PacMan ranked among all-time greats by Steward

Hall of Fame trainer Emanuel Steward ranks Manny “PacMan” Pacquiao among the world’s top fighters of all time because of the way he has fought—and beaten—some of the best opponents of his era.

“Among all-time greats, I would say [Pacquiao] has to be in the top dozen . . . for what he has done in the last three years of his career,” Steward told the Boxing on the Ropes radio program.

Steward, who has trained more than 20 world champions, said Pacquiao’s greatness must be seen in the light of his performances against the best fighters of his era rather than by his record eight world titles as he moved up in weight from flyweight (112 pounds) to junior middleweight (154lbs).

Steward stressed the fact that Pacquiao has shown willingness to fight the best available opponents and beat them convincingly.

“But the fact [is] that he’s fought some of the best and most of the guys were future Hall of Fame guys themselves,” he told program host Geoffrey Ciani.

Steward was referring to the legendary Mexican world champions Marco Antonio Barrera, Erik Morales and
Juan Manuel Marques; 10-time Mexican American world champion Oscar De La Hoya; British junior welterweight star Ricky Hatton; Puerto Rican world welterweight champion Miguel Cotto and three-time welterweight world champion Antonio Margarito of Mexico.

“[Pacquiao] has performed on a top level and only lost one fight to Morales who he [later] knocked out twice,” said Steward, who also serves as commentator for most of the big televised world title fights for HBO.

“Just to have this longevity, I would have to rate Pacquiao in the top dozen fighters of all time,” he added.

Steward also gave Pacquiao credit for choosing “Sugar” Shane Mosley for his coming May 7 fight in Las Vegas, although he suggested that a third fight with Morales could have been better.

“He’s never been a boring fighter and Shane—until his skills have started to wane a little bit—has always fought with his heart,” Steward observed.

Steward did not rule out a Mosley upset, especially if Pacquiao is distracted by “his political job now and this or that.”

By Jun Medina

Rains fail to dampen Sinulog festival

Rain fell but spirits remained high from the early morning Pontifical Mass that kicked off the celebration of the Sinulog Festival to the grand mardi gras that spilled into the streets of this city in honor of the Sto. Niño Sunday.

President Benigno S. Aquino III joined the revelry and offered prayers to the revered Sto. Niño to protect the country from disasters and other challenges in the future.

The President also urged the public to pray for and help thousands of families affected by recent floods in some areas in Visayas and Mindanao during his attendance at the annual festival.

“Let us pray for our countrymen in the Bicol, Visayas and Mindanao regions who are coping with calamity.

May Senyor Santo Niño protect our country from disasters and other challenges that will come our way, as we build our dreams together and realize a better life for all. Senyor Santo Ninyo, Ampingi kaming tanan,” the President said during the opening of the Sinulog Grand Parade at the Cebu City Sports Complex.

“As we say our prayers, it is my fervent hope that the united community effort that has made the Sinulog festival successful for three decades will also be displayed as we extend our helping hands to those affected by the recent flashfloods,” he added.

Thousands of devotees attended the mass celebrated by newly installed Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma at the Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño.

The 60-year-old bishop was joined by His eminence Ricardo J. Cardinal Vidal and other high-ranking members of the clergy who endured the heavy rain.

Later at around 8 a.m., Palma also celebrated the mass attended by the President at the Cebu City Sports Complex.

In both of his homilies, Palma lauded the people’s strong devotion to the child image of Jesus stressing that the rain didn’t stop pilgrims from attending the mass in the Basilica.

It can be recalled that on Saturday, participants in the barefoot procession were also drenched in rain and had to wade through flooded portions of the Sto. Niño float’s s route.

“Praise the Lord as we are all here to join the mass despite the heavy rain,” said Palma.

A total of 151 contingents in several categories joined the performance contests in this year’s celebration.

During his visit in Cebu, Aquino said he was happy to attend the Sinulog festival which he claimed was “always a joy to celebrate, as it gives us an occasion to take great pride in this unique component of our country’s culture.”

“This festival, as we are all proud to note, is also distinctly Cebuano. And it gives me pleasure, as always, to visit your island province,” he said.

But the President reminded the people that Sinulog festival was not all about the merriment but a celebration of Filipino values and beliefs.

“Along with that legacy came other values that have stood the test of time, which are important as we seize the momentum of reform, and rebuild our country. We are all still Filipinos—bound by our culture, by the sacrifices of our forefathers, and the collective aspiration to live up to their example,” he said.

“We celebrate together because we look back as one, and as one, we also dream. We embark on this collective journey to achieve our dreams guided by the very spirit of our faith: That we are stewards of our nation, and we are tasked to be our brother’s keeper,” he said.

