Philippine massacre probe focuses on Arroyo ally

By AARON FAVILA, Associated Press Writer Aaron Favila, Associated Press Writer – 23 mins ago

AMPATUAN, Philippines – Philippine authorities, under intense public pressure to make arrests in the country's worst election massacre, said Wednesday they are investigating a member of a powerful clan allied with the government along with four police commanders.

Officials recovered six more bodies Wednesday, bringing the death toll in Monday's attack on an election caravan to 52, including 18 journalists.

No suspects have been formally named in the killings, which provoked outrage beyond the Philippines, with U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and media and human rights watchdogs calling on President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to swiftly punish the attackers. Full Story.

Philippines imposes emergency; massacre toll reaches 46

By Eric de Castro

AMPATUAN, Philippines (Reuters) - The Philippines placed two southern provinces and a city under emergency rule on Tuesday after gunmen killed 46 people in a brutal election-related massacre that has shocked the country.

Many of the victims in the killings in Maguindanao province were women from the powerful Mangudadatu clan. About a dozen journalists were also among the dead.

"There is an urgent need to prevent and suppress the occurrence of several other incidents of lawless violence," Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said while announcing the emergency.

The adjoining provinces of Maguindanao and Sultan Kudarat and nearby Cotabato City will be under an indefinite state of emergency, which gives the military and police wide powers of arrest and detention.

The orders were issued as troops, using shovels and their bare hands, dug up hastily covered graves on a grassy hillside in Maguindanao to recover the victims of Monday's massacre. Police spokesman Leonardo Espina said 46 bodies had been found.

A Reuters photographer at the scene saw many of the bodies with bullet and machete wounds. Some of the dead men had their hands tied behind their backs and one of the women was pregnant.

"This atrocity leaves a deep wound in our national psyche," said Ralph Recto, a former senator. "It is as if each one of us has been stabbed."

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo ordered extra troops to the region and sacked the Maguindanao provincial police chief.

"No effort will be spared to bring justice to the victims and hold the perpetrators accountable to the full limit of the law," she said.

FILE NOMINATION

The Mangudadatus, accompanied by lawyers and journalists, were on their way to file the nomination of one of their clan in elections next May. No men from the family were present, since they believed that women would not be attacked by rivals.

But the convoy was held up by about 100 armed men, who herded the group away from the highway and then attacked them with M-16 rifles and machetes.

The dead included Genalyn Tiamzon-Mangudadatu, whose husband Esmael wanted to contest the governorship of Maguindanao against Datu Andal Ampatuan, the head of another powerful local family.

Ampatuan, an ally of Arroyo, has been elected governor of Maguindanao three times previously. One of his sons is the governor of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, an area which covers six provinces. The town near where the massacre took place bears the name of his family.

None of the Ampatuans made any comment to local or foreign media. But Presidential Adviser Jesus Dureza told television that the family was willing to answer any questions.

Pacquiao wins 7th belt vs Cotto

Last 15th November 2009 Manny Pacquiao made boxing history by stopping Miguel Cotto 55 seconds into the 12th round. Cotto was knocked down in the 3rd and 4th round.

9 killed as Parma (Pepeng) ravages the Philippines

Full story: Zamboanga Journal

The aftermath of typhoon Ketsana that ravaged the Philippines. MANILA, Philippines a ' At least 9 people had been killed, including seven who were buried in a landslide in Benguet province as typhoon Parma ravaged the northern Philippines, uprooting trees and tearing roofs off houses and flooding many areas that affected tens of thousands of ...

Presidential Prediction

By Conrado de Quiros
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 01:11:00 09/21/2009



I will make a fearless forecast: the winner of next year’s elections will be Gilbert Teodoro as president and Ronaldo Puno as vice president.

I am not joking. Or I am joking only in the sense that I am joking when I say we’ve had a non-elected president these last nine years.

Teodoro’s actual chances of winning of course, as everyone has pointed out, are nil. That is an insult to the word “nil.” He cannot even get 1 percent in the surveys. Even if you do not believe in surveys, you have to grant at least that they have a grain of truth in them. That grain becomes an absolute boulder when you trail your rivals by a mile. Is it possible that Teodoro can still peak? Only in the same way that his boss can still become a nun.

