The Guardian London said: Ferdinand Marcos Debts of Billions is a huge devastation than typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan)

The municipality of Basey as Christmas approaches. Devastated by typhoon Haiyan, the Philippines also has huge foreign debts. Photograph: Ezra Acayan/Barcroft Media

 

Former Dictator Marcos Debt over the past 40 years is continuously pushing the Philippines into deep deep down to poverty.

• Ferdinand Marcos Loaned $115 Billion US Dollars
• Philippines Defaulted (Bankrupted) in 1983 -  (After Martial law ended and ousted Marcos 1986)
• Succeeding government till todate paid Marcos debts of $132 Billion Dollars repaid in principal sums and interest
• The remaining unpaid is still $60 Billion Dollars
• The Philippines pays its international lenders nearly $22 million dollars every day for Marcos debt. The funds for payment of Marcos debt are slashed from the originally intended for Health Services, Education, Infrastructure and military armament upgrade – reported in Thomson Reuters Foundation

Without Marcos debt, the Philippines could NOT be a beggar country but a rich country today

 

The Philippines is devastated as much by unfair debt as typhoon Haiyan

 

By Christmas Eve, a country struggling with foreign loans and climate change will have spent $1bn on debts in seven weeks

 

By Christmas Eve, the Philippines will have spent $1bn (£0.6bn) paying foreign debts in the seven weeks since typhoon Haiyan devastated much of the country. It will have spent a total of $8.4bn on foreign debt in 2013, and faces a further $8.8bn in 2014. While a little more than $100m has been pledged by international donors for relief work, more than 800 times that amount of money leaves the country every year to pay debts.

 

The people of the Philippines have been saddled with a large debt since the 1980s, when Ferdinand Marcos, the dictator who held the presidency from 1965 to 1986, was loaned large amounts by western governments and institutions such as the World Bank in order to keep him onside during the cold war. During his rule, Marcos is thought to have stolen up to $10bn of Filipino money. But after he was deposed in 1986, the lenders who were complicit in this corruption continued to demand repayment.

 

The impact of chronic debt has been devastating for the Filipino people, with public services such as health and education persistently underfunded. Today, about 16 million Filipinos are estimated to be living in extreme poverty and malnourished. Meanwhile, more than 20% of government revenue is spent on foreign debt payments each year, almost as much as on health and education combined.

 

In response to typhoon Haiyan, the World Bank and Asian Development Bank rapidly announced they would lend $1.9bn for emergency assistance and reconstruction. That this much-needed money will be given as loans rather than grants means the impact of the disaster will continue through another generation because of the high debt payments.

 

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By definition, loans for reconstruction cannot generate returns to enable the debt to be paid. The most they can do is return infrastructure to the state it was in before a disaster hit. As Joseph Stead from Christian Aid says: "Debts that should have been cancelled years ago are limiting the capacity of the Philippines to respond and rebuild [after] the typhoon. Action on this is clearly needed before any new debts are added."

 

But the impact of high debt payments is not the only reason Filipino debt should be cancelled. Following the end of Marcos's dictatorship, many of those who had resisted his rule formed the Freedom from Debt Coalition, calling for the non-payment of his odious debts. Loans to Marcos to build the Batan nuclear power plant – which never generated any electricity, and was built on an earthquake faultline – merely represent the most absurd example.

 

These unjust loans continued after the fall of Marcos. In 1997, the Bank of Austria lent money for medical waste incinerators, which were already being decommissioned in Europe because of their high level of pollution and would be banned in the Philippines within two years. In 2008, the Freedom from Debt Coalition got the Philippines Congress to agree to suspend payments on these and 10 other loans, but this decision was vetoed by Gloria Arroyo, the president at the time.

 

The UK government also played a role in the accumulation of useless debt. In the 2000s, UK Export Finance, part of the Department for Business, guaranteed loans for the purchase of bridges from British company Mabey and Johnson. Local campaigners said many of the bridges went nowhere, leading into the middle of fields or connecting up mud tracks. Mabey and Johnson were later convicted of paying bribes to win projects in six developing countries: Jamaica, Ghana, Angola, Madagascar, Mozambique and Bangladesh.