By PHOEBE JEN INDINO and GENALYN D. KABILING

LGUs told to impose ban on plastics

An environmental watchdog called on Muntinlupa City residents to support the ban on plastic bags and other plastic disposables even as businessmen warn of massive layoffs once the policy takes effect on Tuesday.

Roy Alvarez, president of the EcoWaste Coalition, said City Ordinance 10-109 offers hope in the fight against white pollution, referring to the litter caused by continued use and disposal of plastic materials.

“By insisting to enforce the ban, Muntinlupa will become an environmental leader among local government units (LGUs) with this bold measure to reduce plastic litter and promote ecological values,” he said.

For her part, Sonia Mendoza of the EcoWaste Coalition’s Task Force on Plastics said that the ordinance “has the potential of triggering a domino effect among LGUs (local government units) who are similarly struggling to find sustainable solutions to persistent garbage and flooding woes.”

Aside from Muntinlupa, similar bans were already implemented in Los Baños, Laguna; Sta. Barbara, Iloilo; and Carmona, Cavite.

Under the ordinance, business establishments are prohibited from using, offering or selling plastic bags as primary or secondary packing materials for dry goods, as well as for wet goods such as fish, meat and poultry.

The ordinance further bans polystyrene containers, commonly known as “Styro,” for foodstuffs, drinks and other goods.

By Virgil Lopez

PNoy’s Porsche and the “Daang Matuwid”

The daang matuwid meant a lot more than just a straightaway where the President can floor the accelerator in his expensive German sports car…

This is what columnist Jojo Robles has to say with the Presidents new toy!

PNoy’s Porsche and the “Daang Matuwid”

I’d like to buy a Porsche, too, sure, even a second-hand one. But if I were President, I’d sure think twice before doing such a stupid thing—even if I could afford to do it.

Yes, I’ve heard all the justifications for President Noynoy Aquino’s purchase of his latest toy, a white, entry-level Porsche, for less than P5 million. I know he traded in his BMW (which was dutifully declared in his statement of assets and liabilities) to buy the Porsche.

I even understand that a bachelor needs a sweet ride, and that there are few cars out there that can give the driving enthusiast the satisfying feeling of power and control like something that came off the Zuffenhausen assembly line. And, though I’ve never done it, I’d like to bring a Porsche to a racetrack as well, and drive like I’m in a real-world version of Gran Turismo 5.

But, if I’m Aquino, I’d worry about the message I’m sending to the people I’m supposed to be leading if I buy a Porsche. I’d think about how it would go over with Filipinos who are protesting the planned increase in fares of all sorts of public transportation, including the state-run MRT-LRT system.

(Heck, if I just bought a Porsche, I know my next problem will be where to drive it in the giant parking lot that is Metro Manila. Especially after the MRT-LRT fare increases take effect, traffic is sure to be worse than ever before as more people forsake the trains for cheaper modes of transportation.)

If I were President and I really wanted to drive a Porsche, I’m sure there will be no shortage of people who will lend me theirs. But I wouldn’t buy one, even if could, because it would just make me look insensitive to the plight of the poor who are finding it harder and harder to get around in kuligligs, habal-habals, pedicabs or on foot.

Furthermore, with the pressing problems that confront Aquino on a daily basis, some people are bound to wonder how their President can find the time to race around the Subic track like he has all the time in the world. Or is that intruding into Aquino’s now-famous “private time”?

And here I was thinking that this government is extremely sensitive to what people think. And that the daang matuwid meant a lot more than just a straightaway where the President can floor the accelerator in his expensive German sports car.

Gen. Garcia’s assets under plea bargain turned over to govt

The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) revealed to the Sandiganbayan on Wednesday that pieces of property included in a plea bargaining agreement between the Office of the Ombudsman and former military comptroller and now retired Maj. Gen. Carlos Garcia have been formally turned over to the state.

In a six-page manifestation dated November 22, 2010, prosecution lawyers enumerated the status of the conveyance of Garcia’s select assets that were subjected to turnover under the plea bargaining agreement.

“All [pieces of real-estate property of Garcia] had already been transferred by the OSP to the Republic of the Philippines,” the OSP said in its manifestation.

The transfer certificates of title of the real-estate assets worth P21.27 million covered those found in Baguio City, Guimaras, Iloilo
and Batangas.

The United States Department of Justice also had assured the OSP that the US government “will forfeit the Trump Park condominium [unit worth P40.36 million] as well as two US bank accounts, which are currently under restraint in the US,” both of which are under deeds of conveyance.

The bank deposits of Garcia in four bank and loan accounts have also been placed under the state’s custody.

