Where Santa Stays All Year Round

Where Santa Stays All Year Round

Ana Kristine B. Valenzuela
Published December 23, 2007 – January 5, 2008

What’s On and Expat

IF NOT delivering toys and presents on the day our Savior was born, where would Santa be? Would he be taking his bath at a barrel tub? Or maybe sleeping at his crib? Would he be playing the saxophone or even singing “Santa Clause is coming to town”? Maybe, checking his list for children that were naughty or nice during the year and supervising the elves in making toys for the latter? But the tingling question is where exactly?

North Pole is where everyone thinks Santa Claus does all these. Then, who would have thought that Saint Nick has a house right here, which is the Casa Santa. A Santa Museum that not only opens during the holiday season, for Father Christmas stays here all year long.

The Christmas spirit most positively fills the house that started out as a collection of Edna del Rosario, the owner. She began colleting Santa thirteen years ago with the prodding of another friend who is also an avid collector of Santa Claus items. Her first a green capiz Christmas is still prominently displayed in the Casa Santa. Del Rosario picked up Santa figures from department stores, antique shops here and abroad. Her collection got bigger and bigger, which eventually needed a house, until finally she decided to be open a museum for the general public in 2004.

The many faces, shapes and sizes of Santa Clause would leave visitors in awe, as they find out that the man who sneaks in to give children presents on Christmas Eve had so many depictions as can be seen in the museum. Guests most especially kids are allowed to play with the Santa present in the house. Some of the figures are interactive. With a gentle push of a button, Santa begins to move, dance, sing, even play an instrument and get you into the joyous spirit of the birth of our lord. Inside the Casa Santa, you can see jolly Saint Nick take a bath in a barrel tub, sleep in a crib and rap hip-hop Christmas songs.

So, instead of Santa subtly making his way into your home, why not try to slip into Casa Santa, and have yourself a ho-ho-ho of a time.

Reservations are requested prior to visit. Call Jardin de Miramar at (02) 817-1589 or (02) 817-1591.

I Am Pretending That My Baby Is Adopted’

I Am Pretending That My Baby Is Adopted’
As told to ANA KRISTINE B. VALENZUELA
Published MOD May 2010

THE first time that Mirdianne* learned that she was pregnant, she cried-but they were not tears of joy.
At 28, Mirdianne was at that stage which many would consider the right age to have a baby. Also, she had a stable job working for the finance department of a retail company, so she could provide for her child.
But she and Lito, an officemate who worked for the logistics department, were not ready for parenthood. They were just having fun, they succumbed to their passions, but they were careful... or so they thought.
At first, Mirdianne noticed her menstruation skipping. But she didn’t bother about it because after all, she had an irregular pattern. But five months after, she still didn’t have that monthly visit. So she decided to have a home pregnancy test. The test turned out positive.
She didn’t know how to tell Lito. Things were complicated. They weren’t formally a couple. People in the office didn’t even know that they were going out.
Nevertheless, abortion did not cross her mind. Yet, she did not know what to do. So, she searched the Internet for answers. She found emotional support. The first person she told about her pregnancy was a pro-life minister, whom she met online.
Later on, she found the courage to tell her mother and sister, who were both in the province. She went home and told them, but they decided to keep it first from the rest of the family, including her father. Their plan: she would live in a home for women in crisis until she gives birth. Then she will legally adopt her own baby. She will tell people that the baby belongs to a less fortunate woman and that she’s adopting the baby out of charity.
Today, Mirdianne is one of the women housed at Grace To Be Born. She found a refuge in this non-government organization which helps women in crisis, especially giving shelter to pregnant women who do not want to resort to abortion. At Grace To Be Born, she is learning how to take care of babies by looking after babies of other women in the home.
Now she has accepted her baby-a boy-wholeheartedly and plans to name him Samuel, a character from the Bible who was adopted by a priest.
Things are still complicated with Lito, though. He still sends her text messages, but he doesn’t give any financial or emotional support, which Mirdianne is not hoping for anymore.
Mirdianne is on maternity leave, even as her officemates still do not know who the father of her child is. She has to work to be able to provide for her baby, but she plans to look for a job in another company.
“I will raise him up as my adopted child,” Mirdianne says of the baby she will deliver anytime soon. “But when the time comes that he can already understand, I will tell him the truth.”

