Beauty products using banned ingredient parabens still in PH market – Ecowaste

MANILA, Philippines — Beauty products using a banned ingredient are still sold in the market despite a recall order from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) effective January 1.

The anti-toxics consumer watchdog Ecowaste Coalition reported to the FDA that it has recently found in stores at least 15 products that contained parabens, which has been banned from cosmetic products in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

EcoWaste said they checked some stores and found 15 products of lotions, body wash, liquid soap and foot scrub creams that listed certain types of parabens among the ingredients.

Parabens are commonly used as preservatives to prevent the growth of microbes and promote a longer shelf life of cosmetic products.

But studies found parabens disrupt normal endocrine functions as they imitate the female hormone estrogens, which are associated to an increased risk of breast cancer.

Other studies suggested parabens could disrupt reproductive hormones.

The ingredient has been banned in cosmetic products in ASEAN since August 1, 2015, but the Philippines and Thailand asked for an extension.

The FDA gave cosmetics companies until December 31, 2015 to voluntarily recall products containing the banned parabens.

“While the grace period has already come to an end, we still managed to find and buy 15 products that list either isobutylparaben or isopropylparaben or both among the product ingredients,” EcoWaste coordinator Thony Dizon said.

“We found them in skin lightening and moisturizing lotion, body wash, liquid hand soap and foot scrub cream,” he said.

He said of the 15 products, six were locally manufactured and the rest were imported from Canada and Indonesia.

Dizon said they also found US-made sun protection lotion products with isobutylparaben.

EcoWaste urged consumers to carefully read product labels and not buy products that list parabens as an ingredient.

EcoWaste wrote the FDA Center for Cosmetics Regulation and Research (CCRR) last January 18 asking the agency to “compel the concerned companies to immediately withdraw the above product and undertake other necessary legal measures to ensure industry compliance.”  SFM

By: Dona Z. Pazzibugan - Reporter / @dpazzibuganINQ

Philippine Daily Inquirer / 10:41 PM January 20, 2016

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Lifestyle list of Best Desserts 2012

‘Tis the season to be jolly and extra sweet! So, make your holidays doubly sweet with our 2012 list of Best Desserts. From refreshing gelato treats and homemade ganache chocolate cakes to brandy-infused prune cakes and super suman with a twist—all these are guaranteed to whet your sweet appetite. Enjoy!

ROUGE

Come-on: An impressive dessert both to the eyes and palate, bursting with the fruity flavors of blueberry, strawberry and vanilla gelato on a crust of crushed graham. The beautifully crafted artisan gelato cake makes for great gifts, or simply for indulging yourself.

Cara Mia has a wide range of tempting gelato cakes, but if you must settle for two more sinful sweets, go for Di Lusso, a neat combo of pistachio, chocolate and strawberry gelato covered in a layer of rich chocolate ganache; and Mango Passion, mango chunks blended in gelato arranged in layers of rich shortbread pie crust and topped with strips of mango slices.

Cost: P134/slice; P1,280/whole
Creator: Cara Mia of Amici (Tessie Moran and Philip Moran)
Call: Don Bosco, Makati, tel. 8184444; Greenhills, San Juan, 7244804; Ayala Triangle Gardens, Makati, 6216111; Tomas Morato, QC, 3766458; SM Megamall Atrium, Mandaluyong, 6361340; Alabang Town Center, Muntinlupa City, 4039373; Venice Piazza, Taguig City, 5551000; Robinsons Galleria, Ortigas Center, Pasig; Robinsons Place, Manila; and UP Ayala Technohub

PEACH WALNUT TORTE
Come-on: Two layers of fluffy meringue embellished with walnuts and whipped cream. The sweetness comes from the peaches, which also add a comforting flavor base for the entire slab. It has creamy flavor you don’t want to miss.

Cost: P160/slice; P1,400/whole. Available daily. For bulk orders, call two days in advance. For pick up and delivery for a minimum fee.

Creator: Nic’s Gourmet Desserts (Rina Go)
Call: 5711818, 3549081 and 0999-9933231; 172 A. Mabini St. Addition Hills, San Juan City; visit www.facebook/nicsbakeshop

CASSAVA CAKE
Come-on: Plain-sounding, but this Cassava Cake topped with grated cheese and coconut milk is simply divine. Dr. Boy Vazquez takes pride in the old family recipes which he has tweaked and further improved, such as this homey afternoon delight. Unlike the typical cassava that’s thick and too heavy on the tummy, this version is served warm, soft and made creamier with a butterscotch-like sauce.

Cost: P89/serving
Creator: Café Juanita (Dr. Boy Vazquez)
Call: 6320357 and 7101562;  19 West Capitol Drive, Barrio Kapitolyo, Pasig City.




LOUIE XV

Come-on: Desserts at Restaurant 101 are simple but they hit the sweet spot. Like the Louie XV, dark silky smooth chocolate ganache over crispy luscious praline bar and adorned with edible gold leaves for that royal effect. This dessert can only be savored in two restaurants in the world: Enderun and Alain Ducasse’s three-star Michelin restaurant in Monaco.

Louie XV is made fresh every day, and we just heard that no student can graduate without knowing how to execute this heavenly dessert. It has a nice biscuit-like crunch, and the way the chocolate melts in your mouth is unforgettable.

Cost: P260/order. Dine-in only.
Creator: Restaurant 101, Enderun Colleges
Call: 8565000; 1100 Campus Avenue, McKinley Hill, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig.