 

The Philippines was excluded from international debt relief schemes because, with an annual income of £1,600 a person, it was adjudged "too rich" by governments. Consequently, the country remains trapped in a debt cycle where payments limit government investments, preventing repayment of the debt. Over the past 40 years, the Philippines government has been loaned $115bn and has repaid $132bn in principal sums and interest. However, it is still said to owe $60bn.

 

This cycle is now being exacerbated by climate change, as the strength of typhoons and the damage they cause increases. Richer governments have consistently refused to meet obligations, agreed in 1992 (pdf), to compensate developing countries for the damaging impact of their greenhouse gas emissions.

 

Even where limited funds are being given, these often come in the form of loans.

 

For example, alongside a grant of £70m, the UK government is lending £255m through the World Bank for climate change adaptation projects. This includes lending money to the Caribbean island of Grenada, even though it is already in default and unable to pay its huge debts.

 

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"Justice for the Filipino people demands debt cancellation," says Ricardo Reyes of the Freedom from Debt Coalition. "Climate justice demands reparations to enable the Philippines to develop resilience to climate change and compensation for losses and damages."

 

Where debts are out of control, fail to protect basic human rights, or come from odious loans for damaging or failed projects – all of which is true of the Philippines – they should be cancelled. And as climate change gets worse, the largest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions have a moral duty to compensate those who are most impacted, and to do so with grants, not loans. – report posted from The Guardian and Thomson Reuters Foundation

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OFW BAN: Philippines Warns Citizens About South Sudan

A man from Dinka tribe holds a rifle in a cattle-herders camp near Rumbek in central South Sudan on Dec. 14 - Reuters/Goran Tomasevic. 

 

The Philippines Government yesterday said it was ready to repatriate Philippine Nationals wanting to escape the violence in South Sudan and urging the compatriots not to travel to the troubled East African country.

 

Foreign affairs spokesman and assistant Minister Raul Hernandez said in a statement that Philippine National in South Sudan could ask for repatriation assistance from the Philippine embassy in Kenya or from the rapid response team the Philippine government was dispatched since Monday night (December 23, 2013).

 

"A total OFW (overseas Filipino workers) deployment ban will also be imposed," said Mr. Hernandez.

 

Mr. Hernandez said there are an estimated 95 Philippine Nationals working in South Sudan, with 23 of them on their way to Kenya while 15 are already in Uganda and the remaining 57 are still in the troubled South Sudan.

 

"Those who are in Kenya are planning to return to the Philippines while the OFWs now in Uganda intend to stay there until the security situation in South Sudan becomes stable," he added.

 

He said eight Filipino workers will soon be evacuated by their employers from South Sudan while the Philippine embassy is trying to book a Manila-bound flight for five others. He added that the government is verifying a report that an undetermined number of Filipinos have recently evacuated to Khartoum in Sudan.

 

"Efforts are now under way to locate these groups and the remaining OFWs in South Sudan," Mr. Hernandez said.

 

Fighting in South Sudan between the forces of President Salva Kiir and his former vice president, Riek Machar, broke out in the East African capital of Juba earlier this month and has spread across the world's newest nation. Several nations have evacuated their citizens from South Sudan.

 

Mr. Hernandez said the Philippines has already requested the Ugandan government to allow Filipinos to stay within its territory. He said the Philippine embassy in Uganda and the country's honorary consul will assist Filipinos leaving South Sudan. – Wall Street Journal

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Philippines athletes rise above adversity and bias in 27th SEA Games -Myanmar

Boxer Nesthy Petecio won only a silver medal in the just-ended 27th Southeast Asian Games. A victim of a hometown decision, Petecio defiantly showed off her biceps in front of the celebrating Myanmar opponent 

 

Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar — Boxer Nesthy Petecio won only a silver medal in the just-ended 27th Southeast Asian Games, but left a lasting imprint that best exemplifies the indomitable Filipino spirit.

 

A victim of a hometown decision, Petecio defiantly showed off her biceps in front of the celebrating Myanmar opponent and a raucous, partisan crowd during the boxing finals.

 

It was the image that will be best remembered long after the last athlete had left the capital city of Myanmar.

