U-Belt Snobs Smoke-free Manila Efforts

by Alyosha Robillos

CARE FOR a smoke? Despite the increasing number of laws that support the worldwide anti-tobacco campaign, the nearest cigarette stand is always just a few meters away from the gates of any university.

“Smoking depends on the discipline of a person. If someone has self-discipline then everything else follows. Even if they ask us to go away and stop selling cigarettes, someone will just replace us and the students might even bring their own packs so it defeats the purpose of making us go away and cease our trade,” said Rina Torres, a cigarette vendor in Dapitan.

Her family is often seen taking turns in watching their stand but she says that no one in her family has had a cigarette stick in their entire lives. Despite her rants about students who smoke too much, she stresses on having self-discipline and self-control. She also explains how these students have parents who should be guiding their children in developing good habits the way that she has reared her children to become non-smokers.


“Tobacco use is the second cause of death globally (after hypertension) and is currently responsible for killing 1 in 10 adults worldwide. It is an epidemic, but a preventable one,” said the WHO last May 31 during the celebration of World No Tobacco Day after the results of the latest Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) were released.


Apparently, tobacco use is a growing problem not only in the country but in the entire world, especially among the youth.


The GATS was one of the main projects of WHO when they initiated their Tobacco Control and Anti-Smoking Campaigns which eventually lead to the Tobacco Control Act of 2003 in the Philippines. To be able to provide comparable data regarding global smoking habits and trends, the WHO together with the Department of Health and the National Statistics Office, executed the survey. Technical support and assistance was also provided by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Despite these efforts, the number of daily smokers has increased and is still increasing up to date.


“With 17.3 million adult current smokers, 80% of who are current daily smokers, it is critical that our government places a priority on strong tobacco control legislation and action,” said Dr. Esperanza Cabral, Secretary of Health in the statement of policy implementations of the 2009 GATS results.


The alarming thing about this is that the survey covers “adults” aged 15 and above, which means that the youth nowadays are starting to develop habits that are fatal in the long run as early as 15 years old.

She added that, “we join the international health community in calling for action and effective implementation of the international tobacco control treaty to reduce the deadly health and economic impacts of tobacco.”


The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) was given a grant amounting to 9.5 million pesos by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, owner of Bloomberg Philanthropies, to help the spread anti-tobacco campaign. The International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease signed a deal with the MMDA, funding the program which aims to have a smoke-free Metro Manila by 2012.


Local authorities have also done their part in implementing policies that will support this program.


The Department of Education has issued a smoking ban in all public schools before the school year started. This has slowly crept its way to private institutions as well.


Recently, the smoking ban has been issued to all public vehicles seeing that most jeepney and tricycle drivers often smoke while on the job.


The DOH also ordered the use of packaging and labeling as a means of smoking prevention as the youth are more sensitive and respond more to visual aids as compared to written and oral warnings, thus giving birth to more widespread anti-smoking commercials and other forms of advertisements.


Even the Muslim community has taken extreme measures in dealing with the global crisis. The Supreme Council of Darul Ifta has issued a “fatwa” or religious ruling that prohibit Muslims in the Philippines from all kinds of tobacco use and trade. Headed by Grand Sheikh Omar Pasigan, the supreme council’s ruling was held in high regard by the DOH and advocates of a tobacco-free Philippines. If Mecca and Medina in Saudi Arabia were declared tobacco-free in 2002, then perhaps Manila can achieve the same by 2012.


Universities have also stepped up to the challenge by shooing away street vendors and sidewalk stalls that showcase all sorts of cigarettes near their premises. These stands even sell electric cigarettes which are slowly gaining popularity after giving people the misconception that it is a device that will help smokers eventually quit smoking. Convenient stores near the campuses of universities in Manila have also stopped selling cigarettes.


Although this was implemented, some of the stands have returned to their previous spots, as if nothing happened.

