THREE MORE OIL FIRMS REDUCE FUEL PRICES PAGE 7 METROBANK 2010 SEARCH FOR TOPS BATA REYES GRABS MASTER CROWN FOR THE FIFTH TIME

TUESDAY, February 2, 2010 www.commuterexpress.ph Vol. 3 No. 169 8 pages 30 31 6 5 0 38 29 9 7 41 40 P9.8m+ THREE MORE OIL FIRMS REDUCE FUEL PRICES PAGE 7 METROBANK 2010 SEARCH FOR TOPS PAGE 6 BATA REYES GRABS MASTER CROWN FOR THE FIFTH TIME PAGE 8 MARIAN IPINAKITA ANG PAGMAMAHAL KAY DINGDONG PAGE 4 Jollibee Fetes Maaga ang Pasko Partners Leading fastfood chain Jollibee fetes its partners in the highly successful campaign Jollibee Maaga ang Pasko last year at the Grand Ballroom of the Intercontinental Hotel in Makati which was attended by 77 partners who volunteered and actively participated in the program. These include 39 partner schools in Metro Manila, 13 provincial schools and 25 partner companies. A total of 141,800 Jolly Toys Scouts signed up to lead the efforts in collecting or cleaning the toy and book donations almost ten times more than the previous number of volunteers. Photos L/R: Gisela Tiongson, Exec. Director, Jollibee Foundation; Albert Cuadrante, Jollibee VP For Marketing; Publicis Jimenez Basic representatives, Tats Caluag-Cruz, Sr. Executive Officer; Miles Naguit, Account Director and Chris Co, Jollibee Franchisees Assoc. President. MICHAEL SUPERALES TAYLOR SWIFT WINS GRAMMYS PAGE 5

2 GAANO kaya katotoo ang nakarating na sumbong sa atin na mayroong isang preso sa loob ng National Bilibid Prison (NBP) sa Muntinlupa City na labis ang ginagawang pangaabuso sa kanyang mga kapwa inmates? Sa nakarating sa ating impormasyon, isang alyas Peter Co na Chinese national ang madalas na mambugbog sa kanyang mga kapwa inmates kapag umano ito y sabog na sa ipinagbabawal na droga. Ang hindi alam ng mga nagrereklamong inmates ay kung paano nakakapagpasok ng droga si Co sa loob ng NBP samantalang napakahigpit ng seguridad sa loob ng pambansang piitan. Si Co ay nahatulan ng habambuhay na pagkabilanggo dahil umano sa pagtutulak ng ipinagbabawal na droga ngunit kahit ito ay nakakulong, patuloy pa rin umano ang pamamayagpag nito sa loob ng NBP. Mistula umanong hari sa TUMAAS naman daw ng 2.8% ang employment rate sa Pilipinas base sa huling mga datos ng gobyerno pero ang parang nakatagong katotohanan ay ang malaking porsyento ng part-time employees imbes na full-time employees na may quality jobs sa pagtaas na ito ng employment rate. Ibig sabihin puro parttimerjob lang ang dumami. Ang maaaring malungkot na katotohanan ay ang patuloy na pag-baba ng klase ng employment o klase ng trabaho dito sa atin. Noong isang araw ay lumabas ang listahan ng mga bagong nurses na pumasa sa licensure examination na ginanap noong Nobyembre. Sa mahigit 94 libo na nag-take ng exams, mahigit 37 libo lang ang pumasa. Hindi na natin muna pag-uusapan dito ang sobrang VICTOR A. CALUAG, President and CEO MANNY B. MARINAY TONETTE HENSON Editor in Chief EVP, Sales & Marketing JONATHAN P. VICENTE Managing Editor LEA G. BOTONES News Editor CHONG P. ARDIVILLA Overall Creative Director HECTOR L. LOZANO Chief Layout Artist Si Peter sa likod ng rehas ng bakal loob ng pambansang piitin itong si Co dahil sa tuwing may makukursunadahan itong inmate ay basta na lamang nito nilalapitan at walang awang binubugbog. Base pa sa impormasyon, minsan na rin umanong naipatapon itong si Co sa Leyte Penal Colony noong panahon ni dating NBP Director Dionisio Santiago ngunit sa hindi malamang dahilan ay muli itong ibinalik sa naturang piitan. Ang pagpapatapon noon kay Co ay dahil na rin sa ginawang petisyon ng mga inmates at empleyado sa loob ng maximum security compound dahil sa labis nitong pagmamalabis sa kanyang mga kapwa inmates. Hinihiling ngayon ng mga MARIO L. ADELANTE Accounting Manager RAUL B. PEREZ Credit & Collection Manager EDISON B. CAMARINES Distribution Manager EDWIN A. CO Production Supervisor Part-timers baba ng porsyento ng pumasa kumpara sa dami ng nageksamen dahil ibang isyu na ito. Dahil isyu na ito ng bumababa nang kalidad ng edukasyon sa Pilipinas o kaya ay isyu na ito ng bumababang kapasidad ng mga estudyanteng Pilipino. Paguusapan natin ito sa susunod nating kolum. Ngayon, pagtutuunan na lang muna natin ng pansin ang 37 thousand new nurses na makikipag-kumpetensya pa ba sa mga part-time jobs na nakahanda sa kanila. Huwag naman sana. Hindi natin pwede ipagmalaki ang tumaas na employment rate kung karamihan naman sa mga trabahong kaya nating ipagkaloob sa ating mga kababayan ay part-time lang. Alam natin na hindi kayang Published Monday to Friday by Silverstream Publishing Corp. Suite 2111 Cityland Herrera Tower, Valero Street, Salcedo Village, Makati City Telephone Nos. 8873435 8873433 8451653 Email: cx.editorial@gmail.com inmates at maging ng mga kaanak nito sa labas ng NBP na muling ipatapon itong si Co sa ibang colony nang sa gayon ay matapos na ang paghahariharian nito sa loob ng naturang piitan. Ang ating pagkakaalam ay may patakaran ang NBP na kapag ang isang inmate ay marami nang reklamo tulad ng ginagawang pambubugbog nitong si Co ay agad itong inililipat sa ibang colony kaya t