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3seepageseeseepageseePHILIPPINES SEEKS

SUMMIT ON SEA ROW

Vol. 5 No. 372 • 8 pages www.commuterexpress.phTHURSDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2011

The most anticipated smartphone of the season! Nokia recently launched its highly anticipated smart-phone innovation Nokia N9, which combines the best in design craftsmanship and advanced technology with its all-screen feature that gives users the fastest access to the most important things to do with a phone through a simple swipe. Present at the event were (center left) Nokia Philippines device portfolio manager Mike Smith and corporate communications manager Nikka Abes (center right). The program included a fashion show featuring fashion designer Czarina Sarte’s creations in Nokia N9 colors cyan and magenta. PHOTO BY REY VIVO

3838DAYS TO GO

BEFORE CHRISTMAS

Published Monday to Friday by Silverstream Publishing Corp.Suite 2111, Cityland Herrera Tower, Valero Street,

Salcedo Village, Makati City Telephone Nos. 887-3433 • 845-1653 • 887-3435

Cell Nos. 0918-9448568 • 0917-5928405Email: cxeditorial@commuterexpress.ph

Website: www.commuterexpress.ph

Editorial Director TONETTE R. HENSON Contributing Writers DJ C. HILARIO JO H. AGUILOZ MONICA R. CHING Artist @iamdukeofyork Photographer REY VIVO

President and CEO VICTOR A. CALUAG EVP, Sales & Marketing TONETTE R. HENSON

Credit & Collection Manager RAUL B. PEREZ Distribution Manager EDISON B. CAMARINES Production Manager EDWIN A. CO

Advertising Traffi c Supervisor ERIC R. JUTIC

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 20112opinion

THE customer is KING! The custom-er is always right. These clichés are always associated with Customer

Service, however, what we usually neglect is the other side of the coin, our PEOPLE.

I have done several trainings on Service Excellence for Small and Medium Enter-prises (SMEs) and here are their top fi ve sentiments:

■ Low Salary ■ No medical benefi ts■ Environment is not work friendly

(Restrooms are worst!)■ No Rewards and Incentives ■ Lack of Training and Development

ProgramOf course as a trainer, I would say that

these are all valid. But as a businessman, we should also think of the cost that it en-tails. These are all valid but it would also require stringent study and deliberate ef-fort. Let’s leave the fi rst and second com-

ment to your top management team and let them do their jobs. Number three is already actionable and you could start by fl ushing after using the urinal.

Rewarding employees with money is effective, though it’s not a good practice. In fact, money is not a good motivator. Man is naturally greedy. When a person receives 5 thousand today, tomorrow that person would want more. There is always a restless desire for better circumstances.

Checking your program’s sus-tainability from time to time is essential. Unbelievably, choco-lates and candies works well than money in some cases. You would be surprised how some people would appreciate it when you give them chocolates es-pecially our famous Choc-Nut and fl at tops, cheap yet effective. But then again you have to be creative. LEARN how to touch their emotions. Find out what they value. It varies. And it is at times dependent on their cur-rent situation.

Some would enjoy receiving movie tickets, gift certifi cates or anything that they can share with their friends. Gadgets like tablets and mobile phones are

now one of our most redeemed reward items. Prepaid load is always a hit!

I am currently working in a company that primarily offers Rewards and Incen-tive programs. This job is giving me a bet-ter perspective on the value of recognizing people’s contribution and achievements. It is indeed relative to success.

Lastly, I strongly believe that training and development is an important compo-nent of success. It gives hope to your em-ployees. It sends a positive signal that you value them hence the training. These may seem to be insignifi cant to business owners especially in times of adversity but mind you, that it’s the best time to do it. That is when great ideas are developed.

Invest in your people. Start building the future of your business by valuing your employees and recognizing their efforts. Training and developing your next genera-tion leaders is a must if you are thinking long term. Question is “do you see your people growing your business?” If your answer is YES, then you’re on your way to building your empire. If you answered NO, maybe you have to revisit your mis-sion vision and start all over again.

FOR e-mail responses to this article, write to allanmagtotoatyourservice@gmail.com or you can follow me on twitter @allanmagtoto.

