JANUARY 2013 1 JULY 13, 2013 YONGE-DUNDAS January 2013 SQUARE Vol 2. No 1 eatures alent ilipino ourism Food Trade Hope and Faith for 2013 Despite a spate of devastat- in their belief that “the best der. It is now Asia’s new fi- ing natural disasters and is yet to come “ in the days nancial showcase, not the calamities, more recently ahead of the new year. previously embarrassing the great deluge that is su- reputation as the “basket According to reports, the pertyphoon “Pablo “ in Min- case “ of the region. Philippines is now a “ new danao, a great number of emerging Tiger “ thanks to A new political order based Filipinos still remain un- its steady and credible climb fazed, optimistic and strong (Continued on page 4) in the world’s economic lad- Black Nazarene Feast: A leap of faith and devotion among Filipinos (photo: Aaron Favila) New year’s eve fireworks at Eastwood Mall, Quezon City. (photo:ourawsomeplanet.com) Newsmakers 2012: Filipinos who made waves! By: Mon Torralba, Waves It was a banner year for Pinoys both here and abroad. From music to sports and as well as good governance they have excelled in their current respective fields. They have owned the global stage, highlighted the prowess of the Pinoys or showed the way in their achievements, whether big and small. Of course, leading the way is the leader of a new emerging "economic Tiger " that is President Nonoy Aquino. the Philippines which will be featured in the prestigious and influential World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland on Since his election in 2010, January 23-27,2013. Noynoy will speak on his "Matuwid Na Daan "(The right Path) style of governance and his current efforts to President Aquino has since rid the country of corruption through transparency and true public service. in the Bicol region, Robredo local governance. He died in Saturday Night Live last Filipinos worldwide were was made secretary of Local an airplane crash off the year. Born in Hawaii to a glued to their TV sets to Government and Interior. coast of Masbate. In death Filipino mother and Puerto watch each episode of the The late Robredo was a he left a lasting legacy: He Rican father, his declaration American Idol, her brilliant proved that in the Philip- echoed in the news waves song renditions trended on pines, it is still possible to around the world. Coming serve the government with from an internationally- decency and integrity. (AFS) acclaimed singing sensation, whose songs continually Bruno Mars. “I am a Filipi- launched sweeping reforms topping the charts, his decla- no!” is the proud declara- in government. This past ration makes Filipinos tion of the world-famous year, the country registered around the globe feel proud an unprecedented growth of their heritage. from 6.4 percent upwards. Jessica Sanchez. Filipino’s In his 2nd year in office, a talent for singing was again Supreme Court justice was model of "transparency" in at the top of the list. Last found guilty of misdeclaring government service. As a year, the American Idol sea- assets and impeached from Mayor of Naga city, he up- Twitter and garnered mil- son 11 had outstanding per- office, the first in the history graded its classification lions of YouTube hits. She formances from Jessica of country. (AFS) from fourth class to first may have ended up only as Sanchez, deserving of the class by spurring the growth the 1st runner up but it is Jesus “Jesse” Robredo. internationally-acclaimed many standing ovations of business and regaining evident that a very bright Plucked from his successful singer-songwriter when he from the judges, as well as the confidence of people in (Continued on page 5) terms as mayor of Naga city was a special guest at NBC the audience. Not only were JANUARY 2013 2 FIVE DOLLARS OFF ($5.00) with this coupon Five dollars ($5.00) OFF with this coupon this with OFF ($5.00) Five dollars #1 SA SERBISIO PRESYONG KAYANG-KAYA I-REMIT GOES TO ST. CATHERINE - Photo shows Belinda Lim - Herrera (1st from right), Canada's country head and managing director of I - REMIT has been inspecting its' different branches and agents in Canada like the JN Oriental Store at Lake Street, St. Catherine, Ontario, for which the money remittance company has been giving services for Social Security sytem, Pagibig, and Phil- health members in Canada. Others in photo include Gemma Fortaleza, Newshen Marilou Tiro, and I - Remit Agent Juliet Nierva. (St. Jamestown News Service, Manny Papa) JANUARY 2013 3 MANILA FEEDBACK Tubbataha Reef damage getting worse MANILA, Philippines -- Palawan Governor Abraham contain inaccurate naviga- Damage to the Tubbataha Kahlil Mitra and the Protect- tion data and may have Reef has worsened as