipinos have risen above the challenges and had become successful in their own way. These are qualities that personify the Filipino character of being resilient, dedicated, passionate and selfless. Though they all come from different backgrounds, various professions and diverse beliefs, they all possess these traits that helped them endure hardships, homesickness, and even failures while being away from families and country that they deeply love.

Global Run also gives him the chance to personally thank them and share what connects them as one: We are Filipino and We are Proud of It. Just like Manny Pacquiao, Efren “Bata” Reyes, Paeng Nepumoceno, Lea Salonga, Charice Pempengco, just to name a few, Cesar Guarin will give honor to Filipinos all over the world. This is his way of showing the world what Filipinos can do.

In a recent study, there are about 16 million overseas Filipinos worldwide, equivalent to about 14% of the total population of the Philippines. The Global Run has a goal also of connecting and reaching out to most, if not all, of the Filipinos during and even after the Global Run has ended.

This is one of the reasons why Global Run is charted along countries with most number of Filipinos present. As Cesar runs in key cities in those countries, he and his team make it a point to contact local Filipino communities’ way ahead of time to inform them and encourage them to take part or support the Global Run effort. Hundreds, and sometimes thousands, gather to meet Cesar.

In every country he did his Global Run, a welcome party is always present. All major cities make it a point to welcome Cesar as he reaches each stop. His run begins with a send off often characterized with vigor and enthusiasm. Send off is organized with honorary ambassadors, representatives from consulate and local town officials present. He then gives a short talk before running. And for safety and luck, he is sent-off with 2 motorcycles accompanying him until he reaches 5 kilometers. During his run, he will have stopovers in each key city, where Filipinos working or residing in that region will gather to meet with him as a show of their support.

Around 5 kilometers away from the finish line, well wishers gather to witness Cesar as he completes one destination at a time, sometimes even preparing motorcade and small fellowship afterwards to socialize with each other. During which, he talks about his experiences throughout the run and at the same time, is honored and appreciated by the community, saying he is truly an inspiration. But to Cesar, it is them - our fellow Filipinos - who truly inspire him to run around the world.

Cesar said of his role in Global Run, “The Global Run is not all about achieving my personal dream of running around the world or about my personal triumph in being able to set a record and put myself in high esteem. Global Run is also about uniting our fellow Filipinos in countries where we will do Global Run to work together to fulfill its advocacy. As we meet with them in person during the run, we will communicate with them our desire to fulfill the mission of Global Run with their help: That is, to give hope and a chance for a better life to our poor children living in dire poverty by working together to raise funds for the “Batang Pangarap” sports development programs.

Santa Claus banned from Customs bureau premises

The Customs bureau is implementing a no solicitation policy within its premises to protect its staff from annoying individuals asking for gifts, donations or raffle prizes for Christmas parties.

In a memorandum, Commissioner Ruffy Biazon said his order will be implemented starting Dec. 12 (Monday) and until the end of the Christmas season.

The Customs chief said he was also contemplating that violators of the memorandum might be “perpetually banned from entering bureau premises”.

Biazon said it was Customs employees and officials themselves who are burdened and shell out money. He added that personnel are often approached to give donations to Christmas raffles or give presents.

“The concept basically is we would prohibit the premises of the bureau, both airport and seaport, from solicitations of gifts and prizes and the like,” Biazon said.

He believes that the directive would be faithfully followed by the employees since they are the ones who complained about the solicitations inside the bureau. The memorandum would serve as the armor of the employees, to protect them from pesky individuals and organizations that might hound them for tokens and raffle prizes.

“It is the employees who asked (for the issuance of the memorandum) so I am sure they would embrace it… So if someone approaches them and ask for donations, they could show them that there is an existing order issued by the Commissioner,” Biazon said.

Biazon said since they would have no way of knowing if the person who is asking for donations from the employees are legitimate “inaanak” (Godchildren), it would be better if they settle this matter outside.

“We provide an environment in the bureau where gifts, in exchange for influence, is openly received…And this is the practice that we want to break…It would be difficult that if you allow one, how do you prevent the other. So might as well prevent everybody. If they want to exchange gifts, do it outside, that is personal,” he added.

The order would also aid the Aquino administration in its efforts to get rid of corruption.

“If they would approach and ask donations from the Customs employees, it would give them (employees) mortification and justification to earn on the side so that they would have money to buy gifts for their so-called inaanak. But if we could create an environment that they could reject these solicitations, then we would reduce corruption,” he added.