LINA Law at Pangilinan Law.Paano kaya nakapasa itong dala-

wang batas na napa-kontrobersyal dahil sa pahirap na dulot nito sa ating lipu-nan? Ang Lina Law o Republic Act 7279 ay nagsasaad ng konsultasyon sa pagitan ng mga may ari ng lupa at mga iligal na na-ninirahan dito, abiso ng isang buwan bago eviction, at pagbibigay ng paglilipatan para sa mga mapapatalsik.

Napaka-suwerte naman ng mga ito...kaya tuloy naabuso ng husto lalo na ng mga professional squatting syndicates. Yumaman sila ng husto dito. Tumabo sa takilya. Ika nga ng kaibigan naming taga Liwasang Kalayaan sa Marikina Heights...para mong sinabi na pag na-carnap ang kotse mo at nahuli ang carnapper—ay kai-langan mo muna siyang bigyan ng ibang masasakyan bago mo mabawi sa kanya ang iyong kotse?

Ganun po ba yon, Senator?Nasaan ang hustisya dun?Akala ko naman, minsan lang sa isang

henerasyon tayo parurusahan ng Diyos ng mga ganitong klaseng pahirap...ngunit, pagkalipas lamang ng ilang taon...ito na-man si Pangilinan at ipinasa ang kanyang Juvenile Justice Welfare Act of 2006 o Re-public Act 9344.

Dito naman sa batas ng henyong ito, ang isang kriminal na 15 years old and be-low ay hindi makukulong kahit pa ito ay pumatay o manghalay.

Uyy, sobrang galing naman ng gumawa niyan. Palibhasa di sila nabibiktima ng mga pasaway na menor de edad na labas pasok na sa presinto o welfare offi ces kasi hindi sila makasuhan kahit na ilang beses nilang ulitin ang iba’t ibang krimen.

Kaya tuloy sa mga settlement sites na malapit sa amin, early retirement na ang mga dating tirador at akyat bahay. Bakit?

Eh, paano...ipinapaubaya na nila sa mga kamaganak nilang menor de edad ang pagnanakaw at pamemerwisyo sa kapwa. Hindi kasi makukulong at total mapapak-awalan din kaagad ang mga ito dahil sa si-nasaad sa batas. Saludo ang mga pasaway, kriminal, at salot ng lipunan sa kontribus-yon ninyo sa ating lipunan.

Sana, maranasan nyo rin ang narara-nasan naming bilang mga biktima na patu-loy binibiktima ng mga naproprotektahan ng ginawa ninyong mga batas na maram-ing butas.

AIMM Highni PAUL EDWARD SISON

LIMANG araw matapos ang laban na Pac-quiao-Marquez maugong pa rin ang haka-haka kung sino ang tunay na nanalo. Sa

unang banda, arangkada ng Marquez camp na nanalo sila. Mukha nga, sabi ng maraming Mex-icano (marami ding Pinoy ang nagsasabi nito). Magaling ang tayo ni Marquez at pulido ang sun-tok. Napabilib niya maging si Roach. Sa lahat ng nakalaban ni Pacquiao, tila itong Mexicano la-mang ang nakabisto sa istilo ni Manny. Ngunit ng mga huling araw nitong linggo, kaliwa’t-kanang naglabasan ang mga explanasyon kung bakit mas maraming puntos si Pacquiao.

Siya nga daw ang kampeon at siya pa ang mas agresibo; si Marquez nga naman panay counter punch lang, naghihintay ng atake ni Pacquiao. Ibig sabihin wala daw true heart of a champion ang Mexicano. Makes sense. Kung ikaw ang challenger, dapat patunayan mo na karapat dapat ka at buo ang loob umatake, sabi ng mga boxing specialists. Dagdag pa dito, nag lax o nag pahinga si Marquez sa dalawang huling round kung saan namang todo atake si Manny. Ang tunay na kampeon nga naman, dapat su-musugod at hindi naghihintay lamang. Sa dik-dikang laban, lamang ang agresibo sa puso ng mga hurado. Lamang ang kampeon. Lamang si Pacquiao.

■■■SI mamang barbero natutuwa sa laban. Ani nya, “halos mag pinsan daw ang mga Mexicano at Pilipino, ngunit kapag nagkita, tila ekstranghero sa isa’t-isa.” Tignan mo, ani niya, parehong may ‘Manny’ si Pacquiao at Marquez. Parehong may rosario. Parehong kayumanggi. Pareho ng kau-galian. Parehong matapang. Minsan nga nagu-gulat ang mga Mexicano at bakit kilala natin ang Birhen ng Guadalupe. Kasi sa kanila galing iyon at hindi naman sa Espanya.

