The Collegio Filippino in Rome

It was 10 degrees outside and drizzling, but once we entered the simple structure past a clean but well kept facade, we felt right at home. We were at the Pontificio Collegio Filippino in Rome.

It’s a two hectare property about four kilometers away from the Vatican. Along the prime strip of Via Aurelia.

It was March 14 2013, a day after cardinals elected the Catholic church’s 266th’s pope.

Argentinian Cardinal Jose Bergoglio, first Latin American pope, a humble inspiring spiritual leader who is seen to shake up some of the rigid walls of the catholic beliefs.

I was there with three other team members assigned to cover the conclave. A few days before his selection, the possibility of an Asian pope — maybe even a Filipino pope was being discussed.

So we decided to give a Collegio a visit. Ask our Filipino priests stationed there how they feel about the new Pope.

We chanced upon Archbishop Emeritus of Cebu Ricardo Cardinal Vidal who was just on his way to the kitchen when I introduced myself. He was gracious enough to grant us an interview that was more like an easy relaxing chat.

We also got to speak with the Collegio Rector Fr. Gregory Gaston. But more than talking about the new pope, we discovered more about the Collegio.

We were given a tour by Fr. Greg. We were briefed of its amazing history and showed photo albums from several decades past including Saint Pope John XXIII inauguration of the structure in 1961.

Not many Filipino Catholics know that the Philippine archdiocese maintains this seminary residence in Rome. The Pontificio Collegio Filippino is the "Home in Rome" of Filipino secular diocesan priests, carefully chosen and formally sent by their respective bishops to pursue further studies in the different ecclesiastical centers in Rome.

The 70-room building is one of the largest Philippine socio-cultural-religious entities abroad. It is a landmark for pilgrims from the Philippines, Europe and America. It also provides a spiritual and physical presence for the Philippine Church in Rome.

They even allow lay people visiting Rome to stay in their rooms for a fraction of the cost of Italian hotels, depending on availability.

More than its practical and cultural significance, the Collegio serves an important role for a Philippine Church that is in constant need of new priests.

The Philippines is the third largest Catholic nation in the world next only to Brazil and Mexico. With over 75 million Catholics in the country today, the Church needs more priests in order to effectively reach out and serve every member of the Faithful. The need for new priests also necessitates that seminaries must be ready and equipped to properly guide seminarians along their spiritual journey.

Ideally, seminaries should have at least two priests who have attained their Licentiate or Doctoral degrees in Theology, Philosophy, Canon Law or in other Ecclesiastical fields. To achieve this, Philippine archdioceses send priests to Rome to pursue further studies in well-renowned Pontifical Universities in Italy. The Collegio houses these priests as they complete their education in Rome, providing them with a family-like atmosphere while away from home.

In the course of over 50 years, the Collegio has seen many of its priests return to their local dioceses as either seminary formators, professors, members of the Diocesan Curia, or in other specialized ministries such as the mass media or school systems. Some 50 alumni have been named bishops, including all four Filipino Papal Nuncios who serve as the Holy Father's Ambassadors worldwide.

According to the Collegio, the Philippines has a ratio of one priest for every 9,500 Catholics. It is not only in the Philippines where the Catholic church feels the need for more priests but all over the world.

The Pontificio Collegio Filippino has kept its doors open for the ecclesiastical formation of the clergy, and would like to do so for years to come.

But it is currently facing financial challenges that threaten its operations. These are mainly due to: Decreasing Scholarship funding from Germany and Italy, Dwindling Donations from European benefactors and the Urgent need to renovate and make conditions liveable and safe once again.

This is an excerpt from the Collegio’s brochure as sent by Fr. Greg to be via email.

"Since its inauguration in 1959, years have taken a toll on the institution that is now in a deteriorating state. According to Fr. Gaston, facilities such as pipelines and heating system need upgrading, and dilapidated walls and cracked floors also need renovation. He added that the high construction cost in Europe is a major concern. For the most part, Collegio gets its subsidy from lodging fees of the residents and donation of guests, only sufficient for its daily operations.

A home, not only to Filipino priests but, to every Catholic Filipino, the institution is in need of love and support. "

Thinking of this homey simple structure housing our friendly scholarly priests in a state of disrepair urged me to write this article. If you ever are in Rome, do look up the Collegio. I urge you to visit it. To meet our friendly priests and the Filipino staff. I remember how happy we were after we had tocino, sunny side up egg and fried rice after days and days of wine and Italian food.

Contributions can be made through the branches and online banking facilities of Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI), Banco de Oro, and Metropolitan Bank & Trust Company (Metrobank).

