SUMMER FUN! Here’s a Future Getaway –- for Kids Only

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March 26, 2014

SUMMER FUN!

Here’s a Future  Getaway –- for Kids Only

 By CYNTHIA U. SANTIAGO  Photo by EDMUNDO L. SANTIAGO

BEFORE they add a place in their list of tour destinations, travelers  around the world—especially those bringing along their children—ask if that place has a city called KidZania.

That’s according to Maricel Pangilinan Arenas who introduced herself as governor of KidZania Manila at yesterday’s Bulong Pulungan, the Tuesday Media Forum at Hotel Sofitel.

From its name, you already know KidZania is for kids. A playground for children? Or a theme park like Disneyland or Enchanted Kingdom?

“It’s a city populated by children,” Maricel reveals. “You need a plane ticket to get there. And adults aren’t allowed there, unless they are accompanied by children.”

Building a Play City

Maricel is the eldest of the Pangilinan brood—you know, among them mega Senator Kiko, Anthony, the motivational speaker, and Angeli, the singer cum manager of Gary Valenciano.  Maricel– the  original Maricel Pangilinan, not to be confused with Anthony’s wife Maricel Laxa Pangilinan—has made a name not in entertainment or politics but, as her Linked-in profile puts it, in  brand and business building, business and creative communications, team building, business stewardship, marketing, and advertising.

What Arenas is building now is KidZania– pronounced not kid-zey- nya, but the way you say lasagna –is dubbed “the first-of-its-kind indoor hyper-real play city,”   locally franchised by Play Innovations. Inc., a subsidiary of ABS-CBN Corporation.

 Edutainment

Founded in 1997, KidZania Inc. is a private Mexican company with a chain of family entertainment centers in 15 locations—Tokyo, Jakarta, Lisbon, Dubai, Seoul, Cairo, London, Monterey, among others.

So how is KidZania different from the usual playgrounds you know?

“It combines education and entertainment, so it’s an edutainment,” Maricel pointed out.

She added KidZania is the bigger version of your bahay-bahayan: ““This one is city-cityhan.”

So kids have to have a plane ticket—issued by the KidZania office–to get there. Once in KidZania, like everybody else in a real city, kids work. Like you did during your bahay-bahayan days—except that in KidZania, kids learn real skills, and they get paid for their work, too. So they learn not only skills for their dream career, but also how to live in a city and how to manage their finances.

Maricel said there are skills learning programs for special children, too.

Making the KidZania sign, from left: Domini Torrevillas of Philippine Star; Dr. Maricar de Ocampo;

KidZania governor Maricel Pangilinan Arenas; and Deedee Siytangco of Manila Bulletin, Bulong Pulungan moderator.

Back to Reality

It’s all make-believe. But will the children then be able to go back to reality when they leave KidZania?

Another Bulong guest, education expert and professor Maricar Gustilo-de Ocampo, Ph.D., said children have a natural way of distinguishing between what’s real and what’s role playing.

To demonstrate, Maricel asked 10 Bulong journalists to share the career or profession they role-played during their bahay-bahayan days. Majority role-played as doctor, lawyer, singer, chef, or housewife, but eventually ended up with their present reality as journalists.

Now, KidZania offers an environment where children can really hone skills for their dream roles in life in a fun way—a key step in making those dreams come true, Dr. De Ocampo pointed out.

KidZania is set to open inside the Ayala Mall in Bonifacio Global City in 2015. With that location, apparently, it’s targeting the high end market.

But Maricel said KidZania has a program to let the less fortunate in. Like we have them, too, in a real city.

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‘Grace Poe: Presidentiable’

‘Grace Poe: Presidentiable’.

‘Grace Poe: Presidentiable’

March 21 2014

‘Grace Poe: Presidentiable’

By CYNTHIA U. SANTIAGO

ON MARCH 18 at the Bulong Pulungan, the Tuesday Media Forum at the Hotel Sofitel, moderator Deedee Siytangco introduced  our special guest, Senator Grace Poe, as “presidentiable.”

Naturally, the forum turned out to be a probe of sorts on how Grace Poe would do as President of the Philippines.

The first question came from Manila Bulletin’s Jullie Yap Daza, asking Senator Poe for her comment on an earlier declaration of Senator Miriam Santiago that the next President would be a woman.

The lady senator said there’s a “fifty-fifty” chance that would happen, pointing out the ratio of men versus women in government now.

But can a woman commander-in-chief handle the present peace and order situation?

She said, “It is a daunting task, for a man and a woman.”

