1. family and parenting
2. children

Punto! Luzon
www.punto.com.ph
P 8.00
Volume 8
Number 49
Mon - Wed
January 19 - 21, 2015
Central
PANANAW NG MALAYANG PILIPINO!
Dennis Anthony Uy
MAN
OF THE
YEAR
N
By PUNTO I-Team
OT SO much with the Joneses but
with Gates and Jobs that he has kept
up – the extraordinary individuals, as
well as the generic meaning of their names.
As in information gatekeeper. As in job
generator.
This is Dennis Anthony Uy, the
self-made man ever at the forefront
of the march to modernity, starting
out as trader in Betamax and VHS
tapes back in the early ‘80s, now in
the cutting edge of the information
and communications technology
(ICT) that will soon connect the Philippines to the world.
With this in place, the cost of the
internet in the Philippines will be
greatly minimized and its speed will
become faster making his consortium a formidable third player in the
ever improving multi-billion ICT industry.
Uy is president and CEO of Converge ICT Solutions Group of Companies, which lead a consortium of
foreign companies that is now undertaking the construction of thousands
of kilometers of subsea fiber optic
cables from Hong Kong to the Philippines and on to Guam for an international gateway facility (IGF).
In 18 months’ time, his consortium
would have completed the $120-million infrastructure project that would
connect – fastest – the Philippines to
the world.
The contractor is NEC Corp.
which will layout the subsea fiber optic cables between Hong Kong and
the Philippines for some 1,100 kilometers and between the Philippines
and Guam for another 2,560 kilometers.
Page 8 please
SM, MVP
eyeing Porac
By Ashley Manabat
CLARK FREEPORT –
Two of the country’s giant corporate conglomerates are now in serious negotiations to acquire vast tracts of lands
in Porac, Pampanga after the Ayala group broke
ground last year with its
multi-billion project in the
town’s periphery.
Porac Mayor Condralito
“Carling”
Dela Cruz said Henry
Sy’s SM group and Many
V. Pangilinan’s Metro
Pacific Investments are
planning to build residential and business
hubs in Porac.
Dela Cruz said the
two giant corporations
“could hasten the municipality’s transformation
into a bustling metropolis in Central Luzon within a decade.”
Dela Cruz made the
announcement
during
the media forum “Balitaan” organized by the
Capampangan in Media,
Inc. (CAMI) in cooperation with the Clark Development Corp. (CDC)
and the Social Security System (SSS) at the
Bale Balita here last Friday.
The mayor said SM,
through its foundation
SM Cares, has already
established a foothold
in Porac by actively supporting socio-civic projects in the town like
medical missions in partnership with non-government organizations such
as the Rotary International, the Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce, Kiwanis Foundation, and the Kapampangan Development Foundation among others.
He added that Pangilinan’s group has set
its eyes on acquiring
for commercial development a property adjacent
to the Subic-Clark-Tarlac
Expressway (SCTEx).
Last year, Ayala Land
in partnership with Leonio Land broke ground in
the 1,100-hectare master-planned community
called Alviera in Barangay Hacienda Dolores in
the town.
The P75-billion development project is set
for completion by the
year 2020, or five years
from now, Dela Cruz
said, adding that this
could further bolster the
attraction of the town to
both local and foreign in-
vestors.
It was estimated that
the Ayala Group would
be investing a total of
P3.1 trillion to complete its projects in Porac which include a water-and-sewage system
and a hydro-power facility, Dela Cruz said.
Porac
is
a
35,000-hectare mountainous area on the
northwestern side of
Pampanga and lies between the Clark Freeport, which houses the
Clark International Airport (CIA), and the Subic
seaport in the province of Zambales managed by the Subic Bay
Metropolitan Authority
(SBMA).
This strategic location of Porac is usually
cited as the primary reason that lured the country’s corporate giants to
acquire a stake in the
municipality.
Dela Cruz is largely credited for convincing the Ayala Group to
invest in the town which
bore the brunt of the Mt.
Pinatubo eruptions and
the subsequent lahar
rampages that buried
the town under tons of
volcanic materials.
SM Lady Guard Girlie Basina of Red Eye agency and The SM Store
Sales Demo Renalyn Forte show their Certificate of Commendation
coming from Olongapo City Mayor Rolen Paulino (left). –PR-SMOL
Mayor lauds security guard, sales
demo for returning lost valuables
The first batch of SM “Honesto” awardees for 2015 has been revealed during the flag raising ceremony of the city government last
Monday, January 12, 2015 at the
Rizal Triangle Covered Court.
The city’s “Honesto” campaign
started in the administration of Olongapo City Mayor Rolen Paulino which
recognizes honest Olongapeños who
return lost valuable items and money.
SM Lady Guard Girlie Basina from
RED EYE II agency found a Laptop
and Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 at the
4th floor near Alfresco area with approximate value of P40,000.00 and
P22,000.00
respectively. Another
‘Honesto’ awardee Renalyn Forte,
a sales demo of JAGTHUG BTW of
The SM Store found a wallet inside
the fitting room with an amount of
P14,517.25.
They both received a certificate
of commendation from Mayor Paulino for showing honesty in returning
the valuable items and money of the
customers.
“Maraming salamat po kay Mayor
Paulino sa pagbigay ng Pagkilala sa
amin,” said LG Basina.
Mayor Paulino mentioned that
“Honesty is at the top of the list when
you want to keep your job”. “Nawa’y
ipagpatuloy natin ang pagiging matapat sa ating sarili at sa trabaho,” he
added.
It can be recalled that previous
accolade was given to SM Olongapo security personnel for showing
the same gesture to customers. SM
Olongapo is also known for raising
an energetic and inspiring elevator
girl who became famous for her excellent customer service. –PR-SMOL
Punto! Central Luzon • January 19 - 21, 2015 • Monday - Wednesday
Congratulations to
2
Dennis Anthony Uy
Punto! Central Luzon’s
Man of the Year
From
Mayor Marino “Boking” Morales
Mabalacat City
CDC puts up P4.6-M toilet
in time for APEC summit
CLARK FREEPORT - With a boast of
P2.27-billion unprecendented cash position, the government-owned Clark
Development Corp. (CDC) which runs
this freeport has constructed a brand
new P4.6-million toilet at the historic parade grounds here, just in time
for hosting the Asia-Pacific Economic
Cooperation (APEC) Summit later this
month.
The toilet with showers was among
the projects named by CDC President-CEO Arthur Tugade already finished for the hosting of 1,700 senior
ministers and delegates to the APEC
summit which starts Jan. 21.
Socials for the APEC participants
are reportedly slated at a section of
the 20-hectare parade grounds where
the new world-class toilet has been finished. Details on the toilet were not immediately available, but a worker said
that each of the sections for male and
female had two bowls.
Tugade, in a recent meeting with
officers of the Capampangans in Media, Inc. (CAMI), said that the parade
grounds have also been layered with
rubberized pathways which have also
been fitted with LED lights on posts.
“There should be not only substantive results but also good memories
and impression of the places where
they (APEC activities) are held,” he
said.
The parade grounds are the first
site to host the Americans forces as
horse-riding cavalries then known as
Fort Stotsenberg in 1901.
The construction of the new toilet with shower has been hailed as a
“needed project,” as the grounds often
serve as venue for various international, national and local sports activities.
It is the first such structure to be built
in the site.
APEC organizing committee released a schedule of activities indicating that some 1,700 APEC participants
here are to hold a total of 43 meetings,
or an average of eight to 10 meetings
daily for the duration of their summit
lasting up to Feb. 7.
Tugade also said that “articulated
buses” are to roam the roads of this
freeport to transport APEC participants
to various points. He bared plans to
adopt this system beyond the APEC
summit.
The CDC has also established for
the first time a CCTV command center along with a system of cameras
that monitor gates and other sections
of this freeport.
Tugade said foreign delegates to
APEC are to be billeted in hotels within
this freeport for security reasons, while
their Filipino counterparts could be accommodated in hotels in nearby Angeles and other cities.