Banco de Oro already wrote the Sandiganbayan that it is prepared to deliver Garcia’s deposits to the anti-graft court as soon as a court order on the disgraced military officer’s case has been furnished to them.

Also Planters Development Bank said that it is “prepared to release” Garcia’s deposit after the Regional Trial Court of Manila resolved the freeze order that once preserved the accounts.

The Armed Forces and Police Savings and Loan Association Inc. is also expected to return to the state P10.02 million that is now “being held in trust in the name of the Republic.”

Meanwhile, the Bank of the Philippine Islands “would comply with the [May 4, 2010] Resolution of the [Sandiganbayan]” for the return of P51,499.34 and $56,225.16 in monies that Garcia has with the bank.

Land Bank of the Philippines will also return a total of P7.31 million and $759,083.34 to the state but is in need of a court order, which was also requested by other banks.

“It is on this regard that the prosecution filed on November 10, 2010 a Manifestation with Urgent Motion for Issuance of an Order directed to the banks and financial institutions to cause the issuance of manager’s check for the monies in the said accounts to be released to the [state],” the manifestation said.

Sandiganbayan has forwarded the May 4 and August 11, 2010 resolutions to the Land Transportation Office “but it required that ‘emission tests’ be made on the [4.4 million-worth] vehicles [of Garcia] before transfer.”

But “it is ‘physically impossible’ to comply with the ‘emission test’ because, except for the [Honda] CRV, all the engines of the vehicles are no longer in running condition and are incapable to produce emission,” the manifestation read.

Other vehicles subjected for conveyance include a Toyota Rav 4, Mitsubishi L300 and a Honda Civic.

And the deeds of conveyance for the corporate shares of stocks of Garcia worth P13,000 in IJT Caregiver Inc. and IJT Katamnan Corp. had already been executed, but it was found out that the corporations are “dormant.”

“The SEC [Securities and Exchange Commission] has no records of stockholders’ and Board of Directors’ meetings nor of Elections of Officers. Records show that the two companies made their last communication to the SEC in 2004,” the manifestation stated.

The SEC said that because of the corporations’ non-compliance with reportorial requirements and submission of financial statements, “the two companies, under the SEC Rules, may now be delisted from its roster of registered companies.”

When asked if the recovery of Garcia’s vehicles and corporate stocks were lopsided bargains for the state, OSP spokesman Jesus Micael said that it is not because the pieces of real property and bank accounts will be turned over to the state.

“Vehicles depreciate but the pieces of land … appreciate. The bank accounts even accumulate interest,” he added.

No ‘final say’ - Meanwhile, Sandiganbayan spokesman Renato Bocar said that while there was an initial approval of the plea bargain agreement—since Garcia was allowed to enter a guilty plea to lesser offenses and allowed to post bail—“the final act of approval would be sentencing.”

“If the prosecution has a compelling case to withdraw the initial approval of Sandiganbayan to the plea bargain, there is still a possibility to revert the state of things prior to the plea bargain,” he added.

“The justices are not concerned by the adverse public reaction against the plea bargaining agreement entered into between the Ombudsman and [retired] Gen. Garcia. The court will decide on the case based only on evidence, laws and jurisprudence—not by any other extraneous factors,” Bocar said.

Micael said that substantial compliance with the turnover of Garcia’s assets to the state means that the plea bargaining agreement was a go.

“The court will first decide on [Garcia’s direct bribery and facilitating money-laundering] cases. After that, [it] may probably issue a separate resolution, which will finally decide the fate of the plea bargaining agreement,” he added.

The plea bargaining agreement has come under fire from certain quarters because it covered about P130 million in allegedly ill-gotten wealth of Garcia when what the government wanted to recover amounts to at least P300 million.

Malacañang also on Wednesday denied that President Benigno Aquino 3rd was given wrong information on the plea bargaining agreement between the Ombudsman and Garcia.

“The President was not fed wrong information,” deputy spokesman Abigail Valte told reporters during a press briefing in Malacañang.

Valte was reacting to a claim of Special Prosecutor Wendell Barreras-Sulit that President Aquino was fed the wrong information on the plea bargaining deal.

During a briefing, she said that the information that the Palace presented to the media about the controversial plea bargaining deal was based on court records.

By John Constantine G. Cordon with reports From Cris G. Odronia & Llanesca T. Panti

Binay hounds Hyatt 10 and other noisy GMA critics

The Aquino administration has not achieved anything significant in charging former President Gloria Arroyo and her allies for alleged wrongdoing during her nearly 10-year watch, according to Vice President Jejomar Binay.

