Click on the arrows before the story titles to jump to their corresponding stories below.
Erap drops suit vs Times; 6 editors quit
Guest Commentary: The real threat to press freedom
Statement of Concern on the Manila Times Case
Canadian firm names franchisee
Erap, Carter join hands to build homes for the poor
King of Spain Accepts Credentials of Ambassador Jose Oledan
Knights of Rizal Founded In Vienna
Prof. Lourdes Castrillo Receives the Premio Zobel
First Woman Chinese Ambassador to RP Presents Credentials
RP Consular Notes:
Ownership of land in the Philippines by former Filipinos
RP Consulate Notes:
Issuance of Passport
RP Consulate Notes:
Issuance of Visa
RP Consular notes:
Notarial and Other Legal Services
RP Provincial News:
Leyte, Japan tie up for Cultural Promotions
Erap drops suit vs Times; 6 editors quit
The apology was written by Robina Gokongwei-Pe, daughter of
Chinese-Filipino industrialist John Gokongwei and president of the
paper’s owner, Metromedia Times Corp., in a column which made its debut
yesterday.
The Associated Press quoted Gokongwei-Pe as saying that the Times
would continue to be published despite the loss of its editors.
‘’It came out today, it will come out tomorrow, it will continue to come
out,’’ she said.
‘’So, in return, I will drop my libel case against The Manila Times. I
think after the public apology, the book is already closed.’’ Executive
Secretary Ronaldo Zamora, who had filed a separate libel suit against
the Times, said he also planned to withdraw the case.
Mr. Estrada denied reports that the government had started to harass
the Gokongweis, whose business empire includes, apart from newspaper and
magazine publishing, food manufacturing, real estate, airline
operations, banking, and a chain of department stores. He said the
resignation of the editors was an ‘’internal problem’’ over which he had
no control, and that the assessment being conducted by the Bureau of
Internal Revenue on the Gokongwei businesses was a regular government
function which started before he assumed the presidency.
‘’There’s no pressure whatsoever. How can there be pressure (there)? We
cannot pressure the press. It’s the press that are pressing us,’’ he
said before letting out a laugh.
The Philippine Press Institute is assuming a hands-off position
toward what it called a ‘’purely internal’’ issue. ‘’The institute is
not and will not be involved in that dispute. It’s not within our
responsibility to do anything about it,’’ Malaya publisher Jake
Macasaet, who serves as PPI chair, told the Inquirer in a phone
interview last night.
Macasaet refused to comment on the report that the Gokongweis had
been pressured into making a public apology.
But he later said the Times editors had ‘’a right to (resign), in the
same way that the management has the right to apologize for whatever
reason.’’ ‘Chilling effect’ Commenting on Gokongwei-Pe’s apology, Sen.
Raul Roco said Malacañang had ‘’succeeded in creating a chilling effect
on press freedom’’ and ‘’brought the country to the martial law years
where government had no qualms in bending private business to its
will.’’ ‘’We hail the stand of many responsible journalists to bring
independent and reliable information to the people. In this information
age, that duty is essential to preserve freedom and democracy,’’ Roco
said in a statement. ‘’There should also be consciousness on the nature
of media ownership. The business of the media is to report the news
without fear or favor. When owners are also engaged in other businesses,
then one tends to dilute the other.’’ Senate Minority Leader Teofisto
Guingona Jr. said: ‘’We are seeing signs of the return of the old
tactics of the martial law years.
‘’If they were pressured and coerced into making an apology which the
editors feel there was no need for, press freedom has been curtailed,’’
he said.
Quezon City Rep. Michael Defensor said Gokongwei-Pe’s apology would
‘’go down in journalistic history as the only one offered for harm not
done.’’ Defensor said it was apparent that the apology was ‘’extracted
under duress.’’ ‘’It is tantamount to a suspect confessing to crimes
blamed on him while sporting a black eye and a bruised lip,’’ he said.
The President sued the Times for libel last month in reaction to a
Feb. 16 article that said he acted as an ‘’unwitting godfather’’ when he
witnessed the signing of a P17-billion power deal between the National
Power Corp. and the Argentine firm, Impsa Asia Ltd. Quoting unnamed
Malacañang sources, the article said the deal was irregular because
changes were inserted at the last minute before it was approved. ‘’I
would like to extend my sincerest apologies for the anxiety you felt
from the Times story published on Feb. 16,’’ Gokongwei-Pe told Mr.
Estrada in the first of her regular columns in the paper.
She said the story ‘’was never intended to malign or impugn the
sterling reputation you have built up over decades of dedicated public
service.’’ The other editors who resigned in protest over the apology
were managing editor Chit Estella, news editor Glenda Gloria, associate
editor Booma Cruz, assistant news editor Manny Mogato, and business
editor Roel Landingin.
Ed Lingao, chief of news reporters, and Joel Gaborni, chief of
business reporters, as well as opinion columnists Maritess D. Vitug,
Frankie Llaguno, Paulynn P. Sicam and Michael Mastura also filed their
resignations. The staff box in yesterday’s edition of the Times no
longer carried the names of the six editors, but Estella said she and
her colleagues would work for 15 more days because of a company rule on
resignations.
Ban Padayon, a multisectoral alliance of peasants, workers, urban
poor, church people, members of nongovernment organizations and human
rights advocates, said the Gokongweis ‘’should be banned from the media
business and publicly howled out for its cavalier attitude toward press
freedom.’’ ‘’Media is not just a business—it is a social institution
with social responsibilities,’’ Padayon said in a statement. It said
that both the Estrada administration and the Times owners ‘’mishandled’’
the case, and urged the President to ‘’resolve his differences with the
media as befits a statesman, and not as a neighborhood bully in a street
fight.’’ It also said the resignation of the Times editors ‘’dramatizes
what is essentially an undermining of press freedom, one of the major
legacies of the anti-dictatorship struggle which culminated on Edsa.’’
The Kalipunan ng Maliliit na Magniniyog ng Pilipinas voiced a similar
sentiment, saying in Filipino: ‘’If the apology signifies the surrender
of the Gokongweis to pressure from the Estrada administration, and the
abandonment of their sworn function to disseminate the truth to the
public, then there is no more place for the family in the field of
newspapering.’’ The Institute for Political and Electoral Reform issued
its own statement expressing support for the resigned Times employees.
