Select media to cover Mar-Korina grand wedding

MANILA, Philippines -- The grand wedding reception for 10,000 at the Araneta Coliseum may have been cancelled but, based on the guidelines released to the media, the much-awaited wedding on Tuesday of Sen. Manuel “Mar” Roxas III and TV journalist Korina Sanchez promises to equal that of a state occasion.
In a letter sent to the Philippine Daily Inquirer, lawyer Blas James Viterbo, the senator’s chief-of-staff, said only select media organizations were invited to the event at the Sto. Domingo Church in Quezon City. And they will have to follow the strict coverage guidelines.
“Due to limited space, only photographers and news crew from selected publications and news services have been sent this invitation,” Viterbo said.
“Furthermore, there would be designated positions for photographers. Lots would be drawn as to their assigned position at the time they get their passes,” he added.
A media advisory attached to Vierbo’s letter said that the coverage would be a “pool operation” so “photographers are encouraged to share materials with each other.”
“Pool” coverages are usually reserved for big time events when reporters or photographers share their material because not everyone can be accommodated due to space constraints or the formal setting of these coverages.
This usually happens during presidential trips abroad, like a visit to the White House. Photographers are assigned areas from where they can take pictures -- and are not allowed to loiter -- while on some occasions, only one reporter is allowed to ask questions.
“Lots will be drawn in the registration area to determine the assigned position of the photographers,” the advisory said.
“Reporters and photographers will be ushered to their respective positions inside the church, from the registration booths,” it added.
The advisory also mentions a strict dress code for the wedding, which is expected to draw the crème dela crème of Philippine high society.
“Covering media are strictly advised to wear Filipiniana attire,” the advisory said.
“All media covering are advised to be present not later than 2 p.m. Church doors will be closed at exactly 3 p.m.,” it added.

How do you solve a problem like Estrada?

JOSEPH “ERAP” ESTRADA ANNOUNCED HIS presidential bid at a huge rally in teeming Tondo, Manila last Oct. 21. Carrying the banner of “Tapat sa Mahirap, Samahang Tunay,” the former president also proclaimed his teammate, Makati’s unsinkable Mayor Jojo Binay, and his senatorial slate led by Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile.
No legal significance. Despite the genuine “Erap! Erap! Erap!” chants and the vintage political swagger, the muscle flexing evoked no legal effects. But once he formally files his certificate of candidacy (COC) in the Commission on Elections, his political adversaries will feast on him. He will probably file his COC on Nov. 30, the Comelec-decreed deadline. A filing on an earlier date would subject him to the ban on premature campaigning, per Penera vs Comelec (Sept. 11, 2009).
The expected petitions against his eligibility will likely allege that (1) President Macapagal-Arroyo’s pardon for his conviction for plunder did not include his disqualification to hold any public office, and (2) the Constitution bans all former presidents from occupying again the presidency.
On the first point, I opined in my Nov. 18, 2007 column that the presidential clemency extended to Erap was absolute and unconditional; it erased both the principal penalty of imprisonment and the accessory penalty of electoral disqualification. A condition retaining an accessory imposes a burden; hence, it should have been couched in clear language. However, the pardon did not contain any clear burdens. Quite the contrary, it expressly “restored his civil and political rights.”
Reelection ban. The second point is more contentious. The Constitution says, “The President shall not be eligible for any reelection. No person who has succeeded as President and has served as such for more than four years shall be qualified for election to the same office at any time.”
Many legal scholars say that the plain words “any reelection” should be understood plainly: elected presidents can never ever run again for the eligibility suits, which would initially be heard by a division of the Comelec. The division’s decision (whichever way it goes) could be elevated to the Comelec En Banc. Finally, the Banc’s judgment could be raised to the Supreme Court.
Meantime, Estrada’s COC would spawn administrative problems. The first of these is whether the Comelec should print Estrada’s name on the automated ballots while his eligibility case is pending. The printing deadline is Jan. 9. The eligibility suit will probably last beyond that deadline. Note that under the automated system, voters do not write the names of the candidates on the ballots; they merely shade the ovals opposite the candidates’ printed names. If his name is not printed, he could not be voted regardless of the verdict on his case.
If Erap were finally declared ineligible, would the machines still count his votes? What would happen if he gets the highest number of votes among the presidential bets? Can he still be substituted after he is judicially declared ineligible?
On the other hand, if Erap withdraws his candidacy before his eligibility is decided, can Binay—his teammate—substitute for him? Due to lack of time, Binay’s name could no longer be printed on the space for presidential candidates. Will the votes cast for Binay for vice president be counted for his presidential bid? Will the ovals shaded for Erap be counted in favor of Binay? Suppose his substitute bears his surname, like Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, will Erap’s votes be counted in favor of Jinggoy?
To the Comelec: How do you solve a problem like Estrada? To continue the enigma of the “Sound of Music,” how do you hold a moonbeam in your hands? I trust that the Comelec will post its answers to these questions (raised by readers) on the ehope2010.ph website, which Commissioner Rene V. Sarmiento said, will open on Oct. 28.

