Village officials in Barangay Taluksangay reported a resident was killed in an encounter allegedly with Navy personnel in Tumalutab Island in the city Tuesday night.

The 42-year-old victim, identified as Hussin Hamay, sustained two gun shot wounds.

However, the naval commander of the combined forces in Western Mindanao, Rear Admiral Emilio Marayag Jr., strongly denied they had an encounter in the said island.

Marayag said his troops was having an anti-piracy operation east of Manalipa Island, still in Zamboanga City, 17 kilometers away from the island where Hamay was shot.

Marayag admitted the navy troops fired a warning shot but said it was impossible that the bullet reached the area where Hamay was reportedly fishing.

Some fishermen, however, alleged it was the Navy trooper who shot the victim.

With these allegations Marayag urged relatives of the victim and witnesses to submit a formal complain in his office.

He said he will not tolerate such acts from his men if indeed they shot the fishermen.

Meanwhile, during the Navy’s anti piracy operations 10 bancas were seized.

Marayag also explained the navy only held the 18 fishermen for few hours for questioning and were later released.

The anti-piracy operations of the navy are aimed in preventing sea piracy and robbery. Similar operations are also being conducted in other parts of region nine.

For Filipino anime fans, both kids and kids at heart, quality dubbing is extremely important. Since many of these animated programs have been imported from other countries, there is sometimes a need to translate the script into the local language and of course, hire voice actors and actresses to give life to the characters.

Charmaine Cordoviz, who has been in the voice acting business for around 14 years now, remembers the first time she decided to become a voice talent. It was during the early 1990’s and she had just graduated from high school.

Inspired by the English version of the animated series “Yaiba” (a comedic Japanese anime series about a young boy on a quest to become a samurai that became popular in the 1990s), she immediately called the producer up and offered her voice talent services. She admits that the move was pretty gutsy for someone whose experience consisted only of imitating character voices together with her friends.

Her persistence finally paid off when six months later, said producer called back and told her to form a team for the Tagalog version of Yaiba. Without a professional team, Cordoviz picked out the members from her group of friends and siblings who were just as passionate about anime and had good voice quality.

“We weren’t taken that seriously but we got the experience,” she shared.

Many voice talents start out with a simple love for animation. In the case of David Sta. Maria, he had been fascinated with cartoons from the beginning.

“I was really fond of doing impressions, too, and I openly told my friends given the chance, I would love to give it a shot,” he said.

Challenges encountered

Being a voice talent is a lot harder than it looks. While many people think that dubbing for an animated program or even a foreign telenovela can be done by just about anyone, the truth is that it can be just as difficult as any serious acting job. You have to make the character real and believable only through your voice, especially intonation.

Sta. Maria who has been voice acting for a little less than five years knows this very well. In one instance, he was asked to do a romantic scene for the Mexican telenovela, “Pasion de Amor”. His character, Oscar, was a bit on the brusque side and so Sta. Maria used his regular voice.

“My director, Josie Galvez, buzzed me and said, ‘David, lagyan mo ng konting lambing.’ I said, ‘eh, diba tita, maton nga? Di dapat barumbado?’ She replied, ‘Barumbado man, may puso parin.”

Still, Sta. Maria said challenges like this can only make a person grow stronger and better.

“It wasn’t momentous occasion, but on that moment I learned a lot about acting and life, and people,” said Sta. Maria.

According to Cordoviz, some voice talents have a very difficult time changing their intonation or the way they pronounce certain words. Even though they can manipulate their voices to sound higher or lower, the intonation can always give the voice actor or actress away.

“For me, the most challenging and the most fun is being given a role na mahirap i-portray,” she added.

Pay per project

Voice talents are also commission-based employees. While they are taxed just like any other member of the labor force, they don’t have access to the usual benefits. In a way, their situation is quite similar to that of contract workers. There is no real certainty to a job.

“One day you might be fully booked for 5 projects where you play the lead, the next you might be sitting at home, wishing for a project some time soon,” Sta. Maria remarked.

That is why other voice talents have day jobs to support them. While it’s not impossible to juggle both, one might end up getting lesser hours of sleep.

Most voice talents also play multiple anime characters. In some animated series, each voice actor dubs an average of 10-15 characters! However, they are usually paid at a fixed rate.

In some recording studios, voice talents get an additional php100 for every extra role. Unfortunately, such cases are rare.

Dubbers vs. Otakus

Otaku is the general term for people who are obsessed with anime and manga. They are usually very discerning of details and are likely to have strong reactions to dubbed animation.

