02 Maricel Sabuero wins ‘FPJPI search’ 03 Aquino: Supreme Court meddling too much www.kuwaittimes.net SUNDAY, AUGUST 31, 2014 Kailan sakto ang porma/hugis ng ating kasaysayan? Page 06 NYT slams Noy over 2nd term, clipping SC powers MANILA: The New York Times has cautioned President Aquino against seeking reelection purportedly to continue reforms and clip the powers of the judiciary, saying “he should stop butting heads with the court and gracefully step down when his term is up.” In an editorial titled “Political Mischief in the Philippines” published online on Thursday, the New York Times said Aquino’s giving a hint at running in 2016 and limiting the powers of the judiciary through Charter change were “threats” that could “jeopardize Philippine democracy.” The daily reminded the President that it was during the administration of his mother, the late Corazon Aquino, that the current 1987 Constitution was adopted. The editorial also cited the sacrifices of his father and namesake in the anti-Marcos dictatorship struggle. Luistro says, DepEd still for ‘God-fearing’ learners MANILA: Education Secretary Armin Luistro said yesterday the Department of Education has not abandoned its development of “God-loving learners” and denied having been pressured by any group to alter the department’s vision statement by dropping the adjective “God-loving.” In a statement, Luistro said that explanations about the removal last year of the “God-loving” term from the DepEd’s vision statement had been “mistakenly” attributed to him. “Recent media reports (not from the Inquirer) have been mistakenly attributed to me claiming, ‘the God-loving phrase was removed from the department’s vision to be fair to Filipinos who may subscribe to other beliefs and principles.’ I had not issued any statement to that eﬀect. This attribution is completely false,” he said. He also denied having spoken to or communicated with any group that “pressured” the department to change its statement of vision, mission, and core values. He particularly cited a February 5, 2013 open letter by the group Filipino Freethinkers to the DepEd which was posted on its Twitter account. “I have not had the occasion to interact with any of these groups on this matter,” Luistro said. —Inquirer.net MANILA: In this Friday, July 18, 2014 photo, a contingent of Philippine U.N. Peacekeepers march past the grandstand during a turnover-ofcommand ceremony for the new Armed Forces chief at Camp Aguinaldo at suburban Quezon city, northeast of Manila, Philippines. Philippine soldiers were in tense standoff with the rebels, according to the two Pacific nations. Philippines remained hopeful the impasse could be resolved without bloodshed. Philippines President Benigno Aquino III said that while the situation remained tense, there was no reason to believe his troops faced immediate danger. —AP Filipino UN peacekeepers in Golan clash with Syrian rebels: Govt MANILA: Philippine UN peacekeepers in the Golan Heights clashed with Syrian rebels yesterday, Defence Minister Voltaire Gazmin said in Manila. He said in an SMS statement to reporters that the Filipino troops had been “extricated” from one of their two positions but added that another group of Filipino soldiers “is now under attack”. He was referring to two positions on the Golan Heights where more than 70 Filipino troops had previously been surrounded by Syrian rebels. The peacekeepers were besieged by rebels on Thursday but defied demands that they give up their weapons. On Friday Syrian fighters took 43 Fijian soldiers hostage on the Golan Heights. Asked if there was a fresh firefight yesterday, Gazmin replied: “Yes”. He said the clash took place at “6am, Syria time,” but added that “morale is high” among the troops. Military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Ramon Zagala later told AFP that “there is still an ongoing standoﬀ but there was a firefight earlier today”. “All our troops are safe,” he said, adding that the defence minister and head of the military were monitoring developments. He declined to elaborate further on the incident. Earlier yesterday, a spokeswoman for President Benigno Aquino said he was “keeping a close watch” on the fate of the troops who were serving as part of the peacekeeping force on the Golan Heights. The Philippine military earlier said there were 75 besieged