Vol. 4 No. 38 • 8 pages www.commuterexpress.phTUESDAY, July 27, 2010

FIRST SONAPresident Aquino delivers his fi rst State-of-the-Nation-Address during the joint session of the 15th Congress vowing to eliminate corruption and bring the nation to the road of progress. Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and Speaker Feliciano Belmonte listen intently on the president’s speech. Revoli Cortez

PIOLO PASCUAL, SINAGOT ANG

HAMON NI SHARON CUNETA

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IN January 2010, the un-employed reached 4.3 mil-lion, an increase of 730,000 from 2001. It was also dur-ing the nine years of the Ar-royo government that the workers received a mere P5 ($0.107) real wage increase, the smallest increase grant-ed by the government since the Marcos regime.

Bayan also dared Presi-dent Benigno Aquino III to be true to his promise of taking the correct path for the welfare of the Filipino people, by removing the

Reformed Value Added Tax (R-VAT) on oil and electric-ity. They also asked his gov-ernment to bar new or ad-ditional impositions of taxes on basic necessities.

The drivers’ sector asked Aquino to stop the looming 250 percent increase in toll fees particularly in South Luzon Expressway (SLEX). “Aquino should reverse the privatization of public infrastructures such as the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) and SLEX to stop the increases of toll fees

as well as the eventual in-creases on commuters’ transportation fare,” said George San Mateo, secre-tary general of Piston.

The groups also called for an increase in state spending on education to six percent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), as prescribed by the United Nations Education-al Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). They also called on the gov-ernment to immediately raise the national budget for health to at least P90 billion ($1.9 billion) or five percent of the Gross Na-tional Product.

The cause-oriented groups also pushed for the development of the na-tional economy by promot-ing local industries and implementing a genuine agrarian reform program that will truly distribute land, including Hacienda Luisita, to the farmers for free. They asked Aquino to scrap the stock distribution option that has barred land reform in his family-owned Luisita. To improve agricul-tural production and help raise the standard of living of farmers, the progres-sive groups asked Aquino to support local farmers

through low-interest loans especially during post-har-vest production.

The groups asked the Aquino government to disregard the neo-liberal policies in the economy including the deregulation, privatization and liberaliza-tion of its substantial sec-tors. They also suggested repealing “anti-people laws such as the Mining Act of 1995, the Republic Act No. 9136 or the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001 (Epira) and the oil de-regulation law.” These laws have been blamed for the destructive mining coupled with dislocation of farm-ers, and the non-stop rise in prices of electricity and petroleum products.Promote HumanRights for a Just and Lasting PeaceUnder the Arroyo regime, some 1, 205 progressive ac-tivists died, 206 went miss-ing, and hundreds became political prisoners charged with common crimes, which they said were fabricated. Karapatan together with other sectors are united in calling for justice for all vic-tims of human rights viola-tions during nine years of the Arroyo government.

To be continued

BINABATI natin ang ating mga kapatid na Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) sa kanilang pagdiriwang

ng ika-96 anibersaryo ngayong araw (July 27).

Sa kanilang pagdiriwang ng pag-kakatatag ng INC, magkakaroon ng kasiyahan sa Rizal Memorial Complex kung saan ay inaasahan na dadaluhan ito ng milyun-milyong kaanib ng nasa-bing relihiyon.

Simula nang itatag ang INC noong 1914 ay patuloy ang pagdami ng mga kaanib nito hindi lamang sa Pilipinas kundi maging sa iba’t ibang bansa.

Marami kasi ang naniniwala sa mga namumuno sa INC kaya’t patuloy ang pagdami ng kanilang mga kaanib bukod pa sa suportang ipinakikita ng bawat isa sa kanilang mga miyembro.

Isa ang INC sa pinakamalawak at pinakakilalang relihiyon sa buong

mundo dahil na rin sa mga paniniwa-lang kanilang ipinatutupad sa kanil-ang bawat kaanib.

Hindi rin matatawaran ang mga naitulong ng INC upang mabigyan ng tamang pag-uugali ang kanilang mga miyembro dahilan upang lalo pang maging tanyag ang naturang relihi-yon.

Kasama natin sa pagbati sa aniber-saryo ng INC ang aking mga anak na sina Barangay Arkong Bato, Valenzu-ela City SK Chairman Rovin Feliciano at ang aking unica hija na si Cristina.

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UNANG SONA ni P.NoyMarami ang umaasa na magiging

makabuluhan ang gaganaping kauna-unahang State-of-the-Nation-Address (SONA) ni Pangulong Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III.

Habang sinusulat ito, kasaluku-yan pang naghahanda ang ating mga mambabatas kung saan ay magaganap ang SONA sa House of Representa-tives sa Batasan Complex.

Inaasahan sa SONA ang mga plano ni Pangulong Aquino sa patuloy na pagrekober ng ating bansa na matagal na nalugmok sa kahirapan.

Marami rin ang umaasa na sa pa-nahon ng administrasyon ni Pangu-long Aquino ay magigng maganda ang kinabukasan ng mga Pinoy.

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PwEDE po kayo mag-email sa baran-gayanni_isko@yahoo.com.

Tuesday, July 27, 20102

Chairman, Editorial Board ARKHON A. ANTOLIN Executive Editors JONATHAN p. VIceNTe cARLOmAR A. DAOANA News Editor LeA G. BOTONeS Overall Creative Director cHONG p. ARDIVILLA Chief Layout Artist HecTOR L. LOZANO

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C O M M E N T A R Y

The people’s demands (second part)

96th anniversary ng INC ipagdiriwang

FOLLOwING his maiden State-of-the-Nation-Address (SONA) yesterday, President Aquino earned two thumbs up from both civic and militant groups.

Various organizations listen diligently at the SONA of the Chief Executive as most group members convened at the Batasan Hills in Novaliches, Quezon City.

Bagong Alyansang Makabayan secretary general Renato Reyes said President Aquino should walk the talk in his highly touted anti-corruption campaign.

Reyes said institutions for accountability have been damaged and undermined by the previous administration.

After listening to the SONA of Aquino, Reyes lauded the efforts to reveal the misdeeds of the former Arroyo govern-ment but lamented the lack of action plan in running after the crooks in the past administration.

For his part, government employee Felix de Silva of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) said President Aquino is only telling the truth. “He’s not an alarmist,” he added.

Two thumbs up for Noy

StreetSmartNi Jonathan Vicente

Labor sector supports AquinoThe labor sector has expressed their continued support to the platform and policy pronouncements on labor and em-ployment of President Aquino, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) yesterday said.

Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda D. Baldoz said the DOLE partners from the labor and employment sectors continue to affirm their support to the president’s labor and employment agenda which contains programs and policies that the government will pursue for the ad-vancement of interests of Filipino workers.

The agenda’s overarching goal is to invest in the coun-try’s top resource, the human resource, to make Filipi-nos more competitive and employable. The agenda also highlights promoting industrial peace based on social justice.