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Policemen collect ‘extraneous’ funds from street vendors

By Erika Denise Dizon and Alyosha Robillos

ST. JUDE PARISH—police do their rounds in herding away street vendors that loiter around the area but allow them to remain for a measly amount.

For some people in the Philippine labor force’s informal sector which is mainly composed of street vendors, home-based workers, “pedicab” drivers, non-corporate construction workers and other own-account employees, everyday is tariff day.

“For me to be able stay here and sell my merchandise, I pay the police 10 to 20 pesos every Thursday,” revealed Aracelie Ramos, a vendor of religious items stationed across La Consolacion University.

Ramos is not the only one the police have victimized. In fact, most vendors would also hand over money on a regular basis to prevent the officers from confiscating items on display, while others admitted to hiding whenever the police were around.

“Every time a raid would happen, I would have to shell out around 100 pesos just to keep my things,” kwek-kwek and fishballs vendor Alec Samson unveiled.

Samson narrated the time his wooden cart used for cooking was taken away from him after an unanticipated storming. “I had to beg for my frying pan back,” he said.

It seems that higher earning street vendors pay a lot more than their small time neighbors since the police could confiscate anything without restriction and vendors with higher incomes could give more.

In 2009, the Bureau of Labor and Employment Statistics (BLES) proved that more than half of the country’s 33 million workforce was underemployed. Unfortunately, the informal sector still remained a big chunk of the labor force in the first quarter of 2010, the Labor Force Survey (LRS) showed.

In July this year, according to the LRS, the labor force was estimated to 39 million, 64 percent of the projected 60 million Filipinos above the age of 15. Out of this total, 34.8 percent was listed under the own-account workers category, pointing out that more than half of the Philippine labor force remains to be underemployed.

People like Ramos understand the government’s need to control unlicensed commerce but she and her co-vendors believe that there is still room for compromise.

“I earn an honest living. I don’t steal, unlike the policemen who come here. I’m willing to get a permit but I don’t have the means and offices, in general, don’t mind people without money. This is why we have the government. They should be looking into this,” Ramos said.

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Student dormitories face inspection

by Francesca Osorio

DORMITORIES, boarding houses, rooms-for-rent and allied businesses in the university belt area were checked by Manila’s city administrator to ensure that they operate with sanitary, fire and other safety laws and ordinances.

City Administrator Jesus Marzan conducted inspections in all dormitories, boarding houses, rooms-for-rent and allied businesses pursuant to Executive Order No. 7 of July 2007.

Marzan, chairman of the committee, said that more than 50 dormitories have already been inspected this year in preparation for the school opening and closed down eight of them--- located at the University belt for infractions to rules and regulations and lack of operational requirements.

He said that most of those of those closed did not have the required Mayor’s permit and business license that specify the number of persons permitted to dwell or board in such boarding houses or dormitory.

Other problems were fire traps, had no sanitary permit, no fire clearance, and renovation permit. There were also dormitories with mixed tenants or having both girls and boys in one room or in the same dorm.

“There are dormitories not conducive for the students as they are congested or do not have exhaust areas or windows,” he said.

City Ordinance No. 4765 is an ordinance prescribing rules and regulations for the operation and maintenance of dormitories and boarding houses in the City of Manila.

In such ordinance, dorms and boarding houses are classified from Class A to D based on number of boarders accommodated. Under the same, basic requirements for operating dorms must be met, such as the Mayor’s permit and business license, Fire safety inspection certificate, certificate of Final Inspection (current year), sanitary permit, certificate of Annual Building Inspection, sufficient garbage disposal facilities, personal accident insurance, and a No Smoking Sign must be posted.

Marzan said the inspected dorms which have violated the rules and regulations have seven working days to comply.

Under Section 23 of the above ordinance mentioned, the permit to operate of any violator will be revoked by the Mayor after being given due notice (1st, 2nd, and final notices).

“This is for the safety and welfare of all the students and even those working people who are living in dormitories and boarding houses,” Marzan stressed.

As for the students currently living in the dorms which have been closed or those for closure, the city will give them referrals to other dormitories that have passed the inspections.