troops but the UN later said there were only 72. The head of Filipino troops on UN missions Colonel Roberto Ancan said in Manila on Friday that “we can use deadly force in defence of the UN facilities”. Syrian rebels, including fighters from the Al-Qaeda aﬃliate Al-Nusra Front, stormed a Golan Heights crossing on Wednesday, sparking an exchange of gunfire with Israeli troops. The rebels then captured 44 Fijian members of the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) on the Syrian side on Thursday, forcing them to surrender their weapons and taking them hostage. Ancan said the rebels then used an English-speaking Fijian hostage to relay their demand to the Filipino peacekeepers to give up their weapons, but they refused. 2 SUNDAY, AUGUST 31, 2014 Maricel Sabuero wins ‘FPJPI search’ Maricel Sabuero Rosecel Supatan K U WA I T: T h e O F W M o ve m e n t fo r Pe a c e, J u s t i c e & Progress Inc (FPJPI) Kuwait Chapter celebrated their second founding anniversary with the ‘Search for Miss OFW Movement FPJPI, Kuwait Chapter 2014’. The event, which was recently held at the Asia Asia Royal Grand Ballroom, Kuwait City, was attended by Philippine Labor Attache to Joyce B. Claridad Sharon Dionisio Kuwait ( POLO/ OWWA-head) Atty Ceasar Chavez with wife Gwen. Chavez and Philippine Embassy Vice Consul Atty Sheina Tesorero delivered inspirational messages and encouraged OFWs to set their goals and work for it. At the end of the event, Maricel Sabuero was crowned Miss OFW Movement (FPJPI ) Nancy D. Malunes Kuwait Chapter 2014. Rosecel Supatan bagged first runner up followed by Joyce B. Claridad, second, Sharon Dionisio who came third and Nancy D. Malunes fourth runner up. Vanessa S. Galila, President of OFW Movement for Peace (FPJPI) Kuwait Chapter, would like to thank all participants/well-wishers, sponsors and visitors who graced their two-half-hour event. 3 SUNDAY, AUGUST 31, 2014 Aquino: Supreme Court meddling too much MANILA: Philippine President Benigno Aquino III said Thursday that the Supreme Court meddles too much in political issues, reiterating he was open to amend the constitution to clip the judiciary’s power. Supreme Court Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, an appointee of Aquino, said she had enormous respect for him and the court would only respond to political and constitutional questions through its rulings. The president previously criticized the court’s June 30 ruling declaring his government’s enforcement of a major economic stimulus program partly unconstitutional. In an interview with Manila’s Bombo Radyo, Aquino complained that the Supreme Court “is meddling in everything and their meddling is making it more diﬃcult to run the government.” “Perhaps judicial reach needs to be reviewed and limited,” he added. The 1987 constitution - drafted while Aquino’s mother, the late democracy icon Corazon Aquino, was president after the country emerged from dictatorship - says judicial power includes the duty “to determine whether or not there has been a grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack or excess of jurisdiction on the part of any branch or instrumentality of the Government.” Aquino said such judicial review power should be used sparingly and with restraint “but what seems to be is happening now is it MANILA: Philippine Supreme Court Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno answers a reporter’s questions in Manila, Philippines on Thursday.—AP is used often.” In an annual forum with journalists, Sereno said the pressure on her oﬃce is enormous on a daily basis. “That’s why it is important for me to uphold the independence of my oﬃce on a daily basis,” she said. “It is important that the people see the chief justice has the constitution first and foremost on her mind.” She also expressed hopes that the people will see that “it is in their interest to promote a strong and independent judiciary” and that the citizens will have no redress if the judiciary is weak. Sereno also appealed for more funding for judicial reforms, complaining that the court receives a meager budget. The Supreme Court is trying to speed up the disposition of cases in the country, which has a history of long litigation. Sereno said electronic filing of cases, creation of courts that do continuous trials and finishing quickly small claims cases through specialized courts are among the reforms being made.