You’ll be required to identify and commission bloggers/writers to produce a variety of articles ranging from finance to event guides. That means you’ll need both an extensive list of contacts as well as a broad knowledge of various subjects.

The role also requires you to have strong editing skills to draw out a distinct and engaging editorial voice to satisfy the Yahoo! audience. Just as important — you need to be able to recognize this quality in other people’s writing.

Given the high expectations of our users, the role requires a professional with at least five years in an editorial role.

The job will also involve:

- Identifying strong bloggers and building a strong relationship with them

- Assessing pitches from bloggers

- Editing article submissions

- Commissioning photographers and illustrators

- Issuing contracts to bloggers

- Paying bloggers

The ideal candidate will have the following skills:

- More than 5 years in an editorial role, preferably in the magazine industry

- Strong relationships with prominent bloggers

- Ability to write and re-write in an engaging style

- Strong copy editing skills, knowledge of AP style is preferred

- Strong attention to detail

- Nurturing skills to help develop bloggers

In terms of personality, we’re looking for someone who is able to juggle multiple assignments and roll with the punches. You must be able to work independently. You need to be comfortable with technology and internet publishing tools, and if not, you should at least be a quick learner.

Interested?

Please send your resume and a cover letter to:

Alan Soon

Managing Editor

Yahoo! Southeast Asia

Email: alansoon@yahoo-inc.com

By Frank Cimatu

BAGUIO CITY– A Twitter post saying that Pacquiao was knocked out by sparring mate Shawn Porter spread like a landslide report here.

Pacquiao’s coach, Freddie Roach, was obviously infuriated.

“Who wrote that blog? That is false. It’s stupid,” he said.

A Twitter post by officialscore.com saying that Porter knocked out Pacquiao in his sparring fight had the whole boxing world atwitter.

Another post by boricuaboxing, which maintains the said officialscore website, was ecstatic about the post’s aftermath:

“The funny thing about Pac getting KO’d was that I was asking a question and not making a comment. LOL, it spread fast,” it said.

“But it got me like 60 new followers in 1 day and sent over 500 people to my website by the way www.officialscorecard.com,” it said. The supposed “Pacquiao knockout” post was made last October 11 but the Pacquiao learned about it only last Wednesday.

Other boxing forums like Eastside boxing already had 130 posts on that rumor.

Unaware of the post, Porter even said, “Pacquiao is getting stronger. He is getting better.”

Conditioning coach Alex Ariza said that Pacquiao is “75 percent on his way.”

“We intend for him to reach 150 pounds by the time we go to the US. He is already 150 pounds and he is getting stronger,” said Ariza.

Pacquiao even bloodied the nose of Mexican Jose Luis Castillo in the former two-time World Boxing Council (WBC) lightweight ‘s first sparring fight with Pacquiao since coming in Sunday. He lasted three rounds with Pacquiao while Porter next fought him for four rounds.

HBO had been filming Pacquiao for the past two days now and their floodlights at the Shape Up Boxing Gym may have hounded the boxer.

Before HBO, Pacquiao banned the use of flash among the photographers covering him.

As the waters have subsided in the hardest hit areas in Metro Manila and other nearby provinces, people are now literally picking up pieces of their homes, rebuilding what is left of it.

But while most people are trying their best to move on, some are still looking for missing family members, friends and relatives lost during flood caused by Ondoy, which killed more than 200 people.

As part of Yahoo! Southeast Asia’s effort to help in providing information and news about Ondoy and Pepeng’s aftermath, we’re launching this initiative to allow anyone to post photos of missing persons on Flickr, Yahoo!’s online photo sharing service. There are two ways to do this.

1. E-mail us a photo of the missing person at yseanewsroom@yahoo-inc.com

In the subject field, put “Typhoon Ondoy Missing Persons” and in the body text write the following information:

• Name:
• Age:
• Description of missing person: (e.g. Any unique features or clothing worn when last seen)
• Location of missing person where last seen:
• Who to contact and contact information:

2.Upload the photo in Flickr (http://flickr.com).

- If you don’t have a Flickr account yet, you can easily sign up using your Yahoo! email account.
- After uploading, make sure to put “Typhoon Ondoy Missing Persons” as the title of the image and in the description area, put the requested information about the missing person as mentioned in the first point.
- Tag all photos with the name of the missing person and “Typhoon Ondoy,” “missing person”.

