Korean Group Builds P3b Resort In TradeExpress Asia Page 2 HELPING LEADERS MAKE THE RIGHT MOVES http://tradeexpress.wordpress.com Vol. IV No. 37 January 21-February 9, 2008 , A S&P Publication OFWs lost P45b in '07; defaults on the rise By SAMUEL V. SENOREN in MANILA

WORLD'S CHEAPEST AUTO IS MADE IN INDIA OVERSEAS Filipino workers racked up more than P45 billion in foreign exchange losses last year as a result of an unprecedented increase INDIA'S largest auto company, Tata Motor, has done what many experts thought was an impossible job - building a people's car at a fraction of the cost of a in the value of the peso vis-à-vis the US dollar, according to Trade Express regular sedan. After four years of research and development, Tata unveiled in estimates. January the sub-compact "Nano". The price tag: $2,500 - roughly the equivalent of about P100,000 in today's pesos. Auro industry experts say chairman Ratan The amount represented ability of the export sector to realize Tata's success in building a cheap car could revolutionize car manufacturing disposable income from about $14 a growth target of 11 percent for 2007 practices around the world. Tata Motors which has an annual turnover of more billion in OFW remittances in 2007 after rising to 14 percent the previous than $5.5 billion, is one of 80 companies in the highly diversified Tata Group. that would have spurred more year. Some analysts believe the Shown is the Nano on display near the Gate of India in Mumbai, headquarters of the Tata Group. consumer spending and fueled growth in the sector may fall short growth of small businesses of the revised target which was particularly in the . originally set at 15 percent early last The local currency ended 2007 year. TAPPING SKILLED IMMIGRANTS with a parity rate of P41.40 to the The continued appreciation of dollar, up more than 18 percent from the local currency has encouraged P49 at the beginning of the year. prospective OFWs to review their Manitoba premier sets RP visit The peso’s appreciation, the options. Some plan to wait it out highest in seven years, led to a steep until corresponding adjustments in A TOP- decline in the purchasing power of cost of overseas labor are made. LEVEL OFWs, disrupting their spending The department of labor has delegation patterns during the year. reported that in 2007, slightly over from one of It also casts doubt on the (Turn to page 5) Canada’s most progressive provinces is visiting the Philippines in early Doer Desjardins Viray Georget February to promote expanded trade and the governor’s seat since 1999. sectors. Among the delegates is economic relations between the two Under Doer’s leadership, Randy Viray, president of the countries. The delegation’s visit will Manitoba’s economy has exhibited Manitoba Filipino-Canadian (Turn to page 10) run from Feb. 9 to Feb. 13. an annual growth rate higher than Business Council. The trade and investment that of Canada as a whole. They are scheduled to meet mission from the of The Manitoba delegation will with President Arroyo and Manitoba will be personally led by be composed of about 35 officials members of her Cabinet as well Premier Gary Doer who has occupied from the government and private as with Canadian Ambassador (Turn to page 2) DA bares import quotas BoC Defers in agriculture for 2008 Security THE import volume of sensitive agricultural products will continue to be controlled by the department of agriculture this year until a new Fee Increase agreement on agriculture is reached by member-countries of the World Trade Organization. THE Bureau of Customs The list of sensitive products covers horses, swine, goats, poultry, has deferred the increase in the potatoes, corn, sugar and coffee. container security fee (CSF) which it collects on The quantitative restrictions are being implemented under a mechanism called the minimum access volume (MAV) which was drawn containerized shipments entering Philippine ports to by the Philippines and its trading partners as part of the WTO agreement several years ago. lessen the impact of the surging peso on shipping companies. The MAV allows importation of the sensitive products at specific Customs Commissioner volumes with reduced tariffs. Napoleon Morales said MAV Executive Director Bernie Fondevilla announced that the MAV however that the additional fee for 2008 will be as follows: live horses, asses, mules and hinnies - 57 will be imposed as soon as head; live swine - 2,570 head; live sheep and goats - 82,290 head; live economic conditions allow it. poultry - 9,513,540 head; meat of swine, fresh, chilled or frozen - 54,210 metric tons; meat of sheep and goats, fresh, chilled or frozen - 1,120 MT; The CSF amounts to $25 per 20-ft container and $50 per meat and edible offal of poultry. fresh, chilled or frozen - 23,490 MT; potatoes, fresh or chilled - 1,550 MT; coffee beans - 1,457 MT; corn - 40-ft container. The fee is charged for the use of x-ray 216,940 MT; cane or beet sugar and chemically pure sucrose in solid form - 64,050 MT; and coffee extracts - 37 MT. scanning machines to examine containerized cargoes. The MAV will be distributed to existing quota holders which had The 30 machines were performed creditably under guidelines issued by the department of agriculture last year. purchased from China through (Turn to page 3) 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 and Cebu. 2 TradeExpress Asia January 21-February 9, 2008 Korean group to build P3b resort hotel in Lapu-Lapu

A NEW resort hotel in Lapu- area. chain in Seoul to manage it. Also scheduled to open soon cope with the expected increase in Lapu City which is being built at a The resort project is being Named Imperial Palace in and Mactan are hotels tourist arrivals. cost of P3 billion is expected to open undertaken by the Korean-owned Waterpark Resort and Spa, it will owned by Microtel Inns and Suites. In central Philippines alone, the in 2009 to significantly increase the Philippine BXT Corp. which has have 616 rooms within a 7.5 hectare By 2012, the Philippines will number of hotel rooms could reach number of hotel rooms in the Cebu tapped the Imperial Palace Hotel property. have 20,000 more hotel rooms to 5,000, according to Tourism Secretary Ace Durano. “The demand for three to five- star hotel accommodations, especially in Cebu, is so huge. That is the biggest challenge of the tourism industry,” he said. Metro Manila is expected to have 3,000 additional rooms before 2012. Durano said three other international hotel and resort chains planned to put up facilities in the Visayas. These are the Banyan Tree Hotels and Resorts, Raffles Hotels and Resorts and Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts. Banyan Tree Hotels operate in Thailand, Indonesia, China, Maldives and Seychelles while Raffles Hotels are found in destinations like Singapore, Los Angeles, Beijing and Cambodia. (PNA)

Manitoba (From page 1)

Robert Desjardins. Delegation members are also scheduled to meet with local business leaders who are interested in developing businesses in Manitoba. The activities of the delegation are being arranged by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines headed by Executive Director Sean Georget. Georget said that the visit of the Manitoba delegation shows how Canada views the Philippines in terms of further improving bilateral relations. Aside from its booming manufacturing and agriculture sectors, Manitoba has emerged as a new world leader in the development and use of clean, renewable energy such as hydroelectric, wind, geothermal, ethanol and biodiesel. It recently commissioned a $200 million ethanol plant owned by Husky Energy which is capable of producing 130 million liters of ethanol annually starting this year. Manitoba is also home to about 60,000 ethnic most of whom live and work mainly in Winnipeg, the provincial capital.