Baldoz cited the Trade and Union and Congress of the Philippines (TUCP), the country’s largest labor group, which declared that its members and affiliate groups share the goal of the new administration on labor and employ-ment.

In its statement, TUCP committed to support the re-forms that the new administration will pursue in partner-ship with DOLE, particularly in ensuring a stable industrial climate and in efforts to improve the life of every Filipino.

The Federation of Free workers, meanwhile, vowed to be an active partner of DOLE in the promotion of welfare of the Filipino workers and their families.

The Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP), on the other hand, said that the employers’ group is looking forward to collaborate with the DOLE in the implementation of policy reforms that will portend not only for the labor and employer sectors, but to the whole country as well.

The Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Com-merce and Industry Inc. (FFCCII) and the Philippine Cham-ber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) also indicated their willingness to cooperate with the government, particularly with the DOLE, in pursuing advocacies and projects for the well-being of the people.

Other labor and management groups that have ex-pressed support to the agenda are the International Mari-time Employers Committee Ltd., (IMEC), Federated As-sociation of Manpower Exporters, Inc (FEDAMANEX), Metrobank Foundation, Philippine Jaycee Senate and Phil-ippine Government Employees Association.

Tuesday, July 27, 2010 3

POLICE helicopters yesterday morn-ing hovered all over the Batasan Hills in Novaliches and President Aqui-no’s house on 25 Times Street, West Triangle, Diliman, both in Quezon City, to ensure that the chief execu-tive’s maiden State-of-the-Nation Address (SONA) will be peaceful and orderly.

As early as 8 a.m., the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) Tactical Operation Center (TOC) reported

pockets of rallies happening near the president's ancestral home in the upper middle class neighbor-hood of Barangay West Triangle.

QCPD-TOC said the militant groups defied the “no-rally” rule near the Aquino home, but were driven away by anti-riot police-men in their initial attempts. Since last week, the Quezon City police had declared the area around Mr. Aquino's house a no-rally zone.

A group of militant students also jogged by the president's house but were likewise stopped by the police-men as they approached the corner of West 4th and Times Street. “Com-mit emergency bonds to education! ...Regulate tuition and fee increas-es!” read makeshift messages posted on their shirts. The students were from the National Union of Students of the Philippines, League of Filipino Students and College Editors Guild

of the Philippines.Some of the protesters resorted

to stationary jogging and stretch-ing in front of anti-riot policemen.

The morning activity of the pro-testers came hours ahead of Aqui-no's first SONA before the joint opening session of the two houses of the 15th Congress later in the af-ternoon at the Batasang Pambansa complex in Quezon City.

“Our march to Batasan is to

ask the Aquino Administration for across-the-board salary increase by employers and more employ-ment because we noticed there is emphasis on labor export. We are also asking for justice to displaced workers,” said Elmer Labog of Ki-lusang Mayo Uno (KMU).

The protesters also said they are seeking justice for landless farmers who want to have a genuine land reform program.

Militant joggers break cordon at President Aquino’s house on Times Street

TWO fishermen surrendered to police some P70 million worth of cocaine which they had fished out near the shoreline of Salcedo town in Samar.

Deputy Director General Edgardo Acuña, chief of the Philippine National Police Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force (AIDSOTF), said Antonio Labayan, a fisherman, turned over to po-lice a total of eight bricks of cocaine, which approxi-mately weighs eight kilos, on Monday around 8:30 a.m. while Eustaquio Daguinod, also a fisherman, yielded six more bricks after several minutes.

Acuna said the bricks of cocaine were believed to be part of the 1.9-ton shipment dumped by a foreign vessel en route to Hong Kong from South America last December after suspecting that the transport of the illegal drug was compromised.

“The massive information dissemination aimed at encouraging local residents to surrender the il-legal drugs still in their possession is already paying off, we hope to sustain this until we sweep the prov-ince of the remaining cocaine,” said Acuna.

Nearly 500 kilos of cocaine have so far been re-covered, short of 1.4 tons that are believed to be ei-ther still being kept by local residents or have been transported out of the province by illegal drug syn-dicates.

Fishermen surrender P70-M worth of cocaine

A FTER many Filipinos’ dreams were shattered in the previous admin-

istration, President Aquino urges the nation to dream again as the road for progress is now straight.

President Aquino, in his maiden State-of-the-Nation-Address (SONA), said the country is now on the right track as several local and for-eign investors are proposing to develop several infrastructure projects such as an expressway that will connect Manila and Cagayan, the development of the Naval Station in Fort Boni-facio into another investment haven, and a fast and efficient train service which will trans-port goods speedily bypassing all the “kotong cops at ku-mokotong na mga rebelde.”

“May nagmungkahi sa atin, ito ang proposisyon: Uupahan po nila ang headquarters ng Navy sa Roxas Boulevard at ang Naval Station sa Fort Bonifacio.

Sagot po nila ang pagli-pat ng Navy Headquarters sa Camp Aguinaldo. Agaran, bibigyan tayo ng isandaang milyong dolyar. At dagdag pa sa lahat nang iyan, magsusubi pa sila sa atin ng kita mula sa mga negosyong itatayo nila sa uupahan nilang lupa. Sa madali pong sabi: Makukuha natin ang kailangan natin,

hindi tatayo gagastos, kikita pa tayo,” Aquino said.

Aquino further said that there are many proposals from foreign and local investors that will fill up all the needs of the country toward progress.

“Mula sa mga public-pri-vate partnerships na ito, lalago ang ating ekonomiya, at bawat Pilipino makikinabang. Napa-karaming sektor na matutu-lungan nito,” Aquino said.

Also, despite Malacañang’s promise that Prsident Aquino has no plan of embarrass-ing his predecessor former President now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, the Chief Executive during his first SONA revealed that the na-tion’s fund were depleted by the Arroyo Administration.

Aquino said that with the budget deficit at a staggering P196.7 billion, only one percent per month of the P1.54 trillion budget for 2010 can be spent for the remaining months of the year. He, however, claimed that some government agen-cies, like the Metropolitan Wa-terworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) have been blessed with funds as its officials re-ceived P211.5 million in sala-ries and additional allowances and benefits alone.

Aquino said the MWSS Board of Trustees only receive

P14,000 salary each but they get grocery incentives that amount to P80,000 a year; mid-year bo-nus; productivity bonus; anni-versary bonus; yearend bonus; Christmas bonus; additional Christmas package; and finan-cial assistance.

Each MWSS Trustee re-ceives P2.5 million a year, Aquino revealed. This does not include car benefits, tech-nical assistance, and loans, he added.

“Kamakailan lamang, pu-mipila ang mga tao para lang makakuha ng tubig. Sa kabila nito, minabuti pa ng liderato ng MWSS na magbigay ng gan-timpala sa sarili kahit hindi pa nababayaran ang pensyon ng mga retiradong empleyado,” Aquino said.

