How to shop with your guy

By Ana Valenzuela, InterAksyon.com · Monday, September 24, 2012 · 8:57 am

Next time he waits on you when you're on your usual impulsive retail therapy, don't just make him line up for you at the cash register. Take him to a place where he wouldn't mind shopping, too. InterAksyon.com Lifestyle Section file photo by Rhoy Cobilla.

Every time my friend and I go to the mall, her boyfriend would be a perfect gentleman always paying for dinner and movie tickets—yes, even mine. But, once we hit the stores, he, just like a normal guy, disappears in to actual nothingness. Showing up only after we are done with our favourite past time, or sometimes we can even find him in the car playing with his iPad.

I ask you, is there any way to shop with a guy?

The guy is obviously not afraid of the bill, just of the time he thinks we would be wasting. Think about it, he can probably have his finger sore from hitting the games, his imaginary enemy, why does he have to the legwork going round the mall?

Well, I asked some of the guys around on how they can go shopping with their girls, and they did get to spill on how it is their current dates get them to shop with them.

Be open. It is always best to tell him that you have plans of shopping, although admittedly, the urges act on impulse. Like what young Kapamilya hunk Martin del Rosario shares with a laugh, “Nood ng movie, then pag andoon na kayo sa mall, sasabihin na ‘teka, teka,’ ambush! Mapupunta na kayo sa shops.”

It would probably be best to barter on the idea of shopping, like afterwards you can watch whatever movie he chooses or eat in his favourite resto. Besides most guys do like shopping, just as Martin says, “Game naman ako doon(shopping) e, kasi gusto ko din naman yung naglalakad sa malls e.”

Ask for his opinion. Women dress up for other women. Still, you are shopping with your guy and best to make him feel involved. Consider what he has to say on clothes that you are picking out.

TV5 talent Victor Silayan shares that guys are there not only to carry your loot but to stop you from purchasing those awful high heels. “If she needs suggestions from me, go! That’s why I’m there to help her choose, that’s my role if I’m going to accompanying her.”

Who knows maybe your friends will notice that awesome dress he picked out for you.

Drop by shops he likes. If you have problems with your guy always pestering you to move quickly and make a purchase then we suggest going by some of his choice stores. It might be boutiques with comfy chairs or even stores with a men’s section, make sure that when shopping, you do stop by some of his favourite stores.

“You can take me to Uniqlo,” shares basketball hottie Chris Tiu. “There’s a guy’s section there, so while she’s taking her own time, I can do my own thing, I can do my own shopping.”

He won’t be bothering you to leave or make a purchase from the new collection as he surely is going by them as well.

Shop for him as well. So, this maybe your “me” time, but he did agree to tag along, he may be needing some stuff of his own, better to make it as a sweet gesture of appreciation to shop for him as well.

Football star James Younghusband offers some advice, “It’s good to go shopping for the guy as well. Go shopping for some guy stuff, plan out or balance out women’s shopping with men’s shopping then that’s okay.”

To treat or not to treat

by Ana Valenzuela

Published Manila Standard Today August 4, 2011

One out of 10 Filipinos is infected with Hepatitis B. Hepatitis B is one of today’s challenging and infectious diseases. It is threatening to the physical condition as it can lead to other diseases.

There are two ways to get HBV(Hepatitis B Virus). One is through blood to blood or bodily fluid contact, and the other is through mother to child transmission. “Bodily contact, exposure to blood, you had a needle prick when you were doing an injection, blood transfusion, sharing of needles, piercing, tattooing, multiple sexual partners, but here in the Philippines, the incidence is more on mother to child transmission. Meaning the mother is a carrier of HBV, and during the process of delivery, the virus is transmitted to the newborn,” says Doctor Judy Lao-Tan, internal auditor of the Hepatology Society of the Philippines (HSP) at a recent press conference sponsored by the HSP and Roche.

The HSP is rallying behind the mandatory vaccination of newborns so that the high numbers might see a decline. The first vaccine should be given at birth, so that it prevents the virus, followed by vaccination at one month and six months.

“Not everyone who is a carrier of Hepatitis B is a candidate for treatment. Two-thirds who have hepatitis B are just carriers, the only problem they have is that they can transmit the disease and nothing is going on inside their body. One-thirds have active hepatitis, they are the ones who will require treatment. Not all, not everybody is a candidate for treatment,” says Doc Judy.

