Page 21 - LM Confidential Issue November 2014

already has four kids. How about him and his girlfriend of three years, Shasta Munsayac?
“We’re at the right age naman. I’m 32 and she’s 30. As of now, live in muna kami. For me, mas okey ang ganitong
arrangement. Wala namang problema with both our families.”
What about rumors that he’s moving to ABS-CBN? “My manager, Manny Valera, is still negotiating. Wala na kasi akong contract with GMA. But I’m thankful isinasama pa nila ko sa shows nila, like ‘Kambal Sirena’ and now ‘Ilustrado’. Sa ABS, baka gawin ko raw yung ‘Pasion de Amor’, kung
magkakaayos.”
Pilita should be a National Artist
Pilita Corrales is a living legend. We honestly believe that with her countless accomplishments, she deserves to be a National Artist. She’s very proud that the University of the Visayas in Cebu (where she comes from) gave her
an honorary doctorate in
Music recently. “Talagang
madrama ang ceremony,
complete with men in
uniform to salute me
at nakatoga ako,” she says. “I feel so honored.”
She’s been singing for more than 50 years but she always updates her act when she performs. “Siyempre, you have to go with the times. Like sa concert ko, ‘A Million Thanks to You’ sa Manila Hotel Fiesta Pavillion on November 13, I will be singing Miley Cyrus’‘Wrecking Ball’, complete with twerking. I will also do Lady Gaga in Tagalog. You can’t just keep on doing the same thing. Ako, pagpasok ko ng stage, I already know my audience. You have to know them so you can please them.”
Will she still do her signature bending backwards act? “Ah yes, hindi ako puwedeng hindi lumiliyad dahil hindi lalabas ang boses ko.”
Does she still memorize her songs or does she rely on her teleprompter? “Hoy, wala pa akong Alzheimer’s, ‘no? I memorize very easily. I don’t want to be dependent on the teleprompter.”
Miguel Tanfelix Denies Rumored Romance With Barbie Forteza
Miguel Tanfelix denied that he and Barbie Forteza are already an item. He wondered why they are being linked
when they don’t even star in any project. He only sees Barbie, who he admitted is his crush, during “Sunday All Stars.” He usually gets to see Bianca Umali because they are both
members of the cast of sitcom “Ismol Family.” Aside from Barbie, Miguel also has a crush on Bea Binene. He and Barbie once worked together in “Paroa.” At one time, they even had sweet moments on Twitter because they greet each other “good morning” and “hi.” In a separate interview, Barbie said she’s inspired these days. Is Miguel the reason for this? He is not aware of what Barbie is referring to but as for him, Miguel is always inspired in his work.
If he ever has to choose, he might pursue Bianca because it will be better for their loveteam. Personally, though, he’s not thinking about his lovelife because he’s focused on his career.
Caregivers
Leaders of different Caregiver Organizations, and Community Advocates met with the Liberal Party Immigration critics, John McCallum, and discussed the Liberal Party’s platform on the OFWs; the meeting was held at Filipino Centre Toronto (FCT) on Oct. 4, 2014. PHOTO BY ARIEL RAMOS
INFRA TO SLOW ECONOMY continued on page 21
Ronald Mendoza, an economist at the Asian Institute of Management said.
Mendoza said growth could have been faster had it not been for the age- ing airports and road networks that turn off foreign investors and tourists, and limit the movement of local trade. Ma- nila already loses 2.4 billion pesos ($53 million) in potential income daily due to traffic jams, according to a study by the Japan International Cooperation Agency. Among the other infrastruc- ture problems are power shortages that lead to brownouts, clogged drainage that exacerbate frequent rainy season floods and an Internet network so slow that it sparked a parliamentary enquiry. Mil- lions of people in slums, and even some residents of middle class districts, do not have access to running water.
And Manila’s decades-old interna- tional airport, with malfunctioning air conditioning and leaking toilets, has been cited by a travel website as the worst in the world.
No quick fix
President Benigno Aquino and his team are acutely aware of the problems.
“Sustaining the economy’s high- growth trajectory requires continued investment in infrastructure,” Economic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan told Japanese businessmen. The govern- ment is planning to increase infrastruc- ture spending from 2.2 percent of gross domestic product in 2012 to five percent by the end of Aquino’s term in 2016.
As part of that, the government will pursue its so-called public-private part- nership program. Balisacan also said implementing a 2.6-trillion-peso ($58 billion) “dream plan” drafted by the Ja- pan International Cooperation Agency was a top priority.The agency’s plan calls for an expansion of rail and toll road net- works to provinces north and south of Manila, spreading economic activity, as well as a subway system for the capital.
It also envisages a new Manila air- port terminal. Many of the projects are slowed by regulatory delays and court cases between rival bidders, and fewer than 10 contracts have been awarded during Aquino’s first four years in office, with no projects yet completed.
Mendoza said “What’s needed is a multi-administration plan... many of them take up to three administrations to finish.” Philippine leaders are elected to single, six-year terms, raising continuity problems.
Manila residents, in the meantime, have little choice but to count the per- sonal cost of the urban decay. Jury Dom- ino, who owns a catering business, said ever-growing delivery times eat into his profits — with his vans held hostage for hours guzzling fuel in traffic and staff having to be paid overtime.
“It’s a big hassle, expenses rise every month and the problems pile up,” he said.
Outages slow Economy
US bank Citigroup warned that the expected power shortage next year could slow the Philippines’ economic growth.
However, if the government can ad- dress the expected power shortage, Citi expects the country’s gross domestic product to grow by 6.5 percent.
The Aquino administration, mean- while, is looking to address the looming crisis by requesting Congress to grant the President additional powers to acquire as much as 500 megawatts of additional capacity.
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BICOLANOS MEET
- Photo shows Joseph Francia, GMA (Kapuso) Pinoy TV International Vice President and Head of Operations, together with Veteran Print and Broadcast Journalist Joaquin (Jojo) T. Taduran, Jr. Francia was in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, some few days ago who is planning to bring to Toronto GMA (Kapuso) stars for several live show this year (2014) and next year (2015). Francia and Taduran are both Bicolanos from Camarines Sur. (Manny Papa, St. Jamestown News Service)
NOVEMBER 2014 L. M. Confidential