Manila-US Times

TAMBALANG COCO-JULIA MAS TINUTUKAN

Johnny M. Pecayo — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 04:53:33 +0000

TAMBALANG COCO-JULIA MAS TINUTUKAN. Nanatiling panalo sa national TV ratings ang Primetime Bida teleseryeng pinagbibidahan nina Susan Roces, Helen Gamboa, Richard Gomez, Dawn Zulueta, Julia Montes, at Coco Martin na “Walang Hanggan.” Base sa pinakahuling tala ng Kantar Media, nakakuha ang “Walang Hanggan” ng 26.7% national TV rating, kumpara sa 22.2% ng katapat nitong bagong teleserye ng GMA na “My Beloved.” At dahil sa mainit na suporta ng mga manonood, patuloy ang personal na pasasalamat ng cast ng “Walang Hanggan” sa kanilang mall tour ngayong Sabado (Pebrero 18), 5pm, sa Gaisano Capital Island Mall, Mactan, Cebu. Abangan ang lalong umiinit at makapigil-hiningang eksena sa “Walang Hanggan” gabi-gabi sa TFC sa buong mundo. Para sa karagdagang updates, mag-log on sa http://walanghanggan.abs-cbn.com/, i-‘like’ ang http://facebook.com/abs.walanghanggan, o sundan ang @walanghanggan_ sa Twitter.

Whitney Houston’s Estate Expected to Get Boost After Death, But Less Than Michael Jackson

Johnny M. Pecayo — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 04:41:47 +0000

By SUSANNA KIM | Good Morning America

Whitney Houston had her fair share of chart-toppers, even posthumously on iTunes and Amazon, but the superstar’s finances took a different kind of hit during personal struggles.

While there were recent reports that Houston was struggling financially, the sales of her music since this weekend would improve the condition of her estate regardless. Michael Jackson sold over 8 million albums in the U.S. alone in the six months after his death, and close to 30 million worldwide.

Zach Greenburg, Forbes writer, said Whitney Houston will not match Jackson’s postmortem earnings, but if her music sells even half as well as Jackson’s did, her artist royalties alone could bring the estate more than $10 million in the coming year.

Houston made millions for her roles in The Bodyguard in 1992 and The Preacher’s Wife in 1996, the latter for which she reportedly earned $10 million. And in 2001, Whitney Houston renewed her contact with Arista Records, signing a $100 million deal, one of the biggest recording deals in the history of the music business, Variety reported at the time. The deal called for at least six albums and two greatest-hits compilations. In 2007, Arista Records’ Clive Davis announced Houston began recording a comeback album and her album, “I Look to You,” was released in 2009.

Houston is the 20th top-selling artist in the U.S. of all time, selling 55 million records, according to the Recording Industry Association of America. The single, “I Will Always Love You,” from “The Bodyguard” soundtrack is the longest running number one single from a soundtrack album.

Houston’s “Nothing but Love” world tour, from December 2009 through June 2010, was her last. The tour, the first in ten years, still grossed millions of dollars.

Keith Caulfield, Billboard’s associate director of charts, said while Houston’s sales will not come close to the financial success of Michael Jackson, who had publishing, song-writing and recording royalties, her greatest hits album will re-enter Billboard’s Top 10 chart possibly this week. Already, 50,000 were sold in the first day or two after her death.

However, Caulfield said it is difficult to estimate how much Houston will receive because how her contract was structured is unknown.

“Certainly, we would expect that her estate won’t be broke,” said Andrew Mayoras, attorney and co-author of the book, Trial & Heirs: Famous Fortune Fights!, even if the reports of her financial struggles were true.

The surging sales of Whitney Houston’s music may be a large boost to her estate, as with other artists after they have passed away. Jimi Hendrix is an example of an estate which grew from almost nothing into a huge, multi-million dollar venture, said Mayoras.

Houston also completed the filming of Sparkle, produced by Sony’s TriStar Pictures, and it is scheduled to be released in September. Houston plays the mother of American Idol’s Jordin Sparks in the film.

Andrew Katzenstein, estate lawyer with Proskauer Rose LLP in Los Angeles, said it is difficult to estimate her royalties because her earnings will be multiplied by an unknown formula, possibly dependent on the recent sale of her songs. He also said her earnings could be less with digital distribution, through services like iTunes.