It also criticized the President, saying: ‘’Bullying the press
whenever he is criticized is a very ill-advised action of a
self-proclaimed champion of democracy.
‘’Why insist on prosecuting when he will lose nothing if his hands are
truly clean?’’ ‘False’
In Malacañang, Mr. Estrada’s spokesperson Fernando Barican belied the
report that pressure was being exerted by Malacañang on the Gokongweis’
other businesses.
‘’The report is false, counter-productive and detracts from the
publicized apology’s sincerity,’’ Barican said. On Wednesday, Estella
said that while the paper’s owners believed there was nothing libelous
with the Feb. 16 article, they were constrained to issue the apology.
‘’They’re beginning to feel the pressure. After all, they have other,
bigger businesses, not just the Times,’’ she said.
Gokongwei-Pe had earlier apologized personally to the President when she
met him at a party. She also offered him a rose, which he accepted.
In his libel complaint, Mr. Estrada said he wanted the case to serve
as an example to deter other journalists from degrading private citizens
and officials ‘’under the guise of freedom of speech and of the press.’’
Asked yesterday if he wanted to air a message concerning the issue, he
said: ‘’None. It’s a closed book.
As I have said, I hope that only the truth is written as it is the
responsibility of the press to give the right information to our
people.’’ With reports from AP and Dona Pazzibugan
(April 9, 1999 Philippine Daily Inquirer)
Guest Commentary:
The real threat to press freedom
The excuse for the first anomaly is that the newspaper business being
a losing proposition most of the time, only publishers with other
sources of income can gamble in it. The real reason is the other way
around: They publish newspapers to protect their major sources of
income. Politicians with higher ambitions put out newspapers to attack
their enemies and praise themselves, and ultimately help elect
themselves to public office. They consider the millions poured into
newspaper publications as part of the expenses for an election campaign.
After the election, the paper closes down.
The logic for the second anomaly is that the media exposure of
newspaper columnists, radio commentators and television talk show hosts
makes them known to voters and would help them get elected. The election
of media celebrities from Joseph Estrada to Ramon Revilla, Robert
Jaworski, Loren Legarda, Blas Ople, Francisco Tatad, etc. attest to
this. So hordes of government officials, whether past, present or
aspiringfrom Ernie Maceda, to Rodolfo Biazon to Gemma Cruz, to Alfredo
Lim, etc.write newspaper columns and host radio commentaries and TV
talk shows. They buy airtime and don’t get paid for their columns, which
is why they were accepted by the publishers and editors in the first
place.
Why are they anomalies? For several reasons. The newspaper business
is not just a business. It is a public trust. It is the duty of the
publisher or owner to inform the public truthfully and fearlessly. And
to mold public opinion. The press has been placed on the same level as
the Executive, Legislative and the Judiciary. That is why it is called
the Fourth Estate. Its first responsibility is to the public; profit, if
any, is only secondary.
The newspaper business is not for the faint-hearted. There are
pressures political, ethical, financial from all sides. Just because you
are a genius in other fields of business doesn’t mean you can succeed in
the newspaper industry.
In the first place, it is the only business where the more of the
product you produce and sell, the more money you lose. You try to recoup
you losses for printed copies from advertising revenue. Only two or
three of the present welter of broadsheets succeed here.
Why then do otherwise sensible businessmen risk their millions to
compete in a clearly glutted newspaper market? As stated earlier, for
power, influence, and protection for their other businesses and
aspirations. One owner uses his paper to force government officials to
wink at violations that his companies commit, such as the building code,
for instance. Another built an annex for his hotel on already small
parking lot and now uses the publicly-owned sidewalks and streets around
the hotel as his private parking lot, even roping them off from the
public. Still another uses his reporters as fixers at the Bureau of
Customs, the airport and elsewhere. At a dinner, one newspaper owner
who, ironically, got his paper from the Marcoses, brazenly told then
President Corazon Aquino to appoint his protege to a government
position.
By slanting stories to favor officials in positions of power and by
praising them endlessly in editorials, publishers uses their papers to
curry favor with them. They cozy up to them by attacking their enemies.
In short, they are in the business not to serve the public but to serve
themselves.
That is why some owners with weak hearts jump when a President bares
his fangs in displeasure at what their newspapers report. The
Gokongweis’ are particularly faint-hearted, apologizing for a factually
correct story that is not even libelous. On the contrary, it was a story
that a true journalist should be proud for. That is why its own
journalists quit in disgust.
True journalist like to work for fighting newspapers. They like to
work for watchdogs, not lapdogs. The fighting spirit of editor and the
support given by the publisher seep through the lesser editors and
reporters, to the press crew and down to the newsboy to inspire them to
put out a proud newspaper that is not afraid of anybody.
The Washington Post achieved greatness when Publisher Katherine
Graham and her newspaper resisted threats and pressure from the most
powerful president of the world, Richard Nixon, and all his men, on the
Watergate scandal. But because of her stout heart, Graham’s Post won the
Pulitzer Prize and the respect of the world.
It takes a stout heart to publish a real newspaper. The Manila Times
missed greatness because its owners have weak hearts.
The threat to press freedom lies not in president like Joseph Estrada
and Cory Aquino who are quick to file libel complaints but in newspaper
owners who are in the business not for public service but to curry favor
with the government and to protect their businesses.
Even under dictatorships, a free press can exist if there are
publishers and journalists who are willing to fight to have a free
press. Even during the Marcos regime, there were free journalists in the
so-called ‘’crony press’’ who were able to report the truth. And the
underground press (one of which was the Inquirer) never performed
better.
The best publishers are those whose only business is newspapers. They
have to make their newspapers succeed or else they sink with them. And
the only way to succeed in the journalism industry is to make your
newspaper credible, respectable and fearless.
On the other hand, having too many newspapers with wimps as owners is
bad for press freedom, bad for democracy, and bad for the nation.