The city also called for the vigilance of the students and lessees to report any dorms and boarding houses which violate current requirements. He also said the city will conduct inspections of the different canteens (carinderia) and eatery on the side roads and within school vicinities.

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Student swindled by men posing as frat men

By Don Joseph Dejaresco

A 21-year old student was conned by 3 men who claimed to be members of the Alpha Phi Omega (APO) fraternity which led to the victim’s loss of valuables and cash amounting to 18,000 pesos.

The victim, Marlon (not his real name) left his backpack containing his valuables with one of the suspects after he obliged on helping the perpetrators who claimed they were in a midst of a frat conflict.

According to a police report filed September 16, 2010, Marlon only realized that he was swindled when the suspects had already fled with the stolen cash and gadgets toward Quiapo as pointed out by witnesses.

Marlon was walking along Espana Blvd. cornering Blumentritt in Sampaloc at around 4:30 PM when one of the suspects who introduced himself to the former as Gary approached him.

Gary with his two companions had convinced the victim on joining their alleged defense against rival fraternity members. He was made to wait at an eatery while the two suspects went ahead and his belongings left with the other who stayed at where they first met.

After waiting a while Marlon realized that the suspects were already gone. Bystanders said that the trio ran toward the church in Quiapo.

The victim’s bag contained a mobile phone worth 10,000; a digital camera worth 7,000; and 900 pesos in cash.

Similar incidents had already been reported in the same area according to the police.

Daryl Biscocho, 20, narrated the same kind of hoodwinking in the vicinity but was foiled when he ran toward a gate at the University of Santo Tomas where a security guard was present.

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President Aquino’s 100th day in Malacaňan showered protests from farmer groups

by Pamela Cabrera

MENDIOLA, MANILA – Despite the vows by President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III to farmers, a revolutionary group of farmers rallied outside the Mendiola Peace Arch last October 6 in celebration with President Aquino’s 100th day on service.

On their 98th day of insurgency, Katipunan ng mga Samahang Magbubukid sa Timog Katagalugan (KASAMA-TK/KMP) together with the Anak-Pawis Partylist voiced their sentiments that in the span of 100 days in the Presidential seat, President Aquino haven’t done any significant changes in accordance to his promises from election to inauguration. As well as the approval of the Genuine Agrarian Reform Bill for the benefit of every farmer in the Philippines.

However in almost 100 days of assembly for their pleas to the government, no response came from President Aquino and his officials. The only answer they’ve got in the government was demolition, dispersals and harassments especially from the police force.

“We will not stop, until we are heard,” one of the members from the KASAMA-TK said in Tagalog regarding the further actions their group will do to for the government to give attention to their sentiments as farmers. Where in fact President Aquino pointed out his intentions in his speeches that he will be giving more importance to the people especially to the farmers.”This is just a start,” he added.

Furthermore, KASAMA-TK also seeks justice to the killings of their co-farmers in Hacienda Luisita and the harassment by government officials and law enforcer.

"Kano ang boss ko, hindi ‘kayo’ ang boss ko,” KASAMA-TK declared about the actions President Aquino did for 100 days, wherein he strengthened the foreign relations of the Philippines with the United State in which last September 24 he went to U.S. to meet with President Barack Obama for the Second US-ASEAN (Association of South-East Asian Nation) Leaders Meeting in New York instead of giving immediate response to the sentiments of the farmers.

Commotion with the force
Later in the afternoon, Manila Police district asked the activists to pack up their things and just come back tomorrow if they wish to continue with their protest. However the negotiation went quite a long time until the police were forced to drag them away in the evening.

The police advised the protesters to go to a nearby place like the Bustillos church in which they usually do every rally. But the activists refrained from going somewhere and asked the police force if they could stay outside the arch until the next wherein it’s their last day of remonstration.

