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TradeExpress Asia HELPING LEADERS MAKE THE RIGHT MOVES Vol. IV No. 39 April 15-May 3, 2008 Manila, Philippines http://tradeexpress.wordpress.com Will local pros ever hit the US, Euro Tours? An interview with golfer Hanson So Jr. (Page 8) Sweden Quits RP, Ends Aid Program Human rights is key issue By SAMUEL V. SENOREN in MANILA THE Swedish government’s decision to withdraw its diplomatic mission from Manila after 60 years is widely believed to have been caused by disenchantment over the Arroyo administration’s failure to improve its track record on human rights and governance during the past few years. The Swedish ministry of The Philippine department of foreign affairs is to close its embassy foreign affairs said Sweden’s EXPLORING 'THE ROCK'. The historic island-fortress of Corregidor, where one of the most celebrated battles of World in Manila at the end of May. It has decision was unfortunate but that it War II took place, has remained one of the country's foremost tourist attractions. Local and foreign visitors (seen in photo) also decided to terminate all will keep its mission in Stockholm. flock to the area in droves, especially during the summer months, to see the sights and marvel at the tunnels, military bunkers, airshafts, ruins of old buildings and a host of war relics housed in museums. Sun Cruises operates tours to development assistance programs However, without a counterpart in Corregidor daily from the CCP Bay Terminal in Manila. Call 5269626 for more details. to the Philippines two years ahead Manila, the Philippines may have to of schedule. downgrade the mission and recall The Swedish government its ambassador in Sweden. placed the Philippines in the Officially, the foreign office in DA study cites economic benefits category of such countries as Stockholm said the closure of its Angola, Laos, Nicaragua and embassy in Manila was due to lack Botswana where it also ordered a of business opportunities for of carabeef imports from India similar withdrawal of its presence. (Turn to page 4) AN AGRICULTURE industry study livestock specialist Joyce Alcoreza. commissioned by the department of agriculture has LDC officials said they ordered the study concluded that the importation of buffalo meat to ensure that the interest of the livestock (carabeef) from India should be allowed to continue industry, particularly the hog sector, would be because of its long-term benefits to the Philippine amply protected. economy. The study also reiterated the existing Carabeef is the primary raw material used by conditions imposed by the DA for the continued the meat processing industry in the production of importation of carabeef. These include: corned beef and hotdogs. The processed meat ! Importations should be limited to meat products are a major source of protein and other processors of categories “AA” and “AAA” (Turn to page 10) nutritional needs of the population. accredited by the National Meat Inspection The study was conducted during a two-year Service. period by Strive Foundation upon commission by ! Only manufacturing grade, fresh the Livestock Development Council (LDC) of the deboned and deglanded matured buffalo meat department of agriculture. The team was composed should be allowed. of agricultural economist Leonardo Gonzales, former Bureau of Animal Industry Director Romeo ! Strict inspection, monitoring and Alcasid, epidemiologist Mildred Padilla and (Turn to page 9) Name Brands RP IS #1 IMPORTER Outsourced Tough measures needed From Cebu to reverse falling rice output By EDDI BARRITA in CEBU CEBU has maintained its THE Philippines will continue to be the world’s largest position as a favored site for the net importer of rice in the next few years unless the manufacture of high-end garments. government takes drastic steps to reverse the trend. With highly skilled workers and Such steps include an aggressive population control designers, Cebu is still the top choice program, bigger farmland hectarage, and increased of producers of popular international financial subsidies for vital agricultural inputs. brands, according to Samson Tiu of The marginal increase in domestic rice production the Cebu Garments Industries has not been able to catch up with consumption resulting Association (CIGA). in an importation of up to 2.6 million metric tons this year. Among the branded products The Philippines produces just over 10 million metric manufactured in Cebu are Calvin tons of rice annually against consumption of about 13 Klein, Adidas, Tommy Hilfiger, Nike, million tons. Nautica, Abercrombie and Columbia Rice imports jumped from only 639,000 metric tons in Sports Wear, among others. 