—AP 4 SUNDAY, AUGUST 31, 2014 Photos by Albert Dimaculangan Avila & Ginete win ‘Little Mr. & Ms. Philippines-Kuwait 2014’ By Albert Dimaculangan KUWAIT: Organized by Pinoy Talent Kuwait (PTQ8) the Little Mr. & Ms. Philippines-Kuwait 2014 (Season 2) ‘The Superheroes’ concluded last Friday at the Discovery Mall Live Theater with the following winners: Little Mr. Philippines-Kuwait 2014 Mr. Nathaniel Y. Avila Little Mr.Philippines-Kuwait 2014 1st Runner Up Mr.Abdel Aziz Mohamed Khattab Little Mr. Philippines-Kuwait 2014 2nd Runner Up Mr. Mark Laurence Bolambot Little Mr. Philippines-Kuwait 2014 3rd Runner Up Mr. Christian Kyle Fortunado Little Mr.Philippines-Kuwait 2014 4th Runner Up Mr. Lord Jianne P. Dela Rosa Next Little Ms. Philippines-Kuwait 2014 Ms. Vanessa Jane Ginete Little Ms.Philippines-Kuwait 2014 1st Runner Up Ms. Brooke Marie Gelig Berger Little Ms.Philippines-Kuwait 2014 2nd Runner Up Ms. Khairiya Abdullah Alkandari Little Ms.Philippines-Kuwait 2014 3rd Runner Up Ms. Sahra Barangan Plana Little Ms.Philippines-Kuwait 2014 4th Runner Up Ms. Kate Joelle Barcenas SUNDAY, AUGUST 31, 2014 5 6 SUNDAY, AUGUST 31, 2014 Balitang Showbiz Plus BengarciaFILES Ni Bong Pagutayao Ni Ben Garcia [email protected] [email protected] Tom, anu na? Lumaki na ba ang ulo? Chika- chika lang Ito... Tong-tong pakitong kitong ang tamaan huwag magalit ang pumiyok ay Concernnnnnnn!... ga Kababayan OFW’s...sa mga balita-balita ngayon na paulit-ulit na lang...mga balitang binabaliwala ang iba kasi sa atin pagkasama mga girlalo vice versa feeling Kapamilya na at totoong lalakwi at babavoon... Napapasin ko feeling iba dyan wala sa totong pagiisip, ang iba kagandahan modelong kamatis.. Hellooo! Kabayan abroad.. dapat mamansid at magtanong kung tama ang pinaggagawa, akala aabot na sa Bikol..kawawa ang punla! Saka sisigaw..tulong govt.. kung bubuhusan ko kayong kumukulong sabaw..haay naku! M lll Napilitan si Miguel Tanfelix na sumakay sa MRT noong Huwebes para hindi siya mahuli sa farewell presscon ng Nino, ang primetime drama series ng GMA 7 na magwawakas sa susunod na buwan. Nagsosolo na sumakay sa MRT si Miguel mula sa Magallanes station hanggang sa GMA 7 station dahil ang tiyo niya ang nagmaneho ng kanilang sasakyan na naghatid sa kanya sa MRT station at sumunod na lang sa Kapuso TV station. Ikinuwento ni Miguel na nakilala Miguel ito ng mga pasahero ng MRT na nagpakuha ng litrato na kasama siya at tumatawag sa kanya ng Nino, ang pangalan niya sa top rating primetime program ng GMA 7. Malaki ang pasasalamat ni Miguel sa malaking oportunidad na maging bida ng Nino na ipinagkatiwala ng home studio niya. lll Aba, kakasulat ko pa lang tungkol sa pang-iisnab daw ni Tom Rodriguez sa mga fan na dumayo sa Sunday All Stars, heto at nakarating na naman sa akin sa pang-iisnab daw ulit ni Tom sa mga fan naman na mula sa Davao, kung saan nanggaling si Tom kamakailan lang. Sabi, hindi rin daw pinansin ni Tom ang ilang fans doon na gustong magpa-picture sa kanya. Sa nakuha naming impormasyon ay ang handler na naman daw ni Tom ang culprit. Kung totoo man ito, ay dapat pangaralan ng manager ni Tom ang mga handler na nakakasira sa image ng mga talent nila na walang kamalay-malay na nasisira dahil lang sa mga pagtataray nila. Lalo na ngayon na maganda ang feedback ng programa ni Tom na c kung saan kasama niya ang rumored girlfriend na si Carla Abellana. Tapos may bagong game show pang iho-host si Tom na hindi pa man umeere ay baka makasira sa kanya ang mga negang balita.—Abante Tom Kailan sakto ang porma/hugis ng ating kasaysayan? N oong Miyerkules nabuo ang National Transformation Council (NTC) sa Lipa City sa Batanggas. Doon pinirmahan ang isang declaration na kilala sa tawag na Lipa Declaration. Sa ulat ng Manila Times ito ang nakasaad sa Lipa Declaration, “[We] have lost all trust and confidence in President Benigno Simeon Aquino 3rd, and we call upon him to immediately relinquish his position.” “Far from preserving and defending the Constitution, as he swore to do when he assumed oﬃce, the incumbent President Benigno Simeon Aquino has subverted and violated it by corrupting Congress, intimidating the judiciary, taking over the treasury, manipulating the automated voting system, and perverting the constitutional impeachment process,” they said in a statement. “President