MST Dec0212 Issue

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SPORTS B4 BUSINESS ARTS & LIFE A8
Sunday
MST
The Sunday Edition of ManilaStandardTODAY
Vol. I No. 23 12 Pages, 2 Section
P18.00 SUNDAY, December 2, 2012
PH: CHINA MOVE
A GLOBAL THREAT
Aquino,
Belmonte
try again
on RH bill
Corporate
jets: Big
business
in Subic
Symphony of Lights. Bonifacio Global Citys skyline
is aglow with creatively designed Christmas lights on
construction tower cranes and overhead street protections.
Lower portion shows a view from Bonifacio High Street
Central during the conclusion of BGC Passionfest and the
opening of Christmas 2012.
Three-in-one.
MaskaRHade, a three-in-
one event, is held to mark
the International Human
Rights and World Aids Day
as well as to press for the
approval of the RH bill in
Congress. SONNY ESPIRITU
Next page
Next page
Next page
By Maricel V. Cruz

A CONSENSUS on the contro-
versial RH bill looms large as
President Aquino meets con-
gressmen over lunch on Mon-
day, with House leaders saying
that the measure will be passed
before the year ends.
House Speaker Feliciano
Belmonte Jr. assured the pas-
sage of the controversial Repro-
ductive Health bill, prompted
by developments in the House
such as the adoption of a substi-
tute bill and amendments.
He said that President Aqui-
no himself was determined to
see the result of the voting in
Congress of the highly divisive
measure.
He (Aquino) ask that we
nish the amendments and get
to vote on the bill one way or
the other, Belmonte told the
Manila Standard.
President Aquino had said he
would not impose his will on
lawmakers over the RH bill
By Butch Gunio

OLONGAPO CITY---Twenty
years ago after the last American
ghter jet took off, a new breed
of jets has taken over the runway
and hangars of the Subic Bay In-
ternational Airport. Business jets
are booming.
This is what we want to see.
Our airport as a bustling hub for
general aviation, says Subic
Bay Metropolitan Authority
chairman Robert Garcia.
The former US military base
turned industrial-commercial
complex has just marked its
20-years of operations on No-
vember 24th. And Garcia be-
lieves that its development is
right on track.
By Sara Susanne Fabunan
T
he United
States said
on Saturday
that it does
not take sides in the
competing claims in
the West Philippine
Sea in the wake
of Chinas new
policy that it would
board and search
ships that will pass
by the contested
waters, a move
that the Foreign
Affairs department
said was a gross
violation of the
code of conduct in
the Sea and posed
a direct threat to
the international
community.
In a statement, US Embassy
spokeswoman Bettina Malone
said that while Washington was
not taking sides, it was urging
claimant countries to avoid
provocative unilateral actions.
Bettina added that the US
interest remained focus on the
freedom of navigation and un-
impeded lawful commerce in
the West Philippine Sea.
As Secretary [Hilary] Clin-
ton reiterated recently at the
ASEAN [Association of the
Southeast Asian Nation] Re-
gional Forum, we do not take
a position on competing sov-
ereignty claims over land fea-
tures in the South China Sea,
Malone said.
All concerned parties should
avoid provocative unilateral
actions that raise tensions and
undermine the prospects for a
diplomatic or other peaceful
resolution of differences.
Bettina added that the US
government would support a
collaborative and diplomatic
process by all claimants to re-
solve their disputes.
LOCAL HERBS
REACH WORLD
MARKET
A search for natural
remedy for high
cholesterol and
gout eventually led
an award winning
scientist and his
wife to produce
local herb extracts
for the world
market.
FROM T-SHIRTS
TO COUTURE
Robin Tomas,whose
family is in
showbusiness, is a
talented designer
who lives in two
cities.
B1
SWORD PLAY
The University of the East Lady Warriors are ready
to defend their womens division title. From left:
Hillary Romero, Clicheilyn Del Rosario, Elain Kea
Gonzales, Keren Pangilinan, Jylyn Nicanor, Justine
Gail Tinio and Wilhelmina Lozada.
CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK
DECEMBER 2, 2012 SUNDAY
A2
Sunday
NEWS
ManilaStandardTODAY
ANNEX A
Republic of the Philippines
DEPARTMENTOFPUBLICWORKSANDHIGHWAYS
Sorsogon Second District Engineering Ofce
Bagacay, Gubat, Sorsogon
INVITATION TO BID
The Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) Department of Public Works and Highways, Sorsogon Second
District Engineering Offce, Bagacay, Gubat, Sorsogon invites contractors to bid for:
Contract ID No: 12FL0034
Contract Name: Concreting of Brgys. San Ramon Butag Road
Location: Bulan, Sorsogon
Scope of Works: Concrete paving of 1,338m x 5.0m with Lined Canal and
Slope Protection
Approved Budget for
the Contract (ABC): Php 12,250,000.00
Contract Duration: 120 CD
Contract Name: Concreting of Brgys. Pawa Beguin Jamorawon - Butag
Road
Location: Bulan, Sorsogon
Scope of Works: Concrete paving of 19.40m x 2.50m x 0.15m and
1,479.80m x 5.0m x 0.15m Road
Approved Budget for
Contract Name: Concreting along Barcelona San Antonio to Sta. Lourdes
Road
Location: Barcelona, Sorsogon
Scope of Works: Construction of 150mm thk. PCCP
Approved Budget for
Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.
The BAC of the DPWH Sorsogon Second District Engineering Offce, Bagacay, Gubat, Sorsogon now
invites bids for the above mentioned projects. Bidders should have completed, within ten (10) years
from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project. The description of an
eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instruction to Bidders.
Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using non-discretionary
pass/fail criterion as specifed in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act
9184 (RA 9184), otherwise known as the Government Procurement Reform Act.
Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizen/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least
seventy fve percent (75%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines.
Interested bidders may obtain further information from DPWH, Sorsogon Second District Engineering
Offce, Bagacay, Gubat, Sorsogon and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below
from Monday to Friday from 8:00 AM 12:00 NN and 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM.
A completed set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested Bidders from the address
below and upon payment of a nonrefundable fee for the Bidding Documents in the amount of P
12,500.00 for 12FL0034 and 12FL0035 (per project) and P 24,500.00 for 12FL0036.
It may also be downloaded free of charge from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic
Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and the website of the Procuring Entity, provided that bidders shall
pay the fee for the Bidding Documents not later that the submission of their bids.
The Department of Public Works and Highways, Sorsogon Second District Engineering Offce,
Bagacay, Gubat, Sorsogon will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on December 7, 2012 at the Bids and
Awards Committee (BAC) of the DPWH, Sorsogon Second District Engineering Offce, Bagacay,
Gubat, Sorsogon which shall be open to all interested parties.
Bids must be delivered to the address below on or before December 21, 2012 until 10:00 AM
at the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) of the DPWH, Sorsogon Second District Engineering
Offce, Bagacay, Gubat, Sorsogon. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the
acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.
Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders representatives who choose to attend at the
address below. Late bids shall not be accepted.
1. Issuance of Bidding Documents From November 29 to December 21, 2012
2. Deadline of Receipt of LOI from
Prospective Bidders
December 14, 2012 at 3:00 PM
Date of Publication: November 29 December 5, 2012
DPWH Website, DPWH Sorsogon 2
nd
DEO Bulletin Board, PhilGEPS, Manila Standard
The DPWH, Sorsogon 2
nd
DEO, Bagacay, Gubat, Sorsogon reserves the right to accept or reject any
bid, to annul the bidding process, and to reject all bids at any time prior to contract award, without
thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.
For further information, please refer to:
SOCORRO EDEN D. CHAVEZ
Administrative Offcer V
Head, BAC Secretariat
Dept. of Public Works and Highways
Sorsogon 2
nd
District Engineering Offce
056-211-4251
socorroeden.chavez@yahoo.com

(Sgd.) ROMEO F. CIELO
Assistant District Engineer
(BAC Chairman)
(MST-Dec. 2, 2012)
Department of Public Works and Highways
Region VI Western Visayas
OFFICE OF THE DISTRICT ENGINEER
AKLAN DISTRICT ENGINEERING OFFICE
Kalibo, Aklan
Invitation to Bid for: Construction/Improvement Boracay
Circumferential Road Boracay Island,
Malay, Aklan
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Aklan District
Engineering Offce, Kalibo, Aklan, through the __________, intends to apply
the sum of Php31,525,000.00 being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC)
to payments under the contract for Construction/Improvement - Boracay
Circumferential Road, Boracay Island, Malay, Aklan- 12GA0123. Bids
received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

Engineering Offce, Kalibo, Aklan, now invites bids for 1. Road Upgrading/
Concreting of Section I III 3.00m width, 0.20m thickness, 670m length, Section
IV & VI 3.80m width, 0.15m thickness 579.50 length, Section V, VIII-A, IX 4.00m
width 0.20m thickness, 765m length & Section VIII PCCP with Paving Blocks,
2.80m width, 0.15m thickness, 50m length. Completion of the Works requires 179
CD. Bidders should have completed, within ten (10) years from the date of submission
and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder
is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II, Instructions to Bidders.

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures
us i ng non- di s c r et i onar y pas s / f ai l c r i t er i on as s pec i f i ed i n
the Impl ementi ng Rul es & Regul ati ons (IRR) of Republ i c Act 9184 (RA
9184), otherwise known as the Government Procurement Reform Act.

Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships,
or organi zati ons wi th at l east seventy fi ve percent (75%) i nterest or
out st andi ng capi t al st ock bel ongi ng t o ci t i zens of t he Phi l i ppi nes.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from Department of Public Works
and Highways (DPWH) Aklan District Engineering Offce, Kalibo, Aklan, and
inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below from 8:00 12:00 A.M.
and from 1:00 5:00 p.m.

Letters of Intent (LOIs) and/or applications for eligibility and latest Class
A documents are to be accepted by the BAC together with the Bids and
other relevant documents on or before the deadline for submission of bids.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested Bidders on
November 27 December 17, 2012 from the address below and upon payment of
a non-refundable fee for the Bidding Documents in the amount of Php20,000.00.

It may also be downloaded free of charge from the website of the Philippine
Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and the website of
the Department of Public Works and Highways, provided that bidders shall pay
the fee for the Bidding Documents not later than the submission of their bids.

The Department of Public Works and Highways, Aklan District Engineering
Offce, Kalibo, Aklan will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on December 6, 2012 - 10:00 am
at DPWH BAC Offce, Kalibo, Aklan, which shall be open only to all interested parties.

Bids must be delivered on or before 9:00 A.M. December 17, 2012 at DPWH
BAC Office, Kalibo, Aklan. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security
in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.

Bids shall be opened on December 17, 2012 - 2:00 P.M. in the presence of the bidders
representatives who chose to attend at the address below. Late bids shall not be accepted.

Engineering Offce, Kalibo, Aklan reserves the right to accept or reject any bid, to
annul the bid process, and to reject all bids at any time prior to contract award, without
Engr. Vivian B. Dalida
Engineer II
Head BAC Secretariat
Engr. Joey R. Ureta
Engineer II
Head, BAC-TWG
DPWH Aklan District Engineering Offce
Toting Reyes St., Kalibo, Aklan
e-mail: aklan.deo@gmail.com
facsimile: +63 (36) 2624845
web: dpwh.gov.ph
(Sgd.) DENNIS C. FUENTES
Engineer III
BAC Chairman
Noted:
(Sgd.) ABRAHAM C. VILLAREAL
OIC District Engineer

(MST-Dec. 2, 2012)
Kalibo, Aklan
Invitation to Bid for: Widening of Aklan East Road, Kalibo, Aklan
Engineering Offce, Kalibo, Aklan, through the __________ intends to apply the sum
of Php46,694,830.00 being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments
under the contract for Widening of Aklan West Road, Kalibo, Aklan 12GA0133.
Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

Engineering Offce, Kalibo, Aklan, now invites bids for Widening/Conc. of
1,179.45m net length of 2-lane 3.05m wide. 0.28m thickness PCCP on existing
graveled road & 668,48m net length of 0.20m thickness PCCP remove &
replaced, onst. of 2,554.80m length CHB box type drainage with curb & gutter,
installation 552m (0.19m RCPC). Completion of the Works requires 170 CD.
Bidders should have completed, within ten (10) years from the date of submission and
receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is
contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II, Instructions to Bidders.

the Implementing Rules & Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 9184 (RA


Interested bidders may obtain further information from Department of
Publ i c Works and Hi ghways (DPWH) Akl an Di stri ct Engi neeri ng
Offi ce, Kal i bo, Akl an, and i nspect t he Bi ddi ng Document s at t he
address given below from 8:00 12:00 A.M. and from 1:00 5:00 p.m.



Government Electronic procurement System (PhilGEPS) and the website of

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Aklan District Engineering
Offce, Kalibo, Aklan will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on December 6, 2012 10:00 A.M.
at the DPWH BAC Offce, Kalibo, Aklan, which shall be open to all interested parties.

BAC Offce, Kalibo, Aklan. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security


Engineering Offce, Kalibo, Aklan reserves the right to accept or reject any bid,
to annul the bid process, and to reject all bids at any time prior to contract award,
without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

