Martial Law Victims to Receive Reparations

MANILA — Philippine President Benigno Aquino signed into law Monday legislation that would recognize and compensate victims of human rights abuses during martial law under former President Ferdinand Marcos.

Lawmakers spent 14 years trying to pass various forms of a proposal that would make the government recognize human rights victims of injustices under the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos in the 1970’s and 1980’s.

Congressman Walden Bello says it passed this year because many legislators realized the victims were aging, if not dying, and had grown sickly.

“It’s great that we were finally able to muster the forces to get it through both Houses of Congress," Bello said. "Also, I think it’s very significant because the Philippines is one of the few if not the only government that has in fact designated reparations payments for human rights violations that have been admitted by its agencies.”

The new law sets aside $250 million to compensate victims or families of victims, determined by an independent panel, to have been murdered, tortured or suffered other injustices at the hands of law enforcement and the military of the Marcos administration.

The Marcos family continues to deny any human rights violations took place under Ferdinand Marcos’s rule.

Marie Hilao-Enriquez is chairperson of SELDA, a victims’ advocacy group that lobbied hard for the law. She was an activist during the martial law years and was thrown in jail where she gave birth to her first child. She escaped, but her sister was later detained and killed.

Hilao-Enriquez says the group is happy to finally be recognized by the government. But she says the fight is not over.

“This is a small portion of justice," she said, "the reparations and recognition because to us complete justice means the perpetrators should acknowledge the sins they have committed. They should issue an apology. They should be prosecuted for their sins.”

Money for the fund comes from part of the Marcos estate which allegedly came from ill-gotten wealth that was frozen by the Swiss government and returned to Philippine authorities.

President Aquino signed the Human Rights Victims Recognition and Reparation Act into law on the 27th anniversary of the bloodless revolution that catapulted his mother to the presidency and restored democracy. Aquino’s father, a vocal opponent of Marcos, was killed by unknown assassins during those years. 

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Simone Orendain

February 25, 2013

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US Ready To Disassemble Warship Stranded At Reef

With the Jascon 25 pipelay crane vessel now at the Tubbataha reef, a spokesman of the United States Navy (USN) said yesterday salvage personnel will begin disassembling and removing the stricken Guardian minesweeper as soon as possible.
Lt. Frederick Martin, the USN Combined Task Unit (CTU) Guardian public affairs officer, gave the Manila Bulletin a summary of their salvage plan.
He stressed though that "individual steps, such as when to begin disassembling portions of the Guardian, are decisions made by the on-scene salvage experts based on weather and conditions at the site."
According to the USN officer, "Jascon 25, a dynamic positioning crane, has arrived in the area. This crane does not need to anchor, so it is expected to be able to operate where the other crane, Smit Borneo, could not. It also has a higher lifting capacity, needed to remove some sections of Guardian."
"Once the Jascon completes the Philippine Customs process and aligns and tests its dynamic positioning system, weather permitting, Smit salvage personnel will begin disassembling and removing the Guardian with the crane," he said.
In an email to the Manila Bulletin, Martin also provided a rough outline of the current salvage plan, but made it clear that "it will probably change as it is executed."
"It  is important to understand that the plan is constantly changing and being refined as the operation continues. The salvage of USS Guardian is extremely complex, and is affected by a wide variety of factors, including weather and the continued structural degradation of Guardian itself," Martin explained.
Marine salvage is a dynamic operation and operational plans will need to be adjusted as circumstances change," he added.
When the dismantling of the Guardian begins, Martin said topside equipment will be removed first, followed by masts, funnel and other accessible equipment and portions of the ship.
"Throughout the process, protection of the environment and mitigation of environmental risk will be a significant consideration, alongside safety of personnel," he said.
"Next, once loose material has been removed, we expect to begin removing the ship's superstructure - the part of the ship above the main deck.  Sections will be cut free and lifted with the Jascon crane, again with consideration of protecting the marine environment," Martin said.
Once the superstructure is removed, heavy machinery and equipment will be removed from inside the ship.
The USN spokesman said they have already removed the fuel and most of the other hazardous materials from the ship, and will monitor the removal of this equipment to ensure any remaining material is appropriately contained.
"Once the hull is mostly empty, we expect to begin to cut it into sections that can be secured and lifted.  Our current estimate is that we will remove the hull in three sections.  The bow and stern will be removed as intact pieces; however, the middle section will need to be removed in a piecemeal fashion as the structure lacks the strength to lift intact," he said.
The ship will be disassembled using a combination of hydraulic and pneumatic saws, grinders, cutters, and other equipment.
As equipment and sections of the ship are removed, they will be transferred to a barge or deck of the crane for further work.
The spokesman said, however, that they have not yet determined the final disposition of Guardian.
"Again, this entire plan is provisional, and based on what we know of the current conditions.  As we conduct the operation, we may find we need to alter the plan, possibly significantly.  We are working to remove the Guardian safely, while minimizing risk to the environment, and as quickly as those other considerations allow," said Martin.
He also reiterated that the salvage plan continues to emphasize safety and protection of the environment.
"Throughout the operation the salvage experts will alter procedures as necessary to protect personnel and the Tubbataha Reef ecosystem," stated USN spokesman.

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Stand-off between Philippine government and followers of Sultan of Sulu

Manila: A stand-off has occurred between Philippine government officials and followers of Sultan of Sulu who raided Sabah last week to pursue a Filipino-Muslim family’s claims over the territory which dates back to the 17th century.

“We are endeavouring to have the group [of Sultan Jamalul Kiram] leave Lahad Datu [in Sabah] peacefully and this remains to be a work in progress in coordination with the Malaysian government. We want this issue to be settled in a peaceful manner,” said Raul Hernandez, assistant secretary and spokesman of Manila’s foreign affairs department.