So, has anyone asked her to run for the highest post in the land?

She said “No”.

And did that put a period on the issue?

Not so fast.  The next question—which I asked—is what Senator Poe would focus on if she became President, or, if she didn’t want to answer that question, would she answer this one: What should a woman President focus on?

Still, she veered away from the presidentiable talk, by saying that she’d rather discuss what’s more realistic: what she’s doing now in the Senate. And quickly, she pointed out bills she has sponsored.

Reality Check

Of late, Grace Poe’s banner accomplishment is Bill 1733 or the Freedom of Information Act. The long awaited bill, passed by the Senate this March, was introduced by Poe along with Senators Chiz Escudero, Antonio Trillanes, Sergio Osmena, Teofisto Guingona, Pia Cayetano, Jinggoy Estrada, Edgardo Angara, and Bong Revilla.

The bill, presented by Poe during the FOI debate, is a consolidation of 12 bills plus petitions of various citizens groups for the enactment of an FOI law, calls for “the implementation of the constitutional right of citizens to information or matters of public concern in the pursuit of transparency, accountability, and honesty in public service.”

“Reasonable exceptions” are national security, information pertaining to foreign relations, law enforcement operations, those pertaining to privacy of an individual, trade and economic secrets, information that are privileged as considered in judicial proceedings, those made in executive sessions of Congress; that that are covered by presidential privilege.

So, what information may the public have free access to? Major:  SALNs or the Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth of officials with salary grade 27 and above, and heads of agencies,  plus government projects worth P50 million and above.

Senator Poe recalled what she termed as “heartwarming” her encounter with Senator Miriam Santiago during the FOI debate.

“She was like a mentor to me,” Poe said.

She added that Senator Santiago told her, “I feel very maternal towards you.”

The FOI bill still has to get the nod of the Lower House.

Senator Poe then continued to present her realities:

Free Lunch. First is the Free Lunch bill, providing for free lunch for pupils in public elementary school as well as preschools—about P10 per child. She said the bill hopes to arrest malnutrition among children, especially because brain development is crucial during the early stages of one’s life.

The lunch, she added, should be nutritious like the nutribuns during the Marcos era, or with healthy ingredients such as lumpiang malunggay or champorado with dilis.

Film Tourism. Apparently as a tribute to her father, cinema icon Fernando Poe Jr., Senator Poe is working on the Film Touism bill which provides for promoting the Philippines as a major destination for shooting international films.

Remember films like Bourne Legacy? Senator Poe said providing easy procedures for foreign producers in shooting such films in the Philippines should be a boost for the country’s tourism industry and thus generate jobs.

She suggested there should be just one desk where foreign producers could get an ID they could show wherever they go to shoot their films.

“Hindi na sila mahihirapan to get permits,” she emphasized.

She noted it’s much easier for some exporters to bring in their wares, whereas, it “takes forever” for foreign producers to get their equipment through Customs.

Call 911. Third bill is providing for a standard emergency number one can call, like America’s 911.

“Here, it depends where you are,” she said. “In Davao 911 works but here in Manila you have to dial 117.”

Mobile Alerts. Fourth is Senate Bill 2129 which mandates telecommunication service providers to send free mobile alerts in the event of natural and man-made disasters and calamities.

Senator Poe pointed out that with 107 million owning mobile phones, the Philippines ranks 12^th in the world with the greatest number of mobile phone users. The bill proposes to use this modern tool as a major part of the notification system to alert the public especially on such disasters as the Yolanda catastrophe.

The Poe Mindset

If those programs still don’t give you a clear idea on how Grace Poe would do in a higher government position, here are bullets of her answers to questions thrown to her at the Bulong Pulungan:

On the Pork Barrel issue. “I hope there will be an indictment…I think that some will be in prison (by 2016).

On Dennis Cunanan.  Dennis Cunanan, director general of the Technology Resource Center, is the only government official among the whistle-blowers, so his background – his education, did he receive kickbacks– must be scrutinized to see if he’s a credible witness.  “He was not convinced even with his own anwers.”

 On amending the Constitution. Certain parts, yes. So we have peace of mind and sense of “ownership” of the changes.

On the United States bases.The Philippines needs support of its foreign allies—but “as long as our sovereignty is not violated.”

On national defense. Zamboanga conflict is quite alarming. “We don’t want to be like Cambodia where there are lots of land mines.”