“Is there a solid accomplishment? There is none. The Truth Commission, supposedly, will be the one to go after Gloria but it was declared illegal. Malacañang has done [nothing] at all [all] this time,” Vice President Jejomar Binay on Tuesday told The Manila Times during an exclusive interview.


The Supreme Court late last year ruled that the Truth Commission was unconstitutional, dealing a big blow to Executive Order 1 that had created the body.

It dismissed speculation that the ruling was intended to shield the former president from prosecution over allegations of corruption during her term.

Binay warned against bringing cases linking Mrs. Arroyo to alleged graft to the Office of the Ombudsman, whose impartiality he said he doubts.

Sounding pessimistic, he said that the alleged Arroyo corruption cases would end up being forgotten by the people the way they lost memory of alleged Marcos graft cases.

“You know, Filipinos have a short memory, or maybe they [crooks during the Arroyo and Marcos administrations] were able to hide [their money-making rackets] very well,” the Vice President added.

With the war against corruption by the administration of President Benigno Aquino 3rd apparently in tatters, Binay said, now is the time for critics of then President Arroyo to stand up and be counted in the battleplan of Malacañang to make the country’s former leader account for alleged excesses during her watch.

Silent now - In hurling the challenge, the Vice President addressed in particular the so-called Hyatt 10, a group of mostly Cabinet members who rebelled against Mrs. Arroyo over alleged graft in her administration but have since inched their way back to high office in the Aquino administration.

Sidling up, also apparently, to President Aquino, Binay practically accused the Hyatt 10 of not doing enough to push forward Malacañang’s war against graft, especially that allegedly committed by officials of the Arroyo administration.

The Vice President, also apparently taking the cudgels for the President, said that the people—not Mr. Aquino alone—also are responsible for winning such war.

Binay also dared Hyatt 10 and other groups critical of Mrs. Arroyo before to once and for all bring the issue to the courts in order to advance the incumbent President’s initiatives in stamping out graft.

“Why do we always expect the President to tackle this issue [of corruption during the Arroyo watch]? The people who were making noises before, where are they now, the Hyatt 10? They are now silent but they also are Filipinos. Or maybe, they are still grappling [with] proper procedures [in running after alleged crooks in the past administration],” he said.

Binay also told The Times that the Aquino administration can explore ways that will enable Malacañang to hold Mrs. Arroyo accountable.

“I think there are so many options. One is that the Department of Justice [DOJ] can go after [the former president],” he said.

Meanwhile, Binay also told The Times that he is not proceeding with a planned China trip intended to appease the Chinese government over the bloody hostage-taking in Manila last year that left eight Chinese tourists from Hong Kong dead.

“A report [on the incident] has reached the Chinese government. Secretary Lim went there and we don’t have a [copy of the] report on what happened [anyway],” he said, referring to Tourism chief Alberto Lim.

By Angelo S. Samonte, Manila Times

Peso among top currency picks in 2011

American investment bank Merrill Lynch has picked the Philippine peso as among its two currency favorites this 2011, saying the local currency was undervalued by about 10-15 per cent given the strength of the country's external surplus.

Visiting Merrill Lynch foreign-exchange strategist Ashok Bhundia told reporters Monday that the peso and the Singapore dollar were among his firm's top currency picks for this year.

"The peso, we believe, is mainly being supported by remittance inflows, which remain very strong. The growth dynamics is getting structural boost from a reform-minded government and if expectations prove right, we should see the fiscal position improve structurally," Bhundia said.

Based on a statistical model used by Merrill Lynch in estimating the sustainable level of current account, Bhundia said the country's surplus was "a little too large." As such, he said the local currency would need to appreciate to attain an equilibrium, thereby explaining the perceived undervaluation of the peso.

However, he said external jitters would likely bring the local currency under pressure in the second quarter. In particular, risk aversion from the lingering fiscal crisis in Europe is seen bringing the local currency to 43.50 against the US dollar by June from around 42:$1 by March this year.

But the currency upswing is seen resuming in the second half, bringing the peso to 42 by September and further to 40 against the greenback by end-2011.

Another factor that would underpin the strength of the peso and other Asian currencies, he added, would be the likelihood that China would allow the renminbi to appreciate.

The Philippines is also seen as among the few countries where the risk of resorting to capital controls was very low given recent pronouncements from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) rejecting such an idea.

What the BSP had instead done, Bhundia said, was to stop rolling over maturing foreign-exchange currency swaps, which had the effect of squeezing peso liquidity by shutting down onshore borrowing rates in peso. But he said this was a very "technical" response that could not likely be sustained going forward.

"We don't think central banks will lean against appreciation. What they will lean against is too rapid appreciation," he said.

~ ANN