umaasa ang maraming preso dito na malapit nang mawawala sa kanilang paningin ang abusado nilang kasama. Nakikiusap ang mga inmates na ito sa mga opisyal ng NBP na agad na aksiyunan ang kanilang reklamo nang sa gayon ay maging maayos na ang kanilang maging galaw sa loob ng pambansang piitan. * * * Sa mga kabarangay kong gustong makilahok sa pitak na ito, maari kayong mag-email sa barangayani_isko@yahoo.com. bumuhay ng isang pamilya ang part-time job. Napaka-init na nga ng debate tungkol sa tama at karapat-dapat na sweldo ng isang empleyado, o yung minimum pay ng isang regular employee, para mabuhay ng marangal. Kailangan na talaga tingnan muli ng gobyerno ang mga policy tungkol sa minimum pay, para sa regular man o parttime employees, upang maiangkop na ang sweldo ng tao sa pangangailangan sa araw araw na buhay. Sa taas ng bilihin, hindi na kasya talaga ang minimum pay at obligasyon ng pamahalaan na pag-aralan muli ang mga batas at gumawa ng paraan para ang mga batas na may kinalaman sa sweldo ay mabago at iangkop sa makabagong panahon, nang sa ganun ay gumaan naman nang kahit paano ang buhay nating mga Pilipino. Mag-text po kayo, mahalaga ang inyong mga opinyon, mahalagang mabilang ang ating mga boses. Ito po ang mga numero: Globe 09272630741 o Smart 09215186724. O kaya ay email sa ariel.inton@gmail.com. Tuesday, February 2, 2010 OK o OKRAY? Ni Lea G. Botones Pera-pera ang laban! OKEY dahil nakapagsagawa ng kilos protesta ang mahigit 1,000 senior citizens sa Chino Roces Bridge sa Maynila kahapon ng umaga upang umapela kay Pangulong Gloria Macapagal- Arroyo na pirmahan ang Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010. Okey na okey ang paninindigan ng mga lolo t lola na dumalo sa rally na bagaman malaking kapakinabangan para sa kanila ang pag-alis ng 12 porsiyento ng VAT sa kanilang mga bilihin ayhindi naman iyon magiging kakulangan sa kaban ng yaman ng pamahalan. Sobrang okey kasi para sa mga matatanda ang Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010 dahil malaking tulong ito sa kanila. Tama nga naman na ang maisusubi nila mula sa panukalang batas ay maidadagdag na nila sa pambili ng kanilang mga gamot at pagkain ng pamilya. At siyempre, dahil mga lolo at lola na, mas nanaisin nilang ang perang kanilang gagastusin para sa sarili ay ipambili ng pagkain at gamit ng kanilang mga apo. Okray naman ang pulisya nang lagyan ng harang na mga alambre ang Chino Roces Bridge upang huwag madaanan ng mga matatanda upang magtungo sa Malacañang Palace. Okray sa acting ang pulisya at maging ang Palasyo. Kailangan bang harangin pa nila ang matatanda? Para naman kasing kayang-kaya pa ng mga ito na makagawa ng malaking gulo. Nais lang naman po ng mga lolo at lola natin na maiaparating sa pangulo ang kanilang kagustuhan na mabawasan ng konti ang kanilang pasanin at mabigyan ng kaunting kaluwagan ang kanilang mga pangangailangan. Okray na okray naman yata ang gusto ng mga kaalyado ni Pangulong Arroyo na ibigay ang sariwang damo sa naghihingalong kabayo. Mas maganda kung mapapakinabangan ng mga matatanda ang kaluwagan habang buhay pa sila, habang malakas pa. Magiging masaya pa ba sila kung kindi na nila nalasap ang pinakaaasam-asam na luwag sa pamumuhay. Pinak-okray sa lahat ay ang pampalubag-loob ng ilang opisyal ng Palasyo na hindi pa umano nakakarating sa Pangulong Arroyo ang aprubadong panukalang batas ng Kongreso. Diumano y iniutos na ni GMA na ipadala kaagad sa Malacañang. Parang totoo! Hay naku, madaliin na ni Arroyo ang pagprima sa panukala upang maging ganap na itong isang batas. O baka naman kailangang may konting drama na hihikayatin ni dating Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro ang pamahalaan upang mapagbigyan ang hiling ng senior citizens. * * * Okey ang kahilingan ni Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez sa mga kasamahan niyang mambabatas na palawigin pa ang kanilang sesyon na matatapos ngayong linggo upang matalakay pa ang mga nakabinbing panukalang batas. Okray nga namang nabuhos ang panahon ng mga mambabatas, partikular sa Senado, sa debate at bangayan sa C-5 road controversy kung saan sangkot ang pangalan ni Nacionalista Party standard bearer Sen. Manny Villar. Okey ang hiling ni Rodriguez na palawigin pa ng tatlong linggo ang kanilang mga trabaho upang mapunan ang nasayang na panahon sa mga walang kuwentang diskusyon. Okray ang mga mambabatas na ito kapag hindi sila sumangayon samantalang kumpleto naman ang pasuweldo sa kanila ng pamahalaan na ang pera ay nagmula sa buwis ni Juan dela Cruz. Tama lang na pagsilbihan ng mga mambabatas ang mga mamamayan bago at matapos ang halalan. Hindi katulad ng mga pangako nila kapag nangangampanya sila na magseserbisyo ng todo sa mga tao pero ang nangyayari kapag nailuklok na sa puwesto ay puro pagkakamal ng pera ang ginagawa at hindi na malingon ang mga taong sa kanila ay bumoto. Okray naman ang Senado dahil may 20 panukalang batas na nakabinbin. Sana tapusin nila ito bago pa man magsimula sa kanilang pangangampanya at panibagong pangangako sa mga mamamayang nagluluklok at nagtitiwala sa kanila.