It cannot help that his handlers whom he really ought to shoot have persuaded him to sell himself as “Gibo.” A name that openly invites all sorts of puns, not least “giba,” the Tagalog word for “wreck.”

That doesn’t include the fact that he is Arroyo’s anointed, which can sink Noli de Castro himself.

But Teodoro has two things going for him.

The first is Ronaldo Puno.

Take it from Miriam Santiago, he’s the puno’t dulo, the long and short, of pulling rabbits out of ballot boxes. He’s the fellow Miriam openly accuses of cheating her of the 1992 elections via dirty tricks hatched in the camps. I half-suspect Miriam’s railing against the early campaign ads of some candidates is motivated as well by personal reasons­ Puno is one of the culprits. I half-suspect the best way to turn Miriam into a giba, or total wreck, or an unguided missile is to whisper “Puno” in her ear. Heaven truly works in mysterious ways.

If the activists are to be believed, Puno began his career in the 1960s by winning the elections held in Naga City for president of the National Union of Students of the Philippines by cheating. He subsequently helped Ferdinand Marcos win the snap elections of 1986 by the same tack. And he subsequently helped Arroyo win in the 2004 elections by the same tack. Miriam, of course, claims he also helped Fidel Ramos win by the same tack, but I’ll just leave them to their debate and God to work his mysterious ways some more.

Puno has the distinction of having served three masters who delivered this country to the, well, dogs are a decent species, as are all the categories of fauna. Let’s just say, who delivered this country to hell: Marcos, Erap and Gloria. He will also have the distinction of having provoked three Edsas, or People Power revolutions that ousted those tyrants. The last if he persists in his folly.

Which brings me to the second thing Teodoro has going for him. That is Smartmatic.

Gustavo Coronel, a Venezuelan, tells us exactly what Smartmatic is:

“The other component of the Venezuelan electoral system that illustrates its prostitution is the voting equipment, bought from a company called Smartmatic, a very mysterious outfit apparently owned by Venezuelans. This company has a very short history since it was created only in 2000. The company was a tiny outfit until an equally small company, also owned by the shareholders of Smartmatic, Bizta Corporation, received an injection of money from the Hugo Chávez regime to develop a voting machine prototype….

“Is it ethical that the Venezuelan government acquires voting machines from a company where they have or had shares? Is it honest that a huge $100-million contract can be awarded without much competition to a newly formed company without previous experience with voting machines? Can Venezuelans reasonably expect that a company having partial government ownership and having close ties with the regime can be impartial and transparent in its management of the machines?

“If the electoral officers cannot be trusted, if the voting machines cannot be trusted, if the electoral registry cannot be trusted, how can we have transparent elections in Venezuela?”

A very good question. Which we ought as well to ask about ourselves. If the Comelec cannot be trusted, if the voting machines cannot be trusted, if the regime itself cannot be trusted, how can we have transparent elections in the Philippines?

So far the criticisms of Smartmatic by the candidates have centered on the physical or visible part­the length of the electoral forms, the distribution of the right forms to the right place, the ability of the machines to transmit accurately the results of the voting. The real nightmare in fact is the software, which is proprietary, or the workings of which are known only to Smartmatic. As the IT people have shown, it’s the easiest thing in the world to imbed errant commands in the software that function like malware. These can be imbedded variously in the BIOS, the motherboard, the operating system, the flash card, or all of the above. Commands that will tick off votes for one candidate to another, which will make Garci look like a veritable saint.

Every time I hear the electoral watchdogs, old and new, calling for vigilance and proposing all sorts of watchers to watch the process closely, I think to myself: Watch what? If the cheating happens inside the machines, what on earth can you watch?

The point is to stop Smartmatic and adopt an open, transparent, inexpensive and automated, electoral count. It is not too late. There are models aplenty for this, chief of them the Open Electoral System, which is all of the above. I know the Supreme Court has ruled in favor of Smartmatic. That doesn’t put an end to the protest, it only shifts it from the courts to the streets. It has to be stopped. We don’t do this, and with Puno there, and the Comelec there, and Smartmatic there, I will make a fearless forecast:

Gilbert Teodoro will win as president and Ronaldo Puno as vice president next year.