Note: *Although events in the story are true, names of places, persons, and some circumstances have been altered to protect the identity of those involved. Any similarity to actual names of places and persons, whether living or deceased, is purely coincidental.
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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.”

ARE YOU HOT?

ARE YOU HOT?

Your Body Heat Tells Something about Breast Cancer

By ANA KRISTINE B. VALENZUELA

THE NUMBER of breast cancer incidence in the Philippines has rapidly increased. The country reportedly has the highest number of incidence rate in Asia and ninth in the world.

In observation of Cancer Awareness Month, women should be more conscious of this deadly disease by detecting it with new technologies being offered, such as the Medical Digital Infrared Thermographic Imaging (MDITI).

“The main important issue in the MDITI is it can detect much earlier, it can detect the disease while it’s not yet a cancer, and it can detect it without pain,” says Dr. Roderick Tan, head of Health Quest Research which has MDITI. “It’s the client’s body heat that MDITI emits and that is the only thing that we get.”

Understanding How Breast Cancer Grows

Neo-angiogenesis. “Breast cancer grows like nerves or blood vessels,” says Dr. Tan. Women with malignant breast tumors showed abnormal and high-energy blood vessels near the tumors. These abnormal blood vessels formalized the theory of neo-angiogenesis.

Growing to provide nutrients to cancer. Neo-angiogenesis came from the word neo which means new, angio which means blood vessels, and genesis which is growth. “It is the new growth of blood vessels. It means that these blood vessels are growing, providing nutrients to the cancer cells,” he says.

Increasing the body heat. “From these blood vessels, blood is flowing through cancer cells. Blood in our body is hot,” he says. These blood vessels that give nutrients and extra blood flow increase the heat level of the affected area.

Progression. Dr. Tan pointed out that breast cancer may start while you are still young, and the cancer cells progress more rapidly.

Avoiding Breast cancer

Detection. “What we are offering here is a screening method for early detection of the cancer cells. Whatever the result of the test, the client then has the prerogative on how to proceed,” says Dr. Tan.

Body heat. “What MDITI does is it detects the body heat of the client. The camera is so sensitive that it can pick up the blood vessel’s growth in the breast,” he says. The interpreter will look for patterns suggesting blood vessel growth, which will indicate that the client is already at certain risk of breast cancer. "We will then recommend to the client to go for further evsluation immediately."

Breast print. Dr. Tan, however, adds that every woman has her own thermal imaging hand or breast print, her own breast impression. “Not because there is heat, it does not mean than the client already has cancer. There could be other problems,” he says.

Comparison to mammography. MDITI can detect cancer cells before mammography does. Dr.Tan shares that he had a client whose cancer was detected earlier on by MDITI, but only later by mammography when the cancer cell was already about one millimeter. “Mammo only detected it after 12 months, but the MDITI was able to detect it one year before. This is a case where the cancer is considered as fast-growing. There are some cancers that are slow-growing, “ he says.

Got questions? Email modeditorial@gmail.com

‘Anything Is possible’

Rhian Ramos

‘Anything Is possible’

By ANA KRISTINE B. VALENZUELA

MOD OCtober 2010

WITH three regular shows on GMA-7—Illumina, Kaya ng Powers, and Party Pilipinas— it is amazing that Rhian Ramos manages to make time for herself and her friends.

She says she gets organized and manages her time with the help of her HTC Smart phone which acts as a social calendar and mini computer all in one device. “It really is different when they make the phone easy to use. Who cares about a phone if you can’t do anything with it? I’m not the most technologically savvy person, but I can do much with it,” Rhian says of her phone.

Carry-all. I’m a music lover, I like a phone that can carry music so hindi ako ‘yung type ng tao na maraming gadgets all at once. I don’t carry a bag, so I want everything in my phone. It is a camera, a music player, and a handy computer that I bring about just anywhere. My whole life is practically stored in here--my entire social life, work life, my schedule. I just pocket it with me and bring it anywhere. I cannot live home without my phone. One time umabot na ako ng Quezon City, and I live in Alabang, pinabalik ko talaga ‘yung kotse kasi buhay ko nga ito.