From Hepa B to Liver Cancer

Majority of acute Hepatitis B carriers do not develop chronic Hepatitis B. Still, the HSP is moving for prompt treatment of active Hepatitis B patients.

Those who have chronic Hepatitis B are at risk of developing liver cirrhosis. “When you develop liver cirrhosis, you may develop liver cancer. The normal life span of a patient with liver cancer after diagnosis is anywhere between three to six months,” says Dr. Marilyn Aguillas, President of the HSP.

Apart from liver cirrhosis those diagnosed with active Hepatitis B might also get infected with another Hepatitis virus. “With the HBV, you have the tendency to develop Delta Hepatitis. It requires the Hepatitis B to be infected. Fortunately, in our country, Delta Hepatitis is not a major problem, unlike in Mediterranean countries where dual infection is high,” says Doc Judy.

“Hepatitis B is more faithful to you than your wife or husband, the only way to remove it is either through treatment or oral medication,” says Doc Marilyn. Medications, however, are not easy on the pocket. They would require you to shell out a whopping P12,000 a week, or more or less the minimum monthly wage.

Even more saddening is that patients are troubled by the drawbacks of discrimination. The Yellow Warriors Society is an online patients group. It has members that are skilled employees, lawyer, accountants, among others, and it became an online venue for them to share what they are going through. Pamela Chan, a speaker for the Yellow Warriors Society shares, “there are a lot of members who are competent. They have passed all the exams, submitted all the requirements, but when they have been tested positive, they are not given the job. Even though there is memorandum by the Department of Labor and Employment not to discriminate Hepatitis B carriers, the employers will say that it is company policy. It is no longer about the competencies, but about the stigma that the public has.”

How can the patient provide for his medical needs without work? This is where Roche, the world’s largest biotech company, comes in as it tries to help those who are financially incapable through its program the PEGASSIST.

“The PEGASSIST Easy Access Plan socializes the medication discount system. This means, patients who truly cannot afford the medication will get a higher discount accordingly,” says Doctor Dennis Dioko, Roche specialty business unit director.

Patients can ask their doctors about this program or call the Hepatitis Hotline (718-7620). They can receive as much as 50 percent off on the medication and be provided with selected Hepatitis B laboratory tests.

Not every Hepatitis B patient would require medical attention, but those needing so now have a viable alternative making it easier.

The Pinoy Shopping Experience

The Pinoy Shopping Experience

by Ana Valenzuela

Published Manila Standard Today

July 1, 2011

When it comes to shopping for wholesale and retail products, some people prefer going to Bangkok, Hong Kong or Beijing. But is there really a need to go abroad to shop for good deals?

Right here in the Philippines is the popular go-to place of many shoppers, retailers and wholesellers. Divisoria with its main crowd-drawer—the Tutuban Malls. Tutuban, located at the southern part of Recto Avenue, offers the best buys on clothes, shoes, bags and accessories. One can haggle with sellers and get items at low cost within the two-cluster buildings, Prime Block and the Center Mall of Tutuban.What more, bargain-hunters are sure to get loads of good deals at even when on a limited budget.

Tutuban, currently handled by Philippine Orion Properties, Inc. (POPI) and First Lepanto Corporation’s merger company GuocoHoldings (Phil.), Inc. (GHPI) aims for a wider market and aims to expand Tutuban's shopping block before it renews its 25 year old lease with the Philippine National Railways (PNR) in 2014.

"Tutuban has been the country's center of commerce since the 1800's and is continuing to be so. What we envision for Tutuban is to be a hub of employees, students, for bargain hunters and missionary shopping," says Ernie Hilario, Business Development Head of POPI.

Aside from the usual wholesale and retail commercial centers, Tutuban will also push for a hotel component as to provide lodging for local and foreign bargain hunters. Apart from accommodating tourists, the hotel will also be intended for local residents. Tutuban Mall currently has two parking lots and will be expanding for motorists and commuters though a transportation terminal.

"We have the train operations of the PNR, which no other mall has," says Hilario proudly. "We also plant to put a terminal for buses, vans, jeepneys. (Whatmore) there are also plans of the LRT recto extending towards Tutuban."

Tutuban also plans boost its automotive and food service industry. According to Hilario, these new facilities will be modeled on existing and successful establishments.

"We will be having the autocity--– similar to the motor centers of Alabang and Banawe. It will have a motor depot for motorcycles, car parts and accessories,” Hilario adds.