'Ondoy' death toll hits 246 as 'Pepeng' nears RP

MANILA, Philippines - Swollen rivers and debris-strewn streets yielded more bodies yesterday, bringing the death toll from massive flooding brought by tropical storm “Ondoy” to 246.
As disaster teams sifted through tons of debris in search of bodies – and hopefully survivors – two new storms brewing in the Pacific threatened to complicate relief efforts.  Full Story.

Storm causes widespread flooding

(The Philippine Star) Updated September 26, 2009 02:30 PM

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Hundreds of people fled their homes today (Sept. 26) after overnight rains brought by Tropical Storm Ondoy flooded Metro Manila and areas in the northern Philippines.

Water was chest-deep in low-lying areas of the capital and part of nearby Rizal province, said Anthony Golez, deputy presidential spokesman.
"Warnings were given to local government units but the rains have not stopped since yesterday," Golez told ABS-CBN television.
Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, who also heads the National Disaster Coordinating Council, said he had to take the commuter train to his office because the roads were too flooded to drive.
"This kind of flash floods in metro Manila took us all by surprise," he said, adding that flooding was also reported in Bulacan and Pampanga provinces north of Manila.

Swollen creeks forced many residents in some communities on to the roofs of their homes and they were calling for help to evacuate, according to local radio reports.
Television news footage showed one flooded road in suburban Quezon City appearing like a raging river.
The storm intensified the seasonal monsoon, drenching much of the main island of Luzon where Manila is located, weathermen said. A dozen flights in and out of central and northern Philippines were canceled because of poor visibility, airport officials said.
Power distributor Meralco cut off electric services to some flooded areas in metropolitan Manila to prevent accidents, spokesman Joel Zaldarriaga said.
Hundreds of vehicles stalled in flooded streets around the capital and nearly 2,000 passengers and more than 150 vehicles were stranded in ports in several provinces south of Manila after the coast guard suspended ferry operations.
Tropical Storm Ketsana packed 53 mph (85 kph) winds with gusts up to  100 kph when it made landfall early Saturday about  80 kilometers northeast of Manila. It was moving westward toward the rice producing Central Luzon region at 19 kph .
The rains have also caused the water in two dams near the capital to rise to spilling levels, the national disaster agency said.

Pinoy Poitical Awareness

Pilipinos are politically enlightened people, from the hotbed of student activism of the UP campus to the barber shops and OTBs (Off Track Betting Stations) the kwentong kutsero of Pilipinos are mainly about political issues, everyone has an opinion.

As can be gauged by the last Senatorial elections pinoys are now more savvy and intelligent voters, gone are the days when moneyed candidates (Chavit) or popular celebrities (Cesar Montano, Richard Gomez) are almost assured of a candidatorial win.

Yes, pinoys are politically aware individuals although some are more astute than others. A High School classmate of mine posted and commented (in our Yahoo eGroup) on the subject of Senator Mar Roxas' giving way to Noynoy Aquino's bid for President. He had a very insightful and edgy opinion of the subject and I quote him:

"With the development at the Liberal Party front, we may be expecting some major political re-alignments among the Opposition's rank, Chiz's camp included?

Many believe that Noynoy's unexpected rise in the political ring opened some window of opportunity for unity among the non-administration bloc, something that was considered closed and next-to-impossible before Cory's demise.

Sen Mar saw the writing on the wall. He was trailing behind paid and independent surveys, despite spending around 600Million in political tri-media ads, and despite the forthcoming union with broadcast and TV celebrity Korina. He also correctly read that if he stonewalled using his Party built-in influence (His late Dad was the founder of the Liberal Party) against the rising tide of Noynoy's popularity principally pushed by the Cory Magic (and even by Ninoy's stature), division among the Party's already tattered lines (occasioned by the Atienza-Mike Defensor faction) would inevitably lead to its possible collapse.

Would it be illusory to even hope for others to follow the selfless example of Sen Mar?