Tuesday, February 2, 2010 3 SWS: IT S NOYNOY BUT VILLAR GAINS LIBERAL Party presidential candidate Sen. Benigno Noynoy Aquino III remains the top choice by most Filipinos to win the May 2010 elections. But the gap between Aquino and Nacionalista Party standard bearer Sen. Manuel Manny Villar has narrowed to seven percent. In the survey conducted by the SWS for the BusinessWorld from January 21 to 24 among 2,100 respondents, 42 percent of Filipino voters would vote for Aquino for President while 49 percent would vote for Manuel Mar Roxas for Vice President if elections were held today. In the survey s presidential race, Nacionalista presidential bet Manuel Villar occupied the second slot with a rating of 35 percent. The 7 percent difference between Aquino s and Villar s ratings would amount to about 3 million votes if all 49 million Filipino will vote on May 10. Former president Joseph Estrada placed third with a rating of 13 percent while former Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro grabbed the fourth slot, with a rating of 4 percent, followed by Sen. Richard Gordon and evangelist Bro. Eddie Villanueva, who both got a 2 percent rating. In the vice presidential race, Roxas broadened further his lead over his closest rival, with a high 49 percent of respondents choosing him over second runner-up Sen. Loren Legarda who got a mere 28 percent rating - a huge 21 percent lead that is equivalent to 9 million votes if all 49 million registered voters were to vote in May 10. Andres Garcia NBI summons 3 Ivler helpers NATIONAL Bureau of Investigation has summoned anew the three household helpers of road rage suspect Jason Ivler as the bureau continues its probe on the alleged liability of Ivler s stepfather Asian Development Bank consultant Stephen Pollard in coddling his stepson. Lawyer Angelito Magno, chief of the NBI-Special Action Unit, said the statement of the helpers will determine whether Pollard was telling the truth that he was not aware that his stepson was hiding in their house. Magno stressed that according to one of the helpers, there were lots of changes inside their house in Blue Ridge Subdivision in Quezon City days before the NBI agents conducted an operation in the area that resulted in Ivler s arrest when he was injured after he engaged in a shootout with lawmen. Ivler s mother, Marlene Aguilar, sister of folk singer Freddie Aguilar, was also arrested for allegedly coddling her son. Marco Lorenzana Saudi gov t deports 64 Pinoys SOME 64 Filipinos were sent home by the Saudi government from the Hajj Seaport Terminal in Jeddah the other night. The Department of Foreign Affairs(DFA) and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) said the deportees were composed of 51 female OFWs, nine children and four infants. They all arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) terminal 1 around 8:25 p.m. via BI 689. Two of the children will be referred to a hospital since they are suffering from serious illness. OWWA administrator Carmelita Dimzon said livelihood assistance and temporary lodging will be provided by OWWA. The Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in Jeddah will continue to assist the Filipinos in detention. Lorna Gamboa Senior citizens ask Arroyo to signvat exemption for them SOME 1,000 senior citizens appealed yesterday to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to sign the Congress measure exempting them from the 12 percent value added tax (VAT). The elderly converged at the Chino Roces Bridge and set to march towards Malacañang Palace but they were blocked by barbed wire. Para namang makakagawa pa kami ng gulo. Sa tatanda na ba naman naming may laban pa ba kami sa mga humaharang sa amin?, asked an elderly woman who joined the rally. She said Arroyo should approve the measure exempting them from 12 percent VAT since the money they could save would be used to buy more medicines and food for their families. Annette Vergel

4 Tuesday, February 2, 2010 Marian Rivera ipinakita ang pagmamahal kay Dingdong NAKAKA- LUKRING talaga ang show of love ni Marian Rivera sa rumored boyfriend nitong si Dingdong Dantes. Akalain mo na kahit dalawang oras pa lamang natutulog matapos ang taping ng Darna, bumangon na agad itong si Marianita at sumali sa fivekilometer (5K) run, which is a benefit marathon event sa foundation na sinusuportahan ni Dingdong. Sinalubong ng entertainment press si Marian pagdating sa finish line at hinihingal pa siya ng makapanayam ng mga reporters pagkatapos ng marathon sa Bonifacio Global City. Ang ginanap na book run ng Yes Pinoy Foundation ay isang run for a cause na tinutulungan ni Dingdong. First time lang daw ni Marian tumakbo, sabi niya sa panayam ng PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal), originally 3K lang sanang tatakbuhin niya, bigla siyang nagdecide na tumakbo na rin sa 5K. Pero positive raw kay Marian ang naging experience niya. Hindi kasi masusuklian ang experience, e. So, happy ako na ganoon pala talaga ang tumakbo, nakangiti niyang sagot. Ayon kay Marian, sure na raw siya kahit noon