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8990 Holdings to sell P1.15B worth of housing units at Urban Deca Towers

 General
Nov 132014
 
8990 Holdings to sell P1.15B worth of housing units at Urban Deca Towers

MANILA, Philippines—Housing developer 8990 Holdings Inc. plans to sell P1.15 billion worth of residential units at Urban Deca Towers in Mandaluyong, the first and only low-cost high-rise condominium project in Metro Manila that offers units priced at less than P1 million. The 42-storey Urban Deca Towers, located at 69 Sierra Madre St. Brgy Highway Hills in Mandaluyong, offers 1,148 units priced between P990,000 up to P1.25 million. The project, which is undertaken by subsidiary Foghorn Inc., is the first high-rise condominium project of 8990. SCREENGRAB from www.8990housing.com “Urban Deca-Tower Edsa is not meant to be a primary residence, but rather targets a growing niche market of urban dwellers who are currently renting,” Januario Jesus Atencio, president and chief executive officer of 8990 Holdings said in a press statement. “This will afford them the opportunity to convert already existing budget into a monthly amortization,” he added. Atencio also said: “Sales have been encouraging with at least 250 letters of intent that signifies a growing need for this type of housing in the metropolis.” The residential units have a footprint of 13.06 square meters each in line with the “micro-living” concept. The project promotes the “half-way” house concept, targeting workers and students who are looking for decent, clean, safe, secure, and flood-free place to stay near their place of work or school. The low-priced condo units are pitched as an affordable half-way house for people who live as far as Laguna, Cavite and Bulacan. Having their own condominium units is seen providing Read More …

Aquino, secretaries learn from China, eye successful Apec in PH

 News
Nov 112014
 
Aquino, secretaries learn from China, eye successful Apec in PH

MANILA, Philippines—President Benigno Aquino III and his Cabinet members are diligently observing China’s work, not in the West Philippine Sea, but as this year’s host of the Asia Pacific Economic Conference (Apec). “If you noticed, a lot of the Cabinet secretaries who accompanied the President, their agencies will be hosting Apec meetings,” Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte told Palace reporters on Tuesday. The Philippines will host the APEC in November 2015. President Benigno Aquino III.  INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO Aquino and his delegation were recently in Beijing for the Apec Economic Leaders’ Meeting. While the relationship of the Philippines and China ‎remain complicated because of the territorial disputes in the West Philippine Sea, Malacañang said China has been a gracious host. Valte pointed out that the accompanying Cabinet members, Trade and Industry Secretary Gregory Domingo, Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, and Socio-Economic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan, will host some of the Apec meetings in the country next year. “I am quite sure that a lot of them were paying attention with what’s happening, to take stock on the best practices that their departments can adopt,” she said. The nine cities and provinces that will serve as venues of the meetings are Clark, Legazpi City,  Bagac, Boracay, Cebu, Manila, Bacolod, Iloilo and Tagaytay City. At one of the meetings he attended, Aquino said he wanted to emulate the example of China. “I was told President thoroughly enjoyed the cultural presentation (of China). In fact he mentioned during his remarks at the CEO summit Read More …

VIDEO: Inside Caballo island

 News
Nov 112014
 
VIDEO: Inside Caballo island

MANILA, Philippines — United Nations (UN) peacekeepers coming home from Ebola-stricken Liberia on Wednesday will be brought to a “paradise” island, equipped with recreational facilities, for a mandatory 21-day quarantine. Caballo island is a Philippine naval base known as Fort Hughes located at the entrance of Manila Bay. It is off limits to civilians. The Philippine military has equipped the quarantine area with recreational facilities on top of the basic necessities in order for the peacekeepers to enjoy their three-week stay. “To the family members of our gallant peacekeepers, I would like to ask your patience for extending the absence of your loved ones. I have done everything to make their stay at the Island Paradise of Caballo, a very pleasant and memorable one,” Armed Forces of the Philippine (AFP) chief General Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. said on Monday. Caballo Island. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/Armed Forces of the Philippines There are 133 peacekeepers returning home on Wednesday — 108 from the AFP, 24 from the Philippine National Police (PNP) and one from the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP). All the peacekeepers belong to the “No risk” category and have passed the Ebola screening conducted by UN doctors. The procedure is a requirement before their repatriation. But despite this, the 21-day quarantine will still be implemented in line with government’s efforts to retain the country’s Ebola-free status. Lieutenant Colonel Harold Cabunoc, AFP Public Affairs Office Chief, downplayed any possible spread of the Ebola virus and that personnel who would greet them Read More …