Ousted Filipino leader announces election bid

MANILA, Philippines – Ousted leader Joseph Estrada, convicted of plunder and later pardoned, said Wednesday he wants to run in next year's elections despite legal challenges and immediate objections to the idea of his political comeback.

"This will be the final, final performance of my life," Estrada told The Associated Press. "I should not fail the Filipino people in this next chapter."

Estrada said he would formally announce his plans later Wednesday in Manila's slums _ the base of legions of his supporters who propelled him to movie stardom, then to political power.

A return to politics would mark a new episode in Estrada's checkered life, which many say has been as colorful as his B-movies.

The 72-old-year stepped down amid massive anti-corruption protests in 2001 after serving only half of his six-year term. He was convicted of economic plunder in September 2007 but was immediately granted a pardon by his successor and political nemesis, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

Rivals are expected to challenge his candidacy before the Supreme Court and invoke a constitutional ban on a second term for any president.

A study by his legal team, Estrada said, indicated he was not covered by the ban because he was illegally forced from power. Arroyo, who was elected vice president separately, helped lead the military-backed protests, then succeeded him.

"I was demonized then unconstitutionally removed," Estrada said.

Albert Lim, spokesman of the Makati Business Club, a prestigious group of the country's top business executives, said Estrada's poor record as president and his criminal conviction should be enough reasons for him not to run again.

"Going by his track record, why should anyone think that he'll be a good president?" Lim asked. "He won't be good for business."

Despite his ouster, conviction and detention, Estrada steadfastly denied the charges of plundering Philippine coffers through kickbacks and illegal gambling payoffs. He never parted with a visible symbol of his power _ his trademark wristband with the presidential seal, which he intended to wear in a major public rally in his power base _ Manila's Tondo slum district.

"During the lowest point in my life, the poor did not abandon me," he said. "I'll announce my candidacy in their midst and I won't fail them this time."

Estrada rose to movie stardom in his early 20s, playing tough guys with a soft spot for the needy _ roles that earned him the hearts of the masses that make up almost half of the population. In the 1970s, he won five best actor awards in the Philippines' version of the Oscars.

Estrada entered politics in 1969 with his election as mayor of Manila's San Juan suburb, a post he kept for 17 years. He was elected senator in 1987, then vice president in 1992 despite a life of boozing, gambling and womanizing _ foibles that humanized and endeared him to ordinary Filipinos but disturbed the influential Roman Catholic Church and the business community.

He has acknowledged fathering children with several women other than his wife.

He banked on his macho, Filipino everyman charisma and a pro-poor platform in the impoverished Asian nation of 90 million people to win the presidency in 1998 with one of the largest margins in recent memory.

Drinking Your Way to Health?

SUNDAY, Oct. 18 (HealthDay News) -- Just about every month -- if not every week -- a new study emerges touting the health benefits to be gained from a daily glass of wine or a pint of dark beer.