ISPAHAN

Come-on: A treat that pays homage to dessert god Pierre Herme. Ispahan showcases macaron shells crammed with fresh raspberries, lychee (in the middle) and rose essence, and further enhanced with a velvety Chantilly cream. It has just the right amount of fruity flavor. Great when paired with Salted Caramel Ice Cream.

Cost: P280/order. For dine-in and take out.
Creator: The Cake Club by Diamond Hotel Manila.
Call: 6213176; Bonifacio High Street Central, 7th Street, BGC, Taguig; Power Plant Mall, Rockwell, Makati.


GIANDUJA AMARA
Come-on: Cool your palate with the refreshing Gianduja Amara, which has chunks of Ferrero Rocher chocolate, crushed pistachio, chocolate ganache and raspberry coulis. It makes for a magical finish to a memorable meal.

Cost: P366/order. Dinner only. The gelato is also part of the buffet selection at Marriott Café. Buffet costs  P1,550 for lunch and P1,650 for dinner on weekday; P1,550 lunch, P1,850 dinner on weekend;  P2,000 for Sunday brunch.

Creator: Cru Steakhouse, Marriott Hotel Manila
Call: 9889999 loc. 8109; Lobby Level, No. 10, Newport Boulevard, Marriott Hotel Manila, Newport City Complex, Pasay City.

SUPER SUMAN

Come-on: Dedet de la Fuente’s dessert is a unique, playful, out-of-the-box creation. The festive Super Suman is gorgeously arranged in a big bilao and peppered with all-time favorite sweets—macapuno balls, fresh mangoes, langka balls, pili nut, choc nut, yema, sweetened langka, ube pastillas with latik on the side. It is a feast for the eyes as well as for the taste buds. Each Super Suman takes around four hours to make.

Cost: P2,500/order. Earliest time of pickup is 11:30 a.m.  The suman, covered with banana leaf, is best eaten on the day of pickup. But the leftovers, if any, can be refrigerated and eaten cold or can be microwaved.

Creator: Dedet de la Fuente
Call 4254605 and 0917-8660662. No. 6 San Pablo St., Magallanes Village, Makati City

PURPLE HIGH

Come-on: Ube Cake with two layers of fluffy ube chiffon, accentuated with homemade ube jam as filling and enrobed with buttery frosting made more flavorful with more ube jam. The ube is very fresh, light and not overwhelming at all.

Also try her Chocolate Blackout Cake, one layer of deep dark chocolate cake hiding beneath a blanket of luxurious chocolate ganache, covered with chocolate shavings and a dusting of powdered sugar.

Cost: P550 for an eight-inch cake. Three days advance notice requested to ensure product freshness.

Creator: Dorothy Ferreria of Dorothy’s Cooking School
Call 7239722 and 0919-5669977. For pickup only at Hemady St., New Manila, QC.

‘PICHI-PICHI’ WITH ‘QUEZO DE BOLA’

Come-on: Chef Tatung jazzes up a traditional Filipino favorite with its pandan-flavored pichi-pichi (steamed cassava dumpling), which comes with melted leche flan and grated quezo de bola, then brûléed on top for that smokey flavor. It’s soft, warm and chewy. The combination of ingredients creates a nice balance of salty and sweet, especially with the sharpness of the quezo de bola.

Cost: P100/order (with three cassava dumplings). For dine-in and takeout. Better to consume right away.

Creator: Chef Tatung Restaurant (chef Michael Giovan Sarthou)
Call 6617703 and 4665390. Molave Lane, Acacia Estates, Brgy. Ususan, Taguig City


ORANGE CHEESECAKE
Come-on: From The Vegetarian Kitchen comes this creamy, zesty Orange Cheesecake, which is ideal for vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike. Not so dense, but the extra smooth cheesecake melts in your mouth. Instead of the usual graham crust, it has a buttercrust base.

Tita Soliongco and her pastry-loving kids Kiko and Camille have made sure their desserts are low-calorie and great for dieters and weight watchers. The desserts don’t call for much sugar and dairy. Their other bestsellers include Apple Pie Cheesecake, Eggless Dark Chocolate Cake and Vegan Carrot Cake—all nicely paired with Soy Coffee.

Cost: P140/slice; P900/whole. For dine-in and pickup only. Call two days in advance.

Creator: The Vegetarian Kitchen (Tita Soliongco)
Call 5447733, 0915-8300511 and 0906-4362533. No. 62-B Mother Ignacia Ave., Brgy. Paligsahan, QC. Operating hours: 11 a.m.-3 p.m. and 5 p.m.-9 p.m.
 
LOACKER MOUSSE CAKE

Come-on: Who can resist the combination of chocolate cake, hazelnut mousse and wafer? This rich chocolate-based cake is infused with smooth hazelnut mousse nestled in layers of crisp chocolate wafer and dressed up with crunchy Loacker wafers. The surprise: It’s not as sweet as one might expect.

Also try Cravings’ Mango Sans Rival, three layers of chewy meringue with fresh mangoes covered with white chocolate shavings and mango syrup.