Mobile subscribers can also contribute through their mobile devices. Smart and Sun subscribers can type PCF AMOUNT and send to 4483 to remit a maximum of P1,000 per donation. Globe and TM subscribers can dial *143#, choose GCash, select “More” in the menu, choose “Donate” and select Pontificio Collegio Filippino Foundation.

Donations through MasterCard and Visa credit cards are also available online. For more information on the Collegio and on details on how you can send your support, please visit the Collegio website at www.pcfroma.org.

Isang Tugon is supported by BPI, BDO, Metrobank, Metrobank Card, Smart Communications, Globe Telecom, GMA Network Group, Robinsons Movieworld, Ayala Malls Cinemas, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Malaya Business Insight, BusinessMirror, BusinessWorld, Investor Relations Global, ADsystems International, and First Metro Investment Corporation.

For inquiries, please contact:
MARIE TUPRIO
c/o First Metro Investment Corporation
Tel: +63.2.8587951
http://asianjournalusa.com/the-pontificio-p3670-144.htm

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Tips: Gadgets at Charger na Nabili, Paano Maiiwasang Sumabog?

Gadgets at Charger na nabili, Paano maiiwasang sumabog?

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ThrowBackThursday - Cherie with Brian McKnight

#ThrowBackThursday: Cherie with Brian McKnight

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Cherie Mercado's Interview with US Ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg

Held at the Ambassador's office US embassy, Manila

May 14, 2014

Cherie: President Obama just visited the Philippines and the Filipinos were happy about the visit but questions remain on whether the US will defend the Philippines in times of conflict, specifically with the current territorial tensions with China. Do you also share the stand that the Philippines should take a more active stance in building up its own defense capabilities with or without the US?

Ambassador Goldberg: I certainly think that every country should do as much as it can to try to defend itself and try to defend its interests and the United States is a treaty ally of the Philippines and we will help the Philippines along the way. As I understand it, the Philippines’ objective at the moment is to build a minimum credible defense and that will take into account many aspects of its security situation. The United States is a treaty ally and a long time friend of the Philippines, we’ll be there to help the Philippines finish that goal.

Cherie: With the signing of the EDCA or the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement, the US is supposed to help the Philippines in building up its defense capabilities, how exactly will this be done? 

Ambassador Goldberg:  Well, the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement is a framework and sets out the authorities for our ability to help the Philippines to have increased rotational presence of forces to work here in the Philippines and in many areas. So what it will do is allow us to have more inter-operability between our two militaries, more chances for exercises, exchanges, have the ability to preposition supplies for contingencies like humanitarian efforts in disasters. So, it will help in that regard, build up the Philippines’ capacity not just in humanitarian assistance though, but in maritime security, maritime domain awareness; the kind of new interests that the Philippines has seen on the agenda of its security needs.

Cherie: In terms of equipment as well?

Ambassador Goldberg: Yes, there will be equipment that will be involved. We also believe that there will be different projects that will take place to try to help build some areas, Armed Forces of the Philippines’ facilities for example, if something is needed on a particular airport facility or needs to be expanded, or a port has to be dredged. But these are decisions as I mentioned. What we've done so far is a framework and sets out the authorities on both sides about how to move forward because this is an agreement that was derived from our mutual defense treaty and the Visiting Forces Agreement. So what we have now is the authorities but everything that we do henceforth, is going to be mutually agreed also through a process that already takes place through, our mutual defense for example, which meets military to military and decides where these things should be and how many people should be there, on how many locations, or how many troops are here and so forth.  

Cherie: Does this mean that we have to go through the specifics of the agreement? Will it be done on paper or as we go along, that’s when the two military bodies will have to talk?

Ambassador Goldberg: What I suggest to you Cherie, to your viewers and to your listeners, is that they take a look at the EDCA and what it says, and what it says again, is sort of the framework, what our relationship would be and how these things could take place but the specifics still remain to be agreed and they have to be agreed by both sides and the mutual interest of the both sides, so it’s a process it’s not all just that once.

Cherie: This might trigger doubts and fear on the Filipino people’s minds -- that if it’s not on paper and if it just goes through agreements later on, it might not be transparent?

Ambassador Goldberg: Well, we announce for example, every single exercise that we do with the Philippines. If we have a ship visit, every one of them is announced. We’re very transparent with what we’re doing, nothing will be hidden, everything will be very open, and it's necessary.  We live in a society that needs to be open and transparent with their public so I don’t think it’s an issue. Everything we’ve done until now in terms of visits, in terms of exercises, in terms of our cooperation in Mindanao and elsewhere had been open.

Cherie: Are there also commitment in terms of hardware, airplanes, helicopters?