“Yes, it is their freedom of speech, but they are given enough time,” Cor. P/Supt. Felipe Cazon of the Manila Police District in Mendiola said. They have been negotiating to the protesters to leave and just come back if they wish; “they are causing too much traffic and danger to the students inside the consortium,” he added.

To the maximum time of 7 in the evening given by the Manila law enforcement the protesters still refused to leave the place that resulted to commotion with both parties and led to force dispersion of the picketers.

“We are forced to use the police force, but we didn’t hurt the protesters,” Cor. P/Supt. Cazon said regarding the allegations of the protesters that they used their force over them. “It was in fact them who threw bottles containing their “urine wastes” on us… We are on the offense always, and we dispersed them synchronized,” he added.

The police force hasn’t got any word from the Malacaňan Palace regarding their actions that they will be giving to the protesters after the incident. However it is beyond their jurisdiction to give accounts to the demonstrators about the response of the higher office. “We are only called to protect the pedestrians and students,” he said.

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Networking rampant among college students

by Alyssa Ashley Cruz

NOWADAYS, college students turn to networking for income.

After class, a group of college students, mostly from Centro Escolar University (CEU), gather around a popular fastfood chain beside La Consolacion College not only to eat but to talk business with fellow “networkers”.

A Pharmacy graduate from CEU, Patrick Lazarte, 23, became a full-time networker since the business started last April 7 of this year. Both Patrick and his younger brother, Jose, are networkers. Jose is a fourth year Broadcast Communication student in CEU.

Since the 'business' launch, the group has grown with 1,600 members and still counting.

Patrick has compared networking business with the infamous pyramid scheme or pyramiding. “Networking is different from pyramid because it is illegal”, he said.

“Networking business is legal because it sells products and is registered in government agencies like Bureau of Food and Drugs, Securities and Exchange Commission, Department of Trade and Industry and others”, he declared.

According to him, the concept and aim of their networking group is to help fellow students, which is different from pyramiding’s “makapera” scheme. He believed that this is one of the reasons why the group had grown drastically.

The group of networkers where Patrick belongs only requires three things: an initial payment of seven hundred seventy pesos (Php 770.00), photocopy of school ID or any valid IDs and two friends.

They require neophytes to bring a pair of friends to make them three, because of their “binary rule” wherein they must come in pairs or in groups.

“We do not just ask random people to join; we are all connected here by mutual friends”, he said.

Then the neophytes will be oriented. “For our recruits to understand our goal, the first thing we say is that our group is about networking, so as not to leave them hanging and curious”, he added.

According to him, their group does not hire speakers; instead they teach each other.

The networkers earn money not only by recruiting but by selling products like coffee, soaps and most of the time multivitamins which come from their manufacturer.

To prove that their business is not just ‘money matters’, one can see in their Facebook account pictures of themselves holding their earnings.

Once they gain profit, the networker will seal a deal with their manufacturer as to how they will divide their commissions. A full-time networker like Patrick earns twice as those half-time players who earn P120,000 a month.

Though the group is outnumbered by college students from the university belt, the group does not confine themselves within; they are open even for high school students. However, players below 18 years old must have a letter of parental consent and must sign a waiver.

This network of “business minded” folks was formed in Mendiola with Gary Lanuza, a businessman, as their pioneer.

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Student mauled by 20 individuals

By Maria Alina Galagaran

22-YEAR old student, Marcelino, obtained serious injuries as 20 unidentified males attacked the student for no evident reason last August 23 in the streets of Recto.

The victim and a companion were on their way home from a drinking session at YES KTV Bar along CM Recto at around 9:10pm.

Suddenly, a group of 20 individuals with no apparent reason attacked the victim with a steel pipe.

After the men took turns in battering the young boy, they walked away casually as if nothing happened.

The victim was rushed by his companion to the UST Medical Hospital for treatment. He received lacerated wounds in the right eye and several contusions on the head.

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Taxi Driver stabbed 5 times in robbery

By Maria Alina F. Galagaran


POLICEMEN are still hunting two unidentified suspects who stabbed a taxi driver for his daily earnings along the streets of Legarda Street in Sampaloc last August 30.