Statement of Concern on the Manila Times Case
Conveniently for the administration, last week’s events also served
as a smokescreen. The furor surrounding the apology and the subsequent
resignation of the Times editors and columnists have made readers forget
that the administration has yet to adequately respond to the charges
made in the Times exposé on a power contract. Libel is a weapon of the
aggrieved, a tool to be wielded against an abusive press. It is not
intended to be used as a veil by a government that refuses to be held
accountable for its actions. Given the fact that most media owners in
the Philippines are business families involved in a range of other
interests, the press is particularly vulnerable to government pressure
exerted on its owners. Other journalists have already warned of the
chilling effect of President Estrada’s actions. We reiterate this
warning and remind the public of their role to defend freedom of the
press. Serious journalism is in peril, thanks to President Estrada. The
ability of the press to act as watchdog, to make officials accountable,
is also threatened. The sight of a publisher prostrate before the
President does no one any good. Not Mr. Estrada, who is made to look
like a bully. Not the newspaper, which looks like it has been cowed. And
certainly not the citizens who rely on the media to tell them the truth,
no matter who gets hurt.
Signatories:
Canadian firm names franchisee
BeaverTails was recently selected by the Ontario News as Canada’s number
one specialty food franchise. It is also in the top 80 of all Canadian
franchises representing 4.5 percent of all Canadian franchises. First
introduced in the Ottawa Valley in 1976, its pastries are now served
from 26 franchise stores and dozens of national and North American sites
and special events. (Manila bulletin Online April 7, 1997)
Erap, Carter join hands to build homes for the poor
The President will join Mr. Carter in a 40-minute symbolic "build
session" in Maragondon town, where the two leaders laid down cement
blocks to form the walls of one of the houses.
Joining them in the building session were former US First Lady
Rosalyn Carter, volunteers in the Jimmy Carter Work Project 1999, and
members of two family-beneficiaries of the project.
The other volunteer builders include Millard Fuller, founder and
chairman of Habitat for Humanity; Fernando Zobel de Ayala of Ayala
Corp.; Menardo Jimenez of GMA Network Inc.; and Marixi Prieto of the
Philippine Daily Inquirer.
Likewise pitching in the build session were Leny Reyes, John Palritz,
Sandra and Roger Neilson, Glenn Miller, and Gordon Koffman.
The former US President’s housing project is in line with Mr.
Estrada’s commitment to provide decent shelter for the Filipino masses.
In the evening, the President delivered a keynote address on the
housing program during the special recognition night at the Puerto Azul
resort in Ternate, Cavite.
Mr. Carter arrived over the weekend to head some 5,000 foreign and
local volunteers in building 292 houses in five days in as many sites in
the Philippines.
Upon his arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport last
Saturday, the former President expressed confidence that the
house-building program would serve as an example for cooperation between
government and the private sector.
"We hope that this project will be beneficial and also set an example in
the Philippines and other Asian nations where government and private
organizations will help," he said.
Carter has gone around the world to build homes for low-income people.
King of Spain Accepts Credentials of Ambassador Jose Oledan
During the following "Saleta del Nuncio", the King inquired about
President Estrada’s vision for government and expressed admiration for
his concern for the poor. The King also expressed interest in the
progress of projects in RP being supported with Spanish assistance, and
in political and economic developments in ASEAN.
RP and Spain established diplomatic relations with the signing of a
Treaty of Friendship on 27 September 1947. The two countries also have
agreements on civil rights and consular prerogatives, culture, basic
technical cooperation , social security, economic and industrial
cooperation, promotion and protection of investments, political
cooperation, and financial assistance to RP, among others. Pres. Fidel
Ramos visited Spain in Sept. 1994. Their Majesties, King Juan Carlos I
and Queen Sofia reciprocated with a visit to RP in April 1995, and
returned for a second visit in February 1998 in connection with the
celebration of the Philippine centennial.
Total bilateral trade from Jan. to June 1998 amounted to
PhP94.507million. RP’s major exports to Spain are coconut,
electrical/electronic machinery, seaweeds, input/output units,
pineapple juice, rattan furniture, sports shoes and Christmas decor.
Spain’s major exports to RP are glazed ceramic flags/paving, spirits
from grapes, parts for passenger car assembly, sausage/ham casings,
flat-rolled stainless steel products, passenger cars with spark
ignition, glass frit/powder and polypropylene.
There are about 27 Spanish companies in RP. Recent joint ventures are
those of
The Spanish Government has committed to extend to RP a USD120 million
loan facility for 1997 to 1999, half in soft loans and half in export
credits. The purchase of one research vessel for the Bureau of
Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and two mapping vessels for the National
Mapping and Resource Information Authority (USD72.8 million), and the
Maritime Safety Information Project of the Department of Transportation
and Communications (USD 14 million) , are being funded under a Spanish
loan facility for 1994-1996.
There are about 32,500 Filipinos in Spain, of which 65% have resident
immigrant status.
Knights of Rizal Founded In Vienna
In welcoming the fraternity and the candidates, Philippine Ambassador
to Vienna Jose A. Zaide Jr., KCR, recalled that a former Philippine
Ambassador to Germany, Gregorio G. Abad, established a beachhead in the
European continent for the Order of the Knights of Rizal 17 years ago,
during the visit of then Supreme Commander Justice Claudio Teehankee to
Heidelberg in 1982. He said that the fraternity has since then been
used as an instrument of diplomacy by Philippine envoys to widen and
deepen Philippine bilateral relations with the rest of Europe. He also
expressed pleasure that a fraternity brother, Ambassador Victor Garcia
III, KCR, is succeeding him in Vienna this year when his tour of duty
ends. The Vienna Chapter is headed by Sir Harry Schirovsky,
distinguished author of several books on Rizal and his Austrian friend
Prof. Ferdinand Blumentritt, including "An Austrian’s Life for the
Philippines" which has been translated from German into both English and
Filipino. He expressed satisfaction that ".. finally, a chapter of the
Knights of Rizal has been founded in the country of Rizal’s best
friend".
The 36 founding members of the Vienna Chapter include Mr. Henry Genio
of the United Batanguenos of Austria; Mr. Virgilio Aguirre of the
Philippine Catholic Community; PNB Representative Jovito Cruz; Mr.