“But she’s an international star, and her music was fantastic,” Katzenstein said.

Like other celebrities, Houston also had public financial and legal tangles, including struggling with drugs and alcohol. After her divorce with R&B artist, Bobby Brown, in 2007, Brown reportedly sued Houston for custody and spousal support.

Bobby Brown said he was “deeply saddened at the passing of my ex-wife.”

“At this time, we ask for privacy, especially for my daughter, Bobbi- Kristina,” he said in a statement. “I appreciate all of the condolences that have been directed towards my family and I at this most difficult time.”

One messy financial situation was a lawsuit from her step-mother over a $1 million life insurance policy from her late father, John Houston.

Houston had lent her father $723,800 in August 1990 for the purchase and renovation of a home in New Jersey in which he lived with his wife, Barbara. When John Houston died in February 2003, he bequeathed all his assets to his widow who was not much older than her step-daughter.

“Although Barbara and Whitney may be considered stepmother and daughter, that relationship never really jelled,” the court filing stated.

Barbara inherited the property, though Whitney owned the mortgage on the house and was the named life insurance beneficiary. But Barbara claimed the life insurance money was meant to repay Whitney for that mortgage. When Whitney refused to credit the life insurance money against the mortgage, Barbara sued in 2008.

Though the case was finally dismissed in December, Houston’s attorney, Bryan Blaney, told ABC News on Monday Houston had planned to file a complaint to have her step-mother evicted from the property.

“It’s no different that it’s her property, or the property of her estate, which would go to her daughter or whoever her beneficary is,” Blaney said.

Blaney said the complaint was prepared before Houston’s death but it has not been filed for reasons “unrelated to anything of significance.” He said he expects to be updated by her manager.

“I don’t think there will be any reason not to file the complaint,” Blaney said. “I can only tell you there’s a whole lot of things going on with the folks right now in regards to her manager and family members.”

Blaney said he was “devasted” by the loss of Houston, who was a “tremendous” person.

“I always thought it was sad that people would reach out to make her life more difficult than it needed to be,” he said. “I always found her to be a sensitive and nice person and whatever issues she might have had, I can’t comment. I don’t know them.”

Blaney represented Houston to dismiss the charge of drug possession in her suitcase at an airpot in Hawaii in 2000.

“I think she became an easy target for tabloids,” he said. “There were instances that were plainly unfair in tabloid editions of her just to sell newspapers.”

Barbara Houston, who declined to comment, continues to reside in the property in Fort Lee, N.J., her attorney, Gilberto Garcia, said.

“It’s a sad thing what happened for everyone involved,” Garcia said of Whitney Houston’s death. “She was a great figure and a great voice. She was a good daughter to her father.”

Garcia said Barbara Houston sent condolences to Houston’s attorney.

“My client is quite shaken up by this,” Garcia said. “I don’t know that the case matters much in comparison to everything that’s going on.”

Mayoras said he assumes Houston used life insurance of some type to protect her daughter, Bobbi Kristina, regardless of reports of any financial struggles.

The state of the multiple Grammy and Billboard music award winner’s finances are unknown at the time of her unexpected death, though her daughter, Bobbi-Kristina, 18, is expected to inherit her estate. Her estate will profit from royalties for future sales of her songs, as well as licensing deals for her name, image and likeness.

Ideally, Houston would have set up at least a revocable living trust to provide for her daughter, so she doesn’t receive everything at once, Mayoras said.

“Most people with even a modest amount of wealth use trusts to control how and when their money is passed,” he said. “For example, we would hope Whitney would have spaced out Bobbi-Kristina’s distributions over time, so that she would receive a percentage as she reaches certain ages. Most 18-year-olds are not mature enough to handle a substantial inheritance.”

Ideally, Whitney would have named a trust as the beneficiary of any life insurance, Mayoras said. Otherwise the money would go directly to the named beneficiary, possibly Bobbi-Kristina.

Depending on whether updated she updated her documents after her divorce from Bobby Brown, there could be complications if he is named as a beneficiary, Mayoras said.