pa na tatakbo siya. Sigurado talagang tatakbo ko dahil unang-una sa lahat, naniniwala ako sa foundation niya [Dingdong Dantes]. At saka, para sa kanya. Palagi na ba niyang gagawin ang pagtakbo? Bakit hindi, okey naman siya. At kung makakatulong, bakit hindi? Nangiti naman si Marian dahil sa pagbanggit ng press na todo rin ang suporta sa kanya ni Dingdong, dahil kahit nakarating na ito sa finish line, nagpalit lang ng pang-itaas, pagkatapos ay binalikan na siya kung nasaan man siyang lugar sa pagtakbo. Oo nga, e! Dapat 3K lang ako, napasubo ako, naging 5K na rin ako! natatawa niyang sabi. Nagstretching lang ako kanina para hindi ako bumigay. Maaga akong pumunta rito para mag-stretching kami. Nagulat din daw si Dingdong nang makitang sa 5K run na rin ito sumali. Nagbigay ng mensahe si Marian sa naging success nga ng book run. Congrats, kasi naging successful at saka ang dami talagang tumakbo para rito sa book run na to. Kaya sa lahat ng tumakbo, isa na ako sa nagpapasalamat. Pinaninindigan niyang talaga ang pagiging inspirasyon ng Yes Pinoy Foundation? Oo naman, oo naman...dahil isa ako sa naniniwala sa foundation niya. So, lahat ng projects ni Dingdong, susuporta siya? Oo naman! All the way! nakangiting sabi nga ni Marian. MARIAN RIVERA Ayon kay Marian, sure na raw siya kahit noon pa na tatakbo siya YES! COVER STORY. Tinanong din si Marian tungkol sa YES! Magazine cover story tungkol sa kanila ni Dingdong (February issue), kunsaan kulang na lang nga ang tahasang sabihin nila na sila na nga. Siguro naman sapat na ang nakasulat dun para i-express namin ang mga feelings namin. Hindi na kailangang i-pinpoint na, ay, eto yan, wala na sigurong ganun. Ayaw na ring magdetalye ni Marian in terms of sa official anniversary nila, monthsary... May ganun? natatawang reaksyon niya. Tulad ng sinabi ni Dong, siguro, e, sapat na ang mga salita namin. Hindi na kailangan ng mga ganun. Ang importante, e, naging honest kami, at masaya kami sa mga nangyari sa amin. Pero para kay Marian, every day naman daw ay espesyal para sa kanilang dalawa ni Dingdong. Pero ano nga ba ang pinakamemorable na araw para sa kanilang dalawa? Memorable? Sa tuwing makikita ko siya, yun ang memorable sa amin. TRIPS WITH DINGDONG. Kinumpirma naman ni Marian na hindi pa sila matutuloy umalis ni Dingdong ngayong araw, February 1, papuntang Dubai, but instead yung susunod na araw na raw ang alis nila. Pero isang mabilis na secret, ang sagot nito when asked kung naapruban na ba ang visa ni Dingdong pa-spain. Pero bakit nga ba tila sinisikreto pa nila ang biyahe nila papuntang Spain? Huwag kayong DINGDONG DANTES mag-alala, sasabihin ko naman, at ako mismo ang magsasabi sa inyo kapag natuloy yun at kapag nagkita kami ng daddy ko, sabi ni Marian. Two weeks din daw silang mawawala dahil pa- Dubai bound muna sila for the Ogie Alcasid and Regine Velasquez show roon. Kinamusta rin namin kay Marian ang kanyang daddy at kung excited na ba ito sa muli nilang pagkikita. Oo! Sabi ko nga, huwag na niya akong sunduin sa airport at baka dun pa kami magiyakan. Nakangiti naman si Marian when asked kung excited na rin ba ang daddy niya na makilala si Dingdong. Tingnan natin...tingnan natin. Five years din daw ang hinintay niya para sa muli nilang pagkikitang mag-ama. Paudlot-udlot kasi. Minsan siya ang uuwi, hindi matutuloy. Or ako ang pupunta, hindi rin matutuloy. So ngayon, sana... PAGPAPAALAM SA DARNA. Timing naman daw na ang last taping ng Darna ay natapos ng 5:30 in the afternoon. Maagang-maaga nga naman kung ikukumpara sa usual taping day. Natapos nila ako ng 5:30 ng hapon. Kasi, nakiusap talaga ako na sa last day, kontian ang eksena ko para makatakbo pa rin ako rito. Pero dalawang oras lang din daw ang itinulog niya dahil may party raw sila sa Darna. How was her last taping? Mixed emotion, e. Unang-una sa lahat, malungkot dahil nagtapos na ang Darna. Nalungkot ako kasi ang dami kong nabuong friendship dun sa Darna[. Si Tita Celia [Rodriguez], si Roxanne [Barcelo]. Mismong si Tito Eddie Garcia alam mo yun? Lahat kami ru n talagang nagba-bonding. Taylor Swift w COUNTRY pop sensation Taylor Swift went home with several award trophies during the 52 nd Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles. These include the Grammys top honor, album of the year and for Swift s bestselling album Fearless. Beyonce also became the most decorated female on a Grammy night as she collected six trophies, including song of the year for her anthem Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It), Swift, who won a total of four awards, jumped around like the 20-year-old kid that she is when she beat out Beyonce, the Dave Matthews Band, Lady Gaga and the Black Eyed Peas for the honor. Oh wow thank you so much! I just hope that you know how much this means to me... that we get to take this back to Nashville, said Swift, whose Fearless was last year s best-selling album of any genre. Oh my God, our families are freaking out in their living rooms, she added. My dad and my little brother are losing their minds in the living room right now. Although Beyonce also lost out on record of the year, which went to the Kings of Leon s Use Some the enterta owned the awards of evening. Beyonce 2004 won Grammys strength of debut albu