“Pati po ang La Mesa Water-shed ay hindi nila pinatawad. Para magkaroon ng tamang supply ng tubig, kailangang alagaan ang mga watershed. Sa watershed, puno ang kail-angan. Pati po iyon na dapat puno ang nakatayo, tinayuan nila ng bahay para sa matataas na opisyal ng MWSS,” he add-ed.

Aquino said his government is investigating the MWSS of-ficials involved, who cannot immediately be removed from their posts as they are among former president Gloria Maca-

pagal-Arroyo’s “midnight ap-pointees.”

The President also ordered a thorough probe on the mas-sive surplus in the rice im-ported by the National Food Authority.

“Hindi po ba krimen ito, na hinahayaan nilang mabulok ang bigas, sa kabila ng apat na milyong Pilipinong hindi kumakain ng tatlong beses sa isang araw?” he said.

Aquino also revealed that out of the P2 billion Calam-ity Fund this year, 70 per cent has already been spent even though the typhoon season has just begun. He said P108 million went to Arroyo’s home province of Pampanga, which did not suffer from any calami-ty this year, and compared this to the P5 million given to the province of Pangasinan that was ravaged by typhoon “Pep-eng” last year.

Aquino said the Arroyo ad-ministration also instructed the government-owned Land-bank and Development Bank of the Philippines to buy out the MRT after forcing the train operator to keep the fares low, thereby failing to fulfill a guar-antee that the train operator could recoup its investment.

“Ang pera ng taumbayan, ipinagpalit sa isang naluluging operasyon,” he said.

Aquino: ‘We can dream again’

4 Tuesday, July 27, 2010 5

ComiC book fans no longer have to imagine what it might be like to see all their favorite superheroes in one place.

They got the chance Saturday at Comic-Con, when the cast of the forthcoming “Avengers” film took the stage. Samuel L. Jackson sur-prised some 6,000 fans gathered for a marvel Studios presentation when he stepped out just as it was ending and started introducing the cast of “The Avengers.”

Jackson brought out stars Clark Gregg, Scarlett Johannson, Chris Hemsworth of “Thor” and Chris Evans of “Captain America.”

He then introduced another surprise guest, Robert Downey, Jr., who brought out the rest of the all-star cast, including Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye and mark Ruffalo as Bruce Banner.

“The Avengers” is based on the comic book series of the same name, which brings various mar-vel superheroes together. The film is due in 2012.

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LEonARDo DiCApRio’S “incep-tion” has won a battle of superstar action thrillers over Angelina Jo-lie's “Salt” at the weekend box of-fice. “Inception” remained the No. 1 movie for the second-straight weekend with $43.5 million. The thriller that unfolds in people's dreams raised its 10-day total to $143.7 million.

The spy caper “Salt” debuted a solid no. 2 with $36.5 million.

Coming in at no. 3 with $24.1 million was Steve Carell's family hit “Despicable me.” The animated comedy raised its domestic total to $161.7 million.

in a rare convergence of fresh ideas, the top three movies all were original stories, not sequels or

adaptations of comic books, best-sellers, video games or other pre-existing material.

n n nELizABETH TAyLoR has dis-missed reports Angelina Jolie and Catherine zeta-Jones are battling it out to portray her in a movie biopic, insisting no actress will be allowed to take the part during her

lifetime.Rumors began swirling earlier

this month linking the two oscar winners to a film adaptation of Sam Kashner and nancy Schoenberg-er's book Furious Love: Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, and the marriage of the Century. Russell Crowe, Clive owen and Colin Far-rell were among the big names be-ing suggested as possible Burtons, while mike nichols was named as a favored director.

However, Taylor has now slammed the speculation, insisting there is no movie and she would never let such a project go ahead.

in a series of posts on her Twit-ter.com page she writes, “Hold your horses world. i've been hear-ing all kinds of rumors about some-one being cast to play me in a film about Richard and myself. no one is going to play Elizabeth Taylor, but Elizabeth Taylor herself. not at least until i'm dead, and at the mo-ment i'm having too much fun be-ing alive and i plan on staying that way. Happiness to all.”

LUmALim ang issue sa sinasabing Twitter message ng anak daw ni piolo pascual against KC Con-

cepcion kaya naman nagsalita na ang megastar Sharon Cuneta tungkol dito.

Sa press conference ni Sharon para sa nala-lapit niyang concert sa Araneta Coliseum, isa sa napag-usapan ay ang tungkol sa anak niyang si KC at ang diumano'y hindi magandang Twit-ter post ng anak ni piolo na si iñigo against KC.

Hindi itinago ng megastar ang naging saloobin niya sa pang-yayaring ‘yun, although hindi pa naman kumpirmado kung anak nga ni piolo ang nag-post ng na-turang message sa Twitter. But what Sharon wanted at that time was for pio-lo to speak up and give a statement.

pioLo'S STATEmEnT. ito naman ang siyang ginawa ni Piolo sa official statement na ipinadala niya sa The Buzz noong July 25.

narito ang kabuuan ng kanyang pa-hayag:

“i'm really sorry for whatever pain or hurt we've caused anybody because of the things that have been said about other people. i had to make sure i got the right info as to who was spreading the text messages or tweeting using my son's name.

“Firstly, my son doesn't have a Twit-ter account. His Facebook has been hacked. He's never texted anybody to malign Kristina. He also receives prank calls from different people even while

he's in the States.“He told me that there are people

harassing him and using his name to harass other people as well through in-ternet.

“Whoever is using my son's name to ruin rela-tionships, please refrain from doing so for we may seek legal counsel. my son is still a minor and private individual.

“i'd like to apologize to Kristina and her fam-ily. Thank you for stand-ing by me through this situation. i appreciate your support and ma-turity in handling this

matter. Again, my apologies.” KC'S REACTion. pagkatapos ipakita ang official statement ni Piolo ay hin-ingi ng kanyang mga co-host sa The Buzz na sina Boy Abunda, Toni Gonza-ga, at Charlene Gonzalez ang reaksiyon ni KC. pero hindi pa man nagsasalita si KC, hindi na niya nakaya pang pigilan ang pagtulo ng kanyang luha at naging emosyunal na ito agad.

“i know that pJ [palayaw ni piolo] is a very good father,” umpisa ni KC. “Ginagawa niya ang lahat to be a man that his son needs kasi lumaki si pJ na walang tatay. So, gusto ni piolo na mag-ing mabuting ama sa anak niya.

“Hindi pa confirmed na si Iñigo...yung anak niya ang nagsulat. naiintin-dihan ko si iñigo kung siya talaga yun. Ako yung batang yun, e, noong bata ako. Ako po yung nasa lugar niya. ma-hirap naman na mahal na mahal mo ang magulang mo, mahirap makita na

magkahiwalay sila. mahirap din i-ac-cept kung sinuman ang napapalapit sa mga magulang mo. pero i hope it's not him dahil hindi naman ako naniniwala

na kayang magsalita ng anak ni piolo pascual ‘yun dahil mabuting ama na-man si piolo.