Camilo Collantes Antonio, poet; Dr. Carlito Aleta, Regional Coordinator
at the International Atomic Energy Agency; Mr. Sepp Eder, Director of
Raiffeissen Bank Piesendorf; Mr. Josef Wandling, CEO and Chairman of the
Board of Directors of Waagner-Biro; Mr. Walter Kristof, a Director of
Waagner-Biro; Prof. Alfred Radda; Dr. Egon Winkler, Vice President for
International Relations of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce; Mr. Udo
Starnegg, artist; Philippine Honorary Consuls in Austria Reinhard
Pitschmann (Voralberg), Wolfgang Rossbacher (Klagenfurt) and Friedrich
Rauchdobler (Linz); Philippine Honorary Consul to Croatia Davor Stern;
Philippine Honorary Consul to Slovenia Joze Kastelic; Ambassador
Sorayouth Prompoj of Thailand and Ambassador Gunther Gallowitsch of
Austria who both previously served as envoys to the Philippines for
their respective countries; and Ambassador Antonio Ortiz Garcia, Spanish
Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Vienna. The program
included a keynote address by Sir Leopold Maderthaner, KOR, President
of the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber (FEC); the Philippine and
Austrian National anthems by the Rizal Blumentritt Children’s Ensemble
of Magister Angelina Banke; a Maria Clara Lullabye by soprano Camille
Lopez; a reading of Rizal’s "The Philippines a Century Hence" by Marizel
Aguilar; and readings of selected stanzas of "Mi Ultimo Adios" in
Spanish, German, English and Filipino by Camilo Collantes Aquino.
The incumbent Austrian Ambassador to the Philippines, Wolfgang Jilly;
the diplomat-scholar Dr. Franz
Berner; and UNICEF artist Manuel Baldemor, who all live in the
Philippines, will also take their oaths of office as Knights of Rizal
before Supreme Commander Rogelio Quiambao in Calamba, Laguna, the
birthplace of Rizal.
Prof. Lourdes Castrillo Receives the Premio Zobel
Welcome remarks will be delivered by Don Guillermo Gomez Rivera while
Rosalinda L. Orosa will talk about the 79-year-old award. Don Alejandro
Padilla y Zobel will present the award to Castrillo.
First Woman Chinese Ambassador to RP Presents Credentials
In accepting the Ambassador’s credentials, President Estrada noted
that the two countries "have made great strides in promoting
people-to-people contacts, aside from building mutual confidence and
understanding..." He added that the Philippines has been consistent in
its adherence to the One-China principle. On the other hand, the
President said, "Despite the continued improvement in official
relations, Philippines-China ties have remained burdened since 1995 by
the Mischief Reef issue. I deeply regret this unfortunate turn of
events. Nevertheless, the Philippines desires to resolve the Mischief
Reef issue in a peaceful manner and in accordance with international
law, in particular UNCLOS. We are pleased that China, pending the
resolution of our conflicting claims, has agreed to establish three
working groups on the South China Sea. We hope that these will build
mutual trust and confidence."
Prior to promotion and assignment in Manila, Ambassador Fu was
Minister Counsellor at the Chinese Embassy in Indonesia. In the Foreign
Ministry, she served mostly in the Asiann Affairs Dept. She also served
with the UN Transitional Authority in Cambodia and Chinese Embassy in
Romania. Madam Fu was born in China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous
Region. She is a graduate of Kent University in the United Kingdom.
The Philippines and China established diplomatic relations in 1975.
Under a Cultural Agreement and a Scientific and Technological
Cooperation Agreement, exchanges and cooperation between the two
countries are very extensive. On the other hand, the challenge is great
towards achieving the desired substantial growth in trade and economic
cooperation. The balance of trade since 1981 has continued to be in
China’s favor, and the Philippines also lags behind many of its ASEAN
neighbors in terms of volume of trade with China.
Despite signing a Code of Conduct in the South China Sea in 1995 on
how to manage their conflicting claims, relations between the two
countries have been strained in the last few years due to
Chinese-initiated changes in the status quo in the area, including the
building of structures on Mischief Reef. As agreed between President
Estrada and Chinese President Jiang Zemin at the sidelines of the APEC
Leaders’ Summit in Kuala Lumpur in November 1998, the first RP-China
Experts’ Group Meeting on Confidence-Building Measures was held in
Manila on 22-23 March. The two sides reiterated their commitmen to work
for a settlement through friendly consultations, to settle the dispute
in accordance with generally-held principles of international law
including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and to
refrain from the threat or use of force.
RP Consular Notes
"SEC. 5 The Foreign Investments Act is further amended by inserting a
new section designated as Section 10 to read as follows:
"SEC. 10. Other Rights of Natural Born Citizen Pursuant to the
Provisions of Article XII, Section 8 of the Constitution. – Any natural
born citizen who has lost his Philippine citizenship and who has the
legal capacity to enter into a contract under the Philippine laws may be
a transferee of a private land up to a maximum area of five thousand
(5,000) square meters in the case of urban land or three (3) hectares in
the case of rural land to be used by him for business or other purposes.
In the case of married couples, one of them may avail of the privilege
herein granted: Provided, That if both shall avail of the same, the
total area acquired shall not exceed the maximum herein fixed.
"In case the transferee already owns urban land or rural land for
business or other purposes, he shall still be entitled to be a
transferee of additional urban or rural land for business or other
purposes which when added to those already owned by him shall not exceed
the maximum areas herein authorized.
"A transferee under this Act may acquire not more than two (2) lots
which should be situated in different municipalities or cities anywhere
in the Philippines: Provided, That that the total land area thereof
shall not exceed five thousand (5,000) square meters in the case of
urban land or three (3) hectares in the case of rural land for use by
him for business of other purposes. A transferee who has already
acquired urban land shall be disqualified from acquiring rural land and
vice versa."
Also quoted herewith are the additional requirements for registration of
ownership of the aforesaid land as published by the Commission on
Filipino Overseas in its Handbook for Filipinos Overseas:
"In addition to the requirements provided for in other laws for the
registration of titles to lands, the transferee will have to submit to
the Register of Deeds of the province or city, where the property is
located, a sworn statement showing the following information: date and
place of birth; names and addresses of parents, of spouse and children;
area, location, and mode of acquisition of landholding in the
Philippines, if any; intention to reside permanently in the Philippines;
date he lost his Philippine citizenship; and country which he is
presently a citizen."