Cost: P790/8-inch cake; P130/junior 4-inch cake
Creator: Cravings Restaurant
Call Cravings, 287 Katipunan Ave., Loyola Heights, QC, 4334498; 5/L Shangri-La Plaza Mall, Mandaluyong, 6356672; 31/F, Fraser Place Serviced Residences, Makati, 8154271; 3/L Chefs Avenue, Festival Supermall, Alabang, 8504437; 3/L Eastwood Mall, Libis, QC, 4703500; 2/F Il Terrazzo Lifestyle Mall, QC, 6685845; and Molito Complex, Madrigal Ave., Alabang, 0915-6219211. Visit www.cravingsgroup.com.

MANGO WITH STICKY RICE
Come-on: A welcome change from the usual holiday desserts is this Riped Mango with Sticky Rice. It’s light and tasty, but do not be deceived; before you know it, you might find that you’ve finished more than half of it. The sliced mangoes blend perfectly well with the sweet sticky rice.

Cost: P190++. For dine-in only.

Creator: Benjarong Royal Thai Restaurant, Dusit Thani Manila
Call 8673333; Mezzanine Level, Dusit Thani Manila, Edsa cor. Pasay Road, Ayala Center, Makati. Operating hours: daily, 12 p.m.-2:30 p.m. (lunch); 6 p.m.-10 p.m. (dinner)
 
HALO-HALO CAKE

Come-on: Halo-halo for a cake? Yes, UCC has taken the most-loved Filipino dessert and transformed it into a cake, one with layers and layers of soft ube chiffon, leche flan, ube halaya and cream, plus caramelized banana, langka, macapuno and red beans. It’s served with cornflakes-topped nangkasuy ice cream. Every spoon is filled with clumps and clusters of the sweet stuff—perfect for the holidays!

Cost: P250/slice; P1,650/whole

Creator: UCC branches
Call 6594408 or visit 2/F Resorts World Manila, Newport City, Pasay; The Clubhouse, Corinthian Hills, Temple Drive, QC; 3/F Greenbelt 5, Makati; Tomas Morato Plaza, QC; 59 Connecticut St., Greenhills; G/F The Podium, Ortigas Center; 2/F Main Mall, SM Mall of Asia, Pasay; 5/L, Rustan’s Makati; (UCC Café Terrace) 26th St., Forbestown Center, BGC, Taguig; G/F Paseo Center, Salcedo Village, Makati; G/F Lucky Chinatown Mall, Binondo; G/F One Rockwell Center, Makati; Central Westgate Center, Alabang; 1/L Midtown Wing, Robinson’s Place, Manila; Lobby Level, TriNoma, QC; G/F The Terraces, Ayala Center Cebu, Cebu City; (Park Café) G/F Dell Building, Eastwood Mall Promenade, Bagumbayan Libis, QC; Burgos Circle, BGC, Taguig; Glorietta 3 Park, Ayala Center, Makati

KAROL’S DELIGHT
Come-on: Gorge on this moist, velvety three-layered chocolate cake with Valhrona ganache filling. For a goosebump effect, it has chopped prunes and rum infused in the cake. This is the baker’s own interpretation of the late Pope John Paul II’s favorite chocolate cake.

Cost: P2,000/three layers; P1,500 two layers; additional P500 per layer. For pickup only. Order three days in advance.

Creator: Sweet Serendipities (Christian Talento)
Call 0927-9831938

GANACHE CHOCOLATE CAKE
Come-on: A decadent three-layered chocolate cake with tons of chocolate ganache, finished off with beautiful, intricate rosette designs on top.
Cost: P900/8-inch round cake. Order three days in advance. For pickup only.
Creator: Au’s by Aurora Su Calubad
Call 0917-5359459; e-mail aurora.calubad
@gmail.com
 
NUTELLA-FILLED CUPCAKES WITH NUTELLA BUTTERCREAM
Come-on: Bring your holiday meal to a satisfying close with these Nutella-filled desserts—rich chocolate cupcakes with pure gooey Nutella centers topped with, what else, more Nutella buttercream. They taste as good as they look.

Cost: P550/box of nine pieces Call two days in advance.
Creator: Sinful Sweets by Joy Roxas
Call 0920-9518849. Pickup points: Salcedo Village, Makati (weekdays); Sta. Cecilia Village, Las Piñas (weekends).

PRUNE WALNUT CAKE
Come-on: Brandy gives this cake a pronounced flavor that blends perfectly with the butter icing, walnuts and prunes. Delightfully creamy yet light enough, and ideal with a warm cup of coffee.
Cost: P695/7-inch round; P1,150/9-inch round. Call three days in advance, 8 a.m.-8 p.m., Monday to Saturday.

Creator: Butterbelle Bakeshop (Tani Bautista)
Call 5346359, 5322495, 0915-3106522 and 0917-5320816. Pickup only at 583 Tanglaw St., Mandaluyong City. Other pickup point: No. 8 San Antonio St., Brgy. Kapitolyo, Pasig.

