Iloilo Metropolitan Times [Volume 1 Issue No 23]

“Injap devours 99%, City begs for 1%”

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July 7 - 13, 2013VOL. I ISSUE NO. 23Php 12.00

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BADJAO’S TALE. It has been there daily routine to beg for coins to feed their hungry stomach without knowing that they deserve more than the centavos they’ve collected from the street.

Ilo airport/p10

Villar continues/p10

Injap devours /p5

BY MONTESA GRIÑO-CAOYONAN

Now, that she has officially assumed office at the Senate, former Las Piñas representative and now Senator Cynthia Villar said she will continue to push for her ‘hanepbuhay’ or livelihood program targeting to establish 100 projects nationwide every year.

Villar, the wife of former Senator Manny Villar, said she could produce 600 livelihood projects within her three-year term by tapping the help of interested Local Government Units (LGUs) from 1, 600 towns and cities nationwide.

“I am targeting to have livelihood project per

Villar continues providing ‘hanepbuhay’town but before that we will assess what materials are available in that municipality including the attitude of the people so that we could come out what livelihood project is applicable for them”, she said during her recent visit in Iloilo City to attend the oath taking ceremony of city officials.

Villar exampled the town of Badiangan in Iloilo where she is proposing to come-up with organic fertilizer out of market wastes.

“Badiangan town is an agricultural area so kailangan nila ng organic fertilizer. We will identify for a big market where we could get

BY REYMAR LATOZA

In line with the restructuring plan of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), the Iloilo International Airport is now headed by a new manager.

Frederick San Felix replaced Efren Nagrama who was reassigned in Tacloban after the nationwide reshuffling of area and airport managers took effect last July 1.

Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya explained that ‘rotation policy’ has been often done in the system to ensure that airport

ILO airport welcomes new mgtmanagement is on par with global standards

He added it is healthy for an organization to have regular administrative rotations to keep the juices flowing.

“It is similar to those implemented by the Land Transportation Office and other government agencies among its regional directors or chiefs” Abaya said

The rotation of managers will cover all 81 airports that the agency operates according to CAAP deputy director general Capt. John Andrews said


The Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) of Iloilo City has set aside the proposed construction of P260-million Guimaras- Iloilo Ferry Terminal (GIFT) project on the 1.2-hectare property in Parola, City Proper.

This after the SP Council withdrawn its authority given to Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog to enter into a Public Private Partnership (PPP) venture between the Iloilo City Government and its private partner –Double Dragon Properties Inc. because of low revenue sharing.

Supposedly, part of the joint venture

agreement that the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) will allot P125 million for the construction of the slope protection embankment and other site developments while the Double Dragon will provide P135 million for the construction of the terminal building.

Under the 25-year contract, the city government will earn only one percent of the revenues from the ferry terminal for the first five years while the Double Dragon will have 99 percent share.

The contract also stipulates that Double Dragon can also rent out commercial spaces within the terminal complex apart from collecting fees

from terminal and cargo.The share from terminal fees will only increase

to 5 percent of the gross revenues after the five years contract.

However, the SP Council through councilor-elect Plaridel Nava and outgoing councilor Perla Zulueta said the city government’s contract with the private investor was disadvantageous because of low revenue sharing scheme.

“Most joint ventures I know follow the 30-60 sharing or 70-30 but this 99-1 sharing is really low and this is not fair,” Zulueta said during Wednesday last week regular session.

According to an insider, the transaction will make Injap and his company devour 99% of the income while the city will be begging for a shameful one percent.

The property where the Rotary Park once stood, is now owned by the government after President Benigno Simeon Aquino III issued a presidential proclamation for such only last year.

The land is now shared by the city government, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).

Photo by Reymar L. Latoza

METRO NEWS July 7 - 13, 20132


Beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) lead the school attendance among children aged 6-14 years old in the region based on the report of the Department of Education 6 (DepEd-6).

In four years time that the 4Ps or Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) has been implemented, DepEd-6 record shows that a total of 1, 036, 683 pupils are now enrolled to elementary level for school year 2013-2014 compared in 2010-2011 with only 1, 003, 127 elementary enrollees.

DepEd-6 focal person for 4Ps Dr. Melcho Kim Kwan said total enrollees from 1st year and 2nd year high school, which still cover by 4Ps, also increase this year with 131, 983 and 123, 195 enrollees, respectively.

In the region, there are 589,403 pre-schoolers, elementary pupils and high school students covered by 4Ps had attended the school as of March 2013.

Of the number, Negros Occidental got the highest enrollees with 216,463 followed by Iloilo

4Ps leads increase in school enrollmentwith 174,365; Capiz, 72, 500; Antique, 57, 156; Aklan, 54,185 and Guimaras, 14, 734.

In national level, there are 7. 2 million children-beneficiaries are among the 21 million pre-schoolers, elementary pupils and high school students who enrolled in public schools nationwide including Western Visayas during the school opening on June 3, 2013 based on the studies conducted by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies titled Promoting Inclusive Growth through the 4Ps.

The studies reveal that the number of enrollees increased by 200,000 from last year’s 7 million children-beneficiaries enrolled nationwide.

Meanwhile, the DSWD-6 focal person for 4Ps Alma Jornadal said beneficiaries in the region had 98 percent compliance to health, education and other conditions set by the program which also includes an increased participation rate of parents in school and community activities.

As of May 29, 2013, 4Ps covers 3,912,718 households nationwide of which 295,194 beneficiaries are from Region 6 with almost P 5 million cash grants released since 2010. IMT


Reelected City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog warns ‘lazy’ city hall employees and those who are practicing red tape through ‘fixers’ in transacting business at the Iloilo City Hall to eradicate corruption and extortion in the city government as he officially started his second-term on July 1.

“We shall not tolerate laziness, discourtesy and no excuse for red-tape as we are continue fighting against fixers”, Mabilog said during his speech right after his oath taking ceremony with Vice Mayor Joe Espinosa III, Lone District Rep. Jerry Treñas and 12 city councilors wherein Ilonggo Senator Franklin Drilon officiated their oath at the Iloilo Freedom Grandstand Monday last week.

Mabilog wants all his regular and casual employees to report early at their respective departments by observing early reporting time from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. every Monday to Friday despite only regular employees undergo biometrics system for the time-in and time-out.

Meanwhile, Mabilog said he will be creating more pro-poor programs especially by uplifting the lifestyle of the poor.

Mabilog warns ‘fixers’ and ‘lazy’ employees

“We want to make Iloilo City conducive for business, education, tourism, peace and order, among others. The government does play a role in that it must strive every day to provide a business-friendly climate, encourage commerce and industry, and provide a quality education system”, he stressed.

Mabilog, however, said to achieve this goal, this requires everyone’s support and a mind-set change.

“I want to pledge to our people to work tirelessly to eradicate corruption and extortion in the city government. We should move forward non-stop however, I could not make this together alone but with your cooperation we could make it”, he added.

Mabilog said he wants Iloilo City to stand out respected during his term and to facilitate positive chance despite attack of critics.

On the other hand, other city councilors who took their oath taking ceremony were reelected Nielex Tupas, Jason Gonzales, Joshua Alim, Rodel Agado, RLeone Gerochi, Lyndon Acap and Plaridel Nava and new city councilors Love Love Baronda, Jay Treñas, Liecel Zulueta, Armand Parcon and Eduardo Peñaredondo. IMT

BY KHARIZA JOY SOFIA

A group of experts on disaster from Yokohama, Japan visited Iloilo for a technical advisory visit on June 24-29, 2013. The said visit was a part of a project to monitor susceptible sites and dangerous zones of the city and community-based adaptation and resilience against disaster under the Japanese International Cooperation Authority (Jica) and Citynet.

The technical visit exhibits opportunities for capability building on disaster preparedness, which includes the ongoing projects on 25 activities for more than 700 persons, and the increase from 5 to 25 more villages in Iloilo to participate in the trainings.

The Japanese Delegation led by Kendra Hirata, director of project development of Citynet Yokohama project in Japan was welcomed by acting city mayor Jose Espinosa III.

“Jica assisted major infrastructures including the multi-billion peso Iloilo flood control project that was a huge help in easing out floodwater from the mountains of Panay to Iloilo city”, said

Japan’s disaster experts inspect Iloilo CityEspinosa.

Citynet became the catalyst for the five village captains of Iloilo to be sent in Yokohama late last year to go through trainings on disaster preparedness. The village chiefs are from barangays San Isidro, Tagbac, Calubihan, and Balabago, all are located in Jaro district and Dungon A in Mandurriao district.

