The Cuban Will Kiss The Canvas For Good

by ODON S. BANDIOLA

Filipino WBO and WBA unified flyweight boxing champion. Brian Viloria was simply outgunned and outfought by Mexican challenger Juan Francisco Estrada.

It was obvious that Team Viloria never studied the boxing style of Estrada. Viloria did not develop a game plan against him. He was badly defeated.

The decision was a split but it could have been unanimous. It was a lopsided win for Estrada. Viloria’s handspeed was simply no match for Estrada’s punching combinations which simply overwhelmed Viloria.

Viloria engaged Estrada in a toe-to-toe duel starting from the middle rounds up to the end. There, Viloria was all the way at the receiving end. The Filipino was battered by Estrada’s blinding punching combinations. Viloria’s corner which included former world champion Gerry Peňalosa must take some of the blames.

Viloria is not of lesser stuff than Estrada, but Viloria lacked the game plan how to put the Mexican away.

The referee likewise was one of the major culprit in Viloria’s loss. A series and repeated low blows Estrada delivered against Viloria was tolerated by the referee surnamed “Rodriguez.” Such deserved only a warming from the dumb boxing referee.

Possibly Bob Arum’s Top Rank promotions made a killing by staging the first ever professional boxing extravaganza in Macau. Arum defied the usual boxing presentation by making a 4-rounder bout the main event starring the Chinese two-time Olympic gold medallist in his pro-boxing debut beamed by millions of Chinese homes at the pay-per-view. Financially, Arum may have made a killing with such promotion.

One Filipino champ down in three championship bouts very recently. IBF junior flyweight champion Junriel Casimero retained his belt by a decision in Panama. WBO Junior flyweight champion Donie”Ahas” Nietes retained his crown with a draw in Cebu. Then came Viloria’s downfall Saturday night, April 6. If there is any consolation, another interim championship was recently captured by an Ilonggo surnamed Sabillo, the WBA minimum weight interim champion.

Come Sunday, April 14, another Redemption Day is to be staged by Donaire for the Filipinos. I’ll bet the Cuban will kiss the canvass for good. /MP

Philippine Divorce & Science of Living Together

by ALEX P. VIDAL

“Divorce is the one human tragedy that reduces everything to clash.” RITA MAE BROWN

The next congress will introduce the divorce bill in the Philippines after the elections in May this year. At least this is the assurance made by House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte just recently.

The proposed measure is expected to again raise the blood pressure of Roman Catholic bishops still clearing the cobwebs in a landmark Reproductive Health (RH) bill setback.

The bill would be about relationship between husband and wife, about companionship in a marital household, about living together permanently under one roof and whether to maintain the roof or abandon it. Scientific studies have rather consistently demonstrated that companionship contributes to good health.

The quality of relationships also is a factor, according to Xinhua Steve Ren, Ph.D., assistant professor at the Boston University School of Public Health and research health scientist with the Center for Health Quality, Outcome, and Economic Research of the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Bedford, Massachusetts.

FINDINGS

Here are some of Ren’s other findings secured by editors of Men’s Health:

Separation and divorce can actually improve health--but only in cases where there were serious ongoing marital problems. Separation and divorce are most detrimental to health when the marriage had no prior serious problems and the crisis arose with the sudden discovery of infidelity.

Being separated is more injurious to health than divorce. The separated were more than two times as likely to consider themselves in poor health than were married folks, while divorced people were about 1.3 times more likely to think themselves in ill health.

The quality of a relationship--whether marriage or cohabitation--affects the participants’ health. Those in unhappy relationships are at higher health risk than those who are in happy relationships and, surprisingly, even than those who are divorced.

Compared to married people, the unmarried tend to have higher death rates from all causes, have higher levels of stress, and use more health services. 

Logic Wins Arguments & Alienates Multitudes

Socrates and Aristotle never met each other in person, but they were parts of intellectual triumvirate that gave Greece glory and provided spark to knowledge and wisdom in antiquity.

In between these two intellectual behemoths was Plato, Socrates’ student and Aristotle’s teacher.

But our subject matter about logic will pit the modern Socrates in the person of Ernie Dayot, a philosopher, in a very interesting tete-a-tete with the modern Aristotle in the person of Richard Plana, a spiritualist, circa 2013: 

Without logic, reason is useless. With it, we can win arguments and alienate multitudes. 

DIALOGUE

PLANA: There are so many competing philosophies. How can I be sure anything’s true?

DAYOT: Who says anything is true?

PLANA: There you go again. Why do you always answer a question with another question?

DAYOT: You got a problem with that?

PLANA: I don’t even know why I asked, because some things just are true. Like two plus two equals four. That’s true, end of story.

DAYOT: Because I am one smart student of philosophy.

PLANA: That’s another question. But the reason you can be sure two plus two equals four is because it follows the irrefutable laws of logic.

ARISTOTELIAN LOGIC

Plana is right. Let me share a classic joke that draws on Aristotelian logic in the Law of Noncontradiction, as narrated by Harvard philosophers Thomas Cathcart and Daniel Klein in “Plato and a Platypus.”

A rabbi is holding court in his village. Schmuel stands up and pleads his case, saying “Rabbi,

Itzak runs his sheep across my land every day and it is running my crops. It’s my land.