“Hopefully, she would have taken steps to update her documents to eliminate anything going to Bobby Brown, ” Mayoras said, “unless, of course, she wanted him to receive something. But many people don’t take the time to update their estate planning documents after a divorce.”

Houston did sell a home in Alpharetta, Ga. for $1.19 million in May 2007, shortly after the divorce, for which Houston had received a notice of default. Houston bought the home in 2003 for $1.38 million by taking out a 15-year mortgage for $1.1 million, according to public records. The home was where the 2005 reality television show, “Being Bobby Brown,” was filmed. Houston had a county tax lien on the property for $17,644 in December 2005, according to public records.

Houston had a handful of properties that she unloaded or tried to unload recently. She also sold a house in Mendham, N.J. for $940,000 in January 2010. She also listed another home in Mendham for $2.5 million in 2009, Zillow reported. Houston reportedly owned a home in New Bergen, N.J. that she bought in 1989 for $955,000. – ABC News’ Kevin Dolak and Ross Eichenholz contributed to this report.

Lapid’s wife on smuggling: Sorry, I screwed up

Johnny M. Pecayo — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 07:39:03 +0000

The Philippine Star

MANILA, Philippines – The wife of Sen. Lito Lapid reportedly apologized repeatedly to US authorities following her arrest in Las Vegas last year for allegedly smuggling $50,000 in cash.

“I’m sorry, it’s for my house,” US authorities quoted Marissa Lapid as saying. “I screwed up.”

Senator Lapid, for his part, said in a statement yesterday, “My wife can defend herself.”

The senator said his wife has submitted herself to the jurisdiction of a US court, which has authority over the case.

“This is sad, but my wife is ready to answer all the issues related to the incident. A lawyer is assisting her,” Lapid’s statement, which was in Filipino, read.

He added that they are waiting for details from Marissa’s lawyer. Lapid, who attended the seventh day of the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona yesterday, confirmed the arrest of his wife on Wednesday, adding that she had posted bail.

Lapid’s spokesman Alex Marcelino has denied claims that Marissa went to Las Vegas to gamble.

“She and the senator have never gambled. They are never known to be fond of any form of gambling,” Marcelino told The STAR.

Marcelino said he was unaware why Marissa had been flying to Las Vegas recently, except that she was working on the citizenship of her grandchildren by daughter Mitchi who were born in the US.

He said Mark, who went on leave as general manager of the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority, is supposed to study in the US.

Marissa was arrested after arriving at the Las Vegas International Airport last Jan. 15. The arrest was based on a warrant issued last Jan. 5 for allegedly smuggling $50,000 in cash last Nov. 27.

The case was filed before US Magistrate Judge Peggy Leen, who gave weight to the testimony of Albert Giangregorio, special agent of the Homeland Security Investigation.

Giangregorio said that when Marissa arrived in Las Vegas from Manila, she declared she “was not carrying currency or monetary instruments over $10,000 in US currency or a foreign currency equivalent.”

Upon reexamination by a Customs Border and Protection officer, Marissa said she also had P10,000. But two socks containing $10,000 each and a cloth bag with $20,000 were found during an examination of Marissa’s carry-on luggage.

When asked about the money, Marissa reportedly replied, “I’m sorry. It’s for my house.”

Giangregorio said Marissa then apologized and repeatedly said “I screwed up.”

And now, plunder

Meanwhile, the arrest of Lapid’s wife in Las Vegas for alleged dollar smuggling has encouraged former Pampanga governor Ed Panlilio to pursue a plunder case against the senator and his son Mark.

In an interview, Panlilio said he would ask the Commission on Audit (COA) to reopen its investigation into reports that P500-million worth of lahar sand quarry income of the Pampanga provincial government when the Lapids were still governor were missing.

* Panlilio said the case of Marissa was similar to that of former Armed Forces comptroller Carlos Garcia, who was charged with plunder when his two sons were held at the San Francisco International Airport in 2009 for failure to declare $100,000 in cash.

He said the plunder case he had filed against the Lapids was dismissed by former Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez two weeks before she resigned in May last year.

“The Ombudsman cited insufficiency of evidence, but COA has the data as to what happened,” Panlilio said.