5 body, iner still most the HOLLYWOOD TATTLE gerously in Love, a mark tied by the likes of Alicia Keys, Norah Jones and Lauryn Hill, Amy Winehouse and Alison Krauss, reached that milestone again Sunday en route to the new record. She is the first to reach that mark twice. She shared the song of the year trophy with three ins Grammys, who in five on the her m Danwriters for Single Ladies and also won best R&B contemporary album for I Am... Sasha Fierce. This has been such an amazing night for me and I d love to thank the BEYONCE Grammys, Beyonce said after winning best female pop vocal for Halo. The Kings of Leon were a bit more entertaining when they picked up their record of the year trophy, the family quartet s third of the night. I m not going to lie, we re all a little drunk. But we re happy drunks, said lead singer Caleb Followill. Lady Gaga won two Grammys during the pretelecast ceremony but didn t get a chance to show her multitude of outrageous dresses during the primetime show, losing out on record, song and album of the year. But she made her presence felt when she kicked off the night with a sequined green leotard with massive shoulders as she sang her Grammynominated hit Poker Face, then brought out Elton John as they melded her song Speechless and his classic Your Song together in a performance that featured dueling LADY GAGA pianos, and glitterpainted faces. Swift, who was second to Beyonce in Grammy nominations with eight nods, also won best country album among her other awards. The victory capped an amazing run for Swift, whose Fearless is only her second album. Her self-titled debut was a platinum success but Fearless, with songs like You Belong RIHANNA With Me, took her into the superstar stratosphere, as she won accolades across genres. Another country act to take a top award was the Zac Brown Band, which won best new artist. The Black Eyed Peas also had three trophies, as well as Jay-Z, who won for best rap solo performance and two awards for Run This Town with Rihanna and Kanye West. Rihanna who was forced to bow out of last year s awards as a performer after being assaulted by thenboyfriend Chris Brown, accepted the trophy along with Jay-Z and with Beyonce s young nephew in tow. West who has kept a relatively low profile since his dustup with Swift a few months back was a notable no-show. Maxwell, up for six awards, also won his first Grammys best R&B male vocal for the ballad Pretty Wings and best R&B album for BLACKsummers night. The album marked the R&B crooner s return after an absence of eight years from the music business. Many participants in the program wore red cross buttons in support of Haiti earthquake relief. Mary J. Blige joined Andrea Bocelli in a rousing rendition of Bridge Over Troubled Water, which was not only designed to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the song s big Grammy wins, but to raise money for the people in Haiti. The performance, introduced by Haitian native Wyclef Jean, will be available via itunes.com/target, with the funds going to earthquake relief.

6 Tuesday, February 2, 2010 Ni McJoe PALAISIPAN Thelma Onego Complete the grid so every row, column and 3 x 3 box contains every digit from 1 to 9 inclusively. Previous puzzle solution PAHALANG 22. Sanggol 1. Libot 29. Totoy 30. 5/6 7. Banas 31. Panghuli 11. Bubuka ang mga kamay ng isda 32. Subyang 12. Panghihinayang 13. Ikatas 14. Kabisera ng Afghanistan 15. Sangkap ng haluhalo 16. Negatibong 33. Negatibong sagot 34. Kahoy 35. Makunat na karne 36. Hi ; Ginahasa sagot 17. Ihasa PABABA 19. International Master 21. Gapas 1. Sugapa 2. Asosasyon 3. Ihawak 4. Sentro 5. Ipagsanggalang 6. Sambit ng sanggol 7. Hulo 8. Ganap 9. Hikayat 10. Konggresista 14. Iwaglit sa isip 18. Pantukoy 19. Ilamat 20. Susunod na sandali 23. Pangamba 24. Mistula 25. Tanong 26. Taling 27. Pangalan ng babae 28. Sisiw SAGOT SA NAKARAAN Metrobank 2010 search for TOPS LEADERS in different sectors of the society gathered together to serve as judges for the 2010 Search for The Outstanding Philippine Soldiers (TOPS). The sterling list of the Final Board of Judges for this year s Search is composed of Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio as chairman; Bureau of Immigration Commissioner Marcelino Libanan; Philippine Bar Association President and World Bank Independent Advisory Board Member Atty. Simeon Marcelo; Globe Telecom President and CEO Ernest Cu; and GMA Network Vice President for Corporate Communications Butch Racquel as members. The final judging process, which entailed documents evaluation and panel interview, enabled the judges to probe deeper into the soldiers accomplishments and to have an interaction with them. I ve always had a high regard for our military, but after interviewing them and talking to these soldiers, I even had a higher regard for the military, expressed Justice Carpio. These people are very patriotic, very