Ambassador Goldberg: I would say that the equipment is related but not specific to the EDCA. The EDCA is a pre-particular purpose. The one we talked about which is for the assistance that we will lend to the Philippines in terms of building their minimum credible defense; in terms of inter-operability, in terms of maritime security, maritime domain awareness, humanitarian assistance and disaster reliefs those kind of issues. Some of the equipment that we’re talking about, for example, the two cutters, coast guard cutters that were given to the Philippines through our programs, are part of a separate kind of the relationship, and so we will continue that as well and it will be very complementary. These things will go together but they’re not necessarily part of the EDCA itself. I think people should consider the EDCA to be something that is evolutionary and not revolutionary in terms of our military to military relationship.  It has a specific purpose, but different parts of our relationship are in different channels. For example, we have foreign military financing which is one area, where we help Philippines purchase some of these articles or we have global contingency funds, where we’re helping the coast guard build up its capacity and do some of the maritime issues. So again, we have different areas where we cooperate and do not all fall to one agreement.                        

Cherie: There were reactions that the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement took advantage of a time when the Philippines is vulnerable to help especially after typhoon Haiyan struck.  Some said other countries gave aid but did not forge any agreements afterwards. Your reaction?

Ambassador Goldberg: We've had a treaty alliance with the Philippines for 60 years. The Philippines was interested in the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement for reasons of their own self interest. We have our interest as well, and that makes for mutual interest. I think we have a different kind of relationship than with the other countries. We would come to the Philippines aid with humanitarian assistance under any possible scenario. I’m sure it doesn’t have to do with EDCA or with other aspects of our relationship, but at the same time we have this defense relationship, the Philippines has its goals and so we have a mutually beneficial situation where yet it can make sense for both countries.

Cherie: Probably my last question, for the Philippines, it has its desire to build minimum defense capability, with the US, how will EDCA help attain its regional goals?

Ambassador Goldberg: One is through our presence here. You know, the Obama administration, since its inception has emphasized the US re-balance to Asia. Now, the central part of the re-balance or the origins of the re-balance were really economic. The idea with the rise of China, the rise of the rest of Asia, especially the South East Asia, and their growing importance as economies, their growing populations, that there was a shift going on in the world in terms of our shared interest and the idea that the American prosperity is very much tied to Asian prosperity. The security aspects of the re-balance are really part of that to make sure that the area is governed by rule of law and by a non-coercive measures, non-intimidation between countries; protecting what we consider to be our interest which are freedom of navigation in the air, in the sea; and to have a presence here, a security presence to complement what we’re all trying to do economically in these countries to work together.    

Cherie: May we get your message to the Filipino people in line with the recent visit of the US President and also with the recent signing of a new defense agreement?

Ambassador Goldberg: Let me repeat something that the President said while he was here which is that the United States views its treaty commitment to the Philippines as iron clad and that attack on the Philippines would trigger our commitments. And what I think, what happened during the President’s visit to the region, specifically to the Philippines but very importantly in the case of the Philippines was that there is a renewal, a revitalization of our relationship in many areas, and it’s not just in the defense area. We have very strong economic ties; the United States is the second largest trading partner with the Philippines. We are talking about issues like trans-pacific partnership which is a region-wide, actually more than region, the whole pacific rim-wide economic agreement which brings in new trade measures and modernization of our economies to bring into line our economic and labor and environmental policies, all with trade component as well. And it is important to remember that the US and the Philippines has huge historic people to people relations. And so, there is tremendous and rich history. So there is a tremendous people to people component, all of those things are highlighted in the President’s visit. And the idea is that, although some of the past is not remembered as fondly as other parts, the 21st century has brought new challenges , new interests into focus and at the same time, the US and the Philippines remain great friends and allies and that we can, maybe change the nature of the relationship and we want it very much to be partner with the Philippines and at the same time some of the values of democracy and our shared beliefs and our family ties all for us to renew this relationship and I think that’s what his visit represented.

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1,000 Places To See Before You Die by Patricia Schultz

Cherie's Book Recommendation: 1,000 Places To See Before you Die by Patricia Schultz

Cherie's Notes:  

I've had this book for about 10 years and it has been overtaken by newer many travel books. But still it takes up precious space on my bookshelf and never becomes part of my donation box because it was the first travel book that inspired me to see more of the world. It traverses every corner of the globe with recommendations on things to do and places to stay. Their recommendations claim to be the best and is always extravagant and I love how it makes me dream of enjoying these places the best ways possible!