MAM AWARDS: NOW ACCEPTING NOMINATIONS FOR 2012

Johnny M. Pecayo — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 07:37:16 +0000

Los Angeles, 15 February 2012 – Nominations to the Migration Advocacy and Media (MAM) Awards are now formally open.

Conceived in 2011 by the Inter-Agency Committee (IAC) for the Celebration of the Month of Overseas Filipinos and International Migrants Day in the Philippines (December and December 18, respectively every year) chaired by the Philippine Migrants Rights Watch (PMRW) and co-chaired by the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO), MAM Awards aim to recognize the significant role of the media in the promotion and advocacy of migration and development.

Eligible for the Awards are works by government and private media outlets, institutions and practitioners in the fields of print, radio, movie and television, advertising and internet based in the Philippines and abroad. Entries must have raised public awareness on issues on Filipino migration, advocated the cause of Filipino overseas, or/and promoted a positive image of Filipinos overseas, and migration and development.

Entries to the Awards must be submitted on or before 30 September 2012 to MAM Awards’ Secretariat, Commission on Filipinos Overseas, Citigold Center, 1345 Pres.Quirino Avenue cor. Osmeña Highway (South Superhighway) Manila, Philippines 1007.

The recipient of the first MAM Awards include “From Carabao to Sheep” byAKLnzPINOYS (Print Journalism Award), “Multicultural Family Broadcasting for Filipinos” by Woongjin Foundation (Radio Journalism Award-Regular Radio Program), “Citizen Pinoy by ABS-CBN Global Ltd. (Television Award-Regular TV Program), “Front Row-Pag-Uwi” by GMA NEWS TV Channel 11 (Television Journalism Award-Episodic), “The Filipina On Top: Deconstructing Maria Clara” by IllustradoCommunications FZ-LLC (Film Media Award-Documentary), “Highlights and Lowlights: 38 Years of Pinoys Abroad” by Joseph Holandes Ubalde, www.interaksyon.com(Interactive Media Award) and “Mag-Ingat sa mga Illegal Recruiter” by CLTV 36 (Advertisement Award).

For more information on the Awards, please call the MAM Secretariat at (632) 561-8291 (telefax), (632) 552-4766 or email atinfo@cfo.gov.ph. To download the primer and nomination form, please check www.cfo.gov.ph.

Lawmakers oppose new SALN format

Johnny M. Pecayo — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 07:36:00 +0000

By Paolo Romero (The Philippine Star) Updated February 16, 2012 12:00 AM

[Editor's Note: "BELIEVE IT OR NOT, HONORABLE LAWMAKERS TO CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSIONER DUQUE RE: THE NEW FORMAT OF SALN HEARING...potentially unconstitutional overreach...might breach bank secrecy laws...could expose public officials to self-incrimination, harassment & abuse...invade area of protected freedoms...additional info required is tantamount to a ‘fishing expedition’...strongly opposed, also threatened to bring the matter to the courts for final ruling...atsaka bakit daw pati spouse & relatives nila kasama sa disclosure..HELLOWW, HINDI BA ITO ANG DAHILAN KUNG BAKIT INIMPEACH NINYO SI CJ CORONA??...TAPOS NGAYON PANAY ANG NGAWA NINYO PAG SA INYO INA-APPLY...ANO KAYO SINUSWERTE?" -- Maria Elizabeth Embry]

MANILA, Philippines – Lawmakers strongly opposed yesterday the new format of the statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) for government employees, which they said was unconstitutional and could expose public officials to self-incrimination and harassment.

During a hearing at the House of Representatives, lawmakers took turns chastising Civil Service Commission (CSC) chairman Francisco Duque III, who is tasked to implement the new SALN format.

The truthful execution of SALN is one of the main issues in the ongoing impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona, who is accused of failing to publicly disclose his SALN.

Under the new SALN, public officials and employees are now also required to disclose sources and amount of their gross income, personal and family expenses, and amount of total income tax paid.

Duque told lawmakers that his agency was simply implementing the recommendation last year of an inter-agency body composed of the Office of the President, Department of Justice, the Supreme Court, the Office of the Ombudsman, and the CSC, among others.

He also said that the CSC was simply “harmonizing” the implementation of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, and Republic Act 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials.

Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez and Surigao del Sur Rep. Philip Pichay, in separate manifestations, said that while the new provisions were mentioned in RA 3019, these are not specifically enumerated in RA 6713, a much more recent law.

Rodriguez stressed that RA 6713, which is a much higher law being a Code, has effectively repealed the provisions in the old law.

“We must register our objection to the proposed new SALN form, mainly because of potentially unconstitutional overreach,” House Minority Leader and Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez said.

He said Article XI Section 17 of the Constitution states that every public officer is required to “submit under oath a declaration of his assets, liabilities, and net worth.”

“And yet the new SALN form seeks to go much farther, by also requiring disclosure of matters like one’s gross income, personal and family expenses, and income taxes paid,” he said.

He said the Supreme Court has ruled that “a governmental purpose may not be achieved by means which sweep unnecessarily broadly and thereby invade the area of protected freedoms.”

“The constitutional requirement of disclosure pertains only to the public officer involved and not to his spouse and other relatives,” he added.

“The additional information required is tantamount to a ‘fishing expedition’ that infringes on a person’s right against self-incrimination and exposes public officials to harassment and abuse,” Suarez said.

The lawmakers threatened to bring the matter to the courts if the CSC insists on implementing the new SALN format.

Pichay said the new SALN is also unconstitutional as it might breach bank secrecy laws.

He explained that government employees would need to declare other sources of income, such as “passive income” or income already subject to final tax such as interest income from bank interest and other sources, which is subject already to 20 percent tax and capital gains tax.

He said that the Bureau of Internal Revenue withdrew last year its new income tax return form that was viewed by House members as too intrusive and unconstitutional.

Pichay also warned that even ordinary government employees could be penalized for simple inaccuracies in filing their SALN as the new format is complicated and tedious to prepare.

“For example, all of us have a credit card. If at the end of the year you are not going to declare the balance of your credit card even if you owe the credit card P1,000, that is again undeclared (and) not complete disclosure, so again you could be suspended between one month to six months… that’s what we have now,” he said.

Suarez said the requirement to declare all expenses was also unreasonable. He said as a public official, he often gives donations to those seeking help, and under the new rule, they would have to issue receipts for every donation they make.

Duque welcomed moves to bring the matter to the courts so that a final ruling could be made on the controversy.

Gawad Geny Lopez Jr. Bayaning Pilipino Awards goes global

Johnny M. Pecayo — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 07:30:50 +0000

Worldwide search for Filipino organizations doing extraordinary service kicks off this month

REDWOOD CITY, CA, February 10, 2012 – “Where there are Filipinos, there are heroes, and it’s time to honor them.”

With this campaign line, firm belief and an international network of regional teams in place to make it happen, the Gawad Geny Lopez Jr. Bayaning Pilipino Awards is going global this year, the first time since its inception in 1994.

“It is a huge and momentous initiative to reach out to Filipinos all over the world and recognize their collective efforts in serving their less fortunate Filipino brothers and sisters wherever they may be. We are truly excited by this development,” said Fr. Nilo Tanalega, SJ who heads Ugnayan at Tulong para sa Maralitang Pamilya (UGAT) Foundation (translated literally as Relations and Assistance for Poor Families). UGAT, a non-profit organization based in the Philippines, oversees the screening of nominations and selection of winners.

“My father would be smiling right now,” said Raffy Lopez, COO of ABS-CBN Global which oversees the promotion and production of the distinguished award ceremonies. “He started Bayaning Pilipino (Filipino Heroes) with Father Nilo. It would warm his heart to know that ABS-CBN in Manila, TFC globally and UGAT, have expanded their long-running partnership to search around the world for ordinary folks doing extraordinary work in the service of the Filipino people. This is true to his vision and mission.”

The “father” is Don Eugenio “Geny” Lopez Jr., founder of ABS-CBN Corporation, the largest entertainment and broadcasting company in the Philippines. He is known in the industry as the “Father of Philippine Broadcasting”. The award, which was named after him, began after he learned of a Filipina maid in Hong Kong who got run over by a car in pursuit of saving a child. The award gives recognition to Filipinos (now as organizations) who in the face of challenges and difficulties manage to rise and emerge as role models of service in their communities.