By Joel E. Zurbano

Why the Philippines is Poor, According to the IMF

Weak government spending and political uncertainty are just some of the reasons why the Philippines has been outperformed by most of its Asian neighbors, a study sponsored by the International Monetary Fund showed.

The 25-page working paper, The Determinants of Economic Growth in the Philippines: A New Look, compared the Philippines to 23 emerging markets for the period 1965–2008 to analyze the factors behind per-capita GDP growth in the Philippines.

A previous study noted that in the 1950s, the Philippines had the second highest per capita GDP in Asia. Today, its Southeast Asian neighbors Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam are described as high performing economies that are targetting first world statuses, while the Philippines was operating on a low-growth trajectory.

“The Philippines’ mediocre performance in a number of indicators—particularly relative to its Asian couterparts—illuminates some of the existing pieces of the Philippine growth puzzle,” Willa Boots Tolo, author of the report and now a bank officer at the Philippines’ Bangko Sentral, said.

Among the factors blamed for the country’s weak economic performance were weak agricultural productivity, high government debt, low public, private, and foreign investment, weak research and development spending, low spending on education, lackluster tourism sector, relatively high income inequality, high corruption, strong population growth, more episodes of financial crisis, and political uncertainty.

It suggested that the Philippines lacked a sustained period of relatively strong economic reforms.

Tolo said that, in order to catch up with its East Asian counterparts, the Philippines would need to maintain macroeconomic stability, expand its fiscal space, and redirect public spending to agriculture, infrastructure, and research and development.

“Expansion of the fiscal space and thus scaling up spending on public investment requires raising tax revenue through both administrative and selective tax policy measures. This would include strengthening tax administration, reform in excise taxes, rationalization of fiscal incentives, and addressing exemptions in value-added taxation,” she said.

The study said better irrigation, access to fertilizers, farm-to-market roads, and storage facilities could support development in the agricultural sector.

The government’s focus on public-private partnerships for traditional and non-traditional infrastructure investments would also maximize the returns to development, while srengthening the focus of education on the sciences in all levels would encourage future researchers and scientists who would be instrumental in nation building.

By Roderick T. dela Cruz

Blowin the whistle on HIV/AIDS via Project Commit

Four years ago, professional photographer Niccolo Cosme discovered that his friend had HIV. There and then, he realized the need to do more in raising awareness on the issue, but in a novel way.

Using his profession and Facebook as come-ons, Cosme held his first ever Project Headshot Clinic. Here, he took photos of participants for free so long as they use it as their profile pictures on their Facebook account. After the photo sessions, Cosme and his group gave a brief seminar to educate them about HIV and AIDS. In return, participants are required to spread the word to their friends.

TO COMMIT, NOT JUST TO BE AWARE

“With Project Headshot, we give importance to your profile pictures on Facebook. It works like an online billboard, its merging profile pictures with advertising and my advocacy. Imagine if you have a thousand friends on FB, and you can now track how many people are viewing you and liking your posts. I felt that that was the best way to promote the cause. In a way, it’s also making them little ambassadors of their communities,” explains Cosme, 31.

While anyone can join, not everyone can get in. Cosme says people must first fulfill some requirements.

“We screen them on their knowledge on the issue, ask them for their commitment and what they can do to help. They must also have a large number of friends on FB. We're also interested in the ideas that they have because at the end of the day, that’s what they’ll be talking about with their friends,” he points out.

Because of its success, Project Headshot Clinics have become an annual event. This year, he didn’t only manage to find sponsors for the Nov. 20 clinic but also attracted participants who were more dedicated to the advocacy.

“This year, the theme for Project Headshot was to commit because it’s not enough anymore to be aware. It’s a realization on our end that people are aware but lack commitment in all aspects. I know stories of the condom being just right in their closet but the commitment to use it isn’t there. It’s just all talk, it may be there in their minds and hearts but the commitment to do or practice it, is not there,” he stresses.

SOUNDING THE ALARM

In May, Cosme decided to take his advocacy to the next level as AIDS-related deaths have increased. What made matters worse is the fact that he knew most of these people who perished from AIDS. Some were friends, others were acquaintances.

Inspired by a friend’s red whistle which is being used in disaster preparedness campaigns, Cosme saw the need to create his own national response to the alarming cases of HIV and thus formed the The Red Whistle organization.

“The Red Whistle is not too different from disaster preparedness campaigns. There is a silent disaster happening. While it’s not like the typhoon disasters which we readily see, the battle against HIV is silent, an invisible disaster because people who are diagnosed with it, especially their families, keep it to themselves."