The Noynoy factor is seen by a number of analysts as some sort of a Divine Intervention, considering the timing.  At a time when no apparent strong credible, presidentiable could unite the opposition, Noynoy's name surfaced from the mist of mourning eyes mostly of people who long for relevant change Cory's magic has woven into the minds even of the ordinary Filipino. He commands relative respect and credibility, hence, acceptability, for many reasons. One, he has no personal ambition to become president. This sets him apart from the other wannabe's. Two, he has no history of political wheeling-dealing, influence peddling, or has he been identified with corrupt politicians. Three, his apparent or perceived lack of political sophistication or savvy is no argument against his capability to lead a nation who needs moral integrity more than mercenary intellect, mental honesty than technical competence-- one who is patriotic and not narcissistic.

I hope he (whether he ultimately becomes the standard bearer or not) could unify not only the political opposition (many of whom do not even qualify as opposition if by opposition we refer to the act of fighting political patronage, endemic corruption, and abject poverty in this country) but also the ordinary people whose interests the traditional and elitist political players (both admin and Oppo) pay only lip service to, ever since "democracy" has been established in the national political landscape.

God bless this country, the only one we have!"

Yes, Pilipinos are politically aware, the 2010 elections will put this point on center stage.

Mar gives way to Noynoy

Country above self.
Heeding the signs of the times, Senator Manuel “Mar” Roxas announced Tuesday that he is sacrificing his presidential ambition to give way to his Liberal Party colleague, Senator Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, whom he endorsed to become the party’s standard bearer in the May 2010 elections. Full story.

Palace: Neri’s on his own

MANILA, Philippines – Romulo Neri has to deal on his own with the graft charges he is facing in connection with the scuttled $329-million National Broadband Network deal with China’s ZTE Corp., a Palace official said. Full story.

Senate should invite First Gentleman in NBN-ZTE probe, says JDV

Senate should invite First Gentleman in NBN-ZTE probe, says JDV: "

Former House speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. said the Senate Blue Ribbon committee investigating the botched $329-million NBN-ZTE deal should summon First Gentleman Miguel Arroyo so it could “write finis to the probe.”

"

Dacer kin won't file raps vs Erap

Dacer kin won't file raps vs Erap: "

The daughters of slain publicist Salvador “Bubby” Dacer are not inclined to seek the indictment of former President Joseph Estrada despite the testimony of former police senior superintendent Cezar Mancao II linking the former leader to the killings, according to the family lawyer.

"

Mass at NAIA for Aquino death anniversary

By Marlon Ramos
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 13:30:00 08/21/2009

Filed Under: Heroism, Politics

MANILA, Philippines – Some 40 members of the Ninoy Aquino Movement and August Twenty-One Movement gathered Friday at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Pasay City to mark the 26th death anniversary of former opposition leader Senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr.

Clad in yellow shirts and waving ATOM flags, the group attended a Mass for Ninoy in Bay 11 of the NAIA Terminal 1, the same spot where the martyred freedom fighter fell after he was shot by alleged gunman Rolando Galman exactly 26 years ago.

Aquino's younger siblings, former Senators Agapito "Butch" Aquino and Tessie Aquino-Oreta, later led the wreath-laying ceremony.

Arroyo 44th most powerful woman in Forbes list

ABS-CBN

MANILA - President Arroyo has been named the 44th most powerful woman in the world, according to Forbes magazine.

The President's Forbes' ranking is lower than last year's, which saw her land on the 41st spot. Her worst ranking was in 2007 when she placed 51st in the annual list of the 100 Most Powerful Women in the World.

Mrs. Arroyo was previously named the 4th most powerful woman in the world in 2005, the same year that she faced the first in a series of failed impeachment attempts over allegations that she rigged the 2004 elections.

Forbes said the rankings combine the person's visibility in the media and the size of the organization or country that she leads,

In her description of the Philippine president, Forbes writer Tatiana Serafin said Mrs. Arroyo's visit with US President Barack Obama in the White House last month -- the first for a Southeast Asian leader -- was a "boon to an otherwise lame-duck presidency."

She noted that while Mrs. Arroyo's tumultuous six-year term ends next year, the President's allies could push through with a plan to change the Philippine Constitution and adopt a parliamentary form of government. This would allow Mrs. Arroyo to get around the six-year presidential term limit and become prime minister.