“We have honored so many Filipinos, but taking the search to a worldwide level posed major logistical requirements. We are so enthused by the energy and commitment of TFC teams in all regions in taking part in the project. It shows their involvement and love for the Filipino communities that they serve,” said Chit Guerrero, vice president for ABS-CBN Corporation’s Special Projects which works directly with UGAT in Manila for this project.

Gawad Geny Lopez Jr Global Bayaning Pilipino has kicked off this month. The search is open to all Filipino organizations in the U.S., Canada, Asia-Pacific (covering Singapore and Hong Kong), Europe (covering Italy and U.K.), Middle East, Australia and Japan. The criteria are as follows: (1) Measurable impact: scope and number of beneficiaries with known effective results; (2) Highlight the value of unity/PAGKAKAISA (effective elimination of selosan (jealousy), inggitan (envy), siraan (negative criticism), etc. or has effectively dealt with these either through interventions or through innovative methods); (3) Focused on service and/or an issue (poverty, health, education, etc) as felt either in your respective country or in the Philippines; (4) Transcend regionalism/parochialism; (5) Participatory/people-oriented leadership (as shown in the manner of how they choose their leaders and their acceptance thereof); (6) Promote Filipino values and culture and Filipino heritage.

Deadline of submission of nominations is on March 15, 2012. Regional winners will be announced late May 2012 after a period of tight screenings and validation. The winners will be flown to Manila, Philippines for the national awarding ceremony to be held in June 2012.

For nomination forms and more information, visit www.globalbayaningpilipino.com.

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About ABS-CBN Global

ABS-CBNGlobal Hungary Kft is a wholly owned subsidiary of ABS-CBN Corporation, the Philippines’ largest entertainment and broadcasting company. It was created over 15 years ago to be in service to all Filipinos. Its global flagship product is The Filipino Channel (TFC). For more information, visit www.abs-cbnglobal.com.

MIKE FEUER LAUNCHES CAMPAIGN TO BECOME LA’S NEXT CITY ATTORNEY

Johnny M. Pecayo — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 07:22:10 +0000

With Broad Support Throughout Los Angeles, Feuer Announces Honorary Co-Chairs and Raises Nearly $350,000

LOS ANGELES, CA – Government reformer, leading state legislator and prominent attorney Mike Feuer announced the launch of his campaign for Los Angeles City Attorney today.

“I’m running to become Los Angeles’s next City Attorney because the people of L.A. deserve secure neighborhoods, innovative solutions to our toughest problems, and a city government that inspires confidence and trust,” said Feuer. “As our next City Attorney, I’ll strive to make our streets safe, protect consumers, preserve our environment, improve our business climate and stand up for working families. Whether working to keep kids out of gangs, prosecute criminals, or fight for the rights of everyday Angelenos, I’ll do all I can to bring energy, vision and integrity to the job.”

Today’s formal announcement comes on the heels of Feuer’s release of his fundraising report for the January 31^st deadline, where he raised $345,000 in less than four months.

Feuer’s campaign also announced former California Supreme Court Justice Carlos Moreno, gang intervention strategist and civil rights leader Connie Rice, constitutional scholar and former L.A. Elected Charter Reform Commission President Erwin Chemerinsky, former L.A. City Controller Laura Chick and Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca will serve as Honorary Campaign Co-Chairs.

For further information about the Mike Feuer for City Attorney campaign, please visit: [mikefeuer2013.com].

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Mike Feuer is one of California’s leading lawmakers and attorneys. Currently the chair of the California Assembly’s Judiciary Committee, Mike has written some of the state’s most important public safety, children’s health and environmental laws.

Previously, Mike served for six years on the Los Angeles City Council, where he wrote some of the toughest laws in the nation to curb gun violence, fought successfully for anti-gang and after-school programs and funded jobs for disadvantaged youth. Prior to his work on the City Council, Mike directed one of the nation’s leading public interest law firms, Bet Tzedek Legal Services (The House of Justice), and taught at the U.C.L.A. School of Law and the U.C.L.A. School of Public Affairs.