"We also plan to add restaurant strip mall, similar to Bonifacio High Street. This will complement the market of the auto city," Hilario added. Aside from the restos, a fresh produce market is also in the works to service many of the nearby residences and Chinese.

Also, Tutuban gets a facelift as it converts its current night market into a 24/7 mall. This would be unlike many malls in the country which close at night.

“We want to launch Tutuban as the only 24/7 mall here in the Philippines,” says Hilario. "The project is set to start within the year if not next year.

‘A good teacher has high hopes for her students’

‘A good teacher has high hopes for her students’ By ANA VALENZUELA Photography by EDMUNDO SANTIAGO Published MOD May 2011 DEALING with kids, those screaming little tykes running around and refusing to give in to their whim, can be tough. Imagine doing so with children with special needs every single day. Michelle Arriola happily experiences just that. A Filipina born in the United States, Michelle is a teacher at Cardenas School in Chicago. The school is located in the Mexican-American community known as Little Village. Michelle took up Early Child Education at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC).

“I wanted to be a teacher because I love helping children learn and fulfill their dreams,” she says. Michelle plans to take up her Master’s degree in Education and English as a Second Language (ESL). “English is the second language of most of my students. I want to learn more about how to teach English Language Learners (ELLs) so I can meet my students’ needs.” That will be in the coming school year. Meanwhile, Michelle is enjoying her summer vacation in Manila with her relatives. She shares with MOD her insights on education and the challenges of teaching. Different levels of learning. “I teach children with special needs—those with Autism, Down syndrome, developmental delays, speech delays, cognitive delays, learning disabilities, and a lot of different kinds of disabilities—in preschool and kindergarten. Teaching kids with special needs is different from teaching kids who are typically developing because they are at different levels, mentally. I might have a three-year-old, but mentally, he is nine-month-old. So I need to make a lesson plan that he would be able to understand. In my classroom there are also children who are non-verbal. They have no speech at all. These students are most likely the ones to be screaming, crying, and having a tantrum because they are frustrated that they cannot express what they want or what they need.” Help them learn. “There are kids with Autism who need to follow an exclusive schedule. A regular teacher won’t be able to do that, because she has 25 other kids to worry about. I’m lucky I have a small classroom. I only attend to 10 students in the morning and 10 students in the afternoon. I think that’s helpful in their learning, too. I’m also fortunate to have two aides in my classroom to help me.” Know what is important. “My parents raised me to believe that education is important. I want to teach kids, and teach them that learning, being educated, and going to school are really important.” Patience is a virtue. “A good teacher is someone who is patient with the children. She teaches to the best of the abilities of the kids. If a kid is a visual learner or an auditory learner, the teacher will adjust for that student. I think a good teacher tries to understand the student, where he comes from. Most of all, a good teacher has high hopes for her students.” Magic moments. “Teachers aren’t supposed to have favorites. I have a bond with all my students, and I would say that I have favorite moments with each of them. For example, one of my students just learned how to write his first and last name on his own. Another student learned to sing the ABC. Those are two different things, but they are both favorite moments.” Rewards plus. “The most rewarding thing about being a teacher is seeing the kids grow, learn, and understand the concepts that I am teaching them.” Do your best. “I hope that my students will be able to go the next grade, learning the best that they can. I try to teach the basics—colors, shapes, and letters, spell their names. I just want them to know that they can try their best.” Kids as teachers. “I have learned from the kids that every day is different, and to look at challenges as something that can be overcome. Most important, they taught me to have fun.”

School Sweethearts

School Sweethearts
By ANA KRISTINE B. VALENZUELA
Published MOD May 2011

THE school isn’t just an avenue for learning but for interaction. It is where students meet other students mostly their age to talk about school work and more often, their personal life. The interaction that they share in their daily activities build their emotional connection that they need to deal with the changes and problems that may come later on in life. Thus, the school makes for a perfect place to find a partner.
But does a campus romance ensure a lifelong commitment? Love Notes
Never Lonely
For keeps. Having a committed relationship guarantees you have someone to talk to and share the good and the bad moments with. Your boyfriend can bring out the best in you by being a study partner and reminding you of upcoming exams and due dates. He’d serve more of an inspiration rather than a distraction.
For kicks. Loving someone doesn’t always assure the kind of relationship that both of you are involved in. There might be constant fights over petty things that keep your relationship from any progression, whatsoever.