On PMA Cadet Aldrin Cudia.  Cadet First Class Aldrin Jeff Cudia was not allowed to join the graduation rites at the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) this March, following allegations he lied to justify the reason he was two minutes late for a class– and thus  the PMA Honor Committee found Cudia guilty of violating PMA’s Honor Code.

“My mother instincts went for him,” Poe said. But she added the PMA rules must be respected.

On women she admires most. Lydia Presvitero who is “like a manang who took care of me.” She can cook, screen calls,  take care of her family, and even invest in  property.

Poe notes that every time she visits her mother, Susan Roces to movie fans, her house smells of liniment because Susan has retained helpers or staff even when they are already in their senior years.

Other women Poe said she admires are President Cory Aquino, Grace Pulido Tan, Senator Miriam, of course.

 On Ping-Poe. “It sounds like a game,” Poe commented, in jest, on rumored suggestions that she run as vice president in tandem with Senator Ping Lacson for president.

A newshen commented: “Dapat Poe-Ping.”

 All in the Family

From Google posts, you’ll find out that her full name is Mary Grace Sonora Poe Llamanzares, born September 3, 1968.

A woman found Grace as an abandoned baby at the Jaro Metropolitan Cathedral in Ilioilo. She was given to Tessie Valencia, who was a friend of  Fernando Poe and Susan Roces. Valencia had to go live abroad so she gave Grace to the Poes.

Grace did not follow her parents’ footsteps to Tinsel Town because, she said in jest, “I did not have the face for it.”

Apparently to stay away from the shadow of her parents, Grace, who studied in St. Paul Manila for her elementary education, Assumption Makati, for high school,  and University of the Philippines, for  development studies, went to the United States where she earned a degree in Political Science at the Boston  College in Massachusetts.

When she was in high school, Grace met Teodoro Misael “Neil” Llamanzares at a tennis court in Manila. They married on July 27, 1991. They have three children– Brian, now into a Star Magic workshop in preparation for a showbiz career; Hanna, 15; and Nikka, 9.

Grace lived with her family in Virginia for over a decade, attending to her family duties– “That’s why I know how to be  a domestic helper. ”–  and at the same time working as preschool teacher, then procurement liaison with a geological survey firm, and  then  product manager for a company specializing in scientific equipment.

Her life took a major turn when her father ran for President and lost in the controversial election of 2004.

In 2010, when Benigno Aquino III became President, he appointed Poe as chair of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board  (MTRCB). She renounced her U. S. citizenship to qualify for the post.

In 2013, Grace Poe ran for senator, and, even to her own surprise, garnered 20 million votes, the highest number in history.

For those eyeing 2016, such number is convincing enough to consider her as presidentiable.

Senator Grace Poe at Bulong Pulungan, from top: Explaining her Senate bills; with moderator Deedee Siytangco;

with Bulong core members who presented her a certificate of appreciation; with Sofitel staff.– Photos courtesy of Office of Senator Grace Poe.

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SSS improves reimbursement system for sickness, maternity

 

 

 

 

 

As part of Social Security System’s (SSS) campaign to enhance its service delivery, employers all over the country can now receive their reimbursements for advance payments of employees’ sickness and maternity benefits directly at their own bank account, instead of waiting for SSS checks from the mail.

Agnes San Jose, SSS Vice President for Benefits Administration, said the SSS Sickness and Maternity Benefit Payment thru the Bank (SMB PB) Program provides employers a safer, faster and more convenient means of reimbursement than its previous system of sending checks thru registered mail, which may take up to a month depending on their mailing address.

“Companies, as well as household employers, will benefit from the SMB PB Program since it addresses concerns regarding lost, misdelivered or stale reimbursement checks that can take several months to replace. It also eliminates the waiting period for mailing and check clearing,” San Jose said.

Since January 2014, all employers nationwide are required to enroll in the SMB PB Program, following positive feedback from over 1,000 employers in the National Capital Region that voluntarily participated in the program in the past several years. Per SSS procedure, employers pay the sickness and maternity benefits of workers in advance, then apply for a corresponding reimbursement from SSS.

In the past, employers either wait for their reimbursement check to be mailed via the Philippine Postal Corporation, or send an authorized representative to claim it from the SSS. Now, the funds will be credited to their designated bank account. The employer’s existing savings or current account in an SSS-accredited bank may be enrolled in the program.

To enroll, employers may secure a copy of the SMB PB form from any SSS branch, SSS-accredited banks or the SSS Website (www.sss.gov.ph), and then submit the accomplished form in two copies to their designated bank. Upon receiving the SMB PB form, the bank will certify the correctness of the employer’s bank account information and submit the application to the SSS.