FINE DINING EXPERIENCE AT THE FORT January 21-February 9, 2008 TradeExpress Asia 3

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By ROSE DE LA CRUZ in MANILA seized last year INDIA-BASED Dr. Reddy’s Africa MCC, Brazil and Romania— Laboratories Inc. has entered the are inferior and substandard in produce oral solids, injectables and THE National Committee for we recently submitted to President Philippine market to serve what it quality. biologics and it has a dedicated Intellectual Property Rights (NCIPR) Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo,” Atty. calls a “desperate need for “Maybe a lot of people have oncology facility spanning has reported that member agencies Adrian S. Cristobal, Jr., director affordable medicines” to poor bought products from several other injectables, hormonals and oral engaged in IPR enforcement have general of IP Philippines, said. “Fake people and improve their access to Indian suppliers (there are over cytotoxics. seized P5.25 billion worth of pirated products,” he added, “threaten drugs needed for good health. 1,000 drug companies in India) but “To our patients, we are known items since its creation in 2005. public health and safety. These also that does not mean that all Indian not only for our affordable therapy Goods held in custody as of compete unfairly with legitimate At a full-packed launch drug makers produce inferior quality but more for newer solutions such November last year totaled P2.75 businesses, cheat government of attended by 1,200 invited doctors drugs. How could we pass the stiff as the development of the 4-drug billion. taxes, and weaken inventor at the EDSA Shangrila last October, standards of the US Food and Drug Polypill to reduce global cardiac risk confidence in our economy.” the company bared a complete line The Intellectual Property Office of products and service-based Administration,” Gomes said. for millions and help manage one of of the Philippines (IP Philippines), “More than enforcement or the solutions that it currently sells in Dr. Reddy’s and its sister the foremost causes of morbidity the lead coordinator of inter-agency raids conducted for pirated the world, with 43 percent sold in company—Britton Marketing and mortality in the world today,” efforts against piracy and intellectual property products, a the US market followed by Europe. Corp.—are considered the Gomes said. counterfeiting, gathered reports from sound IP environment of the The company began selling its dominant players in the Indian drug Dr. Reddy’s is also active in the enforcement groups namely, the country means tapping the products in Davao and Cebu prior manufacturing sector and has advocacy boards like Cherish (for Bureau of Customs (BoC), the creativity of the Filipinos, and to to its launch in Metro Manila. regional headquarters in Russia, irritable bowl syndrome); Cope National Bureau of Investigation ensure that the IP system promotes China, Central Eastern Europe, the (prostate cancer) and Myeloma (NBI), the Optical Media Board Rajesh Kumar, Senior Director innovation,” Cristobal disclosed. Middle East and Africa, Latin India Foundation (multiple (OMB), and the Philippine National of Dr. Reddy’s, said “we see in the IP Philippines spearheaded the America, Southeast Asia and South myeloma) aside from being Police (PNP). Philippine market a big gap for crafting of the Philippine IP Policy affordably-priced medicines, which Africa. In these markets, it offers a instrumental in creating various BoC seized a total of P2.21 Strategy to foster a competitive and poor people do not have access to wide range of formulations through interface forums for international billion for the two-year period creative Philippines that uses IP as because the market is dominated by distribution channels, strategic thought leaders and medical followed by OMB with P1.79 billion. a strategic tool for national high-priced drugs patented to partnerships and joint ventures. practitioners to meet, enabling NBI confiscated P692 million worth development, which is the vision of multinational companies.” Its global brands are: Omez constant upgrading of the of fake goods while the PNP the office for the country. “While serving the under- (Omeprazole); Enam (Enalapril); standards of care based on latest contributed P565 million to the total Institutional capacity building Ciprolet (Ciprofloxacin); Stamlo clinical evidence. figure. Since the creation of NCIPR served poor markets, we will also and IP enforcement form part of the (Amlodipine); Nise (Nimesulide); Dr. Reddy’s recently acquired in 2005, total enforcement figures be giving the multinational eight sectors in the policy strategy: Ketorol (Keterolac); Grafeel Betapharma, the world’s fourth have been on a steady rise. In 2005, companies stiff competition so they public health; patent reform; (Filgrastim). largest drug manufacturing facility the enforcement agencies hauled in will be forced to price their products universities, and research and based in , to augment its P1.14 billion, and in 2006, the total within the reach of most people,” Its entry in the Philippines is development institutions (RDI); capacity for raw materials and value was P1.35 billion. Kumar said. through an initial 60 sales agents biodiversity and genetic resources; and in possible tie ups with existing finished formulations. “IP enforcement and Antony Raj Gomes, Senior indigenous knowledge, systems drugstores and pharmaceutical Kumar said his company is institutional capacity-building are Director for Quality Control, said his and practices (IKSP), folklore, and stores. willing to sell directly to the part of our two-pronged approach company invests as heavily on geographical indications; small- and government, through the Philippine in strengthening the IPR regime of generic drugs as branded ones Its manufacturing facilities— medium-sized enterprises (SME) International Trading Corp. so it the country. This approach is one of since “we produce not just the final which had been inspected by the and copyright and other creative could beef up its medicine stocks eight sectors identified in the product (capsules and pills) for retail stringent regulatory authorities of industries. for retailing to the poor. Philippine IP Policy Strategy, which but also raw materials for shipment the world like USFDA, UK, South anywhere in the world. “Our R & D efforts are equal BoC (From page 1) for branded and generic products No great movement designed to change the The BOC is now planning to and we maintain the same superior world can bear to be laughed at or belittled. Mockery is a loan provided by the Chinese assess a similar fee on exporters quality for all our products,” Gomes a rust that corrodes all it touches. government payable in 20 years with since they also use the machines to said in reaction to the general an annual interest of 2 percent. clear their export shipments. (PNA) perception that India-made drugs MILAN KUNDERA 4 TradeExpress Asia AROUND ASIA January 21-February 9, 2008 Filipino workers lead protest march in N. Marianas KL cuts foreign labor KUALA LUMPUR – The Malaysian government is considering ways Long-time Filipino guest By JONATHAN V. PEREZ in SAIPAN rally to the CNMI Legislature’s to reduce the number of foreign laborers, especially in the construction workers joined a historic march to position, he is proud of what the and industrial sectors. oppose the recently passed labor law bill in the U.S. Congress that aims workers have done. “It is really The government was concerned over the number of foreign workers which they said prevents them from to federalize immigration system on amazing to see so many people which now totals 2 million, according to a report in The Star quoting seeking an improved status in the Saipan, estimated the crowd to be wanting to express themselves.” Malaysian Human Resources Minister Fong Chan Onn. U.S. Commonwealth. close to 8,000 where protesters wore Augusto Reyes, a Filipino who One approach is to push for a pre-fabrication building to reduce Clad in white, workers from the white t-shirts to show they are has been working as a mechanic in manual laborers at worksites, Fong said. Philippines, China, , united in asking the CNMI Saipan for 15 years, said he joined Another approach is to push automation in the industrial sector, he Nepal and Thailand responded to legislature to revisit the labor reform the Unity March to show support added. the call of newly elected law. for improved labor status to workers like him. “I have grown old here and Malaysia has a population of 27.17 million, including 2 million migrant representative Tina Sablan and local “This show of force just workers. publisher Ed Propst to make proves that many workers are Saipan benefited a lot from workers manifest their opposition to the demanding action. This people like me. I just wanted to reap the recently passed labor law—Public power is a statement by the people fruits of my labor,” he said. Law 15-108—in a peaceful march that the legislature should not pass Rey “Hapi” Gabriel, who came Fighting global warming touted as “Unity March.” bad laws oppressive to workers, to Saipan in 1993 working as a waiter Public Law 15-108, a labor their families, and the businesses,” at a pizzeria, said he wanted job TOKYO – The Japanese government has selected 41 countries for reform law sponsored by Rep. Cinta said Dekada lawyer Stephen security. “I want to have a stable assistance under its financial mechanism on climate change for developing Kaipat, not only hinders guest Woodruff, an advocate of foreign job. The change of status gives countries in a bid to take a lead in the battle against global warming. workers from transferring to other workers’ labor rights. workers like me the assurance that China and India, two of the largest remitters of greenhouse gases, are companies, but it also requires them Dekada is one of the our employers will not just send us included in the 41 countries mainly in Asia, Africa, Central and South to make the mandatory six-month exit organizations actively clamoring for home if they no longer want to renew America, Kyodo News reported. every three years before they can an improved immigration status for our contracts.” Eleven of the 41 countries have been designated as “early return to the CNMI. long-time guest workers. Those who joined the march implementation” countries. These are Kenya, Ethiopia, gabon, Burkina The law took effect January 1. Federal Labor Ombudsman believe that P.L. 15-108 will be Faso, Ghana, Madagascar, Indonesia, Malaysia, Guyana, Mexico and Organizers of the Unity March, James Benedetto said that though repealed when the CNMI’s 15th Micronesia. which also called for support of a he is not certain of the effect of the Legislature convenes this month. China draws $67b in foreign equity India boosts oil reserves NEW DELHI – India will begin construction of strategic crude oil GLOBAL foreign direct invest- storages this year as insurance against disruptions during wars and other the Commonwealth of Independent many parts of the world. emergencies, according to news reports. ment (FDI) reached a record level of States (CIS), UNCTAD said in a FDI flows to developed Of the three sites selected to hold 5 million tons a year of crude oil $1.5 trillion in 2007 despite the crisis year-end report. countries grew for the fourth in the financial and credit markets, reserves equivalent to the country’s 15-day requirement, Visakhapatnam in “The financial and credit crisis consecutive year reaching $1 Andra Pradesh would be the first site. according to the UN Conference on that began in the latter half of 2007 trillion. The US maintained its place Trade and Development (UNCTAD) has not affected the overall volume as the single largest recipient, The other sites are Mangalore tapped for 1.5 million tons and Podur, in Geneva. of FDI inflows,” the report said. attracting $193 billion in 2007. 2.5 million tons. FDI inflows increased in all It noted that the global FDI Overall, more than half of all India has said it eventually wants to double the overall strategic reserve three groups of economies – growth was mainly driven by cross- FDI to developing countries went capacity to 73.3 million barrels. developed countries, developing border mergers and acquisitions of to South Asia, East Asia, Southeast countries and the transition transnational corporations as well Asia and Oceania. China received countries of Southeast Europe and as strong economic performance in $67.3 billion in 2007, ahead of other IBM to expand in Vietnam developing countries. HA NOI – Steve Mills, vice president of IBM, disclosed that his group UNCTAD plans to expand operation in Vietnam and Asia. warned, He said IBM is in need of 30,000 programmers for its worldwide however, that expansion. He said he expected more Vietnamese students to work for his economic group. uncertainty and IBM Vietnam has signed a memorandum of understanding on training the prospect of and cooperation with the Ha Noi University of Technologies and DTT-Ha a US recession Noi CTT company. might have a negative impact on FDI inflows for 2008. (PNA/ ASEAN anti-crime body eyed Xinhua) JAKARTA – Member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) have agreed to set up a non-government anti-crime agency, Change local media reported. yourself, Dai Bachtiar, chairman of the Indonesia Crime Prevention Foundation change and Indonesian Police Chief, said that the establishment of the agency was your very important to the Southeast Asian region. fortune. He added that it would encourage people in the region to take part in fighting trans-national crime, terrorism, child abuse, human trafficking, - corruption and other crimes. Portuguese Proverb (From PNA Wires)