UN relief chief leaving with mango table, lessons on strength

 General
Nov 082014
 
UN relief chief leaving with mango table, lessons on strength

MANILA, Philippines—When United Nations resident humanitarian coordinator Luiza Carvalho starts her new job in Panama next week, she will be sitting behind a one-of-a-kind desk—a huge table made out of the trunk of a mango tree that she purchased on the spot on a trip to Tagaytay City. “Can you believe it? A very, very big mango tree was made into a table, and I’m taking it with me. It’s a dining table, but I’m going to transform it into my office desk. Because it’s going to be mine. I’m not going to share it,” said Carvalho, smiling widely and gesturing as if to smooth out the absent desk. “I spotted it and it was full of dust. But when they dusted it off, the wood was yellowish and quite thick,” Carvalho said. Already packed and freighted for the 30-hour trip to Latin America, the mango table from the Philippines is where Carvalho will be writing her reports, making important calls, hatching ideas and making decisions as the new regional director for Latin America and the Caribbean at UN Women. Luiza Carvalho. AFP FILE PHOTO “It’s very inspiring because the wood is very beautiful, and the design as well,” Carvalho said in an interview.   Strength and resilience She will also take with her the much-admired Filipino strength and resilience, the same qualities she hopes to live up to, having received the Order of Lakandula (Political and Civic Merit) with the rank of Grand Officer, one of the country’s highest Read More …

Green cards for sale, but there’s catch

 News
Nov 012014
 
Green cards for sale, but there’s catch

On Feb. 8, 2013, the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) brought charges against a Chicago regional center for defrauding close to 300 foreign investors out of $156 million. This investment scam was sold to foreign investors as part of the United States Citizens and Immigration Services (USCIS) EB-5 Immigrant Investors Visa program. In exchange for investing in the regional center’s development of a hotel and convention center, foreign investors were promised US citizenship. In the end, none of the investors obtained a green card through the scam, but became parties of a legal battle against the regional center to recoup their losses. While the victims of the Chicago regional center recently recovered most of their investments with the help of the SEC, many foreign investors are not as fortunate. Therefore, the Chicago regional center’s scam should serve as a warning to all EB-5 foreign investors about the importance of vetting all projects and hiring competent legal counsel and accountants. What is EB-5? The EB-5 immigrant investor visa program was created by USCIS in the ’90s to provide immigrant investors a pathway to obtain US citizenship. The criteria for the investment is that the amount must be either $1 million or $500,000 “at risk” in a new commercial enterprise that creates 10 full-time jobs. A new commercial enterprise is usually a franchise or a commercial real estate development (hotel, shopping mall, residential/office building). In order to prevent money laundering or have drug traffickers participate in the EB-5 program, the source Read More …