Benigno Simeon Aquino 3rd has also damaged the moral fabric of Philippine Society by bribing members of Congress not only to impeach and remove a sitting Supreme Court Chief Justice but also to enact a law which disrespects the right to life of human being at the earliest and most vulnerable stages of their lives, in defiance not only of the constitution but above all of the moral law, the customs, culture, and consciences of Filipinos,” ang sabi nila sa pulong na iyon. Kung pag-aaralan ninyo ang Lipa Declaration, tila nga mayroong lalim ang grupong ito. Pero saan kaya dadalhin nito ang Pilipinas? Tama lang naman na mayroong mga ganitong grupo na hindi nagsasawang tingnan ang mga ills ng bansa. Hindi ito naiba sa grupong nanguna sa pagpapabagsak ng Marcos Regime at ng Estrada administration. At ang panawagan nila sa pagbibitiw ni dating Pangulong Arroyo noon. Sa ngayon, with only few remaining months of Aquino administration, lumutang ang grupong ito at ang panawagan nila ay pagbaba sa tungkulin ni Aquino. Iba ang panahon ngayon. Konting tao ang lumalabas sa kalsada upang manawagan sa pagbaba sa puwesto ni Aquino. Base sa mga sur veys majority pa rin ng taumbayan umano ang todo supor ta kay Aquino. Hindi gaanong maingay ang media agaist this administration, kaya walang gaanong ingay ang grupong ito nang mabuo ang Lipa Declaration. Ayon sa lumabas na balita, ang programa ay hudyat sa magiging papel umano ng transformation council sa bansa. Biruin mo si Ricardo Cardinal Vidal ang nanguna sa hanay ng simbahan, habang si Dr. Kamil Unda ang nanguna sa grupo naman ng mga kapatiran natin sa Muslim. Si Rev. Arthur Corpuz ang representante ng Protestant church. Naroroon din umano sa pulong na iyon si Archbishop Fernando Capalla, ang dating chairman ng Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines. Si Capalla ang nag-presenta ng umano’y naging papel ng Catholic Church, particularly sa EDSA 2 kung saan bumagsak ang Estrada regime. Si Lipa Archbishop Ramon Arguelles, ang nanawagan sa mga Pilipino na kumilos na ngayon at hindi dapat umano mag-hintay kung huli na ang lahat! Ang kagandahan sa rally na iyon, ay ang pagtalakay nila sa umano’y sistemang patuloy na nagpapahirap ngayon sa bansa, ang sistemang presidential; ang sabi nila, dapat daw palakasin ang sistemang presidential o mag-shift na lamang umano ang bansa sa parliamentary form of government. Ano na naman kayang extra judicial, extra constitutional ‘happenings’ ang naghihintay sa bansa? Habang patuloy kasi tayo sa pagtahak sa liku-likong daan, at habang patuloy na binabale-wala ng mga nasa kapangyarihan/katungkulan ang pangangailangan natin bilang lahing Pinoy. Hindi matatapos ang mga pagaalsa para muling iguhit at bigyan ng tamang porma/hugis ang ating kasaysayan. Hindi ibig sabihin ng mga pag-aaklas at pagpapahayag ng discontentment laban sa gobyerno ay tuwirang pag-yurak sa ating demokrasya. Ito ay pagpapakita ng ating kamalayan/pagpapahalaga sa kalagayan/kalayaan at pagmamahal sa Inang Bansa! 7 SUNDAY, AUGUST 31, 2014 FBC’s 49TH tourney officer’s cup enters 3rd week Al-Ghanim National & Al Muzaini sponsors 50th tourney KUWAIT: The FBC’s 49th Badminton Tournament enters its 3 week of elimination at Kuwait Disabled Sports Club, Bin Khaldoun Street in Hawally. Filipino Zumba Association continues KUWAIT: The Filipino Zumba Association in Kuwait (FZA-K) continues Zumba session at the Disabled Sports Club in Hawally. The Zumba class under FZA-K Chairperson Dolores Elenany is held every Friday from 10am to 11am and is open to all Zumba enthusiasts. Those who want to join may call FZA-K finance director Marisol Al-Failakawi on 51155266 for the registration details. The five FBC badminton courts are fully packed with both the Morning and Afternoon participants enjoying the clean and organized badminton courts. Meanwhile, FBC President Regine Panesal announces the schedule of the awarding ceremonies for the 45th & 48th badminton tournament that will be held on Sept.5 at Kuwait Disabled Sports Club gym at 11:30 in the morning. Also , FBC Chairman Dr. Chie Umandap formally announced the launching of its FBC Membership I.D. registration. Members who registered and avail of their Member’s ID will be given a 25% discount on their tournament registration, up to 25% discounts or freebies from participating establishments in Kuwait and in the