PRIME PROPERTY FOR SALE OR JOINT VENTURE

1.4 HECTARE TAGAYTAY FARM Located at Barangay Neogan, Tagaytay City Planted to pineapple and fruit-bearing trees Please call 825-0108/827-4416/634-0270 January 21-February 9, 2008 BEAUTY TradeExpress Asia 5 MADE IN JAPAN Cosmetic surgery is risky, US experts warn New whitening soap offers total skin care COSMETIC surgery is risky have been treating plastic surgery and should be performed only on like a commodity,” said Rohrich. healthy people, warned US medical “It’s not like going to find a pair ACTRESS/TV host skin whitening ability. In experts. MET Whitening Soap, of shoes. You can take the shoes Ruffa Gutierrez is the new The operations carry the same back. You can’t bring your life face of MET Premium glutathione helps whiten the skin, giving it a significant risks as any other kind back,” Rohrich said. Whitening Soap. She of surgeries and should require joins a growing list of ce- youthful and radiant Nearly 11 million cosmetic glow. thorough preoperative screening, surgery procedures were performed lebrity endorsers who Dr. Rod Rohrich, chairman of plastic have recently discovered Soybean milk in 2006, up 48 percent from the figure surgery at the University of Texas of 2000, according to the American the product’s benefits culture filtrate (Soy Southwestern Medical Center, was that go beyond skin whit- Isoflavon) and soybean Society of Plastic Surgeons. quoted as saying by the Los A study published in the latest ening. extract (Glycine Soja) Angeles Times. The soap’s unique are the natural issue of Plastic and Reconstructive counterparts of the As the number of cosmetic Surgery found that serious ingredients and surgeries increases rapidly, experts impressive features female hormone complications occurred in one out are struggling to educate people. perfectly match the estrogen. This is of 298 cases, and deaths occurred actress’ grace and beauty. commonly used by “I think American consumers in one out of 51,459 cases. (PNA) It is a premium whitening women to delay the process of aging. soap manufactured in OFWs lost (From page 1) large and stable market. Japan using only first- Applied to the skin, they class ingredients. For help keep the skin young A survey conducted by the one million workers found jobs Central Bank late last year showed years, Japan has been the by regenerating collagen abroad in such countries as Saudi standard bearer for skin which results in the that about 34 percent of OFWs Arabia, , earmarked most of their earnings for perfection and radiance, smoothening of the Singapore, and Japan. and its extensive skin’s fine lines. debt payments. Nearly all of those Of the total, nearly 250,000 experience in skin care surveyed said the bulk of the Coconut oil and were hired to work onboard ships resulted in the earnings goes to food and other palm oil are natural skin as crewmen or service staff. development of MET moisturizers that make household needs. Premium Whitening your skin smooth and A more pronounced effect of Press reports have already Soap. silky. Palm oil is high in the peso appreciation on the welfare indicated that a portion of home of OFWs and their beneficiaries is MET Whitening vitamin E which plays a loans taken by OFWs had become expected to be felt this year. Soap has six quality protective role in past due. ingredients: alpha preventing or reversing Last December, consumer According to a study by First arbutin, glutathione, soy cellular aging. Coconut spending was generally seen as Metro Investment Corp. and bean milk culture filtrate, oil is also an excellent subdued at a time when retail sales University of Asia and the Pacific soy bean extract, and palm and the Ministry of Health and Welfare skin moisturizer. usually reach their peak in the run- Capital Markets Research head coconut oils. in Japan and very popular in Asian For best results, MET Premium up to the year-end holidays. Victor Abola, defaults on OFW Alpha arbutin is an extract of countries for skin de-pigmentation. Whitening soap should be used In fact, many retailers noted amortization payments to a mid-size the bearberry plant (Arctostaphylus Glutathione, the master anti- night and day on a daily basis. that sales actually dropped by as property developer had reached an uva-ursi). It is a natural double- oxidant, neutralizes free radicals to Together, these key ingredients go much as 10 percent compared to the alarming 35 percent. whitening agent that inhibits the protect healthy cells from damage. beyond whitening to offer total skin previous year. The defaults in turn could raise skin’s tyrosinase activity thereby Glutathione helps detoxify your care. Analysts predicted that the the level of non-performing loans decreasing the formation of melanin body, boost the immune system, and MET Whitening Soap is fallout from the peso appreciation (NPL) of banks which had funded to even out brown spots and has cancer preventing properties. available at all Watson’s branches would eventually spill to the property developers on the blemishes. It has been approved by But its most popular benefit is its nationwide. property sector which had tapped expectation that the turnaround of the OFW sector as a potentially the sector would continue to be firm. 6 TradeExpress Asia http://tradeexpress.wordpress.com OPINION January 21-February 9, 2008