2000 when the population was recorded at 76.5 million to Until its outsourcing stopped 1.83 million tons last year with a population of more than some years ago, the popular Victoria’s 88 million. Secret ladies wear items were made In 2008, the Philippine population is estimated at 90.5 in Cebu. million. (Turn to page 8) (Turn to page 4) TradeExpress Asia is distributed to Members of Congress, Judiciary, Malacanang, Heads of Gov't Agencies, the Diplomatic Community and Leaders of Business and Industry. Also available in Airline Offices and selected Hotels and Coffee Shops in Metro Manila and Cebu. 2 TradeExpress Asia TOURISM April 15-May 3, 2008 Rediscovering 'The Rock' By DENN A. MENESES Guns and ruins soldiers must have staked Filipino Heroes Memorial (left) and MacArthur's Monument (above) out in ambush are visibly untouched. The Mile WAR makes heroes out of What exactly have they missed out kilometer land area, no Long Barracks, so-called men, and, perhaps, men out of on, in favor of high technology communities to sully the pristine because the buildings mortals. It makes widows and gibberish and a low density atmosphere. Everything that the that once served as orphans out of young wives and appreciation of the Philippines’ eye can see is wrapped in green, soldiers’ quarters stretch infants, anguished souls out of storied past? and when one looks out to the on a 1,520-foot area, stand mothers and fathers faced with the ‘The Rock’ – or the erstwhile horizon, the scenery is even more as mute witness to the grievous task of burying their breathtaking. havoc that World War II island-fortress of Corregidor – has, through the centuries – from the offspring. Soldiers — their names wrought on man and Nature. thankfully, remained a landmark that In fact, climbing up the old Battle of Mactan in 1521 to the etched on molten steel hung on their we, as a nation, can be proud of. It Spanish lighthouse, one will see a What could easily be the EDSA revolt in 1986. The altar at necks as a badge of courage — they has endured, mercifully, through time stunning view of the whole island, highlight of a visit to Corregidor is the center of the shrine lights up die so that others may live, and political upheavals as a homage down to its tail, with Manila Bay the Malinta Tunnel experience. A every May 6 at 12 noon, which is sacrificing life and limb in the service to the men and women who perished and the South China Sea spread 30-minute goose bump-inducing said to be the exact time when of country for a piece of paper with in a devastating war. It stands, ever out like an infinite heavenly blue light and sound show, written by Corregidor and the Philippines fell some bureaucratic lamentation, a so sturdily, as a shining monument canopy in the background. On top National Artist Lamberto Avellana, into the hands of the Japanese chunk of metal with some stripes to a people’s valor – glistening in the of Corregidor’s highest point rests chronicles the events that took place conquerors. attached to it, or a place in history, the imposing Pacific War Memorial on the island. The tunnel housed a noonday sun, touching a sentimental But there’s more that the visitor statistical most probably; laid to rest — built at a cost of $1.23 million in hospital, an arsenal and a fuel cord inside jaded hearts and calloused can do apart from sightseeing. Steep in some unknown grave, or soon 1968, one of only two war memorials reservoir, and served as the center spirits. trails drilled through the dense forgotten in the cold of their marble built by the US Government, the of American operations during the All of six kilometers from point tropical forest inspire hiking. Not tombs. other one located at Pearl Harbor. war. to point, with 2.4 kilometers as its for the weak of heart, the Malinta For generations of Filipinos, widest distance across, the island And the mortars, they are still A relatively recent addition to Tunnel’s innermost laterals can be World War II is just some hazy bears a striking resemblance to a where the Americans left them. the island is the Filipino Heroes explored at night. Island boat tours footnote of a time long ago, tadpole and is strategically Huge cannons that must have Memorial, inaugurated in August will allow one to see the outlying ‘veteran’ is a nebulous term that positioned at the mouth of Manila roared louder than thunder when 1992. The 6,000 square-meter isles on board outriggers. Philippine could mean a washed-up basketball Bay. There are no permanent settlers fired towards enemy direction. The complex features 14 murals depicting flora and fauna thrive and lurk all player, and ‘The Rock’ is the name anywhere on its nine square- caves and foxholes where Japanese the heroic battles fought by Filipinos over. A spectacular sunset at the of a wrestler-turned-movie actor. western side and sunrise at the tail side might already be worth the price of the tour package.