TV hunk Tay Ping Hui admits he was once a very chubby kid.

Yahoo! Singapore

Tay Ping Hui, leading man and resident MediaCorp hunk – fat?

Looking at him now, he doesn’t look it one bit, but yes, the 1.86m actor was once so unfit and fat, he tipped the scales at almost 100 kilograms.

The star of the upcoming Channel 8 series “New Beginnings” said of his pre-acting days: “After I graduated from National University of Singapore, I worked really hard for about four years. It was a start-up company and I worked very hard and put in very long hours. I had no exercise at all and I was on a constant diet of beer, fast food, pizza, cookies.”

“I committed adultery with food of any kind,” the 38-year-old actor admits sheepishly. “At my ‘peak,’ I was 98 kilos. I shot from 81 to 98 kilos within one and a half years.”

So what was the turning point?

“One day, I looked in the mirror and told myself I looked like I was 50 when I was just 26, ” said Ping Hui, who now weighs a trim 85 kilos.

“I told myself, ‘This cannot go on, that’s just not right.’”

And so Ping Hui gradually nursed himself into shape. But those early days of exercise were rough.

“It was tough at first, because I ran alone. Running is a solitary exercise, a lonely pursuit. Initially I was very lazy and I kept giving myself excuses. But very slowly, I gradually built up my mileage, from 2km to 5km to 7.5km to 10km… it took me about 6 months, but I lost weight and I didn’t get injured.”

“Now I firmly believe in the ’Trinity of Health’ – exercise, diet and rest. I believe all three are inter-linked.”

But even now, the star of hit series like “The Reunion” (2001), “Destiny” (2005) and “Baby Bonus” (2009) admits that keeping in shape is a constant battle.

“I’m unhealthy all the time,” he says, before laughing heartily.

“I was really fat before I hit puberty. I was 12 years old, about 1.59m and my waist then was 28. I was very, very chubby. My parents then allowed me to eat anything and everything. We weren’t choosy about what we wanted to eat,” the former Catholic High and Catholic JC student said without a hint of regret.

The problem, he says, is his love for good food – anything that’s “good for the mouth but bad for the waist.”

“I love to eat good food,” he said.

“And my love for food is really in conflict with my occupation because my job requires me to look a certain way. Running has definitely helped in my career because it helps me to maintain my shape, which helps in my TV roles.”

Ping Hui takes a backseat as he watches the camera crew at the Nike+ Human Race 10K photo shoot.

The avid golf (handicap: 21) and basketball fan now says running is part and parcel of his exercise regime — whenever time permits.

“When I need to think things through, I run at the stadium. Before it was at NUS or Toa Payoh, but lately it’s the CPE campus at Bukit Timah. I run quite late about 9pm or 10pm, after I finish my work. Or sometimes I run very early in the morning because the air is so fresh,” said Ping Hui.

With running so close to his heart, it’s no wonder the actor has been handpicked to captain the Guys team in the 2009 Nike+ Human Race 10k “Guys v Girls Challenge”. Hype Records’ singer/actress Rui En will captain the Girls team.

This year’s race will take place on Saturday, 24th October and will be hosted by 24 cities, including Singapore. But thanks to the wonders of technology, (www.nikeplus.com.sg), runners the world over can be part of the race, either physically or virtually.

Prior to the race, a “Guys vs Girls” challenge will be held via the website to raise funds for charities, the World Wildlife Fund and ST Pocket Money Fund. 

Tay Ping Hui will captain the Guys team while Rui En will lead the charge for the Girls.

“I think the idea behind this race is fantastic,” said Ping Hui. 

“You get to have a sense of identity, meet new people, lose calories and train all at the same time. Plus it’s all for a good cause.”

So what kind of timing is he aiming for at next month’s race?

“I’m not going to kid you and aim for a sub-40 minute race. That’s crazy. Anything less than an hour and I’ll be satisfied,” Ping Hui chuckles.

Sub-hour? Not bad for someone who once survived on junk food, late nights, no exercise and weighed over 200 pounds. 

There is hope for us all, after all.

Ping Hui and Rui En are both naturals as they shoot a video for Yahoo! SEA.

Tay Ping Hui on:

His passion for running

“It started when I was very young. When I was in Sec 1, I was trying out for the basketball team and for me, running is the basic foundation for any athlete to build up their cardiovascular strength and endurance. It started from there. I was also in athletics and we used to do interval training. I used to puke all over the court.