It’s not fair. The rabbi says, “You’re right!”

But then Itzak stands up and says, “But, Rabbi, going across his land is the only way my sheep can drink water from the pond. Without it, they’ll die. For centuries, every shepherd has had the right of way on the land surrounding the pond, so I should too.”

And the rabbi says, “You’re right!”

The cleaning lady, who has overheard all this, says to the rabbi, “But, Rabbi, they can’t both be right!”

And the rabbi replies, “You’re right!”

The cleaning lady has informed the rabbi that he has violated Aristotle’s Law of Noncontradiction, which for a rabbi isn’t quite as bad as violating the law against coveting your neighbor’s maidservant, but it’s close.

The Law of Noncontradiction says that nothing can both be so and not be so at the same time. /MP

Sugilanon Ni Tita Linda

Ni Tita Linda Belayro

Pyramida

Ro nasyon it Ehipto hay manggaranon sa turismo. Abo ro mga turista nga naga padueong idto agod magtan-aw ko mga sinaunang taean-awon nga sa libro naton nababasa. Sa kaeaparon ag kahaba-on it disyerto, Makita ro mga pyramida nga eo-eobngan it mga paraon ag ko andang pamilya.

Si Saphira hay isaeang ka guiya it mga tourista sa andang lugar. Nakatapos imaw sa rondayang kurso. Dugang pa hay sige pa imaw nga binasa agod madugangan ro anang ka-aeaman sa turismo. Kaabu-an ko anang guina daehan it mga bisita hay ro pyramida. 

Ko gabi-e ngaron, parabil imaw magkatoeog hay nagbasa pa anay imaw ko anang libro sa Historya it Ehipto. Nakatoeogan imaw nga una sa dughan ro libro. Nagdamgo imaw nga may nagpakita kana nga isaeang ka babaye. Imaw kuno si Prinsesa Naphritere. 

May kulentas imaw nga guina inusoy. Rondaya ro yabe nga makasueod imaw sa Nervana, lugar it kapahuwayan ko mga nagtaliwan iya sa ibabaw it kalibutan. Parabil imaw mamatay, guin dagit it itom nga pispis ro kulentas paagi sa gahum it bruha. Kinahangean nana nga mabawi ro kulentas, busa nangayo imaw it permiso sa taga bantay sa Nervana nga pabalikon imaw sa eogta agod mausoy ro kulentas. 

Naga pang eamig si Saphira sa anang pagbugtaw. Abo ro anang nasayran hanungod sa pyramida. Ko agahon ngaron, nag adto imaw sa librariya agod magtu-on hanungod kay Prinsesa Nephritere. 

Sa anang pagguwa sa librariya, sa anang pag panaw, may nasub-eang imaw nga babaye nga naka belo ro anang uyahon ag mahaba ro anang buhok. Pagsub-eang nanda ko babaye, naghinyo kana nga buligan imaw ko babaye. Guin daea imaw sa lugar idto sa isaeang pyramida. Nagpakilaea dayon ro babaye nga imaw si Prinsesa Nephritere.

Suno sa prinsesa, guin takaw kana ro kulentas paagi sa pagdagit it itom nga pispis nga alila it bruha. Makaron, isaea eon ka dukesa ro bruha ag kilaeang kilaea sa sosyudad. May guina hiwat nga pagtipon-tipon sa lugar nga guina estaran ko bruha. Guin kangay si Saphira ko anang igkampod. Kangay man ro bruha nga dukesa. Guin sugid nana kay prinsesa Nephritere ro okasyon. Ko gabi-i ngaron, nagkita ro prinsesa ag bruha. Guin agaw ko prinsesa ro kulentas sa bruha. Dungan sa pagkaduea ko kulentas sa bruha, nag iba man ro anang itsura, naggueang ag nag eaw-ay. Pagbisita ni Saphira sa pyramida, hakita nana ro eawas nga patay it prinsesa ag una eon ro kulentas. 

Malipayon it duro si Saphira tongod nakabulig imaw sa isaeang ka patay. Pag uli nana sa andang baeay, may guin dawat nga sueat ro anang ina. May una nga naka deposito nga kwarta para kana sa bangko. Regalo kana ni Prinsesa Nephritere. /MP  

Humors For Matured & Adults

1. Behind every successful woman, there is a satisfied man.But behind a satisfied woman, there is usually an exhausted man.

2. Sex is like a restaurant. Sometimes you get full satisfactory service, and sometimes you have to be satisfied with self service.

3. Why was the two-piece swimsuit invented? To separate the hairy section from the dairy section. 

4. Woman complaining to a dentist: “It’s painful! I’ll rather have a baby than have a tooth removed”. Dentist: “Make up your mind soon. I’ll adjust the chair accordingly”. 

5. Old lady, 85, virgin, about to die wanted her tombstone to read: “Born a virgin, lived a virgin, died a virgin.” The engineer shortened it to: “RETURNED UNOPENED” (by Atty. Ronquillo C. Tolentino) /MP

Investing In Local Economic Development (LED): Competitive Cities On The Rise *

(2nd of four parts)

* A paper presented by San Fernando City Mayor Oscar S. Rodriguez, to the Plenary Session, 38th Philippine Business Conference, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry on October 9, 2012 held in Manila Hotel, Manila.