Engineer II
Engr. Joey R. Ureta
Engineer II
Head, BAC-TWG
facsimile: +63 (36) 2624845
web: dpwh.gov.ph
BAC Chairman
Noted:
(MST-DEC. 3, 2012)
Aquino...
when he meets with them in a
luncheon meeting in Malacaang
on Monday.
The Liberal Party will not im-
pose our position, Mr. Aquino
said on Friday, and Belmonte
added that the closest thing the
President will ask for is to put the
measure to a vote.
Mondays meeting will be
the second time that President
Aquino would be discussing
the bill with House members.
He pleaded with the lawmakers
to end the oor debates on the
measure during their rst meet-
ing in August.
Belmonte also earlier gave
assurance that they would wind
up the discussion on House Bill
4244 before Congress goes on a
Holiday break on December 21.
Belmonte said that the move
of the House leadership to ac-
cept the substitute version of
the RH bill introduced by its
principal author, Albay Rep.
Edcel Lagman was another ma-
jor breakthrough towards the
passage of the measure at the
Lower House.
We have done quite a lot of
efforts (to come up with a ver-
sion of the measure that is ac-
ceptable to all) we now have
the substitute bill containing
amendments mentioned in the
debates and elsewhere, Bel-
monte added.
The new version says the
state will only promote ac-
cess to relevant information
and education on medically-
safe, legal, ethical, affordable,
effective and quality repro-
ductive health care services,
methods, devices and supplies
which do not prevent the im-
plantation of a fertilized ovum
as determined by the Food and
Drug Administration.
The state will also promote
openness to life provided that
parents bring forth to the world
only those children that they can
raise in a truly humane way.
RH supporters, DIWA party-
list Rep. Emmeline Aglipay and
Gabriela Rep. Luz Ilagan re-
mained hopeful that the RH bill
would be nally put to a vote
next week.
I am hoping that the President
will certify the bill as a priority
measure, Aglipay told the Ma-
nila Standard.
Ilagan, for her part, said
that with or without the Presi-
dents marching order, the
RH billwhich promotes a
national reproductive health
policy for the Filipino wom-
enhas to be passed.
It is the duty of Congress to
legislate measures that are ben-
ecial for the Filipino people,
Ilagan said.
Ifugao Rep. Teddy Baguilat
claimed victory over the Presi-
dents statement for Congress to
end debates on the RH bill.
Corporate...
I will go very strongly into general aviation,
which includes chartered jets and ight training
schools, he stressed. Logistical services, air-
craft refurbishing and repair are the ideal busi-
ness for the international airport, he said.
With more than $8 billion dollars in foreign
investment, Subic Bay is the countrys top at-
traction in the foreign investment community.
Leading the pack in this mixed commercial
and military thrust is Aviation Concepts, a jet
charter rm, whose clients are as diverse as
their eet of commercial xed wing aircraft.
Most of our clients are in Asia. They are the
corporate executives who need to shufe from
place to place quickly, efciently, and comfort-
ably, says Joel Edmondson, Aviation Concepts
general manager.
Edmondson witnessed the airports ups and
downs. A Subic Bay-based US Navy pilot for
26 years, he led Federal Express team as chief
pilot until the courier giant decided its business
was better off in China.
Still, Edmondson might hear the familiar
sound of ghter jets alongside his more sub-
dued planes.
Because of national defense considerations,
we would have to operate it as a mixed use area,
Garcia explained, meaning it might be used as
a jumping off point for ghter squadrons, side-
by-side with commercial jet charters.
Just recently, the US Navy leased portions of the
Airport terminal to support its troops participating
in the joint American-Filipino military exercises.
Aviation Concepts, so far the only non-ight
school locator, ts comfortably with the SBMA
plan, said Garcia.
Business charter is big business), so, that
will provide a strong commercial component
for the airport, Garcia said.
Globally, the charter industry is worth about
$15 billion and is growing.
The industry is forecasting nearly 10,000
new business jet deliveries worth about $250
billion from 2012 to 2022. Some 700 jets planes
will be delivered to buyers this year, according
to industry analysts.
The Asia Pacic region grew at double-digit
rates throughout the past ve years.
SBMA, together with Aviation Concepts, are
preparing to grab a slice of the business.
We support SBMA by working with groups
to get the message out that Subic Bay is the best
place to invest in, Edmondson said, noting that
companies have room to grow in this 200 hect-
are facility.
Operating out of a former Fedex hangar, the
rm manages 7 jets, employs 51 workers, in-
cluding six (6) American pilots.
Mostly, we y throughout Asia. We y to
other parts of the world, but our aircrafts are
based here, Edmondson explains, stressing
that his company is in Subic for the long term.
Loving Subic Bay
Like Edmondson, many of their workers are
former employees of Fedex.
Emma Bonsa, the companys facilities super-
visor and executive secretary to the President
and CEO, says she is lucky.
She says the pay is higher and the company
takes care of its employees like family members.
There are no sirsand madamshere because
we are all worthy of the same respect. We call
our president by his rst name, Bonsa says.
But her most memorable experience was when
her home was ooded by strong monsoon rains.
Everyone affected was asked how the com-
pany can help. Afterwards, we were given -
nancial help to tide us over our crisis. This is
the rst time I experienced such care from an
employer, and it one that I treasure very much
she added.
Luisa Patagan, operations improvement man-
ager and another Fedex veteran, says that every-
one receives 100 dollars for every year of service.
During our anniversary, the president gives
us $100 dollars for every year of service. So if
you have worked for two years, you get $200
dollars, she says.
But her biggest kick comes from providing
their client with quality service.
We meet a lot of people and you really dont
know what to expect. And surpassing our cli-
ents expectation gives me the boost to get up
the next day, Patagan declares.
For all three, the best come-on is Subic Bay.
The place is beautiful, and to them every
work day is a vacation.
No trafc. No pollution. Seaside. What else
can you ask for? Bonsa stressed.
PH...
We believe all parties should
pursue their territorial and mari-
time claims in accordance with
international law, including as
reected in the 1982 Law of the
Sea Convention, Malone said.
Meanwhile, the Foreign Af-
fairs Department, in a statement
on Saturday, has asked the Chi-
nese government to immediately
clarify its reported plans to in-
tercept vessels that would enter
the disputed waters in the West
Philippine Sea.
We would like China to imme-
diately clarify its reported plans to
interdict ships that enter what it
considers its territory in the South
China Sea, the DFA said.
The DFA had expressed its
concern over reports that foreign
vessels illegally entering the
waters under the jurisdiction of
Hainan Province, which include
virtually the entire China Sea un-
der its nine-dash line, boarded, in-
spected, conscated, immobilized
and its crew detained or expelled,
among other punitive actions.
The DFA said that the planned
action by China is a gross violation
of the Declaration on the Conduct
of Parties in the South China Sea,
the international law, particularly
Unclos, and a direct threat to the
entire international community.
The DFA also said that China
violates not only the maritime
domain of coastal states estab-
lished under Unclos, but also
impedes the fundamental free-
dom of navigation and lawful
commerce.
On Friday, during a press brief-
ing in Beijing, Foreign Ministry
spokesman Hong Lei claimed that
it was their right to impose a
coastal boarder defense regulation
in the South China Sea.
Every country has the right to
carry out maritime management
according to law, Hong said.
China has indisputable sov-
ereignty over the islands in the
South China Sea. The Huangyan
island is Chinas inherent terri-
tory and there is no sovereignty
dispute over it, Hong said.
However, the DFA repeatedly
stressed that Chinas claim of in-
disputable sovereignty over vir-
tually the entire South China Sea
is not only an excessive claim
but a threat to all countries.
If media reports are accu-
rate, the (Chinese) law deserves
international condemnation by
ASEAN, our international part-
ners and the entire community
of nations, the statement added.
The DFA said that the non-
binding Declaration on the Code
of Conduct which was signed in
2002 and served as the frame-
work for a future Code of Con-
duct, has directed all signatories,
including Beijing, to exercise
self-restraint in the conduct of
activities that would complicate
or escalate disputes and affect
peace and stability including,
among others, refraining from
action of inhabiting on the pres-
ently uninhabited islands, reefs,
shoals, cays, and other features
and to handle their differences in
a constructive manner.
Chinas revised coastal and
border public security regulations
came days after the issuance of
the controversial e-passport by
the Chinese government where
the map of the nine-dash line were
stamped in the its pages.
Meanwhile, House Speaker
Feliciano Belmonte Jr. on Sat-
urday urged President Benigno
Aquino III and Foreign Affairs
Secretary Albert del Rosario to
speak in one voice on the West
Philippine Sea dispute.
Employees at Subic enjoy relatively high pay.
mst.daydesk@gmail.com
Sunday
NEWS
ManilaStandardTODAY
A3
Japanese
tech eyed
vs water
problems
Internet bill welcomed
Partylist
asks SC
to stop
Comelec
Albay eyes Venezuela of the Philippines crown
PH set to review deployment ban to Gaza
Free political prisoners. A member of the human rights group Selda holds a
poster during a protest in front of the Philippine National Police headquarters in
Quezon City demanding the release of 123 political prisoners in various detention
cells across the country. AP
THE recent victory of 23-year-old Meryl
Angeline King in the recent Miss Tourism
World Philippines beauty pageant is
boosting the Albays bid to become the
home of beauty queens in the country,
according to Gov. Jose Salceda.
King, a nurse who will represent the
country in the Miss Tourism World nals
in Bangkok, Thailand on Dec. 15, won
the rst Miss Tourism World Philippines
pageant only last month, her third title
this year, Salceda said.
King also reigns as 2012 Miss
Pulang-Angui of Polangui town and
Miss Tabak Festival of Tabaco City,
the governor said, adding that she is the
latest in Albays long list of 37 regional,
national and international beauty queens
since Agapita Sigue of Legazpi City was
crowned Miss Philippine National Red
Feather in 1980.
Albays roster of beauty titlists include
Miss International 2005 Precious Lara
Quigaman, Miss Universe 1999 rst
runner-up Miriam Quiambao, Ms.
Universe 2010 fourth runner-up Venus
Raj, 2010 Bb. Pilipinas-International
Dianne Necio, Mutya ng Pilipinas
2009 Jane Banares and Bb. Pilipinas-
International 2009 Melody Gersbach.
Raj, a journalism graduate from the
Bicol University in Legazpi City, briey
served as spokesperson of the Center for
Initiatives and Researches on Climate
Adaptation, under the Ofce of the
Albay Governor.
We are excited about our very rst
Miss Tourism World Philippines winner.
She possesses the elegance and beauty
of a true Filipina and personies the
charm and warmth of our country, a real
Ambassador of Philippine Tourism, says
Francisco Gareth Blanco Jr., national
director and Philippine franchise holder
of the Miss Tourism World Pageant.
Kings title is doubly signicant for
Albay because she is a product of the
Albay Pageant Academy, the rst ever
school formally organized in the country
for would-be beauty titlists.
Salceda said the Albay Pageant
Academy is a conscious effort to
develop local beauty talents who can
make it big in national and international
competitions. The academy has Board
Member Glenda Ong Bongao, as
executive director.
Salceda has staunchly supported
Bicolana beauty queens competing
in world beauty tilts. He said Albays
numerous festivals, like Magayon
and the current Karangahan:Green
Christmas, include beauty pageants that
provide the province a pool of beauty
title holders, all trained under the Albay
Pageant Academy.
Pretty and smart Albay girls have
reasons to aspire for the beauty pageants
crown in their province. Aside from the
title they also get cash prizes ranging
from P200,000 to P300,000, and other
perks including scholarships, gifts from
sponsors, public exposure, and most
importantly, the opportunity to be part of
the provinces prestigious list of beauty
queens.
Albay beauties. Miss Tourism World Philippines Meryl Angeline V. King (2nd from left) after her coronation as Miss Bicol
Tourism last June in Iriga City. The other Albay beaties are (from left) Miss Iriga second runner-up Nala S. Zamora, Miss Iriga
Maria Lina Prongoso, Miss Rinconada Angel May G. Villafuerte and rst runner-up Sheila O. Ramos. CHIN PINEDA
MALACAANG welcomed on Saturday the
Internet Magna Carta bill that Sen. Miriam
Santiago led to replace the controversial Anti-
Cybercrime Law of 2012, which the Supreme
Court suspended after a public furor over vague
provisions that violate civil rights.
President Benigno Aquino III signed
the anti-cybercrime law, or Republic
Act 10175, last Sept. 12, but the high
court unimously issued a temporary
restraining order for 120 days from Oct.
9 to give Congress a chance to come up
with a replacement measure.
Like weve said before, we will
let lawmakers decide what changes
they feel may be needed for the law,
Deputy Presidential Spokeswoman
Abigail Valte said over government
radio dzRB.
Santiago led the proposed Magna
Carta, or Senate Bill No. 3327, to
replace RA 10175 which denes
and penalizes cybercrimes while
protectingthe rights and freedoms of
Filipinos in cyberspace.
While it is important to crackdown
on criminal activities on the internet,
protecting constitutional rights like free
expression, privacy, and due process
should hold a higher place in crafting
laws, Santiago said of her bill, which
has been dubbed anti-cybercrime law
version 2.0.
The [Magna Carta for Philippine
Internet Freedom] does not suffer
from overbreadth and vagueness in its
provisions on libel, unlike the law it
tries to replace. In fact, it treats libel as a
civil liability rather than a criminal act,
which is a step forward in the move to
decriminalize libel, the senator said.
Santiago said the bill differs from
R.A. 10175 in that it guarantees the right
against illegal searches and seizures.
RA 10175 violates the right to
privacy and the Constitutional guarantee
against illegal search and seizure
through allowing the warrantless
real-time collection of trafc data.
In contrast, the MCPIF ensures due
process by providing strict guidelines
for any collection of any data, including
the securing of warrants, obligating
notication, and limiting seizure to
data and excluding physical property,
Santiago said.
The dangerous takedown clause of
RA 10175, where the government may
have a website or network blocked or
restricted without due process of law,
is absent in the MCPIF, Santiago said.
My bill specically provides for court
proceedings in cases where websites
or networks are to be taken down, and
prohibits censorship of content without
a court order.
The MCPIF also prohibits double
jeopardy which RA 10175 allows
through prosecution of offenses
committed against its provisions and
prosecution of offenses committed
against the Revised Penal Code and
special laws, even though the offenses
are from a single act.
Her bill also seeks to clarify the
mandate and organization of the
proposed Department of Information
and Communications Technology,
which is still being considered by
Congress.
Santiagos bill, if passed, will be
the rst law to be created through
crowdsourcing, or the online process
of getting work done by tapping people
on the Internet to volunteer their talent
and skills.
According to Santiago, a group of
software designers, IT specialists,
academics, bloggers, engineers,
lawyers, human rights advocates were
involved in the drafting of the Magna
Carta and group formulated the draft
bill through discussions in an open
Facebook group, email, Google
Hangout teleconferences, and social
media channels like Twitter.
By Maricel V. Cruz