winds ed Area Management Board been a factor in the Guardi- and waves shoved to 90 de- said it will take 20 to 100 an grounding that occurred grees the minesweeper “USS years to fix the damaged in the Sulu Sea on Jan. 17.” Guardian” that ran aground reefs, a marine sanctuary Malacanang said, however, Thursday. southeast of the province. it will await a final investi- United States authorities gation before it will disclose A report from ABS-CBN earlier said an inaccurate the government’s next News Palawan’s Edinel navigation chart data has move. Magtibay said water is al- led to the grounding of the ready seeping into the minesweeper. In an interview with radio minesweeper, which sup- dzRB, deputy presidential posedly initially damaged at A statement from the Pacific spokesperson Abigail Valte least 10 meters of the coral Fleet public affairs indicated said “it will be prudent to reefs. that, “the U.S. National Geo- wait for the results of the spatial-Intelligence Agency investigation that will be The Palawan government (NGA) today (January 19) conducted by the Depart- said it will ask the United provided preliminary find- ment of Foreign Affairs, De- States Navy to pay for the ings of a review on Digital partment of National De- damages. Nautical Charts (DNC) that fense, etc.” ABS-CBNnews.com USS Guardian: Aground in restricted waters BUT...US Navy expresses regret Busy sked for PNoy at Davos forum for Tubbataha incident MANILA, Philippines – A continue to work with the of nearly three years has world are interested in commander of the United Philippine government to MANILA, Philippines - achieved, particularly on meeting President Aqui- States Navy on Monday ex- assess the extent of the dam- President Aquino has at the campaign against cor- no. There’s a lot of infra- pressed regret for the age to reef and the sur- least 10 engagements ruption. structure going on. You grounding of the USS Guard- rounding marine environ- when he attends the an- have expressways and ian last week, which dam- ment caused by the ground- nual meeting of the elevated highways, bus aged the protected Tub- ing,” the U.S. Navy said. World Economic Forum terminals kicking off this bataha Reef in the Sulu Sea. (WEF) in Davos, Switzer- year,” he said. “This year, Meanwhile, an assessment land this week – the first we’re going to create a In a statement, U.S. 7th Fleet team from the U.S. Navy has time he is attending the roadmap to 2016.” Commander Vice Admiral already arrived in Palawan international gathering Scott Swift said he “greatly to work on the extraction of since he assumed office Almendras used to head regret(s) any damage this the USS Guardian from the in June 2010. incident has caused to the Tubbataha Reef. the Department of Ener- Tubbataha Reef.” gy until his transfer to Deputy presidential Malacan ang in mid-2012. Lt. Commander Ralph Kris spokesperson Abigail The USS Guardian had come Hooper, public affairs officer Valte said that aside from Valte said Aquino would from a port call in Subic Bay of the U.S. 7th Fleet, said the those engagements, Aqui- Aquino will be in Davos and was on its way to Indo- extraction team includes deliver on Jan. 24 the on Jan. 24-25 for the no may have “pull aside” keynote address in the nesia when it ran aground engineers, divers, and other or “small chat” meetings WEF, which holds an an- the Tubbataha Reef early essential personnel. anti-corruption forum on nual meeting that re- with world and business the sidelines of the Davos morning Thursday. At least leaders. mains the foremost crea- 10 meters of the coral reef Filipino lawmakers have be- meeting. tive force for engaging have been damaged. gun questioning the U.S. leaders in collaborative “The 10 events consist of warship’s presence in Philip- Aquino is to speak on activities focused on events that are spon- “We know the significance of pine waters. “Partnering Against Cor- shaping the global, re- sored by the WEF itself, the Tubbataha Reefs Natural ruption Initiative” at the gional and industry agen- Park and its importance as a Sen. Francis Escudero, chair- while the others are host- WEF, where he is ex- das. World heritage Site. Its pro- man of the Senate Commit- ed by private companies pected to share anti- tection is vital, and we take tee on Environment and Nat- and other global econom- corruption measures. ic leaders who will be Aquino will also meet seriously our obligations to ural Resources, is asking if with the Filipino commu- protect and preserve the the ship had authorized ac- meeting with the Presi- dent,” Valte said over Cabinet Secretary Jose nity in Zurich on Jan. 26, maritime environment,” cess. Rene Almendras earlier before he leaves for Ma- Swift said.