At the League of Cities of the Philippines, we recognize the fact that because one of every two Filipinos residing in the Philippines now live in cities, the challenges that confront us are enormous. The development demands in terms of infrastructure and services are often higher than what can be addressed by city governments.

• Water District Experience

Still, I can also point to recent successes achieved by many cities around the nation toward improving living conditions. For example, Iloilo City has seen steady moderate growth that helped transform the fishing community into a thriving commercial center in the region, including a service sector that now contributes to more than 82 percent of the city’s economic output. 

In Balanga City, Bataan, the local government has set in motion a program to transform the former fishing community into a “world class university town where education plays a vital role” by 2020 under a newly adopted Comprehensive Land Use Plan that makes creative use of the city’s favorable location in the province. 

In Pangasinan province, Dagupan, which recently was named as one of the most competitive cities outside Metro Manila, continue to grow, stimulating expansion in nearby Alaminos, where a new international airport is now being built. 

There are many other examples of cities around the country gaining from progress trigerred by a surge in activities in tourism, local industries, and services. Unmistakably, the growth in these areas is being driven by astute and forward-looking investors like you.

In most of these success cases, such as the City of San Fernando, these gains may actually be sustainable with the kind of governance mechanisms that have been put in place. 

SHARED 

RESPONSIBILITY 

Reforms that paved the way for sustainable growth in San Fernando were set in motion in 2004 after I introduced a system of shared responsibility in governance that was centered on the Performance Governance System (PGS), a management know how patterned after the Harvard-developed Balance Score Card technology. 

In the beginning, the system was perceived as a highly technical tool that requires the mastery of superior management skills that are applicable only to the corporate world. Thus, there was reluctance and cynicism among traditional politicians. 

More specifically, the new governance system I had put in place was looked at with hesitancy because it required City Hall units and individual employees to always examine themselves and their performances from a set of four perspectives: Constituency, Organization, Finance and Infrastructure (COFI).

I worked hard and relentlessly and in the end there was general acceptance of the PGS system and the multi stakeholder group which had an influence on the general directions for the city that the elected officials are taking.

Under this principle of shared responsibility, I invited the private sector, the community, the village sector and civil society groups to the Multi-Sectoral Governance Council (MSGC) where they could all have a hand in managing the affairs of the city. 

The MSGC includes representatives from the business, transport, education, health, telecom, agriculture, religious, women and youth sectors – all of them having a stake in promoting and advancing our common interests. 

To attain our vision of becoming a global gateway and habitat for human excellence in 2020 and 2030, respectively, we in San Fernando challenged ourselves and our fellow stakeholders to become less dependent on the National Government coffers, by expanding our local revenue base and private sector partnerships. 

As a result, we have reduced our dependency on national government budget allotment from 53 percent to 46 percent while local revenues increased by 142 percent, from merely 203 million pesos in 2005 to 491 million peso in 2011. In 2011, we mobilized a total of 2 billion pesos in public infrastructure investments from partners. 

With better qualified and committed government employees, we invested in infrastructure support and quality management systems to achieve ISO-certification in our frontline services. Mediocrity in government service is now, we believe, a thing of the past in our city. 

MORE POSITIVE 

RESULTS

As a result of the improved services, the number of all registered businesses in San Fernando increased to 7,779 in 2011, an increase of 3.4 percent from the total of 7,524 businesses in 2010. Compared to 2005, when the PGS system was started, the 2011 total represents an increase of 33.4 percent. 

This increase in the number of businesses operating in San Fernando City has also resulted in a steady rise in jobs created – 4,181 new jobs in 2011, up from 3,574 in 2010 and 3,058 in 2009.  (to be continued next issue) /MP

EDITORIAL

Focusing On Job Creation

Agriculture Must Help Reduce Poverty

The World Bank said the big number of unemployed and underemployed in the Philippines is the big challenge for the Aquino administration.

“The need for good jobs-jobs that raise real wages or bring people out of poverty-is an overwhelming challenge,” Motoo Konishi, World Bank country director, told hundreds of local and international delegates to the Philippine Development Forum (PDF) at the Marco Polo hotel, Davao City, the Philippine Daily Inquirer reported.

Collaboration as a simple formula to address the situation. “We all need to collaborate a lot to ensure that all of our programs and assistance or policy reforms are filtered through the lens of the creation of jobs,” Konishi suggested.

Inclusive growth, which the conference was all about, meant addressing the need to create a total of 14.6 million jobs in the Philippines between now and 2016., he stressed. Konishi said there were 10 million Filipinos who were either unemployed or underemployed and another 1.1 million enter the labor force every year, or a total of 14.6 million jobs.

The domestic job market in the formal, services and manufacturing industries and employment opportunities abroad are not enough to absorb a lot of people getting into the labor force, Konishi added.

Konishi said all other sectors in the economy, particularly agribusiness and agriculture, must contribute more significantly to address joblessness and reduce poverty.

He made special mention of Mindanao as the island that urgently needs more jobs. “Job creation is more urgent in Mindanao as jobs contribute to social cohesion,” said Konishi, who is also co-chair of the PDF.