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Trabaho Lang - May 13, 2014 Episode (Tax Reduction)

Senator Bam Aquino

Topics: "Babaan ang tax ng mga manggagawang Pinoy." 'Yan ang panukalang batas na ipinaglalaban ngayon ng pinakabatang Senador na si Bam Aquino. Alamin ang nilalaman ng kanyang proposed tax reforms.
Click here to listen to entire audio episode.
AUDIO | TRABAHO LANG FULL EPISODE | MAY 13, 2014Trabaho Lang can be heard LIVE on Radyo 92.3 News FM every Monday to Friday from 8:00pm to 9:30pm.

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A Happy Place - Part of my Random Discoveries

Happily discovered a nice place in my neighborhood today. After late lunch at EDGY VEGGIE -- another gem of a place, a vegetarian resto -- my lunch date and I visited HEIMA store right beside it. Its happy colors pop out from the outside. I love the way they painted even the outdoor wall (not shown in photo).

Brixton Bldg, Kapitolyo Pasig

At first I thought it was a children's furniture store but even my husband found items he was interested in. A portable vinyl turntable and some well-made furniture. I fell in love with their books collection. It's by no means extensive but each title, maybe totalling 15, I wanted in my bookshelf. Prices don't come cheap, maybe some items you'd snatch cheaper from your travels abroad but quality does have its price. And with a barrage of poorly made items in many stores these days, this store’s a breath of fresh air!

Two books I love from their shelves: 36 Hours, 125 Weekends in Europe and The Perfectly Imperfect Home

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About my Mom

My Mom is independent and strong. She’s the type who would rather go out and explore than stay home and cook.

She loves to dress up. I remember distinctly a scene in her office when I was a kid and she was about 40, where i looked up from my drawing, saw her working and thought of how beautiful she was.

She would always wear feminine clothes at work, she was her boss' adviser, she was friends with most of her colleagues yet she’d never hesitate to stay home when one of us is sick or needs her attention.

My love for reading and studying came from our moments of reviewing my lessons together.

She’d work hard but makes sure she picks us up after school.

She’s quite an explorer. I got my love for travel from her. She becomes a kid again and has no qualms expressing her amazement with every new things she discovers.

My first time in New York city was one of my most memorable and fun trip. It was just me and my mom and my jaw would drop at how tall the buildings were and how crazily crowded it got at rush hour and my mom would belly laugh and switch to her native Visayan dialect when she gets excited. We had such a grand time, we'd head out every after breakfast and return just before midnightexhausted and satisfied.

When she’s mad, we all take cover and hide. But that’s only because she constantly worries about her brood. Her prayers are full of us getting out of our current challenges in one piece.

What i’m very thankful for is my mom’s simplicity and child like wonderment. She has shown me that it’s okay to laugh hard, to continue to be amazed by the littlest things and to appreciate every moment that make up our days.

But most of all, its her Quiet Strength that I hope to develop one day. To be the same rock that she is to us and hopefully I could be to my own family.

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Trabaho Lang - May 9, 2014 Episode (Animal Advocate)

Topics:

Post by Trabaho Lang with Cherie Mercado.

Trabaho Lang can be heard LIVE on Radyo 92.3 News FM every Monday to Friday from 8:00pm to 9:30pm.

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Trabaho Lang - May 8, 2014 Episode (Employment status with guest Attorney Jonathan Sale)

Topics:
Isa ka ba sa mga na-endo o 'end of contract'? Regular na empleyado ka na ba o contractual pa rin? Samahan si Cherie Mercado para sa isa na namang makabuluhang talakayan tungkol sa inyong mga karapatan sa trabaho kasama ang labor expert at Dean ng U.P. School of Labor and Industrial Relations na si Atty. Jonathan Sale.

Click here to listen to entire audio episode.

AUDIO | TRABAHO LANG FULL EPISODE | MAY 8, 2014

http://n5e.interaksyon.com/mobile/Top.aspx?c=1001&g=205ACA0AEA3F440

Trabaho Lang can be heard LIVE on Radyo 92.3 News FM every Monday to Friday from 8:00pm to 9:30pm.

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Where is the Philippines Headed?

Dean Jonathan Sale, UP School of Labor and Industrial Relations (UP-Solair) and me at the Radyo5 TV5 booth May 8, 2014 

My conversation with a UP Dean

written just before midnight 05.08.14

Just before the day closes, I saw the news that S&P has again upgraded the country’s credit rating status to a notch above investment grade.

Two hours before I learned of this development I was speaking with Dean Jonathan Sale of the UP School of Labor and Industrial Relations (SOLAIR).  I was picking his brain on several issues from the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) to nagging labor issues such as Contractualization, Outsourcing and Retrenchment to Capitalism to the Pork Barrel misuse and ultimately a discussion on how we can make the country’s growth truly INCLUSIVE.