Alam niyo ba na matagal napasailalim ng Mexico kasi ang Pilipinas? Of course, pareho silang nasa ilalim ng Espanya noong panahon na iyon. Si Legazpi, ang nagbigay ng Pilipinas sa Espanya, ay viceroy ng Mexico. Ibig sabihin, ang gobyerno ng Mexico ang nagpapalakad ng Pili-pinas at hindi ang Espanya dahil na rin sa layo ng Pilipinas mula Espanya. Nang kumalas ang Mexico sa Espanya, niyaya pa nga tayo ng mga Mexicano na sumusunod sa yapak nila. Pero ‘di ito nangyari, ayon na rin sa libro ni Nick Joagu-in, Manila, My Manila. O di ba, magpinsan nga si Pacquiao at Marquez.

So sa mga kapwa nating Mexicano sa kabi-lang parte ng mundo, sori na lang kayo at panalo kami. Biro lang. Kumusta kayo diyan o shall we say, “?Como estas?” Pare-pareho tayong talo kasi ang tunay na panalo ay ang—Estados Uni-dos. Sila ang pinakamalaking kinita, hindi ba?

Good morning!

Dalawang batas na nakasama imbes na makabuti

Valuing your employees

Kwentong Barbero

Mga kwentongmay kwenta (at kwela)

ni ACE BARBERS

Kwentong

At Your Serviceni ALLAN MAGTOTO

Box

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2011 3news

BEIJING yesterday rejected the Philippines’ calls for talks at regional meetings this week with China and fi ve other countries em-

broiled in one of Asia’s most volatile territorial dis-putes.

Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario said the Philippines also wants the United Nations to arbi-trate the overlapping claims to a string of potentially oil-rich islands in the South China Sea that straddle one of the world’s busiest sea lanes. China wants individual negotiations to settle the disputes, which many fear could be Asia’s next fl ash point for con-fl ict.

In Beijing, Assistant Foreign Minister Liu Zhen-min said at a news briefi ng that China hoped the issue would not be discussed at the two-day East Asian Summit of 18 Asian-Pacifi c nations in Bali, Indonesia.

“The South China Sea issue has nothing to do with the East Asian Summit because the East Asian Summit is a forum for discussing economic coop-eration and development,” Liu said.

Liu said China’s position on the South China Sea issue “is clear and consistent: China believes that the dispute should be resolved through peaceful consultation through parties directly concerned.” The United States, which is also taking part in the regional meetings in Bali, has angered China by say-ing that it too has a stake in the security and unham-pered international commerce in the South China Sea.

“The intervention of outside forces is not help-ful for the settlement of the issue,” Liu said. “On the contrary, it will only complicate the issue and sabo-tage peace, stability and development in the region.”

US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is expected to discuss the territorial row with del Rosario and Philippine Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin.

She arrived in Manila on Tuesday, holding an umbrella at the airport to ward off the rain, for an overnight visit that is to include a meeting with President Benigno Aquino III.

Clinton will join a ceremony Wednesday aboard the USS Fitzgerald marking the 60th anniversary of the US-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty. The event will be highlighted by the signing of a decla-ration affi rming America’s commitments under the pact, the US Embassy said.

The East Asian Summit follows the regional meeting of leaders of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations. ASEAN includes the Phil-ippines and Vietnam, which have accused Chinese vessels in recent months of trying to sabotage their oil explorations in the disputed waters.

Beijing has been asserting its territorial claims more aggressively as its military and economic muscle have grown.

Three island groups are being disputed, includ-ing the Spratlys—a chain of up to 190 islands, reefs, coral outcrops and banks believed to be sitting atop large deposits of oil and natural gas.

Philippines seeks summit

on sea row

WITH the watch list order against them indefi nitely sus-pended by the Supreme Court, former President and incum-bent Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and her husband Jose Miguel “Mike” Arroyo headed for Singapore to seek medical treatment for Mrs. Arroyo’s bone disorder, a news website reported yester-day.

From Singapore, the couple might fl y to Spain next, the re-port said. Singapore and Spain were among the countries

listed as destinations by Mrs. Arroyo when she sought—but failed—to secure an allow de-parture order from the Depart-ment of Justice (DOJ).

The other countries were the US, Switzerland, Italy, and Austria.