EDITORIAL The ID thing: Not again

THERE must be more than a hundred substantive issues that government leaders can pursue and advocate other than the national identification system. Yet, the national ID system proposal is being resuscitated when it had been declared dead a long time ago. Revival of the proposal is being advanced on the ground that it is vital to the success of the anti-insurgency efforts. Of course, the argument is non-sequitur. How an ID can help solve insurgency is quite difficult to comprehend. A government mandate requiring all citizens to subscribe to the ID system is certain to raise questions on its constitutionality again. Opponents of the proposed ID system had argued that it violates the right of citizens to privacy as guaranteed by In My Notes By SAMUEL V. SENOREN the Constitution. Such contention was sustained by the Supreme Court when it declared a similar plan by the Ramos administration Editing the Constitution unconstitutional. A former military man, Ramos wanted everybody living President shall not be eligible for any “re” is identified as a prefix which in the Philippines to be IDed and numbered. The scheme reelection. No person who has means anew, again or again and was challenged by critics led by the late Sen. Blas Ople. succeeded as President and has again. So, whether the reelection served as such for more than four follows immediately after one term The landmark decision was handed down by the years shall be qualified for election or comes after a hiatus of one term Supreme Court in G.R. 127685 on July 23, 1998. NO matter how the to the same office at any time.” or more, the word ANY clearly It is interesting to note that the decision was penned phraseology in the Philippine The problem and confusion lie declares the intent of the provision Constitution is twisted, there is no by then Justice Reynato Puno who is now the chief justice in the sentence “the President shall and invalidates the theory advanced way for former Philippine presidents not be eligible for any reelection.” by the Estrada group. of the Supreme Court. to validly seek election again to the The Constitution was written highest position of the land. As broadly understood and In writing the decision, the chief justice took off from practiced, reelection is usually taken by lawyers, and lawyers generally the 1968 case of Morfe v. Mutuc where the Supreme Court The contention that former to mean running for another term for dabble in legalese which tend to Presidents Estrada, Ramos and declared that there is such a thing as a constitutional right the same office immediately after make matters more complicated. Aquino are eligible for election to finishing a term, as printed in As a former newspaper editor, I to privacy. the presidency because they are not campaign materials which entice would have simply written that: “The Wrote Justice Puno: actually seeking reelection due to a voters to “reelect so-and-so President shall serve for only one gap of many years since they last governor”, mayor, etc. term. He cannot be elected again to “The right to privacy is one of the most threatened held office, is stretching the Thus, under this theory, there the same position.” rights of man living in a mass society. The threats emanate interpretation of the constitutional provision too far. is no prohibition for Estrada, FVR It may also be worth noting that from various sources – governments, journalists, and Cory to run again for president in the term limits for members of employers, social scientists, etc. In the case at bar, the As it is written, Section 4 of in 2010 since they had long been Congress, the word reelection is not Article VII of the Constitution out of office. mentioned. threat comes from the executive branch of government provides, thus: “The President and which by issuing A.O. 308 pressures the people to the Vice-President shall be elected However, a closer look at the The provisions are clearer in by direct vote of the people for a constitutional provision will show that they specify how far senators surrender their privacy by giving information about that there is a key word that decides and congressmen can serve in their themselves on the pretext that it will facilitate delivery of term of six years which shall begin at noon on the thirtieth day of June what the exercise is all about. That respective chambers. They provide basic services. next following the day of the election operative word is ANY, spelled A- that “no member of the House of N-Y, as in ANY REELECTION. Representatives shall serve for more “Given the record-keeping power of the computer, only and shall end at noon of the same date six years thereafter. The In Mr. Webster’s dictionary, than three consecutive terms”, and the indifferent will fail to perceive the danger that A.O. (Turn to page 10) 308 gives the government the power to compile a devastating dossier against unsuspecting citizens. It is timely to take note of the well-worded warning of Kalvin ViaThePen By FRANK GREGO Jr. ‘the disturbing result could be that everyone will live burdened by an unerasable record of his past and his Congressman Villafuerte capacity to forget.’ “We close with the statement that the right to privacy was not engraved in our Constitution for flattery.” around in that Malacaòang unleashed any cyanide against the gathering to answer his accusation harassed and fainting and wobbling A politician will do anything to keep his job, before a gathering of 126 De Venecia who, like a cyanided congressmen that: ornamental fish, swam without even become a patriot. -William Randolph Hearst direction from the bottom to the THE culture, refinement and Villafuerte “is a muckraker … an intriguer … Chihuahua… kulokoy surface and back to the rough decorum of a highly ethical politician corals to sulk. More so when he was TradeExpress Asia are reflected in his cold neutrality …” When he inquired with extreme screamed at and yelled at, that he when his bitter adversary is had to scram out of the portals of Publisher: SAMUEL V. SENOREN beleaguered by the combined forces politeness and gentility from the Speaker on the veracity of his the palace in that iniquitous Editor: DENN A. MENESES of some separate formidable foes. meeting. He does not take advantage of accusation, the latter immediately Correspondents made an admission in avoidance by Louie V could have joined the Manila: CONSTANTINO C. GANTINAO III, the popular adage that the enemy enemies of the Speaker in tearing of your enemy is your friend, and making the media his chopping TESS R. BIGORNIA, ABE C. MARZO, BUTCH F. GUINA board with: him down to pieces, but his City: ALEJANDRO DANAO JR., ROSE DE LA CRUZ the friend of your enemy is your unyielding adherence to his Bangkok: CONNIE S.P. ESTAMPADOR enemy. “That is only what media is (sic, Palau: NAZARIO RODRIGUEZ JR. media is plural; its singular form is personal code of morals and Saipan: JONATHAN V. PEREZ This is true of Rep. Luis R. refinement in politics, harnessed him Villafuerte, a dyed-in-the-wool medium) saying”, and that he never Chandigarh: PANKAJ TANEJA said what he was quoted to have to his magnanimity of valor and Sydney: WILLY AGUINO politician with an exceedingly well- elegant statesmanship. Melbourne: ARIEL S. GENER polished and sophisticated brain, said. Mississippi: D. E. WILSON The Bicol solon graciously He was not even reported to and who is indefatigably crusading have gone to the palace during the Columnists for genuine reforms in the House. challenged him to issue a categorical press statement that he never three successive meetings of the EDGAR E. SERRANO, FRANK GREGO, RAUL S. GONZALEZ, BER PACHECO He maintained tranquility and favor-seekers with Her Excellency. concord, and utmost civility when attributed to the former the above Editorial Cartoonist quoted words and phrases. The He maintained independence of ARCHIE D. ALMEIDA the head of his target for reforms judgment, notwithstanding his was under siege. Speaker never did, thereby putting Chair: MARITESS G. CONCEPCION his credibility under test and heavy presidency of Kampi, the political Even in the face of Speaker Jose party of the chief executive herself. Advertising: TONI O. BARSANA suspicion. de Venecia’s foul provocation when He could have fawned and TradeExpress Asia is a controlled circulation newspaper distributed to selected leaders in government, business and industry. he falsely accused Louie V of Nevertheless Villafuerte never It is published by S&P Strategists Corp. with editorial and business offices at 18th Floor, Prestige Tower, Emerald Avenue, Ortigas took advantage of the Speaker’s flattered the President, and took Center, City. Tel.: 634-6436/634-0270 Fax: 634-0275 E-mail: [email protected]. Entered as Third Class Mail at Ortigas staging a secret campaign to oust advantage of the yelling scene to Center Post Office under Permit No. BPSPM-05-31-NCR. him at a time when the latter was not being under siege. He never (Turn to page 10) January 21-February 9, 2008 OPINION E-mail: [email protected] TradeExpress Asia 7