He also reported that the management of Fontana Leisure Estate is now
ready with a new convention center
“without any pillar in the middle” as
specified in APEC requirements. The
center can accommodate as many as
2,000 people.
The APEC sessions are to be closed
door events, but that there would be a
center for media at the Mimosa Convention Center about two kilometers
away, he added.
Tugade said the first senior finance
officers meetings are to be held from
Jan. 21 to 22 at the Holiday Inn hotel,
to be followed by more meetings starting Jan. 26 up to Feb. 7.
Tugade reported that in 2014, the
CDC earned P1.39 billion and now has
a cash position of P2.27 billion.
Punto! Central Luzon • January 19 - 21, 2015 • Monday - Wednesday
By Ding Cervantes
3
Republic of the Philippines
Regional Trial Court
Third Judicial Region
Branch 59
Angeles City
In the Matter of petition for adoption
and change of name of minor child
from Precious Anne Laconsay Dizon to
Mackynzie Liann Payne,
Officials lament
Paskuhan sale
NO MORE. The iconic lantern that once served as a beacon along NLEx. Photo
By Ashley Manabat
Punto! Central Luzon • January 19 - 21, 2015 • Monday - Wednesday
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – “It is a sale contract
with a restriction in it. It
is solely for Paskuhan
Village use - for tourism
purposes - as it the reason for conversion of the
property from agriculture
to what it is used now as
Paskuhan Village.”
Thus, said former
provincial board member
Robert David in an email
from his enclave abroad.
He explained that the
conversion of the Paskuhan Village from its agricultural
classification
was recommended for
approval by then President Cory Aquino and
approved for conversion
by then Department of
Agrarian Reform (DAR)
secretary and now Senator
Miriam
Defensor-Santiago.
4
Gov reacts
As
this
developed, Gov. Lilia “Nanay Baby” Pineda also
expressed her sadness
on the reported sale of
the 9.3-hectare Paskuhan Village property to
SM Development Corp.
(SMDC).
The governor said
she had earlier written
a letter to Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise
Zone Authority (TIEZA)
General Manager Mark
T. Lapid on the province’s intention to manage the Paskuhan Village but it was apparently disapproved.
She said the provincial government should
have been given the
opportunity to manage
the property because it
has its history with the
Kapampangans: “…ing
Paskuhan, atin yang kasaysayan yan king kekatang balayan.”
The governor said
she intended to use the
property as a showroom for exporters and
Kapampangan products.
“Malungkut ku kasi
megumpisa ya ing property keng probinsya at
inayus ne ning late Gov.
(Bren) Guiao. Sana i
manage ne ning Capitol
para keng kapakanan da
reng exporter ampo reng
kekatamung Pampanga
products (I am sad because the property started with the province of
Pampanga and it was
the late Gov. Guiao who
by
Bong Lacson
initiated it. I was hoping
the Capitol could manage it for the welfare of
exporters and Pampanga products),” she said.
Pineda said her plan
was to make Paskuhan
Village as a showroom
and center of commerce
– “bagsakan” – similar to
a “trading post” where
people from central and
northern Luzon would no
longer have to go to Divisoria in Manila to buy
products at base prices.
“Makalungkut
mu
eya meg-materialize ing
kekaming negosasyon
(It saddens me that our
negotiation to acquire it
did not materialize),” she
lamented.
he said not everything is
material things,” he added.
A provincial official
said Pampanga should
have been given the
courtesy and the “right
of first refusal” in the sale
considering that it is a
symbol of the province.
Rep. Oscar S. Rodriguez (3rd district, Pampanga) is mum on the
sale as he refused to
comment. However, Rodriguez said he will look
into the background of
how the property was acquired among others and
hopefully the plan of how
the new owners would
use the property.
More reactions
Mayor Edwin Santiago of the City of San Fernando where Paskuhan
Village is located did not
return calls for his reaction.
Meanwhile,
David
said Paskuhan Village
is the first DAR conversion of agricultural lands
to other purposes. “As I
remember it, it is the only
conversion signed and
approved by the then
secretary Miriam Defensor-Santiago,” he said.
Party List Butil Rep.
Agapito “Pete” Guanlao
said he had prior information that the TIEZA
was looking for investors
to manage the Paskuhan because they can
no longer sustain its operations.
“The legacy of the
Paskuhan Village will
now go for naught. This
is sad,” he said. “That’s
the price of money, but if
we follow Pope Francis,
No reaction
Guiao to probe ‘mysterious’ land title
By Ding Cervantes
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO - The reported
sale of the Paskuhan Village here has unleashed
a mystery. How could the
9.3 prime real estate be
titled to a government
tourism agency, headed by Sen. Lito Lapid’s
son, contrary to a reported deed of donation that
barred this?
Jethro Lozada, member of the special bids
and awards committee of the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise
Zone Authority (TIEZA),
confirmed his agency is
selling the property with
a minimum bid of P831
million and that only one
firm had qualified for the
bidding.
“We
cannot
announce the winner until the TIEZA board has
approved, then we will
award the project to the
winner,” he noted, amid
reports that a well-known
firm got it at the bid of
P939 million. TIEZA was
identified as the seller of
the property.
Punto broke the story
last Friday with its banner headline “SM buys
Paskuhan”
identifying
SM Development Corp.
as the reported winning
bidder.
The mystery of the
land title came amid
“common
knowledge”
among Kapampangans
that the 9.3-hectare land
was covered by a deed
of donation from the late
businessman Jess Lazatin. But the condition was
that the property be used
only for cultural purposes, specifically, for the
Paskuhan theme park
which was inaugurated
by the late Pres. Corazon
Aquino on Dec. 11, 1990.
Otherwise, the property
would be reverted to the
ownership of Lazatin.
Lozada, said, however, that TIEZA was aware
only of a land title on the
property naming PTA as
its owner. He said he
did not know how the title came about, but that
the title was the basis for
bidding out Paskuhan as
part of his agency’s privatization moves.
TIEZA is headed by
Sen. Lapid’s eldest son
Mark Lapid who was
Pampanga
governor
from 2004 to 2007. Former Pres. Arroyo appointed the younger
Lapid as head of the PTA
in 2008. When PTA was
reorganized and became
TIEZA in 2009, Mark was
retained as the agency’s
head. Pres. Aquino retained him.
For his part, Pampanga 1st District Rep. Joseller “Yeng” Guiao said
he learned about the
sale of Paskuhan “only
when I was asked by the
Paskuhan administrator
to retrieve my dad’s bust
at the main hall of the
park.” His father, the late
Pampanga Gov. Bren Z.
Guiao, was known as the
Sp. Proc. Case No. 9216
Sps. Kenneth M. Payne and Flordeliza
Silorio-Payne,
Petitioners,
x-----------------------------------------x
Order
In the verified Petition for the Adoption of Minor Precious Anne Laconsay
Dizon, the material allegations are as follows:
Petitioners-spouses Kenneth M. Payne and Flordeliza Silorio-Payne are
husband and wife, both American citizens (petitioner-wife Flordeliza S. Payne
is a former Filipino citizen but now holds dual citizenship), of legal age, married
to each other, and permanently residing at #187 Brgy. San Roque, Magalang,
Pampanga.
The minor sought to be adopted is the niece of the petitioner-wife, her
father being her cousin; minor Precious Anne Laconsay Dizon is the daughter
of Arnold Tulabot Dizon and Engelina Laconsay Dizon, who have given their
express consent to the adoption of their daughter by the petitioners. A day
after the birth of the minor, her biological parents went to the petitioners’ house
and they voluntarily turned over their minor child to the petitioners for care,
custody and proper disposition. The minor’s parents cannot provide the minor’s
immediate needs as a growing child as they have no source of income and are
under a marginalized level of living conditions, they residing in a slum area near
a creek in Pandan, Angeles City and they having four (4) other children to care
of. The children are potentially neglected as they are deprived of their rights to
grow as normal children by their own natural parents.