If approved, the SSS will send the duplicate copy of the SMB PB form back to the bank, which will then forward it to the employer. Employers can also check the status of their SMB PB enrollment using their SSS Website account. The list of accredited banks is also found at the SSS Website.

“Employers with several branches or subsidiaries with different SSS Employer ID Numbers may designate a single bank account for their sickness and maternity reimbursement from the SSS,” San Jose said.

The SSS disbursed a total of P4.03 billion for maternity benefits of over 211,000 members from January to November 2013. Payments for sickness benefits over same 11-month period amounted to P1.65 billion for some 340,000 members.

Of the P1.65-billion total disbursement for sickness claims, payments under the Social Security Program accounted for P1.57 billion, while the rest was paid under the Employees’ Compensation Program, which provides additional benefits to SSS employee-members with work-related contingencies.

Strong contribution collections bring SSS net revenue to P38.3-B

 

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Strong contribution collections bring SSS net revenue to P38.3-B

The Social Security System (SSS) recorded a net revenue of P38.3 billion last year, up by six percent from P36.2 billion in 2012, on the back of strong contribution collections alongside steady investment earnings and improved efficiency in operations and benefit disbursements.

Based on initial SSS figures for 2013, contribution collections reached P103.1 billion in 2013, nine percent higher than the P94.2 billion total in 2012, and it marked the first time the year-end total surpassed the P100-billion level.

“The increase in collections was bolstered by ongoing campaigns to promote the value of active SSS membership, improved monitoring of employer compliance and intensified coverage drives spanning a wide range of sectors, including the hard-to-reach informal sector and overseas Filipino workers,” said May Catherine Ciriaco, SSS Vice President of Management Services and Planning.

The total SSS revenue of P137.4 billion, 75 percent of which come from contributions, showed an increase of seven percent from P128.1 billion in 2012. Annual net revenue averaged P31 billion from 2010 to 2013, higher by P23 billion from the net revenue yearly average of P8 billion from 2000 to 2009.

Total expenditures – comprised of operating expenses and benefit payments – rose by eight percent to P99.1 billion. Operating expenses dropped by one percent to P7.6 billion as a result of steps taken by management to maximize SSS resources and promote systemwide prudent spending.

“Operating efficiency, or the ratio between operating expenses and members contributions and investment and other income less benefit payments, further improved to 17 percent in 2013, as compared with 18 percent in 2012 and 23 percent in 2011,” Ciriaco said. “Moreover, operating expenses represent only 57 percent of the allowed charter limit. This means we are spending way below our allowed margin.”

Benefit payments, which account for 92 percent of total expenditures, reached P91.4 billion, nine percent higher than P84.2 billion in 2012. The surplus of contribution collections over benefit payments, a vital indicator of current SSS financial viability, stood at P11.7 billion in 2013, surpassing year-end surpluses of P10 billion in 2012 and P3.2 billion in 2011.

SSS kept up its regular monitoring of pension releases thru the Annual Confirmation of Pensioners (ACOP), a program that protects the fund from fraudulent claims by requiring pensioners to present themselves to SSS or to their depository bank on the member’s birth month to prove their continued eligibility for pension.

“With the ACOP, SSS continues to clean up its database of non-eligible pensioners to prevent the release of undeserved benefits,” Ciriaco said. “Last year, we found out that a total of 4,331 pensioners are no longer eligible for pension due to reasons such as death, remarriage or recovery from total disability, and this translates to recurring SSS savings of about P12 million every month.”

SSS investment and other income totaled P34.3 billion, about P400 million higher than the P33.9-billion earnings in 2012, while SSS assets rose to P384.6 billion as of end-2013, up by P21.8 billion or six percent from P362.8 billion as of end-2012. SSS assets also showed a growth of over P100 billion within a span of four years, as compared with the P272.6 billion SSS asset level as of end-2009.

“While investment income was relatively flat, our investment yield of 8.7 percent is still higher than comparative benchmark yields such as the three percent inflation rate, 0.7 percent 364-day Treasury bill rate, four percent rate of 10-year T-bonds, and the 0.5 percent Philippine Stock Exchange Index, despite the current low-interest environment and volatility in the financial market,” Ciriaco said.

The SSS also noted the expanding coverage of its AlkanSSSya Program, a microsavings scheme for the social protection of informal sector workers. As of 2013, the program covered over 57,220 members from 568 informal sector groups, bringing economically-vulnerable workers from various industries across the country within SSS’ reach.