THE Party-list Butil will seek ask the
Supreme Court on Monday to issue a
temporary restraining order and a status
quo ante order against the Commission
on Elections ruling disqualifying the
group from taking part in the May 2013
elections.
Butil Rep. Agapito Guanlao accused
the poll body of making a mockery of the
party-list system by disqualifying groups
that the poll body already accredited in
previous rulings.
There is no logic to the decision of
Comelec. How can they say that farmers
are not marginalized? If farmers are not
marginalized, who else would qualify?
Guanlao said, adding that Butil is among
the original party-list groups that were
accredited and ran in 1998.
But the Comelec ruled recently that
agricultural and farmer cooperatives
are not included in the list of nine
marginalized groups dened by the
Supreme Court in the case of Ang
Bagong Bayani v. Comelec.
With the decision of the Comelec,
Guanlao said it practically marginalized
farmers further.
Comelec chairman Sixto Brillantes
had said that he wanted to cleanse the
party-list groups further, but never
imagined they would get the number
down to 79.
In its latest purge, the commission
disqualied more than 130 groups,
mostly because they were vague about
the sectors they represented.
But Guanlao pointed out: Comelec
said farmer cooperatives do not fall
under the peasants category. Our
members could not believe such a ruling
because everybody knows that farmers
are peasants too.
Earlier, the chairman of the electoral
reforms committee of the Integrated Bar of
the Philippines has warned that the process
adopted by Comelec in disqualifying
party-list groups might be seen as a form
of witch hunt or inquisition.
OFFICIALS from ve national government
agencies and their local government
counterparts have conferred with experts from
Japan who shared technological information
that is expected to signicantly increase
Filipino disaster management capabilities.
Experts from the Department of Public
Works and Highways Metropolitan
Manila Development Authority, Ofce
of Civil Defense, Philippine Atmospheric
Geophysical and Astronomical Services
Administration, Metropolitan Waterworks
and Sewerage System and local
government units attended a seminar that
was organized by the Japan International
Cooperation Agency.
The seminar was organized upon the re-
quest of Public Works and Highways Sec.
Rogelio L. Singson, who has been desig-
nated water czar by President Aquino III.
With the availability of various
modern technologies, we can only wish
to implement similar projects in the
Philippines the soonest possible time,
said Undersecretary Yabut, who led the
DPWH experts along with Undersecretary
Alfredo Tolentino.
We are fortunate in learning so much
from Japanese experts and we will do our
best so that this knowledge can be translat-
ed into good infrastructure and program to
optimize our resources, he added.
Yabut thanked JICA Philippines, head-
ed by Chief Representative Takahiro Sa-
saki, for sponsoring the technical seminar
that supports the capacity development
program of the government agencies.
JICAPhilippines Senior Representaive Sa-
chiko Takeda, however, viewed that for those
technology to be effective, there must exist
the appropriate application, essential system
of operation and maintenance, strong regula-
tion and enforcement of government entities
including LGUs, and greater general public
awareness for support.
Japanese experts who were the resource
persons in the seminar include Tomonori
Abe, Shinji Yamaguchi, and Makoto
Shirasaki of the Japan Ministry of Land,
Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism;
Takaaki Uda of Public Works Research
Center; Joji Shima of Sabo & Landslide
Technical Center; Hiroshi Kokuryo of
Research Association for Steel Sabo
Structure; Masashi Yoshida and Ryuichi
Fujiwara of Toyo Construction; Hideyuki
Takeda (Kajima); Munenori Nishimura
(Torishima Pump); Tetsuya Kusuda (NTT
Data); Tadashi Setoyama (Panasonic
System Solutions Infrastructure); Shuichi
Inoue (Japan Radio); Yosuke Ito (Takuwa);
Susumu Takagishi (Pasco); Akira Ohkawara
(Nippon Koei); and Shoichiro Yamamoto
(JFE Engineering).
By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan
THE Philippine government may
review the temporary suspension in the
deployment of new Filipino workers
to Israel and Gaza if the ceasere in
that country continues to hold, the
Department of Foreign Affairs said on
Saturday.
The DFA made the announcement in
reply to the remarks of Israeli Ambassador
Menashe Bar-on on the Philippines
decision to temporarily ban the deployment
of Filipino workers to Israel.
The Philippine Government has
the sovereign duty and prerogative to
protect all its nationals wherever they
may be, especially those caught in
conict areas, the DFa explained in a
statement.
No other State can substitute its
judgment over that of the Philippine
Government regarding the welfare of its
own nationals, the foreign ofce added.
Bar-on last week asked the government
to lift the deployment ban and expressed
his condence that foreigners will be
safe in his county despite Israels recent
conict with Palestine.
The envoy also pointed out that a
ceasere was already agreed between
Tal Aviv and Hamas forces after eight
days of heavy ghting and bombing.
Israel and the Islamist Hamas
movement ruling the Gaza Strip last
week agreed to an Egyptian-sponsored
ceasere that stopped the eight-day
conict that already killed some 162
Palestinians and ve Israelis.
The conict started when Israel was
attacked by more than 1,300 rockets
from the Hamas group and other
terrorist organizations in Gaza, killing
four civilians and an Israeli soldier.
Israel invoked its right to self-
defense and launched Operation Pillar
of Defense and attacked several Hamas
positions, killing 162 Palestinians,
including 37 children and 11 women.
The foreign ofce issued the
deployment ban last Nov. 20 when it
announced Alert Level 2, or a Restriction
Phase, for Central and Southern
Israel and Alert Level 4 or Mandatory
Repatriation for Gaza.
Following the issuance of the alert
advisory, the DFA also issued a travel
advisory advising Filipinos not to travel
to Gaza and to defer travel to Central
and Southern Israel.
There is no travel ban on Israel but
travellers are advised to take necessary
precaution, the DFA said, adding that
this action was taken as mandated under
Executive Order 34, creating the Overseas
Preparedness Response Team, an
interagency body created by the President
and chaired by the Executive Secretary.
Bar-on said that his government
is willing to help foreigners trapped
in the Gaza Strip to cross the Israel
border, although he said he doubted
Filipinos there would seek their help
since majority of them have married
Palestinian citizens and have children in
the Gaza Strip.
Bar-on also said that they are
looking forward to have peace with the
Palestinians but urged the Hamas group
to stop ring rockets at Israel or else it
will force us [Israel], as self defense, to
go into a conict or into a war.
He said that the Hamas group is a
terrorist organization that will not
benet Gaza and the Palestinians.
Based on DFA data, there are more
than 100 Filipinos living in Gaza Strip,
most of them are married to Palestinians,
while there are 42,000 Filipinos living
and working in Israel.
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All over the world, there have
been reports of employees getting
sacked because of their thoughtless
Facebook photos, videos or status
messages. Both ordinary people
and high profile politicians and
celebrities have been victims of on-
line bashing and Twitter wars. Just
recently, an unfortunate incident
involving a lady guard at the LRT
and a very angry English-speaking
young lady was caught on camera
and became a widespread viral
YouTube hit.
Social media has given any-
one with access to the Internet
the power to publish content,
share ideas and opinions, and
even broadcast random thoughts.
Long before the advent of social
networking and sharing sites like
Facebook, Twitter and Instagram,
doing all these are reserved to
those who work in the media or
possess media inuence. Now,
anyone can be producers, report-
ers, reviewers and tastemakers.
Part of the reason for the
prevalence of social media is the
availability of more affordable
personal Internet devices and
low-cost Internet bucket plans
that allow subscribers to get In-
ternet minutes by packets, much
like sachets.
Smart Communications, Inc.
(Smart) acknowledges that with
the pervasiveness of the Inter-
net, it has offered a new avenue
of expression for its subscribers
and at the same time heightened
the need to use it properly and
with care.
We have started going to
the schools for learning sessions
we called Websm@rt, said Ra-
mon Isber to, head of Smarts
Public Affairs Group. Through
Websm@rt, we seek to educate
and inform both teachers and
students about the power and
benets of digital media in the
eld of learning, and guide and
inuence them to make the right
actions and choices when deal-
ing with creating and consuming
content in the Internet.
Websm@rt training sessions
consist of lessons on online content
creation and management. It also
touches on basic web ethics and the
basic dos and donts.
There are young people today
who have been exposed to the In-
ternet and the online culture ever
since they became aware of their
surroundings, thus the tag digital
natives, said Isberto. Just as
we were taught proper etiquette
in the real world, they must also
be reminded of the etiquette and
certain precautions when in the
online world.
Safe and smart
The most sensitive issue when it
comes to online dos and donts is
perhaps Internet security.
Unscrupulous people can use
the information you post online
to do acts of fraud, theft and even
sexual misconduct.
Be mindful of personal details
you post online, said Isberto. As
much as possible, do not post your
home address, telephone numbers
and other contact details. Thieves
for example can monitor your ad-
dress and just wait for you to post
something like Going on vacation
for one week! to grab the chance
to rob your house.
Make sure you have a strong
password to protect your personal
data. Several hacking incidents
have repeatedly exposed passwords
of online account holders and a
number of people are putting them-
selves at risk for using predictable
passwords like 123456, abcde or
even the word password.
The Internet is a very public
place thats why any Internet user
must make protection of his or her
own reputation a priority.
Breathe deeply, think several
times and keep calm. Do not post
angry messages, or any message
for that matter, you might regret
the next day, said Isberto. Al-
ways use appropriate language.
Most importantly, do not post
photos and videos of yourself,
your friends or even your enemies
in compromising situations. You
may think you can delete photos
or videos with say, nudity or
violence and even animal cruelty,
but theres always a chance that
someone quicker than you may
have already saved a copy. Digi-
tal copies spread faster than you
might think.
In this age, recruitment ofcers
have been known to investigate
applicants background through
online proles. So before you post
anything that you think is funny,
think if its worth hurting your
chances of a good employment.
Social media
for social good
However, not everything that
goes viral on the Internet is evil.
Instead of spreading texts, pho-
tos or videos to damage peoples
reputation and to cause embar-
rassment and distress to others,
why dont we use our strength as
the worlds social media capital to
good use? said Isberto, citing that
the recent trend of gaining infamy
through the Internet can be used on
a more positive spin.
Isberto said sites like Facebook
and Twitter can be used to pass
on useful and responsible infor-
mation. Video sharing sites like
YouTube, instead of being used to
mock and make fun of people, can
be a tool for citizen journalism by
not only reporting wrongdoings,
but by highlighting and rewarding
good deeds.
There have been many proofs
that Filipinos can use social media
to collectively do something good.
One photo from Facebook that
showed school children swimming
in dangerous waters just to get to
school became viral and encour-
aged people to send help and the
government to nd a way to make
the kids way to school safer. How
many missing persons have been
found because of a Facebook
post? During this years Habagat
ooding, people used social media
to locate those who need help,
send rescue units to the victims
and gather aid for those affected
by ood.
The power of social media is
literally in our hands, and its up
to us if we want to use it to harm
or help people. I hope we always
choose the latter, said Isberto.
SUNDAY
A4
Sunday
ARTS & LIFE
ManilaStandardTODAY
A5
Sunday
Edited by DINNA CHAN VASQUEZ
ARTS & LIFE
ManilaStandardTODAY
DECEMBER 2, 2012
IT has claimed the lives of
famous and powerful people
from Audr ey Hepbur n and
Elizabet h Mont gomer y, to
former President Cor y Aqui-
no, local beauty queen Rio
Diaz and actor Char lie Davao.
The fact that these celebrities
succumbed to this deadly dis-
ease is proof that colon cancer
does not discriminate between
rich and poor, young and old
or male and female.
The number of colon cancer
patients continues to rise. In
2008, it has caused 608,000
deaths. Experts say this num-
ber will continue to grow in
the coming years. To date,
colon cancer is the fourth
leading cause of cancer deaths
globally.
However daunting the sce-
nario may be, there are ways to
prevent colon cancer. Aware-
ness, prevention, early detec-
tion and screening are the main
weapons against this menacing
disease. Fortunately, cost-
effective care for colorectal
problems is easily accessible
at Colorectal Specialists Inc.,
(CSI) located at the MediCard
Lifestyle Center.
CSI is the only specialty
clinic in the country where
colorectal surgeons are grouped
together to offer outpatient
clinic services. It is at the fore-
front of colorectal care in the
Philippines, utilizing a multi-
disciplinary team approach of
management. This means that
its not only the surgeon who
decides or recommends what
a patient needs. The medical
oncologist, radiation oncolo-
gist and other specialties like
palliative care are involved.
CSI at the MediCard Lifestyle
Center offers state-of-the-art
treatment options for haemor-
rhoids like rubber band liga-
tion, stapled hemorrhoidopexy
and tran-anal hemorrhoidal
dearterialization or THD.
The wisdom of early detection
Dr. Carlo Angelo Cajucom of the Colorectal Specialists, Inc. (CSI) located
at the MediCard Lifestyle Center.
Online etiquette
SOCIAL MEDIA
IN THE AGE OF
By Elvin Luciano
ONCE its on the Internet, its there forever.
Many people have learned this lesson the hard way. In a time where sharing ones
words and images to a multitude of people is easier than ever, it is now important to
think, not just twice, but many times, before you hit that Post button.
We deal with all kinds of
colorectal pathology, from be-
nign to malignant cysts, even
anorectal, which means from the
anus to the anal canals including
haemorrhoids, stula, ssures,
incontinence, constipation and
of course colon diseases like
infections, inflammations and
cancers, says Dr. Car lo Angelo
Cajucom, one of four colorectal
surgeons in CSI.
Dr. Caj ucom earned hi s
medical degree from the Uni-
versity of Santo Tomas and
did his general surgery resi-
dency at Quirino Memorial
Medical Center. He then had
hi s fel l owshi p t rai ni ng i n
colorectal surgery at the Jose
Reyes Memor i al Medi cal
Center, as well as post fel-
lowship training in Sydneys
Royal Prince Alfred Hospital.
Cajucom underscores the
importance of early detection
of signs and symptoms so
patients can easily be diag-
nosed and treated before the
disease becomes advanced.
This is especially important in
a country like the Philippines,
where the majority of patients
are diagnosed in the very late
stages and where there is no
screening. Unlike countries
like the US or Australia, the
Philippines does not have a
screening program.
Cajucom adds that people
who belong to the general risk
population, meaning those
who are not predisposed to
having colorectal cancer, must
have themselves screened at
age 50, every three to five
years. Those at high risk must
undergo screening at least
upon reaching 40 or 10 years
before.
Supposing you have a rela-
tive who was diagnosed with
colorectal cancer at 38 years
old, then you must have your-
self screened at 28 years old,
explains Dr. Cajucom. He adds
that those who are extremely
high risk must be screened as
early as 10 12 years old.
Cajucom notes that people
should watch out for the fol-
lowing risk factors for colorec-
tal cancer: strong family history
or genetics, aging, low fiber
intake and those who like to
eat grilled or red meat. He adds
that the symptoms to watch out
for include abdominal pain,
fecal blood, and difculty in
defecation.
Among the many instruments
in the orchestra, the boy is imme-
diately drawn to the violin. There is
nothing like its sound. He is seized
with a sudden conviction: I think
I can do that!
Braderick Pineda remembers
that day many years ago. His father
was an employee of the Cultural
Center of the Philippines and fre-
quently brought him to work. It was
only in hindsight that Brad would
realize that having the CCP as a
playground was no accident at all.
Discordant beginnings
Brad however had other things
on his mind aside from music. Life
at home was far from tranquil; there
were family issues to deal with.
These affected his will to excel and
enthusiasm about anything.
Despite these, he got to be good
enough to get into the prestigious
Philippine High School for the Arts
at the foot of Mt. Makiling. Talented
students in the elds of music, ne
arts, dance and theater lived on
campus. With his classmates and
mentors, Brad found another fam-
ily with whom he shared the most
memorable and the most mundane
episodes of his adolescence. His mu-
sic coach, the late Professor Basilio
Billy Manalo, did not give up on
him even though he felt he was not
as good as the others. It was as if he
saw something in me that I did not
even see in myself. These relation-
ships were what marked his PHSA
years. I just happened to be playing
the violin at the same time.
The drop in motivation was such
that when it was time to go to college,
Brad never thought about pursuing
a music career. He enrolled at the
University of Santo Tomasjust
because everyone in his family had
a college degreeas a business
management major. Soon he got
restless and shifted to accountancy.
Only when he heard there was a
scholarship being offered at the
Conservatory of Musicmoney
was tight in those daysdid he
consider studying music. In 1990,
Brad transferred to the University of
the Philippines. Eager to earn his own
money, he started playing in hotels
and for corporate events, as well as
in weddings and debut parties. He
was also with the PPO as a casual
musician.
A few years later, he joined a
church and eventually became a
STRINGS
attached
By Adelle Chua
IMAGINE a seven-year-old boy, aimlessly wandering around an old building. To him, the
possibilities are endless. He explores the re exits, the dark corridors, the strange staircases.
He stumbles into a wide, imposing door and pushes it open with all his might. He beholds the
Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra rehearsing for a concertand his life changes, forever.
Family man. Teacher and performer Brad Pineda is also husband and father.
leader. He managed a community
of 200 members and soon learned
to deal with people of different
temperaments, concerns and persua-
sions. Brad became so wrapped up
in church work that when he gave
up music to focus on leading, he
thought he had already left for good.
He would later on nd out he
was wrong.
Teacher Brad
Brad, with his young bride, soon
ew to Las Vegas, Nevada to see what
life had to offer them there. Faced with
tough practical choices, Brad had the
idea of calling up each music store
listed on the directory, asking them
whether they needed a violin teacher.
In a few weeks, he signed up his rst
four studentsall working to im-
prove their grades since an orchestra
class was part of the music program
in the Nevada curriculum.
He enjoyed his students at the
onset. I learned much from them as
much as they learned from me. After
a while, through word of mouth, Brad
found himself teaching as much as 50
students in a weekand they too were
a mix of Asians, Afro-Americans, Latin
Americans and Caucasians. There were
Christian, Jewish and Muslim students,
as well as atheists and agnostics. They
were as young as four and as old as
74and they convinced Brad of one
thing. He could teach!
Then again, its not all business.
If a student seemed distracted while
playing, Brad would ask him or her
to put the violin down. Whats
bothering you? Lets talk. In one
instance, a kid remained silent and
insisted he was ne. A few seconds
afterwards, he started to cry. During
these times, hitting the right notes
seemed the least of ones concerns.
The kids were dealing with family
problems or school problems, and
this affected their performance.
For Brad, the rewards were not
purely financial but were over-
whelming anyway.
For example, an American stu-
dent, Hisham Groover, was on
his way to becoming a military
ofcer. When he started learning
the violin, however, he knew he
wanted to be a musician more
than a military man. He now
performs and teaches violin at
Western Kentucky University.
Another student, Kyle Miller-
et, was being groomed to be
a corporate executive like his
father. He saw that music could
be funand made a decision not
to become an accountant. Now he
is an undergraduate student at the
Hartford University College of
Music in Connecticut.
Brad does not just de-
velop relationships with his
students; he gets to know
their immediate families,
too. Back in the US, I get
invited a lot to family lunches,
Thanksgiving dinners and
the like. I was able to make
friends with people from all
backgrounds.
So when the family decided
back to the Philippines, he knew
exactly what he wanted to do.
He linked up with some church
contactsa family who owned
a schooland started teaching
the violin as an enrichment
activity to its students.
I do not stick to a single
teaching method that I apply
to all my students, Brad says. It
is important to get to know them
well, their abilities of course but also
their strengths, behavior and needs.
From such assessment he decides
whether the child can get by using
his or her own guided approach, or
whether he or she needs to imitate the
teachers movements in order to play
well. Some kids, for example, can
think critically while some are easily
intimidated. Some look as though
nothing could excite them at all.
We should not be quick to dis-
miss students as not doing well be-
cause they are lazy, or distracted, or
simply not good enough, he con-
tinues. There is always a reason
why they play how they play. He
honed his teaching skills through
his own experience as a student,
adopting the effective approaches
of his teachers and improving on
the aspects which he felt his own
teachers should have done better.
This is also where Brad nds
his people counseling skills, ac-
quired when leading the church
community, handy. The idea is to
teach them the skills, of course, but
more than that, to inspire them to
play the best way they could. To
teach them is to guide them, and to
guide them, you must know what is
in their hearts and minds.
Performance level
Settling back in Manila, Brad
or Badji to his friends herepicked
up his violin and practiced for long
hours every day to get back to per-
formance level. He started playing
with the Philippine Philharmonic
Orchestra again. He was also part
of the musical The Phantom of the
Opera, enabling him to work with
artists of all nationalities.
I felt fortunate performing
there. Phantom is a musical made
in heaven, he gushes. The pro-
ducers made sure even the smallest
detail was perfect. The audience
got their moneys worth and
maybe even more.
He acknowledges, too, the
role of friends Gerard and
DJ Salonga who encour-
aged him to audition with the
ABS-CBN Philharmonic
Orchestra. Gerard is its
musical director. Their
performance includes
concert-tributes, noontime
shows like Asap and Show-
time, or music videos for an
upcoming teleserye.
Brad is also with the Ma-
nila Strings Machinea
quartet (two violins,
a viola and
a cello), owned by cellist Ted
Ampergracing occasions from
parties to corporate events. Name
the song, Brad says, from popu-
lar love songs to dance tunes, and
we will arrange it and perform it.
It will be the same song but a dif-
ferent experience. He adds: The
violin is not just for the high-brow
crowd or for the elite. It can be
appreciated by as many people as
possible.
What many tend to overlook,
however, is the sheer amount of
investment musicians put into what
they do. We did not start doing this
in college. We started out as kids,
disciplining ourselves, sacricing
play time and social activities. If
they are rewarded well, it is not
because they play. Instead, its
a lifetime commitment to work
hard, constantly and painstakingly
improving yourself every day.
Regular guy, life virtuoso
When hes not teaching or per-
forming, Brad is a regular guy. He
likes spending time with his family
wife Lilan and children Krisha
(15), Koleen (12) and Kael (11). He
describes himself as domesticated
perhaps as a result of our years
in the US. For example, he cannot
stand clutter and a pile of dirty laun-
dry and would always volunteer to
fold clothes lying around the room.
He likes to exercise and prefers
listening to hip hop, rhythm and blues
and rap songs. His favorite artists?
Usher, Eminem, Snoop Dogg.
Looking back, Brad concludes
that his earlier troubles all helped
shape him to be the kind of musi-
cian, educatorand personhe
is today. My life was not smooth,
but it prepared me for the success
I now have. He could have been
the best, most skillful violinist with
advanced degrees and an awe-
inspiring resume under his belt, but
he is just not that. He is successful
because aside from playing his
instrument well, he is also able to
touch the lives of his students and
their families. He is able to inspire
his students; he wants them to have
fun and to be in love with music.
His relationships with his students
and their families have remained. Even
now that he's back in the Philippines,
they tell him they miss him and wish
he were back in Nevada instead.
And although its a clich,
everything happens for a reason,
even if we may not see that or like
the situation we are in right now.
Brad says that while what he
is doing brings him true joy
something that even the American
Dream cannot bringhe still
aspires for some other things,
Specically he wants to
set up a school-studio.
I want to be able
to give children the
basic foundations
of music, he says.
K n o w i n g
Brad, that edu-
cation would
i n c l u d e a
dash of life
l e s s o n s ,
besides.
Pineda with his students from Las Vegas, Nevada during a
Thanksgiving Recital in 2008
Students from Montessori Academy of Valenzuela where Pineda is currently giving violin lessons
A Websm@rt class
If youre a minor,
posting a picture
of yourself in a
bikini is a no-no
Braderick
Pineda
C
Y
A
N