dedicated and they strive to do their best in performing their job. It s really very enlightening to meet them, he continued. Consisting of commissioned officers and enlisted personnel from the Army, Navy, Air Force and Technical Services, the twenty finalists were selected from a pool of 85 nominees, the Search s highest to date. The names of the ten awardees will be announced in February. They will be recognized in ceremonies to be held at the Malacañang Palace in March. The Search for TOPS is our way of showing appreciation for the sacrifices of the men and women of the Armed Forces to protect the Filipino nation, Metrobank Foundation president Aniceto Sobrepeña (extreme right) briefs the TOPS 2010 judges, composed of Bureau of Immigration Commissioner Marcelino Libanan (third from left), Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio (fourth from left), Philippine Bar Association President and World Bank Independent Advisory Board Member Atty. Simeon Marcelo (fifth from left) and Globe Telecom President and CEO Ernest Cu (sixth from left), on the Search s judging process. With them are (from left) Metrobank Foundation executive vice president Elvira Ong Chan, Rotary Club of Makati Metro president Albert Guevarra and Metrobank Foundation vice chairman Dr. Placido Mapa, Jr. Metrobank Foundation President Aniceto Sobrepeña said. TOPS, an annual undertaking of the Metrobank Foundation, Inc. and the Rotary Club of Makati Metro, is a nationwide search that honors the career achievements of the members of the military. Now on its 15th year, TOPS has already named 116 awardees, among them are six generals, namely BGen. Pedro Ramon Sinajon (1999), BGen. William Campos (2003), BGen. Renato Lorenzo Sanchez (1995), BGen. Cesario Atienza (2002), BGen. Lino Horacio Lapinid (1997), and MGen. Juancho Sabban (2003). Bible Week sa Navotas, tagumpay! NAGING matagumpay ang ginanp na pagdiriwang ng Bible Week sa Navotas na pinangunahan ng BINDS Foundation, Inc. noong nakaraang ika-30 ng Enero. Nagsimula ang pagdiriwang ganap na ika- 5:15 ng umaga mula sa Parokya ng San Roque de Navotas at binaybay ang kahabaan ng M. Naval patungong City Hall. Matapos ito ay ginanap ang munting programa. Nagsalita sina Bro. Ruel Barcelon, chairman ng BINDS, Bro. Jay Regino ang CEO, Konsehal John Cruz, Kapt. Dar Santos at Sis. Clara Derpo. Nagbigay naman ng panalangin at awit sina Sis. Vivian Grutas, sis. Onching Sengco, Bro. William Santos at Bro. Lito Ricarte. Sa kanyang mensahe, hinamon ni Bro. Ruel ang mga dumalo na dalhin ang mabuting balita na kasama natin ang Diyos at kaylan man ay di tayo iiwan sa ating paglalakbay, sa bawat tanahan. Tinapos niya ang pananalita sa pamamagitan ng mga katagang, dapat pakinggan natin ang tunay na Kristo na nasa Bibliya na nagtuturo sa atin ng daan, ng katotohanan, katarungan at katwiran na siyang maghahatid sa atin sa buhay na walang hanggan. Ang Walk for a Bible ay naging matagumpay sa tulong ng lahat ng samahan, ng Sangunian ng Navotas at sa pagtulong ni Mayor Toby Tiangco.

Tuesday, February 2, 2010 7 Bakers to hike prices of bread products Our Daily Bread Spiridon Louis isn t well known around the world, but he is in Greece. That s because of what happened in 1896 when the Olympic Games were revived in Athens. During the competition that year, the Greeks did quite well winning the most medals of any nation. But the event that became a source of true Greek pride was the first-ever marathon. Seventeen athletes competed in this race of 40 kilometers (24.8 miles), but it was won by Louis a common laborer. For his efforts, Louis was honored by king and country, and he became a national hero. The apostle Paul used running a race as a picture of the Christian life. In 1 Corinthians 9:24, he challenged us not just to run but to run to win, saying, Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. Not only did Paul teach this but he lived it out. In his final epistle, he said, I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith (2/Tim. 4:7). Having finished his race, Paul joyfully anticipated receiving the victory crown from the King of heaven. Like Paul, run your earthly race to win and to please your King. Bill Crowder As we run in this race As our best effort we bring We are spurred on by the fact That we must win for the King. Branon The Christian s race is not a sprint it s a marathon. FUELED by the rising cost of sugar, the local bakers in the country will increase the prices of loaf (600 grams) by P2.00 and pandesal (25g in 10s) by P1.00 effective this month. The rise in bread prices came after sugar prices have gone up by 60 percent since its last price selling level. In December, bakers initially absorbed the sugar price increases for the benefit of the consuming public as many basic commodities had increased last holiday season. Bakers were also optimistic that the government will be able to do something as they expressed their intention to import sugar to contain and bring down sugar prices in the local market. Unfortunately, this did not take place. With the recent 16 