CRAVE BARS/CHOCOLATE TRUFFLES

Come-on: Risa Chocolates makes fresh and handmade treats using only pure cacao, plus fine complementary Pinoy ingredients such as pili nuts. The Chocolate Truffles are also made from pure chocolate with variants such as Cookie Dough, Cerveza Negra, Dark Rum, Orange. The Crave Bars include Coffee (crushed coffee beans on 60-percent Belgian chocolate; Roasted Milk with Pili (white chocolate with pili); Venezuela Milk with Hazelnuts (roasted hazelnuts plus Dark Milk chocolate that will make you swoon); 60-percent South Cotabato-Coco Sugar (a healthier version of organic, single-origin cacao, sweetened naturally with organic coco sugar.)
Cost: Chocolate Truffles, P450/box of 12 and P230/box of 6; Crave Bars (coffee and roasted milk with pili) P130/35g mini and P230/85g major, (Venezuela Milk) P300/85g major. Order two days in advance or three days for bulk orders. It offers door-to-door delivery and free drop-off delivery service.
Creator: Risa Chocolates (Pam Cinco and Paulyn Navales)
Call: 6223436, 0917-5657185 and 8527328. Website: Risa.ph and Facebook.com/risa
chocolate
VANILLA WITH CACAO NIBS
Come-on: Churned by a vegan chef, this artisanal ice cream is dairy-free, egg-free, cholesterol-free, vegan and low-glycemic. A guiltless pleasure that tastes like the real thing. Flavors include vanilla bean, vanilla cacao nib, mint cacao nib, dark chocolate, coffee, black sesame, strawberry, mangoes and cream. Quality ingredients used in these creations are cold-pressed coconut milk, cashew milk (soy option), coconut sugar and real vanilla.
Cost: P350 for pint (½ liter); P700 for 1 liter; P1,300 for ½ gallon. For pickup only in Alabang.
Creator: Kitchen Revolution (Chef Marie Gonzalez)
Call: 0917-8945086. Visit info@kitchenrevolution.ph, http://kitchenrevolution.ph. Currently scooping at Ritual, The Collective on Malugay St., Makati, and soon at Edgy Veggy, Brixton St., Pasig
NARCISSA

Come-on: Nothing beats the sensation of biting into creamy, dense Quezo de Bola cheesecake nestled on a base of crushed cornflakes. Nice and light, not too salty or too sweet, and perfectly washed down with a rich and thick demitasse of hot chocolate or strong barako coffee.
Cost: P200/slice; P1,200/whole
Creator: Crisostomo (Chef Florabel Co-Yatco)
Call: 8469275, 2/F Newport Mall, Newport City, Pasay City; 7101693, 2/F Eastwood Mall, Libis, QC; 8690988, G/F Alabang Town Center; and 5028106, Solenad Lakeside Evozone, Nuvali, Sta. Rosa City

SALTED CARAMEL AND CHOCOLATE TORTE
Come-on: Mara de la Rama-Poblete lives up to her well-earned sweet reputation, so to speak. She’s known for her Gateau de Crepe creations, but now she’s come up with Salted Caramel and Chocolate Torte—a concoction of crushed chocolate shortbread, chocolate ganache and chocolate “Pain de Genes” salted caramel mirror. It’s chocolaty-rich, luscious and stimulating. Just stay a little longer at the gym after eating the torte.

Cost: P1,200 for 9-inch round. Serves 10-12 people. Allow 48 hours lead time. For pickup only.
Creator: Dessert du Jour by Mara de la Rama-Poblete

Call: 8069511, 0917-8116272 (Mara) and 0917-8036272 (Shirley). Unit 51 Ecology Village, Dasmariñas Village Side, Gate 5 Edsa, Makati City.

E-mail the author at vbaga@inquirer.com.ph
PHOTOS BY ANDREW TADALAN

PAL eyes stake in Cayman Islands airline

Flag carrier Philippine Airlines is in negotiations to acquire as much as a 50-percent equity in the national airline of the Cayman Islands in what could be the long-awaited solution to the downgraded aviation safety status that has hounded local carriers since 2008.

PAL president Ramon Ang on Tuesday confirmed that both parties were in the process of working out a deal that could see both airlines coming to a mutually beneficial arrangement.

“Yes, we are currently in talks with Cayman Airways and the Cayman Islands government for a number of investment opportunities,” he said in a text message to the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

His statement comes after the government of Cayman Islands disclosed the deal, some details of which were published late Tuesday in the Caymanian Compass publication.

According to the publication, the Cayman Islands government was evaluating a proposal put forward by PAL—and one of its significant stakeholders, San Miguel Corp.—for a 50-percent stake in the small airline.
The scheme will call for Cayman Airways to issue new preferred shares that San Miguel will subscribe to. The fresh capital to be generated from the equity infusion will be used by the Cayman carrier to acquire new aircraft, which will then be rented out to PAL under a so-called “wet lease” agreement.

Under a wet lease deal, the aircraft are registered and domiciled in the Cayman Islands and flown, operated and maintained completely by Cayman Airways.

Cayman Airways’ Category 1 status with the US Federal Aviation Administration will allow the airline to mount additional flights between the Philippines and the US mainland.

The Cayman airline operates only four Boeing 737s and two De Havilland Twin Otter turboprops.

PAL, on the other hand, is prohibited from increasing its number of flights to the US mainland or replacing planes currently used for the route since the Philippines is under category 2 status with the FAA due to weaknesses in the local aviation regulator.

A statement released Tuesday by the Cayman Islands’ Ministry of Finance, Tourism and Development said its government was also in talks with San Miguel for the conglomerate to upgrade the infrastructure on the resort island chain, including modernizing one of its biggest airports.

“Cayman Airways is currently in discussions with Philippine Airlines to ascertain if there are ways for the two airlines to work together,” the statement said. “The exploration of this potential collaboration is covering a variety of areas, but includes reviewing the ability to code share, to provide aircraft operations and includes other strategic areas.”

“San Miguel Corp. is a multibillion-dollar company and has expressed great interest in investing in the Cayman Islands,” the statement added.