The Supreme Court earlier issued a temporary restraining order against the watch list or-ders on the Arroyo couple.

The court said the couple should have the constitutional right to be presumed innocent at this point since no formal

charges have been fi led against them. While suspending the watch list order, the court, just the same, gave three conditions to the Arroyo couple before they could leave the country.

The couple are required to pay a cash bond of P2 million, to delegate a representative who will accommodate all legal documents coming from the court, and to inform—either by phone or in person—the government of their arrival in a specifi c country through that country’s Philippine consulate.

Arroyo couple going to Singapore, Spain

GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO

4showbiz

5THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2011

WATCH out Oprah, there’s a savvy pop star and an ambitious real housewife nipping at your fi nancial heels.

Oprah Winfrey remained the entertainment world’s top woman earner, but Lady Gaga and Bethenny Frankel, one of the original housewives in the “Real Housewives of New York,” are moving quickly up the ranks of the rich, according to Forbes.com.

Winfrey held on to the top spot with $290 million in earnings from May 2010 to May 2011 and an estimated net worth of $2.7 billion.

But Winfrey’s daytime talk show, which she wrapped up in May, was her chief money earner and her newly launched cable network, OWN, has drawn paltry ratings since its January launch.

“The network has a long way to go before advertisers start paying the kind of rates Winfrey was charging for her syndicated show,” said Forbes’ Dorothy Pomerantz, who compiled the list by culling information from agents, managers, lawyers and others in the know.

Lady Gaga was a distant second with $90 million in gross earnings, followed by Frankel with $55 million. Frankel, who launched her own diet and lifestyle brand, sold her Skinnygirl Margarita cocktail mix for an estimated $100 million and has been expanding her brand, which will soon include food, supplements and a possible talk show.

Four women, model Gisele Bundchen, a singer Taylor Swift, talk show host Ellen DeGeneres and Judge Judy Sheindlin, each earned $45 million last year and tied for fourth place.

The entire list can be found at tinyurl.com/3mqr6f4.

HOLLYWOOD superstar Brad Pitt has revealed he plans to quit acting in three years, but the 47-year-old admitted he is not sure what he will do after ditching a career which made him a household name.

During an interview with an Australian current affairs show in Tokyo to promote his latest movie “Moneyball,” the Ameri-can actor was asked how much longer he would like to “do your business for”.

“Three years,” he said.When the reporter pressed

him on what would happen then, he replied: “Hell if I know. I am really enjoying the produc-ing side and development of stories and putting those pieces together.” Pitt also revealed that he and partner Angelina Jolie were open to expanding their brood of six children, in the in-terview screened on Australia’s “60 Minutes”.

“You know, I don’t know

that we’re fi nished. I don’t know yet,” Pitt said, adding that he enjoyed the chaos of having children around despite the lack of sleep this entailed.

“I mean, because those late nights are so fun when one of them’s up or those mornings when they get up and make pancakes or something. That’s what it’s about.”

Pitt said his family with Jo-lie had changed his career, and infl uenced the kinds of fi lms he wanted to make.

“If I’m choosing a fi lm now, I want it to be maybe less imma-ture than things I have done in the past,” he said.

“I’m very conscious, when they’re adults I want it to mean something to them. I want them to think, ‘Dad’s alright’. It changes everything. Every-thing.”

The actor, who rose to prominence in 1991’s “Thelma and Louise” and went on to star

in “Ocean’s Eleven” and “Fight Club”, said he had not dealt well with fame in the past and was worried about media attention on his children.

“Sure I worry. It’s the only thing I get hot about, I’m ready to...fi ght about,” he said.

“But on the other hand you know, it’s a trade-off, like any-thing. “And we, these guys, I’m so happy for them, because they get to see the world. And their lives are so enriched by it. The privacy issues are something we’re always battling.”

The actor, who has received critical acclaim for “Moneyball”, said he was content with life.

“I think happiness is over-rated, truthfully. I do. I think sometimes you’re happy, some-times you’re not. There’s too much pressure to be happy,” he said.

“Satisfi ed, at peace, those would be more goals for my-self.”