Twice Told Tales Eye Opener By BER PACHECO Storms of the brain Erap wants to recapture symbols, colored, rimless “Of course, we can’t use all eyeglasses dangling on their chest their ideas; they have zillions of them his throne or perched atop their heads; and two and almost all of no practical value. young women with hair unkempt But now and then, perhaps one in a By RAUL S. GONZALEZ who seemed to be in urgent need of hundred, one in a thousand, an idea THE way former President Joseph Estrada is conducting himself today a bath. A couple of the guys had turns up - - and opens up a whole clearly speaks of a dethroned man vent on regaining a lost territory. His THREE or so years ago, I was their feet up their desks and another new universe. The trick is to keep frequent visits to depressed areas with goodies and promises are an ‘walked through” the Las Vegas was shooting darts at the CEO’s them imagining, inquiring, inventing, indication that he wants to recapture the presidency. He enjoys feeling the plant - - the main facility - - of one of portrait, redrawn to make him look creating, thinking…” pulse of the people, finding out if they still have their loyalty the way he the biggest manufacturers of super like Adolf Hitler. What a far cry this attitude is was supported in 1998. high-tech amusement machines: When I was presented as from to what we encounter and experience I am sure many are now putting the blame on President Gloria slots, videos, lasers, simulators, the Philippines, one of the girls here and now. For instance, a month Macapagal-Arroyo for any constitutional problem that is bound to happen virtual reality screens. My awe asked what she had to do to get a ago, some congressmen called once deposed President Joseph “Erap” Estrada decides to run again for showed in all its nakedness. pair or two of Imelda’s shoes. “We down PAGCOR for a study it President of the Philippines. Many can not fathom up to this time why There was no stopping my eyes are the same size, George, you undertook on how it would manage President GMA was that hasty in her decision to give unconditional pardon from popping out as I saw steel and know,” she drawled, searching my and operate jai-alai in the country. to Erap after his conviction. The government was not even given time to glass cut and shaped and fused this face to see if I got her drift. Instead of criticism for this study, I get whatever should be confiscated from Erap’s ill-gotten wealth before he way and that; my mouth from In that room, I was told when thought PAGCOR merited was pardoned. Now they could not anymore run after his money and gaping as I watched computers do we got out of it, from those frowzy commendation in showing initiative, properties. long equations to figure out and fix characters germinated the ideas that foresight, diligence and, most of all *** risks and rewards, to reckon and set enabled this company to the readiness to expand and grow The fight of Manny (Pacman) Pacquiao against WBC super- hold rates and pay-out frequencies; manufacture products that made it for, it must be faced, the alternative featherweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez of Mexico this coming and my jaw from dropping as I took “the pathfinder, the trailblazer, the to growth is stagnation. March 15 will be another exciting event. This will decide who the better in the entire assembly line cutting edge, the leader of the Or take the case of Joe Almonte fighter between the two is. If you remember, Pacquiao floored Marquez operations that made putting industry.” “Almost 80 percent of our and the draft constitution he was three times in the first round of their first fight four years ago but the latter together a thousand pieces of business came from the imagination supposed to have crafted. Heck, managed to get up and even scored many rounds that resulted to a draw. screws and levers and reels into one of those guys,” the CEO told us. Joe is chief of the National Security Many boxing enthusiasts believe Marquez will do all he can to beat Pacquiao dedicated machine, multiplied a “They thought up the games for our Council and if there’s any agency in this time. So, it is advisable for Manny to concentrate on his training and hundred times daily, look so fast, so machines, the applications and government that must draw up game forget for now the socials and other activities not related to boxing if he simple, so easy. designs of our machines, even the plans, anticipate worst case wants to beat Marquez. Pacquiao should also forget in the meantime, his At the end of the plant tour, on ways of marketing them.” scenarios, line up options, scatter dream to fight the current WBC world lightweight champion David Diaz in our way back to the executive How did the company manage red herrings, put up stalking horses, the 135 pounds and British champion Ricky Hatton at 140 pounds. Of offices, as if on an afterthought, our to draw so much from the creativity float balloons, think up storms, it’s course, it is not bad to be ambitious but overdoing it might just bring down guide – the company’s chief of these people? “We gave their Joe’s office. his career. executive officer, no less – halted imagination free rein and wide range. Besides, Joe merely proposes, *** before a small door that had tacked No idea they submitted no matter someone else disposes - - but even Many Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) who had horrible and on to it a cardboard sign that read: how outlandish was dismissed out so, woe to Joe, if his proposals are unpleasant experiences with their employers abroad complain of inaction Do Not Disturb. Idiots at Play. Scat. of hand. Nothing they presented flawed by either lack of information and slow assistance from most of their own countrymen manning the “This is the most important was ever ridiculed. We gave them or lack of judgment. Philippine Embassies or Consulates abroad. Often their complaints stem office in this plant, in all of our the license to dream as wildly as Call it what you will - - from indifference or lack of compassion and understanding of their plight company,” the CEO said in a tone they can, to invent, to excogitate, to brainstorming, game playing, which sadly contributes to their dilemma or situations. I often hear this not quite jocular, as he led us into see things, to create, to THINK.” scenario building, tank thinking, kind of complaint for so many years now. I remember our trip in in the room. “They are Adam and Eve corporate planning, all these have 2000 to attend a Family Congress where my wife lost her passport and Inside, in disarray, were turned loose in a new world; allowed become essential in a world growing plane ticket in a crowded transport. We went to the Philippine Embassy to computers, drafting tables, white to do whatever it is they want to do. too fast, too complex, not only to seek help. It was still fortunate for us that my wife has a diplomat sister boards and six of the shabbiest, They see what we don’t or can’t see government but to any enterprise then assigned in the home office of the Department of Foreign Affairs scruffiest, seediest persons I have - - new needs to be filled, new ways of great pith and moment. Joe’s fault whom we contacted and consequently advised a hesitant consul in Rome laid eyes on - - four men, all with of doing things, options, is not that he cobbled a draft to process a replacement passport. Otherwise we would also encounter scraggly beards, in faded jeans and possibilities, scenarios. They are constitution; it is that it landed on the same predicament experienced by others meeting the same fate of T-shirts that bore either not afraid to be different, to turn the the front page of a newspaper. going back and forth to the embassy for several days which could have pornographic messages or phallic world upside down, inside out. *** added cost on our food and hotel bills. We came to know too of the (Turn to page 9) complaints of many of the overseas workers mostly domestics who were then planning to picket the Philippine Embassy in Rome because of the lack of efficiency and compassion from the Embassy staff. Prima Facie By EDGAR E. SERRANO It seems that our diplomats abroad are absorbed and lulled by the good life of privilege and comfort – socials, playing golf in the morning and mahjong in the evening - that they do not bother anymore to look into improving their services or the discourteous disposition of their staff. There is lack of sympathy and reluctance to help, to be involved when an Refocusing the national ID plan OFW is accused, jailed, or maltreated. Complaints are ignored and usually fall on deaf ears. Our helpless overseas workers often feel orphaned with no one to lean on in a strange country. It is even more problematic if former President Ramos was correct you want to get a passport since when the plan was first introduced It is the obligation of our Philippine foreign service to see to it that our you will have to present your birth in saying that the scheme “should embassies and consulates abroad, particularly in high risk and Filipino certificate, an NBI clearance, driver’s not be seen as an invasion of populated places, are manned not only by knowledgeable and well-trained license, postal ID, voter’s ID, SSS privacy” but rather as a tool that Foreign Service officers but also men and women with true hearts beating PROPONENTS of the national for their co-Filipinos. identification system erred in the card, Phil Health ID, old ID cards, will assist citizens’ access to way they are pushing the plan, school ID and transcript of records services, improve efficiency, and *** connecting it with the need to from the school where you combat corruption, graft, fraudulent The World Marketing Congress will be held in the Philippines on June combat threats to national security graduated. transactions and 19 & 20, 2008 at SMX Convention Center. About 1,500 local and foreign rather than as a tool that will assist If by chance you were able to misrepresentations. delegates are expected to attend. The Philippine Marketing Association citizens’ access to services, thus get an overseas job in Taiwan, *** (PMA) will be the host organization and the Philippines as host country. creating serious, nay misplaced Japan, , Canada or any EU NTC should penalize violators The mission of the conference is to deliver relevant information on opposition in its immediate countries and you are applying for The officers and men of the revolutionary global marketing techniques or technologies that are reshaping implementation nationwide. a work visa, the embassies of these National Telecommunications and redefining the world, marketing strategies that would put up the Asian Those opposed to the national countries will require you to present Commission should have more balls brand into international success in order to help them increase market ID system, on the other hand, are at least five different identification by implementing its own rules and shares, revenues and profits. doing a great disservice to Juan dela cards aside from your passport, not act as the stooge of value added *** Cruz by maintaining a myopic view NSO issued birth certificate and NBI service providers who have been The Philippine peso is continuously getting stronger against the U.S. of the proposal, demonizing the clearance. violating the laws governing the dollar. A big contributor to a strong peso situation is the overseas Filipino plan as a way of infringing on basic Worst of all, if you are claiming country’s telecommunications worker (OFW) whose foreign remittances have grown to billions of dollars. human rights. Both the proponents money sent by your OFW relative industry. While the OFWs are giving a lot of help to the Philippine economy, the and oppositionists failed to abroad from any Western Union Zed Philippines, a foreign- country is also experiencing a lot of negative situations and backlash. A consider the realities in the day-to- branch, you will have to present at owned firm and the country’s non-stop brain drain is taking place where Filipino professionals like doctors, day lives of ordinary Pinoys like the minimum three ID’s: a driver’s leading VAS operator, and a number nurses, engineers, accountants, and computer experts work abroad in search you and me. license, NBI clearance, and/or your of unregistered VAS providers have of better salaries. Families are disconnected and broken where many For instance, if you are passport. Sorry ka na lang because long been allowed to violate the husbands and wives become unfaithful to their partners brought by opening a bank account in any of your company or school ID will not NTC rules making the industry look loneliness and distance. Parental guidance is absent in many homes where the leading banks here in Metro be honored. like a hodge-podge of small- and big- the children are left to themselves to tackle serious problems of pre-marital Manila, your company or school ID The proposal to have a national time players robbing us of our hard sex and drug addiction. According to statistics, teenage motherhood has will not be honored by the bank, ID system started on a wrong earned money, luring unsuspecting grown in number and the youth has turned to abortion and use of drugs to and you will be required to present footing; making it even harder to cell phone users into purchasing or solve their emotional problems. either a driver’s license if you have accept by the opposition who has paying for services that they This is a situation that needs to be addressed to immediately by one, a postal ID, a Social Security grown skeptical of every move actually don’t need. government, the church, business sector and concerned institutions and card and your birth certificate. emanating from the Palace. I believe (Turn to page 11) organizations. 8 TradeExpress Asia OPINION January 21-February 9, 2008 POST MORTEM By 'BRUCE' GENER in the SOUTH PACIFIC When you absolutely, positively have to be kept alive