 

The Philippines ended the Games with 29 golds, 34 silvers and 38 bronzes for seventh place, its worst finish since making its debut in 1977.

 

The 208-man delegation, however, just took part in 167 of 460 events, winning 101 medals.

 

Thailand retained the overall title with 107 golds, 94 silvers and 81 bronzes.

 

Host Myanmar placed second with an 84-62-85 tally followed by Vietnam 73-85-86, Indonesia 65-84-109, Malaysia 43-38-77 and Singapore 34-29-45.

 

The country's last medal was earned by the sepak takraw troika of Jason Huerte, Rheyjey Ortouste and Emmanuel Escote who bowed to Laos in the semifinals of the men's double regu event Sunday.

 

After coming home with only two golds in Palembang, Indonesia two years ago, the athletics team redeemed itself with six golds, four silvers and three bronzes to emerge as the country's top performer.

 

Of the six winners, three are rookies, namely: 400-meter hurdles champion Eric Shawn Cray, steeplechaser Christopher Ulboc and decathlete Jesson Ramil Cid. The other gold winners are long jumper Henry Dagmil, 400-meter runner Archand Christian Bagsit and the 4 x 400-meter relay squad composed of Isidro del Prado Jr., Julius Nierras, Edgardo Alejan Jr. and Bagsit.

 

Taekwondo, a traditional source of medals, bagged four golds, four silvers and seven bronzes.

 

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Rookies Jade Zafra and Kristopher Robert Uy, Kirstie Elaine Alora and the men's poomsae squad of Vidal Marvin Gabriel, Dustin Jacob Mella and Raphael Enrio Mella accounted for the golds.

 

Boxing, hurt by questionable decisions, came through with three golds courtesy of Josie Gabuco, Mark Anthony Barriga and Mario Fernandez aside from four silvers and three bronzes.

 

Wushu was also impressive with three golds through Daniel Parantac, Jessie Aligaga and Dembert Arcita. It also accounted for three silvers and two bronzes.

 

Billiards, cycling, golf and judo each won two golds while karate, basketball, rowing, archery and muay contributed one gold each.

 

Golfer Princess Superal and runner Bagsit are the only athletes to win two gold medals.

 

The youngest gold medallist is 15-year-old Mia Legaspi, a member of the women's golf team.

 

Of the 26 sports it participated, the Philippines did not win medals in badminton, equestrian and women's football.  - Rey Bancod / Tempo

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Binay's parking arrogance "I owned Makati" hit to a Jew Tourist kicking an Israel National out of the Philippines

 

"Rebuilding for a Better Philippines" team highly commend the Inquirer news for these series of info leaks that shaken the rotten political system of the Philippines.

 

The recent Pork barrel fund scam was firstly leaked by the Inquirer news that shaken the Congress and Senate office for their involvement in the Multibillion corruption through Pork barrel scam that  changed the view of the people and empower the people to fight for this malignant corruption virus in the Philippine Government.

 

This week, binay's arrogance controversy is another achievement of the most trusted news network in the Philippines; the Inquirer.net

 

This is a very sensitive issue and very disgusting that our very respected government servant is bossing  himself as  the owner of the people and not a servant of the people.

 

 "Don't you know me? I own this city." this is the same question raised by this arrogant junjun binay at the Rockwell Mall basement parking early this year to a Jew visitor whose car got ahead of his car in an empty parking slot.  The Israeli left the country months later.

 

The binay's arrogance in Makati is not an attitude that we must be proud of because this is not an attitude of a public servant. Where this family came from? Better to deport them from which continent they are originated.. they are not Ita's family and they are not Filipino lumad.. maybe they came from the desert territory of Safari. .  

 

INQUIRER: The Binays of Makati

 

A mango tree doesn't bear a santol fruit.

 

Let's not be surprised that Makati City Mayor Junjun Binay and his sister, Sen. Nancy Binay, acted the way they did when they were prevented by guards at the posh Dasmariñas Village from using a gate of the subdivision.

 

In 1986 when their father, Jejomar Binay, was still officer in charge of Makati, he ordered the closure of the Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) clubhouse for refusing to let his children use the club's swimming pool because they were not accompanied by a member.

 

I was a witness to the elder Binay's abusive behavior. I couldn't use the club gym at that time because of the closure.