The 30-year old taxi driver was rushed to a nearby hospital and is now in a stable condition but is still under treatment.

The incident happened at 2:40am when the two male suspects boarded the taxi asking to take them to Legarda.

Upon their arrival, the two withdrew a bladed weapon and stabbed the victim 5 times consecutively and then fled on foot with a thousand pesos in hand.

Police are currently investigating the incident.


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Newly-born baby found in front of UST

By Don Joseph Dejaresco

A NEWLY born baby was found at España, Manila last Wednesday before dawn.

According to Police Inspector Pacamara of Manila Police District Sampaloc Police Station (PS-4) U-Belt Area Police Community Precinct, the baby was found beside a concrete base of a lamppost in a sidewalk in front of the University of Santo Tomas.

Cecilio Balunisat, 31, resident of #321 P. Casal Street, Quiapo, Manila, first thought it was just a valuable left by a student.

Upon examining the bag, Balunisat was frightened to find out that a newly-born male baby was stuffed inside it. The baby was still stained with blood and the umbilical cord was not yet cut.

However, the newly-born showed no signs of existence.

He immediately informed the police of his discovery.

According to the police, the dastard act must have been the product of an unwarranted pregnancy.

Police, however, did not disclose the funeral parlor to which they turned over the dead baby.

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Beggar gets back after being denied of alms

By Dan Allan Dupale

AN AGRICULTURAL technician was robbed by a juvenile thief last Wednesday at Sampaloc, Manila.

Police Inspector Pacamara of Manila Police District Sampaloc Police Station (PS-4) U-Belt Area Police Community Precinct said the stealing happened at around 2 p.m. along P. Noval corner España Avenue, Sampaloc, Manila.

The victim was identified as Editha R. Bagaoisan, 32, an agricultural technician of the International Rice Research Institute, and resident of #771 P. Noval Street, Sampaloc, Manila.

According to police report, Bagaoisan was walking back to her rented apartment unit when she thought a vagrant slapped her on her right cheek after she refused to give any alms.

Bagaoisan later noticed that one of her earrings’ “pakaw” suddenly fell on the ground but the stud was no longer inserted in the lobe.

She immediately cried out for help, but despite the congested street of students and bystanders, no one helped her pursue the juvenile thief.

Based on the police reports, the items stolen were two gold Singaporean earrings worth P5,000.

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Tandem-ridden snatchers pick on student

By Dan Allan Dupale

A STUDENT sidestepped an attempt to snatch her bag by motorcycle-riding snatchers last Thursday at Sampaloc, Manila.

Police Inspector Pacamara of Manila Police District Sampaloc Police Station (PS-4) U-Belt Area Police Community Precinct said the snatching happened at around 1:45 a.m. at Laong Laan corner Lacson Street, Manila.

The victim was identified as Diane Carla Evangelista, 21, 2nd year student of University of Perpetual Help Manila, resident of Block 13, Lot 7 Jasmin Street, BF Homes, Novaliches, Quezon City.

According to police records, Evangelista was walking along Lacson Avenue when the riding-in-tandem snatchers chanced upon her bag.

Evangelista’s brown shoulder bag was containing her cellular phone, her wallet, a digital camera, and her other personal documents

Evangelista said a blue motorcycle slowed behind her. She initially ignored it after assuming it was just bypassing the traffic and passing through the sidewalk.

The victim was able to resist the snatching attempt after noticing the extended arm of the back-rider reaching for her bag’s strap.

After failing to successfully pull the heist, the motorcycle darted away and snaked its way through the traffic.

The suspects were wearing helmets, making it impossible for Evangelista to recognize their identity. She also failed to identify the motorcycle due to its lack of a plate number.

The police are now conducting a follow-up investigation in hopes of getting a lead on the blue motorcycle and its riders.

Charges of frustrated robbery – snatching awaits the suspects, according to the police.

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