“Ang sa akin lang po,” patuloy niya,

“kung anak ka man or kung isa kang babaeng nilapitan ng lalake, nanahimik naman po ako, nanahimik din po ang bata. Sana po, ang bottomline lang di-yan, isa lang po ang hinahanap ng isang anak sa tatay niya at isa lang din ang hinahanap ng isang babae na pinalapit mo sa 'yo sa isang lalake. yun ay ang ip-aglaban ka, yun ay ang panindigan ka. At yun ay ang ipakita sa 'yo at iparam-dam sa 'yo na mahal ka niya.

“So, bilang anak, yun lang ang hina-hanap niya [iñigo]. Kung siya nga 'yon or kahit hindi siya 'yon, alam ko ang na-raramdaman niya dahil ako yun dati na nasa sitwasyon niya.

“So, sana... Hindi ko naman sinasabi na siya nga yun, pero masakit po ang mga sinabi. Kung ibang tao man po ang gumagawa, sana naman po, huwag na-man nilang sirain ang relasyon ng mag-ama. Kasi, meron din pong nag-try sa amin ni papa [Gabby Concepcion] no'n. merong sinasabi ang tao kay papa tung-kol sa akin na sinabi ko raw na hindi na-man totoo. So, mabuti na lang nag-usap kami ng papa ko. So, sana kung yun ang mangyayari sa sitwasyong ito, huwag naman nilang gamitin ang bata.”

nagpasalamat naman si KC sa kan-yang ina na si Sharon sa pagtatanggol nito sa kanya, kay piolo sa kanyang statament, at kay iñigo sa kabaitan nito sa kanya.

“i'd like to say thank you for raising me nang walang galit. And i'd like to say thank you to piolo for your statement, and thank you iñigo sa mga panahon na nagkita tayo and you were so nice to me. yun ang pinanghahawakan ko dun, yung kabaitan niya, nakita ko yun,” pa-hayag ni KC.

Piolo Pascual, sinagot ang hamon ni Sharon Cuneta

PIOLO PASCUAL KC CONCEPCION

THE philippine premier of the musi-cal “Cats: now and Forever” formally opened over the weekend at the nicanor Abelardo Theatre of the Cultural Center of the philippines (CCp) in pasay City with Tony award-winning actress Lea Salonga who had just recovered from a sprained ankle.

Salonga was slightly hurt when she tripped a bulging electrical wire as she was heading to her first stage entrance during the technical and dress rehears-al for the philippine premiere of the musical.

Salonga, who dons Grizabella’s scruffy costume, and the Australian touring cast and crew of the T.S. Eliot/Andrew Lloyd Webber musical officially opened “Cats” manila run last July 24.

The show’s producers–Lunchbox Theatrical productions, David Atkins Enterprises, Concertus, All youth Chan-nels, and The Really Useful Company Asia Pacific–recently announced an

extension till Sunday, August 22, 2010 due to high demand for tickets.

Salonga in a press and media huddle shared her account of the accident, “i sprained my ankle as i was heading to my first stage entrance, in my Griza-bella costume with the heels! i stepped on the covered cables then twisted my ankle, and i fell.”

“So our ‘vet’ (physiotherapist Bron-wyn Claassen) looked at it with an ul-trasound and taped it secure,” Salonga said. “it was taped before the evening technical run. There would have been no way to tape it earlier. That unitard is very difficult to take off once it’s on and you’re sweating,” she added.

Salonga assures her Filipino fans that “as long as i can sing, i’ll be in the show.” The international stage and television actress is poised to appear in all the performances of “Cats” in ma-nila, including matinee and additional shows.

‘The Avengers’ come together for 2012 film

SAMUEL L. JACKSON LEONARDO DICAPRIO ELIZABETH TAYLOR

‘Cats’ opens at CCp with Lea SalongaLinDSAy LoHAn has been moved to solitary confinement in jail because her fellow inmates are sick of her wailing, according to a newly released convict.

Cheryl presser claims the actress is really strug-gling with life behind bars and can't stand the taunts from inmates who share the same area of Lynwood Correctional Fa-cility in California.

The former inmate tells perezHil-ton.com that prisoners chant Lohan’s “firecrotch” nickname as the “Mean Girls” star tries to get to sleep and those in the cells closest to her can hear her sobbing.

presser says, “Lindsay would lie there shivering all night, crying and covering her face with her hands. Her wailing was keeping everyone awake... She had a hysterical fit, crying and yell-

ing, so she got put in isolation.”But it's not all bleak news behind

bars for Lohan–her lawyer insists the actress has made friends in jail.

Shawn Chapman Holley says, “she has made friends and the deputies have treated her respectfully (and

she them).”Lohan surrendered to authorities

and began her 90-day jail stint last week. Her time has already been cut short and she is expected to be released at the beginning of August.

The actress was jailed after violating probation stemming from a 2007 DUi arrest.

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THERE’S just something about seeing an actress in work-out gear that gets our pulse racing. “Twilight” star Ashley Greene took a break from filming her

latest movie “LoL” in Detroit on Thurs-day at a fitness studio before heading over to the LA Fitness gym where she spent another hour working out.

Greene wore a green tank top and tight black stretch pants with a flower cut out on her hip.

in “LoL,” Lola (played by miley Cyrus) and her friends navigate the peer pressures of high school romance and friendship while dodging their sometimes overbearing and confused parents.

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BRET miCHAELS is back in the news for all the wrong reasons–police report-edly found marijuana and unidentified controlled substances during a search of his tour bus in indiana.

According to the Los Angeles Times newspaper, law officials pulled the ve-hicle over near Ashley on Wednesday night after spotting a broken brake light, and boarded it as the poison star was traveling home.

HOLLYWOOD TATTLE

Linsday can’t stand the jail term

4 Tuesday, July 27, 2010 5

ComiC book fans no longer have to imagine what it might be like to see all their favorite superheroes in one place.

They got the chance Saturday at Comic-Con, when the cast of the forthcoming “Avengers” film took the stage. Samuel L. Jackson sur-prised some 6,000 fans gathered for a marvel Studios presentation when he stepped out just as it was ending and started introducing the cast of “The Avengers.”

Jackson brought out stars Clark Gregg, Scarlett Johannson, Chris Hemsworth of “Thor” and Chris Evans of “Captain America.”

He then introduced another surprise guest, Robert Downey, Jr., who brought out the rest of the all-star cast, including Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye and mark Ruffalo as Bruce Banner.

“The Avengers” is based on the comic book series of the same name, which brings various mar-vel superheroes together. The film is due in 2012.

n n n

LEonARDo DiCApRio’S “incep-tion” has won a battle of superstar action thrillers over Angelina Jo-lie's “Salt” at the weekend box of-fice. “Inception” remained the No. 1 movie for the second-straight weekend with $43.5 million. The thriller that unfolds in people's dreams raised its 10-day total to $143.7 million.

The spy caper “Salt” debuted a solid no. 2 with $36.5 million.