“Now, of course, my aims are a little bit different. I run to maintain my fitness so if I feel a little unfit, I go for a quick run. I also know it sounds weird but when I run, I actually think about things and at the end, you solve things, so it’s very therapeutic for me.  I think about my work, on my new role or characters, or solutions to problems I might have.”

His current mileage

“I’ve been busy for the last two months but I try to clock about 10 kms every two weeks. If I don’t run as much, then I try not to eat too much junk food, chocolates, snacks.”

The music he listens to when he runs

“I used to run without music but now, it’s a big part of my run. Please don’t laugh but I actually like the Bee Gees (laughs heartily). I know, that is so not cool, right?  I also like hard-pumping stuff like FatBoy Slim or fast music when I’m doing interval training.”

Objectives for the Human Race

“I will be traveling a lot over the next month so I don’t have much time for training but I’ll be happy with a sub-hour race.”

It's all business between Nike+ Human Race ambassadors Ping Hui and Rui En.

Yahoo! SEA speaks to Tay Ping Hui and Rui En @ Yahoo! Video

National team captain Noh Alam Shah is optimistic about the future of local football.

Ion Danker

Yahoo! Singapore

Love him or hate him, footballer Noh Alam Shah is one player who knows how to grab headlines.

Last week, the 29-year-old Lions striker shocked the local football community by slamming the S-League for its poor refereeing, dismal attendances and lousy management.

His criticisms hit a raw nerve among fans and officials alike, who are split down the middle in their support for one of the S-League’s marquee names (Your Say on Y! Answers).

Capped 72 times and with 32 international goals to his credit, Alam Shah heads to Indonesia today as he embarks on the next chapter in his career after signing a year-long contract with Indonesian Super League Arema Malang.

But before he left, I caught up with the fiery striker near his recently-sold flat in Chua Chu Kang, which he shares with his wife and three kids.

Expecting the worst from the reputed ”bad boy” of Singapore football, I found instead a refreshingly honest and frank player whose passion for the Beautiful Game burns as bright as ever.

In-demand star

I started by asking him about his decision to further his career in Indonesia.

“I bleed every time I go out and play for my team,” admits Alam Shah, who says he’s leaving local football with a heavy heart.

“I’ve had several offers to play in the US, Australia and Vietnam since 2005, but I declined all of them because of my family and the fact that my club needed me,” said the striker, who joined Tampines Rovers in 2003.

“My chairman is the best in Singapore. He is always supporting me in every aspect of my career and he is one of the reasons why I am leaving to play in Indonesia.”

It is this close, father-son relationship with Stags chairman Teo Hock Seng that, ironically, was pivotal in  his decision to move abroad.

Last month, when Teo was found guilty by the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) for approaching an assistant referee aggressively in a league match against Singapore Armed Forces FC (SAFFC) — it was an incident which Alam Shah describes as “the final straw”.

“My chairman was furious when I was sent off in that game and he stood up for me by speaking to the assistant referee,” he says. “When they [FAS] banned him after that, I knew this was it. I spoke to my chairman and he fully supported my decision to play abroad.”

He also admits his frustration with the poor refereeing standards in the S-League had led to his increasing disillusionment with local football.

‘Bad boy’?

By his own admission, Alam Shah says he belongs to a “dying breed” of footballers, those who play with their heart on their sleeve, whether for club or country.

His aggressive and take-no-prisoners style has made him one of the region’s most feared marksmen — he once scored seven goals against Laos as Singapore went on to win the 2007 ASEAN Championship. He was eventually named the tournament’s “Most Valuable Player”.

But his physical and muscular approach to the game is also his curse, his double-edged sword.

11 red cards in 12 seasons in the S-League bear testimony to his rugged style.

In 2007, Alam Shah was banned for seven months from all football for assaulting fellow Lion and SAF-FC defender Daniel Bennett on the pitch.

Having undergone an anger management course and having seen a therapist has done nothing to dull his ferocious edge.

But following that incident, Alam Shah feels he was never treated the same by referees. In his own words, he feels he was ”black-listed” by some referees.

“Although it happened quite a while ago, referees have been giving me a hard time because of that incident. I was once booked by a referee in the first minute of play, and he told me that it was to warn me for the rest of the 89 minutes! If you look at the standard of refereeing, it has dropped a lot,” he says.