Hirata was joined by other members of the Citynet-Jica delegates Taro Taneda, deputy director of the crisis management bureau, emergency response unit of Yokohama City; Miho Kanno, manager of the health and welfare department, health and safety division of Yokohama; Dr. Yuji Kishi, president of NPO, Tsurumi River Basin Networking; Yuji Abe, research coordinator of the Tsurumi River Basin Networking; Shinji Momoda, programme coordinator of Plus Arts that develop tool kits and games related to disasters; Gotaro Kawasaki, director, project& nbsp; administration of Citynet Yokohama project office; and Ms Misa Kemmiya, JICA Philippine Office representative. IMT

BY REYMAR LATOZA

The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) has pushed the Local Government Units (LGUs) to strictly implement the standards formulated by the Business Permits Licensing System (BPLS).

DILG Regional Director Evelyn Trompeta said almost one half of the total cities and municipalities in Western Visayas have to comply to meet the target of total compliance set by President Aquino by 2016.

“Only 68 of the 133 LGUs in Western Visayas have streamlined their licensing systems in the issuance of business permits using the standards agreed upon by DILG and the Department of Trade and Industry, three years after implementation began. “Philippine News Agency (PNA) Reported.

Trompeta explained the standards would help eliminate opportunities for graft and corruption and speed up front line services, and it aslo necessitates revisiting and updating of the Citizen’s Charter of the local government unit.

BPLS prescribes a standard unified form, a maximum of five processing steps, processing

DILG urges LGUs to implement business permit standard

time, and a maximum number of two signatories per transaction for the issuance of business permits.

According to Local Government Operations Officer V Kahlil Sayno ,the BPLS is an integral component of the Simplification and Automation of Transaction-Based Services under DILG’s thrust for business-friendly and competitive local governments.

Trompeta added LGUs can attain this when they implement programs and projects that boost their economic and business potentials such as reforming their current systems for processing business permits.

“These are very vital for livelihood and employment opportunities to flourish, for the benefit of their constituents, especially the poor,” Trompeta said. (PNA/IMT)

Meanwhile, the DILG-6 recently conducted a BPLS Program Assessment for their coaches and focal persons, to strengthen their advocacy activities by assessing issues and concerns as well as the facilitating factors, support mechanisms and areas for improvement. IMT


The Department of Health’s Red Orchid awardees in Region 6 had its grand advocacy march for smoke free Western Visayas to highlight the effects of smoking to human health.

The march will started from the Iloilo Provincial Capitol ground in Bonifacio Drive going to Iloilo Freedom Grandstand.

DOH Asst. Secretary Paulyn Jean Rossel-Ubial together with Iloilo City Anti-Smoking Team (ICAST) led the 2, 000 high school and college students coming from different schools here who will be participating on the march.

The ICAST won twice in Red Orchid Awards for the year 2012 and 2013.

Other Local Government Units (LGU) Red Orchid awardees in Iloilo were the municipalities of Anilao, Dumangas, Sta. Barbara and New Lucena, and Don Jose Monfort Memorial Extension Hospital in Barotac Nuevo.

Also, the Philippine Health Insurance

Red Orchid awardees lead grand march for smoke-free WV

Corp. (PhilHealth) 6 regional office, and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) in Bago City, Negros Occidental took the same awards.

The Pink Orchid awards were also given to Ramon Tabiana District Hospital in Cabatuan, Iloilo, Western Visayas Medical Center in Iloilo City, Civil Service Commission 6 regional office, and the LGUs of Maasin and Cabatuan, all in Iloilo.

Two government hospitals - the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Hospital in Bacolod City and the Western Visayas Sanitarium in Sta. Barbara Iloilo, and LGUs of Roxas City, Capiz and Buenavista, Guimaras were already Red Orchid Hall of Fame.

Awardees are being awarded for their health facilities and implementation of anti-smoking programs in their communities.

The World No Tobacco Day has started in 1998 and now recognizing hospitals and LGUs helping in the campaign to end this tobacco epidemic. IMT

photo courtesy of Iloilo City Government


Liberal Party member and reelected Gov. Arthur Defensor Sr. assured Ilonggos that reform and change will continue as he will conquer another three years of challenges starting Monday (July 1).

Defensor took his oath of office Friday last week before the presence of Ilonggo Senator Franklin Drilon and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas at the Iloilo Provincial Capitol lobby.

During his speech, the governor promised that he will focus more on his projects and programs which he achieved in the last three years and to strengthen it in the next three years.

Defensor said he wants to institutionalized reform and change particularly on health services, re-greening which targeting 1.5 million growing trees to be planted, water system, sanitation, youth development, coastal development rehabilitation, food sufficiency, and equipment, among others.

On his part, Drilon also thanked Defensor for being a supporter of President Benigno Aquino III’s administration especially in promoting good governance.

Drilon said the trust given by the President to the governor will mean better development to Iloilo.

“The President most support and attention given to Iloilo has brought bigger projects here”,

Defensor assures Ilonggos of continue reform and change

he said.Drilon emphasized several projects like the

Iloilo Airport project, P 11.2 billion Jalaur Multi-Purpose Project which is targeted to finish by 2016, and among other multi-billion project in Iloilo.

Also on that day, Drilon inducted other LP members particularly incoming Vice Gov. Raul Tupas and Provincial Board members namely Dennis Valencia and outgoing San Joaquin Mayor Nimfa Garin, 1st district; incumbent June Mondejar and Demetrio Sonza, 2nd district; incumbent Licurgo Tirador and Emmanuel Gallar, 3rd district; Mitch Monfort Bautista, 4th district; and incumbent Nielo Tupas of 5th district.

Reelected Cong. Arthur Defensor Jr. of the 3rd District also swore his oath of office with the Ilonggo senator.

The oath taking was attended by more than 3, 000 guests and Capitol employees. IMT

July 7 - 13, 2013 METRO BUSINESS 3

BY MARY PAULINE BALMES

A picturesque landscaped pedestrian underpass is now under construction to provide pedestrians a safer place to walk on along the busiest avenue of the city of Iloilo.

The Department of Public Works and Highways has already started the first phases of the structure formation under the multi-million peso diversion bridge that connects Iloilo Esplanade I and the Benigno Aquino Jr Avenue or most commonly known as the diversion road.

DPWH Regional Dir. Edilberto Tayao said

Pedestrian underpass to rise

the underpass project will be completed early next year to add more accessibility to the Esplanade Park.

An on-going construction of the Esplanade II from the Medical City to Brgy. San Pedro, Molo is and the current 8 lanes road widening of the diversion road is still on-going and is expected to be completed by the last quarter of 2015 up to the first half of 2016.

Meanwhile, the 1.2-kilometer Esplanade I , formerly the Dean Efrain B. Treñas Boulevard ,was completed more than two years and was fully developed last year. IMT

BY REYMAR LATOZA

Seventy-six percent of Filipinos are convinced to buy products that come with promo and freebies according to the latest survey result released by Nielsen.

The said research firm conducted the survey online with over 29,000 internet respondents in 58 countries.

According to the managing director at Nielsen Philippines, Stuart Jamieson the allure

Promos and freebies “IN” among Pinoys

of good product promotions is strongest in developing countries such as the Philippines where practicality and creativeness are needed in order to stretch the budget.

“Filipinos may be ready to spend but still they are on the lookout for the best deals and promos. Offering extras or gifts to consumers will get them to buy a product over another,” he added. IMT

Iloilo City Jed Patrick E. Mabilog will highlight public-private partnerships (PPP) in Future of Places International Conference in Stockholm, Sweden June 24-26.

He will talk about “Towards Participatory Development in Cities” on June 25 before a global audience composed of politicians, civil servants, professionals involved in city planning and management, architects, academics, NGO’s, civic and social organizations, journalists, and real estate representatives.

“The chief executive of Iloilo City, Republic of the Philippines, was instrumental in strengthening of public and private partnership in promotion of economic programs of city. He also succeeded in maintaining peace and order in the city which greatly contributed to economic development,” the conference organizers credited Mabilog.

The forum “Transforming Cities through Placemaking and Public Spaces” is organized by UN Habitat, Project for Public Places (PPS) and Ax:son Johnsson Foundation free of charge. Mabilog is the only invited speaker from Philippines.

Examples of best practices and future pipeline projects are being showcased throughout the three-day conference series.

“We listen to mayors and engage citizens and various experts as they set the context for

Mabilog cites ppp in cities’ confab in sweden‘The Future of Places.’ We are being introduced to best practices and current methods for further progression of ‘places,’ and detailed analyses of economic and social value of placemaking,” organizers said in a statement.

The confab defined three strategic themes for prompting bureaucratic innovation: “Governance of Place, Place Capital and Healthy Communities.”

“There is also significant evidence that using a place-based/placemaking approach adds significantly to a set of movements such as Smart Growth, Sustainable Communities, Community Health, Economic Development, etc.,” organizers said.