Such reactions are usually triggered when a character sounds different from the original dubbing or when the script isn’t faithful to the original story. Many anime voice talents also turn out to be real anime fans. This poses a problem for them since they are torn between staying loyal to the character and trying to imbibe the Filipino spirit into the series.

“It’s very difficult to balance both,” said Cordoviz.

Although she follows characters and their development very meticulously, there are instances when she would find herself using a completely different voice from the original.

Actors as dubbers

Many animated films have taken up celebrities to voice certain characters. Disney, in particular, seems to have embraced this concept completely. Whether it’s because of the artist’s actual voice quality or his or her popularity that drives these decisions, what matters most is the end result.

In the Philippines, some companies have also started inviting celebrities to the recording studio.

“Being a voice actor is different from being an actor,” Cordoviz explained, although she also didn’t want to generalize.

Some screen actors don’t realize that acting on screen is different from acting for a character on screen. This is most often prevalent in anime projects where the characters they portray are two-dimensional.

Actors have their facial expressions to help them express emotion. Two-dimensional characters on the other hand will need a powerful and moving voice in order to make the scenes come alive.

Unfortunately, some actors fail to understand this concept and end up producing lifeless voices that sound bland and boring on television.

However, it isn’t only screen actors who commit this mistake. Some voice talents are only in it for the pay. They treat voice acting as a tiresome job. More often than not, they end up not doing justice to the character.

Work ethic

Cordiviz considers herself to be very meticulous when it comes to voice acting. Although still an active voice talent, she also writes and translates scripts and directs recording sessions on the side.

Anime, which is probably her specialty, needs a more in-depth analysis. A ditzy female lead character is not always as shallow as everyone thinks. As part of her work ethic, Cordoviz researches the manga where the animation originated, its original voice talents and the actual character development.

She believes that there is great talent in Filipinos. Unfortunately, with the wrong director, voice talents might not be able to develop their full potential.

To be a successful voice talent, one must know how to act and how to speak. One must also be versatile and have a passion for his or her craft.

“A friend of mine always says: 5% talent, 95% patience. You do more commuting and waiting and auditions before you might actually land a job. Persevere and be open to change. Open your eyes to learn from those around you,” said Sta. Maria.

Although the local voice talent industry here is not advanced as those in Japan or in the United States, Filipino dubbers are slowly making their mark as great voice talents.

Charmaine Cordoviz is known for being the voice behind many characters in the tagalog versions of “Prince of Tennis”; “Pokemon”; “Shaman King”; and “Magic Knight Rayearth” among others. Aside from voice acting, she is also a translator, scriptwriter and director.

David Sta. Maria is known for being the voice behind Armando Mendoza in “Betty La Fea” (Studio 23); Oscar in “Pasion de Amor” and Aerrow in “Storm Hawks” among others. He also has a day job.

One of the top contenders for this boxing honor is Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao, who is scheduled for a title showdown against WBC lightweight champion David “Dangerous” Diaz on June 28.

The powerful hitter has consistently been hailed by several boxing websites as the Number 2 best boxer in the world. These sites include BoxingDaily.co.uk, EastSideBoxing.com and theRing-Online.com of the Ring Magazine which is considered as the bible of boxing.

But with the official exit of Mayweather from the boxing scene, speculations are aplenty on who’s taking over his place.

Ric Reeno of BoxingScene.com see Pacquiao getting close to the top alongside with Joe Calzaghe, who recently won over living legend Bernanrd Hopkins.

“In terms of excitement, Pacquiao’s ‘kill or be killed’ style blows away Calzaghe in most fights,” said Reeno in his article titled: “Manny Pacquiao or Joe Calzaghe: Who is The P4P Best?”

He added that Pacquiao is way ahead in terms of “starpower”. “Pacquiao is not only the biggest boxing star of his country – he’s the biggest star period.”

Reeno, however, sees Calzaghe ahead of Pacquiao in terms of accomplishments.

He said Calzaghe remains unbeaten in his 15-year career at 45-0 as opposed to Pacquiao’s 46 wins, 3 losses and 2 draws.

“It takes a world of dedication to defend your title 21-times regardless of the opposition,” said Reeno.

Meanwhile, Edwin G. Espejo of PhilBoxing.com said Pacquiao may well be on his way to be the world’s top pound-for-pound boxer depending on the outcome of his date with Diaz.

“No other Filipino has ever crashed into the elite top ten pound for pound boxers – not in anyone’s list since it became a popular barometer of one’s boxing prowess,” he said.

Espejo, however, said that Pacquiao has to register a decisive win over Diaz to make it to the top of the “P4P” list.