Over 60,000 yearly apply for immigrant, fiancé, fiancée, spouse visas—US Embassy

 General
Nov 012014
 
Over 60,000 yearly apply for immigrant, fiancé, fiancée, spouse visas—US Embassy

popular Binay in panic mode, says Cayetano Gina and Racquel Pareño: Mother and daughter take to the stage Stars in the news Well-loved, jovial ‘giant’ Juan Flavier dies at 79 Tropical Storm ‘Paeng’ here, but not for long SC asked anew to stop construction of condo tower near Rizal Park Camarines Norte gov. wife surfaces, bares husband’s ‘sex video’ Abu Sayyaf given P1 M for girl’s release, says ARMM police chief videos Sueselbeck leaves, says sorry for ‘not being aware of political part’ of Laude slay Filipino families honor their dead Assistant Ombudsman explains why Revilla’s wealth must be seized Binay allies ‘gatecrash’ Senate probe Binay daughter’s Instagram post: ‘Our place in Batangas’ According to the United States Embassy in Manila, there are over 50,000 immigrant visa applications and more than 11,000 fiancé/fiancée and spouse visa applications each year. These types of visas are for applicants planning to permanently relocate to the US. On the other hand, there are more than 200,000 applications for nonimmigrant visas annually. Source: http://manila.usembassy.gov/visas.html Tags: Fiancé Visa Fiancee visa Global Pinoy Immigrant visa Spouse visa US embassy visa Related Stories: Australia investigates ‘paedophile’ father in Thai baby scandal Bangladesh ferry owner faces charges in sinking Bangladesh ferry owner faces charges in sinking Bangladesh ferry owner faces charges in sinking Bangladesh ferry owner faces charges in sinking Bangladesh ferry owner faces charges in sinking Bangladesh ferry owner faces charges in sinking Bangladesh ferry owner faces charges in sinking Complete stories on our Digital Edition newsstand for Read More …

Filipino grandpa, 2 family members slain in South Seattle murder-suicide

 News
Oct 312014
 
Filipino grandpa, 2 family members slain in South Seattle murder-suicide

popular 1,700 flee attacks, killings, arson MP Hotel five stuns Wangs; Cagayan, JP repulse foes Mercado shows proof Mrs. Binay owns Batangas property Gilas selection group formed Flying out? MMDA clears route to airport SPD officer faces rape, trafficking raps Sueselbeck pleads: Send me home or I’ll lose my job in Germany Pork barrel still alive in 2015 budget videos Assistant Ombudsman explains why Revilla’s wealth must be seized Binay allies ‘gatecrash’ Senate probe Binay daughter’s Instagram post: ‘Our place in Batangas’ Audio recording of Binay interview‎ on Batangas property bared 100 buried alive in Sri Lanka tea region mudslide–minister Honorario Yango. FACEBOOK PHOTO SAN FRANCISCO—A Filipino grandfather reportedly killed his daughter, granddaughter and himself on Monday night, October 27 after being confronted about allegedly sexually abusing the 11-year-old girl. Seattle police identified the grandfather as Honorario Yango, 78, of Rainier Beach, South Seattle. The slain girl, Anahlia Cowherd, 11, had blogged about the abuse on a digital storytelling site. The girl’s mother, Christine Dela Isla, 39, learned of the abuse and confronted her father. Yango then shot her and her daughter before taking his own life in their home, reported the Seattle Times http://blogs.seattletimes.com/today/2014/10/source-man-killed-daughter-granddaughter-when-accused-of-abuse/ Yango also reportedly tried to kill his 10-year-old grandson, but the boy managed to escape and call police. Police confirmed Wednesday that sexual abuse as a motive for the shootings is being investigated. Tags: Anahlia Cowherd Christine Dela Isla Filipino grandfather murder-suicide Filipinos murder-suicide South Seattle homicides Honorario Yango Rainier Beach Seattle Times South Seattle Related Stories: Australia investigates ‘paedophile’ father in Thai Read More …