SSS inked agreements last year with key organizations, including the PNP Supervisory Office for Security and Investigative Agency for SSS coverage of employees of security agencies, Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers – Quezon City Chapter for self-employed civil engineers, and the Insurance Commission for self-employed insurance agents, brokers and underwriters.

The pension fund also partnered with 12 microfinance institutions, cooperatives and other organized groups nationwide, including the grant of SSS’ accreditation of collecting and servicing partner agents, to bring social protection closer to their members.

“Following the enactment of the Kasambahay Law, the number of SSS-registered household employers reached 285,205 while covered domestic workers totaled 96,705 by the end of 2013. And with the rollout of the Kasambahay Unified Registration System by SSS, Pag-IBIG and PhilHealth, more household workers will gain access to social protection from these three agencies,” Ciriaco said.

In terms of member services, the total number of SSS Website enrollees rose to 2.9 million as of end-2013, with 804,492 members and 91,056 employers opening their own online accounts last year. SSS Website transactions likewise soared to 1.98 million in 2013, from only a total of 509,380 in 2012.

“The SSS also continues to set up E-Centers in branches using available equipment such as desktop computers, telephones and information kiosks. These E-Centers aim to encourage members to shift from manual to electronic transactions using our self-service facilities such as the SSS Website, information kiosks, Interactive Voice Response System and Text-SSS,” Ciriaco added.

In response to the call for assistance, SSS launched Calamity Relief Packages for members affected by the Zamboanga siege, Bohol earthquake and Supertyphoon Yolanda in 2013. About P339 million were released to 19,700 members under the Salary Loan Early Renewal Program, while advance pensions of three to six months were disbursed to 7,623 pensioners in the declared calamity areas.

WHO’S AFRAID OF KIM HENARES?

 

March 12, 2014

WHO’S AFRAID OF KIM HENARES?

By CYNTHIA U. SANTIAGO   Photos by EDMUNDO L. SANTIAGO

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUIZ: Why should you be afraid of Kim Jacinto Henares?

1. She believes in hiya as potent tool in making you pay your taxes.
2. Her pastime is target shooting.
3. She’s a Leo.
4. 
5. BIR Commissioner with Bulong Pulungan moderator Deedee Siytangco

Media members found out the answer to this quiz from Internal Revenue Commissioner Kim Henares herself as she graced the Bulong Pulungan, the Tuesday Media Forum at Hotel Sofitel, and answered without fear questions you always wanted to know about the controversial commissioner.

As she sat to have lunch before the forum, Commissioner Henares said she knew why Bulong invited her: “Because of our ‘Don’t be a burden ad.’”

You know, those print advertisements showing a doctor being carried by a teacher on her shoulder, a chef carrying an accountant, and a construction foreman carrying an online seller– all with the message: “When you don’t pay your taxes, you’re a burden to those who do.”

At Bulong Pulungan last March 11, from left: Joy Fong, Alice Villanueva,

Domini Torrevillas, Chay Santiago, Commissioner Kim Henares, Deedee Siytangco,

 Beth Tagle, Frank Evaristo, Aida Sevilla, Jullie Yap Daza, and Joanne Ramirez.At foreground is Mila Alora.

  

The Commissioner and Deedee with Danny Sarayot.

Kim’s Burden      

In the past, BIR encouraged you to pay your taxes through ads showing where your taxes go. I asked Commissioner Henares if such ads were no longer effective. She said the agency did have those ads but as far as generating reaction from the people is concerned, the Burden ad was more effective.

Indeed, professional associations cried the ads were “unfair,” and the issue hogged the headlines.

Henares said the Burden ads were based on studies on the core trait of Filipinos we call hiya or shame.

We learned about it in our Sociology class. Studies from Filipino anthropologists show that what motivates Filipinos to behave the way they do is not for want of fame or for fear of failure, but rather, for dreading shame or embarrassment. Hiya is such a core Pinoy value that ordinary Filipinos will lie so as not to be embarrassed—or embarrass a fellowman. And yes, we’ve heard of police reports about people committing homicide or murder because they were shamed. Napahiya sila o ang kanilang pamilya at buong angkan.

So yes, if you’re afraid of being shamed, you will do well to pay your taxes as Kim Henares wants you to do.

Henares said BIR had resorted to such radical measures because the agency has yet to meet its target P1 trillion plus tax collection.

“Sometimes, I don’t know anymore what people want,” she lamented.