Accidents happen. I was on my way to a taping in Subic. I got lost. Then a car bumped the rear of my car. Thankfully, I was not hurt. That was it. The insurance will take care of it.

Aljur to the rescue. Aljur Abrenica always comes to my rescue when I am hungry. I need not say anything -- somehow he knows I am craving for something and he sends his driver with the food I am craving for. One time I bought four pieces of yema candies for myself. Aljur found out I like such candies so one time, when we were taping in Pampanga, he bought me a bag of yemas.

Anything is possible. Is there a possibility of anything romantic happening between Aljur and me? Anything is possible. But as much as possible, I focus more on my work. Hindi naman kami pumupunta ng taping para magligawan. But anything is possible. We do not know what might happen in the future. I don’t know if there will be anything with us. I’m not saying that there is, but I’m not saying that it is impossible.

It can happen to anybody. I just heard about what happened to Sarah Geronimo's dad -- you know, when a guy attempted to con him. It can happen to anybody. It's scary. I don't have bodyguards. when I need to get something from my car, I go get it myself. My mom often worries about me. Like I thought nothing of my recent car accident. But my mom, she was worried sick.

No gap. There were rumors that Marian Rivera and I have some gap. I don't think so. I haven't seen her since I guested on her show (Show Me Da Manny). Even when Dong (Dingdong Dantes) and I worked together (for Stairway to Heaven), Marian and I didn't see each other. She once said she was not jealous about Dong and I working together. So there--we didn’t have any gap.

Sexual Harassment: The Horror, the Horror

Sexual Harassment: The Horror, the Horror

By ANA KRISTINE B. VALENZUELA

Published MOD October 2010 Halloween Issue

IT might happen in school, in the office, or even at your home.

“Sexual harassment is any behaviour or verbal expression that one find offensive,” according to Dr. Genuina Ranoy of St. Luke’s Medical Center. “It depends on the perception of the person. For some people, it is not sexual harassment because okay lang na ginagawa yun.”

A simple act of putting one’s arm over the shoulder when it is inappropriate and makes one of the parties involved uncomfortable can be an act of harassment.

MOD Collection

Check the Signs

Behavioural. There are times that it might seem obvious, like one’s stare might make you feel uncomfortable or has the interpretation of sexual advances. Or one creates a situation wherein you would be uncomfortable. Sometimes the victim cannot say anything because the harasser’s position is higher.

Verbal. “One example is being called in some terms of endearment, or maybe in a way that has a sexual connotation and inappropriate for you. It would only be sexual harassment if you do not like it,” says Dr. Ranoy.

Actions. “If a guy touches your private parts and he says it’s accidental but for you its not, that’s sexual harassment,” says Dr. Ranoy.

How To Cope with Harassment:

Say it. Dr. Ranoy says that you really have to say what you feel, like “’You’re going beyond boundaries,” so that the person would know. Tell him, because some people are not even aware that they are harassing other people. “

File a complaint. “Tell the authorities,” advises Dr. Ranoy. “That way, they would look into what you are saying and have the proper venues to discuss it.”

Don’t feel guilty. “People often say that it is the victim’s fault, especially if she dresses in a sexy way. ‘It is their fault as they are inviting,’ harassers would often say,” says Dr. Ranoy. “No, it’s not your fault. Don’t feel guilty about it. You did not like what was done to you.”

Check yourself. “Check the way you behave. Certain verbal expressions may be seducing. Maybe unconsciously you are being seductive,” says Dr. Ranoy. “Especially if there is a pattern that wherever you go you are being sexually harassed, ask yourself why. It is not necessarily the way you dress up, but the behaviour also. People might think that to you it is okay because you are inviting.”

Who's Afraid of Daiana Meneses?

Published MOD October 2010 Halloween Issue

By ANA KRISTINE B. VALENZUELA

She may be your next-door television aswang. But no need to be afraid of Daiana Menezes.

She's juts here to do what she likes to do, to pursue her dreams even after several rejections.

“I got declined many times. I got told by several agencies I was not their type,” says Daiana Menezes, relating her start as a model in her home country Brazil. “People didn’t really accept me as a model because I was too short compared to the average model in Brazil. I am only 5’7 and most of the models are 5’10.” But rejection somehow opened windows of opportunities for the Brazilian beauty.