“We welcome this exploration of potential investment and trust that they will ultimately choose to invest in these islands. With their controlling ownership of PAL, there also appears to be some potential opportunities for Cayman Airways and the Cayman aviation sector, in general, to benefit from an investment by San Miguel Corp.”

Volkswagen, Ayala ink car dealership partnership

MANILA, Philippines–European car giant Volkswagen AG has engaged the diversified Ayala group into a new car distribution partnership, seeking to harness an increasing consumer affluence in the country as part of its ambition towards global leadership.

Volkswagen, which is headquartered in Wolfsburg, Germany, announced on Wednesday the appointment of Ayala’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Ayala Automotive Holdings Corp. , as the Philippine distributor for Volkswagen passenger vehicles.
This distributorship agreement brings together two premier corporate names to compete in an industry with high-growth potential.

“We are very excited to bring Volkswagen’s technology and engineering expertise to the Philippine market. This partnership will no doubt enhance our current portfolio of auto brands given the dominant position of Volkswagen in the global automotive market. This will allow us to offer a much wider range of passenger vehicles in the local market, which will reinforce further Ayala’s strong presence in the local automotive industry,” Ayala Corp. president and chief operating officer Fernando Zobel de Ayala said in a press statement.

Weiming Soh, President, Commercial Operations, Greater China/ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations), Volkswagen AG, commented: “Building on the Ayala group’s excellent reputation and market knowledge, we are excited about offering consumers in the Philippines Volkswagen’s outstanding line-up of vehicles and providing them with an unparalleled level of sales and service experience.

“As an important part of Volkswagen’s ASEAN growth strategy, we, jointly with the Ayala Group, plan to rapidly and robustly establish the brand Volkswagen in the Philippines, contributing to our vision to become the world’s number one car manufacturer by 2018,” Soh said.

The Volkswagen group is the world’s second largest automobile manufacturer as of 2011, with global sales of 8.265-million units accounting for a 12.3 percent share of the passenger car market. It has has 99 production plants in 27 countries and employs more than 500,000 employees worldwide as of end-2011. Volkswagen vehicles are sold in 153 countries.

Ayala has diversified business interests in the Philippines and is a leading player in real estate development, banking and financial services, telecommunications, water infrastructure development, electronics manufacturing, and business process outsourcing. It has recently entered new sectors with investments in power generation and transport infrastructure development.

Actor arrested for mauling partner

An actor and former reality TV show contestant faces charges of violence against women and physical injuries after he reportedly hurt his live-in partner who had just given birth and beat up her brother.

Matt Evans, 25, was arrested by the Pasig City police in his house on Mercedes Avenue in Barangay San Miguel, Pasig City, on Saturday night.

According to the initial investigation conducted by the Pasig City police Women and Children Protection Desk, the incident happened at 11:30 p.m. on Saturday night.

The police report said that Evans, who at that time wasallegedly under the influence of alcohol, got into an argument with his live-in partner, 20-year-old Johnelline Hickins, who had just given birth to their child three weeks earlier.

As tempers flared, the actor pushed Hickins, sending her tumbling down a flight of stairs inside their house.

Upon hearing the commotion, Hickins’ brother stepped in to stop Evans from further harming her but he got beaten up instead.

Concerned neighbors called the attention of policemen who were on patrol in the area. They immediately arrested Evans.

The actor who is now detained at the Pasig police headquarters will be charged with violation of the Anti-Violence Against Women and Children Act of 2004 for allegedly pushing Hickins. He will also face charges of physical injuries for hitting her brother.

Evans joined the 2006 edition of ABS-CBN’s Pinoy Big Brother Teen Edition before he became a full-fledged actor for the network.

Radio reports quoting Evans’ counsel said the actor denied hitting Hickins. According to him, he was the one who got beaten up during their argument.

‘Charlie’s angel’ Filipino ‘slur’ stirs cyber storm

LOS ANGELES—A random comment made by Hollywood actress Lucy Liu on “The Late Show with David Letterman” has sparked a debate in cyberspace.

Did the Chinese-American film and TV star (“Charlie’s Angels,” “Ally McBeal”) intend to insult an entire country when she said she was careful not to look a “little Filipino”?
Netizens weighed in on the Inquirer website (www.inquirer.
net) and Twitter account (@InqEnt).

One jested: “Maybe she meant she might look like Pokwang.” (Filipino comedienne Pokwang has claimed that she is Liu’s long-lost twin.)

Another pointed out: “I’m singkit (chinky-eyed) but kayumanggi (brown-skinned). I’m proud of it and I’m not offended.”

Understandably, there were a lot of angry comments. This one was harsher on those: “Pilipinas, ang OA mo (Philippines, you’re overacting)!”
Out of context
 
In the meantime, Liu has apologized.
“I am so sorry that my comment was taken out of context, as I would never insult another group or ethnicity,” the actress told the Inquirer when asked to comment about her controversial statement as Letterman’s guest on October 11.

When the TV host asked Liu, who is shooting her new TV series, “Elementary,” if she enjoyed running indoors or outdoors, she replied: “I run on a machine—it’s easier for me. Also, if I get really dark, I’ll start to look a little Filipino. It wouldn’t match if I start getting darker, you know what I mean? I can get really dark if I’m in the sun too much.”

Liu’s remark quickly elicited criticisms and complaints in online blog posts and social media sites, for being “racist.”