 

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* * *

The three guards who didn't raise the gate's barrier to allow the Binays' convoy to pass through were arrested by Makati policemen and detained for four hours. The Binay camp, however, said the guards voluntarily went to police headquarters.

 

The two children of Vice President Binay, Jun and Nancy, said the report on the incident was blown out of proportion by the Inquirer.

 

This, despite a 24-minute video of the incident.

 

The Binays not only want to show who's the boss; they're also not truthful.

 

* * *

The Binays, the epitome of a political dynasty, think they own Makati City because of their power and influence.

 

The father is vice president of the Republic; and the children are senator, mayor and congresswoman.

 

The mother used to be mayor who temporarily manned the fort for her husband when his three consecutive terms expired.

 

If you go around the city, you'll find the letter "B"—with a tail—painted on walls in public places.

 

The "B" sign, which looks like a brand on cattle, stands for Binay, of course.

 

* * *

Mayor Junjun goes around with a convoy of police bodyguards apparently to show that he's the city's boss.

 

The incident at the Dasmariñas Village was not the first time the mayor bared his fangs.

 

In the Dasmariñas incident, Junjun Binay was quoted by a source as saying to the guards, "Kilala ba ninyo ako? (Do you know me)?"

 

In another incident that took place at Rockwell Mall basement parking early this year, the younger Binay allegedly figured in an altercation with an Israeli whose car got ahead of his car in an empty parking slot.

 

During a heated exchange of words between Binay and the Israeli, the mayor allegedly blurted out to the foreigner, "Don't you know me? I own this city."

The Israeli left the country months later.

 

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* * *

The shooting at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport's Terminal 3, which killed a town mayor and several others, was an incident waiting to happen.

 

Angel Honrado, Manila International Airport Authority general manager, doesn't allow members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) to keep the peace at the airport complex, which is their mandate.

 

Instead, Honrado has ordered the airport police, who are glorified security guards, to patrol the airport premises.

 

The airport police are not only as inefficient as Honrado, they're also a bunch of goofs. - published in INQUIRER.NET

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Malacañang Palace said Arroyo's term MISUSED around ₱836 billion to more than ₱1 trillion

 Gloria Arroyo's term MISUSED around ₱836 billion to more than ₱1 trillion - Malacañang Palace said 

Noy slams Arroyo same day Palace wished her peace

 

President Benigno Aquino III again criticized former President and now Pampanga Second District Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for the corruption that plagued her administration.

 

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In his speech at the first state conference on the United Nations Convention Against Corruption on Thursday, Aquino lamented that the Philippines missed opportunities during Arroyo's term and that the former President left him a government ruined by corruption.

 

"I myself have pointed out that the ten years before I stepped into office had been called a lost decade—one in which our country could have developed strong foundations to build upon. Instead, after my predecessor stepped down, our administration found a system of governance long decayed by corruption," Aquino said.

 

In giving the Philippines its first investment grade, debt watcher Fitch has credited the Arroyo administration for beginning the reforms needed to improve government finances.

 

"Improvements in fiscal management begun under President Arroyo have made general government debt dynamics more resilient to shocks. Strong economic growth and moderate budget deficits have brought the general government (GG) debt/GDP ratio in line with 'BBB' median," Fitch said in a statement in March.

 

Aquino's fresh criticisms against Arroyo came after Malacañang wished for peace and goodwill during the holidays for the former president.

 

Despite being three years into the presidency, Aquino continues to hit the past administration. In a speech last October, he said the amount of public funds misused during Arroyo's term was around ₱836 billion and may exceed ₱1 trillion.

 

The President claimed that his administration has since taken steps to curb corruption in the government after Arroyo left the Palace.

 

He said the first thing his leadership identified was that no one can be above the law in the fight against corruption.

 

"It should not matter what position you hold in the bureaucratic ladder: If you do wrong by the people, then you should be held accountable," Aquino said.

 

The President recalled that in his term, cases were filed against Arroyo while former Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona was impeached.

 

But Aquino said the campaign against corruption is not limited to those in public office as the government will go after anyone, regardless of profession.