Alam Shah says his family is one of the reasons behind his rise in football.

Is this deep-seated frustration with referees the cause of his outburst last week?

Better S-League, more fans, good youth development system

Alam Shah, who’s been asked by the FAS to explain his recent remarks, says he would now rather look to the future than the past.

But, one thing’s for sure, he has not given up on Singapore football.

“I think our local league can only get better if it is marketed well to the public,” said Alam Shah, with a glimmer of hope.

“I hope more fans will come and support the league and make it livelier because every footballer wants to play in front of huge crowds. We also need to produce more quality youth players and start thinking of the next generation of footballers. I don’t see it happening now but if we could have a strong academy, then we are on the right track for the future,” he said.

No regrets

Despite recent criticisms of him “biting the hand that feeds”, I quickly realise the two-time S-League champion is no fool and that he is under no illusion as to what football has given him.

“It really feels good being able to play abroad. Football has given me this life. I am a secondary school dropout and I could have been in prison, on the streets or doing odd jobs now. But football has brought me to where I am today and I will not take it for granted,”  says Alam Shah.

After all, it was roughly 12 years ago that a young, starry-eyed Alam Shah made his debut for Sembawang Rangers at the tender age of 17.

“I remember watching Fandi Ahmad play when I was a kid and wanted to be like him. I guess I’m following his career path as Fandi also went to Indonesia to further his career,” he continued.

“When I first signed for Sembawang and got my jersey, I was so excited that I went around my neighbourhood boasting to my friends that I am going to play football in the S-league. Now, after signing for Arema Malang, that same excitement is back.”

As I begin to wrap up my interview, I ask Alam Shah what was his proudest moment as a footballer.

Alam Shah shares his thoughts with Yahoo! Singapore Producer, Ion Danker in an exclusive interview before leaving for Indonesia

He reveals it came just a few weeks back on 26 July, 2009 .

“(Lions coach) Raddy called me in the morning, and said I will be leading the team out against Liverpool,” said Alam Shah.

“I was stunned, I thought he was joking because I supported Liverpool as a kid and being given this opportunity to captain the Lions against Liverpool was a dream come true.”

Despite losing to the Reds 5-0, Alam Shah hopes to skipper the team more regularly but recognises it is not his decision to make.

“It was unfortunate that Indra Shahdan was recovering from injury as he is our regular captain but if I’m given the chance to lead the boys, I will give my all as it is every footballer’s dream to lead his country,” he added.

As I walk away from the almost 2-hour-long interview, I began to appreciate Alam Shah for his honesty and down-to-earth nature — he tells it like it is, straight and simple.

But even more than that, I fear his fiery, passionate style will be greatly missed in the S-League, which will be shorn of another of its leading stars.

I remember, the likes of Fandi Ahmad and V. Sundramoorthy once left our shores years ago for greener pastures.

While much has been done to recruit foreign footballers into Singapore, it now seems like we are heading in the opposite direction; our local talent is moving out. Baihakki Khaizan, Precious Emujeraye and Mustafic Fahrudin are also following in the footsteps of Alam Shah.

Will the S-League ‘hear’ the call for change to improve the standard of football before we lose more local players?

What do you think? Share with us how you feel about the state of our local football league and what you think can be done to improve it.

NBA Legends (left to right): Dominique Wilkins, Tim Hardaway, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Rory White, Robert Horry, Vlade Divac

By Charley Bautista-Braga
Yahoo! Philippines
Five of the greatest  players in NBA history are in Manila for an exhibition game against the PBA All-Stars, for the NBA Asia Challenge 2009 on Friday, September 11 at the Araneta Coliseum.  These NBA Legends include Kareem  Abdul Jabbar, Tim Hardaway, Vlade Divac, Dominique Wilkins and Robert Horry, who are pitting themselves up in an event, dubbed as the most ambitious and largest ever basketball event in the country.

The NBA Asia Challenge features the NBA Generations team, made up of the NBA Legends and the NBA Development League players in an exhibition game against the PBA All-Stars which include Alvin Patrimonio, Allan Caidic, Ronnie Magsanoc, Benjie Paras, and Kenneth Duremdes, to name a few.  Also accompanying the NBA Legends are The Dunking Divas, the dance troupe of the New Jersey Nets who’ll be on hand to provide on-ground entertainment, and Sly the Silver Fox, the team’s mascot.