First off, he agrees that the military agreement signed during the recent visit of US President Barack Obama to the Philippines “seems to be a knee jerk reaction to very recent situations like our issue with China”.  We both agree that it is quite bothersome that the country is committing ten years’ use of our facilities (and then some) seemingly disregarding what our lawmakers had fought so strongly for in 1991 when we decided to close the US bases.

We also looked at the country’s direction in terms of the economy. The chunk of the growth is in the Service sector, leaving behind a malnourished Agricultural block and a non-improving Industrial and Manufacturing sector.

This is a big issue the government has to address if it’s sincere in making the growth inclusive and if its sincere in aiming for a good quality of life for its citizens.

Think BPO workers with their health, social, mental and security challenges. I spoke with BPO Workers Association President (BWAP) Ruben Torres last week and his worry is that “we might be cultivating a generation that will be very sick in the future because of the lifestyle their industry imposes on them”

I have long been saddened by OFWs producing a breed of children with absentee parents, not to mention the effect of an absent partner.  

Our farmers, revered in other cultures for their role of providing nourishment, mostly live in poverty. Their average age is almost retirement age. 

We have thousands of new graduates whose hope will slowly fade as they become part of the millions unemployed or underemployed.

And yet our economy is supposedly second only to China in terms of growth last year. By now, despite poverty eradicating measures, most will agree that the poor and arguably even the middle class do not feel this so called growth.

A possible solution was discussed by Dean Sale.

A type of Capitalism that I believe our policy makers should be shifting their serious attention to as it could be the long term answer to poverty and could be the route to make our growth more inclusive.

A shift to a type of Capitalism that is more collaborative.  The Philippines, in its proud democracy, follows a Liberal type of Capitalism, similar to what is adapted in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Ireland.

As Dean Sale explained, in a Liberal Market Economy (LME), market forces dictate on the system. It encourages cost competition and fast innovation.  This is the reason why the Philippines’ BPO industry is booming, because companies in North America are cutting costs and looking elsewhere for cheaper business. We happen to be “elsewhere” in this case. In most cases, “elsewhere” is China.

This is also the reason why contractual workers (of the illegal and abusive kind) are increasing. Because the focus is to cut costs to increase profits.

On the other hand, economy and labor experts know that there is another kind of capitalism called Coordinated Market Economy (CME), where all the stakeholders coordinate and collaborate with each other to dictate and regulate the system.

For example a foreign auto firm wants to invest in a Coordinated Market Economy, it will have to pass through the whole auto industry sector represented by organizations such as (for example) the Auto Industry of the Philippines and the Association of Auto Manufacturers among others.  These organizations have actual powers to influence their own industry. These groups dictate standards on specifics of the industry such as wages, skills and professional practices based on agreements with workers.

Japan and several countries in Europe such as Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Germany, Switzerland, Australia and Belgium apply this variety of Capitalism.

As described in the Oxford index:

“CMEs tend to have high levels of job security, a good record on training and development, institutionalized forms of worker participation, based on works councils, and relatively cooperative relations between trade unions and employers' associations. These long-term, cooperative relations provide CMEs with their source of comparative advantage in the world economy: they tend to be good at process innovation and the production of high quality, high value-added goods in mature manufacturing industries.”

It has proven to produce gradual but steady improvements in the economy.

So why are we not looking into this model? Now I have yet to discuss that in detail with Dean Sale or an economist. 

So, back to the S&P upgrade.  We are considered an investment-worthy country coming out from junk status pre Benigno Aquino III’s term. We will hear phrases like “remarkable economic comeback” “towards the right track” “proof of good economics”.

But is it really? Will this country have the guts to look further than the US for models for growth?

And lastly, does anyone else see a possible connection between the Obama visit and the surprise S&P upgrade? 

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THE HUMAN ODYSSEY by Thomas Armstrong, PhD

Cherie's Book Recommendation: THE HUMAN ODYSSEY (Navigating the Twelve Stages of Life) by Thomas Armstrong, PhD

Cherie's Notes:
I was once asked by Lifestyle writer Amyline Ching of Manila Bulletin on what book has mad a big impact on my Parenting Life and why.

Although I answered that no book can effectively teach us how to be great parents, I did mention one book that I still find myself going back to every now and then.

The Human Odyssey -- speaks of the different stages of Life humans go through. Citing history, cultural references, medical studies and folklore, it gives us a wider perception and appreciation of each stage. And ultimately, respect for each chapter of this journey called life.