percent increase in sugar prices just this January alone, bakers cannot continue to hold-off any longer and are forced to increase prices by P2.00 for 600g white loaf breads and P1.00 for 10pc-pack pandesal with baked weigh of 25g. Members the Philippine Baking Industry Group L I N E A D S Our new cell number for free text is 0927-5202742 LOANS Salary/Business Loan 572-9369/0920-4027387 SALARY LOAN / OFW 5729369 / 0920-4027387 6% P.A. BNEW/USED CARS CAR LOAN / CAR LATERAL (02)9077121 09151980332 0921-6774142 CHARLIE JOB OFFER Work from Home!!! part/full time: 10-30k/month www.peaklifestyle.com/ eagles. Text 0908-1952711 JOB OPENING 0921-2842308 URGENT HIRING! w/o OFC exp., any cors training w/ allowance OFC STAFF / CLERK w/ high starting salary text/call 0928-2525904 FOR RENT For Rent!!! Mitsubishi L300 FB. 0932-6170132 0923-5067704 Videoke/Videogame profit, sharing pref. near Marikina. 0915-3325415 Danny SERVICES DO YOU NEED TUTORS FOR YOUR KIDS? Call 6401766 * 6428829 ACCELERATE TUTORIAL & ACTIVITY CENTER Kapasigan, Pasig City (PhilBaking) will adjust prices starting next week after they advised supermarkets and outlets. Community bakeries, on the other hand, will also adjust their prices in the same manner the major bakeries adjusted their prices. Leonardo Figueroa of the Philippine Federation of Bakers Association Inc. (PFBAI) said, Some of our community bakery-members have already started their price adjustment this week to cope with the spiraling cost of ingredients particularly sugar. Three more oil firms reduce fuel prices FOLLOWING the rollback of fuel prices by two independent oil players, three more oil firms have rolled back the prices of their fuel yesterday. Raffy Ledesma, public affairs officer of Petron Corp., said his company is slashing by 75 centavos per liter the prices of its diesel and kerosene, while Thailand-based PTT Philippines said it will only implement a 75 centavos per liter rollback only on their diesel products. Ledesma attributed the rollback to the downtrend in international prices. Flying V, on the other hand, said they are matching the price cut imposed by their rival Seaoil and Eastern Petroleum early Monday morning of 50 centavos per liter reduction in gasoline and 75 centavos per liter for both diesel and kerosene. BUY & SELL For Sale!!! 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Housing authorities should produce an inventory of all nonperforming government assets, and ascertain those holdings that could potentially be developed into community shelters, said Manzano, former national president of the Vice-Mayors League and one-time vice-mayor of Makati City. They should come up with exact plans to develop the assets for public housing. Congress can then consciously support the plans with ample funding, Manzano said. For example, he said an abandoned or unoccupied multilevel government office building could be remodeled at minimal cost into affordable residential apartments for the benefit of informal community settlers. He said the suitable assets could be converted into community housing by national shelter agencies on their own, or with the help of provincial, city or municipal governments. Manzano s proposal was inspired partly by the United Kingdom s public housing for marginal families. State-run lenders such as the Development Bank of the Philippines and the Land Bank of the Philippines could also get involved, Manzano said. Boost in RP s anti-corruption rating seen with greater public access to info COTABATO Rep. Emmylou Taliño-Mendoza has expressed confidence that the country s anti-corruption rating would get a big boost once the proposed Freedom of Information Act is finally enacted. We are counting on the measure to improve considerably the country s image in terms of fighting corruption, said Taliño- Mendoza, one of the key authors of the measure and one-time chairwoman of the House committee on public information. What is important is that 23 years after ratification of the 1987 Constitution, we will finally have a new law enabling the orderly implementation of provisions on the public s right to government information on matters of civic concern, including all state contracts, Taliño-Mendoza said. Congress is set to ratify this week the bicameral conference report on the measure. Taliño-Mendoza said the measure would surely give a whole new meaning to the constitutional right to information, reinforce public accountability and repel malfeasance. We are absolutely certain this will go a long way in promoting greater transparency and improving governance, she said. The Philippines ranked 139th among 180 countries in the 2009 Corruption Perceptions Index of Transparency International (TI). With a score of 2.4 points in 2009, the country s ranking improved slightly from 141st in 2008. Nacionalista Party president and standard-bearer Sen. Manny Villar was welcomed warmly by young supporters at San Pablo Elementary School. Villar joined his vice presidential candidate Sen. Loren Legarda, who celebrated her birthday in the said school recently.