Economic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said that special focus should be given to priority economic drivers, specially employment, to meet the targeted inclusive growth of the Aquino administration.

Balisacan, in an interview at the sidelines of the opening of the two-day PDF, said the country’s economic planners are giving “a big push to employment so growth will fully become inclusive.”

He said the big challenge for 2013 is to focus on the fundamentals like employment so everyone could feel and experience the fruits of economic growth.

Creating new drivers of growth, particularly manufacturing, BPO, tourism and agribusiness, would create more quality jobs, he admitted.

In his speech, Balisacan said the government’s initial estimates suggested that $3 billion in investments in BPO, tourism and agribusiness would create 621,000 jobs, both directly and indirectly through multiplier effects. Tourism, he said, could expand job opportunities in the countryside.

“To generate more and better employment, we need to simplify labor regulations to enable industries to adapt to the country’s changing economic structure. We will also continue to address problems of skills mismatch,” he said. (by Germelina Lacorte, Judy Quiros & Karlos Manlupig) 

ASU Mandate

The Aklan State University is a consolidation of agricultural, fishery, engineering and rural development schools in Aklan. However, the focus to these areas seems forgotten. Enrollment along these courses is deminishing annually. Food production  is neglected. Even its commencement speaker on April 5  is a lawyer. Does ASU offer law degree? /MP 

Entrepreneurial Farmer

Ambrosio R. Villorente

Pinoys Feel Safe This Election Year

Political campaign of the local candidates for the May 13, 2013 elections has started. Political rivalries may be ablaze, but government data on reported crime show that Pinoys seem to have reason to feel safer during election years.

Crime volumes and rates both dropped during election years between 1999 and 2008, the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) said last month.

The same trend is seen from 2009 to 2012 as figures incomparable to those in previous years due to a different baseline (2009 data) show.

Compiled from police data, NSCB show that crime volumes decreased for election years 2001 by -3.9 percent, 2004 by -7.7 percent, and 2007 by -15.5 percent.

Crime rates--which measure volume of crimes per 100,000 population--also dipped by 5.9 percent in 2001, 9.7 percent in 2004, and 14.1 percent in 2007.

In the 2010 national election, crime volume fell by 35.5 percent and crime rate by 202.4 percent.

“The public perception of worsening crime statistics may actually just be more an issue of information hype given by media!” NSCB Secretary-General Jose Ramon Albert stressed.

The top state statistician noted, however, that in years immediately following elections, increases in crime rate and volume have been observed in two out of four since 1999.

Crime volume rose by 11.4 percent in 2002 and by 11 percent in 2008, data show.

Spikes in crime rates have been recorded in the same years--9.2 percent in 2002 and 6.1 percent in 2008.

The trends included intentional homicides which NSCB said is the crime most likely to go unreported.

This means that declines in crime rates and volumes are unlikely due to unreporting, NSCB added.

Ramon Albert also noted that the Philippines “fares comparatively well” with its neighbors in terms of intentional homicides as per United Nations data.

“So, it’s not only more fun, but safer in the Philippines, at least compared to Myanmar and Indonesia, which have far worse homicide statistics,” Albert said.

While he touted the consistent downtrend in reported crimes from 2009 to 2012, Albert noted that the rate of decline is decelerating.

“From 502,665 reported crimes in 2009, the volume of crimes went down to 324,083 in 2010 – a 35.5 percent decrease between the two-year period,” Albert said.

“In 2011, reported crime was registered at 246,958, down to 217,812 reported crimes in 2012 – a further (but slower) decline of 11.8 percent,” he added.

“The 2012 crime figure still translates to an average of 597 crimes being committed per day in the country!” Albert noted.

Aklan SP Approves 2013 Annual Budgets

During its 9th Regular Session on Wednesday, March 20, 2013, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Aklan approved the 2013 annual budgets of the municipalities of Balete and Tangalan, SP Secretary Odon S. Bandiola informed the MP.

The Annual Budget of Balete for 2013 carrying a total appropriation of P61,731,034 was approved and declared operative.

On the other hand, Bandiola said the 2013 annual budget of Tangalan was declared inoperative in part. The Provincial Local Finance Committee(PLFC) has disallowed more than P700,000 appropriation for the indigence insurance program of the municipality to be funded out of the 20 percent Development Fund.

The annual general fund budget of Tangalan carries a total appropriation of P47,023,148.67 while its appropriation for the operation of the town’s economic enterprise carries a total amount of P3,599,244.10.

The SP earlier approved the annual budget of Buruanga with a total appropriation of P46,499,047 for General Fund, and P3,312,985.13 for the operation of its economic enterprise.

The Annual General Fund Budget of Altavas of P52,497,460 and its Economic Enterprise budget of P6,514,000; the Annual General Fund Budget of Kalibo of P158,686,091.18 and its MEE budget of P51,114,884.19; Madalag’s General Fund Budget of P58,987,030.00; Malay’s budget of P310,000,000; and New Washington’s General Fund Budget of P74,002,463 and its MEED’s budget of P14,791,750.80 are still under review by the PLFC. /MP

NU Volleyball Team Skipper

by ODON S. BANDIOLA

The National University (NU) community in Metro Manila was jubilant when the school’s men’s volleyball team emerged champion in the 2013 UAAP Men’s Volleyball competition. But all Aklanons as well were happiest for the UAAP men’s volley champion skippered by Reuben Nemis Inaudito, an Aklanon, a homegrown athlete whose family lives in Laguinbanua East, Numancia, Aklan.