M
A
G
E
N
T
A

Y
E
L
L
O
W

B
L
A
C
K
All over the world, there have
been reports of employees getting
sacked because of their thoughtless
Facebook photos, videos or status
messages. Both ordinary people
and high profile politicians and
celebrities have been victims of on-
line bashing and Twitter wars. Just
recently, an unfortunate incident
involving a lady guard at the LRT
and a very angry English-speaking
young lady was caught on camera
and became a widespread viral
YouTube hit.
Social media has given any-
one with access to the Internet
the power to publish content,
share ideas and opinions, and
even broadcast random thoughts.
Long before the advent of social
networking and sharing sites like
Facebook, Twitter and Instagram,
doing all these are reserved to
those who work in the media or
possess media inuence. Now,
anyone can be producers, report-
ers, reviewers and tastemakers.
Part of the reason for the
prevalence of social media is the
availability of more affordable
personal Internet devices and
low-cost Internet bucket plans
that allow subscribers to get In-
ternet minutes by packets, much
like sachets.
Smart Communications, Inc.
(Smart) acknowledges that with
the pervasiveness of the Inter-
net, it has offered a new avenue
of expression for its subscribers
and at the same time heightened
the need to use it properly and
with care.
We have started going to
the schools for learning sessions
we called Websm@rt, said Ra-
mon Isber to, head of Smarts
Public Affairs Group. Through
Websm@rt, we seek to educate
and inform both teachers and
students about the power and
benets of digital media in the
eld of learning, and guide and
inuence them to make the right
actions and choices when deal-
ing with creating and consuming
content in the Internet.
Websm@rt training sessions
consist of lessons on online content
creation and management. It also
touches on basic web ethics and the
basic dos and donts.
There are young people today
who have been exposed to the In-
ternet and the online culture ever
since they became aware of their
surroundings, thus the tag digital
natives, said Isberto. Just as
we were taught proper etiquette
in the real world, they must also
be reminded of the etiquette and
certain precautions when in the
online world.
Safe and smart
The most sensitive issue when it
comes to online dos and donts is
perhaps Internet security.
Unscrupulous people can use
the information you post online
to do acts of fraud, theft and even
sexual misconduct.
Be mindful of personal details
you post online, said Isberto. As
much as possible, do not post your
home address, telephone numbers
and other contact details. Thieves
for example can monitor your ad-
dress and just wait for you to post
something like Going on vacation
for one week! to grab the chance
to rob your house.
Make sure you have a strong
password to protect your personal
data. Several hacking incidents
have repeatedly exposed passwords
of online account holders and a
number of people are putting them-
selves at risk for using predictable
passwords like 123456, abcde or
even the word password.
The Internet is a very public
place thats why any Internet user
must make protection of his or her
own reputation a priority.
Breathe deeply, think several
times and keep calm. Do not post
angry messages, or any message
for that matter, you might regret
the next day, said Isberto. Al-
ways use appropriate language.
Most importantly, do not post
photos and videos of yourself,
your friends or even your enemies
in compromising situations. You
may think you can delete photos
or videos with say, nudity or
violence and even animal cruelty,
but theres always a chance that
someone quicker than you may
have already saved a copy. Digi-
tal copies spread faster than you
might think.
In this age, recruitment ofcers
have been known to investigate
applicants background through
online proles. So before you post
anything that you think is funny,
think if its worth hurting your
chances of a good employment.
Social media
for social good
However, not everything that
goes viral on the Internet is evil.
Instead of spreading texts, pho-
tos or videos to damage peoples
reputation and to cause embar-
rassment and distress to others,
why dont we use our strength as
the worlds social media capital to
good use? said Isberto, citing that
the recent trend of gaining infamy
through the Internet can be used on
a more positive spin.
Isberto said sites like Facebook
and Twitter can be used to pass
on useful and responsible infor-
mation. Video sharing sites like
YouTube, instead of being used to
mock and make fun of people, can
be a tool for citizen journalism by
not only reporting wrongdoings,
but by highlighting and rewarding
good deeds.
There have been many proofs
that Filipinos can use social media
to collectively do something good.
One photo from Facebook that
showed school children swimming
in dangerous waters just to get to
school became viral and encour-
aged people to send help and the
government to nd a way to make
the kids way to school safer. How
many missing persons have been
found because of a Facebook
post? During this years Habagat
ooding, people used social media
to locate those who need help,
send rescue units to the victims
and gather aid for those affected
by ood.
The power of social media is
literally in our hands, and its up
to us if we want to use it to harm
or help people. I hope we always
choose the latter, said Isberto.
SUNDAY
A4
Sunday
ARTS & LIFE
ManilaStandardTODAY
A5
Sunday
Edited by DINNA CHAN VASQUEZ
ARTS & LIFE
ManilaStandardTODAY
DECEMBER 2, 2012
IT has claimed the lives of
famous and powerful people
from Audr ey Hepbur n and
Elizabet h Mont gomer y, to
former President Cor y Aqui-
no, local beauty queen Rio
Diaz and actor Char lie Davao.
The fact that these celebrities
succumbed to this deadly dis-
ease is proof that colon cancer
does not discriminate between
rich and poor, young and old
or male and female.
The number of colon cancer
patients continues to rise. In
2008, it has caused 608,000
deaths. Experts say this num-
ber will continue to grow in
the coming years. To date,
colon cancer is the fourth
leading cause of cancer deaths
globally.
However daunting the sce-
nario may be, there are ways to
prevent colon cancer. Aware-
ness, prevention, early detec-
tion and screening are the main
weapons against this menacing
disease. Fortunately, cost-
effective care for colorectal
problems is easily accessible
at Colorectal Specialists Inc.,
(CSI) located at the MediCard
Lifestyle Center.
CSI is the only specialty
clinic in the country where
colorectal surgeons are grouped
together to offer outpatient
clinic services. It is at the fore-
front of colorectal care in the
Philippines, utilizing a multi-
disciplinary team approach of
management. This means that
its not only the surgeon who
decides or recommends what
a patient needs. The medical
oncologist, radiation oncolo-
gist and other specialties like
palliative care are involved.
CSI at the MediCard Lifestyle
Center offers state-of-the-art
treatment options for haemor-
rhoids like rubber band liga-
tion, stapled hemorrhoidopexy
and tran-anal hemorrhoidal
dearterialization or THD.
The wisdom of early detection
Dr. Carlo Angelo Cajucom of the Colorectal Specialists, Inc. (CSI) located
at the MediCard Lifestyle Center.
Online etiquette
SOCIAL MEDIA
IN THE AGE OF
By Elvin Luciano
ONCE its on the Internet, its there forever.
Many people have learned this lesson the hard way. In a time where sharing ones
words and images to a multitude of people is easier than ever, it is now important to
think, not just twice, but many times, before you hit that Post button.
We deal with all kinds of
colorectal pathology, from be-
nign to malignant cysts, even
anorectal, which means from the
anus to the anal canals including
haemorrhoids, stula, ssures,
incontinence, constipation and
of course colon diseases like
infections, inflammations and
cancers, says Dr. Car lo Angelo
Cajucom, one of four colorectal
surgeons in CSI.
Dr. Caj ucom earned hi s
medical degree from the Uni-
versity of Santo Tomas and
did his general surgery resi-
dency at Quirino Memorial
Medical Center. He then had
hi s fel l owshi p t rai ni ng i n
colorectal surgery at the Jose
Reyes Memor i al Medi cal
Center, as well as post fel-
lowship training in Sydneys
Royal Prince Alfred Hospital.
Cajucom underscores the
importance of early detection
of signs and symptoms so
patients can easily be diag-
nosed and treated before the
disease becomes advanced.
This is especially important in
a country like the Philippines,
where the majority of patients
are diagnosed in the very late
stages and where there is no
screening. Unlike countries
like the US or Australia, the
Philippines does not have a
screening program.
Cajucom adds that people
who belong to the general risk
population, meaning those
who are not predisposed to
having colorectal cancer, must
have themselves screened at
age 50, every three to five
years. Those at high risk must
undergo screening at least
upon reaching 40 or 10 years
before.
Supposing you have a rela-
tive who was diagnosed with
colorectal cancer at 38 years
old, then you must have your-
self screened at 28 years old,
explains Dr. Cajucom. He adds
that those who are extremely
high risk must be screened as
early as 10 12 years old.
Cajucom notes that people
should watch out for the fol-
lowing risk factors for colorec-
tal cancer: strong family history
or genetics, aging, low fiber
intake and those who like to
eat grilled or red meat. He adds
that the symptoms to watch out
for include abdominal pain,
fecal blood, and difculty in
defecation.
Among the many instruments
in the orchestra, the boy is imme-
diately drawn to the violin. There is
nothing like its sound. He is seized
with a sudden conviction: I think
I can do that!
Braderick Pineda remembers
that day many years ago. His father
was an employee of the Cultural
Center of the Philippines and fre-
quently brought him to work. It was
only in hindsight that Brad would
realize that having the CCP as a
playground was no accident at all.
Discordant beginnings
Brad however had other things
on his mind aside from music. Life
at home was far from tranquil; there
were family issues to deal with.
These affected his will to excel and
enthusiasm about anything.
Despite these, he got to be good
enough to get into the prestigious
Philippine High School for the Arts
at the foot of Mt. Makiling. Talented
students in the elds of music, ne
arts, dance and theater lived on
campus. With his classmates and
mentors, Brad found another fam-
ily with whom he shared the most
memorable and the most mundane
episodes of his adolescence. His mu-
sic coach, the late Professor Basilio
Billy Manalo, did not give up on
him even though he felt he was not
as good as the others. It was as if he
saw something in me that I did not
even see in myself. These relation-
ships were what marked his PHSA
years. I just happened to be playing
the violin at the same time.
The drop in motivation was such
that when it was time to go to college,
Brad never thought about pursuing
a music career. He enrolled at the
University of Santo Tomasjust
because everyone in his family had
a college degreeas a business
management major. Soon he got
restless and shifted to accountancy.
Only when he heard there was a
scholarship being offered at the
Conservatory of Musicmoney
was tight in those daysdid he
consider studying music. In 1990,
Brad transferred to the University of
the Philippines. Eager to earn his own
money, he started playing in hotels
and for corporate events, as well as
in weddings and debut parties. He
was also with the PPO as a casual
musician.
A few years later, he joined a
church and eventually became a
STRINGS
attached
By Adelle Chua
IMAGINE a seven-year-old boy, aimlessly wandering around an old building. To him, the
possibilities are endless. He explores the re exits, the dark corridors, the strange staircases.
He stumbles into a wide, imposing door and pushes it open with all his might. He beholds the
Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra rehearsing for a concertand his life changes, forever.
Family man. Teacher and performer Brad Pineda is also husband and father.
leader. He managed a community
of 200 members and soon learned
to deal with people of different
temperaments, concerns and persua-
sions. Brad became so wrapped up
in church work that when he gave
up music to focus on leading, he
thought he had already left for good.
He would later on nd out he
was wrong.
Teacher Brad
Brad, with his young bride, soon
ew to Las Vegas, Nevada to see what
life had to offer them there. Faced with
tough practical choices, Brad had the
idea of calling up each music store
listed on the directory, asking them
whether they needed a violin teacher.
In a few weeks, he signed up his rst
four studentsall working to im-
prove their grades since an orchestra
class was part of the music program
in the Nevada curriculum.
He enjoyed his students at the
onset. I learned much from them as
much as they learned from me. After
a while, through word of mouth, Brad
found himself teaching as much as 50
students in a weekand they too were
a mix of Asians, Afro-Americans, Latin
Americans and Caucasians. There were
Christian, Jewish and Muslim students,
as well as atheists and agnostics. They
were as young as four and as old as
74and they convinced Brad of one
thing. He could teach!
Then again, its not all business.
If a student seemed distracted while
playing, Brad would ask him or her
to put the violin down. Whats
bothering you? Lets talk. In one
instance, a kid remained silent and
insisted he was ne. A few seconds
afterwards, he started to cry. During
these times, hitting the right notes
seemed the least of ones concerns.
The kids were dealing with family
problems or school problems, and
this affected their performance.
For Brad, the rewards were not
purely financial but were over-
whelming anyway.
For example, an American stu-
dent, Hisham Groover, was on
his way to becoming a military
ofcer. When he started learning
the violin, however, he knew he
wanted to be a musician more
than a military man. He now
performs and teaches violin at
Western Kentucky University.
Another student, Kyle Miller-
et, was being groomed to be
a corporate executive like his
father. He saw that music could
be funand made a decision not
to become an accountant. Now he
is an undergraduate student at the
Hartford University College of
Music in Connecticut.
Brad does not just de-
velop relationships with his
students; he gets to know
their immediate families,
too. Back in the US, I get
invited a lot to family lunches,
Thanksgiving dinners and
the like. I was able to make
friends with people from all
backgrounds.
So when the family decided
back to the Philippines, he knew
exactly what he wanted to do.
He linked up with some church
contactsa family who owned
a schooland started teaching
the violin as an enrichment
activity to its students.
I do not stick to a single
teaching method that I apply
to all my students, Brad says. It
is important to get to know them
well, their abilities of course but also
their strengths, behavior and needs.
From such assessment he decides
whether the child can get by using
his or her own guided approach, or
whether he or she needs to imitate the
teachers movements in order to play
well. Some kids, for example, can
think critically while some are easily
intimidated. Some look as though
nothing could excite them at all.
We should not be quick to dis-
miss students as not doing well be-
cause they are lazy, or distracted, or
simply not good enough, he con-
tinues. There is always a reason
why they play how they play. He
honed his teaching skills through
his own experience as a student,
adopting the effective approaches
of his teachers and improving on
the aspects which he felt his own
teachers should have done better.
This is also where Brad nds
his people counseling skills, ac-
quired when leading the church
community, handy. The idea is to
teach them the skills, of course, but
more than that, to inspire them to
play the best way they could. To
teach them is to guide them, and to
guide them, you must know what is
in their hearts and minds.
Performance level
Settling back in Manila, Brad
or Badji to his friends herepicked
up his violin and practiced for long
hours every day to get back to per-
formance level. He started playing
with the Philippine Philharmonic
Orchestra again. He was also part
of the musical The Phantom of the
Opera, enabling him to work with
artists of all nationalities.
I felt fortunate performing
there. Phantom is a musical made
in heaven, he gushes. The pro-
ducers made sure even the smallest
detail was perfect. The audience
got their moneys worth and
maybe even more.
He acknowledges, too, the
role of friends Gerard and
DJ Salonga who encour-
aged him to audition with the
ABS-CBN Philharmonic
Orchestra. Gerard is its
musical director. Their
performance includes
concert-tributes, noontime
shows like Asap and Show-
time, or music videos for an
upcoming teleserye.
Brad is also with the Ma-
nila Strings Machinea
quartet (two violins,
a viola and
a cello), owned by cellist Ted
Ampergracing occasions from
parties to corporate events. Name
the song, Brad says, from popu-
lar love songs to dance tunes, and
we will arrange it and perform it.
It will be the same song but a dif-
ferent experience. He adds: The
violin is not just for the high-brow
crowd or for the elite. It can be
appreciated by as many people as
possible.
What many tend to overlook,
however, is the sheer amount of
investment musicians put into what
they do. We did not start doing this
in college. We started out as kids,
disciplining ourselves, sacricing
play time and social activities. If
they are rewarded well, it is not
because they play. Instead, its
a lifetime commitment to work
hard, constantly and painstakingly
improving yourself every day.
Regular guy, life virtuoso
When hes not teaching or per-
forming, Brad is a regular guy. He
likes spending time with his family
wife Lilan and children Krisha
(15), Koleen (12) and Kael (11). He
describes himself as domesticated
perhaps as a result of our years
in the US. For example, he cannot
stand clutter and a pile of dirty laun-
dry and would always volunteer to
fold clothes lying around the room.
He likes to exercise and prefers
listening to hip hop, rhythm and blues
and rap songs. His favorite artists?
Usher, Eminem, Snoop Dogg.
Looking back, Brad concludes
that his earlier troubles all helped
shape him to be the kind of musi-
cian, educatorand personhe
is today. My life was not smooth,
but it prepared me for the success
I now have. He could have been
the best, most skillful violinist with
advanced degrees and an awe-
inspiring resume under his belt, but
he is just not that. He is successful
because aside from playing his
instrument well, he is also able to
touch the lives of his students and
their families. He is able to inspire
his students; he wants them to have
fun and to be in love with music.
His relationships with his students
and their families have remained. Even
now that he's back in the Philippines,
they tell him they miss him and wish
he were back in Nevada instead.
And although its a clich,
everything happens for a reason,
even if we may not see that or like
the situation we are in right now.
Brad says that while what he
is doing brings him true joy
something that even the American
Dream cannot bringhe still
aspires for some other things,
Specically he wants to
set up a school-studio.
I want to be able
to give children the
basic foundations
of music, he says.
K n o w i n g
Brad, that edu-
cation would
i n c l u d e a
dash of life
l e s s o n s ,
besides.
Pineda with his students from Las Vegas, Nevada during a
Thanksgiving Recital in 2008
Students from Montessori Academy of Valenzuela where Pineda is currently giving violin lessons
A Websm@rt class
If youre a minor,
posting a picture
of yourself in a
bikini is a no-no
Braderick
Pineda
By Erika Alcasid