In a statement given to the Inquirer through her publicist, Carrie Gordon, Liu explained: “Just to clarify, I was explaining why I do not run or exercise outdoors, as my skin tans very easily. Because I am presently playing a character with New York during the autumn/winter season as backdrop, it is important that I keep my look consistent with this type of environment.”

At press time, Liu has not answered the Inquirer’s follow-up question: Why she used the phrase “a little Filipino” if she had been concerned only about the consistency of her character’s skin color. Liu plays Dr. Joan Watson to Jonny Lee Miller’s Sherlock Holmes in “Elementary,” a modern-day take on the popular detective fiction series.—With a report from Bayani San Diego Jr.

‘Marce’ accelerates, moves out of PH Saturday

MTSAT ENHANCED-IR Satellite Image 12 noon., 05 October 2012

MANILA, Philippines – Tropical storm “Marce” further accelerated as it moved away from the country and is expected to be out of the Philippine territory by Saturday, the state weather bureau said.

Marce was last seen 390 kilometers west of Subic, Zambales with maximum sustained winds of 75 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 90 kph.

It is forecast to move west at 15 kph and be 670 km west of Iba, Zambales by Saturday morning or outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility.

Although there are no longer storm signals, Marce will bring rains 10–25 mm per hour (heavy- intense) within its 500-km diameter.

Fishing boats and other small seacraft are still advised not to venture out into the western seaboard of Luzon and Visayas. 

Latest weather forecast philippines as of 12:26 pm | Friday, October 5th, 2012 via here.

Aquino: Evidence of plunder vs Arroyo strong

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga—President Benigno Aquino III said here Friday that the government had a strong case of plunder against former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

“We don’t file a case if the evidence is not strong, otherwise we will end up getting embarrassed,” the President told reporters here when asked if the case against his predecessor was strong enough to end in her conviction.

Mr. Aquino was in Pamapanga Friday for a mass oath-taking of Liberal Party members.

Read more Latest Breaking News here.

Media groups, Filipinos protest tough cyber law

MANILA, Philippines—Media groups and Filipinos stepped up calls Wednesday for repealing a tough new law that targets cybercrime but activists fear will be used to suppress online freedoms in the Southeast Asian nation.

The Cybercrime Prevention Act took effect Wednesday despite last-minute petitions to the Supreme Court to stop it. The justices said they will take up the issue next week.

The law is envisioned as a measure against hacking, identity theft, spamming, cybersex and online child pornography. But citizens and groups who protested on social networking sites, blogs and out in the streets fear politicians will use it to silence critics.

The law contains a provision that says libel — which is already punishable by up to six years in prison — is also a cybercrime. It doubles cumulative penalties for online offenses and allows government agencies to search, seize and destroy computer data deemed libelous.

Human rights and media groups have unsuccessfully campaigned for years to downgrade libel from a criminal to a civil offense, saying politicians often use the law to harass journalists and other critics.
Former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s husband sued 46 investigative journalists and publishers in more than 50 libel cases from 2003 to 2007 but later dropped them in a “gesture of peace.”
The journalists wrote stories alleging Jose Miguel “Mike” Arroyo was corrupt, which he denied. He is now facing two corruption cases linked to an overpriced government deal and the sale of secondhand helicopters to police.

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Star power marks Day 2 of COC filing

The magic of star power on Tuesday replaced the flamboyant atmosphere that marked the first day of the formal entry of aspirants in the Senate derby next year.

Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero was alone when he filed his certificate of candidacy (COC).

Gone were the brass bands and ati-atihan and dragon dancers that gave the Commission on Elections (Comelec) a carnival air on Monday as eight senatorial candidates of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) trooped there to file their COCs in the elections next May.

Clad in a leather jacket and tight jeans, Escudero—the reelectionist  guest candidate of the administration’s Liberal Party (LP) and UNA—gamely posed for photos for all and sundry who asked, including the Comelec staff processing COCs.

But he was also pounded by questions on why he did not come with celebrity Heart Evangelista, his rumored girlfriend. “She’s resting, I think,” he told a reporter.

A shrieking and camera- and mobile phone-toting mob also gathered when actor and TV host Willie Revillame arrived to support and endorse former Las Piñas Rep. Cynthia Villar, a senatorial aspirant of the ruling party, to make her candidacy official yesterday.

Accompanied by her husband, Sen. Manny Villar, and her son, Mark, an incumbent Las Piñas representative, Cynthia Villar was the first LP candidate to file her COC in the Comelec.
“We were busy yesterday because of the proclamation rally so we thought this would be a good time,” said Villar, who will run on a platform focusing on the care of overseas Filipino workers and the protection of the environment, among others.

‘Manang Henia’ mobbed
Actress Susan Roces also commanded a modest, star-struck crowd when she came Tuesday afternoon with her daughter Grace Poe-Llamanzares, chair of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board. Grace filed her COC for senator.

Comelec employees took turns posing for photos with the actress while the others were content with just ogling her through the glass panels that divided the main hallway of the Palacio del Gobernador and the Comelec’s project management office, where the COCs were being filed.

Others merrily called her “Manang Henia,” a role Roces currently plays on ABS-CBN’s telenovela, “Walang Hanggan,” which also stars Richard Gomez, Dawn Zulueta and Helen Gamboa.

The actress said the Comelec office brought back bittersweet memories of her late husband, actor Fernando Poe Jr., who ran and lost to Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in the presidential race in 2004.