The benefits related to cardiovascular health have become well-known. A study released in mid-July, for instance, found that moderate alcohol consumption reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease in women by increasing the amount of "good" cholesterol in the bloodstream and reducing blood sugar levels.

But other studies have linked a daily drink, most often wine, to reduced risk of dementia, bone loss and physical disabilities related to old age. Wine also has been found to increase life expectancy and provide potential protection against some forms of cancer, including esophageal cancer and lymphoma.

But don't invest in that case of Pinot noir just yet.

Experts with the American Cancer Society and the American Heart Association say that though these studies do show some benefits to moderate drinking, the health risks from alcohol consumption far outweigh the potential rewards.

Drinking any alcohol at all is known to increase your risk for contracting a number of types of cancer, said Susan Gapstur, vice president of epidemiology for the American Cancer Society. These include cancers of the mouth, pharynx, larynx, esophagus, liver, colon/rectum and breast.

"At the end of the day, if you are at very high risk for cancer, you might want to limit your alcohol consumption even further," Gapstur said. "It's a lifestyle modification you can make, and we don't have as many lifestyle modifications for preventing cancer as we do for coronary heart disease."

There also are other health risks from moderate drinking, including liver damage and accidents caused by impaired reflexes, said Dr. Jennifer Mieres, director of nuclear cardiology at the New York University School of Medicine and an American Heart Association spokeswoman.

The health benefits from drinking generally are related to the antioxidants and anti-inflammatories found in red wines and dark beers, Mieres said, but those substances can be found in a number of different fruits and vegetables.

"When it comes to disease prevention, you're better off changing your diet to include fruits and vegetables and get your antioxidants and anti-inflammatories from natural sources," she said.

For example, people can get resveratrol -- the antioxidant found in red wine that's believed to provide most of the drink's health benefits -- from drinking grape juice just as well as from drinking wine, Mieres said.

"For people that don't drink, not drinking is important," Mieres said. "You can get the same benefits of drinking from leading a heart-healthy lifestyle. To me, it's not worth the risk to start drinking. But for people who enjoy a glass of red wine or enjoy drinking, the key is to stick to the definition of moderation," she said.

Moderate drinking is defined as one drink a day for women and two drinks a day for men. What counts as one drink are:

• 12 ounces of regular beer or wine cooler
• 8 ounces of malt liquor
• 5 ounces of wine
• 1.5 ounces of 80-proof distilled spirits or liquor

Drinking anything more than that on a daily basis is known to lead to a host of health problems that can reduce your life expectancy, Mieres and Gapstur said.

"I think the take-home message is, if you don't drink, don't start to help protect yourself from coronary heart disease because there are so many other things you can do," Gapstur said. "If you already drink, you might want to limit your consumption."

Though the studies touting the positive health effects of alcohol are scientifically accurate, they also appear to play into people's desires for quick fixes to complex problems, Mieres said.

"To prevent heart disease, 50 percent of the work has to come from you," she said. "Prevention is a big piece, and you have to be accountable. You have to make lifestyle changes, and that's very tough to do. People look for easy ways to get heart-healthy benefits, and drinking is an easy way to do that. It's a known human tendency: Let's find an easy way out that doesn't involve a lot of thought or work."

Valerie Concepcion sizzles anew on FHM this October

Valerie Concepcion sizzles anew on FHM this October

Slideshow: Showbiz Photos

No one could have guessed that former teeny-bopper Valerie Concepcion could actually get an entire nation dancing via the hit noontime show Wowowee. In fact, many had predicted that her career would fizzle out after her unexpected pregnancy at age sixteen. But Valerie, who appears on the cover of FHM for the second time this October, has proven everyone wrong. She was able to bounce back and what critics thought would destroy her career ended up being the fuel she needed to accelerate her life to full speed.

It wasn't easy to bounce back into showbiz after her pregnancy. Valerie is thankful that Wowowee came along. But, although hosting may have paved the way for a new career, she admits that acting, her first love, has undeniably taken a backseat.