Inaudito, a third year Information Technology student of NU was the stalwart of Aklan’s volleyball competition in the West Visayas Regional Athletic Association Meet (WVRAAM) which won a silver medal in the past in said regional meet.

Inaudito is also one of the stalwarts of the Western Visayas volleyball team which won gold in the Palarong Pambansa held in Tarlac, Tarclac.

The NU’s volleyball team captain Inaudito finished his elementary education at the Kalibo Pilot Elementary School and his high school at the Aklan National High School of Arts and Trades.

Through Resolution No. 2013-059, the Aklan Sangguniang Panlalawigan congratulated and commended Inaudito for his sports heroics.

The SP body said Inaudito’s success in his field of sports has given pride and honor to the Province of Aklan. In skippering NU’s men’s volleyball team into a champion, he made history for the university.

The SP emphasized that Inaudito’s achievement in sports must be recognized. He is deserving of all the accolades to be given to an Aklanon athlete who excel in national sports competition.

The body said Inaudito’s exemplary performance is a great example for the young generation which will inspire them to achieve their goals in life and be involved in sports that will enhance their physical and mental prowess. /MP

Aklan Business/Industry Census

The National Statistics Office has started conducting the 2012 Census of Philippine Business and Industry (CPBI) on April 1, 2013. The census covers 283 samples in Aklan to complement the 58, 039 total samples of business and industry all throughout the country. 

The CPBI aims to collect and generate information on the levels, structure, performance and trends of economic activities of the industry in the formal sector for the year 2012. Likewise, it will serve as benchmark data for IT and IT-BPO services and will measure and compare national, regional and provincial economic growth.

According to Mr. Blas M. Solidum, Provincial Statistics Officer, data collected from the CPBI will serve as bases for the government and the private sector in policies, and projects formulation and evolve economic development plans.

“The data in CPBI will be used in constructing national and regional income accounts of the Philippine economy, and in determining and comparing regional economic structures and performances,” Solidum added.

It will be used also to analyze the performance and contribution of micro, small and medium establishments/enterprises (MSMEs) to the total economy, used in conducting market research and feasibility studies, and updating the frame of establishments and enterprises.

The data collected in this census comprise employment, compensation, income, expense, total assets, capital expenditures and inventories. 

This activity covers sectors in agriculture, forestry and fishing; mining and quarrying, manufacturing; electricity, gas, steam, and air conditioning supply including sewerage, waste management and remediation activities; construction; wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles; and business and services.

Since this undertaking will coincide with the ongoing 2012 Census of Agriculture and Fisheries, selected establishments will likewise be asked about their agriculture and fishing activities.

Mr. Solidum appealed to respondents of sample enterprises to support and cooperate with NSO field personnel by giving complete and reliable information thru survey questionnaires provided them.

He assured the respondents that all information furnished to NSO will be held “strictly confidential” and cannot be used for taxation, investigation or for other law enforcement purposes. 

“No reference to an individual or a corporation will be made public as the responses will be summarized into statistical tables to present a portrait of the structure and trends of the various sectors of the business and industry in the country,” Solidum explained. /MP

Anguish In Clay Court

by ALEX P. VIDAL

LAKE FOREST, California – The elements of drama were presented a grim face of defeat and images of agony and conquest! 

Reminiscence of Viktor Korchnoi grimacing in total disbelief as he yielded an important match to Anatoli Karpov in the 1978 duel for world chess supremacy in Baguio City; Mary Decker writing in pain and crashing in the oval after being bumped by Zola Budd in the 3,000-meter final during the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics; Alberto Contador winning Stage 15 of the 2009 Tour de France by soloing to the finish line more than a minute ahead of most of his closest GC competitors, and in so doing took the general classification leader’s yellow jersey, to name only a few. 

After failing to convert a set point while Rafael Nadal was serving at 2-5 in the first set, frustrations and anguish were written all over the face of Roger Federer.

QUALITY

It was obvious Federer’s quality of play fluctuated dramatically as the championship duel zoomed into its climax. And so his facial expression. 

The amazing Spaniard had conquered the Swiss four times before at Roland Garros. The French Open final on June 5 was Federer’s fifth collapse against Nadal in clay court. 

“It’s an honor to say that I won as many French Opens as Borg”, beamed Nadal after walking away with a 7-5, 7-6 (3), 5-7, 6-1 win. “It’s extra-ordinary. There is a lot of emotion, but the real satisfaction comes from all the work you do before you get there. There were difficult moments and some very good moments.”

The 2011 French Open title was Nadal’s sixth, equaling Bjorn Borg’s record registered 30 years ago.

Federer though remains the boss in Grand Slam singles titles with 16 as against 25-year old Nadal’s 10. The youngest man to win his 10th was still Borg at 24.

MARGINS

The 29-year-old Federer said, “Obviously, I’m not the one who’s playing with smaller margins, so obviously I’m always going to go through a bit more ups and downs. Whereas Rafa is content doing the one thing the entire time.