RP Consular Notes
RP Consular Notes
For a stay in the Philippines for more than 21 days, Canadians may
apply for a 59-day tourist visa, valid for a single entry.
Following are the requirements:
Applicants visiting for business must bring all the requirements
mentioned, plus a letter or document identifying the applicant as a bona
fide businessman or letter of invitation to a business meeting,
conference or convention.
"Former Filipino citizens do not need a visa. Please see balikbayan
stamp. "
For Minors aged 14 and below travelling to the Philippines
unaccompanied by a Parent, an application for Waiver of Exclusion Ground
is required.
Former Filipino citizens and their family members travelling together
may enter the Philippines without need of a visa for a maximum stay of
one (1) year.
The Canadian passports of the Former Filipino and his/her family shall
be submitted to the Consulate for issuance of the balikbayan stamp. The
stamp is FREE.
Former Filipino citizens applying for the Balikbayan Stamp must present
proof
of former Philippine citizenship
Family members of former Filipino citizens must present any of the
following :
For more information, call (416) 922-7181 ext. 21.
Overseas Filipino workers who need assistance on matters concerning
employment may call the Office of the Labor Representative in Toronto at
(416) 975-8252 .
Filipinos living in cities outside Toronto may refer to list of
Philippine posts in Canada for the nearest embassy or consulate general
near them.
PHILIPPINE EMBASSY, OTTAWA
PHILIPPINE CONSULATE GENERAL, TORONTO
Romeo A. Young, Labor Representative and Consular Agent
PHILIPPINE CONSULATE GENERAL, VANCOUVER
Philippine Honorary Consuls General & Consul in Canada
Montreal
Winnipeg
Edmonton
RP Consular Notes
Philippine passport (for Filipino citizens), Canadian citizenship card
or Canadian passport (for Canadian citizens) should be presented as
proof of identification.
If an individual who executed the document within the province of
Ontario is unable to appear personally at the Consulate General, the
document should be notarized by a notary public appointed in Ontario and
authenticated by the Office of Management Board Secretariat located at
17th Floor, 25 Grosvenor Street, George Drew Building, Toronto, Ontario,
Tel no. (416) 325-8416. The authenticated document should then be
submitted to the Consulate General for final authentication.
In case the document is executed by a resident of Manitoba and notarized
by a notary public appointed in Manitoba, the said document should be
submitted for authentication by the Office of Consumer and Corporate
Affairs of Manitoba located at 10th Floor, Rm. 1034, at 405 Broadway,
Winnipeg, Manitoba R3C 3L6. The authenticated document should then be
submitted to the Consulate General for final authentication.
In case the document is executed by a resident and notarized by a
notary public appointed in Saskatchewan, the said document should be
submitted for authentication by the Office of the Lieutenant Governor of
Saskatchewan with office address at Government House 4607 Dewdney
Avenue, Regina, Saskatchewan S4P 3V7. The authenticated document should
then be submitted to the Consulate General for final authentication.
Authentication fee is Cdn$31.00 per document, payable in cash, money
order or certified check addressed to the Philippine Consulate General.
For NBI Clearance, applicant must submit fingerprints taken by
Fingerprinting offices duly accredited by RCMP and one passport-size
photo.
Civil Registration
Births
Deaths
For more information about reporting deaths or shipment of remains to
the Philippines, call (416) 922-7181 ext. 22.
Collection of Income Tax
For questions on income tax, contact Mr. Robert Ramos at (416) 922-7181
GENERAL INFORMATION ON DONATIONS TO THE PHILIPPINES
2. WHAT CAN BE DONATED?
3. WHO CAN RECEIVE DONATIONS FROM ABROAD?
4. WHAT ARE THE DOCUMENTS REQUIRED TO AVAIL OF DUTY-FREE ENTRY OF
DONATIONS?
5. WHAT ARE THE OBLIGATIONS OF QUALIFIED BENEFICIARIES OR RECIPIENT
ORGANIZATIONS?
SHIPMENT OF DONATION
STEP 2
STEP 3
STEP 4
STEP 5
STEP 6
Processing of Donations
STEP 8
STEP 9
STEP 10
Monitoring
STEP 12
RP PROVINCIAL NEWS
Ambassador Yushita and his party expressed their admiration for the
province, citing it as a potential investment destination for Japanese
businessmen.
In a related move, the Japan Foundation voiced interest in taking
part in development projects in the province. The Japan Foundation
(Kokusai Koryu Kikin) was founded in 1972 to promote international
understanding through the promotion of cultural exchange between Japan
and other countries. The Foundation operates on income from endowment,
annual grants from the Japanese Government, and donations from the
private sector.
Leyte officials showed visitors the proposed Peace Museum which will
rise beside the MacArthur Memorial Shrine in Candahug, Palo. Through the
project, the province hopes to immortalize the valor and virtues of the
heroes of Leyte. The Museum will house weaponry used in World War II, a
souvenirshop, recreation center, and leisure area.
(Posted by: leyte@lprov.phil.gn.apc.org )
By Martin P. Marfil
Philippine Daily Inquirer
AS though in exchange for the front-page apology run by The Manila
Times in its issue yesterday, President Estrada announced that he would
withdraw his P101-million libel suit against the newspaper. Six editors
of the Times, including editor in chief Ma. Lourdes Mangahas, resigned
Wednesday night in protest over the apology.
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By Neal H. Cruz
Philippine Daily Inquirer
THE PUBLIC apology to President Estrada by The Manila Times which so
angered and shamed many of its editors, columnists and reporters that
they resigned focuses attention on two anomalies in Philippine
journalism. One is the ownership of many new papers by businessmen and
politicians who use their newspapers not for public service but to exert
influence on the government and to protect their other businesses. The
other is the proliferation of former and incumbent government officials
and politicians masquerading as editorial columnists in newspapers and
as commentators and talk show hosts on radio and television.