References:

• The Human Odyssey - on Google Books
• The Human Odyssey - on Amazon
• www.thomasarmstrong.com
• Thomas Armstrong - on Twitter (@Dr_Armstrong)

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Trabaho Lang - May 5, 2014 Episode (El Niño, Dam levels, water conservation, BPOs and online job opportunities)

Topics:
Taga-probinsya ka ba, at naghahanap ka pa rin sa internet ng trabaho? Alamin ang mga opportunities sa industriya ng BPO-IT sa tulong ng Department of Science and Technology; Matinding init na ang nararanasan natin kahit 'di pa idinideklara ng PAGASA na el nino na. Ano nga ba ang El Niño at paano ito malalabanan? 'Yan at iba pa ang tatalakayin ni Cherie Mercado.

Click here to listen to entire audio episode.
AUDIO | TRABAHO LANG FULL EPISODE | MAY 5, 2014 http://n5e.interaksyon.com/mobile/Top.aspx?c=1001&g=D11585E36B844B4

Trabaho Lang can be heard LIVE on Radyo 92.3 News FM every Monday to Friday from 8:00pm to 9:30pm.

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Cherie Sings at the 22nd KBP Golden Dove Awards

Last April 29, 2014, broadcast journalists Cherie Mercado and Martin Andanar from TV5 were joined by Atom Araullo and Bernadette Sembrano from ABS-CBN in a musical performance at the 22nd KBP Golden Dove Awards.  They sung a medley of "It Had To be You" and "The Way You Look Tonight."

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Paolo Bediones and Cherie Mercado Welcome President Obama to the Philippines

U.S. Embassy Manila's official YouTube Channel features TV5 News Anchors Cherie Mercado and Paolo Bediones welcoming President Barack Obama to the Philippines

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Happy Birthday Cherie!

Happy Birthday Cherie!

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Follow Cherie on Twitter

You can follow Cherie on Twitter at @cheriemercado.

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PAL Express is not a budget airline, executive says

By: Cherie Mercado, News 5, InterAksyon.com
Published: August 14, 2013 3:09 PM

PAL Express is not a budget airline.

Philippine Airlines (PAL) senior vice president for operations Nicky Gozon made this declaration last week, during the blessing of the company's newly-acquired a321 that arrived from the Airbus’ assembly line in Hamburg Germany.

PAL and PAL Express are one and the same in terms of safety and quality, Gozon emphasized, underscoring the branding strategy that the company will pursue in the coming days.

Currently, PAL management is in the thick of implementing its modernization program and reverse losses--worth more than P4 billion--and be profitable by next year.

PAL, which has pulled out of the domestic market, retained flights to high-density domestic routes of Cebu, Davao, and Gen San. But all other domestic flights will be served by PAL Express.

The new aircraft that just arrived is the first of the 65 Airbus ordered by PAL in their plans to add international destinations in Asia, the Middle East, and Europe.

The order was for 45 single-aisle A321s with a 199 seating capacity and tri-class cabins (business, premium economy, and economy) and 10 wide-body A330s with a 300 seating capacity for longer routes, and still the option of ordering 10 more A330s next month.
Additional flights for this year will include:

Doha (Qatar) November 1

Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam (Saudi Arabia), December 1;

Dubai (United Arab Emirates), November 1 (to be operated by PAL Express)

Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates) October 1

London England (before end of 2013)

A composite team from the company is currently in London and will proceed to Paris to fix ground handling details for their flights.

While Manila-London might be possible for this year, Paris and Amsterdam are eyed to shortly follow by first quarter of next year.

On the domestic front, it is the perception of strict adherence to safety and competence of staff and crew that PAL would like to transfer to PAL Express as they compete in the budget carrier arena.

PAL will standardize training of staff and crew, airline operations and marketing for both PAL and PAL Express so they fall into one branding.

An insider also hinted on implementing promo fares for PAL express that may start as early as next month with fares going as low as budget fares on certain periods and destinations.

If PAL Express is not a budget airline, but is not offering business class seats then what category would it fall into?

“Somewhere in between” is how one officer describes it. Pretty much like premium economy seats--in between business and economy. Maybe they should call it a “premium low cost carrier.”

Source: http://www.interaksyon.com/article/68599/cherie-mercado--pal-express-is-not-a-budget-airline-executive-says

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Sen. Francis Pangilinan: 'My conscience is clear. I didn't abuse PDAF'

By: Cherie Mercado, InterAksyon.com
Published September 27, 2013 4:45 PM

He didn't want to talk about the PDAF. He didn't want to talk about the Senate or anything about politics.

After all, we were in his farm, on a foggy Wednesday morning with a soft drizzle, the cool breeze, fresh air, and the stunning view of Batangas mountains and coastal areas.

He talked passionately about his plants. His robusta and barako coffee plants that used to dominate the lands of Alfonso Cavite. He showed me peppercorns growing from the vines, he told me how banana trees have to be cut off once they bear fruit but they immediately grow another stalk in place of the mature one.