“There exists a developed set of tools and processes that have been tested in various situations and have proven to be effective in engaging communities and some of these tools are being demonstrated in the conference, they added.

The discussions seek to “understand the role that successful community places play in neighborhood revitalization; recognize a successful place; learn to analyze a specific site; facilitate groups of local community leaders, residents and designers to work together on improving public spaces; develop a plan of immediate, short-term, and long-term actions to improve a site; and approach place-related issues


The World Bank has granted the Philippines a bigger lending budget in three years to 2015.

National Treasurer Rosalia de Leon said the World Bank agreed to reserve up to $4.5-billion for its country assistance program for the country. The said budget is bigger than the bank’s allocation for 2010 to 2012, which is $2.1-billion to $3-billion respectively.

“In terms of financing, we do not envision any liquidity crunch. We continue to enjoy access to concessional loans from our development partners,” said De Leon.

Lately, the country and other known markets were affected by the flight of foreign capital as foreign portfolio investors either shifted to the US dollar or liquefied their assets, which was said to be caused by the development in the US economy and

WB approves $4.5B assistance for PHLprompted the US Federal Reserve to cease its policy of easy money.

“Given the Philippines’ favorable fiscal position, the country will not have difficulty sourcing funds especially in times of financial volatility”, de Leon added.

De Leon also emphasized that the government’s outstanding debt cut down to only 40 percent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) in 2012. For the first time since the Asian financial crisis, the debt-to-GDP ratio fell below 50 percent.

Recently, World Bank showed their support to the country’s development programs and projects. The multilateral finance establishment believed that Philippines was able to maintain robust growth, yet more projects and programs still need to be established for the economic benefits be translated into actual poverty decrease.

BY REYMAR LATOZA

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said that money supply expanded at its fastest pace in nearly six years last month helped push bank loans up and drive economic growth

In May, the domestic liquidity hit P5.345, it rose 16.3 percent year-on-year, the 19.2 percent increase is considered as the fastest growth since July 2007 based on the preliminary data.

BSP Governor Amando Tetangco Jr. said in a statement that the continued expansion in domestic liquidity during the month indicates sufficient liquidity to sustain the economy’s growth momentum.

Philstar reported BSP has been boosting money supply in the financial system as it maintained policy rates at historic lows of 3.5 percent and 5.5 percent since October last year to encourage more lending.It has slashed the interest it offers on special deposit accounts – banks’ and trust departments’ deposits with the BSP – by 150 basis points to two percent from the original 3.5 percent.

“The goal was to push out funds, totaling P1.817 trillion as of June 7, to the real economy, to add more liquidity that would finance more projects such as infrastructure. This, in turn, would support growth.” Report added

Tetangco stressed the double-digit expansion in M3 helped boost bank credit last month.

The loans from universal and commercial banks grew 13.1 percent to P3.262 trillion in the first five months; the expansion rate was a recovery from a 27-month low of 12 percent last April.

Including money lent to BSP, credit expanded at the same pace, although the amount was at a higher P3.523 trillion.

“The continued brisk growth in bank lending suggests adequate funding for domestic economic activity in the months ahead,” the central bank chief said.

Broken down, production loans reached P2.971 trillion, while consumer loans used for household needs totaled P263.24 billion. The two segments grew 13.3 percent and 11.7 percent, respectively.

Lending to the following sectors expanded the most during the five-month period: real estate, renting and business services (24.3 percent), electricity, gas and water (14.8 percent), wholesale and retail trade (13 percent) and manufacturing (5.2 percent).

Declines, on the other hand, were recorded on lending to agriculture, hunting and forestry, down 6.5 percent, and fishing, which decreased 3.6 percent, data showed.(PhilStar/IMT)

Money supply records fastest growth

or problems differently in the future.”“When we begin looking at cities in a

positive light, we can see new opportunities for grassroots advocates and city governments alike – to build relationships, take action, create positive experiences for people, and encourage that creative interaction that is so essential to creating great cities,” organizers stressed.

“In the future, we are convinced that the most functional cities will be the ones that start with public realm and people who use these places. This is a people-centered vision for cities – one that enables a transformative shift in traditional planning and management of focus cities, and one that arguably benefits everyone but those at the bottom of the economic ladder the most,” they added.

“We believe that the problem is not the rapid growth of cities per se, but the inability of

cities to manage growth to best utilize limited space and community resources in pursuit of sustainable urban development,” organizers explained.

“Cities can continue to grow chaotically without regard to human social needs and environmental consequences or we can embrace a sustainable and equitable process which builds community, enhances quality of life, and creates safe and prosperous neighborhoods,” they said.

The forum highlights how and why cities need to embrace a people-centered approach in order to achieve positive urbanization and not fall victim to the negative attributes of urbanization.

It’s the first of three conferences that will lead to Habitat III 2016 with overall aim of contributing to a New Urban Agenda around people and places. (Iloilo City PIO)

photo courtesy of iloiloonline.blogspot.com

photo courtesy of Iloilo City Government

METRO TOURISM July 7 - 13, 20134

3rd floor, Mary Mart Mall, Valeria St., Iloilo CityTel. # (033) 302-9739


“Less is more” is the principle of designing which Nikki Xandrix Monares follows when creating his design.

Xandrix, as he is commonly known for, is the third of the four siblings to an engineer and a nutritionist couple. Xandrix took up nursing and is a nurse by profession but his heart’s desire took over that he joined a fashion designers guild, the Silhouette.

He discovered his talent in fashion designing and creating dresses when he was still in high school. In fact, he designed their festival costumes for Pantat Festival and people were impressed with his work. During college, he joined design lab but he was not successful in winning the competition; nevertheless, he was recruited and became a part of Iloilo’s finest designers after several months.

The 24-year-old designer admits he had planned to pursue fashion designing but his parents, especially his mother, was against it. His mother wants him to work in the hospital and practice his profession.

At first, Xandrix did not really think he will last in the guild, for his primary goal in joining was to get exposure. However as time goes by, he learned to love his job.

“I never thought I would last but then I learned to love it and I was able to develop my skills through different activities and workshops”, he said.

Xandrix is into beadworks. He likes “demure”

style rather than showing some skin. He commonly uses native fabrics, but when joining some competition, his design also varies according to the theme. He said that when he entered the design lab, he learned that overrated dresses are not patronize or popular.

The young designer emphasized that a designer must be very particular with his client’s desire. He should not go beyond what is given.

When asked about his model preference, Xandrix said he is more comfortable with women for he knows how to deal with their body. He is also very particular with top structures.

“Wrinkles on dress really turns me off. I am very particular on pina cloth and the type on how to put a fabric that will emphasize the form of the body”, he detailed.

I was really thankful that I joined silhouette. I learned so many things. I really want to be a famous young designer”, he added. “

Xandrix was able to help his family financially and support his brother in school through his designs. He said that for those who are aspiring to become a fashion designer, they should really follow their heart.

“No matter what degree you earned, as long as you love your work and it makes you happy, coupled with full determination and courage, you should pursue it and never let obstacles bring you down”, he ended. IMT

By Bombette G. MarinPhotos by Harold Agustin Ziegenhohn

Discover a unique way to understand Iloilo on a dynamic tour to the museum and its art galleries. Learn about Iloilo’s vibrant history, people, activities and cultural traditions. Swinging by for a cultural fix? Here is a selection of what to see and where to begin.

Museo Iloilo in Bonifacio Drive, Iloilo City is one of the main tourist attractions of city and known as the First Government Constructed Museum Building in the Philippines. It is only a few meters away from the Department of Tourism Regional Office and the Iloilo Provincial Capitol. It exhibits a collection of archeological, historical, ethnographical craft and tribal folk arts of Western Visayas. There are relics and antique religious images and relics donated by illustrious Ilonggos. Other valuable items include dated fossils, artifacts from sunken vessels, stone-age tools, pottery, trade wares from China, Annam and Siam, burial jars and coffins and rare photographs and mementos from World War II. Present day artworks are also on exhibit. The museum opens from Monday to Saturday (except Holidays) at 8:00 am to 11:00 am and 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm with an entrance fee at P15.00 for students and P20.00 for adults.

The Iloilo City Gallery in Plaza Libertad is located at the ground floor of the 7-storey City Hall Building, was opened to the public in June 2012. The gallery showcases Ilonggos’ good governance and cultural excellence highlighting the city’s awards, famed festivals, unique and creative arts and crafts, giant development projects, and a virtual tour of the metropolis long-standing legacy and vibrant future as Premier City by 2015. The gallery is open to the public for free every Monday to Friday during official working hours. For more information, please call (033) 3331111.