ART is dead. Literature is dead.
Music is dead. How many times have
we heard these from people who believe
that their passion is but a lost cause? That
society now cares not about the meaning
of a song or the plot of a novel, but about
only the supercial aspects like the tit-
illating visuals in a music video or the
sensual scenes between those pages?
A lot of people have resigned them-
selves to believing that all you can make
that will sell are the shallow thrills that
sate a crowd, and that all that matters
is what will sell. And while in this day
and age they may not be entirely wrong,
I believe that through words, we can
bring all the colors back and give life
once more to the heart and soul of the
worldcreation.
Most of the educated population has the
ability to communicate through the use
of wordslanguage. We use this ability
every single day, but how many of us can
and will use this power to a higher level?
To open the window to their emotions, to
weave the threads of a tale, to show the
world where they stand?
Think about the creators of the
world the musicians, the writers, the
artists. For the most part, they start out
with just one thing: a passion. They
realize they have a gift, and they use
it. They experiment, they make mis-
takes, but the most important thing is
that they love what theyre doing and
theyre doing it not to impress others,
but to hone their unique talent. But as
they go out into the real world, they
realize that society has certain expec-
tationsand as they secure jobs, nd
their niche, they will try to ll them.
This often goes against their personal
tastes, their artistic view, and even their
opinions and beliefs. They put aside their
dreams of making the world smile with
their music because the audience would
eat up a different image. They aban-
don that inspiring movie idea because a
gritty action screenplay would break the
box ofce. They are told that their mes-
sage should be what will make money
instead of what they truly believe. They
are put in a box and that completely de-
feats the purpose of self-expression.
There are still those who press on, paint-
ing with the colors in their heart even as
they work, even as they earn. There are
indie lmmakers, there are aspiring au-
thors, there are superstar hopefuls. But
do we even realize how much the media
is infected with images and ideals, of how
things are and arent supposed to be? So
many people arent given the chance to
spread their message, to y their ag, be-
cause the mainstream media will always
be stronger. The budding seedling grows
but gets crushed just as quickly.
We dont need to give up on any dream
for anyone. If you have the power, use
it. Language is potent and can often do
more than anyone can ever suspect. It
can start a war, or end it. It can destroy
a person or save him or her. Something
that can hurt as much as it can heal must
be wielded wisely but if you never try
to wield it, it will never have any effect.
Through what we write, what we sing,
what we speak, we can inject color back
into our culture one step at a time.
Erika is a 14-year-old sophomore at
Colegio de Sta. Rosa-Makati. This piece
won rst place in the CSR high school
division of the Genyo e-Learning (Diwa
Learning Systems, Inc.) Its All Write!
essay writing competition last Novem-
ber. Erika is also the undefeated spelling
champion of her batch since rst grade.
Everyman is Manila Standard Todays
column for citizens commentary on
pressing issues in the Philippines and in
the world. Anybody who feels he or she
has something of value to add to the dis-
cussion on the pertinent issue is encour-
aged to contribute.
Articles must be 800 words or less.
Please send them in MS Word or any
compatible format to adellechua@
gmail.com or mst.lettertotheeditor@
gmail.com.
About a brawl
EDITORIAL
Grossly
irresponsible
Renewing the power to create through arts and literature
Publ i shed Monday t o Sat urday by
Kamahalan Publishing Corporation at 3rd
Floor Universal Re Building, 106 Paseo de
Roxas corner Perea Street, Legaspi Village,
Makati City. Telephone numbers 659-4830
(connecting all departments), 659-4826;
Manila
Standard
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OPINION ADELLE CHUA
ARTS & LIFE DINNA VASQUEZ
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mst.lettertotheditor@gmail.com
A6
Sunday
OPINION
ManilaStandardTODAY
EVERYMAN
ADD this to the growing list
of nonsensical and bizarre pro-
nouncements that have emanated
from the people that run the Cath-
olic Bishops Conference of the
Philippines: The bishops movie
ratings boardthe CBCP-Cath-
olic Initiative for Enlightened
Movie Appreciationhas public-
ly endorsed Breaking Dawn 2, the
last movie installment of Stephe-
nie Meyers series about vampires
and shapeshifters.
In a review posted in the boards
blog (http://cbcpcinema.blogspot.
com) last Tuesday, Nov. 20, the
board awarded
the movie 3.5
stars for moral
assessment (a
rating of 4 stars
meant whole-
some while a
3 indicated ac-
ceptable). The
review said CB-
CP-CINEMA
recommends
both the novel
and the movie
for teenagers as
it brings into fo-
cus the value of marriage, the need
to protect life in the womb and the
importance of family. I know. It
sounds eerily like a blurb for the
anti-RH bill.
There are those who think that
the move was meant to score
brownie points with the millions
of fansmostly teenagerswho
worship at the feet of gorgeous
vampires Edward Cullen and
Bella Swan and hunky shape-
shifter Jacob Black. I dont want
to dwell on the motivation of the
people who wrote and approve
the review on behalf of the CPCB,
but I really need to ask this ques-
tion: Is there anyone in the whole
hierarchy who is still thinking ra-
tionally and intelligently? Hello,
is anyone home?
I want to make this clear: I am
staunchly against any form of cen-
sorship. People should be allowed
to read any book they want and
watch any movie they want. Its a
free world and people should be al-
lowed to use their own judgments.
But, and this is a very impor-
tant caveat, theres a whole lot
of difference between denying
people the right to read books or
watch movies of their choice and
encouraging them to read novels
and go into theatres based on a
myopic andokay, lets be bru-
tally honest hereunintelligent
appreciation of the real value,
moral or artistic, of the books
or the movie in question. If the
CBCP wants to pass judgments
on movies, I wont begrudge
them that right. But they should
be responsible enough to make
reviews that show critical think-
ing particularly since they do so
allegedly in pursuit of a vision of
creating a lm-literate citizenry.
Simply put, the CBCP review
on Breaking Dawn 2 completely
missed the whole point by about
a hundred miles. Consider this
passage in the review: If there
is one thing Breaking Dawn 2
emphasizes it is the importance
of family and how ones love for
them would compel us to sacri-
ce, ght and risk everything for
their sake. The lm also shows
that a family not only means one
blood relative. Breaking Dawn
2and perhaps the entire Twi-
light seriesis not a vampire
story where the creatures kill or
are hunted but a story about love,
acceptance, family and sacrice
set in a time where vampires and
werewolves existed.
Oh please.
Like I said, I
wont discour-
age people from
reading the Twi-
light series or
watching the
movies. But the
CBCP has no
business endors-
ing the books or
the lm based
on fallacious
claims most of
which were tak-
en completely
out of context. If they simply said
watch the movie because it is fun
I wouldnt be writing this column.
Just to point out the most basic
errors in fact: In the series, the
Cullens didnt drink human blood
anymore but the scores of other
vampires still did; the series was
not set in another time, its actu-
ally set in the present; the series
may be about love and all that but
it also happens to glorify certain
values that make the antics of the
Kardashians seem like childs
play. Lets not even discuss the
many logical acrobatics (e.g.,
its scientically implausible for
vampires to have the capabili-
ties for sexual behavior!) and the
kind of warped thinking the series
encourages. Is the CBCP aware
that the series has spawned many
cultic practices among teenag-
ers such as blood sucking as an
expression of genuine love? The
series glosses over many deviant
behaviorsfrom necrophilia, to
mass and serial murder, to decep-
tion, etc. Its ction, yes, but its
important to promote appreciate
in context.
Twilight is simply another run-
of-the-mill romance story that com-
pels readers and viewers to suspend
critical thinking under the guise
of entertainment. Theres nothing
wrong if people want that kind of
poison, but lets not sugar coat it
and pass it off as a good thing. The
CPCB is utterly wrong for doing so.
Its irresponsible and immoral for
the bishops organization to do so.
But then again, responsible behav-
ior does not seem to be the strongest
suit of the CBCP. And, it appears,
neither is critical thinking.
BONG C.
AUSTERO
ARE WE THERE YET?
AT THREE in the morning last Sat-
urday, as many as ten young men at-
tacked another diner inside Whistle-
stop restaurant along Jupiter Street,
Makati. Later, it was revealed that
the young men were members of
the Aquila Legis fraternity and that
their lone victim was from Utopia,
a rival fraternity. Both groups were
from Ateneo College of Law.
The owner of the restaurant, Lex
Ledesma, wrote about the incident
in his blog. He posted an open let-
ter to fraternity members in gen-
eral without mentioning those who
smashed glasses and tables, broke
plates and even hit a wooden post.
He requested them not to frequent
his restaurant ever again.
Ledesma also said that while his
rst instinct was to give footage
of the incident to network ABS-
CBN and le charges against the
brawlers, he was doing neither.
He admitted that those respon-
sible offered, through an emissary
close to him, to pay for the dam-
ages caused by the ght. Ledesma
also said such legal action would
not change the culture of violence
among fraternities in the country.
The nation denounces fraternity
violence only when lives are lost.
We remember Marvin Reglos and
Marc Andre Marcos, both from the
San Beda College of Law, as fu-
ture lawyers who would never have
the chance to fulll their dreams.
The schools actperhaps dismiss-
ing the students responsible for the
deathsfamilies le charges, but
the public forgets about violence
until the next act claims more lives.
It does not help, too, that many
of our government executives, law-
makers, lawyers and judges are
themselves products of these orga-
nizations. These thrive because of
Filipinos penchant for special re-
lationships that make life easier for
those in the loop. In law school, it
may be access to reviewers; in real
life, it may mean a favorable litiga-
tion outcome or a juicy appointment.
It could be that Ledesma refuses to
le charges because he knows many
members of the organization, and
many Ateneo alumni like himself.
Perhaps he does not want to rufe
any feathers.
Perhaps he genuinely believes any
action against violence would be
futile in curbing future aggressive
behavior. Whether or not guilty par-
ties are convicted and jailed, newer
generations of fraternity members
will think and act the same way.
Perhaps, too, even if he does not say
so, he does not believe that the ef-
fort he would make seeking justice
would be worth the time, money and
energy he would put in.
This is an unfortunate incident
that has bred an even more unfortu-
nate reaction.
If the CBCP
had simply
said watch this
movie because
it is fun, I would
not be writing this
column.
A7
Sunday
FOREIGN
ManilaStandardTODAY
mst.daydesk@gmail.com
Albay 1st Engineering District
Airport Site, Legazpi City

(MST-Dec. 2, 2012)
The Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) of the DPWH-Albay 1
st