BENAZIR Bhutto is dead, Black who? Blackwater They have thousands of Ryan Crocker, Iraq President Jalal Bhutto that often reached the assassinated at close range. Sadly, security agency of Moyock, North “personal security contractors” Talabani, Prime Minister Nuri al- lunacy levels of a rave concert mush these things happen in Banana Carolina is the civilian skunk works (“mercenary” is such a dirty word) Maliki, Bush, Cheney, Hamid Karzai, pit. Republics more often than Imelda the US government phones when it in Iraq and Afghanistan today each Iraqi ministers, US business tycoons, Sure, she would not be in the Marcos buys shoes. deems someone “is absolutely, costing the US government an and other elite residents of the Green middle of a sea of humanity pressing The killing was according to positively necessary to be kept average of – according to Zone. hands. But, she would definitely still script. Political messiah returns from alive” - i.e., POTUS (President of Blackwater critic, Rep. Henry These professionals will be alive to contest that election. And exile to “save his/her people” and is the US), US ambassadors and Waxman, D-Calif. - "$1,222 per literally take the bullet for their quite possibly lead her nation. soon murdered before the long- senators, Coalition “friends”, heads employee per day, or a salary of principals. Several guards have been All public appearances would awaited elections. Sound familiar? of state of allies, American business $445,000 each year". Or $50,000 killed in service, although official have had limited “exposure”, bigwigs (read: Halliburton, KBR, oil more than President Bush’s, and THIS ONE is different. It should numbers are not released. The most convoy routes been pre-cleared, execs), etc. double Waxman’s salary. NOT have happened. America has chronicled is March 2004 when four manhole covers been welded shut, the means to prevent it. Blackwater employs only the By comparison, the average guards in two SUVs were ambushed, abandoned vehicles towed away, finest Black Ops ‘ghosts’ - former Army sergeant earns between their bodies mutilated, burned and mailboxes removed, multiple snipers First, why America? As Al (and Active Duty) Spec Ops $50,000 and $70,000 per year, he hung at a Fallujah bridge by perched on rooftops, electronic Qaeda gloated, “we have killed commandos and combat veterans said. insurgents. jammers in place, principal and chase America’s greatest asset”. True. from all the services – Marine Recon, vehicles bomb-proofed, trauma America handpicked Bhutto to Are these bouncers worth Sure, some guards have been Delta Force, Green Beret, Navy surgery-capable ambulance always “help” Musharraf fight terrorism. their fat pay checks? Well, if you accused of “shooting while UDT/SEALs, Rangers, 101st on stand-by, helicopter gunship She labeled herself “the Islamic are going to lead a nuclear-capable unprovoked”. But since they daily Airborne, 10th Mountain Div, DEA, hovering overhead, paparazzi kept extremists’ biggest problem”, so nation of hundreds of millions of drive through a gauntlet of potential ATF, SWAT, and reportedly British to 300 feet, and absolutely no one determined to rule Pakistan as a people, and save the planet from suicide bombers and ambushers, they SAS, French Foreign Legion, Israeli would have been allowed within 30 moderate and go after Al Qaeda. terrorists, you have to remain alive “do not have the luxury of second- Mossad, UK’s MI6, Australian to do it. So, you betcha! guessing people’s intentions when feet of Bhutto without having been Now, this is The Question: As ASIS, etc. According to a company they get too close and threatening”, Homeland Security - cleared, dog- the US’ go-to-girl thereabouts, why The company, founded and run one contractor told British TV. sniffed, retina scanned, finger- in Hades was her physical safety left spokesperson, in more than 24,000 by former US Navy SEAL Erik missions, they have never lost to a Blackwater bodyguards – printed, DNA catalogued, frisked, by Washington in the hands of Prince, just received a billion dollar voice- recognized, patted down, x- amateurs? Why did America not terrorist a single principal (the without any doubt – could have kept contract to guard American officials person/s they guard) – a list that Benazir Bhutto alive. These pros rayed, and given a prostate check send her its best body guards? Not and allies in Iraq and other hot spots, and rectal probing for hidden the CIA, not even the Secret Service, will make any assassin salivate: would not have allowed any of this making Blackwater the single weapons. but Blackwater. then US Iraq Administrator Paul helter-skelter Keystone cops circus biggest military contractor in Iraq. Bremer, US Ambassador to Iraq they call “security” jostling around Do NOT make any quick movements. Even after one finally gets a backstage pass but so much as scratches his testicles, or adjusts her bra strap, in a “suspicious manner”, he or she may very well be laser-dotted in the forehead and chest. And if proven to be a legitimate threat, precision- implanted with hot lead (“poob- poob”) from a fire-suppressed, silencer-fitted, no-nonsense SOPMOD (Special Operations Modified) M4A1. This almost happened to this writer – at least, up to the laser- dotting part. All thanks to a Presidential detail when His Royal Spyness (former CIA Director) Emperor George The First – at the time officially known as Pres. George Bush (41) - visited and personally thanked 'my crew' for a successful mission “somewhere very hot” in the early 90s. Bhutto, in comparison, was constantly surrounded by thousands of lightly armed and ineffective crowd-control personnel that ridiculously passed off as “security” – most of whom are now dead. Incredible, since they did not change strategy even after a horrific two-bomb attack that killed more than 140 bodyguards and supporters SURROUNDING Bhutto only a few weeks before. This allowed Bhutto’s assassin to waltz to within 10 feet of her with catastrophic result. So, note to allies, friends, agents, and lackeys of The Empire of the United States of America: If you are working for Uncle Sam, you better DEMAND the best security training or protection that US tax dollars can buy. This is not a paid advertisement for Blackwater, but a mere testimony that these obscenely-paid Dockers- wearing, Clarks-shod, satellite- phone toting, benign-looking civilian Chuck Norrises armed with German-efficient automatic assault rifles may never win “Martha Stewart’s Friendliest Tourists of the Year Award”. But, they WILL keep you alive even if it takes losing their own. (Editor's Note: Bruce Gener “honorably served The Empire” in varied capacities in the 80s and 90s. He now prefers the lazy beaches of the South Pacific to the, albeit, “livelier sands elsewhere”. He also now likes sun block more than face paint, and scarfing down “artery- clogging Maccas (Big Macs) over six-year-old MREs”. January 21-February 9, 2008 LIFE TradeExpress Asia 9 MUSINGS WEDDINGS