NBA greats Robert "Big Shot Rob" Horry and Vlade Divac

Yahoo! Philippines chatted with NBA greats Robert “Big Shot Rob” Horry, and Vlade Divac, and this is what they had to share to basketball fans:

On the Philippines:

Divac:  I’m very excited to be here. I heard that the Philippines is definitely a basketball country, and people really love the game here. This country has had an impact on my career. When I was 10 years old, my national team won the World Championship title in Manila in 1978, so that’s when I started playing basketball. I started when I was 10, and was drafted by the NBA when I was 21, 11 years later.

Horry: I unfortunately haven’t been able to watch any PBA, but I’m thrilled at how popular the game is here. We were just in Korea, and the thing about Asian basketball players is that they’re great guys, very skilled. I would say the one thing they have against them is size, and unfortunately you can’t teach size. They’re very skilled players though.

On basketball, and being a clutch player

Horry: It’s been fun playing with those guys, because those guys are the megastars of the team. Sometimes you’re not considered in the same breath, but you know those guys, they also value what you could do on the floor with them.  These are the guys who are going to get talked about when the game ends, and they trust you to get those shots nailed down.

On the U.S. and playing pro basketball

Divac: I played four years professionally in my country, and the Lakers drafted me for the NBA. It was tough for a couple of years, playing with a different style of game. I also didn’t speak any English, but on the other hand I was lucky to end up with an organization like the Lakers, so they helped me to make the transition much easier. My advice to other imports is to spread the feeling of really loving the game. When you do that, everything else is easy.  Also, do the mental work because everyone can shoot hoops, everyone can jump around, but it’s those little things that are difficult which can help distinguish you from the rest.

On luck, and career

Horry: I don’t think my career was about luck. It was about joining a team at the right time, like any kind of match or relationship, it was about finding the right match. So when you find the right kind of match, anything can happen. When I first joined the league, I thought Houston was the best match for my skills and from then on it just went on to better things. When I look at every team I’ve played, it was a great match for my talent and it was a great match for the team. Of course, there’s always going to be superstars in the team, but they’re not going to be superstars without adding that one “link,” and I always felt that I was that missing link that would make the team stronger.

Divac: I always believe in doing better, always moving forward. Everyday is a new day.

Words for people wishing to enter professional basketball

Divac: Maybe in your dream you can’t be the best basketball player, you can’t play in the NBA but you can find a way to be attached to the game in some different way where you can make a difference.

Horry: You know, you have to learn how to play the game the correct way. You have to go out and do everything, whatever it takes–walk, crawl or run – just practice the skills, the game know-how.  Practice a great amount of time, and maybe you’ll get better.  Also, you need to pit yourself against a team or other people who’ll help you stretch your talent.  When you stretch your talent, you’ll have that experience to make yourself better.

***

About Robert Horry:  Robert “Big Shot Rob” Horry’s career highlights include playing with the Houston Rockets and winning  back-to-back championships in 1994 and 1995, and again with the LA Lakers from 2000 to 2002.  Horry is only one of nine players to win seven or more NBA championships, and only one of three players to win NBA Championships with two different teams in consecutive seasons.

About Vlade Divac:  A Serbian national, Divac played for the Yugoslavian National Team and led his team to win an Olympic Silver Medal in Seoul, Korea, until he was pirated by the LA Lakers, Charlotte Hornets, and the Sacramento Kings.  He ranks fourth in Lakers history with 830 blocked shots, and joins Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Hakeem Olajuwon as the only players in NBA history to amass 13,000 points, 9,000 rebounds, 3,000 assists, and 1,500 blocked shots.

Tickets for the first-ever NBA Asia Challenge are now on sale at Ticketnet outlets at SM Malls, or online at www.ticketnet.com.ph.  Ticket prices are at P2,640 (Patron), P2112 (Lower Box), P1320 (Upper Box A), P792 (Upper Box B) and P264 (General Admission).  For more information, please log onto www.nba.com/asiachallenge2009.

Noynoy Aquino

Senator Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III of the Liberal Party announced his decision to join the presidential race in a press conference at the Club Filipino in San Juan, Metro Manila.

What follows is a liveblog of the morning event that was televised.