OPRAH TOP PAID WOMAN

ENTERTAINER,GAGA CATCHES UP

HERE is the complete list of win-ners in the recently conclud-ed 7th Cinemaone Originals

awards night held at the RCBC Audito-rium at RCBC Plaza in Makati City:

■ Best Musical Score: Teresa Bar-rozo for “Ka Oryang” & Ronald de Asis for “Sa Ilalim ng Tulay”

■ Best Production Design: Kaloy Uypanco for “My Paranormal Romance”

■ Best Cinematography: Neil Daza and Kiri Dalena for “Ka Oryang”

■ Best Editing: Ruben Aquino “Para-normal” and Leo Valencia for “6 Degree of Separation...”

■ Best Supporting Actor: Mi-chael Bonapos and Jojit Lorenzo for “Anatomiya ng Korupsyon”

■ Best Supporting Actress: Geral-dine Villamil for “6 Degrees of Separa-tion...”

■ Best Actor: Bong Cabrera for “Sa Ilalim ng Tulay”

■ Best Actress: Maricar Reyes for “Anatomiya ng Korupsyon & Lilia Cun-tapay from “6 Degrees..”

■ Best Screenplay: Antoinette Jada-one for “Six Degrees of Separation from Lilia Cuntapay”

■ Best Director: Sari Dalena for “Ka Oryang”

■ Special Jury Prize: “Mga Anino sa Tanghaling Tapat” and “Six Degrees of Separation from Lilia Cuntapay”

■ Best Picture: Ka Oryang■■■

VINCERE, adjudged as the winner of this year’s Movie mov:Italian Film Festival. Vincere, a biographical drama on the sto-ry of Mussolini’s secret lover, Ida Dalser and their son Albino by famous Italian director Marco Bellochio was adjudged as the winner of this year’s Moviemov: Italian Film Festival at Greenbelt 3. It bested contemporary fi lms Habemus Papam, Mine Vaganti (Loose Cannons), Che bella giornata (What a Beautiful Day) , Passione (Passion), Corpo Celeste and Una Vita Tranquilla (A Quiet Life) in a special awarding ceremony held at Greenbelt 3 cinemas. Fernan Ozpetek’s Mine Vaganti (Loose Cannons) was also given a special citation.

■■■

SHOWBITS: Ely Buendia goes “kundi-man” as he sings the Tagalog adaptation of “La Paloma”,the theme song of Tikoy Aguiluz’s MMFF entry “Manila Kingpin: The Asiong Salonga Story” with Jorge “ER” Estregan,Jr. and Carla Abellana in lead roles. It’s a refreshing change for talented singer-actor Sam Concepcion to be paired with Louise de los Reyes in one of the episodes of the 2011 MMFF entry “Shake, Rattle and Roll, 14”. He dismiss-es a brewing romance in the offi ng. Sam is also in the cast of Kapamilya channel’s newest teleserye” Angelito:Batang Ama” where he plays the younger brother of JM de Guzman.

Direk Yam Laranas returns to the directorial scene in the horror fl ick “The Road” by GMA Films slated for release this November. The movie stars Marvin Agustin, Carmina Villaroel, Rhian Ra-mos, TJ Trinidad, Barbie Forteza, Lou-ise de los Reyes, Lexi Fernandez, Alden Richards, Ynah Asistio and Derek Mon-asterio.

■■■

RUMORS: How true that a model- actress is the cause of delay of the shoot of a long-planned teleserye about people in the high society? She is said to be very demanding and meticulous when it comes to the script of her new project and is more concerned with the fashioni-sta gowns that she would don and show-case in the big-budgeted production, lest she might be outshone by her co-stars.

For comments/reactions write to artzy02@yahoo.com.

CINEMAONE ORIGINALS WINNERS ANNOUNCED

BRAD PITT TO QUIT ACTING AT AGE 50

VETERAN British rock band Black Sabbath an-nounced on Friday they are reuniting in their original four man line-up for their fi rst new album in 33 years and a 2012 world tour.

Singer Ozzy Osbourne, guitarist Tony Iommi, bass player Geezer Butler and drummer Bill Ward told a news conference at legendary Sunset Strip club Whisky a Go Go they would perform at the Download Festival in England in June 2012, and then embark on a world tour.

The band, which fi rst got together under the Black Sabbath name in 1969, said they were working on new material for the album for release in the fall of 2012. There is no title as yet but it will be produced by Rick Rubin. “It’s now or never. We are getting along great. Everything’s really good,” Iommi told report-ers at the club where Black Sabbath played their fi rst show in Los Angeles exactly 41 years ago.

“It’s like putting on an old glove. It’s fantastic,” Iommi added.