Coming in at no. 3 with $24.1 million was Steve Carell's family hit “Despicable me.” The animated comedy raised its domestic total to $161.7 million.

in a rare convergence of fresh ideas, the top three movies all were original stories, not sequels or

adaptations of comic books, best-sellers, video games or other pre-existing material.

n n nELizABETH TAyLoR has dis-missed reports Angelina Jolie and Catherine zeta-Jones are battling it out to portray her in a movie biopic, insisting no actress will be allowed to take the part during her

lifetime.Rumors began swirling earlier

this month linking the two oscar winners to a film adaptation of Sam Kashner and nancy Schoenberg-er's book Furious Love: Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, and the marriage of the Century. Russell Crowe, Clive owen and Colin Far-rell were among the big names be-ing suggested as possible Burtons, while mike nichols was named as a favored director.

However, Taylor has now slammed the speculation, insisting there is no movie and she would never let such a project go ahead.

in a series of posts on her Twit-ter.com page she writes, “Hold your horses world. i've been hear-ing all kinds of rumors about some-one being cast to play me in a film about Richard and myself. no one is going to play Elizabeth Taylor, but Elizabeth Taylor herself. not at least until i'm dead, and at the mo-ment i'm having too much fun be-ing alive and i plan on staying that way. Happiness to all.”

LUmALim ang issue sa sinasabing Twitter message ng anak daw ni piolo pascual against KC Con-

cepcion kaya naman nagsalita na ang megastar Sharon Cuneta tungkol dito.

Sa press conference ni Sharon para sa nala-lapit niyang concert sa Araneta Coliseum, isa sa napag-usapan ay ang tungkol sa anak niyang si KC at ang diumano'y hindi magandang Twit-ter post ng anak ni piolo na si iñigo against KC.

Hindi itinago ng megastar ang naging saloobin niya sa pang-yayaring ‘yun, although hindi pa naman kumpirmado kung anak nga ni piolo ang nag-post ng na-turang message sa Twitter. But what Sharon wanted at that time was for pio-lo to speak up and give a statement.

pioLo'S STATEmEnT. ito naman ang siyang ginawa ni Piolo sa official statement na ipinadala niya sa The Buzz noong July 25.

narito ang kabuuan ng kanyang pa-hayag:

“i'm really sorry for whatever pain or hurt we've caused anybody because of the things that have been said about other people. i had to make sure i got the right info as to who was spreading the text messages or tweeting using my son's name.

“Firstly, my son doesn't have a Twit-ter account. His Facebook has been hacked. He's never texted anybody to malign Kristina. He also receives prank calls from different people even while

he's in the States.“He told me that there are people

harassing him and using his name to harass other people as well through in-ternet.

“Whoever is using my son's name to ruin rela-tionships, please refrain from doing so for we may seek legal counsel. my son is still a minor and private individual.

“i'd like to apologize to Kristina and her fam-ily. Thank you for stand-ing by me through this situation. i appreciate your support and ma-turity in handling this

matter. Again, my apologies.” KC'S REACTion. pagkatapos ipakita ang official statement ni Piolo ay hin-ingi ng kanyang mga co-host sa The Buzz na sina Boy Abunda, Toni Gonza-ga, at Charlene Gonzalez ang reaksiyon ni KC. pero hindi pa man nagsasalita si KC, hindi na niya nakaya pang pigilan ang pagtulo ng kanyang luha at naging emosyunal na ito agad.

“i know that pJ [palayaw ni piolo] is a very good father,” umpisa ni KC. “Ginagawa niya ang lahat to be a man that his son needs kasi lumaki si pJ na walang tatay. So, gusto ni piolo na mag-ing mabuting ama sa anak niya.

“Hindi pa confirmed na si Iñigo...yung anak niya ang nagsulat. naiintin-dihan ko si iñigo kung siya talaga yun. Ako yung batang yun, e, noong bata ako. Ako po yung nasa lugar niya. ma-hirap naman na mahal na mahal mo ang magulang mo, mahirap makita na

magkahiwalay sila. mahirap din i-ac-cept kung sinuman ang napapalapit sa mga magulang mo. pero i hope it's not him dahil hindi naman ako naniniwala

na kayang magsalita ng anak ni piolo pascual ‘yun dahil mabuting ama na-man si piolo.

“Ang sa akin lang po,” patuloy niya,

“kung anak ka man or kung isa kang babaeng nilapitan ng lalake, nanahimik naman po ako, nanahimik din po ang bata. Sana po, ang bottomline lang di-yan, isa lang po ang hinahanap ng isang anak sa tatay niya at isa lang din ang hinahanap ng isang babae na pinalapit mo sa 'yo sa isang lalake. yun ay ang ip-aglaban ka, yun ay ang panindigan ka. At yun ay ang ipakita sa 'yo at iparam-dam sa 'yo na mahal ka niya.

“So, bilang anak, yun lang ang hina-hanap niya [iñigo]. Kung siya nga 'yon or kahit hindi siya 'yon, alam ko ang na-raramdaman niya dahil ako yun dati na nasa sitwasyon niya.

“So, sana... Hindi ko naman sinasabi na siya nga yun, pero masakit po ang mga sinabi. Kung ibang tao man po ang gumagawa, sana naman po, huwag na-man nilang sirain ang relasyon ng mag-ama. Kasi, meron din pong nag-try sa amin ni papa [Gabby Concepcion] no'n. merong sinasabi ang tao kay papa tung-kol sa akin na sinabi ko raw na hindi na-man totoo. So, mabuti na lang nag-usap kami ng papa ko. So, sana kung yun ang mangyayari sa sitwasyong ito, huwag naman nilang gamitin ang bata.”

nagpasalamat naman si KC sa kan-yang ina na si Sharon sa pagtatanggol nito sa kanya, kay piolo sa kanyang statament, at kay iñigo sa kabaitan nito sa kanya.

“i'd like to say thank you for raising me nang walang galit. And i'd like to say thank you to piolo for your statement, and thank you iñigo sa mga panahon na nagkita tayo and you were so nice to me. yun ang pinanghahawakan ko dun, yung kabaitan niya, nakita ko yun,” pa-hayag ni KC.

Piolo Pascual, sinagot ang hamon ni Sharon Cuneta

PIOLO PASCUAL KC CONCEPCION

THE philippine premier of the musi-cal “Cats: now and Forever” formally opened over the weekend at the nicanor Abelardo Theatre of the Cultural Center of the philippines (CCp) in pasay City with Tony award-winning actress Lea Salonga who had just recovered from a sprained ankle.

Salonga was slightly hurt when she tripped a bulging electrical wire as she was heading to her first stage entrance during the technical and dress rehears-al for the philippine premiere of the musical.

Salonga, who dons Grizabella’s scruffy costume, and the Australian touring cast and crew of the T.S. Eliot/Andrew Lloyd Webber musical officially opened “Cats” manila run last July 24.