“Diaz is a plodding slugger with defense so lacking he will be easy prey to Manny’s sharp and accurate punches. But Manny has the propensity to relax and toy against opponents he thinks not in his class,” said Espejo.

If Pacquiao fails, he not only loses the chance to be the world’s top ranking but may also lose the opportunity snatch “megabuck” fights, said Espejo.

Some errors can be found in this Grade 4 Makabayan textbook with a picture of a Mercedes Benz car as one of the influences of American culture in the Philippines, when in fact Mercedes Benzs are made in Germany, showed Go.

In the Grade 3 Sibika at Kultura textbook, a map of Cebu province shows Cebu City at the western portion of the island when it should at the eastern side.

“We should satisfy the children who will use the books. Kasi as long as the errors are there anong tinututo natin, kamalian?,” said Go.

But according to the Department of Education (DepEd), they have made the necessary corrections last year after Go raised his concerns.

They distributed to teachers booklets of errata where some 269 errors were corrected in seven books in Makabayan and Sibika at Kultura.

“The corrections are all trivial and inconsequential,” Go said.

The DepEd countered they continuously evaluate books with the cooperation of publishers and authors, and more importantly, they are open to criticisms and suggestions.

“We tell the publishers. We first make them aware of these comments, so that they develop the same type of materials they become more sensitive,” said DepEd Instructional Materials Council Director Socorro Pilor.

Based on the Delors Benchmark, the internationally-agreed benchmark for education budget since its presentation to the UNESCO in 1996, the Arroyo administration was short of P272.4 billion in education spending for 2007, said the education advocates.

The international benchmark, derived from former European Commission president Jacques Delors report titled “Learning: the Treasure from Within” recommends 6 percent of a country’s annual gross national product (GNP) to education.

Based on statistics from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, the country’s GNP for 2007 reached P7.274 trillion. Six percent of the amount is P436.5 billion.

Records of the Youth Advocacy Group (YAD) said the government’s education spending for 2007 was only P164.1 billion.

In the 2008 General Appropriations Act, the allocation for the Department of Education is P149 billion, which Malacañang boasted as the “biggest in recent years.”

In a press conference on Friday, YAD also presented a comparative computation of what it said is Mrs. Arroyo’s debt to education to past administrations of Fidel Ramos and Joseph Estrada.

The table showed Mrs. Arroyo, in her seven years in Malacañang, had incurred at least an “education debt” of P1.3 trillion. The previous two presidents’ combined “education debt”, the group said, is P330 billion.

The combined “education debts” of the three administrations is P1.6 trillion, which YAD said, if gradually paid by the government, can solve the education sector’s financial problem.

‘Six will fix’
YAD suggested that the government should make an effort to reach the 6 percent from GNP benchmark by adding one percent more of the GNP to the education budget in the next three years.

Still on YAD’s presentation, last year’s budget for education represents 2.26 percent of the annual GNP.

The group complained that while Mrs. Arroyo claims the GNP grew since she came into power in 2001, the budgetary allocation cost for education became almost stagnant.

The highest budget that was allotted for education compared to the percentage of GNP was during the time of Estrada with 3.80 percent in 1998.

“This can be done in a gradual manner, with a 1% of GNP increase yearly for education spending until 2010,” the group said.

No ‘band aid’ please…
Rene Raya, co-convenor of the Social Watch Philippines, said Mrs. Arroyo’s P1 billion scholarship program can become “good” if it’s “targeting” will be properly announced by the government.

“It should come in a package, not [used as] a band aid [solution]. This is what we don’t want, band-aid solutions. Want we want the government to address is the worsening quality [of education],” Raya said.

He said government subsidies, just like the P1-billion additional scholarship fund, is perceived by serious education advocacy groups as a tool for the administration’s “survival.”

Mrs. Arroyo said half a billion pesos would fund scholarship grants for poor and “not-so-smart ones’ and the other half for loans. College students availing of the loan can get as much as P8,000 per semester, which can be paid back two to four years after graduation.

“Aside from the P1 billion from the VAT, we have also from the DBP (Development Bank of the Philippines), advocating quality education for poor but intelligent students. Iyon ang kaibaha, kasi iyung katas ng VAT, kahit na hindi kayo masyadong matalino, basta’t pumapasa kayo, OK, pero itong DBP kailangan matalino kayo,” said Arroyo.

Alain del Pascua, president of the Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan, meanwhile, sees the scholarship and student loan fund as a “short-term appeasement” for the education sector because schools are opening next week.