(April 14, 1999)
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WE are alarmed by the early and obvious attempts of the Estrada
administration to neutralize and muzzle a critical press. Barely a year
in office, Mr. Estrada has already demanded an apology from a national
newspaper that published a story about possible irregularities committed
in the presidential palace. In exchange for dropping a libel suit
against the Manila Times, Mr. Estrada extracted an apology from the
Gokongwei family, currently the proprietors of the country’s oldest
newspaper. The family caved in to presidential pressure apparently to
preserve their other business interests from government intervention.
Such pressure is a crude and unconscionable way of demanding
acquiescence. Government power should be used to ensure a level playing
field for business, not to get press proprietors to do the President’s
bidding.
Ateneo Center for Social Policy and Public Affairs (ACSPPA)
Bienvenido N. Santos Creative Writing and Research Center Bandillo ng Palawan
Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR)
College Editors Guild of the Philippines
Communications Department, Ateneo de Manila University
Concerned Faculty Members of De La Salle University
Concerned Faculty Members, College of Mass
Communication, UP-Diliman
Initiatives for International Dialogue
Institute for Popular Democracy (IPD)
Kapisanan ng mga Manggagawa sa Midya ng Pilipinas (KAMMPI)
Manila Critics Circle
Metro Media Times Employees Union
National Center for Philippine Media
Policy Review and Editorial Support Services (PRESS)
Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ)
Philippine Daily Inquirer Employees’ Union
Philippine Journalism Review
The Probe Team
(Editor’s note: The foregoing statement of concern was posted by the
PHILIPPINE CENTER FOR INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM ( PCIJ Online) Copyright
© 1998 All rights reserved.
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Beaver Tails Canada, one of Canada’s largest specialty food chain
companies, is set to firm up its Philippine business venture through its
master franchising company, the BeaverTails Fund Foods Development Corp.
This was disclosed by Grant Hooker, owner and president of BeaverTails
Canada Inc., who arrived in Manila yesterday. The Philippine venture is
a partnership with the Siggaoat family which owns Manel’s, one of the
country’s largest manufacturers of footwear and other leather products.
Nelia Siggaoat, chairman of BeaverTails Fun Foods Development Corp. and
BeaverTails Fun Food Stores Inc., said that the first pastry store will
open at the Glorietta next month.
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President Joseph "Erap" Ejercito Estrada linked hands April 5 with
former US President Jimmy Carter in building homes for the poor in
Cavite.
(Ops News network April 5, 1999)
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His Majesty, King Juan Carlos I of Spain, accepted the credentials of
H.E. Jose Oledan as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the
Philippines at the Royal Palace in Madrid on 11 March 1999.
Present during the occasion were Ambassador Jose Luis de la Pena,
Introducer of Ambassadors; Mr. Javier Vallaure, Deputy Director General
for the Pacific of the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and officers
of the Philippine Embassy in Madrid.
1) BCDA with a Spanish consortium of four companies for the construction
of an 87-km. railway system between Manila and the proposed Clark
international airport;
2) Meralco with Union Fenosa; 3) San Miguel Corporation with Conservera
Campofrio and Chemphil with Perfumeria Gal.
(DFA Press Release 24 March 1999)
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Prominent Filipinos, leading Austrian citizens, and foreign diplomats
were inducted as Knights of Rizal (KOR) at the Old City Hall of Vienna
on 15 February 1999, becoming founding members of the Vienna Chapter of
the Order of the Knights of Rizal. Sir Alexander Mushake, KGCR, the
fraternity’s Overall Coordinator in Europe, Sir Carlos Benitez, KCR,
Area Commander for Europe, and Sir Celso Lacuna, KCR, Executive Officer
for Europe, established the Vienna Chapter on authority of the Supreme
Commander of the Order of the Knights of Rizal, Sir Rogelio Quiambao
Jr., KGCR.
(DFA Press Release 25 February 1999)
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MANILA -Don Ricardo Padilla y Satrustegui and his daughter and son
Georgia and Alejandro Padilla y Zobel, grandchildren of Don Enrique
Zobel de Ayala, will bestow the 1999 Premio Zobel to Prof. Lourdes
Castrillo de Brillantes during rites at the Sky Top of the
Inter-Continental in Makati City at 6 p.m. tonight. Alejandro Padilla
said Castrillo was cited for her involvement in the arts and cultural
ties between the Philippines and Spain. The Premio Zobel was founded by
the late Don Enrique Zobel de Ayala on July 25, 1920. Castrillo is a
professor of Spanish language and translator courses in the College of
European Languages, College of Arts and Letters at the University of the
Philippines. Fr. Jose S. Arcilla, S.J. will be the guest of honor.
(Manila Bulletin Online, April 14, 1999)
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The first woman Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the
People’s Republic of China to the Philippines, H.E. Madam Fu Ying,
presented her credentials to President Estrada today.
In her presentation speech, Ambassador Fu pledged, " I will exert my
efforts for the development of the friendly relations and cooperation
between China and the Philippines and the enhancement of the traditional
friendship between our peoples". She said, "I believe that, with the
concerted efforts by the two Governments and peoples, our two countries
will surely be able to establish a cross-century long-term stable
cooperative relationship of good neighborliness and trust."
(DFA Press Release 25 March 1999)
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Ownership of land in the Philippines by former Filipinos
For the information and guidance of Canadian citizens who are formerly
citizens of the Philippines, quoted herewith are pertinent provisions of
Sec. 5 of Republic Act No. 8179 concerning ownership of land in the
Philippines by natural born Filipinos who lose their Philippine
citizenship pursuant to the provisions of Article XII, Section 8 of the
Philippine Constitution:
Source: Consulate General of the Philippines, Toronto
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Issuance of Passport
All applications for passport services, should be filed personally by
the applicant. The following are requirements:
A duly accomplished application form available at the Consulate General;
The passport fee is Cdn$93.00, payable in cash, money order or certified
check.
For passport amendments, replacement of lost passport, passport
application for new-born infants, passport applicants with discrepancies
in name, date, and place of birth, call (416) 922-7181 ext. 31.
Please comment or e-mail us for Passport inquiries:
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Issuance of Visa
Canadian passport holders wanting to visit the Philippines and staying
less than 21 days do not need a visa. A valid passport and a round-trip
plane ticket must be presented to the immigration authorities upon
arrival in the Philippines.