The show’s producers–Lunchbox Theatrical productions, David Atkins Enterprises, Concertus, All youth Chan-nels, and The Really Useful Company Asia Pacific–recently announced an

extension till Sunday, August 22, 2010 due to high demand for tickets.

Salonga in a press and media huddle shared her account of the accident, “i sprained my ankle as i was heading to my first stage entrance, in my Griza-bella costume with the heels! i stepped on the covered cables then twisted my ankle, and i fell.”

“So our ‘vet’ (physiotherapist Bron-wyn Claassen) looked at it with an ul-trasound and taped it secure,” Salonga said. “it was taped before the evening technical run. There would have been no way to tape it earlier. That unitard is very difficult to take off once it’s on and you’re sweating,” she added.

Salonga assures her Filipino fans that “as long as i can sing, i’ll be in the show.” The international stage and television actress is poised to appear in all the performances of “Cats” in ma-nila, including matinee and additional shows.

‘The Avengers’ come together for 2012 film

SAMUEL L. JACKSON LEONARDO DICAPRIO ELIZABETH TAYLOR

‘Cats’ opens at CCp with Lea SalongaLinDSAy LoHAn has been moved to solitary confinement in jail because her fellow inmates are sick of her wailing, according to a newly released convict.

Cheryl presser claims the actress is really strug-gling with life behind bars and can't stand the taunts from inmates who share the same area of Lynwood Correctional Fa-cility in California.

The former inmate tells perezHil-ton.com that prisoners chant Lohan’s “firecrotch” nickname as the “Mean Girls” star tries to get to sleep and those in the cells closest to her can hear her sobbing.

presser says, “Lindsay would lie there shivering all night, crying and covering her face with her hands. Her wailing was keeping everyone awake... She had a hysterical fit, crying and yell-

ing, so she got put in isolation.”But it's not all bleak news behind

bars for Lohan–her lawyer insists the actress has made friends in jail.

Shawn Chapman Holley says, “she has made friends and the deputies have treated her respectfully (and

she them).”Lohan surrendered to authorities

and began her 90-day jail stint last week. Her time has already been cut short and she is expected to be released at the beginning of August.

The actress was jailed after violating probation stemming from a 2007 DUi arrest.

n n n

THERE’S just something about seeing an actress in work-out gear that gets our pulse racing. “Twilight” star Ashley Greene took a break from filming her

latest movie “LoL” in Detroit on Thurs-day at a fitness studio before heading over to the LA Fitness gym where she spent another hour working out.

Greene wore a green tank top and tight black stretch pants with a flower cut out on her hip.

in “LoL,” Lola (played by miley Cyrus) and her friends navigate the peer pressures of high school romance and friendship while dodging their sometimes overbearing and confused parents.

n n n

BRET miCHAELS is back in the news for all the wrong reasons–police report-edly found marijuana and unidentified controlled substances during a search of his tour bus in indiana.

According to the Los Angeles Times newspaper, law officials pulled the ve-hicle over near Ashley on Wednesday night after spotting a broken brake light, and boarded it as the poison star was traveling home.

HOLLYWOOD TATTLE

Linsday can’t stand the jail term

THE rain is not going away, at least for the next couple of weeks or even months. When the weather outside is gloomy, what do you wear to cheer yourself up? It can definitely be tough to dress for a rainy day because there are a lot of things to consider. From what type of material you can wear to how to stay dry without surrender-ing style, dressing nicely when it’s rainy calls a little planning in advance.

Fret not, though! It’s easier than most people think to dress for a rainy day. Here are some smart rainy day fashion tips from the country’s ultimate shopping destination, Tutuban Mall. Prepare to get drenched with fashion do’s and don’ts and make the most out of any monsoon.

Wear dark-wash jeans as they don’t show rain spots as much.

Splash color to your outfit! Don’t hesitate to wear some-

thing bright and fun on a rainy day. An awful weather can be a bit gloomy, so why not go out of your way to wear something vibrant and striking?

A classic jacket is always perfect for rainy days. Whether it’s a fancy hoodie or a classic trench coat, it’s a must for every fashionista out there because it is an essential that’s perfect for all occasions.

Be careful of the materi-als you wear during the rainy season. Suede, gamuza and velvet are definitely a no-no because water usually damages it, and genuine leather that is untreated can easily be ruined by water as well. Don’t risk messing up your clothes – go with rubber, pleather, or pro-tectant-treated leather shoes in rain and leave your favorite suede handbag at home.

As for the hair department, if you know your hair gets frizzy with the slightest bit of moisture present that’s why

you can just pull your hair back into a simple ponytail. To help spruce up your ponytail, add some light hair accessories. If you don’t have any problems with frizz, then wear a colorful headband and let your hair down.

Be smart about layering - if you don’t want to get drenched in sweat, wear an undershirt that is made of light materials underneath your clothing. If an undershirt isn’t a possibil-ity, make sure you are wearing natural fibers, which let your body breathe, like cotton, silk, or linen. If you’re cold, add on a fancy scarf or a classic cardi-gan that can easily be taken off and stashed in your bag if the weather gets a bit humid.

A cute umbrella can be a wonderful accessory. You can find so many wonderful and inexpensive umbrellas available in Tutuban Mall, so there’s really no excuse to stick to basic black. Buy a couple in your favorite colors or designs if you live in a really rainy area and use them to brighten up

your look.Practical yet trendy tips—

there’s no better place than Tutuban Mall to find the ap-propriate rainy day apparel and accessories without having to worry on style, versatil-ity, quality and budget. From clothes, shoes, to accessories, Tutuban Mall has them all.

So who says you cannot stay trés chic in the rainy season? It’s definitely raining fierce fashion, fun, and excitement only in the country’s ultimate shopping destination—Tutu-ban Mall!

Tuesday, July 27, 20106

PALAISIPAN Thelma Onego

sagot sa nakaraan

PAHALANG 1. Deposito 6. Hindi kuntento11. Sangkap ng

tinapay12. Gaya13. Artista14. Hinuha15. Kinukupitan17. Kamukha18. Paraiso19. Simbolo ng

sodium20. Kahit ano; Ingles21. ----t; Sikil25. Lumot26. Tanglaw27. Sindi

29. Pakuluan30. Ilapag31. Gawa sa bansa32. Ukit33. Ibigay sa akin34. Lugar sa Japan35. Palayaw ng lalaki

PABABA 1. Reserbahan 2. Renta 3. Sentro 4. ---- Mindorensis 5. Ginagawang beef

stakes 6. Salakay 7. Klase ng suka 8. Tanglaw 9. Nada10. Lalaki sa paraiso16. Pahintulot20. Lupa22. Isama sa liham23. Sumasamba sa

anito24. Ilayo25. Sentro ng Makati27. Taksil28. Baba29. Takot

Complete the grid so every row, column and 3 x 3 box contains every digit

from 1 to 9 inclusively.