+++

7:35 a.m. Supporters gather at the Club Filipino in San Juan, Metro Manila.

7:39 a.m. It’s a sea of yellow at the Club Filipino with supporters wearing yellow. Among those attending the press conference are Liberal Party members and Senators Franklin Drilon, Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan and Manuel “Mar” Roxas II.

7:42 a.m. Members of the Black and White movement  and the Hyatt 10, or former Cabinet officials who bolted out of the administration, join the press conference to also throw their support to Noynoy Aquino.

7:46 a.m. People are asked to take their seats as the press conference is about to start.

7:50 a.m. The Aquino family arrives. Kris Aquino and husband James with their son baby James join the press conference. They are all wearing black with yellow ribbons.

7:52 a.m. Prayer is led.

7:54 a.m. Noynoy Aquino arrives and greets fellow members of the Liberal Party. People chant “Noynoy, Noynoy.”

7:56 a.m. Noynoy Aquino is introduced and is set to address supporters. Chants continue. “Mabuhay si Noynoy Aquino,” one shouts. He starts to thank his family.

7:59 a.m. Noynoy asks himself if he wants to continue on the fight, as he addressed supporters in Filipino. He recalls how the country has witnessed the outpouring of support for his family during the death and burial of her mother.

8:04 a.m. He admits that he didn’t want to get out of his retreat. But he realized that serving the people comes first. He praises Mar for his decision to give way. He also recalls his conversations with three people: One with a grade five student. One of the questions that struck him was a question about his sister, Kris Aquino. This remark elicits a laugh among the crowd.

8:09 a.m. Noynoy says the biggest sin among public servants is for people to lose hope.

8:10 a.m. I am accepting the plea of the citizens. I’m accepting the legacy of my parents. I also accept the responsibility to continue the fight for our people. I am accepting to lead the fight. My countrymen, I will run for president this coming elections. I will continue the fight. Thank you very much.

8:12 a.m. Answering questions, Noynoy says he’s expecting Manuel “Mar” Roxas II to be his running mate. But he will wait for his decision.

8:15 a.m. Sister Ballsy Aquino-Cruz addresses the supporters, acknowledging that they are supporting their brother in his bid for the president.

8:19 a.m. Noynoy Aquino answers various questions from supporters and the media.

8:23 a.m. My political career is very clear. I want to make democracy work not just for the rich but for everybody.

8:29 a.m. Everybody joins in the singing of “Bayan Ko.” Supporters also raise their fist while others flash the “Laban” sign.

8:31 a.m. Press conference ends. Noynoy is mobbed by the media.

8:33 a.m. In a brief interview with media, Noynoy reiterates that his decision to run for president is he’s response to a legitimate call from the people. He stressed that he’s also responding to the will of his parents. He welcomed all help for his fight for democracy.

Editor’s note: This story has been published on Vera Files and permission has been given to re-publish on this blog.

Copy of documents from Vera Files

Mikey said on national television Tuesday that campaign contributions and wedding gifts were partly the reason his declared net worth ballooned from P5.7 million in 2001 to P74.4 million in 2004 and then to P99.2 million last year. Mikey wed his second cousin Angela Arroyo Montenegro in 2002.

The numbers say Mikey’s net worth grew by more than 1,600 percent in the seven years that he has been a public official. President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s eldest son, a one-time movie actor, became vice governor of Pampanga in 2001, and was elected congressman of the province’s second district in 2004 and 2007.

“Siyempre unang una, kinasal tayo. Medyo nagkaroon tayo ng maraming regalo. Tapos pag kampanya, siyempre kahit paano maraming tumutulong sa atin (Of course, first I got married. We received a lot of gifts. Then during campaigns, somehow we get contributions),” Mikey told Solita Monsod and Arnold Clavio, hosts of the morning show “Unang Hirit.”

But his statements of contributions and expenses for the last two congressional elections show zero donations to his campaign, which he reported as having been funded from his own pocket.
Mikey declared campaign expenses of P483,000 in 2004 and P552,876.15 in 2007. His 2007 spending included posters and leaflets, P246,740.10; gas and diesel, P88,332.80; meals, P148,560; rental of building, P40,000; and miscellaneous expenses, specifically financial assistance to indigents, P29,243.25.

The Omnibus Election Code requires candidates to file a “full, true and itemized statement of all contributions and expenditures in connection with the election” within 30 days after the election. This means the candidate is supposed to declare contributions in all forms and amounts made by all donors.