“So it’s always me who’s going to dictate play and decide how the outcome is going to be. If I play well, I will most likely win in the score or beat him. If I’m not playing so well, that’s when he wins.”

According to Paris-based tennis reporter Christopher Clarey, both Nadal and Borg, who won their titles in Paris (France) between 1974 and 1981 were at their most dominant at Roland Garros.

“Nadal and Borg lost to just one man here: Borg to the Italian Adriano Panatta (twice); Nadal to the Swedish slugger Robin Soderling in the fourth round in 2009,” Clarey wrote in the June 6 issue of The New York Times.

COMMON

“But Borg and Nadal have more in common than such numbers. They are both long-haired, teen idols who maintain career-long connections to their early coaches (Borg had Lennart Bergelin, Nadal has his uncle Toni).

“They each redefined the forehand with their technique and topsin. They are the best movers on clay of their generations and possess fine two-handed backhands, underrated touch, superb endurance and an ability to block out the distractions and momentum shifts and focus, again and again, on the challenge at hand”. /MP

Sugilanon Ni Tita Linda

Ni Tita Linda Belayro

Itom Nga Linaw

Si Mang Venancio hay isaeang ka mangingisda. Ko adlaw ngaron sa anang pag pangisda, owa guid imaw it dakop maskin maisot eonlang nga ibis. Sige ro anang pagbinugsay agod mag usoy it mahueogan it eambat hasta nakaabot imaw sa itom nga linaw nga owa nana napan-uhi. Habatyagan nana nga mingko may naga higop kana nga pwersa pa idaeom. Naduea-an imaw it pangalibutan. Sa anang pag muk-eat, bukon it mahayag ro panan-awan. Madueom. Pulos itom ro anang hakita pati ro mga tanum hay itom ro mga bueak ag dahon, maskin ro mga isda hay puro itom man. 

May nag abi-abi kana nga isaeang ka eaeaki. Imaw ro prinsipe ko kaharian sa idauem it dagat. Guin dueotan imaw it pagkaon ogaling owa imaw magkaon. 

Hadumdoman nana ro bilin ko anang ama nga indi magbaton it pagkaon kon sa iba kang lugar nga bukon mo it kabisado. Maangan-angan, may habati-an sanda nga daguhob. Nag paeanago ro mga isda ag nagdungok ro mga tanum. Nag abot gali ro andang hari nga si Haring Neptuno. Mainit ro anang ueo tongod puro saeabton ro guina ta-o kana ko mga tawo sa ibabaw. Naeo-oy si Mang Venancio. Naghaead imaw it serbisyo sa hari nga magmasahe ko anang ueo. Nagpasugot ro hari. Hakatoeogan ro hari ag naglinong ro palibot. Halin kato imaw eon ro naga masahe ag nagahilot kay Haring Neptuno kon mainit ro anang ueo. 

Mahaba eon ro oras nga nagtaliwan. Nahidlaw eon imaw sa anang pamilya. Busa, nag eaong imaw sa hari. Guin sugtan man imaw ag sa anang pag uli, guin pabaeonan pa imaw it mga perlas. Nag manggaranon si Mang Venancio. Abo nga nahikaw kana ag bu-ot man nanda nga mangin kapares kay Mang Venancio nga nagmanggad halin sa idaeom it dagat. Abo ro nagpahatod kay Mang Venancio sa linaw. Pag abot sa nasambit nga lugar, guin bilinan sanda nga maghueat kon ano ro matabo. Nagbalik sa takas si Mang Venancio. 

Naghumbak it mabaskog ag naeonod ro mga tawo hasta hakatoeogan. Sa andang pagbugtaw, idto eon sanda sa kaharian ni Haring Neptuno. Sayod ro hari kon ano ro andang panaw. Guin pan-an sanda it hari. Guin palimpyo ag nagpanilhig. Puro mga perlas ro andang guina silhig. Ro bilin kanda hay tipunon ro mga perlas ag ibutang sa sueodlan. Ogaling guin pinang tago nanda ro perlas. Ko gabi-i ngaron, nagkasugot sanda nga mag paeayo sa palasyo. Ogaling owa pa ngani sanda naka guwa hay naglinog it mabaskog ag nag alimbukad ro eawod. 

Nag gueowa ro tanan nga higko ag nag itom ro palibot nga puno it eapok. Indi sanda maka ginhawa tongod sa mapilit ro tubi. Nagkaeamatay sanda. Nag kalhit ro mga perlas. Halin kato, nag itom ro tubi ag bihira ro mga tawo nga naga pangisda tongod owa man it abo nga isda nga naga estar kara sa linaw. /MP

SWS Pool Shows Pinoys Appreciate Good Governance

Things are looking up for the Filipino under the Aquino administration.

The recent Social Weather Stations survey shows that majority of Filipinos are satisfied with their lives.

“If four out of five Filipinos are satisfied with their lives, then it only shows that the majority of Filipinos feel that the government is working for them,” said former Senator Jamby.

Dissatisfaction, she pointed out, would indicate that Filipinos do not approve of what the Aquino administration is doing, “or is not doing enough to address their needs and concerns.”