"Red Whistle is a good campaign to counter that silence because it's something that makes noise. Through this, we're hoping to ignite and empower more people to start their own causes on HIV and AIDS," shares Cosme.

BLOWING THE WHISTLE

The Red Whistle has partnered with various sectors and organizations, among them, the Take the Test organization. In September, Cosme linked up with fashion designer friends and held an auction of designer dresses to raise funds for Red Whistle. The proceeds will be used to fund their programs.

On Dec. 1, The Red Whistle`s first television commercial was also launched on Star World and Channel V in observance of World AIDS Day. Produced in cooperation with TBWA ad agency, the TVC will have celebrity advocates such as Boy Abunda, Gretchen Barreto, Rico Blanco, and Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago proudly wearing the red whistle and spreading the message.

Other activities in celebration of World AIDS Day include an exhibition of the latest Project Headshot Clinic photos at Greenbelt 5 in Makati which happened on Dec. 5, and a music festival at the Metro Walk, Ortigas on Dec. 9. The music fest which is in partnership with Channel V, will have 50 bands playing for free. Cosme says about 2,000 people are expected to come and blow the whistle altogether at the same time that day.

He adds that part of the activities is the giving away of safety and pleasure kits to the public. The kits, containing a red whistle, condom and a lubricant, carry the message that being safe can also be pleasurable.

"Some people are still in a denial stage that many are having sex now. That's why we see the need to enlighten them about things. We're hoping that through our campaign, we can have behavioral change. We want people to openly talk about sex because openly talking about it will lead to seeing the need for protection and hopefully getting tested," he says.

For Cosme, it's all about saving lives.

"Whenever people hear the facts, they get shocked. But we don’t want to scare people, we just want to inspire and empower them to do something. Because there is no cure for HIV, we believe that you can be the cure. It starts from you. If you protect yourself then it won't penetrate you. At the same time, the cure for stigma also starts with you. If you start showing care and respect, and not fear towards people living with HIV, then you are being part of the solution," ends Cosme.

By RACHEL C. BARAWID

Chiz, Loren lead pack of ’13 senatorial poll bets

If senatorial elections were held today, Francis “Chiz” Escudero and Loren Legarda would be ahead of the pac, according to the latest Pulse Asia survey.

The survey released on Wednesday had Escudero garnering 65.6 percent to earn the top spot, followed by Legarda with 58.9 percent.

Transportation and Telecommunication Secretary Manuel Roxas II, a former senator, came in third with a 43 percent score, followed by another re-electionist Alan Peter Cayetano with 40.3 percent.

Former vice president Noli de Castro completed the top five with 34.8 percent.

Notably a new entry, Joseph Victor “JV” Estrada—a son of former president Joseph Estrada—came in 6th place with 30.4 percent, followed by Gregorio Honasan with 29.6 percent.

Another new entry is Juan Ponce “Jack” Enrile Jr., son of Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, who took the 8th place with 29.5 percent. He was followed by Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III with 29.4 percent.

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima made it to the top 10 by garnering 29.4 percent.

Incumbent Senator Antonio Trillanes IV and Juan Miguel Zubiri completed the top 12 with 28.7 percent and 26.8 percent, respectively.

Within striking distance of the top 12 were Aurora Rep. Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara, a son of Senator Edgardo Angara, followed by former senators Jamby Madrigal and Richard Gordon.

The survey was conducted from Nov. 10 to 23 and is based on a sample of 1,200 representative adults 18 years old and above.

During the survey period, the dominant news items included the Supreme Court’s issuance of a temporary restraining order on the watch list order against former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and husband Jose Miguel T. Arroyo.

By John Concepcion

House bill on National Teachers Day approved in 2nd reading

A bill that seeks to declare October 5 of each year as “National Teachers Day” in the Philippines is now being readied for final approval at the House of Representatives.

This developed as congressmen approved in second reading House Bill 4097 that aims to recognize the role of teachers in the educational and moral advancement of the people, especially the youth, as well as to the development of society.

The bill was endorsed for plenary approval by the House Committee on Basic Education and Culture chaired by Sorsogon Representative Salvador Escudero III.

It substituted House Bill 3409 authored by Representatives Rufus Rodriguez of Cagayan de Oro City and Maximo Rodriguez, Jr. of Abante Mindanao party-list in consolidation with House Bill 4097 authored by Representative Antonio Tinio of Alliance of Concerned Teachers party-list.

Overworked and underpaid, Tinio said many teachers forced to work abroad for much better pay.