Petitioner-wife being the paternal aunt of the subject minor, did not think
twice and she together with her husband, wholeheartedly accepted her. They
treat the minor as their youngest child in the family. Petitioners are desirous to
adopt the subject minor.
The minor child has no known properties except her personal belongings
that were provided by the petitioners. Said minor and the petitioners are in
good physical and psychological condition and fit to be adopted and to adopt,
respectively.
Petitioners have been providing for the financial, moral, physical and
spiritual well-being of the child. They have three (3) legitimate children, namely:
William Payne, Hendricks Lee Payne and Kenneth Payne II, who all gave their
consent to this Petition. Petitioners are financially stable as they are receiving
monthly pension and are paying their taxes regularly. They have properties and
savings which are more than sufficient to support the family including the child.
They possess all the qualifications and none of the disqualifications for the legal
adoption of the minor child.
The petitioners have the legal capacity to adopt in the United States of
America (U.S.A.) and the U.S. government allows the adoptee to enter the
U.S.A. to reside there permanently as their adopted child.
Petitioners are more than sixteen (16) years older than the adoptee who
are in a position to support and care for the minor in keeping with the means
of the family. They are possession of full capacity and legal rights; are of good
moral character; have not been convicted of any crime involving moral turpitude;
and they are emotionally and psychologically capable of caring for the minor.
Petitioners and the minor children underwent pre0adoption interview and
counseling by a court Social Worker. They have established a strong bond with
the minor. Petitioners are physically, financially and morally fit to bring up and
educate the minor properly for her bright future.
The petitioners pray that after notice, publication and hearing, judgment
be rendered declaring the minor child Precious Anne Laconsay Dizon for all
legal intents and purposes the daughter of the petitioners with all the rights and
privileges of a natural child; changing the name Precious Anne Laconsay Dizon
to Mackynzie Liann Payne for all legal intents and purposes; and directing the
Office of the City Civil Registrar, Angeles City and the Office of the Civil Registry
General/NSO, Manila to make the necessary corrections/entries or amendments
in the birth record of the subject minor as the child of the petitioners. Other just
and equitable reliefs and remedies are also prayed for.
The court finds the Petition sufficient in form and substance and therefore
sets it for hearing on June 4, 2015 at 9:00 o’clock in the morning, on which
date and hour any person who may have interest in or may be affected by the
Petition is ordered to appear and signify his/her opposition thereto and show
cause why it should not be granted.
Let this Order be published once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks
in “Punto Central Luzon”, a newspaper of general circulation in the Province of
Pampanga and Angeles City, which was selected by raffle under the supervision
of the Executive Judge, at the expense of the petitioners.
Serve copies of this Order upon the Office of the Solicitor General; Office
of the City Prosecutor of Angeles City; petitioners and their counsel; Department
of Social Welfare and Development; National Statistic Office, Civil Registrar
General; Local Civil Registrar of Angeles City; SWOII Babylin V. Tayag; and
“Punto Central Luzon”.
So Ordered.
Angeles City, Philippines, December 17, 2014.
Ma. Angelica T. Paras-Quiambao
Presiding Judge
Punto! Central Luzon: January 7, 14 & 21, 2015
founder of the park.
The theme park was
designed to put Pampanga in the international tourism landmark
where Christmas could
be commemorated daily
in this city famous for its
giant Christmas lantern
festival.
Guiao said he would
look into the case of the
“missing” deed of donation and the emergency
of the mysterious land title.
It is known that before
he passed on in 2007,
Lazatin had entrusted to
his lawyer all legal concerns over his properties. It was reportedly the
same lawyer, now in the
US, who had worked for
the PTA for the title cov-
ering Paskuhan Village.
Heirs of Lazatin were
reported to have said
they were not aware of
the transactions over the
Paskuhan land.
Guiao, however, noted that the Paskuhan
property “could fetch
much higher price in the
future, considering its location along the North
Luzon Expressway and
proximity to Clark Freeport where yet another
new P1.2-billion passenger terminal is to rise.”
The sale of Paskuhan
here was reported to be
part of the TIEZA’s Asset
Privatization
Program
upon the behest of its
board headed by Tourism Secretary Ramon
Jimenez.
SM Foundation’s
Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan
project launched
go a 12-week hands-on training in organic farming until
April this year. A huge variation
of techniques in organic farming like bell peppers, eggplant,
okra, sitaw, kalabasa, ampalaya, leafy vegetables plus
watermelon, melon and many
more, will be taught weekly to
the chosen scholars. The Municipality of Guagua, Pampanga through the leadership of
Mayor Dante Torres extended their support for the actual training of the beneficiaries
while Harbest Agribusiness
Corporation president Arsenio
‘Toto’ Barcelona brought in Agriculturists to conduct the training sessions.
A ceremonial transplanting
of seedling led by SMFI Asst.
Vice President Cristie Angeles in support of SM City Pampanga and SM City San Fernando Downtown represented
by Mall Manager Lana Erroba
with SM Savemore Guagua
Kenneth Sandiego and SM
Supermarket Jennifer Carillo
and the Rotary Club of Loyola
Heights led by Architect Paul
Angel Galang and Project
Chairperson Bong David, who
are both Kapampangan, with
the chosen scholar farmers
held on the same day. The
project will culminate with a
bountiful harvest Festival and
a Graduation rite on April 2015
at SM City Pampanga. –PR
5 tiklo
sa droga
Ni Johnny R. Reblando
SUBIC, Zambales - Kalaboso ang sinapit ng limang kalalakihan nang masakote ng
mga tauhan ng Subic PNP at
makuhanan ng ipinagbabawal
na droga sa bayang ito.
Kinilala ni Chief Inspector
Oriano Mina, hepe ng Subic
PNP, ang mga suspek na sina
Mar Rucod, 44; Wilson Coral, 27; Benjamin Miguel, 30;
at Moncheito Desoacido, 59,
pawang tricycle driver.
Ang mga suspek ay nauna
nang nahuling nagsusugal sa
Burgos St., Barangay Wawandue at narekober sa pag-iingat
ng mga ito ang isang deck ng
baraha at pera na nagkakahalaga ng P536.
Nakuha pa sa pag-iingat
ng mga suspek ang plastic sachet na hinihinalang naglalaman ng shabu.
Samantalang, huli naman
sa Barangay Ilwas, Subic ang
suspek na si Benjie Carnaje,
37, matapos itong ireklamo
ng kanyang asawa dahil sa
ginagawa nitong panggugulo
sa kanilang bahay at nakuha
sa pag-iingat nito ang dalawang plastic sachet ng shabu.
Kasong paglabag sa Section 11, Article ll ng RA 9165
ang kinahaharap ng mga suspek habang ang mga ito ay
detinido sa Subic Police detention cell.
Punto! Central Luzon • January 19 - 21, 2015 • Monday - Wednesday
(L-R) DSWD Project Officer Lilia Ediza , SM Mall Manager Lana Erroba, Rotary Club
Architect Paul Angel Galang, SMFI Cristie Angeles, Harbest president Asenio ‘Toto’
Barcelona, Mayor Dante Torres, Rotary Club of Loyola Heights Project Chairperson
Bong David, SM Savemore Guagua Kenneth Sandiego and SM Supermarket Jennifer
Carillo with the chosen scholars. Contributed photo
SM Foundation Inc. in
partnership with Harbest Agribusiness Corporation, Department of Social Welfare and
Development (DSWD) and
Rotary Club of Loyola Heights
recently launched its Kabalikat
sa Kabuhayan Project at Barangay Betis, Guagua, Pampanga.
About 100 poor farmers
from Barangay San Agustin,
Guagua were sponsored by
SM Foundation, Inc., to under-
5
O pinion
Editorial
Punto! Central Luzon • January 19 - 21, 2015 • Monday - Wednesday
Accreditation of
journalists is against
press freedom
6
THE NATIONAL Union of Journalists of the Philippine
vigorously opposes another attempt by members of the
House of Representatives to narrow the parameters of
journalism by forcing the issue of “accreditation” through
a provision in House Bill 362, introduced by Rep. Raul
del Mar, which seeks to amend Republic Act 53, more
popularly known as the Sotto Law.