8 Tuesday, February 2, 2010 Purefoods snatches victory in last seconds PUREFOODS Giant James Yap and Roger Yap were once again Purefoods men of the hour as the Giants made it two in a row over the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters with a stirring 95-94 come-from-behind victory at the Araneta Coliseum Sunday. Moments after Talk n Text fashioned out a 106-105 stunner of a win over Ginebra Kings, the Giants essayed their own thriller, pulling through on two foul shots by James Yap with six-tenths of a second left. Roger Yap also played a big role as he rallied the Giants from 20-point deficits on a 20-point explosion in the second half. With James two charities, the Giants completed their swashbuckling comeback to move Bata Reyes grabs Master Crown for the fifth time FILIPINO cue artist Efren Bata Reyes has captured this year s Master of the Table Crown, the fifth time even as he continues to be the biggest money earner in the pool game. Acknowledged as one of the all-time greats, he achieved the same feat in 1999, 2004, 2005 and 2007. Reyes, playing under the banner of Puyat Sports was a finalist in the 9-Ball Banks, and winner in the 9-Ball Competition to pocket the all-around title of The Master of the Table Crown to claim his paycheck of US$ 20,000 in the 12th Annual Derby City Classic at the Horseshoe in the threshold of the KFC PBA Philippine Cup semifinal round. Squeezing through with a follow-up on their 90-85 win in Game One, the Giants moved a win short of setting up a best-ofseven semifinal confrontation with the San Miguel Beermen. Purefoods takes its first of three cracks at the semis in Game Three Wednesday in the same venue. The hardest thing about this series is that just everybody thought it s gonna be a breeze for us. But Rain or Shine has proven they re a tough team. We struggled through the first three quarters. It s a relief we re able to pull through, said Purefoods coach Ryan Gregorio. Casino and Hotel in Indiana, United States, on Jan. 31, 2010. Dubbed as The Magician, cue wizard Reyes beat American Rodney Rocket Morris in the 9-Ball Competition finals, 7-4, earned him another $16,000 pay check. PSA to honor SEAG gold medalists FOR fighting their hearts out and making the country proud in the 25th Southeast Asian Games, Filipino gold medal winners in Vientiane, Laos will be honored with a special award by the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) during its Annual Awards Night presented by Coca-Cola. Double gold medalist Miguel Molina leads the SEA Games heroes and heroines who the country s sportswriting fraternity will be greatly toasting in the rite set March 1 at the Manila Hotel. The Philippines bagged a total of 38 gold medals to finish a fighting fifth in the two-week long biennial event. A major part of that winning group includes pool player Rubilen Amit, taekwondo jins Janice Lagman, Camille Alarilla and Rani Ann Ortega and long jumper Marestella Torres, all of whom will be the recipients of the coveted Athlete of the Year trophy being handed out by the oldest media organization in the Philippines composed of editors and sportswriters from the daily broadsheets and tabloids. FEU chess team leads 72 nd UAAP event THE Far Eastern University (FEU) chess team led all the way in all divisions (Juniors, Seniors Men s and Women s) at the end of the first round of 72nd season of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) chess team championships at the UST s new Tan Yan Kee Student Center in Espana, Manila during the weekend. Our hard work has paid off but it s still a long way to go, said FEU head coach twotime Olympian member GM Jayson Gonzales. I believe this is an unprecedented feat for a school in the UAAP chess tournament, he added. The Lady Tamaraws composed of Ronna Reigner Senora, WNM Jedara Docena, WNM Rulp Ylem Jose and Jenny Rose Palomo blanked the Lady Warriors comprised by Mersky Peque, Chrizel Yson, Janine Krishna and Jessica Visca, 4-0, to show the way in the seniors women s category by tallying a total output of 18.5 points. Sports solusyon sa bisyo ISA si Herbert Bautista sa mga artistang pumasok sa politika na naging isang mahusay na public servant. Sa tagal nang panahon na siya y nanilbihan sa Quezon City, naging maayos ang pamamalakad niya at sa paglipas ng mahabang panahon, nanatiling malinis ang kanyang pangalan patungkol sa kanyang paninilbihan at paglilingkod sa kanyang mga kababayan. Napakarami pang plano ni Herbert para sa mga taga QC at ngayong nabigyan siya ng pagkakataon na maghangad ng mas mataas na posisyon, naniniwala siyang mas lalawig pa ang oportunidad na lalo siyang makapagsilbi at ng higit pang matupad ang mga pinangarap niya para sa kanyang siyudad. Gusto pa niyang mas lalong makatulong sa mundong pinanggalingan niya, ang showbusiness. Sa ngayon, marami nang nakalinyang proyekto si Herbert na sa palagay niya, higit na nakakaraming taga-showbiz ang makikinabang. Gusto niyang tulungan ang mga movie producers para patuloy silang gumawa ng pelikula. Kapag walang tigil ang paggawa ng pelikula, mas marami ang magkaka-trabaho, hindi lang mga artista kundi pati yung mga taong nagta-trabaho sa likod ng isang pelikula, sabi ni Herbert. Maging sa larangan ng sports ay naghanda na rin nang maraming proyekto si Herbert. Alam ni Herbert na sa pamamagitan ng mas marami pang sports activities, mailalayo niya ang mga kabataan sa bisyo at sa mga hindi magandang gawain. Plano namin ang mas marami pang basketball leagues at basketball clinic para sa mga kabataan at marami pang tournaments para sa sports na tulad ng chess, football, volleyball, taekwando at iba pa. * * * Sulit na sulit ang bayad ng mga basketball fans na nanood sa Araneta Coliseum nung Linggo. Grabe, dalawang laro na nadesisyunan lang sa mga huling segundo ng laban. Dalawang kapana-panabik na laro na talaga namang makapanindig-balahibo para sa mga players. Halos nagse-celebrate na ang mga fans ng Ginebra dahil two seconds na lang ay lamang sila, pero sa isang iglap, naglaho lahat ito nang maka-shoot via alley-oop si Jared Dillinger at nanalo pa ang TNT. Si James Yap naman ang nagsilbing hero sa ikalawang laro. Halos sigurado na rin ang panalo ng Rain or Shine, pero sa isang iglap, nag-iba din ang istorya at Purefoods pa ang nanalo. Isa na lang na panalo nung dalawa at naghihintay na ang Alaska at SMB sa kanila. Matagal-tagal na rin ang panahon na nasulit ang pera ng isang basketball fan sa isang araw na panonood ng PBA. * * * Nagsisilbing palamuti na lang sa isang PBA team ang ilang dati y matutunog na pangalan sa amateur basketball. Hindi sila ginagamit ni coach. Kahit na sabihin pang magagaling naman sila, di pa rin sila mabigyan ng playing time. Kinuha lang sila sa drafting para lang gawing palamuti sa bench. Sayang ang mga talento nila.