There's cacao, kaong, lettuce, basil, parsley, thyme, eggplants okra and maybe every vegetable in the song "Bahay Kubo".

He showed me how to make coco vinegar. He scooped up vermicompost with his bare hands, sifting the worms in the wet soil.

He lovingly fed his native chickens and proudly showed me his native pigs and their piglets.

He introduced me to their carabao Berky and showed me Miel's rabbit in one of the cages. He doesn't use any chemicals or pesticides in his farm. He tries to raise everything naturally and he sighs at the challenges of organic farming.

His farm is not fancy. It is two years old and basic. No fancy walkways or lounges. His chairs are mono blocks. There's a small house for the farm staff made of untreated hollow blocks and screen doors. The toilet is the type you'd find in provinces with a very low seat, without the back water tank as there is no flush. I find it very real and down to earth.

But at the same time, he's building a farmhouse which will have a stunning view of mountains and coastal areas. That might be a little more fancy as it will house his family which of course includes wife megastar Sharon Cuneta and their four kids.

When I bring back the topic of PDAF, he is forced to blink and consciously shift his mind to his not-so-distant past (he's been a senator for 12 years), politely answering all my questions regarding where his funds went and allegations on singling out the strong opposition contenders and saving administration allies like him from shame and prosecution.

“My conscience is clear. We did not abuse the PDAF. We allocated it as best we could in terms of making sure hindi aabusin up until today. We can still say categorically say that we did not abuse the PDAF.”

Although he was mentioned in a Commission on Audit report with some 11 million pesos worth of questionable transactions, he was not accused of channeling it through dubious non-government organizations.

The report questioned the acquisition of mostly barangay equipment like computers, laminating machines, DSLR cameras, DVDs, and digital monitors that were either missing or defective or lacked proper documentation and bidding.

It was supposed to have been requested by 17 barangays in Quezon City. It also includes a two million construction project also in Quezon City.

According to the ex-senator, he’s open to investigation.

They did an internal check and they found out that some barangay captains did not turn over said equipment to their successors or have not followed proper procedures upon receiving the funds.

He said that a barangay, as a government unit should be accountable for its own actions.

And since COA undertakes audits four years after, that could explain why some equipment have already been damaged or could not be found. He explains that most of his PDAF went to projects of Gawad Kalinga and some school building projects of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce whose classrooms are one-half of standard government costs.

He regrets what's happening with how much funds are being diverted away from intended beneficiaries.

He shared one thing Pnoy once said to them. "Dati ang politiko namomorsyento sa proyekto, ngayon ang proyekto na lang ang namomorsyento sa politico."

He also has much to say about the plight of our farmers.

"Society has looked down upon agriculture and farming as menial, dirty. Sa Thailand, sabi ng king, the backbone of the country is the farmers. Sa Chinam sa Confucian teaching, second in the hierarchy ang farmer. First is the teacher, the philosopher because they feed our minds, second ang farmer because yun ang nagpapakain sa atin. Dito anong turing natin sa farmer mangmang, hampas lupa, patay gutom, di dapat tularan. Sa rural areas sasabihin nila tutal anak mahina ka naman sa math, dito ka na lang sa bukid hayaan mo na mga kapatid mo mag aral. And that's why we're poor."

Having first hand experience of heavy rains wiping out his crops, he now has a more intimate knowledge of what farmers go through, with the latter having little or no support from the government. It's no wonder the huge agricultural potential of our country has gone to waste.

"Malaysia is a huge exporter of agricultural products worth $27 billion a year. Vietnam exports $7 billion worth of agricultural crops. The Philippines? We import. A net value of $1 billion a year.”

As we fed his potbellied pigs, he jokes that these are the only "pork" he deals with nowadays.

“But pigs are very intelligent animals. They're the 3rd most intelligent animal after the chimps and the dolphins. Wag natin silang babuyin."

Source: http://www.interaksyon.com/article/71646/cherie-mercado--sen--francis-pangilinan-my-conscience-is-clear--i-didnt-abuse-pdaf

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Henares wants to leave behind a reformed BIR so she can study medicine afterwards

By: InterAksyon.com
Published: August 1, 2013 5:40 PM

Kim S. Jacinto-Henares now gets recognized wherever she goes.

People want their photos taken with her--just like a celebrity--and she gamely obliges.
However, she feels ambivalent about this new-found recognition.

After all, Henares seeks to wean Filipinos away from being personality-centered, an aspiration that fits in with the list of things she wants to accomplish as the head of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), the Philippine government's largest source of funds.