“It’s Showtime” tops Twitter trending topics

Johnny M. Pecayo — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 07:20:21 +0000

MADLANG PEOPLE TAKE LIMELIGHT IN “IT’S SHOWTIME”

ABS-CBN’s new noontime program “It’s Showtime” has just started serving up unparalleled fun to the madlang people with its amusing games and exciting prizes but it already became the most talked-about local topics on Twitter during its much-awaited pilot last Monday (Feb 6).

The pilot elicited delight and thrill among Filipino netizens, prompting the hashtag ‘#ItsShowtime’ to top Twitter’s trending topics. Also trending on the micro-blogging site was ‘Baliwag U,’ a term popularized by host Anne Curtis, and the impromptu comical skit segment ‘Sine Mo ‘To.’

True to their promise to make Filipinos happy, the hosts continue to bring their own brand of entertainment through ‘Sine Mo ‘To’ by thriving on spontaneity and giving the spotlight to the randomly selected studio audience members.

After it trended on Twitter, the highly engaging segment captured the hearts of viewers who have since followed the story narrated by Vhong Navarro and Billy Crawford and acted out by the selected madlang people and hosts Anne, ‘Kuya’ Kim Atienza, Karylle, Vice Ganda, Teddy Corpuz, Jugs Jugueta, Jhong Hilario, Ryan Bang, Coleen Garcia, at Eric ‘Eruption’ Tai.

Aside from the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to perform on-stage with the hosts, the audience participants also get to win cash prizes depending on their performance in ‘Akting Mo, Premyo Mo.’

The program continues to discover the most entertaining acts from all over the country via the Classic Showtime talent search portion, while the hosts get to unleash their wacky side in “Arte Mo!” where the remaining contestant advances to Kuya Kim’s thrilling “Rock Clock” round and could win as much as P500,000.

Meanwhile, people who can’t sing in tune don’t need to worry in the ‘Singing V’ game, hosted by Vice, that challenges participants’ knowledge of song lyrics.

‘Party-party’ with the ‘unkabogable’ barkada of “It’s Showtime” weekdays and Saturdays at 11:30 a.m on ABS-CBN and TFC worldwide. (Kane Errol Choa, ABS-CBN Corporate Affairs & PR Director, Manila )

Goverment lost P1 billion in taxes from rice importation

Johnny M. Pecayo — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 07:16:17 +0000

By Charlie V. Manalo, Philippine Daily Tribune

Zambales Rep. Ma. Milagros “Mitos” Magsaysay lashed out anew at the “daang matuwid” concept of governance of the Aquino administration, saying unchecked corruption going on at the Bureau of Customs (BoC) is the complete antithesis of President Aquino’s anti-graft drive.

At a hearing of the House ways and means committee, Magsaysay bared the government lost P1 billion in taxes from riace importation from Pakistan and Vietnam to the tune of 186,000 metric tons or 3,600,000 sacks of rice due to undervaluation.

According to Magsaysay, importers of the rice declared their importation as broken rice which cost only $60 to $110 per metric ton. However, the solon said she was informed the actual cost of broken rice was $380 per metric ton.

In the United States, Magsaysay said broken rice could fetch as high as $465 per metric ton.

“So, instead of paying 40 percent of $380 per metric ton in taxes, the importers remitted to the Bureau of Customs only 40 percent of $110 per metric ton in taxes,” Magsaysay said.

Based on her computations, Magsaysay said she estimates government losses to reach $20 million to $23 million or roughly P1 billion for the 180,000 metric tons acquired by the National Food Authority through private rice importers.

“So, this could be a factor why there is a reduction in the tax collection over the BoC. P-Noy should know this,” the solon said.

In line with this, Magsaysay asked Customs Commissioner Ruffy Biazon to submit to Congress all pertinent documents relating to the minimum access volume program from 2011 up to the present.

“With those documents, we will know whether all the taxes for the importation of broken rice were computed at $110 and not based on $380,” Magsaysay said.