"For the longest time nagho-host ako kaya ang feeling ko, nakalimutan ko nang umarte," she tells FHM.

Val got the opportunity of a lifetime when she bagged a starring role in an afternoon soap, but the project was shelved, "I'm sad about it but I'm not dwelling on it, maybe it was not meant for me."

The soap may not have been meant for her, but perhaps Mr. Right is just waiting in the wings. Valerie who charms millions of viewers daily also seems to attract athletes and musicians in the dating scene.

"Parang feeling ko, sa showbiz, ang malapit sa world mo, bands," Valerie says, revealing that she has a crush on singer Richard Poon. "Dahil ba single mom ako I can't have crushes anymore?" she points out, "I don't care what other people say as long as I know I'm not doing anything wrong."

Valerie reveals more skin and exudes way more confidence in her second appearance on FHM compared to her first back in 2006. She is such a hot momma that FHM staff jokes she could still grace their cover once her daughter Fiona turns 18. Would she be open to a mother-daughter cover? She laughs and says, "Naku, malayo pa yun, hindi ko pa iniisip na tatanda na siya... Now I'm just enjoying her as a child."

The October issue of FHM featuring Valerie Concepcion on the cover is now available in newsstands, bookstores, and supermarkets nationwide at only P125 per copy. For more of FHM online, visit www.FHM.com.ph.

Gov't to procure 40 more rubberboats

MANILA, Philippines--In preparation for similar massive flooding, the government will be purchasing 40 additional rubberboats to expedite its rescue operations, a spokesman said today (Oct. 7).

Lt. Col. Ernesto Torres Jr., newly designated spokesman of the National Disaster Coordinating Council, said they are set to procure the additional vessels to augment their rescue equipment by authorities during high floods.

Torres said rescue efforts to many trapped on top of their houses in Metro Manila and nearby provinces due to high flood water had been slowed down by the lack of rubberboats to go around during the operations.

He admitted that the NDCC, being only an ad hoc body, has still some operational limitations. "The NDCC only convenes during disaters or calamities. It does not continuously coordinate with member agencies," Torres said.

Among the NDCC members are the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Education, Department of Health, and the Philippine National Police.

Torres said they are hoping that the recent flooding brought by tropical storm Ondoy would facilitate the passage of the Disaster Risk Management Act now pending Congress. The proposed measure seeks the creation of a body with more "teeth" to address disaster preparedness and mitigation.

Aside from the operational limitations, NDCC has only P90 million annual budget, P70 million of which goes to personnel services or salaries of its employees.

Torres also appealed to those families still not reached by the government's relief operations to be more patient as the teams, both the government and private sectors, are doing their best to bring aid to them.

"There is enough (relief goods) for everyone but please don't mob our people," he said.

After Charice, Arnel Pineda invades 'Oprah'

MANILA – After Charice, it was Arnel Pineda’s turn to impress Oprah Winfrey, one of the world’s most powerful women today.

Pineda and the rest of the members of the American rock band “Journey” recently guested on Oprah to promote the group’s latest album, “Revelation.”

During the show, Journey's Filipino front man could not believe that he was being interviewed by no less than Winfrey herself.

"I'm facing you (Winfrey) right now. You are [one of the] biggest [names] in show business and I'm facing you. It's like… I'm not allowed to be here but I'm here. And I thank God for that," he said.

The show featured Pineda’s journey “from total obscurity to recapturing the voice of one of the greatest bands of our time."

Pineda’s rags-to-riches story has inspired many people around the world. His life story will be made into a film titled "Don't Stop Believing: Every Man's Journey." The biopic will hit the big screen next year.

The Filipino singer was discovered on YouTube by Journey’s guitarist Neal Schon. Jonathan Cain (keyboard), Deen Castronovo (drums) and Ross Valory (bass) were equally impressed when they first watched him on YouTube performing Journey’s “Faithfully.”

Cain said: "Neal contacted us. I checked the YouTube video just like he said. And there he was singing. And I said, 'The guy got great pipes, does he speak English?’ And, ‘How are we going to get him to the stage to check him out?'" Cain said.