At first glance, the measure is laudable since it
aims to expand coverage of the Sotto Law, which
protects journalists from being forced to divulge
confidential sources “unless the court or the House of
Representatives or the Senate or any of its committees
finds that such revelation is demanded by the security
of the State,” to include broadcast, wire service and
online journalists.
However, Section 2 of the bill states: “For purposes
of this act, a duly accredited journalist or practitioner of
any legitimate print, broadcast, internet or wire service
organization, station or network, is one who is accredited
with any reputable association of media persons such
as but not limited to the Philippine Information AgencyPresidential Communications Operations Office, the
National Press Club, the National Union of Journalists of
the Philippines, and the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster
sa Pilipinas, and/or one who is a regular employee of
a legitimate print, broadcast, internet or wire service
organization, station or network, provided, that any
journalist engaged by any legitimate media company
shall be deemed to be an accredited journalist.”
The provision is objectionable on its face since it
opens the door to the state’s possible intervention in
defining “accredited” journalists, and “legitimate” and
“reputable” media outfits and organizations.
In contrast, Senate Bill No. 165 introduced by Senator
Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., which has the same intention
as HB 362, make no mention of any “accreditation.”
While the NUJP certainly vets and accredits its
members, this is an internal process and has no bearing
whatsoever on the fitness of non-members to practice
journalism.
It has always been the NUJP’s credo that journalism,
while a profession for those who derive income from
its practice, is a logical extension of the people’s basic
rights to information and freedom of expression and
thus, should be practiced by anyone and everyone
without needing to undergo any “accreditation” process.
This, too, is the reason why media observe selfregulation and are not submitted to any regulatory
process.
Any state regulation of journalism can only lead to
one sad result – the death of press freedom and the
independent Philippine media.
(Statement of the National Union of Journalists of the
Philippines, Jan. 16, 2015, signed by Chair Rowena C.
Paraan)
LLL Trimedia Coordinators, Inc.
Publisher
General Manager
Editor
Marketing Manager
Layout
Circulation
Atty. Gener C. Endona
Caesar “Bong” Lacson
Joanna Niña V. Cordero
Dondie B. Ventura
Jojo Manalo/Lacson Macapagal
Business & Editorial office at Unit B Essel Commercial Center,
McArthur Highway, Telabastagan, City of San Fernando
Tel. No. (45) 625•0244 Cel. No. 0917•481•1416
[email protected] or [email protected]
http://www.punto.com.ph
Punto! Central Luzon is a proud member of
The Philippine Press Institute
acaesar.blogspot.com
Zona Libre
Bong Z. Lacson
No deed, indeed
OUT OF the goodness of the heart of Tatang Jess Lazatin for Kapampangan
culture and the arts, in fact for anything and everything Kapampangan, the
Paskuhan Village was birthed.
The patriarch of San Fernando’s, if not
Pampanga’s, foremost buena familia donated
a large chunk of the primest of his clan’s prime
real estate to site the Christmas theme park. For
the singular purpose of showcasing his town’s
signature craft, lantern making, and affirm its
claim as “Christmas Capital of the Philippines.”
So it was that on December 11, 1990, as
a most fitting celebration of Pampanga Day,
President Cory Aquino inaugurated Paskuhan
Village, dubbed as the first and only one in
Asia and the third in the world, purportedly
after those in Germany and the United States.
At least that was the briefing we received from
then Gov. Bren Z. Guiao and then Tourism
Undersecretary Mina Gabor.
Its centrepiece building was designed by
Pampanga’s top architect Nestor Mangio in the
shape of the iconic San Fernando lantern when
viewed from the air. For which he was bestowed,
in 1995, the Design Achievement Award by the
United Architects of the Philippines which he
subsequently headed.
Public enthusiasm over the project waxed in
the first two years but waned soon thereafter.
In the words of then San Fernando Mayor Pat
Guevarra: “What is there to look forward to,
especially for our children, if we have Christmas
everyday?”
From Paskuhan, the village earned the
derisive moniker “Pastulan” – a grazing ground
for carabaos. With but the regional office of the
Department of Tourism showing some nonrustic life there.
In 1998, the site was “re-developed” as the
Philippine Christmas Village and reopened by
then First Lady Amelita Ramos with Florikultura
’98, “the first national horticulture exhibition in
Southeast Asia.”
The end of the so-called Gardens of the
World exhibitions also marked the demise
of the reinvented village, falling again into
virtual neglect, finding but little vibrancy in the
establishment of the regional consular office of
the Department of Foreign Affairs, which after a
few years transferred to the Clark Freeport, and
much, much later, to the malls.
Aghast at such a waste of prime property,
the sangguniang panlalawigan of Pampanga,
with then Vice Gov. Mikey Macapagal-Arroyo
endeavoured in 2002 to entice a branch of
the Casino Filipino to locate at the Paskuhan.
The proposal was immediately shot down by
the religious sector, parents and educators for
the (im)moral cost it would entail, and by the
local culturati for its deviancy from what was
publicly held as the Paskuhan’s exclusive use –
as showcase of Kapampangan culture, notably
the lantern craftsmanship.
In 2003, Paskuhan Village was rebranded
as “WOW North Philippines Hilaga” under the
auspices of then Tourism Secretary Richard J.
Gordon.
As Hilaga, it was supposed to be some
cultural and trade showcase not only of
Pampanga and Central Luzon but all the regions
north of Metro Manila, as its name conveyed.
Still, it failed to sail.
Throughout its short history, two things
remained constant in the public mind regarding
this Christmas-themed park: its name,
Paskuhan; and its sole purpose – cultural
showcase purportedly mandated in a “deed of
donation” executed by the Lazatin family.
Hence, the general disbelief to Punto’s
breaking news that SM had already acquired
Paskuhan Village in a bidding conducted by
the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone
Authority (TIEZA) last December 17.
It cannot be. The deed of donation explicitly
forbids it. Until now, that is still being said of
SM’s latest acquisition in Pampanga.
To his dying day, says the Inquirer’s intrepid
Tonette Orejas, Tatang Jess regarded his
family’s donation of the Paskuhan site as one
“lasting legacy.”
“In the many conversations I had with him
when he was already ailing, Paskuhan Village
never failed to crop up,” Tonette remembered.
Reported our banner story though: There was
no “deed of donation” that explicitly expressed
exclusivity for the use of the Paskuhan Village
for Christmas-themed purposes.
There was a “deed of sale” executed with
the then Philippine Tourism Authority by one
“Robert David, in his capacity as the attorneyin-fact of the Lazatin-Singian patriarch Jesus
Lazatin.”
These, according to the source privy to the
SM-TIEZA transaction but requested anonymity
for absence of authority to speak on the matter.
Robert David definitely makes the best
authority to talk on the matter.
Absent any contact though with Pampanga’s
once premier real estate broker – he negotiated
the SM City Pampanga mall and Robinsons
Starmills deals – we were resigned to pure
speculations. Given too that no documents
anent the transaction have been made public
by either SM or TIEZA.
Less enterprise than serendipity though did
Punto get hold of what passes off as transcript
of the Jan. 7, 2002 en banc committee hearing
at the sangguniang panlalawigan on the junked
casino proposal for the Paskuhan.
Here are some excerpts, unedited, relevant
to the issue at hand:
Mr. Frank M: Ang hindi po malinaw sa amin
ay kung sino ang nagmamay-ari ng Paskuhan.
VG Arroyo: Sasagutin po yon ni Board
Member Robert David.
BM David: Maganda pong katanungan yan.
Unang-una po ang may-ari po ng Paskuhan
Village ay ang Philippine Tourism Authority.