She pointed out people want economic progress, so government strives to have the funds for its economic programs through taxes. But, she complained, people get offended when government collect the taxes. She added she is mandated to reach the tax goal, yet she’s been cautioned about how she should be doing her job.

But why target only doctors, accountants, and online sellers?

She explained there are over a hundred professionals who may also be targeted, but the BIR has a limited budget for advertising, so it has to zero in on those, she said, are major tax evaders as BIR studies show.

 Target Shooting

 Her job may be so stressful Henares keeps her mind off the job through what tax offenders may see as an intimidating pastime: target shooting.

She confirmed what has been already published about her hobby. Yes, she has 9, 40, 45 caliber guns.

Why the guns? Is she getting death threats?

“No,” she said.

She did not expand on why she likes target shooting. But no, her hobby should not be a reason you should be afraid of Kim Henares.

She repeated what you should really be concerned with: “I’m just collecting taxes. That’s a job I have to do.”

 A Roaring Lion

Kim Henares was born in August, making her a Leo. So is she as ferocious as a lion?

Those who believe in astrological signs, however, emphasize not the animal’s killing instincts as a core character of a Leo. Rather, they point out the more positive trait of the Leo as being mechanical— to which Kim agrees, as she said at home, she prefers mechanical stuff such as carpentry, rather than the stereotype housewife chores such as cooking.

Since she’s mechanical, it’s not surprising she’s comfortable with her husband Daniel’s hobby as a car enthusiast.

But if taxes concerning your car and car use are not paid, you are up against a roaring lion.

“I’m just saying what the law says,” she said. “If the law says you should pay your taxes and you don’t, we will run after you.”

How Not To Fear Kim Henares

Going back to the Burden ad, as I write this, the six o’clock television news is announcing that the BIR has put out another ad targeting professionals. But, take note, there’s no more picture of the tax payer carrying the tax evader. Instead, the advertisement shows hard statistics on how the tax evader pays too small a tax compared with the tax payer with lesser income.

Before the Bulong forum started, Commissioner Henares presented a BIR campaign showing three steps tax payers should follow: Register. File. Pay.

That way, you need not fear—or hate– Kim Henares.

The deadline is April 15.

Commissioner Kim hands over cake from Sofitel to birthday girl Joanne Ramirez.

 

Longevity Lessons from Loren Legarda’s Birthday Luncheon for Deedee, Joanne, and Marichu

Senator Loren Legarda (3rd from left) with birthday girls, from left: Deedee Siytangco, Marichu Villanueva, and Joanne Ramirez

 

Loren with Bautista family, from left, Guia Gaskell Gonzalez, Cora Bautista Lopa, Lourdes

Bautista Gaskell, and Rhona Lopa Macasaet

Precious moment, seated from left: Lourdes Gaskell, Sally Perez, Domini Torrevillas,

Deedee Siytangco, Rina Go; standing, from left: Saeed Daof, Chay Santiago,

Guia Gonzalez, Joanne Ramirez, Loren Legarda, Cora Lopa, and Rhona Macasaet.

 

Carmela Ongsiako, Sally Perez, and Rina Go

Al fresco dining area (above and below) in the Bautista compound

 

Yummy Pancit Malabon and Lumpiang Hubad (below)

 

Loren presenting to Deedee another table setting inside an aunt’s ancestral home.

 

 

Longevity Lessons from Loren Legarda’s Birthday Luncheon

for Deedee, Joanne, and Marichu

 By CYNTHIA U. SANTIAGO   Photos by EDMUNDO L. SANTIAGO

 YES, the birthday celebration of media icons Manila Bulletin columnist Deedee Siytangco and Philippine Star’s Joanne Ramirez, is not yet over.

Last March 8, Senator Loren Legarda hosted a luncheon for Deedee and Joanne at Loren’s ancestral home in Malabon. Loren also honored another March birthday celebrator, Marichu Villanueva of Philippine Star.

A Loren Legarda party is always a learning event.

She lives in a posh mansion in Forbes Park, but Loren opted to hold the luncheon for our media friends at the sprawling half-a-hectare property her family inherited from her maternal grandparents, Jose Bautista Sr., editor of the pre-Martial Law The Manila Times, and Carmen Gella– parents to Ariston, Lourdes, Pacita, Jose Jr., Cora, Marissa, and Loren’s mother Bessie.

 Preserving Memories

Loren, born Lorna Regina Bautista Legarda, grew up in one of the houses in the property—the one with the black gate with the AL initials of her father, Antonio Legarda, who still lives there.