Daiana found another audience. “There was this other agency which does international work and they got me for Thailand,” she says. The agency said her features-- rosy, white skin, and sharp nose--fit well for the Asian market. Thus, she began working as a model in several countries—Hong Kong, China, Singapore, South Korea, and Thailand. In 2006, she landed a shampoo commercial here in the Philippines.

“It was in 2007 that I decided I do not want to be modeling anymore. Adjust, get used to the place, and then leave--I got really tired of doing that. So when I got the chance to get a regular job here in the Philippines, I grabbed it. I love the country that’s why I decided to settle here. Eat Bulaga just came along,” she says, referring to the noon time show which made her popular.

She settled in Manila and had an easy time adjusting to the Philippine way of life. “Here in the Philippines, you have a mix of the Latin culture. You arealso kind of Americanized in a way, so it is easy for me to adjust here, ” says Daiana, adding that the Philippines is like Brazil in Asia. “I super feel at home. I could not even say na grabe ang traffic dito. Every country has its problems, ‘di ba?”

Apart from her hosting gig in Eat Bulaga, Daiana also plays as Vic Sotto’s leading lady in the TV5 sitcom Ang Darling Kong Aswang. She has nothing but praises for the comedian. “He is the most professional person I have ever worked with. He really knows when he has to joke, when he has to work,” she says. “Plus he doesn’t mix personal life with work. People don’t know that. People think that once you’re there, you’re going to get involved with him. No, it doesn’t work that way. He is such a professional guy on the set. Trabaho muna tayo.”

As for rumors that she’s the cause of a rift between lovebirds Vic and Pia Guanio, Daiana just look at them on a positive light. “I’m thankful about that issue because it will increase our ratings. Vic and I are just acting in the show but people think we are already having a relationship. So, wow, effective pala yung ginagawa namin sa show. I just take it as a compliment. Maybe people are thinking what we are doing is for real because we have good chemistry,” she says. “Plus, Pia is a good friend of mine. Pia was the one who recommended me to play the role of wife to Vic because she trusts me. We’re still friends.”

Daiana adds, “Vic teaches me a lot -- how to act, how to do the scene, position myself in front of the camera, every little detail -- which I think I wouldn’t learn if I was working with somebody else. He is a teacher.”

Even with all the intrigues, Daiana says that she doesn't miss anything back home, apart from her family.

“My dad, even if he was really well-off, he didn’t give me whatever I wanted. He made me work for it. That’s why when I first got here, I didn’t have a hard time working for what I wanted. Hindi naman mahirap. I’m used to taking a taxi for work. I make ipon. So I was able to buy two cars and my own place. In two and a half years, I have almost everything a 23-year-old person would want to achieve in life. So super blessed talaga ako,” she says.

Those agencies back home must be scratching their heads.

How to be a beautiful vamp

Do you work out?

I don’t go to the gym. I cannot afford to go to the gym because I have work and it wouldn’t be consistent and I’m tamad. I’m honestly really tamad to work out. But I control what I eat when I see that I’m gaining weight.

Beauty secrets?

The only thing I do is to remove my makeup before I sleep. Even if I get home really late and I’m so tired from work, I do that. And I really try to sleep, because if you get a good night’s sleep, you are going to look fresh the next day. But once you lose your sleep, you are going to lose years of your life.

Beauty regimen?

Water lang talaga. I remove my makeup with makeup remover. I use Dermaline soaps when I shower. I use their feminine wash. I’m Caucasian and our skin mature earlier than that of Asians. What I do is I go weekly to Dermaline and have my treatments there--facial masks and laser hair removal,

Beauty product you cannot live without?

I use Dermaline soaps a lot, like gluthathione soap. I would never leave home without mascara. Even if I don’t have any makeup on, you will always see my pilikmata--I make an effort to do so. I don’t even wear fake eyelashes. I really put on maraming mascara.

Who does your hair?