The social network
For keeps. Your group of friends suddenly grows when you have a boyfriend, because his friends become your friends as well.
For kicks. You both know that you are each other’s BF-GF, but also know of the other players in the field which you most of the time check out. Like, you constantly laugh at his best bud’s jokes, but fail to make out what is funny in what he says.

Spoiled Brat
For keeps. Need a cuddle? A hug? A boyfriend automatically spoils his girlfriend with one, sometimes even with material things.
For kicks. Being with your boyfriend all the time makes you more attached to him, more often than not, leaving no time for other matters. It is worse when you fail to see your friends or study for an exam, but can always squeeze him and his barkada into your schedule.

The Big Plans
For keeps. You know that you both are headed somewhere. So, talking about serious matters such as the future does not scare you both. This is good as it allows you to build something together.
For kicks. You have different interests and goals in life. Whenever he talks about the future, you simply nod your head and go with the flow of the conversation.

School Sweethearts

School Sweethearts By ANA KRISTINE B. VALENZUELA Published MOD May 2011 THE school isn’t just an avenue for learning but for interaction. It is where students meet other students mostly their age to talk about school work and more often, their personal life. The interaction that they share in their daily activities build their emotional connection that they need to deal with the changes and problems that may come later on in life. Thus, the school makes for a perfect place to find a partner. But does a campus romance ensure a lifelong commitment?

Love Notes Never Lonely For keeps. Having a committed relationship guarantees you have someone to talk to and share the good and the bad moments with. Your boyfriend can bring out the best in you by being a study partner and reminding you of upcoming exams and due dates. He’d serve more of an inspiration rather than a distraction. For kicks. Loving someone doesn’t always assure the kind of relationship that both of you are involved in. There might be constant fights over petty things that keep your relationship from any progression, whatsoever. The social network For keeps. Your group of friends suddenly grows when you have a boyfriend, because his friends become your friends as well. For kicks. You both know that you are each other’s BF-GF, but also know of the other players in the field which you most of the time check out. Like, you constantly laugh at his best bud’s jokes, but fail to make out what is funny in what he says. Spoiled Brat For keeps. Need a cuddle? A hug? A boyfriend automatically spoils his girlfriend with one, sometimes even with material things. For kicks. Being with your boyfriend all the time makes you more attached to him, more often than not, leaving no time for other matters. It is worse when you fail to see your friends or study for an exam, but can always squeeze him and his barkada into your schedule. The Big Plans For keeps. You know that you both are headed somewhere. So, talking about serious matters such as the future does not scare you both. This is good as it allows you to build something together. For kicks. You have different interests and goals in life. Whenever he talks about the future, you simply nod your head and go with the flow of the conversation.

Sarah Geronimo: The Making of an Idol

Sarah Geronimo: The Making of an Idol

By ANA KRISTINE B. VALENZUELA

Published MOD November 2010

SHE may seem like your typical demure girl, always smiling, answering questions—even controversial ones--in a gentle tone, but Sarah Geronimo has no qualms singing for an audience or acting out a scene in front of the camera.

“I’M not shy when I’m on stage–singing and dancing. That’s the time when I’m the most confident. That’s when I lose my inhibitions. I can do anything up on stage,” Sarah says.

Maybe that is why even at the start of her career, Sarah had already earned praises from big-named stars, seeing the potential in her at an early age.

Maricel Soriano her costar in her first film project, Filipinas, commented during the film’s promo tour, “That girl will go far. She’s only 14, right? For someone like Sarah na first time mag-pelikula, mahusay siya. Bibilib ka sa kanya. Maaaring ang ibang tao may iba pang expectations sa kanya, but for me, okay na okay siya.”

During Sarah’s 2005 solo concert, The Other Side, at the Araneta Colisuem, Regine Velasquez, Sarah’s idol, already crowned her not just as the pop princess but as the country’s pop queen, as she was able to match the Asia’s songbird’s belting power during their rendition of Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston songs. “Madaming tao ang nagmamahal sa 'yo at isa na ako duon na laging maasahan mo sa suporta," said Regine.

Indeed, Sarah has proven herself well to her peers as much as to her fans. To all this success, she credits her family.

Like with learning To Love You More, her winning piece in the Star for a Night singing search and which eventually became her signature hit. After an unfortunate incident, Sarah never wanted to belt out this piece. It was her father, Delfin, who pushed her to persevere on learning the tune. With enough determination, she sang the Celine Dion original and won the top prize in the contest.