The University of the Philippines in the Visayas Art Gallery at the historic Arellano Building (former Iloilo City Hall) or the main building of the city campus in General Luna or Infante Streets, Iloilo City prides itself as the only art gallery in the region to have exhibited the works of several national artists such as Joya, Francisco, Legaspi, Luz, and Ang. It also feature works of popular Ilonggo artists such as Defensor, Ferraris, Orig, Cabalfin, Amora, Decierdo, Sanares, Belgica, Genodepa, Salmon, and Querubin. The gallery also serves as a venue for several visual art exhibitions, small-group art workshops, book launchings, and art lectures. Or more information, please contact (033) 337 9159 or email:[email protected].

The UPV Cinematheque Film Museum at

the University of the Philippines in the Visayas, city campus in General Luna or Infante Streets, Iloilo City is dedicated to the collection and exhibition of film-related materials like movie props, equipment, posters, books, souvenirs and toys. The film museum along with Cinema Exmundo is a collaboration project between Cinema Exmundo and the University of the Philippines Visayas Alumni Relations Office. It is as a non-profit repertory theater for use by students and alumni as well as the community. It was one of several projects the U.P. Visayas launched in 2008 to commemorate the University of the Philippines’ Centennial Year. The museum is open from Mondays till Fridays, 9:00 am - 4:00 pm. For more information, please call (033) 5091501 or Email: [email protected]

The Sta. Barbara Centennial Museum and Information Center beside the municipal hall is a beautiful introduction to this town’s rich cultural heritage. It features irreplaceable historic artifacts of local hero, General Martin Delgado. It also includes paintings, furniture, decorative arts, and costume collections as well as maps, newspaper volumes, government documents. When in the area, you can visit the Iloilo Golf and Country Club and the Santa Barbara Roman Catholic Church and Convent. It opens Monday to Friday from 8 am till 5 pm with an entrance fee of P10.00 for students and P20.00 for adults. For more information, please call (033) 5239955. Also accepts visitors during Saturdays by appointment.

Gallery Hopping in Iloilo

Metro Fashion"Less is more"

July 7 - 13, 2013 5METRO ENTREPRENEUR

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Injap Devours...from page 1City Administrator Norlito Bautista said the

Double Dragon has already submitted their master plan and they are still waiting the additional requirements for the financial analysis which includes the cash flow and expenditures which is basis of the revenue sources and payable including the construction and operation.

The administrator stressed that the PPP project was already reviewed by the technical experts from Manila-based Public Private Partnership Center of the Philippines (PPPCP) who arrived in the city late last year but advised them to secure the financial analysis from the contractor before the finalization.

Bautista said the team had a consultative meeting with Double Dragon, DOTC and Iloilo City Government to re-assess their PPP venture and work out a reduction in the project’s cost.

Earlier this week, the Double Dragon has already

submitted their financial analysis and this is now under review by the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA).

City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog said they are waiting advise from the NEDA either to go on or not the project. He said once their is already a go signal from the NEDA, the contract will be refiled at the City Council anytime. IMT

BY MAY RAGO-CASTILLO

Scarcity in life has stalled success among most poor families. But for an Antiqueno and his family, they have won the battle.

Fifty-three-year-old Vicente Rubino of Brgy. Vilvar, San Remigio, Antique could only shake his head as he recalled how his first four children have not reached college or even vocational course because of poverty. As much as he wanted them to complete a degree, their situation simply did not allow them to do so.

Vicente is married to Susan with whom he has eight children. He named them as 29-year-old Anelsan, 27-year-old Annaliza, 22-year-old Annie Rose, 21-year-old Ana Marie, all married; 20-year-old Gentle Touch, 19-year-old Vincent, 17-year-old Annabel and 12-year-old Ana Teresa.

Life slowly became better when they engaged in a small business by selling green leafy vegetables at a stall in the public market of Brgy. Poblacion. They initially had a capital of P3,000 which came from his salary and the savings of his wife from vegetable vending.

Vicente was even more thankful that his family directly benefited from the convergence strategy of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). The strategy, which aims to achieve maximum results in implementation, has three core programs—Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, KALAHI-CIDSS or Kapit Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan and Sustainable Livelihood. Beneficiaries of Pantawid who are soon ending the five-year period of availment of cash grants are targeted to avail of the livelihood program. Their community, on the other hand, is covered by KALAHI for them to identify their problems and propose and implement solutions.

“My family benefited from these three

Antiqueno wins battle against povertyprojects. We received cash grants to send our children to school and buy their vitamins. We also received a seed capital of P8,000 and our community is an area of KALAHI,” said Vicente.

According to him, he has tripled the space that they are renting at the market and expanded the small business to a mini grocery and vegetable store already when they received the seed capital a few months back.

“The government has given my family a gift that will never be forgotten. This is hulog ng langit and I am happy to say that the capital was really put to good use,” he said.

He added that they were also accessed to the Cash for Training program, a partnership program of TESDA and DSWD, for his daughter Gentle Touch to undergo a 55-day-course on Housekeeping Management.

“I wished that her elder sisters had the same opportunity. If life was better way back then, I could have sent them to college. I am happy though that my younger children are now getting better chances,” he said.

His mission: a leaderVicente, however, reads all what has been

happening to him and his family as also a mission.

Assigned as a Barangay Sub-Project Management Chairman (BSPMC) in Vilvar,

he said he has learned many things such as the importance of awareness in the community, identifying their problems to implementing projects. Currently, they are in the preparatory phase of their road construction project.

“This is purely volunteer work and we are not being paid. I believe that this is my mission and I am happy because it is for the improvement of our barangay,” he said.

Gentle TouchFor her part, Gentle Touch is all positive as

she is about to start her nearly two-month course in Housekeeping at TESDA on July 1.

“We were told that after finishing the training, TESDA will also be helping us to find a job. I am so happy because I have qualified in the program. If I land a good job, I could help my younger siblings and my parents. I could

Vicente Rubino, 53, of Brgy. Vilvar, San Remigio, Antique show that there is a way out of poverty.

even help my elder sisters to go back and take college or vocational courses,” Gentle said.

His dreamVicente ended narrating his story saying,

“ang pangarap ko sa buhay ay ang makatapos ang aking mga anak sa pag-aaral at maabot ang kanilang mga pangarap sa buhay nang sa gayon ay hindi sila matulad sa amin.”/dswd6

SusanRubino, 52, helps her husband Vicente in managing their business at the Public Market of Poblacion, San Remigio

July 7 - 13, 2013METRO OPINIONEDITORIAL

Renewing the Call

6

Death is maybe one of the hardest things to accept in this world. Death is inevitable. Many compared it to a thief stealing

our lives on the most unexpected way, in an unanticipated time.

In death, acceptance is the toughest part. However, it all depends on the manner of death. Some die with old age, some with illnesses. Others end their own lives. Many die on unwanted accidents. But nothing is more dreadful and heartbreaking than a death of a love one in a death row.

The recent execution of a Filipina in China showed another case of death in its most grievous form.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) announced on July 3 that the communist country put to death our fellow after she was found guilty of smuggling more than six kilos of heroin two years ago. The verdict was performed despite the Philippine government’s effort to appeal in the conversion of the death sentence to life imprisonment.

DFA disclosed that there are still 213 drug-related indictments involving Filipinos in China identifying 28 of which were death convictions but with acquittal of two years. Sixty-seven cases led to life sentences, 107 were commuted to light prison terms, while 10 are still pending in court. (Inquirer.net)

Now, who’s going to be blamed for this? How are we going to weigh the situation? What is wrong with the system? What is wrong with us Filipinos?

Nobody should be blamed for this. In fact, there are lapses seen in both sides of the government and us Filipinos. Perhaps, something is wrong with the system but there could also be something not right in our culture and orientation. Many are clamouring that the government is doing nothing to withdraw the victims in their situations while others ask why, in the very first place, victims fell prey in the hands of these drug syndicates.

Isn’t it ironic that when foreign entities are caught smuggling illegal drugs and products in our country, we can do nothing but deport them? Isn’t it unfair that when we are caught in their countries, they do nothing but kill us? What is more paradoxical is when Filipinos defy the laws of our land, we condemn them but when they violate the rules of other lands we try to recuperate them. Let’s think about this.

This is a wakeup call and a continuing lesson to us. We can’t afford to put another Filipino in this situation. This is not just a misery of a family but of the whole Filipino nation.

International drug trade is a heinous business that when we fall on its trap, we become helpless and immovable. Let us no wait for the time that we need to trade our country’s dignity and nobility to other nations who happens to give bold consequences to these unlawful actions. There is no use for the government to exert full effort if we ourselves are not responsible of our actions.

Php 18,000.00T h e

recent state declaration of providing for an PhP18,000.00 subsidy for the relocation of the illegal settlers in Metro Manila has spread like wildfire across the nation. It will soon become a model solution for all local government units to emulate in resolving the several decade-old problem of squatting in their respective areas.

