American DJ to perform live in Boracay

BORACAY ISLAND, Aklan- A disc jockey based in California, USA is expected to render a live performance in this resort island on Jan.12, 2011.

Alfred Darlington, 33 and also known as DJ Daedalus, is an experimental music producer. Daedelus pioneered using the Monome in conjunction with Max/MSP for live performances.

He is a part of the groups Adventure Time and The Long Lost.

He is currently signed to the Ninja Tune label but has released material with a number of labels, including: Plug Research, Mush, Laboratory Instinct, Eastern Developments, Phthalo, Merck, Big Dada, Soul Jazz, Distill,Hefty, Bit Of Heaven, Temporary Whatever, Stones Throw, Alpha Pup, Eat Concrete, Friends Of Friends, Brainfeeder and Warp.

He is also a founding DJ at the internet radio station Dublab. He attended the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music.

After his Boracay gig, he will also be performing live January 14 in Dubplate Manila. The Dubplate Manila is the one who will bring DJ Daedalus in this resort island.

Malay Council laments Boracay's exclusion from new peso bills

BORACAY ISLAND, Aklan - The Malay Council which has jurisdiction over this resort island is questioning the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) why it did not include the world-famous Boracay in the design of the new peso bills.

The BSP has been receiving flak from various sectors for its alleged errors in the design of the new bills.

The new bills' designs are said to have added security features to prevent counterfeiting.

The new bills which were presented to the public last week are expected to be released next year.

The Malay Council discussed the new bills in its regular session Tuesday and the members decided to come up with a resolution to formalize their sentiments. All the councilors have voted in favor of issuing the resolution.

"The BSP should have included Boracay in its new design, the resort island being the premier tourism destination in the country," said Councilor Ezel Flores.

The council believed that the Boracay tourism industry would be further strengthened if the BSP decided to include it in the design of the new peso bills.

The council maintained that Boracay Island has the right to be included in the Philippine peso bills because of the billion of pesos it contributes to the coffers of the government.

Once the resolution is drafted and finally approved, this will be submitted to the BSP Central Office.

Boracay is safe from tsunami scare -- PHIVOLCS

BORACAY ISLAND, Aklan- The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) has officially ruled out any tsunami possibility in this resort island averting any tsunami scare in the future.

Phivolcs director Renato Solidum said that the geographical location of Boracay, protected by its cove, is that at the back of an open sea. The perfect location makes it difficult for tsunami in Boracay despite the fact that this resort island is along the Tablas fault.

"If a tsunami happens in the surrounding area, we expect Boracay will experience a minimal risk. Boracay's geographical location is considered a suitable tourism destination," Solidum, who traces his roots in Aklan province, said.

Phivolcs local officials said that, for several years, they are constantly monitoring the activity of Tablas fault which traverses Romblon and Antique provinces. In the 16th century, a tsunami reportedly hit the coastal areas of Romblon, making PHIVOLCS believe that it could happen again in the future.

The PHIVOLCS, an agency under the Department of Science and Technology, has undertaken a study on the geographical status of this resort island.

DSWD wants Children’s Code enforced in Boracay next year

BORACAY ISLAND, Aklan- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is looking forward to the implementation of the much delayed Provincial Children’s Code in this resort island next year.

Elma Malbas, provincial DSWD officer said that they were already conducting awareness on the Code among the transport group and laborers of the Caticlan Jetty Port.

Earlier, the DSWD-Western Visayas mobilized the Children’s Welfare Desk at the Jetty Port. This means that all of the minors passing in the jetty port would be registered at their desk.

The purpose of which was to protect children from abuses while staying in this resort island.

"We are just waiting for the passage of the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of the Children’s Code. Anyone, including resort owners, would be held liable if they violated certain provisions in the Children’s Code," said Malbas.

Prior to the passage of the code, resort owners prohibited policemen from entering their premises to investigate suspected child prostitution cases.

"Based on the code, we could use the strategy of rescuing the children whenever they are suspected of having an illicit relationship with an adult be it foreigner or local," said Malbas.