"Critics contend this may further sink the stalling economy that earlier in the year hit a 10-year-low GDP growth of 0.4%. Arroyo also has her hands full dealing with rise in domestic terrorism," the Forbes article noted.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel held on to the No. 1 spot on Forbes' annual ranking of the world's most powerful women for the fourth year in a row. The list also included newcomers such as US First Lady Michelle Obama (40) and Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor (54).

Forbes noted that the women on its most powerful list are "moving across companies and industries, making big leaps with each change, and repositioning themselves for opportunities that allow them to gain a breadth of experience."

Arroyo party gave away P6M in tips during six-day US stay

ARCS, GMANews.TV

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and her entourage gave away about P6 million in gratuities during the chief executive’s working visit to the United States from July 29 to August 5.

Based on an official breakdown of expenses provided to GMA News by Susanna Vargas, Malacañang’s deputy executive secretary for administration and finance, Mrs. Arroyo’s party spent $66,000 in Washington D.C. and $59,000 in New York for various service tips.

GMA News said the Arroyo party gave money to bellboys, porters, drivers, convoy escorts, and housekeeping personnel in the US for the services they rendered to the President and her party.

Mrs. Arroyo came under fire after media reported on her supposed lavish meals with husband Jose Miguel Arroyo and government officials in at least four restaurants in Washington D.C. and New York City.

The Washington Post reported that President Arroyo and her entourage dined on lobster, steak, and fine wines for $15,000 at Bobby Van’s Steakhouse on 15th Street in Washington D.C. The dinner took place on July 30 hours after Mrs. Arroyo met with US President Barack Obama.

Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez, an Arroyo ally, later claimed that he paid for the Bobby Van’s dinner, including the $1,500-tip for the celebration of the 41st wedding anniversary of the President and her husband.

The second dinner was at Le Cirque last August 2, according to US tabloid New York Post. Arroyo’s group reportedly spent $20,000 for the meal that included "very expensive wine" at the upscale French restaurant in Manhattan, New York City.

Malacañang later admitted that Mrs. Arroyo’s group dined at Le Cirque, but denied that the Office of the President spent for the meal.

Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said it was Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez who picked up the tab for the Le Cirque dinner. But Romualdez evaded media queries about the issue.

The third meal was at the posh Bouley Restaurant on Broadway Avenue in New York also on August 2. This was confirmed by Batangas Rep. Hermilando Mandanas who said it was part of the celebration of the First Couple’s wedding anniversary.

The fourth was at Wolfgang’s Steakhouse on Park Avenue in Manhattan, according to Mindoro Rep. Amelita Villarosa.

Malacañang has defended the President over critics’ claim that the expensive meals showed Mrs. Arroyo's insensitivity toward the plight of many Filipinos suffering from the effects of the global financial crisis.

According to Remonde, when President Arroyo is abroad for official visits, her expenses are exempted from the government’s austerity measures. He says Mrs. Arroyo’s "aggressive" foreign engagements have brought huge investments to the country.

Wala lang: Ang maharlika (The Goldenberg Mansion)

By JAIME C. LAYA

August 17, 2009, 12:55pm

Just as today’s elite build second homes in Tagaytay and Punta Fuego and as their grandparents built in Baguio in the 1920s, the super-rich of the Spanish Regime constructed theirs along the Pasig River.

The Governor General himself had a house in still bucolic San Miguel (Posesión de Malacañang). He moved there permanently in the 1870s and the wealthy followed suit. Among them was the builder of a house on Gral. Solano Street, most likely principal of Eugster Labhart y Cia., a Swiss or French trading company.

The Eugster home survived rough use as government and business office, school, night club. It escaped World War II unharmed and still stands—immaculately white with capiz windows and arcaded veranda beyond a paved courtyard and a splashing fountain. It’s not easy to impress Jullie Yap Daza, but she describes the interior thus, “Glittering chandeliers overhead, gleaming black and white marble tiles on the floor …above a sweeping staircase, a crystal chandelier hung, as big as my house.”

Then First Lady Imelda Marcos bought it in 1966 for PhP180,000.00 from the heirs of Michael Goldenberg, manufacturer of Helene Curtis beauty products who lived there from 1950 till he died in 1963. After sensitive restoration by Archt. Leandro V. Locsin, it was baptized “Ang Maharlika” (though still better known as “Goldenberg Mansion”) and became Marcos Foundation office and guest house.