“A lot of memories came rushing back to me the first time I accompanied my husband, Ronnie, to register. I also remembered the first time I accompanied [Grace] to her school when she was in kindergarten,” Roces told reporters in an interview. Her recollection almost brought her daughter to tears.

For her part, Llamanzares said she decided to join the senatorial race to be of service to the Filipino people through hard work and also to push for social welfare programs, particularly for children, that her father had wanted to pursue.

Read more latest news on celebrities here.

Ateneo and the RH bill

Back in college, my friends and I immersed ourselves in the communities of Smokey Mountain.  We marvelled at the scavengers’ ingenuity in creating products from scrap, but we despaired over the appalling living conditions and the enormity of the task of providing healthcare and education for so many children.

Mothers tearfully said they did not want any more kids, but abstinence was out of the question, and they knew next to nothing about natural family planning.  Two decades later, nothing seems to have changed.

I knew of an upper-class mother who seemed to be healthy enough, but who suddenly died.  Rightly or wrongly, her family attributed her death to the use of the pill (or something like it) to regulate her monthly periods.

Searching the Internet, they found out that the medication could lead to bleeding, strokes or heart attacks.

I refrained from writing about the RH (reproductive health) bill because I had not yet made up my mind and heart.  But I followed discussions, especially the Inquirer columns of Ateneo Law School dean emeritus Fr. Joaquin Bernas, S.J., and University of the Philippines sociology professor Randy David.

Last month, Ateneo colleagues urged me to sign their letter of support for the RH bill. Though I found the message credible and reasonable, I did not sign because I was still undecided.

As a semi-public figure, I also did not want anyone to sensationalize or misinterpret my stand.
I was not going to air my views until some bishops started excoriating the professors who signed the letter.

Fresh air
Born years after Vatican II, I have been influenced by the religious who, though toeing the official Church line on reproductive health, never damned our souls for future sins.  My classmates and I dutifully memorized bits of “Humanae Vitae,” but we also learned about “Humanae Salutis” and Pope John XXIII’s call for the Church to open its windows to let in fresh air.

I never felt any conflict between science and religion, and considered my faith so vital that I chose Ateneo over UP (my parents’ alma mater). I reveled in the intellectual discourse under brilliant and....

Read more rh bill in the philippines.

Senate flare-up shows Palace factionalism, say lawmakers

Last week’s flare-up in the Senate involving the Philippines’ territorial dispute with China was evidence of the worsening strife between rival factions in the Aquino administration, party-list lawmakers said Sunday.

“On one level, [it’s] the factional rivalry [between] Balay and Samar playing itself out. On another, the [conflict between Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV] is a personal rivalry between an old padrino and his protégé,” Rep. Antonio Tinio of ACT Teachers said in a text message to the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

“Unfortunately, the hope of a strong, independent position on the territorial dispute with China has been undermined by this conflict,” Tinio said.

“Balay” is the faction identified with Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, referring to the Roxas mansion in Cubao, Quezon City, used as the Liberal Party (LP) campaign headquarters in 2010.

“Samar” is the faction led by Vice President Jejomar Binay, referring to the campaign headquarters of Binay on Samar Avenue in South Triangle, Quezon City.

Enrile, an ally of Binay, and Trillanes, an ally of President Benigno Aquino, clashed in the Senate on Wednesday over a bill that would divide Camarines Sur into two provinces. Their exchanges led to a tussle over Trillanes’ earlier admission that he was Mr. Aquino’s backroom negotiator in the talks with China in the territorial dispute over Panatag Shoal (Scarborough Shoal) in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).

Enraged by Trillanes’ brashness, Enrile disclosed notes from Trillanes’ meeting with Ambassador to China Sonia Brady in Beijing in August that tended to show Trillanes as undermining the Philippine position in dispute and criticizing the efforts of Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario.

Unable to stand the heat, Trillanes walked out. Enrile called him a “fraud” and “coward.”
Originally posted: 9:37 pm | Sunday, September 23rd, 2012

Younghusbands ditched by Azkals for Peace Cup

MANILA, Philippines—The Philippine Azkals will be without leading international scorer Phil Younghusband and brother James when they vie in the Paulino Alcantara Peace Cup starting Tuesday at Rizal Memorial Stadium.

The lineup released Sunday by the team did not include the Fil-British brothers, who missed the training camp in the United States and the match against Malaysia last June because of prior commitments before coming back to play in the series of friendlies early this month.

The Azkals are toughening up for the AFF Suzuki Cup in November and have matches lined up against Bahrain and Kuwait in October.
“Having greatly benefited from Suzuki Cup 2010, we expect our players to work harder than ever this year,” a statement from the team said yesterday.

“Unfortunately, not everyone in the team could assure us of this; a few have already signified their unavailability for some crucial activities leading up to the tournament.”

The team added: “While this is admittedly a setback in our plans, we understand that family obligations and club/work commitments sometimes take precedence.”

Speaking through their manager Cathy Rivilla, the Younghusband brothers expressed shock over the decision, which was relayed to them by coach Michael Weiss, who, she said, only informed the brothers via a text message.

“Anything else after the Peace Cup remains to be seen,” Weiss told the brothers whom he tried to reach Sunday.

Sources said the brothers could not commit to the Azkals’ schedule in October because of their commitment to their United Football League club, Loyola Meralco Sparks.

The Sparks still have semifinal matches in the Singapore Cup in the first week of October, which also marks the start of the UFL Cup.

Sparks chair Randy Roxas said they are ready to release the Younghusbands for national team duty on the Fifa dates.