VFA must be clear US forces ‘visiting’ not ‘invading’—expert

 News
Oct 252014
 
VFA must be clear US forces ‘visiting’ not ‘invading’—expert

By TJ Burgonio |Philippine Daily Inquirer 4:44 am | Sunday, October 26th, 2014 MANILA, Philippines—In reviewing the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with the United States, the Philippines has to state clearly that the US personnel are “visiting forces” and not “invading forces,” according to a position paper by a political analyst. Officials have claimed that the Philippines and the US had begun the process of reviewing the agreement even before the Oct. 11 killing of Filipino transgender Jeffrey “Jennifer” Laude allegedly by US Marine Joseph Scott Pemberton, which has led to calls for the VFA’s abrogation. Benito Lim, a political science professor at the Ateneo de Manila University, said it should be made clear in the agreement that the joint military exercises are aimed chiefly at helping develop the Philippine military into a self-reliant defense force. USS Peleliu. Jennifer Laude (inset). INQUIRER FILE PHOTOS And while it recognizes the US role in boosting the Philippine military’s capability, the government should insist that US forces recognize the Philippines’ sovereignty as an independent republic and long-time ally, he said in the position paper submitted to the Senate. “We must be vigilant in stating that US military personnel are `visiting forces,’ not `invading forces,’” said Lim, who teaches government, foreign policy and political economy. The visiting forces should respect the country’s laws, and not “harm” or “molest” Filipinos, otherwise they would be answerable to the courts, he said. The Senate foreign relations committee last Wednesday conducted a hearing on Laude’s killing in response Read More …

Prayers for Pope: Politicians to repent, for mother’s sins

 News
Oct 252014
 
Prayers for Pope: Politicians to repent, for mother’s sins

“May our politicians have humble hearts like that of David, that they may repent if they know they have sinned against God and our country.” This was one of the intentions of the Filipino faithful for Pope Francis, which continue to pour in at Inquirer.net’s “Prayer Wall” less than three months before he visits the country in January. Another prayer is a heart-wrenching plea: “My ever dearest Pope Francis, by the time you visit my country next year, I want you to know that all of us here are excited and looking forward for that very day. My prayer is for my family, my conscience-stricken mom who is almost 80 years old. Although she may not accept it, I know deep inside she suffers that because she is tough and strict to some people she dislikes, and worse, she suggested abortion for my sister and me. It hurt us so bad; she is our mother. Sometimes, she wails that my father failed to give her the most that life can offer. She complains so much though she serves the Church, but her heart is full of agony and misery. Please give her peace of mind that our Lord Almighty will forgive her sins. I know I am not in a position to say so but I guess she is in pain not physically but spiritually. I want her and wish for her to be with our God by the time her time on earth will end. It really hurts me—her Read More …

NYC marathon runner to raise funds for PGH

 News
Oct 252014
 
NYC marathon runner to raise funds for PGH

Philippine Daily Inquirer 2:47 am | Sunday, October 26th, 2014 LAWYER Ariel Arriola will run in the NYC Marathon on Nov. 2 for the PGH’s indigent children patients. On Nov. 2, a Filipino runner once diagnosed with a childhood heart ailment will participate at the TCS New York City Marathon. Lawyer Ariel Arriola will run 42 kilometers in New York City to raise funds for the benefit of more than 600 indigent children under the care of the Department of Pediatrics of the Philippine General Hospital (PGH). In a section about Arriola’s advocacy, the NYC Marathon’s official fundraising website www.crowdrise.com/pghpediatrics/fundraiser/arielarriola explained that because “getting decent medical attention is expensive and out of reach for many who live in the Philippines,” the poor rely on government institutions like the PGH for primary healthcare needs. The limited budget and resources of the PGH are insufficient to bear the daily cost, much less pay for the required medical procedures of these children. The PGH relies heavily on charities such as Child Health In Life and Development (CHILD) Foundation Inc. for financial support. Arriola is one of many runners participating in the NYC marathon to raise awareness for a cause. He has asked sponsors like Sola Iced Tea and Jollibee to match his personal donation of P1,000 for every kilometer he completes at the NYC marathon. All donations will be channelled through the CHILD Foundation. He has also asked other Filipinos joining the marathon with a 43-year history to likewise support the PGH pediatric Read More …

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