For indeed, no other event stirs her darling little boy smiling broadly up a motley of sentiments in one at the altar, waiting for the girl who place at one time more than a has taken her place in his heart? wedding does. Goodwill is the order What brings a sparkle to the eyes of of the day and laughter is the sound the Groom as he casts a lingering By DENN A. MENESES that permeates the air. Smiles and glance at the woman who raised him tears in profusion, hugs and kisses from the cradle, his devoted old lady Wedding, n. A ceremony at all around, toasting and roasting whose comforting presence will which two persons undertake to without letup; a pile of presents amid forever remain a constant no matter become one, one undertakes to a plethora of good wishes; a sense the new mistress of his new life? become nothing, and nothing of blissful anticipation mixed with a When did she get to be a undertakes to become supportable. tinge of melancholy; a feeling of beauty? When did he grow to be so Ambrose Bierce, wistfulness, a bit of reluctance to tall? Wasn't it yesterday when they let go… The Devil’s Dictionary were small? What sort of thoughts are The roses, the love notes, the Time flies with the wind. As racing through the head of the dining and dancing are all the world turns and seasons couldn’t have been a lovelier setting breathing in the rarity of the Father of the Bride as he walks his welcome and splendid. But when change, brats turn into strapping than the gorgeous Hacienda occasion. precious little girl down the aisle into the Godiva is gone, the gift of real young men and ingénues Ysabella, tucked deep in the Whatever happened to the the arms of the boy who had the love is having someone who’ll go metamorphose into sophisticated greeneries of Cavite past the hills precocious tyke who brought temerity to steal her away from the the distance with you. Someone young women. They find one and nippy air of Tagaytay. sunshine to everyone who doted on safety of his domicile? What sort who, when the wedding day limo another, they nurture a relationship, The exquisite bride was her? She grew up to be such a bright of sensations are besieging the Bride breaks down, is willing to share a they exchange vows at the altar, then dazzling, to say the least, in her and well-rounded lady while no one as she clings on to the big guy seat in the bus. they ride off towards the sunrise, nuptial finery. And the atmosphere was looking – lovely and down-to- whom she looked up to while and another cycle begins. was just as stunning in all its earth as they come, light of spirit and Oprah Winfrey, O Magazine growing up, the daddy dearest who *** verdant splendor. Rays of sunlight pure of heart, a whiff of fresh is now giving her away to the one peered through the thick foliage of morning air; yet she sees the world IS this the little girl I carried? she has chosen to be the man of her My baptismal goddaughter, old trees and vibrant flora, as the with wide open eyes and both feet Is this the little boy at play? I don’t life? Melissa Concepcion, married her remember growing older. When did long-time sweetheart Joey Veloso, couple stood side by side under a planted firmly on the ground. She is they?’ What brings a tear to the in a serenely beautiful garden canopy of sounds and sights, a married woman now, and her life Mother of the Groom as she sees The cycle of life grinds wedding last December. There surrounded by family and friends has only just begun. exceedingly fast, and at no better period is it seen in full flowering than on the day one’s offspring takes a spouse. A torrent of emotions – strong, ambivalent, frivolous – floods the senses and stokes the flame of remembrances past, evoking mirror images of the future.

Storms of (From page 7)

To this day I get telephone calls and letters from the mail that assume I still have charge of the public affairs office of the Government Service Insurance System. The truth is, that office was pulled out of my group - - Corporate Planning/Information Systems - - and withdrawn from my supervision by a memorandum dated January 12, 1995 and signed by the GSIS president and general manager. The further truth is, since September 1992, or for three years now, I have had nothing to do with any activity related to public affairs, public information, media relations, publications, advertising, contributions and donations for the likes of the GSIS or The Manila Hotel or any subsidiary thereof. I am constrained to issue this disclaimer because I have grown tired of being asked by concerned friends and malicious gossips whether my senses have totally deserted me, my judgment has fled, and I have lost whatever little good taste I have developed from reading the Great Books, conversing with great minds and serving great causes. *** For five straight days now, I have wakened to the funereal drumbeat of raindrops falling on my roof and to dark dreary mornings. My jogging mileage around the Greenhills Commercial center has been drastically cut and lactic acid is making my leg muscles cramp. I hope the sun comes out soon and stays bright. I hope I can recover the lost miles and get rid of the unwanted fat and acid. I hope the shadows lift from the land and the weight of irreplaceable loss over Violy’s passing falls from the shoulders of Franklin Drilon, jogging mate and hearty friend. (Note: This article was first published in the defunct The Evening Paper on September 19, 1995 under the column Believe You Me.) 10 TradeExpress Asia EVENTS January 21-February 9, 2008

ROXAS AT FOCAP. SENATOR Mar Roxas spoke at the Annual Conference of the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP) last January 15, saying that the Philippines can and must rise above its past failures in order to regain its standing in the world. He pushed for the suspension of the value-added tax (VAT) on oil products in order to increase the purchasing power of Filipinos. "I believe our problems are real and urgent, and we have to face them now as a country," he stressed. TRADERS HOTEL PLAYS SANTA. - In line with its commitment to the community, Traders Hotel Manila recently hosted a party for the less fortunate children of City with its annual Send A New Toy Appeal (SANTA) led by its general manager, Andrea Mastellone. Now on its 10th year, SANTA was able to give more than 200 children the opportunity to have a brand new toy of their own for the first time in their lives. The kids were also treated to a day of fun, games, food and drinks. Pictured with the children after the gift giving are (left to right): Jeffrey Enriquez, THM executive assistant manager; Reena Sarmiento, Miss Philippines Earth Eco Tourism 2006; Joyce Nocomura, Miss Philippines Water 2007; Anna Katrina Bautista, Miss Philippines Earth Eco Tourism 2007; Catherine Untalan, Miss Philippines Earth 2006; and Mastellone. Partly hidden is Victoria Fuentes, head of the Pasay City Tourism Council. Real estate practitioner advocates regional cooperation