 

"If you do not pay your taxes, the state will pursue you. It means that no matter how many resources you have at your disposal, if you choose to smuggle goods, you cannot escape the government," Aquino said.

 

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He said in the past three years, the government has filed 423 cases against tax evaders and smugglers.

 

Aquino also enumerated some of the other anti-corruption programs of his administration such as the reforms in the Bureau of Customs and the zero-based budgeting system of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

 

The President also mentioned the Budget ng Bayan and Pera ng Bayan campaigns of the DBM and Department of Finance and the most recent initiative, the Foreign Aid Transparency Hub or Project FAiTH which tracks the international donations in the wake of Super Typhoon "Yolanda." - philSTAR

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CHA-CHA: Belmonte to Amend Philippines Constitution NOT for Federal Government but for foreigners to own 100% - supported by allies

 

Is it timely that the faulty and protective economic constitution of the Philippines be amended and allow all foreign investors to own 100%  in the Philippines?

 

Is it timely that outside Manila; Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao must stand also to push for Charter Change for Federal system that would empower the States of Luzon, State of Visayas and State of Mindanao an ample autonomy to develop its jurisdiction with equal power with Manila?

 

Is this charter change is timely for a genuine economic growth?

 

Published in Inquirer, Speaker Belmonte gained support for Charter change.

 

Allies back Belmonte on Charter change

 

House allies of Speaker Feliciano Belmonte on Thursday (December 19, 2013) said they were endorsing his push for charter change (Cha-cha) despite the absence of categorical support from President Aquino, and they believed the idea of amending the economic provisions of the Constitution would eventually gain acceptance and support.

 

Cavite Rep. Elpidio Barzaga and Iloilo Rep. Jerry Treñas commended Belmonte for his proposal, saying the Charter's economic provisions have to go in keeping with current economic realities.

 

Treñas said many House colleagues favored the proposal, even if Aquino was not receptive to it.

 

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Speaker has spoken

 

"I think that many of us in the House of Representatives are really for charter change. Others are not just that vocal but now that no less than our Speaker has spoken, I think more congressmen will voice their support for [Belmonte's] position on the issue," he said.

 

At the Senate, Senate President Franklin Drilon on Thursday said he was willing to look into amending the Constitution but added that any attempt to tinker with the basic law would need the support of the President.

 

"We are open to it. We will see how these debates develop and we will take a position at the appropriate time. There must be consensus among the political leaders because this kind of political exercise must have the support of the unified political leadership," Drilon told reporters.

 

'Political exercise'

 

He said charter change, to be successful, would need the support of Aquino because "it's a political exercise."

 

1BAP party-list Rep. Silvestre Bello III, who is from the House minority, warned that any move to amend the economic provisions would open up the entire Constitution to proposed changes.

 

Bello said he could only be convinced of Belmonte's charter change idea if he knew the exact purpose and real intent of the proposal.

 

Belmonte earlier said he only sought to amend the economic provisions of the charter by adding the phrase, "unless otherwise provided by law," to the constitutional provisions limiting foreign investors' participation in economic activities in the country.

 

"If you have charter change, everything goes. You can't limit it to amending the economic provisions. If you allow it, you open the flood gates," Bello told reporters.

 

He said politics would likely enter the picture, as many officials are politically minded.

 

Barzaga recalled how when he was a city mayor, many investors had complained about the economic restrictions in the Constitution that made it hard to do business in the country.

 

The investors lamented the difficulties they encountered in trying to acquire land for their manufacturing plants, Barzaga said. He said some of these investors were forced to use dummy corporations to circumvent the constitutional prohibition.

 

Barzaga said there must be a firm resolves to amend the restrictive economic provisions of the Constitution.

 

"After all, we legislate not on the issue of popularity but on what we think will be best for the country," he said in a text message.

 

Treñas believed the President could come around to supporting the idea once Congress begins discussing the merits of correcting the "restrictive and inward-looking economic provisions," and once it shows that it only intends to focus on this and nothing more.

 

To follow

 

"As soon as he is convinced that Congress is only interested in revising serious flaws on the Constitution's economic provisions and nothing else, I am confident that the President's support will soon follow," he said.

 

According to Treñas, there is a need to lift the restrictions on economic policies because other countries that have embraced the reality of how the world conducts business have been overtaking the Philippines.