“We remain 100 percent committed to the national team,” the brothers said through Rivilla. “We do not know what transpired as we have been in talks with coach Weiss. But we respect whatever decision management has and we will be available for whatever call up.”

Federal Land doing well in Queen City of South

CEBU CITY—Federal Land Inc., the Metrobank Group’s real estate arm, introduced here recently the newest addition to its list of residential development—the Parkview Residences.

This followed strong demand of the first two towers, the Marco Polo Residences.

Federal Land president Alfred Ty says the strong appetite for investment from the locals and demand for condominiums are just a few of the factors why they chose the Queen City of the South as the location of this exclusive community.

Five towers will rise in Nivel Hills district, 500 feet above sea level in this P20-billion luxury condominium development.

The Residences (first tower) and the Two Residences (second tower) were launched last year while the Park View Residences (third tower) was launched early this year.

All towers will have bare units and basic fixtures. Units range from 47 to 140 square meters and cost about P4 million to P15 million. Since the project is owned by Metrobank’s subsidiary, Ty says the bank will provide lower interest rates for buying units in the towers.

Senior marketing manager Johanna Clavecilla says the 26-story Parkview Residences will have the best landscape view of the city. Buyers can also choose units with either a mountain view or a sea view.
“The Residences is almost a hundred percent pre-sold while the other two towers are nearing 50 to 65 percent,” Clavecilla says.

Dennis Lim, vice president for sales and marketing of Federal Land says most of their buyers are locals of the city who already have big houses near the location of Marco Polo Residences.

“Some investors tell us that they want to own a unit, not to lease it out but to use it sometimes,” Lim says.

The favorable market response, according to Ty, is attributed to low maintenance of condo living and to Cebu being a haven of tourists since there are direct flights from the Mactan-Cebu International Airport to Singapore, Hong Kong and Korea.

Lim says another reason behind the success of this modern-contemporary development is the quality of service provided by the Marco Polo Plaza, a 5-star hotel which is just beside the site of the Marco Polo Residences along Cebu Veterans Drive.

The hotel was formerly known as the Cebu Plaza Hotel, the renowned 20-year-old hotel in this city, which closed in March 2003.

In 2006, the Metrobank Group and Hong Kong’s Marco Polo company decided to reopen the hotel.
“Most of the local business people who invest in this development feel the nostalgia of the old hotel and they want to entertain that piece of history of their families and the memories of this place,” Lim says.

Jose Mari Banzon, executive vice president and general manager of Federal Land says almost a hundred percent of the people they employ in their projects here in Cebu are locals.

“Almost all of our workers here are from the city except our consultants who come from different places in the country,” Banzon says.

Coupled with the booming business process outsourcing (BPO) industry in Cebu, Banzon says these projects will generate more jobs for the locals thus soliciting full support of the local government.

In its 40 years in the real estate industry, Federal Land Inc. continues to establish its reputation in real estate management and property development with a vision to provide quality and affordable lifetime investments for the Filipinos.

Palace tells DFA chief, Trillanes to shut up on West Philippine Sea dispute

MANILA, Philippines—Malacañang moved swiftly to contain the fire stoked by revelations of infighting between Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert Del Rosario and pro-administration Senator Antonio Trillanes IV over the issue of the West Philippine Sea being disputed by China.

President Aquino ordered both officials to keep things to themselves until he has separately met with them.

In a Palace briefing, presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda disclosed that the President had already talked with Del Rosario.

“The President intends to speak to Senator Trillanes also,” said Lacierda, but was quick to say that Trillanes was authorized by the President to talk with Beijing officials via back-channel negotiations.
This, he said, was during the height of the tensions between China and the Philippines over the Scarborough Shoal.

“And the President said let’s keep our options open. The President was approached by Senator Trillanes that there’s a way forward to hold these things … and so, that’s what happened,” said Lacierda, adding, “But you must remember that Senator Trillanes also mentioned...   Read more here...

New PH map with ‘West Philippine Sea’ name to be out soon – Namria

TAGAYTAY CITY, Philippines — The new official government map showing the South China Sea being renamed as the West Philippine Sea could be out in two weeks’ time, the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (Namria) said on Tuesday.

John Fabic, Namria Information Management Department director, said the map would also show the extent of the country’s maritime borders based on its 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone (ECZ) under the United Nations (UN) Convention on the Law of the Sea.

“We’ve seen the first draft. There’s a new appellation for that area. It could be out in two weeks,” Fabic said at a National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council conference.

Fabic said the initial draft has been submitted to Malacañang for review.
The new map was produced after President Benigno Aquino III last week  issued an administrative order renaming the South China Sea as the West Philippine Sea.
To demarcate the nation’s territory, Namria map experts also established the baseline around country for its exclusive economic zone.

The map clearly shows that the Kalayaan islands (the portion of the disputed Spratly islands claimed by the Philippines) and Panatag shoal are well within the country’s ECZ, according to Fabic.

However, he declined to say if the islets, shoals, and reefs claimed by the Philippines were also renamed.
“We’ve seen the template but we also have to recall the old maps this would replace,” Fabic said.
“Let’s wait for the announcement from the DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs) and Malacañang,” Fabic said.

Aquino said the government would deposit a copy of the map and his order with the UN secretary general and notify relevant international organizations like the International Hydrographic Organization and the UN Conference on the Standardization of Geographical Names.

Read more south china sea news here.