Duly accomplished visa form is available at the Consulate General and
one passport-size photo; and
Application should be filed in person, otherwise, it should be notarized
by a notary public.
His Excellency Francisco L. Benedicto, Ambassador
130 Albert Street, Suite 606
Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5G4
Tel. (613) 233-1121
Fax (613) 233-4165
Olivia V. Palala, Charge’d Affaires, a.i.
Sylvia M. Marasigan, Vice Consul
151 Bloor Street West, Suite 455, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1S4
TRADE OFFICE
Ma. Cynthia B. Ricafort, Trade Representative and Consular Agent
94 Cumberland Street, Suite 905
Toronto, Ontario M5R 1A3
Tel. (416) 967-1788
Fax (416) 967-6236
Mr. Bayani S. Mercado, Charge’d Affaires, a.i.
470-301 Granville Street
Vancouver, British Columbia V4C 1V5
Tel. (604) 685-7645, 685-1619, 685-8576
Fax (604) 685-9945
Erlinda V. Quintos
Honorary Consul General
1418, rue Notre-Dame Ouest
Montreal, Quebec H3C 1K8
Tel. (514) 938-3849
Fax (514) 934-2346
Dr. Rolando Guzman
Honorary Consul General
Philippine Center
88 Juno Street
Winnipeg, Manitoba R3A 1J1
Hm (204) 889-4559
Fax (204) 889-4638/ (204) 235-3423
Victoriano Cui
Honorary Consul
8458-182 Street
Edmonton, Alberta T5T 1Y7
Tel. (403) 444-5743/ 457-0086
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Notarial and Other Legal Services
Any individual who executes an affidavit or other documents requiring
oath or any person who executes legal document, such as power of
attorney, deed or other writings acknowledged before a notary public
shall appear personally at the Consulate General, if the document is to
be used in the Philippines.
For recording of births abroad of children born to Filipino parent(s),
the following are required:
Copy of certificate of live birth;
Valid passport of parent
For recording deaths of Filipino nationals abroad, the following are
required:
Copy of Death Certificate;
Passport of the deceased;
A duly accomplished form (Report of Death of Philippine Citizen)
available at the Consulate General
All Filipino overseas contract workers and permanent residents abroad
must file a Philippine income tax return for income derived within the
Philippines only. The income tax return should be filed and taxes, if
any, may be paid at the Philippine Consulate General on or before the
15th day of April following the year when the income was earned.
The following are required in filing the income tax return.
1. WHO CAN DONATE?
Any individual, group, or organization abroad can send donations to the
Philippines.
To avail of duty-free entry of donations, however, there are certain
conditions and requirements that have to be complied with under existing
rules and regulations governing the importation of donations. There are
specific items which may be allowed duty-free entry, as there are
organizations/ entities in the Philippines that are allowed to receive
donations on a duty-free basis.
Goods or items which may be allowed duty-free entry by the Philippine
government are the following:
Food items and non-food commodities for relief dispensing organizations;
Medicines and medical supplies/ equipment;
Books and other educational, scientific, or cultural materials;
Essential machinery and equipment, including spare parts and accessories
thereof;
Essential consumer goods not available locally in times of calamities
and/ or fortuitous events; and Other articles in the interest of
economic development, not included in the list of prohibited/ contraband
and restricted/ regulated items issued by government agencies concerned
subject to certain conditions.
The following agencies/ entities/ institutions in the Philippines may
receive donations on a duty-free basis:
Non-profit, welfare, religious, and charitable organizations which are
registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission and duly
licensed/ accredited by the Department of Social Welfare and Development
(DSWD), as provided for in Section 105 (1) of the Tariff and Customs
Code of the Philippines;
Educational institutions accredited by the Department of Education,
Culture and Sports (DECS) that are enjoying tax incentives under
Department of Finance (DOF) Order No. 137-87;
Educational, scientific, and cultural institutions or societies, and
similar organizations duly approved by competent authorities such as
DECS and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization (UNESCO) National Commission of the Philippines;
Other non-profit religious and charitable institutions (except civic/
service/ cultural and scientific organizations), duly registered primary
and secondary hospitals upon recommendation by the National Economic and
Development Authority (NEDA); and Other organizations covered by
bilateral or international agreements to which the Philippines is a
signatory, and by Presidential decrees and other special laws.
Government agencies including local government units may also receive
donations, in cash or in kind, from foreign sources for purposes
relevant to their functions. The acceptance of donations from foreign
governments is, however, subject to prior clearance and approval of the
President of the Philippines upon recommendation of the Secretary of
Foreign Affairs (General Provisions of the General appropriations Act).
Taxes and customs duties to be paid by government agencies on this
importation will be subject to automatic appropriations (General
Provisions of the General Appropriations Act).
NOTE:
Other organizations not licensed or accredited by DSWD, Department of
Health (DOH), and DECS may also receive donations but they will be
required to pay customs duties and taxes. .
All importations of donated articles are subject to the payment of the
of Value-Added Tax (VAT) unless expressly exempt from such imposition
Under Title IV, Chapter I, Section 1 of the VAT law. The VAT is
Equivalent to about 10% of the landed cost of the shipment.
The documents required prior to the issuance of duty-free certification
by government agencies concerned are the following:
>From the Donor:
Deed of donation duly authenticated by the Philippine Embassy/
Consulate;
Pro-forma or commercial invoice and packing list/ inventory of donated
items; and Shipping documents (bill of lading/ airway bill).
>From the Donee:
Letter of request to agencies concerned for duty-free certification;
Notarized deed of acceptance and distribution plan of the recipient
Endorsed by the DSWD Regional Office where the NGO is based, if the
recipient endorsed by the DSWD Regional Office where the NGO is based,
if the recipient is a DSWD-accredited or licensed NGO. Other documents
may be requested depending on the nature of donated articles.
The recipient organization is usually expected to shoulder the cost of
the following:
Shipment cost from port of origin to port of entry.
Arrastre and wharfage charges.