 

"Reviewing the Constitution is to keep our basic law attuned to the changing world. A national debate within the halls of Congress on the merits and demerits of amending the Constitution will give our people a better perspective on this particular issue," he said.

 

Drilon said it was ultimately up to the Filipino people whether they think it was time to change the Constitution ratified more than 20 years ago under the administration of the President's mother, the late President Corazon Aquino.

 

Up to the people

 

"At the end of the day, it will depend on the people where in the process of ratification, they themselves will decide whether it is proper at this point to amend the Constitution in the manner as presented by Congress acting as a constitutional assembly," he said.

 

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Drilon said he had yet to discuss charter change with Belmonte "but the process they are suggesting is the process that I initiated a couple of years ago, that when we propose amendments to the Constitution, it must be in the same manner as we pass laws."

 

Under Drilon's proposal, the Senate and the House of Representatives will deliberate and vote separately on the proposed amendments.

 

He noted that the Senate had in the past rejected the proposal that senators and representatives convene as a constitutional assembly voting as one, "because you might as well abolish the Senate—the Senate is just 24 against the House's 270 votes."

 

"That is why there is a resistance. But if we vote separately, as separate houses of Congress, then that possibility will not happen," Drilon said - INQUIRER

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Philippines launches $8.17B Haiyan rebuilding plan

SEVERAL days after the onslaught of Supertyphoon "Yolanda," residents in New Washington town, Aklan province, struggle to rebuild their homes and their lives. MARICAR CINCO/INQUIRER SOUTHERN LUZON

MANILA, Philippines—The Philippine government launched an $8.17 billion plan on Wednesday to rebuild the lives of millions battered by Supertyphoon Yolanda (international name: Haiyan).

 

President Benigno Aquino III appealed for international assistance and private sector pledges to help his government rehabilitate hundreds of devastated communities and increase their resilience to natural disasters as well as the adverse impacts of climate change.

 

"The task immediately before us lies in ensuring that the communities that rise again do so stronger, better and more resilient than before," he told foreign diplomats and aid officials in a speech at the launch of the initiative.

 

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"Every dollar of funding assistance will be used in as efficient and as lasting a manner as possible," he pledged.

 

Haiyan left nearly 8,000 people dead or missing after it struck the central islands on November 8, wrecking more than a million houses with 315 kilometers (195 miles) per hour winds and giant tsunami-like waves created by storm surges.

 

Aquino said the typhoon, one of the strongest to ever hit land and already the second-deadliest natural disaster in the history of the storm-prone Philippines, caused $12.9 billion in damage and destruction.

 

The economic planning department said the government's rehabilitation plan called for spending 360.9 billion pesos ($8.17 billion) over a four-year-period until 2017, according to the document released Wednesday.

 

Donors will be asked to put up some of the costs, it said, but no breakdown was given.

 

In his speech, Aquino thanked the global community for the outpouring of support for the typhoon victims. But he stressed there was still much more work to do.

 

"Your help is all the more necessary today, because in confronting the escalating effects of climate change the resources of countries like the Philippines will be strained to the limit," he said.

 

He said the plan involves both meeting immediate as well a longer-term needs as the devastated communities attempt to get back to normalcy, with food aid expected to be needed until March next year at the latest.

 

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"From now until December 2014 we will be preoccupied with critical immediate investments such as the rebuilding and repair of infrastructure and the construction of temporary houses," he said.

 

"Large investments will be spread over multiple years and will hopefully be completed by 2017 if not earlier."

 

The United Nations this week also launched a $791 million aid appeal to take care of the survivors' needs over the next 12 months. - AFP

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Philippines wins Miss International 2013 in Japan with Citizenship problem; “I still can’t believe it!” Bea!

Bea Rose Santiago (C) of the Philippines is kissed by runner-up Nathalie den Dekker (L) of the Netherlands and second runner-up Casey Radley (R) of New Zealand after winning the Miss International Beauty Pageant in Tokyo on December 17, 2013. Photo by AFP

 

TOKYO: A Philippine beauty queen has been crowned Miss International in a pageant marred by allegations of intimidation that kept her predecessor away -- pledging to use her title to help victims of the country's devastating typhoon.