The SWS poll, conducted from Dec. 8 to 11 last year, found four of five Filipinos or 81 percent saying they were satisfied with their lives.

Of the 81 percent, 33 percent were “very satisfied” and 48 percent, “fairly satisfied.”

Madrigal believes that the satisfaction rating would get even higher if the survey is conducted now, citing the recent Fitch Ratings upgrade of the Philippines’ investment status and the increasing number of foreign tourist arrivals as well as the continued strengthening of the peso. 

She cautioned, however, that even if most Filipinos are satisfied with their lives, the government would need to focus on the remaining 20 percent who feel dissatisfied. /MP

THE GOOD LIFE…

Enjoy The Trip

My trip last year to Bangkok, Thailand to attend the 103rd Rotary International convention was a great adventure. It was my first time to attend the convention with huge and crazy crowd at one of the biggest convention centers in Asia - The Impact Convention Center. I went to a country that is according to the slogan – where one finds the greatest smile? I beg your pardon.

I did not find any person who smiles with me, not even my Thai Tour guide who met and greeted us at the airport. Not even the taxi driver speaks English language. My six days and five nights stay in the hotel was a nightmare. Oh! I call it now ‘the great adventure’. It is funny as I struggled to speak and gave the sign language to the hotel receptionist and room attendant in order to be served. 

I lost my way many times going back to the hotel, considering that the Impact Center is just 10 minutes to our hotel. Even the locals do not know how to get to where I was billeted. At the convention center, twice I asked, where is the Shelterbox Booth? A couple of Thai logistics told me downstairs to the right (coupled with sign language), only to discover, it’s the Starbucks café. Did it sound like that? Another one pointed me again, downstairs to the left. Only to find out, it’s the shuttle bus corner. I gave up!

I didn’t loss my patience, I pity these people. Thailand is considered the best in her tourism industry. However, Thai’s love their language so much that they do not intend to teach their front liners to speak and communicate to the tourists. Let alone the tourist lost his way and find out that they are already nowhere, and to end up paying more for the taxi cab. 

The places to see in Thailand are just simple pleasures, but they are very good in promoting their places. There are more good places to see around the world, but how come we love to keep coming back to Bangkok?! I saw so many Filipinos who were shopaholic (they shop till they drop)! They went around looking and enjoying the places like there were no others. 

On the other hand, I feel the honesty and genuine hospitality of the people even if they do not speak English. I feel the sincerity of how they love their culture and how proud they are of what they have become. No matter how hard they try to speak and understand the tourist, they are willing to help and be honest. If one lost his way, they are willing not to ask for the tab. They will say sorry and off they go without argument. They also have a way of showing their kindness and bring one personally around. There is this sales lady who ushered me to the comfort room. She was very polite. While in the Philippines, Pilipinos point directions with their fingers and mouth. /MP

Investing In Local Economic Development (LED): Competitive Cities On The Rise *

(1st of four parts)

* A paper presented by San Fernando City Mayor Oscar S. Rodriguez, to the Plenary Session, 38th Philippine Business Conference, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry on October 9, 2012 held in Manila Hotel, Manila.

While the overall Philippine economy grew in 2011 by 3.9 percent, much higher rates of expansion were registered in many of the regions outside highly urbanized Metro Manila.

The National Capital Region contributed a slightly lower 35.7 percent share of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product in 2011, with the capital’s growth rate declining to 3.5 percent compared to 7.6 percent the previous year.

Of the country’s 17 regions, seven registered growth rates last year (2011) that were higher than Metro Manila’s. For instance, Central Luzon contributed to the national economy 9.3 percent and growth rate was higher at 9.3 percent. 

Judging from those numbers, I can only conclude that the theme of this plenary session, “Investing in Local Economic Development,” is a most time one, particularly since the focus is on “Competitive Cities on the Rise”. The organizers deserve a warm applause for having come up with this theme.

What leaders should focus on:  Raise the quality of life;  Education; Employment; Corrupt-free government; Governance a shared responsibility; Leaders should be enablers, innovators, forward-looking and true.

NOTE OF GRATITUDE

Before I go any further, I hope you will allow me to offer a note of gratitude. This is a sentimental visit for me. I was at your Annual Business Conference last year, also at this same venue, to accept your organization’s kind awards to my City of San Fernando, the “2011 Most Business-Friendly LGU Award” and the “Hall of Fame Award”. Thank you again for honoring my city with the prestigious awards in the Level 1 category.

These awards have given us, the San Fernando city officials and rank-and-file employees, a proud and humbling experience. Some of our friends in the local business sector viewed the awards as a validation of the correctness of our development principles and strategies in our city, formerly a sleepy town that now emerged into a new boomtown in our corner of the Central Luzon region. 

I am also happy to report to you that since you gave us those awards, our city has been honored with a few other citations by reputable local and international award-giving organizations. In Seoul, our City of San Fernandeo was given the distinction as one of the world’s “most liveable cities” by the 2011 International LivCom Awards group. In Geneva early this year, I was invited by organizers of a forum on “Cities, the Laboratories of the Future” as lone participant from Southeast Asia to discuss the San Fernando example. 