Engineering District, Airport Site, Legazpi City, invites contractors to bid for the
aforementioned project (s);
Contract ID 12-F-A-0051
Contract Name Rehab. & Impvt. Of Road, Brgy. Mapulang Daga
Contract Location Bacacay, Albay
Scope of Work Concreting of Road
Approved Budget for the Contract P 16,392,779.00
(ABC)
Contract Duration 110 CD
Cost of Tender Documents P25,000.00
Contract ID 12-FA-0052
Contract Name Rehabilitation of Flood Control System Along
Panarayon River
Contract Location Brgy. Panarayon, Bacacay, Albay
Scope of Work Dredging/Rehab. of River Control
(ABC)
Cost of Tender Documents P 25,000.00
Contract Name Rehab/Repair of Taqui River/Flood Control
System
Contract Location Brgy. Taqui. Tiwi. Albay
(ABC)
Cost of Tender Docurnents P 10,000.00
Contract Name Cluster 12-Rehab/lmpvt. Of Mapulang Daga-
Cagbulacao Road & Const. of Sula Bridge
Approach B Brgy. Sula and Mapulang Daga
Contract Location Bacacay, Albay
Scope of Work Const/Rehab/lmpvt. Of Road
Approved Budget for the Contract P 19,399.772.00
(ABC)
Contract Duration 110 C.D.
Cost of Tender Documents P25,000.00
Contract Name Clusrer 13-Rehab. of food control at Bulawan
River, San Jose Section and Binirayan Section
Contract location Malilipot Albay
(ABC)
Cost of Tender Documents P 25,000.00
The BAC will conduct the procurement process in accordance with
the Revised IRR of R.A. 9184. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be
automatically rejected at the opening of bid.
To bid for this contract, a contractor must, purchase bid documents and pay
the non-refundable amount stated above at the cashier of any DPWH Offce
on or before the deadline and must meet the following major criteria: (a) prior
registration with DPWH, (b) Filipino citizen or 75% Filipino-owned partnership,
corporation, cooperative, or joint venture, (c) with PCAB license applicable to
the type and cost of this contract, (d) Completion of a similar contract costing at
least 50% of ABC within a period of 10 years and, (e) Net Financial Contracting
Capacity at least equal to ABC, or credit line commitment for at least equal to
10% of ABC. The BAC will use non.discretionary pass/fail criteria in the eligibility
check and preliminary examination of bids.
Unregistered contractors, however, shall submit their applications for
registration to the DPWH-POCW Central Office before the deadline for
the receipt of payments for bid documents. The DPWH-POCW-Central
Office will only process contractors applications for registration, with
complete requirements and issue the Contractors Certifcate of Registration
(CRC) Registration Forms may be downloaded at the DP\07H website
www.dpwh.gov.ph.
The signifcant times and deadlines of procurement activities are shown
below:
Issuance of Bidding Documents Nov. 30-Dec. 6, 2012
Pre-Bid Conference Dec. 7, 2012 at 10:30 am
Deadline of Receip of LOI from Prospective Bidders Dec. 14, 2012 at 10:00 am
Receipt & Opening of Bids Dec. 20, 2012 at 2:00 pm
The BAC will issue hard copies of Bidding Documents at DWPH- BAC Offce,
DPWH Albay 1
st
Engineering District Airport Site, Legazpi City, upon payment of a
non-refundable fee as stated above. Prospective bidders may also download the
Bidding Documents, from the DPWH Website, if available. Prospective bidders
that will download the Bidding Documents from the DPWH website shall pay
the said fees on or before the submission of their bid documents. The Pre-Bid
Conference shall be open only to interested parries who have purchased the
Bidding Documents. Bids must accompanied by a bid security, in the amount
and acceptable form, as stated in Section 27.2 of the Revised IRR.
Prospective bidders shall submit their duly accomplished forms as specifed
in the Bidding Documents (BDs) in Two (2) separate sealed bid envelopes to
the BAC Chairman. The frst envelope shall contain the technical component
of the bid, which shall include a copy of the CRC. The second envelope shall
contain the fnancial component of the bid. Contract will be awarded to the
Lowest Calculated Responsive Bid as determined in the bid evaluation and
the post-qualifcation.
The DPWH-Albay 1
st
Engineering District, Airport Site, Legazpi City reserves
the right to accept any or all bid and to annul the bidding process anytime prior
Contract Award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder/s.
(Sgd.) RAFAEL B. PRESBITERO
OIC, Assistant District Engineer
Chairman, BAC
APPROVED:
(Sgd.) ROBERTO M. RITO
OIC-District Engineer
INVITATION TO BID
Department of Agriculture
PHILIPPINE CENTER FOR POSTHARVEST DEVELOPMENT AND
MECHANIZATION (PHilMech)
(Formerly BUREAU OF POSTHARVEST RESEARCH AND EXTENSION)
CLSU, Science City of Muoz, Nueva Ecija 3120 Philippines
InvItatIon to BId
Supply and Delivery of 2 Units 55hp Four Wheel Drive Tractor
(ITB Goods 12-11-11)
(MST-Nov. 27 & Dec. 2, 2012)
1. The Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization through
its Capital Outlay-RiceMech intends to apply the sum of PhP 3,500,000.00 being the
Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) as indicated herein to payments under the
contract for the Supply and Delivery of 2 Units 55hp Four Wheel Drive Tractor. Bids
received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at Bid opening.
2. The Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization now invites
Bids from eligible bidders for the following items:
ITEMS ABC
2 units 55hp Four Wheel Drive Tractor Php 3,500,000.00
Total Php 3,500,000.00
Delivery of the GOODS is required by January 6, 2013 or within Ten (10) calendar days
from receipt of the Notice to Proceed. The description of an eligible Bidder is contained
in the Bidding Documents.
3. Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using non-
discretionary pass/fail criteria as specifed in the Implementing Rules and Regulations
Part A (IRR-A) of Republic Act 9184 (R.A. 9184), otherwise known as the Government
Procurement Reform Act, and is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships,
organizations with at least sixty percent (60%) interest or outstanding capital stock
belonging to citizens of the Philippines, and to citizens or organizations of a country
the laws or regulations of which grant similar rights or privileges to Filipino citizens,
pursuant to Republic Act 5183 (R.A. 5183) and subject to Commonwealth Act 138
(C.A. 138). Only Bids from Bidders who pass the eligibility check will be opened. The
process for the eligibility check is described in the Bidding Documents. The bidder with
the Lowest Calculated Bid (LCB) shall advance to the post-qualifcation stage in order to
fnally determine responsiveness of the bid to technical and fnancial requirements of the
project. The contract shall then be awarded to the Lowest Calculated and Responsive
Bidder (LCRB) who was determined as such during the post-qualifcation procedure.
4. Interested Bidders may obtain further information from the Philippine Center for
Postharvest Development and Mechanization and inspect the Bidding Documents
at the address given below from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.
5. Acomplete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested Bidders from the
address below and upon payment of a nonrefundable fee in the amount of Php 5,000.00.
The method of payment will be in cash. The Bidding Documents shall be received
personally by the prospective Bidder or his authorized representative. Only those who
have purchased the Bidding Documents shall be allowed to participate in the pre-
bid conference and raise or submit written queries or clarifcation.
6. The Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization will hold
a Pre-Bid Conference open to all interested parties on December 3, 2012, 10:00am at
PHilMech Main Offce, CLSU, Science City of Muoz, Nueva Ecija.
7. Bids and eligibility requirements must be delivered to the address below on or before
December 11, 2012. All Bids must be accompanied by a Bid security in the form and
amount stated in the Bid Data Sheet or an equivalent amount in a freely convertible
currency
.
Late Bids shall not be accepted.
8. Bid opening shall be on December 17, 2012, 10:00am PHilMech Main Offce, CLSU,
Science City of Muoz, Nueva Ecija. Bids will be opened in the presence of the Bidders
representatives who choose to attend at the address below.
9. The Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization reserves
the right to accept or reject any Bid, to annul the bidding process, and to reject all Bids
at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected
Bidder or Bidders.
PHILIPPINE CENTER FOR POSTHARVEST DEVELOPMENT AND MECHANIZATION
(Formerly BUREAU OF POSTHARVEST RESEARCH AND EXTENSION)
Main Offce :CLSU Cmpd., Science City of Muoz, Nueva Ecija
Tel. No. (044) 4560287 / 4560213 FAX No. (044) 4560110
Liaison Offce : 3F ATI Bldg., Elliptical Road, Diliman, Quezon City
Tel. No. 9274019 / 9274029 FAX No. 9268159
(Sgd.) ARNEL RAMIR M. APAGA
BAC Chairman
The historic General Assem-
bly decision late Thursday to ac-
cept Palestine as a non-mem-
ber observer state wont actually
grant independence to the 4.3
million Palestinians who live in
the West Bank, east Jerusalem
and the Gaza Strip.
Israel remains an occupying
force in the rst two territories
and continues to severely restrict
access to Gaza, ruled by the Ha-
mas militant group. Nor does the
vote plaster over the rift in the
Palestinian leadership that has
led to the emergence of dueling
governments in the West Bank
and Gaza.
But by gaining approval at a
world forum overwhelmingly
sympathetic to their quest, Pal-
estinians hope to make it harder
for Israel to resist global pres-
sure to negotiate the borders of
a future Palestine based on lines
Israel held before capturing the
West Bank, east Jerusalem and
Gaza in 1967.
The massive international
recognition of the Palestinians
right to a stateonly nine of
193 General Assembly mem-
bers voted against itgave
them hope that the tide had
turned in their favor.
Its a great feeling to have a
state, even if in name only, said
civil servant Mohammed Srour,
28, standing in a ag-waving a
crowd of more than 2,000 packed
into a square in the West Bank
city of Ramallah late Thursday.
The most beautiful dream of
any man is to have an independ-
APPLE Inc. said it wasnt aware during trial that the foreman of
the jury that issued a $1.05 billion verdict against Samsung Elec-
tronics Co. was involved in a lawsuit with his former employer,
Seagate Technology Inc.
Samsung asked Apple to disclose when it rst learned about the litiga-
tion between the jury foreman, Velvin Hogan, and Seagate. Apple re-
sponded in a ling yesterday in federal court in San Jose, California.
Samsung is attempting to get the Aug. 24 verdict thrown out based
on claims the trial was tainted by the foremans failure during jury se-
lection to tell US District Judge Lucy H. Koh, who presided over the
case, that he led for bankruptcy in 1993 and was sued by Seagate.
Apple has not identied any Apple attorney or other member
of the Apple litigation teams who was aware that Mr. Hogan had
been a party to lawsuits involving Seagate until after the conclu-
sion of trial, when Samsung raised the matter in connection with
its post-trial motions, Apple said in its ling.
Samsung said it needs to know when Apple learned of the Sea-
gate litigation to determine whether the iPod maker complied
with an obligation to disclose known misrepresentations to the
court, according to court lings.
If Apple knew that Mr. Hogans statements were untruthful
all along and stood silent in order to gain a tactical advantage
from the seating of a biased juror, Apples misconduct would it-
self warrant sanction and relief and certainly must be disclosed,
Samsung said. Bloomberg
NORTH Korea will re a long-
range rocket this month in de-
ance of international sanctions
as the totalitarian regime marks
the anniversary of former leader
Kim Jong Ils death and as South
Koreans go to the polls to elect
an new president.
The communist state will launch
a polar-orbiting earth observation
satellite southward from the Sohae
Space Center in Cholsan County,
North Phyongan Province atop a
Unha-3 rocket in the period be-
tween Dec. 10 and Dec. 22, state-
run Korean Central News Agency
reported today, citing the Korean
Committee for Space Technology.
A safe ight path has been
chosen so that potential debris
from the rocket launch wont affect
neighboring countries, KCNA said,
stressing that North Korea will fully
comply with relevant international
regulations and usage as regards the
launch. Bloomberg
PRESIDENT Barack Obama and
US House Speaker John Boehner
each demanded the other com-
promise as they ended a week of
public jockeying for advantage
in scal cliff negotiations with a
standoff over taxes.
Obama, warning of prolonged
negotiations, used a campaign-style
appearance yesterday in Pennsyl-
vania to appeal for help from voters
to put pressure on Republicans in
Congress to pass an extension of tax
cuts for middle-income Americans
as a rst step toward resolving the
impasse. That would leave decisions
on reworking the tax code and cutting
spending until next year.
Its not going to be enough for
me to just do this on my own,
Obama said on the oor of a toy
factory in Hateld.
Boehner, speaking less than a half-
hour later in Washington, said the ad-
ministration plan presented to congres-
sional leaders by Treasury Secretary
Timothy F. Geithner would risk growth
by raising taxes on small businesses. He
said it left talks no further along than
they were before the election.
Theres a stalemate, lets not
kid ourselves, he said.
The deadlock over whether to con-
tinue Bush-era tax rates for the top 2
percent of wage earners extends a bat-
tle that has been waged for more than a
year between Obama and Republicans
in Congress. The issue has gained more
urgency as the clock ticks down on
more than $600 billion in tax increases
and spending cuts scheduled to start
taking effect in January.
Obama has proposed a framework
that would raise taxes immediately on
top earners and set an Aug. 1 deadline
for rewriting the tax code and decid-
ing on spending cuts, according to
administration ofcials.
It calls for $1.6 trillion in tax in-
creases, $350 billion in cuts in health
programs, $250 billion in cuts in oth-
er programs and $800 billion in as-
sumed savings from the wind-down
of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan,
according to the ofcials, who asked
for anonymity.
Obama, speaking at a facility of the
Rodon Group that makes Tinkertoys
and KNEX building sets, said quick
action by lawmakers to extend tax cuts
for middle-income Americanswhile
letting top rates risewould allow time
for tougher negotiations on spending
cuts to lower a budget deficit that has
exceeded $1 trillion for each of the four
years he has been in office.
Palestinians euphoric
over UN recognition
RAMALLAH, West BankEuphoric
Palestinians erupted in cheers, honked
car horns and chanted God is great
after the United Nations endorsed an
independent state of Palestine, giving
sweeping international backing to their
demands for sovereignty over lands Is-
rael occupied in 1967.
Palestinians celebrate as they watch a screen showing the UN General Assembly votes on a resolution
to upgrade the status of the Palestinian Authority to a nonmember observer state, In the west
bank city of Ramallah on Thursday. The UN General Assembly has voted by a more than two-thirds
majority to recognize the state of Palestine. The resolution upgrading the Palestinians status to a
nonmember observer state at the United Nations was approved by the 193-member world body by a
vote of 138-9 with 41 abstentions. AP
ent state, particularly for us Pal-
estinians who have lived under
occupation for a long time.
But even though the resolution
did not immediately change their
lives, Palestinians say the recog-
nition isnt just symbolic. They
believe it will strengthen their
hand in any future talks with Is-
rael, which has attacked the Pal-
estinian move as an attempt to
bypass such negotiations.
The international communi-
tys warm embrace was meant,
in part, to shore up the moderate
Palestinian president, Mahmoud
Abbas, whose domestic stand-
ing had been hurt by his failure
to deliver a state through nego-
tiations during his eight years at
the helm. European powers that
Israel had hoped would oppose
the statehood bid either sup-
ported it or abstained.
Hamas, once shunned in-
ternationally for its campaign
of violence against Israel, has
seen its isolation ease in recent
months, as Islamists gain power
across the region. An outpour-
ing of support from the Arab
world during an Israeli offen-
sive against targets linked to
militants earlier this month in
Obama, Boehner
clash on fiscal cliff
Nokor prepares launch
of long-range rocket
Gaza gave them another bump.
After initially criticizing the
UN bid as an empty gesture,
Hamas has come around to sup-
porting the popular move, with
reservations.
Palestinians in the coastal
strip also celebrated the vote,
though on a smaller scale than
after the massive eruption of joy
in the streets after last weeks
cease-re deal with Israel.
Some set off reworks, oth-
ers shot in the air and chil-
dren in the streets cheered and
ashed victory signs. Today
is a big joy for all of us, Abu
Yazan, a 29-year-old Abbas
supporter, said.
Izzat Rishaq, a senior Ha-
mas gure in exile, said he
welcomed the UN vote as an
achievement, but that Hamas
counts on heroic resistance
to create a Palestinian state
underlining the groups deep
ideological rift with Abbas who
opposes violence.
Israeli Prime Minister Ben-
jamin Netanyahu dismissed the
UN vote as meaningless and ac-
cused Abbas of delivering a de-
famatory and venomous UN
speech full of mendacious prop-
aganda against Israel. Netan-
yahu argued that the UN move
violated past agreements between
Israel and the Palestinians and
that Israel would act accordingly,
without elaborating what steps it
might take.
The Palestinians turned to
the UN after two decades of
on-again, off-again talks under-
mined by violence and a fail-
ure of will. They reject Israels
claim that the recognition bid is
an attempt to dictate the future
borders of Palestine.
Instead, they say, its a last-
ditch attempt to rescue peace
efforts threatened by Israeli set-
tlement building on occupied
land. Since 1967, half a million
Israelis have settled on lands the
UN says are part of Palestine.
Abbas aides say that with its
vote, the UN is rebufng Israeli
attempts to portray these terri-
tories as disputed, or up for
grabs, rather than occupied.
Abbas aide Nabil Shaath said
it will no longer be up to Israel
to decide whether the Palestin-
ians can have a state. AP
Samsung seeks reversal
of $1.05b verdict vs Apple
By Carla Mortel
IN LINE with its thrust to give unlimited happiness, Mang Inasal, the countrys fastest-
growing barbeque fastfood chain, recently held a school feeding of grade school pupils in a
day of appreciation and fun games at Sto. Nio Elementary School in Paraaque City.
Under the Busog, Lusog, Talino school feeding program of Jollibee Foundation, Mang
Inasal general manager Justo Alano together with leadership teams provided 45 schoolchildren
from Grades 1 to 2 with hot meals, school supplies kits and prizes.
The BLT school feeding program, the corporate social responsibility agship project of
Jollibee Foundation, addresses hunger among Grades 1 and 2 to keep schoolchildren in
school and help them improve their academic performance.
BLT provides daily lunches to undernourished public
schoolchildren in an eight-month
period during the school year. Upon
the completion of the program,
schoolchildren are expected to
attain normal body mass index,
improve on daily attendance and
class participation and overall better
academic performance.
The BLT program is one of the
most focused CSR initiatives Ive
seen. It is directly aligned with Mang
Inasals mission and addresses a real
social need: feeding undernourished
children so they can learn better,
said Francis Christopher Lanning,
marketing head of Mang Inasal.
From this initial activity, Mang Inasal plans to expand the
program to cover ve to 10 public schools next year.
During a short program, Mang Inasal general manager Justo Alano and Jollibee Foundation
president Grace Tan Caktiong recognized the contribution of school principal Aurora Barron,
teachers Kristine Cantoria and Jocelyn de Castro, parent-volunteers Jonalyn Relles and
Cristina Santos and barangay chairman engineer Ismael de Leon by presenting plaques of
appreciation and special gifts.
We are pleased to be a part of this special event because Mang Inasal is here to support
the program. This is more of a celebration of partnerships, thanksgiving and recognition.
With the support of Mang Inasal, more and more children will stay in school. Together, we
share the vision of a better future for the children, Tan Caktiong said.
For school year 2012-2013, BLT covers 1,053 schools in 196 cities and municipalities
nationwide with daily lunches being served to 37,000 schoolchildren. Over 60,000 BLT
schoolchildren have beneted since the programs implementation in 2007.
extrastory2000@gmail.com Sunday
BUSINESS
ManilaStandardTODAY
SEPTEMBER 23, 2012 SUNDAY
A11
Sunday
Manila StandardTODAY
Business
A8
A SEARCH for natural remedy
for high cholesterol and gout
led a couple in Bacolod City to
a thriving export business that
helped introduce local herb
extracts to the world.
My husband, Philip, in 2001 had high cholesterol
and gout. Being a researcher, scientist and inventor,
he searched for a safer remedy for his ailments, says
Ruby Tanya Cruz, a 43-year-old mother of three.
At that time, he was taking western drugs and
was aware of the adverse side effects on his body.
His research and collaborative work with alternative
doctors eventually led to the formulation of the
rst product, Ganomax R, which is an extract of
the much-revered mushroom, Ganoderma lucidum,
touted as the number one herb in traditional Chinese
medicine, Cruz says.
From there, he continued to make formulations
using the Ganoderma as a base and combined it with
Filipino herb extracts for specic ailments such as
inammation, gout, diabetes, liver disease and for
digestion support. Being a technical guy, he focused
on research and his formulas and eventually put up
a laboratory. I took charge of sales and marketing
to support him, she says.
Award-winning scientist
Her husband is a noted researcher and scientist
from the University of the Philippines in the
Visayas and received The Outstanding Young
Men Award in 2005. She, on the other hand, is a
marketing professional, having studied Business
Administration at UP Diliman in Quezon City.
Cruz served as the marketing manager of
Herbanext Laboratories Inc., a Negros-based
company manufacturing health food products and
herbal supplements until 2007 when the company
formed Daily Apple Store, the distributor of
Herbanext products. Her husband is the president
of Herbanext while she heads Daily Apple as
president and chief executive.
We are an integrated groupwe farm and work
with farmers groups for the growing of the herbs,
then we process it in our lab, then we have our
stores and outlets for marketing, she says.
Herbanext is a member of the Chamber of Herbal
Industries of the Philippines Inc. and Natural
Products Society of the Philippines. Its products are
registered with the Food and Drug Administration
and are available in leading drugstores nationwide
as well as in Daily Apple stores. Daily Apple has
stores in leading malls and outlets in Bacolod, Iloilo,
Cebu, Davao and Metro Manila. The company has
recently started selling products abroad.
Daily Apple Store offers healthy solutions from
nature. Cruz is particularly proud about one product
that achieved commercial success. Herbanext
Laboratories is the rst in the country to plant the
superfood Roselle in commercial scale, and has
come up with novel products from Roselle through
its Daily Apple brand, she says.
One such product is the Sweet Roselle Snack
which came out second during the Trendy Awards
of the International Food Exhibition Philippines
2011. Interestingly, Roselle is an ideal crop for
Negros marginal farmers, as the plant likes dry
humid weather and sandy-loam soil, Cruz says.
Sweet Roselle Chips is a lightweight snack made
from the sun-dried petals of the tropical Roselle
plant (Hibiscus sabdariffa) organically farmed in
Bacolod. It is packed with ber and antioxidants,
and comes in 50-gram packs.
Herbanext products
Aside from the Roselle line of products, Herbanext
produces Gano defense system line of products for
heart health, diabetes, liver problems, gout, arthritis
and digestion support. It also has anti-u syrups,
weight management products, single herb teas, Gano
tea, coffee, natural sweetener and healthy snacks.
Cruz says the company started with a minimum
capital required to open a small corporation. We
just grew from there. All proceeds are plowed
back to the business while keeping expenses at a
minimum, she says.
Cruz says Daily Apple Store now has 16 outlets in key
cities nationwide. We also have more toll manufacturing
clients from Manila and Cebu, she says.
Herbanext grows its own herbs. The herbs that
cannot grow on Negros soil we import, but this is
less than 5 percent of our requirements only. Our
target market is the health-conscious Filipino, who
believes in the power of herbs and natural health
products, aged 20 to 65, she says.
The company began its export business after
one of its products won second place in IFEX
2010. Then we were one of three companies in
the Philippines selected by Asean-Japan Center to
join the Japan Foodex 2012. Our products received
the much-needed exposure and luckily, some
companies in Japan took an interest in our products.
From the time you join a trade show until the time
you actually close a deal takes a lot of patience and
perseverance, she says.
We plan to strengthen our export sales and be
more active in trade shows. We also want to open
more Daily Apple outlets, Cruz says.
Cruz is optimistic about the future, given the
positive outlook for the economy. People look
up to Asean as the growth leader in the next years.