Election law expert Sixto Brillantes said Mikey could have committed perjury for failing to report the campaign contributions he received.

He added, “If he used that (campaign contributions) for personal purposes, then he should report that as an income, as a donation. If he did not report that, then he violated the Income Tax Law.” The Internal Revenue Code imposes a donor’s tax on donations.

Mikey’s appearance on Unang Hirit stemmed from a VERA Files report that said he failed to declare in his Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Network (SALN) for 2007 and 2008 a million-dollar beachfront house in Foster City, California, currently registered in his wife’s name.

VERA Files also reported that Mikey and his brother, Camarines Rep. Diosdado Ignacio “Dato” Arroyo, started buying houses in California and acquiring local business interests soon after they became congressmen.

Mikey said he and his family could well afford to buy houses in California, including the $1.32 million (P63.7 million) property at 1655 Beach Park Blvd in Foster City he bought and transferred to his wife’s name in August 2006.

He also insisted, “(The Foster City house) belongs to a company named Beach Way LLC. I’m not the sole owner. I’m part of the owners. I own about 20 to 30 percent, 40 something, like that…She (my wife) doesn’t own anything.”

The interspousal deed transfer recorded in August 2006 as Document No. 2006-126985 in the San Mateo County Assessor’s Office, however, shows “Juan Miguel Arroyo” granting the house in Foster City to his wife “Angela Arroyo Montenegro.”

Although Mikey listed Beach Way Park LLC in his 2007 and 2008 SALN, the San Mateo County Assessor’s Office has no record of Beach Way Park LLC (Limited Liability Company) owning the Foster City property. There is also no listing of a business entity named Beach Way Park in the county assessor’s office, California Secretary of State and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The company is also not registered with the Philippine SEC.

Instead, the most recent entry on the Arroyo’s Beach Way Park on the county assessor’s database is Document No. 2008-041550 recorded in April 2008 in which Indy Mac Bank (now OneWest Bank) “reconveyed” or returned the Foster City property to Angela “by reason of the payment of the indebtedness.” She had mortgaged the house for $858,000.

SALN filing guidelines require public officials to declare property owned by their spouses.

Mikey also told Unang Hirit that the Foster City house is not for sale.

VERA Files reported that the property was being sold after confirming that it was—and still is—advertised as for sale on the real estate Websites www.zillow.com and www.ewalk.com. The ewalk Website names the asking price: $1.38 million.

The San Mateo Tax Collector/Treasurer’s Office assessed the value of the Foster City property at $1.35 million in 2008 and $1.37 million this year. Data from this office also show the $14,511.48 property tax was paid last Jan. 16 and payment of the $14,869.62 property tax for 2009 falls due on April 10, 2010.

Mikey said on TV that the “residential house” in the U.S. he declared in his 2005 and 2006 SALNs are two different houses. “We sold the (2005) house after five or six months,” he said, and then bought another house.

Of the U.S. house declared in the 2006 SALN, Mikey said, “Nabenta rin ito (We also sold this). It’s not the Foster City residence.” This means he bought three houses from 2005 to 2006, but did not identify the other property.

Asked by Clavio about reports he had bought another property in the U.S., Mikey said, “Meron, pero hindi sa kin yun (There is, but it’s not mine).” He and Clavio then laughed.

Aside from the house in Foster City, the San Mateo County Assessor’s Office records the Arroyos’ purchase in September 2005 of their three-bedroom unit at the Manors Condominiums at 805 Mendocino Way in Redwood City for $900,000.

Like the Foster City house, Mikey had transferred the property to his wife. Angela sold the property in December 2006 for $880,000, four months after they bought the Foster City property.

Former Civil Service Commission Chair Karina David told another television program last week that the transfer of ownership to wives or husbands of properties that may have been acquired illegally has been a practice by government officials who cannot explain their wealth acquisition.

On the sudden increase in his assets, Mikey said, “(It’s not) ill-gotten, hindi naman kalakihan ’yan (It’s not too big).”

Under Republic Act 6758, a vice governor receives a monthly compensation equivalent to salary grade 28, with a pay ranging from P15,180 to P16,275. A congressman receives a basic salary of P35,000 a month or P420,000 a year, according to the Commission on Audit.