Once the IRR is released, the DSWD will then start a massive information campaign relative to the implementation of such existing laws.

They also hope that stakeholders and resort owners will fully cooperate with the ordinance for the protection of children.

Reports said that children are prone to abuse and trafficking cases in this resort island.

Prosecutor’s office vows vs sex workers

BORACAY — The Provincial Prosecutors Office pledged its moral commitment against sex workers in this resort island.

Atty. Mayen Bien Tolentino of the said office said they are having a campaign against sex workers in Boracay as part of their commitment to eliminate cases of violence against women and children.

Records from the office showed that sex workers here are from the different parts of the country.

"A sex worker could earn P1,000 per hour, especially if their clients are foreigners,” said Tolentino.

These sex workers, when apprehended, are normally charged with vagrancy, Tolentino said.
Some of them were believed to be minors.

"When police look for their identification cards, they always present postal IDs. More often than not, we discover that the name in their postal ID is different from what is in their birth certificate," said Tolentino.

The law, however, only requires a person charges with vagrancy to pay the penalty of P2,000.

Currently, the police are charging apprehended sex workers even during Saturdays.

"I told police authorities that when they arrest sex workers, they should note if the arrest was for second or third offense so we could mete out a higher penalty," said Tolentino./

DOE to conduct energy audit in Boracay

BORACAY ISLAND, Aklan- The Department of Energy (DOE) is set to conduct an energy audit among resorts and hotels in this resort island in order to encourage stakeholders to take part in their conservation program.

DOE assistant secretary Leonilo Lariosa said the government is able to save P1.2 billion worth of electricity for this year in their campaign for energy conservation efforts among the government offices around the country.

"If the private firms would take part in our energy conservation program, we would be able to use our meager energy resources for a more productive means to further strengthen the economy," he said in a press conference.

The DOE came here as part of their National Energy Consciousness Month (NECM) every December. The theme of this year's celebration is "Towards Energy Access for More Through Energy Efficiency and Conservation."

Energy conservation hopes to reduce need for oil imports. Such reduction will lower the capital and operating costs of electricity and will consequently provide Filipino sufficient electricity at lower possible costs.

"For companies, increased energy efficiency means more savings and higher profit which will lead to greater company stability, more jobs and competitive markets. At the household level, energy conservation will mean less power consumption and more savings from electricity cost," Lariosa added.

To conduct the energy audit, the DOE plans to enter through a memorandum of agreement among business organizations in this resort island such as the Boracay Foundation Incorporated (BFI) and the Boracay Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI).

They also plan to personally discuss the program among big hotels which are not members of either the BFI nor the BCCI.

Bizwoman charged with estafa confident to hurdle case

BORACAY — A businesswoman based in this resort island is confident that she can hurdle the string of estafa charges filed against her.

Complainants who filed the charges before the Regional Trial Court in Kalibo, Aklan conspired due to greed, alleged Dolores Khanna, also known as Dolly, over a telephone interview.

She was referring to complainants Lawyers Lucas Licerio and Gina Garcia-Aguirre.

Canadian nationals Peter Eckert, Peter Tayler-Anderson, and couple Spencer and Evelyn Anderson also filed separate charges against Khanna.

Khanna described the charges against her as “pure harassment.”

"Prior to their filing of cases, I already took the initiative of bringing the spouses Anderson and other parties to a barangay meeting to help explain what is going with the land dispute between Licerio and the Khannas,” said Khanna.

“I also asked the parties to refrain giving libelous and slanderous remarks and to be patient and help me fight Licerio over a fraud case in court,” she said.

Despite the meeting, the Canadian nationals filed the cases.

Khanna consequently filed disbarment and libel charges against Licerio and Garcia.

“Because of the cases I filed, Licerio’s group illegally took over my cliff property in Bolabog Beach here,” said Khanna.

“My reputation was not damaged with the case,” she said.

Khanna is currently in Makati City. She has been receiving death threats while staying here.
Her lawyers also asked her not to attend court hearings.