The four musicians, now all in their 60s, released their last studio album of all original material in 1978 with “Never Say Never.”

Rumors of a possible reunion of the English metal band, regarded as one of the pioneers of heavy metal with hits like “Iron Man” and “War Pigs,” had been swirling for months.

“It’s just time,” Osbourne said, noting that the four had tried in the past to work together again. “This time, for some magical reason, we have written about seven or eight songs.”

Nothing has been recorded yet and no dates were announced on Friday for the world tour.

The band also announced the launch of its fi rst offi cial website www.blacksabbath.com, and said it would be making its fi rst foray into social media via Facebook and Twitter.

Frontman Osbourne was fi red from the band in 1979, leading to a revolving line-up for a number of years. The original foursome reunited for the 1998 release “Reunion” and played again together sporadi-cally for shows in the early 2000s.

Black Sabbath was inducted to the U.S. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006 and has sold more than 70 million albums worldwide. Reuters

Black Sabbath announce new

album, 2012 world tour

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 20116news

As the Christmas season gets nears, it is time to begin preparation for gift-giving. Luckily, looking for the best gift items for family, friends, colleagues, neighbors, clients and even business associates is now easier than ever, thanks to the Holiday Ham, the Premium Cut Ham that will certainly be appreciated by everyone who receives it. «Holiday Ham is a perfect gift for your loved ones,» says celebrity chef and culinary expert Rob Pengson. This is because Holiday Ham is a premium whole-meat ham made from the hind leg of pork, which is the best cut of pork for hams. It also comes in attractive bag that makes it a well appreciated gift this Holiday season. Holiday Ham is now available in your favorite grocery stores or supermarkets nationwide.

An ideal Christmas gift

NOVEMBER 11 this year proved to be

lucky after all for a lone bettor, who won the P30.869-million jackpot in Friday night’s Megalotto 6/45 draw.

The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Offi ce (PCSO) said the bettor got the winning combination of 03-40-18-27-10-21 to bag the prize worth P30,869,200.80.

As in the past, however, the PCSO is not expected to divulge the winner's identity for security reasons.

Last October, three winners shared a P94.987-million prize after hitting the Superlotto 6/49 jackpot. On Sept. 28, a lone winner became P72.538 million richer after winning the Grand Lotto draw.

In August, a lone winner from Luzon became more than P142 million richer after hitting the Grand Lotto prize.

A lone winner got the P106.844-million jackpot in the Superlotto 6/49 draw last July 26.

Last June 29, also a lone winner got the winning combination of 03-18-30-40-06-29 to win the P65,188,047.60 pot.

But the biggest lotto prize in recent history was still in November 2010, when a lone bettor won some P741.176 million for getting the winning combination: 11-16-42-47-31-37.

LONE BETTOR WINS

P30.869MILLION

MEGALOTTO JACKPOT

HEALTH Secretary Enrique Ona has announced the hiring of 12,500 health workers, mostly nurses, to be assigned to Depart-ment of Health hospitals and ru-ral areas nationwide.

Of the number, 10,500 nurses

will be assigned to Department of Health (DOH) hospitals nation-wide, while 1,000 will be deployed in rural areas. The government will also hire 1,000 midwives.

Ona said qualifi ed nurses will receive P8,000 from the nation-

al government, and additional P2,000 from the local govern-ment units.

Midwives will get P6,000, on the other hand. The nurses and midwives will have a 1-year Phil-health coverage and a GSIS ac-

cident insurance. Those who are interested can directly apply with the DOH hospitals. The govern-ment will also be needing 100 doctors. They can apply directly with the Human Resource depart-ment of the DOH.

GOV’T HIRING 12,500 HEALTH

WORKERS

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2011 7news

BARRING any last-minute proc-lamation, there will not likely be a long weekend for the obser-

vance of Bonifacio Day on November 30, Malacañang said over the week-end.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said “What was specifi ed in the proclamation was that Bonifacio Day will be marked on Wednesday.”

When asked if the date of the ob-servance of Bonifacio Day will be moved, she said, “Palagay ko hindi (I don’t think so).”

President Benigno Aquino III said the government’s move to do away with the holiday economics policy for 2011 is for the purpose of commemo-rating holidays on their proper dates and to avoid disruptions in the econ-omy.

Former President Gloria Maca-pagal-Arroyo’s holiday economics policy, embodied in Republic Act 9492, moved national holidays, except those religious in nature, to the nearest Monday.