Valory said he had “goosebumps surplus” when he first heard Pineda sing.

Castronovo was also blown away by Pineda’s voice. “It was frightening just to hear that voice come out from that little guy. We couldn't believe it. It’s just so strong. And the best part about it was just how humble the man was, how humble human being, beautiful heart."

For Pineda, being part of Journey still feels like a dream.

"I've seen enough pain and poverty in the Philippines. I've never been that big. All I wanted was to be able to get out of it -- the pain and the poverty - and live decently everyday," he said.

He said touring around the world with his band mates is “amazing, unbelievable and fantastic.” “All the superlative words that you can utter.”

He admitted that he felt the pressure when the band played in the Philippines early this year. “There was a big responsibility and thank God I pulled it off.”

And now that he is making lots of money, Pineda said he bought a home for his family and set up his own foundation to help poor Filipinos.

Journey's Manila concert is now available on DVD in the United States.

McCain: Beware of “Half Measures” in Afghanistan

Late this afternoon, Senator John McCain expressed confidence in President Obama’s impending decision on whether to send more U.S. troops to Afghanistan. McCain also took a swipe at the way the war in Iraq was conducted under the Bush Administration.

After attending President Obama’s White House briefing on the Afghanistan situation, McCain told reporters outside the Oval Office, “I believe the President will make the right decision.”

But McCain didn’t stop there.

“Half measures is what I worry about, not getting completely out of Afghanistan,” McCain told reporters.

Making reference to Bush Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and Iraq commander Gen. George Casey, McCain went on: “Half measures that were the same kind that took place under Rumsfeld and Casey that lead to failure over time and lead to an erosion of American public support.”

(UPDATE) Smart, Globe lower call rates to P3/min as 'Pepeng' hits RP

MANILA - The country's top 2 telecommunications firms will reduce rates rates for domestic mobile voice calls in preparation for the onslaught of typhoon "Pepeng" (international code name Parma).

In separate statements, Smart Communications Inc. and Globe Telecom Inc. said they will lower per-minute voice call charges to P3 on Saturday, October 3.

Standard voice calls are usually priced at P6 per minute.

Smart's rate cut will start at 2 a.m. on Saturday, and will end at around the same time on Monday, October 5.

On the other hand, Globe subscribers can avail of the P3 per-minute call rate from 12:01 a.m. on Saturday until 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, October 4.

The price adjustment will cover subscribers of Smart's and Globe's mass-market brands, which are Talk 'N Text and Touch Mobile, respectively.

However, the lower rate will only be applicable to users belonging to the same network (Smart to Smart, Smart to Talk 'N Text, Globe to Globe, and Globe to Touch Mobile).

Smart added that the temporary voice call rates are effective for both pre-paid and post paid subscribers.

"No special dialling procedure will be required to avail of the P3 per minute rate. Just dial directly as you would when making a regular voice call," Globe said. Subscribers of the Ayala-led phone firm typically have to add prefix numbers to avail of lower call rates.

Restoration

As of 3 p.m., Globe said 99% of its affected facilities are already back online. The company said it is expecting a full restoration of its cellular sites "very soon."

For its part, Smart ensured its subscribers that its network "will continue operating and provide vital communication services to the public and to emergency authorities."

The government has already placed the entire Philippines under a state of calamity as "Pepeng" is expected to make landfall on Saturday.

Just last week, tropical storm "Ondoy" dumped the heaviest rains in more than 40 years in Metro Manila and its neighboring provinces, leaving 293 people dead and 42 people missing.

Phone companies have business continuity and preparedness plans to allow them to bring back operations to normal after typhoons the soonest possible time.

The Top 4 Reasons People Divorce

The Top 4 reasons people divorce. Approximately out of every marriage in the U.S., 4 or more will end in divorce. Divorce happens because, for some reason, the married couple decide that they no longer desire to be married. But how do things get to this point? What are the factors that drive people, who were presumably so much in love, to decide to leave each other for good?