It is a government corporation under the
Department of Tourism. Bukod duon gusto ko
pong ipaalam sa ating lahat ang kuwento kung
paano nagkaroon or tungkol sa Paskuhan
Village kung ano ang kanyang concept.
Tama po yung sinabi nyo na to showcase the
kapampangan culture the products yung ating
gawa. Yung ating pinagmamalaki sa pagshowcase ng mga kapampangan products.
Nung panahon pong yon ang ating president
Cory Aquino kung saan tayo ang pangatlong
Christmas village sa buong mundo. Una ang
Michigan at Germany. Ang kapampangan po
may katunggali sa Christmas capital of the
Philippines ang Imus Cavite. Sa legal issue po,
meron pang kondisyon ang pagbenta ng lote
diyan. Na yun lamang nakapaloob sa sinasabi
nila yun po ang condition that it is only for the
showcase of our products, culture etc. No. 2
po, yun po ay pinirmahan kasama si Mr. Jesus
Lazatin at ako po kasama ko siya sa pagpirma ng
Memorandum of Understanding. Nagkaroon po
ng Deed of Sale, nakapaloob po yung condition
na yon at hindi maaaring mabali. Pangatlo
po, at that moment, yun pong paggawa ng
Memorandum of Agreement, 1991 po binigay
po ngayon sa isang Foundation, Paskuhan
Village Foundation. Ang Chairman po duon si
Mr. Jose Capistrano na Chairman ng Philippine
Tourism Authority, member po duon ang ating
Gobernador Bren Z. Guiao. Nung panahon ni
Erap anong ginawa? Pinasara ang Paskuhan,
sasang-ayunan po ng DTI yan. Pagkatapos
po pinatuloy ng national government ang
operasyon ng Paskuhan Village. So kung
itutuloy po yung pag-showcase ng Paskuhan
Village mas marami tayong matutulungan na
mga kababayan nating nagpapawis. Salamat
po.
Mr. Frank M: Mr. Chairman, with that
statement of Board Member Robert David,
puwede po bang angkinin ulit natin ang
Paskuhan Village? Na ang Kapitolyo na ang
magma-manage nito…
BM David: Mahirap po yan kase hindi natin
makukuha basta na lang yan dahil ito po ay pagaari ng Philippine Tourism Authority. Makukuha
lang natin yan kung babayaran natin. I think it
will cost us about P500 million.
What can we make of this?
No deed of donation whatsoever spoken
Page 7 please
Napaguusapan
Lang
Felix M. Garcia
Trabaho muna,
bago ang
pangangampanya
(Bilang pagpapaunlak sa kahilingan ng isang kapatid sa
panulat, na kung maari ay sa prosa ko muna subuking isulat
ang aking artikulo, imbes sa nakasanayan kong estilong
makasining o patula – upang masukat kung alin ang mas
gusto ng ating mambabasa – ito muna ang aking kontribusyon
para sa araw na ito).
TAMA lang ang panawagan ng Partido Abe Kapampangan
(AbeKa) kay Senador Lapid, na ang dapat muna niyang
pag-tuunan ng pansin ay ang natitira pa niyang ‘term of
office’ sa Senate bilang Solon, imbes itong napaka-agang
pangangampanya para mayor sa Angeles city ang pagkaabalahan nito sa kasalukuyan.
Mahigit isang taon at kalahati pa nga naman bago
maghalalan, para ano at magkumahog si Lapid? May
panahon pa siya para dagdagan ang kaisa-isang batas na
naipasa niya, mula sa bunton ng mga bills at resolusyons
na naihain niya, na ang karamihan ay wala naman yatang
silbi o katuturan kaya di pumasa sa deliberasyon.
Buwan pa lang ng April nang nakaraang taon ay
atat na siyang maging City Mayor ng Angeles; na kung
saan matapos makabili ng magarang mansion sa
barangay Pampang ay nagpa-rehistro na kaagad bilang
kualipikadong botante sa naturang siyudad. Batid halos
ng lahat na si Lapid ay taga Porac, Pampanga. Nasabi ko
na sa mga nakaraan nating artikulo, na kung gusto niyang
maging mayor, eh bakit hindi sa Porac siya humabol?
Gusto ba niyang maranasan muli ang nangyari sa kanya
sa Makati? Sabagay, wala namang masama kahit saan
siya humabol. Kahit sino ay pupuede naman, basta’t
registered voter sa isang lugar
Mayor denies info clampdown in Porac
By Ashley Manabat
CLARK FREEPORT – “There
is no suppression of information in Porac but we must follow proper procedures in obtaining documents.”
This was the explanation
given by Porac town Mayor
Condralito “Carling” Dela Cruz
on the charge that he ordered
a clampdown on releasing
documents in the municipality.
The mayor made the clarification during the weekly media forum “Balitaan” organized
by the Capampangan in Media, Inc. (CAMI) in cooperation
with the Clark Development
Corp. (CDC and the Social
Security System (SSS) at the
Bale Balita here last Friday.
Earlier, municipal councilor and president of the Philippine Councilors’ League–
Pampanga (PCL-Pamp.) Mike
Tapang accused Dela Cruz of
suppressing vital information
needed for transparency and
proper accountability.
Tapang said the mayor
even came up with a memorandum strictly enforcing his
order in the release of documents.
But Dela Cruz denied the
clampdown. He said all information needed for transparency are posted in the web
(www.poracpampanga.gov.
ph) as well as in three conspicuous places in the town – the
bulletin board at the entrance
to the municipal hall building,
the public market and at the
premises of the St. Catherine
Parish Church. The mayor admitted signing a memorandum but not to
suppress information but to
put the process in order. The
memorandum requires the
inquirer to write a letter and
state the reason for such requests, he said. Based on the
reasons stipulated in the letter,
the mayor said, “we can now
direct the concerned department heads to reply.”
Dela Cruz said when
Tapang began inquiring on
the money transactions of the
municipality, he instructed the
municipal accountant to release the bank records. He
said Tapang was surprised to
find everything in order. He said Tapang was also
surprised to find out that there
are no ghost employees in the
municipal hall when he asked
for the list of casuals and job
orders (JOs).
Dela Cruz said they regularly come up with a report every quarter and immediately
post them.
The mayor said before issuing the memorandum, Tapang
would go directly to the concerned department heads and
obtain documents.
But he said with due respect and due protocol dictate that all requests should
pass through the Office of the
Mayor. “We are not hiding anything,” he clarified.
“All vouchers pass through
the resident auditor from the
Commission on Audit (COA).
That is the process,” he added.
Meanwhile, Dela Cruz explained that he refused to give
the bonus without any unanimous approval from the sangguniang bayan (SB) and without any resolution to make
it binding to the local finance
committee.
The mayor said he understands the predicament of department heads since politicians come and go but they
stay in their jobs and take the
political backlash afterwards.
They should be assured of
their security of tenure if they
are just doing their jobs, he
said.
Dela Cruz said some department heads were angered when they were made
to receive blank papers from
Tapang whom he said began
his inquiry after Alviera signed
a multi-billion contract with the
municipality.
The mayor also accused
Tapang of bringing contractors to the Alviera project and
insisted on their exclusivity on
the contracts.
“Buri da ila mu. Enaman
pwedi ita (They wanted the
projects exclusive to them.
That is not right),” he said.
The developer (Alviera)
might pull out, he warned.
Mga barangay chairmen mismo, ayon sa ulat, ang
nagsasabing may pamigay na T-shirt si Lapid sa ‘urban
poor areas’ ng Angeles city na may tatak ng pangalan
niya. May nagsasabi rin na nakatanggap ng pera itong
iba mula sa mga tao ni Lapid.
Pinalalabas ang sarili niya bilang “Bida ng Masa” at
pino-portray din ang sarili bilang anak mahirap, na ni hindi
nakatuntong ng mataas na paaralan pero nakapag-artista;
at pagkatapos ay biglang pumaimbulog sa pagka-senador.
Walang duda na naging ‘bida’ siya, at tinangkilik ng masa
hanggang sa maging senador siya. Pero, nakasisiguro ba
si Lapid na tatangkilikin siyang muli matapos ng marami
na wala naman pala siyang binatbat?