Valte pointed out that Proclama-tion No. 84, issued on December 20 last year, specifi ed the dates on when this year’s holidays are to be observed.

Bonifacio Day this year marks the 148th birth anniversary of the su-preme leader of the Katipunan move-ment that sought Philippine indepen-dence from Spanish colonial rule.

Aquino said the decision to do away with the holiday economics policy for next year was his own. “No group lob-bied for it,” he said.

The holiday economics policy was meant to boost domestic tourism and

stimulate the local economy by giving the public longer weekends.

Only at least three holidays will give the public long weekends next year under Proclamation No. 84. These are Maundy Thursday and Good Friday; National Heroes’ Day (August 29, the last Monday of August); and Rizal Day (December 30, Friday).

For students, there will be four long weekends after the EDSA People Pow-er uprising Anniversary on February 25 (Friday), which has been declared a special holiday for schools.

P-Noy: Do away with holiday of economics

ASIA-PACIFIC leaders pledged on Sunday to bolster their economies and lower trade barriers as they seek to prop up global growth and shield themselves against fallout from Europe’s debt crisis, wire sto-ries reported yesterday.

With US President Barack Obama securing wider than ex-pected agreement on the makings of a pan-Pacifi c trade pact, the 21 members of the Asia-Pacifi c Eco-nomic Cooperation summit turned to the challenge of countering what they called “signifi cant downside risks” to the world economy.

That followed an appeal by Obama, seeking to reassert US leadership to counter China’s ex-panding infl uence around the

Pacifi c Rim, for a commitment to expand trade opportunities as an antidote to Europe’s fi scal woes.

It is a “time of uncertainty” for the global economy, the sum-mit’s fi nal communique said, with growth and job creation weakened not only by the euro zone crisis but also by natural disasters like Ja-pan’s devastating earthquake and tsunami.

“These challenges have only strengthened our commitment to cooperation as the way forward,” the leaders said after talks in Ho-nolulu. “We recognize that further trade liberalization is essential to achieving a sustainable global re-covery in the aftermath of the glob-al recession of 2008-2009.”

The communiqué expressed a �irm resolve “to support the strong, sustained and balanced growth of the regional and global economy”—a clear reference to US concerns about a huge trade de�icit with Chi-na’s export-driven economy.

In another bow to US pressure, APEC committed, albeit in some-what vague terms, to reducing tar-iffs on environmental goods and services, even though China had re-sisted the idea. APEC also commit-ted to support clean energy.

Differences persist over curren-cies and trade —a point hammered home by US-China tensions at the summit—and the question remains how far leaders will be able to go in turning promises into action when

they return home.Many, Obama included, will face

resistance to opening markets fur-ther to foreign competition.

But the biggest problem on the Asia-Paci�ic horizon is Europe, where �iscal turmoil centered in Italy and Greece is sending shock-waves worldwide.

“Without a solution to the euro zone crisis, the world economy could be swept into a downward spiral of collapsing con�idence, weaker growth and fewer jobs,” International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde said at the APEC summit.

“This would affect all nations and so we all have a stake in resolv-ing that crisis.”

APEC leaders see trade as shield to Europe crisis

BARACK OBAMA

BARACK OBAMA

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 20118sports

ANG mga bida sa istoryang ito ang sila mismong tawa nang tawa sa ginawa nila kamakailan lang.

Mula sa isang mall, ang dalawang col-lege players na ito ay nakipag-date sa kanilang dalawang babaeng kaibigan. Nag-dinner muna sila sa isang sikat na mall at pagtapos ng dinner, nangyari na ang “krimen.” Tig-isa sila ng partner pero sa iisang kotse sila sumakay.

Si College Player A ang nag-da drive. At habang nasa unahan sila nung part-ner niya, yung isang pares naman ay nasa likuran at lampungan nang lam-pungan. To cut the long story short, hindi na sila nakapag-pigil sa nag-init na mga katawan nila kaya nag-park sila sa isang kalyeng madilim at alam mo na ang ka-

sunod na istorya. Kinabukasan, tawa nang tawa ang dalawa kasi nga, nagawa nila ang kanilang “quickie” sa loob ng kotse.