Previous puzzle solution

Ni McJoe

THIS year, we are experiencing one of the hottest summers in Philippine history. With temperatures soaring to a scorching 37.5 degrees Celcius, the heat may be enough to fry the proverbial egg on the pave-ment. And meteorologists have warned of a possible 40 degrees Celcius as summer intensifies. On the other hand, the rainy season is also waiting in the wings to dump torrential rains. The weatherman has also predicted that the very wet effects of La Nina will be experienced as early as June.

As the seasons change and temperatures switch drastically from oven heat to freezer cold, our sus-ceptibility to illnesses such as colds, cough, and fever increases. Times like these, we need to take extra care. And we need to take our vitamin C.

Vitamin C strengthens our immune system and fights upper respiratory infections before they can bring us down with the dreaded cold or flu. But too much Vitamin C intake increases the acid levels in the stomach and this could be uncomfortably painful.

But now, with Bewell-C, we can say goodbye to the problem of acidity. Bearing the generic name of sodium ascorbate, Bewell-C is non-acidic Vitamin C. Because it is an alkaline-based form of Vitamin C that is 100% pure and natural, it does away with the problem of acidity. That is why Bewell-C can be safely taken in large doses, even on an empty stomach. It also dissolves five times faster than other vitamin C forms, with 95% being absorbed by the body.

Rain or shine, in hot or cold weather, Bewell-C shields you from the threat of cough and colds. With Bewell-C, you can face any kind of weather without worrying about your health.

Enjoy good health with Bewell-C! You can find Bewell-C at leading drugstores nationwide.

Rainy day Fashion 101

Bewell for all seasons

Our Daily Bread

W HEN young Kofi came home after Sunday school, his mother asked him what he had learned that morning. His quick reply spoke

volumes: “Obedience...again!”Although I’m many years older than Kofi, I agree that

obedience to God is a lesson that we must, sometimes reluctantly, learn over and over again.

Oswald Chambers wrote: “The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear. If my rela-tionship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says....If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.”

When we are obedient, we show God that we love Him and have more faith in Him than we do in ourselves. Arthur W. Pink said that love is “a principle of action, and it expresses itself...by deeds which please the object loved.” To obey God means to relinquish what we want and to choose to do what He asks.

God requires the obedience of His followers, and Jesus placed great importance on it. He asked, “Why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46). And He issued this challenge: “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15).

To say we follow Jesus Christ Without attempting to obey Reveals our lack of faith that He Will lead us right in every way. —Sper

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SMALL and independent oil players yesterday revealed they have enough fuel stock to meet public demand claiming unlike the major oil players that appeared to be hard up on supply.

This was the disclosure of Independent Philippine Pe-troleum Companies Associa-tion (IPPCA) Chairman Fer-nando Martinez as he quelled public fears that the “tight-ness” in supply being experi-enced by the oil companies is becoming more widespread.

“Fuel supply is normal for Eastern (Petroleum Philip-pines) and the other indepen-dent companies,” Martinez said. Martinez is also the pres-ident of Eastern Petroleum, one of the country’s leading independent oil firms.

Aside from Eastern Pe-troleum, small oil companies like Unioil Petroleum Philip-pines, Seaoil Philippines and Flying V are among those that comprise IPPCA.

Martinez went on to say that the collective might of small oil firms “would be able to cushion” the appar-ent fuel shortage being felt in the metropolis, particu-larly from gas stations of oil giant Pilipinas Shell.

Shell spokesperson Bobby Kanapi admitted over the weekend that the company was having supply woes fol-lowing the shutoff of the First Philippines Industrial Corp. pipeline that channels the oil supply from the Ba-tangas port to the depots in Pandacan, Manila. Scattered reports from areas like Cu-bao, Quezon City and Ortigas, Pasig City bared that Shell gas stations as well as those from Petron Corp. have literally dried up of gasoline and diesel products since Friday.

Petron is the Philippines’ largest oil refiner, and along with Shell and Chevron form the “Big Three” oil compa-nies. Anthony Muñoz

“THE bigger the offenders you catch, the more serious you are in your campaign.”

This was the response of the Federation of Philip-pine Industries (FPI) on the Bureau of Customs (BoC) charges of multiple counts of smuggling against the own-ers of two fictitious compa-nies, allegedly involved in bringing in P300 million worth of various products in the past six months.

According to Jesus Ar-ranza, FPI chairman, the two importers who have been charged with smug-gling by the BoC are just a pair of dwarf gobies and not “big fishes.”

Based on Customs re-cords, Eduardo Saguid of Gold Mind Trading and Nestor Ignacio of Quick Flo Trading have been accused to have smuggled P300 million worth of appliances and agricultural products into the country. But nei-

ther is included in the list of bigtime smugglers, Ar-ranza said.

Arranza pointed out that the people at BoC know who the so-called big fishes are in the “smuggling pond,” and the agency should go after them first if only to show that the new administration is serious in getting rid of smuggling.

Nonetheless, the trader dared Customs Commis-sioner Angelito Alvarez to keep a close eye on the filed cases against the alleged smugglers since what usual-ly happen is that the charges are ultimately dismissed due to technicalities, or worse, simply forgotten.

Arranza said he expects the BoC to make an example out of a big fish soon and even expressed readiness to help the agency in nam-ing these personalities and consequently bring them to justice.

QUEZON City Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte on Monday said the City Council is ready to serve its constituents.

Belmonte said to en-sure the success of the 18th Council, neophyte legisla-tors in Quezon City under-went a seminar to prepare them for their jobs ahead and perform their duties in pushing for the city’s and residents’ progress as the city’s lawmakers.

Belmonte said majority of the 18th Council mem-

bers are first time coun-cilors, like her, who need preparation to deliver their mandate well and that she finds it necessary for the city’s lawmakers to have their mind set on their mandated task as city leg-islators.

The two-day 1st Quezon City Legislative Manage-ment Training Program, conducted for the first term members of the 18th Council and all their chiefs-of-staff, was aimed at ori-

enting the newly elected of-ficials of the city council of the work they are about to do as city legislators.

They were given an over-view of the Philippine Local Government System, Laws on Local Taxation and Fis-cal Management, powers of the Sangguniang Panlung-sod and the local legislative process.

They were also given administrative orientation by selected QC executive offices like the City Budget

Office, Personnel Office, Accounting Office and oth-er QC offices.

Present during the train-ing were: Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte; Councilors Alex R. Herrera; Precious Hipoli-to Castelo ; Alfredo D. Var-gas; Eden Delilah A. Medina; Roderick M. Paulate; Allan Benedict S. Reyes; Jaime F. Borres; Jose Mario Don S. de Leon; Gian Carlo S. Sotto; Jessica C. Daza; Raquel S. Malangen; and Vincent Eric D. Belmonte, Jr.

Small oil players readyto fill up fuel shortage

Traders ask BoC topursue smuggling cases

QC council ready to serve constituents

A BULACAN town mayor fell victim to burglars when the unidentified thieves broke into his Quezon City house and escaped with P60,000 cash and undeter-mined amount of jewelry Sunday night.