Storage fees for donated goods kept at the storage area (i.e., NAIA
Cargo Terminal, Manila International Container Port, South Harbor) while
awaiting release from the custody of the Bureau of Customs, if the cargo
is not withdrawn within seven (7) working days. Demurrage fees (being
charged by the shipping lines) for the use of the containers/ vans, if
the cargo is not withdrawn within seven to ten (7-10) working days
depending on the policy of the shipping agency.
Trucking fees to transport cargo from the container yard to the
recipient/ consignee’s warehouse.
Customs brokerage fees, if services of a customs broker or a brokerage
firm is availed of.
NOTE:
If the recipient is not in a financial position to defray the
aforementioned fees, the donor should be made aware that other fees/
charges will be collected on the donations upon arrival of the shipment
in the Philippines.
STEP 1
Prospective donors who intend to ship goods/ articles/ equipment must
inform the nearest Philippine Embassy/ Consulate of their intention to
donate. The donor will need to provide the Embassy/ Consulate with a
complete list of items to be donated, the name of donee/ recipient
organization, complete address and telephone number of the recipient and
the contact person in the Philippines.
The Philippine Embassy/ Consulate will refer prospective donations to
the CFO, which will make appropriate arrangements with the relevant
agencies in the Philippines.
Upon receipt of the notice of an intent to donate from the Philippine
Embassy/ Consulate, the CFO will coordinate with government agencies
concerned, and the designated beneficiary to determine if the intended
donations are eligible for duty-free entry and if the intended
beneficiary is allowed or accredited to accept donations. The CFO will
inform the Philippine Embassy/ Consulate about the requirements and
obligations in connection with the intended donation.
The Philippine Embassy/ Consulate concerned will advise the donor about
the eligibility of the intended donations, and the requirements for
duty-free entry. If the donor decides to ship the donations, the
Philippine Embassy/ Consulate authenticates the Deed of Donation.
Shipment of Donation
To allow sufficient time for the processing of the donation, the donor
must send copies of the required documents to the recipient at least 2-3
weeks prior to the arrival of the shipment in the Philippines.
The donor must send original copies of the following documents to the
recipient before the date of arrival of the shipment to the Philippines:
Deed of donation duly authenticated by the Philippine Embassy/ Consulate
Pro-forma or commercial invoice and packing list (inventory of donated
items); and Shipping documents (bill of lading/ airway bill).
The donor must ensure that the name of consignee is identical in both
deed of donation and shipping documents. More importantly, the donor
must see to it that the donated shipment contains only the items in the
packing list. These measures will avoid cause for problems in the
processing of the donation.
The donor must send in advance copies of the required documents to the
recipient to allow a lead time in requesting pertinent agencies for
duty-free endorsements/ clearances. The donor may send advance copies of
the aforementioned documents to the CFO through the Philippine Embassy/
Consulate for purposes of coordination. The original documents should be
received by the beneficiary or consignee not later than the date of
arrival of the shipment in the Philippines.
Upon receipt of the advance copies of required documents from the donor,
the recipient will be advised to coordinate with appropriate agencies
and submit required documents.
The recipient must monitor the arrival of the shipment by coordinating
with the shipping by coordinating with the shipping agency. The shipping
agency will usually send an arrival notice to the consignee.
STEP 7
Upon receipt of the request of the consignee for duty-free importation,
the agency concerned (DSWD, DECS, or NEDA) will recommend to the
Department of Finance (DOF) that the importation be exempted from
customs duties, if deemed meritorious. These agencies can also recommend
denial of the request for exemption from duties and taxes if the
donation does not satisfy the policy guidelines in the applicable rules
and regulations. The maximum processing time of requests for duty-free
importation is about 2-3 working days.
Upon endorsement of the appropriate agency for duty-free certification,
the DOF will issue a clearance and will forward this document to the
Central Records Division, Bureau of Customs (BOC) through its official
messenger. A duplicate copy of the DOF clearance may be obtained by the
consignee from DOF.
The Tax Exempt Division of the BOC will endorse the release of donation
and will forward this document to the Informal Entry Division of the BOC
district office concerned (South Harbor, MIPC, NAIA, etc.) The Informal
Entry Division checks/ verifies, appraises and examines the donated
shipment.
After the consignee complies with all the documentation and pays the
fees and charges (such as arrastre, wharfage, VAT, etc.), the Bureau of
Customs will release the shipment to the consignee in the presence of
representatives from DSWD and the Economic Intelligence and
Investigation Bureau who will escort the donation to the designated
warehouse of consignee.
Processing of donations at the BOC usually takes two to three (2-3)
working days (assuming all requirements are complied with). The
recipient may also avail of the services of a brokerage firm in
processing the release of the donated shipment. It should be noted that
tax obligations on imported donations refer to two (2) government
requirements namely:
a. Customs duty under the Tariff and Customs Code; and
b. Internal revenue taxes (VAT) under the National Internal Revenue
Code.
Further, the Customs Code provides that in order for articles to be
exempted from customs duty, the donation must be for charitable
purposes, i.e., relief goods. In the case of donated goods authorized
under NEDA Guidelines, the nature of the articles being donated and the
prospective donee thereof will be the determining factors in the grant
of duty exemption. As a matter of procedure, NEDA would nonetheless
recommend the proper action to take on importation of donations brought
to its attention.
STEP 11
Upon release at the Bureau of Customs, the recipient will conduct an
inventory of the donated shipment. An inventory report will be a part of
the documents to be submitted to the government agencies concerned and
to the donor.
The CFO, upon the request of the Philippine Embassy/ Consulate or the
donor, will prepare a monitoring report on the donation, and provide
feedback to the donor on the utilization of donated resources.
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LEYTE, JAPAN TIE UP FOR CULTURAL PROMOTIONS
Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Hiroyuki Yushita along with
other officials of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)
were in Leyte recently for a two day tour of scenic spots in Ormoc and
Tacloban and of projects funded by the Japanese government. Provincial
officials acquainted the guests with a profile of the province with
focus on the economy, tourism industry, education and challenges facing
the province. Presented were the Day Care Centers and the Amihan Cebu
Woodlands Township project in San Isidro and Calubian, Leyte which has a
total land area of 2,266.81 hectares.
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