There are a couple more houses in the property—homes of her aunts and uncles. But her relatives now live someplace else in the country or abroad. So Loren, a passionate environmentalist and advocate of promoting Philippine culture and native products, took upon herself to preserve the houses and garden, especially the old trees in the property.

Once, there was a swimming pool in the middle of the garden, but it was converted into a bodega cum garage—which, to Loren was an eyesore.

“Cars are supposed to be at the back, not at the front of your house,” she pointed out. “So gradually, I convinced my titas to have the garage moved at the back of the property.”

And then, she converted the vacated space into an al fresco dining area, with tables which Loren said she had made “from wood scraps I found here and there.”

With settings of white embroidered table cloth with calado accents,  native placemats, napkins rolled in shell rings, and her collection of rare china, glasses, spoons and forks,  the place now  can give any five-star garden restaurant a run for its money.

Birthday Menu

The luncheon menu started with a bowl of crunchy Macopa fruits from a tree in Loren’s Forbes Park garden.

“The original plan for the house proposed to cut down the tree which was not bearing fruit, anyway,” Loren said. “But I had the plan changed to save the tree. And the tree rewarded me by bearing fruits since then!”

The birthday dishes were family favorites— Lumpiang Hubad, Kare-kare, Adobo, Ginataang Paco with Shrimps, of course, Pancit Malabaon, with cool Pandan Juice—the pandan also picked from Loren’s garden, plus Sapin-sapin, Ginataang Mongo, and pastries for dessert. 

Did she cook any of the dishes?

“No, but I sampled each one to make sure it tastes the way it should,” she boasted.

Loren’s Legacy

Everywhere you turn in the property, you learn history and culture lessons. The Bautista-Legarda house itself has antique pieces, not to mention pictures and knick-knacks, each one with special memories of Loren’s growing up years.

But if you want to learn  more about Loren Legarda, go inside her museum—set in the house of an aunt.

“My aunt now lives in Canada. So I borrowed her house to put my stuff in,” Loren said.

Those stuff, however, are really valuable pieces of history,  as valuable as Loren Legarda’s legacy to the Filipino people. They include a number of treasures:  dozens and dozens of her trophies, plaques of recognition and appreciation from various organizations honoring her achievements as broadcaster,  public servant, and socio-civic leader; mounted covers of magazines where she was featured as Cover Girl—including three from Mod magazine where I was editor-in-chief; plus Loren’s pictures with family and friends, as well as with heroes, politicians, celebrities, and the many beneficiaries with  whom she has shared her time, talent, and treasures.

 Longevity Pointers

Over lunch we learned more about the Bautista family from Loren’s Aunt Lourdes, now 90 years old, her Aunt Cora, and Guia, Lourdes’s daughter.

Jose Sr. was originally from Manila, while Carmen was from Antique. They acquired the Malabon property in the late 1940s.

Lourdes Bautista Gaskell — related to Albert Gaskell, former circulation manager of Mod— looks and moves like she’s only 50. Her secret?

“I eat everything—vegetables, fish, and sometimes meat. I don’t put on makeup—only Johnson’s baby powder.”

It’s probably also in the genes, as other  relatives are also in their 90s, she added.

The genetic blessings are very much evident in ever bubbly Loren, who, in a cropped blouse, denim jeans and flat shoes looked not a day old since her broadcasting years.

“She’s very much relaxed now,” a media colleague observed.

Perhaps because as Loren, who ran for vice president twice, had earlier revealed to media that she has no more ambition to run for higher public office.

She added she can well do public service  by continuing her advocacies mainly through environment campaigns or livelihood projects for the less privileged,  making good use of indigenous products.

Or by simply modelling those products in gatherings with her favorite people.

I told her I like her blouse, and she gushed, “It’s abel.”

The traditional woven product of the Ilocos region,  abel is known for being a strong colorful material, which is among the native products that Loren has endeavored to promote.

Her advocacies were manifested down to the party favors she gave to us— seedlings of basil, a popular pesto spice with anti-bacterial properties,   and ashitaba leaves, known to be a longevity herb.

As you leave, you realize the best party favor Loren gave is this lesson on longevity: It’s good to preserve mementos of what’s good about us, and make the memories last for future generations to learn about them. Also, to be remembered for a long time, you plant something good in the heart of friends—like Loren honoring Deedee, Joanne, and Marichu on their birthday. 

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DEEDEE AND JOANNE!