Iloilo City has its own share of the problem and somehow has gone ahead of the national government’s announcement of its most viable and practical financial solution. The Ilonggo Senator Franklin Drilon has allocated an amount for the illegal settlers located in the area of the famous Iloilo River. The city government has found several millions of pesos for the purchase of relocation sites and the construction of housing units for these illegal settlers.

Last week, this space discussed the housing solution to the problem of illegal settlement and why it is only good as a band aid solution.

In all practicalities, the problem that is illegal settlement is not structural. It is an issue of culture and poverty. It is about people

taking risks in their wishes and dreams to sweeten the sour and at many times bitter experience fate has had on them.

Illegal settlement is directly related to poverty and indirectly related to culture, character and the attitude of individuals towards their lives.

People build houses anywhere because they have no money. Give them money and there is always that bigger possibility that they will purchase lands and build them houses. Give them more money and they will start a way of living. Give them a lot more money and they will find ways to educate their children without anymore bothering the government.

However, the idea is giving people money. Nobody will. It is impossible to just simply give and give people money.

Thus, the appreciation of poverty on its face value as the absence or failure of providing for the basic needs of the people by the state; unequal distribution of resources and opportunities; and the failure of the state or the government to empower its people to become responsible citizens.

The Philippine experience otherwise is attempting to defy the odds. In trying to resolve illegal settlement and address poverty, it is looking at it as simply a problem that can be resolved through monetary solutions.

The current administration has made true of its plan to give money to the poor to empower them through the 4Ps or Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program. Now it is about to shell out money to the illegal settlers especially in waterways in order to solve the perennial flooding in the area.

The poverty incidence in the country is being benchmarked on the basis of how many meals a family has eaten in a day. The March 19-22, 2013 Social Weather Station (SWS) survey shows that the self-rated poverty went down to 52% on March 2013 from 54% on December 2012. The food-poor also declined from 44% to 39% of the same period.

Statistics are considered the policy-makers tools because they are devoid of biases as they say. Now, pull –off the 4Ps program of the government after the term of President Noynoy Aquino and let us see what will happen. It is not about being pessimistic. It is always a question of what corresponding programs have been implemented to empower the poor and sustain their growing needs.

As for the 18,000.00 dole out fund for the illegal settlers, let us consider a family of five. The children are in high school, elementary and the third one is still a baby. The father is a construction worker and the mother is a laundry woman.

The family will be relocated to their province where the father will lose his job and the mother will no longer have a client for her laundry job. The education of the children will be disrupted. Combine all the expenses for the relocation and the building of a new house. The money allocated by the government will not result to an erection of a house fit for human use. It is more of a pig-pen with a little grandeur of galvanized iron sheets.

What we will get is a family with no job to sustain their living, no worthy house to dwell, no food to eat and children deprived of their proper education and growth. Where will they go next? Well, back to where they illegally settled before.

Domestic WorkersI am not

sure how far shall we go for our

domestic workers when our experiences with them would tell that they negligently broke some of our valued properties, or tore our new clothes, leaving our floors messy, our windows dusty, or our surroundings filthy. I am not sure if time will come when there will be no more oppressive and abusive employers of domestic workers, or operations to rescue domestic workers under such employers. But one thing is for sure: we have now a special law for domestic workers – that include the “yaya”, cook, gardener, or laundry person.

Republic Act No. 10361, otherwise known as the Domestic Workers Act or Batas Kasambahay, is a social legislation that intends to clothe with protection our domestic workers, and give them more pronounced benefits. It was signed into law on January 18, 2013 and its implementing rules and regulations took effect on June 4, 2013. Without this law taking place, the benefits and assurance of our domestic workers are left to the generosity and goodness of their employers.

With this law, somehow, the government tries to intervene and makes sure that our domestic workers –who will always be in our society - get something they

deserve as workers, while the employers are tempered with certain express obligations and prohibitions.

With this law, the domestic worker’s rest has been defined. He/she shall have an aggregate rest period of eight (8) hours per day, and at least twenty-four (24) consecutive hours weekly rest period. If he/she has rendered at least one (1) year of service, the domestic worker is entitled to have a five-day service incentive leave with pay.

Social welfare benefits now cover our domestic workers. If the domestic worker has rendered at least one (1) month of service, he/she is entitled to be covered by the Social Security System (SSS), the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), and the Home Development and Mutual Fund (HDMF) or Pag-IBIG, the premium payments or contributions for which his/her employer is obliged to pay.

The law has also set and improved the minimum wage of the domestic worker. If he/she is employed, for example, in the City of Iloilo, his/her monthly wage must not be less than P2,000.00 - the minimum wage in chartered cities or first class municipalities. If the worker is employed, say, in the municipality of Maasin, Iloilo, he/she must receive at least P1,500.00 per month - the minimum wage set in other classes of municipalities. If the domestic worker is employed in the National Capital Region, his/her minimum wage is P2,500.00 per month.

The domestic worker’s monthly wage, which must be paid at least once a month in no other form but in cash, is on top of the benefits that the employer is required to provide, such as, board, lodging and medical attendance.

Every pay day, the employer has the obligation to provide the domestic worker with a pay slip, copies of which the employer must also keep for a period of three (3)

years. Payslips are relevant evidence in cases involving wages and benefits.

For the protection of both parties, it would be better to follow the provision of the law that they execute an employment contract. This contract must be in a language or dialect that the parties understood, the contents of which must include the following: (1) duties and responsibilities of the domestic worker; (2) period of employment; (3) compensation; (4) authorized deductions; (5) hours of work and proportionate additional payment; (6) rest days and allowable leaves; (7) board, lodging and medical attention; (8) agreement on deployment expenses, if any; (9) loan agreement; and (10) termination of employment.

Like in any ordinary contracts, the parties may agree to include in said employment contract some other conditions which are not contrary to law, morals, good customs, public order or policy. I just hope that those mandatory contents of the employment contract and the additional stipulations are fair, just and equitable enough for both parties.

Once the contract has already been executed, the employer has the duty to register the domestic worker in the Registry of Domestic Workers in the barangay where the employer’s residence is located. Barangay officials should know this registration system by now.

During the period of domestic work, the employer is prohibited by the law to place the domestic worker under debt bondage, or interfere in the disposal of the worker’s wage, or require the worker to make deposits for loss or damage to tools, materials, furniture and equipment in the household. The employer will be penalized if he/she violates these prohibitions.

With the new law protecting and extending express benefits to our domestic workers, may they find their employment meaningful, stay up to the end of the employment period, and efficiently perform their domestic work whether their employer is present or not.

July 7 - 13, 2013 METRO OPINION 7

WaterworldIt’s that time of

year again when Filipinos experience the grim realities of neo-

waterworld. Heavy monsoon rains sucked in and dumped a-plenty by cylones cause the rivers to swell, spill horrendous amount of flood water over embankments, and overwhelm low-lying areas. The murky water results from a combination of silt, other inert particles, and organics including effluents from septic tanks and fresh human sewage from open pits. The tough ones do not mind wading through the dirty water only to succumb later on to deathly leptospirosis and other microbial infections.

Waterworld. This was the 1995 post-apocalyptic science fiction film that starred Kevin Costner as the Mariner. The setting of the film is 2500 when the polar ice caps have melted and the sea level has risen thousands of meters, covering every continent and turning Earth into a water planet. Human population has been scattered across the ocean in individual, isolated communities consisting of artificial islands and mostly decrepit sea vessels. Eventually they found Dryland, which turns out to be the peak of Mount Everest, still above sea level and no longer a snowy peak.

What were our fore parents thinking

when they named this planet Earth? This is amusing to geologists since it is common knowledge that 71% of the planet’s surface is made up of ocean while only 29% is earth. The contention is that the planet should have been named Oceania.

So here we are, suffering from the vicious cycle. In this generation where music, photos, videos, books, and other vital electronic contents are digitally stored for future retrieval and enjoyment, the expression “playing like a broken record” has become redundant. And yet, semantically speaking, we still see its relevance especially when our officials repeatedly harp the same lines year after year on how to mitigate or totally eradicate the destructive flooding incidents. Finger pointing at the culprits is a pointless exercise. Practical and cost-effective measures should be aggressively pursued instead through participative planning.

Some of these measures can lead to multiple benefits. For example, in many Southeast Asians countries that I have been able to visit, rainwater harvesting (RWH) is already a well-entrenched practice. This innovative alternative water supply approach captures, diverts, and stores rainwater for later use. Most systems use a building’s rooftop as a catchment area. After the rain falls, it is channelled from gutters into pipes

that lead to a cistern. Storage tanks, both above and below the ground are ubiquitous in Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, and rural Indonesia. In these countries, farmers also set aside a minimum of 10% of their farm lands for small rainwater impounding projects for various agricultural uses.