Pascua added that the “katas ng VAT” should not be used by Mrs. Arroyo as her “pork barrel” as it should be included in the national budget which can only be disbursed through Congress’s approval.

More money
Various groups, including Education Net (E-Net) Philippines, Action for Economic Reforms, YAD, Oxfam-Great Britain, Teachers Inc., PS Link, and Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC), have come up with an initial draft of “Alternative Budget for Education 2009.”

The alternative budget initiative (ABI) was initially launched Friday in Quezon City.

The TDC said the government can only fulfill its promise of high-quality education if it will “invest in teachers.”

It suggested that the government should allocate P6 billion for the salaries of 16,000 additional teachers and 22,460 “local government unit” teachers who receive meager pays; P570 million for “additional” P1,000 for in-service training for teachers; P40 billion for the unpaid benefits under the Magna Carta for Teachers; and P8.5 billion for maintenance and operating expenses for a “conducive learning environment.

Melchor Cayabyab, TDC secretary-general, said during the presentation that the P40 billion unpaid benefits for teachers is only for the year 2008.

The Magna Carta for Teachers, which outlines benefits the government should provide for teachers, was passed during the 1960’s, but past and the present administrations have not fully implemented it.

E-Net, meanwhile, proposes a total of P950 million for alternative learning for the millions of Filipinos who have been deprived of their basic right for education.

The groups pegged the amounts mentioned at P55 billion.

Raya said that the amount will grow bigger as the groups involved in drafting the ABI are continuously talking with more members of the education sector.

He said a full alternative budget suggestion will be ready by August or before Malacañang submits its 2009 national budget proposal to Congress.

Raya said education advocacy groups had been engaging the government in alternative budget deliberations for the last three years.

Last year, he said the ABI and the groups’ intense lobbying and pleading to legislators resulted to the P3.2-billion increase in education allotment.

He hopes that by 2009, the government will really accept education’s importance to achieve its goal for a richer Philippine economy.

11.6 million, not one million OSY
Data showed by E-Net, which it said was sourced from the National Statistics Office 2003 Functional Literacy, Education and Mass Media Survey (FLEMMS), said 34 percent or 11.6 million of the 34 million population of 6-24 years old, are out of school.

Reginaldo Guillen, E-Net’s campaigns and advocacy associate, said Education Secretary Jesli Lapus could have unconsciously misled people when he announced during a radio interview this week that there are only one million out-of-school youths (OSY).

Guillen said Lapus could have been referring to the 1.8 million out-of-school youths aged 6-11.

The Department of Education’s (DepEd) data, as presented by E-Net, showed that in 2003-2004, 6-11 year-olds have a total population of 12,280,388. Children under the age range who are attending school is 10,438,329, leaving a deficit of 1,842,058 OSYs.

Another data showed by E-Net, also based on DepEd statistics for 2003-2004, said the total population of children aged 12-15 was 7,296,824. Of the figure, 3,356,539 were “in-school” and 3,940,285 were OSYs.

Based on the FLEMMS, 30.5 percent of out-of-school youths cited employment or the need to work for turning back from their studies. Twenty-two percent, meanwhile, cited lack of interest, 19.9 percent cited education’s high costs and 11.8 reasoned housekeeping.

Malacañang announced Tuesday a P2-billion power subsidy for poor families. On Friday government began distributing P500 each for lifeline users or households consuming 100-kilowatt hours a month or less. The pay out started in Metro Manila to lifeline customers of Manila Electric Co. (Meralco).

The two economists, Prof. Leonor Briones who is a former National Treasurer and Benjamin Diokno who is a University of the Philippines economist and former Budget Secretary, insist that the handout is a palliative solution to the high cost of electricity.

Second, they said, the president should not be touching funds that were not allocated in the 2008 budget or without permission from Congress.

“Matagal na rin ako sa gobyerno pero di pa ko nakakita ng, for the first time mamimigay ka ng cash sa mga tao… wala naman akong nakikita sa 2008 budget na fuel subsidy,” said Diokno.

“Will it solve the power crisis? Two, will it solve your poverty problem? I don’t think so… Dapat i-challenge ng media, i-challenge ng civil society ang Congress because the power to make decisions as to what to do with the public’s money is in Congress,” said Diokno.

The two economists said government should instead use the P2-billion for long-term solutions for programs like alternative sources of energy.

They believe that there is also no certainty that the beneficiaries of the fund would use the money to pay their electricity bills.

For Diokno and Briones the Arroyo administration may have had other motives.

“The only gain I see of course is political,” said the former National Treasurer.

“Dapat permanent, long term ang solution hindi itong parang pampapogi lng talaga,” said Diokno.