Ang gustong niya palitan, si Mayor Ed Pamintuan,
ay subok na sa sipag, galing at husay ng pamamahala.
Patuloy sa pag-gawa ng magagandang bagay para sa
siyudad at animo’y walang kapaguran sa pag-ganap
ng kanyang tungkulin. Mga prestithiyong samahan at
Angeleños ang magpapatunay sa matapat at epektibong
pamamahala ni EdPam sa Siyudad ng Angeles.
Sa mga nakaraang survey, napakataas ng ‘satisfaction
ratings’ niya sa lahat ng antas ng kanyang performance o
pag-ganap ng opisyal na tungkulin. Samantalang ito isa,
gaya ng nabanggit na natin sa itaas at base sa record
ng Senate, akalain mo bang pati sa deliberasyon ng
kaisa-isang bill niya na na-isabatas ay absent siya? Ang
naturang bill ay tinawag na ‘Legal Assistance to the Poor
Act of 2010. (Na limang taon na halos ang nakaraang
pero di pa nasundan hanggang ngayon?)
O baka naman siya’y parang ‘sidekick’ lang ng isang
payaso sa pagpapatawa kundi man ‘taga-butas’ ng silya
sa Senado? At ngayon ay gagamitin lang ni Tarzan si Lapid
para sa ‘political revenge’ niya laban kay Pamintuan?
(Matatandaang tinalo ni Mayor EdPam si Lazatin sa
pagka-mayor ng Angeles noong 2013).
Inamin na ni Lapid, ayon sa impormasyong ating
nakalap, na si former Congressman Carmelo “Tarzan”
Lazatin ang humikayat sa kanya upang humabol bilang
Mayor ng Angeles city comes 2016 national and local
election.
ACE IN ZUMBA DANCE. Tarlac City Mayor Ace Manalang joins Tarlac City women
in Zumba dance with Regine Tolentino as special guest at the Ninoy Aquino
Plaza Tuesday night. This is a part of a weeklong 4th Melting Pot Festival annual
celebration. Photo by George Hubierna
No. 3 Most Wanted huli
OLONGAPO CITY --Bumagsak sa kamay ng mga tauhan
ng Zambales Criminal Investigation and Detection Team
(ZCIDT) ang No. 3 Most Wanted Person sa talaan ng pulisya
sa lungsod na ito.
Kinilala ni ZCIDT provincial officer Chief Inspector
Ferdinand Aguilar ang suspek
na si Joel Dalida, 49, tubong
Makilala, Cotabato at residente ng Upper Hilltop, Barangay
Kalaklan, Olongapo City.
Ang suspek ay dinakip ng
team na pinamunuan ni Senior
Inspector Ferdinand Mendoza
sa bisa ng warrant of arrest
na ipinalabas ni Judge Raymond Viray ng RTC Branch 75
sa kasong murder ng walang
kaukulang piyansa.
Ayon sa ulat, nauna nang
naaresto ang kapatid ng suspek na si Vincent Dalida na
kasabwat umano nito sa pag-
Zona Libre
From page 6
there.
There was a deed of sale with the condition
“only for the showcase of (Kapampangan)
products.”
There was a memorandum of understanding
signed by David and Tatang Jess Lazatin with
the aforesaid condition.
patay dahil sa usapin na may
kinalaman sa lupa noong February 2014 matapos ang mainitang komprontasyon na humantong sa tagaan.
Ayon sa suspek ipinagtanggol lamang niya ang
kanyang sarili nang ito ay undayan ng taga ng biktimang
si June Galino hanggang sa
mapatay niya ito. Ang suspek
ay nasa custody na ng ZCIDT.
–Johnny R. Reblando
There was a memorandum of agreement
authorizing a “Paskuhan Village Foundation”
for the management of the village.
The paper trail gets too complicated for
this simple writer. This is better handled by
seasoned lawyers.
Would anyone dare?
SM buys Paskuhan. Fait accompli all written
there.
Punto! Central Luzon • January 19 - 21, 2015 • Monday - Wednesday
Ngayon pa lang ay kapansin-pansin na sa maraming
pader sa loob ng city limits ang mga pangalan nina dating
Congressman Tarzan Lazatin, Senador Lito Lapid at Atty.
Willy Rivera, na diumano ay tatakbo para sa Kongreso, sa
pagka-Alkalde at Bise Alkalde, respectively.
7
Man of the Year
From page 1
The capacity of the
IGF backbone will be
seven terabytes per second.
Punto! Central Luzon • January 19 - 21, 2015 • Monday - Wednesday
Early days
8
Uy started out in business when he was only
in high school at the Chevalier School, when he
would often go to Greenhills in San Juan, Metro
Manila to buy Betamax
and VHS tapes to be
rented out in their store,
Jack’s Video operated by
his eldest brother Jack.
In his senior year, Uy
was already selling the
first Apple computers to
big businessmen in Angeles City and nearby
San Fernando.
“I still remember
during my high school
days at 3 p.m. after our
classes, I still had to go
to Greenhills via Pantranco bus to get the
computers,” he recalled.
“Only the rich people can
afford to buy computers
at that time because they
cost around P60,000
each.”
He ventured into all
sorts of brands like Commodore and Atari, learning how to repair the machines “because I follow
the transition in technology.” It was there that
he realized the speed in
which technology was
evolving and inspired
him to keep up with the
pace and learn more
through
international
trade shows and technology conferences abroad.
“Imagine megumpisa kami (we started out
with) Betamax, VHS,
CD, LD and now flash
disk, flash drives and
the cloud,” he said. “So
when I realized that a lot
of people are now into
selling computers, I went
into a higher level which
is networking products,
installing servers for
niche markets using Sun
Microsystem servers for
banking,
government
usage and multinational companies. I tried to
avoid competition.”
Proudly: “I was the
first Philippine distributor
of Sun Microsystem.”
Cable television
The pioneering spirit in him again inspired
him to venture into cable
television just a year after the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo in 1991, with the
family home in Villa Gloria Subdivision serving
as its station.
It was there that the
Angeles City Cable Television Network (ACCTN)
was born with only a few
hundred subscribers. Uy
said back then, it cost
about P3,500 to have an
analog cable TV installed
in residences.
With
the
advent
of digital technology,
ACCTN is now using underground fiber optic cables piping in high definition (HD) channels to
households at a lower
cost.
“Ing eganagana (all)
backbone ku from La
Union to Clark is now underground up to Metro
Manila,” Uy said.
Currently, Uy is working to bring cable television to the masses via
pre-paid cards for as low
as P100 a month: “I understand that for these
people, cable TV is not
a necessity, it is a luxury
to them but if I can bring
cable like P100 to the
masses, no boxes no everything with just a certain number of channels.
So no need for the aerial
antenna.” Uy exercises
proprietorship of 35 cable companies all over
Central Luzon.
In 1996, ACCTN went
into providing cable TV
for the Mimosa Leisure
Estate inside the Clark
Freeport. The Clark venture sparked another
bright idea for the visionary businessman who
anticipated the boom of
the ICT industry.
ComClark, a company he founded, started
laying out the fiber optic
cables in the then emerging investment center.
Rise of the BPO
industry in Clark
Shortly
after
the
groundwork was laid out
in Clark, the rise of the
business process outsourcing (BPO) industry came to fore and Uy
and his companies were
ready:
“I laid out the fiber optics for the whole Clark in
anticipation of the future.
Tinarget ke nung nokarin la reng mangaragul
locator; inabang ku nala
(I targeted where the big
locators were; I readied
the connections).”
“Maswelu ya ing
Clark uling meg boom
ya ing (Clark is fortunate
with the rise of the) BPO
industry because the
fundamental fiber optics
is laid out already,” Uy
said. “Sasalpak nalamu
anyapin miparanun ya
meg boom ing BPO industry (They just link the
connections that is why
Clark has blossomed
early in the BPO industry).”