In the three years he served as vice governor, Mikey should have earned a gross income of P634,725, including 13th month pay. Despite having declared no real property or business interests while still vice governor, even after his marriage to Angela, save for P2.1 million of unspecified shares of stock in 2001 and 2002 and about P3 million in bank deposits, he managed to acquire by 2004 a house in Lubao, Pampanga, worth P4 million and a house in La Vista in Quezon City for P8 million. He did not report having borrowed money or incurred other liabilities before he was elected congressman.

In his first term as congressman, Mikey’s gross salary should have totaled P1.26 million.

Mikey declared acquisition of businesses in 2006: Mikey’s Horseman Bar and Grill Inc., Visualtoon Creations Inc. and LPG Auto Gas. Shortly after he got elected in 2007, he again declared new business interests: Los Manos Verdes Inc. and Beach Way Park but stopped declaring Visualtoon. In 2008, he declared his investment in U18 Properties Inc. and La Vista Investments and Holdings Inc.

Mikey also first declared in 2005 a “personal loan from relatives” of P27.1 million, an amount he continued to list among his liabilities until July 2007, indicating that the loan went unpaid. In December 2007, his “advances from relatives” climbed to P33.8 million. The same entry and amount appear in his December 2008 declarations.

He lists cash in bank and on bank (P51 million in 2008 and P46 million in 2007), and stock portfolios (P44 million in both years) as his most substantial assets.

Although Mikey said his wealth was not that big, the Foster City house and the Redwood City condo that he and his wife still owned in 2006 had a combined value of $2.22 million or about P108 million, an amount that could have bought 2.16 million textbooks for public school children.

Unable to explain the gaps in his SALN, Mikey said his lawyers “made a mistake” in filing the SALN and the law allows him to correct the errors in his annual declarations. “Hindi pa tayo sanay mag-file ng SAL (We were not yet used to filing SALs),” he said.

David said while the law allows corrections to the SALN, the mistake should not have been repeatedly committed.

“Pero kung taun-taon at mali at kinorek mo, ang question diyan ay hindi iyong ikaw ba ay nagsinungaling lamang kundi pati kung kaya mo bang panindigan na kumita ka ng ganun kalaking halaga para makakuha ng ganyang klase ng kayamanan (If the mistake was committed every year and you corrected it, the question here is not only whether you are lying but also whether you can explain how you were able to acquire that kind of wealth),” she said.

On Unang Hirit, Mikey challenged his detractors, “Why don’t you just sue me in court? Get it over with?”

The SALN Manual says, “The SALN is made under oath. Falsification of information or failure to file or report information required to be reported may subject you to disciplinary/criminal action. Knowing and willful falsification of information required to be reported may also subject you to criminal prosecution.”

Under Republic Act 6713 entitled “Establishing a Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees,” the penalties for willful falsification of information ranges from imprisonment of five years or less, a fine of P5,000 or less, and dismissal from the service.

David said a government official caught lying in his SALN can be charged with perjury. Lying in the SALN can also be interpreted as having unexplained wealth, which can be a basis for a graft case, she said.—Ellen Tordesillas, Avigail Olarte, Yvonne Chua and Luz Rimban

*(VERA Files is the work of senior journalists taking a deeper look at current issues. Vera is Latin for “true.”)

(Photo by Reuters)

Thea Alberto
Yahoo! Philippines

A day after Senator Manuel Roxas II announced he would be supporting  Senator Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III for the 2010 elections, the latter has yet  to decide whether to accept the challenge.

Aquino said he has decided to go on a retreat over the weekend.

“I urge you to pray with me so you too can assess your own readiness to take part in the difficult struggle ahead. We are hopefully in this together,” said  Aquino in his speech at Club Filipino, the same building where his late mother, former president Corazon Aquino took her oath as the first woman president.

Aquino said it was better to think things over instead of hastily joining the campaign for the 2010 Presidential elections.

“Sa nalalabing araw ng aming pagluluksa at pagdadalamhati sa pagpanaw ng aming  mahal naming ina, sisikapin ko pong taos-pusong sagutin ang katanungang ito. Sana maunawaan po ninyo ang bagay na ito,” the Senator said.

Meanwhile, Aquino lauded Roxas’ “sacrifice.”

“Senator Roxas’ sacrifice is the finest example of selflessness that our nation sorely needs in these morally troubled times,” said Aquino.