Now, she continues to grow more as an artist, as she molds her acting prowess, working with actors who she knows she can learn from. She tells ABS-CBN.com, “As an individual na artist mas nakakapag-experiment ako to explore sa career and hindi ka nasa-stuck at hindi ka nakukulong sa isang kahon. Maganda na ganito. ”

In her latest prime time starrer, Idol, she is paired with Sam Milby and Coco Martin. The team-up seems to be growing on Sarah as she comments to ABS-CBN.com, “Pareho nga akong kinikilig sa kanila. Kapag ka-eksena ko si Sam may kilig, kay Coco iba din ‘yung kilig.”

She talks more fondly about her leading men to ABS-CBN.com. “Nakakusap ko na rin si Sam magkaibigan na rin kami. Alam ko kung gaano siya kabuting tao. Thankful ako na nagkaroon kami ng ganitong chance na magkatrabaho dito sa isang napakagandang proyekto. Masaya rin po katrabaho si Coco at minsan nga ang tawag ko sa kanya Direk Co kasi napaka-professional. Para siyang direktor."

With her versatility, noteworthy performances, platinum albums, sold-out concerts, and box-office movies to her name, Sarah reminds us that she is indeed a certified Idol.

Secrets, Secrets

Hair Care. “Siyempre bilang performer, napaka-importante how my hair looks. But with my hectic schedule hindi ako makapunta ng salon or makapagpa-treatment kaya I really need the best hair products available. With Sunsilk, my hair is softer and you can really see the difference from before Sabi ni Yuko (Yamashita, hair expert) i-avoid ko daw ang too much friction, like sobrang towel drying or even aggressive brushing, para laging smooth and straight ang hair ko.”

Money Management. “Ang laking tulong po ng Cebuana Lhuillier sa buhay ng pamilya ko noon. Nagsasangla si mommy before to tend to our expenses. Ngayon naman nandito ako para magbigay inspirasyon din sa ibang tao.”

Beauty Boo-Boos You Shouldn’t commit

BOO!
By ANA KRISTINE B. VALENZUELA

Published in MOD OCrober 2010

UNDERWEAR creases? Oily skin? Wrong makeup color? How many times have you had these fashion and beauty errors?

Look, these mistakes are avoidable. Especially if you know what they are and you know how to prevent them. Bianca Valerio, model, makeup artist, and host of Lifestyle Channel’s FASH, shares common fashion and beauty slip-ups and how to steer clear of them.

Beauty Blunders

Oily all over. “Especially if you commute, you don’t want to look oily going on a date or to close a deal. We want freshness, we want matte freshness,” says Bianca. “One thing you should always have in your bag is oil film.”

Wrong shade. “For press powder, get your own shade,” presses Bianca as to avoid being too pale or too dark. “Mix your foundation with moisturizer to make it a tinted moisturizer. If you bought the wrong shade, buy your own shade, make plenty shades, and share them with a friend.”

Color coding. “The most basic thing to remember if you are going for a dark eye, go for light lips. For dark lips, go for a dark eye. Always choose one focal point. Don’t do it altogether,” she says. “Don’t mix all the trends together—leave it to magazines and fashion shows. Go for one focal point and go with that, use your best features, and make them the center emphasis.”

Makeup Sleep . “No matter how sleepy you are, no matter how tired you are, always remove your makeup and wash your face before going to bed you won’t get breakouts, allergies, or clogged pores. That is the time when your skin rejuvenates and refreshes itself,” she says.

Fashion Faux Pas

Underwear Bomber. “People take underwear for granted but it really is the foundation of every outfit,” Bianca says. “There was one time, a girl bought granny panties, and the panties even had pockets where she can even place her cell phones.” Underwear keeps your clothes from being soiled, shapes your body and more important, should be concealed. Avoid display of your bra and panty lines.

Overage dressing. “You should dress age-appropriatel,” she says. “If you can work it and still have the body for skinny jeans, why not?” She explains that dressing age-appropriate means looking at circumstances. For example, if you are going to a PTA party, it is not exactly right to wear a plunging neckline and a backless blouse.

Overlooking dress codes. “Good taste is not just knowing about what nice is, it’s about what proper is. There is a moral conduct underlying all those clothes,” she says. “You also want people to like you kasi hindi ka agaw eksena, nasa lugar. Everything has its right place. That’s why there is always a dress code.”