Under the Marcoses, the mansion welcomed Spain’s Juan Carlos and Sofia, the U.N.’s Kurt Waldheim, Indira Gandhi, Canada’s Pierre Trudeau, and jet setters like pianist Van Cliburn, Christina Ford and Doris Duke. These days, it’s occasionally used by the President and by the Secretary of Foreign Affairs to receive important visitors.

Ang Maharlika was a treasure house containing part of the fabled Marcos art collection and Filipiniana library. Some items have been sold or transferred elsewhere, but the sala remains elegant with its wood filigree arches and chandeliers (reputedly from Versailles). Tapestries of Diana the Huntress and a della Robbia mirror once owned by Catherine de Medici look upon gilded furniture and Persian rugs. Nearby are Grandma Moses paintings, French ancient regime and Empire furniture.

In a reception room are Chinese furniture inlaid with 4,000 jade plaques and a 16th century European devotional altar with ivory figures depicting the life of St. Catherine of Alexandria. Chinese and Southeast Asian ceramics from 2000 BC to the 19th century fill the cabinets of a large room.

The Pasig River is today lined not with historic homes but with informal settlers and warehouses. Ang Maharlika and the Teus house next door (also rescued by Mrs. Marcos) are in good shape. However, on the same street is an empty Art Deco mansion with a “For Sale” sign. Upriver in Nagtahan, a state university seems not to know what to do with an enormous old house.

In Sta. Ana is Xavier House, originally an 1800s private home now owned by the Jesuits who are looking for a buyer. May enlightened hands touch Manila’s few remaining heritage structures.

44 killed in Basilan war

23 soldiers, 21 Abus die in face-to-face combat

By Julie Alipala, Inquirer Mindanao, Jocelyn Uy
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 02:19:00 08/14/2009

ZAMBOANGA CITY — The first bursts of gunfire thundered through the hills at 3:47 a.m. on Wednesday. By nightfall, the close-quarter, face-to-face combat was still raging, after Marine reinforcements fell into an ambush. Click on link for full story.

Revillame goes on leave

By ARIS R. ILAGAN

August 10, 2009, 5:45pm

Controversial television host Willie Revillame has filed a three-week leave of absence from game show “Wowowee” believed to be triggered by mounting protests on his emotional outburst over the insertion of a live coverage of former President Corazon Aquino’s funeral procession in the high-rating ABS-CBN noontime show.

According to well-placed sources from ABS-CBN, Revillame’s leave of absence took effect during the live airing of “Wowowee” last Saturday, August 8, in ABS-CBN.

During Monday’s noontime showing of “Wowowee”, the 48-yearold Revillame was also a no-show amid the expression of support from some of his followers present in the studio who showed placards that said: “Willie, kasama mo kami (Willie, we are with you).

ABS-CBN has yet to issue a formal announcement over Revillame’s status on the high-rating “Wowowee” game show amid mounting calls for him to be suspended or removed for allegedly showing disrespect to the former president who was laid to rest last August 5 at the Manila Memorial
Park.

“Willie has gone on leave. He will be out for at least three weeks,” a well-placed source from ABS-CBN network said.

Pretty TV co-host Mariel Rodriguez and comedian “Pokwang” took over the hosting work for “Wowowee.”

Revillame, who was suspended at least twice from his previous hosting jobs from different game shows, caught the ire of the public anew when he ordered the producers to remove the insertion of the live-coverage of Mrs. Aquino’s funeral cortege which, he said, was inappropriate for a game show like “Wowowee”.

Aside from the incident involving the Aquino funeral procession, Revillame was also a subject of complaint before the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) for making alleged unethical comments in “Wowowee” that reportedly caused embarrassment and emotional depression to children of a couple who are presently experiencing marital problems.

A woman complainant, who requested not to be identified, had sought the help the MTRCB to conduct an investigation over Revillame’s alleged unethical behavior when he teased a “Wowowee” dancer to her estranged husband, identified as Raymond Ronquillo, sometime last March.