"Despite hardships attendant to their profession, such as low pay and meager benefits, difficult working conditions and minimal protection during election and census duties, our teachers still carry on, molding the minds and hearts of our country’s future," he said.

Rodriguez said teachers in the Philippines not only shoulder the task of providing better education to the country's students, they also endure hardships in the performance of their functions.

The measure mandates the Department of Education (DepEd), the Commission on Higher Education (Ched) and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) to initiate the appropriate activities to celebrate National Teachers' Day.

The bill directs all public and private educational institutions in the elementary, secondary and tertiary levels to provide their full support and assistance to events and activities to be conducted by teachers and students in recognition of National Teachers' Day.

By Virgil Lopez

President Noynoy Aquino travel shy for 2012

President Benigno Aquino III said Wednesday he will fly to the United States, Russia, Laos and Cambodia next year and might include Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea in his 2012 travel plans.

But he said he had asked the Foreign Affairs Department to plan his foreign visits carefully.

“I told the Department of Foreign Affairs … the way you’re planning it out, I might be spending half of the year out of the country and I will not accept that,” Mr. Aquino said.

US President Barack Obama invited Mr. Aquino to visit Washington next year during their meeting in Bali last month.

Mr. Aquino said he would also be attending the two summit meetings of the Association of the Southeast Asian Nations in Cambodia, the Asia-Europe Meeting in Laos, and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation conference in Russia.

Mr. Aquino, who promised fewer trips abroad compared to those made by his predecessor Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo when he assumed office in 2010, has been out of the country 11 times in the last 10 months.

He traveled to Indonesia and Singapore in March, to Thailand in May, to Brunei in June, to Japan and China in August, to the United States in September, to Japan in September, and to the United States and Indonesia in November.

By Joyce Pangco Pañares

Your online presence: Facebook Etiquette

In our technology and information-obsessed society, social networking sites like Facebook have become the new town herald, and airing your dirty laundry can be as easy as pressing “Share”.

Technology can be your best friend or your worst enemy. In the movie “He’s Just Not That Into You” there’s a scene where Drew Barrymore’s character talks about how exhausting it is to keep in touch with people these days. We have all these different portals to give and receive messages with email, Facebook, text messaging, Yahoo Messenger, etc., only to end up getting rejected by all these different technologies. And when it comes to the delicate art of Facebook etiquette, things can get a little slippery, here are few tips of navigating the cyberworld of social networking.

1. Relationship Status

One of the hardest things a person can go through is a bad breakup. So when you see your ex change their relationship status to “Single” barely a day after you two split it’s as if they’re rubbing salt on an open wound, then dousing it with gasoline and setting it on fire, for good measure. Some people say a month is enough, some say a couple of days, we recommend waiting a week.

2. “Like”-ing Questionable Things

If someone shares that their dog just died, it’s probably best not to “Like” it. Also, it’s in bad taste to “Like” relationship changes, particularly the ones that involve a break up. You can tell a lot about a person based on the things they “Like”.

3. Posting Unflattering and Incriminating Pictures of Yourself/Others

So you had a crazy weekend at the beach with your closest friends, got a little too drunk and passed out with your pants off, while you may think that was a hoot and a holler and don’t mind sharing the photographic evidence with the world, you should probably re-think it. The same goes for posting unflattering photos of your friends. The golden rule should be, if you wouldn’t want your friends seeing you like that, chances are, they wouldn’t either.

4. Ranting about work when your boss is on your friends list

Let’s say you hate your job and want everyone to know it, it’s probably best to make sure your boss isn’t on your friends list. After all, there’s nothing more pathetic and sadder than Facebook costing you your job. Facebook allows you to create custom friend groups, use it.

5. Drunk Facebooking

We’ve gone from drunk dialing to drunk texting, drunk emailing to drunk Facebooking. The evolution of self-perpetuated embarrassment has reached all-new heights. Thankfully, the good people at Firefox have given us some hope for retaining our dignity with the add-on “The Social Media Sobriety Test” which requires you take a series of tests before you’re allowed to log in to your Facebook (or Twitter and Myspace).

From EYP.ph

Mo and Rhian—should we care?

Mo and Rhian—should we care?

“In any case, as I’ve said before, other people’s personal lives are none of our business. But since Mo (like KC) has made a private matter public, it is now fodder for all sorts of speculation and gossip.”

By: Jenny Ortuoste

With the populace still reeling from the revelations of actress/model KC Concepcion about her breakup from actor Piolo Pascual, now comes another teary scandal, this time from disc jockey Mo Twister.