OFW na napinsala ang katawan dahil sa aksidente, humihingi ng tulong para makauwi sa Pinas

Johnny M. Pecayo — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 07:12:25 +0000

[Editor's Note: Ang masipag kong kaibigan na si Ms. Maria Elizabeth Embry ay nag-email kay OWWA Administrator Carmelita S. Dimzon at humingi ng tulong para kay OFW Alfredo Salmos from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, na nagtamo ng matinding pinsala sa katawan matapos makuryente. Agad namang sumagot si Adm. Dimzon at nagsabi na tutulungan niya ang nasabing OFW. Iyan ang magandang nagagawa ng internet -- mabilis na aksyonsa mga komunikasyon. -- Johnny Pecayo, manilaustimes.com]

Nanawagan ng tulong sa pamahalaang Aquino para makauwi na sa Pilipinas ang isang overseas Filipino worker (OFW) sa Jeddah, Saudi Arabia na nagtamo ng matinding pinsala sa katawan matapos makuryente.

Sa panayam ng GMA News, sinabi ni Alfredo Salmos, 53-anyos, tubong Nueva Ecija, na mahigit isang taon na siyang naghihirap sa kanyang kalagayan mula nang makuryente sa kanyang part-time job.

Ayon kay Salmos, nahihiya na siya sa mga taong naabala niya na tumutulong at nag-aalaga sa kanya. Dahil sa aksidente ay nagdikit ang ilang bahagi ng balat sa kanyang katawan kaya hindi na siya makakilos ng maayos.

Mahigit 35 porsiyento ng katawan ni Salmos ay naapektuhan ng pagkakasunog na dulot ng kuryente. Pinakagrabe ang tinamo niya sa harapan mula sa mukha hanggang sa dibdib.

Kuwento ng OFW, naganap ang aksidente habang naglilinis siya ng isang cubicle na may kuryente na umaabot halos sa 14,000 ang boltahe. Hindi umano niya batid na hindi nai-off ng operator ang kuryente.

Nang magkamalay, nasa ospital na siya at nalaman niya sa kanyang duktor na 27-araw siyang na-comatose.

Hindi naman naisagawa ang operasyon para mapaghiwalay sa nagkakadikit-dikit niyang balat dahil sariwa pa raw ang sugat sa loob ng kanyang katawan.

Malungkot na nagbalik-tanaw si Salmos na napilitan lang siyang tanggapin ang trabahong naging dahilan ng kanyang pagkaka-aksidente dahil nawalan siya ng trabaho.

“Nagresign na po ako nung una pero hindi po sila pumayag at ako ay pinadala sa ibang lugar. Pagdating ko, doon ko lang nalaman na tinerminate na pala ako ng aking amo,” ayon sa OFW.

Sinubukan daw niyang kausapin ang mga amo niya pero walang nangyari hanggang sa mapaso ang aking residence permit. Ito umano ang dahilan kaya napilitan siyang tumanggap ng ibang trabaho para may maipanggastos.

Bukod sa pinsala sa katawan, malaking problema rin ni Salmos para makauwi ang exit visa na hindi niya napatatakan dahil meron siyang dapat ipa-clear sa Immigration.

Nagpahayag na umano ang Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) na may makukuha siyang benepisyo sa nangyaring aksidente pero problema naman niya kung papaano lalakarin ang mga dokumento dahil sa kanyang kondisyon at kawalan ng pera.

Nakadagdag din umano sa hinanakit ni Salmos ang ginawang pag-iwan sa kanya ng kanyang pamilya na nagtungo na sa Hawaii.

“Alam po nila ang nangyari sa akin pero galit po sila sa akin. Sabi nila sa akin, iba na raw ho ngayon. Sinubukan kong tumawag pero pinapatayan ako ng cellfone,” umiiyak na pahayag ni Salmos.

Ang kanya na lang daw ina ang kanyang inaasahang uuwian sa Pilipinas.

Sinabi naman ni Philippine Consulate Consul General Uriel Norman Garibay, na hindi nabibigyan ng exit visa si Salmos dahil sa nakitang record nito tungkol sa kanyang sasakyan noon.

Hangga’t hindi naaayos o nawawala ang record ay hindi matatatakan ng exit visa ang pasaporte ng OFW. At dahil expired na ang residence permit (Iqama) ni Salmos, hindi raw ito kaagad maayos.

Pinayuhan ng opisyal si Salmos na nakipag-ugnayan sila sa employer nito upang mapa-renew muli ang kanyang Iqama. Nagsabi naman daw ang mga ito na makikipagtulungan sa Konsulado para makauwi na sa bansa ang OFW. - Ronald Concha/FRJ/KG, GMA News