Well, there are many reasons and here are some of the top ones:

Serial affairs - It's somewhat of a surprise, but typically when one partner has an affair, it does not lead to a divorce or separation It is only when a single affair escalates into a series of affairs that divorce becomes the solution. History has proven that marriage partners are extremely forgiving of dalliances outside of the marriage. In fact, in some countries, it might even be considered the norm. Continual cheating is a problem because once is a mistake, but multiple times is a pattern. No one, no matter what they say, likes to be cheated on. More than anything else, it's a violation of trust. And if marriage is about anything, it's about being able to trust your partner faithfully to do the right thing by you. Once the trust is broken, the marriage, in essence, is over - even if the couple choose not to pursue a divorce.

Lack of emotional communication - If two people are emotionally in sync with each other, it's hard to keep them apart. In fact, they don't even want to be apart. Couples like this are like two sides of the same coin, each supporting the other. Where there is a lack of communication, however, the joy fades away. The person you used to love communicating with and telling your secrets, desires, and fears to is gone. The specific cause of the emotional distance is not important, as it can have many origins. But what is important is that the sense of emotional connection somehow be restored. If not, the marriage will consist of two people living in the same space and sharing meals together, but with no real connection to each other. When one or both partners tire of living this empty existence, the separation or divorce papers can't be far behind.

Physical abuse - It's often thought that a couple who argues a lot can't possibly be happy together. But that's not true. In fact, one of the things that attracted them together may have been the spirited and passionate arguments in which they found themselves involved. No, it's not the arguments, it's the surly reaction to arguments that sometimes boil over to physical violence. We all get angry occasionally, it's part of what makes us human. But persistent and out of control anger is a recipe for disaster. It is a danger not only to the relationship, but to the health of the partner as well. And if the couple has children, it's a danger to them as well. Anyone in a marriage that involves physical abuse, if they're not thinking of divorce, probably should be.

People change - It may be unusual to hear, but some people actually do change after marriage. Maybe, before they were married they were playing a role and pretending to be someone who they really weren't. Once they're in a marriage, they can relax and become their true self. Unfortunately for the other half of the relationship, this person is not the person that they thought they married. The result, in many cases, is divorce.

Toni Gonzaga leads relief operation in Taytay

MANILA – Actress-host Toni Gonzaga is leading a relief operation in her hometown in Taytay, Rizal, one of the affected areas when tropical storm Ondoy (international codename Ketsana) hit the country last week.

During the press conference for ABS-CBN's "Pinoy Big Brother Double Up," Gonzaga was thankful that she and her family had been spared from the wrath of Ondoy.

However, a big number of her town mates have been displaced by the storm, prompting the actress and her family to come to their aid.

"Alam ko na may nangyayari dito sa Manila, sa ABS-CBN, but instead of bringing my stuff there and 'yong mga goods na mayroon kami, since nasa Taytay na din ako, kami na ang nag-organize ng sarili naming pagtulong, ng pagbibigay ng relief goods," said the actress-host.

The former village councilor added: "Hindi naman kailangan kang maging pulitiko o hindi ka kailangang maging miembro ng anumang organization para makatulong in your own special way. Sa sarili mong paraan pwede kang tumulong sa mga kababayan mo.

"Up to now, my mom is still organizing some stuff na pangtulong naman sa ibang mga staff namin sa 'Entertainment Live' na naapektuhan."

Gonzaga, who is one of the hosts of the upcoming “Pinoy Big Brother Double Up,” said she's happy that a lot of stars are also helping the flood victims.

The lead star of "Precious Hearts Romances: Ang Lalaking Nagmahal Sa Akin" added that people should now take a more proactive stance in taking care of the environment.

“Tayo din naman siguro ang dahilan kung bakit nagkakaganito, kung bakit binabaha dahil sa sarili din nating kapabayaan. Siguro ginigising lang tayo na mas maging aware at mahalin ang ating lugar, ang ating bayan," Gonzaga said.