At ang tunay na nakakatawa—ang kotseng dala-dala nila ay isang napaka-liit na kotse kaya hindi nila maisip kung paano nilang nagawa yung kanilang

pakikipagtalik sa isa’t isa nang walang pakialamanan. Biruin mo nga naman dalawang college players na parehong lagpas six-footer ay nagawa ang kanilang acrobatic acts sa loob ng maliit na kotse na yun.

Ang dalawang college players na yan ay naglalaro para sa isang UAAP team, at

yung isa sa dalawang babae na kanilang ka-date ay isang dating cheerleader, pero sa isang eskuelahan sa NCAA.

■■■BINIBITIN pa ang mga basketball fans. Done deal na ang isang trade na maram-ing players na involved pero hindi pa nila ma-announce. Kasama dito ang mga palitan ng picks sa draft next year. Pasa-saan ba’t ilalabas na rin nila yan. Isa lang ang sasabhin ko sa inyo---involved sa malakihang trade na ito ang players ng Ginebra.

■■■BLACKBERRY. Isang mamahaling cell-phone yan na pag-aari ng isang guapong college player mula sa UAAP. Pero nung mag-away sila recently ng girlfriend niya,

naging matindi ang emosyon. At sa so-brang tindi, naibato ni player ang kan-yang Blackberry cellphone. Ayun, wasak.

■■■GANYAN din ang nangyari sa awayan ng isang sikat na sikat na sports personal-ity at ng kanyang misis. Lumipad din ang mga cellphones. At nangyari yan ilang araw bago lumaban si sports personal-ity. Nawala sa focus kaya siguro muntik nang matalo sa laban niya.

■■■PERSONAL: Happy birthday kay Jerry Co-dinera (November 14) at bukas kay Alvin Patrimonio (November 17) Pati a rin kay Coach Norman Black at kay Lucky (No-vember 15), ang number one supporter ng Ginebra San Miguel.

Dalawang college players, nag-acrobatic act sa loob ng maliit na kotse

Shootni NAP GUTIERREZ

THIS year’s Bonifacio Global City ’s marathon—the Run BGC introduces a category in Flag Football. Now on its third year, Run BGC set on Nov. 27 opens fi ve race categories in the male and female divisions—3km, 3km with Flag Football, 5km, 5km with Flag Football, and 10km. In the categories with Flag Football, the race starts with a run, then moves to an individual play of catching a football, while defending fl ags fi tted on a belt and shifts back to a run to the fi nish line.

But the highlight of the event is a raffl e draw that will take the lucky winner to Australia on a four-days, three-nights tour package for two persons.

The winner can also join any of the Australian-based marathon or fun run: The Sydney City to Surf 2012; Gold Coast Airport Marathon & Half Marathon; or The Great Ocean Road International Marathon. Prize is convertible to cash but non-transferable. All runners who have completely registered and fi nished the race in any categories are entitled to join the raffl e.

Registration is ongoing until Nov. 20 at Toby’s/Runnr (Shangri-La Plaza, Bonifacio High Street, and SM Mall of Asia), Planet Sports (Trinoma Mall and Glorietta3), and at The Athlete’s Foot (Robinson’s Galleria and Alabang Town Center).

Log on to www.bgc.com.ph and www.runrio.com for more details. Run BGC is also made possible with the support of RunRio, Runnr, Sportsmedia, BLFC, Planet Sports, The Ath-lete’s Foot, Toby’s Sports, Powerade, Viva Mineral Water, So-leus and Hero Channel.

FLAG FOOTBALL AT RUN BGC

METRO Club in Makati will again be the ven-ue for the last sports science seminar by LAN Sports and Events for the year set on

Nov. 26, covering Sports Injury Management, Treat-ment and Rehabilitation with noted experts in their respective fi elds comprising the resource panel.

Topics covered in the one-day seminar include new updates on sports injury management, game-situation and on-site injury management and treat-ment, heat injury and hydration, rehabilitation and recovery from sports injuries. Speakers include Dr.Jose Raul Canlas and Dr. Randy Molo, MD Sports Medicine/Orthopedic; Nino Sinco, MSS, CSMT, Ath-letic Training and Sports Medicine; and Aspi Calago-pi, MSPT, PTRP, Sports Physical Therapist.

Registration fee is P2250, inclusive of lunch and snacks, materials, and certifi cate. Contact numbers are 494-0952 or 387-6345, or e-mail sps_initia-tives@yahoo.com. The seminar is supported by Ga-torade, Phiten and KT Tape.

Sports seminar on Nov. 26