Philippines and 25,000 pesos cash burial assistance insurance. FBC would like to express its sincere gratiude to their sponsors namely Alghanim National, Al Muzaini Exchange, Bhasin Co., Ali Cafe, ADM International, Al Alamia International Manpower and Rawan Salon. Al-Ghanim National & Al Muzaini sponsors 50th tourney Page 7 SUNDAY, AUGUST 31, 2014 Pacquiao eyeing World Peace for his hoop team MANILA: Manny Pacquiao has expressed interest in recruiting former NBA All Star Metta World Peace to the Filipino boxing champion’s newest venture - professional basketball. Pacquiao has become playing coach of the newly-formed KIA Sorentos in the Philippine Basketball Association, adding to his other careers as a world champion boxer and local congressman. Local media this week quoted Pacquiao saying he intended to speak to the 34-yearold forward about joining the expansion team. “He’s okay. He’s my friend,” The Philippine Star quoted Pacquiao as saying of World Peace, whom he first met in Los Angeles in 2009 ahead of his fight against Miguel Cotto. “We need a good import,” he said. “If we get him that would be nice.” World Peace, who changed his name from Ron Artest, is currently playing for the Sichuan Blue Whales in the Chinese Basketball Association after a long NBA career which included stints with the Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Lakers and New York Knicks. Early in his NBA career, he was known as much for a series of controversies - most notably the fist-fight with fans at an Indiana Pacers-Detroit Pistons game - as he was for his on-field talent. Pacquiao is currently in the United States on a promotional tour for his WBO welterweight title defense against American Chris Algieri on Nov. 22 in Macau. At 5 feet 6 inches (169 centimers) tall, Pacquiao does not have the typical dimensions of a basketball player, but is a big fan of the sport and has funded the construction of courts in rural communities in his southern home province of Sarangani where he sometimes plays with the locals. Also this week, Pacquiao said that he has partnered with a Chinese company and the Chinese government to set up the Manny Pacquiao Boxing Education Institute in China to impart the experience that has given him eight world titles. MACAU: WBO Welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao, left, of the Philippines, and WBO junior welterweight champion Chris Algieri of United States, right, pose for photographers during a news conference in Macau, Monday, Aug. 25, 2014. The boxers are scheduled to battle in WBO welterweight title match at The Venetian Macao on Nov. 23 in Macau.—AP Underdog Gilas will prove doubters wrong: Palace MANILA: The Philippine government remains confident that despite being ranked as among the lightweights in the Fiba Basketball World Cup, Gilas Pilipinas will prove those who underestimate it wrong. Earlier this week, Gilas Pilipinas was ranked 23rd out of the 24 nations competing in the World Cup by the Entertainment and Sports Programming Network (ESPN). “Naipakita naman ho ng ating koponan ‘yung kanilang gilas, at ‘yung puso po nila importantly. And I know that they will prove that ranking wrong,” deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said on radio. (Our team has shown their gallantry and heart, more importantly. And I know that they will prove that ranking wrong.) Valte assured the Gilas Pilipinas that “the basketball-loving Filipinos” would be on their side despite being an underdog. “Goodluck to our Gilas players. Even if you are already in Madrid, know that all the basketball-loving Filipinos are in your corner and are cheering for you with all our hearts,” she said. Gilas Pilipinas will have their first game against Croatia Saturday evening (Manila time). The team will take on Greece on September 1, Argentina also on September 1, Puerto Rico on September 3, and Senegal on September 4 for the preliminary round of the tournament. —Inquirer.net NEW YORK: In this file photo, Brooklyn Nets’ Andray Blatche, left, tries to move past New York Knicks’ Tyson Chandler during an NBA basketball game in New York. The veteran center is an NBA free agent at the moment but currently has a job as the man in the middle for the Philippines, at the FIBA Basketball World Cup. (Inset) Gilas Pilipinas Team at their recent FIBA Basketball World Cup game. —AP