I’d rather do my hair than let a hairstylist do it because I know my hair better. Working as a model for five years has taught me how to fix my hair and do my makeup. I’m very particular with it, let me do it na lang. In Eat Bulaga, each of us do our own makeup. One time, when I was modeling for a fashion show, a hairstylist used an electric curler to curl my hair. But pinaso ako sa shoulders. I wanted to cry. So now, either I really know the hairstylist or I would just do my hairstyling.

Beauty Advice?

Don’t expose yourself to the sun without any sunblock, because you would get pimples, wrinkles, and freckles.

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

The Queen of Talk Is the Queen of News

The Queen of Talk Is the Queen of News By ANA KRISTINE B. VALENZUELA Published September 2010 CAN’T deliver the news because I make too much news,” Kris Aquino said in an interview with Jessica Soho last year. Indeed, every move that Kris makes, people talk about. Her role as First Sister to her brother, President Benigno ‘Noynoy’Aquino, doesn’t give her much break from the media glare. We see her every day as she hosts Pilipinas Win na Win, television’s newest noontime bonanza. She’ll endorse a juice brand, and people will refer to it as ‘Yung juice na ine-endorse ni Kris.’ She’ll have an album and it will hit gold even before it gets a release date because of reservations. She’ll speak out about the latest issue about what she calls the teleserye of her life on TV and next thing you know she’s at the top of tomorrow’s headlines and the hot topic of Internet forums and office chitchats for weeks.

Like the ruckus of the Facebook page on Kris Aquino’s Despedida, as Kris did say that she will leave the country if she becomes an interference to her brother’s administration. But Kris paid it no heed. “Kagaya po ng pangakong iniwan ng Dad at Mom sa ating bayan, Noy, ikaw at ako ang nasa posisyon para ipagpatuloy ang lahat ng kanilang nasimulan. Noy, you know all that…during our last conversation with Mom, nangako ako sa kanya. Whatever support you needed, I will be there for you,” Kris said, addressing Noynoy during their mother’s burial rites. The latest controversy that the Queen of All Media is now facing is her separation from her husband, basketball star James Yap. Kris said that the decision to end her five-year marriage was not spur-of-the-moment. “Matagal naming sinubukan. James and I really tried to make this work. On my part, with finality, I can say ako ay sumuko na,” she said on The Buzz. “Kung anuman ang dahilan why this marriage, on my part, I’m saying it’s over, the only person I will owe an explanation to and the only person who can demand from me, ‘Bakit kayo naghiwalay?’ is my son,” she added, referring to her son from James, Baby James. According to Kris, she did not want to publicize the reason behind the failure of her marriage, but instead will tell Baby James her side of the story one day. She also hopes that her estranged husband will tell his side as well. “The worst thing I can do for Baby James is, when he’s 7 or 8 years old, and mahanap niya sa YouTube ‘yung explanation kung bakit naghiwalay ang nanay at tatay niya. He deserves much more than that. He deserves to hear it only from me and only from James,” she said. Kris is seeking legal separation from her husband. Her lawyers found some loopholes to nullify her marriage, such as that the civil rites taking place in Quezon City, with then Mayor Feliciano Belmonte presiding over the ceremony, but with Kris acquiring her marriage license from Makati City. Unfortunately, it seems like there is no more hope for a Kris-James reconciliation, as men are being associated with her left and right. Since her separation, she’s been romantically linked to Gabby Concepcion, Gerald Anderson, Coco Martin, Robin Padilla, Senator Chiz Escudero, and Makati Mayor Junjun Binay. Kris quickly dismissed these stories as mere hearsay but was also quick to praise her friend, Junjun Binay, who she met while she was grieving for her mother and he for his wife. “He’s been good to me. A true friend. Kung tatanungin n’yo ako, nasa kanya ‘yung mga qualities that I admire in a man,” she said. Kris, however, wasn’t shy about hinting on the possibility of romance, saying “Ito, kinaklaro ko po, next year... pag alam ko na okay na ako, na I’m sure naitayo ko na ang Pilipinas, Win Na Win!, kung alam ko na kumportable na ang mga kapatid ko na mag-entertain ako o makipag-date ako, kung lahat sila hindi na naha-heart attack at naha-high blood sa the mere thought of it. And ang pinaka-importante, kung sigurado ako na si Josh at si Bimby well-adjusted. And if Junjun were to say, ‘Kris, gusto mo bang mag-dinner?’ I’d say yes. Why? Dahil alam ko na hindi niya ako lolokohin.” Well, we all have to wait and see on what will happen with Kris’s marriage to James and her friendship with Junjun. Whatever it might be, whatever move she makes, it is guaranteed: it will be news. And people will be talking about it. Vicki Belo on Kris: Kris is intelligent. I don’t think people get it because of the way she talks, but she’s smart. The nice thing about her is she’s an active endorser. She’s the one who thinks of ideas on how to promote the (Belo) clinic and then she goes like, “You should do this, you should do that.” Ang dami niyang input and she’s fun to have around. She’s also observant and goes down to the nitty-gritty level. Just recently, she texted me, “You should get (Pilipinas Got Talent winner) Jovit (Baldivino) because I think he’ll be like Nora Aunor in popularity. He’s really good, but he has bad skin and you can fix it.” Talagang may malasakit siya sa clinic and she’s the same with other products she endorses like Goldilocks. She was telling me, “You know their cake is good, you should try it.” Nakakatuwa. Of course, she’s also a good opinion maker.

