I was scheduled to write an article for one of the destinations of the Philippines but could not resist writing about this first as its a news that we Filipinos should be proud of. A moment of glory for every Pinoy in all corners of the globe when Manny Pacquiao became the worlds best pound for pound fighter by beating Mexican Golden Boy Oscar de la Hoya.

Prior to this bout Manny came in as a 2-1 underdog as people opted for the more experienced de la Hoya. The Golden Boy who had an illustrious career winning the gold medal in the 1992 Olympics, became a professional in 6 weight division and now a candidate for a slot in Boxing’s Hall of Fame, was stopped by Manny in the 8th round with a non stop swing of jabs, punches and uppercuts that made his coach ask the referee to stop the fight in the eight round.

Manny Pacquiao

The phenomenal fighting of Manny had everyone in the living room jumped for joy in each round as we watched the pay per view fight live in the MGM Grand Arena last night. Everyone was thumping for joy that includes fans of Pacquiao in the arena, as we saw it, which has a crowd of 15,000 watching it. The left straight swings of Manny almost closed the left eye of Oscar de la Hoya that made the deciding factor when his coach asked the referee to stop the fight in round 8, giving Manny his awaited worldwide glory.

The win gave Manny Pacquiao his much awaited prize of being the world’s best class fighter today and brought the Philippines into a positive news point in international affairs. The disparity in size proved no handicap for the 29 year old boxer as he flurried a sizable amount of punches to de la Hoya. Nevertheless Manny admitted that Oscar de la Hoya remains his idol and the fight was really meant only for business and Manny really proved that. On the other hand Oscar said that Manny was a great fighter, that he deserves to win and was the better man of the bout. A very sportsman attitude coming from 2 great professional fighters. Indeed, in our record both are winners.

And for Manny Pacquiao our proud salutation for once again he gave the Philippines another glory for every Filipino to fathom especially this coming Christmas Season. Mabuhay ka Manny Pacquiao, Mabuhay ang Pilipinas.

A full story of this fight can be read here at Oscar De la Hoya vs. Manny Pacquiao.

A new beginning for the Philippines which is a literal translation. This song is being aired at TFC (The Filipino Channel) primarily aimed to show the Filipino Community worldwide about a new hope and beginning for our very own country. Bagong Simula is a song that encourages change on a new level and brings hope for a new Philippines by the new generations spearheaded by musicians, singers, actors and actresses of the local television industry, it provides a message that we can once more bring life to a deteriorating and tarnished image of our country. I consider it as an ANIMO Song. The song also emphasizes about the daily life, ways and visions of what everybody can do to bring that new breathe of life. Nice job once again from the people behind this. Below is the lyrics sung by Kevin Roy, Yael Yuzon, Marc Abaya, Kitchie Nadal, Yeng Constantino, Placid and Tugma. With the additional credits that goes to the other members of the production staff who contributed to this very nice presentation of Animo Pilipinas !

concept: Danie Sedilla-Cruz
Creative prod Head: Johnny de los Santos
Directors: Robert Labayen/Peewee Gonzales
Lyrics: Robert Labayen
music: Jonathan Manalo
design and compositing: Oliver Paler
Producer: Hancel Hernandez
Production Supervisor: Jimmy Porca
Editor: Angelito Dayao
Production Design: Andrew Go
Casting: Rosalie David
Lighting Director: Jimmy Anyano

Bagong Simula

Parang isang gabing walang katapusan
Sa bawat mesa, asin lagi ang ulam
Umaalog sa alkansya pisong pinagpawisan
Batang nakahubad kumot ang lansangan

Lupaing kinalbo minsa’y nadidilig
Ng dugo sa away ng kapatid sa kapatid

Sa kalagayang ito tayo ay nakagapos
Parang awa sana ay dito magtapos

Todo na ‘to!

Liparin ang langit na bughaw
Pagningningin mga tala at araw

Mamumulang muli ang silangan
Sa bagong simula ng ating bayan

Wag nang maulit kapalarang kay pait
Wag magpabaya wag kang manahimik
Wag kang manlalamang, wag kang mangigipit
Wag magkanya-kanya, magkaisang bisig

Magmalasakit ito’y kabayanihan
Gawin mo anumang makayanan
Kalagayan ng bayan sumasama lamang
Kung walang gagawin tayong mamamayan

Todo na ‘to!

Lliparin ang langit na bughaw
Pagningningin mga tala at araw
Mamumulang muli ang silangan
sa bagong simula ng ating bayan

Ipakita natin sa ating mga magulang,
Mga kapatid,
Kaya natin ‘to!
Isang subok pa,
Sabay-sabay na,
Walang kokontra!

Todo na ‘to!

Lliparin ang langit na bughaw
Pagningningin mga tala at araw
Mamumulang muli ang silangan
Sa bagong simula ng ating bayan

Todo na ‘to!