RWH is beneficial because it reduces demand on existing water supply, reduces run-off, erosion, and contamination of surface water. The stored water can be utilized for in-home and landscape purposes, storm water control, wildlife and livestock watering, and fire protection. A rainwater harvesting system can range in size and complexity. All systems have basics components, which include a catchment surface, conveyance system, storage, distribution, and treatment.

In Iloilo City where even a moderate precipitation can trigger flooding in major streets due to impervious surfaces and clogged drains, a legislation that requires every business establishment, subdivision, and home to practice RWH is very relevant. As a rule, all new buildings should incorporate RWH systems like what is being practiced now in Bangalore, India. Compliance incentives like water bill rebate and technical support but penalty for violators can be provisioned in the approved ordinance.

The falling groundwater tables and the cost of developing surface supplies

have exacted a heavy toll on potable water availability in Metropolitan Iloilo. A campaign for participatory, equitable and decentralized paradigm for water sourcing and management with the objective of making water everybody’s business is a serious imperative.

The waterworld phenomenon in the city can be converted into an opportunity rather than just taken vainly as a problem. Our planners can select the appropriate bioretention storm water treatment system that will capture and treat the storm water and remove most of the pollutants (fecal coliform, total suspended solids, chemical oxygen demand, total dissolved nitrogen, total petroleum hydrocarbon, lead, phosphorus, chromium, zinc) through mechanical, chemical and biological filtration.

Indeed, RWH systems are a low-cost, low-impact way for Iloilo City to increase water supply for its constituents. This is a challenge for the incumbent leadership to consider seriously as this reflects the kind of stewardship that makes sense. Otherwise, we will remain virtually mired in a waterworld conundrum with nary a drop of precious water from our home faucets year after year after year…

Data sources: Wikipedia, r a i n w a t e r h a r v e s t i n g . o r g , rainwaterharvestingindia.com

Now Showing! this has been quite an advantage on their end, the growing problem however is the interpersonal education that is believed in research as a better method in education. Let us understand the pros and cons of the modern day education and see if such research does have its points.

Easy Access. Yes, internet is a one click education. You simply click on the things you wish to learn about and information regarding that subject is yours at a click. It is really the easiest way to understand. However, experiential learning is far different in approach. This method inculcates the value of experience in order for one to learn. Perhaps there are many things experience teaches that the World Wide Web does not.

BY JENNIFER HINOLA-FRANCISCO

In this modern day of the World Wide Web, research has been narrowed down

to a mere expression as “Google it.” and education has been simplified to a mere copy paste method.

Many of the young generation of today believed that education has been easier for them now that they have the unlimited access to the internet. The value for books has slowly become enormous that students would rather sit and search in front of the computer rather than go out, purchase a book and sit to read. Although

It is the feeling of having to discover, learn and share it with anybody, and being able to communicate these feelings of education with someone else in the flesh is something internet cannot provide.

Quick. Fast. Reliable. The internet is definitely a fast way to learn. However, let us not forget the long way of learning. Experimental method, Research and Thesis. Although this may be available also online, however the value of patience is no longer practiced. We must understand that learning or educations is patience in itself. One does not garner a better education by a click of the mouse, one must go through stages of education in order for him to be able to understand information, subjects

and gain degrees.The beginning of education is from the

four corners of every household. We must understand that not everyone is yet given the opportunity to experience an internet based education. There still those from far areas that learns by sharing a torn and tainted book or by listening to a teacher shouting on top of her lungs to be heard by 50 students in a crowded room. These realities are not changed by a click of a mouse. Every Juan should be educated in manner that does involve a mere easy and quick education. Every Juan should be taught the real essence of learning and education. For every Juan deserves a quality education.

Can you please introduce yourself to our readers?

I definitely can! For a moment there, I was thinking to myself, Do I really have to? I mean, I

always thought that only the illiterate do not know me in Western Visayas. For crying out loud, I was an Ilonggo newspaper royalty in the first five years of the new millennium! But I also realized that I have been largely absent from the Ilonggo newspaper scene for the last five years, at least. There is a new generation of newspaper readers that needs to be educated. So, this is who I am: I am Peter Solis Nery. Remember that name very well! Among many things, I am a nurse, an author, a husband, a filmmaker, and a passionate advocate for Hiligaynon literature, Ilonggo arts, and Filipino culture. Let’s keep it at that for now. I will reveal more about myself, and my mission to change your life for the better, if and when, you continue to patronize and support this column.

What brings you back to writing?What can I say? It’s in my DNA! Haha.

But seriously, I never really gave up writing.

It’s the Ilonggo newspapers that gave up on me. You see, just because I was already based in Los Angeles starting February 2006, I seemed to have lost full control over my pages and articles in my last newspaper outfit. I mean, I still contributed articles, but I didn’t get paid enough, and it seemed to me that my stories where not given the priority and royal treatment that they would otherwise enjoy if I were in Iloilo to personally oversee and assert my clout, if needed. So I just said, halukibuliko! Well, anyway, while not writing for the newspapers, I went literary, piled up on my Palanca Awards, until I was ultimately inducted me into its Hall of Fame last year.

Tell us more about your Palanca Hall of Fame award.

What more to tell? Can we just say that I am the only newspaper columnist/writer in Iloilo who is a Palanca Hall of Famer? If that isn’t enough, break it down like this: The Palanca Award is like the Pulitzer Prize of the Philippines. It is the standard by which all Filipino writers are measured. I won five gold medals in various Palanca writing contests in a span of 14 years [and that is shorter than most], and until they induct the next Palanca Hall of Famer, I’m

only the 23rd person in the world to receive it. This is the way I won my five golds: three gold medals for my stories in Hiligaynon, one for Poetry for children, and one for Full-length play in English. I won several other Palancas on the side.

How many Palanca awards do you have?How many have you? Haha. As of

last count, I have eleven. So don’t be disappointed if I don’t win any more awards this year. But for my serious fans out there, just to let you know, I have several good pieces in the running. So unless there is a conspiracy to bar me from winning, I might win again come September 1. Meanwhile, my six other Palancas include prizes for a One-act play in English, and Tulang pambata in Filipino. So yes, my Palanca recognitions are for my writings in English, Filipino, and Hiligaynon. As for genre, they are for short story, children’s poetry, and full-length and one-act plays. So call me an Ilonggo trilingual fictionist, poet, and playwright. To my mindless critics, who have nothing else to say but to judge me as arrogant and swellheaded, simhutinyoutotko!

Are you coming back to newspaper

writing for good?I don’t know. To be honest, I didn’t really

miss newspaper work. I mean, sure, there are times when I do miss the pressure of presswork deadlines, and seeing my bylines and column IDs in newsprint and ink. But, let’s face it, the dollars that I earn as a registered nurse in the US are hallucinogenic and hypnotic. Bulisangkatsuri! American moolah is an opium that makes me forget my journalistic roots. So maybe I’m not coming back to newspaper writing to stay. But this newspaper asked me to write for it on my own terms: my schedule, my format, my topics of choice, my peculiarities. So, for as long as I feel that I am treated well, I’ll continue to write. Of course, I will also consider the public’s response. I’m not really the type who would force myself on people. For the record, people come to me! I mean, at my age and stature, I have nothing else to prove. If I don’t write ever again at this point in my life, I would already have been assured of my place in Philippine literature and Ilonggo journalism. So when I write, it’s not really for myself, but for you people who need some sunshine in your humdrum lives! I live in Los Angeles, the movie capital of the world, and rub elbows with the stars; you don’t!

What’s in a name?The Department of

Tourism has opposed the proposal to rename the Iloilo Airport for the reason that it may confuse

prospective foreign guests and that “those who are unfamiliar with the place might mistake it for something else, thus earn the ire of tourists instead of their goodwill.”

The DOT added that the airport is just “beginning to establish a name for itself, and changing the horse in midstream may not help in the development of tourism in the region, particularly in the province of Iloilo.”

I’m not sure how a new name for an

airport can affect the tourism industry but let’s take a look at Boracay Island off Malay, Aklan.

On November 17, 2012, the Caticlan Airport – the gateway to Boracay – was renamed Godofredo P. Ramos Airport.

Ramos, a former governor and congressman, has earned the moniker “Father of Aklan” for having authored Republic Act No. 1414 that created the province in 1955.

Was Boracay adversely affected by the renaming of the airport if we follow DOT’s argument? The answer is NO!

For the First Quarter 2013, tourist arrivals in Boracay rose by 10.17 percent, or

from 324,254 last year to 357,225, the Malay Tourism Office reported.

In March 2013 alone, the number of tourists went up by 8.84 percent, from 118,177 in March 2012 to 128,627.