FASH airs every Thursday at 10 p.m. on the Lifestyle Channel, Channel 52 on Sky Cable.

You Asked

Is the sun good or bad for my skin?

---- Rina, via Twitter

Socouer Oblepias, M.D. Answers

The sun is not all harmful because we need it for vitamin D, but sometimes overexposure can cause skin damage. Another concern would be aging skin. One of the cheapest preventive measures is a sun block, like the new Pond’s Flawless White Blemish Prevention UV Cream which prevents and lightens dark spots and has SPF 15. Putting powder on top of a sun block would actually put the sun block in place for a longer period of time than putting just sun block. It is ideal is to put the sun block first on top of the powder.

Socouer Oblepias, M.D. is a member of the Philippine Dermatological Society

Jail Congestion, Problems In the Judicial System Tackled

By Ana Kristine B. Valenzuela
Printed What’s On & Expat, December 9-15, 2007 page 6

The Caloocan City Jail is congested by 1124 percent. The detention center has an ideal capacity of 136 inmates, yet the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) managed to fit in 1,665 people. The Caloocan City Jail, like other penitentiary across the Philippines is extremely overcrowded.

Jail congestion is one of the biggest problems of the BJMP. According to statistics obtained from the BJMP website, there are 20,497 inmates detained in the National Capital Region alone in a facility meant for 5,926 people.

Jail congestion or overcrowding is just one of the problems that were raised in five documentaries launched last November 23. The filmmakers, Gang Badoy, Kidlat de Guia, Lourd de Veyra, Pepe Diokno, Tado Jimenez, and Cheryl Corre focused on the everyday dilemmas that prisoners deal with such as living within a daily food budget of PhP40 per inmate and the trouble one has to undergo with the Public Attorney’s Office. The launch was attended by Supreme Court Justice Renato Puno.

Due to overcrowding, detainees, as one documentary depicted, take shifts in their sleeping routines not only because of the lack of beddings but also because of lack of space. They were considered lucky enough if they slept on the floor, even without a mat, pillow or blanket.

With the jammed jail cells, diseases, particularly skin infections are widespread.
Another problem that came up is that detention centers were built decades ago. The New Bilibid, in Muntinlupa prison was constructed in 1936 through 1939. Amenities, like toilets and sports facilities are not good enough and inadequate.

Some have the benefit of videoke machines, tennis and basketball courts; but still many do not have the advantage to separate the women and the youth from the men. Out of the 1,082 jails accounted for by the BJMP and the Philippine National Police across the country, only 336 have separate cells for female and 203 have separate cells for minor detainees. The women and underage inmates share the same space as those charged with heinous crimes such as rape, murder and drug pushing.

There are many reasons as to why the number of prisoners increase and continue to fill up the already teeming jail cells. Some blame the implementation of Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, which led to the reduction in the quantity of illegal drugs bailable under RA 9165. Others say poverty and unemployment are the reasons why the detainees are unable to pay bail, among others. Another major reason is the slow disposition of cases in court.

“As it stands, there is the perception that the judicial system does not seem to operate for those who can afford to protect themselves. It is no secret that just like our country’s jails, our courts are also severely congested,” said Chief Justice Puno.

The chief justice was referring to the number of judges in the country. The country has a ratio of one judge to 45,000 people. The ideal ratio is one judge to a thousand.

“The evident truth is that the country’s penitentiary system is teeming with problems that cannot be resolved with simple, instantaneous solutions, for our criminal justice system rests on five intercontinental pillars: the police, the prosecution, the courts, the correctional system and the community,” Puno said.

There may still be hope. For the year 2007, the BJMP has been bestowed a budget of PhP3.272 billion with PhP 165 million allocated for logistics. The money set aside will hopefully allow the bureau to improve living conditions inside jail cells.

The five documentaries showed the predicament of Filipino prisoners, jail congestion, minimum amount of money for food and supplies, protracted trials, prolonged resolutions of the cases, lack of legal representation and judges and lack of opportunity to reform and rehabilitate the offender. The Asia foundation collaborated with Lawyer’s League for Liberty (LIBERTAS) and Rock Ed Philippines for these documentaries, Gang Badoy and Kidlat de Guia’s “1048:2261”, Pepe Diokno’s “Dancing for Discipline”, Lourd de Veyra’s “Buhay Looban”, Tado Jimenez’s “Dokumentado: Rock the Rehas” and Cherryl Corre’s “Sining Manlilikha sa Loob ng Preso”