Lliparin ang langit na bughaw
Pagningningin mga tala at araw
Mamumulang muli ang silangan
Sa bagong simula ng ating bayan

Normally we wouldn’t bother to publish any political events in the Philippines, since we don’t want to dip any finger in that field here in Paraiso except for a few which we deem appropriate, but I could not resist this one. First of all one can include this in the Guinness Book of World Records, as it is an important event highlighted with fashion at the same time a unique nativeness of an attendee in the recently concluded State of the Nation Address 2008 ( SONA) by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. Aside from the red carpet “fashionistas“wearing tuxedos, gowns and expensive barong tagalogs, there came a certain town mayor from Nagpinan, Quirino Province by the name of Mayor Rosario Camma. Clad in “bahag” or native G-String, he proudly paraded his fashion native clothing through this political event. While we are watching the speech we could not resist to laugh and most of the senior citizens present, almost lost their dentures. But after the hullabaloo, we discussed the point of the event and we proudly came to a conclusion that we are very proud of you, Mayor Camma, for your support sa Bayan ni Juan. We are very proud of you and we salute you for your sincere nationalism, unlike most of the socialite fashionistas (ahh! those take the tongs ) who paraded their expensive clothes and jewelries. We would like to see more of you Mayor Camma, that would take care of our country and less of those usual politicians or the usual suspects in our book. As soon any photos or videos of this event becomes available we would just insert it for our viewers.

View Video of the Event.

More of this Philippine Event taken from the Manila Standard Newspaper (July 28, 2008).

Bugkalot in ‘bahag’ steals
show from fashionistas

The red carpet that is the stuff of Oscar nights has rolled over to the Batasang Pambansa, home to the Philippines’ House of Representatives in Quezon City.

It served its purpose, to be walked on by VIPs, including wives of lawmakers and Cabinet members, as they made their way from their cars to the session hall where President Gloria Arroyo was scheduled to deliver her State of the Nation Address on Monday.

The women had made their (fashion) statements faster than President Arroyo would be introduced by House Speaker Prospero Nograles. Perhaps the fashionista in them overtook the presumably primary reason why they were there—to listen to what the President has to say in her report to Filipinos, not to show off clothes and jewelry in these hard times.

It apparently rained on their parade. A town mayor from Northern Luzon upstaged them all, apparently believing that less is more. He came in clad in his native bahag (G-string), and a colored one at that.

Mayor Rosario Camma of Nagpinan, Quirino province, going tribal made him an instant hit among videographers and photographers, and some congressmen who ogled him.

Camma, who claimed to be the leader of the Bugkalot Tribe in his home province, proudly showed off his blue bahag as he passed by the aisles of the session hall. He said he had been invited to the occasion.

“I am proud to wear our ethnic costume, which pictures our culture,” Camma told reporters when asked why he wore the G-string.

He said he was representing the more than 20,000 of his townmates. According to him, it was an honor to be asked to listen to the President’s SONA in person.

The apparent lesson learned here was that it pays to go for less than for more. After all, the red carpet was just a piece of rug that called attention to itself. Camma, evidently, had no practical use for it.
–Sammy Martin - Manila Standard

We want to share our happiness in our hearts for the release of ABS-CBN senior correspondent Ces Orena-Drilon and her crew, cameraman Jimmy Encarnacion, assistant cameraman Angel Valderama who was released on June 12 and their guide Professor Octavio Dinampo of the Mindanao State University from their captors. All of us here from our family to staff has been praying for everyones safe return. Our thanks also goes to Senator Loren Legarda for her tireless efforts in the negotiation. A brief statement from Ces accompanied by a news excerpt from ABS-CBN can be read and viewed below.

Welcome Back Ces and crew !!!

From ABS-CBN News June 18 :

ABS-CBN senior correspondent Ces Drilon on Wednesday thanked all those who helped secure her release and two others late Tuesday night in Sulu.
“I want to thank everybody. Words are not enough to thank those who prayed for the professor, Jimmy, Angel, and myself,” Drilon told reporters in Sulu before boarding a military chopper bound for Zamboanga City.
Asked how she felt, Drilon said: “Siyempre, masayang masaya (Of course, very happy).”
Senator Loren Legarda helped negotiate the release of Drilon, cameraman Jimmy Encarnacion and their guide Prof. Octavio Dinampo of the Mindanao State University late Tuesday night. Assistant camerman Angel Valderama was freed June 12.
They were all kidnapped by armed men, believed by authorities to be members of the Abu Sayyaf terror group, last June 8.
Drilon, wearing a white T-shirt and white jogging pants, looked tired and may have lost weight from their nine-day ordeal in the hinterlands of Sulu. She also had mosquito bites on her face.
“Giant ang lamok doon,” she said.
Drilon and her companions were immediately brought from Sulu to Zamboanga City by military helicopter.

Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Avelino Razon told dzMM Wednesday that Drilon and her companions underwent medical exam in Zamboanga City.
Doctors said Drilon was suffering from low blood pressure, presumably due to lack of sleep, and had many mosquito bites.
Razon said the Abu Sayyaf Group which the ABS-CBN crew tried to interview was the same group that kidnapped them.
He said Drilon was not hurt by her captors, contrary to earlier reports. He also said no ransom was paid.
Razon said the kidnappers threatened to behead their captives but this was not carried out.
He said the release of the ABS-CBN news team and their guide was due to the work of the negotiators and the “pressure of possible police-miltiary operations.”
Loren helps
Legarda, a former ABS-CBN broadcaster, worked behind the scenes to help free the ABS-CBN crew and Dinampo, a Mindanao peace advocate.
“I just talked with Ces now. Ces is free, she is resting, and she will soon be in the hands of her family,” Legarda told radio station DZMM early Wednesday morning.
Legarda said Drilon and her companions had to walk five hours before they were picked up by authorities and brought to the house of Indanan Mayor Alvarez Isnaji.
She said the military operations conducted by the Philippine military helped put pressure on the kidnappers to release their captives.
On Sunday, the military shelled rebel positions on Jolo but denied that the operation had anything to do with the kidnapping.
In a statement dated June 17, 11 pm, the families of the three ABS-CBN TV crew thanked Legarda, local officials of Sulu, and police and military officials for helping free the ABS-CBN team.
“There are people who gave us timely and valuable advice as we grappled with ways to secure the release of Ces, Jimmy, and Angelo. They wish to remain anonymous, but they know how eternally grateful we are to all of them,” the families said, in a joint statement released by ABS-CBN corporate communications.
“Above all, the release of Ces, Jimmy, and Angelo could not have been possible without the help of Senator Loren Legarda and the cooperation of the people of Sulu and their local government namely Indanan Mayor Alvarez Isnaji and Vice Governor Lady Ann Sahidullah. We thank them and share their hope for enduring peace in Mindanao,” it said.
“For their invaluable assistance, we thank Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno; National Police chief Avelino Razon Jr.; officials of the Police Anti-Crime and Emergency Response (PACER) led by Senior Supt. Leonardo Espina and Senior Supt. Edgardo Iglesia and the PNP Intelligence Group led by Chief Supt. Rolando Anonuevo and Supt. Winnie Quidato; the Marines based in Sulu led Maj. Gen. Juancho Sabban,” it said.
Legarda said Drilon kept promising to give P15 million or P20 million to the kidnappers, but when they “realized they wouldn’t get anything and when they felt the [military] pressure,” they decided to release their captives.
Legarda said Drilon thought she would die in captivity and asked to help get her released. “You are my lifeline,” she quoted Drilon as having told her.
Legarda said she coordinated her effort in securing Drilon’s release with ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs executives Maria Ressa and Charie Villa.
She said she did not promise the young kidnappers anything, but she told them she knew their parents.
DZMM Correspondent Noel Alamar reported that the turn over was done around 11 pm in Barangay Kagay, Talipao.
They were held for nine days by an armed group believed to be Abu Sayyaf bandits in the hinterlands of Sulu island.
“Nandoon po sila sa sa bahay ni [Indanan] Mayor [Alvarez] Isnaji,” Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Avelino Razon Jr. said in an earlier interview over DZMM.
“Sila ay dadalhin dito sa Zamboanga [City] kung saan po ay mag-uundergo sila ng medical check up at pagkatapos po niyan ay isang debriefing para malaman po natin sa kanila directly kung anong nangyari,” he added.
There were reports that the armed group kept the captives in the bandits’ lairs in Maimbung and Indanan towns.
The kidnappers initially released ABS-CBN assistant cameraman Angelo Valderama on June 12. He was released by to Jun Isnaji, son of Mayor Isnaji.
Mayor Isnaji, a Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) leader whom the kidnappers agreed to be an emissary, said the kidnappers contacted him through their mobile phones. The negotiating team was led by Sulu Governor Sakur Tan and Vice-Governor Hadja Nur Ana Sahidullah.
When asked if they are going to pursue the kidnap group, Razon said they will have to get more information from the former captives to get a better idea on the identities of the suspects.
“Atin pong titignan po matapos nating madebrief sina Ces Drilon, Jimmy Encarnacion at Prof. Dimampo para lalong pagtibayin ang ebidensya na hawak sa grupong ito,” he said.
He added that the PNP will maintain it heightened alert on the area until such time the alert is no longer needed.
“Magpapatuloy po muna… at iyan ay ating a-assessin po kung kelangang manatiling ganun,” he said.
Razon said the three will be brought to the Jolo provincial hospital for a medical check-up before flying to Zamboanga City for a debriefing.

The Bureau of immigration (BI) has installed 125 passport reader machines at 7 primary airports. Bureau of Immigration Commisioner Marcelo Libanan said that out of 125 passport reader machines, a total of 76 were installed at the immigration arrival and departure counters of Terminal 1 and 2 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA). The remaining 49 machimes were distributed among other airports of the country such as Cebu, Clark, Davao, Kalibo and Laoag. Out of the 125 machines, 91 were purchased by the bureau and the rest were donated by the Australian Government, under a border management improvement project jointly undertaken by Manila and Canberra.

While upgrades are being undertaken the Bureau of Immigration at the same time eased the requirements on foreign tourists who overstay in the country. They issued an order allowing foreigners who overstayed for not more than 3 days to pay extension fees at the airports. It amended a rule that extensions should be paid on BI main and field offices and not at the airports. These steps are being implemented to make a more favorable stay for foreign tourists and travelers. A small step change that would really make it easier for foreign travelers.