Supt. Marcelino Pedrozo, QC Police District-Batasan Hills Station chief, said Paombong, Bulacan Mayor Donato Marcos, 46, and his family where out of their house at 40 Don Doroteo

Street, Enrique Heights, Barangay Holy Spirit, Que-zon City when the incident took place. Marcos said they learned of the break-in at around 9:30 p.m. when they returned home from dinner.

Investigations showed the robbers gained entry at the victim’s house by de-stroying the back door and went straight to the master’s bedroom where they took the cash and jewelry.

Kim Pascual

Mayor falls victim to burglars

8 Tuesday, July 27, 2010

A MERICAN boxing coach Freddie Roach predicted a knockout victory in favor

of his bet Manny Pacquiao against Mexican Antonio Margarito.

Roach said Pacquiao will de-molish Margarito and would send the Mexican into dreamland once their paths cross in the ring four months from now.

“Manny will knock him out. We will knock him out,” said Roach when reached for comment a day after Margarito emerged as Top Rank Promotions’ anointed one to face Pacquiao in a November 13 fight, originally a showdown with Floyd Mayweather, Jr.

“I have no problem with the fight. Margarito is a tough guy, but his ring generalship is poor,” Roach added.

The failure of Mayweather, Jr. to respond to the deadline given by Bob Arum, the big boss of Top Rank, and sign a contract to face Pacquiao in a megafight paved the way for the 78-year old promoter to look somewhere else. He found the right man keen enough to face the world’s pound-for-pound best fighter–Margarito.

The 32-year old warrior from Tijuana, Mexico, is a two-time world champion.

While Margarito has yet to se-cure a license to fight in the US following the one-year suspension slapped on him by the California State Athletic Commission in the aftermath of the illegal hand-wrap controversy he got involved with,

Arum believes the Mexican’s fight-ing style makes for an explosive title bout against a fighter as excit-ing as Pacquiao.

Margarito was personally hand picked by Arum over Miguel Cotto, the legendary Puerto Rican and reigning World Boxing Associa-tion (WBA) 154-pound title holder whom Pacquiao demolished in 12

rounds during their World Boxing Organzation (WBO) welterweight championship showdown last year in Las Vegas.

Roach also sees a competitive fight with Margarito, who was turned down by the 51-year old trainer two years ago as a possible Pacquiao opponent as he believes the Mexican was too big for the Filipino ring icon.

“It’s like the good guy versus the bad guy. It’s probably a mar-ketable fight, with Manny beating up another Mexican,” said Roach, obviously referring to Pacquiao’s long record of defeated Mexican fighters, from Erik Morales, Marco Antonio Barrera to Juan Manuel Marquez.

Ironically, Margarito also fought Cotto and brutally beat him inside 11 rounds for the WBA wel-terweight title. The loss was the first in Cotto’s colorful career.

Unfortunately, the impres-sive win had been tarnished when Margarito was caught loading his knuckle pad with a hardened sub-stance in his next fight opposite Sugar Shane Mosley.

After re-wrapping his hands, Margarito yielded his WBA title to Mosley, who administered him a 9th round technical knockout loss.

In the aftermath of the contro-versy, Margarito found his license revoked and was suspended from fighting for a year.

Even Roach himself is puzzled whether Margarito is loaded or not during the Cotto fight.

Margarito will go down–Roach

HOST San Sebastian came through with a pair of shutout victories to seize the early lead in the seniors division of the 86th NCAA chess tournament at the SM Manila.

Jayson Mercado, John Albert Bongon, Alexis Maribao and Ni-gel Valenzuela all won their first two matches to power the Stags to the solo lead with an unblem-ished record of eight points in this event organized by a com-mittee chaired by Jose Mari Lac-son of San Beda.

St. Benilde, out to regain the title it blew last season, also came out strong as it blasted Arellano U, 3.5.5, in the first round be-fore pulling the rug from under reigning titlist Letran, 2.5-1.5, in the second while Mapua edged Perpetual Help, 2.5-1.5, before smashing Jose Rizal, 3-1.

Emilio Aguinaldo, for its part, drew with San Beda, 2-2, in the opener, but regained its form in the second by slamming Perpetual Help, 3-1, to remain in the thick of things.

In juniors’ action, EAC made heads turn after it blanked San Beda, 4-0, and toppled Perpet-ual Help, 3-1, to gain the early advantage with seven points.

Dexter Saquilayan, Clinton Verano and Keith Mabanag de-livered two wins on boards one, two and four, respectively, while Kim Patrick Palagne split his two matches after losing to Perpetual Help’s Tristan Wayne Palagne on board three.

Reigning titlist San Se-bastian walloped Jose Rizal, 4-0, in the first round but was slowed down by a 2-2 draw by Arellano U.

San Sebastian leads NCAA

chess tourney

DALY CITY-based Filipino Al-len Lalic defeated American Mike Peregov, 9-2, to rule the just con-cluded 2nd World Professional Pool Association 9-Ball Shootout at the California Billiards in Moun-tain View, California, USA.

The 21-year-old Lalic, who

hails from Macabebe, Pampanga received the top prize of $1,000 according to Filipino spokesman Ramon “Maestro Moching” Mis-tica.

On the road to the finals, Lalic whose stint here is being supported by Jeff Presnosa of Team Predator

also bested June Padua, 8-3, Deo Mark Alpajora, 8-6, Elmer Diwa, 8-5, CJ Robinson, 8-4 and Frank Nordmann, 8-6.

Other participants are John Mark Hernandez, Shawn Munoz, Levy Lampaan, Jaynard Orque and Eduardo Ramos.

Pinoy Lalic tops California 9-Ball

GM So in second place at Biel

GRANDMASTER (GM) Wesley So of the Philippines agreed to a draw with GM Evgeny Tomashevsky of Russia in the sixth round to remain within striking distance in the 2010 Biel Young Grandmasters chess championship in Biel, Switzerland over the weekend.

The draw was reached after only 24 moves of the Queen’s Gambit as both players opted to play it safe on the sixth day after five consecutive action-packed games.

When the game was drawn, the 23-year-old Tomashevsky had a queen, rook, bishop, knight and six pawns while the 16-year-old So had a queen, rook, two knights and the same number of pawns.

The position after 24 moves re-mained equal, with little prospects for slambang action.

Contador wins Tour de France

SPANISH Alberto Contador stood atop the podium at the Tour de France on Sunday for the third time in four years, struggling to rein in his emotions as Spain’s na-tional anthem echoed across the wide boulevard of the Champs-Elysees.

Off to one side, Lance Arm-strong applauded and then, with-out much fanfare, headed toward the exit.

“I need a cold beer,” he said when asked his thoughts at the fin-ish line. Rarely has the emergence of a sport’s newest superstar dove-tailed so neatly with the departure of the last one.

Contador held off a next-to-last day challenge from Andy Schleck of Luxembourg, his runner-up for a second consecutive year, drain-ing much of the drama from the 20th and final stage.

Denis Menchov of Russia was third overall.

Freddie roach