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”

Women Breadwinners: When You Make More Money Than Him

Women Breadwinners: When You Make More Money Than Him

By ANA KRISTINE B. VALENZUELA

MOD August 2010

“MORE and more families think out of the box, or in a non-traditional way. It is acceptable that roles can be interchanged because of the realities of financial woes,” says Dr. Edgardo Juan Tolentino, head of the psychiatry department at the Makati Medical Center.

Today’s mothers seem to be top executives. More and more women are becoming breadwinners of their household, while the husbands play the role of caregivers to their children. “In the Philippines, to a certain extent, our society is matriarchal. That we have had two female presidents speaks of our acceptance of the woman being empowered,” Tolentino says.

Society views may have changed, but how does that affect your relationship with your man when you earn more money than him? “Always look at the value of what the other person contributes,” Dr. Tolentino advises. “To put it at a smarter perspective, money is important, but look at what both spouses contribute. Even though he (the husband) doesn’t give in as much money, he also shares something else.”

MOD COLLECTION

Factors that may have brought upon this type of relationship:

1. Changes in social standard. “There is a change in tradition,” says Dr. Tolentino. “We are now open to a different perspective as we are highly influenced by the Internet. We are able to see other models of relationships, not just the traditional.” We see marriages such as that of Julia Roberts and cameraman Danny Moder which makes us open to a type of relationship where the woman earns more.

2. Personality. “If the man is highly secure with himself and he sees the need to earn, his self esteem is not related to his earnings,” he says.

3. Migration. “The women have greater opportunities to work in other countries as nurses, or domestic helpers. That’s another factor why they have greater earning capacity than the males,” he says.

4. Intermarriages. According to Dr. Tolentino, the Spanish and American colonization and Chinese culture greatly influenced our own. Filipinos have a lot of models of different relationships to choose from.

Advantages of wives as breadwinners

1. Acceptance of switch of roles. “Roles can be interchanged. The man, as long as he is secure with himself, can be highly important even though he is not working. He can take the househusband role, managing the household chores, helping the children with their homework and driving them to school,” explains Dr. Tolentino.

2. Allows for a greater breath of expressing roles. “There is not much pressure as long as both of you and your man are secure that each one is fulfilling an important role,” Dr. Tolentino says. “If you stick to the traditional roles, the doors for cash opportunities might close.”

3. Balance of power. “In any relationship, you will always expect a power balance. Society has put too much value on who holds the purse or who holds the power. But power is something to be shared,” he says. “Even though the man is working, it is expected that he gives the money to the woman. So when there is a reversal of roles, she also gets to budget. It’s not untraditional. It is always the woman who budgets and decides on how to spend it. But today, there are some models, in which the woman shares with the househusband the budgeting. She has the option to modify the expenditures.”

Disadvantages of wives as breadwinners

1. External pressure. “This could be because of the cultural and traditional values of the family,” he says. The man may feel powerless because he is earning less.

2. Internal Pressure “If there are personality problems, like the man is insecure or the woman is domineering, the wife may ask questions like, ‘Why am I the one working? Why am I the one bringing home the bacon?’” he explains.