“What is important for now is for them to leave that area because this could affect existing issues we have including peace talks [between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation front or MILF which is brokered by Malaysia] and possible bilateral relations [between the Philippines and Malaysia, which are both members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations or Asean],” said Hernandez.

Earlier, Kiram confirmed that he approved the sending of 400 (not 300) Filipino-Muslims, including 20 armed men, to Lahad Datu district last week, to enforce his family’s ancestral ownership over the area.

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Top 10 highest-paying jobs in PH bared

The top 10 jobs, the statement said, are determined through the median monthly basic pay and allowances of time-rate full-time workers in non-agricultural firms with at least 20 employees.

1. Art director: P69,286
2. Geologist: P64,889
3. Aircraft pilot/navigator/flight engineer: P57,789
4. Mining/metallurgical engineer: P55,638
5. Computer programmer: P43,573
6. Systems analyst/designer: P42,112
7. Production supervisor/general foreman: P36,133
8. Actuarian: P35,480
8. Call center representative/customer service associate: P35,424
10. Statistician: P35,010

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Chinese New Year 2013 rings in Year of the Snake

Over 1.3 billion people in China and millions of Chinese around the world celebrate the first day of the Chinese New Year – February 10, 2013 – today. It’s the most important of Chinese holidays, kicking off a celebration that lasts for 15 days and culminates with the Lantern Festival. Each year is associated with one of 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac. For 2013, it’s the Year of the Snake. The celebration began yesterday in China (current time in Bejing here), but don’t let that stop you from celebrating. Gong Xi Fa Ca! That’s the traditional Chinese New Year greeting that means “wishing you prosperity” in Mandarin.
There are several variations on the mythology behind Chinese New Year celebrations. Most are based on a ugly bloodthirsty monster named Nian that would emerge on the last night of each year to destroy villages and eat people. A wise elder advised villagers to scare the monster away with loud noises. That night, they set fire to bamboo, lit fireworks, and banged their drums. The monster, afraid of the loud noises and lights, ran away to hide in its cave. In another version of the myth, an old man persuaded Nian to turn its wrath on other monsters, not the villagers. Before he was seen riding away on Nian, the old man, actually a god, advised the people to hang red paper decorations in their homes and set off firecrackers on the last night of the year to keep Nian away. On the first day of the new year, the villagers celebrated, greeting each other with the words “Guo Nian” which means “survive the Nian”, a tradition that has continued to this day to mean “celebrate the new year.”

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World's largest croc 'Lolong' dies

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) - The world's largest crocodile in captivity died on Sunday, February 10, in Agusan del Sur province, reports said.
The reptile, known as Lolong, passed away at 8.05 pm, according to Bunawan mayor Edwin Elorde.
A municipal official told the Philippine Daily Inquirer that Lolong was found dead inside his pen by Dr. Alexander Collantes, a veterinarian at Davao Crocodile Park.
The reptile had not been eating his usual meal late last month, and its left stomach "ballooned" but the cause of death has not yet been determined.
Captured in September 2011, the saltwater crocodile measured 20.24 feet and weighed approximately 2,370 pounds.
Lolong was caught after a 3-week hunt involving around 100 people.
The croc, believed to be about 50 years old, was suspected of eating a farmer who went missing in Bunawan, and a 12-year-old girl whose head was discovered in 2009.
Lolong was confirmed by Guinness World Records as the largest crocodile in captivity in June 2012.
The record was expected to boost the town's tourism.
Here's what people on Twitter had to say about Lolong's demise:

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Philippines the 'Most Romantic Destination

It’s most romantic in the Philippines, say readers of the Chinese news daily, the Shanghai Morning Post, in a consumer survey. The distinction, “Most Romantic Destination,” came on the heels of the “Best Tourist Destination” award for the country by another Chinese business and financial daily.  The Oriental Morning Post, during its annual World Travel-Special Trips Award on January 9, 2013.
The award was received by Department of Foreign Affairs officials on January 15, 2013, in ceremonies at Shanghai Peninsula Hotel, attended by officials of the Philippine Consulate General in Shanghai, editors of the Shanghai Morning Post, and members of media in the People’s Republic of China. Other country-winners were Australia as “Best Tour Destination for Discovery,” Switzerland as “Best Shopping Paradise,” Korea as “Best Skiing Destination,” and Germany as “Best Destination for Art Appreciation.”
The recognition boosts the Department of Tourism’s (DOT) just-launched international 30-second TV commercial titled “Lovers,” featuring popular Boracay Island, to show the “momentous activities one can have in any of the Philippine shores.” It was a spin-off from “It’s More Fun in the Philippines.”
More and more Chinese are traveling to the Philippines this winter season and they are expected to celebrate with Filipinos Chinese New Year’s Day on February 10, 2013, and Valentine’s Day on February 14, 2013. China is the fourth largest tourism market for the Philippines, next to South Korea, United States of America, and Japan. There were 233,174 tourist arrivals from January to November, 2012, a 5.36 percent increase from last year. The DOT  is participating in major travel fairs in China and offering familiarization tours for travel agents and the media. The Philippine government maintains its strong presence in the Chinese market through promotion and strategic partnership with the local media.
We congratulate the Department of Tourism headed by Secretary Ramon R. Jimenez Jr., the Department of Foreign Affairs led by Secretary Albert F. del Rosario, and the Philippine Consulate General in Shanghai, led by Consul General Charles C. Jose and Tourism Attaché Gerard O. Panga, and Philippine Tourism in Shanghai Attaché Niel P. Ballesteros, all the best and success in all their endeavors on the Chinese tourists visiting the Philippines. CONGRATULATIONS AND MABUHAY!

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