From January to February 2013, the MTO noted that Koreans and Chinese tourists accounted for 57 percent or 70,113 of the total foreign tourists arriving in Boracay, most of whom availing the services of travel agencies.

Travel agencies arranged for their trip – tickets and accommodations – which means tourists don’t really care about the name of the airport where they would land as long as they get to their destination.

Tourists don’t even care that the

Godofredo P. Ramos Airport has been found to be unsafe – with four recorded accidents since 2005. All they want is to enjoy the sun, sea and sand of Boracay.

Today, the Godofredo Ramos Airport is the seventh busiest airport in the country, while Iloilo is the fourth.

The number one, of course, is the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, followed by the Mactan-Cebu International Airport.

The third busiest airport in the Philippines is the Francisco Bangoy International Airport in Davao City. But, who the hell was Francisco Bangoy?

Well, as William Shakespeare puts it, “What’s in a name? that which we call a rose, by any other name would smell as sweet…”

9METRO AGRICULTUREJuly 7 - 13, 2013

BY MARY PAULINE BALMES

The Department of Environmental and Natural Resources (DENR) 6 urges Ilonggos to avoid food wastage due to the higher rice consumption this year.

DENR 6 Regional Executive Director said that there is large amount of wastage being incurred from harvesting, manufacturing, packaging, shipping and merchandising the food that people consume daily.

“We must all exert effort also to conserve during the preparation and consumption as this is not only an environment issue,” Siapno said.

This was after the Department of Science and technology (DOST) 6 study on rice consumption showed that each Filipino incurs rice wastage at about 16 grams per person/day, valued at P14.4 /day, an amount enough to feed some 200,000 street children nationwide for a few days.

Siapno added that the said move gives a lift to the ethical and economic issue linked with the vast energy, land, water, and other hard work exerted in producing food being wasted nowadays.

According to the latest food consumption survey by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI-DOST), the biggest food waste among Filipinos is rice at 16 grams per person per day.

DENR pushes for zero food wastageFNRI said the result reflects that

approximately 1,200 metric tons of rice are wasted per day, valued which is tantamount to P14.4 million, enough to feed more than 200,000 street children nationwide for a few days.

For DENR Secretary Ramon Paje, theirs is a continuous campaign for people to reduce “foodprint” by patronizing food produced in an environmentally sound manner such as organic products.

“This means, food grown organically or packaged using recycled materials to lessen garbage thrown into the dumpsite or landfills,” Paje said.

Paje further explained said that organic foods are more environment-friendly for they are locally-produced products which require less emission-producing, handling and transport to bring them to people’s tables.

Also, DENR celebrates the World Environment Day last month, the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) launched the theme “Think. Eat. Save. Reduce Your Foodprint” which aims to support the worldwide bid for food security.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon said that one way to narrow the hunger-gap is to address the massive loss and wastage in today’s food system. JCM/ESS/PIA-Iloilo/IMT

Food Packaging Design Seminar-Workshop boosts graphic designers

In the advent of imported products capturing the Philippine market, local entrepreneurs have realized the need to boost their competitiveness in local market through packaging. Entry of imported products in the local market with appealing labels is a threat to the market share of the local food products. Consumers tend to buy products with attractive label and packaging. However, many entrepreneurs realized the need to strengthen their competitiveness in local market through packaging. This starts with an attractive label design that conforms to the prescribed format at a reasonable cost.

There are many graphic designers offering label design development, however, majority is not aware of the labeling laws. So they usually come up with aesthetically acceptable designs which more often are not appropriate labels for food products.

Pursuant to deliver the packaging and labeling assistance services to the growing figure of micro, small, and medium enterprises (mSMEs) in Western Visayas, the Department of Science and Technology Region VI (DOST VI), in partnership with Central Philippine University (CPU) College of Engineering, Packaging Engineering Department has conducted a seminar-workshop in Basic Packaging Design for Food Products.

Due to the rising awareness of SMEs on the importance of enhancing their food product packaging, the existing pool of designers can no longer cope up with the increasing demand. There

is a need to enhance the technical capability of satellite packaging centers established by DOST VI in the provinces to better serve the packaging-related services requirements of SMEs including package design development. DOST VI aims to increase the number of graphic designers to do packaging/label design requirements of enterprises particularly those in the processed food sector. Likewise, the agency intends to enhance the capability of graphic designers in terms of conceptualization of label and design particularly for food products.

Topics discussed include Basic Elements of Food Packaging Design, Food Packaging Design, Lay-outs and Application, and Mandatory Labeling Requirements.

DOST, through the Packaging Technology Assistance Program, provides a wide range of packaging technology solutions to include technical consultancy services, laboratory testing and analysis, and trainings, in order to t r a n s f o r m l o c a l l y -p r o d u c e d goods into g l o b a l l y -compet i t i ve p r o d u c t s . ( D O S T V I -MASASalazar/LMLamasan)

Basmati Rice label and package design by the participants.

BY REYMAR LATOZA

National Rice Program of the Department of Agriculture (DA) is in favor of allowing foreign direct investments in some aspect of rice production but is against full foreign control in production and supply.

With this, NEDA disallowed the down the proposal of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) to lift limitations on foreign equity in rice production.

DA’s National Rice Program coordinator Dante Delima said his office is in favor of allowing foreign direct investments in some aspect of rice production but is against full foreign control in production and supply.

DA supports foreign direct investments for rice production

Delima explained that allowing foreign equity may have been intended to increase foreign investment, but our position is that rice production should be controlled by Filipinos.

“Countries can be held to ransom by any reason (economic, political, or ideological), and world rice trade is the subject of political decisions by governments who are the biggest market players and who consider rice a vital commodity,” said Delima in the memorandum.

He said that instead of allowing foreign participation in production, foreign participation should be limited to post harvest facilities and marketing activities.

“It is for these considerations that we strongly oppose a proposed 100 percent foreign equity in

rice production and supply; while allowing for limited foreign direct investments in post-harvest and marketing activities, subject to consultations with rice stakeholders,” Delima said.

“We however support foreign direct investments in the area of farm mechanization, post harvest facilities, credit, processing of by-products and other high-end products, and exports,” he added.

He proposed that the amount of foreign investments be designated by the government’s

investment board, while joint venture agreements may be subject to mutually-agreed upon ratio of investments.

Delima recognized the importance of crop as food and as source of livelihood for many Filipinos in rural areas.

He said more than two million households are engaged in rice-based farming; millions more of farm laborers, and tens of thousands of merchants, depend on rice farming and trading for a living. (PhilStar/IMT)

photo courtesy of areason2write.wordpress.com

METRO SPORTS5 teams battle for 14-category Basketball Dev’t Tournament

BY REYMAR LATOZA

Five teams from different schools in the city and province of Iloilo joined and took the challenge inside the hard-court in under 14 category of Developmental Basketball Tournament sponsored by Iloilo Basketball League (IBL).

The participating basketball teams came from Central Philippine University (CPU), Colegio de Imaculada Concepcion (Pototan Iloilo), Iloilo National High School (INHS), Children’s Integrated School of Altatiera (CISAT), and Team Cougars.

In game 1, Pototan won over CPU, 48 – 29.

In game 2, Cougars defeated CISAT after finishing the game with 10 points margin, 43 – 33.

In game 3, Pototan showed it hardcore performance, bowing down INHS, 34 – 40

In game 4, CPU stood up from its first defeat in game 1, edging large margin against Cougars,

58 – 29.In game 5, CPU recorded its second straight

win, defeating INHS, 63 – 37.In game 6, CPU upset INHS, 63 – 37.IBL’s Development Tournament aims to

discover and develop potential Ilonggo Basketball players.IMT

10 July 7 - 13, 2013

BY REYMAR LATOZA

“If you really want to be good at something all it takes is just practice..practice..practice, and everything will flow naturally.” Thea Camila Lim believes that hard work brought her to where she is now as a badminton player. Thea stands 5’4’’ and weighs 53kg. She has been playing badminton since she was a child. She recalled that her father, who is also a sports enthusiast brought her one time in an activity to play badminton, and from then she found badminton as an interesting sport, until she deeply fell in love with it. Thea is a sophomore Development Communications stdent, College of Mass Communications at West Visayas State University (WVSU). She had joined several competition such as the State Colleges and Universities Athletic Association (SCUAA) Regionals 2012 – silver medalist (women), SCUAA Regionals 2011 – Gold (women), Private Schools Athletic Association (PRISAA) 2010 – Gold (mixed doubles category),

The hard court smasher PRISAA 2009 – Gold (mixed doubles category), PRISAA 2009 – Bronze (women’s doubles category), Filipino Chinese Amateur Athletic Federation (FCAAF) 2009 – Gold (women’s doubles category), FCAAF 2009 – Silver (mixed doubles), PRISAA 2008 – Silver (women’s doubles category), PRISAA 2007 – Bronze (women’s doubles category), PRISAA 2006 – Silver medalist (singles women category).