If there's just one legacy she wishes to leave at the BIR, it is this: she’d like to leave a system that works, no matter who’s at the helm.

She’s not out to please anyone--except maybe the President--and is focused on implementing the law. Earlier, she said that if there are complaints regarding tax regulations, then people should go to Congress to change the rules. But while the rules are there, it's her job to implement them, she said.

So what’s behind the woman behind BIR’s first trillion-peso collection, which, in turn, is partly responsible for credit ratings agencies’ upgrade of the Philippines to investment status?

For one thing, she's a straight arrow. She's a diligent worker too.

Having headed the bureau for the past three years, she believes that only 10 percent of the agency's 12,000 employees are rotten eggs. However small, that number is still enough to put the whole institution in disrepute.

Despite that, Henares wants the bureau's employees to be exempted from the Salary Standardization Law, allowing the agency to give incentives based on merits. She recognizes that its tough for an examiner to collect millions in taxes and earn just above minimum wage.

She would also rather not trumpet to the public the few BIR personnel who are and have been investigated either administratively thru an internal group or by the Department of Finances RIPS (Revenue Integrity Protection Service) or by the Ombudsman.

"We don’t announce to the world because there is no need," she said. "It only becomes noisy when the person involved complains and bring the case all the way up to the civil service or in court."

She also admits it might be close to impossible to stamp out corruption even as she has given the agency's employees the chance to be part in the reforms.

"When I came in, I told them that this is your chance for change. And as far as I’m concerned from this point onward, you do what is right you don’t have anything to fear and I won’t make any judgment but that doesn’t mean that I’m absolving you from past sins," she said.

The bad eggs were unable to prevent the bureau from surpassing a trillion-peso collection under her watch, something which she refuses to claim credit for.

"It will eventually happen," she said. "Someone will eventually hit that mark because of increasing targets, it just so happened that it did during our time."

Small, medium-sized businesses take extra effort to pay taxes

Thanks to reforms at the bureau, owners of small to medium-sized businesses have taken extra efforts to pay taxes.

New regulations have made it tougher for businesses to cheat on their taxes, said Tin Ferrera, an entrepreneur and accountant handling the books of several companies.

But at the same time, the BIR should also find ways to make it easier for businesses to remit their obligations, Ferrera said.

She said small and medium-sized enterprises which cannot afford to purchase expensive accounting systems use Microsoft Excel, which is not accredited by the BIR.

"I think the BIR should make it easier for taxpayers also," she said.

As a condo owner, Ferrera also doesn’t agree with a bureau regulation charging taxes on association dues of subdivisions and condo units. "These should not be considered income as they use the money to provide services and make the area livable for the residents. The association will pass on that tax to the residents, making it more burdensome," she said.

Paul Farol, a writer, blogger, and head of a family with a child requiring special care, shared Ferrara's concerns.

As a member of the employed middle-class, who pays 20 to 25 percent of his income in taxes, Farol expressed frustration that he's getting very little in the way of government services.

"An employee who makes P50,000 a month with say, one child automatically gets deducted Php 10,751," Farol said. "Add the Pag-ibig, SSS, and Philhealth deductions, it adds up to P11,788. In one year, he would’ve given the government P141,000 in taxes. Higher than his one child's tuition fee in a private school. But what services are the middle class getting?"

"Hindi naman sa minamata ang mga mahihirap pero lahat ng disaster aid goes to them. You look at the usual informal settler community, that’s where all the health services go, the police, the fire brigade its usually deployed in the poorer areas because that’s where incidents needing them usually happen," he said. "The middle class don’t benefit from subsidized schooling, they don’t send their kids to public schools.”

Farol added: "We're hoping for more services for the middle class. We’re nine percent answering for 20 percent of the tax basket [based on an SWS survey]. Like transportation, if you have a car, you pay for maintenance or repair of roads. If you take public transport, anong state ng MRT at LRT natin? Transportation costs for the ordinary employee is P100-120 a day. Malaki yun. Kung yun lang ang masosolusyunan malaki igagaan sa empleyado."

The Philippines' tax chief recognizes these sentiments as valid.

However, being focused on the task at hand, she said she can only do so much and does not bother herself with what is not under her powers as BIR chief.

She said she wants her reforms in the BIR in place by 2014, and intends to pass on a system that works for her successor.

Which explains why by 2016, after President Aquino's term, she’d like to enroll in medical school and pursue her dreams to be a doctor.

Who knows? Maybe we’ll see her heading the Department of Health after she earns her medical degree.

Source: http://www.interaksyon.com/article/67735/cherie-mercado--henares-wants-to-leave-behind-a-reformed-bir-so-she-can-study-medicine-afterwards

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