The incident happened while their three children – aged three, 11 and 12 – while watching the popular game show.

A similar incident occurred last July 28 that prompted the woman complainant to ask MTRCB authorities to impose punitive measures against Revillame for unethical behavior while on the prime TV game show.

Also named respondents in her complaint were ABS-CBN Corporation and Wowowee dancer Aiko Climaco who is her estranged husband’s alleged present love interest.

According to the complainant, her children have refused to go to school after they were subjected to humiliation by their classmates and friends that resulted from Revillame’s uncalled for statements in “Wowowee.”

Revillame’s outburst over the simultaneous airing of the funeral procession of Mrs. Aquino prompted some concerned citizens to push for an on-line signature drive to pressure ABS-CBN management to either suspend or to ban Revillame from appearing on TV shows.

‘Kiko’ death toll: 21; search on for 4 miners

Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 03:54:00 08/10/2009

Filed Under: Weather, Infrastructure, Disasters & Accidents

MANILA, Philippines—Leaving 21 dead in Luzon, the heavy rains set off by Typhoon “Kiko” (international codename: Morakot) last week damaged P35.88 million in roads, bridges and crops in the provinces of Benguet, Tarlac and Pampanga, the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) reported Sunday.

Landslides and flash floods destroyed roads and bridges as sea walls and dikes were breached when the typhoon poured nonstop rain over a large swath of Luzon on Thursday.

A portion of the Pinatubo dike broke, causing connecting rivers to swell and plunging 10 villages in Zambales province in floodwaters.

Three foreigners on their way to Mt. Pinatubo drowned when raging currents engulfed their vehicle.

Of the fatalities, 13 were in the Cordillera Administrative Region, seven in Central Luzon and one in Metro Manila.

At least three landslides occurred in Benguet, causing an elementary school to collapse, damaging three ball mills and several houses, and burying pocket miners. Click to continue.

9 dead in floods, slides due to ‘Kiko’

2 French, 1 Belgian drown in Tarlac river

By Inquirer Northern Luzon, Inquirer Central Luzon
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 02:29:00 08/08/2009

MANILA, Philippines — At least nine people, including three foreigners trekking on Mt. Pinatubo, died in flash floods and landslides triggered by Typhoon “Kiko” (international codename: Morakot) in Central and northern Luzon on Thursday and Friday, according to reports gathered by the Inquirer.

Strong rains caused the O’Donnell River in Capas, Tarlac, to breach its banks on Thursday afternoon, sweeping three foreigners and their Filipino guide in the current.

Senior Supt. Rudy Lacadin, Tarlac police director, said three Koreans and six French nationals survived the flash flood that occurred as they descended Pinatubo on Thursday afternoon.

The Tarlac police and the Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council (PDCC) identified the fatalities as Cholet Martine and Callet Thierry, both of France; Staylenan Walter of Belgium; and their Filipino guide, Ordonio Fernando.

The foreigners were part of a group of eight French nationals and one Belgian who registered at the Pinatubo Development Center in Capas at around 7:30 a.m. on Thursday for a trek on Pinatubo, according to Tarlac Gov. Victor Yap.

“We have no excuses for what happened. We will do further work to ensure the visitors’ safety,” Governor Yap said. Click on Link to read on.

People troop to La Salle gym to pay last respect to Cory

By FRANCIS T. WAKEFIELD
August 2, 2009, 8:03pm

People from all walks of life flocked to the La Salle gymnasium in Greenhills, San Juan City to pay their last respects to former President Corazon Cojuanco Aquino who died early Saturday morning due to cardio-respiratory arrest.

Trishia P. Octaviano, secretariat and one of those in charge to handle the crowd, said that as early as 8 a.m. Sunday, an estimated 2,000 people have already lined up inside and outside the La Salle Greenhills campus to catch a glimpse of the former president who died at about 3:18 a.m. at the Makati Medical Center.

Aquino’s remains were brought to the school’s gymnasium Saturday afternoon in order for the people to get the chance to see the beloved president for the last time.

RP shares open strong despite vague political plans of Arroyo

MANILA, Philippines - Despite the mixed reactions on the State of the Nation Address by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, the Philippine stock market opened stronger with the benchmark index hitting a more than 10-month high.