THE Philippines’ lone participant invited to the Malaysian Annual Real Estate Convention was Federico C. Cuervo, president and CEO of Cuervo Valuers & Advisory, Inc. The convention was attended DE CASTRO WARNS MISFITS IN RELOCATION SITES. VICE President and concurrent Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) by more than 600 real estate brokers chairman Noli De Castro warns 'misfits' in government resettlement areas as he and practitioners from all over Asia stresses that the relocation sites are for the poor and not for the moneyed. De and the Pacific. Castro made the warning during his surprise inspection visit in Valenzuela where he found high commercial structures without building permits from the local Held last January 11-13 at the government. The Vice President thus ordered the National Housing Authority Sime Darby Convention Centre in (NHA) to reclassify the structures and have them charged of the commercial rates. Kuala Lumpur, this year’s With De Castro is NHA general manager Federico Laxa. convention theme was “Regionalizing the Malaysian Market - The Reality of Getting Congressman (From page 6) There”, with guest of honor, Dato credibility and honor of his CUERVO is shown in photo at another real estate convention in Hong Kong Seri Ong Ka Ting, Minister of where he also spoke. be seen at that very precise moment adversary will certainly leave a Housing and Local Government, of roaring and bawling out as an lasting footprint in the history of Malaysia. expression of aversion to the House Philippine politics. pointed out that direct equity 4. Tourism, whether retirement, leadership. Minister Ting enjoined the investments into real estate is a education, or medical; and, For he adheres to the high code participants to "take full advantage strategy for regional cooperation. But Congressman Villafuerte 5. Mining, considering that our of morals and the excellence of well- of this opportunity to improve your This can be in a form of cross-border never resorted to this foul style of country has estimated mineral cultured lawmakers in the likes of skills and network which are investments for regional property sycophancy and instead stuck it up resources of US$1 trillion and is the Solon, the foremost Athenian necessary in this globalized era." development. with the principles of science and assemblyman; and Gaius Cicero, the fifth largest mineralized country in the art of politics. ferocious plenary speaker but most Cuervo was convention According to him, there are five the world. speaker on the topic “The Workings opportunities for regional His silence and cold respected politician of the Roman Cuervo foresees bright of the Regional Real Estate Market cooperation in the Philippines, impartiality in the drifts of events republic. (congressmagazine_ prospects for Asia to regain its – Philippines”. Speakers from namely: affecting the integrity, uprightness, [email protected]) dominance in the world economy Singapore, Indonesia and Indo- 1. the Special Purpose Vehicle in the near future. He added, China also discussed the same topic Act (SPV) which is the answer to however, that the countries have to from the perspective and viewpoint local banks’ non-performing loans; increasingly rely on their potentially of their respective countries. 2. Philippine infrastructure; large internal market for growth Consider it Cuervo encouraged regional 3.Business Process Out- through closer economic cooperation, where the main sourcing (BPOs) with the country cooperation to deepen integration. objective is to forge a collective closely following India, the top Meanwhile, the convention’s effort to achieve a balanced and supplier of BPO services; organizer, Malaysian Institute of DONE. sustainable economic growth. He Estate Agents (MIEA) has urged its members to form smart partnerships and alliances with overseas real following their consecutive terms. estate brokers to tap the market Editing the (From page 6) outside Malaysia and start a cross Anyway, when Mr. Estrada or his flow of trade between countries. We work closely with our customers in identifying, boys floated the idea that he wanted “no Senator shall serve for more to run for president again, I am sure MIEA stated that there was a developing and sourcing specific needs. Special cuts of than two consecutive terms.” there was no serious intent to do so. lot of interest in the property market pork. Beef. Buffalo meat. Poultry. Vital food ingredients. As practiced, and there have But the idea did get valuable media in Malaysia since last year and it expects the trend to continue for the From highly reliable foreign and domestic producers. That’s been no problems with it, many mileage and will continue to do so in members of Congress went back to the run-up to the 2010 national next few years. why in both good and bad times, our customers entrust their old positions after a break elections. Cuervo is also scheduled to their needs to us. They do what they know best. We do speak at another conference on real estate investment trust (REIT) in the rest. TORRES HIGH SCHOOL Singapore on February 27-28. CLASS '74 REUNION DZME 1530khz The Torres High School Class of ’74 will hold a grand reunion on February 23-24, 2008 in Metro Radyo Uno Manila. All graduates of Batch ’74 are enjoined to attend Now heard live on the Internet! 18/F, Prestige Tower, Emerald Avenue, Ortigas Center, Pasig City this once-in-a-lifetime gathering of not-so-old Tel. (632) 634-0270 / 634-0273 Fax (632) 634-0275 classmates reliving not-so-long-ago memories. Plus latest news Email: [email protected] For details, contact the Secretariat in Manila thru online Exponent of good food supply management Maritess Guina ([email protected]) at telephones 6340270, 6340273 or 6341969. www.DZME1530.com January 21-February 9, 2008 STYLE TradeExpress Asia 11 STYLE SPEAK Remain healthy, stay fit and avoid stress

can only do so much. True, zodiac believers think this year will be a good time to start a new business venture, especially in the property sector and hospitality By MARITESS G. CONCEPCION trade. Unfortunately or fortunately, these are not my cup of tea. My top priority this year is to THIS year promises to be remain healthy and stay fit.Visit the another interesting, if not exciting, doc regularly and go to the gym as period for many of us. Most of us scheduled. And of course, tee off must have already come up with the twice a week and enjoy the greenery. usual New Year’s resolutions which simply are our statements of goals Keep targets and goals simple and objectives for the next 12 to avoid stress. (Is this possible?) months – personal, business or Reduce foreign travel to avoid otherwise. further stress. (My blood pressure rises whenever I go through airport Interestingly, 2008 is said to be the security checks). year of the rat in the Chinese calendar which starts on Feb. 7. I However, I’ll try to overcome am no firm believer in zodiac signs my fear of small planes so I can go or astrology but I can get along and to such ‘touristic’ destinations as A DAY AT THE GYM. Typical scene at Fitness First in Ortigas Center. tolerate what they espouse. El Nido or Amanpulo in . I’m sure there are hundreds of nice ride. make me wonder why I am living in mistakes. This is not to say that I’ll If you were born in the years places in the country that are worth the Philippines. become indifferent. I just want to 1936, 1948, 1960 and 1972, you have And whenever possible, avoid visiting. avoid stress because stress, I have the rat for a zodiac sign, and you people or events that could provoke Regulate involvement in social found out, is one of the major causes are said to be a creative, hyperactive I developed a phobia for small stress. activities. Instead of initiating and of illnesses that are difficult to and resourceful worker. But you can aircraft when some years back I took Read newspapers less. Don’t leading the pack, I’ll try to do what diagnose. So just avoid stress and also be sentimental. a commuter plane in New Zealand watch local TV if it can be avoided. everybody else does – step back that literally gave me a roller coaster and watch how people in front make be healthy. Because the rat is said to Instead of being informed, they signify a new beginning, now is an opportune time to start something fresh and new. Which brings us back to our wishes for the New Year on what we really want or plan to do in the months ahead. Personally, after going through a tough 2007, I have told myself to ease up on my activities, especially on the business side of things. I’ll just take things in stride and deal with them one at a time. After all, one

Refocusing (From page 7)

Among the country’s major industries, business leaders and seers alike predict that the telecommunications business will be among the top grosser for this year. As a matter of fact, a number of big time BPO players are planning to expand or enter the Philippine market. The failure of NTC to implement its rules and penalize violators may create even bigger headaches for the commission once big foreign-owned telecom companies set up base in Manila. *** Torres High Class ‘74 Graduates of Torres High School Class ’74 should mark this date, February 24, 2008 in their appointment books and calendars. The group is scheduled to hold its first grand alumni reunion and homecoming at the Club Filipino in Greenhills, San Juan City. According to Maritess Concepcion who chairs the organizing committee, the affair will be attended by about 200 graduates of Batch 1974, all of whom are either professionals or successful individuals in their chosen fields. Concepcion said a significant number of them will be coming to Manila from abroad where they presently reside or work. Batch ’74 graduates who wish to join the reunion are requested to contact the secretariat through Maritess or Dheng at 6340270, 6340273, and 09175295738 or email [email protected] or [email protected]. 12 TradeExpress Asia January 21-February 9, 2008