A video of a crying Mo (his real name is Mohan Gumatay) was recently uploaded to Youtube. In it he alleges that his then-girlfriend, actress Rhian Ramos, had their child aborted last July 2010 in Singapore.

From his @djmotwister account, he Tweeted, “I have a question about abortion. Should the girl ask the guy what his thoughts are and should he have a chance to stand up for the baby?”

He followed this with other, more controversial Tweets: “Because no amount of inconvenience could ever justify treating the supreme creation of God with murderous contempt.” “…even the dictionary defines it, in its 2nd explanation, as monstrosity.” “Young child, don’t ever think you were never good enough. You just had no choice in the matter.”

Finally, Mo posted a photo of what presumably was his own shoulder, tattooed with the words “to the wounds that will never heal, 08/07/10.” The skin was still reddened; the ink looked fresh. (Check out www.spot.ph.)

Rhian Ramos has filed a harrassment case against Mo. She claims that his insinuation that she had an abortion violates Republic Act 9262 (Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act). She has also asked for a temporary protection order to prevent Mo from making any more such statements.

We are merely spectators in all this and have no idea, at this point, what the truth is. Did she or didn’t she? Because he certainly did.

In any case, as I’ve said before, other people’s personal lives are none of our business. But since Mo (like KC) has made a private matter public, it is now fodder for all sorts of speculation and gossip.

Is Mo’s revelation vengeance, narcissism, or simply a man in pain lashing out like a wounded tiger, regardless of whom he hurts in his turmoil?

Can any good come out of this kind of exposure of private pain?

Rather than schadenfreudenly feeding off the suffering and misery inherent in the drama, let us deconstruct the concepts that arise and allow it to flow into the river of societal discourse: in this case, the topic of abortion.

Mo raises a good question—does the father of the child have a say in an abortion? The woman usually makes the decision to have an abortion, although it also happens often that it is instigated by the man. There are many reasons why the woman would have an abortion—youth, career, lack of finances, fear of disapproval and anger of parents and family, an unwillingness or unreadiness to be a parent, and the knowledge (or assumption) that the man will not be a good father and she’ll be raising the child on her own are just some of them.

In the end, what happens is that the woman makes the choice because it is her body, and it is her right to decide what to do or not to do with that body.
But why even have an abortion when contraception would have prevented the situation in the first place?

Given that the majority of Filipinos are Roman Catholics, and that the Church wields a strong influence in politics, and that the dominant ideology embedded in this culture is based upon Roman Catholic doctrine (sorry, other kinds of Christians, Muslims, atheists, Buddhists, and those of other, little, or no faith), prevailing attitudes toward abortion and contraception consider them abhorrent and sins against God.

In fact, so inflexible are the attitudes of some sectors of society that back-door influence has been brought heavily to bear against lawmakers passing the proposed reproductive health bill, which in no way condones nor encourages promiscuity, homosexuality, teen—even child—pregnancies, or any of the other “abominations” ascribed to it by the paranoid.

Yet the behavior of teenagers—as opposed to attitudes—tells a different story. As of 2009, based on data from birth certificates, the number of teenage pregnancies in the Philippines was at 195,662, a 70 percent increase from the 114,205 in 1999. Of the 1.75 million live births in 2009, over 11 percent of those babies were born to teenage mothers.

According to the United Nations Population Fund’s 2011 annual report, the teenage pregnancy rate in the Philippines is at 53 births per 1,000 women aged between 15 to 19 - the highest among the six Asean countries.

A 2008 news article says the Philippines (where abortion is illegal) has a higher abortion rate than the United States (where abortion is legal), at 25 per 1,000 women compared to the latter’s 23 per 1,000 women. Consider also that the US has a much higher population—around 250 million in 2011; the Philippines has less than half at around 95 million.

The main drivers of the escalating teen pregnancy rate are poverty and ignorance. The RH bill would try to minimize that, through certain of its measures that would provide sex education in schools.

The discussion of sex is still taboo in many sectors of Philippine society, even if as an activity it is frequently and enthusiastically practiced (see: Philippine population, number of offspring sired by Ramon Revilla Sr.).

But these are pressing issues that people face every day. Birth control, sex, abortion—they need to be discussed, they need to be faced, because people live and die over these matters.
We have a long, long way to go. We don’t even have divorce in this country —the only one left on the planet that refuses to let people start over.

So, should we care?

Mo Twister opened up a can of squirmy things living in the dark.

We need to drag this all into the light and let clarity, logic, and reason illuminate the important life issues we have long kept on the dark side of our collective soul.