Now here’s the exclusive interview of IMT with Thea Camila Lim

QUESTION: Why badminton? What makes it special to you?

Thea: Every sport has its edges, I know because I do a lot of sports activities aside from badminton but somehow I just fell in love with badminton really. For me, I think it’s all in one. It’s not hard to learn, and definitely not boring. You can make new friends, it’s open to all ages and everything in your body is moving including your mind. It’s like chess and athletics all mixed up.

QUESTION: Describe yourself inside the

courtThea:” I’m more of an offensive player rather

than a defensive one. I like to strike when I have the opportunity to kill but I’m also very decisive in determining which is who to kill. Basically, it’s not just the power but it’s also the cleverness on how you play the game.”

QUESTION: Tell us your experiences during the time that you are starting

Thea: “I also remember how he bought us this really heavy rackets before – it was a wish brand and it was so heavy! But back then, like any other amateurs, we didn’t really care as long as we could just hit the shuttlecock back. We continued for almost every weekend until it already became a hobby for us, the guardian of the place saw us and maybe saw potential, since we were basically playing every weekend, and approached my father suggesting that we should undergo a proper training for us to really develop the skills. When my father finally decided to make it serious he made us undergo the proper training to play the sport and so we did. “

QUESTION: Did you have a formal training?

Thea: “I was trained by the Valiant club and our coach would give us these 100 exercises and drills nonstop every week, It was so intense but it all paid off in the end.”

QUESTION: What do you prepare yourself before the competition?

Thea: “Like any other athlete, before the competition I usually train a lot for weeks, both physically and mentally. I make sure that my rackets and shoes are up for the challenge and that I have a high endurance for every game, as well as the speed, strength and flexibility to reach, dive and turn to cover all parts of the court. Pretty much most of my training days involved a lot of stretching and drills! Mind conditioning a l o n g with the body. “

QUESTION: What are your learnings?

Thea: “No one is perfect but I really do believe that if you practice hard enough you’ll be near perfection (with the help of God).”

QUESTION: Who is/are your inspiration/s?

T h e a : “My favorite b a d m i n t o n player, Lin Dan ang Xie Xingfang, and all the great b a d m i n t o n players around the world”. IMT

Ilo Airport...from page 1

Villar Continues...from page 1

Social news network, Rappler reported that the reshuffling move was being mulled by the agency a week after a Cebu Pacific aircraft skidded off the runway of Davao international airport, the country’s 3rd busiest. Local officials and passengers criticized officials of the Davao

airport, as well as Cebu Pacific’s pilots and cabin crew, for not responding quickly to the situation.

The implementation came after Cebu Pacific aircraft carrying 165 passengers overshot the Davao International Airport runway. It caused the two-day suspension of the airport’s operation. IMT

waste tulad ng hinugasang isda, mga bulok na prutas, gulay at iba pa and we will process it after 7 days may organic fertilizer na sila”, she added.

In fact, the senator said their housing project in Iloilo is now practicing this kind of method using kitchen waste.

Villar said she has launched 200 livelihood projects all over the country, including waste processing, conversion of kitchen waste to organic fertilizer, and processing of water lilies.

She said the newest waste processing they have launched after the May 13 elections is the waste plastic recycling factory in Brgy. Ilaya, La

Pinas City which turns plastic wastes into durable school chairs.

Villar stressed the plant can produce about 1,000 armchairs in one month to replace those wooden chairs and these could last up to 20 years.

“We could give these plastic chairs for free for those deserving schools through the Villar Foundation”, she said.

The senator added she could focus more on her advocacy especially she is eyeing to get the chairmanship on Agriculture as well as the Trade and Industry committees as the Senate will have their first regular session on July 8. IMT

MetroMiscYASA conducts 1st Milk Shower

for dogs in PHby mechel velasco

In celebrating their 1st year anniversary, Yasa Pet Shop and Grooming Services, unleashed the First Milk Bath in the Philippines last July 1, 2013. It was another fulfillment for Ilonggos and another achievement for the City of Love- Iloilo.

Yasa Pet Shop introduced first the bubble bath in Panay and now they came to launch the 1st Milk Bath in the country. The founder of the Philippine Dog Welfare Association Inc. and at the same time owner of Yasa Pet Shop, Maam

Virma Yasa, told us that the products to freshen up the dogs were only used in the countries of Australia and United States of America.

Iloilo City as the chosen city, where Yasa Pet Shop in Molo District located is very fortunate in bringing to us these products and made it experience with dogs.

According to research, Milk Baths are said to utilize lactic acid, an alpha hydroxyl acid, to dissolve the proteins which hold together dead skin cells. It was made legendary by Cleopatra. It is gentle and moisturizer, so for dogs to undergo this kind

BY CRYSTALE MAY DE GUIA

Starting a business is not that easy as a piece of pie. You need to be financially ready upon setting off your business and also a necessity for you to have the knowledge concerning your product or services that you will be investing. These are some of the factors that others may consider the main ingredients in putting up an enterprise.

A 40-year old businessman confesses how their business prospered without any money involved as their capital. The very pleasant and sociable attitude of Mr. Nick Salcedo was his foundation to his dearly loved business, the Superbody’s Muscle and Fitness Club located at Javellana Bldg., Luna St., Lapaz, Iloilo City.

How did it happen? When and where did it was established? Let’s discover the secrets behind this very successful line of work.

“I was actually a diligent gym enthusiast years before the opening of our own business,” said Nick.

Year 1998, in a small room in a boarding house, Nick founded his dream, an aspiration to have his own fitness studio. During that time, a friend of him, who was a gym operator, was so pleased with his attitude. He was a hardworking, persistent and very friendly man with the

Hard Work: A Capital to Successpotential of being a gym proprietor.

Without any doubt, Nick’s friend lend him some of the gym’s facilities. There he started his very own mini-exercise room with less than ten customers all was facilitated by him. The demand of his clients was so good that he expanded the place and later on occupied the whole ground floor of the boarding house. Nick’s customers rapidly increased that he fabricated and added additional equipment and facilities. Thanks to his friend! No monetary capital only struggle and that gracious attitude.

According to Nick, if you are good to people, blessings will come in any way, may it be clients, good health, blessings for his family and others.

By all means, the value of sacrifice for Nick is great.

Years had passed, many things took place yet Superbody’s Muscle and Fitness Club stand still as one of the best fitness centers here in Iloilo City.

According to Nick, with the quality of service they are offering at the gym, no one will ever think of not going back again. These are services like personalized training program for beginners, professionals and advanced, privileges are also given once a member and walk-ins are also accepted. There is also nutrition counseling

program for a whole year round to those who wants to be healthy and fit at the same time.

“ W h a t e v e r fitness program a client wants, we will provide him/her the nutrition plan that will fit in his/her program,” he added.

A c c o r d i n g to Nick, in every service that he will give to others, it is with happiness that cannot be converted to anything. It is the supplement that feeds his heart.

How important is a gym?

“A gym is an exercise room sometimes it is also called a physical education center wherein everybody gets to be hale and hearty,” Nick said.

A gym work-out is a type of activity that will condition your body, give you more endurance, and develop your flexibility, strength and at the same time reflexes. Resistance is also build-up.

According to Nick, age also doesn’t matter because for him the older you are, the more exercise you need and if you worry about the lack of time, no, all of us has time; we only need to maximize it.

Be healthy and fit everyday at Superbody’s Muscle and Fitness Center. IMT

of treatment will leave pet’s coat softer and shinier.All breed of dogs can experience Milk Bath

and variety of this includes oatmeal, strawberry and green tea. These products are made from United States of America.

“We want to make every people aware that dogs should be well taken care of by the society and that dog owners can also help in disseminating the right ways in their community. The projects we are launching and promoting are

some means that can help them responsive of their actions. We are preparing to go to every Barangays for us to educate them, especially those in remote areas.“

The President of the Philippine Dog Welfare Association Inc. (PDWA Inc.), Mr. James Te remarked. The launching of the First Milk Bath is one of their accomplishments already. They are preparing another activity this coming July 26- 28, 2013- A fun-run with Dogs.

This product is used in USA and Australia only and now we are bringing it here in Panay.

“A dog doesn’t care if you’re rich or poor, clever or dull, smart or dumb. Give him your heart and he’ll give you his. How many people can you say that about? How many people can make you feel rare and pure and special? How many people can make you feel extraordinary?”

-Marley and Me

Iloilo Metropolitan Times [Volume 1 Issue No 23]

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Transcript of Iloilo Metropolitan Times [Volume 1 Issue No 23]