The 30-company bellwether Philippine Stock Exchange index rose, 2,746.32, just a little off its September 4, 2008 opening of 2,750.49.

Investors seemed to have shrugged off political noise and focused on the bright economic prospects going forward, said Justino Calaycay Jr., Accord Capital Equities trader.

"I think the people are giving Mrs. Arroyo the final benefit of the doubt that she will step down once her term expires next year. There's no reason to doubt her yet since amendment of the Constitution would take at least more than 10 months," Calaycay added. Cheryl M. Arcibal, GMANews.TV

For GMA, it's person over institution

From ABS-CBN News
12th in a series on GMA's 9th State of the Nation Address

MANILA - President Arroyo has governed using a very personal lens, trumping institutions. She has used her power of appointment for political survival. This has been a hallmark of her presidency.

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Hayden Kho faces ban from performing surgery

MANILA, Philippines - Controversial celebrity doctor Hayden Kho’s woes are far from over.

The Philippine Medical Association (PMA) yesterday said Kho might soon be banned from performing cosmetic surgery if the association decides to expel him for his alleged involvement in a sex video scandal.

PMA spokesman Dr. Bu Castro said Kho should be penalized for tainting the image of the medical industry with the spread of his sex videos with actress Katrina Halili and other women.

Kho allegedly taped his sex encounters with the women without their consent and knowledge. He said certain people stole his videos from his laptop and distributed them over the Internet.

This prompted Halili to file charges against Kho and the people behind the spread of the sex videos.

Castro said the PMA’s ethics committee has already submitted a recommendation to the board, which is “either Kho’s suspension or expulsion.”

“The discussion was very heated among members of the committee so we just agreed to put it through secret balloting, but of course the final decision will still be with the board,” Castro said in an interview.

The board’s final decision will be released on Aug. 9.

Halili earlier filed a petition before the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) seeking the revocation of Kho’s medical license for alleged immorality.

The PRC scheduled a hearing last Friday but Kho’s camp requested it be reset to this week.

Red Alert

Soldiers gather at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City yesterday as part of the military’s red alert in Metro Manila for the State of the Nation Address of President Arroyo tomorrow. Val Rodriguez

Count Down to SONA

5 Days before SONA, Arriyo halts offensive vs MILF Rebs

Five days before her last State of the Nation Address, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo ordered the Armed Forces of the Philippines Thursday to stop its offensives against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front rebels in a bid to restart peace talks, a move welcomed by the guerrillas.

As of Today

The basic jeepney fare is php 7.00, 48.18 pesos is equal to 1 dollar. The top stories are:

Ex-VP asks Arroyo ‘vital questions’
Former vice president Teofisto Guingona Jr. on Thursday morning issued an open letter to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo asking "vital questions" about her term of office three days before she delivers her State of the Nation Address.

Guingona, at a press conference at Club Filipino in San Juan City, questioned Arroyo about how she plans to cover a deficit of P154 billion for the first six months of the year.

Will you borrow or impose new taxes?" he wrote in the five-page letter titled, "I ask—The People Have a Right to Know."

Guingona also asked Arroyo about her previous Sona promises including her pledge to provide one million jobs each year. "And yet, our unemployed soared to 2.9 million in April 2008, and the underemployed to 6.6 million. Where are the jobs promised?" he said.

During the open forum that followed, Guingona said he received an invitation to attend a Sona rally and that he would likely attend.

He also said three conditions for a declaration martial law are not present: credibility of current administration, support of military, and support from the international community.

Ex-defense chief:
Defy unlawful orders
By Philip C. Tubeza

Warning about a “disturbing pattern” showing that the Arroyo administration will try to perpetuate itself in power, former Defense Secretary Avelino Cruz Jr. Wednesday urged soldiers to defy “patently unlawful orders” for partisan political ends and for subverting the Constitution.

Prelude to a Blog

Recently I was assigned by my Grand Reunion Committee to research the significant events that happened in the year of our Graduation. I tried Google and all types of search engines to find out the jeepney and bus fares, price of basic commodities, dollar to peso rates back then. It was very frustrating endeavor which gave me an idea to create a blog that documents significant events here in the Philippines.