“How come Subic has
no BPO? Because the
infrastructure system is
not ready,” Uy explained.
Equipment
Trendsetter when it
comes to equipment:
“I invest on technology. We have boring machines which can bore or
dig without much compromise. It only needs a
meter of space to start
boring from one side of
the road to the other.
No need to demolish or
break the concrete and
block the road.”
Uy said in other circumstances, only two
inches of the concrete is
cut where the fiber optic
cable is inserted with no
disturbance to traffic.
Power
Of late, Uy has partnered with business tycoon Manny V. Pangilinan – in the electric
power industry.
“We are both Kapampangans and we believe
we can help the economy to grow. (MVP) wondered how come South
Luzon is more progressive than the North,” Uy
said of Pangilinan. “We
found out why Pampanga was left behind. The
power is not stable. A
Chinese company hiring 300 workers wanted
to set up a factory in Porac but they cannot even
give them transformers
for their power requirement. So mpany. But
they left for Bulacan.”
“So we lost employment opportunities because we lack stable
power supply,” Uy said.
“Pelco (Pampanga Electric Cooperative) failed
to deliver stable power
to its subscribers much
more to business locators that’s why we got left
behind.”
Thus, “I decided to
venture into it not necessarily for profit. We
never bought Pelco, we
just took over the management through the Investment Management
Contract for 25 years.
We infused P780 million
already because we will
rehabilitate everything.
We paid its debt in power generation.”
“We paid that almost
half a billion to San Miguel and we paid NEA
(National Electrification
Administration)
P200
million. Now, those issues are settled,” he assured. “At present, we
are now rehabilitating
the meters. We will replace everything with
brand new meters. Customer satisfaction will be
our focus.”
Uy said Pelco subscribers can now pay
their electric bills in any
easy pay station or any
7-11 store. Subscribers
can also pay at any SM
business center, Bayad
Center as well as accredited banks. “I want to
bring this for public convenience,” he said.
Uy said also in the
works is the transfer of
the Pelco 2 headquarters from Guagua town
to Mabalacat City where
one third of the revenues
are generated.
Future at hand
Uy is scheduled to
leave for Hawaii January 19 to attend the Pacific Telecommunications
Council: “This is where
you get the trends in
technology because the
future is at hand. Technology changes even
faster than fashion.”
The IGF is an information technology highway, he said.
“The internet is slow
because of the cost.
Among the Asian countries, we have the most
expensive internet because our backbone subsea landing stations from
Philippines centered in
Manila to other points of
termination is owned by
only two companies and
they charge 500 percent
higher than other countries,” he revealed.
“I will put a landing station in La Union,”
he said. “The IGF is intended to enhance all
the traffic in applications such as Facebook,
Viber, Facetime and the
other social media applications. The content
shall all pass through the
subsea cable in and out
of the Philippines,” Uy
explained.
“But there are only
two companies that have
this. So we need a third
player so that it will bring
down the cost,” he reasoned.
A shocker: “The cellular phone will become
obsolete because the
future is internet protocol (IP). No one will pay
just to send SMS or call
someone when they can
do that for free using social media applications
which will be the king in
the future.”
“That’s how the Philippines can communicate to the world via IP,”
he said. “This is the link.
This is the network,” he
added.
Smart city
After having wired the
whole of Angeles City
with fiber, Uy recently
revealed of his plan to
make the city a laboratory of his cutting-edge
technology. “My dream
is to make my city (Angeles) a ‘smart city,’” he
recently told members
of the Angeles City Traffic Management Board
during a meeting.
Uy was asked for his
inputs in easing up traffic flow in Angeles City in
preparation for the city’s
hosting of some ministerial meetings of the Asia
Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) conference starting this month.
He announced that in
cooperation with the city
government, he is providing free wi-fi in key
areas of the city, particularly in business and
education centers. He
is also putting up analytics-capable CCTV cameras all over the city,
with a command center
that can monitor traffic,
peace and order situations, among others, and
respond to these situations faster.
Loop
Just as information
and
communications
technology operate in
loops, Uy is now making a loop back to Angeles – “his city” – where he
first rented out Betamax
tapes in a hole-in-the
wall shop. This time, with
bundles and an assortment of high-tech gadgets and a development
template that could make
living in Angeles City a lot
smarter and easier.
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
REGIONAL TRIAL COURT
THIRD JUDICIAL REGION
OFFICE OF THE CLERK OF COURT
Angeles City
Home Development Mutual Fund,
Mortgagee,
-versus-
F.C. Case No. 2014-1125
Extra-Judicial Foreclosure of
Nelson M. Catap married toReal Estate Mortgage under Act
Hazel D. Catap
3135, as amended by Act 4118
Mortgagors.
x------------------------------------------x
NOTICE OF Sheriff’s SALE
Upon extra-judicial petition for sale under Act 3135, as amended filed by
the Mortgagee, Home Development Mutual Fund with their Branch
Office at Suburbia Commercial Complex, McArthur Highway, Maimpis, City
of San Fernando, Pampanga against the Mortgagors, Nelson M. Catap
married to Hazel D. Catap with residence and postal address at Blk. 8,
Lot 10 Liezl St., Xevera Subdivision Phase 1, Tabun, Mabalacat, Pampanga
or Sacot, Bamban, Tarlac in order to satisfy the outstanding mortgaged debt
which as of September 30, 2013 amounts to Eight HUNDRED Eighteen
THOUSAND Ninety One PESOS AND Thirty Five Centavos (Php
818,091.35), Philippine currency, inclusive of interest and penalty charges but
exclusive of attorney’s fees, foreclosure expenses and other charges allowed
by law, the undersigned Sheriff IV hereby gives notice and announces that on
February 18, 2015 at 10:00 o’clock in the morning, at the Municipal Trial
Court of Mabalacat and Magalang, Pampanga located at the Mabalacat City
Hall, Xevera Subd., Brgy Tabun, Mabalacat, Pampanga will sell at public
auction for cash and in Philippine Currency, the following parcel of land with all
the existing and future improvements thereon, to wit;
TCT NO. 174058
A parcel of land (Lot 10, Block 6 of the consolidation-subdivision
plan, Pcs-03-016531 being a portion of consolidation of Lots 5 &
6, Pcs-03-000950, Lot 546-A (LRC) Psd-217854, Lot 544-B-2-A-3
Psd-03-169696, Lot 4-D Psd-03-170954, L.R.C. Rec. No.), situated
in the Barangay of Tabun, Municipality of Mabalacat, Province of
Pampanga, Island of Luzon. Bounded on the NE., along line 1-2 by
Lot 12, Block 6; on the SE., along line 2-3 by Road Lot 17; on the
SW., along line 3-4 by lot 8, Block 6; and on the NW., along line 4-1
by Lot 9, Block 6, all of cons.-subd. plan. . x x x containing an area of
Thirty Five (35) Square Meters, more or less. x x x
Prospective buyers/bidders may investigate for themselves the abovementioned parcel/s of land for their information and protection.
In the event the public auction should not take place on the said date,
it shall be held on February 26, 2015 at the same time and place without
further notice.
Angeles City, January 8, 2015.
Jovencio A. Hizon
Sheriff IV
Copy furnished:
Atty. Joseph P. Quiboloy
Department Manager-III
Home Development Mutual Fund
Suburbia Commercial Complex,
McArthur Highway, Maimpis,
City of San Fernando, Pampanga
Nelson M. Catap married to Hazel D. Catap
Blk. 8, Lot 10 Liezl St.,
Xevera Subdivision Phase 1,
Tabun, Mabalacat, Pampanga
or Sacot, Bamban, Tarlac
PUNTO! Central Luzon: January 14, 21 & 28, 2015
The Gossipmiller
Cesar Pambid
Maja Salvador feeling girl na girl kay Gerald Anderson
Feeling super haba ang hair ni Maja Salvador these days. Why? Kasi nga pormal na raw siyang ipinakilala ni Gerald Anderson sa kanyang pamilya sa GenSan.