 

"This is my dream. Thank you Japan for giving it to me," an ecstatic Bea Rose Santiago said at the event, held late Tuesday in Tokyo.

 

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"I'm going to use my crown and my title to help the victims" of Super Typhoon Haiyan, which raked the Philippines last month, leaving nearly 8,000 people dead or missing.

 

"So this is actually for my province, and this is for the Philippines."

 

Santiago was selected from among 67 candidates representing countries and regions of the world.

 

In a break with pageant custom, she was crowned by Spain's 2008 Miss International and not by her immediate predecessor, who stayed away from the glitzy show.

 

"I really wanted to meet her," the new beauty queen said. "It was very unfortunate because I really wanted to meet last year's winner also."

 

Outgoing title-holder Japanese Ikumi Yoshimatsu told foreign journalists this week in Tokyo that she had been asked by organisers to stay away from the final.

 

Yoshimatsu said since winning she has faced a running battle to maintain her independence from the management agencies that form the backbone of Japan's entertainment industry.

 

She said a senior executive at one agency had been in touch with her on many occasions. After she had repeatedly rebuffed him, he telephoned the main sponsor of the Miss International competition, she said.

 

As a result, the Miss International office in Tokyo began "instructing me, to 'play sick,' 'keep quiet' and not to attend the world final pageant here in Tokyo... to pass on my crown to my successor," she said.

 

The organiser of the beauty pageant, Tokyo-based International Culture Association, did not return calls made by AFP.

 

A local tabloid magazine has reported the executive of the management agency denying he was carrying out any campaign of harassment, saying that he was involved in a separate dispute with Yoshimatsu's agent over money.

 

Bea Rose Santiago still feels surreal after victory

 

 Bea Rose Santiago still couldn't believe that she already holds the title Miss International 2013.

 

"I still can't believe it!" she said in an interview with Ginger Conejero for "Mornings @ ANC" Wednesday, December 18.

 

Bea was the last among the beauty queens who competed for an international title. First was Megan Young who won the Miss World 2013 title and Ariella Arida who finished third in the Miss Universe 2013 pageant.

 

Though she was the last, Bea said she didn't feel pressured for the competition since "everyone is so friendly." But felt more pressured for the speech she's going to have after the pageant.

 

She already prepared a speech "two months before the pageant" – which she says is about her journey growing up.

But after she visited the victims of typhoon Yolanda in Visayas, she thought that if ever she wins, the speech will be a good way to thank everyone who helped the country.

 

"After seeing Capiz, you know, I went there and it was heartbreaking," she said. "I was really inspired me, it opened my eyes and the turning point is when we went to the municipals hall of Roxas City and it is heartwarming seeing people from different countries there helping.

 

"From that point on, I was like definitely we need to say thank to everyone. So I made sure that my speech is not about me anymore, it's about the whole Philippines," she added.

 

When she comes back to the country, Bea hopes she will be able to visit more places which was affected by the super typhoon and "personally help them."

 

Problem with citizenship?

 

Meanwhile, Bea also clarified the reports that came out saying she was eyed for the Binibining Pilipinas- Universe, but it didn't push through due to some issues with her citizenship.

 

"For Binibining Miss Universe you have to stay here at least six months," she said, which in her case she returned in the country last year.

 

"But my passport doesn't have a stamp," she adds. "I don't know. But I don't really care right now, I won." She also commended Ariella for doing very well during the Miss Universe competition.

 

Since all eyes are on Bea now, some are curious if she's already in a relationship or dating anyone.

 

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"I'm single but not available," she replied followed by a laugh. "I'm seeing someone and we're seeing each other for quite a long time. But I'm still not ready for commitments coz my commitment right now is to focus on my advocacy."

 

At the end of the interview, the beauty queen from Masbate has nothing but words of gratitude for all the Filipinos who supported her before, during, and after the pageant.

 

"Salamat, maraming-maraming salamat sa nagsuporta sa akin and praying for me," she said.

 

"Actually, keep praying for the Yolanda victims because they need it more than I do. I got my prayers answered and I'm very thankful and happy. This is for the Philippines!"

 

With report from Dawn.com and philStar

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