The Philippines, I believe, will ride the wave. Our
business, being in agriculture (food production/
processing) and in one of the most fast-growing
industries worldwide, will be in a good position to
experience growth, she says.
Local contribution
Cruz says more than prot, the fact that Herbanext
generates jobs and contributes to the local economy
keeps them excited.
This is a business that just kind of happened to
us, but one that answers our hopes and aspirations.
My husband and I both grew up in a family where
helping people in whatever way became second
nature, she says.
Every time we thought about the initial formulas
he made, the more we thought about the many people
that such research and products can help. Not only
the end-users but the many farmers that eventually
can be part of the whole production process. Thus,
this business can actually make a difference in the
communities of Negros, by providing alternative
livelihood to marginalized farmers, says Cruz.
I want to work more closely with farmers and
make a difference in their lives and communities. I
want to expand more the work and programs of our
familys Foundation which was started by my late
mother, she says.
Herbanext is participating in the International
Food Exhibition at SMX Convention Center in Pasay
City on May 16 to 19, 2013. IFEX, the countrys
biggest export-oriented food event, recognizes the
immense potential of the Philippine food industry to
sell locally and make it big internationally. For more
information, visit www.ifexphilippines.com. RTD
Hunt for gout remedy leads couple
to thriving herb export business
ENTREPRENEURS successful life
stories often leave that contagious vigor
that inspires others to believe and achieve.
And those who succeeded in doing so
will tell that there is no clear path to ones
big dream, only relentless hardwork,
enthusiasm and practical strategies. This
principle and more Edgar Amba learned
when he started his journey with 7-Eleven
back in 1987 as a store clerk.
Embracing the odds
As a 20-year-old undergraduate with no
experience, Amba himself is no stranger to
the challenges he must endure to be able to
nancially support himself and his family,
while at the same time build a potential
career with the then up-and-coming global
convenience store franchise.
As a crew, I began at the lowest rank.
Ive no college diploma; but that didnt
stop me from aiming for managerial
position. What I only knew then is that I
have the talent and the will to make myself
better. Through cross-training, I was able
to land that position, he said.
All this has been possible by the efforts
and skills of one persistent dreamer,
Amba mused.
Opportunity for career
growth
In June 1998, Amba became part of one
history in the making. I was extremely
enthusiastic and somehow challenged by
the 7-Eleven system. And to know more,
the rst logical and right thing that I did
was to join the corporate ranks in Philippine
Seven Corp. [PSC], Amba noted.
While working at PSC, Amba found
the right business culturethe perfect
training ground for an upcoming
entrepreneur like him. President Vicente
Paternos fatherly and nurturing nature
served the best inspiration for everyone in
the organization, especially to a beginner
like me. He took care of all employees,
provided us the opportunity for growth.
He is really a great fan of his companys
people, and he made sure to invest in their
long-term professional development, in such
a way that he increased their sense of worth
within the overall system. he stressed.
To achieve a solid platform for growth,
Paterno, according to Amba, created a
vision for the future, and then made sure
that this is viable.
When the Service Agreement (SA)
or the now FC2 package was offered
exclusively for employees, I immediately
applied for it. Apart from my previous
experience as senior manager, I underwent
three months operations training to better
prepare me in manning the 7-Eleven
Burgos outlet, he said.
A clear strategy
By August 2004, Amba was handed
his 7-Eleven store as an FC. The rst
challenges that greeted him were the
competition and low sales. Of course
these are very challenging at rst but I was
never to give up, Amba stressed.
Besides relying on his managerial skills,
Amba also received the much-needed
operations ba ck-up a nd s ystems by P SC.
We studied the population, careful to
take note of their needs. Besides earning
community support, the companys
marketing efforts are also effective in
making the store more protable and high
performing, he said.
Especially with the recent
implementation of the fastfood dining
concept which is part of the Store of the
Future design, my outlets sales increased
signicantly, Amba mused.
Rewards of success
Nearing eight years as a successful
store operations manager at one of the
top-performing 7-Eleven stores in the
metro, Amba, now 44 years old and father
to four children, considers himself as an
accomplished businessman and mentor to
his employees.
Continuously growing his career and
at the same time reaping the fruits of his
hardwork, Amba is proud to have found a
secured investment and ally in both PSC
and 7-Eleven.
Going to work every day the store
allows me to experience the positive side
of a smaller reality where I can work with
employees, teach them and train them as
I was trained by PSC. Plus factor also is
that now I have more time for my family,
and for other personal and professional
matters, he noted.
Dynamism, energy, the desire to do well
are for me the main ingredients needed to
reach these goals. By imparting these values
along with honesty to my store team, we
are all set to achieve our objectives, if not
exceed them, Amba noted.
Success for me is not just earning big
prot, its more of ones ability to keep
himself going and growing, despite the odds.
It is also the personal fulllment, of knowing
how you inspired others to dream big for
themselves, and help them achieve these via
encouragement and faith, said Amba.
To know more of 7-Elevens franchise
opportunity offerings, call (02) 7269968,
0920-9508651, 0917-8711686 or email
franchising@7-eleven.com.ph or visit
www.7-eleven.com.ph.
Mang Inasal feeds
schoolchildren
Former store crew now a 7-Eleven franchisee
Ruby Tanya Cruz
Sunday
ManilaStandardTODAY
ARTS & LIFE
B1
DECEMBER 2, 2012
If there is one word that can be used to describe Robin,
talented is perhaps the most apt. He is certainly as funny
as his mom. Like his mother, he also worked in advertis-
ing. He also enjoys the limelight but in an entirely different
way. Robins talent is in artdrawing and sketching, paint-
ing and designing.
I started drawing and sketching when I was 12 years
old. When I was 15, I took painting classes at the Ayala Mu-
seum, says Robin, who studied at JASMS and Don
Bosco before going to the University of the Philip-
pines where
he obtained
a degree in
Fine Arts (Vi-
sual Communi-
cations).
Robin even-
tually moved to
New York to study
at Parsons School
of Design, where he
learned that being a
designer required more than
just sketching.
We were made to cut pat-
terns, baste and sew and do
bead work, he shares.
He fell in love with New
York and lives there part of the
year although he is still a Fili-
pino citizen.
Robin interned at Valentino
and Anna Sui and worked as
a menswear designer for a
number of clothing brands in
the United States. Last year,
he won the Supima con-
test for best redesign/re- think
of the cotton T-shirt competition last year
and his winning design, the V-neck layered
tonal tee cotton knit will be sold during a
limited run. Supima is the promotional organi-
zation of American Pima cotton growers. The
design was sold in Bloomingdales on a limited
run.
Robins designs, mostly dresses and separates
carrying the label Tomas, are also available at
Anik Boutique on Madison Avenue and 85
th
St. in New York. He also has a shop in Manila,
where he has a growing clientele of women who
love his wearable fashion. Robins designs are
also available at Myth in Greenbelt 5.
The best of both wor lds
Robin corrects the impression that he lives
in New York. In fact, his couture business is in
Manila, which is why he lives here part of the
year. His ready-to-wear designs at Myth are
quite affordable and start at P4,000 for a blouse.
Made-to-order dresses and gowns start from
P15,000 to P20,000.
He has also designed a capsule collection for
Penshoppe.
My formula is to make people aware that I am
proudly Filipino with exposure and training in New
York. I love it there but there is a different kind of ful-
lment in dressing women here, says Robin, whose
dream muse is Angelina Jolie.
He describes his ideal client as a woman who is
ercely chic and knows her style. In the Philip-
pines, his celebrity clients include his mom, Leyte
Rep. Lucy Torres-Gomez and Helen Gamboa,
who buys his ready-to-wear fashion at Myth. Rob-
in has also designed for Lea Salonga.
The best
We ask Robin who his best-dressed Filipino
celebrities are and he names Ces Dr ilon, Che-
r ie Gil and Gretchen Bar retto.
It would be nice to see Filipino women wear
more color, prints and patterns, he says.
Robin believes that the Philippine fashion is
on the cusp of a rebirth.
Filipinos are so talented. Our aesthetic is so
sophisticated. I am optimistic in so many ways
about Philippine fashion. This is a great time to
be here, he says.
For spring 2013, he sees women wearing
warm colors like green and yellow in iridescent
and patterned fabrics. According to Robin, eth-
nic and tribal prints will be very big next year.
Well be going
back to our roots, so
to speak, with rough
weaves and a lot of
texture.
Robin gives props to his
family, especially his mother, for
encouraging and supporting his creativity. When
Tessie cheers Robin on, she normally says kaya mo
yan emphatically, for which Robin is very grateful.
I know that she has never doubted my talent.
She says kaya mo yan with an exclamation
point. For that, I am very grateful. My mom is
such a perfectionist so I am glad that she loves
my designs.
He also wants to continue painting, which he has
neglected since he went into designing full-time.
Robin Tomas sounds like he is a young man in
a hurry to succeed but hes not. Hes been very pa-
tient and cautious when it comes to his career.
He considers the designing process a collab-
orative one in the voices of the designer and the
client should be heard equally.
I believe that I know how to balance my
clients needs and my vision so that they are
comfortable and happy with what I have done.
I believe that a designer has to listen to his or
her market. I think my background in advertis-
ing has helped me in terms of knowing what my
clients want, says Robin.
From T-shirt to
Robin poses beside his award-winning T-shirt
A gown from Robins
Premiere line
Robin with his models
SUNDAY
By Dinna Chan Vasquez
IT is so easy to put someone like Robin
Tomas, who is the son of a famous co-
median (Tessie Tomas) and the grandson
of a well-respected former radio talent
(Laur a Her mosa) in a category. In
his bio on the micro-blogging site
Twitter, the thirtysomething Rob-
in describes himself as NY fash-
ion designer, artist, tennis player,
gastronome.
ARTS & LIFE
ManilaStandardTODAY
ARTS & LIFE
ManilaStandardTODAY
SUNDAY
B2
DECEMBER 2, 2012
Sunday
GMA Kapuso Foundation (GMAKF) is giving away customized Christmas
packages for underprivileged children through its Give A Gift: Alay Sa Ba-
tang Pinoy project.
GMAKF takes gift-giving a step further by identifying the specic needs
of the beneciaries and providing them with complete and sustainable solu-
tions.
Under GMAKFs Give a Gift: Feed a Child, the Foundation implements
a 120-day supplementary feeding program for malnourished children. This
year, GMAKF has chosen to serve Urbiztondo, Pangasinan, a 3
rd
class munic-
ipality, which ranks 5
th
among the 44 municipalities with the highest preva-
lence of poverty and malnutrition.
GMAKF also con-
tinues to provide free
chemotherapy treat-
ment to cancer-stricken
children through Give
A Gift: Cancer Kids,
a joint project with
the Go Tong Founda-
tion and Ever Gotesco
Malls. The GMAKF
recently announced the
new batch of benecia-
ries, who will soon be
on the road to recov-
ery, thru the referrals
of various government
hospitals.
Through Give A Gift: Surgical, children with hernia in Metro Manila and
nearby provinces will likewise be given free hernia operation in partnership
with the Philippine Childrens Medical Center. In hopes of helping move
lives, GMAKF extends this project to children from the Visayas region with
the help of the Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center (EVRMC) and the
Pinoy Doctors Inc.
Lastly, GMAKF brings joy to some 30,000 children from 17 provinces across
the country through the distribution of Noche Buena packages, toys and other
special gifts. Provinces that are still in recovery from the Habagat onslaught last
August such as Bataan, Laguna, Pangasinan, and La Union will also benet from
this project. Recipients of the Noche Buena packages are children of farmers and
sher folks, children in armed conict areas, children in indigenous communities,
children with special needs, and children of incarcerated mothers.
Nothing compares to seeing these children smile as they receive their
Give A Gift packages this Christmas, says GMAKF executive vice presi-
dent and chief operating ofcer Mel Tiangco. We are very grateful to our
partners, donors and volunteers, who make it possible for us to provide
help and assistance in more ways than one.
Spreading Christmas
cheer through gift-giving
The Alessi Concept Store located at
the Bonifacio High Street, says Conlin,
is a good place to start.
Alessi is a one-stop shop for holi-
day gifts, says Conlin. Truly, Alessi
Christmas gifts are quite delightful, and
we are condent that those who will re-
ceive them will count them among the
best Christmas gifts they have ever re-
ceived. So why settle for something that
just anyone can give? he added.
Throughout its 90-year history, Alessi
has been synonymous with the very best
in European design. The brands range of
products for the home, ofce and kitchen
make the perfect Christmas gift for any-
body who loves Europe or appreciates
beautiful design all year round. If youre
looking for the perfect Christmas gift that
combines stylish design, functionality
and humor for lovers of all things Italian,
youve come to the right place, shares
Conlin.
He adds that gift-giving should be
personalized even if youre buying gifts
for a lot of people.
We asked him for a list of the best
Christmas gifts and he gave us more
than that by coming up with appropriate
gifts for different people.
worthy
of the season
12 gifts
By Dinna Chan Vasquez
ALESSI Philippines president Michael Harris
Conlin believes that ones gift says a lot about
a person and he is right. Its not really a matter
of how much your gift costs but how much
thought and effort was put into choosing and
even wrapping it.
11. For the amiable of-
ce mate
Instead of enduring the
crowds in coffee shops, why not
brew your perfect cup at home?
Bluenotes is a line of specially
selected premium coffee beans
from the best Arabica varieties.
It is the only brand of 100 per-
cent single origin premium cof-
fee beans that are roasted locally.
Carefully handled to perfection
by the skillful hands of master
roasters, Bluenotes makes for ex-
quisite coffee that would win the
approval of even the most dis-
criminating coffee acionados.
12. For the boss who has everything
Letter Opener Uselen
Finding the perfect gift for your boss seems a challenge elsewhere,
but not in Alessi. For the boss who has everything, Alessi suggests the
Letter Opener Uselen. Designed by Italian Guil- io Iacchetti,
this letter opener is shaped like a humming- b i r d .
Its elegant curves give it a nice sense of
motion. And although, the Uselen is
made from a single piece of polished
stainless steel, theres a soft and
glossy feel to it.
9. For the fastidious in-
laws
J u r a
Impressa
J9.3 TFT
C r e -
ated with
S w i s s
p r e c i -
sion for
the con-
summate
c o f f e e
connois-
seur, the Jura Impressa J9.3 TFT
is an elegant coffee machine with
a revolutionary ne foam technol-
ogy. Its ingenious operating concept
couldnt be easier to use. Simply
use the rotary selection to choose
the special coffee you want, check
your coffee choice as displayed on
the TFT (Thin-lm transistor) liquid
crystal screen, press the button, sit
back and savor the perfect coffee
concoction in an instantfrom latte
macchiato, cappuccino to ristretto.
8. For the child at heart
Mary Biscuit Box
Stow your favorite cookies in the
Mary Biscuit Box. Shaped like a bis-
cuit, this plastic box smells like bis-
cuit toothanks to the vanilla scent
manufactured into the polypropylene
used to coat the container. Designed
by Italian Stefano Giovannoni, the
Mary Biscuit Box comes in bright col-
ors like blue, green, orange and yel-
low, as well as the stylish see-through
white. The Mary Biscuit Box keeps
biscuits fresh for ages, thanks to the
airtight seal of the silicone lid. It is
also dishwasher safe as well.
6. For the kitchen-newbie
husband
Tatau Knife Collection
For someone who is
new to cooking, Alessi
has tapped Anna and
Gian Franco Gas-
parini to come up with
a set of knives that
tells you how to use
them. The Tatau Knife
Collection brings to-
gether in one single,
ve-piece range all the cutting operations that
can be carried out with kitchen knives. Their
handles are only lightly shaped to ensure more
grip freedom, because the way of holding a
knife varies according to the specic cutting
operation. To make it easier for the user, the
various types of grip are shown on the blades
and are visually associated with the food icons,
using the same graphic symbols usually found
on the hob. Each knife has a symbolic name:
Peel (paring knife), MPK (small cooks
knife), Thick (the traditional chefs knife),
Thin (lleting knife) and Tusk (for bread
and crust desserts).
4. For the sup-
portive sister
A Tempo Laundry
Basket
Paris-based prod-
uct designer Pauline
Deltour worked with
metal wireconsid-
ered a very elementary
materialto come up
with A Tempo Laundry
Basket. Created in line
with todays understated
contemporary home acces-
sorizing, the A Tempo Laun-
dry Basket is made of white
colored stainless steel and includes an orange
fabric drawstring lining. Once the basket is lled
with items, you can just pull the drawstring and
bring along the laundry.
1. For the stay-home
mom
From the same architect who
designed the London Aquat-
ics Centre for the 2012 Summer
Olympics, Iraqi-British Zaha
Hadid was tapped to create a spe-
cial ower vase for Alessi. Named
Crevasse, the product incorporates
all of the British de-constructiv-
ist architectural characteristics
pervasive throughout Hadids
work. The vase shows Hadids
graceful, utilitarian style cast in a
mirror-polished stainless steel for
an overall impressive bold aes-
thetic. With its swaying geometric
lines and materials that were com-
bined to look as if it were a shin-
ing, swaying tower, the Crevasse
will surely be a perfect piece in
anyones living room.
2. For the health-con-
scious father
Juicy Salif citrus squeezer
Inspired by squeezing a lemon
over a squid in a seafood res-
taurant, design genius Philippe
Starck created the Juicy Salif
as a sleek citrus squeezer. Since
it debuted in Alessi in 1990, the
Juicy Salif has become a popular
cult item. Made with cast and pol-
ished aluminum with polyamide
pads, the Juicy Salif cemented
Starcks reputation as one of the
design icons of the last decade.
The Juicy Salif is considered an
icon of industrial design that has
been displayed in museums such
as the New Yorks Museum of
Modern Art.
5. For the loving
boyfriend
Max Le Chinois colander
A famous designers touch
to an everyday object often re-
sults in a unique product. This is
true to Alessis Max Le Chinois
colander designed by renowned
French product designer, archi-
tect and interior designer Philippe
Starck. His fascination with aero-
nautical forms (his father designed
airplanes) is borne out here with the
shape of the basket, which is remi-
niscent of an airplane nose cone and the tiny feet
shaped like the wings. While it is un- doubt - edly a
colander it does have many other applications. It comes with a
plastic insert allowing use as a wine cooler, a vase or whatever
else takes your fancy.
3. For the dependable brother
The Trick and Treat Box
With its simple, steel sheet appearance, The Trick and Treat
Box looks like a simple tray. But in Alessi, trays are not just
trays. Hong Kong-born architect Gary Chang explains that
the simplicity of the Trick and Treat Box allows it to serve
many functions. By turning the piece, it becomes something
new and serves a different purpose: rst a tissue holder, now a
can opener, then a vase, not to mention a snack tray.
10. For the fashionista
friend
Chiringuito
Wine Cooler
Israeli in-
dustrial de-
signer Ron
Arad has ap-
plied his in-
novative, un-
conventional
and utterly
functional vi-
sion of forms
and materials in the Chiringuito Wine
Cooler. Its modern handbag-style two-
bottle wine cooler lives up to its cool
name. The Chiringuito is equally at
home hanging from the table or sitting
right next to you by the picnic blanket.
7. For the wife who likes
wines
Anna G. corkscrew
The funny and beautiful Anna G.
corkscrew has acquired cult status and
an Alessi bestseller. As ironic, humor-
ous and elegant as you could wish
for, the Anna G. corkscrew is made of
polyamide and chrome-plated zamak
(zinc alloy). This 9.5-inch tall cork-
screw is especially adroit at opening
wine bottles with precision and air.
These cancer-stricken kids are some of the founda-
tions beneciaries
Michael Harris Conlin
Yahoo! Technostorm
expo launches in PH
B3 DECEMBER 2, 2012 SUNDAY
Sunday
tech.mst.ph
ManilaStandardTODAY
email: tech@mst.ph
Microsoft
prices
Surface
at $899
A student explores the new Windows Surface tablet at the recent COMDDAP Expo 2012, World Trade Center, Pasay City.
Christian Cardiente
LOS ANGELESMicrosofts Surface
tablet running a full version of Windows
8 Pro will start selling in January for
$899 and up, the company said Thursday.
But youll have to pay more if you want
a keyboard cover and the popular Ofce
suite of software.
The current Surface uses
the slimmed down Windows
RT operating system. As a
result, it runs only specially
designed applications from
Microsoft and others sold
through the companys online
store. The Pro version of
Surface will also run regular
Windows applications
written for desktops and
laptops.
Its a full PC AND a tablet,
Surface general manager
Panos Panay wrote in a blog
post Thursday.
The Surface represents
Microsofts rst foray into
manufacturing its own
general-purpose computer.
In doing so, the company is
competing with some of its
partners, the manufacturers of
PCs and tablets.
The announced price
is in line with Microsoft
Corp.s earlier statements
that the Pro version would
cost about the same as slim,
lightweight laptops known
as ultrabooks.
The price includes a stylus
and software that disregards
touches from ones palm while
writing on the touch screen.
But the detachable touch-
sensitive keyboard cover is
sold separately. The Touch
Cover with keys printed on
it costs $120, while the Type
Cover with depressable keys
is priced at $130.
The Pro version of Surface
will come with Intels Core
i5 processor, which Microsoft
said gives it a graphics
boost compared with the RT
version.
The $899 version will come
with 64 gigabytes of memory,
while $999 gets you 128
GB of memory. It was not
immediately clear how much
memory would be used up
by the operating system and
pre-installed apps. For the RT
versions, the 32 GB model has
only 16 GB of usable memory,
while the 64 GB model has 45
GB available.
The RT version of Surface,
which starts at $499, comes
with the popular Ofce
programs Word, PowerPoint,
Excel and OneNote included.
The Pro version does not,
according to the specications
listed on a Microsoft website.
The cheapest version of
Ofce available is priced at
$120.
The RT versions went on
sale Oct. 26, the same day
Windows 8 was out.
The RT versions are
available only at Microsofts
stores and websites. The
Redmond, Wash., did not say
whether the Pro versions will
be sold elsewhere as well.
All versions of Surface
come with a slot to expand
memory and a USB
port for peripherals. The
Pro version of Surface comes
with a newer,
faster USB 3.0 port, while
the RT version has 2.0. AP
YAHOO! announced the launch of Technostorm an on-ground
exposition featuring cutting-edge products and services from
leading global and local brands. This includes Microsoft, Smart
Telecom, Nokia, HP, Epson, Sony, Wi Tribe, PLDT, Sharp, Sun
Cellular, LG, Samsung, Lazada, Globe and Phillips.
Hosted by Yahoo!, the expo runs from November 26 to
December 2, 2012, and accessible to anyone who is a technology
enthusiast. Filipinos can now visit the Technostorm expo to
experience the products, watch demos, attend the tech talks
and hear from the experts before contemplating on making a
purchase.
Technostorm began with a Virtual Expo on Yahoo!, featuring
the up-and-coming products and services of the countrys leading
tech, telecommunications and connectivity brands. Utilizing
Yahoo!s rich media solutions, the brands created an interactive
web page complete with product information, drive-to-site links,
video features and a full preview of the gadgets before bringing
these online experiences to the Filipinos on-ground.
Technostorm is a celebration of all things tech. Yahoos digital
capabilities provide a unique platform for Filipinos to explore,
discover and understand the world of technology, and bring them
face-to-face with gadgets and devices that create connectivity,
said Arlene Amarante, Country Ambassador and Sales Director
of Yahoo! Philippines.
(MST-Dec. 2, 2012)
Kalibo, Aklan
Engineering Office, Kalibo, Aklan, through the __________intends to
apply the sum of Php46,560,000.00 being the Approved Budget for the
Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for Construction of River
Control along Aklan River, Banga, Aklan- 12GA0124. Bids received in
excess of t he ABC shal l be aut omat i cal l y rej ect ed at bi d openi ng.