Rep. Gina de Venecia hosted a sumptuous birthday luncheon for Bulong Pulungan core members, Manila Bulletin’s Deedee Siytangco, moderator, and Joanne Ramirez of Philippine Star and People Asia,  at the De Venecia posh Dasmarinas home.

Former House Speaker Jose de Venecia joined Gina and her daughter Clarisse, in welcoming the guests:

Lovely Romulo with daughters Mons and Lupe, and daughter-in-law Shalani graced the event.

Also taking time to greet Deedee and Joanne were Marilou Mendoza, Anne Puno, Delia Paderanga, Teena Sarino,  and Mila Alora, Edna Corrales, Fortune Ledesma, Toni Gregory, and Annie Ringor.

Of course, also present were Bulong Pulungan core members– Domini Torrevilas and husband Saeed, Aida Sevilla, Charo Garcia, Ed and Chay Santiago, and Deedee’s daughter, Sandee Masigan.

Gypsy Baldovino, Gina’s ever loyal PR, warmly entertained everyone.

Happy Birthday, Deedee and Joanne!

Standing, from left: Aida Sevilla, Chay Santiago, Domini Torrevillas, Joanne Ramirez, Gina de Venecia, Anne Puno, Mila Alora, Sarino, Delia Paderanga, and Marilou Mendoza.

Joanne and Deedee blowing birthday cake candles.

 

With Speaker Joe de Venecia, standing from left: Deedee, Gina, Mons, Shalani, Lupe, Lovely, Joanne, and Domini

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Carissa Cruz with cute daughter, Joanne, Gina, and Deedee

Domini, Saeed Daof, Speaker Joe de Venecia, Chay Santiago, and Mr. Velasco

Shalani, Deedee, Melanie Pallorina and Chay

ROLE OF MEDIA IN WOMEN EMPOWERMENT

ROLE OF MEDIA IN WOMEN EMPOWERMENT

By CYNTHIA U. SANTIAGO

Photos by EDMUNDO L. SANTIAGO

The Philippine Information Agency, in celebration of Women’s Month, invited me  to talk on the Role of Media on Women Empowerment during its Monday Pep Talk on Women last March 3.

In a gist, I said Media practitioners can well empower women by simply following the Journalism basics on accuracy, clarity, and objectivity.

We media practitioners must do our research to make sure that our articles on women are accurate.

For example, the  story on the creation of Man and Woman. A common belief is that since she was supposed to be taken from Man’s rib, Woman is supposed to be subservient to Man.

The source of the story of Creation is the Hebrew Bible. In Hebrew, the  word for where Woman was supposed to be taken is tsela— which means not just rib, but accurately,  side. Woman was taken not only from the rib but also from the flesh of Man. So, Adam indeed said Woman is “bone of my bones, flesh of my flesh.” Since she has the same “make” as Man, Woman thus has the same power as Man. She is of equal footing with him.

As for clarity, Media practitioners should also do their homework especially on issues of gender sensitivity, starting with using gender sensitive language. One example: humanity instead of mankind.

Then, there’s objectivity. If we are objective, we will strive to present balanced news. Day after day, we read stories about women being raped. I am not saying we should not report about crimes against women. But let us also write stories say, about women achievers.

Recently, my Alma Mater, Centro Escolar University, awarded achievers calling them Escolarian Exemplars– they are men and  women who excel in Science and Virtue, the core principle of CEU.  Did the story merit front page space? We had to pay a full page ad to get it published.

We Media practitioners can empower women by being true to our calling as journalists.

For this relevant forum on Media’s role in Women Empowerment, I congratulate Secretary Sonny Coloma, my co-member in the College Editors’ Guild of the Philippines, now head of the Presidential Comunications Operations Office which includes the PIA. 

Thank you to PIA NCR Regional Director Riza Baldoria (right) for presenting me a Certificate of Appreciation, signed by PIA Director General Jose Mari M. Oquinena, and to my former student, Precie Cuarto (below, taking my picture),  now PIA Information Editor, for inviting me to the PIA celebration of Women’s Month.

Happy Birthday, Deedee!

BULONG PULUNGAN, the Tuesday Media Forum at Hotel Sofitel, celebrated the birthday of its moderator, Deedee Siytangco.

Adam Laker, Sofitel general manager, and Chanelle Garvey, director of sales and marketing, presented Deedee a birthday cake as everyone sang Happy Birthday!

Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr., Roberto Garcia, GSIS president, and Angeli Dione Gomez,Ms. Tourism International, led well-wishers.

Many happy returns of the day, Ms. Dee!