And for dramatic improvements in the basic services that we provide our constituents and businesses setting up shop in our city, the Central Luzon Growth Corridor Foundation, with which some of you may be affiliated, conferred on us the Golden Eagle Award National Level for our successful streamlining of the processes in our business permits issuance.

These awards were actually the result of our efforts to provide the best level of public service that is in line with the “tuwid na daan” (or “righteous path”) enunciated by the administration of President Benigno Aquino III. At the City Hall in San Fernando, I am proud to say, “under the table transactions” are now alien and rejected by our officials and employees.

23 Minutes To Approve Business Permit

These efforts at cutting the cost of doing business – and continually looking for ways to keep such cost low – represent just one of the prime drivers that helped San Fernando boost its competitiveness as a host for private investments.

San Fernando has also made significant gains in enhancing its capacity to satisfy business needs, as illustrated by our success in trimming to a record-setting and award-winning 23 minutes the period it takes us to process and approve a business permit.

As you are aware, “satisfying business needs” is another key driver for achieving competitive standards among cities. Other factors that determine whether a city is competitive or not, as pointed out by the Asian Institute of Management, include: the dynamism of the local economy that will attract more investments; infrastructure facilities; levels of human resource skills and training; and quality of life in the community.

Indeed, more and more cities are recognizing these drivers and are setting measures in place to boost their respective competitiveness. As president of the League of Cities of the Philippines, I have constantly argued that LGUs must be competitive. 

For LGUs, particularly cities, to be competitive, they have to excel in their job of providing services and support facilities to their communities, particularly to business enterprises that also want to contribute their share for the betterment of the domestic economies. (to be continued next issue) /MP

Remembering Billy On The Kapihan 5th Anniversary

by ODON S. BANDIOLA

March 23, 2013, marks the 116th death anniversary of the 19 Martyrs of Aklan. The present people of the KAPIHAN SA AKLAN forgot the date is exactly the 5th launching anniversary of this popular weekly media forum aired live via the Kalibo Cable Television and via the Aklan Cable Television.

It was very unfortunate no one from among the media people composing the KAPIHAN lifted a finger to organize a simple but fitting anniversary commemoration.

My KAPIHAN and drinking buddy, the late Billy Arguelles was one of the souls, spirit and moving body behind the KAPIHAN sa AKLAN.

Moments like this, the KAPIHAN anniversary, reminds me of Billy. Things will always come to place with Billy. Organize an event and have Billy beside you, things just run smoothly.

I was really saddened the Lord reclaimed his life on July 28, 2011 at a very young age of 52. KAPIHAN seems to have died with him but his colleagues persevere and keep the KAPIHAN afloat and alive for his memories.

Last year, after March 23, 2012, when no one among us led to organize a commemorative event for the KAPIHAN’S 4th anniversary, surprisingly, Billy had his own way of reminding us. Lyn Arguelles’, Billy’s wife, mobile phone, without being pressed/manipulated dished out Billy’s favourite song, “Borrowed Time”, in the middle of the night. The same phenomenon had repeatedly occurred.

It made Lyn wonder what message her deceased husband wanted to convey. Disturbed by such occurrence, Lyn conferred with Nong Johnny Dayang, this writer and other Billy’s media colleagues.

We concluded Billy reminded us to put up a commemorative program for the KAPIHANs’ 4th anniversary.

Though belatedly, I, Megs Lunn, Edwin Ramos with the help of our elders, Nong Johnny, Atty. Kel Tolentino, Dr. Botoy Villorente organized a commemorative mass and recollective tributes for Billy at the Kusina Sa Kalibo, the venue of the grand launching of the KAPIHAN on March 23, 2008, 19 Martyrs’ Day.

Before his death, Billy was instrumental in keeping the KAPIHAN vibrant since its launching and we had grand anniversary celebrations in 2009, 2010 and 2011.

KAPIHAN indeed is becoming a media institution where public issues and concerns are comprehensively and thoroughly dissected every Saturday. It changed venues from its original home at the Kusina Sa Kalibo, then at the Smoke Hauz Resto and Bar, then to Carmen Hotel and at present at the Payag Resto and Bar.

KAPIHAN had once served as the forum to ventilate political issues through lively debates by local political candidates in 2010 elections. /MP

Schedule of NGCP Maintenance Activities In Panay Area

The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) serves notice of the scheduled shutdown of some of its transmission facilities in these areas: Date:  16 April 2013; Time:  8:00AM-5:00 PM; Affected Distribution Utility:   Portions of Aklan Electric Cooperative, Inc. (AKELCO); Reason:  Maintenance activities along Nabas-Lezo 69kV transmission line: 

Date:  05 May 2013; Time:  6:00 AM; 5:00 PM; Affected Distribution Utilities:  Iloilo II Electric Cooperative, Inc. (ILECO II); Portions of ILECO III; Reason:  Maintenance activity at Dingle substation, and along the 69kV Din-gle-Calinog transmission line.

Normal operations will immediately resume after work completion. NGCP’s customers and the general public are advised to take the necessary preparations and precautions for this scheduled interruption. 

Specific cities and municipalities to be affected by the power interruption are determined by the abovementioned Distribution Utility (DU), unless the activity affects the entire franchise area. The DU allots the available power within its franchise area and implements the power interruption schedule among the end-users.  /MP