Dinala siya roon ni Gerald ngayong Kapaskuhan at yun na nga, abot tenga ang ngiti ni Maja kasi nga, siya pa lang ang babaing dinala at ipinakilala ni Gerald sa
kanyang pamilya sa GenSan.
Isa pang labis na ikinatutuwa ni Maja is the fact na nakikita nga niyang seryoso na sa kanya ang boyfriend at mukhang siya na ang pakakasalan nito.
“I just want her to see the place where I grew up,” sabi ni Gerald. “Okay naman. We all had fun. We even went camping at nag-enjoy kami. Ang saya!”
And what’s his family’s impression of Maja? “They find her okay. I’m so thankful na nag-meet na sila. It’s a good way to start the new year. Panibagong blessing
sa simula ng taon.”
May bagong movie ngayon si Gerald, “Halik sa Hangin,” opposite Julia Montes, and he also has a new TV show, “Nathaniel,” with Isabelle Daza and Shaina
Magdayao. So how is it working with Julia in “Halik sa Hangin” that opens on January 28?
“I’m so glad to be given the chance to work with her kasi napakagaling niya. And she’s very cooperative. First time niya to do an intense love scene at nagtulong
kami para lumabas na maganda. She was so nervous at first. Nanginginig talaga siya. Panay ang sign of the cross niya, so I assured her aalalayan ko siya so she’d
be more comfortable while doing the scene. I can understand her kasi she’s only 19 and she’s never done anything like it. At challenging talaga ‘yung buong movie
for her kasi very mature ang role at ang story. Maraming ni-require sa kanya at binigay naman niyang lahat. Maraming gugulatin si Julia rito so don’t miss it.”
Maituturing na isang dream concert ang magaganap na Valentine show ng itinuturing na apat na music icons sa Pilipinas na sina Martin Nievera, Regine
Velasquez, Gary Valenciano and Lani Misalucha. Para pagsama-samahin mo kasi ang 4 of our great performers sa music industry, this must be really, really big and
a must-see concert talaga.
Ito rin siguro ang dahilan para gawing Ultimate ang title ng concert dahil ultimate na talaga na mapanood mo ang apat together in one major concert.
Sa presscon kahapon para sa nasabing show ay si Lani M. lang ang hindi nakadalo dahil kasalukuyang nasa US ito. Pero magkakaroon pa ng isang grand
presscon kung saan ay kumpleto silang apat.
Ayon kay Martin, actually, years ago pa raw plinano ang concert na ito at nagkataon lang na hindi raw mag-jibe
ang kanilang mga schedule.
“Finally, 2015, we were able to schedule it in a way na kaya natin ang ganitong combination,” say ng Concert
King.
Dahil nga “ultimate” concert ito, tinanong ang tatlo kung sino ang may pinakamataas na TF among them at
say ni Martin, they all have the same fee.
“More than anything, it’s the experience and the history of this group, it’s priceless. I’m very excited about
this, so fee or no fee, I will have this anyway,” say pa ni Martin.
Dagdag pa niya, hindi raw sila nagkaroon ng friction sa fee at maging sa mga meeting nila dahil
nirerespeto nila ang ideas ng bawat isa.
Dagdag naman ni Regine, “kasi parang the four of us, we’ve been in the business for such a
long time na wala nang competition. And the four of us are also older so hindi na ’yung kagaya
before. Kaya so far it’s running very smoothly, kasi ’yung pinakamahirap usually, ’yung paggawa ng
repertoire, ’yung schedules of course, and even the talent fee, pero ngayon kasi parang we’re just
really excited for this project.”
Biro naman ni Mr. Pure Energy, actually ang may pinakamalaking talent fee ay ang direktor nilang
si Rowell Santiago.
At siyempre, lalong hindi raw magkakaroon ng problema sa sapawan or outdoing each
other dahil lahat silang apat ay may kanya-kanyang forte or strength like si Gary V. excels in
dancing na hindi kaya ni Martin.
Si Martin naman, ’yung Broadway songs niya ang isa sa inaabangan lagi sa kanya
na hindi naman forte ni Gary.
Si Regine naman although halos pareho sila ng music ni Lani dahil pareho silang
belter, they still have their own style and strength na meron ang isa na wala sa isa.
Pero aminado si Martin, to perform with the likes of Lani and Regine is very
intimidating.
“In every show that we’ve done, when they guest on my show, and they receive a
standing ovation and I don’t, that is really a very big piece of humble pie. So, now we
are all equal on stage, equal on billing, equal on everything, I just want you to know,
to sing with the likes of Lani and Regine, I’ve worked with Gary, I’m talking about the
girls, is very, very intimidating. You just have to level up to their performance level,
to their range, to their vocal calisthenics that they do. I won’t try to sound like them
but I have to be up to par with them, otherwise I won’t make the team sound good.
So you might get to see a lot of that on Ultimate, we might have to level up, not to
compete, but to level up with them,” sabi ni Martin.
Produced by Star Media Entertainment ni Anna Puno and I-Musi Entertainment
ni Cacai Mitra, gaganapin ang Ultimate concert sa Feb. 13 and 14 at the Mall of Asia
Arena at 8 p.m. Tickets are available at all SM Ticket outlets, 470-2222 and on Star
Media Entertainment, 854-3300/901-4562.
Piolo gustong magkaroon ng isa pang baby!
Kuwento ni Piolo Pascual, hanggang ngayon ay intact pa pala ang tseke ng anak na si Iñigo
Pascual na nakuha nito bilang talent fee as Sunlife endorser.
“Naka-tseke pa rin siya. Hindi niya alam kung paano niya gamitin, gusto niyang
bumili ng kotse, of course, pero I keep telling him na... siguro naman, nakita niya how
I saved up through the years, so exposed naman siya sa pagtitipid. Exposed siya
kung paano maging praktikal. Hindi siya spender, eh. Imagine having that kind of
amount early on,” say ni Piolo.
Isa pa, wala naman daw talagang pinagkakagastusan si Iñigo. May bahay
naman daw itong tinitirhan kasama ang mommy nito at bukod pa nga rito,
sinusuportahan pa rin daw niya hanggang ngayon ang anak kahit pa may
sarili na itong income.
“Every month pa rin. And he earns his own money, he does make a good
living out of singing engagements, tapos may movie pa siya, so talagang
overwhelming. And overworked, that’s the compromise, ’di ba? But at
least, he knows na what to prioritize pa rin,” pahayag pa ng aktor.
Ano ang reaksyon niya na hindi pabor si Iñigo na magkaroon siya ng
girlfriend na nasa 20s ang edad?
“It’s not up to him. Hindi naman siya ang makikisama,” seryosong sagot ni PJ.
“Same thing, kung sino ang piliin niya, nasa kanya naman ’yun, eh,” he said.
Sinasabi ba niyang walang say si Iñigo sa lovelife niya?
“Not naman wala siyang say, kaya nga wala akong girlfriend, it’s because of him. But just the
same, it’s not up to him. Parang for me, I’ll respect kung sino man ang gugustuhin niya.”
Ang sabi nga raw niya kay Iñigo, pagdating nito ng 18 years old, the next day ay may girlfriend
na siya.
Hindi lang girlfriend ang gusto ni Piolo kungdi gusto na rin niyang magkaroon ng baby ulit.
“Gustung-gusto ko na. Pero wala, eh,” say pa ni Papa P.
Gusto raw niyang ma-experience ang maghele at mag-alaga ng baby dahil hindi raw niya ito
nagawa kay Iñigo.
“I was in the States when he was born. So, ’yon ’yung time na gusto kong i-devote sa family ko, sa
anak ko. Mahilig ako sa mga bata, eh,” say pa ni Piolo.
Maja Salvador
Punto! Central Luzon • January 19 - 21, 2015 • Monday - Wednesday
Four-in-one concert
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Punto! Central Luzon • January 19 - 21, 2015 • Monday - Wednesday