Engineering Ofce, KaIibo, AkIan now invites bids 1. Construction of 473.31m
Reinforced Concrete Revetment Wall with Berm, top Slab, Parapet Wall,
Cut off Wall & Stairs. 2. Furnishing/Driving of Structural Steel Piles (0.13 x
0.60m), 6m. 3. Embankment & Application of Coconet with vegetation (vetiver
grass system). Completion of the Works requires 240 CD. Bidders should have
completed, within ten (10) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids,
a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained
in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II, Instructions to Bidders.

the Impl ementi ng Rul es & Regul ati ons (IRR) of Republ i c Act 9184 (RA


I nt erest ed bi dders may obt ai n f urt her i nf ormat i on f rom Department
of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Aklan District Engineering
Of f i ce, Kal i bo, Akl an, and i nspect t he Bi ddi ng Document s at t he




The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Aklan District Engineering
Ofce, KaIibo, AkIan will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on December 6, 2012 - 10:00 am
at DPWH BAC Ofce, KaIibo, AkIan, which shall be open only to all interested parties.

BAC Office, Kalibo, Aklan. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security

Bids shall be opened on December 17, 2012 - 2:00 P.M. at the BAC Offce, DPWH Aklan
District Engineering Offce, Toting Reyes St., Kalibo, Aklan in the presence of the bidders'

Engineering Ofce, KaIibo, AkIan reserves the right to accept or reject any bid, to
annul the bid process, and to reject all bids at any time prior to contract award, without

Engineer II
Engr. Joey R. Ureta
Engineer II
Head, BAC-TWG
facsimile: +63 (36) 2624845
web: dpwh.gov.ph
Engineer III
BAC Chairman
Noted:
Invitation to Bid for: Construction of River Control (Revetment
Wall) Along Aklan River, Banga, Aklan.
(MST-Dec. 2, 2012)
Kalibo, Aklan

Invitation to Bid for: Construction of Altavas Jamindan Road,
Altavas, Aklan
Engineering Office, Kalibo, Aklan, through the __________ intends
to apply the sum of Php22,072,350.00 being the Approved Budget for
the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for Construction of
Altavas Jamindan Road, Altavas, Aklan- 12GA0125. Bids received
in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

Engineering Ofce, KaIibo, AkIan, now invites bids for Upgrading of 1,570.00m
Road Upgrading. Completion of the Works requires 179 CD. Bidders should have

usi ng non-di scret i onary pass/ f ai l cri t eri on as speci f i ed i n t he
Implementing Rules & Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 9184 (RA

or organizations with at least seventy five percent (75%) interest or
outstandi ng capi tal stock bel ongi ng to ci ti zens of the Phi l i ppi nes.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from Department of Public Works and
Highways, AkIan District Engineering Ofce, KaIibo, AkIan, and inspect the Bidding
Documents at the address given below from 8:00 12:00 A.M. and from 1:00 5:00 p.m.




The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Aklan
Di stri ct Engi neeri ng Offi ce, Kal i bo, Akl an wi l l hol d a Pre-Bi d
Conference on December 7, 2012 10:00 A.M. at the DPWH BAC
Office, Kalibo, Aklan, which shall be open only to all interested parties.

Bids must be delivered on or before 9:00 A.M. December 18, 2012 at the
DPWH BAC Ofce, KaIibo, AkIan. All bids must be accompanied by a bid
security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.

Bi ds shal l be opened on December 18, 2012 at 2: 00 pm i n
t he pr esence of t he bi dder s r epr esent at i ves who chose t o
at t end at t he address bel ow. Lat e bi ds shal l not be accept ed.

Engineering Ofce, KaIibo, AkIan reserves the right to accept or reject any
bid, to annul the bid process, and to reject all bids at any time prior to contract
award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

Engineer II
Engr. Joey R. Ureta
Engineer II
Head, BAC-TWG
facsimile: +63 (36) 2624845
web: dpwh.gov.ph
BAC Chairman
Noted:
(MST-Dec. 2, 2012)
Kalibo, Aklan

Invitation to Bid for: Construction/Improvement Boracay
Circumferential Road Malay, Aklan
Engineering Office, Kalibo, Aklan, through the FY 2012 RA 10155
Regular 2012 Current SA No. SR 2012 09-0007695 intends to apply
the sum of Php31,525,000.00 being the Approved Budget for the Contract
(ABC) to payments under the contract for Construction/Improvement -
Boracay Circumferential Road, Malay, Aklan- 12GA0126. Bids received
i n excess of the ABC shal l be automati cal l y rej ected at bi d openi ng.

Engineering Office, Kalibo, Aklan now invites bids for PCCP Section I,
III, IV, V 4m width, 1.386.5m length, 0.20m thickness, Section II 3m width,
0.20m thickness, 60m length, Section IV & VI, 5m width, 0.20m thickness
387.00m length, Section IV, 2.50m width, 0.20m thickness 536.50m length.
Completion of the Works requires 179 CD. calendar days. Bidders should have

the Implementing Rules & Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 9184 (RA


I nt erest ed bi dders may obt ai n f urt her i nf ormat i on f rom Department
of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Aklan District Engineering
Offi ce, Kal i bo, Akl an, and i nspect t he Bi ddi ng Document s at t he


November 28 December 18, 2012 from the address below and upon payment
of a non-refundable fee for the Bidding Documents in the amount of Php20,000.00.


The Depar t ment of Publ i c Wor ks and Hi ghways ( DPWH)
Aklan District Engineering Office, Kalibo, Aklan wi l l hol d a Pre-
Bid Conference onDecember 7, 2012 10:00 A.M. at the DPWH BAC
Office, Kalibo Aklan, which shall be open only to all interested parties.

Bids must be delivered on or before 9:00 A.M. December 18, 2012 at the
DPWH BAC Offce, Kalibo, Aklan. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security


Engineering Ofce, KaIibo, AkIan reserves the right to accept or reject any
bid, to annul the bid process, and to reject all bids at any time prior to contract
award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

Engineer II
Engr. Joey R. Ureta
Engineer II
Head, BAC-TWG
facsimile: +63 (36) 2624845
web: dpwh.gov.ph
BAC Chairman
Noted:
Manila StandardTODAY
Sports
Sunday
B4
By Eddie G. Alinea
MANNY Pacquiao and Juan Manuel
Marquez arent the only combatants with
unnished business when they meet for
the fourth time on December 8. Their
respective trainersFreddie Roach and
Ignacio Nacho Beristainhave their
own score to settle as well.
The Pacman, of course, will be out
to prove his two-win, one-draw record
over Marquez is no uke, while El;
Dinamita will, once and for all, prove
his repeated pronouncements that he
won all their three previous ghts are
no gment of his imagination.
While Pacquiao and Marquez try to
beat up each other for the fourth time,
Roach and Beristain will be strutting
wares in techniques and magic in the
corners for the fth time with the ve-
time Trainer of the Year honoree by
the Boxing Writers Association of Amer-
ica Roach looking forward to a ve-peat
sweep of all their encounters.
Roach, it can be remembered, was
in Pacquiaos corner when the Filipino
eight division champion demolished
and forced legendary Oscar DeLa Hoya
to retirement with an emphatic and sen-
sational ninth round technical knockout
victory on December 6, 2009.
Beristain managed a draw decision
with Roach the rst time their wards
battled each other on May 8, 2004 when
Marquez successfully defended his
World Boxing Association and World
Boxing Federation featherweight crown
despite dropping to the canvass thrice
and was only saved by judge Burt Clem-
ents error in scoring.
Four years later, Roach made it 2-0
over his Mexican counterpart when Pac-
quiao settled for a split decision triumph
on the strength of sending Marquez down
in the third round and, thus, took the lat-
ters super-featherweight diadem.
Last year on almost the same date,
the now 52-year-old American training
guru guided his prized pupil to a ma-
jority verdict that, like their previous
meetings remain doubtful in the eyes
of many, thus, this Act IV of the two
ghters storied feud.
Like Pacquiao and Marquez, Roach
and Beristain would like their wards to
win convincingly this time, if possible
via stoppage. The trainers will leave no
stone unturned in attaining their target
by charting a rigid and extensive train-
ing regimen at the Wild Card Gym in
Los Angeles for Pacquiao and at the
Romanza sweat shop in Mexico City
for Marquez.
Both Roach and Beristain are acknowl-
edged as two of the nest trainers in the
world today having both been elevated to
boxing Hall of Fame although the Mexi-
can earned the distinction earlier in 2006,
while the American only last June.
Roach has, so far, produced no less
than 22 world champions, the most no-
table of whom is Pacquiao. The only
man in the entire universe to own eight
belts in as many weight divisions. Oth-
also want to settle score
ROACH, BERISTAIN
er ghters are Mike Tyson and Filipi-
nos Gerry Pealosa and current uni-
ed yweight kingpin Brian Viloria.
Other reigning world titlists out-
side of Viloria under the Wild Card
stable are heavyweight Vladimir
Klitchko and super-bantamweight
Guillermo Rigondeaux. Among the
most prominent former belt holders
who owed their rise to the throne to
Roach were Amir Khan, Julio Cesar
Chavez Jr., Bernard Hopkins and
De La Hoya.
Beristain is currently the trainer of
the Marquez brothers; Juan Manuel
and Rafael, who hold world titles at
featherweight and bantamweight, re-
spectively.His rst world champion
was longtime bantamweight and Su-
per Bantamweight champion Daniel
Zaragoza. Beristain also guided Gil-
berto Roman to the WBC super-y-
weight title. In the 1990s, Beristain
handled the highly regarded straw-
weight and Lightf yweight cham-
pion Ricardo Lopez.
Roach and Beristain, like their fa-
mous wards, would like nothing bet-
ter than a convincing victory to afrm
their places in the boxing world.
Nacho Beristain, left, and Freddie Roach want a convincing win in the
coming fight between Juan Manuel Marquez and Manny Pacquiao.
WENDELL RUPERT ALINEA
The most dominant school in
fencing in the UAAP is the de-
cidedly non-elitist school of the
University of the East.
Bulk of the credit for their suc-
cess in fencing must go to the UE
school administration for sup-
porting a sport that is not that
popular. A big part of the credit
should also go to three-time
Southeast Asia Games gold med-
alist in foil coach Rolando Can-
las, Jr. who has instituted an hon-
est-to-goodness grassroots based
recruitment and training program
for the school.
We started the program in a
tie-up with Quezon City Coun-
cilor Philip Joseph Juico back
in 2006. It started as a summer
sports program for kids in 10
sports disciplines. Anybody who
knows sports understand that in
order to develop world caliber
athletes you have to start them at
a really young age. So we started
this program in Quezon City for
kids in boxing, street dance, bas-
have swords drawn
for UAAP wars
that well known, said coach
Canlas.
So I told my staff to just re-
cruit from the boys and girls who
were already there and convince
them to transfer to fencing. I
dont know what my staff told
the kids but we wound up with
20 boys and girls. Compare this
to the about 100 to 200 hundred
enrollees in each of the other
sports.
Of the 10 sports disciplines in
2006 only fencing survives to
date. Coach Canlas is proud to
say that his grassroots program
have helped kids go on to nish
elementary and high school and
win national and international
titles. His next goal is to take his
fencers to the Olympics.
The ideal age to start the kids
in fencing is eight years old. And
thats not just in fencing but in
other sports as well. My rst
batch of athletes discovered in
that grassroots program in 2006
are now members of the national
team today at their age of 15 to
16 years old. They started later
than I would have wanted when
they were about 11 years old. My
program is now starting kids at a
younger age, said coach Canlas.
UE was so dominant that they
won the overall title in the fenc-
ing competition during the 73rd
UAAP season when the UE
Lady Warriors swept all the six
gold medals at stake in the indi-
vidual and team foil, epee and
saber events. Last year they re-
peated their dominance by again
annexing the overall fencing title
during the 74th UAAP season.
With their victory last year the
UE Lady Warriors (champions
from 2007-08 to 2011-12) tallied
a ve-peat to eclipse the four-
peat achievement of the mens
team who were champions 2000-
01 to 2003-04.
This year with national team
standout Nathaniel Perez going
up to the mens team the War-
riors are actually favored to con-
tinue their dominance and add
the mens division titles to their
strangehold on the womens and
juniors category.
Already the best in his disci-
pline of foil the 16-year-old Per-
ez is a college freshman at UE.
My wish is to compete and
win medals in the SEA Games
and the Asian Games. But my
one dream is to compete in the
Olympics. Every athlete dreams
of making it to the Olympics.
That is also my dream, to rep-
resent the Philippines and win
medals in the Olympics, said
Perez who credits the UE teams
success to camaraderie and
teamwork.
By Reuel Vidal

FENCING is commonly seen as a sport
for the well-heeled, the elite and the well-
to-do in life. So it will probably come as
a big surprise to nd out that schools like
the Ateneo De Manila University or Dela
Salle University do not dominate fencing
competitions in the Universities Athletic
Association of the Philippines.
The UE Fencing Team is suc-
cessful because of the friendly
relations of the players among
each other, said Perez. This is
important because we are able to
inspire and challenge each other
to improve and work hard during
our training. We are also grateful
to coach Canlas who has trained
and taught us well.
Perez hopes to follow in the
footsteps of his coach Canlas
who won three gold medals in
the SEA Games. But Canlas
himself believes that the next
step is for the top fencers in
the Philippines, and not just in
his UE team, to regularly join
international competitions to
gain more exposure and experi-
ence. This is the only way for
Filipino fencers now dominating
the SEA Games to improve and
become world class athletes who
will eventually go on to not just
compete but win medals in the
Olympics.
ketball, volleyball, badminton,
swimming and fencing, said
coach Canlas.
The other programs eventu-
ally zzled out because of dif-
fering reasons. Only the fenc-
ing program survives. From this
program coach Canlas nds the
children who eventually go on to
the elementary, high school and
collegiate fencing teams of the
University of the East.
My original objective was
to introduce fencing to the local
community at the barangay lev-
el. I wanted to educate the public
that fencing can be a sport for the
middle class and not just for the
rich. That rst year I remember
that no boy or girl enrolled in
fencing. The sport just was not
The University of the East Warriors mens fencing team, led by the swashbuckling Nathaniel Perez, center, are all set to once again dominate
the Universities Athletic Association of the Philippines wars. The other members of the team are, from left: Alvin Almonte, Michael Nicanor,
Manoah Baal, Lee Eigran Ergina, Bruce Kevin Ng and Clark Vincent De Guzman.
The University of the East Lady Warriors are ready to defend their
womens division title. They are, from left: Hillary Romero, Clicheilyn
Del Rosario, Elain Kea Gonzales, Keren Pangilinan, Jylyn Nicanor,
Justine Gail Tinio and Wilhelmina Lozada.
Nathaniel Perez, right, lunges to score a point against Manoah Baal in their foil match in Lipa, Batangas.
Perez eventually won the Mens Foil Gold in the 1st McKinley Hill Fencing Championships.
UE WARRIORS

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